_______*Sweet Apple Acres, the next day, 7:00 AM*______
The days were hot, very hot, especially when you worked on a farm for a few hours, there was usually a breeze flowing through the farm to keep everypony there cool.
The door to the Apple family house opened and Apple Bloom walked out, she took in a breath of fresh air and started walking towards the barn, she had a few chores to do before heading to school.
Applejack followed out the door and walked towards the apple orchards, she smiled to herself as she adjusted her Stetson hat as a breeze blew through her hair. 'I love this farm.' She thought to herself.
As Applejack headed off to work, Apple Bloom entered the barn and walked over to three bales of hay stacked on top of eachother in a pyramid fashion, she jumped up on top of the first one and pushed the top one off, it was heavy, but not impossible.
Apple Bloom's only chores before heading to school was to spread one bale of hay across the barn floor and feed the pigs, afterwards, she could head to school.
As Apple Bloom worked on spreading the hay, she found herself humming a small tune as she worked, but once she finished with the hay, she found herself lost in thought as she wordlessly worked on getting the slop for the pigs.
'I should probably talk to Applejack......I have been avoiding her a lot recently, I guess I was just upset that she didn't tell me I had another sister, and then there's what Sarah did as a filly.' Her thoughts trailed off as she fed the pigs and released them so they could eat.
Apple Bloom put the bucket back in its usual place and headed to the house, as she opened the door she heard Sarah and Granny Smith talking. "I can make my own lunch Granny, I'm not a filly anymore." Sarah said with an annoyed tone.
"I know that young'un, that's why I'm making you and Applejack's lunch." Granny's voice stated with an obvious humor to it.
Apple Bloom walked into the kitchen and saw Sarah sigh as she paced. "That doesn't make any sense Granny, Applejack can cook as well as mom could." Sarah said.
Granny just looked at Sarah. "And I taught your mother everything that she knew about cooking, but not everything that I know." She countered.
Sarah just sighed in defeat. "You know what.......thanks Granny." She said as she looked over at Apple Bloom.
"Hey Apple Bloom, you ready for school?" Sarah asked.
Apple Bloom nodded in response.
Sarah gained a grin. "Oh really, then where's your lunch and saddlebags?" She asked teasingly.
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes at her sisters antics and headed to get her saddlebags.
Sarah chuckled to herself and recieved a wooden spoon to the back of the head for her trouble. "Hey! what was that for?" She asked with a tone of annoyance.
Apple Bloom smiled to herself as she put her saddlebags on and headed back to the kitchen, along the way she ran into a red faced Sarah who simply gave her a small bag holding her lunch and walked to the door wordlessly.
"See you later Granny!" Apple Bloom shouted out.
______*Outside, on the way to the school.*_____
Apple Bloom looked at Sarah, who closed the door and began walking, her red face showing no signs of vanishing, so she decided to simply follow her sister.
Sarah's face was more annoyed than angry, she looked as though she had lost an argument several times over, if it wasn't for the fact that Apple Bloom was mildly scared of what Sarah would do if asked about it, she would have immediately asked.
After a few minutes of walking, Apple Bloom decided to say something. "Um.....so Sarah, what was that about?" She asked.
Sarah simply took a breath and spoke. "None of your business.......fine, Granny decided it was fun to embarrass me." She replied,
Apple Bloom's curiosity was now piqued, she looked at Sarah. "What did she say?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
Sarah rolled her eyes and shook her head. "THAT really is none of your business." She stated.
Apple Bloom simply looked forward as they walked, it took a few minutes, but Apple Bloom spoke again. "Sarah, why do you think Applejack has you walk me to school?" She asked.
Sarah shrugged. "Simple, she wants us to get to know eachother, and I don't blame her." She replied.
Apple Bloom looked down at the ground, she thought of what to say, and soon made up her mind. "Do you think she's mad that I won't talk to her?" She asked quietly.
That question made Sarah stop walking, she took a breath and looked at her younger sister. "To be honest? no, she's concerned for you, from what I hear, you two were thick as thieves your whole life......much like she was with me." She replied honestly.
Apple Bloom looked at Sarah. "Did you ever stop talking to her all together?" She asked curiously.
Sarah sighed and continued walking. "Yes.....once." She said.
Apple Bloom listened as Sarah spoke.
"It was AJ's eighth birthday party, we were holding it at our house, our friends and family had come, and even friends of the family, Applejack was so anxious and excited, cousin Hilde was over and our parents were so proud of her." She sighed as she kept on walking.
"I was talking to Applejack in her room, she had asked me to follow behind her into the party, she said that she wanted me around for support." She said calmly.
Apple Bloom blinked. "How does this mean you didn't talk to Applejack?" She asked.
Sarah sighed. "I had a friend, a Pegasus named Ferris, he had died recently and Everypony just seemed to forget about him in favor of Applejack's birthday, at least that's how I saw it at the time, so In my anger, I took it out on Applejack, hard." She shook her head slowly.
Apple Bloom said nothing, instead, she allowed Sarah to speak uninterrupted. "She burst into tears and I left the party in a storm of anger.....in my eyes, Everypony valued a party over my dead friend, so I hid In the barn, content to grieve my own way, it took about four hours, but dad found me, he was very angry so when he ordered me to tell him why I would make AJ cry, I told him." She paused as she took a breath.
As the two got closer to the school, Sarah continued her story. "After listening to what I had to say, dad forced me to apologize to AJ and then grounded me for the rest of the day, and the next few days after that." She finished.
Apple Bloom had looked to the school with a thoughtful expression, she soon looked at Sarah. "Um, Sarah?" She asked quietly.
"What is it kiddo?" Sarah asked.
"Applejack and Big Mac won't talk about it, and Granny evades the question......but what were Mom and Dad like?" Apple Bloom asked.
Sarah visibly stopped moving, she took a breath and looked at Apple Bloom. "They......they were good hearted ponies, they loved their family and friends with all their heart, just like AJ, they would never turn away a friend in need, I never knew or met anypony like them in my entire life." She said as she continued walking.
"Dad was strict but caring, he was orginized and focused, but could be very flustered when put on the spotlight, kind of gruff, but lovable all the same." She paused. "Mom......was eccentric, she cared deeply for her family and friends, and would go out of her way to make sure they were alright, she had very strange yet fun ideas for family activities, she clashed with dad on more than one occasion over their habits, but she never once seemed to actually get mad at me or Applejack, she only got angry at Big Mac once, but that was before I was born, and he doesn't remember it." She chuckled. "I wish I had gotten to know them both better though." She whispered quietly,
Apple Bloom said nothing, but noticed the small tear under Sarah's left eye and the visible tremble in her left foreleg, so as she and Sarah reached the school, she looked at her sister. "I guess I'll see you later?" She said.
Sarah nodded. "Have a good day at school." She replied calmly.
Apple Bloom quickly headed for the school as Sarah walked back home.
Seeing her friends, Apple Bloom joined her fellow crusaders as they walked to the classroom.
______*one hour later.*______
Apple Bloom was slightly annoyed, no, not because of the lesson, in fact she was enjoying it as it was based on her favorite subject, history, right now they were learning about the founding of Canterlot, it was pretty revealing information.
But, It was actually the fact that the seating arrangements somehow got messed up, and now Apple Bloom was sitting next to Diamond Tiara who seemed to enjoy it as she was in the corner while her nemesis teased her subtly.
Eventually, Diamond Tiara seemed to quiet down as she apparently focused on the lesson.
Apple Bloom was actually pleased that Diamond saw fit to stop her teasing early, if only for a short while.
Apple Bloom glanced over at her friends and saw that Scootaloo was dreading the class, as usual, and Sweetie Belle was listening carefully.
After a couple more hours, Miss Cheerilee let the class out for lunch, which Apple Bloom was positive would mean more teasing from Diamond Tiara, she walked over to one of the tables with her friends. "Hey Bloom, you alright?" Scootaloo asked out of the blue after sitting.
Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow and looked at her Pegasus friend. "Uh, yes?" She said out of confusion.
"You sure? I mean, you seem very distracted." Sweetie Belle pointed out as she sat down.
Apple Bloom nodded. "I'm sure, I just have a lot on my mind at the moment." She replied.
Apple Bloom sat with her friends and pulled out her lunch. "So Scootaloo, you paying attention this time?" She asked.
Scootaloo shrugged. "Why should i?.....its not like I'll actually need history for anything in life." She replied.
"Or it was just too boring and you don't want to know?" Sweetie Belle offered.
Scootaloo chuckled. "Yea, that seems like me." She replied.
"I wonder if you fall asleep in every history class? or just the ones that don't involve flying?" Said an all too familiar voice.
Apple Bloom sighed and looked at Diamond Tiara. "What do you want this time Diamond Tiara?" She said automatically.
"Nothing that you can give me blank flank, though I am curious......with so many of your friends getting or having their cutie marks, it must seem very overwhelming for you." Replied the rich filly.
Scootaloo went to say something but Apple Bloom stopped her by holding her hoof out. "Diamond, do you know what my sister says about ponies that disrespect other ponies?" She asked calmly, without looking at the filly.
Diamond Tiara scoffed. "Probably nothing, but it's probably something along the lines of, 'don't pay them no mind, they are just angry." She replied mockingly.
Apple Bloom grinned and looked at Diamond Tiara. "Not Applejack, Sarah.......Sarah Apple." She corrected.
Diamond Tiara raised an eyebrow. "You mean you have a blank flank sister?.....not surprising." She teased.
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "Nope, same age as Applejack, she says that the ponies who disrespect other ponies either have no respect for themselves, or like something they see and won't admit it." She shrugged. "Never bothered to ask her which she actually meant." She said.
Diamond Tiara furrowed her brow. "I respect myself very much, you don't have any right to say otherwise." She stated angrily.
Apple Bloom looked at Diamond Tiara curiously. "Then by that logic, you must like something about us." She said as she pulled a hay sandwich out of her lunch bag and took a bite.
Diamond Tiara said nothing as she walked off, her face one of frustration and confusion.
Scootaloo looked at Apple Bloom. "Did Sarah actually say that?" She asked curiously.
Apple Bloom shook her head. "No, she said something that is apparently not fit for fillies and colts, she then told me that, as a more tame version." She replied as she continued to eat her lunch.
Sweetie Belle looked at the school and then at Scootaloo. "You ever wonder why Diamond Tiara teases us? at all? I mean it's not like there is a point to it." She asked her friends.
"If I had to guess, I would say that she has a superiority complex." Scootaloo stated easily.
Apple Bloom chuckled. "And here I thought you hated big words Scootaloo.
______*hours later, just after school ends.*______
Apple Bloom breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped out of the school, she could see Big Mac waiting for her, she was excited as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were spending the next two nights at the farm, not including today, the trio hurried over to her brother and stopped as they reached him.
"Hey Big Mac, you wanted to walk us home?" Apple Bloom asked.
Big Mac simply nodded in response before leading them to the farm.
The crusaders walked with Big Mac and began to talk about all kinds of things, a few things about cutie marks obviously.
Apple Bloom looked to her right as they passed Bon Bon's sweets, she noticed Rainbow Dash standing with Minutte talking, she chuckled at the irony.
As the group of four neared the entrance to the farm, Big Mac was approached by a mare, now it wasn't exactly uncommon for mares to approach Big Mac, but it was unusual for one to simply ask him for directions without even glancing at the rest of him.
Apple Bloom recognized the unicorn mare as Aqua Wave, the mare that Sarah flirted with a little bit, she was currently asking for directions to Barnyard Bargains, which wasn't very surprising, that was a good place to look at if you are new In town.....it also sells some pretty comfy furniture.
'If only Diamond Tiara was more like her father, she would probably be tolerable to be around.' Apple Bloom found herself thinking as the group neared the farmhouse.
______*later that day, Sweet Apple Acres, Sarah's room, 9:00 PM*______
Sarah smiled to herself as she plucked away at the guitar strings, testing the sound, then playing a soft melody, she had been dealing with three hyperactive kids the entire time they were together, and was glad to have the quiet time.
Sarah took a calming breath and simply played her music in silence, that is, until the door creaked open five minutes later, she stopped playing and looked over without moving her head, she relaxed a little when she saw it was just Apple Bloom. "I thought you were asleep." Sarah muttered.
Apple Bloom shrugged. "I......I couldn't sleep." She replied before entering and closing the door.
Sarah set her guitar down and looked at Apple Bloom directly. "I know that feeling, trust me, it isn't pleasant." She said with a grin.
Apple Bloom walked up to Sarah. "Why don't you ever play when somepony else is around?" She asked curiously.
Sarah let her grin fade as she stared at the guitar. "I have my reasons." She said sadly before she looked at Apple Bloom. "What's bothering you?" She asked calmly,
Apple Bloom rubbed her left hoof. "Ever since I learned about your......incident." She shuddered. "I haven't been able to sleep much, and even though I know you wouldn't do anything bad now.......I can't sleep for some reason." She replied nervously.
Sarah placed a calming hoof on Apple Bloom's shoulder. "I get it Bloom, you learned something you don't like, and now your afraid it will happen to you?" She questioned, but the flinch from Apple Bloom confirmed it. "You have nothing to fear from me Apple Bloom, and no force on Equis or Tartarus will make you do what I did." She said as she stood up and walked to the door. "Put these thoughts behind you, don't think about it, and you'll feel better in no time." She said as she opened the door.
Apple Bloom looked at Sarah. "And if I don't?" She asked.
Sarah sighed. "Then, I will help you through it, but let's just hope it doesn't come to that." She replied.
_____*later that night.*______
Sarah rubbed her eyes as she sat on her bed, she looked to her right and saw multiple scribbles and doodles on the bed, as well as many crumpled up pieces of paper, she took a breath and closed her eyes as she felt a familiar presence awaken inside of her. "I wondered when you would actually talk to me." Insanity's condescending voice droned mentally.
"If you weren't so unbearable to be around, I would visit more often." Sarah replied.
Insanity laughed for a time, and eventually calmed down. "So.....what brings you to the back of your mind?" He asked.
Sarah opened her eyes. "Didn't realize I needed permission." She said.
"Hah! but seriously, why are you talking to me?" Insanity asked.
Sarah looked outside. "It's getter harder to control these urges, pretty soon I'll need someone to hold the madness back." She replied.
"Your madness is like a plague, you need to fight back or else it will take over, or flat out kill you." Insanity replied.
"I just hope it doesn't spread to anyone else, no one deserves this torment." Sarah said calmly.
Insanity sighed. "Never let the others know, but for once, having less nut jobs will be helpful to me, so yes, I agree.
Sarah pulled herself under the covers and closed her eyes. "Night psychopath." Sarah muttered.