A Bad End Leads to a Good End

Chapter 5: Worry or Relief?

The Cutie Mark Crusaders arrived at Sugarcube Corner finally. Sweetie Belle immediately went inside but before Scootaloo could also enter, she turned around and saw Apple Bloom had yet to get out of the wagon.

"What's wrong Apple Bloom?" asked Scootaloo.

"Well...what if everypony tries to get rid of me after they see me. Ah don't think Ah can do this Scoots. It's just....Ah can't....Ah don't know what to do." Apple Bloom said, obviously on the verge of crying as her voice cracked in the end. Scootaloo went up to her and place a hoof on Apple Bloom's shoulder, causing the youngest Apple family member to look up at her as her sunglasses-hidden glowing red eyes met Scootaloo's purple eyes.

"Apple Bloom, you're my best friend. And like you saw, I was so sad when I thought you were gone forever. I'll never let anything else bad happen to you. If everypony does try to get rid of you, I'll be there to protect you with my very life. Heck, I'll even run to the ends of Equestria and beyond with you if it means you're safe." said Scootaloo. Apple Bloom found herself blushing afterwards and also found herself lost in Scootaloo's eyes.

'Oh Scoots, Ah wish you knew how much ya mean to me. This whole thing may have started out as a nightmare, but could become a dream come true if ya liked me the same way Ah liked you.' Apple Bloom thought as she smiled at Scootaloo, who then nodded and held out a hoof to help Apple Bloom out.

"Need any help getting out?" asked Scootaloo. Apple Bloom thought that even though she could get out herself, she should still be polite as she let Scootaloo take her hoof and help her out of the wagon. Afterwards, she soon found Scootaloo just staring at her with a small blush on her face while still holding onto her blanketed hoof.

"Uhhh, Scoots? You can let go now." said Apple Bloom as she found her cheeks burning a little bit.

"Huh? Oh, sorry!" Scootaloo said as she let go of Apple Bloom's hoof with her face a bright red. After they recovered, they went inside and everypony inside saw what they believed to be Apple Bloom hiding under a blanket.

"Uhhh, AJ. Are you sure that's really Apple Bloom?" asked Dash.

"Yeah, all I see is a pony in a blanket. And is that pony wearing sunglasses?" Twilight said.

"It is my little sister and Ah'll prove it. But first, Apple Bloom, I know ys don't want to, but can ya please take off yer disguise?" asked Applejack. Apple Bloom nodded and took off her sunglasses, revealing her glowing red eyes which already made Fluttershy hide in fear, though Pinkie would be able to calm her. Scootaloo then helped Apple Bloom get the sheet off and as soon as Apple Bloom's zombie form was revealed, Scootaloo made a defensive pose to protect Apple Bloom in case somepony tried to attack her. However, nopony made a sudden move forward to try to get rid of Apple Bloom.

"A-Apple B-B-Bloom, i-is t-t-t-that r-really y-y-you?" asked Rarity, probably almost as scared as Fluttershy.

"Yeah, it's me. Even though Ah look like this...Ah'm still myself and Ah Pinkie Promise Ah won't hurt any of ya. Cross mah heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in mah eye." Apple Bloom said as she did the motions for the Pinkie Promise.

"Oooooohh, she's serious right now! And even if she is a zombie, nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise." Pinkie said as she gave Apple Bloom a hug, convinced that this zombie was indeed her.

"I-It really is you Apple Bloom! I'm so glad you're not dead!" Twilight said loudly as she also hugged Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom was already surprised, but was even more when everypony else who didn't already know about Apple Bloom;s current state hugged her.

"I really missed ya kid." said Dash.

"No word on happiness can describe how happy I am to see you Apple Bloom." said Rarity.

"Even though you're a zombie, you're still the same Apple Bloom we know and love. I'm sorry for being scared of you in the first place." Fluttershy said as Apple Bloom looked at everypony in the room.

"Y-Ya mean yer all alright with me lookin' the way Ah am?" asked Apple Bloom, which made everypony in the room to nod silently. If Apple Bloom could cry right now, she'd be crying tears of joy. Suddenly, Rarity held her nose for some reason.

"Ugh, Apple Bloom, you really should clean yourself darling. You smell very unpleasant." Rarity said in the kindest way she could say it.

"Ah would if Ah could, but when Ah try to, parts of me come off." Apple Bloom said.

"Also, the reason she smells bad is because we accidentally ran into a bad smelling plant while on the way here." Scootaloo said as both her and Sweetie Belle revealed some plant stuff in their manes and tails.

"My word, this won't do at all! Come Sweetie Belle, we must get you home right away! It's starting to get late anyway!" Rarity said as she and Sweetie Belle made their way to Carousel Boutique. Everypony else in the room then noticed that Celestia's sun was already starting to set.

"Well Apple Bloom and Ah should be gettin' back to the farm." Applejack said.

"Awww, I was about to say we should have a slumber party!"

"Hey, that actually sounds like a good idea." Twilight said.

"U-Ummm...I-I guess that would be fine..." Fluttershy said.

"Even though I'd rather sleep in my home, I'd guess this would be cool." Dash said.

"Well...Granny Smith and Big Mac had to go take care of some Apple family business in Appleloosa, so Ah guess we could stay. If ya want to Apple Bloom." said Applejack.

"After spending so long without any of mah friends, of course Ah want to stay!" Apple Bloom said.

"Well if we're going to spend the night together, I need to at least get myself cleaned." Scootaloo said as she made her way to the bathroom. Scootaloo got the bath water running and started cleaning her mane and tail, but was slower then usual as Apple Bloom suddenly came into her thoughts.

'Why do I always feel like there's butterflies in my stomach every time I'm around Apple Bloom? I already know I've got a crush on her, but is it something more then that? Am I really that in love with her? Then again, even if she's a zombie, she's still really cute. And her voice is like an angel talking into my ear. And the way she calls me Scoots makes me feel very warm on the inside. And she's also very kind to me as well. Wait, what am I saying!? I don't know if she even-'

"Hey Scoots, you in there? Ah need to do some 'business' in there." Scootaloo's train of thought came to an abrupt stop as Apple Bloom's voice came from the other side of the door. Scootaloo immediately knew what Apple Bloom was talking about.

"Uhhh, Yeah, I'm in here. Come on in." Scootaloo said as the door opened and Apple Bloom came into the room. Scootaloo blushed at the fact that her and Apple Bloom were in the bathroom together and suddenly felt her wings poof out and stiffen up, causing her to blush even more. Apple Bloom did her 'business' and after she was done, she noticed Scootaloo's wing boner.

"Uhhhh, Scoots. What is that?" asked Apple Bloom, making Scootaloo blush even more knowing that Apple Bloom had noticed her wing boner.

"Uhh, I guess I tired my wings out when getting you and Sweetie Belle here." Scootaloo lied, hoping Apple Bloom would buy it, which luckily she did.

"Okay. Well Ah know of a way to help stiff muscles. It's somethin' Applejack taught me. Do ya want me to help unstiffen your wings?" asked Apple Bloom and if Scootaloo's face could become even more red.

"Uhhhhhhh, n-no thanks! I'm good!" Scootaloo said, trying to hide her blushing face.

"Oh come on Scoots, Ah insist. Besides, it's the least Ah can do for what you've done fer me." Apple Bloom said as she, even though she was a zombie, somehow gave Scootaloo a puppy dog look. Scootaloo knew that she wouldn't be able to convince Apple Bloom to not do this, so she turned around in the tub and let her wings face towards Apple Bloom.

"Okay, Apple Bloom, I guess a quick message wouldn't hurt." Scootaloo said as she admitted defeat. Apple Bloom walked up to Scootaloo and placed her front two hooves on the young pegasus' wings and started rubbing them while also pressing hard on them. Scootaloo was surprised by how good Apple Bloom was as she closed her eyes and let out a satisfied moan as Apple Bloom continued to massage Scootaloo's wings.

'My Celestia, how is she so good? This is the best message I've ever had. Actually is this my first message? I don't care, she's so good.' Scootaloo thought as she continued to moan.

"Ya okay there Scoots? Ah can quit if ya want me to." Apple Bloom said. Scootaloo's only response was to simply shake her head, telling Apple Bloom to continue. However, as Apple Bloom was about to reach the other side of Scootaloo's wings, Scootaloo opened her eyes and saw a water bug in the tub and immediately sat up to throw it out of the tub, but it caused Apple Bloom to suddenly get thrown into the tub. Scootaloo's eyes widened in fear when she heard the splash behind her and turned around as Apple Bloom's head rose from the water.

"SCOOTS, WHAT WAS THAT FOR!? DO YA REMEMBER WHAT AH SAID ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO ME WHEN AH GET IN WATER!?" Apple Bloom yelled at Scootaloo, causing her to flinch.

"I-I'm so s-sorry Apple Bloom, I-I saw a b-bu in the tub and I i-i-immediately tries to get it out of the tub, not realizing what would happen." Scootaloo said as she remembered Apple Bloom saying that he could actually fall apart if she got in water, due to her being a zombie. But when Scootaloo looked around the area Apple Bloom was in, she didn't see any part of her even floating.

"WELL YA COULD HAVE WAI-WHAT ARE YA LOOKING AT SCOOTS!?" asked Apple Bloom loudly, as she was still mad at Scootaloo, but then she noticed that no part of her was floating off her at all as well. Thinking of something, Apple Bloom bit a seemingly loose part of her rotten flesh and tried to pull it off, but was met with pain as she let go and saw that the part she tried to pull off stayed connected to her. Apple Bloom responded to that with a happy sequeel.

"Hey, Ah can't lose any more parts of me! WOOHOO!" Apple Bloom cheered, causing Scootaloo to smile knowing that one of the consequences of being a zombie was gone from Apple Bloom, but then a playful smirk came onto Scootaloo's face as she suddenly splashed Apple Bloom with water.

"Hey, what was that for Scoots!?" asked Apple Bloom.

"That was for yelling at me." Scootaloo said in response, but Apple Bloom responded to this by splashing Scootaloo back and the two engaged in a playful splash fight, laughing like the little fillies they were. Soon, they both got tired and the splash fight ended.

"Ha....that was...ha...fun..." Apple Bloom tiredly said.

"Yeah...ha...it was..." Scootaloo said, also tired.

"...Scoots, Ah'm sorry for yellin' at ya." Apple Bloom said, now a little sad for yelling at Scootaloo for dragging her into the tub.

"It's alright Apple Bloom, I probably would have done the same thing if I were you." Scootaloo said. Apple Bloom, now fully aware that she couldn't lose any more of herself, started to wash herself, knowing she needed it badly. After cleaning her front parts, as well as all 4 of her legs and her own mane and tail, Apple Bloom tried to get her back, but couldn't reach far enough behind her.

"Uhhh, Scoots? Could ya help wash mah back fer me?" asked Apple Bloom, causing Scootaloo's face to turn a deep shade of red.

"A-Are you s-sure Apple B-Bloom?" asked Scootaloo, earning a nod from the young earth pony. Scootaloo took the soap from Apple Bloom and started rubbing it against her back. To Apple Bloom, this felt more like a massage like the one she gave Scootaloo just a few moments ago. The more Scootaloo rubbed her back, the more Apple Bloom moaned as she closed her eyes.

'This feels so good...wait, are mah eyes closed? Ah don't know and Ah don't care. Ah wish this could last forever.' Apple Bloom thought. Soon enough, she ended up laying her head against Scootaloo's chest as soon as Scootaloo got finished. Scootaloo blushed a deep red as Apple Bloom, who was completely unaware to it, rested against her chest.

'My goodness, even as a zombie, I still can't believe how cute she can be. Heck, I may even find her...beautiful.' Scootaloo thought. The moment ended though as they heard a 'Awwww' come from the door, causing Apple Bloom's eyes to fling open and her head to fly up as both her and Scootaloo looked towards the door to see Pinkie Pie at the door.

"P-Pinkie Pie, what are ya doin' in here!?" Apple Bloom asked with her face completely red.

"WellIthoughtIheardsomethinglikeapartygoingonuphereandIthoughtIwouldjoinafterIgotdonewithagamewitheveryponyelsebutIsawyoutwolikethatandIjustwentawwbutnowIguessIwillleaveyoutwoalonesoyoucangetcleanedsoseeyoulater!" Pinkie said in just one breath before zooming out of the room, leaving the two fillies wondering how she did that, but decided it was just Pinkie being Pinkie. Both of them soon got out of the tub and got themselves dried. They didn't realize how long they were in the tub because now it was time to go to bed.

"Wow, I can't believe how much time has passed. Well Apple Bloom, good night." Scootaloo said as she went to one of the extra beds, but stopped as Apple Bloom suddenly called out to her.

"Wait Scoots!" Apple Bloom said, making Scootaloo turn around to her with a curious look.

"Ah w-was wondering if you'd.....like to....share a bed.....with me." Apple Bloom said while blushing very hard, but Scootaloo seemed to be blushing harder.

"Uhhh...okay, I guess." Scootaloo eventually said. Both of them then went to the bed Scootaloo was going to sleep on and got under the covers.

"Good night Apple Bloom." Scootaloo said.

"Good night Scoots." said Apple Bloom as both her and Scootaloo closed their eyes and Apple Bloom soon realized how much she wanted to sleep as she almost immediately fell asleep, quickly thanking Celestia for being able to sleep now. However, what she didn't realize was that the pegasi had apparently scheduled for a storm to happen during the night.

--------------------------------------------------------I'd like to thank my friend on deviantART, XGBlue, for proofreading this. Thanks dude.