Life of an Apple

     Months passed after Sweetie Belle's birth. Rarity and her family soon went home. The Apples were beginning to cope better. Applejack spent more time with Apple Bloom every day. Big Mac was satisfied.

     While the Apples were eating dinner, a knock sounded on the doors. Big Mac got up to get it, leaving his soup on the table.

     When he opened one of the barn doors, he saw a pink filly, about Applejack's age, with a poofy dark pink mane and tail. She had glimmering ice blue eyes and a wide smile.

     "Hi!" she greeted Big Mac, in a high-pitched voice. "I'm Pinkie Pie! I just moved to Ponyville with my Granny Pie! I'm giving goodies to everypony!"

     She gestured to a small cart behind her. Big Mac could see it was filled with pastries.

     Applejack, curious, joined Big Mac at the doors. She opened the other one. "Who's this, Big Macintosh?" She smiled warmly at Pinkie Pie.

     "I'm Pinkie Pie!" the filly told her. "I just moved here! Do you want some cupcakes, or biscuits, or doughnuts, or rolls, or cake...and it's free! I'm not looking for money!"

     Big Mac chuckled at the pink filly's excitement. He looked down at his sister. "AJ?"

     "Uh, no thanks," Applejack told Pinkie. "We're eating dinner, and I don't wanna spoil it."

     Pinkie shrugged. "Okey-dokey! If you change your mind, go down to Sugarcube Corner. That's where I made these."

     Applejack's green eyes widened. "You made all of these?"

     But the filly was bouncing off, her cart rolling behind her, humming cheerfully.

     Big Mac and Applejack looked at each other. They shrugged, closed the doors, and went back inside.

     The next day, when Applejack and Big Mac were trotting home from school, Applejack said, "I saw that pony from yesterday in my class...Pinkie Pie, I think. She was inviting everypony to a party at her house."

     Big Mac blinked. "For what?"

     "I don't have the slightest idea."

     When they were inside the barn, Apple Bloom trotted up to them. Her foal legs were wobbly, but she didn't fall. She smiled a toothless grin up at her siblings in welcome.

     "Hi, Bloomy!" Applejack cooed at her sister. She let her saddlebag drop on the floor and sat down to talk to the filly.

     "Appleshack! Macin'osh!" Apple Bloom squealed. She dropped to a lay-down position, giggling.

     Big Mac loved Applejack when she was born, and Apple Bloom was no different. She was an adorable baby. He smiled a bit whenever he looked at her. He hoped Apple Drops would have her wish granted, for Apple Bloom to have a good life.

     Soon, though, Big Mac noticed Applejack seemed upset. When he asked her if anything was wrong, she lied, "No, I'm fine."