//------------------------------//
// Friendly Fire 
// Story: Friendly Fire 
// by scrounge 
//------------------------------//

The room fell silent. The eyes of the two younger sisters locked. Apple Bloom blinked in confusion, then, sensing what was coming started to pull away, but not quickly enough. Before she could utter a word of protest, Sweetie Belle’s lips were pressed to hers.

"Mmmmm~"

"MMMPH!"

Scootaloo exhaled sharply and shot her friends a withering glare. "Get a room, you two."

This momentary distraction was all Apple Bloom needed. Sliding her hooves between herself and Sweetie Belle, she gathered her strength and gave a forceful shove that resulted in the unicorn skidding across the floor and coming to a rest in the opposite corner of the room, pouting.

"What the hay was that all about?!" Apple Bloom demanded.

Sweetie Belle sighed, not daring to lift her eyes from the floor.

"I just thought if it made our sisters happy, maybe it could make us happy too."

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly in confusion. "Sweetie Belle, Ah get what you’re sayin’… Sorta… But, well, Ah ain’t Applejack."

"And you’re DEFINITELY not Rarity," Scootaloo added.

"I know that," Sweetie Belle said. "It’s just… That’s the problem. If they have each other, what if they don’t have time for us any more? But if we’ve got the same thing, we can be together in it instead of it taking them from us. We’d be like a family, all four of us."

Scootaloo’s wings snapped open and her eyes narrowed, and she stomped angrily on the clubhouse floor.

"If you’re going to talk about family like that, you can talk about it with somepony else! And why would it even work like that anyway? Why wouldn't it just make you two just as bad as your sisters? Just drop it."

"Ah think Ah’m with Scootaloo on this one," Apple Bloom said. "Ah don’t see how this’ll help so much."

There was a brief silence, the only noise in the clubhouse the sound of Scootaloo’s wings folding again.

"…We could get kissing cutie marks?" Sweetie Belle suggested weakly.

"I’d rather be a blank flank forever," Scootaloo shot back.

Apple Bloom, on the other hand, seemed to be thinking about the idea as if it came from actual thought rather than desperation.

"Ah guess it can’t hurt tryin’ it once…"

Sweetie Belle smiled, blushing slightly.

"ONCE," Apple Bloom repeated. "ONE TIME."

Sweetie Belle practically beamed with glee.

"I promise you won’t regret it! How about you, Scootaloo?"

The pegasus had already strapped on her helmet.

"Look, if you two want to give yourselves cooties or whatever, knock yourselves out. I’ll be at the skate park doing something useful."

And before either of the other crusaders could say a word, their friend was gone.

They were alone. And as rough as it might have been… Maybe, in some ways, it was a good thing, too. Or at least it could be… Right?

"Shouldn't we go after her?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Apple Bloom shook her head somberly. (Yes, she knew that word. Blame Twilight.)

"We’d just make her madder. Like Granny Smith always told me, you chase somepony, just makes ’em run. She’s just gotta blow off some steam is all, an’ we just gotta leave her to it."

"So, what do we do now?"

"What? You serious? Ah thought this was your idea!"

"Yeah, I’m just not sure now is a good time any more. Maybe being alone right now isn't such a good idea."

Apple Bloom gently place a hoof on her friend’s shoulder.

"You ain't alone. Not so long as we got each other. Ain't that the whole point of all this?"

A light blush made its way to Sweetie Belle’s cheeks, followed by a tiny smile, and Apple Bloom couldn't help but smile back.

This time, it was Apple Bloom who started the kiss, leaning in slowly, letting their noses touch first before leaning in just that little more, letting their lips brush together, touching, but just barely.

She’d come to the door… But it was Sweetie Belle’s door to open.

Sweetie Belle hesitated only a second before returning the kiss, gently at first, but as the warmth grew in her cheeks and a soft, pleasant sort of tingling began to engulf her, she felt herself drawn in deeper, lost in the feeling.

Eventually, the two fillies reluctantly pulled apart, their faces flushed and their hearts pounding like kettledrums. Their eyes met, and each offered the other a shy smile before checking their flanks.

"No cutie mark," Sweetie Belle announced.

"Same here," Apple Bloom replied. "Still, that was kinda great…"

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle sighed. "Too bad we’re never doing it again."

Apple Bloom looked away, suddenly more serious that Sweetie Belle had ever seen her.

"Ah might reconsider," she said. "But you gotta swear to me somethin’ first…"

Sweetie Belle perked up instantly. "Sure! What’s the favor?"

Apple Bloom looked Sweetie Belle dead in the eye.

"If we keep doin’ this, it’s for us. It ain't about cutie marks or our sisters or none of that. It’s gotta be about us feelin’ for each other, or it ain't worth spit."

Sweetie Belle suddenly felt her hope slip away, and all she felt now was confusion and uncertainty. They were familiar emotions, she had to admit, but it all somehow seemed so much worse this time, like there was so much more to lose.

"You… you’re asking me to love you?" she asked nervously.

Apple Bloom shook her head. "Can’t force somepony to love you, can’t force yourself to love somepony else. You remember what we done to mah brother and Miss Cheerilee when we thought they oughta be a good match?"

"I don’t feel like talking about that…"

Apple Bloom placed a hoof on her friend’s shoulder.

"Love comes, that’s good an’ all, but if it don’t, maybe you… maybe we… How ’bout just pretendin’ for a little? Ah know we can't make no promises, but maybe we could act like we reckon we’ll keep goin’?"

Apple Bloom turned, and started towards the other side of the clubhouse.

"Ah’ll let ya think on it."

Sweetie Belle blinked in confusion. What was there to think about?

After all, she and Apple Bloom had been inseparable from the moment they had met. Some ponies threw around the words "best friends" like they were nothing more than just words, but among the Crusaders, they meant something, and of the Crusaders, it was Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle that were closest of all. Even when she couldn't count on Rarity or Scootaloo or anypony else, she’d always been able to trust Apple Bloom. Every time Sweetie Belle’s life had been thorny, Apple Bloom had been right there beside her, usually in the exact same trouble, but almost always ready to give her a few words of encouragement with that cute accent of…

Holy hay bales.

Apple Bloom had been there this whole time, and Sweetie Belle had never thought of her like this. But now that she was, she couldn't believe she hadn't before.

Apple Bloom wasn't just great. She was amazing. Everything Sweetie Belle could have ever wanted in her special somepony had been right in front of her all this time. Apple Bloom was bold and brave, and stronger than anypony else in class. And yet she still managed to be open, friendly, down-to-earth. She certainly didn't have to be, considering Ponyville wouldn't even exist without her family, but…

…But that’s when Sweetie Belle had another realization, much less pleasant than the first. Because even if she didn't make a show of it, Apple Bloom was somepony really special.

And Sweetie Belle? She was a disaster. She was so clumsy and clueless that half the time even her own sister didn't want anything to do with her. And now Scootaloo probably hated her too. She ruined everything.

She didn't deserve Apple Bloom. She’d barely deserve Snails if she’d wanted him.

"Maybe I should just go," Sweetie Belle sighed. She’d made it halfway to the door when she felt a sharp tug on her tail. She turned around just in time to see it clutched in Apple Bloom’s teeth, and as the farmgirl pulled again, both ponies toppled to the floor.

"You think Ah’m lettin’ you just up and leave? After that?" Apple Bloom rose to her hooves while Sweetie Belle’s head was still spinning. "What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?"

"…Not worth it…" Sweetie Belle muttered.

A brief, loaded silence fell over the clubhouse before Apple Bloom erupted.

"Ah’m… not… WORTH IT?!" she snarled.

Sweetie Bloom yelped in surprise, darting to her hooves.

"That’s not what I meant!"

"Then you best explain real quick, Sweetie Belle."

The unicorn looked away.

"I shouldn’t waste your time."

Apple Bloom’s expression changed from enraged to baffled with a speed that would have made Rainbow Dash proud.

"Come again?"

"…You deserve somepony else. Somepony who doesn’t ruin everything."

Sweetie Belle had started to turn towards the door again when Apple Bloom slammed a hoof on the floor.

"Consarnit, Sweetie Belle, what’s WRONG with you? Ah ain't letting you leave. Not like this. Ah’ll get mah sister’s rope if Ah gotta."

Sweetie Belle froze in place.

"An’ Ah don’t ever wanna hear you talkin’ like that again ’bout yourself."

Apple Bloom quickly made her way to her friend’s side, draping a hoof over her shoulder.

"Ah think it’s about time Ah told you somethin’. Mah lil' secret, one Ah ain't told nopony before. You know that whole Elements of Harmony thing? Like how Rainbow Dash is loyalty an’ all that? Ah don’t think Ah quite buy it."

Sweetie Belle nearly managed to do a spit take with thin air.

"What? But that’s... how could... What do you... That doesn’t make sense!"

Apple Bloom smiled shyly.

"Y’see, Ah keep hearin’ 'em make a big fuss 'bout how Fluttershy got Kindness… But whenever Ah get to thinkin’ who the nicest pony Ah know is, it always comes down to the same pony. An’ it ain't Fluttershy."

Sweetie Belle blinked in confusion.

"What does Miss Cheerilee have to do with anything?"

Apple Bloom couldn't help but snicker.

"DEFINITELY ain't Miss Cheerilee."

"Then who is it?"

Apple Bloom looked into Sweetie Belle’s eyes, running a hoof gently through her friend’s mane.

"This pony here. This one Ah got right here in fronta me."

Sweetie belle gasped softly.

"Ah don’t want nopony else," Apple Bloom said.

"But… Anypony would be so lucky to have you, and…"

Apple Bloom raised her other hoof to Sweetie Belle’s mouth, quieting her.

"Ah don’t want just anypony. Ah want somepony special. An’ Ah sure as shootin’ don’t wanna lose you, ’cause, well, Ah kinda figured we’d be together forever anyhow. Never reckoned we’d be quite so close as we started gettin’ just now…"

Apple Bloom looked away, smiling nervously as her face turned as red as, well, an apple.

"…But Ah sure ain't got no complaints."

She pressed in closer to Sweetie Belle, nuzzling softly.

"So… Special someponies?"

"You really want me as a special somepony?" Sweetie Belle asked nervously. Apple Bloom could feel the unicorn starting to tremble against her, and pressed herself in closer as reassuringly as she could.

"Course Ah do. You think Ah’d be askin' this if Ah didn't mean it?"

"Even if Scootaloo hates us forever because of me?"

"That ain't true."

"She seemed pretty mad."

"Ah’m sure she’s gonna cool off."

"What if she doesn't?"

"That don’t seem likely."

"But what if she stops being our friend?"

"It ain't your fault what she does, but she ain't gonna do that!"

"If she does…"

"THE HECK WITH HER, THEN! She can’t be happy for us, she can go an’ kiss a timberwolf for all Ah care!"

Apple Bloom felt Sweetie Belle slide out from beside her and move in front, and suddenly a pair of shimmering emerald eyes were pointed at her, full of hope.

Consarnit, why’d it have to be today of all days that she noticed how cute Sweetie Belle was?

"You really mean that, Apple Bloom?"

Apple Bloom nodded.

"Ah’m by your side, always. An’ she can’t pin this just on you, neither, Ah made mah own choice."

Sweetie Belle smiled bashfully.

"You always do. And I've made my choice too."

"An’?"

With a squeal of glee, Sweetie Belle launched herself at Apple Bloom, tackling her to the floor and wrapping her in a hug.

"Of course I’ll be your special somepony!"

"OOF!"

There was a brief silence.

"Apple Bloom, are you okay?"

"Mah head hurts a lil'... But other’n that, this is the best Ah’ve felt since Ah can remember!"

Sweetie Belle leaned forward and places a tender kiss on her special somepony’s forehead.

"Better?"

Apple Bloom giggled.

"Other side. So, whatcha wanna do now?"

Sweetie Belle nuzzled Apple Bloom softly. "I wouldn't mind just staying like this until Scootaloo gets back from the skate park.

Apple Bloom’s eyes went wide as saucers.

"Horse apples! How did Ah forget that?!"

"Forget what?"

"Last time Ah heard Scootaloo talkin’ about skate parks, it’s ’cause she was sore 'bout the closest one bein’ way out in Manehattan!"

"So… We shouldn't expect her back for a while?"

"There’s no tellin’ when she’ll be back, ’cause she ain't gone to no skate park!"

Sweetie Belle blinked, trying to wrap her head around this information. After a few seconds, she’d processed it.

She hopped off of Apple Bloom, and turned to the door.

"Maybe we should go look for... Oh, uh, I think I might have found her."

Apple Bloom rose to her hooves to take a look. There, by the doorway, was Scootaloo, looking just as displeased as she had when she left. On either side of her were their older sisters. Applejack’s jaw had almost hit the floor. Rarity’s jaw had nearly gone through the floor and hit the ground below.

"I told you you had to come see this!" Scootaloo said accusingly.

Apple Bloom smiled nervously.

"Oh, hi! Uh, how long ya’ll been standin’ there?"

Applejack just kept on staring, as if still trying to comprehend what she saw.

"Too. Dang. Long."

After a few minutes of awkward silence, the older sisters seemed to begin to recover from the shock. Applejack had managed to close her mouth again, and Rarity’s eyes had gone from bulging to merely twitching.

Scootaloo glared accusingly at the other Crusaders, and they stared back at her in shock, barely able to comprehend their friend’s betrayal. But as they heard Rarity clear her throat, they knew that their time was up, and their questions would go unanswered.

"Come along, Sweetie Belle," Rarity said coldly. "We’ll just pretend this little… incident… never happened."

"But..." Sweetie Belle began to protest feebly.

"Hush, Sweetie Belle," Rarity insisted. "It’s time. We’ll discuss it later."

"Okay," Sweetie Belle sighed, rising to her hooves. She sniffled a little, but fought to hold back the tears until nopony would see. As she began trotting towards Rarity, she spared Apple Bloom one last longing look over her shoulder...

...Except Apple Bloom wasn't there. While Sweetie Belle was moping, Apple Bloom had put herself between Rarity and the door. And she didn't look like she planned to give Rarity one more inch.

"No," Applebloom growled.

Rarity froze in her tracks, taken aback by this sudden outburst, and cast an uncertain gaze down at the recalcitrant (Rarity’s vocabulary was quite sufficient even without Twilight’s help, thank you very much.) filly who blocked her way.

"I beg your pardon?"

Apple Bloom held her ground, snorting angrily and stomping a forehoof on the floor.

"You heard me. She ain't leavin’. You ain't takin’ her. Ah ain't lettin’ ya."

"Apple Bloom," Applejack said, "Ah know ya think yer just havin’ fun, but you keep on playin’ games like this, somepony’s gonna get hurt."

"This ain't no game," Apple Bloom spat back, "an’ we ain't just playing. Ah woulda thought mah own sister’d have more faith in me, but Ah guess we live an’ learn…"

"Apple Bloom, dear," Rarity pleaded, "I’m just concerned for my sister’s well-being…"

"Like HORSEAPPLES you are!" Apple Bloom shouted.

Rarity backed away nervously. Apple Bloom might have been just a filly, but Rarity hadn't seen anypony act like this since Fluttershy had allowed Iron Will to lead her astray.

She looked over to Applejack, pleading silently with her eyes for aid, but Applejack, as well as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, seemed frozen in place, unable to do anything more than watch the drama unfold.

Rarity had wasted whatever opening she might have had, and Apple Bloom continued to advance, her eyes full of steel and flame.

"You oughta be ashamed of yourself, the way Ah see ya treatin’ yer own flesh an’ blood! The way you act, it’s like she ain’t nothin’ more than a dog that barks too much! Well, guess what, lady? Sweetie Belle’s the nicest, prettiest, friendliest pony Ah ever met, an’ it makes me sick seein’ ya treat gold like tin! If you can’t see how special she is, maybe you oughta let her spend time with somepony who can!"

By this point, Apple Bloom had backed Rarity into a corner, and Applejack had finally shaken off her astonishment and stepped in. "Apple Bloom, don’cha think yer bein’ a bit too harsh?"

"No," Apple Bloom replied matter-of-factly. "No, Ah do not."

Applejack sighed.

"Apple Bloom, Ah know yer mad… But think 'bout what you’re doin'."

Apple Bloom rounded on her sister, looking her dead in the eyes.

"Ah thought about it plenty," she replied. "An’ Ah don’t reckon you got a right to choose for me!"

Sweetie Belle watched, frightened and uncertain. On the one hoof, it was sweet of Apple Bloom to stand up for her like that. On the other, this was getting out of control fast, and she just wished she could make it stop.

Applejack looked down sternly at her little sister.

"Ah am TRYIN’ to be reasonable, Apple Bloom. Now you go apologize to Rarity, an’ we’ll call this whole thing a wash ’fore ya git yerself in trouble!"

"This THING’s called bein’ in LOVE," Apple Bloom shouted back, "an’ if you want trouble, come an’ get it!"

"YOU AIN'T IN LOVE!" Applejack bellowed.

"Both of you, STOP!" Sweetie Belle screamed.

The two sisters suddenly stopped their quarrel, and froze in place like misbehaving schoolfillies whose teacher had just walked into the room and caught them.

"Aww, come on!" Scootaloo groaned. "It was just getting good!"

Everypony turned to give Scootaloo a dirty look, and she shrunk back sheepishly.

"Go on, Sweetie," Rarity urged gently.

Sweetie Belle nodded softly, and looked over at her marefriend... Wow, that was still an exciting thought!... Not now, clear this up first, daydream later. Sweetie Belle looked into Apple Bloom’s eyes, smiling gently.

"It’s really sweet of you to stick up for me like that, but actually... Rarity and I have been getting better. Not like you and Applejack or anything, but still way sisterlier than we used to be."

"Oh," Apple Bloom replied, dumbstruck. "That’s... Good, Ah guess?"

Sweetie Belle pranced over to Apple Bloom and Snuggled in close.

"You’re still my hero though."

If Apple Bloom’s blush had been any deeper, she would have looked like her brother.

Rarity sighed.

"Sweetie Belle, darling, I do apologize for being so brusque a few moments ago. But you must understand, I’m merely concerned."

"Look," Sweetie Belle replied, "I know you have things to do today, but..."

Rarity gently place a hoof on her younger sister’s mouth.

"Staying on schedule is the least of my concerns. Particularly where your well-being is concerned."

Sweetie Belle looked up at Rarity, confused. "But why would you think I needed to be protected from Apple Bloom?"

"Ain't like that, Sweetie Belle," Applejack explained. "We jus’ reckon that maybe you an’ her might be gettin’ into somethin’ that ain't good for neither of ya."

"Oh, so it’s good for you an’ Rarity," Apple Bloom protested, "but when it’s me an’ Sweetie Belle, it’s a whole ’nother story?"

"That’s why ya kicked up a fuss?" Applejack snorted. "Jus’ ’cause the pair o’ ya wanna play at bein’ big ponies like your sisters?"

"Ah ain't yer understudy," Apple Bloom shot back. "Ah’m mah OWN little pony. Me an’ Sweetie Belle are doin’ this for me an’ Sweetie Belle, an’ how ya’ll might feel about it ain't gonna be mah problem!"

"Ya’ll can’t jus’ DECIDE to be in love!"

"We ain't decided nothin’. Jus’ wound up seein’ each other different an' likin' what we saw."

"Land’s sakes, child, would ya listen to yerself? Sweetie Belle ain't no different today than how she been as long as ya’ll’ve known each other. What’s to notice all of a sudden?"

Before Apple Bloom could respond, Sweetie Belle stepped in.

"This isn't getting us anywhere," she said with a sigh.

"Finally," Applejack said, "one o’ ya’s bein’ reasonable."

But Applejack quickly found out she’d spoken too soon. As Sweetie Belle met her gaze, Applejack saw a malicious glint (Twilight, both words) behind her big green eyes.

"We’re just going to ignore you," she said darkly. "You can’t watch us all the time."

"OH, FER THE LUVVA CADANCE!" Applejack exploded. "CAN SOMEPONY AROUND HERE START MAKIN’ A LICK OF SENSE?!"

Rarity gently stroked Applejack’s mane.

"Relax, darling. I believe I can settle this matter once and for all."

She turned to the two fillies.

"Well, you two do seem passionate, at the very least... Very well then. One simple question. How are you so certain, in such a short time, that your love is true?"

"You can’t be serious!" Scootaloo protested. "I thought you two were supposed to be the grown-ups around here!"

"All the more reason for us to stop being so childish about this," Rarity replied primly.

"She’s got a point," Applejack added. "Can’t rightly weigh in if we ain't heard their side of it."

"Figures you’d take her side," Scootaloo grumbled.

"An’ after we sort this out," Applejack said, "next thing’s gonna be findin’ out what crawled under your tail an' died all of a sudden."

Scootaloo opened her mouth to tell Applejack whose business it wasn't, but quickly shut it again before any sound came out. There was no point in arguing. Her best bet was to let things get back on track and hope the rest of the drama would make Applejack forget about her.

"Go on, girls," Rarity urged.

"Well, we’re still kinda new at this," Sweetie Belle began, "but have you ever had something happen that made you look at somepony differently, and you saw something special and amazing and beautiful, and you wonder how you never saw it before?"

Rarity briefly exchanged a knowing glance with Applejack, but neither said a thing.

"An’ that’s when ya realize," Apple Bloom added, "ya can’t imagine livin’ yer life without that pony, an’ even if ya could, ya don’t wanna. ’Cause ya got yer differences, ya know, but in the good way, like one’s got what the other don’t, so ya make each other whole ’an yer better together."

"And when you look at each other," Sweetie Belle continued, "your eyes are kinda drawn together like magnets, and then when you get close, there’s this sort of warm, tingly feeling and your heart goes all-"

"I believe that’s sufficient," interjected a beet-red Rarity.

Applejack nodded. "Ah ain’t certain what, but Ah’ll grant they got somethin’ ’tween ’em."

"It’s at the very least a crush," Rarity agreed.

"An’ it ain't like they’d split on our say-so anyhow."

"We’d likely do best to simply let this run its course."

"What if it don’t?"

"I’d think that would be a good thing!"

"...Fair 'nough point."

"We can hear you, you know," Sweetie Belle piped up.

"Oh, right," Applejack sheepishly replied. "Uh, anyhow, ah think the both of us’re agreed."

"Indeed," Rarity replied, "but I would like a word with you, Apple Bloom."

The little yellow filly quickly made her way over to the older unicorn sister. "Sure thing, Rarity. Whatcha got on your mind?"

Rarity smiled down at Apple Bloom.

"You say you’re taking this seriously, and I’m going to hold you to that. Sweetie Belle and I may not always see eye to eye, we may have some fences to mend, but at the end of the day, only one thing matters: She is my sister, and I love her dearly. Trusting you with her heart is no small thing for me."

Apple Bloom nodded seriously. "Ah promise ah won’t letcha down."

"Then there better be wedding bells in your future, missy."

Apple Bloom scrunched up her face in confusion. "Say wha?"

"You heard me," Rarity replied, her eyes narrowing and her tone darkening as she advanced on Apple Bloom in much the same way that Apple Bloom had done to her earlier. Apple Bloom didn't know what irony was, but she definitely noticed the role reversal… And she didn't like it one bit.

"As Sweetie Belle and I have gotten closer," Rarity continued menacingly, "I've grown a bit more… protective. So if you hurt her, if you break her heart, if you make her shed One. Single. Tear… What, pray tell, do you think I’ll do to you?"

"...Gimme a stern lecture?" Apple Bloom suggested nervously.

"Oh, of course," Rarity replied.

Apple Bloom let out a relieved sigh. Maybe she didn't have to be worried after all.

"But AFTER that..." Rarity continued.

Apple Bloom changed her mind. She should be scared. She should be really, really scared.

"...that’s when I’m going to make you into a nice leather jacket," Rarity threatened. "And then I’m going to wear that jacket into town so that everypony can see what happens when SOMEPONY! CROSSES! THE LINE!"

It wasn't just Apple Bloom any more. Rarity now had everypony hiding under the furniture. Apple Bloom herself was on the floor in front of Rarity, and seemed to be pretending she was Fluttershy.

"I think we have an understanding, don’t we?" Rarity asked calmly, as though the moment of terror she’d just brought to the room had been nothing but a bit of theater.

Apple Bloom, who was still quite convinced that Rarity had meant every word, nodded feebly.

"I can’t hear you," Rarity chided. "Now, let’s try this again: Are we clear?"

"C-crystal," Apple Bloom managed to stammer.

Rarity dropped down to Apple Bloom’s level, and laid her horn on one of Apple Bloom’s shoulders, then the other.

"You have my blessing, young mare. I wish the two of you health, wealth, and happiness. Not necessarily in that order."

Apple Bloom looked up at Rarity, then spit on her hoof and extended it. Rarity recoiled as though she’d been offered a tarantula.

"What?" Apple Bloom asked, offended. "Doncha wanna seal the deal?"

"Apple Bloom!" Rarity squealed. "Were you raised in a barn?!"

"Uh, yeah," Apple Bloom deadpanned.

"...I should have seen that coming," Rarity grumbled.

Applejack turned to Sweetie Belle.

"Ah guess it’s our turn now..."

Sweetie Belle closed her eyes, braced for what was about to come...

...And squeaked in surprise as Applejack mussed her mane.

"Ah don’t think Ah gotta worry none ’bout yer intent. You been good folk ’long as Ah known ya. Jus’ stay on the straight an’ narrow… Well, the narrow, anyhow… an’ we oughta be good."

Applejack smile warmly at her kid sister’s special somepony. "So Ah guess all Ah got left that needs sayin’ is... Congrats, the paira ya!"

"Congratulations, girls!" Rarity beamed.

"Aww, shucks," Apple Bloom replied, her cheeks glowing a soft red.

"We’re just glad we have each other and you two aren't mad at us about it," Sweetie Belle said, taking her place next to Apple Bloom with a smile.

"You gotta be kidding me," Scootaloo groaned. "Your family founded this town, and it’s still built around your farm! Doesn't one of you need to provide an heir or something? And since Applejack was a lesbian first..."

Rarity snorted and rolled her eyes. "Scootaloo, dear, this is Sweet Apple Acres, not Maretania. Neither Apple Bloom nor Applejack nor anypony else is obligated to produce a foal. And the concept of calling ’dibs’ on lesbianism is so ridiculous that I’m just going to pretend you never brought it up."

"An’ ’sides," Apple Bloom added, "ain't gonna be an issue no time soon. Granny Smith’s been alive longer’n they knew anypony could be, an’ her health’s been jus’ gettin’ better these few years past. Some days Ah think she’s gonna live forever."

"An’ if she don’t," Applejack continued, "There's still Big Mac. An’ that’s where ya get yer dang heir, Scootaloo!"

"You can’t be sure of that!" Scootaloo challenged.

"Ah’ll give it to ya straight, kid," Applejack said, "Ah am more sure than Ah EVER woulda wanted to be."

"Fine," Scootaloo demanded, "how do you know?"

"Certain... subtle hints," Rarity said delicately.

"Ah had a Wonderbolt, IN UNIFORM, crop dustin’ mah farm with rose petals an’ pullin’ a banner askin’ for mah brother’s hoof in marriage!" Applejack blurted out. "An’ we ain't never even invited her here! That ain't subtle! That’s STALKIN’! An’ he don’t do NOTHIN’ ’bout it! Ah think he might even be ENCOURGIN’ it! Meanwhile Ah’m tryin’ to keep Granny Smith from goin’ out on the porch with a…"

It was here that Applejack realized what was coming out of her mouth.

"...Jus' dawned on me that Ah don’t wanna tell this story no more," she said with a nervous smile.

"'Least she didn’t tell the one ’bout Cheerilee," Apple Bloom said.

"Weren't we there for that one?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"I remember us CAUSING that one," Scootaloo added.

"Not that one," Apple Bloom explained. "There’s another one. An’ one time Applejack forgot why we don’t tell nopony ’bout it."

"Anyhow," Rarity intervened, desperate to change the subject, "there have been signs, subtle or... otherwise."

"That’s stupid," Scootaloo griped.

"You ain’t runnin’ mah brother’s love life," Applejack replied.

"Not that!" the pegasus shouted. "It’s a stupid excuse for how you can walk in on your kid sisters sucking face and wind up congratulating them for it!"

"Young mare," Rarity scolded, "that is bordering on vulgar."

"What are you gonna do, tell my parents?" Scootaloo challenged. "Guess what? I’m an orphan!"

"That’s not true at all!" Sweetie Belle shouted back.

"You ain't an orphan, you’re adopted!" Apple Bloom added.

"Same thing!" Scootaloo screamed. "I still don’t have a REAL family!"

Rarity’s eyes widened, then closed as an exasperated sigh escaped her lips.

Applejack shoved her face into Scootaloo’s, glaring daggers at the girl.

"Now you listen here, kiddo! Blood or mud, kin is kin, an’ Ah got half a mind—"

Applejack was interrupted by the gentle touch of Rarity’s hoof on her shoulder.

"Maybe we should go a bit easier on the poor girl," Rarity suggested in as soothing a tone as she could manage.

"How come?" Applejack asked.

Rarity looked down at Scootaloo.

"I think she’s just scared."

"Scared?" Scootaloo protested. "What would I have to be afraid of?"

"You’re afraid of losing your friends," Rarity explained gently. "We've all worried about it at some point."

"Everypony else, maybe," Scootaloo replied defiantly, "but I don’t do scared, and I don’t need anypony!"

"Oooh, I know what this is!" Sweetie Belle said cheerfully. "This is denial, right Rarity?"

"Sure seems full of it to me," Apple Bloom added.

"Apple Bloom!" Applejack scolded, "Is that any way to talk about yer friend?"

"Ah’m pretty sure she jus' said she ain't mah friend no more," Apple Bloom replied cheerlessly.

"You’re the ones who ditched me!" Scootaloo protested.

"That’s not true at all," Sweetie Belle said. "We never wanted to lose you."

"Oh, please," Scootaloo griped. "I saw the way you cuddled up with each other. It doesn't take a scooter expert to know when there’s no place for a third wheel."

Sweetie Belle blinked in confusion. "What’s that even supposed to mean?"

"Ah think she’s sayin’ she’s ditchin’ us so we don’t ditch her," Apple Bloom answered, "but Ah must be missin’ somethin’, ’cause that don’t make a lick of sense."

"Sometimes when somepony’s hurt an’ scared, they get to thinkin’ too much ’bout how they got hurt an’ how they can hurt it right back," Applejack explained. "They get so caught up in the lashin’ out an’ pushin’ away that they ain't spared a minute for thinkin’ ’bout fixin’ it. These folks hurt other ponies… But usually, they wind up hurtin’ ’emselves more."

"Again with the scared?" Scootaloo protested. "I told you, I don’t do fear. I’ll take a scooter ride through Ghastly Gorge if that’s what it takes to get it through your heads."

Applejack shook her head.

"There ain't just one kinda fear, an’ it don’t make a strong pony weak carin’ ’bout other ponies."

"Scootaloo, dear," Rarity said, "I know this is difficult for you, but you simply must discuss this. Denying your fears exist doesn’t make you brave, and hiding your problems is a poor substitute for solving them."

There was a brief, tense silence.

"Fine," Scootaloo grudgingly admitted, "I’m worried they don’t need me any more. There, I said it. But it’s not like you can force them to keep me."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were already beside Scootaloo, one on either side.

"Who says we gotta be forced to do anythin’?" Apple Bloom said.

"You’re our best friend," Sweetie Belle said. "That’s never going to change."

"We’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders, all three of us together," Apple Bloom said, "an’ it ain't never gonna be the Crusaders if you ain't there with us."

"Plus," Sweetie Belle said with a playful smile, "maybe we can look into finding you a special somepony.  How do you like Princess Cadance?"

"Out of the question!" Rarity shrieked. "That's wrong in so many ways I can barely begin to list them!"

Sweetie Belle tilted her head, puzzled by Rarity's outburst.  "...It's wrong to ask the pony who understands love better than anypony for advice on finding somepony's special somepony?"

Rarity blinked a few times before speaking, giggling nervously as she did.  "Oh, that!  I'm terribly sorry, I just misunderstood you.  No, that... That would be fine if she has time..."

Scootaloo laughed, shaking her head.

"Nah, I’ll leave the mushy stuff to you two. I’m after something a bit more intense. So, what’s on the agenda?"

"Well," Apple Bloom said, "Ah think today’s plans are a wash, an’t we ain't got tomorrow planned yet.."

"So how about we do today tomorrow?" Sweetie Belle suggested.

"Sounds good," Scootaloo agreed.

"That settles it," Apple Bloom said. "But more important, make sure you ain't doin’ nothin’ next Saturday."

"What’s next Saturday?" Scootaloo asked.

"Well, this was gonna be a surprise," Apple Bloom said, "but Ah been savin’ up some money, an’ Ah dropped by Mr. Kite’s place this mornin’."

"We’re flying kites?" Scootaloo asked, not sure what was so special about that.

"Nope," Apple Bloom answered with a manic grin, "Ah rented us a hang glider."

"Ya rented yerself a WHAT?!" Applejack exclaimed.

"A hang glider. It’s kinda like a big paper airplane, only ponies can ride it and it’s not paper," Sweetie Belle explained.

"Oh, wow!" Scootaloo said. "That’s amazing! Thank you!"

"Ah can’t take all the credit," Apple Bloom said. "It was Sweetie Belle’s idea."

Sweetie Belle placed a hoof on Scootaloo’s back.

"I just thought, since you’re still having trouble flying, maybe there’s another way to get you in the air. You know, until you can do it on your own."

Scootaloo’s eyes began to tear up.

"I didn't mean it like that!" Sweetie Belle said.

Scootaloo grabbed her friends and pulled them into a tight hug, softly crying tears of joy.

"Thank you! Thank you so much! This is the greatest thing anypony’s ever done for me!"

"What are friends for?" Sweetie Belle said.

"I can’t believe I tried to push you away like that," Scootaloo said. "You two are the best friends I could ever ask for!"

"Ah thought ya didn't go for the mushy stuff," Apple Bloom teased.

"Shut up," Scootaloo laughed.

The fillies held their group hug for a few silent moments before Scootaloo spoke again.

"Thanks for not ditching me..."

"You still on that?" Apple Bloom sighed.

"No, no," Sweetie Belle said, breaking away from the hug, "maybe we should see if she’s got a point, I let something like that get to me too... Hey, Applejack! Do you remember that pegasus you used to hang out with? Her name was Clash, right? I think she wanted to be a Wonderbolt or something..."

Applejack raised an eyebrow.

"If ya mean Rainbow Dash, Ah jus’ saw her this mornin’, ’fore Ah met up with yer sister."

"So you still recognize her on the street, then," Sweetie Belle said, in as even a tone as she could manage. This was ridiculous... But that was the point.

"Ah ran into her at the swimmin’ hole. She was doin’ laps, Ah figured Ah might as well join in. An’ of course, she jus’ had to go an’ turn it into a race..."

"Who won?" Scootaloo asked excitedly.

"Please," Applejack said with a smile, "who do ya think?"

"Dash beat ya good again, didn’t she?" Apple Bloom replied, deadpan.

The smile vanished from Applejack’s face. "Yeah, yeah. Rub it in, why don’t ya?"

"Ah jus' might," Apple Bloom taunted.

"Seems like that settles it," Sweetie Belle said cheerfully.

"An’ it seems like somepony’s fixin’ to skip dessert a while, too," Applejack said, shooting Apple Bloom a dirty look.

Rarity’s eyes snapped open in shock as Applejack’s mention of food reminded her of the next item on her itinerary.

"Sweetie Belle, you need to get ready to go so we won’t be late! I got us reservations at the Field of Gold, and we have about half an hour to get there!"

Sweetie Belle bit her lip.

"...Are you sure I can’t stay here a little longer?"

Rarity sighed.

"Sweetie Belle, I’m afraid I’m going to be rather busy today, and I had my heart set on some sisterly bonding over lunch..."

She smiled.

"...However, I do have another idea. Applejack, darling, would it be a bother if I brought Sweetie Belle back a bit later this afternoon and left her for a bit?"

"Please?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle begged in unison.

"Ah dunno," Applejack said. "Ah reckon she’s a mite on the scrawny side for farm work..."

"SCRAWNY?!" protested Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Rarity simultaneously. Scootaloo said nothing, but she didn’t seem pleased either.

Applejack chuckled.

"Ah’m jus’ yankin’ yer chain. ’Course yer welcome here."

Rarity let out a heavy sigh, and tried to hide her smile.

"You, madam, are incorrigible, and I shall be taking my sister and leaving now."

"Might wanna ease up on them big words," Applejack teased back, "we ain’t nothin’ but simple country folk 'round here."

"Oh you do so know that word! And don’t try to blame Twilight, either!"

"All right, Ah’m incorrigible, an Ah’m proud of it! An’ ya know what else?"

Applejack drew in close, with a mischievous smile.

"Ah know darn well you can’t get enough of it."

Scootaloo rolled her eyes.

"You two sure you wanna be like them?"

"Well, we got to talkin’ ’bout that while you was out," Apple Bloom said.

Sweetie Belle nuzzled up next to Apple Bloom with a smile.

"And we decided we’d rather be like us!" she explained cheerfully.

"Yeah, I think I'd like that better too," Scootaloo said.

From the doorway, Rarity beckoned urgently. Sweetie Belle bounced over to her sister, then turned back to Apple Bloom and smiled.

"See you after lunch! I can’t believe this is happening, I feel like I’m doing cartwheels inside!"

Apple Bloom smiled, blushing slightly, ash she watched Sweetie Belle leave.

"Yeah. Ah can’t wait to see how this turns out."

END