That evening, Applebloom felt more alone than she could ever remember feeling.

Even with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo promising to visit after breakfast the next morning, and Granny hugging her tightly and telling her to 'be strong,' her heart still ached for her special somepony.

Closing her eyes, she could still see him outside the barn door, his suitcase in one hand, trudging down the path, away from the Apple's farm house...and her.

Later that evening, there was a knock on the barn door. It was soon followed by Applejack, quietly entering with her sister's dinner.

"Hi sugarcube. I brought you a lil' something."

The only 'response,' was a slight rustling of the tarpaulin under Applebloom's huge bosom, as she breathed slowly.

"Look Applebloom," said AJ, rolling an empty barrel next to her sister, and placing the meal on it. "Ah know you're prob'ly upset with me right now, and ah don't blame ya...but ah hope when you calm down, you'll understand why ah did what ah did."

She was right next to her younger sister, but Applebloom simply stared straight ahead, her crossed arms and head resting atop her rising and falling bosom.

"Alright, ah, see you want to be alone. Be sure to eat up before your dinner gets cold."

When there was still no response, Applejack tried to lay a reassuring hand on her sister's shoulder, but Applebloom quickly shrugged off the gesture.

Realizing things weren't going to get any better, the orange pony walked around her sister's chest, and closed the door for the evening.

Once she was gone, Applebloom glanced at her dinner, and then resumed her sulky demeanor, as the sun cast orange rays of light through the nearby window, and across her great expanses of chestflesh.

Even though her stomach gave a little growl, she refused to touch her food, and as darkness settled in, she drifted off to sleep.

*creak*

The squeak of the barn door jolted Applebloom awake.

A sliver of moonlight could be seen in front of her, as she saw the left door was open slightly.

"Wh-who's there?" she asked, trying to sound brave. "S-show yourself or ah'll scream for mah fam'ly."

"It's me, honey," came a familiar voice.

"C-coral?" squeaked Applebloom, her eyes darting around the darkened interior. "Where are you?"

"Over here," came his voice, and as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw the familiar silhouette of his cock's head, and then his actual head atop his shoulders. He was naked before her, with his clothes in his right hand. With a smile on his face, he dropped them to the barn floor.

As he walked towards her, Applebloom felt her eyes begin to water, and her arms reaching out. This caused Coral to pick up his pace and rush into her embrace, his four-foot stallionhood coming between them, almost like a jealous lover.

Applebloom nuzzled and rubbed her face against it's musky surface, before she pushed it aside, and their lips came together in a series of tearful kisses.

"Oh Coral," she sobbed, her shoulders twitching with each gasp of air. "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too, Applebloom," she heard him say, his face nuzzling into her hair.

"Ah don't care what Applejack says, ah don't want you to leave me-please don't leave me again!"

"I don't want to honey, you know I don't, but I don't know what I can do."

"Well, m-maybe Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo can help us," suggested AB. "Rarity's a big fan ah yers, maybe you could stay in Carousel Boutique, and-and sneak over here after dark...say, where were you after mah friends saw you at the station?"

"Well, I, tricked them into thinking I got on the train," explained Coral. "Then before it left, I exited out the other side, and hid out in a park on the opposite side of the station."

"Hid?" asked Applebloom, thinking of how 'big' he was.

"It wasn't easy, and it was a little uncomfortable, but it did the trick. I waited until nightfall, and made my way back to you."

"Well, ah don't want you goin' back to that park to sleep tonight," scolded AB. "Ah need mah Coral close by for some snuggles."

"Like this?" smirked Coral, rubbing his face against her massive left breast, like a cat.

"Mmm, that's the way," she moaned, feeling a tingling sensation flitting through her body. "Wait, ah have it!"

"What?"

"It's so obvious: you kin just sleep in mah bosom!"

"Well, when you put it that way, how could I resist?" said Coral, his eyebrows wiggling in a mischievous fashion.

After breaking free of her embrace, Coral 'bounced' over and closed the barn door. Once he had done so, he turned around with a huge smile on his face, and slowly 'waded' into the soft, enfolding contours of his sweetheart's milk-filled bosom. With each step, he playfully wiggled his naked body, causing his massive cock to wobble, and Applebloom to sigh contentedly. As he steadily approached her arms, she opened them wide, and embraced him within her cleavage.

"Feel comfy?" she giggled.

"Mmhmm," he smiled, as his lips and hers met in the darkness of her family's barn.

"Sure ya don't wanna wear Rarity's clothes?"

"Nah, you feel warm enough for a good night's sleep."

"Ah'm glad."

Slowly, Coral, backed off a step or two, and seemed to sink deep into the yellow 'swells' surrounding him. AB smiled naughtily, as the head of his erect cock still remained in view before her.

"Night, Coral," she called, blowing a kiss.

"Night, Applebloom," she heard him say, and saw his cock waggle, as if waving to her.

The contented filly closed her eyes, and in a matter of minutes, was asleep with a smile on her face.

At the sound of the cock crowing the next day, Applebloom yawned, and stretched her arms as high as she could.

"Mmm, wake up my big stallion," she called out. "You need to get goin' b'fore Appleja-"

Her eyes had just gotten the last of the sleep blinked away, but she was quick to notice that the head of Coral's cock, was no longer sticking up out of her bosom.

"Coral? Honey?"

But there was no answer. Reaching down into her massive 'canyon,' she tried parting her cleavage, but found nothing.

I guess he woke up earlier and took off, she thought. Well, it's prob'ly fer the best. Guess he didn't want Applejack chasin' him off again.

Not long after she woke up, the barn doors opened, and Granny Smith entered.

"Mornin' Granny!" she said, with a cheerful smile.

"Well, sounds like somepony's got a little of her ol' self back," said Granny, taking up the uneaten dinner, and replacing it with some breakfast. "Guess ya weren't hungry last night. Ah hope you got room fer breakfast, though."

"Oh yeah," smiled AB, picking up a fork on the plate, and scooping scrambled eggs into her mouth. "Mmmm!"

"Now that's more like the lil' filly ah know," smiled Granny, giving AB's hair a playful rustle. "Purty sure we won't hafta deal with them Flim-Flams t'day neither. Word is, Coral messed up their stuff sumpin' good. Course, ah'm sorry yer sister ran him off the other day."

"Well, t'tell yuh the truth Granny," said AB, with a mischievous gleam in her orange eyes, "ah don't think she did."

"Whaddya mean, dearie?"

"Kin ya keep a secret?"

"Aw, come on, you know ah kin do that fer mah lil' Apple."

"Okay...Coral's still here!" squeaked AB with glee.

"Whu-huh? Where?" asked Granny Smith, looking around.

"Not right now, Granny. He's not dumb enough to hang around and git caught. He snuck in here last night, and slept in mah bosom like it wuz a bed. Ah figure he left b'fore ah woke up this morning."

"Really? Ah thought talkin' to yer friends the other day, he had taken off on the train."

"So did I, but he said he got off and hid til' it was dark to come back and tell me."

"Eh, you're sure yah didn't just dream it, dearie?"

"Ah'm positive, Granny!" said Applebloom, a smear of strawberry jam dribbling down her chin as she bit into some toast.

"Well, if'n you say so, ah guess ah'd better keep an extra eye out for ya two," smiled Granny, with a little wink of her eye.

AB finished up her breakfast with a hug from Granny Smith, who took the dishes and left.

It wasn't long before Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo arrived, and Applebloom happily told them about her encounter with Coral. However, the two were a bit more skeptical than Granny was.

"Okay, I know you're going to think I'm crazy, but, are you sure it wasn't a dream?" asked Scootaloo.

"Granny asked me the same thing," said AB. "But ah'm positive he came back. Maybe it was his plan all along. Y'know, trick Applejack into thinking she had won, and then sneaking back up here later?"

"Well, I know he's smart and all," said Sweetie Belle, nervously rubbing her arm, "but remember, he wrote you that letter?"

"Yeah well, maybe he changed his mind on the way to the station! Remember how he suddenly came up with that idea for you and Scootaloo to learn how to milk me?"

"Yeah, but, well...um..I'm kind of on Scootaloo's side here," said Sweetie, reluctantly.

"Okay, fine," said AB, rolling her eyes. "You two don't believe me? Well how bout this? When Coral sneaks back in tonight to see me, I'll get him to leave his briefs with me, and I'll show them to you both tomorrow!"

"Uhhh, okay," said Sweetie Belle, looking concernedly at Scootaloo, out of the corner of her eye.

While Applebloom was talking with her friends, Applejack was attempting to get Sweet Apple Acres back to some form of normalcy.

Unknown to the rest of her family, she had decided to take Coral's suggestion of trying to sell off the remaining cider at the upcoming zap apple harvest.

That afternoon, she headed out behind the barn, and surveyed the leftovers: 20 barrels of cider, that still remained after their week-long Cider Festival.

"And somewhere in there, are two barrels with mah lil' sister's milk," she sighed.

Ever since discovering what Coral and the Applebloom's friends had done, she had been itching to find the other two barrels that contained Applebloom's breast milk. However, she knew that it might lead to destroying who-knew-how many barrels of cider, which would be more lost profits to the family.

Plus, Coral had created more problems the previous day, getting into that ruckus with the Flim-Flam brothers, and wrecking their milking equipment.

Applejack also found herself rolling her eyes, remembering how he had ridiculously claimed Applebloom to be a 'milkmare.'

Returning to the house, she and Granny Smith began to finally clean up all the desserts in the living room, 'unsold stock' from the now-abandoned 'library fund' Coral had wanted to set up.

"Seems a shame to throw all these out," said Granny, placing a perfectly good pie in a trash can.

"Ah know," said AJ. "But they've been sittin' here a might too long, and ah doubt they'll keep til' zap apple jam time."

"Still, a shame they couldn'tah been used fer that library that Coral was wantin.'

"Granny, could yah just not mention-"

"Why not? Whut's wrong with mentionin' his name? Izzit cuz ya think he done somethin' tah Applebloom?"

"Well, no, it's not that, it's-"

"It's whut? Hmm? Hmmmmmmmmmm?"

"Nevermind, Granny."

The two managed to get the foodstuffs put in the garbage can...which was then taken by Big Mac out to the pigpen, where the mixture of apple treats were eagerly gobbled up by the family swine.

Not long afterward, the sound of pistons and gears was heard, and the Flim-Flam brothers pulled up to the farmhouse in their vehicle.

At first, Applejack assumed they were here to milk her sister, but the two entrepreneurs claimed that due to what happened the day before, there were now some...complications.

The two brothers soon were sitting at the kitchen table, explaining themselves.

Coral had really done a number on their equipment the other day. From shattering the milk collection dome, to whacking the machine hard enough that delicate metal fastenings and tubing within had been ruptured, it looked like it would be a little over a week before they'd be able to continue their milking services.

Of course, Applejack was just as livid, when they presented her with a bill for the repair work.

Applejack at first balked at the figures, when there was a thumpin' down the stairs, and Granny Smith dumped a whole mess of bits on the table.

"Granny, what in tarnation'd yah do that fer?"

"It's tah help make yer bellyachin' not so dang lousy," retorted the old pony.

"I dare say, Applejack, your Grandmother is quite the enigma," blinked Flim.

"Ah ain't no eenie-meenie," said Granny, giving Flim a major case of the stink-eye. "This here wuz most o' the salary of our former hired hand."

"Wait, ya mean this is what ah paid Coral for the harvestin?" asked AJ.

"Shore is. He wrote a letter to yer sister, explained a few things. Even how he figgered you'd be upset with him fer knockin' around these two's thingy they used on mah granddaughter."

"I, see," said Flam, feeling like he and his brother had wandered out of a business deal, and into a family squabble. "Well, truth be told, just eyeballing the bits you've laid before us Granny, this should pay for a new pair of milking tubes for dear Applebloom. However, we will still need the rest in payment, b'fore we get back to work."

"Aw come on, fellas," sighed Applejack. "We just got finished with our Cider Festival."

"Yes, and we hear tell it was a pretty big deal," noted Flim. "Why with so much time and cider, your family should have more than enough to pay us-"

Both brothers were a little surprised when Applejack's arms shot across the table, scooping the bits as close to herself as possible, causing a number to also clink down onto the wooden floor.

"Hey-hey now, what's this?"

"You two are soundin' a might too concerned with how much we Apples have," said AJ.

"Why, we, I-we didn't mean anything to upset you, dear Applejack," smiled Flim. "Please understand, we're just concerned for your sister! As we told you before, we want the poor filly to be normal again, and we can't make our repairs without payment for the damages, which you must understand, we hold no ill-will towards you, but that ill-behaved ruffian you hired."

Applejack found her eyes darting from brother-to-brother, before sighing deeply.

"Here's the deal. Give me five days, ah...ah need to do some thinkin.'"

"Very well," said Flim. "But surely you can spare a little for us to get started on repairs-"

"Yah heard whit she said!" snapped Granny. "Yah two come on back in five days, and see if'n she thinks yer services are worth it."

And so, the two brother 'humbly' puttered out of Sweet Apple Acres, as Applejack and Granny Smith gathered up Coral's bits, and stored them in some old coffee cans. For safe-keeping, AJ placed them in her closet.

Later on that evening, after Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had gone home, AJ brought her sister her dinner. Surprisingly, Applebloom seemed to be in better spirits than the night before.

When AB inquired about the Flim-Flams, AJ said they'd be back in a few days, making the young filly's face fall. Deep down, she had hoped they were gone for good.

Even so, in the back of her head, she was anticipating another late-night rendezvous. Looking at her sister, she was giggling deep inside, thinking how Applejack had no idea what had gone on the night before...and what would happen tonight!

That night, Applebloom eagerly watched the door, awaiting the return of her sweetheart stallion.

The sky outside was clear and filled with stars, and they seemed to be reflected in her eyes.

"Hurry, mah handsome Coral," she whispered, a wistful smile on her face. Closing her eyes, she rubbed her bosom, imagining his face nuzzling it.

The crowing of the cock awoke her from her sleep.

Looking around, Applebloom looked for signs that Coral had been there, but there was nothing.

But, ah was sure he'd come back, she thought. He loves me too much to not come back.

That morning, she ate her breakfast and told Granny about what happened, as well as her friends when they came by later.

"I still think it might have been a dream," reiterated Scootaloo.

"Well, I still think you're wrong," replied Applebloom. "Maybe something came up, and he couldn't make it."

"But what?" asked Sweetie Belle. "What, could have kept him?"

"I...I...I don't know," said Applebloom, growing frustrated. "But whatever kept him, I'm gonna let him know how upset ah am that he didn't show up last night!"

For the rest of the day, Applebloom sulked in the barn.

Deep inside, she was torn. Part of her wanted to believe what she had told her friends. The other part of her, was beginning to wonder if Scootaloo was right, and she really had just dreamed it all. Of course, she didn't want it to be a dream.

As the sun set, she was already thinking of everything she was going to say to him, as well as punishing him.

He really enjoyed stickin' himself between mah boobs, she thought to herself. Well, he'll learn not to make his special somepony feel like this. He kin cuddle n' kiss me, but he's gonna sleep on the hay bales by the wall tonight.

Scrunching up her face, she crossed her arms over her chest, and watched the barn door, going over and over in her mind, the first thing she'd tell him once he stepped inside.

Suddenly, she heard the cock crow.

The night had passed, and like the day before, it looked like Coral had not chosen to appear.

As she looked at the sunlight streaming through the window, small little pearls of tears began to form at her eyelids, before overflowing, and dribbling down her face.

Burying her face in her chest, she couldn't help but feel...that Scootaloo was right.

After her realization, Applebloom's listless attitude returned, bigger than before.

Granny happily greeted her that morning, but received no response in return. When she came to pick up the breakfast dishes a few hours later, none of the food had been touched.

When Sweetie and Scootaloo arrived, they got a foot inside the barn, before they heard her mutter two words that shocked them: "Go away."

The girls attempted to get their friend to change her mind, but after seeing Applebloom's face displaying a mixture of disappointment and sadness, they quietly left.

Applejack was also surprised when she brought her sister her dinner, and found the lunch hadn't been touched.

"Now whut is goin' on?" she asked. "You were eatin' fine the other day. Whut happened, sugarcube?"

"Just go away," mumbled Applebloom, her head lolled across her bosom.

"Honey, is there somethin' botherin' you?"

"Yeah," said AB, lifting her head up, and looking directly into her sister's green eyes. "You!"

Applejack took the words as her cue to go.

That evening, the faintest sliver of hope was alight inside Applebloom that Coral would show himself. The ample apple attempted to stay up as long as she could, but upon waking the next morning, and seeing no trace that he had been there, her hopes were completely dashed.

And so it went.

For the next two days, Applebloom just sulked in the barn, like a lump on a rock.

Her family would bring her meals, but she wouldn't touch them. Her friends would come over, but she wouldn't talk to them.

At dinnertime on the second day of her sulk, Applejack brought her sister some spaghetti and garlic bread.

Like the last several days worth of meals, the lunch she had been brought earlier, hadn't been touched. Applejack could even hear her sister's stomach growl as she got closer.

The girl just lay against her huge bosom, her head lulled against her right breast like it was a firm pillow. If not for the small up-and-down motion of her chest, one would almost have thought she was dead.

This is ridiculous, thought Applejack, as she addressed her sister.

"Applebloom, what's wrong?"

"...nuthin's wrong," mumbled Applebloom, sounding for all the world, bored by the question.

"Nuthin's wrong?"

"...nope."

"You're just lyin' there, not eatin,' ignorin' yer friends, and that's all there is to it?"

"...eeyup," replied the younger Apple, the faintest hint of irritation in her tone of voice.

Applejack just stared at her sister, before suddenly deciding, enough was enough.

"Alright," she said, trying to toughen her voice up. "Ah know this ain't just about nothin.' Now ah want you to tell me what's got you all upset, and ah'm not leavin' here until we work this out."

Slowly, Applebloom's head turned towards her sister, her brow furrowing slightly.

"So now, y'wanna listen tah me?"

"Honey, ah always listen to yah-"

"Those two were makin' my nipples ache, and you just let em' keep on doin' what they did."

"Applebloom, ah-"

"Coral tried to help me an' you made him leave!"

"Now listen-"

"He was the one stallion ah cared about," said AB, her voice rising to a wail (and her head and body rising to an erect position as well), "the only one I'll ever care about, and YOU! MADE HIM!! LEAVE!!!"

Before AJ realized what was happening, her sister began picking up dishes and utensils from the barrel nearby, and throwing them at her! She dodged the garlic bread, but got a few handfuls of pasta splattered on her shirt and face!

"Applebloom, whu-hey-ow-stop-tha-"

"I HATE YOU!!" roared the enormous filly, a fire in her eyes that was almost frightening. "YOU SENT THE ONLY STALLION AH EVER LOVED AWAY AND YOU NEVER ONCE CONSIDERED MAH FEELINGS!!! YER OBTUSE, JUST LIKE CORAL SAID BOUT DIAMOND TIARA AND SILVER SPOON!! AH WISH YOU WERE DEAD!!"

"Applebloom!" cried out Applejack, trying to gain some control over what was happening, "that's a horrible thing to-"

"GET OUT!!!" yelled Applebloom, tears streaming down her cheeks, her fists pounding on her bosom, as her voice rose into a high-pitched screech. "GETOUTGETOUTGETOUTGETOUTGETOUT!!!!!!!!"

Unsure just what to do, Applejack rushed for the barn door, and closed it from the outside. She could faintly hear her sister yelling for a few more minutes, before the sounds devolved into noisy weeping.

Applejack stood dumbfounded for a few moments. Looking down at her clothes, she tried to scrape off some of the noodles and sauce clinging to her shirt, before marching back to the farmhouse.

Granny Smith and Big Mac were in the living room, as the screen door banged open, and AJ walked in. Sitting down at the kitchen table, she began slowly rubbing her temples.

"Y'wanna tell us whut all that ruckus was about?" asked Granny.

"Ruckus?" asked AJ, her eyes closed, and concentrating.

"Surely y'know we heard what was goin' on out there. Ah don't think ah've ever heard Applebloom shriek loud enough tah hear it all the way in here..."

"Nothin," replied AJ.

"Ya don't rub yer head when it's nothin," said Granny, turning her gaze to the kitchen. "Ah've known you fer too long to know when you're upset. And by the look of that sauce on yer face and clothes, it's-"

"It's Applebloom, Granny," interrupted AJ, her hands flying wildly from her head, and slamming down on the table! "She's refusin' to eat, she won't talk to me, and just now she was yellin' and throwin' stuff and wishin' ah was dead!"

"Ah see," said Granny, walking over to her granddaughter. "An, why do ya think she's actin' the way she is?"

"Prob'ly cuz of that Coral Leaf," sighed Applejack. "Y'know, ever since he came to this farm, everything-"

*WHACK*

"HEY!" cried out Applejack, as Granny's hand whacked her on the side of the head. "What'd ya do that for!?"

"Why don'tcha try using that thing in yer noggin' that ya haven't been usin' lately and figger it out," snapped Granny, looking a tad disgusted.

"Ah don't know what yah mean-"

*WHACK*

"OW!" cried out AJ, as Granny landed a second blow.

"That's mah point!" said Granny. "Fer bein' the 'head' o' this family, you ain't been doin' much thinkin' recently."

"Eeyup," nodded Big Mac, walking into the kitchen.

"Granny, ah, ah've just had a lot on my mind an-"

"Stop givin' me excuses, or ah'll give yah a third whackin," threatened Granny, her wrinkled right hand raised.

"Alright alright," said Applejack, throwing up her hands in defense.

"Big Mac, take a seat," said Granny, and soon, all three of the family members were seated at the kitchen table, under the yellow glow of the overhead light.

"Now, dearie," said Granny, reaching over and giving AJ's arm a small squeeze. "we're gonna have this talk, becuz you need tah hear it from those that care about you."

"Eeyup," nodded Big Mac.

"Now, ah know Cider Fest ain't always easy to plan and do, but we had us a right fine young stallion in that there Coral Leaf."

"Well, ah will admit, he was a hard worker," nodded Applejack.

"Yeah, and he did seem a bit outsized fer a stallion. But y'know, his heart wuz in the right place, n' ah think that's somethin' you don't realize."

"Whut's that, Granny?"

"He had heart enough fer us all, but, he ended up given a bit more of that tah yer lil' sis...and she gave some of her heart...back to him."

"Well, ah will admit it isn't common fer Applebloom to know a young stallion or two-"

"That ain't whut I'm talkin' bout here."

"Wh-what are you talking about?"

"Were you completely sidetracked preppin' for the festival? Am I the only female Apple at this table who wuz seein' yer sister and Coral eyein' each other? Seein' how she seemed more alive with her bosoms than when she first started growing?"

"Yeah, and then she and him both grew enormous at the dance and-"

*BANG*

"Size ain't got nothin' to do with what those two 'have!'" cried Granny, slamming her old fists down on the table. "Applebloom, LOVES that young stallion!"

Applejack's eyes fluttered a bit, a little overwhelmed at what she had Just heard.

"L-LOVES!? Granny, Applebloom's mah-"

"Yeah, she's yer lil' sister, and she'll always be yer lil' sister. But she's not that lil' filly anymore who was off with her friends tryin' to figure out who they wuz. She's a young mare now, with thoughts and feelings of her own, and as much as you wanna think you know what's best fer her, well, right now you don't."

"Granny-"

"Want another whack?"

...no."

"As ah was sayin, you seem to know plenty bout takin' care of the farm, but you ain't got proper skills in figurin' out Applebloom, and what's best for her. She's her own pony, and ah sure as heck bet she wouldn't push you tah have things done to you, that you wouldn't want."

"Y-you mean like with the Fl-"

"Now yer catchin' on," smiled Granny.

There was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes, as slowly, AJ's head bowed in a sign of uncomfortable defeat.

"...yer...yer right, Granny Smith," sighed Applejack, finding it hard to make eye-contact with her older relative. "Ah, ah done messed up. Ah guess, things were easier when Applebloom wuz just a, silly lil' filly. And now, she...hates me...callin' me things like obtuse an, an, what does that even mean?"

"It means 'insensitive.'"

The deep voice seemed to suck all the air out of the room, as Applejack and Granny looked up to it's source.

"Big Mac?" asked Applejack. "Wh-where did you hear that-"

"Ah heard it from Coral, when we were pressin' cider," continued Big Mac, giving his sister a stern look. "And despite the way you treated him, ah don't think he was deservin' of it. He worked just as hard as any of us during this festival, and ah think ah speak for Granny Smith as well, that if any of us ever wanna see Applebloom smile again, it's gonna be up to you tah make it happen."

"Eeyup," nodded Granny, as their eyes fell on Applejack's worried face.

The family adjourned from the dining room shortly afterward. Applejack didn't say much for the rest of the night. Her head was a whirlwind of thoughts and images.

Later on that night, she found herself tossing and turning, trying to get to sleep. However, after a few hours with no results, she shuffled downstairs to the kitchen for a glass of water.

As she sipped at her glass, her eyes glanced out the screendoor, to the barn where her sister was surely sleeping by now.

Turning her eyes towards the kitchen table, she was reminded of her talk with Coral the other day.

A milkmare, she heard his voice saying in her head. That's what your sister is, Applejack. She's a milkmare.

What kinda nonsense is that!? she had yelled back at him. There's no such thing.

Yes there is, he had retorted. My own Mom is a milkmare.

Those last words hung in her head for a few minutes, as she stood in the quiet of the house. Emptying her water glass, Applejack made a decision, right then and there.

The next morning, Granny Smith and Big Mac awoke at dawn, but were surprised to not encounter Applejack, preparing for the day.

Coming downstairs, it was Big Mac who first noticed the hand-written letter on the kitchen table. Once Granny had joined him at the table, they began to read it:

Dear Apples,

I know it would make more sense to tell you this in person, but I want to get going before the sun rises.

I've been thinking long and hard after last night, and now see that I was not being fair or thinking properly in the last week. I hurt a number of those close to me, but I am hoping I can make things right.

I am leaving this morning on an early train out of Ponyville, and expect to be gone only a couple of days. I am hoping to be back in time for the zap apple harvest.

Big Mac, if the Flim-Flams come by again seeking payment, you have my permission to run them off the farm. I have decided we will not be needing their services any longer.

If Applebloom complains of tightness in her bosom, please seek out Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. If they need assistance, I know you two can help.

I would like to tell you where I am headed, but I hope that keeping this secret may result in a greater surprise, if I am hoping to find there what I think is there.

Please tell Applebloom that I am sorry I didn't consider her feelings, and see what was right in front of me. Hopefully when I get back, things will be better.

Love,

Applejack

Applejack had been one of the first to board the train at Ponyville Station in the early morning hours. Even the conductor was bleary-eyed, as he took her ticket, and she boarded with a large backpack.

Her train car was relatively empty, and she curled up on a seat, as outside the windows, the darkened silhouettes of the countryside passed on by. She had often seen the view in daylight, but at this hour, the world outside of the train cars looked like a whole new place.

She wasn't sure when she nodded off, but the sun was shining through the compartment's windows, when the conductor shook her shoulder, and said they were coming up on her destination.

When she stepped off the train, she found herself in a heavily forested area. There were clusters of trees all around, and the wooden-slatted train depot, looked like it had been there for awhile.

On a nearby wall of the station, was a sign, reading Welcome to Galloping Gulch. Next to the sign, she saw an open ticket counter, and a red-haired pony reviewing some papers.

"Howdy," waved Applejack.

"Oh, hello," she chimed back.

"Ah'm visiting from Ponyville, and ah was lookin' fer a stallion. Goes by the name of Coral Leaf?"

"Oh, you must be looking for Chestnut Solace's son."

"Ah guess. D'you know where he may be?"

"It's a bit of a hike, but just go through those bushes, follow the path a few miles, then take a left at the fork in the road. You'll know you're getting close when you see the barn on the horizon."

"Alright, thank you," replied Applejack, tipping her hat to the girl. Slinging her pack over her shoulders, she began the trip.

Fortunately, it was a very nice day, and the path she headed up was surrounded by tall trees, their canopies spraying dappled light down onto her surroundings.

A number of animals were seen milling about, though they darted quickly off the path as she approached.

Bet Fluttershy would be makin' friends with all of them, thought AJ.

Eventually, she came to the fork in the road, and turned left, and that was when she saw it, in the distance.

It was a barn, though slate grey rather than the bright red of her family's barn.

"On the right track," said AJ to herself, as she headed towards it.

However. As she covered more ground, she was surprised to see that the barn seemed to be, 'growing' in size.

Her path led her down a small, tree-covered hill. She carefully kept her footing on the steep incline, and as the path cleared before her through the trees, she was greeted with a surprise!

The trees opened up onto a farmhouse, painted white with a black roof. There were furrows of soil with numerous vegetables in them nearby, but towering over everything, was the barn!

By Applejack's estimation, the farmhouse would have fit inside the thing at least four times over!

While her curiosities were on the barn, she knew that the polite thing to do, was to go to the farmhouse door, and introduce herself.

The wooden steps creaked under her weight, as she came to the front porch and knocked on the screen door.

"Hello?" she called out.

No answer.

"Hello? Coral Leaf? It's Applejack! It's okay, ah just wanna talk."

Silence followed.

Going to a nearby window, Applejack peeked in. Through the lace curtains, she could see a couch, and some wooden tables with glass-blown lamps in the living room area, along with a fancy-carved staircase.

I guess they're out, she thought. Well, I can wait for them to come back.

Finding a swing on the porch, AJ lay across it, and fixed her eyes on the barn's doors, which seemed much larger than average ones. The trip and her early-morning leave soon got the better of her however, and she soon drifted off to sleep.

"Miss?...Miss?"

Applejack's eyes slowly fluttered open.

"Are you okay, Miss? Is there something I can help you with?"

Applejack's eyes were soon focused on an older stallion, kneeling before her.

His body was a light maroon color, which only made the blue of his eyes stand out more from his face. On his head, was a shock of white hair. He was wearing a plaid shirt and overalls, with a few liquid splotches here and there.

"Oh, hi," said AJ, her mouth suddenly opening wide in a big yawn. "Sorry, ah guess ah was more tired than ah thought. Ah came here looking for a stallion named Coral Leaf."

"Well, he used to be here, but he left fer Ponyville some time ago," said the stallion. "Gotta admit, it's not always easy when the young'ins leave the nest. Even if he is your son."

"Son? You mean, Coral Leaf's yer son?"

"Chestnut Solace," said the stallion, extending out his hand. "And whose acquaintance am I making?"

"Applejack," said the orange pony, who suddenly found her hand being pumped vigorously.

"Miss Applejack? Well, this is certainly a pleasure! Coral mentioned you and yer family in his letters to us!"

"H-he did?" asked Applejack, her stomach feeling a little queasy.

"He sure did! Told us how much he was learning from one of the most famous farm families in Equestria! Ah will admit that farming apples isn't quite the same as what he was taught on our farm, but it's nice to see him using his skills to help others."

"Y-yeah, he shore is a helpful one," said AJ, a feeling of guilt permeating her stomach.

"Oh, but you've been out here for who-knows-how-long," replied Chestnut, helping AJ to her feet. "Come on inside."

A windchime tinkled on a nearby open window, as Chestnut and Applejack came inside the house.

"Please, make yourself at home," said Chestnut, heading into the kitchen. "Anything I can get you? I will admit I don't usually have visitors, so there's not a whole lot of choices."

"Ah'll have whut you're havin," said Applejack, setting her pack down on a couch, and looking around the living room.

On a small endtable, she saw a framed picture of a small foal. Picking it up, she realized the picture was of a younger Coral Leaf.

He was wearing a white shirt, and brown shorts. Though she tried not to think of it, Applejack was quick to notice, that he hadn't 'developed' between his thighs yet.

"I see you've found your farm's little helper," chimed in Chestnut, bringing over two glasses of milk.

"Oh, yeah," said Applejack, putting down the picture, and taking her glass from him.

"Well," said Chestnut, clinking his glass against hers. "Here's mud in yer eye!"

"Um, yeah," AJ smiled sheepishly, slowly taking a drink, before apprehensively stopping. "Um, is this-"

"Fresh? Why it surely is, Miss Applejack. I picked it up from the local dairy just yesterday."

"Oh, okay," she said, and drank some more, before Chestnut motioned for her to sit down.

"So, Miss Applejack. What brings you all the way up to Galloping Gulch?"

"Well, I, came lookin' fer your son," she replied.

"Well, that's very kind of you to call on us, but in his last letter a week ago, he said he was preparing for the...zapper-apple harvest, was it?"

"The zap-apple harvest," corrected Applejack. "It's a family tradition, started by my Granny."

"She sure sounds like a spry ol' gal," chuckled Chestnut. "Coral mentioned her in his letters too, along with your sister, Applebloom. Understand she's a little, 'big' for her age?"

"Uh, ah guess you could say that," blushed Applejack. "Well ah, guess she had herself a growth spurt sometime ago, n, well, guess she lived up to her name!"

"Yeah, kids tend to surprise you," replied Chestnut, taking another sip. "I assume your family was rather surprised by our Coral?"

"Uh, in what way?"

"Come now Miss Applejack. Surely when he came to your farm, you noticed somethin' different about him?"

"Y'mean, his-"

"Stallionhood," finished Chestnut. "Don't worry. I assume it's still a bit of a shock to you and your Ponyville friends. Not every young stallion has what Coral was blessed with."

"Well, to tell the truth, when ah saw you, ah expected-"

"-me to be just as big as him?" chuckled Chestnut. "Guess when it comes to 'bigness,' Coral takes after his Mom."

"R-really?"

"Yup," said Chestnut, picking up a nearby picture, and handing it to Applejack. "There's us three, pretty as a picture."

The picture showed Coral and Chestnut, standing in front of a large yellow wall. Behind the wall was a yellow pony, waving at the camera. AJ noted how both Coral and the pony seemed to share the same green and aquamarine hair coloration, and in a few moments later, realized that what the two stallions were standing in front of, wasn't actually a wall!

"Pretty, isn't she?" replied Chestnut. "Yeah, ah was head-over-hooves the first time I met her here. This farm belonged to her folks. They passed away shortly after we were married."

"Oh, ah'm sorry to hear that."

"It's okay. I will admit that at first, Gentle wanted nothing to really do with me, and her family were a lil' suspicious of me as well."

"I'm sorry, Who?"

"My wife, Gentle Bounty. Course, when ah first laid eyes on her, she was a bit, smaller than she was in that picture. Not height-wise, but-"

"No no, ah, think I understand where you're comin' from."

"Ah, okay. I take it you guessed what that yellow I'm standin' in front of is. Yeah, she's a little 'different' than yer average pony, but ah still love her, no matter what."

"Ah'm shore you do. Um, as I was asking a little while ago, you said Coral isn't here?"

"Nope. We figured he'd be with your family preparing for that next harvest of yers. Why? Did something happen?"

AJ felt as if she had shrunk to the size of a mouse on the couch, as Chestnut asked the question.

"N-not exactly," she said, feeling her face heating up. "Zap Apple season's a few weeks away, and, he took off on a, little trip the other day. Ah, guess I just figured he, came back here fer a spell to visit, b'fore comin' back to help us."

"I see," said Chestnut. "Well, we haven't seen him since he left for Ponyville, like I said. Still, the fact that you came all this way to see him, does seem a little, strange..."

"Heh, uh, it does, does it?" smiled AJ, nervously. "Well ah, ah heard him mention bout Galloping Gulch and, ah guess I just got a bit curious. Me and mah friends usually take this way on up to visit friends in the Crystal Empire, and, ah guess I thought I'd take a little time off and see what all the fuss was about. Stop by an' say howdy, y'know?"

Chestnut grew a little quiet, before smiling at her.

"Well, who am I to look a gifthorse in the mouth? It is rare we ever get guests out here, and one whom our son has good relations with."

"Heh, yeah," half-grinned Applejack. "Say, ah don't mean to impose, but, ah was wondering if I could possibly stay here fer a few days. Just a few days, mind ya. I promised my family I'd be back soon, to get ready fer the zap apples."

"I don't see any reason why not," smiled Chestnut. "You provided our son with lodgings, seems only right we should return the favor. And who knows? Maybe Coral will drop on by, and you two can head on back down to Ponyville together."

"Uh-heh, yeah," smiled Applejack nervously, giving Chestnut's hand another shake. "Thanks fer your hospitality. This means a lot to me."

As the sun began to set, Chestnut decided to prepare supper.

"Anything in particular?" he asked her.

"Whatever you want," replied Applejack. "Ah'm just the guest."

"Well, I almost expected you to be a bit more, particular."

"Uh, what makes you say that?"

"Well, I am in the presence of the Bearer of the Element of Honesty," chuckled Chestnut. "Coral told us how Applebloom mentioned what you had done for yer town and Equestria. Even how you know Princess Twilight Sparkle."

"Yeah, Twilight's a real o-kay gal," grinned Applejack. "But to tell the truth, Chestnut, we may do some big stuff, but, at the end of the day, we wash our hands one-at-a-time, same as you."

"Well, that's a relief," chuckled Chestnut. "Was afraid I'd need to run off to the General Store 20 minutes away and get some of 'the fancy stuff.'"

Before long, Chestnut had gotten to work on dinner. AJ offered her assistance, but he assured her he was fine with preparing things.

As he did so, Applejack wandered around the living room some more, taking in a number of pictures on the wall.

One showed a black-and-white image of a younger Chestnut, smiling next to a much-younger Gentle. Her hair was done up in a ponytail, though AJ was having a hard time keeping her eyes off the girl's chest. A bit of gingham material stretched immensely over her bosom, that strained at what appeared to be custom overalls, the metal clips looking like they were about to burst off.

Gosh, thought AJ. She's almost as big as Applebloom used to be!

Another picture showed Gentle waving from the porchswing, her bosom so big it overflowed the thing! Another showed a little foal that she assumed was Coral, sleeping on top of one of her enormous breasts, as she made a playful 'shushing' signal.

One picture that caught her eye, had Coral looking just as he did in the first picture she had seen upon entering the house.

He was wearing overalls, and standing near a wooden barrel, drenched in liquid. Applejack smiled a bit at the look of shock on his face, as if he had just been surprised by whatever had drenched his clothing.

"Ok, I think we're all set," came Chestnut's voice from the kitchen.

Applejack headed to the table, as Chestnut picked up another plate, and a glass of water.

"Just take a seat. I'll be right back," he said.

Applejack watched him leave through the front door, and make his way to the barn. 10 minutes later, he was back at the table.

"Had to attend to the missus," he said.

"Oh, she's out in the barn?" asked Applejack.

"Yes. She's been out there for...quite awhile. The barn, well, it's the fourth one we've built, if you can believe it."

"R-really?" asked AJ, her fork almost missing her mouth.

"Yep. When I first came to this farm, the barn was almost the size of the farmhouse here."

"And Gentle Bounty?"

"What about Gentle?"

"Well by the looks of some of those pictures, she seems to have...grown over the years."

"Oh yes, she has. I'm sure you may have realized why she's out there. Believe me, when we first met, I never expected her to, become as big as she has."

"So, was her Mom big too?" asked AJ, curiously.

"Nope. Truth be told, Gentle said that once she started sprouting as a young filly, she quickly became the biggest-breasted girl in her family."

"Ah see," said AJ, rubbing her chin. "Say, d'ya think maybe ah could talk to her. I'm already learning a bit more about Coral from you, I'm sure your wife would have plenty of stories to tell as well."

"I'm sure she does," replied Chestnut. "I will admit, she did cry a bit after he left. Guess it comes from having your only-child be so close to you. Maybe tomorrow after breakfast, we'll see how she's doing. I feel it's just a little too late for her to receive visitors."

"Okay," replied AJ.

Following dinner, Chestnut admitted there wasn't much to do around the house.

The two passed the time, going over some of the other photos on the walls, as well as chatting a bit about their farm lives.

Applejack soon found herself talking about the family's record harvest, as well as her hiring Coral on at the insistence of Applebloom.

Before long, the clock chimed nine, and Chestnut decided it was a good time to turn in for the evening.

"I'll let you stay in the guest room," said Chestnut, leading her up the stairs. Don't worry, it's rather quiet round these parts. Sometimes we get a stray timberwolf on the property, but they usually skulk off an' don't give us any trouble."

As they headed down the hallway, AJ noticed a door with the initials "CL" on it.

"Take it that's Coral's room?" asked Applejack.

"Sure is, "said Chestnut. "Want to take a peek?"

"M-maybe ah shouldn't."

"Don't worry. Nothin' bad to see in there. Coral was very good about keeping things neat and tidy."

Opening the door, Chestnut crossed over to the bedside table, and turned on the lamp.

The room was indeed well-kept. On the walls were maps of Equestria, a few Wonderbolt posters, and even a map of Manehattan.

Along one wall, were several bookshelves, filled with a number of books.

"He sure has a lot of books," noted AJ.

"Yes, we can blame my wife's sister for that," said Chestnut. "She moved to Manehattan, and sent him a number of them. We don't have a library round these parts, so Coral's Aunt did the next best thing."

"Well, he certainly sounds like a learned stallion to me," noted AJ. "Think some of his words are rubbin' off on Applebloom and her friends."

"That's always good to hear. Gentle and I always hoped that when he left, Coral would act as well as we raised him."

Applejack smiled at this, as they left the room.

They eventually made their way to the guest room. It was rather bare, except for a dresser, mirror, a bed, and a table and lamp. It almost reminded AJ of the Apple's own guest bedroom.

"I'm sure you're used to getting up early," said Chestnut. "Here, we're pretty laid back, but if you want to get up and go for a little walk around the property, don't go far. Also, don't go into the barn until I'm up. I like to be the first thing Gentle sees and greets in the morning. Hope we can give you a chance to take a break and relax before your harvest coming up."

"Thank you," said AJ, as she began opening up her backpack.

"Well, bathroom's down the hall on your left. I'll give you the orange towels. Used to be they were Coral's but I think they'll suit you just fine too."

After Chestnut left, Applejack tried to get settled, but found herself just staring at the ceiling.

She wasn't really sure just what she had expected to find in Galloping Gulch, but deep down, her stomach was still feeling uneasy from her talk with Chestnut.

As well, she was surprised that Chestnut hadn't made any mention of Applebloom's recent growth spurt, or the 'strikes' that she had implemented on Coral.

Maybe he's put that in his latest letter, she thought. Deep down, she was imagining it: She could see Chestnut receiving the mail, with a letter from his son on top. She could see him opening it and reading it. The more he read, she saw his face going from a smile, to a look of confusion, before turning into a scowl.

Well, gulped Applejack. If it comes to that moment, I'll have to face it head-on. Ah'm sure Granny and Big Mac would say it'd be more than ah deserve.

Eventually, she managed to quiet her mind, and soon drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Applejack awoke after the sun had risen.

It was rather strange for her to sleep in as she had, but she guessed it was her own body, trying to tell her to 'just relax.' After cleaning up in the bathroom, she headed downstairs, where she found Chestnut already preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, Applejack," he said, flipping a flapjack. "Sleep well?"

"Yup," she nodded. "That sure smells good."

"It's actually a recipe Gentle's mother learned. Sadly, my wife was a bit too big to reach the stove, so I ended up becoming our resident cook."

"Oh, I didn't realize," said Applejack, taking a seat at the table.

"Actually, I had a thought after waking up," said Chestnut, putting together three platefuls of flapjacks and eggs, "You mentioned last night how you'd like to talk to my wife? Well I thought: maybe we should all have breakfast together this morning?"

"Sure. Sounds right neighborly," smiled Applejack, getting up from her seat.

"Ok, let me just get a few things here, and we'll be on our way."

Chestnut placed 3 bottles of juice in a carrier, and picked up one breakfast plate. AJ took the two others, and the two headed out the door, and over to the barn.

AJ tried not to stare at the towering edifice (that made her feel incredibly small), as they approached the double-doors.

"Knock knock," said Chestnut playfully, his words echoing off the interior of the barn, as he opened one of the doors. Deep inside, there seemed to be only darkness. "You awake, honey?"

"Sure am, Chesney," came a sweet-sounding voice, a ways up ahead of (and above!) them. "Ah think you're gonna need to service me again t'day."

"We'll see to that a little later after breakfast," said Chestnut. "Hey, I got a guest that knows Coral, whose gonna join us for breakfast. It's Applejack, from Ponyville."

"Miss Applejack?" came the voice out of the darkness again. "Oh my, um, maybe we should just say our formalities as we are. I don't think she would want to see me."

"It's alright, Gentle," came Applejack's voice. "Coral kinda, prepared me, for what to expect. B'sides, talkin' to yer husband yesterday, ah was also curious regardin' the mare who helped raise such a, polite and thoughtful young stallion."

Applejack gave a small smile, feeling guilty for saying words she wouldn't have said a few days ago.

"Oh, why thank you, Miss Applebjack," came the voice out of the darkness. "I'm sure Chestnut's mentioned how Coral has told us about your family in his letters. He was always so considerate, and by the way he talks about you and how you take care of your lovely family, you sound even moreso than him."

"R-really?" asked Applejack, feeling as if invisible daggers were stabbing her in the heart.

"Oh, this talkin' in the dark is gettin' us nowhere. Chesney, give our guest some light."

Near the wall, Chestnut flipped a switch, and overhead, several large lights slowly powered up, bathing the barn in a milky white glow.

The barn was indeed enormous, and filling the majority of it's space in the center, was Gentle Bounty...whose form Applejack struggled to keep from gasping at!

Author's Notes:

I will admit that writing this chapter was a bit more fun. In talking to Coral Leaf, he had no ideas for parents for his character, so I found it a fun creative challenge to try and come up with the family who raised him.

Chesnut Solace's name I wanted to reflect that of a farmer among nature in northern Equestria. Chestnut was a small ode to Coral's name, being a reddish-orange color and natural-sounding.

Gentle Bounty's name I somewhat thought as being a bit like Applebloom's. They're rather innocent names, but a horny mind can easily alter them to be naughty.

Being a fan of the color-wheel, I wanted Coral's parents to have the kind of coloration that would mix together to give him his orange color, though I figured his eye and hair color would come from his Mom.

Galloping Gulch has never really been developed in the series, so I felt it was a bit like a back-woods kind of place. Coral would have grown up in a very natural setting, which I think could also make Gentle and Chestnut feel more at ease. I imagine that Gentle's older sister (whom we've heard talk of in previous chapters), was the one who grew bored, and sought adventure in the big city, where she now currently resides.

The dream sequence in the opening was concocted as a small 'apology' to Coral, who when I told him about the scene of his OC leaving in the last chapter, was very sad to see his character parted from Applebloom.

I thought AB might be so upset, that she would fashion the dream as a way to give her some comfort. Plus, I did make a little nod to some recent AB/CL fanart commissions in the last few months. :P

Deep down, I added a bit of my own Grandma into Granny Smith. My Grandma would have no qualms abut giving someone a good 'whack' over the head if they did something dumb. It happened one time, where her husband got them lost for 5 hours, and he wouldn't ask for directions. When they finally got to the place where my Aunt and Uncle were, my Grandma gave my Grandpa a whack across the head.

I was also a bit giddy about giving Big Mac his speaking role here. As we saw in the early episodes of FiM, usually Big Mac won't talk unless he has something important to say. Plus, I liked the notion that while Coral was helping Big Mac out in the barn, they were having a conversation that we never heard. :P

This chapter ended a bit shorter than the last ones. I did consider trying to expand out some other storypoints, but it could have easily ended up as an extra thousand words of 'filler.'

Hope some of you will still be around next time, when we find out a bit more about Gentle Bounty.