A/N: So, I'd love to hear what people think of Apple Burst. I enjoy writing this story, and I do love exploring the depths of the Apple family. Hope you all enjoy!
"We're what?" asked Apple Burst. She gave a disbelieving snort and shook her head, black bangs going every which way.
Applejack couldn't help but wish that she was able to cut them off. Couldn't understand how anypony was able to deal with hair in their eyes, tickling at their nose and blocking their sight.
Then she caught sight of the scowl on her cousin's face and found herself scowling right back, nose wrinkling and eyes narrowed.
"We're gonna go over to a friend o' mines today," repeated Applejack, not even bothering to attempt to smile.
She didn't need to right then, with Granny Smith downstairs and Apple Bloom already on her way to school. Didn't need too, so she didn't try. Had grown tired of that many days
weeks
months
years
visits ago, back when they were both small fillies and Applejack still had parents to run too when she was upset.
"If they're friends with you, then I don't want to meet them," snapped Apple Burst, and she didn't wait even a moment before turning her back on Applejack, looking out the bedroom window instead.
"Did ah ask yah if yah wanted to meet them?" Applejack rolled her eyes at the other mare, and how long ago was the last time that she had pouted over something?
It was years ago, she was certain. Then Apple Bloom had come along and she just wasn't able to do it anymore, had too many other things to be doing. More important things.
Turning around, Applejack trotted over to the doorway and paused just for a moment. "We're gonna leave right afta' breakfast."
-x-x-x-
At Sweet Apple Acres, mealtime is a very important thing. It's one of the few times of the day that isn't for working or friends, but sitting down with the family and taking a deep breath. It was a time for relaxing and planning and discussing things that weren't meant for the ears of those outside the family.
No meal was quite as important as breakfast either, when the young ones were out of the way and the meal was fresh and hot and large, so that everypony could have something to eat before starting the days hard work.
That breakfast was no different, much to Applejack's displeasure.
Granny Smith sat at the head of the table, and Big Macintosh had taken up the seat directly to her right. Caramel was there too, and the orange mare cast him a small smile as she sat down the last plate of warm biscuits.
Those things were all good.
"Mornin', everyone." said Applejack, moving to take her usual seat. It was the chair right beside Caramel, who sat eyeing the plate of scrambled eggs hungrily. At the last moment though, Apple Burst scooted around her and took that seat instead.
That was when the good began to crack
shatter
twist
break, and it was all that Applejack could do to keep that fake little smile on her face. "Uh, Apple Burst, I get that yah don't normally eat here 'nd all, but that's kinda mah chair."
The dark filly looked up, and for the briefest of moments she just looked confused. Then the scowl was on her face and it was very fitting indeed. "Rea-"
"There are plenty of other chairs, dearie," interrupted Granny Smith, as though she didn't even realize that her niece was talking. Probably hadn't, mind far too wrapped up in other things, far more important matters. "Take a seat so we can start eatin', before Caramel washes us all away."
Said stallions gaze abruptly switched from the food to offering the elderly mare a sheepish grin. He rubbed the back of his head with one hoof, ruffling the dark blond hair. "Sorry, ma'am. I'm just mighty hungry this mornin' and, well, that smells right good."
Granny Smith nodded and hummed and tutted, and then she gave Applejack a rather pointed look. The young mare wasted no time in taking a different chair, one on the opposite side of the table from Apple Burst.
"There we are. See? One chair's just as good as the other," said Granny Smith, and she leaned forward in her seat, picking up a biscuit with a trembling hoof.
That one action set off a flurry of motion, as everypony scrambled to fill their plates. Eggs and bacon and sausage. Pancakes and waffles and apple butter. And, of course, more then enough biscuits to fill them all and still have some for later, wrapped up in clean handkerchiefs and brought out into the orchard for a snack later in the day.
Then, suddenly, it was over and the table was silent save for the sound of chewing.
-x-x-x-
Breakfast was good and fine, and Applejack was halfway out of her seat when her grandmother cleared her throat. Without thinking, she let herself drop back down, eyes moving to rest on the older mare.
Granny Smith was leaning back in her chair, hooves folded in her lap. She had a heavy look in her eyes, the type that was always there when something was wrong or needed to be changed or at least brought out into the open for all to hear.
It was a look that Applejack knew all too well, and one she didn't want to see right then. Not with Apple Burst sitting just across from her, still toying with half of a buttered biscuit - and what a waste that was, not bothering to finish everything on her plate.
One more thing to dislike about Apple Burst. And, oh, it was turning into a never-ending list.
"There's a storm a'comin' soon. I can feel it in mah bones," said Granny Smith, head nodding slowly, like she was agreeing with herself. "It's gonna be a biggun, I tell yah. If we wanna meet our quota-"
"Granny," interrupted Applejack, and she could feel every gaze in the room land on her. Immidiately, she wished that she hadn't spoken. There was no going back though when all the attention was already on her, and so the orange mare plugged forward. "Don't yah think we should talk about this later?"
And there it was, that knowing look in her grandmother's eyes. The one that was disappointed and disapproving all at once.
The one that Applejack hated to see but had turned on her far
far
far
far too often.
"Family's family, Applejack, and I need to tell this to family. That means Apple Burst too, if'n she's gonna be here," said Granny Smith and, really, how could Applejack do anything but nod?
-x-x-x-
"So, what, your friend lives out in a forest? Let me guess, is she a squirrle?" asked Apple Burst, and there was just the smallest hint of a joke in her voice.
It passed right through Applejack though, who only heard scorn and disdain. Only heard judgement, and pulled her lips back into a scowl and walked a little quicker.
"Listen here, Apple Burst. Fluttershy's a real sweetheart, 'nd she's of the real sensitive type. So do me a favor and try not ta act like your usual rotten self, will yah?" snapped the orange coated mare, never once looking backwards.
Unseen, the slight hint of a smile vanished from Apple Burst's face. She scowled right back and snorted, picking up her pace until she was walking beside her cousin.
Didn't say anything though and that, more than anything else, caught Applejack's attention.
-x-x-x-
"Oh, please, come right in," said Fluttershy, opening the door to her cottage up a little wider. She smiled, and it was soft and sweet and gentle, like the two mares standing just outside her home weren't frowning at each other.
Apple Burst didn't wait to be invivted a second time, just brushed past the pegasus and into the sun lit home. "Well I wasn't planning on standing outside."
Casting Fluttershy a look, one that said she had known this would end badly, that this had already ended badly, Applejack followed her cousin into the house. "Thanks for havin' us over, Fluttershy. It's been a while since I was able ta come out this way."
"It really has been far too long," agreed Fluttershy, taking the time to close the door behind her. "But it's my fault too. I haven't visited you at the farm in a long, long time. Is everything going okay there?"
"Oh yeah," said Applejack, slowly walking through the house and into the living space. It was small and sparsly furnished, but clean and neat very much fitting of the pale pegaus mare. "Thing's are a little crowded lately, but that's all."
Another scowl from Apple Burst, who was already stretched out on the couch. "What? Decided your farm's getting a little small?"
Barbed tone, simple words.
Applejack hated when her cousin did that, knew full well that any response on her part would make /her/ seem like the bad one. Didn't care though, and gave a loud, angry snort -
"Would either of you like some tea?" questioned Fluttershy, setting the porcelain try down on her carved little table. The question broke through the tension, caught both Earth ponies off guard, and all that she did in response was smile.
-x-x-x-
Any time that the two cousins began to argue, Fluttershy interveened. Just in small ways. A shift on the couch, or a small yawn.
Once, she offered to close the curtains. Once, she dove ever deeper into a conversation about barns and the repair costs of rooves and how much produce would have to be harvested to get that many bits.
The entire time that Applejack and Apple Burst were there, they didn't fight at all. Niether mare realized this until they had already returned to Sweet Apple Acres.
-x-x-x-
"How long is she going to stay here?" asked Apple Bloom, and her voice cut right through the already on-going conversation.
Applejack blinked, and Twilight sheepishly looked up from the book that she had been reading out loud. "I'm sorry. Should I leave?"
"What? No, not you!" Apple Bloom shook her head like that should have been obvious, despite the fact that they were the only three mares in the kitchen.
"Oh, that's good. For a moment, I was worried I'd done something wrong." Twilight Sparkle gave a laugh, closing her book as she did. "Who are you talking about, Apple Bloom?"
With a role of her eyes, Applejack gestured towards the cieling. "She's talkin' about my no good cousin. Remember, I told yah she was in town?"
Nodding along, the younger mare walked further into the room and over to the fridge. Took a moment to look through it, pull out the biscuits and the honey, and take her own seat between the older ponies. "Yeah, her. How long is she going to stay here?"
Footsteps from outside of the kitchen and the glimpse of a dark tail disappearing down the hall. Apple Burst's words echoe through the wooden house long after she has vanished up the stairs, and in Applejack's mind even longer.
"A week. Deal with it."