Growing Up

Applebloom strolled into the Cutie Mark Clubhouse, excited to relax with her friends. The Crusaders never stopped hanging out in the clubhouse and making plans, though those plans were of a different nature. Now they were finding ways to use their special talents to help others instead of getting in trouble to find that special talent. They figured it would make up for all of that trouble.

Applebloom was the first to reach the clubhouse, so she sat inside and waited for the others. Sweetie Belle and Fret were the next to arrive, followed by Scootaloo and Thundercloud.

“Do any oya know if Claw is comin?” He probably won't, but I'll just make sure.

Scootaloo answered, “We saw him on the way here. He said he shouldn't come over for awhile. Any thing to tell us Applebloom?” The orange pony glared at her yellow friend. Oh sour apples!

“Ah have no idea! He did look under the weather yesterday, maybe thats why he isn't here.” She tried to look as if she was telling the truth. *Thank goodness Im not as bad a liar as Applejack!*

Sweetie eyed the nervous pony. “Okay. I believe you but if we learn you were lying, so help me Celestia, you will never even think of doing it again. Now what should we do today?” Thank Celestia Sweetie Belle has a shorter attention span than most ponies.

Sweetie Belle argued with Scootaloo over whether they should entertain the elderly folk or recruit more fillies and colts to the Cutie Mark Club. Applebloom remembered when Scootaloo and Thundercloud decided they wanted more pegasi to be as awesome as them and made the club to help. Then Sweetie Belle and Fret joined in to help the more musical recruits. After a while, Applebloom gave in to the children asking her to help them fix whatever they had broken and even taught a few. Eventually, a bunch of other teenage ponies came to help out. They may not be speeding up the cutie mark process, but they were giving kids something fun to do without getting into too much trouble. Ah wonder how mah apprenticeis doin` with that boat?

"Ah think we should see the young'uns! It's been a while since we last visited." Applebloom butted in, stopping the fight.

"I agree with Applebloom. It's been quite a while since we saw the little trouble makers." Thundercloud joined in. He agreed with me!

"Aww I was hoping we could see the elderly." Fret pouted. Sweetie Belle snuggled into her coltfriend to cheer him up.

"We can always see them after the younger kids, Fret." She suggested. He happily perked up. Aww they are so adorable!

"Yeah! Lets go!" Thundercloud jumped into the air.

"I swear your just like Snowflake sometimes!" Scootaloo giggled at the pegasus. Who's Snowflake?

They walked to the Cutie Mark Crusader Clubhouse Jr. Applebloom had built it after the amount of kids visiting the first one had been too much. It had been constructed far enough out of town not to make too much trouble, but close enough so that their parents wouldn't worry when the kids left.

"Hey Shorty!" Scootaloo greeted the light pink pegasus flying torward her. Angel Wings, the light pink pony, was known to be Scootaloo's shadow whenever she visited.

"Hi Scootaloo! Are you gonna teach me something about flying today?"

"Maybe we should work on braking." She panted out as Angel ran into her stomach.

"I'll help you with that. Braking is always the easiest." Thundercloud chuckled as he picked Scootaloo up.

"Yeah, that would be great!" Scootaloo blushed and followed Angel back outside.

"Come on Fret! I wanna see the new piano we got!" Sweetie dragged her coltfriend to another room, leaving Applebloom alone. What should I do? Thundercloud is flying with Scootaloo so they won't be any help. And Sweetie Belle doesn't like when I interrupt the music she and Fret play.

She decided to find her favorite young colt, Hex Screw. He had been a big help building the new clubhouse, and after quite a bit of pleading, Applebloom agreed to mentor him. He was always working hard on each 'assignment' the yellow filly would give him. Gosh he's probably almost finished with the rowboat I gave him yesterday!

Sure enough, Hex finished it and was awaiting the next piece of work. Applebloom examined his progress. He's getting much better! She thought about what to assign next. Gosh he's been through six pieces since Thursday!  I should give him a few days break for once.

"Good job there, Hex! Seems yer doin' great, so how bout ah give ya a few days off?"

"Yes! I'm gonna go play with my little sister then! She's been wanting me to build her a doll house for a while now, but I've been so busy with the stuff you've given me that I never had the time! Thanks Applebloom!" He shouted before sprinting out the door. Nice to know I made somepony happy.

Applebloom worked on her special project. She planned to give it to Thundercloud as a present once it was absolutely perfect. She has been working on it ever since she realized her feelings and she certainly wasn't ever gonna stop until it was finished.

Applebloom, deciding to retire for the day, strolled outside to watch Thundercloud. Scootaloo was sitting on the ground watching Angel practice.

"Hey Scoots. Get tired o' flyin' fer the day?"

"Yeah. That kid always wears me out." Scootaloo kept watching the filly with a proud look in her eye.

"She reminds me o' somepony when they were just a little filly" Applebloom laughed.

"Really? Who?" Scootaloo exclaimed puzzled.

"Why ya o' course! She looks up ta ya like us used ta look up ta Rainbow Dash!"

"Haha yeah, I guess she does." Scootaloo grinned. They sat in silence as they gazed upon the older pegasus. He praised the filly when she did good and gave her pointers when she messed up. He would be such a great big brother. She smiled at the thought of Thundercloud playing with a little brother or sister.

Applebloom looked at the filly beside her. Scootaloo had a look of pure awe. She must be so proud of Angel Wings.

“Whatcha starin` at Scoots?”

“N-Nothing! J-Just like watching Angel fly! Yeah! Angel!” Scootaloo looked around nervously with wide eyes. What`s her problem?

“Okay... Whatever ya say.” She went back to watching the pegasi in the sky. In the corner of her eye, she saw Scootaloo fidgeting with her hoofs.

“... I-I just remembered I told Rainbow Dash that I would help her with- umm-  her … tortoise! Yeah, Tank! See you guys later!” Wow... That was weird. Wonder what has gotten into her.

“Applebloom! Did you see that?” Thundercloud asked as he landed in front on her.

“Huh? Oh no ah didnt. Sorry. Wha happened?” she apologized.

“Angel just did a quadruple loop de loop while twisting around and singing the ABCs! It was awesome!” Thundercloud said excitedly. Angel landed beside him.

“It was nothing! Right Scoot- Where`s Scootaloo?” She pouted. Poor kid.

“Yeah where is that filly?” Thundercloud looked around in hope of seeing an orange coat.

“She left a few minutes ago. Apparently she had to help Rainbow with Tank.”

“Awww! She never gets to see my cool moves!” The pink haired filly whined.

“Maybe next time kiddo. Why don't you go home and rest up.” The colt suggested.

“Alright! See you next time Thunder!” She said as she flew off leaving Applebloom alone with the colt she admired most. Alright Applebloom! This is your chance to impress him!

“Sooooo... Wanna go get some lunch? Ah know this place by Rose's flower shop that makes a great dandelion sandwich!" Say yes, say yes, say yes!

"Well... *gurgle* Haha I guess my stomach answered for me!"

"Let's go before tha' stomach gets even louder!" She laughed before leading Thundercloud to the restaraunt.

After they ate their lunch, the two ponies decided to take a walk around town. Yes, lunch was perfect! This is going so well!

"So, Applebloom, got your eyes on a colt lately?" Thundercloud teased.

"Well... Umm.." Should I tell him?

"So there is somepony! Is it Pipsqueak? Wait no, Rumble! Or is it Featherweight? Yes, definitely Featherweight!" He taunted the blushing pony.

"No! It's none of them! Ah only like one of mah closest friends!" Get the hint already!

"Well it can't be Fret. It's Claw, isn't it? You two always had so much in common. It would only make sense you would like him." He smiled.

"No! It's ya ah like! Ah've always liked ya Thunder!" Applebloom shouted before she could stop herself. Now what have I done?

"Oh... I have to go. See you tomorrow." Thundercloud walked away, shocked from his friend's confession. Great.

Applebloom sulked her way on back to Sweet Apple Acres. Not wanting to go inside the house, she wandered through the orchard.

 After walking around the perimeter, Applebloom decided to sit down on her favorite hill and watch the sunset. The warm colors the sun made when going down had always comforted the filly. Like a nice hug.

"Applebloom! Supper is ready!" She heard her sister yell from the house. Time to seem happy. Not worried at all!

Supper had gone well enough. Applebloom hadn't eaten a lot during the course and stayed quiet the whole time. Thankfully her siblings were too tired from harvesting apples all day to notice and Granny Smith was... well Granny was just being Granny. Applebloom left for her room, just wanting to be alone.

She climbed in her bed. She begged for the nothingness of sleep, but the events of the day had kept her awake. Why did he ask me that? Why didn't I just lie? I could've said I didn't like anypony! He probably doesn't want to talk to me ever again!

After hours of tossing and turning, she was finally able to escape reality and get some rest.