Juniper Berry
 
 
“Why don’t ya take a walk in the meadow with me?”
 
 
Parents: Ash Bark and Applejack
 
 
Species: Earth/Female
 
 
Special Talents: Making healing tonics and potions using flowers and herbs
 
 
Nicknames: June, Junie, Junie-Bear, Junebug
 
 
Significant Other: (to be continued…)
 
 
Voice Actor: Joan Cusack
 
 
Bio:  
Juniper Berry is quiet, but positive, outgoing, and kind. She has an incredibly strong work ethic and tries to do what is right in every situation. She tends to want to be a pony-pleaser, and is always eager to help. However, sometimes, her help is turned down, much to her chagrin. June was born almost completely blind. She can see dull, muddled shapes, and blurred colors. She can make out ponies before if they move, but is unable to discern different features or characteristics. Sometimes she can mistake inanimate objects for her friends. However, her hearing is keen and her hooves incredibly gentle. Fiercely independent like her mother, Juniper most often refuses any sort of help, but she cannot be by herself in the dark. Because of her limited sight, June likes to brush shoulders or hold hooves with her loved ones (usually they don’t mind) as it helps her feel like a normal pony.
 
 
June is determined to never allow her disability to hinder her in being helpful around the farm. Its too dangerous for her to try to buck the trees or operate the equipment, but she helps in different ways. The farm sells various health tonics and potions Juniper makes from various flowers and herbs she has discovered on the farm. She identifies them mainly via her keen sense of smell and their taste (and there have been more than one leaf she’s chewed up and promptly spit out.) June discovered this particular talent after finding herself fascinated with the meadows near her home: the smell of the flowers painted the pictures in her head she couldn’t otherwise see.
 
 
When she was only eight or so, her cousin Chrysanthemum became horrendously sick. Her fever developed in a mere twelve hours, leaving her bedridden and wheezing. Big Mac and Sugar Belle were beside themselves with worry. The doctors finally found out Chrys had ignisponylmonem - or the “fire lung” disease. Her lungs were so swollen she could hardly breathe, and since the disease was so rare, the doctors didn’t have the antibiotic on hoof. Juniper sprung into action, knowing her cousin didn’t have much time left. She went to her “best friend” Azurite (daughter of Maud Pie and Mud Briar), demanding she read aloud the ingredients needed for the antidote. Together, the two ventured out into the San Palomino Canyons
 
 
After a harrowing encounter with a herd of buffalo, Juniper made it back to Chyssi just in time. While the parents were very reluctant to allow delicate Juniper near the sick filly, the hotheaded healer pushed her way into her room, uncaring about any sort of consequences. She quickly gave Chrys the antidote, and when Juniper heard her take a soft, deep breath, a bright flash filled her eyesight - her cutie mark.
 

 
Relationships:  
Juniper is close to her parents, but her mother can get on her nerves at times. Juniper came early into the world, and was a weak and delicate filly. She has gradually gotten stronger, and her determination rivals the farm mare’s. However, Applejack sometimes feels Juniper pushes herself too far and will rebuke her daughter. She doesn’t mean to hurt her Junebug, but she just wants her to be safe. Juniper insists she doesn’t want her independence taken away, Applejack insists that’s not what she’s doing, and around the horn they go. She’s close to her father, Ash Bark, but misses him a lot when he’s off on duty. She thinks he feels disappointed because he was so eager to teach his child to play music, and she can’t due to her disability (and her interest have turned far elsewhere).
 
 
June is an adored member of the Athenaverse gang. She is close to Ophelia, the mares finding common ground in their disabilities. She especially enjoys the company of Annie and the Pie twins, Connie and C.C. Her best friend is the near-silent Azurite, the grumpy daughter of Maud Pie. Actually, she’s not quite sure if Azurite is her best friend. The two met in the forest one day, and…well, that was that. The two are perfectly fine in their silence and quiet, and Azurite seems to at least tolerate June. She isn’t judgmental whatsoever. Juniper just wishes if she would just clarify whether or not she actually wants her around her not…
 
 
She is fascinated by Diamond, a mysterious stallion adopted by friends of her parents. Like Azurite, he rarely speaks. Juniper is aware of his own disability, but she insists she doesn’t care. Their story will be expanded upon shortly.