//------------------------------// // Surprise surprise! // Story: Surprise Apples // by Trainboy //------------------------------// That night, Pinkie couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about AJ and how she'd been acting lately. She hoped that her farm working friend was okay. What if she wasn't though? What if she didn't last the night? She'd looked real rough in that doctors office. The pink mare decided that she couldn't take the intensity anymore. She needed answers and she needed them now. She leaped out of bed and ran for the door. "Gummy!" She called "I'll just be a little while. I'm gonna go check on Applejack! You be good now!" Before the alligator could respond, Pinkie was out the door and hurtling down the street at full gallop. Hoping that she wouldn't be too late. Oh please Celestia, don't let it be too late! She finally reached Sweet Apple acres to find Granny Smith, Applebloom and Big Macintosh all enjoying a small but pleasant barbecue outside the barn under the stars. They were quite taken aback when Pinkie galloped in on their fun little evening. "I-I-I-I Is Applejack... Inside?" She panted heavily "Why sure sugar plum" Granny Smith said, a little bewildered "Come to think of it, she's been in her room all evening. Hasn't come out once. Haven't seen her since she went inside after seeing you" Pinkie gasped. "GOTTA GO!" She cried and, in a puff of smoke, she was inside the barn and running up the stairs. She ran for the door and burst inside. Finding Applejack laying on her hay bed and smiling at something. She could've grabbed that farm pony and cuddled her endlessly, she was so relieved. "Oh Applejack, thank goodness!" She cried "I was so worried! You looked so sick earlier on!" "Pinkie" "And then you came in here and I didn't hear from you since!" "Pinkie" "And then the other apples said they hadn't seen you all evening and-" "Pinkie" "What?" "Shhhhh" Pinkie was surprised by this. What was so important that she had to stop her endless worried rambling? She looked down to where Applejack had been smiling and her jaw nearly dropped off. She gasped in sheer delight and would've squealed had Applejack not hushed her. Laying next to Applejack were three tiny foals. Each one only a few hours old. All three were sound asleep. Pinkie then understood why AJ wanted some peace and quiet. "Pinkie?" Applejack whispered "Could you go and get the other apples for me?" Pinkie didn't need to be told twice. She flew down the stairs and out to the barbecue. The foals whined and wriggled in their sleep. "Aww, it's okay now little ones" Applejack whispered affectionately "It's alright, you're safe here with me. You'll have to get used to your auntie Pinkie... She's very noisy" Like her mother before her and like all the animals she'd seen give birth in her farming life, Applejack then set to work, licking and cleaning them. "Let's have a look at your hooves" She whispered "Ooh, and the other one. There we go" The foal she was licking, wriggled in protest. "Oh" She giggled quietly "Sorry, does that tickle? Gently does it. Gently" She then heard Pinkie from outside the room. "Aj? Aj?" She opened the door slightly "I've brought Big Macintosh" "A'ight?" "And Applebloom" Pinkie continued "I'm an aunt! I'm an aunt!" The filly squeaked in excitement, before she was sternly hushed by Big Mac. "And Granny Smith" "Now where is the litter?" Granny Smith asked "Is it true Aj?" Applejack smiled. "It's true Granny Smith" She said "You're a great granny now" "And I also brought Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity and Rainbow Dash" Pinkie beamed The four mares entered the room quietly. "Oh what a wonderful surprise" "Ooh! I just want to hug them all" "How're you feeling darling?" Rarity asked "... Tired" Applejack yawned "Three foals" Rainbow Dash whispered "Three of them. How awesome is that?" The room was silent as everyone simply stared affectionately at the new members of the apple family. "Have you decided on names yet?" Twilight asked. "Well..." Applejack said "I think this one, the yellow colt, should be called 'Applecore'" "What about that one?" Pinkie whispered "The orange one. She looks like you. You could call her Aj, junior" "Not Aj junior" Applejack smirked "Besides, he's a boy" "What about Jack then?" Applejack laughed quietly. "Alright then" She smiled "Jack it is" "And what about the third one?" Twilight asked "The yellow filly" "I think we all know what her name should be" Applejack smiled "Bandage" Pinkie said "No not bandage Pinkie" Rarity sighed. "I'm going to call her... Buttercup" Applejack said affectionately. The room was filled with one atmosphere of agreement. "Your mother woulda been so proud of you" Granny smith beamed. And so, on that moonlit, starry night, a new generation of apples began at Sweet Apple Acres. Applecore, Jack and Buttercup. All were certain on one thing. That this had been the most wonderful surprise anypony could every wish for.