//------------------------------// // Day 7: Apple Tree: // Story: Afterlife // by Star Sparkle //------------------------------// I woke up and couldn’t remember when Twilight had stopped reading or even when I fell asleep. I only felt that Twilight wasn't in bed now and that I was in the middle of the bed, tucked in and as I opened my eyes, I saw that I was right, I was alone and instead of going back to sleep, I got out of the bed, ready to learn some magic. Out of the bed and on the floor, I stretch my legs and my back, when ready I went downstairs to where Twilight and Spike were about to eat, Twilight looked at me and said happily ‘’Good morning little sis, you’re up early.‘’ As she called me ‘little sis’ I thought it sounded odd, rather than familiar, but as I didn’t thought more about it, I walked over to the table as I said ‘’Good morning, I’m just excited to learn magic.‘’ I sat down and ate the breakfast Spike had made, as I commentated ‘’This is really good, thanks Spike.‘’ ‘’Your welcome Star, I’m glad you’re enjoying it.‘’ Spike said proudly. Twilight after she had swallowed her food and I began to eat mine with my face first, she said ‘’Remember, it’s only if you’ll be a good filly today, I will teach you magic.‘’ I took my head up from the bowl and asked confused ‘’What do you mean? What’s happening today?‘’ She looked puzzled at me as she said ‘’Last night I said that my friend Applejack needed your help and then Pinkie Pie had a surprise for you at Sugarcube Corner.‘’ As I thought back on my conversation with Spike about a ‘Welcome To Ponyville Party’ I asked Twilight ‘’Is that with Pinkie Pie, that ‘Welcome To Ponyville Party‘ Spike had told me I wouldn't get?‘’ Twilight took another sip of water before she said ‘’I will tell you, when you get home. But if other ponies ask about it, will you be okay about saying that you didn’t want one? At least for now.‘’ I nodded. As I finished my breakfast Twilight said ‘’Oh, It is time for you to head off now. Hmm… Spike, will you show Star the way?‘’ Spike saluted and got off his chair and as we walked downstairs, Twilight followed us as she said ‘’One last thing Star, promise me that you won’t try to do any magic, unless I’m there or said it’s okay, deal?‘’ A few steps from the door, that Spike had opened, I said ‘’I promise.‘’ Out the door I followed Spike and we walked into town. We walked out of town and onto a dirt road that had apple trees on both sides with a white fence between us and the trees, we reached an opening and I looked through and saw an old fashioned barn, a chicken coop, a well, an orange building I had no idea what was and other sorts of buildings. I noticed that Spike had stopped as he said ‘’The house is just over there, will you be okay to walk the rest of the way alone or do you want me to accompany you? But don’t worry Applejack knows what you look like.‘’ I looked a bit empty, but as I didn't fear it I said ‘’No, I’ll be fine, it was Applejack, right?‘’ He nodded as he said ‘’Yep, see you at home.‘’ He waved as he walked back towards Ponyville. As I was walking to the house I began to think ‘What if I don’t find Applejack, what t…’ ‘’Hi!‘’ A loud, high pitched sound said, it startled me so much that I jumped in the air. When I was back on the ground again, I looked to where the voice came and looked into the window and saw a yellow pony with a pink bow in her red mane, who then continued as she said ‘’Sorry, didn’t mean to scare yar, I’m Apple Bloom by the way.‘’ Twilight voice repeated in my head ‘’Be nice and I’ll teach you magic.‘’ So I smiled and said ‘’Hi Apple Bloom, I’m Star Sparkle.‘’ ‘’Hold on, Star Sparkle?! Are you related to Twilight?‘’ She asked with an accent that I could only describe as country. ‘’Yeah, she’s my… Umm… Big sister.‘’ I hesitantly said. ‘’Really…? I didn't even know she had a little sister.‘’ Apple Bloom said as she thought about it. ‘’Well, actually, her parents adopted me a few days ago.‘’ I said. With big eyes and a sad look on her, as well as a sadness in her voice she almost whispered ‘’Oh… I’m sorry, ah didn’t mean to bring it up.‘’ As I didn’t care about being ‘adopted’ I said ‘’Don’t worry about it, I’m okay about being adopted.‘’ A smile came back on her face until she saw something that could be behind me, she jumped out of the window, which caused me to jump back so she wouldn't land on me. As she stood next to me I saw that she was just as tall as me, if not a little bit taller, she however didn’t noticed, as she said excited ‘’I knew it, you don’t have your Cutie Mark either.‘’ Being confused, but not wanting to embarrass myself I said ‘’Um… No, not yet.‘’ While I thought ‘What’s a Cutie Mark?’ She then showed me her flank and saddened said ‘’Me neither.‘’ As I didn’t know what to say, she asked ‘’Wanna be friends?‘’ Twilight words ringing in my head ‘’Be nice.‘’ And to change the subject I said ‘’Sure. But um… Twilight told me that Applejack needed my help with something.‘’ As I wanted to get back to the library, Apple Bloom then said ‘’Well, I guess that makes sense.‘’ She walked and continued ‘’Come on, follow me and I’ll walk yar to Applejack.‘’ I did as she said and followed her. At some apple trees, I saw an orange pony, with a brown hat, as she kicked a tree with her rear legs and a dozen of apples from the tree into 5 buckets and not a single apple missed, I could feel my draw drop in amazement. She noticed us and came over, shook my hoof as she eagerly said ‘’Howdy there and welcome to Sweet Apple Acres, I’m Applejack and I see you have already met my little sister Apple Bloom.‘’ As she pointed over to a slightly bigger pony she continued ‘’Over there we have our big brother, Big McIntosh.‘’ As I saw the red pony I immediately recognized him from the forest, Applejack continued as she pointed to the house ‘’And just under the porch right over there, we have old Granny Smith.‘’ Who was asleep. I turned my head to Applejack and politely said ‘’It’s nice to meet you Applejack and your family of course, I’m Star Sparkle. Umm… Twilight told me that you wanted my help with something.‘’ She let out a small laugh as she said ‘’Please, call me AJ and that’s right Sugercube, now if you two little fillies will follow me and I’ll show ye.‘’ As instructed we both followed her. We followed Applejack back to the barn and inside there was a wagon filled with apples, as I saw that Applejack stated ‘’There she is, now I will need you two fillies to get this here wagon from here to Mr. and Mrs. Cake in Ponyville.‘’ But I could only think ‘Great… Manual labor.’ But hope came as Apple Bloom said ‘’Applejack… I can do that by myself.‘’ But Applejack quickly interjected ‘’Now hold your horses sugarcube, this here wagon is fully loaded, that is why I asked Star here to come and help yar. But shocks, if you wanna give it a shot, go right ahead.‘’ Apple Bloom strapped herself in and with all her strength she tried to pull, she did move, but with a snail paste. It was difficult to watch so after a few seconds I went over to her and offered ‘’Hey, you want some help?‘’ She sighed and said ‘’Yeah… it’s a bit too much.‘’ I walked over to my spot and Applejack strapped me in, as I jokingly whispered to Apple Bloom ‘’Don’t worry, you can still pull most of it.‘’ That got a laugh out of her and as we walked Applejack said ‘’When the two of you are done, Apple Bloom can easily pull the wagon back herself after school. Again thanks for your help Star and just come by at anytime.‘’ With that said, Applejack waved us goodbye as we walked out of Sweet Apple Acres. As we walked, I looked around and thought ‘I have no idea where we are.’ I then turned to Apple Bloom and said ‘’I hope you know the way, cause I have no idea.‘’ She smiled and proudly said ‘’Don’t worry Star, I know this place like the back of my own hoof… Oh and thanks for the help.‘’ I felt really nice to help her and as I got a ‘Thank you’ so I replied with ‘’Your welcome. That’s what friends are for.‘’ She smiled and silence came back. To spark a conversation I asked ‘’So… do you know anyone else without a Cutie Mark?‘’ A dull tone came as she said ‘’Yeah, a couple of fillies and colts from school.‘’ She shifted to a happier tone as she said ‘’Sorry I been a little quiet, I have just been thinking about something that happened this night.‘’ As I forgot all about my magical burst, I asked ‘’What happened?‘’ ‘’Well, you’ve seen Applejack, last night I saw her with pegasus wings and a unicorn horn, she looked like an Alicorn Princess.‘’ Apple Bloom explained. While she explained it I thought back to my magical burst ‘’But then she ran off towards Ponyville and came back normal. At first I didn’t know what to think of it, but now…‘’ She stopped. ‘’Hey, Apple Bloom, can you keep a secret, but you have to promise to not tell anyone else.‘’ I asked. ‘’I promise.‘’ She said. I took a deep breath and said ‘’Last night, I got a magical burst and I did all sorts of spells, including turning Applejack, Twilight and the rest of their friends into alicorns. Thanks to Twilight I calmed down again and I’m all better now.‘’ I looked at her and she had stars in her eyes as she said ‘’I knew it, I mean if you could do that, then your Cutie Mark has to be related to magic.‘’ I shrug my shoulders and sound like I care about Cutie Marks, I said ‘’Maybe, but I still don’t have one. But when I come home, Twilight will teach me magic.‘’ ‘’That’s awesome, are you also coming to school today? We can walk together.‘’ She offered. ‘’No… Not yet, Twilight wanted me to adjust to living in Ponyville and with her before I start to attend school.‘’  I answered as I thought ‘But I hope I can go home before that day.’ Luckily for me she accepted that and we continued to walk into Ponyville.