It took a while for Applebloom and Sandow to calm. Nopony said anything. The two clung to one another in the silence. Twilight had refilled the water pitcher. Spike had gone and sat down with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle had placed her forelegs around Spike and hugged him.
“Somepony should get go my sister.” Applebloom said finally, wiping her nose with her foreleg. “We have a family member in trouble.”
Sandow struggled to sit up, gently easing himself out from under Applebloom. He shook the dust from his burnt orange mane and tail as he rose. Patches of his toasty light brown coat were visible under the white-grey patches of dust.
He got to his hooves, nearly falling off of the couch, and then jammed his muzzle down into the water pitcher, drinking most of the pitcher in one go. After clearing his throat, he bowed slightly to Celestia, his muzzle still dripping water and leaving a puddle on the floor.
“There’s no need for that.” Celestia said.
“There’s always a need for good manners.” Sandow said. “You’ve been very kind.”
“Sandow, do you know Princess Luna?” Celestia asked.
“No…” Sandow said slowly. “But I seem to recall that she was gone. I remember her name. Why do you ask?”
“I am trying to figure out how long you’ve been petrified. You lived after Luna’s fall. Can you tell me about some major event in your life? Perhaps it will help.”
Sandow returned to sitting on the sofa, Applebloom beside him.
“Well, there was the summer of endless rains. The orchard flooded. We lost our farm.” Sandow’s voice was soft, gentle, returning to normal. He had a pleasant voice, deep.
Celestia scowled, thoughtful, she looked upward, her eyes narrowing. “That was about three or four hundred or so years ago.” She said after thinking.
An intense look of pain crossed Sandow’s face again.
“You talk a little funny.” Applebloom drawled.
“So do you.” Sandow replied, looking down at her. “The Apple family survives?”
“We’re all over!” Applebloom said. “We’re one of the largest clans of earth ponies in Equestria.” Applebloom paused. “Yer a pegasus.”
“So I am.” Sandow said. “My dam, Bailey Sweet was an earth pony.”
Twilight Sparkle emitted an odd grunting noise. Celestia chuckled faintly.
The other two Crusaders slowly approached the sofa. They stood, looking at Applebloom for a moment, and then crammed themselves onto the sofa beside her. They looked at Sandow and Applebloom, their faces full of questions.
Applebloom was studying Sandow’s face intently.
“You have green eyes.” Applebloom said. “Just like a lot of the Apple family.”
Sandow smiled weakly.
Celestia cleared her throat. “I really must be going. If you will excuse me.” She turned and left, exiting the door, her royal guard visible outside for a brief instant before the door closed.
The door reopened and Celestia peeked her head inside. “Sandow, you and I will talk again, after you are settled a bit more.” Celestia looked thoughtful. “Spend some time with your family. I am sorry for what you have lost.”
Applebloom squirmed. She looked up at Sandow, her face sad. “I’m sorry for asking,” Applebloom said, apologising, “but what was yer filly’s name?”
Sandow smiled sadly, his eyes beginning to water. “Her name was Hawley. Her mother was an earth pony named Bluebelle.” He paused, swallowing, clearing his throat. “My other wife was named Azalea. Both sisters. Of the Flower clan.
“You married sisters?” Sweetie Belle gasped. “And they shared you? Did they fight?”
“Sweetie Belle…” Twilight said, unable to finish her sentence.
“There are no herds anymore.” Scootaloo said. “Well, not really. Some ponies still do it but they get made fun of.”
Sandow looked shocked.
“What if something happened to a parent, like something happened to me?” He asked.
Applebloom squirmed uncomfortably. “Sometimes, things do happen. And then you don’t have parents.” She began to sniffle.
Sandow wrapped his leg around the foal and pulled her close. “Things happen.” He agreed.
Applebloom quickly reclaimed her usual demeanor, wiping her nose and putting on a brave face. “We should talk about this later.” She sniffed.
“You are so young. It is hard to believe all of this is happening. Nopony your age is ever married now.” Scootaloo said.
“Scootaloo!” Twilight snapped.
Sandow began to look very, very confused.
“I don’t understand what is being said,” he said finally.
“Sandow…” Twilight began, “By our society standards, you are young. There’s going to be a bit of a shock trying to adjust. Things have changed a great deal. You may have been considered an adult back during your time, and you are still an adult, I am not challenging that, but other ponies are going to have a hard time understanding your point of view and what might be normal for you.”
“I’m lost.” Sandow said.
“You don’t have a cutie mark!” Sweetie Belle squealed, interrupting.
Sandow squirmed. “That’s private.”
“We don’t have ours either. We’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Sweetie Belle squeaked.
“Yer older than Granny Smith. That makes you the oldest Apple alive. She’s gonna be grouchy.” Applebloom blurted.
Sandow was utterly confused.
“Yer the oldest Apple alive…” Applebloom repeated in awe. “And you ain’t all wrinkly. And she’s gonna have to respect her elders!”
“You have large wings!” Scootaloo said.
Sandow cringed under the fillies assault.
“Girls!” Twilight shouted.
Three fillies paused, looking at her.
“I think he needs a moment. Think about the day he is having.” Twilight scolded.
“Foals do what they do.” Sandow said.
Spike disappeared in the kitchen humming to himself.
Sandow sat on the sofa, trying to take everything in. His grief. His shock. This whole new world. Everything had changed. Everything was different. Nothing was the same.
No, he thought, one thing hadn’t changed.
Apples stuck together. He took a deep sigh of relief.
He sat silently, aware that three little fillies were looking at him. And Twilight. He stared at Twilight. “You are like Celestia.” He said.
“Long story.” Twilight said.
Spike returned from the kitchen with a bowl of chopped mixed fruit and set it on the table near the sofa. He shoved the table closer to Sandow, and smiled. “Fruit salad.” Spike said. “I bet you're hungry.”
Sandow felt his stomach rumble and he eyed the salad. It didn’t take long to bury his muzzle into the bowl.
Twilight sat, watching him eat. She made a few mental notes, like checking over the Apple family’s well documental genealogy. She hoped that there might be something, somewhere. She wondered if Sandow could read or write. He seemed smart enough. Well spoken. Terrible table manners, Twilight reflected. No cutie mark, as the Crusaders had so helpfully pointed out.
He was also handsome, for his age. Twilight banished that that mental note from her mind.
“Spike.” Twilight said.
“Yeah Twilight?” Spike replied.
“Could you please go fetch me some Apples?” Twilight asked.
“You don’t mean the fruit, do you Twilight?” Spike asked.
“No.” Twilight replied.
“Can do.” Spike said, hurrying towards the door.