Apple Bloom wanted zap apple jam.
She wasn’t sure why she had awoken with the craving, but here she was hours before it was sunrise. Usually, it would have been quicker to try and fall back asleep but settling down had become a challenge lately.
She coerced her body out into the darkened halls of her family home. The eyes of family members eternally encaptured in photos watched her as she passed by. She caught a glimpse of the empty room at the end of the hall, before sneaking down the worn mahogany stairs.
She came upon the kitchen and was surprised to hear the tell-tale clinking of somepony rummaging through the fridge. She observed cautiously, as the fridge’s soft glow illuminated blue feathers.
Apple Bloom backed up to retreat, but the creaky floorboards had other plans.
Rainbow Dash, alert as ever, whipped around. The pegasus grimaced for a moment before recovering her cool exterior.
“Apple Bloom! How’s it going?” Rainbow asked awkwardly. “I was just uh taking a late-night fly and thought I’d stop by to get some water.”
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and trotted to the cabinets, “We keep glasses in here,” she instructed, before pointing at the fridge, “and we always have a cold pitcher of water in there.”
Rainbow followed orders and procured the pitcher while Apple Bloom placed two glasses on the counter.
“Thought you might need two since it seemed urgent,” Apple Bloom explained. “And you ought to know where stuff is in case it happens again.”
Rainbow silently thanked her with a soft smile, but the pegasus still seemed troubled.
She sighed. “Listen, Bloom. I want to be honest with you.”
“Relax,” Apple Bloom interjected. “I know you’ve been dating Applejack for a while.”
“Oh cool,” Rainbow mumbled, clearly flustered by the revelation.
“Eeyup.”
“Well,” Rainbow started. “Pinkie promised and Twilight is oblivious. So, let me guess, Rarity?”
“Eenope, ‘Shy.”
“Really, Fluttershy told?” Rainbow asked with a gasp.
“Sure did, she and Discord invited me and the girls for tea. You’d be surprised about what those two spill when the nice doilies are out.”
“Ugh, that guy is such a bad influence.”
Apple Bloom chuckled; it was odd to hear ‘The Rainbow Danger Dash’ describe another creature as a ‘bad influence.’ They shared a laugh before falling into silence. Apple Bloom politely waited for Rainbow to leave, but the pegasus stayed put.
“Bloom, are you mad at me?”
Apple Bloom was caught off guard. The voice was uncharacteristically meek for Rainbow Dash. Apple Bloom studied her closely to verify her identity.
After she was sure, she shook her head. “Ain’t nothing to be mad about. Why’re you asking?”
“Because I care about you,” Rainbow admitted, “I’ve known you for like forever, and I know a lot’s been going on lately. We didn’t want to overwhelm you. I’ll understand if you’re not cool with this.”
“It’s fine. I feel the same way about you as I feel about Sugarbelle. I appreciate y’all for looking after my siblings. After Ma and Pa, they had a lot on their shoulders and Granny kept them afloat. I’m just happy they have ponies who can support them through this.”
It was a level-headed comment and Apple Bloom was proud that she could speak it coherently. She hadn’t escaped her bedroom to have a conversation like this, and she definitely wasn’t in the mood to have it with Rainbow Dash. Hopefully, it was a sufficient response.
“And what about you? You know we’re all here for you too. I know it can feel weird when things start changing.”
Or maybe not.
“I’m sure you do, Dash.”
Rainbow cringed slightly at the terse response. She spoke sincerely, “Apple Bloom, I wasn’t trying to minimize any of this, so I’m sorry if I ga-”
“No, no, it's just fine. I got what you were trying to say because that’s what everypony has been telling me. But just for you, I’ll say this out loud. I miss her, Dash,” Apple Bloom confessed. “That’s what you want to hear, right? I can see her in every part of this house and of this town and of me, but none of that means anything if she ain’t here.”
“App-”
“What! Wanna ask how I’m doing? Well, I’m not okay and, I’m mad but not at you. You don’t gotta stick around here and feel bad for me!”
And just like that, it was quiet again. The outburst had left Apple Bloom out of breath and worried she might have awoken her siblings, but she couldn’t take it back. Her eyes stung as she tried to glower Rainbow out of existence.
Yet, the pegasus stayed, meeting Apple Bloom’s glare with a more earnest expression. Rainbow took a breath and plopped down on her haunches, taking refuge under the counter.
Apple Bloom looked down on her. “What’re you doing?”
“I’m hunkering down. I won’t leave you,” a smirk pulled at her features. “I’m not sure if you noticed, but loyalty is my thing.”
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and snorted. “Yeah, I’ve heard.”
“Good, because I’m staying,” Rainbow announced, before adding. “But only if you’re comfortable with that.”
Rainbow looked up at Apple Bloom expectantly as she patted the floor beside her. Apple Bloom was reluctant, but she was already starting to feel guilty. Rainbow smiled victoriously as she sat down too.
Rainbow spoke sympathetically. “I’m not going to offer a solution I don’t have. But I can listen or be quiet or do anything you need.”
Apple Bloom rubbed her eyes. “Thanks, Dash. It’s kinda dumb but I came down here to get some zap apple jam. Granny was the one who taught me about it.”
“Good idea. I’ll grab some spoons!”
And so, in the middle of the night, two ponies sat under a counter hours before dawn and enjoyed jam. And although Rainbow ate much more than Apple Bloom, the younger pony couldn’t help but drift off into a quiet, steady sleep.
