Big Mac sighed and put the pen down on the table. An empty bottle of apple cider sat on the creaky wooden table as the night wind howled through the open window. He sat in crestfallen silence in nothing but his boxers for what might as well have been hours. A double-barrelled shotgun rested against the wall with two shells next to it on the table.

He reached for the gun, opening the barrel to load the two shells into it. He slowly brought the barrels to his chin and closed his eyes…

“What… in the HAY… are you doin’!?” said a voice behind him.

Big Mac turned his attention to the familiar silhouette behind him… which was all he could see before it swung at him and knocked him unconscious.

The red stallion was suddenly shocked awake by a splash of cold water. He gasped and coughed, water getting into his nostrils. He had been tied down to his chair; His arms tied to the back of the chair, his biceps held by a rope harness across his hardened chest, his hooves tied together.

A very angry Applejack stood before him, but not as he remembered her; This one had pointed fangs, a strange black underwear number, and crimson eyes. She stood with one hand on her hip, and the note from atop the desk in the other.

“Ap-appleja-”

“Don’t you ‘Applejack’ me, mister! What in the hay were you doin’?” She held up the crumpled piece of paper.

The paper was a suicide note…

“Applebloom,

I just can’t take care of you anymore. The orchard is gone and I can’t bare to watch you and Granny Smith starve.

I’m sorry.”

“You were gonna die and let poor Applebloom starve to death!?” she said, crumpling the paper in her hands and throwing it out the window.

“… eeyup…” Big Mac said dejectedly.

“I swear… you… just…” Applejack paced, throwing up her hands in frustration.

“Ah couldn’t take no more. Every mornin’ needed more strength to get outta bed…” Big Mac said, hanging his head in rue. “The apple harvest just got harder ‘n’ harder, I saw the writing on the wall…”

“There ain’t no way to get rid of the fruit bats. The whole damn orchard is dead. It’s over for us.” Big Mac lamented.

“It ain’t over, Big Mac.” Applejack said. “I’m back, we’re gonna be a family again, an’ you’re gonna take care of Applebloom.” she said pointing in his face.

“How? The orchard is gone’, we’re runnin’ outta Bits, runnin’ outta food, runnin’ outta-”

“Shit to worry about.” Applejack interrupted. “Jus’ trust me big brother, ah’m the element of honesty.” She grinned, showing her pointy teeth as she gagged Big Mac with a pair of underwear on the nearby bed.

Big Mac struggled as much as he could in his bonds. He knew something wasn’t right with his sister as she came closer to his strong neck with those fangs of hers. Finally, he felt the twin pricks sink into his skin and drain him. His strength left him, and his struggling slowed and eventually stopped. He slumped in his chair… dead…

Applejack leaned against the wall and waited…

Big Mac sat up, his green eyes replaced with crimson irises.Two fangs protruding from his upper lips.

“Feel better?”

“Eeeyup…” Big Mac said with a guttural growl in his voice.

“No more of this shotgun shave nonsense?”

“Nnnnope.”

“Good… here’s what’s going to happen now…”

This part of Elements of Nightfall was paid for during my 2016 Hellfire sale.

In the actual sketch I drew Dickbutt on the paper.