//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Diamonds Are for Apples // by sonicfan05 //------------------------------// It was Saturday morning and the sun was blazing in the sky. The first day of the weekend is usually the day when kids and teenagers get to relax and have fun after a long week of school. Most of them would rather stay indoors with their ACs then to go outside on a hot day like this. Except for the Crusaders who were currently working out on the field of Sweet Apple Acres. After they spent about a half hour from the inside of the jewelry store's safe (again), they were taken to the detention hall by Shinning Armor. It was there when they found out that the guard from the front entrance regained conscious from the closet and called for help after he was knocked out by the Diamond Bandit. Meaning that their efforts to avoid security through the vents, was entirely pointless. They waited for another fifteen minutes with Shinning Armor until all of their families finally came in to pick them up. And they were not happy. To make a long story short, their families decided as a group to punish the Crusaders by having them work with Applejack for the weekend and possibly more days to follow. Scootaloo grunted as she was pulling the weeds out from the ground. “I can’t believe we are out here working on the farm. We could’ve do some rock climbing, playing video games, swimming in the lake, or whatever we can do for fun over the weekend. But noooooo, we got ourselves grounded and forced to help Applejack at the farm for a week…all because someone suggested we break into the jewelry store!” “Sneak,” Apple Bloom corrected as she was picking the Apples off from a tree. “Whatever!" Scootaloo shouted. "And then not only did we get caught, but it turns out that there was someone else who looks just like Applejack…but different skin and hair color!” "Not to mention, that stupid show we watched, released the updated footage in color on the night we sneaked into the jewelry store!" Sweetie Belle added bitterly as she was digging the field with her shovel. Apple Bloom scoffed. “Well, unlike my best friends with wild imaginations, Ah knew it wasn’t my sister the whole time!” “But you went along with it anyway!” Scootaloo pointed out angerly. “It was yer fault that made me doubt my sister in the first place!” Apple Bloom countered hotly. “How was I supposed to know that she had different skin and hair color?” Scootaloo argued. “How can you jumped to conclusions about my sister despite everything she’s done?” Apple Bloom challenged. “You tell me you hypocrite!” “Loud Mouth!” “Control freak!” “Jerk face!” “Cow breath!” “…Chicken!” “THAT”S IT!” Before the two girls attack one another, Sweetie Belle stepped in between them to prevent them from fighting. “Girls stop! We’re all to blame! It was a big misunderstanding on our part and we made a mistake just because we watched that stupid show and we don’t know how we can handle it." Sweetie Belle then sighed. "Yes, we got punished, but at least we know that Applejack’s not the bandit, right?” The girls were just standing around in silence, looking at each other awkwardly. After about a minute of silence, Apple Bloom sighed softly and look down in shame. “Yeah...yer right Sweetie Belle." Apple Bloom gave Scootaloo her apologetic look. "I’m sorry Scootaloo.” Scootaloo sighed as she looked down and touched her arm. “I’m sorry too Apple Bloom, I really am glad that girl isn’t your sister, but she looked so alike!” “Yeah like, what are the odds of that?" said Sweetie Belle. "And I thought knowing that there our pony versions of us from another world were weird!” Apple Bloom let out her genuine smile. “Despite all that, Ah am glad that girl we saw on that show was not my sister. Ah’m just ashamed at myself for thinkin’ that my sister is the Diamond Bandit.” “Ah suppose Ah should’ve ease yer worries from the beginnin.’” The Crusaders all turned towards the source of the voice to see Applejack approaching them. “Applejack!" Apple Bloom said loudly with a bit of panic in her voice. "We weren't slacking off, we were just takin’ a short breather, Ah sware!” “Don’t worry sugarcube," Applejack reassured. "Ah’m just here to talk to you about why Ah disappeared a lot lately.” As the Crusaders gave Applejack their full attention with curious looks, Applejack sighed calmly. “The truth is...Ah took a second job for two weeks.” The Crusaders eyes widen in shock. “You took a second job?" Apple Bloom exclaimed. "Why?" Then her eyes shrank in horror. "Oh no, are we losing our finances for are farm?” “No, of course not!" Applejack answered quickly to calm her sister. "Our farm’s doing well. We are not going anywhere!” Apple Bloom sighed in relief, but she was still curious. “Then, why the second job?” Apple Bloom asked. “So we can make enough money to buy a gift for Granny’s eightieth birthday.” Applejack answered. The Crusaders eyes bugged out. “GRANNY’S BIRTHDAY!? Apple Bloom shrieked. "How the hey did Ah forget that!” Applejack raised her eyebrow. “Her birthday is on a leap year, remember?" Apple Bloom blinked a few times and then she rubbed the back of her head awkwardly. “Oh yeah...Ah forgot about that." Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle facepalmed. Apple Bloom then frowned. "Still, why didn’t ya tell me?” “Because you’re not very good at keeping secrets,” Applejack answered bluntly. Apple Bloom looked offended. “What? I can keep a secret!” Applejack gave Apple Bloom her flat look. “Remember our surprise birthday gift we got for Big Mac and then ya’ll accidentally blabbed that to him?” Apple Bloom winced. “Oh yeah…Ah still felt bad about that.” The other two Crusaders were wondering what kind of gift they got for Big Mac but decided not to comment about that. Applejack sighed and then gave Apple Bloom her soft look. “Listen sugarcube, despite what happened, that was my fault. Ah should’ve explained it better without worrying ya. Ah promise Ah’ll let you in on this next time without going behind your back…without tellin’ ya what gift we’re getting of course.” Apple Bloom smiled softly. “Ah would like that Applejack.” Applejack placed her hands on Apple Bloom's shoulders. “In turn, Ah want you to promise me that if there is somethin’ bothering you, even if it’s somethin' to do with me, Ah want you to come and talk to me, okay?” Apple Bloom nodded. “I promise!" Apple Bloom then stepped closer to Applejack and hugged her tightly. "Ah’m so sorry Applejack!” Applejack smiled softly and then gently hugged her sister back. “Ah know, I'm sorry too sugarcube.” As the two sisters were hugging, Sweetie Belle squeed at the sight of it. “Awww they made up!” Sweetie Belle gushed. While Scootaloo wasn't a big fan of sappiness, she did feel happy for Apple Bloom. “That’s good." Her eyes then lit up. "Hey, maybe we’ll get out of our punishment early after this!” Applejack let go of Apple Bloom and gave them all her stern look. “Actually…you girls will continue to work on the farm until all of yer allowances get paid off to that jewelry store.” “WHAT!?" Apple Bloom cried out in disbelief. "What’d ya mean paid off? What for?” Without saying a word, Applejack lifted her Stetson off of her head and picked out a piece of yellow paper before handing it over to Apple Bloom. Confused by this, Apple Bloom took the paper from Applejack and unfolded it. Her face went pale when she saw what's on the paper. “What’s the matter Apple Bloom?" said Sweetie Belle with concern. “What did it say?” Scootaloo asked. “Girls…this is the bill for that ceiling we broke at the jewelry store!” Apple Bloom groaned as if she had a stomach ache. The two Crusaders eyes widened in realization. “Oh man! We forgot all about that!” said Scootaloo. “Um…how much?” Sweetie Belle asked nervously. Apple Bloom muttered but to low for anyone to hear. Scootaloo leaned towards Apple Bloom. “What?” “SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS!” Apple Bloom bellowed. Both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle winced violently as if they each been punched in the gut. “Oooooh it hurts!” Scootaloo moaned loudly. “This would take forever to pay all of this back!” Sweetie Belle complained. Applejack placed her Stetson back on her head. “Whelp, if ya’ll want to end your punishment quicker, Ah suggest you keep on working. Ah’ll see ya girls in an hour!” Applejack turned and walked away, heading back to her house. The Crusaders stood there like statutes, processing the situation they're in right now. “Well…so much for having plans for the weekend,” Sweetie Belle sighed miserably. “And the next week," Apple Bloom added just as miserably. "And many more weeks to follow. By the time we’re done, it'll be the beginning of a new school year!" “Or…maybe not,” Scootaloo said mischievously. Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle gave Scootaloo their worried looks. “Um...Scoots, why are ya smiling like that?” Apple Bloom said nervously. “Girls, I have an idea that will help us make money and pay for this bill in short amount of time!” Scootaloo said with confidence. “Oh Ah don’t know Scoots," Apple Bloom said in worry. "We're in enough trouble already! Ah don’t want to make things worse!” Scootaloo let out her sly grin. “It will involve getting ourselves some free strawberry milkshakes at the same time!~” “Strawberry milkshakes?" Apple Bloom cried in delight. "In that case, count me in!” Scootaloo grin widened. “Great! Come on girls, let’s head into town!” Scootaloo and Apple Bloom dropped their tools and then rushed out of the field, leaving a very worried and hesitant Sweetie Belle behind. “Girls?" Sweetie Belle called out. "I don’t think this is a good idea to leave the farm! What if Applejack gets back! Girls? I don’t like strawberries, strawberries gives me a rash! GIRLS!?” When none of her friends answered her, she let out a loud groan. “Ugh! Here we go again!” she muttered as she threw down her shovel and ran after her friends.