//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 ~ Makin' Apple Pie 
// Story: The Matter Of Friendship 
// by HeartShieldFiM 
//------------------------------//

‘What the buck…’ Applejack mumbled.
Apple Bloom stood next to her. ‘Ah have no idea WHAT happened, but ah think it’s quite fun!’ she yelled. Then, she ran at one of the trees. ‘Look, big sis! Ah can walk all the way up to the top!’
AJ also enjoyed the sight of the strange trees, but she wondered how they got so big in only a couple of days. The seeds she got from Screwball did look like normal apple seeds, but after she planted them, they did strange things. They sprouted after only a minute or two, and for the next days, they only writhed around a little bit. Nothing THAT weird so far. But when AJ and Apple Bloom got out of bed this morning, they found out that the trees weren’t even close to normal apple trees. They were all… schloopy loopy… and if AJ kicked them, the apples wouldn’t fall off.
‘Look, sis!’ Apple Bloom shouted. ‘Ah picked an apple! It can fly!’
She threw the apple at her sister, but it didn’t come far. Somehow, it froze in its movement.
Apple Bloom picked another one. ‘They feel… well, they’re weightless!’ She jumped out of the tree (which was no big deal because the tree grew sideways), holding the apple in her mouth.
‘You dare to taste it, sis?’ she asked.
Applejack frowned. ‘Ah have no idea what will happen, but ah’ll try.’ She took a bite of the apple. ‘Why, this tastes great! You should try it, sugarcube.’
‘Ah don’t know…’ Apple Bloom replied. Then, she shrugged and ate the whole thing in one time. ‘Woah! You’re right! This IS delicious!’
AJ nodded. ‘Well, better say thanks to Discord.’
‘Shouldn’t we wait?’
‘Wait for what?’ AJ asked.
Apple Bloom frowned. ‘Well, maybe the apples have some dangerous side effects…’
‘Ah don’t think Discord would give us something that could be dangerous,’ Applejack said. ‘He’s tryin’ so hard to become one of the ponies in Ponyville.’
‘Discord ain’t a pony,’ Apple Bloom frowned. ‘He’s made of every creature I can think of!’
‘He’s got the head o’ a pony, so he is a pony, little sis,’ AJ said. ‘Now c’mon, those apples are awesome. We have to pick ‘em, instead of kicking ‘em out of the trees, but ah think it’s worth it!’

‘Well, hello there, Apple Bloom!’
Apple Bloom turned around and looked straight into two huge, yellow eyes with red irises. ‘Hello, mister Discord,’ she said.
‘Do you and your family like the trees?’ the draconequus asked. ‘I wonder… how big are they?’
‘They’re huge, mister Discord. But they grow sideways, is that normal?’
Discord nodded. ‘Yes, it is. Do you like the taste of the apples?’
The filly smiled. ‘Ah do, ah really love it,’ she said. ‘Thanks, from all my family, mister Discord!’
‘You’re very welcome,’ Discord replied.
‘Ah have to go now, ah’m gonna help Pinkie bakin' apple pie,’ Apple Bloom said.  ‘Bye!’
She hopped away.

‘Pinkie! Ah’m here!’
‘Oh, so great to see you! I see you brought your own apples?’ the pink pony said.
Apple Bloom nodded. ‘We got strange apple seeds from Discord. Within a week, the trees were full-grown and the apples taste delicious!’ She put the basket with apples down.
Pinkie frowned and picked up an apple from the basket. ‘Pretty… weightless.’
Apple Bloom grinned. ‘Yeah, a strange side-effect, ah think. They taste great!’
‘Hmm, I’m not sure we should use these apples,’ Pinkie said. ‘No other strange effects?’
Apple Bloom shook her head. ‘Absolutely not! AJ even ate three of ‘em and nothing happened!’
‘Okay, fine,’ Pinkie said, smiling. ‘Let’s do this.’

‘Why, what is that delicious smell coming out of Sugar Cube Corner,’ Discord said. ‘Could that be… the smell of my fantastic apples?’
‘Oh, it’s you!’ Pinkie said. ‘Come in, we just baked a couple of apple pies with your apples! Wanna taste them?’
Discord shrugged. ‘Well, why not.’
‘The pies are so delicious, mister Discord! And all because of your great apples!’ Apple Bloom shouted.
The draconequus smiled. ‘I think it’s not only the apples, dear,’ he said. ‘Maybe it’s the talent of two very skilled bakers…’ He winked at Pinkie.
‘Well, that is why we think you really should taste this!’ she said. ‘Have a seat!’
Discord sat down on one of the way too small seats and in the blink of an eye, Apple Bloom served him a plate with a piece of pie. ‘Here you go!’ she said.
With a very, very tiny fork, Discord poked the apple pie. ‘The good thing about these apples is that you can eat as much as you want, you won’t gain weight.’ He took a bite, and then he said: ‘Well, you two are right. This IS delicious.’
Pinkie and Apple Bloom grinned.
‘Ah knew you’d like it,’ Apple Bloom said. ‘Wanna take a piece home for Screwball?’
Discord smiled. ‘She’d love it, thank you.’

That night, Pinkie was the one who couldn’t fall asleep. She was happy, because although Discord didn’t want to talk about the other things that happened last week, he was nice to others and even complimented her and Apple Bloom.
Maybe this wouldn’t be so hard after all, she thought. Then, she fell asleep.