Applebloom galloped into the barn, tears flowing from her orange eyes. She galloped upstairs, and slammed her bedroom door shut. Applebloom hid her face in her hooves, thinking about what had happened that day.
She heard somepony knock on her door. "Applebloom? It's Applejack, can Ah' come in?" Applejack called softly.
"Leave me alone! Ah' wanna be ALONE!" She cried behind tears. Applejack ignored it, and came in her room anyway.
"Applebloom! What's wrong? What happen'd at school!?" Applejack asked, genuinely concerned. She noticed that her hooves her covering her elbow. Applejack gingerly moved it away, to see a big, purple bruise. She gasped.
"Applebloom! You're bruised!" She cried.
"Ah' know! Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon beat me!" She replied, trying hard to swallow tears. Applejack called for Big Macintosh and Granny Smith. They both came galloping upstairs to see Applebloom, bruised on the right fore-hoof.
"Honey!" Granny cried. "Who did this to ya!?".
"Diamond Tiara and her snobby friend!" Applejack answered for her. They all pitched in to get Applebloom to rest. She was laid down straight, an ice pack on her right fore-hoof, and covered in a light blanket.
"We've gotta tell her teacher 'bout this!" Applejack growled.
"Hopefully, Cheerilee will do somethin' 'bout it." Big Macintosh sighed.
"It's too much. We can't let Applecore see her like this!" Granny cried. Applebloom sat up, still holding her ice pack on her arm, and she raised an eyebrow at her grandmother.
"Granny," She called. Granny turned to her. "Who's Applecore?" She asked.
"Your sist'r. Applejack's twin, ta b' exact. They looked different, though." Granny replied.
"Applecore!?" Applejack squeaked. "Why, Ah' haven't seen her in furever!" She added in a jovial voice.
Applebloom was quite befuddled. She had never met Applecore before. Yet, her name sounded so familiar. But she couldn't put a picture. Then, Applejack told her to lay back down, and rest. Applebloom did so, and stared up at the ceiling. The three all trotted out of the room, and downstairs to the living room.
"This has gone on for far too long! Ah'm gonna talk to Miss Cheerilee tomorrow mornin'! Ah'll make sure she does somethin' about this!" Applejack growled.
"Y'all can do thayt, but I don't know if it'll work." Granny sighed. "Now their beatin' on her! Applebloom is having a horrible time in the third grade!" She added.
"Eyup." Big Macintosh sighed.
"When is Applecore comin' back?" Applejack asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon. Specifically 'round the time Applebloom gits home!" Granny laughed. Applejack smiled. Her and Applecore were separated at birth many years ago. Her twin sister was sent to live with Uncle Apple Strudel. Applecore had a mahogany-red mane, and a small green bow next to her left ear. Her eyes were red, vividly. But at a certain age, she had something happen to her. She didn't know how it happened in detail, and it cost her. If she didn't do what she did, she would've given the Apple family a bad reputation.
"I can't wait to see her! It's been evur since Applebloom was born!" Applejack laughed. Granny nodded, and looked over at Big Macintosh.
"I still remember the day..." She sighed longingly. Applejack's smile slowly faded, and she hung her head, Big Macintosh did as well.
"It wasn't her fault, Granny. She was raped..." Applejack sighed.
"Ah' know, darlin'. She was a good girl..."
"She did the rayht thing, Granny. Ya know thayt."
"She did it so she wouldn't ruin the family reputation."
"It was for the best..."
A long silence was held in the room for about ten minutes. What had happened to Applecore was a crime, and she didn't know for so long. Finally, the silence was broken by a knock on the door. Applejack trotted over to it, and opened the door gingerly. Face to face, there stood the mail-stallion.
"Letter for Applejack," He said, handing Applejack a letter with his unicorn magic.
"Thank ya." She said. He nodded, and trotted away. Applejack closed the door, and opened the letter.
Dear Applejack,
I just might be a bit early tomorrow for my arrival, so I'll be there at around 1:30 P.M.. I hope that's a good time to be there. The only reason is because my train is coming about an hour early due to "Senate Issues". I can't wait to see you all!
Sincerely,
Applecore
Applejack smiled after she read the letter. "Applecore's gonna be early tomorrow." She stated. Granny raised an eyebrow, and looked over the letter.
"Well! Ah'll be a Pickadilly Pear!" She gasped. "She's rayht!". Big Macintosh smiled, and trotted back upstairs to check on Applebloom. Soon, the mares followed. They all saw Applebloom, who sat up in her bed.
"Feelin' any better?" Applejack asked her softly.
"Yeah. I guess so." She replied. Applejack sat down on the edge of Applebloom's bed, and gingerly used a hoof to brush some of the red mane out of her face.
"Applecore will be a lil' early tomorrow, so she'll already be here by th' time you git home." Applejack told her.
"That's cool!" She replied, a smile on her face. "Ah think Ah'm gonna go to sleep. Ah'm a might tired!".
"Okay, we love ya, Applebloom."
"Love y'all, too."
Applejack turned the lights off as they trotted out, and gently shut the door.
