Single Parent Problems

It had been three months since Applejack legally became Jackpot's mother and she did not regret one second of it. She loved Jackpot more than anything and was determined to be the best mom she could be. "Wait a sec, Jackpot!" Applejack called, seeing him about to run out the door with Shadow and Applebloom, "Yer homework finished?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Chores done?"

"Yes, Mom."

"What're you and Applebloom doin?"

"Jackpot's the first ever Cutie Mark Crusader Adviser!" Applebloom explained, "He's gonna help the rest of us find out what our cutie marks are gonna be!" Applejack couldn't help but chuckle. "Nuthin too dangerous, ah hope?"

"No, Mom. They're gonna try and groom Shadow."

"Ok, buddy, be careful." she smiled, kissing her son's forehead. After watching her sister and son disappear over the hill, Winona let off a sigh of relief. "Ah can't believe you, Winona!" Applejack chided, "Shadow's been here three months and you ain't used ta him yet?" She rolled her eyes and went out to get her buckets.

Applejack was on her fourth rotation of buckets when Pinkie Pie bounced up. "Howdy, Pinkie." "Hi, Applejack! I set you up with somepony!" she giggled. Applejack stopped midbuck.

"Excuse me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You have a date!"

"That yer gonna cancel!"

"What?" Pinkie asked. Applejack sighed. "If ya haven't noticed, Pinkie, ah'm a momma now! Ah can't jes go gallivantin with every stallion out there!"

"Jackpot likes his Aunt Pinkie Pie! I'll watch him!"

"No, Pinkie!"

Ooh, Maud's in town! I can-"

"Landsakes, Pinkie Pie! What part o' NO was unclear?!" Applejack yelled, causing Pinkie to flatmane, "Look, ah'm sorry ah yelled atcha. But ya gotta understand. Ah'm a mom now. Jacky needs me more than some guy."

"But you need to go out now and then! Have some Applejack time!"

"A-Ah guess..." Applejack sighed, scratching the back of her head.

"Will you at least give the stallion a chance?" Pinkie asked. "Only ifen ah can find a sitter fer Jackpot." Pinkie gave her the big blue eyes. "Oh fine." Applejack relented, "Ya can watch Jackpot. Of all his aunts, Ah think he prefers you almost as much as Rainbow Dash."

"Wahoo!" Pinkie cheered, "Oh and Rarity's expecting you!"

"Wait what? Why?"

"You wanna look good for the stallion, don't you?" Applejack rolled her eyes. Checking her work, she carried the barrels back to the barn. "You remember the rules, right?" Applejack asked Pinkie.

"Make sure he's well mannered, keep the sweets to a minimum, no soda, in bed by nine if you're out late." Pinkie recited from memory. "Wow. Ok, then. Wait, here he comes now."

"It's not that bad. He could stink." Jackpot said to Applebloom.

"Sweetie Belle used honey when she meant to grab the dog shampoo." Applebloom said.

"True. Hey Mom, Aunt Pinkie."

"Hold it, Jacky." Applejack called, "Ah'm goin out fer a bit. Aunt Pinkie is gonna be watchin ya, ok?"

"Ok, Mom." Jackpot smiled.

"Ok, Ah'm goin ta visit Aunt Rarity fer a sec, then ah'm out. You be good, ok?" she hugged Jackpot.

"Sure thing!" he returned the hug.

"Now where am ah meetin this feller, Pinkie?" Applejack asked. "Over by the lake! Now, go! Jacky and Aunt Pinkie are gonna have a lot of fun, huh, Jacky?" Pinkie asked, literally pushing Applejack out the door.

"Rarity, you home?" Applejack knocked on the door of Carousel Boutique. "Why, yes darling! Come on in!" Rarity was hard at work on a green, backless dress. "Whoa, Rare, who's this number fer?"

"Why, you, Applejack!"

"...wut...?" Applejack asked, her ears folding back, "Rarity, ah can't wear this! It's too showy! There ain't no back, the chest plunges like crazy, and don't get me started on the frills."

"Oh Applejack, once your stallion sees you, he won't be able to take his eyes off of you! Will you at least try it on?" Rarity batted her eyelashes at Applejack.

"Them falsies don't work on me." Applejack deadpanned, striking a lowblow. "How DARE y-" Rarity cleared her throat, "Now is not the time for petty anger, Rarity. Applejack, just try it on. You loved your Gala dress, didn't you?"

Applejack mumbled. "Oh jes gimme the dang thing." she growled, grabbing the dress and walked into the changing room, "Hold mah hat. Anything happens ta that, all of Ponyville will know of yer lashes."

Applejack slipped the dress on over her head. Now that she was actually wearing the dress, her opinion of it was changing. The shade of green complimented her orange coat nicely, the neck hadn't plunged as far as Applejack originally thought, only going down to her collarbone, the hem stopped at just above her hooves, it was sleeveless and it had a ruby cut, possibly by Spike, in the shape of an apple on the collar. Once she saw herself in the mirror, even she thought she looked simplistically sexy. "Wow."

"You like?"

"Yeah, ah do, actually. Kinda tight on the chest but it'll be ok. Does it come with a hat?"

"I hate to reuse material but this was short notice." Rarity explained, magiking over the hat Applejack wore to the Gala, "Now, there's a few hours before your date. I'd like to do your hair."

"Rarity, ah ain't no Dress Me Daisy." she sighed. Eventually, she relented but swat away any possible chance Rarity had of applying makeup to her. "Jes the hair." she ordered. "Of course, deary." Rarity had untied Applejack's ponytails, revealing a rather wavy mane and tail. "Why do you tie your hair back, Applejack? Your waves are gorgeous!" Rarity said. "Jes get it over with." Rarity had Applejack in curlers in a matter of moments.

"Now, we'll leave them in for an hour and-"

"An hour?"

"You want the curlers to work or not?"

"What am ah supposed ta do fer an hour?"

"I have books."

"Ya got romance novels. No Daring Dos."

"Honestly, I cannot see what you, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and now my little Jackykins see in that series."

Applejack glared at Rarity. "Jackykins?" "Well you aren't the only one who cares deeply for the boy. He's my favorite little model! I used him to help me design my young colts line!"

Applejack chuckled at how eager to help Jackpot always was. Eventually, moaning out of boredom, Rarity gave Applejack the tv remote and urged her not to move around. At long last, the curlers were removed and Applejack's hair had the bounce that Rarity was looking for. "Gah! Rarity!" Applejack scolded, after being assaulted with hairspray.

"Do you want your curls to stay in?" Rarity tried once more to apply makeup but Applejack wouldn't have any of it. "Ah said no!"

"At least let me put on some around your eyes, make them pop!"

"Pop?"

"Stand out more, make them more alluring then they already are."

Applejack tilted her head, a curl falling in her face. "You comin on ta me 'r somethin?"

"Well I won't deny that you've got amazing natural good looks."

"Fine... But JES the eyes, nuthin else!" Applejack relented.

Applejack laid back as Rarity worked her talent for makeup. When Applejack looked up, she wore a smoky gray eyeshadow, a thin layer of eyeliner and her eyelashes looked thicker and fuller. "Uh... Wow." Applejack blushed.

"You see? A little makeup now and then isn't so bad, is it?"

"Ah guess not. But ain't no need fer it on a farm." Applejack replied, "Thanks again, Rarity. What do ah owe ya?"

"Perish the thought, my dear!"

"C'mon, at least, ah dunno, twenty bits 'r somethin."

"No, probono. But if you insist, we could have a girls night in. Just us!"

"Deal. Ah'll see ya later, Rare!" Applejack smiled as she walked over to the lake.

"Oh you gotta be kiddin..." Someone, possibly Rarity and Twilight, had set up a table, candles, a proper meal and a cd player playing Octavia Melody's latest love album. Rolling her eyes, she sat at the table and waited for her mystery stallion. She'd let her mind wander to Jackpot, wondering what her son was doing as a smile graced her face at the thought.

"Hi, Applejack."

A familiar voice jerked her out of her daydreams. "Caramel?"