//------------------------------//
// Back to Normal 
// Story: Grow Up, Apple Bloom 
// by Lux 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 14 – Back to Normal

Scoootaloo and Sweetie Belle sat at the bench outside of the clubhouse. In front of them were scattered several sheets of papers and pencils. Some of the papers were crumpled up in a ball. There were others that were full of random doodles done by Sweetie Belle, made as a vain attempt to pass the time and quell the boredom.

“No, no no,” Scootaloo exclaimed as she furiously crumpled up a piece of paper and threw it. The paper ball bounced off the wooden bench and then smacked Sweetie Belle on the side of her head as she stared off into oblivion.

“Hey,” she exclaimed in a high pitched squeak as she felt something hit her.

“Sorry Sweetie Belle. I was just frustrated I couldn’t think of another way to get our cutie marks. How about you? Can you think of and ideas?”

“No,” the unicorn filly said with a sight, “I’m just bored. I miss Apple Bloom.”

“Me too,” the orange Pegasus said as she played with a pencil, “She always had good ideas to get our marks.”

“Wait,” Sweetie Belle said, “I think I see a pony coming our way.”

Scootaloo turned in the direction where Sweetie Belle was looking. There they saw the silhouette of a pony moving towards their direction.

“Are you sure it isn’t Applejack,” the Pegasus filly said.

“It looks like a filly. It must be Apple Bloom.”

“I thought Apple Bloom became a mare. This pony can’t possibly be her,” Scootaloo said.

The two waited as the figure approached closer until they realized that it was their friend.

“Apple Bloom,” the two said in a unison of surprise.

“Hey, Scootaloo. Hey, Sweetie Belle.”

“What happened to you,” Scootaloo said.

“Yeah, you were big like Rarity, and now you’re not,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Zecora helped change me back.”

“So, you’re back to normal then,” Scootaloo said.

“Eyup, Ah’m back to ‘bein my old self again. Well, not old self like when ah’ was a mare, but bein’ a filly.”

“So what was it like, you know, being a mare,” Sweetie Belle asked. 

“It was fun ah’ guess, but ah’ like bein’ a filly and hagnin’ out with you. Now how ‘bout we go on a little adventure. Ah’ have some ideas fer getting’ our cutie marks.”

The two other Crusaders looked at each other with a smile before giving their friend a big hug. and fellow Crusader back. 

“Allright, Crusaders,” Apple Bloom said, “off to adventure!”

The three boarded the scooter wagon transport. With a buzzing sound and a cloud of dust, the three took off towards Ponyville with new ideas, new chances for fun, and new attempts to get their cutie marks. 

In the farm house Applejack stood in her bedroom looking at the picture of Apple Bloom that she took. It was like looking into the future, seeing how her sister would look in a few short years. She wondered how life would be for Apple Bloom, whether she'd be the same pony she was today full of energy and wonder, or something different. She hoped that she would stay the same but she knew otherwise. Change was inevitible, just like an apple tree going through its seasons.

"Well, ah' don' want to rush you bein' a filly," Applejack said as if talking to the picture, "You still have some growin' up to do, Apple Bloom.There's so much fer you to learn and do before you become a mare again. An' ah' hope that through it all, ah'll be there to help you when you need it, laugh or cry with you when you do, an' love you forever an' ever."

She then opened her dresser and placed the picture neatly in the drawer. She let out a little laugh as right next to the newly placed picture was an older photo of Applejack when she was a filly around Apple Bloom's age. Reflecting her times as a filly and how she was very much like Apple Bloom was now, she close the drawer and walked out of the room. 

"Ah wonder what you're goin' to be when yer my age," Applejack said thoughtfully to herself as she  headed outside to help Big Macintosh with the recent apple harvest. The mare was enjoying her sister's past and looking forward to a bright future. And as she promised to the picture, she would be there, constant as the sun and the moon. 


The End!


Thanks for reading!