Applejack's Little Visitor

The morning greeted Applebloom pleasantly. She refreshed herself by opening the window and looking out across Sweet Apple Acres. It was Gala season (the breed-not the event in Canterlot, though it was around the corner), and from here the iconic red apples looked like berries on a bush, ripe for the picking. Of course, that just made Applebloom think of the breakfast that was already waiting for her downstairs. And a hearty breakfast with one’s family is the perfect panacea for a farm pony like Applebloom, especially after yesterday.

Applebloom fixed her bow on in the mirror, then crossed the hallway to the washroom to brush her teeth. She glanced at the door to Applejack’s room, but that it was shut told her nothing as it was usually that way-unlike hers. She descended the stairs to see the familiar sight of her older brother Big Mac flipping pancakes. The (vegan) bacon was already nice and crispy, and the table was already set with everything they’d need to greedily consume the fluffy disks of joy. Granny Smith greeted the young filly as she set down the toast on a plate. The toaster was the only electronic device in their old-timey floral kitchen, and even the toaster had a metallic covering that was only “modern” to Granny Smith.

“Mornin’!” Applebloom then looked around the room, “Where’s Applejack?”

“Meh…” Granny said, “Ah’ could’a swore ah’ heard someone come in this mornin’.”

“Hmm,” Big Mac began, “She must be sleeping then. Best let her.”

“Well, it’d be a shame if she missed breakfast…” Applebloom pouted.

“Don’ worry filly!” said Granny Smith, “Big Mac’ll just make hers later, an’ it’ll be nice an’ hot. Won’cha Big Mac?”

“Eeyup!” He put the last of the flapjacks on a long white plate.

“Give her the old breakfast in bed treatment, and you can bring it up to her!” Granny pointed to Applebloom.

“Alright!” Applebloom beamed. It was her day for one-on-one with Applejack, and this turned out to be the perfect way to start it.

After breakfast, Applebloom carried a huge tray, somewhat haphazardly, up the stairs to Applejack’s room. Her door was at the end of the hallway next to Applebloom’s, so she was never too far when her baby sister really needed it. That hadn’t been for awhile though.

She knocked, “Applejack! It’s me! Ah’ve got your breakfast!” No answer. That was enough for Applebloom. She cracked the door open, the lights were still off, and the usually spartan Applejack was looking uncharacteristically strewn out beneath her bedsheet. Applejack laid with her head to the side, facing away from the door. The light came on, and if only her sister could see her darkened eyes, she might’ve not thrown herself into such an energetic greeting.

“Mornin’ sis! Rise an’ shine!” she threw down the tray, “We thought we should let you sleep, so now yer’ gettin’ breakfast in bed!”

While it worked out that Applebloom had set the tray where AJ could reorient herself, Applejack was careful not to knock it over as she rolled over and sat herself up.

“Aw gee, that’s sure thoughtful of y’all, ain’t it…?” Applejack said half-awake. She looked over at Applebloom, and decided the first thing she needed to do this morning was to get up and hug her little sister. That, or use her like a teddy bear and go straight back to sleep.

Applejack slid over to Applebloom. She sat on the edge of her bedside, then slowly folded over her covers mindful of the syrupy pancakes. In doing so however, Applebloom stepped back with a look of shock and confusion on her face. Applebloom didn’t expect her sister to be the size of a…well, the size of a watermelon!

“Uh…Applejack?” she said.

“What’s wrong, sugarcube?” Applejack noticed she wasn’t within hugging distance.

“Well, you alright? You got a bit of a…” Applebloom reared up then made an orb shape with her hooves. Applejack looked down, then leaned back and saw what Applebloom was talking about.

“Oh! Uh…shoot!” She tried to hide herself, but then just laughed nervously, “Eh-heh, uh…aw horse, ah’ must’ve…overdone it at Zecora’s last night.” She rubbed the back of her head. This was strange however, not her nervous tics, but Applejack had never been encumbered this way by food before. For her, she never “overdid it” because it was never enough for her metabolism.

“But hey! Just a bit of today’s breakfast-” she tried to find an applicable proverb, “uh…out with the old and in with the new-is what ‘ah-…just said right now. Now come here you!” She pulled her little sister into a hug, and it allayed Applebloom’s concerns for now. Though now they had some extra cushioning.

“Aw, we’re gonna have so much fun today!” Applebloom was sitting next to her big sister at the head of the bed.

“Yep, and we’re gonna have lots of fun at the festival too!” Applejack’s mouth was full of pancakes, plural. “There’ll be tons of kin you ain’t never met before from Canter Creek!”

“Now ah’ know it’s only a few days away, but ah’ think with your help, ah’ can get in about a week’s worth of trainin’, and ah’ just might pull ahead a’ Rainbow Dash. Oh!” Applejack swallowed, “but you’ve probably got somethin’ you wanna train for too, don’cha Applebloom? Ah’ think there’s a woodworking contest or somethin’, and ah’ bet you’re more used to workin’ with wood than those Canter Creek kids out in the desert.” She nudged Applebloom playfully.

“That does sound fun. Sweetiebelle’s probably gonna be doin’ the singing competition, Scootaloo’ll be doin’ any of the sports stuff that y’all aren’t,” Applebloom thought aloud, “Oh, but ah’ don’t want to do just one thing!”

“Well, there’s also an art one! Maybe you could paint somethin’ nice.”

“Nah, ah’m outta practice. Besides, ah’ don’ exactly feel inspired by…peppers. Oh!” Applebloom suddenly got an idea.

“What?” AJ took a bite of her bacon.

“What if ah’ did one of the eatin’ things? We do it every year at the Sisterhooves Social!”

“Woah there, sugarcube,” Applejack took on a more authoritative voice, “that was just one pie! This’d be a bunch ah’ pies, an’ ah’ don’ think yer little tummy can handle all that. ‘Sides, this is a hot chili festival we’re talkin’ about! E’en at the sportin’ events they’re gonna have us eat a bunch a’ peppers just to mess with us.”

“Well, ah’ can handle a little spice. We’ve all been preparin’ for that stuff!” And by ‘we’, Applebloom meant everyone in Ponyville, not just her friends.

“They’re gonna be servin’ up peppers hotter than a sidewalk on Celestia’s sabbatical! And on ev’ry corner, there’s gonna be milk stands just so ponies can put out the fire in their muzzles. Hell, there’ll be ambulances and doctors at the contests ‘cause ponies have keeled over from too much spice! Is that what you want?”

“Ah'-…” Applebloom could almost feel herself starting to tear up, she was just so frozen with fear she couldn’t.

Suddenly Applejack noticed the look on her sister's face, then leaned over and hugged her tightly.

“Oh…ah’m sorry sugarcube! Ah’ don’t know what came over me! Ah’ didn’t mean t’be so hard with ya’, ah’ just don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all!” she almost sounded like she was going to cry herself now. This was truly bizarre. Applebloom had never seen her vacillate so quickly between anger and sadness, and Applejack never backtracked on disciplining Applebloom.

“Uh, it’s alright Applejack,” Applebloom awkwardly patted her sister on the back, though her ‘arms’ were pinned to her sides, “Ah’ get it. No need to get all-” she grunted, “misty eyed! Yer’ gonna make me cry.” Applejack released her death grip.

“Alright sugarcube,” she sniffed, then went back to her food, “so uh, what you been doin’ in school lately?”

Applebloom barely had to think about omitting yesterday’s business, “Oh, well we've been learnin’ our multiplication tables.”

“No kiddin’? How’s that been?”

“It’s been pretty good. Big Mac showed me how to memorize the times tables, plus he helped me with mah' homework.”

“Heh, that brother of mine! Him and his fancy mathematics—oh horse, this bacon’s so good! But it makes me SO thirsty…Oh, thank you Applebloom!” AJ took the glass from Applebloom and gulped down most of the orange juice. “An’ how ‘bout you Crusaders huh? Got anythin’ y’all are thinkin’ of doin’, ‘sides the festival?” Applejack then took a bite of quickly buttered and jammed toast.

“Well, we’ve been talkin’ about movies a lot lately,” again Applebloom omitted where their movie conversation took them the other day, “so ah’ was thinkin’ maybe we could rent a video camera, and make our own movie!”

Maybe it was the smell of the slightly blackened toast, but suddenly Applejack became aware of just how full she already was. She felt a retch coming on and tried to choke it back, causing her to shake the bed.

Applebloom rolled her eyes, “Don’t worry! There won’t be any pyrotechnics, and we’re all trained in first-aid after last time.”

“Eh…pll…bluh-!” AJ couldn’t open her mouth without letting it out. Her eyes began to water.

“Okay! Look, if we DO need special effects, we'll just ask Button’s help in usin’ Blender! ‘Sides it might not even be that kinda movie.” The lack of reassurance from Applejack caused her to continue making concessions, “How about this? You can be executive producer! We’ll pass everything by you.”

Sheets be damned, Applejack just stood up and shot out of the room with one hoof covering her mouth. Applebloom poked her head out into the hallway. Applejack ran into the bathroom ahead of Granny, about to brush before her morning nap. The door closed, but both Granny and Applebloom could hear her hacking and heaving.

“Heh, ah' miss bein' young.” Granny just laughed, but then turned to Applebloom and pointed at the door, “But ah’ don’t miss that!”

Applebloom still just looked at the bathroom door, very concerned.

Big Mac kissed the back of his hoof and put it on Applejack’s forehead, “Hmm, you don't feel like you’re burnin’ up, and yer’ sure you don’t feel cold?”

“Yes, ah'm sure. An’ e’en though yer’ red, that don’t make you a thermometer!” Applejack slapped away her brother’s hoof, “Ah’ll just take an alka seltzer and ah’ll be fine!”

Big Mac just slowly walked away, “Whatever you say, doc.”

Applebloom had gone ahead and started dragging hay bales into place for the obstacle course. Even though there wouldn’t be one at the festival, along with most of the events at a rodeo, it never hurt to sharpen your skills. Applejack then emerged.

“It’s beautiful Applebloom! Let me help ya’!”

With her lasso skills, Applejack was able to stack the bales quite high where they needed to be. Her neck muscles were strong enough on their own that she didn’t put any stress on her core. Applebloom actually had to try and keep up with her, so she briefly forgot her worries. Pretty soon the course was all set up and Applebloom was standing on the spectator side of the bale fence.

Applejack had begun to do her stretches, cheating out to her sister so she could see she didn’t have a care in the world. But Applebloom’s eyes just kept darting to her sister’s stomach as she started doing all her bipedal stretches. AJ’s looked like she had a pillow to rest her forelegs on during the cross-arm stretch, it didn’t look like it had even gone down since earlier. As another stretch caused her to bend backwards, Applebloom was briefly afraid she would break her spine, seeing something so uncomfortably huge obscure the rest of Applejack’s body.

“Alright now Applebloom, time to watch your big sister work!” She took off.

It seemed that she still had to acknowledge her new limitations, as her gallop had become more furious. She looked quite powerful doing so, as if her extra hoofsteps were her beating up the Earth, and you’d probably hide if you saw her coming. Unfortunately, the jumps were a different story. Before, she could run up a staircase of haybales almost as fast as level ground, but now she actually had to clamber a bit with each ledge to avoid tearing them up. Going down wasn’t that much faster, and by the time she got to the bottom she looked like her eyes were going to pop out. After all, it was like they were on the other side of a fleshy Newton's cradle.

“Do you want to know your time?” Applebloom asked meekly.

“Nah!” Applejack heaved, “Ah’ know ah’ can do better…” She’d finished the course in about a minute and a half, but all those barrels she knocked over brought it closer to two.

Usually when AJ finished an obstacle course, or even a long race like the one she’d be running in the festival, she wouldn’t be visibly winded. Sweaty maybe. That Applebloom could see her sister huffing and puffing at all was unsettling. Almost as unsettling as what happened next.

“Maybe we should take a break?” Applebloom suggested.

“Yeah,” Applejack wheezed, “sounds good!”

Ah’ was fishin’ and ah’ don’t like what ah’ caught! thought Applebloom.

Applebloom hoofed her sister another glass of OJ. For some reason, she felt so small next to Applejack right now.

“Ah! Now that’s refreshin’!” She started to hoof the glass back but stopped, “Hey, ah’ could go for another!” She walked past Applebloom.

“Alright, but ah’ think we’re almost out!” Applebloom said, following her into the kitchen.

“That’s fine sugarcube, ah’ll just pick some up later.” She opened the fridge and took the whole carton, then walked right back outside.

AJ was feeling really refreshed, and not just a little greedy as she shook out the last few drops into her mouth. She’d never gone in for OJ over plain old water, but today she was really craving it for some reason. After drinking all that liquid though, she suddenly needed to relieve herself. Eh, later. Ah’ can hold it in.

“Hey sugarcube? How about while ah’ take this breather, ah’ help you with yer thing?”

“Well, ah’ did have a few ideas,” Applebloom then unfolded a large printout listing all the events for the festival, with quite a few of them circled in green (because of all the red). They sat themselves down on the porch, which Applejack instantly regretted. Now she was sitting down on a full balloon. She spread her legs to ease the pain, and shifted her weight to her front legs.

“So, aside from the stuff we already talked about, there’s a couple a’ cookin’ competitions, like the chili cookoff, there’s a best salsa, best spicy pizza...”

“Well, ah’ don’t know too much about pizza,” said Applejack, “but there IS an Apple family chili recipe we try. If we think it needs work we can tweak it.”

“Ooh, that’s a good option!”

“Don’t think we really have a salsa recipe, and we can’t use one from a cookbook.”

“No, probably not.” Applebloom crossed out salsa. “Okay, so we can try out the chili thing later. Alright!”

Applejack rose to her hooves, but Applebloom wasn’t done.

“Well next on the list, ah’ was thinkin’ that even if Scootaloo’s competin’, it would still be fun to do some of the sportin’ events.”

She then looked up to see Applejack standing. Are we done? she thought.

“Oh,” Applejack realized, “Ah’m listenin’! Keep goin’.” It feels better standin’ up anyway.

Applebloom continued, “Okay, well there’s one thing that looks really fun to me in the sports section, and that’s the pepper sack race!” Applebloom held up the circled item on the list. “It’s like a normal sack race, but this time the sack is full of peppers!” Applejack then got a very worried look, but kept her composure.

“Uh…ah’m sorry sugarcube, but that’s not exactly somethin’ you should be doin’.” Applejack’s voice wavered, her bladder began to fail her.

“Why not? It’s not like ah’m eatin’ em, and they’re just normal red peppers.”

“Yeah…but, you’ll still be coverin’ your lower body in peppers, an-” Applejack started doing a potty dance out of desperation, “and that’s kinda a sensitive area.” She held her hooves over said area.

Applebloom then felt so stupid, “Oh shoot, you’re right! How could ah’ forget that?”

“S’alright!” she squeaked. “This’s why we’re talkin’ about it!”

Applebloom noticed her sister was still doing the dance, “Uh, Applejack?” She flashed a grin at Applebloom, but not a confident one, “Do you need to…?”

“YES!” She darted towards the outhouse and quickly slammed the door. She wouldn’t have made it upstairs.

Applebloom just sat there. What is goin’ on today?

“Hey Applebloom!” Applejack called from inside the outhouse, “You can keep talkin’ to me from out there! Ah’ ain’t pee shy!”

The little filly took her list and walked up to the outhouse. It sounded like Applejack was filling up a tub.

“Applejack, are you sure yer’ alright?”

“Ah’m probably just havin’ an off day sugarcube! You keep readin’ an’ later ah’ll just talk to Zecora! How about that?”

She acquiesced, “Okay…! Well there’s one more thing ah’ was thinkin’ of. You know how you’re doin’ the Miss Chili Pepper thing for Rarity?”

“Yep!” Applejack was completely lukewarm on the subject.

“Well,” Applebloom was suddenly glad they couldn’t see each other. It made this easier, “Ah’ was sorta thinkin’ about maybe…competin’ for Little Miss Chili Pepper?” she cringed after the words finally left her mouth.

There was a brief silence. Aside from the peeing.

“Hmm…well, Rarity seems to think me and Dash might actually have a chance for our thing. What with savin’ Canter Creek ‘n all! Do ya’ know who’s competin’ at yers?”

Applebloom had expected more resistance, “Uh, well the thing is, ah’ don’t think Diamond Tiara’s competin’! That’s why ah’ thought maybe ah’d have a shot!”

“Well then ah’ think you should go for it, if that’s what you want! And even if she does compete, ah’m pretty sure one a’ the judges is a Pepper, so you might be able to get by with a little family favoritism!”

Applebloom was shocked. “You really think so?” There was a flush.

Applejack threw open the door, “Applebloom, somepony once told me, the world is gonna-oop!” There wasn’t a sink in the outhouse. She couldn’t hug her sister yet.

Applejack spent the rest of the morning helping Applebloom practice for the physical events. They were all fine motor based games like cornhole and horseshoes, not anything like tug-of-war, which Applejack said was more of a team effort anyway. The Apple family had also received some extra supplies in advance of the festival, including the giant bell peppers that would be carved into lanterns. Applebloom decided to take a stab at it, donning a bandana and goggles to protect from the airborne capsaicin. The lack of an extra pair didn’t seem to bother Applejack, who sat right beside her sister as they each carved their own.

Applebloom went in for lunch at noon, but Applejack was still huge, so she decided to avoid eating for now. Instead, she took another stab at the barrel weave. Competing against Rainbow Dash taught her how to be agile despite herself, compensating for her muscular frame by developing an awareness of her momentum. Applejack wasn't any wider, but now she had a great pendulous weight that made turning harder. After figuring this out, she started clenching her abdominal muscles, which held things in place during the weave. She wasn’t as fast as usual, but successfully avoided nudging all the barrels, and was as fast on a straightaway as before.

Applebloom emerged from the kitchen. From the window she saw her sister was much more active, and was glad AJ was seemingly in better spirits after a hectic morning. She walked across the field to Applejack, but as she got closer…

“Applejack? Is somethin’ wrong?” she asked.

“Huh? Whad’ do you mean?” Applejack sounded like she needed to blow her nose.

“Yer eyes are all red and…are you cryin’?”

“Uh, Doh’! ‘Dis ids jud fwom duh’ peppuh’s eaweeaeyuh th’ugah’cube…” Applejack turned her head away. She looked down, and suddenly took a big mouthful of grass.

“Wha-?” Applebloom stammered for a second, “What the heck are you doin’?”

“Mmff!” Applejack took a long minute to respond. Even for an herbivore, it wasn’t natural behaviour. “Just eatin’ some grass! Gettin’ some calcium!-You know, for the peppers…?”

“Ah’...-ah’ don’ think that’s how it works-” Applebloom was cut off by Applejack vomiting again. It made her jump, “GAH! Okay that’s it! You stay here Applejack, ah’m goin’ to get Zecora!” she began running, “Ah’ll be right back!!!”

“Yeh-...” Applejack choked. “-You do that…”

Despite her panic, Applebloom had been to Zecora’s often enough to know not to burst in on her potion teacher. She gave a few light knocks at the door of the hut.

Zecora opened the door, “Well hello, Applebloom!”

“Zecora! Somethin’s wrong with Applejack!” said Applebloom, her ears pinned back.

Zecora calmly let her in, “Come inside, please be seated. I will locate what is needed.”

Applebloom climbed up on a stool. Zecora walked over to one of her shelves carrying an apothecary satchel.

“What are her symptoms, might I ask? This could prove a delicate task.”

“Well, uh,” Applebloom said, “Applejack’s been actin’ real weird this mornin’! She’s been cryin’ over nothin’, she drank all the orange juice, she has a big tummy!-It’s like a melon! And she’s thrown up twice!” The zebra paused. She glanced at Applebloom out of the corner of her eye.

“I think I know what ails our friend, I’ll see what I can do.” Zecora finished gathering her supplies, “I can’t promise that her symptoms end, this is something she’ll get through.”

Applebloom followed her out of the hut. “So, what’s wrong with Applejack?”

Zecora was hesitant, “I’m afraid…it’s not my place.”

“Why not?”

“Because that mare is a stubborn one.” Zecora was more authoritative. “For now, she will try to save face, so just ask her when she’s done.”

Applebloom looked back as they left, and could see from afar the large slab in the clearing. She thought nothing of it.

Applejack sat against an apple tree overlooking the entrance to Sweet Apple Acres. She had a huge jug of water at her side. Her face was wet with tears, her eyes were shut, and with her pained expression one would think she was having a really bad dream.

“We’re back!” Applebloom came up the hill, just behind Zecora.

Applejack began to get up.

“No Applejack,” Zecora said calmly, “stay right there. I don’t need a roof to administer care.” The zebra opened her bag and threw down a white cloth. Not unlike last night.

Zecora then laid out a set of doctor’s instruments. More rudimentary than what the Apple sisters were familiar with. There was a stethoscope, but it was made of carved wood (and possibly bone), with organic rubber parts. The sisters exchanged worried looks.

Zecora noticed, “It’s okay, they’re clean—because they haven’t been used. I suppose, that’s what happens when you live like me: reclused.”

“It’s okay Zecora,” said Applejack, “ah’ trust ya.”

“Just a routine inspection, my fellow equine.” She laid out the rest of her tools: a pair of scopes with magic lichtstones attached, a reflex testing hammer, a pair of metal speculums—the larger of which Applejack hoped they wouldn’t be using; then she withdrew a sleeve of plastic cups, and held one out to Applejack. “If you have no objection, fill this cup with ur-ine?” She gave a little smirk.

“Okay…!” Applejack took that as her cue, “Applebloom, could ya’ give us some privacy?”

“Okay Applejack!” The younger filly excused herself. She hadn’t even walked out of earshot, before she heard the sound of Applejack filling up the cup. She cocked her head, then glanced back for a second. Applejack was hunched over as Zecora looked away.

AJ then hoofed the zebra the cup and joked, “Here, ah’ got more if ya need it.”

“Beautiful piece of equipment.” Zecora then dropped a tablet in the cup, which turned a shade of red. “This sample is equally so,” she then noticed Applebloom and gave her a knowing look. “ But these are things that Applebloom was just not meant to know…”

Applejack followed Zecora’s gaze and snapped at Applebloom, “Hey! Ah’ said privacy!”

Applebloom was startled and disappeared over the ridge.

“That girl ain’t right…”

AJ told her to go off and play, but with checkups usually only taking a couple of minutes, Applebloom was fine just waiting around Sweet Apple Acres until she and her sister could move on to their next activity. She went over to the barn, where Big Mac and Granny Smith were carrying out routine farmwork. Big Mac had pulled a bunch of freshly rolled bales out front. To ponies and various other ungulates, these looked much more appetizing than the square bales Applejack used for her obstacle course. Granny was looking over the various supplies they had stored in the barn, thinking of what they’d do with it during and after the festival. While the barn might later be used as an event space, the festival itself would be held in a meadow just outside town. The family rarely rented out the whole farm for anything that didn’t concern their business partners, and the festival was more of a Ponyville-Canter Creek thing.

When it was just the two of them, Granny liked to run her mouth. Big Mac was never one to complain, or encourage for that matter.

The old mare then noticed Applebloom, “Well hey there, filly! You and Applejack made them peppers into jack o’ lanterns?” she pointed to the lanterns in question resting on some square bales.

“Yes ma’am! Applejack did the scary face, mine’s the other one.” Applebloom pointed to a green pepper with an expertly carved image of the Apple homestead from memory, framed by vines bearing peppers.

“Why that sure is purdy Applebloom, you got the touch! In’t that right, Big Mac?”

“Eeyup!” Big Mac said confidently.

“Well thank y’all so much!” Applebloom smiled

“You bring that zebra over here to checkup on Applejack?” Granny asked.

“Yes, Granny.” That zebra? “She says Applejack’ll probably be fine.”

“Hmm…” Big Mac grumbled, “Ah’ guess she’d know. Applejack was fine before she visited her…” Applebloom felt her ears droop a little. Despite not hearing the gossip about Zecora, her brother seemed to have some strong opinions about her.

Granny didn’t hear him, she just kept on talking. “Well ah’ for one am just glad Applejack’s got so many fillyfriends around town. Keeps her outta trouble!” Or, thought Big Mac, they keep her safe when she’s in trouble. Applejack’s friends would say she does that more for them than vice-versa.

“You know, ah’ was kinda worried this mornin’,” Granny admitted. “When Applejack started throwin’ up in the bathroom, an’ for a second ah’ saw her tummy-...then ah’ remembered how much that girl could put away!” She then laughed in her usual way: somewhere between a giggle and a snicker, in her creaky but energetic voice.

“You know Big Mac,” she continued, “did ah’ ever tell you the one time ah’ came home like that? Ah’ was pushin’ fifty! Darnedest thing…-ah’ spent the night out at that place by the tracks.” She laughed slightly. “Mah' pappy didn’t even want me lookin’ at it when he was alive! Mah' fillyfriends dragged me there a couple times anyway. Then one night ah’ came home sick and ah’ was out a hund’erd’ bits. Didn’t hang with mah' fillyfriends again after that, but ah’ kept gettin’ sick for no reason. Eventually it got so annoyin’ ah’ had to see someone about it. You know what they found?”

“Ee-...nope?” Big Mac was afraid of what the answer was.

“They found your daddy!” She beamed. At this, Applebloom picked up her head. She had barely been paying attention.

“That’s why y’all never met yer’ grandfather!” Granny began to sound somewhat wistful, “Ah’ was a self-made mare, never had time for nopony’s nonsense. But one day ah’ must’ve spent the night with a stallion, and before you knew it ah’ had a little freeloader growin’ inside a’ me! Ah’ coulda’ done somethin’ about it, but ah’ figured ‘Hell! Let him earn his keep.’ And that’s how ah’ became a family mare…”

Big Mac had paused a couple of times listening to this as he worked. He was a good listener, but he was at once terrified yet awestruck by what he’d just heard. He then remembered Applebloom was there, and gulped as he realized she probably shouldn’t have been exposed to that. Applebloom wasn’t quite as innocent as Big Mac thought she was - at least in the knowledge sense - but the topic of sex disgusted her coming from her grandma. Big Mac gave her a sympathetic look, as Applebloom slowly began to sneak away from them.

Applebloom was in a daze after what she’d just heard. She wandered around Sweet Apple Acres for a few minutes, her dog Winona ran around her and came up to kiss her a few times as she rustled her neck; eventually taking her back to Zecora and Applejack. She could see they weren’t done, so she stood behind a row of trees to avoid Applejack’s wrath.

Zecora was wearing a rubber mask, and rubbed and poked her snout against Applejack’s arms, legs and neck. Even though she had sensitive enough hooves, using one's snout and lips provided hornless equines with a more accurate way of palpation. She then donned her stethoscope, and held it up to Applejack’s stomach.

Applejack winced as Zecora prodded her stomach with her hoof. “Is this really necessary Zecora? We already know what’s in there…”

“I assure you this is vital,” Zecora said. “There’s a reason for my toil. My work is never idle, and I do not sell snake oil.”

“Mmm…” Applejack looked hungry, “Ah’ could go for some snakes right now, that soup you made was delicious. Ugh-” she moaned, “Why am ah’ so hungry right now?”

“Applejack, if you please,” Zecora was slightly annoyed, “I need quiet, and you need to breathe.”

“Oh! Sorry.” Applejack then took some steady breaths and relaxed. This caused her to expand outwards, and the stethoscope sank into her flesh, so Zecora drew back. She then resumed her examination as Applebloom watched.

Yeesh, she’s bigger than ah’ thought! If ah’ didn’t know any better…Applebloom shook the thought from her head.

Zecora then raised her head and removed her mask. “Well Applejack, I think that’s it. I have finished my exam.”

“And?” Applejack asked.

“You’re perfectly healthy, and I’ll admit, you aced the mammogram!” Zecora joked. That wasn’t the technical term for whatever she was referring to.

“Ah’ mean, what’s your prognosis? Can’t ya’...prescribe me somethin’?”

Zecora was resolute. “To do what—make it quicken? Is that what you want?” She poked her again, “To throw away all your progress my horse? Was your goal not in mind when you chose to embiggen? Now you won’t let nature take its course?”

Applejack retched slightly at her touch, she choked it back. “Y-You said this would take five days?”

“Five days - no more, no less - that’s how long you’ll carry this bun.”

Bun? Applebloom’s eyes widened. But wait! That’s what they say when…she then got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

“And wait till you see, on the day of the fest, the faces of everyone!”

“It’s just…” Applejack groaned as she shifted to a more comfortable position. “With me throwin’ up an’ actin’ all weird, ah’ don’t wanna worry mah' friends and family! And ah’ don’t feel like ah’ can’t take much more of this, let alone five days!”

“As a doctor - honest truth - I thought I’d never say, ‘to feel better, drink a lot of juice,’ and your symptoms you’ll allay.” Zecora said. “The ones you love, I should feel, would accept a change in weight. And when they hear the truth revealed, I bet they’ll feel just great!”

“Well…even though this was mah’ idea ah’ still feel guilty about it. Ah’ mean, ah’m the Element of Honesty, but ah’m supposed to keep this a secret from everybody?”

Zecora flatly said, “You’re looking for a way out of this, and I promise you friend, it does not exist. See it through to the end. I’ll admit, it was rash, but just think of Rainbow Dash! She is why you made this choice, cause she would not hear your voice!”

Rainbow Dash? Applebloom thought. What’s she got to do with this?

Zecora spoke with conviction, “She’s a creature of such biggety, you shall teach her true humility!”

“Biggety?” Applejack had never heard that word before.

“Yes, the attitude of acting big. Is that not something that she did?”

“Oh!” Applejack then gave a sigh. “Yeah…ah’ guess yer’ right Zecora.” She then held out a hoof. Zecora helped her to her hooves. “Alright, ah’ can do this! Just five days, and it’ll…hopefully be worth it!”

Applebloom tried to process all this information. She and Applejack had gotten better at interpreting Zecora’s rhymes, but she alluded to some things in her conversation with Applejack that completely went over her head. Applebloom had also learned multiple times not to jump to conclusions, so she held out a faint hope she was completely wrong.

Maybe ah’ll just ask her-NO! Doesn’t want us to worry…But maybe some of us should worry! She said it’s in five days, but what if somethin’ happens before that? Ah’ can’t deal with this on mah’ own! SHE can’t deal with this on her own! I need to know for sure…

As Applebloom backed up, she felt a twig snap beneath her hoof. Applejack and Zecora turned towards the sound. Applebloom ducked behind the nearest tree and held her breath.

“Is someone there?” Applejack called out. She walked towards the row of trees. “Applebloom? Is that you?”

There was a rustling in the bushes.

“Young lady! If that’s you in there you better come on out! Come on!”

At Applejack’s last command, a brown and white Border Collie popped out of the bushes wagging her tail.

“Oh,” Applejack’s anger abated, “hey girl!” Winona ran up to Applejack who commenced with a vigorous petting session.

Applebloom had run back the way she came and then entered the backdoor of the house. She collapsed at the foot of the stairs. She hyperventilated for a few moments, before formulating a plan.

Applejack and Zecora were walking back towards the house, AJ having invited her in, when the door burst open and Applebloom began tearing down the road.

She stopped a distance away from them. “Hey, guys! Ah’m goin’ into town to pick up some orange juice for ya’ Applejack!” She then kept running.

“Hold on sugarcube!” Applejack began to run after her, but she couldn’t overtake her. “Why don’cha wait and we can grab our chili ingredients too? You can’t carry ‘em all!"

“Ah’ll get the Crusaders to help! Besides, you need rest, and you shouldn’t run!”

Applebloom didn’t slow down for her, and soon disappeared around the bend. Applejack gave up the chase, and stood panting while an excited dog circled her.

“Aw horse! Ah’ hope that filly’s not getting herself into trouble…”