Snow
Soft flakes of snow drifted silently from the light gray skies above. Gently they swayed back and forth, falling from the sky in a gliding manor, before slowly touching the white blanket below.
Chilly breezes stirred the tired town, keeping everypony tucked in their warm covers. Roofs were sprinkled with the crisp white powder that ran across the ground in a sleek canvas of sparkling serenity.
Slowly, Applebloom stumbled out into the blinding light that reflected off the new snow the pegasi had brought to Ponyville. Excitement surged through her and she suddenly felt overjoyed as she thrust her hooves deep into the fresh layer of the white wonderland, happily feeling the icy hold against her hooves. The scent flowed through her nose in a numbing sensation that reminded her of Christmas time and warm fires with her family.
As she cheerfully skipped from drift to drift, Applejack sleepily stumbled outside from the barn. Steadily, the farmer’s hooves pushed through the snow, and when the rising sun ran across her back, she let a mighty yawn escape her as she stretched out her spine. It worried Applebloom. All the older pony folk had been so different lately. And whenever she asked them if there was something wrong, they gave her fake smiles and said “nothing’s wrong so run along and play with with Scootaloo or something.”.
Sighing, Applebloom looked up into the parting clouds, letting the warmth of the sun spread through her. With a forced smile, she turned to her sister, who was still waking up for another day of farm labor, though all that was left to do was get rid of the dead apples and cover the tree’s with cold resistant cloaks. The task used to take forever, but now that Applejack had her friends to help, it only took a few days. Applejack usually told her to go off and play, so that she didn’t get under anypony’s hooves.
“Could ah go and play with Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle?” She asked her sister with a small bounce of enthusiasm. She was already imagining the fun they could have. Snow fort building, skiing, tobogganing, snow ball fights . . . the list of possibilities for the Cutiemark Crusaders ran on forever. “I can’t wai-”
“No.” Applejack interrupted firmly. “No yah can’t go and play with ‘em.” Applejack began to head for the shed to get the farm equipment ready, when Applebloom let out a whine.
“But Applejack, I wanna get my cutiemark now! Why can’t I play with them? Do ya need help with the trees? Are your friend’s busy or somethin?” Desperation was tight in the young fillies throat, but Applejack didn’t seem to notice, because she stayed reluctant.
“Look Sugarcube, I’m sorry, but ya’ll can’t play with your friends right now. Yah just wouldn’t understand.”
"What isn't there to understand?" Applebloom yelled with anger "Do you not like Sweetiebelle or something? Why can't I play with her, or talk to her? It isn't fair!" Frustration coursed through Applebloom as she whipped her tail and kicked at the snow with her hooves.
"Stop it Applebloom! Just leave it alone! It's not something a filly like you should worry about . . . It would only hurt. Look Sugarcube, I just don't want you to get upset. Not until we're sure . . ." And without another word, the mare disappeared into the old barn, leaving Applebloom alone in the freezing weather. The cold had finally sunk in.
The hard mattress below her seemed more uncomfortable than usual, and as Applebloom twisted around restlessly, she knew she would never be able to sit still. Snorting in annoyance, she pushed herself off the small bed and galloped to the window, opening it with a grunt of effort because of the glue like frost that had sealed it shut. Cold air gently blew into Applebloom’s room, but that didn’t bother her at all. It only strengthened her desire to play with her friends, and to find out what was wrong with Applejack and the others.
I will find out! Applejack can’t stop me! I’m a big pony now, I’ll make my own decisions!
Confidently, Applebloom marched to the desk by her bed and took the old red phone in her hooves. Carefully she dialed Sweetiebelle’s house and waited.
Ring, ring, ring . . .
She waited a while, and longer. Disappointment spread through her, and when she was about to give up and hang up the old phone, a young squeaky voice answered, it spoke in a slow manor, but the urgency was clear as day.
“Applebloom? What are you doing? You know Rarity won’t like me talking to you.”
“Ah know. . .” Applebloom admitted. “And ah know Applejack doesn’t want me to talk to ya’ll either. But don’t yah want to get your cutie mark? And have yah seen the snow? Oh Sweetiebelle it’s wonderful! You have to play with me and Scoot. Your one of the Cutiemark Crusaders aren’t yah?”
There was a long pause before the young filly replied. “Alright Applebloom.” She said, though she seemed more than slightly resistant. “I’ll go, but I can’t let Rarity know, she’d have my mane!”
“Great!” Applebloom said, ignorant to the icy fear in Sweetiebelle’s voice. “I’ll meet yah at the clubhouse!” Hanging up the phone before her friend could answer, Applebloom rushed to the door. Then she had second thoughts. She would have to be sneaky, smart, and agile. She would have to be Pinkiepie.
I can’t let Applejack know I’m gone either. . .
Quickly she grabbed a spare pillow she had been keeping in her closet, fluffed it out, coughing on the dust it carried, and stuck it under the raggedy old covers. “There!” she chimed, and dashed out the door carefully avoiding anypony that might see her.
Patiently, Applebloom roughly sketched out the fun things she and her friends could do together while she waited for Sweetiebelle. Investigating the older ponies strange behavior had completely slipped her mind, instead it was filled with exciting adventures and the glowing pride of earning her cutiemark. She had only just finished the map when Sweetiebelle opened the door to the clubhouse, she quickly closed it behind her as a cold draft sailed into the small area.
“So, wheres Scootaloo?” she asked with natural curiosity.
Applebloom turned to look at her friend, she was no longer surprised by the dark bags under her eyes and the shadowed hue of green that was once bright and energetic. She always looked tired, but she never complained. So Applebloom always dismissed it as her not getting enough sleep because of Rarity’s nagging.
“Dunno.” Applebloom replied. “She’s usually here, I’d just wait a while, she always comes by.”
As she spoke, the door swung open and Scootaloo blasted through it, almost slamming into the other fillies. Shock bolted through her eyes and she pulled back on her scooter, grinding the wheels until they stopped, directly in front of Applebloom and a terrified Sweetiebelle.
“What are you two doing here?” The orange pegasus asked excitedly. “I’ve missed you Sweets!”
“I’ve missed you too!” Sweetiebell churred with pleasure. “I haven’t seen you two in forever! I can’t wait to get back to crusading!”
“Then why wait?” Giving a hefty laugh, Scootaloo fluttered her wings and shot up and down in excitement. “What’s on the agenda Applebloom?”
“Lots!” The earth pony replied. “But ah have a question first. How did yah get yer scooter up here? Isn’t the treehouse, yah know, off the ground?”
Giving a small chuckle, Scootaloo looked at the old worn down scooter. “Truthfully, I was just testing a ramp I made, and things got a bit out of wing. But wow! The sensation of danger is just pure adrenaline!”
Applebloom and Sweetiebelle gave each other quick glances, then, all three fillies burst into laughter. Nothing had changed between them at all. Scootaloo doing stunts, Sweetiebelle’s squeaky laughter that they all loved, and Applebloom’s undying curiosity. Everything was the same.
“Hey! Pack some more snow on that side!” Scootaloo instructed with glee. Applebloom nodded and padded a chunk of snow onto the uneven wall. The numbing sensation of snow on her hooves felt great, and she hadn’t even thought about Applejack finding out she was gone. Looking at Scootaloo, she smiled as the pegasus nodded in satisfaction. “Great! Sweetiebelle. how about you finish off the fort by putting the feather on top?”
“Huh?” Turning around from where she sat away from the group, Sweetiebelle stared in tired confusion. Applebloom felt worried, but quickly pushed the uneasy feelings away. She’s probably just tired from tobogganing earlier. But the young unicorn did look sick. And Applebloom was having more trouble than ever convincing herself otherwise. But Scootaloo was too happy to notice.
“The feather, do you want to put it on top?”
“Oh.” Sweetiebelle breathed. Slowly she got to her hooves and staggered over. Plucking a feather from Scootaloo’s wing, she winced as the orange equine let out a small yelp. but when Scootaloo began to giggle, she continued. Carefully she placed the feather on top of the fort. “There . . .” She whispered happily.
All three crusaders backed away and stared up at the castle. It was beautiful. And with Scootaloo’s feather on top, no one could deny that it was theirs. They were all still staring at their art in awe, when angry voices barked from behind them.
“THERE YOU ARE!”
Whipping around, the three fillies gasped in fear. Rarity, Twilight, Rainbowdash, and Applejack were all glaring at them with piercing anger. But the rage in Rarity’s eyes was the worst.
“Sweetiebelle, I told you not to leave the house!” She snorted with frustration, but there was more in her voice. Was it worry?
“Sorry Rarity . . .” Sweetiebelle whispered quietly. Weakly the unicorn wobbled to her hooves and walked over to her sister, who began to guide her home. The other mares just stared in disappointment.
“How could you?” Applejack growled in disbelief. “Applebloom, I was so worried when you weren’t in you’re room, and I find y’all playing with Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo when I told you not to?” Lashing her tail, Applejack beckoned for her sister to follow. Giving Scootaloo a quick glance, Applebloom hurried after Applejack.
“I can’t believe you.” Rainbowdash whispered darkly, before she flew off. Leaving Scootaloo alone in the snow. After Twilight had left as well, the young pegasus fled, leaving the fort alone.
Her room was lonely, and Applebloom didn’t know what to do. A day had passed since her adventure with Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo, and the young filly was more bored than ever. Applejack told her that if she left again, she would be forced to pick all the apples on the farm when fall came. Grumbling, Applebloom covered her head with a pillow. Her sister had left the house after receiving a call earlier that day. She wouldn’t tell Applebloom what it was about, only rushed out the door.
Applejack said I had to stay in my room, she never said I couldn’t call anypony. . . Mumbling it over, Applebloom debated if it was worth it. The chances that Applejack would even find out was close to zero. Finally she heaved herself out of bed and picked up the phone. Guilt making it heavier than it should be. She dialed Sweetiebelle’s house. Then it rang.
Ring, ring, ring, ring . . .
Obviously somepony picked up, because she began to hear noises. There was soft, hoarse singing in the background. It was quiet, but Applebloom knew exactly who it was. Sweetiebelle. She also thought she heard soft whimpers, but she could be mistaken.
“Hush now quite now . . .” Yes that was certainly Sweetiebelle’s voice. “It’s time to lay your sleepy head . . . Hush now quiet now . . . It’s time . . . to go to bed . . . . .” The voice stopped. And a long wail began to rise. It sounded like Rarity. But why? Instantly the phone call was cut off as if the pony who had answered had slammed the phone back on it’s hook.
Applejack walked in the door later that night, cold and tired. But she looked unstable, and more miserable than Applebloom had ever seen. Quickly trotting up to her sister, she asked. “What happened?” Applejack didn’t care that she was out of her room. And Applebloom had known she wouldn’t.
“I’m sorry Sugarcube . . . Sweetiebelle is gone . . .”
The agonizing truth finally had been said, and all Applebloom could do was stare at her sister. She tried to tell herself that this was all a cruel joke, that they were punishing her. But she knew that it wasn't possible. Applejack rushing out of the house, and the strange noises from the phone made it too obvious to her. My friend is dead. There was no other way to put it. . .
"Ah . . . Ah killed Sweetiebelle . . ." Tears began to crawl across Applebloom's cheeks, and sharp breaths escaped her throat as she tried to hide her guilt. But then, warmth spread through her and she was in her sister's hooves.
"No Applebloom. There was nothing you. or anypony, could have done. I should have told ya'll the truth instead of hiding it. Please, be brave for me?"
And Applebloom agreed. She did stay strong, and though it hurt to stop her tears, she did. For her sister, and for everyone.
Spring came faster than Applebloom wanted it to. She had spent everyday at the snow fort that she had built with the other crusaders. But now it was nothing more than a puddle of icy water and slush. Sometimes she thought she hated the pegasi for bringing the heat, but she knew that it couldn’t stay cold forever. Ponyville needed spring, like the other ponies needed food, and like she and Scootaloo needed Sweetiebelle . . . But like all other things. It needed to come to an end. Nopony had ever really found out what the sickness was that Sweetiebelle had been fighting, but they all knew the filly had tried her best to stay strong. Applebloom believed that her friend would always crusade with her. They would always be, The Cutiemark Crusaders.
Author's Note
Hey guys! Thanks for reading! And if you ever want to do a reading of my story, that would be amazing! I've always wanted that to happen! :)
