//------------------------------// // Amending Friendships // Story: Orchard of Broken Memories // by G4PONYTales //------------------------------// “Applebloom.” “Huh?” Applebloom rubbed her eyes, and stared into the empty space. “Sugarcube; we’re here. Everythin’ is all right. An’ what ‘appened, it ain’t yer fault.” Applebloom stood back in surprise. “It ain;t?” “No, sweet. We love you all the same, and we’ll be in each other’s minds……” The wind began to rustle, and Applebloom was left once again in complete darkness. ______________________________________________________________________________ The next few weeks held a heavy atmosphere over the CMCs. Neither Scootaloo nor Sweetie Belle saw it as a good idea to confront Applebloom about the situation with her parents, and decided to wait until she said something to them. But Applebloom’s emotions were still weird. It was like a heavy weight had been removed from her chest only to be replaced with a stormcloud over her weary mind. Neither of her friends knew what went on inside her head, but they both felt confident it was something that would pass. The real question was not if, but when. ______________________________________________________________________________ But despite the friends’ efforts to reassure one another, Applebloom’s different behaviour still lingered like a stormcloud over all three of them. Learning the death of her parents had solved her curiosity while aging her greatly, opening an entirely new door to her thinking. It was a pathway which neither of her friends had gone before in the entirety of their limited life experience. To the other two CMCs today was another day at the CMC clubhouse; another day of discussions, missions, and organization. Applebloom, in spite of her efforts to cheerfully lead the meeting, had trouble hiding her feelings that things weren’t quite the same presently as they were many weeks earlier. Regardless, she participated and cooperated in meetings as though nothing had changed; while her misery was lessened, something unexplainable still lingered in the clubhouse. ______________________________________________________________________________ One day, with that unexplainable feeling remaining alongside the CMCs, Scootaloo confronted Sweetie Belle with a new idea. “I think we should talk to Applejack about… well, how things are going.” “What do you mean?” Sweetie Belle asked. “You know, the way Applebloom has been lately. Don’t you realize that there’s been something… off about her?” Truthfully, Sweetie Belle hadn’t wanted to admit there might be a problem, for fear of confronting her conflicting thoughts as to whether they should intervene again. Intervention had worked the last time when they confronted Applejack and Twilight about Applebloom’s feelings, but… “I’m really worried about her”, Scootaloo said. “What if this is another problem; something else she may be hiding? If there’s one thing I know, it’s that sometimes you just need to get help, even if you don’t really want to.” Scootaloo thought of when she was bullied for being unable to fly, and kept her feelings from her friends until Rainbow Dash eventually found out, and helped regain her confidence. She didn’t want Scootaloo to go through the same pain she did, on that one difficult day. It was unclear as to whether Sweetie Belle knew what Scootaloo was referring to, but she managed to be won over. ______________________________________________________________________________ On the way to Sweet Apple Acres, Scootaloo didn’t drive her scooter quite as fast, and therefore managed to stop it when the two fillies were inches away from the newly repaired fence in Sweet Apple Acres. What they saw was Big Mac performing his job as usual, but this time a familiar unicorn watched from behind the fence. “Sugar Belle!” The two fillies squealed Sugar Belle turned at the sound of their voices, and waved jovially. “Hey girls! What a surprise to see you here!” “Same here.” Scootaloo said as they both walked over. “What are you up to right now?” “Oh, I was just watching Big Mac do his job…” Sugar Belle blushed as Big Mac continued, pretending not to notice. Sweetie Belle grinned. It was a time for new beginnings. ______________________________________________________________________________ The two fillies found Applejack and Applebloom working in the garden, and shouted hi. When Applebloom heard them, she looked over and waved jovially. Perhaps it was due to the distance that the two fillies didn’t quite catch the offset tone in her mood or behaviour. At a closer look, the scene of two earth ponies happily managing a garden became more detailed.  There was no misery or tension of any kind, but there was still something different in Applebloom - no - both ponies’ eyes. They asked to speak to Applejack. ______________________________________________________________________________ The two CMCs explained their concerns to Applejack, who only nodded with a melancholic look in her eyes. “I really appreciate yer concern, especially since Applebloom is going through some hard times.” The three looked over at Applebloom, who was still minding the garden. She didn’t seem to mind that everypony might be talking about her, or maybe she was pretending not to. “These have been hard times fer all a’ us, actually. Ai think learning the history of our family brought up some emotion for everypony, but we’re all showin’ it in different ways. Applebloom obviously took it way too hard…” “But has she been okay?” Scootaloo asked at the same time as Sweetie Belle asked “Is she okay?” Despite the melancholic look in her eyes, Applejack smiled. “These are hard times, but ai think we’ll pull through. Fer now, you only worry ‘bout yerselves, and be good friends ta Applebloom; it’s probably what she really needs right now.” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle grinned at each other, somehow knowing that everything would be okay. Rocky at times, but okay. “Oh, and Applejack,” said Scootaloo, “we were wondering; if Applebloom has free time later from her chores maybe she could grab milkshakes with us?” Something shone in Applejack’s eyes as she grinned. “I think that’s just what she needs.” The three of them went over to Applebloom. “Applebloom.” Applejack called over to her little sister. Applebloom stopped working and turned to her older sister. “Yes sis’?” “You can head off with your friends now, I’ll take care of the rest.” Applejack softly spoke. Applebloom’s face turned from normal to concerned. “Are ya sure big sis’? Ya don’t need ma help?” “It’s alright Sugarcube.” Applejack assured her. “You’ve been through a tough time. I’ll let you off and enjoy the rest of the day with your friends now.” “Okay.” Applebloom responded, her spirits enlightening. “Come on girls, let’s go to our clubhouse.” The three fillies started going off. “Take care, ya fillies!” Applejack called out as the fillies ran through the yard towards the clubhouse. “Ah, to be young again…” Applejack sighed and continued her farming. The End