Apple Bloom, Are You Okay?

by Smitty91

Set during "On Your Marks." A depressed Apple Bloom struggles with what the future holds for not only herself, but also her friends. Diamond Tiara tries to help, but isn't very successful. Feeling bad that they made their friend feel this way, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo decide to make it up to her by spending the day with her. Will they be successful in cheering up their friend?

1. A Moment with Diamond Tiara

Apple Bloom, Are You Okay?

"She left her pie," Silver Spoon noted with a frown. She turned her head towards the door, just in time to see a hint of red before the door fully closed. She looked over at the pie still sitting on the table near the cooking station that Apple Bloom had been at. Finally, her gaze fell on Diamond Tiara, who was still chewing the sample that Silver Spoon had just offered to her. Taking in a deep breath, she said, "Diamond Tiara, why don't you go see if she's okay?"

Diamond Tiara, however, didn't appear to be listening, because she let out a moan after she finally swallowed her sample. "Mm! Wow, Silver Spoon! This pie you made is amazing."

"Diamond Tiara," Silver Spoon repeated, a little more harshly than she intended. The tone in her voice made the pink filly jump. She jerked her head towards the door. "Why don't you go check and see how Apple Bloom is doing? She seemed pretty down when she left. And besides" – she once again looked over at the forgotten pie – "she forgot her pie."

Diamond Tiara nodded. "Yeah, sure, okay." She wiped her mouth on her hoof, freeing her lips from any crumbs. She backed away from the table, planting her forehooves on the floor. "You guys don't mind cleaning up?" she asked, giving Silver Spoon and Peach Fuzz a quizzical look.

"We'll clean up," Silver Spoon said. "Just check on Apple Bloom and make sure she's alright."

Nodding, Diamond Tiara retrieved the pie and headed towards the front door. She flung it open and made her way outside. She didn't have to look very far for Apple Bloom. The farm filly was just ahead, sitting forlornly on the wooden bridge that passed over a small river. She walked forward, the pie still in her hoof, still hot after being pulled from the oven. The filly's back was to her. She opened her mouth to say something, but realized that, because of the sample of pie she'd eaten, her throat was dry. Taking in a large gulp of air to lubricate her throat, she tried again. "Hey, you forgot your pie." She received no response. Frowning, she asked, "Hey, you okay?"

Apple Bloom lifted a hoof, wiping away a few stray tears before turning her head to look at Diamond Tiara. "Y-yeah . . . I . . . I'm fine . . ." She winced. Her voice cracking had betrayed her. She turned around fully, now completely facing Diamond Tiara. "What do ya want?"

"You forgot your pie," Diamond Tiara repeated, walking forward and stopping in front of Apple Bloom. She held it out. "Here."

Apple Bloom sighed as she took her pie and set it down. She sat down on her haunches and turned away, looking down into the water below her. She sniffled and reached up a hoof to rub at her runny nose.

Diamond Tiara looked around. "Where are your two bookends?" She didn't see any sign of Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom sighed once again. She looked over at Diamond Tiara. "Gone." Her voice shuddered as she spoke.

A puzzled look crossed over Diamond Tiara's features, and she cocked her head to the side in confusion. "Gone?"

Without saying a word, Apple Bloom nodded her head, still staring at the water.

Diamond Tiara walked closer to Apple Bloom and sat down beside her. "What do you mean gone?"

"They just . . ." Apple Bloom swallowed a lump in her throat, feeling her eyes starting to tear up. "They decided they didn't want to hang out anymore, wanted to try their own things."

"Oh. So what are they doing now?"

"Sweetie Belle's trying crocheting and Scootaloo is trying bungee jumping."

"What are you trying?"

"Nothing, yet."

"You mean you haven't found anything you like?"

Apple Bloom shook her head. "Nope."

"What about badminton?"

"Tried it."

"Ballet?"

"Tried it."

"Soccer."

"Tried it."

"Archery."

"Tried it."

"Selling lemonade?"

"Tried it."

Diamond Tiara thought hard. "Making grape juice?"

"Tried it."

"What about bird watching?"

"Tried it."

"You mean you've tried all of those––"

"And Ah didn't like any of 'em," Apple Bloom said, interrupting Diamond Tiara's question. She scowled at the ground below. "Ah wish Ah'd never gotten my cutie mark!" At this, she turned and glared heavily at the shield emblazoned on her rump.

Diamond Tiara's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"Ah . . . Ah had a nightmare once about me and the Crusaders gettin' our cutie marks." She shuddered as the dream briefly flashed through her mind. "Ah got mah cutie mark, but Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo booted me out of mah clubhouse, sayin' that Ah couldn't be a Cutie Mark Crusader if Ah already had a cutie mark. After mah cutie mark went away, it turned out that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo got their cutie marks, and suddenly they didn't wanna hang out anymore, said that they had to do other stuff." She sniffled, tears welling up in her eyes. She lifted a hoof to wipe them away. "So, ya wanna know what Ah learned today?"

Diamond Tiara shook her head and suddenly found Apple Bloom sneering at her face to face.

"Ah learned that growing up sucks!" the farm filly bellowed through gnashed teeth. Scowling, she lifted a hoof and swatted at the water below, sending water droplets flying onto the grass just beyond them. She lowered her head between her hooves. More tears trailed down her face, but she made no attempt to wipe them away. "Ah . . . Ah don't wanna grow up. . . ."

Once it was clear that Apple Bloom wasn't going to speak again, Diamond Tiara spoke up. "I remember how relieved I was when I got my cutie mark. I was so happy to get it because it finally meant that my mom wouldn't be bothering me about not having one."

Apple Bloom raised her head and looked over at Diamond Tiara. "Ah always wondered why y'all were such a jerk. It was 'cause o' yer mama, wa'n't it?"

Diamond Tiara's tail curled around her hooves, her gaze lowering. "Kind of." She rubbed her left forehoof with her right. "My mom had drilled it into my head that anypony who wasn't as rich as us or who didn't have a cutie mark wasn't meant to be associated with. That's why I was so happy when I got my cutie mark. But even then, after I got it, I still wasn't happy."

"Ah didn't mean to show ya up at yer cute-ceanera, Diamond Tiara, honest." She placed a comforting hoof on Diamond Tiara's shoulder.

Diamond Tiara shook her head. "It's not that. I wasn't happy because I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing with my cutie mark or who I was supposed to be." Turning towards her former nemesis, she gave Apple Bloom a grateful smile. "Thanks to you and your friends, I'm happier now. Thank you."

"Speaking of which, how is your mom doing?"

"She's doing better. Things have really turned around for me since I stopped being a bully."

Apple Bloom sighed."Yeah, you looked like you were having fun in there, much more than I was."

"Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo will be back," Diamond Tiara encouraged.

Apple Bloom shook her head. "Ya don't understand. Me and them have been by each other's side ever since we met. They're like sisters to me." Her body quivered as a sob escaped her. "But ever since we got our cutie marks, we've been drifting apart, and today was finally the day where it seems mah nightmare is finally startin' to come true. For all Ah know, this could mean goodbye for me and mah friends."

Diamond Tiara got in Apple Bloom's face, causing their noses to touch as she sneered. "Oh, I don't understand, do I?" she growled. "Imagine having to win some election to make your mother proud of you, only to lose said election, lose your best friend, and then be publicly berated by your mother! Then go home and be told that you're a worthless piece of garbage just because you didn't win some stupid election!" Her expression softened and she backed off, sitting on her rump, her two-tone tail curling around her hooves. She looked away as she sighed. "Of course, she was drunk at the time. Still, it hurt all the same."

"Ah didn't know yer mama was a drinker," Apple Bloom spoke up.

"Like I said, she's getting better." Her gaze stayed aimed at the river. "I lost everything that day. Walking around town with nopony to talk to, nopony that cared." She shook her head as tears filled her eyes. "One of the worst feelings in the world."

Apple Bloom remembered that day vividly. They had tailed Diamond Tiara, watching as she walked all by her lonesome throughout Ponyville. It was at this point that reality had walloped Apple Bloom upside the head. She realized that outside of Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara didn't really have any other friends to hang out with.

"And then," Diamond Tiara continued, "all of my past mistakes, everything that I had put you and your friends and everypony else through, started coming back to me." She cringed. "They wouldn't leave me alone. I couldn't get them out of my head. They kept bothering me. I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep. I felt so guilty and ashamed of myself that I tried killing myself."

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "Tiara, Ah already forgave ya. Ya don't need to make up stuff to make me feel sorry for you."

"No, I'm serious!"

Apple Bloom blinked, completely taken aback by this revelation. "Oh, my . . . oh, my Celestia, you're serious?"

Diamond Tiara ignored her. "I grabbed a knife and was preparing to slit my throat in my bedroom, but Randolph came in, asked me if everything was okay. I said I didn't want to be bothered. Then, the next day, when you three invited me over to your clubhouse, I was planning on going home to kill myself." Her eyes met Apple Bloom's and, once again, a grateful smile crossed her face. "Thanks to you, I'm still alive. So, given all of that, I know what you're going through. Don't worry. If they're like Silver Spoon, they'll come back."

Apple Bloom shook her head. "No, they won't. They're off doing their own things." Her body shook, an early warning sign that she was starting to allow her full emotions take her completely. "And Ah . .. Ah . . . Ah'm so scar-ar-ared!" And suddenly, she was throwing herself at Diamond Tiara, burying her face in her former rival's chest as she bawled her eyes out.

Diamond Tiara stiffened at first, completely taken aback by Apple Bloom actually physically touching her, but seeing the despondent look on the farm filly's face, she couldn't help but embrace Apple Bloom tightly. When she wrapped her hooves around Apple Bloom, she noticed that Apple Bloom's grip on her grew tighter. There was no telling how much mucus and tears were staining her coat right now, but, honestly, at the moment, Diamond Tiara could care less. She rested her head against Apple Bloom's head. She could feel Apple Bloom's back heaving up and down as the farm filly sobbed, stopping every now and then to sniffle.

"Ah don't wanna grow up," Apple Bloom said. "Ah wish Ah'd never gotten mah cutie mark. Ah wish Ah could go back in time to before Ah got it." She shook her head.

Diamond Tiara was at a complete loss as to what to do. Her entire body trembled. The only thing she could think to do was to keep a tight embrace on Apple Bloom as the two of them rocked back and forth, Apple Bloom's tears seeming to be unending. Apple Bloom's entire body was trembling due to her sobbing, and all Diamond Tiara could do was wait for it to be over.

Slowly, Apple Bloom's crying became less loud and her body stopped quivering. Only quiet sobs and sniffles escaped her. Still, the two friends remained intertwined in a tight hug. Diamond Tiara's chin remained on Apple Bloom's crown, scrunching up her signature pink bow. At this point, Diamond Tiara hardly doubted that Apple Bloom cared.

After several seconds of feeling Apple Bloom's body shaking as she tried to compose herself, the two finally pulled away from each other. Apple Bloom wiped her eyes, her nose still running. She lifted a hoof, using it to wipe her nose. She tensed up when Diamond Tiara suddenly leaned forward and nuzzled her affectionately. Once the shock of this had worn off, she smiled and wrapped a warm hoof around her and pulled her close. She had to admit that it felt good feeling the warmth of their two bodies being so tightly pressed together.

For the second time, the two pulled away.

"Are you going to be okay?" Diamond Tiara asked.

"Ah . . . Ah think so," Apple Bloom replied.

"Do you want to hang out until Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle get back? I'm sure we could find something you'd like if we worked together." To her disappointment, Apple Bloom shook her head.

"Thanks, but Ah think Ah'm just gonna hang out at Sweet Apple Acres until they get back."

Diamond Tiara's ears drooped. "Oh, okay, then. Well, enjoy your pie."

Apple Bloom looked down, realizing that she had completely forgotten about the baked pie. Picking it up, she extended it towards Diamond Tiara. She smiled. "You wanna share it?"

Diamond Tiara grinned. "I was hoping you'd ask me that. I didn't eat lunch, so I'd love to."

Despite her earlier insistence that she be left alone, Apple Bloom didn't object to Diamond Tiara following her home like a little lost puppy. The two of them talked up a storm about their past mistakes and laughing about it afterwards. It was still amazing to them how well they got along. Once they'd put their differences aside, they got along like sisters.

Upon reaching Apple Bloom's home, they grabbed a couple of forks from a drawer in the kitchen, then made their way back outside, heading towards her clubhouse. In spite of the fact that she'd been in here once before, Diamond Tiara was still surprised at how roomy the treehouse was. The two of them sat in the center of the room, the pie between them, continuing to talk about whatever came to mind as they fed each other pie, and laughing when they accidentally missed and ended up getting pie all over their muzzles. It warmed Diamond Tiara's heart seeing Apple Bloom in such a good mood and laughing.

The pie was quickly devoured by the two ravenous fillies. They stayed still for a moment, too full to do anything else besides let their food properly digest before they moved again.

"Well," Diamond Tiara said, getting to her hooves and stretching, "I probably should be going. I don't want Silver Spoon worrying about me."

Reluctantly, Apple Bloom nodded and watched Diamond Tiara leave. As she realized that she was yet again alone, a tear fell from her eye. Her lip quivered, but she quickly wiped away any retreating tears from her tear ducts. Maybe getting some sleep would help her. She looked around the room. There was a comfy-looking couch pushed up against one of the walls. She was instantly drawn to it.

Climbing on top of it, she rested her head on one of the small pillows and sighed in content, relishing in how unbelievably soft it felt. But, something was missing. She needed a blanket. She retrieved one from the closet not far from the couch and proceeded to take a nap.

Apple Bloom sat in the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse, overlooking the various tasks she and the girls had done over the years to earn their cutie marks. She suddenly jumped when she heard the front door slam open and she turned to see Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo beaming at her. They ran over to her and gave her a hug, squeezing the life out of her. "Uh . . . guys, what's goin' on?"

Pulling away, Sweetie reached into her saddlebags and pulled out a roll of parchment. It rolled out as she held it in her mouth. She held it in her magic so she could speak. "I just got accepted into Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns! Isn't that great?! I'm going to magic school!" With her eyes closed and a huge grin on her face, she hopped up and down.

"And I just got accepted into a sports camp," Scootaloo said excitedly. "This is finally my chance to hone my scootering skills! Whoo-hoo!" Along with Sweetie Belle, she began hopping up and down.

Apple Bloom's eyes widened. "What?! B-but we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders! We're supposed to do everything together!"

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Come on, Apple Bloom, grow up!"

Apple Bloom got in her face, scowling. "What if Ah don't wanna grow up?!"

"Jeez, what's with you?" Sweetie Belle asked. "You make it sound like we're sisters or something."

"We are!" Apple Bloom argued.

Scootaloo sputtered her lips. "As if. You can stay in this stupid clubhouse all you want to, but we're off to get on with our lives. Come on, Sweetie Belle." With her nose in the air, she led the unicorn out of the clubhouse.

Apple Bloom watched them go, sniffling as a stray tear ran down her cheek. She finally collapsed onto the floor, beginning to sob. Suddenly, she heard a voice:

"Nice to see you again, Apple Bloom."

"Wha . . .?" Apple Bloom stopped crying long enough to look up to see Princess Luna descending into the clubhouse, going through the roof as if it were nothing. She landed in front of Apple Bloom, smiling down warmly at her. Apple Bloom scampered to her hooves and nuzzled against Luna's chest. Luna placed a comforting hoof on her back, rubbing gently.

"It's all right, Apple Bloom," Luna said gently.

"No, it's not," Apple Bloom wailed, pulling her face away from Luna's chest, revealing tears streaming down her face. "Ever since Ah got my cutie mark, things have been falling apart!" She once again scowled at her cutie mark. "Stupid cutie mark! Ah wish Ah'd never gotten it! If Ah'd known getting it would lead to all this, Ah wouldn't have been so eager to get it!" She once again collapsed onto the floor, covering her head with her hooves, her eyes squeezed shut. Her body quivered, a sob escaping her. "Ah never wished for this to happen."

Luna gave her a sympathetic look. "I know what you're going through, Apple Bloom."

Apple Bloom gave the princess a quizzical look. "H-how could you?"

"Remember, I was banished to the moon for a thousand years." A scowl came over her face. "I know that feeling of loneliness better than anypony. Even when I returned, I found that I had a hard time fitting in with other ponies. Surely you remember the disaster that was my first Nightmare Night."

Apple Bloom nodded her head.

"But it is not just me who understands what you're going through, Apple Bloom," Luna said. She reached down with a wing, dragging Apple Bloom into an embrace. "Everypony has to go through this, Apple Bloom. Even your sister and her friends. Nopony wants to, but it is something that we all must face, the pains of growing up."

An idea suddenly struck Apple Bloom."Wait! You're a princess. Isn't there something you could do? You could take me back in time before I ever got my cutie mark and––"

Luna shook her head. "There is nothing I can do, Apple Bloom."

Apple Bloom's face fell.

"It pains me beyond belief to say this," Luna went on, "but as much as you want you and your friends to stick together, I'm afraid that isn't a possibility. You and your friends will eventually go your separate ways. Sweetie Belle will go on to advance her magic. Scootaloo will go on to pursue a career as an entertainer with her scooter. And you will find something to pursue a career in as well."

"What?!" Apple Bloom wailed. "No!" Her legs gave way and she lied down on the floor, shaking as she sobbed again.

Luna reached down and gently stroked Apple Bloom with the tip of a wing. "There, there. You can still stay in touch through letters."

Apple Bloom shook her head. "That's not enough! Mah's family's falling apart!"

Luna smiled sweetly. "I know you think very highly of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, and I know they think very highly of you."

"They must not since they just up and abandoned me."

"Apple Bloom, they merely wanted to pursue their own interests. Isn't there something that you've always wanted to do?"

"Not without my sisters."

Luna's smile widened. "Like I said, there is nothing I can do. This is a matter that you must face with them, not with me."

"You mean yo can't do anything to help?"

"No. Talk to them. Maybe they feel the same way."

Apple Bloom snorted. "I doubt that."

"They should be on their way back by now. I'll leave you to it." With that, she flew up, the tip of her horn glowing a bright white, and the dream around Apple Bloom began dissolving, swirling around in a myriad of colors.

Suddenly, Apple Bloom found herself awake. "Luna?!" She sat up and looked around, throwing the blanket halfway off her body. There was no sign of the princess and as this realization hit her, Apple Bloom realized that she was alone once again. Sighing dejectedly, she got up and walked to the center of the room, plopping down her rump to look over the various activities she and her friends had done over the years. She growled and stomped her hoof before she began crying, her teardrops falling onto the multitude of papers that surrounded her, each one of them with a different activity that had a red X on it. She was so overtaken with her crying that she barely heard the door creak open. Wiping her eyes, she turned her head towards the door, letting out a dejected, "Oh, hello, girls. Have fun purusing your own interests?" She scowled.

Scootaloo gave her friend a bewildered expression. "Apple Bloom? What are you doing sitting alone in the dark?"

Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we thought you'd be out looking for things you like to do." Both she and Scootaloo smiled.

The scowl didn't leave Apple Bloom's face. She let out a mocking laugh. "Oh, ho, ho, I did. I looked all over town. I looked. And I looked. And I looked. And do you know what I found?" As Sweetie and Scootaloo shook their heads, she got in their faces and yelled, "Nothing!" before flipping open the pall, suddenly coating the entire room in light, revealing the floor completely covered in sheets of paper.

After their eyes adjusted to the sudden change in lighting, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stood and stared, shocked at just the amount of papers there were. Not only were there papers all over the floor, but there were papers pinned up on all the walls, and there were even a good amount of them pinned up on the ceiling!

Stepping forward with Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo asked, "You tried every one of these?"

Apple Bloom nodded with a sour expression. "And each one just made me feel more alone than the next. Ah don't see how Ah'm supposed to be happy now that we're not hangin' out anymore." She sneered down at the floor, only bringing her eyes up to meet her friends' gazes when Scootaloo spoke up.

"Wait, I never said that. I can't believe you thought we didn't want to hang out anymore."

Apple Bloom felt a lump form in her throat, and she quickly turned away. She sniffled, more tears being added to the puddle beneath her, her body shaking. She heard hoofbeats, but didn't look up. Suddenly, she felt two pairs of forehooves being wrapped around her. She felt somepony – she wasn't sure who – rest their head against their back.

"We're sorry, Apple Bloom," Sweetie Belle said, gently rubbing Apple Bloom's back. "We didn't mean to make you feel that way, honest. Right, Scootaloo?"

Scootaloo nodded her head. "Totally. I just meant that––"

"Oh, Ah know what you meant," Apple Bloom said. The heat in her voice was hard to detect due to her crying. "Y'all pretty much said you wanted to stop bein' sisters and wanted to break up our friendship."

"What?!" The very idea sounded horrifying to Scootaloo. "No!"

Apple Bloom sighed. "Ah just wish Ah could go back in time before Ah got mah cutie mark, that way Ah wouldn't be feelin' so scared about growin' up, about what's gonna happen when we get older."

"You think you're the only one that's scared?" Sweetie Belle spoke up. "Apple Bloom, believe me, I'm scared too." Tears brimmed her eyes. "I don't want to stop being friends or hanging out just because we get older."

"But it's bound to happen," Apple Bloom said, sniffling. She pointed at Sweetie Belle. "Y'all will probably go to Canterlot to that fancy magic school Twilight went to." She pointed at Scootaloo. "And y'all will probably go off to play sports."

Sweetie Belle shook her head. "Just because I'm a unicorn doesn't mean I have to go to magic school. Ponyville's my home. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Besides, I can always take lessons from Twilight if I want to make advancements in my magic." She leaned forward and nuzzled Apple Bloom. "I wouldn't dream of ever splitting up with you girls. I love you two too much."

Scootaloo smiled, nuzzling her face in Apple Bloom's shoulder. "Me too. I had no idea you felt this way, Apple Bloom. I never would've suggested we all go out to pursue our own interests if I'd known you'd take it this hard."

Apple Bloom sniffled, but said nothing. Her friends continued to hug her, her cries being the only sounds heard in the clubhouse. She felt her fur begin to get wet and heard sniffles and sobs added to her own, telling her that her friends had joined in her crying. Rubbing her nose on a forehoof, she finally spoke up. "Ah learned something about mahself today."

Without breaking up the group hug, Sweetie asked, "What'd you learn?" Her voice was muffled, probably as a result of her face being covered in Apple Bloom's fur.

"Ah hate being alone," Apple Bloom replied with a snarl.

"Oh," Scootaloo said. "I guess that makes sense when you think about it. I mean, unlike me and Sweetie Belle, you have such a large family who are always around and you're always hanging out with me and Sweetie Belle. I guess it would be hard for you to adjust to hanging out by yourself for a change. Honestly, Apple Bloom, I didn't meant to make you feel bad. I'd never dream of hurting you, or you, Sweetie Belle."

"Ah think Ah took it so hard 'cause you girls are like sisters to me."

Sweetie smiled at that, and her eyes lit up. "Sisters. I like the sound of that. I mean, spending time with Rarity is fun and all, but I've always really liked the idea of having a sister my own age who I could spend time with."

"Ditto," Scootaloo agreed, nodding her head. "Hanging out with Rainbow Dash is a blast, but hanging out with you guys is way more fun!"

For the longest time, the three friends continued to hug one another. Apple Bloom's crying died down a little until the only sounds that could be heard were her steady breathing. Pulling away, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stared at her, realizing that she'd fallen asleep.

"We should get her to bed," Scootaloo whispered to Sweetie Belle.

Together, they managed to get Apple Bloom onto Sweetie Belle's back, somehow without waking her up. The two of them trudged through Sweet Apple Acres until they reached the house, silently slipping through the front door and heading towards the living room. Once they had her settled on the couch, the both of them jumped as they heard Applejack walk in the room.

"Hey, girls! Who wants to try––"

"Shh!" both Sweetie and Scootaloo hissed. They gestured to Apple Bloom.

"Oh," Applejack replied. "You girls feel like having some pie? Fresh from the oven."

"Mm, that sounds delightful," Sweetie spoke up, licking her lips and rubbing her belly.

"Count me in," Scootaloo agreed. "Both of us were busy, so I guess neither one of us had time to eat lunch."

"Well, actually," Sweetie said, "Rarity made us some salad for lunch, but it didn't exactly fill me up."

"Well, come on in the kitchen and pull ya up a chair, then," Applejack said, leading them to said room. As she fixed them their plates, she asked, "So what's wrong with Apple Bloom?"

"I feel so lousy," Sweetie said.

Applejack gave her a confused stare. "Why, what'd you do?"

"Me and Sweetie Belle decided that we wanted to go out and puruse our own interests," Scootaloo elaborated. "Apple Bloom . . . didn't take it well."

"She thought that us going out and doing our own things meant that we didn't want to be friends anymore," Sweetie Belle added.

"Oh." Applejack's ears fell flat. "So that's what's been bothering her all day. Poor thing." She walked over and set three plates of apple pie in front of their respective owners and sat down herself. "With her mama and daddy gone, I guess that would be hard for her to take."

"I'd like to make it up to her," Sweetie Belle said, taking a bite of her pie. She winced.

"Careful there," Applejack warned. "It just came out of the oven, so it's kinda hot."

Sweetie Belle tapped her tongue. "I can't feel my tongue."

"What did you have in mind, Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo asked.

"I was thinking tomorrow we could just spend the day with her," Sweetie said. "We could hang out, do whatever she wants, let her know that we're still friends and we care about her."

Applejack smiled. "Ah'm sure she'd absolutely love that, sugarcube."

"Hey, Applejack," Scootaloo said, "since you're her sister, maybe you could help us. What kind of things does she like?"

Applejack chuckled. "Yer her best friends. Ya must know."

"Well, we know a little bit," Sweetie said, "but not enough to where we could make a whole day of it."

Applejack nodded in understanding. "Alright, sugarcubes, Ah'll help ya." She looked down at her slice of pie. "Just as soon as we're done with this here pie."

Beaming, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo dug in along with Applejack.