The sweet smell of freshly cut grass, apples ripening on trees and fresh air filled Applejack’s nostrils as her brother pulled onto a long sunny dirt road leading to their home. Glancing at the trucks clock it read three pm pulling her hat down she leaned into the soft well worn out leather of her brothers truck. Hearing the brakes being applied a few minutes later and a dog barking Applejack lifted her hat taking in the smells of fresh pies baking in Granny Smiths oven.

“Ay want ya upstairs ayn' in y'all's room without any complaining ay need-ta talk ta Granny about y'all's behavior this here afternoon Applejack”.

“But Ah didn’t do nothing wrong Big Mac”. she protested “Ay were just a-tryin' ta get some stolen property bak from Sunset Shimmur who fawced Fluttershy ta hand it over to hur. That shirt didn’t belong to Sunset so I was a’gona get it back and return it to Fluttershy”.

“Get upstairs now!'' Watching his sister open and slam the truck door shut he sat in the truck as Applejack headed inside thinking to himself, “Ma and Pa wouldn’t want us to fight like this Applejack” getting out himself Winona came through the dog door wagging her tail and barking loudly, “Yes Winona” he softly said, “I’ll feed y’all in a few minutes”. Giving her a scratch behind her left ear he headed into the house with Winona following him calling out “Granny y’all home”?

Hearing pots and pans rattling about in the kitchen he sniffed the air taking in the wonderful scent of his grandmother's cooking. Smiling to himself, he proceeded to head into the kitchen stopping momentarily to pick up Winona’s food dish. Entering the kitchen with her in tow he opened a cupboard listening to Winona whine and whimper taking the dish he filled it with food and placed it on the floor in front of her. Taking a seat he watched Winona eat letting out a noticeable grunt.

“What's done got y'all upset this here tyme” Granny asked setting several pots and pans to the stove “Y’all ain't fighting with Applejack again are ya? But if ya are that would explain why she done headed upstairs without even a word ta me.” Sniffing the air her eyes widened in shock the smell of burning crust having quickly caught her attention. Turning around she opened the stove door setting off the fire alarm in the process. “Dagnabbit that there fire alarm has gone off yet agayn ever' time ay open this here stove it goes off!” She screamed taking out her pies she added setting them down on the counter to cool “Ay swear if Ay have ta her that there stupid thing go off one mawe time today ay'll shoot that there thing”.

Getting up Big Mac opened the kitchen window letting in some much needed fresh air. Walking into the hallway he took a nearby broom pressing the handle to the alarm shutting it off. Setting the broom back to its proper place he sat back down with a sullen look plastered on his face staring at Winona who happily wagged her tail as she gobbled down the last of her food he sighed.

“Granny Ay done got something ta tell ya but ya will nahwt like what Ay am about ta say” he began, gesturing to a chair he continued, “please sit down”.

Taking a seat Granny Smith blinked away her tears seeing her sad expression Big Mac got up giving her a much needed hug. Returning the gesture she watched him take his seat again looking more complex and sullen than before. Feeling Winona’s warm soft fury head resting on his lap he looked to her petting her head looking back at his grandmother he heard her begin, “Yer gunna mowve out huh? Ay mean y'all've been a-talkin' about it faw thay last two summers now ayn' now it is finally gunna happen. Y'all've been a-wantin' ta see the city ayn' see the world evur since y'all done started collage”. Looking into his eyes she finished, “just promise me two things Big Mac”

“What?” he replied not looking up.

“Ya will take care av yerself” sighing she added “Ayn' second ya done won't fawget ta write an a visit”. She replied, letting out a sigh of her own finished “Now ah’ve got pies ta cook so you run alo---”

“Ah anit about ta promise y’all that Granny my playe is here at y'all's side not in thay city doing who knows what” he interrupted getting up he walked over to the window looking out at all the apple trees he helped care for. Closing his eyes he paused for a minute before continuing, “Y’all wer right Ah had a fight with A.J. she done got into ayy scrap at school ayn' now is maddur than ay wet hen”.

Trying to hold her temper in Granny Smith’s eyes closed, turning to face her he watched her get up and walk over to the stove turning it off. Not wanting to lose her temper in front of her grandson she walked out into the living room looking at the fireplace she walked up to it picking up a small photo of her daughter and son-in-law. Resting a gentle hand to its fragile frame she swallowed her anger setting the photo back to its place on the mantle.

“Granny we need-ta talk about this here. What A.J. done here today she had naw right ta start ay fight at school ayn' ta make matters worse.” She heard him say watching him walk into the living room. Taking the photo of his parents off the mantle into his hands he looked at it with sadness clearly plastered in his soft warm green eyes. “It were with Sunset Shimmur who Applejack done got into ay fight with over av all thay stupidest things ay shert that she thinks Sunset fawced anothur gurl done called Fluttershy ta give hur”. Setting the photo back to its place he finished, “Ah made Ma and Pa a promise that day Granny Ah, made them a promise but Ah feel like Ah’ve not been keeping it.”

“Ah know y’all done made that promise Ah know” she replied, heading back into the kitchen she sat down at the table Winona wagged her tail gently snuggling into Granny’s lap giving the dog a soft pat on the head she finished. “Alright Big Mac bring yer sister here but Ah won’t allow you to switch her for this do y’all understand youngin”?

Giving her a nod he headed upstairs to his room opening his door he looked around a red duffel bag sat in a lump next to his dresser. His bed with a soft goose feather pillow, wool comforter and linen sheets sat in the middle of the room against the far back wall. A lamp stood next to his bed looking it over he remembered fondly when he and his father built it. Looking it over he walked up to it switched it on and off a few times before sitting down on the corner of his bed.

“That’s it son take slow and easy you need to let the wood choose you, not the other way around.” He remembered his father telling him “Remember son the wood wants to be used so it will have a special connection to you son”.

Hearing a nearby door open and close and boot-steps headed towards his door getting back up he walked over to his dresser opening the top drawer. Taking out a soft green shirt with a big green apple printed on the front of it he folded it in half placing it into his duffel bag. Hearing a knock on his door and the handle turning he turned around seeing his sister standing in the doorway, her face was full of guilt.

“Big Mac may Ah come in?” She asked swallowing hard she added, “Ah, want to talk to y’all if Ay’may”.

“Downstairs” he replied zipping the bag closed picking it up he added, “y’all got some explaining ta do and yer gona explain to both me and Granny downstairs why y’all felt the need to fight with Sunset Shimmur”.

Following him downstairs Applejack followed her older brother into the kitchen were her grandmother was waiting for her. Pulling out a seat McIntosh pointed to it watching his sister quickly take a seat taking his own seat he set the duffel bag down next to himself staring coldly at his younger sister. Trying to think of something to say Applejack fumbled with her hat for a few minutes before feeling Winona’s soft fury head resting on her lap.

“Go lay down Winona now ain't the time to play” she softly whispered watching her furry friend walk away whimpering with her tail between her legs. Applejack turned her attention to her grandmother, “Granny Ah-er-well that is Ah know there ain’t no excuse for what Ah did today”.

“Y’all done got that there raheet Applejack. Now tell me what proof done ya have that there Sunset Shimmur actually stowl the shert that yer friend Fluttershy supposedly done gave ta her?”

Looking down she tried to think of what proof there was that Sunset had actually stolen the shirt in question. Unable to think of any she looked back up gulping locking eyes with her grandmother who waited patiently for her granddaughter to reply. Getting up from his seat Big Mac opened the back door letting Winona out returning to his seat he glared at his sister.

“Well answur us! What proof done y’all actually have” he demanded not getting a reply he folded his arms across his chest adding, “Ah see so there is naw proof y’all just done wanted ta pick a fight with someone”.

Her eyes widened in shock gasping she replied, “no that ain’t true at all I just---”

“Then what in tarnation is the truth Applejack?!” he screamed “answer me now!”

“It was Rainbow Dash that done picked that fight she hit Sunset but Ah demaned that Sunset return the shirt she stole from Fluttershy” Applejack screamed back “Sunset Shimmur is nothing more than ay lousy varmint! She is evil ta hur core nothing more ayn' nothing less!” watching her brother bow his head a look of shame plastered on his kind-hearted face she looked away with guilt and shame etched on her own. “Ah was just trying to do what Ah felt was right honest Ah was”.

“Applejack ah’ve a good notion to put yer rump over m’ah knee for what yo’ve done here today” her grandmother injected “Ah’ve never been ashamed of m’ah family” getting up she headed for the living room stopping just before the entryway Applejack saw her grandmother was crying “until now that...is”.

“Applejack in the mawning ya will take this here bag ta Sunset y’all will make absolutely sure ta place it into hur hands”. Picking up the duffel bag Big Mac set it on the table adding, “Until done told otherwise by eithur myself aw Granny y'all are grounded. Y'all are nahwt undur any reason ta go out with y'all's friends aw have them come ovur here”. heading towards the living room he stopped looking over his shoulder he bitterly added, “Y'all done broke y'all's grandmother’s heart ayn' y'all done acted shamefully! Y’all's an Apple ayn' as such y'all don’t act like this here nahwt evur! Now go back ta y'all's room ayn' remayn there until sun up”.

“But Ah was supposed to go with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy to the market get supplies for the upcoming harvest” she protested throwing her arms out “Please big Mac Ah really was just trying to do what’ah felt was right”.

“Maybe y’all should’ve thought about before y’all did this now get to yer room! Ah don’t want to hear any more complaining from y’all” Applejack in her fury got up grabbing the duffel bag from the table pushing past her older brother she stomped up stairs slamming her bedroom door shut. Entering the living room Big McIntosh found his grandmother crying on the couch holding the picture of her daughter and son-in-law in her hands. Her crystal clear tears dripped onto it’s fragile frame. “Shh Granny it’ll be alright” he gently said to her sitting down next to her he held her in his arms adding, “She’ll be fine Granny y’all will see Applejack just made a mistake is all”.

“Ah miss them so much” pulling her into a warm much needed hug he held her in his powerful muscular arms “Ah don’t like feeling ashamed of m’ah family”. She sobbed into his shoulder. "She never wouldn've done this if he-yer-ma'am was alive not never would Ah thought it possiable for Applejack to break M'ah heart like this".

“Shh Granny let me help you to yer room Ah think y’all need some rest Ah’ll take care of the pie baking for tomorrow’s sale” he softly whispered gently helping her up he lead her past the stairs to her room getting there a few minutes later opening the door he helped her to her bed. Gently helping her into bed he gently kissed her forehead taking out a dog whistle from his front pants pocket he blew into it waiting for Winona to come to him. A few minutes went by before Winona poked her fury head around the door pointing to the bed Big Mac finished, “come Winona”.

Instinctively the dog ran up to Granny Smiths bed getting in she laid down next to her placing her fury head on Granny’s hip letting out a soft whimper. Shutting off the light Big McIntosh smiled to himself heading back into the kitchen looking at the mess he sighed. Rolling up his sleeves he set to work cleaning and washing the dishes once done he got out Granny’s cooking book following each recipe as best as he could making apple fritters, pies, candied apples and jam all to sell at the local market. Hearing a horn honk outside he looked up from his work watching his youngest sister Apple Bloom getting off a school bus.

“Well lookie who’s back from summer camp” he thought drying his hands he quickly went to answer the door opening it just as Apple Bloom was about to lay her hand onto the handle “Hey kiddo how y’all be---” suddenly being knocked down by his youngest sister he laughed as she snuggled into his warm chest hugging him tightly “well Ah take y’ave done had yer self a good time at summer camp Apple Bloom?”

“Yeah you betcha Ah did” she replied letting him pick her up he placed her onto his shoulders carrying her into the kitchen “Hey where are Granny, Applejack and Winona?” she added noticing that neither were in the kitchen to greet her when she came in “Ah thought they would be here to greet me”.

“Granny is sleeping” he replied setting her down he took her bag from her setting it next to the back door adding, “Yer sister is upstairs probably madder now than she was before and Winona is with Granny” heading back to her he added, “Ah want you to help me with the dishes then help me make dinner yer granny has had a hard day so y’all need to be on yer best behavior understand”?

“Ok” she said, taking a pot from him she dried it off taking a plate drying that she added, “can we make Granny some ‘get well’ pie Big Mac”?

“Sure thing kiddo sure thing”

For the rest of the afternoon Apple Bloom spent her time telling Big McIntosh all about her time at summer camp while the two worked to make dinner for the family. Smelling the good food cooking from downstairs Applejack rolled over in her bed pulling her blankets up close trying not to think of how she had upset her grandmother and brother. Granny Smith slept soundly with Winona protectively snuggled up next to her while McIntosh spent his time cutting up onions, celery, carrots and other vegetables adding them to a large pot of stew.

Next Chapter: August 3rd, Wednesday 3:00 pm (Rarity's chapter) part fourteen Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 4 Minutes