Chapter 1: What's Your Secret?
Crimson Apples
The second after taking a big mouthful of a bright, red apple, Sweetie Belle immediately swallowed it. She seemed not waste anytime chewing her savory treat.
"Wow Apple Bloom! You're family sure did it this year!" She boomed before taking another bite. "Tish apple esh dewishoush!" ("This apple is delicious!")
It was a warm afternoon in Ponyville and Apple Bloom was visiting Sweetie Belle in her room. She had given Sweetie Belle the last apple the she herself had bucked from the last, fruitful apple tree. And from the looks of it, Sweetie Belle was enjoying every bite of that apple. Sweetie Belle had a hard time talking with the sweet apple in her mouth and decided to chew contently while waiting for Apple Bloom's reply.
"Eeeeyuupp!" replied the proud Apple Bloom. "We take pride in our apples!"
Sweetie Belle greedily finished the fine apple before continuing. "These apples are like no other! What is your secret?"
Apple Bloom grinned widely, "Well that's the thing! It's a secret!"
The two fillies trotted off to meet Scootaloo at the CMC (Cutie Mark Crusader) clubhouse. They recently made plans to meet so they could talk about the jobs they had taken to help other fillies find their cutie marks. In the past, they had trouble finding a time to and place to meet and follow through with the appointments of discouraged blank flanks. Apple Bloom, apparently, was way too busy this year to come and help which caused most of the trouble. This was the first time in a very long time that they were all in the tree house for more than an hour.
"Sorry y'all..." she said lowering her head in front of the two young fillies. "Ever since I got my cutie mark, my brother and sister thought it was time teach me how to tend to the apple trees."
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at each other sadly. "Why did it have to take so long? You've been M.I.A for almost more that half a year. The only time we would ever see you was either at school or running around in Ponyville." Scootaloo said.
"I'm really sorry." Apple Bloom said. "I had to learn so much about how to tend to them so they grow delicious apples." She glanced at Sweetie Belle remembering how she acted when she ate the apple. "And it's LOADS of hard work and really messy because of the-" Apple Bloom cut off seeming to re-think about her word choice. "Um... the dirt."
Sweetie Belle looked at Apple Bloom with a concerned look. "Uh dirt?" Apple Bloom shook her head and boldly stepped on the pedastool ignoring Sweetie Belle's concerned look.
"Let's just get to business shall we? Hmmm... it looks like Green Sleeve is first on our list", Apple Bloom started while flipping through their agenda book. "we should start with him!"
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked uneasy. "W-well you see Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and I kinda did most of the cutie mark problems because we were bored... we're sorry." The earth filly looked sad for a second but went back to her happy self.
"Well that’s okay I guess.” Apple Bloom began to look for another cutie mark problem when there was a solid knock at the door. Apple Jack pushed opened the door to the club house and dashed through the room towards her little sister oblivious of the other two fillies.
"APPLE BLOOM! You have to come back to Sweet Apple Acres with me! We just figured out how to make our apple trees the best out of all Equestria!” Apple Jack tried to shove Apple Bloom out of the club house with her head but continued to ignore the other two fillies watching in awe,
“Uh Apple Jack… you promised that I could have a day to work with my friends.” Apple Bloom remarked trying to resist.
“Well that’s the thing sugar cube, your ‘work’ may help us with- ” Apple Jack stopped when she caught a glanced at the other two fillies who were confused of what was happening. “Uh hey guys. Um is it a'right (alright) if I borrow Apple Bloom from you two we will be back in like 20 minutes?”
The two sadly agreed. “Well I guess.. Only if its for a little while.” Scootaloo shrugged.
“Yeah.. I mean we haven’t played with our best friend in months. I think we both would like to catch up and work on cutie mark problems. I mean it is our destiny after all.” Sweetie Belle added.
“Oh trust me, you guys will be seeing a lot more of each other .” Apple Jack said while pushing Apple Bloom out.
Apple Jack and Apple Bloom walked into the fields of Sweet Apple Acres. They stopped at a bare tree and sat near it ready to talk about the so-called 'breakthrough' that Apple Jack had discovered. “Now whats all this rush about?” The little earth filly made it known to her big sister that she was not pleased to leave her friends once again because of the damned apple trees.
“Apple Bloom, remember how we taught you how to feed the trees and tend to them?” Apple Jack hurriedly said.
“Uh yea.. B-but I still need p-practice…” Apple bloom looked down blushing hard remembering what happened last time.
“Don’t worry leave it to us from now on. We want you to work on missions with your friends. But like everyday. I mean you can help us if you want but don’t work yourself too hard. We need you to help us creating the ‘mulch’ for the apple trees” Apple jack was talking way too fast for Apple Bloom to comprehend.
“Wait whoa,whoa, whoa. Hold your apples for a second sis. What are you getting at exactly?”
Apple jack took a leaned forward and whispered into her young sister's ear. “Well instead of adult ponies, we will use fillies who have just gotten their cutie marks.”
Apple Bloom gasped. “Eh what!?! But they won't have time to play around with their new found destiny! Or show off their cutie marks! And won't we run out of fillies soon? We don't have a grand supply of them like we have adult ponies.”
“Relax Apple Bloom. Ponies reproduce all the time. And the real fun is finding out your destiny. Life gets boring after.” Apple Jack muttered. “Anyways since you hold the Apple Family name it is your duty to help make the finest apple trees. Your perfect gift has given us a gateway of creating the finest of apples. You must use it. That is your destiny Apple Bloom. You help create rich and pure mulch to both sustain the apple trees and create the most beautiful apples.”
"Wait a second, how did you find out that a fresh cutie mark holder creates better trees?" Apple Bloom asked,
"Well Big Mac stumbled upon a curious young colt by the name of Green Sleeve who was really eager to help him with the trees a while back near the end of the mulching process last year. He mentioned that he just got his cutie mark that specialized in horticulture. He helped us plenty." Apple Jacked chuckled before beginning again. "Remember that last tree you bucked this morning? Well he was the one who fertilized that tree and boy those apples were delightful. Do you understand now? Did I cover everything?"
“Yes ma’am. But how will I explain to the others?” Apple bloom questioned. “I mean you kind of hinted to them that working more will help you guys with trees.”
Apple Jack froze. “DAB NABBIT!… I really need to need to pay attention to my surroundings. And watch my big mouth of mine.... hmm… well they are fillies after all… just tell them it’s an apple family secret if they ask. Which I doubt they will. I mean they are just stupid little fillies."
