Applejack’s mind raced as she walked back to Sweet Apple Acres. She had hoped that Twilight would help her figure out who in Equestria Snow Apple was, but she had seemed just as confused as she was. She had thought about talking to Fluttershy about the situation, but the shy pegasus just didn’t have the same resources as Twilight. So, she had discarded the idea and headed home.
“Watch out!” A voice behind her yelled. The farmer glanced back to see an orange filly on a scooter about to crash into her. Applejack avoided the collision and dodged the vehicle just in time. Unfortunately, Scootaloo swerved off the road and straight into some bushes.
“Scootaloo!” The grown mare cried, going to the filly’s aid. “Are ya all right? Ya ain’t hurt are ya?”
“Relax Applejack, I’m fine.” The small pegasus popped her out of the leafy plants, her head spinning, “I’m just a little dizzy.” Scootaloo checked her precious scooter at once, making sure there were no dents or scratches on the woodwork. The woodwork was in great condition, but the handlebars... not so much.
“Aw horseapples,” she spat, holding up the handlebars, “I can’t believe they broke off! This is gonna cost me two months allowance to get fixed!”
After Applejack gave a closer inspection to the rest of the scooter, she chuckled and said, “Shucks sugarcube, it didn’t break off, it just came apart, look.” She pointed to a few stray screws littering the ground.
“Well I’m pretty sure I don’t have a screwdriver on me,” Scootaloo remarked, scratching the back of her head.
“Tell ya what,” Applejack said kindly. “Ah got some tools back in my barn at Sweet Apple Acres. Why don’t ya come with me and Ah’ll get yer scooter fixed up?”
The filly’s face lit up in delight, “Really!? Oh thank you Applejack!” She threw her hooves around the earth pony’s neck in a quick hug. “I was going to see Apple Bloom anyways!”
“Why were ya gonna see her? Are ya two goin’ crusadin’ this mornin’?” The country mare grasped Scootaloo’s helmet in her teeth, the crusaders hat had gone astray during the crash. Scootaloo swiped up the nails and put them in Applejacks saddlebags for safe-keeping.
“Yeah!” The filly said enthusiastically, “We’re gonna meet up with Sweetie Belle and try our hooves at painting!” Scootaloo jumped on the remains of her scooter and started to ride it like a skateboard. The two started off toward Sweet Apple Acres.
Applejack eyed the idea skeptically, “Are ya sure that’s safe Scootaloo? I don’t want any more accidents.”
The pegasus rolled her eyes, “It’ll be fine,” she decreased her speed purposely, “See? I’m going slow.”
“Humph,” The farmer grunted, “Alright then, but if ya crash into another bush, Ah’m not responsible!”
“Deal.” The two orange ponies high-hoofed on it and kept walking toward the farm.
...
Applejack had to suppress a laugh as Scootaloo smashed blindly into one of her red delicious trees. After the dizzy filly stumbled onto safe ground, she gave an annoyed glare at her companion.
“That wasn’t funny.” She said accusingly, giving up on riding the whole mechanism and pushing it along with her hoof.
“Sorry sugarcube,” The farmer said apologetically, “but at least your ‘skateboard’ didn’t get hurt!”
“Yeah, right, ‘skateboard’.” Scootaloo narrowed her eyes at Applejack as the Element of Honesty continued to laugh inside.
“Look, we’re almost there!" The earth pony pointed at the red barn that was occupied by all of the farms equipment. “Let’s fix up that scooter!"
"You mean 'skateboard'." The owner said, smirking as they entered their work space. Scootaloo explored the room with her eyes curiously, she swore that the rafters were higher up the last time she visited the barn. Applejack brought over a large yellow toolbox from the back of the building.
“Right, here's our weapon." The mare pulled out a simple, but old, black screwdriver. "Can ya get the screws and handlebars from my saddlebags? I set them by the doors; they should be in the left pocket."
"Did you put a new coat of paint on the barn Applejack?" Scootaloo asked, her eyes wandering as she dug in the saddlebags, "it looks way nicer than it did before."
"Didn’t Applebloom tell ya Scootaloo? This is a brand new barn!"
“Really?” The orange filly brought over the needed parts, “what happened to the old barn? Did it explode? Was Rainbow Dash the one who blew it up?” Scootaloo was filled with excitement.
“Hold yer horses there ponygirl!” Applejack chuckled at her antics, “No, it didn’t blow up, it uhh…” The mare suddenly remembered how her old and faithful barn came to nothing, “it got destroyed sugarcube. Ah accidently ran a wagon into it at this year’s Apple Family Reunion.” The farmer tightened the first screw on the scooter, heat rising in her cheeks.
The pegasus’s eyes went wide with shock, “YOU ran a wagon into the barn? How did that happen?” Scootaloo gave Applejack the second screw.
“It’s a long story Scootaloo.” The country mare chuckled at the memory of the many fruit bats that had swarmed the wagon, trying to eat Aunt Applesauce’s edible hat.
“Anyway, the whole Apple Family helped to make this one here. Ah think it was the best reunion we’ve ever had!”
“When you say the whole Apple Family, do you mean every single Apple in Equestria?”
“Well,” she sighed, putting down her tool, “Ah don’t think every Apple in Equestria helped put that barn up, let alone every one of ‘em come to the reunion. I think only one Apple wasn’t able to make it.”
“Who? Who was it Applejack?” Scootaloo demanded, practically staring into the farmer’s soul. Applejack froze, her hoof hovering over the scooter. She had forgotten about the supposed Apple, the mysterious one from the photo album. Should she keep it a secret? She didn’t really know Scootaloo all that well, but she was fixing her scooter anyway. May as well keep up the conversation, she thought.
“Her name is Snow Apple.” She grunted, “Ah think yer scooter’s ready to ride now!” Applejack tried to drop the subject, “Ya wanna give it a shot?”
“Nah, I want to know more about Snow Apple,” the filly has lost complete interest in her possession, “How come she wasn’t here? Where does she live? Baltimare? Fillydelphia? Ooh, what about Manehattan?”
“Umm,” Applejack swallowed awkwardly, “She lives outside Equestria, that’s why she couldn’t make it. Now how about that scooter?” Applejack couldn’t imagine why the filly was showing so much interest in a simple pony, she was practically drooling for information about her!
“Is she your cousin?” Scootaloo ignored the mare’s previous question, “What about your aunt?”
“She’s umm… umm…” Applejack could’ve given Scootaloo a generic answer and torn the mystery pony from her thoughts. She could’ve gone on living as any Apple would. Snow Apple could’ve been anypony, a friend, a neighbor, maybe some distant cousin of Applejack’s parents. But deep down inside, the country pony knew this filly wasn’t just anypony. In her heart, Applejack was now positive that Snow Apple was… family.
Edited by:kingtiger666