Among the Apple Trees

Me and Apple Bloom couldn't sit for two days afterwards. When I stayed here before Applejack had hit us, but not for small things like this. "We only swore." I said to Apple Bloom. "She has never been like this before."

"She changed recently, she was beaten into submission by a priest. That bucking pony forced her to follow a strict code. Now he is on her about getting us to follow it, he learned about you and is now going on about some surgical procedure. Applejack will try to make us follow the code, but will make sure she has your permission for the surgery. Ah don't know what it is but Ah heard it's painful and possibly deadly." I cringed as Apple Bloom said that. "She wants us to go to church every Sunday. Ah guess that's not much to ask. She'll take care of it." I was nervous now that she mentioned a surgical procedure. I needed advice, so I went straight to the source.

"Applejack? I have a few questions." I said to her

"Let me guess, one is about that damned procedure. Well wha-" I cut Applejack off.

"Yes that, I am more curious to what this is made of." I pointed to the pendant. "I feel I can't take it off, I try and it feels to heavy to move, once I let it down though, it weighs nothing."

"That is made of Applium. It's what makes and breaks Apple family members. What happens is it gets handed down from an elder to a foal. The foal is usually busy doing something else and won't think of taking it off. After a few minutes it starts to tingle." I remember it tingling. "Than six hours later it may bond with you. If it bonds, you are officially declared an Apple family member for life, if not, you are executed. You got lucky. If you try something against the family, for example living with a non-Apple family member, it will take control of your body and put you straight." I touched it "And if someone tried to take it off you, it will burn them." That was why it burned Scootaloo. "And the procedure is a dehorning. Your horn gets cut off and your magic system will get removed from your body. Its painful, but your choice." I was scared. I would think about it. I nodded and walked away. "See y' later Apple Belle." I ran to Apple Bloom and told her the whole story.

"Well congratulations, Apple Belle." She started to laugh. I hit her as hard as I could. She fell clutching where I hit her.

"Mah name... is... not... Apple Belle. Get it right." I said to her sternly.

"'Yer accent says different." Apple Bloom said to me.

"Ah-A- Ah give up. Ah can't even think with this darned headache." I said and went upstairs to lay down. The pain was coming from my horn. I slowly fell into a deep sleep. Before I fell asleep Apple Bloom came into my room and cuddled up next to me, she held me as if she knew something I didn't.

I woke up and asked Apple Bloom about why she hung out in my room in the morning. I almost cried, not only because of my headache, but because of her response. "The appointment for your dehorning is scheduled, the pendant stopped the magic flow in your body, it is causing your extreme migraines, once 'y are dehorned, no more headaches or hassles."

"Ah need to find my parents and stay with them," I said to Apple Bloom. I got up to leave, but she promptly stopped me.

"Applejack won't let that happen, Apple Belle," I hit her, "When Rarity passed 'yer parents were nowhere to be found, if they had been here they would have gotten 'yer custody, but Applejack was second choice, and in order for them to get it in Equestria now, Applejack will have to legally sign all of the papers and go through the Ponyville Administration Office. Besides, Applejack always wanted you back, ever sense the Apple Family Reunion and 'yer two year stay. She got what she always wanted, you think she would let that go, Apple Belle, do you really think she would?" I teared up, she was right, who would give up what they always wanted, Applejack had me and that's all she wanted, I was happy for her, but concerned for my own well being all at once.

The day of the dehorning, I walked into the hospital with only Applejack, nervous, but confident. Applejack had spent the last few hours explaining every aspect of the procedure and what would occur. She said she would be beside me the whole time, keeping those surgeons in check. I was lead onto a hospital bed and was told to lay down. They said a few things to Applejack and finally asked me if I was okay with the procedure.

"Yes," I said quickly. They saw the pendent and asked Applejack if it was the initial reason for the dehorning, Applejack said no. I said,  "It was my idea," The Doctor nodded and put a needle in my arm, I fell asleep. When I awoke I was in a hospital bed still, now with unbearable pounding in my head. Applejack leaned down to speak.

"Apple Belle, it was a success. 'Yer gonna stay here for a bit so they can watch y'. After about a week y'll be home with us. We will keep y' in bed for a few months, than you will be with no pain, no headaches. They also did a quick bone rearrangement, that will make y'all physically stronger, and y' were given blood so y' are now an official Earth Pony. Jus' wait it out and y'll be fine." Applejack said to me.

I waited my time and stood up painlessly.