Apple Pride
"What a lovely flower, Dinky. Ooh, Archer, that's a fierce looking dragon."
The two fillies beamed as Cheerilee walked past, handing out kind praises and encouragements. She stopped in front of a small pudgy Unicorn colt desk. "Snips, what a lovely...uh...what exactly did you draw today?"
"Black bears camping in a black forest at midnight. Do we have any more black crayon? I think I used up all the ones I borrowed from Diamond Tiara."
"You WHAT? Hey, how'd you get into my stuff?"
After a quick lecture on the definition of "borrowing" (i.e. requiring consent from both parties) and placating an outraged Diamond Tiara with promises that yes, Snips would buy her a brand new set of crayons and that would be no reason to call in Daddy's lawyers, Cheerilee found herself before the Cutie Mark Crusaders, all giggling as they worked.
"And what are you three drawing?" the schoolteacher asked.
“A six-legged pony with a purple polka-dotted mane,” Sweetie Belle answered.
“With shootin’ stars comin’ out of her eyes,” added Apple Bloom.
“Who flies through the air riding a cat wearing a muffin that flies on a rainbow,” Scootaloo laughed.
The three presented the picture to their teacher. She held it up, level to her eyes. "Wow, that's certainly...well it's definitely something."
"You're holding it upside down, Miss Cheerilee," corrected Sweetie Belle.
The purple Earth Pony shook her head. "You three have such an active imagination," she said with a chuckle. "Alright everypony, before class ends I need to explain your next project." Cheerilee ignored the groans that followed her on the way to her desk at the front. "Just a small book report, identifying the five main parts of the story: the exposition, rising action, climax, the falling action, and the resolution. The report will be written but there will be an optional oral presentation for extra credit. Any book will do, save for comic books..."
Several raised hooves went down.
"...gossip magazines..."
Several more hooves fell.
"...or movies based on books. Books based on movies are fine. Rarity’s diary is not."
Sweetie Belle let her hoof fall.
"If you need help finding a book, be sure to check the Golden Oak Library," Cheerilee continued over the ringing of the bell. "Class is dismissed, have a wonderful afternoon!"
Scootaloo shoved her way through the crowd. "Alright, who's up for some crusading?" she cheered, her helmet already fastened.
"Shouldn't we work on our homework first?" Sweetie Belle suggested.
"Psh, we've got all week to write that measly thing," the young Pegasus filly scoffed. "Besides, we already tried Cutie Mark Crusaders Homework Doers, Cutie Mark Crusaders Report Writers, and Cutie Mark Crusaders Pen Pushers."
"We've also already tried Cutie Mark Crusaders Slackers," Sweetie challenged.
"Whatever. Apple Bloom, you're with me, right?"
"Actually, Ah've gotta head home right now."
"What? Why?"
"Cuz today's the first day of Applebuck Season, an' Applejack an' Big Mac say Ah'm finally old enough to help." The cream colored pony grinned. "Ah can't believe it, Ah'm finally old enough! Ah get ta show Applejack that Ah'm a big pony now!"
"That's so cool," Sweetie Belle said. "I wish Rarity would let me help more often around the Boutique."
Scootaloo groaned. "Really? We’re just going to let this Crusading opportunity slip by?"
"Well, I guess Scootaloo's right. We do have all week. Maybe we could just start the project, just find the book, then spend the rest of the day crusading."
Scootaloo brightened at the Unicorn filly's proposition. "Alright, now that's an idea." She hopped onto her scooter.
"Come on, let's get this over with."
"Well, ya'll have fun. Ah've gotta get home an' get ready too."
"You sure you can't hang out even for a little bit?" asked Sweetie Belle as she climbed into the red wagon attached to Scootaloo's scooter.
Apple Bloom shook her head. "Ah gotta show Applejack that Ah'm all grown up an' responsible an' stuff. See ya!"
Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Ash watched as the young pony ran off toward Sweet Apple Acres. Scootaloo shook her head. "If growing up means liking chores, I hope I never have to grow up."
"Then how will you find your special talent?"
"Sweetie Belle, I'm trying to make a point here! Don't you start applying logic to the situation."
*****
"Hey Sweetie Belle," the little draconian assistant greeted as the stallion made his way into the library. "Twilight's out right now, if you're looking for her. I thought you'd be out with the Crusaders today."
"I’m here too!" Sweetie Belle called from behind.
"Oh, great."
"Hey, don’t act like you're not happy to see me." Scootaloo zoomed past a yelping Spike as he leaped out of the way, grabbing his tail. "Where's Twilight?" the filly asked as she slid to a stop. "We need a book."
"I work here too, you know," Spike huffed. "What kind of book? And could you leave your scooter outside?"
"Don't know yet," Sweetie Belle said, glancing over a few titles. "We'll just browse a bit."
"Oh, no, I'm not reshelving the entire library a second time today." The dragon pulled out a sheet of parchment and a quill. "Just give me an idea of what you're looking for."
"Something...sweet, like a romance. You know, something heartwarming."
"No way! Give me action, adventure, explosions, Rainbow Dash's biography..."
"Okay. Sweetie Belle, A Sister's Gift is on the shelf right behind you-no, don't get up, I'm getting it for you. Scoots, Daring-"
"Don't call me that."
"...all our copies from the Daring Do series is checked out right now. I can put you on the waiting list or I can find you something else." Spike handed over a hard-covered book with a picture of a mare lying next to a filly and a box covered in wrapping paper to the Unicorn filly before asking, "What's this for anyways? Normally you guys just want how-to guides and stuff. Speaking of which, The Arsonist's Atlas is overdue. Gonna have to start charging soon."
"Apple Bloom had it last, I think," said Scootaloo.
"Apple Bloom, huh? I'll just let Applejack know then." Spike looked around. "She's not with you guys? Weird."
"It's Applebuck Season," Sweetie Belle said, lifting her eyes up from the book. "Apparently this is the first one she's actually going to get to participate in. We should probably get her a book too. It's for a book report," she added.
"Book report, huh? Oh boy..."
"What? What's up?" Scootaloo asked as she peered over her friend's shoulder and stealing a peek.
"It's nothing...well actually, have any of you written a book report before?"
The two Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at each other before answering with a slow head shake. "I mean, we've done reports on other stuff before but not books," Scootaloo expanded.
"Then good luck, 'cause those things are brutal." Spike shivered as he pulled out another tome and passed it to Scootaloo. The title read The Pegasus's Zenith. "Twilight once let me help her with one. I'm just glad she just has to write friendship reports now. Thirty two pages on a amateur botany manual..." The dragon shuddered again.
Scootaloo's mouth fell opened as Sweetie Belle whimpered "Th-thirty two pages?"
"Yep. And then there was her report on The Abridged History of Starswirl the Bearded. I think it might have actually been longer than the book itself. Ooh, yeah, this is a good one." Spike placed one more book before the fillies. On the cover was a tiny silhouette of a foal sitting next to the largest peach anypony had ever seen. "It might not have apples but I think Apple Bloom'll like that one. When is the report due?"
"The end of the week, I think,"
"You guys probably want to get on that report soon then." Spike helped pack the books into the saddlebags along with a slip with the return date.
"Y-yeah," Scootaloo said nervously. "See you around, I guess.”
"Bye Spike. Thanks for the books." Sweetie Belle dropped to a whisper. "How are we going to write thirty two pages in a week?"
"I don't know, write really really big?"
*****
Loud thuds rung through the apple orchards as strong hooves met hard wood. Softer thuds could be heard as the fruit fell from the branches and into well-placed baskets. Macintosh took a moment to catch his breath and admire the apples he had just freed. Big Mac liked to think he was a humble pony but when it came to fruits of the Apple family's labor, no pony could be more proud.
"Hey, Big Mac!"
The red stallion set his powerful hind leg back down and turned. He suppressed a groan at the sight of his sister's best friends. Wearing a weary smile, Macintosh waved.
"Wow, this year looks even bigger than last year's," Sweetie Belle said in awe.
"Eeyup."
"Hey, Big Mac, mind if I have a free sample?"
"Eeyup."
"Thanks!"
Macintosh opened his mouth to protest, to explain that yes he did mind, but the big juice apple he had hoped to save for a certain mare had already disappeared down Scootaloo's gullet. He sighed but said nothing else; no use crying over spilt milk, as the cows that lived on the farm often said.
"We brought Apple Bloom a book for a project, and wanted see how she's doing," said Sweetie while Scootaloo wiped away the residue of juice from her lips. "Do you know where she is?"
"Nope."
"Oh, does Applejack know?"
"Eeyup."
"Great!" Scootaloo helped herself to another apple. "Can you tell us where Applejack is?"
Big Macintosh pointed toward a gathering of trees a distance closer to the entrance of the farm, where the trees were younger and less thick.
"There?"
"Nope."
"There?"
"Eeyup."
"Thanks Big Mac," Sweetie Belle said. "Do you mind if I took a few apples? I bet Rarity would love some. Please?"
Like many older ponies of Ponyville, Macintosh made the mistake of looking into the filly's pleading eyes. One would think that living with Apple Bloom would have built a tolerance, and it did, for brilliant gamboge eyes. Sweetie Belle's eyes were, however, grey-green.
"N-n-nope."
"Oh, okay."
The lone Apple stallion of Sweet Apple Acres opened his mouth to explain, to clarify that no he didn't mind, that the little adorable Unicorn could take as many apples she wanted, but the crestfallen filly was already gone, with Scootaloo right behind.
Well, at least they're going in the right direction he thought to himself. Now, back to-
There were few things in this world that could make the red stallion cry. The sight of an entire hour worth of work reduced to a pile of apple cores was one of them.
*****
"Hey, girls," Applejack greeted. Each word was punctuated by a swift two-legged tree shaking kick. The two fillies ducked away as apples rained upon them. "Whoops, sorry, 'bout that," the farm mare chuckled. "Can Ah help ya'll with somethin'?"
"Just looking for Apple Bloom," said Sweetie Belle. "Sorry to bother you but we brought her a book for a class project."
"Don' worry 'bout it. We're makin' great time. Apple Bloom could use a break, Ah reckon." Applejack wiped the sweat off her brow before continuing onto the next tree. "She's off over yonder, settin' up some baskets. What's this school project, if ya don' mind me askin'."
"It's a book report."
"Oh." The mare shuddered at Scootaloo's answer. "Yeah, good luck with that."
"D-do you really think this report is as bad as they say it is?" Scootaloo whispered as she and Sweetie Belle made their way through the orchard.
"Miss Cheerilee isn't evil," the little Unicorn reasoned. "She wouldn't give us something so difficult, unless..."
"CHANGELINGS?" the two nearly yelled together. The fillies looked around nervously before staring directly at each other. A short second later laughter echoed through the farm as the two fillies collapsed into giggles. "Nah."
It wasn't until the joyous sound had faded away that soft sniffing could be heard.
"Hold on, you hear that?"
"No, I-wait, I hearing crying." Sweetie Belle turned behind her. "You don't think an actual Changeling heard us and had their feelings hurt, do you?"
"Of course not," Scootaloo assured. "It was, uh..."
"Look out!"
"Whoa!"
In this crazy chaotic universe, few things remain constant: socks will always disappear in the wash, political/religious/philosophical debates will always deviate toward outright brawls, and those who walk without paying attention will trip and fall, normally after a friend gives a warning. Our little Pegasus at hand found herself tumbling backwards over an overturned basket.
"Ow..."
"Scootaloo, are you-" Sweetie Belle gasped. "Apple Bloom?"
The young Earth Pony looked up and rubbed her eyes. "Hey," she mumbled.
"What were you doing, hiding under that basket?" asked Scootaloo as she got to her feet.
"Ah wasn' hidin'. Ah was...was...um, napping!"
"Under a basket?"
"Y-yeah! What 'bout it?"
"Then why were you crying?" Scootaloo challenged, her eyes narrowing as Sweetie Belle took a step back.
"Ah wasn' crying! Ah'm a big pony, ya'll hear? Big girls don' cry an' Ah'm a big girl!" She leaped into the air and stomped on all fours before crying out, "Ah!"
Apple Bloom fell to her knees as her friends rushed to her side. "What's wrong?" Sweetie Belle asked, grabbing the Earth Pony's front hoof.
"I-it's nothin'," Apple Bloom tried to say confidently. The tears that ran down her cheeks undermined the valiant attempt. "D-don' worry 'bout it. Ah'm tellin' ya, it's nothin'."
"Nothing my flank," Scootaloo said, turning pale. "Your hind leg, it's all crooked."
"What?" Sweetie Belle tried to get up to see but Apple Bloom held to her hoof tight.
"Ah'm tellin ya, it's-OW! Don't touch it!"
"I didn't." Scootaloo shook her head. "This looks really bad. I'm going to fetch Applejack."
"NO!" the Earth Pony screamed. "Please, don't get Applejack! Please..." Her sobs rung freely and unhidden this time. "Please..."
"We need help, Apple Bloom. Don't worry, your sister will make everything better," Sweetie comforted, tightening her grip on Apple Bloom's hoof.
"No...please...Ah'm a big pony...if she finds out...if she finds out..." Apple Bloom dragged Sweetie Belle down and cried into her fur. "She...she...she..."
"There, there," Sweetie said softly. "Applejack won't get too mad. She cares for you, remember?"
"S-s-she...if she finds out what I did, she won't let me work with her no more!"
Scootaloo blinked. "What are you talking about? You two always do chores together. What makes you think Applejack won't let you work anymore? I mean, beside the fact that you do have a busted leg. What?" she asked as Sweetie Belle shot her a glare.
"It'll be alright. Tell us what happened. Why do you think Applejack won't let you help?"
Apple Bloom sniffed and pulled her nose out of Sweetie Belle's coat. Rarity would have a fit later but that was Future Sweetie Belle's problem. She could handle the lecture.
"This was the first year Ah was gonna help with Applebuck Season. Ah was gonna to help Applejack and Big Mac with the harvest. Ah was gonna show everypony that Ah was grown up and maybe earn my cutie mark."
The youngest Apple sibling sighed. "But all Applejack told me to do was to set up the baskets to catch the falling apples."
"Oh."
"Yeah. Ah thought Ah was gonna buck some apples. Ah thought Ah was gonna actually help. Ah thought...Ah thought Ah was gonna get to do some of the grown up stuff and be like my sister and everythin'."
Apple Bloom shook. The tears began to fall again.
"S-so Ah thought Ah'd show her, show her how strong Ah was, how grown up Ah was. Ah was gonna to buck more apples all by myself than she and Big Mac could combined. Ah found the biggest, toughest, apple-est tree Ah could find. Ah lifted my legs and...and..."
"And?" Scootaloo prompted, winning another glare from Sweetie Belle.
"Ah don't know what went wrong. Ah did everythin' Applejack taught me. Ah used every piece of advice Big Mac told me. Ah even sang Granny's special bucking song! But when Ah tried..." She gestured to her hurt leg and winced. "It hurt so much. I-if Applejack finds out she'll never let me help her again!"
Apple Bloom's anguished wail rang into the treetops. She fell back into Sweetie Belle and cried. The young Unicorn awkwardly ran a hoof through Apple Bloom's red mane, wishing that she could channel Fluttershy's tenderness or even her sister's way with words. "There, there," was all she could muster. "Applejack wouldn't do that. She loves you."
"Ah know. Ah know she loves me. But she'll just keep seein' me as a foal, as her baby sister, especially after this. She'll say Ah wasn't ready, that we should've waited until Ah was older, that Ah should just stick to the 'kid chores'. Ah don't wanna be a kid anymore." Apple Bloom hugged her friend closer. "Ah just wanna be useful, for my family. Ah don't wanna be that baby everypony has to take care of."
"Are you kidding?"
"Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle hissed.
"No, listen," the Pegasus said. "What kind of baby kicks a tree so hard her leg break? What kind of foal pushed themselves so hard that they get hurt? A kid doesn't do those kind of things! You know who pushes themselves harder than they think they can handle? Winners." Scootaloo jabbed Apple Bloom's chest. "You know what I think? I bet Applejack'll see just how hard you're willing to work and make sure you've got work. She won't think you're some weak filly that needs to be taken care of all the time. She'll see a winner, a sister she can be proud of."
"How does that make any sense?"
"Hush, Sweetie Belle, I'm on a roll. In fact, I'm going to grab your sister right now. You two just sit tight."
"What? No!"
Apple Bloom was too late. Scootaloo had already dashed away, speeding through the farm as a orange blur.
"That crazy mare," Sweetie Belle breathed, shaking her head.
"How could Applejack be proud of me? Ah messed up so badly." The Earth Pony cried out as she dragged her hind legs closer. "Ow..."
"Try not to move too much." The Unicorn sighed. "Look, you're hurt. We need Applejack now. We need an adult. Yeah, I said it," she added as Apple Bloom looked away.
"So ya think Ah'm a baby too, huh?"
"I didn't say that. I said we. If we were grown up, we'd be able to take care of your leg. But we're not. None of us are and I guess that's why we still haven't found our cutie marks yet."
"Y-you're not givin' up, are ya?"
"Of course not! But I've been thinking, you know, about what Rarity and Applejack keep saying about waiting. I don't know but maybe we're just not ready."
The two young ponies sat there thinking. "That's crazy talk."
Sweetie Belle giggled. "Yeah, probably. After all, Scootaloo's kind of right."
"Huh?"
"Kind of," Sweetie repeated quickly. "You're not a baby. Babies don't know or understand why some things are important. They just do stuff. But you tried and got hurt because you wanted to help your family, because you wanted your big sister to be proud of you, even if Rarity doesn't think you're ready."
"Applejack."
"Huh?"
"You said Rarity. That's your sis, not mine."
"Oh, uh, right." The Unicorn went quiet for a moment, staring out into distance in the direction of town. "What I'm trying to say is that you're not a baby and you're not a big grown-up either. You're too smart and too strong to be a baby..."
"...but too weak and too dumb to be a big pony," Apple Bloom grumbled. "What does that make me?"
"A Cutie Mark Crusader."
Apple Bloom let her jaw fall. Then she smiled. Laughter displaced the sound of crying.
"How does that make sense?"
"Hey, I'm trying to make a point here. Don't you start applying logic now."
The two leaned back and laughed and laughed and laughed. Apple Bloom's light guffaws and Sweetie Belle's soft giggles blended together like music, a melody that no composer and his symphony with all the notes in the world could ever hope to recreate.
"Hey, Sweetie Belle? You're a great friend, ya know that right?"
"Thanks."
Applejack soon appeared, galloping at full speed. Her trademark hat had disappeared. She skid to a stop right in front of the fillies. "Ya'll alright?"
"Yeah," Apple Bloom muttered weakly, her eyes averted. She felt something squeeze against her hoof and looked up. Sweetie Belle smiled. She smiled back.
"Ah hurt my leg while tryin' to buck some apples by myself," Apple Bloom reluctantly admitted. "Ah wanted to show you that Ah could help on the farm, that Ah was a big pony. Guess Ah'm not."
"Well, that wasn' the smartest thing ya could have done," Applejack said, shaking her head. She held the busted leg gingerly. "Does it hurt right now?"
Apple Bloom winced. "N-no?"
"Apple Bloom..."
"Well, maybe a little."
Applejack set the leg back down. "Well, it looks like a sprain. Ah sent Scootaloo ta grab Big Mac and the medicine box." The mare knelt over her sister and nuzzled her cheek. "We'll get an ice pack on ya and you'll be just fine. Apple Bloom, something wrong?"
The filly wiped her nose. "A-Ah'm so sorry."
"It's fine, Bloom, it's fine. Ah'm not mad, though Ah wish ya could've waited for me." She chucked. "Ah'd hate ta miss my sister's first tree buck of the season."
"W-will you still let me help?"
"Of course Ah will," Applejack said. "Well, not on that leg," she added. "Give it a day or two and you'll be right as rain. Apple Bloom, Ah know ya wanna grow up and everythin' but you're still young."
"Ah know..."
"And you're still learning. Heck, Ah'm still learning. Let me tell ya somethin', thinkin' ya can handle something all by yourself ain't somethin' smart adults do. Learn something today from this and grow a bit, 'kay? Don't be afraid ta ask for help. Not askin' for help ain't a sign of maturity..."
*****
"Are you sure you don't want me to help you with dinner, Twilight?”
“No no, I’ve got this. Wait, is this salt or sugar?”
“Maybe we should just eat out tonight,” Spike said to himself as smoke streamed out the kitchen.
*****
"C'mon, let's get ya inside. You too, Sweetie Belle. Does Rarity or your parents know you're here?"
"Nope. I spent most of the day out today.”
"Well, it's almost dinnertime and it wouldn' sit well with me if Ah sent you and Scootaloo home hungry."
The three ponies made their way through the orchards as the sun began to set behind them. Applejack tilted her head toward Apple Bloom's ear as she rode on her back.
"Ah love ya, little sis, no matter what."
"Ah know that," Apple Bloom whispered back. "Ah just wanted you to be proud of me too."
Applejack merely smiled and nuzzled her sister again.
Same here, Apple Bloom. Ah want ya to be proud of me too…
