Big Macintosh remained seated beside Sweetie Belle all night, attempting to comfort her in the crisis that had surrounded her world as well as his. Sweetie would occasionally fall asleep, only to randomly jerk out of it in tears. When she was asleep, she was either on the verge of tears, or already there. Big Mac couldn’t even think about falling asleep as the rush of anger and fear he had acquired was still present, and not appearing to fade away anytime soon. He would occasionally force himself to look over towards the white mare that as curled into the fetal position. It was murderous to have to bear the pain that he acquired from glancing at the swollen, black bruise that engulfed her left eye. She kicked and turned in her sleep, as if in a struggle, and Big Mac could only watch as she fought an imaginary fight in her mind, and it appeared she was losing.

Sweetie Belle could not escape a certain dream she continued reliving every time she faded into sleep. She would dream that she and Big Mac were laying in a soft bed of grass beside a stream, with Big Mac laying on his side, and Sweetie laying on him with her head on his chest. She would lean up and look him in his dark green eyes, and smile as he looked back down into her faded olive spheres of light. Slowly, he would lean down towards her face, still locked onto her eyes, as she would move her neck forward and their lips would touch, but only slightly. As the blood would rush through their bodies, they would become closer and their kisses more intimate, soon they were nearly on top of one another, and it was all uphill from there. They didn’t belong together, or so it would seem, but perhaps that is what made their love burn even more than expected. The contrast between them was that of Yin and Yang, Night and day, Celestia and Luna. She was soft, tender, and gentle. He, on the other hand, was firm, bold, and protecting. Their opposite personalities intrigued them, and they were both curious to investigate.

Suddenly, however, dark clouds would build above them, and lightning would strike in the distance. Sweetie would roll off of Big Mac and slowly get up, dizzy from the excitement that had filled her brain. As she and Big Mac would look into the sky at the black clouds and white lightning, the lightning would appear above them and strike the tree they were once under without warning. The stream in front of them, once crystal clear and beautiful, would become a dark red, as if bloody, and would flow slowly and sluggish. The grass beneath their feet disappeared along with all of the surrounding trees except the one directly behind them. Soon, they were left in a barren wasteland with no end in sight, and only a river of blood and a dead tree to accompany them. Lightning would strike just in front of them, and Big Mac would jump up from his seat.

“Sweetie! Run!” He would yell as he turned to show her what direction to head to. As they ran, the lightning would strike at their feet, grazing the prints they left in the barren dirt and rock underneath them. This is the part that Sweetie would begin to sob, as the sound of the lightning was deafening, even in her dream. They would run with the lightning striking at their feet until they reached a cliff. Sweetie would never look down, as she knew what was down there, nothing. Nothing at all, just a black pit. The lighting would strike in front of them, and knock Big Mac into the pit. “Sweetie!” he would scream as he plummeted into the darkness.

Sweetie would always jerk out of her slumber at this point in her dream. This time, she found Big Mac cuddling with her instead of simply sitting beside her. “Big Mac, what time is it?” He would not budge, but Sweetie felt the need to leave him be. He had had as rough of a night as she did, if not rougher. She looked over at the small window to her right, and saw a faint glow from the rising sun. She assumed it was about 7:00 in the morning. As she looked back over at Big Mac, she saw his deep sleep. Her decision was to remain by his side for another hour or two, allowing him to gain his rest. Though she would not be able to return to her sleep, she would be able to be with her lover and look at his soft, comforting face.

---

Two hours later, he awoke to see the white mare lying in front of him. She had her peaceful look back in her face, and was awake. She didn’t notice he had woken, and was staring out to the field of apple trees as if she was looking for something.

“Boo.” Big Mac whispered into her ear as she stared into space. She jumped, not expecting him to wake up as early as he had. She realized that it was only him, and turned her head to kiss him lightly on the lips. Just like her dream however, she got into the moment as her blood pulsed through her body, and soon she was in his arms, and lying on top of him. He had felt this rush before, and only now was he able to do anything about it. He kissed her faster, harder, holding onto her in his arms as he lay on his back. They opened their eyes to see how they had entangled themselves in one swift motion.

He quickly rolled her off of him, laying her gently on the hay beside them. He had forgotten about the black eye, and that had woken him from his buzz, but he also forgot who she was; how young she was. “What’s the matter? Is it my eye?” She turned away in an attempt to hide her swollen face as she began to tear up.
“Nope. I just don’t think that we should go as far as we were. It’s only our second day, and the age difference is too much to do somethin’ like that. We just need to wait. But, speaking of your eye, I’ll be right back. Gonna get some ice to help tha swellin’.” He stood up and began walking out of the barn, when he stopped and turned back to her. “Hey,” he said as he walked to her slowly, “I’m sorry. But listen to what I’m saying. I love you Sweetie, but we need to move slower. I understand how you feel, and I feel that way too, but it’s best for both of us that we just wait it out. I’m ten years older than you, so that needs to be taken into consideration too. Maybe soon, but not now.” He reached her and kissed her softly again. “Soon, I promise, just not right now.”

“Ok…” Sweetie Belle remained seated in the hay that he had sat her in. Her dream was coming true (the good part anyway), but it was stopped. By Big Mac of all things! “I understand. I’m sorry, for everything. I get why you want to wait. And I get that our age difference makes it hard. Just know that I love you too. She looked back at him and watched him walk away, and she examined his firm, muscular, protective body. Sweetie had never loved him more than she did last night and a few minutes ago. He had probably saved her life. But now it seemed like he didn’t want to be with her. Was it all in her head? Was it because of her age? Or maybe it was her eye? Whatever the case, she didn’t like it.

---

Applejack raced to the library, not thinking about everypony else, only her need to get there soon, and find out what was wrong with Skylite. Skylite was out of sight, but his destination was obvious. As AJ sped to the giant tree in the middle of Ponyville, she remained focused, but confused. What was happening to Skylite? Why all of these repressed and forgotten memories suddenly returning? Why now?

As she ran, her thoughts began to trail off as they tangled with the questions that had become proposed to her. Her focus slowly faded into nothingness, and she began running toward the library with a blank mind. “All this stress must be gettin’ to me.” she thought as she slowed to a fast gallop. She looked quickly over to her left to look at a new pony in town, and when she looked back up, her vision was filled with a white and indigo blur. It was Rarity, who had run out from a side street just in time to hop in front of Applejack. She slammed on the brakes, flinging dirt and rock everywhere through the air, over AJ and rarity’s heads.

“Rarity? Whatcha doin’ runnin’ out in front of me like that! I like ta’ hit ya!” AJ yelled angrily at Rarity. Not only had she narrowly avoided possible injury to herself or her friend, but she was also in a hurry.

“AJ! I have some WONDERFUL news!” She hoped lightly with excitement.

“Rarity, I don’t care about some dumb dress, I have much more important things to do. Can’t it wait?!” Applejack was growing frustrated with Rarity. She stops in to look at the dresses, simply out of curiosity and with no intent to buy, and now Rarity is stopping her in the middle of the street to talk to her about them?

“Oh, but Applejack, it’s not about the dresses, Darling. I found somepony on my way to Fluttershy’s!” Out from behind her walked a sturdily built yellow stallion with a dark blonde mane and eyes identical to Applejack’s. He wore a hat similar to AJ’s as well, and a thick leather vest. On each side of his flank he had a cutie mark of a lone apple sitting in the middle of his hip.

“Braeburn?” Applejack asked, confused as could be.

“Well, howdy lil’ cousin! How’s it going?!” Braeburn yelled, being the older of the two, one would suspect that, him being the older of the two, he would be more mature. However, that assumption would be wrong, as he would constantly invade other people’s personal space and deafen them with his constant yelling. “Say, ya alright cuz? Ya look kinda rough if ya don’t mind my asking?”

“Ya, I’m fine. I’ve just had…a rough few days. There’s this colt name Skylite and he’s having…troubles. Plus, Scootaloo, and Pinkie, and Rain…” She paused, raising her eyebrow and looking up at Braeburn “Wait, why are you here? Ya didn’t say anything ‘bout comin’ down to Ponyville any time soon.” She and Braeburn had always kept in touch through letters, but Braeburn had never mentioned a visit, as he usually does.

“Thought I’d surprise ya! I know how you love surprises,” Braeburn joked, or perhaps he simply showed his naïve side again, “so I reckoned I’d come on down and pop in on my favorite cuz! So…ya busy?”

“Brae, you know I hate surprises! But, it’s mighty nice of ya to drop by, even if it was unexpected. I aint doin’ much. I just been busy all night. Mighty tired.” She thought about Scootaloo, but quickly brushed these thoughts away. Now was not the time to think if such things. The saved room of thinking space was overtaken by the thought of Skylite racing to the library. “Bah, whatever. He’ll be fine. He needs to figure things out on his own; me helping him along will probably make things harder.”

“You’re welcome down to the farm. Got some nice, perfectly aged Sweet Apple Acre’s award winning cider! Made and aged it myself!” She bragged. “Got plenty of apples as usual, and maybe a few other things layin’ round. Rarity, you’re invited over too.”

“Oh no thank you, Darling!” She shook her head no. “I’m not hungry. What, with all of the action the last few days, I just need to go home to the boutique and rest, but first, I must go and see Fluttershy. Check on her, you see?” She hung her head low, expressing her fatigue.

“I understand. But…one question.”

“Yes, Applejack?”

“How’d YOU and BRAE get mixed up? You two are complete opposites!”

“Simple, dear. I was on my way to Fluttershy’s cottage, and I heard a train pull in. Needless to say, my curiosity peaked, so I walked over to the train station, and who should I find standing on the podium, with no baggage at all, but Mr. Appleloosa himself, Braeburn Apple! We began talking. About how well Appleloosa was doing, how Ponyville has changed, how good of a leader Little Strongheart was,”

“Very good actually! She learned from our confrontation a few years ago I suppose. Now there’s hardly ever a fight. Except at the salt bar.” Braeburn chuckled.

“Yes, and we talked about you. He was telling me about how you were becoming slow in your responses to his mail. I told him: ‘Applejack is a busy girl. Especially now that Granny Smith is gone, she’s taken over a majority of the business.’

“That’s true; I have been working VERY hard. Especially now!” Applejack agreed with a nod of the head.

“But, anyway, we were walking and I saw you galloping up, so I jumped out to stop you. And now here we are. Me, with my dirty coat from your brake check, and you sleepy, tired, and just plain beat.”

“Well, that about sums it up.” Braeburn agreed, also with a simple nod of the head accompanied by the statement. “Anyway, thank ya kindly, miss Rarity, but I need to get going.”

“As do I, deary. As do I…” She turned her attention to AJ. “I heard about…everything last night. Good luck.” The smile, wither it was fake or not, returned across her face and she nodded as she quickly released her closing statement while she exited the scene: “Well, I must run. Nice meeting you again Braeburn! Applejack! Do relax some time, dear? It’s not healthy the way you live! Bye!”

“Well, cuz?” Braeburn said, raising an eyebrow at Applejack.

Applejack sighed. It was going to be a long day. “Well what?”

“Well,” Braeburn intruded Applejack’s personal space as usual. “aren’t ya gonna take me to tha farm? It’s a mighty long train ride, and I’m starvin’ for some Sweet Apple Acres trademark apples!” He jumped in the air and threw all four of his legs in different directions, nearly hitting AJ.

“Ugh. Let’s go…” She began slowly walking towards the farm. She knew why Rarity was in such a hurry to leave. The same reason Applejack wasn’t in a hurry to go back to the farm. Braeburn. She loved him to death, but he was so annoying, Applejack began to wonder if the main reason he came to Ponyville is because Appleloosa kicked him out.

---

“Fluttershy! Oh, Fluttershy dear!” Rarity called as she crossed the bridge over the river in front of Fluttershy’s cottage. Something wasn’t right. A perfectly good morning, and yet not a single yellow mare was in sight. Nor were any of her dear animal friends. They were all gone. “Fluttershy, where are you?”

“Ugh. Of all the ponies to show up, why HER? The only one worse than her is Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy complained as she remained in her bed. She could hear Rarity’s requests for Fluttershy’s presence, and responded by locking the door to her cottage. Now was not the time to talk to anypony. Especially the five ponies she once spent every day with. She walked back into her bedroom, and lay back on her bed, still grinning slightly as she remembered her laughing fit from before.

Rarity continued walking through the lawn of Fluttershy’s cottage, becoming more and more curious, as well as afraid, of why all of Fluttershy’s friends were gone, and Fluttershy was not present as well. “It’s too early for her to go for a walk. And I highly doubt that she went into the Everfree Forest. Even if she had, there would at least be SOME animals here. Right?” She asked herself mentally.

Suddenly, Rarity heard a crunch under her rear left hoof. She looked over at it, and saw a piece of wood, but it wasn't a stick. It was carved eloquently, and was very beautiful. As she investigated her surroundings, she found that she had narrowly avoided a minefield of broken shards of glass scattered across the property owned by Fluttershy. “Fluttershy? Darling? Is everything OK?”Rarity shakily questioned towards the cottage, as if the home could respond.

A knock on the door, followed by shouts asking, once again, if Fluttershy was hurt. “Mentally, yes. Physically, not at the moment.” Fluttershy thought. She walked back down to the door, but did not answer. Instead, she sat and gained entertainment from hearing Rarity’s worried calls.

“Fluttershy?! Dear, I know you’re in there! I found a picture frame broken and scattered across your yard!” A pause. Perhaps she had finally gone away. “Is something wrong?”

“Wow, that’s the longest it’s been quiet since she arrived here.”

“Fluttershy. Please. I need to speak with you. I know you’re in there. What happened to the animals?”

Fluttershy stood up and began to walk back up the stairs to her room. “I’m not here right now. Leave a message.”

“You want a message? Here’s a message. I came to see if everything was OK. I was not sure if you were aware of the news like everypony else was, considering how far you live from town.” Rarity was growing angry with Fluttershy, and her worried tone faded out and was replaced with a more demanding, stern one.

“Oh really?” Fluttershy investigated as she stopped halfway up her stairs. “What news…hmm? What news? What could have POSSIBLY happened in Ponyville, the ‘Friendship Capital of Equestria’?”

“Well for starters, Scootaloo died in the hospital last night, and then”

“Oh, wow. That sucks.” Fluttershy interrupted. She never cared for Scootaloo. Especially now that she was older, her ego grew as well. She became more like Rainbow Dash with every year.

“Yes, very…depressing. And then, Rainbow Dash went insane last night.” She hung her head low.

“Really?! Fluttershy could not have been happier, and ran down to the door, swinging it open. This allowed Rarity to see the gigantic mess that Fluttershy had created in her living room and kitchen. “What happened?”

“Uh…” Rarity was shocked, confused, and afraid of why Fluttershy seemed so happy and curious about the loss of one of her friends, and the mess spreading throughout the house was intriguing as well. “Well, the shock and trauma from losing Scootaloo apparently triggered something in her brain and she went…well…loco! Rumor is, she blames herself for all of the trouble going around, and there is a hole in the wall of the waiting room where she smashed her head into it.”

“Wow…” Fluttershy looked down, trying to hold down the laughter that was building inside of her.

“Yes, very dramatic. First Twilight has another one of her breakdowns, and then Dash goes crazy. Next thing you know,” Rarity chuckled, “next thing we all know, you will go crazy next.” Rarity disguised it as what she hoped it was: a joke. After observing the state of Fluttershy and her property, and seeing her shake some, as if laughing, after sharing the news of Rainbow Dash’s fate, Rarity wasn't too sure. ”Your just being paranoid, Rarity. All of this stress is getting to you. Sounds like you need to sleep more than Applejack.”

“My, that really would be amazing wouldn’t it? Well, as you can see, I’ve got some cleaning up to do. Angel had himself a little tantrum, and now he’s wrecked the house, and scared all of the animals away. I guess I didn’t hear you knock I was cleaning so hard.”

“Mmhmm. And about the ‘Leave a message’ thing?”

“I’m a little stressed from having to put up with Angel. He’s been having some rough days, and I don’t know what to do with him.”

“Hmm. OK. I’m sorry to bother you; I thought you would like to know what was going on in town.”

“Thanks, now I need to get back to work.” She slammed the door in Rarity’s face, just wanting to get away. Quickly, she ran into her room, jumped on her bed, and stuffed her face into her pillow, drowning out all sounds of her laughter.

“Well. That was…interesting.”

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