Ten Years Ago Today
Big Macintosh woke up a couple hours earlier than he normally would have. He always did today. It’s about three in the morning, the only motion is the slow rise and fall of Mac's chest. He's just lying there in his bed that’s a bit too small, staring at the ceiling. After what seemed like an eternity of dark silence, the farm's resident rooster crowed. After ten years, the entire course of this day had almost become scripted. Mac would wake up at 3am, stare at the dark ceiling for two hours, then the rooster would crow signaling the preparations for that day's arduous hike to the family cemetery. The Apple family cemetery was at least ten miles into the vast farmland. The journey there usually took around 6 hours, there was no rush.
Celestia's sun started its majestic ascent, the first tendrils of light slowly slithering over the land and through Big Mac's window. Mac gave a hefty sigh, pulling his blanket off, and slipped his rear hooves out of bed and onto the cool oak floor of his room. I guess it's about time to get everything ready. AJ and I have a long day ahead of us, Mac thought as his eyes adjusted to the light.
Mac set his forehooves upon the floor and walked over to the only other piece of furniture in his room. It was a redwood dresser his pa had made for him on his eighteenth birthday. Mac's plow collar leaned against the side of the dresser, another hoof crafted item his pa had left behind. A picture frame sat on top of the dresser. Mac picked up the well oiled walnut frame, and gazed at the picture inside. The largest of the farm's barns was the photo’s backdrop, it had a big banner hanging over the front that read Happy 18Th Birthday Macintosh! A huge red stallion, practically Big Mac's twin, stood with an arm around the shoulders of an orange mare who was cradling a two year old yellow-coated, red-maned foal. Next to them a slightly younger, but still old Granny smith sitting in a rocking chair with a beaming eight year old Applejack in her lap wearing their pa's stetson. Bic Mac sat to the right of Granny smith with a grin. Half of his left side was missing where the photo had been ripped.
Mac closes his eyes, and shakily takes a few deep breaths. Come on, let it all out now. Cryin’ ain't gonna do a lick of help today. Macintosh starts to cry, stifling his sobs into his hoof. He never cried except for today. Right now was the only time in Mac's life when he let himself cry. After all, the anniversary of your parents' death was a better time than any other to cry like a little filly.
"I miss ya'll so much. Ma, Pa, I..." Mac chokes through sobs. "I love ya’ll so much."
Mac wipes the tears away from his eyes and takes a deep breath, settling himself. He looks at the clock on his wall, it read 5:23. Applejack should be up soon. I'd better hurry up and get everything ready, he thought, walking out of his room. Mac headed for the bathroom, as he passed Applejack's master bedroom, he heard the trickle of her bathroom faucet and the faint sobs coming from within. "Will it ever get any easier?" Mac whispered to himself. He enters the bathroom and relieves himself, then washes his hooves and clears the tear stains from his eyes.
Big Mac made his way towards the stairs, but stopped on the way by Apple Bloom's door. He put his ear to the hard wood and heard the crusader's snoring from within. She was too young to make the hike, it was too far and too dangerous for the little filly. Maybe she'll be ready next year. She needs to go. She might not remember them, but they were still her parents, Mac thought, trotting down stairs to prep his and AJ's travel packs.
Mac stepped into the kitchen, the orange hues of light now illuminated most of the cupboard and the chill chest. He walked over to the storage closet and pulled out their ma's old saddlebags for AJ, and their pa's for himself. He carried the bags over to the kitchen island and set them down on its marble countertop. He walked over to the chill chest and pulled out a pair of five-gallon water jugs and tied them onto the bags. Then, he went and pulled the peanut butter, zap apple jam, and some sawheat bread from the pantry. Mac carefully constructs twelve PB&Js, and places six in each bag along with six apples from the apple basket. Next, he walks over to the living room and opens up a large oak trunk. Inside is all of the first-aid kits. After several minutes of digging, Mac removes two travel ready first aid kits, and takes them back to the kitchen.
"Mornin' Mac," Applejack says sullenly as she sees him enter, pulling eggs from the chill chest.
"Wigh wagh yogh meaghn?" Mac mumbles through the first aid kits.
"Come again?" AJ replies flatly while she pulls a skillet from the pot rack, then pours herself a cup of coffee.
Mac places the first aid kits in the bags, and says, "which way you mean?"
"Both, I guess," AJ sighs. "Prench toast okay with you for breakfast?" Applejack added, looking up at Mac from her cooking.
"Eeyup," He replied.
"Good, ‘cause if it wasn't, I was gonna tan yer hide and make me some new saddlebags," AppleJack echoed their mother's favorite saying.
At that she smiled. Mac returned this quip and smile with a hug and a throaty, "Love ya ,sis."
"Love you too, bro," she replied into Mac's shoulder. "I think you've just about packed our bags. How about you go wake up Apple Bloom and Granny. By the time yer done, I'll have breakfast done and ready, so we can eat and get a move on."
"On it," Mac grunted. Waking up Granny would be a slice of apple pie, but Apple Bloom would be closer to waking up a sleeping ursa major. Hopefully she’ll remember what today is, and cut me some damn slack, he thought, trudging up the stairs to Apple Bloom’s room. Mac could handle a raging hydra, he could tackle a stampede and stop it dead in its tracks, Hay, he could even stand up to his special somepony’s stare, but one thing that Mac couldn't handle was a sleeping ten year old filly who could buck your skull in to next week without even trying. Truly Apple Bloom would give AJ a run for her money in a few years.
Big Mac walked up to Apple Bloom's door, and slowly opened it. There, sleeping like the little dev- angel she was, was Mac's youngest sister, and the Apple family's youngest member. She lied there snoring louder than something so small should have any right to. Her mane wild and almost resembled Pinkie Pie's frizzy madness. Huh, never noticed that before. Looks like we might be related to the pies. Wonder if AJ's does that? He chuckled at the thought of being related to that insane pink party pony. Also, Applejack with that mane? Come on.
Apple Bloom spoke in her sleep, “No Sweetie… ain’t right… we can’t…” with that last word Apple Bloom Smooched her pillow.
Mac entered the room to see Apple Bloom gnawing and licking her pillow. Not even six o'clock, and that kid already ain't right.
"Apple Bloom, it's time to get up; AJ an' I gotta go soon. Breakfast is ready," Mac whispered to Apple Bloom, lightly rubbing her back. Usually, this tactic of whispering and soothing contact would lessen the chance of getting bucked.
"Gjhghhhhhnkkuhhhggdshhghibkyggh...cutie...crusaders...sleep...yay," Apple Bloom muttered as she gave a ferocious buck out towards where Mac had been standing a moment before.
"Come on Bloom, this ain’t the time. You know what day it is; time ta get up," Mac said, a little irritated at the fillies reluctance to get up. "AppleJack made breakfast, If ya don’t get up now, ya won't get none." Bribery was sure to work.
"Whad sh’ mahke?" Apple Bloom asked, moving her face into the dry, non-chewed side of the pillow.
Some progress, now to deliver the finishing blow. "She made Foalton Brown’s prench toast recipe," Mac said, knowing this would get her right up.
"REALLY! AJ MADE A FOALTON BROWN RECIPE?" Apple Bloom screamed.
The screaming starled Mac into a flinch. When he opened his eyes, Apple Bloom's bed was made up perfectly, her coat was combed and clean, her breath was fresh and her mane was perfectly straight and tied with their ma's bow, and she was sitting in front of Mac with a mile wide smile.
"Ya comin’, slowpoke?" Apple Bloom said, looking at Mac before she raced down stairs to her prized breakfast.
I'm really starting to think there is a little bit of pie in us now.
Mac saw Granny Smith shuffling past the door. She looked at him and smiled. "Mornin' Big Macintosh. judgin' by Apple Bloom's reaction, breakfast sounds pretty good," she said with a little chuckle.
Mac wiped the shock from his mind of the impossible feat his sister had just performed, and walked over to Granny Smith and gave her a hug. "Love ya, Granny," Mac mumbles into Granny Smith's shoulder.
"Love you too, Appleseed, lets go get some food. The faster we eat, the faster you and AJ can get movin’," She said, hopping onto Mac's back. “Hehe. Hope ya don’t mind me catchin a ride to the table, do ya?
"You got it, Granny," Mac said, walking down the stairs, Granny Smith in hoof. Something feels different this time, it's not as...depressing as it usually is. Not just for me, but it seems the whole family. I have a good feeling about today... for once. Mac smiles and walks down the stairs.
"So AppleJack," Mac heard Apple Bloom say through sips of apple juice. "Is prench toast really from Prance?"
"I don't know, sugarcube," AJ replied, chuckling."I-"
"I bet Foalton Brown knows!" Apple Bloom exclaims. "He knows everything about everything he cooks!"
"I'm willin' ta bet that prench toast ain't even Prench!" Granny Smith adds, fidgeting to get off of Mac. "Why, I'll bet it's just those Prench cow-"
"Granny Smith Apple!" Applejack says in a disappointed tone. "I can't believe that you of all ponies are talking this way."
"If you'd let me finish!" Granny says, giving AJ the crazy eye. "I was going to say those prench cows would be too snooty an 'hoity toity' ta eat stale bread no matter how it was cooked."
Mac stood there shocked at AJ's tribalist assumption. "I'm so sorry, Granny. It's just I'm not in my right mind with today bein' ... today, an’ all..." AJ mumbled apologetically.
Mac walks over to the table with Granny Smith, and digs into his breakfast. Three slices of Prench toast, scrambled eggs, and 3 hay bacon strips. Within a matter of minuets, AJ and Big Mac are finished eating. They start washing up their plates while Granny and Apple Bloom are still eating. Normally they would have eaten together and waited for their family to finish, but today was different. Mac gazes at the clock 6:15. Not too, bad just a little late. "You ready to head out, AJ?" Mac asks his sister, picking up their saddlebags and placing his own upon his back.
"Yeah Mac. Gimmie' a sec," Applejack says reluctantly. "Okay now, Granny watch over the farm. Apple Bloom watch over Granny."
"I dont need no watchin' out for!" Granny Smith interjects.
"Oh come on AJ, Granny can handle herself," Apple Bloom whines. "I was gonna go Crusadin with Sweetie and Scoots today!"
"Please Granny, I know you can take care of yerself, but it never hurt ta have a little help," Applejack says sympathetically. For a second, it looked like Granny Smith would protest, but her face softened, and she gave a sigh.
"Alright, Appleseed." Granny Smith harumphed.
“As for you, Apple Bloom, I need ya here on the farm today. You know that with Mac an’ I gone, we need somepony to watch over the critters,” AppleJack said. Seeing the disappointed look on the little filly's face, AppleJack added, “This is a big responsibility, I know you’ve been tryin’ to gain some more recently, and I know yer not a little filly anymore. Today is yer chance to earn some of that responsibility.”
"Now one more thing, if any ponies from the bank show up just tell em' I'll be back tomorrow. Granny you know what to do, Apple Bloom act... ahhhhh... act like...umm...act like ya do when yer at one of Rairity’s fancy fru-fru tea parties she makes Sweetie drag you to," Applejack says, giving a concerned look at each of them.
They both nodded "yes Ma’am!" Then, Apple Bloom ran off after emitting an 'eep.' Granny just looked off towards where Apple Bloom ran off to and shrugged.
"Now where did she..."
"Sorry! I forgot. I had Scootaloo draw somthin’ for you guys to give ma and pa today." Apple Bloom said, galloping back around the corner and sliding a little on the rug. She dropped a colored portrait in front of AppleJack. AJ looked at the drawing. It was their Ma and Pa, but they were standing with the current versions of their children, and Granny standing in front of the Barn.
"Apple Bloom, Scootaloo really drew this?" AppleJack asked. "This is professional quality. Its almost like we were all really there to pose fer this," she said, tears welling in her eyes. Mac looks over, and his heart breaks and melts at the same time. He can feel the small tears streak down his face, but these are tears of happiness. Neither he nor AJ could have ever imagined seeing their parents with their children (mostly) all grown up.
Granny smith just stood there staring at the picture. She was speechless, thoughtless, hay she was even flabbergasted at what she saw. After a minute deep in thought, she smiled.
AppleJack was speechless, tears rolling freely down her face, staring at the picture. "Apple Bloom. Ma and Pa would love it. I love it. I'll make sure that it gets to them," Mac said, fighting his emotions. He sniffled. "C'mon AJ. We gotta go. We’re already late as it is." After rolling up the drawing, he places it in his own saddle bag, wiping some of the fresh tears off on the well preserved fabric.
“Right Big Mac, let’s get a move on. I Love ya’ll with all of my heart. Granny, Apple Bloom be safe. we’ll be back before ya know it.”
AppleJack and Big Macintosh began their arduous trek through the dying orchards of Sweet Apple Acres and on towards the graves of their long lost parents.