A Pegasus Apple

It had been four months since Jackpot had been cleared from the hospital. And in that four months, Rainbow Dash had been continuing his physical rehabilitation from the doctors' and had been helping him strengthen up his wings again. Applejack's biggest worry was that Rainbow Dash was starting to rub off on Jackpot. That is to say, each time he'd make an achievement, he'd boast about it.

But he was keeping his grades in school good so she was, for the most part, happy. Jackpot and Scootaloo were spending more and more time to themselves apart from the other two Crusaders, performing tricks or sitting and talking and laughing. The rumor was, or at least, according to Applebloom, was that Scootaloo had developed a crush on Jackpot and vice versa.

And when Applejack wasn't doing her duties on the farm, she was having secret meetings with a stallion, involving Jackpot's future.

"Wait up, guys!" Sweetie Belle called out to Scootaloo and Jackpot. "Yeah, we ain't as fast as y'all lovebirds!" That comment always stopped them dead. "S-Shut up, Applebloom!" Scootaloo said. "Y-Yeah, it isn't like that!" Jackpot added.

"So then why're yer cheeks red?" Applebloom smirked.

"Now, what did you two want us to see?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Recovering their composure, Jackpot said "We found a dog near the Everfree Forest. It looked pretty bad."

"Shouldn't we get Fluttershy?" Applebloom asked. "Nah, it's fine! Let's go!" Jackpot said, leading the way. It took some time to remember where he'd found the dog, but eventually he found it once more, near the entrance to the Everfree Forest.  It was a golden retriever who looked barely a full year. He was scarily thin and his coat needed a very good trim.

"I dunno about this, Jackpot..." Sweetie Belle said, her voice slightly shaking.

"It'll be fine, it's a golden retriever! The worst they'll do is lick you to death." he replied, "Hey, buddy." Jackpot approached. As Jackpot predicted, the dog came right up to him.

"No collar," Scootaloo observed, "Must be a stray."

"C'mon, let's get'em back to the farm and clean'em up." Applebloom offered. It took some doing, since the retriever was rather weak and frail, but they eventually got him back to the Farm. Winona was far from pleased. At the site of the dog, she barked and snarled. "Winona, what in the samhill are y'all-" Applejack started, coming out, "Uh... Whatcha got there, Jacky?"

"We found a dog." Applebloom answered.

"Sweetie Belle's gonna go get Fluttershy so we can see what's up with him!" Jackpot answered, talking over a growling Winona. "Well ya know her answer." Applejack chuckled, petting Winona.

As Sweetie Belle returned with Fluttershy, the butter yellow mare examined the dog. "Hmm... He's just over a year, no visible damage aside from being very hungry, poor dear." she smiled sadly, petting him, "What he needs most is food, a haircut and a very good flea bath." she diagnosed. Jackpot turned to look at Applejack.

"Ah dunno, Jacky, we already got Winona, and Fluttershy said fleas so... Look, lemme talk it over with Big Mac and Granny. Ah'll letcha know in the mornin, big guy. Promise!" she said.

"Pinkie Promise?" Applejack asked.

Applejack chuckled. "Eeyup. Cross mah heart, hope ta fly, stick a cupcake in mah- Ow!" she exclaimed, poking herself in the eye. Jackpot laughed. "Fer now, he'll stay in the barn. Don't want Winona catchin fleas. Ok?"

"Ok!"

Jackpot ran inside to grab two bowls, a large pillow and a blanket. He went over to the barn and set up a sleeping area for the dog he'd decided to call Shadow, being the dog followed Jackpot when he exited the house. Jackpot filled up the food bowl and water bowl to the brim and set it next to Shadow's sleeping area. When Applejack said it was bedtime, he grabbed a sleeping bag from Applebloom and snuck out to the barn.

"This is gonna be great, Shadow! You're gonna have a home!" Jackpot promised the dog, who was happily eating his second bowl. Eventually, the dog ran out of food, drank his water bowl empty and curled up on the makeshift bed. "Tomorrow's gonna be great!" Jackpot sighed happily, getting into the sleeping bag. "Just wait and see." He said, before finally succumbing to sleep, unaware of the green eye that had been watching him for close to an hour.

Applejack had met up with Granny and Big Mac shortly thereafter in the house.

"Do we really need another dog?" Granny Smith asked.

"Nnope." Big Mac replied.

"Eeyup." Applejack spat back, "Guys, ya should see how happy Shadow makes Jacky and-

"He already named the dog?" Big Mac asked. "Eeyup." Applejack said, "And if this is gonna work, ah wanna see'em happy."

"What're ya plannin, AJ?" Granny Smith asked. With a little hesitation due to nerves, she ran down her plan.

"So ya see... Ah think we should let'em keep Shadow. In as long as he's been here, he's been happy, true, but Shadow? Jacky's the happiest he's ever been."

Granny Smith and Big Mac looked at each other, having a silent argument. Applejack waited anxiously for their reply.

Hours later, a rooster told Jackpot it was time to wake up. He didn't see Shadow right away and started to panic but was relieved to see him turn the corner into the barn. "Nature calls, huh, buddy?" he chuckled, scratching his new friend's ear. "Jackpot." the colt looked up to see the Apples standing in front of him.

"Hi guys."

"We talked it over," Applejack started, "Jes like ah promised." Jackpot's red eyes widened with anticipation.

"Ya can keep Shadow." she said.

"YES!!!" Jackpot screamed with joy! He hugged Applejack tight. "Thanks!" he smiled, "C'mon, Shadow! We're gonna getcha fixed up, buddy!" he squealed with delight, flying away with Shadow close behind.

"You ok, AJ?" Big Mac asked. She's still had the shocked expression on her face from when Jackpot hugged her, her eyes on the verge of tears as she nodded. "G-Gimme the phone... It's time."

Jackpot had spent all of the bits he'd saved up which he was saving for the Junior Wonderbolts Summer Camp. "This is awesome! Shadow, you and me get to stay friends!" Jackpot laughed. He had Shadow's fur cut short, he bought several flea dips that Fluttershy recommended, his own bowls, toys a proper bed and a red leather collar and name tag.  On his way back home, he heard Applejack.

"Yes sir."

Sir? She never called anypony sir. He got curious. He looked around and saw her sitting at a cafe table with a stallion in a black suit.

"Are you sure you want this?" he asked.

"Eeyup. It's fer the best. He needs a good home and -"

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!!!" Jackpot roared at her. She jumped. "Jacky?"

"'You're always welcome at the farm! You can stay with us!' YOU LIED! YOU'RE TRYING TO GET RID OF ME!"

"Jacky, wait! It ain't that!" Applejack started but he sped off by the time she'd gotten up. With Shadow in tow, he slammed the door to the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse. He was so furious! For near six months, he'd been lied to! There was a knocking at the door.

"GO AWAY!!!" he screamed in fury as hot tears started falling. "Jacky, please, listen ta me!" Applejack called out.

"No! You want to get rid of me! I thought you said I was welcome here!"

"Ya are, sugarcube! Jes gimme a chance ta explain!"

"NO!"

On the other side of the door, Applejack sighed. She looked at the manila envelope in her hoof. "Well, if ya won't listen ta me, at least read this." She slid it under the door, "Ah was savin it fer yer birthday on Sunday... but..." She sat down, tears of her own forming. Jackpot was quiet for a solid ten minutes before the door finally opened.

"This... this says..." he started, reading the paper that was in the envelope.

"That's right. It's yer adoption papers... so that ya can be... mah son." Jackpot's head snapped up, looking at her. "Jacky... in the time ya been here, Ah've come ta love you like ya was mah own. Ah want ya ta stay. Gettin rid o' ya never crossed mah mind even once.B-But... ifen ya hate me now..."

Jackpot hugged Applejack tight. "I don't hate you... I..." he buried his face into her chest. Despite this, and the fact that her chest was growing steadily wetter, she heard the next sentence as clear as a bell.

"I love you, Mom."

The dams holding back her tears shattered as she hugged her new son as tight as she could. "Uh... sorry..." the pair heard a voice behind them. "I'll c-come back later..." Scootaloo said.

"Nah, it's fine Scoots. What's up?" Jackpot asked.

"Well... uh... I... I heard you screaming in town and... well... I just... I wanted to make sure you were ok..." Scootaloo said, blushing. Jackpot hugged her, making her blush even deeper.

"Yeah, I'm fine Scootaloo. I promise." Scootaloo stammered, trying to find something to say. "O-Ok. I'll s-see you later, then?" she smiled, pecking his cheek.

"Definitely." He smiled.

Later that night as Jackpot was getting ready for bed with Shadow lying at the foot of his bed, Granny Smith stopped by his door. "Can ah come in, little feller?"

"Sure, Granny, what's up?" Granny Smith walked over.

"Ah wanted ta apologize. Ah treated ya like sin when we first met... but now... well, now yer mah great grandson." she smiled, "And as such, ah got a gift fer ya." She plopped a white stetson hat onto his head. but it went down to his neck since it was far too big.

"A hat?"

"A family ritual. The Apple Stallions have been given stetsons fer ages. This was Applejack's Dad's hat. Mah son, Alderman..."

"But the hat Mom has...?"

"Was his too. He gave her that one, bought this one soon after. Now, ah want you ta have it." she smiled. "Thanks Granny!" he smiled.

"Anytime, Jacky." Granny chuckled, leaving the room, only to have Applejack come in.

"Hey, Sugarcube."

"Hey, Mom!"

Applejack sat at the edge of his bed and ruffled his mane, once she took off the hat. "So how ya feel 'bout this?"

"About what?" he asked.

"Bein mah son." she replied. "It's great! I have what I always wanted." Jackpot smiled. "What's that, big guy?"

"A family." he answered, "I've been alone or bullied almost my whole life... then my wings act up and I crash through the barn and almost a year later, I've suddenly got a family."

"And that ain't never gon change, mah sweet lil' colt. Ah promise." Applejack smiled, hugging her son, "Mind if I snuggle up with ya fer the night?" she asked.

"Sure thing, Mom!" He scooted over as Applejack laid beside her new son, holding him tight. "Ah love you, Jacky." She smiled.

"I love you too, Mom!" were his last words before he fell asleep, safe in the embrace of his mother.