//------------------------------// // Chapter Six: Applebloom? // Story: Memories: Another Time // by Wishes //------------------------------// "Sweetie Belle?" The familiar, sweet voice rang through her mind over and over again. Why was Applebloom here? And this time? Was she the mysterious anonymous pony who had sent her the letter? Everything didn't fit. She had never forgotten Applebloom, and Applebloom to her. The only pony who did... "Applebloom?" Sweetie Belle lifted her old friend's head with her hoof. Streams of tears ran down her face, and she had shut her eyes tightly as if she did not want to see anything. "Applebloom..." "Sweetie Belle..." The soft groan came from her friend's mouth. Her eyes slowly opened, wiping her tears away with her hoof. "Sweetie Belle..." she repeated. Her eyes met Sweetie Belle's. She looked serious, but forgiving. For what reason? "I forgive you, Sweetie Belle..." A smile grew on her face. What was she talking about, anyway? "What do you mean..." "I got your letter, Sweetie Belle," Applebloom said, her smile hardening, "I forgive you. But I don't know why...I've never forgotten you and you never forgotten me. You've sent me letters every month...I did too. Just...I never have forgotten you. I never will." "Um..." "You are forgiven." Applebloom patted her friend's back. A single tear came from her left eye. "What are you talking about, first of all?" Sweetie Belle asked, "It's true I've sent you a letter every month, and you did too, but I just don't know why you keep talking about forgiveness. I thought that was you who should be forgiven." "You got that letter? It wasn't from me, that's what I know." Sweetie Belle shook her head, as if to recall her memories. She sure did have that specific, suspicious letter that sent her here, but...was it or was it not from Applebloom? "Okay, let me get this straight," Sweetie Belle said, thoughts and wonders mixed in her mind, "We both got a letter from an anonymous pony who led us both here at midnight, hoping for forgiveness from both of us. And...and the pony left us?" "Maybe he's late for the appointment," Applebloom suggested, her cheeks turning bright red. "It isn't a 'he'...it shouldn't be a he. Females are more emotional and care more about friendships than males," Sweetie Belle replied, "Not discriminating or anything. It's just that...that it sounds more like a girl. A girl pony. But it's a maybe for either genders." "It's not about the genders, Sweetie Belle!" Applebloom replied, "Be a detective. Clues, anyone?" Sweetie Belle nodded. She looked off at the woods, the sky looking clear and dark. The moon glowed in the darkness surrounding the two friends. She nodded understandingly, then jumped at her conclusion. "Oh! Who was our old friend who left us and had forgotten about us? Who would be sorry? Who?" "Cutie Mark Crusaders, I got it!" Applebloom announced. "I did first," Sweetie Belle claimed, "But anyway, to just ask...who?" "Scootaloo," Applebloom said. "You know, it's ironic if Scootaloo sent us the letter," Sweetie Belle replied, "Just before I read it my sister said that Scootaloo was in the newspaper. Being a Wonderbolt, and all." "Mine, too," Applebloom laughed, "Really, really ironic." Suddenly, there was a rustle. The two friends both jumped at the sudden noise. "Ugh," Applebloom said, "I hate that. It kept happening when I was walking here. There's leaves everywhere, and the crunching sounds are just disgusting." "Yeah," Sweetie Belle confirmed, "When I came on the path, it happened to me all the time. I get all scared--just to realize it's nothing but a squirrel or a rabbit! But other than that, have you heard those crows?Their cawing? I didn't know there were crows on the path." "Me neither," Applebloom admitted, "It's kind of scary, I'll confess." There was another rustle. "Oh, hey squirrel," Sweetie Belle teased, waving her hooves around in an obviously fake frightened manner, "Come and get us!" The rustle began again. And it came out. And this time, it wasn't a squirrel or a rabbit.