//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 
// Story: No reason to hide 
// by CherryCupcake116 
//------------------------------//

Applebloom tugged at her bow. She was very nervous. 'Maybe nopony will notice.' she thought. With a sigh she walked up the steps and into her classroom. The red haired filly put her saddlebag with the others. Looking around she saw a few ponies she recognized.
Featherweight, Silver Spoon, Dinky; She knew them. There were alot of new faces. She found her seat and took it. She knew one thing, She did not want to be here today. 
Applebloom's mood brightened when she saw a fimilar purple haired pegasus walk in. "Scootaloo!" she called out. "Hey Applebloom" Scootaloo trotted over to her friend and they hugged. "How ya been Scoot?" asked Applebloom quietly, being very careful not to open her mouth too much.
"Im good, why are you talking funny?" asked Scootaloo. Before Applebloom could answer, Sweetie Belle walked in. They all hugged and took their seats as the teacher started the lesson. Soon ,the lunch bell rang and the crusaders went and got their trays. 
The three sat at their normal spot. Sweetie Belle munched on a salad. "Applebloom, you havent talked all day..." Sweetie Belle asked quizzicaly. Scootaloo took a bite of her apple. "Yea! Are you feeling ok?" she asked. Applebloom wanted to answer but didnt want to open her mouth.
Applebloom pretended to wipe her face. "Im fine guys really..." She said into her napkin. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were skeptical but decided not to push the subject. Lunch passed like usual. ' Days almost done Applebloom. ' Thought Applebloom. 
The bell for class rang and everypony went back to take their seats. Applebloom doodled on her notebook. She watched the clock, Tick -Tock Tick-Tock. Closer and closer to the days end. All she wanted was to go home and hide in her room. 
The bell rang. ' Sweet freedom' thought Applebloom. She grabbed her bag and walked home. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle went to Sugarcube Corner to try to figure out why their friend was acting so strange. 
Over at Sweet Apple Acres, Applebloom paced back and forth in her room only stopping to look at herself in her mirror. She opened her mouth and closed it again. Tears welled in her eyes. "Dumb braces!" she shouted at her reflection. 	
Her brother Big Macintosh heard the filly yelling as he walked by to go to his own room. He pushed open her door. " I hate these things! I cant even talk to my friends!" Shouted Applebloom. Tears fell off her cheeks as she jumped onto her bed and cried into her pillow. 
Big Mac sat beside her. "Why cant ya talk with your friends?" Applebloom looked at her big brother. "Cause they will laugh at me." Big Mac smiled. "No they wont. If they really are your friends they wont. Trust me." He said as he wiped the tears from his sisters cheeks. "Now you stop your crying and yellin and go play with your friends." He hugged her and walked off to his bedroom.
Applebloom didnt go to play though. Her thoughts were crying out to her to get the braces off. She decided to go see Colgate. Maybe she could convice the dentist pony to remove the metal in her mouth. Applebloom set off to her office.
As Applebloom walked through town ponies waved and smiled. Applebloom only waved hoping not to get into a conversation. She stopped when she came to the building with a toothbrush on the sign. "Dr. Colgate DM" She read the words on the door. "Here goes nothin!" she said and opened the door.
The receptionist pony was nice. She was light green with a blue mane and mint leaves for her cutie mark. Her name was Minty Fresh. Applebloom approached the counter. "Can i talk to Dr. Colgate?" Asked Applebloom.
Minty smiled at her. "Of Course" she took Applebloom to a room and smiled as she closed the door. Applebloom sat in the chair; All around her were dental tools and posters about brushing and flossing. Applebloom jumped when Colgate opened the door.
Colgate smiled at Applebloom."whats seems to be the problem Applebloom?" She asked. Applebloom opened her mouth and pointed at her teeth with her hoof. "I want you to take these off" she said. Colgate giggled. "I cant do that. They are on to help your smile."
"But i cant do anything! I cant talk to my friends, or eat jellybeans, or Pinkie's sweets..." said Applebloom. Colgate took a book off a shelf. She flipped through the pages and showed Applebloom a list. "See? you can have cupcakes and cakes and sweets and there is no reason why you cant talk with your friends." said Colgate. 
"They will laugh at me..." said Applebloom with tears in her eyes. Colgate looked at the sad little filly. "I have an idea." said Colgate as she popped the top off a jar. Applebloom smiled as the dentist pony told her the idea. 
Applebloom thanked Colgate and went home. She couldnt wait until the next day at school. The sun came up and Applebloom brushed her mane and had  Applejack tie her bow. "Your in a good mood today." said Applejack. Applebloom smiled. "Today is going to be great!" She hugged her family and ran to school.
She bravely walked into her classroom and put her bag down.  Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle smiled when they saw their friend.  Applebloom decided to show her friends her new braces. She smiled wide and revealed shiny silver braces with new red gems in them. Scootaloo Gasped. "Those are so cool Applebloom!" she said as she adminered her friends new teeth gear. Sweetie Belle hugged Applebloom. "I love them! You are gonna be the coolest filly in the whole class!"	
The day went on without a hitch. Applebloom felt so confident.The bell rang and Applebloom started on her way to Sugarcube Corner with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. She passed by Colgate's office and told Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle that she would catch up. Applebloom walked in and asked if she could see Dr. Colgate.