Applebloom, Let's Do This

Heh, Apple Bloom. Really hard to not write as an AJ jr. Youngest, fits the stereotype for character based on place in family. Dammit, Apple Bloom, why are you and the rest of the CMC's a carbon-copy clone of the PPG's?

Apple Bloom, basically the leader of the group. Wears a bow. Not a show off. Moderately-girly. "Average by mean" compared to the other two. /just to name a few/
Blossom, basically the leader of the group. Wears a bow. Not a show off. Moderately-girly. "Average by mean" compared to the other two. /just to name a few/

Scootaloo, tom-boyish, occasionally tries to be the leader. Can occasionally be a complete and utter show-off. More interested in self-image compared to the other two.  /just to name a few/
Buttercup, tom-boyish, occasionally tries to be the leader. Can occasionally be a complete and utter show-off. More interested in self-image compared to the other two. /just to name a few/

Sweetie Belle. Shy compared to the other two. Most 'girly'. Has inferiority or phobia issues, compared to the other two. Most cautious compared to the other two. Quiet comparatively. /just to name a few/
Bubbles. Shy compared to the other two. Most 'girly'. Has inferiority or phobia issues, compared to the other two. Most cautious compared to the other two. Quiet comparatively. /just to name a few/

See, the problem with Apple Bloom is, average by mean either means she disinteresting since she isn't at the extremes: Show-Off, super competitive, tom-boy - Buttercup. Shy, cautious, tries to be helpful - Sweetie Belle.

So you wither have to run Apple Bloom as "I am the love-child of personality traits" from the other two, which means since she doesn't lean to an extreme she becomes boring with pseudo-character, because she's simultaneously standing in the shadows of the other two, OR you make her a compelling leader that must ALWAYS be the leader, no matter the circumstance. Which then leads to the Tom-Boy, Scootaloo getting competitive over who's in charge and Quiet, shy, Sweetie Belle regressing and trying not to make a fuss even more than usual.

The only problem with that is, Apple Bloom would then come off as a jerk, and she's not a villain, so she's not allowed to do that. So instead we get a boring mash between two interesting characters rather than a compelling middle ground that's more prone to being the leader.

What would've worked here is having Apple Bloom being two-faced. Have her stand with Scootaloo and then swap to acting like Sweetie Belle. I suppose a better way to do this would be:

Sweetie Belle / Paragon /
Apple Bloom / Neutral /
Scootaloo / Renegade /

That would've at least made Apple Bloom flexible, which is interesting in itself. And given her a sort of "split" personality to explore. When does she act more Scootaloo like, when does she act more Sweetie Belle like? Why does she constantly swap between both? When does she swap? What warrants swapping between Paragon and Renegade? What caused her to be this weird mash of the two characters, other than the obvious "the leader had to be neutral", explanation. Applejack Jr. up there could've been so much more.

Anyways, she's cute with her comedic oversized bow, and poofy tail.

Excellent work, Mr. Professional Artist in the making.