Little Apple Cousins

Chapters

Chapter 1: Two Cousins
Chapter 2: The Day After
Chapter 3: Filly Road Trip
Chapter 4: On the Road with Apple Bloom and Babs Seed
Chapter 5: Down on the Farm

Chapter 1: Two Cousins

By Kristin W. Rothacher

Chapter One: A Tale of Two Cousins

Brad Smith was from Manhattan, New York. He would celebrate his 25th Birthday, and invite his country cousin, Alex, who was the younger brother of Jack and Evan Smith. The two wrote letters to each other prior to the big birthday. It so happened that Brad and Alex shared the same birthday. So, Alex left his home and headed out to the Big Apple. He was able to get to his cousin’s house with some difficulty because of some rude New Yorkers, but Brad’s sister was able to pick Alex up from the airport to spend a couple days with Brad. Little did the cousins know, their adventure in New York would begin a journey of self-discovery and big changes.

Alex looked around the room as he arrived, followed by Brad’s older sister, “Brad, your cousin Alex is here!” The older sister called out. “I’ll take your suitcase to your guest room and you can wait in the living room, okay?” The sister took the bags down the hall to the spare bedroom where Alex would be staying.

As Alex sat on the couch, he turned on the television and saw the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. The episode was Apple Family Reunion, in which Applejack hosted the Annual Family reunion, and Babs Seed, a character introduced as Apple Bloom’s cousin, appeared in this episode. The characters helped repair a barn that had been damaged with a rousing musical number. Eventually, Brad came around the corner as the Apple Family began to sing Raise this Barn. “I didn’t know ya liked ponies, cousin.” Brad said with his Manhattan accent.

Alex blushed and turned the television off, “Uh, don’t tell anyone, okay?” He was defensive about being a secret fan of the show. Apple Bloom was one of those ponies who he could relate to, having siblings, growing up on a farm, and exploring. Brad, on the other hand, was the tough kid who was often teased at school by bullies, so he projected a tough guy exterior to keep the bullies from harassing him further.

Brad shrugged, “Hey, it’s all right. That show’s not that bad…especially that episode where Babs joined those two girls…what were their names?” He blew a tuff of hair out of his face. “Huh, I probably need a haircut ‘for the party.” Brad somehow began this strange quirk of blowing a tuff of hair out of his face this morning.

Alex looked back at Brad, and made a face, “Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. They tease Apple Bloom and her friends at school ‘for bein’ “Blank Flanks.” A Blank Flank in the My Little Pony realm is a young colt or filly who has not received their “Cutie Mark”, an indicator of their special talent.

Brad then quipped, “They have really bad attitudes, if ya ask me.” Again, Brad blew that stubborn tuff of hair out of his face. “Anyway, we have a Birthday to plan; ours!” Brad went over to hug his cousin. Somehow, when Brad hugged Alex, it was much like when Apple Bloom and Babs Seed hugged at the Apple Family Reunion.

That afternoon was the party. Brad and Alex were led into a darkened room by Brad’s sister and their Aunt Betty. The lights came on, and a banner dropped with Happy Birthday Alex and Brad on it. The cake had a replica of a barn with a farmhouse and the Statue of Liberty on top. The farmhouse and barn reminded Alex of the Sweet Apple Acres location seen in the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic show.

Alex seemed depressed as the party favors were distributed. “Hey, Alex, you should try the cake and punch. My big sister made this for us.” Brad offered cake and punch to Alex. The two ate cake and drank their punch, as well as played “Pin the Tail on the Pony.” Alex wondered why they would have a My Little Pony themed game for boys, “Uh, Brad, can I talk to you in private? Something weird is goin’ on.”

Brad sipped his drink and blew that tuff of hair out of his face, “Yeah, how so? The cake was awesome!" Brad got some presents for them. "Oh, and look at what we got for presents!” Brad handed Alex his present, and it appeared to be a reddish-pink bow, “Seriously? What kind o’ present is this?” Alex looked skeptical at the bow, “Ah’m a boy, not a girl. Whoever got this must have me confused with someone else.”

Brad shrugged and opened his gift. Inside was a brush for his hair. “I wonder why someone would get me a brush.” The two boys put the gifts in the bed room when no one was looking and headed back to the party, which was winding down. The two helped Brad’s sister clean up and the boys went to bed.

That night, Alex wondered why he was given that strange girly bow. The present was addressed to him. The other presents were just as weird too. A small brown Stetson cowboy hat, a larger one to give to his brother back home, a brush, and some other stuff he was sure reminded him of the farm.

Brad received the brush, as well as some mementos of his city life. He continued to wonder why that particular episodes of “One Bad Apple” and “Apple Family Reunion” aired that day. It was Saturday May 1, and in two days, Alex would head back home to the family farm and bring back the gifts for Evan and Jack.

That night, both cousins dreamed of their lives before they had their birthday. For Alex, growing up on a farm was the best for him. Hanging out with his brothers, selling the family produce, and helping pick apples from the orchards...huh, apples? Something was not right. Alex tossed and turned as a different life other than his own appeared in his dream. He remembered being introduced to a book-smart friend of his sister's, and invited her to brunch.

"C'n you please stay fer brunch?" The sad girl's voice said in his mind. The next scene was when NightMare Moon appeared in the place of Princess Celestia at the Summer Sun Celebration, and the young girl, or filly, was huddled in fear with two other classmates, a young unicorn and a small Pegasi. Alex continued to wonder who this girl was. Other events included the day of the Cider Run, where all the townsponies gathered in the fall to partake in drinking cider. The cider kept running out, and these two brothers showed up convienently with a scheme to produce cider better than the family cider could. There was even a muscial number. Flim and Flam, they were called.

Alex muttered in his sleep, "Sweet Apple Acres cider is better than yer cider! Ya git off our property!" The little yellow coated filly with the pink bow and red mane yelled at the travelling sales ponies, just as he muttered in his sleep. The little filly was about to chase Flim and Flam off the property, only to be held back by her older sister. The older sister in the dream was an orange mare with blonde hair and had a brown stetson, freckles, and green eyes. Alex somehow recognized this pony as Applejack, the Element of Honesty, and a friend of that purple unicorn who ate too much pie at their last reunion. Could he be a part of this Apple family? There was even a grandmother in the dream as well. Granny Smith, they called her. A wise old mare with many tales of her adventures as a filly settler, arriving in the land Princess Celestia herself granted to the future Sweet Apple Acres. The farm had been in the Apple Family for many years, and new members kept arriving at the annual reunions; mares and their new colts and fillies, Stallions, all eating apple fritters, socializing, dancing, and playing music. There was a hayride, a family photo, and a race for the younger fillies and colts to participate in.

Alex also remembered a small unicorn friend whose family moved into town. Small Horn was a new student Miss Cheerilee, the school teacher at Ponyville School had introduced. Teased for being both a Blank Flank and her small horn gave Apple Bloom an idea; offer membership to Small Horn as a Cutie Mark Crusader! Alex smiled in his sleep as Small Horn was sworn in as the fifth member of their club, after Babs Seed. That was the last good memories he had about the little country filly and her friends.

Brad also tossed and turned in his sleep. He was teased in school because he was a "Blank Flank?" What was that all about? Brad felt a close relation to Babs Seed. Somehow, several memories of hers seeped into his dreams; the bullying by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, Babs joining in, threatening the Cutie Mark Crusaders, or as Babs the bully would say, "More like tha Cutie Mark Crybabies!" How could Babs treat her cousin and her friends like that?

Of course riding in the golden apple float and ending up being thrown out of it just in time to have Apple Bloom and her friends fall into the muddy lake below instead of Babs proved revenge was not the best solultion. Sweetie Belle's outburst, "Why does Life have to be so Ironic?" floated through Brad's mind.

Brad smiled in his sleep as the girls invited a repenant Babs Seed as a new member of the team. That was the best memories he had of the bob-tailed orange Earth Pony with the pink mane and tail. Also included was helping out rebuilding the barn and singing that wonderful song: Raise This Barn. The whole family joined in the singing and dancing as the older stallions and mares collected wood, pounded nails, and painted the barn the bright red color that identified it as being a part of the family farm.

Chapter 2: The Day After

May 2 - The next morning, Brad and his cousin Alex woke up. Alex went to the bathroom and noticed some changes. His eyes were a orangish color and his hair was a bit reddish looking. He ran into Brad's room, "Brad, Brad! Something's not right!" He said in a panicked voice. His country accent sounding a bit like that character from the show.

Brad stretched, ruffling his longer hair, which was a pinkish color. He blew his hair as he usually did, "Huh? You must be seein' things. Listen, I gotta go, so if you're done...." He was interrupted by Alex, who dragged him into the bathroom. "Your eyes, Brad, and your hair. They look like that Babs Seed character. You even do that blow-the-hair thing she does."

Brad looked at his reflection in the mirror and saw his eyes were the same color as Babs Seed's; a little darker yellow than his cousin. "Huh, yeah, that hair thing...I think that started yesterday...and my hair...pink, that's new. Speakin' o' hair. you're hair's lookin' red. Sure you want that bow now?" He teased.

Alex thought of the bow and shook his head, "Ah'm not wearin' that bow! Ah'm a boy, not a girl!" He stomped off and went to sulk as Brad prepared for his day. The next few hours saw some subtle changes the cousins' appearance and speech patterns. Brad developed a Brooklyn-style accent, while Alex had a southern accent that reflected his country heritage.

Later in the afternoon around 3PM, Alex was in the bathroom again and saw his ears had migrated to his head. They were pony ears, like the ones featured in the special cap the fans of Michelle Creber, the voice of Apple Bloom, had made for her, complete with red yarn for her mane and her bow. "Ahhhh! What's goin' on? Why do Ah have horse ears!"

Brad. also had pony ears by this time, but his was a dark orange. His hair, or mane, was a lighter pink. "You keep it down! I heard ya clear in the other room!" Brad stopped as he felt the pony ears. They were quite senstive. "Uhm, Alex, I think we might be..."

Alex went over to Brad, "Ponies? Ah mean, Ah have a country accent and red hair...does this mean Ah'm Apple Bloom?" The confused young man wondered what would happen next. Alex's size began to shift a bit, as his face took on somewhat of a feminine appearance, as did Brad's. Both boys has the appearance of young teenagers, and could easily be mistaken as girls.

Later that evening, On cue, Alex felt something push on his tailbone. "Huh? What's this?" He rushed into the bathroom and checked. There was a tail of the same color as his red hair. "Ah have a tail? What the Hay's goin' on here?"

Brad ran into the bathroom as well, feeling the same feeling, "Uh, Alex, I think I have a tail too. You think we have Cutie marks?" He checked as his short bobbed tail subconsciously covered what would later become his flank. "No Cutie Mark."

Alex checked for a Cutie mark, "Aww. Ah don't have one either. We supposed to be"...He cringed, " Blank Flanks?" He looked like he was about to cry.

Brad hugged his cousin and they decided that if they were to be ponies, they'd better get used to their new appendages. "Uh, what if we get hungry?" Alex complained.

Brad shrugged, "I guess we have to eat salads. Ponies are herbivores. That means no meat products." His stomach growled. "I guess we better start eatin' right. Maybe my sister or Aunt Betty can help us."

Alex looked back at the bow that Apple Bloom usually wore in the episodes and the small cowboy hat, "Y'know, that hat reminds me of Applejack. Since she's Apple Bloom's sis. Y'think I can find her? Maybe she can help!"

Brad blew hair from his face, "Worth a shot. I'll go talk to my big sister. She can get us back to your farm so you can find Applejack." he shook his head. "Wait a minute, Applejack is a character on that pony show, and she lives on her farm in Equestria. Now, why would Applejack be on Earth?"

The two went to talk their plan over some salads and apple slices. The caramel dipping sauces and the crunchy apple slices reminded him of the farm and memories of Sweet Apple Acres, home to Granny Smith, Big MacIntosh, Applejack,, and the rest of the Apple family. "Ah think we should leave fer the farm tommorrow. Maybe theirs a Family reunion! That's it! We go to the family reunion. Maybe Applejack will be there!" Then Alex felt sad, "Ah kinda miss my parents."

Brad placed a hand on his cousin's shoulder, and saw his arm had started to grow dark orange fur. "Yeah, my big sister raised me. Huh, that's new."

Alex saw his arms had gained a yellow tint to them, and his eyes turned orange, like Apple Bloom's. "Y'know, Apple Bloom and Babs are fillies, right?" He wondered about what to do about work if he was stuck in school as a Blank Flank Filly, being teased.

Brad hugged his cousin, blowing the hair our of his face, "We'll be fine, cousin. We just have to stick together. Maybe there are others like us...who have become "blank Flanks. Maybe we can invite them to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

Alex remembered two filly friends from Apple Bloom's school. An unicorn named Sweetie Belle, and a Pegasus named Scootaloo. "We should form a club...to help other ponies get their Cutie Marks!" He pounded his fist into his hand, which was a little smaller than before, "These changes are happening fast. Next thing ya know, I'll have t' wear that bow in my hair!"

Brad chuckled, "Yeah, that would be a sight. So, I guess we have to call you Apple Bloom then." He smiled in a way that Alex would recognize as Babs Seed's signature smirk.

Alex nodded, "Yeah, and you're still mah cousin...Babs, right?" His yellow fur had covered his arms, as did Brad/Babs' arms.

Brad/Babs hugged Alex/Apple Bloom, "Yeah, so, if we change any more tommorrow, we figure a way to get us to Applejack. You'll feel more at home in the country. Maybe build a clubhouse for that club we are going to have." He blew the hair off his face again. "Seriously, Gotta get my hair cut." The two cousins decided no matter what changes would take place, they would ride out the transformations together.

Chapter 3: Filly Road Trip

Filly Road Trip

The next morning, Brad and Alex awoke to see the changes to their bodies were nearly complete. Alex/Apple Bloom's small body looked more like a young girl who was cosplaying as Apple Bloom, complete with red hair and tail. Brad/Babs had pink hair, light green eyes, and dark orange fur all over his/her body. Both Brad and Alex had smaller bodies to accommodate their future roles as two little fillies that they would become.

Alex awoke first and went to the bathroom. Rubbing her eyes, she flipped the light on to see she had little yellow hooves for feet. She had to stand on the step stool to see her reflection. Checking her teeth like Apple Bloom did in "Call of the Cutie" at Zecora's hut when she chipped her tooth in the Everfree Forest, she discovered her small teeth were that of a small filly. She also had the facial features of Apple Bloom, minus the little snout that would make her a full pony. "Ah really am Apple Bloom...." The new young girl said in her country accent. She attempted to remove her clothes, which slid off of her little body, revealing that she was definetly a filly and not a colt. She ran back to Babs' room with her pj bottoms dragging on her equine legs and back hooves. "Babs! Babs! wake up! Ah got hooves and everything!"

Babs groggily woke up to see her transformation had also was nearly complete. Her dark orange fur and light green eyes, along with her pink mane and tail that subconsciously covered her flank when embarassed, as well as the new back hooves, also a dark orange to match her fur. "I'm up! I'm up! Geez, what's all the racket?" The voice coming from Babs was distinctively female, with a Brooklyn accent. She heard Apple Bloom's alarm and took the time to look down. "Well, whatya know; I got hooves and wait a minute, what happened to my..." She realized then and there that she was no longer Brad Smith. "I gotta go; out of my way!" She pushed her way past Apple Bloom and made it to the bathroom, and stripped down, "Am I a girl now?" There in the mirror was the reflection of Babs Seed, complete with freckles on her cheeks, much like cousin Applejack.

Apple Bloom went to the shower and attempted to turn it on. As Babs heard Apple Bloom attempting to adjust the controls, she noticed the nail on her middle fingers elongate...."Uh, cuz, i think we are about to get front hooves..." She went to try to get the shower running. Apple Bloom looked down at her hands, which were starting to grow into the little front hooves of the filly. "Ah reckon ponies walk on all fours...." The little red haired girl tried to adjust in the shower to stand on her hind legs to wash her hair with some shampoo that smelled like apples, and nearly slipped on some shampoo. "Ahhh! Ah got soap in mah eyes!" The little filly cried out, prompting Babs to strip Apple Bloom down and herself to enter the shower. "Here, run your head under the shower; you'll get that soap out of your eyes." Eventually, both little fillies got cleaned up and had their first shower as ponies. When Apple Bloom and Babs Seed stepped out of the shower, they were completely naked, save for the fur on their bodies and manes on their heads. "Do we need clothes or somethin'?" Babs could feel a draft and covered her small body with a towel. as did Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom attempted to trot into the bedroom where that bow was kept, "Ponies usually don't wear clothes, except when goin' someplace fancy, like the Grand Gallopin' Gala or to weddings." She dried her hair, ears and tail, and then saw the bow, "That bow's been callin' out to me. Somehow, I think its mine." She took the bow and tied it behind her head. "How do Ah look?" The little red haired country filly waited for her cousin's response.

Babs blew a piece of hair from her signature mane out of her face, "You're fine, Apple Bloom. Now that we had a bath and got dressed, so to speak, what do we do?"

Apple Bloom thought, tapping her chin with her new front hoof, "Get somethin' to eat?" She noticed the small Stetson hat and placed it on her head, "The bow's better. Maybe Ah can wear the hat when I go meet mah sister." She saw the package addressed to Applejack. "Huh, I reckon we have to get this package to mah sister. I didn't know I had a big sister."

Babs snuck downstairs with Apple Bloom as much as two little fillies could with hooves. Walking as a quadraped was getting tricky, but eventually the two cousins were able to reach the kitchen table. "Whoa, how are we gonna get up there?" Babs pointed to the chairs to the table. Just then, Babs's sister came to check on the fillies. Somehow, she ended up as a pony as well. She had a lighter orange fur and magenta mane and tail. "You must be hungry! I'll get you a good breakfast and we can figure out about school." The older mare now was a foalsitter for two energetic fillies. She helped them up into booster seats and placed some pancakes with maple syrup in front of them. Babs licked her lips and dug into her stack, while Apple Bloom poked her stack with her fork.

Apple Bloom looked at Babs and back to the sister, "School? Ah want to go back home and be with mah sister, Applejack!" The little filly pouted. "Maybe there's a school for fillies closer to where the farm is."

Babs's older sister sat down after providing the fillies their oats, pancakes, and apple slices. Apple Bloom really liked apples; it reminded her of the apple orchards back home at Sweet Apple Acres, "Mind if Ah save mah apple seeds? We can plant them and sell apples durin' harvest." The little filly rubbed her front hooves in anticipation of earning her Cutie Mark in selling apples. Then she frowned, and remembered the time she tried to pressure customers to buy apples. "Maybe it'll be different next time."

The older mare nodded, "We can only hope. Now, eat up, girls. I was able to make a few calls, and I found someone, er somepony who can get you back home, Apple Bloom, dear."

Apple Bloom grinned from ear to ear, "Really, who? Applejack, Big McIntosh?" She wondered who the mystery pony could be. Big McIntosh and Applejack were Apple Bloom's older sister and brother, respectively, and she also had a grandmother who doted on her. Just then, the two fillies heard some creaking as an elderly mare had woke up from her nap.

"Oh, you are awake, Granny Smith. Breakfast is getting cold, and these two youngins have a busy day of playtime." The adult mare said, ruffling their manes and straightening out Apple Bloom's bow. "You know, that bow looks rather cute on you. Glad you had fun on your birthday. Say hello to the Apple Family for me, and take that package for Applejack. I'm sure she'll appreciate it."

The elderly mare smelled the pancakes and apples, "Ah'm a comin'. Hold your horses." The elderly mare came into the room with her white mane and tail, and an apple pie Cutie Mark, using a walker. Apple Bloom stiffled a snicker, as did Babs, but finally, Apple Bloom was one step closer to meeting Applejack. "Granny Smith! You came to mah birthday party!" She invited her grandmother to sit with her, and Granny Smith sat down and took her false teeth out to eat. This scared Apple Bloom a bit, so Granny Smith put her dentures back in. "So, half-pint! How's mah little youngin?" The elderly mare drapped her hoof over Apple Bloom's shoulder.

Apple Bloom blushed when her grandmother doted on her. "Uhm, Ah'm fine, Granny. You know mah cousin, Babs, right?" she pointed a hoof towards her cousin. Granny put on her glasses to see Babs better, "Oh, yes, Ah remember you. Heard you gave my grandbaby and her filly friends a rough time durin' yer last visit. But you redeemed yourself and told those bullies what fer. Ah'm proud of both o' you." She gave both cousins a hug. "Now, eat up your grub so you can get big and strong. Some of mah relatives should be here to take you to the family reunion."

Babs and Apple Bloom finished eating and helped clear the table. They packed up their things and Apple Bloom got the hat she wanted to give her sister, Applejack. "Ah hope Big Mac and Applejack are okay. Ah also want to see if Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are ready f'r some Crusadin'. Babs, you can come Crusadin' with us. Oh, I found these in one of the boxes." She found the cloaks Sweetie Belle's sister, Rarity, designed for all of them to wear. The offically Cutie Mark Crusader cloaks that the girls wore when they swore in Babs as their newest member. Babs blew her piece of her pink mane as the pony snouts came more prominent. Now Apple Bloom and Babs Seed were officially Cutie Mark Crusaders. Two more cloaks lay in the maroon box which had the offical Cutie Mark Crusader emblem on it. The hat box containing a brown Stetson for Applejack was packed into the taxi, along with the hair brushes and other essentials that Babs and Apple Bloom would need for their trip. Granny Smith gave the girls some money and told them not to spend it all on foolish stuff. "How are we gunna carry our money? We have no pockets," Apple Bloom said, wearing her cloak.

Chapter 4: On the Road with Apple Bloom and Babs Seed

The young fillies, Apple Bloom and Babs Seed, formerly known as Alex and Brad Smith, were tired out from their play time and decided to take a rest. Apple Brown Betty covered them up with a blanket and placed pillows under their heads. The girl's began to dream about the big family reunion and meeting Applejack and Big MacIntosh. And, Granny Smith would be there as well!

In their dream, The trip from Manhattan to the family farm was going to take several days journey. Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, and Babs Seed sat in the back of a vehicle traveling to take the three to the Smith family farm. Apple Bloom was bursting with excitement. She was going on her first road trip and to join her brother, Big MacIntosh, and her sister, Applejack, as well as Granny Smith. Babs Seed was just there for the ride and to go along with her cousin. Luckily for the fillies, the adult ponies had organized the trip and pulled their resources to make sure Apple Bloom would be able to make it to her farm.

Apple Bloom's memories were fuzzy at best. She remembered Zap Apple Season and the silly rituals her grandmother went to make sure the harvest was successful. The delicious taste of an open-faced Zap Apple Jam sandwich made her hungry. "Granny, do you have any Zap Apple Jam?" The little filly tried her best pouty face, like the time she got Twilight Sparkle to stay and eat with the Apple Family.

Granny Smith pulled out some bread and a jar of Zap Apple Jam. "Ah sure have, Apple Bloom...You want to try some, youngin?" She asked her other grand daughter.

Babs blew some hair from her mane out of her face, and said, "Yeah, sure, I've nevah had any of that Zap Apple Jam 'for...." She then watched and heard the tale of how Granny Smith was one of the original settler ponies who helped discover the town known as Ponyville, where all the citizens near Canterlot lived and worked. "Wowza! The Apple Family founded Ponyville?" Babs exclaimed as she seemed more interested in the elderly mares' tales.

Granny Smith smiled at the two fillies, "Darn Tootin'! It takes exactly Five days to harvest Zap Apples, and you have to pick them on the 5th day, otherwise, no Zap Apple Jam fer anypony!"

The girls got to sample the delicious Zap Apple Jam sandwiches and Babs got her first taste of the Apple Family cooking. "I wonder what other foods will be at the farm?"

Granny Smith rattled off names of ponies that also were food items made with Apples, the main staple of any ponies' diets. "There's Apple Fritters, Apple Dumplin's, Apple Brioches, Candy Apples, and of course, Apple Brown Betty....the dessert, not your auntie, who was so kind as to keep you youngin's entertained until she told me you were feeling homesick. Kinda like how Applejack when she went to Manehattan when she was a filly."Apple Bloom was not born yet when Applejack left for the big city of Manehattan, the Equestrian version of where Babs and Apple Bloom were at.

Soon, the vehicle pulled up to the family farm. The farm had a barn, a farm house, and some stables where the farm animals were kept. There were no apple trees on the farm, but Apple Bloom had the seeds from the apples her Aunt Betty saved for her and Babs to plant as a gift for Applejack and Big Mac. "Perhaps we can plant these here seeds, and grow some apples for sellin'. And I can earn mah Cutie Mark in sellin' apples!" Apple Bloom hoped she would be able to sell all kinds of apple-products.

Babs and Apple Bloom finished their apple juice boxes and apple slices, as well as their Zap Apple Jam sandwiches. "Here we are, youngins. Sweet Apple Acres! Now, Ah know this isn't Ponyville, so we need to help your sister Applejack and Big MacIntosh fix up the farm." The girls nodded in agreement and waited for the car to stop at the farm limits. "This is as far as I can go," The driver said, Granny Smith paid the driver and got the girls to carry their gifts and their meager possessions to the farm house. The girls politely waited on the front porch, dropping off their things and the gifts, while Granny Smith knocked on the door. "Hello, Any Pony home?" The eldery mare called into the house. There was no answer. "We should have written them a letter." Granny Smith huffed and sat herself on the front porch rocker.

Chapter 5: Down on the Farm

It had been a strange week for our little fillies, Apple Bloom and her favorite cousin, Babs Seed. Going from two adult males to two adorable elementary girls, one with red hair and one with pink hair, to little fillies from the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic took time to adjust to. Thankfully, family members like Granny Smith and Auntie Apple Brown Betty were able to fill the fillies in on the missing pieces of their pony lives. Apple Bloom was the youngest of the Apple siblings, with the eldest being the red stallion, Big McIntosh, or Big Mac, to his family. The middle sibling, Applejack, was an orange mare with a blonde mane, and a holder of the Element of Honesty. The farm, known as Sweet Apple Acres, was a family-run business, specializing in apple production and apple-themed products. The girls had already sampled some of these "Apple-tastic Treats" at Auntie Betty's, including her famous Apple Brown Betty (the dessert, not her). Granny Smith offered the Zap Apple Jam and some seeds to start the Zap Apple trees, along with a story behind the founding of Ponyville. Apple Bloom was finally at home with the farm. She couldn't wait to explore ways to earn her Cutie Mark. She thought about her friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, who formed a club called the Cutie Mark Crusaders. These three fillies, along with Babs Seed were now part of this special club, dedicated to helping "Blank Flank" colts and fillies earn their Cutie Marks.

Still in their dream-induced slumber, Apple Bloom got the seeds from Granny Smith, who told the fillies they could start work on the apple orchards and showed the fillies the proper way to plant the regular apple seeds and the Zap Apple trees.

Granny Smith smiled as the girls began tp plant the seeds, "Oh, this reminds me of one of your ancestors, Apple Bloom and Babs! His name was Apple Seeds. He travelled with our family to meet with Princess Celestia. The Solar Princess offered him and his growing family the farm land we now call home." Apple Bloom remembered about Apple Seeds from Family Appreciation Day.

Granny Smith continued her story, "Sadly, Apple Seeds passed away long ago. I can show you where we buried him. His last wishes were to plant new trees from the seeds we gathered whenever we harvested the apples." The fillies' ears drooped as Granny nearly teared up, "Oh, buck up, youngins. Those seeds we got from Auntie Betty are descended from the very seeds your Great Great Great....Grandfather showed Princess Celestia that day when we arrived to found Ponyville. Perhaps we can recreate our own Ponyville, right here. What do you say?"

Apple Bloom smiled and looked at Babs, "You wanna start plantin' the apple trees, cuz? We can be just like our pony ancestors!" She secretly wanted to get her Cutie Mark in either apple planting or selling apples to customers.

Babs nodded, blowing a tuff of hair from her face, "What are we waitin' for...let's start the orchards!" The young fillies started galloping off when Granny Smith spoke up, "Now, hold yer horses, young ladies, Ah'm comin' to supervise. I know where those seed should be planted. Now, where's my waterin' can and gardenin' tools?" She looked for them in the shed. Apple Bloom went to help her grandma search for the tools they would need for the job. Spades for digging small holes, check. Watering can, check. Seeds, check. Water....uh-oh.

Granny Smith looked to find some buckets and the water pump. "Is that the water pump, Granny?" Apple Bloom said, pointing a hoof towards an old-fashioned water pump used on the farm to wash up from work or get water for crops.

Granny Smith nods, "Yessire, half-pint. Let's see if it still works." She headed over and pulled up on the handle, releasing the fresh-clean water into the watering can. Babs got a bucket for water and waited to fill it with water, as did Apple Bloom. This feat was hard to do with little hooves and an eldery mare supervising two energetic fillies made this task difficult for three ponies to do. Just then, two forms appeared over the horizon to see what the ponies were up to. One was a rather large stallion, and the other was a mare with blond hair.

The mare, Applejack, saw the red haired filly trying to pump water into the bucket and nearly getting soaked by spilling the bucket, falling on her head. Apple Bloom pouted, all soak and wet, and no Cutie Mark. "Ah reckon there's no Cutie Mark fer wearin' a bucket on yer head and bein' soaked wet." Apple Bloom pouted as she crossed her forehooves as Babs helped remove the bucket.

Big McIntosh and Applejack neared the trio, "Looks like mah little sister needs some help. How 'bout it, Sugarcube?" The green eyed mare offered her hoof to Apple Bloom, who saw her sister's warm smile, "Applejack! Sis! Ah am so glad to see you! Look, Granny Smith brought y'all gifts from Auntie Brown Betty. They're over on the front porch." She pointed over at the gifts still on the porch.

Apple Bloom snuggled up against her sister warmly, and Applejack returned the favor. "Well then, you must be Babs Seed. Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres, cousin. Y'here for some plantin'? Those trees aint gunna be growin' themselves..." Applejack took the seeds from Granny and Big Mac went to get more tools from the shed, including the wheelbarrow to place. Babs and Apple Bloom, Big Mac and Granny Smith began to sing a song about planting the apple orchards.

As soon as the song ended, the family admired their handywork. "Boy Howdy, those trees will be sproutin' some delicious apples in no time, right big brother?" Applejack commented, pointing to the orchards.

Big Mac smiled and nodded, "Eeyup!" He then turned to the kids, "When did you get on the farm?"

Apple Bloom smiled, "We got here earlier this afternoon. Granny went inside the farmhouse to announce our arrival...Didn't ya hear her?"

Applejack scratched the back of her head, "Must've been upstairs gettin' ready for the day." She attempted to keep a straight face, then composed herself. "Oh, by the way, thanks f'r the new hat, sis." She placed her trademark Stetson on her head. Applejack then looked over at her sister and Babs Seed. "Ah saw Aunt Betty got ya one too. Why ain't ya wearin' it? Ah'll go fetch it f'r ya. Oh, Babs, you got one too. We should get a group photo for the family album!"

Babs blew that stubborn lock of mane from her face, "Sure, that'll be great!" She turned to Apple Bloom, "This is gonna be a great story to tell my big sis back home in Manehattan. I could use some help writing a letter to her."

Apple Bloom nodded, "Yeah! Maybe Applejack or Big Mac can get some paper, pencil, an envelope, and a stamp! Cutie Mark Crusader Letter Writers!" She and Babs High-Hooved, but something seemed off. Apple Bloom was missing two friends. An empty outline of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo appeared when Apple Bloom and Babs completed their signature Cutie Mark Crusader hoof-bump, reminding the youngest member of the Apple Family she was missing her friends. The family business came first, though, as Applejack, Big McIntosh, and Granny Smith instilled in the little fillies. Soon, the sun set over the horizon, and it was dinner time.

Applejack rang a triangle to signal dinner was ready, "Yee-Haw! SOUPS ON, EVERYPONY!" She hollered, as Big McIntosh, Apple Bloom, Babs Seed, and later Granny Smith, who had woken from her nap, came to the dinner table.

Sadly, this family moment in the dream was rudely interrupted by Apple Brown Betty's call for dinner. Just as Applejack had used the dinner triangle for mealtime, Aunt Betty had done the same. "Girls, wash up for dinner! Your'e food's getting cold!"