The school bell has rung signifying the end of classes for all school fillies. Excited to hear this, it also represented their last classes for the week. All the fillies and colts had burst through the doors of their homeroom rushing to their destination, home.

Home now, it really isn't a place, it's that feeling you get surrounded by those you love and cherish, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandma and grandpa. Mother and Father . Those everyday blessings we are gifted with just to hear and see them. Some aren't as fortunate to receive them at young, but it is they who will never understand but for us to fill in that gap as best as we can. We cannot replace such important figures, but how can you replace that was never there?

Applebloom exited the school doors and watched her surroundings of the courtyard filled with happy foals rushing to their parental figures who only looked forward to seeing their beloved child again, who could only open their arms wide  for a loving embrace being apart from each other throughout the usual school day. Sweetie Belle left immediately as the bell rang to meet Rarity, mentioning something about going to their parent's house for the weekend. Scootaloo didn't turn up in school today, she was practicing her flying skills, something that meant more to her than simple school studies which could have easily been caught up on.

It is only in times of loneliness do our minds begin to wander, when we are idle we over think certain situations, coming up with either good or bad outcomes, only how you were brought up is the only variable which can manipulate the outcome.

AppleBloom's mind wandered throughout her trip to her home 'Sweet Apple Acres', over processing in her loneliness and quietude without her friends. Only one question came to her mind and she needed an answer," Where's Mom and Dad?"

AppleBloom never once in her life, was not grateful for what she had, Big Macintosh, Granny Smith and the wielder of the element of honesty, AppleJack. Like everything in life, all we want is an answer. Curiosity always killed the cat but when it is killed, was it worth it?

-----------------------------

Winona emerged from the barn doors and rushed towards AppleBloom, with a wag of her tail, a joyous and playful mood emitted from the dog but as soon as it came, it changed to one of a small grief and understanding as she watched one of her many owners expression.

Before visiting AppleJack, she entered the house to unwind for a few minutes from her deep thoughts and a tiring day at school. She laid on the couch, a cozy one, able to fit two, she glanced at the various knickknacks held upon a shelf with family photos.

One was Granny Smith in her youthful days, another AppleJack with her friends all in a group photos, none with negative emotions but rather with laughter,pride, shyness, a simple smile and a pose. Countless photos sat on that very shelf, one even fitted the entire apple family but something was missing. Something obvious, there were none of those she had seek answers about. Her parents.

With a sense of urgency AppleBloom rushed to the widened and vast Apple Orchard to find her sister, the one who knew the answers. Big Macintosh was a stallion of a few words, truthful and a greater sense of understanding to not let AppleBloom know. Granny Smith would tell the truth but she was old enough as is, bringing up painful memories of her son.

Life and Death always worked in strange ways, even opposite to each other, they still worked hand in hand. The way life was suppose to be, the elder gave birth to the young and died before them. The parental figure is suppose to watch their little flower bloom, not wither before them.

AppleJack was the right mare to give her the answers, she was the element of honesty and thus will play her role.

-----------------------------

AppleBloom knew where her sister would be on a Friday, the north eastern side of the orchard. With an apple farm this big, there needed to be an order which Twilight before had gladly obliged to help.

"AppleJack?" Only one word came out from the youngest sister's mouth, not joyous, not vexatious but calm and with a purpose.

The orange mare immediately took notice of her non exuberant tone," AppleBloom. What seems t'be the matter?"

One question was all it took," Where's Ma an' 'Pa?"

The one question that she dreaded, waiting for this day for AppleBloom to ask. She had the answer and she needed her mind only on one thing to tell her, the apples could wait. She didn't ask why AppleBloom wanted to know, they were her parents, it was her right to know.

AppleJack said to AppleBloom in a soothing, motherly tone as she took off her famous Stetson hat," Follow me, AppleBloom and listen well."

The younger sister obeyed such a simple command, the body signs AppleJack showed were never this warming towards her. AppleBloom followed the elder sister to the barn as she talked.

" Our pa's name was JonaGold, an orange stallion, always wore the Stetson hat, the family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation, always worn wit' pride. It was he who built and raised th's farm but he never did this alone....."

-----------------------------

JonaGold always wanted to be more than an apple farmer, his cutie mark did not allow him that, here was where he needed to be, where he belonged. Without him the barn could have never been built alone with one pony, but we will get to that later.

Stubbornness ran through their blood, no matter how much his family begged, nothing could have stopped him like AppleJack, to go to the big city known for its hustle and bustle, Manehattan.

" Well son if ya like visitin' tha' busy town so much, at least help out your family! Take out some apples and sell, spread the apple family name far n' wide!" his father commanded JonaGold. It was a fair deal with only seeing both advantages, JonaGold was allowed to go to Manehattan and the family would have been receiving bits, so he agreed to such contract.

JonaGold nodded and headed off towards Manehattan, his cart filled with apples to sell. It wasn't a long travel for him but he managed the usual one hour trot back and forth.

Hours he would be there by his usual location in the market district with other ponies; purchasing,selling, viewing and rarely, stealing. Manehattan was never as safe as PonyVille, there were the usual thieves and gangs which hid and lived in alleys and only did such horrid for a living.

Hours would turn to days selling the usual apples, back and forth JonaGold traveled  from home to work, he loved the city life, he could live there, it was meant for him but life was never so satisfactory . Never will be.

On one special day JonaGold saw the most beautiful mare walk up to his stand, a red mare with green eyes and a mane coated of a deep red. She walked up to the stand, hungry and eyeing down the produce, pretending not to pay attention to the stallion behind the cart," How much does this Big Macintosh cost?"

"Four bits m'am, but for a mare like you, two will suffice," JonaGold tried using more advanced vocabulary, trying to 'fit in' with the crowds of Manehattan and also that he was trying to impress such a mare of her standards.

Even through her red coat she blushed and it was obvious," Why thank you, such a gentlepony, what is your name?"

A trade of names was always a good way to start off a friendly relationship," M'uh name's JonaGold m'am, and you are?"

She chuckled at his accent and dialogue," My name is Red Gala, where are you from, your accent doesn't seem to be Manehattan-ite."

" I'm from the farm miss, but I always did love Manehattan, getting to like it more now," he said ashamed also trying to woo the mare.

Another chuckle came from her, he was surely getting to where he had wanted to," Well Mr. JonaGold, you have a regular customer on your hooves but I am sorry to say that I must take my leave, see you back here tomorrow?''

He nodded his head  furiously obviously with a smile accepting another chance to interact with the mare again," Of course m'am and JonaGold is fine, no need for the mist'r makes me sound like m'uh Grandpa."

" And there is no need for the miss, makes me sound like m'uh grandma," she teased him using his own accent and waving a hoof goodbye.

For the rest of the day, JonaGold had the brightest smile on his face ear to ear. At afternoon he returned home telling his parents about the day, relieving himself of the bits to the father while the mother used the remaining apple produce for dinner. He barely slept a blink last night, overjoyed of today's experience.

The next day came and JonaGold was at his usual spot selling apples, he waited for the mare of his dreams, or of the dreams he didn't have due to lack of sleep. He began dozing off until a certain voice chimed through the air.

"Hello JonaGold, sleeping on the job are we?" Red Gala called out laughing at him as he woke up instantly from the sound of her voice.

"How is your day m'a... I mean, Red Gala and what would you like to have, my number one customer?"

She blushed at the statement," Oh another Big Macintosh and my morning was fine."

She pulled out her purse and as it was vulnerable a pony ran, grabbing it and ran from the scene," THIEF!! THIEF!!" She shouted.

JonaGold immediately responded to the call and told her to stay by the stand. He chased after the victim, dodging a few ponies while galloping for a few minutes until catching up to him. With a pounce, he tackled the thief and grabbed the purse back. Violence was never the pony way, all he wanted was the purse, all he needed from the thief was the purse.

JonaGold rushed back towards his cart, Red Gala awaiting for his return. He smiled as he came upon the sight of her with the purse in his mouth. He laid it down on his cart's counter and smiled at her.

"No pony has ever stood up for me like that," She said then hugged JonaGold and kissed him on the cheek,"Thank you."

All of JonaGold's blood ran through his cheeks, blushing furiously emitting heat, he responded, " How bout ah take you on a date t'nite?"

She nodded and walked off home promising to see him later on.

The first date was successful, which lead onto a few more thus moving onto a relationship, a firm, steady and loving one which blossomed into proposal, a golden wedding band and a permanent life on the farm.

----

A few years passed and it was time. Time for the new apple family member. JonaGold stood with his wife as she endured the hours of labor. Many hours passed until the fruit of her labor  was finally in front of her eyes.

" He's got your mane and coat," JonaGold said tears of joy from his eyes.

" And he's got your eyes," She said through her pants.

"What are we going to name him?"

"Big Macintosh."

The father embraced his first child in his hooves while the mother was allowed to rest from such a tiring event.

Many months passed and Red Gala was taking care of Big Macintosh while the newly announced father and newly announced Grandfather began their work on the barn.

Time passed, at least four years, and the newly announced grandfather passed away, it was simply his time. He didn't die sad, he died happily knowing his child had a son who lived happily with a loving and caring wife.

It never really was how someone died, it was how they lived.

The mourning and sorrow passed away,even though Big Macintosh was young, he understood what had happened and was saddened with the fact that he would never see his grandfather again.

More time had passed and soon a new apple member was in the family, AppleJack. Born with the her mother's eyes and mane but with the father's coat and stubbornness.

Time fast forwarded again, the barn was built and life was well as they knew it but as I stated earlier on, Life and Death worked hand in hand.

Jona Gold grew ill one winter, trying to patch up the roof of the barn which tried it's best to withstand nature's wrath, but only could have been done with his help. Through the continuous hardworking nights of sheer cold, pneumonia took it's place and was now about to take their father figure from the world. All that was left was a ten year old Big Macintosh, a six year old AppleJack, Granny Smith who still had the gift of life in her and a pregnant mother. He did not leave the world without his last gift.

With his dying breath he said to Big Mac," Son, you're the stallion of the house now, be strong and keep our family safe. I have faith in ya."

He turned to AppleJack," My only daughter, you're going to become a beautiful mare one day, y'h have your mother's eyes and my stubbornness. If Big Macintosh slips up, which I know he won't, give him a good tap. With that said I give to you the Apple Family Stetson hat. Wear it with pride, ah know ah did."

Turning to his wife JonaGold said," Honey I love you, always had and I always will. Ah will look after you and the family from my grave, always. I never regret the day ah met you and ah rather not change anything that happened in muh perfect life with ya. And ah'm grateful for you spending these last few years with me. " With his last bit of strength he gave her his final kiss and with that he was gone. His eyes closed never to open again.

Sorrow had its place as a family member in the Apple family but a new member was also going to arrive, soon.

Two months later, the mother was weak, in pain and in labor again. The doctor knew she wouldn't live from this a third time and prepared the family for the worse. They had conflicting emotions of joy and happiness for their newest member, AppleBloom but the loss of their mother took its toll.

With her last breath she said to both her children," Big Mac, AJ both of you all are my pride and joy, I have always loved you. I know it's unfair for children of your age but I know you can and I want you with the help of Granny Smith to look after this foal and raise it like your own blood, because she is. I will and forever always loved the both of you, I was always proud of you and I never won't be. Show the love I gave both of you to our newest member, AppleBloom."

With her final breath and a new name of a foal, the light in her green eyes were covered as a hoof closed her lids.

-----------------------------

"--and that's where Mom and Dad are, looking at us and loving us from heaven and that is also why you are here today." AppleJack said in her room while smiling at her sister.

AppleBloom looked sad and disappointed," Because of me.....mom died..."

AppleJack grew in shock and quickly displaced her of that thought, with a motherly tone again she said," No sugarcube, she didn't die because of you, you lived...because of her."

Applejack walked to her chest, opened it and pulled out a picture of her mother and father.

"She's beautiful," AppleBloom said gazing at her mother.

"Eeyup," a single word came from the red stallion as he had listened to the entire story.

That night, the picture of their mother and father joined the lineage of other stacked upon the shelves. Never to be removed.

Next Chapter: Chapter 2 - Fluttershy Estimated time remaining: 31 Minutes