Applebloom’s eyes were heavy but with a good amount of effort she was able to open them. Light streamed into the room through her blinds and flashed her in the eye. She quickly looked away, but slowly let them adjust to the light to allow her to look around her room. Her senses rushed to her all at once and something caught her attention. A smell of apple fritters and pie lofted into her room, filling the air with the sweet yet spicy aroma.
As soon as Applebloom stepped into the hallway, she could see the kitchen table filled and stacked with apple treats of every sort. She rubbed her eyes to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. Despite her attempts to disprove, the treats still stayed as the smell lingered in the air. She walked towards the kitchen just to find Applejack vigorously baking away and making three to four treats at a time.
“Uh...sis? Whatcha doin’?” Applebloom asked.
Applejack whirled around to look at Applebloom. Her eyes were red and puffy, and had heavy bags underneath. “Oh good Applebloom! Now ya’ll can help me with bakin’.”
Applebloom looked at her sister with serious concern and backed away slowly. “Applejack...why are ya bakin’?” she asked.
“Didja forgit already? It’s Thanksgivin’ and everyone’s comin’ here ta celebrate. Big Mac’s sick and Granny is in Appleoosa to pick up Braeburn and Aunt Applecore. You’re tha only one that can help me.” She was sweating with stress and a fly landed on her face, which she totally disregarded while steadily staring at Applebloom.
“Alright sis. But only cuz you...aren’t yourself.” she said with discomfort.
All of the tension all of a sudden disappeared from Applejack’s face. “You have no idea how much Ah appreciate it Applebloom. Thanks.”
Applebloom’s face lit up to see her sister back to normal. “Ah’ll do anythin’ ta help!” she exclaimed with a smile.
Applejack smiled back and got back to baking. “The first thing Ah need ya ta do is stir this here bowl of mix while Ah get the pies out of the oven. Can ya handle it?” she asked with a wink.
“Aye-aye captain!” she said with a salute.
Applejack chuckled and turned to get the pies. As soon as she reached in, however, she uttered a small groan of disappointment. “Darn it!”
Applebloom looked up from the bowl to her sister. “Wuss wrong Applejack?”
“Ah burnt the pies. That was the last of the ingredients too.”
“So now what?” asked Applebloom.
“Well Ah guess the party wouldn’t be totally ruined. It was just two pies.”
“Haha! Alright sis! What do we do now?”
“Why don’t we set up the streamers and tables?”
“Okay!” Applebloom yelled, bouncing her way out the door. Applejack laughed at her sister’s enthusiasm, and followed her outside.
Applebloom was already waiting outside of the barn, hammer in mouth, ready to build the signs, tables and benches for the party. Applejack couldn’t help but laugh at the sight. She quickly opened the barn to let Applebloom grab all the wood she needed for building.
Applebloom darted as fast as she could and got to work immediately. Applejack turned around to survey the space they had for the party. The empty patch of grass was more than big enough to accommodate for all of the guest that were attending. She then turned back around to check on Applebloom. Her jaw hit the floor and her eyes widened in shock.
Applebloom was already finished with all the benches and tables and was working on something bigger.
“Uh, Applebloom? What is that?” Applejack asked, pointing her hoof at the project Applebloom was now working on.
“It’s the stage!” she yelled with glee.
“Fer what?”
“Well every party needs music right? Ah thought since most of our family play music, they wouldn’t mind playin’ at the party.”
Applejack thought for a moment and was surprised at how much that made sense. “Good thinkin’ Applebloom! Maybe Ah should take mah guitar out of the closet!”
“Ah didn’t know you played guitar!” yelled Applebloom in excitement.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me sis,” she winked, “Now finish the stage while I hang the decorations.”
They both got to work and were finished by the end of the hour. Applejack had to buck the small stage across the yard but it was worth the effort. The space was full of streamers, balloons and flags. A sign near the entrance gate to the farm read Apple Family and Friends welcome! The two sisters smiled at their handy work and looked at each other.
“Ya did some awfully good work on the stage and tables, Applebloom!”
“Thanks sis! Maybe mah secret talent is bein’ a carpenter!” she joked. Just then, her flank glowed and flashed, catching the filly by surprise. She quickly looked back to see an apple with a hammer crossing it. Her eyes widened and she was too shocked to speak. “Ah...ah...ah...”
Applejack giggled “...got your cutiemark?”
All Applebloom could do was nod slowly, her mouth agape and her eyes still focused on her flank. Applebloom looked back at her sister, “Pinch me.”
Applejack looked confused. “Wha?”
“Pinch me so I know it’s real.”
“Oh it’s real. Truss me.” Applejack laughed.
Applebloom then jumped as high as she could with one hoof in the air and yelled, “Yay! Ah got it! Ah got it! Ah got it!”
“Good job Applebloom. I knew you would get it!” winked Applejack.
“Thanks sis!” Applebloom yelled, hugging her sister tight.
“Anytime! Now we haveta wait for everyone to show up!”
The two sat on the step, enjoying each others company and captured in the beauty of the sunlight turning the grass and trees a dark, rich green and making the apples glint a dark ruby color. The vibrant colors of the nature around them almost made them doze off, but the rumble of an old jalopy shook them out of their trance.
“Granny’s back!” both sisters yelled. They both stood up and walked over to the rusty car that was only now parking in the open spot of the venue. Braeburn and Aunt Applecore hopped out of the back, looking queasy from never riding in an automobile before.
Granny hopped out of the driver’s seat, still wearing her goggles and white scarf, almost imitating aviators. She took her walker from the trunk and started to look around the party area.
“Mighty fine work you girls did he- Applebloom! Is that yer cutiemark!?” Granny screamed in excitement.
Applebloom didn’t say a word and, instead, spun around to show off her flank and flash her cutiemark at her family. They clapped their hooves in celebration and hugged Applebloom for her accomplishment. After they got their greetings out of the way, they all started carrying the food in the kitchen as well as goods made by Braeburn onto the tables outside.
As soon as they finished lining the food table, two very excited and loud fillies came bounding up to their friend.
“Hiya Applebloom!” they both yelled in unison, startling the rest of the family. They automatically looked at Applebloom’s flank to see her cutiemark, and they screamed even louder than before, almost making every observer of the scene go into shock of the high pitched squeal that was destroying their eardrums.
“You got your cutiemark!?” they screamed.
Applebloom blushed at her friends and nodded shyly, dying of embarrassment from all the attention. She expected everyone to be excited for her but she didn’t expect this much. She accepted the attention, however, and giggled with her friends, waiting for everypony else to arrive.
The day went on and some ponies such as Uncle and Aunt Orange and Babs Seed arrived, greeting the ponies that were already there. Some of them brought food dishes of their own, ranging from pies to platters to jams to anything they could possibly make with fruit. They reminisced and ravished at the decorations as well as the fact that little Applebloom was growing up.
Even Uncle Blueberry and Uncle Mango marveled at the stage.
“Hey Jackie?” Uncle Blueberry said to Applejack, “Is that a stage?”
“Why it sure is! Didja bring your bass?”
Uncle blueberry walked to his truck and took out his stand-up bass. “I never leave home without it!”
“Ey Brah! Don forget ‘bout me ah!” said Uncle Mango in his Pidgeon drawl, holding his ukulele up.
“Ah won’t as long as ya don’t forgit me and mah guitar!” winked Applejack.
The three laughed and excitedly took the stage, getting ready to play. Uncle Blueberry, Uncle Mago and Applejack were ready to play but a filly stopped her.
“Can I join you?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“What instrument do ya play?” asked Applejack, who saw she wasn’t carrying anything.
“I sing.” she said, excitedly.
Applejack nodded happily and Sweetie hopped on stage. With the microphone low to her mouth, she sang some Ponyville-known songs and the rest played along to her singing. They sounded great! Even Applejack had to stop playing for a little bit just to hear Sweetie better. She was the best she had ever heard!
After their songs were done, Applejack went up and hugged Sweetie while the audience clapped their hooves. “Wow Sweetie! You’ll be famous if ya keep singin’ like that!”
“Thanks, Applejack, but it’s just a hobby.”
“Nonsense! Anypony would be lucky to have half yer talent!”
“You really think so!?” asked Sweetie, beaming.
“O’ course Ah do!”
Sweetie hugged Applejack closer and then was stunned by a flash. She looked down at her flak and there, where it used to be bare, sat a purple and pink musical note. She was so excited and when she looked into the crowd, she could see Applebloom and Scootaloo beaming at her. She beamed back and ran off the stage to join them. They hugged and squealed with joy together and was congratulated by everypony around.
Just then, the ground vibrated in a rhythmic fashion, making small pebbles on the ground bounce around in the dirt. A log white limo pulled up into the crowd as they parted to make room for it. A more than ecstatic mare, hopped out of the back and stared at all the ponies through her purple specs.
“It’s Vinyl Scratch!” yelled Scootaloo.
“How do ya know who that is?” asked Applebloom.
“She’s only the best musician in Equestria!”
“Thank ya!” said the mare, approaching Scoots. She gave her a little mane ruffle and went up to Applejack. “Do ya live here?” she asked.
“Yeah. Why?”
“I just heard the awesome jams after playing a gig at the local bar. I came to check it out and play some music for ya! Free of course.”
“That sure is nice of ya. But you don’t have ta do this.” Applejack said.
“Don’t worry about it! it’s my pleasure!” she said, hopping on stage with her turntables that flipped out to make two large subwoofers.
Vinyl started to play very hard techno beats and wubs to entertain the crowd of ponies. They loved the sound and started to dance. They all formed a circle and let anypony jump in. Just then, Scootaloo started to breakdance, twirling and flipping in the middle of everyone. Vinyl even lifted her specs to get a look at her. She was amazing! When she was done,Vinyl pointed a spotlight at her and told her to come on stage.
“This little filly has the heart and soul to be a true entertainer! What’s your name, kid?” she beamed.
“S-scootaloo.” she said nervously.
“Let’s hear it for Scootaloo every pony!” Vinyl yelled.
Everypony stomped on the ground and applauded the little filly who was blushing profusely.
“Also kid, look behind you.” Vinyl winked.
Scootaloo did as she was told and there was a purple tornado with a lightning bolt down the middle on her flank. She gasped and quickly tried to regain her composure. “I know. I’m just that awesome.” she said confidently, except for her blush that said otherwise. She hopped down and joined her friends as they bounced in joy together.
As some of the excitement died down and the sun started to turn the sky an orange hue, Rarity and Rainbow Dash arrived, tired from all the work they had to do that day.
“Oh Applejack, dear! We’re here!”
“We decided to come chill here for the party!”
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo both ran toward them and quickly rambled on about how they got their cutiemarks and how they were going to live their lives, no mstter how rediculous the dreams sounded. Rarity squealed in excitement and then moaned in sorrow for she had missed it, and Rainbow Dash ruffled Scoot’s mane and winked at her.
After that, the night came and everypony was leaving, th Apple Family walked back into their house, drowning in the silence of the night. The crickets chirped and the wind whistled past the windows, creating a soft symphony of peace.
Applejack was helping Applebloom get ready for bed but couldn’t wrap her head around little Applebloom getting her cutiemark.
“I was gonna tuck ya in but a young mare as yourself doesn’t need me anymore.” she winked.
“Uh, actually, sis, can ya tuck me in, just one more time?” she asked sweetley.
Applejack giggled, “Sure there Applebloom.” She tucked her little sister in and kissed her forehead before returning to her own bedroom. She got under her covers and lay there for a while before falling asleep to the peaceful outside.
Happy Thanksgiving
