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// Sugar Cube, Are You Okay? 
// Story: The Adopted Apple Pear 
// by Creativa-Artly01 
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“Sugar cube, are you okay?” Daisy hears as she comes to. She soon sees AJ and Tartlett standing over her. 

“Yeah, just overwhelmed,” responds the filly. She begins heavy breathing and AJ provides the poor thing with her inhaler. “Thanks,” she says when she’s able to breathe again. AJ then leads her upstairs to rest for a bit. As a concerned sister as well, Tartlett doesn’t leave Daisy’s side the entire time. 

Meanwhile downstairs, AJ and Bartlett finally convince everypony else to leave, after explaining the situation to them. Being the understanding ponies that they are, the other Apples and Pears finally leave sans Apple Bloom. She stays with her sister to just talk. 

“AJ,” says Apple Bloom. 

“Yeah, what’s up, sis?” Responds AJ. 

“How’s Daisy gonna fair in this massive family? Especially with her asthma?” Says Apple Bloom concerned. 

“She’ll be fine once she gets used to it all,” responds AJ, “we just threw her into it all a little too fast is all.” 

“Okay,” responds Apple Bloom. “One other thing.” 

“Yeah what?” Says AJ’s voice turning to concerned about her sister. 

“It’s Strawbert, the split custody stuff is really starting to drive me crazy. It just feels like I don’t really see my own daughter enough anymore.” 

“Well, you agreed to the arrangement,” responds AJ. “Adjusting it is going to be a little tricky.” 

“Yeah, I know,” responds Apple Bloom, “but it would be worth it to see my daughter more. For her to be able to spend more time with her sister, too.” 

“Well, whatever you decide, know I support you,” responds AJ, “now I need to go check on my daughters.” She hugs Apple Bloom goodbye before going upstairs where she soon finds Daisy fast asleep and Tartlett sitting on her bed reading her fairytale books. 

“I wasn’t going to leave sister all alone up here,” says Tartlett with a smile. 

“I know,” responds AJ as she sits down next to her daughter and hugs her close to her, “I know.” 

Three hours later, Daisy joins the rest of them downstairs for dinner around the table. They have Apple pancakes topped with pear jam. Daisy and Tartlett gobble up all of it before running off to play but not before Daisy grabs her inhaler. 

“That’s my girl, good of ya to remember on yer own,” says AJ with a smile and a giggle. She then picks up all the dirty dishes from dinner and places them in the sink. Bartlett goes off to their bedroom to take a nap. AJ can handle the fillies on her own for awhile. 

About an hour into their play, the fillies both pass out absolutely exhausted and AJ carries them both up to bed on her back and tucks them in for the night before turning in for the night herself. As she climbs into bed, she is greeted by a yawn and a smile from Bartlett. “This is all worth it to see you happy and smiling again, my love.” 

“Yeah, and I love seeing our daughter happy too,” responds AJ with a yawn. “Adopting Daisy is the best decision we’ve ever made. For my sake and for Tartlett’s sake. She was so lonely before.” She says goodnight to her husband before rolling over on her side and falling fast asleep. Everything is perfect and she wouldn’t have it any other way.