//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11 
// Story: It Runs In the Family 
// by CartoonNerd12 
//------------------------------//

Spike was running toward the Everfree Forest and was getting closer until a cloaked figure suddenly crossed his path and he skidded to a halt to let the pony pass but to his surprise the pony just stopped.

He started, "Um, excuse me, ma'am or sir, but could you please move so I can continue my mission?"

The pony removed her hood to face him.

Spike could see even in the dark that she was a middle-aged unicorn with a crooked horn.

"You are Applejack's fiancé, are you not?"

He furrowed his brow, "Yeah…? Who wants to know?"

"That's not important. But rumor has it that you used to be in love with somepony else before getting engaged to the one you truly loved."

"That was in the past." he firmly stated, "I was young and the mare I did have a crush on didn't return my feelings so I had to move on."

"So… is it possible then that Applejack was your only option available when the one you want could not be obtained?"

"No! That's crazy! I chose Applejack! Because I love her even more then I did for Rarity!"

"Rarity? Is that the mare you first loved?"

"She is."

"And does she live in town here?"

"She does but she's not here right now. She and the rest of our friends had to leave town on business."

"When will they be back?"

"We don't know. Only time will tell when they'll be home."

Sour thought to herself, Hmm… that certainly puts a damper on my plans… I was hoping to use the mare to make him fall in love with her again just like I had used that Tender Taps to get the youngest Apple to fall for him again! Looks like I'll have to change tactics…

Spike said, "Now please, ma'am, I need to see an old friend about something."

"But of course." she stepped to the side, letting him pass.

"Thank you." and he ran into the forest.

Sour Grape went on, thinking out loud, "So, breaking up the dragon and the second child of Pear Butter and Bright Mac is going to require some major plotting and magic…"




Pip, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo sat close together on the floor letting the sweet aroma of Apple Bloom and Rumble's cooking from the next room fill the air. But as much as Pip enjoyed the scent of food, his mind was filled with worry about his relationship with his marefriend given her ex-coltfriend was in the same house as them right now and the fact she was on friendly terms with him set him on edge.

"Just give it to me straight." he told the girls, "Does she still have feelings for Tender Taps?"

Scoots and Sweetie exchanged another cringing look before solemnly hanging their heads and muttered out, "Yes…"

Pip could feel his entire body stiffening.




Zecora examined Sugar Belle from top to bottom but once she got to the mare's eyes, she lingered there and gave out a, "Hmm…"

Big Mac, Spike, Applejack, and Starlight stood on the side in silence as they watched Zecora studying Sugar Belle. Finally the zebra turned to them, "It would seem in Sugar Belle, dark magic is holding its grip well. Her eyes have become very dim and that is quite grim."

"Dark magic?" Applejack voiced.

"Yes, you wanted to get rid of her fears with this brew, but alas it seems that the opposite is true. I think it is the potion that's blinding her with emotion."

Starlight pointed, "So you're saying that the potion was never intended to get rid of her fears, rather to increase them, right?"

The zebra nodded.

Spike spoke out, "But why would Sour Grape do this? Sugar Belle is one of the sweetest ponies around, what could possibly be her motivation to do such a dastardly deed?"

Applejack gave a determined look, "That's what we're going to find out."




Sour Grape combed through one of her many spell books she brought from her mountain cave home. Obviously the potion wasn't going to work on the dragon given she tried spells on dragons before and they have always failed. Sour surmised it was because of their biological differences to ponies but it was uncertain. And using the potion on Applejack wasn't going to work since she had observed the mare for awhile now and she would not be fooled easily. Not to mention the stories she heard around Ponyville of this couple helping save Equestria on quite a few occasions was also certainly a setback to her plans.

No doubt they'll try to stop me if they ever find out what I'm trying to do to them and the mare's family… 

She kept flipping through pages.




"So whose it going to be?"

"Excuse me?" Apple Bloom turned to Rumble after she finished cutting vegetables to put into the stew that he was stirring on the stove.

"Come on, Apple Bloom, it pretty obvious that you're still hung up on Tender Taps but you also really like Pip. So it makes one wonder if you're going to completely let go of Tender or if you're going to end things with Pip and go back to Tender. It's your classic old boyfriend verses the new boyfriend scenario."

"Oh, for pony sakes! Look, I may be overjoyed that Tender is back but I'm with Pip right now and that's the way it's goin' stay!"

"You sure about that?"

"Of course I am!"

"Well, what happens if Tender decides to come back for good? What then?"

AB was completely taken off guard by that question and ended up sputtering, "I… I…" then declared, "I need some air!" and she ran out of the farmhouse and into the orchards where she went to her parents' tree.

She stop at the base where their stone was and touched it while looking up to see the heart shape between the trees, "Oh, Mom… Dad… you got to help me… I'm so confused… I love Pip but I love Tender as well… I don't know if you've been watchin' over me all these years but could you possibly give me a sign of which boy I should love the most?"

There was nothing but silence in the air. Apple Bloom could feel her tears welling up and began to softly sang, You were once my loving parents… You were all that mattered… You were once friendly protectors… Then my world was shattered… Wishing you were somehow here again… Wishing you were somehow near… Sometimes it seemed if I just dreamed… Somehow you would be here… Wishing I could hear your voices again… Knowing that I never would… Dreaming of you won't help me to do… All that you dreamed I could… Concorde pears and Gala apples… very monumental… made you each the right companion… You were warm and gentle…" There was a pause before she sung out, "Too many years fighting back tears… Why can't the past just die?! Wishing you were somehow here again! Knowing we must say, goodbye… Try to forgive, teach me to live… Give me the strength to try… No more memories, no more silent tears… No more gazing across the wasted years… Help me say, goodbye… Help me say, goodbye…"

She crouched down in sorrow and released her tears.




Tender and Button came back with the games just as Rumble came out with a bowl of stew.

Scootaloo exclaimed, "That smells great, Rumble!"

Pip inquired, "But where's Apple Bloom?"

"She had to take a breather, but I'm sure she'll be back."

Tender motioned, "Perhaps I should check just in case."

Pip frowned and pointed to himself, "If anyone is going to check on her, it'll be me."

Tender frowned back, "Well, no offense to your relationship but I've known her longer then you have so I would be the most qualified to make sure she was okay."

Rumble whispered to the others, "I knew this was coming…"

The girls and Button nodded with a grimace.

Pip argued, "You left her! That doesn't make you qualified at all!"

"Only because she wanted me to follow my dreams! That proves how unselfish and caring Apple Bloom is! And it proves how much she loved me!"

"Well she doesn't love you anymore! She loves me now!"

Tender scoffed, "Oh, please… you're just in a rebound relationship with her. And those things never last…"

Pip gnashed his teeth, for as much as he wanted to fight back, a part of him was afraid that the dancer was right.

Sweetie Belle quickly came between the two, "Okay, let's all keep our heads here. Yes, there are certain complications regarding Apple Bloom's true feelings between you two but fighting over her won't make that any better."

Scootaloo added, "Right, instead let's all have a taste of Rumble's delicious stew!" taking the bowl, hoping to ease the tension.

Awkward silence filled the air as the bickering colts intensely stared at the other.

Tender continued, "Mark my words, I will win Apple Bloom's heart again and you will see, we were meant for each other." He went to the door and left.