Family is Family, No Matter What
The pink Earth Pony awoke to the sounds of crying. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes with a tired hoof and slipped out of bed. She softly trotted down the hall, the bedroom at the end being her destination. It was another night of sadness for the young pony inside, and Pinkie knew that. She paused before lightly tapping on the door.
"Can I come in?"
A few sniffles...she would take that as a yes.
She gently pushed the door open and made her way inside. Her eyes adjusted to the moonlight as she took in the sight of a young yellow filly hugging an old Stetson hat, doing her best to keep her tears on the inside.
"What's wrong, Bloomy?" Pinkie carefully asked, though she already knew the answer to the young Apple's sorrows.
"Ah miss her..." Apple Bloom replied timidly.
Pinkie swallowed hard. Even though it had been two years, it was still a fresh wound. Applejack's death had been far too sudden, and far too painful.
Today was another day for Apple Bloom to go to Zecora's hut. She had been taking lessons from the Zebra in alchemy, and always looked forward to them. It was innocent enough, and it kept the filly busy and out of trouble, so Applejack had no problem taking her to the hut. However, Apple Bloom had decided to take this trip alone, much to her sister's dismay. She had to though. It was time to prove that she was growing up, and was able to handle her own. Unfortunately, in the midst of her journey, her presence was discovered by a savage and hungry Timberwolf. The vile creature attacked her halfway through her trip. She just knew this would be the end of her life. What she didn't know, was that Applejack had been shadowing her, to make sure she got there safely. The older Apple intervened. Apple Bloom was cemented to the ground in fear as she watched her sister get clawed and snapped at. The beast pinned her down, and in that moment, the filly freed herself from Terror's grip, and charged at the monster. But a new emotion took hold;
Horror. Pure horror.
The wolf had clamped it's jaws around Applejack's neck, and was beginning to sever the pony from the world of the living. The last thing she did, was look at her younger sister, and let one word escape her throat before it was mangled to bits;
"Run..."
"She...she loved me so much, that she told me ta 'Run' first before actually tellin' me she loved me. She wanted ta make sure Ah got away..."
Pinkie's heart crumbled as she watched a sob rip itself from Apple Bloom's throat. She encompassed her forelegs around the tiny filly, letting her pour all of her salty tears into her fur.
"Let it out..." Pinkie cooed. "Cry for as long as you need to..."
The yellow pony suddenly shoved her, "Ah don't need ta cry! Yer s'posed tah tell me ta be strong!!"
Pinkie sat there quietly. The situation had turned delicate, and she didn't want to say the wrong thing and make it worse. The younger pony glared at her, not wanting her to stay...but not wanting her to leave. Pinkie cautiously reached for the worn hat, looking into Apple Bloom's eyes for approval of her action. When she received no objections, she took the hat into her hooves and smiled. This thing has seen so many places. So many adventures, so many battles, so many parties. So many lessons learned. Her smile vanished when she remembered that the orange mare who wore it once before, would never wear it again...
"Sometimes..." Pinkie sat the hat down, "Real strength, is taking the weight off of your shoulders, and letting go of a big burden."
Apple Bloom slammed an angry hoof into the mattress, "A BIG BURDEN?! 'Memberin' AJ is a big burden ta ya?!?!"
"I didn't say tha-"
"Ya didn't hafta..."
More silence.
"Apple Bloom-"
"NO!!!" Apple Bloom shrieked. Her tiny body began to tremble as two years of pent up rage, hate, and despair had come to a boiling point. Pinkie knew this was going to happen. That it needed to happen. She braced herself for the inevitable verbal onslaught.
"Ya left yer family, left yer SISTERS behind, ta come here an' mosey yer way all up inta our lives! Ah needed AJ ta guide me in all the REAL BURDENS that will be chargin' at me like an angry bull! Ah needed answers, Pinkie. Answers ta mah family history, because once Ah found out ya were mah cousin, Ah was confused as hell! Granny Smith died an' Big Mac abandoned the farm, an' she was all Ah had left! She was so busy 'Welcomin' ya tah the Apple Family', that she forgot 'bout me! Ya don't know anythin' about farmin', ya can't teach me nothin', ya don't know nothin' 'bout us Apples, and YER NOT APPLEJACK!!!"
Her thigh started to glow, but neither paid it any attention. Pinkie finally shouted,
"I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN DO, APPLE BLOOM!!!"
"WELL IT AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH!!"
There it was. The low blow. It was dirty and uncalled for, but Pinkie said nothing. In the mind of her younger cousin, it was the truth. She couldn't and wouldn't argue with that.
A soft 'TING' echoed in the quiet bedroom. Pinkie saw it, and Apple Bloom felt it. Her cutie mark had appeared. It was different from any other Apple cutie marks. In fact, it didn't have anything to do with apples at all. It was a simple flower cutie mark, but it spoke volumes.
It was a white chrysanthemum, the symbol of honesty.
Pinkie's mane and tail deflated, and her fur lost it's pink shine. This should have been a moment of happiness. Of celebration. Of PARTYING! Her body tingled in slight anticipation. This is what she had been waiting for.
"My Pinkie Senses never fail..." she said with a sad smile. She got off the bed and dragged her hooves as she left the bedroom.
Apple Bloom stood in her bed, angry and confused. Pinkie walked back in, with a small box in between her teeth. She placed it on the bed in front of her.
"What's this?" the filly questioned.
"I just knew it was going to be you." Pinkie lightly patted the box. "You were her sister, for crying out loud."
The both looked down at it, a soft glow emanating from it.
"What is it?" Apple Bloom repeated, the venom now gone from her voice.
"This..." Pinkie placed a hoof back on the box, "This is what I've been waiting for. My Pinkie Senses told me it would choose you. Princess Celestia wasn't all for the idea when it came to me taking this...but Twilight trusted me." She looked into Apple Bloom's eyes, a strange blend of defeat but content in her own.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe I won't be able to guide you. But I know this will..."
She turned and left the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Apple Bloom quickly opened the box, it's only item inside brought forth new tears.
The Element of Honesty.
It's faint glow was soothing. She smiled. This beautiful, powerful jewel, was glowing for her. Because of her. This was hers now. This was her element.
She was now the Bearer of Honesty.
Guilt suddenly washed over her heart. Her cruelty had been unacceptable. Pinkie had taken her in without hesitation. She fed her, put a roof over her head, looked out for her, and loved her unconditionally, even though Apple Bloom still didn't fully consider her family.
"Go an' make things right..." a voice with a southern drawl softly whispered.
Apple Bloom smiled. She clipped the element around her neck and slid off of her bed. She walked out of her room.
"She loves ya...an' she will guide ya..."
She made her way towards Pinkie's bedroom.
"She's family...no matter what..."
When she opened the door, Pinkie had already gotten back in bed. Apple Bloom crawled under the sheets. The pink mare's back was facing her. She snuggled up to her,
"Ah'm sorry..."
She shut her eyes and held her close. There was a few moments of silence before Pinkie turned to face her. She looked down at Apple Bloom, a small glimmer of hope in her tired and sad eyes.
"I love you..."
Apple Bloom let a small smile appear on her face as she felt forelegs envelope her. She buried her face into Pinkie's coat,
"...Ah love ya too."
It was a simple exchange of words, but it was a start. They both drifted off into slumbered, dreaming sweet dreams given to them by Luna. Soon, Celestia would raise the sun to start a new day, and a new beginning for both of them...
Author's Note
After watching 'Pinkie Apple Pie', the idea of her being part of the Apple family just...I fucking loved it. However, I chose to do a darker side to this idea...just cause. Perhaps I'll do a sequel for it, but for now, I'm keeping this a one shot.
