Mah` Only Sister
Applejack stormed out of the farmhouse. A fury of emotions raging inside of her: anger, frustration, sadness, but mostly pain. She reached the southern field. Normally she would have stared bucking trees in order to be both productive and to vent off her anger. The only problem was that this part of the farm had already been harvested the other day.
Instead, she sat down on the ground and watched the sun set in the western sky. It was truly a glorious sight, with the warmth of the oranges, yellows and reds still balanced by the coolness of the blue and oncoming violet. It was especially beautiful today because the colors played off of the clouds still in the sky. Very few ponies knew that this was actually Princess Celestia's favorite part of the daytime. While she enjoyed the day, the never-ending blue marred only by the occasional white cloud just seemed boring at times, especially when compared to her beloved sister's glorious, star-filled night. Both the sunset and sunrise provided Celestia the opportunity to play with colors in the sky and truly express herself all throughout Equestria.
Applejack, however, could not enjoy the sunset, for she was desperately trying to fight back tears. She thought about what had happened back in the dining room earlier that evening. After they had finished eating, Apple Bloom got up and announced that she would be moving out of the house to begin an apprenticeship with the carpenter, Wood Frame. Normally, this should not have been a problem, especially since Apple Bloom would still be in Ponyville, but for some reason this news had set Applejack off the deep-end.
`
***
“What do yah` mean you’re moving out?” Applejack demanded. “Is the farm life not good enough for yah`?”
“Ah` just thought it was the best way to pursue my special talent,” Apple Bloom stated, clearly taken aback. “Ah` mean the Apple family is good an’ all at woodworking, like building and raising the barn and working with the equipment, but we’re not professional carpenters.”
“You’re dishonoring the family legacy! Ah` though Ah` raised you better than that!” Applejack shouted.
“You’re not mah` Mom!” Apple Bloom screamed, and then ran upstairs slamming her bedroom door.
***
Those words cut Applejack to the very core. While they were technically true, she had developed a special bond with Apple Bloom beyond that of just a sister. Ever since their parents had died in a tragic accident she became a maternal figure in Apple Bloom's life.
Those first couple of years had been like walking through Tartarus. Big Mac had to take on the bulk of the farm work by himself. While they did receive help from the Ponyville locals and their extended family (particularly around harvest time), they could only do so much, having their own farms and families to attend to. Applejack was still too young to really be of any help in the fields. Instead, she helped Granny Smith around the house, particularly with Apple Bloom. Despite Granny Smith having raised her own children, there was only so much she could have done in her old age. Thus, Applejack found herself in a position of surrogate mother. Whenever she wasn't busy with school, Applejack was constantly caring for a persistently upset foal, who just couldn't understand what had happened to her Ma' and Pa'.
Thankfully, things started to stabilize once Applejack could start helping Big Mac with the apple orchard. They had both completed the necessary level of education, Big Mac had developed a good system for the farm work, and Apple Bloom was old enough to look after herself under the careful—yet limited—watch of Granny Smith with occasional help from Applejack.
Then Apple Bloom got so impatient about her cutie mark. After the countless failed "crusades" that she had embarked on with her friends, they finally discovered their special talents in things that they were already good at and interested in (something that Applejack, and many others, tried to help them understand). Then Apple Bloom transferred that impatience to other things, like pursuing her talent.
While Applejack had always encouraged her younger sister to do this very thing, the truth was that she, herself, just wasn't ready for the change. So many things had been changing in her life up to this moment. Big Mac had finally proposed to Miss Cheerilee, without any influence from a "love potion" this time, and they got married (thus making her a Mrs.). They had their own foal, a maroon colt with a red mane, named Macintosh Jr, or "Lil' Mac" as they affectionately called him. Even though they still lived in the house at Sweet Apple Acres, it was a big change. Apple Bloom, herself, had graduated from Ponyville High. But there were some sad changes when illness and old age had finally overtaken Granny Smith.
This event, along with Apple Bloom's recent announcement to move out, reminded Applejack all too much of that time when she left the farm to live with her Aunt and Uncle Orange in Manehattan shortly after the death of Ma' and Pa'. She didn't want Apple Bloom to do the same thing (even though this event in Applejack's life helped her realize just how much her own family needed her and how she needed them, and returned home). There were, however, several differences between this current situation and Applejack's misadventure.
First of all, Apple Bloom was a lot older than Applejack had been at that time, so she could make her decisions more rationally. Second, Applejack and Big Mac had been doing the farm work by themselves for years before Apple Bloom was finally old enough to help. So her departure wouldn't hurt the prosperity of the farm. Third, Cheerilee managed to partially fill the void left from Granny Smith's passing. And finally, Granny Smith's death was not unexpected, like that of Applejack's parents. She was sick for several months before the end. In fact, everypony agreed that death was actually a sweet mercy for the poor old mare, but it still hurt nonetheless.
These thoughts finally caused Applejack to break down, succumbing to the tears. There was no reason for her to have said what she said. She had acted foalishly, and she knew it. She thought about her parents. How would they have handled the situation? This hadn't been the first time she had ever wondered about such things, but this time she had no answer to give herself. No reassurance whatsoever.
'Have Ah` been doing the right thing?' She wondered. 'Or have Ah` taken a position that Ah` never should have?'
"Applejack?" A small voice said from behind her.
She turned. Apple Bloom was standing a few trots behind her. 'How long has she been there?'
Apple Bloom had changed a lot over the years, and yet she was still the same little filly that Applejack knew. They were practically the same size now, often leading to many—more pleasant—arguments over who was taller. These debates were usually resolved over how one of them wore their respective head gear that day. Speaking of which, she still wore one of Ma's many pink bows. It was one of the few things she had from her, much like how Applejack's hat and Big Mac's harness used to belong to Pa'. She also had her cutie mark, a little apple tree sprout with a hammer and 2x4 crossed behind it (a look that certainly made for many pirate-themed costumes during Nightmare Night). Her eyes wouldn't meet Applejack's and tears stained her cheeks.
"What is it, Apple Bloom?" Applejack replied, with a little more coldness than she intended.
"I....Ah'm sorry for what Ah` said," she started, with fresh tears forming in her eyes. "Ah` was just so angry. Ah` mean...Ah` don't have ta` move out for an apprenticeship. And Ah` can stay and continue the family legacy...like you want."
Applejack's heart sank even lower than before. She couldn't stand for this. It went against everything she believed and had tried to teach Apple Bloom for so many years.
"No, sugercube," she responded with a more familiar, comforting voice. "Ah` can't let you do that, not for me."
"Huh?" Apple Bloom replied, finally looking up.
"Ah` was wrong," Applejack admitted. "Ah` never should have said what Ah` said. This is important to you, and Ah` need to accept that. Ah`...Ah` just wasn't ready to loose mah` only sister."
All was still. The sun was nearly over the horizon, and night was setting in fast.
"Can Ah` show you something?" Apple Bloom finally asked.
Applejack nodded. With that, Apple Bloom turned and headed back to the farmhouse. Applejack followed. It was finally dark by the time they arrived at the lit structure and went in. Cheerilee and Big Mac were nowhere to be seen. Applejack figured that she would have to face them later and apologize for her behavior.
"Stay here," Apple Bloom said, and then she went upstairs. Movements overhead told Applejack that she was looking for whatever it was she wanted to show her. Applejack sat down on the couch and waited.
Apple Bloom shortly came back, carrying something that looked a lot like one of the Apple Family photo albums. She gave it to her, beckoning her to look through it. Applejack complied and started to look through the book.
Already she noticed that something was different. The front cover was entitled Apple Bloom and Applejack. Opening it she realized that it was a scrapbook. For the past couple of months Apple Bloom had been obsessively going through the old photo albums and making copies of some of them. Apparently this is what she had been doing with those copies.
There were all sorts of pictures from their lives here. Some in particular were from the early years of Apple Bloom's crusading days. There was one of the Sisterhooves Social with Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Applejack still couldn't quite believe how determined Rarity was to make amends with her own sister that she willingly laid down in that mud for almost an hour before the race started. There were some pictures of various camping trips with Apple Bloom's friends as well as the Apple Family Reunions from years past. There was even a picture of them and their friends in the Chrystal Empire during the Equestria Games.
As she kept turning pages, Applejack found some pictures from more recent years. First, there was a picture of Apple Bloom at her cute-ceañera. The excitement in her eyes caused Applejack to smile. Next was Big Mac's and Cheerilee's wedding. Applejack was the best mare, and Apple Bloom and her friends were the bride's maids. The next few pictures clearly showed Cheerilee's pregnancy. Finally, the cutest little earth-pony colt made his first appearance. Lil' Mac loved to climb on Apple Bloom's back and try to munch on her bow, much to her dismay. Next was a picture of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo all in graduation robes and caps. Applejack was so proud of her sister that day. She only wished that Ma' and Pa' could have been around to see just how far their youngest daughter had come.
Applejack finally turned to the last page, finding what had to be the oldest picture in the entire book. It was picture of a young Applejack holding an even younger Apple Bloom in her forelegs. She remembered this day well. It was the day that Ma' and Pa' brought Apple Bloom home for the very first time. She was so excited to be getting a sister that she didn't want to let her go.
'Ah` guess some things never change,' she thought.
Bellow it was a hoof-drawn picture combining both Applejack's and Apple Bloom's cutie marks together that actually looked really good. Then there was a note:
The best big sister any filly could ever hope to ask for. Thanks for everything Sis'.
Fresh tears formed in Applejack's eyes, but not tears of pain or sadness, but tears of joy. The pain in her heart was ebbing away, and the weight of her doubts lifted. She was feeling happier than she had in a long time
"See, even if Ah` move away, y'all will still be my big sister," Apple Bloom started. "No matter what happens, Ah'll always love y-oomph!"
Applejack suddenly embraced Apple Bloom, which she gladly returned. They held onto each other for what felt like an eternity, neither of them wanting to let go. In that moment Applejack realized that her sister's special talent extended beyond making various objects, or miraculously rejuvenating and old, worn-out tree house. It also would repair the broken heart of a stubborn old mare, and she wouldn't have it any other way.