One Hurting Word Costs One Life
"Pinkie! Get over here, ya pink, apple-pie thief!"
Apple Jack beckoned Pinkie Pie, angrily. The pink pony, along with her sister, Maud Pie, a natural rock lover, walked towards Apple Jack. "Apple-pie thief?" Pinkie asked, surprised. "Of all things why in the name of Celestia will I steal your apple pies?". These words were true, for Pinkie would steal all the sweet treats on Earth, but wouldn't even dare to go near anything healthy. She detested them with all her heart."Yes. My sister is not lying, Apple Jack." Maud spoke. She smiled and finished, "I know her. She treats vegetables and fruits like as if they were given the job to be her natural nemesis."
"Oh, hardy har! As if ahm to believe your cock-and-bull story!" Apple Jack snapped. Her leaf-green eyes had a fiery look. A lock of her mane dropped from her hat, under which her mane was tucked, and hung lifelessly. Her hooves were bruised and dirty from all the work. She had the pose of an angry bull, ready to bash Pinkie any time. It was plain that Apple Jack, the once jolly, helping mare, was frustrated beyond words. "You said 'veggies and fruits', right?" she asked, turning to Maud. Maud gave a brisk nod. "Well, apple PIES are made of fruits but ain't taste nothing like 'healthy food', if that is what ya call it. It can be devoured like a sweet treat!" "But, I know I didn't eat it." Pinkie Pie said, hurt to think that one of her best friends wouldn't believe her. "I really didn't."
"Well, explain the jam bits around your mouth, you darn liar!" AJ yelled on the top of her voice. Now, this was very much unlike AJ, for she knew that Pinkie was, maybe, not the culprit at all. But, recently, her grandmother, Granny Smith, had assed away from leukemia. Having no parents ever since they were little, AJ and her two siblings were orphans. Big Macintosh, the eldest of the three, had gone to Canterlot, in the hope of finding work to support his sisters and dog, Winnowna. So, AJ had had to do all the farm work as well as home chores, since Apple Bloom, the last filly, was too small, though she tried her best to help her sister in little ways like watering the trees and feeding Winnowna. With so much work, AJ was undergoing a lot of pressure, due to which she wasn't on her best temper. Because of this, she hardly spent time with other ponies, even her friends. But Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie knew about AJ's bad luck and, so, they didn't bother her. That day, Pinkie had eaten a strawberry-filled jam cake baked by Mrs. Cake. Few jam bits had stayed back. Pinkie had Maud over to Ponyville to stay with her for a month, since it was summer holidays, and the two of them decided to visit the Apple Farm. Apple Jack had baked a fresh batch of apple pies and had left them on the window sill to cool. A pony had seen them and had guiltily eaten them. After that, the shameless pony took to his heels. Coincidentally, the time Apple Jack came to check on the pies was the same time Maud and Pinkie arrived. AJ's sharp eyes noticed the jam bits and she couldn't help thinking that Pinkie had hurriedly eaten them and was acting innocent.
Which lead to the explosion.
"Apple Jack, please, don't lose your temper unnecessarily." Maud calmly said. "The thing is Pinkie just had a strawberry-filled jam cake Mrs. Cake lovingly had baked for her. That's why, the bits are on her face." "I P-Pinkie swear, AJ!" Pinkie stammered, not being able to take the contempt anymore. AJ pursed her lips, making her naturally sweet face ugly for a moment. "Okay. I believe ya." she said, softly. Pinkie smiled at this but she did it too soon. "I only believe ya so that, I don't stress myself anymore. You know that I work all day and night, hardly gettin' any sleep. So, I wanna end this. Which means that, I am still not convinced by your most likely fib. Because I can't see anypony else who would want to steal my apple pies in 10 minutes. So, from today, ahm afraid you're a friend of mine no more, Pinkie. Good bye.". And with that, AJ trotted back to the barn.
Pinkie stared after her for a few moments, full of shock. Then, she went running back to Sugarcube Corner, her eyes full of tears. Maud soon caught up with her and stopped her mid-way. "W-why doesn't she believe me, Maud?" Pinkie spluttered, sobbing. Maud comfortingly put an arm around Pinkie's neck. "I didn't eat her apple pies!". "Of course, you didn't. AJ's just not herself these days, Pinkie. You know that" Maud wiped Pinkie's tears away and walked with her to the train station. She wanted Pinkie to be at her home, the Rock Farm, so that she could be happy with her family for some time. Then, she could return back. "Are we going to the Rock Farm?" Pinkie asked, sorrowfully. "Yes. Limestone and Marble and Mum and Dad will be thrilled. They should also be able to offer you some advice on this situation." Maud answered. Pinkie nodded. When the train arrived, the duo silently got on. Through the whole train journey, Pinkie slept, tired from all the excitement. But Maud was quiet. Very quiet. Even though she looked her usual self, her heart was heavy.
There was a dangerous gleam in her eyes.
