//------------------------------// // Apple Bloom // Story: Anon-A-Miss Aftermath: Nightmares // by CapNTilfy //------------------------------// Apple Bloom found herself in a tranquil field, surrounded by flowers. A warm, comforting breeze blew around her, and she sighed in contentment. She laid herself down on the ground and stared up at the sky as she put her hands behind her head, then closed her eyes. "What do you think you're doing here?" The farmer opened her eyes, surprised by the familiar voice. Sunset Shimmer stood still with her arms folded, looming over her. Apple Bloom bolted upright upon seeing the last person she'd expect. "W-What do mean, what am I doing here?" Sunset's expression soured, and the sky began to darken. "Where do you think you are?" "I'm outside, aren't I?" "Try again." Apple Bloom blinked in confusion. "Well, where else could I be?" Sunset sighed and put a hand to her forehead. "Okay. Let's try this." With a wave of her hand, a screen materialized in midair. She snapped her fingers and the screen turned on, showing her interacting with her friends. The sky began to lighten up, and flowers slowly bloomed all over the field. A sense of comfort washed over Apple Bloom as the sun shone brightly upon her. "I wouldn't get too comfortable there," Sunset said in a warning tone as the screen shifted the view from her friends to the confrontation she had with the Dazzlings in the school hallway. Why was the farmer being shown this? The sky darkened again, and a light rain began as the Sunset on the screen held her arm with a look of sadness. The farmer folded her arms and raised an eyebrow, but continued watching. The scene on the screen shifted from the hallway to after the Rainbooms' performance after the Battle of the Bands' semi-finals, where Trixie went backstage to taunt them. "I especially liked the part where Sunset Shimmer, in a fit of jealous rage, knocked out Rainbow Dash mid-guitar solo!" Thunder and lightning resounded as Sunset's face reddened. "It wasn't a fit of jealous rage," she snapped. Another scene transition occurred, and all the Rainbooms but Princess Twilight were arguing with each other as a strange green fog emanated from them. The Sunset on the screen stood by, and Apple Bloom shivered as a cold wind blew. A swift flash-forward on the screen brought the farmer to the climactic Battle of the Bands, where the Rainbooms and the Dazzlings fought for the fate of not just Canterlot High, but the world itself! The sirens had just blown the microphone out of Twilight's hand, and it rolled to Sunset, who just stood there anxiously. "Sunset Shimmer," Twilight called out. "We need you!" The Sunset on the screen closed her eyes as another chilly gust of wind blew through... ...then she sang. "You're never gonna bring me down!" As she sang, the overall atmosphere began to warm up. As the other Rainbooms joined in, the sun returned and began to shine. A rainbow formed in the sky as the entire student body sang along, and the Dazzlings were defeated soundly. "Do you get it yet," Sunset asked as she looked at Apple Bloom expectantly. The farmer shrugged. Sunset grinned wickedly. "I was so hoping you'd say that." She snapped a finger, and the screen grew larger. Static sounded off for a moment, then cut to Canterlot High's cafeteria. Apple Bloom's eyes widened as she saw her sister and her friends form a protective circle around Sunset Shimmer, who was beside herself with emotion. The sky darkened immediately, and all plant life slowly withered and decayed around her. "No," the farmer said quietly as she fought a chill of fear. "Not this again..." she turned away, only for Sunset to grab her and force her eyes open. "You are going to watch this or so help me Celestia..." Apple Bloom fought to push Sunset away, but to no avail. The farmer stood still and braced herself for what was coming as the mob of her fellow students closed in on her sister and her friends. Tears rolled down her eyes as she watched the rocker suffer until finally, she screamed. Everything save for Sunset, Apple Bloom, and the screen suddenly disappeared. The rocker let go of the farmer, who stumbled forward in the nothingness. "Now do you understand where you are," Sunset asked, her face twisted with rage. "You've got ten seconds to answer." Apple Bloom's mind raced frantically as the scream replayed in her head. She couldn't focus properly under these conditions! The ten seconds passed, and Sunset growled in rage. "Oh for the love of Celestia," she shouted. "I really have to spell it out for you, don't I?!" The farmer cowered as Sunset's fury took on a physical form, manifesting itself around the rocker. It swirled around and around, enveloping her until it dispersed, revealing her demon form from the night of the Fall Formal. "Fine," she shouted, then snapped her finger. The surface Apple Bloom stood on suddenly softened, causing her to nearly trip. She looked down to see a pulsating red mass of large squiggly lines. She gasped, then nearly lurched forward in disgust. The farm girl finally understood where she was... "You're in my mind, and I want you out," the demon roared. "I-I don't know how-" "Bullshit! After what you put me through, how do I know I can trust you?" Apple Bloom furrowed her brow. "Now wait just a-" "I don't want to hear it!" The demon extended her arm, and segments of the brain formed into tendrils and held the farmer in place. "You know what," she said as a sinister grin formed on her face. "I changed my mind." Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. "You... you did?" "Yes. I've decided that you're going to stay." The tendrils tightened their grip on the farm girl and began to pull her downward. Apple Bloom shrieked, only for another tendril to wrap itself around her mouth. Paralyzed by both the tendrils and fear, she sank into the fleshy mass completely. Apple Bloom woke up with her heart beating a mile a minute.