Apple Bloom sat at her sister's side, listening to melo-death while she scribbled in her journal.
"Whatcha writin'?" Applejack questioned, curious what her sibling's brain could've cooked up in just a matter of seconds.
"A story."
"What about?"
"Angel fallin' in love with a pony."
"Sounds hot."
"It ain't that kinda story."
"I know, I know. I'm just messin' with ya."
"Ya ever seen Blood: The Last Vampire?"
"Heard about it back in the day. Can't say I've seen it."
"It's all dark and slow: real emo stuff. It's kinda like that, but not really."
"I gotcha."
A moment of silence passed before the pair spoke again.
"What're these guys called, anyway?"
"Eucharist."
"Like in the bible?"
"Yeah."
"Surprised you still read that thang. Figured you didn't believe in it anymore."
"I don't. Just somethin' ingrained in redneck DNA I guess."
"True."
"Ya ever wonder why that is?"
"Incest, probably."
"That's uncomfortable."
"You asked."
"Ya think Ma and Pa were siblings?"
"Nah. None of us are mutants."
"Good point."
"Do you remember anything about 'em?"
"Nah. I was too little to remember much of anythang. I don't even know what happened to 'em."
"We don't neither. Just one day up and went missin'. Was the last we heard from 'em."
"Which one ya think it was: milk or cigarettes?"
"Wasn't nothin' like that. Nobody knows."
"Eighth wonder of the world, huh?"
"Looks like it."
"I'm about as far as I'm gonna get for now. You should get some rest."
"You gonna smother me in my sleep."
"Takes too long. Ain't effective to kill somebody if they still got the strength to move."
"Now I'm really worried."
"I'm gonna finish talkin' to Scoots and Sweetie Belle. Still gotta try Crysis before I go to jail."
"Okay, well, I love ya, sis."
"Not in that way I hope."
"Get outta here, fucknut."
Apple Bloom smiled. Despite the gap in age, her sister could still keep up with the best of 'em.
"We're a fucked up ass family, ain't we?"
"Darn tootin'."
"Want me to turn off the music?"
"Nah. I kinda like it. Pretty relaxin' when the volume's low."
"I'll check on you before I go to bed."
"See ya then."
"Night."
"Night."
Back in her room, Apple Bloom lifted Winona onto her lap. She seemed notably less cheerful than she had earlier in the day. This shift in mood didn't escape her friends. Scootaloo tried acting like her usual stupid self, hoping something would give.
"Hey, Apple Bloom, me and Sweetie are havin' a debate. What are your thoughts on abortion?"
"How am I supposed to eat 'em if their ho-bag mamas keep killin' 'em?"
"That's what I said!"
"Are you okay," Sweetie asked, unable to keep up the charade any longer, "You look kinda tired."
"I'm always tired." Apple Bloom answered honestly.
"And here millenials thought they were burnt out." Scootaloo teased, praying to God she could break the tension weighing over their conversation.
"Guys, I think I'm gonna turn in early tonight. I was gonna play Crysis, but I don't feel like it anymore."
"You're not goin' anywhere. The shit going through your head's as plain as your snout."
"Some days it just gets to me more than others. I'll be fine tomorrow."
"Somehow I don't believe you."
"Would you relax? It's not what ya think."
"You better come over in the morning. You don't, I'm gonna smack your corpse."
"Cross my heart and hope to die."
"Stick a cupcake in your eye?"
"You know it."
"You so much as think about offin' yourself, you call us, ya hear? We're not lettin' you go anywhere alone."
Apple Bloom couldn't hold her tears back any longer.
"I just want everything to stop..."
"I know, kid...I know..."