To my dear brother,
I hope this letter finds you well. Twilight tells me that the stallion taking this letter can be trusted, that he knows exactly where to find you. I guess that means that you really are a member of the New Dawn. Yer a part of that hell-raisin pain in Princess Luna’s flank.
I’m so proud of you, ya lummox.
I’m glad that I have the chance to tell you that. I never did get the chance to tell Filthy (mostly coz the fool stallion never saw fit to mention exactly what he was getting up to on Fridays. I figgered he was seein’ that batpony that oversaw the west orchard. Never liked the way she looked at him, no sir. He may’ve just been my husband outta necessity, but he was still my husband.) Aw well, he’s dead and so will I be soon enough.
Now don’t yourself all twisted up about this. I’ve made my peace and I’m ready to go. I’m just sorry that I won’t be around to watch the sun rise beside you and App…
Mac, you have to save our sister. No matter what your little group is up to, no matter the cost, you have to save her. I was doing my best to protect her, ya have to believe me. When I sent off the poisoned moon-fruit shipments, I turned right around and put her on the first train to Trottingham.
But they found her, damn them.
The guards keep mocking me by telling me they’ve put her to work on the farm. I can’t stand the thought. It’s getting so cold out there and I just know the overseers are gonna single her out now that I’m not there to protect her. I think about her, shivering in the mud and planting more of those damned moon-fruit trees, and it’s the only time I really feel sorrow. Like I’m a failure.
I don’t know if you’ve seen the farm since the Shift, but it’s not in great shape. The youngest trees are already dead, and the oldest ones won’t last much longer. Even if we get the sun back up in the next year or so, we won’t have apple bearing trees for years to come.
Luckily we have the seeds.
Twilight cast a spell on em that’ll keep em viable for at least a decade, maybe more. As soon as the sun rises again, those need to be planted as soon as possible. Use the special fertilizer I got from Zecora. It’s in the secret cellar in the south orchard.
I’m runnin out of time. Gotta make sure I get everything down. My damn teeth are chattering. I guess I am a little scared.
Diamond Tiara! That little prima donna never thought too much of me, but she was still an honorary Apple. I have no idea where she ran off to after her pa was arrested, but try and bring her home too. And make sure that she knew that, for what it’s worth, her step-mama loved her.
Just a little bit.
Huh, I actually laughed. Calmed my nerves somewhat.
I guess that about covers it. Hoo boy.
This is really it, isn’t it?
I love you, big brother. I don’t know if I ever said it enough. You were the best brother anypony coulda asked fer.
See ya at the end of the trail.
Your little sis,
Applejack