Trustworthy

The pain in Apple Bloom’s mouth began to withdraw. She was drifting away. She could no longer feel Scootaloo’s hooves on hers. She was alone now, and she knew the end was near for her as well. While her friend’s reassuring words that they will meet on the ‘other side’ was calming to her, surprisingly, Apple Bloom never believed such things, even now when she needed it the most.

She wanted so badly to believe anything that meant she and her friends could stay together. She didn’t want to leave this world; she wanted so badly to stay, to continue living and crusading with her friends. But she realized nothing could save her now. Her friends were already gone, and soon so would she… here, sleeping with them. The pain the metal pole impaled in her muzzle caused had subdued significantly. Apple Bloom knew that it was time. Time to go, to drift off. There was no turning back. ‘But… I don’t want to go… Ah want to stay here… I don’t want to go…’

‘Apple Bloom… I’m so sorry… Please forgive me… Oh Celestia what have I done… Apple Bloom! Wake up! Please be okay!’ a familiar voice echoed, so close, yet so far away. Apple Bloom’s eyes shot open, this time to be greeted by the puffy, red, tear-swelled eyes of an orange pegasus. The earth pony herself was lying in the cart, curled up and crying. Her muzzle still hurt, and her head was cloudy. She was confused as to what happened to her, but after a few moments, it hit her; it was a dream. It was all a dream! The yellow earth pony’s face lit up, she jumped up and immediately gave Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle a big, tight hug, partly because she was so glad to see her friends alive and well, and partly because still being dizzy from the impact, she lost her balance and her friends were convenient hoofholds. ‘Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo!’ squeaked the yellow earth pony ‘Ah’m so glad you’re okay!’

‘You’re glad that we’re okay?’ the orange filly replied, clearly perplexed by Apple Bloom’s unexpected reaction. ‘Scootaloo barely landed that jump. I saw you bang your head into the side of the cart as the scooter halted.’ – Sweetie Belle explained – ‘You really shouldn’t have ducked into the cart. Clearly, you banged your head a tad too hard into the edge.’

Apple Bloom let out a relieved sigh, releasing her friends from the embrace. ‘So… Are you feeling… okay? You’re okay right?’ – a nervous Scootaloo inquired ‘Sure, ah’m a little dizzy, but ah feel fine otherwise.’- Apple Bloom replied. ‘We should tell Miss Cheerilee just to be sure’ Sweetie Belle suggested, still concerned about her friend’s well-being. Scootaloo nodded in agreement, and the three friends began trotting towards the Ponyville School.

However, Apple Bloom still felt the taste of blood in her mouth, and she began licking her teeth, looking for the source of the taste. She let out a small yelp and her eyes swelled up with tears from a sudden, sharp pain. Scootaloo immediately turned her attention back to the earth pony. 'Oh goodness, Apple Bloom, are you alright? What's wrong?'
Apple Bloom didn't say anything. She simply held out her hoof, and spit a tooth into it. 'Oh no, Apple Bloom! The crash took out one of your teeth?', asked the worried unicorn filly. Scootaloo's eyes began swelling up with tears again -'Oh gosh, I'm so sorry! It's my fault! I'll make it up to you, I swear! I... I'll let you knock out one of my teeth, just please, forgive me!' Apple Bloom only smiled at her pegasus friend as a warm, fuzzy feeling overcame her. She was so lucky to have such great friends, ready to sacrifice anything for her.
'My two best friends, who are there for me, who are more trustworthy than anypony else in the whole wide world. How could I doubt them for a minute?' - the yellow earth pony thought to herself as she stared down at the milk tooth in her hoof, the one that has been loose ever since that morning.