Dominant Species

Dominant Species.
14
...

Apple Bloom awoke and stretched. She looked around as her eyes adjusted. The morning sunlight was peaking in through the curtains.

She had never slept so well in her life, snuggled up to Princess Celestia, on Celestia's own bed. She felt so safe, and the bed was so comfortable.

“Good morning Apple Bloom.” Celestia smiled and lifted her wing, which had served as the softest, warmest and most awesome blanket the filly had ever slept under.

“Good morning Princess.” She smiled and glanced at the Princess's slender belly.

The 'problem' had been dealt with the night before, one she was thankful she had avoided herself.

“I'm sorry for what I did yesterday.” Celestia hung her head, looking ashamed.

“Well... If Ah hadn't spotted that doll, Ah would ah gone through that... Ah dunno what Ah would ah done after that.” She blushed.

“Well, you need not worry about that happening again. Now, would you care for breakfast?”

“Ah should be gettin' home.” Bloom smiled hopefully.

“I'm sorry, but the barrier is still up for two more days. Till then you are my guest.”

Bloom looked worried. “But... Mah family...”

“Twilight was able to send a letter to your family, telling them that you are a guest at the castle for a few days.” She giggled. “They had Spike send a letter back warning me that you can get... rambunctious.”

“Uh, say what?”

“Get yourself into trouble.” Celestia chided the filly. “Now, I do expect you to be on your best behavior, do you understand?”
“Yes Princess. Ah'll behave. Ah promise.” Bloom smiled and nodded.
“Very good, now, I believe it is time for breakfast, and I am famished.”
...

Bloom was indeed very well behaved at breakfast. She didn't gulp down the delicious food, but ate the same way that the two Princesses and Twilight ate. They chatted about little things, and about Twilight's lessons.

Then the subject that made Bloom's eyes nearly burst out of her head came up.

“Y... You're pregnant?” Bloom stared at Twilight. “Who's the daddy?”

“Uh...” Twilight glanced nervously at the Princesses. “I'm not exactly sure... I've been with two lovers...” Her face was bright red.

“Was ya in heat?”

“No, not really.”

Bloom was a little confused. “Ah thought ya'll couldn't make foals if ya wasn't in heat. Ah did some readin' 'bout it last night.”

“Circumstances were different in my case. Magic was involved.”

Bloom nodded. “Ahh, Ah see. Chapter three was all 'bout how Unicorn Ponies can make themselves become fertile whenever they want or protect themselves from getting pregnant too. There was a spell an' everythin in the book.”

“I know that spell, but it only works on stallions and can only be cast on themselves.”

“Nu-uh. This spell was for mares to protect themselves.” She reached under the table and pulled out the book. “Right here.” She opened the book and showed it to Twilight.

The two Princesses leaned over and looked as well.

“Well I'll be. Such a spell does exist.” Twilight eyed the Princesses, who both looked just as surprised.

Celestia examined the spell. “I never read this book. I had no idea such a spell had been successfully created.” She looked it over very carefully. “This spell doesn't look perfect, but would reduce chances of pregnancy by at least seventy percent.”

Luna beamed at Twilight. “If anypony can perfect it, it would be you Twilight.”

“M... me?”

“You did perfect the gender MMPH!!!” Celestia inexplicably found a cinnamon roll stuffed in her mouth, a blue glow about it.

“Tia, you know better than to talk about some of those spells.” Luna glared at her sister, a blush on her cheeks.

“Gender?” Apple Bloom was now curious.

Twilight winced. “It's a dangerous spell.” She lied, partially. It was dangerous and had resulted in her getting pregnant. She looked over the spell in the book and memorized it. “Well, I may not be able to perfect this, but I'm certain I can improve it... I hope.”

Bloom would not let it go. “Um, it's not some spell that can make a filly become a colt ah sumpthin like that, is it?”

“Erk.” The Princesses and Twilight all had the same reaction.

“Ah thought so.” Bloom laughed, but that laugh suddenly died away. “Wait... Is one ah ya the daddy?”

Both Princesses blushed.

“Twilight?” Bloom was stunned, shocked, awed and a little jealous. “Ya'll gonna have the Princess's foal?”

“You can't tell anypony.” Twilight pleaded. “I... I'll do almost anything if you keep this quiet. Please?”

“Ah dunno.” Bloom teased, but looked serious. “Th' book said ya'll really be showin' in a few months. But, what's it worth t' ya t' keep meh quiet?”

“Ugh...” Twilight groaned. “Name it, and if it's in my power, I'll do it.”

“Ok. Show me that gender spell.”

“Uh...”

“Please? Ah wanna tease mah friends.”

“No...” Twilight frowned. “The spell is permanent. It never runs out unless it's cast on you again.”

“Please? Just one week.”

“I don't know...”

The kitten eye technique came into play suddenly.

Celestia and Luna cringed and backed away like a Vampire would back away from a garlic pizza. “You're on your own with this one Twilight.”

Twilight turned and watched the pair of Princesses jump out the window. “Pony apples...” She turned back to Bloom. “Are you sure? You're young and the spell might effect you differently.”

“Ah made up mah mind Twilight. Ah wanna try th' spell.”

Twilight sighed. “It's my funeral when Applejack finds out...”

“Ah won't tell. Ah'll just say it was some Poison Joke or sumpthin' like that.” Bloom grinned.

“Zecora has a cure for the effects of Poison Joke. You better think up something better than that.”

“Um...” She pondered for a moment. “Ah got nuthin.”

“So, no spell?” She grinned hopefully.

“Nah, A'll think ah sumpthin by th' time We go home. Oh, Ah know, Ah can say Ah was readin' some funny book an got cursed.”

“We all know curses are not real.”

“Actually curses do exist, though they are rare.” Celestia's voice snickered from outside.

(Bloody Trollestia... I love her to death but sometimes... I swear...) Twilight thought to herself. “Ignore the Princess... She's just poking fun at us...” She took a moment to calm her nerves. “Alright, one week then I'll miraculously cure you, understand?”

“Ah understand.” Bloom grinned and stood up.

Twilight focused her magic and cast the spell on the filly. It took a minute, but the effect was evident.

Apple Bloom was a few inches taller, and had put on a good twenty pounds of muscle in all the right places. He made a really hansom colt, excluding the bow in his mane.

“Hmm...” Twilight smiled a little, the summoned a mirror. “Not bad. You might catch the eye of a few fillies like this, so be careful.”

“Oh wow.” His voice was different, definitely male, but still young and cute. “Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are going to be so surprised.”

Twilight sighed as Celestia and Luna flew back in, smirks on their faces.

“So, what do we call you now? Apple Bloom certainly won't fit a young colt.” Celestia teased.

“Ah dunno.” The young colt looked thoughtful. “Little Mac?” He laughed. “Just kidding.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “You're not keeping this forever, so you're still Apple Bloom, understand?”

“Ah know, Ah know.” He giggled then paused, changing it to a chuckle. “This feels odd.”

“Be glad you didn't have that spell on you earlier.” Luna smirked at a now blushing Celestia.

“He's too young for that.” Celestia replied. “Now, let's finish breakfast.”
...

The rest of the day, and the entirety of the next found Apple Bloom actually pouring over various books on different subjects, which took Twilight by surprise.

“You're reading quite a lot all of a sudden.” She stated, looking at the stack of books the young colt had already read from cover to cover.

“Ah know. Ah dun understand why, but Ah really like readin' ever sense Ah found that book.” He tapped a book on carpentry that he was currently reading. In fact, all the books were on carpentry and stone masonry. “Ah never thought learnin' stuff could be so fun.”

Twilight glanced at the books. They were all on similar subjects. “Hmm, I have an idea. Come with me.”
...

The pair entered what looked like some sort of workshop. There was a lot of lumber available, along with every kind of tool Bloom could ever imagine. In fact, he could name them all from the books he had been reading, as well as tell what they were used for.

After an hour or 'testing' his knowledge, Twilight lead him to the workbench. “We're heading back to Ponyville in the morning. Why don't you try making something?” She had a hunch, but kept quiet.

“Ya'll sure? This is some pretty expensive lumber. Ah ain't ever really made anythin' before.” He looked a little uncertain.

“Well, why don't you try designing something small, like a little storage chest for yourself. Tia already gave us permission to use whatever you wanted.”

Bloom smiled. “Ah like that idea.” He looked at the parchment and quills on the bench and got to work, using the small designing tools to work. Within ten minutes, he looked at the design.

One of the carpenters walked over, looking unsure at first, then saw the design and smiled. “Well, that looks like a very professional design. Are you certain you've never designed or made anything before?”

“Um...” Bloom thought for a moment. “Well, I rebuilt our tree house. It was in really bad shape before but now it looks brand new.” His eyes suddenly lit up. “I didn't even really think about it before.” He grinned and suddenly got to work.
...

Twilight returned a few hours later, just after sunset.

She saw Bloom sitting at the workbench, his head resting on his forehooves, snoring lightly away.

“That's one talented young colt.” The carpenter grinned. “He made that chest all by himself.”

“Really?” Twilight looked to where the carpenter pony was pointing and smiled. The chest was a yard wide , half that in height and again in width. The lid was flat on top and was actually pretty ornate.

What stunned her most was the pattern in the top center.

Twilight's own cutie mark. “Oh Apple Bloom... You didn't have too.”

Bloom stirred, then looked up at Twilight with a smile. “Hiya Twilight. Ah made the chest fer ya. Ah still gotta stain and varnish it.”

“It's beautiful...” She was in awe, then saw something that took her breath away.
...

Apple Bloom stood before his big sister and big brother.

To say they were shocked was one thing, but they were also looking proud.

On Bloom's flank was a cutie mark. A wood chisel and mallet, over a bright red apple.

The story of the 'curse' had been told, and that Twilight was working to undo it, so the pair of older siblings felt better about that at least.

“Yer cutie mark...” Applejack hugged her temporary brother. “Ah'm so proud ah ya Apple Bloom.”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac smiled as well.

“Can you believe it?” Bloom almost danced. “I mean, it's not really the carpentry part, but the wood carving.” She had made another chest first thing in the morning, one that was decorated with apple trees, and both Applejack and Big Mack bucking trees. The ribbon with 'Sweet Apple Acres' was a beautiful touch.

Big Mac smiled and spoke up. “Yer th' first in th' family fer along time t' earn a non-apple cutie mark, just like Grandpa.”

“Really?” Bloom stared at Big Mac, then at Applejack. “But, Ah also have an apple on mah flank. Ah'm still an Apple.”

“An ya always will be.” Applejack ruffled his mane. “Now, Ah know the perfect place fer this chest. Right in yer room, at the foot ah yer bed.”

“Um, speaking of beds...” He blushed a little. “Ah got mahself a new one.”

The older siblings eyes the colt.

“Princess Celestia had it made for me. It'll be arriving later today.” He grinned. “A cloud bed.”

Applejack chuckled. “An how ya'll supposed t' sleep on a cloud?”

“It is an enchanted cloud.” A Pegasus said as he landed, the cloud in question lassoed behind him. “So, where do I deliver this?”

“Ah'll show ya.” Applejack smiled. “Apple Bloom, yer friends have been askin' 'bout ya these past days. Why don't ya go and see em.”

“Really?” He grinned. “Thanks AJ.” He hugged his sister and rushed off.
...

Sweetie Belle walked along a very happy looking Scootaloo, who was riding a brand new scooter.

“I can't wait to show Apple Bloom this baby when she gets back.” Scootaloo smirked.

“Not only that, but you have a home now. Mr. Cloud is such a nice Pony.”

Scootaloo nodded. “Got my own bedroom and everything. Shame he has to travel a lot, but his job demands it of him.”

As they came into view of the tree house, they heard the sounds of banging inside. The pair looked at each other, then rushed forward.

They rushed inside and gasped. A red maned, yellow coated pony was working on what looked like a really nice looking bench with a high back.

While the colors were familiar, the colt himself wasn't.

“Hey!” Scootaloo yelled. “Who are you and what do you think you're doing in our clubhouse?”

The colt turned, his gold / orange yes catching the pair by surprise. He looked WAY too much like their filly friend. “Hiya. Ah was waitin' fer th' two ah ya to' arrive.”

“A... Apple Bloom?” Sweetie Belle's eyes went wide. “What happened to you?”

“Oh, this?” He grinned his familiar grin. “Ah kinda had some magic turn me into a colt. Twilight said she'll be able t' turn me back in a week. An' check this out.” He turned sideways, revealing his cutie mark. “Ah got mah cutie mark.

The two fillies looked at each other, then at Apple Bloom, mainly at his rump, then at each other again and grinned.

“Hey Sweetie Belle, guess what?”

“We got ourselves a colt our own age.”

The pair of fillies grinned at a suddenly nervous looking Apple Bloom. “Uh, girls? Ah pony apples...”

The pair of fillies pounced.
...

To Be Continued...