Meanwhile back at the castle, Flurry Heart still remained in the waiting room while Apple Bloom stood by her side. The former was worried about her father’s wellbeing, but she is more frightened about where her mother was. And there was almost nothing that the latter could do after the way she has been towards the Royal Family over the years as a guard. Not even factoring in the hostility she held to the little alicorn princess by proxy.

“I’m sure they’re okay. There’s nothing they can’t power through. They’ve survived worse, believe me.” Apple Bloom nervously chuckled, trying to lift Flurry Heart’s spirits.

Sadly, her efforts to cheer up the hurting princess were in vain. Apple Bloom couldn’t stop thinking about the times she acted cold to Flurry Heart nor the times when she became a soldier to the Kingdom of New Equestria. Not even accounting for the times when she acted dismissive towards her old classmates when they attempted to greet her as well as her adoptive mother, Tempest, tried reaching out for her. But in the end, Apple Bloom was at a loss.

“What am I supposed to do…? Is there really nothing you can do to comfort her? What would Tempest or Starlight do?” Apple Bloom thought as she kept her eyes on Flurry Heart.

Depressed out of her mind and limited on options concerning Flurry Heart, Apple Bloom got out of her seat and approached the little alicorn. Leaving her spear on the wall and her helmet on the chair, Apple Bloom faced the seemingly distraught princess and enveloped her in a hug. Flurry Heart was shocked by this approach from the earth pony, especially after the way that the latter has been towards the former over the years.

"I'm sorry… for what I said earlier. I shouldn't have lashed at you like that. I guess I'm just not used to knowing somepony who can stay happy during all this. If I may make a small request… don't make the same mistake I did." Apple Bloom said in a remorseful tone.

“Apple Bloom…” Flurry Heart said in a surprised tone.

“Please don’t take this away from me. I haven’t opened up like this anypony ever since the… ever since the day that I lost everything. Whenever I look at you sometimes… all that I could think about was how stupid I was to have ever been the type to trust my family and what it must’ve been like to have that feeling again. The only regret that I have… was not paying attention to my elders and acting like I already knew the world. So please… don’t repeat what I did to you. Flurry Heart.” Apple Bloom said.

Feeling the need to cheer up Apple Bloom as well as herself, Flurry Heart said

“I know what it’s like to be alone, Big Sis.”

Apple Bloom slightly released Flurry Heart in surprise and looked down at the young alicorn. She was interested in what she had to say, but felt like she was just trying to spare her feelings at the same time. Yet Apple Bloom decided to hear what she had to say.

“I don’t really have a lot of friends and I’m never allowed to play with anypony else outside of the grownups, most of the time. But whenever I’m with you, I just like I have somepony to be with. Somepony that I can be close to. Mommy and Daddy don’t really spend a lot of time with me. And whenever they do have the time, they just argue over their duties. But right now, I just want to be with the pony who’s hugging me.” Flurry Heart said as she hugged Apple Bloom back.

Touched by Flurry Heart’s words, Apple Bloom hugged her as tightly as she could and she didn’t want to let go of the little princess. But while she held onto her in her embrace, Flurry Heart said,

“And I want to rescue my mommy.”

“What?” Apple Bloom surprisingly said, slightly releasing Flurry Heart once again.

“I know that it sounds crazy, but I can feel Aunty Tempest’s, Aunty Starlight’s, and Aunty Sunset’s magic. And I can feel it disappearing…” Flurry Heart said in a now-scared tone.

Apple Bloom’s eyes widened when she heard those words come out of Flurry Heart’s mouth. If there was one thing that the earth pony learned when she was still a filly, it was that unicorns could sense magic. Alicorns were especially advanced when it came to feeling out the magic emanation from around them. Apple Bloom felt her stomach drop the more that she thought about it and she knew that Flurry Heart wasn’t lying. She rushed towards her chair and grabbed her spear and helmet before running out of the lobby. Flurry Heart joined after her as she ran.

“You need to stay here, princess! This won’t be like the walks we have around Canterlot! Think about your daddy!” Apple Bloom shouted as she ran.

“I know that, but my mommy is out there! If I can’t do anything for my family and New Equestria, then what good is a princess who can’t lift a hoof for her family? Besides, I can feel where they are. You need me if you want to find them!” Flurry Heart shouted as she flew right by Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom already knew it was a lie that she can’t find Cadance, nor Starlight, Sunset, and Tempest… but at this point, there was nothing that she could do to change Flurry Heart’s mind. Deep within herself, the princess’s words reminded her of her fillyhood during the times when she played with her friends and that feeling revisited her as she kept running with the young princess. Holding a small smile, Apple Bloom continued running towards the exit of Canterlot while Flurry Heart continued flying by her side. The town guards tried to stop them, but their efforts proved fruitless as the duo ran outside to the outskirts where the Everfree Forest awaited them.

Author's Note

About to start my new job today. Wish me luck!