Apple Bloom sat against a tree, bored out of her mind. Everything was going right for everyone in the world but her; Sweetie Belle, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon were in Manehattan with Rarity trying to gain new customers for the boutique, Scootaloo was in Cloudsdale with Rainbow Dash trying to find a cure for her inability to fly, Applejack was helping Fluttershy with the annual bunny census, Granny Smith was enjoying some alone time, and Big Macintosh was on a date with miss Cherilee. It seemed like everyone was trying to be as far from her as possible. Even Winona was taking a nap she refused to be woken up from.
Apple Bloom curled up into a ball and began to cry quietly. It was as if she didn’t want to bother the world that seemed to be trying so hard to ignore her. Blades of grass stuck to her face as her crying turned to sobbing. Ponies paid her no mind as they went about their day. Apple Bloom looked at her cutie mark. She’d always thought that when she got it, everything would be happy. She would finally belong to something. If that was the case, why was she so lonely?
Twilight walked up to the depressed Apple Bloom with great concern.
“Apple Bloom, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked frowning.
“Nopony wants me.” Apple Bloom stated simply.
“That can’t be true. What about your Cutie Mark Crusader friends?” Twilight asked.
“Busy.” Apple Bloom replied, sitting up.
“What about your family?” Twilight asked with growing concern. She had never seen Apple Bloom this upset. Even when she didn’t have her cutie mark she was better than this.
“They’re busy too.” Apple Bloom pouted.
“Well, I’m not busy,” Twilight said, using her magic to wipe the grass and tears off of her face. “I’d love to hang out with you Apple Bloom.”
“‘Ah don’t know Twilight. ‘Ah Don’t want to be a bother.” Apple Bloom said, looking down.
“You won’t be a bother to me, Apple Bloom. We haven’t really seen each other much since we stopped having Twilight time. I’m sure there’s something fun we can do at the castle.” Twilight said with a smile.
“Are you sure?” Apple Bloom asked, standing up.
“Absolutely!” Twilight replied. “Come on, I don’t want my groceries to spoil in this heat.”
With that, Twilight and Apple Bloom made their way to the castle.
***
They spent the day completing jigsaw puzzles, improving Apple Bloom’s alchemy, and they laughed and bonded over stories they told each other in the throne room.
“‘Ah made it to about right here when the chimera attacked.” Apple Bloom explained, pointing to the swamp on the Cutie Map. “If Applejack hadn’t come when she had, I would’ve been a filly fillet.”
“That sounds terrifying. How did you manage to save the pies?” Twilight asked, fully captivated by the story.
“They rolled down the hill into some bushes. To this day, I don’t know how that cart managed to stay hidden. It was HUGE!” Apple Bloom explained, stretching her front hooves wide in front of her to accentuate her point.
Orange sunlight streamed onto the map from the windows. The sun was setting, and it was time for Apple Bloom to go home.
“Wow, look at the time!” Twilight explained, turning to her clock. “Do you want me to fly you home?”
“Fly me home?” Apple Bloom asked, confused.
“Yeah. You don’t seem much bigger than Spike, and I fly him around all the time!” Twilight explained. “I think you’ll love the wind in your mane. I certainly do.”
“If you’re sure.” Apple Bloom replied, following Twilight outside.
Apple Bloom climbed carefully onto Twilight’s back and wrapped her hooves around the alicorn’s neck. Twilight stretched her wings and took off into the evening air. She glided gently above the town, flapping softly when she had to. A gentle breeze flowed through Apple Bloom’s mane, adding to the feeling of being weightless. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This felt like home. Not even Sweet Apple Acres felt this welcoming. Twilight continued to fly higher until they were hovering above the cloud layer. The sun’s golden rays tinted the clouds a beautiful orange and pink color. Apple Bloom had never felt so alive. She wanted to feel this way every day for the rest of her life. Something changed inside Apple Bloom when she realized why she felt so happy. Twilight had always been so kind to her. She was almost like the mom Apple Bloom had never had. Apple Bloom smiled in her new-found contentment.
Twilight floated downward towards Sweet Apple Acres. There, Applejack was waving to her little sister outside the front door. She had just gotten home. Twilight’s hooves landed on the ground with ease, as she slowly folded her wings.
“That was amazin’!” Apple Bloom explained, sliding off of Twilight’s back.
“I have to admit, it was breathtaking up there. Applejack, I hope you don’t mind that Apple Bloom spent the day with me.” Twilight said awkwardly.
“Not at all sugar cube. As long as you two had fun. Come along now Apple Bloom, it’s time for dinner.” Applejack said, waving her sister inside.
“Aww. Can’t Twilight stay fer dinner?” Apple Bloom asked a puppy dog look on her face.
“Sorry Apple Bloom, I promised Spike I would cook dinner tonight. I thought he could use a break.” Twilight responded. She hated having to let the filly down.
“Okay.” Apple Bloom said, frowning and trudging into the house.
“See you later Twilight!” Applejack said, waving to her friend as she flew off.
***
The next day, Apple Bloom was up bright and early. She was going to spend the entire day with her new mother figure.
“Slow down there sugarcube! Celestia’s barely raised the sun, what makes you think Twilight’s even awake yet?” Applejack yelled after Apple Bloom.
“She’s not! but by the time I get there, she will be!” Apple Bloom yelled in reply, racing out the door.
‘That was strange,’ Applejack thought. It’s probably fine.
***
When Apple Bloom finally made it to the castle, she was out of breath. She sat down on the path panting rapidly.
“Apple Bloom, we’re back!” Scootaloo exclaimed, flying toward her friend. Behind her, Sweetie Belle, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon were running to catch up.
“Check it out, Apple Bloom! Scootaloo can finally fly!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, her voice cracking with excitement.
“Cool.” Apple Bloom replied cooly. She showed absolutely no enthusiasm for her friend’s achievement.
“Are you okay Apple Bloom?” Diamond Tiara asked, concerned.
“Yeah, this is like, one of the biggest moments of your friend’s life” Silver Spoon reasoned, scrunching up her nose at her friend’s lack of enthusiasm.
“Sorry girls, ‘Ah’ve got other things ‘Ah’m worryin’ ‘bout right now.” Apple Bloom said, watching the castle windows.
“What could be more important than Scootaloo finally being able to fly?” Sweetie Belle asked confused.
“Twilight of course! Turns out, she’s the best pony in all of Equestria!” Apple Bloom said as if it should be obvious.
“Right,” Scootaloo said with a confused tone. “Come on girls, let’s go show Rarity!”
The four fillies ran off, leaving Apple Bloom behind to wait for her favorite pony to awaken. She paced in front of the castle for an hour, before finally knocking on the door.
“Hey, Apple Bloom! What’s up?” Twilight asked with a yawn.
“‘Ah was going to ask you the same thing. We had so much fun yesterday that I thought maybe we could do that again today.” Apple Bloom said sheepishly.
“I don’t see why not. Though I have to warn you, today might be a bit boring. I have to prepare for my trip to the crystal empire tomorrow. I’m going to visit Cadence.” Twilight explained.
“That’s okay! We can make it like a game!” Apple Bloom said, overly enthusiastic.
Every task Twilight did that day was turned into a game by Apple Bloom; folding clothes for her appearances in public became a race, finding snacks for the train ride became a scavenger hunt, and the closing suitcase became a trampoline. They were done around lunchtime much to Apple Bloom’s dismay. Twilight had magic studies to do, which meant she needed complete concentration. Apple Bloom had to go somewhere else.
Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were very concerned about their friend.
“I just thought she’d be more excited for me.” Scootaloo pouted, her wings drooping. “My wings were too small to get me off the ground. It took me and Rainbow Dash forever to find wing extensions that were small enough for a filly! She didn’t even notice that my wings were bigger!”
“‘Am sure it’s fine you two. I think she’s just found herself a role model. Twilight has become an idol to her is all. Like Scootaloo’s thing with Rainbow Dash.” Applejack explained.
“Oh! That makes sense.” Sweetie Belle thought aloud.
***
At the tree-house, Apple Bloom called an emergency Cutie Mark Crusader meeting. She needed to devise a plan.
“Okay crusaders, Princess Twilight is going to the crystal empire tomorrow, and we’re going to be on that train!” Apple Bloom exclaimed at the podium.
“What about school?” Sweetie Belle asked concerned.
“I’m pretty sure our friends and families wouldn’t appreciate us just picking up and leaving. We should tell them first.” Scootaloo reasoned.
“All of that doesn’t matter. Besides, Twilight is family!” Apple Bloom huffed, slamming her hoof down on the podium.
“Maybe to you, but not to us.” Sweetie Belle reasoned. “I don’t think this is the best idea.”
“Fine. I’ll just think of something else to do. Go on and have y’er fun. I’ll be here.” Apple Bloom said in fake defeat, waving her friends away.
“If you say so,” Scootaloo replied, skeptical of the situation.
***
The next day, Twilight was gone, and so was Apple Bloom. The panicked search, lead by Applejack, started at Sweet Apple Acres and continued throughout the town. The Apple Family banged on doors, put out posters, and even gathered some other towns ponies. Every square inch of the town was searched until they finally made their way to the castle. Though it felt wrong, family was family, so there was only one thing left to do. Big Macintosh bucked the door to the castle down, terrifying Spike. They went through the entire castle and found nothing. She wasn’t in the throne room, or behind the tapestries. She wasn’t even on the balcony with a door that had a near-impossible-to-find hallway leading to it.
The entire town searched for hours. They checked the Everfree Forest three times and sent a letter to Princess Celestia before finally gathering in Town Square to re-group. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo ran up to Applejack with worried expressions and tears in their eyes.
“We think we know where Apple Bloom is!” They said in unison.
“What took you so long to get here?” Applejack scolded.
“With Apple Bloom missing, the school decided it was best to have a lockdown. They didn’t want anypony else to go missing.” Scootaloo explained, out of breath.
“We think Apple Bloom followed Twilight to the Crystal Empire.” Sweetie explained, raising her voice to the crowd.
“Then what are we waiting for! You two can help me search for her in the Crystal Empire. Everypony else continue the search here! We don’t know fer’ certain that she’s with Princess Twilight.” Applejack said to the crowd of ponies. “Does Twilight know that Apple Bloom is following her?”
“We don’t think so,” Scootaloo replied, growing more panicked by the minute.
***
Twilight left the castle to get some fresh air and flying practice. She was so used to carrying Spike that she didn’t notice the extra weight of Apple Bloom on top of her. She rose quickly into the air at an angle. She rose above the clouds and turned her body upside down in an arc. Apple Bloom fell, plummeting toward the earth below. She tried to wail in panic, but the air was rushing around her so quickly she couldn’t breathe. Opening her mouth brought a stinging pain as
her mouth was filled with air, yet she still screamed. She had to. She was about to die, and she wanted to be heard. She wanted to live. She kept her eyes closed, and gave a quick prayer to both Celestia and Luna. She opened her eyes and saw the ground getting closer and closer. Most ponies stood frozen in panic while a few tried desperately to reach where she would land so they could catch her. From where those ponies were, they’d never catch her. She passed the roof of a crystal building and knew this was the end. She closed her eyes and accepted her fate.
A pair of hooves wrapped around her, stopping her fall. Her tail brushed the ground. A breathless Apple Bloom was set on the ground gently, as her panicked hero collapsed in exhaustion.
***
Twilight opened her eyes to see Apple Bloom curled up at the end of the bed and Applejack in a chair by her hospital bed,
“Thank goodness y’re awake sugar cube! You saved Apple Bloom’s life!” Applejack exclaimed, jumping out of her chair.
“She wouldn’t have been at risk if I’d noticed she was on my back. How’d she even get here anyway?” Twilight responded with a groan. Her head hurt.
“‘Ah stowed away on the train. I wanted to keep spendin’ time with yah. ‘Ah’m sorry.” Apple Bloom answered, a frown on her face.
“I appreciate that you enjoy my company, but this is unhealthy. There’s got to be more to this, right?” Twilight asked confused.
“‘Ah think I understand sugar cube. This is about y’er mom, ain’t it?” Applejack asked, looking Apple Bloom in the eyes.
“Yes.” Apple Bloom sobbed. “‘Ah never got to know ‘er. She just ain't there, and Twilight is and, and…”
“It’s alright sugar, but you really should’a told us. We got mighty worried about you. The whole town searched everywhere. I’m just glad y’re safe.” Applejack said, hugging her sister.
“Apple Bloom, I’m flattered that you see me as a motherly figure, but I’m not sure I’m the best pony for the task. I’m busy a lot, and my status as the element of magic and princess of friendship puts you in harm’s way.” Twilight explained. The poor filly was crying and she was telling that filly no. She felt horrible.
“It’s alright. I think we need to sort this out at a later. Come along now Apple Bloom, let’s give Twilight some peace and quiet to think.” Applejack said, carrying Apple Bloom out of the room.
Author's Note
I hope you enjoyed that! Don't forget to leave a comment telling me what you thought!
Celestia blesses you all, 
Forestpip 
(before commenting, please keep in mind that I now understand that the story was rushed)
