CMC in Manehatten: An Apple and Orange Mature

by Never2muchpinkie

Last chapter: An apple bloomed

During the ride home the three kids talked nonstop about their day. Applejack just let them be since they were at least staying in one spot and not causing trouble.

Two hours later, when the four got off the train, Applejack took a sniff of the air. “Oh boy. Sure is good to be back in Ponyville. It just smells like home.” The three fillies also took a whiff, agreeing.

As they began walking towards Sweet Apple Acres they heard a familiar dismissive voice. “So where have you been all day?” asked Silver Spoon.

“Manehatten,” responded Apple Bloom.

Diamond Tiara said, “Well, if you three were there it would be more like-

“LAME-hatten!” the two finished in sync.

Apple Bloom looked over at the pair, feeling something well up inside of her. “Diamond Tiara! I got something ta say ta you!”

“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

Apple Bloom walked over, closing the gap. Applejack looked unsurely at her sister, not knowing what Apple Bloom had in mind and if she should intervene.

“You and Silver Spoon have caused all of us nothing but trouble. Ya made fun of us, tried to sabotage our act for the Equestrian games, brag about yerself and are just a nuisance most of the time for us, and I just want to say…” Apple Bloom was right in front of Diamond Tiara now, raising her front hoof. Her serious look faded as she placed a hoof on Diamond Tiara’s shoulder with a smile and said, “…thanks a lot fer it all.”

“Oh yeah? Well-“ started Diamond Tiara.

“Well, you-“ started Silver Spoon.

“You tell her, Apple-“ started Scootaloo.

“Go, Apple-“ Started Sweetie Belle.

All of them paused, ending with a big, “HUH?”

“If ya hadn’t been picking on me during your Cutecenera I might not have become such good friends with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. And if ya hadn’t taught me how bad it feels to be picked on I wouldn’t have truly understood what Babs was going through in Manehatten, and I wouldn’t have been able to help her get through all her pain and fear to learn to stand up fer herself. So thank ya, and keep up the good work.”

Apple Bloom continued on her way, still with her big smile as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon just looked at each other, confusion etched on their features as they tried to figure out what had just happened, unable to even come up with a cohesive response.

Scootaloo snickered as she said, “Yeah, thanks.”

“You guys are real pals,” said Sweetie Belle.

The rest of them followed along after her, Applejack letting out a laugh at how well her sister had handled things. “I’m gonna go home and rest. What are you three gonna do?”

“We still have an hour or two before the sun sets,” said Scootaloo.

“Yeah,” said Sweetie Belle. “We still have enough time to try one more thing to get our cutie marks. What do you think we should try, Apple Bloom?”

Apple Bloom was quiet, not possessing her usual pep, a thoughtful look on her face. “Nothin’,” she finally replied.

“Nothing?” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo shared a look. “You want to get a cutie mark for doing nothing?”

“What would that even look like?” asked Scootaloo. “We’d probably still look like blank flanks.”

A little laugh came from Apple Bloom. “No, silly. I don’t mean a cutie mark for doin’ nothin’.” In her mind she was thinking of her cousin and the lesson that Babs had learned. “Watching Babs, it just got me thinkin’. A cutie mark isn’t the most important thing. What’s the most important is that we’re all friends and that we love each other and will help each other whenever we need it. So let’s just ferget about cutie marks today. Why don’t we just play until the sun sets?”

“Okay! I’ll go get my scooter.”

“I’ll go get a ball!” said Sweetie Belle.

“Cool! I’ll see you girls by the clubhouse in a little bit,” Apple Bloom said excitedly.

The three of them all ran off in different directions. Applejack wore a warm smile the whole way home, seeing that their trip to Manehatten had helped all of them grow up a little bit.

Later that night, after Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had gone home, Apple Bloom was sitting in Applejack’s bed. “Oh man, Applejack. My hooves are gonna be sore in the morning. I don’t think I’ve ever played that much in my life.” With a yawn she continued, “But that’s okay. This was one of the best days’a my life. I got ta help my cousin… and make some new friends… and beat three bullies in one day.”

“Yeah, you did a real good job today, Apple Bloom. I’m proud’a you.” Applejack could see her sister was going to fall asleep soon.

“Hey!” said Apple Bloom, perking up for a few seconds. “Wouldn’t it be cool if my special talent was being a good friend?”

“Well, I don’t see why not. Anything’s possible. I’m really glad I took all of you along with me today. It looks like it was just what Babs needed. She seems ta have finally overcome her fears. You, too.”

“Yeah.” Apple Bloom said slowly, her eyes almost closed.

Applejack let out a little laugh, walking over to her sleepy sister and pulling the blanket over her. “Goodnight, Apple Bloom.”

"G’night… Apple… jack…,” she murmured, her mind turning back to their adventures that day one last time before she fell asleep completely. She thought of how she had inspired her cousin and led their team to victory and how she had stood up to their own bullies back here in Ponyville. She wanted to keep helping and protecting and inspiring her friends just like she did today.

Applejack gave her sister a loving nuzzle before leaving her alone to check on the animals and lock up for the night. She said her goodnights to Big Mac and Granny Smith before returning to her room to sleep.

She stifled a laugh as she saw her sister had made a mess of the blankets, being completely wrapped up in them. With a bit of gentle effort she managed to untangle Apple Bloom from the blankets without waking her. A questioning look came to her face as she went to cover her sister up again. There was something on her sister that stood out from her usual light yellow skin. With her hoof she tried to push it off, but it didn’t move. Going to the side of her bed she pulled out a small light and turned it on to figure out what it was.

A gasp escaped her as she stared open-mouthed for a few seconds before a big smile came to her lips. There, on her little sister’s flank, was a cutie mark! It was made up of a sun hitting an apple tree over a small field, with ponies sitting in the shade. In a whisper Applejack said, “A cutie mark fer being a good friend. You really did get it.”

As she examined it more closely she thought that it really did fit her sister. Even she only had three apples on her flank. Her sister had an entire tree, symbolizing her great promise. She was nurtured by the land and outside sources, growing into her potential. And, when those outside sources threatened her friends, they could all count on her to protect them. Apple Bloom had really come into her own as a result of their trip.

A great protector; maybe she was meant to be a leader. Perhaps what Sweetie Belle had said about her maybe becoming the mayor of Ponyville wasn’t so farfetched after all.

Applejack went to shake her sister awake to tell her the good news, but she stopped, her hoof an inch away. She pictured how that would play out.

“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! I did it! I have to go tell Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo!”

Her sister had been trying so hard for so long to find her place in the world, to find out what made her special. Applejack knew her sister wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing she had gained her cutie mark, and with her youthful impulsiveness she wouldn’t think a thing of rushing out in the middle of the night to wake up her friends to let them know.

In a way Applejack thought it best not to tell her sister for another reason. Today Apple Bloom learned that her friends were more important than a cutie mark. She knew that Apple Bloom would quickly discover it in the morning, whether it be by Big Mac, Granny Smith, or her friends, but she thought it would cheapen the lesson she had learned to tell her right away. She wanted to let it settle in a little more.

As she settled into bed next to her sister she leaned over, giving Apple Bloom a kiss. She closed her eyes, a smile on her face, thinking of the surprise waiting for the young filly when she woke up. Still talking quietly she said, “I’m so proud of you, my little Apple. You’ve finally bloomed!”

Comments

[Dustin Lange]

I love the ending of this chapter!

[Never2muchpinkie]

4086689 Don't they say the same thing about happiness? The moment you stop chasing after it is when it comes to you. I'm glad you liked the ending.

This was my first attempt at something involving sports. Do you think I pulled it off well enough?

And now that you finished it I can tell you what stopped me from finishing it for so long. I know nothing about Brooklyn accents besides "Youse", I struggle with scenes with lots of characters, and Silver Wing and Lemon-Lime don't really have personalities besides "supportive of Babs" and besides Diamond Spoon none of her team got names or, except one time, got a speaking role.

When things bug me like that it makes it difficult to focus on writing until I can think of a way to resolve things. I really didn't resolve any of them, but I was just really inspired so it didn't matter as much when I finally finished it.

[Dustin Lange]

4088016
I think that happened to me with the happiness thing; my dad was nothing but a constant source of despair and hurt, phisically and mentally. I had given up hope of getting away from him till one day, my mom gathered all of his stuff, put it outside and called the cops. Now he comes around once every six months, once a year if I am lucky. Enough of that though, lets get to the ponies!

I don't know much about soccer but I think you pulled it off.

I know how you feel about things bugging you!
There is one idea I have for my first HiE.
I've noticed almost all of them are written from the humans pov, and never the ponies, so I wan't to write one from the pony's pov that he will interact most with, but I am drawing a complete blank on who it should be.

[Kenshinryuu]

I'm a bit disapointed that only Applebloom got her cutie mark when all six fillies worked so hard together and were using the Power of Friendship. It would have been nice to see six friendship themed cutie marks and possibly a second generation of the Elements of Harmony.

[Never2muchpinkie]

4089047 Well, I think all six of them getting their cutie marks in one day would push the limits of believability and would be seen as a cop out given how many times they failed at it in the show. You have to admit that, in my story, Applebloom was without a doubt the leader. She helped inspire Babs right after meeting Diamond Spoon, she inspired the team when they were ready to quit with a bit of tough love, came up with a few great plans to get a come from behind victory, and knew to give Babs a shot at standing up for herself before intervening. She showed great leadership qualities and had the strong desire to protect all her friends, and thus she got her cutie mark for that, not exactly for friendship though that was a part of it. I'm not saying the other four didn't work hard, but the title of the story IS "An Apple and Orange mature." And it's not like the Ponyville Cmc didn't get cool stuff, Sweetie discovered her magic, and Scootaloo scored the final goal. I could have ended it without her getting her cutie mark, but I liked the play on words with her name. Apple and Bloom.

Nice try, but this time I made sure to neuter the plot so there will no further bunnies! Lol.

[Kenshinryuu]

4089649 Well, you should consider some one shots showing the other CMC getting their cutie marks. Or how about a school trip to someplace where Bab's class just happens to come along so both CMC groups can band together against the bullies... though come to think of it, the bullies might not be able to stand one another.

[Never2muchpinkie]

4093834 You know, you're doing it again, but just not in the way you want. I did get another idea but it's mostly just the next day and still focuses on Applebloom's conflicted feelings over getting a cutie mark. All of them had bonded over their lack of cutie mark, so now she's worried that her relationship with them will suffer because she's "different" now. I also want to show Bab's growth in keeping with her belief in herself.

It's not like I'm exactly opposed to any of the rest of them also getting a mark, but in terms of the story none of them did anything stand out. A mark comes about because of a mental realization. As I said in the last reply Applebloom got her's for her leadership and desire to protect and raise up her friends and family. Making an apple themed cutie mark to fit the situation was a bit difficult. So if you want to throw me some idea's for what a few of them can do or give me cutie mark idea's I can run with that.

GRRRR! Why won't you ever let me finish a story when it's finished? Gotta keep giving me idea's and stuff. =)

[Kenshinryuu]

4098118 Excellent *twirls villain mustache*
Hmmm, let me see what I have in the Plot Bunny Hutch.
For Sweetie, how about she's forced to use her magic to save her friends??? But since in the show she's also been shown to be good at singing, it might be nice to tie it in to that. Like a super pitched scream to drive away Timber wolves when Scootaloo has a busted wing or something.
For Scootaloo... well you've already had her saving a foal in your other story so we can't do that again... and you already had her face down a dragon... how about she meets a younger Pegasus who is about to have surgery on their wings to fix a broken bone and is worried they'll never fly again and Scootaloo encourages them to go through with it rather than be stuck with never being able to fly???

[Never2muchpinkie]

4098589 Well, besides the whole cutie mark thing did you love the story?

My only real reluctance to do this, besides my other waiting fics, is that it feels like the title will need a change. The bonus chapters in the Scootaloo fic work because the title still fits and it takes place after the main story. Now if it includes all the CMC getting their marks the title won't exactly fit anymore. Applebloom was supposed to be the focus here, just like Scootaloo was in the other fic.

[Kenshinryuu]

4099698 Yeah I did like the story, otherwise I wouldn't have left a comment

Well, you could always do some epilogue chapters.