The BeginningView OnlineThe Only ExceptionThe Beginning"Applejack, you promised!' Apple Bloom's whine could be heard miles away. "You Pinkie-promised that you would take us Crusaders bakin' today!" Applejack shook her head. "Ah know, sugar-cube, its just that the apples need buckin' and Big Mac can't do it all, and-" She was rudely interrupted by her sister. "But Big Mac only has twenty trees left! You know that he can finish that, and get dinner afterwards before sun down!" Apple Bloom could tell that her sister was about to refuse, so she used her last weapon that she had in play. When Applejack next looked at her sister, she had completely transformed. Her head was down, her bow was floppy, and she was sniffling. "I-it's ju-just that w-we really wa-wanted you to help u-us! Y-you are j-just so nat-natural at this that-" Apple Bloom started sobbing, or, rather, pretending to. Applejack, who couldn't bare to see her sister in such a state, relented. "All right, sugar-cube, Ah will take ya'll bakin'! Will you please, please stop cryin' now?" Apple Bloom jumped up. Her eyes were clear, and she was bouncing like Pinkie Pie. "Yes! Let's go!" With that, she raced off. Applejack, realizing that she had been tricked, just shook her head, and followed her galloping sister. Granny Smith, who was in her rocking chair, had been watching this with a bemused expression. Then, her face fell as she realized that Applejack had been about to refuse having fun with her sister for work. That silly mare! she thought. It's always work, work, work with her! I wonder why? As Granny continued her thoughts, Big Mac walked in. "Oh, hello Mac! Are the apples bucked?" Big Mac responded with his usual, "Eeyup," and went to the kitchen. Just as Apple Bloom had predicted, he went in, and walked right back out, opened the door, and left to get dinner. "Well, well, maybe that young filly will get her Cutie Mark in predicting the future," Granny Smith said, out-loud. Then, she noticed that she was talking to herself, and felt very silly. I got it! she thought. Applejack is so obsessed with working because she doesn't have a colt-friend to distract her! I wonder... With that, Granny Smith started thinking of a plan. "Come on, Caramel!" Dr. Hooves was waiting impatiently by Caramel's front-door. "We are going to be late!" Caramel poked his head out. "I don't know, I would rather stay home," he said. The Doctor was horrified. "I spent my pay for four-months on these Wonderbolt tickets, and you don't want to come? Well, too bad! You are coming! That is final!" A voice peeked out form behind the Doctor. "Did you say Woderbolt tickets?" He turned around, and there was Rainbow Dash, her face painted with excitement. "You heard her Doc, she's obviously excited, I'm obviously not, so take her!" Caramel looked almost relieved, but he wasn't quite sure if her would listen or not. Dr. Hooves paused, then replied, "Fine, but you owe me!" With that, he and the mare with the rainbow-colored mane left. Caramel was officially relieved. Yes! he thought. I get to have a day to myself! What to do first...hmm...I know! I'll take a walk! As Caramel was walking out of his front gate, he was nearly run-over by the CMC, who were riding on Scootaloo's scooter. "Sorry, sir!" they called as they drove past. Caramel just nodded. As he was walking, he came upon a very tired and out of breath Applejack. "Hello, Applejack! How are you? Where are you going? Why are you panting?" Caramel stopped himself. He was a little bit socially awkward, and whenever he was with a mare, he ended up rambling. "Howdy, Caramel! I'm good, but really tired...I'm helping the CMC learn how to bake! Do you know where they went?" Her voice was tired, and seemed to be a little bit over-worked. "Well...let me show you where they are! They nearly ran me over, so I think I know where they are-wait! Shouldn't you know where they are going since you are helping them?" AJ just sighed. "Yeah, Ah should, but when do the young 'uns ever listen to common sense?" Caramel gave a little laugh, and started walking away, then stopped. "Wait, AJ? Do you want me to help you guys with baking?" Applejack nodded eagerly. "Of course! I would be glad for the help!" she replied. They made their way down the countryside, the green grass flowing in the gentle breeze. The sun was high in the sky, causing the two ponies to sweat a bit. At first, the walk was in a natural silence. After a while, it became slightly more noisy as they came into town. Caramel cleared his throat. "Well, based on the fresh scooter tracks, and the terrorized towns ponies, they came this way," he pointed towards Sugar Cube Corner. Applejack was looking intently, looking for the scared ponies of Ponyville. "Um...AJ? The part about the terrorized towns ponies was a joke," Caramel said. Applejack nodded. "Of course! Ah, was just looking for..." her voice faded out. "You were looking for your sister?" he suggested. She nodded. They trotted off, following the scooter tracks. They finally got to Sugar Cube Corner, with the wind blowing in their faces. Outside, on the front-wall, a blue scooter sat. Applejack hurried up. "Ah can't believe that they 'ave been here botherin' the Cakes the entire time!" She got to the pink door, and went inside. Caramel followed, more slowly. Once inside, they saw that the shop was a mess. "Apple Bloom? Sweetie Belle? Scootaloo? Come out her right now!" Applejack's voice was filled with frustration. Slowly, as if Applejack had a weapon, the three fillies came out from the kitchen. All three of them were covered in frosting and cake crumbs. Apple Blooms' bow was singed. "Now what in tarnation is goin' on here?" she asked. Sweetie Belle answered. "We were baking with the Pinkie Pie, and then frosting container exploded! We were going to clean it up, but the cake was on fire! I used my magic to take it out, but it dropped, landed on the floor, and crumbs went flying everywhere! A huge piece of cake that happened to be on fire dropped, almost set the entire building on fire, but Apple Bloom put it out with her bow! It was AMAZING!!!" Caramel took a step forward, and gave the girls a stern look. "Listen, that was dangerous! One of you could've gotten hurt! With that aside, is any of the cake salvageable?" All three fillies shook their heads. "Well, then!" he continued. "You will have to work off your debt to the Cake's! Understand?" The CMC nodded miserably. "Now, off you trot! Try not to get into trouble, again!" Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo walked out of the bakery, heads down, eyes downcast, and missing much of the energy that they normally possessed. Applejack stared at Caramel. "Y-you just made them STOP! Ah thought that was impossible!? Can Ah hire you?" her voice was astonished. Caramel blushed. "Well..uh..." He didn't know what to say. Nothing is probably best, he thought. "Uh...anyhow, where is Pinkie Pie?" They heard a voice come from above them, though they couldn't understand it. The voice came again. "Is it safe?" it asked. Applejack gasped. "Pinkie Pie?" They heard some shuffling, some glass breaking, but finally, a scared looking Pinkie Pie came out from her bedroom in the attic. Her mane was cut in half, and she had a fearful look about her. She, like the Cutie Mark Crusaders, was covered in frosting and cake crumbs. She stood there, looking like something was going to come and eat her. "Pinkie, what is the matter?" Applejack prompted her. The disheveled pink mare gasped, and a story ran out of her like water from a new faucet. "It was horrible! The CMC came over here, waiting for you, but they got bored and asked me to help them bake! I said yes, of course! I thought that they had experience! They nearly killed me!" With that, she fell to the floor in a dead faint. Caramel went over too Pinkie Pie, picked her up, and set her on a relatively clean piece of carpet. Applejack looked at her, then sighed, and in a tired tone, said, "Well, we had better find the Cakes. They will be wantin' to know what happened." Caramel nodded, and opened the door for the orange mare. As she walked by, he noticed something that he hadn't before. "Hey, AJ? Umm...I like your hat," he said, immediately wishing that he hadn't. Applejack just dipped her head in thanks. The two earth-ponies walked the streets of Ponyville much like they had before. The wind had brought in some clouds, but they didn't look like rain. As they passed Golden Oaks Library, the wind picked up. It was a wind from the north, and had a bit of a chill to it. With this wind, the clouds covered the sun, and the temperature dropped a couple of degrees. All of Ponyville seemed to be walking back home. Caramel stopped Applejack. "So...I think that wherever the Cakes were, they are probably heading home," he began. "So, if we head back to Sugar Cube Corner, then we will meet them." Applejack turned around, and slumped away. Caramel had been so busy looking for the Cakes that he hadn't bothered glancing, even once, at Applejack. She is so tired, he thought. I wonder why? By the time that they had gotten back to Sugar Cube Corner, it had begun to rain. The raindrops were crystal-clear. Caramel was about to knock on the door when he heard a voice ring out, "Applejack!" He turned around, and saw Cheerilee galloping towards them. He really wanted to knock, but he refrained. When Cheerilee got to them, they saw that she had tears in her eyes. "Applejack, Apple Bloom has gone missing!" Author's Note Based on a shipping-war with BewhoUr.
Apple Bloom, What?View OnlineThe Only ExceptionApple Bloom, What?The silence was deafening. If not for the rain, you could have heard a pin drop into a hay-stack. Applejack looked as if she couldn't comprehend what she was being told. Cheerilee looked close to crying. Caramel, who felt separated from Applejack, yet at the same time closer, was standing a couple of steps away, ready to be there if they needed help. The silence was broken by a flash of lightning, and a clap of thunder. The noises seemed to bring Applejack out of a trance. She stared at Cheerilee, and asked, "What do you mean, my sister is missing?" Her tone sounded like she was only just holding it together. Cheerilee attempted to speak, but her words were whipped away by the wind. She cleared her throat, and managed to be heard this time. "Well, you see Applejack, the Crusaders came to the school house when the storm started. I let them in, and they were playing around, but they seemed, off. Well, I went into the next room to-" More thunder, louder this time, interrupted her. "I went into the next room to get some food, but when I came back, they were gone! And the scooter was still there, and, and, OH!" Cheerilee fell to the ground, sobbing. With this, Caramel stepped forward. "Come on, AJ, let's get her inside." With a little bit of a struggle, the two wet, tired, and worried ponies got the sobbing Cheerilee into Sugar Cube Corner. As soon as they were inside, Mrs. Cake rushed up to them. "Oh, dear you're all wet! And Cheerilee!" she said. Nopony gave a response, too wet, and exhausted, both physically, and emotionally. Mrs. Cake shook her head, and walked across the floor, which was still covered in frosting and cake crumbs. Applejack, who couldn't handle it anymore, fell asleep on her hooves. Caramel caught her, but he, too, was exhausted. So, after placing Applejack carefully on the ground, he felt his mind go black, and he crumpled onto the floor. Mrs. Cake came in, holding a pot full of tea, some towels, and three blankets. Mr. Cake said that he had the clean-up covered for now, so she had all the time in the world to get to the bottom of this mystery. She came to where she thought that they should be, and couldn't find them. Maybe they left? she thought. Then, to her right, she saw a small heap of fur. Upon closer inspection, it was Applejack and Caramel, both passed-out, and laying right next to each other. Aww...how cute! Mrs. Cake took the warmest blanket, and lay it onto the two sleeping ponies. Applejack woke-up to the sound of voices. She suddenly felt something rubbing against her, and glanced over, only to find a sleeping Caramel. She jumped up, horrified. The orange mare looked around, saw that she was in Sugar Cube Corner, and everything came back to her. She started shaking, and forced herself to calm down. "Um, is anyone here?" she called out. Caramel awoke to the sound of her voice. He rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, I'm here!" Applejack turned around, her face in a facade of anger. "Yep, Ah knew that, as Ah woke up next to you!" Inside, she felt differently. Ah'm actually glad that he's here...Ah don't know what Ah would do if he weren't! she thought. Caramel hung his head. "Listen...I'm sorry! I was just so tired that after I laid you on the ground that-that..." he trailed off. The look on Applejack's face softened. "It's alright, Ah just..." Applejack had a decision to make, and she made it. "Ah just have been feelin' overwhelmed with all o' this! My sister-and her friends- going missing, and then there's you, and Ah feel like Ah'm breakin' my promise!" She was close to tears. Then, she just let go, and started sobbing. Caramel came up, trying to comfort her, but she turned away. "No, just please, don't!" Caramel could hardly understand what she was saying. He got the message, and stood a couple of feet away. Mr. Cake came in, about to offer them some breakfast, but soon left when he saw the state that everyone was in. After what felt like hours, but was actually only minutes, Applejack calmed down. She stared at Caramel, her eyes red from crying. Caramel dared to ask her a question. "What promise a-are you b-braking? " His voice was gentle, nervous, even. Applejack could tell that she had shaken him up, and felt bad. No! Ah can't feel bad! she thought. Ah must stay strong! Caramel stood there, a polite distance away, still waiting for an answer that he hoped that Applejack would give him. When she didn't, he began ranting, in a semi-calm way. "Look, the rain has stopped. The apple trees probably appreciated it. A little bit of water is good, but you don't want a flood. Your sister-" Applejack interrupted, her voice filled with venom. "My sister has probably been kidnapped! What do ya know?" Caramel shrank back, immediately wishing that he could have kept his cool. Applejack wasn't done, though. "Do ya wanna know what promise Ah feel like Ah'm breakin'? Ah feel like Ah'm breaking the promise of never fallin' in love! All because you were too tired to fall asleep away from me!" Applejack regretted what she had said immediately. Caramel looked down at his hooves. "Now, listen! I'm-" Applejack tried to apologize, but Caramel interrupted her. "Let's go tell the Cake's what happened, thank them, and then I will walk you home...you will never have to see me again." His voice was full of grief and sadness, because he just hurt his best friend, or, who used to be his best friend. Applejack just nodded. They went into the kitchen, and explained to Mr. and Mrs. Cake what happened. They were on the verge of tears, but thanked them, and said, "All is forgiven." Caramel walked out of the door, and Applejack followed. The sun was bright, but nothing could improve their mood. Applejack was trying to work the guts up to speak. Inside, the emotional turmoil that she was experiencing was horrible. Caramel is just trying to help. she thought. Ah need to give him a break. Finally, when they were nearly to the farm, Applejack stopped Caramel. She made him look at her, made him look into her eyes. When he did, she spoke. "Let me put this simply. Ah am so sorry for what Ah said earlier, it was out of line. Another thing, we are gonna be short with hooves, and Ah was wonderin' if ya wanted to...help?" Caramel, who had been looking into her eyes the entire time, knew that she was speaking the truth. He could also tell that it pained her to say this. Caramel, still looking into her eyes, promised her something. "AJ, I promise you that I have no hard feelings, and that I will help, not only on the farm, bit also with finding your sister. I swear, upon out friendship." He held out a hoof, and Applejack shook it. Applejack and Caramel walked back to the farm, where they knew things were going to get tough.
The PromiseView OnlineThe Only ExceptionThe PromiseAs soon as Applejack and Caramel walked through the doors to the Apple Family's house, Granny Smith shooed Applejack to bed. "It'll do no good for us if you're completely exhausted, now will it little filly?" she asked. Applejack shook her head, and walked to bed. She fell asleep, and she had the same dream that she always did when she was depressed. It was a dark and gloomy night. Young Applejack stood over her ailing mother, who had brain cancer. She looked in the corner, and saw her father crying silently. She wanted to go and comfort him, but knew that he wouldn't appreciate it. A cough sounded from her mother. Applejack turned, and saw that her mother was awake. Her mother spoke, and her words were weak, nearly disappearing. "AJ, honey, you do know that one day you, too, will get brain cancer, right?" Applejack nodded. "Honey, I want you to promise me somethin', okay? I want you to promise me that you will never fall in love. If ya do, and when ya get brain cancer, it will kill 'em to see ya in such pain. You'll cause so much pain, even if ya don't mean to. Please, promise me sweetie." Applejack nodded, tears forming in her eyes. The dream flashed forward in her life one year. Applejack sat at her mothers and fathers funeral, staring at their closed caskets. Remembering how her father had killed himself after her mother died, she re-vowed that she would never fall in love. She saw what it had done to her father, and she never wanted to see that happen again. Big Mac sat down next to her, holding baby Apple Bloom, crying silently, just like her father had, into her blankets. Apple Bloom was learning how to walk. Applejack had told Big Mac to watch her, but he had accidentally fallen asleep. Apple Bloom walked out of the open doggy-door, and kept on walking until she was in the Everfree forest. Going inside and seeing her baby sister gone, Applejack screamed. She rushed outside, galloped into the Everfree, and found Apple Bloom playingwith a baby timber wolf. She promptly picked her up and galloped home, before the mother returned. Granny Smith was sitting in her rocking chair, sipping coffee, when she fell. Applejack rushed in, hearing the noise, and cried out. Big Mac came running, saw Granny on the ground, picked her up, and raced to the cart. Applejack followed, practically tripping over her own feet. They rushed to the hospital, where Nurse Redheart took her into one of the back rooms. The siblings sat, wondering what was happening. The doctor came out, nodded, and said, "Your grandmother is fine. You got her here just in time. She had a heart-attack, but she will be fine now. Please come over and fill out some paper work." They had done that, and then they were let in to see Granny. The look on her face reminded Applejack of how their mother had looked on her death-bed. She hugged Granny Smith, and didn't want to let go. Applejack woke up sweating and crying. Her sheets were drenched, and she was shaking uncontrollably. Them darn dreams! she thought. Why do they have such a big affect on me? She sat there, curled up, for a period of time. Downstairs, Caramel was telling Granny Smith about what happened. "...so, she kinda blew up on me about this promise thing and I am so confused!" Granny Smith interrupted. "A promise that she made to somepony else? Like, about love an' stuff?" Caramel nodded, surprise that Granny knew about it. "Yeah, something like she promised never to fall in love..." Granny sighed, leaned back in her rocking chair, and shook her head. "Ah knew that she had talked to her, but Ah never knew that she had made her promise..." "What's that?" Caramel asked, trying to make sense of it all. "Well," Granny said, still shaking her head. "Ah had better start from the beginning. My daughter, Yellow Harvest, got brain cancer. My husband got it, and now it goes from generation to generation of mares in the fam'ly. Yellow Harvest got a little crazy towards th' end, and she started making us all promise weird things, especially Applejack. Her husband, Green Bough, said that he heard her make Applejack promise never to fall in love, but Ah never..." Granny trailed off, immersed in her own thoughts. "I-I think that I get it," Caramel replied, speaking slowly. "AJ would feel horrible is she broke her promise to her dead mother...she is, after all, the Element of Honesty..." The old mare nodded. "You're smart Caramel!" she smiled. "I remember when you were just a little lad an' you was playin' wit' Applejack, it was so sweet!" A tired voice came from the doorway. "What was sweet?" "Applejack?" Granny called. "Yeah," she responded, entering the light. She had dark circles under her eyes, and she seemed more tired then before. "Now, missy, weren't ye' supposed ter be sleepin'?" Granny Smith asked accusingly. "Couldn' sleep," Applejack said, her words slurred. "I don't darn tootin' care! Ye' better go and pretend to sleep, or else!" Granny sounded like an old mother trying to get a little kid to go to sleep. "Fine, fine! I will!" The orange mare walked back to her bedroom, nearly falling over in the process. Once Applejack was in her room, Caramel faced the mare in the rocking chair. "Granny? I am here to help you with the farm, but I am also going to help you find Applebloom, okay?" "I knew it sonny, I knew that ye were gonna help us wit' that!" Granny cried, jumping out of her chair. "Where ye gonna start?" Caramel shook his head. "I have no idea."
