"That was the best Cutiemark-Crusaders-Sleepover-EVER!" squealed Sweetiebelle as she bounced down the path to school with her two best friends Applebloom and Scootaloo.
"It sure was!" agreed Scootaloo.
"We should have a sleepover in the clubhouse every weekend!" Suggested Applebloom.
"That would be so great!" chimed in Sweeteiebelle.
"Ah still can' believe the weekend went bye' so fast," started Applebloom, "it seems like jus' a few hours ago y'all showed up on Friday."
"Well you know what they say..." said Scootaloo slyly. "Time flies when you're having fun!" As she said this she flapped her little wings with all her might, barley hovering off the ground.
Applebloom and Sweetiebelle cracked up at the little pegusus's pun. They were still giggling when they turned the corner to school. The little red building stood in front of them and several of their class mates were all ready there waiting for school to start. But something was different, instead of running around and playing most of the little ponies just stood or sat around, all with down turned faces. Even Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon looked morose. Before the Crusaders could ask anypony what was going on Miss Cheerilee arrived and let the students into the class room. Everypony shuffled in and sat at their desks. The Crusaders were growing concerned, what was going on? They spent all weekend at Sweet Apple Acres and were completely out of the know.
Miss Cheeriliee waited for everypony to take their seat before starting, but instead of her usual upbeat and happy tone she sounded sad and distant. She let out a sigh before saying, "As many of you know there was an... accident over the weekend at the pond. ..... Two of your classmates..." And she started to choke up.
Applebloom noticed Twist was starting to sob at her desk.
Miss Cheerilee continued, "Snips and Snails..."
Just then Twist burst out in a fit of tears and sobbing. She ran up to Miss Cheerilee and hugged her.
"It...it was just awful!" Sobbed Twist into her teacher fore hoof. "I was there swi...swimmming and Snips and Snails... they were just.... they were just laying there! Not moving! And their parents were yelling and crying and it was horrible! They wer...weren't supposed to go in the deep part but... but they did any way!"
Cheerilee started crying too while she comforted Twist. After a few moments they composed themselves and Twist shuffled back to her desk still sniffling.
"Why don't we take it easy today," said Cheerilee, her voice shaky. "Just color quietly or play outside, and I'll be here for any pony who wants to talk to me about what happened."
Applebloom looked over at her friends, Sweetiebelle wiped away a tear and Scootaloo motioned silently that they should go out side. The three shuffled out with about half of the class. Miss Cheerilee walked over to comfort Twist, who started crying again. Pipsqueak and Featherweight went to the jungle gym and sat on top, talking. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walked laps slowly around the school house while they talked and the Cutiemark Crusaders sat on the stoop in front of the main door. The rest of the class stayed inside.
"Ah can' believe they're gone." said Applebloom after several minutes of silence.
"I know," said Scootaloo, "It's like we're in a bad dream or something."
Sweetiebelle just looked at the ground and lightly kicked a pebble.
"Ah mean Snips and Snails are always doin' dangerous stuff like that, but Ah never thought they'd be hurt... or worse."
"Oh man," sighed Scootaloo... "I know what you mean, and at the pond too... it's not like they were doing anything out of the ordinary. I mean, we all love to swim there."
"I think I'm going to go talk to Miss Cheerilee..." sniffled Sweetiebelle, and she shuffled back inside.
"Ah think Sweetiebelle is takin' this pretty hard." Said Applebloom to Scootaloo.
"I wonder why, she wasn't really close friends with them, neither were we I guess..." replied Scootaloo somewhat downcast.
"Well she's more sensitive about these things than you an' me I guess." Said Applebloom.
"Do you think we should have been?" Asked Scootaloo.
"Should have been what?" asked Applebloom.
"Should have been better friends with Snips and Snails?" said Scootaloo, "I feel like we never gave them a chance.... and now we can't.... maybe we should have invited them to hang out with us.... maybe if we were better friends they would have been with us at the clubhouse instead of the pond.... maybe we would have been at the pond and convinced them not to go in the deep part..."
Applebloom waited, it looked like Scootaloo was getting really up set as well.
"I think I'm going to wait to go talk with Miss Cheerilee too," said Scootaloo trying to hide the quivering in her voice as she shuffled off.
Applebloom sat alone on the steps with her thoughts. She watched Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon as they walked past her on their circles around the school house. She kept expecting them to stop and say something mean but they never did. After about an hour Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle came back out side. They were still sad but seemed to have composed themselves for the moment. The day passed agonizingly slowly. Applebloom was bored, but in no mood to do anything. She wasn't alone in her feelings. Inside a few ponies doddle halfheartedly on sheets of paper before giving up in an exasperated sigh and gazing out the window. Out side they sat on the swings only barley swinging, or on the jungle gym, but only barley climbing. Everypony was depressed and the day dragged on.
At the end of the day Miss Cheerilee called the outside students in. She looked exhausted, it wasn't hard to tell that she'd been crying off and on all day. She had dark circles under her red puffy eyes. She silently passed out a bulletin for her students to take home to their parents. It explained what had happened to Snips and Snails and told them that class was going to canceled for the rest of the week so that the children could mourn. It also had an invitation for the memorial service which would be held that Friday. Cheerilee dismissed the class and sat at her desk for a moment.... staring at a page of the year book with her full class on it. Applebloom could hear her crying softly again as the class shuffled home for the day.
"Oh goodness gracious, sugarcube!" exclaimed Applejack as she read the letter from Cheerilee, "This is jus' terrible!"
"Eeyup." agreed Big Macintosh solemnly.
"Can we go to the memorial service this Friday?" asked Applebloom.
"Of course we can." Said Granny Smith, "We Apples should always show respect for the dearly departed."
"How you holdin' up little sis?" asked Applejack.
"All righ' Ah guess. Ah mean, it jus' don' feel quite right, Snips and Snails bein' gone..."
"Ah know the feelin'," sighed Applejack, "The important thing is ta' always remember the good times, an' eventually the pain will go away. It migh' take some time is all."
"Ah hope so," Said Applebloom. "Ah think Ah'm gonna turn in early tonight. Goodnight everypony..... Ah love you all."
"We love you too," Replied the rest of the Apple family, "We'll be righ' here if you need us little sis." added Applejack.
The week at home passed rather uneventfully. Applebloom busied herself with chores and hobbies, anything to keep her mind of Snips and Snails. By Thursday she was feeling almost back to normal, but when she woke up on Friday she could feel the sadness set back in. She got dressed in a black outfit like the rest of her family and waked with them slowly to the center of town. It seemed like a strange day for a funeral, the sky was bright and sunny, birds chirped in the trees and light breeze carried the first smells of fall across the land. It made Applebloom all the more uneasy, normally she would have been playing with Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle on a day like this, but not today.
They reached town hall, the area out side had several chairs arranged in front of the mayor's pulpit and stage. The stage was covered in flowers and had two large pictures of Snips and Snails. On the stage sat the parents, both mothers cried into hoofkerchiefs under their black vials, their husbands simultaneously comforting them. The sat with them and waited for the town ponies to arrive. The Apples sat near the back and were soon joined by Applejack's friends, Rarity sat next to Sweetiebelle, who sat down next to Applebloom. The rest took the neighboring seats to either side of in the next row forward. Scootaloo arrived a bit late and just stood behind Applebloom, all the other chairs had been filled.
After a few moments of waiting Miss Cheerilee walked to the pulpit. She cleared her throat, "On behalf of Snips and Snails families welcome, and thank you for coming. I have been asked to speak on their behalf at this service. At first I was reluctant, I must admit. But I am honored to speak about them today. For those of you that don't know me, I am Cheerilee, Snips and Snails teacher. It has been very hard for me this past week. Snips and Snails were beloved members of my class and I don't think I'll ever get used to them not being there. They were always brightening our day with their smiles and laughter." She continued for several minutes, retelling silly and happy stories about the two of them. Then Cheerilee began to get choked up again.
"I'm sorry," She said, "I love all my students, and the thought of loosing them is hard. As I'm sure it's hard for all of you. Snips and Snails will never be forgotten. Always be sure to remember they way they brightened your day, and their memory will live on. If anypony else would like to say something I will leave the pulpit open."
A few ponies shuffled up one by one to talk about Snips and Snails. The Cakes talked about how they used to love to see them in their sweets shops. Twilight talked about their favorite books. Even the great and powerful Trixie took the pulpit, she gave and exceptionally moving speech about how they'd been her only fans... her only friends. She regretted ever mistreating them, and vowed that one day she would create a powerful and beautiful spell in their honor. At the end she broke down in tears and the Mayor had to gently lead her away by the hoof from the pulpit. The Mayor was the last to speak. She talked about what a terrible tragedy this was and offered her condolences to the families, finally she vowed that something like this would never happen again, and said they would dedicate a new life guard station at the pond in memory of Snips and Snails.
After the funeral several of the ponies, including the Apple family, walked down to the pond where a new life guard station had been built, next to it was a memorial stone for Snips and Snails. It was a polished white stone with their names and message reading "In Loving Memory of Snips and Snails." Around the stone was a ring of flowers, toys, and various other mementos. Applebloom had picked some daffodils on the walk to the pond and placed them along the other flowers, then as she raised her head she saw it. The pond, it's water looked black and cold, it chilled her soul, but she couldn't look away, she couldn't move it paralyzed her. How could something that used to bring such joy suddenly look so sinister. It's black water lapped against the shore driven by a now cold and harsh breeze. Applebloom felt all the warmth of the day vanish, she felt afraid.
Suddenly Applejack called after Applebloom, the family had begun to head back to Sweet Apple Acres. Everything snapped back to normal. The birds chirped, the sun shine warmed the land and the cool breeze gently whisked through Applebloom's mane. As she followed her family back to the farm she glanced back once more at the pond, she still thought it looked black and menacing...
The next day Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo came over the farm.
"Hey Applebloom!" They both squeaked in unison as she opened the door.
"Hiya girls!" Replied Applebloom, "So, what do y'all want ta' do taday!?"
"Ooh I know," Shouted Sweetiebelle, "Lets go the rollerskating rink!"
"That's a great idea!" Said Scootaloo, "Maybe we can get our cutie marks in roller hockey or derby!"
"Oh synchronized skating!" Suggested Sweetibelle.
"Sure, that sounds like loads of fun!" agreed Applebloom, and the three of them trotted off to the rollerskating rink.
The entered the rink and rented their skates, but something was different. Scootaloo raced around the rink practising her speed, and Sweetiebelle tried some twirls and spins, but Applebloom only meandered around the edge. She was going slow, taking it easy, taking it very easy.
"You wanna race?" sneered Scootaloo playfully as she passed Applebloom.
"Uh, no, that's ok." Replied Applebloom, "Ah'l just go at my own pace here."
"Oh, ok then." Said Scootaloo, a little disappointed as she skated off.
After a few more laps Applebloom left the rink and went to the snack counter. She sat and drank a soda and ate popcorn while she watched her friends. Sweetiebelle lost control of a particularly exuberant spin and fell, but quickly got up. She skated somewhat slowly off the rink. Scootaloo rushed up to make sure she was ok, and Applebloom saw here nod her head. None the less when Sweetiebelle reached the table Applebloom asked if she was hurt.
"Oh no, I'm fine" Said Sweetiebelle, "I'll just rest here for a few moments then head back out."
But Applebloom wouldn't let it go, "Are ya sure you're ok? 'Cause if you're not Ah can go get a doctor or something."
"No no, I'm fine, see?" Said Sweetiebelle, and she stood back up and did a little spin. "I'm just taking a little rest."
"Ok, but we gotta be careful. We don't want ta get hurt." Said Applebloom. Sweetiebelle was surprised by Applebloom's sudden concern for safety, not that Applebloom was especially dangerous it was just out of character for her.
"Well I think I'm going to head back out." Said Sweetiebelle after for sitting for a few minutes, "Are you coming?"
"Uh, ya, sure." Said Applebloom somewhat reluctantly. The two of them rejoined Scootaloo out on the rink. Once they arrived though Applebloom just skated gingerly around the edge of the rink. Scootaloo skated over to Applebloom again.
"Hey, are you OK?" She asked.
"Oh ya, Ah'm fine." Replied Applebloom.
"Are you sure?" asked Scootaloo, "You've been skating kinda slow all day."
"Well not everypony can be as fast as you!" Huffed Applebloom.
"I didn't mean it like that!" Said Scootaloo, "What's with you?"
"Ah'm sorry," said Applebloom, "Ah guess Ah jus' don't much feel like skating is all."
"Well that's ok," said Scootaloo, "we can do something else if you want."
"Ya." Said Applebloom, "Lets.... uh go to the movies?"
"Sure, that sounds like fun too." Said Scootaloo, and they flagged Sweetiebelle over.
The three of them turned in their skates and headed towards the movie theater. They had a little time before the next show so they got a quick lunch at Sugarcube Corner while they waited. By the time they finished eating and watching the movie it was nearly dark. They said their goodbyes and each went home for the evening.
Over the next few days Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo began to notice something strange about Applebloom. She started becoming overly cautious. She stopped going outside for recess at school, instead preferring to stay inside and color. After school when they would all play together, she would always insist that they watch a movie, read a book, or play a board game. Occasionally she would relent and play outside if Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle out voted her, but she would always play halfheartedly. Finally, after about two weeks, things reached a boiling point.
"What do you mean you don't want to sleepover in the clubhouse!" Asked Scootaloo angrily.
"It's dangerous out there!" Shouted back Applebloom.
"Dangerous!? What do you mean dangerous!?" Yelled Scootaloo.
"It jus' is! It's, uh... old. And It's breezy, and what would happen if a bear or timberwolf wandered by or if it got struck by lightning, bein' in a tree and all." Said Applebloom.
"Come on!" Huffed Scootaloo, "We JUST spent a whole weekend there not even a month ago!"
"Uh, Exactly!" said Applebloom, "The critters will be sure to know that we'd go back eventually, it's too risky"
"That's absolutely ridiculous!" Sighed Scootaloo.
"Well I ain't goin'!" said Applebloom, crossing her forelegs across her chest.
"Fine!" Shouted Scootaloo, "If you're too scared me and Sweetiebelle will just have a sleepover without you!"
"Fine!" Shouted back Applebloom.
"Fine!" Repeated Scootaloo.
"Fine!" replied Applebloom one last time.
Scootaloo let out a frustrated huff as she shuffled out the door, "C'mon Sweetiebelle."
Sweetiebelle slowly walked to the door, she turned back to Applebloom, who only continued to hold her ground stubbornly. "Sorry Applebloom..." she said sadly and followed Scootaloo away from Sweet Apple Acres. Applebloom sat in her living room sulking for a moment, then Applejack walked in.
"Ah heard your fight with your friends." She said.
"It's their lose." Said Applebloom sullenly.
"Ya see," Started Applejack, "Ah'm not so sure if it is sugarcube."
"You're taking their side?" Asked Applebloom, feeling a bit betrayed.
"Well yeah!" said Applejack. "No offense, but you've been actin' mighty strange lately. You don' want to do any of your regular favorite things, all you three do anymore is jus' sit inside all the time. Don' you want ta go outside an' play?"
"Are you kidding!?" Said Applebloom, shocked, "It's dangerous outside! You don' want us ta get hurt do ya?"
"Of course not!" Said Applejack, "It's just you can' jus' sit around all the time."
"Ah can' beleive Ah'm hearing this from my own sister!" yelled Applebloom as she got up, "You're as bad as they are."
Then she galloped up to her room. Applejack winced at the sound of her door slamming. Applejack followed her up but the door was locked. Applejack could hear her sister sobbing on the other side of the door. "Go away!" Sobbed Applebloom.
Applejack reluctantly walked downstairs, she didn't want to force an argument with her little sister. She went to talk with Big Macintosh and Granny Smith about Applebloom's problem, but the only thing they could think of was to just let her work it out. Sooner or later she would get back to normal they thought, but they were wrong.
It was several weeks into winter and Applebloom had only gotten worse. She hardly ever left her room, she stopped performing any of her outside chores, at first this got her grounded but she was all ready spending all her free time in her room anyway, she even insisted that her hot chocolate be served only just above room temperature. Occasionally Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo would come by to see if Applebloom would leave come outside to play, but she never would. The rest of the Apple's didn't know what to do.
First they tried having Cheerilee talk with Applebloom, but that didn't help. Then they tried all of Applejack's friends, but they couldn't help her either. After another frustrating week Applejack could hardly take it any more. She had joined her friends at the Library to see if Twilight had any books on helping a pony get over paranoia.
"Ah'm at the end of mah rope Twi," Sighed Applejack as she shuffled through stacks of books. "We've tired jus' about everything. Ah'm really worried. Applebloom can' spend the rest of her life a shut in."
"I know Applejack." Started Twilight, "That's why I've asked Princess Celestia for advise."
"Oh, you didn't have ta do that Twilight." Said Applejack as she set down yet another useless book. "We should be able to find something to help her in here."
"Applejack, I've told you, I all ready went through all my books, and everything we tried all ready failed." Said Twilight, magicly filing the books away.
"Oh all right Ah guess," Sighed Applejack, "What was the princess's advice?"
"Well actually, she decided it would be best if she were to talk to Applebloom face to face." admitted Twilight.
"Well good luck gettin' here on a train to Canterlot." Said Applejack. "She would jus' tell you how dangerous trains are and refuse to go."
"I know," Said Twilight, "That's why Princess Celestia is coming here."
"Coming here!" Said Applejack, "Oh no! A farm ain't no kind of place for a princess. Ah'll have to get everything straitened up. When is she coming?"
"Don't worry Applejack. She's coming at the end of the week, there is plenty of time to get everything ready, though she did ask that we not inform Applebloom apparently she said that it will have a better effect on Applebloom if she doesn't know Celestia is coming, something about not having enough time to make mental excuses for an unanticipated discussion."
"Well Ah suppose that makes sense," Said Applejack, "Thank you Twilight."
Soon the day of Celestia's visit arrived. Everypony at the Apple house was nervous, except Applebloom, who was still completely unaware of her appointment with the Princess. Soon there was a knock at the door. Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celstia greeted the Apple's and walked into the living room, Sweetebelle, Scootaloo and Cheerilee accompanied them. Celestia had insisted they be there as well for moral support. Everypony took seats around the living room and Applejack called up to her little sister.
"Applebloom, there are some ponies here who want to see you, will you come down please, for jus' a moment?" She asked through the door to her sister's bedroom.
"Who is it?" Asked Applebloom.
"Um, jus' some, uh.... friends." Said Applejack through the door, she didn't want to spoil Celestia's plan of surprise.
"Ok," said Applebloom and she followed Applejack down stairs.
"Hello Applebloom." Said Princess Celestia cheerfully as the sisters reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Princess Celestia!" Gasped Applebloom, "What are you doin' here!?"
"I wanted to speak with you little one, come sit with me on the couch." Said Celestia calmly and she motioned for Applebloom to join here. Applebloom reluctantly joined Celestia on the couch.
"Applebloom," Started Celestia, "I have come because your friends and family love you very much, and they are concerned for you. Let me assure you nopony here is angry with you or disappointed in you, they just want to be back to your old self."
"What do you mean? Ah'm the same me Ah'v always been." Said Applebloom defensively.
"Well of course you're you," giggled Celestia, "It's just that you used to like to play outside and go on adventures with your friends, the cutie mark crusaders is it? But now I've been told you prefer to spend your time indoors instead."
"Well yeah, Ah guess." Said Applebloom.
"Tell me, how long has it been since you last played outside?" Asked Celestia.
"It's uh, been a while, Ah don' quite know exactly." Said Applebloom trying to dodge the question.
"Its been a little over two months, at least at school." offered Cheerilee.
"An' about the same here." Said Applejack.
"Eeyup." added Big Mac.
"That's a long time." Admitted Applebloom to herself.
"It is indeed." Agreed Celestia. "Why have you spent so much time inside?"
"Ah don' know, it's dangerous to play outside sometimes." Said Applebloom.
"That it can be, but that did not stop your play time before, what has changed?" Asked Celestia.
"It's jus' that Ah don' want to get hurt." Said Applebloom.
"That is a guarantee that nopony can make Applebloom." Said Celestia.
"Than Ah ain't goin' outside! Ah don' want ta end up like Snips and Snails." Said Applebloom.
"Ah, I had a feeling that was at the root of the problem." Said Celestia. She sighed heavily before continuing. "What happened to your classmates was a tragic and terrible accident. Death is never an easy thing to face, especially when it happens to somepony you knew well. But, eventually, everypony must face it. Death is part of life, it is the part that makes the rest of life so much more wonderful. As mortal ponies each moment of you life is that much more precious. You must cherish every moment of it. Spending you life locked in your room will certainly keep you alive, but in doing so you are throwing away everything that makes life so wonderful. When a pony dies, no matter how tragic or untimely the circumstances you must remember the life that they led, not their death. Remember the good times that they shared and carry that with you in your heart. If you hold onto the memory of your loved ones then they are never truly dead.
As for the danger of simply living life, no pony is immune from accidents, even Princesses like me can be the victim of an accident. We must remain vigilant and try to take caution, but that does not always mean that we should be so cautious that we forget what we are protecting ourselves, not just so that we live, but so that we can live to enjoy our favorite activities in the future. Skating, swimming flying, camping, all of these things have a certain risk, but as long as you take the necessary precautions, such as wearing a helmet or making sure a lifeguard is nearby then you should enjoy the activity. Do not let fear rule you, if you do then you will let your life pass you by."
"Ah think Ah understand princess," Said Applebloom, "Ah should still play with my friends, we should jus' obey the rules and be careful not ta do anythin' extra dangerous."
"Exactly my little pony." Replied Celestia.
"Thank you Princess" Said Applebloom as she hugged Celestia. "Ah think Ah'd like ta see of mah friends would like ta go ice skatin'. That is, if ya'll can forgive me for bein' such a stick in the mud."
"Of coure we can." Said Sweetiebelle happily.
"Ya, we can't stay mad at you, you're our best friend!" said Scootaloo.
And with that the Cutie Mark Crusaders trotted down to the pond, skates in tow.
