Apple Bloom shoved the heavy wooden barn door shut and secured the sturdy wooden beam in place, sealing herself inside the barn alone. Nopony else would be around Sweet Apple Acres until tomorrow around midday but she wanted to make sure that she wasn't disturbed tonight. Not until her plans were complete.
With the setting sun dimly lighting the interior of the barn, Apple Bloom took a seat on one of the many bales of hay and reached for one of her most treasured items; her photo album that she started compiling just a months ago. Opening it to the first page she was greeted with a photo of herself and her two best friends in all of Equestria. She forced a smile of her own as she stared down at it; a beaming Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and herself proudly holding their diplomas, celebrating the end of their childhood and the beginning of their next big adventure in life. They had been so happy to start planning what life may hold for them as well as what grand adventure awaited them in every corner of Equestria and beyond. All during school they had held true to their mantra of helping anypony with a cutie mark problem, no matter how big or small, young or old. There was no way they would abandon their quest, their mission now.
Turning the page, the next picture that appeared was of Scootaloo waving goodbye as she boarded the train, headed off to the Wonderbolts training camp. While her flying abilities were not quite up to the minimum standards of Equestria's top flyers, Rainbow Dash had helped Scootaloo secure a spot as Spitfire's personal assistant. In return Scootaloo would be allowed to train alongside the Wonderbolts and help accelerate her training so she would one day be ready to officially join their ranks. Everypony in Ponyville knew there was no way Scootaloo would ever turn down such an amazing offer and just a few days after they all graduated high school, Scootaloo left Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom behind. Just below Scootaloo's goodbye photo was a selfie Scootaloo had sent a few weeks into her new job and training. Her arms were around the shoulder of a young stallion about her age, a new recruit of the Wonderbolts that had boldly asked her out. To the surprise of many ponies Scootaloo had said yes and the two were now officially dating, having quite a bit in common with each other.
On the next page was a photo of Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom embracing each other. Apple Bloom's mind rewound to the day that photo was taken; it was just two or three weeks after Scootaloo had left when Sweetie Belle had been asked to move out to Manehattan to begin work on her career in music. Some connections Rarity had made in the fashion business had finally resulted in the breakthrough Sweetie Belle had needed to begin her singing career, and within days of her first single playing on the radio she was one of Equestria's hottest stars. She was now touring around Equestria, opening for Buck Owens while her manager completed plans for a tour of her own next year in all the major cities. Add in the fact that she also modeled her sister's newest line of clothing each season meant Sweetie Belle was one of the most popular mares alive.
The next few pages contained photos of Sweetie Belle during her rise to stardom; trying on different outfits, holding her first album featuring herself, sitting alongside other musicians such as Yo-Yo Bah and Lamb of Goddess. However, as her popularity and schedule increased, the letters and photos began to recede, the most recent one being months old with no new updates in sight.
Apple Bloom's hand began to turn the pages back to the last photo of all three of them together but her hand stopped halfway. Despite her heart aching to see it one more time she knew that all it would do is make her cry once more.
"Cutie mark crusaders. Yay." she said softly before letting the pages fall back in place.
Quickly wiping her eyes before any tears could fall, Apple Bloom shut the album closed and gently lay it beside her, running her hand over the embossed apple on the cover. It seemed to take an eternity to find the will power to, but Apple Bloom finally willed herself to stand up and walked over to the wall where Big Macintosh kept all his tools neatly arranged. As she reached her arm out to grab what she needed she glanced out the nearby window and gazed out at the apple orchard as the sun set far away. The autumn harvest was over and Big Mac had gone off with Granny Smith to deliver a cart of apples to some clients all the way in Canterlot while Applejack was off on yet another grand quest with her friends. All the trees within view were barren of any apples as well as most of their leaves. All except one; one of the trees closest to the barn was left with one apple hanging from its branches. While only the perfect apples were sold all over Equestria, even some of the blemished ones found their way to becoming apple cider vinegar or another useful apple product. Very rarely was a truly useless and rotten apple left untouched on the branches of one of the many apple trees on the farm, fated to continue rotting until it fell to the ground and faded away forgotten.
Apple Bloom's mind flashed to her loving family as she took down a coil of rope from the wall. Granny Smith and Big Mac had both come up with recipes that were widely popular; nopony who tasted Granny Smith's Zap Apple Jam or Big Mac's Apple Cider could ever say no to buying more, their seasonal sales almost as popular as ponies looking forward to Hearth's Warming Eve. And then there was Applejack; one of the fabled bearers of the Elements of Harmony, savior of Equestria, and close friends with the Princesses of Equestria. Widely popular with stallions and mares alike, looked up to by countless ponies, and able to overcome any challenge thrown her way... one would have to be an alicorn to compare to a pony like her.
With one last glance at the sprawling field of trees outside the barn, Apple Bloom slung the rope coil over her shoulder and made her way up the ladder to the loft high above the ground. With practiced ease she tossed one end of the rope over the closest heavy wooden rafter, grabbing the swinging end and tying it off on a nearby cleat mounted on the wall. With the rope now solidly in place she grabbed the remaining rope end and began working it with her skilled hands. She was halfway done when her hands suddenly stopped and a sickening feeling overcame her entire body. A small voice in her mind begged her to stop, pleaded with her to reconsider what she had decided to do earlier that day. A part of her did want to stop, hoping that maybe things could return to how they were before-
Scootaloo, now on her way to becoming a Wonderbolt and now happily with her coltfriend.
Sweetie Belle, now a celebrity and star.
Granny Smith, one of the wisest ponies in town.
Big Macintosh, strong willed and bodied, the perfect stallion for any mare.
Applejack, hero of Equestria.
'And then there's you.'
Apple Bloom's hands resumed their movement, and after a few more moments she slowly approached the edge of the loft and draped the coarse rope around her neck. Staring at the ground she could no longer hold back the pain that had been building inside of her and tears fell down her face, but she knew there was no turning back now. Not when she had come this far, not when she was so close to ending her pain.
Nopony would have to worry about her any more.
She wouldn't be a problem for anypony any more.
Just another useless, rotten apple.
Author's Note
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.
Call 1-800-273-8255
Available 24 hours everyday
