An Apple Can Be Sour

By huntersunday

Edited by Delta Nutmeg

Rarity’s eyes scanned the wall, making glances every which way, trying to find a single picture of Applejack’s father. Her eyes soon stopped their wondering at a single faded picture. The photo showed three ponies smiling together, on the left stood what could only be a young Big Mac, Rarity could only laugh to herself, seeing Big Mac so small was quite funny.

Her musings ceased as she looked at the young filly on the right, a tiny orange filly smiled back at her, a small smile graced her lips as she could see the determined look in the young one’s eyes. Last, but not least, there stood a beautiful mare she had never seen, her coat was as orange as Applejack’s, but her mane was just like Big Mac’s, but what pulled her full attention was Applejack’s stetson sitting on the top of her head.

“She sure was pretty, wasnt she?”, Rarity jumped back, letting out a squeak of surprise, turning around. She let out a gasp of relief at the sight of her smirking friend.

Bringing her hoof to her chest, Rarity tried to catch her breath, only to have stolen once more, as Applejack removed her hat placing it on a hook next to her door. Rarity’s cheeks heated up as her new crush pulled her hair bands out, letting her beautiful golden locks fall free. Shaking her head vigorously she tried to calm herself, while thinking to herself: ‘Get a hold of yourself, Rarity, you've seen Applejack with her hair down plenty of times, just like you’ve seen her well toned legs and flan- Bad, Rarity!A lady does not think these kind of thoughts!’

She took a quick glance to see if her crush noticed her reaction, but felt relief as she noticed that Applejack was still removing her tail band. Glancing back at the wall once more she asked, “ Applejack, if I may be so bold, I noticed you don't have any pictures of your dad?”

“That's because there isn't any pictures of him, or Big Mac’s father,” Rarity let out a gasp, the information shocking her. Applejack only nodded toward her bed, she walked her way over to her bed plopping down on the end. “Ah guess since you told me about your past, Ah should tell you some of mine.”

Rarity slowly made her way toward the bed, carefully examining her friend’s face to see if there was any sign of distress. She didn't want to upset Applejack after all, by treading up the past. Her thoughts were cut short by her crush's voice. “It’s okay, sugarcube, Ah’m not mad, but it's a long story so you best make yourself comfortable.”

Rarity let out a sigh of relief, as she sat on the bed, “I have no problem with it being long darling, but you don't have to tell me if it upsets you.”

Applejack let out a chuckle before shaking her head, “It’s only fair, shucks in all truth it would probably do me some good getting it off my chest, just like you did.” After her statement, Rarity smiled, slowly moving closer to the orange mare. “Well the first thing you need to know, if you didn't already figure it out, is that Big Mac is Applebloom's and my half brother.” Rarity only shook her head in understanding not wanting to interrupt. “You see, my ma and granny didn't always get along, my ma wanted to leave the farm and became a big time city gal, but Granny Smith flat out refused to let her go, so they tended to always butt heads. Now that Ah think about it, that's probably the reason granny let me go to Manehattan so easily, she didn't want to make the same mistake twice.”

“Anyways, my ma got tired of it all and ran for the hills, and you know us Apples we can be awfully stubborn, so granny refused to go looking for her.” Applejack paused to take a quick glance at her friend, a small smile appeared on her face, when she noticed Rarity had gotten closer to her, leaning in with great curiosity.

“As Ah was saying, soon a few months went by and granny started to get real worried, she hadn't heard a word from her since she left, but one day there was a knock on the door, on the other side was my ma, her belly was swollen and her face was covered in tears. Granny didn't ask any questions, only accepted her back with open arms. My ma never said who got her pregnant, none of us even know Big Mac’s father's name, when we ask her about it, she said we were better of not knowing.” Surprise showed on Rarity’s face, before she slowly nuzzled Applejacks shoulder for her to continue.

Applejack smiled at the contact. “After Mac was born, my ma really got into farming, she really started to put her all into the farm, she even started to reach out to other towns in hopes of spreading her sales, so eventually she found herself in Canterlot, where according to her she meet the sweetest royal guard. Granny tells me my ma would always come home giddy as a filly, after she visited her coltfriend.”

After a quick pause, Applejack spoke once more, “Then after a couple of months my ma started showing, and soon Ah was brought into the world. Now my pa couldn't visit much being part of the royal guard, but he would always send bits to help ma out, heck if Ah think back on it, Ah might have only seen him ten times in my life.” Rarity’s ears perked up, as Applejack’s words started to slur, Rarity only brought herself closer, leaning into her friend’s form as a sign of comfort.

Applejack choked out a sob as she spoke, “A few years down the road the bits came in less, and less, soon there was no letters from my pa, but one day my ma got a letter from the royal guard,” she stopped, a sob breaking through her speech, “My pa had gotten real sick and wasn't going to make it, the letter only asked for my ma to come.”

Applejacks speech was cut off, as her tears flowed freely, Rarity wasted no time as she wrapped her hooves around her bringing her into a close embrace. “Oh Applejack, it must have hurt you so much, to hear your father not asking for you to come, we don't have to keep going if this is too upsetting.” Applejack only sniffed before vigorously shaking her head.

“Ah started this, and Ah’m going to finish it.” Rarity couldn't help but smile, even in distress her Applejack would be too stubborn to quit, but she wouldn't be Applejack if she wasn't so thick headed.

“As Ah was saying, pah passed away and ma came back to the farm. A couple of months down the road we realized pah left her with a gift, ma was pregnant once more. Things started to get real happy around the farm with a new one coming along, until my ma started to get really weak,” Applejack paused slowly leaning into Rarity's warmth calming herself. “Soon ma couldn't even stand, so we took her to a doctor, soon the doctor came around to give the worst news, the filly was killing my ma on the inside. He said we had a choice if we killed the baby my ma would be saved, but if we kept it ma would die,” Tears flowed even faster down Applejack’s face, Rarity herself found her face wet with tears, the sad life her friends mom must have had, plus she was given the hardest choice to make.

Applejack stiffened herself as she spoke, “But you know us Apples, stubborn as heck, ya know what my ma said? She said her life was full of mistakes and the only right choices she made was having her kids, and she wasn't going to let a little apple seed die for her to live, she wanted that little seed to bloom into a fine filly.”

At some point Applejack had buried herself back into Rarity’s chest, as she openly sobbed. Rarity sat in shock at her friend's words, her voice slowly coming to her, “That's how Applebloom got her name, that's the most beautiful and sad thing I have ever heard, your mom was a real special pony.”

Applejack pulled back from Rarity’s chest, locking eyes with her friend, “Thanks for listening Rares, Ah never told anyone that story. It feels good letting it all out.” Rarity’s face grew red as she noticed the closeness of her friends muzzle.

Quickly but shakily, she spoke. “ Well, I’m happy to have helped, I know I don't show it often, but I do care about you Applejack, I'm sorry if it ever seemed I didn't.”

Applejack just stared, as a small smirk graced her lips. “You know Rarity, Ah think there's more to this then you're letting on?” Applejack leaned in even closer, Rarity’s face grew an even deeper shade as she felt Applejack’s breath. “You know Ah’m brash and honest, and Ah sometimes do things without thinking,” Rarity could only gulp as Applejack inched in closer.

“But you know, Ah think what Ah’m about to do is what we both want.” Slowly, Rarity started to build the courage to speak only to have it shattered as Applejack placed her lips on top of her own. She could only moan as the feeling of her new crush’s lips graced her, without any hesitation she promptly fainted.

Applejack only chuckled as she moved the prone mare into a more comfortable position. With a yawn she reached for the blanket covering herself and her guest, with a smile she wrapped her arms around her, letting the sweet embrace of sleep take hold.

Neither one of the emotionally tired mares saw the dancing pink mare just outside the bedroom window.

Author's Note

Finally an update I should really kick this author in the butt for taking so long. Wait a minute that's me! Sorry for the wait you guys heres the next chap.