Author's Note

Hi! It's me. So... I kinda realized I made Apple Bloom too unlike-able and from this chapter onward her attitude is being toned down. She's meant to be witty not irredeamable, and I feel that with the knowledge given about her in this chapter it helps paint her in a better light.

I hope to use other ponies as the main focus of the story after this chapter with Apple Bloom being a jerk but toned down from what she currently is.

Like always feel free to comment and criticize me all you want. I love reading the comments and I need more ideas on how to improve this story. (Also if you've made it this far past Apple Bloom I'm sorry, I thought she was interesting enough to override the evil.)

Ch 3: Losing Heart

“So Ruby are you sure we should be going into the forest to get these elements, I think the adults have a better idea of what we should be doing.” Diamond Tiara asked nervously.

“Well I'm not going to sit around and let a monster attack the princess, we'll be heroes!” Ruby declared.

“Or never be heard from again.” Apple Bloom said as she walked up with Scootaloo trailing behind her.

“Your not stopping us, we're going in no matter what you say!” Ruby declared.

“By Discord yer a dumb filly.” Apple Bloom groaned.

“Well I'm not going to let some meany hurt my family!”

“An what makes ya think she has any interest in yer family?”

“She's a scary monster duh, monsters always eat the parents or kids my story books.”

“Great, a filly with my taste in fairy tales. Ah think ya need ta lay off the brother's Grimm stories fer a while.”

“Well we heard of these magical artifacts that the princess used to defeat the Nightmare the first time and that they're in the forest so we're going to go find them.”

“An' yer sure the princess doesn't keep them with her like a pony who has a single brain cell in their head.”

“Well... the book said that she couldn't take the elements because they didn't like her anymore.”

“Great we're looking for stones with an attitude.”

“It would seem that's the case, which is a shame since you already have enough attitude for all of Manehatten.” Scootaloo added.

“At least ah'm not a shallow shell of a pony that lives almost entirely off sugar.”

“Sweetie is not shallow, there's a lot more to her than most ponies care to think about. Sure she's a little hyper and quite frankly very odd at times, but there's a lot more there than just a giggly little filly with a sugar high.”

“I'd really appreciate it if you both weren't acting like I'm not here.” Sweetie mumbled.

“Ah am actin' like yer here, an' since ah'm not leavin' Diamond ta get killed in a forest yer stuck with me unless ya go home.”

“Okay! So we're all going into the forest then?” Sweetie asked.

“Unfortunately.” Apple Bloom said.

“I have to agree with Apple Bloom on this one, we need to stay in town and let those who are supposed to defend Equestria handle this. We're only kids and I'm blind, we don't stand a chance against that thing.”

“B-but... what about the elements? They're the only things capable of stopping Nightmare...”

“I'm sure the guards can find them, and just running into the forest is only asking for more trouble than what the Nightmare presents. I'm also fairly certain Apple Bloom won't let any of us live it down if we do run into the forest.”

“Darn right ah won't, only a pony with less than one brain cell in their empty skull would attempt such a thing, an' if ah read right those elements need positive emotions ta work an' ah don't think ya realize who yer tryin' ta get ta use them.”

“Did you see how easily the Nightmare took out those guards, they're useless only ponies like us that Nightmare wouldn't expect to fight her would even stand a chance at slipping by her defenses and getting the elements.”

“Yer reasonin' is good, but ah seriously doubt the Nightmare is going ta go easy on a bunch of fillies wandering in the forest, especially ones that she probably knows are after an ancient artifact.”

“And how would she know we were after the elements exactly?”

“Ah wouldn't be surprised if the Nightmare was listenin' to us right now, ya know monsters like it usually like to keep an eye on the populace.”

“Well I'm going after the elements with or without help.” Ruby said with a gaze of pure determination.

“An' what are ya goin' ta do if ah decide ta drag ya back to the farm?”

Ruby merely answered the question by igniting her horn and letting a glowing orb of fire hover in front of her. While a little excessive to most ponies Ruby wasn't the kind of pony to back down when she was dead set on doing something, even when other ponies were against her. This tended to get her into trouble later, but she wasn't one to care for consequences when her word was at stake.

“Hm... if yer tryin' ta scare me it ain't workin' but ah doubt yer family would be happy if ah brought ya back home unconscious, so ah guess ah'm goin' ta have ta keep an eye on ya until ya realize this was nothin' more than a waste of time.”

“I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.” Ruby said.

“Ah doubt that, even if things end well ah doubt that it'll be pleasant.”

“Well... let's go then. The faster we get this done the faster we can be done with Apple Bloom.” Ruby said to the group.

“Yer not all that enjoyable to be around either, in fact ah have been dragged around town all day by ponies ah don't want ta be around. An' if yer so inta tryin' ta be the leader here ya best be prepared ta answer ta every little thing that crosses my mind.” Apple Bloom said as she followed the group of ponies into the forest.

After twenty minutes of wandering in the forest and many members of the group starting to get tired or complain of bug bites and cuts, Apple Bloom was left leading the group through the forest as the others started to lag behind. Being the being of pure angst that Apple Bloom is she soon found the slowed pace of the others to be irritating and almost as annoying as the swarms of mosquitoes that plagued the forest. She kept her head level though, well only level enough to keep from making any snide remarks until one of the others decided to open their mouth.

The forest was a confounding place for any pony that decided to walk into its depths, fortunately Apple Bloom was known to head into the forest for extended periods of time. Of course this led to speculation among the towns ponies that she went there to smoke, do drugs, and most infuriatingly hang out with the zebra shaman. It wasn't hanging out with Zecora that she was pissed about though, no it was the xenophobic racism of the ponies around her that was the source of her ire, not that the slander of her getting intoxicated in the forest was much better.

After a good trot through the dense and twisted foliage of the forest a small clearing opened up before them. In the center was a large stone dragged there by Apple Bloom herself, and all throughout the clearing was a blanket of Blue flowers with a single path leading up to the stone. After getting to the clearing Apple Bloom went ahead of everypony and stood in front of the stone as the others looked around at the plants blooming all around them.

“Ooh, what is this place?” Berry Pinch asked.

“A plant orgy.” Apple Bloom stated as if it were obvious.

“W-while you're not wrong that's a little crass to be spouting out in front of everypony else here.” Scootaloo stuttered.

“It's a spot ah put together fer when ah need ta clear mah head.”

“Well the flowers are pretty.” Sweetie Belle said as she went to pass through the field of flowers.

“Feel free to roll around in them and pick some ta bring home.”

“Wow, really!? That's so nice... too nice, what are these flowers?”

“They're poison joke Sweetie, they play a nasty trick on anypony that touches them, only a pony like Apple Bloom would grow a whole field of them.”

“Well yer choice of flowers isn't all that impressive either, at least mine smell nice, and they're fun to use on unsuspecting ponies.” Apple Bloom said almost conspiratorially.

“Well why are we here then, we need to find the castle!” Ruby shouted indignantly.

“The path forward is on the other side of the clearing.” Apple Bloom said as she pointed to the other side and made a gesture to go forward.

“Why am I not surprised?” Diamond Tiara said as she started making her way across the clearing.

The next part of the journey was spent with all of the ponies gingerly trying to avoid touching any of the sinister blue petals of the plants that coated the clearing. It wasn't easy as they grew together in a dense weave with their roots and foliage forming a massive network all around them once on the other side none of them could say that avoiding the touch of the plants was successful, except for one.

“Ya'll know that ya could just go around the clearin' right, although ah can't wait ta see what the plants decide ta do with ya.”

“You wanted us to go through them didn't you!” Ruby exclaimed.

“Call it a hopeful thought, but don't get yer tails in a twist the cure is as simple as taking a bubble bath.”

“I guess that's not so bad, and maybe the jokes aren't that bad.” Ruby said.

“Your naivete knows no bounds it seems.” Apple Bloom replied

“Come on girls once this is all over we can get cleaned up and remove the effects of the poison joke.” Scootaloo said as she took over leading the group.

The paths through the forest were sticky and full off weird noises that spooked the fillies almost every time they were heard. Apple Bloom was the only one that seemed unconcerned, and it was partially true since she knew the forest well enough to keep the others safe, but the Nightmare was another beast altogether.

As time progressed and their endless trekking through a forest infested with bugs and other pests such as poison ivy or the occasional telemarketer brought them no closer to any foreseeable destination a new feeling began to spread throughout the group. It started as a little twitch, and maybe just a passing sensation of a pinch but it was still there. Then the real show happened as the poison joke took its course and played its pranks on the ponies who were unfortunate enough to touch it.

A gasp of terror emanated from Ruby as her body convulsed before becoming absolutely covered in a thick layer of fur that made her look like a giant fluff ball. The filly having a talent in pyromancy was appalled at the current state of her body since there was no way in Tartarus that she would be able to cast a single spell without singing herself at best. Then there was the laughter emanating from those around her, but most of all it was the cruel smirk and snickers of the monster that called herself Apple Bloom that truly made things worse.

Thankfully for Ruby the next pony was soon to be affected by the rather sinister sense of humor the boisterous blue plants known as poison joke had. Sweetie Belle was next to fall victim to the plants and the maniacal apple farmer, as everything she tasted had the flavor of the most horrible thing to ever grace Equestrian soil, Brussel Sprouts. Sure other ponies enjoyed them, but to Sweetie they were a plague on pony kind that needed to be exterminated, and to her utmost horror she was cursed with their foul taste upon her tongue.

Berry Pinch was truly punished for daring touch the foul flowers by having her keen sense of intellect dulled by the horrendous sounds of the worst pop song in existence to play continuously in her mind. It was an ear-worm of the most insidious nature, worming it's way into the victim's head whether it was wanted or not and torturing the listener until they ended up buying the accursed artists album. Unfortunately there was no pony strong enough as of yet to burn the albums and send their horrid tunes to the depths of the darkest pit of Tartarus where they belong, to torture those who are truly damned.

Diamond Tiara wasn't spared her fate either as she soon found that she was unable to stop thinking of tacky and useless items to give to those around her. Her generous nature was turned into a terrible offense as she thought of horrible sweaters and cheap plastic toys to give ponies as if they were truly meaningful gifts that would improve their lives. It was a truly tragic effect and she could only scream in terror as she thought that giving somepony a broken pez dispenser was a good gift.

Scootaloo the bastion of the wayward pony and guiding light to those who would listen was only grazed by the plants curse. Truly her mental and physical fortitude was strong as all that could come against her was a tongue swollen to the point of preventing speech. Her greatest ally and greatest tool in helping the weak and comforting others was rendered useless as only spittle and the most flatulent of fart noises escaped her mouth. Leaving the filly known as Apple Bloom to roll on the ground in laughter at the plight that Scootaloo found herself in.

“Hah, ah must say ah'm enjoyin' the physical changes the poison joke has done. An' ah bet the less obvious effects are even funnier.”

“Grr... You better fix this ya big bully!” Ruby shouted.

“Like ah said a bubble bath is all that's needed, and yer temper is goin' ta get somepony killed. Ah don't want ta have ta explain that ya died because a cragodile looked at ya funny and ya decided ta attack it.”

“This isn't funny.”

“Well ah think ya need ta lighten up, a good joke does wonders fer a pony.”

“Guh! I'm done with this conversation, and I bet you have a small stash of the cure nearby in case you touched the plants.”

“Sorry Sparkle, but ah'm not Sweetie Belle.”

The whole party lapsed into a terse silence as they trotted along each one slowly contemplating the best way to get rid of Apple Bloom. The pony was a scourge to society and had only been a nuisance so far, not to mention she constantly insulted all of them. So it was of little consequence when Ruby decided to “accidentally” push Apple Bloom off an embankment and into a cave down below. The others noticed of course, but paid no real head to it since the farmer was probably the worst thing that had happened to them.

“Um girls shouldn't we go make sure Apple Bloom is okay?” Diamond Tiara asked.

“I don't see why we should, all she would have done is laugh at us and make some rude remark if it happened to one of us.”

“You're not giving her the credit she deserves, she's been through a lot in a short period of time okay and it never lets up. While she may take pleasure in our pain I think that she might actually care about us.”

“Her, care? You're deluding yourself, there's no way she cares about anypony but herself.”Ruby said.

“Guh! Fine I'll go down and help her, at least she knows where she's going in this forest.”

As Diamond wandered down the embankment she noticed that Apple Bloom wasn't anywhere nearby. This only made Diamond sigh in agitation because it meant that her half sister had been knocked into the nearby cavern. The thing was like most caves, dank, musty, and made of the grayest stone to ever exist. If she had been paying any attention she would have noticed that there wasn't any moss or other plants attempting to invade the cave yet, and that the walls were eerily smooth for any natural formation.

Diamond wasn't an expert in geology though, so she plunged further ahead to look for her friend... no acquaintance really, until she noticed the cave becoming more and more like the halls of a temple. Further and further she went into the old building taking note of several images of ponies made by embedding gemstones into the walls. The pillars that had started cropping up were tall and ominous holding several glowing crystals that served as the light for the place.

The pictures on the wall depicted some sort of great war and ponies fighting against some monstrosity that looked vaguely like a goat. There seemed to be depictions of ponies rising from the dead to fight against those that were still living and there was an image of a powerful group of ponies building some sort of temple. The rest was hard to make out as the gems in the walls had fallen out of their sockets leaving only smeared outlines. Further down the line the images returned showing a kingdom being buried under the bitter frosts of winter with no ponies reappearing in any of the remaining depictions.

The halls ended in a large amphitheater of sorts with a large raised dais at the far end of the room. All around the dais were several large statues of the ponies seen before and made out of the same gems as before, the only difference was that the statues were holding staves that each held an ominously pulsating crystal. Bound to the altar at the focal point of where all the staves were pointing was Apple Bloom who was struggling to get off the altar but was held in place by an unknown power.

“Let me out whoever ya are!”

“Please do not fight this, everything will be over momentarily.” A voice said seemingly coming from nowhere.

“Like ah said before ah'm not goin' down without a fight ya evil piece of $#@%!!”

“What is evil? That term is not in my lexicon.”

“What are you going to do to her!” Diamond shouted alerting everypony there to her presence.

“Long ago my people built this place to create the artifact they would need to survive tyranny, now long past the artifacts need for existence the final pony has come that is required to finish my mission. This pony is full of wickedness though and all of her will be consumed as a result.”

“You can't kill her, we need her to stop the world from ending.”

“That is not in my directive, the artifact must be completed.”

“Can't you use something else!?” Diamond screamed.

“Hmm... While I do not think this waste of pony life is worth saving a suitable replacement is here. Your heart is pure and noble and is more than enough to create the artifact at this point, we will require it if you want to save her.”

“M-my heart!?”

“Yes, the very organ that pumps your life blood through your veins, in exchange fore her life your heart must be given, you have ten minutes to decide before we proceed to turn this pony into solid crystal.”

Diamond sat down contemplating exactly what was going on at the moment and how to fix it. All she could think of though was that she should offer the statues a moth eaten sweater in exchange for Apple Bloom. A quick shake of her head cleared out those inane thoughts for the moment and she decided to get down to the meat of the issue, Apple Bloom's life, or hers.

Diamond Tiara had to really think about it, Apple Bloom was her half sister even if that didn't really mean anything in the long run. She was one of the worst ponies in town to be honest, and everypony including the mayor was afraid of her. Although she has had a rough life and never had any real ponies she was allowed to look up to, making her more of a victim in Diamonds eyes, but she still was an absolute prick to everything. Diamond couldn't stay angry or hold anything against Apple Bloom though, even in her state of being affected by poison joke she knew that the most generous thing she could do was give herself up.

“I... I've made my decision.”

“What is the decision that you have made, does the pony live or die?”

“Even though everypony hates Apple Bloom and I have a hard time putting up with her... I give my life in her place.”

“Truly, alright then your heart will be given as sacrifice!”

A wracking pain erupted in Diamonds chest as magic curled around her heart and stopped its beating before ripping the organ out of her chest leaving an empty hole. Magic soon began to swirl around the bleeding organ until it was turned to solid crystal. It was a light bluish artifact that had taken on the visage of a hearts and hooves day heart before the piece of crystal vanished letting both Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara out of the grip of the altar's magic.

Apple Bloom rushed up and grabbed Diamond before she hit the floor the pony seemingly dead with a large hole in chest. More magic from the altar surged forth however, sealing the wound and letting the lay there motionless for what felt like an eternity. Apple Bloom brushed the mane out of her sisters face before gently laying her on the cold stone floor.

“Y-you stupid idiot! Why! Why did you do it! I was the one that deserved to die not you! Why... why does everypony that loves me die in front of me... I-I know you can't hear me but I actually liked you, all of the attitude was just me being careful. Nopony likes me, nopony ever does. Every pony that ever comes to meet me is always in it for themselves, it's either getting brownie points for spending more than a minute with the meanest pony in town to therapists who only care about the check they are getting. You... you cared... and I... I... didn't want to let another backbiting leach get close to me, I was so un-trusting that I didn't even notice that you actually cared about me... I-if it means anything I'm sorry this had to happen.”

“I-I always knew your accent was fake.”

“Holy mother of Discord! How are you even alive!?”

“He-he... magic... maybe?”

“I'll get you out of here, and if ya tell anypony that ah actually care you'll be buried six feet under.”

“I thought you didn't want me to die.”

“Ya know what ah meant.”

Apple Bloom quickly positioned Diamond across her back before making a hasty retreat from the underground deathtrap. Once the entrance of the cave came into plain sight Apple Bloom sighed in relief as she started making her way up the embankment. Ruby was at the top looking as irritated as a cream puff could and the large fluff ball of a pony only dropped the attitude when she noticed the downed Diamond Tiara.

“Oh my gosh Diamond are you okay! Did Apple Bloom do this?” Ruby said as she rounded on the farmer.

“Can it Sparkle, it was your fault this even happened, she hurt herself helping me get out of that cave you knocked me into. Of course that's assuming everypony else noticed that you were the one that threw me down that embankment, and sent her down by herself on top of that. You're despicable, at least ah don't do anything that could potentially kill somepony.”

“W-well you started it!”

“I don't care who started anything, because if you two don't stop I'll end it! Ruby you're staying in the back with me and I have half a mind to drag you home right now!” Scootaloo said.

“Fine...”

“I-if it's alright with you, I think I can walk now.” Diamond said her vocal tone oddly flat.

“Ya sure, ya look paler 'n a ghost.”

“Yes.” Diamond said as she dropped off Apple Bloom's back.

Apple Bloom resumed her place at the front of the group of ponies leading them on to where the Elements of Harmony were supposed to be. As they continued on Apple Bloom could here them whispering about how she must have been somehow responsible for Diamond's injuries. The pony in question remained silent walking slowly at the back with Scootaloo and Ruby. Of all the ponies Apple Bloom was happy to be in the back it was Ruby, the little twit was still somehow managing to use herself as a hostage to keep the rest of them moving forward.

Once the fortieth minute had passed and they passed their fourth sleeping cragodile the rest of the group began to think that they had all made a grave mistake in entering the forest. Apple Bloom on the other hoof wasn't worried in the slightest, unlike the others she was fully aware of what part of the forest they were in, and she may have been purposefully leading them in a large circle. Of course that wasn't to say Apple Bloom didn't have her reasons, it just seemed that nopony could see far enough past their snouts to come close to understanding them.

“Girls I'm pretty sure that was the same cragodile from last time, and that group of trees over there looks familiar.”Berry Pinch said.

“Are ya sayin' ah'm lost?”

“No...? Maybe?”

“Well if ya want ta move forward why not have somepony else take the lead?”

“So you've been leading us in a circle on purpose!” Ruby shouted.

“Ya never said ah couldn't an' ah would call it taking time ta prolong yer life.”

“You're a jerk you know that?”

“Ah've been told, but at least ah'm not putting foals in the line of fire.”

“I'm helping my friends do what's right!”

“Well yer doin' it wrong, pitting foals against an ancient evil is about as evil as anypony can get without being that ancient evil.”

“Shut up!” Ruby said as she fired a bolt of fire at Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom for he part stood still and threw her hooves on front of her to block the blast. The blast for the most part didn't have much heat to it outside of slightly singing her fur, but the force behind it was enough to send the mare tumbling down the nearby embankment. Some of the others in the group gasped, Diamond Tiara in particular looked like she wanted to hit Ruby for a moment before trotting over to the embankment.

“Ruby, what were you thinking!?” Diamond said as she continued to look for Apple Bloom still sounding unusually dull toned.

“B-but... she was trying to get us to go home.”

“So you attack her!? Apple Bloom may be cruel but at least she doesn't attack us, your reaction makes me want to go home more than what she was doing.”

“S-sorry...”

“I'm not the one who needs an apology... girls, I think we're in trouble.”

“Why?” Ruby asked.

“Apple Bloom has fallen into an underground cave system... again.” Diamond said just as dully as before.

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“Byte!, Byte where are you?” A tiny bat pony filly called out into the darkness of the cave that she called home.

“In the study my dear, and do please wipe your hooves on the mat, you don't want your mother having more work on her hooves than she already does.” A voice called out from nearby.

The tiny filly giggled as she scampered down the cave and made sure to wipe off her hooves before she opened the study. Inside was a large number of bookshelves, all of them filled with stories passed down from her people and some of the other races in the world. Sitting in a large chair reading near the fire was the changeling drone known as Byte that lived with the family. As far back as the little bat pony could remember Byte had always been there, being the best uncle that she could ever ask for.

“Uncle Byte!” The little filly cheered as she jumped up onto the changeling's lap.

“Hello my dear, here to hear another story of Juniper the June bug? I'm certain there's one that you haven't heard yet.”

“Ooh! Not today uncle Byte, a pony filly has fallen into the cistern.”

“How unfortunate, the ponies in charge of it really need to make it safer to be around.”

“Not a pony from here, she's from the surface. Do you think I'll get to meet her uncle Byte?”

“I'm sure if she's a nice filly you'll get to see her around Peach Blossom.”

“I hope she's nice, most of the stories of the ponies on the surface don't paint them as being very good.”

“Ah, yes. They do have a history don't they, their xenophobia has caused them to commit many a terrible act. The near genocide of the bat ponies, the exile and forced starvation of the changeling race, segregation of sheep, donkeys and cows... I could go on, but counting the sins of the ponies is not why I'm here. I'm here because your kind took a starving race in and showed us kindness, and I'm here because I have a lovely little niece who would probably enjoy a good story before being sent to bed. So what do you want to here young one?”

“Juniper June bug and the quest for the Ruby Sun Stone!”

“Alright... Now lets see... the story begins with Juniper crawling onto the mainland after her ship sunk...”

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“Somepony better have a good explanation fer this.” Apple Bloom said as her and the rest of her group were getting dried off.

“You surface dwellers fell into our cistern, what else is there to explain.” A bat pony in black armor said to her.

“What's a cistern?” Ruby said to nopony in particular.

“A place for collecting rainwater, we have many scattered throughout the forest and they all lead to a main holding pool near the center of the colony. The one you fell into was the furthest from the center.”

“Right... and what exactly is a colony of bat ponies doin' in the Everfree? From what ah heard yer kind were nearly wiped out.”

“We're here as one of the last remaining colonies of my people, a people that your kind tried to kill off if I might add. As for the forest itself, it is large enough and houses enough natural caves to properly sustain what remains of my kind.”

“I... I never knew that...” Ruby said.

“Ah did, and it's part of why ah hate our species.”

“I thought you hated everything.” Scootaloo replied.

“Ah don't hate the bat ponies.”

“Uhg... this makes me wonder what you would do if you were to ever meet the princess.”

“Sorry to cut your conversation short but we are ready to escort your group now.”

“Oh! Where are we going!? Are we going to get a party?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Something like that, you being from the surface puts us in a bit of a predicament. Since your kind nearly wiped all of us out, and from our sources still would if given the chance, we can't exactly return you to the surface without needing to relocate. In any of our other homes that wouldn't be a problem, but with the size of the colony here it's not feasible, and while I would like to trust that you would keep our colony a secret most of you are fillies and more than one of you aren't exactly trustworthy.”

“Understandable.” Apple Bloom replied.

“What do you mean understandable, he just said we can't go home!” Diamond Tiara said trying to put some emotion behind her vocal inflections, but fell terribly short.

“Ah thought ya already knew what ah thought about mah family?”

“I'm talking about the others, unlike you they love their family and would get homesick.”

“Well ah've been sick of mah home fer years, an' look where ah am now. A place where ah can start over an' get on with mah life an' finally do what ah want instead of what mah family demands of me.”

“Apple Bloom, we can talk about your problems later, we've got more important things to deal with right now.”

“Like getting acquainted with our new neighbors, or are the bat ponies right in thinkin' we don't like 'em.”

“I... I'm sorry Bloom, but maybe it's for the best if we parted ways... You obviously want no part n this and I've been trying to force you to go along with our plans all day... I'm no better than the rest of your family, but I won't force you to do anything from here on out. You can stay here, we'll go on without you, I'm sorry to have been a burden.” Diamond Tiara said as she walked off into the caves with the others.

“Well that came out of nowhere.”

“Yeah... yeah right, she's the closest pony to you and you treat her like garbage, I'm surprised she held out this long.” Scootaloo said as the rest moved on.

“Humph, this only proves my point, none of you care... none of you ever did, ah was just a prize to be won, or an obstacle to be overcome, never a pony, never anything at all.” Apple Bloom said as she made her way after her own escort.