I'd Do Anything

"Red? Hey, Red."

  These words sounded distant as I slept. The voice sounded familiar, which caused me to pry my eyes open. I winced as the sun stung my eyes, blurring my vision. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and blinked a few times to see a mare standing above me. Her long gorgeous blonde mane draped over my face. She saw my eyes open and gave me a bright smile.

"Mornin' there Red." She said.

"Good morning to you AJ." I replied as I sat up.

"Hurry up and get ready, your mom's waitin' for ya."

"Yup yup."

  I stood up and let out a yawn as I stretched. My feet thumped on the wooden floor as I walked across the room to grab my bag. I threw off my shirt and rummaged through my bag for another shirt. As I rummaged, I heard a gasp behind me. I froze dead and whirled around to see Applebloom, sitting up in her bed staring at me with a blush on her face. A blush of my own spread across my face and I ran across the room and into the bathroom.

"S-sorry!" I shouted through the door.

"N-no, it's okay, really!" Applebloom shouted.

A sigh escaped my mouth and I threw my shirt on before opening the door. I looked over at Applebloom and gave a smile.

"Thanks for comin' over Red." She said.

"Anytime Bloom." I reassured with another smile.

  She blushed and returned with a bright smile.  I chuckled and I grabbed my bag before walking out. I sat on the bottom step of the stairs and slipped into my shoes. I waved goodbye to everyone before I walked out the front door. I looked forward and smiled brightly as I saw my mom, Rainbow Dash, standing there waiting for me. I went down the porch steps and wrapped my arms around her. My heart felt fuzzy as I felt her return the hug.

"How was it Ma?" I asked.

"Wasn't that bad." She replied.

"So it was pretty boring." I chuckled.

"Yeah pretty much." She sighed.

  I chuckled again and we walked home. Although I feel kind of bad, even with the nice house that we have and all, Mom already had a nice house up in the clouds. She got it for free, and it was pretty comfy from what she tells me. But then, I came along out of nowhere, and she decided to take me in. Since I wasn't a Pegasus, nor had wings for that matter, I couldn't live up in the clouds with her. So she decided, being that she didn't want to live apart from me, to buy a house on the ground. I didn't ask her to waste her money, but at the same time it made me kinda happy. Knowing that she'd do anything to be with me and raise me properly makes me feel like she really cares. And since she'd do anything to be with me, I'd do anything to make sure that if she's going to be by my side, I won't let anything happen to her.

  When I made this promise, it was after something happened to Mom. She had found a boyfr- well, coltfriend. Soarin. The guy was pretty cool, at least I thought so. He met my Mom when I wasn't around for it, and then we she introduced him to me, he started to have some second thoughts. He told Mom that he didn't want something like me around and started badmouthing me. Being the loving mother that she is, Dashie (as her friends like to call her) stood up for me. It was up until the point when Soarin hit her is when I stepped in. I decided to return the favor and punched him square in the jaw. Then the fists were flying from that point on.

  Eventually I kicked his ass literally and out of the house. After that I promised Mom that I wouldn't let anything else hurt her. She gave me a smile and wanted to tell me no, but I guess she saw the seriousness in my face.

"What'cha thinkin about?" Mom asked.

"Wha? Oh nothing, why?"

"Dunno, you just had a thinking face." She replied.

"Why're you staring at my face huh?" I asked.

"No reason." She chuckled.

"Oh, well how bout I stare at your face, eh?" I joked as I stuck my face in her's.

"Hey, stop it you egghead!" She giggled.

  I let out a chuckle as I pulled away. But I didn't look away, I just kept staring. She noticed me and blushed slightly.

"Why're you still staring?" She asked.

"Because you look as young as when I first met you." I replied.

Her blush deepened.

"Wha, where did that come from?"

"Because you were staring at my face." I replied as I booped her on the nose.

"Ohh okay." Mom said with a 'we're gonna play that game' tone.

"So how was it at Applebloom's?" She asked.

"Pretty fun." I replied.

"Hmm, fun how? Did you two do anything... special."

"What? No. Nuh-uh. Nothin'. Nada."

"Aww, you're blushing! It's okay, we've all gotta grow up some day kiddo."

"We didn't even do anything!" I retorted.

"Well you're trying awfully hard to make it sound like it. You're kinda making me think you two did do something." Mom grinned.

"We slept in the same room, that's all." I sighed.

"Same bed?"

"Nope."

"Shame."

"I guess."

  Mom let out another chuckle. She knew that I had a serious crush on Applebloom. I don't know what it is about Applebloom. Maybe it's her sense of humor, her sense of honesty and respect towards me, her amazing personality, how adorable she is, or all of the above. Especially this morning. She looked so gorgeous with the morning sunlight, and so cute with her disheveled bright red hair and her blush. Along with her adorable smile. God she drives me nuts.

  I was so spaced out thinking about her I didn't notice me walking up to my front door without opening the door. I walked into the door face first and recoiled slightly. I heard my Mom dying of laughter behind me and I grinned before opening the door. The lights were off, so I could barely see anything with the curtains closed, only letting slight amounts of sunlight in. With a slight sigh, I tossed my bag to the side and threw the curtains open, letting the glorious morning sunlight in.

"What'cha want for breakfast Mum?" I asked.

"Egg salad sammiches and hay fries!" She cheered as she did a double loop in the air and landed on the couch with a sigh.

"Comin' right up!" I shouted.

  I threw on my apron and bust out the pots and eggs before lighting the fire. As I grew up I started learning how to cook, some from Mom, some from Twilight, some from Pinkie, but she only taught me how to make pastries and stuff like that. Where I learned most of my cooking from was myself. I took what I learned from Mom, Twilight and Pinkie, then started putting them into my own recipes. To be honest, most of the stuff I make ain't that bad.

  Mom and I sat at the coffee table eating. I didn't eat the hay fries, but I did have some of the egg salad sandwiches. I smiled as I watched Mom eat my food happily. I know she loves my cooking, which makes me happy to know that I'm not bad at what I do. Mom let out a sigh as she set her plate down. I set my empty plate on top of hers then picked them both up and carried them into the kitchen. I turned on the water and poured soap on the sponge before scrubbing the dishes. As I scrubbed I felt Mom wrap her arms around me and nuzzled my back.

"Kick ass breakfast hon." She said.

"Of course, always." I replied.

"Don't forget, Pinkie asked you to come down the bakery today." She said while lightly patting me on the head repeatedly.

"Yeah, yeah." I sighed as I rinsed my hands and dried them off.

  Dashie's arms were still wrapped around me. I turned around while she still had me and wrapped my arms around her and held her tightly. I subconsciously started petting her mane. She let out a soft hum and let me go.

"Get goin'." She said as she punched me in the shoulder.

"Uh-huh." I gave her a smile before walking over to the door and grabbing my bag.

"See you later Ma!"

"See ya later Red." Mom replied.

"Love ya!" I shouted before shutting the door.

"I love you too Red." Mom sighed with a smile.

  The walk to the bakery wasn't long since we didn't live too far away, so whenever Pinkie needed something, she asks for me since I'm always open. I walked up to the bakery and opened the door to find Pinkie standing behind the counter with a large toothy smile. There was also another familiar looking mare with a yellow coat and a long, poofy, bright red mane. The mare turned and looked at me to reveal Applebloom's face.

"Hey Red!" Applebloom shouted.

"Hey Red! Applebloom's here to help out with the bakery!" Pinkie cheered.

Wha...