Conflicting Love

AN: Sorry about the long wait everypony but I've been really lazy and have had a lot of writer's block but have finally overcome it. Yay. Hope you guys enjoy. Also two side pairings that will be in this story are revealed in this chapter as well. And if anyone wants to be my pre-reader please ask in the comments or a private message.

Pinkie Pie had just woken up as she usually did with a small bounce out of her bed ready to start another wonderful day. She looked over and saw her pet alligator Gummy still curled up and asleep in a little basket that Rarity had made for him. She smiled watching the little alligator snore quietly and went over giving him a small kiss on the forehead. "You can sleep in if you want Gummy, but I have to go to work right now" With that she bounced towards the stairs ready for a day of baking.

Once she was downstairs she saw Pumpkin Cake and Pound Cake playing with the oatmeal that the Cakes had seemed to have made for them. Pumpkin Cake was trying to eat her spoon again while Pound was splashing his oatmeal all over the table getting it all over the floor as well. She laughed slightly seeing them act just like they had when she first babysat them when Mr. and Mrs. Cake had to leave for a delivery. She bounced over taking the spoon out of Pumpkin's mouth and gave Pound a small noogie making him stop and giggle cutely making Pumpkin and Pinkie join in the laughter.

"Pinkie is that you dear?" Pinkie heard Mrs. Cake ask from the other room.

"Yeah I just woke up"

"Oh thank goodness, we really need to make another delivery so do you think it would be fine if you could babysit the babies again?" Mr. Cake asked.

"Of course, I love taking care of those two" Pinkie said joyfully. In truth, she knew that she would also have to work today while babysitting so it would be quite stressful for her but she didn't want to dissapoint the Cakes by saying no.

"Thanks Pinkie, but try not to overwork yourself okay?" Mrs. Cake asked.

"No problem Mr. and Mrs. Cake, I'll watch them like a fox. Wait do foxes watch babies or is it hawks?"

Mr. and Mrs. Cake simply let out some chuckles since they were used to Pinkie acting like... well Pinkie. Ever since she had first come to Ponyville asking for a job at Sugar Cube Corner, she had been just like a daughter to them and she was sure that Pound and Pumpkin saw Pinkie as an older sister. "It's fine Pinkie, thank you so much" Mrs. Cake said as she walked out of the bakery.

"Make sure that you feed them when they need to Pinkie" Mr. Cake said leaving right behind his wife.

"Don't worry, they're in good hooves" Pinkie said loudly so that they could hear her. She turned around to see Pumpkin holding up her front two legs signaling Pinkie that she wanted a ride. Pinkie gladly placed her on her back and began bouncing around the room picking up Pound and placing him on her back as well. The two babies contined to laugh bringing great joy to Pinkie. She always loved being to make others smile even during the times where she couldn't even get herself to smile. After a few minutes she bounced to their bedroom and placing them in the middle of the floor. The two babies started to cry a bit telling Pinkie Pie that they needed food. She quickly headed off to find their bottles and just as she put them into the babies mouths she heard a knock coming from the front door. She put the two into their cribs and bounced up to the door. Once she opened it she saw Applejack in the doorway with a blank face almost like she had lost her soul.

"Applejack are you alright?" PInkie asked concerned for her friend who continued to look at the ground with a blank stare while walking in and shuting the door. Pinkie couldn't read her face no matter how hard she tried. Her face seemed like a mixture of sadness, fear, and regret but thinking of what had happened several days ago she could understand.

"Princess Celestia needs us to come to Canterlot right away" Applejack responed in an almost emotionless voice that actually scared Pinkie a little bit.

"Why? Did something happen? Are the changlings back? Did Discord break free?" Pinkie asked the last question with a bit of hope that Applejack didn't seem to notice.

"No none of that, but I had this really strange dream and Celestia send a letter wanting all six of us right away"

"What was the dream about?"

Applejack wasn't sure if she wanted to relive what she had seen for a third time but Pinkie was the only one who she had told about Applebloom so she deserved to know. With that she explained everything in her dream including Applebloom leaving Pinkie with looks of shock, horror, and disgust. "Applejack I'm so sorry that you had to have something like that happen" Pinkie said sincerly.

"No, I deserved it especially after what I did to Applebloom"

"Stop saying that Applejack, you were just confused about it is all. I'm sure that Applebloom will forgive you once you see her again"

"Why would she ever want to see me again after what I said to her? I tore her heart into shreds Pinkie. When she needed her big sister more than anything I tore her heart into pieces. How do I not derserve this?" Applejack asked with sudden anger paralyzing Pinkie.

"I... I..."

"She's probably alone right now in pain because of what I did to her. Do you have any idea what it's like to have your heart broken like that?"

"YES" Pinkie suddenly screamed with tears in her eyes shocking Applejack. "I do know how she feels because I went through something like she did too. I fell in love with somepony the moment I met him but then..." Pinkie stopped while more tears began to form in her eyes "...He was taken away before I could tell him. And the worst part of it is that I helped get rid of him. So yes I know how both you and Applebloom feel" Pinkie couldn't say anything else as the tears consumed her eyes.

"Pinkie, I'm sorry" Applejack immediatly gave her friend a hug trying to calm and comfort her as best as she could "I'm not going to make an excuse for what I said but I'm really sorry. When did this happen?"

For a moment Pinkie was silent as she tried to calm down and think. Should I tell her about my feelings for him? Will she accept me or would she think I'm a traitor for it? No, I can't doubt her, she trusted me with everything that happened with Applebloom so I'll give her the same trust back. "Well... do you promise not to laugh at me?"

"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye" Applejack said doing the movements now looking the baker in the eyes. "Now have any of us met this stallion before?"

"Well... you guys met him once when he came to Ponyville. But technically he's not a stallion"

"What do you mean he's not a stallion? Is it a mare?"

"No it's not a mare. It's kind of hard to explain but he's only part stallion" Pinkie said.

Applejack was completly confused and started to think. Okay what could she mean by somepony only being part stallion but not being a mare either? Maybe whoever it is, is part pony or. The realization hit Applejack hard. She had only met one being that was part pony and she had fought him over a year ago. "Wait... do you mean that the one you like is..."

Pinkie simply nodded answering Applejack before she finished. For a moment Applejack was silent as the confession sank in until she did something that she hadn't done since Applebloom had ran away that both shocked and confused Pinkie Pie; she laughed. For a moment Pinkie stood silently until she became very angry. "Hey you said you wouldn't laugh at me"

Applejack started to calm down and looked back at her friend. "I'm not laughing at you sugarcube. I'm laughing because I can't believe you think we didn't know that"

"Wait... you knew?! But how?"

"We may have been under his spell but I still remember what happened and I saw how close you got to his face and I also saw your blush when doing it" Applejack teased a bit making Pinkie's face go red in an instant.

"Can we just go meet Princess Celestia right now?" Pinkie asked wanting to change the subject.

"Alright fine we need to get the others though first but can I ask one thing?"

"What?"

"Do you think his laugh is sexy?" Applejack asked teasing PInkie again but this time was only met by a blank stare.

".... Cupcakes"

"What?"

"Nothing. Let's just go. Wait I have to babysit the babies for the Cakes while they're making a delivery. I can't just leave those two alone. The Cakes trust me to take care of them while they're gone"

"Is there anypony that you know that can babysit for you while you're gone?"

"Well" As if on cue the two heard the front door of the bakery open as a pegasus came inside with two saddlebags on her sides with imprints of muffins on them.

"Hi Pinkie Pie and Applejack" Derpy said cheerfully.

"Oh hey Derpy are you here for some muffins?" Pinkie asked.

"Yup, so do you have any?" Derpy asked excitedly with her mouth drooling a bit thinking about muffins.

"I think I have some in the back. Oh hey Derpy how would you like to get paid muffins?" Pinkie asked.

Derpy gasped happily and immediatly started to beg at Pinkie's feet. "I would love to be paid muffins. Can I please please please please?"

"Sure, all I need you to do is babysit Carrot and Pumpkin while I go to Canterlot for a while" Pinkie explained a bit nervous about trusting Derpy with taking care of two infants.

"No problem Pinkie, you can count on me" Derpy said confidently.

"Thanks a bunch Derpy it means a lot"

As Applejack and Pinkie headed off to get the others, Applejack couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure that it's a good idea to trust her with those two? I mean no offense to her or anything but she's not the brightest of ponies"

"Of course, she always has to babysit her little sister Dinky so I'm sure she's responsible enough to take care of them"

"I guess so" Applejack said sounding a bit sad again.

"Let me guess, Applebloom?" Pinkie asked. Applejack probably was reminded of Applebloom once she said little sister. "Who knows maybe Celestia might know where Applebloom is"

"Maybe"

*transtion*

The ride to the Canterlot castle seemed to take years for the farm pony who was simply staring out of the window in the side of the large carriage that Princess Celestia had sent to get them. She couldn't help herself from looking around frantically for the small chance that she might see Applebloom somewhere in the distance. But all she ever saw were fields of beautiful green grass and lucious apple trees as far as anypony's eyes could see. Applejack looked around the inside of the carriage looking at each of her friends. Twilight was rereading the books that they had looked through earlier probably trying to fine out something about the creature Applejack had dreamed of, Pinkie was trying to show Rarity a design for a new party dress involving confetti coming out it the sides while Rarity was trying to get some beauty sleep by smothering herself with a pillow trying to drown out Pinkie's rambling, while Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were sitting together and having a nice conversation by the looks of it. She could also just barely see a faint blush on Fluttershy's face at one point that Rainbow hadn't noticed. Fluttershy had told her about her feelings for Rainbow Dash several weeks ago. At first she had been against it a bit but ultimately decided to accept it and support her friend. Seeing the two like this reminded her painfully of Applebloom and the times that they had spent together.

"Are you okay Applejack?"

Applejack was brought out of her thoughts turning around and seeing Fluttershy looking over at her with a concerned look on her face. "I'm fine Fluttershy, I'm just really tired is all. Thanks for the concern though" Applejack did her best not to look at Fluttershy in fear that she might become a victim of Fluttershy's infamous Stare.

"Are you sure? You look really upset about something" Fluttershy said still wanting to make sure that her friend was alright.

"Yeah, what's with you Applejack?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I said that I'm just tired okay. Now could you please drop it?" Applejack asked angrily looking back out of the window.

"Tired huh? Applejack almost nopony has seen you in days and when we finally do see you, all you say is that you're tired?! Some element of honesty you are" Rainbow Dash remarked with a glare that only served to increase Applejack's already bad mood.

"Last time I checked it wasn't any of your buisness Rainbow. And you're one to talk when it comes to their element. What about that time that Rarity and Pinkie Pie had fallen out of the carriage when you were chasing me? Some element of loyalty you are" Applejack said with anger as the two stared down at each other daring the other to say or do something to give the other an excuse to attack the other. If looks could kill then both ponies would have been incinerated on the spot until Fluttershy got in between them.

"Please stop fighting. Rainbow if she doesn't want to talk about something that's bothering her than she doesn't have to" Fluttershy said sternly causing the pegasus to simply look away with her sour expression starting to soften. She then looked over to Applejack "And we're just really concerned is all. You're aren't mad any more are you?"

Applejack's expression went back to her old face as she gave an apologetic look to her timid friend. "No I'm not mad, I've just been going through a really hard time lately and it's just not something that I want to talk about"

"It's about Applebloom disappearing isn't it?" Rainbow asked calming down a bit. The only answer that she received from the farm pony was her looking back out the window with a sad expression. "Look Applejack it's not your fault. I'm sure she'll come back eventually"

"Yeah I guess" Applejack said with doubt and guilt knowing that it actually was her fault. Even though Pinkie had temporarilly cheered her up at the bakery she still had the same guilt eating away at her. She hated not telling the rest of her friends the truth about what had happened but she had to for the better. All she could even think about right now was Applebloom. Where are you little sis? She thought back to her talk with Spike before she had gone to talk with Pinkie.

Right now Twilight had already left to get the others while Applejack stayed behind looking through the books with a blank expression. "Are you okay Applejack?" Spike asked concerned.

Applejack seemed to get out of whatever trance she was in and simply said "I'm fine"

Spike rolled his eyes. "Sure, next thing you'll tell me is that Twilight hates books. You're not a good liar AJ." Spike tried to study her face as best as he could noticing she had a distant but sad look on her face. The same one he usually had when he couldn't spend time with Rarity. "What's his name?"

Applejack's eyes widened as she looked at the baby dragon. "What do you mean?"

"What's the name of the stallion you like?"

"I don't like any stallion Spike"

"How do you feel when you think about him?" Spike asked with a small smirk.

Applejack wanted to punch him now for what he was saying but did her best to keep her cool. "What makes you think I like sompony?"

"Just by the look on your face. It's the same one I always have when I can't be with Rarity. Now how do you usually feel when you think about them?"

Applejack was silent for a while thinking. Does he actually think that I like Applebloom?

"What would you do in order to see them for just one second?" Spike asked.

"I... I would give anything to see them again. But I don't have a crush on anypony, they're... just a good friend is all." Applejack said with her cheeks heating up for some reason.

"Cru-u-ush" Spike teased in a sing song tone noticing her blush.

Applejack had, had enough. "Look I don't have a crush on anypony got that? I'm going to go gather up the others" With that she left the library leaving Spike smirking to himself.

"She so has a crush" Spike said thinking Applejack couldn't hear him but was proven wrong when he heard her yell out in annoyance.

He had really irritated her at that point. There is no way that I have those kind of feelings for Applebloom. She's my little sister for pony sake. I'm over twice her age, it doesn't matter if she's cute, kind, sweet, and. Applejack immediatly deadpanned. Where had those thoughts come from? It's probably just the guilt making me think like that. Besides me and Applebloom as a couple? That just couldn't work even if I had the same feelings. But no matter how many times she repeated it to herself, she couldn't help but feel like it might be nice to be with Applebloom. She stubbornly shook her head seeing the castle up ahead hoping that Celestia would know about that monster from her dreams.

AN: Sorry about the two week wait everypony :(. I have been having a bit of writer's block plus school is starting back up for me so I won't have as much time to write chapters. Hope you liked this chapter and please give any ideas that you have. Also it will be up to all of you how the next chapter goes. I am either going to start off right where this left off or start from when Applebloom left Ponyville and showing what she's been doing since then.