Single Parent Problems

It had been a year since the festival in Appleoosa. In that time, Caramel had gotten Granny Smith's blessing to marry Applejack whereas Big Mac got the blessing of Prism Dash to marry his daughter, Rainbow Dash. Soon after, she had the shock of her life as she had proven the doctors wrong in that sterile Applejack was, in fact, pregnant. As soon as she had one hundred percent conformation that she was actually with child, she paid a visit to her parents' graves in the western orchard. By the time of her most recent visit, she was in her last trimester.

"Howdy, Momma... Poppa... so... ah'm pregnant... y'alls're gonna get yer third grandchild." She smiled, with a tear in her eye.  Over the year, Big Mac had gotten Rainbow Dash pregnant before the wedding. Rarity worked some magic into the dress so that Rainbow Dash didn't show that she was four months along at the wedding.

A sound caught Applejack's ear. "Mom?" she heard. "Over here, Jacky." she called out to the now twelve year old pegasus. He trotted his way over to Applejack and sat next to her.

"Whatcha doin here, buddy?" she asked her son, wiping her eyes.

"I was gonna ask you the same, Mom." Jackpot replied. Applejack hung her head and took off her hat. "Ah come here when ah need ta... ah dunno, be alone 'r ta think about mah life. See, these two ponies here? They'd be yer grandparents." Applejack said.

"But Granny Smith-"

"Is yer great grandma." Applejack explained, "These here are mah momma and poppa."

"What happened to them, Mom? If it's ok to ask."

Applejack nodded and began her story.

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(28 years ago)

Alderman Apple was securing the trees for the upcoming storm. He had a cherry red coat, a wine red long mane and tail, orange eyes, an alderman apple cut in half for a cutie mark and was very well built from working the farm his whole life. Upon his head sat a brown leather stetson hat which he was never seen without. He looked over to his 9 year old son, Macintosh.

"You got it, Mac?" Alderman asked his son. Macintosh was tying the trees together as his father taught him. "Eeyup!" the colt answered. Alderman smiled as he saw his wife of ten years, Dewdrop, exit the farmhouse, holding their new daughter, Applebloom.

Dewdrop had a long, wavy orange and yellow mane that looked like a sunset, eyes as blue as the afternoon sky, freckles on her gorgeous face, a toasty brown coat and a pitcher of orange juice as her cutie mark. Her family were orange farmers in Mareami down south. The two had met at a competition and became friends. Soon, lovers. Then husband and wife.

"How's my little Applebloom, taday, huh?" Alderman tickled his youngest daughter's belly with a smile. Applebloom squealed with laughter. "And how's mah beautiful wife?" he smiled, kissing Dewdrop.

"We're fine, Al. Somepony just woke up from a nap, didn't she, Applebloom?" Dewdrop giggled, "How's Macintosh doing?" she asked.

"The boy's fine. Real natural when it comes ta the farm."

"Mac, sweetie! Don't overexert yourself! Don't want you getting hurt, ok, honey?" Dewdrop called to her son. Her reply was met with a nod and a "Eeyup!"

"Al, have you seen Applejack?" Dewdrop asked her husband.

"Right here, momma!" the 5 year old filly called, running from the west orchard, "Ah was grabbin any apples that fell!" She indicated her wagon full of apples.

"That's mah good girl!" Alderman hugged his middle child, "Now, go on inside and see ifen ya can help Granny with dinner. Oi, Stinky! Go take a shower 'afore dinner!" Alderman joked with his son.

"Ok, dad!" Macintosh replied. Macintosh trotted past his parents and inside while Alderman looked to the storm clouds. "It's gon be a bad one, they say."

"We DO need the rain, Al."

"That's true. Ah guess all we can do is wait it out. C'mon, let's go inside." Alderman led his wife and daughter into the house.

"Like this, Granny?" Applejack asked, baking an apple pie with Granny Smith.

"That's right, Applejack. jes kneed the dough, nice and soft. Softer dough means a tastier pie! Alderman! Ah want you in the shower after Macintosh!"

"Yes momma."

Dewdrop chuckled.

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Applejack sniffled at the memory, trying not to cry. "You ok, Mom?" Jackpot asked.

"Eeyup, ah jes miss mah parents is all, son." she smiled, continuing the story.

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Later that night, Alderman was checking the farm one last time before the storm hit. The thunder clapped and Dewdrop heard a shriek. Rushing upstairs, she burst into her oldest daughter's room. "Applejack, are you ok, sweetheart?" she looked down at her daughter who was under the covers, shaking.

"E-Eeyup... the thunder jes scared me is all, Mama..." Applejack blushed. Dewdrop giggled and snuggled into bed with her daughter. "It's ok, Appleseed. I'll stay with you until you fall asleep. I promise." she smiled, stroking her daughter's mane. Dewdrop had laid there for hours. Once she was convinced Applejack was sleeping, she snuck back downstairs and made some coffee.

Alderman burst through the door. "Dewdrop! C'mon, we gotta go! NOW!"

"Huh? What's-

"It's the Belles! Magnum and Pearl got out but Rarity got separated! The storm affected the building! If we don't get Rarity out now, the building will collapse on her!" Alderman explained.

"Oh Faust..." Dewdrop exclaimed. She left a note for Betty, Granny Smith and followed Alderman.

Pearl was inconsolable. "PLEASE!!! SOMEPONY HELP!!! MY BABY IS STILL IN THERE!!!" The roof looked like it was about to cave in! Dewdrop convinced Pearl that everything would be ok and followed Alderman inside without hesitation. "RARITY!!!" They both called. They searched the one floor home until they'd heard crying.

"RARITY!" Dewdrop called out.

"In here!" the scared filly answered. The Apple Parents bolted to the sound and found Rarity clinging to a Dress Me Daisy doll, scared out of her mind. "Rarity, it's me, Applejack's mother. C'mon, we're gonna get you out, I promise!" reaching out for the filly. Rarity grabbed Mrs. Apple and held on to her for dear life. As they were making their escape-

"OW, FUCK!!!" Dewdrop screamed. Alderman looked back to see Rarity trying to lift a beam off of Dewdrop. "Rarity, git outside, now! Go find yer parents!"

"But Mrs. Apple-"

"Is gon be ok, go!" Without being told a third time, Rarity ran as fast as her little legs could go. Then Alderman went to try. "Al, no! Go on without me!"

"Yer outta yer Faust dammed mind, woman!" he yelled as he tried to lift her free.

"Our children need parents!" Dewdrop started, "If anything, at least let them have one!"

"No, both!" He pulled Dewdrop into a kiss as Dewdrop was finally freed but-

The morning came and rescue ponies were digging through the site. The whole town was there. Granny Smith tried to turn Applejack and Macintosh away but it was too late. They had seen the corpses of their parents, who had tragically died saving Rarity's life.

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"That's what happened, buddy." Applejack sighed.

"Wow... they're like Spidercolt!" Jackpot said in admiration, causing Applejack to laugh at her son's comparison to his favorite comic book hero. "Eeyup." They'd heard a familiar SWOOSH overhead and heard a raspy voice call out for Applejack.

"DOWN HERE!" Applejack yelled. Rainbow Dash flew down and hovered for a second, holding her earth pony son, Alderman. Alderman had Rainbow Dash's blue coat but Big Mac's red hair and green eyes. He looked up at his aunt and giggled.

"Howdy, partner. How ya-"

"You gotta get to Ponyville General. It's Caramel!"

Without being told a reason why, Applejack tried to go as fast as she could. She couldn't wait for her daughter to be born so she could have her body back. "Doc, ah'm lookin fer Caramel!" Applejack asked a doctor. "Of course, this way." The doctor had led her to room 421 and she cried when she saw her husband. "C-Caramel..."

Caramel opened his eyes. "Hey, you..." he smiled weakly. "Doc, whatsamatter with'em...?"

"Caramel was born with a naturally weak heart. As such, he had a slower heartbeat. He was on medicine to regulate it. However, Rainbow Dash informed me he had toppled over at lunch when he was with her. He showed signs of a heart attack. Applejack... you don't want to hear this but... I think it's time to say... goodbye."

Applejack sobbed into her husband's chest. "Caramel, don't you do this! Our baby's gon be born soon, she needs her daddy!"

"I'm... I'm sorry, Applejack... But... I love you with all my heart..." Caramel pulled her into a kiss as his heart monitor slowed to a flatline.

"... Caramel...? Caramel! CARAMEL!!!" Applejack screamed. She doubled over! "Oh Faust, she's in labor! Get her to a delivery room, now!" Doctor Whooves demanded. Applejack was escorted out of the room. Rainbow Dash had flown in to get her friends and found Jackpot sitting on a bench, looking scared out of his mind. Pinkie held him.

"What's wrong, buddy?" she asked.

"He's possibly worried about Applejack d- Ow! Rainbow!" Rarity exclaimed, having been punched by Dashie.

"Your mother is going to be ok, Jackpot. I promise." Princess Twilight said, smiling at him.

"Of course she will. She's Applejack." Fluttershy said. Jackpot still didn't look convinced. Pinkie continued to hold him as she sang to him for what seemed like years. At long last, twelve hours later, the Doctor came into the hall. "Excuse me, all." The sleeping ponies had woken up. But Jackpot sat bolt upright.

"She's fine. The baby is healthy and you can go see her." Jackpot didn't wait for anypony else. He bolted past the Doctor and ran into the room.

"Mom?!" Jackpot looked over to Applejack, who was lying in bed, holding a bundle of pink blankets. "Jacky, c'mere..." she smiled, "Ah got somepony ah wantcha ta meet..." Jackpot flew over slowly to see the filly. She looked exactly like Applejack except for the eyes. Those were that of her father's. "Say hullo ta yer baby sister, Jersey Mac." she smiled, "Wanna hold her?" Jackpot took the pink bundle from his mother carefully.

Jackpot examined her and she booped his nose. Jackpot fell in love with his baby sister instantly. As Applejack watched the hug, she caught herself thinking. You should see her, Caramel... she's so beautiful... Applejack shed a tear for the fact was that Jersey Mac would grow up never meeting her father.