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Floret

by Crystal Moose

Chapter 1: Prologue

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“Ah’m really sorry, sugarcube.” Applejack sniffed as she rubbed a teary cheek across Apple Bloom’s. “There’s something Ah’ve gotta tell ya about— about yer momma.”

Apple Bloom struggled in her sister’s hooves. She could feel Applejack’s tears dripping onto her forehead. She didn’t understand what her sister was so upset about.

Is it the anniversary of Mom and Dad’s death? Did Ah forget? Apple Bloom wondered to herself. It was hard for Apple Bloom; she never knew her parents like her big brother and sister did. To her, they were two ponies that passed on just after she was born. They’d died so close to her birth, she didn’t even have a photo of the three of them together.

“Ah was young, not much older than you are now…” Applejack sniffled. “Ah didn’t know what ta do, and Ah was scared…

“When Momma and Pop… after they passed on, Ah needed ta get away. From the farm, from everythin’. It hurt too much. Ya remember Ah told ya when I went to stay with Uncle and Auntie Orange?”

Apple Bloom remembered the story; her sister and her friends had shared all of their stories about how they got their cutie marks, back when the Cutie Mark Crusaders were barely formed. Apple Bloom had laughed at the time, imagining her big sister in those silly fru-fru outfits and speaking fancy.

Truthfully, Apple Bloom hadn’t given the story any more thought, at least not until Sweetie Belle had mentioned it again earlier today.

“So what happened to mah niece?” Apple Bloom pressed. She didn’t understand… If Applejack had birthed a foal, then why didn’t—

Apple Bloom gasped.

Apple Bloom had overheard some older mares at Sugarcube Corner once. One of them had been crying, telling her friend she’d had a miscarriage. Not knowing what that was, nor why the mare would be crying over it, Apple Bloom had asked Miss Cheerilee.

Her teacher had not wanted to answer her, but Apple Bloom had persisted; she had wondered silently if she could get a cutie mark in it, though that idea quickly waned after Cheerilee’s explanation.

“You see, sometimes… well, sometimes, if a foal is sick… before it is born…”

Apple Bloom had wondered why Miss Cheerilee had been so evasive. Normally she was happy to explain anything to the Cutie Mark Crusaders if they asked. They tried not to, though, because sometimes Miss Cheerilee could be boring.

“If there is something wrong with the pregnancy, or the parent gets sick…” Cheerilee stammered. “Sometimes the mare’s body will… ummm… end the pregnancy.”

Apple Bloom still remembered the wan smile her teacher had given her that day. Cheerilee had told her that it was good to have an inquisitive mind, but that not every mare liked to talk about it. The teacher explained that it was a very sensitive subject for some ponies.

“Ah’m so sorry, Applejack!” Apple Bloom buried her face in the soft fur of Applejack’s coat. “Ah’m sorry, Ah shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“It’s okay, sugarcube.” Applejack gently smoothed Apple Bloom’s mane. “It needs to be said.”

“Ah— Ah’m sure she’s with Ma and Pa.” The filly held her sister tight, looking up into her eyes. “Apples always stick t’gether. She’ll be okay, sis.”

Applejack began to cry. Apple Bloom frowned, not knowing what else to say. Stupid Apple Bloom, why did ya have t’ go and bring it up? Ya hurt yer sister. Couldn’t jus’ leave it alone, could ya?

“Sis?” Apple Bloom asked, trepidation in her voice. This only seemed to cause Applejack’s sobs to increase.

“A-Apple Bloom… m-mah daughter’s not…” Applejack choked back another sob. Big Mac brought her a glass of water, but she rebuffed his offer.

“Mah daughter ain’t with Momma and Pa… she’s—”

Apple Bloom pulled herself out from her sister’s hooves and stared at her, more confused than ever.

“If she ain’t with Ma and Pa, then why can’t Ah meet her?” Apple Bloom asked. “Why ain’t she here?”

“S-She is here, sugarcube. She’s been here all along.” Tears streamed down Applejack’s cheeks, and she accepted Granny’s comforting hoof on her shoulder. “You’ve been here all along, Apple Bloom. Ah—”

“Ah don’t understand,” Apple Bloom whined. She looked to her sister, then Big Mac and Granny Smith for some kind of explanation. “Sis, what’s goin’ on?”

“Ah’m not yer sister, Apple Bloom… Ah— Ah’m yer mother.”

Next Chapter: Chapter One Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 47 Minutes
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