Floret

Chapters

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Prologue
Epilogue

Chapter One

The tense atmosphere at the kitchen table was nearly palpable. Granny Smith had silently served the apple pie, a large plateful for each member of the family. Despite their normally voracious appetites, none of the Apple family seemed particularly interested in dinner.

Apple Bloom sat at the kitchen table, idly playing with the pie crust on her plate. She had hardly made a dent in her apple pie; she didn’t feel overly hungry at the moment.

At the moment, she only felt hurt, confused… and angry.

They have to be lying… they just have to!

“May Ah be excused from the table, Granny?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Are ya sure yer not still hungry?” Granny asked, a frown wrinkling her already well-aged brow. “Ya barely touched yer dinner.”

“Ah’m full, thank you.” Apple Bloom stared quietly into her dinner, waiting for permission to leave. Please, Granny. Ah gotta get outta here.

“Okay then, little filly,” the matriarch responded. “Be sure to be back b’fore sundown.”

Apple Bloom pushed herself away from the table and hopped to the floor. She couldn’t look back… she didn’t want to see her… family… right now. As soon as the door closed behind her, she galloped down the path toward the clubhouse.

“So when are we going to meet your niece?” Sweetie Belle squealed as she trotted into the clubhouse.

Applebloom winced. “Uhhh, you won’t be meeting her. Applejack was just joking.”

“Huh?” Sweetie Belle asked. “She was joking? She didn’t sound like she was joking.”

“Nope!” Apple Bloom nodded. “It was all a joke! No niece, nothin’ strange at all. Just me, Granny, Big Mac and… Applejack. Mah big sister. Yep!”

“Awww, I was really hoping for another Cutie Mark Crusader.” Scootaloo slumped down. “I was hoping she might have had some more ideas.” She looked at the checklist nailed to the wall of the clubhouse; there was a depressingly large number of red crosses next to many of the ideas.

“Hmmm… Applejack didn’t sound like she was joking,” Sweetie Belle continued. “What kind of joke makes somepony cry? It doesn’t sound like a very nice joke.”

“Diamond Tiara would probably like it, then…” Scootaloo huffed.

“And Rarity came to visit me at dinner; she seemed really sad, and was a lot… huggier than normal.”

“She lives in Manehattan!” Apple Bloom practically shouted.

“No she doesn’t,” Scootaloo replied, shaking her head. “Rarity lives here in Ponyville.”

“Yeah, you’ve been to her house…” Sweetie Belle added, staring at her friend with a raised eyebrow. “She lives above her shop, remember?”

“N-No…” Apple Bloom stammered. “Mah niece. S-She—”

“I don’t get it…” Sweetie Belle furrowed her brow. “I thought you said it was a joke?”

“Ah was… joking?”

Scootaloo trotted determinedly towards Apple Bloom. She cast a glance over the filly, lifting her hooves, inspecting her forehead. Scootaloo even forced Apple Bloom to open her mouth, staring deep inside, thoroughly checking every inch of her friend’s apple-scented mouth.

“Welp, she’s not a changeling… and she’s not Diamond Tiara in disguise,” Scootaloo informed Sweetie Belle. “So I don’t know why in Equestria she thought that was a joke.”

“Maybe she’s sick?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Ooooh, did we try getting our cutie marks being doctors yet?”

Scootaloo looked to the checklist on the wall. “Yeah, and Dr. Stable said we weren’t allowed to practice medicine without a licence anymore.”

“So then what else are we gunna try to get our cutie marks in?” Apple Bloom asked, silently breathing a sigh of relief.

Scootaloo turned back to Apple Bloom with a critical eye. “How about… Cutie Mark Crusaders Truth… uhh, Tellers?”

Sweetie Belle couldn’t help but add the instinctual “Yay!” at the end.

“Ah’m not sure Ah—”

“I’ll go first…” Scootaloo scratched her chin. “Oooooookay. The reason I never invite you girls around to my house is b-b-because…”

Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked towards their friend. Apple Bloom had always wondered why they never seemed to meet at Scootaloo’s house. In fact, they’d only been there once, when they were trying to get her to come to the flag-waving tryouts.

“Becausemyparentsarecompletedorks!” Scootaloo burst out. She looked imploringly to her friends. “Pleeeeeeease don’t tell Rainbow Dash.”

“Oooh! Oooh! I’ve got one!” Sweetie Belle hopped up and down on her haunches. “I once broke Rarity’s porcelain mirror she got from Saddle Arabia…” She gulped. “A-and blamed it on Opalescence,” she finished with a nervous grin.

“Ah don’t—”

Scootaloo looked to her flank, a disappointed look across her face when she saw no cutie mark. Sweetie Belle repeated the motion, and teared up a little at her own blank flank.

“Well, Sweetie Belle and I aren’t cutie mark crusader truth-tellers—”

Sweetie Belle interrupted with another “Yay!”

“—but not everypony here has tried yet.”

Apple Bloom scowled at Scootaloo. “That’s a pretty dirty trick.”

“Trick?” Scootaloo replied, wearing her most innocent face. Apple Bloom had seen that face many times when they’d tried to get out of blame, so she wasn’t fooled. “No tricks here, no siree!”

“Hey!” Sweetie Belle squeaked. “You might be able to get a cutie mark in truth-telling. It runs in your family, after all.”

“Shut up!” Apple Bloom yelled. “Ah don’t gotta say nothin’! Just… just leave me alone!”

Apple Bloom stood, bucking the door open before she stormed out of the clubhouse. She lept to the ground, silently cursing as she hurt a hoof on landing, then continued towards the treeline before Traitor-loo or… or… Oblivious Belle… could follow her.

She silently wandered around the orchard, not knowing where to go. Every now and then, she would stop to buck one of the trees. She reasoned it was something to do, and might even help get her cutie mark, but she knew the truth was that it was a way of venting her frustration.

“Now Apple Bloom,” Applejack scolded the filly. “Ya shouldn’t be angry when ya buck the trees. Some might say it’s silly, but Sweet Apple Acres have the best apples because of the love we put into ‘em!”

Apple Bloom stared at the tree, unsure how she could kick something with love.

“Remember, little sis… these trees are just like fami—”

Apple Bloom screamed as she bucked the tree next to her (Wilson, if she recalled correctly) as hard as she could. Wilson did not give up any of his apples, and Apple Bloom only succeeded in hurting another hoof.

Frustrated, she turned back towards the treehouse. She’d been gone for a while; hopefully Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had already left.

As Apple Bloom approached the clubhouse, she could hear their voices as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo descended the ramp. She dove for a shrub, hoping neither of them would spot her.

“Ugh,” Scootaloo groaned. “Can we please stop talking about my parents?”

“But why are they dorks?” Sweetie Belle persisted.

“They… they’re just really into this really dumb game.” Scootaloo kicked at the dirt. “They met at a big competition in Vanhoover. They were national champions… that’s their special talents.”

Sweetie Belle’s squeal of delight pierced the night air. “Could we get our cutie marks in it? Have we tried it yet? What game is it?”

“There is no way I am getting a cutie mark in playing Witchcraft: the Herding!” Scootaloo groaned. “Soooooooo dorky!”

Apple Bloom held her breath, wary of making even the slightest sound as her friends trotted back towards town. Once she was certain they were out of earshot, she crept back into the clubhouse. She couldn’t go home right now… she couldn’t stand to look at any of them.

It’s not funny.

It’s a stupid joke.

Why are they being so mean to me?

Dumb adults.

She leaned against the door of the clubhouse, which was slightly broken after her little bucking earlier, and watched the sun as it set over the western orchards. It was peaceful— no friends asking mean questions, no brothers or sisters telling mean lies… No Granny Smith serving apple pies.

Apple Bloom groaned as her stomach rumbled. She hadn’t felt like eating earlier, but her appetite was starting to come back. They always kept a fresh bowl of apples in the clubhouse (one of the perks of being at Sweet Apple Acres) so she tore into them with vigor.

As the cold night air descended, Apple Bloom pulled a blanket out of the Cutie Mark Crusader Camp-out Emergency Supply Box (yay!) and wrapped it around herself. She didn’t feel like going back to the farmhouse any longer.

Apple Bloom was certain she could wake up early and get to school before anypony noticed she was gone.

Apple Bloom stirred as a heavier blanket was draped over her shoulders. Bleary-eyed, she looked up to see Big Mac standing above her.

“Sorry, Apple Bloom. Di’n mean t’ wake ya,” he mumbled as he laid down beside her. “Ya hungry?”

Big Mac pulled a tin of apple fritters from the ridiculously small saddlebag slung over his croup. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she realised it was her school saddlebag.

Apple Bloom quietly accepted the tin of fritters.

“Havin’ a campout t’night?”

Apple Bloom nodded.

“Well, so long as ya don’t stay up too late. Ya got school t’morrow.” Big Mac put the saddlebag on the ground, patting a hoof on it. “Packed yer lunch, and yer homework, so ya can get ta school t’morrow.”

“Thanks,” Apple Bloom mumbled as she avoided his gaze.

“You okay?”

Apple Bloom scooted away from him slightly before she replied. “Ah’m fine!”

“Ya sure ya don’t want ta talk—”

“Ah said Ah’m fine!”

Big Mac nodded. “Ah’m sure ya are… just— if you ever need me, Ah’ll be whoever you need me t’ be, big brother, or unc—”

“Ah don’t need ya t’ be anypony!” Apple Bloom yelled. “Yer mah big brother, so ya don’t need ta be anypony else ‘cuz Applejack is lying!”

“When does an Apple ever l—” Big Mac stopped and sighed. “Y’know, Apple Bloom… sometimes, ponies ain’t so nice t’ folk,” Big Mac said. “Ya know Dinky, th’ young filly in yer class?”

Apple Bloom nodded.

“Her momma was real young when she had Dinky, an’ a lotta folks ‘round here didn’t treat her none too kind. A lotta folks think that the only way a filly or colt can be raised healthy is fer a momma and poppa t’ be around, and not too young.”

Apple Bloom wasn’t sure what Big Mac was trying to say.

“Miss Doo told me once… she told me she were mighty scared. She didn’t have a family like ours t’ help her out, and she struggled. An’ Dinky still gets picked on, don’t she?”

Apple Bloom nodded… Dinky was a little strange, and a little quiet, and tended to get picked on at school even more than the Crusaders.

“Because of her momma, and b’cause some ponies ain’t nice t’ each other.” Big Mac sighed. “Her momma is one’a th’ bravest ponies Ah know… but not every pony is as brave as her. Ya understand what Ah’m saying?”

Apple Bloom shook her head. She didn’t really understand why her brother was bringing it up.

“Y’see, while Miss Doo didn’t have family t’ turn to, Applejack did. She was scared fer ya, that ya might get teased, or bullied, ‘cuz she was young. She weren’t as brave as Ditzy, an’ we agreed that maybe instead ya could be our li’l sister.

“Only a few ponies knew; old Pipe Down, when he were AJ’s teacher… and th’ Cakes… but most o’ the folk ‘round Ponyville just knew you as the youngest o’ Ma and Pa’s foals.”

“You’re lying!” Apple Bloom screamed, pushing her brother away. “You’re lying you’re lying you’re lying you’re lying!”

Big Mac pulled his sister into a hug, ignoring Apple Bloom’s furious hooves beating against his chest.

“Ah’m not lyin’, Bloom.” He pulled her close, stroking her mane as she sobbed. “But Ah’ll be yer big brother, yer uncle, whoever. Ah’ll always be Big McIntosh, and Ah’ll always be here for ya.”

Chapter Two

Apple Bloom awoke as the sun shone through the windows of the clubhouse. She was a little stiff from having spent the night on the floor, but at least this time her impromptu bed came with blankets and a pillow, as opposed to hay and some old newspapers. Big Mac had stayed with her overnight, but he’d evidently already risen and left for his normal chores.

Apple Bloom noticed a small plate covered with a tin lid. Lifting the lid off, she found the plate full of apple dumplings; a breakfast Granny Smith usually made for her on special occasions. Next to the plate was a small vacuum flask filled with warm cocoa.

She begrudgingly ate the dumplings; as angry as she was with her family for lying, she was still powerfully hungry.

If this is their way of sayin’ sorry, it ain’t good enough!

After washing her food down with the cocoa, she checked her school bags. Apple Bloom desperately hoped Big Mac had packed everything; she didn’t particularly feel like heading back to the farmhouse. It was bad enough that her brother insisted on staying in the clubhouse overnight (it was plenty large enough for Apple Bloom and her friends, but Big Mac certainly took up a large portion of the room).

Thankfully everything was in her bag, except for her math book, but she was certain she could get away with ‘forgetting’ that.

She met Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in their normal spot, and they walked to school together in an uneasy silence. Apple Bloom was well aware that the two were shooting her furtive glances when they thought she might not be looking; her friends were not as subtle as they thought they were.

No wonder we didn’t get our cutie marks in being ninjas.

Sweetie Belle had tried a few times to start a conversation, though after several false starts, she seemed to have given up.

They took their seats quietly as Cheerilee greeted the class.

“Ah gotta ask Miss Cheerilee somethin’,” Apple Bloom said as the girls got up from their seats. “Ah’ll be out soon.”

“We can wait for you!” Sweetie Belle replied.

“Yeah, we can hang back,” Scootaloo agreed.

“It’s… uhh… it’s okay. Ah won’t be long.”

Apple Bloom watched as her friends left the classroom, off to enjoy their recess. She opened her desk, and started fussing with her books; she just needed a little bit of time before she could slip away, hopefully unnoticed by her friends.

“Apple Bloom?”

Apple Bloom closed her desk and looked up. Cheerilee was sitting behind her desk, looking at her inquisitively.

“Do you need something?”

“Uhh…” Apple Bloom stalled. “Ah’m… uhh… Ah’m just lookin’ for mah math book. Ah think Ah forgot it this mornin’.”

“Alright…”

Apple Bloom could feel Cheerilee’s eyes boring into her.

“Is everything okay, Apple Bloom?”

“‘Course, Miss Cheerilee,” Apple Bloom replied, putting on her best everything-is-okay grin. “Everything’s as great as apple pie! Well, ‘cept for me forgettin’ mah math book.”

“Okay…” Cheerilee nodded, not taking her eyes off of Apple Bloom. “…if you say so. I have to go out into the yard, so please head outside. I have a spare mathematics book you can use later.”

Apple Bloom reluctantly followed Cheerilee out the door, but as soon as they were outside, Apple Bloom ducked into a nearby bush, hoping to remain unseen by her friends, the teacher, or anypony else. She just felt like being alone right now.

“Where are you going, Blank Flank?”

Apple Bloom winced. That voice could only belong to one filly. A nasty, mean, obnoxious, pain-in-the-flank filly.

“Where are your Cutie Mark Goof-sader friends?” Diamond Tiara chortled. “Aren’t you all usually attached at your unmarked hips?”

“Good one, Diamond Tiara!” Silver Spoon giggled.

Apple Bloom continued to walk away from them, scowling as she heard the pair bump hooves.

“Leave me alone.”

Diamond Tiara trotted in front of Apple Bloom, blocking the filly from moving any further. “What’s the matter? They finally kick you out of their goofy club?”

“Ah said leave me alone,” Apple Bloom growled, as she tried to sidestep the pink filly.

“Maybe they got sick of her stupid accent,” Silver Spoon added as she circled.

“Maybe they got sick of being friends with a country hick,” Diamond Tiara sneered, as she too began to circle Apple Bloom.

“Leave me alone!” Apple Bloom hissed, as she tried to escape the pair.

“I bet—”

“AH SAID LEAVE ME THE BUCK ALONE!”

Apple Bloom reared up and brought her forehooves down right on Diamond Tiara’s side. The pink filly fell to the ground, while Silver Spoon backed away nervously.

“APPLE BLOOM!” Cheerilee yelled as she stormed over.

Silver Spoon helped Diamond Tiara back up to her hooves, helping the filly adjust her tiara so it sat right on her head again. Diamond Tiara started sniffling; Apple Bloom was certain they were crocodile tears.

“Miss Cheerilee, Miss Cheerilee!” Diamond Tiara sobbed. “Apple Bloom pushed me over!”

“Yeah, and she said a bad word!” Silver Spoon added.

Cheerilee glared at all three fillies.

“Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, go back into the play yard. I do not want to hear you have caused any more trouble, am I clear?”

“Yes, Miss Cheerilee.” A frown crossed Diamond Tiara’s face, and her water works stopped immediately. She turned away from Apple Bloom, and she and Silver Spoon walked back to the play yard main.

Cheerilee turned her eyes towards Apple Bloom. “Apple Bloom, we do not tolerate that kind of language in this school. I know what those two are like, but it does not give you an excuse for bad language or violence.

“Follow me,” the teacher barked as she turned towards the classroom.

Miss Cheerilee had sent one of the playground monitors out to Sweet Apple Acres, informing them that she needed to see one of Apple Bloom’s guardians.

Apple Bloom sat nervously at her desk, praying to Celestia that perhaps one of her cousins, or maybe an aunt or uncle, were visiting. Anypony, just so long as she didn’t have to see—

“Hi, Miss Cheerilee,” Applejack said quietly, as she trotted through the door. “Ah got a note sayin’ Apple Bloom’s in trouble?”

Apple Bloom hid behind the stack of books on Cheerilee’s desk; Applejack was the absolute very last pony she wanted to see at this moment.

“Good afternoon, Applejack,” Cheerilee greeted. “I’m sorry to call you away from your very busy schedule; I know how it can be out at the farm.”

“S’okay,” Applejack mumbled.

“Yes… well, please have a seat.” Cheerilee waited for Applejack to pull up a chair next to Apple Bloom’s. “Apple Bloom was in the yard today, and had an altercation with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Apple Bloom pushed Diamond Tiara to the ground. She also shouted words inappropriate for a school setting.”

Apple Bloom avoided the gaze her sister gave her.

“Is that true, Bloom?”

The filly refused to respond.

“Ah’m really sorry ‘bout this, Miss Cheerilee.” Applejack pushed away from the desk. “Granny Smith, Big Mac an’ Ah will talk to her about her behaviour tonight.”

“Thank you, Applejack.”

“Apple Bloom, are you comin’?” Applejack stood, staring at Apple Bloom with intensity.

“No…”

“W-What?” Applejack stammered.

“Ah said no!” Apple Bloom screamed. “Ah ain’t goin’ home with no liar!”

The filly pushed away from the teacher’s desk and trotted over to her saddlebags. They spilled as she tried to sling them over her croup, so she left them there as she stormed out the door, ignoring both the expression of shock on Miss Cheerilee’s face, and the saddened look on Applejack’s.

Apple Bloom sat shaking under the slide. It didn’t feel right, to be sitting under the slide like this. The way she felt, it should have been a rainy day, the slide being the only refuge from the downpour. In complete indifference to her mood, the weather was lovely— the sun shone brightly, and a gentle breeze blew with the faint scent of cut grass.

She hadn’t known where to go. She couldn’t go to the clubhouse, as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were likely there… and they’d just push to find out what was going on. She couldn’t go home, because that place was filled with liars, and she didn’t want anything to do with them! She just wanted to be alone, so Apple Bloom had hidden under the slide of the school playground, hoping that Applejack wouldn’t notice her when she passed by.

It’s not fair. Ah just wanted t’ be alone. But no, everypony’s just gotta lie ta me, or push me around.

Tears sprang unbeckoned from her eyes. She drew in ragged breaths as she pulled her legs to her chest.

It’s not fair. Why are they doin’ this t’ me?

“Apple Bloom?”

Ah just don’t understand. Why would they say that t’ me?

“Apple Bloom?”

The filly rocked gently, her eyes closed, trying to shut out the world.

“Apple Bloom?” A gentle hoof on her shoulder roused Apple Bloom from her thoughts. She turned to find Miss Cheerilee looking down at her. “Why don’t you come back into the classroom?”

When Apple Bloom made no movement, Cheerilee added, “Applejack has already left, so it’ll be just you and me.”

“Come over here, Apple Bloom.”

Cheerilee led Apple Bloom towards the reading corner, encouraging her to lay on one of the pillows. She trotted to her desk and grabbed a box of tissues. Bringing them back to the filly, Cheerilee then settled down on a pillow herself.

“You’ve been very upset today, Apple Bloom… I’m sorry that I didn’t notice it earlier.” Cheerilee sighed.

Apple Bloom pulled a tissue out of the box and dried her cheeks.

“You seemed very upset with Applejack before… is everything okay at home?”

The mention of Applejack… and home… caused the tears to start again. Apple Bloom began sobbing, burying her muzzle beneath her hooves. Cheerilee scooted her pillow a little closer, directly facing the filly. Pulling out another tissue, she lifted Apple Bloom’s chin and dried her cheeks.

“Now, now… it’s okay,” Cheerilee said in a soothing voice. “I might be your teacher, Apple Bloom, but if you need somepony to talk to, I am here for you.”

Apple Bloom blew her nose loudly into a tissue, then set the soggy mess on the ground.

“Ah j—j—jus’ don’t want to g—g—go back there,” Apple Bloom hiccoughed.

“Did something happen over the weekend?” Cheerilee asked, putting a gentle hoof on Apple Bloom’s shoulder.

Apple Bloom sat quietly for a moment, before nodding.

“Do you want to tell me about it?”

Apple Bloom hesitated. She didn’t want to talk about it, she just wanted it to be over! The filly sighed.

“M-Mah s-s-sister— mah whole family is playin’ a mean joke on me.

“Ah was crusadin’ with th’ girls yesterday… we were gonna get our skydiving cutie marks…” Apple Bloom thought she felt a slight spasm in the hoof on her shoulder, but wasn’t sure why Miss Cheerilee had tensed. “But Rainbow Dash didn’t want to help us. W-W-When Scoots and Ah got back to the clubhouse, Sweetie Belle was there. She said she overheard mah sister talkin’ about a filly she had.”

Apple Bloom was certain she had felt Cheerilee tense again, but when she looked up to her teacher, Cheerilee motioned for her to go on.

“A-Ah was so excited; Ah was an auntie and Ah didn’t even know. But then when Ah got home and asked mah sister about it, they said Ah don’t have a niece…

“Th-Th-They said Applejack was mah Mom!” Tears fell from Apple Bloom’s eyes again, and a wracked sob tore from her lips. “B-B-But it’s not true! It can’t be! They’re lyin’ to me, and Ah don’t know why!”

Chapter Three

The rest of the week was difficult for Apple Bloom. Miss Cheerilee was nice enough to let her stay inside during recess and lunch times, which she spent reading Daring Do comics. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo finally gave her the space she wanted once they realised she was probably dodging them.

Her family didn’t stop their stupid joke, though.

Every afternoon, Apple Bloom walked home from school alone to the clubhouse, which had become her de facto home over the week. Big Mac still brought dinner out to her, trying every night to get her to come back into the house, but to no avail.

He stayed out with her another two times, but the other nights she was alone.

On the fourth night, Applejack came out, calling for Apple Bloom. She asked if she could come up, but Apple Bloom didn’t want to see her, so the filly hid under the pile of blankets in the corner until Applejack left.

It was hard, hearing her sister cry like she did as she left, but Applejack could end it all if they just stopped playing this stupid joke on her.

By the time the weekend came around, Apple Bloom had come up with the perfect plan to end the joke once and for all.

Apple Bloom was going to do this— she had to!

Big Mac watched her with a frown on his face as she loaded her little cart up with supplies for her trip: a small, one-pony tent and bedroll that was easy enough for her to set up on her own, three canteens of water, and a few bags of dried apples and trail mix.

She wouldn’t be gone long— two days at most.

“Ya sure ya want to—”

“Yes!” Apple Bloom hissed.

“It’s a long way fer a filly by herself.”

“Ah can do it! Ah don’t need nopony t’ come with me.”

Big Mac nodded. “Okay, well… Ah’ll come see ya off at th’ gate.”

The pair trotted silently towards the entrance to the acres. Big Mac had tried to pull Apple Bloom’s cart, but she had stubbornly refused. When they reached the gates, Big Mac stopped, though Apple Bloom did not. Now was not the time for teary goodbyes. When she returned, this silly joke would be behind her.

“Ah’ll be back soon, Big Mac,” Apple Bloom called behind her.

Apple Bloom felt good. It was great to have purpose; it was the same feeling she felt before every crusade. This was going to be it!

She trotted along the dirt path leading away from Ponyville. It was an old and well-worn track; the trees lining the edge of the road swayed peacefully in the gentle morning breeze.

“Apple Bloom!”

The filly’s good mood sank as she heard her sister’s voice call out from behind her.

“Apple Bloom, wait up!”

Apple Bloom reluctantly slowed to a stop.

“Ah was thinkin’ maybe Ah’d come with ya, if ya wanted?”

“No, thank you. Ah want t’ do this by mahself.”

“Ya sure? It’s an awful long way for just a li’l filly,” Applejack said as she finally caught up. “Big Mac said he was happy t’ do mah share of the work—”

“Ah want to go alone!”

“AB…” Applejack looked to the ground. “Ah’m jus’ worried about ya.”

Apple Bloom spun her neck around, glowering at her sister. “Ah don’t need ya! Ah’m not gonna come back pregnant.”

The filly ignored the choked sob from her sister as she continued on her journey, leaving Applejack behind.

“Hey!” Scootaloo stopped in front of Apple Bloom. “I said wait up!”

Apple Bloom tried to sidestep her friend, but found that it was impossible unless she unhitched herself from her small wagon.

Scootaloo looked over Apple Bloom’s cart.

“You’re going camping without us?”

Apple Bloom avoided her friend’s gaze.

“What’s been going on lately? You’ve been avoiding me and Sweetie Belle all week!”

“Ah don’t wanna talk about it.”

“This is about that thing with your niece, isn’t it?”

Apple Bloom prayed that Scootaloo hadn’t noticed her wince. From the frown forming on Scootaloo’s face, the filly suspected that she had.

“I thought so.” Scootaloo stepped out of the way.

“Yer not gonna try t’ stop me?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Nope,” Scootaloo responded, shaking her head.

“Thanks.” Apple Bloom smiled, then continued on her way.

“So where are we going?” the pegasus asked.

“What?”

“I asked where we’re going.”

“We’re not goin’ anywhere.”

Scootaloo looked at the wagon, then back to Apple Bloom.

“Sure looks like we’re going somewhere. Camping, at least.” Scootaloo scratched her chin. “But where are we going camping?”

“We’re not goin’ anywhere. Ah’m goin’ somewhere… alone.”

Scootaloo grinned. “Well, you don’t look like you’re alone now.”

“Yeah, ‘cuz somepony won’t leave me alone,” Apple Bloom muttered.

“Eh… it’s what friends are for.” Scootaloo shrugged. “So, where are we going?”

Apple Bloom sighed. Her friend was as stubborn as a diamond dog; if she got something in her head, she’d clamp down and there’d be no letting go.

“Well, then Ah guess we’re goin’ t’ see mah great-great-something Auntie Goldie Delicious.”

“Huh? Who’s she?”

“She knows everythin’—” Apple Bloom paused for a moment, realising they never got a definitive answer on Pinkie Pie’s relationship to the Apples. “She knows almost everythin’ ‘bout every Apple ever!”

“Doesn’t your family know enough about apples?” Scootaloo asked. “You do grow them, right?”

“No…” Apple Bloom groaned. “Apples, not apples.”

“Not apples?”

“Apples, as in the Apple family.”

“Ohhhh!”

The two continued in silence for several minutes.

“So why are you going to see her?”

“T’ put this stupid joke mah sister is playin’ t’ rest!” Apple Bloom yelled. “It’s stupid and Ah’m sick of it.”

“What joke?”

“Th— uhh…” Apple Bloom stopped herself. She didn’t want to talk about it; that was the reason why she wanted to travel alone.

“The uhh?” Scootaloo pressed, ignoring Apple Bloom’s sour look. When her friend didn’t reply, Scootaloo started making guesses. “The uhh~mazing Trixie is an Apple?”

“No—”

“The uhh~ltimate Apple family cider recipe is made from little fillies?”

“N—”

“The uhh… ummm. Wait, wait—”

“Okay, okay!” Apple Bloom groaned. It was going to be a long trip, and she knew her friend would keep this up, likely for the entire journey. “Jus’— jus’ promise me ya won’t tell nopony.”

“What if it’s funny? Isn’t that what jokes are?”

“This one isn’t… it’s stupid.”

“So what is it?” Scootaloo asked, wings slightly abuzz.

“Y’know how Sweetie Belle said Ah have a niece?” Apple Bloom asked. When Scootaloo nodded, she continued, “Well, Applejack says that’s not true. She says that Ah’m her daughter.”

Scootaloo stopped dead in her tracks. When Apple Bloom turned around, she could see tears in her friend’s eyes.

“What? Don’t tell me—”

“Baaaahahahahahaha!” Scootaloo burst out with laughter. “You— Applejack?” Scootaloo dropped to the ground, pounding her hoof on the dirt road as she roared with laughter.

“It’s not funny!” Apple Bloom shouted.

“N-No i-i-i-it’s not,” Scootaloo managed to say between giggles. “It’s the dumbest joke I ever heard.”

“It is?” Apple Bloom asked, her anger subsiding.

“That has to be the dumbest joke in all of Equestria! She’s your sister! She can’t be your mom.”

“Exactly!” Apple Bloom smiled. Finally, somepony understood.

“So you’re going to see your Aunt Goldie Delicious because—”

“‘Cuz Ah want this stupid joke t’ be over.”

Scootaloo got back to her hooves. “I bet it’s a trick joke. Yeah, there must be some trick to it!”

“What do ya mean?”

“Well, okay. Like, one day my mom was talking with Twilight, and she said that she couldn’t be buried in Ponyville Cemetery if she lived in Ponyville.”

“But that’s not right… mah Ma and Pa—”

“Exactly! It’s a trick joke,” Scootaloo squealed. “Twilight was so angry, she went to the mayor’s office and started looking through the laws to see why she couldn’t be buried in Ponyville. She checked all the books, and brought this huuuuuge stack of law books to our house, just to prove Mom wrong. There was no law that said you couldn’t be buried in the cemetery if you lived in Ponyville.

“Mom lost it completely. She told Twilight that it was still true, even if it wasn’t in the books she was looking through. If you lived in Ponyville, you’re not allowed to be buried in the cemetery.”

“Ah don’t get it.”

“That was what Twilight said. It’s a trick. You can’t be buried in the Cemetery if you live in Ponyville… ‘cause you’re still alive! Get it?”

Apple Bloom slowed down as she processed the joke.

“That’s th’ second dumbest joke Ah ever heard!”

“Exactly!” Scootaloo grinned. “It’s a dumb trick joke. Twilight was so mad, she said she was going to make a royal decree about not playing pranks on princesses. Rainbow Dash said she’d never let that happen.”

“So ya agree with me?” Apple Bloom asked.

“‘Course. Adults make dumb jokes all the time. They think they’re funny when they sooooooo aren’t,” Scootaloo laughed. Apple Bloom watched as Scootaloo’s mirth turned to horror.

“EXCEPT FOR RAINBOW DASH!” Scootaloo shouted. “SHE’S ALWAYS FUNNY AND NEVER NOT FUNNY!”

“Ya alright, Scoots?” Apple Bloom asked with concern.

“Yep!” Scootaloo responded with a quaver. “Totally fine and awesome! Let’s get going so we can end Applejack’s silly joke!”

“Yeah!” Apple Bloom shouted, her spirit renewed.

They started walking again, and as they did, Apple Bloom thought she caught a flash of colour—red, yellow, blue, and green—from the corner of her eye, but when she turned to look, it was gone.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo awoke early the next morning. They had set up camp the previous night, just before dusk, and had spent a few hours chatting, before retiring to the shared tent. Applebloom was glad she’d packed plenty of food and water; thankfully, there was enough to feed the two of them. Scootaloo refilled the empty canteens from the river while Apple Bloom pulled down their tent.

Apple Bloom felt renewed this morning. Why she was reluctant for Scootaloo to tag along, she didn’t know. Her friend had helped her out of the dumps; now the trip was becoming more like a cool campout!

After a short breakfast of cold fritters, they set out again. It took them just shy of three hours to reach Goldie’s house.

“Wow!” Scootaloo gasped. “What a dump!”

“Scoots!” Apple Bloom hissed. “That’s not nice!”

Apple Bloom was well aware of how the dilapidated old shack must have looked to outsiders. The windows were broken, and the cracks boarded up. The old bench out in front of the house was snapped in half, and the roof thatching had drooped even more since the last time she had been there.

But Apples are Apples, and Apples don’t go bad-mouthin’ other Apples.

Apple Bloom unhooked herself from her little cart, trotted up to the door, and knocked.

The elderly Apple opened the door, looking around for whoever had knocked. She moved to close the door when Apple Bloom coughed, drawing the elderly mare’s attention downward.

“Well howdy there, little fillies,” Goldie Delicious greeted them. “Didn’t see you down there. Here to sell some filly-scout cookies? Let me get my purse…”

Apple Bloom followed Goldie Delicious into the house, and Scootaloo followed up the rear.

“No, Aunt Goldie… it’s me, Apple Bloom,” she reminded the older mare. “Ah came here with mah… family a few months ago, remember?”

“Hmmm, what’s that deary?” Goldie asked as she turned back towards the two fillies. “Ohhhh, Apple Bloom! I hardly recognised you! You’re all grown up now… you’re such a big filly.”

Apple Bloom looked to the mare, but chose not to press the issue. “Well, y’see, Auntie… Ah was wonderin’ if ya had any photos of mah parents? Ah never had any pictures of ‘em.”

“Of course,” Goldie responded, hobbling towards a stack of books. “Why, I have photos of just about every Apple in Equestria.”

Apple Bloom turned to Scootaloo and grinned. This was it!

“Yes siree! If I remember correctly, I have a photo of you and your momma when you were just born.”

Apple Bloom’s heart skipped a beat. She had always been told that there were never any photos of her and her parents together; they’d died before they could get a photo with her. She was finally going to have proof.

Goldie Delicious trailed a hoof slowly over the spines of the many photo albums. Apple Bloom was certain there must have been hundreds— she didn’t doubt Goldie’s claim.

“Here we go— Ponyville’s Apples.” Goldie bit down on the spine of the book and pulled it from its precarious position. She hobbled over to a couch, motioning for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to follow her.

Tears welled up in Apple Bloom’s eyes; she had never been so happy and excited before in her life.

“Let’s see…” Goldie Delicious licked a hoof and opened the book. “Apple Bloom… Apple Bloom… Ahh, here we go!”

Apple Bloom’s heart sank as she saw the page Goldie had opened to.

An old photo sat in the middle of the page, right above a browned copy of Apple Bloom’s certificate of live birth.

The photo showed a small foal, unmistakably her, with her pale-yellow coat and a tuft of pinkish-red mane, close to her mother’s chest. Dressed in a pale-green hospital gown, her mother held a young Apple Bloom in her forearms, a weary smile on her face.

Scootaloo put a tender hoof on her friend’s shoulder as Apple Bloom started to cry. The proof was before her, completely undeniable.

Chapter Four

Apple Bloom woke, bleary-eyed as the sun poured through the window of her room. Somepony had opened the curtains; she couldn’t tell if it was Big Mac, Granny Smith, or…

It probably was her. She used to wake Apple Bloom up for school, but in the last two months, ever since Apple Bloom had found out… well, Applejack didn’t wake Apple Bloom up anymore.

Nowadays, it was the sun that woke her up; she could only ignore it for so long.

“Mornin’, Bloom,” Big Mac said as she entered the kitchen.

That was another thing that had changed.

For most of her life, Applejack would have breakfast with the filly, then see her off to the gate as she left for school. There were the odd days, especially during apple bucking season, that Applejack left for the fields before dawn, and Apple Bloom would have to get ready for school by herself.

Apple Bloom nodded to her… uncle? It felt strange— that word didn’t feel right to her. A scowl crossed her face as she thought about it again.

She grunted a response at him.

Granny Smith and Big Mac sat at the table, waiting for her to join them. As she had done every morning, she served herself a bowl of oats and milk with a few slices of apple. Like every morning, Granny Smith would offer some of whatever she had made the family for breakfast. Every morning, Apple Bloom would turn it down in favor of oats and milk. Today, Granny Smith had made pancakes, topped with diced stewed apple and cinnamon.

Apple Bloom was getting really sick of oats and milk.

“Ya ready fer school, li’l filly?” Granny asked, before lifting a bite of pancake to her mouth.

“Eeyup,” Apple Bloom responded, not looking up from her cereal.

“Gonna go crusadin’ with yer li'l friends after school, too?”

“Eeyup.”

“You’re soundin’ just like Big Mac when he was yer age,” the Apple matriarch laughed. “Never did grow out of it, though.” Big Mac opened his mouth to protest, but was shushed by the old mare.

Apple Bloom ignored their gazes, ignored their attempts at conversation. She was still angry at them, and if they thought a few apologies would make up for years of lying to her… well, she didn’t care what they thought.

“Ah’m goin’ t’ school,” Apple Bloom said as she pushed away from the table.

She slipped her saddle bag on and meandered to the door. As predicted, Big Mac had gotten up at the same time.

“Okay if Ah walk ya t’ the gate?” he asked.

“Whatever…”

It annoyed her. It made her… angry. It was always Applejack who walked her to the gate, whenever she could. Now Applejack was avoiding her; not that Apple Bloom wanted to see her, even if she was there.

Big Mac followed her in silence. It annoyed Apple Bloom; he just followed. Why did he even bother? She didn’t need Granny, she didn’t need Big Mac, and she didn’t need—

“Oh… howdy, Big Mac,” Applejack called out, greeting them. “Hi, Bloom,” she added with a whisper. Applejack stood at the gate, harnessed into the market wagon.

“Weren’t ya gonna leave an hour ago?” Big Mac asked.

“Busted wheel.” Applejack motioned towards the wheel on the cart. “Took me a mite longer than Ah expected t’ fix it.”

Applejack paused before addressing Apple Bloom. “Well, Bloom. Looks like we’re headin’ inta town ‘bout the same time.” Her voice quavered as she asked, “Up fer some company?”

No!

“…Whatever” Apple Bloom answered, not bothering to look at her si—moth… Applejack.

Applejack grunted as she started hauling the cart. Apple Bloom knew how much produce they loaded those carts up with, and had always been envious of Big Mac and Applejack’s strength. They had always told her that she’d be that strong one day.

“So…” Applejack started, weakly, “…y’all goin’ crusadin’ after school today?”

No! Because I never do that and that would be totally out of the ordinary.

“Probably,” Apple Bloom responded, still looking down at the dirt road ahead of her.

“So what are ya gonna try ta get yer cutie marks in this time?”

Apple Bloom silently shrugged, a feat much harder to accomplish when walking down a dirt road.

“Well, Ah bet whatever it is, y'all will find ‘em soon,” Applejack responded, nodding sagely. “Jus’ keep tryin’ and you’ll get there.”

What happened t’ ‘it’ll happen when th’ time is right’? Apple Bloom huffed. Ah thought ya ‘couldn’t rush these things.’ Ah know what yer tryin’ t’ do; Ah ain’t stupid. Yer as see-through as… as… as some kinda see-through thing.

Apple Bloom scowled as she picked up her pace.

Glass! See-through as glass!

She smirked at her internal quip, but soured when she heard Applejack’s grunt. The mare had managed to keep pace with the filly.

“Maybe tonight Ah can help ya with yer apple buckin’ practice? Or yer homework, if ya need—”

“Ah don’t need help!” Apple Bloom hissed, cutting the older mare off. “Ah’m fine!”

“O—Okay Sugarcube,” Applejack replied, avoiding Apple Bloom’s glare. “Ah didn’ mean nothin’ by it.”

“Sweetie Belle an’ Scootaloo will be waitin’… Ah gotta go,” Apple Bloom said, as she started to trot. She could hear Applejack grunting, as the mare tried to match the filly’s speed again, but with the added burden of the cart’s weight, there was no way she could keep up now that Apple Bloom had broken into a gallop.

“Are you comfortable, Apple Bloom?”

Miss Cheerilee lay across her reading pillow. Despite having met with her teacher like this for the past few months, Apple Bloom still felt a little awkward talking to her teacher about these things.

But she didn’t really have anypony else to talk to. Twilight had offered, but she was Applejack’s friend. Miss Cheerilee said there was a mare who worked at the hospital that she could talk to, but she wasn’t sick. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, for all that they meant well, could only offer the advice “Don’t let it get to you.”

So she had taken Miss Cheerilee’s offer up, and they had been meeting every Thursday.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were under the belief that Miss Cheerilee was helping Apple Bloom with her grades, and the filly had not done anything to dissuade them from this assumption.

So once again, Apple Bloom found herself getting comfortable on the reading cushions in the school classroom.

“How have you been feeling this week?”

“Ah dunno,” Apple Bloom replied, as she dug a hoof into the cushion. “Everythin’s different at home now. Big Mac an’ Granny are always tryin’ t’ talk t’ me… but Ah don’t know what t’ say ta ‘em. Ah mean…

“What do Ah say ta ‘em? Pass th’ apple sauce, and thanks fer lyin’ t’ me mah whole life!” Apple Bloom gritted her teeth, burrowing her face into the cushion. “Mah whole life! They’ve been lyin’ fer mah whole life! Every year, Ah’d go with mah… well, the ponies who told me they were mah brother and sister, t’ lay flowers on the graves mah lyin’ siblings said were mah parents’.

“An’ now Granny Smith and Big Mac jus’ expect me t’ ferget all that?”

Apple Bloom could feel the heat in her face, despite the dampness of her cheeks. It was stupid, she wasn’t sad, she was angry! Why did she have to keep crying?

Cheerilee helped the filly dry her eyes. “Have they asked you to forget everything?”

“Well—” Apple Bloom paused. “No… no they haven’t.”

“Have you spoken to them about it?”

“No…”

“If you could, what would you ask them?”

“Ah— Ah don’t know. When Ah’m around them, Ah jus’ get…” Apple Bloom grunted, and kicked her pillow.

“Well, if you can’t think when you are around them, why don’t we write out a list of questions?” Cheerilee smiled. “Sometimes, when we’re in a situation that makes us angry, or upset, we struggle to think straight. If you write out what you want to ask beforehoof, it will make it easier… would you like to try that?”

Apple Bloom nodded. Cheerilee got up from her pillow, and picked up a quill and paper off her desk. Sitting back down on her pillow, she addressed the filly.

“Okay, so how about you tell me what you want to ask, and I’ll write the questions down for you?”

“Ah—” Apple Bloom started, “Ah want…”

“It’s okay, Apple Bloom,” Cheerilee interrupted, “Take your time, as much as you need.”

Apple Bloom fidgeted as they sat in silence. A million thoughts flew through her mind, along with a million things she wanted to say to her family. None of those things were something she thought her teacher would want to write down.

“Why?” Apple Bloom said, breaking the silence.

“Hmmm?” Cheerilee asked.

“Why did they lie t’ me?” Apple Bloom wrang her hooves. “If they loved me… Ah mean, if they really loved me… why lie t’ me?

“Why did they hide it from me?” Apple Bloom stood up. “Why did they keep it a secret fer so long…?

“Why did they keep it a secret at all‽” She smashed her hoof against the ground.

“Apple Bloom—” Cheerilee held a hoof out to the pacing filly.

“Why‽” Apple Bloom turned to face Cheerilee, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Families are supposed t’ love each other an’ tell th’ truth. Why did they hide it from me?”

“I don’t think them loving you is in ques—”

“An’ if it were such an important secret, why couldn’t they keep lyin’ t’ me?” Apple Bloom yelled as she paced furiously. “Why couldn’t they jus’ keep lyin’, and let me be happy?”

“Would you really want that?” Cheerilee asked.

“Ah don’t know… maybe?” Apple Bloom stopped her pacing. “She could’a told me anythin’… like, maybe they could have told me th’ baby never made it…”

“Would you have really been happy with that?” Cheerilee asked, raising her eyebrow.

“Ah— Ah don’t know, Miss Cheerilee.” Apple Bloom looked up at her teacher. “Ah guess Ah wouldn’t have been happy with that, no.” She sat back down. “Ah would have been sad that Ah lost a niece, even if she never existed.

“Big Mac, ‘n Granny Smith… Ah jus’ don’t know if Ah can trust ‘em anymore, Miss Cheerilee,” Apple Bloom said. “We’re supposed t’ be honest as Apples, but that don’t mean much no more…”

“And what about y— Applejack?” Cheerilee asked.

“Well, she ain’t been lyin’ to me since, Ah guess.” Apple Bloom scowled. “But that’s only because she’s never around. She used t’ wake me up fer school… and we’d have breakfast before Ah left. Nearly every mornin’.

“Now, she don’t even want t’ talk ta me.”

“Are you certain she doesn’t want to talk to you?” Cheerilee asked.

“Well…” Apple Bloom replied. “She was late goin’ t’ market this mornin’, but Ah—”

“What happened?”

“Ah ran off…” the filly replied, sinking into her pillow once more. She sat in silence, desperately avoiding Cheerilee’s gaze.

“Apple Bloom, you will need to talk with her… with them all.” Cheerilee sighed. “It might be hard to talk with them, and you might want to say some things that may hurt… but it will only work if you try.

“They might not be the family you thought they were, but they are still your family.” She put a gentle hoof on the filly’s shoulder. “Do you understand?”

“Ah’m sorry, Miss Cheerilee,” Apple Bloom said as she shrugged off her teacher’s hoof. “Ah’m not feelin’ too good. Can we leave it fer today?”

Apple Bloom could feel the mare’s gaze upon her; there was always something about a teacher that could do that. The filly didn’t dare look up at her.

“Of course, Apple Bloom,” Cheerilee replied. “These meetings are for your benefit, so if you want to finish early—”

“Thanks, Miss Cheerilee.” Apple Bloom dashed to her desk, and collected her books and saddle bag.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Cheerilee called after the rapidly retreating filly. “And if you ever need me—”

Apple Bloom hadn’t heard the rest, as she had already exited the school house.

Chapter Five

Apple Bloom stepped through the doors to Sugarcube Corner.

Sitting at a table at the far end of the room were Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Ever since Apple Bloom had been meeting up with Cheerilee, they would meet up there before they went out crusading.

“Hey, Apple Bloom!” Sweetie Belle called out, waving frantically to her friend. “Over here!”

Apple Bloom chuckled. They sat in the same corner every Thursday. Not only that, the bakery was particularly empty this afternoon, so it made the duo stand out even more than they normally do.

“Hiya, Mrs. Cake,” Apple Bloom said, trotting over to the matronly mare. “Have ya seen Sweetie Belle an’ Scootaloo? Ah was supposed t’ be meetin’ ‘em here today.”

Apple Bloom chuckled as Sweetie Belle continued her frantic waving, desperately trying to get her attention. From the corner of her eye, Apple Bloom could see her pegasus friend shaking her head in exasperation.

“Why, no I haven’t, deary,” Mrs. Cake responded with a wink. “It’s been quiet all afternoon.”

“Hey! Apple Bloom! We’re over here!”

“Hmmm,” Apple Bloom hummed out loud. “That don’t make no sense… Mah friends are anythin’ but quiet.” She hung her head dramatically, before saying loudly, “They mustn’t have wanted to wait fer me no more.”

“Apple Bloom, look—”

The filly was tackled to the floor by a blur of white, purple and pink.

“—out…” Mrs. Cake finished lamely, before chuckling.

“We were over there Apple Bloom we were waiting for you I promise you just didn’t hear us,” Sweetie Belle babbled. “Please don’t be upset!”

Apple Bloom burst into laughter, rolling back onto her hooves as Scootaloo joined them.

“I told you she was just messing with you!” Scootaloo sighed, shaking her head. “How could she not hear you, shouting as much as you were. My ears are still ringing!” The pegasus filly rubbed a hoof to her ear.

“That was mean, Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle whined. “I thought you were really upset.”

“So, now that everypony is here, are you ready to order?” Mrs. Cake asked. “Remember our three for the price of two special on milkshakes.”

That was another thing Apple Bloom loved about coming to Sugarcube Corner; for the last few weeks, the Cakes had been running a special on milkshakes.

“Can I have a slice of mudcake, and a strawberry milkshake, please?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“And I’ll have a slice of key lime pie, and a banana milkshake.” Scootaloo beamed at Mrs. Cake, until she started to wither under the baker’s stare. “Uhh… please?” Scootaloo asked with a sheepish smile.

“Of course,” Mrs. Cake replied with a smile, before turning to Apple Bloom. “And what would you like, deary?”

“Ah’ll have a vanilla milkshake, and could Ah have a slice of apple pie, please?”

Mrs. Cake nodded, then punched the order into the till. “That’ll be ten bits, all up.”

The fillies huddled in a circle as they argued over the splitting of the bill.

“Y’all have paid fer the milkshakes fer the past three weeks. Ah should pay fer at least one of them,” Apple Bloom said. “It’s only fair!”

“But… uhh… friends are supposed to do nice things for friends,” Scootaloo protested.

“And Ah am tryin’ t’ do nice things fer mah friends, but mah friends are too busy being nice t’—”

“Thank you, Sweetie Belle,” Mrs. Cake chuckled as she rang the till. “I’ll bring your order over soon.”

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both looked up; neither had noticed Sweetie Belle had left the circle.

“Thanks Mrs. Cake!” she chirped.

“Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom moaned. “We were only arguin’ over who paid fer the milkshakes. Why’d ya go an’ pay for it all?”

“Rarity is always saying it’s good to be generous, and I want to be just like her!” Sweetie Belle explained.

“I’m not complaining…” Scootaloo grinned at her friends, ignoring their glares. “What? Mom and Dad only give me a really small allowance.”

The fillies made their way back over to the table, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo still arguing while Sweetie Belle hummed a tune.

“Hmm-hmmm all that I can give…”

“So, what was Miss Cheerilee helping you with this time?” Scootaloo asked as she sat down on the stool.

“Oh, uhhhh, she was helpin’ me with mah maths.”

“I don’t know why you don’t ask Twilight to help you,” Sweetie Belle squeaked. “She really helped you with your potion-making.”

“Twilight time is fer fun stuff, not boring stuff,” Apple Bloom protested.

“Yeah, but it’s less fun when you’re not there…” Sweetie Belle sighed.

“Yeah,” Scootaloo agreed. “Twilight and Spike have been asking how you’re doing. They said they miss you.”

“They did?”

“Well, Twilight said she missed having you there…” Sweetie Belle said. “Spike just said there were more nachos left over without you there. That’s kind of like missing you— oww! What was that for?” Sweetie Belle rubbed her side.

“It really isn’t the same without you, Apple Bloom.” Scootaloo grinned. “You gotta come back soon.”

Apple Bloom did miss Twilight Time, and the Princess had offered an ear if Apple Bloom needed somepony to talk to… but it wasn’t the same. Miss Cheerilee had promised that she wouldn’t say anything to her family; something she had come to believe when she had overheard her teacher getting angry at Big Mac. Apple Bloom felt bad that Miss Cheerilee and Big Mac’s friendship suffered because of her… but at least she knew she could trust her teacher.

“Ah’ll come back, Ah promise. Ah jus’ gotta…” Apple Bloom sighed. “Jus’ gotta get mah grades up.”

“Heyya girls!”

“Gyaaaah!” The three fillies jumped as they noticed Pinkie Pie sitting at their table.

“Pinkie, when did you…?”

“And an especially big hello to you, Apple Bloom,” Pinkie Pie said, as she pulled the filly into a hug. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you here Mr. and Mrs. Cake get me to run deliveries every Thursday for some strange reason but today I did them early so I could come back here and give you a party…”

“A— A party?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yeah! Mr. and Mrs. Cake said you’ve been sad ever since you found out Applejack was your mom and even the free milkshakes haven’t cheered you up so I thought you needed a party.”

“Wh— What?” Apple Bloom’s breathing became labored. Pinkie Pie wasn’t hugging her nearly as tight as she normally did, but even still, the filly was finding it hard to breathe.

“Pinkie Pie!” Mrs. Cake shouted, as she came trotting over to the table. “You’re supposed to be out on deliveries still.”

“I’ve already done them,” Pinkie Pie responded.

“But that cherry pie was for Princess Celestia… in Canterlot…”

“That was easy, it’s not like it had to go to the Crystal Empire…”

“But— what— how?” Mrs. Cake shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. Pinkie, I am sure these girls would just like some time to themselves, no parties.”

“No parties?” Pinkie Pie asked. “But how else will we cheer up Apple Bloom?”

“Does Apple Bloom need cheering up?” Mrs. Cake asked, her voice higher pitched than usual. “I thought they were just here for milkshakes and cake.”

“Well, duh! Their here for milkshakes and cake because Apple Bloom is sad about—”

“Pinkie, dear…” Mrs. Cake silenced the pink mare with a hoof in the mouth. “…Mr. Cake needs your help in the kitchen. Would you be a dear and— stop licking my hoof!”

Apple Bloom’s chest tightened. The room span— she had to get out of there.

They know‽

The Cakes, Pinkie Pie… Twilight certainly knew, because she had offered her help. How many other ponies knew? Who was telling everypony? Why were they telling everypony?

Apple Bloom pushed away from the table, heaving ragged sobs as she bolted for the door. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo made to follow her, until Apple Bloom screamed back at them.

“Leave me alone!”

“What is this I see,” Zecora asked as Apple Bloom trotted up to her home, “Has my friend Apple Bloom come to see me?”

Apple Bloom looked up from the welcome mat she had been laying on. “H-Hi Zecora. Ah— Ah was just…”

“Do not, young Apple Bloom,” Zecora said as she helped the filly back to her hooves. “Come inside, let us escape this forest’s gloom.”

Apple Bloom silently followed the zebra into her house. She always liked visiting Zecora; the zebra was always friendly, and it was from her that Apple Bloom had first acquired her interest in potion-making. Of course, her first potion hadn’t really gone too well, but she was just making it up on the fly at the time. Her second potion hadn’t gone that well either, but then she wasn’t the one who had misread ‘poison’ as ‘potion’. She was getting better at them now, with the help of both Zecora and Twilight; there were significantly less disasters than her first attempts.

“So, is there a reason you have come?” Zecora asked, as she set a clay kettle over the fire. “…or is this just a social visit, little one?”

“Ah— uhhh… it’s nothin’…”

“No matter, a reason you do not need,” Zecora chuckled. “Perhaps your mood I did misread? I always enjoy your presence; time with my friends is always pleasant.”

“Thanks…” Apple Bloom fidgeted. She hadn’t exactly planned on coming to Zecora’s, it was just the furthest place she could go to avoid everypony… not that Zecora wasn’t anypony! Well, she wasn’t a pony, but it wasn’t like she didn’t count…

Apple Bloom sighed.

“Ah— Ah jus’ needed t’ get away from everypony for a bit.”

“I understand… you are a brave little filly,” Zecora said, smiling. “Most ponies would think running to the Everfree quite silly.”

Apple Bloom smiled. Outside herself and a few other ponies, nearly everypony avoided the Everfree forest for fear of the wild animals within. Apple Bloom had lost her fear of the trek over the previous year, and frequently visited her zebra friend; for some reason, the fearsome beasts of the forest left the path alone. Apple Bloom suspected it was the same reason they left Zecora’s hut alone.

She always did wonder what was in those alchemy books Zecora said she wasn’t allowed to read yet.

“The situation with your family,” Zecora started as she handed an earthen mug of herbal tea to the filly, “still weighs upon you heavily?”

Apple Bloom nodded as she took her cup. It was okay talking with Zecora, as she never offered advice, or tried to tell her what to do. She didn’t try to fix things, like Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo did. She didn’t try to get her to make lists or talk to her family. She just… she just listened.

“It’s… it’s jus’ that everypony seems t’ know about it now,” Apple Bloom said, before taking a sip of her tea. Zecora’s tea always relaxed her; Apple Bloom wondered if there might have been something special in it, but Zecora had shown her the recipe, and there didn’t seem to be anything unusual in there. “It’s like everypony’s talkin’ about me behind mah back. Ah don’t like it…”

“Yes, I see…” Zecora nodded. “Such matters should be contained to just family.”

“Exactly!” Apple Bloom shouted, spilling her tea. “Oh, sorry, Zecora.”

The zebra chuckled, then ran her hoof over the top of Apple Bloom’s mug, and the liquid was once again there. Apple Bloom gasped… it didn’t matter how many times she had seen it (and she had sadly seen it a lot, given her penchant for clumsiness), it still amazed her.

“It is very much fine,” Zecora chuckled. “Your anger is not out of line. Family is indeed a difficult thing… both happiness and sorrow they can bring.

“Let me tell you, of my life when I was smaller…” Zecora took a deep draught of her tea. “I came from a village rife with squalor.

“While my father was chief of our little village…” Zecora walked across the room, and picked up a small pouch before returning to the table. She pulled out a small hooffull of green powder, one Apple Bloom recalled from Nightmare Night. “I was not born into privilege.”

Zecora gently blew on the powder, which swirled before Apple Bloom’s eyes. In front of them was a glowing miniature village, with small huts of mud and grass surrounded by a tall wooden fence. “This place I once called home, long before this world I did roam.

“My siblings and I would play in the fields, unaware of the dangers concealed. A promise my father had made, for our freedom he did trade. He made a deal with a warlord… a stallion who sewed much misery and discord; it was my father’s promise that held back the sword.”

Another puff of the dust, and the scene changed. Three zebras sat inside a small hut. One was tall and stocky, his hair spiked in the same style as Zecora’s. The other two, both females, had longer, flowing hair. The smaller of the two was wrapped in the forearms of the other.

“When I came of age, I was to trade my freedom for a cage… Not one of iron or steel, but the prison of a marital seal.”

The scene changed again. The sturdy stallion from before was bowed before a taller zebra, one who wore an intimidating set of armor. Apple Bloom was certain she could recognise certain bones woven into the stallion’s attire.

“To this monster I was to be wed…” Zecora scowled at the figure. “Even though it filled me with dread. My mother fought, she would see us all dead, before she would give me up to his bed!”

The scene changed once more. The older mare was cutting the mane of the younger, and spiking it as the males wore their manes.

“‘I will not give that monster his prize. Live, my little Zecora, become old and wise. Tomorrow, your father will be forced into war, follow your brothers but do no more… when the fighting begins, you must soar. Flee to the north, away from this place, run so far they will not give chase. Live for me, my beautiful foal, a peaceful life should be your goal. Live for me, and bring peace to my soul.’

“I had done as my mother had said, when the battle came I had fled.” Zecora wiped her eyes with a hoof. “I watched from a distance, completely dazed… as my… as my family… my village was razed.

“A parent must choose for their child what is right,” Zecora said, a quaver in her voice, “but such decisions are fraught with fright. Rarely is the correct path clear, especially when deciding for one so dear.”

“My mother chose me, my father did not,” Zecora sighed. “It is because of her I live free, and my village does rot.

“Whether right or wrong, my mother made a choice… and because of that— I am my village’s last voice.”

Apple Bloom moved around the table and gave the zebra a large hug.

“Do not fret, little one,” Zecora said with a weak chuckle. “It is in the past, it is done. I told you this story, not to bring tears… but perhaps to help allay your fears.

“Whether right or wrong, when your mother was pressed, she decided for you what she thought best. You are both still happy, you both still live…” Zecora ruffled Apple Bloom’s mane. “There is still time yet to forgive.”

“Where in tarnation have you been?” Applejack pulled the filly into a hug. “Ah was worried sick! No pony’s seen ya since ya ran off, and then it got dark—”

“I apologise for our delay,” Zecora apologised to Applejack, “We were so busy we did not notice the passing of day.”

“Apple Bloom, ya can’t run off like that without tellin’ nopony. Big Mac an’ th’ girls have been runnin’ around town tryin’ t’ find ya!”

Apple Bloom struggled to escape Applejack’s hooves. She felt a little guilty, making everypony worry about her… and she guessed running off into the Everfree forest was cause for a little alarm—

But she still wasn’t ready to forgive Applejack. She squirmed her way out of Applejack’s hooves, and bid Zecora goodnight.

“What were ya doin’ fer so long?” She heard Applejack yelling at Zecora as she closed the door.

Apple Bloom stopped moving. Zecora wouldn’t…

“We did not know time had passed so rapidly,” Zecora said. “I was helping young Apple Bloom with her Alchemy…”

The filly breathed a sigh of relief, before trotting to her bedroom.

Chapter Six

It was infuriating.

Ever since she’d wandered off into the forest to go visit Zecora, her family had been on her tail about checking in with them all the time. She could barely get a moment to herself. Worse still, Big Mac had insisted on escorting her to Zecora’s when she did want to visit her zebra friend.

The only time she got away from them was during school, and on Thursdays when she met with Miss Cheerilee.

“Ah’m not a little filly!” Apple Bloom grumbled, as she shifted about in her school seat. “Ah’ve been goin’ t’ Zecora’s alone all this time, an’ they never had a problem before.”

“Well…” Sweetie Belle said, “It is pretty dangerous— remember that lizard-chicken… chicken-lizard?”

“Ah know where t’ walk when goin’ t’ Zecora’s, Ah’m pretty sure she keeps th’ way safe,” Apple Bloom argued. “No pony’d go t’ get a remedy if they’re gonna get bit by some crazy monster on th’ way!”

“Settle down, my little ponies,” Cheerilee called out in a sing-song voice. “Now, as you all know, Mother’s Day is coming up soon… so as a special activity today, we’re going to make Mother’s Day cards. I have construction paper here, and an assortment of materials to make her day a very special Mother’s Day. Everypony can come forward and get started.”

A mixture of groans from the colts and squeals from the fillies erupted from the class. Apple Bloom looked around her, many of her fellow students were already running forward to collect colourful sheets of construction paper, as well as paints, glitters and glues.

She waited until she caught Miss Cheerilee’s attention, then nodded towards the reading cushions. Her teacher nodded back; a silent confirmation that she would not be in trouble for sitting this activity out.

Apple Bloom pulled a book on herbs out of the shelves, and sat down to read. Flipping through the book, she quickly realised the information within was well below what she had been learning with both Zecora and Twilight. She already knew how to identify the different flowers native to the area, and the potion Zecora taught her to work out if a plant was poisonous was way better than ‘exposing a little bit of it to raw skin on your leg’.

That’s jus’ a dumb way t’ get an itchy leg!

Bored with the book, she trotted up to Cheerilee’s desk and asked for a piece of paper. Cheerilee happily obliged, and Apple Bloom trotted back to her spot. Taking a pencil in her mouth, she started drawing small diagrams of the different flowers she had remembered seeing on her last visit to the forest.

Apple Bloom sketched out a circular flower with thin, stranded petals, and a beehive-like center… she still felt a little awkward after Twilight explained the boy bits and the girl bits of the flower.

Coltsfoot— ewww, who would want to drink a colt’s foot? Brewable inta tea, good fer coughing.

“Hey, Apple Bloom.” Apple Bloom looked up to see one of her classmates sit down next to her. She didn’t really know Dinky all that well; she had always seemed like a bit of a strange filly. “Mind if I join you?”

“Uhh, sure,” Apple Bloom responded, before going back to her drawing.

Poison joke. Not good fer anything but pranks— oh, and baritones.

“What are you drawing?” Dinky asked in a whisper.

“Uhh… flowers…” Apple Bloom replied quietly, before looking down. Ah didn’t think they were that bad!

“I can see that,” Dinky giggled. “I was actually wondering why.”

“Oh, ummm, it’s for extra-circular work Ah’m doin’ with Miss Zecora.”

Dinky giggled even more. “It’s extra-curricular!”

“Ah thought that’s what Ah said!” Apple Bloom defended, blushing profusely. “How come yer sittin’ here with me? Doncha got a card t’ work on?”

“I’ve already finished my card,” Dinky answered quietly.

Apple Bloom nodded, before turning back to her drawings. She got as far as Evening Primrose when a loud laugh interrupted her.

“Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, what is so funny?” Miss Cheerilee asked.

“Nothing, Miss Cheerilee,” Diamond Tiara answered in her most sickly-sweet voice.

“Well, then… get back to making your cards, and please don’t interrupt class again.”

Apple Bloom was about to get back to her drawing when Diamond Tiara looked right at her. The pink filly mouthed something about a club to Silver Spoon (Cutie Mark Crusader Lip Readers, yay!) before getting back to her work.

She was certain Diamond Tiara had said something mean about her; it wasn’t an entirely unreasonable assumption. It felt like half of her school time was spent getting bullied or teased by Diamond Tiara. Apple Bloom decided to shake it off; the spoilt rich filly could say what she wanted, Apple Bloom didn’t care. She turned back to Dinky, who shared Apple Bloom’s frown.

Apple Bloom invited Dinky to join her, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo for lunch. Dinky, in turn, asked if Alula and Berry Pinch could join them as well.

Soon, the six fillies were sitting in the shade of one of the trees in the playground, happily chatting as they went about eating their lunch.

“I really hope mom likes the card I made her,” Sweetie Belle sighed. “I wonder if Rarity has some more of those blue gems I can borrow. Mom would like it more if it was really colourful.”

“Eh, the only card my mother cares about is a mint condition Black Lotus card, but that’s like a million bits!” Everypony looked at Scootaloo, who coughed nervously under their questioning gaze.

“My mommy loved my card,” Dinky added.

“But Mother’s day is next week,” Scootaloo responded.

“Mom is going to be out of town next week,” Dinky answered the unspoken question. “So Auntie Carrot helped me make a card for her early.”

“I think my mom is going to like mine,” Alula added. “It’s blue, like the sky, and has lots of paper clouds!”

“I still think you should have added rainbows,” Berry Pinch said. “Rainbows are cool.”

“Yeah!” Scootaloo shouted. “Rainbow is cool!”

“She means rainbows as in the colours, dummy,” Apple Bloom corrected Scootaloo. “Not the pony!”

“Actually, I think she means rainbows as in the light refracted through water,” Dinky corrected. “Rainbow isn’t actually a colour.”

Berry Pinch shook her head. “Dinky, you’re making rainbows a lot less cool.”

Scootaloo mumbled something about how rainbows couldn’t be less cool.

“Apple Bloom, are— are you going to…” Sweetie Belle started. Though the glare Scootaloo had given the unicorn quickly fell from her face, she had failed in hiding it from Apple Bloom.

“Sorry… nevermind…” Sweetie Belle said.

“Naww, Ah’m not, Sweetie Belle.” Apple Bloom shook her head.

“Why not?” Berry Pinch asked.

Apple Bloom noticed Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo wince… along with Dinky, curiously enough. She breathed deeply, trying to keep herself calm. She knew in her heart that Berry Pinch didn’t mean anything by it.

An obnoxious voice rang out, dispelling the awkwardness that had descended upon the group. “Can you believe Miss Cheerilee made us make those dumb cards?”

“I know, Di, I mean, who doesn’t like, buy their mother a card?” Silver Spoon tittered. “We pay ponies so we don’t have to make things like that.”

“Daddy ordered my card from Canterlot,” Diamond Tiara said, “and he got me a nice bottle of perfume to give to mommy, too.”

“My daddy got a me a matching silk scarf to give to my mom.” Silver Spoon giggled. “We’ll look so fashionable!”

“Oh look, the Cutie Mark Goof-saders have gotten a few more members, Silv.”

Apple Bloom groaned. Was it too much to hope that those two would just pass them by?

“What are you hanging around with these blank-flanks for?” Silver Spoon directed her question to Alula, the only filly seated under the tree with her cutie mark.

“She can sit here whether she has her cutie mark or not!” Scootaloo growled.

“The question is… why would she want to?” Diamond Tiara asked. “Why would somepony want to sit with you lame-os?”

“Go away, Diamond,” Berry Pinch grumbled.

“Oh, you know, Silvey… I think I got it!” Diamond Tiara mockingly gasped. “They aren’t with the Cutie Mark Goof-saders, they’re making another lame club.”

“What‽” The six seated fillies glared at the evil pair.

“Oh, you’re probably right, Di!” Silver Spoon tittered. Apple Bloom hated that titter.

“I bet it’s the ‘Mistakes’ club…” Diamond Tiara chuckled darkly.

“What are you—”

“Well, let’s see…” Diamond Tiara rubbed her chin. “There’s the drunken mistake…” she said, pointing her hoof at the scowling Berry Pinch. There’s the retard’s mistake…” she added, pointing at Dinky.

“My mom is not a—”

“Oh, look at me…” Silver Spoon crossed her eyes and staggered about. “I’m so dumb I can’t even fly straight.”

Diamond Tiara giggled as Silver Spoon ‘bumped’ into her. “Watch where you’re going, don’t want to crash into anything important again.”

Dinky sat seething, gritting her teeth and glaring at the pink menace. Berry Pinch scooted closer and put a hoof on the filly’s shoulder.

Apple Bloom had had enough. She stood and stepped towards the filly, closely followed by Alula and Scootaloo. “Okay, DT, you need t’ get lost… now!”

“And here we have the last member of the group,” Diamond Tiara chuckled, pressing her face into Apple Bloom’s. “…The ‘Sister’s’ Mistake… that makes three!”

“W-What did y’ say?” Apple Bloom asked as she stepped back in shock.

“Hey Silvey, what’s worse than being a blank flank?” Diamond Tiara turned to ask her friend.

“I couldn’t imagine anything worse than being a blank flank, Di,” the silver filly giggled.

Diamond Tiara turned back to Apple Bloom, a sneer across her face. “Being an unwanted blank flank.”

Nopony could react fast enough.

Before Alula or Scootaloo could respond, Apple Bloom had pinned Diamond Tiara to the ground. Apple Bloom raised her right hoof, and brought it down hard across the spoilt brat’s face. She barely registered Scootaloo’s scream of stop as she raised her left and brought that down hard as well.

She ignored the two pegasi trying to stop her, to pull her off Diamond Tiara, but Apple Bloom only had eyes for one pony, and she brought her right hoof down on that pony’s face again.

A sickening crunch under her hoof did not stop her.

The gush of red streaming from the pink menace’s muzzle did not stop her.

The screaming around her did not stop her.

The only thing that was finally able to stop her was the sharp feeling of teeth pinched across the back of her neck, just below the base of her mane, as she was lifted bodily off of Diamond Tiara.

Chapter Seven

Apple Bloom and Applejack silently trudged through the western orchards. After her fight with Diamond Tiara, she had been suspended for two weeks. Apple Bloom smirked as she thought back to the fight.

That filly had it comin’ fer a long time!

She had, at the time, been rather proud of herself. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had disagreed, saying she’d gone too far.

Miss Cheerilee was furious, as were Applejack, Granny Smith and Big Mac.

Fat lotta good any o’ them done t’ stop Diamond Tiara.

The filly let out the quietest of chuckles.

Maybe now she’ll think twice before messin’ with th’ Crusaders again.

“What’s so funny, Bloom?” Applejack turned to look at the filly. She wore the least convincing smile Apple Bloom had ever seen.

“Nothin’,” Apple Bloom grunted.

It was bad enough that she had to miss school, but her family had to go and ground her, too. She hadn’t seen Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo for over a week, and it didn’t feel right.

She’d worked in the southern fields with Big Mac the previous week, and while it had been quiet (it was Big Mac, after all), it had gone by fast enough. But when she had woken up this morning, Big Mac told her that she was going to be working with Applejack during the second week of her suspension.

“Well, here we are, Bloom,” Applejack said, as she stopped. “What say we get started on cleanin’ up these bruised apples?” When the filly didn’t respond, Applejack sighed. “Well, grab that bucket and let’s get started.”

They worked silently, Apple Bloom breaking the quiet with a groan every few minutes.

It was a lot less fun than it normally was. Instead of holding the bucket while her sister would toss the rotten apples, she had to pick them up with her teeth and drop them into the bucket one-by-one, trying her best to ignore her mother.

Ah hate these stupid apples, she thought, as she spat yet another rotten apple out of her mouth. She scraped at her tongue with her dirt-covered hoof, desperate to get the taste of rotten apple out of her mouth, only to replace it with the taste of loam.

Applejack coughed, interrupting Apple Bloom. “Ah know yer supposed t’ be grounded an’ all…” Applejack flicked her tail, sweeping up an apple, before kicking it towards her own bucket. “But nothin’ says we can’t make the time go a li’l faster, eh?”

Apple Bloom smiled weakly. It might be nice to play the old game like they used to, before things got complicated. She lifted the bucket, balancing it on her head, having to shift about trying to keep it balanced.

“Okay, Bloom. Ya ready?”

The filly nodded… nearly losing balance, but righted herself as the first apple came flying.

“Got it!” she squealed with delight as she felt the apple drop into the bucket.

“Good work, pardner! Now get ready fer these ones,” Applejack called out, as she sent three more apples the filly’s way.

Apple Bloom laughed as she caught the projectiles with a few jumps. She almost missed the third as she overextended and nearly dropped the bucket, but managed to catch it before dropping the tub neatly on the ground.

“And that’s how ya catch apples!” Apple Bloom laughed.

“Well, ya better not slow down, ‘cause we ain’t done yet!”

Applejack kicked another two apples towards Apple Bloom. She barely dodged the first, but the second splattered across her muzzle.

Apple Bloom shook as she wiped the rancid muck from her muzzle. Tears welled up in her eyes, both from the stinging of the juice, and from the pain of the impact.

“A— Apple Bloom! Ah’m sorry, Ah didn’t—”

“Yah did that on purpose!” Apple Bloom screamed.

“Ah didn’t—” Applejack stepped forward, reaching towards the filly as Apple Bloom turned tail, then ran away.

Apple Bloom lay in her bed, trying to ignore her grumbling tummy.

When Big Mac and Granny Smith had heard she ran away from doing her chores, they’d both agreed that she would have to go to her room straight after dinner.

No dessert!

It was totally unfair. Did Applejack have to go to her room for kicking apples at Apple Bloom? No, of course not. Like always, they kept ganging up on her.

It had been a few hours since she had lain down. She had done the homework assigned to her (how unfair was that? She was suspended from school but still had to do school work!) and had played a few games of jacks before retiring to her bed.

The moon had finally risen, giving her a clear view of the orchard out her window. Normally, the sight of the orchard at night brought her peace, as she watched the leaves dancing with the wind under the pale moonlight.

Tonight… they were just dumb trees rustling in the wind.

After grumble of her tummy (she really couldn’t sleep without a slice of Granny Smith’s fresh apple pie and a dollop of fresh cream), she decided to sneak down to the kitchen. She had been the master of stealthy midnight kitchen runs for so many years, she was surprised she hadn’t gotten her cutie mark in it. She put on a pair of woolen slippers Rarity had given her for her ninth birthday; they looked terrible, but they were great for hiding the sound of hooves on hardwood floors.

They’ll all be asleep by now. Ah’ll jus’ get a tiny slice… Cutie Mark Crusader Pie Thief, yay!

She quietly opened her door, silently cursing it as it creaked. She half-wondered if Big Mac had put off oiling the hinges just so they could hear her come and go.

Granny Smith’s door was closed, and light spilled from under her door, though Apple Bloom knew that by no means meant Granny Smith was awake, just that she had fallen asleep without dousing her candle again. Both Big Mac’s and Applejack’s doors were closed and dark.

She crept as silently as she could towards the stairs, deftly avoiding the squeaky boards in the staircase.

Seriously, Big Mac, how’s a filly supposed t’ sneak around if ya can’t even fix th’ floorboards?

She got to the ground floor without making a sound. Normally by now, she’d have heard Big Mac or Applejack grumble in their sleep, causing her to stay completely still until they had settled again. She was getting really good at this!

After a disappointing check of her flank, she slunk low, heading towards the kitchen. Soon, her prize would be in sight.

Light spilled from the kitchen door, and Apple Bloom could make out voices.

What’re they doin’ up this late?

Pie somewhat-forgotten, she crept towards the edge of the kitchen door, staying out of sight.

“—jus’ can’t seem ta do anythin’ right, Mac.”

“Jus’ gotta give her time, sis.”

Can’t do anythin’ right? *Can’t do anythin’ right‽*** Apple Bloom gritted her teeth. Ah’m not th’ one kickin’ fillies in th’ head!

“—know she’s angry,” Applejack said, “an’ she’s takin’ it out on everypony else. Ah think it’d be best if she went back t’ helpin’ ya in the southern fields aga—”

“Eenope!” Big Mac interrupted. “Y’all gotta sort this out, th’ sooner th’ better.”

“Ah dunno, Mac. Ah can’t help but feel this has all been one big mistake…”

“Ya don’t mean that, sis,” Big Mac growled.

“Ah dunno, maybe Ah do…”

Mistake?

The word echoed through her mind. The obnoxious voice of Diamond Tiara echoed through her mind.

…the ‘Sister’s’ Mistake…

Tears came to her eyes.

Ah’m not a mistake!

She threw caution to the wind and ran back up the stairs. She shut herself in her room, pushing a chair against her door, then threw herself onto her bed.

She buried her head in her pillow, and the tears fell freely as she stopped fighting.

Ah’m not a mistake! Ah’m not a mistake! Ah’m not!

A loud bashing on her door woke the filly. Apple Bloom turned to find the source of the noise, and noticed that she had not moved the chair away from the door before she had fallen asleep the night before.

“Apple Bloom!” Applejack shouted through the door. “Time to get up!”

“Ah’m up!” Apple Bloom yelled back.

“Well, com’n get breakfast,” Applejack called through the door. “We got a big day out in the fields again.”

The filly hopped out of bed, and removed the chair from the door. She took her ribbon between her teeth and made her way to the bathroom.

When she saw herself in the mirror, she was glad Applejack had not been able to come in and wake her. It was clear from her reflection that the filly had spent most of the night crying. She wouldn’t give her family the satisfaction of knowing they’d made her cry!

After washing the tear-matted fur on her face, then straightening and tying back her mane, Apple Bloom left the bathroom, hoping her family wouldn’t notice the poor state she was in.

The wonderful smell of cinnamon-apple waffles hit her nose as she entered the kitchen. Granny Smith, Big Mac and Applejack were all plowing through their share, though as always, there was still a high stack of them in the center of the table.

Apple Bloom thought back to the pie she missed out on the night before, and what she had overheard. She ignored the delicious-smelling waffles and retrieved the box of cereal oats from the cupboard. She ignored the stares her family was giving her, and poured a bowl full with milk.

Granny Smith tried to ask her if she wanted any waffles, but the filly shook her head. It was like it was back when she thought this was all some kind of cruel joke.

Well, Ah guess it *is** a cruel joke,* she thought. Jus’ one th’ world’s playin’ on me!

Apple Bloom finished her boring cereal long before the others.

“Ah’ll see ya out in the field,” she mumbled as she walked out of the kitchen.

Apple Bloom looked the apple tree up and down. Barnum was young, healthy, and he held a good deal of ripe fruit. He was her tree, the one that had been planted on the day she was born.

If she was going to be able to buck any tree, it would be him.

Ah’m not a mistake, and Ah can do this! Apple Bloom coiled her muscles as she crouched forward. With an almighty kick, she bucked at the apple tree. Ah’ll show ‘em Ah can do it right!

The impact of the buck shook through the entirety of Apple Bloom’s body, from her tail to her muzzle.

Still, when she turned around, Barnum had not yielded any fruit.

“Barnum’s still a little young fer ya t’ be buckin’, Bloom.”

Apple Bloom turned around to find Applejack standing there, watching her.

“Ya got good technique, usin’ yer muscles jus’ like we taught ya.”

Apple Bloom looked away, trying to hide her embarrassed blush.

“But until ya grow up a li’l more, ya’ll have t’ practice on some’a the older trees.” Applejack flicked her head, motioning the filly to follow her. “Younger trees like Barnum take more effort t’ buck, ‘cause their trunks are greener, an’ th’ stems on th’ apples are slightly stronger.”

Apple Bloom followed Applejack, trying to avoid looking at her… but still listening to what she had to say.

“Ya got really old trees like Beaufort an’ his kin over there…” Applejack flicked her head in the direction of the oldest trees. “Not even Ah can buck them, that’s usually left t’ Big Mac.”

They stopped in a row of trees Apple Bloom recognised.

“These trees here are a good age fer ya t’ be practicin’ on.” Applejack gave one a light kick, and caught a single apple as it fell. “They’re old enough that they ain’t so green, but not so old as t’ be tough as nails.”

Apple Bloom pawed at the ground. She did want to practice, but she wasn’t certain she wanted to be around Applejack at this moment.

After the awkward silence stretched on, Applejack coughed. “Well, Ah guess Ah better get back t’ the younger trees. Jus’ gimme a holler if ya need anythin’.”

The filly waited a few minutes until she was certain that Applejack had left. It was embarrassing that Applejack had corrected her… but then again, she did say that Apple Bloom had good technique.

The filly pulled three buckets and set them up under the tree, as Big Mac had taught her. There was a knack to it, a very specific way that would have most of the apples fall in, and minimize the number that needed to be picked up by hoof.

She positioned herself in front of the tree, squaring her body with the trunk. There was a particular ‘sweet spot’ that Granny Smith had explained to her, the perfect spot for bucking the tree. Of course, Granny Smith was too old to buck herself, but she had taught Big Mac and Applejack, and so it was left to her to teach the youngest of the apple family when it came time.

As before, Apple Bloom coiled her muscles, crouched low, then flung her rear legs out, connecting her powerful buck with the trunk of the tree.

Like the previous attempt, the shock of the kick vibrated through her body, from her tail to her muzzle. There was, as Applejack had mentioned, less give in the trunk of the older tree.

And, like all previous attempts… not a single apple fell.

Not to be dissuaded, Apple Bloom coiled up, and struck the trunk again.

And again.

Ah’m not useless. Apple Bloom wiped an errant tear from her cheek. Ah can get it right!

She bucked again, harder, but with the same result; the tree refused to give up its fruit.

Do you really think a blank-flank like you could get this right?

Apple Bloom yelped.

You’re a mistake… an unwanted blunder. You can’t get anything right.

The filly choked back a sob. Even suspended, she couldn’t escape that pink monster.

“Shut up,” she whispered.

No wonder she didn’t want y—

“Shut up!” she screamed.

You think you’re unhappy? the voice asked. How do you think everypony else feels? Wouldn’t they be happier without you?

Apple Bloom struck her legs out at the tree as hard as she could. The sounds of several apples falling in their tubs could not drown out the sound of the bully’s voice in Apple Bloom’s head.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo would probably be happier without you.

“No. They. Wouldn’t!” Apple Bloom grunted as she delivered three swift bucks to the trunk of the tree.

School would be better without you. You waste Miss Cheerilee’s time.

“Apple Bloom, what in tarnation is—”

Nopony wants you. You’re lucky she kept you as a sister… though even that was probably a mistake.

“AH HATE YOU!” Apple Bloom screamed as she connected one powerful buck with the tree, before collapsing to the ground.

“What in tarnation are ya doin’‽” Applejack stormed over to the filly. Apple Bloom looked up to see Applejack looking down at her. “Look! Look what ya’ve done!”

Apple Bloom followed her gaze, and noticed the deep depression in the wood, the bark stripped and torn away by her hooves.

“Ah’m gonna put mah bits on it that yal were thinkin’ about that filly from school, right?” Applejack scowled down at the filly. “An’ ya jus’ thought ya’d take yer frustration out on this here tree.”

Apple Bloom hung her head.

“Ah thought so…” Applejack turned to look at the buckets on the ground. “Well, ya did manage t’ buck a few apples—”

Apple Bloom gasped. She’d done it! She’d actually managed to buck apples—

“—but ya went an’ hurt Joshua here so bad we’ll have ta pick the rest of the apples by hoof.”

Apple Bloom sank low again. Even when she managed to successfully do something, she still got it wrong…

“An’ aside from poor Jay here… Ah thought ya knew th’ whole reason ya were suspended from school.” Applejack shook her head. “Ah thought we taught ya violence was wrong.”

Apple Bloom got to her hooves and whispered, “Y’all taught me not t’ lie, either.”

“What was that?” Applejack stared at the filly, a scowl across her face.

“Ah said, ‘Y’all taught me not t’ lie, either,’” Apple Bloom snapped. “But apparently y’all can pick an’ choose which rules we’re supposed t’ follow!”

Applejack staggered back. “What?”

“Well, how am Ah supposed t’ know what rules t’ follow when y’all just change yer minds whenever ya want?” The filly glared up at the mare.

Applejack turned away from Apple Bloom.

“Ah’ve tried t’ be patient with ya, Bloom.” Applejack’s voice quavered with suppressed anger. “Ah’m sorry we lied to ya, Ah really am…” Applejack turned back towards the filly. Apple Bloom had never seen her as angry as she was now. “But enough is enough! Th’ way yer actin’ out lately, getting inta fights, lashin’ out at yer friends… makes me ashamed t’ call you an Apple.”

Applejack started to trot off, leaving the filly behind.

“Where are—” Apple Bloom screamed.

“Ah made a mistake, an’ if ya can’t fergive me fer that, Ah’m not standin’ around here jus’ so ya got somepony t’ yell at.”

Apple Bloom watched in shock as Applejack trotted off, torn between wanting to follow her and keep yelling, and desperately wanting her to just stay.

Apple Bloom had given up hope; Applejack hadn’t returned the entire day.

She knew she was grounded, and she knew she was supposed to go back to the farmhouse when the sun began to set, but she couldn’t.

She didn’t know how she could face her family right now. Everything welled up inside her, her emotions in complete turmoil.

Everything she did was… wrong.

She trudged silently along the path towards Ponyville with her head hung low, averting her eyes from anypony who might try talking with her.

The filly avoided the main road, sticking to the back alleys to get to her destination. She was certain she had overheard Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle as she passed the fountain square; from the sounds of it, they were with Berry Pinch, Alula and Dinky.

Her destination was a quaint, unassuming cottage. The front garden was filled with flowers of all types, an impressive array that Apple Bloom had not taken notice of during her previous visit. She climbed the steps to the small porch, and knocked on the door, hoping the tenant was home.

“Coming!” the cheerful voice called out from inside.

Miss Cheerilee opened her front door to find a very miserable-looking Apple Bloom on her doorstep.

“A-Apple Bloom?” she asked.

“Ah— Ah was hopin’…”

“Are you okay?” the teacher asked.

Apple Bloom shook her head. “Why?”

“‘Why’ what, dear?” Cheerilee asked.

“Why… if my momma didn’t want me… why did she keep me?” Apple Bloom sniffled. “Why didn’t they jus’ send me away? Was Ah not good enough? What was wrong with me?”

“There is nothing wrong with you, Apple Bloom. You are a wonderful little filly. I don’t think Applejack… I think your mother did want to keep you. It’s why they are still your family.” Cheerilee helped Apple Bloom to her hooves. “There are a lot of foals— well, there are quite a few foals in community care because their parents didn’t want them.”

“I—If she did want me, why couldn’t she be honest from th’ start?” Apple Bloom sobbed, as Cheerilee led the filly into her house. “Why couldn’t she have told th’ truth… then Ah’d have grown up—

“Ah could have grown up with a mom.”

Chapter Eight

Apple Bloom trudged silently behind the cart.

Big Mac was pulling the wagon to market, as it was his turn to run the stall. Both Big Mac and Applejack had persuaded her to join them. Well, to join Big Mac, as Applejack would be doing the shopping.

“Ya never know, Bloom,” Applejack called back with cheer, “Big Mac here outsells me in apples nearly every time. If anypony can help ya get yer cutie mark sellin’ apples, it’s ol’ Mac here!”

“Eeyup.”

Cutie marks.

They hadn’t really been on Apple Bloom’s mind the past few months. She hadn’t spent a lot of time with Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo. They didn’t understand. They just wanted the old Apple Bloom back, but the filly wasn’t sure who the old Apple Bloom was… or if she ever existed.

Miss Cheerilee had told her it wasn’t healthy to ‘withdraw’, and encouraged her to spend time with her friends. Apple Bloom hadn’t had the energy needed to spend much time with the Crusaders, which had now grown to include Berry Pinch and Dinky, along with Alula there for support.

She had, though, started spending a little more time with Dinky. The unicorn filly had told Apple Bloom that sometimes it’s okay to feel sad, that sometimes she felt sad and her mom said that that was okay.

Applejack slowed down to match pace with the filly, pulling Apple Bloom out of her thoughts. “If’n ya ask me,” Applejack whispered conspiratorially, “Ah reckon it’s ‘cuz all th’ mares wait till he’s on th’ stand jus’ t’ talk ta him.”

Applejack nudged the filly, winking as they walked. “Not that it does ‘em much good, eh?”

“Yeah…” Apple Bloom responded, weakly.

They continued in silence for a while longer, before Applejack trotted back to Big Mac’s side.

“Howdy, Rose.” Big Mac gave the young mare a nod as she passed the stall.

“Oh! Hi, Big Mac.” Roseluck returned the stallion’s nod with a smile.

“How’s business been?” he asked.

“Business has been good. Could be better, if Lily and Daisy didn’t keep arguing over what’s going to be ‘in’ this season.”

“An’ roses are on that list, Ah bet!” Big Mac chuckled.

“Always! They’re for more than just Hearts and Hooves Day, you know,” Roseluck laughed. “Wanting to ask that young sweetheart out? Roses. Your wedding anniversary? Roses. Forget your wedding anniversary… roses, and a nice box of I’m-really-sorry chocolates.”

“Sounds like they’re th’ most versatile of all th’ flowers.”

“Of course!” Roseluck winked. “So, when is Big Mac going to come and visit our little stand? Hmmm, no mare caught your eye yet?” She laughed as Big Mac’s cheeks darkened. “Hmmm? Still no pony claimed the heart of Ponyville’s most eligible bachelor?”

Roseluck started to pick through the apples. “Hmmm, these are quite nice,” she said, as she slipped three into a paper bag. “So there really is no chance we’ll be seeing you soon?”

“Not for a few months, no,” Big Mac chuckled, shaking his head.

“Well, I’m sure my sisters will be happy to see you again soon.” The mare placed the paper bag on the stall. “I’ll take these, thank you.”

“That’ll be six bits, thanks.”

Big Mac took the offered bits, and placed them into the float.

“See you later, Big Mac,” Roseluck said, as she resumed her trot.

“How did ya do that‽” Apple Bloom asked in awe. “She wasn’t even gonna stop here.”

Big Mac smiled knowingly. “Y’see, Bloom,” Big Mac lectured, “a good salespony talks with his customers. By sayin’ hello t’ Roseluck as she was walkin’ by, she stopped to say hello back.”

“But how did ya know she was gonna buy somethin’?”

“Ah didn’t. She might’ve stopped t’ say hi, and kept on goin’,” he explained. “But by sayin’ hello, she stopped for a moment, an’ in th’ end she bought some apples.”

“But what if she doesn’t buy some apples?”

“Then Ah at least got t’ have a chat with a friend,” Big Mac replied. “Even if Ah didn’t sell her any apples, it’s still good t’ be neighbourly an’ all.”

“Huh…” Apple Bloom scratched her chin.

Big Mac bent down to whisper in the filly’s ear. “Th’ secret t’ sellin’ apples…” he explained, “… is t’ not try t’ sell em. Jus’ talk with ponies. Jus’ be friendly an’ ask ‘em how they’re doin’. If ya get somepony who does want t’ buy apples, serve them, an’ come back. Good way t’ get t’ know yer neighbours, and a good way t’ get them t’ know you.”

“Hello? Big Mac?”

“Sorry, Minuette,” Big Mac replied as he got back to his hooves. “Ah was jus’ teachin’ Bloom here some things. What can Ah do ya for t’day?”

“Could I please have three gala, and five ginger golds?”

“Sure thing… Apple Bloom, can ya bag that up fer Minuette?” Big Mac asked. Apple Bloom nodded, packing the eight pieces of fruit into a paper bag and hoofing it to him.

“Oh, Apple Bloom, I didn’t see you there!” Minuette smiled. “Are you taking good care of your teeth? Staying away from sweets?”

Apple Bloom groaned. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Miss Colgate, as a pony, but Doctor Colgate the dentist… that was something else. Both Minuette and Big Mac chuckled at her reaction.

“Eeyup,” Big Mac answered for her. “Bloom’s been takin’ good care of her teeth. Brushes every night, an’ th’ only sweets she eats are good old Sweet Apple Acre apples!”

Apple Bloom looked away, slightly embarrassed. It wasn’t exactly true— Miss Cheerilee had gotten into the habit of bringing a bag of sweets to share during their counselling sessions… and she’d always brush her teeth extra hard on Thursday evenings to make up for it. So technically, Big Mac wasn’t lying to…

The filly shook her head. She was having a good day today; she didn’t want to think about that!

“Bloom, ya okay?”

Apple Bloom looked up to see Big Mac standing over her.

“Where’s Doctor Colgate?” she asked, noticing the mare was gone.

“Minuette left about a minute ago.” Big Mac furrowed his brow, and pressed his fetlock to her forehead. “Ya feelin’ okay? She said g’bye t’ ya when she left.”

“Eeyup! Everythin’s okay, Mac.” The filly put on her best everything-is-okay smile and nodded.

“… alright then.” Big Mac lifted her onto his back. “Well, if ya noticed, Minuette knew exactly what she wanted. Some customers are gonna be like that, so ya gotta be able t’ tell the difference. But even if they know what they want, ya still gotta be friendly with ‘em. Understand?”

Apple Bloom nodded.

“Good!” Big Mac gave her a beaming grin. “‘Cause here comes yer first customer!”

Apple Bloom spun around in a panic. She wasn’t ready for this, she wasn’t ready to serve—

“Miss Cheerilee?” she gasped.

“Hello, Apple Bloom. And to you too, Big Mac!”

“Wanna buy some apples?” Apple Bloom asked, excitedly jumping up on the counter. A loud clearing of his throat drew Apple Bloom’s attention back to Big Mac. “Oh, ummm… right,” she responded sheepishly, as she remembered the lessons he had just taught her less than a few minutes ago. “Can Ah start again?” she asked.

Big Mac nodded quietly, smiling at Cheerilee’s expression of suspicion.

“Hi, Miss Cheerilee!” Apple Bloom tried again. “Uhhh… havin’ a good day?”

“I am indeed, Apple Bloom,” the teacher replied. “Are you helping Big Mac sell apples today?”

Darn it! She saw right through mah ruse!

“Eenope!” Apple Bloom responded, her voice hitched higher than normal. “Nope, not selling apples, just talkin’ an’ bein’ friendly.”

Big Mac’s chuckle behind her brought a blush to her cheeks. She was bombing, badly. Her first customer, and she was getting everything wrong.

“Eeyup,” Big Mac said, startling the filly from her thoughts. “Ah’m teachin’ Bloom how t’ sell apples. Yer her first potential customer.”

“Oh, my!” Cheerilee gasped as she turned to the filly. “Well, I could never say no to a learning opportunity, and I am honoured to be your first customer.”

Technically, Miss Cheerilee wasn’t her first customer. Her first customer was that mare… what was her name? Sweetie Drops? Bon Bon? No, that mare wasn’t sweet at all… she was actually pretty mean. Sweetie Belle was anything but mean, so it stood to reason her name must have been Bon Bon.

And she’d walked away with all of their apples…

For free.

She had to get this right.

“Hi, Miss Cheerilee. How has yer day been?” Apple Bloom asked.

“It’s been going very well, thank you,” her teacher responded.

Okay, so Ah asked her if she were havin’ a good day… her bags!

“Ya out shoppin’?” she asked. Apple Bloom felt a little silly… of course Miss Cheerilee had been shopping— she was at the markets. “Ah mean, uhh, are ya makin’ somethin’ special?”

“Yes, yes I am,” Cheerilee laughed. “Ms. Mayor and I are catching up with a friend from high school tonight, so I thought I’d make something nice.”

“Has yer friend ever had Sweet Apple Acres apples before?” Apple Bloom asked enthusiastically, which earned a chuckle from both Big Mac and Cheerilee.

“Why no… no she has not! And we can’t let that slide now, can we?” Cheerilee gasped. The mare cast a glance over the apple selection available. “But I have no idea what I should serve. Do you have any suggestions, my little grocer?” she asked with a smile.

This was it! She was actually going to sell apples!

“Uhhh, Ah think…” She looked around at the selection. “Ah think some Cortland would be nice: they’re sweet an’ crisp, if yer gonna serve ‘em fer t’night. Or maybe some Honeycrisp?” Apple Bloom looked up to her teacher.

“I think I might have two Cortlands and one Honeycrisp, thank you.”

Apple Bloom placed the three apples gently in a paper bag. This was her first sale. Her first sale! She couldn’t go and do something silly like bruise the apples.

“That’ll be… uhh, six bits, please,” Apple Bloom said, as she placed the paper bag on the counter in front of her teacher. Cheerilee hoofed over the bits; Apple Bloom counted them before dropping them into the float.

“Ah did it!” Apple Bloom squealed with delight. “Ah did it, Big Mac. Ah sold apples!”

“You did so well, I think you should write a report on it, hmm?” Cheerilee asked. “That would make a lovely holiday assignment.”

“Awwwww!” the filly groaned. She blushed when both Big Mac and Cheerilee laughed.

“I’m only teasing, Apple Bloom,” her teacher said. “I will see you when school resumes.” She leaned in and whispered quietly, “And you are still welcome to come visit me if you need to, okay?”

Apple Bloom nodded, stealing a glance at Big Mac, who hadn’t seemed to notice.

Cheerilee waved back as she trotted off. “Bye, Apple Bloom! Good bye, Big Mac.”

Apple Bloom was invigorated about her successful sale to Miss Cheerilee, and her mood carried on through the morning. She continued to help around the stall while Big Mac taught her tips and tricks to selling apples that he’d picked up over the years.

She spoke at length with Mister Biceps when he came to buy some of their apple brown bettys. He was bulking up for a bodybuilders’ competition in Las Pegasus, and found Applejack’s apple brown bettys perfect for carb-loading. Apple Bloom wasn’t entirely sure where he would be bulking up, because he looked pretty huge already.

It was coming close to lunchtime, and Apple Bloom’s stomach was rumbling.

“Hungry there, Bloom?” Big Mac asked.

Apple Bloom blushed, nodding sheepishly. She hadn’t thought it had been that loud.

“Well, we’ll have lunch soon. Applejack should be back soon, and we can take a break.”

“Hello there, Big Mac, Apple Bloom!”

“Doctor Goodall?” Big Mac snapped back around. “Good t’ see ya.”

“Good to see you, too!”

“How can Ah help ya t’day?” Big Mac asked.

“I was wondering if you had any older, bruised apples,” the vet explained. “The shelter is running low on supplies for the animals, and—”

“Say no more,” Big Mac responded, holding up a hoof. “We don’t got no old apples—”

“Oh,” she replied, slumping as she started to walk away. “That’s okay, thank you anyway…”

“Wait!” he called out to her. Big Mac chuckled. “Ah was sayin’, we don’t have any bruised apples, but Fluttershy said ya might be goin’ stall t’ stall lookin’ fer donations, so on behalf of th’ Apple family…” Big Mac pulled out two hessian sacks filled with apples. “They’re only cookin’ apples, but they’re in good condition.”

“Oh, my… Big Mac, I could never—”

“Ah won’t hear a word of it!” Big Mac frowned, shaking his head. “Y’all did right settin’ Winona’s leg after that last stampede, so consider it fair trade.”

Apple Bloom smiled, seeing the large grin plastered across the veterinarian’s face. Her brother was a regular old Pinkie Pie… just much, much quieter.

“Apple Bloom,” Big Mac said, turning towards the filly. “Why don’t ya give th’ Doc here a hoof gettin’ these back t’ the clinic? Applejack should be here with lunch by then.”

“Yes, Sir!” Apple Bloom snapped off a crisp salute.

Apple Bloom slung one sack over her back, while Doctor Goodall slung the other over hers.

“Well, let’s be off then!”

Doctor Goodall thanked Apple Bloom for her help with a few bits. After giving promises to the mare that she and her friends would volunteer some time at the shelter (Fluttershy would be so happy to hear the Cutie Mark Crusaders would be trying to get their animal shelter volunteer cutie marks!), Apple Bloom decided to reward herself for a job well done.

It was almost lunchtime, and chocolates were a kind of food— dairy. That’s important, right? The bits that she’d been given were burning a hole in her pockets, and the poor filly didn’t even have pockets. So she had potentially dangerous money that could— nay, should— be spent. She’d have enough for a small box of chocolates to share.

Probably share…

She did earn them, after all.

With a smile on her face that felt somewhat strange to her, given her recent mood, Apple Bloom skipped towards Bon Bon’s Bonbonniere Boutique.

Maybe Ah’ll get some peanut butter cups. Or chocolate-coated cherries. Maybe Ah should get some fudge.

In her chocolate daydream, Apple Bloom almost missed Applejack coming out of the door of Bon Bon’s shop.

Almost.

The filly dove under a bush as Applejack exited the shop. She would just tell Apple Bloom off for spending money on candy, then probably organise an appointment with Doctor Colgate, and Apple Bloom had only just narrowly avoided that earlier this morning. She dashed for the door before it closed, hoping Applejack wouldn’t look back.

“Applejack!” somepony huffed. “Can you believe that mare?”

Apple Bloom stopped in the doorway. Somepony was talking about Applejack, though Apple Bloom didn’t quite recognise the voice. She pushed herself up against the half-wall separating the entrance from the shop main.

“Hmm?” she heard Bon Bon ask from the counter.

“I can’t believe it,” the voice said. “All this time, keeping that dirty little secret.”

“What dirty secret?” another voice asked.

“Lyra,” Bon Bon moaned, “please don’t encourage her.”

“But Bonnie-booooooooo,” Lyra whined, “I want to know!”

“It’s not that big a deal—”

“Are you kidding‽” the unknown mare’s voice rang out. “It’s huge!”

“Carrot Top—”

“Whaaaaaaat‽” Lyra whined. “Tell me tell me tell me tell me!”

“I give up!” Bon Bon huffed. “Lyra, please keep an eye on the counter. I’ll be out back, making sure Miss Doo is delivering my stock, and not eating it.”

“Sooooo… what’s the gossip?” Lyra stage-whispered.

“I can’t believe Bon Bon didn’t tell you!” Carrot Top muttered. “It was all over Ponyville last month, everypony was talking about it.

“Did you know Applejack had a foal?” Carrot Top whispered, loud enough to still be heard around the empty store.

“Really‽” Lyra asked. “Wow, she’s looking pretty fit for it, then. Took my sister months to work off—”

“No no no,” Carrot Top hissed. “Not recently. Years ago. Before you even came to Ponyville.”

A loud crash came from the door to the kitchen.

“You alright in there, honey?” Lyra called out.

A voice rang out from the doorway. “I just don’t know what went wrong…”

“We’re okay,” Bon Bon called out tersely. “You’ll be having extra chocolate for dessert tonight, though.”

“Yes!” Lyra squealed.

“I don’t know how you stay in shape with the amount of chocolate you eat,” Carrot Top huffed.

“I work it off with Bonnie in be—”

“Eugh! Enough of that, thanks!”

“So Applejack had a foal, what’s the big deal?”

“What do you mean, what’s the big deal?”

“It happened in Canterlot a lot, young mothers would bring foals into the orphana— oh wait, was it Scootaloo‽”

“What?” Carrot Top asked. “No! Why would it be Scootaloo?”

“I dunno,” Lyra replied. “Never see her parents around. Makes sense to me.”

“That’s just… I don’t… ugh! Are you going to let me finish the story or not?”

“Meh, whatever,” Lyra said. “Mine was cooler. Wicked plot twist!”

Apple Bloom sat there in the awkward silence, unable to tear herself away. She could hear what she presumed was Carrot Top’s frustrated breathing.

The filly knew ponies had been talking about it… but everypony‽

She wanted to leave… she had to! But her hooves weren’t moving. Her chest tightened as she sat there.

“Apple Bloom!” Carrot Top practically shouted. Apple Bloom froze, certain she had been caught.

“Apple Bloom is her filly,” Carrot Top huffed.

“Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?” Lyra gasped.

“What’s all this shouting about?” Bon Bon growled as she exited the kitchen.

“Sign here,” another voice said quietly.

“I was just telling Lyra,” Carrot Top explained, “that the Apple family has been hiding a dirty little secret all these years. So much for their vaunted ‘Apple Family Values’.”

Apple Bloom could hear the sarcasm dripping off Carrot Top’s final words.

“It’s hardly—” Bon Bon started to object.

“Oh, come on!” Carrot Top huffed. “Nopony knows who the father is! She’s an unwed mothe—”

“And just what is wrong with that‽” the fourth voice hissed.

The silence was deafening, and Apple Bloom cautioned a chance to look out from behind the wall. Dinky’s mother was standing there, wings flared, one eye glaring angrily at Carrot Top.

“Oh, umm, Ditz… I didn’t mean—”

“No!” Ditzy Doo snapped. “You obviously did mean something by it.”

“I… I just, it’s—”

“So, you have a problem with unwed mothers?” Apple Bloom could hear Ditzy’s heavy hooffalls as she stomped across the room. “You’ve never said anything to me!”

“W-Well, you’re different…”

“And just how am I any different?”

“Well, you raised Dinky as your daughter… and they—”

“Gave Apple Bloom a chance at a normal life!” Ditzy Doo shouted. “You, of all ponies, know how hard Dinky has it at school because of my decision. I would have thought— do you talk about me this way, behind my back? Or… or my daughter?”

“I don’t, Ditz,” Carrot Top pleaded. “I promise!”

“Well, you don’t say anything to Applejack’s face,” Ditzy growled. “And this is how you talk about her behind her back. And even if you don’t say it about me, you obviously have a problem with ponies like me.

“I… I don’t want you around me or my daughter for a while.” Ditzy’s voice was quieter, but Apple Bloom could still hear the anger lurking. “She’s become friends with Apple Bloom, and it would crush her to hear her auntie talking this way about one of her friends.”

“I’m sorry—” Carrot Top whimpered.

“I’m leaving,” Ditzy interrupted. “I can’t— I just can’t be around you right now.”

Apple Bloom watched, teary-eyed, as Ditzy Doo came around the corner of the half wall, glaring back at her friend.

The grey pegasus tripped, crashing into the door.

“Ditzy!” Lyra and Bon Bon shouted at once.

“Are you okay?” Carrot Top asked in a quiet voice.

“I just tripped on…” Ditzy opened her eyes and focused. “Apple Bloom?”

Finally shocked out of her daze, the filly scrambled back to her hooves and ran out the door.

Chapter Nine

Apple Bloom staggered, falling against a tree, a numbness spreading through her limbs. They should have ached and burned; she had just run clear across Ponyville.

Dirty little secret.

Mistake.

“Why couldn’t y’all be mah real parents?” she asked. “Why couldn’t Ah’ve grown up with a normal life? A momma and a poppa, a big brother an’ a… a big sister. Not— not this mess…” She poked forlornly at the soft grass with her hoof. “Why couldn’t it’ve all been real?”

She opened her eyes in shock as she felt a warm body next to hers. Looking up through bleary eyes, she found Applejack sitting next to her.

“Ah’m sorry, Bloom,” Applejack sniffled. “Ah really am. Ah know Ah’ve said it before. Ah wish… Ah dunno… Ah wish maybe none‘a this’d ever come out… Ah’m guessin’ ya feel th’ same?”

Apple Bloom dug at the ground, breaking through the grass roots to the soft soil beneath. After a moment, she replied, “Ah dunno.”

Applejack put a forearm around Apple Bloom, pulling the filly close. “Ah’m sorry, Bloom.”

Apple Bloom closed her eyes and breathed in. The feeling of being in Applejack’s arms, the feeling of protection, took her back to a time before everything got complicated. She found, for the briefest of moments, she was back with her sister and all was right with the world.

Then reality came crashing down on her again.

“Are ya really…” Apple Bloom trailed off.

“Am Ah really?” Applejack asked in a whisper.

“A-Are ya really ashamed t’ call me an Apple?”

Apple Bloom felt Applejack stiffen.

“Ah never should’a said that, Apple Bloom,” she answered. “Ah was angry… Ah guess yer mom— Ah guess Ah’m not perfect either.” Applejack sighed. “Ah don’t know if either of us were good Apples that day.”

“But…”

“Yer not a bad Apple, Apple Bloom, and Ah ain’t ashamed o’ ya.” Applejack ruffled the filly’s mane. “Ya made a few mistakes, Ah’ll not lie, but Ah can hardly blame ya for ‘em.

“It’s been hard, but… but Ah’m mighty proud of ya, Apple Bloom. Ah always have been.”

Apple Bloom sank. She didn’t feel like anypony should be proud of her. She had yelled at her friends, and her family. She even felt a little bad (not very, though) for lashing out at Diamond Tiara… even if she totally deserved it.

It was comforting to know that even through everything she had done in the past few months, that her family was not ashamed—

“D’ ponies really think Ah’m th’ Apple family’s dirty secret?” the filly blurted out.

Applejack gasped. “Now where did ya hear somethin’ like that?”

“Ah—” Apple Bloom paused. “Ah went inta Miss Bon Bon’s shop, after ya left.”

“Ah figured as much,” Applejack chuckled. When Apple Bloom raised her eyebrow in question, Applejack answered, “When yer hidin’ in a bush, ya gotta account fer this, too.” Applejack patted the filly’s large, pink bow.

“Ah wanted t’ buy somethin’ fer after lunch,” Apple Bloom continued. “T’ say thanks t’ Big Mac fer helpin’ me this mornin’. And maybe a little somethin’ fer mahself, too,” she added sheepishly. “But when Ah got inside, Miss Carrot Top was there, an’… an’ she weren’t sayin’ very nice things about us— that Ah was th’ Apple Family’s dirty secret.”

Tears trickled down her cheeks as the memories played over in her head. Strong forearms pulled her tight into a hug.

“Now, you listen here, Bloom,” Applejack whispered. “Don’t ya go listenin’ to mean mares like Carrot Top. Ah was th’ one who made a mistake… and before ya ask, no, it wasn’t you.

“Maybe if Ah was brave enough, Ah would have told ya th’ truth, right from th’ start. Ah jus’…” Applejack let out a deep sigh. “Ah jus’ wanted ya t’ have a normal life. Free from all’a this mess.

“Good job’a that, Ah did,” she chuckled darkly.

“Miss Doo said th’ same thing,” Apple Bloom whispered. “That ya did it so Ah could have a normal life.”

“Eeyup.”

Apple Bloom sat in companionable silence with Applejack, wrapped in the strong orange forearms.

“Ah think Ah’m gonna hafta thump that Carrot Top next time Ah see ‘er,” Applejack chuckled. “Ah’ll buck her so hard she won’t land ‘til next week.”

“Didn’t y’all tell me that violence never solved nuthin’?” Apple Bloom asked, a mirthful smile on her face. “Yer teachin’ me bad habits!”

Applejack let out a boisterous laugh. “Ah guess yer right, Bloom… Ah guess yer right.”

“It’s okay, though,” Apple Bloom replied. “Ah think Miss Doo did it fer us anyway.”

“Did she now?” Applejack chuckled. “Ah’ll have t’ get Pinkie t’ make her a big batch o’ apple muffins, then.”

A shrill voice pierced the air of the quiet park. “Apple Bloom!”

Apple Bloom pulled herself out from between Applejack’s arms as three fillies came bounding across the grass.

“Apple Bloom! I thought it was you!” Sweetie Belle tackled her friend in a hug. “We haven’t seen you since school let out.”

“Ah’m sorry, gals…” Apple Bloom looked to Applejack, blushing. “Ah guess Ah’ve jus’ been a bit busy with stuff.”

“Yeah, that’s cool and all,” Scootaloo said, leaning against Berry Pinch, “but you know what we haven’t had a chance to do yet?”

“The Cutie Mark Crusader Holiday campout!” Sweetie Belle squealed. “Yay!”

“Oh, uhh, Ah dunno, girls…” Apple Bloom shuffled nervously. “Ah’m not sure—”

“Ah think that’d be a great idea,” Applejack interrupted. When Apple Bloom looked up at her, Applejack whispered. “Ah know ya might still be a little embarrassed about all this, but ya got two… err, three fillies here that are ya friends, an’ love ya very much. So go on, have a li’l fun… school’s back next week, an’ it ain’t gonna be good fer ya if ya don’t get some fun in before ya head back.”

“Okay, Applejack,” Apple Bloom answered, a weary— but genuine— smile on her face.

“So, ya gals are gonna have a campout at th’ clubhouse?” Applejack asked

“If that’s okay…” Sweetie Belle replied.

“Well, so long as y’all get yer parents’ permission, Ah don’t have a problem.” She turned to Berry Pinch. “Howdy there, Ah’m guessin’ yer a newcomer t’ the group. Let yer momma know if she has any concerns t’ jus’ come out t’ Sweet Apple Acres t’ have a chat with me or Big Mac.”

“Yes ma’am,” Berry Pinch replied, quietly.

“Now, why don’t y’all go an’ have some fun?” Applejack pulled a small sack of bits from her saddle bags, and counted out a few bits. “Bloom, why don’t ya go treat yer friends t’ somethin’ nice at Sugarcube Corner?”

Apple Bloom gratefully accepted the bits (she still hadn’t had lunch), then followed her friends towards Sugarcube Corner.

She chanced a look over her shoulder; Applejack was still there, sitting under the tree they had been under, smiling. Apple Bloom smiled back.

Not everything was fixed… but even if things still hurt, at least they hurt a little bit less.

“So Berry here has been our stand-in earth pony,” Scootaloo said around the donut crammed in her mouth. “She’s been doing all the earth pony stuff.”

Apple Bloom looked towards Berry Pinch, who for some reason looked very embarrassed.

“Ah’m guessin’ they’ve been makin’ ya carry th’ heavy things?” Apple Bloom asked.

Berry Pinch nodded.

“Yeah, we got the earth pony for lifting stuff…” Scootaloo motioned towards Berry Pinch. “…we got the pegasus for the athletic stuff, and we got the unicorn for the brains stuff.”

“Really?” Apple Bloom deadpanned.

“Yeah… it’s lucky Dinky’s been hanging out with us, too,” Scootaloo said, before cramming a second donut in her mouth.

“Ye— hey!” Sweetie Belle yelled, tossing her half-eaten chocolate eclair at the pegasus.

Apple Bloom shook her head at the arguing pair, noticing that Berry Pinch was doing the same. She must have been away from them for a while, if Berry was aware of their habits, too.

“So where’s Dinky? And Alula?” Apple Bloom asked. “Are they comin’ to th’ sleepover, too?”

“Dinky is coming,” Berry Pinch answered, “but Alula is, uhhh…” She trailed off.

“At Junior Speedsters flight camp!” Sweetie Belle finished, ignorant of the glares from the pegasus filly next to her.

“I could have gone if I wanted to,” Scootaloo scoffed, “but I just didn’t see the need.”

“Yeah, because you can’t fl—”

Apple Bloom was surprised at the speed with which Berry managed to cram her hoof into Sweetie Belle’s mouth.

Ah guess Ah won’t be th’ only one on ‘Sweetie Belle’ duty no more.

“So what are we gonna do at the sleepout, girls?” Apple Bloom asked, trying to diffuse the pending argument.

“I was going to see if Dinky wanted to practice some magic with me,” Sweetie Belle answered.

“I was thinking maybe we could build an awesome skate ramp. We could try doing some awesome tricks.”

“But you do that all the time,” Berry Pinch responded.

“Yeah, Ah dunno if that’s th’ best way t’ get yer cutie mark, Scoots.”

The pegasus grew a wicked grin. “Oh, I wasn’t thinking for me…” She leered at the two earth ponies.

“Not it!” Berry shouted.

“Not— dang it!”

“Don’t worry, Apple Bloom. We’ll make sure you’re safe,” Scootaloo chuckled. “You just have to wear two helmets…”

After several more donuts, and more than several absurd plans later, they exited Sugarcube Corner to go find Dinky and invite her to the park to play.

Chapter Ten

Apple Bloom trudged through the field, a rolled mattress and sleeping bag balanced on her back. She’d camped out a few too many times in the past few months at the clubhouse; this time she would be comfortable.

She’d had second thoughts about coming to the campout; once she had gotten away from Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, her excitement for the evening had died down. Apple Bloom loved her friends dearly, but they could be a hooffull at times, and she still wasn’t sure if she’d be up for it.

At least Berry would be there… that filly seemed to have a slight handle on the other two.

She was worried about seeing Dinky, too. Sure… they had played in the park after Apple Bloom and the others had finished lunch, but Apple Bloom wasn’t sure if Miss Doo had said anything to Dinky about what had happened earlier that day.

Apple Bloom hadn’t had the heart to tell her friends about it. Applejack, Big Mac and Granny Smith had all talked about it… though Apple Bloom had kept quiet through most of the conversation. There had been a lot of shouting, and a lot of rude words said by Granny Smith before the filly was sent to bed.

“I don’t think this is safe,” Berry Pinch called, wavering at the top of a hastily constructed halfpipe. “S-Shouldn’t we wait for Apple Bloom?”

“Do you want your cutie mark or not?” Scootaloo yelled next to her. Apple Bloom was well aware of Scootaloo’s method of ‘pep-talk’. “Or are you chicken?”

“Scoot-scoot-a-loo!” Sweetie Belle called out from the door of the clubhouse.

“I’m not a chicken!” the pegasus called out, stamping her hoof hard onto the ramp.

Apple Bloom thought back to a time when Twilight babysat her. Well, Twilight had read all night, but Spike and Apple Bloom had shared nachos, and played old board games. They had played one particular game called Mouse Trap. It wasn’t a particularly fun game, but it had the most convoluted mechanical contraption as the central part of the game. They had stopped playing the board game after a few scant minutes, and amused themselves with the silly little trap, watching the ball with anticipation as it rolled through the mechanisms and approached the unsuspecting wooden mouse.

Of course, nine times out of ten, the cage would get stuck halfway down, needing them to reset the entire thing… but Spike had told her that was half the fun.

It was thinking of the carefully interwoven mechanisms of this game that Apple Bloom recognised what was going to happen.

As soon as Scootaloo’s hoof slammed down, the supports on her side of the halfpipe gave way, and the barely balanced Berry Pinch rocked forward, screaming as she… and the scooter she was on… launched down the side of the ramp with considerable speed. From there, she shot up the other side of the ramp, and not stopping there, launched into the air, hurtling straight towards the door of the clubhouse.

Apple Bloom sighed, then slipped the rolled mattress off of her back and pulled on the string. The mattress unrolled with a loud fwumph.

A high-pitched scream emanated from the clubhouse as Berry flew through the door. A flash of light, and two unicorns, one earth pony, and one scooter appeared in the air above the ramp, on the platform directly opposite of Scootaloo.

As three screaming fillies (and one scooter) fell, landing with a hard smack on the opposite side of the halfpipe, the already shaky supports on their side broke. As somewhat cylindrical objects are wont to do, the halfpipe rocked forward, launching the pegasus filly into the air.

A screaming pegasus filly came closer to flight than she had in years, as she was hurled through the air, before reaching the peak of her arc and began plummeting towards the ground.

Apple Bloom casually stood aside as Scootaloo landed hard on the mattress she had laid on the ground.

Apple Bloom helped Scootaloo back to her hooves, steadying the shaking filly.

“Is everypony okay?” Scootaloo called out. She was answered with a chorus of weak ‘yes’s.

“Okay, so everypony is okay,” Scootaloo said. “Next question… did anypony get a cutie mark from that?”

Apple Bloom chuckled as she heard the expectant silence, then the pained groans from her friends.

Ya know, when yer not in the middle of it, it’s really easy t’ see this stuff comin’.

After many more disastrous attempts at getting their cutie marks (though none quite as spectacular as their first attempt of the day), Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Dinky and Berry settled down in the clubhouse.

Applejack and Big Mac had come by already, having provided the girls with a healthy dinner, which the fillies were currently ruining with shared sweets.

“Mmmm,” Sweetie Belle groaned as she popped the last of the turkish delight in her mouth. “Fo wah we gomma do neft?”

Dinky carefully cleaned her hooves before digging into her saddlebag. “I brought Pin the Tail, if you want?”

Everypony (except for Scootaloo) voiced their excitement for the game.

Apple Bloom helped Berry Pinch hang the poster on the wall, after Dinky had vehemently advised them against hanging it on the back of the clubhouse door.

Despite her supposed reluctance, Scootaloo was first up for her attempt, and managed to pin the tail directly over the pony’s blank flank.

“What are you doing giving another pony her cutie mark?” Sweetie Belle chuckled. “I thought you’d want to save that one for yourself.”

The other fillies laughed as Scootaloo pulled off the blindfold, a tinge of red colouring her cheeks.

For her sass, Sweetie Belle was up next. She managed to do far worse than Scootaloo, giving the pony a very lopsided moustache.

They continued playing until Berry Pinch won the game.

After a short snack break, they continued playing. Berry Punch, having been the winner, got to choose the next game.

Apple Bloom sighed.

She was having fun, she had to admit, but it was still a little much for her. For most of the night, she had sat on the sidelines, only joining in when it was her turn.

“Rainbow Dash!” shouted Berry, Dinky and Sweetie Belle at the same time.

“That’s not fair!” Scootaloo groused. “You’re supposed to wait until I’ve started before you guess.”

“But Scootaloo,” Sweetie Belle responded, “you always do Rainbow Dash. In charades, guess who, twenty questions…”

Berry and Dinky nodded.

Apple Bloom sighed, silently moving towards the door as the four others descended into an argument about fair play and the spirit of the rules.

The filly trotted through the quiet night. The cool air was nice on her coat, and the breeze held the faintest scent of apple. The moon shone bright above her, filtering through the leaves of the orchard.

She settled down, lying on a small patch of grass, just out of earshot of the clubhouse.

Apple Bloom loved nighttime in the orchard. When she was a little filly, she would sneak out of bed and sit at her window, staring out into the cool night. Applejack and Big Mac were always the early to rise, early to bed type. Apple Bloom was very similar (not that she was given a choice), but at times she would steal away a few hours, just enjoying the farm at night. The way the apple trees reflected the silver moonlight gave it an almost magical quality.

Sitting under the stars, amongst the beauty herself, brought a little calm to her.

Ah guess Ah don’t really have it that bad, she thought.

“Can I join you?”

Apple Bloom jumped with a start.

“Sorry,” Dinky apologised. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Uhh… s’all good. Ah jus’ wasn’t expectin’ ya t’… uhh, be there.” Apple Bloom facehoofed. Worst recovery ever!

She looked around; there was nopony there other than Dinky and herself. “S’ why ain’tcha playin’ with th’ others?”

“I…” Dinky scuffed her hooves on the grass. “I was wondering where you were going.”

“Jus’ layin’ out here, thinkin’,” Apple Bloom replied, as she settled back down on the grass.

“Okay…” Dinky trailed off.

Apple Bloom waited for Dinky to say something, but the filly just stood there, letting the silence drag on into awkwardness.

“Was there somethin’ ya wanted?” she asked, a little more curtly than she’d intended.

“I—” Dinky stopped herself. “Sorry, you probably want to be alone. I’ll— I’ll leave you alone.”

Apple Bloom sighed; she could hear the pain in her friend’s voice. She cursed herself— she had made a promise, even if only to herself, that she wouldn’t shut out her friends.

“Naw…” Apple Bloom said, before the filly could walk away. “Sorry, Ah’m jus’ not all with it lately.”

Dinky crossed the gap between them and laid down next to Apple Bloom, keeping a comfortable distance.

“It’s really pretty here,” Dinky said, breaking the silence.

“Eeyup,” Apple Bloom responded, following the other filly’s gaze to the sky.

“The stars are brighter here. We’re not that far from town, but…”

Apple Bloom smiled; Dinky was right.

The silence dragged on, though this time it was a companionable silence, rather than an awkward one. So Apple Bloom was surprised when Dinky broke it.

“Are you— are you thinking about your… uhh… Miss Applejack?” she asked awkwardly.

Truth be told, she hadn’t been.

“No…” Apple Bloom answered, furrowing her brow. “Not really.”

“Oh…” Dinky pawed at the grass. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s— it’s alright,” Apple Bloom said. “Ah shouldn’t keep it all bottled up. At least… that’s what Miss Cheerilee says.”

“My mommy—” Dinky started, before stopping herself.

“Yer momma?”

Dinky shook her head. “Umm, nevermind.”

Apple Bloom sighed. “She told ya, huh?”

“Umm… maybe…” Dinky trailed off. “I’m sorry.”

Apple Bloom chuckled. “Nothin’ fer ya t’ be sorry about. Ya ain’t responsible fer what Miss Carrot Top said.”

They sat again in silence. It wasn’t right that Dinky should feel bad— it wasn’t her fault. A sniffle to her side brought Apple Bloom’s attention back to the other filly.

“Dinky?” Apple Bloom asked cautiously, seeing her friend crying. Dinky laid next to her, sniffling, rubbing her fetlocks across her eyes. “What’s th’ matter?”

“M-Mom told me that s-s-somepony said something nasty…” the filly sobbed. “S-S-She didn’t say it was Auntie Carrot.”

“Oh… oh,” Apple Bloom whispered. “Ah’m sorry, Ah shouldn’ta said any—”

“No!” Dinky shouted, the sound echoing through the deserted orchard. While she could barely see in the dim light, Apple Bloom was certain she could make out a dim blush dusting Dinky’s cheeks.

“S-Sorry,” the filly apologised. “No… it was Auntie Carrot who shouldn’t have said anything.”

Nopony spoke for a few minutes. Apple Bloom wasn’t sure what to say; sure, Carrot Top’s words had hurt her, but she wasn’t the only one hurt here. Dinky felt bad, and if her mother stayed true to her word, the filly was probably not going to be allowed to see her auntie for a while.

“Yer pretty lucky, ya know,” Apple Bloom said, breaking the silence.

“Hmm?”

“Ah said, yer pretty lucky.”

“H-how come?”

“When yer… uhh… when Miss Carrot Top was… sayin’ things…” Apple Bloom noticed Dinky flinch. “Well, yer momma really stood up fer me, before she even knew Ah was there.

“Was pretty impressive, th’ way she stood up fer… me.” Apple Bloom paused, uncertain if Miss Doo had mentioned that Carrot Top’s words could have been directed towards Dinky as well.

“Ah always wished… Ah dunno.” Apple Bloom pawed at the ground. “Ah always imagined mah momma— or, Ah guess grand-momma now— Ah always imagined she’d’ve been like that if she was still around. Granny Smith always said she was a firecracker.”

Apple Bloom looked to the sky, taking a deep breath and filling her lungs with the cool night air. “Yer really lucky, ya know. Ya got a great momma…”

“Y-You do, too, Apple Bloom. Your momma is pretty great, too.”

Apple Bloom directed her gaze back to the ground.

“Ah dunno if Ah’d say Ah got a great momma. Ah mean, Ah guess Ah can’t argue that Applejack is my… well, ya know… but she’s always been a sister t’ me. Ah guess… Ah guess Ah wonder what mighta been, if she’d raised me as her daughter. An’ Ah guess that’s why Ah’m a little jealous of ya.”

Dinky laughed, then blushed as Apple Bloom leveled a hardened gaze towards her.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t… I wasn’t laughing because…” Dinky took a breath. “I wasn’t laughing at you, I promise. It’s just… not many ponies would be jealous of me. Mommy and I… we’re alone a lot of the time. And she works really hard, but sometimes… sometimes we have to go without things that other ponies take for granted.

“But you’re lucky! You have such a big family, and a great home. You’re lucky, too.”

“Ah understand.” Apple Bloom nodded. She knew precisely what Dinky was talking about. “Things ain’t always great fer us, neither. There’s a bit Ah have t’ go without, too. Sometimes it’s a little embarrasin’, when Ah have t’ get new school books fer th’ year, and they’re second-hoof. Or when Sweetie Belle an’ Scootaloo get somethin’ big fer Hearth’s Warming, an’ Ah get a new ribbon, or something.

“An’ farmin’ ain’t all that great. This wouldn’t be th’ first school holidays Ah’ve had t’ help out on th’ farm rather than go an’ play.”

“I guess mommy was right.”

“Huh?” Apple Bloom asked. “Right about what?”

“The muffins are always greener on the other side,” the filly chuckled in reply. “Mommy says it’s an expression.”

“Well, Ah guess she’s right,” Apple Bloom laughed.

Behind them, Apple Bloom could hear an argument between Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Things were obviously escalating.

“Y’all ain’t in a hurry t’ get back in there, are ya?”

“N-N-No.”

Apple Bloom wondered what would have had the filly nervous now… she’d been hanging out with the crusaders long enough to know they fought sometimes, but it was never anything serious. Looking to her friend, Apple Bloom noticed the filly shivering.

She closed the gap between them, sharing her warmth with her friend, whose shivering lessened. They lapsed once more into a companionable silence, enjoying the night air and the sounds of the nocturnal wildlife.

“Wait… who’d want green muffins?”

Chapter Eleven

“Brushed yer teeth?” Applejack asked. “Y’all ate a lotta sweets last night, an’ ya don’t want cavities!”

“Eeyup,” the filly responded with a yawn.

“Better see if ya pass th’ sniff test, then. If Ah ain’t happy, ya’ll be back in t’ brush ‘em again!”

Apple Bloom breathed a minty breath towards Applejack, the older mare giving an approving nod.

“Good girl. Now ya better get inta bed.” Applejack followed the filly to her bedroom, lifting Apple Bloom into her bed. “Now, no crawlin’ outside an’ fallin’ asleep on th’ grass. Big Mac’ll have yer hide if he has t’ carry ya back inside again.”

Apple Bloom blushed, embarrassed at Applejack’s teasing. It wasn’t her fault she and Dinky had fallen asleep outside. It was certainly quieter than with Sweetie Belle, Berry Pinch and Scootaloo, and she only had the faintest recollection of Big Mac waking her and Dinky, then carrying them back to the clubhouse.

As soon as her head hit the pillow, her weariness from the day threatened to overtake her.

“G’night, Apple Bloom,” Applejack whispered, as she tucked the filly in. She kissed her gently on the forehead.

“G’night, sis…” Apple Bloom yawned.

Applejack paused at the doorway, and sighed. “Rest up— ya got a big day of school ahead o’ ya tomorrow.”

Apple Bloom’s eyes were shut before the door even closed.

The unwanted, dirty little secret. Diamond Tiara’s voice floated out of Carrot Top’s mouth as she and Lyra circled the filly. Silver Spoon’s laugh tumbled out of Lyra’s mouth, as the two circled closer and closer.

“We’re sorry.” The five fillies—Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Alula, Dinky and Berry Pinch—turned away from her. “Our mothers don’t want us hanging around you anymore.”

“Wait!” Apple Bloom yelled as she ran after them. No matter how fast she ran, her hooves could not gain purchase, and the girls drifted off into the darkness. Only Dinky looked back, over her shoulder.

Apple Bloom fell to the ground and covered her face. She fought back the sobs, but she couldn’t help it.

When she removed her hooves from her eyes, Apple Bloom found herself in a hospital room. In the bed in front of her, a wall-eyed pegasus laid nuzzling a frail unicorn filly. The foal watched Apple Bloom, making small gurgling sounds as the mother placed small loving kisses on her forehead.

“Welcome to the family, little one.”

On the other side of the partition, Granny Smith and Big Mac sat next to another bed. Applejack was lying there, a small bundle wrapped in her arms.

“Ah’m sorry, Granny. Ah jus’ don’t know what went wrong,” Applejack sniffled.

“There, there,” Granny Smith cooed, patting Applejack’s hoof. “We all make mistakes from time t’ time.”

Ah’m not a mistake! Apple Bloom tried to call out to her family, but could not find her voice. Ya promised me, Applejack. Ah wasn’t a mistake.

“We’ll be okay, Sis,” Big Mac’s voice rumbled, despite his far smaller stature. “Ya won’t have t’ think about it ever ag’in.”

Carrot Top and Lyra walked through the door across from the bed.

“Ugh!” Diamond Tiara’s voice came from Carrot Top’s mouth. “She’s still a blank flank. Do we really need to take this one?”

“Please, take her,” Applejack sobbed. “Ah don’t know how t’ be a mother. Please, take her.”

Lyra lifted the foal by her rear ankle, holding her at a distance with her magic. A long tuft of amaranth mane spilled from out of the wrapped blanket.

No! Don’t send me away! Please, Applejack, don’t send me away!

She watched in horror as Lyra and Carrot Top carried the foal out the door, not even paying attention to its cries.

Applejack, please…

Apple Bloom shot up, gasping for air.

Her bed was soaked with sweat, despite the pleasant breeze blowing through her window. She shook all over, trying to dispel the last remnants of her nightmare. Diamond Tiara’s laughter seemed to echo through the night.

She slipped out of bed, uncertain what the time was. She opened the door to her room, and was grateful to see light still spilling out from underneath Applejack’s door.

The filly crept across the darkened hall, and lifted her hoof to knock gently on Applejack’s door, but stopped when she heard a gentle song drift through.

♪Little Apple Bloom, little Apple Bloom of mine

In the garden there is a flower, little Apple Bloom of mine♫

Apple Bloom sat down, listening to the tune… it felt so familiar.

♪Under the Apple tree

Lay your head under the bow

Oh swing, oh sway

Lay down to sleep.♫

It repeated itself, a gentle tune, filling her with both happiness and sorrow. During the second verse, Apple Bloom joined in, her voice barely a whisper.

♪Little Apple Bloom, little Apple Bloom of mine

In the garden there is a flower, little Apple Bloom of mine♫

A song somepony had once sung to her. Vague memories of warm fur, gentle rocking… and that song.

♪Under the Apple tree

Lay your head under the bow

Oh swing, oh sway

Lay down to sleep.♫

Her mother.

Her mother used to sing that song to her. The faintest of memories, being held and rocked gently, falling asleep to that song.

Applejack had started humming the tune, having stopped singing. Apple Bloom sat at the closed door, uncertain what she wanted to do.

She sat there for what felt like hours. The filly wasn’t certain how long ago Applejack had finished her song, but when she heard the sharp blow of Applejack blowing out her candle, the filly finally worked up the courage to knock.

“Hmm? Somepony there?” Applejack’s voice drifted through the door.

“It’s— It’s me.” Apple Bloom spoke as softly as she could. “C-Can Ah come in?”

“Sure thing, sugarcube.”

Apple Bloom pushed the door open, and crossed the room.

“What’s up, Bloom?”

“Ah… Ah had a nightmare.”

“Oh…” Applejack paused. “Did ya wanna talk about it?”

Apple Bloom shook her head. “No, but… could Ah…”

“C’mon, get over here,” Applejack chuckled. She lifted her blanket, and Apple Bloom crawled in.

She pressed her back close to Applejack, who wrapped her forearms around her and held her tight to her chest.

“G’night, Sugar Plum,” Applejack whispered.

“G’night,” Apple Bloom whispered back.

She let the gentle rhythm of Applejack’s breathing lull her, torn between wanting her big sister back like before… and wanting her mother to sing to her again.

Apple Bloom sat quietly as the rest of the students burst out of the classroom. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had wanted to stay back with her, but Berry and Alula were able to pull them away. Dinky was the last to leave, smiling and nodding towards Apple Bloom with a promise that they’d meet her at Sugarcube Corner when she was ready.

“Miss Cheerilee?”

“Hmm?” Cheerilee looked up from her desk. “Oh, Apple Bloom. I’m sorry, I didn’t realise you were still here.”

“It’s okay,” Apple Bloom said, kicking a forehoof on the ground. “Ah know it’s not Thursday, but, uhh…” The filly noticed her teacher glancing at the clock, her brow furrowing at the time. “If it’s not a good time—”

“No, no. It’s alright, Apple Bloom,” the teacher responded. “I was going to go and see Twi— Princess Twilight about her visit next week… but I’m certain she will understand.”

Apple Bloom couldn’t help but feel guilty, considering the second and third glance Cheerilee had given the clock.

“Come on, then,” the teacher said with a smile. She trotted towards the back of the classroom, to the reading corner that had become their common spot, with Apple Bloom in tow. Settling down on her favourite cushion, Cheerilee waited for Apple Bloom to speak up.

After a minute of awkward silence, the filly finally spoke.

“Ah had a nightmare last night… an’ Ah went t’ Applejack’s room…” She paused. “Ah heard somethin’, an’ Ah don’t know how Ah feel about it.

“Ah remember a song, one mah Momma used t’ sing t’ me, before… well… It was th’ one thing Ah had of her, and Ah almost forgot it. Applejack has always been a big sister t’ me, not mah Momma— an’… an’ last night…”

Apple Bloom fidgeted with her hooves.

“She was singin’ Momma’s song. Th’ one mah Momma used t’ sing t’ me, so Ah’d get t’ sleep.”

“And how did that make you feel?”

“Ah dunno. Angry… that she was singin’ Momma’s song. Happy… cause Ah remember those few memories. An’ Ah guess sad… cuz that’s all Ah got.

“It— It jus’ didn’t seem fair; it was th’ one thing Ah had of mah Momma… an’ it turns out it ain’t even real.” A drop of something fell onto one of Apple Bloom’s fetlocks. She raised a hoof to her cheek, and realised she had been crying.

“Why do you say it’s ‘not real’?” Cheerilee asked.

“Ah always thought that was Momma’s song… Ah never got t’ meet Momma or Poppa, an’ th’ one thing Ah had of ‘em… wasn’t really them.”

“Well, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t real,” Cheerilee said, caution in her voice. “You remember your mother singing it to you, when you were very young?”

Apple Bloom nodded.

“So if Applejack sang it to you, when you were a little foal… why is it not real?”

“B-Because… because…”

“Okay, let’s try this,” Cheerilee said. “What would be a real mother, to you?”

Apple Bloom closed her eyes, her brow furrowed in thought.

“Ah guess, somepony t’ help me, when Ah’m feelin’ scared, or angry, or upset. Somepony t’ talk to… somepony t’ tuck me in at night… Ah dunno, Ah’ve never had a momma, so Ah don’t know what t’ expect.”

“Who does those things for you now?”

“Well, Ah guess Applejack does most of it… Granny Smith an’ Big Mac help sometimes, but most of th’ time, it’s Applejack. She’s th’ one who makes sure Ah’m ready for bed, or helps with mah homework… an’ makes sure Ah’m ready fer school, an’…” Apple Bloom trailed off.

“That sounds a lot like the things a mother does… so, again, why was your memory not real?”

“Ah always thought she was mah sister, an’ Ah don’t know how… Ah don’t know…”

“Maybe, Apple Bloom… maybe Applejack has always been a mother to you, in all but name. When you were scared from your nightmare last night, who did you go to?”

“Applejack,” the filly whispered.

“Sometimes, labels aren’t important. Whether Applejack is mother, or sister… she’s always been there for you, right?”

By the time Apple Bloom got home, Applejack was helping Granny Smith with supper, whilst Big Mac was setting the table.

“A-Applejack?” Apple Bloom asked. “Can we talk?”

Apple Bloom stood nervously, as Applejack, Big Mac and Granny Smith shared a look.

“Sure thing, sugarcube. Big Mac, can ya help Granny Smith here?” Applejack trotted to the door. “Why don’t we sit out on th’ porch, Bloom?” she asked. Apple Bloom followed her out the door.

“So, what’s on yer mind?” Applejack asked, her voice a higher pitch than Apple Bloom was used to.

“Ah… Ah’ve never known what it was like t’ have a mom…” Apple Bloom started. “All mah life, Ah wondered what it’d be like, t’ have somepony t’ watch over me.

“But Ah have always had somepony t’ watch over me, somepony who was there fer me, every time Ah needed her. Maybe that pony was a sister, or maybe that pony was a… mom,” she whispered the final word. “But whatever that pony was, whatever she were called… Ah think th’ important thing was that she were there. Sister… or momma… she were always there.

“Ah’d like t’ have that pony back… an’ if she’d still want t’ be there—”

Strong forearms wrapped tight around Apple Bloom’s neck, drawing the filly close to Applejack’s warm chest. The smell of her coat filled the filly with a sense of comfort and safety, a happiness and security she had missed these long months.

“Always, Apple Bloom,” Applejack whispered.

“Always…”

Prologue

“Ah’m really sorry, sugarcube.” Applejack sniffed as she rubbed a teary cheek across Apple Bloom’s. “There’s something Ah’ve gotta tell ya about— about yer momma.”

Apple Bloom struggled in her sister’s hooves. She could feel Applejack’s tears dripping onto her forehead. She didn’t understand what her sister was so upset about.

Is it the anniversary of Mom and Dad’s death? Did Ah forget? Apple Bloom wondered to herself. It was hard for Apple Bloom; she never knew her parents like her big brother and sister did. To her, they were two ponies that passed on just after she was born. They’d died so close to her birth, she didn’t even have a photo of the three of them together.

“Ah was young, not much older than you are now…” Applejack sniffled. “Ah didn’t know what ta do, and Ah was scared…

“When Momma and Pop… after they passed on, Ah needed ta get away. From the farm, from everythin’. It hurt too much. Ya remember Ah told ya when I went to stay with Uncle and Auntie Orange?”

Apple Bloom remembered the story; her sister and her friends had shared all of their stories about how they got their cutie marks, back when the Cutie Mark Crusaders were barely formed. Apple Bloom had laughed at the time, imagining her big sister in those silly fru-fru outfits and speaking fancy.

Truthfully, Apple Bloom hadn’t given the story any more thought, at least not until Sweetie Belle had mentioned it again earlier today.

“So what happened to mah niece?” Apple Bloom pressed. She didn’t understand… If Applejack had birthed a foal, then why didn’t—

Apple Bloom gasped.

Apple Bloom had overheard some older mares at Sugarcube Corner once. One of them had been crying, telling her friend she’d had a miscarriage. Not knowing what that was, nor why the mare would be crying over it, Apple Bloom had asked Miss Cheerilee.

Her teacher had not wanted to answer her, but Apple Bloom had persisted; she had wondered silently if she could get a cutie mark in it, though that idea quickly waned after Cheerilee’s explanation.

“You see, sometimes… well, sometimes, if a foal is sick… before it is born…”

Apple Bloom had wondered why Miss Cheerilee had been so evasive. Normally she was happy to explain anything to the Cutie Mark Crusaders if they asked. They tried not to, though, because sometimes Miss Cheerilee could be boring.

“If there is something wrong with the pregnancy, or the parent gets sick…” Cheerilee stammered. “Sometimes the mare’s body will… ummm… end the pregnancy.”

Apple Bloom still remembered the wan smile her teacher had given her that day. Cheerilee had told her that it was good to have an inquisitive mind, but that not every mare liked to talk about it. The teacher explained that it was a very sensitive subject for some ponies.

“Ah’m so sorry, Applejack!” Apple Bloom buried her face in the soft fur of Applejack’s coat. “Ah’m sorry, Ah shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“It’s okay, sugarcube.” Applejack gently smoothed Apple Bloom’s mane. “It needs to be said.”

“Ah— Ah’m sure she’s with Ma and Pa.” The filly held her sister tight, looking up into her eyes. “Apples always stick t’gether. She’ll be okay, sis.”

Applejack began to cry. Apple Bloom frowned, not knowing what else to say. Stupid Apple Bloom, why did ya have t’ go and bring it up? Ya hurt yer sister. Couldn’t jus’ leave it alone, could ya?

“Sis?” Apple Bloom asked, trepidation in her voice. This only seemed to cause Applejack’s sobs to increase.

“A-Apple Bloom… m-mah daughter’s not…” Applejack choked back another sob. Big Mac brought her a glass of water, but she rebuffed his offer.

“Mah daughter ain’t with Momma and Pa… she’s—”

Apple Bloom pulled herself out from her sister’s hooves and stared at her, more confused than ever.

“If she ain’t with Ma and Pa, then why can’t Ah meet her?” Apple Bloom asked. “Why ain’t she here?”

“S-She is here, sugarcube. She’s been here all along.” Tears streamed down Applejack’s cheeks, and she accepted Granny’s comforting hoof on her shoulder. “You’ve been here all along, Apple Bloom. Ah—”

“Ah don’t understand,” Apple Bloom whined. She looked to her sister, then Big Mac and Granny Smith for some kind of explanation. “Sis, what’s goin’ on?”

“Ah’m not yer sister, Apple Bloom… Ah— Ah’m yer mother.”

Epilogue

Eight Months Later…

Apple Bloom closed the door behind her as she crept down the hall. She looked down to the small paper in her hooves, uncertain if she was ready to do this.

Miss Cheerilee had helped her with it, and had even encouraged her. “Better late than never,” Miss Cheerilee had said, with a knowing smile. “I know she will appreciate it.”

She hadn’t been able to say it out loud yet… maybe she never would… but that didn’t mean she couldn’t find some other way to tell Applejack.

Apple Bloom quietly opened the door to Applejack’s room, and crept in.

“Mornin’ Bloom,” Applejack chuckled from her bed. “Ya ain’t as quiet as ya think.”

“Oh… sorry,” Apple Bloom apologised.

“Ain’t no problem, Ah was about t’ get up anyway.” Applejack patted the spot on her bed next to her. “What’s up, Sugar Plum?”

Without a word, Apple Bloom gave her the small piece of paper.