The spring green filly used to have many siblings, now just one. She used to have no parents, now one, an uncle and a grandparent. She didn't know what to make up of it all but just the fact she was taken and didn't know if she could ever get to their home again, their true home, their... old home. Grape Bloom sighed, burying their head beneath hay. She slept in the loft of the barn - Applejack tried to get them to choose between the guest bedroom and Apple Bloom's to share, but no luck, or dice. She only came down to use the bathroom and to eat, but that was all. The rest of the time she would just sleep, sleep, sleep, the day away and the night. Hoping that she would be awoken from this horrible nightmare by one of their friends. But she had no friends now, they were all gone... or that she was gone. Birds tweeted, squirrels chirped, a dog barked, cows mooed.
Needless to say, she was bored, hopelessly bored. Grape Bloom hoped Princess Celestia would accidentally screw up rising the sun and make it fall right where she was, blessing them with the peace that she wouldn't be alive, non-existent again. But as fate had it, the annoying Apple Bloom called her from down below. "Hey! Hey! Hey! Grape Blossom! Hey! Hey! Hey!"
She felt it as though the filly's voice was on loop, that needlessly country accent drilling into their brain like a broken record. She thought staying silent would work, it always did, but apparently not today. Apple Bloom seemed to have determination. The yellow filly with the red mane tied up in a bow kept repeating "Hey" over and over that Grape Bloom thought she just wanted the dry, brittle yet deliciously plain grass that she was using as a bed, but no. Apple Bloom wanted them. There was only one thing that they both had in common, and it was their second name 'Bloom'. What a terrible, terrible destiny that was supposed to be. Grape Bloom despised it, but the fated bothersome creature didn't even notice. She was only a country bumpkin after all, a couple of brain cells floating around in an empty skull, with southern music playing endlessly.
After the 30th 'Hey', Grape Bloom peeked over the edge and made eye contact with the filly that was the same age, if not close to the same age as she was. A victorious smile spread across Apple Bloom's face and Grape Bloom wanted to smack the smug thing straight off her mug with a backhoofed slap. But that would cause a bruise, tears, and resentment, not only that, but questions. She didn't want to answer any of those because she would have to lie, but then again, they would have to take it as face value. So, it wouldn't matter if they did or not, because they wouldn't believe her anyways because they had the trusted and trustful Apple Bloom. The little sister to Applejack, the element of Honesty. Apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, but as children go, they all lie once in their darn lives. So, maybe, by default, Apple Bloom would lie and tell a story that ended up having Grape Bloom as the innocent bystander. But then again, children would do anything to get out of a scolding, punishment, or worse, the action of being disappointed in. A fate crueler than being shouted at.
Grape Bloom has never been shouted at, she was a very quiet foal, and didn't really do much except sleep and listen. She adjusted her sage green glasses that were perched the highest they could go on her nose and silently looked at Apple Bloom for so long by the time she was done, Apple Bloom was no longer smiling but frowning. Grape Bloom liked her better that way.
"Grape Blossom," Apple Bloom spoke, breaking the tension, "how 'bout ya come down here so we can be on equal hooves?"
Equal hooves? Grape Bloom thought. Ah, she doesn't like the fact that I'm up higher than her. She chuckled much to Apple Bloom's confusion.
"What the hay are ya laughin' t'yerself for? Ah'm tryin' t'have a civil conversation w'ya. Come on now. Talk t'me."
Grape Bloom opened her mouth only to taunt the filly with a yawn before rolling out of sight again.
"This here isn't funny! Ah'm tryin' t'chat w'ya, y'know??" Apple Bloom groaned. "Ugh, ye're worse than Scootaloo when she argues w'me that she'll fly in the future. She won't. We both know it. She knows it. Ah know it. Everypony knows it. Her wings are jus' t'small t'be able t'lift her off the ground like Rainbow Dash's can. She's disabled. She don't like t'be labled like that, though. So, don't tell her Ah said that, okay? ... Ah'm gonna take yer silence as an agreement."
Hours went by with Apple Bloom having a one-sided conversation with Grape Bloom and surprisingly, she didn't mind it, because she loves to listen. Not talk, though. Just listen. Listening is better than talking in their opinion.
"Ah think Sweetie Belle's disabled, too. Ah have neva seen her usin' magic. Which is weird since Ah've seen every other unicorn foals usin' their horns 'n whatnot, y'know? Ah don't really understand it. But it has somethin' to do with mana 'n their brains. Cool, right? Ah'm not disabled, though. It's a bit silly if y'think 'bout it, y'know. Scootaloo can't fly, Sweetie Belle can't use magic, they're basically both earth ponies with deformities. Wings that don't work, a horn that don't work, but four abled hooves that work jus' fine! Personally, Ah think Sweetie Belle's a late bloomer. Scootaloo on the other hoof is a never bloomer! She hasn't grown into her wings 'n Ah don't think she'll eva will. Sad, Ah know. 'N she really wants t'fly, too.
"Technically, we're all late bloomers. We haven't gotten our cutie marks yet. Yet y'got yers. It's a blossom, yeah? Does it correlate to yer name or is it completely unconnected? Yer name is Grape Blossom, so Ah'm thinkin' it has to do with grapes. But grapes don't have blossoms, or do they? There's so much Ah don't know 'bout the world. It's kind of scary. Like, Ah mean, Ah haven't really been to anywhere except Ponyville. But this town doesn't count, Ah was born here. Ah haven't been to Appleloosa or Canterlot even though that's where the rest of m'family lies - they're not dead!" Apple Bloom clarified a bit panicky. "They just live in other places that aren't here. N' Ah may have visited some of 'em but Ah can't remember since Ah was a wee foal. But Ah do know somepony that may be a cousin. Her name is Pinkie Pie, she's an earth pony jus' like me, 'n she lives 'n the same place she works! It's called Sugarcube Corner, it's a sweet place, pun intended.
"She used t'live on a rock farm, but Ah have no idea where that lies on the map. There's too much land t'cover. Her family still lives there. But Ah have no idea how a rock can be related to an apple, but hey, there's such a thing as hybrids. 'Sides, mah ma was a pear 'n yet none of her children got pear-related cutie marks. Only apples. Ah love apples. Did y'know there's 7,500 verities of apple? That's a ton! Or bigger than a ton. Ah've only had a thin sliver out of that whole pie. Now Ah know mah name is Apple Bloom, 'n Ah was born in the Apple family, 'n Ah probably will get an apple cutie mark, but a pony can't jus' live on apples. Y'gotta have more to add t'yer brew, y'know? Like carbs, dairies, oats, and proteins. Ah learned plently of what Ah need t'eat t'survive a nice 'n healthy life from m'teacher. Her name is Miss Cheerilee. Her cutie mark is three happy flowers w'smilin' faces ready to spark education 'n to watch us bloom into young fillies 'n colts. She's the best teacher ever. Ah neva had a teacher like her. No sub, no replacement, jus' her. Ah hope she keeps teachin' 'cause she rocks at it!
"Y'probably caught me sayin' Miss Cheerilee 'n not Mrs. Well, that's 'cause she doesn't have a special somepony. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, 'n Ah tried to hook her up w'mah brother, Big Macintosh, but that didn't go so great 'cause we used a love poison 'stead of a love potion. But everypony 'n everythin' was fine in the end. Ah think mah brother has a crush on her or just wants to be a friend. Ah don't know. Ah don't really have the best eye for that. Y'should ask Sweetie Belle if y'ever want t'hear or know 'bout that sort of thing. Now Scootaloo on the other hoof isn't interested in that stuff at all. She told me time 'n time again that she never wants to like somepony in that way. She said friendship is the highest gift y'can give t'somepony. Ah don't think she's fit for that kind of thing anyway. Ah support her decisions, quirks, 'n flaws.
"Me, though? Ah'm the pony that's goin' w'the flow. Sweetie Belle wants a relationship, Scootaloo doesn't, 'n Ah'll see if Ah ever get one. Ah'm not the one t'go out of m'way but Ah'm also not the one t'not go out of m'way. It's complicated. We're still young. We got plently of years 'fore we start lookin' - or not lookin' in Scootaloo's case - in that way. Right now, Ah'm jus' talkin' t'ya while y'listen t'me. It's nice. We should do this more often." Apple Bloom then sighed, looking guilty. "Ah'm sorry Ah've been pushy. Applejack keeps askin' me t'talk w'ya 'n try t'get ya out of yer shell 'n come hang out w'the family 'n go make some friends, too. But Ah think y'will come out when y'want t'come out, yeah? But Ah am glad Applejack keeps askin' me t'talk w'ya 'cause Ah really do enjoy our chats - or chat, Ah should say. It's nice for y'to lend an ear, though."
Grape Bloom peeked back over to see Apple Bloom was now leaning against the barn and fiddling with her bow rather than just standing in the dirt craning her neck up. She knocked on the wood to get the filly's attention, it worked, Apple Bloom looked up. Before Apple Bloom could say anything though, Grape Blossom spoke, she had a flat, friendless voice.
"I despise apples," she said, irritated beyond disbelief that she had to be fostered by a family on an apple farm. "They are the worst kind of fruit by far. I never liked any of them. They are the most awful thing to happen to this planet since. I hate the skin, juice, flavor, scent, look and feel. The only kind of apple I enjoy are non-existent ones. I pity your existence, title, name, and story. Your pores ooze apple. You need to scrub the filth from your fur and skin until you bleed purity."
Apple Bloom blinked then let out a laugh of shock. "Wowza! Ah neva heard somepony spew out that much hatred for apples 'fore!" She looked down at her body, more so her hoof. "Do m'pores really ooze apple? Ah mean, Ah don't bathe in juice, but Ah guess Ah could use a shower if ya can smell me from up there, heh." She glanced back at her foster sibling. "Y'know y'could've said y'didn't like apples 'fore y'threw out yer servin's from the past week. What are ya even livin' on?"
"Grass, acorns and bark from outside. Hay, oats, and seed from inside the barn. Cheese, bread, and chocolate from the kitchen. I also drink water from the hose and milk from the cows."
Apple Bloom smiled, "Well, Ah guess that's one way to keep on goin', huh?"
"I also chew on the bones buried by the dog you call Winona. I do not know what kind of animal they belong to, but I do not care. I eat, drink, and take what I can get. That and the treats you earth ponies keep behind the cookie jar in the house."
The smile that the yellow filly wore faltered as Grape Bloom continued. "You gnaw on the bones? They're fake... but it sounds like y'don't care if they were or not. And the treats? They're dog treats for Winoma, y'know? We give 'em t'her when she's good, or did somethin' good, or just t'treat her real nice w'a surprise gift or present over the week or so. How many have y'ate? Those are a bit expensive, we order 'em from ova seas, they get shipped on a boat. We can buy ya actual food from the market, y'know? Y'don't have to live off the land or steal from my dog, our barn, and house."
Grape Blossom tilted her head and squinted. "I am not stealing. Do you know what stealing is? Taking what isn't yours. Your family is fostering me, meaning mi casa, su casa. My house, your house. Besides, you should know what stealing truly is when your sister and brother stole me from my home. Your sister says to think of it as rescusing or borrowing. I did not to be rescued, I was fine. But how is it borrowing when you are clearly not going to take me back home?"
Apple Bloom drooped then got defensive. "They did rescue you! Y'were livin' in the forest, w'no parents, but only fillies 'n colts, for Celestia knows how long!"
"If it was a rescue, why didn't they save the others?" Venom dripped off Grape Bloom's words as she responded, clearly disabling Apple Bloom's defenses. "Was it because they only wanted to save me? Was I the only one that looked salvageable? Were the others too far gone to be saved? Did they not think of following the others as they ran? Did they not think of the consequences of their actions? If it was a so-called rescued mission, why weren't there more ponies to help?"
"After they saved ya, Applejack called for backup," Apple Bloom spat out, "the others got saved, too."
"Then where are they?"
"In their own foster homes."
"Your siblings are no rescues, they're invaders," Grape Blossom slowly rolled out of sight, "same to be said to the others."
Apple Bloom stared at the space where her foster sibling was. She was irritated, but it soon gave to guilt and pity. She felt as though she just lost the chance for a potential friend in her new homemate, all because of her big mouth responding in a way she shouldn't have. She didn't have all the puzzle pieces, just bits and crumbs that she got out of her family members.
And clearly, Grape Blossom was traumatized by the situation, Apple Bloom should have seen it sooner. Everypony was different. Obliviously Grape wouldn't be immensely grateful or even on her knees in gratitude at being her home being invaded and salvaged by the remaining rescuers for items of value, clothing, materials, medicine and food. Apple Bloom had been trying for weeks to break down Grape Bloom's shell, but she just ended up making it thicker and more durable. Sighing in defeat, she left the barn to drag her hooves back to her house in the last light of the lowering sun in culpability.
