Chapter 2
___________________________________________________________
Apple Bloom shifted as she returned from the land of sleep.
What a weird dream, she thought. Ah can’t believe Ah still dreamt mah family would kick me out jus’ cos mah Cutie Mark ain’t an Apple.
She suddenly became aware that she was resting against a warm body. By the feel of it, it was a mare.
She chuckled inwardly. Guess during mah dream Ah sleepwalked inta AJ’s bed and snuggled up against her.
Considering the nature of her dream, she reasoned it made sense that she’d move in her sleep to be close to her sister.
Grinning to herself, she opened her eyes, expecting to see AJ’s sleeping face across from her.
What she saw made her heart clench as reality hit her like a runaway cart.
Twilight Sparkle’s sleeping face was staring back at her as the Alicorn slept soundly, Apple Bloom now feeling the lavender-feathered wings draped around her.
If Twilight was in the bed that meant this wasn’t AJ’s bed. If it wasn’t AJ’s bed, that meant last night wasn’t a dream. If last night wasn’t a dream, that really meant that—
Apple Bloom burst into tears, wailing as she realized her worst fears were indeed a reality. Her family had abandoned her, left her alone.
Her wail seemed to rouse the Alicorn from her slumber, as she heard a snort, followed by the lavender mare’s concerned voice. “Apple Bloom? What’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?”
Apple Bloom just buried her face into the older pony’s fur, not able to speak through her sobbing wails.
She felt the wings around her take a firmer, yet also gently hold, followed by forehooves wrapping around her in a warm embrace. As she sobbed into the fur of the pony holding her, she felt a warmth inside her.
She always felt different whenever Twilight comforted her as opposed to Applejack. It wasn’t the hug of a big sister. It was warmer... gentler.
After she had managed to calm down some, basking in the warm feelings she got from the hug Twilight was giving, her thoughts became sad once more.
Where would she go now? Her family clearly didn’t want her on the farm, or their lives, since Granny dumped her in front of the orphanage in the rain.
She supposed she could go live with Babs in Manehatten. She didn’t have an apple mark either, since hers was a pair of scissors. Maybe she could stay with Babs family and then, when they grew up and Babs was running her own hair salon, Apple Bloom could do the maintenance on the machines?
She tried to feel happy about that idea... she really did. But, to go live in Manehatten would mean leaving Ponyville and all her friends. Sure, her family had kicked her out, but she still had her friends. She didn’t want to leave them behind, but she couldn’t see how she could really stay in Ponyville anymore.
Sure, one of her friends might offer to let her stay at their place, but how long would it be before she just became an hindrance to them. They all had their own lives to live. She had no right to ask them to let her live with them now until she could get her own place when she was older.
And it wasn’t like she could ask Twilight to let her stay with her at the castle. Twilight was a princess and really, could she deal with a freeloading filly hanging around? Should she need to?
Apple Bloom felt more tears slide down her muzzle and onto the Alicorn’s fur. It looked like Manehatten was the only place she could go. She’d have to leave everything behind, all because her stupid Cutie Mark couldn’t have at least had something to do with apples.
“When should Ah go?”
She didn’t even realize the words had softly left her mouth until Twilight’s grip slackened a little and she looked up to see the Alicorn giving her a puzzled and concerned expression.
“What are you talking about?”
At the question she looked down again so she wasn’t meeting the princess’s eyes. “Well... Ah can’ just live with ya. That’d be wrong. Ah don’ wanna bother ya none, Twilight.” She started sniffling, despite trying not to. “Ah... Ah guess Ah could live in Manehatten, with Babs. Ah-Ah mean... Ah-Ah don’ wa-wanna leave Ponyville, b-but—”
The grip that had slackened before became firmer as she was pulled closer into Twilight’s fur, her words halted by the sudden movement.
“You don’t have to leave, Apple Bloom,” Twilight whispered. She sounded like she was trying not to cry, but there was something else in there too that Apple Bloom couldn’t place right now.
“But, Ah... Ah don’t got no family that wants me no more,” she said, her voice muffled by the fur she was being pressed against.
The grip around her tightened that little bit more, but wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, Apple Bloom was struggling a little not to fall asleep again due to the warmth around her.
“You do now,” Twilight’s words were almost missed.
Apple Bloom felt her heart leap, but tried to keep it calm. Twilight couldn’t have been saying what she thought she was saying. “Twilight...?”
She felt Twilight’s head rest upon her own. “I’ll adopt you. If Applejack really doesn’t want you, then I do.”
Sad as she was at the mention of her sister, Apple Bloom felt her heart swell at what she’d heard and allowed herself to drift into the warmth, not fighting back.
She still had a family. She could stay in Ponyville. She wouldn’t have to lose her friends. And, as consciousness left her, she realized she now had something even more wonderful. She had... a mother.
___________________________________________________________
Twilight held the filly in her forelimbs, keeping her close, while fighting the urge to scream with rage at what Bloom family, one of her own best friends, had put this filly through.
She was not lying. She would adopt Apple Bloom and make her a part of her own family. She deserved better than a family who’d abandon her and exile her from their own just for her Cutie Mark. She would make sure Apple Bloom was raised with the loving family she needed, one that would love her no matter what the circumstances.
By the time she’d gotten her emotions under control, Twilight realized Apple Bloom had fallen back asleep in her embrace, a smile on her muzzle.
This warmed the Alicorn’s heart and she leaned down, nuzzling the sleeping filly.
A shift of movement from the next bed made her look up to see Spike sitting up and stretching, her maw open in a wide yawn.
“Good morning, Spike,” she whispered.
The baby dragon turned, clearly confused by the whisper, before he looked far more confused by the filly in Twilight’s grip.
“Uh, Twilight?” he asked, lifting a finger. “Why...?”
Twilight gave him a summary of what had happened last night and what Apple Bloom told her. Once she’d finished, the baby dragon wore a glare not many got to see from the small drake.
“She just left her at the orphanage, in the rain, all because of her Cutie Mark?!” it was clear he was struggling not to shout, not wanting to wake the Earth Pony.
Twilight nodded, her expression firm, until she looked down at Apple Bloom and it softened a little. “Spike, can you keep Apple Bloom company while I’m gone?”
“Where’re you going?” he asked, quirking an eyebrow in genuine curiousness.
Twilight sighed, stroking Apple Bloom’s mane with a hoof. “First, I’m going to visit the school and let Cheerilee know Apple Bloom won’t be there today.” Her face darkened. “Then, I’m going to go have a few words with Apple Bloom’s so-called loving sister.”
___________________________________________________________
Applejack bucked the nearest tree with no enthusiasm, the tree rewarding her for her efforts with nary an apple.
She sighed heavily. She’d never thought it would hit her so hard. Sure, once she’d seen the mark, she’d realized what it meant, but she’d never expected it to get to her this much. Then again, she'd never known what not getting an apple mark would really mean for the one who got it.
She remembered what had happened after Apple Bloom went upstairs last night.
~~~~~~
Applejack walked into the kitchen, hearing Apple Bloom slowly making her way upstairs.
She didn’t like this, in fact she hated it. With every fiber of her being she wanted to tell Granny Smith that she didn't care if it was tradition, she wasn't going to send her little sister away. But... it was tradition and if there was one thing Apples were known for, even if it caused them pain, it was their traditions. It was why the FlimFlam Brothers had lost in the end, since they hadn’t gone by tradition in the ways of cider making, resulting in that awful concoction that had come from it.
She started fixing the best apple fritters and soup she ever had. With this being the last meal her little sister would be able to enjoy as a member of the household, she intended to make it a the best she’d ever had.
“Wanna talk?”
She sighed as Big Mac entered, coming up beside her.
“Not sure, really,” she said quietly as she stirred the pot.
“Where’re we gonna send her?” he asked, the question painful both for her to hear and him to say.
Applejack shook her head. “Ah don’ wanna break up this family.” Her eyes were downcast. “Ever since Ma and Pa died, we’ve been orphans. If not fer Granny, we mighta ended up at the orphanage.”
A few moments later she heard the sound of the stairs creaking and guessed Granny was going upstairs to help Apple Bloom pack and comfort her.
She wanted to comfort her sister too, to let her know that they would always love her, despite her needing to leave, but she couldn’t bring herself to. The look on her sister’s face was fresh in her mind. The fact that she had been the one to call out the damning phrase that would take her away still eating at her mind.
Had she known this was what would happen to a burnt apple, she'd have forced Apple Bloom to hide the mark. Maybe she could've gotten Twilight to cast an illusion spell or something, to make it look like Apple Bloom's Cutie Mark at least had something to do with apples, then she wouldn't have to leave.
“So, we gonna send her ta Manehatten?” Big Mac asked as he started to help her sister by slicing apples and other fruits for a fruit salad.
She sighed, shaking her head. “We can’, Mac. Sure, she’d love bein’ with Babs, but could ya really send her all the way t’ Manehatten? Would ya really wanna separate her from her Crusader friends?”
Mac’s eyes moved downward and he gave the tiniest shake of his head. “Nope.”
“Me neither,” Applejack tossed a few more spices and herbs into the soup for more flavour. “Ah was thinkin’ Carrot Top’s farm? It’s only a little ways down the road and Bloom could visit us anytime she wan’ed.”
“Ya sure Carrot Top and her husband would be willin’ t’ look after Bloom permanently?” he asked, his eyes glancing at her for a moment before returning to the orange he was slicing. “They’ve already got their own filly. Ya sure they’d be okay with suddenly caring for another.”
Applejack was silent for a moment. “They’re distant members of the family, Mac. They know the tradition. Ah never understood sum o' what they said cos Ah didn't know it meant..." she sighed again, taking a deep breath before continuing. "And think about it. Bloom and Dinky will get along great.”
Mac shook his head. "This is just so sudden, ya know. Ah... Ah don't like that this is her last night."
Applejack continued to look into the pot.
Once dinner was ready, Applejack called out to Granny and Apple Bloom. When neither responded, she went out of the kitchen. Looking around, she saw a note on the living room table.
Gone out. Be back soon. Keep dinner warm for me.
Granny.
Applejack rolled her eyes at this. Of all the weird quirks her grandmother had, her desire for going for strolls in the rain was one of the many she would never fathom.
She suddenly worried, knowing this was an Everfree storm. However, no sooner had she thought this than she heard the loud bang of the front door and a voice shouting, “Hooweeee! Nothin’ like a run in the rain to make ya feel young again.”
She rolled her eyes, before putting the note down and went upstairs to talk with Apple Bloom. If Granny had decided to go for one of her Rain Walks, she must have been confident in Apple Bloom’s emotions.
“Apple Bloom?” she asked, knocking on the door to the filly’s room.
There was no response.
Applejack frowned, confused. “Li’l’ sis? You okay in there?”
Silence was her answer.
Applejack raised an eyebrow, then sighed. Bloom didn’t give the Silent Treatment often. But when she did, it could last for hours, sometimes days. She just hoped they’d be able to talk before she took her to Carrot Top’s place.
Applejack went downstairs and returned with a tray. On it was a bowl of fruit salad, a plate with some apple fritters and a bowl of soup, plus a glass of water.
Whenever Apple Bloom was giving the Silent Treatment, she refused to eat with the family. This saddened AJ, because this was the last night they’d all be living in the same house. True, Apple Bloom might sleepover from time to time, but it wouldn’t be the same.
“Look, Apple Bloom,” she called to the door, imaging her sister sitting on her bad, both angry and sad, “Ah’m sorry about all this. Ah swear Ah didn't know ya wouldn't be staying even if ya didn’t get an apple mark, but it’s not like we’re makin’ ya move away. Ya’ll be living with Carrot Top. She’s only down the road, s-so ya can still visit if’n ya want. Tain't like yer not allowed to visit, ya just can't... live here no more is all.” She had to take a moment to get control of herself again. “A-an’ they've got a daughter, Dinky. Ya both get along so well, Ah remember how ya both had so much fun at the reunion when Twilight first came ta Ponyville.”
Silence answered her.
“Remember how ya’d say ya wish Dinky could stay over longer?” she tried, not liking how her sister wouldn’t respond. The Silent Treatment was her sister’s second most powerful weapon after her pout and puppy-dog eyes combo. “Well, now ya’ll can have a sleepover at her house every night. How about that?”
She got no response.
Sighing in defeat, Applejack turned to head back downstairs. “Eat yer dinner while it’s still warm, okay, Bloom?” she called, trying to keep the sadness from her voice, before she went back to join Mac and Granny.
~~~~~
Applejack sighed. That morning, when she’d gotten up to get Apple Bloom and take her to Carrot Top’s, she’d found the room empty, devoid of her sister, the dinner she’d left for her untouched and cold.
When she’d gone downstairs and asked, Granny told her she’d already dealt with it.
Applejack wasn’t sure how she felt about Granny getting Bloom up so early to take her to Carrot’s like that. Bloom should’ve gotten to at least get a little more rest.
Still, it was better this way, she guessed. She might have not been able to bring herself to leave her sister had she taken her herself.
But, despite telling herself this was what had needed to be done, it had affected her mood. She’d barely bucked half the number of apples she was meant to today and Granny had made it clear that Applejack could only go visit Apple Bloom after the bucking was done, though she did wonder why Bloom hadn’t been seen this morning. She’d have expected to see her on her way to school with Dinky, who she’d seen walking on her own.
Was Carrot Top letting Apple Bloom stay home to get used to living with them? It would make sense and Cheerilee would understand.
She sighed, rearing up to give the tree another buck—
“APPLEJACK APPLE!”
The booming voice not only scared Applejack out of her skin, but the force of it sent her unbalanced body soaring sideways, tumbling and tossing along the ground until she was stopped by another tree, one of the few she’d managed to buck properly.
Looking up in a daze, she saw a purple blotch streaking through the sky towards her.
“What the hay, Twi?” she said, figuring out the owner of the voice. “Why’re ya shoutin’ so loud? Done scared the fur right off my—”
“I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT YOUR FUR RIGHT NOW!” the purple Alicorn bellowed, her voice forcing Applejack against the tree as she landed in front of her. “YOU’VE GOT SOME SERIOUS EXPLAINING TO DO!”
Shaking her head to clear it, Applejack could now see Twilight’s expression. Her lips were curled back into a snarl, her nostrils were flaring and her eyes were filled with bloody rage.
What the heck had wound her up tighter than a hay ball in August?
“Yer gonna have ta be less vague there, sugar—” she began.
“DON’T YOU DARE SUGARCUBE ME, YOU HEARTLESS CROW!” Twilight cut her off, pushing her face up against the farm mare’s. “HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO YOUR OWN SISTER?!”
Now how in the hay did Twilight find out about that? Was she at the school and had asked Dinky why she was speaking about Apple Bloom staying home and learned it from her as to Bloom’s new living arrangements?
"Tain’t really yer concern, Twi,” she said calmly, moving to stand.
“OH, I THINK THIS IS MY CONCERN!”
“Would ya stop it with the Canterlot Voice? Yer gonna make me deaf?”
“YOU’LL BE LUCKY IF THAT’S ALL YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH ONCE I’M FINISHED!”
Applejack’s brows narrowed. “Now, hold on a minute there, Twi. We Apples have our own way o’ handlin’ things. True, Ah ain't happy 'bout it, bu t'was time Bloom left the nest. Ah’m sure she’s gonna be just fine where she’s living now.”
“CONSIDERING I’M GOING TO BE THE ONE ADOPTING HER, I KNOW IT!” Twilight looked even angrier than when she’d landed, if that were even possible.
Applejack was about to retort, when the oddness of Twilight’s statement caught up with her. “Adopt her? Now why in the hay are ya adopting her?”
Twilight’s right eye twitched and her horn sparked. “MAYBE BECAUSE I ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT HER, WHERE AS IT’S OBVIOUS YOU DON’T!”
That flared Applejack up right there. “Now, hang on one cotton tickin’ minute there, princess,” a small part of Applejack was shocked she’d dare to use that word as an insult to Twilight, “Ah never said Ah don’t care ’bout her. An’ the fact ya’ll would dare t’ even suggest... What in the hay’s gotten int’ ya, Twi? What’s got ya so wound up?”
Applejack didn’t think the Royal Canterlot Voice could be any louder. Somehow, Twilight proved her wrong.
“ARE YOU SERIOUS?” she exploded, her eyes promising death to the farm mare. “SHE COMES TO MY DOORSTEP IN THE RAIN, TELLS ME YOU ABANDONED HER IN THE STORM AT THE ORPHANAGE JUST BECAUSE SHE DOESN’T HAVE AN APPLE CUTIE MARK, SPENT THE NIGHT AND MOST OF THE MORNING COMFORTING HER AND YOU HAVE THE GALL TO ASK ME WHAT’S GOT ME SO WOUND UP?! SERIOUSLY?!”
After she’d recovered from that vocal barrage, Applejack deciphered exactly what Twilight had said.
“Last night? What are ya talkin’ ’bout, sugarcube? Apple Bloom spent the night sulking in her room, not talking t’ anypony.”
Twilight stepped closer. “Well, then I guess I just dreamed about finding her outside my door, her crying into me, her telling me you’d kicked her out and waking up to find her crying into my chest.”
The sudden return to normal speaking was actually more unnerving to the farm mare than if she’d kept yelling in the Canterlot Voice like before.
However, she kept calm. Whatever Twilight thought, she would set the record straight.
“Twilight, it’s an Apple tradition. One Ah ain't happy 'bout, but one none the less. Any Apple that don’ get an apple mark doesn’t live on the farm anymore. It’s the same on every Apple farm. We didn’ abandon her. She’s living with Carrot Top now, Granny took her this mornin’ afore Ah woke up. Ya’ll could go an’ see fer yerself.”
The look on Twilight’s face caused her to shiver. It was like a scowl and a smirk mixed into one. “Oh, I think I will. And you’re coming with me.”
GRANNY SMITH! YOU HAVE ANGERED TWI TO USE HER ROYAL CANTERLOT VOICE ON AJ...How dare you! Well, that explains alot I can't wait for more!!
righteous alicorn twilight fury. i swear there's nothing better.
i don't see Applejack keeping her element for much longer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCTPyEI0sxw
listened to this during the confrontation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do5TgLYJl6A it just fits
Can't wait for the next chapter.
6262810 To be fair, she was being honest.. Honesty can be pretty brutal.
Even if AJ didn't know about Ms.Smith taking her to the Orphanage, she was just going to kick the kid to a new family, so you tell me the differents in the two of those ideas, because i can't tell the differents
@Autum Breeze...
1. In reference to your (Chapter 2) Author's Note, the mare with Pisces-like (or Yin-Yang-like) dual dolphins Cutie Mark is Sea Swirl. "DD", or "Dolphin Dream", is her fans' labeled name.
Your guessed-at boyfriend/husband for Golden Harvest (fans' named: Carrot Top) is "Written Script", (placeholder name; non-canon, but non-fan-labeled as well).
.
2. There are some Technical Writing Errors with your fan-fiction that does need clean-up, either via Editor &/or Proofreaders. But overall, a good story so far. I look forward to reading more.
I think that their names would soon be synonymous with the Flim Flam Brothers.
6262953
Well, leaving a kid outside an orphanage in the rain at night is a bit colder than escorting them off to live with distant relatives during the daytime.
Hopefully Applejack's punishment doesn't involve watching her Granny die from a heart attack...
6263175
That sounds like a pretty just punishment, to me.
IT'S HERE!!!
6262934 Yes but that won't save Applejack or Granny Smith, cause I can see this happening already....
pre02.deviantart.net/aa72/th/pre/f/2012/164/a/e/twilight_sparkle___fire_pony_by_caboosinator-d53b4te.jpg
I only like Twilight when that kind of things happen.
About Carrot and Dinky, it makes more sense.
6263292 Punishment doesn't fit the crime even if we don't assume Granny was senile and hasty.
Dinky is staying with Derpy man, don't be doing that shit.
Best lines of this chapter, right there.
And I'm thinking that Applejack is about to find out the truth of what happened with Apple bloom last night. As much as I love her, I don't feel sorry for her when she does.
I take that back ... somewhat.
(see below):
I think we know now why Apple Bloom never responded to AJ.
As much as I love Granny, dang! that's cold-hearted!
I guess that some of the older Apples are more tradition-bound that other members of the family.
Well, at least AJ and Mac are really broken up about L'il Bloom's leaving.
And I feel better knowing that AJ didn't know what Granny did the night before.
Anypony wanna take any bets that AJ's gonna be royally (pardon the pun) pissed at Granny when she finds out that Granny cheated her and Mac out of that one last night with their baby sister?
Explosion at Sweet Apple Acres incoming!
I'm takin' 'em.
Anyway, anyone wanna bet that this is gonna make her and the whole family the town pariahs once the whole town finds this out? (Well, maybe not AJ and Mac so much, due to what I noticed once I reread this chapter.) I'm betting that Twilight won't be the only one among the Mane 6 who'll have a few choice words for our favorite farm mare once what they did to Apple Bloom becomes common, town wide knowledge.
And Rainbow. Oooooooo, when she finds out, I just get the feeling that hell ain't gonna be half a mile down the road where her relationship with AJ is concerned.
'Cause, ya know, fancy necklace or not, Rainbow is still the Element of Loyalty.
And Loyalty, as we all well know, is a sword that cuts two ways.
And loyalty to your family, even more so than to your friends, is paramount.
Yeah, as bad as this confrontation between AJ and Twi was this chapter, I have a feeling that the one between AJ and Dash is gonna be worse.
Much, much worse.
I'm interested to see where this goes. I like that AJ decision to kick apple bloom off the farm isn't just "no apple, no farm", but it's still by far the biggest plot problem you have. (AJ loves her family, it's hard to believe she'd be so heartless, but like I said you seem to be handling it well)
I also noticed a few punctuation errors, but nothing big.
Keep up the good work.
Granny is so going to be banished..and the stupid 'tradition' stamped out of existence...
6246872 Whatever the case, I don't think that it's gonna hold water with our very pissed off Princess of Friendship.
6248503
My thoughts exactly.
But whatever happens, and whoever delivers that blow, methinks Aj is going to find herself just as abandoned by her friends as Apple Bloom was by her family.
6263767 Oh, heavens, I certainly hope so.
Just had a sudden, stray thought though: If Twilight does adopt Apple Bloom (and I feel that she will), then that's going to make Bloom, as the daughter of a Princess of Equestria, adopted or not, defacto royalty.
I just wonder how a certain pair of snotty little rich brats are going to react to that one?
A farm-filly as Equestrian Royalty. Oh, the irony.
Congratulations Applejack! You're not a horrific inequine monster after all!
You're just a nauseatingly awful pony who would drive her sister out of her home over something outside her control, and try to console yourself and excuse your actions by saying "at least we didn't kick her out of town!".
If Applejack had been the first, she would have just been an evil caricature of a pony--just so awful that it isn't really impactful. But here, there's just enough positive traits remaining to make what she's done even more revolting, despite having nothing to do with Apple Bloom being thrown at the orphanage (which was all but stated the first chapter, but confirming it is nice... but doesn't excuse her in the least).
And she's wrong about it not being Twilight's place to interfere--a teacher's duty is to do whatever they can to help their student grow into a healthy, capable adult. They are both legally and morally obligated to report and act upon any suspicions of abuse, and this one instance is severe enough to slap at least two different types of abuse charges on the Apple family (emotional abuse and neglect. Considering how cutie marks are a central part of pony society, there might be mark-related laws that also come into play). And as Ponyville is hers, ensuring the welfare of every pony within is her duty as princess, even moreso than her duty to the rest of Equestria.
I think I'd be awesome if Twilight reported this to Celestia and a massive investigation was conducted on the entire apple family as a result. Think about it, while Applebloom's life with Twilight as her mom would get better, we'd also see the Apple's getting worse and worse as time goes on.
Headcannon time: Caramel is secretly Applebloom's second older brother who was also kicked out years before for having a horseshoe cutie mark. He severed all ties with the apples out of bitterness, but after hearing about what happened to Applebloom, reveals the truth and becomes her new big brother.
You smell that? That's the smell of both my Suspension of Disbelief and my OOC Detector bursting into flames and melting into a puddle of hot slag. I refuse to believe that Applejack, nay, the entire Apple Family would even begin to be this heartless and cruel! You must seriously hate the Apple Family so much to invoke Ron the Death Eater of this level.
To start, Granny dropping Applebloom off at a frigging orphanage isn't the same as shipping someone off to a boarding school or military school, it's outright abandonment and abuse, which I can't see not being illegal in every way. If Twilight doesn't do it herself, then once word reaches Celestia she'll have the Guard at Applejack's doorstep faster than a pizza delivery and cart them all off in chains to face trial. Unfortunately for them, I doubt "It's tradition!" would be a viable defence.
That's not even getting into how the entire town would outright ostracize every Apple Family member for something so idiotically cruel. Finally, Applejack is not as stupid as you've made her out to be. Besides the fact that Applejack outright said in the show that this would never happen, doing so would make her such a dishonest moron that the Element of Honesty would detach itself from the Tree of Harmony solely so it could fly over and beat Applejack over the head.
Awesome chapter.
Reading those author's notes is just one thing I love about fans like you and Warewolves; the will to state your own opinion on something that differs from what many fans think. "Sweetie needs to be with Button Mash or Spike!" "Whatever. I'll ship her with Snails because I want to." "Dinky is Derpy's daughter!" "Nah, I'll make her Carrot Top's daughter instead."
And to be honest, I love those sorts of things. I like to get as many different perspectives on things as I can, and when you present those images, it does seem to fit. I wouldn't be too surprised if Hasbro suddenly made that canon, with how much they've been using background ponies lately.
Though not everyone shares my opinion.
I love this chapter...I think its because Applejack is probably my least favorite mlp character...Wow...the apple family is cruel in this story...
My respect for Granny Smith is now gone.
Well, you didn't demonize Applejack, which is nice.
...
But you're treading a fine line with Granny Smith, and that is something up with which I will not put.
6265049 Yours and mine both.
There's a lot of canon breaking in this story(the general premise, Twilight mentioning that she used to get into huge fights with Shining Armor) but you've got the alternate universe tag, so I guess it can be forgiven. Above all, I'm interested to see where this goes, but the grammar and overall writing style is very stale. Single sentences and very few paragraphs, and the occasional double space between paragraphs/sentences. An editor might do you some good, in addition to fleshing out sentences to make them paragraphs.
I'll be keeping an eye on this one. Hope to see another update soon.
6265635 i thought i fixed that error with Shining Armour by making it her parents instead?
6265842 Oh, you did change it. I'm sorry, it was still Shining Armor when I first read it.
This made a little more sense than Applejack just abandoning her sister.
Nice work.
Can I use the "Dinky is Carrot Top's daughter" idea for my own story? I'll give you credit and everything.
Pretty sure "Apple Family Tradition" doesn't trump charges of child abandonment. Twilight is a Princess of Equestria, basically the final arbiter of law; the Apples will be lucky to still have a farm after this.
I FEEL LIKE TWILIGHT, MY CAPS LOCK IS JAMMED
Babs actually does have an Apple in her CM.
Applebloom seems very, very mature for her age with all that thinking.
I would think Twilight would at first try to get Applebloom back to her family before considering adopting her herself.
Applebloom seems to think of Twilight pretty quick as a mother, especially since she has never had one.
One thing I would expect Twilight to mention is Appleblooms CM.
F***IN TRADITIONALISTS!
WHAT I HATE MOST IS WHEN IDIOTS PUT F***IN TRADITIONS BEFORE BASIC MORALS!
(Translation: AHG MY FEELS!)
No, fucking no... AppleJack Apple? Really? That's so lazy! That's like the shit-awful Jupiter Ascending and it's protagonist being named Jupiter Jones! Couldn't you come up with a better name than fucking Applejack Apple? Couldn't you at least give her some sort of middle name? That's just... really weak...
I love this story and all, I want to see where it goes but come on, man... make some creative names! Don't be lazy about it!
6269019 sorry i took so long to reply. Sure. I've no problem with it myself. I'm technically not the first person to think it, but feel free to use it if you wish
6262971 Nobody gives a shit what their canon/fan names are.
Ha!Imagine if Rainbow Dash crashed by, found Applebloom crying next to Twilight, was told what happened with the apple family, and then decided to viciously assault Applejack for kicking her little sister out of the family.
It's Mine!