Chapter 3
Coming Home
“What? You were already here?” Apple Bloom blinked at her friend, who just let herself into the room. She would hop up, and lied onto her friend’s bed and kicked her hoofs onto the head of the bed. She was tall for a Pegasus, though her wings were quite small. They were still tiny, as they were when last they saw her friend. But this was hard to notice with all of the bracelets and other trinkets wrapped around the feathers delicately.
“Hello to you too Apple Bloom.” Scootaloo said as she giggled slightly and moved from the bed. Apple Bloom would stare at her as Scootaloo walked over to the confused yellow pony.
“What are you doing here so fast Scootaloo?” Apple Bloom shaking off her confusion to hug her friend.
Scootaloo returning the embrace with a bright smile, and looked to the door, “Hey Bab Seed, what have I told you about being nervous at your own cousin’s house?”
The auburn pony would slowly walk into the room. Though she had gotten her cutie mark, she seemed so nervous lately. Over the four years the bullying had got worse. Apple Bloom had remembered the numerous letters sent by Scootaloo talking about Babs, and how she was getting worse and it seemed to effect Scootaloo-who had became over protective of her ‘sister’- more than it did Bab Seed. As Bab Seed moved slowly into the room, she would go to blow the bang from her eye. Scootaloo just hopped over to her, and pushed her a bit farther into the room.
“Oh hey Apple Bloom, how have you been?” Bab Seed giving a small smile, and Scootaloo would just smile.
“I've been good? How about you two? Oh come into the kitchen so I can get you both some cider.” Apple Bloom would gesture them to follow her as she walked past the two.
Walking down the hallway, Apple Jack would smile and goes over to the two.
“Come here Sugar cubes. I ain’t got my hug yet.” Babs and Scootaloo would just giggle slightly as they hugged their cousin, who gave a hearty laugh of her own.
“Apple Bloom, there are some ciders in the counter. But don’t have too much; you don’t need too much sugar.” Apple Jack would ruffle her sister’s hair. Apple bloom just moved her hair back sighing lightly, but turned to see the Older Sister going into her room.
“So how are you enjoying Manehattan Scootaloo?” Apple Bloom would be sitting on her favorite bench on the farm, not far from the broke down club house.
The building’s windows were broken and the wood was unkempt, dust would almost pour from the broken window sill and open door.
“It is fun. I especially enjoy the large buildings and such. There is always something to do! Like Scooter, or maybe go to the arcade. There is even a pizza joint I love. Babs Likes it too, right Babs?” Bab Seed would nod, looking to her cup, she would move her head gently, and would whisper into Scootaloo’s ear.
The Mare just blinking, and nodding, “I have to go get something. I’ll be back.” Scootaloo would just trot away.
The two Mares just sat at the table for some time in an awkward silence, but Bab Seed would break it, “What happened to the Club house? “
“Oh. . . Well we kind of stopped using it. When Scootaloo left, we had put everything under a white cloth. For when you guys visit again, but when you did visit, both of you ran off. So we lost interest in using it. Me and Swee-“Apple Bloom would suddenly hop up, and look to see Scootaloo running up to them.
“I have to get Sweetie Belle! See you guys later.” Apple Bloom would sprint past her friend, sending the auburn pony spinning. She would shake her head, and just waved slightly. Her hoofs wrapped around a suitcase.
Apple Bloom ran and ran all the way to the boutique. When she finally reached the door she would go to knock, but she remembered something important. She did not know what to say. She would stand, her hoof raised, and ready to knock, but she couldn’t do it. The door opened for her as it did last time, Sweetie Belle looking past the crack, a small black line shown on her white fur.
“Oh Apple Bloom. Give me a second.” She would close the door again. Rustling heard from inside for a bit, but the door would open with a light purple aura. Sweetie Belle sat inside, arranging what looked like a studio apartment.
“Sweetie Belle, I have such wonderful news!” Apple Bloom rushing in to greet her friend. Who just gave a passive smile, and looked back to her magic’s work on the mess. “Oh? Tell me of it my dear friend.”
“Scootaloo is back in town!” A loud tone of excitement filled Apple Bloom. The news making Sweetie Belle and give a smile herself, her magic dropped everything as she would hop around excited, “Oh really! Oh Reall-“Sweetie Belle would stop, and adjusted the dress she wore. “Oh pardon my rudeness. What wonderful news.”
Apple Bloom would look to her friend who just seemed so different. Normally when Apple Bloom talked to her, her friend would not be so refined. Apple Bloom would shake the question she wished to ask, due to what happened last time. So she would lead her friend from her home, politely closing the door behind herself. But Scootaloo would already be nearby, her smile wide as she opened her arms to give Sweetie Belle a hug, running over to her, and wrapping them around the White pony. who returned it, but seemed reluctant to do so.
“What’s wrong Sweetie Belle? Not happy to see me?” Scootaloo asked, looking to her friend who just gave a light smile.
“Oh of course I am. Why would you think different?” Scootaloo just tilting her head, what is wrong with the group? They seem so distant. So, so different indeed they are.
Scootaloo would just chuckle and would shake her thought moving from Sweetie Belle, “Well now that the group is finally all together, it is time we begin our first meeting in four years, Cutie Mark Crusaders!”
Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle would look to each other, slightly confused, but Bab seed would smile brightly, pulling out a document, and opened it. The two could not believe what they saw, as Scootaloo hopped to Bab Seed, taking the paper colored with crayon, marker; glitter.
“Apple Bloom?” The yellow pony lifting her hoof, “Uh, I am here.”
“Sweetie Belle!” The white pony would just giggle and lifts her hoof, “Here, Madam Scootaloo!”
Scootaloo would smile, and looks to Bab Seed, “Bab Seed!” The Auburn pony would lift her hoof as well, blowing the bang from her eye.
“And, finally, last but not least, Scootaloo!” The Peach pony would roll the paper up, and places it into the bag from the opened suitcase. She would smile lifting another paper, with the help of Bab Seed, who held open the paper. “First order of business! Our last crusade!” Scootaloo would look to the group; Apple Bloom seemed to be holding back a giggle, while Sweetie Belle did as well. Scootaloo would hop forward,” Oh a joke huh? Well maybe it is! But this is the first time we have met together in four years. I have had this planned for quite a while. And this is the perfect plan! We are going on a camping trip for our last crusade!”
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked to each other, than to Scootaloo who just smiled, pointing to three other bags in the large dusty suit case. “Yep, you want to go so that we can have some fun just like old times? No Rainbow Dash, I promise this time. But no sisters either. I just want all of us together as great friends. “Scootaloo would not wait for an answer throwing the bags to the two. Sweetie Belle looking around awkwardly, her eye catching Apple Bloom who just nodded.
“Sure Scootaloo! That sounds fun, right Sweetie Belle?” Apple Bloom taking a look behind herself to see Sweetie Belle shrugging. Apple Bloom was mad at her response. They haven’t been all together in four long years and when we finally get to have a trip together, she shrugs!? She was bone boiled with anger.
Bab Seed would put on her own bag and jumped onto Scootaloo’s back. She would be giggling lightly as her sister just laughed then would go to carry her, “Follow me!”
As Sweetie Belle ran to catch up, she was tripped by her dress and fell.
“Are you okay Sweetie Belle?” Apple Bloom would ask.
“Yea, I’m fine. Give me a second.” Sweetie Belle looked around then ripped a slit in the dress so she could run without falling again.
“Wait!” Sweetie Belle would squeak the other two turning, and giggling.
“Some things don’t change huh?” Scootaloo would say to her friend with a smile.
Sweetie Belle covered her mouth, but just giggled too. I’ll finish it later. I mean, Scootaloo isn’t every day.