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// Not the Belle of the Ball 
// Story: Just One Chance 
// by ndisfoshiz 
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                   Applebloom looked at herself in the mirror one last time. She had just finished her hair and makeup, which basically meant she put on mascara, some orangey blush, and clear lip gloss and braided her hair to one side and pulled on it to make it bigger. She turned to look at her dress from behind. It was a gorgeous dress, a Rarity original. It was the same pinkish red as her mane but sparkled. The skirt of the dress had four tiered layers and a muted pink saddle with pearls and hearts. Her shoes were muted pink as well and had ribbon on them that looked like ivy for laces. Her jewelry was a necklace with the same ribbon on her shoes and an apple pendant. She wore her apple earrings that Granny Smith had given her for Hearth's Warming Eve. Her favorite part was the bow. It was light green and sparkled! She loved it more then her special occasions box she wore on her first date with Snips. 
 Just one last thing to complete the look, Applebloom thought walking to her closet. She pulled out a wood jewelry box. She opened it to find a decent amount of jewelry inside. Some friendship bracelets made by Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, some cheap-y fake clip on earrings, and a gold rusty necklace with a small gold apple pendant on it. Applebloom found what she was searching for. Her charm bracelet from Snips, which she affectionately calls her “Snips-let”. After shaking from excitement and anxiety, she put the bracelet on. Applebloom liked how she cleaned up. I feel pretty, she thought. She was ready for this dance. She wanted to see her special some pony and show the other school ponies that she is no longer ashamed to called him her colt friend. 
Just then she heard a knock coming her bedroom door. It was Applejack, as always. 
“Hey, sugar cube, Snips is here if you’re ready,” Applejack announced.
“I am sis,” Applebloom said walking towards her big sister. 
“Oh Applebloom, you’ve grown up so fast,” Applejack realized. 
Applebloom smiled and walked up to her sister. Applejack led her downstairs to the front hall where Snips and everyone else was waiting. Snips was wearing a black buttoned shirt with a white tie. He was also wearing black and white shoes and black top hat. Applebloom giggled at the site of the top hat.
“It’s the hat isn’t it? I’ll take it off,” Snips said.
“No!” Applebloom rejected, “I like it keep it on.”
Snips smiled at her and gave her a beautiful pink rose corsage with white baby’s breath. Applebloom slipped it on her front hoof that didn’t have the bracelet. Applebloom then put on Snips’s boutonniere. It was a pink carnation, simple and fancy. As she finished putting it on, Snips kissed her on the cheek. Applebloom blushed from happiness.
“Applebloom, this is my uncle. He ’s the pony I told you about,” Snips introduced, “Uncle Seltzer, this is my filly friend Applebloom.”
“Nice to meet you sweetheart, I look forward to doing business with you and your family,” the stallion greeted. He was a tall unicorn, big but not as big as Big Mac. He was a dark green stallion with a dark copper short mane and tail. His cutie mark was a soda bottle. 
“It’s nice to meet you too. I’ve heard great things about you,” Applebloom replied.
“Okay now,” Granny Smith said, “let’s get some pictures so you two can be on your way.” 
Applebloom stood next to Snips and smiled as Granny Smith took one picture after another. The pictures seemed to go on forever and finally when Granny put the camera down, Applebloom sprung an idea. 
“Granny, wait,” Applebloom said, “take one more.”
Granny Smith looked at Big Mac in confusion. Big Mac just shrugged at her, hinting to just take the picture. Granny Smith pulled up the camera.
“Okay, on 3. 1, 2, 3” Granny Smith said.
As soon as Granny Smith said three Applebloom turned her head and kissed Snips on the cheek. The flash went off signaling that the picture was taken. Applebloom looked at Snips.
“Now we’re even” she whispered.

The school dance was being held outside. It was a beautiful clear night, Luna must have heard the prayers of the school ponies it was so beautiful. There were lights, tables, food, a dance floor, and DJ-pon3 was spinning tunes on the turntable. Pinkie Pie definitely decorated! Applebloom could see all the ponies from school. She began to scout out her friends. 
“Are you ready?” Snips asked Applebloom.
She looked at him and smiled, “yes.”
Applebloom and Snips walked into the area where the dance was. Every pony was all dressed up and happy. It was going to be a great night. Pony after pony came up and said hi to Snips and Applebloom. Whenever Applebloom confessed to being in a relationship with Snips, ponies either congratulated the two or didn’t care. Applebloom began to see that she was worried about nothing and relaxed. After about ten minutes she was able to find Scootaloo, she was by herself though. 
“Scootaloo!” Applebloom screamed.
Scootaloo turned and looked at Applebloom and Snips. Scootaloo was also wearing a Rarity original dress. It was a two tiered dress with the bottom tier sparkly. The first tier looked like a cape and it was beautiful. The saddle had cream ribbon around it and a place to put her wings. The dress was ombre and went from mauve to a morning sunlight gold. Her shoes were fuchsia with lightning detail. She also had two pearl bracelets and a lightning necklace. Her hair was straightened and looked so much longer than normal. She had on eyeliner and a shimmery bronzer. She looked stunning.
“Applebloom!” Scootaloo screamed and charged towards her, “I’ve been looking for you, Sweetie Belle’s not here yet.”
“Typical!” Applebloom laughed, “Oh Scootaloo, meet my colt friend Snips.”
Scootaloo looked at Applebloom completely stunned. Applebloom prepared for the worst and waited for the anger to unleash, but that didn’t happen. Scootaloo’s dropped jaw turned into a smile as she threw her hooves around Applebloom.
“Snips! How did you get so charismatic?” Scootaloo asked.
“I don’t know,” Snips laughed, “she brought it out of me.”
The three ponies stood and talked for the next couple of minutes. Scootaloo didn’t seem a bit ashamed or embarrassed, in fact she seemed very proud of the new couple. 
“Applebloom, I’m sorry I made fun of Snips liking you,” Scootaloo apologized. 
“It’s fine Scootz,” Applebloom replied, “by the way where’s Featherweight?” 
“Oh, he’s sick,” Scootaloo explained, “so I got another date.” 
Just then Rumble came up behind her and hugged her. He was dressed in a simple white buttoned shirt with a black blazer. 
“Hey Applebloom, Snips. I hear you two are dating. Congrats!” Rumble said.
Applebloom began to wonder what she was so worried about. Scootaloo is one of her best friends and will accept her no matter what. Now she just had to find Sweetie Belle and her date. 
“Applebloom, look!” Scootaloo screamed pointing behind her. Walking into the dance was Sweetie Belle and her date. Her date was a brown earth pony with two-toned rust hair. He had dark orange and yellow eyes and had no cutie mark. He was wearing a red-orange shirt and a white blazer. He looked very handsome. Then there was Sweetie Belle wearing an amazingly beautiful one-of-a-kind dress her sister made. Her dress was two-tiered like Scootaloo’s. The first tier was a dark muted blue with a lighter muted blue ribbon with light green flowers around the bottom of it. The second tier was a sheer see through silver fabric with, of course, sparkles. She had on simple blueish silver shoes and a silver choker necklace with a blue heart. She also wore a blue sparkly headband and her hair was teased and curled vintage style. She looked absolutely beautiful! 
“Sweetie Belle!” Applebloom and Scootaloo screamed. Sweetie Belle looked away from her date and saw Applebloom, Scootaloo, and the colts. She smiled and headed towards them. The three best friends shared a group hug.
“You both look beautiful!” Sweetie Belle complimented. By that point her date had caught up with her. “Oh! Applebloom, Scootaloo, this is Button Mash.”
“Nice to meet you,” Applebloom said.
“It’s nice to meet the two of you. Sweetie Belle has told me a lot about you two,” Button greeted.
Sweetie Belle then looked at Applebloom with a grim look on her face, “Applebloom, who’s this?” she asked nervously.
“Oh,” Applebloom responded happily, “Sweetie Belle, you know Snips. He’s my colt friend.”
Sweetie Belle looked at her friend completely shocked in horror. After about a minute she finally spoke.
“Applebloom,” she said calmly but then raised her voice, “WHY!!!!!!!!”
Applebloom was taken back by her friends tone. The feeling of worry came back into her. 
“Why him! You told me about the amazing, charismatic colt you met and had fun with, and yet you bring him! What about the other colt! He was perfect for you!”
Applebloom interrupted, “that colt was Snips!”
Sweetie Belle looked angry, “you lied to us? Not only that but you actually like this colt? How! He’s awkward and weird and so low class!”
“I like him Sweetie Belle! Get over it!” Applebloom then turned and walked away. She wanted to get as far away from her as possible. She could not believe the amount of crap she had just taken from that filly. She was her best friend and she has the nerve to tell her she had a bad colt friend. 


Applebloom stopped behind a bush and cried. She didn’t want any pony to see her, not even Snips. She just wanted to be invisible from Sweetie Belle. She hated her, she hated her best friend who she has gone on numerous adventures with to find her cutie mark. Now she wanted nothing to do with her. 
“Is this what you were worried about Applebloom?” a voice said from in front of her. She looked up and there was Princess Cadance.
“Yes, yes this was,” Applebloom replied.
Cadance sat down in front of her and wiped her tears away with a tissue. 
“Applebloom, I know it’s hard to have a friend who does not approve. Believe me, when I started dating Shining Armor, my friends didn’t understand. He was awkward, quirky, and a giant nerd, but that's what I liked about him. Once you get over what others think and focus on yourself, others will follow.”
“But what if she never does?”
“If she is your friend, she will.”
“Applebloom!” Sweetie Belle’s voice screamed.
“Go Applebloom. Follow your heart.” Cadance said then disappeared into the night.
Applebloom got up and walked towards the sound of Sweetie Belle’s voice.
“Applebloom!” Sweetie Belle screamed, “there you are.”
“Sweetie Belle, hold on to whatever you have to say because I have something to say,” Applebloom demanded, “I like Snips, maybe even love him, nothing you say will make me change my feelings.”
“So Snips is the one who gave you the bracelet and took you on those dates?” Sweetie Belle ask.
Applebloom looked at her calming down, “yeah.”
“Maybe he’s not so bad, after all,” Sweetie Belle concluded.
The two friends laughed and apologized to each other and went back to the dance. After about an hour, Sweetie Belle saw what Applebloom saw. A kind, caring, charming young colt who cares deeply about her friend. The three couples hung out for the rest of the dance. They danced, talked, and ate good food. At 10:56 p.m DJ-pon3 had spoken.
“Alright all you fillies and colts out there! We got one more song to play for you. So grab your special some pony and hit the dance floor for a love song played by my best friend Octavia.”
Octavia brought out her cello with the rest of her ensemble and began to play a beautiful, classical, slow song. Applebloom hit the dance floor with her special some pony and began to dance. The two could not take their eyes off of each other as the song progressed. Applebloom finally felt happy. Her friends accepted her colt friend, she didn’t have to keep it a secret anymore, and best of all she had a colt friend.
The song ended and the three couples walked out of the dance together and went their separate ways after saying goodbye. Snips walked Applebloom back to Sweet Apple Acres. The couple reminisced about the night they had just had. They were both glad that their relationship didn't have to be a secret anymore. The two continued to smile at each other and as they walked up to Applebloom’s house. 
“Thanks for tonight Snips, I had a wonderful time,” Applebloom said.
“No thank you Applebloom. It feels so good that others accept our relationship,” Snips said.
“Me too,” Applebloom said.
Snips then pulled her close to her and kissed her on the lips. The two shared a passionate 10 second kiss as Applebloom’s heart melted.
“I love you,” Applebloom muttered loud enough for Snips to hear. Applebloom tried to cover her mouth, but Snips took her hoof in protest. Snips smiled at her.
“I love you too,” Snips replied.
Applebloom began to cry happy tears as her eyes met Snips. Snips wiped away her tears and kissed her once more. Applebloom couldn’t believe what has happened in the last couple of hours. She came out and told every pony about her relationship, got her friends approval, told Snips she loves him, and he even said it back. Princess Cadance was right, Applebloom thought, follow your heart and others will follow.