Applebloom could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her face was flushed and she could feel a tingle in her legs that reached to her hooves. A mix of excitement and nervous fear reverberated within her body as she fought to keep herself rooted in place. Her eyes were clenched tight as she waited for the signal, thinking back on how the day had come to this.

"H-hey granny?" Applebloom cautiously asked as she and her elder worked to wash the dishes from the evening's meal. The green mare glanced to the younger one, a curious eye looking over the filly as she looked away with a light blush.

"Wha' is it youngin'?" She nudged the filly with her shoulder, prompting her to look at her elder. Applebloom bit her lip nervously as she brought her eyes back to her granny.

"H-how um.. how did... uh..." Granny Smith raised an eyebrow at the strange interaction, before huffing and turning off the water in the sink. Grabbing a nearby towel, she dried her hooves in the cloth as she turned and sat before her charge.

"Y'all 're gonna hafta speak up now." Applebloom sat down as well, looking to her hooves nervously, her face flushed a bright red that nearly matched her mane. She took a deep breath and tried to steady herself, before bringing her gaze to match that of her grandmother's.

"H-how did Ma an' Pa meet?" The elder mare's eyes widened in surprise a moment of silence passed between the two before a soft smile graced her features and she gave a small chuckle, a twinkle in her eyes.

"Well now, wha' brought this about?" Applebloom nervously rubbed a hoof against her foreleg as she suddenly found the nearby counter far more interesting.

"A-ah was jus' wonderin' was a-all..." She tried to sneak a glance back at her elder, only to flinch back as she found the mare's gaze bore into her with a raised brow.

"Izzat so?" She watched as the filly bit her lip again, before sighing and placing a hoof on the young one's head. The two sat in silence for a moment as Granny Smith looked past the filly and through the doorway into the living room. There, a portrait of two smiling ponies watched them as the filly awaited her response, their faces obscured by shadow.

"The two of ‘em were young, younger than y'all actually when they firs' met." Applebloom's ears perked up as her granny began to speak. Raising her head just a bit as the light green hoof kept softly combing through her mane, she watched her grandmother's face take on an expression of one who looked back on fond memories.

"Back then, ah was a much differen' sorta' mare. Ah had a lot ta prove after yer Granpappy passed an' the farm fell to me. Iffin' ah had been more concerned with him when he was younger, rather than mah pride, perhaps yer Pa would still be with us..." Her eyes watered slightly as she thought back to a time when she was far younger, more stubborn and hard-headed. She shook herself slightly, before smiling back down at her granddaughter.

"But y'all didn' ask 'bout me, y'all wanted to know 'bout yer folks huh?" Applebloom shared her smile, nodding her head eagerly. The elder mare chuckled as she finally removed her hoof and placed it against her own chin.

"As ah was sayin', they were real young the firs' time they met, although yer Pa wouldn't fess up to me for exactly how long they had been 'together.' He leastways gave me a bit of an idea." She stood slowly, the slight popping of her bad hip causing her to wince momentarily before she turned and made her way over to the hall that led out of the kitchen, Applebloom bounding after her. As they stepped into the hall, Granny Smith carefully made her way through the narrow passage until she reached a cabinet that sat a short way in, a small lamp sitting on top.

"Now where did ah put tha' consarnit thang?" She mumbled as she nudged open the cabinet and began digging through its contents. Applebloom could feel a tingling in her hooves as she waited with excitement. The only time this cabinet was normally opened was when Granny and Applejack had a really good story to tell about the family from times past. Granny Smith pushed aside several newer looking albums, before letting out a triumphant noise as she gripped an older, more dusty one from the back. She winced as the dust clogged her nostrils, sneezing slightly. With a kick of her back leg, she closed the cabinet and placed the book on the floor between them, spitting out the dirt and dust.

"Gah, really oughta clean that out more often," She idly noted, before flipping the album open and revealing pictures and clippings of a time before Applebloom could remember. Her eyes widened and shimmered in the dim light with wonder as she beheld the visage of both her parents in many of the images.

"Now, see here is your Pa, Bright Mac, a few days 'fore he and your Ma got married. Granted ah didn' know what he was plannin' at the time and jus' figured he had a bad case of the jitters. He used to get those from time to time if he ate too much zap apple jam, heh heh." She pointed out a picture of an older, yellow stallion with the same fiery red mane as Applebloom herself. The large brown stetson between his hooves being twisted in a nervous anxiety while he tried to smile at the camera. Turning the page, Granny Smith sighed and pointed out the next image.

"This un' here is a photo yer Pa took of yer Ma without my knowin', 'fore they were officially together. Ah don't rightly know when it was taken, but it couldn'a been too long after when IT happened." Applebloom looked upon the image of a beautiful, young, peach-colored mare with a bright orange, messy mane that she kept in a side ponytail. She wasn't looking at the camera as she glanced into the trees above her, showing that the picture had been taken without her knowledge.

"Yer Ma was part of a family with whom we'd had a feud fer many years, I thought it would continue well after ah had passed too, but Bright Mac an' her changed all that in a single night." Flipping through a few more pages, she stopped at one that brought a few tears to her eyes, along with the warmest of smiles.

The photo had been taken at night, a bright and beautiful full moon hanging behind the floral archway that sat behind the smiling couple as they leaned against one another.

"When Buttercup's Pa and ah discovered their hidden relationship, we uh, didn' take too kindly at firs'. But Butter's Pa took it the wors', especially considerin' we both ended up stumblin' upon the weddin' by mistake." Granny's soft green hoof grazed the image slightly, as though she were reaching out in hopes of feeling her loved one's fur just one more time, a single tear trailing her cheek. Applebloom watched her granny carefully with bated breath, almost afraid to ask what came next.

"Your Pa had learned that Buttercup an' her family were gonna move away, so in an act of love, he took a chance an' proposed to Buttercup on the spot when they got together that night. That sweet mare nev'r even hesitated, no matter how angry her father got when he found out." Sniffling slightly, Granny slowly closed the album and looked to her young charge with a smile.

"Your Ma and Pa met when they were young. They nev'r hid anythin' from each other and they nev'r lied to one another. If'n y’all have your heart set on a certain somepony, don't let fear an' doubt get in yer way. Y'all got the same determined eyes of yer Pa, an' ya got yer Ma's kind and lovin' soul." She reached under Applebloom's chin and raised her head up, giving the filly's forehead a quick peck with her lips.

"Y'all will do right by yer heart, ah know it. Now run along, it's almost yer bedtime an' ya got school tomorrow." Applebloom nodded, before leaning closer and wrapping her grandmother in a soft embrace, catching the elder mare off guard.

"Thanks for the story, Granny." Applebloom whispered, causing the mare to tremble slightly, before forcing herself to stop as she returned the embrace.

"Don' y'all worry none, Bloom." She smiled past her granddaughter at the album that lay beneath them.

'Y'all would be so proud of yer little ones.' The single tear that had trailed down her cheek, finally dropping to land with a soft plopping sound against the cover of the album.

"Now!" Scootaloo's voice startled Applebloom from her reminiscing, causing her heart to race and butterflies to flutter wildly in her stomach. She fought with herself to take that first step, to follow the plan, but her hooves refused to budge.

'Come on, don't get cold hooves now!' She clenched her eyes shut and strained to stop the pounding in her ears.

'Y'all got the same determined eyes of yer Pa, an' ya got yer Ma's kind and lovin' soul. Y'all will do right by yer heart, ah know it.' Granny Smith's words rang within Applebloom's mind and she gasped as she felt her fear and anxiety begin to melt away. With a newfound strength, she stepped into the light.

Dimmed Star stood calmly outside the entrance to the library, the afternoon sun above bearing down on her and the remaining Element bearers as they stood upon her doorstep, staring back with full bellies and wide smiles.

"Thank ya kindly fer the hospitality, Dimmed Star. If'n ya ever need anythin', don't y’all be afraid to come on by the farm." Applejack offered as she held up a hoof to the mare. A moment passed in silence as Dimmed Star stared back at the proffered hoof, her expression not changing from that of an impassive gaze as she merely raised a brow at the action. Applejack chuckled nervously as she gestured toward her hoof with a tilt of her head. The other mares watched with uncertainty as time continued to pass.

"Do not think that this little meal has changed anything." Her eyes held a dangerous glint as Applejack withdrew her leg, retreating to stand next to the others. Each of them looked to the dark mare with concern in their features, Pinkie's lips trembling slightly.

"But, Dimmed Star darl-" Rarity quickly bit her tongue at the scathing look that Dimmed Star shot her way, silencing the alabaster unicorn.

"One meal together, is not going to make me forget about your betrayal. One apology, is not going to make things right between us. One moment of hospitality, does not equate to forgiveness..." The mares' expressions varied as each struggled with the weight of her words.

"But... but we're trying, aren't we? Doesn't that mean anything?" Fluttershy stepped forward, her eyes pleading. Dimmed Star's gaze shot to the mare, a low and guttural growl emanating from between her lips. The other's eyes widened and they backed up several more steps as Dimmed Star looked to each of them in turn.

"Pinkie Pie is trying, the rest of you are trotting a very fine line." Turning back to her home, her low growl began to infect her voice.

"If you truly want to make it up to me, then be there for me, without having to rely on somepony else to drag you here." She glared over her withers at them, her dark eyes sharp and piercing.

"And you had better do it quickly, my time in Ponyville is running out, depending on how soon I get my answers..." The mares flinched back at the bite in her voice.

"A-answers?" The quiet voice of Rainbow Dash echoed back, unsure but curious. Dimmed Star looked back towards her home, through the door frame and up to her room which still lay in ruins.

"I will find her... and I will take what was denied to me... nothing, not Celestia, not Luna, not Discord, and certainly not any of you, will stop me." She trotted forward, a single tendril of Ink leaking from her foreleg and grasping the handle of the door, causing it to creak and groan at its touch. With a final glare back, she grinned maliciously, baring her sharp teeth.

"I will devour her entire being." With that, Dimmed Star slammed the door shut, closing them out. The girls sat in stunned silence for a few moments, wary of the door should it open again.

"Sh-she's leaving? To hunt the changeling?" The question hung in the air for mere seconds before the mares jumped into action together, Applejack and Rarity at the forefront.

"We gotta tell the Princess!" AJ exclaimed as she pawed her forehoof at the ground, her gaze determined. Rarity faced the mare with a harsh rebuttal on her tongue.

"And betray her again!? Honestly, Applejack, I would have thought you would know better than this." Rainbow Dash pushed her way in between the two of them.

"We gotta do something Rarity if she goes off full murder mode, how are we supposed to stop her!?" Fluttershy shivered behind them, covering her head with her wings.

"I-I do-don't want to se-see so much blo-bl-blood again!" Tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

Pinkie Pie watched as the mares argued over what they should do, surprisingly subdued given the situation. She looked back towards the library with a look of longing and sorrow, her normally poofy mane and tail having slightly straightened out.

"Girls..." Her voice was lost in the ranting of the mares and the mumbled concerns of their meek friend.

"I say we call the guard again, have them watch her house you know? Keep an eye on her in case she does leave." Rarity gasped in shock at Rainbow's idea.

"Are you positively mad! You saw what she did to those poor guards at the wedding! You would have Ponyville's own being slaughtered in the same manner!?" Rainbow reared back in defense.

"Girls!" Once more, Pinkie's voice went unheard.

"What! No! I mean just have them watch her, you know? No way do I want a repeat of -that!" Applejack stomped her hoof, getting their attention.

"We can't jus' let her do as she pleases Rare's. We told the Princess we'd keep an eye on 'er, and Ah ain't gonna go back on that." She huffed as Rarity turned back to face her, the white unicorn's face turning a slight red in her anger.

"And just WHAT do you propose we do Applejack? Follow Rainbow's advice and let her massacre the Ponyville guard? Call the Princess and have her send the Royal Army? The results will still be the same! The only thing we know for certain is that the Element of Magic managed to stop her rampage, but we can't rely on that as its firmly in the Princess' hoov-" Shoving herself between the mares and forcing them to acknowledge her, Pinkie once more called for their attention.

"GIRLS!" Silence followed her shout as it echoed off the homes and buildings around them. A few stray ponies stopped to stare at the group for a moment in bewilderment. Glaring to each of her friends in turn, Pinkie stomped a hoof and snorted in anger.

"I can't believe you! Arguing over what to do about our friend as though she's some sort of wild animal!" Rainbow Dash and Applejack went to interject, but Pinkie's firm glare had them backing down before they could begin.

"I know what she's done, but she is still our friend!" Tears welled up in her eyes as she glanced back to the library.

"She's suffered so much... could you honestly say you wouldn't be as angry as her if the same had happened to any of you?" The quiet that followed was more than enough of an answer. Looking back at them, her eyes glistened with barely restrained tears.

"If Applebloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, or Angel Bunny had been taken from you, ripped from your hooves and their life snuffed out in front of you... would you just lie down and take it, or would you be out there doing everything in your power to take down the bad guy?" Her sudden question startled them, causing the mares to think about how they would handle such a thing.

"Ah... Ah would never stop lookin'... Ah'd hunt them to the end of Equestria and beyond..." The thought of losing her younger sibling in such a manner caused a near physical pain in Applejack's heart. She clenched her eyes shut and held a hoof to her chest. Rainbow Dash looked to the sky, her eyes misty as she imagined a life without her biggest fan. Rarity gasped as she held a hoof to her mouth, tears in her eyes as she thought of the idea of losing Sweetie Belle. Fluttershy stared at Pinkie with horror-filled eyes, the mere mention of Angel being taken in such a way, shaking her to her core. Pinkie shook her head at them in sorrow.

"Dimmy didn't lose Spike... she lost herself..." She clenched her eyes tight, fighting back the urge to scream in frustration.

"I wish... I wish I could take back what happened... I wish I could go back in time and tell past-me not to turn away from her, to listen to Twilight and trust her judgment... but I can't. And neither can any of you. This is who she is now... it's what she is now... we can either choose to accept it, or run away from it..." She raised her head and stared at each of them in the eyes, causing them to wilt under her bright blue gaze.

"We made her this way… so I won't run... I'll keep my head high... and I'll stay with her... because that's what friends do." She ended with a note of finality, turning away from them and slowly trotting back towards Sugarcube Corner. The mares watched her go, their minds a flurry with Pinkie's words. Silently, the four of them parted, giving one another passing glances as they each made their own way home. None of them noticing the shadow that watched from the window of the dimly lit library.

Spike felt as though he had become related to a goldfish quite suddenly as he could only stare and gape at the filly before him.

Applebloom blushed profusely as she stood beside the tree, a bright and sleeveless red sundress draped around her withers and reaching to her back hooves. A few, green, embroidered vines stretched up from the bottom of the dress, stopping just around her flanks with a few yellow flowers blooming here and there. Her mane was no longer simply flowing behind her, having been curled in some places and now brought to her right side as a smaller pink bow held it in a sidetail, similar to how her mother's had been. Her hooves looked freshly shined and her coat looked to have been combed through. Her lips shimmering in the light of the sun, a sign of the lip gloss that Sweetie Belle had been kind enough to provide.

Given the look on Spike's face, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo wasted no time in clapping their hooves to one another in success. Applebloom ignored her friends' quiet cheers and chose instead to focus on the drake that sat dumbfounded on the blanket.

'Jus' say somthin' already!' She pleaded to him with all her heart. It was pounding in her chest and she didn't know how much more she could take.

Spike for his part was in absolute awe. He watched as a small wind caught little bits of Applebloom's mane and toyed with them in the wind. The slightest hint of a caramel apple's scent danced in his nostrils and he could feel his dry mouth water. His heart throbbed in his chest and he could feel his face burning with a bright blush.

"H-h-hi?" He provided after nearly a minute of silence. He immediately wanted to kick himself for how squeaky his voice had sounded. Applebloom's blush, however, only grew stronger.

"H-hi Spike..." She squeaked out in turn. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo watched the two of them with giddy anticipation, Dinky having stepped beside them at some point with a matching grin on her face. Rumble watched from the sidelines, a slight blush on his cheeks as he looked on, feeling as though he were intruding.

"Do... do ya like it?" It was barely a whisper, but Spike's hearing just managed picked up on Applebloom's soft voice. He nervously wrung his claws together, trying to sit straighter and fighting to keep his tail from moving around too much. Slowly, he nodded, his heart aching and his face flushed.

His affirmation on her attire was more than enough to send her heart into a flutter as she blushed profusely. The sound of slight snickering caught her attention however and she looked to see her friends and the two newcomers just standing there, staring at them with goofy grins on their faces. With a slight grimace, she gave them a scathing look and tilted her head towards the playground. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked to her in confusion for only a moment, before realization dawned on them.

Turning to their new companions, Scootaloo grabbed ahold of Dinky, while Sweetie Belle gripped Rumble's tail in her teeth. The two of them let out small yelps of surprise that were promptly ignored as they were dragged off towards the schoolyard, leaving the young drake and farmer to themselves.

Spike didn't even register the absence of their friends, his eyes were too focused on the picture of beauty that stood before him. With the two of them now alone, Applebloom slowly made her way towards the blanket, sitting across from him and nervously rubbing her foreleg. The two stayed silent for a few more moments, an awkwardness hanging in the air.

"Uh..." Spike's sudden attempt at vocabulary startled Applebloom and she looked to him in confusion, before giggling lightly.

"C-c'mon Spike, ah'm still me..." She tried slowly, hoping to stem the heat in her face as well as the awkward tension between them. Spike blinked a few times at that, before chuckling slightly and scratching at the back of his head nervously.

"Y-yea..." The two returned to their silence, glancing around one another with nervous blushes on their faces. Applebloom's eyes caught a glimpse of one of the many food items that sat around them, inspiration striking her.

"Would... would y'all like somethin' to eat? A-ah made it fer... us..." Her blush grew brighter as she spoke, the realization of her words bearing down on her. Spike looked to her with wide eyes, his purple scales growing darker as he gave the large basket of food a once over.

"How did you make all of this?" He asked, genuinely curious. Applebloom grinned at finally having something to talk about.

"Mah granny helped out. We got up earlier this mornin' and she helped me put it all together." The filly leaned forward gripping the basket and holding it out for him to see.

"Wanna try some?" Spike's eyes traced the food and his stomach gave a rumble of approval at the sight and smells. Nodding, he reached out and took a few of the apple fritters that sat on top, placing them on his own plate. Applebloom smiled and withdrew her hooves, placing the basket back in place, before grabbing a few for herself.

Smiling, Spike took the first fritter and popped it into his mouth, savoring the flavor. Applebloom giggled at him as he closed his eyes and groaned as though he were in bliss. The two of them ate in relative silence, appreciating one another's company and just enjoying the meal. As Spike ate, he began to look her over again in a new light, something seemed... different.

'Aside from her change in attire and her hair... it almost looks like she's... glowing?' He thought as he stared at her. The sunlight danced upon her golden fur, lending evidence to this as he was entranced by the visual. Her mane flowing softly in a loose breeze.

Applebloom could feel the blush in her face returning as she tried to ignore his constant gaze, her eyes flitting between her hooves and his eyes.

"U-um, Spike?" He flinched back at the sudden calling of his name, her change in tone bringing him back from his musings. He noted the light blush on her face and his own scales turned a dark purple.

"Y-yea?" He tried cautiously, his mouth suddenly dry. She looked back up from her hooves, leaning forwards slightly as her heart pounded in her ears. Spike could feel his heart hammering in his chest as she leaned closer, that scent of caramel apples growing ever stronger.

"A-ah... ah r-really... l-l-lik-," The sound of the schoolhouse bell rang out, drowning out her words and pulling them away from the moment. From a few nearby bushes, they could hear a familiar voice shout.

"Oh come on!"

Applebloom sighed, her ears laid back in defeat as she and Spike sat together. The moment ruined, she pulled back and began to pack the leftover food items back into the basket as Spike watched her curiously.

"Appl-," His attempt cut off by a yellow hoof, Applebloom looked to him with tears in her eyes and a soft smile as she held his lips closed.

"N-not now, Spike... L-let's jus', get back to class..." Pulling her hoof away, she stood and gripped the basket of treats in her teeth, moving it to the edge of the blanket to set it down.

"Ah'll clean all this up, y'all go on and tell Miss. Cheerilee ah'll be there soon." Spike watched as she began to roll up the blanket, nodding slowly.

"Uh... yeah... ok..." He turned slowly, grabbing his own bag and making his way after the other students as they filed back into the schoolhouse. He looked back several times, watching as Applebloom slowly cleaned up, before going back behind the tree, possibly to change out of the dress. Just before he made it back into the building, he watched as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle ran from a few of the bushes that had been close by, rushing to the tree where the filly had disappeared.

His heart ached with worry and confusion.

Author's Notes:

Shaded: Muffled noises of horror and protest

Dimmed Star: " I knew better than to leave that last punishment to you, burying him alive, what were you thinking!? That's so wasteful!"

Twilight: " But it was strangely satisfying..."

Dimmed Star: " Oh please, the best methods always leave them screaming in agony, while still having something left over to feast on, see?"

She points to the currently boiling alive Shaded that sits in a cast iron pot filled with chopped meats.

Twilight: " Hmm, slow cooking is a good option, and it does help the meat fall off the bone, but why not a good roast instead?"

She ignites a nearby pile of wood, with a spit sitting above, waiting to be used.

Dimmed Star: " Nah, a roast would end it too quickly, oh you've got the disclaimer this time."

Twilight: " What, why!?""

Dimmed Star: " Think of it as your own punishment for taking it upon yourself to bury a good meal."

Twilight: " Ugh, fine. Shaded Blood does not own MLP:FIM or the Equinox Ponies. Also a big thanks to Kuunlehti for proof reading. If you are enjoying the story, don't forget to hit that like button and drop by the Discord
for more fun."

Shaded: Cries pitifully