It was a miserable day. The kind of which you would wake up to knowing instinctively to stay inside, perhaps snuggled up beneath a wool blanket with a steaming mug of hot chocolate (and three marshmallows, a dash of cinnamon and whipped cream for added flavor as well) and a good novel.
For many, days like these meant bad things. It meant grey, sullen afternoons. It meant broken promises and family events cancelled, leaving mare, stallion and foal alike helpless and lonely. But for the Apple family, a day likes this was a blessing. Four ponies sat in a cluster, huddled near the warmth of the crackling fire. Their eyes were fixed, unmoving, on the rise and falling flames that licked the roof of the brick cobblestone. As though they were in some trance, the Apples hovered over the fire like this for several minutes.
The entire living room had been torn asunder; the couch had been stripped of its pillows, which had been tossed to the floor below. In the center of the room, before the roaring hearth, lay a mountain of cushiony blankets and pillows, piled up in a makeshift heap.
"This is one awesome pillow fort, ain't it?" Applebloom said breathlessly as she sat upon a throne of blankets and sipped idly at her hot beverage.
"Eeyup." Big Mac confirmed in his characteristic catchphrase, earning a collective giggle from the mares surrounding. Applejack sighed contentedly as she took a hearty swig of her sweet apple ambrosia, her own special brew of the family's infamous cider.
"Do y'all think we should clean this here fort up before cousin Babs visits? Ya know how picky the Oranges can get." Applejack queried thoughtfully, ruffling her bedhead of a straw blonde mane. Applebloom shook her head vigorously.
"Naw, Babs'll love it! Ah can just see her face now!"
Applejack's lips parted into a wry smile as she landed her faded Stetson atop her little sister's head, which fell down over her eyes. "Whatever ya say, boss!" she giggled.
"Speakin' of Babs Seed, where in tarnation are they? We've been expectin' them for hours and no show!" Granny complained in her hoarse voice, her wizened eyes narrowing accusingly.
"Patience, Granny. Ah'm sure they're just driving real slow. The weather is dreadful after all." the cowpony said, casting a curious glance out of the window. The sky was dull. Grey clouds loomed low in the sky, casting a shadow across the farm. The pitter-patter of rain could be heard against the old wood of the house.
As though, by Granny's complaint, the guests had been summoned, a loud rapping from the heavy oak door jarred the family from their comfortable reverie. Applebloom sprung to her hooves, bouncing to the door exuberantly.
"Yay! Babs is finally here, ah just know it!" she cried, her tiny lips pulled into a grin so wide that it appeared impossibly large upon her ecstatic face. She gripped the door knob, turned it and let it swing open. Her smile faded quickly, and in evident disappointment her entire figure seemed to sag. Big Mac sidled up beside Applebloom, and the two ponies peered out at their unexpected visitor.
A tall, lanky stallion with a faded canary coat stood in the rain, which had reduced his forest green mane to a soaked mess. He returned their questioning gaze with a solemn frown.
"Apple family." he said in a tone that resembled a statement more so than a question.
"Eeyup." Big Mac replied with a faint nod of his apple-red head.
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there has been a terrible accident involving the Orange family. We understand they were visiting from Manehattan?"
No 'eeyup' escaped Macintosh's lips, for he stood paralysed, his jaw agape and his eyes wide. His mouth opened for a fleeting moment, before promptly slamming shut as words failed to escape. Wordlessly, he extended a foreleg and beckoned for the stallion to come inside. He quietly obliged, wasting no time to seek shelter from the chilling rain.
"Y'all can take a seat here." Big Mac mumbled, gesturing to a rigid, wood chair with intricate flowers carved into the legs. Applejack and Granny Smith glanced up worriedly as the stranger entered their house.
"Mac? What's goin' on here?" Applejack asked, a hint of worry wavering in her voice. The stallion cleared his throat softly as a clipboard, illuminated with his emerald magic, hovered before his eyes.
"Not far from here there was a horrible cart crash. Two ponies were killed on impact named Clementine and Minneola Orange. Their daughter, Babs Seed, is lying in critical condition at the town hospital." the stallion finished, and glanced up from his clipboard. "I am sorry for your loss."
A silence loomed over the sullen Apple family. It was not the serene quiet that had been shared by these very ponies mere moments before, but a stoic, eerie silence that pleaded to be broken. Granny Smith's features had slumped, her lips were pursed in a slight frown. Big Mac bowed his head, his shaggy mane falling over his eyes. Applejack's hoof was raised to her open mouth, which lolled open in utter shock.
Applebloom smiled.
To the shock of the stranger and to the unspeakable horror of her family, the little filly smiled.
"Silly pony!" she exclaimed with a giggle. "There must be some mistake here." The visitor's face contorted from a look of confusion to a gravely concerned frown.
"I-I'm afraid not. Ms. Seed is being cared for in the hospital though, I am sure you can visit her." he insisted with a nod, tucking away the clipboard and quill. The filly's face hardened, her eyes narrowing.
"No." she said simply, blinking away tears as they began to well in her eyes. She glanced helplessly to Applejack, her lip trembling as reality began to seep into her heart. "No.... no... no...." Applejack sidled up beside her shaking sister, watching mournfully for several moments as her sibling's body heaved and fell with each sob. Gingerly, the mare lay a hoof on Applebloom's shoulder.
"Shh. It'll all be okay. Everything will be just fine, Applebloom. I-"
"SHUT UP!" the filly screamed, smacking away Applejack's hoof. Tears poured freely from her eyes. Sobbing, she galloped up the stairs. "It ain't fair! Babs Seed is ma cousin!" With a final shattering wail, the foal had whisked herself away to her room.
And outside, the sky was dull. Grey clouds loomed low in the sky, casting a shadow across the farm. The pitter-patter of rain could be heard against the old wood of the house.
It was a miserable day.