The Monster In AppleBloom
Chapter 2: 2. Everypony's Worried
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“Surprise! Happy birthday Apple Bloom!” Pinkie Pie squealed along with the others at Sugar Cube Corner.
Apple Bloom managed to smile as Sweetie Belle gave her a big hug. It was hard to believe that she was sixteen years old now, and though nopony really knew it, she’d been living in agony for the last four years.
Every smile felt fake, every laugh felt forced. Maybe she really was going crazy, but she also just didn’t feel well either. She often got headaches and body aches. She’d be tired for no reason, and even though she appreciated the effort her friends had put into this party, she just wasn’t feeling it.
Still... she did her best to at least pretend to be happy. She’d gotten good at that, pretending, but pretending was exhausting. She’d gradually been isolating herself more and more, despite her friends efforts to get her away from home once in awhile.
I should be happy, what in Equestria is wrong with me? I have a great life, great friends, great family... so what’s wrong?
Her grades in school were suffering as well. For the first time in her life she skipped doing her homework and a few times she even failed a quiz.
After pretending to have fun, Apple Bloom excused herself from the party as early as possible. She didn’t even care about all the great presents she had gotten, though she had thanked everypony nonetheless.
After Apple Bloom had gone Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle sat together at a table drinking punch and talking about their friend.
“It’s getting worse Scootaloo. Have you seen her eyes? They’re always so sad, even when she smiles. What’s going on with her?”
“I don’t know, I heard a rumor that her grades have gotten so bad she might have to be held back next year.”
Applejack was talking to Twilight. “I don’t know Twilight, something is wrong. She seems so unhappy but I don’t know WHY, and she won’t talk to me about it no matter how many times I ask her. I’m worried Twilight. At first I thought it might be bullies but Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle told me that it’s not. Even Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon don’t bother them much anymore. I just don’t know what to do!”
“All you can do is be there for her and hopefully she’ll talk to you when she’s ready,” said Twilight. “We can all help you keep an eye on her for you Applejack.”
“I’d appreciate it Twy, I really would.”
It feels like... there’s something inside of me, thought Apple Bloom. Something that’s making me hurt. Feeling darkly inspired, she picked up her quill and wrote...
Despair
This is the thing about despair,
It makes you really just not care.
Into a pile your problems heap,
It makes you always want to sleep.
You just don't want to face the day,
Everything else just fades away.
Your heart is cold just like December,
And happiness you can't remember.
With others you feel jealous rage,
They're free while you're caught in a cage.
They're blind to your agony,
They can never really see.
And so they brush aside your pain,
They don't want to hear it again.
And so you try to smile and laugh,
To be polite on their behalf.
On the outside you might be beaming,
But inside you're writhing and screaming.
So you take a little vacation,
And lock yourself in isolation.
You just want to scream and cry,
You just want to fall and die.
And how do I know all about what is there?
Because, for you see, it is I who despair.
After writing yet another morbid poem, her diary was full of them by now, Apple Bloom went to bed. Not that it would be an escape, for sometimes she had horrible nightmares.
Was this ever going to end?
Unfortunately for Apple Bloom, she still had a long way to go.
Next Chapter: 3. First Blood Estimated time remaining: 24 Minutes