Twisted

CHAPTER SEVEN

"I...I did this to myself."

Apple Bloom managed to stifle a 'gasp' as she drank her coffee nearly causing her to cough it all up, "Now, why in the world would ya do such a thing? There were a few deep cuts near yer knee! If ya had cut even deeper, ya would've dahd!" she sat her cup down, "Ah feel almost fully responsible for what ya did, bein' that Ah wasn't around t' help when ya needed it the most, but Ah promise to be for now on; just as ya need t' promise me ya won't go cuttin' yerself up lahk that no more. Is that a deal?" she looked directly into the unicorn's eyes.

Sweetie Belle's ears drooped a bit in shame. She wasn't sure if she could keep any promises, but by Celestia, she'd definitely try!

"Deal." she nodded.

"Oh Applejack! You think you see right through me!" Rarity awkwardly chuckles, "I told you, this is a meal for myself and Sweetie Belle. You can come on over if you want. I'm sure there will be plenty left over for you." If Applejack was gonna make her eat, fine. She would eat. Didn't mean the food would stay there, not like Applejack needed to know that though.

Applejack looked on in disbelief at Rarity. Something was still very much wrong but she couldn't but her hoof on it. But yet again she had a plan.

"Tell ya what, Rarity, how 'bout ya mosy on up t' the house with me an' we eat there." It was a long shot. But it made sense. Everything mande sence, they certainly had the ingredients she was looking for up at the house, even given its condition. Applejack was hopeful this plan would succeed. She had to be as now she was starting to feel the come down from her last hit. Part of what Apple Bloom had said made her want to fight the urge. But she needed it. Applejack moved to Rarity's side and raised on leg horizontally, pointing towards the house as if to say 'after you'.

"Thanks Sweetie." Apple Bloom finally went about helping herself to a bowl of oatmeal and noted that there would be more than enough for both her and Sweetie Belle's sisters if they choice to have some of the breakfast as well.

"What's goin' on with yer big sister? She jus' looks, er..." the earth pony tried to come up with a friendly word, "different. Smaller. I just wish we could get a hoof on Twilight. She's funny in a way, but there's hardly anypony out there that's as smart. If we could put our heads together, we could sort this all out."

Sweetie Belle shrugged, "I don't think she's eating...at all..." she ate some of the oatmeal, savouring it's sweet, homey taste. "You know...I actually really missed hanging out with you and Scootaloo." she winced a bit as she remembered the orange pegasus kicking her in the ribs.

"That doesn't make sense. If she din't eat for long, she would dah. Simple as that." Apple Bloom tossed a few sliced up apples onto her oatmeal before finding her seat, "have you spoken with any of the others? I haven't seen the gang in ages. Not even Scoots."

"Oh, I saw Scoots earlier." Sweetie said between her teeth, her ears flattened and her gaze fixed elsewhere. The earth pony grumbled as she thought about her other foal-hood friend. While both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle grew up in the shadows of their far more impressive older sisters, they eventually were able to crawl out from under their sister's hooves and make a name for themselves. The unicorn had grown into a beauty that even surpassed her older sister's and had the voice of an angel. Apple Bloom's craftworks and inventions were known all over Equestria. However, during the last year, the earth pony had fallen into a rut and was stuck on her 'next best thing' that she was always planning on making but could not, and apparently Sweetie Belle had gotten into the whole 'cutting herself' phase. The orange Pegasus on the other hoof relished being being at  Rainbow Dash's side. As she got older, her admiration and devotion morphed into an obsession and seemed to have less and less time to share with her old friends as time went by.

"Not sure make t' make with Scoots. She seems happy t' be attached to Miss Blue-Flank," Apple Bloom didn't care for the sound of her own voice as she spoke, didn't care for the negative things she was thinking, "Er, Ah mean, what do ya think we should do? We could pay Twahlaht a visit. See what she thinks of mah theories. Ah did promise Applejack Ah'd help her on the field...and Ah did get a full wagon's worth of 'Golden Delicious', which should be more than enough for now."

Sweetie Belle nodded. "Alright. I saw her earlier today, she was at home." her ears lowered again. She wasn't on good terms with the two, and the last thing she'd want to do is drag Apple Bloom into a little fight.

"Soo..." the earth pony took a moment to stir in some sugar into her oatmeal, "besahdes the er...thing ya did, is there anything else you've been up t'? Ah've bin sorta datin' Rumble. Not sure ya two ever met as he was a grade lower than us back in school. Ol' Lemon Daze hooked me up with him durin' last year's Hearts n' Hooves day an' we've been lahk ice cream n' apple pahs! Nothin' physical yet, well," she rubbed the back of her head with her free hoof, "Smoochies an' stuff, but nothin' beyond that." she blushed a little and let out a hearty chuckle.

"That's nice to hear," Sweetie Belle said, smiling a bit, "I haven't found somepony yet." The fact that she was single didn't actually bother her, although she did like the idea of being the subject of another pony's affection.

"Well, Ah'm sure once yer fully healed that won't be a problem!" Apple Bloom started on her oatmeal, "Even back then, all the mares were SO jealous of ya! Sweetie Belle, ya made all the fillies look lahk ugly old mules. That's wah Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon hated ya the most out of us three. All the money in the world couldn't..." she stopped right there, as she was getting onto the negative side again. Can't do that. She cleared her throat, "If worse comes t' worse, Ah'm sure ol' Lemon flank will help ya. Mah cousin may be a lemon, but she always comes up with apples...er..That doesn't make any sense."

As Scootaloo flew across the city casually, she recognized Sweet Apple Acres below her. The stupid place made her feel sick, nothing but manual labour and family values. Scootaloo couldn't stand it, and all she could think about was what a horrible place it was. She then spotted two mares below, and she couldn't stand either.

Applejack and Apple Bloom were related, and Applejack had totally betrayed Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo remembered Rainbow's agony, knowing that one of her closest friends had betrayed her. Scootaloo knew this was private, but she could also see them flirting quite a bit, always outdoing and impressing one another, winking and hugging. Scootaloo used to think it was cute, now it just made her gag.

Rarity was Sweetie Belle's older sister, and a stuck up bitch. Scootaloo couldn't stand anything about her. So, she devised a plan to get even with these mares, and their little sisters. She would sneak into the Apple Family's main house and trash it miserably. Fucking Applejack would be SWAMPED with work, and Rarity would feel so guilty and "generous" that she would clean everything up. Scootaloo cackled and swooped down to earth, sneaking past the two mares.

As soon as she crept through the door of the house though, she saw two VERY familiar faces. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, her ex-best-friends, staring up at her. She froze in shock and terror. Apple Bloom had bandaged Sweetie up, and they were just chatting casually. Scootaloo didn't even know the two were still friends! She gasped and clung to the wall in a panic.

"Oh fuck, YOU TWO?!" she shouted, not even attempting to sneak out. They'd seen her now. Therefore, they wouldn't hear the end of her. "Celestia's horn, I didn't know you two still hung out! Formed a new club, did you? What the fuck do you even do with yourselves, drool over your stupid fucking cutie marks all day? Well, Apple Bloom, I'm still shocked that your Cutie Mark isn't in abandonment. And Sweetie Belle, you like fantastic. Love the bandages. Masochism is a GREAT hobby. Fuck you two, I'm leaving." But before Scootaloo even took another breath, guilt overtook her. These had been her best friends. And she had just said horrible things to them, just to make them feel bad. She was sure nobody else in the room felt worse now.

Rarity thought about it.

"Why, sure thing Applejack. I just need my recipes from home, and I will make us all a big meal. Why, it can be a feast. I just need the apples and whatever else was on those recipes." Rarity used to remember those recipes, but lately she had trouble remembering her name. She tried to follow Applejack, but managed to take two steps in that direction before falling over. Nothing she wasn't used to, so she got right back up, dusted herself off, and trotted over to the house; forgetting her need to get recipes.

Applejack followed quickly and opened the door. They trotted upstairs and settled down in Rarity's room.

Sweetie Belle's ears drooped a bit as Scootaloo turned around. She was offended, but she didn't feel like starting a fight. For all she knew, maybe they could be friends again.

"Scootaloo, w-wait..." Scootaloo stared Sweetie Belle right in the eyes.

"What do you want?" she asked, tone dark and angry. Her eyes were filled with a stormy mix of emotions. More than a year ago Apple Bloom had thought up of a few things she would say to the orange pony if they were ever to run into each other again, but none of that applied for what had changed over the last day or so.

"What Sweetie Belle said, jus' stay for a moment. Please," her eyes got a little bigger as she pleaded, "yer right. Everything ya jus' said. You're raht. Ah do have a history of abandonin' friends when things weren't workin' out for me. For whatever selfish reason Ah had at the tahm, and Ah'm jus' really sorry an' Ah'm trying to fix things. Ah'm good at fixin' things. Jus' spent so much tahm with mah head in the clouds. Ah din't know what was goin' on with everypony until it was too late," she took a sip from her coffee cup, "Ah would appreciate it if ya could jus' stay for a bit. We could sit an' talk for a bit. You kin even yell at me a bit more if ya'd lahk. Ah reckon Ah deserve every bit, but at least Ah'd get t' talk t' ya. So, what do ya say?"

Sweetie Belle smiled weakly, her eyes a bit wider as well. "Please...?"

Scootaloo's jaw dropped as she listened to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle talk. They were being so...reasonable. For once. And they realized that they were flawed. Scootaloo could not believe her ears, she had always thought Apple Bloom was arrogant and always played the victim card. Scootaloo slowly took a seat next to her and Sweetie Belle, who looked incredibly sad to see Scootaloo's state.

"What the fuck are you two staring at? What do you...what do you expect me to say?"

Scootaloo was suddenly filled with extreme sadness. She missed her friends so much. Sweetie Belle looked away for a second, unsure of what to say. Apologizing would probably be the best place to start.

"I'm sorry for insulting you and Rainbow Dash," she laughed weakly, "I uh...wasn't feeling myself. Really tired."

Applejack and Rarity sat upstairs on Applejack's comfortable bed, speaking like they used to.

"How have things been at the farm? Feels like it has been so long since I was actually here, or outside at all for that matter. I've been too busy making dresses, take up all my time these days! How is it at the farm?" she repeated, having forgotten that she had just said that. Her lack of sleep had seemed to be hitting her like a brick wall today. "Dear? Do you have any coffee?" she asked, needing to keep herself awake. Applejack was mildly amused by her odd mood, but in a friendly way.

"Uh, yeah Ah'm sure we got some round 'bout here." Applejack was slightly lost in her own home, she spent little time in any room other than her's nowadays what with being consumed by work. She poked her head into the kitchen for a second to set the kettle to boil. Trying to not interrupt three fillies chat. Applejack quickly dashed back into Rarity's company trying to appear calm and collected.

"Uhm where were we? Oh yeah. Uh, things have been okay. Ah'm keepin' up with the applebuckin' an' what not. Apple Bloom's convinced me to let her help out. Ya mite' of noticed but the house could use some tender love'n care." Applejack was still appearing awkward. It had been so long since they had a get together. "How 'bout you? How ya been? Ya said ya don't get out much?" Applejack applied a smile and awaited Rarity's reply. She was starting to work up a sweat. Apple Bloom seemed to be finding the whole fix everything idea a mite easier than her sister.

Scootaloo felt defeated. Hearing Sweetie Belle's apology was all she needed. She broke down crying, tears streaming down her face in cascades.

"It's true, alright?! I drink too much! And Rainbow Dash doesn't like stallions! But please, Sweetie, nobody is perfect!" After a few sobs, she sat up straight again. Her breath was shaky and uneven. "I'm sorry too! I said some horrible things, Sweetie Belle!" Sweetie Belle smiled a bit at Scootaloo's apology. It was nice for her and her old friend to stop fighting and make up for what they said. Scootaloo looked around the table, at her friends in shock. "Look, guys, I'm sorry that I wasn't there either. I had Dashie, you know? And ever since you guys got your cutie marks, you left! I mean, even when I had mine, I stuck around a while longer. But you guys didn't..."

Apple Bloom quickly removed her bandana and used it to dry the tears that were freely flowing from her eyes.

"Ah missed ya guys so much," she reached over and gave her old friends a hug, "maybe that's wah Ah ain't never felt the same after leaving ya two behahnd. Without y'all, I wasn't a complete pony and Ah just wandered lost through life. But now that Ah have ya two back, Ah feel like Ah can take on the world!" she sat back on chair, "Ah jus' hope the others are doin' as well as us. Sweetie Belle and Ah were thinkin'," she glanced over at Scootaloo, "Don'cha fahnd it strange that things went lower than a snake's belly right after Granny Smith's funeral? We were fahn up until then, but after that our relationships all started t' crumble? We all said an' did some rather hurtful things an' that was it? An' after the funeral, when Silver Spoon vanished? What's with that?" she leaned on her chair and pondered a few things. Scootaloo nodded solemnly.

"Yeah. It was fucking Diamond Tiara, remember? Making fun of Granny Smith. And you...well, you broke her tiara. Remember? Man. That was amazing."

Scootaloo giggled, remembering what a badass Apple Bloom had been that day. She didn't even care where Diamond got that stupid crown, but when it broke Scootaloo laughed her ass off.

"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't laugh. It was her mother's and all. But seriously, she's a pageant queen now. Full blown, bright purple hair extensions, answering questions and whatnot. Get this. She kills in the swimsuit competition, but her talent has always been DANCING! SHE CAN'T DANCE! All that bitch can do is be pretty and smile for the judges. And believe it or not, she and Silver Spoon WERE hitched! Nows shes off fighting for gay rights." Scootaloo cackled, thinking that she should have seen it coming. Of course she felt bad for Silver Spoon, she didn't know who had finally killed her. Scootaloo used to wish that it had been her who'd finished her off, but she kept it a constant question in mind. "Well. Who am I to judge. She's off as Ponyville's contestant for Miss Equestria, and I'm still here doing nothing. Man, I should be on the Wonderbolts now. And Sweetie Belle, you should be a superstar singer! And Apple Bloom, your inventions saved my ass when we were fillies. You fixed my scooter, like, five times! What the hell happened to us anyways?" Sweetie Belle smiled, delighted to be with her old best friends again. She shrugged.

"Ah don't know, but Ah hope we don't drift apart lahk that again. Ah really missed ya, gahs," Apple Bloom held up a bandaged hoof, as if making a pledge. "Ah promise that wherever Ah go in lahf, Ah'll still trah t' be there for mah friends."

"Is it true yout inventions made you rich?" Sweetie Belle asked after their hug was broken.

"Not really, Ah prolly ain't got 'nuff t' fix the house even."

"Well shoot, that's a bummer. Sorry about that, Apple Bloom. I always did imagine you as a big fancy inventor type.

Scootaloo felt happier than she ever had. She and her friends were finally back together, and treating each other with love and acceptance. She had some things to explain to her friends.

"Girls, I'm so sorry. Rainbow Dash is the only family I have, and the clinging to her is my way of...well...feeling loved and accepted. You see, I've been living on the streets since I was a young foal. And all I ever wanted was a family of my own, big sisters like the kind you have." Scootaloo blushed in shame, blinking back tears.

Sweetie Belle frowned a bit and her ears drooped. "Rarity hasn't been paying any attention to me lately. Sometimes I wonder if she even knows I'm there."

"Ah do have a big sis and brother, but Ah always thought of you gals lahk my two sisters as well. Y'all still up for visitin' Twah?"

Sweetie Belle nodded. "Alraht. Ya wanna come along, Scootaloo?" Scootaloo grinned.

"Duh, let's do this!"

"Thanks girls." Apple Bloom smiled broadly, "Hopefully we'll catch Twah over at the library. We kin put our heads together an' make sense of all this."