//------------------------------// // Chapter 20 // Story: Ghost vs. The Equestrian Educational System // by Jman9877 //------------------------------// Chapter 20 3rd Person POV After an incredibly long day of loop-de-hooping and spinning plates, the Apple Family and Ghost finally made it back to Sweet Apple Acres. By now, Celestia had set the sun and Luna had risen her moon, creating a vast night sky for all to see. Ghost smiled as he saw the tired grin on Applebloom's face, along with the cheery expressions of the rest of the Apple family. "Yee-haw, lil' sis! Congratulations on gettin' not just one, but two cutie marks! We're mighty proud of ya, right Big Macintosh?" Applejack cheered, with Big Mac giving his signature, 'Eyup' response. The tension between him and Ghost had settled a bit, especially after Applebloom's explanation of why she had been sleeping in his bed. The large stallion was still wary around Ghost, but as long as he was helping his little sister get better, he would at least try to get over it. "Ah've never seen anythin' like it. Have ya, Big Mac?" "Eenope!" "It's almost like... magic!" Ghost added, shooting a small grin towards Applebloom who just scowled at him a bit. "Why, the way you were a-hoopin' and a-hoppin' and kickin' and spinnin' reminded me of when I was a spry young filly." Granny Smith said with a hint of longing in her voice. With that, she tried to perform so sort of dance move, before she locked up and began to yelp. "Charley horse, charley horse!" Big Mac gave the elderly mare a quick tap on the hip, clearing up her cramp. "Why, Apple Bloom, I think you're ready to hit the rodeo circuit right now!" Applejack congratulated, but Applebloom laughed tiredly and shook her head no. "Actually, ah'm ready to hit the hay right now. ah'm plum tuckered. I'll see y'all in the mornin'. Night!" Applebloom yawned, walking upstair away from everypony else in the room. "Night! Oh my, little Apple Bloom has finally blossomed, hasn't she, Big Mac?" Applejack sighed, looking up the stairs where Applebloom went. "Eyup!" Not saying a word, Ghost followed Applebloom upstairs, going into Applebloom's room to find her admiring her own talents in her vanity mirror. "That was a very impressive afternoon. But you know what I've been wondering all day?" Ghost commented, watching as Applebloom continued to spin plates on her head and twirl a hoop around her tail. "How did you manage to get a second cutie mark in plate spinning, when you never spun plates before you got it?" Applebloom grunted and turned towards Ghost, still managing to keep all of her props spinning. "Why have ya been sayin' stuff like that!? Aren't ya happy that ah managed to finally get mah cutie mark?" "Not if they're fakes! I know you didn't get those legitimately Applebloom!" "And how would you know if they're real or not!?" "Because that's what I have to do for a living!" Ghost exclaimed. "My job involves pretending to be somepony else a lot, so I know how to spot phonies." With that, the two just stared at each other, an angry look on both of their faces. Applebloom turned away from the Changeling, stopping her loop-de-hooping and her plate spinning. She set them into a large chest in her room, but still didn't look at Ghost. "Get out of mah room." She finally said, still not looking at him. "If ya ain't gonna be happy for me in a time like this, then ya obviously aren't mah friend." "Fine then! I'll just get out!" Ghost retorted, turning around and walking towards the door. He opened it to find Big Mac about to knock, but just went around him to his guest room. Big Mac stood there confused for a moment, before walking into Applebloom's room. Her back was still to the door, and her head was hung just a little bit. "Mind explainin' things?" He asked, walking up towards his baby sister. She just shook her head no, trying to stifle a sob that was threatening to rise out of her throat. "Are ya sure?" "Yes, can... can ya leave me alone for a bit...?" She managed to say, a few shaky sobs nearly causing her to falter. Big Mac nodded and walked out of the room, making sure to quietly close the door behind him. Seeing if he could get an answer out of Ghost, he knocked on the guest room door a few times. "Ghost? Open up." Big Mac said, more of a command than a request. There was no answer, making Big Mac knock a bit harder. "Ah know yer in there. Open up." No response came once again, causing the large stallion to try the door knob. It didn't budge, but Big Mac wasn't going to be satisfied until he had a word with the changeling colt. Turning around and rearing his hind legs, he kicked the door near the lock as hard as he could, literally sending the door off of its hinges. "Ghost! Me an' ya are gonna have a word right..." Big Mac looked around the room, seeing that it was completely empty. The window was wide open, letting in a chilly breeze. "Now..." Ghost POV I fought back and wiped away tears as I made my way towards the Everfree Forest. I didn't know why I was angry, or why I was crying in the first place. Just... seeing that Applebloom was telling me to get away from her, it hurt me really bad. Negative emotions tasted way worse than any other emotion, and right now all I could taste was anger and sadness. And the worst part was, it was coming off of me, forcing me to bathe in it. Changelings weren't supposed to give off emotion because they were all connected to a hive mind, but since I was cut off from one thanks to 64, I was able to do so like any other pony would be able to do. But now I really wish I couldn't. I couldn't stand to see Applebloom mad at me, or have her mad at anything. For some reason emotions I felt were increased ten fold around her, and I didn't know why. Right now, my main priority was finding out why Applebloom had multiple cutie marks, and where she got them from. Walking through the Everfree Forest, I made sure to let out my emotion of anger as strong as I could, to ward off any creatures that would try to attack me. As I did so, I could hear the sound of multiple beings rustling through the bushes, eager to get away from bad feeling. "Who goes there in the middle of the night, that which gives all the creatures a fright?" A voice called out, making me stop in my tracks. "My name's Ghost. And I'm looking for a Zecora." I responded, not dropping my air of anger. Out of the thicket, a robed creature walked out, her entire form covered by her clothing. "I'm trying to find answers to why a filly in Ponyville sudden'y has two cutie marks." The robed figure brought down her hood, revealing the zebra in question. "Then you and I have the same goal in mind. Follow my back to my home, and soon the answers we will find." I nodded and followed the Zebra mare, eager to apologize to Applebloom for what I did.