The morning sun filled the entire sky, it's warm rays and powerful light showered all over Equestria, welcoming the new day. Applebloom and her fellow crusaders, Scootaloo and Sweetie belle, raced across the apple orchard, panting heavily as they tried catching their breathes.
"Applebloom?" A soft and high-pitched voice called to her. The yellow furred pony directed her attention to her friend, Sweetie belle. Her kind green eyes met her gentle orange ones. "What's the surprise?" Sweetie belle asked curiously as the three neared the red-colored barn.
Applebloom giggled. "Don't you understand anything about the word SURPRISE Sweetie belle?" Scootaloo giggled softly to herself, while Sweetie belle rolled her eyes at the two.
"So where are we going anyways?" The orange Pegasus asked with a quiet yawn, her wings fluttering happily.
"I can't tell you, it's a surprise!" Applebloom repeated, smiling softly.
Scootaloo and Sweetie belle groaned heavily and continued running after their friend, who had already approached the the barn doors. They all stopped to catch their breath once more before entering, the two fillies looked around in awe, Applebloom looked at them chuckling.
The room was filled with brightly colored balloons and streamers. A few tables were scattered all around the room, topped with desserts, snacks, and beverages. Brightly colored confetti and old hay covered the barn floors, and in the middle of the barn was a huge banner that spelled out "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!" in big, and bold letters.
"Amazin' isn't it?" The filly asked with a smile, her red mane flowed softly against her silk fur.
"Uh huh!" Sweetie belle responded in unison. Scootaloo nodded as she studied the room slightly impressed.
"Congratulations Applebloom!" Sweetie belle clapped her hooves together. She walked beside her friend, wrapping her forelegs around her in a tight, yet affectionate hug.
Scootaloo nodded in agreement and walked over to the table, patting the decorative table sheets with a forehoof. "So who else is going to celebrate with us?" She looked up, meeting the Applebloom's sad gaze.
"No one..." The filly frowned at the confetti and hay-covered ground, stomping at it furiously with a hoof.
"What about Applejack? Bigmac?" Scootaloo asked.
"They're too busy WORKING..." The farm pony met her friends' eyes, which were beginning to sting with tears.
They both knew how important this all was to Applebloom. It had almost been about a year since Applebloom discovered her mother's letter, and ever since then, Applebloom has been looking forward to celebrating her mother's birthday. Scootaloo and Sweetie belle would always be there for their dearest friend no matter what. Which is why Applebloom could always depend on the both of them.
"Is Granny Smith planning on celebrating with you Applebloom?" Sweetie belle asked, Applebloom's head shook sadly in response.
"Then we'll celebrate your mother's birthday with you!" Scootaloo shouted, grinning proudly.
"You guys will?" Applebloom looked at them with pleading eyes, they both nodded and hugged her.
"Ok. Ok. Ok... Enough mushy stuff. Let's get this party started!!" The two fillies chuckled happily, and joined their friend as they turned on the music and starting moving in the grove.
-
"I'm beat!" The Unicorn spun around in circles, before collapsing heavily onto the ground.
The music record began to slow down, then stopped completely. Scootaloo sat on the ground with an empty bowl of punch sitting on top of her head. "Woo hoo! Party...."
"Thanks... girls, it really means a lot that you would do this for me...."
"What kind of friends would we be if we turned down an invitation, especially on your mothers birthday..." Scootaloo said softly, her voice soon was drowned out by the sound of her slurping the punch...
Applebloom giggled and drank her cup of punch heavily, regaining strength. "We should probably start eating the cake. I did make it myself."
"OOOOO! I want a slice!" Sweetie belle ran over to the table, but was stopped by an out-stretched hoof. "Aww..."
Scootaloo looked at Sweetie belle winking. "Don't you remember the surprise?"
"OH! How could I forget! How silly of me...." Sweetie belle smiled at Applebloom sheepishly as Scootaloo cleared her throat.
"Surprise? What the hay are ya'll talking about?" Applebloom asked confused.
"Applebloom. Sweetie belle and I have a surprise for you, but you will have to close your eyes first...." Scootaloo said with a cheerful grin.
"Ok. But this better not be anythin' like last time...." Applebloom swallowed nervously as a pair of orange hooves covered her eye of vision.
"Don't worry! This is going to be even better! I promise!" Scootaloo winked at Sweetie belle again and she scurried to one end of the barn. Moments passed by. Applebloom could hear heavy hoofsteps and the sound of soft laughter. Voices chatting, they weren't Scootaloo or Sweetiebelle.
"Scootaloo? Can I open my eyes now?" Applebloom asked becoming nervous.
"Ok. Now." Scootaloo removed her hooves and trotted over beside Sweetiebelle.
Applebloom blinked as bright, blinding light met her eyes, the room soon came in to focus. Streamers, and balloons were everywhere. The ground still covered in moldy hay and cofetti. Tables were still everywhere. "Then what's the sur-" and suddenly...
"SURPRISE!!!" Applebloom was interrupted by the loud screaming of many ponies that jumped out from several hiding places, Pinkie pie herself was the loudest and most excited.
Applebloom jumped into the air and fell flat on her haunches, looking around confused."GAH! What is happen-"
"It's a surprise party silly!" A pink maned pony began jumping up and down in front of the startled silly, with a big toothy grin plastered on her face.
"But- What- How?" The filly asked.
"It was all their crazy idea..." A country voice was heard feet away from the filly.
"Applejack..." Applebloom turned her head and ran to her sister, throwing her forelegs around her neck. "I thought you said you were too bust WORKING to come to the party?"
"It was all part of the plan silly filly." The mare stroked her sister's red mane softly.
"The plan?" Applebloom asked raising her right brow.
"Oh... yeah!" A bright rainbow streak zoomed across the room and stopped in front of the two fillies, Scootaloo and Sweetie belle. "It was their idea all along..."
Rainbow dash smiled and ruffled the two on top of their heads, causing them to blush slightly.
"You... girls did.. that for me?" Applebloom asked breaking into tears
"Of course. What are friends for?" Scootaloo said, nearly crying herself.
Applebloom ran to her pals, pulling them into a group hug, they all sighed happily. All excepted for Scootaloo, who was was blushing madly in embarrassment.
"Now let's get the REAL party started!!!" Scootaloo screamed as soon as Applebloom broke the hug. Rainbow dash cheered loudly, throwing the little filly onto her back as she flew towards the dance floor.
"Aww... what's wrong?" Pinkie pie asked Applebloom with a frown. "Please don't cry.... here have some cake. It's really, really good! I have to ask the chief to share their recipe to me sometime... OH! Yeah! Here you go Applebloom!"
"Thanks Pinkie pie..." Applebloom smiled kindly as she politely accepted the sweet. "I'm not sad... I'm just... really happy...."
"But your crying?" Pinkie pie tilted her head. "Are they happy tears?"
"I guess so... I just can't believe you all did this for my ma..." Applebloom said with a smile.
"Oh shucks lil' sis. We did it for you and ma!" Applejack put a reassuring forehoof and rubbed her sister's back.
"R-Really. You did it for me?" She broke into a few tears and pulled her sister into a hug, sobbing happily into her chest fur. "Thank you Applejack!"
"Now there's no need ta thank me! I wouldn't miss it for all the apples in the orchard. But don't tell Granny I said that!" Applejack tipped her hat. Applebloom giggled and pointed a hoof behind her sister.
"What?"
"Granny Smith is right behind you!"
"Now what was that missy!" Granny Smith asked in a harsh tone, eyeballing Applejack.
"Uh... nothing Granny. Got ta go buck some apples!"
Applebloom giggled softly and turned her head towards a mare. "Hey Applebloom." She greeted Applebloom kindly.
"Huh? Oh hi Twilight." The lavender colored Unicorn smiled at the filly and handed her a present.
"What's this?" Applebloom asked curiously.
"It's for you and your mom, but I think she would prefer you keep it." Twilight smiled hugging the small filly.
"Okay. Thank you Twilight." She hugged the mare, smiling softly. "Thanks for coming."
"You are welcoming. You know you can ask me anything, okay? There's no reason we all can't be part of your family."
Applebloom looked around. Rainbow dash, Scootaloo, and Spike were all dancing and cheering each other on in the direction of the dance floor. Applejack, Granny Smith, and Rarity were talking about aprons, tables cloths, and hats. Big Macintosh was talking, Fluttershy giggled softly at a few jokes he made. Pinkie pie was on the dance floor pulling off a few crazy moves. And Sweetie belle... was standing all alone with a cup of punch in her hoof.
"Thank you Twilight... I've been so blind. I know who my real family is now." She trotted over to Sweetiebelle who frowned slightly as she spun her punch around.
"Sweetiebelle!"
"Applebloom!"
They both ran towards each other and hugged, Applebloom broke the hug and smiled. "Thanks for always being there for me Sweetiebelle."
"Most of the time it's Scootaloo, she's the one who comes up with these crazy ideas." Applebloom and Sweetiebelle laughed as they saw Scootaloo on the dance floor with a pair of black shades.
"Applebloom... can I ask you something?" The pearl Unicorn approached the yellow filly with a small smile.
"Yeah. You can ask me anything Sweetiebelle." Applebloom responded with a smile.
"Well... do you miss her? Or ever wonder about where she is right now?" Sweetiebelle asked looking up at the roof, then back at Applebloom.
"Yeah..." Applebloom inhaled deeply, then smiled. "Yes. I miss her a lot.... I wonder where she might be right now."
Applebloom giggled and grabbed Sweetiebelle's hoof. "Applebloom! What are you doing!?"
Applebloom ran to the dance floor and pushed Sweetiebelle in, she giggled and ran in after her friend.
"Woo hoo! Oh hey Sweetiebelle! Applebloom!" Scootaloo hugged them both and handed the two a pair of black sunglasses. "Stand back everyone this is about to get awesome...
'My dearest Applebloom,
Right now you are very, very young. I never told you why your father and I have disappeared, but I am sure you know that we are always with you in your heart. Your older sister, Applejack, and your brother Big Macintosh understand this very well and can explain it to you as soon as they think your old enough to know. I hope you understand, or can at least try to. I know you must be reading this, but please do not hate your father and I for our decision, we have done it for us, our family. Please wear your pink bow, I made for you when you were very, very little. You are always in my heart my little filly.
Your dearest mother,
Mraynett.
I don't want to hear the story anymore. Nor do I care if Applejack and Big Mac won't tell me. I know my mother loves me, I know who my real family is, and that's all that matters.