An Apple in a Bushel of Peaches

Chapter 7 - ‘Neighbors’

An Applejack in the Vogonverse Story

Ah had to look at the ring on ma finger again. Ah didn’t know when Anthony had managed ta find the time ta git it, but Ah couldn’t help but smile when Ah looked at it. There was a weight ta it. Somethin’ more than jest the little bit of gold and the small diamond on it. Naw, there was somethin’ else there that said Ah was gonna be a married mare soon.

Ah touched ma stomach and realized that would be a good thing. Ah could see the beginnin’ of a bump there, and Ah knew that Ah had a foal or two waitin’ ta pop out. Ah was happy, but Ah felt kinda scared to. Ah was so young when ma Mama and Daddy passed on. Ah remembered how much it hurt, and Ah remember how Ah had to step up, be a mare, and help raise Applebloom.

Celestia forgive me there was times Ah absolutely wanted ta hate ‘Bloom. Ah did ‘cause Ah didn’t git ta go do much of nothin’ ‘sept watchin’ ‘Bloom, well watchin’ her and changin’ her diaper. Ah ain’t scared ‘bout being a mama, but Ah am scared ‘bout somethin’ happenin’ ta me or ta Anthony. Ah jest dun’t want ta leave nun of ma foals like Ah was left. Ah touched ma belly again and Ah looked at the sleepin’ stallion ‘side me. Anthony, he’s a good stallion, and Ah know that he’s gonna be a good Daddy to our foals.

“What’s botherin’ ya?” I heard ‘im mumble.

“Ah…” Ah stopped and collected maself, “Ah jest worryin’ Nothin’ bad, jest worryin’ ‘bout our foals.”

Ah saw him raise up, look at me fer a second, and Ah realized that Ah might have dun went and stepped in it.

“Ain’t nothin’ wrong, least not that Ah can tell, but Ah… Ah told ya ‘bout ma parents, what happened, right?” Ah asked.

He nodded and Ah took a moment ‘fore Ah breathed out.

“Ah’m worried that might happen ta our foals. It ain’t right to leave ‘em like that, and Ah… Ah dun’t want ta wish that on ‘em. Ah dun’t want a little filly of mine feelin’ like she got the wrong end of the stick. Ah know it sounds silly…” I said before I felt two lips against my own.

When he backed up Ah looked at him.

“Jackie, we ain’t gonna leave our kids like that. Fer one, I plan on having somebody be their godparents, and two, well, I’m gonna do damned well everything I can to make sure we don’t leave ‘em like that,” he said.

Ah leaned against ‘im, feeling his strong arms ‘round me, and Ah believed that he’d do that. He’d do everythin’ he could ta make sure we wouldn’t be leavin’ our foals behind.

“Breakfast!!!!!!” the shout from downstairs called out

Ah wasn’t quite ready ta git up, and Ah knew that Anthony wouldn’t make me move yet. Ah felt like Ah could stay right there, right in that spot, and not have ta worry ‘bout nothin’ else ever again. He felt so soft against ma fur, soft and warm, and even with the chores that needed to be dun Ah jest wanted ta be right there, right then.

“Sis? Ain’t ya gonna come down fer Breakfast?” ‘Bloom’s voice asked from outside our door.

“In a minute ‘Bloom,” Ah said.

“Dun’t go and take too long. Jessica has fixed up a full platter of peach fritters, and she even made some chocolate chip waffles,” she said.

Ah felt ma belly growl, and even though Ah wanted to stay here, the foal or foals Ah had growin’ inside of me wanted to get some vittles in ‘em.

“Suppose we ought ta go down stairs and have some breakfast,” Ah said.

Ah felt his hug tighten, pullin’ me closer, and after a moment he gave me a little nuzzle.

“Sounds good,” he said.

Ah watched as he got up, and Ah couldn’t help but see the way his muscles worked against those scars of his. It still made me hurt somethin’ awful ta know that the stallion Ah loved, the stallion that was gonna be the father to our foals, had been treated so poorly as a colt. He stopped and Ah saw him look back at me.

“We might save a little time if’n we shower together,” he said.

Ah smiled, got up, followed him, and knew that we’d be lucky to get much breakfast at all. Ah gotta say that there ain’t nothin’ as good as, a long, hot, and relaxin’ shower. Unless of course yer stallion is in there with ya. We started gittin’ clean, and then we got all dirty again, so we had to get cleaned back up. When we both finished up Ah had ta admit that Ah was clean. Ta be honest ma tail, ma flank, ma filly bits, and ma breasts were the cleanest parts of ma body. It sure seemed that ma stallion enjoyed washin’ those more than anything else. Ah watched as Anthony pulled on some clothes, and Ah considered how Ah wanted to go around. Back home when Ah wasn’t goin’ nowhere important Ah didn’t really even worry ‘bout putting anything on but my stetson.

Since Ah’ve been here Ah’ve figured out that folks seem to be dressed all of the time. Still, Ah didn’t see no reason ta be too dressed up, so Ah grabbed an old white t-shirt of Anthony’s, and a pair of ‘em jeans that Jessica had made fer me. Ah slipped ‘em on, and we walked down stairs.

“‘Bout time. Y’all almost missed out on breakfast,” Big Mac said.

“We was jest gettin’ cleaned up,” Anthony said.

“Uh huh, Ah know that kind of cleanin’,” he said before he brought out some milk and juice.

Ah looked at all of ‘em vittles and ma stomach growled like a timberwolf. Ah heard Anthony let out a small laugh before he started handing me some of the plates of food Ah was looking at. Even when Ah’d been applebuckin’ all day long Ah ain’t never been so hungry. Ah piled ma plate plum full. Ah had waffles, a few peach fritters, some eggs, hashbrowns, and finally Ah topped it all off with some honey we had gotten from the market. Ah looked up ta see everypony a lookin’ at me.

“Sis, yer sure are eatin’ a bunch,” ‘Bloom said.

“It’s okay Apple Bloom. She’s… Well, she’s got a niece or nephew growing inside of her for you,” Jessica said.

“Ah’m a gonna be an aunt… Twice?” she asked.

Jessica nodded.

Ah looked at her holding my nephew. She did give us all a right scare when she started having her foal. Ah remember how Big Mac was a trotting up and down the hall at the hospital, and there weren’t nothin’ that could stop that colt from fretting ‘bout his mare. He kept askin’ everypony, and Ah had to finally lead him back and away from the doctors so they could do their job. Ta be honest Ah’m a little curious if’n Anthony will be the same way.

Ah looked back at the food on ma plate, and Ah took the first bite. Ah can’t say Ah know what it’s like for everypony, but maybe there’s somethin’ that makes food taste better when ya’re with foal. All Ah know is that everythin’ on ma plate tasted better than anything Ah ever ate at Canterlot, and it was makin’ a good case fer bein’ better than Pinkie Pie’s cookin’.

Ah finished up all of the vittles in front of me, and then Ah smelled somethin’. It was something Ah’d smelled a hundred times before, but Ah knew it couldn’t be right. Ah looked at Big Mac and noticed that he was smelling it too.

“Big Mac, are ya tryin’ to cook Granny Smith’s apple pie?” Ah asked.

He shook his head. Ah could still smell it, and Ah could feel a powerful need ta follow the smell. Ah got up, knowing that Big Mac and Applebloom was doing the same. Ah followed that smell outside, and Ah noticed how much stronger it got the further back Ah went into the orchard. Ah felt a hand on ma shoulder, and Ah looked at Anthony who pointed to the wall way down on the far end.

Anthony had talked about that place before, the same place where Robert, Stephanie, and Harold had all escaped from. Ah looked at it, and Ah felt confused. How could the smell of ma Granny Smith’s Apple Pie be coming from inside of there?

“Something ain’t right here. I’ve been in there when they’ve made those apple pies. None of them smelled like that,” Anthony said.

Ah looked at the wall again, and Ah jest wanted to know how they were a makin’ that smell. Finally the lot of us walked back to the house, the smell of ma granny’s pies filled the air, and it made this feel even more like home, if’n Ah was a gonna be honest. The smell didn’t stop floating down until well after midnight, and it started up again right about four am. Ah laid there, smelling what smelled like Granny Smith’s freshly baked apple pie, and Ah tried not to let it bother me. I rolled over to wake up Anthony, but instead there was an empty spot on the bed.

Slowly, Ah got up, walked down stairs, and looked to see everypony, except for Anthony, at the table. Ah began to feel something. Ah felt worry, real worry, bubblin’ up and making itself known. Ah walked outside, and Ah screamed at what Ah saw. Ah heard the door to the house slam open and Ah didn’t wait fer ‘em. Instead Ah ran to the barn, to Anthony, and found that he was still breathing.

Ah dun’t know who had worked ma stallion over like this, but Ah wasn’t gonna to jest stand back and take it. Slowly, Ah helped get him down. One of his arms hung limp, and Ah could tell it had been broken. Both of his eyes looked plum swelled shut, and his ribs… Lawd touchin’ him there nearly set him off ta screaming something terrible. Ah was as careful as Ah could be, and Ah set him down. Ah saw one of his eyes open, and he didn’t try to say a word. Instead he lifted his hand and put a slip of paper inta ma own. Ah looked at it and Ah saw Granny Smith, lookin’ mighty tired, and she was standing over a conveyor belt filled with dozens of small pie shells ready to be filled.

Author's Note

Wow, it's been a while. First, sorry for taking so long to update. Life has a way of getting into the way. That said, the next chapter most likely will have a guest author helping with it. L0rd0f7hund3r will be helping out some, and please, if you get a chance go check his page out. He deserves a few follows and some likes.

Again, sorry about it taking a while.

Thanks to all of my readers,

RJP