“Good morning, Ponyville! Welcome to the 110th Annual Winter Wrap Up!” the mayor of Ponyville, Sparkling Cider, announced.
“We need everypony’s help to bring spring. We need help with animals, plants, and weather.
"Those of you wearing tan vests for animal work will go to Butterfly Magnolia.” Sparkling said, motioning to a dark pink Pegasus with a blue mane and tail.
“If you’re wearing green vests for plant work, go to Mint Orange,” the mayor said, pointing her hoof to a muscular 25-year-old orange Earth Pony with a green mane and tail.
Sparkling turned to Sweet Apple, her 23-year-old daughter. “Honey, you go over there,” she said to Sweet Apple.
The Earth Pony grudgingly trudged over to Mint Orange. Sweet Apple didn’t want to participate in Winter Wrap Up.
“And those of you wearing blue vests for weather work, go to Flitter Wonder,” the mayor said, and pointed to a blue Pegasus with a blonde mane and tail.
“Okay. Get to work, everypony!” Sparkling said.
The ponies working with plants planted seeds for fruits, vegetables, trees, and flowers.
Sweet Apple really didn’t do anything. She just sat there watching the ponies work and told them what to and not to do.
“Isn’t that Mayor Sparkling Cider’s daughter?” a pony whispered.
“Yes. She’s nothing like her mother. While her mother is hard-working, she’s lazy and bossy.” another pony answered.
That’s when Sweet Apple saw Mint Orange. He was working the hardest out of all the ponies.
Something inside Sweet Apple snapped. She was in love with Mint Orange.
To impress him, she started working as hard as him. The others were surprised.
“She’s actually working!” one whispered.
“Wow. I wonder what happened to make that happen?” another wondered aloud.
At the end of Winter Wrap Up, Mint Orange spoke with Sweet Apple.
“That was surprising of you. Nopony expected that.”
“Expected what?”
“For you to start working.”
“Oh. Yeah. Hey, do you want to come over? For dinner?”
“Sure! Can’t wait to see you there!”
Sweet Apple couldn't wait.
I may have a chance with the most handsome stallion in all of Equestria!
That night at Sweet Apple’s house, the two ate dinner. Sweet Apple’s father, Golden Fruit, had prepared lasagna.
Mint Orange and Sweet Apple kept each other laughing and talking all night.
“So, Ginger ‘accidentally’ spilled water on me and didn’t apologize. So, Lively was like, ‘You are not just going to spill water on my friend then sashay away like you didn’t do anything! Girlfriend, your brain must be full of moss if you think that!” Sweet Apple shared.
Mint Orange laughed at the thought.
Maybe Sweet Apple isn’t all that bad. So what if she didn’t work until a little while later? She’s funny, cool, and pretty! Mint Orange thought.
He thought of something that would change their life.
We’re old enough. Mint Orange, you can do it! he thought.
“Sweet Apple, can I talk to you in private?” Mint Orange asked.
“Yes,” Sweet Apple replied.
When they went out in the hallway, Mint Orange took a deep breath.
“Sweet Apple, will you marry me?” he asked.
Sweet Apple gasped and her eyes filled with tears.
“Yes! Wait... er, um, no.” she said.
Mint Orange's smile faded. "Why?" he questioned.
"It's just that... don't get me wrong, Mint Orange. The moment I saw you, I instantly liked you. But we've only known each other for a day! I think we should take it slow and... at least be special someponies?"
Mint Orange smiled again.
"Of course!"
For three years, Sweet Apple and Mint Orange dated, until Mint Orange asked Sweet Apple the same question, and she accepted.
Sweet Apple walked down the aisle in her mother’s wedding dress, which her mother wore, and her mother, and her mother, and her mother, and her mother.
It was clear that Sweet Apple’s family loved traditions.
After Mint Orange and Sweet Apple said their vows, the reverend gave them the rings. Since the two were Earth Ponies, they wore the rings on their hoof.
A year later, Sweet Apple became pregnant with a colt.
They were both excited, especially Mint Orange.
Mint Orange devoted himself to making sure their child was going to have a safe environment with him and Sweet Apple.
He spent all his free time working on the baby's room, when finally, he thought it was good enough to show to Sweet Apple.
“Okay, you can open your eyes now,” Mint Orange said, since he was leading her into a room.
Sweet Apple opened them. She saw a blue room with a crib, baby toys, a small bookshelf with books to read to the colt, and everything else a baby boy would need.
“It’s... beautiful,” she uttered.
“I’m glad you like it,” Mint Orange responded.
Then, Sweet Apple’s face paled. She fainted, but her eyes were still wide open.
“He’s ready,” Sweet Apple whispered weakly.
Mint Orange gasped and picked up his wife. He led her to the Ponyville Hospital.
The staff was surprised when they barged in, Mint Orange hollering, "The colt is coming! The colt is coming!"
Doctor Heal nodded. "He is due today. Just please, don't scream."
Mint Orange blushed. "Sorry,"
"Uh, hello?! Mare about to give birth here!" Sweet Apple exclaimed.
"Oh, right. Right this way." the doctor led the couple to a room.
He and another doctor, Doctor Mane came in to assist her.
Sweet Apple was screaming and kicking. This was her first child she was giving birth to, and she was really scared.
"Calm down, sweetheart! It'll be fine!" Mint Orange assured her.
"How do you know?! You're not the one giving birth!" Sweet Apple snapped.
"Mrs. Apple, we assure you that you'll be just fine once you stop screaming and start pushing," Doctor Mane said.
Sweet Apple did what the doctor said, whimpering occasionally.
"I see him coming out! Keep pushing!" Doctor Heal declared.
The mare kept pushing until she let out a loud scream that the whole hospital heard.
The child was born.
“Wah!” the newborn wailed.
The little colt was an Earth Pony, like his parents. He had a red coat and a short orange mane and tail. He also had green eyes and freckles.
“I know what we should name him: Big Macintosh,” Mint Orange said.
Big Macintosh grew to be like his father. By five years, when he was 5-years-old, he was able to pull a whole cartload of anything!
Sweet Apple thought that he would find his love the way she had met Mint Orange.
Big Macintosh had also earned his cutie mark, a half of a Granny Smith apple.
And those weren’t the only surprises Sweet Apple and Mint Orange had. They had learned that Sweet Apple was pregnant again, this time with a filly.
They planned to have another nursery, since Big Macintosh’s (nicknamed Big Mac) nursery turned into his regular room.
Even though Mint Orange was against it, Sweet Apple insisted that she make the nursery. Mint Orange didn't want her to get hurt during her pregnancy.
Luckily, Sweet Apple didn't hurt herself or the foal.
This nursery was orange with everything a filly would need.
The day the foal was ready to come out, Sweet Apple was calm, but still frazzled.
Doctors Mane and Heal were nervous about assisting her again, but Mint Orange assured them that Sweet Apple wouldn't cause disturbance again, and they trusted him.
After a while of the mare's struggling to get the foal out, the filly was finally born.
“Goo!” she gurgled.
She was an Earth Pony with an orange coat, a blonde mane with her tail the same, green eyes, and freckles.
“Applejack. The perfect name for a perfect filly. Big Mac, say hello to Applejack.” Mint Orange and Sweet Apple agreed.
Big Mac was in awe of his new sister. "Can I hold her?"
The mother chuckled. "Of course," She handed Applejack to Big Mac.
She was so light, so innocent. Applejack's eyes were closed at the moment, but when she opened them, emerald eyes met emerald eyes.
Big Mac braced himself for loud bawling, but instead, the filly cooed and nuzzled her older brother.
The toddler beamed as he said, “Hi, my sister.”
“Yes. Your sister.” Sweet Apple giggled.
"Can I carry her home? I think she likes me." the colt questioned.
"If you don't drop," Mint Orange said, but he knew that his son wouldn't drop her.
"I won't!"
"Then, by all means, do it,"
The happy family went back home, Applejack in Big Mac's arms.
Nine years later, when Big Mac was 14-years-old and Applejack was 9-years-old, Sweet Apple was pregnant with another child, another filly.
Applejack had also earned her cutie mark, three Red Delicious apples.
The unborn child’s nursery was basically the same thing Applejack had, just in a separate room.
When the foal was ready, Sweet Apple walked into the hospital in agony. "How many times will I have to go through this?!"
"The number of times you get pregnant," Doctor Mane mumbled.
"What?" Sweet Apple demanded.
"Nothing!"
The annoyed mare rolled her eyes and plopped onto the bed.
She felt a painful kick. "Don't worry, sweetheart. Mommy will get you out soon. Just a few more minutes and you'll be in the outside world." she said to her belly.
When it was time for it to begin, she pushed with all her might, and in a few minutes, the child was out and in her hooves.
"She's beautiful," Big Mac and Mint Orange uttered together.
"What are ya gonna name her, Ma?" Applejack asked.
Sweet Apple smiled. "I think you and Big Mac should choose the name,"
"What?" Mint Orange, Applejack, and Big Mac said in shock.
The mare glared at her husband angrily, and he immediately was quiet, for that was her look of fury.
"Yes, you may," Sweet Apple said to her children.
The siblings didn't hesitate to huddle up.
“Let’s focus on her looks,” Big Mac suggested.
“Well, she has a light yellow coat,” Applejack said.
“And a red mane and tail,”
“And orange-hazel eyes,” they said in unison.
“Hmm. Apple, since she as such a red mane and tail. But it needs a better ring to it.” Applejack thought aloud.
“Bloom! Because of her coat color! It looks like a daffodil blooming! So how about Apple Bloom?” Big Mac recommended.
"That sounds really pretty. Apple Bloom. Let's tell Ma and Pa." Applejack agreed.
The two turned around.
“How about Apple Bloom?” they asked.
“Yes! What a perfect name!” Sweet Apple exclaimed.
"It's very beautiful name for a beautiful filly," Mint Orange smiled.
"Welcome to the family, Apple Bloom," the family greeted.
A few months after Apple Bloom was born, the family’s grandmother, Granny Smith, Mint Orange’s mother, moved in.
To welcome her, they were going to Granny Smith’s favorite place to go to as a filly: Neigh York.
The family was going to take the Friendship Express, a train service in Ponyville.
But, for directions to the station, the family had to go to a wise zebra named Zecora. They would go to her hut in the Everfree Forest for directions.
“Come on, whipper-snappers! Into the wagon!” Granny Smith said as she put 4-month-old Apple Bloom into Big Mac’s lap.
Mint Orange picked up Applejack and put her next to Big Mac. While he did so, his usual cowboy/cowgirl hat fell on her head.
“Huh. It looks better on you, I guess.” he said and left it on her. Applejack hugged her father and thanked him for the hat.
The Apple Family went into the frightening Everfree Forest, the horses on the reins leading them.
Apple Bloom got alarmed by the dark place and began to cry. Sweet Apple grabbed her from Big Mac’s hooves and put in her pacifier.
But Sweet Apple did that too late. Green, glowing eyes peered through the dark forest.
“Ma, Pa, what are those?” Applejack asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
Mint Orange gasped. “Timberwolves!”
“Eeyup!” Big Mac agreed, but there was a hint of fright in his voice.
“Mom, stay with Apple Bloom, Big Mac, and Applejack. Sweet Apple and I will go fight the Timberwolves.” Mint Orange told Granny Smith, and he and Sweet Apple leaped out of the wagon.
The minute they did, the Timberwolves dug their huge claws into Sweet Apple’s chest and gave her a huge, painful scratch.
“Ma!” Big Mac and Applejack yelled.
“Mama!” Apple Bloom yelled (she had started saying small words, some of which weren’t even words, when she was 3-months-old).
Big Mac tried to leap to her, but Applejack stopped him by grabbing a hold of his tail and yanking him back into the wagon.
“The Timberwolves are out there! You can’t risk life to help Ma!” she yelled.
It was just Mint Orange and the Timberwolves.
“I’ll take you with my bare hooves,” Mint Orange challenged.
But instead, the Timberwolves began to beat him up until he lost consciousness.
The Timberwolves left the scene.
Applejack and Big Mac leaped out the wagon and looked at their unconscious parents.
Mint Orange and Sweet Apple half-opened their eyes.
“Go to Zecora’s hut,” Sweet Apple whispered.
“Yes. Don’t ask for directions to the station. Ask her about what will happen to us.” Mint Orange added.
The two siblings nodded and went back into the wagon.
When they reached the small house, Granny Smith knocked on the door.
“Who is it? I don’t know if you’re dears. I don’t let some creatures in here.” a voice said.
“Oh, Delicious Delight Smith, which is me, and my grandchildren, Big Macintosh, Applejack, and Apple Bloom,” Granny Smith answered.
A zebra opened the door.
“Come in,” she said.
The Apples went inside.
“What do you seek? Knowledge, wisdom, or how about a beak?” Zecora questioned.
“Actually, a question,” Applejack began. “What happened to our parents, after the Timberwolf incident?”
Zecora turned her teacup upside-down. She waved her hooves over it and a smoky green light covered the cup. It showed an image only she could see.
“Oh? Oh. How tragic. You won’t be able to have a funeral with, maybe some lilacs?”
“What? What do ya mean?”Applejack asked.
“Your parents are dead, as my image says. Also, the Timberwolves took their bodies with them, and are now feasting on them.” Zecora explained.
“Nope!” Big Mac insisted.
“He’s right! They aren’t dead! They were the ones that told us to come here and ask 'bout them!” Applejack agreed.
“Those were their last words. You’re lucky that they were heard.” Zecora said solemnly.
Applejack fell to her knees and began to sob. Big Mac comforted her and shed a few tears. Apple Bloom, who didn’t know what was said, cried at the sight of seeing her siblings cry.
Granny Smith thanked Zecora and the family left, depressed that their greatest friends had died.