//------------------------------//
// A Lesson Discovered 
// Story: A Lesson Discovered 
// by yodajax10 
//------------------------------//




It was a beautiful day in Ponyville, and as usual, everypony was happy…that is, except for Apple Bloom. Just a few days ago, 
Fluttershy was foalsitting her, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. But when they went out in the Everfree Forest, a cockatrice was on the loose and turned Twilight Sparkle into a stone statue. Fluttershy used her ‘Stare’ technique on the cockatrice and made it turn Twilight back to normal. While everything may have been back to normal, Apple Bloom was still kind of scared, she may have lost a really, good friend that day…and she feared it may happen again.

Right now, Apple Bloom was walking with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo after school.

"I'm so excited for this weekend!" said Sweetie Belle. "It's possible we might get our Cutie Marks!"

"Let's start today!" said Scootaloo. "What do you say Apple Bloom?"

Apple Bloom looked up, but then shook her head. "No, y-you girls go ahead. Ah'm not up for crusading today." said Apple Bloom.

"Huh?" said Scootaloo. "What do you mean?"

"Ah just want to go home right now." said Apple Bloom as she started to walk back to Sweet Apple Acres.

Apple Bloom was walking home as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked concerned.

Scootaloo jumped next to her. "Are you alright?" said Scootaloo.

"Ah-ah'm fine, Scootaloo." said Apple Bloom. "Ah just want to be alone."

"If you're fine, why do you want to be alone?" asked Sweetie Belle.

:"It's none of your concern!" Apple Bloom snapped.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stepped back, when hearing Apple Bloom's harsh tone.

Apple Bloom immediately regretted what she said. "Ah-ah'm sorry. It's just..." Apple Bloom growled to herself as a tear fell from her eye.

Sweetie Belle noticed the tear and looked concerned. "Apple Bloom, what's wrong?" She asked.

Apple Bloom sighed. "It's about Twilight." Apple Bloom said, looking down. "When Fluttershy foalsat us and saved us and Twilight from that cockatrice, Twilight as a statue. I-it's still stuck in mah head. Ah...Ah...Ah'm just scared, alright?" Apple Bloom began to weep a little.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked nervous, they didn't know what to do when a pony they loved was crying, but they went over to Apple Bloom and tried their best to comfort her.

"You know, Apple Bloom." said Sweetie Belle. "You're gonna have to talk to Twilight about this."

"How can Ah do that?" said Apple Bloom, wiping her eyes. "Ah don't even know what to tell her. It's just something Ah wanna keep to mah-self."

"And let it rot in your brain?" said Scootaloo. "I'm sorry, but we don't like seeing you like this." 

"Yeah, where's the Apple Bloom who's always in the mood to play with us and come with ideas to help get our Cutie Marks?" said Sweetie Belle.

"She's not in the mood right now." said Apple Bloom as she continued walking home.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked sadly at Apple Bloom. Scootaloo turned in the other direction.

"Come on, Sweetie Belle." said Scootaloo.

"Where are we going?" said Sweetie Belle.

"To tell Twilight what's going on." said Scootaloo.

"But we shouldn't, Scootaloo!" said Sweetie Belle. "If we go behind her back, she won't trust us anymore!"

"Well, we're doing this to help her. Come on!" said Scootaloo as Sweetie Belle followed behind.





Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle walked up to Twilight's library and knocked on the door, Spike answered the door.

"Oh, hello Crusaders!" said Spike.

"Hi, Spike!" said Sweetie Belle. "Is Twilight home?"

"Sure!" said Spike. "Twilight, you got company!"

Twilight walked to the door. "Oh, hello girls!" Twilight said, smiling. "Where's Apple Bloom?"

"Well," said Sweetie Belle, looking down. "It's kind of what we wanted to talk to you about."

Twilight looked concerned. "Uh, sure. What is it?" asked Twilight.

"I'll leave you ladies alone." said Spike as he walked upstairs, as Twilight smirked. 

"Well, Apple Bloom is feeling down." said Scootaloo. "Remember when Fluttershy foalsat us, and you were turned to stone by a cockatrice, later saved by Fluttershy?"

"Yes," said Twilight. "What about it?"

"Well, Apple Bloom really looks up to you, you were her friend before us, she loves you with all her heart, and she's scared of anything happening to you." said Sweetie Belle.

Twilight was touched. Very touched that Apple Bloom would care this much for her. "Girls, I need you to do something for me." She said. "Tell Apple Bloom to meet me at the library. I want to have a private conversation with her."

"Okay!" said Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. They both headed off for Sweet Apple Acres as Twilight watched.





"You two did what?" said Apple Bloom, feeling both shocked and angry.

"We're sorry, Apple Bloom." said Sweetie Belle. "We just couldn't stand seeing you so gloomy!"

"We didn't know what else to do!" said Scootaloo.

"But go behind mah back?" said Apple Bloom.

"Whoa, whoa now." said Applejack, walking in. "What's going on here?"

"Ah'm really scared for Twilight after she was a stone statue by a cockatrice, and Ah'm afraid something else would happen to her, and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo went behind my back and told her how Ah felt, and Ah have to go have a private conversation with Twilight!" said Apple Bloom, angrily.

"Sugarcube, hold it. Just one moment." said Applejack, calmly. "The reason your friends did this is because they care about you, right?"

"Well, yeah." said Apple Bloom. "But-"

"But nothing." said Applejack. "You have friends who care about you, who won't do anything to hurt you. Sure, maybe they did go behind you back, but they did it to help you. And with friends like them, you don't just have friends...you have a family."

Apple Bloom looked down and thought about this. "You're right, Applejack." said Apple Bloom. She looked at Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo and they shared a hug. "Ah'm sorry Ah snapped at you." Apple Bloom said.

"It's alright, Apple Bloom." said Sweetie Belle.

"You just have something to fix right now." said Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom nodded as she started to walk towards Twilight's library.





Apple Bloom walked through Ponyville until she finally got to Twilight’s house. She peeked her head through the door and saw Twilight sitting on the couch reading a book.

“Um, Twilight?” Apple Bloom asked.

Twilight looked over and saw Apple Bloom. “Oh, hello Apple Bloom.” Twilight said, smiling. "Please, come here."

Apple Bloom climbed up on the couch and sat next to Twilight.

"So, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo told me how you're feeling." said Twilight. "Is there anything else I need to know?"

Apple Bloom looked down.

"Please, sweetie." said Twilight. "I really care about you, and I want to help."

Apple Bloom couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Ah-ah'm so scared!” cried Apple Bloom. “Ah just can't lose you! When Applejack's not around, you come in for me! You-you're l-like a...you're like a m-mom to me! Ah-ah just can't lose you!” Apple Bloom began to sob.

Twilight felt horrible. It was bad enough she had Spike worried of her in the Everfree Forest, but now Apple Bloom was scared too. Twilight gently picked up Apple Bloom and placed her on her lap before pulling her into a warm hug.

“Shh…it’s okay, sweetie. I’m here…Shh.” Twilight whispered to Apple Bloom who laid her head in Twilight’s chest fur and sobbed while Twilight rubbed her back. After a while, Apple Bloom’s cries turned to hiccups and she began to calm down.

“Do you feel better now?” asked Twilight still holding Apple Bloom.

“Yes,” said Apple Bloom as she wiped one of her tears away.

“That’s good to hear,” said Twilight. “And I believed I also learned a new lesson of Friendship and I have you to thank.”

“Really? You’re welcome, but what is it?” said Apple Bloom.

“I’ve learned that before I do dangerous stuff like going in the Everfree Forest alone, I need to ask friends like you to see if they’re okay with it.” Said Twilight.

“Ahem,” said Spike as he was about to go in the shower.”

“And you too, Spike.” Said Twilight to Spike.

Spike smirked at that as he went into the bathroom.

“So, you don’t have to worry Apple Bloom, nothing like this is going to happen again.” Said Twilight. Twilight and Apple Bloom then shared another hug, one that felt like an hour. Apple Bloom listened to Twilight's heart beating and started to fall asleep in Twilight's arms listening to such a soothing sound. Twilight smiled warmly at Apple Bloom and kissed her on the forehead. Twilight placed Apple Bloom next to her and continued to read. Apple Bloom curled up and continued to sleep next to Twilight. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were both watching through the window, relieved that their friend was better, now.





It was now close to dark, and Twilight had Apple Bloom on her back as she walked to Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack walked up to them and put her sister on her back.

“Thanks for getting Apple Bloom home for me.” Said Applejack. Can you promise me something?”

“Sure, Applejack.” Said Twilight. “What is it?”

“Promise me that you’ll always be there for Apple Bloom, as well as her friends? Like you do with Spike.” Said Applejack. “Apple Bloom looks up to you, sees you as one of her bestest friends. Can you promise me that?”

Twilight looked at Apple Bloom sleeping and smiled. “Of course.” said Twilight.

“Thank you, Twilight.” Said Applejack as she and Twilight hugged.

“Goodnight, Applejack.” Said Twilight as she began walking home.

“Goodnight, Twilight.” Said Applejack, who watched Twilight walk home in the starry night.

THE END