Chapter 1
It was a tasty apple. She was sure that given time it would go far, perhaps even far enough to achieve a name for itself. Not just as a subspecies but as an entirely new one; one that would be on every farmers tongue and in every apple orchard for miles around.
“What do you think big sis?”
It had a pleasant aftertaste. How long had it been? Ten, no… She took another bite. Twenty years at least since she had tasted something this good. It harkened back to the founding of the town, to generations before her and to generations after with its raw and sweet flavor. This was something born purely of and for Ponyville and it exemplified that fact.
“Sis?”
Of course it had its flaws. The thing was tiny for one and after a glance at the area she had bit from she found that it bruised very easily. They would definitely have to be sold shortly after picking and eaten shortly after that. The seeds from what her sister had said had to be planted in winter. A time consuming and tiresome task, made even worse because it took place during one of the few down times a farm had. That alone could break its chances of ever being mass produced. Winter of all seasons… It was something that Applejack couldn’t understand, but her sister was the planting expert after all and not her.
“AJ?”
Applejack dabbed at her mouth with a handkerchief and her brow wrinkled. She studied the younger pony’s nervous gaze as it wandered from the ground to the half-eaten apple. How her lips kept in a pensive half-smile half-frown kept disappeared beneath her teeth every few seconds. How her one front hoof kept lining a rut into the dirt.
Swinging the rocking chair forward Applejack groaned and after a moment finding her legs stood up. She smiled contently and it turned into a slow quiet yawn. Her eyes still gazed intently at her sister and she wondered: Had she also been this nervous?
Apple Bloom who had watched the older pony move in silence, suddenly registered what had happened. Her hair tingled in alarm and her chest tightened reflexively. “Applejack! What are you getting up for, there ain’t…”
Applejack reached forward and placed a steady hoof onto one of the younger pony’s own, both to comfort her and to signify that everything was fine. Meeting the other’s gaze she reassured her with a nod. “It’s wonderful Apple Bloom.”
“But big sis you shouldn’t be…” Then it hit her and her face lit up. “You really mean it?” She nearly jumped into the air, then remembering that the older pony still had a hoof against her stopped and chuckled nervously. Her cheeks turned a deep red to match her hair and she kept talking. “I mean of course you mean it, but still honestly and truly?”
“Honestly and truly.” Applejack said her grin growing wider. How times had changed. How her sister had changed.
“I was sure you would.” Apple bloom walked down to the little potted tree down the porch and nuzzled it as she spoke. “I mean I was fairly sure, I’ve been working on this one for a long time.” She reached between the tangled branches and grasped one of the apples in her hoof, her chest puffing out as she did. “It’s a form of crab apple. Well I guess it’s too sweet to be a crab apple, but that’s what they call it anyway.” She shook her head and her fluffy mane fell down over her face. “I’m sure it’ll get a new name, on account of its sugary taste.” Fussing over her fallen mane with a hoof she snorted and sticking out her lower jaw, let out a poof of air that sent the fiery locks floating up and back behind her ears once more. She then smiled, satisfied, and went back to studying the apples on the tree. “Maybe sugar apple. It fits don’t it? hmm…”
Applejack nodded dutifully when her sister paused to look back her way, fruit still in one hoof displaying it proudly. “I think it fits Sugarcube.”
“Sugarcube, that’s it!” Apple Bloom beamed and plucking the apple she had been toying with bit into it. “It’s not cubed shape…” She chimed from around bits of apple. “But, I haven’t yet named one after you and what better way than this.” Giggling she pulled the small tree closer. “Sugarcube tree.” She stroked a hoof down the slender trunk. “I think it’s the most perfect name.”
Applejack’s tail twitched happily and she bowed as best she could, and finding it harder than she expected returned to her seat. “I’m mighty honored.”
“And you should be! Why you’re named after the newest and greatest tree that this farm ever made!” Then sliding her front hoof down the tree again, Apple Bloom dropped her head slightly and fidgeted with the soil in the pot. “So can I take five acres for them?”
Applejack shook her head; there was that lip biting again. some things never do change no matter how much time passes. “Little sis did I ever tell you about how I got my hat?” She paused, but not so long as to let Apple Bloom, who now sighed in dull expectance, reply. “I’m sure I’ve told you maybe a dozen times.” The younger pony blushed and Applejack went on. “But did I ever tell you what this hat means, why it was given to me?”
Apple Bloom shook her head and sat down next to the tree, placing a hoof around its trunk and her head just below its young branches.
“This hat has been on this farm since before it was Sweet Apple Acres and even before Ponyville had a name too. It’s more than a hat Apple Bloom. It’s a family tradition.” Applejack Scooted back further in the rocking chair. “More than a tradition even, it’s the very heart of what Sweet Apple Acres is about.” She pulled the brown Stetson from its perch behind her ears and clutched it tenderly, her hooves tracing a line along the thin felt brim to rest in the ‘U’ shaped indent at its tip. “It’s a symbol of perseverance, of taking the good with the bad, of hard work and the sweet rewards that it brings.” She blinked and lifting a hoof wiped at the corners of her wrinkled eyes. “It’s the story of apples, of our family… This hat symbolizes the leadership of this here farm, and it does so perfectly.” Applejack stopped and her eyes hazed over. She gripped the worn hat tighter and Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow.
When Applejack didn’t continue the younger pony looked at her tree, frowned, and then looked once more at her. “Sis, about those acres?”
Applejack sighed. When had she gotten so old? It seemed like yesterday she had been given this beaten up mud colored hat herself from Granny. Would it last through another season? She lifted it up and then deciding against it clutched it again to her lap.
Apple Bloom who had taken to fawning over her tree once again, rolled her eyes back towards her sister who was still not talking. “Excuse me sis?” Nothing… “Applejack about the tree?” Snorting and then starting to stand up Apple Bloom placed a hoof to her chest.“Ahhhrmm!”
Applejack lifted her nose and stared directly into her sister’s eyes, her own narrowing. “Throat clear?”
“Um, heh, heh…” Apple Bloom brought her hoof from her chest up to her neck and she gulped loudly. “All clear now.” She said blushing.
“Apple Bloom, I…” Her eyes began to tear and she lowered her head to look at the hat once more.
Apple Bloom shook her head, ears sinking down and she sighed. “If we ain’t got the room for it, it’s not that big of a deal sis. I’ll wait till next year to plant it if’n…”
“It’s not about the tree, Apple Bloom. It’s just I…” She studied her sister’s face once more. Granny probably saw that same puzzled look all those years back. “Apple Bloom, come here.”
Apple Bloom’s eyebrows burrowed even deeper into each other as she tried to figure out what her sister was on about. But she trotted forward, scooting her precious tree along with her, nonetheless.
Closing her eyes Applejack nodded to herself. It was indeed the right moment. She took a deep breath and then opening her thin eyelids as best she could, spoke again. “I think it’s time that you had this and all that it means.” She lifted the Stetson slightly from her lap and angled it towards her sister.
Apple Bloom’s eyes widened into saucers and both front hooves, which had gone to tending the tree, dropped down beneath her. She stood there completely dumbfounded and unable to speak. Then as if it finally registered she rushed forward. “But Applejack, I can’t! That hat goes to...”
“Yes it does Apple Bloom.” Applejack brought the hat to her orange face and buried her nose against it. “After all these years…” She wiped at her eyes one last time with the felt rim and snorted to keep her nose from running. “I think it’s time that Sweet Apple Acres became yours sis.” She then reached out her hoofs and placed it on her sister.
“But applejack…” Apple Bloom reached up a hoof and slid the hat down off her bouncy mane and it hung at her neck. “What about… well…”
Applejack chuckled and her eyes softened; all remnants of tears gone. “I ain’t going anywhere sugarcube.” She opened her mouth in a broad grin. Just like Granny Smith had, she thought. “But I ain’t in charge of what goes where anymore, or making sure the trees get bucked on time, or any of that.” She stuck a hoof into the yellow pony’s chest. “All that is up to you now.”
“Shucks sis.” Apple Bloom batted her eyes and swallowed fiercely before going on. “I promise that I’ll make you proud! I’ll make this the greatest farm in all of Equestria, just you watch!” She jumped forward and grasped the other in a fierce hug.
Exactly like Granny alright, Applejack thought.
When she stepped back Apple Bloom ran a hoof through her tangled mane. “Hey sis?”
“What is it sweetie?”
Dropping her eyes to the rocking chair’s long bowed legs Apple Bloom let out a soft laugh. “About those five acres for the Sugarcube apples then…” She bit at her lip.
Shaking her head applejack started to laugh. “I think it’s a good idea.”
Apple bloom skipped a step to stand against the tree and squealed. “I thought so too!” She clutched the newly sanctioned edition to Sweet Apple Acre’s against her hips, her tail swishing happily behind her. She forgot however about the trees fragile nature and leaves started to drop as she shook. Her cheeks went a bright crimson in what seemed like a constant blush that never left and she addressed her sister once more. “I should probably get started on it then, huh… like, now.” She giggled and then picking up the potted plant hurried down the dirt road, towards one of the few hills on the farm that had yet to be seeded.
Hours after her sister had left Applejack began to close her eyes. “Well Granny, Big Mac… It’s certainly been awhile.” She whispered, leaning back and starting to rock. “But, if I say so myself, I think that went perfectly.” Then she let the motion of the chair carry her into sleep.