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// Chapter 4: Meeting Applebloom 
// Story: War, Apples, and Love 
// by Island_Dancer96 
//------------------------------//

Riley paced back and forth in his room that he shared with Applejack. It was March 18th, 1943 the day he would make acquaintances with a very well known member of the Apple Family. Riley bit his lip, scuffing a shoe against the floor. "Come on, come on, I gotta know if she's up yet!" Just then a half hour past 7 am, the worried, agitated fighter pilot burst through the door as fast as his feet would take him. "Applejack!"

"Riley," the farm girl giggled, "Shh!" She moved the skirt of her nightgown away revealing a young girl around the age of 6. She looked so tiny compared to her bigger sister. She had freckles, just like her sister. 

But before Riley could react, Applebloom ran up to Riley and shook his hand with a vice like grip. "Hi Riley I'm Applebloom. Nice to meet you." Riley smiled warmly. 

"Isn't she lovely?" Applejack said softly, her eyes full of proud love. 

"She's quite the ball of energy.." Riley said as Applebloom shook not only his hand but his entire arm.

Riley had foolishly forgotten to clean up in the rush to get out the door and down stairs to the living room. He and Applejack had been out frolicking in the bluebonnet fields adjacent to the orchard, and still the pollen clung to his flight jacket, but as his arm was being shaken in Applebloom's strong grip, his flight jacket shook for a second and a cloud of pollen settled on the little girls nose. Applebloom sneezed. Applejack laughed, "You need to clean up, Riley. You're getting pollen all over her." She moved her arm protectively over Applebloom. 

"Whoops." Riley giggled as he turned pink.