It was another beautiful morning in Sweet Apple Acres, home of the Apple family (well, most of them). The apple trees aligned the field, each one with sparkling red apples. It was a comforting sight to see when you just want to sit down and look around yourself, noticing something you haven't before because you were in a hurry.
That was just what the Cutie Mark Crusaders did.
Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle just sat in their tree house, admiring the beauty of the orchard. The three have just finished their crusading by cheerleading, which they did pretty good (mostly Scootaloo, thanks to the stunts she practiced on her scooter). Unfortunately, their flanks stayed once again bare, much to their disappointment. So, they simply came to their tree house and just looked at the orchard.
Just then, Apple Bloom heard the sound of a baby crying. Perking her ears up, she immediately recognized it. "Uh, oh," she said to her friends. "That's Apple Cider crying." Sweetie Belle asked, "Can we see him?" Apple Bloom nodded, replying, "Sure thing! You'll love him. He's got Applejack's eyes."
The three friends trotted out of the tree house and followed the sound, coming from inside the family's home. Reaching the entrance, Apple Bloom opened the door slowly, and her head peeked in, where she saw Applejack with a bundle in her arms with Uncle Caramel beside her. Its tiny tan forelegs reached up to her, and she smiled down at it proudly.
Apple Bloom asked Applejack, who saw her with the same grin, "AJ, is it alright if my friends come in and see Apple Cider?" Applejack nodded but said, "Make sure you're really quiet. He's getting sleepy." Apple Bloom nodded her head to her friends and placed a hoof to her mouth while going, "Shhh." The two came in after her, tip-toeing as Caramel brought out a wide stool for the fillies so they could see the young colt. The three hopped on and stretched their necks to see the baby.
Apple Cider had his father's coat and mane colors, but his eyes, like Apple Bloom said, were from his mother, besides the tiny snow white freckles sprinkled around his face. He had a tiny smile plastered on his face as he looked up to his young aunt and her friends.
"Aw, he does have AJ's eyes!" Sweetie Belle cooed. Scootaloo added, "I bet when he is big, he'll buck all the trees in a minute!" Applejack chuckled and said, "Let's just hope he doesn't have too much of my stubbornness in him. That would be an interesting story."
Soon, the sun went down, and Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle left for home after having dinner with the Apple family. After tucking her sister in, Applejack trotted to her sleeping son's crib and smiled. She whispered to him before heading off to bed, "You sure are a new Apple on the farm, but you're also the new apple of my eye besides your daddy."
"I heard that," Caramel said as his wife nestled into the covers beside him. "Hey, that's what my ma said to me, AB, and Big Mac, according to Granny Smith!" the orange mare protested, giving a pout. Caramel nuzzled her and replied, "I know, I know. Yet, I was the first of your eye, and the other way around for you."
Applejack smirked and fell asleep with Caramel, while the new Apple yawned softly and snuggled deep into his blanket.
A.N.: Next up, Twilight and Flash Sentry!