//------------------------------// // 1 - Our Hatred Is Strong // Story: Not Quite Romeo & Juliet [NaPoWriMo 2013] // by Yukito //------------------------------// From behind a thin layer of glass, Filthy Rich watched with a smile as the nurse on the other side carried his new bundle of joy wrapped in a blanket, and placed her gently down into one of the open cots. The filly lay there, wide awake and staring back towards the stallion watching her, stretching her hooves out as if trying to touch him. Filthy Rich simply waved at his daughter as she tried and struggled to reach him. “She’s a cute one,” Mr. Apple said as he approached with a red, teenage colt walking by his side, and slightly younger orange filly sleeping on his back. “My wife’s was jus’ delivered an hour after yours.” “I heard,” Filthy Rich said. “A healthy young filly, just like Diamond Tiara.” “That’s what ya named her?” Filthy Rich nodded. “We’re still tryin’ ta decide between Apple Blossom, after ma great grandma, or Nature Bloom, after Granny Smith’s favourite aunt.” “Daddy,” the colt said, tugging at his father’s leg, “This place is borin’. Can’t ah go wait at the arcade?” “Don’t ya wanna see yer new lil’ sister?” Mr. Apple asked. He turned to the glass and pointed to the cot that housed the small yellow filly with a tiny patch of red mane. “There she is, sleeping peacefully next to Mr. Rich’s daughter.” “So that’s her?” Filthy Rich asked as he shifted his attention to the sleeping filly. “They’re both the same age. I’m sure they’ll be good friends in the future, just like you and I.” Diamond Tiara stopped trying to reach forward and turned her head to the side. Next to her, she found something small and yellow, its eyes closed and a smile on its face as its body moved up-and-down gently. She turned back to the stallion behind the glass, and back to the small yellow thing beside her. Filthy Rich and Mr. Apple gasped in unison as they watched Diamond Tiara swing her leg and smack the sleeping filly’s nose, waking her up and causing her to start crying. It wasn’t long before Diamond Tiara joined in, and soon every single filly and colt in the room was wide awake and wailing. “… In a few years, that is,” Filthy Rich added, laughing nervously alongside his friend.’ It was a late night down at Sweet Apple Acres. Usually by this time of night, the Apples would all be turned in the for the night, ready for an early morning of apple bucking – or school, for one little filly – the following morning. Tonight though, candlelight flickered in the farmhouse’s kitchen as Applejack spoke with their guest about important business. Filthy Rich smiled as he and Applejack shook their hooves, reaching an agreement together on the matter at hoof. “As for location…” “It has ta be the farm,” Applejack said. “Old family tradition. There’s no way Granny Smith would back down, and neither will ah.” “That is fine,” Filthy Rich said. “The farm will be suitable, but it will have to be… prepared, to my daughter’s liking.” “Alright, tell ya what. We’ll set a spot down in the west orchard aside an’ on the day, ah’ll leave the preparations ta you.” “Agreed.” The two shook hooves once again. “I do believe that is everything taken care of.” “Ah believe ye’re right,” Applejack said. “This arrangement will bring our two families even closer to one another.” “Ah’ll drink ta that. In fact…” Applejack turned around to face the red stallion sitting in the living room behind her. “Big Macintosh, could y’all fetch some o’ that cider from the cellar? The good stuff we’ve been savin’ for special occasions.” “Eeyup,” Big Macintosh said as he placed his book down and climbed out of his seat. Applejack turned back to Filthy Rich and looked down at the papers on the table beneath her. She sighed. “If only ma and pa were here to see this day.” Filthy Rich could only offer a solemn nod. “They were a great loss, to be sure.” He pulled the papers towards himself and gathered them up, arranging them in order and making sure that they were all straight. “But let’s not dwell on such matters right now,” he said with a warm smile. “Today is a day of joy, after all.” “Ya darn tootin’!” Applejack said. Big Macintosh entered the kitchen and approached the two a bottle in his mouth. He set it down and offered two glasses to the conversing ponies. “Ya ain’t gonna join us?” Applejack asked as she poured out two drinks. “… Eeyup.” Big Macintosh grabbed a third glass from a nearby cabinet and pulled up a chair at the table, helping himself to a serving of the cider from the bottle. “To family,” Filthy Rich said as he held up his glass. “To family,” Applejack and Big Macintosh repeated. The three all downed their drinks and gave pleasant sighs. That cider was good. “Ah can’t wait ta tell Apple Bloom the good news,” Applejack said. “She’s sleepin’ over at Rarity’s with her friends tonight, so it’ll have ta wait until tomorrow.” “I doubt Diamond Tiara will even hear me if I tell her tonight,” Filthy Rich said with a laugh. “I’ll bring Diamond Tiara here after school tomorrow, and we can tell the two of them together. How does that sound?” “Ah reckon that’s a swell idea!” Applejack said. Filthy Rich nodded and pushed his chair back. “Well then, I suppose I shouldn’t keep you up any longer. I’ll be on my way now.” “It’s no trouble,” Applejack said. “But perhaps we should part ways for the night.” “I’m truly happy, though,” Filthy Rich said as he allowed Big Macintosh to help him with his coat. “Thank you. I’ve been worried about what sort of pony would one day try to take advantage of Diamond’s wealth and naivety… but your sister Apple Bloom seems like a perfect partner for my little girl.” “The two will make a great couple,” Applejack said. “Ah jus’ can’t wait ‘til they’re old enough so that we can throw the perfect weddin’ for ‘em.” The following morning, at the Ponyville schoolhouse, the sounds of cheering and laughter filled the air as fillies and colts of all ages played together on the school’s playground. The sounds stopped momentarily as Cheerilee stepped outside of her classroom, but picked up again when they realised that the school’s bell had not yet rang. Cheerilee, her brow furrowed and her eyes focussed, took her first step into the fun-infested playground. She walked past several students who were playing, singing, or just talking to each other, but she did not cast her attention on any of them. Her eyes remain focussed on the large oak tree on the other side of the playground, just past the unoccupied swing set. Two little fillies came into view as she left the playground and neared the large tree. Her eyes caught fire and she took in a deep breath as she stopped at the foot of the tree, where the two fillies, Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara, were in a heap together on the floor, their hooves pulling at each other’s manes. “Just give it up already, blank flank!” Diamond Tiara shouted. “Apologise ta mah friend!” Apple Bloom demanded. “It’s not my fault they’re such lo-” “APPLE BLOOM, DIAMOND TIARA!” Cheerilee shouted, freezing the two fillies immediately and causing their eyes to slowly shift towards their very angry teacher looming over them. “A-hem!” The two fillies realised that they were still grabbing each other’s manes and quickly let go, scrambling to their hooves and standing at attention before their teacher. “She started it!” Apple Bloom shouted. “Did not!” Diamond Tiara said quickly, tears in her eyes. “I was just walking by and she misheard what I said, then got violent all of a sudden!” “Oh please!” Apple Bloom scoffed. “You told Twist, to her face, that her candy taste like dirt!” “That’s a lie!” “Enough, both of you!” Cheerilee snapped, silencing the two fillies at once. “I don’t care who started it! The fact remains that the two of you were fighting on school grounds, again!” Cheerilee sighed and brought a hoof to her face, feeling a headache coming along. “I know that the two of you hate each other, but I’ve told you, time and again, that you must show restraint. Otherwise, you’ll get in trouble, like right now.” Neither of them had anything to say to that. They simply turned their heads so that they wouldn’t have to look at each other, and remained silent so that they wouldn’t anger Cheerilee any further. “Both of you will serve detention after school tomorrow.” “What?!” both fillies squeaked. “Tomorrow’s Friday!” Apple Bloom pointed out. “Why not today?!” “Because of that exact reason,” Cheerilee said. “I’ve had it with constantly catching the two of you fighting and having to break it up. Hopefully this time, you’ll actually learn your lessons.” “But-” “No buts!” Cheerilee said. “Class will be starting in five minutes. Diamond Tiara, why don’t you come along and help Silver Spoon with setting up the chairs in the classroom? That way I can be sure there’ll be no further fighting between the two of you.” Diamond Tiara lowered her head and grumbled as she followed Cheerilee across the playground and towards the schoolhouse. Many students were watching the scene from afar, but as soon as the situation seemed to be resolved, many of them lost interest. The exceptions were Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, who were now approaching Apple Bloom with wide grins on their faces. “What?” Apple Bloom asked, seeing her friends smiling her way. “Another fight with Diamond Tiara?” Scootaloo asked. “That makes, what, three times this week?” “… Four,” Apple Bloom corrected. “You two just can’t keep your hooves off of each other, can you?” Sweetie Belle asked. “That’s cause ah hate her!” Apple Bloom said. “An’ she hates me!” “We know,” Scootaloo said. “But I told you before, you can’t just start fighting like that in public. You should find somewhere where nopony will see you, otherwise you’ll get in trouble.” “It’s not like we plan our fights,” Apple Bloom said. “They jus’ sorta… happen.” “Well, just try to control yourself a little more in school,” Sweetie Belle said. “That time in the classroom bothered a lot of the other students.” “Ah’ll try,” Apple Bloom said, though whether she meant it or not was a different matter altogether. “Ah know one thing for sure, though: ah hate that filly, an’ ah wish I could just spend everyday not seein’ her smug face ever again.” “I don’t get why you let her get under your skin so much,” Scootaloo said as she and her friends began to move back onto the playground. “I mean, sure she’s kinda annoying, but why do you let her tick you off so much?” “Ah…” Apple Bloom thought about it seriously for a moment. “… Ah can’t help it. Everythin’ about her jus’ annoys me so much. Her stupid, snooty voice, that annoyin’ hitch-pitched giggle, that grin she always has whenever she’s bein’ condescendin’. Everythin’ about her jus’ drives me crazy an’ makes me wanna kick her!” “Wow. Sounds like you really hate her,” Sweetie Belle said, receiving a nod from Apple Bloom. “Ever since we first met as lil’ fillies, ah knew she was the one ah’d hate forever.” The school’s bell rang and Scootaloo wrapped a foreleg around her friend as they made their way towards the schoolhouse. “Well, let’s just go inside and forget about Diamond Tiara for now.” “And after school, we can go over to Fluttershy’s and try to get our bird feeding Cutie Marks,” Sweetie Belle suggested. Apple Bloom shook her head, however. “Ah can’t,” she said. “Ah have ta go back home right after school. Applejack said she had something important ta discuss with me.” “Oh. Bummer,” Scootaloo said. “Well, hey, we’ll be at Fluttershy’s anyway and you can just drop by whenever!” Apple Bloom nodded. “Eeyup! Ah’ll be there!” Despite the minor incident in the playground that morning, which became the talk of the day very easily during the first period that day until Cheerilee told everypony to quiet down, the day went by quickly and without any more fights breaking out. Occasionally, Apple Bloom would cast a deathly glare towards her archenemy and vice versa, but Cheerilee used her quick wit and judgement to separate the two fillies before it could grow beyond that. Apple Bloom was allowed to sit with her friend Twist for the day, and even though that resulted in Cheerilee constantly having to remind them not to talk in class, the teacher felt that it was a fair trade. As the final bell rang, alerting everypony that it was the end of the school day, Cheerilee finished her lesson on a cliff-hanger by leaving a question unanswered until tomorrow. She encouraged everypony to have a think about it until, and had little doubt that only one or two ponies in the class would actually do so. “Apple Bloom, Diamond Tiara, I would like to see the two of you before you leave.” Apple Bloom groaned, but then remembered something that might be able to save her. “Miss Cheerilee, ah have ta go home right after school today. Applejack said she had something important ta tell me.” “Daddy wants me to get home as quickly as possible, too,” Diamond said. “You liar!” Apple Bloom shouted, not believing her for a second. She knew that Diamond Tiara always had an excuse or two prepared for skipping detention, but she couldn’t believe she would copy Apple Bloom’s legitimate excuse. “It’s true this time!” Diamond argued, before quickly slamming her hooves over her mouth at the notice of her slipup. Cheerilee didn’t care though. She knew that most of Diamond’s excuses were false. After all, she was terrible at forging her father’s signature, and her father knew not to spell daughter as ‘dorter’. “This will only take a second,” Cheerilee assured them. “I need to give you two your detention slips anyway, so your families will understand why you were late returning home.” “Good luck,” Silver Spoon whispered to Diamond Tiara as she threw he saddlebag onto her back. “Remember, puppy eyes reduce grounding sentences.” “Shut up,” Diamond Tiara muttered, though repressing a smile as Silver Spoon giggled. “Well, we’ll be over at Fluttershy’s then,” Scootaloo said to Apple Bloom. “If you manage to avoid being grounded, come join us later!” “Don’t worry Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle said. “Compared to the last fifty-seven fights you two have had this year, this one was the least destructive, so you should be fine.” “Gee, thanks,” Apple Bloom said in a sarcastic tone. “No problem,” Sweetie Belle said with a smile. “Just remember, treat any extra chores as a chance to earn a Cutie Mark!” “Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle,” Cheerilee called out, signalling for them to leave the classroom. “Later!” Scootaloo said as she ran out of the classroom. “Bye!” Sweetie Belle said as she followed. “Apple Bloom, Diamond Tiara.” Cheerilee pointed to the spot in front of her desk. “Stand here, both of you.” The two fillies sighed and placed their bags down before approaching the indicated spot. As they arrived, they tried to stand as far apart from each other as they could without disobeying their teacher and moving away from the spot they were told to stand. Apple Bloom gagged as the scent of Diamond Tiara’s rich perfume entered her nose. It was the unique scent that only this filly in all of Ponyville wore, and it had easily made the top spot in Apple Bloom’s most repugnant smells. Their tails brushed against each other momentarily, and they both shuddered as a cold chill descended their spine. Diamond wanted to vomit as the thick Country smell from Apple Bloom assaulted her nose, and as she glanced to her left she cringed at the messy, untidy hair that clearly hadn’t been washed that morning. Diamond Tiara couldn’t fathom how any filly in their right mind could go without washing their hair properly every day, but then, she was certain that Apple Bloom wasn’t in her right mind. All-in-all, just being close to each other was enough to make either filly feel sick to their stomachs and to feel their bodies grow cold as they heartbeats slowed down. “You two,” Cheerilee began. “You two are always fighting with each other, and it has to stop. Now.” Neither filly responded. They knew by now that it would be useless to argue against anything that their teacher said. “I know that the two of you don’t like each other,” Cheerilee said. “Hate,” Apple Bloom corrected. “And that’s alright,” Cheerilee said. “Not everypony can become friends so easily, and it’s unreasonable to expect somepony to get along with every last pony that they met. There will be times where you meet somepony you simply can’t stand, or who you simply don’t agree with, and it’s perfectly natural. And you can’t control who you dislike. “I won’t force the two of you to like each other, however, you also have to realise that there is a right and a wrong way to approach this rivalry of yours. Hitting and kicking each other is simply not acceptable, and all of these arguments on school grounds is just disruptive to the other students. I’m sure that many of them would rather not see two fillies argue so passionately whilst they are trying to work. “You understand what I am saying, right?” The two fillies nodded, but Cheerilee wasn’t done with her lecture just yet. “The two of you are at that age where you’re beginning to feel new things. Things that you’ve never felt before, and it must be very confusing for you. Your dislike towards each other is only going to get worse, but you simply must control yourselves. And if there’s ever a point where you feel you need somepony to talk to, or that you just need to take a few minutes to calm yourselves down, you know that my door is always open.” “Yes Miss Cheerilee,” both fillies replied in unison. Cheerilee sighed. She knew that they weren’t really paying attention, and that they were just saying whatever they could to get out of there as quickly as possible. “Here are your detention slips,” Cheerilee said as she pulled out two thin strips of paper from her desk and handed one to each filly. “Remember, if you don’t hand these to your families, you will be in even more trouble. I expect to see the both of you here tomorrow after school.” “Yes Miss Cheerilee.” “Can ah go now?” Apple Bloom asked. “Not before you apologise for hurting Diamond Tiara,” Cheerilee said. She turned to Diamond Tiara. “And the same goes for you. You may dislike whoever you wish, but violence is never acceptable.” The two fillies turned to each other with glares so hot they could melt ice. “… ‘M srry,” Apple Bloom muttered though clenched teeth. Diamond Tiara was visibly sweating as she tried to force the words out of her mouth. “… S-Sorrrrrrrrr… y…” Cheerilee slammed a hoof into her face. ‘Just take it. It’s the best you’ll get out of them.’ “You may leave now,” she said. Since Apple Bloom was the closest to the door, she left first. Diamond simply waited for Apple Bloom to be out of sight before she also left, leaving Cheerilee alone in the empty classroom as the teacher rubbed her forehooves against the sides of head and groaned. “Honestly, how do their families get along so well together?” After a long trek through Ponyville, which was made even longer by Apple Bloom’s paced walking speed in an attempt to delay the inevitable scolding, the farmhouse finally came into view for the disheartened filly. “Ah guess there’s no way around it,” she said to herself as she walked up the dirt road leading towards her house. “Might as well go on in and get it over with…” On her way down the road, Apple Bloom found her brother Big Macintosh working the fields. Not bucking the trees as one would imagine him doing. That was actually a stereotype that Apple Bloom and her family didn’t much care for. They did far more than just kick apple trees each and every day, and right now, Big Macintosh was simply pruning the trees to keep them healthy. “Welcome back,” Big Mac said as he stopped for a moment to speak to his little sister. “Applejack’s waitin’ in the livin’ room for ya. Y’should hurry up.” “Yeah…” Big Mac raised an eyebrow at the filly’s sluggish movements and the depressed tone in her voice. “Somethin’ wrong?” “Ah jus’… had a bad day is all,” Apple Bloom replied. “Ya wanna talk about it?” her brother asked, though she simply shook her head. “No…” ‘Applejack’s gonna have a few words ta say, anyway, when ah show her this detention slip.’ Big Macintosh simply shrugged. “Well, when y’all hear the news Applejack’s got for ya, ah reckon you’ll be right as rain in no time.” ‘News?’ Apple Bloom looked back towards the farmhouse and picked up her pace a little bit. ‘Ah wonder what it is? Maybe if it’s good enough she’ll look past me gettin’ detention tomorrow!’ As Apple Bloom neared the farmhouse, she caught sight of Granny Smith sleeping on the porch outside, rocking back and forth in her favourite rocking chair and mumbling something about the world’s largest zap apple pie in-between snores. Apple Bloom slowed down as she approached and crouched down so that she could sneak quietly up the porch steps, taking care not to make any sounds that could wake the old mare up. “Apple Bloom!” Apple Bloom jumped and turned to face Granny Smith with a startled look on her face. “Ah told ya… not ta leave those darn toys lyin’ ‘round… Somepony’ll break their back one’f these days…” Apple Bloom let out a breath of relief as she realised it was only the ramblings of a dreaming pony, and resumed her mission to enter her house without alerting the sleeping mare. Slowly, carefully, she opened the door until there was a space just big enough for her to squeeze through. Once she was inside, Apple Bloom pushed the door gently until it had shut, and then turned around to search for her sister. The search didn’t last long, as her sister was already standing before her with a big smile on her face. Apple Bloom yelped and took a step back, startled by her sister’s sudden appearance. “Well welcome back lil’ sis’!” Applejack said as she reached a hoof forward and roughed her sister’s mane up with a playful laugh. “Have a good day at school today?” “A-Applejack!” Apple Bloom whined, squirming her way to safety and straightening out her mane. “Er, not exactly…” “Oh?” Applejack asked. “What happened?” Apple Bloom didn’t say anything. Instead, she opened up her bag and reached inside, pulling out a slip of paper and showing it to Applejack. Applejack leaned forward and examined the paper. Apple Bloom braced herself for the shouting that was sure to follow… but it never came. Instead, a soft chuckle escaped Applejack’s mouth and the older mare simply patted her sister on the head. “So ya got a lil’ detention. It happens, no need ta let it get ya down.” Apple Bloom was confused now. And scared. ‘What’s going on?’ she wondered to herself. ‘Since when did Applejack of all ponies not care about me behavin’ in school?’ “C’mon,” Applejack said. “Let’s go into the livin’ room. Ah’ve got somethin’ important ta tell ya.” Apple Bloom nodded hesitantly. ‘Is it a changeling?’ she asked herself. ‘Or did she hit her head or somethin’?’ As the two reached the living room, Apple Bloom noticed a tray on the centre table with a teapot, and four cups of tea. “Are Big Mac and Granny Smith gonna come in, too?” “Not quite,” Applejack said. “We’re expectin’ company. They’ll be here soon, so why don’t y’all jus’ take a seat an’ ah’ll go put the tea on.” Apple Bloom nodded. She took a seat on the couch and stared at the tea set wondering who could be coming over to talk about something important whilst they drink tea. ‘If ah’m one of the four that cups are set out for, then ah don’t think ah’m in trouble. And she let the detention slide so easily. Did ah do somethin’ good on one of our last crusades an’ ah’m bein’ rewarded for it?’ Three minutes passed before a knock came from the front door. “They’re here,” Applejack said as she carried the now-full teapot back into the living room. “Apple Bloom, could y’all pour out the tea for everypony?” “Sure,” Apple Bloom said as she lifted the teapot and carefully began to pour the hot tea into all four cups, taking care to make sure that all four had equal amounts and stopping briefly after each pouring to wipe up the tea that had spilled. When she was done, she placed the teapot down and checked her flank, but her hopes were dashed as she found no tea-related Cutie Mark there. “Darn it.” “Ugh! It’s dusty in here!” Apple Bloom’s hair and fur stood on end at the voice that had come from the hallway. “And smelly.” Her ears drooped against the sides of her head and her stomach began to churn. There was no way it could have been her. “Daddy, can’t I just wait outside while you-” “Sorry, Diamond Tiara, but this concerns you,” a male voice replied. “Besides, I’m sure you’ll be ecstatic when you hear the news that we have for you.” Apple Bloom continued to watch the doorway between the living room and the hallway, still hoping beyond hope that she was mishearing things. Sure enough, her sister walked into the room, followed by Filthy Rich and his daughter, Diamond Tiara. “What is she doin’ here?” Apple Bloom asked as she pointed a hoof at the pink filly. “Like I want to be in this dusty old house,” Diamond Tiara said. “Take a seat, you two,” Applejack said, pulling up a chair and sitting down. Diamond Tiara decided to take a chair opposite to Apple Bloom, which left her father with one of the open spots on the couch. Apple Bloom didn’t mind Filthy Rich at all. Unlike his daughter, he was a pony she didn’t mind being around, so she had no problems with sitting beside him on the couch. “Now then,” Filthy Rich began, “I’m sure you’re both wondering why we’re all here?” “An’ why we’ve decided ta let yer detentions slide fer today?” Applejack added. Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara both nodded. “Is it because we’re buying out the farm and evicting Apple Bloom and her family?” Diamond Tiara asked, almost half-serious. “Not quite,” Filthy Rich said. “Is it ‘cause you an’ Diamond Tiara’re movin’ far away an’ all never have ta see her again?” Apple Bloom asked, half-hopeful. “Eenope,” Applejack said. “Then what is it?” Diamond asked. The two adults shared a grin, before Applejack turned back to tell them the great news. “Well ya see, Mr. Rich an’ ah decided that it’s time our two families joined together.” “Our families have been such good friends since my father and Granny Smith formed a partnership back in the day,” Filthy Rich said. “And for a long time now Apple Bloom’s father and were discussing our two families joining together.” “Last night, ah decided ta continue where pa left off with those talks,” Applejack said. “Unfortunately, old family traditions don’t allow jus’ anypony ta become family.” “It was discovered that there are only two ways for our families to join together,” Filthy Rich explained. “Either somepony from my line must have Apple blood, which sadly is not the case, or else a marriage is the only way to do it.” “To that end,” Applejack said to Apple Bloom, “It’s been decided that y’all will take Diamond Tiara on as yer fiancé!” Filthy Rich picked up his cup of tea and smiled into it as he stirred it about in his hoof. “Truly a joyous occasion! I’m sure the two of you are as excited as we are.” He took a sip of his tea and placed the cup back down. The two adults turned to Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara, who were both staring back at them with equal parts shock and confusion. “Hold on,” Apple Bloom said after a long moment of silence, “By ‘fiancé’, y’all mean that-” “That you and Diamond Tiara will one be married,” Filthy Rich explained. “You…” Diamond Tiara backed up in her chair, a horrified look on her face. “You can’t be serious!” “We sure are!” Applejack said in an excited tone. “Ah tell ya, today’s a great day! We should all go out an’ celebrate!” “B-But hold on!” Apple Bloom pleaded. “We hate each other!” “That’s right!” Diamond Tiara agreed. “We can’t stand to be together for even one second!” Applejack waved a hoof dismissively. “Oh, come now, what do y’all know about hate?” “You’re growing fillies,” Filthy Rich said. “You’re feeling new things and being confused by them. You may think what you have is hate, but you’re just mistaking it for something else.” “But-” “Ah’m tellin’ ya, you two are jus’ right fer each other,” Applejack said. “A nice, charmin’ young filly with lots of imagination.” “And an honest, hard-working filly who’s not afraid to get her hooves dirty,” Filthy Rich added. “But-” “Now, Applejack, I believe you said something about going out to celebrate?” “Ah know this great lil’ restaurant down near Roseluck’s flower shop.” “Ah, I know the place. A perfect spot to celebrate our new family union.” The two adults finished off their cups of tea and rose out of their chairs. “Y’all comin’?” Applejack asked. “Or would ya prefer ta celebrate yer marriage on yer own?” she asked with a coy grin. Apple Bloom stared up at her sister with her eyes wide and her jaw hanging wide open, words failing to escape her mouth as a thousand thoughts danced around her head, one in particular reigning dominance over the others: ‘This can’t be happenin’.’ Thankfully for young Apple Bloom, dinner with Diamond Tiara and her father were cancelled after Diamond Tiara came down with a bad stomach-ache, and had to be rushed home by her father. So not only did she get out of having to spend time with Diamond Tiara, but she was in pain, too, which was just a bonus. But there was still the matter of what Applejack and Filthy Rich had decided on without asking either filly. “There’s no way ah’m marryin’ that stuck-up filly,” Apple Bloom said to herself as she lay down on her bed, staring up at the ceiling above her. “How could Applejack jus’ decide somethin’ like that? It ain’t fair.” A knock came from somewhere in the room. Apple Bloom bolted upright and looked around quickly, her eyes falling on the window, where a pink filly was looking into the room from outside, tapping her hoof against the glass. “What the?” Apple Bloom jumped off of her bed and approached the window, opening it and coming face-to-face with Diamond Tiara on the other side. “What’re y’all doin’ here?! Haven’t ya messed up mah life enough fer one day?!” “Ssh!” Diamond Tiara placed a hoof to Apple Bloom’s mouth to silence her. “Quiet,” she hissed in a whispered voice. Apple Bloom pushed the hoof away, but decided to keep her voice down. “Wait, ah thought y’all caught some kinda bad ache earlier.” “It was an act, duh.” Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. “Like I would waste my day eating with you and your stupid family.” “Mah family ain’t stupid,” Apple Bloom said with a glare. “What’re ya here for? Ya jus’ lookin’ fer a fight?” “Idiot,” Diamond Tiara said. “I’m running away from home!” Apple Bloom’s eyes widened with surprise. “W-Wha’?” “You heard what they said earlier. They’re trying to make us marry each other!” Diamond Tiara gagged at the very thought. “Well, I’m not just going to let them do that! I took daddy’s wallet when he wasn’t looking and I’m going to catch a train before he notices I’m missing!” “So why’re ya tellin’ me this?” Apple Bloom asked. “Jus’ go an’ get outta mah hair already.” “… I…” Diamond Tiara looked down and grumbled something. “Beg pardon?” “I can’t go on my own!” Diamond Tiara blurted out, almost losing her balance on the ladder she was standing on. “What if I get lost, or attacked, or I need to ask for directions from somepony but they smell? I need somepony to come along and watch my back! And… to carry my stuff…” Apple Bloom gave the filly a curious look, and then moved forward to look out of the window and at the ground below. Her jaw dropped at the sheer number of bags that she found there. “What did ya pack, the whole house?” “It’s everything I need!” Diamond insisted. “Makeup, hairdryer, mirror, brush, backup brush, emergency brush, perfume, shampoo, my five favourite dresses, ten spare tiaras-” “Okay, okay. Ah get it, an’ quite frankly, don’t really care,” Apple Bloom said. “So, why d’ya think ah’ll help ya out? If y’all are gone, ah don’t have ta worry.” “You think so?” Diamond asked. “What d’ya mean?” Apple Bloom asked. “Your sister tried to make you marry me without asking how you felt about it, who’s to say she wouldn’t do the same again?” Apple Bloom didn’t respond to that. She simply bit her lip and turned away. “Only if that happens, you’ll have to run away on your own. But you don’t have much money, do you? You won’t make it far before they find you, and then what?” Apple Bloom hesitated for a moment before giving her answer. “A-Applejack would never-” “Never what? Make you marry your archenemy?” Apple Bloom’s face fell, and she gave a woeful sigh. “Ye’re right,” she whispered. A few moments of silence passed before she walked over towards her desk. “Alright, ah’ll come with ya. Jus’ lemme write a note or somethin’ first.” “Well hurry it up,” Diamond Tiara said. “I’m starting to lose my balance here.” Apple Bloom was half-tempted to write slowly at that. She picked up the pen and started writing. “… Dear family…” The two fillies neared the station at long last, the cover of darkness hiding them from the few ponies that were still out so late at night. Apple Bloom was panting as she carried almost every bag that Diamond Tiara had brought along, as well as her own. Diamond Tiara, however, was just fine carrying only one of her owns bags as she approached the ticket stand and looked over the scheduling. “Next train is Manehatten,” she observed. “Manehatten…” Apple Bloom gasped as the image of a certain filly entered her mind. “Babs! She lives in Manehatten!” “Then we can’t go there,” Diamond said, confusing Apple Bloom. “If they find us, they’ll tell you family, and we’d be forced to be together.” Apple Bloom shook her head. “No way. Babs said that if ah was ever in trouble, ah should catch a train ta Manehatten an’ go to her. She’d help us out an’ not tell a soul, not even her parents!” “… You sure?” Diamond asked. Apple Bloom nodded. “Ya got any better ideas?” Diamond Tiara gritted her teeth together. “I guess not…” She walked a little further down the station and hopped up, grabbing a hold of the ticket booth’s ledge and pulling herself up. “Two tickets to Manehatten, please,” she said, placing some bits down. The stallion on the other side raised an eyebrow. “Uh, Miss? Aren’t you a little young to be riding the train on your own?” Diamond Tiara gasped, and her face and ears slowly feel, her eyes widening as tears began to form. “B-But daddy said… I’m a big filly now…” The stallion saw the filly starting to cry and panicked. “N-Now hold on, I didn’t mean to-” “DADDYYYYY!” Diamond Tiara cried out. “YOU SAID I COULD BUY MY OWN TICKEEEEEET!” “O-Of course you can!” the stallion said, taking the money and hastily producing two tickets for the filly. “There, see? You are a big filly, so please don’t cry!” Diamond’s tears gradually slowed to an eventual stop, and she gave the stallion on the other side of the booth a big, bright smile as she took the two tickets. “Thanks!” she said as she hopped back down and made her way back to where Apple Bloom was watching with a deadpan look on her face. “… What?” “That’s just…” Apple Bloom shook her head and sighed. “It got us our tickets, didn’t it?” Diamond asked as she passed Apple Bloom, giving her a shove in the process. “Train will be her in five minutes. Don’t talk to me until then.” Apple Bloom was more than happy to oblige with that, but the fact that it came as an order from Diamond Tiara pressured her into disobeying it as much as possible. “Ah’ll talk whenever ah want to, thank you very much.” “And just so we’re clear,” Diamond said as she took a seat on a nearby bench, “I’m only bringing you with me because you’re in the same boat as me. We’re not friends.” “Hear hear,” Apple Bloom replied as she took a seat at other end of the bench. “There’s nothin’ ah hate more in this world than you.” “Feeling’s mutual,” Diamond said as she scooted as close to her end of the bench as she could. “As long as we live, we’ll never be together.” “In a perfect world, we’d be forever apart,” Apple Bloom said. The two nodded together in agreement, and waited together in silence for the train to arrive, both looking in opposite directions and doing their absolute best to forget the other’s existence.