Among the Apple Trees

I pretty much laid in bed and didn't get up for days after Rarity's death. Applejack checked on me every hour or so and forced me to eat and drink by shoving it all down my throat. My third day at Sweet Apple Acres I got out of bed and walked downstairs. The first thing Apple Bloom did when she saw me was hug me. I hugged her back. After two minutes she would not let go. Another minute passed and she finally let me out of her grasp.

"Sissy! Y'all woke up!" Apple Bloom Yelled. Applejack looked into the room and smiled. She got back to whatever she was doing before.

"Sissy? Did you just call me Sissy?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, Ah thought I would give you a nickname. Ah don't know, AH have just been really worried. Are y'all okay? Do y' need anything?" She asked me. I shook my head. She quickly hugged me again and ran outside to start her chores.

"Sweetie Belle!" I heard Applejack yell from the kitchen. "Y' know you are going to start doing chores too soon, right? Y'all can start once y'all feel fully better, or now. 'yer choice." The fact she brought that up surprised me. I was speechless. Why had she told me to do work right after recovering from a depression?

"I guess I'll start now..." I slowly said to her

"Well than y'all should get goin', go catch up with that sister of 'yers." She said to me

"She is not my sister" I yelled back.

"Y'all are to think of her as one, Ah don't care what y'all think, that filly is your sister now, and if y'all don't agree, to bad, get over it, now get to work before Ah beat you into next week." I was shocked, so I obeyed. As I walked outside and headed to the orchard, I had a feeling that something was going on.

"Hey, Apple Bloom! What's up with Applejack? She just went out in me because I said you weren't my sister. I think she threatened to hi~" I Said to Apple Bloom once I found her. She cut me off.

"Rarity didn't hit y'all? Ah thought everypony did that as discipline! Just keep saying we're sisters, it'll calm 'er down. Can y'all help me get these apples back to the house?" After I listened to her surprised tone as she spoke, I helped her push the Apples. When we were done we went inside and Applejack looked at me with teary eyes.

"Ah was thinkin'... Sorry for yellin', Ah know 'yer down in the dumps, The loss of Rarity is affecting me as well. Ah was thinking, maybe a little religion in 'yer life can make you happy, Ah know seeing y'all at least try will make me happy, so Ah decided 'yer comin' to church with me and Apple Bloom this Sunday. Ah know Rarity didn't like religion, but y'all don't have to follow after that and y'all know it. Mah point is while y'all live 'ere Ah expect you to try new things as much as you can, this will do you a lot of good. Go sit for the night, sorry for yell in'." Applejack said to me. I have never tried or even heard much on religion, but I was kind of iffy as Rarity never liked it, but it looked like I had no choice so I will try it.

That Sunday I went to church with Applejack and Apple Bloom and sat down. The first thing I noticed was the beauty of the interior, I had seen the outside many times on the outside it it was nothing special, but the inside with the crosses and stained glass looked beautiful. The religion they followed was 'Christianity',  sounded fine, so far so good. A pony in robes walked up to a podium and started to speak. The things he said inspired me to move on, and they made me smile. Applejack seemed to mentally note this. They went through the rituals as usual, and I followed slowly behind, praying, singing, and a small drink of red wine, why would Rarity hate this? It was one of the best experiences of my life. Applejack asked me how it went, I told he I loved it. She smiled and said to me "Did y'all know there is a book that goes along with this. It's called The Bible. Ah can get you a copy if you like, and anything else to go with it, only if y'all want though..." I smiled back and nodded.

"Something in my room to make me feel as happy as I just was would be nice." I said in a Fluttershy styled voice as for some reason I lost mine. She just smiled and walked away. Apple Bloom hugged me again, but harder than ever before, I felt like she was crushing me, it must have been some type of acceptance hug. At least I thought.

When I got home from school on monday I saw some things in my room, a huge cross which when I put it on the wall was heavier than most of the things I have to carry, I was very careful not to drop it. The other items, chocolate, and a book. The book was titled The Bible. That night I got to reading. After two more weeks of church and reading I had a pretty good understanding of the whole religion. And I liked it. I let it follow me everywhere, because I could no longer imagine a world without it. It was in me so deep that once when I saw my mom, Betty Boufount, I said jokingly "Are you a Christian yet, it's awesome." She went out on me saying it 'was too orthodox' and 'will turn me bad' and I just ignored those comments and walked away. Walked back home to Sweet Apple Acres, where I told this story and Applejack got pissed.