Post by starlight on May 20, 2013 23:55:16 GMT -5
Where the Wreaths Hang
"Got the star handled, big brother?" Applejack asked, hanging the fourth and final little wreath over the fireplace, one for each member of the family. With only a few days until Hearth's Warming Day, the Apple family's farmhouse had been cleaned top to bottom and decorated with all the traditional fixtures, including a huge spruce Hearth's Warming Tree freshly cut from the back 40.
Tall as the tree was, it was no match for Big McIntosh, who reared up and easily, delicately, placed the shiny golden star on the treetop. He admired it for a moment before dropping back to all fours. "Eeyup."
"Gonna be a quiet one this year, I hope." Applejack said, collecting a mug of hot mulled cider from the table and leaning back onto the couch.
"Eeyup."
"I mean, last year's pageant was a hoot and a half, but I could use a rest! Half the time I can't even see what Rarity likes so much about Canterlot."
"Eenope."
"Sure as apples go on trees, this's where we belong."
"Eeey-"
The door slammed open, admitting a burst of cold air, a few snowflakes, and an angry little Apple Bloom. "WELL, I HATE IT!" she yelled, and kicked the door shut.
The older siblings stared at her for a moment, then at each other.
"What's all the fuss, sugarcube? Ain't you glad school's out?" Applejack asked.
Apple Bloom bucked off her bags and flopped, pouting, onto the couch. "Yeah, it's just wonderful."
"Come on now, tell your big sister what all is happenin'."
"Well... okay... it was Diamond Tiara..."
Applejack smirked. "Ain't it always?"
"Eeyup."
Apple Bloom pouted at her siblings before continuing. "She was tellin' everypony about all the toys 'n' stuff she's got, and how poor WE are 'cause we don't got all the same things." She looked up at her sister, eyes shining. "Are we poor, Applejack?"
The mare just laughed. "No way no how, sugarcube. You really reckon you WANT the frou-frous and gewgaws that Diamond Tiara has? Can you see yourself struttin' around with your nose so high in the air you can't even see where you are?"
"Well... no... not really..."
"Darn tootin' you can't. And think about what we do here on the farm: we grow apples and make treats and cider that bring a little bit o' love to everypony that tastes 'em. When was the last time Diamond Tiara brought anypony anythin' 'ceptin' a pain in the behind?"
Apple Bloom stared at Applejack for a moment and burst into giggles. "Aw, Applejack! You're right, ain't nothin' that filly got that I'd want anyway! I'm a-gonna put my stuff away."
So saying, the little filly grabbed up her dropped bags and trotted upstairs. Applejack and Big Mcintosh watched her go, then sat together and watched the fire crackle for a few moments.
"Applejack...?"
"Eeyup?" she said, mimicking her brother without even realizing it.
"I think one day you're gonna be a great mama."
"You think?"
"Eeyup."
A few more moments passed, the crackling of the fire the only sound.
"Sure wish I didn't have to just yet, though." said Applejack, glancing towards the ceiling below Apple Bloom's room.
"Eeyup. But wishin' don't bring the harvest in."
"You still miss 'em, big brother?"
"More'n I can possibly say."
Silence fell again, as Applejack and Big Mcintosh gazed at the mantel. Four wreaths hung there, one for each member of the family. But they were both thinking about when there were six.
"Got the star handled, big brother?" Applejack asked, hanging the fourth and final little wreath over the fireplace, one for each member of the family. With only a few days until Hearth's Warming Day, the Apple family's farmhouse had been cleaned top to bottom and decorated with all the traditional fixtures, including a huge spruce Hearth's Warming Tree freshly cut from the back 40.
Tall as the tree was, it was no match for Big McIntosh, who reared up and easily, delicately, placed the shiny golden star on the treetop. He admired it for a moment before dropping back to all fours. "Eeyup."
"Gonna be a quiet one this year, I hope." Applejack said, collecting a mug of hot mulled cider from the table and leaning back onto the couch.
"Eeyup."
"I mean, last year's pageant was a hoot and a half, but I could use a rest! Half the time I can't even see what Rarity likes so much about Canterlot."
"Eenope."
"Sure as apples go on trees, this's where we belong."
"Eeey-"
The door slammed open, admitting a burst of cold air, a few snowflakes, and an angry little Apple Bloom. "WELL, I HATE IT!" she yelled, and kicked the door shut.
The older siblings stared at her for a moment, then at each other.
"What's all the fuss, sugarcube? Ain't you glad school's out?" Applejack asked.
Apple Bloom bucked off her bags and flopped, pouting, onto the couch. "Yeah, it's just wonderful."
"Come on now, tell your big sister what all is happenin'."
"Well... okay... it was Diamond Tiara..."
Applejack smirked. "Ain't it always?"
"Eeyup."
Apple Bloom pouted at her siblings before continuing. "She was tellin' everypony about all the toys 'n' stuff she's got, and how poor WE are 'cause we don't got all the same things." She looked up at her sister, eyes shining. "Are we poor, Applejack?"
The mare just laughed. "No way no how, sugarcube. You really reckon you WANT the frou-frous and gewgaws that Diamond Tiara has? Can you see yourself struttin' around with your nose so high in the air you can't even see where you are?"
"Well... no... not really..."
"Darn tootin' you can't. And think about what we do here on the farm: we grow apples and make treats and cider that bring a little bit o' love to everypony that tastes 'em. When was the last time Diamond Tiara brought anypony anythin' 'ceptin' a pain in the behind?"
Apple Bloom stared at Applejack for a moment and burst into giggles. "Aw, Applejack! You're right, ain't nothin' that filly got that I'd want anyway! I'm a-gonna put my stuff away."
So saying, the little filly grabbed up her dropped bags and trotted upstairs. Applejack and Big Mcintosh watched her go, then sat together and watched the fire crackle for a few moments.
"Applejack...?"
"Eeyup?" she said, mimicking her brother without even realizing it.
"I think one day you're gonna be a great mama."
"You think?"
"Eeyup."
A few more moments passed, the crackling of the fire the only sound.
"Sure wish I didn't have to just yet, though." said Applejack, glancing towards the ceiling below Apple Bloom's room.
"Eeyup. But wishin' don't bring the harvest in."
"You still miss 'em, big brother?"
"More'n I can possibly say."
Silence fell again, as Applejack and Big Mcintosh gazed at the mantel. Four wreaths hung there, one for each member of the family. But they were both thinking about when there were six.
