Everfree Blanks

Forever Equestrian

"Applejack? Applejack!"

Applebloom came sprinting across Sweet Apple Acres towards the barn. It was getting very late, and the young filly had already been out well past her curfew.

When she arrived, Applejack was already waiting for her at the front door, looking stern.

"Applebloom! Where the hay have ya been this whole time? Ah thought ah told ya to be back by eight!"

Applebloom paused to catch her breath before meeting her sister's antagonising gaze. She knew she was in deep trouble. "Ah thought ya knew ah was goin' to be out late! Didn't Twilight tell you where ah was goin'?"

Applejack narrowed her eyes in a sinister way. "No... she didn't. Applebloom, ya better tell me where you've been this whole time raght now, and it better be the truth! Don’t lie to yer’ ol’ sister!"

"Ah... ah was in the Everfree Forest delivering some books to Zecora! Twilight asked me to!" Applebloom stammered hastily. "Ah was on my way back but ah- ah... got a little lost." She avoided meeting Applejack's eyes, awkwardly kicking the dirt with her hoof.

After a few seconds of silence, she heard her sister sigh. "Well, at least ya made it back safely."

Applejack gave her little sister a brief hug before letting her inside. Just as she was about dash upstairs, Applejack yelled after her. "Don't think ye'r off the hook just yet Applebloom! Ah'll be expectin' to hear the whole story tomorrow!"

Grinning sheepishly, Applebloom said goodnight to her sister and trotted upstairs to her bedroom. Her room was lit by the moon's soft glow and the breeze softly brushed against her face. She flopped onto her bed and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.

Morning had finally arrived, and Applebloom was stirring in her sleep. A very loud noise was disturbing her slumber. Trying to drown out the unusual noise, Appleboom was firmly pressing her pillow over her head.

The noise was much clearer this time around. "Applebloom! Applebloom, wake up!"

Applebloom groaned, dragging the pillow even further over her ears. "S'too early Applejack..." she slurred, still half asleep. "Ah'll eat breakfast later..."

"I'm not Applejack you silly filly!"

Appleboom jerked her head from underneath the bed cover, tossing her pillow aside. She surveyed her room from left to right. Nopony was there... but...

“Goooooooood morning sleepy head!”

Quickly turning her head to where the voice had come from, Applebloom found herself lying next to Pinkie Pie. The bubbly pink mare had somehow gotten under the covers, and was wearing a big blue night cap. A smile was on her face, the one that all of Ponyville knew.

Applebloom didn’t jump back in surprise, she was too tired. After a few moments of staring at Pinkie, she rubbed her eyes and yawned. “What the hay? Pinkie Pie why’re you in mah bed? Don't ya know what time it is?”

Applebloom gestured toward the clock hanging above on the room wall. Pinkie Pie leaped out of the bed, landing directly in front of the clock. She leaned her face in close, looking thoughtful for a moment. A second later, she repeatedly banged her head onto the clock, then whirled around with an even bigger smile on her face. “Oh, I know what time it is alright!”

“Please don’t say party time, please don’t say party time....”

“Of course it's party time!!!”

Applebloom facehoofed. “Darn it Pinkie, it’s too early for a party!”

Pinkie gasped, taking a hurtful look. “Too early for a party?!” She bounced back over to Applebloom and tossed her off the side of the bed. “Never! Now come on Applebloom, fun times a wastin'!”

Applebloom’s nose was in pain from the fall onto the wooden floor. Before she could pick herself up, Pinkie Pie flipped the filly onto her back and carried her downstairs and out the door. Pinkie Pie bounced towards Ponyville without a care in the world while Applebloom tried to hang on. Stifling another yawn, Applebloom asked what the party was for in the first place.

“It’s the- well at least I think it's the six-hundredth party I’ve thrown ever! I mean, six-hundred is a big number! A big round number! And big round numbers are always the best to celebrate! You know... ten, twenty, thirty, fourty, fifty... Did you know Mayor Mare is almost 50? She never lets me put her age on the birthday banners though. Maybe she’s afraid of big round numbers? Is there a phobia for that? Anyway, I can’t get enough partying and I know you can’t either, ‘cause you party with all your other filly friends! There could be three fillies there, four or five, or another number I'm not going to mention, and boy, we're gonna have so much fun today! Applebloom? Applebloom?!?”

Applebloom had fallen off Pinkie and her legs were dangling in the air. Pinkie Pie, unaware that it was her fault, stopped for a moment and looked back at Applebloom. “Hey! Aren't you coming?”

“Urgh... fine. We're almost at Sugarcube Corner anyway...” groaned Applebloom, shifting her body uncomfortably.

“Hey, chin up, there’s no need to be all frowny and frumpy! You’re gonna have a great time! I just know it!”

Applebloom got back on Pinkie Pie's back and endured the bouncing again.

When they arrived at Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie let Applebloom off her back and pushed open the door. Stepping inside, it looked like the party had already started. There were a few older ponies, chatting animatedly with each other. On one side of the room there were young fillies and colts about Applebloom's age playing pin the tail. Everypony looked like they were having a good time.

Applebloom slowly trotted through the crowd, hoping to spot her two best friends. Her face brightened when she saw them sitting by the food table. “Scootaloo! Sweetie Belle!”

The other Cutie Mark Crusaders' faces also lit up upon hearing that unique voice. “Applebloom!” they yelled in unison, running over to her.

Applebloom forgot all about being tired as she joined her friends in a big group hug.

“You’re finally here!” Sweetie Belle smiled. “We thought you’d miss the party!”

“Yeah, what kept you?” Scootaloo continued.

Applebloom was perplexed. “Wait a sec... y’all tellin' me that y'all woke up earlier than ah did? Just to go to Pinkie's party?” Both girls nodded.

Applebloom asked another question. “Did Pinkie Pie wake y'all up and drag y'all out of bed, like me?”

They nodded again. Applebloom shook her head. Heck, there was no use trying to understand Pinkie Pie.

The party continued, with more ponies showing up as time went on. Eventually, the other element-bearers showed up. As Applebloom went to greet them, she noticed that Fluttershy wasn't with them. “Where’s Fluttershy?” she inquired, tugging on Pinkie's leg.

Pinkie Pie looked around to see if Fluttershy was somewhere close by. “Oh... that’s strange. I don’t know where she is... I’m sure I gave her an invitation... maybe she's hiding somewhere, or tending to her animals! You know how Fluttershy doesn’t like big crowds!”

Applebloom was about to ask the other ponies if they had seen Fluttershy when she was pulled away by the other CMCs. “Come on Applebloom! This is a party! We've got to party!” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo said.

Applebloom didn’t hesitate any longer. “Ok, let’s get crackin'!”

"Hooves up!" the three fillies cheered.

“Hooves up- whatever that statement is meant to make me do- I'm not really sure!” Pinkie Pie yelled from the amongst the crowd.