//------------------------------// // Elevated Social Status. // Story: Cutie Mark Bandits // by Twi-Fi //------------------------------// One year ago... * * * It was that time of morning when the sun had been up for only a few hours, the sky still a little orange; a gentle chill breeze in the air and dew on the grass. Before the morning hustle and bustle of ponies rushing to work or to the local markets to make the morning sales, another peaceful morning in Ponyville. In the calm cool air of almost prefect stillness the crow of a rooster could be heard through Apple Bloom's open bedroom window. "Ah'm awake." The filly grumpily moaned into her pillow. She rolled out of bed to slam the window shut: with a loud chatter as it vibrated against the frame. "Dang rooster." Apple Bloom looked herself over in the mirror, her think red mane hung tangled and her eyes were half shut. It's ma birthday. She stretched as the sleepiness wore off and excitement surged through her. It's ma birthday! Ah'h supposed to sleep in on ma birthday... oops. She looked back at her bed, now fully awake, she couldn't sleep any longer if she wanted to. Figuring it was best to just go downstairs and get breakfast, Apple Bloom rushed out of her room. Dashing through the hall and bounding down the stairs, Apple Bloom crashed into the kitchen to find Applejack and Big Mac already up cooking breakfast. "Hey, there's the birthday girl! What are ya doin' up sugar cube? We was gonna give you breakfast in bed." "Eeyup." "Sorry sis, rooster woke me up." Apple Bloom responded a little annoyed that she ruined the surprise. "It's all right. We can all eat at the table." Applejack smiled and waved it off as no big deal. "Ah made pancakes with chocolate chips: just the way you like it." Mac said putting a plate in front of his little sister. An overexcited Apple Bloom dumped half the pitcher of syrup on her pancakes, downing them completely. "Do ya want some pancakes with that syrup?" Applejack teased. "Save some for the rest of us." Mac joined the table shaking his head at Apple Bloom's plate. "You used to do the same thing." He said to Applejack making her blush. Apple Bloom grinned. "You hush brother." Applejack, doing her best to hide her blush, cleared her throat loudly then turned to Apple Bloom, doing her best not to look her brother snickering in his plate. "So what's the plan Apple Bloom, what crusading are you doing today?" "Ah don't know. Sweetie Belle is coming back today so Ah hope we get to do something fun." "Well, Mac and I are working the south orchard today, we are a little short-hoofed today but we will have a party for you at Sugarcube Corner tonight." "Short-hoofed again?" Apple Bloom asked. It seemed that no matter how many workers they hired, there was still a labor shortage. "Yup, we can't hire enough. Sales keep going up and up. We got so much money Ah don't know what to do with it." Applejack said a little nervously. "Applejack, we should buy up that land behind us and expand. We are almost over extended anyway, soon we won't produce enough apples to keep up with demand." "Yeah Ah recon you're right brother." Applejack sighed. It was talked about many times before, to buy more land or not. At first Applejack was against the idea, fearing they would lose sales and not be able to pay off the loan and afford the labor to till and plant trees. However, as sales continue to increase and with nowhere to go but up, she had to agree it was the right course of action. "Now, come on in here sis and get your presents." Apple Bloom followed her sister into the living room, her hooves clopping on the wooden floors as she went. The living room had been remodeled and added onto, making it open up to an impressive view of rolling hills of the south orchard in a massive angled bay window. The furniture had also been replaced with more high-end furniture. The coffee table was a deep mahogany that matched the floor. The couch and love seat were of a dark cherry wood with thick black cushions. The ceiling had been redone so massive wooden rafters protruded through the sheetrock, giving the room a rustic appearance. The rafters extended out of the house meeting with part of the roof that came down to cover a stone mozaic patio. Applejack sat on the couch and pulled her sister into a tight hug. "Ah love ya little sis." She nuzzled her. Applejack picked up a brush and started to brush Apple Bloom thick mane. "The first gift requires Ah brush your mane." Applejack said and she brushed away, occasionally tugging when the brush got caught up in a tangle. "You have such a beautiful thick red mane, just like momma's." Although the brush hurt every time it got stuck, Apple Bloom really liked how it felt to have somepony hold her so lovingly and care for her. It was these moments Apple Bloom loved the most. "Tell me about mother." Apple Bloom asked. Her older sister and brother never talked much about their parents. It was never clear to the filly what exactly happened and she tried not to ask so much because of how easily it upset her older siblings. "Well, mother was very beautiful, very smart. At first she wasn't much of a farm pony but it grew on her when she fell in love with daddy. She helped get Sweet Apple Acres to be the farm it is today, excellent business pony –cut throat, but she always kept to what was important. She always said family first, and everything will follow. It was probably that saying that won granny over –" "Granny didn't like Momma?" "Not at first, not at all. She wasn't good enough for her son. But he loved ma very much and granny put up with it. Over time she grew on granny. She was the best, she was fun and caring. Always knew the right things to say to cheer me and your brother up." Applejack wiped some tears from her eyes, she held Apple Bloom closer to her. "You are more like your mother than you know." Applejack exhaled slowly. "Sorry, thinking about them still hurts sometimes." "How -how did they... die?" Apple Bloom asked quietly, tears forming in her eyes. "Someday Ah will tell you, when you are older. Just know if mama could see you now, she'd be proud. Ah'm proud of you too, Ah know it ain't always been easy for you." Applejack said sadly. She nuzzled Apple Bloom again. "But you know what?" "What?" "You are one tough little filly." Applejack said playfully while trying to give Apple Bloom a noogie. Apple Bloom ducked out of the way giggling. "You ain't gettin off that easy. What about your birthday spankings?" Apple Bloom shrieked with giggles as Applejack playfully swatted the filly's flank. "Alright, alright..." Applejack exhaled, catching her breath. It was hard work restraining her little sister. When did she get so strong? "Here is your first gift." Applejack lifted a small box off the coffee table. Apple Bloom tore it open anxiously. She pulled the lid off then peered inside. She let out a small gasp. Inside was a pink bow like she normally wore except this one was lined with several small diamonds. "Oh, my. Wow, thanks sis." "Thank your brother too, he picked it out." Applejack said as she began to pull Apple Bloom's mane back so she could put the bow on her. "Thank you big brother!" "Eeyup." Mac answered from the other room. He poked his head through the door. "You look stunning little sis. Do you like it?" "Ah love it!" "And here's a gift from me." Applejack pointed to another small box on the table. Apple Bloom picked it up and shook it a little, this box was smaller than the last. The filly tore it open. In her zealous she turned the box upside down and dumped out a pair of sunglasses on the floor. She dove down quickly to retrieve them. "Oh wow sis, these are so cool!" "Well put them on, let's seem them on you." They had a thick black frame that looked like two sideways hearts, the points meeting at the bridge of the nose. The glass was tinted a dark lilac color. Apple Bloom pushed the sunglasses on her face beaming. "With the help of Rarity Ah was able to find these." "Ah like the color, it makes everything look purple-ish." "Ah'm glad you like it." Applejack released her sister from her grip, beaming. "Well, better get to work." Just then Mac came through the door with a stack of mail in his mouth. He spat it out on the table. "Mail's here. We got more contracts too." "Yeehaw, ponies just love our apples." "We even got one all the way from..." Mac trailed off as he opened the envelope. He extracted a think bunch of folded papers, examining it closely. "Okay it's a supermarket chain in –" He paused for dramatic effect. "Saddle Arabia." "We are celebrating tonight! My sister's birthday and a contract from over seas!" Apple Bloom left the room smiling as her two older siblings cheered and danced around. She was almost to the stairs when there was a knock on the door. "Got it!" She shouted then opened the door. "Happy birthday!" "Umph." Was all Apple Bloom managed to say as a tangerine and purple blur rushed through the door, hugging her tightly. "Scoots, can't breath." "Sorry – wow nice bow and shades." Scootaloo let go of Apple Bloom her cheeks flaming a little as she took in the new accessories her friend was wearing. "Sweetie Belle and Rarity should be getting back soon, so I thought I'd come get you so we can meet her at the train station." "Okay, let's go. Applejack! Ah'm going out with Scootaloo see you at the party!" Apple Bloom yelled, her voice echoed through the house. "Eeyup." Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked side by side through the orchard. It took longer to get into Ponyville considering the farm has nearly doubled in the last year. As they walked they could see various ponies working the orchard, bucking trees, pulling carts. One of the workers looked up at the two passing fillies. "Hola Apple Bloom. Feliz cumpleaños." He said in his thick Caballo accent. "Gracias señor, gracias." Apple Bloom responded, smiling and nodding at him. "Who's that?" "Señor Manzana Buck. Him and his family were some of the first to come work for us." "Wow cool. Could I get a summer job?" "Ah don't think we can legally hire you... yet." "Darn, how old do I have to be?" Scootaloo continued to bombard her friend with questions about working on a farm for the rest of the journey. In town a few ponies greeted Apple Bloom, commenting on her new bow and sunglasses. They saw a couple of their classmates including, much to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo's disliking, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. "Hey Silver look, two blank flanks – Huuuu oh-my-gosh where did you get that bow? Those are twenty carat diamonds!" "Um, okay?" Apple Bloom was a little taken aback by Diamond Tiara's sudden change in demeanor. "Well, they are. I would know, diamonds are my special talent." "Look at her sunglasses." Silver Spoon said moving in closer. "Oh my gosh, those are Prada! Where did you get all this?" "Um, from ma sister." "From your sister... wow business must be good over there." "It's my birthday." "Yes whatever. You are like totally in! I mean you don't have a cutie mark but whatever, you got that bow and amazing sunglasses. I'm going to ask daddy to get me the same ones. Oh my gosh, I'm having a party tomorrow. You should like totally come or whatever." "Um, maybe." "You can bring your other blank flank – I mean your other friends too. There are going to be lots of cute colts and some fillies for you." Diamond said to Scootaloo. "Well gotta go, lots of shopping to do, bye." Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stood there frozen in place, both of their mouths were hanging open, dumbstruck. "What – what just happened?" Apple Bloom asked, finally breaking the silence. "I don't know but why does everypony always assume I'm a fillyfooler?" "Really? Diamond Tiara is nice to us and invited us to a party and... that's what you are asking?" "I just get tired of ponies assuming, just because I have my mane cut short and ride a scooter doesn't mean – ah screw it, it's true, I'm into fillies." Scootaloo looked down at the ground. "Ah'm not sure how to break this to ya but Ah think we already knew... look, it's okay. Ah mean Ah am too... so what?" Apple Bloom clapped a hoof over her mouth but it was too late. She had never told anypony before, not even Applejack. She had wondered for a while why she never founds colts interesting like many of her classmates did. At first she just figured she was shy around colts like many of the fillies when they were around a colt they found cute. However, she found she never acted that way around any colt and all the ones that most fillies sought after hungrily, never struck her as remotely attractive. For some reason though she acted in that same manner most fillies acted around colts they had a crush on, around her own gender; always finding other fillies cute. "Really?" Apple Bloom exhaled with a sigh."Yeah Ah think so... Ah don't know. Ah've never found any colt interesting but Ah've found several fillies attractive." "Who?" Scootaloo asked, her wings buzzing with excitement. Are we seriously going to do this now? Here? "Well... Dinky is cute –" "Dinky? Seriously?" "Well, she is." "She's straight." "Ah know but she – you know what? No, we are off topic. Diamond Tiara was nice to us! Ah think we should go to this party." "What? Are you serious?" "Yeah, Ah mean if she's mean we can just leave..." Apple Bloom trailed off. She half expected it to be a trap of some kind, knowing Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon; however, part of her was still curios to see if this was the starting of something. A friendship? Maybe they grew up. Teasing and bullying classmates for not having a cutie mark seemed so pointless, if Apple Bloom really thought about it. Maybe she finally got a life or just became colt crazy and doesn't care about cutie marks anymore. Apple Bloom looked at Scootaloo with pleading eyes. She could tell her friend was thinking it over. "Come on Scoots, Ah'm curious but Ah won't go unless you and Sweetie go, so it won't be all awkward and such." "Oh buck it, Im in! It's worth a shot at least. Now let's get Sweetie, I bet she'll faint when we tell her Diamond Tiara was nice to us." They both giggled as they walked into the train station, their hooves clunking dully on the wooden platform. The ground began to shake a little as a massive steam locomotive rolled into the station, plums of steam came from the massive pistons down by the wheel, the brakes squeaked as it slowed to a stop, bellowing steam as it did. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo watched as the locomotive passed them, slowing down until it stopped. The doors on the many passenger cars opened and ponies came rushing out onto the platform. "Knowing Rarity, she's probably in the first class section." Scootaloo stated, walking toward the front of the train. She had only takes a few steps however, before she spotted them. "There they are!" Apple Bloom spotted Rarity and Sweetie Belle walking the platform, Rarity looked annoyed and Sweetie Belle was huffing angrily. "Um what do ya suppose happend?" "The usual." Scootaloo shrugged. "Sweetie, over here!" Sweetie Belle's ears perked up and she trotted over to her friends happily. "Hey, welcome back. How was Manehatten?" Sweetie Belle's ears went back. "Ugh, I couldn't get back soon enough!" Her voice cracked. "That bad huh?" Apple Bloom asked. "Have you traveled with Rarity?" she snapped back at her friend. "Sorry, it's just being stuck on that train for four hours with her. She wanted to polish my hooves and give me a makeover because she was bored. I refused then we got into an argument... anyway, happy birthday Apple Bloom." Sweetie Belle sighed then hugged Apple Bloom. "Sweetums, won't you help me with the luggage?" Rarity's voice sang out. Sweetie Belle ignored her. "So how is everything, nice bow by the way. Those sunglasses look good on you. I was with Rarity and Applejack when she picked them out." "Thanks –" "Hey tell her about what just happened." Scootaloo interrupted. "You won't believe this." "Oh Sweetie Belle, I'd like to go home now." Rarity said impatiently from across the platform next to two carts piled high with luggage. "Yeah, one second! Ugh, see? Anyways... what happened?" "Diamond Tiara was actually nice to us today. She invited all of us to her party tomorrow." Apple Bloom said quickly a grin forming on her face. "Really?" Sweetie Belle asked slowly. "Yeah, she really likes my bow and sunglasses then she invited all of us to go. She even stopped herself from calling us blank flanks." "Well, it makes sense." Sweetie Belle said nonchalantly. "What! Isn't any of this a bit surprising?" Scootaloo asked in slight outrage. "A little but think about it, the Apple family is of a higher social status now. They probably have more money than Filthy Rich if you count all the land they own. Heck, the land alone is probably worth more than he's got." "What are you a real estate agent?" Scootaloo asked. "I'm just saying, Apple Bloom is very, very rich. A lot of ponies are probably going to treat her differently." "Well, Ah guess it's a good thing. We won't get bullied anymore." "Sweetie Belle! I'm not going to ask again!" "I'm coming, sheesh!" Sweetie Belle shouted at her sister. "I'll see you two tonight at the party." She turned on the spot and stormed over to her older sister. "Ah guess there's not much point in crusading without Sweetie. The way things are going Ah'm guessing she's gonna be grounded. Ah hope she makes it to the party." Apple Bloom mused watching Sweetie Belle and Rarity snipe at each other angrily as they left the platform. "I know, there isn't much to do. Rainbow Dash is busy until later today and she won't let me have anypony over while she's gone... and I want to hang out. Let's go to the clubhouse." "And do what?" "I don't know... it's better than the train station though." Scootaloo shrugged. "Ah suppose you're right. Ain't much else to do around here." * * * Apple Bloom stretched herself out on the couch. It had been a great party, even though Granny Smith told embarrassing stories of her, much to every other pony's amusement. Lots of ponies came: all her sister's friends were there, many of her classmates including Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Although they insisted they had walked in by mistake and meant to enter a saddle bag designer store. Diamond Tiara wished Apple Bloom a happy birthday then they left shortly after. To Apple Bloom that was progress. It seemed she was, in her own way, trying to make amends for all the hard times she's given Apple Bloom and her friends. Ah wonder what her party will be like. "Don't get too comfortable, it's almost your bedtime." Applejack entered the living room, looking at the filly stretched out on her back taking up the entire couch, her mouth hanging lazily open. "Aw... but Ah ain't tired." "Ya sure look it. Even the birthday girl has a bedtime." "Okay..." Apple Bloom rolled off the couch and stretched just as her brother walked in the room smiling. "We did good this month." Mac said, sitting on the couch where Apple Bloom was laying moments ago. "Twenty thousand bits in profit." Mac said mostly to himself but Applejack and Apple Bloom both jumped with excitement. He didn't seem to notice though as he picked up the newspaper. "That's great news brother! Ah never thought our farm would take off like this." "I guess it helps to be friends with a princess..." He responded absentmindedly as he flipped through the paper. "Hey sis, what's Cortland?" "Ah think they are an apple orchard or something, Ah don't know. Ah've heard that name around but where... why?" "Oh, just this article here. It's saying something about them rapidly expanding. They are some kind of massive corporation in southern Equestria, they own supermarkets... and they are a major apple producer." "Hmm, well they are in the south, most of our customers are local or up north. So long's they stay down there it ain't a problem." "But sis Ah thought you said a little competition is good for business." Apple Bloom spoke up only to regret it instantly as Applejack gave her a 'what are you still doing here' look. "You! Bed!" Applejack said sternly. "Okay." Apple Bloom left the room feeling a little annoyed. In truth she was extremely tired but she wanted to stay up with her older siblings as they celebrated. From her room she could hear music coming through the floor, making it vibrate rhythmically. Laying in her bed Apple Bloom smiled to herself, thinking life couldn't be better. Her family was happy, the farm was doing better than ever, she had the best friends ever, her birthday party was amazing and Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were trying to be nice to her and her friends. Feeling like life couldn't get any better, Apple Bloom drifted off to sleep.