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// Chapter 12 
// Story: It Runs In the Family 
// by CartoonNerd12 
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Sour Grape was still magically flipping pages in her books and started chanting, "Formula non grata kayatus melvarta! I guess I've been naughty, I'm afraid I've been bad, I couldn't leave well enough alone… I dug up a horrible secret, you see and I'm afraid I've made it my own… It's something so wicked, I shudder to think… Of the despicable deeds that I'll do! Creating such chaos as you've never seen… And misery like you never knew… There ain't nothing but bad days ahead (ain't nothing)… Ain't nothing but bad days ahead (bad days ahead)… So kiss off your happiness, bury your dreams… Embrace this new feeling of dread… There ain't nothing but bad days ahead (bad days ahead)…"

At that point Spike and Applejack were going up to Sour's room and knock on the door until they overheard her singing.

" Formula non grata kayatus simper… The power to change is mine all mine…The first thing I'll change is the rules… Pear Butter and Bright Mac are soon going to find of how much hurt they have wreaked upon me!"

Applejack had wide eyes from hearing that while Spike gapped.

" From now on Ponyville will hear what I say… And whatever Sour Grape says goes… The world is my plaything, my yo-yo, my toy… And I won't stop 'til everyone knows… There ain't nothing but bad days ahead (ain't nothing)… Ain't nothing but bad days ahead (bad days ahead)… I'm the baddest of bad girls and now that I'm back… The forecast is written in red… There ain't nothing but bad days ahead (bad days ahead)… Aren't you scared? Full of fear? Feel like running and hiding…Well ain't that that a shame… 'Cause honey, it's too darn late! There ain't nothing but bad days ahead (ain't nothing)… Ain't nothing but bad days ahead (bad days ahead)… Move over, Nightmare Moon; Chrysalis, get lost…Take a hike, villainesses of the past! There ain't nothing but bad (wonderfully sad)… Wonderfully sad days (no no)…You've never had days (you've never had)… Til you've seen my mad ways…There ain't nothing but bad days, bad days ahead!"

She let out a cackle.

Applejack and Spike exchanged worried looks and quickly ran away from the door before Sour knew they were there.




Apple Bloom came back inside the farmhouse only to see the solemn expressions on everyone's faces and inquired, "Where's Tender Taps?"

Scootaloo replied, "He left."

Rumble started, "But right before he did, he said-" but was cut off when Pip spoke up with a serious look on his face.

"He said he was going to win you back."

Her eyes widen, "He did?"

"Yes, but that's something we need to discuss." He turned to their friends and stated, "Alone."

They didn't need to be told twice as Button and Rumble started for the door and Sweetie and Scootaloo gave Apple Bloom a quick hug and goodbye and left with their coltfriends.

Once they were gone, Apple Bloom and Pip faced each other with serious expressions.

Pip spoke, "I know you still have feelings for Tender Taps, and I get that, he was your previous boyfriend before me but ever since he came back you've been excited around him and ignoring me… I poured my heart out to you, Bloom… and you told me you loved me…"

"I do, Pip…"

He held a hoof up and continued speaking, "I wish I can believe that, but Tender made a point about how you could be on the rebound and frankly, I think he might be right…"

She gapped, "How can you say that?! After everything that we've done?!"

"And those were the best moments of my life, Apple Bloom. But I don't want to be a second choice if you rather have someone else… I want you to want me for me… Tender said he's going to win back your heart, the question is… do you want him to?"

Apple Bloom frowned in thought and hung her head, admitting, "I don't know… Never had I felt so torn between two great guys… I need some time to figure it out."

Pip's face sagged and softly said, "Well… when you do decide… I'll be either waiting or backing off gracefully. Whatever your choice is, I just want you to be happy…" on that note he went to the door and left.

Bloom broke down and sobbed all the way to her room, wondering, Why didn't I stop him?




Starlight exclaimed in shock, "Sour Grape is plotting against you guys?!"

Applejack replied, "Right. I don't know the exact details, but it has somethin' to do with our parents."

Big Mac said, "But our parents were loving ponies, they wouldn't do anythin' to hurt others."

Spike motioned, "It doesn't make sense."

Starlight suggested, "Maybe you better look into this more by digging deeper into your parents' history."

"We may have to do just that." Applejack stated, "And I know who can help but we'll have to wait until morning before we can get some answers."

Starlight said, "It's for the best since we all need our rest especially Sugar Belle."

They turned to see Zecora was talking to Sugar Belle on the other side of the room.

Spike inquired, "Do you think Zecora can find a cure for her?"

Big Mac stated with a sad tone, "I hope she can…" His sister touched his left shoulder in comfort while Spike touched the right. He felt lucky to have such great support at this time, not only from his sister but his future brother-in-law who was one of his best pals in the past and still is to this day.




Apple Bloom stopped crying and went to her window and sadly began to sing while thinking of the two special guys that came into her life, "Guess mine is not the first heart broken… My eyes are not the first to cry… I'm not the first to know… There's just no getting over you… I know I'm just a fool who's willin'… To sit around and wait for you… But baby, can't you see? There's nothin' else for me to do… I'm hopelessly devoted to you… But now, there's nowhere to hide… Since you pushed my love aside… I'm out of my head, hopelessly devoted to you… Hopelessly devoted to you, hopelessly devoted to you… My head is sayin', "Fool, forget him"… My heart is sayin', "Don't let go, hold on to the end"… And that's what I intend to do… I'm hopelessly devoted to you… But now there's nowhere to hide… Since you pushed my love aside… I'm out of my head, hopelessly devoted to you… Hopelessly devoted to you, hopelessly devoted to you…"

She went back to the bed and started to sniffle.

Meanwhile, outside the farmhouse the rest her family was coming home, with Big Mac wrapping an arm around his shaking wife. Spike was with them too given the recent events and feared for the Apple family's safety particularly his fiancée. Once they entered the house, Big Mac and Sugar Belle went to their room leaving the engaged couple.

Applejack addressed her soon-to-be husband, "I appreciate you seeing us home, sugar cube but you should have stayed at the castle…"

Spike shook his head, "Applejack, a crazy unicorn has it in for you and your family, I wasn't about to leave you alone like that."

"Well I can't send you home with it bein' so late."

"That's okay, I was planning on sleeping over anyway by guarding your bedroom door."

"Hon, you know I don't need protection and I don't like the idea of you sleeping on the floor all night…"

"Please, Applejack, it would make me feel better if I know you're safe from harm."

Her eyes soften at his plead and made a small smile, "Okay… but you're not sleeping on the floor." She went to get extra blankets and went toward the couch and set them on there, making a makeshift bed.

Spike smiled at this and went up to his fiancée, giving her a kiss on the head, commenting, "You always were good to me…"

She smiled at him, "Only the best for my true love… I just hope I can be as good as a wife as my Ma was…"

"You will be… I just hope I can be a good husband since I didn't have anyone to show me how… Except maybe Shining Armor and Big Mac but even then I don't know much…"

"You're going to be fine, Spike, just remain true to yerself and it'll work out."

"I really hope you're right…" he went into an embrace with her before sharing a kiss then went to the couch-bed.

"Good night, Spike."

"Good night, AJ."

She went to turn off the light but not before she exchanged a loving look with her fiancé then the light went off and she went to her room thinking nothing but the life she'll soon have with the dragon that she'll be proud to call her husband. At the same time Spike was thinking of the pony he couldn't wait to call his wife. Then remembering what they heard from Sour Grape, they were determined to make sure that nothing was going to ruin their chances of being with the person they love, no matter what.