Apple Bloom reached out and took the three letters from the mailmare's hoof.
“Thanks.” she said simply.
“It's my job,” The lavender pegasus replied, before turning to head back down the path.
Apple Bloom stepped over the threshold and shut the door. She looked over the letters before setting them both on the table. She pulled out a chair and sat down in it.
The kitchen was completely deserted, save for herself. It made Apple Bloom's heart ache. Granny Smith had passed the year before, and seeing her empty rocking chair brought back the grief of that time. At least Granny's life had allowed her time to see her three great-grandfoals born, two colts and one filly.
Applejack was married now, to a stallion Apple Bloom knew minimally, named Autumn Gust. Bloom could hardly believe it had been, what, nine years now since the marriage? Their daughter, Summer Rose, was eight years old, the same age Bloom had been when she began to worry about not having her mark.
Unfortunately, Apple Bloom's problem still resided. Eighteen, and still a blank flank. She glanced down at the pink skirt she wore now. She liked the way it looked, and it hid her nonexistent mark from view.
Her hair was different now too. Babs Seed had visited the week before, showing Apple Bloom how to part her mane into two separate braids, each tied off with a lighter bow. The less childish hairstyle made Bloom realize how young she still seemed. Aside from inheriting the farm when Applejack moved to Appaloosa to work the ground on her husband's farm, her life was mostly the same.
It wasn't as though Applejack had abandoned the farm either. In a newly built farmhouse on the other side of the orchard, Big Macintosh lived with his wife and two foals. Identical twins and bursting with energy, Bloom had taken on extra farm chores just to stay out of babysitting.
Turing her attention back to the letters before her, she picked up one and read the addressing.
Apple Bloom
Sweet Apple Acres
Ponyville, Equestria
That script was obviously Sweetie Belle's. Sweetie had earned her mark the year before, skipping through the Manehatten College of the Fine Arts campus while singing one of Pinkie's fabulous self-invented songs. The headmistress was so excited she invited Sweetie to private voice lessons every day, assuming she joined the college.
Of course, Sweetie credited Apple Bloom. Bloom had encouraged her to try college rather than stay as an apprentice in Rarity's shop.
“If you hadn't made me go on that visiting trip, I never would have gotten my Cutie Mark!” she had exclaimed, bursting through the farmhouse door to show off her mark. A purple heart backed by a pink swirl crossed with two music notes sat proudly on her flank now.
Apple Bloom smiled. The same thing had happened with Scootaloo, too. When three tickets arrived anonymously in Scoots' mailbox, the Crusaders went together to the Wonderbolts show in the Crystal Empire. After the show, the lead flier came up to Scootaloo. Taking off her mask and hugging Scoots, Rainbow Dash said:
“Congratulations, Scootaloo. You've just made it into the Junior Wonderbolt Academy.”
Scoots went berserk, hugging everyone within her reach, shouting “I made it! I made it!” But suddenly her face fell.
“I can't just leave Apple Bloom alone in Ponyville. With Sweetie in Manehatten, I'm her only good friend nearby.”
“Don't worry about me,” Bloom argued, “This is your dream, remember?”
“Go on out there and try something,” Rainbow Dash added, pointing to the obstacle course. “The fans are waiting for you.”
With a nod from Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, Scootaloo jumped from the stands and soared on her young wings through every one of the hoops. When she landed back by her seat to a huge cheer from the audience, a shimmer encircled her flank. A wing blazed across a flying hoop rested where once there had only been orange coat.
Scootaloo proceeded to go berserk again and knock an elderly pony out of the stands, whom she had to catch. That calmed her down enough start crying on Rainbow Dash's shoulder, grinning from ear to ear.
Such happy memories. How Bloom missed those times. She picked up the second letter and reading the addressing on that one, too.
Apple Bloom Apple
Sweet Apple Acres
Ponyville, Equestria
That one was written in Scootaloo's messy scrawl. In the corner of the envelope was a Wonderbolts Academy stamp. Apple Bloom tore it open, her eyes quickly scanning for the words “home”, “hurt” or “accident”. With no sighting of any negative words, she began reading the letter from the beginning.
Dear Apple Bloom,
Sorry you had to miss graduation. Honestly, I am a little glad you did miss it. When they were handing out diplomas, they called me Scooterlou. Can you imagine how embarrassing that was? It was awesome anyway though. Especially the part where Rainbow and Lightning Dust told me that I had potential to become a Wonderbolt! Of course, I knew that already. But still! Can you say AWESOME?? I can't wait until next semester, when I'll be going to the regular Wonderbolt academy.
I'm coming back to Ponyville for the summer. Since Rainbow Dash lives in Cloudsdale now, I was hoping I could stay with you. It must be lonely living in that farmhouse all by yourself. I know you have Big Macintosh just across the orchard, but having neighbors isn't quite the same as having a roommate.
Speaking of roommates, mine is a silver pegasus named Shockwave. We've become good friends, but she could never replace you, Sweetie, and Babs. I got a letter from Sweetie yesterday saying that she's staying with Babs over the summer. Since they both live in Manehatten now, it is logical. Maybe they'll still come see us. Or we could go see them.
Write me back with an answer and tell me about your life.
Friends forever,
Scootaloo
Tucking her friend's letter away in a drawer, Apple Bloom smiled.
