//------------------------------//
// Leave Me Alone! 
// Story: The Apple Blooms 
// by theNDinspector 
//------------------------------//

	Apple Bloom threw herself onto her bed, burying her face in her pillow.  Tears flowing freely from her eyes.  She felt as though her entire world had been turned upside-down and shaken violently, leaving her in a mess of the broken pieces.  She heard a door slam downstairs, as well as the crying of a young colt.


***


“You’re dishonoring the family legacy!  Ah’ though Ah’ raised you better than that!”  Applejack shouted.

“You’re not mah` Mom!”  Apple Bloom screamed, and then ran upstairs slamming her bedroom door.


***


'Where did Ah` go wrong?'  Apple Bloom thought.  'Ah` was only trying to pursue my special talent.  Isn't that what she wanted me to do?'

"Apple Bloom?"  A voice called from behind the door, accompanied with a light knocking.

"Leave me alone!"  Apple Bloom replied, her voice muffled by her pillow.

In defiance to her order, the door opened, revealing Mrs. Cheerilee.  For some reason Apple Bloom found it difficult to simply call her old elementary school teacher turned sister-in-law "Cheerilee."  Sometimes it took great effort just for her to use "Mrs." as opposed to "Miss".

"I know you're upset," Cheerilee said with a very calm and pleasant air in her voice.  "Will you please come downstairs so we can talk about it?"

"No!"  Apple Bloom said, her voice still muffled by the pillow.

Not willing to give up so easily, Cheerilee continued.  "I know it's hard, but you can't keep this bottled in.  Your sister loves you.  You know that, right?"

"GO AWAY!"  Apple Bloom screamed, her anger boiling over at the mere mention of Applejack.

Stunned, Cheerilee closed the door.  As a school teacher, she dealt with many problems ranging from crying foals to furious temper tantrums, bullies and had professionally handled countless fights.  She even dealt with many angry—though often deluded—parents on a semi-regular basis.  However, this situation was beyond her.  Apple Bloom was no longer a foal, but a fully-grown—and very stubborn—mare, who had a problem with another fully-grown—and equally stubborn—mare.

Apple Bloom was lost in her thoughts when she heard her door open yet again.  She listened as hoofsteps approached her.  A loud thump told her that somepony had just sat down next to her bed.

"Ah` said go away!"  Apple Bloom said, still fuming.

"Nope,"  Came the reply that could only have come from her brother.

"Fine!"  Apple Bloom said, turning her back towards the stallion.

She laid there sulking for several minutes, watching the light of the sunset from her window.  Big Mac didn't say anything, but he didn't leave either.  Determined as she was to ignore him, she felt her anger subside.  Finally, she turned and looked up into his face.  It was stern, but far from angry or upset.  She gave him a weak smile, letting him know that she was acknowledging him now.

"Yah` know, you're not going to solve anything by laying there all night," Big Mac said.

"Ah` know," Apple Bloom sobbed.

"Cheerilee and I are going to take the baby and spend the night at her parents' house," Big Mac stated.  "Ah` want you to go and make amends with your sister."

"All by mah`self?"  Apple Bloom whined.

"Eeyup," he replied.  "She headed out for the southern field.  We'll be back in the morning."

With that, Big Mac got up and left.  Apple Bloom looked out her window in the direction of the southern field.  It would be getting dark soon.  She got up and left the house.  She was determined to make Applejack happy in the only way that she thought was possible.  Even if it meant giving up her biggest dream.