Sweetie Belle
“I’m starting to wonder how they farm all these apples in time before they go bad,” Scootaloo mused as we walked down the dirt road to the Apples house.
“I don’t think farm is the right term,” I commented as Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “I think it’s pick.”
“Pick, farm whatever. It’s all really the same Sweetie.”
“They have a pretty big family in this area. Probably have them come help out or they have machines to help them. Haven’t seen Bloom recently.”
“Nor have I.”
I would normally be worried about that considering our account we got but we do have a really big test coming up in our history class so I haven’t really seen Scootaloo much either. This was the first time I’ve seen her in a couple of days to a week.
“Think they might let us play around in the orchard?” Scootaloo asked and cracked her knuckles. “I’m still looking forward to beating Apple Bloom in hide and seek.”
I doubted Scootaloo could, given Apple Bloom lived here and all. She practically knew the area like the back of her hand and wasn’t really afraid of showing off that fact.
“Hey y’all.”
We both jumped and screamed as Apple Bloom gave us a smug smirk. Point proven right there. She practically appeared out of freaking no where.
I prepared to smile back but paused as I took in Apple Blooms appearance. She looked awful and tired, like she hadn’t been sleeping in days.
“You look terrible,” Scootaloo noted flatly as I glared at her. “What, she does!”
“So? Don’t say that!” I chided and looked back at Apple Bloom. “Are you okay?”
“Just been up late harvestin apples with Applejack, Big Mac, Fiddlesticks, Apple Cider, Florina Tart and Candy Apples. But it’s been real nice, not gonna. AJ and ah have been working together late. She’s even finally showing me how to do some family secret cookin.”
“Nice!” I patted her on the back as my friend yawned.
“About time. She’s been saying she would show you for weeks now and hasn’t. Kinda weird how the Element of Honesty or whatever would lie so often to her own sister. Aren’t you supposed to be family?” Scootaloo asked as we stared at her.
“Ah ain’t ever thought about it that way,” Apple Bloom admitted after a moment as we continued walking. “But ya are right, she did kind of lie to me. She made it easy to post her secrets. Ah don’t feel bad about it but Ah do feel bad about us losin that contract with the Bons.”
“Wait, what?” I said as my head whipped to look at her.
“They canceled the contract they had with us. Ah heard Miss Drops even made her daughter give AJ the news. They wanted all their money back from the apples, including a few rotten deliveries.”
“Isn’t that like illegal?” I pointed out as Apple Bloom shook her head.
“No, it’s their right to cancel the the contract and want their money back. Especially since our family technically broke it first.”
“How so?” Scootaloo asked as she kicked a pinecone.
“It’s part of the contract we signed to always check the deliveries for bad apples. And well, Caramel forgot to do that last time and there was a bunch of bad apples in it. And well, they decided to pull the plug. But only for a few months so we can prove ourselves reliable again as long as AJ don’t do the deliveries ever again.”
“Jesus,” Scootaloo whistled and for the first time since this started, she looked uncertain. “Maybe it’s time we pulled the plug too. First Rainbow, then Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy. I can’t imagine if Pinkie got fired from her job. She’d be devastated.”
“I think you’re right,” I sighed and kicked at the dirt. It had primarily been my idea to start the account and the others had jumped on immediately. “Let’s go to Blooms room and do it.”
“Ah concur.”
We turned around and started walking back to the house. I idly wish I wore something other than my shoes I’m wearing right now. I should have worn my boots, more built for walking in terrain like this.
“I’m glad Sunset has Cloudkicker protecting her at least,” Scootaloo said suddenly. “I never wanted for Sunset to get driven out of school or hurt. I just wanted Rainbow back.”
I gave a slight shudder. We had all seen the video of the fight at the mall and it kinda disgusted us all that they would attack her in public.
“I can agree. Stupid people.”
I never really wanted to see Sunset hurt either. If I had truly know she would have been hurt, I would have lived with the fact that Rarity didn’t really care about me anymore and go live with my grandparents or something. At least they live in Canterlot so I could still see my friends. And well, have actual family.
We got closer to the house in time to watch a black limo leave as we all gave each other confused looks.
“What’s that about that?” I asked as Apple Bloom shrugged in confusion, opening the front door.
“Ah ain’t got a clue.”
“Oh there yall are. Your little friend is upstairs,” Granny Smith called out from the kitchen as my brow furrowed. As far as I knew, Pipsqueak and Rumble didn’t get rides in limos.
Now that I think about, I haven’t really spent much time with them recently outside of our school project. But that was last week. I made a mental note to make plans to hang out with them tomorrow as Scootaloo and I followed Apple Bloom up to her room.
Apple Bloom opened her door and we all froze with stunned expressions.
“What are you doing here?” Scootaloo asked warily as Diamond Tiara shrugged nonchalantly. “Last time I checked, you were still our bully.”
Diamond Tiara gave a smile that lacked any warmth and I shivered.
“Oh you tell me, Anon a Miss.”