//------------------------------// // The Reign of Bloom // Story: The Black Apple // by Duke of Canterlot //------------------------------// Ever since the precocious filly of the Apple family took over Equestria, Sweet Apple Acres was weakening. Apple Bloom clearly didn't care about enforcing the regular weather cycle Celestia had in place. Very few edible fruits and vegetables were growing on the farm. The only fruit growing in abundance was the black apple. Big McIntosh was horrified by the obvious symbolism of those poisonous fruits. He couldn't believe his youngest sister was capable of so much widespread evil. Despite all that Apple Bloom had done, Big Mac could have never expected that she would let the farm die. How could she be an Apple? To make matters worse, the turn of events had made Granny more sick. Since there wasn't much to do on the farm these days, Big Mac now helped Applejack take care of Granny. AJ could hardly ever leave Granny's side. Big Mac went into Granny's room and saw that AJ was watching her sleep. "Granny is only getting worse day by day", said Applejack solemnly, "the doctor is stopping by in an hour." "Good, maybe Granny can get better." "It needs to be soon, she's half dead already. Ah can't believe our sister." "Me neither." "Why could we never see it? Bloom being so evil...." "She's only a filly", responded Big Mac, "we couldn't have expected it." "Ah can't think of a moment before the murders that she showed any signs...ah can't." "Remember the night our parents were killed?" "Of course I do!" "There was only one of us who actually saw them be killed...that was.." "Bloom." "Exactly. She was only a baby at the time. Perhaps that affected her view on the world. I suppose there isn't much we can do now." "There has to be something. Why, I bet Twilight is using that brain of hers to figure it all out now." "AJ, Bloom is smarter than Twilight. As long as our sister wants to be an almighty alicorn and enslave Equestria, it's going to happen." "Don't say that, be optimistic." "There's no point. We're fucked." Granny opened her eyes slowly and looked up at her two grandchildren. "Granny", said Applejack with concern, "how are you feeling?" Granny groaned and said, "I'm 'fraid it's almost time for me to go." "Don't say that", said Big Mac, "a doctor is stopping by." "It won't work", said Granny softly, "my time is up..but there some things I need to say." Applejack and Big Mac simply listened. "AJ, you are one of the hardest workers I know, but allow some time to explore the world..maybe meet a nice stallion and keep those sweet friends of yours even under the current reign..promise me you won't let them go." Applejack nodded. "Mac, stay strong. You got a big heart and a lot of determination. Cheerilee is a pretty one, don't let her go because you think you need to save the farm. Bloom is in charge of the farm now." "Granny", said Applejack, "Bloom ain't here anymore. She has..." "Yes she has. A real sharp filly, a lot like her mother and nothing like her daddy. She ain't an Apple. I know that much. No grand kid of mine. Look at her cutie mark..." "We're going to get through this", said Applejack with tears in her eyes, "please don't leave us." "I must." Granny Smith closed her eyes and never opened them again. Apple Bloom needed to keep her power at all costs, especially if she wanted her dream world to become a reality. She was having trouble adjusting to the horn and wings, but she was sure as hell not going to admit that to any pony. Except for the dim-witted Flash Sentry, no pony dared to object to her rule openly. However, she knew that many of them were probably scheming and plotting on how to oust her. Apple Bloom felt confident that she could turn Gilda into a loyal follower. Gilda would be the one to notify Apple Bloom of any detractors. The griffon, or Apple Bloom herself, would then kill the traitors. Apple Bloom smiled. Who could possibly defeat her? She was the smartest pony on the planet. Now there was this life-reviving spell that was all used up, bringing Gilda back to life cost them the chance to resurrect Celestia. What could Celestia do anyway when alive? She didn't have any more alicorn magic. Apple Bloom flew around her castle simply enjoying her new powers. It was unfortunate that her family had a warped sense of ethics which would never allow them to follow and believe anything she had done. Speaking of family, Apple Bloom needed to know more about how her parents met. Not the farmer father who was like the rest of the Apple family, but Tirek and her mother. Apple Bloom didn't remember much about her mother at all except that she was a city mare from Manehattan who wasn't cut out for farm work. Apple Bloom felt blessed to have a strong, intelligent, and charismatic father like Tirek rather than Appleseed, the dutiful farmer who knew nothing else but Sweet Apple Acres. Apple Bloom hoped that Tirek would answer her questions..she knew that she wouldn't be able to force her father to answer them if he refused. Apple Bloom flew outside and saw that Tirek was knocking down trees around him. "Watcha' doing, Daddy?" "Making a wall to block out any of the unwanted." "I approve. Some of our subjects are going to be feeling brave soon.. I feel it." "Like you, I always want to be prepared." "If you had some time, ah was wondering if you could tell me about how you and Mom met." Tirek laughed and said, "aren't you a little too young to hear the whole story?" "I'm an alicorn now", responded Apple Bloom with impatience, "ah am not too young for anything." "You're too cute", said Tirek, "can you pull a tree from the ground without using your fancy alicorn magic?" "Can you?" "You do have a lot of your mother in you, full of sass." "So, are you going to tell me or not?" "Very well. I suppose I owe you an explanation on the story of how you were born."