The Applejack of My Eye

Applejack slowly opened her eyes to see Applebloom curled up with her muzzle on her shoulder. She smiled at the cute sight as she kissed her on the forehead gently and quietly got out of bed. Once she was up, she felt something wet on the shoulder that Applebloom had been laying on and frowned as she recalled yesterday’s events. Up side; my little sis has finally gotten her cutie mark and three of my friends are supportive of us. Down side; Twilight and especially Rainbow Dash are against me and Applebloom caring for each other like this, plus Granny won’t let us go back to the farm. What are we going to do?

She heard Applebloom start to mumble something while moving her hooves almost like she was running. Applejack placed a hoof on the side of her face which gradually caused the filly to calm down a bit she continued to mumble coherently. The only words that she was able to pick up were, “Please stop.”

“Everything will turn out okay little sis, I won’t let anything happen to you,” She whispered to her as she started waking up.

“Promise?”

“I promise sugarcube, now what were you dreaming about?” She asked concerned as she sat on the bed.

“I… I was dreaming that everyone in school knew about us and was calling me names and hitting and kicking me. I tried to run away but they all followed after me. I was looking everywhere trying to find you but no matter where I went there were more ponies that started to chase me too. They kept saying that they were going to get rid of me like they did to you.”

Tears threatened to fall again as Applejack hugged her tightly, letting the filly loose. “It’s alright sugarcube, it was just a dream.

I’m right here, no one is gonna hurt you,” She said reassuringly, running a hoof through the filly’s mane as she started to sing.

Come stop you’re crying it will be alright

Just take my hoof, hold it tight

I will protect you from all around you

I will be here don’t you cry

For one so small, you seem so strong

My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm

This bond between us, can’t be broken

I will be here, don’t you cry

Cause you’ll be in my heart

Yes you’ll be in my heart

From this day on, now and forever more

You’ll be in my heart

No matter what they say

You’ll be here in my heart, always.

She finished as Applebloom still sniffed a few times but seemed to be much calmer than before. “Now can I please see that adorable smile of yours?”

Applebloom wiped the tears off her face and gave the best smile she could. “How’s this?”

"Good, but I want to see that wonderful smile that I fell in love with. But if you aren’t up to it then I guess…”Applejack grinned devilishly as she looked at her sister’s stomach.

Within seconds, Applebloom’s eyes widened in fear knowing what her sister was about to do. “Sis, don’t you dare-“

She didn’t get to finish as Applejack began tickling the poor filly senselessly making her giggle and squirm uncontrollably. “Sis, stop,” She begged to no avail as Applejack only tickled her even faster.

“What was that? I can’t tell what you’re saying when you’re laughing so much,” She teased as the filly tried to pull away.

“Sis I can’t take it, please stop it.”

“Don’t stop? Alright if you insist,” She said as she managed to tickle her even faster. “Say you’re sorry for making me worry and I’ll stop.”

“Okay I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Much to her joy, Applejack finally let the filly catch her breath. “See? That wasn’t so hard now was it?” She gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “No matter what happens I’ll be there to keep you safe. Now how about we get you to school, birthday girl?”

“Okay.” After one more hug, the two headed downstairs where she was greeted by her fellow crusaders who were bouncing in excitement.

“What’s up Applebloom? What are you and Applejack doing here at Rarity’s? When did you get your cutie mark? How’d you get your cutie mark? Why is your face wet?”

“Calm down you two. She just woke up, so save your questions for school alright?” Applejack instructed.

“Okay Applejack. Come on Applebloom, you just gotta tell us how you got your cutie mark,” Scootaloo said as the three headed out. Applejack rolled her eyes as she noticed Rarity looking around the Boutique frantically for something.

“Oh where is it, where is it?”

“Where’s what?” Applejack asked with a yawn.

“Oh good morning Applejack, I think that I’ve run out of a special fabric for a fashion line for one of my clients but I don’t have the time to go out and buy more. I have far too many other orders to fill out. I wanted to ask if you could go out for me but I didn’t want to wake you or Applebloom up so early.”

Applejack looked over at the closest clock. “Early? It’s almost eight, Applebloom’s already on her way to school.”

“Sorry, I’m just very stressed at the moment. I need to get these orders filled out by tomorrow and losing needed materials isn’t helping.”

“It’s alright Rarity; I’m used to getting up early remember? I can run on down to the market for you, it really isn’t any trouble.”

“Thank you so much Applejack. This should be enough to cover the cost for all the fabric I need,” She said as she levitated a bag filled with bits to Applejack. “And if there’s anything extra, you can buy a little something for yourself and Applebloom.”

“Are you sure? I really don’t want to keep any of your money.”

“It’s quite alright my dear, I think that you need some money a little more than I do right now. Also after you’re done I’m sure that Pinkie Pie will want some help setting up Applebloom’s birthday party at Sugarcube Corner. I’m sure that Applebloom would love it if you did.

Applejack was now walking down the street after giving the fabric that Rarity needed with about 12 bits leftover, although the pony at the stand had seemed in a very big rush to get rid of her. She looked around noticing Berry Punch and her little sister Berry Pinch helping Rose and Lily in a garden. Applejack smiled and waved to them but to her confusion, Berry Punch picked up her little sister saying, “Stay away from her,” as all three mares ran into the flower shop.

“What in tarnation?”

As she continued to Sugarcube Corner, she constantly had ponies run away from her in fear the instant they noticed her. It was starting to really irritate her. “Oh for goodness sake, what is wrong with everypony today?”

“Maybe they’re busy,” Pinkie said coming out of nowhere startling Applejack.

“Busy? Some of the ponies were doing things like gardening, shopping, or just walking.”

“Hmm, maybe they think that you’re part of an evil corporation with an unfortunate acronym that teams up with coyotes to blow up a fast bird,” Pinkie guessed making Applejack put a hoof to her face.

“I don’t think that’s why… never mind. Anyways, what are you doing out here Pinks?”

"I'm just getting some of the stuff I need to make Applebloom a super rare awesome chocolaty fudge coated mega super party. What about you?"

"I was actually on my way to Sugarcube Corner to help with the party."

"Perfect. With my setting-up-parties skills and your apples, this will be the best birthday party ever in the history of birthday parties. Let's go," Pinkie said excited as she ran towards the shop, dragging the farm pony with her. Once there, Applejack observed the preparations that had been set up thus far and was really impressed though felt that Pinkie had went a bit overboard making everything relate to apples; hats, napkins, balloons, food, everything except for the piñata which was an orange.

"Well? What do you think? Isn't it just like I said?"

"Other than being chocolaty fudge coated, yes."

"What did you think the last thing I needed to pick up was?" Pinkie remarked rhetorically as she pulled out a jar of chocolate from nowhere. "Now the apples can be 47% better."

“Not that I’m not grateful Pinkie, but do you think you went a bit overboard with this apple theme?”

“Well I thought for a while about what I should have the parties theme be and the first thing that came to mind is the thing she loves,” She winked slyly causing the farmer to blush.

“So, is anyone else coming to the party?”

“Now that you mention it, I think only Rarity, Fluttershy, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo accepted the invitations. Everyone else that I tried to ask to come either slammed the door in my face or said they would never want to go anywhere near disgusting ponies and then slammed a door in my face. How mean is that?”

Applejack wasn’t sure that she liked the sound of that. Ponies didn’t want to go to Applebloom’s party because they didn’t want to be around disgusting ponies? But, if that really was why they didn’t come then how could they have… No. No… Rainbow Dash wouldn’t do that… Would she? She did tell Granny Smith but… she wouldn’t tell anyone else… right?

Just at that moment, Applejack felt a sharp pain in her shoulder like someone had tried to smash it with their hoof. “You okay Applejack? What’s wrong?”

“It’s my shoulder, it…” Stopped. The pain left as quick as it had started. But why? She felt a new strange feeling in her gut, one she always hated. The feeling where you knew that something really bad was about to happen, but you could never know when or where or why or how. All she could do was hope that it didn’t have anything to do with Applebloom. “Never mind, it stopped.”

“Well if you’re sure then let’s drown this place in chocolate,” Pinkie yelled out now having ten big jars of cocoa on her back. How…?

“O-kay.” For the next few minutes all the two did was put chocolate on nearly all of the apples and mostly on the piñata that Applejack was trying her best to resist breaking open herself. After setting up a few more balloons, the party was set and Applejack was ecstatic.

“So?” Pinkie asked expectantly.

“You outdid yourself again Pinks, thanks a ton for everything.”

“No problem, it’s what friends are for, to help each other when they need it and to make them happy when they’re down. Now all we need to do is go and find Applebloom and bring her here so we can have ourselves an awesome party.”

And with that the two proceeded outside where Applejack was met with a sight that she wished that she never had to see. She saw Applebloom in the distance running though the street towards her, seeming to have tears pouring down her face more than a tsunami, and she seemed to have a massive bruise on the same shoulder that Applejack had felt pain in a few minutes ago. “Applebloom?!”