Apple Bloom was walking towards her secret place, an old bunker located on the outskirts of her family's massive farm. A smile adorned her face. She had done it. She had successfully convinced Scootaloo to let her do whatever she wanted. Opening up the heavy, wooden bunker, she was greeted by the sound of muffled grunting and squirming.
Walking down the creaking, wooden stairs, the muffled noises stop momentarily before starting again, this time more frantic. Apple Bloom's golden-yellow eyes met the bound form on the cold, concrete floor.
Apple Bloom smiled again, ignoring the muffled protests, "How is my little pet doing today?" she asked in a sweet tone while circling her captive like a lion circling its prey.
Scootaloo could only glare at her friend when Apple Bloom had said that she could do whatever she wanted, this wasn't what she had in mind. Scootaloo shook her bound hooves, angrily, while shouting through the apple, demanding to be untied, however, the only noise that came from her, was a pathetic "MMMPH MMPH MPH!"
Apple Bloom admired her friend, all four of her hooves were tied together, with rope bending her wings to her body and an apple had been unceremoniously shoved into her mouth. Apple Bloom then declared, "You look so cute, tied up like that. I hope the apple tastes nice? I made sure to pick the best apple, just for you."
When Scootaloo pulled at her bindings again and released a torrent of muffled shouting, Apple Bloom walked up to her and plucked the apple from her mouth, leaving a trail of saliva, "What was that pet?"
Scootaloo gasped for air, "What do you think you are doing? Let me go, Apple Bloom, now!" she shouted squirming in the ropes.
Apple Bloom flicked her on the nose, chuckling, "Can't do that, You agreed that if you lost the race then I could do whatever I wanted to you."
Scootaloo angrily growled, "This isn't what I meant when I agreed to that. Anyway you cheated, you push- mmmmph!"
"Sorry, but a bet is a bet and you lost. Now quit being a sore loser and stop struggling." Apple Bloom told her pushing the apple back into her mouth and cutting off her protests. When Scootaloo continued to keep pulling at her bindings, Apple Bloom sighed shaking her head, "You're not making this any fun for me. I'm going to go now, when I get back I expect you to be nice and calm and be a good little pet." She said giving Scootaloo a pat on her head before walking back up the stairs and leaving the bunker, plunging the room into darkness.
Scootaloo's struggling got quicker as the darkness seemed to press down onto her like a suffocating blanket. She had never told anypony this but she had a fear of the dark, among other things.
Scootaloo tried everything to remove the rope from around her hooves, from simply shaking, them and pulling at them, to attempting to bend her knees, however, it was no use, Apple Bloom's rope work was too strong.
Scootaloo banged her head against the floor out of frustration, she had been at it for hours and she was still no close to getting free, she hoped that Apple Bloom would come to her senses and let her go or jump out and tell her that it was all a prank, however as the time slowly passes, that hope dwindles each more.
She then decided to change tactics and started to focus on the apple that was keeping her silent. She tried to open her mouth and spit it out, however, it was too far wedged in between her teeth to fall out, which made it impossible to push it out with her tongue.
Realising a frustrated, muffled sigh, she rolled herself onto her front and started to move her head from side to side, making sure to rub the apple against the floor in an attempt to dislodge it. And her head shook more frantically as the apple slowly came loose before it suddenly fell away.
Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief before screaming, "HELP! SOMEPONY HELP ME, IM TRAPPED!"
Scootaloo's pleas grew louder as she suddenly heard the door to the bunker slam open, however to her dismay Apple Bloom came running down the stairs and quickly jumped onto her clamping her hoof over her mouth, while she scolded "Bad pet!"
Grabbing a roll of silver duct tape from the sack of supplies that she brought with her, Apple Bloom quickly tore a strip off and placed it over her mouth and when Scootaloo attempted to push her tongue through the tape, Apple Bloom slapped her over the head causing the release a muffled yelp of pain, while Apple Bloom added more layers of tape to the gag, before smoothing it out with her hoof. She then rolled Scootaloo back onto her back, while she glared angrily at her.
Scootaloo could feel the threat of her tears spilling over their dams, however, she quickly stopped herself, not wanting to give Apple Bloom the pleasure of seeing her cry.
Apple Bloom then blindfolded her with an old red bandanna that she had lying around in her room.
Scootaloo could only stare into darkness while she heard the distinct sound of chains rattling and something being hammered into the walls. Suddenly she felt the ropes around her hooves fall and just as she got up to try and flee she was roughly pushed into the ground.
Apple Bloom quickly drags Scootaloo over to the wall, before pulling her up, where she chained her hooves above her head.
Scootaloo tried desperately to pull at the chains, however, her efforts were futile and then her face paled as she heard Apple Bloom begin to say some very familiar words.
"Dear Diary,
I don’t know why, but tonight feels harder than usual. The shadows seem darker like they’re closing in on me. I hate how my imagination runs wild at night. Every creak and every rustle outside makes me jump, and I start thinking about spiders crawling around. Ugh, I can’t even handle the thought of those creepy little legs scurrying across the floor. Why do they have to exist? Aww is poor ickle Scootaloo scared of spiders, I wonder what other little secrets, you are hiding," Apple Bloom says with a sneer.
Scootaloo however was shaking her head, "MMMMPH, MMMPH!"
However, Apple Bloom continued to read "I think it’s not just the dark or the spiders, though. Sometimes it’s this heavy feeling of being... alone. I mean, I know I’ve got Rainbow Dash, the Crusaders, and all my friends, but it’s different at night. When it’s just me and my thoughts, it’s like all the noise and excitement fade away, and I’m left with this quiet that feels too big and too empty.
But, on a happier note, I’ve been sneaking in more time with my secret hobby! Gymnastics is amazing. There’s just something about flipping and twisting through the air that makes me feel free—like I’m flying for real. And I have this outfit that I LOVE: a purple sleeveless leotard. It’s so smooth and snug, and when I wear it, I feel unstoppable, like I can take on anything. Even if the rest of the world doesn’t know about my little hobby, it’s my special thing, and that makes it even cooler." Apple Bloom burst out into laughter, while Scootaloo's face turned redder than a traffic light, her ears flattening against her head. "Oh Scootaloo, wait till Sweetie Belle hears about this. I can just imagine you in that purple leotard, hahaha."
Scootaloo could feel tears begin to trickle down her cheeks. She couldn't believe that Apple Bloom had found out about her secret love for gymnastics. The only ponies that knew about her secret hobby were her family, not even Rainbow Dash kknewand now Apple Bloom had found out and was making fun of her and was now going to tell everypony... her reputation was going to be ruined.
Apple Bloom, wiped away the tears with her hoof, "Aww, don't cry Scootaloo. We've still got more to read" - Oh, and here’s a super secret, I kind of like wearing bows. I know it’s not my usual style, and I’d NEVER admit it to anyone, but sometimes I’ll sneak one on when I’m at home. They make me feel... cute. Like, I don’t always have to be tough and cool all the time, you know?
I guess it’s weird to have so many sides of myself, but I’m starting to think that’s okay. Maybe one day I’ll feel brave enough to show the world, but for now, it’s nice having a little piece of me that’s just mine.
Goodnight, Diary. Thanks for always being here.
– Scootaloo
"Scootaloo, you like wearing bows, this is amazing. We both have something that we like," Apple Bloom quickly took off the large, red bow that she was wearing and tried to put it in Scootaloo's mane, however, she pulled her head back. "Don't be like that Scoots, It's just a bow."
Apple Bloom quickly wrested the bow into Scootaloo's mane before exclaiming, "You're right about one thing, you do look cute with that bow on." Apple Bloom then gasped, "Oh shoot, It's getting late, I'd best get going before AJ grounds me for being late again, don't worry I'll make sure to come back as soon as school is finished, tomorrow."
With that Apple Bloom quickly left the bunker, as soon as Scootaloofelt like she was alone, she began to cry.