Applejack stared out at the orchards of Sweet Apple Acres uneasily and in discontent.
The weather wasn’t the cause of her concern. She had made a trip to the Ponyville Weather Offices within the past week, and they said aside from one rainstorm next week it was due to be clear for the upcoming harvesting season. Even excluding the rainstorm it had been a relatively mild summer after a hotter than usual spring and the weather was a wonderful moderate temperature with slight breezes.
The orchards themselves weren’t the cause of her concern. All the trees looked healthy and were without parasites. The new fertilizer that Big Macintosh had found was slightly expensive but clean and free of harmful chemicals, and to make up for it the apple blossoms promised a larger crops than that one fateful year she had to buck the acres all by herself. And that itself wasn’t the cause of her concern, as Big Macintosh was healthy this time around and would be able to help her, and Apple Bloom was quite strong as of late herself.
It was Apple Bloom that was the cause of her concern. The filly was relatively bright and was getting good marks in school and had improved since she found a tutor. The problem for Applejack had been with the tutor herself. Applejack would have been fine had Apple Bloom chosen to ask Twilight Sparkle for help (the mare always seemed to be able to answer her questions), but she had chosen that zebra living in Everfree Forest: Zecora.
Applejack, on this matter, was conflicted. Certainly the zebra had proven herself well and good on more than one occasion with their family alone. First the poison joke incident, then the time when Apple Bloom came down with the Cutie Pox, and now Apple Bloom’s tutoring. But there was something about that zebra that Applejack just didn’t like. It was as though Pinkie Pie’s song about her was just stuck in the back of her head at all times. Heck, she could even sing it if she wanted to. She’s an evil enchantress and she does evil dances. And if you look deep in her eyes, she’ll put you in trances…
“Applejack?”
A voice startled Applejack out of her reverie. The orange mare turned around from her seat at the window to see Granny Smith standing behind her. “Is Apple Bloom still out there?” the older mare asked.
“Yes, Granny. I’m staying here to wait for her to get back.”
“Alright. Thought I should let you know Big Macintosh is headin’ out to have a drink with a few of his friends and I’m goin’ to bed.”
“Alright, Granny Smith. Good night.”
“Good night Applejack.” With that, the older mare creaked off to bed, leaving Applejack alone in the living room.
The sky was turning dark outside. Applejack had let Apple Bloom go over to Zecora’s for tutoring so long as she promised to be back before dark. It was getting darker by the minute and Apple Bloom hadn’t even made it back for dinner, making it the latest that she had ever returned home. For a long while, Applejack thought about taking one of the oil lanterns and heading out to the Everfree Forest boundaries herself to search for Apple Bloom.
She was just about to go through with her plan when a dust ball appeared and started traveling down the road at a high speed. As the ball got closer, the dust parted to reveal a little yellow filly with a red bow in her red mane running as fast as she could down the path to the farm house. Applejack opened the door and stood on the porch as Apple Bloom screeched to a halt in front of her.
“Sorry Applejack,” Apple Bloom panted. “Had trouble with one of my math problems and spent a little more time goin’ over it with Zecora than I thought. She offered for me to stay for dinner, but I told her you’d be waitin’ for me.”
“I’m just glad you’re home safe,” Applejack said as Apple Bloom walked into the house. Applejack followed Apple Bloom to the kitchen. “Look, I’m fine with you goin’ over to Zecora’s house for tutoring, but you’re often out so late that me and Big Macintosh get worried about you.”
“I saw Big Macintosh on the road home,” Apple Bloom said. “He knows I’m home and knows I’m safe, so he’s fine.”
“That’s not enough!” Applejack said sternly as Apple Bloom started eating a fritter and salad. “You might be doin’ better in school, and I’m happy for you for that, but I don’t like you stayin’ out that late with as young as you are. And especially when Zecora’s hut is just inside the Everfree Forest.”
“You should be proud of me, Applejack! I’ve been doin’ all my homework and comin’ back without havin’ to do it late at night. Zecora’s a good tutor and I’d say it’s worth a little worry now for the success later.”
Applejack sighed. “I suppose you have a point. Just try and make it back by dinner more often, okay? I’m fine with you bein’ out of the house, but I’d like it if you could be back before it gets too dark.”
Apple Bloom nodded. “I think I get what I’m doin’ in math now, so I shouldn’t be stuck so often. I might even get done with it earlier!”
Applejack didn’t say it to the young filly, but she thought it a relief. The less time Apple Bloom spent around Zecora, the better.
After dinner was finished, Apple Bloom let out a yawn. “I think I’m goin’ to bed, Applejack. I’m feelin’ tired tonight.”
Applejack, who had been busy with the oven, left it and went over to Apple Bloom. “Are you feelin’ sick at all?”
“No,” Apple Bloom said; at least she was still being slightly stubborn. “I’m just sleepy is all.”
Applejack put a hoof to Apple Bloom’s forehead. “Well, you don’t feel feverish, so you’re probably not sick. Maybe you should have a glass of water before bed.”
Apple Bloom didn’t reply, but got up and got herself a drink of water anyway. Once the filly had gulped down the glass, she put it with the dirty dishes and yawned again. “Alright. Now I’m headed to bed.” She went up and hugged Applejack. “Good night, big sis.”
“Good night, little sis,” Applejack replied warmly.
Apple Bloom looked up with bright eyes at Applejack. “I gotta test comin’ up later this week, so I won’t be goin’ to Zecora’s that day.”
Applejack looked at Apple Bloom’s eyes and tried to keep a smile. Her pupils were dilated to the point her normally golden eyes were reduced to a ring despite the fact that it was well lit enough that her eyes should have been a normal size. “I don’t care about you goin’ to Zecora,” she tried to reassure the filly. “Just make sure you do well on that test, Apple Bloom.”
Apple Bloom nodded then trotted up to bed.
Applejack’s smile faded only when she knew Apple Bloom had gone upstairs to bed and wasn’t coming down again. Maybe she had been sick after all and fever wasn’t a symptom. Applejack waited a few minutes before walking up the stairs and down the hall to Apple Bloom’s room.
The door was closed, so Applejack made extra care not to make any noise as she opened it. Apple Bloom’s room was dark and the filly was wrapped up comfortably in the sheets, breathing so softly Applejack couldn’t hear her until she was right next to the bed. She went and poked the little filly but she didn’t even turn over.
“Apple Bloom?” Applejack called quietly. “Apple Bloom? Are you still awake?”
But she didn’t answer her. Apple Bloom was sleeping peacefully and calmly. Applejack tried again to no response and watched her little sister for a minute. After a short while, she left the room and closed the door, trying to convince herself that Apple Bloom was okay, but she just couldn’t get the dilated pupils out of her head.