A small yellow earth pony, with bright red hair and a pink bow made her way down the damp streets of Ponyville. The rain was spitting, but slowly getting heavier and the sky was caked with grey clouds. The earth pony picked up her pace and began to canter home, her hair was now getting wet and her bow began to sag, as she cantered her saddle bags clanked with the tools that resided inside. Her farm was in sight but before she went inside she saw the red flag on her mailbox had been lifted, indicating the mail mare had come. She opened the mailbox and quickly shoved a single letter into her saddlebags, so it wouldn’t get wet. Eventually the small filly stopped in front of the barn-house’s door and knocked roughly. After around five minutes her knock was answered, an orange earth pony with a yellow mane in a brown hat came to the door.
“Applebloom!” The orange earth pony called to her sister. “What the hay are yah doin’ standin’ in the rain, come on get inside.” She quickly shuffled Applebloom into the barn.
“Sorry Applejack, Ah’m a little late, me and the crusaders got caught up fixin’ Rarity’s sowin’ machine we broke on our last adventure.” Applebloom chuckled nervously and looked down at her sodden fur, it was also mangled with spots of grease. Applejack laughed at the filly, she reached down and removed Applebloom’s saddlebags from her back and placed them on the table with a clank.
“Well go wash up before supper, Granny’s makin’ somethin’ good.” Applejack winked and watched as her younger sister bounded away and up the stairs. Applejack began to unpack her sister’s saddlebags, the mail that Applebloom had picked up caught her eye. A familiar symbol was printed on the seal, she tore into the letter and began to read it, her face twisted and her eyes clouded with fear. “Oh, no.” She bit her lip and a tear rolled down her cheek, “Granny! Big Mac! Get here now!”
Applebloom finished drying her mane and began to brush it, her coat was now sleek and soft. She readjusted her bow back in her hair and took a deep breath, breathing in the cleanse. She trotted back down the stairs but wasn’t greeted with supper. Instead, her family were all in tears and had fear in their eyes. Applejack immediately galloped and wrapped her forehooves around Applebloom, Big Macintosh couldn’t meet Appleblooms eyes and Granny Smith was silently sobbing.
“W-What happened?” She smiled nervously, she was handed the letter by Applejack.
To: The Apple Residence.
We are sorry to inform you that your youngest resident; Miss Applebloom, has lacked the required skills to progress in Equestrian Society, and therefore must be extracted. We will give you till the day after this letters arrival to say goodbye.
~ T.R.C
Appleblooms eyes were wide, she couldn’t believe what she was reading.
“T.R.C?” Her voice was quivering, and she gulped hard as she asked the question. Applejack wiped her tears away and tried to stay strong for her sister’s sake.
“No one knows sugarcube… They keep to themselves. Ah’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you more, I-I Thought yah were o-okay.” Tears returned in Applejacks eyes. Applebloom stood on her hind legs and wrapped her forehooves around Applejacks neck.
“Ah didn’t even know I was doin’ so bad.” She chuckled nervously and pushed her muzzle into her sister coat. “Ah’m gonna be fine, don’t none of y’all worry.” Applebloom couldn’t decide who she was trying to convince, her family… or herself.
After supper and her family fiasco, Applebloom finally settled down for bed. The emotional turmoil had sent a wave of exhaustion over her body and she was out within a few minutes. Darkness crept around her mind, images flashed: A
factory, dead forestry, masked ponies and, Luna?...
“Luna!” Applebloom cried out, the Alicorn flew down to the young filly. Applebloom galloped towards the princess and launched herself at her, extending her hooves and trapping Luna in a tight hug, letting the tears spill from her eyes. The princess returned the hug and sat down, once Applebloom let go, Luna wiped the filly’s eyes and smiled.
“What is the matter young one?” The blue Alicorn asked, Applebloom gulped and began explaining, her voice shaky and her vision clouded from crying. Luna’s eyes filled with dread and she lowered her head.
“I am so sorry.” Her ears fell. Applebloom lowered her head too and tears began falling even more, her cries got louder and louder.
“C-Can you d-do anything?” She sobbed, Luna shook her head and wrapped a tender wing around Applebloom.
“I’m sorry Applebloom, this is out of my power, but I will always be apart of your dreams, so call when you need me.” She nuzzled Applebloom and got up to begin her departure. Applebloom just watched her go. She lowered her head again and let the darkness engulf her.
“I’m goin’ to go into town and say mah goodbye’s to everypony.” Applebloom didn’t even look at anypony as she left, her facial expression was grim, and her voice sounded defeated. She trotted into town, the roads still damp from the downpour the previous day. Today Celestia’s sun shone brightly and ponies were all over the roads, chatting and laughing. The first stop was to Rarity’s boutique. Applebloom tried to take in her surroundings but couldn’t focus on the outside world, instead she was caught up in her own mind, before long she reached the door and knocked gently. A tall white unicorn with a beautiful purple mane came to the door.
“Uhm, hiya Rarity, is Sweetie Belle home?” Applebloom shuffled nervously, the unicorn looked rather deflated, instead of being her lively extravagant self. Pointing up the stairs Applebloom quickly shuffled through the door and up the stairs, knocking on Sweetie Belles door shortly after. A small ‘come in’ squeak was heard then the door was opened. Sweetie Belle was pacing her room with a rather flustered look on her face.
“Yah okay there Sweetie Belle?” The small unicorn filly simply pointed at a letter on her desk and let out a hmph. Applebloom picked up the letter and immediately gasped.
“I got the same letter!” She exclaimed, Sweetie Belle glanced over to her.
“It’s unfair! I was doing just fine! I don’t need to be sent away!” Sweetie Belle began to fret, she soon stopped pacing and just lie defeated on the floor. Applebloom trotted over and sat next to her putting a comforting hoof on her back. Applebloom turned to the clock and didn’t realise how much time they had.
“I best be goin’ considerin’ they’re comin’ to get us soon, shame I can’t say mah goodbye’s to Scootaloo.” As another fillies’ name was mentioned the orange Pegasus with a purple spiked mane came rushing up the stairs and practically tackled Applebloom and Sweetie Belle with a hug.
“I haven’t got much time, but I needed to say my goodbye’s. I-” Scootaloo stopped mid-sentence as she eyed the letter on the floor. “Hey! I got the same one!”
Applebloom sighed. “Well at least we will all be in it together?”
Waiting outside her barn house Applebloom listened to the sobbing sounds of her family inside, only her older sister Applejack awaited the arrival of the carriage with her.
“I love you sugercube, don’t ever forget it.” Applejack wiped her hoof under her nose, her cheeks were stained from the crying and this triggered anxiety for Applebloom, why were they so sad? Surely, she was coming back, right?
“I love you too sis.” Applebloom hugged her sister just as a large black carriage came descending from the sky, driven by two stallion pegasi dressed in all black with gas masks upon their muzzles. A shiver trailed up Appleblooms spine and gave goosebumps under her pale-yellow coat. She approached the rear of the transportation and gave Applejack one last smile before hopping in. She was greeted by the smiles of the crusaders, and much to her surprise the scowl of two other ponies who had also been collected by this T.R.C.
“Oh great, more ‘Crusaders’ to deal with.” The filly scowled with a ‘hmph’ of agreement from her companion.
“Diamond Tiara? Silverspoon? What in tarnation are y’all doin’ here?” Applebloom spoke in confusion, with her accent sounding thicker than ever.
“Same as you dummy, only daddy said he couldn’t pay my way out of this, so I’m stuck here like you, poor folk.” Moving her body Diamond Tiara faced away from the crusaders as did Silverspoon.
“Sigh, it’s gonna be a long ride…” Scootaloo exasperated.
Author's Note
Bare with me this was started a while ago and I decided to continue to write it now. I don't have an editor so I do everything. I never post my stories but nontheless this chapter is boring-ish so I apologise but we all gotta start somewhere!
Feedback is appreciated!
