//-------------------------------------------------------// An Apple of a Friend -by Princess Silver Belles- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Hard Thoughts //-------------------------------------------------------// Hard Thoughts One sunny Fall morning, Apple Bloom was cheerfully getting ready for school, than she turned to glance at her calendar, and noticed it was Twist's birthday today. "Oh mah gosh, it's Twist's birthday today!" Yelled Apple Bloom happily,"Applejack!" she called for her big sister,Applejack came galloping up to the filly's room,"Yes AB?" she asked, sounding concerned. Apple Bloom took a deep breath,"Look! It's Twist's birthday today. An' I don't know if I should go to her party." AJ understood her little sister's situation, ever since Apple Bloom met Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, she's been hanging out with them more than with Twist."Ah'm sure, Twist is still yer friend, AB, ya got nothin' to worry about." She said, sounding confident in herself..."Thanks sis," said Apple Bloom trotting from her room to the front, followed by Applejack close by. Apple Bloom still didn't feel unsure about what Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo might think, about Twist. Apple Bloom didn't know exactly why her friends didn't like Twist after all. But even at breakfast, it bothered her, she tried to hide it from her family, by acting like everything was normal in the daily life of the Apple Family.'If Ah go to Twist's party, will mah friends hate me?'Questions went through the filly's mind that morning. She had school later too, she tried to focus on getting ready for school. "Come on Apple Bloom! Ya don' wanna be late for school!" Called out Granny Smith, from her rocking chair, which was rocking back and forth slowly. "Ah'm comin' Granny!" Replied Apple Bloom putting her dishes in the sink. Usually she'd help her family with the dishes, but she was going to be late for school. While Apple Bloom was walking to school, she kept trying to clear her mind."Apple Bloom!" She heard Scootaloo call her,"wait up!" The pegasus ran over to the young filly."Why do you look so upset?" Scootaloo asked, noticing Apple Bloom's upset expression mixed with worry,"Ah well Scoots, ya see..." She tried to explain, it was hard considering the fact Scootaloo disliked Twist."Did Applejack yell at you?" Scootaloo guessed, starting to become impatient."Twist's birthday is today..!" Apple Bloom blurted out, she knew she would have to get it over it sooner or later."So? Are you going to her party?" Scootaloo asked raising an eyebrow. Apple Bloom shook her head,"I don't know yet!" Scootaloo checked her face for lies, but smiled and trotted away. Apple Bloom sighed, and began walking by herself again.She heard Twist's voice call to her in the distance, she thought she was just having more worries, until the voice became more clear."Apple Bloom! Wait, I gotta give you something."  Twist said handing Apple Bloom a party invitation card."I hope you come, even though we don't hang out much anymore!" Twist explained hopping away like Pinkie Pie would bouncing. Apple Bloom hid it her saddlebag, before Scootaloo could see, as she turned around.Apple Bloom cast her a smile, and she continued to walk to school. //-------------------------------------------------------// Letters Between Enemies //-------------------------------------------------------// Letters Between Enemies              Apple Bloom, as she sat down in class and pulled out her homework, the card Twist had given her slipped out, and Sweetie Belle saw it and took it, Apple Bloom asked her for it, but Scootaloo snatched it from Sweetie Belle and read it. Dear Apple Bloom As you know, every year, I invite you to my parties! We always have the best of fun there, and to be honest, I was kinda hopping we could catch up a little. Ever since I had gotten my Cutie Mark, we never spoke to each other after that. Hope you can come Apple Bloom! It'll be amazing, we'll have delicious cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and punch! See you later! From Twist   Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stuck their tongues at it, and stared at Apple Bloom."When did she give this to you?" Sweetie Belle asked, with a hint of hatred in her voice. Apple Bloom tried to think of words to come up with,"she gave it to me, this mornin', when I was walkin' to school,"Apple Bloom admitted. Scootaloo gasped,"That's why you smiled at me for no reason!" Everything seemed to be crashing for the farm filly."Alright everypony, quiet down please! We have a very important announcement  to make!" The fillies and colts all settled down, except for three certain fillies, Apple Bloom couldn't believe this day was turning out bad for her, her two best friends disliked her old best friend..."Today is Twist's birthday! Everypony wish her a great birthday as she passes out the invitations!" Cheerilee finished smiling excitedly, as Twist hopped out of her seat and passed out invitations to everypony in her class, even Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Twist, however due to not having enough cards as she thought she did, she didn't give one to Scootaloo or Sweetie Belle, the two fillies just gave her behind the back glares, which surprised both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. As the recess bell rang, the young ponies ran out to enjoy some fresh air."I hope I can come Twist!" Alula said smiling to Twist, "I mean, I have never missed a Twist party ever!" Dinky agreed standing beside Alula. "I hope so too Alula, Dinky, will Derpy let you come?" Twist asked, she was hopping everypony could come to her party. "The more ponies, the more fun", Pinkie Pie would always say to her."Apple Bloom? You're not going to her party are you?" Scootaloo asked, even though she disliked Twist, she still felt bad for not being invited. Sweetie Belle, however, was surprised she wasn't invited at all. "Ah don' know Scoots! Ah mean you're both my best friends, an' Twist an' Ah were best friends before an'..." All this explaining was killing Apple Bloom's little brain, she walked to the water fountain to get a cold drink.She heard Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's voices around a corner, she went to go investigate."I know right? Like didn't you see their faces when she like passed them?" Silver Spoon said laughing in her rich tone voice, Diamond Tiara joined in her laughter."I didn't know those two blank flanks could be so you know? Mean!" Diamond Tiara added. "Twist totally left them out on purpose!" Silver Spoon laughed some more. "Now, Apple Bloom has to choose between Twist or her blank flank friends!" Apple Bloom walked away slowly, before the bullies could see her. Her mind was racing,she needed to rest. "Alright, time for class everypony!" Cheerilee said coming out of the school house."Pass it to Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo whispered to the unicorn, in which the unicorn accepted. "Apple Bloom, here read it!" Sweetie Belle whispered to the earth pony. Apple Bloom, took the note, and was caught just as Cheerilee turned to face the class."Apple Bloom! Pass it here please!" Cheerilee instructed. Come on Apple Bloom! We're so much cooler than Twist, besides we're the "cool ponies," not her! What do you have in common with her anyway? She got her Cutie Mark already, we don't. All I'm saying is this: You can't go to her lame party Apple Bloom, stick with us, we're much better friends for you. Cheerilee saw that the note was from Scootaloo, and in tiny printing, Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom couldn't believe how selfish her friends were acting."Scootaloo? Sweetie Belle?" Cheerilee called to her now blushing students..."Please, you know these kinds of notes are mean and can hurt a pony's feelings. I advise you to let Apple Bloom choose whoever she would want to be friends with!"  Apple Bloom sighed and planted her head into her hooves. Sweetie and Scootaloo nodded and listened to Cheerilee talk the rest of the school day."Have a great weekend everypony!" Cheerilee said as her students ran outside, eager to start their weekends!Apple Bloom also ran,she didn't want to see anypony, especially her friends. "Ah gotta get outta here! An' find someplace quiet! Like the clubhouse!" Apple Bloom told herself. //-------------------------------------------------------// Hearing Gossip //-------------------------------------------------------// Hearing Gossip               Apple Bloom ran to the clubhouse, but she could have sworn she heard the voices of her best friends in there. She decided to stay outside and listen to what they were saying. "I don't want Apple Bloom to go to Twist's party, Scoots!" Sweetie Belle whined, stomping a hoof. "Sweetie Belle? We were the ones who defended Apple Bloom against Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara, remember? She can't just ditch us!" Scootaloo explained, her raspy voice nearly shouted, Apple Bloom scratched her head, she was getting more frustrated."Apple Bloom also said that, Twist laughed at her, when Diamond Tiara passed her a blank note." Sweetie Belle pointed out, Scootaloo quickly nodded in agreement. "We've always been there for her! Like good friends should." Apple Bloom almost cried, but she held it, she decided to go home, and lock herself in her bedroom."My friends? Why?" Apple Bloom kept asking herself, but she soon grew tired and drifted off to sleep. "Apple Bloom! You're Twist's friend? Forget about us than, we're gone!" Scootaloo angrily shouted, Sweetie Belle tossed her mane and followed beside Scootaloo."I thought you were our friend Apple Bloom! A Cutie Mark Crusader Forever!"  A tear rolled down her cheek, and the two walked away. Then, more trouble came her way, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. "Wow blank flank! Looks like you're all alone to fight your own battles!" Diamond Tiara teased smirking rudely,  "yeah, looks like Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are no longer your friends, does this mean you're no longer a Cutie Mark Crusader?" Silver Spoon added laughing.  Apple Bloom tried to run away, but her hooves felt stuck on the ground, "help!" She screamed, but the only ponies who were there, were laughing at her. Apple Bloom screamed and woke up, "That was the worst nightmare ever!" She whispered. She tried to go back to sleep,but the nightmares kept flooding her mind.All night, the filly just lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. //-------------------------------------------------------// Realizing Their Mistake //-------------------------------------------------------// Realizing Their Mistake     Apple Bloom was tired, she couldn't sleep at all, she had to choose between the Crusaders and Twist. She was walking through Ponyville, hoping  the fresh breeze would help her wake up,but it wasn't doing much to the sleepy filly."I wonder what would happen if I did go to Twist's party. Will Scoots and Sweetie really be angry? I wonder why they hate her anyway." Apple Bloom asked herself. "Hey Scoot! There she is!" Sweetie Belle called over to the pegasus, pointing to a miserable Apple Bloom walking to nowhere in particular. "Yeah, you think she's ya know? Really upset with us?" Scootaloo asked, "she's walking kinda slow." Sweetie Belle shrugged, and the two of them trotted over to their sad apple. "Apple Bloom? Can we talk to you?" Sweetie Belle asked, as gently as she could, Apple Bloom didn't answer, she just kept walking..."We're sorry," the unicorn looked to Scootaloo,who got the message."She's right Apple Bloom,if you wanna go to Twist's party, it's fine with us, even if we're not friends with her." Sweetie nodded."Yeah,we didn't realize we were putting so much pressure on you! Not until Rarity told us, she said that you told Applejack about how much pressure we were putting on you. You're our best friend." With that the two fillies hugged Apple Bloom, they didn't care who was watching them, but neither did Apple Bloom as she returned the hug."It's okay gals." Apple Bloom whispered. Later that day, Apple Bloom spent the day happily with her friends, no more worries swept her mind."Hi Apple Bloom, listen, my party is tomorrow remember! Hey Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. I'm sorry for not inviting you before, when I was preparing the invitations, I didn't realize I wouldn't have enough for everypony in our class.So I went to the store today, and well, here you go," Twist explained hoofing over invitations. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle took them, slowly, was she really being nice to them? "A-are you sure Twist? After all we've put you in?" Sweetie Belle asked, she was being genuinely honest, Twist smiled and nodded."I was hoping we could put our differences aside for once, and also hoping that we could become friends?" Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle glanced at each other,than at Apple Bloom, who had the same surprised look, and than back at Twist."I would like to Twist, thank you!" Sweetie Belle accepted the invitation smiling warmly."If Sweetie's going, then I'll go too!" Scootaloo said excitedly flapping her wings. "Yay!" Apple Bloom and Twist gave each other a hoof-bump. And, the four fillies laughed. "If only Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were as forgivable as you two!" Twist remarked upon Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. "Yeah, I know right? Those girls will never learn," agreed Sweetie Belle,"hey? Why did you invite them to your party?" Scootaloo asked."I don't know, I just wanted to, I guess." Twist shrugged. //-------------------------------------------------------// Party Twist Style! //-------------------------------------------------------// Party Twist Style! Twist was glad everything worked out, she watched her guests happily chatted with one another.              "Oh look Silver Spoon, look who got invited," Diamond Tiara said smirking.."Wow, I guess Twist decided to be nice to you both and like invite you." Silver Spoon added. Twist frowned, she wasn't expecting this to happen very soon. "Whatever!" Scootaloo said rolling her eyes.."Just 'cause Twist has a Cutie Mark doesn't mean she'll be a brat to us like you are!" Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes next,and her and Silver Spoon just left without saying another word. "Ah'm sure proud of you sis! Ah told ya yer friends would come 'round." Applejack told Apple Bloom, Apple Bloom looked over at her two friends, who were still angrily staring at Diamond Tiara. "They are my best friends Applejack.." Apple Bloom replied smiling. "My sister did come around, I told you Applejack!" Rarity said looking up from her magazine.."Sweetie Belle is a sweet filly." Sweetie Belle walked over to Apple Bloom along with Scootaloo. "So Apple Bloom! How ya likin' the party?" Scootaloo asked, Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow,"Ah'm glad you both came around."  Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo hugged Apple Bloom lightly. Twist galloped over with a tray of delicious cupcakes and cookies especially for her friends."Here guys! I had Pinkie Pie make special cupcakes and cookies just for you three..", the Crusaders smiled warmly and accepted the treats."Thank you Twist, you're really nice, sorry again for what we did to you," Sweetie Belle apologized, she nudged Scootaloo to do the same."Oh yeah,I'm sorry too, do you wanna be...? Scootaloo started..."Friends?" Sweetie Belle finished. Twist replied with a tackle hug which had the two fillies struggling to breathe.'Should Ah help 'em?' Apple Bloom thought to herself, but then she silently decided to leave her three friends and take a cupcake and eat it. Silver Spoon, once she was sure Diamond Tiara wasn't around to see her,she walked over to Apple Bloom."Aren't you gonna help them?" She asked Apple Bloom, who was still eating a cookie."Nah,why do you even care?" They farm filly asked, Silver Spoon took a quick glance around again."I wish I was your friend, please don't tell Diamond Tiara! She'll be so mad if she found out, I just think that how you and Twist stayed loyal to each other despite you not having a Cutie Mark was like totally awesome! Anyway, I gotta go, later Apple Bloom." With that the silver mane filly walked away in search of Diamond Tiara. Apple Bloom was surprised,'Ah always knew that filly had a heart,' Apple Bloom thought smiling, she heard her friends' voices and turned to see them approaching."Apple Bloom! Silver Spoon didn't give you any trouble did she?" Sweetie Belle asked, squeaking."Nah, she just wanted a cupcake," the farm filly lied. "Ooh," Sweetie Belle replied sadly,'I thought Silver Spoon liked me back.' "Sweetie? You alright?" Scootaloo asked,"Oh yeah, I'm totally fine," her friends shrugged and walked off.'It's not fair! I've been keeping these feelings a secret for days!' Sweetie Belle kept ranting in her head. Silver Spoon saw Sweetie Belle and walked over to the frustrated unicorn."Hi Sweetie Belle! You alright?" Silver asked."Sure am! Why wouldn't I be?" Sweetie tried to keep her fake smile glued on her face, Silver didn't believe her one bit."You're lying!" Sweetie released her frown,"how would you know?"  "'Cause, you're too cute and too sweet to be a liar!" Silver Spoon admitted blushing. Sweetie Belle began to blush too,'she thinks I'm cute? Yay!'  Silver smiled warmly."Anyway, my parents are gonna be gone out of town for like a few days,and Diamond's gotta go to Canterlot with her father, and I was sorta hoping, you could hang with me?" Silver Spoon asked, with wide open eyes.Sweetie Belle couldn't let her down,"Yeah totally! I'd love to Silver Spoon..."  Silver Spoon squealed and she gave Sweetie Belle a hug, and the unicorn did something that Silver wasn't expecting, she kissed Silver Spoon's cheek. Which made the two blush madly and separated."Ah, anyway I gotta go find Diamond Tiara..so I'll see you later?" Silver Spoon said awkwardly,Sweetie Belle smiled nervously.."Of course!" With that Silver Spoon left to find her tiara wearing friend and Sweetie went back to enjoying the party with her friends.Both fillies acting like the kiss never happened. 'Sweetie Belle likes me back! And when we hang out, I can finally tell her my feelings! It's the prefect plan!' Silver Spoon squealed. Dear Princess Celestia. Today, I learned that even ponies who never thought they'd become friends, but when they put their differences aside, they'll discover a really cool pony underneath! Well, that's what happened to my friends anyway, and now we're the greatest friends ever! An' Twist said she'd offer to help us find our Cutie Marks, Ah can't wait! Yours truly, Apple Bloom. ~Cutie Mark Crusader... //-------------------------------------------------------// An Applejack of an Advice //-------------------------------------------------------// An Applejack of an Advice           Apple Bloom had decided to go ask the only pony she could for help, Applejack. Her sister was honest, not only because it was her Element, but she also trusted Applejack the most. She went to find Applejack and found the mare outside in the orchard bucking apple trees. "Hay Applejack! Can Ah ask you somethin'?" Apple Bloom asked concerned,Applejack stopped an trotted over to her sister's side."Sure thing sugarcube," Apple Bloom took a deep breath, and explained everything to her sister, who listened with plenty of patience. She explained the morning that Twist gave her the card, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo asking her if she was going to attend the party, and the note telling her she shouldn't go. Applejack couldn't believe what she was hearing, if she'd known how much pressure her little sister was in, she would've helped her out sooner. "Apple Bloom. Listen, you're all stressed out, I understand, it's peer pressure. Ah'm sure Sweetie Belle an' Scootaloo will come aroun', when they realize what they're doin' is wrong. Now off you go, and enjoy the sunny weather." Applejack held Apple Bloom in a brief embrace, and let her go. Apple Bloom ran to find her friends, hopefully, they weren't being jerks today."Have you seen Apple Bloom anywhere?" She heard Twist ask a nearby pony. "Should I go to her?" Apple Bloom said to herself, but before she could answer her own question, Twist saw her and galloped over."Hey Apple Bloom! Don't forget about my party!" She said and trotted away.