Vegetable Soup
DISCLAIMER: I do not own My Little Pony: Frienship is Magic (Hasbro), Rainbow Dash (Hasbro), Apple Jack (Hasbro), Apple Bloom (Hasbro), Rose (Cubette), ninty-five percent of the characters in this story (Hasbro unless otherwise stated at end of chapter) or Give To Good Home (Cubette). All I own is this story and the other things I have written.
“Ahh-ah-achoo!” sneezed a familiar cyan Pegasus.
“Tissue, sugercube?” her adoptive sister and best friend offered as she hoofed her a disposable handkerchief.
“Thanks.” the rainbow maned mare thanked nasally before giving a large blow into the mucus catcher and tossing it in the waste bin.
“You’re welcome, sugarcube. Now I’ll let ya get some rest. Call me if ya need me. I’m gonna head into town to pick up the medicine.” AJ replied before trotting over the door.
AJ softly closed the door before turning around to head out to the fields. Upon turning around she was met with the curious eyes of her younger sister.
“Why’s Rainbow staying over?” the filly asked casually.
“That silly sister of ours worked one too many storms and caught the flu bug. I know-” the apple farmer started before getting interrupted.
“What’s the fu bug?” the yellow filly interrupted.
“The flu bug is a nasty sickness that makes ya feel bad.” the orange mare explained as she walked around her sister.
“How bad?” the little filly continued.
“Real bad. For Rainbow that means nausea, sore throat, snuffy nose and a nasty dry cough. Anyway, I know she would just keep at it if we didn’t stop her, so she’s staying here till she’s better.” AJ explained as she went reached the coat rack, “She needs to rest up and it’s contagious, so I don’t want ya going in there.”
“What does con-tage-ee-ous mean?” the young filly questioned.
“Contagious means it can spread like wildfire.” the older mare defined as she replaced her usual stilton for a rubber hat.
“Well, then why do ya get to see her?” the blank-flank whined.
“First off, stop whining. Nopony likes a whiner.” the young mare corrected before answering her sister’s question, “Second, I get to see her cause I’m taking care of her till she’s better.”
“Can I do anything to help?” the red maned filly offered.
“How ‘bout ya make her a bowl of vegetable soup and a get well soon card?” suggested the blond mare.
“Yeah, that’s a great idea!” the filly exclaimed before noticing that her noticing her sister was putting on a rain jacket, “Hey, sis, where ya going?”
“I’m gonna go into town to pick up Rainbow’s medicine.” the older sister responded before opening the door and walking out into the rain storm.
“Granny Smith,” started Apple Bloom, “how do I make vegetable soup?”
Granny Smith was slightly confused about why her youngest granddaughter had such a sudden interest in culinary areas that didn’t involve their line of business. She didn’t necessarily want her near the stove or using a knife, either. Then she heard a dry cough from the room above her and understood.
“Rainbow?” she asked in a monotone voice.
“Rainbow.” the filly confirmed.
“Ok.” the elderly pony gave in, “but Big Mac’s gotta help you. First thing you’ll need are the ingredients…”
“Can you grab me some corn, a carrot and an apple?” Big Mac asked as he got out the broth.
He was now in the kitchen with his youngest sister, preparing the soup.
“Sure, but why would we need an apple for vegetable soup?” asked a confused Apple Bloom.
Suddenly, Apple Bloom jumped back a little. For a second, the little filly could almost swear she heard somepony snicker, even though there was nopony else in the room.
“Cause everything tastes better with apples!” exclaimed her older brother with a chuckle.
Apple Bloom, though still thinking that apples didn’t belong in vegetable soup, got all the ingredients and brought them back to her brother. After the older stallion chopped up the ingredients and Apple Bloom stirred the broth and produce together, the previous put the soup on the stove.
Once the broth mix was cooking, Apple Bloom went up to her room and returned with a sheet of paper and a box of color pencils.
“I’m gonna draw Rainbow a get well soon card.” the small filly announced to her brother before sitting down at the table.
She had more ideas than she could count. Maybe she should draw an apple? Or maybe a sketch of all of them smiling? Maybe a big smiling sun? The possibilities were endless! She was drawn out of her brainstorming when she noticed the storm outside had stopped. She turned her head to look out the window and saw her adoptive sister’s namesake ribbon of light. And just like that, inspiration struck.
DING!
Fifteen minutes later, a ding erupted from the stove’s timer, alerting the red stallion that the vegetable mix was finished.
“All done!” the young Apple announced approximately two seconds later, holding up an envelope that presumingly held the drawing she had been working on, “And just in time, too! AJ should be back any second!”
Clunk! Stomp! Clunk!
“I’m back!” AJ announced, though a little quieter than she usually would as to not disturb her sister.
“AJ! AJ!” Apple Bloom exclaimed as she ran up to her big sister to give her a hug and tell her about what they had been doing the last half an hour.
“Sh…” the orange mare hushed before pointing a hoof up towards the second floor.
“Sorry. I just wanted to tell you that me and Mac made Rainbow some soup and I drew her this picture.” the eight year old quietly apologized.
“It’s ok, just be a little quieter is all.” AJ sympathized, “I’ll go take up the soup and the card to Rainbow. It stopped raining, so how bout you go outside and play with Twist?”
“Ok. I’ll be back before dinner!” the little filly agreed before cantering out the door.
SIX YEARS LATER
AHHHHHHH!
A high pitched squeal filled the area. Rainbow could recognize that shrill anywhere. The scream had emanated from her younger sister, Apple Bloom. The cyan mare took off at the speed of light towards her childhood home, Sweet Apple Acres.
She flew quickly as she searched for the teenage filly. When she finally found her, she was wearing a huge grin on her face and the rest of the Sweet Apple Acres residence and Cutie Mark Crusaders, who were all now anything but searching for their special talents, standing nearby, the former with content smiles, the latter beaming with excitement. Finally, she rested her eyes on a colorful blemish that had not been there when she had stopped by earlier that day. A pattern of an apple shaped paint palette and brush now adorned her flank.
‘It’s about time she figured it out!’ Rainbow thought to herself.
Ever since Rainbow had seen the get well soon card from when she got the flu all those years ago, she had known her little sister was born to be an artist.
“Is that what I think it is?” Rainbow asked with a prideful smile.
“Yeah it is!” Apple Bloom said as she turned around to face her sister.
“It’s not the result of a potion this time, either!” Sweetie added playfully.
“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS MISSION COMPLETE! YAY!” all six teenage foals chanted simultaneously.