//------------------------------// // Empty Rooms and Full Hearts // Story: Empty Lake, Full Skies // by Snowdrifter //------------------------------// Sunset was feeling so much better after 2 weeks at Sweet Apple Acres. Sure, the bunk was lumpy, but it was far better than sleeping in the library. She had even started pitching in, seeing was she could help the Apples and maybe, just maybe, start making up for the mess she had caused. She’d learned a lot when she arrived in this world, and one of the things she’d found she mastered quickly was technology. She'd found several things to keep her mind off of school. -1 week ago- The Apple family did own a computer, but it had hardly been used. Sunset had spent the day tinkering with it, and finally had something useful to show for it. She grinned, and motioned the Apple siblings over. “Check this out. I got your computer updated and online. There’s a whole bunch of ideas here that could improve your sales or lower expenses *without* changing how you do stuff in the field. More, if you are willing to make changes out there, too. It can save the farm a fortune. Interested?” “I don’t reckon we’ve used that machine in years,” Big Mac said laconically, “so how’s it gonna help us now?” Applejack, on the other hand, hadn’t said anything, as she looked at the list of suggestions Sunset had typed up. She didn’t seem too impressed. “It’s simple. Right now, you’re using a paper ledger, and I saw you always get your supplies from the same few sources without ever checking prices. You've an annual account with Filthy Rich, and every winter you go into the red. He hits you with interest in the spring. You’ve got no advertising budget, relying on strict word of mouth about your cider and other products. By going digital with the budgeting, you can make more efficient decisions. My math is right on the money here.” Big Mac leaned past a skeptical Applejack, and as he scanned the lists, his eyes widened noticeably and he whistled, “That’s almost a twofold increase in net profit, and we just need to make a few changes…” I know, right?” Sunset smiled, but the look on the sibling’s faces quickly caused her to stop. “Was it that smile again? The smug uppity one?” Applejack nodded, “The same. Look, sugar cube, I don’t think we should change things just for the sake of change. That’s not the best way to run a business.” Big Mac interjected, and much to both of the girl’s surprise, it was on Sunset’s side. “Welp, I think some of these changes can’t hurt – not if we can advertise more AND still increase our profit margin. These figures look good to me.” There was a snort from the middle Apple sibling. ‘Don’t try using your fancy mathematics to muddy the issue. You’re for ‘em, I’m against. Granny will have to review the changes, and see what we can actually do.” With that, Applejack walked off, grabbing her hat on the way out. “And here I was going to show her how to use MyStable next. She always this stubborn?” “Eeyup…” Sundays are slow days even on a working farm. With chores out of the way, Sunset was helping out in a variety of positions. Mostly, she wanted to avoid thinking about returning to school. It had been 2 weeks since the disaster of the Fall Formal, and things were just not good. She had all her assignments done, of course. Grades were no threat, but all three of the siblings had warned her that the student body was still rather hostile towards her. In addition, some things had stressed Applejack, and Sunset knew what they were. Granny Smith had backed most of the changes Sunset had recommended, because they were small, easy to implement, and didn’t affect the day to day running of the farm. An infinitely practical woman, Granny was rather taken with Sunset’s head for business, mathematics and science when applied to agriculture. It was, however, the HOW of Granny’s approval that had turned Applejack against Sunset. -3 days ago- “That’s a right clever set of ideas, Sunset. Big Macs got a surprising way with figures, but he wasn’t ever set on applying it like this. Mebbey he never had the time. You kids just go along and put this stuff into practice. Why, having someone so sharp, it’s like Marmalade was here again.” Granny slapped a hand over her mouth, but not in time. Big Mac dropped the mug of cider he was drinking, and Applejack leapt to her feet, “Eeeenope!” Oddly, it was the less taciturn Applejack that snorted out the one-syllable answer before once again grabbing her hat and stomping out. Big Mac, however, took a series of deep breaths and cleaned up the spilled drink. “Oh, my. I really stepped in it that time,” Granny sighed, and shuffled towards her bedroom. Sunset found herself in a nearly empty kitchen, and for the first time since she’d been carried bodily inside the house, it felt… cold. “Marmalade?” Big Mac sighed. “Come on, best I show you.” And he headed up the stairs. Following the farm boy, Sunset realized that she’d actually never seen anyone use the back room up there. As Big Mac opened the door and turned on the lights, she started to get the idea. “Granny knows what she’s talking about, you are a lot like her.” Seeing the redhead’s confusion, Big Mac sighed. “You’re smart, Sunset. You probably can figure this out.” Looking around the room, Sunset could tell two people had shared it. A man and woman. There were picture frames showing the Apple siblings, Granny and others that Sunset hadn’t seen, and judging from the age of many of the pictures, probably never would. At one end of the tidy, well-kept room, however, was something that drew her eyes. On a dresser sat a photo that was out of position compared to the others. It showed two young adults. One was a blond woman with green eyes and a smile you could feel across the room. The resemblance to Big Mac and Applejack was uncanny, and clearly indicated this woman was their mother. She was wearing a set of work overalls, one shoulder undone, showing a t-shirt with a stylized jar of orange marmalade on it. Next to her was a strapping orange-eyed red-haired hunk – so that’s where Apple Bloom got her hair and eyes –in a wife beater shirt, jeans and a ball cap with a quartered apple on it. The photo sat atop an ornate black box, no more than a foot by 6 inches by 4 inches. It resembled a jewelry box, but then something Sunset had read about when she arrived clicked. There were nameplates, One for Marmalade Orange, one for Brock Apple. Different Born dates, same Died date. They had to have been together. “This is a shrine, is it? These were your parents.” “Eeyup.” “What happened? I understand if you don’t wanna say – “Barn caught fire, summer after Apple Bloom was born.” It was Applejack again, standing in the doorway of the room turned shrine. She looked like she’d eaten a bug. “We aren’t sure of the details, but they were both inside when it happened and unable to get out. Firemen said they found ‘em holding each other. Raised a new barn during the next Reunion, to remember them by. And this is their room, just the way they left it that morning. And Big Mac knows nobody’s supposed to be in here. “No offense, Sunset.” “None taken.” After walking out of the room, Sunset paused, “Was that what upset you?” “Sort of. Mom was smart – she ran the business side of things after Grandpa Apple passed on. But Mom was the kindest, most generous person you’d ever see. You aren’t like her at all.” “No, but she sounds like a great example to aspire to. Even for me.” “Eeeyup…” Sundays were for being lazy, and doing nothing, which is why Sunset was under the Apple family truck, with Apple Bloom handing her tools somewhat reluctantly. Sunset’s jacket hung from the driver’s side rear view mirror, and she was carefully making adjustments to the oil lines. Next to one of her fancy boots was a greasy pile of ‘extra’ parts she had as a plan to tease the Apple siblings. She’d been working on the truck all morning, and was just about through. No more backfiring at 5 AM, no more smoke (Including rainbow-colored – sorry, RD) and she figured she’d improved the fuel economy too. It was, however, still a relief when she heard the bell ringing, and Granny giving a loud “Soup’s ON!” Apple Bloom had taken off at the first note from the old triangle, so Sunset put away her tools and checked her work. She fired up the truck, and the old inline 6 engine roared to life like a champion. She backed up off the ramp stands and parked it out front, shutting it off with satisfaction. Then she went inside to clean up. “Truck’s fixed.” “Are you kidding me? Nobody’s been able to figure out what was wrong with that thing. We were gonna go get it fixed, but, well, budget and all that…” “Eyup. Good to know, though.” "Just trying to earn my keep. Not fair of me to just sit around for a week and eat your food,” Sunset smiled. “Glad I can be useful around here.” Big Mac raised an eyebrow, and passed some mail to Applejack. “Now you’re being too modest.” He grinned while his sister read the letters, a strange look developing on her face. He held up his hand, and slowly began a countdown. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… “This can’t be right. We sold THAT much cider on the new web site? The farm’s in the black still? We won't have to take Filthy Rich’s loan to clear us through to next spring?” Applejack seemed flabbergasted, Apple Bloom was practically buzzing with excitement, and Granny had a grin from ear to ear. “Eyup…” "So," Sunset said to Apple Bloom as they cleaned up the lunch dishes. "Ever used MyStable?"