Among the Apple Trees

I walked into the hospital with only Applejack. She checked me in and I sat down, I started playing with my hooves out of nervousness. They were calling last names of those going into the operating room. Eventually I heard 'Sweetapple.' I went into a room and sat down on a table. I was told to lay on my stomach and take my hat off. I did that and they started to look at my horn. "We are going to have to cut a bit of your mane around the horn in order to do this. It will grow back during recovery. You will be in a lot of pain, honey. Are you sure you want to do this." I nodded. "Well what we will do now is put you to sleep." I jumped "We will not kill you, it is just so you don't feel and see us cutting into you, okay? You will wake up I promise!"

"During the operation Ah can't be right next to you, but Ah will be watching, if they do anything wrong Ah will beat 'em myself." Applejack said to me. I nodded and hugged her. The nurse took a needle and stuck it in me, when she pulled it out I fell into a deep sleep. Not dreaming, just sleep.

Time must have skipped, I felt as if I woke immediately. I right away felt pain that I have never felt before. I couldn't get up. I moved my head as much as I could, Applejack was there, that comforted me. I look the other way, Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith! I heard Applejack speak "Hey Sugarcube, how y' feelin'?"

"Painful" was all I was able to mutter.

"It was a success. Now we just wait. You stay here for a month and then you come home until y' feel fully better. The doctor will be giving y' pain meds to help with this. We'll try to be here as much as we can." Applejack said to me.

Thirty days passed. I was brought back to Sweet Apple Acres. Scootaloo came by to visit. She said she didn't come earlier because she was scared of hurting me. By now I could slightly move my limbs. I am at most a vegetable right now. Three months later I was back on my feet, four months after that I fully recovered. I felt weird, no magic running through me, able to carry much more without feeling aches. I was back in school. My mane had grown back, I had my hat back. My hat covers where my horn used to be. People didn't notice it was gone really. My cousin asked why I was gone for eight months. My response "Ah had to have surgery, Ah was recoverin'".

"Why did you need surgery?" She asked me.

"Ah had an extra body part Ah didn't need, had it removed." I responded. She looked at my hat.

"Wa-was it your horn?" She asked me. Now everypony, including the teacher, was looking. Apple Bloom just looked at me and turned her head.

"Eyyup." I responded. The entire room gasped, except for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Miss Cherilee noticed who didn't react and wrote something down.

"Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo, my desk, now." The teacher said to us and we obeyed. "You all obviously know the story, what happened, recovery for surgery doesn't take eight months."

"Go talk to Applejack, she had to pay the bill, to the signin'. Ah don't even think its 'yer business to know, anyway." I said to her. Scootaloo looked at me in fear.

"It isn't your business. Why do you care anyway." Scootaloo said. The chicken said that. We were all surprised.

"Ah agree with them two, two of mah sisters. One blood one step." Apple Bloom noted.

"Well if its not my business knowing, than its not your business being here, get out!" The teacher yelled at us. We all walked out and went to Applejack who immediately took care of Cherilee. She gave Cherilee the classic Apple Family beating, head held down, hit with paddle on rear, publicly. Rainbow Dash was pissed at Scootaloo and chased her all the way to Sweet Apple Acres where Big Macintosh stopped her.

"Why don't we take her off 'yer hands 'til y' cool off?" Big Mac said.

"Fine. I'll be back for her next week. Monday." Rainbow Dash said and flew away.

"Y' welcome, chicken. Go find mah two, let them get you oriented." Scootaloo came to me and Apple Bloom while we were feeding the animals. She saw us covered in manure and dirt.

"I am gonna hate this week aren't I?" Scoots said

"'Yer ours for the week. If 'y hate gettin' dirty, 'yer gonna hate it yah." I said to her "Wait, how's the sleeping situation gonna work?" I asked Apple Bloom

"You and me get 'yer room, she can 'ave mine." Apple Bloom said.

"I don't want to get my mane dirty." I looked at her and smiled. She said to me "You have an idea don't you."

"Eyyup" I looked at Apple Bloom and whispered in her ear "The bonnets Applejack has in her closet." Apple Bloom Smiled.

"We taught y' well, Ah can't wait to see this" Apple Bloom laughed. "Ah'ma go get this. Chicken, close 'yer eyes." She closed her eyes and Apple Bloom came back about two minutes later. She put the bonnet on Scootaloo, and brought Applejack. "Open your eyes."

"It looks great on you Scootaloo." She looked like a bigger chicken than ever. Success. Just plain, success.