Bloom refused to pay attention to anything around her in her dash through the quiet town. She didn't shed a single tear, but the damp feeling was there anyway. It was not a weak sadness, but a weak anger that filled the mare in her escape from what she didn't even know. It just felt good to just run. Run anywhere, for all she cared. To get away from Sweetie and Scootaloo's darn arrival.
Wait a darn minute. This had nothing to do with Sweetie Belle. No, it wasn't an anger at her, but an anger at that pony who had broken a sacred trust, and just run off at the first sign of trouble. Some friend she was! This had nothing to do with Sweetie Belle, but everything to do with Scootaloo.
Bloom skidded to a stop on the the cobblestone street. The run had taken her to the festival grounds. Empty booths adorned the street all around her, ready for what was destined to be fun times tomorrow. Epic fun times, but that was all ruined for the mare with Scootaloo coming to charge over the race. In the empty field was the starting point of the challenge. A huge banner hung from poles above her head, reading 'Start'.
The thought of revenge came up in her mind. Bloom had never gotten her revenge for Scootaloo breaking her promise. This would be the perfect opportunity to gain that revenge and that self-honor back, the absence of which was eating away at her soul. But what to do?
Bloom looked over at the podium that rose up from the grass. It was something that she had made herself, and she was quite proud of it: it was where the winner of the race would receive their medal. Maybe...if she had lost her honesty and trust...maybe Scootaloo could lose her pride. She was never bound to change, Scootaloo would be bound to run in the race and win. Image would be everything in those moments of victory...what if she could ruin that moment for her?
The podium was hollow underneath, with a group of support beams that held the whole thing together. She had designed it so it was easy to take down and put back up whenever it was needed. The mare smiled, an evil grin that twisted her cheeks in all places. She was so smart. Maybe smarter than Sweetie Belle…well, maybe not that, but it was a nice thought.
She crawled underneath the podium and pulled the first wedged-in support from its holdings. Absolute power filled Bloom. She held Scootaloo's future in her hands, and it was delicious to have it. One-by-one, the supports came out until only one was left to hold everything together. With her plan in action, Bloom took all the support beams and hid them under the nearby bleachers, where no pony would find them. Looking at the amazing plan which she had made, Bloom made her way back to the road. She was feeling so much better now that she had taken care of the problem that had been on her mind for a year. It felt great.
"Applebloom!" A far-off voice called out. Bloom had no problem figuring out whose squeaky voice that was.
Walking confidently in that direction, she saw Sweetie slowly running towards her, breathing heavily from the running. They were only a couple blocks from the bar. The unicorn stumbled weakly in front of Bloom, choking on the heavy breaths she took. "Somepony needs to work out more."
A long few minutes passed of Sweetie sucking on air: her trying to get her breath under control was a bit irritating, but Bloom was in too much of a good mood for the unicorn to ruin it. "I'm...sorry." She managed to cough out.
Did she hear Sweetie Belle right? Did the fru-fru unicorn, who had never worked a hard day of her life, always talking down to others, actually apologize? This was too good of an opportunity to pass up, she had to hear it again. "I'm sorry, what was that?"
Sweetie sucked in some more air before she repeated herself. "I said, I'm sorry. I know what Scootaloo did to you was hurtful, where you have grown up in an environment of trust and honesty. I shouldn't have made fun of you for that."
Should she continue this? Naw, that was good enough, she wasn't sadistic. "I guess it's okay."
Nothing else was said on their way back to her bar.
The next day couldn't have come any quicker for Applebloom, as she quickly walked through the festivities surrounded by color and laughter. It was sure a whole lot better to see the streets as they were now than last night. There was Pinkie Pie jabbering on about making pastries to some random pony Bloom had never seen before, and she felt a tiny bit sorry for him. Rarity was showing off some of her dresses, but that would've just put her to sleep to watch. Twilight was yammering on about... whatever she was talking about, sounded too much like Pinkie. Fluttershy had a whole corral filled with different animals for ponies to see. But she couldn't see Rainbow Dash anywhere.
"Hey Applebloom!" That squeaky voice shouted out to her. Darn Sweetie, why did she have to do that, and blast out her ears? "Over here!" Bloom looked and there she was...and was that a giant painting of a foot?
"Sweetie, why is there a giant painting of a foot?" It was just too weird for something so simple to take up so much space on a canvas. It looked away too much out of place.
"I don't know." Sweetie held up a hand with a slight shrug. "Scootaloo asked for it, so I commissioned the best painter I could find to make it. Said it was to be for the winner of the race."
Bloom couldn't help but giggle at how stupid that sounded. "Yeah, that would make me wanna run for three miles. A medal painted gold and a painting of a foot. How rewarding."
Sweetie gave a strained smile. "I don't know, she just asked so I pulled a few favors, and paid almost every penny I had saved up."
"How are you gonna pay for the theater, then?"
"That's not for you to know."
Okay, first Sweetie was acting like a foal last night, and now she's being all mysterious...And why should she care?
"Apples! Come an' get yur fresh apples!" Who else could that be? That wasn't even a question. Bloom had to smile at her silly sister, who was just standing there shouting out those same words she'd heard since she was a foal...Yeah. Great memories of that.
"I know you might not want to, but have you gone and seen Scootaloo yet?"
Oh Sweetie, she just never got it, Bloom shook her head, but didn't feel annoyed or angry. "I don't think I would want to right now." For such a strong mare, why did she feel hurt? The joy of last night had left her empty, and a bit of guilt filled her up. Maybe it was a bit of hope for the CMC, or something like that. "Or maybe I could?" Ahhhh, what was she to do!?
"Well, hear me out Applebloom." Sweetie placed her hand on Bloom's shoulder. "I'm sure Scootaloo would appreciate it. When I talked to her, she seemed upset, but wouldn't tell me. She connected with you the most, so... maybe you could help her."
Now Bloom felt utterly helpless. Scootaloo might need help from her, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to give it. That pure anger was still there, but that confusion was growing in her as well. Why, for Celestia's sake, did things have to become so hard?
"I don't know." She refused to listen to anything that Sweetie said about that, as she slowly walked around the booths and displays.
Bloom just didn't know what to do with herself. Oh Celestia, she still felt that anger, as clear as day, but depression over how she was dealing with it was there as well. Darn that Sweetie Belle for making her think this through...or was that it? She never had thought this through, and now, in her moment of revenge, she could not do it.
Maybe she still had time to fix this. Get to the race track and fix that podium before ponies arrived. Yes! She could fix the podium and no pony would know and she could go back to...to...Go back to just hating Scootaloo. Well, there was no need for those feelings, but...
"Hey, Applebloom!" That country twangy accent threw away Bloom's concentration. She didn't need anymore darn distractions! Applejack came up behind her. "I wanted ta talk ta ya, about what we talked about last night at the bar."
A large crowd of ponies erupted into cheering at the field, and Bloom's jaw clenched. The race was about to start!
"Welcome Ponyville, to the "who cares" annual Summer Festival Race, and I must say, how original that name is!" Bloom could recognize that scratchy voice from anywhere. Scootaloo wasn't running in the race, she was announcing! What was she doing there? "And what a hopefully awesome race this will be, because yours truly is here to bring the epic levels up to forty percent higher. We'll be beginning in just a few, so sit back, have a coke, and have a sweet time."
"Applebloom, Ah know that things have been different ever since ya got yer cutie mark, but I'm speakin' for Big Mac and me, saying that we both understand what yer goin' through." Gosh darn Applejack, this wasn't the time. Some other pony's gonna get on that podium.
"Sorry Applejack!" Bloom shouted as she took off towards the race track. "I'll talk to ya later!"
She rushed to the crowded area that ran along the dirt track. Weaving between ponies, she ran as fast as her legs could take her. She had no plan, and she couldn't think of one. Scootaloo had to be around here somewhere. Not at the start line, not in the center of the track. Where was she? It wasn't until Bloom stopped and groaned in agitation that she noticed a low flying balloon floating over the track. Looking over the edge with a megaphone in hand, was Scootaloo. Woh, she sure had changed a lot, grown her hair out so it now hung to her shoulders, but that wasn't important.
There was no way that Bloom would be able to get Scootaloo to stop the race if she was there. Maybe if she waved to her, she could get her attention.
"And here we are fillies and colts, mares and stallions, nerds and jocks, and anypony else who I don't care to mention, to the exciting race day. All proceeds will be going to the Canterlot Foals Hospital in their epic research to fight brain diseases."
Nope, too late for that. Oh, what was she going to do now? Bloom paced back and forth in absolute panic. She just had to go and mess everything up. Maybe what Applejack had said was true, and that when you want revenge, you dig two graves. Bloom's grave was just a bit bigger.
"On your marks...get set...GO!" With a loud crack of a pop gun, the numbered ponies were off with leaps and bounds in their sprint down the raceway.
That sound of the start made Bloom flinch in surprise. Desperation clouded everything in her mind. She started shoving ponies aside, trying desperately to get in front of them. The racers were rounding the corner that she stood at, and as they ran past, Bloom took off running right beside them. She never looked at either the racers or the spectators. She made her dash across the track behind the racers towards the podium at the center of the track.
But before she could make it, her feet suddenly left the ground, as arms snaked their way under her own. The world came back to her.
"What're you doing Bloom, you could've gotten yourself hurt!" A raspy voice, similar to Scootaloo's, shouted above her, making her ears fold down at the painful volume.
Bloom kicked her legs in an attempt to get the pony to let go, but as she looked down, she immediately stopped as the ground moved away from her. A low pressure began building in her with the height she was at. She hoped the pony didn't drop her.
They soared above the continuing race as Scootaloo's voice echoed out. "Sorry about that everypony, the race is still on!" Oh horsefeathers. What had Applebloom gotten herself into? Guess she had only dug one grave, after all... and that grave was for herself.
Safe ground was too far away from Bloom at the height of the balloon. She reminded herself to not look down again; she didn’t want to throw up. The pegasus flew her over the basket, and dropped her inside.
"Are you crazy Applebloom, you could've gotten some pony hurt! What were you thinking?" Bloom looked up where Rainbow Dash stood above her. That was all she needed… Rainbow Dash yelling at her, something about loyalty no doubt. "It's because of Scootaloo, huh?" And she’s being about as soft as a sharpening belt.
Bloom noticed a pony looking down the other edge of the basket... orange with purple hair and wings, gee, she wondered who that could be. Scootaloo... every pegasus in the world and it just had to be that snake-in-the-grass. Rainbow's 'better than you' attitude was easy to deal with by just ignoring her, but she could never ignore Scootaloo.
"Well?" Rainbow's tapping foot crunched against the basket. Bloom had no answer to that question. Why did she do it? Now the guilt picked Bloom apart for what she had done, but why would she be guilty when nothing was wrong? Because of the guilt, Bloom couldn’t deny.
"And Mud Link has fallen behind. Come on, you can do it!" Scoots shouted and cheered. Dang, she sure did have a loud voice. Not like Sweetie Belle's, Scoot's was just loud, loud.
Rainbow still stood over her, glaring at her like some beast. Bloom had no answer, her blank mind didn't help. She’d just tell her what she thought, not like Rainbow cared. "I was stupid, there I said it, hope you're happy, but notice no pony got hurt, did they?"
"No pony got hurt, are you kidding me right now Applebloom!" Scoot's voice scraped Applebloom's ears, interrupting Rainbow before she responded, but Bloom saw she wouldn’t have liked what the angry pegasus had to say from her squinted eyes. Scootaloo looked back over her shoulder at Bloom. "That’s such an uncool thing to say. You can't ignore what might’ve happened."
Scoots turned back to the megaphone. "Why don't you see what might've happened?" She meant every single word.
"Oh for the love of Celestia!" Rainbow shouted. Bloom flinched as her pained ears folded down. What’s she upset about now? "Don't tell me you're still angry at her for breaking her promise?" Her words bordered on mocking. She had mocked Bloom in the past, but this time, she insulted her in front of Scoots, and she made all the difference. Scootaloo had been there when it happened, Rainbow wasn’t. The promise wasn’t the important thing! It is big, yes, but it wasn't the most important thing. Bloom lost trust that day. You can't have a stable friendship if friendship’s built upon shaky trust. Why can’t ponies understand that?
Applebloom demanded her say in all of this, interrupting Rainbow again. "It wasn't about that dang promise, if you are a friend, you would understand that."
That hit a chord with her when Bloom saw her eyes narrow and her teeth grind together. She jumped into Bloom’s face and pushed her down. Bloom felt the weaves of the basket dig into her back. Rainbow thrusted a hand at her, pressing it against Bloom’s nose while her voice exploded in anger. “She doesn’t deserve that, and you know it!” Her voice was cracking at the volume. “All she does is work her skinny little flank off night and day to host these charities to raise money for causes that go way beyond what you would ever hope to see!” She removed her finger and stood up straight. “She’s happy to be able to host one in Ponyville, because she told me she missed all her friends so much. If I had a say in who gets such love, I wouldn’t ever even consider you! All you do is whine about promise this, promise that, running in your stinking bar all day. Making Sweetie Belle into a depressed drunk every night! Yeah, I heard about it from Rarity. That’s some loyalty you got there for your friends.”
Applebloom held back a sob. Rainbow was wrong! Everything she said was wrong! Bloom had to be a good friend, her sister is an Element of Harmony after all. Applejack had taught her everything. Trust is key… honesty is everything… What else? Bloom couldn’t think of anything, must’ve been from Rainbow’s yelling… but was she right? Of course not, that was a bunch of horse-apples, she knew she was a good friend. Rainbow on the other hand… “Says the one who would leave her friends in a millisecond to join the Wonderbolts.” Where had that come from?
Rainbow jumped off Bloom’s chest, but she still glared at her. “Did you really just say that?”
Scoots slowly walked over to the pegasus, “Dash, please don’t do anything stupid.”
“I won’t Squirt.” Scootaloo smiled admirably at Rainbow. “But miss… ugh, there isn’t a nice word to describe what you are.” She turned back to Bloom. “But I guess I need to tell you.”
The gut-tearing of guilt bucked back again. Right in Bloom’s stomach. “What?”
“I haven’t told any-pony except Squirt, and don’t you dare tell the others.” She took a deep breath. “I turned down the Wonderbolts.” The already horrible guilt became much worse. “I put my friends over the dreams I guess I never had. The Bolts weren’t anything like I thought they were, but I know that I made the right choice.” She turned her back to Bloom. A few sniffles came from her.
Bloom didn’t understand what in the story she found so sad: there weren’t any sad parts in it, but it got to her. Why? Sadly, it was pretty obvious. Maybe Rainbow was right, then she would be a horrible friend, because she never did anything like that. Did that also mean her beliefs are wrong, and Scootaloo breaking her promise was actually a good thing? Was Applejack wrong? It didn’t make any sense. Applejack was honest, she said that trust is everything, and that honesty made trust. None of it made any sense… Yet it did.