//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Let's Adopt // by tgb089 //------------------------------// The rooster cockatoos again the next morning. Rainbow Dash repeats her routine. She was the first to get up, she tries to wake applejack up and kiss her on the cheek, and then bathroom. Applejack again stared out of the window and see the rising sun. Okay. Today is the day I want to tell her. Everyone was eating breakfast as usual. Applejack saw Sugar Belle giving her a wink. Applejack sighed, turned to Rainbow Dash and said, “Hey Rainbow Dash can I talk to ya outside after breakfast.” Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. When she confronted Applejack at home after selling apples, Applejack said everything will work out. “Yeah. Sure,” Rainbow said with her mouth full. … “What’s the snitch Applejack?” Applejack looked down and scratched her right foreleg. She inhaled then exhaled and stared straight to Rainbow’s eyes. Now or never. “We had been married for about 10 years sugar cube. And Ah have been thinking…” Rainbow Dash gulped in anticipation. “I think it’s time we have a child of our own.” A few gasps can be heard from inside the house but Applejack ignores it. But Rainbow Dash’s jaws dropped. “Ba-ba-ba-bu-bu-bu-pu-pu.” “Uh… Sugar cube. Are ya okay? “Okay!?” Rainbow pointed at herself and then at Applejack. “We’re both mares. Di-Did you wanted to-to do it with a stallion!?” Rainbow was getting a bit hysterical; she wasn’t mad but sounded more upset. “Gosh, dan nit Rainbow!” Applejack grabbed hold of Rainbow’s shoulders and shook them. “I don’t want that!” Then she pulled Rainbow in a hug. “No-no-no. I’m just sayin’ that I want a kid to love and cherish.” Rainbow and Applejack separated themselves from each other. Rainbow Dash apologies and asked, “Why? You raised Apple Bloom and Apple Tom like you’re his second mother. So why?” Applejack was glad that Rainbow Dash wasn't outright saying she doesn’t want a child and be vehemently opposed to the idea. All she needed was to satisfy the question why. Applejack again inhaled and exhaled, she hoped she can put in words. “It’s different.” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “It just not the same.” Applejack sat on Granny’s old rocking chair on the pouch. “Ah love Apple Tom. But he got a mother and father to love and cherish. Apple Bloom, we all raised her. I’m not her parent. Parents are irreplaceable.” Applejack stared at the apple orchards into the distance. “When I see Big Mac and Sugar Belle with their son, I’m … jealous of what they got.” “And what do they got, Applejack?” Rainbow said sternly. “I’m not seeing it. You helped raised him just as much as those two.” “It’s different when they called you Ma.” Rainbow took a few steps closer and yelled, “No, it isn’t!” The sun was continuing to rise, she had to get to work. “Look AJ, I got to go to work. We can talk more when I come back.” “Hey, wait!” Applejack shouted. In a flash, Rainbow was in the sky and left with a rainbow trail. Applejack got off the rocking chair and tilt her hat downward over eyes and walked towards the orchard to begin her usual farm work. *** “Woah,” Apple Bloom whispered. She turned to Big Mac and said, “Should we go to talk to her?” Big Mac was just stomped as Apple Bloom. What can he say? He never thought Applejack would feel that way. She never discussed it to him. This was a decision a married couple should make. What business should they get involved in that decision? There’s more room in the house for another family addition. Apple Tom moved to Manehatten to pursue his dreams, experience the world a bit. Sugar Belle placed her hoof on Big Mac’s shoulders. “Give her an ear sweetie.” Big Mac sighed and said, “Eeyup.” *** Applejack bucked the apple trees in silence with sweaty brows and intensity. She heard some hoofsteps coming closer. “Oh boy.” She stopped bucking and sat under the tree and looked up and saw Big Mac and Apple Bloom. “Hey, sis. We kinda heard you and Rainbow Dash about… that.” “I figured. Are y’all against it?” Apple Bloom shook her head. “No! I’m happy for you sis. It’s just unexpected after all these years. Like wow, 10 years married. This big red log almost 20 years and Apple Tom is his own pony now.” Apple Bloom lightly elbowed Big Mac’s side a couple of times. “Eeyup.” “And what about ya Apple Bloom?” “Aww shucks Applejack. Don’t turn this around me!” They all chuckled and the air around became a little more lighthearted. Applejack smiled and then frown. “Rainbow Dash doesn’t seem to be keen on the idea.” Apple Bloom and Big Mac became silent while Applejack continued, “Pfft… It’s the same she said.” Applejack said mockingly. “No, it’s completely different. How do I get through that thick skull of hers?” Big Mac coughed to clear his throat. “Well Applejack, maybe Rainbow Dash doesn’t consider herself a motherhood figure.” “What ya talking about Big Mac?” Applejack in disbelief. “Rainbow Dash is a hard-working, career-focused mare. She spends most of her time at work than at home. Maybe she thought she couldn’t be a mother.” Applejack scoffed in disbelief. Even if she couldn’t be around most of the time, she could make a good role model. “That’s silly. Oh, silly-silly Big Mac.” Applejack gave a shallow chuckle and then said, “That’s not how she thought right?” “I’m not a mind reader Applejack. When she returns go talk to her.” … The sun was going down and the shadows getting longer and darker. Rainbow Dash returned her home like clockwork. Both her and Applejack discussed the child matter after dinner in their bedroom. “So, do you still want a kid AJ?” Applejack nodded her head. Rainbow sighed and said, “I thought you would give a second thought after I left.” “I still stand by my decision Rainbow.” Rainbow gave an exhaustive sigh. “Please, for the love of Celestia, tell me why?” “Well, we’re in our 30s. And I don’t want to miss the opportunity to raise a child of our own while I’m still strong and able.” “It sounds like you wanted a kid AJ. Is life that boring for you now?” “No! I enjoyed the life I have now but I been having a lot of free time lately since Apple Bloom and Sugar Belle help out. I want to spend it and share my life with another addition to the family.” Applejack gulped. “Again, you're just bored. You have more free time now and you thought of having a kid will fill the gap.” “Ah am not doing for something that selfish! Ah want to be a mother in my own right. Rainbow, don’t tell me you haven’t thought in all these years in our marriage?” “Well… it isn’t that I never thought about having one.” Rainbow Dash looked into Applejack’s eyes. “You really-really-really want to try this mother thing huh?” Applejack nodded with serious eyes. Rainbow sat on the bed and placed her hooves over eyes and gave a large groan. Rainbow Dash’s mind was jumbled up. Applejack sat next to her and placed a hoof on her shoulder. If Rainbow Dash was acting like this, was it a good decision? It felt like she was guilt-tripping her. “Sugar cube, if you’re so against this we can-” Rainbow stopped Applejack from continuing with a hoof on her lips. “No. I’m not 100 percent against it. Just, um… Got any ideas about how we go about this?” “Adoption.” “Oh. That’s it?” Applejack gave a quizzical look. “Did ya think we go to a bar and convince some stallion to rut us?” "Heh. Not at all." They talked all night about adoption. Conversing about what their child would be or look like, room arrangements, money to buy all kinds of things for their future child. While Rainbow was still anxious, she was happy that Applejack was happy. *** Rainbow still had to go to work and let Applejack handle all necessary paperwork or legality of adoption. After Applejack's share of farm work in the morning, she decided to head over to Town Hall to retrieve some forms for adoption. Once Applejack fetched the forms, she then made a stop at Sugarcube Corner for a light snack. Applejack sat by herself and musing over the paperwork. They seemed like normal forms with questions and fill in the boxes format; names, residence, income, marital status, the usual. The instructions said after completing the form, the form must be sent to Children's Services Agency in Canterlot to be processed and a mail will be sent back with a schedule for an inspector to visit their home. After that more waiting and reviewing, then the authorities can give the thumbs up. “Here is your triple chocolate, double layer frosted cupcakes!” “I didn’t order this,” Applejack said. “It’s on the house,” Pumpkin Cake said cheerfully. She glimpsed at the papers on the table and saw the bold words: “Adoption Form.” Pumpkin Cake’s eyes bugged out for one second made Applejack covering up the papers with her forelegs. “Woah Applejack. Why are you so defensive?” “Ah. Sorry Pumpkin. Just no one outside of the family knows of this.” Pumpkin Cake took the seat opposite of Applejack with a face full of glee. She planted her heads on her hooves on top of the table and said, “Please, please! Tell me all about it.” Applejack blushed and chuckled a bit. “There isn’t some tall tale or anything. We decided to get a child.” Pumpkin Cake still had a gleeful smile and continued to stare at her. There should be more to the story than, ‘we felt like it.’ But Applejack didn’t add anything more and anxiously stuffed her mouth with cupcakes. While Applejack was stuffing her face, Pumpkin Cake asked, “Are you scared?” Applejack almost choked on her cupcakes. “Scared? Me? That’s silly. Ah'm as ready as Ah ever be.” “Mmhmm… Okay! I can’t wait! I’ll tell Pinkie Pie and we can have a big 'welcome to the family' party!” “That’s sound mighty fine. But please keep it to yourself before it becomes official.” Pumpkin Cake motioned her hoof across her lips like a zipper.