Applejack had just finished applebucking her latest row of trees, and was pouring all of her bucked apples into a produce barrel with care. She’d been rambling for the past hour to Big Macintosh, “Mrs. Cake saw me carin’ for little Zecora and told me that I looked like a mom. Then later, Cheerilee kept givin’ me an odd look and askin’ for my permission to come on by. I mean, do I look like a mom to ya?” She’d ranted in a rhetorical tone.
Big Mac, for his part, just chuckled while he finished pouring his share of bucked apples into a barrel. Then he turned his rather large figure toward his little sister and answered with a sarcastic, “Eyyup.”
Hearing that unwanted answer, Applejack lightly punched her big brother on the shoulder, “Im bein’ serious, you big galoot. I don't want everypony in Ponyville to think I'm a mom!”
The two then started walking back to the house side by side, as Big Mac turned to his sister with a questioning look on his freckled face, and asked in his deep southern, beraton voice, “Why is that such a bad thing?”
Applejack rolled her eyes at the simple question form his sibling, as he has no idea what it would mean to having to take the role of motherhood. She explained, “Because I don't need ponies askin’ if I need help and stuff. Once you’re labeled ‘Mom’, ponies start gettin’ in your business, tryin’ ta help ya with every little thing!”
Big Mac gave his sister an odd, silent look. Usually the kind that tells that he saw what the other didn't even realize. He asked with a questioning tone, “So, why don't you let some other pony take care of Zecora?”
Applejack stepped back, unsure of what to say. She paused for a moment and shrugged as she replied in an unsure tone, “I...I don't know. I mean as much as I'm not a fan of bein’ labeled a mom. I...I can't abandon that little foal. I’ll feel just terrible...”
Big Mac paused in his walk as well, and turned his head towards his sister as he asked with a smirk, “Do ya love her?”
Applejack gulped, and turned her head to hide her blushing from the stallion as she mumbled, “Well...I...guess…”
Big Mac chuckled again, shaking his head as he sighed, “Oh Applejack.”
Applejack looked up at her big brother again. Glaring at him as she demanded, “What ya laughin’ about, Big Mac?!”
Big Mac only chuckled again, making Applejack come around in front of her brother and stomp her hoof as she scolded him, “Ya’ll tell me what you’re laughin’ about right now, Big Macintosh!”
Big Mac put a hoof to his mouth, with his cheeks blowing up as he gasped, “Ok...Mom.” He then roared with laughter, falling to the ground and pointing at Applejack’s face as it turned a deep red.
Applejack dipped her hat trying to hide her face, “Alright Big Mac, that’s enough.”
Big Mac got up, still snickering as he followed Applejack down the road and back to the house. As they opened the door, they found Apple Bloom feeding Zecora mashed peas. She turned to her older siblings and chirped with a smile, “Hey, ya two done with the applebuckin!’!?”
Applejack just came over to Zecora. “Yeah, it’s fine. How is she, did ya change her diaper? Did she get into any trouble?”
Granny Smith shook her head as she cooed, “Oh no, she’s been fine. She just woke up from her nap a little while ago, and we just started feedin’ her dinner. Also, of course we changed her diaper. Only once, thankfully.”
Applejack, still unsure, came over the zebra and checked it anyways, cupping the baby zebra’s diaper with a hoof and pulling the waistband back as she peered inside.
Zecora blushed and put her hooves up to her face as she babbled, “Stop, Abbwejack. I dun need a change.”
Applejack heard more giggling, and turned her head to see Big Mac, who was shaking his head. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop fussin’!” She complained. “Zecora's dry anyway, just thought I’d check and be sure.”
Then they all heard a knock at the door and Applejack replied, “I'll go see who that is.”
The farm pony came over to the door and opened it to see Twilight, rubbing her eyes and yawning. “Hey Applejack.” She spoke.
Applejack blushed as she greeted her friend. “Hey Twilight, good ta see ya.”
Twilight sighed as she look down in shame and mumbled, “It’s good to see you too, Applejack. I want to apologize for earlier. ”
Applejack waved a hoof. “Oh, it’s alright. You were workin’ hard to find a cure, but ya just needed a little help with takin’ a break. How about ya come on in and have some dinner?”
Twilight gave a sheepish smile as her stomach growled, “Yeah, some food would be great right now.”
Applejack waved her in as they entered the kitchen.
Twilight turned to Zecora, who was putting her hooves into her mouth and licking her hooves that were covered in mashed peas. Twilight dawwed and nuzzled her. “How are you doing, little Zecora?”
Zecora turned to face Twilight and squealed with joy, “Hi, Twiwight, I doin fine! Just havin’ some dinner.” She replied, spraying mashed peas from her mouth
Twilight dodged the mushy projectiles and giggled as she commented with a smirk, “Oh, I see you have it all over your face.” That made all the ponies in the kitchen chuckle.
Granny Smith walked up to Twilight and shook her hoof as she asked politely, “So, how are ya doin’?”
Twilight gave a yawn and smacked her lips before she mumbled, “I'm fine, just a little bit tired.”
Zecora whimpered as she thought. “I hope she’s been working hard to find a cure for me, but has she been as busy as a bee?” She gulped as she nervously babbled, “Uh, Twiwight, did ya find a cuwe yet?”
Twilight sighed as she shook her head, collapsed into a chair, and explained mournfully, “Sorry, I haven't found a cure yet…” Her voice trailed off as she gave an exasperated sigh.
Zecora gave a cheerful smile and chirped, “It's otay, Twiwight. I can wait a bit wonga.”
Twilight looked up with a sorrowful expression on her face, “Thanks, Zecora, but I need to explain something to all of you,” Everyone turned to her as she looked up and explained, “I...I can’t help. I figured out all the components to the potion that spilled onto Zecora, but I have no idea how to make an antidote,” Zecora looked down with disappointment. Twilight paused to catch her breath before she continued, “I sent Princess Celestia a letter detailing everything about what happened to Zecora. She sent me a letter back to tell me, that she herself has sent the information to some other top mages and specialists to look into the matter.”
Zecora looked back up with a smile and shouted with glee, “Tat means Pwincess Cewesitia is hewpin find a cuwe! I gonna go back to being a big zebwa in no time!”
Twilight gave the little zebra a hopeful smile as she added, “Hopefully.”
Zecora couldn’t help but kick her tiny legs in excitement, making her diaper crinkle adorably.
Twilight turned to Applejack with an apologetic look and continued in a moderate tone, “Princess Celestia also asked if Zecora was being cared for, and I told her that you and your family have everything covered. But, considering Zecora is going to be a foal for some time, Princess Celestia still sent me a list of parents willing to adopt, just in case you decide that caring for Zecora is too much.” Twilight hesitantly took out said letter, as Apple Bloom looked at it with wide eyes.
Applejack took the letter and looked it over, as she thought to herself. “I hate the idea of being called a mom, but I also don’t like the idea of giving Zecora away. What should I do?” She first turned to Granny Smith, who was giving her a glare while sipping a cup of tea. Applejack then turned to Big Mac, who turned away with a nervous look. She then turned to Apple Bloom, who was bouncing up and down in anticipation. And lastly she turned to Zecora, who was giving her a pleading look, mashed peas covering the tiny and adorable face. Applejack just sighed as she asked with a nervous smile, “Zecora, do ya want to be an Apple for a little bit?”
Zecora squealed, jumping up and down and shouting in glee, “Yeah, of course I do! Ya family’s been so nice to me!”
Apple Bloom squealed with joy, ran to the baby zebra, and exclaimed with excitement, “Zecora, you're goin to be my little sister!”
Big Mac gave a small smile but continued eating, as Granny Smith came over and hugged Applejack as she whispered, “Ya did the right thing, Applejack.”
Twilight giggled and got up with a sheepish smile as she replied, “Well, I guess that’s everything I needed to clear up. Now I’d better get going and get some sleep. I’m still so exhausted.”
Applejack nodded in agreement. “Yeah, ya go get some sleep. Thanks for everythin’.”
But before Twilight could leave, Zecora turned and asked her, “Twiwight, does tis mean I can caww Abbwejack my mommy?”
Everypony laughed and Applejack’s faced turned strongly red in color as Twilight cooed, “If that’s alright with Applejack,” She then yawned again and rubbed her eyes as she mumbled, “But I’d better get going before I fall asleep on the floor. Applejack, if anything new comes up, I’ll let you know.”
Applejack gave her friend a nod and watch her leave with a look of worry.
Apple Bloom then asked excitedly, “Applejack, can I help change Zecora?!”
Granny Smith laughed as Zecora hugged her diaper (which was now tainted yellow) with a cute blush. Applejack just sighed as she mumbled, “Sure, let’s get to it.”
The next day Applejack woke to the sound of, “Abbwejack...Abbwejack”
Applejack groaned as she got up and looked up at the baby zebra standing in her crib as she whined, “My diapee is wet, and I itchy.”
Applejack sighed, rising from her bed and taking the foal to the changing mat below, as she started changing Zecora’ soggy diaper. She looked down at the zebra, noticed a red sore patch, and groaned, “Oh dag nab it, I forgot the powder last night!”
Applejack then started rubbing cream in and powdered Zecora, who babbled back, “It’s otay Abbwejack.” The little zebra started whimpering, as tears welled up in her eyes.
Applejack looked down at her and cooed, “Hey, what’s wrong?”
Zecora looked up and asked in a wavering tone, “Abbwejack, ya goin ta take cawe of me, wight?”
Applejack, still groggy from caring for Zecora last night, and in the middle of strapping Zecora into a new diaper yawned, “Well, from what Twilight said, yeah. At least until we get ya back to bein’ a big zebra.”
Zecora, still nervous, asked, “But ya dun seem happy. I dun wana be a pwobwem.”
Applejack gave Zecora a long gaze before taking the little zebra into her embrace and hugging her. “Hey, don’t ya worry! I love ya, it’s just...well…”
Zecora kicked her legs, the powder still fresh, as she babbled. “Wha is it?”
Applejack sighed as she placed the foal on her back and explained. “It’s quite a change for me. Trust me, I care for ya, Zecora, even if sometimes I don’t show it. I’m just not used to the idea of ponies seein’ me as a mother, especially since my own ma passed away while I was still young.”
Zecora hugged applejack’s mane and nuzzled it as she babbled, “Weww, tank ya fow cawin fow me. I sowie I kept ya up wast night, I didn mean to.”
Applejack blushed as she hesitated, unsure of what to say as she eventually mumbled, ”It’s okay.” Then they went down to the kitchen where Apple Bloom and Big Mac both turned with big smiles.
Granny Smith cooed, “Good mornin’ ya two, sleep well?”
Applejack groggily nodded, and she strapped Zecora in her highchair as she yawned, “Zecora had a few late night soaks, but she’s alright. Though I forgot to put the powder on last night, so she got a small diaper rash. Fortunately, I worked in some rash cream, and made sure to give her plenty of powder this time.”
Zecora blushed while hugging her diaper, making foal powder poof all around her as Big Mac dawwed, “Oh, wittle Zecora just made my mornin’.” He came over and gave her a kiss making her blush as she asked. “So, wha I gotta caww ya?”
Big Macintosh cooed, “Why not just Big Mac, it’s easier that way.”
Apple Bloom nodded and exclaimed, “And ya can caw me ‘Big sis Apple Bloom’ or just ‘Big sis’.”
Zecora gave a cute smile as she babbled, “Ya can caw me wittwe sis.”
“What ya gonna call me, Zecora?” Granny Smith asked, as she was busy preparing herself some oatmeal.
Zecora pondered for a bit before she shouted. “Gwanny! Is tat otay?!”
Applejack chuckled. “Of course, Zecora. We all call her Granny ‘round here.”
“Otay, tat sounds gweat.” The little zebra said with a chuckle, and she was then spoonfed applesauce, as Granny turned to Applejack and asked with a chuckle, “So, ya ready to be a mom?”
“I guess, it’s gonna take some gettin’ used to though. ‘Least I’ll have you to lean on for advice and support though,” Applejack replied. “And Big Mac too, it’ll be just like when we were raisin’ Apple Bloom.”
Meanwhile, Apple Bloom ran over to the baby zebra and hugged Zecora close as she whispered, “Ya be good for Applejack, little sis.”
Zecora nodded and kissed Apple Bloom on the nose, then babbled, “I will. Hope ya have fun at school. Say hi ta Cheeweiwee, and wemind hew she gots to teach me ta wead.”
Apple Bloom giggled and gave a nod, “Don’t ya worry about that, I’ll remind her.” She waved a hoof before heading out the door.
Applejack then gave Zecora to Granny as she cooed. “Well, Zecora, I gotta go help Big Mac buck apples. See ya in a bit.” Applejack waved at Zecora as the baby zebra waved back, making Applejack blush as she walked out the back door, thinking to herself. “Maybe caring for a foal won’t be so bad after all.”