Twilight woke up like she did every day: by changing from a state of sleep to one of awakedom. She did boring morning things, went to the pet cemetery where Owlyiches had been relocated and did boring mourning things, then went to her preferred regional supermarket, Price✓Rong. Due to Equestria’s lack of cars, there was a massive grid of bike racks where a parking lot would normally reside. By now, you’re probably wondering when something will happen as Twilight there gets a basket from a basket stack. Well, son, you know what they say: all toasters toast toast. No, wait, that was something else. Anyway, let’s see what Rainbow is doing. Flying, okay. Applejack? Apple-bucking, fine. Apple Bloom? Hey, Apple Bloom isn’t doing anything! Dispatch transcribers!

The housebarn’s door was knocked, and subsequently answered by Apple Bloom.

“ohai transcriber team. Ah ain’ doin’ anythin’ interestin’, so....”

“We’re taking you to Rarity’s so you and Sweetie Belle can have a highlarious conversation,” transcriber #1 said.

“If Ah have to go there, shouldn’t Ah tell mah family an’ stuff?”

“A pony will be dispatched to inform Applejack.”

“What about Big Mac an’—”

“That’ll cost extra.”

“Fine, just tell AJ.”

And so Apple Bloom was transported by golf cart to Rarity’s house.

“Wazzup beeeeetch?” Rarity said.

“Wait, what?” Apple Bloom said, “Are you Pinkie in a Rarity costume or somethin’?”

“It was my line.”

“We don’t have lines anymore.”

“Really? Because just now....”

Only the squishy sound of wind accompanied them.

“You can come in,” Rarity said.

“I assume you’re looking for Sweetie Belle?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Of course you are.... Twilight came in here the other day, and you know who she needed to tell something to? Sweetie Belle.” she was making a voice like she was crying, but she wasn’t actually crying.

“Ah’m sorry ta hear that,” Apple Bloom lied. “Ah’m gonna see Sweetie Belle now.”

“Okay....”

Apple Bloom went up to Sweetie Belle’s room, barely clearing the spiked pit along the way. She knocked the door, hoping Sweetie Belle was actually there.

“Hi,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Hey. Ah’m here ‘cause Ah have to be, this ain’t a random awkward visit. Not that—”

“I get it. So what do we have to do?”

“Ah dunno, just talk. About... y’know... what you said in the second episode ah Withstander? Sure. What’s your deal?”

“I was just mad, don’t take anything I said seriously.”

“So we’re friends?”

“Yep. I still like you. And, you know, everypony. Come in.”

She came in. Sweetie Belle closed the door. “Well, Ah’m glad that’s still good.”

“No, you’re not understanding what I’m saying.”

“Why? Do you still ‘ave a problem wi—”

Sweetie Belle put her leg behind Apple Bloom’s neck and closed the top half of her eyes. How do you do that anyway? I just end up squinting. “I mean, I really like you.”

“Er... Sweetie Belle....”

“Come on, Apple Bloom,” she started petting her mane, “I’ve admitted it, now you go ahead.”

“Don’t you think we’re a bit... er... young? Maybe when we’re older we can do a childhood friends to romantic partners thing, bu—”

“Oh, you don’t have to be that way, Apple Bloom. We understand what we’re doing. And you know everything will better if you just admit it.”

“Sweetie Belle, Ah think—”

Sweetie Belle took her petting leg and raised Apple Bloom’s jaw to close her mouth. “Don’t speak. Today, we just admit our love for each other in—”

“Stop.” Apple Bloom pushed Sweetie Belle away with such force that she rolled on the floor in dramatic fashion. “What the fuck are you doin’, Sweetie Belle?”

Sweetie Belle got up. “I want to get my job back.”

“Oh. That makes sense. Still, though, you coulda done somethin’ else.”

“The only times when ponies think I’m interesting are when I’m doing something with you, and the casting ponies seem to really like sexual things, so... I guess that’s what happens when you try to quantify emotions....”

“‘Kay, but... you were never actually gonna kiss me or anythin’, right?”

“Of course not, I don’t actually have feelings for you,” she lied. About the feelings part, the not kissing part was true. “Like I said, just think of it as a failed fun surprise, since that’s what it was.”

“Ah was scared....”

“Sorry. I was just trying to be entertaining for the viewers.”

“Ah know....”

“Seriously, I’m sorry, that’s all it was. If there’s anything I can do, I’ll do it.”

“There’s nothin’ you can do, Sweetie Belle. Ah’m never gonna like you again.”

“What?”

“Ah never wanna see ya again.” Apple Bloom dramatically turned away from her.

“But—”

“Ah’m serious, Sweetie Belle. You went way too far. We ain’t friends anymore.”

“I’m really sorry, Apple Bloom. It wasn’t honest, it was for the cameras. That’s not how I actually feel, I’m sorry if I freaked you out a bit.”

“The fact that you need ta apologahse for it so much shows that we can’t be friends anymore.”

“Apple Bloom, I’m seriously sorry. I honestly wish I never did that, it was a mistake. I know that’s the definition of the word sorry, but please, forgive me despite my poorly formed apology.”

“Well....” Apple Bloom turned back around. “If you really do regret it....”

Sweetie Belle nodded.

Apple Bloom giggled for a couple seconds before breaking into hysterical laughter.

“Are you all right?”

She kept laughing.

“What’s so funny? Our friendship was about to end.”

“Sorry, Ah just...” Apple Bloom wiped a tear she didn’t have off her face, “Ah totally got ya there.”

“Huh?”

“Ah was never gonna ‘stop bein’ your friend’ just ‘cause you pulled a li’l’ joke on me.”

“So we’re friends?”

“We’re good.”

“Thank you, I... I thought you actually didn’t want to be friends with me anymore.”

“Just gettin’ ya back for the love thing.”

Sweetie Belle... fine, I’ll call it a fucking hug. “I love you, Apple Bloom.”

“What?”

“In a platonic way, sorry.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 102: Pasta + Cheese = x Estimated time remaining: 10 Hours, 53 Minutes