"Even after all I've said tonight, in three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on," chuckled the old mare.
Her skin was wrinkled like a prune and hair was greyer than an old newspaper. Even the red bow on her head was worn and showing it's age just as well.
"Is there anything else you might want to know dearies? It's almost time for my evening nap you know? When you're an old fool like myself, a good nap is best thing you can get out of a day," said the old mare smugly.
Inside an old, yet well-deserved living room. The fire was stoked and windows were closed to the snowy weather outside. Old pictures of old ponies were hung on the mantelpiece. Seated comfortably on an old, red couch was Applebloom. It was about time she had the opportunity to tell a story once again. Not to little fillies this time, but to curious adults. She had been spinning the yarn of her life to them all night long.
Seated across from her was a camera crew and neat interviewer. The invention of television by Flimflamsoft Corporation. had taken Equestria by storm, and tonight on ENN was an interview with one of the oldest ponies in Equestria.
"Well, I do have one more question for you Mrs Applebloom. You've described so much of your life as boundless and incredible, but you couldn't have spent it on your own. Did you have any good friends who were by your side?" asked the curious stallion.
Notepad in hoof, he was seated quietly on a stool a few feet from Applebloom. His fair mane was trimmed like a hedge, a pair of new glasses sat upon his face and a tie was kept neatly hanging from his neck. There was a camerapony standing upright behind him, aimed straight at the old mare sitting opposite.
"Friends you say? Well now, never-mind that evening nap, because I have been waiting for you to ask that one. You might want to grab a cushion dear, because my friedship is quite a tale," said Applebloom light-heartedly.
She seemed brightened by that question. The interviewers eyes widened, he had an inescapable interest in the lives of others, particularly those who have lived long before him.
There was a pep in Applebloom's step now, even though she was sitting down. She gently sipped on a warm cup of and cleared her elderly throat, the old muscles in her neck trying their best to do their job. She began to stroke her chin in contemplation.
"Where would I be without friends? Where would you be without friends? Heck, where would we all be without friends? Prime Minister Sparkle even defeated Lord Tirek with the power of friendship back in the day, back when we were a monarchy for Pete's sake. No newfangled gadgets that you young folk use nowadays. We solved our problems with the bond of our friends," said Applebloom passionately.
She paused for a moment, then continued.
"As you can tell sonny, friends are indeed important to me. As silly as it sounds, the world was definitely a much happier place to be back in my day."
The young interviewer was still writing this all down. He spoke with a calm, clear voice.
"You've got that right, much of today's generation fails to appreciate the value of friendship in their lives," exclaimed the Interviewer .
"As long as they've got good friends who they cherish, then they're doing just fine." replied the ever olden mare.
"Did you cherish your friends Mrs. Applebloom?" questioned the ever-curious, young stallion.
"Did I?!" responded Applebloom in an exciting manner.
"I still do now!"
"Gimme a moment."
She picked up an old-timey phone from the desk right next to her. She took her time dialling a vague number and held the phone up.
"Howdy Sweetie Belle," said Applebloom calmly into the phone.
A much more feeble, but finer voice responded.
"Hello there, who the hay are you?" responded Sweetie Belle.
"Applebloom? Your best friend? Remember?"
"Come again?"
Sweetie Belle had long since gone senile and Applebloom tried to cope with this the best she could. The old fogey had even forgotten that Applebloom was still her best friend, but Applebloom would always try to remind her nonetheless. Applebloom always tried her best to refresh her friends everyday.
"Um, that pretty mare who brought you those bottles of apple-sauce yesterday, remember?" exclaimed Applebloom.
"I do remember an old mare did come to my house yesterday, but she definitely wasn't pretty that's for sure," replied the ever-confused Sweetie Belle.
There was a pause over the line. Applebloom sighed and placed her hoof over the phone. She looked over to the Interviewer.
"Her memory may have degraded over time, but her attitude has definitely stayed the same."
She smirked as she spoke. It was this attitude that had always kept them good friends through thick and thin for all these years. Applebloom looked back to the phone to hear Sweetie Belle rambling into it on the other end. She was just raving to herself again.
"Hello? Is this that telemarketer again? For the last time, my kidneys aren't for sale! I'd rather bring them to grave with me than donate to the hoity toity Diamond Tiara Foundation!" argued Sweetie Belle over the phone, even though she hadn't a soul soul to argue with.
Another delightful demonstration of her descent into senility. Applebloom tried to ease her out of her confusion.
"Don't worry Sweetie Belle, the bad telemarketer is gone now."
"Thank goodness. Diamond Tiara Foundation? Pfft, we all know they're not up to helping the sick. Just another pesky scheme to steal my internal organs," replied Sweetie Belle stiffly.
"Mm-hmm. Say, Sweetie Belle? Do you by any chance happen to remember our old friend Scootaloo?"
Another pause fell across the phone line, but within seconds it was broken again by a bewildered Sweetie Belle.
"How the heck do you know about Scoots?"
"Best friends? Remember?"
"Oh, uh.. righto. Yes, I do remember plenty about that old pony. She really did brighten all of our lives with all those crazy schemes of hers and shenanigans we had. Shame she bucked the bucket so soon," said Sweetie Belle in a slightly remorseful tone.
"But I'll be the next one kicking the bucket if I don't get my beauty sleep, nice talking to you Mr. Applebloom if I'm not mistaken," continued Sweetie Belle as she ended the call.
A look of frustration brushed over Appleblooms face as she put down the phone. This frustration soon turned into a grin.
"Heh heh. Old Sweetie Belle, she never gets old," said Applebloom, giggling to herself in an elderly manner.
The Interviewer was still sitting there anxiously, ever-so intently ready for Appleblooms next spiel. She stroked her chin for a moment, then burst into a fit of excitement.
"Right! Enough about her. Lemme tell you a little about my friend Scootaloo."
