Apple Boom

by BlazzingInferno

Fume

The rain had finally stopped.

Apple Bloom stared into the crater that had replaced the old barn. In the dark of the night it looked more like a bottomless pit. Smoke was still rising, despite the many hours of rainfall that had drenched every inch of Ponyville, not to mention Apple Bloom, over the afternoon and evening. As she sat, she could feel the mud soaking into her coat. At least now she’d look as bad as she felt.

“You still out here, AB?” Applejack shouted.

Apple Bloom didn’t move, even as the light of a swaying lantern grew brighter and brighter. Soon she heard the rapid squishing of her big sister’s hooves in the muddy grass, and the lantern was set down next to her by the crater’s edge.

Applejack draped a blanket over her shoulders. “Why don’t you come inside?”

Apple Bloom shook her head.

Applejack sighed. “I know you’re hurtin’, Apple Bloom, but this ain’t gonna help.”

“I know… but it’s all my fault, AJ. I ruined everything.”

“Everything? Nah. You messed up big time, I’ll give ya that, but you didn’t ruin everything.”

“Twilight can’t even magic the glass back together, and it’s gonna cost a whole slew of bits to replace it all.”

“Did ya forget that not a single pony got hurt? Not you, not your friends, not even anypony that happened to be sitting by a window this afternoon. We didn’t even lose a single tree.”

“That’s good, but… half the town’s mad at me, and the other half is just sad.”

“I know. That’s just life. Sometimes you’re gonna make mistakes, and once in a while they’re gonna be big ones. You just gotta keep moving forward… even if that means laying low for a couple days until everypony calms down.”

Apple Bloom took a deep breath. “Are you mad at me too?”

Applejack patted her on the back. “What’ve I got to be mad at you about? Last I checked, I gave you those Zap Apples. I didn’t even mention it to Granny Smith or tell you to do the same. This is just about as honest as mistakes come.”

“I still cost everypony an awful lot, and every house except for Twilight’s is gonna be mighty cold tonight.”

“Yep, but what’s done is done. All that’s left to do is rebuild, and you ain’t gonna be any good for that if you’re sick with a cold tomorrow. Let’s head on inside and get an extra blanket or two on your bed.”

A gust of wind diverted the rising smoke into their faces. Apple Bloom waved it away and held her breath. She’d smelled enough angry Zap apples to last a lifetime. “Okay, let's g—” what was filling her nose was the exact opposite of the horror she’d expected “—ya smell that?”

Applejack took a long sniff. “Yeah. Doesn’t smell half bad. Almost smells like… hmm… like—”

“Rarity’s place?”

There was just enough lantern light for Apple Bloom to catch her big sister’s grin. “Heh, now that you mention it… Just don’t walk in there and tell Rares she smells like a big hole in the ground; now that’s a mistake that’ll end of your life.”

Apple Bloom inched closer and closer to the crater until her front hooves started to slip. She sniffed with all her might. “Applejack, do we have any jam jars left?”

“I reckon we do. Why?”

“ ‘cause I think I just figured out how to move forward!”

Apple Bloom drew in a deep breath and knocked on Twilight’s front door. The knocking echoed through the cavernous hallway beyond. She glanced at the two ponies on either side of her. “You don’t think we’re too early? Twilight seemed pretty tired and mad last night.”

Applejack and Rarity smiled at each other. Applejack raised a hoof toward the neighboring buildings. “Apple Bloom, ya see how all of Ponyville is still standing?”

“Yeah?”

“Twilight ain’t that mad. Trust me.”

Rarity sighed. “Applejack, can we please not blow things out of—ahem… let’s be realistic. We’ve all had a good night’s sleep, and Twilight is the Princess of Friendship for a reason.”

Apple Bloom took a step back. “But what if she’s just mad at me?”

The door swung open and Twilight provided the answer in the form of a hug. “Apple Bloom! I’m so glad you’re here. I’m sorry I was so upset when you came by last night. You made a mistake; I shouldn’t have acted like you did it on purpose.”

Apple Bloom’s relief was swallowed up in remembrance of what had brought her here, of what had made her dare to get out of bed this morning. “Listen, Twilight. I know it was all an accident and everything, but I think I might have a way to pay back Ponyville.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Pay back Ponyville? Unless that explosion unearthed a buried treasure—”

Applejack grunted. “No need to be patronizing, Twi. Apple Bloom is serious.”

Rarity opened her saddlebag and produced a sizable glass jar with an aerosol sprayer for a lid. The jar contained a clear liquid that shimmered in the sunlight. “Indeed, Twilight. I admit to being skeptical when Apple Bloom and Applejack arrived at my boutique this morning, but I assure you that—”

Apple Bloom tapped Rarity on the side. “Um, Rarity? Mind if I explain it?”

Rarity smiled. “Of course, dear. It is your creation, after all.”

Twilight stared at the jar’s liquid contents. “What’s in here?”

Apple Bloom took the jar and cradled it in her hooves. “I was tryin’ so hard to invent Zap Apple Cider, but it turns out I went and made somethin’ else: Zap Apple Perfume!”

“Perfume? You told me it smelled awful.”

“Yeah! It was way too concentrated, but once it got watered down by the rain, and…”

“Exploded?” Applejack offered.

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “And exploded… Well, you’ve just gotta try it! Rarity said it’s the best perfume she’s ever used!”

Rarity nodded. “I believe my exact wording was ‘a magical scent unlike any other.’ Would you care for a demonstration, Twilight?”

Twilight backed up. “Uh, I’m not sure I’d be the best judge of perfumes…”

“Hmm, no matter. Would you be so kind as to call for Spike?”

Two dragon feet echoed down the hallway, and Spike’s voice soon followed. “Did someone say my name? Is it… Is it Rarity?”

Rarity’s voice briefly dropped to a whisper. “Observe!”

She took the jar from Apple Bloom and deftly spritzed her mane. A fragrant odor, as sweet-smelling as a field of blooming flowers and twice as enchanting, caught everypony’s attention. She returned the jar to Apple Bloom and smiled at Spike. “Spikey, would you be so kind as to come here for a moment? We’d all like your opinion on something.”

Spike smiled too. “Sure! It’s such a nice day today and since you said you aren’t going to open your shop until…”

He stopped cold at ten paces with his mouth wide open. “Is… is something different? Did you do something new with your hair? I-I mean I’ve always loved how you do your hair but if there’s something new it’s even better than before and and I—”

He fainted on the floor, smiling a dreamy smile.

Twilight looked from Spike to the perfume bottle and nodded. “Touché, that’s powerful stuff! One jar can’t possibly cover the cost of all those windows, though.”

Rarity giggled. “Au contraire, my dear Twilight. Exotic perfume is sold in bottles a tenth of this size at the largest, and commands a truly exotic price. With my connections, Zap Apple Perfume will be the talk of Equestria within a week, and within a month every drop will be sold at an exorbitant price befitting such a magically alluring scent.”

Apple Bloom looked down at the jar. “And every bit we earn is for fixin’ up Ponyville.”

Applejack patted her head. “And after that, it’s a brand new Apple business, complete with an Apple family secret recipe.”

Twilight grimaced. “You mean you’ll do this again next year?”

Apple Bloom nodded. “Just with a couple Zap apples, though. We’ve gotta keep the perfume rare to drive up the price and… y’know… limit the damage when we go about makin’ it.”

Spike’s hand shot up. “I’ll buy some!”

Twilight chuckled. “Maybe after you pay off the gigantic loan I gave you for that cake.”

Apple Bloom trotted up to him and winked. “I’ll save ya some, Spike.”

“Wow, really?”

“Sure! That’s what friends are f—”