Like A Mother

Chapter 1

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She ran, panting as the sound of her chasers running through the brush causing her heart to jump in her chest. Her wings were mangled and torn, bleeding heavily. Her lavender fur was matted and covered in twigs and burs. Her magic was spent, only sparks managing to make it out as she made a last ditch effort to teleport away.

She rounded a corner and stopped at a dead end. She turned around to see the pack of nine Timberwolves inching slowly towards her, their jaws dripping with drool.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, closing her eyes and lowering her head. “I’m sorry, A—”

The Timberwolves leaped, their jaws wide as they readied to consume their prey.

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Apple Bloom screamed, sitting up in bed.

The door opened and Applejack ran in, stopping at the bed, holding a candle with her right forehoof. “Apple Bloom, what’s wrong?”

The filly only responded by wrapping her forelimbs around her big sister’s neck and quietly sobbing. Applejack put down her candle, and wrap her own forelegs around her little sister, holding her close.

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“This has gone on long enough,” Applejack said, banging her hoof on the table.

Big Macintosh said nothing as he looked at his sister from across the table, a sturdy expression on his face.

It was a few minutes later, Apple Bloom was upstairs, being comforted by Granny Smith, whilst the two eldest Apple siblings talked.

Apple Bloom had been having nightmares for several weeks now. They were horrible, causing her to wake up in the middle of the night, screaming as if she were under attack by some monster from the Everfree.

All three members of the family had tried to console her, get her to tell them what happened in the nightmares that scared her so much so that they could help her get over them.

However, Apple Bloom refused to tell them. It was even starting to affect her school grades. A few times, Cheerilee had brought Apple Bloom home, saying she’d fallen asleep during class, only to wake up screaming and run out the door.

Applejack look down, tears welling in her eyes. “She’s been havin’ these nightmares fer weeks now. I wanna help her, but she won’t say what happens in those nightmares, only that she’s scared they’ll come true.” She looked up at her brother as the tears slid down her muzzle. “What am I s’pposed t’ do, Maccy? Ah’m her big sister, but Ah can’t even help her.”

Big Mac nodded, a sad look on his normally stoic face. He sighed. “Maybe we should get Twilight Sparkle to help. She’s always had a way with Apple Bloom. Maybe she can help.”

Applejack sighed, slumping his head on the table. Her brother had suggested getting Twilight to help out before, but she’d always put off the idea.

“I don’ wanna cause Twi any trouble,” she said quietly. “She’s got all her royal duties, not t’ mention she’s now got all those new responsibilities since becomin’ the Princess o’ Friendship.”

Big Mac shook his head. “Ya just said it right there, AJ,” he said firmly. “She’s the Princess o’ Friendship. If’n there’s anypony who can help Apple Bloom, it’d be her.”

AJ sighed again. “Alright, Big Mac. Ah’ll ask her tomorrow.” Sure hope she can help.

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Twilight heard a knocking on her chamber door. She sat up, stretching and looked around her room.

Since the growing of the Friendship Castle several weeks ago, she’d gotten used to her new room. The clean blue crystalline walls were a far cry from the cosiness of her Tree, but it had grown on her, thanks to the help of her friends. It reminded her of her days as a filly, staying at Canterlot Castle almost every night.

She yawned and glanced at Spike’s bed. The baby dragon was still sound asleep, muttering something about an ice cream castle. Even though he now had his own room, he did sometimes still like to sleep in the same room as her. She found it rather cute.

Shaking her head, Twilight walked to the doors of her room and opened them with her magic. A guard was standing there. Celestia had had them sent as a trial basis two days ago. Though, Twilight was considering sending them back to Canterlot. It just felt weird having them in her castle.

He saluted the moment the doors were open. “Pardon me for waking you, Your Highness, but Applejack Apple wishes to speak with you. She says the matter is urgent and about a filly named Apple Bloom.”

Any sleepiness Twilight had had left was immediately forgotten and she nodded, following the guard to the Throne Room. There they found Applejack, pacing back and forth in front of the table, worry etched on her face.

“You may leave us,” Twilight said and the guard nodded, leaving them to speak privately. She walked up to the Earth mare, concern on her face. “Applejack, what’s happened to Apple Bloom?”

Applejack stopped pacing, turned to Twilight and sighed. “Twi, ever since Tirek attacked, Apple Bloom’s been having nightmares, horrible ones.”

Twilight nodded, her worries lessening a little. If it was only nightmares, maybe things weren’t that bad and Applejack was just being overprotective of her little sister, like Apple Bloom had told her during one of their Twilight Time sessions she’d been after the first time she’d been allowed to stay home alone.

Applejack looked down. “She’s barely gettin’ any sleep these days. She’s scared, so certain whatever she’s having nightmares about will come true.”

Twilight frowned. She could remember that Apple Bloom had become rather sluggish during their most recent Twilight Times. She kept nodding her head, as if about to fall asleep, only to jerk up, fear etch on her face.

One time Twilight had confronted Apple Bloom about it, to be met by a hug from the filly. A really tight hug, the kind she remembered giving her mother back when she’d been a filly and had thought she wouldn't come back whenever she went out alone. Then, Apple Bloom would get back to her task and act like nothing had happened.

“Do you know what the nightmares are about?” she asked, though she had a feeling she knew the answer to that.

Applejack shook her head. “She won’t tell us. But, from the way her voice cracks every time, I got a feelin’ she’s needs help, Twi. Now, I can’t really pay ya much fer helping out, but—”

Twilight shook her head. “You don’t have to pay me anything, Applejack,” she smiled. “I’d be happy to help. Bring Apple Bloom around later today, after school and I’ll see what I can do. Maybe I can find out what’s causing the nightmares.”

Applejack visibly relaxed and smiled. “Thank, Twi. Ya’ll don’ know how much this means t’ me. Ah’ll find a way to repay ya, Ah promise.”

Twilight frowned slightly, but still smiled. “And I already told you, you don’t have to do that. I’m happy to help any way I can.”

With a nodded, Applejack left, leaving Twilight to return to her room and prepare for Apple Bloom’s therapy session. She was so excited. She hadn’t gotten to do this with Rainbow Dash, that being a false alarm, but now she could put what she learned from those books about psychology to the test.

Author's Note

Well, here's that Apple Bloom Twilight fic i promised a while back. Now, don't expect it to be updated anytime soon. i'm mainly writting chapter 1 of this and several other fics so that i get them out before i just put them off, eventually never writing them.

i realized this chapter doesn't really have much, but please bear with me for now.

until next time, later everypony