Apple Bloom opened her eyes. Light flooded her vision, and she let out a small moan, rolling over.
What...what happened? Suddenly, the memories came flooding back. The storm, with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, and the part with Diamond Tiara...Apple Bloom groaned as she recalled how she had left her friends after they tried to apologize.
Oh...maybe Ah should say sorry...Ah feel awful fer how Ah just left them! Right after breakfast, Ah’ll go an’ apologize!
Apple Bloom sat up, rubbing her mane with one hoof. She looked around confusedly, her eyes squinting as she took in the peeling wallpaper and the small window, trying to figure out where she was.
Oh! Ah’m in mah room! Applejack must’a taken me home last night! Smiling, Apple Bloom slipped out of bed, her hooves hitting the floor. Her legs felt oddly sore as she bent her knees, and she winced.
Apple Bloom began to trot forward, quickly slowing her pace as her muscles began to ache again. She grumbled slightly to herself as she made her way down the stairs.
As she entered the kitchen, she caught sight of her sister, who had her back turned. She was muttering to herself as she stirred something in a worn black pot, pausing to sniff what she was mixing.
“G’mornin’, Applejack,” Apple Bloom called. Her voice was deeper and slightly raspy as she spoke, causing her to frown slightly.
“Apple Bloom!” Her sister turned, a smile on her face. “There ya are!” Apple Bloom couldn’t help but notice that her sister’s mane was wispier and quite rumpled, and streaks of gray highlighted her no-longer-so-bright-mane.
“Are ya okay, sis?” she asked quietly, eyeing the gray in her mane.
“‘Course Ah am.” Applejack gave her an odd look. “We’ve gotta heap’a work ahead of us today!”
“Oh…” Apple Bloom frowned as Applejack handed her a warm mug full of cider. “Ah was sorta plannin’ t’meet up with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.”
Applejack whirled around, her eyes wide. “Uh, Apple Bloom?” she asked, her voice edged with fear. “Are...are you okay?”
“‘Course Ah am,” Apple Bloom muttered. “Why wouldn’t Ah be?”
Applejack swallowed, her gaze dropping to her hooves. “Apple Bloom, don’t you remember?” she asked quietly. “Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo...are gone.”
“WHAT?” Apple Bloom pounded her hooves on the table, her mug clattering to the ground unnoticed. “Whaddaya mean?!”
“Apple Bloom, Ah’m worried ‘bout ya,” Applejack murmured. “Sweetie Belle moved t’Canterlot, remember? She became the editor of some magazine...Ah think it was called Modish Mane ...and Scootaloo moved t’Manehatten after she opened that scooter-an’-bike shop…”
“But...they’re just fillies! How could they do all that?”
Applejack blinked. “Are ya okay, sis?” Worry creased her brow as she trotted forward, her green eyes glistening. “Why don’t ya go back to yer room and rest?”
“Not until Ah find mah friends!” Apple Bloom scowled, crossing her hooves. “Ya said Sweetie Belle was in Canterlot? Does that mean Rarity’s there too?”
“No. She does go back an’ forth quite a bit, but she doesn’t live there.”
“Well, Ah’m going to go and find her!” Not bothering to wait for a response, Apple Bloom whirled around and marched out the door, slamming it behind her. Turning around, she trotted down the steps and began making her way through the orchard.
* * *
Apple Bloom hummed to herself as she approached Ponyville. Despite finding out what had happened, the sky was blue and the sun was out, the vast sky dotted with puffy white clouds. A plan was already forming in Apple Bloom’s mind as she continued onward.
Alright...first Ah’ll go t’the train station...then Ah’ll get a ticket and go t’Canterlot...then Ah’ll find Sweetie Belle an’ talk t’her! Then we’ll go an’ get Scootaloo!
Apple Bloom smiled confidently, her chin high. “Perfect!”
“Apple Bloom?”
Apple Bloom blinked, her eyes widening. Did...did somepony just…
“Apple Bloom!”
Apple Bloom whipped around to see a cream colored mare galloping toward her. She had a straight, sleek reddish mane, and her magenta eyes gleamed. There was something oddly familiar about her, and it was only when the mare galloped closer and Apple Bloom caught a glimpse of her cutie mark that she pieced together who the mare was.
“Twist?”
“Yeah, it’s me.” Twist smiled, and Apple Bloom’s jaw dropped. Her once-frizzy mane was now straight and shiny, and the purple glasses perched upon her muzzle had vanished. Her voice was much smoother and high-pitched, and her articulation had greatly improved.
“What happened t’ya?!” Apple Bloom walked closer, her eyes still wide. The once-bubbly filly was now a fully-grown mare!
“What do you mean?” Twist frowned slightly, her eyes narrowing. “Are you talking about the manecut I got recently? Because it’s--”
“Ah don’t mean that. Ah mean, Ah do. Yer...yer all grown up!”
“Uh, yeah…” Twist giggled nervously. “Look, I have to run. I’m opening my shop up soon. Um...maybe you should lie down or something.” With that, the mare slowly backed up before whirling around and galloping away.
“Wait! Twist! Ya said somethin’ ‘bout a shop? And why are ya a mare?” Apple Bloom sighed, kicking up a cloud of dust with one hoof. “There’s gotta be some answer t’this.”
Glancing up, she noticed the train station in the distance. Straightening up, she began cantering to the station through the market. As she did so, she noticed ponies all around her, setting up stands. One familiar silver-coated pony, however, was setting up a bright green-and-blue sign. Curious, Apple Bloom trotted forward, her eyes widening as she finally recognized the silver pony.
“Silver Spoon?! Is that you?”
The silver pony turned, her eyes shining. “Apple Bloom! How nice to see you!” She giggled, trotting up to Apple Bloom with a large grin plastered on her face.
“It...is?” Apple Bloom scowled. “Is this a joke?” Like Twist, the earth pony was a fully grown mare. Her pale gray mane was no longer tucked into a neat braid, but hung in frizzy waves, and she had abandoned her blue pearls. She still had her glasses, but they now had rectangular frames.
“Of course!” The mare grabbed Apple Bloom with one hoof, pulling her into a tight hug. Apple Bloom quickly wiggled out of the mare’s grasp, her eyes darting to the sign. “Silver Spoon? Yer settin’ up a sign...that says…save Equestria?!”
“Uh-huh!” Silver Spoon clapped her hooves together excitedly. “Ponies need to stop littering! Turning off the lights while you’re away can save a lot of energy, you know!”
“But...why are ya doin’ this? Ah mean, what changed?”
“Changed?”
“Ah mean…” Apple Bloom sighed. “Where’s Diamond Tiara? Doesn’t she hang out with ya any more?”
“Well, not really. Ever since I was sent to that nature camp when I was ten, I fell in love with Equestria! Beautiful Equestria!” The silver mare giggled softly, collapsing on the dirt road and attempting to hug it.
“Right…” Apple Bloom slowly began to back away. “Um...where is she now?”
“Diamond Tiara? Well, she’s--”
“Right here,” a familiar snobby voice cut in. Apple Bloom groaned, slowly turning to face a pale pink-coated mare with a lavender-and-white mane. Her trademark tiara was still perched atop her perfectly styled mane, and Apple Bloom couldn’t help but roll her eyes and sigh.
“Howdy, Diamond Tiara,” she muttered. Maybe this is a prank...everypony seems to have aged! But how would anypony have pulled that off? Unless...that wish last night... As Apple Bloom realized what had happened, her eyes nearly popped out of her head. “The future?!”
“Heeey, AB!” Diamond Tiara’s brow creased with worry. “Maybe you should lie down. Don’t want my best friend feeling bad!” She smiled.
Apple Bloom recoiled, a grimace twisting her expression as she temporarily forgot when she was. “Best friend?!”
Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. “Um, duh. We’re besties!” She placed a well-manicured hoof around Apple Bloom’s shoulder, and the yellow-coated mare recoiled. “Remember? Hey, that reminds me, do you want to catch up at the spa later?”
Apple Bloom winced. “Ah...think Ah’ll pass today. Ah’m, uh, not feelin’ too good right now.”
“Oh. Okay. Maybe tomorrow.” Diamond Tiara winked at Apple Bloom, her hoof idly twirling a lock of her mane. “I have to go to a meeting. See you later?”
“Uh...maybe,” Apple Bloom muttered, her eyes not quite meeting the eyes of the pale pink mare before her.
“Bye!” Diamond Tiara cheerfully blew Apple Bloom a kiss before beginning to trot away. Apple Bloom groaned, placing one hoof to her forehead. “Maybe this is all a bad dream. There’s no way Ah could really be in the future...no way...especially one where Diamond Tiara an’ Ah are best friends.” Shuddering, the mare begun her canter back to the train station.
As she continued along, she began to notice more and more. For one, new buildings had been put up, and the Town Hall seemed to have doubled in size. All around her, former classmates were chatting, walking, trotting, and even selling things. Feeling sick to her stomach, the mare averted her eyes from the unnerving scene before her.
Before long, she reached the train station. She glanced around, quickly locating the ticket booth and trotting forward. The mare at the booth had a cream-colored coat, much like Twist, but her pale green mane was neatly pushed back and secured by a headband. She was reading a magazine, and Apple Bloom gasped as she scanned the title, which was scrawled in a loopy, fancy scarlet.
Modish Mane! Applejack said that was where Sweetie Belle worked! “Um, excuse me?”
The mare looked up, a slight frown on her face. “Can I help you?”
“Ah would like a round trip ticket to Canterlot, please,” Apple Bloom responded.
“Of course. That’ll be seventeen bits.”
Apple Bloom blinked. “W-what?”
The mare’s frown deepened. “Look, kid, tickets cost bits. Are you paying or not?”
“Ah...Ah guess--”
“Apple Bloom!”
A loud voice sounded from behind her, and the mare turned to see a familiar orange form galloping toward her. “Applejack?”
“Apple Bloom!” The orange earth pony skidded to a halt beside Apple Bloom, panting heavily. “Ah thought Ah’d find ya here.” She pushed forward a worn brown suitcase, and Apple Bloom frowned.
“Sis? What are you doin’ here?”
“After what ya said, Ah thought ya might come here to go t’Canterlot or Manehatten, an’...” The mare took off her hat, pulling out a small brown bag and dropping it at Apple Bloom’s hooves. Confused, the mare picked it up and peered inside, her eyes widening as she saw what was inside.
“What...what is all this for?” The bag had been filled to the top with shining gold bits.
“Ah pooled together some spare money, and took a little from the savin’s...Apple Bloom, Ah know sometime what Ah do seems crazy, but...Ah want the best for ya. Ah think ya should go an’ find yer friends.”
“Ya...ya do?”
“Ah know yer mah little sister, an’ just thinkin’ about you on yer own out there is scary, but...Ah want the best fer ya. And Ah think the best is followin’ yer heart, even if it leads ya t’Canterlot.”
Apple Bloom smiled, tears beginning to form. Her sister shared her smile, and she leaned forward, throwing her hooves around her sister. “Ah...Ah can’t thank ya enough…and Ah’ll be back before ya know it!”
Applejack smiled, slowly pulling away. “Ah know. Ah’ll see ya soon.”
Apple Bloom beamed before turning back to the ticket booth. “One round ticket to Canterlot, please!” She slapped seventeen bits on the counter, and the mare smiled as she took them, passing a white slip forward.
“Train leaves in five minutes,” the mare added. Apple Bloom happily took the ticket in, waving to her sister. “Ah’ll be off now!”
“See ya soon!”
With that, the orange farm mare waved one more time to her little sister before turning and beginning back to the farm.
Apple Bloom hummed happily to herself as she took the bag, the suitcase, and the ticket and started towards the train. Ah’m really gonna do it! Ah’m gonna find mah friends! But...they wouldn’t need findin’ if...if...why did they leave? Guess Ah’m gonna find that out, too…
Just as she was about to board the train, however, a loud voice startled her. She turned around, sighing. What is it now?
“AB! You’re not going anywhere without your best friend, right?”
Apple Bloom groaned, barely resisting the urge to facehoof. “Diamond Tiara? What’re ya doin’ here?”
“Well, I was about to go to the meeting when my dad ran up to me and told me that half of the board was sick from some bad scones...anyways, the meeting was cancelled, so I decided to come and find you. Heard you were going somewhere, so I brought some stuff!”
“Um, right…” Apple Bloom scowled, glancing towards the train. “Ah was about t’take a little trip t’Canterlot to find somepony, so…”
“Oh! I’ll come!” Diamond Tiara grinned. “It’ll be fun. Who’re you finding, anyways?”
“Just...just an ol’ friend…”
“Fun!” Diamond Tiara bounced up to the ticket booth, fishing a purse out of a large purple bag she had slung around her shoulders. “How long are we going to stay?”
“Oh...Ah dunno. Look, Diamond, maybe it’s not the best idea--”
“Thank you!” Not even paying attention, Diamond Tiara took the ticket she had just purchased and pushed past Apple Bloom. “Come on, let’s board!”
“...if ya come along.” Apple Bloom groaned as she begun to trot to the train. Ah can’t believe Ah’m lettin’ Diamond Tiara of all ponies come with me. She doesn’t even like me! Well...she didn’t...now we’re best friends… As she entered the car, Apple Bloom begrudgingly settled in a red-cushioned seat beside her “best friend.”
“So when we get to Canterlot, we should totally get manicures! I hear they have this great spa with like a bajillion different treatments…”
As the pink pony kept chattering, Apple Bloom groaned and turned away, trying to make herself comfortable. This is gonna be a long ride…