"Well howdy there!" the white mare exclaimed, "Didn't see you come up here, what you need this time?"

Apple Jewel was a beautiful twenty-three year old white mare with green hooves that turned white as they went up her leg. Her mane was white with a red streak just like her tail. Her eyes were orange and yellow. There was something special about Apple Jewel, Jewel for short. She looked exactly like Apple Jack but with different colors. Her cutie mark was of three apples, only black.

Jewel was wearing a brown Stetson that was worn with age. It was given to Jewel about thirteen years ago, it was her treasure. The hat had belonged to her older sister, Apple Jack. Jewel had been living on S.A.A. for about seven years now with her best friend, Emerald Balloon.

"Oh, I just needed to know where you keep hiding the mixing bowl!"

Emerald Balloon, sister to the element laughter, Pinkie Pie. Emerald was also twenty-tree and was white with red hooves that turned pink, then white as it went up her legs. Her mane was pink with green streaking through it. She had a cutie mark of three balloons that were as black as black could be. Her eyes were special, they were grey and brown. Many ponies would call her "Pinks" just for fun, only because she looked just like Pinkie.

"You... are going to... cook? Um, Emerald, don't you remember last night?" Jewel said with worry.

"Well, yea, but I read lots of books last night! And you will be glad to hear that I can now boil water successfully!"

As you can see, Emerald Balloon is a terrible cook, almost as bad as Princess Sweetie Belle!

"Are you joking? Wow, that's an improvement! Why it was only yesterday you melted my tea kettle!" She said with sarcasm in her voice.

"Oh, ha, ha, ha... Look, I'm getting better at it! In fact, I am going to cook you a wonderful meal tonight, you'll love it!" she exclaimed.

"Yea, and I've got wings..." Jewel said with dread.

"Oh, come on! When was the last time I made a bad meal?"

"Yesterday, with the macaroni and cheese. I told you we had no cheese but no! you just had to use molasses and mustard!" she exclaimed, almost yelling.

"Hey, I liked that!" Emerald exclaimed, "Name another one!"

"The day before, really Emerald, just peanuts and butter? There is a product that's called, 'Peanut Butter'" She teased.

"Ok, I get it, I'm a bad cook, I'm not like Pinkie you know! I cant just throw trash in a bowl and have beautiful cupcakes come out!"

"Look," Jewel intervened, "Can we not talk about this anymore, can you just stick to practicing on microwave dinners?"

"Wow, one lousy mistake and you're set for life!" Emerald said under her breath.

"EMERALD! You blew up the kitchen!" Jewel exclaimed, "You don't leave the fork in there!"

"Ok, ok, I get it! How 'bout this, I'll go to Walmaret, and het some popcorn shrimp?" Emerald proposed.

"That sounds much better. Now get back to your chores!"

"Oh fine... Can I feed the chickens? No? Oh, alright, I'll go get supplies from town..."

As Emerald headed out, she heard Jewel say:

"And no cookies this time! Last time you spent all of the money on cookies!"

"Rats..."

Jewel chuckled and went back to her work, painting the roof of the barn. When she was finished, she went inside to make some real food, nothing burnt. While she was inside, she heard a knock on the door.

"Now I wander who that could be."

She opened the door, and outside was her sister, Apple Bloom. She was much taller than when she was a crusader, if fact, she had become an alicorn. She, along with the rest of the crusaders, were now princesses of Equestria.

"Hello there sis!" A.B. exclaimed, "You have no idea how glad I am that I can get away from the castle. Hey, is that apple soup I smell?"

"It sure is! come on in and get some if you want! It's granny's recipe."

"You bet I want some! I am sick of all of the junk they serve me up there! We have the same thing for lunch everyday, three lettuce leaves, a grape tomato, and loads of onions, junk." A.B. exclaimed.

"Well, you came to the right place! Come on in! Why did you come here anyway, must be important."

"It's very urgent. So urgent, that you and Emerald will be shocked." A.B. warned.

"Try me..." Jewel prodded.

"Sigh, alright." A.B. surrendered.

"Well?"

"Tirek has Escaped."

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Emerald went into town and went to her first stop, The Diamond Emporium. This was a novelty shop that had almost everything a pony could need. Diamond Tiara had started this on her eighteenth birthday last year and it has thrived ever since. Emerald went in and saw Diamond behind the counter looking in a catalog.

"Wow, look at those cloths! Oh, those are even better! Oh, I can't decide!" Diamond said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Hey diamond, what's up?"

"Oh, I was just looking some clothes for the store. There are so many wonderful choices that I can decide!" Diamond nearly screamed in rage.

"Well," Emerald said after a while, "What if you did a series of sets, one month this clothing, the next month that clothing and it goes on form there!"

"Wow, that, just might work! Thanks Emerald, you helped me a little!" Diamond exclaimed.

"A little?" Emerald inquired.

"Well I still don't know what to get first..."

"Start out cheep. Who knows! maybe you can find our what ponies want more of from this!"

"Thanks Emerald, I'll try that. Oh, here I am talking away a storm and you probably what to get something, the usual?"

"You bet! Just ad pot to that will you? Medium, please."

"What'd you do, attempt macaroni and cheese?" Diamond asked.

"Wow, you're good! Yea, Jewel didn't like it but I thought it was good!" Emerald exclaimed.

"Ok, now you have my attention, what did you put in it?" Diamond asked skeptically.

"Oh, nothing much maybe just some... mustard and molasses..."

"Ok, now that's just gross! What caused you to do that?"

"We had no cheese..."

"Wow, here's your stuff and a pan that supposedly won't melt."

"The company hasn't met me yet!" Emerald joked.

"Have a good one, Em, tell Jewel hi for me, ok?"

"Sure will! See ya!"

As she left she bumped into a mare with lollipop eyes.

"Oh hi Screwball! What are you doing in town today?"

"Ugh, I wish I wasn't here right now, Tripod fell on his latest creation, the self levitating lamp. I'm just here for burnt ointment. That colt is going to kill himself one day..."

Screwball went inside and Emerald continued her shopping and bought one cookie, A personal best! While she was out she ran into a royal guard, Summertime Blast. Emerald didn't remember him being so tall.

"Oh, hey Emerald, what are you doing out so late? Shouldn't you be back at S.A.A.?" He questioned.

"What, it's that late already? Wow does time fly... man its getting dark..." Emerald squeaked.

"Here, you want me to walk you home?"

"Sure... I love you- I mean I'd love that! Eh, heh, heh..." Emerald said nervously.

"Alright then, let's go!"

They were on their way and half way there Summer asked a question.

"Um, Emerald, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"Well, um, you see... I kind of like you... and... well..." Summer started.

Emeralds heart fluttered, he liked her? This had to be a dream, it just had to!

"I was wondering if you would be my marefriend!" He said quickly.

Emerald nearly dropped her bags. He wanted her to be her marefriend?! She could not believe it.

"Wow, Summer," She said blushing, "Yes, I'll be your marefriend."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"How can I know that you aren't just playing a joke on me?"

That was the final straw, she grabbed his neck, and kissed him with all of her might. He was surprised at first but he soon deepened the kiss. When they broke apart they looked at each other and smiled. This was the beginning of a whole new chapter.

Author's Note

Yay, new chapter! got any ideas for other chapters? Plus, I took the liberty to edit this myself so tell me my errors and if I should stick with an editor or just try again.