//------------------------------//
// Prologe 
// Story: Music to my Ears 
// by GoldenRose 
//------------------------------//

                                                                                        


It was the middle of summer, and the Apple family was getting ready for cider day tomorrow. Everyone was doing their part. Applejack buck the apple trees with her strength, making them tumble from the high branches, to the low grass. Granny Smith was deciding which apples would be lucky enough to be made into cider. And Big Mac squished the juice out of each apple, perfecting it into apple cider.

Yep, everything was going great. Until the side door to the house boomed open, making some apples from the barrels fall to the floor. and the cause of it, was a furious, Apple Bloom. 

"I can't believe Sweetie Belle," shouted Apple Bloom " She's so not my friend anymore!"

"Apple Bloom, dear, are you alright?" asked Granny Smith concerned. 

" I don't want to talk about it !" 

Apple Bloom stomped to her room  and slammed the door, leaving confused looks on her brother and grandma.

"Well, that was strange."

"Eeuyp." 

Applejack rushed into the kitchen with apples from the orchard in her saddle baskets. "Where's Apple Bloom?" asked Applejack "I saw her stomping , she looked as steamed up as a spicy pepper." 

"She went up to her room." Granny answered. 

"I'm go' in after her." 

Applejack put her saddlebags on the kitchen table before she headed for her sister's bedroom. She knocked on the door once she reached upstairs. 

"Apple Bloom, can I come in?"

"NO! Go away!" 

Applejack's eyes put their attention to the floor. She sighed. I'm not giving up yet,she thought. 

" Come on lil sis, I know something is bother' in ya. Just let me in, and we can talk about it." begged Applejack. Applejack heard a sniff and a few hoof steps before the door opened wide with a squeaking sound. The door revealed the sad yellow farm pony with her head held down. then she said...

"Come in." 

Applejack walked in the dark bedroom and took Apple Bloom's hoof, leading them to bed. She picked up her little sister and put her on top of the bed. Before she did the same, she turned on the lamp next to the bed to brighten the room. She then scooted next to Apple Bloom on the decent looking bed.  "Now, care to tell me what's wrong ?" she suggested. 

Apple Bloom sighed and lifted her head to her sister", Well, it started when I was hanging out with Sweetie Belle..."


 
We were waking in town while Rarity was working on a few hats. Both of us were really hungry so we went to Sugar Cube Corner. On the counter I saw this amazing looking cupcake.  

Apple Bloom marveled at the delicious treat. It was vanilla flavored and had pink swirled icing . Included were blue circular sprinkles and a cherry on top. 

"Wow." exclaimed Sweetie Belle " That's the most good looking cupcake I've ever seen." 

"You said it." Apple Bloom agreed " You want to  get some ?" 

"Sure." she answered. The fillies walked to the front counter and rang the bell on top of it. 

When the bell ceased ringing, Mrs. Cake walked from the kitchen to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. ", Oh, good afternoon girls," Mrs. Cake greeted " What can I get you two ?" 

" The cupcake right there," pointed Apple Bloom "But two." 

Mrs. Cake looked to where the red-headed filly was pointing. She took the dessert out of the glass container and showed it to the girls ", You mean this one ?" she asked. 

"Yes." they both answered.

"Oh I'm sorry girls, but this is the last one." 

"Oh, it's ok Mrs. Cake." Apple Bloom said disappointed. Sweetie Belle looked at her friend and saw how disappointed she was. Then a smile replaced her frown as she thought of a solution. Apple Bloom was looking at the floor still disappointed, then she felt a hoof tap her shoulder. She turned and saw Sweetie Belle holding out her hoof, on it was the delicious dessert she so badly wanted. 

"Here," Sweetie Belle offered putting the cupcake in Apple Bloom's hoof "I want you to have it." 

Apple Bloom looked at her unicorn friend with a warm smile ", Thanks, Sweetie Belle." 

"I promise I'll pay you back."


 
Once Apple Bloom finished, Applejack had a confused look on her face ", I still don't get why you're mad." said she said perplexed " As to what you said, I don't see anything to be mad about." 

"Oh right," apologized Apple Bloom "I didn't finish. So anyway, a few hours ago, Sweetie Belle  asked me for two bits for payment for the cupcake she bought for me." 

"And what did you do ?" asked Applejack. 

" I said no," answered Apple Bloom ", I mean, it's just a cupcake she gave me, not a puppy !" 

Applejack raised her eyebrow all the way to the top of her forehead.  She needed to make Apple Bloom understand what she did wrong without angering her. "Sugarcube, it seems to me  that you're go' in against your promise." she opined ", I mean, ya did promise ya'd pay her back." 


Apple Bloom turned to her sister shocked and angry ", I can't believe you !" she snapped ", You're siding with Sweetie Belle ?!"

"Now I didn't say-" Applejack sighed.  There had to be some way to help her understand,she thought. Then an idea struck in the farm pony's head. 

"You know, your situation reminds me a lot of the story Granny Smith told me when I  was a filly." 

Apple Bloom looked at Applejack with curiosity ",Story ?"she asked curiously . 

"Oh yeah, but you probably don't want to hear it ." Applejack smirked. 

"Yes I do." objected Apple Bloom in an excited tone. 

"Wellll...if you insist, it happened a long time ago..."