Apple Bloom ran and ran, not bothering to look where she was going. She just wanted to get away from that hateful place, full of angry, hateful ponies.
How could her friends turn out to be so mean? She liked Gold Watch and Blue Chip. If she had to be honest with herself, she really liked Gold Watch. Her heart raced when he smiled at her in a way that it never had for Pipsqueak. Blue Chip had never been less than a gentlecolt to her either. How could they have called Scooteroll... that? Was that how they thought of her, too?
On the other hand, it wasn’t as though Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were the only ones who ever called her and her friends “blank flanks”. They might have popularised the insult, but just about everypony in school who had their cutie marks had used it too, except for Twist... and, now that she thought about it, Snips and Snails. Maybe it was just as common here, even without Diamond Tiara to spearhead things.
And Scooteroll! How could he say something so hurtful to anypony, even a pony he seemed to hate? She had never heard Scootaloo use that word. Was Scooteroll just a naturally meaner pony than Scootaloo? Maybe Scootaloo just never said it when she was around. She really thought her friends knew better than that, though.
Apple Bloom looked up as the shade of a large tree loomed over her. The familiar branches of Twilight Sparkle’s library treehouse were a comforting sight to her, and she nestled down in its exposed roots with a sigh. Sunny Smiles would probably come and fetch her soon, or send somepony after her, and the town library was as good a place as any to be when they found her. She rested her head against the trunk and closed her eyes, trying to calm her breathing and tears.
After a few minutes of this, a young girl’s voice came to her. “Hey, you’re Apple Bloom, right? Are you okay?”
Apple Bloom looked up at the unfamiliar voice, and saw, not a pony, but a young dragon, with purple scales and a ridge of delicate green spines along her head and neck. “Oh, hi, um... Spike?” she ventured, doing her best to blink away her tears.
“Spines. Nice to meet you!” the dragon said, extending a clawed hand to Apple Bloom. “Dusk told me all about you. I guess Spike is Twilight Sparkle’s assistant in your world?” The filly nodded. “Anyway, what’s wrong?”
Apple Bloom allowed Spines to help her back to her hooves. “Boys,” she said simply. “They’re always fighting and being mean to each other, and I just want everypony to get along!”
Spines grinned and ushered Apple Bloom towards the library entrance. “Oh, I know how that is. Dusk and his friends fight all the time.”
Apple Bloom blinked in surprise. “They do? But aren’t they supposed to be the Elements of Harmony? Like, the greatest examples of friends in Equestria?”
Spines shrugged. “I guess so? Doesn’t mean they aren’t in each others’ faces all the time. You should have seen what happened when Prince Solaris sent Dusk two tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala. The way they were fighting over the second ticket... even Butterscotch was shouting at us, and he’s normally the quietest pony in town! Of course, I always have to be the sensible one when the guys are all being idiots. Honestly, this place would go to pieces without me. Hey, Dusk!” she called as they made their way into the library.
Dusk Shine was standing in front of his lectern, consulting three different texts at once. “Back already, Spines?” he asked, without looking up from his work. “Did you get that extra ink I wanted?”
“No, but I found something else you might want to take a look at, if you can tear your muzzle out of that book for a second.” Spines gave Apple Bloom a quick hug around her neck, then wandered into the kitchen.
Dusk turned around and looked taken aback to see the young filly in his library. “Apple Bloom? What are you doing here? Did something happen at school?”
Apple Bloom nodded silently, biting her lip in an attempt to keep herself from crying again.
“Oh, Apple Bloom, honey, come here,” crooned Dusk softly, kneeling in front of her. “Spines! Can you get some...”
“On it!” the young dragon called back.
Apple Bloom laid her head against Dusk’s neck, letting the tears flow. “Everypony at school is really mean to each other, and I can’t do anything about it!” she cried. “I tried really hard to get everypony to be friends, but stupid Scooteroll and stupid Gold Watch just ruined everything!”
Dusk Shine groomed Apple Bloom’s mane gently as she told the story, and was soon joined by Spines and three mugs of hot chocolate. Apple Bloom found herself calmed by Dusk and Spines’ soothing company, and was able to complete the story in some semblance of composure.
“... and then Gold Watch called Scooteroll a blank flank, and Scooteroll called Gold Watch lame, and then they just started hitting each other. Like, really hitting each other, not just the way I fight with the Crusaders sometimes. I couldn’t take any more of it, so I came here. I just want to go home.”
Dusk Shine looked both surprised and thoughtful at Apple Bloom’s story. “Oh my,” he said once Apple Bloom had finished. “That is serious. Scooteroll always struck me as such a nice young colt.” He paused and gazed at his mug in contemplation for a moment. “He does have quite the temper, though, much like Rainbow Blitz. I think I’ll have to have a chat with Blitz about the sort of language he uses around his fans. I don’t think I know Gold Watch. Wasn’t his father the last mayor?”
Apple Bloom nodded. “And they’re both really nice colts! I mean, they’ve both been really good to me. I don’t know why they hate each other so much! Can’t you help? Applejack told me how you got him and Elusive to stop fighting.”
Dusk shook his head sadly. “I don’t know if I can, sweetheart. Applejack and Elusive were only ever fighting over silly little things like getting muddy and wearing nice suits. It sounds like these two have something deeper going on. You’ll have to get to the bottom of that if you want them to be friends.”
“Do you think I can?” asked Apple Bloom, taking a long slurp of her hot chocolate.
“I think that if anypony can, you can,” Dusk replied, giving Apple Bloom a solemn nod. “Applebuck has done some pretty impressive things in the time I’ve known him, and he’s learned a lot along the way. If you’re anything like him – and logically, you must be – then you just might be able to make these two colts see reason.”
“Like I did with Zecora? Yeah, Applejack mentioned that too.”
“Zecora? Is she... your world’s version of Zircon? Then yes, just like her. You do have a knack for making friends, even when everypony else is being hostile and ridiculous.” He turned to face the large mirror that stood next to his lectern. “I’ve tried opening another portal for you to go home, and I can see into your world just fine, but I’m sorry, I can’t get you home yet.”
Just then, a knock came at the library door. Spines opened it to reveal two fillies Apple Bloom recognised from school – the Trottingham earth pony filly Half Pint, and Flash, a light grey pegasus filly with a dark grey mane. “Hi, Mister Dusk!” said Half Pint, idly toying with a loose strand of her mane, which seemed to have been dyed a midnight blue, clashing with her pinto coat. “Is Apple Bloom here?”
Apple Bloom turned and waved to her school friends. “Hey, guys. Yeah, I’m okay. Dusk and Spines took care of me.”
“Are you sure you’re alright to go back to school, Apple Bloom?” asked Dusk, still looking concerned.
Apple Bloom nodded. “I’ll be fine. I reckon I’ll go and try what you said – get to the bottom of what’s causing all this ruckus. Thanks for everything, Dusk, Spines.” She gave both of her friends a quick hug, then went to stand with the fillies from school.
Half Pint dragged a scroll out of her saddlebags and scuffed the floor with one hoof awkwardly. “Umm, Mister Dusk? Do you think maybe Spines could...”
Dusk Shine raised an eyebrow. “Is that another poem for Prince Artemis, Half Pint?” The tiny filly blushed and nodded.
Spines rolled her eyes. “Fine, give it here. Honestly, this moping around after an old stallion is just sad. Why don’t you look for somepony your own age?”
Everypony in the room turned to stare at Spines. “What?” she asked. “Why are you looking at me like that? I don’t even like Elusive that way! You don’t know about that for sure!” Blushing madly, she incinerated the poem and let the smoke flow out the door, then stomped off to the kitchen again.
Dusk chuckled and sighed. “Well, I for one think that Prince Artemis very much appreciates your letters, Half Pint. After so long away from Equestria, it’s good that he feels welcomed back. Give my best to Sunny Smiles, girls!”
The three fillies waved and trotted out the door towards school. Dusk watched them leave, then turned to the mirror. His horn glowed and his reflection in the mirror shimmered, then cleared to show a unicorn mare standing in the same position.
“Twilight! I thought you’d be there. Listen... this Zecora mare... is she seeing anypony?”
Apple Bloom trotted along the path back to school with Half Pint and Flash. “Thanks for coming to get me, guys. Am I in trouble with Sunny Smiles?”
Flash shook her head. “You’re just about the only pony who isn’t. Scooteroll and Gold Watch are on detention for, like, the rest of the year, and Mister Smiles gave everypony else a huge lecture. Somehow he found out what those two said when they were fighting, and he’s really, really angry. He said that you’re the only pony who tried to break it up.” The pegasus filly stared at the ground as she walked. “I guess we should have done something, huh?”
Apple Bloom had never seen Cheerilee truly angry, even when she’d been giving Apple Bloom detention. “It’s okay. I don’t think anypony could have stopped it. Those two really wanted to fight each other. So the whole class is in trouble?”
“Pretty much,” agreed Flash. “Mister Smiles has cancelled all of the lunchtime and after-school clubs for today, and he says that if we don’t behave ourselves, he’ll cancel everything for the whole week. Scooteroll has to sit by himself all day, and so will Gold Watch once he gets back from seeing Red Crescent.”
Apple Bloom shuddered. “Gold Watch is seeing the nurse? You mean Scooteroll really hurt him?”
Half Pint nodded emphatically. “It was awful. Nurse Crescent had to carry him to hospital on a stretcher. I just hope he recovers alright. It was so stupid of him to pick a fight with Scooteroll!”
“Why didn’t any of y’all stop him, then?” Apple Bloom asked, looking at Flash. “You’re nearly as fast as Scooteroll, and you can fly already. Couldn’t you have done something?”
Flash stared at Apple Bloom in disbelief. “Get involved in the colts’ fights? Are you crazy? Then they’d try to get involved in our fights and... no way! We let the colts do their own thing.”
Just like how the colts at home don’t care if Diamond Tiara is making my life miserable, they won’t get involved. “And I guess Gold Watch would rather end up in hospital than let me fight Scooteroll for him, huh?”
Both fillies nodded in agreement.
“Colts are stupid.”
Neither filly disagreed with her.
Apple Bloom had never seen the classroom so silent. Scooteroll was sitting in one corner of the classroom, his muzzle wrapped in bandages. He was looking between the blackboard and his textbook, writing awkwardly with a pencil strapped to one hoof. The rest of the class was studiously working through their mathematics problems, most of them not even looking up when Apple Bloom arrived. Gold Watch was nowhere to be seen.
Sunny Smiles nodded to Apple Bloom as she entered, and indicated that she should take her seat. Sugar and Spice looked up only briefly as she sat down next to them, and then returned to their work without a word. Sugar in particular looked very subdued compared to her usual bubbly demeanour.
The class worked silently through their morning lessons, interrupted only by Mister Smiles indicating the next set of problems. Nopony even moved when the lunch bell rang, instead waiting to be dismissed, which Apple Bloom had never seen happen. “Scooteroll, remain in your seat,” the teacher announced at the sound of the bell. “Apple Bloom, I’d like to speak to you in my office. Everypony else is dismissed.” The dark rose stallion waited for the rest of the class to file out into the playground, then waited for Apple Bloom to follow him into his office.
“Please, come in, Apple Bloom,” he said, indicating the chair in front of his desk. “You’re not in trouble.”
Apple Bloom took the offered seat and looked across the desk at her teacher, fidgeting nervously. “Is Gold Watch going to be okay?” she asked.
Sunny Smiles nodded. “His mother met him at the hospital. Nurse Crescent says that he has a fractured cannon bone, but he should be alright as long as he stays off it.” The stallion leaned across the desk, fixing Apple Bloom with an inquisitive gaze. “Can you tell me what happened this morning, Apple Bloom?”
Apple Bloom shrank back and stared at the desk. “I’m not a tattletale, Mister Smiles.”
Sunny Smiles sighed heavily. “Of course you’re not. The Prince forfend you children should actually help me to help you.” He shook his head, then laid a gentle hoof on Apple Bloom’s shoulder. “I’m already punishing Scooteroll and Gold Watch in every way I know how, and they should count themselves lucky that only Prince Solaris can banish ponies to the moon. I know exactly what they did, and what they said. I just want to know why.”
Apple Bloom shook her head. “I don’t understand it either. Everything was fine up until this morning.”
“You were there when it started. You even tried to calm things down, which is more than anypony else did. Were they fighting because of you?”
Apple Bloom scratched her head. “I don’t think so...”
Sunny Smiles placed his hooves gently on his desk and gave Apple Bloom a sympathetic, but serious look. “Were they fighting over you?”
“What? Of course not!” replied Apple Bloom indignantly. “I mean... I don’t think so... but Spice did say that she thought Gold Watch was ‘defending my honour’. It was so stupid, though! Scooteroll just shoved me, which I don’t care about, but Gold Watch took it personally and got up in Scooteroll’s face about it. I guess maybe it was over me, but...”
“But what?”
“But I think it stopped being about me pretty quickly. I really think they just wanted an excuse to fight each other.”
Sunny Smiles sighed deeply, looking as if he hadn’t smiled for quite some time. “I think you’re right, Apple Bloom. I don’t understand why those two are always snarling at each other. Scooteroll and the Cutie Mark Crusaders are some of the kindest, most considerate colts I know. Gold Watch and Blue Chip are fine, upstanding young gentlecolts, credits to their families, and I sometimes think this school would fall apart without them. To see them always fighting with each other just... breaks my heart, Apple Bloom. I’ve tried to make things right between them, but they won’t listen to me. I know you’re friends with all of them. Maybe you can get through to them.”
“I hope so, Mister Smiles.”
The afternoon passed as quietly as the morning had. Gold Watch came limping back into the classroom shortly after lunch, his front right leg sealed in a cast. He took a seat in the corner opposite Scooteroll, under Sunny Smiles’s watchful eye. The entire class worked diligently until they were dismissed in the afternoon, trotting away to leave the two fighters in detention.
Apple Bloom found herself lounging by the schoolyard fence with Blue Chip and Sweepy Bell, waiting for her friends to finish their detention. “Boy, this sure feels familiar,” she commented, twisting her hooves idly in the dirt. “I bet y’all have done this plenty of times.”
“Waiting for Scooteroll or Applebuck to get out of detention?” replied Sweepy. “A few times. Usually I’m in there with them, though.”
“Gold Watch doesn’t get into trouble much,” commented Blue Chip, sitting on the other side of Apple Bloom from Sweepy Bell. “We sometimes wait for Final Lap after he’s gotten into a fight. Flash, too.”
“Final Lap’s a jerk,” muttered Sweepy Bell. “He picks fights with Applebuck all the time.”
“He kind of is,” Blue Chip admitted.
The two colts lapsed into silence, trying to avoid looking at each other. Finally, Sweepy Bell spoke. “I’m sorry about what happened to Gold Watch, Blue Chip. Nopony deserves to end up in hospital over a stupid fight. And Scooteroll shouldn’t have said what he said, either.”
Blue Chip nodded solemnly. “I’m sorry that Gold Watch started the whole thing, too. It was just stupid, and... we shouldn’t have to be enemies, Sweepy.” He looked over at Apple Bloom, who was grinning like Pinkie Pie on the day the Cake foals were born. “Apple Bloom’s right. We should try to be friends.”
“We should,” agreed Sweepy Bell. “I don’t want to fight with you guys anymore.” He looked at the schoolhouse, then back to Blue Chip. “I think Scooteroll actually enjoys fighting with you and Gold Watch, and that’s... not what I want. Can we just call it quits?”
Sweepy extended his right front hoof to Blue Chip, who met it with his own and shook it solemnly. Apple Bloom squealed happily and threw her front legs around the two colts’ necks, hugging them tightly. “See? I knew you guys could be friends! You four are the nicest colts I know!”
Blue Chip grinned awkwardly, but returned the hug. “I don’t know about friends, but I think we can get along without sniping at each other all the time. Besides, I’m going to have to get along with you guys if I’m ever going to ask Spice out.”
“Wait, you like Spice?” asked Apple Bloom, looking surprised. “I didn’t think she was your type. I thought you’d want somepony...”
“Smarter?” supplied Blue Chip, making Apple Bloom blush. “You’d think so, but not really. She’s a good listener, and once you get her talking about something she likes, like cooking or flowers or Presto, she’s a really good conversationalist, too. And I really like her mane.”
“Why don’t you ask her out, then? She talks about you a lot.”
The grey colt sighed. “I’ve tried, believe me. She just pretends as though I haven’t said anything, if she even notices me.”
“You just gotta keep trying,” said Sweepy Bell. “It’ll be worth it. Look at Sugar and Scooteroll. I’ve never seen him so happy to have a filly paying attention to him.”
“Hey, I think they’re done in there!” exclaimed Apple Bloom, pointing to the schoolhouse. Sure enough, two colts were walking – limping in one case – out of the building, accompanied by their teacher, who said a few words to them and then retreated back into his office. The three friends ran to greet them, Blue Chip nuzzling Gold Watch carefully while Sweepy Bell hugged Scooteroll. Apple Bloom stood her ground between them, her smile fading to a stern frown as her anger at the two colts returned.
“Hey, you two,” she greeted them. “How bad was it?”
Scooteroll grimaced. “Awful. Mister Smiles gave us a big lecture, then made us apologize to each other, then write a bunch of lines, and then we had to sing the Heart’s Carol three times! I can hardly even talk with my muzzle like this!”
“Serves y’all right,” Apple Bloom said. “So are you gonna apologize now?”
“Um, Apple Bloom?” said Gold Watch. “We already did that in detention, like Scooteroll said.”
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “That was a teacher apology. Those don’t count, you know that.”
Gold Watch turned to stare at Scooteroll for several moments, then sighed. “Very well. Father always said a day like this would come. Blue Chip, may I have some assistance here?”
Blue Chip obligingly stepped up and leaned his flank against Gold Watch’s, so that he could extend his uninjured left front hoof to Scooteroll. “Scooteroll, I apologize for my unseemly behaviour this morning. I should never have gotten involved in your fight with Apple Bloom, and I certainly should never have called you a blank flank, or any of those other things. I hope we can put this incident behind us and move on.”
Apple Bloom held her breath, watching Scooteroll’s face. The pegasus colt looked taken aback by Gold Watch’s apparent sincerity, and slowly extended his left hoof in return. He hesitated, though, and then slapped Gold Watch’s hoof away with an angry whinny.
“No! You can’t just pretend all that stuff you did never happened! You’ve made my life miserable all through school, and I’m not going to let you get away with it! I hate you! You’re a bully and you’ll always be a bully, and...”
“That’s it!” shouted Apple Bloom, stepping up to Scooteroll and shoving her head against his. “I’ve had enough! I’ve only met one bully in this school, and he’s a big dumb orange pegasus!”
Sweepy Bell gasped, and Scooteroll looked indignant. “Me?” he cried, stepping back from Apple Bloom and pointing at Gold Watch and Blue Chip. “But... but they...”
“They apologized, Scooteroll! They want to make things right, and so does Sweepy Bell! You’re the one making things worse now. Why can’t you just let it go?”
Scooteroll snarled and stamped his hoof. “Applebuck would understand! You’re nothing like him. Sweepy, we’re leaving!”
Sweepy Bell looked crestfallen. “But Scooteroll...”
“But nothing! Are you a Cutie Mark Crusader or are you one of them?”
Sweepy sighed and walked over to join Scooteroll. “I’m sorry, guys,” he said to Apple Bloom and the other colts, shaking his head forlornly. “I’ll see you later, I guess.”
Scooteroll glared over his shoulder at Apple Bloom as they trotted away. “I was wrong about you, Apple Bloom. You could never be a Crusader like us.”
“But... but...” stammered Apple Bloom as she watched her friends leave. She blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears. A pink muzzle pressed against her neck comfortingly.
“You tried really hard, Apple Bloom,” Gold Watch murmured. “You did more than I was willing to do.”
Apple Bloom nudged Gold Watch with her head, then took a step back. “I think it’s about time you told me exactly why you and Scooteroll fight all the time. The whole story.”
Gold Watch looked at the ground anxiously. “I really don’t want to.”
“She’s got a right to know, Goldie,” said Blue Chip. “This has gone way too far as it is.”
“Alright, fine. Can we at least go sit down somewhere, though? My legs are killing me.”
“Let’s go grab a bite to eat at Sugarcube Corner, then,” suggested Blue Chip. “My shout. That reminds me, have you met Berry Bubble yet, Apple Bloom?”
“Um... pink stallion who works at Sugarcube Corner?” asked Apple Bloom as they walked towards town, slowing their pace for Gold Watch’s sake. “I’ve heard all about him, haven’t met him.”
“That’s weird. I thought he’d have thrown you a ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party by now. He knows everypony in Ponyville, you know.”
A short while later, the three friends were sitting around a table at Sugarcube Corner, sipping from milkshakes as they waited for their pastries to arrive. Blue Chip had just finished regaling the others with one of his mother’s stories about the antics of the Manehattan elite when a pink head popped up from under the table, balancing a tray of food.
“Hi there everypony! Here are your orders! That’s an orange tart for you, Blue Chip, and an apple turnover for you, Apple Bloom! Your peach danish is just coming out of the oven, Gold Watch!”
“Thanks, Pinkie!” said Apple Bloom without thinking, as she took the tray from the pink stallion serving them. “Um, I mean... thanks, Berry! Wait, how do you know my name?”
Berry Bubble grinned and took a deep breath. “Well, I know everypony in Ponyville! You should know that! Besides, Sugar was here last Wednesday afternoon helping her mother deliver a batch of raw sugar and molasses, and she said that you and she got to watch Scooteroll fall off the top of the school bell tower, and then on Friday Half Pint and Flash were talking about how cool you are and how awesome it is that you hang out with these guys!” He pointed at the two colts as he finished his speech, grinning the whole while.
Ponies at school think I’m cool? wondered Apple Bloom.
“Hey, Berry, how come you haven’t thrown Apple Bloom one of your big ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ parties yet?” asked Blue Chip. “If you know all about her already.”
“Don’t be silly!” the bouncy stallion replied. “Apple Bloom isn’t a new pony in Ponyville!”
Apple Bloom felt her heart skip a beat. “I’m not?”
“Of course not!” Berry said, putting his front hooves up on the table. “If you were a new pony in Ponyville, my fetlocks would be itching! And they’re not, so logically you can’t be new here! Even if I’ve never seen you before.”
“Um, Berry? I think you should talk to Dusk Shine about that, before you tell anypony else that I’m not new here. Maybe your, uh, ‘Berry Sense’ is out of tune or something.”
Berry Bubble’s eyes went wide. “Oh my gosh, you’re right! If my Berry Sense started going wrong, it’d be a disaster! Lives are at stake!” Without another word, he dashed out of Sugarcube Corner in a pink blur.
“That was weird,” mused Blue Chip. “Why would he think you’re not new in town, Apple Bloom? Eh, I guess he’s just being Berry Bubble.”
Gold Watch blinked, bewildered by the entire exchange. “But... my danish?”
“A thousand apologies, Mister Gold,” said the tall, gangly proprietor of the bakery as she came trotting in with Gold Watch’s order on her head. “His shift isn’t even meant to be over for another three hours, but, well, you know Berry Bubble.”
“I do,” the pink colt agreed. “Um, Mrs Cake, can you call me Gold Watch, or Goldie? Mister Gold was my father, not me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, dearie,” Mrs Cake replied, giving Gold Watch a gentle nudge with her head. “It’s just that your father did so much for us when we were starting out. I don’t think we’d even have Sugarcube Corner if not for him.”
Gold Watch gave Mrs Cake a smile, but Apple Bloom could see that it was forced. “We’re just glad to do what we can for the community, Mrs Cake.”
Mrs Cake smiled and patted Gold Watch’s mane. “You’re a credit to your family, Mister... I mean, Goldie. Enjoy your meal!”
Apple Bloom placed a hoof against Gold Watch’s shoulder as Mrs Cake returned to the kitchen. “Are you okay, Goldie? You looked really upset just now.”
Gold Watch nodded and pressed his head against Apple Bloom’s fetlock. “I’m okay, it’s just... this keeps happening. Everypony who remembers Gold Chain talks about how great he was, and what a difference he made to the community, and... what if I can’t live up to that? Are ponies going to be telling my foals how great I was one day? I don’t think they will.”
“Hey, now, don’t be like that,” murmured Apple Bloom, wrapping her front legs around Gold Watch’s shoulders. “You’re doing great at school, with all the clubs and things you’re running, and everypony at school looks up to you!” Blue Chip edged around the table and pressed his nose against his friend’s neck, whickering comfortingly.
“Not everypony,” he grumbled, but he slowly smiled from his friends’ affection. “The Crusaders still want nothing to do with me, and ponies listen to them, too.”
Apple Bloom hugged Gold Watch again, then went back to her seat. “Alright. Time to spill the beans. Why do you and Scooteroll hate each other so much?”
Gold Watch pursed his lips, then nibbled thoughtfully on his danish while considering the question. “Fine, I’ll tell you, but you’re not going to like it. The thing is, Scooteroll isn’t the real problem.”
“He’s not?” asked Apple Bloom, surprised. “But he’s the one who’s always getting in your face, starting fights, talking about how mean you are.”
“No, he’s just a brute,” Gold Watch explained. “The real problem is your cousin, Applebuck.”
“Cousin Applebuck?” said Apple Bloom, after sitting in shock for several moments. “But he’s a nice pony!”
“I’m sure he is to his family,” said Gold Watch. “Everypony knows how well he and Applejack work together, and Applejack’s one of the greatest ponies in Ponyville. But he’s different at school. I don’t know if it’s just me, or if he treats everypony like that... but every time something bad has happened to me at school, he’s been behind it. He’s had it in for me ever since I got my cutie mark.”
“Oh. Well... maybe he’s just jealous that you got your cutie mark before he did. I know it’s a big deal for him.”
“It is, and I get that! I feel sorry for him! But he shouldn’t take it out on me. My cutie mark represents my family. He’s got no reason to be jealous of that, he’s got a great family himself. But when he makes fun of my cutie mark, he’s making fun of my family, and that’s just mean. You know he’s been telling ponies that my special talent is being able to tell the time?”
Apple Bloom swallowed hard. This was difficult to believe, yet Gold Watch seemed so earnest, and Blue Chip was nodding in confirmation with everything he said. “You’re right, that is mean. He wouldn’t want somepony saying mean things about his talent once he finds it.”
“Exactly! I even invited him to my cuteceañera – Mother insisted on it – and he ruined the whole thing! He made everypony pay attention to him the whole afternoon, when it was my party. It was supposed to be a celebration that I’d finally started to follow in my father’s hoofsteps as a community leader, but instead... nothing. It was humiliating.”
“Wow, that’s... pretty selfish of him,” Apple Bloom admitted. “I’m really sorry. I had no idea that he’d do something like that. Do you think, maybe, he didn’t realise what he was doing? That just doesn’t sound like him.” It doesn’t sound like me, either.
“Oh, that’s not all. You want to hear the worst of it?”
“Sure, I guess.” Worse? I don’t like the sound of this. It all has to be a big misunderstanding, though. If Applebuck is just me as a colt, then he wouldn’t do anything too terrible.
“Alright. This is going to be hard to believe, but I swear it’s true. You can ask anypony in town about it. One day, Applebuck came to school with a fake cutie mark.”
Oh. That.
“And I don’t just mean a cutie mark drawn on with eyeliner or something. I mean, who hasn’t done that?” continued Gold Watch, oblivious to the expression of guilt and remorse on Apple Bloom’s face. “No, he actually had a talent to go with it – spinning a coopering hoop around his waist, or something stupid like that. Everypony else thought this was brilliant, of course. So he spent all morning showing off like the Great and Powerful Presto. He even got Mister Smiles eating out of his hoof, too – he actually cancelled morning classes so Applebuck could give a ‘demonstration’ to everypony at school.”
It was all true. Apple Bloom had been showing off without even thinking about it, that day. She’d been so excited about having her cutie mark that she just wanted to show everypony how great her new talent was, after so long being teased and ignored for not having one. She had never really thought about how it would look to anypony else, though.
“So what happened then?” she asked, deciding that she might as well get the whole story out and deal with it all at once.
“Well, not only did Mister Smiles put him in charge of showing off his ‘technique’ to the whole class, but he made us all try it, too! Now, I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m not exactly the most coordinated colt in Ponyville. Sure, I’m captain of the polo team, but that’s more about teamwork and tactics than anything else, and I’m a decent runner. But this was... just embarrassing. I tried my best, but I was terrible at it, and so was Blue Chip. And Applebuck said... I’m sorry, it probably seems really petty of me to remember all of this...”
“No, go on,” Apple Bloom assured him. “I want to know what he said.”
Gold Watch took a long sip of his milkshake, then sighed. “He said that if we both kept practising, maybe one day we’d be half as good as he was. And then everypony laughed at us! It was so humiliating! Nopony took us seriously for days afterwards. And if nopony takes me seriously, then what good is my special talent? How can I be a community leader if I can’t even get the ponies at school to listen to me?”
“I know what that’s like, Goldie,” murmured Apple Bloom. “Not about your talent, but about everypony laughing at me. It’s no fun at all. I’m really sorry that I... I mean... I’m sorry Applebuck did all that. I think he feels really bad about it, though.”
“I hope so. Do you know how it happened, anyway? Turns out he stole some herbs from Mister Zircon, the zebra who lives in the Everfree Forest, and brewed a potion to give himself a contagious disease called ‘Cutie Pox’. It ended up giving him dozens of cutie marks, and forcing him to perform the talents that came with them. Zircon had to come to town to fix it.”
“Wait a minute... did you say contagious?”
“Apparently. The whole town was in a biohazard lockdown once his extra cutie marks started showing. We’re just lucky that Father equipped every house with environment suits while he was Mayor. Who knows how far it could have spread otherwise?”
Apple Bloom shrank back in her chair. She knew what she did was wrong, but when Gold Watch talked about it like that, it sounded downright irresponsible. She pushed the remnants of her apple turnover around her plate dejectedly. “I had no idea. I feel awful.”
“Why? It’s not your fault what Applebuck does.” Gold Watch reached across the table and placed his hoof against Apple Bloom’s. “Come on. You’re a great pony. You’re a great friend. I know you’d never do anything like that.”
“I wish I believed that,” Apple Bloom replied, getting to her hooves. “I think I’d better go home.”
“Are you sure?” asked Blue Chip. “You haven’t even finished your milkshake!”
“I’m sure. I’ve got a lot to think about.” She nuzzled her friends warmly, then headed for the door. “I’ll see you guys at school tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I hope your leg gets better soon, Goldie.”
Apple Bloom trotted back to Sweet Apple Acres, deep in thought. As she passed the pool where she first saw Applebuck, she stopped and knelt down beside it. Without Dusk Shine’s magic or the shooting star, it merely showed her own reflection – a distraught yellow filly with a red bow in her hair. She gazed at it for a long time, thinking.
Either there’s something different about this world, and Applebuck is a worse pony than I am, or...
Or I’m kind of a jerk.
Aww...
Poor Applebloom...
le gasp!
It's rather sobering, getting insight into your character from a new perspective like this. And just think, Applebuck's going through the same thing on the other side.
Though, is the fact that the Cutie Pox was contagious something you added to the R63 world, or is it your own interpretation?
Oh wow....that's some heavy stuff. I liked the scene with Blue Chip and Sweepy. I like to imagine they're the more level headed ponies of their groups.
As for Gold Watch's story, that's a really interesting reimagining/interpretation of the other side of the story. In a sense it doesn't really work because the show just makes Diamond Tiara (and Silver Spoon) just one-dimensional villains/bullies and its hard to repackage that, but given what you had to work with you came up with a pretty interesting and well thought out explanation for Gold Watch's side.
I really liked Half Pint's letter to the Prince and Spike's reaction and Dusk wanting to hit on Zecora? Priceless! Quick question though: Who's Final Lap, or rather, who's his counterpart?
I'm trying to keep track of all the foals in this world, did we get introduced to the reverse Twist? Or Dinky? Here are the ones I've been able to keep track of. Let me know if I forgot anypony!
Sugar=Snips, Spice=Snails, Sweepy Bell=Sweetie Belle, Scooteroll=Scootaloo, Applebuck=Apple Bloom, Gold Watch=Diamond Tiara, Blue Chip=Silver Spoon, Half Pint=Pipsqueak, Flash=Rumble
Wow. Just wow. Me likey!
Wow.. this gave us a whole new perspective!...
By the way why would anyone dislike this story? I see 2 dislikes, what the heck?
Looking at oneself through a mirror you still can miss flaws.
Listening to someone describe what you do places those flaws in the spotlight...
Ouch...
Great chapter!
I still have way to much trouble seeing Diamond Tiara as anything other then a witch. Awesome chappy as usual.
Wow! I can't wait for the kids to find out just who Applebloom is.
wow self-relization is a bitch
Wow! You have truly given depth to the 2-Dimensional
And yes Applebloom/buck you ARE a jerk!
Oh and this story RULES!
I think I know why this version of Pinkie Pie didn't activate her Pinky/Berry Sense, because there's already a AppleBloom/Applebuck in this world that they knew and care for. So unless it's a major universal unbalance...there's nothing to worry about.
I can't wait to see you do Fluttershy's colt version and with little Angel to boot.
Applebloom still doesnt know who Goldie is, how can that be? i mean every single pony she knows from her world is here and Tiara is the only pony that would make fun of somepony else for being a "blank flank". its almost mind boggling she still doesnt get it. with that said i do have to say that im enjoying this fic very much so. theres going to be more than one big reveal happening soon (or later ) and i wanna see how they play out. great fic by the way
Wow, this chapter really added so much depth to the story, and makes me think on the original show story as well.
I found this fic when It was only a Chapter. Then, I refound it, Being a featured, and a 4 chapter. This is so cool. Like where's the story's going. I shall give 5 Moustaches for such a great fic.
727752
I think Flash is supposed to be Featherweight, actually. (The photographer from 'Ponyville Confidential.)
i demand you write more!! *Demanding stare*
Wow!
I really like these OCs you've created! Such interesting, well-rounded personalities that I can both relate to and be irked by at the same time, while at all times remaining sympathetic. Admittedly, I think the name Blue Chip is a little too... technologically advanced for somewhere like Equestria, but it still suits just as well as Gold Watch!
Okay, back to being serious... and this was the first time where I found myself a little frustrated with your work. A little. Because, so far, this has been a fantastic journey of introspection, and a great way to show how simply changing the perspective of events can alter our interpretations and sympathies dramatically. But... this was the first, and probably will be the only (), time I found myself thinking, "oh... you're trying a little too hard to make these characters sympathetic."
It was Gold Watch's story that triggered that little nugget that I'm really not all that proud to be thinking and wish would just let me switch-off, and even then it was only two bits really.
“Exactly! I even invited him to my cuteceañera – Mother insisted on it – and he ruined the whole thing!" - Yes, because this (about 3:15 in) just screams "I don't actually want you there; I don't really like you. But Daddy says I have to let you come", as opposed to "you are totally invited, so I can totally make fun of you!"
and
"He made everypony pay attention to him the whole afternoon, when it was my party. It was supposed to be a celebration that I’d finally started to follow in my father’s hoofsteps as a community leader, but instead... nothing. It was humiliating.” Plus “And I don’t just mean a cutie mark drawn on with eyeliner or something. I mean, who hasn’t done that?” continued Gold Watch, oblivious to the expression of guilt and remorse on Apple Bloom’s face. “No, he actually had a talent to go with it – spinning a coopering hoop around his waist, or something stupid like that. Everypony else thought this was brilliant, of course. So he spent all morning showing off like the Great and Powerful Presto. He even got Mister Smiles eating out of his hoof, too – he actually cancelled morning classes so Applebuck could give a ‘demonstration’ to everypony at school.” - Oh, I agree. Attracting the attention of your peers by actually demonstrating a skill, however goofy, and having your teacher decide, on their own, to cancel their lessons is justdespicable! What she should have done was thrown a party and continually demand that ponies pay attention to her for simply being there, because, after all, it's her party.
Thing is, though, I completely see the quandary here of trying to use the canonical events of (at best) two dimensional bratty bullies, one of whom shows strong leadership abilities and the other shows signs of a softer side, and making them into fully fleshed-out, three dimensional characters who are both right and wrong. And I do like the back-stories that you've created for them, and a not-inconsiderable part of why I like them is that they didn't try to completely challenge what would appear to be canon, as I've often seen happen with these types of stories. For example, I can see perfectly why GW & BC would feel so aggrieved by everypony laughing at them in Cutie Pox when this backstory is applied.
(And that's why I actually feel nervous about even mentioning the two examples about: because they're my interpretations. It's the same interpretations that are still telling me deep down that the CMCs are still more in the right than GW & BC (or DT & SS). Because they're not the ones who I've seen deliberately seek somepony out to taunt them. Because they're not the ones who I've seen try to turn a whole room of their peers against one insecure filly. Because they're not the ones who I've seen blackmail their peers into invading the privacy of the townsponies. Because their not the ones who I've seen repeatedly insult a family member of their victim who happens to be responsible for their own family's fortune. And because their not the ones whose default attitude on-screen is 'brat'.
And that's the thing: on-screen. We're yet to see if there is any redeeming aspect of DT's personality, except for maybe that she cares about her father (but is not above moaning about his discipline), yet we constantly are shown, or have it implied, that the CMC have at least some form of sympathetic reasoning behind their actions. The CMC dig through the private lives of Ponyvillians? DT is blackmailing them. Why has DT resorted to blackmail? Because the school paper desperately needs to up its circulation, and this is the only thing that has worked.
So... I feel kind of torn, really. Because there is a big part of me saying things like: "Surely Scoots would be quicker to apologise than Diamond Tiara?" "Yes, Apple Bloom: you have acted like a jerk. Sometimes. And not nearly as often, or as as massive an example of one, as Diamond Tiara" "This story keeps stretching the bounds of violating canon". But it's countered by the smaller and much more honest voice, which says that you could just as easily argue that it's merely my interpretation of events that has been challenged, not the events themselves. (Although I'd still have to say that the whole 'Mother made me invite him' aspect is a little bit of a stretch. And that I would hardly feel aggrieved for DT & SS in the bit of Cutie Pox where AB says that one day they might be half as good as her were it not for your backstory. ).
Again... Wow... I really don't know where this
commentramble has come from. Or what it meant to achieve. It started as a quibble that I though was completely black and white, and then, following deeper analysis, turned out to be a shade of grey. I don't know which shade, but definitely grey . If that's what writing this strong and deep and complex can do, then keep doing it!dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/eenope.png
All of my sads.
Applebloom's to rough on herself. She's trying to achieve something for herself and Diamond Tiara is just rude and obnoxious to her the whole time
Owch... Poor Applebloom...
Ah, perspective. What a cruel force it can be...
Also, mayor putting environmental suits in every house? Why do I get the feeling that Gold Chain was preparing for a zombie apocalypse? Getting a definite Dr. McNinja vibe there.
In all seriousness, I'm looking forward to seeing how this gets resolves. And if Dusk ever gets that date with Zecora.
728460
As far as Diamond Tiara is concerned I fully agree with your comments. She's not shown herself to be anything but a spoiled little brat. In fact in my opinion outside of Nightmare Moon, Discord and Chrysalis, she's the biggest villain in the series. BUT....
Here's the fun with alternate realities. Just because Gold Watch is Tiara's counterpart it doesn't mean he's exactly like her other than the gender swap. It is very, very possible that Applebuck and Scooteroll are bigger jerks in this reality. Of course it's equally possible that the author is trying to make Tiara and Silver Spoon more sympathetic, but until we get some more insight into Applebuck, Scooteroll, Tiara and/or Spoon it's hard to say.
728460
I agree with so many of your points; however, there's a very simple explanation for the inconsistencies!
This is Goldie telling his side of the story, and his subconscious might be messing with his memory in order to keep his self-image intact- in other words, some of it is projection. Some of it is actually true- it pains me to admit it, but Applebloom can be a bit of a jerk at times; they began to sift through Ponyville's dirty laundry even before the blackmail. And felt bad about it, of course.
Wow this is getting really good. Can't wait to see what Applebloom does.
728084
Honestly, I think that's a bit of subconscious denial she's got going on.
Not nearly as bad as of course, but still.
727868 There's always a reason. Something wrong at the center. At least with ponies. They're predisposed to sweetness and light, unlike humans. DT must have somet issue down there... heck that should be an episode in S3.
728460 I concur with much of your points. While I'm loving the fleshing out that we're receiving, we're only getting the sympathetic side of BC and GW. My mind keeps screaming "Realize that this is Diamond Tiara, who called you a blank flank BEFORE the cutesinera, that has gone out of her way to make your life miserable, whereas you've just been doing the opposite accidentally." And then there's a moment of d'awww that warms my heart and I forget my rant.
729232
i thought this to but come on now Apple Bloom, just look at him. he looks like Tiara, hes rich with a rich friend like Tiara, he is even insulting your friends like Diamond Tiara. it seems like he could be wearing a sign around his neck saying "im boy Diamond Tiara" and her "denial" would still keep her blind. i cant say i hate it just that its hard to wrap my mind around her not finding out yet. its almost dreping
a lot of people keep going on about how the characterization of both Golden Watch and Blue Chip is too OCC and i gotta say.... yeah, thats right. Diamond Tiara is like one of the biggest villeins in MLP and trying to paint them as victims isnt working to well. with that said im still having a lot of fun with this story and cant wait for the next chapter. i wanna say more but im too sleepy to think right now so i'll leave it at that good night
Well Apple bloom, as the saying goes: You are your own worst enemy.
Classical conflict! Man vs Self! Although this is more of an external conflict, so... Man vs Man Who is Self?
Love it! Another awesome chapter. Half-Pint sending poems to Artemis is just the sweetest thing, and I like seeing Blue and Sweepy bridge the gap. Agreed with the above posters--I like how Gold Watch tells his side of the story. I could imagine DT saying the same thing; you've done a good job making him more sympathetic without breaking canon. Of course, it's missing a lot of the inherent jerkiness of both... It'll be fun to watch how this all shakes out. Thanks so much for writing!
728897
That is a very good point; I was still under the impression that the gender differences were the only ones, and I hadn't really considered the idea that there were other changes besides gender. Because, now that I think about it, how would have 'On a Cross and Arrow' actually worked if there weren't other differences...
So, yeah, there is every possibility that the characters in this universe are less clear-cut, if I can put it that way. Although that would make it a bit odd for Applebuck, if he's having the same meet-ups back in the 'original' Ponyville...
"What's that?" asked Diamond Tiara, her eyes wide but retaining her devilish smirk. "You think you had it tough with Gold Watch? All he did was get upset when took away his spotlight."
The pink filly strode closer, and Applebuck felt himself wilt under the weight of her glare. Ears folding, he held back a gasp as she pushed her muzzle against his. "Try us, blank flank. Daddy didn't even make me invite that loser cousin of yours, but I did it anyway. And you know why?"
Something cold trickled and oozed down Applebuck's back, as her eyes kept on boring into his. "N-no!" he squeaked.
Her smirk deepened. That trickle turned into a raging flood. "Because I wanted to, blank flank. It was going to be such fun, having that unspecial little loser at the party. If only those other two blank flanks hadn't shown up..."
Her brows knitted. Her deep breaths ruffled through the fur on his chest, before a hoof jabbed against it. Applebuck nearly choked on his own breath, and his forelegs flailed around uselessly, ultimately doing nothing to stop him from toppling onto the ground. He still managed to find the breath for a grunt.
"Come on, Silver Spoon," ordered Diamond Tiara, trotting away. She held her nose high, like she was trying to get it as far away from him and his blank-flank-ness as possible. "I think we still have that assignment for Miss Cheerilee to do."
Silver Spoon looked at him for a moment, her eyes soft and almost... sorry, before the leash around her neck pulled tight and dragged her away to Diamond Tiara's side.
Applebuck lay there for a moment, panting, and wondering why he could hear hooves thundering in his ears.
And why he couldn't tear his eyes away from that bobbing, purplish tail.
Hmm... or maybe he just fitted right in with DT and SS, because he's naturally more of an arse.
Auch, aqui aplica la fase de que la verdad puede ser dolorosa... pobre apple bloom
Moar. Demands it! MOAR!!
Thanks for all the feedback and support, everypony! I can't believe just how much attention this story is getting, and I think this "regular updating" thing is really working out well. Thank you to everypony who's stayed with the story so far, and welcome to all new readers too! I already can't wait to get the next chapter up.
727712 I don't actually think the Cutie Pox is contagious. Or, rather, I think the disease in Twilight's book was contagious, but I don't think Apple Bloom actually had the disease, but a magical effect that duplicated its symptoms. Gold Watch heard from a reliable source that it was contagious, though, and by "reliable source" I mean "the flower stallions". The HORROR!
727752 I'm glad you liked that scene! I do think that they're the ones least likely to hold grudges, especially after what we saw of Silver Spoon in "Family Appreciation Day".
I've always been fond of Pipsqueak, on account of him being probably the first pony in history to say that he likes Luna better than Celestia. I can see him wearing a lot of black lace and eyeliner when he's older.
It looks like you've got everypony. Final Lap is the colt counterpart of Chequered Flag, the filly who pushed Apple Bloom into the mud right at the start of the first chapter. She's one of the roller derby ponies from "Call of the Cutie", and I've seen a few depictions of her as the school's resident physical bully, such as this one. As cute as Twist and Dinky would be as colts, there hasn't been a place for them in the story, since aside from GW, BC and the Crusaders, Apple Bloom mostly hangs out with the fillies at school. (Spoiler: This relates to one of the major themes of the story!) Colt-Dinky may earn a mention if his dad shows up, though!
728084 I will admit that it is a bit odd that she hasn't figured it out yet, and the main reason is simply for preservation of drama, which isn't really an explanation. I will say, though, that it would be very difficult for Apple Bloom to reconcile Diamond Tiara and Gold Watch as the same pony, given how demonized Diamond Tiara is in her mind.
728460 Thank you for such a detailed commentary! I am glad that you're finding such depth to the story so far. I do appreciate your worries that it's going a bit too far from canon. I hope that, by the end of the story, it will all seem reasonable, but it's possible that it won't, and that's a valid criticism. I won't say too much, for fear of spoilers, but I will point out that we have to think about:
- What actually happened
- How Gold Watch interpreted events at the time
- How Gold Watch's memory has since coloured those events
- The way Gold Watch retells those events to Apple Bloom, even without any intent to deceive her
- And all of the above also applies to Apple Bloom and her view of events.
729052 Basically this, yes. Most ponies probably don't like to think of themselves as evil. Well, maybe Nightmare Moon did, but she got better. And as you say, Apple Bloom's hooves are not entirely clean. The question is, where precisely is the balance?
730252 That's... probably not what's happening in regular Ponyville. But if someone wrote that story, I would totally read it!
Thanks for everypony else's comments too! Thank you all for reading!
741786
I'm very sure that it won't end up violating canon at the end of it, given how much thought you've clearly put into this . And all I can really say about your points to watch out for is that I agree with you completely.
729052
Again, now that you've pointed that out, I can't really argue against it.
I would like to attempt to point out that AB and the others CMCs' feeling awful about it would sway the matter of how dirty their hooves are, but, thinking about it, it's difficult to work out which way. They clearly felt guilty about invading privacy, and realise what they did was wrong, but still continued snooping anyway. But they only continued to do it when pressured, but they could still have stood up to the pressure, etc. etc. etc.
747830
Oh yes, they were definitely feeling fairly rotten fairly quickly, and to be perfectly honest, it wouldn't have gone to such extremes had it not been precisely what the ponyvillians wanted to read.
Incidentally, your femme fatale version of Diamond Tiara was a very entertaining read!
o_0 This story just keeps leaving me scratching my head. Sure Bloom was irresponsible that one time, but she's not a jerk. And with the Cuteceneara, those two got what they deserved. The only reason they even invited her was to embarrass her more. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for showing how mean characters can have a nice side as well, and vice versa, but the way you're trying to portray AB as an inadvertent jerk totally falls flat. The fact is, in the show anyway, Spoon and Tiara did nothing but bully her despite her never doing anything mean to them. So without making things up that happened on the sidelines (which would probably seem out of character anyway), there's no way you can portray AB as somehow being at fault.
Those two always STARTED trouble with her and the Crusaders. They were the bullies no matter how you try and spin it. Erg.
Sorry, this has just been bugging me more and more since she became friends with their male counterparts... I like the story despite this, but it really makes me facehoof at times.
Wonderful story. I know i'm terrible for saying this but Dusk's line was freaking hilarious. Is that Zecora mare seeing anypony?
That chapter was friggin' noice.
You know, I won't fault the writing--- good story, after all--- but I was a childhood victim of bullying, and to this day I am utterly sick of everyone trying to justify how bullies behave. No, they're not victims; no, they don't have low self esteem; no, they're not "misunderstood." they're little pricks who enjoy hurting things weaker or smaller than themselves. STOP APOLOGIZING FOR THEM.
Look at the canon; Applebloom did nothing to provoke Diamond Tiara or Silver Spoon. The two of them simply picked her at random out of a room full of foals and proceeded to make her life miserable for not having a cutie mark. And every subsequent incident, the two of them have harassed, pestered and tormented others with no provocation. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon behave precisely like real bullies do. They elevate themselves by tearing others down. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle never had a "misunderstanding" with Tiara; from their first introduction they were HIDING from her, and only came out when the two bullies began mocking Applebloom in front of a room full of foals. Again, with no provocation whatsoever.
It takes a monstrously huge asspull to extrapolate a "poor little rich pony" story out of that.
If you're gonna save this story you're going to need a third party to show BOTH sides what actually happened.... and it's not going to come out in favor of the bullies.
I would love to see a mirror story where we get to see Apple Bucks point of view. i can't see Diamond tiara start physical violense so there would most likely be some changes.
This only makes sense.... if everything is swapped, the same events could yield different results depending on which is the "good" side.
Also, is that a Dr. McNinja reference?
1036783
/)
727712 actually im pretty sure twilight said it was contagious
Ohhhh jeeeez... I have a feeling I'm going to cry reading this. Haven't yet but if you play the cards right... This is deep stuff. I really like how you're trying to work with the canon, despite DT and SS being pretty one-sided in the show, but it's easily seen that Apple Bloom had her fair share of bad decisions. Introspection, feels, AND R63 all rolled into one? Into the favorites it goes, I'm a sucker for all of the above. MUST READ MOAR.
And gosh darn it Scooteroll...
1036783 Oh sure! And if you were a bully yourself, you'd be less human too, right?
asshole...