Friday passed on to Saturday, the sun rising over the Appalachians to the Great Plains. The cold still persisted in the hills of Estes Park, and it won’t get warm until the afternoon. As usual, some parents went to work.
In Great Valley Drive, Dapplewood, being the more rested of the Thunderfoot youngsters, woke up, took his shower, and got dressed. Finding his grandfather absent for the day, he turned to the cereal box on top of the fridge. With his eleventh birthday on the horizon, a growth spurt should come along. For now, he would have to use another measure outside of jumping. Taking a few steps back, he “Ponied” up before hitting his domed skull hard on the kitchen appliance, grabbing the box as it fell off the top.
Pouring in the mixture of sweetened corn puffs and milk, the youngest Maximal hopped down the stairs to the lower living room, turning on the TV to an upcoming episode of “The Lion Guard.” As he chewed each spoonful, he looked at the grandfather clock next to the video cabinet. It will be time before his brother would wake up, and, maybe sooner, maybe later, a certain guest will come over.
A couple "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" episodes later and Dapplewood cocked his head to a loud thump upstairs. Now well rested, Cosgrove looked at his phone. No missed calls or unread texts. Putting it down, he then twisted and turned every joint in his body, echoing his room with every loud snap and pop that would make Rarity sick to her stomach. With one shake of his body, his bed head was restored to its original position. Also taking his shower and changing his clothes, he walked over to the kitchen, ready to take out last night’s dinner when his emerald eyes took notice of a red sticky note on the fridge.
“‘Someone coming today’” - Cosgrove raise one of his brows - “‘be prepared’?”
Ding! Dong!
Cosgrove turned his attention away from his planned meal, walking down the carpeted stairs and looking through the peeping hole. He drew his neck back and opened the door.
“Apple Bloom?” - He asked, looking at her face to face - “What brings you over here?”
"My history assignment wants me to ask a person about a historical event" - Apple Bloom peaked around the inside of the house - "Is your grandfather home?"
"He's currently in surgery." - Cosgrove scratched his head - "You could have called me."
"Dapplewood said you were already asleep when I texted him."
Down the neighborhood, Sunset walked out of her house, carrying her guitar case when her eyes spotted the Crusader and Maximal at the front door talking to each other. She couldn’t help but watch this development as she placed the instrument in the trunk of her car. Back at the two, Cosgrove looked at his brother as he spied at them with eyes above the couch. Looking forward again at his guest, he began to stretch again.
“Well,” - Cosgrove stretches his leg - "maybe I can fill you in on what I know as we walk?"
“Sure.” As Apple Bloom joined with him to a walk to the backyard, Sunset hopped into her car and drove off. At this point in time, the backyard is much more open while there are still quite a few trees clustered out back. The Maximal leaned on one such tree, rubbing his back up and down as Apple Bloom steadied her pencil on her notebook.
“My grandfather was just around eighteen when the lottery called him in. After he got trained, his troops were stationed in Osagawara Islands before being deployed to the Korean Penninsula.” - Cosgrove's weight began to uproot the tree - "After a few years time-" The tree uprooted, hitting the muddy ground with a huge thud.
Apple Bloom scribbled the notes and looked up, noticing Cosgrove lost his track of thought. “Has he won any medals?”
“Of course." - The Maximal lead her back to the front of the house. Dapplewood turned around on the couch, seeing his brother and guest entering and walking over towards his grandfather's room. Simply consisted of a queen sized bed, a dresser, and a closet, it doesn't take long for the grandson of the patriarch to find a display case. Complementing the deep forest green backdrop was a Red Cross, a Purple Heart, and a Victoria Cross next to a photo of his grandfather in uniform so many years ago. While the monochromatic photo didn't show any scars, the veteran did have his left arm bandaged at the time.
"Did he get shot right there?" Apple Bloom pointed to the spot in the photo.
Cosgrove rubbed his lower lip with his "index" finger."
"I've never asked him that." He put the display back on the dresser before turning to Apple Bloom. "Would you want to stay for dinner and find out?" When he saw Apple Bloom lower her shoulders, Cosgrove waved his arm towards the front yard. “Or do you want your sister or I to drive you back home?”
“The other reason I wanted to be here is because well,” - She lifted her arms and waved them at him - “you know us very well, but we don’t know much about your family beside you and your brother. And my sister is in band practice right now. I’d be honored to stay for dinner.”
Cosgrove scratches the back of his head.
“Well…” - He waves his arms around the space of the house - “Care for a tour then?”
Dapplewood peaked from the first step of stairs, watching Cosgrove and Apple Bloom head towards the former’s room.
“My room isn't as nice as yours," - He opens the door to his deep blue room - "but it’s a roof over my head.”
Apple Bloom turned her head back and forth, seeing the right wall having a bulletin board with old drawings of costumes among other such as a map of the city. Looking straight ahead was a display case holding Cosgrove's formal suit. The frame of the case is painted wood.
“Wasn't this Schnookums’ cage?” - Apple Bloom's suspicion was answered as she felt the monitor lizard crawl around her yellow boots - “Where does he sleep?”
Cosgrove laid on his bed once more, patting his belly to summon the beast to crawl up and lay on top of him. Apple Bloom cooed as she scratched the reptile’s back, removing an old scale or two.
“Sometimes I have to shuffle around to get comfy and-” Cosgrove caught Apple Bloom opening his closet, finding the most unlikely object she would suspect. It was a saddle, similar in shape to their western saddles, but custom made to the last stirrup and painted Maximal insignia.
“This is awfully good,” - She lifted the accessory, flipping it upside down, revealing the fleece underside - “but it’s too small.”
Cosgrove lifted his head as he could with a massive lizard on top of him, “Too small?”
“You got the width and the length of the cinch right,” - She flipped the saddle before sitting down on the bed - “but the seat is eight inches long, an adult saddle is twice as long. Still, not bad for a first try.”
Their eyes caught Dapplewood spying at them, Cosgrove looking at the saddle again when he answered, “Could it fit Dapplewood at his current age?” - He asked, receiving a nod from Apple Bloom - “Not a complete loss then too.”
Apple Bloom looked at the tooth marks on his arm, placing the saddle back to the closet before leaning down at Dapplewood. “Did you get any scars?”
After staying still for a moment, the farm girl got an answer when Dapplewood opened his mouth and ran a finger on the roof of his mouth. She looked inside, finding a light pink scar running from the roof of his mouth to just near his tonsils.
“Got that on accident while chewing on a coat hanger.” - Cosgrove looked away, curling his lips - “It wasn’t pretty.”
Apple Bloom noticed a couple graphic novels on the large dresser and stood up to take a closer look. She looked to the one on her left, the cover showing a mourning Mare Do Well holding her killed apprentice against a black backdrop. She then looked to the one on her right, seeing the cover of The Prankster holding a camera with a crooked smile. As she looked at the covers, Dapplewood approached his brother, making a few suggestions to ask. One such question had Cosgrove move Schnookums aside and sit up.
"I can't ask her that!" He outbursted.
"Ask me about what?" Apple Bloom looked down at the two boys, her head cocked to the left.
The older of the two brothers looked at his brother before pinching his brow.
"Okay, stop me if I go too far." - He took a deep breath - "Does it bother you that you do your usual activities, everyday, every night... Without saying hello..."
Apple Bloom lowered her shoulders and sat down.
"The truth is, I hardly remember their faces. But when I was really little, I used to have this dream where I was picked up and shushed to sleep with the most beautiful voice I ever heard." - She looked at the two brothers, Dapplewood in particular - "It didn't hurt to ask."
Over at Canterlot High, the Rainbooms were preparing to practice another song written by Fluttershy. Rarity and Applejack noticed Sunset feeling a little uneasy.
“Something wrong, Sunset?” asked Applejack.
Wrapping the guitar strap over her shoulder, Sunset turned around. “I saw your sister at Cosgrove’s house as I left.”
“Oh, yeah.” - Applejack tunes her bass, picking each string for the right note - “Apple Bloom needed information for her history assignment. And I mentioned to her before that we didn’t know so much from his family, well...” - - “Look, I’d know if she was using that as an excuse. Besides, she could use the company while she’s grounded.”
“Oh,” - Rarity cooed as she plugged in the electric keyboard - “company between a girl and a boy… And well, his brother.”
“It ain’t a date, Rarity.” - Applejack turned to the fashionista - “After that stake out, Cosgrove should deserve a break.”
“What if we are celebrating too soon?” - Sunset got Applejack’s attention - “What if that mutant pig was just one of many?”
“Hey!” - Rainbow Dash stopped the conversation - “Are we going to be talking about mutant pigs, or are we going to rock?”
Applejack looked back at the note stand, going to the first page when her cell phone buzzed in her pockets. The cover of the phone had a dual picture of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
“Pardon me this one minute.” She asked before walking into the hall.
It was already past four pm when Cosgrove prepared to warm up last night's dinner. Apple Bloom sat at the table. It was only a matter of time before the rest of the family comes home.
“Cosgrove?”
“Yes?” He responded, turning his upper body towards his guest.
“In all the years you’ve lived here, what do you think of me?” - Cosgrove stopped his walk over to the microwave, about to answer her question - “Outside of the usual.”
Out of the usual. Cosgrove began to ponder. Obviously, it saying she is pretty is out of the question. But he couldn't blame himself as every one of the Apple Family is an attractive individual; even Granny Smith was quite a catch back in her day. She is honest, but honesty runs in the family, so he could scratch that. Then there are things that he could recall from experience.
“Well for one, you’re tough. And that's more than just working on your family’s farm your whole life, you can beat me and Chelsey in an arm wrestling contest, and let’s not forget that fight you had with Diamond Tiara in Seventh Grade.”
Apple Bloom’s bow droops down, “You saw that?”
Cosgrove nodded before gently pinching his chin, “You are among, if not the most, most determined person I have ever seen. I remember you having a fun time learning French.”
Dapplewood watched as the conversation unfurled before his Maximal brother and the Crusader. As Apple Bloom stood up and walked towards him, Dapplewood noticed a detail he didn’t quite grasp on each encounter. Granted Apple Bloom is two months older than Cosgrove, but whether it was the shoes they wore or not, the two are of equal height.
“And?”
After Cosgrove places the food in the microwave, he leaned on the counter.
“Well… How can I put it?” He tapped his conjoined fingers together before twirling them around “In every friendship and family, there is someone that keeps it together. For the Maximals, it’s me. For the Crusaders…”
Apple Bloom’s eyes widened when he pointed a finger at her. Those three things he said about her, all of which are true. She is indeed tough, she is indeed determined, and she keeps her family and closest friends together through thick and thin.
Apple Bloom licked her lips, but before she could ask another question, the front door opened and closed, echoing the halls with each collective footstep, before the masters of the house revealed themselves. Having only seen them mostly from the annual neighborhood parties at her home, the farmer did notice quite a few details; their dead tired eyes, massive height, and hair that's gaining white hairs as the years went by. The second fact still intimidated her as they sat on the chairs around the table.
“I hope you made yourself comfortable?” Said Clamp Jaw in a surprisingly calm voice, very much different from the warning he gave his son when they first caught Schnookums.
“Eeyup.” Apple Bloom said in relief.
A while into dinner, the Thunderfoot family were telling their life stories.
“And while we weren’t looking,” - Claire took a bite of beef stroganoff - “this donkey was walking across the road when BAM!” - she slapped her hands together.
“Did the donkey-?”
“Oh no, it didn’t die,” - Clamp Jaw chuckled - “but boy did the spit took a long while to take off.”
“That’s nothing to what happened in Hawaii.” Cosgrove turns to his guest “Mom and Dad were driving to a local town to try some of the cuisine there. No one was there, so they left. When they got back to the hotel and turned on the news channel, they saw the exact same town” - he swiped his hand around - “smothered in lava.”
“Whoa…” - Apple Bloom scratched her head, looking over to the parents - “And this was before any of them were born?"
“Mmhmm.” They answered, before chuckling.
Tremor chuckled, shifting his bandaged shoulder around.
“How’s your arm, Grandpa?” Asked Cosgrove.
“Still hurts like hell.” He answered before taking another bite -“And I feel that a piece of me is missing.”
“What happened to your arm?” Apple Bloom asked, not noticing the worried looks of his son and daughter in law.
Claire raised a finger, “I don’t think that’s an appropriate-”
Tremor silenced her, straightening himself up and clears his throat before turning his head to Apple Bloom.
“August Eighteenth, Nineteen Fifty One. It was the hottest day of my service, and the battle was one to match. My platoon was on its third day, surrounded by the Norters with no food, little water, less ammo. I was tending to one of my wounded when a squad of them launched out of the jungle! One stabbed me in the shoulder with a bayonet, ain’t no way out.” - he flicked his eyes at his grandchildren - “But with the present evidence, I wasn’t ready to die that day. I kicked him away, tore off the gun, fired three others and the one that attacked me well… he’ll be seeing pitch black his entire life…”
Every table sitter both blood and friend had their mouth slightly agape. The silence was broken for a split second when Apple Bloom’s spoon slipped into her bowl. With an inside cough, Tremor stabbed two chunks of beef.
“New to you… But a typical war story.” He finished before pulling the meat clean off the fork.
Clamp Jaw, in one of the few times his stern face didn't appear stern, leaned towards his son.
“You’d want to take her home now.”
Still taking in Tremor’s war story, the two didn’t talk for a while on the drive back to Sweet Apple Acres. When the traffic light is taking too long to change, the silence had to be broken.
“I’m sorry you heard that.” Said Cosgrove, shifting his eyes to his friend.
As soon as the light went green, he applied weight on the gas pedal, pushing the car forward.
Apple Bloom looked at the driver, “Do you worry about what happens next? I mean, Applejack, Sunset, all of them are going to graduate in a few months.”
Cosgrove lowered his eyes for a while before looking straight at the road.
“I do. When they leave for college, it would be up to us. And we would only be around for two more years. And whatever happens in town when we’re in college, I won’t be there to protect Dapplewood, and Mom and Dad are becoming older, slower…”
He had a point. Between the last time a person would call home and the next, a lot of things can happen, some good, some bad. One wouldn’t think that his parents would get killed, but they do.
Soon, they arrived at the farmhouse. Stepping out of the car, the two looked at the night sky, their faces illuminated by the moon as the saw their breath leave their nostrils.
“I’ll see you both at the dance then?” he asked, getting a nod in return before the Maximal got in the car.
The Crusader was halfway to her house, becoming uncertain once again as she turned around, but Cosgrove’ brake lights were far away. Taking out the keys, she entered her house and walked up the stairs to her room, sorting her blankets.
“So, how were they?” Asked Applejack.
“There really is a lot more to them than we realize.” - Apple Bloom sat on her bed - “Especially their father. and the stories they tell really are worth a laugh. And I got everything I needed for the assignment.” - she looked down, retaining her smile - “Cosgrove’s really lucky to have a family like that.”
Applejack curled a smile, “Good.” - She turned her head to the window, figuratively watching Cosgrove return to his home - “Nothing bad happened?”
Apple Bloom shook her head, “Nope.”
“Good. Glad you enjoyed the visit.” - Applejack turned away once more from her sister’s room before something reached into her mind - “Oh I got called from Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle…”
The mention of their names had her worry, she did forget to give them a call before coming over.
“I told them that you and Cosgrove helped out around the house.” She answered
Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow, “But, that was yesterday.” - As one of the few times she lied, Applejack pursed her lips looking up at the ceiling. - “I won’t tell anybody, it’ll be our secret.”
Calmed, her sister closed the door, leaving Apple Bloom to prepare for her slumber. She looked at her mirror, watching herself change from a happy person to a worried one.
“Yeah… Our little secret…”
Back at his home in Great Valley Drive, Cosgrove ate a few more of his leftovers when Dapplewood came into his view, pointing at him, formed a heart shape with both hands, then pointed to the outside world.
“She’s very sweet, and a good friend.” - Cosgrove looked down - “But you do remember Flash having a crush on Sunset before having a crush on Twilight.”
Dapplewood shifted through his phone again, playing the recording, “Still, not bad for your first try.”
The complement on his first attempt on making a saddle made him smile, “But we’ll see, we’ll see.”