"Okay everypony, that's it for today. Now be sure to take your cards home with you, you wouldn't want to forget your gift on Parent Appreciation Day tomorrow, would you?" Cheerilee announced happily, despite the storm of chaos that had invaded her classroom. Allowing young fillies and colts the use of scissors, glue, and glitter was always the perfect recipe for disaster.
Cheerilee didn't mind the mess, nor the time it would take her to clean it all up. Seeing the happy expressions on her student's face was more than enough.
She headed through her classroom, checking on what kind of cards her students had made. Apple Bloom, her own desk relatively clear of mess, looked down at her own card, and couldn't help but feel a little bit proud.
It looked rather boring on the outside, just plain white paper with the words "Happy Parent Appreciation Day" in happy red glitter on the front. It was the inside she had put all of her effort into. Opening it, she hoped it would be a good present for the celebrations tomorrow.
"Well done Apple Bloom, that card looks wonderful!" Cheerilee congratulated, standing to the side of her desk.
"Thanks Ms. Cheerilee," Apple Bloom replied somewhat dejectedly. Cheerilee noticed and the smile on her face faltered.
"Is everything all right Apple Bloom?" she asked, her voice soft and comforting.
"No...its okay Ms. Cheerilee," she packed the card away in her knapsack and stepped out from her desk. "Have a good weekend!" She finished, putting a big smile on her face.
"Well...okay," Cheerilee accepted. "Now remember to stay safe and tell your family I said hello!"
"Yes Ms. Cheerilee," Apple Bloom replied before heading outside. The weather did little to affect to her mood, the sky was filled with dark grey clouds set up earlier that day by the Pegasus. They had to make it rain today so the weather tomorrow would be perfect and sunny for the colts and fillies to spend time with their parents.
Heading back to the farms, staying safely under the cover of the trees in case the rain started early, she felt a little guilty about lying to Ms. Cheerilee.
Everything wasn't all right, but she didn't want to say that because...because she wasn't sure why it wasn't right.
The day had started just fine, she had helped Applejack out with her farm chores, got Big Mac to say more than twenty words in one sitting, a new record, gave Granny Smith a hug, and went off to school.
Her thoughts had started to turn dark when they had started to make the cards. Looking around she saw everypony filling their card with illustrations of their parents.
Twist was happily drawing in pictures of candy on her card, and even Diamond Tiara was writing out a heartfelt message for her father, it was probably the nicest thing Apple Bloom had ever seen that pony do.
Turning her head, she had watched while Sweetie Belle hummed a beautiful tune as she sketched out a rough drawing of two unicorns, her parents. Apple Bloom had met them once during an ill-fated adventure with the cutie-mark crusader. The two were so silly and laid back she found it hard to believe that Rarity was their daughter too. Of course, that was before they had invited the crusaders inside to help them get all of the tree sap out of their manes and fed them a proper meal.
It was their generosity that bound them together as family.
Everypony was happily making something for their parents...everypony but her.
She...didn't have parents, she had known that ever since her first Parent Appreciation Day, though she had simply figured, with her own brand of logic, that it was just the way things worked.
Most families had parents, but there were always a few, like hers, that didn't need them. At the time that explanation had made perfect sense, but today, it simply wasn't enough for her. She wanted...needed to know why her family was different, why she had been raised by a sister and brother instead of a mother and father. Luckily she knew the perfect place to start.
Arriving back on the farm, Apple Bloom immediately raced off into the apple trees looking for Applejack. If anypony knew, she would, she knew everything after all!
Still keeping cover under the apple trees, it wasn't hard for her to find her older sister, she just headed for the rhythmic thumping noise of hooves against trees.
"Applejack!" Apple Bloom yelled, seeing an orange blur dashing through the trees, apples falling neatly into barrels wherever it passed. Hearing her voice, the blur slowed until Apple Bloom was able to recognize her sister.
"What'cha need sis?" Applejack asked, adjusting her stetson so it lay perfectly on the top of her mane.
"Well I was at school today and we had to make cards for Parent Appreciation Day tomorrow and then I saw Twist an' Diamond Tiara an' Sweetie Belle drawin' pictures and then-"
"I'm gonna need the short version sis," Applejack interrupted. "I need to harvest as many of these trees as I can 'fore the rain hits." Apple Bloom quickly shut her mouth and nodded, pausing for a moment as she searched for the right words.
"How come we're diff'rent?" she finally asked.
"Diff'rent how?" Applejack replied, confused.
"How come our family doesn't...doesn't have parents?" She explained.
The expression on Applejack's face made her wish she hadn't.
Her older sister stood alarmingly still, looking so sad. Sad...and angry.
"That's not somethin' you should know Apple Bloom, ain't we a good enough family as is?" Applejack said, her tone shockingly cold.
"Of course! It's jus'...what happened to our parents? I mean...where'd they go? What made our family...like it is?" Apple Bloom said, trying to make Applejack understand why this bothered her so much. It didn't work.
"Nothin' happened...well nothin' you need ta worry about until you're older, okay?" Applejack offered, trying to put a happier expression on her face.
"But Applejack," Apple Bloom started to protest.
"I'm sorry sis, but I need to get back to work, these trees ain't gonna buck themselves," and with that the discussion was over, and Applejack was gone.
"Well fine then," Apple Bloom grumbled. "If you won't help me, then I'll just find Big McIntosh. He'll help me!" She boldly announced, rushing off while trying to think of the perfect 'yes or no' questions she could ask him.
By the time she tracked him down, a light drizzle had started, coating everything with a layer of dampness. Big McIntosh was pulling a massive cart loaded with apples back to the barn. Apple Bloom quickly jumped in front of him, forcing him to stop.
"Big Mac! Do you have time to answer a question for me?" she pleaded. Big Mac looked behind him at the heavy cart of apples, then up to the rain falling from the sky. His gaze fell back to Apple Bloom and her sad pleading eyes, and his shoulders slumped.
"Eeyup," he sighed.
"Well since tomorrow is Parent Appreciation Day we were making cards, and Ms. Cheerilee said hello, and when I saw the cards everypony else was making I started to wonder...started to wonder," she slowed down, worried at how Big Mac might react. "Wonder why...our family doesn't have any parents..." She finished in a whisper. Big Mac's reaction wasn't nearly as strong as Applejack's.
His legs seemed to shudder, his head dropped a little lower, he simply looked very, very tired.
"You already try Applejack?" he asked, his voice calm but demanding.
"Well I-" Apple Bloom tried to look away but Big Mac stared her down. "Eeyup..." She admitted sadly.
"She didn't tell you anything?"
"Nnope," Apple Bloom knew what was coming next.
"I'm sorry sis, but...Applejack probably knows best in this sort of situation. If she thinks you should wait...well I'm going to trust her judgement, and you should too. Do you understand?" Big Mac asked, though he didn't look too happy about it.
"Ee-yup," Apple Bloom said, shaking her head to try and get the water out her mane. Big Mac nodded, hoping the situation was taken care of and began pulling the cart around her.
Alone now, Apple Bloom stood, contemplating as the rain cascaded around her.
"Well fine then!" She yelled, stomping one hoof in the muddy ground. "If nopony's going to help me, I'll figure it out on my own!" With that declaration, she ran deeper into the trees of Sweet Apple Acres. If she wanted to figure out this mystery, she'd need somewhere quiet where she could be alone and think.
Soon, she came to the perfect spot, the Cutie Mark Crusader Clubhouse! Apple Bloom rushed inside quickly to get out of the rain, her handy repairs to the roof and walls had made the place completely rainproof. Relaxing on the wood floor, she closed her eyes, placed her hooves against her forehead, and focused.
"Okay...so since I was born, that means I had to be around when ma and pa were. And if I were there, that means I had to be there when they left! So I just need to remember on my own, I don't need Applejack or Big Mac after all!" she said happily, finding the solution completely logical.
She put all of her strength towards remembering, trying to bring back that memory. First she realized she needed a place to start. The chorus of water on the roof gave her a hint.
"Rain! I bet it was raining when they left, it's always suppose' ta rain when sad things happen!" Newly invigorated, Apple Bloom thought and thought and thought, combing through her brain for something, anything.
After what seemed like forever, she found nothing.
"But I have ta remember somethin', maybe...maybe if I try to just remember ma and pa, I'll remember what happened to them," she tried first with her mother, focusing on feelings she thought mothers would bring up. Joy, happiness, love, just making the whole world better by being there...
She felt something, an image to fit the feelings. It grew clearer and clearer in her mind, and suddenly, she recognized it.
Applejack...
"No, that's not right," she murmured, trying to clear the image of her smiling sister from her mind. "I need ma or pa..." This time, she tried to bring up her father. Someone strong, tough, always there to tuck her in at night...
Another image in her mind's eye. This time it was her brother, Big McIntosh.
"No no no!" she said, gripping her head with her hooves. She had to remember, she needed to remember!
Mother!
Applejack
Father!
Big Mac
Family!
Her, Applejack, Big Mac, Granny Smith, but still no parents!
She couldn't remember anything, she couldn't remember her parents...
What kind of daughter couldn't remember her own parents?
A daughter who didn't appreciate them.
But she did appreciate them, she missed them! Didn't she?
How could she miss them? You can't miss what you don't remember...
"I'm a terrible daughter..." she decided before slumping to the cold floor. She closed her eyes was lulled to sleep by the sound of the rain.
"Apple Bloom? Apple Bloom? You alright sugar-cube?" The soft words slowly roused her from her slumber. Opening her eyes, she saw her sister, sunlight from the window gleaming off her face, looking so worried. She must've slept through the storm all the way into tomorrow.
"I-I'm okay sis..." she muttered, rubbing her eyes. They felt so red and puffy, probably from tears, she couldn't even remember crying.
"No ya ain't, I can tell that just by looking at you. You've been gone for hours, you got the whole family worried about ya," Applejack scolded.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. This was supposed to turn out so much better..." Apple Bloom buried her head back into her hooves.
"Well what happened? Big Mac said the last time he saw you was when you asked him about...about our parents. Why'd that make you decide to hide out in yer clubhouse?" Applejack asked.
"Well, since you and Big Mac wouldn't say anything, I thought I could figure out what happened on my own. So I came to the clubhouse to try and remember them, but...but," tears began to trickle from the corners of her eyes, "but no matter how much I tried, I couldn't! I can't remember my own parents Applejack! I'm the worst daughter ever!"
Suddenly, she felt the reassuring grip of Applejack's hooves around her.
"Don't say that, don't ya ever say somethin' like that again," Applejack whispered to her sister, gently nuzzling her mane.
"But it's true! If I can't remember anythin' about our parents, how am I suppose ta miss them?" she rested her head against her sister's neck, trying to stop her tears from flowing.
"This really is important ta yah ain't it? I...I mighta been wrong when I said it was too soon for ya to know." Applejack admitted slowly.
"R-really?" Apple Bloom replied, feeling a moment of hope.
"Yeah, but there's only one pony who can tell the story right, and you gotta make sure to listen to all of it."
"A'course! But which pony knows the story? Is it Twilight? Ms. Cheerilee? Oh! It is Princess Celestia?" She was so excited now, her momentary depression put behind her now. Now she had the chance to be a good daughter!
"Naw suger-cube, much closer to home than that..."
"Oh! Looks like you managed to find Apple Bloom. So what'cha need young'uns?" Granny Smith asked, relaxing in her rocking chair under the shade of an apple tree.
"Well granny, I think it's time that Apple Bloom...learned about ma and pa," Applejack told her. Granny had no reaction, except maybe to lean back in her chair a little further.
"You sure you're ready for this little one?" Her gaze turned towards the young filly.
"Uh huh! I really want to know! I wanna be able to know something, anything about them," Apple Bloom admitted, almost quivering with anticipation.
"Well...all right then. The first place ta start would be with your pappy. He was my son you know, and he was the biggest, toughest pony you ever saw! He was stronger than Big Mac, and he could clear a whole orchard of trees with a stamp of one hoof! Ponies would come for miles just to see him work!" The elderly pony started.
"Granny Smith, I remember pa, and he was tough, but I don't think he was that tough. C'mon, Apple Bloom needs ta know the truth," Applejack scolded, sitting down next to her sister.
"Well...maybe he wasn't that strong...and maybe Big Mac might be a smidgen bigger, but he was still the toughest pony you could ever meet. I don't know when that boy found the time to sleep, he always seemed to be working on the farm, doing everything he could to make it the most successful apple farm in all of Equestria, just like Applejack actually," Granny Smith beamed with pride while Applejack covered her face with the brim of her hat.
"What did he look like?" Apple Bloom asked, leaning forward to make sure she caught every word.
"Huh, well he had a tan coat like Applejack there, with an orange mane somewhat like Big Mac, and wherever he went, he made sure to wear that fancy stetson hat," Granny Smith pointed at Applejack who sheepishly adjusted her hat, a small blush appearing on her face.
"Wow," Apple Bloom said, an image already forming in her head. "What about mom?"
"Hold yer horses, I was getting there," the old mare relaxed back in her chair. "So like I was saying, yer pappy did almost everything on this farm, he even took all the goods he could manage to the town to sell for bits. Well imagine my surprise when he comes back one day all full'a stories about some amazing salespony who he'd met at the market. I swear, that boy wore both my ears off talking about that pony." Granny Smith paused for a moment, a happy smile coming across her face as she remembered.
"Was that mom?" Apple Bloom asked, trying to get the story back on track.
"Not yet a'course. I didn't know what ta think at first, except that I hoped yer pappy wouldn't scare her off with all his talkin'," a small chuckled escaped her. "Then, a few weeks later he comes back to the farm with a ladypony following behind him. You should'a seen him tripping all over himself as he tried to show her around the farm. That pony just laughed, and actually stayed for dinner. I don't think yer pappy had ever been so pleased with himself."
"Well that pony began showing up more n' more as the days went by, I think she fell in love with this place, but then again, who wouldn't? Then she did something that really surprised me, she started helping out on the farm! She could never buck as hard as yer pappy, but no one could best her when it came to selling. She knew all the right people, the right prices, and with her around we were making more bits than ever!"
"So when did they get married?" Apple Bloom brought up.
"Oh, a month or two after she started showing up. That was no surprise though. Everypony in the town knew that yer pappy was gonna propose, and everypony knew that she would say yes," Granny shrugged. "Oh, but that ceremony was something to behold. We held it here on the farm and invited the whole family! I ain't ever seen two ponies so happy together, and I ain't ever seen a party so big, especially after some of our relatives rolled out the cider..." She looked down at Apple Bloom, who was expectantly waiting for more information about the party.
"...But that's not important, the important thing is, is that yer ma and pa were together," was all Granny Smith said.
"Wow, so what happened next huh?" Apple Bloom knew there had to be more to the story.
"Well what do you think happened? Yer parents settled down on the farm, and next thing we knew a beautiful baby colt had joined the family," she continued. "Actually, I think I have a picture somewheres..." Granny rummaged in the neckerchief around her neck for a moment before pulling out a old photo, its edge worn and weathered. Apple Bloom gingerly took the photo in her hooves.
"Hey, it's little Big Mac!" she exclaimed, looking at the photo. In it, a weary looking pony relaxed in a bed, smiling, with a young red colt held in her arms. "And that's gotta be mom! She looks..."
"Just like you," Granny finished. It was true, the both of them shared the same colors for their coats and manes. "And that's not the only thing, you got some of her smile too." Granny gently rubbed Apple Bloom's cheek with one hoof.
"Really?" Apple Bloom quickly began glancing around, trying to find a mirror so she could compare herself to the picture.
"Absolutely sis, it's a perfect match," Applejack confirmed, giver her sister an affectionate squeeze.
"Now, y'all can probably guess what happened next. Big Mac grew up faster than a weed, then Applejack showed up, followed by you. The whole family was happier than a pig in the mud! But a couple a years later..." Granny paused, looking expectantly at Applejack. The tan earth pony nodded and turned to Apple Bloom.
"I know y'all wanted to hear the whole story, but the next part...the next part is gonna be tough to hear, you understand?" Applejack ask, her gaze intently serious. Apple Bloom paused under the gaze, but she took a deep breath and nodded her head.
"Yeah! I'm ready," she stated confidently. With a nod from Applejack, Granny Smith continued the story.
"Now, one thing you gotta understand is, back then, Ponyville was still bein' set up. It wasn't as...safe," Granny explained.
"What'cha mean?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Sometimes...a big ol' monster would show up in town. Most of the time, they'd stay near the edge and the Princess would be able to drive it off. But that day was different," the old mare steadied herself with a deep breath. "A giant manticore charged out of the Everfree Forest, and it was angrier than a stepped on snake! It started to smash right through our orchards!"
"Oh no! Were mom and dad out in the orchards?"
"No, we had all heard it crashing through the woods long before it showed up. The whole family was nestled safely in the house. Your ma and pa were perfectly safe," Granny Smith said, though she didn't sound very happy.
"But if they were safe...what happened?" Apple Bloom wondered, though she knew she wouldn't like the answer.
"Sweet Apple Acres was the only thing standing between the manticore and Ponyville...your parents knew that if it got to town, a lot of ponies could'a been seriously hurt..."
"They decided to try and hold it off, at least until the Princess could arrive..." Apple Bloom noticed her sister rubbing her eyes. Was Applejack...no, her big sister didn't cry, not for anything.
"I tried to stop 'em, said they needed to think about their family, their little ones. They told me they were, they were thinking of their family, and of all the families in Ponyville. If somepony got hurt because they didn't do anything, well they wouldn't be able to forgive themselves," Granny took another deep breath and sighed.
"Getting old is tough sometimes. Parts of it are nice, you have do less work fer one thing...but you get weaker. My hip had already gone bad...I wanted to help them so much...but I couldn't..."
"You parents gave you all one last hug, and put you in my arms Apple Bloom, you were so small back then. Then they charged out of the front door, right at the manticore. Your ma ran around it as fast a whip, distracting it while your pa readied his lasso. He was able to wrap up two of its legs and bring it down to the ground. I thought they might stop it but then..." she trailed off.
"What...what happened?" Apple Bloom finally asked.
"The tail," Applejack said, her voice wavering slightly. "I remember that, I was watchin' through the window on the second floor. The manticore's tail moved so fast...it got both of 'em. It didn't stop 'em though, they kept tauntin' it, makin' sure it wouldn't get ta Ponyville. I couldn't look anymore after...after they got hit a second time..."
"They tried their hardest for so long...it seemed like hours. But suddenly, the Princess arrived, her golden chariot being pulled by her fastest royal guard. She gave one royal glare at the monster, and with a single spell, zapped it unconscious and flung it back into the forest. For her, it was just so simple..." another shuddering breath.
"The Princess tried to help yer parents, she put all of her magic towards healing them, but it was too late. They were so exhausted, so tired. The poison from the manticore's sting was too much for them," Granny Smith wiped her eyes, "They passed away right there, together on the grass with the Princess thanking them over and over."
"Is that all?" Apple Bloom said after a moment of silence.
"Not quite. The Princess put all of her power towards making their funeral a massive ceremony. 'Worthy of any Hero of Ponyville,' was what she said. I heard that the whole town showed up to offer their condolences, and the Princess oversaw the whole thing," Granny's tone grew dark at this.
"Wow! Did you get to talk to the Princess? What did she say about our parents? Did she still remember giving our family this land to farm?" The questions shot out of Apple Bloom's mouth, she had to know what had happened at such a ceremony.
"I don't rightly know," Granny admitted sadly. "I didn't go to the ceremony..."
"What? But why? It was a ceremony for our parents! They protected the town, they were heroes!"
"Well I didn't want them to be heroes!" Granny yelled, slamming a hoof against her chair's arm. "I wanted them to be safe at home. I wanted them to be there to tuck their children in at night. I wanted somepony there to tell the kids...to tell them everything was going to be all right...I wanted everything to be like it was supposed to be..." Apple Bloom backed away, frightened by the sudden outburst.
"Oh, I'm sorry Apple Bloom. I know now how silly it was to refuse to go to that ceremony, but there's nothing I can do to change that now," Granny apologized to her grandfilly. "All I could do then was try and honor their memory as best I could, firstly by making sure their three children grew up into fine citizens of Ponyville." She stopped, giving Applejack and her sister a long calculating gaze.
"And seeing you two right now, I couldn't be more proud...actually, where's Big Mac? He should be here for this fine family moment!" Granny Smith grumbled, finally realizing somepony was missing.
"He's covering both our chores while we listen to the story Granny," Applejack explained.
"That silly colt, one of these days I'm gonna have to send him into town to find a special pony for himself," Granny replied, shaking her head.
"Good luck with that," Apple Bloom muttered to herself.
"So, are you satisfied now sugar-cube? You finally know the story" Applejack asked, putting a hoof around her sister's shoulders.
"I-I think so," Apple Bloom answered. "It is sad...but I'm so glad to know about our parents! They sound like such amazing ponies!"
"They were, they really were, I wish you could remember them," Applejack agreed.
"Yeah...can I ask fer one more thing?" she brought up hesitantly.
"Well...what is it?" the older sister asked.
"Do you think...I could see where they're buried, so's I can be close to them for Parent Appreciation Day?" she replied.
"Well a'course Apple Bloom, though we should probably leave soon," Applejack agreed immediately. She turned back to Granny. "Thanks Granny Smith, we'll be headin' out then."
"Okay young'uns, don't be out too late, I'll be here waitin' fer ya," Granny Smith gave them a quick smile before they walked away.
"So why do we haf'ta leave right away?" Apple Bloom wondered aloud.
"You'll see, trust me," was all Applejack said in return.
"Ugh, did they haf'ta be put so far away from Ponyville?" Apple Bloom gasped as the reached the top of a massive hear near the outskirts of the town, right before the edge of the Everfree Forest.
"Quit yer bellyachin', we're almost there, and trust me, it's worth it," the grass on the hill was cut neat and short, somepony made sure this hill always looked perfect. At the very crest of the hill, Applejack stopped and gestured with her hoof. Moving up next to her, Apple Bloom saw a small plaque set into the ground. Inscribed on it were their parents names, and underneath it, a simple message.
"They gave everything to protect the families of Ponyville, and for that we can never thank them enough for that. We gave them an eternal view of what they saved."
"Well what does that mean?" Apple Bloom asked before Applejack tapped her on the shoulder and point outwards. Following her hoof, she was rendered speechless.
All of Ponyville seemed to laid out before them, the setting sun framed every building with a brilliant fiery glow. She could even seen Sweet Apple Acres, the rickety old farmhouse now looked like it was made from shimmering gold.
"Wow," was all she managed to say.
"Yeah, I heard that the Princess herself raised this hill up for them. I think ma and pa would'a loved it," Applejack said, sniffling a little.
"Do you think ma and pa would be...would be proud of me if they were still here? I mean...I don't have a cutie mark yet, and I always cause trouble fer you and Big Mac at the farm and..." Apple Bloom found herself asking. All these strange fears seemed to have bubbled out of nowhere.
"I think that ma and pa would be proud of you no matter what sugar-cube. You're one of the most determined ponies I know, you never give up on anything, and I don't think anypony has ever put so much effort into finding their cutie mark before. I'm sure that it's gonna be the greatest cutie mark in Equestria," Applejack affectionately ruffled Apple Bloom's mane.
"Thanks sis," Apple Bloom wrapped her sister up in a hug for a moment before quickly jumping back, "oh right, I need ta give ya somethin'!" She rummaged around in her knapsack before pulling out a simple white card, the card she had madein Ms. Cheerilee's class. Curious at the card's rather plain appearance Applejack took it in her hooves and slowly opened it.
"Oh, Apple Bloom..." on the inside of the card was a beautiful pop-out illustration of Apple Bloom embracing the whole Apple Family in one massive hug. Beneath the picture the words "I love you so much!" popped out too. Apple Bloom blushed a little seeing Applejack's expression. She did mean those words, but had really only made it because she couldn't think of anything else. Now though, it seemed so perfect.
"I though cuz, with no ma or pa, it's always been you or Big Mac or Granny raising so if I should appreciate anypony, I should appreciate you," she said sheepishly before being engulfed in another massive hug. She hugged back, understanding that there was nothing left to say.
Even without parents, she had the best family in all of Equestria.
