Big Mac pulled up to Maud's house. The first shades of day resting low on the horizon; a soft, sea green, a small magenta band above it, and the eternal night of space above that. It was the perfect metaphore for life really. All joy, happiness, love, laughter, friendship; was that low hanging light. A temporary illusion to give comfort and warmth; but above that small band, the real truth - never ending darkness.

Mac had taken Apple Jack back to the farm to answer police questions. He answered what he could but Apple just sat in the truck, unmoving, unblinking. She turned her head to face whoever was talking to her, but she just looked blankly back at them; face - emotionless, eyes- dead. A counselor on scene suggested Mac take her to a hospital for observation but he refused. Maybe he was just too southern; but he couldn't bring himself to check Apple into a hospital. He was her brother, he would look after her (plus she was the only family he had now).

He was permitted to go in and get some clothes, toiletries, and Apple's school work. He closed his eyes as he walked past Granny Smiths' and Apple Blooms' bedrooms. He couldn't bare to to chance a look inside. It was bad enough to see the blody foot prints on the stairs and in the hall. He pause at Arias' bedroom. He felt an urge to rush in, smash everything, and set it on fire. He knew better though. Despite his boiling rage; he was far too much in control of his emotions to lash out in such an impotant and useless way. He packed up what was needed and drove off.

Now he was here. Maud was waiting in the doorway for him. She had gone to pick Pinkie and Sonata up. Now she was here, waiting for him in the door way. My God, she looks beautiful! Big Mac couldn't help but think. It felt odd that he did; almost blasphemous, but he couldn't help it. She was his black angle. His lady of sorrow that brought out the light in him. She was his rock, the mother of his unborn child. Never could he have imagined or hoped that he would meet someone as special as her.

"At the risk of sounding stupid, how is she doing?" Had anyone else but Maud said that; it would have come off as a crude and callous joke but Mac knew better. Maud had trouble with human interactions. She had been so closed off, so emotionally beat down, that even the most basic human interactions sometimes confused her.

Mac shook his head. "She respondin', but barely.That's all," he said looking at Apple who just sat in the truck, looking forward blankly.

"You?"

Mac gave a half smile/ half grimmace. "Glad I have you. Glad we have that little one on the way. Glad I got somthin' to keep me from killin'; Aria, myself, both; hell I don't even know which."

"You have her as well." Maud nodded at Apple Jack.

Mac shrugged and just said, "Yeah."

Maud came down and helped Mac unload the truck. He then came back and lead Apple up and in to the house. As soon as they got in, Pinkie and Sonata rushed Apple and hugged her; both crying. Apple just stood there, unresponsive.

"Did they say when you could go back to the farm?" Maud asked.

Mac shook his head. "No. Just said they'd let me know when."

"You can stay here then. Apple Jack can have Sonata's old room."

Mac looked at Maud curiously. "What about your daddy? Ain't he comin' soon?"

"My father can go to Hell," Maud said in her usual, emotionless, dead pan way (which actually made it sound a thousand times more brutal and hateful).

"But," Mac went to say but was cut off by Maud.

"He is my emotional killer. You are my other half. There's no debate."

Mac just nodded.

"Can, can, can Apple Jack sleep in our room tonight?" Pinkie asked through heavy sobs.

"I'm thinkin' that's best," Mac responded. He didn't want his sister to be alone but he also didn't want her to be with him in Mauds' bedroom in case he broke down and started crying.

"Come on A.J.," Sonata said, regaining her composuer (somewhat), " we'll take you up."

As soon as the girls had gone; Maud went over and held Big Mac. "I don't know what to do in these situations," she said blankly. "I don't know what's appropriate or how to take the pain away."

"You can't," Big Mac simply said. "But you're doing exactly what you're supposed to. Just you, being here, holding me, wantin' t' take my pain away - no man could ask for more than that."

***************************************************************

Pinkie and Sonata just stood, looking at Apple Jack. She sat on their bed, her face a complete blank. She looked more like a manniquin than a human being. Her postuer too rigid, her hands sitting on her thighs in a way that only looked natural on a posed piece of plastic in a department store.

"She'll be ok; won't she?" Pinkie asked fearfully.

"I don't know," Sonata replied sadly but honestly. "Humans react to bad things in different ways. I could tell you stories but it's probably be inappropriate at the moment."

"Yeah, probably," Pinkie replied. She then walked over to Apple and bent down so her face was in front of Apples'. "Hey, A.J.. It's me, Pinkie. Well you probably already know that. Well I think you do; you're not saying much. You're not saying anything actually. I just want you to know I love you and I'm here for you."

Pinkie waited and then looked back at Sonata. "She's not doing anything."

"Some people just shut down after a tragedy Pinkie."

"How long does it last?"

"It depends on the person. Sometimes, it lasts for the rest of their lives."

Pinkie stood up and turned to Sonata. "But we're The Trickster; we should be able to do something to snap her out of it. Or maybe Rarity? She's The Healer." Pinkie sounded like she was pleading; pleading to Sonata, God, the universe, someone, anything.

"I don't think," Sonata started to say but stopped. She looked both surprised and concerned.

Pinkie turned around to see what had caught Sonata's attention. Apple had gotten up and was now slowly walking towards Pinkie's bedroom window.

"What's she doing?" Pinkie asked.

"I don't know. I'm not a mind reader," Sonata replied.

Apple looked out the window, down to the front yard. She just stared blankly at it for about a minute. Pinkie and Sonata walked up on each side of her, Pinkie on her right, Sonata on her left, and were about to try to lead her away for fear she might jump when Apple put her hand out the window, open, palm down, fingers spread.

As Pinkie and Sonata craned to look out the window, to see what Apple was looking at. As they watched, flowers started to pop up and bloom in the yard. Both their mouths dropped open. It wasn't that there were flowers popping up where none had been buried or that they were growing at a supernatural rate; but it was that they formed a pattern - it was the face of Apple Bloom.

"Oooooohhhhhhh," said Sonata in wonder. "Now I know what her power is." Neither she, nor Pinkie had known what Apple's title - The Earth Mother, meant. Now watching the specticle unfolding before them, she knew. Apple had the power over plants.

It was then that both of them noticed that Apple Jack was shaking. At first it was a little. Then it grew and grew steadily worse until they thought she might be having a seizure. She then suddeenly snapped her hand shut and the flowers burst into flame and disappeared.

"APPLE BLOOM! APPLE BLOOM!" Apple Jack just started sceaming over and over as she lashed out knocking things over, throwing other objects, scratching and tearing at the walls, punching them. Pinkie and Sonata tried to get in close to grad her and stop her but couldn't (not without risking serious injury).

Big Mac suddenly came charging in with Maud behind him. He grabbed Apple Jack from behind and wrestled her to the floor. She screamed and fought like a mad dog and had it been anyone else(except for maybe Maud), she would have torn them to shreds; but Big Mac's iron grip held fast and would not yield. After about half a hour of struggling, Apple Jack went completely limp, crying uncontrollably.

"I know Jenny, I know," Big Mac said through his own tears, "but we'll get through this together. we will. Together. We still have each other. I'll always be here for you. I love you Jenny, I love you. It'll be ok. It'll be ok."

Sonata turned and looked back out the window at the pile of ash that was now where the flower tribute to Apple Bloom had been. No it's not, she thought to herself as a chill went through her very soul.

Author's Notes:

While some may not like bottle chapters (chapters that focus on just one character or set of characters) I like them. By concentrating on one or one set of characters I feel I have the ability to let them breathe. If I were to cut up all the different parts, yes it might make understanding the chronology of events easier; but I feel it would interrupt the flow of each characters' mini arch. Hopefully you agree or at least understand.