Chapter 1
“You hav’to come quick big sis!” Apple Bloom’s bow bounced in the breeze as she ran up the hill towards where her sister stood. “Granny’s come up with a new recipe for apple pie and it’s the best tasting pie she’s made yet!”
Applejack’s mouth started to water and she gulped. “Well, I could use a break.” She sighed however and looked back over the unbucked field. “Still, I’m nearly halfway there…”
Before her sister could talk herself out of it, Apple Bloom shook her head. “We gotta go now! What if Big Mac eats it all?” She tugged at the older pony’s leg but it didn’t budge.
“He does like to eat doesn’t he?” Applejack gave a worried grin her sister’s way but kept her eyes on the apple filled trees.
“Like to eat… it’s Big Mac we’re talking about! Big sis what’s wrong with you?” Apple Bloom stuck her tongue out in annoyance and continued to pull, without any result, on her sister’s front leg. “We aren’t gonna get any awesome new pie…” She hopped up and down, ramming her sister’s side with her head. “If you don’t come home now!”
Applejack lifted her foot up to scratch at her chin and Apple Bloom, who was mid-jump, shot past her sister and nearly rolled off the hill. “So many apples though…” Applejack mumbled to herself with a frown. Then turning towards her sister, who had just started trying to untangle herself, said: “I’m mighty busy Apple Bloom. Why don’ you go on ahead and make sure Granny saves me a piece.”
“No, no, no!” Apple Bloom whined as she fussed with a hoof that had gotten stuck in her bow. “Granny sent me here specifically to get you.” She managed to wrestle her leg free from her mane and grinned momentarily, before righting herself and rushing back to her sister’s side, worry still plaguing her face. “If I don’t come back with you she’ll give me a smaller piece, I know it!”
Applejack shook her head and let out a snort trying to hide her laughter. “Granny isn’t gonna give you a smaller piece just cause of that. Just tell her I’m not done applebucking is all. She’ll understand.”
Apple Bloom narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to protest, but a new idea hit her and she grinned instead. “Well, if you say so big sis.”
“I’m glad you understand Sugarcube.” Applejack reached down and patted her sister’s head.
The younger pony, still grinning mischievously, wrapped her arms around her sister’s neck. “I love you Applejack.”
Applejack blushed and wrapped her own front legs across her sister’s back. “And I love you too little sis.”
They hugged for a few minutes and then Apple Bloom turned back towards the barn. “Guess I better head back.”
“This won’t take me long sis.” Applejack puffed her chest out proudly. “I’ll be there before you know it.”
“Probably even before you know it too.”
Applejack raised an eyebrow and looked carefully at her sister. “Right… I guess so.”
Apple Bloom waited till her sister started to head over to the nearest unbucked tree before sprinting down the hill. When she had gotten nearly to the bottom she turned back to face the top and, still grinning, yelled. “Hey sis!” Applejack’s head popped up over the side. “I’m just gonna take this over in advance. So Granny knows I talked to you and all.” Apple Bloom waved a hoof and her sister went white with shock.
Reaching up Applejack patted the top of her head. Her hoof brushed against her mane and her eyes went wide. “When did you…” Then it clicked. “Why you no good, dirty, rotten, hug thief.”
“See ya at the house sis!” Apple Bloom said with a giggle as she sprinted off towards the barn once more.
“Apple Bloom, come back here right now!” Applejack took off down the hill as fast as she could. Her mane and tail flying straight back behind her as she went.
She arrived at the entrance to the barn nearly out of breath. “Apple Bloom… where are you?”
The red haired pony popped out from behind the barn doors and bounced up to her sister, slapping the prized hat back into place on the older pony’s head. “Granny I brought her!” She said, still giggling as she skipped back inside the storeroom.
Applejack chuckled and shook her head. “Sometimes I don’t know why I bother trying to say no.” She trotted inside the barn after her sister and shut the door behind her. She waited a moment, letting her eyes adjust to the lower light, before searching around the barn for the table that would be set out for the family. After a few seconds, trotting from stall to stall, she spotted it just outside one on the left. When she walked right up to it she saw that Big Mac and Apple Bloom were already excitedly sitting there, waiting.
“This new pie of yours better be magical or something, in order to stick me behind schedule.” Applejack said scooting into place between Big Mac and Apple Bloom. From the stall across the way from theirs Applejack heard the sound of pots and pans clanging around in response, followed a second later by Granny Smith’s clucking. The orange pony giggled.
It wasn’t long after the commotion that a wobbly Granny Smith emerged. A proud smile on her face and four plates balanced on her hooves, back, and head. “Here you go dearies.” She said, slowly sliding a plate in front of each one. All three younger ponies waited till she had served everyone and then edged into her seat next to Big Mac. “Well, what are you waiting for?” Granny Smith picked up her fork and lifted up a large piece of pie. “Dig in!” None of the other ponies needed to be told twice, quickly biting into giant forkfuls of their own; everyone except for Applejack, who stared in awe at her plate.
Her eyes twinkled at the thick lines of caramel syrup which were drizzled amply on the entire platter. Staring back at her above that was a bright red cherry, perched expertly atop a mountain of fluffy white whip cream. Scooting a little of the soft foam to the side with her fork, she saw that the pie’s crust was a deep golden brown and steam rose from between its flakes. But the inside! Her mouth went numb from pleasure as she stuck the fork deep into the mess. Thick gooey strings of mint colored jelly and perfectly thick slices of what she assumed were sour apples poured out.
“Granny this looks amazing!” Applejack lifted a forkful to her lips. “Why this has to be one of your best recipes yet.”
“Eeyup." Said Big Mac between mouthfuls.
“Told you you wouldn’t want to wait.” Apple Bloom mumbled from around her own full mouth in a sing-song voice.
“If I’d known that it was gonna be this good I’d have stolen my own hat.” Applejack said biting down on her fork. Then she frowned.
“Isn’t it just the best pie ever?” Apple Bloom happily shoved another spoonful into her mouth.
“It sure is pretty lookin.” Applejack forced herself to swallow the bite she had taken and almost gagged. It was perhaps the worst, most sour apple pie she had ever eaten. She never hated an apple in her life, yet the taste! She gave a weak grin Granny Smith’s direction and then looked down at her plate, worry dripping from her face. If she didn’t wipe her plate clean
everypony would know something was wrong.
“I made it using a special new sauce.” Granny said to everyone.
Apple Bloom looked up at her eyes shining. “Granny you have to teach me how to make it. Who knows maybe I’m good at making pies.” She eyed her flank for a second before looking Applejack’s way. “What’s your favorite part big sis?”
Applejack took a tiny slice off and stuck it in her mouth. It was the sauce and it was still unbearably sour. She did her best not to spit it out. “It’s mighty, uh… green.” She made an attempt to smile once more for Granny Smith. “You do know how much I like the color green.”
Granny Smith nodded.
“I meant the taste.” Said Apple Bloom shaking her head.
Applejack picked up her glass and filling it with water continued doggedly. “And it’s kind of… Well I do love caramel… whip cream… cherries too mind you.” Downing her first cup of water she poured herself another.
Apple Bloom narrowed her eyes. “Of the pie sis, what’s your favorite part of the pie?”
Big Mac now looked up at her too, his eyebrows raised slightly.
Applejack chuckled nervously and put her fork down. “Oh you know me; if Granny made it I like all of it, uh, equally.” Inwardly she sighed in relief. Too close.
Apple Bloom shrugged and took another bite of her own pie. The sight nearly made Applejack turn green.
“Better hurry up or Big Mac will take your piece.” Granny Smith said pointing at the stallion that was down to just one forkful of pie left.
“Well he might need the extra push to keep up with me later, bucking apples and all.” Applejack said scooting her plate across the table towards her big brother. “I suppose it can’t be helped. Besides, I should probably head out soon anyway.”
“Nonsense dearie, I was only playing.” Granny Smith reached a hoof under the table and pulled up a picnic basket. “I made sure to bring bunches more. I know how much you all love the pies I bake and wanted to make sure everyone could eat as much as they wanted.”
“That’s our Granny Smith.” She still smiled, but inside Applejack still felt like she was going to be sick.
“She bakes the best pies in all of Ponyville.” Apple Bloom stated proudly.
“Yep I don’t think I’ve ever not liked one before.” Applejack eyed her plate sullenly. “Never once before.”
“I think you should make this your new signature pie.” Big Mac said finishing off his last bite. He looked at his empty plate and then looked longingly at the picnic basket.
Granny Smith broke out laughing. “Alright, I get it, I get it.” She pulled out a slice of pie and put it on the red pony’s plate. “A nice big slice for a big nice pony.” Big Mac beamed and lifted his fork again.
“Don’t forget me!” Apple Bloom slid her plate in front of the older pony. “Don’t let him hog it all.” She said eyeing Big Mac shrewdly.
Big Mac ignored her, continuing to plow through his new piece, and Granny Smith made sure to get the little filly a big slice as well. “What about you Applejack, you want a new piece?” She said dropping Apple Bloom’s newly filled plate in front of her.
Applejack eyed her still full plate and sighed. “No thanks Granny, I’m feeling a little off right now.” She spun her fork over the whip cream and stuck it in her mouth. At least that part still tasted good.
“Ok then sweetie.” Granny Smith placed the picnic basket on the ground once more. “But don’t you worry; I’ll make sure to save a piece for you to take out in the morning.”
Applejack coughed and reached for her water. “That’s mighty kind of you.”
Apple Bloom however, looked crestfallen. “What about me and Big Mac?”
“Not a problem at all.” Granny Smith reached over and patted the young filly’s head. “I’ve decided to have a new one waiting for you all each night, every day, from now on.” Apple Bloom cheered and Granny Smith nodded meekly.
“E-e-everyday?” Applejack asked her body shaking.
“Of course sweetie, I’ve decided to replace my old recipe with this one.”
“But Granny!”
“I know, I know.” The older mare waved a hoof to silence the younger pony. “It wasn’t an easy decision, but you all seem to like this one so much…” She looked at Big Mac and Apple Bloom whose heads bobbed up and down at high speed. “And, after all these years of the old one it seems only right I serve this new apple pie instead. Gotta keep up with the times and all.”
“Changing times?” Applejack whispered glumly.
“Eeyup!” said Apple Bloom and Big Mac together. Big mac snorted in annoyance and the younger pony giggled.
Applejack looked sullenly at her hooves, then once more at the still warm piece of pie in front of her. “Granny I need to tell you something.” The older pony looked at her, eyes wide, and Applejack sighed. “Granny I…”
“Wait Applejack.” Apple Bloom dashed from her seat and put a hoof in front of her sister’s mouth. “Big sis I almost forgot, I really need to tell you something.”
Applejack swatted her little sister’s hoof away. “Not now Apple Bloom this is important.”
“But it’s not just me!” Apple Bloom lifted both hooves up to the older pony’s mouth this time and once more covered her lips. “Big Mac and Granny Smith need to tell you too.”
“Affhle Bhoom.” Applejack tried to pull her sister off but only managed to make the young pony cling tighter. “Fhine Wha ihz it?” She said dropping her hooves on the table.
Apple Bloom brought her own hooves away from her sister and sat back down. “We all wanted to tell you that…” She looked at Big Mac and Granny Smith, who both nodded. “We got you, April fools!” She laughed and jumped up on the table. “April fools! April fools!” A stern glare from granny sent her scooting back to her seat, but she kept on chanting and laughing quietly from there. “April fools!”
“What?” Applejack looked across the table, from Apple Bloom to Big Mac to Granny Smith. All of them were laughing and smiling. “But, I don’t understand?”
“It’s the pie silly!” Apple Bloom blurted out. “Granny Smith put lemon juice and pepper in your piece.” She barely managed to finish the sentence before erupting backwards in a fit of giggles.
“Then you mean…”
“I’m most definitely not changing my recipe.” Granny Smith chuckled and shot Applejack a wink.
Applejack grinned from ear to ear. “Then I’m not going to have to eat another piece like this again tomorrow?”
Big Mac, who was also now unable to stop laughing, fell back on the floor next to Apple Bloom.
“Of c-c-course not s-silly.” Apple Bloom choked out between giggles.
“Yippee!” She jumped into the air and bucked at the sky. “Thank goodness Granny, I almost… Why I…” She paused. “Does that mean that the pie inside that picnic basket is good to eat?”
Granny Smith smiling pulled up a plate from underneath the table. It was piled high with whip cream and caramel sauce. “Just the way you like it.” She said sweetly holding the plate out.
Applejack took it from her carefully lifting a tiny forkful to her mouth. She beamed “I knew that you couldn’t have lost your sense of taste.” She lifted another and this time giant bite into her mouth. “Or me for that matter.”
Apple Bloom and Big Mac were still rolling around on the floor and Granny smith started to put their plates away.
“I’ll admit.” Applejack said between bits of apple pie. “You got me this year, but just you wait till next year.” She grinned evilly and all three other ponies shuddered in mock horror. “Just you wait.” She said. “I’ll make sure you never forget this either.”
“Like you forgot your hat?” Apple Bloom brought up the worn cowboy hat and waved it around in the air.
“Apple Bloom when did you…”
“It’s a secret.” She giggled trotting over and plopping it on Applejack’s head. Then all four members of the Apple family broke out in a chorus of laughter once again.