Patience had never really been one of Scootaloo's virtues.

The clipclopping of her hooves on the floor sounded unnaturally loud in her ears. She paced back and forth, along the edge of the Ponyville train station platform. The air was chilly, the view foggy. The light outside was blue and grey in the early hours of dawn.

Scootaloo's heart raced as if she'd chased down an espresso with a cupful of sugar.

Where the heck was Apple Bloom?

Scootaloo had bought the first tickets leaving that morning for Canterlot. She hadn't slept much - none of them had, she supposed - but how could she? She had a suitcase, she had a ticket, and she was ready to hit the road with her friends. It was time for a whole new life!

Or it would be, if their trio weren't down to two.

If Sweetie felt just as impatient as Scootaloo, she did a much better job of hiding it. She sat up straight, all refined and ladylike on a nearby bench. The unicorn was frowning, glancing up at the station clock with increasing frequency. "What's holding her up?"

"I don't know!" Scootaloo's voice came out sounding more irritated than she'd meant, and Sweetie seemed to notice, raising a brow at the outburst. Scootaloo pursed her lips and muttered an apology as she sat beside the unicorn. "It's just not like Apple Bloom to be late for anything. She's the one always going off townsponies for being late risers."

Sweetie shrugged, hindhooves tapping upon the ground. "Maybe she's saying her goodbyes?"

Scootaloo rolled her eyes at the prospect. "The Apples are family, but they're not that sappy."

"Yeah, but it's different this time. We're kind of leaving for good," Sweetie pointed out. "She probably just got caught up, that's all. Or she's paying her last respects to Granny Smith. It's nothing, I'll bet."

"Famous last words," Scootaloo groaned.

Oh, please be right, Sweetie Belle.

Twenty minutes to departure became ten, then eight, then five. And still there was no sign of Apple Bloom anywhere. The few other ponies at the station were boarding the train, a bearded conductor ushering them in.

Scootaloo's prolonged groan of frustration timed perfectly with the shrill whistle of the train. "Where is she?!"

She felt movement just to her side, as Sweetie Belle suddenly perked up, pointing excitedly. "There she is!"

Scootaloo looked up in the direction of Sweetie's hoof and sure enough, there was Apple Bloom with her saddlebags. She didn't seem to be in much of a hurry, trotting along the platform. She seemed bummed out for sure, but that was fine. Apple Bloom was always a family pony, maybe she was just sad to see them go.

Where was her suitcase?

Sweetie Belle didn't seem to care, rushing over to embrace Apple Bloom. "We were getting worried! Come on, the train's almost about to leave."

Apple Bloom didn't move to embrace Sweetie Belle back. "I'm not goin', girls."

What?

Scootaloo stared in disbelief for a long moment before she could find her voice again. "What do you mean, you're not going? Come on, Apple Bloom, this is Canterlot! This is what we've been looking forward to all week!"

Apple Bloom shook her head, not meeting either of their eyes. "I just can't. I've thought about it, and I just... I can't leave."

Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to speak, but Scootaloo cut across her friend, waving a hoof in the direction of the train. "Cut it out, you can't be having second thoughts now. The train's gonna leave soon, we gotta get on!"

"I've been thinkin' about this for a while," Apple Bloom answered. "Honestly, I just came to give you this."

She reached into her saddlebags, scooping out a few coins into Scootaloo's hoof. Seven bits, her fare for the ticket to Canterlot.

"I know I was goin' with you." Apple Bloom turned her head to the side, pointedly refusing to look at either of them. "But I can't. Not while there's still stuff here to do at home. And Applejack and Big Macintosh and everypony else. I've thought long and hard, and I'm sorry for tellin' you all of this at the last second, but... I ain't goin', and that's final."

"Apple Bloom..." Sweetie Belle attempted. She reached forth to place a comforting hoof upon Apple Bloom's shoulder. The earth pony shrank back, eyes still fixed on the ground.

"Look, don't make this any harder than it has to be. I've made up my mind." Apple Bloom raised her head at last, gesturing towards the train. "Y'all should get on."

A deep anger erupted from within Scootaloo, escaping as bitter words. "You know what, Sweetie Belle? Forget it!" She stomped her hoof. "If Apple Bloom's gonna quit, we don't want her. And we don't need her!"

An awkward silence ensued. Apple Bloom's forehoof tapped upon the station floor, her mouth opening as if to speak, but she closed it again. Instead she heaved a deep breath before screwing up her face as if trying not to cry.

Déjà vu. Scootaloo remembered hearing those very words herself, long ago, at the very same station. Only difference was that she and Apple Bloom and switched roles. And somehow, things felt different. More permanent. More final.

Apple Bloom choked out a half-sob. "I'll write!" she blurted, briskly turning around to run. She didn't turn back once as she disappeared into the haze, back in the direction of the town.

Sweetie Belle called after her. "Wait!" Her hoof reached impotently towards her fleeing friend, her ears pinning back as she registered concern and sadness.

But Scootaloo? She wasn't sad. She was furious.

That's it? After everything? That's all we get?!

She nudged at Sweetie Belle with a hoof. "Come on. We're late."

"But-"

"Now."

Sweetie Belle hesitated just a moment longer, before relenting to follow Scootaloo. They rushed on board, just in time for the doors to close and the whistle to sound, signalling their departure.

They took their seats. With a lurch the train pulled away, forwards into the mist, leaving Ponyville somewhere behind them.

Ponyville, and Apple Bloom too.

Scootaloo sat in silence, scowling away as Sweetie Belle looked out the window with a frown. Not even the prospect of Canterlot could brighten the mood. Not after the stunt Apple Bloom had just pulled.

The nerve!

"I'm sure she had a good reason," Sweetie Belle said, breaking the silence.

Scootaloo could only dig her hindhooves onto the floor and grunt a response. What was there to say?

"Scootaloo?"

"Just shut up for a bit, won't you?"

Scootaloo couldn't see Sweetie Belle's face, but she could hear her sigh.

This was gonna be a long trip.

Author's Note

I can't explain it now, but I won't come along
There just ain't nowhere I can go
I've got to run away to places you can't come
It's just another closing door...