Pen Pals 2

by Deathsia

Rating: mature
Tags: Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Romance, Silver Spoon, Sex, Diamond Tiara, Slice of Life, Babs Seed
Length: 83984

Applebloom hatches a plot to find Diamond Tiara and reunite her with her lover Silverspoon. However things don't as planned...

Applebloom hatches a plot to find Diamond Tiara and reunite her with her lover Silverspoon. However things don't as planned... Tensions run high as a whole new chain of events lead to the ultimate test of Babs and Applebloom's love!

This story is the sequel to PEN PALS and you should read this first if you plan on tracking this story. ^^

Published 2013-06-09 18:20:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-12-10 06:41:09 UTC

Another unusual letter

PEN PALS 2

ANOTHER UNUSUAL LETTER

Applebloom sat up in her bed one morning and gave a mighty yawn. She glanced at the window, taking note of the sun lazily making its way through the sunrise. She stretched her legs before jumping out of bed.

It had been one year since her relationship with Babs had been exposed to her family, and one year since Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had been separated thanks to revealing their relationship to Filthy Rich. Despite the events that had occurred a year ago, the Apples were, oddly enough, on good terms with Filthy Rich and his family. Of course, the filly had a sneaking suspicion that this must be because of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon exposing to Applejack they had been having sex behind the stallion's back for nearly two years. The farm mare didn't trust that coin-greedy stallion for one second, but she played nice when she did see him.

Applebloom walked to her closet and began shuffling through her clothes. Babs was coming over for the weekend again, and Applebloom wanted to wow her lover with an outfit she had been saving for this occasion. This weekend would mark a year that the two had been dating, and their love for each other couldn't be stronger.

However, the more Applebloom searched, the more panicked she got. It was quickly becoming obvious that the outfit she planned to wear had gone missing.

“Applejack!”, the farm filly called out, starting to throw out garments of clothing behind her as she continued her frantic search through the closet.

“What is it, surgarcube?”, Applejack's response could be heard as she walked into the room. She took note of the fact that her little sister's bedroom was a complete mess, thanks to the clothes being thrown out of the closet without a care.

“Where's that outfit Ah asked ya to buy me two months ago?”, Applebloom asked, not even taking her head out to look at her sister. The amount of garments in the closet was quickly depleting to nothing.

“Which outfit are we talkin' bout?”, the farm mare inquired, fighting the urge to scold the filly about her bedroom's condition.

Applebloom yanked her head out and gave her sister an annoyed expression.

“Oh come on!", she exclaimed impatiently. "Ya know exactly which outfit Ah'm talkin bout! It's the one Ah asked ya to buy me in exchange for doing your share of applebuckin' for three weeks!”, she explained and resumed her search through her closet, but ended up clearing out the rest of its contents in the next few seconds.

“Oh, that one", Applejack replied. "Ah think it's in the wash.”

The farm pony was almost whirled in circles when the filly ran past her with an aghast expression.

“That outfit is dry clean only!”, Applebloom cried as she ran down the hall and downstairs, in a fashion that reminded the farm pony of Rarity. “Please don't be wet, please don't be wet!”, she begged when she rounded the corner to the wash room.

She gasped in horror upon seeing the outfit dripping from the clothesline.

“Ya ruined it!”, Applebloom yelled at the top of her lungs, causing everypony in the house to avert their attention to the washroom.

“What's all the fuss about?”, Granny Smith could be heard asking as she walked into the washroom. She saw her granddaughter in tears.

“The outfit Ah planned on wearing this weekend for Babs got ruined, and it's all Applejack's fault!", Applebloom wailed between sobs. "Ah told her it was dry clean only!”

“Ah see. So, what's the occasion?”, Granny Smith asked curiously, walking over to the outfit to examine it.

“This weekend is me and Babs' one year anniversary", Applebloom replied with a sniffle. "Ah wanted to impress her with it, so Ah kept it hidden from her by stashin' it in here. Ah thought Ah brought it back to mah room last week though.”

“Oh sweetie, she'll like ya just as ya are", Granny Smith remarked, walking over to the filly and running a hoof on her shoulder comfortingly. "Ya know this, right?”

“Ah know... but this was important to me. Ah really wanted to surprise her with this for the occasion”, the weeping filly replied, wiping tears from her eyes. She once again looked at her ruined outfit, which nearly caused her to break into fully blown sobs anew.

It was at this point that Applejack came walking into the washroom, looking guilt stricken.

“Ah'm really sorry 'bout this, little sis. Ah saw it sittin' in your closet and it looked mighty dusty, so Ah thought Ah would do ya a favor and wash it for ya. Ah didn't know it wasn't supposed to be washed in water ”, she said, her head held in front of her chest in an apologetic manner.

After a few more moments Applebloom stood to her all fours and let out a sigh.

“It's okay Ah guess", she said. "Ya didn't know. But now Ah have nothin' to wear for me and Babs' one year anniversary.”

She walked out of the washroom, past Granny Smith and Applejack. After a brief moment of silence, the elder mare gave Applejack a subtle nudge with her left elbow, giving her a slightly stern glance.

“Oh horsefeathers", Applejack thought to herself dismally. "Looks like Ah'm not gonna be gettin' mahself that new plow this month.”

She walked up to Applebloom and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

“Listen surgarcube, if this outfit is that important to ya to wear, Ah suppose Ah could get ya another one”, she said in a comforting manner.

Applebloom turned to look at her with a curious look.

“What's the catch?”, she asked suspiciously.

“No catch", Applejack answered. "It's mah fault your outfit's ruined, so Ah reckon it's mah responsibility to get ya another one.”

This was met with an excited hug by her little sister.

“Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!”, Applebloom exclaimed happily. It didn't last long though, because she then looked up at the clock and gave a gasp. “Oh horsefeathers! Ah'm gonna be late for school!”, she realized in a panicked tone, bolting away from her sister and out the door. A brief moment later, her head popped back in. “Thanks again!”, she said before disappearing again.

“That was mighty kind of ya, Applejack”, Granny Smith remarked with smile, walking up next to her granddaughter.

“One year", Applejack remarked. "Ah can barely believe those two made it one year. Ah didn't think they would last two months to be honest.”

This was met with a swift hoof to the hindquarters by the elder mare.

“Applejack! Now, Ah know ya weren't raised to speak ill of yer family!”, Granny Smith scolded with a stern glare.

“Sorry, Granny. Ya gotta understand though, Ah'm still adjustin' to all this. Ah've only recently been able to stop goin' green when those two kiss around me. And let's not forget the family reunion no more than two months ago", Applejack recalled, followed by a sigh. "Ah swear, if looks could kill a pony, every one of us would have been dead from the looks some of the Apple family gave us. Especially dealin' with Babs' parents. Ah can't believe they thought it was a joke 'till they saw Babs and Applebloom pucker up in front of 'em...”

FLASH BACK

Babs' mother and father stared at the scene that played out before them. They looked shocked and pale as Applebloom and Babs locked lips in front of the two.

“Oh horsefeathers!”, Granny Smith exclaimed, breaking into full gallop upon witnessing this. Applejack's expression became whiter than a ghost.

“I-I-I thought it was a game or some kind of joke!", Babs' mother exclaimed in a slightly frantic tone, which was getting more frantic with each sentence. "Why are they kissing? Henry, why are they kissing?!”

Henry, however, was at a loss for words for a time.

“Babs Seed!”, his voice eventually erupted so loudly that nearly everypony within twenty feet turned to look at them.

“Now hang on a cotton pickin' moment, ya two. Ah want a word with ya!”, Granny Smith interjected in the nick of time, grabbing both parents' attention and dragging them off to the side.

END FLASHBACK

”That reunion was a might of hoof-full, Ah admit ", Granny Smith recalled with a heavy sigh. "'Specially dealin' with Babs' parents. Ah got twenty questions and more from 'em and it took me nearly an hour to calm their fears. And even then Ah feared they might do what Filthy Rich did to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.”

“How did ya manage to calm 'em down anyways, Granny?”, Applejack asked curiously.

“Ah told 'em a bull-faced lie", Granny Smith replied. "Said that they were kissin' cousins. Then Ah had to explain to them what kissin' cousins were. That lie will only hold up for so long though. They'll figure out the truth sooner or later. Then the apples are gonna hit the fan and the real test for the two of 'em is gonna begin”, she ended and sighed dejectedly.

“That's not like ya to tell a lie, Granny", Applejack remarked with a curious glance at her grandmother. "Why would ya do that?”

“Let's just say me and those two have a common history”, Granny Smith replied, walking off towards her rocking chair. She sat in it, and began to work on a quilt she had been sewing together.

“Common history? Ah don't think Ah wanna know...”, Applejack replied, giving an audible shudder at the thought of what her grandmother may or may have not done in her youth...

The Ponyville School bell rang, signaling the end of class for all the students. Applebloom stood in the same spot she always did, waiting for a certain pony to show up. Sure enough, Silver Spoon came trotting up to her.

“Hey, blank-flank. Lose your way again?”, she jeered, purposely bumping into the farm pony and knocking her onto her haunches. She then leaned over, at which point an envelope fell into Applebloom's lap. “Make sure it gets to her!”, she whispered quickly before leaning back, walking down the path and towards the carriage. Filthy Rich could be seen sitting in it, waiting for her to get in.

“Ah know she needs to keep her face so Filthy Rich doesn't catch on, but does she have to shove me so hard?”, Applebloom asked herself softly with an annoyed expression. When Filthy Rich's carriage was out of sight, she bit onto the letter and placed it into her saddle-bag.

Once at home, she placed the letter on the table and sat in her chair, taking a pencil to properly address it to Diamond Tiara's house.

“Another letter from Silver Spoon to Diamond Tiara, Ah expect?", Applejack asked as she walked into the dining room. "Just how long do you plan on helpin' the two send letters like this?”

“As long as Ah need to, big sis. It's not their fault that Filthy Rich is keepin' them apart and makin' sure they can't send letters to one another”, Applebloom replied, licking the stamp and slapping it on the envelope.

“Speakin' of letters, got one from Babs addressed to ya”, Applejack said, reaching into her saddle pack and placing an envelope in front of her.

“Another one?", Applebloom asked in surprise. She began to open the envelope. "That's two in one week. Must be cause our anniversary is this weekend. Say, could ya send this out for me?”

“Sure thing”, Applejack replied, picking up the letter with her mouth and trotting out of the room. Meanwhile, Applebloom poured the contents of the envelope out and opened her own letter.

Dear Applebloom,

Sorry if this letter is short but I just wanted to tell ya that I will be coming over earlier than planned. I should be in Ponyville the next day after this letter arrives. Can't explain why now, gotta go!”

Love, Babs

“She's comin' over tomorrow? Doesn't she have school?”, Applebloom pondered aloud in confusion. It didn't take long, however, before it finally settled into her brain that her fillyfriend was coming over tomorrow. “Applejack! We need to get that outfit today!”, she called out, rushing into the living room and nearly running head first into her older sister.

“What's the rush? She ain't comin' over 'till the weekend. Ah know ya are itchin' to get that outfit, but--”, Applejack began to say before the filly shoved the letter into her face. “Tomorrow?! Don't she have school to be attending?”

“That's what Ah thought too, but she must be gettin' out early. Probably a holiday of some sorts in Manehattan.”

“Hmm, maybe. Ah guess we should be headin' out for that outfit then. Let's get goin'", Applejack concluded. She still wondered why Babs was coming over earlier than planned, but that could wait until the city filly arrives. “We're headin' out for Applebloom's outfit now, Granny. We'll be back in an hour or so”, she called out.

This snapped the elder mare out of one of her daily naps.

“Huh-wha? Now? Don't tell me Applebloom's been pesterin' ya about getting it since she got home, did she?” Granny Smith asked, immediately giving the filly a stern glance.

“That's not it, Granny. We're gettin' it now on account of Babs' arrival bein' pushed up to tomorrow instead of this weekend”, Applejack explained, handing Granny Smith the letter.

She then walked out the front door, quickly followed by Applebloom. Granny Smith read the short letter, raising her eyebrow when she finished.

“Hmm. Somethin' doesn't add up”, she remarked suspiciously, watching her granddaughters walk down the path towards the town...

Author's Note

Here's the first chapter of Pen Pals 2! I'll be busting out a new chapter soon and the coverart will be updated as soon as Zu finishes it!

A filly in distress

A FILLY IN DISTRESS

The next day arrived.

Applebloom and Applejack were already waiting at the train station. Unlike the farm pony, Applebloom was a nervous wreck. She had plans to do with Babs for their one year anniversary, but these plans were for the weekend, not three days plus the weekend. This left three days unplanned and she wanted to make this a visit for her lover to remember.

“Hmm, Ah could take her out to lunch, but what about the dinner?! Um, uh, Ah could ask Granny Smith to make her a--”

“Relax, surgarcube", Applejack spoke up, snapping the filly out of her racing thoughts. "Ah know you wanna turn this visit into something Babs won't forget, but she ain't gonna be enjoyin' herself if you're a nervous wreck the whole time.”

Applebloom was just about to reply when the train pulled in and Babs stepped out.

“Howdy Babs!”, Applejack called out, flagging the city filly down.

A smile adorned Babs' face when she spotted the location of her cousins. She walked over and hugged Applebloom affectionately.

“Suppose we should be headin' back to the farm now”, Applejack suggested, doing her best to ignore the feeling in her gut which was threatening to make her turn green again.

“Just a sec", Babs replied, though her expression seemed nervous as she spoke. "I brought some stuff with me. For my extended stay ya know?”

She then signaled the train conductor, who carried three saddlebags full of her belongings.

“That's an awful lot of stuff for a five day visit”, Applejack remarked with a raised eyebrow, observing the train conductor as he set the stuff down next to the city filly, the latter looking nervous still.

“Well, heh-heh, ya know, it's me and Applebloom's anniversary and I wanted to be prepared. Dat's all”, Babs explained, quickly lifting one of the saddlebags up and putting it over her back.

“Really?”, the farm pony spoke up, although looking far from convinced.

“Come on, times a-wastin'!”, Babs exclaimed, suddenly darting past the two and not letting Applejack inquire any further as to why she was here early.

“And Ah thought Ah was nervous about our anniversary”, Applebloom remarked, looking surprised to see her cousin in such a state. She picked up one of the saddle-bags and followed Babs off the platform.

“Ah'd bet the family's apple orchard that she's hidin' somethin'. Ah just hope it ain't what Ah think it is”, Applejack said softly to herself, lifting up the saddlebag and following the two.

After they got back to the farm, the city filly's nervous state seemed to have melt away as she and Applebloom unpacked her things in the farm filly's bedroom.

“Ah gotta say, Ah was plum shocked to her ya comin' over early. Some kind of holiday in Manhattan let ya get out of school early?”, Applebloom inquired curiously.

The city filly nearly fumbled the toy she held in her hooves upon hearing this question. She looked at her cousin.

“Eh-y-yeah”, she stuttered. She then set the toy down and sighed with a saddened expression.

Applebloom knew this look. It was often the one Babs had when something was worrying her.

“Is somethin’ wrong?”, she asked, walking over to her lover and placing a hoof on her cheek.

Babs looked at her.

“It's nothin'. Really, I just got a lot on my mind, that's all”, she replied.

The farm filly was far from convinced, though.

“Ya wanna talk about it?”, she asked in a comforting tone, running her hoof along her cheek and upwards through her mane, looking at her with concern.

“Later”, Babs replied shortly, gently moving Applebloom's hoof away and walking past her.

“Babs, ya know you can tell me anythin', right? If it's a secret, Ah'll keep it. Ya know you can trust me”, Applebloom tried to remind her, unwilling to let the topic drop so easily.

“I know dat, but this needs to wait 'till later. I... I can't talk about it now”, Babs responded, her voice saddened and soft as she spoke. She then left the room.

“Silver Spoon? What brings ya--”, Applejack could be heard from below, and seemed to be cut off as a galloping of hooves made their way upstairs.

“Silver Spoon? What in Equestria--?!”, Applebloom heard Babs just down the hall, and she seemed to be cut off as well.

Moments later Babs was dragged by her tail into Applebloom's bedroom by Silver Spoon, who closed the door behind her.

“I need your help!”, the silver-furred filly declared, looking as if she was on the brink of tears.

“What's goin' on?”, Applebloom asked, rather concerned by this unexpected turn of events, which shoved her current dilemma with Babs from her mind, at least for the moment.

“I-I'm going to lose her!”, Silver Spoon said, tears starting to stream from her eyes.

“Lose who? Diamond Tiara?”, Babs asked, looking with concern at Silver Spoon as well.

Silver Spoon nodded silently. She reached into her saddlebag and tossed an envelope onto the floor, which caused the letter inside to slide out slightly.

Applebloom reached down. She removed the letter out of the envelope and began to read its contents.

Dear Silver Spoon,

As much as I don't want to do this, I don't have any choice.

Being away from you so long hurts too much. I can't take it anymore!

Unless something happens soon, like daddy suddenly letting us see each other again,

I'm going to have to end this relationship of ours...

Why did daddy do this to us?! Why can't he understand how much we love each other?!

It's not fair! I don't want to do this to us, but it's not fair to either of us if we can't hold each other every night. It's not like we have any choice in the matter. We have to resort to letting Applebloom help us so we can send these letters to one another! We would be better off breaking it off now, but I don't want to yet.

However the longer we wait, the more my heart feels like it's being torn apart! How much longer can we keep this up? How much longer can our hearts take being away from each other?

I don't know what else to do, I love you so much, but I can't do this anymore, Silver Spoon. This will be the last letter you get from me. Tell Applebloom thank you for everything.

Love always,
Diamond Tiara

“Horseapples...”, Applebloom said aloud upon reading the contents of the letter.

“What's goin' on?”, Babs asked curiously.

“Diamond Tiara's gonna break it off with Silver Spoon unless somethin' happens soon! And Ah mean really soon”, Applebloom replied. She looked at the filly, whose eyes were still flooding with tears.

“You have to help me! Write to her and tell her not to break up with me or something!”, Silver Spoon pleaded desperately, walking up to Applebloom and shaking her violently.

“Ah don't think a letter is gonna fix this”, the farm filly replied and sighed.

“So this is it then? I'm going to lose the love of my life?”, Silver Spoon asked, her voice cracking as she spoke.

“Ah wish there was somethin' we could do, but unless we somehow managed to hitch a ride on the train to Fillydephia, Ah don't see how we are gonna be able to convince her to not break up with ya”, Applebloom replied, putting a hoof on Silver Spoon's shoulder and running it along in a comforting manner.

“Then dat's exactly what we're gonna do”, Babs stated with a confident smile.

Both fillies snapped their attention to Babs, saying “huh?!” in unison.

“Ya flip your lid or somethin', cuz?", Applebloom asked incredulously, looking at her cousin as if she had suggested the impossible. "How in the hay are we gonna get to Fillydephia? The only bits Ah get are from Applejack and Ah don't think she's gonna give us any to go all the way there, let alone let us go to begin with.”

“That won't be a problem”, Babs said and reached into one of her saddlebags, pulling out a large bag that was filled to the brim with bits.

Both fillies' jaws dropped in response.

“How the hay did ya convince your parents to give ya that much?!”, Applebloom asked incredulously.

“That's not important, the point is, we have the bits to go to Fillydephia and come back”, Babs said and put the sack of bits back into her saddlebag.

“Okay, so let's say Ah go along with this crazy idea of yours. How the hay are we gonna convince mah sister, not to mention Filthy Rich, to let us go to Fillydephia?”, Applebloom still inquired, sure that her lover wouldn't find any logical explanation for that one.

“We won't.”

This was met with yet another jaw drop from both fillies.

“So let me get this straight. Yer suggestin' that we run off to Fillydephia, now, without tellin' anypony?”, Applebloom asked, seeming shocked at what her lover was suggesting.

Babs gave a short but lively laugh upon hearing this.

“No, of course not”, she said.

“Ah was gonna say, that--”

“You both have school for the week and your teacher would be the first to notice you not showing up", Babs continued, cutting off the farm filly before she could finish. "We'll head to Fillydephia this weekend and be back before the next week starts.”

This sucker-punched any mild relief Applebloom had out of the metaphorical window, with a loud metaphorical shattering sound.

“I've got nothing to lose, let's do it”, Silver Spoon chimed in, apparently being all for this idea. She walked over to Babs. “Okay, so you got the bits to get us there and I'm sure I could use my daddy's credit line to get us a hotel for a few days--”

“Am Ah the only pony with a lick of common sense in this room?!”, Applebloom blurted out suddenly and loudly, causing both fillies to turn and look at her.

“Not so loud, Applebloom! Your granny and big sister could hear us!”, Silver Spoon hissed with a glare.

“Oh for the love of Luna...”, Applebloom mumbled and slammed a hoof on her forehead with a dejected sigh.

Despite Applebloom's initial protests to the idea, she eventually gave in and agreed to it. She wasn't sure why at first, but the more she thought about it, the more she thought she would most likely do the same thing if she were in Silver Spoon's hooves. Besides, it was only this weekend, and she would gladly take any punishment from her family when she got back, if it meant reuniting Silver Spoon with Diamond Tiara... even if only for the weekend.

The next day at school she ran ideas through her head of how and when the three would sneak out. It would have to be when everypony was asleep, but then she had to figure out how to get the train conductor to let them on for the night train. This plan had more holes in it than a Swiss cheese wheel. But she would have to make it work... somehow.

Before the filly knew it, the school bell rang and she hadn't even noticed her two best friends walk up to her as she left the school building. That is, until they spoke up.

“Hey Applebloom, you look like you got a lot on your mind. What's up?”, Scootaloo asked, abruptly snapping the farm filly out of her thoughts.

"Well...", Applebloom started, sounding unsure.

She sighed. She then motioned them to lean over, and after she was sure they were listening intently, she briefly explained the plan to the both of them.

“You're going to what?!”, Sweetie Belle exclaimed, her voice cracking as it usually did when her voice hit its highest pitch.

“That's crazy! You three are out of your minds!”, Scootaloo added, looking as shocked as Sweetie Belle was.

“Ah'd do the same thing if I was in the same situation and it meant seein' Babs again”, Applebloom replied and sighed dejectedly.

“Great... this is going to be fun”, Scootaloo remarked sarcastically, placing a hoof on her forehead.

“You said it”, Sweetie Belle chimed in, mimicking the Pegasus.

“What are you two so annoyed about? It's not like you're the ones runnin' off this weekend”, Applebloom replied, unsure of why her friends were behaving like they were.

“She still doesn't catch on quickly, does she?”, Scootaloo said with a smirk, looking at Sweetie Belle who smirked back at her.

“Nope”, the unicorn filly agreed.

“What's the joke? Ya ain't gonna be tellin' anypony, are ya?”, Applebloom asked, looking at the two with confusion.

“We're going with you, you apple-brained nitwit”, Scootaloo replied, placing a hoof on Applebloom's shoulder with a smirk still on her face.

“Ah don't think Babs has enough bits for-- what a second! No, no, no! Ah can't ask ya to do that!”, Applebloom protested, finally catching on.

“You don't have to. We're coming with because we want to”, Sweetie Belle responded with a warm smile.

“Oh for the love of Luna”, Babs said, sitting onto her haunches and slamming both hooves over her face upon seeing Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, the four currently sitting in the clubhouse.

“Their minds are made up and Ah don't think Ah can change 'em”, Applebloom replied sheepishly as she looked at her cousin.

“There's no way we're leaving Applebloom or you all alone in Fillydephia”, Scootaloo said confidently.

“Yeah! Who knows what kind of creeps live there!”, Sweetie Belle chimed in.

“Fine... but you two better be ready. We leave tomorrow night at twelve midnight!”, Babs conceded after a few moments.

The time was set and the plans had been made. And for the second time in Applebloom's life, she knew one thing for certain...

This was going to be a long weekend...

Author's Note

Proof read version by Zutheskunk.

Unforeseen Complications

UNFORESEEN COMPLICATIONS

"AAAIIIEEEE!!!"

Babs and Applebloom were suddenly awoken the next morning by Silver Spoon's horrified scream. They quickly jumped out of bed to see what was the matter.

“What's wrong, Silver Spoon?! Is it a burglar?!”, Applebloom asked in a slightly panicked tone when the two were running into the living room.

However, they saw nothing other than Silver Spoon standing on the head of the couch, her mane and tail on end which oddly resembled a cat to the farm pony.

“It's a rat! Kill it, kill it, kill it!”, Silver Spoon shrieked, looking completely horrified while Babs and Applebloom slammed their right hooves on their faces nearly simultaneously.

“Oh, for the love of all things green”, Applebloom said to herself, followed by a yawn as she stretched her hind and front legs out. Her stomach gave a mighty rumbling. “Mah belly tells me it's breakfast time”, she said and walked back into the bedroom.

She searched through her saddlebag and found what she was looking for. She then carried the small sack back into the living room of their apartment and set it on the table.

“Soup's on, everypony”, she stated simply, opening the bag and dumping its contents onto the table. It was none other than apple fritters that Applejack had made the night before they had left.

“Ah wonder if Applejack has noticed us missin' yet?”, she thought to herself, taking a bite out of one of the apple fritters. Babs picked up one as well in preparation to take a bite...

“Say, have you seen Babs or Applebloom today, granny?”, Applejack asked curiously as she walked inside, having finished with her morning apple-bucking.

“Not a hair, youngin'. But Ah wouldn't be worryin' too much. It's the weekend after all, and the two are most likely sleepin' in”, the elder mare remarked, walking over into the kitchen.

“Or somethin' else...”, Applejack remarked under her breath and gave an audible shudder. “Ah'm gonna go outside and get some fresh air”, she said and turned towards the door, in hopes of it relieving the sickening feeling in her gut.

Once outside, the farm pony noticed a certain yellow-maned pegasus flying straight at her...

CRASH!!!

"Oops! My bad!"

“Consarn it all, Derpy! Why in tarnation are you flyin' over Apple Acres for?!”, Applejack asked, shoving the cross-eyed pegasus off her gently and standing to her all fours.

“I brought you a letter!”, the bubble cutie mark bearing mare said in a chipper and cute tone. She reached into her saddlebag and handed the farm pony an envelope addressed to her specifically.

“Why didn't this come in the normal post?”, Applejack asked Derpy curiously.

“Hmm, I don't know... The pony at the post office asked me to bring this letter to ya real fast, so I flew over here as fast as I could!”, she replied with a big smile.

Applejack looked at the front of the envelope and noticed the words “Express Delivery” printed on it.

“Who in tarnation would be sendin' one of us a letter by express?”, Applejack asked in shock, reading further down and noticing her name printed on the addressee line.

“I need to be going now! Enjoy your letter!”, the cross-eyed mare said and took off from the ground, barely missing three apple trees during her ascent before she managed to fly straight towards Ponyville.

“That mare really needs to see an eye doctor”, Applejack remarked dismally under her breath. She then picked up the envelope with her mouth, carried it inside, opened it, dumped its contents onto the kitchen table, and began to read it.

To Applejack,

We are writing to you out of concern for our daughter Babs. She disappeared nearly five days ago and we also think she stole a great deal of bits from our rainy day funds.

You see, we caught onto your grandmother's ruse and told Babs she was forbidden to see Applebloom anymore. To think you would allow your little sister to commit such a crime against nature is beyond our understanding, but that is not why we are writing this letter. Furthermore, we have no intention of causing you or your family any grief over allowing Applebloom to date Babs.

We are simply asking you to send Babs back to Manehattan as soon as possible and to respect our decision on this matter.

Regards,
Henry and Margret Seed

P.S. Do not expect us to show up to the next Apple family reunion, or any others for that matter.

“Ah knew it!”, Applejack shouted and slammed a hoof on the kitchen table, which caused Granny Smith to walk into the dining room to see what the ruckus was about.

“Why in tarnation are you making all that noise for, Applejack?”, the elder mare asked, at which point Applejack pushed the letter to the side to allow her grandmother to read its contents. “Oh finagle-fangle!”, she exclaimed and placed a hoof on her forehead, sighing dejectedly.

“Guess we better go get Babs”, Applejack said reluctantly, walking out of the dining room and upstairs towards Applebloom's room. “Hey Babs, Applebloom, we need to have a talk, so ya better not be up to anythin', and by anythin' ah mean doin' it!”, she said sternly.

However, when she walked into the room she only saw an empty bed and nopony around.

“Whoa nelly!”, she gasped and ran into the bedroom, looking in every nick and cranny she could think of as a potential hiding place, but with no luck. “Granny! Ah think we got ourselves a mighty big problem!”, she shouted, galloping down the hall and downstairs.

“What's the big problem? Ya walked in on them doin' it?”, Granny Smith asked curiously.

“Ah can't believe Ah'm sayin' this, but Ah wish Ah had! They ain't in there!”

The elder mare's widened in shock and worry.

“What in tarnation do ya mean, they ain't in there?!”, she asked in disbelief.

“Just that, granny! They ain't in there, and a lot of their stuff is missin' as well. Ah think Babs came here to run away with Applebloom so they wouldn't have to be separated”, Applejack replied and quickly ran for the door.

“Where the hay are you goin'?!”, Granny Smith asked, causing the farm pony to halt in her tracks.

“Ah'm runnin' to the Ponyville police department to put out a missin' foal alert!”, Applejack explained before continuing her run towards Ponyville.

Granny Smith then walked towards the window. She looked out in the direction of the two stars in the sky, which were slowly fading as the sun rose.

“Ah know ya may not approve of what yer daughter is doin' now or has been doin', but please look after them”, the elder mare said softly before turning around and walking to her rocking chair.

A knock at the door caused all three fillies to look towards it. They saw it open, revealing Swift walking in.

“Good morning!”, he greeted with a cheery smile.

“Mornin'”, Applebloom replied while using her tail to dust off the couch. “We're already in the midst of cleanin' up the place”, she said cheerfully, whipping some dust off the couch, which unfortunately flew straight at Silver Spoon.

“Ah....Ahhhh....Ah-choo!”, the silver-furred filly sneezed loudly and sniffled afterwards. “I hate this place”, she said dismally, wiping her nose with a hoof.

Swift gave a light laugh in response to this remark.

“Heh, sorry about the condition of the place, like I said, we try to keep the apartments in the best conditions possible, but this is a really big apartment complex”, he said, using his magic to levitate a duster from the hallway into the room, along with a broom.

The rest of the morning was spent with the three cleaning the place from head to hoof. By the afternoon, the apartment still not looked as good as the four had hoped, but was much more livable than it was earlier.

“Job well done, ponies”, Applebloom remarked with a satisfied look on her face when the four set their cleaning supplies down and admired the results of their hard work.

“Well, now that this is out of the way, we should go see my father. I already told him we'd be meeting with him after we finished cleaning up the place. He should be in the club now, preparing it for tonight”, Swift said, placing the cleaning supplies in one corner of the room.

“Let's get this over with”, Silver Spoon said with as scowl, walking towards the door and following Swift out.

“I swear to Celestia, if he asks us to do pole dances, we're leaving”, Babs remarked to her lover softly, to which Applebloom rolled her eyes. After that, they followed Silver Spoon and Swift downstairs and outside to the club next door.

Much to Babs' surprise, the club was nothing like she imagined it. Directly in front of them was a series of tables with cushioned seats, which took up nearly the entire club. Just beyond this was a small stage with a lone microphone standing on it. To their left, much to Babs' discomfort, was a bar with a large selection of alcoholic beverages stacked on the racks behind the table. What was on their right seemed to be where waiter and waitress ponies brought the food from the kitchen to the patrons of the club.

“Ah, good to see you, Swift!”, a gruff yet kind voice suddenly said.

The four ponies' snapped their attention to the source of the voice: a light brown stallion with what looked like a microphone cutie mark.

“These must be the new attendants to our fair shelter, am I right?”, he asked, to which Swift nodded. “Name's Dancing Hooves, but ya can just call me Hooves, pleased to meet ya!”

The three stood silent however, not sure what to say or what to do for that matter. This stallion looked intimating despite his kind demeanor.

“Um, h-hi thar”, Applebloom finally piped up, meekly and nervously.

“I think you spooked 'em, Dad”, Swift remarked with a light laugh, to which his father joined in for a time.

“Ha, ha! Don't you three be scared of old Dancing Hooves now. I may look tough, but I'm as soft as a pillow and twice as comfy”, he said, walking up to the three and leaning in to them. “Just don't tell the patrons that, I got an image to uphold, ya know?”, he whispered to the three before leaning back and laughing heartily again.

This seemed to lighten the tension in the air a bit, enough to allow the farm filly to speak up more confidently now.

“Swift said you wanted to speak with us about payin' for the apartment we are stayin' at?”, she asked, though her voice still had an air of nervousness to it.

“Ah yes. Why won't ya follow me over here and we can sit down and talk it over”, Hooves replied, turning around and motioning for the three to follow him to one of the tables in the club.

The four sat down and were silent for a few moment. Eventually, the stallion spoke up:

“Hey, Swift, can ya get us a few drinks? I'm afraid most of the staff won't be here 'till later tonight”, he called out to his son before turning to look at them. “What would ya like? We got orange juice, apple juice, grape juice, and even melon juice. Of course, if ya are wantin' somethin' a little stronger, we also have apple cider, grape beer, or ya can just take your pick from the bar over there.”

The three blinked several times at the stallion, not saying anything for a few moments.

“Seriously?”, Applebloom asked incredulously, gesturing her disbelief with a single hoof.

“Ya do realize dat we're fillies, right?”, Babs chimed in, looking at the stallion suspiciously.

“Like that's ever changed anything in this city”, Hooves replied, followed by a hearty laugh. It faltered, however, when he saw their expressions. “Oh forgive me, I didn't realize you were serious”, he said, clearing his throat and looking over to his son. “Three glasses of Apple juice, Swift”, the stallion said then turned to look back at them.

“So about payin' for our stay...”, Applebloom finally said after a few moments of awkward silence.

“Ah, yes. Well, I have a spot open for a waitress and some dish washers. Two of ya could work there a few nights each week to cover your rent quite nicely for the month”, Hooves replied.

The three exchanged glances at one another.

“Well, ya see, we aren't planning on stayin' here any longer than we have to. So we need bits to get back home. The longest we planned on stayin' 'fore we got mugged was the weekend. Is there anythin' we can do to make enough bits for a train ride?”, the farm filly asked.

“And before you ask, no, we won't put ou-mmmph!”, Babs began to say, only for Applebloom to once again shove her hoof into the city filly's mouth.

“Seriously? Ya are still goin' on 'bout that?”, she said, giving a glare at her fillyfriend.

Hooves gave a light chuckle upon hearing this.

“Heh, don't worry about it. Your friend has every right to be suspicious, but I assure you, this is a legit club. Unlike some of the other places in this city, we do everything by the book.”

“So why did you offer three fillies alcoholic beverages, then?”, Silver Spoon asked suspiciously.

“Good point. Durin' business hours I have a zero tolerance policy for underage drinking. During non-business hours I tend to... bend these rules for the ponies who are stayin' at the homeless shelter. That said, I won't give a pony more than they need. If ya stick around long enough, you'll understand how things work around here a little more. We get runaways like you all the time and not all of them are as innocent as you three”, Hooves replied, sounding a bit more professional than before.

“Who said we were runaways? Didn't you just hear us say we planned on leaving after the weekend?”, Silver Spoon replied, looking offended by the implication that she would do something like that.

“That's what they all say. Well, maybe not in the same words, but just the same. Rest assured, you're safe here. Of course, If you want to leave at any point, I won't stop you”, Hooves replied.

Swift took this moment to set down three glasses of apple juice for the three fillies.

“So about makin' some extra bits, got any jobs open for that?”, Applebloom asked in an attempt to get the topic back on track.

“The only jobs we have that provide extra bits to ponies stayin' at the shelter is performin' on stage. 'Course, we haven't had any pony brave enough to sing or play music in front of the club goers for a while now. The last one we had left a year ago. We've had to pay out of pocket to get independent groups to come in and sing or play music for the patrons. Any of you three have a talent for singin' or playin' music?”

“Sorry, no”, Babs replied this time, at which point each of the three let out a sigh.

“Ugh, this is getting us nowhere! At this rate we'll be stuck here for years! Cut the act mister! Who do I have to buck to make bits?”, Silver Spoon blurted out suddenly, much to the surprise of Applebloom, Babs, and Hooves.

“I just said this is a legit club, little miss. If ya are lookin' to do that kind of business, I suggest you head to the red light district on the other side of town”, Hooves replied, looking offended by the filly's outburst.

“Eh-heh, would ya pardon us for a moment?”, Applebloom asked nervously, grabbing Silver Spoon by the tail and dragging her off to the side, much to the spoiled filly's vocal protests.

“Are ya out of your cotton pickin' mind?! That nice stallion over thar said he's runnin' a legit business! 'Sides, what would Diamond Tiara say if she knew you were offerin' your foal-hole to a random pony?!”, Applebloom scolded in a whisper, glaring at the spoiled filly.

“It's not the first time I've had to perform sexual favors to get my way. And what Diamond Tiara doesn't know won't hurt her”, Silver Spoon replied snootily to the farm filly, who simply stared at her slack-jawed for a time.

“Ah'm gonna pretend Ah didn't hear ya just say that cheatin' on your fillyfriend is okay as long as they don't know 'bout it”, Applebloom replied, fighting every impulse under the sun to beat the filly senseless for what she had just said. She then proceeded back to the table to sit down in the chair next to Babs.

“Looks like we're gonna be here for a while”, Babs remarked, though she didn't seem as upset about it as Applebloom was. “I guess I'll take doing the dishes”, she added, looking back at the stallion.

“I'll take the waitress gig, Ah suppose”, Applebloom chimed in and sighed dejectedly, looking back at Silver Spoon. “And she'll take doin' the dishes as well”, she added coldly, much to the horror of the spoiled filly who rushed over to object. However, the glares from Babs and Applebloom halted her in her tracks.

“Fine...”, she conceded, her attitude making it more than obvious that she didn't like the idea at all.

“Okay then. Ya three will start tonight at eight-thirty. 'Till then you're free to do what ya want, as long as ya don't raise a ruckus. Once ya get to know me, you'll see that I'm a stallion with a big heart, but if ya abuse my kindness, ya get the boot. Are we clear?”, the stallion replied, striking a stern tone with the three.

They nodded in response.

“Ah can't believe ya, Silver Spoon! Ya almost got us kicked out of this place for that little stunt ya pulled!”, Applebloom roared at the filly once they were back in the apartment.

“It's not my fault he sounded shady! And I'm not going to do dishes either! That's servant's work!”, Silver Spoon retorted, sitting on the crouch and crossing her front hooves with a spoiled look on her face.

“Ya are lucky Ah didn't tell him to kick ya out after that remark ya made back thar!”, Applebloom pointed out, feeling her temper quickly reaching its breaking point.

“What remark? The one about offering her foal-hole up to a stallion?”, Babs asked curiously, glaring at the spoiled filly as well.

“Nah, the one after Ah pulled her off to the side. She pretty much said that it's okay to cheat on your special somepony as long as they don't know about it!”

Babs gasped in shock and became outraged upon hearing this.

“She said what?!”, she exclaimed, her glare becoming a loathing stare at the spoiled filly.

The latter suddenly started getting nervous when Babs barreled down on her.

“H-Hey! B-Back off!”, Silver Spoon stuttered, backing to the other side of the couch and away from Babs.

“We came all the way out here to help your spoiled rump get back with Diamond Tiara, we get mugged and stranded here, just for you to say that being loyal means nothin' to ya?!”, Babs roared, standing dangerously close to the spoiled filly now, all her four legs shaking with fury.

“Back off Babs, we're yellin' at her, not beatin' the stuffin' out of her. Even though it's mighty temptin'”, Applebloom remarked with a glare at the spoiled filly.

The city filly looked at her lover, took several deep breaths, and finally let out a heavy winded sigh.

“Fine, but I can't believe we came all the way out here just to find out she doesn’t give a flying horseshoe about Diamond Tiara”, she replied after managing to calm herself.

“I never said I didn't care about Diamond Tiara!", Silver Spoon spoke up, sounding offended. "Do you really think I would put up with staying in this scrapheap of an apartment if I didn't hope to be in my lover's hooves again?”, she said, though both fillies didn't look convinced in the least.

“Could of fooled me”, Babs replied coldly, sitting next to Applebloom.

“Ah'm inclined to side with mah fillyfriend on that one, Silver Spoon. How the hay do ya expect this relationship of yours to last if ya keep talkin' like ya did earlier?”, Applebloom asked, looking at the silver-furred filly, who was slowly calming down from Babs' threatening advances.

“You talk as if this relationship of yours is going to last forever”, Silver Spoon replied with an eye-roll, which caused Babs to tense up slightly in anger.

“Of course it's gonna last forever. Me and Babs love each other more than anythin'”, Applebloom replied confidently, unsure of where the spoiled filly was going with this.

Silver Spoon gave an annoyed sigh upon hearing this.

“You two are a real piece of work. Do you ever bother to look at the big picture?”, she replied. This confused the two; their expressions must have given away this, because Silver Spoon gave yet another annoyed sigh. “Alright, let me spell this out for you, then. Just how long do you think this is going to last once Babs' parents wise up to what you two have been doing behind closed doors?”

“That doesn't matter, Babs' parents know we're datin' and they are fine with it, ain't that right, Babs?”, Applebloom replied confidently, turning to look at her lover. However, she became confused when she saw her lover become pale and nervous with a blank stare. “Babs?”, she asked once again, placing a hoof on the filly's shoulder, which seemed to snap her out of her blank stare and look up at her.

“Y-Yeah, of course!”, the city filly replied finally, though her expression and tone remained nervous.

“Teh! Yeah, sure”, Silver Spoon jeered snootily, hopping off the couch and walking towards the door.

“Where the hay are ya goin'?”, the farm filly inquired when Silver Spoon walked past her.

“I'm going out for a little while. Is that a problem? Oh, and by the way, I may love Diamond Tiara, but I'm not foolish enough to believe it'll last forever. We both have already accepted that our relationship isn't going to last forever, I suggest you two come to terms with this fact very soon”, she replied before leaving the two alone.

“I don't know about you, but I'm already regretting coming out here just for her”, Babs remarked with a glare as she stood up and began to walk away from Applebloom, only for the farm filly to place a hoof on her shoulder and stop her in her tracks.

“Our relationship is goin' to last forever... right?”, she asked, her voice sounding unsure and worried as she spoke.

Upon hearing this, Babs immediately turned around, walked up to Applebloom and locked lips with her for a time. Eventually, she broke the kiss and smiled at her.

“Of course it is. I'd do anythin' to make sure it stays that way, Applebloom. Wouldn't you?”, she said softly, running a hoof through her mane gently.

“Of course, but what Silver Spoon said really made me wonder, ya know? What if yer parents suddenly decide to keep ya away from me? Will we end up just like Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon? Forced to use our friends to send letters to one another. Ah don't know what Ah'd do if Ah couldn't see ya as much as Ah already do”, Applebloom said, followed by a sigh.

Upon hearing this, Babs gave a heavy sigh and looked to the side for a few moments. Eventually, she looked back at her with a serious expression.

“Applebloom, do you love me?”, she asked softly.

“What kind of question is that? Of course Ah love ya!”, Applebloom replied, unsure and worried as to why Babs had suddenly become so serious.

“Then let's stay here. Make a new life together! We won't have to worry about our family keepin' us apart or anythin'!”, Babs exclaimed enthusiastically, walking over to the couch, hopping on it, and allowing herself to bounce a little as she looked at her.

However, this sudden suggestion by her lover caused the farm filly to become even more worried.

“Babs, what ain't ya tellin' me? Somethin' happened, didn't it?”, she tried to inquire, walking up to Babs and sitting down next to the city filly.

Babs' smile vanished upon hearing this.

“N-No, of course not. I just thought you'd like the idea”, the city filly replied, looking away from her lover.

“So ya suggested runnin' away for good and stayin' here just on the whim of the moment? That's a load of horseapples if Ah ever heard one”, Applebloom replied with an annoyed look at Babs.

The latter seemed to refuse to look at her right now. A tense silence ensued between the two for a time, until the city filly abruptly hopped off the couch and walked out of the door without another word.

“Where the hay are you goin'? We ain't done talkin' yet, Babs Seed!”, Applebloom called her, becoming upset that her lover would just suddenly up and leave like she had. “Why won't she tell me what's wrong? Doesn't she trust me?”, she asked herself softly and sighed heavily...

Author's Note

Proof read by zutheskunk.

A fillydephia star is born

A FILLYDELPHIA STAR IS BORN!

Applebloom walked out of her apartment and into the hallway a few minutes later. Right after she did, she heard some shouting coming from the apartment just down the hall.

“I bust my flank working at that club and all you do is sit here and do nothing! You're nothin' more than a lazy moocher! I can't believe I ever fell in love with you!”, a female voice yelled so loudly that it could be heard clear as day to the filly. As far as she could tell, the owner seemed to be a filly too, no older than herself.

“You wanna call me lazy? What about you?! A male has his needs, you know! You haven't put out in over a month!”, a male voice shouted back. This voice sounded much older, possibly even belonging to an adult stallion.

“Maybe I would, if you would get off your lazy rump and find a job to get us out of this place!”, the female voice shouted back. Moments later, the door to the apartment opened.

“Where are you goin'?!”, the male voice called out to a filly that walked out of the room - an earth pony with a silver mane and a dark blue coat. She stopped at the doorstep, turning to look back inside.

“I'm goin' out for a while to decide whether or not I should dump your lazy flank, you foal-fiddler!”, she yelled and slammed the door. She then noticed Applebloom standing there with a shocked expression on her face.

“Sorry ya had to hear dat”, the dark blue filly spoke up with a slight blush and sighed.

“It's okay, Ah just got done chewin' out a friend of mine not long mahself”, Applebloom replied with a slight giggle.

“So dat's who I was hearin' before me and my coltfriend started arguin'”, the filly replied with a coy smirk.

“So Ah wasn't hearin' things! Ya are really datin' a stallion?”, Applebloom asked incredulously in surprise.

The filly scoffed in response to this.

“If you can date a stallion. Lazy flank won't even get a job to get us out of here and I'm slavin' away at the club every night to make sure we have a roof over our heads. Name's Blues, what's yours?”, Blues asked curiously, looking at the farm filly.

“Applebloom”, she replied cheerfully. Blues walked over to her.

“Ya don't look too much older than me. What's your story?”, she asked, sitting down next to the filly.

“Well, me and mah fillyfriend came down here to help a friend get back with her fillyfriend. We wound up gettin' stranded here, thanks to bein' mugged on the streets when we just got here”, Applebloom explained and sighed. “What's yours? Ah'm really curious how ya ended up with a stallion for a coltfriend.”

Blues once again scoffed in response and sighed.

“Not much to tell, really”, she said, briefly looking at her apartment door before turning her gaze back to the farm filly. “Pretty much what happened is this: I met him in Canterlot a few years back. We hit it off pretty well and then my parents found out. He suggested we run away to Fillydephia together, and since I was head over hooves in love with him at the time, I jumped on the idea faster than I should have. We ended up here, and he said that since my parents were looking for us, we should lay low for a while. Long story short, we've been sittin' in this place ever since”, Blues finished and sighed.

“So dump him and go back to yer parents. It's that easy”, Applebloom concluded, unsure as to why this was such a hard decision to make.

“If only it were. There's this little thing called lovin' him that keeps me from leaving this Luna-forsaken place. Of course, if he'd get a job, living here would be a lot easier. But then again, that may not be the best idea”, Blues replied and sighed once again.

“Why not?”

“My parents and the police are lookin' for him. They think he foalnapped me.”

“So explain to them that he didn't and why ya love him, then”, the farm filly suggested, still not getting the big picture.

“Harder than it sounds, Applebloom. Ya see, when ponies see somethin' as wrong, well, ya can preach to 'em 'till ya are blue in the face... and not a single bit of it will sink in”, the blue filly replied.

“Ah hear ya thar. Most of mah family don't understand why Ah love mah cousin Babs, and tryin' to explain it to 'em is like buckin' Zap Apple trees before harvestin' time”, Applebloom said without thinking. She then went pale in realization of what she just confessed.

However, Blues simply giggled at this.

“Can't say I've ever met a pony who was datin' their cousin before, but who am I to judge? I'm datin' a stallion two times my age”, she replied and wrapped a hoof around the filly, with her face right next to Applebloom's, much to the latter's discomfort. “I think we're gonna be the best of pals.”

“Eh-heh, yeah, best of pals", Applebloom agreed nervously. "So uh, pal, could ya let me go? Ah'm gettin' mighty uncomfortable over here.”

At this, Blues released her from her grasp and scratched the back of her head with her right hoof.

“Sorry about that, I didn't mean to freak ya out. I can get a little touchy with my friends. Bad habit of mine”, she said sheepishly.

“Don't worry 'bout it. Ah'm just not used to bein' hugged by ponies Ah barely know. So, uh, you work at the club?”, the farm filly asked in an attempt to change the topic.

“Yep. I work the waitress gig. Why ya ask? Somethin ya wanna know?”

“As a matter of fact, yeah”, Applebloom replied. She then began to inquire about the details of her new job and how the club normally runs...

Babs sat outside of the apartment complex and sighed heavily.

“This sucks rotten apples!", she thought to herself. "How am I going to tell her that my parents wanted to keep us apart? I can't just tell her outright, she'd freak out.” She sighed once again.

“Hey, uh, Babs, was it?", she suddenly heard, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She turned her gaze to the owner of the voice: Swift, the colt that invited them there yesterday.

"I think we got off on the hoof. So let's try this again. I'm Swift Hooves”, the colt said in a cheery manner.

Babs didn't respond at first. However, Swift did manage to wave the gloomy thoughts of hers away, at least for the moment.

“Don't make a foal of yourself, Swift. I was the one bein' a mule”, she finally said, looking up at the colt.

“Well, you had every right to be suspicious of me and my dad. I mean, I know I would be suspicious of me if I walked up to myself and suddenly, out of the blue, offered myself a place to stay”, Swift replied and sat down next to her.

“Still gave me no right to treat you like I did. I was bein' downright rude and that's not cool”, Babs insisted, turning her head to look at him. “Can ya forgive me?”

“No need to ask, Babs. I never thought you were bein' rude to begin with. If anythin', I was bein' rude by stickin' my nose in your problems yesterday”, Swift replied, much to the surprise of the city filly who looked at him curiously.

“What are you? A goody two-hooves? Seriously, any other pony would be tryin' to milk this for all its worth”, she said, feeling put off by this colt's overly polite personality.

“Maybe just a little”, the colt responded, to which Babs slammed a hoof on her forehead with an annoyed groan.

“You're either really good at makin' a filly have a guilt trip, or ya really are a goody two-hooves”, Babs remarked with a smirk, at which point the two broke into spontaneous laughter.

“I can be a bad colt when I wanna be. Like yesterday, I purposely put the apple cider in the wrong place just to mess with the bartender”, Swift replied, trying to sound cool.

However, Babs slammed both hooves on her face in response to this.

“What's wrong? Was that going too far?”, Swift asked, looking nervous now.

The city filly kept her hooves firmly planted on her face, seemingly silent for a moment.

“Pfffffthahaha! You really are a goody two-hooves! I can't believe I thought you were some kind of pimp tryin' to whore us out!”, Babs exclaimed from behind her hooves between laughs. This was too much, he was going to kill her by laughter at this rate.

Eventually she managed to tone her laughing down a bit. She let out one final sigh before removing her hooves from her face and looking at him.

“Thanks for cheerin' me up.”

“You were upset?”, Swift asked curiously.

Babs burst out laughing once again at this.

“A goody two-hooves AND oblivious! You're gonna kill me! Hahaha!!!”, she exclaimed between laughs.

“I am? I don't wanna do dat. What should I do differently?”, he asked in confusion, causing the city filly to laugh even harder.

“Just... stop... talking! Hahahah!!!”, Babs said between laughs, struggling to catch her breath.

A few more moments passed before the city filly managed once again to stop laughing.

“So, ya feelin' a whole lot better?”, Swift asked with a big grin. The city filly blinked at him twice.

“Don't tell me, this all was an act to cheer me up?”, she asked incredulously, taking note of the fact the colt was grinning ear to ear now.

“Well, maybe not all of it. But yeah, all of it”, he replied with a smirk, only to get whacked upside the head by the city filly.

“Ya jerk! Ya really made me think you were some kind of goody two-hooves!”, she exclaimed, though she wasn't as nearly upset as she looked.

“Ow! That hurt!”, he said, rubbing the back of his head and looking at her, though he wasn't upset with her for the gesture. After all, he did deserve it and he knew it.

“Though, I suppose you would have to be some kind of goody two-hooves to be runnin' a homeless shelter”, Babs added after a few moments, smiling at him.

“I suppose so. Me and my dad really did just want to help ponies out. Celestia knows this city isn't safe at night.”

“Ya got dat right. Me, Applebloom, and Silver Spoon are a livin' proof of that”, Babs replied and let out a sigh, recalling the events of the last night. “I really wish I could get my hooves on that red pegasus thief. I'd beat the stuffin' out of him”, she said, slapping her two front hooves together in a threatening manner.

“Somethin' tells me ya aren't the violent type, though”, Swift remarked, looking at the street as ponies walked by.

“Am I dat obvious?”, Babs asked, looking at the colt with a slightly worried expression.

“Not really. I just have a knack for reading ponies, that's all. Though I have to admit, that silver filly makes me wonder. I can't really read her like I did you two”, Swift remarked thoughtfully, looking back at Babs.

“Silver Spoon...”, Babs replied, feeling her temper rise slightly at the mere mention of her. “I can't believe we came out here just for her sorry flank. Well... then again, I was the one who suggested comin' all the way out here to begin with”, she remarked and let out a heavy sigh, the thoughts of her family coming back to the front of her mind.

“Wait, so you three aren't runaways? You're just doing a favor for your friend?”, Swift asked curiously with a confused expression.

“Yeah. Ya see, Silver Spoon got separated from her fillyfriend 'cuz their parents don't like the idea of 'em datin. Applebloom, who's my fillyfriend, volunteered to help the two send letters to one another, so they could still talk to one another. But then her fillyfriend wrote her a letter tellin' her that if she couldn't see her soon then she was gonna break it off. So I suggested we come out here to reunite the two.”

“So you came all the way out here just to let the two see one another? Seems like a lot to get in trouble for, just to do a favor for your friend”, Swift remarked curiously.

“Yeah, well, my fillyfriend has a big heart and I knew it would tear her up to see somepony she knew suffer”, Babs replied, glancing up towards the apartment complex, then back towards the city streets.

“Speakin' of Applebloom, why isn't she with you?”

“It's complicated”, the city filly replied simply.

“Fair enough. Well, I'll see ya around Babs, I need to go help my dad with gettin' the club ready for tonight”, Swift replied, standing up and walking away.

Now alone again, the city filly was left to her thoughts, just like previously.

“I need to tell her the truth, but how can I do it without freaking her out?”, she asked herself aloud and sighed dejectedly.

That evening Applebloom showed up at the club just before it opened. She arrived there along with Blues, and saw Babs and Silver Spoon already being inside.

“Where the hay have you two been?”, the farm filly asked with a stern look at the two.

“None of your business. I'm only here because I have to be”, Silver Spoon replied snootily.

“Been outside most of the day, really. Swift came by and cheered me up. Turns out he isn't a bad colt once ya get to know him”, Babs remarked with a smirk. She then noticed Blues standing next to Applebloom.“Who's the filly?”

“Oh, this here is Blues, she lives in the apartments as well and not more than just down the hall, wouldn't ya know?”, Applebloom replied.

Blues walked up to the city filly.

“Pleased to meet ya acquaintance. Applebloom's told me a lot about ya”, Blues greeted, extending a hoof to the filly.

“Not too much, I hope”, Babs replied, flashing her fillyfriend a nervous expression.

A mere thirty minutes later, patrons began pouring into the club. The farm filly quickly found herself overwhelmed. She's waited tables before, but only at the reunions; the demand for fast paced service was quickly overwhelming her.

“Ah'm not sure Ah'll make it the night at this rate”, Applebloom remarked to Blues, carrying a tray back to the kitchen.

“You said you worked on a farm, right? This should be a cake compared to that”, Blues replied as the cooks piled more orders onto her tray.

“I'd take buckin' half of Apple Acres over this!”, the farm filly exasperated back to her, the cooks loading orders onto the tray she was balancing on her back.

“Ha, ha! I don't think Hooves wanted to break ya in this fast, but you happened to begin work on one of the club's big nights. We got a singer showin' up and this place is always jam-packed when that happens”, Blues explained, turning about-face and quickly leaving the kitchen.

Applebloom was soon to follow, but the orders she was now carrying were quickly proving to be too heavy for her to balance properly. The filly barely managed to recover from nearly toppling the tray she was carrying on her back twice. The third time however proved disastrous.

“Oh... apple-sssaaaauce!”, she exclaimed as the tray completely fell off her back after she wobbled back and forth several times and ended up hitting the floor with a loud clattering of dishes.

“That clumsy pony just dropped my order! Can't you ponies do anything right?!”, a stallion shouted at the filly, who was at a loss of words as to how to apologize for this.

“Lay off her! She's new!”, Blues said heatedly to the stallion, walking past him and standing in front of the farm filly.

“I don't care if she's new of not! That's my fifty bit order she just dropped!”, the stallion retorted.

“Is there a problem?”, a familiar gruff voice asked, but it didn't have the air of kindness the filly was used to hearing.

“Yeah! That clumsy mule dropped my order! And that one had the gal to tell me off!”, the stallion shouted to Hooves, the latter standing next to the two.

“Right. Well, how about refunding you and giving you the meal on the house?", Hooves suggested.

The stallion seemed to ponder for a moment before agreeing to these terms. Hooves then motioned for Applebloom to follow her off to the side, much to the filly's embarrassment and horror. “He's gonna fire me and kick us out, Ah just know it!”, she thought to herself fearfully.

Hooves stopped and turned to face the filly with a long-winded sigh.

“Sorry about this. I didn't mean to put you on shift on such a busy night, but it's nights like these when we need all the help we can get. But when you're causing customers to get upset and costing me bits, that's a problem”, Hooves said calmly as he looked at her.

“Ah-Ah'm sorry! Please don't kick us out!”, Applebloom exclaimed desperately, hoping the stallion would listen to reason. Much to her surprise, he gave a light laugh upon hearing this.

“I'm not gonna kick ya out. But, I think it might be best if ya sit this night out. Don't worry about the rent, as the other two will cover your share”, Hooves replied with a warm smile, placing a hoof on her shoulder.

Upon hearing this, a wave of relief washed over the filly. She smiled back at him.

“Ah'm really sorry about the mess though, Ah'll go clean it up”, she replied and ran off before the stallion could stop her.

“Teh, she really is a sweet one, that filly. I was just about to tell her not to worry about cleaning up the mess”, Hooves remarked aloud, followed by a chuckle. He then turned around and went back to check on the bar.

Applebloom quickly ran to get some cleaning supplies and ran back to begin cleaning up the mess. It didn't take long, but the stallion who previously yelled at her was glaring at her the entire time, making the filly rather nervous. Once she finished cleaning up the mess, she noticed what could be none other than the music group showing up. The ponies were placing their instruments down on the stage while she was making her way back to the kitchen. She noticed Blues, who was setting her tray down.

“Tough first day, huh?”, she remarked to Applebloom.

“Yeah...”, she replied, rubbing the back of her head with a hoof.

“What the buck do ya mean your singer can't make it?!”, they heard Hooves shouting, even though his voice was muffled over the sounds of the patrons in the club.

Curious, the two fillies walked over to where Hooves was standing. He was talking to what Applebloom assumed was the group supposed to be playing tonight.

“Sorry Hooves, we only just heard ourselves. She came down with the Pony Flu”, one of the group members replied.

“Oh, this is gonna get ugly fast. Everypony here is expectin' a show tonight”, Blues remarked with a worried expression. He looked into the main part of the club and took note of some of the patrons who happened to overhear his outburst. It seemed that the word is spreading dangerously fast.

Sure enough, the crowd was beginning to get agitated quickly. Some shouting for refunds while others were looking as if they were ready to start a riot.

“Somepony better do somethin' quick, or this is goin' to get uglier than my grandpa when he can't get his apple cider”, the bartender remarked with a worried expression towards Hooves, the latter looking just as worried now.

Applebloom looked at the stage. Then back to the crowd. Then back to the stage. She blinked twice as she stared, and rubbed her eyes before looking at the stage again. It was brief, but she could have sworn she had just seen her mother and father motioning for her to join them on the stage.

The patrons were quickly becoming louder, some downright getting into fights with one another, with some of the club trying to intervene to break up the quarrel between ponies. Applebloom looked at the stage again and once again thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. Her parents were yet again on the stage for a moment, motioning for her to join them.

Applebloom then glanced towards the sky, which was visible through the window of the club. She noticed two stars shining brightly.

“Ya have gotta be jokin'!”, Applebloom said aloud with a nervous expression.

“I know, this is gettin' bad!”, Blues remarked, apparently thinking that she was referring to the crowd, which was indeed getting uglier by the second.

After a few more moments she looked back at the stage, and once again saw her mother and father motioning for her to join them. They quickly faded from existence once again.

“Ah've gotta be out of mah cotton pickin' mind”, she remarked dismally and then walked up to the group.

“Um, Ah guess Ah could give it a shot”, Applebloom spoke up, which snapped the group and Hooves' attention to her.

“Wait, ya wanna get on that stage and sing?”, Hooves asked incredulously.

“Y-yeah! Ah know Ah said that none of us could sing when we got here, but if somepony won't get on stage soon, this place is gonna go Tartarus and back”, Applebloom replied, fighting every urge in her body to suddenly shout 'I'm just joking!' and back out of the idea altogether.

“A filly singin' on stage?! Ya have gotta be jokin', Hooves!”, one of the group members exclaimed, giving the manager a look of disbelief.

“Shut yer mouth for a moment, will ya?! I'm payin' ya either way!”, Hooves snapped at the group member before looking back at Applebloom. “Ya sure about this? This group ain't exactly forgivin' if ya make a fool of yourself up there”, he remarked, looking concerned for the farm filly.

Applebloom gave one last glance at the stage; she saw her parents once again motioning for her to join them. She then looked back at the stallion, gulped loudly, and nodded silently.

“I've got nothin' to lose. If she's willin' to give it a shot, then I'm all for it”, Hooves concluded, turning his gaze to the group.

“No way, Hooves, we ain't performin' with an inexperienced filly!”, another one of the group members spoke up defiantly.

“Then ya can forget about bein' paid!”, Hooves retorted with a glare, at which point the group exchanged worried glances at one another. Eventually, the group reluctantly began to make their way for the stage.

“Good luck, Applebloom. Ya are gonna need it", Blues remarked when the farm filly looked at her.

Applebloom gave yet another loud gulp, and made her way for the stage as well. She walked up to it and stood in front of the crowd, who either seemed to be ignoring her or jeer at her. Among the few jeers were “A filly?! What a load of horseapples!” and “We asked for a professional, not an amateur!”

“So what we playin'?”, one of the group members asked her, though they didn't sound very enthused about the idea.

“Um, uh, know any country tunes?”, Applebloom asked with a sheepish smile, to which the group eye-rolled nearly all at once.

“Yeah, we know a few. Just don't screw up”, one of the group members finally replied.

Applebloom then turned to look at the crowd. She had no idea what to sing, so she tried the first thing that came to her mind.

“Ah-Ah'm a country--”, she began to sing meekly, only for the jeers and insults to halt her in her tracks, nearly freezing the filly in stage fright.

“Come on! Sing already!”, one of the members of the group exclaimed impatiently, causing the filly to jump slightly at the sudden shout at her.

She then took a deep breath.

“Ah'm a country fiiiiillllly!”, she sang at the top of her lungs, in a pure country-style tone. It caused her voice to be carried across the club, at which point everyone in the entire room went silent almost all at once and stared blankly at her.

“Holy buck! That filly can sing!”, one of the patrons said in surprise, which could be heard clearly among the silence of the crowd.

“What are ya waitin'? Keep goin'!”, one of the group members hissed at her and signaled for the others to begin playing a country-style tune.

With this huge confidence boost, Applebloom took a deep breath and began to sing the words that came to her mind just now.

♫ Excuse me, Ah saw ya walk in, ♫

♫ Ah turned around, Ah'm not a stalker, ♫

♫ What ya need? Maybe Ah can help ya, ♫

♫ Mah hooves are ready, and I'd be obliged to help ya, 'cause ♫

♫ I'm a country filly, I've got a four hooves,
Plenty of skill, and time to kill,
So tell me what ya want,
I can give it to ya,
'cause I'm a country filly! ♫

The crowd was really getting into Applebloom's song at this point, some of them stomping their hooves on the floor to the beat while others cheered and whistled at her. When the farm filly saw this, she began to really put all she got into this, starting to dance around the stage while she continued singing.

♫ Ya sure look good, standin' there in the sunlight, ♫

♫ It doesn't matter where you're from, ♫

♫ ’Cause Ah'll make ya mine, ♫
♫ We can head up to mah bedroom,♫
and play that tune all night! ♫

♫ 'Cause, ♫

♫ I'm a country filly, I've got a four hooves,
Plenty of skill, and time to kill.
So tell me what ya want,
I can give it to ya,
'cause I'm a country filly! ♫

Applebloom's performance was quickly catching the attention of everypony in the club, including the kitchen staff... and a certain city filly. The latter burst from the dishwashing room and gawked at the sight that beheld her.

“Applebloom?!”, Babs exclaimed in shock, watching her fillyfriend dance on the stage and sing the chorus of her song for the crowd.

♫ Four hooves flailin' all around, ♫

♫ Grabbin' anythin' they can find, Ah'll make ya sing, ♫

♫ 'cause I'm a country filly, ♫

♫ Ah know what ya really want, so hop in mah bed, ♫

♫ Ah'll crank the music, playin' that tune all night long, ♫

♫ Let me know when you're gettin' close, ♫

♫ You can slide on out, or we can keep playin' that song ♫

Applebloom continued to sing, even going as far as to wave her hindquarters for a brief time at the crowd while she sang and danced about on stage, which earned her a few catcalls from the crowd and some whistles.

“Well buck me upside and call me a new-born foal! Dat filly's got quite the voice!”, Blues said in shock and awe, bouncing her head back and forth to the tune.

Babs walked up to her.

“Wh-What's goin' on? Why's Applebloom up on stage singin'?!”, she asked, yanking Blues' attention to her. In the meantime, the farm filly sang her chorus once again.

“She volunteered to sing on stage, 'cause the singer of that group called in sick and boy, am I glad they did! Listen to her! She's got the makins of a pro!”, Blues said enthusiastically to the city filly.

Babs then turned to look at her fillyfriend on stage. The shock of seeing her was finally wearing off, and she was now able to fully take in the skill that Applebloom was putting out as she sang the next lines of her song.

♫ The bed's a-groanin', playin' that sweet tune, ♫

♫ Ah got plenty of time to kill, so tell me what ya need, ♫

♫ Ah'll give it to ya, ♫

♫ 'Cause ♫

♫ I'm a country filly, I've got a four hooves,
Plenty of skill, and time to kill.
So tell me what ya want,
I can give it to ya,
'cause I'm a country filly, ♫

Yeah!

With this, Applebloom finally finished, and looked at the crowd which was whistling and cheering at her.

“Dang filly, I thought you were gonna choke for sure!”, one of the group members remarked as they placed their instrument down and patted her on the back. “Nice work!”

“Th-Thanks”, Applebloom replied with a blush. She then hopped off the stage, noticed Babs smiling at her, and ran over to greet her.

“When did ya learn to sing like dat?!”, Babs asked after she nuzzled her fillyfriend affectionately.

“Ah don't know! It just sort of came to me”, Applebloom replied, rubbing the back of her head with a sheepish smile.

It was then that a well-dressed stallion ran up to the two and stood in front of them.

“Name's Showtime! Here's my card! We've been lookin' for a voice like yours for a long time and would love to have ya work with us!”, Showtime said enthusiastically with a giant smile on his face.

Applebloom stared blankly at him for a time while Babs, Blues, and Hooves' jaws dropped nearly simultaneously, with a look of pure shock on each of them.

“Ah don't know. Ah mean, Ah'm flattered, but--”, Applebloom began to say, only for Babs to yank her off to the side before she could finish.

“Are ya crazy?! That's Showtime! One of the biggest names in the Equestrian music industry! If you take that offer, we'll have it made!”, she exclaimed excitedly while Applebloom looked hesitant to the idea.

“Ah don't know Babs. Ah mean, that was a one time deal, really. Ah don't think Ah could sing in front of a crowd again like that”, Applebloom replied with a nervous glance at Showtime, who was still waiting patiently for a response.

“Trust me on this, cuz, ya got a real knack for singin'. I'm even willin' to bet dat it's your special talent!”, Babs insisted, looking her fillyfriend straight in the eyes as she placed both her front hooves on each of her shoulders.

“Mah special talent? Singin'?”, Applebloom replied thoughtfully and glanced at her flank. It was still as bare as it always had been, but the idea of possibly finally earning her cutie mark did entice the filly.

She stood there in thought for a brief time, weighing her options. The idea of finally earning her cutie mark was constantly popping up in her mind...

Eventually, she walked up to Showtime, who looked at her with a wide friendly smile.

“Okay, Ah'll do it”, she replied finally, much to her fillyfriend's excitement and joy.

Author's Note

Proof read by zutheskunk :twilightsmile:

A farm pony's rise to fame

A FARM PONY'S RISE TO FAME

Showtime followed Applebloom, Babs and Silver Spoon up to the apartments. When he saw what the apartments look like, he gawked in horror.

“Y-You live here?”, he stuttered slightly.

“Yeah, ya see, we don't have much now, but it's a roof over our heads”, Applebloom replied.

Showtime continued to look around, seemingly horror-struck.

“No, no, no! This will not do! I can't have Fillydelphia's newest star living in this... this.. scrapheap of an apartment!”, Showtime exclaimed, still horrified.

“Finally! Somepony agrees with me!”, Silver Spoon chimed in upon hearing this, much to Applebloom's slight annoyance.

“Well, it's not like she's rich or anythin'”, Babs replied with a similarly annoyed look at the stallion.

“By the time I'm done with her, she will be”, Showtime answered confidently. “Now then, if you'll follow me, Applebloom, we'll accommodate you with some more... appropriate living quarters”, he said, starting to usher the farm filly out of the door.

“What about Babs and Silver Spoon, can they come too?”, Applebloom asked, looking behind herself to see her fillyfriend and the silver-furred filly, who simply stood in place at the moment.

Showtime stopped ushering the farm filly to look back at the two. His face was adorned with a slight cringe.

“S-Sure”, he replied uneasily.

“Whoo-hoo! Finally getting out of this place!”, Silver Spoon said excitedly, following Applebloom and Showtime downstairs.

However, just as they were about to leave, they saw Swift walking in.

“Oh hey, fillies. Goin' out?”, Swift asked curiously.

“Actually, um, Showtime is gettin' us a place somewhere else, so Ah guess we're leavin'. Thanks for everythin', though!”, Applebloom said with a chipper smile, just before Showtime ushered her past him without giving him a chance to respond.

“See ya later, alligator!”, Silver Spoon said snootily, prancing past the colt without so much as a passing glance.

Babs, however, stopped in her tracks.

“Guess you're really movin' up in the world, ain't ya?”, Swift remarked with a warm smile at the city filly, who rubbed the back of her head with a nervous smile.

“Applebloom is, really. I'm just comin' along for the ride, I guess. But really, if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have even had this happen to us, so thanks a lot”, Babs replied, extending a hoof out.

“If you're ever in the neighborhood, look us up", the colt said, shaking the hoof. "I'm sure my dad would love to chat with you three again sometime. I know I will”, he added, placing the hoof back on the ground together with Babs.

“Hurry up, Babs!", Silver Spoon shouted impatiently from within the doorway. "This carriage isn't going to hang around forever, and it looks like this Showtime guy isn't willing to wait around, either!”, she added before closing the door behind her.

“Guess you better you get goin'”, Swift remarked.

He turned around, walked to the door, and opened it for Babs. She walked past him and to the carriage outside, giving him a passing glance as she entered it.

When the carriage started moving, Applebloom's head could be seen popping out of the right window.

“Thanks again for everythin', Swift!”, she shouted and waved to him before ducking her head back in the carriage.

“Good luck!”, Swift shouted back just before the carriage made a left turn and left his sight.

No more than thirty minutes later, the three fillies found themselves standing outside what looked to be the best building in the entire city. Or at least that's how it looked to them compared to the apartment complex they were staying in previously.

Showtime motioned for the three to follow him inside and then lead them to the elevator. As it was raising from the ground, the fillies noticed that the opposite wall is made of glass, allowing them to see what is on the other side; by the time it came to a halt, the fillies' mouths were hanging wide open in shock and awe, seeing what seemed to be the entire city down below them.

However, if the sight they just saw in the elevator impressed them, then the room they entered afterwards took the cake, tray, and crumbs.

“Wow! Ah'm gonna be stayin' here?!”, Applebloom asked incredulously when Showtime opened the door to what she assumed was her room.

“There is around the clock room-service", the stallion spoke up, "and feel free to order anything your heart desires from your own personal butler, who is a mere bell-ring away. And do not worry about cleaning up any messes you may happen to make, thanks to our in-suite household chore service”, he said as the three followed him into the room.

The fillies looked around themselves, taking in their surroundings and almost unable to believe what they were seeing. The room consisted of marble floors and leather furniture, with fluffy pillows on each piece of furniture in the room.

“This suite always has three bedrooms, so you all can have the privacy you want”, Showtime remarked while opening the door to one of the rooms.

The room consisted of a king-sized bed with an end table on each side, a small lamp on each end table, a walk-in closet to the left side of the room, a projector which looked as if it was embedded into the wall just behind the bed (yet didn't look unsightly in any way at all), and to top it all off, a small refrigerator sat in the upper right corner of the room.

“Now this is what I'm talking about!”, Silver Spoon exclaimed, hopping onto the bed and letting out a content sigh.

“Ah guess Silver Spoon's claimin' this room”, Applebloom remarked with a smirk.

“So it seems...”, Showtime remarked with a less than enthused expression. “Each room is an exact duplicate of the other, so there is no need to worry about not getting something you wanted out of the last room you saw”, he continued before leaving the room and motioning for the two to follow him. “We have two other rooms for each of you here as well”, he added with a smile.

Babs and Applebloom exchanged curious looks at one another before it clicked with them. They hadn't told him they were a couple yet.

“Um, Mr. Showtime. Ah don't think the other room will be necessary”, Applebloom pointed out.

Showtime turned to look at the two with a confused expression. However, the statement set in when he noticed that the two were standing next to each other with their tails intertwining.

“Oh... Oh! I uh, see... ahem, well then”, he spoke up with a nervous expression before quickly opening the door for them. “Make yourselves at home”, he said, motioning for the two to walk into the bedroom.

“Oh, I'm sure we will”, Babs remarked with a coy smirk at her lover, who caught on quickly and smirked back.

“Y-Yes, I'm sure you will. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go back to the music company and fill out some paperwork. I'll be back tomorrow to speak with Applebloom about her new career”, Showtime replied, walking past the two and quickly leaving the suite.

“How about we celebrate your most recent success?”, Babs suggested with a smirk, hopping onto the bed and motioning for her lover to join.

“Mmm, what do ya have in mind?”, Applebloom asked in response, though she already knew was what on her lover's mind.

“I was thinkin' of a movie, some late night dinner, and to top it all off, makin' you scream my name for the next two hours”, Babs replied when Applebloom jumped on the bed.

“Ah was thinkin' we skip the movie and the late night dinner and get to makin' me scream your name for the next two hours”, the farm filly suggested, wrapping her hooves around her lover and starting to make out with her.

“I like how you think. Say, is this room soundproof?”, Babs asked between kisses, her front hooves running along Applebloom's mane.

“Ah hope so, or Silver Spoon's gonna be gettin' an earful in the next few minutes”, Applebloom replied with a smirk.

Babs then stopped kissing her and began to lower herself down on the farm filly, stopping just in front of her prize; Applebloom allowed her tail to flop limply to the side and she spread her legs wide, giving her lover full access to her moistening slit.

Over the past year, the two fillies had become much more experienced in their love-making. And while they were no longer as innocent as they once were, each and every time the two began to make love - like they were now - it always felt just like the first time for them.

The city filly put a hoof on her lover's mound and gently spread the farm filly's lips. She extended her tongue and began to run her tongue on Applebloom's labia, earning a sharp moan from the farm filly when the latter felt the combination of warmth from her lover's tongue and the cold air from having her labia exposed in such a fashion. Babs then dipped her tongue inside her lover's quickly moistening love-tunnel and allowed her lips to clasp around her tongue, swirling it around the inside. This caused Applebloom to arch up and place her two front hooves on her lover's head, pushing it down as if to ask her to go deeper while Babs continued her tongue-work.

“Oh Babs... Babs! Deeper Babs, Oh Luna, yes, deeper!”, Applebloom moaned out, getting louder with each time she said her lover's name.

Suddenly, the door burst open.

“Hey fillies, guess what? This place has-Holy Luna!”, Silver Spoon gasped in surprise, causing the two love-making fillies to snap their heads in her direction. A crimson red blush decorated everypony's faces.

“We're kind of busy here, Silver Spoon!”, Babs shouted with a glare at the silver-furred filly.

The latter was still staring blankly at the two before her senses seemed to catch up with her.

“I can see that”, she said, though her voice was a higher pitch than normal.

“Close the consarned door!”, Applebloom ordered angrily when the shock of her embarrassment finally worn off.

Silver Spoon stood there a few moments longer before a grin washed over her face.

“Can I watch?”

“No!!!”, both fillies denied simultaneously, grabbing whatever they could and starting to throw things at the perverted filly.

Silver Spoon managed to dodge a few, only to receive a brush to the skull, which resulted in her being knocked on her back and holding her forehead. Babs then quickly walked up to the door and gave her one last glare before slamming the door shut.

“My head!", Silver Spoon winced, standing to her all fours and rubbing her head. "That's gonna hurt in the morning... but it was so worth it to make those blank-flanks squirm!”, she remarked to herself with a devious grin. “I can't wait to tell...”, she began to say, only for her voice to falter and her devious expression almost instantly falling to one of sadness. “Diamond Tiara...”, she finally finished, her ears flattening down and her tail hanging limply at her hindquarters.

She slumped her way back to her bedroom, only giving a depressed sigh before closing the door and then hopping onto the bed. She reached for her saddlebag and pulled a photo out of it; it featured Diamond Tiara and herself in a loving hug. She looked at it for a moment before holding it close to her chest and slowly drifting off to sleep.

A loud knocking on the door stirred the farm filly. She sat up next to Babs, who still had her hooves around her waist - a result of when the two fell asleep after managing to regain the mood and continue their love-making.

“Who is it?”, Babs asked drowsily, stirring herself after yet another pounding on the door.

“Ah'll go check”, Applebloom said sleepily, sluggishly jumping off the bed and making her way to the door. She opened it to reveal Showtime's smiling face.

“Good morning! Slept well I hope”, the stallion greeted with a smile and let himself in.

“Well, actually--”

“Great! Because we have a full day ahead ourselves!", Showtime said, cutting off the filly before she could finish. "I've arranged for your first recording at ten, then we need to go meet with press at twelve, after that we'll need to pay a stop by the market to get you some threads, so that you look presentable for your performance at three, and then there's the autograph signing after that.”

“Say wha?”, Applebloom replied sluggishly.

Her brain still wasn't awake yet, not to mention she spent longer making love to Babs than she had intended, so the poor filly was running low on sleep. Showtime noticed this and looked at her.

“Hmm, looks like you could use a little pick-me-up. No problem, we'll just pay a quick stop to the coffee shop on the way to your first recording!”, he concluded enthusiastically, starting to usher the filly out the door, despite the fact she barely knew what was going on. He then closed the door behind them.

“Applebloom?”, Babs called out sleepily, walking into the living room of their suite and looking around in confusion.

With a cup of coffee now in her system, the farm filly was wide awake and bushy-tailed as the carriage ran along the streets of Fillydephia.

“I just sang last night for the first time, how can ya be makin' all these arrangements when Ah ain't even famous yet?”, Applebloom asked the stallion curiously when the carriage made a turn.

“Word travels fast in this city, Applebloom. I wasn't the only pony to see your performance last night, ya know”, Showtime replied wisely just as the carriage came to a halt. “Ah, here we are! The recording studio!”, he exclaimed joyfully.

However, now that Applebloom was wide awake, she was able to fully realize what today was.

“Uh, Mr. Showtime. Ah am gonna be able to get home at a decent time today, right?”, she asked uncertainly, jumping out of the carriage and following the stallion into the building.

“Probably not, but I don't see why that's an issue. You're going to be famous before the day's out!”, Showtime replied enthusiastically, both stopping in front of a door inside the building.

“Well, ya see, today is a special day for me and Babs. It's our anniversary from when we started datin' and Ah really don't wanna miss it. So if ya could maybe scratch one or two of those little appoints of yours, so Ah could get back to Babs at a decent time, Ah would be mighty grateful”, Applebloom said, to which Showtime turned to look at her.

“Ah, I see. Ya know, I had a fillyfriend too and wouldn't ya know it, I had to miss our anniversary too”, he replied, a seemingly genuine saddened expression adorning his face for a moment. He then rose a hoof as if he was some kind of colt-scout. “True story. Now let's get to recording, we have a busy day!”, he exclaimed joyfully and began to usher the filly inside the room.

“But, but, Ah really don't wanna miss this day. Can't ya--”

“Ya know what you were just saying?", the stallion asked, cutting her off. "Let's put a pin in it, right here, so we won't forget it, and we'll come back to it later”, he said, making a motion as if he was pinning something into some invisible surface.

He then resumed ushering Applebloom into the recording room. The filly kept protesting for a few moments longer, but eventually gave up, at least for the time being.

“What in tarnation do ya mean ya still haven't found her?!”, Applejack roared to the police pony. The latter was keeping his cool, despite the fact that the farm pony looked ready to buck him like one of her apple trees.

“We've been looking as hard as we can, Applejack, but without any information to go on aside from what you have told us, we're struggling to pull up anything concrete", the police pony replied, looking through his papers. "Not to mention, it's only been a day since you filed the report. Plus, there's the matter of Filthy Rich having a pull on the majority of the police staff.”

“Why in tarnation would that varmint be yankin' half the consarned police department?”, Applejack inquired with a confused expression.

“To look for his niece. She's gone missing as well”, the police pony replied simply before resuming looking through his paperwork.

“Silver Spoon's gone missin' too? What in tarnation is goin' on here?”, Applejack asked aloud, sitting in place with a thoughtful expression for a moment before leaving the police department and heading back for Apple Acres.

“It's only been a day, youngin'. They ain't gonna find 'em that quick”, Granny Smith remarked when her granddaughter walked through the front door and past her. “Where in tarnation are ya goin'?”

“Ah'm recheckin' Applebloom's room. Ah might have overlooked somethin'”, the farm pony replied, walking upstairs and into her little sister's room. It looked just the same as it had the day before, but she was going to search extra carefully this time.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had shown up.

“So you haven't seen or heard from her for a whole day?”, the orange pegasus asked with a worried expression.

Granny Smith nodded in response.

“We think they might have run off together”, she said, “since Babs' momma and poppa didn't see eye-to-eye with her datin' Applebloom. Ya don't know anythin' bout this by chance, do ya?”, she inquired, eyeing the two.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle put on the best poker faces they could muster and shook their heads, feigning ignorance.

“So they did run off without us!", Scootaloo exclaimed after Granny Smith had closed the door and the two walked away from the house. "They are so gonna get it when they get back!”

“Calm down, Scootaloo, I think they had a good reason for leaving us behind”, Sweetie Belle replied, defending her fellow crusaders.

“Oh yeah? Like what?”, Scootaloo retorted with a glare at the unicorn filly.

“Well, I checked the train schedule and it turns out that the midnight train leaves exactly at twelve-midnight on the weekends, not twelve-thirty. So maybe they learned of the new time and it was too late to tell us”, Sweetie Belle explained calmly, the two continuing to walk to the outer parts of Apple Acres and nearing the town.

“Maybe”, the pegasus replied. She didn't seem all that convinced, but the statement did manage to calm her.

Applebloom hopped into the carriage an hour later and quickly took another swig of her cup of coffee. Showtime jumped into the carriage as well and motioned for it to move to their next destination.

“Ah almost didn't remember all the words from the song Ah sung last night”, she remarked nervously, turning her gaze to Showtime.

“Don't worry about it. Sure, you goofed up a few times, but you remembered all the lines in time, so we didn't fall behind schedule”, the stallion replied with a supportive wink at the filly.

“The glares from the recordin' staff didn't help me remember any better”, Applebloom remarked dismally, recalling their aggravated groans and glares towards her each time she forgot a line to her song.

“That's the music business for ya, Applebloom. Though when you perform tonight, let's try not to forget our lines, shall we?”, Showtime replied with a less than supportive look at the farm filly, who simply nodded in response.

The next stop, as Applebloom assumed, was what Showtime was referring to as the press. She had no idea what he meant by that, though. For all she knew, it could be some kind of a reporter pony standing in front of her and writing down each and every word she spoke.

She wasn't too far off either, but this was a lot more than a simple reporter pony writing down what she said. It became clear to her when she stepped into the next building from Showtime's list of things to do today. When she followed him inside, they were greeted by non-other than a mare who wore a black dress with small diamonds stitched into the hem, a black and white stripped blouse, and black sunglasses with pink lenses.

“Ah, so dis is the filly whom I, Photo Finish, must make look beautiful in time for her interview?”, Photo Finish inquired when Showtime stopped just in front of her.

“Yes. Do you think it's possible? She does after all have a robust country look to her and it might be hard to get rid of that”, Showtime remarked, glancing at the farm filly.

“But Ah like mah look. What's wrong with it?”, Applebloom asked, feeling offended by the fact that Showtime had more or less insulted her looks.

Photo Finish then looked over the filly with what she assumed to be an examining stare, placing a hoof on her chin. Applebloom couldn't tell, since her eyes were hidden behind the pink lenses of her sunglasses.

“I've got it! Come, come!”, Photo Finish exclaimed suddenly, at which point the filly was ushered into another room by two female ponies, who she had no idea were behind her 'till now.

“First things first, the bow... must go!”, Photo Finish said dramatically.

At this, one of the mares yanked the bow off her head, allowing the farm filly's mane to drop down at the side of her neck.

“But Ah like mah bow! Applejack gave it to me for mah tenth birthday!”, Applebloom protested, though the mares and Photo Finish seemed to ignore her as they tossed it to the table on the side.

Then they immediately began to assault her with make-up, different dresses, outfits, and accessories. This went on for good twenty minutes until Photo Finish made a gesture for the mares to stop.

“Ah! Peerrrr-fect! Now you look like... a star!”, she said dramatically with a hoof kissing gesture.

The farm filly looked into the mirror and saw a complete stranger staring back at her, or at least that's how it seemed to her at first. Her mane had been styled so that it was flat and long, but wrapped around the front of her neck in a fluid fashion. Her cheeks had been touched up with a light pink blush, her eyelids had been layered in mascara, and her eyelashes had been curled in such a fashion that they looked silly to the farm filly. She also wore a dark red dress, which seemed to run along her body all the way to her tail, but it didn't ride on her flank at all.

“Ah look plum ridiculous!”, Applebloom blurted out suddenly, looking back at Photo Finish and the two mares with an annoyed glare.

“Maybe where you come from, but in this city ponies will think you look beautiful”, Showtime's voice spoke up, snapping Applebloom's gaze to him as he walked into the room. “And not a moment too soon. The interview is in ten minutes.”

One of the mares picked up the bow and was about to toss it into the trashcan when Applebloom's face suddenly appeared in front of her.

“Ya toss that bow away and Ah'll walk out of this building and never come back”, she said with a glare at the mare.

The mare looked at Showtime, who sighed in response.

“Make sure it's kept in a safe place for her to pick up after the interview”, the stallion replied finally after a tense silence, much to Applebloom's relief.

“What are you doing?”, Silver Spoon asked curiously when Babs walked about the suite as if she was looking for something. The city filly came back with a two candles, which she sat down carefully on the table.

“Today is me and Applebloom's anniversary from when we started dating. I want to surprise her with a candlelight dinner when she gets back”, Babs replied with a smile.

She then turned around and walked towards the door, pressing a button which rang a bell. The door opened, revealing a well-dressed stallion.

“Yes?”, the butler asked in a prim and proper tone.

“Can you order some of your best food and have it delivered up here around...”, Babs began to say, but trailed off as she didn't know exactly when her fillyfriend would be back. “Five o’clock?”, she finished finally, deciding that Applebloom would surely be back by then.

“Of course, madam”, the butler replied.

He was about to leave, only for Silver Spoon to halt him in his tracks by standing in front of him.

“While you're at it, could you bring up a deluxe daisy salad for me as soon as you can?”, she asked in a prim and proper tone.

“Of course, Madam”, the butler replied, walking past her and closing the door behind him.

“A deluxe daisy sandwich?”, Babs inquired with a curious look.

“Just because you're going to starve yourself 'till your fillyfriend gets back, doesn't mean I have to”, Silver Spoon replied snootily.

She then turned around, sat down on the couch, and pressed a button on the side. It caused a small white flat paper flap to come down and a motion movie to be displayed on it from the projector, just behind the couch in the wall.

Babs simply let out a sigh in response to this statement and left the spoiled filly to her movie. She then continued making preparations for her and Applebloom's anniversary dinner.

“What the hay is wrong with me statin' that Ah'm datin a filly?!”, Applebloom exclaimed with a glare at Showtime as the carriage pulled away from the building.

“Two reasons: one, it's better for your public image if your fans think you're a single, and two, lesbian relationships don't go over well in the public eye. Too much controversy, you see”, Showtime explained when the carriage made a left turn.

It was well into the midday now and the farm filly's thoughts once again reverted back to her lover, who was most likely waiting expectantly for her right now.

“So about what Ah said earlier this mornin'...”, she began, looking at Showtime and expecting him to know what she was talking about.

“This morning?”, the stallion replied in confusion.

“Ya forgot already? Ah asked ya if ya could scratch off one of your little appointments for me so Ah can spend mah anniversary with Babs!”, Applebloom reminded with a glare at the stallion.

“Oh, that”, Showtime replied as if the topic was not important. “I'm afraid we won't be able to. Too much to do and it's far too late to back out of any of my arrangements now. Perhaps if you had asked me to earlier this morning--”

“Ah did!”, Applebloom erupted angrily, cutting off the stallion mid-sentence.

“Really? Well, perhaps you should have pressed the matter more and maybe I could--”

“Ah tried, but then you did some consarned little motion and talkin' about some kind of pin of some sorts, and pushed me into the buckin' recordin' studio!”, the farm filly roared, clearly becoming pissed off by this point.

“Now, now, no need to swear. I understand that you're upset and you know what? You have my deepest sympathies, but we can't change anything, now, can we?”, Showtime asked, looking at her calmly.

“Ah guess not”, Applebloom replied, looking out of the carriage window and giving an aggravated sigh.

“Tell ya what”, Showtime said after a few moments, “after your performance, we'll see if we can cut the autograph session short by a half hour. How's that sound?”

Applebloom snapped her gaze back at him with a hopeful expression.

“Really?!”, she asked joyfully.

“Like I said, we'll see”, Showtime replied with a smile.

Author's Note

Proof read by zutheskunk

The lifestyles of the rich and shameless (part 1)

THE LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND SHAMELESS

PART ONE

The door to Applebloom's suite swung open at roughly ten o'clock at night, revealing an extremely tired and exhausted farm filly.

“Ah-Ah'm home...”, she uttered sleepily.

She then walked past Babs... who had fallen asleep at the table, the candles she prepared completely melted and no longer lit, and the food completely cold.

It took Applebloom a few seconds, but the drowsy filly finally noticed her lover at the table, along with all the preparations she had made for their anniversary dinner. It was then the farm filly felt her chest go ice-cold and the feeling of guilt hitting her conscience like a freight train, which dragged it for about ten miles before coming to halt and flinging it into a flaming pit of self-hatred.

She walked over to her lover and shook her gently. After a brief moment, Babs slowly opened her eyes. She looked up and saw Applebloom. A meek smile adorned her face.

“Ah so sorry!", the farm filly spoke up. "Ah didn't mean to come back this late. Ah tried to get Showtime to let me come back early, Ah really did, but...”, she began to say, only to trail off and sigh heavily.

She could barely think at the moment. Even though the apology she was going to give to Babs made its way through her head over and over during the autograph signing, she could barely think of any of it now.

Babs gave a look at the candlelight dinner she prepared, sadness in her expression. She then looked back at Applebloom with a soft smile.

“It's okay", she said. "We can just celebrate our anniversary next weekend. It's not your fault that you're a star all the sudden and it would be really thoughtless of me to expect you to drop your new career for something as simple as our anniversary”, she added, giving a mighty yawn as she glanced up at the clock then back to her lover.

“But this was important to both of us, and Ah shoulda been more pushy with that Showtime pony”, Applebloom insisted, not letting the topic drop so easily. She would have thought that hearing her lover be so understanding about her new singing career would make her feel better, but instead it just made her feel more guilty.

“It's okay, really it is.”

“No, it's not. Ah shoulda told him to take his little autograph thing and--”, Applebloom tried to continue, only for Babs to literally shove her hoof in her mouth and smile at her.

“Cuz, listen. It's okay. We'll just celebrate it next weekend. Now let's get some sleep”, she replied, taking her hoof out of Applebloom's mouth and starting to walk to the bedroom.

“But I'm wide-awake. We can still do somethin', right?”, Applebloom said, swaying back and forth on all four hooves with a barely alert expression on her face.

Babs looked at her.

“Really? You're wide-awake, huh? Repeat after me, cuz”, Babs replied and yawned audibly.

As much as the farm filly attempted to resist the urge, she inevitably gave in, yawned loudly, and nearly fell flat on her face.

“Okay, Ah guess Ah am a little sleepy”, she finally admitted and walked up to Babs. Due to her fatigued state, she stumbled once or twice on her way.

“A little?”, Babs replied skeptically, making her way into the bedroom alongside with Applebloom.

"Yeah, only a... little", she said, half asleep.

The two fillies then jumped onto the bed, got under the covers, and snuggled next to one another, lying their heads down on the pillow.

“Night, Applebloom”, Babs said, expecting a response.

However, she quickly realized that no sooner her lover's head had hit the pillow, she was out like a light. With a soft giggle, Babs wrapped her right front hoof around Applebloom's waist and snuggled close to her, falling asleep as well.

The week carried on and each and every day the Applebloom came home late at night, thanks to Showtime's tight and busy schedule. It was now the second to last day before her rescheduled anniversary with Babs, and enough was enough. She wasn't about to miss this one.

Once again she was awoken in the morning by a loud knocking on the door, and even though she had a good night's sleep, the effects of yesterday left her feeling as if she hadn't had much sleep at all. Despite all this, she knew who it was and gently woke her lover.

“Hey, Babs, Showtime's here to pick me up. Listen, when Ah get home today, I'll make it up to ya for missin' our anniversary, Ah promise!”, she whispered, gave Babs a quick kiss on the lips, and hopped out of bed.

“So, are you ready to go?”, Showtime asked cheerily after she finally opened the door.

“First things first, ya varmint, Ah got some words to have with ya. Get ya flank in here and close the consarned door”, Applebloom ordered, turning around and walking inside.

Showtime didn't look worried in the slightest, but she was sure that by the time she was through, he was going to be nervous.

“We are on a tight schedule, so this can't take more than ten minutes”, he replied, sitting down on the couch. Applebloom walked over to her and Babs' door and closed it gently before walking over to the stallion.

“Don't worry. This won't take more than five minutes”, Applebloom replied, her tone clearly showing that she's pissed off and aggravated. She walked over to the table next to the couch Showtime was sitting on, opened it, and took a pen and paper out. She chucked the two at the stallion, who, surprised and startled, barely caught the objects.

“If Ah'm gonna be doin' this, Ah got some conditions, and if they aren't met, ya can kiss mah flank goodbye cause Ah'll quit!”, Applebloom exclaimed, pacing back and forth.

Showtime, however, still didn't look nervous in the slightest.

“And these are?”, he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“First off, Ah want to be home by a decent time every day! Ah'm puttin' a stop to it here and now. Secondly, Ah want ya to listen to me when Ah'm talkin' to ya. No more blowin' me off when Ah'm tryin' to say somethin'. And finally, Ah want Babs to be present at all mah performances.”

“Is that all?”, Showtime replied, still completely calm.

“Yeah, that will be just fine for now. So, ya got all that?”, she asked, giving the stallion a threatening glare.

“Of course. I will do my very best to meet all your demands, but you must look at my position as well. I'm merely an agent for the music company that I work for. If they ask for something, I can't very well say no without risking losing my job”, Showtime replied, setting the pen and paper down next to him and clasping his front two hooves together in front of his face in a businesslike manner.

“Ah don't care! Ya made me miss one of the most important events of mah life and that's got me plum ticked off! So ya better be rememberin' mah terms”, Applebloom replied, walking past the stallion and towards the door. “Are we leavin’ or what?”, she asked, turning her head towards him.

The latter stood up off the couch and walked over to her. Much to the farm filly's surprise, he knelt down in front of her and held one of her hooves in his.

“Applebloom, try to understand, I am not the enemy here. You have a wonderful voice and that's why I choose you out of all the ponies I've seen perform at that club. What the music company tells me goes. There are no what ifs, maybes, or what abouts, for a stallion in my position. You scarcely have those luxuries and even so, if the music company asks me to do something, I can't tell them 'well, she doesn't feel like it today'. I'd lose my job and you would lose your career”, the stallion explained, looking at her with almost pleading expression.

Though Applebloom was taken aback by his sudden compassionate attitude, she continued to glare back at him.

“Mah career means horseapples to me. Ah'm only doin' this cause Babs wants me to. And Ah'd do anythin' to make her happy”, she replied, not backing down from her position.

“A noble sentiment, but one thing you must realize is that this is your career, your new life. And even though she's a part of it, it's not her the music company will be looking at, it's you. Now, I can't guarantee that you'll be home at a decent time every day, but... I will do my very best to make sure to meet all your other demands. Oh, and it also helps if you state any plans you have several days in advance, so we schedule around them”, Showtime finished with a smile before standing up and opening the door for the farm filly.

“In that case, me and Babs have rescheduled our anniversary celebration for this weekend. Make sure ya pen that in”, Applebloom replied snootily, walking past the stallion.

“Very well, I'll be sure to schedule you to get home early”, Showtime replied while following her.

“Hmm, I had hoped to wait a little longer, but I think it's time I hook this filly to her new lifestyle. Can't have her making any more demands like today or I might lose my job”, he thought to himself, watching the filly walk into the elevator. She turned to look at him.

“Whatcha waitin' for? Hearth's Warmin' Eve?”, Applebloom asked with a curious look at the stallion, which snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Just thinking! Coming!”, he replied quickly and joined the farm filly in the elevator.

Babs sat up in her covers. She stretched all four legs with a mighty yawn before jumping out of the bed. Sure, it had been lonely during the week with her lover at work all the time, but she understood why. Even so, it did sadden her to be asleep most times when Applebloom got home.

The city filly walked out of her room to see Silver Spoon carrying her saddlebags.

“Going somewhere?”, Babs inquired curiously, which was met with a glare from the silver-furred filly.

“Yeah, to find Diamond Tiara! You two have been so caught up in your new little lives that you've completely forgotten why we came here in the first place!”, she exclaimed and continued walking towards the door, only for Babs to run in front of her.

“We didn't forget!”, she said defensively. “It's just that Applebloom has been busy with her new singing career and I didn't think she would like it if we went off and searched without her. Besides, she has connections now, I'm sure one of them will be able to find Diamond Tiara faster than we ever could on our own!”

Truth be told, she had forgotten. Between missing her anniversary with Applebloom and the distractions of all this new lifestyle of hers (which she was enjoying thoroughly, despite Applebloom not being present for most of them), she had completely forgotten 'till now, and it was making her feel very guilty.

“Wake up and smell the apples rotting, Babs! Applebloom is so caught up in her new career, that she doesn't care anymore! I'd even be willing to bet that if she was given a choice between you and this new life of hers, she would choose it over you!”, Silver Spoon yelled, tossing her saddlebags to the floor in anger and staring at the city filly.

“She's only been in this new career of hers for less than a week! How can you even assume such a thing?!”, Babs responded, her temper rising now.

“Being rich and famous changes ponies, Babs! It's changed me, Diamond Tiara, and her father...”, Silver Spoon replied, her voice becoming less pissed and more saddened with each name she stated. She sighed depressingly.

“So you weren't always a spoiled rotten filly? I find that hard to believe”, Babs said with an eye-roll.

“There's more to me than my family's money, blank-flank!”, Silver Spoon retorted heatedly and sighed once again.

“Oh really? This I gotta hear”, Babs replied with a less than convinced expression, planting her hindquarters on the floor where she stood.

“You really don't believe me, do you?”

“Sure I do, tell me everything. I'm sure it will clear everything up”, Babs replied. Even though she was patronizing the filly at this point and she knew it, she was indeed a little curious.

“Fine, pull up some carpet, you're gonna be sitting here for a while”, Silver Spoon said and sat down herself. “For starters, me and Diamond Tiara have no money of our own. In fact, it took Diamond Tiara begging her father for a doll for days on end to get him to even buy her one for the first time”, she said, expecting this to stun the city filly. However, it seemed to have no effect on her at all.

“Okay, so Diamond Tiara begged her father for a doll. How does that have to do with her and you being spoiled fillies?”, Babs inquired.

“Because a few months before that happened, her father actually paid attention to her”, Silver Spoon answered and sighed.

“Wait, what? I think I'm missing something important here. How did Filthy Rich go from paying attention to her to buying her anything she wanted and ignoring her?”

“We were still very young at the time, so I can't remember everything, but Diamond Tiara's father hit a big break in his business. Something to do with using the Apple family's zap apple jam in some kind of pastry. After that happened, Filthy Rich spent less and less time with her until he barely looked at her during the day. His face was usually buried in some kind of paperwork. Diamond Tiara was desperate for her father's attention by this point. Don't tell her I told you this, but she was a real daddy's filly”, Silver Spoon explained, followed by a slight giggle at the memories of how she acted towards her father.

“You still haven't explained how you two became spoiled fillies”, Babs replied, much to Silver Spoon's annoyance.

“Would you stop calling us that?! You don't like being called a blank-flank, do you?”, she responded with a glare.

“Fair enough, but you still haven't explained what happened”, Babs conceded. Silver Spoon did have a point, and it didn't really occur to her 'till now that calling the two spoiled was an insult. She always assumed they took it as a complement.

“I'm getting to that!”, Silver Spoon snapped before taking a deep breath and continuing. “Filthy Rich didn't just ignore Diamond Tiara, he also ignored her mom. We think she got tired of it because the two were shouting at one another a lot one night. On the next morning, Diamond Tiara's mom wasn't there anymore. The next thing we know, Filthy Rich told us that her mom had moved to Fillydelphia.”

Silverspoon took a breath and continued.

“Anyways, Diamond Tiara tried to get her father's attention any way she could, but nothing worked. Eventually, she begged him to take her out like they used to do all the time, but he would always say he was too busy. You have no idea how painful it was to watch her crying at night, thinking her father no longer loved her.”

She took a brief break to let this set into the city filly's brain before she continued.

“Then her father came back one day with a doll that she had been asking for. I hadn't seen her so happy for what felt like a long time. It was around this time that I moved in, because my parents were going bankrupt and losing their home. Of course I didn't know it at the time. I just thought they wanted me to spend more time with my cousin. But then--”

“Whoa, whoa! Hold the reigns a second! You two weren't always living together? “, Babs asked, looking genuinely shocked by this new set of information.

“Of course not. And I suppose you think we were always lovers as well?”, the silver-furred filly replied sarcastically with an eye-roll.

“Kind of, yeah.”

Silver Spoon facehooved at this.

“Are you that dense?!", she shouted in annoyance. "Ugh, anyways! I'm not sure how or why she thought this, but she figured that if she wanted her father to pay attention to her, all she had to do was ask him for something. Course we were both very young then, so go figure”, she said with a whimsy hoof flinging gesture. “Anyways, fast forward a few months and we both realized that her father would buy us anything we wanted. Little did I know at the time, but Diamond Tiara thought that having her father buy her things he would eventually get tired of it and pay attention to her”, she explained.

“That obviously wasn't the case, basing on that little performance of hers from a year ago”, Babs concluded, to which Silver Spoon nodded.

“Yeah, she figured out it wasn't working long before she even got her cutie mark”, she replied and sighed.

“Say, what are your special talents anyways?”, Babs inquired suddenly, catching Silver Spoon off guard.

“Ya know. We really don't know", Silver Spoon replied, glancing at her flank with a resentful expression before turning to look back at Babs. "Even though me and Diamond don't say it outright, we hate our cutie marks. They don't define who we are at all.”

“You hate your cutie marks?!", Babs exclaimed, looking flabbergasted by this statement. "But you're so lucky to have them! I'd give my right hind leg to have a cutie mark!”

Silver Spoon scoffed with an eye-roll upon hearing this.

“Yeah, sure. A cutie mark that pretty much means we're spoiled little fillies who get our way all the time. I'm so sure you'd love to have one like mine. You know what? You can have it! I'd give anything to go back in time and change what my cutie mark was supposed to be”, she said and sighed once again.

Babs then stood up and walked away from Silver Spoon, much to her surprise.

“Where are you going?! I'm not done telling you what happened!”, she said, looking offended by the city filly's sudden lack of interest.

“Don't need to hear it. Besides, the more time you sit there babbling on about how you two became spoiled fillies, the more time that gets taken away from finding Diamond Tiara”, Babs replied, walking to the door.

“What about Applebloom?”, Silver Spoon asked, standing up herself and walking over to Babs.

“I'm sure she won't mind. Besides, we can talk about it during our anniversary this weekend”, Babs replied, opening the door.

“I'm telling you, she won't make it. She's too caught up in her new lifestyle as a singer to care.”

“Do you want to find Diamond Tiara or not?”, Babs asked, feeling her temper rise once again at this remark.

“Okay, okay! Let's just get looking! Where do you think we should start?”, Silver Spoon asked when the two walked into the elevator.

“Well, we can start by asking some ponies in the lobby. I'm sure one of them will know. After all, Diamond Tiara's mom is surely as rich as her father, right?”, Babs asked when the elevator doors closed and they began to descend to the lobby floor.

“I wouldn't know. I only met her a few times before she left for Fillydelphia”, Silver Spoon replied and sighed with a smile. “Thanks, Babs.”

“For what?”

“For actually stopping me from walking out on you two. I can't believe I was going to leave this place like this. I must have been out of my mind!”, the silver-furred filly exclaimed, followed by a giggle.

“Nah, you weren't out of your mind. Your heart was just screamin' a little louder than your brain”, Babs replied with a smirk.

“Ha, ha. Maybe...”, Silver Spoon said with a warm smile, just as the elevator reached its destination and the doors opened.

Applebloom jumped into the carriage and sat down in the seat, sighing a little and looking out of the window.

“Something the matter?”, Showtime asked.

“It's nothin”, she lied. Truth be told, she was saddened by the fact that she had looked at her flank many times over the course of this week, and yet she hadn't earned her cutie mark yet. This was discouraging to the young filly.

It was then she noticed that the carriage wasn't heading in the direction it usually did. She looked at Showtime curiously.

“Where's this thing headin'? It doesn't look like the place we usually go”, she remarked.

A smile washed over Showtime's face upon hearing this.

“Well, I had hoped to surprise you, but since you have been so observant, I guess I'll tell you. I've taken the liberty of clearing your schedule today for some much-needed fun and relaxation”, he replied, much to the farm filly's surprise.

“Wait a second, ya mean to tell me that ya cleared mah schedule that you've been pinin' over me to stick to for the last week just to goof off? Won't that get ya fired?"

“What the music company doesn't know won't hurt them”, Showtime replied with a mischievous grin before looking out the carriage window next to his seat. “Besides, you made it more than clear to me that I've been running you ragged for the last week, and I do feel genuinely terrible for it”, he said before looking back at her. “So, we're heading to Club Hotflank for some relaxation and fun”, he finished.

“Club Hotflank?”, Applebloom questioned with a raised eyebrow.

A few minutes later, the carriage made its final turn and came to a halt. She stepped outside the carriage to see a huge line of ponies outside a building that looked as if it was built entirely of neon lights. In the very middle of the roof section was what looked as if it was a mare who was dancing in different provocative ways.

“Am Ah even old enough to go into this place?”, she asked when Showtime stepped out.

“Applebloom, you're the newest hit in Fillydelphia and famous throughout it! You'll soon realize that everything in this city is open to you”, Showtime replied with an enthusiastic smile, motioning for her to follow him.

“Isn't there a line we need to wait in?”, Applebloom asked with a nervous expression. She walked up to the stallion, the latter apparently heading straight to the front of the building.

“Not for you”, Showtime replied with a smirk, walking up to what Applebloom thought looked like a well-built stallion. “Applebloom is here for some relaxation”, he said simply.

The stallion looked at the filly. The stern glance of his quickly turned into a smile.

“Oh hey! You're that new filly I saw a few days ago! Your song is great!”, he exclaimed enthusiastically.

“Th-Thanks”, Applebloom replied with a blush, looking away from him. Up 'till now she hadn't heard anything about what ponies thought of her music. She knew the crowds cheered her on, but she had never heard one of them actually say anything outright to her.

“Come on in!”, he said, lifting the rope and motioning for her and Showtime to pass through.

“Wait, is that Applebloom?”

“No way! She couldn't be here, could she?!”

“It is her! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!”

These remarks and more flooded the farm filly's ears and soon, much to her shock, she had a crowd of ponies around her begging for autographs.

“Can you sign my flank?!”, one mare asked excitedly, handing Applebloom a pen and brandishing her side to the filly.

“Sign your flank?! What happened to signin' mah name on a piece of paper?!”, Applebloom asked incredulously. She didn't get the chance to sign it however, as more and more ponies began to crowd around her. “Showtime, help!”, she shouted at the top of her lungs. The ponies voices and faces flooded around the filly more and more, until...

“That's enough! Everypony back off or ya get the hoof!”, a stern and strong voice shouted, causing the crowd to immediately start to dissipate, eventually revealing a dark red stallion.

“Ahem, forgive me, Applebloom", Showtime said. "I had hoped your bodyguard would have gotten here sooner, but he had a slight delay”, he remarked, flashing the stallion a glare.

“My most sincere apologies. Name's Firmhide. I'll be your bodyguard from this moment on”, the dark red stallion chimed in, extending a hoof to the filly.

“Say what?! Ah've got mah own personal bodyguard now?!”, Applebloom exclaimed in both shock and disbelief.

“Yes, you do. He will do anything for you. Anything”, Showtime replied with a smirk and a wink, which made the filly feel slightly unnerved. “Now then, let's go to our table”, he said and walked through the club, followed by Applebloom.

The two sat down at a table and immediately saw a unicorn mare walk up to the three.

“What can I get ya?”, she asked, levitating a pen and paper in front of her with her magic.

“A Fillydelphia flank kicker please”, Showtime replied simply.

The mare scribbled down his order. She then turned to look at Applebloom, only to nearly drop the pen and paper when she fully realized just who was she looking at.

“Y-You're Applebloom! Oh my gosh! I'm such a big fan!”, the mare said, looking excitedly at the filly, who once again blushed. “So, what can I get you? I mean, of course you don't want anything alcoholic since you're a filly and all. Unless you do like to drink such things, then we have a nice selection for you, but of course if you--”

“Ah'll just have a glass of apple juice if ya got it”, Applebloom piped up, cutting off the mare mid-ramble.

“O-Of course! I'll be back with your orders!”, the mare said and rushed off, nearly dropping her pen and paper on the way.

“Ah had no idea so many ponies liked mah music so much. Ah mean, Ah knew the ones who watched me singin' did, but...”, Applebloom began to say, but trailed off when the sight of a mare on stage dancing on a pole halted her thoughts in their tracks.

After her brain finally managed to reboot itself from the shock of seeing the mare's goods flashed before her eyes, she blushed furiously and looked at Showtime.

“What's the big consarned idea?! This is an adult pony club!”, she exclaimed in disbelief.

“Yes, it is. But remember, you're famous, so even you can get into clubs like these. I thought since your attraction was to females, you'd find this place to your liking”, he replied with a smile at her.

“Ah might be attracted to fillies, but Ah'm taken, did ya forget this?!”, Applebloom countered with a glare.

“There's nothing wrong with looking, Applebloom. I'm sure even your fillyfriend looks once in a while herself, but never touches”, Showtime replied with a confident smile.

“She usually jokes about it, but Ah don't think she was serious”, Applebloom replied in a less than confident tone. However, she quickly rebuilt her self-confidence. “Even so, Ah never once saw her starin' at another filly's cheerybush and teats before!”

“Oh come on, you really think that she hasn't at least looked once or twice? Even the most loyal of ponies avert their gaze to another mare or stallion once in a while. It's equine nature. Only when they decide to go and cheat on you with another pony it’s when it becomes wrong”, Showtime countered with a confident look of his own.

“Even so, Ah'm not all that comfortable with lookin' at another pony's plummin'. The only plummin' Ah like lookin' at is Babs'”, Applebloom replied, slamming both hooves over her face in embarrassment. Showtime chuckled in response.

“If you're that uncomfortable, we can go. The city is your oyster today, so just tell me where you'd like to go.” Showtime replied.

“Anywhere Ah want, huh? Let's go now and pick up Babs then”, she replied, standing up and walking away from the table.

Once back in the carriage, the three traveled back to Applebloom's suite, only to find Babs and Silver Spoon missing.

“Where the hay did they go?”, she asked in confusion.

Silver Spoon and Babs rounded the corner to a small section of Fillydelphia. This neighborhood was far from the richest section of the city, but not the poorest either.

“I find it hard to believe Diamond Tiara would be living here”, Silver Spoon remarked skeptically when the two stood in front of a house.

“Me neither, but this is the address on the letter. Good thing there was a pony in the lobby who knew where this place was”, Babs replied and knocked on the door.

No response.

Babs once again knocked on the door, but there still was no reply.

“What gives?! This is the address, it even says it right here!”, she said in confusion, pointing at the plank on the side of the building which read the same address as the one on the letter.

A few moments later, a mare could be seen walking by and looked at the two.

“Are you looking for somepony?”, she asked sweetly.

“Yeah, a friend of ours has been sending letters to us from here. Are they out right now?”, Babs inquired, turning to look at the kindred mare.

“I'm afraid this place has been up for sale for quite some time, but I used to see a filly around your age coming here quite often until a little while ago”, the mare replied.

The two looked at one another. Silver Spoon then pulled out the photo of Diamond Tiara and hers and showed it to the mare.

“Did she look like this?”, the filly asked hopefully.

The mare looked at the photo with a thoughtful expression.

“Exactly like dat. I say, do you know her?”, she said, much to the delight of both fillies.

“Yes. Do you know where she lives?”, Silver Spoon asked eagerly with a wide smile at the mare.

“I'm afraid not, though I'm sure she must live close by. I can't see a filly her age walking around town just to send letters from a vacant home. Well, I must be going, good luck on finding your friend”, she replied and then continued walking down the sidewalk.

“Why would she live in this neighborhood? Isn't her mom just as rich as her father?”, Silver Spoon remarked in confusion.

“Apparently not, but we can't just go walking up to random doors and asking if she lives there. We'd attract too much attention to ourselves, and the last thing I want is my parents finding out where I am and taking me away from Applebloom."

As soon as Babs realized what she just confessed, she went wide-eyed, and slammed both front hooves on her mouth.

“Wait a second, why would you be worried about your parents taking you away from Applebloom? Weren't they okay with you dating her? Unless....”, Silver Spoon trailed off until a smirk washed over her face. “They wised up to you and Applebloom dating, didn't they?”

Babs didn't reply verbally. Instead, she simply nodded with a sigh and hung her head low.

“I knew it! I knew there had to be some alternate motive for you dragging Applebloom out here!”, Silver Spoon exclaimed, pointing a hoof at the city filly and relishing in her own confirmed suspicions.

“Please don't tell Applebloom! She would freak out if she knew and it would ruin our anniversary this weekend!”, Babs pleaded with a desperate expression.

“Don't get your tail in a knot, blank-flank. I won't blab, but you should tell her and tell her soon. It's not going to take her very long to figure out something is up. Then again, I suppose that's why you pushed her to get into this singing career of hers. She was asking questions, wasn't she? Too bad it'll end up being the undoing of your relationship”, Silver Spoon said, looking around the neighborhood from where she stood.

“You keep saying that and I'll dropkick your flank to Diamond Tiara”, Babs replied with a hostile expression towards the filly.

“If that would really work, I'd let you, but let's think realistically”, Silver Spoon replied snootily while she looked down the street.

Babs tensed up and glared at Silver Spoon, having her own threat thrown back at her as if it was nothing. She was starting to think that Silver Spoon's little speech was nothing more than a fabrication in order to get her to help the spoiled filly find her lover. The city filly took several deep breaths in order to calm herself. She let out a final sigh before she spoke:

“Let's head back for now. No point in knocking on doors for the next five hours.”

Author's Note

I'm really sorry for taking so long to get this chapter out! Stupid heat! I'll have part two out as soon I can!

Proof read by Zutheskunk:twilightsmile:

The lifestyles of the rich and shameless (part 2)

THE LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND SHAMELESS

PART TWO

Applebloom looked about herself while she walked throughout a shopping mall.

“Ah'll get Babs the perfect gift”, she thought to herself, looking at the multiple stores. Meanwhile, Showtime carried on his back a big pile of items she had already purchased, having a pained expression on his face as he continued following her.

“P-Perhaps we should take a break?”, he groaned while the farm filly was looking through the window at a selection of jewelry. The stallion was already regretting his decision to try to hook this filly, but he had no choice but to follow her all over the town.

“In a little while. Ah'm not done shoppin'”, she replied and walked into the jewelry store.

“T-Teenagers...”, Showtime groaned before his legs gave way and he got buried in the cascade of Applebloom's items, much to the amusement of her bodyguard who followed the filly into the store.

The three left the shopping mall an hour later, much to relief of the stallion as he finally unloaded all of Applebloom's stuff into the trunk of the carriage and jumped into it.

“So, did you have fun today?”, he asked, hoping this was the end of the farm filly's shopping spree.

“Are ya kiddin' me? Ah'm not even close to bein done!", Applebloom replied enthusiastically. "Ah had no idea that Ah was this plum stinkin' rich! Next stop is the nearest most expensive restaurant in town! Ah'll get mahself something to fill mah belly and buy Babs somethin' as well. Ah was hopin' she was home, but Ah guess she went out for a while. No biggy, Ah'll just take her with me next time.”

“I'm glad you're enjoying yourself so much. Keep in mind you won't get days like this all the time, but I'm sure we can pin in, let's say, once a week for you to have fun and enjoy yourself", Showtime replied with a smile. "Now then, about those demands of yours...”

“They weren't really demands, more like requests ya know? Ah mean, if mah singin' career gets me and Babs all this...”, Applebloom trailed off, motioning towards the pile of stuff in the trunk of the carriage, “...then Ah'm sure she won't mind me comin' home late. But Ah still want her to be attendin' mah performances if ya can manage it”, she finished, much to Showtime's delight.

“Of course! I'll make sure she has a reserved seat at every single one”, the stallion replied with a wide smile.

“Ha ha! It worked! She's hooked! Oh Showtime, you haven't lost your touch”, he thought to himself deviously while the carriage took a left turn.

“Applejack! Get your consarned flank down here for dinner!”, Granny Smith called upstairs to her grand-daughter, who was once again hunting the room from top to bottom for any clues.

“Just a minute, Granny!”, Applejack called back, still looking around the room. Eventually, her eyes fell upon the pillow of her little sister's bed. “It couldn't be that obvious, could it?”, she mused to herself, walking over to the pillow and lifting it.

Sure enough, a single letter lay under the pillow. The farm pony quickly read it and gasped in shock.

“Granny! Ah know where Applebloom, Babs and Silver Spoon went!”, she exclaimed, rushing downstairs and showing the letter to the elder mare.

“Well, what the hay you waitin' around here for? Take it to the police station!”, Granny Smith responded.

However, the farm pony seemed not be listening, as she ran back upstairs and came back a few minutes later with a saddlebag on her back.

“The police are too darn absorbed in helpin' that varmint Filthy Rich, and Ah doubt they would bother to send ponies to Fillydephia”, she replied and walked to their vault, turning the dial several times and taking a large back of bits out. “Ah'm gonna be gone for a bit, Granny, but Ah'll be back with Applebloom before ya know it!”, she announced and ran through the door without another word.

As the farm pony ran down the path, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo happened to see her running past.

“You don't think...?”, Scootaloo asked with a raised eyebrow. She looked at Sweetie Belle, who nodded.

“Yeah, I think she figured out that Applebloom, Babs, and Silver Spoon ran off to Fillydephia”, she agreed.

The two fillies then ran after the farm pony, the latter unaware of their presence until she arrived at the train station an hour later. She looked at the two.

“What the hay are ya doin' here for?”, she asked in confusion.

“We know you're going after Applebloom and Babs”, Scootaloo replied, much to the farm pony's shock.

“And how the hay would ya know-- unless...”, Applejack started before it dawned on her. Her shocked expression quickly turned into an angered one. “Ya both knew everything all along?!”

“Yeah, we sorta knew where they were. But we had a good reason!”, Sweetie Belle exclaimed, doing her best to avert her gaze from the farm pony, who looked as if she was ready to bend the two over and tan their hides in the middle of the station.

“Yeah! See--”, Scootaloo started.

“Ah already put it together, thank ya very much", Applejack cut her off. "It's more than obvious the three ran off to Fillydephia because Babs' parents were going to keep 'em apart and Diamond Tiara happened to be there as well, so they took Silver Spoon along with so as to reunite her with her cousin”, she concluded confidently.

“Well, you're half right”, Scootaloo remarked. Applejack looked at her in confusion.

“Beg yer pardon?”, she asked.

“Well, it was to reunite Silver Spoon with Diamond Tiara, but they were only supposed to be gone for the weekend at most”, Sweetie Belle replied, allowing herself to look the farm pony in the eyes now.

“Yeah”, Scootaloo confirmed. “We were supposed to go with them, but they left before we got here. So we're both super worried about them, and plus, I don't think Babs told Applebloom about her parents.”

“Or maybe she did and they changed their plans to stay there forever", Applejack suggested. "Ya ever think that might be why they left ya here?”

As soon as Applejack asked this question, her attention was yanked to the train, since it gave a mighty toot signaling it was ready to leave in five minutes.

“Consarn it all, Ah ain't got time to be talkin' with ya two. Ah'll deal with ya when Ah come back with Applebloom and Babs.”

She turned around to run to the ticket booth... only to be halted in her tracks by the two fillies, who have clung onto her tail.

“Don't ya be tryin' to stop me!”, Applejack exclaimed, giving her tail a swift yank. However, the fillies seemed to have a firm grip on it.

“You're not going without us! They may be your family, but they're our best friends too!”, Scootaloo said, both she and Sweetie Belle sporting determined expressions on their faces.

“Yeah! Plus, they're our fellow Crusaders, and a Cutie Mark Crusader never abandons a fellow Crusader in need!”, Sweetie Belle chimed in.

“Ah can't take ya with me! Yer parents would have mah head on a plate if I took ya along without sayin' anythin'. Ah admire yer concern for Babs and Applebloom, but Ah just can't”, Applejack argued, attempting to fling the two fillies off her tail, but they held on just the same.

“Then we're not letting go! That way you either have to take us with you, or miss the train!”, Scootaloo declared defiantly, to which Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement.

Applejack gave another glance at the train, which happened to give its three-minutes-left warning toot at this very moment. She then looked back at the two determined fillies.

“Fine! But ya sneaked with me and Ah had no idea 'till we got there, we clear?”, she finally said with a smirk, much to the delight of both fillies.

“Deal!”, Scootaloo exclaimed enthusiastically.

“Sure! I'll be happy to take any punishment my sister can dish out if it means finding Applebloom and Babs”, Sweetie Belle chimed in.

“Ah gotta be out of mah cotton pickin' mind, takin' these two along...”, Applejack remarked under her breath, paying for three tickets and quickly jumping on the train, followed by the two fillies. The train took off from the station a mere minute later.

“Why, Applebloom?!”, Babs asked, looking at her lover with tears in her eyes.

“Ah'm plum stickin' rich now and can have anypony Ah want. Why would Ah need to settle with you, when Ah can date ponies like this one!”, Applebloom responded enthusiastically, motioning to a handsome and very good looking colt.

“But I love you!”, Babs exclaimed tearfully, walking up to Applebloom and attempting to place a hoof on her cheek. However, the farm filly turned away and put her hooves around the colt.

“Ah don't need ya anymore. Besides, if the word got out that we are cousins, mah singin' career would be over and Ah can't have that! See ya around, Babs”, Applebloom finished and walked away from the city filly, soon fading from existence.

“Applebloom, wait!”, Babs shouted. She rushed forward to stop her, but was stopped dead in her tracks by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

“Teh, look at you! I told you that your relationship wouldn't last!”, Silver Spoon said snootily.

“But ours did, didn't it, Silver Spoon?”, Diamond Tiara added, turning her lover's face to hers.

“It sure did. I'm so glad I didn't try to push you into doing some silly singing career. It might have ruined everything”, Silver Spoon remarked and locked lips with her lover. Soon, the two faded from existence too, leaving the city filly alone.

“Applebloom... don't leave me alone”, she said aloud, looking at the ground with tears streaming from her eyes.

Don't leave me alone...

These words seemed to echo over and over, until...

“Hey, wake up! Ah got somethin' for ya!”, Applebloom's voice rang out, causing Babs to snap her eyes open to see her lover in front of her.

“Applebloom? What time is it?”, she asked sleepily, glancing up at the clock. She had apparently fallen asleep while waiting for the farm filly to get back.

“Pretty late. Ah know Ah said I would be home at a decent time today, but Ah lost track of time”, Applebloom replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head with her hoof for a moment before picking up a bag off the floor and setting it on the city filly's lap.

“What's this?”, Babs asked curiously. She opened the bag and scanned its contents, which turned out to be food. It was still warm, but not enough not to require heating it up again. “Food? I thought you were doing your singing thing?”

“It started out that way and then Showtime surprised me by letting me spend some of the money Ah've earned. Ah mean, look at all this stuff Ah got!”, Applebloom said excitedly and motioned to the other side of the room, which had a pile of shopping bags filled with clothes, toys, and fashion accessories.

“So you came home late because you were out all day having fun without me?”, Babs asked, seeming upset now.

“Ah wanted to take you with me, but you weren't home when Ah came by to pick ya up”, Applebloom replied defensively. “Where were ya, anyways?”

“Doing what we came here to do in the first place, or did you forget?”, Babs replied with slight hostility in her voice.

It took the farm pony a few moments, but eventually, it dawned on her.

“Oh horsefeathers! Ah plum forgot about that!”, she exclaimed, looking slightly guilty afterwards.

“Yeah, we did manage to find out the neighborhood Diamond Tiara is staying in, but the house she was sending letters from was vacant. So now we just have to figure out which house she's in”, Babs explained, setting the food down and walking over to the window to look outside at the city below. She sighed heavily.

“Is somethin' the matter?”, Applebloom asked with concern, walking over to her lover and stopping next to her.

“It's this singing career of yours. I know I was the one who told ya to go for it, but I barely ever see you now. Maybe you should just quit while you're ahead. I could take living back in the apartment complex and working at Dancing Hooves' club if it meant seeing you every day and night”, Babs confessed, looking at the farm filly with a saddened expression.

Upon hearing this, Applebloom leaned in close to Babs and placed her head on the city filly's shoulder, rubbing against it affectionately.

“Ah know it's rough, but Showtime told me that it will get better, and Ah won't have to be gone as much once we get everything movin'. Plus, Ah've been thinkin' 'bout what ya said a week ago. About stayin' here and makin' a new life with just the two of us”, Applebloom said softly, much to the shock of Babs. The city filly looked at her lover, the latter lifting her head off of her shoulder.

“Really?”, Babs asked incredulously.

“Yeah. We wouldn't have to worry about your parents keepin' us away from each other, and with mah new career providin' bits for us, we could live here happily. Ah know Ah wasn't for the idea at first, but with all that's happened, Ah think we could do it”, Applebloom remarked softly.

“What about Applejack, Granny Smith and Big Macintosh?”, the city filly asked curiously. She wasn't against the idea, but this sudden statement worried her. Was she staying here because Babs suggested it, or was it her singing career?

“We can write to 'em when we feel like it, plus Ah don't think they would object to mah singin' career since Ah'm so famous. They probably already heard of mah success anyways”, Applebloom replied with a smile.

It was at this point that the city filly gave a long-winded yawn.

“It's late, I think we should be heading off to sleep, cuz”, she suggested sleepily.

“Yeah, Ah reckon sleep is a good idea”, Applebloom agreed and followed her cousin to the bedroom.

Author's Note

I wanted to add more content to this chapter but I've made you all wait long enough! So here ya go! Proofread by Zutheskunk!

The lifestyles of the rich and shameless (part 3)

AUTHOR'S NOTES: This chapter was originally supposed to be apart of part 2 but as I said on the last chapter page, I had made you wait long enough. Please bare in mind that all these chapters were split into parts to spare you all a 20k+ word chapter which is what the chapter "The lifestyles of the rich and shameless" was supposed to be. There will be a part 4 to this chapter which will be the last part of this chapter. I know this chapter is a bit long but it's worth it to read, trust me! XD

THE LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND SHAMELESS

PART 3

The next morning came quicker than the fillies wanted it to but it came just the same. Babs' eyes opened drowsily to see her lover in front of the mirror applying makeup to her face and accessories to her mane. She sat up and stretched with a soft yawn which caused Applebloom to turn and look at her.

“Mornin Babs.” She greeted before she turned her face back to the mirror and resumed applying her makeup.

“Good morning Applebloom. Are you putting on... makeup?” Babs mused curiously as she hopped off the bed and walked up next to the farm filly.

“Yeah, Showtime said Ah need to be makin mahself pretty for the press and all that so we can cut down production costs and speed things up.” Applebloom replied casually as she applied mascara to her eyelids.

Babs then gently nudged Applebloom's neck with her head and rubbed against it affectionately. “I'm looking forward to seeing you later today. I'll set everything up okay?” Babs said softly before she gave her lover a soft peck on the neck when caused Applebloom to shudder slightly at the pleasurable feeling and look at her.

“Set everythin up?” She asked with a slightly confused expression.

“Ya know, for our rescheduled anniversary?” Babs reminded her with a slightly annoyed expression.

“Oh yeah, that.” Applebloom replied and returned her attention to the mirror. “Ah'm lookin forward to it.” she finished though her tone of voice sounded distracted as she spoke now.

This tone of voice was unsettling to the city filly at which point she nuzzled her again. “You are going to be able to make it on time right?” she asked with a slight air of worry in her voice as she spoke.

“O-Of course. Ah just got a lot to do today is all. Got a press conference at ten and a photo-shoot at three then Ah got an interview at...” Applebloom began to say but trailed off in realization of one key fact. Her day was booked. “Horseapples!” She cursed suddenly as she slammed a hoof on the desk which caused multiple makeup bottles and accessories to tumble and scatter.

“What's wrong?” Babs asked looking more worried now.

“Mah entire day is booked! Ah completely spaced that we rescheduled our anniversary for today!” Applebloom exclaimed as she slammed both hooves on her face and groaned loudly.

“You spaced it?! How could forget something as important as our anniversary?!” Babs exclaimed looking deeply hurt and pissed off that her lover had forgotten something so important.

“Ah didn't mean to, Ah swear! It's just that Showtime wanted me to do this for mah rep and all. He told me it was completely optional but it would help me a lot if Ah did this. Ah can't back out of it now because it would make me and him look bad on the press! I'm such an air-headed mule!” Applebloom exclaimed looking genuinely guilt stricken and upset over the fact that she had forgotten something so important.

“It's fine. We'll just reschedule it... again.” Babs replied in a less than sympathetic tone and ending her sentence on a sour note.

“Ah'm really sorry Babs. Ah'll make it up to ya Ah promise. Is there somethin ya want? Ah can get it for ya.” Applebloom replied looking at her lover now whom was looking away from her.

“Something I want?” Babs asked as she turned around to look at Applebloom.

“Yeah, Ah mean, it's the least Ah can do since I've been barely able to see ya the last week.” Applebloom replied with a smile now.

“Being rich and famous changes ponies, Babs! It's changed me, Diamond Tiara, and her father...”, Silver Spoon replied, her voice becoming less pissed and more saddened with each name she stated. She sighed depressingly.

The words of Silverspoon echoed within Babs' mind which caused her chest to become ice-cold with worry and fear. “What if she starts to think that if she just gives me things that it's okay for her to not be around like Filthy Rich did with Diamond Tiara?” The city filly thought to herself.

“Babs? Are ya okay? Ya look like ya saw ghost.” Applebloom asked with a concerned expression as she walked over to Babs and placed a hoof on her cheek which snapped the city filly from her thoughts and back to reality.

“I-I'm fine.” she lied and a few moments later sighed. “L-look, I don't want anything. Just... Just promise me one thing.” Babs replied looking into Applebloom's eyes.

“Sure, anythin.” Applebloom replied looking back into Babs' eyes now.

“Promise me that you won't let this singing career of yours change who you are.” Babs said in a serious tone which caught her lover off guard slightly.

“Oh come on Babs, ya know-”

“Promise me!” Babs exclaimed cutting off Applebloom mid-sentence which caused her to be taken back by the look in Babs' eyes now which seemed to be threatening to burst into tears at any moment.

“This is really worrin ya isn't it? Ah guess Ah can't blame ya since Ah've been gone so much. Okay, Ah promise.” Applebloom replied finally after a few moments and locked lips with Babs. “Ah gotta head out now and Ah'm really sorry for forgettin our anniversary.” she finished and quickly left the room.

Babs walked into the living room a few minutes later, sat on the couch and sighed heavily. “It's already falling apart isn't it?” Silverspoon pipped up from behind the couch which caused Babs to resist the urge to jolt her hoof up and whack the filly smack dab in the snout.

“Of course not.” Babs replied in the most confident voice she could muster despite her lack of faith in the statement itself.

“Whatever you say but the nice long sigh I heard tells me otherwise.” Silverspoon replied snootily at which point Babs hopped off the couch and glared at her.

“You don't see me lecturing you on how you had to resort to coming to us to help your relationship! Which is falling apart might I add!” Babs exclaimed nearly screaming this words into the filly's face.

“Okay, Okay! Point taken, geez. No need to bite my head off.” Silverspoon replied backing down from her snooty demeanor and looking away from the city filly.

Upon hearing this Babs gave yet another heavy sigh. “Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit a soft point. It's just dat it feels like Applebloom is slipping away from me.” Babs replied and looked at the floor.

“Don't take this the wrong way but she probably is. I warned ya blank-flank. Being rich and famous changes ponies.” Silverspoon stated simply with no attitude in her voice what-so-ever.

“It won't change Applebloom, she promised me it wouldn't.” Babs replied looking back up at the silver furred filly whom scoffed in response to this.

“Listen, promise or no promise, fame and money always changes ponies. I think it may be time to come to grips with the reality that me and Diamond Tiara accepted already.” Silverspoon replied as she walked to the other side of the room and looked out the window at the city below.

“I don't think you have accepted it yourself.” Babs replied simply which caused Silverspoon to whirl around and look at her.

“What do you mean by that?” Silverspoon asked looking at Babs now with a skeptical expression.

“Look around yourself. We came all the way out here just for you because you asked for our help. So tell me Silverspoon, why would a filly who's accepted dat her relationship isn't meant to last come all the way out here in hopes dat seeing her lover would save her relationship?” Babs asked as she walked up to her.

“I-I already told you! I don't want to give up on her yet.” Silverspoon replied though her tone of voice was less than confident as she spoke.

“Yet? Or ever?” Babs countered allowing a slight smirk to wash over her facial features.

“W-What are you smirking about?! I already told you that I've accepted it! So drop it!” Silverspoon exclaimed becoming flustered by the conversation as she looked away from Babs and back out the window to the city.

“Stop lyin to yourself!” Babs exclaimed as she whirled her around and forced Silverspoon to look her in the eyes.

Upon hearing this, Silverspoon's pupils darted to the lower left of her eye sockets with a less than confident expression as she bit her lower lip.

“You don't believe a word of what you've been preachin to me and Applebloom and you know it. I've seen you sleeping at night. You hold onto dat photo of you and Diamond Tiara as if it's the most important thing in the world. In fact, I'm willin to bet you even sleep with it.” Babs stated as she looked into Silverspoon's eyes which seemed to refuse to look directly at her and continue to dart to the lower corners of her eye sockets.

“It-It's not that I haven't accepted it...” Silverspoon began but trailed off as tears formed in her eyes. “It's just that I wish I didn't have to.” she admitted and wiped any tears that may have formed in her eyes from them with her right hoof.

“You don't have to. That's why we're here isn't it?” Babs replied as she placed a hoof on Silverspoon's shoulder with a warm smile on her face.

Without warning Silverspoon wrapped her hooves around Babs and sobbed softly into her shoulder. “I love her Babs... but... but...” She began to say between sobs only to trail off and continue to sob.

“Yeah, I know. You're scared of losing the thing dat matters most to you.” Babs replied as she ran a hoof along Silverspoon's mane comfortingly. “You're not alone...” Babs thought to herself as she looked out the window to the city below as a transparent image of Applebloom's smiling face flashed before her eyes against the window before fading from existence.

The train pulled into Fillydephia on schedule and amongst the ponies who filed out of the train a certain farm pony and two fillies made their way off the platform and into the heart of the city. “Y'all have any clue where they might have gone?” Applejack asked as she scanned the contents of the tourist guide she had purchased prior to leaving the station.

“Not a clue.” Scootaloo replied as she looked around her surroundings and spotted a red Pegasus hovering just above the crowd. That however wasn't what caused her to stare the the Pegasus so intently. It was the saddle-pack that they wore. “Hey Sweetie Belle, isn't that one of our crusader saddle-packs?” Scootaloo asked curiously at which point the unicorn filly looked up herself.

“Yeah, that is! I'd recognize our signature crusader saddle-packs anywhere!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed and quickly nudged the farm pony whom up to this point had her nose buried in the tourist guide.

“What's up fillies? Ya remember a place they said they'd go?” Applejack asked curiously.

“That Pegasus has one of our crusader saddle-packs! Look!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she pointed a hoof at the red Pegasus whom was still hovering above the crowd.

“Ya sure it's one of yours?” Applejack asked looking up at the Pegasus now.

“Of course! I watched Rarity hoof-stitch that symbol into each one of our capes and saddle-packs myself and I'd never forget it!” Sweetie Belle chimed in.

“Well than Ah guess we need to be askin how he got it then.” Applejack replied as she made her way through the crowd of ponies so that she was within earshot of the red Pegasus. “Hey! Ah need to ask ya how ya got that thar saddle-pack. Did ya find it somewhere?” Applejack shouted up to the Pegasus at which point they snapped their gaze to Applejack, gave a panicked expression and darted away.

“After him!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she quickly reached into her own saddle-pack pulled out her collapsible scooter, unfolded it, stepped on, and began to flutter her small wings as hard as they could moments after Sweetie Belle had hopped on as well which bolted both fillies down the street.

“Ah knew Ah was gonna regret takin these two along!” Applejack exclaimed as she darted after the two whom were in hot pursuit of the red Pegasus whom was quickly gaining distance from them.

“He's too fast! We're gonna lose him!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed as the Red Pegasus continued to make the gap between them wider and wider.

“Sweetie Belle, when I give the signal, hop off the scooter! It'll lighten our load and let me catch up to him!” Scootaloo exclaimed.

“Are you crazy?! You're not actually considering going after him alone, are you?!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed in shock of this sudden statement by her fellow crusader.

“That wasn't a request!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she gave the unicorn filly a quick shove knocking her off into a pile of leaves at which point Applejack caught up to her.

“Sweetie Belle, are ya okay?! What happened?!” Applejack asked as she helped the filly to her hooves.

“Scootaloo shoved me off so she could get a speed boost to catch up to the Pegasus!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed as she looked at Scootaloo as she blazed down the street and took a left turn.

“Hop onto mah back and hold on tight.” Applejack ordered to which the unicorn filly obeyed without question at which point Applejack broke into a full gallop following the path Scootaloo had taken.

Scootaloo continued to beat her wings as fast and hard as she could but despite her speed boost the Pegasus was still gaining distance on her. She quickly scanned her surroundings taking note of several clouds hanging low up ahead along with a construction crew down the street and a set of construction objects she could use as a makeshift ramp.

The Pegasus filly knew what she had to do and the very thought of being that high made her gulp loudly. “Here goes...” she remarked aloud as she turned her scooter towards the makeshift ramp.

“What's that filly thinkin?! She's gonna run head first into those construction ponies and their stuff if she keeps goin down that way!” Applejack exclaimed as she continued to gallop at full throttle with Sweetie Belle hanging on for dear life.

“Hey! Filly! Stop!” one of the construction stallions exclaimed once he noticed her heading straight for them only to have to leap out of the filly's way as she barreled past him. Several other construction ponies also had to leap out-of-the-way as Scootaloo bolted down the road towards her target.

“Last chance Scootaloo, back out now or keep going.” The orange Pegasus remarked to herself looking slightly scared with the makeshift ramp not far now. “Rainbow Dash wouldn't back down from a challenge so neither am I!” she exclaimed a few moments later, reenforcing her confidence, and redoubled her effort into speeding towards the makeshift ramp.

A few more construction ponies had to leap out of the filly's way as she barreled past them with the makeshift ramp mere feet away from her now.

“Whoa nelly! That filly's plum flipped her lid!” Applejack exclaimed frantically as she witnessed Scootaloo hit the makeshift ramp and rocket to the skies.

As Scootaloo sailed along the skies for a short time she looked down with a thrilled expression as she sailed along for a few moments before she recalled what she needed to do. With a mighty leap she spring boarded from her scooter towards one of the low hanging clouds she saw beating her wings as fast and as hard as she could to keep herself aloft as long as she could.

With a loud “plomph!” she managed to land safely on the cloud and stood up, her heart threatening to burst from her chest as she did her best to calm her nerves as quickly as possible before she made yet another running leap for another cloud and another while she wasn't moving as quickly as she had been on her scooter she was able to get one tactical advantage; The red Pegasus seemed to have thought he'd lost her since he was slowing down which allowed her to quickly gain on the unsuspecting stallion.

A few minutes later and she was right above the Pegasus. Without warning, she leaped off the cloud and tackled the Pegasus mid-air which caused both ponies to fall out of the skies for a few moments before the stallion managed to regain his balance. “You crazy mule, you're gonna get us both killed! Let go!” he exclaimed as he attempted to fling her off but Scootaloo held on firmly to the Pegasus.

“No! Not until you tell me why you have this saddle-pack!” Scootaloo exclaimed fiercely as she held on for dear life while the stallion continued to attempt to fling her off.

Meanwhile below Applejack and Sweetie Belle had caught up to the Pegasus and their expression's immediately became fearful and panicked as they saw the stallion continue to attempt to fling the filly off to her death.

“Ah take back what Ah said, she hasn't flipped her lid, she's gone to crazyvile and booked a hotel room!” Applejack exclaimed as she continued to gallop at full speed past the construction ponies whom looked on in confusion. Due to the fact that Scootaloo was slowing the Pegasus down, Applejack was quickly able to catch up to the two, come to a halt, put Sweetie Belle down, reach into her saddle-pack, and take her lasso out which she began to swing in the air at a fast pace until she flung it at the stallion which managed to wrap around its left hind leg.

“Get your hooves on the ground this instant, ya varmint!” Applejack exclaimed as she tugged hard on the rope causing the stallion to snap his gaze down to Applejack.

“You've gotta be bucking kidding me! How did that mare managed to snag my hoof from all the way up here?!” The Pegasus exclaimed incredulously as he gave another started gasp as Applejack gave another tug on her rope.

“Do what she says!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she deliberately wrapped her right hoof around the stallion's left-wing which caused the two to plummet to the ground for a few moments before the Pegasus managed to snap his wing from under her grasp and remain aloft. By this point however he was close enough to the ground that a fall wouldn't cause more than a few bruises at most.

Applejack took this moment to give one last hard tug at her rope which caused the Pegasus to drop low enough for Scootaloo to hop off safely and Applejack to tackle and hogtie the Pegasus.

“Now ya varmint. Ah got a few questions for ya and ya best be answerin them honestly or ya is gonna be findin out how mean us country folk can be!” Applejack exclaimed with a glare at the stallion whom stared at the mare's glaring expression fearfully and nodded silently.

“Are you sure this is the same neighborhood as before?” Babs asked as the two walked down the sidewalk.

“Positive.” Silverspoon replied.

“Only fools are positive.” Babs countered as she looked at each of the houses they passed.

“Are you sure?” Silverspoon retorted with a smirk.

“I'm- Nice try Silverspoon.” Babs began to say only to cut herself off and smirk at the filly having successfully catching herself before she walked in on the obvious joke.

“So how do you suggest we go about finding out which house Diamond Tiara is in?” Silverspoon asked curiously as the two watched ponies walk up and down the street.

“Well, unlike yesterday, there are plenty of ponies out here today so lets ask some if they saw Diamond Tiara.” Babs replied as a well dressed stallion walked passed them.

“And how would they know what she looks like?” Silverspoon asked skeptically with an expression to match it.

“With that photograph you have in your saddle-pack.” Babs replied confidently with a smirk.

“What makes you think...” Silverspoon began to protest until she trailed off and sighed with a sour expression as she reached into her saddle-pack and pulled out the photograph of her and Diamond Tiara.

“Nope, haven't seen one like that.”

“Do your parents know that you're talking to strangers?”
“Sorry, haven't seen her. Wish I could have been more help.”

“Say, do you fillies want to earn your cutie marks? Hop in my carriage and we'll go earn them!”

“Um, I need an adult!!!” Silverspoon shouted at the top of her lungs at which point the shady looking stallion quickly drove his carriage down the street and out of sight.

“Don't you fillies have anything better to do than to pester random ponies?!”

“Chocolate!!!”

Both fillies stared at the crazed stallion as he ran down the street screaming the same word over and over. “Wow, um, maybe we should stop asking random ponies now?” Silverspoon remarked as the crazed stallion made a left turn at the end of the block and vanished from sight.

“Lets ask a few more.” Babs replied though she wasn't exactly sure this was a good idea herself.

“Uhhhhhhhhh......”

Babs and Silverspoon both stared at the stallion whom upon hearing this question suddenly began to stare off with a stupefied expression and continue to utter the same response over and over as a stream of droll dripped from the lower left of his mouth.

“Ya know. For some reason, I think this is normal for this pony.” Babs replied looking at the pink stallion wearing green pants with a purple flower pattern running along them.

“Hello filly!”

Babs and Silverspoon stared at the colt whom seemed to be panting like a dog at them with annoyed expressions. “Colts...” Babs remarked with an eye-rolling gesture before she walked away from the colt followed by Silverspoon.

“Brilliant plan Babs! We got no leads and ran into ponies who act like they belong in a crazy bin!” Silverspoon exclaimed and sighed.

Memories,

Like the corners of my mind...

“Hey, at least I had a plan! I didn't see you comin up with anythin!” Babs retorted with a glare.

Misty water-colored memories
Of the way we were...

“I bet I could come up with something better than-” Silverspoon began to retort only for a faint voice to cut her off mid-sentence.

Scattered pictures,

Of the smiles we left behind

Smiles we gave to one another

For the way we were

“I know that voice...” Silverspoon remarked aloud at the faint voice that Babs was now hearing as well. The two began to walk in the direction of the voice which was becoming louder and more audible with each passing moment.

Can it be that it was all so simple then?

Or has time re-written every line?

If we had the chance to do it all again

Tell me, would we? could we?

“Whoever dat is has some voice. But your right, it does sound familiar.” Babs remarked as the two continued to walk towards the mysterious singing voice until they stopped in front of a house and were able to hear it clear as day.

Memories, may be beautiful and yet

What's too painful to remember

We simply choose to forget

So it's the laughter

We will remember

Whenever we remember...

The way we were...

The way we were...

The voice sung these final lines and soon faded. “Who was dat?” Babs asked curiously as she looked at Silverspoon only to do a double take on the silver furred filly whose eyes were streaming with tears.

“I haven't heard her sing in years but I'd never forget that wonderful voice. Tiara! It's me, Silverspoon!” Silverspoon called out only for Babs to snap her hooves over the filly's snout.

“Even if dat is Diamond Tiara, did ya already forget that Filthy Rich sent her out her to be away from ya?! If ya expose yourself right here and now then her mom is gonna know we're here!” Babs hissed in a hushed voice.

Silverspoon wiggled her way from the city filly's grip and charged up the stone steps and towards the house. “I don't care!” She shouted as she ran up to the door and began to bang on the door.

Just before the door opened however, Silverspoon was tackled to the side by Babs into the bushes on the left hand side of the house and held firmly in place with her hooves holding the filly's mouth shut. “Have ya flipped your lid?! If ya show up here and now then her mom is just gonna call the police ponies on us and have ya shipped back to Ponyville without seein her face! We need to wait till she leaves the house then ya can talk to her!” Babs whispered as softly as she could into Silverspoon's ear as an adult mare stepped out, looked around with a confused expression on her face walked back inside, and closed the door behind her.

“But... but...” Silverspoon whispered back tears streaming from her eyes before she began to sob softly on the spot. “You're right...” she said finally after a few moments though that didn't stop her eyes from continuing to stream tears as the two silently made their way away from the house with Silverspoon giving one last tear-filled look at it.

“I'll be back Tiara, please wait for me!”

“Wow Applejack, you can scary sometimes ya know?” Scootaloo remarked with a nervous expression towards the mare as they headed in the direction that Applejack had “convinced” the Pegasus to give her.

“Mah little sister is somewhere in this consarned city and now Ah find out she's been mugged to boot, course Ah'm gonna scary with ponies who might have harmed mah family. Now let's get lookin in the spot that varmint told us he found them at.” Applejack replied not bothering to look at the Pegasus filly as she continued walking down the sidewalk towards the spot the Pegasus mentioned seeing them at.

As the three continued down the sidewalk, a certain billboard caught Sweetie Belle's gaze which caused her to stop and look at it. It was a large photograph of a filly no older than she was wearing heavy makeup and outfitted in an expensive dress with the words “Performing live!” printed on the bottom in big bold letters.

“Why in tarnation did ya stop for?” Applejack asked which snapped the filly out of her stare.

“That filly. Doesn't she look kind of like Applebloom?” Sweetie Belle remarked as she turned her gaze to look back at the billboard.

“Of course not! Mah little sister would never wear such expensive makeup and fancy garments. She's got her pride as a country filly. Plus, how in the hay could she even afford such things? Come on, let's get movin!” Applejack replied dismissing any possible connection between Applebloom and the filly on the large billboard.

“I guess you got a point.” Sweetie Belle conceded and followed the farm pony.

“And then Ah said, ya wouldn't be able to buck the broad side of an apple tree!” Applebloom exclaimed which was met with laughter from the ponies she was now speaking with as loud music blared throughout it.

“Haha, To think that a star like you came from the sticks! If I hadn't heard it from you myself I wouldn't have believed it!” A dark blue mare wearing a very expensive ensemble exclaimed with yet another hearty laugh.

“It must have been dreadful having to do all that manual labor. I simply couldn't image myself doing such crude work! Why the very thought makes me want to run the toiletries and wash my hooves.” A stallion remarked with an audible shudder.

“It wasn't that bad. Ah mean, when ya grow up on the farm it's only natural to grow up workin like Ah did.” Applebloom replied feeling slightly put off by the stallion's remark.

“Forgive me. I didn't mean to insult your upbringing but you have to admit that this life is better than working on a farm.” The stallion replied in an apologetic tone.

“Ya got me thar. Hey, can Ah get another glass of apple juice over here?!” Applebloom replied before she turned to shout out to a waitress whom nodded in acknowledgment before she ran off to get her order.

“Yes, Applebloom's new lifestyle is better than her old one and she's adapting to it quite well might I add.” Showtime remarked to the ponies whom nodded in agreement with this statement.

“Well, I simply must have you come perform at my hotel sometime. Can I pin you in for a performance this upcoming weekend?” The mare asked as she pulled a pen and paper from her purse and looked expectantly at the filly only for the stallion to jump in front of her.

“No, You must come perform at my club! Having a star like you would skyrocket it's popularity!” The stallion exclaimed in front of the mare much to her annoyance.

“Now, now. No need to degrade ourselves to petty competitiveness now. Applebloom would be more than happy to perform at both wouldn't you Applebloom?” Showtime injected as he looked at Applebloom along with the stallion and mare.

“Of course Ah would. Ah reckon we can arrange a modest rate can't we Showtime?” Applebloom replied finally with a coy smirk at her agent who shared the expression.

“I must say Applebloom, you handled yourself like a true professional in there! Why those two won't object to even a two thousand bit price for your presence at their businesses!” Showtime exclaimed in a genuinely impressed tone.

“What can Ah say? Ah know how to make a pony melt in the sole of my hoof!” The farm filly replied confidently as the two left the club.

“Say, why don't celebrate? I'm sure the music company wouldn't mind expending a little of their assets in exchange for the profit we'll be making this upcoming weekend!” Showtime replied as the two hopped in the carriage.

“Sure why not. Lets head to that restaurant Ah like.” Applebloom replied and motioned for the carriage to head in that direction.

SEVERAL HOURS LATER...

The door to the suite swung open at around three o'clock in the morning as a tired filly walked through it. “Applebloom? Where were you?! You've never come home this late!” Babs exclaimed as she ran up to the her lover and held her tightly.

“Babs? Why are ya still awake?” Applebloom asked sleepily as she looked back at the city filly's worried expression.

“I was worried about you. I fell asleep around ten and woke up around twelve to realize you still hadn't come home. Did Showtime keep you out this late? I swear, when I get my hooves on that stallion-”

“No, it wasn't his fault. See, we caught a big break with the ponies we met and we decided to go out and celebrate. Ah didn't mean to stay out so late but time has a habit of flyin these days.” Applebloom replied cutting off the city filly whom blinked twice at her as this information set into her brain.

Once it had however, Babs' expression went from worried to extremely pissed off. “Ya mean to tell me that you stayed out this late without so much as havin a mail pony drop me a letter to let me know you're okay... Just to go out and party?!” Babs roared at the top of her lungs at the farm filly.

“Ah'm sorry, okay?!” Applebloom exclaimed back feeling hurt and upset that her lover wasn't being as understanding as she thought she would be.

“No Applebloom, sorry isn't gonna cut it this time! Ya worried me half to death for nothin and ya expect me to say its okay? Buck dat!” Babs roared as she huffed and puffed at her fillyfriend.

“So what do ya want me say then?! Sorry for bein popular and makin us money?!” Applebloom roared back her temper quickly being raised to its breaking point due to Babs' shouts and angry attitude towards her.

Babs opened her mouth to speak, closed it, opened it again, and let out an aggravated cry as she ruffled up her mane before she turned around and walked towards the bedroom. “I'm goin to bed and I don't wanna see ya for the rest of the night. Take the other bedroom we got here because I need some time to clear my head before I say somethin I might regret.” Babs replied finally and slammed the bedroom door behind her.

“What in the name of Luna's moon is going on?” Silverspoon asked drowsily as she opened the door to her room and looked at Applebloom with a half-awake expression.

“None of ya consarned business. Go back to bed.” Applebloom replied snootily before she walked over to the kitchen and took out a bottle of apple juice.

“Fine. No need to get snappy with me.” Silverspoon replied agitatedly before she turned about-face and closed her bedroom door behind her.

“What the hay is wrong with Babs these days? Ah thought she'd be happy that Ah'm movin up in the world but instead she's treatin me like some kind of inconsiderate varmint! Ah'm not the one who pushed me to get into this singin career, so why the hay is she bein like she is?!” Applebloom thought to herself as she chugged down the bottle of apple juice and tossed into the trashcan a little harder than she had intended to.

Applebloom's eyes opened drowsily the next morning as the sun from the window shined through into the room. She had apparently fallen asleep on the couch without meaning to. It was about this time that Babs came out from the bedroom with a guilt stricken expression on her face as she approached the still half awake farm filly.

“Listen Applebloom, I'm sorry about last night. I was runnin on a lack of sleep and I shouldn't have yelled at ya like I did.” Babs apologized as she hung her head low to her lover.

“It's okay. So was Ah. Lets just let last night go and move on okay?” Applebloom replied as she motioned for Babs to sit next to her on the couch which the city filly did so and cuddled up next to her fillyfriend affectionately.

“So, when's showtime comin to pick ya up?” Babs inquired curiously as she ran a hoof gently through Applebloom's mane.

“He gave me the day off on account of our recent success in landin those two gigs.” Applebloom replied as she gave Babs a soft peck on the forehead.

“So we got the whole day to do whatever we want?” Babs asked as she began to kiss along her lover's neck which sent shivers up the farm filly's spine.

“Y-Yeah but Ah'm gettin the feelin ya already got somethin in mind.” Applebloom replied as she let out a soft moan as Babs' kisses trailed down her neck towards her underside.

Babs let out a soft giggle in response to this as she continued kissing down her lover's underside until she stopped at one of Applebloom's teats and began to suckle the left one causing Applebloom to let out a sharp pleasured moan. “Sh-Shouldn't we be doin this in the bedroom? What if Silverspoon wakes up?” Applebloom replied in half-protest as she felt her neither-regions growing wet and warm.

“I could care less. It's been too long since I've tasted you and I'm thirsty for some of that apple juice of yours. So I'm gonna drink it from the tap” Babs replied coyly before she buried her face in Applebloom's olive colored slit causing the farm pony to arch up and place both hooves on her lover's head as Babs' tongue danced around inside her.

“Oh Babs... keep goin... Mmmph!” Applebloom moaned out as she felt Babs' tongue run along her now soaking wet inner walls and occasional tickling of the rough part of her love tunnel.

Babs soon ventured her tongue from within the farm filly's slit out toward the nub and began to lick along and suckle it causing the farm pony's front hooves to flail about and look for something to clamp onto. “Ya keep givin that so much attention and I'm gonna squirt!” Applebloom exclaimed between moans as she buckled the lower half of her body now involuntary into Babs' face.

Much to Applebloom's annoyance however, Babs suddenly withdrew from her pleasurable assault and climbed back on the couch. She then moved Applebloom's body so it was laying flat-out along the couch, climbed up on top of the farm filly, and locked lips with her before she broke the kiss and turned around so that her dripping orange slit was hovering over Applebloom's face now.

Applebloom stared at it for a few moments taking note of the fact that a few drops of Babs' fluids had dripped onto her face before she placed a hoof on each side of Babs' hunches and lowered it onto her mouth. She then began to suckle the right half of her lover's folds as Babs resumed suckling her clit causing both fillies to moan out into each others dripping love tunnels.

“Deep your tongue inside cuz. I wanna feel you inside me.” Babs remarked in a half moan prior to dipped her tongue back into her lover's olive colored cunt taking in every single drop of Applebloom's juices in as if it was the last source of liquid on the face of Equestria.

Applebloom of course obliged to her lover's request but her body was already nearing it's breaking point which was making it increasing hard to concentrate on the task at hoof. She was so close before and now she was getting that close once again to giving Babs a large dose of her filly juices. “Babs, Ah can't hang on much longer. I'm gonna soak your face if ya keep that up.” Applebloom managed to utter out between moans as she continued to attempt to focus on getting her lover off.

“Don't hold out on my account.” Babs replied quickly before she focused solely on Applebloom's clit, nibbling, licking, and suckling it.

This most recent pleasurable assult was too much for Applebloom to take which caused her body to seize up and cry out as her olive color slit began to spasm and a flood of her filly juices gush from her neither-regions against Babs' face and onto the couch.

The city filly was quick to lap at her lover's quivering slit taking in every drop of her orgasmic juices as she could with her mouth and tongue. Applebloom's orgasm slowly subsided leaving her huffing and puffing though she was still staring straight at her lover's orange cunt which she knew needed the attention of her tongue.

“Now dat's what I call, drinkin from the tap. Ya still taste as sweet as ever cuz.” Babs remarked with a smirk as she looked back at her lover revealing her filly juice soaked face.

This remark caused the farm filly to blush furiously and give her lover a swift yet soft slap on the rump which caused Babs' mane to stand on end for a moment and jolt her hindquarters up in surprise at this sudden assault to her hindquarters. “That's for makin me blush.” Applebloom replied coyly with a smirk.

“But I made ya do enough of dat already.” Babs countered only to get another swat to the hindquarters which caused her to jolt up again.

“Ya keep givin me lip and Ah just might pick me up a spankin fetish.” The farm filly remarked which caused Babs to look at her with a worried expression for a moment before it turned into a grin. “Now lower those hindquarters of yours so Ah can get a taste.” The farm filly ordered to which Babs obeyed without question.

The city filly lowered herself down on her lover expecting a tongue but got something far more filling instead which caused her to turn her head to look back at Applebloom whom continued to thrust her hoof in and out of her orange-colored slit while she ran her tongue up and down Babs' clit causing the city filly to snap her view forward and arch up at the pleasure she was receiving. “Dear Celestia, I love it when you hoof me!” Babs exclaimed between moans as she bucked her hindquarters in rhythm to her lover's thrusts feeling her body grow closer and closer to its much-needed release.

“Ah know ya do. Ah also know that when Ah do this...” Applebloom replied as she purposely trailed off and thrust her hoof in as hard and deep as it could go which caused Babs to arch up and cry out in ecstasy. “It drives ya wild.” She finished with a smirk and withdrew her hoof moments afterward.

“W-Why did ya take it out?” Babs stuttered as she looked back at Applebloom with her eyes glazed over from the amount of pleasure she was recieving.

“Ah don't want ya squirtin just yet.” She replied with a smirk before she dipped her tongue inside Babs' love tunnel however she knew she was teasing the city filly at this point since her tongue was purposely barely moving inside Babs' soaking wet folds at this point.

“Q-Quit teasing me Applebloom! G-Give me dat final push already.” Babs stuttered sounding annoyed by the fact she was pushed so close only to feel her climax slowly drifting away from her now. She expected this however. Applebloom seemed to love teasing her when they made love and while she loved this fact about the farm pony, it was also the one thing she hated most since she loved to tease her at critical moments like these.

Applebloom waited a few moments longer, relishing in the fact she was making her lover practically beg for release. She knew however, that if she waited too long that Babs' impending orgasm would slip away completely. She then leaned forward and gave her lover's clit a firm yet gentle bite which caused the city filly to cry out as her orgasm which was threatening to slip away completely rushed back and hit her ten fold. Babs' legs gave way and her hindquarters fell squarely on Applebloom's face as her slit expelled it's love juices all over her face and hair. Unlike Applebloom, Babs was a gusher. So when this filly came, she came in buckets and this time was no exception.

By the time Babs' orgasm subsided, Applebloom's mane was nearly soaked and her face looked as if he had a transparent glaze on it.

“I guess that's what they call make-up sex.” Silverspoon's voice rang out which caused both fillies to snap themselves up to see Silverspoon grinning from ear to ear a short distance from the couch.

“Don't tell me...” Applebloom remarked trailing off with a crimson red blush.

“You were watching the whole time?” Babs added seemingly finishing the sentence that her lover was unable to finish.

“Oh don't get your manes in a knot, I only saw you soak Applebloom's face. Didn't know you were a gusher Babs.” Silverspoon replied with a coy smirk.

“I swear, if I wasn't still recoverin, I'd rearrange your snout!” Babs exclaimed with a pissed off expression just before her legs gave way once again and continued to huff and puff. If the city's filly's face could get any more red, it may as well have resembled an apple.

“Don't get mad at me! It wasn't my idea to do it in the living room where anypony walking in could see me.” Silverspoon replied defensively before she turned about-face, walked back to her room, and closed the door behind her.

“She's got a point thar Babs. It was your idea to do it and as Ah recall, your exact words were; Ah could care less, when Ah suggested we take our fun to the bedroom to avoid Silverspoon walkin in on us.” Applebloom remarked and allowed her head to flop on the arm or the couch with a sigh still blushing beat red.

The only thing Babs could say in response to this was a set of inaudible growls and agitated groans...

Author's Note

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'll be working on the next one soon!

The lifestyles of the rich and shameless (part 4)

THE LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND SHAMELESS

PART 4

It took a few moments but the fillies got off the couch and began to head for the bathroom to clean up. “Good thing we got room service.” Applebloom remarked as she looked at the trail of juices leak from Babs' hindquarters as they walked towards the bathroom, opened the door and closed it behind them.

“Geez, Babs' ya done comin yet?” Applebloom asked incredulously as she stared at her lover whom was seemingly unaware of her “leak” still.

“Huh?” Babs replied looking confused until she looked behind herself and blushed beat red. “That's um...not... ya know what, never mind! Lets just take a shower.” Babs replied and quickly turned on the shower head which caused a steady stream of warm water to spray on the two fillies.

“Say Applebloom, care to wash my mane for me?” Babs asked as she ran a scrubby brush coated with shampoo along her side for a few moments before setting it down.

“Of course but ya gotta sit down first.” Applebloom replied as she poured a decent sized amount of shampoo on her hoof and began to scrub at the city filly's crimson colored mane.

Unlike unicorns and Pegasus, earth ponies didn't have a means of getting to hard to reach places on their bodies usually without the help of another earth pony. In many cases, Applebloom would often bathe with Applejack back in Apple acres. She wasn't sure whom Babs' bathed with to help clean her body in Manehattan. She assumed it to be her mother when she thought about it.

After the farm pony finished scrubbing down Babs' mane she turned the shower head over her cousin and allowed it to rinse it off. “Okay, stand up now so I can clean off your hindquarters.” Applebloom said to which Babs stood up and lifted her tail.

“Ya know, it's kind of weird when ya think about it cuz.” Babs remarked as Applebloom gingerly began to use a soft scrubby brush to clean off any remaining fluids from her lover's neither-regions.

“What's weird?” Applebloom mused as she continued to gently run the brush along her lover's mound.

“Well, your cleaning off the same spot that you just got done sticking your tongue and hoof in. I don't really think about it much but when I do, it just makes things seem weird ya know?” Babs replied with a slight blush.

Upon hearing this Applebloom gave a soft giggle. “Ya really let your mind wander too much sometimes Babs. Okay, mah turn. Clean me off and make sue ya pay special attention to mah mane.” She remarked as she set the scrubby brush down and turned herself around to give Babs easy access to her mane.

“Luna forbid I don't wash it thoroughly.” Babs remarked sarcastically with an eye-rolling gesture as she poured some shampoo into her right hoof and began to scrub down the farm pony's mane.

“Hey, it's not mah fault ya squirt in buckets.” Applebloom retorted as she snapped her eyes shut to avoid getting shampoo in her eyes.

“Actually, it kind of is.” Babs countered with a smirk as she finished scrubbing down her lover's mane and adjusted the shower head to rinse it off.

“Ah'll take that as a complement.” Applebloom replied with a slight blush as she opened her eyes and smiled back at her cousin.

“Time to wash off the apple juice tap.” Babs remarked with a smirk which caused Applebloom to blush furiously.

“Don't tell me you've nick named mah cherrybush have ya?” Applebloom inquired still blushing as she stood up and raised her tail.

“Maybe.” Babs replied with a smirk as she began to run the soft brush against the farm filly's mound. Unlike her however, Babs seemed to be paying close attention to the lower portion of her mound.

“B-Babs? Ya don't have to pay so much attention to that spot ya know.” Applebloom remarked nervously doing her best to not allow this to arouse her. Much to her relief the brush was removed a short time later. “Ah swear, for a moment Ah thought you were tryin to--?!” She began to say only for her sentence to be brought to a screeching halt as she felt the city fillies lips wrap around her clit and begin to suckle it.

“B-B-Babs!!!” she flustered with a crimson red blush as she felt waves of pleasure assault her body now quickly forcing the farm filly to submit. “Y-Ya horny filly, we just got done doin it for Celestia's sake.”

Babs didn't reply however and instead dipped her tongue deep inside the farm filly's slit causing her to arch up place both front hooves on the side of the shower stall and lay her head against the wall as she moaned out.

“Heads up you two, I'm comin in to take a whiz.” Silverspoon's voice came from behind the door much to Applebloom's horror.

“N-No! Don't come in!” Applebloom protested in the most stable voice she could muster despite the fact the pleasure she was receiving was causing her voice to jump a few octaves.

“Oh come on, I really gotta go! My bladder feels like it's ready to explode!” Silverspoon's voice came from behind the door sounding rather urgent.

“B-Babs, get your mouth out of mah cheerybush, Silverspoon's fixin to come in here!” Applebloom whispered as loudly as she could without allowing Silverspoon to hear her.

Unfortunately, Babs either couldn't hear her whispers over the loud roar of the shower water hitting the floor or she didn't care. Since she continued to dance her tongue along inside of Applebloom's olive colored slit.

“C-Can you wait a few minutes more?” Applebloom called out fighting back a moan in the same sentence. A few minutes is all she would need due to the rate that Babs was pushing her to orgasm which was very quickly.

Much to Applebloom's horror however the door to the bathroom swung wide open. “Oh for the love of Luna, we're all fillies here. You two don't have anything I haven't seen be... be... Oh come the buck on! You two just got done doing it!” Silverspoon erupted with a beat red face before she quickly turned about-face, walked out of the bathroom, and slammed the door behind her.

Once Silverspoon has slammed the door however, Babs removed her mouth from the farm filly's love tunnel and grinned at her from ear to ear. “That's payback for worrin me yesterday.” She remarked with a smirk.

“Of all the low down...” Applebloom began to say only to trail off and curse under her breath. “Ah can't believe ya did that on purpose!” She exclaimed blushing beet red still. To make matters worse, the impending climax she was nearly about to have, was slowly slipping away now.

The only thing her fillyfriend did in response to this however was laugh loudly which agitated the orgasm denied filly even more. “Ya best be finishin what ya started back thar or ya is gonna be dealin with a filly in a very bad mood.” Applebloom retorted in a slightly threatening tone.

“Okay, Okay!” Babs conceded though it didn't stop her from laughing a little longer.

No sooner Babs and Applebloom opened the door and walked out of the bathroom the two fillies were nearly spun in circles as a silver blur blazed passed the two, slammed the door behind her, and moments later a very loud relieved sigh could be heard from within the bathroom.

“Ah still can't believe ya did that! What happened to ya bein embarrassed like ya was earlier when she saw us doin it?” Applebloom asked with a slight glare at her filly friend whom still was grinning from ear to ear at her.

“I told you already cuz, I could care less if she watched. It's when I don't know she's watching is when it becomes a problem.” Babs replied with a small amount of attitude in her voice.

“Yeah, well if ya pull anymore stunts like that. Me and you are gonna have a nice long chat.” Applebloom warned as she walked over to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and pulled out some leftovers from the night before.

“I swear, you two fillies are going to drive me insane before the week is out.” Silverspoon remarked as she came from the bathroom and sat on the couch.

“So go to your bedroom and clop.” Babs suggested candidly which earned her a swift hoof upside the head by Applebloom. “What?!” She exclaimed as she rubbed the part of her head that her fillyfriend had smacked.

“Can ya be anymore inconsiderate?! Think bout what ya just said for a few will ya?!” Applebloom whispered into the city filly's ear.

Babs wanted to counter this with the fact that Applebloom had worried her so much the night before without so much as letter but the look on Silverspoon's face and the photograph she held in her hooves halted that retort in its tracks. Her and Applebloom had been able to make love as much as they wanted for the last year but Silverspoon...

Luna knows how many nights she spent feeling lonely without being able to make love to the filly whom mattered most to her. “Okay, I get it now. I'll go say I'm sorry to her now.” Babs whispered back, walked from the kitchen, and stopped just next to Silverspoon whom was still sitting silently on the couch.

“Hey Silverspoon, sorry about dat remark I made. I wasn't even thinkin how it made ya feel.” Babs apologized as she rubbed the back of her head with her right hoof.

“It's fine. Who am I to say when you should and shouldn't do it?” Silverspoon replied though her voice sounded distracted as she continued to stare at the photograph.

“She has barely ever stopped staring at dat photograph ever since we found out where Diamond Tiara lives.” Babs thought to herself worriedly. It was then an idea came to her. Applebloom was a famous singer in Fillydephia now. “Hey Applebloom come over here for a sec will ya?”

“What's goin on? Ya didn't make her start cryin did ya?” Applebloom asked with an air of concern in her voice as she walked from the kitchen up to her fillyfriend.

“No but I just got an idea. You're a famous singer around these parts right?” Babs began though Applebloom didn't know where she was going with this nor did Silverspoon whose attention was caught by this question.

“We already know that. What ya gettin at?” Applebloom asked curiously as she looked at the city filly.

“Ah can't believe Ah'm doin this...” The farm filly deadpanned with a less than enthused look on her face as she stood in the middle of the neighborhood with a large sign next to her which read; “Free autographs!” as a crowd of ponies surrounded her.

“Come on, she's gotta be a fan too!” Babs exclaimed in a whisper as she watched the house waiting for Diamond Tiara's mother to come out.

“This plan of yours has more holes in it than my hearths warming eve issue of Mare's Gone Wild!” Silverspoon hissed at the city filly.

This remark caused Babs' attention to be yanked to the Silverspoon as she stared at her with a shocked expression. “Since when did you get access to an adult pony magazine?!” Babs exclaimed as quietly as she could.

“Diamond Tiara's daddy has them hidden under his bed.” Silverspoon replied as if the fact that she had access to such a thing wasn't all that surprising. “And how would you know about them anyways?” She inquired with a suspicious look on her face.

“Well, I, um, sorta got a hold of the, um, Spitfire edition issue from my dad's bedroom last year and um, never put it back.” Babs admitted with a crimson red blush.

Both filly's attention was yanked however as non-other than Diamond Tiara's mother opened the door and looked outside. “What in Celestia's name is going on out here?” She inquired curiously as she looked over, saw the sign, Applebloom, walked back inside, and closed the door behind her.

Upon witnessing this, Babs sat on her rump and slammed both hooves on her face with a loud groan. “Well that worked out wonderfully.” Silverspoon remarked sarcastically followed by an aggravated sigh.

However, a mere few moments later the door opened once again and much to both Silverspoon and Babs' shock, Diamond Tiara herself stepped out the door and closed it behind her at which point Babs was forced to bite down on Silverspoon's tail to prevent her from darting forward. “Wait until she leaves her front yard or her mom might see ya!” Babs exclaimed through gritted teeth.

The pink filly made her way down the steps and stood at the edge of the fence around her front yard. “I don't believe it! It really is that blank-flank!” Diamond Tiara exclaimed in shock as she walked to the sidewalk, gave a quick glance to her left, and performed a double take. “S-Silverspoon?!” She exclaimed in shock which was Babs' cue to let go of the filly's tail.

Silverspoon nearly tackled the pink filly as she wrapped her hooves around her and hugged her tightly. “Tiara! I've missed you so much!” Silverspoon sobbed as tears of happiness flooded from her eyes.

“I thought I'd never see you again.” Diamond Tiara replied softly as she gently wrapped her hooves around Silverspoon and nuzzled her affectionately. Her attention was soon grabbed by the fact that Babs was standing not far from the two at which point she gently broke their fond embrace and looked at her lover. “But how did you two get here? And is that really Applebloom?” Diamond Tiara inquired curiously as she looked back at the farm filly whom was still signing autographs.

“It's a long story and yes that's Applebloom.” Babs replied as she walked up to the two.

“So the blank-flank really did make it to the big time. Heh, who woulda thunk it?” Diamond Tiara remarked with a smirk as she looked over at Applebloom once again. “Hey, blank-flank! Get your rump over here!” Diamond Tiara called out which snapped Applebloom's attention from her autograph signing to Diamond Tiara.

“Sorry y'all, autograph signin is over now!” Applebloom exclaimed as she hopped from within the crowd and ran down the sidewalk and past the three. “What the hay you three standin around for? Run!” she exclaimed with a brief look behind her.

The three looked back to where Applebloom was previously to see a flood or ponies coming straight for them or rather Applebloom but they happened to be in the path to the famous farm pony. “We really should start running now...” Babs remarked morbidly before she turned about-face and bolted down the sidewalk followed closely by the two fillies with the mob known as Applebloom's fans tore down the side of the sidewalk leaving a trail of blank pieces of paper and pencils in their wake as they continued to shout Applebloom's name and ask for autographs...

“I... Think … We... Lost... Them...” Applebloom panted as her chest heaved up and down from running so fast and hard to escape the rabid fanbase of hers.

“I found her!”

A voice rang out at which point the four exchanged panicked expressions and gulps as the unmistakable sound of the fan mob can thundering towards them.

“Babs, if we live through this remind me to kill you later!” Silverspoon exclaimed as the four made a left turn down the street and into the park hiding amongst the bushes and trees.

“There she is!”

“This is crazy! How will we ever lose them?!” Silverspoon exclaimed as the four dashed throughout the city now.

“I've got an idea!” Diamond Tiara exclaimed

The four then ran to a local department store, and came out wearing trench coats, and hats with sunglasses and witnessed the fan mob rush past them. “Good idea Diamond Tiara. No pony will recognize me in this!” Applebloom exclaimed happily only to trip on the trench coat which caused her hat and sunglasses to fly off.

“There she is! She was wearing a disguise!”

Upon hearing this and seeing the crowd of fans once again flooding towards them, Applebloom's left eye twitched as her pupils shrunk to the their smallest sizes, her facial features become mildly crazed, and a few stray strands of her mane popped out at random places. “Somepony kill me.” She said in a dreading tone before the four once again bolted down the city streets.

As the four bolted down the street a certain farm pony witnessed several blurs running past her followed by a mob of ponies which caused her to do a double take. “Was that...?” Applejack remarked with a thoughtful expression as she tapped a hoof on her chin for a few moments. “Nah!” She concluded and resumed purchasing her food for Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and herself from the salad stand.

“Do they ever run out of stamina?!” Babs exclaimed as her legs burned, her thighs ached, and her chest felt as if it was ready to explode as the four continued to sprint down the streets of Fillydephia.

“Quick! In here!” A voice called out which snapped Applebloom's attention to a certain colt she recognized. The four then dove quickly into the club past the colt as he stood in front of the door and watched the mob charge on by.

“Th-Thanks Swift!” Applebloom panted as she huffed and puffed along with the other four on the floor.

“Haha! Look at you! Having to run away from a mob of fans! You're really movin up in the world ain't ya?” A familiar gruff voice remarked which caused the four to look over at Dancing Hooves as he walked up to the four.

“Ah guess ya could say that. Do ya mind if we hind here for a bit?” Applebloom asked as she managed to catch her breath and stand up to all four hooves.

“Who the hay are these two?” Diamond Tiara managed to choke out between pants as she stood up.

“This is Swift and Dancing Hooves. They gave us a place to stay when we first got here.” Babs explained though she still sounded out of breath.

“I don't think I've seen her before. Who's the pink filly?” Dancing Hooves inquired as he got a good look at Diamond Tiara.

“That's Diamond Tiara. She's the pony we came here in the first place for.” Applebloom replied as she sat down at one of the tables, took a few napkins out of the dispenser and began to wipe the sweat from her forehead with them.

It was at this point Swift walked up to the four. “Celestia is gonna to send you to the moon.” He remarked with a smirk as he looked at Diamond Tiara.

“Why's that?” Diamond Tiara asked with a confused expression.

“Because you're stealing her sun.” Swift replied which caused Diamond Tiara to blush furiously while Silverspoon suddenly jumped between the two.

“Back off, she's taken!” Silverspoon exclaimed with a threatening glare before she put her hooves around Diamond Tiara.

“Whoops! My bad!” Swift exclaimed brandishing a blush of his own as he rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin.

“Where did ya get that pick up line? Some cheesy two-bit store book?” Babs remarked with a smirk as she sat next to Applebloom at the table.

Applebloom looked over at the two fillies now as they sat alone on the other side of the club talking to one another. “Looks like we can call this a mission complete.” Applebloom remarked with a smile as she looked at the two.

“Yeah. I had my doubts about those two but looking at them now.” Babs trailed off as she watched the two exchange a passionate kiss. “No pony could say those two aren't deeply in love with each other.” She finished and sighed as she looked back at Applebloom with a warm smile.

“So now that you two did what you came here to do, are ya gonna be headin back to where you came from?” Swift asked curiously as he walked up to the two and set a couple of glasses of juice down for the two to drink.

“Well that was the plan originally.” Applebloom began only to trail off.

“Only?” Swift commented expecting a follow-up to this reply.

“Well with Applebloom's new singin career, we just might stay here.” Babs followed up however she wasn't sure this was a good idea in itself.

“There's no might to it. We are stayin here.” Applebloom stated in a matter-of-fact tone before she took a quick swig of her juice and set it back down.

“But, what about your family?” Babs protested. Something inside her didn't want to stay here. Despite the fact that she knew that if the two went back to Ponyville it was only a matter of time before her parents found her, she would rather figure out a way to stay with Applebloom there instead of possibly losing her to the fame that caused the two to get into that heated argument last night.

“We already talked about this. We don't need to go back thanks to mah singin career now.” Applebloom replied sounding as if she wanted to end the conversation here and now.

“But-” Babs began to protest even more only for the doors to the club to swing open.

“There you are! Applebloom, how could you consider doing an unscheduled autograph signing?! I understand you want to be nice to your fans but we must be careful! Celestia knows what might happen if the music company finds out that you were offering free autographs.” Showtime exclaimed as he walked in much to the annoyance of Babs whom simply glared at the stallion as he sat down in front of the two in a chair a crossed from them.

“Ah know that but this was a special occasion.” Applebloom replied as she looked over at Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon whom had noticed the stallion come inside as well.

“Oh? Well never mind then, I was looking for you anyways. Apparently there's a cultural festival going on and the ponies in charge asked me if we could arrange a surprise performance. They of course were willing to pay extra for the short notice of this arrangement so we must be off to prepare.” Showtime finished.

“But you gave her the day off!” Babs exclaimed looking completely outraged that he had booked her fillyfriend with a gig without her permission.

“It's fine Babs. To be honest, Ah don't mind.” Applebloom replied as she stood up from the chair.

“But Applebloom, this was supposed to a day just for us. I know it's not the day we set for our anniversary but still!” Babs protested as she stood in front of her lover.

Applebloom looked into her lover's eyes, leaned in and locked lips with her for a moment before she looked back into them. “Ah know that but Ah can't brush this off. It would look bad on me and Showtime if Ah did.” She replied and walked past Babs towards the door, and closed it behind her as she left the club.

Babs snapped her eyes shut as her entire body seemed to be quivering by this point as her anger and frustration boiled to its breaking point inside her.

“Hey Babs, are you-?!” Swift began to ask only for the city filly to suddenly buck the chair she was standing next to a crossed the room which hit the floor with a loud cluttering sound as a leg of two snapped off from the impact with the floor.

“No, I'm not okay!” Babs exclaimed as her entire body continued to shake and tears flooded from her eyes. “This was supposed to be a day for us! A day for me to spend with Applebloom! Instead, most of time I had with her was spent on them!” Babs exclaimed as she snapped a shaking hoof at Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon.

“What's her problem?” Diamond Tiara asked with an annoyed expression.

“Applebloom's barely been home ever since she started working with that stallion we saw. And last night the two got into a fight because of her never being home on time..” Silverspoon explained quietly to her lover.

“Hey, don't worry about. You always got the next time she has off.” Swift replied in a comforting tone only for Babs to snap her gaze at him.

“You don't get it do you? Of course you don't, because you're not the one living on borrowed time!” Babs exclaimed and dashed out of the club without another word.

“Borrowed time? Okay, what in the name of all things pony did I miss?” Diamond Tiara asked with an utterly shocked and confused expression at Silverspoon.

Silverspoon however was at a loss by this point. She knew that Babs' parents were dead set on keeping them apart but beyond that she wasn't sure. “I don't know.” Silverspoon admitted as she looked back at her lover.

It was at this point at time that Diamond Tiara glanced up at the clock on the wall, did a double take, and let out a shocked cry. “It's that late already?! My mom's gonna have my flank for dinner!” She exclaimed with a horror-stricken expression.

“I'll walk you home and tomorrow I can show you where I'm staying at with Babs and Applebloom. You're gonna be so jealous!” Silverspoon exclaimed with a giggle as the two walked out the doors of the club.

“The more famous Applebloom gets, the more she slips from me. It's only a matter of time before she cares about her singing career more than me.” Babs thought to herself as she walked along the sidewalks of Fillydephia and looked up at one of the many billboards posted around town with Applebloom's face on them.

“I know she promised she wouldn't let it change her but...” She said as she looked at the sidewalk now as tears dripped down her cheeks and onto the pavement.

“Listen, promise or no promise, fame and money always changes ponies. I think it may be time to come to grips with the reality that me and Diamond Tiara accepted already.” Silverspoon replied as she walked to the other side of the room and looked out the window at the city below.

The words of Silverspoon played out in the city filly's mind which caused her to sigh heavily. “Maybe we aren't really meant to last? Could it be that Silverspoon was right?” Babs asked herself aloud as she looked up once again to the billboard.

“No! I won't accept it! I refuse to!” Babs exclaimed out loud suddenly as she stomped a hoof on the ground hard. “I'll talk to her tonight. Convince her to ditch the stupid singing career of hers. She'd do that for me, I know she would.” She finished and rushed back to the suite.

“Nearly two days of searchin and we're still turnin up empty.” Applejack remarked dismally as the three walked down the sidewalk as the sun hung low in the late afternoon close to evening.

“Hey Look! It's a cultural festival!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she pointed excitedly at the attractions that it had to offer.

“Nothin doing Scootaloo. We're here to find mah little sister, Babs, and Silverspoon, not to go goofin off at some little fair. Lets check this hotel down the street and see if they checked into it, we might just get a clue of where they might be and or even find 'em there.” Applejack replied and ushered the two fillies down the street and away from the festival moments before Applebloom stood up on stage.

Later that night Babs was constantly checking the clock as she paced back and forth. She had a whole valid argument put together as to why she should leave her singing career behind. Though it was going close to ten at night now she was going to wait as long as she could.

“I'm going to bed. I need to be up bright and early to see Diamond Tiara tomorrow.” Silverspoon remarked with a yawn as she walked to her bedroom and closed the door behind her.

Babs barely heard her as she looked up at the clock again. “It's only a small gig, she'll be back at a decent time for sure.” Babs remarked aloud confidently.

THREE HOURS LATER...

The door swung open and Applebloom walked through it to see Babs' annoyed expression staring at her as she closed the door. “Sorry for comin back so late again but after Ah got done singin mah fans wouldn't stop pesterin me for autographs so Ah stuck around for an unscheduled autograph signin.” Applebloom remarked with a guilty expression.

“Whatever, we need to talk.” Babs replied dismissing her lovers apology as she motioned for her to follow her to the kitchen.

“Can't it wait till mornin? Ah'm gettin a might sleepy.” Applebloom replied with a yawn as she followed her into the kitchen.

“No, it can't.” Babs replied simply as she took a bottle of apple juice from it, popped off the lid and took a drink from it before she set it down on the counter.

“Why so serious all the sudden? If it's about me havin to go on mah day off then Ah'm sorry but if Showtime-”

“Buck Showtime!” Babs exclaimed suddenly cutting off the farm filly mid-sentence as she slammed the bottle of apple juice on the counter causing Applebloom to look on with a shocked expression for a few moments before she regained her composure.

“Ah know it's hard on us but if we just-”

“No, it's not hard, it's impossible! You've been gone later and later every time that bucking stallion shows his ugly face! I barely see you anymore!” Babs roared once again cutting off Applebloom as she looked at her.

“It's only been a consarned week Babs! You've gone longer than that without seein mah face when I was livin in Ponyville and you were livin in Manehattan! What's the consarned difference this time?!” Applebloom exclaimed becoming agitated by Babs cutting her off every time she opened her mouth to speak.

Babs wanted to scream “Because when my parents find out that we're here, I'll never see you again!” but she held back. Despite her angry state, she still had enough wits about her to avoid potentially freaking out Applebloom.

After a few more moments of silence she finally spoke. “Please quit the singing career Applebloom. Do it for me, please?” She asked her tone of voice suddenly switching from pissed off and angry to sad and desperate.

“Q-Quit it?! Why in tarnation are ya askin me to do that?! Listen, Ah know things are hard on us right now and Ah know I haven't been able to spend as much time with ya as Ah'd like but it will get better Ah promise!” Applebloom exclaimed as she reached over and placed a hoof on Babs' cheek.

“When?!” Babs exclaimed as she pushed Applebloom's hoof away from her face as her anger came back to her tone of voice.

“Huh?”

“When will it get better?! Because as far as I can tell it's only getting worse!” Babs exclaimed as she walked past Applebloom and placed a hoof on the wall as she looked at the floor. Her entire body was shaking by this point. Her anger with Showtime, the stress of her parents potentially finding out where she was, and Applebloom's fame keeping her away from her more and more pushing the city filly's nerves to their breaking points.

“Babs... your shakin. Are ya alright?” Applebloom asked with a concerned expression once she had noticed this herself and walked over to Babs to place a hoof on her shoulder.

“No Applebloom, I'm not alright. Do you even realize what this singin career is doing to you? To us?!” Babs asked as she turned her head to look at Applebloom as tears formed in her eyes and began to drizzle down her cheeks.

“Babs Ah...” Applebloom began but trailed off with a sigh as she looked away from her lover with an unsure expression. “Ah can't just quit singin. If Ah quit singin here and now, it would look bad on Showtime and mahself. Plus all the bits we're makin would disappear. Sides, Ah thought you liked this kind of easy life.”

“Easy for you maybe!” Babs retorted as she turned away from Applebloom once again.

“Easy for me? Do ya realize what Ah have to do every single consarned day?! I have to wake up at the crack of dawn just to make mahself look plum stupid for the press! And lets not forget that Ah'm singin every consarned day practically! In case ya haven't noticed, mah voice isn't as chipper as it was a week ago!” Applebloom exclaimed heatedly. The farm filly's temper was quickly rising now thanks to Babs' lack of empathy for what she had to go through every single day.

“So quit then! Quit singin and ya won't have to deal with makin yourself look like a mule every single day!” Babs exclaimed without meaning to yet she didn't take it back.

“Excuse me?! Ah know that puttin on make up and accessories ain't what Ah'm used to and Ah think they look silly but that don't make me look like a buckin mule! And there's no way in Tartarus Ah'm quittin singin! Ah didn't work mah flank off to get this far in the world just to quit because ya is pinin over me every single day actin like a lost puppy!” Applebloom roared at Babs with a glare as she slammed her hoof on the counter in anger.

“So dat's all I am to you now? A lost puppy?!” Babs roared back as she turned to glare at Applebloom now.

“Ah didn't say that! Ah said ya is actin like one!” Applebloom retorted as she pointed a hoof at the city filly.

“Being rich and famous changes ponies, Babs! It's changed me, Diamond Tiara, and her father...”, Silver Spoon replied, her voice becoming less pissed and more saddened with each name she stated. She sighed depressingly.

These words echoed in the Babs' mind now as she looked at Applebloom as a tense silnce ensued between the fillies.

“You promised me dat you wouldn't let this wouldn't change you. You promised!” Babs exclaimed breaking the silence as her eyes streamed with fresh tears.

“Well maybe change is a good thing! Ah wouldn't have been able to get as far as Ah have without changin a few things about mahself!” Applebloom retorted as she looked away from Babs towards the fridge.

“I... I don't know who you are anymore Applebloom. The filly I knew and loved would never let something as petty as a stupid singin career get between her and me.” Babs replied as she walked out of the kitchen.

“Where the hay are you goin?!” Applebloom asked as she followed Babs into the living room and towards the door.

“I-I'm leavin to stay at the apartment complex. Ya got a week decide Applebloom, me or this singin career of yours. If I don't see you by the end of the week with word that you've quit it. I'm headin back to Manehattan and you'll never see me again.” Babs replied and opened the door only to be halted by Applebloom whom stood in front of her.

“What are ya sayin?” Applebloom asked her anger suddenly melting away and being replaced with worry.

“My parents want to keep us apart for good. So If I head back to Manehattan, I'll never see you again. Not like dat will change anything with the rate things are going here anyways.” Babs replied as she gently moved Applebloom aside, stepped into the elevator, pressed a button, and stared at Applebloom's face until the elevator doors closed to block her view at which point the city filly fell to the floor of the elevator and began to sob loudly.

“Her parents want to keep us apart for good?” Applebloom said aloud in a slightly stunned tone as this new set of information settled into her brain.

All the events of the past week and a half added up in her mind and her behavior suddenly made sense to the farm pony. “That's what she's been hidin all along?” Applebloom asked a loud only to shake her head furiously. “Bah, she's just bluffin. She'll be back by tomorrow. She just needs to blow off some steam Ah reckon. She'll be right and rain by then.” Applebloom remarked confidently as she walked back inside and closed the door behind her.

Author's Note

"Huston, the shitstorm has arrived! I repeat the shitstorm has arrived!"

A fillydephia star is torn(part 1)

A FILLYDEPHIA STAR IS TORN

PART 1

Applebloom awoke the next morning as she usually did expecting to see Bab's smiling face only to recall the fight they had last night. “Oh, right.” She recalled as her own smile faded as she sat up, sighed heavily, and went to put on her makeup and accessories.

“I... I don't know who you are anymore Applebloom. The filly I knew and loved would never let something as petty as a stupid singin career get between her and me.” Babs replied as she walked out of the kitchen.

Applebloom?

“Huh what?” Applebloom replied distractedly only for her to realize she was standing in front of five press ponies.

“We were just asking how it feels to be such a big success. Care to tell us?” One of the press ponies asked curiously in the early morning that day.

“Oh! Eh-heh. It's... great.” She replied with the widest smile should could muster despite her thoughts continuing to distract her.

“You promised me dat you wouldn't let this wouldn't change you. You promised!” Babs exclaimed breaking the silence as her eyes streamed with fresh tears.

“Oh for love of Celestia! That's her fifth screw up this afternoon!” One of the ponies exclaimed as he slammed both hooves on his head and ruffled up his mane in frustration. “Applebloom, darling, can you do us all a favor and get your bucking head out of the clouds! This recording is costing me fifty bits an hour for Luna's sake!” The stallion said with his voice sound calm and collective as he began to speak only to show the last portion of his sentence at Applebloom which effectively snapped the farm pony from her thoughts once again.

“Oh horseapples! Ah'm sorry! Let's take it from the top!” Applebloom exclaimed with an embarrassed blush.

“My parents want to keep us apart for good. So If I head back to Manehattan, I'll never see you again. Not like dat will change anything with the rate things are going here anyways.”

“Um, Applebloom? My name's not Babs.” A filly remarked with a confused expression which caused Applebloom to blink twice before she realized she had called a random fan by the city filly's name.

“Oh, eh-heh! Mah bad! What did ya say your name was again?” Applebloom asked sheepishly as she picked up a pencil in preparation to sign an autograph.

“I didn't.” The filly replied looking more confused now which caused Applebloom to drop the pencil she was holding in her mouth and stare at her with a nervous expression.

“Ya don't say? Eh-heh, heh, heh, heh....” Applebloom replied with a nervous laugh before she quickly picked up the pencil again, signed her name, and sent the filly along.

“What's wrong with you today Applebloom? You're behaving as if it's your first day all over again.” Showtime remarked with a worried expression as the filly stared at the sidewalk barely even hearing him.

“Ah guess Ah'm a little distracted is all...” Applebloom replied only to walk comically head first into a lamp-post which caused her tail and mane to fire up in shock of the unexpected pain. “Teh-Teh-Teh-Teh- Ehhh.....” She stuttered aloud as a tears of pain streamed from her eye-sockets as her body slowly slumped to the ground.

“I'd say more than a little distracted by the looks of it.” Showtime remarked with a raised eyebrow.

“Y-Ya really think so?” Applebloom stuttered as she held her throbbing forehead for a few moments longer before she stood to all fours and continued to walk down the sidewalk only for a magazine stand to catch her eye.

“Say whaaaat?!” The farm pony roared as she snatched a magazine from the stand and looked at the cover.

APPLEBLOOM LOVE SCANDAL!

FILLYDEPHIA'S STAR SHUNS HER LOVER!

“H-How did this get out?! Ah didn't tell anypony!” Applebloom exclaimed as Showtime gave a glance at it.

“What are you going on about?” Showtime asked with a confused expression.

“Don't ya see what's printed on the front cover of this-” Applebloom began to exclaim only for her to halt her words in their tracks as she reread the title of the front cover.

CHEERYBLOOM LOVE SCANDAL!

FILLYDEPHIA'S STAR SHUNS HER LOVER!

“O-Oh...um, never mind.” Applebloom said with a slight blush as she put the magazine back and quickly left the stand along with Showtime.

The door swung open at about ten o'clock at night as Applebloom walked through it. “What a day. Babs, Ah'm home!” Applebloom called out as she looked around for her lover.

“She's not here.” Silverspoon's voice came from the farm pony's left which caused Applebloom to snap her gaze at Silverspoon. “Did you two get into a fight again?” Silverspoon asked curiously as she walked into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of grape juice.

“Kinda...” Applebloom admitted and sighed. “Ah figured she just needed to blow off some steam ya know?” Applebloom replied softly as she took out a bottle of apple juice, popped off the lid, and began to drink it.

“What happened exactly?” Silverspoon asked curiously as she popped off the lid to her grape juice and took a swig from it.

“Well, Ah-” Applebloom began to say only for the hoof she had set on the counter to touch something wet that wasn't perspiration from the bottles of juice the two were drinking. “What in tarnation?” She asked as she lifted her hoof to her snout, took a whiff, and recoiled. “These are filly juices!”

Upon hearing this, Silverspoon's face turned beat red as she quickly ran to the side of the kitchen, grabbed several paper towels, and rushed over to begin soaking up the mess. “S-Sorry! Diamond Tiara came over today and...” She began to say only to trail off as her blush became even more prominent in her facial features.

“Ya did it on the kitchen counter?! Isn't that was the bedroom is for?!” Applebloom exclaimed as she quickly ran over to the kitchen faucet and began to wash her hooves.

“I only got back a short time before you did after taking her back home. I didn't have time to clean up the messes yet.” Silverspoon replied blushing redder still.

“M-M-Messes?! Applebloom exclaimed flabbergasted as she made sure to put an emphasis on the plural in her word as she stared on in shock. “Just how many places did ya two do it?” She asked and though she really didn't want, it was better to find out now then to find out later by sitting in one of them.

“K-Kinda of everywhere...” Silverspoon replied as she turned away. If the filly could blush anymore, her face would have most likely exploded with the amount of blood pulsing through it at this point.

EHHHHHHH?!

Anypony who walked by the hotel building about now would do a double take and swear it shook violently for a short time as Applebloom's voice cried out in shock.

“It-It's been a year since we've done anything! Wh-What the hay do you expect?!” Silverspoon exclaimed still looking away from the farm pony whose facial features looked as if her sanity had cracked in two as her left eye twitched violently.

“And Ah thought Babs was a horny filly for doin it with me twice in less than thirty minutes...” Applebloom managed to utter out though she said this quietly enough that Silverspoon either didn't hear her or ignored the remark.

“So anyways! What happened between you and Babs?” Silverspoon asked once again in an attempt to resume the previously derailed conversation looking back at Applebloom now.

“Well, we really got into it. Ah mean really got into it. We both ended up throwin insults at each other and by the end of it Babs said she was stayin at the apartment complex with Dancing and Swift Hooves for a week and if Ah didn't come back tellin her Ah quit mah singin career, then she said that she was headin back to Manehattan and Ah'd never see her again.” Applebloom explained and sighed heavily.

“So it's come to this. Can't say I didn't see this coming.” Silverspoon remarked morbidly as she turned around and walked away from the farm pony and to the living room.

“See what comin? What the hay you goin on about?” Applebloom asked curiously as she followed Silverspoon into the living room.

“Are you that clueless or just dim-witted blank-flank?” Silverspoon replied with an annoyed expression as she glared at Applebloom.

“She just goin to blow off some steam that's all, she'll be back by tomorrow and what the hay have Ah told ya bout callin me a blank-flank?!” Applebloom exclaimed feeling her temper rise.

Upon hearing this, Silverspoon scoffed with an eye-rolling gesture. “Ya know Applebloom, I really thought you two had a chance. Then Showtime came along...” She said in an unusually soft tone as her expression became saddened as she looked on at Applebloom a little longer before she turned around, walked to her bedroom, and closed the door behind her.

“The hay is she goin on about? Babs didn't leave me, she's just goin out to blow off some steam like Ah said.” Applebloom said aloud in a snooty tone to herself as she walked to her bedroom, closed the door a little harder than she intended to, and laid her head down to go to sleep.

“Babs? You here? We lost sight of ya nearly two hours ago.” Swift asked as he opened the door to the apartment room only to gawk in shock. Several bottles of the bar's alcoholic beverages lay scattered amongst the floor. “Have you been drinking?” Swift asked as he walked in and looked to his left to see Babs downing yet another bottle of alcohol.

“What the buck is it to you?” Babs slurred as she haphazardly tossed the bottle into the trashcan which shattered from the force of the impact.

“How did you get a hold of so much? Even if my father gave you some, I know he wouldn't give you this much!” Swift remarked as he looked about himself.

Upon hearing this Babs gave a hearty yet drunken laugh. “Ha, ha! Ya didn't know dat I was a small time thief did ya? Heh, heh. I wasn't always some kind of goody-two hooves like you. Shoot, before I met Applebloom and the rest of the crusaders, Ah was runnin about town stealin purses and all dat almost daily!” Babs exclaimed as if she was proud of this fact as she stumbled forward.

“But why? What in Celestia's name would posses you to drink so much?” Swift asked as he stopped Babs from falling face-first into the floor.

“I haven't told ya why I came back here to stay yet did I?” Babs slurred as Swift helped her to the bed.

“No, you just said you wanted to stay here a few days. We asked you where the others were and you refused to answer.” Swift replied recalling the events of yesterday.

A silence ensued between the two as Swift laid Babs down on the bed gently. “Well I ain't tellin ya!” Babs exclaimed and laughed semi-hysterically afterward.

“Okay, Fair enough. So why don't you tell me why you stole all these alcoholic drinks then?” Swift asked as he motioned a hoof towards the litter of alcoholic beverages scattered throughout the room.

“But that would tellin now wouldn't it? Hehe!” The drunken city filly replied as she sat up and looked at Swift directly now. “Ya know, I never really realized how hot ya was till now.” Babs remarked which caused Swift to look away with a slight blush.

“I-I'm flattered but-!” Swift began to say only to nearly jump away with catlike reflexes as Babs' hoof ran along his neither-regions. “B-B-B-Babs! What the hay do ya think your doin?!” Swift exclaimed with a beat red blush as he clasped his hind legs together.

Babs simply giggled at him. “What's it look like?” Babs replied with a drunken smirk and a hiccup as she attempted to crawl on top of him only for the colt to wisely back up just in time to avoid being pinned down by the drunk filly.

“Okay, Babs, you're really drunk and it's obvious you're not thinking clearly! What would Applebloom say if she saw you doing this?” Swift asked as he jumped off the bed to avoid being pounced on by Babs.

“Teh! She's too busy with her singin career to care 'bout me.” Babs replied as she rolled on her back, spread her legs, and allowed her tail to flop limply to the side much to Swift's discomfort as he looked away from the presenting filly.

“Oh come on! Is it ugly? Is that why ya won't stare at it?!” Babs exclaimed drunkenly sounding annoyed.

“N-No! That's not it at all!” Swift stuttered as he continued to look away.

“So what is it then? It's not like a hot colt like you has never seen a filly's foal-hole before. Willin to bet you've pumped plenty full of dat milk ya got stored in those balls of yours haven't ya?!” Babs slurred followed by a giggle.

This remark caused Swift's face to become even redder if possible. “A-Actually, no I haven't.” Swift replied still not looking at Babs.

“No way!” Babs exclaimed, dragging out the word “way” longer than she needed to. “You're a virgin?!”

“Kinda...” Swift replied still blushing beat red.
“Bet you've never even see a foal-hole in pony have ya?” Babs inquired with a drunken giggle.

“Why are we even having this conversation?” Swift asked aloud still refusing to look at Babs.

“Cause I wanna take your virginity!” Babs exclaimed, bit down on the colt's tail, and yanked him to the bed so that he was laying on his back.

“B-Babs wait! You're drunk! You don't really wanna do this!” Swift exclaimed as Babs climbed on top of him.

Swift looked down and his pupils shrunk to their smallest sizes as he stared at Bab's pussy hovering over his member with her teats in clear view and even though he was flaccid the sight of her teats was arousing him much to his horror. “Don't get hard, don't get hard!” Swift thought to himself dramatically as he attempted to think of anything to distract his mind from what was happening. He knew that if he let his hormones get the better of him that Babs would slam herself down on him and fully betray Applebloom in her drunken state.

Much to his relief however, Babs suddenly fell limp on top of him, having passed out on the spot. “Thank Celestia for small favors!” He exclaimed however the warm wetness he felt on his crotch was more than enough to cause him to quickly move Babs from on top of him and lay her down.

Swift stared at her for a time and sighed once again. “Thank Celestia that I found her first. Who knows what would have happened if somepony else were to walk in here.” Swift thought to himself as he laid down next to her. “I think I'll just rest here for a few and let my heart slow down before I head back to the club.” He said to himself only to unintentionally drift off to asleep.

Applebloom...

A familiar voice spoke up at which point the farm filly popped her eyes open. “If Ah'm dreamin right now and that's who Ah think it is, she's gonna find herself firmly planted on the moon.” Applebloom remarked in a loathing tone as she sat up and saw none other than Princess Luna herself standing before her at the edge of her bed. “Ya know, it's funny. Ah know Ah recall tellin ya to leave mah dreams and never come back but for some reason Ah'm seein ya standing in front of me. So Ah'll tell ya what, Ah'll close mah eyes and count to ten and hopefully this illusion Ah'm seein will disappear.” Applebloom said snootily as she closed her eyes.

“Applebloom. I'm here because-”

“One!” Applebloom exclaimed cutting off the moon princess.

“If you would simply listen to-”

“Two!” Applebloom exclaimed cutting off Luna once again.

“Now see here! I'm only trying to-”

“Three!” Applebloom exclaimed once again cutting off the princess of the night.

Luna's expression was quickly becoming agitated as Applebloom continued to count.

“You must listen to-”

“Six!” Applebloom exclaimed purposely cutting off the moon princess once again.

BE STILL!

Luna's voice roared into the filly's face in none-other than the royal Canterlot voice which caused Applebloom to snap her eyes open to see a very pissed off Luna whose eyes were now blank white as her normally calm flowing mane was fluttering quickly and violently while dark storm clouds manifested above her and began to thunder loudly as lightning streaked a crossed them.

I AM LUNA, PROVIDER OF YOUR MOON, PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT, AND WATCHER OF DREAMS!

DO NOT TAKE ME FOR FIGMENT OF YOUR DREAMS APPLEBLOOM!

The moon princess continued to roar in the royal Canterlot voice at the filly whom now quivered in fear of her. “O-Okay, ya got mah attention now. What do ya want?” Applebloom asked in a shaky voice as she watched the moon princesses eyes slowly return to normal and the storm clouds dissipate.

“Follow me.” Luna said simply as she turned around and began to walk away.

“Ah swear if ya is gonna be showin me another nightmare like last time, Ah'm wakin mahself up.” Applebloom warned as she hopped out of bed and followed the princess.

“By the time we're done here Applebloom, you'll wish I had.” Luna replied calmly. This statement was unnerving to the farm pony and against her better judgment continued to follow her.

As the two walked towards Applebloom's bedroom door the entire room slowly faded away and was replaced with a grimly dark atmosphere. “Wh-Where are ya takin me?” Applebloom asked with a worried expression as she made sure to stay extra close to the moon princess now.

“You will soon know.” Luna replied calmly as the two continued to walk a little farther.

As the two continued to walk along Applebloom saw varies images play out around her as if they were live motion movies. Many of these events she recalled clearly while others she wasn't as sure they were real as they depicted her doing some cruel things. “What is this place?” Applebloom asked as she watched an image play out an event should would rather not remember as vividly as it played out.

“You promised me dat you wouldn't let this wouldn't change you. You promised!” Babs exclaimed breaking the silence as her eyes streamed with fresh tears.

“Well maybe change is a good thing! Ah wouldn't have been able to get as far as Ah have without changin a few things about mahself!” Applebloom retorted as she looked away from Babs towards the fridge.

“I... I don't know who you are anymore Applebloom. The filly I knew and loved would never let something as petty as a stupid singin career get between her and me.” Babs replied as she walked out of the kitchen.

“You still haven't figured it out? Very well then, look before yourself.” Luna replied and pointed a hoof forward to which Applebloom looked and saw a young filly no older than herself laying on the ground unconscious.

Upon seeing this Applebloom rushed forward to aid the filly only to hit an invisible wall. “What in tarnation is this and who is the filly?!” Applebloom exclaimed as she felt along the side of the wall and quickly realized the filly was trapped in some kind of invisible box.

“She's somepony you used to know very well but have forgotten.” Luna replied calmly as she stepped up next to her.

“She looks like she's in pain.” Applebloom remarked taking note of the fact that the filly was shuddering and twitching in a fashion that made it seem as if some invisible force was hurting her in some way.

“That's because she is. She is also dying. Do you know why?” Luna asked as she looked down at Applebloom.

“How the hay am Ah supposed to know that?! Isn't there some way we can let her out?” Applebloom asked as she looked back into the box at the filly.

“I'm afraid I do not have the power to do that.” Luna replied with a saddened expression.

“Then who does?!” Applebloom exclaimed as she looked back up at the moon princess.

Ah do and Ah'm not lettin her out!

A voice exclaimed at which point Applebloom's attention was yanked up to nearby pillar which revealed a darkened outline of a filly and the glimmer of what could be none-other than a key around her neck.

“What the hay?! How's mah voice comin from that shady pony up thar?!” Applebloom asked as she looked at Luna with an utterly confused expression.

“Ha! Ya still don't get it do ya?!” The shady figure called out, jumped from the pillar and landed in front of the two. With the mystery filly now clear in view Applebloom's face stared on in disbelief as she looked dead at none-other than another version of herself with the key around her neck.

“H-Help...me...” A weak voice called out from within the box which caused Applebloom to snap her attention to the filly inside the box at which point her mind was sent reeling once again as she got a clear look at the filly's face.

“This... This... This is impossible! How can thar be three of me?!” Applebloom asked incredulously as she slowly backed away from the back and wound up falling on her rump.

“Ah know you're not that slow. After all, who'd know ya better than yourself?” The Applebloom with the key around her neck said with a sneer.

“Now do you understand Applebloom? The filly in the box is the old you and the filly whom you see with the key around her neck is the current you.

“Then who the hay am Ah?!” Applebloom exclaimed as she stood to all fours and stared at the moon princess.

“That has yet to be determined. Simply put, you are is the product of the inner conflict within yourself. The defining line as it were, between this filly and the one who is trapped within that prison.” Luna replied.

“Exactly, so as soon as Ah rid mahself of you, then the old me with gone forever. Good riddance!” The filly with the key around her neck said with a malicious grin as she stepped up to Applebloom, turned about-face and bucked her hard.

“Th-That hurt?! Luna, this is a dream, isn't it?” Applebloom asked as she stood to all four hooves doing her best to ignore the pain in her upper chest from the buck the filly gave her.

“The pain is as real as your guilt allows it be.” Luna replied simply and slowly began to fade from existence.

“Don't leave me! Ah need your help!” Applebloom called out only for the filly to shove her to the ground.

This is a battle you must fight on your own Applebloom...

I pray you will make the right choice in the end.

Good luck...

“Make the right choice? What the hay are you talkin about?!” Applebloom called out only to get a swift buck to the skull which made the farm filly see stars for a moment before her vision came back to her.

“What's wrong blank-flank? Can't figure out the obvious? Oh well, not like it matters.” The filly remarked with a sneer before she rose a hoof back in preparation to strike once again only for Applebloom to jump to all four hooves and bolt away from her.

“That's right! Run! Keep runnin from me! We both know that Ah'm right and the old me must go! How else could we make it to the big time? We have no need to love, much less with our cousin! Why if word got out what we did with her then our singin career would be over and we can't have that can we?!” The filly called out as Applebloom ran as fast as her hooves could carry her and hid behind a large wall.

“She's gonna kill me!” Applebloom thought to herself fearfully. “Come on, wake up!” Applebloom exclaimed softly to herself as she slammed her eyes shut for a few moments and opened them yet she never sat up in her bed, she didn't see the peaceful quiet of her suite bedroom, the only thing she saw was the grimly dark world Luna had left her in.

“Once that filly heads back to Manehattan, we can have anypony we want! Heck it doesn't even have to be a filly! We both know we only stuck with her because we were foolish enough to think she cared about us!” The filly exclaimed as she hunted around for Applebloom.

“That's not me, that's not me, that's not me!” Applebloom whispered to herself over and over as she huddled against the wall with her front hooves over her ears yet she couldn't block out the filly's words as she spoke.

“Ah can imagine it now. A colt or even a stallion's big thick cock fillin my slit and pumpin that luscious warm milk into it! It makes me wanna clop even just thinkin about it!” The filly exclaimed with a smirk as she looked behind a tree and continued looking.

“That's not true! Shut up, shut up, shut up!” Applebloom whispered to herself as she pushed down even harder on her ears in an attempt to block out the filly's words.

“Ya know it's true! A day hasn't gone by when ya haven't wondered what it might feel like to get pumped full of colt milk! So lets just forget about that cousin of ours!” The filly exclaimed with a malicious grin as she continued to look behind random objects.

“Heck, if we can go as far as to buck our cousin, maybe our big brother isn't too far out of the question either? After all, he's single, he's hot, and with our fame and bits, Ah bet we could convince him to-”

“Shut the buck up! You're not me!!!” Applebloom roared as she ran from behind the wall and glared at the filly with the key around her neck.

“Oh but Ah am. Don't fight it anymore. We both know it's pointless. Ah'm you and you're me.” The filly replied as she walked up to Applebloom and grinned at her face to face.

“Ah'd eat poison joke 'fore Ah let mahself become you!” Applebloom roared and tackled the filly to the ground.

As the two wrestled along the ground the filly laughed nearly hysterically. “Quit lyin to yourself! Ah'm just sayin everythin you've been keepin locked in that little head of yours and ya know it!” The filly exclaimed just before she managed to buck Applebloom off her into the wall she was just hiding behind.

“Even if that's true...” Applebloom said trailing off as she stood wearily to all four hooves. “Ah'd never do half the stuff ya just said! Ah love Babs more than anythin in the world and would never cheat on her!” She roared as she slugged the filly hard a crossed the cheek which knocked her to the ground.

“Teh! Not like it's gonna matter in a few days anyways!” The filly exclaimed defiantly as she stood up to all four hooves.

“Give me the key.” Applebloom said as she extended a hoof out.

“Come and take it!” The filly exclaimed, turned about-face, and ran.

“Come back here ya varmint!” Applebloom called out as she ran as fast as her hooves could carry her.

The filly however soon disappeared from sight at which point Applebloom halted her gallop to find herself face to face with the old her once again unconscious.

Ha,ha,ha... You'll never find me or that key.

she's goin to die and Ah'll be the one to take her place.

“Ya know what? Ah've had it up to here with the Nightmare on Stirrup Street horseapples!” Applebloom exclaimed aloud which was met with hysterical laughter from the filly whose voice echoed around the area.

“Come on! Think Applebloom! Thar's gotta be some kind of way to beat this varmint!” She thought to herself dramatically.

Isn't there some way we can let her out?” Applebloom asked as she looked back into the box at the filly.

“I'm afraid I do not have the power to do that.” Luna replied with a saddened expression.

“Then who does?!” Applebloom exclaimed as she looked back up at the moon princess.

Ah do and Ah'm not lettin her out!

The memory played itself out in Applebloom's mind as she continued to attempt to piece together a solution.

“Shut the buck up! You're not me!!!” Applebloom roared as she ran from behind the wall and glared at the filly with the key around her neck.

“Oh but Ah am. Don't fight it anymore. We both know it's pointless. Ah'm you and you're me.” The filly replied as she walked up to Applebloom and grinned at her face to face.

“That's it! If we're really the same pony, than Ah should have a key too!” Applebloom thought to herself as she looked around the invisible cage for a keyhole. “All Ah need to do is believe that Ah have the key and it should appear in mah hooves!” she thought as she scanned the cage and sure enough a keyhole appeared before her yet the key did not appear in her hooves no matter how much she “believed” it would.

“Horseapples!” Applebloom cursed under her breath in frustration. She could see the keyhole but without the key, she could do nothing but stare at it.

Suddenly the farm pony was whirled around, slammed against the invisible prison and found herself being choked by the filly with the key around her neck.

“Did you really think it would that easy to get rid of me?” The filly asked with a sneer as she continued to choke Applebloom whom was gagging and coughing due to her oxygen supply being cut off. “Ah'm here to stay and that filly is as good as gone!” She exclaimed with a sneer.

Applebloom's vision soon began to fade as her body slowly became limp until...

Applebloom sat up with a start in her bed sweating profusely her chest heaved up and down as fast as it could while her heart felt as if was beating at a billion miles per hour as she quickly scanned her surroundings. She was safe, in her bed, with no pony attempting to strangle her.

“It was just a nightmare...” She remarked aloud sounding relieved as she laid her head back down on the pillow and attempted to fall back to sleep yet the images from her nightmare continued to haunt her as she fell back into an uneasy sleep.

A fillydephia star is torn(part 2)

A FILLYDEPHIA STAR IS TORN

PART 2

Applebloom's eyes snapped open as she heard a loud knocking at the door. Despite the nightmare she had, she had gotten a good nights sleep. The farm pony nearly spring-boarded off her bed, flung her door open, and charged for the front door.

“Babs Ah-” She began to exclaim only for her words to be cut off as Showtime looked at her with a confused expression. “Oh, it's just you.” She deadpanned with a disappointed look as she less than enthusiastically opened the door for the stallion and allowed him to come inside.

“Oh? We're you expecting somepony else?” Showtime asked curiously as he walked to the couch and sat down.

“No, not really.” Applebloom replied depressingly as she walked to the kitchen, pulled out some breakfast and began to prepare it. “So what brings ya over here today? Ah thought ya wanted me to have a day off to clear mah head?” She asked curiously as she continued to prepare her meal.

“Well naturally that was the idea until I got this.” Showtime replied as he pulled out as piece of paper from his side-pack and placed it on the side table next to the couch.

“What's it say?” Applebloom asked as she finished preparing her meal, carried it over, and read the contents of the paper.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO PERFORM AT

THE FILLYDEPHIA'S TENTH ANNUAL GRAND GALLOPING GALA

PLEASE REPLY ASAP IF YOU WISH TO ACCEPT THIS INVITATION AS TIME IS LIMITED!

Clatter!

Applebloom's jaw dropped as she finished reading the invitation which caused the meal she had just finished making to fall to the floor and spill its contents. “Th-This a joke right?” Applebloom stuttered in disbelief.

Upon hearing this Showtime gave a hearty laugh. “No it's not. This is it Applebloom, your chance to perform at one of the most important events in Equestrian history.

“Ah take it ya already penned me in?” Applebloom replied expecting to hear the stallion confirm her suspicions.

“Actually... no, I haven't. This is beyond my position Applebloom. This invitation was directed to you and you alone. Events such as these require the performers explicit written consent and acceptance of the invitation according to equestrian law. If I were to accept in your place, I would lose my job.” Showtime replied simply.

“So Ah have to tell 'em mahself? How long do Ah have to accept this?” Applebloom inquired curiously. Despite her initial impulse to scream “Ah'll do it!” something inside her halted this impulse in its tracks. She soon figured out what it was however.

“Twenty-four hours. The Fillydephia Grand Galloping Gala takes place in two days.” Showtime replied as he stood up from the couch. “I can only imagine the fame you'll have and bits we'll make in the upcoming years to come if you accept this invitation. I'm sincerely hoping you don't turn this down.” He replied as he walked up to her.

Applebloom looked at the floor now with an unsure expression on her face. “Ah... Ah'll do it.” She said finally much to Showtime's joy.

“Excellent! I just need you to sign your name and I'll get this back to them.” Showtime replied enthusiastically.

“What better way to end mah career than with a performance like this.” Applebloom remarked after she signed her name at which point Showtime's expression changed from joyful to horror-stricken.

“E-E-E-E-E-E-E-End it?!” The stallion stuttered as he stared at her in shock and disbelief.

“Ya heard me right. Ah'm done after this Showtime. Ah know this is sudden and all but this singin career made me break a promise Ah made to Babs, the filly who matters most to me in all of Equestria.” She replied and sighed heavily. “Ah can't believe Ah let mahself be foalish enough to think she was bluffin a couple of days ago.” She thought to herself and sighed aloud once again.

“B-B-B-But why?!” Showtime stuttered once again unable to accept something which to him was as simple as breaking a promise.

“Ah let this singin career nearly destroy who Ah am and Ah got the consarned images of that nightmare in mah head still hauntin me to prove it! Sides, Babs gave me a choice, mah singin career or her. Tell me Showtime, what would choose?” Applebloom asked looking at Showtime with a dead serious expression.

“My career of course! What kind of question is that?!” Showtime exclaimed as if the question was so easy to answer.

The farm pony simply blinked at him several times before she slammed her right hoof over her face. “Boy am Ah glad Ah'm quitin after this. To think, Ah might have become you in a few years.” Applebloom replied and gave a visible and audible shudder.

“You speak as if that's bad thing.” Showtime remarked taking offense to that statement.

“Ah'm sorry. That was a bit tactless of me. Anyways, Ah'll be seein ya around Showtime.” Applebloom replied as she stood up, and walked towards the door.

“Where are you going?” Showtime asked curiously.

“Not like its gonna be any of your business anymore but Ah'm off to make up with somepony Ah've been ignorin.” Applebloom replied as she opened the door and closed it behind her.

“Well crud, looks like it's back to working at the club and living in that dust filled heap.” Silverspoon remarked as she watched this entire event transpire from within her room with the door opened enough so that she could see through the crack. “For some reason though, I'm not as upset as I thought I'd be with the idea. Guess the blank-flanks really have been rubbing off on me.” She remarked to herself and let out a small giggle.

“Guess I better bring Tiara over again and really make use of privacy while it lasts.” She added a few moments later with a devious grin.

Applebloom's carriage pulled up next to the club and walked inside to see Dancing Hooves. “Haha, well look who it is. What pleasure to we owe one of Fillydephia's biggest stars showin up at this time in the mornin?” Dancing hooves asked with a smirk.

Applebloom gave a soft giggle upon hearing this as she smiled back at the stallion. “Ah came here to ask ya bout stayin here again if ya don't mind.” Applebloom asked curiously as she looked at him.

“Why would you be askin somethin like that? Did you get fired?” Dancing Hooves asked with a worried expression.

“Nah, Ah quit!” Applebloom replied with a big cheesy grin which caused the stallion to nearly drop the glass he was holding.

“Why would ya do somethin like that?!” He asked incredulously.

“It's a long story but Ah got one last performance to do 'fore Ah officially quit which is why Ah'm here. Can ya tell me which apartment Babs is stayin in?” Applebloom asked curiously.

“Same one ya three were stayin in before. When ya have the time, I'd love to hear what it's like to be a big star though.” Dancing Hooves replied as he resumed cleaning the glass he had in his hooves.

“Ha, ha, trust me. There ain't much to tell but Ah'll fill ya in later!” Applebloom replied as she left the club and walked in next door.

“Hey! Looky who it is!” A familiar voice called out which the farm pony knew.

“Hey Blues! Long time no see!” Applebloom greeted as she walked up the stairs and stood next to the filly.

“So what brings a star like you to this run down shack?” Blues asked with a smirk as she watched the filly walk past her.

“Ah'll tell ya later. Ah gotta talk to Babs.” Applebloom replied as she stopped in front of the apartment door and knocked once.

No answer.

“That's strange, Ah figured she'd be awake by now. Ah wonder if she's already gone out?” Applebloom asked curiously as she knocked again a little harder this time. Much to her surprise the door creaked open a little which meant that it had not be shut properly the night before.

“Babs? Ya in here?” Applebloom called out as she pushed the door open and walked in only to kick a few bottles with her hooves which caused her to look down.

“What the hay?” Applebloom remarked as she lifted a bottle and read the label. “Why in tarnation would she be drinkin for?” She mused to herself curiously and ventured farther into the apartment towards the bedroom.

Babs came into view shortly much to her relief only for said relief to be replaced with horror and shock as the scene became clear to her eyes. The smell of musk was in the air as she slowly stepped into the bedroom and got a good look at Babs. The filly was laid out on the bed fast a sleep it seemed yet between her legs was the unmistakable stain of filly juices. To her left laid Swift sleeping just as peacefully.

“She only said she was comin here because she wanted me to make the right choice... right? This can't be what it looks like right?” Applebloom thought to herself as her mind raced at a thousand miles per hour while her chest continued to grow colder and colder.

Babs, how could you?!

Applebloom screamed at the top of her lungs which caused Swift and Babs to snap up in surprise to see Applebloom staring at the two as tears streamed from her eyes.

“Ow, my head! Applebloom?” Babs groaned as her eyes adjusted to her surroundings. Once they had come to full focus she saw Applebloom's tear-filled face just before she turned about-face and bolted out of the apartment.

Babs then turned to look at Swift, looked between her legs, taking note of the stain, and immediately slugged the colt a crossed the face knocking him off the bed. “Ya buckin mule! How dare ya take advantage of me! Ow, buck! My head!” Babs exclaimed as she held her head before she stumbled off the bed and stumbled her way to the door as the room spun in circles. “Applebloom, wait!” She called out only to slam her hooves on her head as it throbbed again painfully.

Swift came from the bedroom a few moments later sporting a bruised cheek and a black eye and attempted to help the city filly up only to get a swift hoof to the sack which made him double over. “Ye-ouch! I didn't take advantage of you I swear! Geez, my balls!” Swift exclaimed as his eyes brimmed with tears due to the sheer pain he was in at the moment.

“Then explain to me why my bed has my juices stained on it which was right between my legs!” Babs roared only to slam her hooves on her head again as her skull throbbed once again.

“You probably came in your sleep! For Celestia's sake, you tried to seduce me last night!” Swift exclaimed as he continued to hold his colthood.

Babs sat in place for a few moments as she did her best to recall the events of last night despite the fact that the majority of them were a big blur. She did manage to recall her behavior last night even if it was as blurry as a panting done by a two-year old foal.

“What in the Luna's name happened?! I just saw Applebloom run by...” Blues began to say only to trail off as she looked at the two.

“It's not what it looks like!” Swift exclaimed as he attempted to get to all four hooves despite the throbbing pain in his balls still.

“I sure hope not but even if it isn't, Applebloom thinks it is!” Blues exclaimed as she looked back down the hall.

“Buck it all, I can't barely walk right now and Applebloom thinks I just cheated on her with Swift!” Babs exclaimed holding her head as the room continued to spin around her.

“Applebloom?! What happened?!” Silverspoon asked as the farm pony walked in sobbing loudly as she fell to her rump against the front door and huddled herself against it with her head buried between her front longs as she sobbed.

“Ah... She... Swift...” Applebloom said between sobs unable to make a proper sentence due to being so distraught by what she saw.

“Applebloom, you're not making sense! Speak Equestrian, Blank-flank!” Silverspoon exclaimed in frustration.

“She cheated on me with Swift!” Applebloom managed to wail out after a brief silence before she buried her face once again between her front legs and continued to sob.

“No way... Not Babs! She would never do something like that! Not after everything she's told me!” Silverspoon exclaimed unable to believe what she heard from the sobbing filly.

“Ah saw them mahself!” Applebloom exclaimed between sobs.

“Were they actually... doing it?” Silverspoon asked fearing the answer she might get.

“No but the room smelled like they had and Babs had a stain between her legs that wasn't urine!” Applebloom replied before she sobbed even louder than before.

“Okay, that does look pretty bad...” Silverspoon remarked aloud thoughtfully and sighed. “Listen, I need to go out for a while, you gonna be okay here?” Silverspoon asked in the most comforting tone she could muster.

Applebloom gave a small sniffle as she stood up though she was far from done crying her eyes out, she managed to pull herself together long enough to allow Silverspoon to pass through. “I'll be back soon, I promise.” Silverspoon replied and closed the door behind her only to hear more loud sobs coming from within the suite.

“I'll go find out myself and if what Applebloom says is true than Babs and Swift are gonna wish they had never been born!” Silverspoon remarked aloud as the elevator doors closed.

“This is the last spot anypony saw them.” Applejack remarked looking up at a club. “Lets hope they're here.” The farm pony said aloud hopefully as she, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle walked in.

“Um, excuse, business hours aren't until eight o'clock at night.” Dancing Hooves said as he stood in front of the three no sooner they walked in.

“Don't ya worry, Ah'm not here for any drinks. Ah wanted to ask ya if ya have seen these fillies.” Applejack replied as she pulled out a photograph of Babs and Applebloom then one of Silverspoon. There names are Babs Seed, Applebloom, and Silverspoon. Have ya seen or at least heard these names round these parts?” Applejack inquired.

“Of course I have but why are you lookin for them?” Dancing Hooves asked with a suspicious look at the farm pony.

“Ah happen to be Applebloom's older sister and Babs' cousin that's why.” Applejack replied with a slight glare due to fact that the stallion was looking at her suspiciously.

“C-Cousin?!” Swift's voice erupted from behind Dancing Hooves at which point the stallion stepped to the side revealing Babs, Silverspoon, and Swift sitting at a table.

“Babs!” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle shouted simultaneously as they charged past the stallion and up to Babs.

“Scootaloo? Sweetie Belle? How did ya find us?” Babs asked as she reapplied an icepack to her forehead.

“It wasn't easy, Ah'll tell ya that much!” Applejack's voice exclaimed as she walked up to the filly with a stern glance. “Ya had me, Granny Smith, Big Macintosh and ya parents worried sick 'bout ya!” The farm pony exclaimed with a stern look only for Babs to slam her hooves over her head and groan loudly.

“Not so loud. She suffering from a bad hangover.” Swift said only to regret this immediately as the farm pony's expression became livid.

“A hangover?! Where in the consarned Tartarus did she get a hold of alcoholic beverages?!” Applejack roared at the top of her lungs as she whirled around and glared at the stallion while Babs winced loudly.

“She stole them the night before without my knowledge. You see, I run a homeless shelter for runaways and homeless ponies. We don't ask questions usually as we get runways a lot and we like to respect their privacy. The ponies who stay at our shelter work here to pay for their stay. I assure you this is legit business and we do not deal in shady dealings.” Dancing Hooves replied calmly.

“Ah don't give a flyin horseshoe if ya a shelter for baby bunnies! Haven't ya even read about the missin foal alert?! That stuff is Equestria wide news that spreads fast so Ah know ya must have read or heard of it already! So ya best start explainin why ya haven't told the local authorities bout mah little sister and Babs bein here!” Applejack exclaimed as she walked up to the stallion.

“I already told you, we do not ask questions! This is a shelter for ponies, not a buckin equestrian government placement facility!” Dancing Hooves exclaimed feeling his temper rise at this mares attitude towards him.

“Why Ah outta-” Applejack began to say only for Babs to halt the farm pony in her tracks as she wrapped her hooves around Applejack's legs. “Don't hurt him! Dancing Hooves and Swift have done nothin wrong!” Babs exclaimed only to clam her hooves around her head, wince loudly, and resume wrapping her hooves around the farm pony's.

“That's true! Swift found us just after we got mugged and brought us here!” Silverspoon exclaimed as she rushed up to Applejack herself.

The farm pony looked at the two fillies for a moment before she sighed aloud. “Ah wasn't gonna hurt him for pony's sake.” She replied as she placed a hoof on Babs' head gently.

“Me and my father have been running this homeless shelter for about five years. This town isn't safe at night and we both know this. Runaways have come to us over the years from abusive parents, rapists, and even worse. They came to us knowing that we would provide them a safe place to stay without being forced to answer twenty questions. That's why we don't ask questions. Not everypony wants to be forced to tell us that they were raped repeatedly or beaten within an inch of their life every night.” Swift explained as he walked up to the farm pony as well now.

“To answerer your question, yes I saw it. However, I would sell my club before I went back on my motto.” Dancing Hooves said after a few moments of silence.

“So if ya knew that we were lookin for 'em, why didn't ya tell the authorities? Ya didn't answer that yet.” Applejack replied in a much calmer tone though she still was upset.

“Swift already did.” Dancing Hooves replied simply.

“Ya can't possibly think that Ah or anypony in mah family would-”

“You need to look at it from our perspective. Three fillies came to us from the streets and who knows what their lives may have been back home.” Swift said cutting off the farm pony much to her annoyance.

“Fine, Ah won't hold it against ya but that don't mean Ah'm happy with ya for doin so.” Applejack conceded even though she still had ill reservations about this establishment.

“Where's Applebloom?” Scootaloo asked curiously which snapped Applejack's attention to the Pegasus.

“Ya gotta be kiddin me!” Applejack exclaimed in disbelief as the group stood in front of the large hotel.

“I told the filly on the billboard looked like Applebloom...” Sweetie Belle remarked with a glare at the farm pony whom could only shrug sheepishly as they made their way inside.

“Mah little sister, a singin sensation. Who woulda thunk it.” Applejack remarked aloud as the elevator rose to the upper floors.

“She's quitting it anyways but that's not important! We need to tell her that it was a big misunderstanding.” Babs said as she placed a hoof on her head once again as her had throbbed while the group stepped out of the elevator into the hall.

“Okay so here's the plan, we explain the situation to Applebloom and then everything should be...” Silverspoon began to say only to trail off as the door to the suite swung open revealing no pony in there.

“Applebloom? Ya in here cuz?! Ow, my head!” Babs called out only to place a hoof on her head again.

“Serves ya right for drinkin so much and stealin the stuff to boot.” Applejack said in a stern tone before she looked around the suite for her little sister.

“She's not here!” Silverspoon's voice came from the bedroom and ran to the others.

“Where in tarnation is she?!” Applejack exclaimed as she looked around with a worried expression.

“Applebloom...where did you go?” Babs remarked aloud as she walked over to the window and looked out at the city below.

“I must say Applebloom, you had me worried for a while there. However I am pleased that you've suddenly decided to work with us on a more permanent bases.” Showtime remarked with a smile as Applebloom wrote her name down on the contract.

“Not like Ah got anythin to go back to now. Sorry for not signin on sooner.” Applebloom replied though her voice was saddened and distracted as she spoke.

Author's Note

DAH,DAH,DUUUUUUM!

A fillydephia star is torn(part 3)

A FILLYDEPHIA STAR IS TORN

PART 3

“Where the hay would she go?! It's nearly ten o'clock at night for Luna's sake!” Applejack exclaimed as she paced back and forth in the suite.

“Showtime's kept her out later than this.” Babs remarked sourly much to the farm pony's shock.

“Ya can't be serious. Just how late we talkin here?” Applejack inquired curiously.

“Nearly four o'clock in the morning. It's what lead to some of our fights...” Babs replied and sighed heavily.

“Ah ain't any expert on Equestrian law but Ah'd sell mah farm before Ah thought there weren't some law out thar statin that a filly her age can't work that late!” Applejack exclaimed as her expression became pissed off.

“If there is, Showtime isn't following it.” Scootaloo remarked morbidly and sighed aloud.

At this moment, the door swung open revealing a stallion and a mare walking in. “Um, who are you ponies?” The mare asked with a confused expression.

“Ah'd like to ask ya the same question. Do ya work for Showtime?” Applejack asked curiously.

“No, we booked this hotel's suite and this room was vacant according to the receptionist.” The stallion spoke up.

“That's a load of horseapples if I ever heard it! Applebloom has this suite reserved for her, me, and Silverspoon!” Babs exclaimed pointing a hoof at the couple only for Applejack to stand in front of the filly.

“Calm yourself down Babs. Gettin huffy with random ponies ain't gonna get us anywhere but kicked out.” Applejack said before she turned around and looked at the couple. “There must be some kind of mistake then.”

“I concur.” The stallion replied, walked over and pressed the room service button.

“Ya can't be serious! Why the hay you kickin us out for?!” Applejack exclaimed looking completely outraged as they stood outside of the hotel at the security ponies.

“Yeah! I even have the key to prove that we were staying there!” Babs exclaimed as she showed the security pony her key with the room number on it only for one of the security ponies to walk up and yank it off of her hoof before she could react without a single word. “Give that back, it's mine!”

“No, it's property of hotel management.” A prim and proper voice spoke up from behind the security ponies at which point a few stepped to the side and allowed a stallion to walk in front of them.

“We were staying here! And that key was proof!” Silverspoon exclaimed.

“No, Applebloom was staying here. You two...” The stallion replied and gave an audible shudder. “Were only allowed to stay because she requested it. A privilege which expired once she checked out which was earlier this morning.” He finished as he looked at Babs and Silverspoon as if they were lowly creatures.

“A P-Privilege?! I'm her fillyfriend!” Babs roared looking positively livid as she glared at the stallion.

Upon hearing this the stallion began laughing much to the aggravation of Babs and Silverspoon. “You, A mere city pony, dating a star like Applebloom? And a filly no less. I must say, I've heard some stories but that takes the custard off my trays!” The stallion exclaimed and laughed once again.

“It's true!” Applejack spoke up cutting off the stallion laughter.

“We were informed by Showtime himself. Applebloom was staying here and she had two friends with her at her request. There was no mention of a coltfriend or fillyfriend for that matter. Not that she would date a filly anyways.” The stallion remarked giving a disgusted expression at the mere thought.

“What the buck would you know about her anyways?! I bet you read that horseapples in the paper didn't ya?” Babs retorted much to the stallion's annoyance as he could not properly defend himself to this fact.

“Regardless of that, significant other or not, Applebloom was registered with our hotel and no pony else. However if you want to insist that much, then you can pay the ten thousand bit bill that her account racked up instead of the music company.” The stallion replied with a smirk as he looked on at the two whom simply glared at him.

“No? Then begone from my establishment, you city slicker ruffians!” The stallion exclaimed rudely before he turned about-face and walked back into the club.

“Come on y'all, lets leave these hoity-toity rich ponies to their bits.” Applejack remarked giving one last glare at the hotel before she walked down the street followed by the four.

“I can't believe dat stallion! How could that bit hungry mule even know a single thing about Applebloom's personal life?!” Babs exclaimed as she stomped her hooves into the concrete as she walked now.

“Now, now, Babs. We all know that pony don't know jack about Applebloom. Heck, ya know more than even me by now Ah reckon!” Applejack replied with a supportive smirk before she gave a light laugh.

“I understand that everypony is trying to lighten the mood after we got kicked out and all but Applebloom is still missing.” Scootaloo remarked in a serious tone.

The Pegasus may as well have said the farm filly got ran over as once the others had heard this, their moods plummeted from happy to worry and sadness.

“Well we know one thing. Applebloom checked out of the hotel this morning.” Silverspoon pipped up to break the depressing silence between the five.

“Dat's true but we don't know where she went. How much you wanna bet dat Showtime checked her out and moved her.” Babs replied as she gritted her teeth at the mere thought of that stallion coming to mind.

“Ah wish the others were here. We could use their help in findin her.” Applejack remarked aloud and sighed heavily.

“We'll find her, Applejack. Can anypony else remember anything she may have said before she found me and Swift this morning?” Babs asked curiously as she looked at the other three.

“This morning, Showtime gave her an invitation to perform at Fillydephia's tenth annual Grand Galloping Gala and she agreed to do it as her career ending performance.” Silverspoon recalled at which point everypony looked at her with annoyed glances. “What?! With everything that's happened today, that event was bucked clear out of my mind till now!”

“Okay, so anypony know where this Gala is gonna be at?” Scootaloo asked which was met with shrugs from everypony at which point she slammed her right hoof on her face.

“Bet Showtime didn't like hearin dat.” Babs remarked with a devious smirk as she snickered to herself.

“You should have seen him. He looked like somepony just got murdered or something!” Silverspoon exclaimed at which point both fillies broke into spontaneous laughter.

“Quit trailin behind you two! We need to find out where this consarned Gala is bein held at!” Applejack's voice called out from down the street at which point both fillies realized the two had begun to leave them behind and ran up to catch up.

“If Applebloom is performing at the Gala then you can bet the place is going to be jam-packed.” Dancing Hooves remarked to Applejack as the club bustled with patrons while the six sat in the staff room.

“So ya know where it's bein held?” The farm pony inquired hopefully as she lifted up a glass of apple juice and took a drink.

“Yep. It's always held at the most expensive part of town. Which is to say the part of town that you'd have to be a rich pony to even get inside. Fillydephia Gala's have a strict dress code usually. If ya don't look like your made of money, they'll turn ya away at the door.” Dancing Hooves remarked as he also took a drink from his own glass.

“Looks like we're not getting in then.” Scootaloo remarked dismally.

“Tell me somethin though, how the hay could Applebloom get into this singin career anyways without mah consent? Ain't thar laws against that kind of thing?” Applejack asked curiously.

“You've heard of the golden rule right? Who ever has the gold makes the rules. Applebloom ain't the first to get thrown into the music business while the law turns a blind eye and she sure as hay won't be the last.” The stallion replied and sighed heavily.

“This is all my fault! I'm the one who pushed her into getting into this singin career to begin with. Who knows where Showtime will ship her off to now that we're out of the picture!” Babs said as she slammed a hoof on the table in frustration.

“Don't go blaming yourself Babs. It was Applebloom's choice, not yours.” Silverspoon pipped up now as she placed a comforting hoof on the city filly's shoulder.

“But...” Babs began to say only to trail off and sigh heavily.

“If it's any consolation, there is a silver lining to this situation.” Dancing Hooves said to which the five looked at the stallion now expecting an answer. “No matter how much money this Showtime fella has, he can't sign Applebloom into a contract, not legally anyways.”

“So Applebloom's been freelancin this entire time?” Applejack asked incredulously.

“Um, what's freelancing?” Sweetie Belle's voice pipped up with a confused expression.

“It's when a pony works for a company but isn't officially employed with 'em. In other words, they ain't required to do anythin they don't wanna do for the company. Course that also means that the company can refuse to pay 'em if they aren't satisfied with their work.” Applejack explained to the unicorn filly before turning to face Dancing Hooves again.

“I bet Applebloom had no idea she was doing this freelancing thing either! If we didn't know this at the time, there's no way she could have!” Silverspoon exclaimed in realization of this new information.

“So Showtime can drop her anytime he wants? That's as bad as using somepony! When I get my hooves on Showtime, dat stallion's gonna be walking and talkin mare by the time I'm through with 'em!” Babs exclaimed as she slammed both hooves on the table this time in anger.

“Calm down Blank-flank, geez. We still gotta get into that Gala in the first place.” Silverspoon remarked with a slightly apprehensive look at the city filly.

“Well, I suppose I could spare some of my funds to you ponies out.” Dancing Hooves said much to the surprise of the five as they snapped their faces to him.

“Ah appreciate the offer but we couldn't impose on ya like that.” Applejack replied with a smile though she did appreciate the thoughtfulness of the stallion.

Upon hearing this Dancing Hooves gave a hearty laugh. “Then how about this; I help you out and you pay me back when ya can? Since you own a farm and all that shouldn't be too hard should it?” The stallion replied much to Applejack's delight.

“Ah like those terms. Ya got yourself a deal partner!” Applejack exclaimed as she reached hoof out and shook Dancing's.

“Why don't you guys head up the apartments and get some sleep. We'll head out tomorrow and get ya all fitted for the Gala.” Dancing Hooves said as he stood up and began to walk to the door of the staff room.

“Sounds like a good idea to me.” Applejack replied as she stood up as did the other four and followed the stallion out of the staff room and to the front door of the club.

As the five began to leave, Babs noticed Swift not far to the left. “I'll catch up with ya later. I need to do somethin first.” Babs said as she began to walk towards Swift.

“Don't be hangin around too late. We need to be up bright and early.” Applejack remarked just before she walked out of the front door of the club.

As Babs walked up to Swift, the colt noticed her approaching and smiled at her. “Hey.” He greeted politely as he washed a few cups out.

“Hey...” Babs replied nervously. “So um, about last night and this morning...” Babs began only to trail off.

“Don't worry about it. You were seriously messed up and with all things considered, you had every right to think I took advantage of ya. Heck, I would if I woke up in the same way you had.” Swift replied as he put one glass down and picked another up.

“There ya go again, bein a goody two-hooves. Seriously, can't you ever just get upset with somepony for anythin? I really messed up last night and this morning. You should be furious with me!” Babs exclaimed feeling even more guilty that Swift wasn't upset with her at all.

“Ya know, I probably should be but I'm not. I guess it's just not in me to hold a grudge against somepony. Sides, it's not like your cousin would forgive me if I let myself get upset with ya over something that wasn't your fault.” Swift replied as he continued cleaning the glass.

“But it was my fault! I stole and drank all those alcoholic beverages, I tried to seduce you, I hit you in the balls for Luna's sake!” Babs exclaimed feeling herself become flustered over the fact that Swift was being so kind to her even though she knew she didn't deserve such kindness.

“Just drop it!” Swift exclaimed suddenly slamming the cup on the counter hard as he glared at her.

“No, I won't drop it! Get mad at me! I deserve it!” Babs exclaimed as she glared back at him.

“Ya just don't know when to leave well enough alone do ya? I already said it's fine! It wasn't your fault!” Swift exclaimed as he walked from behind the counter, past her, and out the front door.

Babs however wasn't willing to let the colt drop the topic as she quickly followed him outside. “What the buck is your deal?! We both know that last night was my fault, I had no right to try to seduce you, no matter how drunk I was! Yet your standin here tryin to act like it's nothin!” Babs exclaimed as she walked up to the colt whom refused to look at her.

“Yeah it annoyed me! Is that what you wanted to hear?!” Swift exclaimed as he turned to glare at her.

“It only annoyed you? Oh come the buck on Swift! Quit bein such a goody two-hooves already! Tell me how it really made you feel already!” Babs exclaimed. She wanted Swift to tell her that he hated her guts, that he never wanted to see her again. The guilt of nearly betraying Applebloom had been eating at her ever since she heard the whole story from the colt earlier this morning just before Silverspoon showed up.

“Ya wanna know what it really made me feel?!” Swift exclaimed as he turned to face her.

“Yeah! Tell me!” Babs retorted only to get the shock of her life as the colt suddenly put both hooves around her cheeks and locked lips with her. After the initial shock wore off however, she whacked him upside the cheek with her right hoof and backed away. “Ya buckin crazy colt! What's the big idea?!” Babs exclaimed with a crimson red blush as she glared at Swift whom rubbed his cheek.

“Kind of figured that would happen. Not like I could compete with Applebloom anyways.” Swift remarked dejectedly.

“Okay, did I miss something?! Since when do ya go from bein ticked off at me to lockin lips with me?” Babs asked with a confused expression.

“I-I've had a c-crush on ya, okay?!” He stuttered out and sighed.

“Well that explains a lot.” Babs remarked and sighed. “No wonder he was bein so nice to me and not holdin last night against me.” She thought to herself. “Must have taken a lot of willpower not to give in to your crush last night I suppose.”

“More than you know. All I had to do what let it get up and well...” Swift replied but trailed off with a beat red blush.

“Wait, what?! Just how close did I come to betrayin Applebloom last night anyways?!” Babs exclaimed suddenly more worried than she was before that she couldn't recall last nights events clearly.

“You were on top of me. I don't think it'll be that hard to image the rest. So yeah, all I had to do was let it get up and-”

“Okay, Okay! I would have rode you like a cowpony, I get it!” Babs exclaimed cutting Swift off and looking away from him now as she blushed just as red as he was. “Horseapples, I'm never drinkin again as long I live.” She remarked under her breath and sighed heavily.

“Is Applebloom really your cousin?” Swift asked suddenly which made Babs' chest go ice-cold.

“Y-Yeah...” She stuttered slightly as she turned to look at him only for the colt to be staring up at the moon now.

“Wow... I could never imagine myself dating someone I was related to much less doing it with them.” He remarked thoughtfully as he continued to stare up at the moon.

“Ya got a problem with it?” Babs asked trying to act brave in preparation to defend her love for Applebloom.

“Not really, well, a little yeah but it's not like I got the right to judge ya for it.” Swift replied as he turned to look at the city filly now. “Everypony has the right to choose who they love, even if the rest of the world don't like it.”

Upon hearing this Babs gave a light laugh as she walked up to him. “Ya really are a goody two-hooves.” She whispered before she gave him a peck on the cheek which caused the colt to blush furiously as she walked past him towards the apartments. “Oh and don't worry, I won't tell anypony your a virgin.” She said a little louder so the colt could hear her.

“Y-Y-You remembered that?!” Swift exclaimed feeling his cheeks burn even more as he watched Babs burst into a giggle-fit as she opened the door to the apartments and closed it behind her.

“Applebloom?” Showtime asked as he walked through the new suite she was staying in looking for her until he found her. “Oh, there you are. We're you crying?” He asked curiously taking note of the farm pony's puffy red eyes.

“Ah don't know if Ah can do this Showtime. Ah know Ah said Ah would but...” Applebloom replied and sighed heavily as she wiped tears from her eyes.

“Did something happen between you and your fillyfriend? I have noticed that you haven't requested we go fetch her or that other filly yet and I can't help but wonder if that is somehow connected to your saddened state.” Showtime remarked as he looked at her.

“Well ya did say that they would be able to stay there a little longer and well, Ah'm not so inclined to see Babs at the moment since Ah found out she cheated on me.” Applebloom replied though her voice threatened to crack as she said this.

“Cheated on you? Oh, I see. No wonder you're so depressed! Ya know, I had a fillyfriend who cheated on me too. So I dropped her like a bad habit and pushed on with my career. True story!” Showtime replied in a seemingly genuine sympathetic tone before he rose his hoof up as if he was a colt scout as he spoke his second sentence.

“Ya point is?” Applebloom replied with a slight glare at the stallion as she knew this kind of attitude from him was more or less his way of attempting to get her to focus on her singing career rather than anything else.

“Ahem! Well, my point is, eh-heh, that you should not let this get you down! I know you were hurt badly but look on bright side! You have your whole singing career ahead of you now and this event will be the one that skyrockets your fame all over Equestria!” Showtime exclaimed enthusiastically though Applebloom didn't partake in this enthusiastic attitude of his she did understand what he was getting at.

“Ah get it, Ah need to get mah head out of the clouds and focus on singin tomorrow night right?” Applebloom replied as she looked out of her window to the city.

“Exactly! I'm glad we see eye-to-eye Applebloom! Get a good nights sleep and we'll begin rehearsal tomorrow morning!” Showtime replied as he turned about-face and closed the door behind him and left the filly alone.

The next morning, Applejack, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Babs, Silverspoon, Swift, Hooves, and Dancing Hooves, headed out to the richer parts of town to fit the five in outfits that would allow them to get into the gala.

“Are ya sure this kind of outfit is required?” Applejack asked as she stepped out of the fitting room with an uncomfortable look on her face as she wore a bright blue silk dress.

Dancing Hooves gave a hearty laugh upon hearing this as he looked at her. “Ha, ha. Yeah, I know it's not the most comfortable but this is what most ponies who go to the gala will be wearin.” He confirmed as Sweetie Belle, Babs, Scootaloo, and Silverspoon stepped out of the fitting room themselves.

“My chest feels like it's being squeezed.” Sweetie Belle whined as she stepped out wearing a bright pink dress.

“I can barely breathe in this thing!” Babs winced as she stepped out wearing a dark blue dress.

“Is this thing supposed to ride up on my foal-hole?” Scootaloo asked aloud with a blush as she stepped out wearing a maroon colored dress to which the other four looked at her and blushed also.

The only filly who had not uttered a single complaint was Silverspoon who simply scoffed at the other four. “You four a real piece of work.” She jeered with a smirk.

“Oh come on Silverspoon, you can't say this is comfortable for you.” Scootaloo retorted with a glare.

Silverspoon simply laughed lightly at this remark. “I'm used to wearing these kind of outfits. Me and Diamond Tiara used to wear them all the time when Filthy Rich took us with him for upper class events in Canterlot.” Silverspoon replied relishing in the fact that the others were uncomfortable while she was perfectly fine.

“Drop the attitude Silverspoon, Ah know ya come from a hoity-toity family and all but no need to rub it in everypony's face.” Applejack censured the filly.

“Sorry, Applejack.” Silverspoon replied feeling a little guilty for behaving like she had.

THAT EVENING...

Ponies flooded into the Gala grounds at around eight o'clock that evening as did Applejack and the others.

“I really wish we could have brought Tiara with.” Silverspoon remarked sourly as the four walked amongst the rich stallions and mares.

“Sorry Silverspoon but if Diamond Tiara's momma found out we were here, Ah'd never hear the end of it from Filthy Rich.” Applejack replied and though Silverspoon didn't like it, the farm pony had a valid point.

“Besides, we're here to find Applebloom, not have fun.” Babs added with an annoyed look at the filly.

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” Silverspoon replied with a scowl.

“Accordin to this here pamphlet we were given, Applebloom should be performin in the heart of this little gatherin in twenty minutes. Course we're gonna need tickets so lets head that way now.” Applejack remarked as the five took a sharp right turn and headed in that direction.

“Applebloom, you're on in ten minutes.” A female voice called out which snapped the farm filly out of her daze and looked over the the stage mare.

“Oh, right. Thanks.” She replied doing her best to sound cheerful despite the fact that she wanted to cry her eyes out all over again.

“I must say Applebloom, I find it amazing that you were able to create a new song in such a short time! Just how did you think of it? These lyrics are truly moving!” Showtime remarked as he looked over the music sheet.

“Just somethin that came from mah heart, that's all.” Applebloom replied giving the best small she could muster as she walked past the stallion and towards the stage.

Performing live for everypony with a surprise brand new song for all of us,

Applebloom!

A voice exclaimed which echoed a crossed the auditorium as Applebloom walked up on stage and up the microphone as a stage light shined on her. “This new song is a little somethin that came from mah heart so Ah hope y'all enjoy it.” Applebloom said into the microphone as a gentle yet sad music began to play.

(Play Sad Acoustic Guitar Instrumental Beat now)

The farm filly stood in place silent for a few moments as the band behind her began to play their instruments before she opened her mouth to sing:

♫ Ah walked upon a lonely ground,

never seeing the light,

always in the darkness,♫

As Applebloom sung these words the images of her life before Babs flashed before her eyes. She recalled the fun she had with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle yet throughout all of it she felt empty, as if what the talent she was meant to find eluded her and refused to show itself.

The images of the moment Babs showed up for the first time and the events that followed which lead up to her falling in love with the city filly now flowed through the filly's mind as she sung the next line to her song.

♫ then you came into my life and showed me a world I never knew. ♫

♫ All my life Ah never knew mah destiny

Till you came and changed my world ♫

“Oh come on! Ya gotta let us in!” Babs exclaimed at the stallion whom was guarding the entrance to the auditorium.

“I already told you, the show is sold out. I can't let you in. I can let you in after the show is over for the autograph signing.” The stallion remarked with a stern glance at the five.

“I don't wanna go in after the show is over, I wanna go in now!” Babs roared at the stallion.

“Come on y'all, it's obvious he ain't gonna let us in.” Applejack remarked and walked away from the stallion followed by everypony except Babs.

♫ Now that world is broken

Ah learned, mah only talent was in you ♫

As Applebloom sung these lines, tears began to drip silently from her eyes. She managed to hold herself together however despite the images of Babs in bed with Swift now playing before her eyes.

Her voice carried a crossed the auditorium now as she song the following lines, the sadness and pain in her voice able to be felt by everypony in the auditorium now as she sung.

♫ Ah want that world back. ♫

♫ Ah'm lost in the Darkness♫

♫ Ah can't find mah way♫

♫ Mah only Talent was in you.♫

“Do you have wax in those ears? For the twentieth time, I can't let you in without a ticket!” The stallion exclaimed becoming very annoyed with Babs now.

“Ya wanna see my ticket? Here it is!” Babs exclaimed as she dove under the stallion, socked him squarely in the balls, and made a mad dash for the door only for the stallion to grab her by the dress with his mouth which prevented her from progressing any closer to the door.

“L-Let me go! I have to see her! Applebloom, I'm here!” Babs exclaimed as she fought with all her might to get loose of the stallion's grip and eventually ripped the dress in two due to the delicate fabric unable to handle the pressure of being stretched in such a fashion.

The city filly quickly slid the other half of the dress off her and darted for the door once again only to be pounced on by the stallion. “Just great! Another crazy fan thinking the world owes her everything because she thinks she the filly's biggest fan!” The stallion thought to himself dismally. “I'm gonna need some help over here!” he called out which flagged down additional security ponies over to help him deal with Babs.

Eventually Babs was trapped within a bubble of magic and was being dragged away from the door as she frantically pounded at the bubble but to no avail. “No, stop! You don't understand! I have to see her! She needs to see me! Applebloom!” Babs shrieked at the top of her lungs as tears flooded from her eyes.

Applebloom!!!

Babs voice shrieked at the top of her lungs which seemed to echo throughout the area though her voice was unheard by the filly she wanted it most desperately to reach.

♫ Ah can perform for the world

But can Ah see your face? ♫

♫ no ♫

♫ you've left me here alone

and it won't mean a thing... ♫

The filly was beginning to have a really hard time with trying to keep herself together now as tears flooded from her eyes which were clearly visible by the crowd. Her voice had nearly cracked a few times as she sung those lines but she pressed on, she had to...

♫ Ah don't understand why, ♫

♫ you're off with that colt and not at mah side ♫

She was really starting to lose it now, she could barely hold herself together as she sung those lines. Despite this she took a deep breath, her stifled sob clearly heard by the crowd as she pressed on.

♫ Mah love for you is now a pain Ah can't hide...♫

♫ Ah'm breaking in two... ♫

♫ Ah'm lost in the Darkness... ♫

♫ Ah can't find my way... ♫

♫ Mah life is now shattered... ♫

♫ Mah only Talent was in you... ♫

The curtain swung in front of her just before she fell to the floor and began to sob loudly. “Are you okay darling?” A mare who worked as a stage hand asked with a concerned look on her face as she walked up to the filly and helped her to all four hooves.

“Of course she is! The emotion in that song was so compelling that it almost made me break down in tears! Wonderfully done Applebloom!” Showtime exclaimed looking as happy as ever while the mare simply glared at him with a disgusted expression.

“Ah-Ah fine, really. Ah just lost mah composure for a moment thar is all. Thanks for your concern though. ” Applebloom finally managed to speak up as she wiped tears from her eyes and sniffled while at the same time, did her best to fight the urge to fall back to the floor and sob some more.

“Well the show should be done by now, let's get goin back to the auditorium.” Applejack remarked as she did a headcount. “Hold up a sec, where's Babs?” Applejack asked with a worried expression as she looked around.

“Knowing her, she probably never followed us when we gave up on trying to get into see Applebloom's show.” Silverspoon remarked and sighed as she went to take a drink of some of the tea she was offered only to spit it out. “Bleck! You call this tea?!” Silverspoon exclaimed in disgust to the mare whom blushed in embarrassment.

“I-I'm sorry if it's not to your liking.” The mare stuttered slightly looking away.

“Okay, move aside and let a filly who knows what she's doing take over.” Silverspoon remarked as she looked over the ingredients the mare was using.

“Come on Silverspoon! We need to find Babs!” Scootaloo exclaimed at the filly.

“Go on without me, I'll catch up and besides, Babs is probably already inside for the autograph signing now.” Silverspoon replied as she continued to look over the contents in front of her only to halt as she looked over the recipe for the mare's tea. “No wonder this stuff tastes terrible! Your adding too much baking soda and not enough sugar!” Silverspoon exclaimed as she looked at the mare.

“O-Oh! Well that does explain a few things.” The mare replied with a light blush as she rubbed the back of her head with her left hoof.

“Let me see, I might be a little rusty at this but with what ya got here, I could make one of my tea recipes. Wanna let me take a shot?” Silverspoon asked curiously.

“B-By all means! Please! I haven't sold a single glass and I need the bits badly!” The mare remarked looking positively thrilled at the filly's interest to aid her sales.

Applebloom now sat at a desk in the auditorium signing paper after paper with her autograph barely even speaking to anypony she saw walk up excitedly to her.

“Wow, for a Fillydephia star, ya sure don't look like ya is enjoyin yourself.” A familiar voice said which caused Applebloom to look up from the desk. “S-Sorry, Ah'm a little dis-dis-- A-A-Applejack?!” Applebloom exclaimed as her mind was suddenly brought back into reality full stop as she stared at her older sister.

“Took her a few seconds.” Scootaloo remarked with a smirk to the farm pony whom chuckled at this remark.

“Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle? What in tarnation are y'all doin here?!” Applebloom asked incredulously.

“Ah could ask you the same question little sister.” Applejack asked allowing her tone to become stern as she spoke now.

“Hey! We want autographs too!” A colt shouted from behind the three.

“Yeah! Quit holding up the line!” A mare chimed in.

“Can this wait till after mah autograph signin? Ah know this is important but...” Applebloom said trailing off as she looked behind the three.

“As long as ya promise not to disappear afterward.” Applejack replied to which Applebloom nodded with a soft smile.

Applejack, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were truly a sight for the filly's sore eyes. Until now she hadn't realized just how much she had missed them. However, she knew that if she didn't complete this mundane task, she could get in trouble with Showtime and she didn't want to have to deal with two lectures instead of just one.

The filly signed every single autograph now with renewed enthusiasm despite the sadness she still felt and soon reunited with her big sister and fellow crusaders.

“Now, Ah don't know how ya got wrapped up in this here singin career of yours and frankly Ah don't care. What Ah wanna know is why in tarnation did ya leave without so much as a letter to where ya was goin?” Applejack asked in a stern tone.

This simple question however caused the filly to recall the same line spoken by Babs not to long ago which caused her eyes to swell up in tears.

“Um, Applejack, maybe now is not the best time to be lecturing her?” Sweetie Belle suggested timidly hoping that the farm pony wouldn't get upset with her next.

“Right. Good point.” Applejack conceded much to Sweetie Belle's surprise and her attitude took a one-hundred and eighty degree turn now as she placed a hoof on her little sister's shoulder. “Ah heard about what happened with ya and Babs.” Applejack said in the most comforting tone she could muster.

“Don't mention her name around me. Ah can't forgive her for what she's done.” Applebloom replied resentfully as she turned away from her big sister.

“But Babs didn't-”

“Ah said, don't mention that mule's name around me!” Applebloom shrieked at Sweetie Belle cutting the unicorn filly off in such a fashion that caused her eyes to swell with tears due to being yelled at in such a fashion.

“But Applebloom, what we're trying to say is that Babs-”

“Did Ah stutter?! Or am Ah talkin to a couple of brick walls?! Ah said not to mention that horseapplin mule's-”

KER-SLAP!

Applebloom's shout was brought to a screeching halt as Applejack's hoof sailed a crossed her face. A few seconds later she stared at Applejack in shock.

“What have Ah told ya bout speakin ill of ya family youngin?! Be glad it was me and not Granny Smith! Why if she heard ya talkin like that she'd bend ya over her knee and tan that hide of yours a new fur color! Ah don't what this new fancy life's been teachin ya but nothin and Ah mean nothin, excuses talkin ill of ya family!” Applejack exclaimed fiercely to the farm filly whom continued to stare at her.

Once Applebloom's wits finally caught up to her thanks to that slap knocking them back a few miles so to speak, her expression became hurt and pissed off as she glared at her older sister. “She cheated on me Applejack! Ah don't care if she's family or not! Nothin excuses doin what she did!” Applebloom shrieked at her older sister as fresh tears streamed from her eyes.

“That's what they're tryin to tell ya, it was a big misunderstandin! Babs didn't cheat on ya!” Applejack exclaimed back which caused Applebloom to blink twice at her.

“Wh-What?” she asked in a stunned tone.

“Swift and her told us! She got really messed up what night before but Swift refused her knowing she wasn't thinking strait!” Sweetie Belle added quickly after the farm filly's stunned response.

For a few moments Applebloom believed what they were saying but the images of seeing them in the bed came back to her mind. “Ya wasn't thar so how could ya know!” She exclaimed before she turned away from the three. “Ya didn't see what Ah saw...” She added a few moments later softly as tears fell from her cheeks to the floor.

As much as the three wanted to argue this farther, she did have a point. They weren't there.

“Where the hay is she anyways? Ah know Babs wouldn't miss a chance to talk to ya and that's got me worried.” Applejack remarked as she looked around for the city filly but saw her no where in sight.

“She probably didn't want to show her face, knowin what she did.” Applebloom remarked the resentment in her voice so thick it would be cut with a knife.

“Okay so we weren't there, you got us there but Babs came here to see you and tell you herself! Can you come with us and at least hear her out? You owe her that at least since you ran out on her without letting her say anything.” Scootaloo said as she placed a hoof on Applebloom's cheek and gently turned her around to face the others.

“Fine. Ah listen to what she has to say but Ah ain't sayin Ah'll believe ya or her.” Applebloom replied though it was clear she didn't like the idea.

“Wow! This is some of the best tea I've ever had! I say, how did you make this remarkable brew?” A stallion remarked as he took ginger sips of the beverage.

“If you like that then you'll love my specialty brew.” Silverspoon remarked with a prideful grin.

“Wow, I haven't sold so much tea in years! Usually my husband makes the tea but he was sick. How are you so good at this?” The mare asked in amazement.

“It is my special talent after all!” Silverspoon exclaimed without thinking only to gasp in surprise at her own words. “Holy Luna! I just remembered what my cutie mark really represents!” Silverspoon exclaimed joyfully.

“How could you forget something so important?” A random stallion asked her curiously.

“You know, I really don't know. I guess the past has a way of making us forget happy memories like these when most of it is filled with unhappy memories.” Silverspoon replied and sighed as she looked at her cutie mark with a prideful smile.

Author's Note

Hope you enjoy the chapter! This one is a tearjerker!

Babs's Lament

BAB SEED'S LAMENT

Babs sat in the Fillydephia police station silently as criminals and police ponies walked past the room she was sitting in.

We've notified your parents. They will be here to pick you up as soon as they arrive by train. That should only be a few hours.

These words echoed through Babs's mind over and over for what seemed to be the longest time as silent tears streaked down her cheeks. This was it. Her parents knew where she was. They were going to come pick her up and she'd never see Applebloom again.

“The very last time she ever saw me was in bed with Swift...I'll never be able to tell her what really happened.”Babs said aloud her voice cracking softly as she spoke.

Just then a police mare walked in and placed a radio on the table. “You must be bored out of your mind you poor thing. Here, listen to this.” She remarked in a comforting tone as she flicked switch on the radio which burst to life with sound and music as she the room.

“The Gala is turning out to be the best ever isn't Jim?” One radio announcer said enthusiastically after a short song.

“You said it, Bob. To make it even better, Applebloom surprised the audience with a brand new song.” Jim replied to Bob with the same amount of enthusiasm.

“One really has to wonder how she thought of it on such short notice!” Bob exclaimed at which point Babs was reaching over to shut off the radio...

“And now, we'll be playing her new song for everypony to hear! A special thanks to Showtime, Applebloom's agent, for making sure to grab a recording of the teen sensation's performance!” Jim exclaimed and a soft yet sad tune began to play.

Babs's hoof stopped just short of the off switch.

♫ Ah walked upon a lonely ground,

never seeing the light,

always in the darkness,♫

♫ then you came into my life and showed me a world I never knew. ♫

♫ All my life Ah never knew mah destiny

Till you came and changed my world ♫

♫ Now that world is broken

Ah learned, mah only talent was in you ♫

Babs's eyes snapped wide open as fresh tears flooded from them now along with a gasp. “This song is about us...” She thought to herself as she stared at the radio, her lower lip quivering now as her jaw hung wide open.

The song continued to play out and Babs could tell by the sound of Applebloom's voice that she was fighting the urge to break down in tears now.

♫ Mah love for you is now a pain Ah can't hide...♫

♫ Ah'm breaking in two... ♫

♫ Ah'm lost in the Darkness... ♫

♫ Ah can't find my way... ♫

♫ Mah life is now shattered... ♫

♫ Mah only Talent was in you... ♫

By the time the song had ended the city filly was sobbing loudly into her front hooves as she buried her face into them for a time until she slowly rose her head up as the door swung open revealing what could be none other than Babs's parents.

“Babs, my foal, where have you been?!” Babs's mother exclaimed as she wrapped her hooves around the city filly while Henry stood silently at the door with a stern expression on his face. “Have you been crying?” She asked with a concerned expression as Babs looked at her.

“Crying isn't the only thing she'll be doing when we get back to Manehattan.” Henry remarked in a stern tone.

“Show a little empathy will you Henry? She's been lost in this city for Luna knows how long.” Babs's mother replied looking slightly annoyed at her husband.

“And who brought her out here I wonder? Oh that's right. That inbred cousin of hers.” Henry replied with a glare at Babs who cowered from his glare behind her mother's embrace.

As much as hearing this pissed off Babs to now end, she knew better than to talk back to her father. He wasn't abusive, she was simply raised to respect her parents above everypony else.

“Henry! That's our family you're talking about!” Babs's mother exclaimed with a slight glare at her husband.

“No Marry, that's your family. The only relation I have to that lot is by marriage.” Henry replied with the same stern expression.

“Regardless, you can't talk-” “This isn't really the place to be discussing this matter. We should head back home.” Henry interrupted Marry much to her annoyance. The mare knew he was simply using this as a way to avoid this topic and he would thinking up even more excuses later as to why he couldn't discuss it with her once they were home in Manehattan.

“Come Babs, lets head back home.” Marry said to her daughter after a few moments of debating on whether or not to continue this topic and ended up conceding.

Babs however, didn't move from the chair she sat in.

“Babs Seed, let's go.” Henry spoke up in a strict fatherly tone.

Babs however stared at her parents as inner war waged within her mind now until one side won...

“N-N-No...” Babs stuttered out as if the very idea of saying no to her parents was a challenge in itself.

“What did you say?” Henry replied, his expression becoming livid as he glared at his daughter.

“I-I s-s-said n-no! Not until I can say goodbye to Applebloom!” Babs shouted her confidence in her decision to stand up to her parents slowly building now.

“If you think for five seconds that I would let you talk to that... that... sick filly, then you must not have heard me properly two weeks ago when I said, you are never to see her again! Now come!” Henry exclaimed as he lifted her off the chair by the mane, dropped her on the floor, and swatted the city filly swiftly against her hindquarters which caused Babs's tail and mane to stand on end as the sting of her father's disciplinary action shot through her rump.

Despite this, Babs stood firm, refusing to move from the spot she now stood in.

“I see you wish do this the hard way. Very well.” Henry remarked with a glare as he leaned over, lifted Babs by the mane and began to carry her out the doorway only for the filly to use all four of her legs to wedge herself within the door-frame.

Once henry had realized the latest stunt his daughter had pulled, his mouth scrunched up, rose his hoof and swatted her hard against the hindquarters once again.

Babs refused to move and held herself firmly within the door-frame.

“Of all the- this has gone on long enough!” Henry exclaimed and began to push against the filly's back in an attempt to unwedge from the door-frame. “You're... going.... home.... now!” The stallion exclaimed between grunts as he pushed against his daughter.

As her father did his very best to unwedge her from the frame, the city filly's confidence in her decision to stand up to her parents was at its strongest now along with her temper which was nearing its breaking point.

I said..... NO!!!”

Babs exclaimed at the top of her lungs, used her rump to shove her father back who lost his balance due to putting all his effort into pushing her and fell onto his back only for Babs to hop down from the door-frame, stomped on her father's chest twice, effectively knocking the wind out of him, and darted through the police station past her mother only to be halted by up to five police ponies.

“Not so fast little filly!” One of the police ponies exclaimed as the five barricaded the door with their bodies leaving no way for Babs to get out.

Babs's eyes darted around the room, her heart beating at was felt like a thousand miles per minute, as she breathed in and out very quickly. Her eyes soon fell upon a closed window. By this point one of the police ponies was walking towards her.

On impulse, Babs evaded the police pony's pounce, jumped on a desk, and out the window, shattering it as her body flew through it.

“Babs!” Marry exclaimed now due to the shock of seeing her daughter jump out a closed window snapping her out of her previously stunned stated which was caused by Babs standing up to her father in the first place which she had never done before.

The police ponies quickly clambered out the front door to the police station in an attempt to catch her before she made any distance between them only to not see her in sight. The only evidence left behind were glass shards on the ground where the filly had made her daring leap for freedom. A few of which, had fresh blood on them...

“She was what?!” Applejack exclaimed incredulously as she spoke to security ponies at the gala.

“Yeah, the filly was pretty obsessed with gettin inside to see Applebloom's performance. We had no choice but to haul her away to the police station. I've seen irate and crazy fans before but this one was in tears by the time we put her in the police carriage. She wouldn't stop saying how much she needed to see Applebloom.”

“Ya is totally sure this is the same filly as mah sister described?” Applebloom asked as she stepped from behind Applejack much to the security pony's suprise.

“A-Applebloom?! Oh wow, my daughter is a big fan of yours!” The security pony exclaimed enthusiastically to which Applebloom rolled her eyes at this response.

“Yeah, yeah, everypony says that. Now answer mah question please.” Applebloom replied impatiently.

“Light brilliant purple mane and tail, dark orange fur coat, yep. That fits the bill.”

Applebloom seemed lost in thought for a time until the stallion timidly handed set a pencil and paper down in front of him. “L-Listen, I know I didn't pay to get in or for an autograph but could you sign this for my daughter? Like I said, she's a big fan of yours and this would make her day since she couldn't come.” The security pony asked with a nervous expression.

“On one condition.” Applebloom replied with a smirk.

“Name it!” The security pony exclaimed excitedly.

“Take me and these four down to the police station.” Applebloom replied at which point the security pony's expression went from excitedly to pale.

“B-But that would be abusing police resources. I-I can't do that.” The security pony replied.

“Than Ah guess Ah can't get ya that autograph then.” Applebloom replied with a snooty expression.

“Applebloom! Now that's just-mmmph?!” Applejack began to exclaim only for Silverspoon, Scootaloo, AND Sweetie Belle to slap their hooves over the mare's mouth and shake their heads at her silently.

The security pony seemed to be fidgeting now, unsure of what to do until he finally spoke. “O-Okay, but if anypony asks, I caught you five loitering, Okay?” He said finally.

“Deal.” Applebloom replied with a smirk and began to sign her name on the piece of paper.

ONE POLICE RIDE LATER...

“Applebloom, that was just plain low of ya! Ah know we taught you better than that!” Applejack lectured with a stern tone at her little sister.

“But none of us knew where the police station was Applejack and even if we asked, did you see how long of a ride it was from the Gala to here? It would have taken us an hour by hoof!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed in defense to her fellow crusader.

“So? What's the big deal? Don't wanna do a little walkin?” Applejack replied clearly not getting the big picture as of yet.

“Babs's parents want to keep them apart for good and you put out a missing foal alert on Applebloom and Babs. Do the math.” Scootaloo remarked with a sarcastic expression as the four walked up to the police station doors.

“Oh, Ah get it now. But that was still a low down stunt ya pulled little sis.” Applejack replied finally getting the big picture.

“Ah did what Ah needed to do so Ah could see Babs mahself.” Applebloom replied as she pushed against the door.

“So that means you believe us?” Scootaloo asked with big smile.

“No, but for her to be that obsessed with tryin to talk to me, she must have had somethin important she needed to say.” Applebloom replied which was met with collective facehoofs from Silverspoon, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo nearly simultaneously.

“She's either being thickheaded or just down right stubborn.” Sweetie Belle remarked quietly to the other two fillies.

“What's the difference?” Silverspoon remarked sarcastically as she walked through the door to the police station.

Once all four were inside they were in for a shock as the police station seemed to be buzzing with activity along with none other than Babs's parents sitting in the waiting room as they entered.

Henry was first to notice them as he stood up and walked over to Applejack and pointed an accusing hoof at her. “You! This is all your family's fault! If you had squashed out these sick ideals the moment you found out about them rather than allowing them to continue, we wouldn't be in this situation with my daughter's life in danger!” Henry roared as he glared at Applejack.

“Excuse me?! Ah'm not the one who told em' to go runnin off to Fillydephia!” Applejack retorted glaring back at the stallion.

“You may as well have! My daughter never had any of these delusional abnormal thoughts of notions until she started seeing her!” Henry exclaimed back as he pointed a shaking hoof at Applebloom who simply glared at the stallion.

“I should have never allowed her to come visit you lot in the first place. I should have known a bunch of uncouth, simple-minded-”

“Henry, you're not helping!” Marry shrieked at the top of her lungs which caused the stallion to halt mid-sentence and stare at her in mild-shock until his expression calmed. “Y-You're right.” He finally conceded after a moment and sighed heavily as he walked over and sat down next to his wife.

“What in tarnation did Ah miss? Isn't Babs here?” Applejack asked after a few moments.

“No, she's not.” Henry replied in an unusual calm tone as he held his wife's hoof firmly.

“What do you mean she's not here? We were told she was brought here by police ponies!” Applebloom exclaimed looking more confused than Applejack at the moment.

“She was obsessed with seeing you, one more time. She even assaulted me in the mists of her escape through that window.” Henry said as he pointed towards the shattered window that now had police tape over it.

“Okay, so she ran off. Ah can see where ya might be worried about her but she's likely to head back to the Gala and the police ponies will bring her straight back here.” Applejack replied in an attempt to alleviate the parents worries though this seemed to have no effect.

“That's not all, in her escape, she may have cut herself badly. Fragments of the window were covered in her blood which suggests that she may be...” Henry began to say only to trail off as if he couldn't bring himself to say the obvious.

A few moments after the stallion said this, the door the police station could be heard opening and closing at which point Applejack turned around to see who was coming through as did Babs's parents only for the farm pony to realize one thing:

Applebloom was gone!

Author's Note

Guess who's updating Pen Pals 2 again? X3

Applebloom's Lament

APPLEBLOOM'S LAMENT

“Applebloom?! Come on little sis, this ain't funny!” Applejack exclaimed as she looked about the police station in a panic despite the obvious that had occurred.

“Oh, wonderful. Now the other one's ran off.” Henry remarked aloud in an annoyed tone.

“Why don't ya shut the buck up and help em' look for the fillies then?!” Mary exclaimed as she whacked up hard upside the head with her hoof. “Ah've had it up to here with ya bad mouthin mah family!” Marry exclaimed as her country accident she had done her best to suppress came out completely due to her anger.

“Whoa, that's one thick country accent. How did she manage to talk like a city pony so well?” Scootaloo asked in a stunned tone.

“You'd be surprised what ponies can do with their voices.” Applejack remarked as she walked up to the mare.

“Ya okay thar Maryapple?” Applejack asked as placed a hoof on the mare's shaking body.

“No Ah'm not okeh. Mah daughter is out thar and possibly lost and bleedin to death!” Maryapple replied her voice cracking as she spoke.

“Don't worry, Ah'll find both of em'. Applebloom will probly find Babs fore' Ah do though. She's always been the better one at findin ponies and things. Ah haven't been able to hide a Hearths Warmin Eve gift for her yet that's she's not found before time for her to open it and Ah got a whole orchard of hidin places.” Applejack replied with a smile doing her best to calm the mare down.

“Ah understand ya is tryin to calm me down but nothin will calm me down at this point Applejack. Just find mah daughter and bring her back safe and sound.” Maryapple replied her voice shaking still as she spoke.

“Ah will.” Applejack replied as she began to walk towards the door.

“Ahem, perhaps you should leave this to the police to handle miss.” A police pony said as he walked up to her only to get a deathly glare from the farm mare.

“Grand job ya did of that! Took mah cousin pullin a publicity stunt to help ya find what was right under ya noises for the last week! No, Ah think Ah'll be lookin for em' on mah own thank ya very much.” Applejack replied before she continued walking towards the door.

Maryapple then gave her husband a swift kick to the hind leg which caused the stallion to hold it as pain coursed through it. “What ya waitin for? Harths Warmin Eve?! Go with her and found our daughter ya consarned mule!” Maryapple roared at which point Henry quickly got off the chair and followed Applejack out the police station.

There were two times when the stallion knew not to cross his wife: When she was cooking a meal and when her country accident leaked through her “usual” city mare accent. He knew she was beyond pissed off when this happened and didn't dare argue with her.

Applebloom was now looking through the streets of Fillydephia for any sign of Babs. It soon became clear to the farm filly however, that she wasn't going to find her in time at the rate she was going if she was in deed bleeding as badly as her father said she was.

“Consarn it Babs! Why'd ya have to go and do a featherbrained stunt like this!” Applebloom exclaimed as she looked down an alleyway only to spot a familiar face, or at least as familiar as she could remember being suddenly tackled by.

Applebloom then walked up to the red Pegasus.”Hey, Ah got a favor to ask of ya.” the Pegasus took one look at her and darted off.

The farm filly quickly scanned her surroundings and found a coil of rope laying near where the Pegasus was rummaging through. She quickly picked it up, tied a knot in one end just like her sister had taught her, and began to chase after the Pegasus who had gotten a decent head start on her.

The Pegasus had just managed to leave the alley and was taking off for the skies when he felt something tie around his right hind leg and yank hard. “Oh, buck! Not again!” He shouted as he attempted to propel himself in order to escape only to realize he couldn't make any headway. Curiously, he looked behind himself to see that the other end of the rope had been tied down to a nearby lamp post

“Ya got two choices ya varmint, either help me find mah cousin or Ah'm gonna keep tuggin until Ah hogtie on this here sidewalk!” Applebloom shouted out.

“Oh yeah? You and what army ya little brat?!” The Pegasus exclaimed as he turned to look at her.

“Ah don't need an army. All Ah need to do is keep tuggin until Ah have ya within reach!” Applebloom retorted, bit down on the rope and gave it a hard tug with her mouth and applebucking legs.

Much to the Pegasus's shock, he dropped a few feet yet when he tried to regain the height he lost, he found he couldn't. Once again looking down, he saw that the filly had managed to tie yet another knot down against the lamp-pole in the brief time he had been yanked down.

A few more tugs later and the Pegasus was near ground level. “Now then. One more tug till Ah hogtie ya on this sidewalk! Ya gonna help me or am Ah gonna have to-” “Holy Luna! You're Applebloom!” The Pegasus exclaimed in shock once he got a good look at the filly and cut her off with his surprised exclamation.

“And ya point is?” Applebloom asked with a slightly raised eyebrow.

“I'm like, a huge of fan of yours! Of course I'll help you!” The Pegasus exclaimed as he voluntarily landed on the ground and walked up to her.

The filly's brain nearly broke upon hearing this. She had gone through all this when all she needed to do was state her name and she could have avoided this entire situation. “Ah swear, this fame of mine is a double-edged sword.”

A FEW MOMENTS LATER...

“So who are ya lookin for? I can fly all night!” He exclaimed enthusiastically as he flew a crossed the skies with Applebloom on his back.

“Mah cousin, Babs. Ya should know what she looks like. Ya mugged us on our first day here.” Applebloom replied with a slight glare at the Pegasus unknown to him.

“Oh her, the dark orange filly, heh. Right. No hard feellings right? A thief's gotta make a living somehow!” The Pegasus replied as the two looked over the ground for any sign of Babs.

“Ya could, I don't know, find a job like a normal pony!” Applebloom replied with an annoyed expression once again unseen by the Pegasus.

“Hey, I think I found her!” The Pegasus called out a few moments later as he stopped mid-air and hovered in place pointing in the direction he was looking.

“Really?!” Applebloom exclaimed as she looked over the Pegasus's shoulder only for her excitement to be replaced with horror, Babs laid on the ground looking as if she had passed out.

“Eek, she ain't lookin too good either.” The Pegasus remarked queasily as he looked at the filly's body.

“Quick, lower me down!” Applebloom exclaimed to which the Pegasus obeyed without question.

Applebloom hopped off the Pegasus's back before he had fully landed and ran to Babs's side. “Hey, Babs! Wake up!” As she shook the city filly.

“Oh, hey there. I was lookin for you.” Babs replied weakly.

“Ya featherbrained nitwit! Didn't ya realize ya was bleedin out from your right flank?!” Applebloom looked over the wound.

“Oh dat... Yeah, I kinda noticed a little late though. I laid down to rest my eyes a little cuz I was feelin tired.” Babs replied once again weakly.

“Well the cut looks like it closed itself so maybe it wasn't that bad. We still need to get ya looked at though.” Applebloom replied with a sigh of mild relief. “How long ya been out here?” She asked as she helped the city filly to her hooves and put Babs's left hoof over her should to act as a crutch for the city filly.

“I don't know, thirty minutes maybe?” Babs replied and winced as she stood on her right leg.

“Can ya take us to the nearest hospital?” Applebloom asked the Pegasus who looked pale at the moment.

“I didn't sign up for this, if she dies on the way, I'm gonna be accused of murder!” The Pegasus exclaimed and took off from the ground before Applebloom could utter another word.

“There goes our ride.” Babs remarked sounding annoyed despite her weakened voice.

“Horseapples!” Applebloom cursed as she looked around. “Come on, lets walk it and try not to overdue it. Last thing we need is that cut openin up again.”

“How did you know I was out here anyways?” Babs asked as the two slowly made their way to the main street from the alley.

“Applejack found me after mah performance at the Gala.” Applebloom replied as the two neared the main street.

After a brief silence and the two finally making it to the main street, Babs sighed loudly. “Listen cuz, about what ya saw back at the apartment complex. It wasn't what you thought it was. Course, it could have been if Swift wasn't such a goody two-hooves.” Babs said and sighed once again.

“Ah heard.” Applebloom replied stiffly.

“I don't expect ya to forgive me but I want ya to know dat you're the only filly for me.” Babs replied as she nuzzled Applebloom the best she could.

“Look we can talk about this later, right now, mah main concern is gettin ya some much-needed medical attention.” Applebloom replied and sighed as the two walked down the sidewalks of Fillydephia.

“Applebloom?! Stop the carriage!” A familiar voice exclaimed at which point a carriage that had just passed them stopped a short distance up the road from them.

“Boy, Ah never thought Ah'd actually be happy to see you.” Applebloom replied as Showtime ran up to the fillies.

“I've been looking for you! You disappeared from the Gala when you had an appointment a mere hour later that I was forced to push to tomorrow!” Showtime replied then looked at Babs. “Is that the filly you said cheated on you?” Showtime remarked a few moments later in mild-shock as the carriage pulled back to where the three stood now.

“Look, Ah need to get her to a hospital. She was hurt pretty bad and needs to be looked at.” Applebloom replied.

“Teh, I don't see how that's any of your concern anymore.” Showtime replied nonchalantly.

“It's mah concern because she's mah cousin!” Applebloom glared at the stallion menacingly.

“Y-Y-Y-Your cousin?! Are you sure this is the same filly we're talking about here?” Showtime asked incredulously.

“Ugh, forget it! Listen, Mr. drivers, can ya get me and mah cousin to the nearest hospital?” Applebloom asked looking at the carriage pulling ponies now.

“Of course!” One of the stallions exclaimed with a smile.

“Get right in!” The other one chimed in moments later and used magic to open the carriage door for them.

“Applebloom, we don't have time for this. You have interviews with mare's weekly in a mere hour!” Showtime exclaimed seemingly ignoring the injured filly as Applebloom helped Babs into the carriage.

Once Babs was sitting comfortably in the carriage however, Applebloom's pissed off expression could be seen by the stallion as she stepped out to look at him. “Buck your appointments Showtime! Mah family is more important than some stupid interview! Oh and ya know what? Ah quit!” Applebloom shrieked at the stallion whom looked horror-stricken at this exclamation.

“Y-Y-You can't quit! You signed a contract!” Showtime exclaimed as he pulled the contract out from his saddle pack and waved it at her.

Applebloom then proceeded to yank the contract out of Showtime's hooves and tossed it to the ground. “This is what Ah think of your contract Showtime!” Applebloom exclaimed as she turned about-face, lifted her tail up, giving Showtime a clear view of her goods much to his discomfort, and proceeded to urinate on the contract in front of the stallion whom gawked in shock and horror at this crude display. “Been holdin that in for the last half hour.” Applebloom remarked with a grin as she turned to face the stallion who could only gawk at her in sheer shock of what she had just done. “Now if ya will excuse me, Ah need to get mah cousin to the hospital.” She finished, stepped inside the carriage and closed the door at which point the carriage drivers broke into full gallop completely ignoring the fact that Showtime had not stepped into the carriage.

ROUGHLY THIRTY MINUTES LATER...

“This is ridiculous! It's like finding a needle in a haystack!” Henry exclaimed as the two looked through an alley.

“Ah don't recall askin ya to come with.” Applejack remarked with an air or annoyance in her voice.

“My daughter is out here Applejack, that's more than enough reason for me to be out here. Besides, I do not dare cross my wife when she's that upset.” Henry replied only for Applejack to give a hearty laugh in response to this. “What's so funny?”

“Nothin really. Ah just figured you'd know what ya is gettin into fore' ya married an apple.” Applejack replied with a smirk at the stallion whom surprisingly enough, smiled back.

“Oh I did Applejack. Her robust country upbringing is what attracted me to her in the first place.” The stallion replied.

“Eh? So why ya been talkin ill of our lot then?” The farm pony asked curiously as the two left the alley and into one of the many main streets of Fillydephia.

“It mostly has to do with the incestuous adventures of your little sister and my daughter.” Henry replied, his tone quickly changing from light to agitated and upset. “That and the fact that according to my daughter, you actually encourage it.” He added a few moments later sourly.

“Hardly. To be up front and honest with ya, Ah ain't too keen on it mahself.” Applejack replied much to Henry's shock.

“So why do you allow it then?” The stallion asked curiously.

“Funny ya should be askin me that cause Ah'm still lookin for a proper answer.” The farm pony replied with a light chuckle.

“I don't follow.” Henry replied simply with a confused expression on his face now.

“Ah guess what it boils down to is lettin mah little sis do what makes her happy. Providin it don't hurt anypony. Ever since our parents died, she's always put on a happy face but Ah always knew it was nothin more than a mask she wore to hide the sadness she felt over losin our mama. Doin that crusadin thing, she does with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo helped her some but Ah never saw her smile for real until a year ago.” Applejack replied and stopped briefly to check under a cardboard box before continuing. “Around the same time she started datin Babs though Ah didn't know until nearly a week later that this was happenin when Ah found those photographs.”

“Photographs?” Henry inquired curiously.

“Apparently about a couple weeks before she showed up for her visit with us, she had sent Applebloom some pictures of her doin some rather... adult pony stuff in em'.” Applejack replied turning slightly green from the memory itself.

“So that's where our camera went...” Henry remarked as he recalled the week that their camera had mysteriously disappeared and just as mysteriously reappeared in the same spot he had left it a few days later.

“As ya can expect, Ah freaked out, grounded Applebloom to her room, and arranged for Babs to stay in the guest bedroom till the next day when Ah took her to the train station.”

“So what caused this to change?” Henry asked his curiosity now peaked.

“Applebloom did. She showed up at the train station with help from Diamond Tiara who until then as far as Ah knew, the two hated each other's guts. Anyways, the two of them confessed their feelins for one another and skippin the part with Filthy Rich going off the hinges, Ah brought the two back home.” Applejack replied and sighed heavily as the two made a left turn at the end of the street and continued to look about their surroundings for any sign of the two fillies.

“I still don't see what caused you to allow the two to... date.” Henry replied only to trail off for a moment before he stiffly said his final word.

Applejack hesitated for a moment in thought. “The look in mah little sister's eyes did. For the first time, Ah saw true happiness in em'. Not the fake smile she always wore day in and day out. When Ah realized that Babs was the source of this happiness, well, Ah can't say what changed exactly; but Ah found mahself puttin up with them datin, much to mah own shock.”

“When you say, putting up with it, you mean that you don't like it?” The stallion inquired.

“Of course Ah don't like it! It don't look natural to me for one to be doin it with one of their own kin. But mah little sister's happiness is more important to me than mah own personal beliefs.” Applejack replied and sighed once again.

“Well I for one will not be as you say, putting up with it. You may value your sister's happiness over what is normal but I don't. I certainly hope you didn't think that by telling me all this that you could sway me to allow this unnatural and wrong relationship of theirs to continue.” Henry replied his tone sounding slightly hostile and mistrusting.

“Of course Ah didn't. Ah ain't stupid. Ah knew you'd figure it out sooner or later. Ah just wanted to see mah little sister smile a little longer.” Applejack replied looking rather annoyed by the stallion's attitude towards her now.

“Well, thanks to you allowing this fiasco to go on as long as it has, you and I both are going to be dealing with some heartbroken fillies.” Henry replied.

“Don't remind me...” Applejack replied and sighed heavily once again.

It was at this point a police carriage rushed by only to come to a screeching halt a few feet passed the two ponies. “Hey, get in! We know where Applebloom and Babs are!” Scootaloo shouted from the window of the police carriage.

“Told ya she'd find her first.” Applejack replied with a smirk as the two rushed to the police carriage and off to the hospital.

Once the group had a short discussion with the front desk, they headed upstairs to Babs's room to see a stallion wearing a doctors coat stepping out. “Bab's parents and relatives I assume?” He greeted them as they stopped in front of him.

“Yes, how is Babs?” Maryapple asked with a worried expression.

“She suffered moderate blood loss but her life isn't in danger. She'll need to stay here for a few days while her body recovers naturally from the blood loss and to make sure no complications arise.” The doctor replied much to everypony's relief.

“Can we see her?” Scootaloo asked after a brief silence.

“Of course but try not to crowd her. She needs to relax. Her cousin is already inside with her at the moment.” The doctor replied only to look at Henry in confusion as his expression went from relived to ticked off. “Is something the matter?” he asked curiously.

“N-No. Thank you doctor.” Henry replied stiffly.

“Very well, if you have any questions or problems arise with Babs' condition, do not hesitate to call for a nurse.”The doctor replied and walked past the group.

No sooner the doctor had left sight, Henry was making his way to open the door when Applejack stepped in front of him. “Hold on a second thar partner.” Applejack said as she placed a hoof on his chest to halt the stallion in his tracks.

“Applejack, I will say this calmly once, please step out-of-the-way.” Henry replied with a glare at the farm pony.

“Can't you give her this at least?” Applejack contested with a pleading expression.

“I already told you earlier, you may value your sister's happiness over what is normal, but I do not! Now step aside!” Henry said with a glare.

“Not mah sister, Babs!” Applejack retorted with an equal glare.

Henry looked past Applejack through the small window in the door at this point to see his daughter's hooves around Applebloom's with a warm content smile on her face.

The stallion's expression seemed to contort in self-frustration as he opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, and closed it once more before he gave an aggravated sigh as he shook his head furiously. “F-Fine! But if that sister of yours so much as thinks of kissing my daughter, I will not hesitate to have her removed from the hospital room!” Henry replied finally, turned about-face, and swiftly walked down the hall.

Applejack then looked to Maryapple whom merely sighed. “I don't mind, she is family after all.”

With this dilemma temporarily taken care of, Applejack then turned around, opened door, and walked inside followed by the others. No sooner inside, Maryapple walked over to her daughter and hugged her tightly.

It was at this point Applebloom and Babs' hooves darted away from one another. “Hey sis. Ah know it was stupid of me to run off like that.” Applebloom greeted with a weak smile.

“We'll discuss your punishment for runnin off like that later. Now ain't the time for it.” Applejack replied in a stern yet soft tone as she looked over at Babs who looked nervous now as her mother hugged her.

“Babs Seed, what were you thinking?!” Maryapple asked in a soft tone as she looked at her daughter with tears of relief flowing from them.

“I'm sorry mom. I didn't mean to worry ya like that.” Babs replied with a nervous smile.

“Well at least your okay. That's all that matters right now.” Maryapple replied and hugged her daughter tightly once again.

“I know this isn't the best time with you all just getting here and all but can you give me a little time alone with Applebloom? We haven't had much time to talk and there are some things I need tell her in private.” Babs asked with a worried expression at which point Maryapple looked at Applejack then to Applebloom with a slightly stern expression which said she wasn't too keen on the idea.

“Ah swear Ah won't try anythin.” Applebloom spoke up at which point the two mares looked at the farm filly then at each other.

“What ya think Maryapple? Ten minutes?” Applejack finally said after an awkward silence.

The mare looked at her daughter, then to Applebloom, then to Applejack and sighed dejectedly. “Ten minutes.” She said finally, stood up, and left the room followed by Applejack, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Silverspoon.

Once the door had closed, Applebloom sighed loudly. “We don't have much time so Ah'll be quick, ya hurt me Babs. Ya may not have done anythin with Swift but ya almost did. What would possess ya to be goin after him anyways? Ah know we weren't on the best of terms at the time but it's not like we broke up or anythin.” Applebloom said as she looked at Babs with a hurt expression.

“I... I don't know what I was thinkin. Even before I drank all dat alcohol, I wasn't thinkin clearly. I guess... I guess I thought that I had lost ya forever.” Babs replied and sighed heavily as she looked away from Applebloom for a moment before turning her head to look back at her. “I just wanted to stop feeling the pain. Since the moment I left ya in dat hotel room, I couldn't stop crying. I just wanted the tears to stop. I know that isn't an excuse for nearly sleepin with Swift. I couldn't think of one if I tried.”

“Because there isn't one!” Applebloom exclaimed feeling her temper rise slightly due to the memory of seeing Babs and Swift in bed playing through her mind again only to stop herself before she got anymore upset.

“It's not like I went back to the apartment complex to buck Swift! I went back to get it through to you dat I had enough of you puttin dat singin career of yours before me, your fillyfriend!” Babs shouted feeling her temper rise as well only to sigh afterwards as a silent tear streaked down her right cheek.

Upon hearing this, Applebloom ran a hoof through the front her mane before allowing it to flop back onto her forehead as she placed her hoof back on her hind legs in the chair she sat in.“Listen, Ah know Ah was lettin that singin career of mine get between us. Ah ain't got any excuse for pushin ya away like Ah did.”

“No, you don't.” Babs remarked with a slight glare before she once again looked away from the farm filly.

The two fillies didn't say a word for some time, staying silent until Babs finally turned her head to look at Applebloom with tears in her eyes.“This is it, isn't it? Even if we made it past this, my parents won't let us see each other.” she said her voice cracking slightly as she spoke.

“Then maybe it's best y'all call it off now fore Babs' parents make ya.” Applejack's voice pipped up from the doorway which caused both fillies to snap their gaze in her direction. “Sorry, Ah did't mean to ease-drop but Babs' mama asked me to keep an eye on you two so her papa wouldn't fly of the hinges.”

“How much did you hear?” Babs asked nervously.

“All of it. Couldn't help it really, y'all got pretty rowdy for a little while thar. If y'all call it off now, Ah just might be able to convince Babs' parents to let ya see one another durin reunions at the very least.” Applejack replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

Yet another awkward silence ensued now save for the sniffles coming from Babs ever so often.

“What do ya think Babs? Should we call it off here and now?” Applebloom said softly, breaking the silence.

“I... I... I don't want to. Maybe we can still see each other? I could-”

“Babs, think with ya head and not with ya heart for a cotton-pickin second will ya?” Applebloom said cutting off the city filly.

“So you really don't love me anymore?” Babs asked as tears cascaded down her cheeks now.

“Ya think Ah want this to end mahself? Yeah ya hurt me but if it weren't for yer parents doin what they is doin, Ah'd want to try to work past this!” Applebloom said, her voice cracking as tears began to stream from her eyes. “Ah still love ya Babs but we gotta be thinkin realistic here. We... We...” Applebloom began to say only to trail off as she broke into full-blown sobs. “W-We can't keep this up...”

Applejack looked at the two fillies in tears. Truth be told, she was fighting the urge to break down in tears herself. She could see it in both filly's eyes. They honest to Luna didn't want this to end but both knew they had no choice. Even though she swore to Henry and Maryapple she wouldn't let them do anything, she didn't utter a single word to stop them as Applebloom leaned in and locked lips with Babs for a short time before sitting back down in her seat.

“Ah... Ah'll leave ya two alone for real this time.” Applejack said finally as she turned around and left the hospital room. “This... This just ain't right.” Applejack remarked softly to herself as she walked down the hall and two the waiting room.

Maryapple's expression became riddled with worry upon seeing Applejack's face. Unknown to the mare, tears were streaking down her cheeks. “What happened? Is Babs alright?” she asked in a slightly panicked tone.

“She's fine... in a matter of speakin.” Applejack replied as she sat down in one of the waiting room chairs.

“What's that supposed to mean? And where is your sister of yours? Don't tell me you left those two alone!” Henry snapped, his voice and expression becoming livid as he spoke.

“Stuff an apple in it Henry! They're breakin it off!” Applejack snapped back at the stallion.

“You don't sound so happy about it.” Henry remarked with a glare at the mare.

"Seein those two, like that, in tears… It's putting a damper on my cheerin…" Applejack replied sourly.

“They'll get over it.” Henry replied nonchalantly as he began to walk towards the hallway.

“For pony's sake, give em' some real time alone! It's not like they're gonna be buckin in the hospital room!” Applejack shouted abruptly which caused Henry to halt in his tracks, turn, and glare at Applejack.

“Henry, I don't think it will hurt to let the two have a little longer alone.” Maryapple spoke up softly.

The stallion stood in place for a few moments before sighing out loud as he sat back down...

Author's Note

Google docs importer is screwin up...had to MANUALLY bbcode everything in here...hope it looks like I originally wrote it in open office...>.<

A Race Against Time

A RACE AGAINST TIME

Minutes passed and while everypony in the waiting room seemed calm, it was more than obvious that Henry was fidgeting in his seat the entire time.

About ten minutes later however, Applebloom came trotting into the waiting room with a solemn expression on her face while missing a very defining accessory.

“Applebloom? How's Babs?” Applejack asked as warmly as she could.

“She's fine... in a matter of speakin'. Let's just go home.” Applebloom replied her voice sounding hollow and saddened as she spoke.

“Go home? But Babs is in the hospital! How can ya be wantin to go home at a time like this?” Applejack asked with a concerned expression now.

“Ya heard em' they said she only needed a few days to recover. She'll be fine. Sides, Granny Smith is probably worried bout' us.” Applebloom replied as she walked past her older sister towards the door.

“Um, Applebloom, where's your ribbon?” Scootaloo asked curiously as he looked at the filly. Everypony had noticed this no sooner she walked into the waiting room though Scootaloo was the first to ask.

“Ah gave it to Babs. That ain't a problem is it?” Applebloom replied flashing a slight glare at Henry who knew she was talking directly to him with this answer even though Scootaloo was the one who had asked the question.

“N-No. It's fine.” Henry replied finally after a brief moment's silence though stood up and walked up to the filly. “L-Listen. I know it must have been hard on you to break it off with my daughter but you'll be able to see her at the next reunion, how's that sound?” he said giving the best warm smile he could muster.

Applebloom looked at the stallion for a moment before she turned her back to him. “Don't bother.” She said simply as she pushed the door to the hospital open and looked at her older sister. “Are we goin or what?” She asked impatiently.

“I-If you're sure surgarcube.” Applejack replied as she stood up from the chair. “Come on y'all, lets head back to Ponyville.” Applejack said at which point Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Silverspoon began to follow the farm pony to the door.

Though Applejack didn't want to leave her cousin in the hospital, she knew Applebloom was right in saying that Granny Smith was probably worried sick about them. That and due to what she had seen earlier, she knew Applebloom couldn't bare to be here much longer because she was being forced to leave Babs and she sympathized with the filly due to this fact.

“Applejack...” Henry started which caused the farm pony to stop and turn to look at him. “Please understand, I'm only doing what I think is best for my daughter. I'm not heartless you know.” he said sympathetically.

Applejack's expression became a mixture of disapproving and sadness as she looked at Henry. “This ain't right and you know it Henry but Ah'm not bout' to argue this any farther. If ya do show up at our next reunion, Ah think it might be best if ya left Babs in Manehattan with somepony to look after her. For both their sakes.” Applejack replied before she left the hospital.

Henry stood stationary for a moment seemingly frozen in place for a short time until he abruptly and without warning cried out in anger as he bucked one of the waiting room chairs a crossed the room.

“Henry! What in Luna's name-”

“Don't say anything Marry! Just- Just don't...” Henry replied his voice shaking as he walked out of the waiting room, down the hall, and to his daughter's hospital room. He then sat down in one of the chairs and looked at his daughter's puffy red eyes as she slept soundly with Applebloom's ribbon firmly grasped in one hoof...

Applejack, Applebloom, Scootaloo, Silverspoon and Sweetie Belle sat silently for a time as they rode the train back to Ponyville.

“Applebloom, I just want to thank you for helping me see Diamond Tiara again. It really meant a lot me.” Silverspoon said softly as she placed a hoof on the farm filly's shoulder.

“No problem.” Applebloom replied though her voice sounded hollow as she looked out the train-car's window towards Fillydephia as it slowly shrunk from sight.

“Is there anything we can do for her? She looks really upset.” Sweetie Belle whispered to Applejack whom looked at Applebloom, sighed, and then looked at Sweetie Belle.

“Ah think it would be best if we just gave her some space for now, surgarcube. It takes time for a broken heart to heal.” Applejack replied in a whisper.

A TRAIN RIDE LATER...

“Applebloom! Hey Big Macintosh, they're back!” Granny Smith shouted joyfully as she saw the two walking towards the house and rushed out to greet them only for her joy to turn to worry about seeing her granddaughter's facial expressions.

“What happened?” Granny Smith asked curiously as Applebloom trotted past her into the house without so much as a hello.

“It's a long story Granny... come inside, Ah'll explain it the best Ah can.” Applejack replied as she walked past the elder mare and inside.

“That poor thing... Why Ah outta hitch a train up thar and give that Henry a piece of mah mind!” Granny Smith said as she waved a threatening hoof in no particular direction.

“It won't do any good Granny. Sides, he might be right. After all, was there any real chance of the two makin it to begin with?” Applejack replied as she took a drink of apple juice.

“Of course thar was! Don't be underestimatin' the power of love youngin'!” Granny Smith countered with a glare.

“Ah wish Ah had your optimistic attitude Granny but even if that was true, there's no way it's happenin' now.” Applejack replied as the rose into the skies. “Wow, its mornin already? Hope ya don't mind Granny but Ah'm gonna get some rest.” Applejack remarked with a yawn and walked upstairs.

As she passed Applebloom's room, she stopped, and looked at her little sister for a moment. The filly was holding a picture taken of her and Babs a few months ago firmly in one hoof as she slept soundly...

ONE DAY LATER...

Henry awoke with a start and looked at his daughter. The ribbon she held had slipped an inch from her grasp as she slept for some reason. As he went to replace the ribbon firmly in his daughter's grasp however, he noticed something was very wrong with Babs which caused him to stop and look at her. She had become pale overnight and looked as if she was in some kind of pain judging by the expression on her face.

“Doctor!” The stallion shouted suddenly as he rushed out to get the nearest medical pony he could find....

Applejack walked past Applebloom's room and stopped to notice the filly had not gotten up yet. “Applebloom, time to wake up surgarcube, ya got school in a few hours. Ah gave ya all day yesterday as a respect to ya but yer schoolin' is important too ya know.” Applejack said with a smile as she walked into the bedroom only for said smile to break into worry as she got a clear look at her little sister.

Applebloom looked as if she was in some kind of pain and the fur color had drained from her face.

“Granny! Somethin's wrong with Applebloom!” Applejack shouted as she rushed out of the farm filly's bedroom without taking notice that the photograph that Applebloom had held firmly in her hoof the day before had slipped from her grasp by a few meters...

Henry and Marry paced back and forth in the hospital room as the doctor looked over Babs. He checked her blood-pressure, took her temperature, yet his expression seemed to become more worrisome with each type of examination he performed on the city filly. Finally he turned to face Babs' parents.

“What's wrong with her?” Marry asked worriedly.

“I... I don't know. Her vitals check out fine considering she had only suffered moderate blood-loss.” He stuttered at the two.

“Horseapples she's fine! Look at her!” Henry roared pointing a shaking hoof at his daughter.

“I know she isn't fine Mr. Seed! Her life was far from in any kind of danger less than a day ago and my diagnostics all point to saying she's in a prime state of health but for some reason her condition seems to have gotten worse. It's as if her body's simply given up but that makes no sense. This is baffling indeed.” The doctor replied and sighed.

Henry stared at his daughter for a little while longer, taking note of the ribbon she held seemed to be very slowly slipping from her grasp. If he hadn't been looking at her for as long as he had while the doctor continued to talk with Mary, he wouldn't have noticed it before. “It can't be...” he said aloud in a stunned tone.

“Mr. Seed?” The doctor asked curiously.

“It's impossible...” he said aloud as he continued to stare at the ribbon seemingly ignoring the doctor's question.

“What's impossible Mr. Seed?” The doctor asked only to receive no reply at which point he rubbed the side of his head and sighed. “Listen, we'll do our very best to find out what is wrong with your daughter. Until then, please try to remain calm.” The doctor replied turned around, took note of the fact that the ribbon was hanging of the side of the bed, and reached out to put it back when Henry's hoof slapped it away abrubtly. “Mr. Seed! What in equestria-?”

“Don't... touch... the... ribbon!” Henry said his voice sounding breathless as he spoke.

“Mr. Seed? Are sure you're feeling alright?” The doctor asked curiously only for Henry to abruptly leave the hospital room to which Mary ran out into the hallway after her husband.

“Henry, what is going on?!” Marry asked in a slightly panicked tone.

No reply.

“Answer me consarn it!” Marry shrieked, her country accent slipping through once again at which point henry halted in his tracks, turned to face her, walked up to her and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

“Listen to me, whatever they do, don't let them touch that ribbon!” Henry replied, turned around, and began to walk away again.

“But why and where are you going?” Marry asked looking worried and confused.

“To Ponyville.” Henry replied and without another word disappeared from sight.

A FEW HOURS LATER...

“I'm sorry Applejack, I don't know what's wrong with her. Everything checks out just fine.” Nurse Redheart remarked with a worried expression as she looked at Granny Smith, Applejack, and Big Macintosh.

“Ya can't be serious... look at her for pony's sake! Somethin' clearly is wrong with her!” Applejack exclaimed pointing a hoof at Applebloom.

“I know this and believe me when I say I'm going to find out what. I just need time.” Nurse Redheart replied and left the bedroom.

“Time is somethin that's not on our side.” Granny Smith remarked and sighed.

A sudden sound of a door being bucked off its hinges however caused all three ponies to rush down stairs to see Henry in their living room. “What in tarnation?!” Applejack exclaimed only for Henry to run up to Applejack and lift up by the scruff of her chest fur.

“Where is she?!” He seethed as he looked around.

“What in tarnation are ya goin' on about? And what the hay are doin' here for?! Shouldn't ya be with Babs?” Applejack asked as Henry seemingly ignored her and walked upstairs to which all three ponies followed him.

“Hey wait a minute thar! Applebloom's not feelin well!” Granny Smith exclaimed as they chased the stallion to Applebloom's room where he stood staring at her.

“What the... both of them?!” Henry exclaimed in shock and disbelief.

“Would ya kindly explain why ya bucked our door off its hinges and galloped to mah little sister's- Wait a second, what do ya mean, both of em'?” Applejack began to say only to cut herself off once the stallion's words caught up with her brain and ask her second question.

“Babs is in the same condition as she is.” Henry replied as he fell to his rump.

It was at this point Big Macintosh noticed the photograph Applebloom held was slipping from her grasp and went to move it back.

“Don't touch it!” Henry shouted suddenly which caused Big Macintosh to halt his hoof a mere inch away from the photograph and stare at Henry in confusion.

“Henry, do ya know what's wrong with Applebloom?” Granny Smith asked curiously as she walked up to the stallion and placed a hoof on his shoulder.

“I... I think so but I'm not sure. I saw this happen once before when I was but a foal. My father left my mother and then she ended up just like this holding the pocket-watch my father had given her for their last anniversary by the chain. Each day it would slip from her grasp by an inch and with every inch that slipped from her grasp, her condition would get worse and worse until...” Henry replied trailing off.

“Until what?” Applejack asked looking more confused than ever.
“Until it slipped completely from her grasp and then... she died.” He finished finally and sighed.

Upon hearing this Granny Smith gave a stiffed gasp as she placed a hoof on her mouth while Big Macintosh blinked twice at Henry in disbelief.

“I know it sounds crazy but...” Henry replied trailing off.

“It does sound crazy but at this particular moment, Ah'm inclined to believe ya. The doctor's can't find anythin' wrong with Applebloom and ya said that Babs in the same condition as her so it's more than just mere coincidence here.” Applejack replied, turned about face, and began to walk down the hallway towards the stairs only to find Henry following her.

“Where are you going?” He asked as he walked behind her.

“To Twilight's, she's a close friend of mine and if there's anypony in Equestria who's well read on the freaky weird stuff goin on here, it's her.” Applejack replied.

Books could be seen being tossed over Henry and Applejack's heads over and over as the lavender unicorn hunted through her bookshelves. “I know I read something about this a few weeks ago, oh come, please be here!” Twilight pleaded as she continued to toss books behind herself and over the two pony's heads until the stream of books came to an abrupt halt.

Twilight could be seen levitating a large blue book entitled “Unnatural Creatures And Ailments. Know The Secrets Of Equestria!” placed it on her reading desk, and flipped through the pages.

“Lets see here... Ah-Ha! Here it is! The Heartbroken Slumber. A rare condition that occurs when a pony is forced to part with their soul-mate with the knowledge they shall never return to them. This condition is often overlooked but a key symptom of this condition is that the mare or stallion suffering from this condition will be holding an item of great significance to them that they had received from their soul-mate at any point in their time with them. The item in question can be anything as long as it was given to them by their soul-mate. The item the mare or stallion holds will slowly slip from their grasp as she or he sleeps and acts as a countdown timer to their death...” Twilight finished reading aloud and looked at Henry and Applejack with a worried expression.

“Th-That's ridiculous! There's no way that Applebloom could be my daughter's soul-mate! Their cousins for pony's sake!” Henry exclaimed incredulously.

“A pony's soul-mate can be anypony Mr. Seed. It's been debated by philologist mares and stallions since the discovery was made over one thousand years ago but one thing is confirmed for sure, It doesn't matter if they know each other, are related, or even the same gender, everypony has one from the day they are born but few ever meet their soul-mate.” Twilight replied calmly.

“S-So what's the cure?!” Henry flustered as he stared at the lavender unicorn.

Twilight then turned to read from the book again and then turned to look at the two. “There isn't one...”

This response was met with horrified expressions from Applejack and Henry.

“Come on Twi, there's gotta be somethin' we can do!” Applejack replied, her expression becoming pale as she spoke.

“Well, the book does state that one mare managed to recover from the condition but they don't know how. The only clue they have is that the stallion returned to the mare's side and that mare said she could hear him calling out to her until she awoke.” Twilight replied and closed the book.

“So all we need to do is have Applebloom go back to Babs then!” Applejack exclaimed with a big smile.

“There's just one problem with that.” Henry started as he looked at Applejack. “Applebloom's suffering from the same condition.” he finished.

“Then its hopeless, Babs and Applebloom are gonna...” Applejack began to say only to trail off as if she couldn't bring herself to say the words.

“Not yet it's not! It's a shot in the dark but maybe if we bring Applebloom back to Fillydephia and lay her next to Babs, maybe the two will cure each other.” Twilight replied as she put the book she was just reading into a saddle-pack, placed the saddle-pack on her back, and began to trot towards her library door.

“Are you sure this will work?” Henry asked as he and Applejack followed Twilight a crossed town to Apple Acres.

“No, but it's better than doing nothing isn't it?” Twilight replied as she looked behind herself at the stallion who did not reply to this...

Author's Note

While I'm confident in my plot direction, I've got this nagging feeling I'm doing something a little cliche, maybe it's just me.

A race aginst time: part 2

A RACE AGAINST TIME

PART 2

Granny Smith looked at Twilight with a worried look as the lavender unicorn looked over Applebloom. “Yep, she's suffering from The Heartbroken Slumber alright.” She remarked, channeled magic into her horn and levitated Applebloom's entire bed.

“Careful Twi! If that Photograph falls out...” Applejack said tensely only to trail off.

“I wouldn't worry about that Applejack, her condition is magical in nature, as long as no pony touches the item directly, the time limit won't be affected.” Twilight replied confidently.

“Okay, so how do you plan on getting her to Fillydephia? Trains don't have large enough doors to fit her in the passenger cars.” Henry stated simply as Twilight carried the bed down the stairs carefully with her magic.

“I'm working on that. Twilight replied as the three continued their way towards the train station now walking through town, though they made sure not to follow the public sections of Ponyville as to not cause a panic.

It just so happened that Silverspoon was outside with Filthy Rich at the time. The stallion had said he was keeping an eye on her at all times and he meant it. This meant the filly was forced to go EVERYWHERE with him. The filly was first to notice the bed surrounded in Twilight's magic then Applebloom herself. The filly immediately ran over to the three much to Filthy Rich's annoyance.

“Why is Applebloom being carried in bed? What's wrong with her?” Silverspoon asked at which point Twilight and Applejack stopped to look at the filly.

“We're wasting time! The longer we take to get back to Fillydephia, the less time we have to save them both!” Henry exclaimed which more or less told the filly all she needed to know.

Applebloom was sick, possibly dying.

“Henry's right, we need to get to the train station as quickly as possible, Twilight. Sorry Silverspoon, we'll tell ya later.” Applejack replied and motioned for Twilight to get a move on leaving Silverspoon standing in place with a worried expression on her face.

“Silverspoon! Get your flank back over here!” Filthy Rich's voice roared at which point the filly walked back to her uncle and sat silently for a moment before she finally mustered the courage to speak up.

“I want to go with them.” Silverspoon said simply to which Filthy Rich scoffed in response to this.

“I hardly see why it's any of your concern. You've already ran off once, it's not happening again.” Filthy Rich replied and went back to counting his profits.

“It's my concern because she's my friend!” Silverspoon roared at the stallion which caused him to nearly drop the bag of bits he was holding onto at the moment and look at her.

“Pfft, your friend? What use are friends when you can have anything you want with money?” The stallion replied nonchalantly.

Silverspoon's expression became livid as she stared at her uncle, the sound of a tea kettle pot seemingly blowing its whistle as her face scrunched up as much as it could until she could hold it in no longer. “Buck you're money! Buck you! I'm going to see what's wrong with Applebloom and you're not going to stop me!” Silverspoon shrieked at the top of her lungs at the stallion much to his shock, turned about-face, and broke into full gallop towards the train station.

“I understand what you're saying Ms. Sparkle but a full bed won't fit through the door.” The train conductor replied and sighed.

Twilight set Applebloom's bed down and took her usual thinking pose as she often did when she tried to figure out solutions to most of her problems. “I got it! Stand back everypony!” Twilight exclaimed, channeled magic into her horn, and cast a spell at the door to the train-car at which point it began to magically change in size until it was large enough to fit a refrigerator inside both vertically and horizontally.

Twilight had just lifted up the bed once again with her magic when Silverspoon could be seen running into view huffing and puffing since she had ran the entire way. “Silverspoon? Why are you-?”

“Something is really wrong with Applebloom isn't it?” She asked cutting off the lavender unicorn before she could finish her question.

“Go ahead and get her inside Twi, Ah'll explain what's goin on.” Applejack said at which point Twilight carried Applebloom's bed into the train-car.

“She's sufferin from somethin call The Heartbroken Slumber, sugarcube. Without takin' too much time to explain the details, we're takin' Applebloom back to Babs whose sufferin' from the same thing in hopes it will cure both of em'.” Applejack explained, turned around, and was walking into the train car when she saw Silverspoon run past her and sit in a seat near Applebloom's bed. “What are ya doin?”

“I'm coming with, what does it look like I'm doing?” Silverspoon replied in a snooty tone.

“But what about Filthy Rich?” Applejack asked as she sat down next to the filly.

“Buck him, he's a heartless mule and I want nothing more to do with him. Hopefully I can convince Diamond Tiara's mom to let me move with them.” Silverspoon replied not looking away from Applebloom.

“Well, Ah can't argue that but Filthy Rich is still your parental guardian. If Ah let ya come with, Ah could get accused of foalnappin ya.” Applejack replied as calmly as possible.

“So say I sneaked on board and you didn't see me on here till after the train took off. Simple as that.” Silverspoon replied as if the idea itself was obvious.

Applejack simply replied to this statement with a grin and a light chuckle. “You've got more in common with mah little sister's friends than ya realize.” she remarked and chuckled once again. “Fine, ya sneaked on board.” she finished at which point the train whistle blew loudly and began to take off from the train station.

“Hey, stop that train!” Filthy Rich exclaimed as he ran into the train station as the train began to leave the train station.

“But they have a filly on board whose not in the best condition. She needs to get to Fillydephia's hospital quickly.” A pony who worked at the train station replied as Filthy Rich stood in front of him.

“I don't give a flying buck if somepony was on their deathbed! I refuse to allow my niece to run off and be with....” Filthy Rich began to say only to train off realizing he was about to spout off information he didn't want known publicly.

“I'm sorry Mr. Rich but I wouldn't be able to contact the conductor in time, besides, you can take the next train up to Fillydephia in the next six hours.” The staff pony replied simply.

The snobbish stallion could only stand in place and stew in his own rage as the train quickly left sight and made it's way towards Fillydephia.

It took a little explanation and convincing on Twilight's part but the hospital ponies eventually gave in and allowed Twilight to proceed with her plan. After all, nothing they had done so far could tell them anything was wrong with either filly and this unicorn seemed to know exactly what was wrong with both of them.

“We need to lay her right next to Babs so that their hooves that are not holding the items are touching.” The lavender unicorn instructed as medical ponies carefully moved Babs to a larger bed and then Twilight laid Applebloom down, used her magic to move their hooves so that they were touching and looked at the two silently.

“So now what?” Applejack asked hoping the unicorn would tell them what to do next.

“Now... we sit and pray that my theory works. It's all we can do.” Twilight replied softly and sighed.

A day passed by and no sign of improvement could be visibly seen by either filly. “I need to get Diamond Tiara.” Silverspoon finally spoke up during the afternoon of the second day.

“Hold on a second thar surgarcube, why would ya need to do that?” Applejack asked curiously.

“It was because of those two that me and Diamond Tiara were able see each other again. I think Tiara has the right to be here as much as I do.” The filly replied and sighed.

“Fine, but Ah'm comin with. No pony should be travelin this town alone.” Applejack replied finally and followed the filly out of the hospital.

“Ya sure this is it surgarcube?” Applejack asked curiously as the two stood in front of a small house.

“Yeah, I would never forget this place.” Silverspoon replied as she walked up to the front door and knocked.

A few moments later the door swung open revealing Diamond Tiara's mother. “Silverspoon? What in Equestria?” She asked with a confused look.

“I'm sorry to come here unannounced Ms. Tiara but this is important. A close friend of and Diamond Tiara's is very sick and we don't know if she'll make it.” Silverspoon replied in a formal tone.

“Silverspoon?” Diamond Tiara's voice could be heard asking from a short distance away from her mother and soon the tiara-wearing filly could be seen stepping up beside her mother with a look of confusion on her face.

“Something is really wrong with Applebloom and Babs, Tiara. They... They might not make it.” Silverspoon replied her voice becoming saddened as she spoke now.

Upon hearing this Diamond Tiara's expression became one of worry as she looked up to her mother now for her approving nod.

“Okay but I'm coming with.” Diamond Tiara's mother finally replied much to the delight of both fillies.

MEANWHILE BACK AT THE HOSPITAL...

Henry paced around in the waiting room unable to take looking at his daughter in the state she was any longer and felt he needed to be away to clear his head.

“Excuse me, is Applebloom here? I heard she was transported here. I'm her agent.” A posh voice said aloud to the receptionist.

“Yes but visitation is for family only. We're sorry.” The receptionist replied in a calm manner.

“B-But I'm her agent, Showtime! Surely there must be some sort of exception to the rule?” Showtime pleaded however the receptionist simply shook her head once again.

“I'm sorry, no exceptions.” She replied and walked away from the desk much to Showtime's annoyance.

Upon hearing this conversation, Henry walked up to the stallion. “Excuse me, you said you were Applebloom's agent?” Henry asked curiously.

“Why yes, I am. Who are you?” Showtime asked with a curious expression.

“There's something you should know...” Henry replied and explained the situation in full to the agent whom looked horror-stricken or so Henry thought.

“I see... I've heard of this condition. There is another cure.” Showtime lied as he feigned the best sympathetic look he could give.

“You have and there is?!” Henry asked feeling hope return to his previously seemingly hopeless situation.

“Yes. If you were remove the item in question from either filly's hoof, the other one would be cured instantly. Of course that means that the other one dies but...” Showtime replied trailing off as a sneer threatened to slip through his feigned sympathetic expression.

“I-I see...” Henry stuttered.

“Of course no one wants to be responsible for the death of an innocent filly! Though if I were in your hooves, I would be greatly tempted to save my daughter's life.” Showtime continued and turned away from the stallion to hide the fact that he was grinning from ear to ear about now. “Anyways, Ta-ta! I will be back within a day or so to check up on my star's condition.” He said and walked away leaving Henry alone as he left the hospital.

Heh! No pony crosses Showtime and gets away with it!

“Showtime? What the buck are you doing here for? Applebloom quit.” Silverspoon remarked as they walked past the stallion.

“Regardless of that young filly, I heard of her condition and thought I would check on her. I'm not heartless you know.” He replied and proceeded to walk past the three without another word.

SOMEWHERE ELSE....

Applebloom....

The farm filly stirred.

Applebloom....

“Wha-What?” Applebloom replied wearily as her eyes weakly fluttered open and looked at her surroudings.

“Applebloom...” The mysterious voice said again though the filly knew who this voice belonged to.

“Princess Luna?” Applebloom asked as she stood to all fours with a slight stumble at which point the Alicorn princess herself faded into existence before her as she walked up to the farm filly.

“Hello Applebloom.” Luna greeted though her voice sounded saddened as she spoke.

“Am Ah dreamin again?” Applebloom asked curiously as she looked about herself. The world she stood in seemed to be in fragments. Pieces of her bed seemed to be floating to one side of her a few feet up while parts of her home floated a small distance away in front of her.

“Yes and no...” The regal sister replied as if she couldn't give a proper answer.

“What do ya mean yes and no? Ah must be dreamin if you're here!” Applebloom replied agitatedly.

Luna hesitated to reply this time as if debating if she should tell her exactly what was going on or not. “You and Babs suffer from a rare magical condition known as The Heartbroken Slumber. It occurs when somepony is separated from their soul-mate with the knowledge they will never return to them. Look over there.” Luna replied as she pointed a hoof behind the filly at which point Applebloom turned and saw a single photograph floating but that wasn't what caused the filly to stare at it so intently.

“What's wrong with it? That's the same photograph Ah was holdin fore' Ah went to sleep but it looks like it's slowly begin smeared away.” Applebloom replied then turned to look at the moon princess with a worried look on her face now.

“What's really happenin' to me Luna?” She asked.

The regal sister hesitated once again. “You're.... dying...” Luna relied slowly.

“Ah'm what?!” The farm filly nearly shrieked as her expression became panicked. “Oh mah gosh, Oh mah gosh, oh mah gosh!” she shouted as she began to literally stomp her hooves rapidly in place as she looked about herself in a frantic manner.

“Calm yourself Applebloom! I did not come here to simply tell you that you were going to die!” Luna roared which managed to startle the filly enough for her to look at the moon princess.

“Then why are ya here?” Applebloom asked her voice shaking as she spoke.

“To help you.” Luna replied simply and paused briefly to look to her left as her horn glowed revealing a doorway with a blinding white light emitting from it. “To save your and Babs' lives, you must face three challenges. Your enemy, your worst fear, and finally, yourself.” she said calmly as she pointed a hoof in the direction.

Applebloom then began to timidly walk towards the door of light only to halt when she realized that Luna was not following her. “You're comin with, aren't ya?” She asked timidly.

Luna simply shook her head. “No, these challenges you must face alone. Good luck my little pony.” Luna replied and faded from existence.

Applebloom gave one last look behind herself before she timidly stepped through the door of light. The farm filly was forced to shield her eyes as she stepped through but once the light had faded, she found herself standing in a familiar setting.

“Come, come! You're on in five minutes!” A gruff voice exclaimed from behind her and began to shove the filly onto the stage.

Before Applebloom could utter a word the curtain rose to reveal a stadium full of ponies cheering her on and chanting her name. “Oh mah. Ah didn't expect this many.” She remarked with a smirk seemingly completely forgetting what she was doing moments before, picked up the mic, and was just about to sing the opening lines to her hit song which something occurred to her.

How did she get here? What was she doing moments before?

Applebloom looked about herself at the stadium full of chanting fans then back to the stage hand pony who was silently motioning for her to begin singing her song. “Somethin ain't right here.” she thought to herself as she did her best to remember what she was doing before.

“Wh-What are you doing?! Sing!” The stage hand pony exclaimed in a whisper after a few minutes had passed.

By this time the chanting had stopped and was replaced with murmuring among the ponies in the stadium. “Ah... Ah'm sorry everypony but Ah can't do this. This ain't who Ah am.” She said finally into the microphone at which point the crowd began to boo in unison at her.

As the filly left the stage, the stage hand pony halted her in her tracks with a glare. “What do you think you're doing?!” he roared at her.

“Somethin Ah should have done a long time ago! Ah quit!” she shouted straight into the stage hand pony's face, shoved him away and walked away.

It was at this moment another doorway with a blinding white light appeared just to the side of her in the wall and the filly suddenly remember everything the moon princess had told her before. Without another thought, she rushed through the door, slamming her eyes shut as she did so.

Henry sat in the hospital room with Applejack, Silverspoon, Diamond Tiara, Marry, Twilight, and Diamond Tiara's mother. “They aren't getting any better and it's been two days...” Henry remarked as he looked at the two. The ribbon Babs held in her hoof had slipped two inches and the photograph Applebloom held had slipped by a an inch from their respective grasps.

“I know but there isn't anything we can do. There's no other known cure to this condition.” Twilight replied and sighed heavily.

Henry stared at his daughter taking note of the fact that her hoof was holding onto the ribbon by no more than three inches now. By his estimates, she had only three days left to live while Applebloom seemed to have at least one more day than her...

Author's Note

Working on part three RIGHT NOW!

Talents long forgotten

TALENTS LONG FORGOTTEN

Babs continued to hold her lover tightly, the tears of sorrow were now joy that flowed from her eyes. “Ah heard ya callin to me Babs... You saved mah life.” Applebloom replied weakly as she hugged her lover back.

“You should have gone through the door first not me.” Babs remarked between joyful sobs as her tears soaked the farm filly's mane and shoulders but she didn't care.

“But then ya would have died. Ah couldn't live with mahself if Ah let that happen.” Applebloom replied as her voice regained it former strength along with her body.

“Better me than you. Besides, if you had gone through first, my dad wouldn't have removed the photograph from your hoof.” Babs replied as she continued to hug her.

It was at this point that Henry, Diamond Tiara, Silverspoon, The reporter pony, and Applejack came rushing back to the room having heard Babs cry out her name. The five stared in shock and awe for sometime before Henry slowly walked up to Babs and Applebloom and lowered his head to the both. “What I did was unforgivable but... Can you ever forgive me? I was a desperate father trying to protect his only daughter.” Henry said his voice cracking as he spoke.

“Why should we? If it wasn't for you, Applebloom wouldn't have nearly died!” Babs exclaimed at her father, the hatred still thick in her voice.

Applebloom however gently placed a hoof on Henry's head much to Babs' shock with a soft smile on her face. “Ah don't blame ya in the least bit. Ya was just tryin to protect yer daughter and Ah can respect that. Ah think Applejack might have done the same thing if she were in yer hooves.” She said at which point Henry's tear-filled shocked face could be seen slowly looking up at the farm filly.

“Well there goes a selling point to my news article.” The reporter point remarked dismally much to the annoyance of everypony in the room whom glared daggers at him at which point he cleared his throat nervously. “I-I mean, is there anything you wish to add Ms. Applebloom?” he added quickly.

“A reporter pony? Just how long Ah out?” Applebloom asked incredulously.

“It's a long story but let me cover the details.” Diamond Tiara replied with a smirk.

“So it was Showtime's doin all along? Everythin'?” Applebloom asked with a shocked expression upon hearing the whole story from the pink filly.

“You betcha! Includin the part with Babs almost sleepin with Swift, turns out, a filly named Blues hoodwinked her into wantin to buck Swift but she apparently felt guilty for it half-way through and put her to sleep fore' she could do anythin.” Applejack added.

“Ya hear that Babs, it wasn't your fault after all!” Applebloom said happily as she looked at her lover only for Babs to frown. “Babs?” She asked the enthusiasm in her voice turning to worry as she looked at her.

“If there's anythin dat those tests we went through taught me, it's dat lyin will end up destoryin our relationship.” Babs replied and sighed before continuing. “She may have given me the desire to buck Swift but I could have still made the choice to not to. I didn't.” she finished and sighed.

“That must have taken a lot of courage to say surgarcube.” Applejack remarked with an less than proud expression but proud expression none-the-less.

“I understand if you still want to leave me because of this.” Babs added a few moments after Applejack's remark as she looked away from Applebloom.

Applebloom however gently turned Babs' head to face her and kissed her passionately on the lips for a time before she broke the kiss and smiled at her. “Ah appreciate ya bein honest with me Babs and Ah think that deserves a second chance. Like Ah said in our dreamworld, we've got a lot of issues to work out but we'll work through em' together...” Applebloom said though she seemed to trail off as she looked at Henry. “That is, if yer okay with this.” Applebloom added a few moments later.

“Of course I'm not...” Henry began to say only to trail off as he looked over at Applejack. “But I suppose I'll have to put up with it.” He added as he grinned at Applejack whom fully knew what he was referring to before turning back to look at the two with a less than enthused expression. “Speaking as I gave away our home and summer-home to this reporter pony, it's not as if I could keep you two apart if tried.” Henry finished allowing a smile to creep on his face.

“Wait, what are ya sayin daddy?” Babs asked in a stunned tone.

“I'm saying, you're going to be living with your cousin Applejack and their family until me and your mother find a more stable fashion of living. That is...” Henry replied as he looked over at the farm mare once again. “If they don't mind.” he added.

“Well shucks partner, ya don't even need to really ask ya know?” Applejack replied with a smirk.

“Silverspoon!” A voice rang out which could be non-other than Filthy Riches voice at which point the happy atmosphere was nearly destroyed completely.

Upon hearing her father's voice, the pink filly sighed. “So much for this happy reunion.” Diamond Tiara remarked morbidly and began to trudge her hooves along the floor followed by Silverspoon in an equal fashion.

It was then that an idea occurred to the farm filly. “Hold up a second thar you two!” Applebloom shouted at which point the two looked at her curiously. “Silverspoon, ya said that Diamond Tiara has one heck of a singin voice right?” She asked curiously.

“So? What's that got to do with anything.” Diamond Tiara asked with an unsure expression.

Applebloom then turned to look at the reporter pony.” Ya asked me if Ah wanted to make any additions right? What about changes?” she asked with a mischievous grin.

A FEW “CHANGES” LATER...

“I don't know about this Applebloom. I know I can sing but I seriously doubt I'm star material. Besides,do you really think ponies will believe this much less get the music company Showtime was working for to hire me?” Diamond Tiara asked with an unsure expression as she looked over the report papers.

“Are ya kiddin me? Ah told a press pony that the secret to mah singin voice was the ribbon on mah head and they ate it right up! Of course they'll believe this!” Applebloom replied enthusiastically.

The reporter pony looked at the report with a skeptical expression him but shrugged. “Teh, I don't care. I'm gonna be livin it up for the next year and a half with this nice paycheck!” he remarked as he hovered the bag of bits with both deeds in it and proceeded to leave the hospital room.

A SHORT MONTH LATER...

NEWS FLASH! THE SHOWTIME SCANDAL!!!

According to an anonymous source, Showtime had violated several foal protection work laws and even went as far as to drive a wedge between her and her lover, Silverspoon! In a shocking yet turn of events, Applebloom quit but her agent Showtime wanted revenge! Soon after the poor star succumbed to a magical illness known as The Heartbroken Slumber, the stallion, sneaked into her hospital and attempted to murder the filly

With the aid of her lover Silverspoon, the filly recovered despite the overwhelming odds against her! Despite her miraculous recovery, it didn't come without its side-effects. The filly's fur color turned a light pink color as well as causing great change to the sound of her voice but she retained her singing talent and more shockingly, earned her cutiemark! A tiara on her flank which nobly represents her title as princess of singing sensations!

The filly also revealed her exclusive with the anonymous source that “Applebloom” was simply a stage name and from here on out, she would be going by her real name which is Diamond Tiara!

Our sources now tell us that Showtime is in jail pending farther investigation and is no longer working for the music company that he was employed with.

The music company also publicly announced that they had offered Diamond Tiara a real ten-thousand bit contract which the filly happily accepted in the presence of her mother who approved of the contract signing when it took place.

Diamond Tiara is scheduled for her next performance with help from her mother who asked to be her new agent.

Applebloom finished reading this news article with a satisfied smile on her face before she set it down and walked over to Diamond Tiara whom looked to be a nervous wreck.

“I-I don't know if I can do this Applebloom! So many ponies watching me sing, what if I screw up? What if I forget a line to my song? What if-” The filly began to ramble on only for Applebloom to gently put a hoof over her mouth.

“Ah was nervous mah first time on stage too but ya know what helped me get past the stage fright?” She asked to which the filly shook her head silently. “Havin mah friends and family at mah side.” Applebloom said as she pointed to Diamond Tiara's mother and Silverspoon. “Now get out thar and knock em' dead!” Applebloom exclaimed enthusiastically as she gently shoved the filly onto stage just before the curtain rose.

Diamond Tiara's debut performance was a big hit and she went on to make even more songs. Turns out that the Tiara on her flank actually was her special talent which was singin! It only took a single performance for her to remember what her special talent was. Thanks to her success, Diamond Tiara's mama was able to hire the best darn lawyer in Equestria and got full custody of Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon. They now live in the new house her mama bought...

“Okay you two, time for bed!” Diamond Tiara's mother said in a stern motherly tone as she opened the door to see the two under the covers already.

“We already are mom!” Diamond Tiara exclaimed with an annoyed expression.

Diamond Tiara's mother stared at the two intently for a moment before sighing. “Try to keep the noise to a minimum you two. I have work in the morning.” Diamond Tiara's mother remarked and began to close the door.

“We will!” Silverspoon called back as the door closed only to give a startled hushed yelp. “Be careful with that thing Tiara! It's still inside me!” She hissed.

“I know...” Diamond Tiara replied with a devious grin smirk.

Soft moans and giggling could be heard from the bedroom as Diamond Tiara's mother rubbed her temple just down the hall. “Not enough therapy in all of Equestria is going to help me get through this till they're old enough to move out...” She remarked dismally as she picked up a pair of ear-plugs she had received a few months before along with a small note that read:

Congrats on getting custody of Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon! Take these as a token of my esteem.

I get the feeling you'll be using them a lot.

The trademark signature of the apple family could be seen under this.

While Diamond Tiara's momma ain't happy about her daughter and Silverspoon sleepin with one another, once she had learned the truth from Applejack, she figured the two deserved to be with one another. Turns out they were cousins twice removed. So Ah guess she's only havin a problem with her daughter bein lesbian rather than the relation. Funny world we live in ain't it?

Speakin of Filthy Rich, that varmint got what was comin to him once Diamond Tiara went public about how he had neglected her and what he did to her and Silverspoon once he found out they were datin. She of course omitted the fact they were cousins but well anyways,Filthy Rich nows works as a full-time employee for Applejack since his business went under thanks to the bad publicity.

“Work those hooves! Ah wanna see real applebuckin!” Applejack exclaimed as Filthy Rich gave a feeble buck to an apple tree.

“Applejack, can I have a break? I've been at this for the last five hours.” The stallion pleaded.

“Excuse me?” The farm mare asked with a stern voice and expression to match it.

“I-I mean, Ms. Apple, can I please take break?” Filthy Rich corrected himself.

“Ah suppose but in ten minutes Ah better see ya buckin apple trees again or it's comin out of ya paycheck, we clear?” She replied after a moment.

“Crystal Applejack.” Filthy Rich replied.

“Excuse me?”

“I-I mean, Crystal Ms. Apple...” The stallion once again corrected himself.

Now don't be judgin mah sister. She may work him hard but she's honest and far about it. Don't stop her from makin him work a little harder than needed from time to time though... hehe...

Swift and Dancing hooves come to visit our farm regularly since they made that deal awhile back and have become good friends with the apple family.

“Hows the club doin?” Applejack greeted the stallion as he and his son walked up to the apple's home.

“Oh it's doin just fine. Not much to tell really.” Dancing Hooves replied with a smile.

“Well ya got here just in time for some dinner, come on in!” Applejack replied with a motion for the two to follow her inside.

Speakin of Swift, that colt finally lost his virginity to Sweetie Belle of all ponies...

“Oh yeah!” Sweetie Belle cried out as she came all over Swift's cock as he plowed her harder and faster. In fact, his pace had become erratic which caused the filly to become slightly worried once she recovered from her climax. “Say uh, Swift, are ya getting close? Remember you promised to pull out before you came... Swift?” Sweetie Belle asked her voice sounding worried as the colt continued to plow her, seemingly lost in his own lust.

Sweetie Belle's face dawned a crimson red blush along with a feeling of dread as she heard the colt grunt loudly and fell something warm and sticky splash against her inner walls. “Pull out, pull out, pull out!!!” she nearly shrieked as she literally bucked him out of her which caused a stream of colt spunk to fly out and land in her nose.

“What the buck is wrong with you?! You said you would pull out!” Sweetie Belle roared at the colt whom looked pale now.

“I meant to but it felt so good and I've never been with a filly before so I don't know how to properly gauge myself.” The colt admitted with a nervous expression.

“Y-Your a virgin?!” Sweetie Belle shouted incredulously.

“Y-Yeah...” he replied.

Sweetie Belle later was found to be pregnant with Swift's foal and needless to say Rarity and Dancing Hooves weren't too pleased with the news...

“My hooves hurt...” Swift complained as he sewed several pieces of fabric.

“You should have thought of that before you knocked up my little sister, now keep on sewing.” Rarity remarked with no amount of sympathy in her voice as she continued to work on her own dresses.

It was about this time that Twilight was walking into the beautique with a concerned expression on her face. “Aren't you worried you're overworking him a little?” Twilight remarked.

“Nonsense darling! He'll be working much more once that foal of his arrives.” Rarity replied nonchalantly.

Funny thing is that those two actually ended up makin quite the couple. Frankly, Ah expected Scootaloo to be the one to get knocked up since she was the one who often made perverted jokes around us. Course Ah later found out she was actually battin for “mah team” as the phrase goes when she introduced me to her fillyfriend, Twist a few months later after Sweetie Belle got knocked up. Just goes to prove that a pony's attitude don't tell ya everythin about em'...

Babs' parents ended up movin to Ponyville thanks to givin away their deeds to both their homes and Henry let Babs stay with me even after they got a stable fashion of livin as he put it.

“Howdy Henry, what brings ya over here this time of day?” Applejack asked causally as Henry walked into the house.

“Just figured I would check up on my daughter is all.” Henry replied causally as he walked past her and upstairs.

“Uh Applejack, ya do remember that today is Babs and Applebloom's third anniversary right?” Granny Smith spoke up with a worried look on her face.

“Ya point is Granny?” Applejack replied nonchalantly at first until it finally dawned her.

“Oh my gosh! Don't ya know the meanin of privacy daddy?!”

Babs' voice rang out followed shortly by Henry walked down stares with a traumatized expression on his face. “I'll never get that image out of my head...” Henry remarked slowly as he sat down next to Applejack who simply grinned at him.

“Need a lemon?” She asked with a smirk as she presented a lemon in her hoof to the stallion.

Babs' dad was later rushed to hospital for lemon acid burns to his eyes. No permanent damage thankfully but that was the last time anypony mentioned the word “lemon” in the apple household...

TEN YEARS LATER...

Four mares walked through a park in Ponyville with a colt and filly running ahead of them.

“Ah still can't believe Twilight's now an Alicorn princess. It's been nearly seven years and it's still hard to believe.” Applebloom remarked casually as the four walked past a few trees and the two foals ran ahead.

“Get your flank back here Roseapple! Dat's too far ahead!” Babs shouted at the filly whom halted her running with a guilty expression on her face.

“Sorry momma...” She replied.

“That goes double for you Silverstar Tiara!” Silverspoon pipped up which cuased the colt to halt in his tracks and stare at her.

“Mom! I said to call me Silver! Silverstar sounds fillyish...” Silverstar replied with an annoyed expression on his face.

“Course if not for her bein an Alicorn, she might not have been able to cast a spell on us to have these two.” Applebloom remarked with a warm smile as Roseapple ran up to her and hugged her.

“Nah, I bet dat should could have even if she was still a plain unicorn.” Babs said with a confident smirk. “Though I kind of wish she would have skipped the pregnancy part... throwin up in the mornin's was a nightmare...” she added with a slightly green expression.

“Oh come on, it wasn't that bad!” Applebloom jeered with a smirk.

“Yeah, it was easiest part of this whole parent thing!” Diamond Tiara chimed in.

“Maybe for you!” Silverspoon and Babs shouted with annoyed expressions to their respective fillyfriends simultaneously to which Applebloom and Babs both laughed aloud at this retort.

“Oh, by the way, I'm writing my biography in my spare time.” Diamond Tiara said with a proud smile.

“Oh yeah? What ya plan on puttin in thar?” Applebloom asked curiously as the four made a left turn in the park.

“Oh a little bit of this and that...” Diamond Tiara replied until a mischievous grin appeared on her face. Oh and a particularly juicy segment involving a blank-flank virgin who watched us do it.” she added a few moments later at which point Applebloom's expression went beat red.

“Oh come on Tiara, ya can't be seriously considerin puttin that in thar? Are ya?” Applebloom pleaded recalling the embarrassing memory.

“I guess your right. Maybe I won't put it in there...” Diamond Tiara replied then looked at Silverspoon who caught on immediately. “Maybe!” Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon exclaimed simultaneously and laughed in unison as they ran off down the path ahead of the farm pony who chased the two.

“Some things never change...” Babs remarked with a smirk as she shook her head with a humored sigh as Applebloom continued chasing the two.

“Come on Tiara! Don't put that in thar! Please don't put that in thar!” Applebloom shouted as she chased the two mares down the park path. “Consarn it! Ah thought you two quit bein bullies to us?!”

Get back here and promise me you won't put that in thar!

TIARA!!!!

THE END

Author's Note

And with this, Pen Pals 2 comes to a close! Thanks for reading this story everyone and please share it with anyone you think would be interested in this kind of fanfic!

A fail-proof plan

A FAIL-PROOF PLAN

The next day of school came and went for Applebloom. Before she knew it, the time to leave was a mere hour away. However, she had something else to do first...

“How much time do we have?”, Applebloom asked in the middle of kissing her lover passionately and running her hooves all over her body.

“Not enough”, Babs replied between kisses, running her right hoof down Applebloom's back and towards the base of her tail.

“Ya always say that”, Applebloom replied with a smirk between kisses, starting to fondle one of Babs' teats sensually and earning a moan from the city filly.

“No, really. We only have an hour before we have to leave”, Babs replied and gave yet another moan as she ran her hoof under Applebloom's tail and towards her prize.

Pssst! Hey! You two didn't fall asleep, did you?!

“Please tell me dat isn't who I think it is”, Babs remarked upon hearing that voice, which apparently came from outside the window.

She gave an aggravated sigh as Applebloom walked to the window and looked down. Sure enough, Silver Spoon was standing down below.

“We got a full hour before we have to go, come back later!”, Applebloom hissed with a glare, being as aggravated as Babs was to their interruption of love-making.

“We don't have an hour! Didn't you two read the train schedule? The midnight train leaves in thirty minutes!”

Applebloom's eyes snapped wide in surprise. She ducked back inside and quickly re-checked the train schedule paper she had picked up this morning before coming into school.

“I swear, that filly's timing is impeccable”, Babs remarked with an eye-roll as Applebloom continued to scan the contents of the train schedule.

Sure enough, Silver Spoon was right on the money with this.

“Horseapples! She's right! We need to get our rumps in gear!”, Applebloom exclaimed softly.

This made Babs give a shocked gasp of her own.

“What?! But I double checked it! The train doesn't leave 'till twelve-thirty in the morning!”

She hopped off the bed and lifted her saddlebag over herself, with Applebloom doing the same. Then the two quickly, but silently made their way down the hallway towards the stairs.

Suddenly, Babs gave a soft horrified gasp as her hoof stepped onto a creaky floorboard. Both fillies froze and looked behind themselves to see if anypony had heard.

“Watch your hoofing!”, Applebloom hissed softly after a few tense moments.

She then continued to sneak towards the stairs, only to soon step on a creaky floorboard herself. She turned to look at Babs with a sheepish grin, the city filly giving her an annoyed stare.

“Oops...”, was all the farm filly could whisper.

Babs gave a soft dejected sigh and placed a hoof on her head, shaking it gently before continuing to follow Applebloom to the stairs.

“Took you two long enough!", Silver Spoon said with annoyance as the two finally met up with her on the side of the house. "What were you doing up there? Having sex?”

The two fillies simply looked away from Silver Spoon, exchanging blushes.

“I should have known”, the silver-furred filly remarked, closing her eyes and slamming her hoof on her forehead. She gave an annoyed sigh.

“What about Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle? They still think the time is twelve midnight”, Applebloom pointed out after a few moments of silence.

“You told those blank-flanks about the plan?! Can you keep your mouth shut for anything?!”, Silver Spoon scolded in a hushed tone, glaring at Applebloom.

“We could just go right back upstairs and continue where we left off”, Babs countered with a glare at the silver-furred filly.

The latter opened her mouth to speak, only to close it a moment later and give an annoyed sigh.

“Alright, point taken. I'll try not to call your friends blank-flanks”, Silver Spoon conceded after a few more moments.

“Thank you”, Babs replied with a smirk. She then turned to look at Applebloom. “I would love to wait for them, cuz, but like you said, we don't have time.”

“Ah suppose we'll just have to leave 'em behind, then. They are gonna be so ticked at me”, Applebloom replied and broke into full gallop, followed by Babs and Silver Spoon.

The three made it to the train station with five minutes to spare, although galloping the entire way had left them gasping for air by the time they got there.

“Alright, let's go talk to that train conductor”, Silver Spoon said between huffs and puffs.

However, before she was able to go anywhere, the train gave a loud toot, which signaled that it's about to leave the station.

“Oh for the love of Luna and Celestia!”, Silver Spoon yelled at the top of her lungs and once again broke into a full gallop, followed by the other two.

“How the hay are we going to pay for our train tickets and make it to the train?!”, Applebloom asked as the three ran towards the platform.

“We're not. Quickly, let's get to the back of the train and get into the storage car!”, Silver Spoon ordered, running alongside the train which was slowly beginning to leave the station.

“Oh great! Ah was hopin' to add train hoppin' and stow awayin' to mah criminal record today!”, Applebloom remarked sarcastically as they neared the back of the train.

“Ha, ha, you too?”, Babs asked with a grin.

This caused Applebloom to blink twice at her in confusion. She wondered for a moment what Babs had meant, but shoved the debate from her mind as they jumped onto the tracks and began to chase the back of the train, which was picking up the speed.

Silver Spoon was the first to make the jump, followed closely by Babs, who turned around to see Applebloom quickly trailing behind the train, which was gaining speed by the second.

“Come on Applebloom, you can make it!”, Babs called out to her lover when the train gave another mighty toot.

“Ah'm not gonna make it!”, Applebloom cried, feeling her legs burn from the amount of effort she was putting into catching up to them.

“Lighten your load! Drop the saddlebags!”, Silver Spoon ordered.

“No way in Tartarus!”, Applebloom shouted back. There was no way she was going to drop her saddlebags. The outfit she had planned on wearing for their anniversary was in them and she wasn't about to lose another one.

“Stubborn blank-flank isn't going to make it unless she lightens her load!”, Silver Spoon said to Babs.

The latter resisted the urge to slug the spoiled filly and reverted her attention to Applebloom, who was quickly trailing behind them. Babs looked around herself for anything she could use to reach out and help her lover onto the train, but only found a small handle which was used for emergency stops. After a short inner debate she looked at Silver Spoon.

“Hang onto something!”, she ordered and turned about, preparing herself to jump for the handle.

“Wait, what? You're not seriously going to--!”, Silver Spoon shouted when she realized what the city filly was about to do. “Oh Luna, you're crazy!”, she shrieked, wrapping her hooves around the railing in an attempt to anchor herself to it.

Babs gave a mighty hop and barely managed to clamp her mouth onto the emergency handle, due to the speed they were going at now. The city filly's weight was enough to pull it down, at which point the train began to screech to a halt, suddenly and abruptly jarring Silver Spoon and causing Babs to be flung from the handle into the air and towards the tracks, only to hit Applebloom on the ground when she landed.

“Dear Celestia, are you okay, Babs?! What happened?!”, Applebloom asked, wearily standing back to her all fours and rubbing her backside. Babs stood up next to her.

“I pulled the emergency stop handle”, Babs replied, rubbing her underside.

“You what?!", Applebloom asked in disbelief. "That was crazy! Ya could have got yourself killed or broke mah back when ya landed on me!”, she scolded, looking over her to make sure she wasn't hurt.

“I'm fine. Come on, let's hurry up and get to the train”, Babs suggested, running off towards the storage car, followed by Applebloom.

“You both are out of your minds! It'll be sheer dumb luck if the train conductor doesn't realize it was us who pulled the emergency stop handle!”, Silver Spoon remarked as the two hopped onto the back of the car and sat down.

As their sheer dumb luck would have it, the train conductor never showed up at the storage car and the train soon began to pick up speed as it headed towards Fillydephia.

And as the three calmed down, Silver Spoon eyed Applebloom when the latter scanned the contents of her saddlebag.

“What the hay was so important in that saddlebag of yours that you just couldn't give it up?”, the silver-furred filly asked curiously.

“Somethin' very special to me and Ah'll leave it at that”, Applebloom replied, effectively ending the topic.

“Whatever, as long as we get to Fillydephia and find Diamond Tiara, I could care less if you had a stick liquid rainbow dynamite in there”, Silver Spoon concluded with an eye-roll.

MEANWHILE, BACK AT TRAIN STATION:

“Where are they? And where's the train?”, Scootaloo asked in confusion, looking around herself.

“You don't think they purposely told us the wrong time, do you?”, Sweetie Belle suggested, looking around too.

“Of course not! They'll be showing up anytime, and the train too!”, Scootaloo replied confidently...

The train came to a slow halt in the Fillydephia's train station. The three fillies quickly sneaked into the crowd of ponies flooding from the train doors, attempting to blend in. Once off the platform, the three left the train station.

Applebloom gasped in awe of the site that beheld them. The entire city was jam-packed with ponies of different colors, some dressed in clothes, and some not; it that wasn't what awed the filly the most, though. The entire city looked as if it was lit up like a giant Hearth's Warming Eve tree.

“Wow! This place is huge and so bright! Ah've never seen so many ponies or lights in one place!”, Applebloom exclaimed in awe.

“Meh, Manehattan is better”, the city filly remarked, looking unimpressed by the sights. She then reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a tourist guide for Fillydephia.

“When did you pick that up?”, Silver Spoon inquired curiously when Babs laid it on the ground and began to look over it.

“Snagged it off one of the stands in the station”, the city filly replied nonchalantly.

This was met with a shocked gasp from both fillies.

“Ya stole it?!”, Applebloom asked in disbelief, seeming completely flabbergasted by this new set of information.

“Wow, I didn't take you for a criminal, Babs”, Silver Spoon remarked with a smirk, although she did look impressed.

“Babs ain't no criminal! Ya take that back, Silver Spoon!”, Applebloom ordered angrily.

“Don't worry about it, cuz. I'm used to it”, Babs replied, still scanning the contents of the tourist guide.

“U-Used to it?!”, the farm filly blurted out, her eyes snapping wide in shock. This was a side of her lover she had never seen before. Up 'till now she thought her cousin to be as honest and noble as she could.

“Ah-ha! Found it! The hotel is just down the street. We can't miss it”, Babs said after a few more moments, folding the tourist guide up and placing it back into her saddlebag.

The three walked down the sidewalk, paying close attention to the streets and making their way through the crowd of ponies that flooded the sidewalk.

“Ow!”, Silver Spoon hissed when somepony ran into her, quickly stood up and walked past the three into the crowd.

It was only then when Silver Spoon noticed that her necklace was gone!

“That pony stole my necklace!”, Silver Spoon cried, looking around herself for the thief. However, she couldn't see any trace of him.

“Welcome to the big city, Silver Spoon. Thieves like dat are all over the place”, Babs replied, seemingly unfazed by this turn of events as she continued walking down the sidewalk.

“Really? Is the big city that dangerous?”, Applebloom asked, suddenly feeling herself become paranoid of every pony they passed now.

“Nah. Well, unless you head to the slums. Though if you're headin' there, you're up to no good anyways. Not sure if Fillydephia has one though. I know Manehattan does”, Babs explained as the three passed several adult ponies, who gave them odd looks as they passed.

After a little while longer the three finally made it to the hotel.

“Okay, my turn. I'll get us a room”, Silver Spoon said confidently when the three walked inside and towards the receptionist counter. “Ahem, room for three please”, she said in a very prim and proper manner.

The male receptionist pony looked down at the three with a curious glance before he resumed writing into the guest book.

“Name?”, the hotel clerk asked in the same prim and proper tone as the filly had.

“Silver Spoon. Our family should have a standing credit line to use as a payment for our stay”, she replied calmly.

“Ah, let me check our records”, the clerk replied and began to scan the contents of his guest book for a few moments. “Oh yes, right here. But I'm afraid I can't check you in without authorization of your father. You see, it was a recent addendum to our records he added. Is he present?”, the clerk asked curiously.

“Um, heh, heh, yeah, um, let me go get him”, Silver Spoon nervously stuttered in response, her prim and proper tone nearly faltering on the spot. She then silently signaled for the other two to follow her out of the hotel. “Horseapples!”, she cursed once the three were safely outside.

“So much for stayin' in a nice hotel for the weekend”, Applebloom remarked dismally.

“It's not a problem. We'll just fine another and I'll pay for our room with the bits I have”, Babs said and reached into her saddlebag.

She pulled out the tourist guide, only for a dark red blur to overpass the three. It took a few moments for the two to realize, but Babs had suddenly been sent flying several feet away from them and had landed in the bushes near the side of the hotel.

“Babs! Are you okay?!”, Applebloom shouted, rushing over to her lover and helping her to her hooves.

“That buckin' pegasus swiped my saddlebag!”, Babs said angrily, pointing a hoof up towards the red pegasus, who was quickly making his escape.

“This just keeps getting better and better!", Silver Spoon shouted in frustration. "First my daddy freezes my assets pretty much, and then the only money we have gets snagged by a flying pegasus thief! Is anything else going to go wrong today?!”, she roared.

A passing carriage took this moment to knock up a small wave of water, which soaked her from head to hoof. The filly spit out a stream of water from her mouth and sighed dejectedly.

“I had to ask...”, she said.

“This place is worse the Manehattan! At least there we didn't have flying pegasus thieves!”, Babs yelled and sighed.

“So we're broke and lost in the middle of a big city, am Ah gettin' the picture correctly?”, Applebloom asked, looking more worried by the second.

Babs gave a look about her surroundings and then looked back at the two.

“Looks that way. Anyways, let's head this way.”

“Why that way? Didn't you lose your only map?”, Silver Spoon asked, shaking her hind hooves and front hooves in an attempt to dry them off.

“Yeah, but it looks like the slums are in this direction”, Babs replied, continuing to walk in the direction she chosen.

“Wait, what makes ya think that? Also, isn't the slums a bad place to be goin'?”, Applebloom asked this time, not liking the idea to head directly to the place that according to Babs was a place where ponies go if they are up to no good.

“That pegasus was heading off in this direction, and if there are thieves, there's a slum where they all hang out”, Babs replied.

“This is crazy!", Silver Spoon said in disbelief. "You can't be suggesting we walk right into the place where all the city's criminals hang out, can you? We're only three fillies for Luna's sake! And you two don't even have your cutie marks yet!”, she pointed out, starting to sound hysterical.

“What do you suggest then?!", Babs shouted back with a glare. "We're flat broke, lost, and most likely going to be mugged and raped before the night's out at this rate!”

“Yeah, and you're suggesting going to the one place in town where that will most likely happen!”, Silver Spoon retorted, her panic quickly being replaced with anger.

“Enough! Both of ya! Arguin' like this ain't gonna get us some shelter!”, Applebloom interjected, standing between the two fillies who were looking as if they were ready to beat each other senseless.

“Excuse me?”, a voice asked suddenly, which caused all three fillies to snap their gaze in the direction of a single unicorn colt, who had walked up to them without them realizing it.

“Oh Luna, it's another thief! Quick, somepony buck him upside the head!”, Silver Spoon ordered and slumped into a cowering position.

“Don't worry about dat", the colt tried to calm them down. "I'm not a thief. I was just on my way home from the store and I happened to overhear you three need someplace to stay?”, he asked, setting his sack of food down next to him and looking at the three.

“We aren't puttin' out if that's what you're suggestin'”, Babs replied with hostility and giving a glare to the colt, only for Applebloom to shove her hoof into the city filly's mouth.

“Eh-eh, don't mind them. Ya said somethin' about a place to stay?”, Applebloom asked politely.

“Yeah, me and my dad run a homeless shelter for ponies who need a place to stay in town. Oh, where are my manners? My name's Swift Hooves”, Swift said, extending a hoof to the farm filly.

“Pleased to meet ya, mah name is Applebloom, this is Babs, and that's Silver Spoon”, Applebloom replied with a cheerful smile.

“You don't sound like you're from around here. Your voice has a country accent to it, you live out in sticks?”, Swift asked curiously.

“Um...”, Applebloom replied, not sure what the colt meant by the word 'sticks'.

Babs yanked Applebloom's hoof out of her mouth and sighed.

“He means out in the countryside, and yes. But dat's all you're gettin' from us”, Babs replied and ushered Applebloom off to the side. “Ya can't be tellin' everythin' about us to anypony who seems to be acting nice! Ponies like him are the prime suspects to kidnap fillies like ourselves!”, she whispered to her lover.

“There's somethin' about him”, Applebloom whispered back with a brief glance at the colt. “Ah can't really explain it, but Ah really think he means to help us. And Ah reckon we could use all the help we can get. Without a map we're lost, and besides, we can ask him where the address on Diamond Tiara's letters is at, so we can reunite those two.”

Babs gave the colt a glance now as well.

“Are you sure 'bout this? If this colt turns out to be a low life, we're gonna be in a heap of trouble”, she whispered.

“If it comes to that, Ah can give him a taste of mah apple-buckin legs. But Ah don't think it will”, Applebloom answered back before walking up to the colt. “Okay, we'll take ya up on that offer.”

“Alright, follow me”, Swift replied, lifting the bag back up with his magic and starting to lead the three down the road to the left, instead of the direction to what Babs assumed were the slums.

“Well, it sure as hay ain't the Canterlot Ritz, but it's better than nothin'”, Applebloom remarked upon following the colt to what looked to be a well-kept, but old-looking building among the rest of the newer looking ones of this city.

“I'll let you guys grab one of the vacant apartment rooms and let you get a night's sleep. Then tomorrow we can talk to my dad about seeing what you three can do to pay for the room and board, okay?”, Swift said, putting the key into the door and opening it for the three and leading them upstairs.

“I knew there was catch. I already told you we ain't putti-mmmph?!”, Babs began to say, only for Applebloom to once again shove her hoof into the city filly's mouth.

“What kind of work are we talkin' about?”, Applebloom asked curiously as the three followed him upstairs and stopped next to him.

“My dad runs a local club, it's next door actually. Ya couldn't miss it", Swift replied. "We walked right past it on our way here. Everypony who lives here works there usually. Some do the dishes, others clean the floors, and even some sing on stage for the club goers at times. 'Course, we've been havin' a serious lack of singers lately”, he remarked while unlocking the door for the three and motioning for them to enter.

The apartment was far from being in the best of conditions, but it was nowhere near the worst conditions either. Dust was caked on just about everything in the apartment, from the kitchen counters to the stove.

“We try to keep all the apartments in the best conditions we can, but it's a really big apartment complex. If you want I could come over tomorrow and help you clean up”, Swift suggested.

Babs was about to object when Applebloom stood in front of her.

“Of course! That would be swell!”, the farm filly said.

“Okay then. Oh, I almost forgot! How long do you plan on staying here? Normally my father would ask, but this will save him a little work if I pen in this place as occupied for him”, Swift replied looking at the three.

The three looked at each and back to Swift.

“We don't really know", Applebloom said. "Ya see, we planned on comin' here only for the weekend to help mah friend here see her fillyfriend, but then the bits we brought for the train ride back and the hotel got stolen”, she explained and sighed dejectedly.

“Yikes, tough break. Well, I'll see you three tomorrow then”, Swift replied and closed the door behind him.

“If my daddy knew of the condition of this place, he'd have it torn down! There's no way I can sleep with all this... this.... ah-choo!!!”, Silver Spoon began to say, only to trail off and give a mighty sneeze, which sprayed dust off the counter she was looking at into the air.

“Suck it up and deal with it, ya spoiled filly”, Babs replied coldly and then walked up to what looked like a single bedroom. The only thing in the room not caked in dust was the bed, which looked to be in the best condition of the entire apartment. “We got dibs on the bedroom!”, the city filly called out, broke into a sprint and jumped on the bed, which gave a loud groaning sound as she landed.

Silver Spoon walked into the bedroom and her jaw dropped.

“B-B-But that's the best looking thing in this entire scrapheap of an apartment! You can't expect me to sleep on that dust-covered couch, can you?!”, the silver-furred filly asked, looking outraged by this.

“I suppose you could sleep with us. After all, I love havin' an audience when I make love to Applebloom”, Babs replied with a smirk.

This caused the farm pony to blush crimson, together with Silver Spoon.

“On second thought, the dusty covered couch doesn't sound so bad”, the latter concluded in a slightly higher pitched voice than usual and promptly left the room.

Babs broke into a giggle-fit at this. Meanwhile, Applebloom jumped onto the bed.

“Just what did ya plan on sayin' to her if she didn't fall for that little joke of yours?”, the farm filly asked with a smirk after she curled up next to her lover and laid her head on the pillow.

“Who said it was joke?”, Babs replied with a cheesy grin, only to get a playful hoof to head.

“Not even in yer dreams, Babs”, Applebloom replied drowsily with a smirk and slowly drifted off to sleep, shortly followed by Babs.

“Ah-choo, ah-choo, ah-choo! I swear, those blank-flanks better...better... ah-choo! Better help me find Diamond Tiara soon... I don't think I can take living in this....this... aaahhh-chooooo!”

I hate this place!

Author's Note

Proof read by zutheskunk :twilightsmile:

A race aginst time: part 3

AUTHOR'S NOTE: When you get a music cue to play the song "runforit" Play it! I'm serious! This track is NOT OPTIONAL IF YOU WANT THE FULL EFFECT OF THE UPCOMING SCENE!

A RACE AGAINST TIME

PART 3

Applebloom once again shielded her eyes from the blinding light as she stepped through the door. Once the light had faded however, she found herself in yet another familiar setting.

The door swung closed behind her as Applebloom walked through it to see Babs' annoyed expression staring at her as she closed the door. “Sorry for comin back so late again but after Ah got done singin mah fans wouldn't stop pesterin me for autographs so Ah stuck around for an unscheduled autograph signin.” Applebloom remarked with a guilty expression.

“Whatever, we need to talk.” Babs replied dismissing her lovers apology as she motioned for her to follow her to the kitchen.

“Can't it wait till mornin? Ah'm gettin a might sleepy.” Applebloom replied with a yawn as she followed her into the kitchen.

“No, it can't.” Babs replied simply as she took a bottle of apple juice from it, popped off the lid and took a drink from it before she set it down on the counter.

“Why so serious all the sudden? If it's about me havin to go on mah day off then Ah'm sorry but if Showtime-”

“Buck Showtime!” Babs exclaimed suddenly cutting off the farm filly mid-sentence as she slammed the bottle of apple juice on the counter causing Applebloom to look on with a shocked expression for a few moments before she regained her composure.

Applebloom hesitated for a moment. “Wait a second, why does this feel so familiar?” she thought to herself before she finally replied. “Ah know it's hard on us but if we just-”

“No, it's not hard, it's impossible! You've been gone later and later every time that bucking stallion shows his ugly face! I barely see you anymore!” Babs roared once again cutting off Applebloom as she looked at her.

“Okay, somethin is really strange bout this... Ah know I've had this conversation before!” Applebloom thought to herself as something nagged at the back of her mind. Regardless, she replied with yet another all too familiar line feeling as if the words had been programed into her mouth to say aloud.

“It's only been a consarned week Babs! You've gone longer than that without seein mah face when I was livin in Ponyville and you were livin in Manehattan! What's the consarned difference this time?!” Applebloom exclaimed becoming agitated by Babs cutting her off every time she opened her mouth to speak.

After a few more moments of silence she finally spoke. “Please quit the singing career Applebloom. Do it for me, please?” She asked her tone of voice suddenly switching from pissed off and angry to sad and desperate.

“Q-Quit it?! Why in tarnation are ya askin me to do that?! Listen, Ah know things are hard on us right now and Ah know I haven't been able to spend as much time with ya as Ah'd like but it will get better Ah promise!” Applebloom exclaimed as she reached over and placed a hoof on Babs' cheek.

“When?!” Babs exclaimed as she pushed Applebloom's hoof away from her face as her anger came back to her tone of voice.

“Huh?” Applebloom replied. By now the nagging feeling in the back of her mind that she was trying to pin point the cause for seemed to be screaming the words “Ah know this happened before!!!”

“When will it get better?! Because as far as I can tell it's only getting worse!” Babs exclaimed as she walked past Applebloom and placed a hoof on the wall as she looked at the floor. Her entire body was shaking by this point.

“Babs... your shakin. Are ya alright?” Applebloom asked with a concerned expression once she had noticed this herself and walked over to Babs to place a hoof on her shoulder.

“No Applebloom, I'm not alright. Do you even realize what this singin career is doing to you? To us?!” Babs asked as she turned her head to look at Applebloom as tears formed in her eyes and began to drizzle down her cheeks.

“Babs Ah...” Applebloom began but trailed off with a sigh as she looked away from her lover with an unsure expression which soon became one of realization. She finally understood. She now knew she was reliving that fateful night when Babs left her in the hotel room and seized this moment in time to use all the willpower she had to change the course of this memory.

“Babs, Ah'm gonna quit, Ah promise! Ah'll do it right here and now!” Applebloom exclaimed as she put her hooves around Babs and looked at her.

Babs looked at her for a moment and sighed. “I wish I could believe you... but I don't.” the city filly replied as she turned away from her lover and walked out of the kitchen and towards the front door.

“Wh-Where are ya goin?” Applebloom asked as she followed the city filly to the door.

“I'm going to Swift, at least he won't put his job before me. Goodbye Applebloom. I don't want to see your face ever again.” Babs replied and opened the door to leave.

Applebloom's world seemed to freeze around her in an ice-cold aura. Babs was leaving her... forever. She watched in slow motion as her lover walked through the door and closed it behind her.

“No... No... This can't be happenin'!” Applebloom said aloud in a horror-stricken yet stunned tone as tears streamed from her cheeks the fact that she was reliving a memory from her past seemingly gone from her mind once again until...

NO! Ah won't let this happen! Ah pushed her away once, Ah won't do it ever again!

Applebloom shouted as she yanked the door open, ran up to Babs just before she stepped into the elevator door, whirled her around and locked lips with the city filly for a short time before she broke the kiss and looked at her lover whom had a bewildered expression on her face.

“Babs, Ah swear to ya. Ah'm a changed filly. Ah won't leave ya ever again. Ah promise.” Applebloom said softly as she looked into her lover's eyes.

Babs then embraced Applebloom in a tight hug and began to sob softly. “I was afraid I had lost ya forever...” she remarked between sobs.

“It's alright. Ah'm here now.” Applebloom said softly as she held her lover tightly.

The door behind the two fillies now swung open revealing a blinding white light.

“Dat door, I've seen it before.” Babs remarked softly.

“Wait a second, how can ya see that door unless...! You're the real Babs?!” Applebloom exclaimed in shock as she looked at the city filly.

“You're the real Applebloom?!” Babs replied with an equally shocked expression.

“I thought you were only an illusionary version here to test me!”

Both fillies shouted at each other nearly simultaneously.

“Wait a second, how did ya get here?” Applebloom asked curiously as she looked at her lover.

“Princess Luna appeared before me and told me I needed to face three tests in order to find you. My enemy, my worst fear, and-”

“Myself...” Applebloom said, finishing Babs' sentence for her. “Ah guess both of our worst fears were losin each other forever.” Applebloom replied with a warm smile.

“No, mine was leaving to cheat on you with Swift.” Babs confessed and sighed.

“Well that explains why when Ah seized control of this here memory of ours you were insisting on goin to Swift.” Applebloom replied as she wiped tears from her lover's eyes.

“I didn't want to but it was like my body had a mind of it's own.” Babs replied with a worried expression.

“Ah know ya didn't want to, it was part of the test for both of us.” Applebloom replied as she ran a hoof through her mane.

“So if we found each other, why aren't we wakin up?” Babs asked curiously as her gaze fell upon the door once again.

“Looks like we both got one more test. Ourselves.” Applebloom replied with an uneasy glance at the door.

“Then lets face it, together.” Babs replied with a smile at Applebloom whom nodded in agreement.

The two then began to walk towards the door when Applebloom spoke up. “Just out of curiosity, who was the enemy you had face?” Applebloom inquired curiously.

“My parents.” Babs replied simply.

“That must of not been easy.” Applebloom replied with a sympathetic expression.

“Heh, nope it wasn't. What was yours?” Babs asked as the two neared the door now.

“Mah singin career. Kind of ironic considering Ah was sure Ah was through with it but it was actually hard for me to turn down the chance to be singin for a stadium of ponies.” Applebloom replied sheepishly.

The two then stepped through the door together and shielded their eyes from the blinding light...

“Can I have some time alone with them? It's my fault they're like this after all.” Henry requested as he looked at Applejack who seemed unsure of the idea.

“Ah guess it wouldn't hurt but make sure to tell us immediately if something changes with either of em'”Applejack replied finally and motioned for Silverspoon and Diamond Tiara to follow her.

“Henry? Is something the matter?” Marry asked with an unsure expression at her husband.

“N-No. I just want some time alone with my daughter and cousin-in-law. You should take this time to get some fresh air honey.” Henry replied though he stuttered slightly as he spoke.

“Okay, I'll be back soon.” She said, gave him a peck on the cheek, and left the stallion alone with the two fillies.

Henry stared at his daughter and then glanced down at the ribbon she held. Barely an inch remained. He then looked over at the photograph Applebloom held. About one-fourth of the photograph remained in her grasp...

“What is this place?” Babs asked as she looked about herself with a scared expression.

“Someplace Ah've been before...” Applebloom remarked as she looked about at the floating images playing seemingly live action movies of her past though Babs' past now appeared as well in some of movie-like images.

“Well, well, well! Looky who finally showed up! Come back for another round have ya? Oh and Ah see you brought our cunt-buddy too! Didn't our last encounter teach ya anythin?” A familiar voice shouted and seemed to echo around the two fillies.

“Dat sounds like you but it can't be, can it?” Babs asked as she looked at Applebloom.

“Nah, it's me alright, just a twisted version of mahself that could have come to be if Ah continued to let mah singin' career come between us.” Applebloom replied in a serious tone as she looked about herself for any trace of the dark and twisted version of herself.

A mere moment later, Applebloom's dark and twisted counterpart landed in front of the two with a cruel sneer on her face as she looked at them. “Well now, this just ain't fair! How about we even the odds!” She shouted.

“Dat sounds like a plan!” Another familiar voice agreed at which point Applebloom and Babs whirled around to see what could be non-other than Babs' dark and twisted counterpart.

“What the-?! Dat ain't-” Babs began to shout only for Applebloom to slap her hooves around her lovers mouth. “Listen to me, that's you and you're you, if ya tell that thing that it's not you, it gives em' power. No matter what it says, don't tell it that it's not you.” Applebloom whispered into Babs' ear.

“How do ya know dat?” Babs asked once Applebloom finally let go of her mouth.

Applebloom then turned to look at her dark and twisted counterpart. “Lets just say Ah learned it the hard way.” she replied as she stared at her counterpart who continued to grin.

“Ha,ha! Looks like ya finally figured it out didn't ya?” The dark farm filly remarked with a smirk.

“Yeah, Ah did. You're me and Ah'm you but this time, ya ain't gettin the best of me.” Applebloom replied as her eyes narrowed at the filly.

“Heh, heh, heh... we'll see about that.” Applebloom's doppelganger replied as she began to pace around the two at which point Babs's doppelganger followed suit.

“I don't know why I'm buckin my cousin when I could be gettin pumped full of warm colt-milk by Swift! We both know dat we find dat colt hot, so why ya stickin with her for?” Babs' doppelganger remarked with a sneer as she paced.

“Dat's a lie! I love Applebloom and Applebloom only! I could care less about Swift!” Babs shouted at her doppelganger with a glare.

“Don't let em' get to ya! It's tryin to get under your skin!” Applebloom whispered.

“Oh come the buck on ya city filly! We both know dat we've fantasized about gettin our cunts plowed by him more than once!” Babs' doppelganger jeered with a smirk as she continued to pace around her as did Applebloom's.

“Dat's... Dat's not true!” Babs retorted though her voice sounded far less confident as she shouted these words.

“Babs, listen to me, even if it is true. Ah won't think any less of ya.” Applebloom said in a comforting tone to which her doppelganger laughed hysterically.

“That's a lie and we both know it!” she jeered.

“Shut ya pothole!” Applebloom snapped at her doppelganger before remembering she was just trying to get under her skin as well. “Consarn it...” Applebloom thought to herself and sighed. “Okay, maybe that's not true but it don't mean Ah will love ya any less than Ah do if it is true.” Applebloom corrected herself.

“Oh it is! We've had the most wonderful orgasms in the hotel room while you were off singin. We even used your brush when we fantasized about gettin bucked by Swift!” Babs' doppelganger replied with a sneer.

“Ya what?! No wonder mah brush was sticky and wet one evenin when Ah got back at the hotel!” Applebloom exclaimed with a glare at Babs whom simply cowered slightly.

“I-I'm sorry Applebloom, I don't know what came over me but it wasn't about Swift, I swear.” Babs admitted feebly.

“Dat's yet another lie! We used dat brush cause we were horny and Applebloom was too busy singin so we wanted to picture somepony who actually gave a buck about us and fantasized about him makin love to us!” Babs' doppelganger shouted with a cruel sneer.

“Is that true Babs?!” Applebloom asked with a hurt yet pissed off glare at the city filly.

“N-No! I admit dat I used your brush to get myself off but I didn't fantasize about Swift doin me, it was about me and you, I swear!” Babs replied and turned to glare at her doppelganger. “She's mixin lies with the truth!” she exclaimed pointing a shaking hoof at her doppelganger.

“Consarn it, Ah nearly forgot about em' doin' that.” Applebloom remarked with a glare at her doppelganger as she remembered it doing the same thing the other night.

“Why haven't they attacked us yet?” Babs whispered to Applebloom.

“Ah don't think they have the power to yet. Just keep ya cool and we'll pass this final test with flyin colors.” Applebloom whispered back.

“Oh and didn't ya know Applebloom? Dat night we got drunk, we weren't drunk enough to not realize we were tryin to land Swift in bed for some good old-fashioned buckin! Too bad we passed out before he got it up!”

“Nice try thar but Ah know what really happened, right Babs?” Applebloom replied with a cocky smirk only to realize that Babs had gone silent. “Right... Babs?” She asked once again, the confidence in her voice faltering.

“I... I...” Babs replied but trailed off. “I thought dat I had lost ya forever, between bein as drunk as I was and Swift bein there, something snapped inside me, I really don't know what I was thinking...” Babs admitted as tears streamed from her eyes.

“I do! Applebloom didn't love us! She cared about her singin career more than us! We didn't care if he blew ten loads of his colt milk inside us, we didn't care if we got pregnant! The only thing that mattered was feeling somepony make us feel loved! Isn't that right?” Babs' doppelganger jeered with a smirk.

Applebloom looked crestfallen as she stared at her fillyfriend now. It wasn't merely a matter of being drunk, if she could have, she would have ridden Swift till dawn and most likely gotten pregnant with his foal to boot.

“So the real truth comes out... now of all times.” Applebloom remarked as she looked away from Babs, tears of pain streaming from her eyes now.

“Told ya she wasn't worth it! We could have had any colt or filly we wanted if we stayed with our singin career! We were a foal!” Applebloom's doppelganger jeered as the two doppelgangers paced around them.

“Applebloom, please listen to me. I wasn't thinkin clearly! I love you!” Babs cried out as she wrapped her hooves around Applebloom and held her tightly.

“Drop her Applebloom. Drop her like the whore we both think she is now and we can escape this world and even get our singin career back!” Applebloom's doppelganger said as she stopped pacing to look directly at the farm filly.

“You really don't think I'm a whore... do you... Applebloom?” Babs asked her voice cracking as she broke her hug from the farm filly and stared at her with a desperate expression which said she was hoping it wasn't true. That it was yet another lie used to try to drive a wedge between them.

The problem was...

It wasn't...

Applebloom stood in place, seriously weighing her options. Was the doppelganger telling the truth when she said if she left her now, she could live? If that was true though, what would happen to Babs?
Furthermore, did she really want to leave Babs?

“Times tickin away Applebloom! We don't have long until this world dies along with us! Leave the whore and come with me!” Applebloom's doppelganger exclaimed in a semi-urgent tone as she pointed a hoof up at the photograph which floated just above them. Less than a fourth remained.

“Ah'm sorry Babs but she ain't lyin'.” Applebloom replied finally much to Babs' horror.

“S-So... you think I'm a whore and you're going to leave me?” Babs asked her voice cracking between sobs as Applebloom's doppelganger grinned deviously.

Applebloom walked up to her doppelganger much to Babs' horror and stood next to her. “Ah really can't believe ya would knowingly try to sleep with Swift Babs, that was so wrong of ya.” Applebloom replied in a solemn tone as she looked at Babs with a disappointed glare as she placed a hoof on her doppelganger's shoulder.

“Applebloom... Please! Don't... Don't leave me, I'm beggin ya!” Babs pleaded as she fell to her rump and looked at Applebloom.

“Lets go!” Applebloom's doppelganger said with a smirk and began to walk away followed by Applebloom until the filly stopped less than three steps away. “What's the hold up?!” She asked with a glare.

“We're both the same pony, ya should know.” Applebloom replied with a smirk at which point the doppelganger's expression became outraged.

“Don't you even-!” The doppelganger began to say only for Applebloom to turn around, rear up, and buck her doppelganger squarely in the face which sent it flying until it disappeared from sight.

“It was an act? You're not really leaving me or think I'm a whore?” Babs asked as she stood up to hug Applebloom only for the farm filly to stop her.

“After we get out of here, we've got a lot of issues to work out, ya hear me?” Applebloom said in a stern tone with a disapproving expression on her face now.

“Y-Yes. I understand...” Babs replied and sighed.

“Bah! Fine! Keep your cunt-buddy!” Babs' doppelganger shouted before it faded from existence.

It was at this point one last door appeared though this one was different from the others. It glowed with a warm yellow and red light rather than the blinding white light in previously seen doors.

“This is it, we made it.” Applebloom remarked with a smile as the two walked towards the door.

“So why did you act like ya was leavin me if you were gonna do dat all along?” Babs asked curiously.

“Ah needed to know if Ah could actually touch mah doppelganger and to keep her from gettin suspicious and readin' mah thoughts, Ah played along with her.” Applebloom replied with a smirk.

Applebloom walked up to her doppelganger much to Babs' horror and stood next to her. “Ah really can't believe ya would knowingly try to sleep with Swift Babs, that was so wrong of ya.” Applebloom replied in a solemn tone as she looked at Babs with a disappointed glare as she placed a hoof on her doppelganger's shoulder.

“Oh, I see. Don't scare me like that, I thought you were going to leave me for real.” Babs replied with a relieved expression.

“Ah won't lie to ya, Ah did seriously consider it for a moment. But we both bucked up and Ah figured ya deserved a second chance because it was mah fault you ended up goin back to that Apartment complex to begin with since Ah pushed ya away.” Applebloom replied only to gasp in horror as Babs fell to the ground holding her sides. “What's wrong Babs?!” Applebloom asked as she looked at her fillyfriend for any sign of injury. It was then she saw it, the remnants of a ribbon, the last of it was slowly fading from existence.

Applebloom then lifted up Babs by the mane and chucked her lover through the glowing door, looked up, and saw the ribbon reappear in its entirety and glow a bright golden color. “That was close.” The farm filly remarked with a relieved sigh and began to walk towards the door herself until she fell to the ground unconscious...

The hospital room slowly faded into view as Babs wearily opened her eyes, a steady beep could be heard. Babs sat up in her bed and looked to her left, Applebloom lay next to her however Henry also stood there holding a photograph in his mouth which he promptly dropped to the ground upon seeing Babs look at him.

“Babs! You're okay! Thank Celestia!” he exclaimed as he ran over and hugged his daughter.

Babs however looked at the life monitor, it's steady flat line, and listened to the steady beep for a short time before she shoved her father away and shook Applebloom. “Applebloom? Applebloom?! Wake up! We both made it! Come on! Wake up!” Babs pleaded as she shook the farm filly's lifeless body.

“I-I'm sorry Babs, it was you or her...” Henry said softly at which point Babs snapped her gaze at her father.

“What did you do?” She seethed, the hatred so thick in her voice it could be cut with a knife if it were a tangible object.

“S-Showtime told if I removed the item she was holding, that it would cure you.” Henry stuttered slightly.

Babs' pupils shrunk to their smallest sizes as she stared at her father before she flung herself over Applebloom's body. “Y-Y-You bucking idiot!!! You didn't save me, Applebloom did! She threw me through the door to save my life and she was going to be coming right after!” Babs exclaimed between sobs as she cried into Applebloom's chest.

Henry slowly stepped away from his daughter's side until his rump hit the wall and slowly slid down until it was planted on the floor as he continued to stare at his daughter crying over her lover. “What have I done?” He asked his voice hollow long with an expression of horror and guilt.

It was at this point Applejack, Twilight, Silverspoon, Marry, and Diamond Tiara came rushing in and saw Babs crying over Applebloom's lifeless body. “What happened?!” Silverspoon asked in a panicked tone as she looked at Applebloom's life monitor which had a flat line along with a steady beep.

For sometime no pony said a word...

“He killed her...” A low voice full of hatred and anguish could be heard saying but in a hollow whisper.

“Wh-What?” Applejack asked making sure she had heard the filly correctly.

Babs then flung herself up and pointed a shaking hoof at her father “He killed her!!!”Babs shrieked at the top of her lungs staring at her father, her eyes full of hatred,pain, and loathing.

“I-I-I didn't know! Showtime told me that if I removed the photograph that I could save Babs! I just wanted to protect my daughter! I just...” He shouted before he trailed off and began to sob loudly into his hooves.

Twilight was first to notice that Applejack's face had become full of an unspeakable rage and halted the farm mare with her magic before she could even get close to the stallion. “You low-down, connivin', piece of horseapplin', pony manure! Ya best be glad Twilight's holdin' me back or Ah'd be sendin' ya where Applebloom is about now!” Applejack shrieked at the top of her lungs as she fought with every ounce of her strength to break the lavender unicorn's hold on her and beat the living tar out of Henry as tears streamed from her eyes.

“She's not dead yet Applejack!” Twilight shouted at which point everypony looked at Twilight.

“What are ya talkin about? Look at the life monitor!” Applejack shrieked pointing a hoof at the minitor showing a flat line and emitting a steady beep.

Upon hearing this, Twilight let go of Applejack with her magic, focused it on the mechine, and proceeded to crush it until the beeping whirled down to nothing and all that was left was a ball of scap metal. She then chucked it out the hospital room window which shattered glass behind Henry who flung hooves over his head to shield himself from the shards of glass. “Buck the life-monitor Applejack! This condition is magical in nature! We don't know if she's really gone or not yet!” The lavender unicorn shrieked back.

“S-So what do we do then?” Babs asked her voice cracking as she spoke.

“You stay at Applebloom's side and don't leave it no matter what. There's still a chance that you can call out to her and bring her back!” Twilight said to the city filly and turned about-face. “Everypony else with me. I need all the help I can get if we hope to find anything on this condition in the hospital's archives before it's too late.” Twilight instructed everypony else.

“What in tarnation do ya hope to find Twi?” Applejack asked as the group followed her.

“Something, Anything that can give us a clue as to anypony else who may have suffered from this condition recovered.” Twilight replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

Just as they passed the waiting room however, the unmistakable sound out Showtime's voice could be heard by Silverspoon as they walked past the waiting room. “H-Hey! That's Showtime!” She blurted out only Applejack, Diamond Tiara, and Henry heard her however.

“Oh, yes. It's heartbreaking to lose my star so early in her youth but we will press on!” Showtime said feigning the saddest voice he could muster as she spoke to the reporter pony.

Applejack's eyes narrowed at the stallion and could only see red...

MEANWHILE JUST OUTSIDE...

“And I said, that's not a moon cutiemark, that's a space-station cutiemark!” a random stallion could be heard saying followed by forced laughter.

KER-SHATTER!!!!!!!!

The sound of glass being broken rang through the air followed by shards and Showtime's body as it flew through the window of the hospital and landed on the ground outside only for Applejack to leap through the exact spot Showtime's body had flown through as the ponies outside ran in a panic from the scene.

Applejack rushed up to Showtime, lifted the barely conscious stallion by the scruff of his chest first and socked him squarely in the nose which snapped him mind back to full alertness. “A-Are you crazy?!” He shrieked only to get another hoof to the nose in reply. “I'll take that as yes!” he exclaimed nasally as he glared at Applejack.

“You're the low-down varmint who gave Henry that bogus idea to remove the photograph from Applebloom's hoof!” Applejack shouted into the stallion's face at which point a sneer creeped onto his facial expression.

“Heh, so he really did it eh? I didn't think he had it in him! She was a dead filly sleeping anyways!” Showtime replied only to get another hoof to the face. “What are you going to do? Kill me?” He asked after he recovered from the punch.

“As temptin as that is, no. Ah'm gonna bring ya to the police and yer gonna confess to killin mah little sister!” Applejack exclaimed only for the stallion to laugh hysterically at her.

“And you think they'll actually believe me when I tell them that I told a stallion to remove a photograph which resulted in her death? You'll be laughed out of the police station!” He exclaimed and laughed more until Applejack socked him in the nose once again.

It was just about this time that a red Pegasus could be seen landing close to the hospital now carrying a bag of bits but this with ignored by Applejack as she continued to glare at the stallion. “By the sounds of it, ya know exactly what was wrong with Applebloom and Babs, how could ya do it?!” She roared at which point the stallion's expression became pissed off.

“No pony crosses Showtime and gets way with it! Even after I went through the trouble of making sure she stayed out late to dive a wedge between her cunt-buddy, she still wouldn't let her go. Even after I made sure she found that colt with Babs!” he shouted with a glare.

“So it was yer doin all along?! Ya drove Babs and Applebloom apart? Ya made sure Applebloom found Babs with Swift?!” Applejack exclaimed with a glare.

“Teh! The dumb filly didn't even follow my instructions correctly! Blues was supposed to use her magic to give Babs the desire to buck that colt and wait until after the filly banged the colt to trank her! Sounds like the brat got a case of conscience before it got to that point since my sources tell me aside from her own juices, no colt spunk could be found on the bed.” Showtime replied angrily yet a grin washed over his face now. “But none of that matters now. Applebloom made me a lot of bits when she was alive but she'll make me far more now...” Showtime replied snapped Applejack's hooves away and began to walk away.

“I'd think twice about that if I were you!” Diamond Tiara's voice erupted at which point Showtime turned to stare at the two fillies then the reporter pony whom was writing down every single word he had said.

Showtime's jaw dropped in horror. “Y-Y-you can't! They aren't paying you a dime!” Showtime shouted as he ran over the reporter pony whom held up a bag of bits in front of him.

“No, but he is!” The reporter pony replied with a cheesy grin as he pointed to Henry.

“B-But how? When?!” The stallion stuttered.

FLASHBACK

It was just about this time that a red Pegasus could be seen landing close to the hospital now carrying a bag of bits but this went ignored by Applejack as she continued to glare at the stallion. “By the sounds of it, ya know exactly what was wrong with Applebloom and Babs, how could ya do it?!” The Pegasus could hear Applejack shouting as he landed in front of Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon.

“Hey! Your that Pegasus that mugged us on our first day here!” Silverspoon exclaimed in shock.

“Y-Yeah, listen, I'm really sorry about that. When I heard Applebloom was sick through the grape-vine I had a guilt-trip,grabbed the bits I stole from ya, and thought I'd bring em back as a respect to Applebloom since she under the weather and all...” The Pegasus replied sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head.

“Those are my family's bits! I'd recognize the family crest from anywhere!” Henry exclaimed in shock. It was then an idea occurred to him. The stallion picked up the bag of bits, walked over to the reporter pony and shoved the bag in his face. “You see this? It's all yours as long as you write down every single, conniving, word that low-life stallion spouts from his manure-hole and make sure it gets printed on every single news article in this town!” Henry said in a fashion that said he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

“Holy Luna! This is more than I make in six months!” The reporter point exclaimed in shock as he stared at the bag of bits until a grin appeared on his face. “I don't know, every single news paper in town? That's gonna cost me a lot to do.” He said with a smirk.

“Fine! Here's the deed to our home in Manehattan and our summer-home in Griffon's territory!” Henry exclaimed as he shoved the deed to his home and summer-home into the bag of bits as well.

“Heh, you got yourself a deal my friend!” The reporter pony replied and began to write down every single word Showtime said...

END FLASHBACK

“Oh...” Diamond Tiara began to say only to trail off as if giving Silverspoon the cue to chime in.

“Burn! Ha,ha,ha,ha!” Both fillies shouted simultaneously and laughed in unison afterwards as Showtime walked up to the filly and slapped her a crossed the face which knocked her tiara off her head. Showtime then promptly crushed the tiara under his hoof as if to add farther insult to his attack on the filly.

Diamond Tiara however, narrowed her eyes at him. “That was a five-hundred bit tiara, mother-bucker.” She said calmly though the anger could be heard in her voice clearly. She then without warning knocked the stallion onto his back and before he could recover, crushed his balls under the full weight of her hind hooves at which point the stallion's high-pitched wail of agony could be heard by everything within a two block radius.

“Ohhh, now that's gotta hurt.” Applejack remarked with a devious yet satisfied grin on her face.

MEANWHILE, SOMEWHERE ELSE...

Applebloom lay unconscious as the world around her began to crumble to pieces...

Applebloom...

The farm filly didn't stir...

Applebloom!!!

Applebloom's eyes snapped open yet she could barely keep them that way.

You're awake.... Now get up!

Applebloom struggled to stand up, falling to her underside several times before she finally stood shakily on all four hooves. In a far distance she could see the doorway still gleaming.

You know what you must do....

now...

(Play “Runforit” now!)

RUN!!!

Applebloom broke into full gallop now following what the mysterious voice had told her to do, one look behind her told her that the world behind her was being consumed by a blurry darkness that seemed to rub the world out of existence from behind her.

Debris fell in front of her, beside her, over top of her, and behind her as she frantcially dodged every piece of debris that fell her way as she continued her mad dash for the door.

Soon the scenery around her changed to reveal her running through what looked like the a recording studio. Microphones, headsets, and random pieces of metal fell around her and one particular fragment of metal nearly impaled the filly on the spot. It would have if she had not frantically skidded to a halt just as it fell in front of her and her body slammed against it before she looked behind herself to see the blurred darkness closing in fast now.

Applebloom's hooves skidded a crossed the floor as she frantically ran past the large piece of metal and nearly fell flat on her face in her mad dash but managed to regain her balance in time.

Applebloom now ran through what looked like the gala she had just got done singing at a mere few days ago. Pieces of the stage set fell around her and fragments of glass shattered around her threating to cut her as she ran past them along with seats she recalled from the gala falling dangerously close to her hindquarters as she ran.

She soon realized she was running through what looked like the hotel room she stayed in with Babs and Silverspoon. The fact that pieces of the room fell in front of her reaffirmed this belief as she continued to run for the door that seemed to be slowly getting closer now.

Applebloom cried out in surprise as the hotel room bed fell right next to her, the sheer impact knocking her to her underside. The farm filly struggled with all her might to get back to all four hooves and resumed her run for the door.

Applebloom soon found herself running through what seemed to be the bar that she had worked for Dancing Hooves in. Beer bottles and trays of food fell around her. The poor filly couldn't dodge the countless trays that managed to connect with her head,body, and rump as she ran but this didn't deter her in the slightest.

She could now hear a faint voice calling out to her as she ran through what could be non-other than the apartment complex room she had stayed in with Babs and Silverspoon. This voice didn't sound like the one she heard before. In fact, she could have sworn it sounded like Babs' voice.

Applebloom was now running through what could be non-other than apple arces. Apple trees collided with the ground around her, apples pummeled her mercilessly but she pressed on, the voice now, louder and more clearer. She knew it was Babs' voice she was hearing now which caused her to push even harder to make to the door which looked very close now.

Applebloom was now running through what could be non-other than her room, the door resting on top of her bed. However, just as she made it to the bed, the floor disappeared from under her hooves leaving the filly holding for dear life by the mouth onto the bed sheets which were clearly and quickly coming off the bed.

It was then at the exact moment the cover was about to give way and allow the filly to fall to her death, a dark orange hoof reached out from the glowing door way, Applebloom frantically flung her hoof at it, missing it twice but grasping onto it the third time. With the help of this dark orange hoof, she pulled herself up and through the door...

Babs' face slowly faded into view, the filly looked down and saw her hoof firmly holding onto her lover's. “B-Babs?” Applebloom said weakly.

“Applebloom! You're okay! Thank Luna!” Babs cried out joyfully as she hugged Applebloom tightly...

Author's Note

A cookie to anyone who understands the nature and metaphoric reasoning behind the running scenes. X3

Oh and anyone who wants to help me out, please plug this EVERYWHERE!