AN: I've really been looking forward to releasing this chapter. One of the two I'm most proud of. The second chapter will be much further down the line. I don't give Applejack's grandfather a name, but I don't feel that takes away from anything. Rarity will royally screw up, but get better. Story time!
Ch 9: Day of Part 3
Applejack
The orange earth pony wakes with a pained groan. She looks down at her leg. 'Covered in bandages. Can't use if for…a mighty long time.' She gets up and places the leg on a wheelchair. Applejack makes her way downstairs to the kitchen, where she's surprised to discover the family already waiting at the table. 'I'm usually the first one up. Guess this here leg has got me feeling more tired than usual.'
Granny Smith smiles at her older granddaughter. "Morning, Applejack."
"Morning, Granny. Everypony."
Big Mac and Sugar Belle nod.
Apple Bloom just stares at her plate.
"What's wrong?" Sugar Belle asks the filly.
Applejack becomes very worried when she sees her little sister's eyes are all bloodshot. "I reckon you got no sleep last night. Right?"
Apple Bloom looks up. "How could Caramel's mama say such bad things?"
That stuns the family into silence.
After Tender Taps returned with a doctor yesterday, the family focused on Applejack's leg for the rest of the day.
Applejack had felt like crying the moment he left, but suppressing that urge sent her into a state of virtual numbness. Throughout getting her leg checked on and set back in place, the mare felt almost nothing. Even after Apple Bloom went to bed later that night and Granny Smith told the rest what she'd found out while adopting Caramel, Applejack stayed numb. Only once she'd found herself alone in her bed did she finally let it all out. She cried herself to sleep.
It seems Apple Bloom had let what little she knew of Caramel's dark past keep her up.
In the present, Granny Smith sighs while she sets Applejack's breakfast down on the table. She decides it's only fair the youngest knows too. "Some out there ain't meant to be parents."
"What's that mean?" asks Apple Bloom.
"Becoming a parent can sometimes be a sudden and unexpected responsibility. Those who aren't mentally or emotionally prepared might even think it's horrible. If they have some sort of grand dream, a foal to raise could put that on hold or even end it."
"I still don't get it."
"Remember when you were younger and got in trouble for stuff?" Applejack asks the foal. "How you'd try saying it was an accident or blame somepony else?"
"Yeah?"
"That's what happened in a nutshell."
"Caramel's mama hoped to make it big as an actress," says Granny Smith. "A talent scout used her ambition against her and left her with a foal to raise alone."
"Why?" asks Apple Bloom.
"Weren't the marrying kind," Applejack says with pure venom. "Only liked the mares for their looks, used his money and power to get em, then he moved on to the next after he got bored with em."
Apple Bloom doesn't fully understand, but certain stories with foal friendly versions of bad relationships gives her an idea. "It sounds like he was the bad guy! Why not blame him?!"
Granny Smith tears into her breakfast. "So many like him in that there acting business, that stupid mare told herself it was just the way of things. So, instead of getting mad at that father or taking responsibility for herself, she blamed Caramel just existing for ending her career."
Big Mac slams a hoof on the table, making a chunk come off. "I hate em."
"Mac," Sugar Belle says while hugging her husband.
"Those dirty, rotten excuses for parents making Caramel feel he ain't wanted all his life."
"He is wanted!" shouts Apple Bloom. She has started crying. "Caramel belongs here with us! I want my other brother back!"
The filly's words inspire the others.
"I've always thought of him as a second grandson," says Granny Smith. "Maybe if I'd told him, he'd still be here."
"I like thinking of him as my brother in law," says Sugar Belle.
"This family ain't whole without my little brother," says Big Mac.
Applejack wants to add something too, but she doesn't know what to say. 'Mel's an Apple, ain't no doubt. It's just…calling him my brother feels…wrong.'
Granny Smith can sense her elder granddaughter's hesitation, so she decides to do what she believes will help. "Think it's time I told y'all a story."
The rest of the family stares at Granny Smith.
"Granny?" asks Sugar Belle. "Are you sure this is really the best time to tell us stories?"
"I sure do," says the elderly mare.
"I usually like your stories, Granny," says Apple Bloom. "I just feel real tired now."
"Think this story's gonna excite you."
"What's so special bout this one?" asks Applejack.
"This one's the story of how I got with your Granpappy."
The Apple siblings gasp.
"I WANNA HEAR IT!" Apple Bloom screams while hopping.
"Eeyup!" Big Mac shouts while grinning like a maniac.
Seeing these reactions, Sugar Belle looks over to Applejack. "Guess this is major."
"It is," the orange mare says. "While we know all the Apples, Granpappy's a right mystery to us. Don't know what he looked like, who he was as a pony…how he and Granny got together in the first place."
"Granny's always kept it a secret!" shouts Apple Bloom.
"Now I'm telling it," Granny Smith says while she gets comfortable in her chair. "As y'all know, I weren't exactly born an Apple."
"You're a Smith who married an Apple," says Sugar Belle.
"That's right. As a young mare, I had many stallions wanting to have my hoof in marriage. Turned em all down. I knew they was only wanting me to try taming my wild spirit. Ha! Like I ever would let that happen." She lets her family laugh before continuing. "Then, I found myself two stallions who got my attention. Two brothers from the Apple family."
"Rival brother suitors?!" Apple Bloom asks with a smile. The little filly seems to be really digging that idea.
"Rival brother suitors. The elder brother was his family's pride and joy. He was so smart, real strong, and a right handsome thing. All eligible mares round here wanted to be his wife and have his foals, but he only wanted me."
"Sounds interesting," Sugar Belle says while she eyes her husband. She knows Big Mac is all those things. She's also aware he was eye candy for a lot of the mares and a few stallions, his previous relationship with Cheerilee, and even Marble Pie's former crush on him. Even a few of Applejack's friends admitted to having been attracted to Big Mac in the past (those being Rarity, Fluttershy, and even Twilight). Sugar Belle can't help but revel in being the one to marry him.
"The younger brother was different from his elder in every way. He was skinny, weak, and frightfully shy. Made up for it by putting everything into helping his family. A right shame they didn't think much of him compared to his brother."
"Aww," Apple Bloom says feeling sorry for that younger brother.
Applejack also feels for him. 'He gave his all to a family that didn't appreciate it none.'
Granny Smith continues. "With that older brother, I brought out a side of him nopony else knew bout. He wanted to be wild and free, not worrying bout responsibilities or keeping face for his family. We'd gallop into the night, whooping and hollering, getting into all kinds of trouble. Never got caught though. Through all that, he promised me we'd go see the world and get a nice big house in a far-off place."
Applejack and Apple Bloom aren't the biggest fans of this whole idea.
"That sounds so romantic," Sugar Belle says while leaning into her husband.
"Eeyup," Big Mac says while smiling at his wife.
Granny Smith clears her throat to get the attention back onto her and the story. "Now, with that younger brother, I found the sweetest stallion who's ever lived. I knew he had it bad for me the moment he laid eyes on me. That stallion admired my spirited ways, unlike most ponies, and he always rustled up the best gifts. Always knew what I wanted, never had to tell him. In return, I'd help him with his chores and let him know he was better than everypony else thought."
"I like him," says Apple Bloom.
"Me too," says Applejack.
Big Mac and Sugar Belle seem indifferent.
Granny Smith laughs. "One day, the older brother decided we'd do something real daring. Wanted us to meet that night in the Everfree Forest."
"The Everfree Forest?!" asks Sugar Belle.
"That's dangerous!" shouts Apple Bloom.
"And stupid!" Applejack adds on.
"Eeyup," says Big Mac.
"True," says Granny Smith. "Still went though. Didn't take long for a huge pack of timber wolves to attack me. Strong as I was, there were too many for me to take on. Would've died too if somepony hadn't come along."
"Who?" the other four ask at once.
The old mare smiles. "Your granpappy."
Sugar Belle sighs with relief. "He must've gotten worried you weren't at the meeting place yet and looked for you. Or he got there right after you did."
"What makes you think it was the older brother?" asks Apple Bloom.
"Come on. He was the more forceful one."
"But that younger brother cared so much bout Granny. I've learned fairytale romances like with that older brother ain't always the best. Right, Big Mac?"
The stallion frowns. "Sorry, Apple Bloom, but nope."
"Why not?"
"While I'd agree with you most times, Granny herself said that younger brother was weak. That older brother had the strength."
"He had strength, I won't deny that," says Granny Smith.
Apple Bloom looks miserable at the thought of the younger brother not being Granpappy.
"No," Applejack says while stomping a hoof on the table. "Apples always put family first. That younger brother did everything for his family, though they didn't appreciate it the way they should've. He's more Apple than his older brother ever was and that's why I feel in my gut that the younger brother was Granpappy."
Apple Bloom smiles, her hope restored.
Big Mac and Sugar Belle still don't agree, but they feel guilty about it.
Granny Smith smiles. "And you'd be right."
The others turn to the old mare, Apple Bloom gasping as she does so.
"Your granpappy was the younger brother."
"YEE-HAW!" Apple Bloom screams with pure glee.
"I feel kind of foolish," says Sugar Belle.
"Eeyup," Big Mac agrees with his wife.
Applejack can't describe how happy she feels that she was right.
"Your granpappy had found his brother's journal left open at his desk," says Granny Smith. "Reading bout how we were meeting in the Everfree, that crazy stallion jumped out the bedroom window and galloped all the way there. He found me getting attacked by timber wolves and just jumped right into the fray. Gave me more reason to kick them mutts' tails real good. When they all went to pieces, I turned back to my helper to give him a piece of my mind…and got the scare of my life. Your granpappy was standing there looking like he'd been used as a knife sharpener, he was bleeding so bad."
"Poor Granpappy," says Apple Bloom.
"Wanna know what that idiot did next? He took one look at the one claw mark I got on my front leg, said 'You're hurt, let me take care of that for you', and collapsed."
Applejack can't help but smile. "After all that, he was worried bout you."
"I felt so guilty bout getting him hurt like that. His brother came along and he helped take your granpappy to a doctor. Once our families showed up, he had to come clean to them bout all that happened. The Apple folks was mad at their oldest. They was also feeling mighty bad bout how they treated their youngest before. Paid just bout everything to get him all better again with help from his brother and me. I was visiting every day, talking with him…falling for him."
"Wow," Sugar Belle says while becoming entranced by the story.
"What happened next?" Apple Bloom asks with an impatient tone.
"Day before that doctor let him out, I told your granpappy I loved him and wanted to be his wife."
"Here it comes," Applejack whispers to herself.
"He told me he was sick."
"What?!" the others ask all at once.
"Sick."
"No!" shouts Apple Bloom.
"What kind of sick?" Sugar Belle asks while dreading the answer.
"The kind you're born with and never get rid of."
Applejack takes off her hat. "I reckon that's why Granpappy was skinny and weak."
"You're right again, Applejack. He told me he weren't sure how many years he had left in him and he wanted me to have a husband who wouldn't die young."
"Aww," Big Mac says feeling endeared by that level of concern.
"As upset as I was bout him being sick, I felt mad he was using it as an excuse to not marry me. I let him know if he weren't gonna marry me, I weren't ever marrying nopony. I told him to think bout if he wanted to leave life not having been married to the pony he claimed to love. So I left, galloped back home, and went right to bed. Didn't leave that bed most of the next day, even though I wanted to see your granpappy leave the doctor's. Too hurt to do it. That afternoon, my papa came in, told me I had a visitor. I made myself look presentable, then I went out to see em. It was your granpappy." Granny Smith smiles. "He was kneeling down…holding a ring."
The other four are all smiles by now.
"Told me however much life he had left, he was spending it with me as my husband." The old mare sighs. "Everything after was like a dream. Our wedding, having foals, our whole lives together." Granny Smith frowns. "Then, his sickness took a turn when I was ready to have your papa."
"No," Apple Bloom whimpers out. This is reminding her of another tragic story.
"Granny?" asks Applejack. "This bout the same as Ma and Pa?"
"That's right," the old mare says as she places a comforting hoof onto the youngest's back. "Your granpappy fought with all his might to live to see his youngest born. He took all kinds of crazy medicine and had spells cast on him just to keep going. The day that Bright Mac was born, your granpappy was fading fast. Doctor brought me and your papa to his room. Just knew from the moment I saw your granpappy, he weren't gonna make it. He held your Pa, named him, said his goodbyes to us…and he left." Granny Smith pulls in a now crying Apple Bloom for a hug.
Sugar Belle hugs her husband. "Just like your parents."
Big Mac's lips are trembling. "Eeyup."
"Granny lived through having her foal," Apple Bloom says into her grandmother's neck.
"You hush now," says Granny Smith. "Don't go blaming yourself, Apple Bloom. I know your folks wouldn't want their little filly doing that."
"There's been enough distancing in our family for two days," says Sugar Belle.
Applejack smiles at her sister in law as Big Mac finally returns his wife's hug.
Granny Smith lets Apple Bloom go, walks to a cabinet, pulls two items out of it, and walks back to the table. "Reckoned I'd be telling y'all this story today, so I brought these down here last night." She places a black Stetson hat on the table. "That was your Granpappy's."
The other four are staring at it with near reverence.
Granny Smith holds a picture frame, suddenly crying. "This right here…was taken on our wedding day." She gives it to Big Mac.
Sugar Belle leans in. "It may be in black and white, but I can tell from the shades he likely had the exact same coloring as his son."
"He did."
Big Mac looks over at his youngest sister. "Those got passed to you."
Apple Bloom receives the picture and smiles. "He looks so nice."
Applejack finally gets to look at the photo herself and sees what her grandfather looks like for the very first time. 'I can just tell from looking at him in this here picture, everything Granny said bout Granpappy was true. Sure, he was skinny and weak looking. He was also the sweetest stallion who ever lived and would've given all his hooves for those he cared bout.' Applejack is just then able to see something in her grandfather's face. 'That look. Standing by Granny, I can tell he's somepony who'd never thought he was worth nothing…suddenly getting the best in life. I've seen that look. The day we named Mel an honorary Apple…he had it.' She holds the photo close, suddenly feeling a connection to it.
Granny smiles, glad her elder granddaughter is starting to see the parallel. She looks at the clock. "Applejack! You need to get along to meet with your friends on time!"
"Tarnation!" Applejack gives the picture to Granny Smith. She heads for the door, but she stops for just a moment. "Apple Bloom, get some shuteye."
"Sure thing," the young filly says before heading to bed.
Applejack gets outside, ready to start heading out for Ponyville Train Station, but she finds herself looking in the direction of Caramel's tree. 'I know that Twilight and everypony's waiting for me…but I gotta see him.' She heads for the tree as quick as she can with the mini wheelchair keeping her back leg held up. The mare feels frustrated by all the bumps and holes that slow the chair down. She finally reaches the tree.
Caramel isn't there.
Applejack walks all around the tree and looks out in every direction, but she can't see him. Feeling very depressed, the mare begins the slow journey to the train station.
Rarity
The white unicorn is standing in the doorway of the empty guest room. Seeing this makes her feel hollow inside. 'It was the right thing to do in the end. I feel I hate myself at the moment, but it was for the best…somehow. The way for me to move on is to keep going.' Rarity heads for the kitchen to find that her little sister is already waiting there. "Good morning, Sweetie Belle."
The filly stays silent.
'Alright. Perhaps breakfast shall make her a bit more talkative.' Rarity proceeds to make the morning meal for herself and Sweetie Belle. Once done, the elder sister puts a plate down in front of the younger sister.
The filly eats in silence. She pushes the plate away when she's finished.
Rarity's really starting to get worried. After eating her own breakfast, the unicorn takes the dishes and cleans them. She then sits back down in front of her sister. "Now then, something is bothering you. Please, tell me what it is."
Sweetie Belle glares at her older sister. "You sent Mr. Capper away."
That's certainly not what Rarity was expecting in the slightest. "Well…yes. He perceived our interactions in a manner I…could not condone. When he refused to accept that, I was forced to ask him to leave."
"You mean he told you he loved you and that scared you."
Once again, Rarity is surprised by her little sister. "I…I don't—"
"I heard you two from my room!"
'Of course, she heard us. Our argument did become rather loud.' "Understand, Sweetie Belle. Such a non-traditional relationship would be despised by the public."
"Why?"
"A pony romancing a non-pony is considered strange or…disgusting."
"I don't care! Love is love! You shouldn't care either!"
"Sweetie Belle…I believe in finding love with somepony upstanding and well respected."
"This is about that Canterlot filly from when you were little, isn't it?"
A third unexpected sentence from the filly for Rarity. "Where did you hear that?"
"Mom and Dad told me. They felt so ashamed of themselves for making you lose out on a friend just because of who they are."
"What?!"
"It's whey they distanced themselves in public. That way, you wouldn't be so embarrassed by them!"
"I am not embarrassed to have them as parents!"
"And it's why they hardly ever visit from Canterlot!"
Rarity can't process this. "But…Father is just busy…with his coaching job. And Mother's there because…he can't cook for himself to save his life."
Sweetie Belle rolls her eyes. "Yeah, but they don't want to be a bother since you're such a big deal either."
"That…that's not true. It just…can't be."
"Is that why you've bad mouthed Button Mash so much?! You think me hanging out with him embarrasses you by association?!"
"Button Mash is a rude little colt who does not treat you well."
"When was he ever bad to me?!"
"Last week, I witnessed him not slow down for you when you asked him to wait while you were chasing after him."
"That?! We were playing tag!"
Rarity ignores that. "And the day after when you brought him over for lunch, he had table manners befitting a pig."
"He has three older brothers! He has to eat quick or he doesn't eat!"
Rarity also ignores that. "Let's also not forget he did not hold the door open for you when the both of you left."
"I can open my own doors!"
"A lady should not have to open doors herself when she is accompanied by any male that is decent."
Sweetie Belle smirks. "If manners and courtesy matter that much, then Mr. Capper was the pinnacle of decent."
Rarity doesn't like her little sister using this tactic. "That is different."
"He held every door open for you, kept pace with you despite having longer legs, ate clean, and I even saw him kiss your hoof before going to bed the first night!"
"Stop this."
"Mr. Capper's letters always made you so happy when they came! I've seen you rereading his old ones over and over again since you stopped hanging out with your friends!"
"Sweetie Belle—"
"How could you turn your back on a guy who made you so much happier than Fancy Pants ever did?!"
"ENOUGH!" Rarity shouts as she stands up. "You are just a foal! You don't understand anything! The only good marriage for a lady to have is with a GENTLECOLT! That all means Button Mash and Capper are forbidden! End of discussion!"
Sweetie Belle looks like she's about ready to cry. Then, it changes to an angry glare. The filly goes over to the sink and splashes water on her face. She takes a towel and wipes it off.
"What are you doing?"
Ignoring her, Sweetie Belle grabs at strands of her mane and pulls in random directions.
"Stop that!" Rarity starts to head over to her little sister, but halts when the filly turns.
Sweetie Belle didn't do that thorough of a job toweling off her face, leaving little smears of makeup. Parts of her mane are sticking out, giving the filly a slightly deranged look. All this put together makes the glare she's giving her older sister so much scarier. "I never cared about being a lady! I just wanted others to think I was stylish and pretty like you!"
That comment really hits Rarity hard. "Oh…Sweetie Belle."
"But if being like you means being miserable, then I never want to be anything like you!"
Rarity's so thrown by that statement, she's only able to watch as Sweetie Belle walks out of the kitchen. "Wait!" She starts to follow.
"I'll stay at the Apples or with Scootaloo and her aunts. Maybe I'll go live with Mom and Dad during the summer months. They need at least one daughter in their life who even remotely cares about them."
Rarity gasps. "Sweetie Belle!" After she gets over the shock, she follows the filly through the shop. "Wait a moment. We can talk this through. Don't leave me, I'm your big sister." She reaches out a hoof.
Sweetie Belle smacks the hoof away and stares daggers at her sister. "No! Stay away from me! You're the worst! I HATE YOU!" She runs out of the store.
Gasping for air, Rarity leans against a mannequin for support. 'Hates me?!' The unicorn's stumbling around, unseeing. 'Capper was right. He warned me all about this and I didn't listen to him!' Soon, she finds herself leaning against a wall. 'My parents, my friends, Capper, and my little sister too. I've pushed them all away.' Rarity looks up, seeing a mirror right in front of her face. 'And a lock of my mane is sticking out.'
"How pathetic."
Rarity suddenly sees a face that isn't hers in the mirror. She recognizes it. "You."
A gold coated filly with a curly white mane is looking at her with clear contempt. She has a pink, feathery fan waving into her face with magic. "It is me, the reason that you ever became a lady in the first place."
"I did that myself."
"Ha! Of course not! I am the inspiration behind your entire ambitions!" The filly smirks. "You should thank me."
"For what? Leaving me all alone?"
"It is better to be alone than to be surrounded by filth."
"Filth?!"
"Come now. You know it's true. Those parents will no longer tarnish your blood."
Rarity remembers her father's strong presence comforting her after having nightmares as a filly and her mother giving her cookies filled with her love. "My blood currently flows with my father's strength and my mother's giving nature."
The filly frowns. "That sister shall not ruin your reputation with that uncivilized colt."
Rarity can remember Sweetie Belle reading her school paper on who her hero was, the hero being the graceful and giving elder sister herself. "She knows exactly what she wants and won't let anything sway her. That is an admirable trait of character."
The face in the mirror's eye twitches. "The various so-called friends of yours cannot bring you down with their numerous vulgarities anymore. A princess who befriends vile non-ponies, a pathetically meek little thing who surrounds herself with disgusting animals, an unhinged lunatic that might as well be classified as an animal herself, a lowly farmer who is constantly covered in dirt and mud, and that athlete who acts so disturbingly like a stallion."
Rarity remembers hanging around all of her friends and sharing laughs, heartfelt moments, and adventures. "Twilight has the capacity to try befriending any creature without preconceived notions, having that many animals around her proves that Fluttershy is a pure soul, Pinkie's own eccentricities help to bring joy and laughter to the mundane lives of others, the reason Applejack dirties herself is for the sake of her family, and Rainbow Dash has to be a tough pony to do what she loves so wonderfully. They are all amazing."
The filly in the mirror grits her teeth. "Let us not forget you will never again be a target of that despicable feline's disgusting attempts to steer you down the path of depravity."
Rarity thinks of all the heartfelt letters Capper sent her. How he showed up at her door in a time she needed him most since, without his input, the unicorn might have decided not to see her friends again. She also recalled how the Abyssinian kissing her hoof felt so much more thrilling than the most passionate sex with Fancy Pants (which was rather stale). "With Capper, depravity felt oddly loving."
"Enough of your sentimentality!" shouts the mirror filly. "Your emotions are trash and all trash must be thrown out! OBEY ME, SLAVE!"
Rarity is horrified when she sees the face change after the last shout. 'Red eyes, fangs, and even jagged horns growing out of the side of her head. If I continue to listen to her…I shall most certainly become a nightmare.' The unicorn puts on a pleasant smile. "I will take time off from work so I can enjoy some long overdue quality time with my parents."
"What?"
"I will beg for Sweetie Belle to forgive me. I may have to lay on the ground in public, but it will be worth it to hopefully have her join me in visiting our parents. Ah, the fun the four of us shall have."
"No!"
"I will send Capper a continuous string of letters in an attempt to reconcile with him. If the plan is not successful, I will pay him a visit in Klugetown."
"Stop this at once!"
"First things first, I shall be keeping my appointment with my friends. Apologies are most definitely needed for my previous behavior."
"Cease and desist!"
Rarity smirks. "I shall be leaving myself ungroomed for today. I will most certainly make myself gorgeous after today, but by my own standards and not yours."
"ENOUGH!" the evil face shouts as fire rages behind her. "YOU FOOL! I AM YOUR MASTER! I AM THE ONE WHO CONTROLS YOUR LIFE! YOU LISTEN TO ME! I RULE YOU!"
"I admit that you were right about trash needing to be thrown out." Rarity lifts a hoof. "In this case, you are the trash."
The mirror entity roars in anger before being cut off by Rarity's hoof breaking the mirror.
'As unlucky as it is to break a mirror, I prefer a little bad luck over allowing the remnant of that filly turn me into something absolutely horrid. Now then, time to get my friends back.' The white unicorn leaves her shop without cleaning herself up, but smiling at how free she feels now.
AN: I felt so emotional at the story of Granny Smith's husband! As for Rarity, I know everyone's so relieved that she's finally gotten over her issues. That little filly's influence was quite frightening, huh? Until next time!