The Derpy I Know And Love Volume 4: And The Children Shall Lead

After the girls had left, Apple Bloom cleared away all the dishes and went about her daily chores. Applejack watched and thought how big Apple Bloom was getting; she wasn’t just a little filly anymore. She was talking about going to a dance with a colt, and getting a new dress from Rarity. There was something bothering AJ. It was something which had been bothering her for a long time, and something which needed to have been said before. But it wasn’t easy and she wasn’t sure how Apple Bloom would take it, plus she wasn’t sure how to do it.

“What’s bothering you Darling?” said Rarity.

“What do you mean Sugar Cube?”

“You’ve been watching Apple Bloom like she was leaving or something.”

“I’ve put somethin’ off for far too long and I think it’s time to say somethin’ to Apple Bloom,” then she looked at her wife, “and to you.”

“What Darling?”

“It’s just with the dance comin’ up and Apple Bloom wantin’ to go with a colt. It’s bringin’ back things from the past that I’ve hidden.”

“If you’re afraid of some colt hurting her, I don’t think you’ve anything to fear. There isn’t a stallion in Equestria who’d dare cross you, that’s if they wanted to live afterward,” Rarity giggled, “I doubt any colt would think twice about hurting your sister.”

“There’s more to it than that.” Sighed AJ, “we haven’t talked about colts yet and I know they teach such things at school. Cheerilee is a good teacher, but there’s the personal side as well.

And, as I said, there’s somethin’ else.”

AJ walked off out the door. Rarity had learned to let AJ be when she got pensive like this.

“Oh Darling,” Rarity said to AJ, but knowing she couldn’t hear her, “It’ll be fine, what ever it is.”

Later, AJ asked Rarity if she’d help her to make a dinner of all of Apple Bloom’s favorites. She then asked Big Mac to look in the barn for a box containing certain photo albums.

Lastly, she and Granny Smith went into the old pony’s bedroom and talked behind closed doors for a couple hours. Rarity thought she heard crying and wasn’t able to tell if it was Applejack, Granny Smith or both.

Later that evening, Apple Bloom was treated to a dinner she’d not had the likes of in a long time. It looked like everything was cooked just for her. After, there was fresh ice-cream Big Mac had been churning all afternoon. Apple Bloom wasn’t yet cynical enough to be suspicious of being buttered up. To her surprise, Big Mac said he’d clear and wash the dishes. She, Applejack, Rarity and Granny Smith went in the family room to talk. Applejack had Apple Bloom sit in the middle of the couch with Rarity on one side and Granny Smith on the other. AJ then went to scoot a chair in front of them but Rarity moved it with her magic. It was nice to have a Unicorn around the house, and such a beautiful one at that. AJ looked flushed, and Granny Smith kept an eye on her.

“Apple Bloom, I guess you might be wonderin’ why we did the dinner we did and why Big Mac is doing your chores.”

“I don’t mind, he can do the dishes anytime he likes!” she said.

They all got a chuckle out of it.

“I bet Sugar Cube, but we need to talk ‘bout a couple o’ things, and with the dance comin’ up, I fig’erd it should be now.”

“I know ’bout boys sis, Miss Cheerilee gave a talk on all that. And you ain’t got anythin’ to worry ’bout. I’ve no plans for anythin’ like that.” Said Apple Bloom.

“We know you don’t. And we trust you, but that doesn’t mean somethin’ couldn’t happen.”

“Like what?” asked the filly.

AJ paused, fortifying her nerves.

“Do you know what happened to me when I was twelve?”

“You mean when you were hurt by a stallion?”

Granny Smith had a guilty pain cross her face.

“Yes, but do you know how he hurt me, what he did to me?”

“No, I don’t think you’ve ever said. You’ve only said for me to be careful and not to be alone around ponies I don’t know.”

“Sugar Cube,” said AJ not sure how to put it, “do you know what...

What rape is?”

Apple Bloom’s face went pale.

“No sis, he didn’t!”

“I’m ’fraid he did. Afterwards I couldn’t stand to be near any colt, other than Big Mac for a very long time.”

“Is that why you married a mare?”

“No, I didn’t marry a mare. I married Rarity, and I married her because I love her, not because she’s a mare,” said AJ.

Rarity smiled, AJ continued;

“But it’s why I never went out with colts.”

“Don’t worry sis, I’ll be careful.”

“We know you’ll be careful, we’ve no doubts. But there’s more to this than a warnin’ to be careful."

AJ took a deep breath.

“I know you’ve no memory of ma and pa. They were gone before you could remember. But what do you know about ’em, how they died.”

“I’m... I’m not sure.”

Granny Smith placed a photo album in Apple Blooms lap. She’d seen the album before but not for a while. They leafed through the pages of all the family photos. It was obvious she wasn’t in any of them. Toward the back there was a carefully preserved clipping from the Ponyville Express telling how the old Ponyville Bridge collapsed while Bright Mac and Buttercup Apple were pulling a wagon load of apples to market. The couple was killed in the cold swift water as the wagon crashed down on them. Apple Bloom noticed the tears in AJ’s and Granny Smith’s eyes.

“We’ve another album to show you, I know you’ve not seen this ’en before.”

Granny put another album on top of the other. There were pictures of a young Applejack.

Rarity saw it right away and gasped at the realization. ‘That explains the breasts,’ thought Rarity.

Apple Bloom leafed through a few pages; she couldn’t help but giggle.

“Hey sis, you were a butterball when you were little!”

There was a pause.

“I wasn’t fat.” Said Applejack quietly, and then turned away.

Apple Bloom looked confused.

“What do you mean?”

“Look at the news clippin’ again.” Granny Smith said as she lifted the album to expose the other

“Yeah, what about it?”

“Look at the date.”

Apple Bloom looked at the clipping, and then she looked again. It looked like she was doing the math.

“Yes Honey, that was sixteen years ago.” Said Granny.

“But I’m only fourteen!”

Granny Smith lay the other album down and turned to another page further back. There was the young Applejack, propped up and sitting on a hospital bed. In one shot she was cuddling a little foal, and another showed her smiling and holding the foal up for the camera, there was a shot of Applejack lying on her side, nursing the infant.

Granny then turned to the back page.

There was a birth certificate. The date was Apple Bloom’s birthday, the mother’s name was Applejack Apple, the father’s name was blank. But the real shocker was the name of the infant:

Apple Blossom Apple

Apple Bloom looked at Applejack. Tears were streaming from AJ’s eyes. Rarity had reached out a put a hoof on her wife’s leg.

“What are you tryin’ to say sis? Who’s the foal? Who’s Apple Blossom?” Asked Apple Bloom, not sure if she wanted to hear the answer.

“The foal is you Apple Bloom,” Applejack was trying not to ‘lose it’ long enough to finish what she was saying.

“Oh dear Apple Bloom, I’m not your sister...

I’m your mother.

And your name isn’t really Apple Bloom, it’s Apple Blossom. Apple Bloom was like a nickname and it kind o’ stuck. ”

There was a stunned silence as Apple Bloom let it sink in.

“But why am I only hearin’ this now! What else is a lie?

My name ain’t my name! My sister ain’t my sister; she’s my mother! I suppose Granny Smith ain’t my granny, but my great-granny and my brother is my uncle!

Do I even belong to this family? Am I really an Apple or am I just named that because you didn’t know what to name me. I’m really somepony else? Just the unwanted kid of a rape victim and some unknown pony!”

Apple Bloom wasn’t sure if she needed to be hurt, excited, confused, thrilled or ashamed. Applejack broke down crying harder than Apple Bloom ever saw her cry.

“Sweetie, you were never unwanted,” said Granny Smith. “And you’re an Apple, don’t ever think you ain’t. And it doesn’t matter if we’re your mother, uncle and great-granny. We’re still the same family that has always loved you, the real you.”

“And your sister, oh sorry, your mother was only twelve. She wasn’t much more than a foal herself. To place all the responsibility of raising a young’en on her was more than she’d have been able to do. Plus we didn’t want ponies thinkin’ anythin’ bad ’bout her, like she was a bad pony and it was her fault. So I decided we should just let ponies think, and you too, she was just your big sister.”

“But why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Apple Bloom,” said Rarity, “I’ve known your sister, or your mother that is, since we were little foals. This is the first I’ve heard of this. I do remember when everypony thought she was just a fat little filly.

But I also can’t think of a time when Applejack didn’t take care of you, play with you and protect you. She raised you as well as any mother could, the title is just extra credit. I’ve always known she loves you dearly, I only now know the depth. Don’t judge her too hard. Sweetie Belle has always been envious of your relationship with Applejack. I realize now there was no way I could’ve ever competed.”

Apple Bloom sat there trying to take it all in. Applejack got up and walked to the window and looked out. Rarity walked over to her, placed a foreleg over her shoulders and laid her head against her neck. You could still hear the sobs.

Apple Bloom looked at the album again, Granny turned the page, there were pictures of Applejack and herself doing all kinds of activities. Applejack was feeding her, bathing her, changing her diapers, rocking her to sleep and just playing with her. Apple Bloom thought hard, she couldn’t think of one thing a mother would do that Apple Bloom didn’t see in these pictures. She thought back, she couldn’t think of one time Applejack wasn’t there for her.

Apple Bloom looked up at Applejack, her own tears were starting to flow, and her heart was pounding with new excitement and realization that she now had something she’d never thought she’d have before. Apple Bloom handed the albums to Granny as she got up and walked over to AJ.

“I wish I knew ’bout this sooner. But lookin’ at all those pictures and ’memberin’ back as far as I can,” Apple Bloom paused, AJ’s eyes were locked in Apple Bloom’s. “I don’t think I could be prouder to have been raised by anypony else.”

Then choking back a sob;

“Thank you...

Mama.”

AJ grabbed Apple Bloom and hugged her so hard that Apple Bloom thought she’d suffocate.

“My darlin’, darlin’ baby, I couldn’t be prouder of you! I’ve wanted to be your mother for such a long, long time. Forgive my weakness, forgive my cowardice, forgive me, my darlin’, beautiful daughter.”

Rarity joined the hug; Apple Bloom threw a foreleg around Rarity as well.

“I’m so lucky,’ said the filly, tears of joy streaming from her eyes, “this mornin’ I was an orphan, tonight, I have two mothers!”

Apple Bloom woke up warm and happy, it’d been years since a bad dream or a storm had made her crawl in the bed with Applejack. Now with Applejack and Rarity being married, Applejack’s bedroom was understandably off-limits. But this night, the rules had been set aside. Apple Bloom felt the warmth of a pony on either side of her, forelegs holding her from both sides. She opened her eyes and saw the both Rarity and Applejack were awake, just looking at her.

“Good morning sleepy-head” said Rarity.

“Good mornin’ precious,” said Applejack.

“Awww, are we goin’a get mushy now?” giggled Apple Bloom.

“I’ve years to make up for,” said AJ. “Give me this for now.”

“I was only kiddin’,” said Apple Bloom, “I’ve always loved you. But now I’ve reason to love you more. I’m so excited to now have a mother, and one who’s been my best friend all my life.”

Both AJ and Rarity kissed Apple Bloom on each cheek.

“So, is this goin’ to be just between us, or can I tell my friends?”

“You can tell the world if you wish,” said AJ. “We can go by Twilight’s after school and send a letter to Princess Celestia if’n you want.”

“Oh No!” exclaimed Apple Bloom.

“What’s wrong, Sugar Cube? Don’t you want to tell the princess.”

“No, it’s not that! There’s another pony who ain’t who I thought!” exclaimed Apple Bloom.

“Who’s that Darling,” said Rarity.

“Sweetie Belle; she's no longer my sister. She’s my aunt! And I’m a few weeks older that she is.”

They all laughed.

“I think we should get up and get started.” Said Rarity; “this would be too easy to get use to.”

“Applejack... Oops… I mean Mama...” stammered Apple Bloom.

“It’s alright, it’s goin’a take some time for all of us to get use to this.”

“Okay, but I was goin’a ask, what do I call Rarity? She’s my Mama too, now.”

“Darling, call me what you want. I didn’t think I was ever going to be a mother at anytime.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m so in love with the idea of having a daughter. And I can’t think of any better daughter to have.”

AJ and Rarity kissed Apple Bloom’s cheeks again.

“Oh moms!”

They all laughed.

“’kay, time to get up and get ready for school.” Said AJ, “and now you really do have to do as I tell you.”

“No problem Mama, I do have a question. Now you two are my mothers, is it alright if’n I move in with you?” Asked Apple Bloom with an honest plea in her eyes. “I’ve years to make up for too.”

AJ looked at Rarity. Rarity only smiled and nodded her head.

“Sugar Cube,” said AJ, “we’d love to have our daughter move in with us. When we’re at the cottage that is, at the farm, you’re already here.”

“I love my Mamas so, so much!” said Apple Bloom giving AJ and Rarity a kiss on the cheek.

The rest of the morning was full of laughter.

Apple Bloom wanted to wait to tell her friends before the rest of the kids at school. She’d asked them to meet later at the clubhouse so they could talk.

Sweetie Belle said she’d come by early to so she could talk to Rarity about an important matter.

Sweetie Belle put her books and saddlebag away quickly. She was looking forward to going to the clubhouse. Diamond Tiara was going to be there and maybe she’d be able to walk her home.

Sweetie was headed to the door and called out;

“I’ll be back later! Going to Apple Bloom’s!”

“Well, try to be home in time for dinner.”

“Okay mom, I’ll try!” Sweetie Belle had no intention of hurrying home if she could spend even a few moments alone with Diamond Tiara.

It’d been so hard in class not to just sit and look at Diamond. But when she did, she’d see Diamond looking at her. They exchanged smiles and turned back to their work. They had to try hard not to be obvious at recess and lunch. They wanted to be alone together, but their friends would’ve known something was up if they didn’t hang out with them.

Now she was rushing to Sweet Apple Acres to see Rarity. Rarity had been spending a lot of time there lately. It was between fashion seasons and during these times she and Applejack would stay at the farm so AJ could be closer to her work, when not at the boutique, Rarity liked just being a housewife for Applejack.

When she arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, she went right in. She was family and was told she didn’t have to knock, Applejack saw her enter.

“Hello Sugar Cube,” said Applejack, she turned and called up the stairs, “Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle’s here!”

Before she could tell AJ she was there to see Rarity, Apple Bloom called out something which made her pause.

“’kay Mama! Tell her I’ll be right there!”

“Mama?” asked Sweetie Belle looking at AJ.

“I think Apple Bloom has somethin’ to tell you.” Said AJ with a smile.

“I think so,” said Sweetie.

Just then Rarity walked in the room.

“I actually came to talk to Rarity, if she has some time.”

“I always have time for you, Sweetie Belle.”

“Can we talk somewhere private?”

“Okay,” said Rarity, then turning to her wife, “is it okay if we talk in our bedroom, Darling?”

“It’s your bedroom too.”

“Thank you Dear,” said Rarity, and then she gave AJ a little kiss. “Come up with me Sweetie.”

Apple Bloom met them on the stair.

“I’ll be at the clubhouse in a bit,” said Sweetie, “I need to talk to Rarity about an important matter.”

Rarity perked her ears up at that. They walked to the bedroom, entered and Sweetie Belle closed the door after them.

They sat on the edge of the bed and Rarity looked at her sister to let her know she had her complete attention.

“So what’s this ‘important matter’?”

“Rarity, this isn’t easy for me and I figured it’d be easier to ask you than mom and dad.”

“Is this about the dance? You’ve questions about boys and how to act?”

“Kind of, but not quite,” said Sweetie, “it’s kind of personal, for me and I guess you too. So I’ll just come out and ask, and don’t take it wrong;

But with you and Applejack, how is a mare being in love with a mare different than being in love with a stallion?”

“Are you asking about feelings? Or lifestyle? Or the physical side?”

“Yes,” said Sweetie Belle, “all of that.”

“Well,” started Rarity, swallowing hard, “as far as feelings, love is love. There’s no difference. Some ponies never understand that. But to love a pony is to love a pony.

Yes there’re ponies that look for relationships between the same gender simply because they’re the same gender. Lyra and Bon-Bon Heartstrings might be such ponies. And there isn’t anything wrong with that; it’s their choice. Applejack and I are different; we love each other for who the other pony is not what they are. The same can be said about Twilight and Muffins Sparkle. Rainbow and Pinkie Dash are a different story. Rainbow might be the first kind of pony; Pinkie is kind of neither. But they love each other all the same.

Lifestyle, of course, takes a little getting use to. There’re still some ponies who don’t approve, and would try to make things hard on us. But it’s my choice and if I love Applejack, its just part of the relationship to deal with any issues which might come up.

As far as the physical side...”

Rarity paused to collect her thought as to how to put it delicately, but glancing at her sister, she noticed a look in her eyes. Rarity could tell that there was more to this than just curiosity.

“This isn’t about Applejack and me, is it?”

Sweetie looked at the floor; she was blushing a bit. A curse that Rarity suffered from for having a very light coat color.

“I was sitting in class during study time, I heard some of the fillies talking about colts. They were talking about the differences between mares and stallions.

We’d just had a lecture about how evolution had, at the same time ponies became intelligent; their anatomies had changed. Unlike lower animals, the genitalia had become not as obvious. The fillies were talking about colts and how it kind of excited them talking about it. I started to become concerned because I didn’t see the reason for the excitement. I just couldn’t see what the big deal was; I was almost revolted with all their talk of colt’s ‘things’.

Yes, I do think some colts are cute, and some are good friend. However, I’ve never thought of any of them as ‘desirable’, either anatomy or personality wise.

But I’ve never, in any way, been drawn to fillies either,” Sweetie said pausing, “in general.”

“In general?” asked the big sister.

It was Sweetie Belle’s turn to swallow hard; she paused and decided to just come out with it.

“At the sleepover the other night, we were talking about the dance coming up. We started getting silly and it was brought up things which could happen. Kissing was brought up and everypony was talking about if they’d kissed anypony before. The most was just some little peck on the lips like silly little fillies might do. Then Silver Spoon asked if anypony had done a tongue kiss, nopony had. I mentioned how you told me about you and your friends practicing kissing with the Spin the Bottle game.”

Rarity blushed a little, but she figured she and her friends were about the same age when she’d first played the game.

“I happened to be last and the only other pony was Diamond Tiara, and I was glad, I was actually hoping for that. When we kissed,” Sweetie started to blush, “I really liked it. Not the kissing as much as kissing Diamond Tiara.

After everypony had gone to sleep, I could only lay there thinking of Diamond, so I went out on the porch of the clubhouse to think about it. As it turned out, Diamond Tiara couldn’t sleep either. We talked about what we felt. It turned out that we felt the same. I don’t think we intended to, but we started kissing again, this time without other ponies watching, it was a good long kiss, several kisses actually. We knew we couldn’t just sit out there all night so we turned in, but we hid the fact we went to sleep holding hooves. After the sleepover, I walked Diamond home. I asked her if she’d be my fillyfriend.”

Rarity didn’t know what to say, she knew that her sister was getting older and it was healthy to be exploring relationships. And she certainly had no right to say anything about her sister liking another filly.

This was indeed had been a couple days for revelations.

“Sweetie Belle, are you sure about this? I want to know up front if this choice is because of my relationship with Applejack?” asked Rarity.

“No sis, I think I’ve felt this way about Diamond for a long time, even when she and Silver Spoon used to give us a hard time.” Said the filly, “I was always so disappointed because I felt Diamond could be a nice pony and I thought that I could really like her. I guess I was starting to have feelings for her then.”

“I see,” said Rarity, “I’m glad to hear it, but you do remember what trouble Diamond’s dad tried to make when you all got in that fight and were suspended. Are you ready for ponies to stick labels on you like ‘mare-lover’?”

“I know all this, and she knows it too. It’s just that I think...” Sweetie Belle mumbled something.

“You think what, Darling?”

“I think I’m in love with her.”

Rarity sat back. She’d always tried to be open about love. She had, in the past, never given into the idea the there was an age limit to when you could feel real love for a pony. To her, a filly Sweetie Belle’s age was as capable of feeling true love for a pony just as one Granny Smith’s age. But it was hard not to cloud the issue because it was her ‘little’ sister. And she was starting to feel like a big hypocrite when she put into the equation that her little sister was talking about loving another filly.

“Now, when I think of Diamond,” Sweetie said starting to blush ever brighter, “when I remember seeing her and with a flick of her tail I see her… “Down there’, I start feeling the way the fillies did when they were talking about colt’s ‘things’. My ‘down there’ feels funny.

No other filly gives me this same felling; I don’t even pay attention to them.

Am I a freak or some kind of morally sick pony? Am I a mare-lover?”

Sweetie paused again, Rarity was seeing that her sister was fighting back tears. Then she asked;

“Did you have feelings for mares before you and Applejack got together?”

“No Sweetie, I’d only went out with stallions. And before you ask, I did have sex with some of them in the past, and I had, for the most part, enjoyed it. At that time I can’t think of a time I ever wanted to be intimate with any mare.

However, Applejack and I would bicker all the time; it turned out our bickering was a way for us to interact without having to accept the feelings we were having for each other. But then I started to realize I had feeling for Applejack, deep feelings. You see, she was feeling the same for me.

Applejack had, shall I say, only one experience with sex before. It was when she was young, and it was a very bad experience. From that time she’d nothing to do with sex at all.

I’ll say that when we confessed our true feelings for each other, the thought of pleasing her became important, I’d never wanted to be intimate with a mare before, and it wasn’t about being intimate with a mare. It was about being intimate with a pony I’d come to realize I was truly in love with. At that point, it wasn’t about having sex, it was expressing my fillings for her by wanting to please her and show her happiness and wellbeing was very important to me, and she did reciprocate.

I’d not worry about you thinking you’re a mare-lover. Like me, you’re drawn to a female, not because you like to check out females, but you’re drawn physically to a pony you care for. I’d be surprised if you’d have come to me to tell me you loved Diamond Tiara but you didn’t want to be with her, intimately.”

Rarity paused to collect the thoughts.

“Sweetie Belle, I’m glad you did come to me about this. Not that I don’t think mother and father wouldn’t understand.

And don’t let anypony tell you your feelings are sick or demented. As I said earlier, love is love, and if you love somepony it’s only normal to be attracted to them physically, and want to please and be pleased by them, that’s part of what love is about.

But you truly need to think about this, not only how it’ll affect you but also her. If you do get into a relationship, it’s no longer only about you.

Just remember that there’ll always be another pony’s feelings and wellbeing to consider.

And don’t worry about being thought freakish or morally sick, even if you were a mare-lover. It’d be your choice; you don’t have to live up to other ponies’ standards.

What did Diamond Tiara say to you asking her to be your fillyfriend?”

“She had to think about it because she wasn't sure how to manage any issues that may arise with her friends and family, but she made sure to tell me she wasn't saying no either."

“Sweetie, what ever happens, I’m happy for you if you’re happy, and I’ll always be there for you.”

“Is that what Rainbow Dash means when she says mare-lovers should stick together?”

They both laughed.

“Thanks sis,” said Sweetie, then getting a mischievous gleam in her eyes;

“So....

Tell me about sex with another girl. How does that work?”

“Sweetie Belle! A lady doesn’t talk about such things with a filly,” Rarity said in her ‘proper’ voice, then she winked at Sweetie, “but if it ever does become an issue, we’ll have that talk, I promise. And I don’t think mother and father would be of much use on that issue. But for now I think kissing is enough for you to worry about.”

“I was just pulling your leg sis, and thanks. Don’t tell anypony yet, okay?’

“You mean I can’t submit it to the Foal Free Press like you did my diary?”

They got up and left the room laughing. But Rarity thought that she needed to see Twilight and ask about some books, for herself and for Sweetie Belle.