Sweetie Belle couldn’t help but wonder what it was she saw outside. A part of her entertained the idea of an attack, but the orbital defenses would have warned about that a while ago, and the Iron Will would have already sprang into action by now. She concluded it must have just been a drill, or perhaps a meteor shower of some sort. She may have come to a different conclusion had she stayed on the roof a bit longer, but she had no desire to stay there and freeze to death.
Sweetie Belle made her way back down into the hospital in hopes of finding her stallion. A part of her also wanted to meet up with Apple Bloom as well, but another part of her didn’t want to deal with that at the moment. They would have plenty of time to argue the ethics of equilibrium later.
As she made her way through the hospital, she turned a corner and bumped into the last person she wanted to see, Twilight Sparkle.
Twilight almost lost her concentration and dropped the laptop she was carrying with her. “Hey watch where you’re… Sweetie Belle?” asked Twilight. “Oh I’m sorry little sister. I had to fling so much of the hospital staff and patients out of the way earlier because they were crowding the halls. It put me in a semi-violent mood.”
“Stop calling me your sister!” demanded Sweetie Belle.
Twilight seemed disappointed. “After all I’ve done for you? Helping with your training, keeping DI off your trail, unlocking your powers? Not to mention getting you here without a scratch and this is how you repay me? Hmph!" was Twilight's reply
“Did for me?! You killed me parents! I should kill you right now!” shouted Sweetie Belle, not carrying who was listening to her make death threats.
“What? Sweetie Belle, I didn’t touch your parents. I’m a pacifist, I don’t perform acts of violence against my fellow ponies… except for all of those patients and hospital staff I flung out of the hall a while ago,” replied Twilight.
“Right, you got someone else to do your dirty work for you,” countered Sweetie Belle.
“Sweetie, what would I gain from killing a couple of hicks from a backwater? If your parents are dead, I had nothing to do with it,” said Twilight. “Besides, if I had killed them, lying and saying they were alive wouldn’t be my style. No, I would have lied and told you that you killed them when you lost control of your powers in an effort to motivate you to focus on your training,”
Now that she heard her say it, that actually did sound like something Twilight would have done. “Well if you had nothing to do with it, then who would have?” asked Sweetie Belle.
Twilight shrugged. “No idea. But I had much more important things going on than trying to kill your parents. I assure you I had nothing to do with it. I’m going to assume you’re here to visit Sovereign?”
“Yeah… do you know where he is?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Of course I do! When I found out he was being sent here, I moved him into Apple Bloom's room,” answered Twilight. She started tapping a hoof against her forehead. “While you’re talking to him, perhaps you could convince him to disable my inhibitor?”
“Go to hell,” replied Sweetie Belle.
“Little sister, you need to watch your tongue!” demanded Twilight. “Well think about it. I’m sure I can find a way to make it worth both your while.” Twilight continued walking off with her laptop levitating beside her. Without turning around she said, “By the way, stay in the hospital. Trust me, you don’t want to be outdoors for a while.”
Sweetie Belle didn’t even entertain the idea of helping Twilight with her inhibitor. Though it would be nice to find a way to turn it on and never turn it off. She eventually made her way over to Apple Bloom's hospital room. She hesitated outside the door, working up the nerve to face her friend. She decided to take a peek in Apple Bloom's mind to see if perhaps she was asleep? As she did so, she discovered Apple Bloom was in a psychic conversation with Sovereign at the moment. Sweetie Belle decided it would be best to just eavesdrop and pay attention rather than interrupt.
As Sweetie Belle listened to the conversation, she started to feel worse about knocking Apple Bloom through that wall. True Apple Bloom had slept with her boyfriend, but not only was Apple Bloom drunk, Sweetie Belle also just found out how self-conscious Apple Bloom was about herself.
Apple Bloom's next question however was more than a little upsetting. If you and Sweetie weren’t together… do you think you and I could ever… you know? Now she was taking it too far. What was Apple Bloom thinking asking a question like that?! But once again, it just came down to Apple Bloom's lack of self-confidence.
Sweetie Belle was shocked that she never noticed it before. Apple Bloom was one of the last people who she ever thought would have a problem with self-confidence. She was one of the smartest, toughest mares she knew. The way Apple Bloom took charge of the situation in the terran ruins suggested a mare with nerves of steel, not a little filly who secretly worried what the stallions thought of her. It was just so strange seeing her so vulnerable right now.
Maybe that’s why she never talked about it with her friends? Scootaloo often looked to Apple Bloom to be the smart one and voice of reason. Sweetie Belle, who was easily the weakest of the three in their youth, often looked to Apple Bloom as her rock and source of strength. Perhaps that’s why Apple Bloom didn’t talk to her friends about it. She couldn’t afford to look weak, not when she felt her friends leaning on her all the time.
Sweetie Belle was also somewhat upset to find out that Sovereign had taken a peek at Apple Bloom while she was changing. “That pig!” she whispered to herself. She then calmed herself down to avoid giving herself away. Truth is ever since she had been trained in mental intrusion, being around stallions was making her uncomfortable. It wasn’t welcome knowledge knowing stallions were always thinking really gross things about her. Still she had hoped Sovereign was above such things. “I guess some things never change,” she thought to herself. She knew she wasn’t in a position to judge either considering how she acted the first time in front of Shining Armor; before she realized he was a blood thirsty savage that is.
The final part of their conversation however was possibly the most intriguing. Sovereign apparently had an embarrassing secret of his own. Sweetie Belle would not be able to get it out of Sovereign, but perhaps if she rummaged around Apple Bloom's head for a while, she could dig up Sovereign's dirty little secret?
She didn’t like what she was finding though. For one thing, Apple Bloom had developed feelings for Sovereign after all. While hardly romantic, that alcohol induced night of passion did bring them closer in an awkward way. Opening up to one another in the hospital room wasn’t helping either. Sweetie Belle knew firsthand how intimate mental conversations could be. All emotions were shared, and two people would communicate on a much closer level than mere words could ever express. Granted, Apple Bloom had no intention of twice betraying her, it was still discomforting knowing Apple Bloom would be eyeballing her boyfriend. The fact Apple Bloom knows Sovereign finds her attractive now certainly doesn’t help things either.
Before she could dig into Apple Bloom's mind any deeper, alarms started to go off outside. Sweetie Belle swore she could hear weapon fire as well. Concluding that now was not the time to continue her probing, she finally entered the hospital room.
The two looked at her, but said nothing due to the restraints on their mouths.
Were you listening to us!? asked Sovereign. Once again he forgot he was still linked with Apple Bloom, so she heard it too.
She heard everything?! replied Apple Bloom. I guess trying to kill me wasn’t bad enough. Now you have to go eavesdropping on my private conversations too don’t you?
“I didn’t try to kill you!” defended Sweetie Belle. “If I wanted you dead, you would been smeared against the wall. I smashed it open with my own telekinetic force… mostly. You only took a portion of the impact. Your body passing through it was simply a painful and well deserved side effect as I brought you to the stairs so I could throw you down the stair way.”
Wouldn’t the door have been less dangerous? asked Sovereign.
“It was a very nice door,” said Sweetie Belle.
Sovereign and Apple Bloom both sighed at once. She was always the airhead of the group, said Apple Bloom.
“Screw you!” shouted Sweetie Belle. “This is why I said it was well deserved. And as I said, I wasn't trying to kill you. It was just equilibrium. Now I can’t be mad at you for sleeping with my boyfriend, and you can’t be mad at me for throwing you through a wall. Let’s let bygones be bygones.”
That’s outstanding logic Sweetie Belle! The problem is… I’M STILL ANGRY WITH YOU! replied Apple Bloom.
Sovereign decided to interrupt. “Ladies I know you have some issues to work out, but personally I’m more concerned with the explosions and sirens going off outside.”
“Don’t make this about you!” shouted the mares simultaneously, one through voice and the other through thought.
Sweetie Belle took a deep breath. “You know what… you’re right. At first I thought it was just a betrayal, but after listening in on you two… maybe I was too harsh,” admitted Sweetie Belle. “Apple Bloom I didn’t know that’s how you saw yourself. I guess maybe it’s not entirely your fault you acted the way you did. I just wish it didn’t have to be with my boyfriend. You’re supposed to be my best friend. I thought if there was one person I could trust not to do that it would have been you.”
Apple Bloom took a deep breath next before replying. More so out of habit than necessity. I’m sorry too. I was feeling really down on myself. Sovereign was feeling very upset over the way you talked to him. I got him drunk, then I got drunk. When you pretty much told him that you didn’t care what he did anymore, and that he was a worthless idiot… I started trying to comfort him. admitted Apple Bloom. But as he started talking about all the things he’s done wrong, I started to do the same. Then I started becoming very depressed, so he started trying to comfort me and… you know what happened next. It’s no excuse and I wish I could take it back but I can’t. I’m sorry alright. But I still think you reacted poorly, especially considering the things you said to Sovereign. I don’t quite blame him for running into another mare's hooves.
Khala no! thought Sovereign.
“You bitch…” said Sweetie Belle.
What? replied Apple Bloom.
Despite the pain, Sovereign managed to facehoof. Once again Apple Bloom. Part of being psychically linked with someone is they know EVERYTHING you are thinking, unless you are trained to resist intrusion. said Sovereign
“You think I’m a terrible girlfriend don’t you? You think Sovereign would be better off going home with you to the farm!” shouted Sweetie Belle.
I never said that! replied Apple Bloom.
But she knows you thought it, informed Sovereign.
Apple Bloom glared back at Sweetie Belle. You know what? Screw this! I don’t have to hide what I’m thinking. Yeah, I do think that you’re a terrible girlfriend. Sovereign told me every detail he could remember about all the things he thinks he did wrong. How he tried to open himself up to you and how you shot him down. How he tried to explain his situation with Rain Sight, only to have you shoot him in the foot. He actually thought every last thing that went wrong has his fault. Some of it was, but maybe if you would just learn to control yourself, a lot of stupid crap could have been avoided! Perhaps then you wouldn’t have lost control of your powers, perhaps all those people wouldn’t have died, perhaps you wouldn’t have shot the same stallion you claim to love so much! Perhaps if you had just realized that stupid prank with the costume wasn’t his fault, he wouldn’t have 'betrayed you' last night!
“And perhaps you need to realized that was just a drunken one night stand that isn’t ever going to happen again!” shouted Sweetie Belle.
You’re an angry psychotic bitch Sweetie Belle. You’re the last person a stallion should ever be with! replied Apple Bloom, no longer afraid of the fact Sweetie Belle could probably end her with a thought.
Items in the room began to vibrate as Sweetie Belle started to lose control.
Sweetie please don’t do this! begged Sovereign.
Sweetie Belle's eye twitched for a few moments. Her legs were shaking, her teeth were grinding. Then out of nowhere, she seemed to just calm down. Sweetie Belle released a relaxed sigh while closing her eyes before replying. “Apple Bloom. I appreciate your honesty. I think it’s unhealthy for two friends to keep things bottled up like that. Now that everything is out in the open, I finally understand how you really feel. But let me hit you with some reality. I know you ‘THINK’ you love Sovereign, but you don’t. It was a drunken one night stand, and you are just so pathetic a mare that it’s only natural you would ‘fall in love’ after your first time. But Sovereign won’t be going back with you to your farm, you won’t be getting married, you won’t be making little foals, and you won’t be living happily ever after with him,” informed Sweetie Belle.
Apple Bloom's face was one of deep anger and resentment, though her eyes were also running with tears.
Sovereign finally tried to speak. “Ladies, I’m really sorry if I came between the two of-”
“Stop making this about you!” the two mares once again interrupted. Sovereign didn’t know what he could say. Apparently all he could do was let the two mares work things out amongst themselves, and pray things didn’t turn violent.
Sweetie Belle continued. “I honestly do hope that we can still be friends. I don’t want a stallion to come between us. I understand that I’m the one who forced the truth out of you, and I shouldn’t be upset just because I didn’t like the answer. But I assure that Sovereign and I will find a way to make things work. I still welcome your friendship, and I value your advice. And you’re right I did react very poorly to that prank, and I lashed out at the wrong person. That said if you ever sleep with my boyfriend again, I promise you that your last punishment will be a massage compared to what I’ll do to you next time. Now that it’s all out in the open, can we please let bygones be bygones?”
Apple Bloom just continued to glare at her 'friend.' Finally Apple Bloom smiled. You really have become everything Dominion Intelligence wanted you to become didn’t you? A few months ago, you were the mare I would have gladly died for. You were the mare who gave her life for me. Now look at you? You’ve become a violent possessive monster. From what I know about Twilight, you really are becoming her little sister. Sweetie Belle's eye twitched just a little as she said those words. But yes, I am prepared to let bygones be bygones.
More explosions started to go off outside. Power in the hospital shut off for just a moment, then the lights turned back on. So… I’m pretty sure we’re under attack right now. Any ideas as to what we should do? asked Sovereign.
Twilight said the safest place was in the hospital, reminded Apple Bloom.
“Twilight also said she’d keep Rain Sight's father from being executed,” replied Sweetie Belle. “Something tells me Twilight’s plan is coming apart at the seams.” Sweetie Belle was still in her dress, now drenched in melted snow. Her dress lifted to reveal two pistols she managed to hide. “You two won’t be going anywhere I’ll assume. I’ll go check outside.”
What if they’re in armor? asked Sovereign. I don’t think a powder based weapon is going have much effect.
“Give me a break, it’s all I could hide. My rifle was too big, even when broken down,” explained Sweetie Belle. “If anything, it’s better than sticks and harsh language.”
As Sweetie Belle was about to leave, a presence made itself aware to them. Something dark and powerful. Whatever it was, it was making no attempt to hide itself, and it was getting closer. It seemed as if it wanted to be noticed. As if it were challenging any other magic users to try and stop it.
Do you feel that? asked Sovereign.
“I do… there is a disturbance in the force,” said Sweetie Belle. She quickly ran out of the room to see what was happening outside.
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes at the reference. Sovereign don’t tell anyone because it’s a sin where I come from. I hate terran culture. I really really do.
Sovereign chuckled a bit. The moment was cut short by the sound of a loud blast and a shaking. In spite of the pain he was still in, Sovereign got out of bed began to unfold a wheel chair that was in the room, then started releasing Apple Bloom of her restraints.
Apple Bloom groaned in pain as he lowered her limbs. What are you doing!? she asked. This time she shouted as Sovereign lifted her off her bed, and onto the wheel chair.
I’m really sorry about that, but I don’t think this is the safest place after all. This room is by a window, and I think that’s the last place we want to be. We’re going underground, answered Sovereign. Using a combination of his currently diminished magic, and physical strength, he began to push Apple Bloom's bed out of the door.
Sovereign you said you wouldn’t make it to the front door on your own! Let alone push me somewhere else, argued Apple Bloom.
Well that was before bombs started going off. Nothing like the fear of death to motivate, am I right? asked Sovereign jokingly.
The sound of another blast going off filled the air. The two ponies could only wonder what the hell was happening. Please be careful Sweetie, thought Apple Bloom.
I’m surprised to hear you say that after that argument you two just had. said Sovereign.
That wasn’t our first argument, and it won’t be our last, said Apple Bloom. Granted she did put me in the hospital, she also sacrificed herself for me on Mar Sara. She’s also fighting right now to keep us safe. One argument isn’t going to make me forget that.
Sovereign almost couldn’t believe it. He was certain the two mares would never want to talk to each other again after that argument. He felt horrible for coming between the two of them the way he did. The fact they could come back from such an argument like that and still be friends was nothing short of amazing, and somewhat even inspiring.
Sovereign continued pushing at a snail’s pace. The halls were busy, and no one paid them much attention. Most of the staff had been called away from the rooms to elsewhere, no doubt preparing for the influx of injuries about to come in. He even saw a pair of armored ponies as well. Sovereign wanted to ask what was going on, but with his mouth still restrained he couldn’t talk. He also remembered how unwelcomed psychics were on this world.
One of the militia told the other, “Did you hear?! They shot down the Iron Will. Supposedly everyone on board is dead!”
Sovereign almost dropped to his knees, while Apple Bloom's eyes began to tear up. Scoots… Jet… Rainbow thought Apple Bloom.
Rain Sight, thought Sovereign. Sovereign quickly regained his composure and began to push again. There… there is nothing we can do for them now. We have to get somewhere safe.
Finally they made it to an elevator. While generally a bad idea to use an elevator with bombs going off outside, with three out of four of Apple Bloom's limbs out of commission, they certainly weren’t going to be taking the stairs. They entered the elevator and took it to the basement level. They were now in an underground parking lot. Worst case scenario the whole building could come down on them. But if that happened, they were probably dead no matter where they were in the hospital. All they could do now was pray for the best.
So Sovereign… about what I was thinking earlier, said Apple Bloom. I know you and Sweetie Belle have a thing going on. I just want you to know I have no intention of getting between the two of you. Yes I did… somewhat fantasize a happy life with us but, Apple Bloom tried to think of how to finish that sentence.
Hey it’s nothing to be embarrassed about, said Sovereign. After my first time with Twilight, I actually said “I love you” when we finished.
Really?! Twilight? That mare who you’re running away from? asked Apple Bloom. So… you and Twilight had something going on?
No, we never did, said Sovereign. She took advantage of my naive nature, and captured me. But I’ll be honest. Before I realized I had been drugged, I really did see myself spending the rest of my life with her. So yeah, my first time was a one night stand too, and I also thought I was in love for a bit. I actually did get used and tossed aside. She planned on ripping my thoughts out, then probably throwing me in a dumpster.
Wow… and I thought I had it bad, said Apple Bloom.
That aside, it seems natural to think you love the first person you sleep with. Don’t worry about it Apple Bloom. You’ll eventually meet another nice stallion, and he’ll treat you the way you deserve to be treated. And if he doesn’t, just let me know and I’ll rip his head off, promised Sovereign.
Apple Bloom chuckled behind her mouth wiring. I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks Sovereign.
Even though his situation was far more unusual, it was nice to know that she wasn’t the only one who had “fallen in love” after a one night stand. The problem was that unlike Sovereign's situation with Twilight, Apple Bloom still held feelings for him, even though she knew she could never act on them.
If there was one saving grace to all of this, it’s that the hospital itself wasn’t under attack just yet. The two ponies could only guess how long that would last.