Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were gathered in their club house. “Hear ye, hear ye! This meeting of the Cutie Mage Crusaders is now in session!” Apple Bloom announced from the small podium in the club house. “Who wants to do roll-call?” she asked Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. There was a solid fifteen seconds of silence between the young farmer’s friends as they looked at each other before they turned back to Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom gave a weak laugh before she cleared her throat. “Ah got this letter from Babs Seed.” Apple Bloom then showed the letter she received from her cousin from Manahatten. “She writes sayin' she's got her aura mark!” she declared before she actually let go of the letter for Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle to take and read.
“What?!” the two asked in utter disbelief before they each could actually look at that letter.
“She says it's a pair of scissors!” Apple Bloom added while her friends read the letter barely able to contain her excitement.
Sweetie and Scoots were still at lost about all they have learned, “So... she's good at cutting stuff?” Scootaloo tried to come up with an explanation.
“Of course!” Sweetie Belle all but gasped in joy, “She was always fussing with her bangs!” as if she was the one with the epiphany. “I'll bet she grows up to be a celebrity stylist!” Sweetie could not contain her excitement for Babs and her possible career ahead of her.
While Apple Bloom was deep down happy for her cousin, her mind began to wonder, “But if she spends all her time cuttin' hair, who's gonna run the Manahattan CMCs?” she asked a load as things started to come to light.
Scootaloo looked the ceiling as she held her chin, “Well, not Babs.” she answered, failing to see that Apple Bloom’s question was not one to be answered. “She can't be a Cutie Mage Crusader if she's already got her aura mark.” she continued not noticing Apple Bloom face go slightly pale.
Apple Bloom lowered herself, looking at the floor. “I guess you're right.” she mused.
Sweetie also failed to see her friend’s concern as she spoke up, “I'm glad she's happy, but I sure wouldn't want to be up to my neck in hair all day.” the Magicborn confessed her own dislike. “Can you imagine getting stuck with an aura mark you didn't like?” Scootaloo looked off trying to ponder the point, like how Rainbow Dash would struggle with a serious math problem. Sweetie sighed softly before she turned to Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom shook her head and Sweetie noticed the forming of tears in the corner of her eyes. Sweetie smiled as she placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Don't worry, Apple Bloom.” she tried to assure the apple farmer, “Most of your family has apple-related aura marks. I bet yours will be, too. And what's not to like about apples?” she asked rhetorically to help her friend through this funk.
“There's the core, and sour apples, and rotten apples, and apples with worms in them—” Scootaloo started to list off only to stop as she saw Sweetie give a bemused frown that was in the running against Applejack’s. “What?” she asked Sweetie still failing to understand the situation.
Sweetie point to Apple Bloom who was now in the fetal position, shacking as if she lost most of her body heat. “Not helping.” Sweetie stated.
The night had come and Apple Bloom and Applejack were in the former’s bedroom as the younger farmer was getting ready for bed. Well Applejack was getting Apple Bloom, the younger Earthborn had gone from one panic to another since she returned home and finally seemed to calm down. “I guess I just spent so much time worryin' about how to get an aura mark, I never even thought about what would happen after.” Apple Bloom admitted before she got into bed. “There's just so many things I never considered.” she almost bit down on her hand in an almost vain attempt to compose herself.
Applejack kept a smile as she pulled the sheets aside for her sister. “I'm sure there are, but you don't need to—” however she was cut off.
“What if I finally get my aura mark and I don't like it?” Apple Bloom asked her sister, “What if I get my aura mark and nobody likes me?” she didn’t allow Applejack a chance to answer.
Applejack opened her mouth and started to answer, “Well, that's just ridicu—” the paladin tried but was again denied the option to take Apple Bloom’s fear and throw them in rubbish heap where they belonged.
“What if the Crusaders drift apart?” she asked. Before Applejack could get a word in edgewise, “I mean, we won't really be the Cutie Mage Crusaders anymore!” she declared before she gasped in terror and grapped Applejack’s arms, “What if it's not an apple?! Will I have to move out?! Where will I live?!” the younger farmgirl shook her sister as her fear reached the point of critical mass.
There were two ways to resolve this, the paladin knew once she had recovered from her sister shaking her. A smack across the face would sober the girl up and get her to stop panicking long enough to hear Applejack’s answer. However Applejack needed Apple Bloom to not just hear the words spoken, but to actually listen to her. She hummed softly and she rubbed Apple Bloom's head as she sat down on the bed and looked Apple Bloom in the eye, “All right, that's enough, Sugarcube.” she stated with a maternal authority, strong enough to be gentle. “Those are way too many questions to answer all in one night.” she added as she started to pod Apple Bloom to lay down. Before the girl could protest, Applejack covered her sister’s mouth. “And nobody's gonna make ya move out.” Apple Bloom looked up to her sister pleadingly, hoping it was true. Applejack shook her head and kissed Apple Bloom on the forehead. “Yah can bet yahr bottom bit on it. Now get some sleep.” she ordered as she tucked Apple Bloom in. “Yah'll see. Everything will be better in the mornin'.” Applejack then started to hum slightly, it was soft and comforting, for Applejack was channeling their late mother, Buttercup, and started to sing, “Hush now, little sister
You're loved by all you know
You'll never lose their friendship
No matter where you go
There ain't no call to worry
So don't you cry or fret
An aura mark won't change you
No matter what you get.” As she sang, Apple Bloom started to drift towards sleep, all the while Applejack backed towards the door and as she finished and turned off the lights of the room and softly shut the door.
Apple Bloom yawned, “No matter what I get.” she sang softly to herself as she shut her eyes and yielded to sleep. Before Apple Bloom knew it, one of the roosters started to crow, waking the young farmgirl up. Apple Bloom stretched with a “Hoo-ee!” she declared feeling rested. “AJ was right, nothin' like a good night's sleep!'' She agreed with her sister before she started to get dressed. “Breakfast!” came Applejack’s voice, muffled by the rest of the house. Apple Bloom finished dressing and bolted down the stairs. After jumping to skip the last three steps, Apple Bloom stood in the doorway into the kitchen and dining room. “You were right, AJ! I feel much better!” Apple Bloom said as she ran over to her sister at the stove making pancakes, bacon and eggs and hugged her, “I don't know what I was so worried about last night!” She then started to the table to join Granny Smith and Big Mac, as they waited for the meal.
Applejack smiled as she placed the meal on to four plates, making sure it was what each needed until the next meal. “See, now what did I tell you?” She asked. As she walked to the table and placed everyone’s meal in front of them, “A good night's sleep'll fix just about an—” she trial off as she saw something on Apple Bloom’s back before she sat down. “Well, no wonder you were so worked up!” Applejack said as she moved Apple Bloom’s chair back, silently telling her to get up. Applejack then rushed to get something. Apple Bloom, Big Mac and Granny were all confused until AJ returned and gave Apple Bloom a mirror as she angled another so the if Apple Bloom looked into the one she had she could see what was on her back. “Looks like somebody got her aura mark!” Applejack declared.
Apple Bloom gasped as she saw the image, it was a canister with pump and spray with an apple in a bubble. “I can't believe it!” she could barely control her excitement, “I got my aura mark!” she shouted as she hugged Applejack. “I got my aura mark!” she shouted, shaking the house as she ran and hugged each of her family. “I got my aura mark!” Apple Bloom stopped and was about to head out the door. “Wait 'til I tell the others that my aura mark is a... a... “ she trailed off as the mark had moved to hover in front of her and stopped as she tried to understand what it was. “What is it?” she ended up asking. AJ, Big Mac and Granny Smith all looked at each other before they shrugged their shoulders, showing that they too didn’t know what it meant.
Just then the front door opened and a man dressed in a gas mask and a strange pump-like contraption with what looked like an empty glass storage tank on his back. “I know what it means!'' The man’s voice was muffled by the mask before he took a deep breath before he finally removed it, revealing that while he had more spring in his step than Granny Smith, he also had a decade of life on her. “It means I can retire!” he didn’t quite explain before he laughed. It was then that Apple Bloom saw that he had the same mark, minus the apple.
About two hours later, the man and Apple Bloom were walking in the grounds and farmland of Sweet Apple Temple. “Infestations?” she asked, as she seemed to sum up all the man said. “You mean like parasprites?” she asked.
The man snorted, “An infant with a trombone can get rid of those cotton balls.” he said dismissively. He then shook his head. “I'm talking about the serious stuff!” he said as he looked around the temple grounds before he leaned down to look Apple Bloom in the eyes, “You ever hear of... twittermites?” he asked. Just before Apple Bloom heard the sound of lightning crack.
“Twittermites?” the farm girl asked in slight bewilderment. She knew the name from somewhere or she thought she did, but could connect it with anything.
The man stood erect again as he looked around before he showed the canister that was on his back and revealed that it wasn’t empty, but almost full to the brim with extremely large flying mites that all gave off electrical charges. “Loimómancers like you and me are the only things keeping these live wires from destroying half of Mystica!”
“Loimómancers?” Apple Bloom asked, as she tried to follow along, not familiar with the term.
The old loimómancer continued, “It's no easy trade!” He didn't deny the difficulty of the occupation. He looked at his old hands, covered with calluses, burns, bruises, etc. “Even the best of us yearns for the day they can move on to greener pastures.” he confessed his needed relief. “Oh, now that you're here to take over, my day has finally come!” His joy was not hidden, but it was not glee at Apple Bloom picking things up where he left, but finally being able to put down his burden.
“Take over?” Once again Apple Bloom questioned the old man.
The old loimómancer squinted his eyes at Apple Bloom, unsure why she was having such a hard time getting these simple but important details. “You're gonna need to stop repeating what I say and pay attention if you want to learn anything.” He critiqued the new loimómancer. Apple Bloom gave an apologetic smile. The old man smiled, accepting, “Don’t worry about it, this is rarely what one was expectin' for an aura mark.” His understanding was very assuring. “Also,” he helped Apple Bloom put on the same gear he had to collect twittermites, “with an aura mark like that I'm sure you've got the touch.” he declared. Apple Bloom opened her mouth to ask what he meant, mainly by repeating the last two words he said. However she stopped herself. This was not a battle to fight. The man then held out the full canister, “Now comes your real lesson” he informed Apple Bloom as he started to twist the top off. “You're gonna need to be quick.” he stopped with the lip still on, but would soon be off, “Once these things get out, it can get pretty shocking.” he said as he took off the top before the mites exited the canister and started buzzing while remaining in a condensed swarm.
As Apple Bloom tried to follow what the old man just said, she failed to notice how the twittermites seemed to be forming a cloud just over her shoulder, “Wait, what do you mean?” she asked before she was zapped by the discharge of electricity from the pest. “Ow!” she shouted and rubbed her shoulder as she recovered from the shock.
The older loimómancer shook his head, “That” he answered, he then pointed to the swarm as it broke into smaller clusters and started to drift from each other in a slowly but clearly growing circle. “And the further apart they spread, the more powerful these jolts will get!” he informed.
Apple Bloom looked around her, watching the swarm grow farther and farther apart. “What do I do?!” a slight panic in her question.
“Call 'em and suck them in, of course.” the old man answered as he was walking backwards, exiting the area of effect of the twittermites’ shock. Once there he reached into his cart and pulled out a device that replayed recorded music. “Remember…” He trial off as he started it. And along with the first line sang, “You got the touch…” (Stan Bush’s The Touch plays)
Apple Bloom took the nozzle and pointed it out, “Twittermites!” she called before she whistle. However this only encouraged the nearest group to her to try to zap her. She yelped as she dodged it just in the nick of time. She wanted to growl but instead took a deep breath and shut her eyes for a second. She then opened them as a grin formed on her lips. She then called out “Twittermites!” And then opened the nozzle vacuuming the nearest cluster. She continued to do this vacuuming one cluster after another dodging their attempts to zap her with easy. As the song neared it end, “Bugbugbugbugbugbugbug!” she repeat as there was only one twittermite left. It looked around and was about to fly away before Apple Bloom opened the nozzle and it was vacuumed in, rejoining its swarm. Apple Bloom then spun the nozzle around and slid it into its holster in the contraption on her back just as the song finished. She couldn’t help but beam.
However before she say anything, “Well, looks like you're all set.” can the voice of her short-timed mentor. He had left everything in the cart, save for a set of shades and was walking away. “Drop me a note sometime at the Piney Shade Retirement Community.” He said as he continued to walk away.
Apple Bloom looked at the man, the cart he just left and her new equipment, “Now, hold on!” she called out as she struggled to take her ear off. “I'm sure this job is really important, but…” she trailed off as she finally got it off, “I don't think I wanna call bugs for the rest of my life.” she said once freed. However it was only then that she saw that the man was gone. “Hey, where'd he go?” she asked, hoping for someone to answer.
“Well, well, well!” came the familiar voice of Diamond Tiara. Apple Bloom turned to see walking towards her, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Diamond did a quick look around the scene and smirked, “Look at the new bug-mage!” she announced mockingly.
Apple Bloom wanted to clench her fists and knock every tooth out of Diamond’s mouth… and more. But she shut her eyes and raised her head, having her nose up at Diamond. A suggestion made by Rarity when dealing with DT and SS. “It's loimómancer,” she said in her best attempt of a properly educated voice, as if she was above all this but Diamond lacked the knowledge to identify certain things and it fell on her to educate the philistine.
Diamond and Silver looked at each other and snorted. Sweetie Belle had at best a 50% chance to pull that off, and Apple Bloom was no Sweetie Belle, which Apple Bloom learned when Silver Spoon picked up the full canister of twittermites and declared, “Whatever!” she then throw it into the air, “It’s still ew!” Apple Bloom barely caught it before it hit the ground.
“I might've known you'd end up with the worst aura mark ever!” Diamond declared. Apple Bloom gritted her teeth trying to not lash out and do something that she would regret when talking to her family. Diamond and Silver both had a short laugh at her aura mark, her clear anger and her inability to do anything (or so they saw).Once they were done, Silver Spoon spoke as she patted Apple Bloom on the shoulder, like Sweetie or Scootaloo would when they saw Apple Bloom was down, “Look on the bright side,” the secondary bully started, “Whenever you need a friend, you can just go out and catch one!” she declared just as Diamond placed her left hand to the side of her mouth and called out, “Heeere, friendfriendfriendfriendfrieeend!” in the same rapid pace Apple Bloom had earlier called ‘bug’ to the last twittermite she caught. “Here, bug! Here, bug!” Silver added as she left Apple Bloom and walked over to a lone flower with a lady bug on it. “Will you be my friend, bug?” she asked. “Because nobody else will!” The two then renewed their laughter.
Apple Bloom looked at her mark, the canister and the two, “GET HUSHED!” she cursed as she threw the canister and ran away not looking were she was going. And while Diamond and Silver continued to laugh, they all failed to see the crack in the vessel holding the mites and even more so failed to see it grow.
Apple Bloom found herself in the Everfree Forest. She stopped running and sighed to herself, “I hate to think that Diamond Tiara is right,” she said before she looked that aura mark, still hovering over her chest, waiting for something of hers to have it embroidered, “but…” she trailed off as she was trying to find the words. “this aura mark sure isn't what I was hoping for.” she confessed. “Why should you have to keep it, then?” came a voice from the shadows. It sounded familiar but the farmgirl couldn’t place it. Also the voice’s sudden ‘appearance’ threw her off. “Who's there?! What do you mean?!” she demanded to know. “If your aura mark bothers you so much, get rid of it!” the voice replied. Apple Bloom scowled as she tried to find the source, “Well, if you know how to wave a hand and erase a terrible aura mark, you go right ahead!” it wasn’t an order, no one has the power to just erase an Aura Mark. The voice spoke softly, like a servant to a master when given an order that took no effort to complete, “As easily said as done.” The wind then blew and Apple Bloom shut her eyes until it passed. Once it did she say that the aura mark she woke to was gone, as if it was never there. “Huh. Now that is some serious magic.” After she turned herself around, Apple Bloom skipped home with her eyes closed, however along the way she was knocked to the ground and was barely able to roll out of the way as people ran past her. “Hey!” she shouted at those that almost trampled her. However as more and more people ran past her, “Where's everybody goin'?!” she asked. However, no one answered. Apple Bloom then, staying out of the mob’s way, managed to get into town as people were grabbing the essentials (family photos, infant’s favorite toy, etc.). She then saw the mayor and her staff getting copies of the town archives loaded on a cart and were itching to get going. “Mayor! What's goin' on?!” Apple Bloom asked.
The mayor turned to Apple Bloom, “Apple Bloom, you've got to get your family out of town! NOW!” she ordered as she helped load the last of the town records.
Apple Bloom then heard a burst of electricity to her right. There over one of the houses, the twittermites were swarming, buzzing and charging for their next strike. Apple Bloom’s jaw dropped for half a second. However the young loimómancer pulled herself together and rushed over to the old man’s cart and suited up to start collecting twittermites. “Twittermites!” she called as she neared a group only for it to float away. “Here, bugbugbugbugbugbug!” she called as she ran after them only to get zapped. She tried again and was zapped for her troubles. After a total of a baker’s dozen times, Apple Bloom was on the ground, it was charred and so were her clothes. “Come on, here!” she shouted as a small swarm of the mites flew off.
“Apple Bloom!'' came Applejack’s voice as the paladin, Big Mac and Granny Smith ran up to the youngest Apple. “What in tarnation are you doin'?!” AJ asked as Big Mac helped Apple Bloom to her feet. “And where's your aura mark?” the paladin questioned as she looked for it.
Apple Bloom dipped her head ashamed of herself as she realized that she failed, “It vanished.” Apple Bloom lied, “But I still gotta try to stop the infestation!” she declared as she tried to get past her family.
“Are you crazy?!” Applejack asked as she grabbed Apple Bloom in a huglike hold, “Even if you had it now, we’d need an experienced loimómancer, with decades on the job to handle this.” Applejack then picked her sister up and started to run, “Now we gotta skedaddle!”.
Apple Bloom knew it would hurt, but she had to do something. With one well placed knee into AJ’s ribs, the paladin had to go to her knees. “But I've gotta do somethin'!” Apple Bloom shouted as she ran towards their farm and temple. Apple Bloom could hear Applejack trying to yell to stop her, but she wouldn’t be stopped. Being a loimómancer might not be glamorous, but it was a needed job and she had the touch. Or rather she used to. Once she got to ten meters of the temple grounds she saw the twittermites swarm so large and spread out that it was almost over the whole sky. Then came the bolt. The discharge was so great that it destroyed the temple proper, the farmhouse where they lived and the barn.
Apple Bloom’s jaw hung open as she dropped to her knees, just then she saw a small cloud of the twittermites near her. Too late she tried to move and was shocked.
“Aaaaaaahhh!” Apple Bloom screamed only to find herself awake just as a rooster crowed. She looked around and saw that she was back in her bed. “Whoo-ee.” she said as she wiped her forehead in relief, “That's what I call a nightmare.” she said before she went over to her dresser to start getting ready for the day, “It seemed so real.” she mused.
“Breakfast!” came Applejack’s voice muffled from downstairs.
Apple Bloom dashed to get dressed and then bounded down the stairs “Applejack!” Apple Bloom called out as she landed and headed to the kitchen, “You are not gonna believe the dream I just had!” she continued before she entered the kitchen/dining room. She took a breath, “I guess I needed more sleep than I thought!” she said as she stepped in.
Applejack turned from the stove to address her sister, “See, now what did Ah tell yah?” Applejack much like how she asked Apple Bloom in her dream. Before Apple Bloom could respond to what her sister said, which didn’t seem to fit as a response to what Apple Bloom just said. “A good night's sleep'll fix just about—” she then gasped in shock. She tried to covered the smile on her mouth. “Well, no wonder you were so worked up!” she declared. Before Apple Bloom could ask. “Looks like somebody got her aura mark!” the paladin announced.
Apple Bloom was about to question before she looked down and saw hovering in front of her chest a potion vial with an apple in the bubble like bottom. She couldn’t help but beam. “Potion making!” she declared coming to the conclusion of what her talent was. “Now that's more like it!” she shouted as she jumped into the air and thrusted her right fist into the air. Applejack, Big Mac and Granny Smith were confused at what Apple Bloom just said. Before they could ask, Apple Bloom had quickly brewed an answer, “Zecora's lessons finally paid off!” Apple Bloom gave.
Applejack walked up and patted her sister on the shoulder, “Ah expect yah want to run off to tell your friends all about your new aura mark.” Applejack said and turned back to the table. “But before you go, don’t forget your breakfast and make sure you do all your…” Applejack only then saw that the youngest Apple was gone. She trailed off as she realized that Apple Bloom was gone. “Chores...?” she continued in a question, only for Big Mac and Granny to snicker at Applejack’s confusion.
At the CMC clubhouse, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were playing horseshoes. Sweetie had just missed… barely. Scootaloo was aiming and just before she threw, Apple Bloom opened the door with a “Whooo!”
Scootaloo dropped the shoe as she and Sweetie turned to see Apple Bloom leaning against the wall, coyly covering her chest. “Why all the excitement?” Scootaloo asked, a little perplexed at her friend’s action. “Yeah, what's going on?” Sweetie asked as well, both seeming to feel some form of excitement from the farmer.
“Oh, nothin'...” Apple Bloom replied coyly before she removed her arms. “except this brand new aura mark!” she answered showing the aura mark she woke up to.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stepped closer in awe at what they saw. “That's amazing!” Scootaloo praised her friend. “Wow!” Sweetie added, unable to get over her amazement.
“I know!” Apple Bloom all but shouted in her cheer about this.
Scootaloo then slapped Apple Bloom on her back in cheer, “That's so cool!”
Apple Bloom, as much as she wanted to feel good, she couldn’t help but feel some sort of guilt because her friends might not have their own, “I don't suppose either of you got yours?” she asked not sure if this guilt was placed.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle first looked down to the floor, “Nope.” Scootaloo said first as she turned away. Sweetie Belle rubbed her left upper arm with her right hand. “Me neither…” she trailed off.
Apple Bloom dipped her head in sorrow, “I know it's silly,” she said as she rubbed the back of her head with her right hand. “but I'd always hoped we'd get our aura marks together.” She voiced her dream. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both nodded. They clearly wanted to be happy for Apple Bloom, but… Apple Bloom then had an idea, “I know!” she declared before she went to the podium in the clubhouse, picked up the gable and knocked it thrice. “Let's call this meeting to order!” she proclaimed. “I'm sure the three of us can figure out how to get two more aura marks.” The idea was simple. She had hers now, and with it possibly some perspective to help her friends find theirs. However Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked from Apple Bloom to each other, then to the floor and cycled through twice more. “Well what?” Apple Bloom asked as she realized her friends weren’t sure what to say or maybe how to say it. Then she saw the letter Babs wrote her on the floor and Scootaloo’s statement about Babs no longer being a CMC. “Oh, yeah…” she trailed off. ‘Just like Babs Seed’ she thought. After a second she stepped down and walked towards one of the corners, “Well, I could just sit quietly in the corner 'til you two figure out what you're gonna do…” she trailed off as her friend’s nervousness started to overwhelm her.
“Well, technically the clubhouse is for Crusaders only.” Sweetie argued as she and Scootaloo walked towards the door.
“Oh. Right. I guess I should just come back later, then...?” she asked as she stepped down from the podium and started out of the clubhouse.
Just as Apple Bloom was about to step over the threshold of the clubhouse, “Why?” Sweetie Belle asked. “I mean, you can't come in then either.” she added to her arguement. Before Apple Bloom could counter, not that she was able to form a counter arguement, “Rules are rules.” Sweetie declared. As Apple Bloom’s heart broke as she stepped back wards, “I don't even think we're still supposed to be friends.” Scootaloo said before the door was slammed in Apple Bloom’s face.
“What?!” Apple Bloom asked in confusion of being kicked out as it dawned on her that it was her clubhouse on her family’s property before she found herself in the Everfree Forest like when she ran away from Diamond and Silver’s bullying. “Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! Come on, girls, this isn't funny!” She called out to her friends as she looked around for them, at a loss of what was going on. “More trouble with aura marks?” came the voice she heard before. Apple Bloom still couldn’t place the voice but she didn’t care. “No!” she tried to counter. However her resolve failed swiftly, “I mean, w— yeah, I mean…” she trailed off as she admitted that the voice was right, “Well, I got mine, but my friends didn't get theirs, and now there's all kinds of trouble!” she said to the voice, admitting her problem. The voice hummed for a second, “Sounds to me like aura marks and trouble are two peas in the same pod.” the voice surmised. Apple Bloom couldn’t disagree. “I guess so…” she trailed off as she tried to find a solution to her problem, “I mean, if I was a blank again, there wouldn't be a problem!” she concluded. “Your wish is my command.” the voice replied before it summoned a wind and blew the aura mark away.
Apple Bloom returned to the club house and began to clean it up. As she threw one of the boards to the ground, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had arrived at the temple and farm grounds and were approaching the club house, “Hey, Apple Bloom.” Scootaloo elected to start the conversation. “Why'd you want to meet here?” having chosen to ask why the summons for her and Sweetie to that location.
Apple Bloom then jumped to the ground, “Well, us blanks have to meet somewhere!” the farm girl declared as she showed that her aura mark was gone.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at each other and gave nervous smiles, “Um, actually, Apple Bloom, we…” Scootaloo trailed off, unsure of what to say. “Both sort of got our aura marks.” Sweetie took over from her Skyborn friend.
Apple Bloom eyes widen, “You did?!” She asked utterly in disbelief, “What are they?” she asked as she looked from one of her friends to the other. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at each other with slight frowns before each showed hers by turning around to show Apple Bloom their backs. Scootaloo’s aura mark was a butterfly with two small flowers. Sweetie Belle's was a pink heart with what looked like parts of some sort of musical notation but was horizontal when it normally would be vertical. After the two turned back to face Apple Bloom, “How did you get them?” she asked.
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo then both shut their eyes and lifted their chins, as if to have their noses up towards Apple Bloom. “Oh, we don't have time to go into all that.” Scootaloo retorted. This was not an unfair response, Apple Bloom had herself didn’t tell her friends how she woke to her aura mark. “And we certainly don't have time to hang out at an old clubhouse.” Sweetie Belle added. This struck Apple Bloom at odd. Sweetie loved the club house. “Yeah, we've got responsibilities now.” Scootaloo continued. These aura marks must have really changed her friends, Scootaloo was … well a slacker. “But maybe we'll see you later.” Sweetie Belle spoke up as she and Scootaloo turned away from Apple Bloom and started to walk away. The words Sweeties used hinted to soften a blow, but how she said them only cut deeper. “Much later.” Apple Bloom had to count on Scootaloo to be as subtle as Rainbow during Cider Season.
Apple Bloom was flabbergasted and stood frozen for a second. Once she snapped out of her funk, “Wait!” she shouted as she tried to run after the two only to trip on one of the boards she threw earlier. “Hold on!” she called as she got back to her feet and brush herself off. “I can get my aura mark back, I think! Rrgh! I mean, I got it once, right?” she called as her mind was also running, and tripping over itself. “Oh, just wait a second!” she called only to take one step to find herself as old as Granny Smith looking at the graves of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. They read, ‘Best Friends Forever, Didn’t know Apple Bloom.’. “Nooooooooooo!” Apple Bloom screamed herself awake, yet again finding herself in her bed as a rooster crowed. She pulled her comforter close to her and felt her forehead. It didn’t feel warm. As she removed her hand, “What in Mystica's goin' on?!” she asked before she started out of bed.
“Breakfast!” came Applejack’s muffled voice from down stairs.
Apple Bloom got out of bed keeping her bedgown on and pulled the comforter tighter against herself, “I'm not so sure sleep is the cure-all Applejack thinks it is” she mused aloud before she headed downstairs. She didn’t run down and slowly walked into the kitchen as Applejack was placing the last of the plates on the table, Big Mac and Granny Smith waiting. “Uh... Applejack?” she asked, her unease couldn’t be hid. “I know you said sleep is supposed to make me feel better, but I'm pretty sure it's makin' me feel worse.” she declared as she walked towards the table.
Applejack was at the sink putting the cookware in so that they could soak in soapy water while everyone ate. “See, now what did I tell you? A good night's sleep'll fix— Well, no wonder you were so worked up…” Applejack said almost exactly like she did in Apple Bloom’s dream and dream in a dream. Apple Bloom’s jaw just dropped open. AJ could be dense at times, but she was not Rainbow Dash. Yet before Apple Bloom said anything. “Weeeell, what do we have here?” Granny Smith as she and Big Mac got up and joined Applejack as they looked at Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom looked down at her chest and saw what looked like a dolphin with a derpy eyes and water coming out of its blowhole. Soon all the lights went out only to be replaced with a spotlight on Apple Bloom. Big Mac, normally a man of one word, spoke and seemed to answer the question of what Apple Bloom aura mark was. “Ah don’t know what it is, but Ah can tell yah what it ain't. It ain't no apple.” the towering cleric declared. “Nnope!” Granny compounded the negative. As Apple Bloom was still lost at what was happening, Applejack then spoke, but it was Big Mac’s voice coming out of her mouth, “And we don't have room for non-apples.” the paladin declared. Big Mac then affirmed, but in Applejack’s voice with a “Nnope.” Then Granny Smith rejoined, but she spoke with Big Mac’s voice, “Time for you to mosey on. You can't stay here.” she then place a stick with a small bundle tied to one end. Before Apple Bloom was granted the chance to protest, Big Mac spoke again, this time in his voice, “Oh, and you're gonna have to change your name.” Granny and Applejack nodded. “I think just 'Bloom' has a nice ring to it, don't you, Applejack?” he mused and asked. Applejack stood next to the back door and gave a “Eeyup!” as she opened the door, revealing something like a black hole.
Apple Bloom didn’t know why, but she alone was sucked into the void. “Noooooooooo!” she screamed only to find herself yet again in her bedroom, this time she had fallen on to the floor with a thump. “Ugh!” she groaned before she looked out of the window and saw Pinkie Pie in her chicken Nightmare Night costume crowing like a rooster. “That is the most normal thing Ah’ve seen since AJ tucked me in.” she stated. After a second of that letting that statement sit, she sighed, “this is getting ridiculous.” she said as she covered her face. She could use a good cry now. However she stopped as it crossed her might that she might have another aura mark. As she looked down at her chest and then dashed to the mirrors in her room. After several seconds of looking herself over and finding no aura mark, she jumped in the air with a joyous, “Whoo-ee!” as she landed she started to get her clothes for the day, “I never thought I'd be so happy to not get an aura mark.” Just as she said that an aura mark appeared. “What the?!” She then turned and saw a different one, and she continued to look from and turn until she had seen a dozen aura marks. Just then she heard some strange music as the new aura marks circled around her and spun faster and faster. After three seconds of this she swatted the giving a frustrated grunt. “I don't wanna see another aura mark as long as I live!” she screamed as she started to run only to find herself yet again in the Everfree Forest. “Back so soon?” asked the voice that had removed the aura mark about the job she didn’t want, and then the one that ‘ended’ her friendship. Apple Bloom wanted to growl, “All right, whoever you are!” she shouted to the voice, “I dunno what spell you went and cast on me, but Ah want it to stop right now!” she demanded of the voice. “I didn't cast a spell on you or anybody else.” the voice replied as if wounded by Apple Bloom’s words. “I only did what you wanted.” she countered. Apple Bloom growled with a “Rrrgh!” at that answer before she questioned farther, “Why would I want you to torment me with nightmares?!” she demanded the voice to answer. “You didn't want to catch bugs, and I helped.” the voice pointed out as if it was circling Apple Bloom, calling her to answer to her own actions, or rather her wants. “You didn't want to lose friends, and I helped.” the voice continued pointing out that it only did what Apple Bloom literally asked of it. “If there's a problem with your family, I'm sure I can help with that too.” the voice compounded, addressing the last of Apple Bloom’s dissatisfaction with her aura mark, the one that it didn’t change. However Apple Bloom had enough of this. She turned away from the source of the voice and started to run, “I don't want your help! Just get away from me!” she shouted back, not looking where she was going.
“Oh, Apple Bloom,” came a regal voice. Apple Bloom stopped running and turned around toto see Princess Luna step out from the forest's shadows. “you can't get away from your own shadow.” the princess said as before she cast a little more light on the situation.
Apple Bloom was confused, “Princess Luna?!'' She identified the princess and was confused by Luna’s question statement. “My shadow? What do you mean?” she continued to ask until she followed the light that Luna conjured and saw how it cleared much, revealing that the being that lurked in the darkness was just an extension of her own shadow. “It's just me?” she asked as she tried to understand what was going on. “You mean I've been doin' all this to myself?” she asked as she managed to connect a few of the dots and started to see the outline. Luna shut her eyes and nodded. Apple Bloom saw that nod many times, everyone in her family gave it when Apple Bloom didn’t completely get it, but she understood enough for now. “If I've been dreamin' this whole time, why don't I just wake up?” she asked.
Luna gave a soft smile, as one that had walked the path Apple Bloom now travels, “Sometimes we can worry about a thing so much, the fear can make us feel we're trapped in a nightmare.” Apple Bloom knew that what Luna said was also true in the waking world, especially knowing that Luna was once Nightmare Moon. However this was not Luna’s time as the princess looked to Apple Bloom with a raised eye brow, “We don't suppose there's anything you're particularly afraid of, is there?” she asked.
Apple Bloom sighed, “Ah've been pretty worried about gettin' my aura mark.” she come to realize.
Luna nodded, “Often we think our worries are on many things, but those that pause often find that they and everyone they see are simply worrying about who they are.” Luna placed her hand over her own embroidered aura mark. “An aura mark is just that, a symbol of who one is.” She then looked up to the now vacant moon, “Often when ones false to accept that, they find that their life is a bad dream.” Apple Bloom was hearing what Luna said, but that was only part of her concerns. Luna continued, “Granted, even if you like who you are, others might not.” she informed Apple Bloom that the coin had another side. “Yet those that matter will love you all the same, no matter what your aura mark is.” Luna seemed to tear up slightly, as if she recalled a happy memory.
Apple Bloom smiled in relief, and started to laugh at herself as she shook her head looking to the ground, “That’s so simple. How’d I miss it?” She asked nobody before she returned her gaze to Luna, “I must be the only person in the universe this worried about her aura mark.” she concluded.
Luna giggled, "Oh, We wouldn't say that." Luna said as she tapped her foot on the ground and the two were soon became a hallway impossibly long with uncountable doors on the left and right. Apple Bloom then saw the two doors, they each had the logo of the Cutie Mage Crusaders. She walked to them and was about to open one when Luna placed her hand on the door. "Sorry, but We can't let you go into the dreams of others." Luna told her. Apple Bloom pouted, but Luna was unmoved. The princess of the night did smile, "But you would be surprised by the degree of Reality that Dreams reveal."
Apple Bloom's mind started to wonder, 'Why would Princess Luna show her these two doors with the logo of the C.M.C. and why would Luna not allow her to see inside and yet… Then it all clicked, "Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are havin' the same nightmares too."
Luna nodded, "You are a clever girl, Apple Bloom." The princess informed and patted Apple Bloom on the head. “Your day will come, and you will each have an Aura mark that will each fit you to a T. We know.”
But unlike what Apple Bloom thought, the princess headed to a different door, this one had the exact rendering of a pair of scissors that Babs wrote was her Aura Mark and it was almost oozing out blackness.
Before Luna opened the door, “Babs’ been having nightmares too?” Luna only nodded. “But…” Apple Bloom started but trailed off as something else dawned on her. “Babs’ just got her aura mark and we bonded over not having one each.” Apple Bloom was starting to piece it together. “She’s afraid she won’t be a Crusader anymore and we won’t be friends either.” Luna turned to face Apple Bloom, smiled and tapped the right side of her nose with her right index finger. “Maybe Ah should write her back and let know that she’s still a Crusader and my friend. She is my cousin after all.” Apple Bloom smiled at her maturity. Only to recall something else. “After Ah wake up. Heha.”.
“Good Idea.” Luna said as she conjured a door under Apple Bloom and used her magic to open it.
Apple Bloom almost screamed, but ended up just gasping as she rocked forward and was sitting up in her bed. She then saw the earliest rays of the sun’s light and soon heard a rooster crow. She sighed.
Down stairs, Applejack was making pancakes as she was singing softly, “There ain't no call to worry
So don't you cry or fret.” while Big Mac and Granny were at the table ready to eat.
Apple Bloom then stepped in, dressed in her overalls and ready for the day ahead and finished the song, with her own twist, “An aura mark won't change me
No matter what I get.”
“Told yah a good night's sleep would help yah feel better” Applejack asked as she placed Apple Bloom’s and her plates on the table.
Apple Bloom nodded as she took her seat. “I just wish it hadn't been so exhaustin'” she jested confusing Big Mac and Granny Smith as she dug into her breakfast. Applejack only shook her head and took her seat.