//------------------------------// // Episode 1- I want to be a hero! // Story: Magical Filly Apple Bloomers Season 1 // by Apple Bloomers //------------------------------// “The morning sun rises over the fields of Sweet Apple Acres casting a bright yellow glow over the many rows of apple trees signaling the start of another day in Equestria. On this morning a young mare finds herself alone in the fields surrounded by potential danger, but is this mare scared? Ha! You would be dumber than a pig in a chicken coop to think such a thing, for this young mare is the one and only Applebloom! This mighty magical filly does not even know the meaning of the word scared. Even now as her greatest enemy stalks her she remains calm. Who goes there?” Applebloom turned her head and stared at a nearby apple tree. “So we meet again villain….no need for words, have at ya’ll!” Applebloom kicked the trunk of the mighty apple tree causing a few apples to rain down from it. “Ah’ see ya’ll are stronger than before, but so am I,” Applebloom jumped into the air delivering a flying kick to the tree, she then pushed of it and performed a backflip landing on her feet. “How’d ya’ll like that? Evil will never go unpunished while magical filly Applebloom is around.” “But the chores might not get done if she goofs around all day,” came a voice behind her. Applebloom turned around to see her sister Applejack grinning at her. Applebloom blushed and wiped some dust off her overalls. “Ya’ll saw that huh?” Applebloom said her face getting redder. Applejack smiled. “Ah’ appreciate your help little sis, oh ah’ mean magical filly Applebloom, but it ain’t no help to nopony if you spend more time talking to the trees than bucking them,” Applejack kicked a nearby tree causing all the apples to fall. “You may not be a magical filly but you do have ponies depending on ya.” “Ah’ know sis, ah’ was just trying to have some fun with my daily chores. It ain’t like ah’m complaining or nothing but our daily routine is so...routine. Ain’t you ever wish something amazing would happen? Something bigger than yourself?” Applejack sighed but wore a kind smile as she pulled her little sis in for a hug. “Honey, taking care of you and the farm is more amazing than anything ah’ could hope for, and ah’ ain’t even getting paid to take care of you.” she said as she ruffled Applebloom’s mane. “Although if you need some spicing up in your routine why not take my cart into town today? Got some deliveries that need delivering ya hear? Think you can handle that Applebloom?” “You’re darn tooting ah’ can,” Applebloom said excitedly. She quickly ran to the apple cart they kept in the barn and started out for town. The town of Ponyville was bustling as ever as Applebloom roamed the streets. Everywhere she looked somepony was busy talking or rushing around to get things done. Applebloom picked up the pace as she pulled the cart through the town. “Magical filly Applebloom finds herself carrying the most precious of cargo through the streets of Ponyville,” she said to herself, “Around any corner an assassin could be lying in wait to ambush her.” Applebloom's eyes narrowed as she approached a street corner. Quietly and slowly she rounded the corner. “Seems our heroine is safe for now..” “Hi Applebloom,” came a voice that made Applebloom jump almost ten feet in the air. “Oh sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” Applebloom’s heart felt like it was gonna burst out of her chest as she turned around to see her friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. “Y’all scared the jimminies out of me!” she yelled. Scootaloo laughed. “Maybe if you weren’t fantasising again you would have seen us coming. Seriously Bloom, we’re in middle school now. Don’t you think it’s time to stop this daydreaming about being a superhero?” Scootaloo put her arm around Applebloom’s shoulders, “It’s ok you know, not all of us can be heros, I mean if you were a pegasus like me you could join the wonderbolts training camp….like me.” Applebloom rolled her eyes. “Oh are you joining the wonderbolts Scoot? You should have told me...hang on ah’ think ah’ remember you mentioning it...once….or twice….a minute….all year.” “No need to be jealous Bloom,” Scootaloo said cooly, “You’re going to be friends with a wonderbolt, the first line of aerial defense in Equestria, you know real heros.” “Hey Scootaloo,” Applebloom said calmly, “How bout’ ya’ll help me with this here cart, it’s mighty heavy but ah’m sure it would be nothing for a real hero like you.” Scootaloo looked at the cart. It did look really heavy but she was never one to back down from a challenge. “Fine then, out of my way,” Scootaloo took her position and started to pull with all her might. The cart barely moved an inch. “Shame your not an earth pony like me,” Applebloom said taking her cart back and pulling the cart easily across the street, “You might of had the strength to not make a fool of yourself.” “Ok girls, can we stop measuring egos for a second?” Sweetie Belle said seeing Scootaloo about to say something. “If anypony is interested in what I’m doing I just got accepted into Canterlot’s school for gifted mares,” she said proudly. “I thought we weren’t measuring egos,” Scootaloo muttered. “That’s great Sweetie Belle, how long did ya’ll have to study for that?” Applebloom asked. “Oh, only my whole life,” Sweetie Belle said still smiling widely, “Honestly it’s almost worth it just to wear those stylish school uniforms.” “School uniforms?” Scootaloo said blushing slightly before shaking her head, “Y-You would never catch me in one of those, even if I was accepted...but I’m happy for you Sweetie. We are going to miss you at school though.” “Yeah who are you gonna copy homework from now?” Applebloom said elbowing Scootaloo playfully. “Not you that’s for sure Bloom, I’ve seen your grades,” Scootaloo snapped causing Sweetie and Applebloom to laugh. “Well y’all it’s been fun but ah’ got to deliver these fine Sweet Apple Acres products round town, see y’all later.” The three friends parted ways as Applebloom made her way around town delivering goods to everypony on the list. “Just one more place to deliver...oh it’s Zecora’s order.” Applebloom had been friends with Zecora since her youth, actually she was one of the few friends Zecora had. She lived in the forbidden forest just outside of town and most ponies didn’t dare enter it. Although Applebloom had ventured many times into the forest she never understood why it was forbidden. Nothing and nopony ever attacked her, in fact she was certain Zecora was the only living thing in there. Applebloom started to make her way through the forbidden forest. “Our heroine trudges through the forbidden forest,” she said to herself as she pulled her cart along, “What dangers await her in this twisted forest of darkness? Will she have the power and bravery to overcome the evil monsters that inhabit the forest? Will she be able to deliver her precious cargo to lady Zecora? Find out in todays exciting episode of... AAAHH!” Applebloom let out a cry as her feet gave way beneath her. She had been fantasising so much she had forgotten to look where she was going and had walked right into a large mud hole. “Oh no oh no!” Applebloom cried as she and her cart began to sink into the thick wet mud. Applebloom pulled with all her might but even with her earth pony strength her cart continued to slowly sink deeper. “No, please! Ah’ can’t lose you, what will Applejack say?” Applebloom pulled more but it was no use. The cart sank below the surface of the mud and Applebloom was slowly suffering the same fate. “Ah’ got too get out of here!” Applebloom tried to move through the mud but she had spent all her strength trying to pull the cart out. “Is this how it ends for our heroine?” Aplebloom said as a tear rolled down her cheek, “Her journey ended by a stupid mud hole?” Applebloom’s muscles cried out in pain as she tried to move through the mud again, it was all over, she had no strength left. Applebloom’s shoulders sank below the surface of the mud, it would all be over soon. “Applebloom quick! Grab the vine!” came a voice. Applebloom turned her head to see where the voice was coming from. “Zecora!” Applebloom cried as she spotted her zebra friend. Zecora threw a vine to which Applebloom hung on to. With little trouble Zecora pulled Applebloom back onto solid ground. “Thanks Zecora,” Applebloom panted as she lay on her back, “One more minute there and ah’ would have been a goner.” Zecora wore a look of concern on her face. “What is it you are doing out here child?” she asked. “Ah’ was delivering you something,” Applebloom replied as she teared up, “but mah’ apple cart is now resting at the bottom of that there mud hole. Ah’m in so much trouble and it’s all thanks to me daydreaming again.” Zecora couldn’t help but smile. “Dreaming about being a hero again were we child? You certainly are a funny one, now let us get you cleaned up. Come with me back to my home.” Applebloom and Zecora started walking through the forest. “If anypony is a hero it’s you Zecora,” Applebloom said as they walked, “You really saved my life back there, and the way you pulled me out of that mud like it was nothing, that was awesome!” Applebloom looked Zecora up and down, “Even Applejack doesn’t have muscles as big as yours. Ah’ bet you could be a great superhero.” “It takes more than brute strength to be a hero child. Courage, strength of will, and an unwavering sense of justice, these are all things that are needed, things I think you have well over me.” “Ah’m not so sure about that,” Applebloom couldn’t help but blush at her friends compliment.It’s true Applebloom always had a strong sense of justice ever since she was a little filly. Maybe it was all the comics she read but she always wanted to help people in need. Applebloom was always hearing tales of monsters and other threats to Equestria and how powerful ponies had stopped them in their tracks, of course these were all unicorns and pegasus ponies, magic and flight always seemed to be more useful than brute strength. After a bit more walking the two ponies arrived at Zecora’s house. “I have a cleansing pond out back, it’s yours to use. I will have a spare outfit for you to wear when you are done.” “Thank ya kindly Zecora,” Applebloom said as she made her way to the back of Zecora’s house. After locating the pond Applebloom took off her mud soaked overalls,t-shirt, and underwear and lowered herself into the calm warm water. It certainly did feel like it was cleansing her body, her muscles no longer ached and she felt like could sleep in the pond forever. Applebloom slowly slid down under the water's surface completely submerging herself. It felt as if time and space itself had stopped, like she was floating weightless in a never ending sea. Then suddenly Applebloom heard whispering. She jolted out from below the water. “Who’s there?” she asked looking around. She heard the whispering again but couldn’t make out what was being said. “Zecora? Is that you? This ain’t funny,” Applebloom said covering up. The whispering started to get louder, despite this Applebloom still couldn’t make out it out. It was like it was a different language. The whispering grew louder still as Applebloom covered her ears. “Stop it! Go away whatever you are!” she yelled. “Applebloom, are you ok back there?” came Zecora’s voice. The whispering stopped and Applebloom uncovered her ears. “Ah’m fine Zecora,” she said still not knowing what just happened, “Be out in a minute.” Applebloom got out of the pond and made her way back into Zecora’s house. “Must of had some water in mah’ ears,” Applebloom said to herself. She spotted the outfit Zecora had laid out for her. “Are you kidding me?” laying out in front of Applebloom was what looked like a magical filly costume complete with a frilly top, gloves, and thigh high stockings. The only thing that didn’t seem to match was a pair of bloomers. “What is Zecora playing at?” Applebloom said as she put on the outfit. To her surprise the outfit fit quite comfortably, it was so lightweight it felt like she was wearing nothing at all, and although it was a bit tight she felt more flexible than ever. Maybe it was the cleansing water talking but Applebloom felt surprisingly great in this new outfit, almost like she was a real magical filly. Applebloom struck a few poses. “Magical filly Applebloom is here!” she cried triumphantly. Applebllom’s excitement was quickly dashed however as she remembered what got her here in the first place. “The cart...Applejack is gonna be angrier than an apple in an orange patch, how could ah’ have let that happen? When she’s done with me ah’m gonna wish I had sunk in that mud hole.” Applebloom walked through Zecora’s home wishing she had the power to turn back time. “Zecora?” Where are you?” Applebloom called out. Applebloom noticed a door cracked open to her left. “She must be down there,” she said as she opened the door and descended the staircase. As Applebloom reached the bottom of the staircase she started to hear the whispering again. “Oh applesauce, not again!” This time however Applebloom could pinpoint where it was coming from. A lone book lay on a table in the back of the room and it seemed to be the source of the whispering. Applebloom approached the book and could see it had some sort of magical forcefield around it. This would be enough to convince her not to touch it but the whispering was louder than ever and it seemed to be calling her. Applebloom touched the book and was surprised to see her hand went right through the forcefield. “Well somepony messed that spell up, maybe it was just for decoration,” Applebloom said as she opened the book. It seemed to be some kind of spell book written in a language Applebloom had never seen. As Applebloom stared at it the words on the pages started to glow and a dark shadow seemed to be spilling into the room. “What’s happening?!” Applebloom cried as the dark shadow engulfed the entire room. Applebloom felt like she was standing in an abyss, wherever she looked there was nothing but darkness. “Give in to your nightmares,” a voice whispered. “Who are you?” Applebloom asked trying not to sound scared. A dark figure appeared before Applebloom covered in a hooded robe. “Give in to the darkness in your heart,” the figure whispered. Applebloom felt like her chest was caught in a vise. Her fear was getting the best of her. “H-Halt evil doer,” she gasped, “Ah’ am m-magical filly Appleb-bloom, and ah’m going to stop...ack!” Applebloom’s speech was interrupted by the hooded figure grabbing her neck. Applebloom kicked her feet weakly in the air as the figure held her up by her neck. She could feel her body start to get cold. As she started to lose consciousness she saw images of her friends. Zecora,Sweetie Belle,Scootaloo, and her sister Applejack, she would never see them again. “N-No, ah’ will not...give up…” Applebloom used the last of her strength to grab hold of the figures arm with both hands. Suddenly a white glow emitted from her hands causing the figure to release her. Applebloom coughed as she fell to her hands and knees, she could see the light emitting from her hands and almost as if it was instinct she thrust her hands forward shooting a glowing orb of energy from her hands. The orb hit the hooded figures other arm shattering it into a puff of smoke. With a loud scream the figure recoiled as its arm slowly started to regenerate. “You will give in one day, all of Equestria will. Your nightmare is just starting,” the figure said. In the blink of an eye the figure and the darkness was gone leaving Applebloom on the floor of Zecora’s basement. Applebloom slowly got to her feet rubbing her neck. “What in the hay was that thing? For that matter what did ah’ just shoot out of my hands? Earth ponies can’t use magic...right?” Applebloom noticed the book still lying on the table. The forcefield and whispering no longer surrounding it. “A’h think ah’ may have done something bad...really bad.” To Be Continued…. Preview of next episode: Howdy everypony, Applebloom here. So it seems like ah’ may have awakened an ancient evil from its slumber. Just when I thought losing the apple cart was all I had to answer for. Luckily I seem to have also awakened a new power inside me, am ah’ dreaming cuz it looks like ah’ have just become a magical filly….or something. Hope I can do it again because it seems a shadow monster is attacking Ponyville! Oh, what is mah’ sister gonna say about all this? Hold on to your bloomers everypony. Next Time: Blooming for a Bruisin! See y’all next time!