//------------------------------// // Chapter One // Story: Forgotten Gift // by Sky Lily //------------------------------// It was morning and the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon, causing pink and yellow light to fill the still darkened sky, when Applejack returned home. She had been at the hospital all night, trying to figure out the one question she had. And she gotten an answer, but not the answer she had wanted. Applejack sighed and sat down on the light green sofa in the Apple's living room. She looked up at the pale ceiling. “It ain't fair,” She said quietly to herself, tears beginning to fall down her cheeks. Applejack couldn't stand the thought of never being able to . . . . . Applejack pushed the thought out of her mind, she couldn't stand it. Applejack squinted her eyes as more tears began to pour down her face “Applejack, what are ya cryin' 'bout?” a small voice asked. Applejack turned her head slightly and saw her little sister, Applebloom. She admittedly began wiping her tears, not wanting Applebloom to see her cry. “What are ya doin' outta bed, Applebloom? It's hardly mornin'.” “Ah heard somethin' down stairs, and ah didn' know what it was, so ah went to check it out,” Applebloom answered, sitting down next to her big sister. “But, Applejack, why were ya cryin'?” she asked again. Applejack didn't answer, she didn't know if her sister was old enough to understand. Applejack took a deep breath as she thought it over. Finally she decided to tell her “Applebloom. . .” she began, taking another deep breath “Ah jus' got back from the hospital.” “Why were ya at the hospital?” Applebloom asked. “Ah had to take a test.” “A test for what, Applejack?” Applejack took yet another deep breath. The pace of her heart began to speed up. Applejack didn't know if she could talk about it. But she pushed past this feeling and continued on. “A test to see of ah can have a baby.” She paused as fresh tears began to fall. ”U-Unfortunately. . . . the-the chance of me havin' a baby. . . . is very s-slim.” Applejack couldn't help herself as more and more tears began to roll down her cheeks. This caused her vision to blur a little. Applebloom quickly noticed the tears and pulled Applejack into a warm hug. “Please don' cry, Applejack.” Applebloom tightened her hug, and for a moment Applejack just sat there. She eventually hugged Applebloom back, and the two sat there for awhile in their sisterly embrace, neither of them wanting to let go. Eventually though, Applejack did let go. She didn't want to, but she knew they had to get started on the morning chores. They had already put them off enough. Applejack forced herself to get up. She slowly began walking towards the door with Applebloom right behind her. Applejack smiled down at her little sister. At least ah got Applebloom, mah sweet little sister, Applejack thought as she opened the door and stepped outside into the cool morning air. ~~~ The next day was a little better. Applejack hung out with her friends for awhile. But Pinkie Pie knew something was bother Applejack, so she kept on nagging her. But Applejack kept strong didn't say anything, she didn't want to say anything. Her friends didn't need to know. It wasn't any of their concern. But soon all of Applejack's friends took noticed of her sudden quietness. And they all began asking her questions. They were outside at Ponyville's park when her friends started to ask her the questions. “Applejack, why won't you tell us what's wrong?” Twilight asked, stopping her hoof down in frustration. Everyone of Applejack's closest friends were gathered around her. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and of course, Twilight. They were all trying to get Applejack to talk. “Ah told ya it ain't none of yer binsness.” "Applejack,” Fluttershy began quietly. “We just want to try to help you. So can you please tell us what's wrong?” Applejack shook her head. “Oh, come on!!” Rainbow Dash yelled beginning to flap her wing. She lifted a few inches off the ground as she closed in on Applejack, getting in her face. “What's your bucking deal?!?” Applejack still refused to tell them anything. It was hard enough talking about it yesterday, and Applejack doubted it would be any easier today. “Ah can't tell ya, it ain't yer concern.” Rarity looked at Applejack. “Please, Applejack? Just tell us what bothering you. I promise we can help, darling. “There's nothin' ya'll can do. So it's best ya jus' leave me alone,” Applejack said. She stood up and was getting ready to leave when Pinkie Pie put her hoof on her shoulder. Pinkie had a concern look on her face and Applejack know that she couldn't keep this secret forever. Applejack looked apologetically at Pinkie Pie. “Ah'm sorry, b-but ah jus' can't-can't do it.” Tears began coming out of Applejack's eyes and rolled down her cheek. She tried to wipe them before anypony took noticed, but that didn't work. The tears kept on coming and Applejack couldn't stop them. Her friends took noticed of the tears right away. “Aj, are you okay?” Twilight asked, getting more worried about her friend. Applejack sniffed and tried to wipe away the tears again. “Yeah, ah'm okay, Twi, don' ya worry.” She looked down at the ground, trying to avoid eye contact. “You don't look like you're okay,” Rainbow Dash said quieter than usual. She tried not to act or sound so demanding and mean this time. Rainbow Dash saw that Applejack was hurt and she didn't want to hurt her anymore. Applejack didn't respond. She just stood there for what seemed like decades. Nopony saying anything, just standing there, staring at Applejack, waiting for her to say something, anything. But Applejack kept quiet, she didn't have anything to say.