//------------------------------// // Hidden Secrets // Story: My Sugar Cube // by DragonassasslnGR //------------------------------// Big Macintosh sat in his bed with Fluttershy, who was sound asleep beside him. The large earth pony was unable to sleep himself as he looked to the diary as the moonlight shined through his window and bathed it in its calming light. It could tell him so many things about Applejack that she kept hidden from everypony. Big Mac let his mind wander as he thought about what could have made Applejack choose the path she did, and sacrifice so much. So many questions plagued him, and they demanded answers. A sudden sound caught his attention, it sounded like hoof steps outside his bedroom door. Big Macintosh looked over to Fluttershy, she was still fast asleep. The sight of her bliss brought a faint smile to his muzzle, that quickly died. He slowly got out of the bed, as not to disturb his sleeping wife and made his way to the door. The hoof steps were too heavy to be Applebloom's or Granny Smith's, that left Lurking to be the one still up. Big Macintosh opened his door and looked down the hall. The pony making the noise was on the steps now. He closed his bedroom door behind him as he walked to the staircase. The pony he saw was not Lurking, The pony he saw was looking right back at him. It was his beloved sister Applejack that looked back into his eyes. She broke the eye contact and walked through the door and into the moonlight outside. Big Mac hurried down the steps and out the door in an attempt to follow her. ************************************************ He was out the door in time to see Applejack walk into the fields. The large earth pony gave chase and was right behind her. "Applejack! Applejack comeback!" He called to her as he got closer. Applejack just continued to walk and ignore his existence. When he was close enough to touch her, she faded right before his eye. A few feet from where Big Mac was standing, he saw a body an orange mare that was laying on her belly, from in front of him. The was a thick pool of blood and a hole in the back that he could see the blood stained grass under her. The uniform she wore told the earth pony, this was his sister the day she died. He fell to his haunches and let his sorrow get the better of him. When Big Mac looked up from his tears, he was staring right at Princess Luna. The large Alicorn was doing her duties as the Princess Of The Night, she was watching over Equestria. Big Mac gave a bow before speaking, "Princess Luna, what are ya doing here? Why is Applejack here?" Luna held a grim look on her muzzle, "I am here Big Macintosh, because there is a dreamer in need of help." The red earth pony got up and gave a confused look, "A dreamer in need of help?" Luna just looked at him, "Big Macintosh, you are in a dream. Something has stirred inside of you. Something that has to do with Applejack. Please tell me, what has happened." He wiped his cheek to remove any tears that remained, "Ah found a diary that ma sister was writin. Ah couldn't help, but read what was in the dusty old thing. It shook some memories loose and told me some things that I didn't even know happened to her." "She was a good pony Big Macintosh. Applejack was a hero." Big Mac sighed, "Princess, Ah miss her. She was my sister and she needed ma help, and Ah wasn't there to give it." Luna walked closer to him, "She gave everything to save all of you, to protect the ones she loved." "With all do respect princess, she keep secrets from us, from me. She didn't trust me enough to tell me what was going on with her. " Big Mac looked down at the leaves that were dancing in the breeze. "She left us and didn't tell me why. I found a letter that was hidden, Applejack was going on a trip for a few days, the same few days she died. Can you please tell me what happened." Luna took a step back, "Big Macintosh, do you believe in destiny or fate?" "Ah do." "Well It was her time to give Equestria a second chance with the cost of her life, a price she gladly paid. As for the book, I call that her way of telling you the story." Luna looked to the sky as her moon hung over head. "I think its time for you to wake up." Luna Smiled as the world around Big Mac grew fuzzy before fading all together. ***************************************** Big Mac awoke in cold sweat, shaking violently. That dream concerned him, more so seeing his sister dead scared the large red earth pony. He looked to Fluttershy, she was still sound asleep as the morning sun shined through the window and bathed her in its warm light. The sun was coming up and that meant it was time to work with the other ponies on the farm. Big Mac kissed Fluttershy's forehead and got up to get something to eat before getting to work. As he got out of bed he noticed the diary was missing from the nightstand. This confused him for a moment as he opened the the doors on it to see if he had placed it inside. The book was nowhere to be found. This irritated him, but he would try and find it after he was done for the day. Trying his best not to wake Fluttershy, Big Mac slowly closed the door of their room and headed to the kitchen. He grabbed some toast and drank a cup of water as he headed out the door to the fields. The wind was blowing the leaves around and there were no animals in sight, to even a bird chirping. This was unsettling for the red earth pony, it was never this quiet. He continued to walk down the path, he suddenly heard somepony call his name. Big Mac looked around and saw nopony, but he heard the voice a little clearer. "Big Mac, forget it." Big Mac spun around. "You need to forget." "Who are ya?! Where are ya?!" the red earth pony yelled to the wind. "Please big brother, forget." The voice died as the wind picked up. "Applejack?!" There was no response, only the sound of the tree leaves being pushed around answered him. Big Mac galloped farther to down the path yelling his sisters name along the way. Before long he saw something that frightened him, the diary was laying in the middle of the path. The book mocked him as it called attention to the area it was in. Faint splotches of blood sat around it, the trees were still, and instead of the moonlight, it was the sun that allowed him to see that this was the spot in his dream that he found Applejack. Big Mac sat there shaking in place as his eyes widened to see the book there. "Ah can't Applejack, if Ah do, then Ah have failed ya as ya're big brother." He grabbed the book in his teeth and headed to the fields to start the days work. *********************************************************************** It was sundown and the Apples had just finished dinner. Lurking, was doing the dishes with Apple Bloom as the others went off to do their own things. Granny Smith and Fluttershy shared laughs as Granny told stories of her exciting and very humorous life. Everypony was off spending their time with each other, everypony except for Big Mac. The large Earth pony sat at Applejack's old desk that now resided in his room with her diary in front of him. A lamp illuminated the room around him and fought back Cassius's shadows that threatened to keep him from Learning the the truth about his sister. The large red earth pony turned to a later entry that took place when Applejack was back to helping on the farm. ********************************************************** "I was finally able to get out of that bed after a few weeks. It felt so good to finally stretch and walk, I could swear I had gained a few pounds from not doing anything. Nothing I can't work off in a few days though, I'm sure there is a lot to do for me. Out of everypony that was there for me. He was there when I had my accident and saved me. Applebloom said he was with me every day until I came to and when I did, he was so nice to me. His name was Lurking and by Celestia, that pegasus was scared that i was going to die. I was too, but he was almost in tears when he saw me open my eyes for the first time. I was out cold for a week straight and my sister told him everything about me. My big brother said that Lurking was now working on the farm, he also said that pegasus didn't have any family to call his own. I can't imagine and I don't want to imagine life without mine. Lurking was helping take care of me when he wasn't working in the fields with Big Mac. He helped to make my meals and even... fed me at times. I had a few broken ribs and internal bleeding so they had to open me up and fix it. The medicine I was on made me so weak, Lurking insisted on it. He was so kind and loving towards me, I can't help but.... I can't, I don't want to hurt him. I do like the stallion, but I can't with my line of work. That and I barely know him, I can't just trust him on the spot can I? Somepony is coming so I have to cut the entry short, I hope its not..." The entry stopped and Big Mac turned to the next page to try and find out who AJ was talking about. ******************************************************************* "It has been about a week now and I have to leave to help Princess Luna and the Division. I still can't believe i was put in charge of it. Out of all of us, Why me? What is so gash darn special about me? There are others more qualified for this, why would Luna put me in charge, and why am I looking out for Cassius? There is just so much that I don't understand about this, but I do what I was told. I feel a burning in the back of my mind when I am near Cassius. Its like an emptiness that goes on forever, if that makes sense. I have everything ready to go, I just need to tell Big Mac i'm leaving to Canterlot. I hope he doesn't ask any questions, I can't lie to him or tell him the truth. Princess Luna told me that this job would be dangerous and I don’t need my family involved. She is right, Just a few days ago we had to take down a very angry dragon, we lost two squads to it for a fragment of Nightshade. this job isn't for everypony, that's for sure. The worst part about that loss was, it was my decisions that got those ponies killed. I still hear them calling for help, it scares me at times. "Where did Ya go AJ? What did the princesses force ya to do?" Big Mac muttered to himself before reading on. I am gaining popularity with the ponies that I command though. Both princesses say that I am doing a good job and are proud of me.. ha! That sounds like something Ma and Pa would say if they were still around. I wonder what they would say to me if they could see me now. I'm getting off topic here with my memories again, I need to focus. We have already collected several fragments and ponies that still have Cassius' "gift" in them. That is the good news, the bad is a group of ponies that are calling themselves The Faithless who are after the fragments. Innocent blood has already been spilled for one of them, in the name for a unicorn called, Flamearch. We are creating a massive pony hunt to try and find him as soon as we can before another attack happens. I need to get ready to leave for the trains soon, I think I will leave this book home this time." **************************************************************** Big Mac looked at the next page and noticed a few drops of stained blood. They were in the middle of the page and it made some of the ink run and a few words almost unreadable. "Damn it AJ! What else didntcha tell me?" Big Mac cursed at the page. What other problems did she have? Why did she hide so much from him? These questions burned in the earth ponies mind like a wild fire. The next page gave a different story, rather than that of her secret life, it told of a happier moment. ***************************************************************** "I came back today and you would never guess who met up with me before my train made it to the station. Lurking had boarded the train and found me, he almost got thrown off too. The first thing he asked me was why I was wearing a shirt with apples on it. The princess gave me it as a cover to my last mission with Night Strike after I was injured from a blast, that was caused by a unicorn firing a bolt that struck near me. I had suffered some bad burns and a fractured rib. I had bandages to cover it, I told him there was an accident on my trip after he found out about the wrappings. I still don't know how he saw them under it." "That's what happened to ya AJ..? Why didncha tell us!?" Big Mac raised his voice angrily. Fluttershy soon walked into the room sensing her husbands frustration and spoke softly, "What's wrong Macintosh? Are you alright?" "Y-Ya don't know Fluttershy, the more Ya read for this book. Why didn't AJ tell me what was going on? Ya let her down, and now she is never comin home. Ya failed my little sister." Fluttershy walked over and read the entry on the page. Big Mac watched her expression sadden then a smile formed on her face. She looked her husband in the eyes and hugged him warmly. "Macintosh, if you keep reading the paper, it said that Lurking took Applejack into town and the spent the rest of the day relaxing and having fun. She had done so many great things and met so many ponies in her life. I know you didn't let her down. You could have never let her down, even if you tried." Big Mac returned the hug, "Ya love you Fluttershy." "I know and I love you too Big Mac. Do you want to finish that page and join us downstairs?" "Ya would love too." Fluttershy smiled and left the room after kissing Big Mac. The large earth pony went back to the page and read what Fluttershy pointed out. Lurking and Applejack did spend the rest of the day together. They went to the park, the fair grounds, and even the markets. The last thing they did was to sit in the Northern fields and watched the transition of the moon and sun. He looked to the last few lines in on the page. "The day I spent with Lurking was one of the best I have had in a long time. He is so kind, so sweet, so... I don't know if i can continue my duties to the Division like this. I think I have finally found my Special Somepony. I think I love him, but I will need to keep that from my friends and family even more importantly, Princess Luna. I can't let anypony get hurt, if they found out what I have done, what I have to do, I think i will never be able to forgive myself if I fail them." Big Mac noticed tears stained on the page and a some words written very lightly on the paper. Even with his incredible eyesight, Big Macintosh could not make them out. He rummaged through the desk and found a magnifying glass. The large earth pony positioned it so he could read the words in the faded ink. "Big Macintosh, I know this book will find you somehow. Know that when it does, I love you all. Whatever happened to me, If I didn't make it home in body, I am still there, and i'm sorry I let you down. A.J" Big Macintosh placed the magnifying glass down and stared at the paper for a few moments. His gaze drifted to a mirror on the wall and he saw a pony with blood red wings, a black robe with a hood, and a red and white mask looking back to him. The red earth pony spun around and saw nothing but his bedroom. Big Mac frantically looked around for the intruder but saw nothing, no way in or out of his room that they could have used without him noticing. After a few more minutes of looking with no luck, Big Macintosh hurried down the steps to see if the rest of his family was alright. When the red earth pony found himself at the bottom, he saw his little sister Apple Bloom and her friends Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle planning the next CMC meeting for the other members. Lurking was helping Granny Smith with some boxes of things that needed to be put away from the Zap Apple harvest that ended two days ago. Fluttershy was looking out a window with an odd look on her muzzle. Big Mac rushed over and looked out the same window and saw the pony that was in his room looking back. He could feel its gaze through the white mask as it turned walking away from the farm house. Without hesitation, Big Macintosh galloped out of the house and after it, leaving everypony inside confused Everyone except Fluttershy who turned and said sternly, "Lurking, go and follow Big Mac please, he might need help and I don't want to see him hurt." The black pegasus put down the box he had and galloped after Big Mac, "On it!" *************************************************************** Lurking had only left the house a few minutes ago and had taken flight. Soon enough Big Macintosh was in sight galloping through the orchard at a rapid pace. The black pegasus flew lower until he was side by side with the the large red earth pony. "Big Mac, what are you doing?" "Don't ya see it? That pegasus in the black robe was in the house, in my room. It was outside looking at Fluttershy. It has answers that Ah want." Big Mac picked up the pace and entered a dead sprint that even while flying, Lurking was having trouble keeping up. "Mac, Fluttershy asked me to help you. I'm with you all the way." Big Mac was about to reply to Lurking when he was the pony just a bit ahead of them, "There It is!" Lurking looked ahead and saw the pegasus in the robe, its wings where blood red and larger than his own. The robe covered the rest of its body as it just walked through the orchard. "Lurking, Ah want ya you catch it. Fly up there and grab him." "Got it!" Lurking said as he raced to the pegasus. It stopped and turned to face him, spreading its wings at full length in an attempt intimidate the black pegasus as it entered a defensive stance. It worked on both Big Mac and Lurking, the two slowed down and Lurking landed next to the red earth pony. The two of them stood about 15 feet from the pegasus in the robe and mask. Its green eyes where the only thing that was visible behind the mask. A strong sensation of both fear and comfort held onto Big Macintosh as he struggled to speak, "W-Who are y-ya? Wh- what do ya want?" The pegasus looked over to him, its eyes dimly glowing in the light of the rising moon. It did not speak but pointed to the farm house. Big Mac snapped, "YA STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM MY FAMILY! AH LOST ONE, AH DONT LOSE ANOTHER!" The large red earth pony snorted, finding his courage again and charged the pegasus. It recoiled at the outburst and braced for the hit. Big Mac slammed into it and started to push the robed pegasus back. Lurking sprang into action and flew hoof first at the other pegasus. His front left hoof landed at high speeds on the mask of the intruder. There was a cracking sound as the white mask fractured and knocked the pegasus back. Bits of the mask flew in all directions as the pegasus slammed into a tree and its wings fell limp over it. "Good work Lurking." The black pegasus shook his hoof as small bits of the mask fell off, "It hurt like hell though. What do you want to do Big Mac?" The red earth pony glared hate at what he hoped was a dead pegasus, "Get rid of this thing so it doesn't hurt anypony else." As the two looked on, the pegasi's wing twitched and it started to get up, with blood dripping from its now exposed muzzle. The two stepped back as the fear mounted again. The hood of the robe fell back revealing the orange mane and part of the face that wasn't bleeding or still covered by the mask. The pegasus looked over to them with its glowing green eyes as a tear of blood ran from its cheek and down its tan coat. "A-Applejack!?" Lurking muttered in astonishment. "YOU'RE ALIVE!"