Like a Mother

by Autum Breeze

Rating: teen
Tags: Sad, Main 6, Apple Bloom, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Other, Twilight Sparkle, Gore, Slice of Life
Length: 2945

Apple Bloom always liked Twilight, but is it simply friendship or something deeper?

Cover art by Abion47

Apple Bloom has been having nightmares ever since Tirek attacked Equestria. In the nightmares she always sees a lavender alicorn, her wings broken, her magic failing, being attacked by something.

These nightmares have gotten so bad, that she's ever started falling asleep in class.

Applejack asks Twilight for help, who is more than happy to do so. However, as she delves into Apple Bloom's nightmares, she starts to learn that the reason for them is more shocking than she expected or the effect it has on herself.

When Applejack learns exactly what Twilight has found out, she will have to choose. Family pride, or her little sister's happiness?

Featured 22/8/2014, less than an hour after it was posted!:pinkiegasp::twilightsmile:

a fic i decided to write after reading A Lesson Discovered and wanted to explore just how deep this could go.

Published 2014-08-22 07:10:07 UTC
Last updated 2016-04-03 05:00:36 UTC

Chapter 1

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.

___________________________________________________________

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.

___________________________________________________________

“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.

___________________________________________________________

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

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

___________________________________________________________

“Sis... Ah’m fine,” Apple Bloom mumbled, her words turning into a loud yawn as her sister led her towards the giant Crystal Tree Castle.

Applejack glanced down at her sister with a firm frown. “No, Bloom, ya ain’t. Ah dunno what’s wrong, or why ya’ll won’t tell me, or even why Princess Luna ain’t been able to stop yer nightmares, but Twi’s gonna help ya fix this.”

Apple Bloom froze, before looking around frantically. “Ya told Twi ’bout mah nightmares?! What’d you tell ’er?!”

Applejack just shook her head. They’d reached the doors to Twilight’s castle, where two Earth Pony guards stood outside.

They nodded to the female ponies, before opening the doors to allow them inside.

Applejack lead Apple Bloom down the halls, before coming to what Twilgiht had informed her was her bedroom.

She blinked, glancing around the castle hallway. Why hadn’t they come across any other guards since the ones out front?

Shaking her head, she lifted a hoof and knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Twilight’s voice called from the other side.

Looking down to her sister and nodding, Applejack opened the door and walked in... and almost burst out laughing.

Twilight was sitting in a sofa chair next to a large blush red couch. However, it was the black framed, doctor glasses and her hair done up in a bun that was making it hard for Applejack to put a hoof over her mouth.

Twilight looked up as they entered; not seeming to notice the restrained laughter Applejack was trying to hide.

“Applejack. Apple Bloom, glad you could make it.”

Applejack managed to get herself under control, before leading her sister further into the room, before moving to leave.

“Sis, yer not staying?” the filly asked, looking to her sister with confusion.

Applejack shook her head. “Sorry, little sister, but Twi says these sessions should remain private, an’ Ah respect that. If’n ya wanna talk about it with me later, that’s okay. Fer now, this is just time fer you and Twi.”

Apple Bloom blinked, before looking down, her ears flattening a bit.

Applejack nodded goodbye to Twilight and closed the door.

Twilight beckoned the youngest of the apples towards the couch, which she moved to with slow steps.

Once Bloom was laying on her back on the couch, Twilight levitated a small notepad up and looked to her. “Alright, Apple Bloom. Your sister asked me do this because you’ve been having horrible nightmares since Tirek was beaten, correct?”

The yellow filly went stiff, before looking with a shaky grin at the Alicorn.

“N-n-n-nightmares? Ah ain’t been having any nightmares, Twi.” She gave a very unconvincing laugh.

Twilight gave her a raised eyebrow. “Apple Bloom,” she said a firm, but gentle voice, “she’s told me you wake up screaming and that you’ve been falling asleep in school. And don’t think I haven’t noticed what happens during Twilight Time.”

Apple Bloom’s smile became a bit more forced. “Wh-what do ya mean?”

Twilight gave a sad look to her. “The times you’ve woken up in a fright and then held onto me like I did my mother whenever I was scared when I was little? Did you really think I wouldn’t notice that?”

Apple Bloom kept up her smile, though it slipped a bit and her shoulders sagged. “Um... well...”

Twilight closed her eyes and levitated off her glasses. “Apple Bloom, I promise, I just want to help you get over these nightmares. I almost promise I won’t tell Applejack anything you tell me.”

Apple Bloom blinked, genuine confusion taking over her face. “Huh?”

Twilight gave a small smile. “I may not be an official psychologist, but I do know that if I want you to talk to me, you need to trust me.”

“O’ course Ah trust ya, Twilight!” Apple Bloom looked at her with wide eyes, as if she couldn’t believe the mare would think otherwise.

Twilight nodded. “I know, but I’m just pointing it out. If you don’t want Applejack to know about what’s going on yet, I can’t understand and will respect that. Anything said in this room won’t leave it unless you want it to, Pinkie Promise,” she finished by making the motions.

Apple Bloom watched her for several moments, before looking down. She rolled onto her stomach and stared down at her hooves.

“Ah... Ah keep seein’... mah ma.”

Twilight blinked, before quickly starting to write down. “Okay.”

“In... she..." She took a deep breath, before letting it out again. "In my dreams, she keeps gettin’ hurt,” Bloom says, her voice filled with sadness. “Ah can’ even remember what she looks like, but Ah know it’s her. Every night Ah dream she’s being chased by sumthin’.”

“And... last night?” Twilight asked cautiously.

Bloom sighed, putting her head over her crossed forelegs. “She was... she was running fr’m Timber Wolves. She... she was hurt real bad. Her wings were broken and bleeding and her magic don’t work and... and when they cornered her... then... then...”

Twilight looked up, seeing Bloom had tears welling in her eyes.

Carefully, she got up, lifted herself onto the couch and lay down next to the shaking filly, draping a wing over her.

“It’s okay, Apple Bloom. You don’t have to explain everything at once. We can take it slow.”

Apple Bloom nodded, leaning into the lavender mare’s side, giving a small sigh. “Ya promise yer not gonna tell AJ ’bout this.”

Twilight shook her head. “Not unless you want me to.”

Apple Bloom gave another sigh, her body relaxing against the older pony’s. “Okay. Ya can tell her, just... don’t tell her too much.”

Twilight chuckled. “Something tells me somepony’s tired.” She leaned down and nuzzled her through her red mane. “Then get some sleep, Apple Bloom. I don’t mind.”

Apple Bloom yawned. “Thanks... Mom,” she said sleepily, before drifting off to Luna’s realm.

Twilight blinked, caught off-guard by the words she’d heard.

She lifted her head back up, an eyebrow raised. She couldn’t have just heard what she thought she just heard, right?

No. No, Apple Bloom was tired is all. She probably did it because they’d been talking about the dreams and Apple Boom said they were about her mother.

Having assured herself it was a sleepily slip-up by the young filly, she levitated her notepad over and began reading through her notes.

So Apple Bloom was having nightmares about her mother being badly injured and then lost.

Made, sense, she guessed. The young filly had no doubt been worried about Applejack during Tirek’s attack and it was stirring old memories, ones Bloom didn’t even know she had from when she was a foal and worry for AJ was being redirected towards thoughts of their mother, whom Bloom had never gotten to be with.

Whilst they hadn't gone through as much as she'd honestly hoped, it was a start. Better to start out small than not at all, right?

As she looked through her notes, Twilight noted something that puzzled her, giving her pause and a furrowed brow. Apple Bloom had mentioned something about broken wings and failing magic?

She glanced down at the little filly under her wing, an eyebrow raised, before shaking her head. Maybe Apple Bloom was dreaming her mother had been an Alicorn because she hadn’t known her.

Twilight blinked, frowning. Come to think of it, she didn’t know what Apple Bloom’s mother looked like.

She’d have to check with Applejack later about finding photos of their parents, but she was pretty sure the Apples didn’t have any Alicorns in their family.

Heck, you could sort of count her, as Applejack was always saying how she was practically family, but it didn’t really mean the same.

Inwardly laughing to herself, Twilight decided, since Apple Bloom had given her the okay, she’d talk a bit about what she’d learned with Applejack later.

For now, since she was stuck with Apple Bloom sleeping against her, she decided she’d take a nap too.

Settling herself down and levitating over the sheets from her bed and placing them over herself and the filly under her wing, she lowered her head and went to sleep, noting an oddly warm feeling in her chest she couldn’t really explain, from the feeling of having the little filly nestled against her side.

Author's Note

Okay, here's chapter two.

Now, i'm not sure how well this goes compared to the last chapter (I'm not exactly best at subtle writing, so it probably feels a bit forced), but i decided to try something at least.

If this sucked, well, what do you expect when i haven't been able to focus properly with constantly being asked when i'll continue this when i'm writing other stuff.

Yes, this chapter was probably bad compared to before, but that's because i'm now feeling pressured. If you want this to be good, let me have some space to get other stuff done, so i have more free time for this.

Honestly, i HATE this chapter. I feel it's bland and doesn't hold any of the drive i had when i first came up with this story, and that's because i feel like i'm being forced to write it when i want to work on other stories first!

Sorry for the rant, but it's how i feel when i constantly have people asking when a story i don't have the time to focus on is practically being demanded to be continued. It's things like that that get stories canceled and i don't want to cancel this, but i'm pushed again, i might just do that to spare myself the pain.

Sorry for the rant, hope you could find something good about this chapter and til next time, later everypony