Accessories of Evil

by Notowa

Part 4: A Broken Bond

The winds pushed and pulled, the roads were flooded, and other drivers were seen swerving side to side.

She detoured toward a rest stop to see if she was taking the proper route to Farrier Hill. It was a four-hour drive, with a vague memory of how to get there.

She didn't plan on telling Rarity about her plan, as she hated being dishonest with her. It's been years since Granny Smith had contact with their family out in the west. She thought to herself, it might be an opportunity to reconnect?

Just as she was ready to head back to the truck, her phone rang.

"Rarity?" Applejack answered. "What is it?"

"Applejack..." Rarity's voice was worrisome, almost horrified. "I-It's Apple Bloom... something terrible has happened to her."

"What?!" Applejack shouted.

---

Her phone fidgeted in her hands, too afraid to make one call. It should be simple enough, she thought, just apologize and ask her to come back. It plagued her mind.

It was a small gift she gave to her to always keep in contact with them. She somehow felt undeserving of it, since she barely even calls or texts. What's the point? Scootaloo thought. Maybe I should just go to her instead?

She paced back and forth in her living room, unsure of what to do. Apple Bloom should be here by now, what is taking her so long? It's been almost an hour trying to call or leave a message to Sweetie Belle. Especially since she knows about her feelings. To simply say sorry won't be enough. She kept thinking to herself. Why did Apple Bloom leave me to do this alone?

As the time went on, she decided to call Apple Bloom to ask her to hurry. She didn't respond. She tried almost immediately, but after the third voicemail, something in her gut started to feel nauseous. Apple Bloom, what's going on?! Scootaloo panicked, as she feared the worst had happened.

---

Rarity took hold of her to the door. She was feeling exhausted, so she decided to place her into an empty bedroom for her to rest. The quiet breeze and light sprinkle from earlier now became a heavy storm. Rushing through the mud and stone, finally returning into a comforting heat inside the house.

They ignored the plate of food in the kitchen, and went into the bedroom underneath the stairwell. She placed her neatly, as she slowly curled up in place.

"Thanks, Rarity." Sunflower said quietly.

"You're very welcome, darling." Rarity said in a whisper. She quietly walked up, and closed the door for her to have some time to rest.

Just as she exited and firmly shut the door, she let out a sigh of confusion. She was unsure of where to take the next step, it was toying with her emotions.

Rarity thought about what to do, as she washed the dishes and looked out the window. The heavy rain made her hope there was a clearing. It made her worry about everyone else outside. Hopefully they are not playing in such weather. Rarity thought.

She heard the door open. It shut with brute force. It shook her.

Bolting towards the living room, she saw Apple Bloom at the front door. She was covered in mud, her white jacket was stained with a reddened dirt. She was breathing heavily. Looking down at her, her hair was messy, covering up her whole face.

"A-Apple Bloom?" Rarity questioned softly, slowly making her way toward her.

Apple Bloom looked up at her. Rarity saw that her face was bruised. Her nose was drizzling red. Her cheeks were black and swollen. Her eyes were tearing up, and on the left was blistering into a shriveled eye. Rarity covered her mouth in utter shock.

"W-what..." Rarity couldn't finish her sentence, as Apple Bloom took off up the stairwell. Rarity chased after her. "Apple Bloom!"

The bathroom door was sealed, and she could feel her heavy breathing on the other side. She was not letting go.
"Sweetie..." Rarity continued. "Open the door... please..."

The door remained shut, and she even heard the lock on the other side turn.

"Apple Bloom?" Rarity questioned. She nudged at the door. "Apple Bloom?!"

There was no strength in her to pry it open.

"What happened to you?" Rarity asked. "Apple Bloom! Where's Babs?!"

On the other side, Apple Bloom hunched over the sink of the bathroom. She slowly took off her jacket and boots, as the dirt had already caked the floor and sink, just as she leaned in to clear up her face with the cold water running. She looked up at the damage she caused. Her hair was tangled up. All she could feel was her headache. She kept hearing Rarity trying to get her to open the door, but she could barely hear her call. The sounds of her beating the door were slowly echoey and growing silent.

Ignoring her, as she looked down at her jacket. She kicked it from her as far as she could, as she felt herself losing balance. The room felt like it was turning, every step and movement felt lagging. She felt the floor coming towards her. She could see the shadow of Rarity's feet from the other side, still waiting for her to open the door.

---

She examined the entire perimeter, no one was around. Where could they have gone? Scootaloo thought to herself. She took the time to shut and lock the door, successfully retrieving her clubhouse back from Diamond, while no one was there. Although, the entire place was a mess, just as she thought it would be. Where did they get all of this stuff?

Where is she? Scootaloo thought. I hope she's okay.

Just as she was walking down the street, she came across them as they were walking up.

Babs, Diamond, and Silver all stood staring at Scootaloo. Both confused and intrigued by her presence. They could feel Scootaloo slowly ventilating through her nostrils, just as surprised to see them there.

"Where's Apple Bloom?!" Scootaloo asked with a troubled tone.

Babs ended up storming off in the other direction as the others followed. Scootaloo jumped right into action, and sprinted toward them.

Babs taking the lead, jumping from street to street. Diamond and Silver tried to catch up as much as they could, running in heels which made their feet twitch with pain. Scootaloo kept up with them, with the rage and adrenaline rushed through her, desperate to catch them.

Babs turned towards an alleyway, the girls followed, losing her in the darkness.

Scootaloo gunned straight for them, as Diamond and Silver turned back to face her as they approached from a dead end.

She kept her eye on Diamond, running up to tackle her.

Scootaloo didn't notice Babs sneaking up in front of her, as she picked her up from the ground. The momentum of her run made her fly through into the air, as Babs slammed her down into the gravel. Scootaloo felt the sharp rocks stab her in the back, then her brain crashing into the back of her head. It caused her to feel a dreaded dizziness.

It took what felt like a minute to fully catch her breath and to feel her body on the solid ground. Scootaloo looked back up. The girls stood in the back of the alleyway, seeing the strength Babs had to slam Scootaloo with such ease.

Scootaloo slowly got up, but felt her head pounding and feeling extremely heavy. It dragged her a little from side to side, until she regained focus.

She was about to run back to Diamond until Babs cut between them again, this time blocking her from coming any closer, showing her that she was willing to protect them.

"Out of my way Babs!" Scootaloo shouted. "This is between me and Diamond!"

"Want to get to her..." Babs said. "You'll have to go through me."

"Have it your way." Scootaloo said, as she began to circle her. Babs did the same, until she found the right angle to get past her.

Scootaloo wisped toward the center. She then took off toward the other direction to give Babs the slip, but she did not move until she got close enough to pull onto her jacket sleeve toward her, and drag her away.

From the weakened back and headache she got, it almost made her lose her balance. Scootaloo took off again, but this time as Babs grabbed her, she lifted her leg up and kicked her away.

Babs was pushed further into the alleyway, to her surprise that Scootaloo was willing to use brute force to get her way. Babs could feel herself being provoked into that drive again when Apple Bloom punched her. She could feel her heart racing, and becoming clouded with anger.

Silver turned to look at her, as she nodded in agreement that Scootaloo won't stop until she's restrained. Diamond kept her eyes on Scootaloo as she was running toward her.

Just as she was almost close enough to tackle her, she felt a quick brush of a wet wall hit her directly in her left cheek. It made her stop breathing, it stunned her ability to see. There was an agonizing pulse in her jaw, a shockwave of pain that jolted up into her eyes.

Scootaloo was bashed into a nearby garbage can in the alleyway. The garbage all around it fell over, and could hear the mice scatter away.

She couldn't breath for a moment, and could feel the flooded street coming down. The stench of the oily tarps, and moving her hand with the crawling maggot pile.

She was almost about to close her eyes, but Babs came and picked her up.

She brought Scootaloo to her feet, and she nearly fell into the wall behind her.

Scootaloo was determined to set things straight, as she came in again, this time waving her fists toward Babs. It was unfocused, as she couldn't land a single hit. Babs was dodging lightly, since Scootaloo was already weakened.

Babs pulled her in by grabbing her shirt from the tag in the back. Pulling her closer to face her directly. She came in with another punch toward the right. Scootaloo flew, tossed further away from Diamond and Silver.

Both of the girls traded sides with Scootaloo, as Scootaloo was in the dead end. Trapping her inside the walls.

Scootaloo slowly looked up at Babs from the ground once again. Her vision became blurry, but enough to see her.

"Want to know what happened with Apple Bloom?" Babs taunted. Babs signaled to Silver and was handed her phone to show Scootaloo what had happened.

Scootaloo focused, and she saw Apple Bloom flat on the ground, doused in mud, and blood spilling from her face.

"Just when I thought you were good people, who don't hurt others because you don't get your way." Babs continued. "What a shame. All lies!"

Diamond and Silver both chuckled.

After Scootaloo focused on the picture, she picked herself up and felt something rush into her. They hurt Apple Bloom. They will pay! As Scootaloo gritted her teeth, taking in a deep breath.

Babs tossed Silver's phone back, as Scootaloo punched Babs straight in the nose. She threw another at her broad chest, then pushed her away with the force of her right leg.

Babs was thrown back, out of the center, and from that could feel a trickle of her blood dripping from her nose. Babs took her index and middle finger up her nose, and saw the shining roses dripping off her fingertips. She sniffled, but a shot of thunder rose up inside. Her nose felt out of place.

She looked up at Scootaloo. Babs's gaze paralyzed her. Scootaloo saw the dead look in her eyes. An angelic green resonated with a darkness that she could feel emanating deep within. It stunned her.

She came closer, and was instantly hit with a ram in her stomach. She shoved her into the wall. Her back was once again against the rocks, her head struck and cracked the washed out paint.

Scootaloo tried to push her away, but she felt like a statue. Babs anchored her to the wall with her arm, as the other began to jab her entire body. Babs's leg would spasm out into her stomach and pelvis.

She shoved her down to her knees, her hands cracking against the stones and broken cider bottles.

Scootaloo held her breath as she tried to crawl away. She was immediately picked up from her jacket's hood, choking her as it held onto her full weight.

She was slammed, wall to wall.

She made her fall to the ground, and she began to kick her while she was down. Just as Scootaloo stopped resisting. She went down to her, and began to quickly jab her face into the ground. Like Apple Bloom, began to lose consciousness and felt the endless rain blinding her.

Diamond didn't stop her this time, because she felt Scootaloo was the only one in her way.

Silver grinned with excitement like she did when Babs was beating Apple Bloom. Seeing them finally getting what they deserve.

Since the time, near the end of high school, she felt the time had finally paid off, after what they have done to her. She didn't even have to get her hands dirty. It worked out even better than she anticipated, all because of one troubled girl.

Babs finally felt her body tiring. Her breathing shortened, exhausted. Couldn't breathe through her own nose.

Scootaloo was puking blood from her mouth. Struggling to breathe.

Babs got up, and sucked in as much of the cold air as she could grasp through her nostrils. Feeling her anger from the past slowly feeling lifted away.

Scootaloo curled up to her side. Babs looked down at the pitiful girl, who thought she was the strength of the group, defeated by her own rage.

"Stupid girl!" Babs spoke. "Even Apple Bloom was at least able to get back up and run away."

Scootaloo felt the cold crashing into her, as she heard them start to walk back out into the street.

She saw a few flashes of light. It slowly faded out. As she was left, the rain continued to fall onto her cold body.

---

It's been hours in the dark. Laying down in a cold and quiet house. She could not move, nor felt like getting up. She stared at the ceiling for hours, and couldn't cry anymore. Her face was rashed and irritated with her eyeliner scrubbed and smudged with a redness and coated black ink. Her heart felt slow and weak, like her body didn't feel like living anymore.

She heard her phone from the nightstand buzz.

She was hesitant to see, but she got up to pick it up almost immediately.

It was a text sent from Scootaloo. She sat up, wanting to see what she could have possibly sent to her. Maybe an apology? Sweetie Belle thought, slightly hoping.

She unlocked her phone, and another text was sent. She eagerly opened the text message, and it was a photo of Scootaloo lying on the ground. The next was a video of someone walking around her lifeless body, and as it panned around, she could see blood smeared everywhere.

Sweetie Belle felt her heart stop, and her stomach felt sick. Her breathing became taxing on her weak body. The video lasted only for a second before it ended with the picture taken.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, but the phone went to voicemail. After several attempts she tried to call Apple Bloom, but her phone rang until it was ended with her voicemail.

She got up from her bed, and was thinking of what to do.

She quickly got dressed and stormed out the door.

Sweetie Belle was immediately greeted with a heavy storm, but she was determined to find Scootaloo. Wherever she may be? Sweetie Belle thought to herself.

She kept looking down at her phone in her hands. She was reluctant to look at the photo every time because of the disturbing image of Scootaloo, but she needed to know where she was. There was not enough in the image to make out, it was dark all around the edges, the only glimpse of light was the center of where Scootaloo was laying down in the pouring rain.

---

A truck had pulled into the driveway.

Applejack busted down the front door, as Rarity walked down from the stairs. The concern in her eyes made Applejack ready for anything.

She kicked the bathroom door open to find Apple Bloom passed out on the floor. The ground was flooded with the water running down from the sink. The faucet kept running, until Applejack turned the knob.

She quietly picked up Apple Bloom, as Rarity melted into the nearby wall. She looked at Apple Bloom's distorted face.

---

A thousand knocks interrupted an ongoing conversation between two people. One of them came to the door.

"Sweetie Belle?" A girl from the door questioned, as she saw Sweetie Belle drenched from the cold storm, standing on the steps of a purple coated house. She was out of breath. "C'mon, get out of the rain!" As she took in Sweetie Belle.

As she walked in, she saw a lady with bright red hair and yellow streaks sitting on the couch. She got up from her side and walked out into the nearest room.

"Twilight!" Sweetie Belle cried. "I need your help!"

"I'm sorry, this isn't a good time." Twilight lightly replied.

"Please! This is an emergency!" Sweetie Belle replied, as Twilight looked into her saddened green eyes.

"What's going on?" Twilight fretted.

Sweetie Belle brought her phone into her face. Twilight examined the photo and the video, and her expression changed from annoyance to concern.

"Scootaloo?" Twilight said. "What happened to her?"

"I don't know!" Sweetie Belle yelled. "I need to find her! Right now!"

"When did you last see her?"

"Yesterday. We-we had a fight, then..."

"Then what?"

"I don't know, I left her all alone..."

Twilight kept looking for anything in the photo and the video for a clue as to where. Twilight took off into the living room and sat at her computer.

"Wait! What are you doing?"

"I'm downloading the photo and video onto my computer, if I can find the area of where the photo was taken. We should be able to find out where Scootaloo might be. If she's still there."

"How?"

"I'm trying to brighten up the image. There's a wall in the background, some of the markings and placement of some debris might be able to give us a clue."

"Really?"

Sweetie Belle felt a hope inside start to peek.

"It looks like an alleyway." Twilight expressed. "Unfortunately, narrowing it down to which alleyway is tricky. " Twilight said, as she looked at her computer. "The video shows us the area a little more, since it was panning around Scootaloo's body."

Twilight kept moving the photo and video around. She used a few software applications that helped her combine the images together to widen the spaces.

"Now what are you doing?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"I'm using that image to see if I can find a match in some part of the city."

"Are you sure you can? How is it possible?"

"It's actually pretty simple." Twilight said, as she turned around. "Judging by the many images conjured up by people on the internet and the many photos taken within surrounding areas and onto photo-based sharing websites like every social media out there, it would..."

"Okay, okay!" Sweetie Belle interrupted. "Please, just look for her!"

"Sorry." Twilight sighed. "Old habits die hard." Twilight said, as she looked over toward the bedroom. Sweetie Belle glanced over to find Sunset quickly moving out of their vision to see. The look on her face made it seem like there was tension between her and Twilight. It was an awkward and quiet moment as Twilight searched.

"I'm sorry to have interrupted you, and made you get involved." Sweetie Belle expressed.

"No, I understand." Twilight said calmly. "I'm extremely worried about Scootaloo. What you've shown me was something messed up. We need to find her quickly. There are too many things I'm thinking of, like I'm afraid of you being blackmailed by some creep. And if there is some creep hurting little girls like yourselves out there... we are going to need to inform the police right away!"

Sweetie Belle kept quiet, as it was too much to process.

Moments passed, as Twilight found something.

"I found a match, it seems to be behind the plaza, just a couple of blocks shy from Sunset's old apartment!"

"Where exactly?!"

"Look!" As Twilight handed her the phone with the address. It pin-pointed the location on her phone. "Now, we need to call the authorities immediately..."

Just as she kept talking, Sweetie Belle made a run for it.

"Sweetie Belle! Wait!" Twilight yelled, as she got up and tried to catch up to her from the door, but Sweetie Belle was already down the street.

The wind was once again pushing her forward. No amount of rain or thunder was going to keep her from looking for Scootaloo. She almost kept losing her balance against the cement flooded with water. Her shoe's were not made for running, especially in that weather.

She didn't care.

She made a quick turn toward a darkened alleyway.

Right in the center, was her.

---

Applejack was driving down the flooded streets, and could barely see. It was until they caught a glimpse of someone having a hard time holding someone up.

"What the..." Rarity said, as she pointed out the two figures in the drizzling rain. "Is... is that Sweetie Belle?!"

They almost missed them, as Applejack drifted the car, making a U-turn in the middle of the road. The wetted road made them swerve too far, almost hitting a car, parked at a stop light.

The driver had honked at them, they ignored it, as she quickly drove up to the figures in the rain.

Sweetie Belle was holding Scootaloo by her right arm. She prompted her back to lift her as much as she could withstand.

Blood dripped from her face as it poured down onto her dress. She was having trouble with her weight. She used her jacket to cover her up from the rain. Her strength was almost about to give out, until she saw a couple of headlights pull up behind her.

---

Several swerving tides had abrupted many on the road. Having been cut off and stomping on the brakes immediately to let a reckless driver through into the infirmary.

Opening through a couple of doors that slide open to let them through. They were greeted with a nurse that was helping Applejack and Rarity with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Both of them were taken in to be treated.

Sweetie Belle looked and saw her two friends being carried off together with severe injuries alike. She cried.

Could they have gotten into a fight with each other? Sweetie Belle would ask herself. All she could remember was the fact they did have a disagreement and couldn't make up. But, they would have never broken out into a fight. She kept thinking. It tortured her.

"Sweetie Belle..." A woman came up to her to ask.

She looked back to see.

"What the hell happened?" Applejack asked.

---

Sweetie Belle walked out of the hospital trying to avoid her sister and Applejack.

They chased her out of the facility until they reached the parking lot.

"Applejack!" Rarity cried, as she tugged onto Applejack's shoulder. "Stop!"

She could not stop her.

"No!" Applejack yelled, as she flicked Rarity's hand off of her. Her echoed voice was heard throughout the area, and it stumped everyone within the vicinity to glance back at them. "Sweetie Belle!"

"I don't know!" Sweetie Belle replied in a disoriented voice. She turned to face them. "I had nothing to do with this!"

"Bullshit!" Applejack responded.

"Applejack..." Rarity whispered.

Everyone stood at a distance in the passing rain. They were quiet, as they heard the ongoing traffic nearby.

"I didn't do anything." Sweetie Belle spoke up catching her breath. Her words were choked up in her throat, unable to speak clearly. "I was home alone."

"You were home?" Rarity asked. "Why were you out here with Scootaloo? Where? How?"

"I found her." Sweetie Belle began to tear up. "In an alleyway... passed out."

"And no one was with you or..."

"No!" Sweetie Belle interrupted. They all kept their distance. "I don't know anything else."

Their silence was quite telling of how lost everyone was. It took a minute as Sweetie Belle began to turn back and walk out.

"You're not comin' back with us?" Applejack asked. Sweetie Belle stopped, but continued to face away from her.

"Why?" Sweetie Belle asked. "There is nothing else I can do about it."

"If somethin' happened to them, you ought to stay with us where it's safe." Applejack replied.

The rumbling of the thunder in the distance was timed almost perfectly, as she looked down at the paved lines of the road.

"It's not like you cared about my safety before." Sweetie Belle responded.

"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity said.

"Is it not true?" Sweetie Belle walked up to them. "Not once did either of you come to check on me, or asked if I was even okay?!" Sweetie Belle questioned.

"Now's not the time for your personal issues, Sweetie Belle!" Rarity said.

"It never is, is it?!" Sweetie Belle yelled.

"You've got two friends in that hospital beaten half to death!" Rarity yelled.

"And how does that make me feel?! They're the only two people that actually care about me!"

"How can you even say that?!"

"Because! It's always been about Apple Bloom or Applejack! You stopped thinking about me! And you're my sister! You left me in my time of need!"

Rarity was angrily silenced. Sweetie Belle would glance at Applejack, as she tried not to make eye contact.

"You left the house... you left your job... you left our family..." Sweetie Belle cried. "All for them! You think I was just going to go along with this?!"

"I-I'm taking care of important stuff, Sweetie Belle..." Rarity cried. "Stuff that's important to me..."

"You were important to me." Sweetie Belle stated. "I guess I wasn't important enough for you..."

Rarity didn't know what to say. She didn't think she was that distant from her after all this time.

Sweetie Belle turned back once again to try and leave.

"Sweetie Belle please..." Applejack cried, she stepped over a little closer toward Sweetie Belle. "I-I'm sorry about everythin'... I never meant to hurt you. I'm so sorry, but... but we need you here... please... they need you more than me..."

Sweetie Belle stopped. Applejack's plea was unexpected, as she was never one to beg or even cry in front of her.

There was something deeply torn inside her.

After years of living together, there was no connection made. There was always silence between her and them. It was just a faded existence.

The only real memory of any of them together was just the rare smiles they gave back, but the rest was either the both of them fighting, or just the uncomfortable amount of sex they had. She was never a part of them. It was just always them! Never me! They never took the time to notice me! Why should I care anymore?!

Sweetie Belle turned back to face Applejack.

"I... hate you..." Sweetie Belle cried.

They both stared at each other's sore and reddened eyes. Sweetie Belle sniffed and cleared her nose with her soaked jacket and ran off.

---

She awoke in a vaguely familiar room. This room belonged to Granny Smith, but the place felt a little too empty and a bit unwelcoming like it used to be.

Sunflower slowly raised her arms to stretch them out, as she climbed out of bed.

She walked out of the room to find the place empty.

"Hello?" Sunflower called out, as she paced around the living room.

She looked out to see the truck still gone. Making her way up the stairs, into the kitchen, and even out to the fields and barn.

It was still cold out, as winds continued to blow through the aged wood of the barnyard.

"All alone." Sunflower said.

Now's my chance! Sunflower thought, as she rushed back into the house.

---

The evening was set and one old rusty truck pulled up in the driveway. There was a time when they all sat down for dinner.

Everything was set up as it had the elegance and the welcoming manner of someone of her status and beauty.

At the height of her career, as the seats filled of all her respected peers, family, and friends. It was a commemorative dinner party announcing not only a year of their relationship, but also of one of the most important family member's birthdays.

"Thank you all for coming this evening." Rarity said. "I'm not one to make up a memorable speech in the nick of time, but I would like to dedicate this dinner to not only for our first anniversary of tying our families together, namely Applejack and I, but also for Granny Smith's 97th birthday!"

They all clapped their hands in a cheerful manner, as well as other members of the Apple family cheering on with whistles and shouts.

It was mostly a boring and quiet night for Sweetie Belle. Sitting off to the side as she watched the cousins and family gather together for conversations and card games.

She took off out the door as she watched some of the young ones playing out in the yard in the dark. She sat down on the wooden stairs of her front entrance, as a couple of the kids asked if she wanted to join in their little game, but she smiled passively and shook her head. They continued their playtime without another word or gripe.

Apple Bloom came walking out in a dress that Rarity made for Sweetie Belle on her 17th birthday. It was always a tradition she had with her sister that she rather enjoyed, but somehow missed last year's.

"Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom asked. "What are you doin' out here?"

"I needed a breather." Sweetie Belle replied, in a breathy tone.

"Not used by this many people, huh?" Apple Bloom continued.

"Not really." Sweetie Belle added. "My family gatherings are usually quiet and... lack of a better term... civil?"

"Oh, I see." Apple Bloom said, as she sat next to Sweetie Belle. "This is quite normal for me, even bigger, in fact."

"Bigger?" Sweetie Belle asked. "This isn't everyone?"

"Oh yeah, my family gatherings have everyone show up!" Apple Bloom said, as she reminisced about the past. As Sweetie Belle looked down on the concrete walkway connected to her porch.

"You okay?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I don't know how I feel about this." Sweetie Belle blatantly said. "It's a lot."

"Yeah, but you're at least a part of the family, right?" Apple Bloom said.

"I don't feel like I am..." Sweetie Belle continued. "I mean... it's really my sister pushing all of this on me... I don't know if I even..."

Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie Belle's concerned posture. She was looking away, curled up in a reserved position against the wooden handrails of the stairwell. Apple Bloom leaned forward and gave her a hug.

"It's okay." Apple Bloom suggested.

What felt like hours into the night, everyone was gone, and that was left was their small group.

They cleaned up the place rather quickly thanks to all of Rarity's friends pitching in to help, as they all said their goodbyes, and she saw Rainbow Dash carry Scootaloo's rested body away into her car. Sweetie Belle was looking out from the window giving a small smirk as Dash had trouble getting her inside.

All that was left to do was the crazy amount of dishes in the sink, which Rarity made Sweetie Belle do before heading to bed.

It was somewhat of a quiet and relaxing send off towards the hectic night she had. Sweetie Belle found joy in cleaning. It gave her a sense of completion and a focused clearing of the mind. Unwinding through the scrubs and strokes of the sponges against the messiness. She loved to stack them in a specific order, even the cleaning supplies were placed in a specific way that would match the needed tool for the job.

Neatness, cleanliness, and order was what she loved the most. Unfortunately for them... it wasn't so.

Even for her sister's workshop and household, she started to get sloppy with her work, lazily putting together wardrobes, and the house being trampled with dust, disorienting odors, clothes thrown everywhere in every corner of the house, and garbage everywhere she stepped. She taught her all the rules of being immaculate, it's what drew in customers and made her stand out to be a prestigious and properly adjusted businesswoman.

Ever since they came into the picture... it wasn't so.

Just as she was focused on her thoughts of the matter, Applejack wobbled her way into the kitchen. She was drunk off the cider she brought to the dinner table to share with the family. It was her best brew yet, as she would put it. She was awkwardly standing behind Sweetie Belle in uncomfortable silence.

"What are you doing here?" Sweetie Belle asked in a deepened and tired tone.

"Rarity wanted me to help ya out." Applejack replied in a similar manner.

"I'm perfectly fine being on my own." Sweetie Belle added.

"Don't worry, I'll just dry off the ones you already finished." Applejack assured.

Sweetie Belle sighed on the thought of being in the same room as her when she was perfectly fine being in the quiet solitude, as she continued to scrub a plate over the soapy water.

Applejack stood idly beside her drying off the plates, bowls, and cups, as the smell coming off of her was invading Sweetie Belle's senses. Even the fresh spring mint scent of the soap wasn't helping in the slightest. She had always smelled pungent, being around the farmhouse, being in lot of mudpiles, walking and lifting heavy equipment with the dried sweat in her crevasses, and the drunken fermented cider in every breath of her's was something that bothered her, and somehow Rarity grew into liking the very scent.

At first, just the dirt and apples would be all she noticed and withstood at the time, because it was Apple Bloom's natural musk that would emanate from the premises of their clubhouse from time to time. It was nothing like Scootaloo's.

When Sweetie Belle's mind was focused entirely on the aroma, Applejack picked up an unfinished plate out of the sink next to her's. Sweetie Belle grabbed the plate, as the both retained their grip on it.

"I'm not finished with it!" Sweetie Belle said in a silent and angry tone. Still gripping the plate.

"Sorry, you've kind of dozed off there." Applejack said, as she pulled the plate to her, but as she did Sweetie Belle pulled it back to her.

"I'm perfectly fine doing this on my own!" Sweetie Belle mentioned again.

"What's the matter?" Applejack asked. "I'm just tryin' to help."

"I don't need your help!" Sweetie Belle and Applejack continued to have their grip on the plate.

"If you're tired, it's okay."

"No, it's not okay!"

"Seriously, Sweetie Belle let go."

"You let go!"

"Sweetie..."

The plate ended up busting in their hands, it caused the both of their fingertips to bleed.

"What is your problem, are you crazy?!" Applejack yelled, as they both put their hands in the soapy water.

"You're the problem!" Sweetie Belle replied. "If it wasn't for your ugly stench, maybe I would have had it done!"

"What?!" Applejack said, as she sniffed her flannel buttoned shirt. "Sweetie Belle?"

"Just leave me alone!" Sweetie Belle yelled.

"C'mon, it's alright. It's just a plate." Applejack assured. "Are you alright?"

"Shut up!" Sweetie Belle said, as tears began to form in her eyes.

"What is wrong?"

"Just go away!"

"Sweetie Belle, just tell me."

"No! Go!"

"What do you want?"

"I want you to leave! I want you to stop living here and go back home! I want you to stop taking over everything!"

"Sweetie Belle..." She could hear the sorrow in her voice. "We just got the family together..."

"I don't want to be a part of your family!"

Applejack turned away from her view, as she hid her face in the shadows of her cowgirl hat. She could still see the blood drip from her fingertips.

"I-I... didn't know... you felt that way..." Applejack said, as the words were broken out and swallowed back up.

Sweetie Belle looked away, as she took her hand away from the sink and stormed out of the kitchen.

Sweetie Belle burst into tears walking out of the kitchen doors, she fell into the wall nearby. But, just as she rested her back on the wall, she saw Apple Bloom standing right across from her. She saw the glistening redstone eyes deepen with sadness, able to see it as clear as day in the dark and discolored room.

She shook her head, and continued toward her room.

---

She felt the exact same way stopping to catch her breath. The reflection she saw on the window of a candy shop looked to herself as a hollow and hostile woman.

She felt every ounce of grief and regret rising in her veins, as her heart began to race. Her panicky fidgets and shortened breaths were taxing on her weak body. Never recovering her past inflictions of her weakened state had now become much worse and felt imprisoned in a perpetual torment.

Sweetie Belle continued to cry. It was dreadful, it was much harder and it irritated every inch of her face. The heavy rainfall made it worse.

I'm sorry... Sweetie Belle kept deep within herself that was never let out. I'm sorry! I'm sorry!!!

But, now that damage was done. What can she possibly do?

"Sweetie Belle?" A voice was heard from behind her. She quickly glanced back at who it could be.

Babs had walked up from behind her.

"Go away, Babs!" Sweetie Belle cried. "Leave me alone!"

"Wait!" Babs said, as she reached out to her. Sweetie Belle remained at her distance.

"What do you want?" Sweetie Belle said under her coarse voice. "Where are Diamond and Silver?"

"I had to ditch them, they're being annoying." Babs replied. Sweetie Belle nodded her head in assurance. "But, I saw what happened between you and your sister..."

"Why?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Are you stalking me?!"

"No, I just happened to walk by and I saw you guys." Babs answered. "It kind of reminded me of me and my sister, we would disagree on a lot of things... said things we would soon regret... you know."

Sweetie Belle remained silent.

"What were you guys doing at the hospital?" Babs asked.

"You mean you don't know?!" Sweetie Belle said in a distraughtly manner.

"No, I don't." Babs responded. "What's going on?"

"You're lying to me!"

"No, I'm not!" Babs yelled. "I want to know, I haven't seen anyone since the clubhouse... Well, you and Scootaloo from the restaurant."

"Something happened between Scootaloo and Apple Bloom... they both are in critical condition."

"Oh..."

"Did you have something to do with this?!"

"I swear I had nothing to do with it! Okay?!"

"Whatever! You pissed everyone off, you three are horrible people!"

Babs looked down at the sidewalk, as she saw Sweetie Belle in her heels. There was a little bit of bruising she saw from the straps across her feet. She sighed.

"Look, I can't speak for the other two... but I'm sorry." Babs said, sincerely.

"It's because of you, I left them both alone." Sweetie Belle lashed out.

"I'm sorry." Babs repeated.

They both stood out on the sidewalk.

"The last time I saw them together was that fight between Apple Bloom and Scootaloo in front of the clubhouse yesterday." Babs reminded Sweetie Belle.

"You haven't seen them since then?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"No, besides you and Scootaloo at that diner." Babs also reminded Sweetie Belle.

"I'm not accepting your apology for that." Sweetie Belle said blatantly.

"That's fine, but Sweetie Belle, your sister."

"It's my business!" Sweetie Belle yelled. "Stay out of it!"

"Look, everyone's been on edge recently. I really don't have anyone to go back to... even my sister's being too much. And after all that I've seen, I think you know what I'm talking about."

"Why are you bringing this up?"

"Being alone for so long, having no friends, or a good person to look up to. I don't know how to... respond?"

"I thought you said you knew a two-faced bitch when you saw one?"

"That's because of my sister... but I didn't expect anyone else to be that way..."

"For someone who doesn't know anything like it, sure seems like they do."

"I'm sorry. I've been through some stuff. I don't associate well with many people. It's hard for me to understand. I was just sick of the fighting, I'm sick of people hurting each other around me. So, this one time I stepped in because I was scared. I didn't know Scootaloo was just going to pick a fight with someone..."

"I suppose that was uncalled for..."

"See... I didn't know how to react. I honestly thought Scootaloo was going to fight. I got scared."

"Didn't Apple Bloom tell you?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Anything about Diamond?"

"No, just the fact that she thought she had feelings for her."

"Does she?"

"No. Unfortunately..."

"Does Apple Bloom know?"

"I don't think so. I only know because Diamond was trying to confess to me."

"Are you sure she was the one trying?" Sweetie Belle questioned. "You were trying with me!"

"It was just a joke though..." Babs said.

"I didn't feel like it was!" Sweetie Belle yelled.

"Again, I'm sorry." Babs reinstated.

"It doesn't matter now anyway." Sweetie Belle said under her breath. "I'm going home."

"Wait." Babs stopped Sweetie Belle. "Seriously, you should be with the others."

"Why?" Sweetie Belle questioned.

"I don't know what's going on, but I think being with them would be better." Babs assured.

"If you saw what you saw, then you know I can't."

"What if I go with you?" Babs asked.

"Why would that help?" Sweetie Belle questioned.

"I can help you clear the air about anything." Babs begged.

"I don't want to do that." Sweetie Belle responded.

"Sweetie..."

"No, I've said what I've said." Sweetie Belle paused. "There's no going back."

"C'mon. We shouldn't worry about them anymore." Babs requested.

"Why do you care?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"They're family." Babs said, as Sweetie Belle's shock filled into her face. She looked away to avoid being seen.

"I just can't, okay?" Sweetie Belle cried.

"Fine. At least let me go with you."

"Why?" Sweetie Belle questioned.

"I'm done with Diamond and Silver. You guys were right after all." Babs replied.

"It's not enough of an apology."

"It's not, I just can't be with them. You guys were right. And, if I want to start asking for forgiveness, then I want to at least do this to make it up." Babs concluded.

Sweetie Belle remained silent about it. She thought about them deeply, and questioned herself if Babs was telling the truth. Nothing indicated that she was wanting to pick a fight with her. Maybe it is time to ask for forgiveness. She thought.

The silence was tormenting her.

---

There was only one other time when Sweetie Belle had to break the silence. It had to have been with someone who wasn't biased, someone who was intelligent.

"Oh, welcome Sweetie Belle!" She said, as she opened the door to Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie Belle quickly walked in the air-conditioned household.

"Hello, Doctor." Sweetie Belle said, as she took a seat at the sofa in the living room.

"Doctor?" She said. "You can just call me Twilight, Sweetie Belle. I am your sister's friend after all."

"But you are a doctor, right?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Yes." Twilight said. "PHD in theoretical physics and chemistry to be exact!"

"That's great!" Sweetie Belle delighted.

"So, what brings you over?" Twilight said, as she sat beside her on the sofa.

"I suppose... I want to talk about something... it's kind of personal"

"Oh..." Twilight hesitated for a moment, as she was unsure what she meant. "Would you like some tea?"

"Sure." Sweetie Belle said.

After everyone was seated comfortably and had a hot beverage to help unwind the breaking silence between them.

"So, what has been going on?" Twilight asked.

"Everything around me is changing, and I'm not sure what to do about it." Sweetie Belle said.

"Yeah?" Twilight listened.

"Everything about the house, my sister... even my closest friends. It's all feeling like it's too much sometimes." Sweetie Belle added.

"Change is inevitable." Twilight added.

"Yeah, but it's like I don't even exist. Everyone has been ignoring me, or not even taking me seriously. Not even to ask about how I feel about it." Sweetie Belle elaborated.

"I see." Twilight responded. "Granted, I'm not a licensed therapist in that manner, but I would like you to know that anything you do tell me, you can trust me."

"That's why I came to you." Sweetie Belle stated. "You're probably the most level-headed one out of all my sister's friends... no offense."

"None taken." Twilight said.

"Says you." Someone from behind them said, with a deep and husky voice.

They both looked back to see Sunset Shimmer walking down the hallway.

"Did I come at a bad time?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"No, things here haven't been that easy-going either." Twilight said, as she heard the bedroom door shut in the distance.

"But you know my sister, right?" Sweetie Belle asked. "You know how much she's changed since the relationship."

"I guess?" Twilight questioned herself. "We've kind of grown apart since last year. I really don't know how it's been."

"This is my point exactly!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. "I don't know either, even though I live with her it's not the same anymore. It's all about her and Applejack. She never asks me how I feel, or how any of the things she's been doing affects me as well!"

"And your parents aren't involved, right?" Twilight asked.

"Our parents are practically out of the picture." Sweetie Belle added. "They don't want to acknowledge our existence anymore because of her relationship with Applejack."

"Your friends aren't around either, to help you out?" Twilight continued.

"No. Because of Applejack being there, Apple Bloom moved in with us. Seeing her and putting up with her everyday is starting to wear on me a little bit, it doesn't even feel like a friendship anymore. And Scootaloo... she's been distant. With Rainbow Dash being away, Scootaloo hasn't been taking it too well. Even when I go to see her, she shuts me out." Sweetie Belle said.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Twilight assured. "Sounds rough."

"Yeah." Sweetie Belle said.

"Listen, you can just come over if you need to talk about anything." Twilight reassured. "Okay? As a friend of your sister, I can help if needed."

"I don't know." Sweetie Belle said. "I don't have anyone to turn to for help, but just to talk... Do you really mean it? I won't be an inconvenience to you in any way?"

"Yes, you can relax." Twilight delighted. "I'm not as busy as you may think. I practically work from home. You can come by anytime."

"Thank you." Sweetie Belle cried.

"Do all relationships end up like this?" Sweetie Belle asked personally.

"If I'm being honest... it gets difficult." Twilight said, as she turned her head to look back at the bedroom door. "But, the reason we go through it, even if it's difficult, it's because it has its moments of reassurance."

"What do you mean?"

"Just knowing that you're not alone. That you have someone there to watch over you. Even when you fight and get into terrible habits, there's a sense of familiarity and passion in it."

"Is it worth it?"

"It's not easy to decipher early on. But, it is. You're dealing with another person who thinks and does stuff completely out of your control. Sometimes it works out, but sometimes we end up with seeing some of the worst parts of yourself and your partner. That's why there's communication and compromise."

"Compromise?"

"You can get comfortable with the fact that someone knows who you are, and is willing to tolerate it with you together."

"But, isn't that a bad thing?"

"It can. Especially if it comes to abuse."

"Abuse?" Sweetie Belle said, with a worrying look on her face.

"Abuse, as in the sense of terrible habits." Twilight assured.

"Yeah?"

"Like let's say Sunset, for example. She developed a bit of a smoking habit. I really hate cigarettes, they're disgusting! It definitely got rough when it came to Spike's poor health conditions."

"Is he okay?"

"Of course, he's just gotten older and he needs a good environment to live a good life. So, by compromising and understanding, I made it so that she's only allowed to smoke outdoors, even though I don't like her smoking altogether."

"I see."

"But, even through all of it. I love her. But, the only thing that hurts sometimes, does she still feel the same? I want to help her sometimes, but she refuses most of the time."

"Do you communicate that to her?" Sweetie Belle questioned.

"Sometimes... but not enough..." Twilight said softly.

"You think I should do the same?" Sweetie Belle continued.

"It's up to you." Twilight concluded. "But, we can keep these between us, okay?"

---

Sweetie Belle and Babs were on their way back to the hospital. The storm seemed to have slowed since their conversation earlier.

"So, were you bullied in school?" Sweetie Belle asked Babs.

"I sure was." Babs said. "I didn't have anyone around, just my sister."

"It was like that for me for a while. I didn't meet Scootaloo and Apple Bloom until middle school. They both were not people I would normally hang out with, but they protected me when I was bullied too."

"I wouldn't have guessed that you'd been through that."

"Unfortunately. It was always Diamond and Silver, causing trouble with everyone. So, we banded together to help others in a similar situation."

"I guess things never change." Babs said, as Sweetie Belle smiled.

Babs saw Sweetie Belle shivering. Given her odd choice for clothing in this weather, it made her feel prompted to give her leather jacket for warmth.

"Thanks, but you didn't..."

"I do." Babs interrupted, as Sweetie Belle felt a resemblance of that attitude with Scootaloo.

There was something about her that felt similar. The aspects of her like her posture, her short hair, and even her scent coming off of the leather jacket. However, Scootaloo was never really that confident. Just reckless.

"So, Diamond doesn't have feelings for Apple Bloom?" Sweetie Belle continued.

"No, Apple Bloom probably just got the idea, whenever she thought it was her responsibility to reform her from her previous affiliations." Babs responded.

"What do you mean?" Sweetie Belle asked. Babs stopped for a moment to look into her eyes.

"She thought she could fix her." Babs said. "Redeem her in a sense."

"I do apologize for my behavior between you and Scootaloo." Babs mentioned.

"I don't know what to really do about it now." Sweetie Belle said blatantly.

"Well, at least you know." Babs said.

"Know what?" Sweetie Belle questioned.

"How she truly feels." Babs said. "It's the difficult part of trying to establish a relationship, you never know how they are going to react when confronted."

"I guess that's true." Sweetie Belle pouted. "I just thought... all this time..."

"I understand." Babs assured. "But, that goes without saying. What did you think of me asking?"

"Honestly, it was disingenuous." Sweetie Belle said.

"How would you feel if I asked you now?" Babs asked. Sweetie Belle stopped walking for a moment, as Babs stopped to arch her back toward her. "I don't really like Diamond, even when she tried to ask me."

Babs walked over to Sweetie Belle, and she closed up on her against the brick walls of a building beside them. Her arms lengthen and place them above Sweetie Belle's shoulders.

"How do you feel?" Babs asked, as Sweetie Belle remained silent, looking deep into those familiar glistening jades. Her nose was slightly off center, but it was almost unnoticeable. Every single one of them from the Apple Family had it. Except for Apple Bloom oddly enough. She flustered, she was unsure if it was actual affection or utter shock.

Babs was moving in closer to push her lips into Sweetie Belle's, but she refused by ducking under her arms, and taking a few steps away.

"I-I..." Sweetie Belle couldn't speak. "I want to focus on my friends first."

Babs got a little upset, as she saw Sweetie Belle continue to walk down the path. Babs walked down to catch up to her.
"I understand if you're still thinking about Scootaloo." Babs said. "But, I feel as though she might not have what it takes."
"What do you mean?" Sweetie Belle questioned.

"To have what it takes to protect you." Babs said.

"I don't need much protection, thank you!" Sweetie Belle said, as she started to get frustrated.

"You know what I meant." Babs said.

"Do I?" Sweetie Belle continued.

Babs pulled Sweetie Belle's arm to face her.

"She's reckless!" Babs said. "You can't honestly think that she's mature enough to handle an actual situation."

"I'm not doing this right now!" Sweetie Belle said. "I thought we were going to help my friends first!"

Babs was angrily silenced, as Sweetie Belle continued.

"Do you need their approval or something?!" Babs questioned. "Besides, you didn't even want to go in the first place!"

"Yeah?" Sweetie Belle replied. "I've changed my mind!"

"They won't accept me the way you do!" Babs mentioned. "You know that, right? I'm the bad guy to them!"

"We can talk through it later." Sweetie Belle said. "For now, let's just do what you said and help everyone understand the situation."

"I've changed my mind!" Babs said. "You think she would've done the same for you? She would've been so clueless and left you in that alleyway to rot!"

Sweetie Belle was utterly shocked at what she heard. She looked down at Babs's knuckles and saw the bruises and dried blood.

Babs saw the look on her face, and knew she fucked up.

"You knew!" Sweetie Belle yelled.

"I saw it, but I had nothing to do with it." Babs continued.

Sweetie Belle took out her phone and called Scootaloo.

She felt the buzzing in her pocket. It came right out of Babs leather jacket.

Sweetie Belle panicked, and once she saw Babs watch her slowly take out the phone in her pocket. She bolted the other way.

Sweetie Belle walked into a dead end.

She turned back to see Babs come up to her.

Babs pinned her against the wall. She held her arms up and spread her legs apart from each other. As she was pinned and helpless against her strength, she forced a kiss on her.

Sweetie Belle held her breath and snapped her teeth against Babs's tongue in her mouth.

Babs responded to the pain as she kicked back into the wall adjacent to theirs.

Sweetie Belle made a run for it.

Babs was licking the blood from her lips and teeth with her blistered and irritated tongue.

She began to feel that rush in herself once again. I like this one! Babs thought.

Sweetie Belle ran, but her weakened body was already too much and started to go into a panicked shock.

She needed to hide and catch her breath, and to possibly pass out, but not before throwing up excessively.

She made a detour into a small cul-de-sac just a block away from where all her friends live, and that's where she found a familiar sight.

The fence that Scootaloo attempted to hop over the other day.

She vaguely remembered how she tried to do it. She recognized the flaw in her attempts, but she didn't tell her because she knew that Scootaloo needed to learn on her own. She didn't use her momentum to push herself up and swing her leg to latch on the edge. She simply just tried to kick herself up, mimicking running up a slope. When she got up, she fell over because she underestimated the thin fence once she got on top. She ripped her knee open, but luckily it was just a flesh wound.

Sweetie Belle ran and grabbed the top. She pulled her leg up to wrap her foot over the edge and lifted herself up. She quickly slipped over the top of the fence. It was successful, but her dress was snagged on an imperfect incline of the board.

It ripped.

She fell and took a breath.

There were small droplets falling on her face, and she just wanted to pass out.

Babs ran up to the wall.

---

A small glimpse of Babs running from bullies, from her sister, and even from security officers rushed into her mind. The experiences she had to face to escape her situation. Not having enough, never being enough, and never given a chance to be a good person. She relied on the darkness for comfort, for survival, and for anything she wanted. It gave her strength, agility, and endurance that made it easier.

---

She got over the fence easily.

Sweetie Belle looked up and saw Babs gunning toward her direction.

She got up, but it was pointless.

Babs tackled her down into the dirt and grass, just as she did with Apple Bloom. But this time, it was different.

"You know..." Babs whispered under breath. "You look pretty sexy in that jacket."

Sweetie Belle struggled, but Babs's weight and strength was unmatched.

"You're definitely cuter than Diamond." Babs mentioned.

Sweetie Belle kept fighting, and had to do anything she could to find an opening.

She luckily found an opening, when Babs went down to lick her face with her blistered tongue.

She reached down into her ripped dress. Being snug against her underwear.

She quickly flipped the switch and brought it up to Babs's neck.

There was a flash like a bolt of lightning in the pouring rain. It was intense, but it burned.

"Besides, I'm more equipped to handle myself, thank you very much!" As Sweetie Belle began to pass out, as she heard that lie she told herself. As everything grew silent.

Babs laid beside her squirming helplessly, as she saw the flashes signal throughout her body.

There were packs of mud being tossed around the area, with Babs feet kicking the ground.

The skies felt as if they grew darker and darker.

---

However, she felt herself being lifted off the ground. Seconds later, she saw herself walking down the street, a familiar street.

A car had pulled up from beside her. She felt herself being pulled toward it, and once again, darkness.