A terrible storm was going to start soon, best get home soon. A yellow coated earth pony thought to herself as she stared at the sky. The weather ponies were placing dark clouds into places, the odd pony or two being shocked by a stray spark.
Not watching where she was going, Apple Bloom didn't see the pony in front of her and both were sent sprawling onto the ground.
"Oh! Ahm so sorry! Let me help....you." Apple Bloom scrambled to her hooves to help the fallen pony, only to stare in shock at the purple mane and orange coated mare in front of her. “Oh, hi Scootaloo.” The pegasus smiled slightly as she stood up, ignoring the hoof when Apple Bloom offered to help her up.
“It’s cool. I wasn't watching where I was going. Silly me.” The two of them chuckled uncomfortably, an awkward stretch of silence spreading between them as they waited for the other to speak. Finally, Apple Bloom broke the silence.
“So....Granny Smith is making Zap Apple Jam this week,” She started, staring at the ground. “Would you want to.....?” She trailed off as she lifted her eyes to look at a nervous Scootaloo.
"I'm....I'm sorry Apple bloom." The young Pegasus murmured softly as she dug into the ground with her hoof. "I've got training every day this week after school with Rainbow Dash. Maybe next time?" Apple Bloom manage to stretch a smile onto her face, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"That's fine Scoots," the lie tasted bitter on her tongue but what could she say? "Maybe next time." Both knew that wouldn't ever be the case but the lie felt safe, almost comforting. As if they still cared for each other. The silence came back, this time for longer as they waited for the other to speak.
This time, it was Scootaloo who did it, with a small shuffle and fluffing of her wings.
"Well, it's been nice to see you Apple Bloom but I really have to get going. I've got the thing at the place soon...." Apple Bloom bit back the bitter disappointment again. Scootaloo was always a bad liar. But she didn't call her out for it.
"Yeah, I suppose so." She conceded, hating the fact the smile was hurting her face. "I'll see you around then, I guess." Scootaloo nodded.
The two bid farewell to one another and the young earth mare watched her old friend go in sadness. With a heavy sigh, Apple Bloom glanced at her blank flank.
Applejack had always told her that she had to wait to find her mark. Even mentioned it was likely she'd be the last to get hers, considering the past reputation of her siblings and Grandmother being the same.
She just never believed it would take her this long, nearly out of school, to not realize her talent and get it. But, perhaps it should have made sense.
Sweetie Belle found hers first, after Rarity managed to convince her to enter a school talent show-the same one the three had entered together years before-but instead of doing it with her friends, Sweetie had gone on alone. She sung the same lullaby Fluttershy had once sung them so long ago, ever so sweetly, it made ponies cry.
Scootaloo had been next. She had gone into Pegasus Gymnastics, to strengthen her muscles for flight and found a passion for it. You could see the happiness on her face the moment she had realized that it was her calling. It was true she still loved her scooter and doing tricks but to realize she could do so much more with just herself......well, there was never a day where ponies didn't praise Scootaloo for her prowess of Aerobatics.
Babs was after Scootaloo and Apple Bloom only knew what hers looked like because she had been there when it happened.
They had been planting seeds that would one day grow into seedlings, to add to the apple orchard. Babs soon found an expert way to plant them quickly but carefully enough as not to damage them. Her cutie mark had appeared that day with her cousin looking on in jealousy.
Apple Bloom had tried everything she thought she was good at, what she liked, everything in an attempt to get her cutie mark before long. But the years went by and her flank remained as bare as the day she was born. The Crusaders had slowly lost touch with each cutie mark obtained, no other ponies having joined after Babs. Apple Bloom vaguely remembered Babs mentioning a recruit in Manehatten at one of the family reunions but she never even knew the gender of the pony, let alone whether or not they ever got their cutie mark.
It saddened her to think that their friendship would never be the same, regardless of whether or not she got her cutie mark now. She wondered if it would ever appear. It wouldn't be a surprise if she went threw her entire life and stayed a blank flank.
Her legs began shake at the thought, her knees knocking as her throat tightened uncomfortably and her mouth becoming dry as tears filled her eyes. She went to laugh weakly as she remembered Pinkie's Pinkie Sense but it came out as a sob instead. The storm above began to crackle and boom, the last few Pegasus flying away after placing the last few clouds.
They don't notice the shaking earth pony below them, fearing for the storm about to begin.
Apple Bloom's legs finally gave out beneath her and she fell to the ground in a fit of uncontrollable sobs, not caring or noticing that it had started to rain above her.
The rain was heavy and cold, soaking her to the core within minutes and making the dirt around her into mud that stuck to her fur.
It didn't bother her. Her heart, which had been holding onto to hopes and dreams of getting her mark and her friends well, becoming her friends again, had finally broken completely.
Her wails could barely be heard over the roaring of the rain, or the crashes or thunder but some pony had discerned them from the other noises and had coming running.
"Apple Bloom!" Applejack's hooves nearly sank into the torrent of water and mud that had quickly-quicker than she was used to-turned the dirt road into a dangerous hazard. Her younger sister hasn't heard her and continued to wail with grief. Applejacks' own heart hurt at the sounds but she needed to get her sister out of this weather first. It was dangerous. Who knew what the water could sweep towards them or what the wind could tear down. Trees nearby creaked under the pressure and one was actually struck by a bolt of lightning, it far too close for Applejacks' likening.
"Apple Bloom!" She shouted upon reaching the mare. There was no reaction from her and she knew she wasn't about to anytime soon so Applejack knelt down to nudge her sister onto her back. She grunted as the weight of her sister settled onto her back but she didn't care. Apple Bloom had left this morning with a black cloud over head, not literally of course but it was enough to cause worry in Applejack all day. However, Zap Apple harvest had began so she had been busy to talk to her.
She regretted it now as she turned and began to gallop back towards home.