A Loving Dog's Ownerby FlutterPalChaptersChapter the FirstChapter the SecondChapter the ThirdChapter the FirstA Dog's Loving Owner A collab by FlutterPal, Candence’s Paladin, and I love you Dashie Edited by FlutterPal and Cadence's Paladin Chapter One 15 years. That's how long Applejack has known, and had Winona, for 15 years. Winona, a wonderful brown and white spotted female dog, had always been able to help Applejack any way she could. But, love can't always keep somepony living, and Winona, in her fifthteen dog years of life, and Applejack had been thrown into a great depression for a while. It's been 5 months since her dog died, and Applejack's sister, Applebloom, now a teenager, decided to ask Applejack how Winona became her dog, after Winona dies from old age. Applejack sheds a tear but smiles at her sister. "You wanna hear that story old?" Applebloom looks at her sister eagerly, "Well yeah! You've never told me about how you found Winona." Applejack suddenly had a far distance look. "Well, it all started when I was asking for a puppy..." The Apple Farm, 15 years ago... Applejack looked pleadingly at her big brother. "But Macintosh! A puppy would be great! Everypony at school has a pet!" Macintosh harrumphs and says firmly, "When I say nope, I mean nope." Applejack sits down on the floor and pouts. "But ah want one! GRANNY SMITH!!" Applejack called out to her grandmother, looking sad, and on the verge of tears. Granny Smith came into the room with a look of annoyance, "What're you two bickerin' about now?" she asked, as she came from the kitchen, holding a ladle in on of her hooves. "Applejack is wantin' a pet again." Big Mac said, sounding mad like he always did when the subject was brought up. "Well, maybe it's time we think about bringin' another Apple into the Apple family," Granny Smith smiled at Applejack. Granny Smith had walked over to her grandfoals, awaiting a response from both. Big Mac frowned a little, but Applejack was excited as she's ever been. "We can!?" Her big brother shook his head slowly. "Maybe, if we get enough money." Big Mac said, though he didn't want to admit it, and he seemed rather annoyed with his sister's persistence. "Why does everything have to be about whether or not we have enough money to you? I just want a friend, that's all!" Applejack cried and then galloped out of the farmhouse. "Big Macintosh! Ya see what ya went and did? Go apologize t' yer sister this instant young stallion!" Granny Smith scolded, showing anger in her eyes. Big Mac sighs and looks over at the crying filly. "Ah don't know if we should spend money on her new friend, or on the farm." he said, and walked out to apologize. But he was too late, as Applejack had already begun to run off. Meanwhile... Applejack had begun to gallop towards the lake on the outskirts of White Tail Woods. She ran past tree branches, bushes, stumps, fallen logs, and rocks on her way there. The wildlife is thriving and the sun's shining, but she still seems upset over her argument with Big Mac. She goes over to the water and looks at her saddest of reflections in the water. Picking up one of the flattest stones she could find, Applejack skips the rock across the gleaming lake. She sheds a tear, and sits back on her haunches. "Why not just a friend?" she whispers to herself, as she began to cry into the lake. Author's Note Cadance's Paladin's part of the collab! Chapter the SecondA Loving Dog's Owner A collab by FlutterPal, Cadence's Paladin, and I love you Dashie Edited by Cadance's Paladin and FlutterP Chapter Two Applejack walked along the outskirts of a muddy, wet dirt road. It was raining, but she still took a walk. The cool rain poured delicately on her neck, making her shiver with each drop. The orange filly had been taking a small walk ever since her conversation with Big Mac. All she wanted-all she needed was a friend! A puppy, to be exact. She could name it something, and play with it, and live with it! Her cries and sobs had attracted many ponies that still walked down the road. They asked, “Are you okay?” but each time Applejack had returned “Yes, I’m fine! Leave me alone!” She didn’t think that her big brother was right about money, and yet about the barn. They had tons of money! Why did they have to spend it on the barn? It just didn’t make sense! All of sudden after thinking about it, Applejack ran down the road, her tears loud and able to echo out to ponies far away. ******************************************************** The next day, it was clear and sunny out yet not too busy on the streets. Guess it was a work day. Those evil bosses. But at least some ponies were out, and one pair of them was Big Mac and Granny Smith. They trotted with purses full and seemingly ready for something, like the two were going to buy the best thing they could ever in Ponyville. They ran towards the local pet shop, with their decent amounts of money, and walked inside as the glass door jingled from a silver bell hanging just above the door. Macintosh looked around for a second only to be interrupted by the store worker. “Welcome to Pecker Pony Pets! Our name is weird, but our pets are great!” she stated with a very, very perky voice. The store worker had a pastel yellow coat, a swirly green and white mane, and that HUGE perky smile that pushed her cheeks to cover the bottoms of her neon green eyes. “What would you like today, sweeties?” the store pony asked. “We’ll be fine on our own, thank you,” Big Mac stated, hoping to get out of the store quickly. Granny Smith shoved the red stallion with her elbow. “Have some manners, Mac. We’re lookin’ fer a puppy,” she said. The perky pony pet store worker smiled even more and pointed to the part of the store labeled Puppies. They all trotted over there together. During the short time of walking, Granny mumbled “Young ponies these days,” about the store clerk and her perkiness. When they all stood in front of the hundreds of newborn puppies in cages just waiting to be adopted, they were greeted with a flurry of barks. “What kind of puppy would you like?” asked the worker. “The cutest one you’ve got in store!” Granny replied. The clerk sat their thinking. “I like all of them, though, so, I guess that you’d have to choose!” “Hmm, sounds ok to me,” Macintosh said. As they searched he shelves and rows of the cutest, newborn, fluffy puppies, none seemed just right. Big Mac tried to help and pointed out a few options. He pointed out a black puppy with white ‘socks’ on his paws, but Granny turned it down. There was a golden one that was extra fluffy with a white-tipped tail, but the old mare just turned it down. Another one was white all over and extra fluffy, but it seemed every dog was a turn down dog. The worker and Big Mac were getting tired. But Granny just didn't think any of those pups were right for her dearest grandaughter. “Miss, the shop will be closing in a few hours, and we can’t just sit here all day until you find the puppy your family wants.” The old mare gave a glare to the store worker and then went back to looking. Ten minutes later, Granny pointed out an option that just sparked up some brightness in her eyes. “How about this one?” she asked the red stallion looking at the puppy. The puppy itself was all brown except for some white places such as her rump, her chest, and part of her face. On the white of the rump was some brown spots, and Granny thought it was perfect. But Big Mac shook his head. Granny, confused, asked, “Well why not? This one looks excited for a new family.” The big stallion looked at Granny Smith, then the puppy. Knowing not to go any farther with the old mare, he asked the store clerk, “How much is this one?” He pointed out the brown and white puppy to her. “Hmm, that one? It’s 100 bits for the dog, 10 bits for the food,” said the pastel yellow pony. Granny gave a thank you nod before getting out a wallet filled with loads of bits and gave a jingle sound every time you moved it. She opened it, reached into the wallet, and moved her hoof around, counting to 100 as she picked up the bits with each count. Finally Granny pulled out the bits, smiled, and held it out to the store worker’s reach. The worker snatched it greedily and put it on the counter that was right next to her. “Alrighty!” she exclaimed, still in that perky voice. She ran into the place where the backs of the puppies’ cages were held. The green and white maned pony trotted to where the brown puppy’s cage sat, opened it, took the puppy out, and carried it to Big Mac and Granny Smith. The worker set the puppy on the ground carefully just before grabbing a big box and putting the dog in it. “Here you go!” she said. “Thank you,” replied Granny Smith. “Oh, and here’s 10 bits for the dog food.” ************************************************** ` Big Mac gently set the big box down right in front of the barn front door. He ran over to the kitchen where he knew Granny was cooking dinner. He watched the old mare make the soup he knew was for dinner that night. “What’s in this night’s supper?” he whispered. “Carrots and sweet peas!” replied Granny Smith. “Eyup,” said Macintosh. And there they sat, quietly waiting for the arrival of Applejack seeing her puppy at the front door. Author's Note FlutterPal's part of the collab! Chapter the ThirdA Loving Dog's Owner A collab by I love you Dashie, FlutterPal, and Cadance's Paladin Edited by Cadance's Paladin and FlutterPal Chapter Three Applejack arrived back to Sweet Apple Acres from the lake by White Tail Woods. The sun had set and the full moon gave the farm a luminous glow. Applejack went to open the barnyard door and hung her head in sorrow. "I just want a pet," she said with sadness in her voice for the thousandth time. "Everypony else has a pet. Why can't I have one? It's just not fair." The wind started to pick up as teardrops fell from her emerald colored eyes. "It's just not fair." She pushed open the wooden door and pulled the small chain hanging from the lamp on one of the shelves. "What in the hay is that?" Applejack uttered. A brown box almost as tall as herself was sitting in the middle of the barn. "Granny Smith? Big Mac?" No response to her calls. Tired of waiting, she crept up slowly to the box with curiosity coursing through her body. She was about to approach the box when some sort of rustling inside caused it to shake a little. Applejack jumped back a little in surprise. About ten seconds later, the box became motionless again. This time, she went over to the box and peeked inside. Greeting her was a little brown bundle of fur. It was a sweet little puppy that was wagging her tail fiercely. The pup gave a high pitched bark and panted with her tongue hanging out ecstatic upon seeing Applejack. The puppy spun a couple times around, urging Applejack to pick her up. "Oh my gosh! A puppy!" Applejack picked her up from the box and smiled widely. "Aren't you the cutest thing anypony's ever seen?" The puppy attacked her face with a wave of licks. She started giggling uncontrollably, "Stop it! That tickles!" She pulled away from the licking pup and beamed. The puppy had brown fur covering most of her body, but had some white fur running up half her tail, her muzzle, half her legs, and all the way down from her neck to her belly. "I'm glad you like her," a voice called from outside the front of the barn. Applejack turned her head and saw Granny Smith at the open door smiling. "When I saw that pup I knew she was the one for ya. Seemed like she'd be a real good pet to me ." Applejack gasped, "You mean-?" "Yes, Applejack," Granny Smith grinned, "She's part of the Apple family now." Applejack set down the puppy on the floor and galloped to Granny Smith, throwing her hooves around Granny's neck. "Thank you, Granny! Yer the best pony a filly could have!" "Aw Applejack. You got your ol' Granny Smith here tearin' up. You know, I wasn't the only one that got that pup for you there. Your brother helped. Big Mac may have been skeptical on gettin' you a dog, but he loves you too. He never likes to see you upset just as much as I don't." "Really?" Applejack said. "Really," Granny Smith smiled. "Now, let's get this here puppy to the house. I got a water and food bowl all set up for her inside." The puppy barked and chased Applejack all the way to the house. "I've never seen AJ this happy before." Applejack, Granny Smith and the puppy all went inside the house to find Big Mac pouring some of the dog food bought from the pet store into a bowl. "Hey there, ya'll," Big Mac greeted. "I see you found the puppy. I'm just pourin' some food in her dog bowl for the night." AJ bolted towards Big Mac and tackled him. "Ow! Hey Applejack! What'd you do that for?!" Macintosh snapped. The only response he got was a heartwarming nuzzle to his chest. "Thank you big brother," AJ looked up at him with affectionate eyes. "I couldn't have asked fer anything better than this." Big Mac smiled, "Well I couldn't let my lil' sis feel down in the dumps forever now could I?" He gave her a noogie and returned the hug. "Alrighty then," Granny said, "I think it's time to get ya'll to bed. We got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. Lots of apple pickin' and lots of seed plantin'." The frantic pup started to chase her own tail. "Aw, can't I play with my new pet a little while longer?" Applejack frowned. "Now Applejack," Granny explained, "We all know you'll be playing with the pup during your chores tomorrow, and I can tolerate that, but I need you to get some sleep so you'll at least get up to do your work." "Fine," Applejack sighed, "Can she at least stay upstairs with me in my bedroom?" "I don't see why not." Granny replied. "Yeehaw!" Applejack cheered. The dog barked in excitement as well. "Come on, little doggy! I'll show you where my bedroom is!" Applejack and her new puppy rushed upstairs. "Now isn't that just a beautiful sight?" Granny Smith asked Big Mac. "Eeyup," Macintosh grinned. "Why don't you go check up on those two and see if they're in bed." "Sure, Granny Smith." Mac walked upstairs and cracked the door to peek inside. Applejack and the pup were sound asleep on Aj's bed. He smiled and shut the door. When the door closed, Applejack opened an eye and peeked over her shoulder. "That was a close one," Applejack smiled at her puppy. "We can't let them know we're awake." The puppy spun around and barked in agreement. "Shhh. We gotta make sure they can't hear us or else they'll make you sleep downstairs." The puppy sat down and cocked his head at Aj in confusion. "Oh, how can I tell you anything when you're this adorable? It's impossible, I tell ya." She rolled the dog over onto her back and started to rub his tummy. The pup's leg shook vigorously and stretched. "You really are the cutest thing in Equestria, aren't ya?" Suddenly, a thought popped into her head. "I almost forgot! What's yer name gonna be?" The pup barked as if she was trying to suggest a name. Applejack laughed, "I don't think 'Ruff' is quite a moniker for a pup as cute as you. How about....Brandy?" The dog moaned in disagreement. "Buckaroo?" The puppy shook her head and scratched behind the ear. "Well shucks! I don't know. Givin' you a name is tougher than it sounds." The puppy stuck her tongue out and started panting. She went across the bed and hopped onto the nightstand. She sat and looked at the portrait of Applejack as a baby, her mother, father, and their dog Winona. "I heard they were some of the kindest, most generous ponies in all of Equestria," Applejack said. "My daddy was named 'Rodeo Champion" of Equestria winning blue ribbons in every event for seven years in a row. Princess Celestia herself gave him the title at his last rodeo competition. My dad met my mom at the marketplace in Ponyville, where they apparently said they had a spark when they first laid eyes on each other." "Granny Smith always told me that on every Apple family reunion, two shooting stars streak across the sky. She says it's them joining the Apple family festivities. Everypony's seen the shooting stars. Even I think I saw them last year. Granny said no matter how far they seem, that they will always be here. That....they're always....with us....in our hearts." Applejack began to sob in her hooves. The pup leaped back onto the bed and started licking Applejack's face, whining for her to stop. Aj smiled and hugged her dog. "I know what I'll name you," Applejack said, "How does Winona sound? That was the dog's name that's in the picture you were just starin' at." The puppy barked, showing satisfaction in the name bestowed upon her. "Then that settles it. From now on, you're Winona of the Apple family!" Winona hopped onto Applejack and wagged his tail uncontrollably. Applejack yawned, "I don't think we should stay up any later. Granny Smith might catch us and give me extra chores tomorrow." She grabbed the covers and threw them over herself. "Goodnight, Winona." Winona curled up next to Applejack and after a few minutes they were both sound asleep. ************************************************************ The tears in AJ's eyes trickled down her cheeks coldly while she sobbed endlessly. A shook took Appljack out of the memory, and story. "Applejack, that was an amazing story," her little sister stated, tears of her own trailing down her cheeks. The orange mare smiled. "Winona couldn't have been any better than another dog instead," Applejack stated. Applebloom looked at her older sister. "Why do things we love like pets die?" AJ chuckled and said, "That's for another time. Now, let's do those chores ah kind've asked you to do an hour ago?" "But!" Applebloom said just before she stopped herself. "Alright, what's first?" "Well, we need some more bits, so lt's sell some apples," replied the older sister. Applebloom looked at her in a wave of confusion. "But we already have enough bits for bills!" "Oh, trust me. This is for something actually living, and very different. Like, somethin' you've been complainin' that you wanted for the last few days?" Author's Note I love you Dashie's side of the story!
Chapter the FirstA Dog's Loving Owner A collab by FlutterPal, Candence’s Paladin, and I love you Dashie Edited by FlutterPal and Cadence's Paladin Chapter One 15 years. That's how long Applejack has known, and had Winona, for 15 years. Winona, a wonderful brown and white spotted female dog, had always been able to help Applejack any way she could. But, love can't always keep somepony living, and Winona, in her fifthteen dog years of life, and Applejack had been thrown into a great depression for a while. It's been 5 months since her dog died, and Applejack's sister, Applebloom, now a teenager, decided to ask Applejack how Winona became her dog, after Winona dies from old age. Applejack sheds a tear but smiles at her sister. "You wanna hear that story old?" Applebloom looks at her sister eagerly, "Well yeah! You've never told me about how you found Winona." Applejack suddenly had a far distance look. "Well, it all started when I was asking for a puppy..." The Apple Farm, 15 years ago... Applejack looked pleadingly at her big brother. "But Macintosh! A puppy would be great! Everypony at school has a pet!" Macintosh harrumphs and says firmly, "When I say nope, I mean nope." Applejack sits down on the floor and pouts. "But ah want one! GRANNY SMITH!!" Applejack called out to her grandmother, looking sad, and on the verge of tears. Granny Smith came into the room with a look of annoyance, "What're you two bickerin' about now?" she asked, as she came from the kitchen, holding a ladle in on of her hooves. "Applejack is wantin' a pet again." Big Mac said, sounding mad like he always did when the subject was brought up. "Well, maybe it's time we think about bringin' another Apple into the Apple family," Granny Smith smiled at Applejack. Granny Smith had walked over to her grandfoals, awaiting a response from both. Big Mac frowned a little, but Applejack was excited as she's ever been. "We can!?" Her big brother shook his head slowly. "Maybe, if we get enough money." Big Mac said, though he didn't want to admit it, and he seemed rather annoyed with his sister's persistence. "Why does everything have to be about whether or not we have enough money to you? I just want a friend, that's all!" Applejack cried and then galloped out of the farmhouse. "Big Macintosh! Ya see what ya went and did? Go apologize t' yer sister this instant young stallion!" Granny Smith scolded, showing anger in her eyes. Big Mac sighs and looks over at the crying filly. "Ah don't know if we should spend money on her new friend, or on the farm." he said, and walked out to apologize. But he was too late, as Applejack had already begun to run off. Meanwhile... Applejack had begun to gallop towards the lake on the outskirts of White Tail Woods. She ran past tree branches, bushes, stumps, fallen logs, and rocks on her way there. The wildlife is thriving and the sun's shining, but she still seems upset over her argument with Big Mac. She goes over to the water and looks at her saddest of reflections in the water. Picking up one of the flattest stones she could find, Applejack skips the rock across the gleaming lake. She sheds a tear, and sits back on her haunches. "Why not just a friend?" she whispers to herself, as she began to cry into the lake. Author's Note Cadance's Paladin's part of the collab!
Chapter the SecondA Loving Dog's Owner A collab by FlutterPal, Cadence's Paladin, and I love you Dashie Edited by Cadance's Paladin and FlutterP Chapter Two Applejack walked along the outskirts of a muddy, wet dirt road. It was raining, but she still took a walk. The cool rain poured delicately on her neck, making her shiver with each drop. The orange filly had been taking a small walk ever since her conversation with Big Mac. All she wanted-all she needed was a friend! A puppy, to be exact. She could name it something, and play with it, and live with it! Her cries and sobs had attracted many ponies that still walked down the road. They asked, “Are you okay?” but each time Applejack had returned “Yes, I’m fine! Leave me alone!” She didn’t think that her big brother was right about money, and yet about the barn. They had tons of money! Why did they have to spend it on the barn? It just didn’t make sense! All of sudden after thinking about it, Applejack ran down the road, her tears loud and able to echo out to ponies far away. ******************************************************** The next day, it was clear and sunny out yet not too busy on the streets. Guess it was a work day. Those evil bosses. But at least some ponies were out, and one pair of them was Big Mac and Granny Smith. They trotted with purses full and seemingly ready for something, like the two were going to buy the best thing they could ever in Ponyville. They ran towards the local pet shop, with their decent amounts of money, and walked inside as the glass door jingled from a silver bell hanging just above the door. Macintosh looked around for a second only to be interrupted by the store worker. “Welcome to Pecker Pony Pets! Our name is weird, but our pets are great!” she stated with a very, very perky voice. The store worker had a pastel yellow coat, a swirly green and white mane, and that HUGE perky smile that pushed her cheeks to cover the bottoms of her neon green eyes. “What would you like today, sweeties?” the store pony asked. “We’ll be fine on our own, thank you,” Big Mac stated, hoping to get out of the store quickly. Granny Smith shoved the red stallion with her elbow. “Have some manners, Mac. We’re lookin’ fer a puppy,” she said. The perky pony pet store worker smiled even more and pointed to the part of the store labeled Puppies. They all trotted over there together. During the short time of walking, Granny mumbled “Young ponies these days,” about the store clerk and her perkiness. When they all stood in front of the hundreds of newborn puppies in cages just waiting to be adopted, they were greeted with a flurry of barks. “What kind of puppy would you like?” asked the worker. “The cutest one you’ve got in store!” Granny replied. The clerk sat their thinking. “I like all of them, though, so, I guess that you’d have to choose!” “Hmm, sounds ok to me,” Macintosh said. As they searched he shelves and rows of the cutest, newborn, fluffy puppies, none seemed just right. Big Mac tried to help and pointed out a few options. He pointed out a black puppy with white ‘socks’ on his paws, but Granny turned it down. There was a golden one that was extra fluffy with a white-tipped tail, but the old mare just turned it down. Another one was white all over and extra fluffy, but it seemed every dog was a turn down dog. The worker and Big Mac were getting tired. But Granny just didn't think any of those pups were right for her dearest grandaughter. “Miss, the shop will be closing in a few hours, and we can’t just sit here all day until you find the puppy your family wants.” The old mare gave a glare to the store worker and then went back to looking. Ten minutes later, Granny pointed out an option that just sparked up some brightness in her eyes. “How about this one?” she asked the red stallion looking at the puppy. The puppy itself was all brown except for some white places such as her rump, her chest, and part of her face. On the white of the rump was some brown spots, and Granny thought it was perfect. But Big Mac shook his head. Granny, confused, asked, “Well why not? This one looks excited for a new family.” The big stallion looked at Granny Smith, then the puppy. Knowing not to go any farther with the old mare, he asked the store clerk, “How much is this one?” He pointed out the brown and white puppy to her. “Hmm, that one? It’s 100 bits for the dog, 10 bits for the food,” said the pastel yellow pony. Granny gave a thank you nod before getting out a wallet filled with loads of bits and gave a jingle sound every time you moved it. She opened it, reached into the wallet, and moved her hoof around, counting to 100 as she picked up the bits with each count. Finally Granny pulled out the bits, smiled, and held it out to the store worker’s reach. The worker snatched it greedily and put it on the counter that was right next to her. “Alrighty!” she exclaimed, still in that perky voice. She ran into the place where the backs of the puppies’ cages were held. The green and white maned pony trotted to where the brown puppy’s cage sat, opened it, took the puppy out, and carried it to Big Mac and Granny Smith. The worker set the puppy on the ground carefully just before grabbing a big box and putting the dog in it. “Here you go!” she said. “Thank you,” replied Granny Smith. “Oh, and here’s 10 bits for the dog food.” ************************************************** ` Big Mac gently set the big box down right in front of the barn front door. He ran over to the kitchen where he knew Granny was cooking dinner. He watched the old mare make the soup he knew was for dinner that night. “What’s in this night’s supper?” he whispered. “Carrots and sweet peas!” replied Granny Smith. “Eyup,” said Macintosh. And there they sat, quietly waiting for the arrival of Applejack seeing her puppy at the front door. Author's Note FlutterPal's part of the collab!
Chapter the ThirdA Loving Dog's Owner A collab by I love you Dashie, FlutterPal, and Cadance's Paladin Edited by Cadance's Paladin and FlutterPal Chapter Three Applejack arrived back to Sweet Apple Acres from the lake by White Tail Woods. The sun had set and the full moon gave the farm a luminous glow. Applejack went to open the barnyard door and hung her head in sorrow. "I just want a pet," she said with sadness in her voice for the thousandth time. "Everypony else has a pet. Why can't I have one? It's just not fair." The wind started to pick up as teardrops fell from her emerald colored eyes. "It's just not fair." She pushed open the wooden door and pulled the small chain hanging from the lamp on one of the shelves. "What in the hay is that?" Applejack uttered. A brown box almost as tall as herself was sitting in the middle of the barn. "Granny Smith? Big Mac?" No response to her calls. Tired of waiting, she crept up slowly to the box with curiosity coursing through her body. She was about to approach the box when some sort of rustling inside caused it to shake a little. Applejack jumped back a little in surprise. About ten seconds later, the box became motionless again. This time, she went over to the box and peeked inside. Greeting her was a little brown bundle of fur. It was a sweet little puppy that was wagging her tail fiercely. The pup gave a high pitched bark and panted with her tongue hanging out ecstatic upon seeing Applejack. The puppy spun a couple times around, urging Applejack to pick her up. "Oh my gosh! A puppy!" Applejack picked her up from the box and smiled widely. "Aren't you the cutest thing anypony's ever seen?" The puppy attacked her face with a wave of licks. She started giggling uncontrollably, "Stop it! That tickles!" She pulled away from the licking pup and beamed. The puppy had brown fur covering most of her body, but had some white fur running up half her tail, her muzzle, half her legs, and all the way down from her neck to her belly. "I'm glad you like her," a voice called from outside the front of the barn. Applejack turned her head and saw Granny Smith at the open door smiling. "When I saw that pup I knew she was the one for ya. Seemed like she'd be a real good pet to me ." Applejack gasped, "You mean-?" "Yes, Applejack," Granny Smith grinned, "She's part of the Apple family now." Applejack set down the puppy on the floor and galloped to Granny Smith, throwing her hooves around Granny's neck. "Thank you, Granny! Yer the best pony a filly could have!" "Aw Applejack. You got your ol' Granny Smith here tearin' up. You know, I wasn't the only one that got that pup for you there. Your brother helped. Big Mac may have been skeptical on gettin' you a dog, but he loves you too. He never likes to see you upset just as much as I don't." "Really?" Applejack said. "Really," Granny Smith smiled. "Now, let's get this here puppy to the house. I got a water and food bowl all set up for her inside." The puppy barked and chased Applejack all the way to the house. "I've never seen AJ this happy before." Applejack, Granny Smith and the puppy all went inside the house to find Big Mac pouring some of the dog food bought from the pet store into a bowl. "Hey there, ya'll," Big Mac greeted. "I see you found the puppy. I'm just pourin' some food in her dog bowl for the night." AJ bolted towards Big Mac and tackled him. "Ow! Hey Applejack! What'd you do that for?!" Macintosh snapped. The only response he got was a heartwarming nuzzle to his chest. "Thank you big brother," AJ looked up at him with affectionate eyes. "I couldn't have asked fer anything better than this." Big Mac smiled, "Well I couldn't let my lil' sis feel down in the dumps forever now could I?" He gave her a noogie and returned the hug. "Alrighty then," Granny said, "I think it's time to get ya'll to bed. We got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. Lots of apple pickin' and lots of seed plantin'." The frantic pup started to chase her own tail. "Aw, can't I play with my new pet a little while longer?" Applejack frowned. "Now Applejack," Granny explained, "We all know you'll be playing with the pup during your chores tomorrow, and I can tolerate that, but I need you to get some sleep so you'll at least get up to do your work." "Fine," Applejack sighed, "Can she at least stay upstairs with me in my bedroom?" "I don't see why not." Granny replied. "Yeehaw!" Applejack cheered. The dog barked in excitement as well. "Come on, little doggy! I'll show you where my bedroom is!" Applejack and her new puppy rushed upstairs. "Now isn't that just a beautiful sight?" Granny Smith asked Big Mac. "Eeyup," Macintosh grinned. "Why don't you go check up on those two and see if they're in bed." "Sure, Granny Smith." Mac walked upstairs and cracked the door to peek inside. Applejack and the pup were sound asleep on Aj's bed. He smiled and shut the door. When the door closed, Applejack opened an eye and peeked over her shoulder. "That was a close one," Applejack smiled at her puppy. "We can't let them know we're awake." The puppy spun around and barked in agreement. "Shhh. We gotta make sure they can't hear us or else they'll make you sleep downstairs." The puppy sat down and cocked his head at Aj in confusion. "Oh, how can I tell you anything when you're this adorable? It's impossible, I tell ya." She rolled the dog over onto her back and started to rub his tummy. The pup's leg shook vigorously and stretched. "You really are the cutest thing in Equestria, aren't ya?" Suddenly, a thought popped into her head. "I almost forgot! What's yer name gonna be?" The pup barked as if she was trying to suggest a name. Applejack laughed, "I don't think 'Ruff' is quite a moniker for a pup as cute as you. How about....Brandy?" The dog moaned in disagreement. "Buckaroo?" The puppy shook her head and scratched behind the ear. "Well shucks! I don't know. Givin' you a name is tougher than it sounds." The puppy stuck her tongue out and started panting. She went across the bed and hopped onto the nightstand. She sat and looked at the portrait of Applejack as a baby, her mother, father, and their dog Winona. "I heard they were some of the kindest, most generous ponies in all of Equestria," Applejack said. "My daddy was named 'Rodeo Champion" of Equestria winning blue ribbons in every event for seven years in a row. Princess Celestia herself gave him the title at his last rodeo competition. My dad met my mom at the marketplace in Ponyville, where they apparently said they had a spark when they first laid eyes on each other." "Granny Smith always told me that on every Apple family reunion, two shooting stars streak across the sky. She says it's them joining the Apple family festivities. Everypony's seen the shooting stars. Even I think I saw them last year. Granny said no matter how far they seem, that they will always be here. That....they're always....with us....in our hearts." Applejack began to sob in her hooves. The pup leaped back onto the bed and started licking Applejack's face, whining for her to stop. Aj smiled and hugged her dog. "I know what I'll name you," Applejack said, "How does Winona sound? That was the dog's name that's in the picture you were just starin' at." The puppy barked, showing satisfaction in the name bestowed upon her. "Then that settles it. From now on, you're Winona of the Apple family!" Winona hopped onto Applejack and wagged his tail uncontrollably. Applejack yawned, "I don't think we should stay up any later. Granny Smith might catch us and give me extra chores tomorrow." She grabbed the covers and threw them over herself. "Goodnight, Winona." Winona curled up next to Applejack and after a few minutes they were both sound asleep. ************************************************************ The tears in AJ's eyes trickled down her cheeks coldly while she sobbed endlessly. A shook took Appljack out of the memory, and story. "Applejack, that was an amazing story," her little sister stated, tears of her own trailing down her cheeks. The orange mare smiled. "Winona couldn't have been any better than another dog instead," Applejack stated. Applebloom looked at her older sister. "Why do things we love like pets die?" AJ chuckled and said, "That's for another time. Now, let's do those chores ah kind've asked you to do an hour ago?" "But!" Applebloom said just before she stopped herself. "Alright, what's first?" "Well, we need some more bits, so lt's sell some apples," replied the older sister. Applebloom looked at her in a wave of confusion. "But we already have enough bits for bills!" "Oh, trust me. This is for something actually living, and very different. Like, somethin' you've been complainin' that you wanted for the last few days?" Author's Note I love you Dashie's side of the story!
