//------------------------------// // A Question... // Story: The Apple(Bloom) Of Her Eye // by Snow Quill //------------------------------// “Hi-yah!” Apple Bloom sailed through the air, her rear hoof poised to strike the apple tree, hitting it with a solid ‘thunk!’. She twisted in the air, using her momentum and kicking off the tree with her other hoof, aiming for its neighbor. “Whaaaaaa-!” ‘Thunk!’ She allowed herself to drop to the ground, back flipping and kicking her legs out to hit a third tree. “Take that!” ‘Thunk!’ She puffed her chest out with pride, looking over the buckets that were filled with apples now.  “Apple Bloom! Now just what are ya doin with all those fancy flyin’ kicks of yours?” Apple Bloom whipped her head to the side, smiling broadly as Applejack walked up. “Ah’m just practicin mah karate! Don’t worry, ah ain’t hurting the trees.” Applejack made a sound of disagreement, peering close at the bark and sighing when she found no marks. “Hmph...Well alrighty then. Here, help me pick up the ones that missed the buckets. Big Mac should be coming up in a few minutes to get them. We gotta make sure we get plenty of apples down to the barn, Filthy Rich is coming by for his weekly pick.” “Ah’m on it!” As promised, Big Macintosh soon rolled up with a wagon, placidly chewing on a wheat stalk as they loaded up the apple filled buckets. Soon, they made their way down the hill, where Filthy Rich and Diamond Tiara were waiting.  As Applejack and Filthy struck up a conversation about apple stocks and Big Mac started to unload the wagon, Diamond was uncharacteristically nervous. She glanced between the occupied adults and Apple Bloom before clearing her throat and tensely jerking her head to the side, a sign to move away from the others.  Apple Bloom followed Diamond down the side of the barn, curious. “What‘s on yer mind Diamond? Haven’t seen you round the farm in a few moons.” Diamond stopped short and shuffled in place, seeming to have an internal debate before blurting out. “Apple Bloomwillyougoonadatewithme?!” Apple Bloom blinked, her ear twitching as she nervously chuckles, stiffly turning to face her. “Mah ears must be hearing wrong, it almost sounded like you just asked me on a date.” Diamond blushed fiercely, her lips pursed together as tears filled her eyes.  Apple Bloom’s jaw dropped. “...Oh...oh. Uh, why?” Diamond gulped and scuffed the ground, regretting the action as she saw the dirt left on her hoof. “I um, well, I’ve always liked you okay! I know I used to make fun of you-“ “Yeah, for most of elementary school.” “-but it was only because I liked you. I mean, that’s, that’s how I thought you were supposed to treat your special somepony and-“ “No, Diamond. That’s really not how you are supposed to treat your special somepony.” Diamond sighed and hung her head. “Yeah...That’s what my therapist said too.” “Just where in the hay did you get such an idea? You basically terrorized me an’ my friends fer years! Now ah know you’ve been doing better, and we are getting along more civil like, and a lot of that stuff happened when we were foals, but you can still be pretty mean when ya wanna be. You can’t honestly believe Ah’d be able to forget all of that.” Diamond winced, “I, well, it’s how my mom treated my dad…I know that it’s not right, well, I know that now. I’m just, I, I thought if I showed you I changed…” She sniffled, and despite herself, Apple Bloom couldn’t help but reach out and put her hoof on her shoulder. She sighed deeply. “Yer right. You have changed Diamond. You said yer seeing a therapist now? That’s good.” “Yeah...Ever since Ponyville put on that show a few month’s back.” Apple Bloom frowned and removed her hoof. “Ah still can’t believe you tried to bully your way into Sweetie Belle’s spot!” “I wasn’t thinking clearly okay! I heard you said you really wanted to see The King and I, and I thought that maybe if I performed a lead role, I could impress you?” Apple Bloom snorted and shook her head. “Yer pretty messed up sometimes Diamond, ah hope ya know that.” “I know, I was really, really mean to Sweetie.” Diamond sniffled again and swiped her hoof over her face. “But trust me, it’s the last time I’ll be pulling a stunt like that. The director and Daddy made that very clear.” Apple Bloom shook her head again, rubbing her temple with a hoof. “So, tell me how this is supposed to make me believe you changed exactly?” “Oh! Um, I...don’t know really. My therapist said that talking through the bad things I’ve done with ponies I’ve done to them can help bring closure and, how did she put it, ‘mend the bridges I burned’? And, it might help if I explained my reasoning behind my actions, or, something.” “Uh huh…” “Apple Bloom, be honest, do I even have a chance at this point?”  Apple Bloom felt a blush heating her cheeks as Diamond glanced up at her. She cleared her throat. “Consarn it... Ah’ve always thought you were pretty Diamond, and even when you were being mean, Ah couldn’t help but feel sorry for you. Ah just, it’s like ah knew that deep down, ya really did want to try an’ be a good pony. Even if it took a while for you to realize it. Even if you still slip up e’ery now and again.” She sighed. “To tell ya the honest truth, Ah think you do have a chance Diamond, ah really think ya do.” She held up her hoof at Diamond’s happy gasp. “Now that ain’t to say this won’t take work. Ah really do wanna believe you ain’t a bully no more, but ya gotta understand how much it still affects me and my friends.” Diamond nodded. “Of course. I was, well I was a rotten little filly.”  Apple Bloom snorted. “Yeah, you were pretty bad.” Diamond pouted softly, biting back a snarky remark. For all she put Apple Bloom through, she deserved that one. “But, I really do want to be better. For you, and for him.” Diamond looked over to where her father and Applejack were. “Ever since the divorce, Daddy is a lot happier and we spend more time together now. I’ve started to work at Barnyard Bargains, and I’m actually making a lot of friends and helping ponies. It’s so much nicer to have ponies smile at me for doing a good job, rather than having them cower in fear.”  Apple Bloom smiled. “Ah’m mighty glad to hear that Diamond. Hmm…” She tapped a hoof on her chin, “Well, how about this. We don’t go on a date, but we hang out with the CMC and Silver. We haven’t all hung out in a while, and it will be a good chance for you to prove you really ain’t a bully anymore. Deal?” “Oh um...Do you think Sweetie Belle will be okay with it?” Apple Bloom shrugged. “Ah ain’t sure, but it’ll be a good chance for you to prove yerself. In fact, you will have to convince everyone else to come.” Diamond gulped, desperately looking over Apple Bloom for any sign she was joking, that she wasn’t serious. But of course she would be serious about this. She sighed and hung her head again. “Alright, that’s, I guess that’s only fair.” Apple Bloom grinned and elbowed her. “Oh don’t look so glum about it, ah think you’ll do great!” Diamond returned her smile, tilting her head back up. “Heh, well, I’ll try anyways. It’s the thought that counts right?” Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. “More like actions speak louder than words.” “Right.” “Tiara! I’m heading back to town, are you going to stay here with Apple Bloom for a bit?” Diamond turned, “Oh! Uh, no Daddy, I’ll be right there.” She looked back to Apple Bloom. “How’s this Saturday sound? The pegasus weather report says it’ll be hot, we can have a pool party!” “Sounds good, ah’ll be sure to ask AJ for the day off. See you then Diamond.” Diamond beamed, hesitating for a moment before giving Apple Bloom a short hug. “Thank you.” Apple Bloom was blushing again as Diamond trotted off to catch up with her father.  ~~ Apple Bloom whistled to herself as she climbed the old ramp to the treehouse. While it no longer served as the Cutie Mark Crusaders headquarters, they still used it as a meeting place.  She opened the door and smiled at the interior. Since they graduated school last year, it was renovated and updated to their new, ‘adult’ tastes. Namely, a bench was built in under the window with pillows on either end and a bookshelf to the side. Near the back wall was a round table with three cushions set around it. Nostalgia swept over her as she approached that table, running a hoof over its surface. It was similar to the table where they declared themselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders so long ago in Sugar Cube Corner. She had chosen it specifically for that reason, the cushions set to where they each had been sitting even.  She placed her saddlebags by her spot, not wanting to sit yet as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle should be there any minute. Diamond Tiara had kept her word and invited the two of them, but, understandably, Sweetie Belle wanted a CMC meeting before the party. Apple Bloom perked up at the sound of hoof steps, trotting to the door and throwing it open. “Sweetie! Scoots!”  Sweetie Belle smiled as she climbed onto the deck and hugged Apple Bloom, Scootaloo close behind. The pegasus playfully rolled her eyes. “Jeez Apple Bloom, it’s been what, two days?” “So? Ah always love having us all here together!” Sweetie and Scootaloo shared a look and Scootaloo laughed, joining the hug. They embraced for a moment before breaking apart and heading inside the treehouse, taking a seat at their respective spots at the table.  “Uh-“ “So-“ Apple Bloom and Sweetie started at the same time, but neither tried to continue. An awkward silence quickly descended over them, each not sure who should talk first. Scootaloo simply sat and glanced between them, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle locked in an apparent staring contest.  Finally, Sweetie Belle cleared her throat and blinked, ending it. “Well, I suppose I should start off with saying I’m glad Diamond went through with it and actually talked to you instead of the ridiculous showing off she was doing to try to get your attention.” Apple Bloom tilted her head and furrowed her brows. “Huh? Did she tell you when she asked about the party?” Sweetie sighed. “So she really didn’t tell you. No, I knew because I was the one who told her to talk to you in the first place.” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo’s jaws promptly dropped, gaping at this new information. Sweetie shrugged, “Well, when I got the spot in the Ponyville production of The King and I, she was my only competition. The director liked her though and made her my understudy.  Then, when she started to bully me into quitting and basically give her my spot, something didn’t feel right about it. It wasn’t the same as when we were kids, the insults were more shallow and overall just less...Personal?” She shrugged again. “I don’t know how to explain it. Anyways, after the whole fiasco was done and I got over it, I found her and talked to her. She confessed her crush and I told her to stop being stupid and talk to you.” “But, what about, ah mean-“ “She’s just misguided, Apple Bloom. It was a stupid, foalish mistake to think you are mean to the ones you love and that she needed to show off all the time for you to notice her. However.” Sweetie straightened, the cold look on her face sending chills down Apple Bloom and Scootaloo’s spine. “I made it very clear to her she has one.chance. She blows it today? That’s it.” They remained in silence, Apple Bloom’s mind turning as Scootaloo simply sat in awe of her friend. It was the pegasus that broke the quiet, grinning and pumping her hoof in the air. “Hell yeah Sweetie Belle! I always knew you were a badass under all that fluff.” Sweetie rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile pulling at her lips. “What else did you expect from a lady? As my sister says, ‘a true lady hides her blade in her eyes, her venom in her smile, and always leaves her enemies guessing.’” “Damn, remind me never to get on either of your bad sides!” They shared a laugh, but a sniffle from Apple Bloom caught their attention as she wiped away happy tears. “Oh, Sweetie, ah, ah don’t know how to thank ya!” Sweetie’s smile turned into a smirk and she chuckled. “Well I knew you would have been absolutely miserable if you never had even the chance to date her.” Apple Bloom blushed heavily, sputtering. “Wha? Ah, ah don’t know what yer talkin’ bout-“ Scootaloo snorted. “Oh come on Bloom, even I know you’ve had the hots for her for years.” Outnumbered, the blushing mare sank into her seat as the other two high-hoofed. “Ah can’t believe ah’m friends with y’all…” “Hey, that’s ‘best friends’ to you!” Sweetie nodded in agreement, gasping softly as she came up with an idea.  She grinned and put her hoof in the middle of the table, the two of them quickly catching on. Despite her grumpiness, Apple Bloom joined her and Scootaloo’s hoof and they shouted. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS POOL PARTY AT DIAMOND TIARA’S HOUSE...Yay!”