//------------------------------//
// Apple Bloom take1 
// Story: The Secret Recordings Of The Free Crusaders 
// by Good Fedora Pony 
//------------------------------//

Um... Howdy future me. This is Apple Bloom, and this here is my very first audio-recorded diary. Like ever.

AJ probably won't approve of it, but I figured it was a good exercise anyway for my sanity. I never thought my sanity would be in question until I realize I've been talking to myself more than ever nowadays. 
Easy to do, I guess when you're by yourself...

Well, technically, I'm not by myself. But......... I do miss Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, something fierce.

Anyways, I notice that twilight was using these things all the time. She said it was good to have when you need to do research because if you forget certain details, you can listen to the recording of yourself and get a refresher.

It made sense to me, but I use it for more personal reasons... Mostly for loneliness.

Sure, Dawn, Dinky, and Twist are great company, but Celestia damn it... I miss my friends too much...

Of course, it's not right for me to be selfish about this, because I'm not the only one who misses them something terrible.

Ever since Rarity got ran out of town, things have been getting difficult here.

It used to be her boutique that Dawn and I found comfort in, mostly for good memories.

I still don't know why twilight did what she did to Rarity and my big sister, but I can't get angry at her either. 

Twilight doesn't seem like she's terrible, but what she did to big sis was horrible.
I can understand twilight feeling grief, I often felt like striking at anyone close to me for no real good reason, but I never do. 

Twilight just made a mistake...

Anyways let's change things back to what we started. The reason for this recording!

I figured it was a good idea to record a secret diary. Not just for me but for all my fellow crusaders ( or at least the ones that are still around anyways )

I figured it would help us all cope with all the stress and worries in our day to day lives.

twilight even gave me some recording crystals to start with!
(she apparently had no use for them these days... )

I think Dawn especially needs this since it wasn't just Scootaloo he lost. 
I'm more than positive that if it weren't for the eternal darkness, he would have just run for the ever-free-forest where he came from.  He usually only stays at Fluttershy's place outside of town, but recently he's been coming into town more lately. (Under disguise mind you)

He says he could feel something near the woods, something powerful, something... Evil, lurking out there and only drawing closer to him while he stayed at the house .

I knew he was kinda paranoid for a while now, but he wouldn't abandon his home for no good reason, and he wasn't helpless either.

It's scary to think about, but thankfully it only stays in the forest as far as Dawn can tell, but still. I know Rarities out there somewhere... I hope she's all right.

It doesn't seem natural to let a pony sleep in a cave, even one built for comfort.
Sure we've all been in the dark for years now,  but it's not quite the same as a cave. 

I've had arguments with Dinky about where he should live until the evil leaves,  but in the end, Dawn chose to stay here instead of either of our homes.

Dinky was awfully insistent on him coming along to her house. I already know that she has a thing for Dawn, so it didn't surprise me. What did surprise me is how long she kept at it.

Days it went on, but Dawn wouldn't budge one bit.

Dawn was usually snappy these days when someone tried doing something like what Dinky was. But for some reason, he let her get away with it.

Maybe it's because he respects her mom too much to try.

either way,   he chose to stay here underground. 

Maybe twilight is right... Maybe Dawn has become a  wild pony again...and he is just to desperate to leave.


Well, I gotta go now. Applejack will not be happy if I'm late again. She would be even angrier if she found out about this place. ( or the fact that I built this place by myself)

But I am going to get Dinky to try and get Dawn in here before I go. 

Maybe she can convince him to try.

It's worth a shot anyway.

Well, ummm.....goodbye then!