The Honest TruthView OnlineBloom : An Apple Horse TaleThe Honest TruthMom always did say, I'd blossom into myself one day. My tiny yellow ears perked upward cutely in the full length mirror of my room. Large vibrant orange eyes gazing off into the distance unable to focus on anything in particular. I very much doubted this is what she meant. Fluffy bright red hair cascading over my eyes softly, before a loud snort escaped my tiny yellow muzzle. My name is Adam Crune. Until just yesterday, I was a normal average guy who lead an uneventful life. Sure I had my guilty pleasures just like anyone else in the world, but they didn't warrant my humanity being stripped away by force. I was an avid fan of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I enjoyed the earlier seasons to the older ones, but the show still had some merritt. Cute art style, wonderful stories, and of course the characters that almost seemed to become part of your life. Being the fan I was, I enjoyed catching specials on television or perhaps buying the occasional plushie off the internet. But as for cosplaying or even joining a fan site, I tended to shy away from such social options. I'd be the first to admit, I wasn't the most extroverted person out there. So suddenly waking up as Apple Bloom was quite the shock to be honest. Before you click off my story thinking I'm insane, just know I'm being one hundred percent honest with you! We Apples, have a tendency not to lie outright. I just woke up in the body of a young filly. I didn't meet an odd merchant in an eerie alley or read some magical spell off an email in my inbox. It just kind of happened, I honestly didn't even feel pain while changing. That or I'm a very heavy sleeper. I remember trying to slide out of bed to use the bathroom. But being so tiny I plunged to the floor with a thud. The loud crash of a tiny equine smacking muzzle first onto the floor, caused my parents to run inside worried. Of course screaming and panic ensued, but didn't really last as long as you'd think. My Stepmother Karen noticed the little filly flopping around on the floor was wearing my oversized pajamas. The rest was pieced together really easily, Dad staying mute in a shocked silence for nearly the whole day. Oddly enough I couldn't talk. Sure I could make little horse noises and maybe a few squeals here and there. But I didn't own a cute southern accent by any stretch of the imagination. So here I sit in my room alone, trapped in a tiny yellow body of fluff with fiery red hair sprouting from both ends. Such a horrible way for a life to end. “Adam?” Karen poked her head into my room cautiously. Her pale blue eyes locking on my oversized orange hues innocently. “...” I clopped my little yellow hoof on the floor twice for yes. Or should it have been once? Had I been replying “No.” to my Stepmother all night long? “How are you doing? Did you sleep well?” Karen pushed the wooden frame of the door open wide, kneeling down to the floor smiling sweetly. “Mmm.” I moaned softly in place, walking over to her with saddened eyes. “I know, you feel frustrated.” Karen gently scritched a sweet spot behind my ear. Sending a warm wave of pleasure down my hooves in excitement. My eyes gazed up to her for answers in a somber manner. Karen simply reaching into her back pocket removing a bright red apple. My little muzzle sniffing over the surface inspecting the glossy outer skin. A scent of infinite sweetness filling my nostrils in a matter of seconds. Greedily, I snatched the apple from her grasp, trotting off to enjoy my snack. “Is he better?” Dad appeared out of the hallway in disgust of my current predicament. “She's eating?” Karen shrugged her narrow shoulders as I bit loudly into my apple watching them speak. It was surreal to hear people talk about you, as if you weren't even there. Or worst yet, as if you were just a simple minded animal. The lovely sweet juices of a well grown Red Delicious filling my mouth. My cheeks puffing out adorably as I chewed happily on my food. “He's not a...I mean it's …” Dad rubbed his fingers firmly across his pounding temple in utmost confusion. “Honey, I'm not sure if she'll ever turn back?” Karen spoke those icy words of despair. My heart sank deep into my chest as I let out a loud whinny. Karen and my father flashing a gaze of uncertainty. My Stepmother quick to coo aloud, kneeling back to my eye level. Dad keeping his distance and exiting the room. “Adam! Don't worry, we won't ever abandon you!” Karen held her slender arms outward offering a warm embrace. I could feel tears stinging my eyes. My lips parting to let a loud whimper escape my muzzle. I was so frightened yet couldn't even share my feelings with anyone. Sobbing softly, I cantered into my Stepmother's open arms, feeling her wrap my tiny body in a loving hug. Karen squeezing my tiny frame, I buried my muzzle into her shoulder tenderly. I felt so lost and alone, I just needed my family to be there, if only for a moment. Karen soothingly began singing a lullaby from her youth into my ear, my heart slowing to a calmer rhythm. I regretted that in my human form, I wasn't as close, as I should've been with her. My body soon lifting off the floor, cradled protectively in my mother's arms. I wished this moment would last forever, the frightening reality awaiting me something to truly fear. Would I forever be a pony? If so, what would my life become? I prayed that in the morning, I'd be back to normal. But this was sadly, just the beginning of my waking nightmare.
As The Days Go ByView OnlineBloom : An Apple Horse TaleAs The Days Go ByKaren and I became closer as time went on. It was just a few days after the change before I experienced my first bath as a pony. Karen had made the water far too cold and simply dropped me into the tub with hardly any warning. Needless to say that bubbles and water went flying everywhere, leaving a disaster zone behind. I did enjoy the brushing afterwards though. I had never known that my Stepmother was so gentle around people...err animals? She kept me calm over those first couple days. Talking to me when I felt lonely, feeding me many treats, and cradling me to sleep at night. She was my beacon of light in the ever growing darkness. She insisted, I didn't feel like an Adam anymore. So, to my surprise she had started to label off names for ponies. Each one even worse than the last, though she was sweet for trying. Buttercup. Firefly. Oranges. So glad none of those stuck. As she listed off a hundred names to never name a filly. I galloped to my large open closet nuzzling a shoebox open with my muzzle cutely. Grabbing a soft yellow plushie in my mouth, carrying over my favorite collectable to my Stepmother. She seemed genuinely surprised when I offered her the toy. A beaming smile of joy spreading across her face slowly. I remember her bursting into a fit of giggles, giving my plushie a tight squeeze of love. A name tag stitched in feminine cursive across it's front. “Apple Bloom, my little Bloom.” Karen lowered down, placing a tender kiss upon my forehead. My heart melting with the warmth of love. Sure enough. Days turned to weeks. Weeks into months. Months slowly compiled into something special. “Happy birthday to Bloom!” Karen danced out of the kitchen swaying her hips in a feminine manner. An extra large pink cake on a silver platter as she walked deeper into the dimly lit dining area. I sat at the head of the table in excitement. A tiny frilly birthday hat nestled atop my head. Lifted up on my hind hooves, feeling my tail swishing side to side joyously. The buttery scent of warm cake smothered in strawberry frosting, driving me near insanity. I let a loud squee escape my muzzle before tapping both hooves over the large wooden table happily. Dad sat in the far corner of the room. Sipping out of a large glass of liquor with a look of indifference upon his face. Karen on the other hoof was excited to celebrate a whole year since, I had become her daughter. Placing the cake in front of me, she placed a single turquoise candle in the center lighting it. “God's sake Karen! She's only an animal!” Dad was quick to anger now days. My ears folding down, a bit taken back by the comment. “Bloom, is our daughter!” Karen gave a small huff in place. Turning towards me, I felt her give me a special extra tight birthday hug! My heart filled with warmth as I gave her a tender cuddle in return. Dad sneered in place lifting to his feet before exiting the room grumbling. “Don't listen to him, Bloom! He's just weary, but loves you dearly.” Karen giggled patting my vibrant red mane gently. I happily gave a loud whiny into our large open dining area. Focusing my mind, I blew out my candle making a wish with all my heart. Yet my gift was never given, I still was covered in a yellow coat and of course had hooves. My smile fading into a broken frown, as I slumped down in my seat, sadly. Part of my soul had hoped that it would work. Karen always quick to show affection tilted my chin upward to face her smiling face. “Don't be sad. I got you a present!” Karen grinned with a coy wink walking over to a nearby dresser reaching for something. I tilted my head to the side in confusion. Using my tiny hoof to maybe swipe a bit of frosting off my cake as well. Licking the sweet taste of strawberries off my hoof, my large orange eyes widened in absolute surprise towards Karen. “Surprise!” She nearly screamed, holding out a large rose tinted bow. I gave an excited squeal in reply. My eyes lighting up brightly from the cuteness of it, I had slowly begun to find more and more things adorable lately. A piece of my heart yearning to be pretty, I suppose a side effect of being a little filly so long. I've started thinking more as a child recently. My college education becoming more hazy and faint. Right now though, that bow was the only thing on my mind! Karen could see how excited I was. Walking over she tied the oversized gift into my mane with the utmost care. Cupping my cheeks afterwards and smiling sweetly. “You're beautiful!” Karen spoke in a melodic tone, using her finger to gently boop my nose. I scrunched my muzzle in return cutely, happily pouncing off my seat in excitement. Within seconds, I was running in circles over the hard wooden floor, enjoying some well earned playtime. Karen was happy to just watch in silence, cutting us both off a slice of cake to enjoy later. I might not be human again. But this birthday was one of my best! I nipped my own tail, with a loud squee in triumph. Pouncing back up onto my seat with a large grin over my muzzle. Karen broke into laughter wholeheartedly, reaching for the table to grab an old camera. I was already busy smooshing my muzzle into my cake. The taste beyond anything I ever tasted. My back hooves clopping together in satisfaction, strawberry smeared over my whole muzzle cutely. With a delicate “ahem”, I gave Karen my full attention. “Say Apples!” Karen cooed as I lifted my head towards the camera, a huge smile over my frosting tinted face before the flash went off.
A Little TripView OnlineBloom : An Apple Horse TaleA Little TripAs the months passed. I became far more active in nature. Not really noticing that sometimes I would simply pace around my claustrophobic room. My hooves unable to stand still and my spirit aching for the gentle breeze of the wind in my mane. The wooden floors of my room imprinted with the shape of my hooves, a constant reminder of my current circumstances. I suppose it was these few incidents that lead to this moment in my life. I was lured into quite an enormous trailer connected to Karen's emerald green truck. My mom promising that everything would be absolutely fine, I trusted her with my life. But this ride in the back of a truck was bumpy and long, my heart sinking into my chest at the thought of where we could be going. But then it happened. Light from the beaming afternoon sun poured into my oversized prison, my orange-colored eyes squinting as the silhouette of my mother came into view. Drawing ever closer while my eyes adjusted, only to reveal a woman with long burgundy hair tied in a ponytail closing in on me. I gave a frightened squeal of uncertainty, my hooves toppling backward sending me falling on my flank. This woman dressed in a small flannel blouse and dark blue jeans, her stylish sleek boots covered in the dirt of a hard day's work. “Settle darling!” She screamed as I gave her a loud yelp in reply. I lifted onto my hind hooves ready to try and leap over the woman, Karen suddenly rushing inside the trailer with a look of concern across her face. My mother placing a delicate hand on my muzzle, leaning forward to nuzzle my cheek tenderly in reassurance. “It's perfectly fine, I promise.” She whispered into my ear as I let a soft whimper escaped my lips. My ears pinning down as I sat down on my flank once more, heart racing within my chest like a stampede of wild buffalo. The strange woman kneeling down in front of my vision, intrusively prying my mouth open looking strangely enough at my teeth. Her firm icy touch lifting my front leg picking at the bottom of my hoof in an eerie silence. Karen watching on as if studying this odd woman's every move, a feeling of growing unease swelling forth from deep inside my soul. “She's an absolute beauty, Karen.” The woman broke the silence with a cheerful tone. “Thank you, Janice.” My mother smiled in reply proudly. “If you ever want to sell her, I can guarantee a good price.” Janice cut straight to business, my mother flashing a nervous half-smile. “No, she's my little pony.” I felt my mother's lips lovingly place a kiss on my forehead. “Fair enough, I'd be honored to let the little darling gallop around my ranch!” The odd woman roughly yet purposely ruffled up my poor mane. “Heck, I can even brand her for free!” Those words caused a ghostly chill to cascade down my spine. I squealed out in horror at the mere mention of a hot iron. My mother just nervously giggling as if a joke had been made, silently motioning with her hand for me to follow her out of the trailer. Both of us awkwardly inching past this psychopath Janice, before scooting outside into the fresh air of the world. “That's a lovely offer, but I think just some exercise would be fine.” Karen gave a sheepish shrug. My eyes narrowing to ugly old Janice with a glare, an extra loud snort forcing itself out of my nostrils. The scenery was something out of a children's book. Lush green grass stretching for miles into the horizon, cute wooden fences tracing the landscape in such a charming design. The sweet scent of nature tickling my nose as I softly sneezed out loud, my ears perking at the melodic tune of birds high above. This place was amazing on every count. My hooves itching to gallop across the plains at top speed, a desire to fill my lungs with all this fresh air overtaking my senses. I gave a whiny towards my mother. My tail swishing at a frantic pace as she escorted me over towards the open gate, with a loud squeal I rushed inside my heart bursting with excitement. At a full gallop, I headed for the distance. My body exploding with newfound energy as I bounced and cantered across the fresh dew ridden grass, everything felt new and exciting again. For the first time in a long while I felt free once more, my hooves cantering over to a small clear stream of fresh water. Kneeling down I drank deep from the earth, tongue lapping up the nourishment given freely from mother earth. This water the purest thing I had drunk in months, lifting my moist wet muzzle to the sky I whinnied ever louder. The world around was beautiful, I didn't feel so alone anymore. I felt normal for the moment at least, curling up into a tiny ball at the stream's edge I yawned gently. This warm patch of grass absolutely perfect for an afternoon nap, perhaps being a pony wasn't all bad. Once you learned to appreciate the little things. Much like all things in life. Good things come to a close, my day at the ranch over before I even knew it. Mother leading me back towards the icy embrace of my trailer, the behemoth a mere void of the abyss. Like an extended jaw of an Ursa Major ready to devour me in one massive gulp, the moments of pleasure I felt quickly becoming a fleeting memory. I moaned weakly with drooping ears, Karen quirking a thin brow with a delicate giggle. Reaching over to pet my backside firmly, nudging me inside my container with a knowing glance. “I know you loved it here, Bloom. I'll bring you back soon, I promise.” Her voice spoke with sweet promises. Yet as the back lifted sealing me away into my dark prison, I felt less than human. I felt like an animal.
The Beginning Of The EndView OnlineBloom : An Apple Horse TaleThe Beginning Of The EndI yawned with quite a crude snort storming out of my nostrils. It was late on a Friday night and to be completely honest, I was a bit stir crazy. My small rounded muzzle nudged the kitchen fridge open in a glorious wave of golden light. I was craving a carrot-like no tomorrow and was sorely disappointed to see we were out. I blew a loud raspberry, nipping an edge off a slice of cheesecake in the far corner. Mom wouldn't mind if I took a bite, she wasn't the only girl craving tonight. With a dull thud, the kitchen was cast back into the void, my ears pricking quickly afterward as I caught another noise from the distance. “Late night, hmm?” Dad sighed from the hallway in a deep melancholy voice. An icy chill crawled down my spine as I glanced into the empty abyss. Shrouded in the uncertainty of the world my father stepped into the dim light of the kitchen. My orange eyes cast towards the floor in light shame, my father and I were never close. Even before this mess, I felt as if we were miles apart on the emotional spectrum. Things only becoming worse as this fate had trapped me in the body of a frail equine. “Do you ever dream of returning to normal?” He towered over me much like a mountain intimidatingly. I let a light whiny echo out into the room, full of growing anxiety. “Or perhaps you've resigned to this life?” His oversized hand roughly pet my mane in a condescending manner. The tension between us thick enough to cut with a blade, his eyes burning into my soul like fiery coals. I took a sharp inhale of air averting my gaze away from his own. Dad simply pushing past me with a light shove. “Your mother doesn't seem to understand the consequences of this predicament.” His hand swung open the door with a gruff grunt. Swallowing the massive lump in my throat, I felt myself making a pathetic little whimper towards my father's direction. “Don't get sissified on me boy!” He slammed the door shut in a terrifying thud, my ears folded back as I kneeled on the floor shivering. My muzzle parted to whiny as loud as possible. Father's hands clenching my mouth shut, my hooves struggled against the tile floor in a panic. “Shhh! Shhh!” He tried to settle me down as I flailed on the floor. “Pow!” My ears rang out in a sharp echo. His fist punched my right ear as I tumbled off onto my side. The world spun in the dark, a sharp pain building inside my ear as it swelled. “You think this freakshow will last forever!” Father spat down towards me in a horrible rage. “By my standard, my son is dead! ~ I will not raise some filthy animal as a human!!” He bellowed in a dark voice full of untethered hate. With a yelp, I could feel oversized hands wrap around my neck tightening with extreme pressure. “You're not natural!!” He snarled as I gargled in horror my hooves growing limp, eyes wide in absolute horror of my upcoming demise. “Arrr...garrr...elp!” I choked out with bloodshot eyes, tears cascading down both cheeks. His grip loosened around my neck as I curled up in terror. My body formed into a petite ball on the floor, I couldn't stop myself from quivering. “Not my son.” He clenched both fists at his sides, slowly shuffling into the darkness from which he came. Never had I thought that my Dad would attack me. That my Mom would take me out of town for exercise amongst the horses. I wasn't a human anymore in their eyes, just some beast of burden that was weighing them down. My eyes stung with the fire of tears that stained my cheeks. I forced myself to stand tall stumbling off into the pitch-black hallway. “ Ooooo! Oooo!” My whiny wafted upstairs in an echo of mockery. I felt so alone and alien. My hooves tripping up every step of the stairway, my chest began to tighten and my breathing became shallow. “Oooo! Oooo!” I needed to scream for my Mom, I needed to be held. I wanted someone to whisper in my ear, that all would someday be fine. I could feel my spirit ignite with the drive to speak, to reclaim my humanity and show the world I wasn't a beast. “Ooooooooo!!!” I screamed out before slipping on the final step of the staircase. My frail body tumbled down each wooden step roughly. I could feel the wind punched out of my lungs as I crashed to the bottom in a dull thud. Silence was the only thing to greet my broken body, spirit shattering into a thousand pieces as I sobbed aloud in despair. After all, why should the world care? I was only a pony.
