//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11 
// Story: Set In Stone 
// by kudzuhaiku 
//------------------------------//

	Sandow sat, in the Apple family living room, in a chair, staring at a primer that lay on a table in front of him. It was full of words. Words he couldn’t quite make out, but he was trying. He was starting to recognise letters. It had been one week since the owlbear fight. His wing was still bandaged, and he was still in a lot of pain, but having a mark made it worth it. Or, a cutie mark as Applejack insisted on calling it. 

Applejack came through the door, followed by Twilight Sparkle. They both nodded in hello, Applejack sat on one sofa, and Twilight sat on the sofa closest to him. They both looked very pleased about something. 

“Sandow, I have something to share with you.” Twilight said. “I have very good news that will make you happy. I hope.” She smiled warmly, gazing at him fondly, and then exchanging a glance with Applejack. 

“Sandow, yer gonna love this.” Applejack said, happiness barely contained in her voice. 

Twilight Sparkle pulled out a thick ledger and opened it. “I had to fetch this from the royal archives. The original scroll was smudged and hard to read. Turns out we’ve had to read this particular lineage before. Are you ready?” Twilight Sparkle asked. 

Sandow took a deep breath and nodded. 

“It says here that Sweet Potato Pie married two young fresh faced and untouched mares named Hawley Apple and Honeysuckle Flower. It is also noted that Hawley and Honeysuckle were both sisters, offspring of Sandow Apple and his two wives, Bluebelle Flower and Azalea Flower, sisters. This account was added posthumously by Oliver Apple, offspring of Hawley Apple, and witnessed by Oliver’s sister, also from Hawley, Upton Pyne Apple, Mayor of Crossroads Mill in the county of Unicorn Range. Oliver Apple was highly educated and was the town’s historian. Upton Pyne Apple had foals, and those foals had foals, and eventually this bloodline leads directly to this bushel of Apples right here at Sweet Apple Acres. Honeysuckle’s foals kept the Pie name, as the Flower clan sank into some amount of disgrace due to a large amount of debt. So this is the common bond that links both the Pie family and the Apple family. I’m going to have to tell Pinkie Pie later.” Twilight closed the book and sat smiling. “The record also mentions Thud and Bailey Sweet Apple, added posthumously.” 

Sandow took a deep shuddering breath. To his credit, he didn’t lose his composure right away, he sat there, a faint smile, feeling a sense of comfort in knowing that his foals had survived. And done well for themselves. After several moments of silence, he finally lost it, tears coming even though he struggled to hold them back. 

The mares said nothing, allowing Sandow his moment of grief. He wept for a while, still smiling somewhat, his face an odd mix of sadness and relief. He took many deep breaths, taking it all in, realising he was sitting in a room with one of his own great something something grandfoals. The thought struck him particularly hard. He gazed at Applejack. 

“I ain’t callin’ you Granpappy Apple” Applejack said, reading his mind. “Ain’t no way, ain’t no how. That’d just be weird.” Applejack paused, looking thoughtful. “But Pinkie might. So brace yerself.” 

Sandow nodded, his smile getting a little stronger. He cleared his throat a few times, and then turned his gaze upon Twilight. “Thank you.” He said, his voice having more than a bit of a drawl. “I really do appreciate this.” 

“Oh, and before I forget, in Ponyville, there is mare named Lilly Valley. One of Honeysuckle’s descendants. I’ll have to introduce you two sometime. Be careful though, she spooks easily.” Twilight smiled broadly, glad that her hard work had uncovered something meaningful and was appreciated. 

“So Pinkie and I really are related.” Applejack said. “There’s hard proof of that now. I’m glad about that. I was hopin’ to get this mess sorted out one day.” 

Twilight nodded and took a deep breath. 

“Upton Pyne Apple was the first earth pony to ever hold the office of mayor in the Unicorn Range. Usually, unicorns took the government jobs. Seems the ponies remember her fondly. She brought sweeping social change. She brought law and order. She ordered a library built in the nearby farming community where a lot of earth ponies lived. She started with nothing in her life and made a name for herself, changing the world around her, Oliver always at her side. Oliver took inspiration from Smart Cookie, proving that an earth pony could be just as educated as a unicorn, even if they have to work harder in their studies because they do not have magic to manipulate books and an easier means to write. Oliver said he owed his gentle demeanor to his father, Sweet Potato Pie, a gentleman farmer who was also well educated and well spoken. Oliver left a lot of his own history behind. His mother Hawley, told him stories that Bluebelle had told her about you, Sandow Apple. How gentle you were, kind, patient, a well intentioned stallion. Oliver regretted that he never knew his grandsire.” Twilight said.

Sandow sat, taking it all in, a few tears still flowing, his breathing slow and measured. 

“A lot of your offspring went on to become memorable ponies. There’s a long list of mayors, sheriffs, judges, lawmakers, writers, historians, and the ponies that founded Ponyville, all coming from your lineage. The Apple family has a long and proud history, and you were one link on a much longer chain that connects the past to the present.” Twilight continued. 

“And,” added Applejack, “you can see where the Pie family gets their flakey crusts.” She chortled at her own joke. “Really, Sandow, what was you thinkin’ pickin’ a knockdown drag out fight with an owlbear of all things?” 

Sandow shrugged, still looking a little damp. 

“Zecora told me there was a bowlegged owlbear wandering the Everfree near her home.” Twilight said, a ghost of a smile on her lips. 

“Cheer up Sandow. I know yer sad now, but take some comfort in the fact that yer foals lived on and you’re here to look after their foals. You didn’t skip out on them, you just went forward a bit to look after their foals.” Applejack said, her face slightly confused as she tried to think about what she had said. “Er, somethin’ like that anyhoo. Yer here now, can’t change that, and Applebloom would have lost one of her best friends. Things worked out.” 

“Thanks Applejack.” Said Sandow. 

“Oh, Sandow, one more thing. Big Mac and I are going to be real busy for the next few days. A travelin’ dance teacher has come to town and Applebloom wants to join her friends in tryin’ to get a cutie mark in dancin’. Do you think you could escort Applebloom to town and back for me?” Applejack asked, her tone hopeful. 

Sandow nodded. Anything for family.