My Baby Sister

For once, her dream did not end with the same, awful words it usually did. No, this time her friends had been there, along with their teacher, Cheerilee. The rest of the class too, even Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, smiling, acting kindly for once. Sadly enough, dreams were no memories and faded with the awakening.

The rubber teat pressed against her mouth, leaving the faintest taste of strawberry, and numbed the pain in her jaw. Sadly, suckling faster didn’t make it go away completely, but at least now that she had the thing regularly in her mouth, sleep came much easier to the filly.

Only the faintest of lights pressed through from the outside, as the curtains remained closed. She looked at them, orange cloth with yellow lemons, a memento of her father, a stallion she only had the faintest memories of. Behind them was probably a cloudless sky now. Applejack must’ve closed them as the sun had come up from beyond the horizon.

Apple Bloom felt like giving her sister a hug just for that.

She pulled Waffle, her dear teddy bear, closer to her side, almost subconsciously, but decided to remain beneath her covers for a while longer. Nowadays, she tended to get up the moment her eyes opened, but then again, usually the dreams made sure she woke up quickly. A slow morning was a welcome change for now.

In fact, she decided to take the time to enjoy it a bit, pulling the blanket up a bit more and burying herself beneath it. As she moved, the diaper rustled loudly however, giving her the slightest hint that this wouldn’t be as wonderful as she thought it’d be.

Lifting the blanket up slightly, she hoped to see the status of her diaper. It took only one look and she found it dry. Apple Bloom blinked. “You’re kidding,” she whispered to herself.

How many weeks had it been since the Blast? She had stopped counting as she had grown more and more accustomed to her situation. The first days were a blur by now, but she still remembered waking up, the sheets of her bed soaked, the cloth sticking to her body, while the cold wetness clung to her lower body. Scootaloo had been there too, but Apple Bloom didn’t remember her reaction or where she had gone after that. She only remembered being held by Applejack as she hurried towards the cider house and whispered sweet nothings that had been meant to calm her.

She had suddenly started to wet herself, like her body had just forgotten how to hold it. Sure, there was also the pain in her jaw, and that often her legs would just give out if she attempted to use them for too long. Heck, there were even mornings where she woke up blind, but the only problem Applejack hadn’t been able to fix with sisterly love had been her wetting. She had even brought Twilight Sparkle over, who had lost one eye to the Monsters Who Sleep At Night, but she had been unable to use her fancy unicorn magic. Instead Applejack had gotten her some protection.

So, basically, over the last few weeks she had woken up with that being soaked instead of her mattress – for which she was semi-grateful – on every single morning, but what she found now left her a bit shocked. Well, at least this was her initial emotion, a shock stemming from complete disbelief as she opened her mouth but failed to close it again.

She hadn’t expected something like this, not this way. A magical cure, maybe. Everything being a dream? Yeah, sure. Just waking up with her protection fitting as snuggly to her body as if she had just put it on, with the green butterflies not having faded? Hell no.

Dry. She was dry. She hadn’t wet the bed. Apple Bloom’s face grew with a smile. This was about the best morning in a long, long while. She wanted to lift herself up, hoping to improvise a short dance number, but before that could happen a sting of pain went through her legs and she landed on her rump as they gave in.

The filly immediately looked down, whether anything more had happened, but they were just the same legs, both yellow and adorable, with nothing indicating that a wound or something alike had appeared. No old ones either, she thought.

Still, her limbs usually only gave up after a few hours of usage, not first thing in the morning, so that made her slightly worried. However, as she tried to move her legs again, they worked just fine, and so she exhaled. It was just her being groggy, nothing more.

With that worked out, Apple Bloom turned her head to the side, to Applejack’s bed, where her sister lay, the blanket still spread beneath her and one leg half-covered in bandages. Had she found some in the cellar?

Apple Bloom had to wonder for a moment whether she should tell her sister. Now that the moment still lingered she could probably even get something out of it, and considering how Applejack had treated her over these past few weeks, maybe this could ease both their minds. Applejack never got angry about being woken by her, only anxious, worried that something might have happened. Something had, something good, and so Apple Bloom decided to wake her big sister up.

She wouldn’t lie, if she could at least graduate from diapers to training pants, that would be awesome.

The filly stood up again, making sure that her legs remained steady, and then immediately started to move. If she stood on her hind legs, the railing went up to her shoulders. Considering how uneasy sleep came in many a night, this was a solution she had grown comfortable with. Getting out of bed, however, always proved to be a challenge, as she didn’t trust her limbs nowadays, and the diaper only added to the difficulty.

She would never have imagined that this kind of garment would restrict her movements in any way, but the thickness of it reduced even the most graceful trot into a waddle that could, at best, be referred to as ‘undignified’. With her legs spread apart by the padding, getting over the railing took quite the struggle.

However, Apple Bloom managed, and, unlike what Applejack seemed to think evermore, didn’t need help with such mundane tasks. Smugly thinking that, she shifted her weight a bit too much to the side and suddenly fell. A bang resounded in the room as she hit the ground, her side crashing against the wood, with the right shoulder first. She then proceeded to roll herself onto her back, and looked if she had gotten herself wounded.

You need to be more careful, she thought, don’t want to make Applejack worry even more.

She wasn’t wounded. No blood, only a bit of pain. So she remained there for a moment, her ears perked. Applejack was still breathing softly and there was no other sound.

As the seconds passed that didn’t change, she hadn’t woken anypony who was meant to be asleep and there weren’t any ponies near enough to have heard it. She was fine, she was a big filly and she needed to tell Applejack the good news, needed to give her a reason to smile. Family was important, that’s what Twilight had told her before she had left.

The filly lifted herself off the ground, finding no dust stuck to her coat. Of course, Applejack kept this place clean.

Since Apple Bloom didn’t want to strain her legs too much, she decided to not simply jump on Applejack’s bed, instead she wanted to give her sister a different surprise. Applejack had done something a few days past that left Apple Bloom still in demand of satisfaction, and what better way to start the day than waking up both dry and serving vengeance?

I need to get myself some juice and daffodils for breakfast and then it’ll be perfect.

Apple Bloom climbed the bed as carefully as possible, biting her lips as she anticipated the sheer awesomeness that she was about to unleash.

Applejack herself rested in a most awkward position. She lay horizontal to the bed, her legs dangling over the edge, while her left arm was covered in bandages, of which the roll was still held in her right hoof.

It was easy to see that she had fallen asleep preparing them.

Her sister was a pony who tended to fall asleep during work, and nowadays she only found calm nights when Apple Bloom goaded her into sharing the bed with her. It was the same for both of them, one made the other feel safe, and that in turn made them themselves feel safe.

They just had their own way of doing it, their own way of dealing with how the world outside was.

But now was not the time to muse on the subjects of the world beyond the cider house, no, now was the time for vengeance.

Apple Bloom’s eyes were fixated on her sister. She would scare her, and that would teach her for blowing a raspberry on her stomach after that one diaper change, the one she had planned to forget about beforehand but now couldn’t. Surely, that had to be because of Applejack doing weird stuff and not the thing that made her want to forget that particular one so much.

Apple Bloom stepped closer to Applejack, preparing herself for doing it. The filly tried to keep her imagination down, tried not to think of how Applejack would yelp and the kind of face she’d make, yet the image still sprung up in her mind, and caused a slight giggle. Out here, past the radish and carrot fields, nopony would hear her scream. Well, nopony but Apple Bloom, but she wanted to savor the upcoming moment.

Then she stood right by her sleeping sister’s side. Vengeance for one humiliation, and maybe even more. One giant scare, just one.

Family is important, Apple Bloom, she remembered a voice saying, and there had been one eye looking at her while the wing had been rotting beneath the bandages.

Her eyes remained fixed on Applejack.

Scootaloo had slept over, Big Macintosh and Granny Smith had been there too, but it had been Applejack who had brought her here, and it had been Applejack who had cried herself into sleep for three days straight. On the third day, Apple Bloom had finally joined her, waking up in cold, wet sheets for another time, alone and already tired of pretending to be stronger than she was.

That had woken Applejack, that had been the moment where she must’ve remembered something and decided to do the one important thing: Protect her family.

And Apple Bloom wasn’t really angry about it, if she would tell the truth. Beyond the curtains and the wooden walls was a sky that scared her, and the Tear pulsating in the sky. The only safe place was here now, and they were alone. The entire world was gone, had crumbled with a bright flash that turned everypony sick and mad.

Even Granny Smith, even Big Macintosh and even Scootaloo, whose wailing could still be heard from the depths of the well.

In here, Applejack cared for her and protected her.

She understood that, and as she watched Applejack just sleep there, remembering Scootaloo when the sun’s light reached her on that day, Apple Bloom shivered.

The world outside had gone to hell.

She wanted to break down over Applejack, forgetting about her achievement, remembering the horrible first three days. However, just before she did just that, she slowly leant in closer to Applejack, who took another soft breath–

Before she suddenly jumped up and pushed Apple Bloom down on the sheets. Applejack brought down her muzzle on her little sister’s tummy, blowing a loud raspberry on it. The filly only managed a brief gasp before she erupted in a laughter so fierce that her pacifier fell out.

Then Applejack brought her head up again and looked at her sister with a bright smile that did little to hide how groggy she actually was. “Good morning, Apple Bloom,” she said, and even that, despite trying to sound enthusiastic seemed more like a scream for caffeine.

Apple Bloom just looked at her, mouth open, whatever sadness she had felt vanishing. “Why did you do that?”

“You’re so adorable, it’s hard to resist,” her older sister complimented, all smiles and sugar, all tired and downtrodden.

They both laughed, though Apple Bloom lead it, forgetting about what lay beyond the cider house again.

Her sister ruffled her mane then, the way she often did. It made Apple Bloom feel good, oddly appreciated, if not for the bandages around Applejack’s arm, hiding the patches of bleeding and rotten skin. Apple Bloom knew that it must’ve hurt her older sister, but Applejack taking care of another pony made her forget her own problems.

Another part of her still wanted to protest. She was almost a grown-up, would soon be as tall as Applejack. She wasn’t a kid anymore, but she kept quiet nonetheless.

I can be grown-up when all this is over, Apple Bloom told herself, her jaw slowly starting to hurt more and more.

“So, seeing how active my cute widdle sister is this mornin’, I take it ya slept well?”

Apple Bloom grinned, Or maybe even now, if only a bit.

“Aye,” she laughed. “First night I stayed completely dry.” She pointed at her diaper, wanting to show off her totally not-faded butterflies.

The reaction she got was not the one she’d expected, as Applejack gave her a bemused smile. She didn’t quite understand it and looked at it herself. No, she thought, spotting that parts of the butterflies had faded now.

She looked up at Applejack, bewildered, before she looked down again. This couldn’t be true, she thought, she had been dry, she had been one step closer to being a grown-up again.

“It’s not …” she started meekly, tears welling up.

Applejack shouldn’t have smiled like that, she should’ve been happy for her little sister, should’ve told her that she wouldn’t need to wear diapers anymore. That was ruined now. Now, Apple Bloom was still the baby who wet the bed, even though she hadn’t tonight. She didn't bother to pretend to be strong, let the tears fall freely. The diaper should've been dry, but it was stupid, and now everything was ruined, and her jaw hurt too.

However, Applejack’s hoof went to wipe the tears away before she pulled Apple Bloom close in a hug. “It’s fine,” she said, and once more Apple Bloom took note of how tired she sounded. “It’s just a small accident. It happened just now when I got up, must’ve scared it out of ya. It’s not even that much, ya don’t even need a change,” she whispered.

They were facts, so Apple Bloom agreed with them. “I’ve stopped wetting the bed,” she said defiantly.

Applejack stroked her mane. “Well, let’s just say ye stayed dry for one night. That’s a good start, a great start.”

Apple Bloom nodded, and then the two of them parted from the hug.

“How about you’ll stay dry for one more night, and then we’ll start getting you on the potty, alright?” Applejack asked.

She blushed, despite how long Applejack had put her down like this. It wasn’t what she had wanted, but it was a step in the right direction. She believes that I can do it, the filly thought, her face swelling up with a big smile. She knows I’m a big filly. She remembers it.

“So,” Applejack said, standing up from her bed, “I don’t think a first dry night should go uncelebrated.”

Apple Bloom swelled up even more. With pride, with anticipation and with glee. Already had she decided to call the small wet spot an “accident” that wouldn’t happen again today. She was a big filly, and already thought of what kind of awesome prize she would get for proving it. Some pancakes for breakfast, some warmed milk and a new toy from the town, all those would be nice.

But before Applejack could speak the next words, the pain rushed through her jaw, as brutal as the slash of an axe, cutting into the foal’s thoughts and breaking her smile. If it had been just a split-second or a second she would’ve been too shocked to react, but it wasn’t like that.

The pain was sawing through her jaw, piercing into her head and neck, and it slowly started to travel down her body.

With the first split-second, she felt the tears come up again, and then all she could do was wail, as the pain grew and grew. Salty water ran down her eyes and snot got into her mouth, and seconds seemed to grow to bitter tasting, hurting hours. The hurting went with a massive force through her head, spreading itself out. Every breath she took after the third second felt like somepony was striking her lungs with a hammer. All she wanted to do right then and there, was die.

And there was a hunger starting to blaze up inside her.

Suddenly she felt something being pushed into her mouth, felt warm arms gently wrapped around her and soft kisses pressed against her cheek. “It’s alright,” somepony said, and it drove the tiny blaze away. She started to suck on the rubber in her mouth almost automatically, and felt how the pain started to vanish, first from its source, and then it dissipated from the rest of her body.

The faint taste of Strawberries started to set in, and she welcomed its sweetness like the first drink of water after a time too long in the desert.

“Take it out for food, take it out when you take a bath, but never take it out for too long,” a voice had told her, and one eye had stared at her half-mad.

“Apple Bloom?” Applejack asked.

She kept Apple Bloom pressed against her chest, and the young filly could hear her heartbeat. It wasn’t quick, but calm, reminding her that her big sister had everything under control as long as she could protect something.

“Yesh?” she asked from behind her binky.

Applejack put a tissue to her face, rubbing the snot and tears off. Apple Bloom wanted to turn away, but didn’t, she was too busy enjoying her binky, too scared it would fall out again. Her older sister asked, “How about I’ll make us some breakfast, and then I’ll show you something else I brought from the town today?”

Apple Bloom nodded, but remained still otherwise. Her sister kissed her on her forehead, and then lifted her up, holding her with one arm. Apple Bloom felt the diaper pressing against her butt, like a comfy pillow, and sucked on her binky, feeling calmer by the second.

The pain was minor downer, but she was still close to being recognised as an adult, since she hadn’t wet the bed.