Apple Bloom chose to exit the room and take a look around the hotel. "It ain't as cozy as Buck's Barn Hotel, but it sure is big . . ." she said looking at the high roof and design choices that would've made Rarity jealous. Apple Bloom sighed and walked forward, not paying attention to where she was going, leading her to run right into somepony. Right then and there, Apple Bloom expected the pony to shout at her to watch where she was going. But, no, instead she was treated to a familiar voice.
"Apple Bloom?" the voice was distinct, smooth, and at the same time, level with her tone, it was Sweetie Belle. "What are you doing in Manehatten?"
"Well . . . I uh . . . I was given this here train ticket to come." She admitted, raising the ticket. "Apparently I've been workin' too hard and it ain't right for my mental health or somethin'." That was the truth, the Apple family saw how hard she was pushing herself, she may not like being compared to her sister, but they share the same work ethic. But, that was only after the passing.
"I see . . . so . . . you want to get some tea or something?" Sweetie Belle asked as she smiled softly.
It made Apple Bloom feel weird that she was the only one who actually cared about the passings this far down the line. But, she can't help it, it's her personality. "Sure." She faked a smile, trying to make it seem like she wasn't a wreck.
"Great!" Sweetie giggled and took Apple Bloom's hoof so they don't get separated in the crowd. "Come on," she smiled widely and nearly dragged her out of the hotel. "We have so much to catch up on!"
Apple Bloom tried to emulate Sweetie Belle's happiness. "That's great." She smiled widely even if it wasn't genuine, she felt like she may get used to the feeling of a constant smile again.
After their talents were found, she and the other Crusaders drifted apart. The last time they genuinely saw each other was graduation and even that was hard for Apple Bloom. It was around graduation that Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle began lightening up and acting a bit more friendly again. But, it wasn't Apple Bloom's way of dealing with things.
Suddenly, Apple Bloom was pulled out of her deep thought by the feeling of Sweetie Belle's hoof pressing against her side. "Apple Bloom?" she poked her trying to elicit a response from the cream-colored mare.
Apple Bloom shook her head. "Oh . . ." she then went back to her farce smile.
"You okay, Apple Bloom?" Sweetie Belle asked rubbing her back in a comforting way. This action caused a quick nod from Apple Bloom.
"C'mon, let's get some tea and I'll introduce you to my coltfriend." She smiled from ear to ear and got to a tea stall, standing in line.
Apple Bloom nodded and stood by Sweetie Belle waiting for their turn.
A few minutes later, it was their turn and they got their orders. Apple Bloom was about to grab her tea, she wasn't much of a tea drinker but, it couldn't be that bad. But, right as she was about to take it, the cup was cascaded in a green aura as Sweetie pulled the cup away.
"What were you thinking?!" Sweetie hissed slightly. "This tea is like SUPER hot!" she sounded like a mare scolding a foal who did something wrong. "That would have really burned your mouth."
"Oh . . . sorry . . . not much of a tea drinker." Apple Bloom said shrugging, not thinking much of it, after all, she much preferred coffee, it keeps her alert.
"I get that . . . neither is my coltfriend." She said giggling softly. "He had his first taste of tea on our first date and he spat ALL over my dress because it was hot." She trotted her way down the street.
Not too long afterward, the two were in a small open cafe. Sweetie Belle approached a young stallion obviously a very trendy one at that. She followed and sat down in front of Sweetie Belle. "So . . . this must be your coltfriend?"
Sweetie's only response was a nod and a snuggle into the pristine white stallion. "This is Trendsetter." She giggled and held the stallion's hoof.
"Pleasure to meet you, Sweetie's told me all about your old club." Trendsetter chuckled in an "I think it's cute" way. "She also told me you live on a farm, correct?"
Apple Bloom nodded and smiled weakly, the weak smile was a genuine one, when farming or her family's farm come up in conversation it can heighten her mood a bit. It's not long before she goes back to her normal attitude, though. "Yeah, I live and run that farm." She said and pulled out a picture of the farm that she had found. It was the large family photo from the family reunion Applejack had led.
"Ah . . . what a fine farm you seem to have." Trendsetter commented and sipped his coffee he had ordered prior to the mares getting there. "I do enjoy the rustic look that I get when walking into a town akin to Ponyville. As one who strives to be the best seamster in all of Equestria I travel around towns a lot." He said picking at the table.
"Yeah? Where was your favorite place to visit?" Apple Bloom asked curiously. She was finding her anxious attitude to make a good first impression diluting. "You must have at least one place."
"As a matter of fact, there is one place, coincidentally, it's also where you are. I adore the rustic decor of Ponyville." Admitted Trendsetter as he sipped his drink again. "I even enjoy the feeling of the dirt on my hooves." He added and held Sweetie Belle close.
"So, have you found that very special somepony?" Sweetie cut in, as if she was really interrupting any sort of long-standing conversation. "What's their name? Huh? Huh? Huh?!" Sweetie was really hyper, pulling herself closer until her muzzle was inches apart from Apple Bloom's.
"I kind of never found one." She said shrugging. "I felt like it was a waste of time, I tried hookin' up with this cute stallion but, he didn't last long when I found out his barn door swung the other way." She chuckled. "Turns out the room was too dark for him to tell that I was a mare."
Trendsetter let a low chuckle. "That's nothing." He said chuckling. "Sweetie was in a dark room with a marefriend I had and myself and let's just say she went for the wrong pony." He said, soon a hoof made contact with the back of his head.
"I told you to never tell that to ANYPONY!" Sweetie Belle hissed.
Trendsetter laughed softly and wrapped a hoof around Sweetie Belle. "Oh hush, Sweetie." He snuggled her close and Sweetie Belle began playing with his purple hair.
Something was beginning to feel awkward as Apple Bloom was forced to sit through their lovey-dovey display. That being said, something else bothered her about the display. She made a closer once-over of the stallion. Is this guy basically Rarity? That through twirled around her mind for a while, once again getting lost in her own thought.
Trendsetter got up. "Well, I should get going, huh?" he looked over at the pondering Apple Bloom. "It was nice meeting you, Apple Bloom."
Apple Bloom didn't respond, too into her own thought.
"Well . . . see you, Apple Bloom." Sweetie Belle said goodbye and all Apple Bloom did was give a half-hearted wave.
Apple Bloom went back to her room and crawled into bed. She then did something that she hasn't been able to do in a long time, sleep decently.