//------------------------------// // Chapter Three: Apple Bloom // Story: Crusade // by viclouiis //------------------------------// I definitely had some questions for AJ. Questions about Miss Cheerilee and what she had against us, questions about Applejack's 'Farmers' Sense', and questions about whether it held any weight. But all of that would have to wait. I prefer talking about private things in the security of my own home. I don't know why, I just feel safer that way. AJ and I were nearing Sweet Apple Acres, when we saw what looked like a comet come soaring through the sky and land somewhere in Ponyville. "Sis, what was that?" I asked, biting my lower lip. "Uh, Ah'm not sure. Head to the cellar. Ah'll get Big Mac and Granny Smith," Applejack said. We ran toward our house, as a mass of creatures headed for Ponyville. I wasn't quite sure what they were, but they looked bad. I didn't get a good look then, but I'd sure get a good look at them later. AJ rushed me into the house, and from there I knew what to do. I ran to our cellar door, while Applejack went looking for Big Mac and Granny Smith. I climbed down the ramp and into the cellar. I waited for two minutes, then locked the cellar. Just then, it occurred to me that my friends were still back in Ponyville. Featherweight and Twist... I hoped that they were okay. I heard a few distant explosions, and hoped that those weren't my friends. Then, I heard the lock being fiddled with. Applejack was here! She came down, followed by Big Mac, Granny Smith, and Caramel, the stallion who sometimes came to our farm to help out. "Applejack! Big Mac! Granny! You're all alright! But what's goin' on out there?" I asked. "Ah... Ah'm not sure, sis. But we'll be okay," AJ said. "Alright, AJ. Thanks. You think mah friends are alright?" I asked. "Ah hope so. Not sure, with Cheerilee in charge," Applejack said. Big Mac frowned. "So, now what?" Caramel asked. "Well, we brought some stuff down here. Food, games, water, blankets. Ya know, for an emergency. We wait down here for a day, an' then Ah'll go up," AJ said. "Not alone you don't," Big Mac said. "Mac! Someone has to stay here with Granny and Apple Bloom in case somethin'... Happens," Applejack said. "Caramel will. We can trust 'im," Big Mac said. "Ah... But..." AJ trailed off. "C'mon, AJ. We won't be gone long," Mac said. "Let's just... play cards, alright?" Caramel asked. Granny nodded. "Alright. Okay," Applejack said. We got out the cards and played, but it was no fun. Granny fell asleep, and Applejack walked off to think in the corner. At that point, I went to bed, laden with worry. I woke up to the sound of my siblings talking. "Should we... wake her up? Say bye an' all that?" AJ asked. "Too late not to," I mumbled. "Oh, Bloom," AJ came over and hugged me, "We love ya' so much,". "Ah know," I said. "Eeyup, but... In case ya' didn't notice, yer sister an' Ah might not come back. It's the truth. And... we just wanted to let ya' know how much we both care about y'all," Big Mac said. I hugged them both. "Ah love ya' too," I said. "Bloom... Gimme yer bow," AJ said. I took it off. She took off her hat, tied the bow to it, and set the hat on my head. "Here ya' go... this one was Pa's. Lucky Ah wasn't wearin' it when Ah was workin' with Rarity an' Coco in Manehattan," She smiled on the verge of tears. We came in close. Mac woke up Caramel and said bye, and then he and AJ hugged Granny goodbye. AJ gave me one last hug. "Yer a great filly, Bloom. Keep on fightin'," She whispered. "We'll be back before nightfall," Mac said. AJ said nothing, and they left the cellar. They weren't back by nightfall. Or the next day. Or the next. Soon, a week had gone by. Another week and we'd be out of food. I cried a lot. How could I not? My brother and sister were gone, I didn't know what had happened to my friends, and I didn't really know anything. Caramel comforted me, but he wasn't family. Granny Smith was asleep most of the time. "Caramel?" I asked one night. "Yeah?" He asked. "Ah need to go. Find my siblings, find my friends, find someone. Ah can't stay down here," I said. "Yeah... but Granny has to," He said. "Yeah. And Ah can't just abandon mah family," I said. "But she can't come..." Caramel said. "Why don't ya' just ask me?" Granny asked. "Well... You see... Ah..." I trailed off. "Ya want to go find other ponies. Yer brother and sister, your friends. Ya want to know what happened to Equestria. But ya can't leave yer old Granny in a cellar," Granny said. "Well..." I said. "Lemme tell ya' somethin'. Ah've lived a long and happy life, an' if Ah had to, Ah'd willingly go now. Ah'll be alright, Bloom," She said. "But... Granny..." I said. "Listen here. You go find your sister an' brother," Granny said. "What about me?" Caramel asked. "Ah'm sure that y'all have someone ya wanna see," Granny said. "I... yeah. I do," Caramel said. "Then go find 'em," Granny grinned.