Among the Apple Trees

by Apple Belle Sweetapple

Rating: mature
Tags: Alternate Universe, Tragedy
Length: 6580

Sweetie Belle visits Apple Bloom at Sweet Apple Acres, while she is there Rarity is stabbed, Applejack decides she will keep Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie Belle heads over to Sweet Apple Acres to visit Apple Bloom. Whilst she is there Rarity gets stabbed by another pony, she dies. Under the circumstance that there will be no adult in Sweetie Belle's life, Applejack takes in Sweetie Belle as her own little sister.

Drafting is now completed. Final is now being written on my second account 'Apple Belle Stories'. Any advice tell me!

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2016-01-10 01:49:59 UTC

1. A Visit From Sweetie Belle

I stepped off the train onto the landing below. As I walked out of the station the train roared away into the distance. I pranced across the sparkling green grass to the little farmhouse on the hill. I stepped up to the door and knocked. A familiar orange pony answered. She opened the door and looked at me.

"Hi Sugarcube, what's going on?" She said to me.

"Is Apple Bloom Here?" I responded to her.

"She is doing some chores out in the orchard right now, want to come in and rest your hooves for a bit, Ah'll make you something to chow down on."

"Why not, the train isn't coming back for a while anyway." I walked into her house and sat down on the Apple's couch, just as comfortable as I remember. I layer back as the sweet smell of Apples and Cinnamon came to me.

"Sweetie Belle" I heard her yell "You want an Apple pie?" Applejack made the best apple pies I have ever had.

"Yes, thank you Applejack."

"Your welcome, Sugarcube." I heard her phone ring from afar. She trudged over to get it, covered in flour from the pie she was making.

"Hello?" She said into the phone. "Yes, Sweetie Belle is here." I looked over at her, why had the person on the phone mentioned me? "Look honey, Ah'll keep her for now, just grab her stuff and bring it here." She paused for a moment. "Your welcome, honey." She hung up the phone and walked over to me, she opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. After a moment or so she said "Um, Sugarcube, Ah need y' to stay here tonight, something happened to Rarity and she is in the hospital.  Ah asked a friend of mine to grab your stuff for school."

"What happened to Rarity?!" I immediately asked her!

"Well... Ah... Alright, somepony stabbed her." I almost cried. "But she is in the hospital right now. Ah think she will make it through, no promises though." I broke out into tears. Applejack hugged me, her sweet scent and warm tender hooves comforted me, just like Rarity did. Just then a exhausted Apple Bloom walked in and saw the hug.

"Trying to steal my sister again Ah see?" She joked. I broke free of the hug and layer facedown on the couch. After a few moments I lifted my head.

"At least you have a sister right now, mines in the hospital. She got stabbed." I broke out into tears again.

"She's staying with us until Rarity is out of the hospital. It may be awhile." I nodded at her, sat on the floor, and cried silently to myself. Now Apple Bloom was hugging me, Applejack joined in.

"Sweetie Belle, you'll be fine. If y'all need anything just tell us." I smiled and nodded at them, for now I had finished crying and gotten up. I sat on the couch. The door creaked open, Big Macintosh and Granny Smith entered the room.

"Hey" Big Macintosh muttered. He saw my half broken emotion. "What's up?" Applejack updated him and Granny Smith on the situation and they said it was definitely fine for Sweetie Belle to stay until Rarity is better.

"Ah guess if 'yer staying a while, we will give y'all a room. Take the room across from Apple Bloom. Set it up as y'all wish. Ah am going to be lenient this week for y'all. Normally Ah would make y'all work from the start while living here, but you need some time to yourself. Feel better, beautiful" Applejack said as she smiled. I walked up to my new room, it was empty except for a dresser and a bed.

When somepony came with all of my stuff, I set it up just as I normally would have it. I laid back on a bed noticeably more comfortable than mine at Carousel Boutique and looked out my window at the view of nature, apple trees, and a Big Macintosh falling on his face. After I spent the next 20 minutes laughing, I got up and went down stairs to sit on the couch. Once I sat Apple Bloom sat next to me and decided to use me as a pillow.

"Really?" I said to her.

"What? Is Rarity germophobic or something? Here everyone will want to use y'all as a pillow. You might as well use us as one too while you're here. Ahmma take a nap." She fell fast asleep. I laid my head on her mane and also fell asleep. My dreams were of Rarity in a hospital bed, bleeding profusely. After an hour of this I was woken up by a hoof shaking me. Big Macintosh had woken me up? He looked broken, like he heard something horrible and wished he didn't want to pass on the message.

"Sweetie Belle.... Rarity died in the hospital..." He said to me in his deep voice. My heart felt as if it had cracked in half. I started crying again. I used Apple Bloom as something to squish go get out my anger, her eyes bulged out their sockets and she woke up.  She looked at Big Macintosh and he told her. She hugged me softly, letting out a few tears herself. She stayed with me until I stopped crying, after she got up and brought me dinner. I tried to grin at her, but I just could not do it. My emotions were just everywhere. I just lost my sister to a stabbing... Whatpony did this? Why did this pony do it? I would get to the bottom of this if it was the last thing I did.

2. Trying Something New

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.

3. The Disciplinary Routine

Me and Apple Bloom were told not to talk about religion in school. I especially knew not to do this because my aunts son Glitfaxi was staying and I knew not to get him involved, if I did my aunt would find and flip shit on me. Miss Cherilee was talking about evolution, this was getting me and Apple Bloom a tab bit antsy, me and Apple Bloom believed that evolution wasn't true. After almost the entire lesson of us being zoned off, Miss Cherilee called us out "Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom! If your not going to pay attention then just leave!" I shot her a dirty look and mouthed Why would we learn something we don't believe in? to her. She turned dark with rage and yelled "SWEETIE BELLE GET OUT!!" I heard Apple Bloom say Bitch! and heard "APPLE BLOOM YOU TOO!!" We both grabbed our stuff and walked out. As we walked out she said "I DON'T CARE HOW EITHER OF YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS, YOUR LEARNING IT AND THATS THAT!!" Apple Bloom freaked

"SHUT 'YER TRAP AND LISTEN! WE DON'T HAVE TO DO SHIT! TAKE YOUR STUPIDITY AND LEAVE US THE FUCK ALONE!!" We both walked out as she turned a bright red and the whole class laughed.

Applejack saw us come home early and asked what happened. I told my part, Apple Bloom told hers. Applejack said "Well yes you both did get kicked out of school for the day, yet Ah wouldn't be mad if y'all had kept your mouths shut"  she took a paddle and hit me and Apple Bloom in the flanks so hard we hit the ground "don't talk back to her again, and we are good." That's what Apple Bloom meant when she was surprised I didn't get hit. Applejack sent us to work the farms and orchards until dinner. "Ah will go knock some sense into her tomorrow morning, in front of everypony, just like she did to y'all, take the day off, but come see this, it may get interesting!" My first thought was This is going to be good!

That morning at the schoolhouse we watched through the window as Applejack walked in and started talking. The kids were talking to each other as Applejack ranted about Cherilee's disrespect for our religion. I heard my cousin say to Diamond Tiara "My cousin lives with her? And I thought I hit a low on life. I feel bad that she has to deal with that!" I got up because I wanted to go fight her, but Apple Bloom held me back keeping me just out of sight of the doorway. I was mad Apple Bloom wouldn't let me knock some needed sense into that kid. After a while Miss Cherilee and Applejack both started yelling, I couldn't understand either of them, than to end it all, Applejack gave a speech on how we were her fillies and if we did not feel comfortable learning something in school, than she would defend us because we should not have to learn it, after that rant Applejack smashed Miss Cherilee in the face with her hoof, leaving a good sized bruise. My cousin said "I take it back, I would love somepony who would protect me like that!" I smiled. As Applejack walked away she shot my cousin a special smile, a menacing one at that, one that said 'if you tell anyone, you're next.' Applejack walked out of the school and brought us home with pride.

"She said she's done for now, if not, tell me, Ah will knock her with a paddle and force her into work next time." Me and Apple Bloom cheered as the class laughed at Miss Cherilee and we walked home.

"Thanks Applejack!" Me and Apple Bloom both said to Applejack. She just smiled.

"You're welcome, and Sweetie Belle, that cousin of yours, Ah heard her talking crap, and Ah saw you get up to hit her, thank you for that. Ah love you truly, Apple Belle." My jaw dropped, and so did Apple Bloom's, to be given an Apple name was a true honor, it namely took a lot of work to earn one. "Y'all earned the name, Ah think if y'all love an Apple, y'all are an Apple." I smiled, and Apple Bloom cuddled up next to me, as if cold.

"Congrats, Sissy!" She winked and I rolled my eyes.

Braeburn came to our place not an hour later, he asked Applejack why we were home. Her response made his jaw drop "Their teacher insulted the lord, so Ah kept Apple Bloom and Apple Belle home for the day." She put emphasis on the Apple in my name.

"How did she earn the name, Apple Belle? She did earn it, right?" Braeburn stuttered as he spoke.

"Yes she did, Ah was arguing with their teacher and 'er cousin said something bad about me, she got up to go fight that girl, whether it was 'er cousin or not she got up to keep her from talking crap about me, say hi to 'yer new cousin Brae." He smiled as she spoke.

"Welcome to the family, Apple Belle!" He said in a welcoming voice "Everyone in Appleoosa will be thrilled to meet you soon, Ah will make sure they hear about their new family." He said something to Applejack and walked back out.

"Wow, everyone is so... Warm and... Welcoming. It's great to know that I have ponies who care. I still miss Rarity, don't get me wrong, but my happiness overshadows that sadness." I said to Applejack as Big Macintosh and Granny Smith walked in. "I guess I'll keep Apple Belle." I said jokingly.

"And Ah get to keep sissy." Apple Bloom said. I gave her a look of 'I love you' mixed with 'You better run'. She ran and I chased her. I eventually caught her. I jumped on her back and not only landed on her, we knocked down Big Macintosh to. He dumped a cup of apple cider on our heads and walked away laughing. He left us on the ground laughing to the point of tears.

4. Apple Belle

The next day was Saturday, no school, me and Apple Bloom had no plans, so we did some extra work at the orchard. At the end of the day we walked in to the house, heavy breathing, and sweat was pouring down our faces. "Ah was given' you a day off to go have some fun, but y'all did great. Go take a quick shower, y'all earned a few days off" Applejack said with a smile. We just shook our heads no. We somehow managed to have fun doing it. We went to take a shower, out of laziness we did it together. We spent about five minutes fighting over who got the bar of soup first. She won. When we got back into the dining room their were bits on the table. Two piles of one hundred bits. Applejack yelled while she was cooking to us "That's for you! If y'all won't take days off than take bits. It's one or the other" we grabbed the bits and took that.

The next day me and Apple Bloom were yelled at for going to do work. We were going to do it when Applejack yelled "Apple Belle and Apple Bloom, inside, day off, NOW! Ah don't care what's going on! Y'all are taking today off and that's that!" With that I jumped on Apple Bloom's back for no apparent reason and stayed there.

"Carry me back to the house. I'm lazy!" I said to her. She pushed me off and walked inside. I followed.

Me and Apple Bloom grabbed our bits and went out to Ponyville. We both grabbed some books at the library when my aunt walked up to us. She saw who I was with, and ran.

"Huh!? What's up with her?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I really don't know." I responded with a slight pause. Saying the word I correctly is getting harder after living on Sweet Apple Acres for so long. I am honestly surprised I don't fully have the accent yet, it is notorious for being easy to pass on. Than it came to me "Ah think she was scared of us." Now realizing I jinxed the accent, it was bound to happen anyway.

On our way home we noted how confused we were about being told not to do work today. We got home and realized we unknowingly had appointments at our doctor. That explained it, she wanted us to get checked while we had no strains in our bodies. Of course our doctor went at nitpicking every nook and cranny of our body. He said we both had a bone in our backs that seemed stronger than all the others. We had trained it and strengthened it while working on the farm. Turns out Applejack, Granny Smith, and Big Macintosh have the same thing. I knew I Would need to use this to my advantage sometime.

After the appointment we went to church. Nothing eventful there. On the walk home from church however, Applejack fell to a sudden stop. Closed her eyes, and when she opened them they glowed for a second. I was confused, but paid no mind to it. Half way home Apple Bloom said "Did y'all see that, was that normal..."

"Ah... Don't... Know..." I said to her.

"Ah swear, something happened to her, Sissy. Ah got a bad feeling." She shivered "And the accent, Ah noticed it, sounds good with you, Sissy!" I hit her in the hoof and she hit me back. We both laughed.

"But seriously, Ah'm gettin' that feelin' too. Ah'm gonna keep an eye on her! And Ah know it sounds good wit' me. What doesn't?" I joked as we neared the hill we lived on.

"Sweetie" She also joked. I laughed when I got the joke. It almost flew over my head.

We got home and immediately got to work like usual, finished our usual chores, and so didn't Applejack, same as normal. It was normal until Applejack started to throw up everything she ate later in the night. Me and Apple Bloom picked her up, put her on a wheel barrow, and brought her to the hospital in Ponyville. They said she had some kind of Stomach bug that would not go away for a while. They kept her and sent us home, but we didn't leave. A security guar eventually dragged us by the ear all the way home. We stayed for the night, but planned to skip school the next day and spend it in the hospital with Applejack.

That morning we walked in and sat next to her hospital bed and refused to leave, they kicked us out, we found another way in. At the hospital me and Apple Bloom kept seeing this Rarity lookalike, we kept mentioning it to each other. Every time we got kicked out she would be closer. And finally... She disappeared. The only sign of her was a hair from her mane, which I grabbed so I could inspect it closer later. The security guards came again and said to us "Wait! How did you get in so fast! I give up!"

"Well as you know, we don't want to leave our sister here alone, so her and Ah decided we would stay the day." I responded

"I'm not going to judge, but YOU, a UNICORN, lives with her" One of them said to me "What's your name?"

"Apple Belle's the name. And yes Ah live with her, Ah don't plan on leaving any time soon." I responded. Apple Bloom hugged me, and the guards walked out. Apple Bloom kissed me on the cheek, and I kissed her back.

5. Can't Live Without You

After about two weeks of me and Apple Bloom visiting Applejack Big Macintosh and Granny Smith took over. Me and Apple Bloom still didn't go to school. We had to do the work on the farm for everypony until we were all back in tip-top shape. About three days later Applejack was released and insisted on getting right back to work so we could get back to school.

In school that Thursday my cousin came up to me and asked where I was. I cringed for a moment and tried to hold back my accent while saying "Someone Ay knew was in the hospital.." Close enough. She gave me a look.

"Mom wants to know when your coming to visit. She will bring you to school." My cousin said to me. Apple Bloom snuck up behind me and caught me off guard.

"Don't call me Apple Belle here. She is on about mah aunt wantin' to see me. Ah need to think up an excuse... Wait... Ah got it." I whispered in Apple Bloom's ear. I turned to my cousin and said sternly "Ah just remembered, someone Ah live with is in the hospital. Ah usually visit her every night, Ah don't have that much time."

"Your voice? Anyway, I will let her know... See you later, I guess?" She said questionably, and started to walk away.

"You won, sissy" Apple Bloom joked loudly, My cousin jerked back around, and ran back.

"Don't you dare call her sissy you ugly b-" I smacked her so hard in the jaw she fell back.

"How 'bout you keep from insulting mah sister! She can call me whatever she wants, Ah don't care, but if you say anything about her, 'yer face will be beat in so hard, you won't wake up 'til next year" I said to her as I held her to the ground using one hoof. I let her go. My cousin got up and cowered back to her desk. The teacher hadn't noticed. Nobody was instigating too loudly. Good.

We got home and Apple Bloom had to brag about what I did to Applejack. "Y'all are so lucky Cherilee didn't see, Apple Belle, Ah understand y' don't want to see her, but why?" Applejack asked me.

"Ah... Ah am afraid she'll bring up Rarity, and insult 'er. Ah also just don't really like her. She neve' said anythin' good about anypony." I said

"Okay then, well y'all go and get to work, and Apple Belle your mane is getting long, Ah would recommend tyin' that back, if that gets stuck in somethin' 'yer screwed." Applejack said to me. "and I ain't pullin' you out of it!"

"Okay, anything Ah can do about the sun in may eyes?" I asked her as I quickly grabbed a hairtye. She gave me a hat Candy Apples had left. I went out and started my work. The hat had irritated my horn. I ignored it, I tried to ignore my horn, didn't use it, didn't need it. I guess ill ask Applejack for advice about that.

After all my work I asked Applejack about the horn situation, she said "Well there is horn an' magic removal surgery, but don't get that, it's one of the most painful surgeries eve'. They first remove 'yer horn, than remove 'yer magic system, and replace it with pure blood. After that they fix 'yer bone structure to that of an Earth Pony, and well, than after recovery, 'yer an Earth Pony."

"Ah want that. Its just bothering me. Ah need mah horn removed, please!?" I begged

"Fine, but it's hella painful, and once 'yer an Earth Pony there ain't no goin' back, are you sure?"

"Ah'm as sure as my love to god" I said.

"A'ight" She responded and walked out of the room, I found Apple Bloom and told her. She looked a mixed of disturbed, happy and curious.

"Why?" Apple Bloom asked me "Sissy... Sis... Ah understand it's what you want, but is it what's right?"

"Ah know it's right, Ah just know it." I responded with my puppy eyes.

"Alright, if y'all say so. Can y' help me with this real quick?" She was holding on her back two buckets of apples, I put one on my back. "Y' still have magic y' know?" She said to me.

"Ah Know. Ah just thought Ah might as well stop using it now." I smiled.

"Ah hope it goes well, Ah really can't live without you. Y' are mah sister after all." Apple Bloom said. I hugged her and finished lugging my bucket back to the house.

Applejack informed me that the surgery would happen in three days, one day after Rarity's funeral. I said okay to this.

Two days later... At Rarity's funeral, me and everypony I lived with showed up to mourn the loss. Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom,  Applejack, and Granny Smith had tears running down their faces. Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie were hysterical. Other unicorns including my aunt and cousin were here as well. I looked at Rarity's limp body. Its then I noticed a weird shine on her neck, like the shine a mannequin has. I just kept looking not thinking much of it. I left a rose with her body, and gave her a kiss. I walked out, Big Macintosh followed, we spoke silently in wait for everypony else, finally came Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, and Applejack.

When we got home Applejack looked at me and said "Are y'all okay?"

"Yes" I answered bluntly

"Okay, and this is the last time Ah'm asking, are y'all sure about tomorrow?" Applejack asked me

"Oh yes! I couldn't be more ready." I responded. She smiled and went outside, leaving me to prepare for the upcoming day.

6. Killer Pain

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.

7. Only One

Scootaloo kept trying to sneak the bonnet off, so in the end Apple Bloom tied it so tight that she couldn't remove nor untie it. It seems Scootaloo hadn't noticed we all have some accessory. Big Mac's in the yolk, Applejack's and mine are our hats. We weren't about to let Scootaloo be any different. It was also her fault, she mentioned getting her mane messy, so we 'helped' her.

The next day she went to school wearing it. No pony laughed, they just stared in disbelief. My cousin finally said something "Why does this seem so familiar?"

"Its another one. Your an Apple girl too? First that Unicorn-ish girl, now the Pegasus? They are looking weirder and weirder every time." Apple Bloom took her bow out of her hair, a classic sign of wanting to fight. I grabbed her mane and pulled it so her ear was near my mouth.

"Put it back and chill out. Give 'er two more chances, if she can't shut it, its in both of our hooves" I whispered to her as I let her go. She put her bow back on her head, I fixed my hat, and now Scootaloo was looking at us. I shot her a half smile, Big Macintosh style. Throughout the school day me and Apple Bloom were randomly having discussions. She realized I wore a red bandana on my front left hoof.

"Ah think y' should put that bandana under 'yer hat, so its visible barely." I tried it. Apple Bloom had a mirror, it looked nice.

"Nice. Ah like that." I said to her "The sweat will slow down and stop botherin' by eyes. Nice." After seeing it, I took it off and put it back on, tying it tighter. After that I suddenly became a pillow, Apple Bloom laid her head on me. I didn't eve see her, I felt her and smelled the Apples and Cinnamon that she and apparently me let off. We both fell asleep. We awoke when it was time to leave, we just got up and walked home, dragging Scootaloo along with us.

"Apple Belle, Ah thought Ah would tell you something now." Applejack said to me as I walked in "Ah don't believe Rarity told y' about 'yer real birth. Y'all were born via in-breeding. That means two members of the same family got together and y' were born through it, just like me, Big Macintosh, and Apple Bloom. Another similarity, our parents. Rarity has no sister. Y' were born with the horn, so we gave you to Rarity for your safety. Sorry y'all didn't know sooner." Me and Apple Bloom were in disbelief

"How are me and Apple Belle the same age?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Y'all are twins. Born at the same time." Applejack said.

"Why was Ah born a unicorn?" I asked Applejack.

"Kids born by in-breeding usually have a defect. Y' notice 'yer magic doesn't work? Have y'all guessed that maybe its inexistent? The horn was just there, ah know Ah tried to make y'all keep the horn earlier, but that was so you didn't go through the pain, but y' pulled through, Ah'm proud. That's why for now on, if me, Granny Smith, and Big Macintosh go out to the store or somethin', you will control the farm until our return." She said as I broke into a smile. "That also means y' get t' tell Apple Bloom and Sweetaloo what to do! How's that?!" I was in the biggest smile. I felt like a psychopath.

"Ah-Ah love it. And Sweetaloo? Is that Scoots now?" I asked her

"Eyyup. Sweetaloo? Rainbow Dash is sick. Ah told her Ah will keep y' until she feels better. So just try some new things and get some work done, other then that Ah don't care." Applejack said to Scootaloo

Scootaloo gave a look of surprise "What's wrong with her?"

"She is jus' sick, Sugarcube, she'll be fine in a week 'r so" Applejack responded.

Scootaloo just looked down at her own feet. Me and Apple Bloom cuddled up next to her for comfort. She pulled us closer, gripping us as tight as possible. Apple Bloom said "Our cores, your crushing our cores."

"Ay! Let us go. Ah can't breath." I yelled at Scootaloo before she let us go.