Three fillies were playing in the yard, the same ones Octavia saw when she first came into town. They seemed to be devising some sort of plan.
Fillies these days, she thought.
Applejack and Big Macintosh were carrying baskets filled to the brim with apples of different shades of red, yellow, and green.
"Howdy, Acoustic, good to see ya," Applejack called when she saw him.
"Hey, bud'," he smiled and waved.
"Oh, hi, Rarity. I see you brought two other guests too. I ain't really familiar with y'all, but I know Vinyl," Applejack laughed.
"Hello, Applejack. This is Vinyl Scratch, and that's Octavia---," Rarity couldn't remember the rest of her name.
"Melody. Octavia Melody, nice to meet you," Octavia said.
"Hey, AJ!" Vinyl waved.
"Hi," she chuckled and waved back.
The tall red stallion approached the others, he hadn't said anything that entire time.
"Alright, some of you know him, some of you may not, but this is Big Macintosh, my older brother," Applejack introduced him.
"Eeyup," he nodded.
"He doesn't talk much, but he's a gentle giant," Acoustic whispered to Octavia.
"I forgot how tall this guy was, he's massive," Vinyl laughed.
Big Mac smiled, "Eeyup."
"Is that all you can say there, Big Mac?" Acoustic joked, hoping he'd catch on.
"Nope," Big Mac laughed, catching on to Acoustic's joke.
"Alright, so what brings y'all to my humble abode here?" Applejack asked.
"We were going to get some Apple Pie from Granny Smith. Sugarcube Corner's is good, but Granny Smith makes it fresh," Acoustic laughed.
"You sound like you haven't eaten all day, AP, you doin' alright?" she retorted with a question.
"I haven't, that's also why I'm here. You're not the first to be concerned over me, but I'm okay, I promise," Acoustic rambled.
"Alright, well c'mon in then," Applejack nodded towards the house and everypony trotted inside.
"Ah, visitors! Howdy, y'all," Granny Smith greeted.
"Hey, Acoustic, can I talk to ya fer a sec?" AJ asked.
"Uhh, sure," he replied, trotting over to her.
"What's gotten into you lately, bud'? You seem sick, you may be able to talk your way out of situations with them, especially Rarity, but not with me. Now, are you gonna explain to me, pardner, or am I gonna have to get Big Mac?" she jokingly threatened.
"Haha, no, that won't be necessary. Alright, I'll tell ya, but I don't really like talking about it," Acoustic agreed to explain.
"I'm listenin'," she beckoned him to continue.
"It's these dreams I keep having, of the siege of Canterlot from a while back. Every time I close my eyes, I see the explosions and hear the screams. It's maddening, I just--- I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't even think straight," Acoustic opened up.
"Sounds rough, I couldn't imagine what that must be like. But trust me, we're all here for you, pal. Don't lock yourself up in your house like that, been hearing ponies around town saying you've already gone mad," Applejack seemed sympathetic of his situation.
Acoustic nodded, "I'm not senile yet."
"What exactly are the dreams about? Would ya mind explaining 'em a little more?" Applejack wasn't a therapist, but she wanted to help her friend.
While Applejack and Acoustic were talking, Octavia and the others were sitting at the dining room table, eating apple pie and fritters.
"Alright, so the dream starts with Chrysalis's second attack. The one I killed her in, and the one my father died in. I look over at a nearby street. Fire as far as the eye can see, the stench of death filling the air. I begin trotting down that street, searching for survivors. I find a house, still standing, but it was burning. A mare was standing outside it crying and screaming bloody murder. I asked her what was wrong... and---," Acoustic paused, lost in thought.
"And what, AP?" Applejack tried to continue the conversation.
"And--- and... her son, a colt, he--- he was dead. He was about Apple Bloom's size. He was so young. Why? Why did they attack mares and foals? WHAT DID THEY EVER DO TO DESERVE THAT?!" Acoustic's voice rose higher and higher as the memory continued to haunt him.
"Acoustic, calm down, bud'. Try and relax, okay? I'm sorry for pushing you like that, and I'm sorry you even had to deal with that in the first place," Applejack was growing increasingly worried.
Everypony eating at the table had stopped and looked at Acoustic. You could hear a pin drop in that room, it was deathly quiet.
"Sorry, I--- bad memories," Acoustic stammered.
"Ah, don't you worry, child. Come sit over here with us," Granny Smith pointed at an empty chair between Octavia and Vinyl.
"Alright," Acoustic took a deep breath and went to sit down.
"You okay, AP? You seem tense," Vinyl asked.
"Yeah, I was talking with Applejack. I got what was bothering me off my chest. Guess I just needed to talk to somepony about it," he replied.
"Well, great!" Octavia added.
"Yes, very good to hear," Rarity smiled.
Granny Smith passed him an Apple Fritter and a slice of pie.
"Eat up, young'un," she commanded. She wouldn't take no for an answer, so Acoustic simply obliged and took a bite.
"Thank you, Granny Smith, it tastes great like always," Acoustic smiled. It'd been a while since he had eaten, and it gave him a sickly feeling.
Everypony had finished. They said goodbye to the Apple Family and made their way back towards downtown Ponyville.
They weren't entirely sure what to do next.
END OF CHAPTER 5!