The day started just like any other with Apple Bloom getting up to the sound of birds chirping and with the sun at just the right angle to get into her eyes. Normally most ponies would simply roll over and grumble a bit at this while asking for another five minutes, Apple Bloom didn't have a choice in the matter and simply got up and lightly brushed her mane before putting on her signature bow and cursing the sun and the birds for defiling her dreams once again.

Sitting at the bottom of the steps was Apple Bloom's bum for a father Big Macintosh who was just idly eating the breakfast that was sitting at the table. With how much he ate you would think that the waste of space would actually help around the farm quite a bit, but you would be wrong as the most he ever did was attend the apple stand and occasionally help with mending the fences. Apple Bloom did everything else and Granny Smith... Well outside of cooking and taking care of the animals she was too old to handle much of the work anymore.

Before Apple Bloom could sit down and enjoy her breakfast a knock sounded at the door signaling an interruption from a family member who was just too far away or busy with their lives to even stay around for more than a day. Caramel was the only good one in Apple Bloom's eyes and he only stayed around because he was afraid Big Mac was too emotionally unstable. It didn't really matter anyways considering both of them were lazier than a parasprite drowning in a tub of lard and Caramel was only good at maintaining the fences and Apple Bloom would have fired him for incompetence if she didn't think he would have ended up in the poor house.

Apple Bloom being the only pony standing went over to the door and opened it up revealing a pony she didn't expect to be on the other side of it. Standing on the other side of the door was Diamond Tiara, a filly with rich parents and unlike other fillies with similar pedigrees she was rather generous to everypony and was known to be nice to talk to. All of these qualities were like acid to Apple Bloom, or maybe it was more like a bright light shining into the darkness of her soul, and she instinctively slammed the door in the poor filly's face before she could get a word in edgewise.

“Apple Bloom, is that anyway ta treat a guest!” Granny Smith called out from the kitchen.

Apple Bloom would have ignored anypony else in this situation but Granny Smith was an exception that had existed throughout the young fillies life. Granny Smith was the only one that radiated confidence and garnered respect from those around her, there was also the fact that she was the only one who would punish Apple Bloom. She was the only pony that presented Apple Bloom with consequences, and Apple Bloom was not one to argue when the mare demanded something of her, unfortunately that involved letting Diamond Tiara in the house.

The little filly thanked Apple Bloom for letting her in before heading over to the table and sitting down where Granny Smith had prepared her a plate. Knowing that the filly wouldn't be here normally she figured that she was here for a reason and the nervous looks coming from her father meant that he was likely the one responsible. It seemed for once in his life that the insufferable oaf was doing something, whether or not it would be productive would yet to be determined and in all reality it would likely end up just being a pain in the flank.

“So Pa why is Diamond Tiara of all ponies here, ya know ah hate her.”

“Granny Smith and ah thought that spending time with somepony yer age would help, an'... well since Diamond is yer half sister ah thought that she would be the best one ta spend the day with ya.”

“That's it ah'm leavin', ah'd say it was nice knowin' ya but ah already lie enough as it is.” Apple Bloom said as she started heading to the door.

“Apple Bloom sit down this instant! Now if yer so inclined ta disrespect family ah might as well punish ya now!” Granny Smith said.

“Ah'm not getting' out o' this am ah?”

“Not unless ya want twice as many chores around here for the next week.”

“Ugh... Fine! Ah won't like it though.”

“The least ya can do is try.” Big Mac said.

“Because it seems ah'm the only one who will try around here. An' ah still can't figure out what ya saw in the mare that gave us Diamond Tiara either.”

“If it makes you feel better I don't understand what my daddy sees in her either, she's so cruel to the staff at times and I just hope the extra bits I give them helps.”

“Of course the bits help little miss fairy godmother.” Apple Bloom said in a voice that was practically dripping in sarcasm.

If Diamond Tiara caught onto what Apple Bloom was implying she payed it no mind as she settled down and started to cut slices out of the pancakes that were set before her. In front of Apple Bloom was a plate of waffles, the divots in them holding pools of syrup that would eventually rupture and ooze out all over the place like a popped zit once her fork sliced into them.

Breakfast went on like normal... well as normal as it usually did for Apple Bloom considering she didn't have much of a sweet tooth and that her lazy father was sitting across from her. Diamond Tiara thankfully didn't attempt to incite another conversation for the remainder of the meal. As soon as it was finished though Apple Bloom wished that she could have died in her sleep with what was announced next.

“I was thinking of things we could do today and I thought we could head to the train station and welcome your family members that are arriving.”

“No.” Apple Bloom said flatly hoping the filly caught on to the fact that she wasn't interested.

“Come on I'm sure it'll be fun and who knows you might like it.”

“Ah'm pretty sure ah won't like it but ah guess ah don't really have a choice in the matter since ah have ta go everywhere ya deem necessary.”

“Then it's settled we'll be heading to the train station to welcome your family and then after that we can go get lunch and decide on another activity.”

“Goody.” Apple Bloom said in deadpan tone before being dragged off

If Diamond Tiara thought that greeting Apple Bloom's arriving would be a good way to bond with her she would have been partially right. While Diamond was enjoying meeting the interesting and sometimes strange members of the family Apple Bloom garnered a wide berth as her stink eye wasn't aimed at any one pony. By the time noon was starting to roll around Diamond Tiara was starting to think that she had made a bad decision when she thought of greeting the arriving family.

When the next train arrived things went from bad to worse as Apple Bloom's demeanor turned from icy to down right murderous when a group of well dressed earth ponies all with cutie-marks dealing with oranges stepped out. Based on appearance alone Diamond could tell that the family was well off and that they took pride in their looks. The looks on their faces when they saw Apple Bloom went from pleasant to downright uneasy and they began trying to look inconspicuous.

“ Mr. and Mrs. Orange, what a pleasure it is to see you again.”

“It's always good to see family again.” Mrs. Orange replied to the young mare.

“Right, right... just like how you two were so eager to come over and help when your nephew was orphaned and left without a sibling!”

“Now Apple Bloom we tried our best to help out with the tragedy, really. But we couldn't just up and move at the drop of a hat.”

“Save your excuses for someone who cares or for the fools who believe such trite garbage, the fact of the matter is you weren't there for your family when they needed you and that makes you about as worthless as the dirt you try so hard to keep off of your o' so perfect coats. I bet you never even told Big Mac that his sister died when she fell out of a window until after it showed up in the newspapers.”

“We tried what we could Apple Bloom, Big Mac was a mess when we came to tell him what happened and we didn't want our presence setting him off by having the ponies who were supposed to look after his sister be there all the time reminding him of what he lost. We did what we could and we kept the farm afloat and even got the land paid off so that if anything happened you'd still have a roof over your heads.”

“Well, look how well that ended, my brother's a complete mess and I'm stuck pulling all of the weight. You didn't even bother to try and get help for around the farm, even when we told you that the rest of the family was too thinly distributed among the farms to be able to lend any help.”

“We didn't know what we could do, we were trying our best to help your family in any way we could.”

“Oh, ya mean like using the namesake of a dead mare ta further yer own gain while yer own family is stuck fending fer themselves with little to no help whatsoever!”

“How about we just forget the past and look to the future, my name's Diamond Tiara and I'm sure you're a lovely couple that did what they thought was best for their family.”

“Oh, well hello there Diamond Tiara. I'm Mrs. Orange and I must say you are a rather pretty little filly, are you a friend of Apple Bloom's perhaps?” The earth pony said relieved that the previous conversation could be abandoned.

“We're half sisters, but by the end of it I'm hoping to have us acting like real sisters.”

“Well that's really sweat of you, now as much as I love to chat we really must be on our way to the farm. We wouldn't want everypony to think that we were trying to avoid helping with the cooking, right dear?”

“Oh, yes of course, and it was nice meeting you young filly, and the best of luck to you and your goals.” Mr. Orange said as the two made a quick move to exit the train station.

“So what was that whole fight about?” Diamond Tiara asked.

“What, are ya deaf now too? Ah'm not repeatin' mahself if ya weren't listenin' the first time.”

“It's not that, it's just that it sounds like whatever happened was long ago, and I'm concerned about why you haven't gotten past it yet.”

“Would it make ya feel better if ah was aimin' fer a blood feud.”

“Is there anything out there that can make you happy?”

“Plenty o' things make me happy, family just ain't one o' them, they're all backbiting hillbilly trash that act like they got yer best interest at heart, but when it comes down to it they are only in it fer themselves. The Oranges are the best lot out of all o' them and even they aren't above the rest.”

“Seems like you've got a grudge that runs pretty deep.”

“Don't act like ya care, because ah know ya don't, nopony has and nopony ever will.”

“That's not true at all. You may not have any faith left in your family but there are ponies out there who care, and who will care.”

“The only ponies that will care are the ones that are forced ta care and those who think they'll make a few bits out of it in the long run.”

“I'm not like either of those ponies and I care.”

“You only care because my pa isn't givin' ya a choice in the matter, once this day is over yer goin' to go back home an' go on like nothin' ever happened while ah get another reason ta hate the mare that helped ruin mah pa's life. At least your mother stayed there for your family.”

“Spoiled Rich may have given birth to me, but she's been about a good a mother to you as she has to me. The only reason she stays around is because she has a guarantee that she'll be living the high life, and my dad doesn't seem to notice that she's in love with his wallet instead of him. I view the maid that cleans my room as more of a mother figure than her, but you can't let her actions rule your life, you can make a change for the better and aim for a brighter future.”

“Hm... Maybe we are related, but don't think that means ah like ya, because ah don't.”

The train station lapsed into silence after that, mostly for Diamond Tiara to process the information that she had just received. She was so out of it she didn't see it when a brownish orange earth pony filly with a red mane came in, nor did she see the resulting hoof fight between her and Apple Bloom that ended with the brown filly running out of the station with a black eye and her tail tucked between her legs.

“Hey can we go now, ah'm getting' hungry an' waitin' around for stragglers isn't somethin' ah signed on fer.” Apple Bloom said.

Diamond Tiara merely nodded as she was led out of the rain station and out into the town. About halfway into the town square Diamond Tiara came back to her senses and started leading the duo to the spot she had picked out. Hopefully the food would improve Apple Bloom's mood or at least do nothing to make it worse.

As Sugar Cube Corner came into view Diamond Tiara picked up her pace as she started to smell the sweet scents from the bakery. Apple Bloom seemed to pay it no mind but the mere look of the building seemed to put a frown on her face. Once inside Apple Bloom's mood seemed to level out at neutral once again, that was until the pony taking their orders arrived.

“Hello! Oh, Diamond Tiara it's so good to see you, it's been like a whole week since we last got together!” Sweetie Belle said enthusiastically, “Oh, who's your new friend, is she nice, I bet she's nice, do you think she wants one cupcake or three, I'll make it three!”

Diamond Tiara hadn't planned on Sweetie Belle being here today, the normally energetic filly was usually busy around this time of day and wasn't anywhere near town. Apple Bloom's reaction seemed to be one more of shock than anything else and her left eye wast twitching in a way that was rather unsettling. It would have appeared that the dour filly had finally met a pony so optimistic and energetic that she was not able to comprehend what reality she was even from. The filly was white all over with a mane and tail that were a mix of purple and pink like somepony had decided to get two flavors of cotton candy instead of one. The filly was also pudgy and happily bouncing around the place in a way that reminded Apple Bloom of a marshmallow with legs.

“Sweetie this is Apple Bloom, you know... The Apple Bloom.”

“Oh, well it's nice to meet you Apple Bloom, so what can I get for you today?”

“Uh... Hay fritters and potato cakes, an' none of that sugary garbage ya usually peddle either.” Apple Bloom replied as her mind tried to restart.

“And I'll just have the usual, just put both of those orders on my tab.”

“Hm... I'm not sure we carry potatoes, but I'll go check, have this free cupcake while you wait!” Sweetie Belle said before giving Apple Bloom a cupcake with a tiny image of a potato on it with the words you're a spudding artist written in a loopy font around the outside.

“Ah hate that filly.” Apple Bloom once her mind finally registered everything.

“She's just trying to be nice Apple Bloom, and she gave you a free cupcake, as cheesy as the pun on it is.”

“Ah don't care, that filly ain't natural.”

“Just because she's happy a lot of the time doesn't mean there's anything unnatural about her.”

“Ah hate happy.”

“I'm beginning to think that you hate most things.”

“Good, keep that in mind for when you decide to drag me off to our next activity.”

“At this rate I'm not sure if there will be a next activity.”

The room lapsed into silence, well as silent as it could be with Sweetie Belle humming in the next room over. The tune seemed to have a mid of its own as its tempo and speed changed sporadically in a way that reminded one of somepony trying to choose a song to sing and instead ended up singing a bit of each song that came to mind. When Sweetie returned she had all of the food that had been ordered and some extra as she decided to sit down with the other two.

“So, Sweetie Belle, what is it that you're doing here exactly?” Diamond Tiara asked.

“I'm the Cake's new apprentice and today is my first day, it's mostly getting to know what's expected of a baker but I occasionally get to help out with the treats.”

“Wow, that's great Sweetie, I never thought you'd be one to take on a job this early.”

“Anything to make ponies smile. Hey, maybe we could hang out today, all I have left to do is a delivery to the orphanage for their party.”

“We're busy, so you can deliver your cart of heart attacks on your own.”

“I was wondering when you'd get grumpy again, and they can't be that bad, I eat sugar everyday and I'm perfectly fine!”

“Ah bet ya won't be able to walk by the time yer eighteen.”

“I'd guess fourteen.” Sweetie Belle said to a dumbstruck Apple Bloom.

“We'd be happy to walk with you to the orphanage Sweetie, maybe we'll find something to do while we're there.” Diamond Tiara said.

“What do ya mean we'd be happy ta go with her!? Ah don't even want her sitting at this table but unless ah want mah back broken in two fer ditchin' ya that ain't happenin'.”

“You could at least pretend to tolerate some ponies.” Diamond Tiara replied.

“Ah think yer sorely mistaken, ah'm already actin' nice, if ya want ta here some truth from me then here's some, ah hate the food here and the decorations are rubbish, inside and especially out. Ah'd almost say that this place was decorated by a blind pony, but ah have a personal rule about insulting the disabled.”Apple Bloom said with as straight a face as she says everything with.

The table lapsed into silence as Apple Bloom seemed content to let them soak in the comment that she had just made before they would inevitably have to walk out into public with her. For a brief moment Diamond Tiara seriously considered if staying around Apple Bloom all day was worth it in the end. That thought was quickly pushed aside by the desire to give her half sister at least something to be happy about in the world, even if it was only Diamond Tiara's presence that did such a thing.

Sweetie Belle on the other hoof was left completely unfazed as she scarfed down her food with all the gusto she could muster. Sure Apple Bloom was a downer and had a personality that was as abrasive as a cheese grater, but the little ghost fillies that made fun of Apple Bloom whenever she said something always got a giggle out of Sweetie Belle. It may have been a little mean on Sweetie's part, but it wasn't like anypony was getting hurt by the antics of a dead pony.

After lunch was finished Diamond Tiara helped Sweetie Belle hook up to the cart she had prepared with all of the sweets the orphanage needed. Apple Bloom, not being inclined to do any work she wasn't required to, opted to simply watch the two before following them to the orphanage on their seemingly inane quest to make orphans happy. While the other two members of the trio were excited about what they were doing, Apple Bloom simply wanted to avoid doing anything that required her to stay at the orphanage longer than was needed.

When the trio arrived at the orphanage Diamond Tiara and Sweetie Belle trotted off with the cart to go take it to the cafeteria. Apple Bloom was left in the lobby where she promptly sat down on one of the benches and dozed off. The two fillies who had been left to take care of the pastries went about their business and set the cart down in the kitchen for when the celebration was going to be held.

“I'm going to go let the staff know their delivery is here, you can stay here if you want.” Sweetie Belle said in a chipper tone before bounding off into a different room.

Diamond Tiara walked back into the room where Apple Bloom was sleeping and sat down beside her noticing that even when asleep Apple Bloom was frowning about something. The silence seemed to drag on forever as Sweetie Belle took her sweet time getting back to the lobby. As time dragged on for what felt like an eternity Diamond Tiara began to think that Apple Bloom had the right idea, but before the pink filly could doze off Sweetie Belle came back into view chatting amiably with a pegasus wearing sunglasses.

“Come on Scootaloo, I just know you can work your magic on her.”

“Sweetie, for the last time a pony like Apple Bloom isn't going to budge much when it comes down to it. I get that she had issues, and those can be worked past, but from the sounds of it she's to the point where she acts mean because she enjoys it.”

“B-but how can anypony enjoy being in a constant funk like hers all the time!? I-it's just not possible!”

“Just trust me on this one Sweetie, some ponies are only happy when they've got something to complain about. To them it's like a form of entertainment, they find everything else boring, or in Apple Bloom's case irritating, so they do what makes them happy, even if that entails making everypony around them miserable.”

“So you're saying Apple Bloom is only happy when everypony else is miserable... But that's just evil!”

“Call it what you want Sweetie Belle, but Apple Bloom's happy the way she is and I don't think anything in the world is going to change that.”

“Would ya stop talkin' bout me as if ah ain't here, an' fer yer information Sweetie ah don't enjoy making ponies miserable... Ah love it.”

“Well, well, well. If it isn't the wicked b!@#$ of the west, are you enjoying causing havoc for these little munchkins?” Silver Spoon said as she walked into the lobby.

“Only if the Ice Queen can come up with some truly great ideas for causing mayhem with her frozen heart.”

“It's surprising to see you here Bloomy. Are you here to pick on the foals that live here?”

“Trust me Spoony ah'd rather be somewhere else than in a home for gutter fillies right now, but mah family insists that ah hang around my half sister fer the day.”

“Ugh, family! I wouldn't be here either if my parents didn't think that I needed a sibling close to my age, it's like they think I don't have friends like you or something.”

“So what made them decide that today was a good day ta do this?”

“Sometimes I think they just want me out of their manes, and today being a day to spend with family, what do you think motivated them to pick today.”

“Yep, she's totally evil.” Sweetie Belle whispered to Scootaloo.

“You're just not trying to understand her Sweetie, Silver Spoon obviously understands her to some degree. So maybe you just need to find what she likes.”

“Ooh! Do you think she'd like to see my collection of Discord plushies.”

“Why do you have a collection of Discord Plushies?”

“He's the funnest historical figure ever, duh!”

“You do realize he killed all of the alicorns except for Celestia right?”

“Hey, it's not his fault that the alicorns were so stuck up that they couldn't take a joke, blamed each other for what was happening, and ended up in a fight to the death.”

“You know what, forget it.”

“Great! What were we forgetting by the way?”

“Sweetie, while I enjoy our time together I really need to get back to what I was doing earlier, Berry Pinch might start to think that I don't want to help her, or that I've forgotten my promise to take her to see the ceremony.”

“Ooh! You're going to see the ceremony! That's great, then we can all go together and have fun and get to know each other and become great friends.”

“I'll talk to Berry about it.” Scootaloo said as she walked off into another room.

The room lapsed into a relative silence as Silver Spoon and Apple Bloom talked to each other about some of the most heinous things they could do to other ponies. The relative silence was replaced by a brooding silence later when Silver Spoon's parents came in and took her into a different section of the building. Apple Bloom wasn't pleased with this and gave the two ponies a glare that could have set the frozen north on fire for having interrupted her time with Silver Spoon.

The silence that followed was deafening and made it seem like time had trickled to a near stop, maybe it was because out of the trio only Sweetie Belle had any idea of what was going to happen next, or maybe they were all just a bunch of fillies that were trying their hardest to be patient. Sweetie was taking it the easiest, but that was only because the spirits of a couple of fillies were doing their best to entertain her. Diamond Tiara on the other hoof was utterly bored and was at too much of loss after hearing the conversation with Silver Spoon to think of anything that Apple Bloom wouldn't immediately be irritated by.

Apple Bloom couldn't care less about any of the ponies in the room with her at that moment. The one pony in the world that she actually liked had been taken off into another room by her snobby parents who probably don't even give two cents about her. It wasn't a secret that Silver Spoon's parents didn't like Apple Bloom, in fact the parents of most ponies didn't like Apple Bloom, and they were quite adamant in keeping Silver Spoon away from her as they claimed Apple Bloom was a bad influence. Apple Bloom didn't care about being a bad influence or not, if ponies looked up to her in some way then that was their problem not hers.

Apple Bloom just sat there looking over to her half sister and then back to the marshmallowy abomination that is Sweetie Belle. The two were sickeningly happy most of the time and Diamond Tiara was way too pink for Apple Bloom's liking. Sweetie Belle, while a color that Apple Bloom can tolerate, was single hoofedly the most irritating pony in existence. She was hyper and happy all the time and quite frankly she smiled was too much in one day to be clinically stable. Then there was the fact that she was dragged to one of the most boring places in existence while all that shmuck would do is look around and giggle to herself in a way that brought her sanity even more into question.

“Ain't ya got a job ta do fat flanks, an' if ya don't then ya have ta at least take that cart back.”

“Nope, that was the last delivery of the day, and the orphanage is returning the cart, meaning we get to play together!”

“Hm... Do ya happen ta have a rubber band and a few pebbles?”

“Yep! That's such a silly thing to ask for though, what are you going to do with them!?” Sweetie Belle asked as she handed over the items.

“Just this.” Apple Bloom said as she began to pelt the unicorn with her newly acquired weapons.

Sweetie Belle for the most part took it in stride and managed to avoid most of the rocks that were launched at her. The rocks would hit their mark more often than not, and with Sweetie's slightly pudgy body the rocks only left a stinging sensation that quickly faded. Of course this didn't mean that it was good, but Sweetie was having fun trying to avoid Apple Bloom's fury. Apple Bloom on the other hoof was quite happy with her rain of stony projectiles that pelted the white filly.

“Apple Bloom, don't you think that's a little mean?”

“Ah'm begginin' ta think ya got cotton between yer ears instead of a brain.”

“You're pelting a filly who just wants to be friends with rocks.”

“An' yer point is?”

“Well... Don't you want to have some friends?”

“Ah already have enough, an nothin' ya say ta me will change mah mind, not ta mention she annoys me with her unusual happiness.”

“She's a happy filly most of the time, but give her a little time to calm down after her first day of work and she should be more tolerable.”

“Why do ah have the distinct feelin' yer lyin ta me?”

“Not everypony hates their job like you do Bloomy.”

“Ya don't have the right to use that name, only mah friends can use that name, an' ya haven't earned that title yet.”

“I'm beginning to wonder if I'm in over my head...”

“Probably, almost definitely ta be exact.”

“Ugh! I wish there was something that could get you to open up to us, but everything we do just seems to agitate you or get us nowhere!”

“As far as ah've counted we really ain't done much except eat and stand around a lot.”

“You're not helping Bloom.”

“Yer welcome!” Apple Bloom said with a grin that just dared her half sister to try and say something in response.

“Can you spend one minute without acting like a complete a-corn!” Diamond Tiara said in a clipped tone.

“Nice save, but ya still called me an a**. Which is a little bit tribalist in mah honest opinion, ah know quite a few asses that would be offended to have their kind talked of in that kind of way.”

“There's no winning with you is there?”

“Ah've yet to meet a pony who has.”

By the time Scootaloo returned with Berry Pinch things had just gotten to the point where Diamond Tiara was nearly using profanity. It would seem that even the one pony in existence that tried not to hate anypony was having trouble keeping calm around the blatant toxicity that Apple Bloom exuded. Scootaloo was beginning to wonder if Berry Pinch and her should just go to the celebration on their own and enjoy it without bringing along a pony whose attitude was comparable to a manticore that just woke up.

Berry Pinch just didn't need something like Apple Bloom right now, she was just getting over being separated from her mother. However, it was unlikely that Sweetie Belle was going to let them separate anytime soon, the girl was fun to hang around with but she was rather stubborn at times. The filly was known to be weird and start and stop conversations at the drop of a hat at times, but why did she have to pick Apple Bloom of all ponies to try and be friends with.

Scootaloo wasn't one to judge a pony unfairly in any circumstance but Apple Bloom could be considered the rare exception. The pony was known to be a bit of an oddity, sleeping through every class yet passing every test and even getting her homework done, it was so suspicious that Mrs. Cheerilee started having Apple Bloom take her tests alone in a room where she was monitored at all times. She was smart, and she knew it too, it was likely one of her best tools when it came to insulting ponies and in Scootaloo's book that made Apple Bloom a bad apple.

“So I guess we're going to the celebration then huh?” Scootaloo asked.

“Why, ya as bored as the rest o' us?”

“Not really, but it's getting late and we're not exactly close to the town.”

“Right, now ya mind explainin' ta me who thought it was a good idea ta have the town orphanage about an hour's walk from said town?”

“It's an old building that was donated, while the location isn't ideal it's spacious enough to allow for a large number of ponies.”

“Must have been a busy stallion then.” Apple Bloom said with a grin plastered on her face.

“Right... We'll Berry and I are going ahead so we can get some concessions before the main event.”

“Ooh! Do you think they have cotton candy!?” Sweetie asked.

“Do they ever not?” Scootaloo asked.

“Yay!” Sweetie said as Scootaloo and Berry Pinch followed her out.

“I just can't figure you out Apple Bloom.” Diamond Tiara sighed.

“Well if ya were expecting a pony to be simple ya were wrong, but if ya want a general idea of who ah am, ah'm an a** and ah don't care who knows it or what others think.”

“That much was obvious... I just feel like I'm supposed to do something you know?”

“Not really.”

“... So what do you like?” Diamond Tiara asked after thinking for a little bit.

“Yer the first pony ta have tha guts ta ask me that, but ah'll humor ya, not much.”

“Ugh, it just feels like I'm going around in circles with you.”

“An' that is one o' the things ah enjoy in life, irritatin' others.”

“Now that I think about it you've been having a field day haven't you?”

“Outside of the abomination with legs and talking ta the very people ah hate, meh.”

“You know, you never told me how old you are... Being half sisters I just assumed I was a year younger than you, but you seem too mature to be eleven.”

“Ah'm fourteen, and yer too mature fer an eleven year old.”

“I never really had a choice, I had to grow up to survive almost. Mother only cares about money, father is too busy with work to do anything with me and the maids have their own schedules to follow. Mother was supposed to fix me meals since she was the only one home at that time of day, guess what she never did. I learned to cook simple things before getting into a little bit more advanced stuff later on, my first attempts were underwhelming but it kept the hunger away. When I got older I'd start leaving meals for the maids since it was something to do, you'd think being a rich filly I'd have all the toys I want, in truth it's just a bunch of big empty halls with nothing to do and nopony to do it with. I essentially became one of the maids just for something to do every day since most ponies at school assumed my generous nature was a way of flaunting my wealth. It was only a year later that the maid that I started to consider my real mother was hired on as staff.”

“At least you weren't doin' back breakin' labor at five years old, now we better get goin' before tha' sun sets.” Apple Bloom said as she went for the door.

The walk to the festival was done in relative silence as the two ponies really had nothing to talk about at that point. Diamond Tiara had a small bit of information to mull over in her mind, but it wasn't anything that she didn't already know. The mare next to her was hard for her to understand, but maybe she just wasn't old enough to fully grasp it yet. As the carnival came into view she hoped that the games would help her get to know the pony next to her.

The next hour or so was spent playing games with Apple Bloom and unsurprisingly the pony had the aim of a trained professional, likely from many attempts at shooting spit wads or throwing rocks at ponies. It was starting to look up from there as Apple Bloom seemed to actually be enjoying the festivities, but Sweetie Belle arrived just in time to make things head south. Thankfully of all ponies Berry Pinch intervened and walked off with Apple Bloom leaving everypony else just standing there with a jabbering Sweetie Belle.

“So... you're Apple Bloom... I heard you broke Cheerilee's foreleg last year for waking you up in class.”

“She got what was coming to her.” Apple Bloom said.

“You... you care about Diamond Tiara don't you?”

“What makes you say that?”

“I can see it in your eyes, the way you look at her. You see yourself in her at points but your both incredibly different, I used to look over these things but my mother taught me how to see them and be honest with ponies.”

“Ah, yes the drunkard.”

“To be honest it was only a matter of time until I was taken from her, but after living with a pony for thirteen years it begins to feel like your time together will never end.”

“Yer mother taught ya well if yer only thirteen and spoutin' that kinda' stuff.”

“Well... actually I though it would be something Scootaloo would say in my position, she's one of the wisest ponies I've ever met and even though I've only met her for a day I look up to her.”

“An' exactly how old is Scootaloo?”

“Sixteen if what I've heard is accurate, to be honest she is taller than the rest of us by quite a bit, I'm almost surprised you didn't pick up on it.”

“Ah didn't pay enough attention ta her height when ah met her, ah was more concerned with the fact that she was blind.”

“So do you have a special somepony yet?”

“Do ya think any stallion in Ponyville would want ta live with me?”

“Maybe not from here, but there's somepony out there in one of those cities who'd love you.”

“An' why exactly do ya care about mah love life.”

“Because... never mind forget it... just be honest with yourself.”

“Ah may never tell a lie but even ah have secrets, just keep out o' my business an' yer gonna be fine.”

“Noted, I feel bad for Sweetie though. She tries so hard to make ponies smile and laugh and here you are the one pony in the world that seemingly hates her.”

“Don't go preachin' ta me about that abomination of a filly, ah don't care about what ya say or how, that filly is the embodiment of evil.”

“*giggle* I bet every pony like Sweetie is evil in your eyes.”

“Laugh all ya want it won't change mah mind.”

“I'm not trying to, come on the shows about to start we better get to the town hall.” Berry said as she lead Apple Bloom to the town hall leaving a stunned group of fillies in their wake.

“Did... did Berry just?” Diamond Tiara stuttered.

“Yep, she made friends with Apple Bloom...” Scootaloo added.

“Aw come on, I've been trying to be her friend all day!” Sweetie Belle shouted.

“Last time I checked you didn't show up at breakfast and spend your entire day with her, you kinda just showed up halfway through the day and talked with everypony but Apple Bloom.” Diamond Tiara said.

“Hey, I played with her!”

“For all of twenty minutes Sweetie, the only pony here who's spent less time with Apple Bloom is Scootaloo.”

“B-but... I just wanted to be her friend.”

“Sorry Sweetie, but I just don't think Apple Bloom is interested... Come on let's go to the town hall the show's about to start.”

“Yeah! And don't worry Apple Bloom I'll never give up on you!” Sweetie Shouted into the air as the two other fillies behind her groaned.

When the trio got to the town hall Apple Bloom and Berry Pinch were already sitting down and waiting for when the princess would be revealed. Once all five of the fillies were situated a small family of unicorns made their way into the crowd and sat down next to them. The oldest filly in the family sat down right next to Apple Bloom, one of the worst fates anypony could ever succumb to.

“Ooh, an earth pony filly, what is it like!?” Ruby Sparkle asked.

“Ruby! Please behave yourself, earth ponies are just like everypony else.”

“Yer obviously not from around these parts, Canterlot ah assume?”

“Wow, how'd you know that?”

“Lucky guess, an' if ya really want ta know it's a lot of physical labor and sweaty work, a lot of which ah don't appreciate.”

“What's your cutie-mark mean!?”

“Not so fast filly, ah don't answer that, an' nopony has the guts ta figure it out either.”

“Huh? Why is that, do you not like your special talent?”

“Ta say ah hate it is bein' nice.”

“Come on, it can't be that bad, tell you what I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

“Dont' ya have somethin' else better ta do?”

“Nope!”

“Then ya must have a really short attention span.”

“Now you sound like some of my teachers.”

“They must have the patience of the gods to deal with ya then.”

“Probably, my cutie-mark is in fire magic by the way, so what's yours.”

“My cutie-mark is the antithesis of my very existence and it's only purpose is to remind me that my life is a living hell and that no matter what I do there will be no happiness in my life outside of the happiness ah draw from from torturing those around me.”

“So... accounting?”

“How old are you?”

“Eight!”

“Of course, no pony close to my age is as oblivious as you...”

“You must be really smart if you know such fancy words, all I really know is how to use my special talent.”

“I'm guessing that yer cutie-mark being a lit candle is the only way you've managed to make it useful.”

“Yeah... but I know other uses will present themselves, I just have to try harder!”

“Right...” Apple Bloom said as the show started allowing her to end the conversation.

“Fillies and Gentle Colts, I present to you the guiding light of the world, Immortal Sun, Shepherd of the Sun and Moon, Great Fire of the Heavens, Queen of the Cosmos, The Great Life Giver, The Matron of Spring and Summer, bringer of Fertility and Life, Matron of the Hearth and Home, Winter's bane,

Matron of the Ocean breeze, Queen of the Oceans themselves, bringer of Rain and Wind, Goddess of the Morning Dew, the Breath of Fall, the Whisper of the Great Forests, Matron of the Dryads, Bringer of Order, Harmony and Love incarnate, Chaos' bane, Mother of the Ponies, Defender of the just, Destroyer of all things evil, Darkness' bane, Dragon of the East, Blessed mother of the World, Great Goddess of Life, Princess Celestia Equestris!” Mayor Mare said as the curtain was drawn back to reveal nothing.

“Hm... Seems the princess got stage fright and bailed on us.” Apple Bloom said.

“Really Apple Bloom now's not the time.” Diamond Tiara whispered.

“Duh.” Apple Bloom commented back.

As concern began to mount among those attending the event a dark swirling mass of energy began to form on the podium in front of them. When the mist faded away standing in front of all the ponies was an entity that they had all believed to be a legend and nothing more.

“What, does my crown mean nothing to you flies now that a thousand years has passed? Did none of you hear of the legends or feel my presence in your dreams? Or has elevating my sister beyond her position and heralding her throne as higher than even the stars drowned out everything else in your blasphemous minds!?” The alicorn screamed as a dark wave of energy washed over the crowd tossing some of those attending around.

“Are there any among you who even knows the name of Nightmare!?...” The alicorn yelled to no response outside of panicked whimpering from the crowd.

“Pathetic, your minds have rotted under the rule of my pathetic sibling and now there is nothing in your heads outside of worshiping her fat flanks. Relieving you of her rule will be a blessing, remember this night for it shall not end until my sister Celestia is dead!” The alicorn bellowed spurring the guards into action.

“Stop her, we will not let her harm the princess!” One of the guards yelled, only to be silenced as soon as he spoke it.

All of the guards around the Nightmare fell down as pools of blood began to spread out from under them while ethereal spears jutted from their broken bodies. Once the Nightmare was certain the guards were dead she called the spears back. The alicorn looked over the fully terrified crowd now and spoke softly for once.

“Now... All those who appose me will meet the same fate, those who wish to join me can meet me at the edge of the forest, NOW BEGONE!” The alicorn said before vanishing in a cloud of smoke.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Back home Apple Bloom watched as her home became the headquarters for an army of ponies who thought that the best place to plan a strike against an alicorn was an Orchard. While the trees would provide some cover there was little room to really hide and Apple Bloom doubted it would do much against the mare of darkness that wanted nothing more than to cause a bloodbath. Of course even in all of the commotion she wasn't able to shake the ponies that had decided they had nothing better to do than follow her all day.

“So... does anypony want marshmallows?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“No.” Apple Bloom said.

“Aw come on, I'm just trying to have some fun.”

“Yer the opposite of everything that ah am, just being in the same room with ya is a waking nightmare, and yer wanting to have fun while an ancient evil is running around? Ponies are going to die and all you care about is a couple of snacks, does anything that goes on in tha' world penetrate yer skull, or am ah right to assume yer head is a solid slab of concrete.” Apple Bloom said finally saying something to make the filly cry.

“Apple Bloom can I talk to you, in the hall.” Scootaloo said.

Apple Bloom followed the blind pony out of the room leaving the other ponies to help Sweetie Belle feel better. Once outside the room Scootaloo proceeded to shut the door and then slapped Apple Bloom across the face so hard a crunching sound was heard.

“What the h*** is your problem! She's just trying to keep everypony in high spirits so they don't think about the disaster that is looming before us and here you are being an a**, seriously are you just trying to be the biggest b**** in existence!”

“Ya got some nerve ah'll tell ya that much, an' yer lucky yer blind otherwise you would have walked out of here with broken bones.” Apple Bloom said before spitting out a tooth.

“I'm aware. Listen I don't know what's going to happen next or if anypony is going to survive to be honest, maybe somepony will stop that Nightmare thing, or maybe we'll be forced to live under a tyrannical rule with the blood of Celestia painting our roads, but sitting around belittling others is not helping things, if anything it's just making things worse.”

“If ya seriously think being happy about a future that can't and won't change is being productive go right ahead, ah'll be over here in reality where getting ponies hopes up only to have them crushed later doesn't happen. You call me an a**, yer giving hope to a filly that an unstoppable monster is going to be dealt with, and when that doesn't happen yer goin' ta be there with the crushed dreams of bunch of ponies around ya, that's what ah call monstrous.”

“You make a twisted sort of sense, but allowing them to feel happy even for a little bit before everything goes to Tartarus is better than letting them wallow in sadness for the rest of their life.”

“Yes, lift them up so they'll fall even harder, one of mah favorite tactics when terrorizing tha' town. Yer supposed ta be the kindest pony in the whole town an' here ya are committing one of the greatest cruelties there is.”

“Depends on how you look at it.”

“Possibly, but ya can't deny yer hurting them in tha long run now can ya?”

“Hey, have the other in the room gone unusually quiet?”

“Conceding defeat already, ah was hoping ya had a bit more fight in ya.”

“I'm serious Bloom.” Scootaloo said as she threw open the door revealing an empty room.

“Huh, did that parasprite in a jar that ah keep under mah bed get out?”

“Parasprites don't eat ponies, and Your bed sheets are tied into a rope that's hanging out the window.”

“Did they seriously not see the mountain of hay bales outside mah window?” Apple Bloom said as she looked outside.

“Apparently not.” Scootaloo said.

“Well it's not mah problem.”

“Apple Bloom, we can't just let them run around during a crisis.”

“Yes we can, they decided ta run off so it's not mah fault if they get killed.”

“If Diamond Tiara dies your Granny will ground you for life.”

“Ah'm listening.”

“Well they can't have gotten far, we just need to figure out where they're heading.”

“If the book lying on the floor is anything to go by they're heading into the Everfree.”

“Great, just great...” Scootaloo said as she followed Apple Bloom outside into the dark grove of trees that made up the farm and off towards the sounds of a giggling filly.

Author's Note

Well... Ugh... So do you hate Apple Bloom yet?

I'm very interested in what you have to say about Apple Bloom either as a character or anything that you want to say about her really.

With Apple Bloom the way she is how do you think the elements of harmony are supposed to work now that this universe's mane six have been united. I don't think this is a spoiler at this point since it's pretty obvious at this point.

If Apple Bloom were to ever get a date who would you ship her with? I already have my own answer that will come up later but that doesn't mean you can't have a guessing contest.

Ruby will get more development on the next leg of the adventure, which from this point onward becomes a lot darker, and Ruby... being a pyromancer... I'll let you speculate on that.

The deaths of the original mane six from the show will be mentioned later, just be a little patient.

As always I enjoy reading you thoughts and ideas on my work and I would appreciate it if you left a comment telling me how you liked the story and what I could do to improve the story.