Aloe Pomme

by Jeweled Pen

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Romance, Spa Ponies
Length: 37959

Rule 63 Aloe and Applejack romance. Is Aloe willing to risk revealing what he truly is in order to get the mare of his dreams?

Lotus Blossom's twin, Aloe, isn't exactly as similar as everypony would guess. In fact, the earth pony has a rather large secret that HE doubts very much everypony would react favorably to. However, when he starts having trouble properly focusing around one of the hoofful of ponies who know his secret, he starts to worry he may be falling head over hooves. If he pursues her, will his secret be able to hold, or will he have to abandon it to get what he truly wants? Not to mention, can a pony who's so rough and tumble work with one who bruises so easily?

Published 2014-05-17 10:10:04 UTC
Last updated 2014-06-03 14:14:12 UTC

Appointment Revealed

The sun hung high in the air, casting its glow across the city of Ponyville. A few clouds still lingered above, but they were quickly being moved aside by a rapid blue blur, in between her athletic loops and dives. Far below, a small brown pegasus cheered the blur on. All in all, it was a beautiful morning, the kind where ponies woke up, looked outside, and promptly said 'Buck it, I'm calling in sick and going to the park' before cuddling back into bed. Mere minutes before jumping out of bed, rushing to clean up, get dressed (if they did), choke down a quick breakfast and gallop off to work.

Fortunately for Lotus Blossom, she was lucky enough to have a job she deeply adored, so getting up early had rarely been a hassle. The blue earth pony had a small mug of mint tea in front of her and was going over the days appointments. An open window allowed the mornings gentle breeze to bring the scent of fresh daisies, newly planted in preparation for the beginning of spring. The soft chirps of the birds brought a smile to her face.

From the back room she could hear some gentle groans of heavenly bliss, signs that her twin was tending to their one early morning guest. Some stallion from out of town, hoping to get a fresh start on his day. Lotus took a gentle sip of her tea, closing her eyes and delighting in the taste. She then placed the cup down and gingerly flipped the page. There were few appointments until noon, but they had plenty of walk ins so there wasn't too much worry of them sitting idle.

What did cause her to crease her brow was the appointment set for this evening. Rarity plus one. She glanced to the calender, which was heavily marked with a number of different names and events. It was near the end of the week and, since Rarity and her friend Fluttershy had already been here earlier in the week, there was little chance of the timid yellow pegasus returning. Lotus was frankly amazed the shy mare worked up the courage to come into town at all, the poor dear. The calender showed there was another celebration in Canterlot, meaning the newest princess, Twilight Sparkle, couldn't be the guest. Not that she couldn't imagine the poor alicorn needing a proper rest by now. That left three more.

Lotus couldn't imagine anything short of a herd of rampaging Buffalo bringing Rainbow Dash here, the towns resident dare devil and technically head weather mare. Not to mention she caught sights of the pegasus clearing the sky, and if she was up this early chances are she'd be enjoying one of her legendary naps in the evening. That left two likely culprits, and the fact it was the end of the week, meaning the perfect time to throw a party, meant odds leaned heavily in favor of one.

The door to the back room suddenly slammed open as a heavily blushing blue stallion unicorn practically toppled out. He still had a towel tied around his waist, though he struggled to keep it from wrapping around his legs. He galloped, as best he could, through the lobby and towards the door, toppling over one of their chairs in the process.

“Ahhhh, sir?” Lotus said, her voice thick with her Prence accent. “Your tab?”

“Huh? Oh! Right, ummm, here!” He practically flung the bits at her.

“Sir, this is simply far too mu--”

“Keep the change!” he said with an embarrassed squeak before giving up on his towel and galloping out the door.

A gentle chuckle came from the other room as her twin, Aloe, stepped out. “What did you do?” Lotus asked as she began counting the bits.

“Do? I did nothing but tell the truth!” Aloe said in a mock hurt tone, wielding an accent as thick as hers. “He merely made a few.... suggestive flirtatious remarks and I happened to inform him of a few things.”

“These things being?”

“Merely that we already share a bed, and you always sleep on top.” Aloe ducked just in time to avoid a hurled loofah.

“And I assume you failed to inform him of the bunk beds, no?” Lotus asked with exaggerated rage, though she couldn't work up the energy to be too mad. It wasn't the first time Aloe had performed such a prank on guests who got a bit too... flirtatious.

“Why, he left in such a hurry I didn't have the chance! I do hope I didn't startle the dear,” Aloe said with the softest giggle. “He did seem quite happy though when he left. Well, he was smiling.”

Lotus rolled her eyes. “I can't believe I ever allowed you to convince me to buy such things.”

“They save such space!” Aloe defended. The earth pony moved over and gently placed his chin on the counter, looking up with sad eyes. “You... you are not mad at me, are you? It was merely a harmless prank.”

Lotus glared for a few moments before letting out a soft sigh. “No. You brat. I trust he will be back later to collect whatever he accidentally left behind. We can all share a good laugh then.”

“Yay! I'll go freshen up, don't miss me for too long,” Aloe said before trotting off. Lotus watched her twin leave with a slight shake of her head. While the two were almost perfectly identical physically, despite their flipped genders and colorations, mentally they were quite different. Aside from their care for each other, their love of the spa and their thick accents, she doubted any pony would notice a mental resemblance. After all, her own pranks were much, much more clever.

She then glanced down at the schedule for today. A wicked grin formed on her lips. “Oh, Aloe dear? Have you had a chance to look over today's schedule?”

“No, I had to tend to Mister Cobblehorn. Why?”

“Oh, nothing. It seems Miss Applejack will be returning for--” She heard the sound of her dear brother missing a step on the stairs.

“I-I'm okay! Err, that's wonderful news! I guess! Not that I'd care, I ummm, I'm going to go freshen up! Bye!” Despite Aloe's attempts to hide it, Lotus picked up the stress in the stallion's voice instantly. Not only because of the sudden bout of clumsiness, or even the awkward stutter. Mostly it was because he had said the words in Prence, rather than Equestrian.

Aloe darted into their room in a happy trot. A corner of the rather spacious room, the one farthest from the door, held their large bunk bed. One blue bed for him, under a pink bed for his sister. Aside from that there was a small closet that held their respective clothing, though aside from their headbands and collars for work they rarely wore anything. A rather large bookshelf took up the rest of the wall their bed didn't, one book laying bookmarked on the ground, the newest romance from Hugh N Kish. The window to the room was open, allowing the slightly damp air blow against him and ruffle his mane.

However, his target was the large double vanity desk that dominated the room opposite their bed. Stacked high with a plethora of products they used in their own spa (after all, how could they dare to use such things on their treasured guests if they weren't willing to use them themselves?) as well as everything they needed, or desired, to properly adjust themselves each morning.

He looked into the mirror and took a long stare, before adjusting his eyelashes. He took an almost unique pride in his appearance. He had been gifted with a much more feminine physique than most stallions, even lacking the rough ended snout of his born gender. However, while most would have fought and tried to make themselves more masculine, he embraced his femininity with a fervor. It didn't hurt that his coat was naturally pink, causing many ponies to never even take a second glance.

He was also unsure of how some their patrons would feel to find he actually wasn't what he seemed. While the young stallion tried never to take advantage of their trust, he also never wished to cause any of their precious guests any discomfort, and he knew how such realizations could affect some ponies. Only a few ponies even knew of his true gender, Rarity and her friends were some of the precious few he trusted. Though not necessarily by choice.

To his annoyance, the designer had noticed immediately the first time they met, though she had been quite kind about it. And, while the unicorn had told her friends as well(Only with Aloe's permission and her promises they would not reveal), he had found they were as trust worthy as their legendary reputations described. Also, seeing Rainbow Dash's mouth hit the floor had been quite amusing.

Such thoughts invariably lead the young stallion to the image of a particular mare. A soft sigh escaped his mouth as he remembered the first time they'd met.

It had been near the start of winter. The first snow was coming in so there was almost no work for the farmers to do, or so he'd thought. The spa had been busy that day, with all manner of ponies trying to cheer up after the heavy rains they'd been having and trying to get their final chance at relaxation before the snow and new forms of work came.

They had a full staff and even fuller spa, so he almost told the two mud covered individuals that they were booked up. Until he realized one was Rarity. The shriek he let out had made his sister come running from the back, only to join in when they saw how filthy the normally pristine unicorn was.

Her comrade, Applejack, had been unamused at the drama. Apparently in return for agreeing to the spa trip, Rarity had agreed to help with some chores around the farm. Minor chores. Unfortunately, the foul weather made even the lightest of chores in such places a mess. Once the horror wore off, Aloe didn't hesitated, with barely a wasted second he dragged the two into the nearest bath and began the treatment the two so rightfully deserved.

Unfortunately, the rest of the spa's pleasures were a bit more difficult to give. Applejack was in dreadful need of a proper hooficure, and her muscles were so tense and overworked she was like a rubber band waiting to snap. Fortunately, with Rarity there to hold her hoof, the farm pony soon relented and allowed him to tend to her.

To help relax her, the two had spent quite a bit of time talking. She really was a fascinating mare. She had spent the last few weeks alone working from dawn til dusk ensuring every thing on the farm was ready for the coming winter. Not only that, Rarity was more than happy to mention all the kind help she had offered her friends, even during such exhausting works. Preparations for the coming Hearths Warming Eve, gift making with her little sister, not to mention always ensuring her friends knew they had her ear if they ever needed help.

Applejack had been adorable, shaking her head and blushing, insisting she only did what any pony would do, that she wasn't anything special. Once everything was finished he was quite pleased to find she had enjoyed herself, to an extent. She even said she might come in again when she had time. Even at the end when Rarity told her that he was a he(Something he'd thought he told her sooner), she hadn't treated him differently. Told him she didn't care if he was a mare, a stallion or a griffon, so long as he could give back massages like that.

Aloe felt a little shamed as he could almost still feel her muscles under his hoof. He was normally more professional, taking extra care not to notice his guests in any manner more than he was required. Aside from the occasional little tease to guests that got on his nerves, usually casanovas who tried to less than subtly hint at a menage a trois with him and his sister(Apparently most ponies thought they were oh so clever because of their Prench descent), he never tried to do anything to make a guest uncomfortable.

He didn't understand what it was about her. He'd certainly given spa treatment to mares, and some stallions, who were far more beautiful and pretty than the mare, but somehow she was the one he could never fully focus on just as a guest. In fact, the last time she had come, with the rest of her friends, he'd had to hide in his room out of fear that he could do something to make them uncomfortable. But today was going to be different! He was going to be focused, professional, no matter how her well toned muscles melted under his hooves.

He let out a little eek when he realized he'd been staring at the mirror for far longer than he should have. A second eek followed when he realized his sister was in the doorway, watching him with a knowing smirk.

“Enjoying the view?” Lotus asked before chuckling.

“M-maybe. Just... just thinking about some things. Maybe we should add more kiwi scented products to our line-up,” Aloe said quickly, though he was unable to look her in the eye.

“Oh? You were thinking of the spa's scented products? So intensely, in fact, I thought you might break the glass? Not, in fact, a certain orange mare able to topple over trees with a single buck?”

His face burned bright red before he quickly trotted past her. “I-I have no idea what you could possibly mean.”

“Oh, merely a young farm worker, bucks apples for a living, able to--”

“Perhaps one with a thick, powerful voice that you play regularly in the rooms? How does it go? 'Trot outside and I see the sunshine, something's in the air today',” Aloe countered in a gentle song.

“What? It, no! He has the voice of an angel and don't you bring him into this!” Lotus yelled, her own cheeks turning bright red as she galloped after the stallion.

He took off with a chuckle, galloping down the stairs. “Maybe I should go put that on the speakers now! See how many guests we can make swoon before we even begin the massages?” He tried burying his thoughts, surely there would be no problems this time. He had almost an entire day to prepare before seeing her again.

Author's Note

I don't know why, but I really wanted to write a rule 63 Aloe story and take another dip in the romance story section. Hope you all enjoy.

Old Wounds

Aloe hummed a soft, gentle tune as his hooves moved up and down, gently kneading and massaging the muscle of his client until she was as malleable as putty. Each stroke and movement elicited happy, blissful cries from the mare as his gentle, soothing tones threatened to drop the poor pony off to dreamland.

“How do you feel?” he asked in a tone just barely above a whisper.

“Marvelous,” the dark pink mare said with a content sigh. “I don't know how I ever went on before I started making these appointments. I don't know how you do it.”

“It's in the hooves, darling,” he said, his thick accent helping to lull the pony into a gentle stupor. “Some earth ponies use their hooves to work the land, I use them to work the knots away. Oh dear, and I keep finding so many. Busy week?”

“Oh, you don't know the half of it.” The mare let out another soft groan as a particularly tense muscle was coaxed, rubbed and soothed into submission.

“The same three as usual?”

“Of course. A-ahhhhh...” She let out a happy moan after a gentle pop. “I love them to death, truly I do. But some days I wish they'd spend half the energy on their studies that they do on getting into trouble. I don't think I could have made it through today if I didn't have this to look forward too.”

Aloe chuckled softly. “You gift me with your kind words, but you and I both know that's not true. Being such a marvelous teacher flows through your blood, Ms. Cheerilee. You'd go to that class every day with a smile on your face, through wild timber wolves if necessary. Now, what did those young hoodlums do this time?”

“Well, they've been chosen to be Ponyville's flag carriers for the Equestria games. You really should see the routine they came up with, if I didn't know how clever those three are when they try, I'd be certain they had a team of professionals working on it.”

“Oh? That sounds simply marvelous. Darling, you're tensing again. They didn't try another love potion, did they?”

“No. They've just been practicing it constantly. Normally I wouldn't mind, however... they've been practicing in the classroom.”

“Is it difficult?”

“They are constantly making messes. They need a full stage to perform such a routine, but they keep racing down between the desks. I've had to wash glue out of Scootaloo's hair three times already, not to mention the number of times I've had to race to ensure they didn't end up crashing into anything harder than themselves. Today I left the room for just a few moments, a few moments! I come back, the desks are all lined up and they're performing the routine on it!”

“Oh dear...” The massage was technically done, but Aloe kept his hooves going so the mare could continue her story without feeling awkward.

“Oh dear is right! I come in right as Scootaloo's scooter hits a bump between the desks. The wheel falls through and gets locked up, and off she goes! I don't care what they say, that girl can fly! I only barely managed to catch her, rammed my side into the desk on top of it. I was this close to yelling at them. This close.”

“But the fact you didn't is what makes you such a good teacher, no?”

Cheerilee sighed, but nodded. “Yes. I took a deep breath, counted to ten, then the three of us had a very long, calm talk about what is, and isn't okay to do in the class room. Sometimes I worry these children will be the death of me.”

“Nonsense. I've never seen a mare take quite as much pleasure in her classes success as you do. Or one who raves so energetically when a pony you've taught graduates. You're a teacher at heart, and no amount of energetic children would ever break you of it.”

“Oh Aloe, you give me too much credit. I'm not like that at all.”

“Nonsense. In fact, this is the fifth time you've told me about your little children's flag bearing routine. Some ponies would think it was you who were bearing the thing, instead of your students.” He pulled his hooves back. “Fin. Your wraps will be ready in the next room, please enjoy.”

Cheerilee got up with a groan, stretching her body out. “Oh, that feels marvelous. I don't know what I'd... well, you know. I'll see you next week for the regular.” She trotted away, looking quite a bit more relaxed than she had before she fell under Aloe's hooves.

Unfortunately, as the stallion trotted towards the entrance, he was finding himself unable to become quite as relaxed. In fact, he was positively frazzled! Cheerilee was the last appointment he had before Rarity and her... friend were to arrive. He glanced at the clock as his stomach threatened to jump out through his mouth.

He took a deep breath and sat down at the front desk. He could do this. He knew he could. He had just spent almost an hour on top of Cheerilee, making her create noises that would have made most able bodied stallions stand at attention, in more ways than one, yet he had hardly noticed. All he had to do was the same exact thing to Applejack, then everything would be fine. He was a professional. He almost wilted as he remembered how long it had been since that particular earth pony had been here. It could possibly take him even longer than an hour. Maybe even an hour and a half. Of his hooves, stroking along her back, kneading the muscles, massaging every inch of her...

Lotus trotted into the room, smiling as she escorted a guest to the door, letting them deposit the coins on the front desk. It was there she caught sight of her brother. Fortunately, to most he would just seem to be deep in thought, only the slightest blush visible in his pink cheeks. However, she knew better. He might as well have been drooling on the ground, tongue hanging out like a dog with the way he was acting. “Aloe? Darling?” No response. She reached out and nudged his chin, but still no response. She finally sighed and moved up behind the stallion, leaning in to whisper in his ear. “Oh my, Applejack, you even left your hat behind?”

“What? Where?” Aloe squeaked as he looked around, before timidly turning to his sister. “I... I was just...”

“Oh, I know exactly what you were doing,” Lotus switched to Prench, though still talked softly enough she hoped no pony would be able to hear. “Fantasizing about a certain guest, I do not doubt.”

He gulped and guiltily nodded. He responded in gentle Prench as well. “I... I can't do this. I try, so hard, but I cannot. She makes me feel all... she is like no other mare. Take my place.”

“What?”

“Take my place. Tend to her. I... I can tend to another guest. Or get one of the others to help! We hired them for such things, yes?”

“We hired them so we could tend to all our guests, not so you could cower in your room like a foal from his first crush. We cannot tear them from their own guests and appointments so you can hide in your room.”

“But--” He shut up as he caught his sister's eyes. He knew it was correct. “Yes'm...”

“You have to face this hurdle eventually. You know this is true.”

“I already gave up. I'll be ready,” he said wistfully before glancing at the counter and getting to work on organizing everything. Started prepping some receipts as well as logging his last few guests and finally separating out the tips from the payments.

Tips were always split when multiple spa ponies dealt with a single guest. Namely because they'd found certain ponies were quite skilled at certain tasks, such as Lilyeye who could give a massage to a butterfly without ruffling a wing, but couldn't wrap a piece of plywood in tape to save her life, let alone the wraps for their mud baths. Fortunately, some tasks could be done, or partially done, by any pony. But those which required the extra close touch, were done only by those who Aloe or Lotus accepted. And they intended not to ever lose them to something as silly as not giving them the tips or wages they deserved.

On more than one occasion the twins had even given some of their own tips to help their employees in times of need and, to their delight, some of their employees had stepped in to help each other during particular bad times. It was a simple way for them to help each other out, without any pony feeling guilty or hurt. And in the end, employees in harmony made a spa in harmony.

He glanced to the clock once his work was done and, to his surprise, Rarity was late. Already five minutes. He quickly glanced towards the door, a nervous gulp released from his throat. As the clock ticked away, soon hitting the ten minute mark, any hope his nerves had that it would be Pinkie, and not Applejack, quickly vanished. Neither of their homes were far from the spa, so there was no reason for them to be quite this late.

Applejack, on the other hoof, ran Sweet Apple Acres. A farm could have any number of problems popping up, at any moment. It was entirely possible they would have to cancel. He was unable to be certain if he was heart broken or ecstatic at the thought. On the one hoof, it meant he wouldn't have to have a panic attack. On the other, it meant he would miss out on an opportunity to make her make the kind of sounds that could haunt any stallion's dreams, his especially.

It was this conundrum the door bell awoke him from. Rarity dashed in, the white unicorn mare complete in a radiant blue hat bespeckled with small pearls and a dress to match. She looked slightly paler and out of breath, a few drops of sweat dripping from her mane. “Oh dear, how late are we? Oh Aloe, I'm so, so soooo sorry! Something dreadfully important came up at the last moment. Then a second thing, and a third thing. Before I knew it, we were already late! I'm so, so, so sorry!”

Aloe chuckled, shaking his head. “Oh darling, it is fine. A few minor tardies will not lower yourself in my gaze. I take it your friend, A-applejack is coming as well?” To his relief, the mare seemed to not catch the slight stumble in his voice.

“What? Yes. Unfortunately, there was a slight change of plans. We have a third added to our party. Unfortunately he invited himself,” she said with a voice filled with distaste.

Aloe froze. A third member. A male. Some pony that Rarity didn't like, yet refused to deny her company to and, more importantly, Applejack's. He could think of two such reasons for this. “A... a family member?” he asked in a hope-filled tone.

“Hardly. He's... a friend.”

The hesitation in her voice made him tremble. A friend she obviously didn't like. His mane and tail wilted. Applejack had found a love. He struggled to keep the smile on his face. “N-no worries! A friend of yours is always welcome here!” It may have been unprofessional, but he decided then and there that this third stallion pony would 'accidentally' get pink dye in his shampoo. They'd be able to remove it, but a small prank of vengeance was better than none at all!

The door jingled a second time, revealing her. The most beautiful mare he'd ever seen. Powerful legs, a glorious smile, the way her cowpony hat... wait, why was her hat covered in polkadots? Before he could dwell on it, another joyous thing caught his attention. She wasn't smiling! In fact, she looked miserable, her lips curled into a frown. Perhaps this new coltfriend of hers wasn't quite as big a threat as he thought. Likely some crude mouthed pony who knew about lifting hay but didn't understand the gentle touches required to woo such an angelic mare.

He blushed when he realized he wasn't just thinking about Applejack in a romantic manner, he was considering trying to steal her from whoever her new love was! Was he really so subject to wanting what another pony wanted? Guilt flooded his core as he prayed to the soon to be risen moon that wasn't the case. Applejack deserved a stallion who adored her, not one who only wanted her because he couldn't have her.

The door opened one final time, revealing the third guest of the evening. Horror spread across the stallion's face before he fell from his chair, mouth hanging open.

Lotus sighed as she gently flipped through a magazine. She expected Rarity to arrive at any moment and her lovestruck brother to call her. What she didn't expect was a loud screamed, followed by a plethora of Prench curses and the sound of banging. She stood up in shock, only being shaken from her astonishment when she heard the sound of shattered glass.

She galloped to the front lobby, freezing in the doorway. Already a few guests and employees were standing by the back room, watching in amazement. A monstrous creature, seemingly composed of parts of pony, griffon, dragon, goat and any other number of things stood by the door. Discord, the spirit of chaos. Rarity and Applejack were on the ground, hooves over their heads as they tried to stay out of the line of fire.

Aloe stood behind the desk, grabbing everything he could find within reach and hurtling them at the abomination. If he could have lifted the register, she was pretty sure he'd have tossed that as well. As it was, shampoo bottles, trash, the desk's bell, a few tip jars, their contents and innumerable other things laid scattered across the ground as the spirit merely held up his arms and blocked the objects with ease. Throughout the entire barrage, her brother was screaming in Prench so quickly even she could barely understand it. However, she recognized a few choice words, such as 'leave' 'demon' 'not welcome' as well as words that would have made their dear parents blush.

Fortunately, when it came to lifting and throwing, her brother lacked endurance, so he soon tired out and sat there, panting and sweating. Lotus took a step forward, knowing if she moved quickly she could prevent things from getting worse.

Sadly, she was nowhere near fast enough.

“Tut tut, Rarity, Applejack, is that the way ponies treat your new friend? Hmph!” Discord said with exaggerated disappointment.

“Now, Aloe darling. I know Discord has done plenty of... horrible things in the past. Quite horrible. Dreadful even. Been a complete and utter monster even.” Rarity said as diplomatically as she could, ignoring the exagerated sigh from her 'friend' at her words. “But he's changed. Or, at least Fluttershy is certain he has. He's almost tolerable and has been doing a number of good things now. Like, err...”

“Helping the underprivileged by, ohhhh...” Discord said, seeming to be lost in thought. “Clearing away dangerous monsters, creating all manner of structures and, oh... giving haircuts to those who need them.”

Lotus took a step back, as she knew what was coming now. Aloe didn't disappoint. The flurry of angry words flew so fast she really couldn't make them out this time. However, after the stallion was forced to catch his breath, he gripped the desk and glowered at all of them. The next words came out in struggled Equestrian. “Out. GO! Never. Back! Any! EXILE! GO!” he screamed at the top of his lungs before turning and galloping away.

“My, such a touchy thing,” Discord said with a shake of his head.

“What did you do?” Rarity asked as she and Applejack turned to the creature.

“Moi? Why, nothing! Recently.”

Lotus sighed as she walked out from the back room, careful to step around the glass. “Rarity, Applejack, I'm sorry but please take your... thing, and leave. Once Aloe has calmed, I know she will lift your banishment. But for now, that monster will do nothing but make things worse. And you know exactly what you did, abomination! You should be back as stone, not as... as this!”

“Are you really going to let her talk to me like that?” Discord asked with a knowing smirk. The two mares looked between each other, struggling to decide.

“This would all be a might easier if we knew what was was going on,” Applejack said nervously.

“I merely performed a few harmless pranks on this establishment when I first awoke. Everything should have returned to normal and besides, I'm a changed pony,” Discord said with the most innocent of grins. None of the ponies were buying it.

“You caused hundreds of bits in damages,” Lotus said through gritted teeth when she finally made it behind the counted and pulled out the broom and dust bin. “We had to have almost all of our plumbing replaced after your little chocolate fountains.”

“Oh my, those were quite exquisite. What better treat to have at a spa?” the creature said with a chuckle.

“Then what you did to my twin!" Lotus whipped her head towards the inner door. "Get back to work and RELAXATION!” The employees and guests galloped away to the back room.

“I merely gave her a hair cut. It's hardly my fault she took it so seriously,” Discord said with a wave of his griffon claw.

“A hair cut? Let me guess, turned her hair into cotton candy?” Applejack asked flatly.

“Nnnope.”

“Cut off her coat?” Rarity asked.

“Nope. A normal hair cut. Mane and tail. Snip snip. Completely normal. Why, it was harmless,” he grinned and tapped his fingers together while he laughed.

“And you knew that was all it would take, didn't you?” Lotus asked with a growl as she glared at the monster. “You knew exactly how to crush her with the simplest of gestures, didn't you? Just take him and go!” the mare finally yelled, pointing towards the door before trotting out with the broom and dust bin.

Applejack sighed and looked down at the floor. “Listen, how about ah take care'a this here mess? It's our fault bringin'... him here. Rarity, yah think yah can take our... friend home?”

“I suppose...” Rarity said softly before glancing up at Discord who smiled as angelically as he could, while a soft hymn played in the background. “Come along or I'll have another talk with Fluttershy. You know, she is quite fond of these ponies as well. You shouldn't have hurt them so.” The door shut behind them.

“I have this under control, Applejack,” Lotus said with a grumble.

“Yah may have, but ah know what it's like when a siblin' runs off like that. Ah reckon Aloe needs yah a whole lot more right now, than this floor needs yah to clean it. Why don't yah leave it tah me an' go take care of 'im?”

The mare glanced to Applejack, then to the stairs. She dropped the broom with a grateful smile before galloping away. She heard the sobs long before she entered the room. Aloe was sitting in front of the vanity mirror, running a brush through his mane rapidly, tearing out small hairs with every stroke. The mere sight made Lotus cringe.

She moved up behind her brother and grabbed the brush, pulling it from his hoof before beginning to, gently, brush his mane back into its normal position. “It's okay, darling,” Lotus said in gentle Prench. “We're in Equestria now. Not in Prance. There's nothing to feel afraid, or ashamed of. We're no longer children.” Through soft strokes, gentle words and a protective presence, the sobs soon broke down to gentle hiccups and then nothing but a hurt, trembling stallion staring at his running makeup. It made her feel much better, for every sob made her deeply wish she had agreed to take her brother's place, perhaps he would have been in the back long enough for her to shuffle the creature away. Instead of waiting to face his crush, and meeting a demon. “Feel better, darling? All empty?” She asked with a gentle, comforting smile.

“Mm hmm...” Aloe said with a soft nod. She then turned him around and removed his fake eye lashes and set them aside. A moment later the collar and hairband followed. She finished by pulling out a towel and gently wiping the makeup away. Her brother now sat before her, not a single cover hiding what he was. Still, it would take a discerning eye to see him for what he truly was, if they even could. His face structure and coat always worked to his advantage, and few could notice the small imperfections that revealed his true gender.

“Good. Now, darling. You've had a rough day. I can't imagine what seeing that... creature has done to you. Especially stirring up those particular memories. I want you to go take a nice, long bath. Once everypony downstairs is finished, I'll come up and we can read a few chapters in Hugh's new book, okay?” The stallion merely nodded and she slowly leaned forward to give him a kiss on the forehead.

She almost made it out the door when Aloe softly spoke. “Can... can you tell Miss Rarity and Miss Applejack I'm sorry? I didn't mean to banish them.” She nodded and trotted from the room before letting out a soft sigh, the smile disappearing from her lips. She and her twin were similar in many ways, but sadly not all. For when Discord had first come to spread his chaos through their spa, she had known better than to try fighting and risk such a powerful monster's ire.

Her brother, unfortunately, had not.

Wound Up

Aloe groaned when the first sounds of the day awoke him. In this case, it was his sister waking up, the springs above his head jumping around. His throat was sore and his eyes were covered in gunk. A small trail of drool snaked our of the corner of his mouth, leaving a small spot on his pillow. Last night had hardly been pleasant. He let out a soft eek when his sister started climbing down the ladder. His hooves frantically flipped the pillow over and wiped the mess from his mouth and gunk out of his eyes as best he could.

“Feeling better, dear?” Lotus asked, in Equestrian this time, once she finished climbing out.

“A little,” he mumbled before smiling to her. “Thanks for... not ummm...”

She moved forward and gave him a hug. “It's okay, darling. I know how that must have hurt. I would never have wished for you to suffer like that. Do you feel you will be able to make it through the day?”

He grinned and nodded. “I feel, ummm... right as river!”

“Right as rain, dear.” Lotus turned and walked to the mirror, beginning to brush her hair. “I call dibs on first shower.” Within a few moments it was finished to her satisfaction, and she trotted to the bathroom.

Aloe chuckled, but once she was gone he quickly moved to the mirror to assess the damage. To his relief, aside from slightly swollen eyes, there was no noticeable effect. With a little extra makeup he doubted anypony would even notice. Aside from his sister. He then started brushing his hair, getting it nice and straight while his mind wandered.

He still felt a small amount of pain in his chest, but after his sister's tending and a good night sleep, it was more a dull, fading ache than a knife through the heart. Aloe glanced to the bathroom and smiled, he didn't know what he'd do without his sister.

When he got his chance to shower, he let out a happy sigh at the feeling of warm water washing away the fatigue. By the time he was finished, he felt ready to take on the world! The smell of breakfast was already wafting in from the hall when he walked into their bedroom. A little rule they had was first to use the shower had to make breakfast, so he couldn't help but feel eternally grateful for his sister's kindness in allowing him extra time to prepare in the morning.

He began with his eyes, applying his long eye lashes before gently batting them, making gentle kissing motions to himself. He leaned back and practiced his come hither look, slowly wiggling the lashes about before giggling. With a slight blush, he wondered if it would work on mares as well as it did on stallions. Next came make up. His sister had been the one to teach him. Just a little bit, too much wasn't good for the skin and wasn't subtle. Just enough to accentuate the curves of his face and draw attention to his adorable little nose. Yes, his nose was adorable, and he knew it. He'd even yelled it from the window at one time. To be fair, he had been a tad tipsy at the time.

Once everything else was finished, he got to work on his mane and tail, giving them a few gentle brush throughs, just straightening them, not doing too much because they were still damp. Finally, the collar and headband came on. He glanced back at himself in the mirror, letting out a soft sigh. He knew he looked adorable and he absolutely loved it. He did feel a tiny bit bad about being so vain, but no pony could see, so he knew that it would be his little secret. Besides, it made him feel a lot better. With one last happy glance at the mirror, he trotted away and made his way towards the kitchen down the hall.

His sister was there, humming softly as she cooked up some delightful breakfast burritos. The mornings paper was laid out on the table and a cup of tea, still steaming, had been placed in front of his chair. He sat down and took it, smelling the gentle scent before sipping the soothing liquid. It cascaded down his throat, relieving the tender pain from his late night sobbing.

“Are you sure you'll be up for today?”

“Mmmm hmmm. I'll go start preparing the shop once I've finished the tea. Thanks for letting me go second this morning...”

“I have no idea what you're talking about,” Lotus said with a knowing smile. “Breakfast will be ready soon. If you want to take it easy today, I understand.”

“I'll be fine. Throwing myself into work is just what I need. I, uhhhh... did you... tell them?” he asked sheepishly, his back hooves gently tapping together while they dangled over the chair. “That I didn't mean it? That I was sorry?”

“Yes. Miss Applejack stayed after to help clean. I told her you were sorry. She did express interest about how come it affected you so, but... I told her that wasn't my story to tell. If you still intend to pursue her, you'll need to tell her.”

His face turned bright red as he choked on the tea. After a few moments of sputtering, he pulled it away from his mouth. “I-I have no idea what y-you're talking about!”

“Dear. You just said that in Prench.”

He, somehow, turned even redder before lowering his gaze. He tried again, in Equestrian. “I, ummm...” He hated that. Whenever he got too upset, the words just cobbled together and he reverted to his first language. Lotus never had that problem, she'd always been much better with Equestrian than he had. “I just... she's not like other ponies and I don't even know if I really like her or if I'm just making up thoughts in my head because she, well, is nice to me even though she knows.”

“Mmmm hmm. And it has nothing at all to do with the fact she has legs powerful enough to buck you into orbit? Oh, and I imagine a nice kick too.”

He sunk into his chair. “T-there is nothing wrong with a strong, powerful woman. Besides, she's a lot of other things. Kind, compassionate, a shrewd business woman, loving sister. I'd think you and her would get along wonderfully.”

“Oh? Maybe we would. Perhaps I should ask her out.” Lotus flipped over the burritos.

“W-well maybe you should. She'd probably like you a lot more than she would me...” Aloe said with a small pout, scrunching up his nose.

“Oh dear. Darling, no pony likes a whiner. Besides, you had plenty of mare friends who appreciated that side of you in college. How about that, ummm, Strawberry Tart?”

“She was more interested in having a friend to go shopping with than anything else. She was just interested because we were the same dress size.” A light snort from Lotus brought a glare in her direction. “You know what I mean! Most ponies see me more as a... friend friend, than a colt friend. I just can't... do any of the things that a stallion is supposed to. I'm horrible at getting rid of spiders and things.”

Lotus snickered. “Maybe that's why you're so fascinated in Applejack. I doubt she'd have a problem doing most the things that 'stallions' are supposed to do.” She eyed her brother for a moment. “Why, she might be willing to try most the things a stallion would do. I've heard stories about some farm ponies, you know. Apparently they're insatiable. Not much entertainment out there on the farm, especially during the winter times. Well, except what--”

“I'm going!” Aloe shrieked in Prench before galloping out the door, leaving his tea half empty. He trotted down stairs and grumbled to himself. “The nerve of her! She gets on my case about teasing our guests so much, then goes and does that!”

He kept grumbling to himself as he trotted around the shop, opening windows, starting the equipment to give it time to warm up. Once he did that, he peeped out the door. Many mornings there would be a pony outside, waiting for an early morning appointment, usually desperate. This morning was no exception.

Standing outside was a pony that... well, he could hardly be called a pony. He was just a mass of muscles, every inch of his white coat, aside from his almost microscopic wings, bulging with them. His blonde mane and tail were hacked up, almost shaved off completely. The mere sight of him made Aloe take a step back and whimper, before slowly opening the door. “H-hello Snowflake,” he managed to say, his voice very nervous.

The stallion had never done anything deserving such fear. Aloe was just a little intimidated by ponies that were the size of three of him, and likely able to crush him with a single flex. It didn't help that the pony almost always looked angry and had a tendency to yell.

“YEOWWWW!” Snowflake howled as he limped inside. One look at the poor, limping pegasus made the earth pony gasp in horror. He knew that walk well.

“Oh, you poor darling! Not again!” Aloe said before galloping to the pony's side. “Lean on me. Oh, you poor dear. Come, come! We will do whatever we can to relieve your suffering!” He felt a little guilty now. No wonder the stallion looked extra angry today, the pain in his back must have been tremendous. “Tell me, what happened?”

“Guhhhh. WEIGHTS! SHOWED OFF! GAHHHHH!” Every syllable was filled with pain, making Aloe shake his head in pity until he was finally able to help the poor dear into one of their massage beds.

“Now just lay here, let's see...” He slowly moved his hoof along the ponies back, humming softly. It didn't take him long to find the troubled area and, to his relief, it wasn't actually serious. A few movements with his hooves began the process.

“GYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Snowflake yelled so loud the nearby jars rattled, but after a soft pop the pony went completely limp.

“There, better darling? I'm sorry that had to hurt, but, ahhh, sometimes it must get worse before it can get better.”

The stallion whimpered, but nodded. “T-thank you.”

“Good. Now, I'll be back in a few moments. Just relax, and lay still. You'll still need a bit more rest before we can finish, and especially before you should walk. Understand?”

“YEAHHHHH!” the pony said with such vigor it almost toppled Aloe over.

The earth pony chuckled and walked towards the stairs, his sister already halfway down. “What was that?” the mare asked, panic flooding her voice.

“Snowflake again. Another workout accident. That stallion is seriously going to hurt himself one day.”

Lotus sighed and shook her head. “Come along, breakfast is finished. I take it he left?”

“No. He needed a bit of rest. Realignment was, ahhh, a painful and draining experience. I thought he might appreciate the relaxation. I know I will enjoy having a full stomach.” He trotted up besides his sister with a smile.

After a delicious, filling breakfast the twins got to work. Massaging Snowflake's back was a slow, difficult process, namely because his muscles were like granite. Still, Aloe powered through, and eventually succeeded at his task. He didn't make any jokes towards the stallion though. He could never feel quite at ease with him, to afraid that one joke might turn the pegasus into a violent threat. He was overjoyed when the task was done and he could send the bulging pony away. “Whew...”

“You look exhausted,” Lotus said before holding out a towel.

“He's always a tad intimidating, rocks like muscles. Errr...” Aloe gently dabbed the sweat from his brow.

“Hee hee. I don't know. He always seems so sweet. His child is an absolute doll, as well. Shame about his wife.”

Aloe shrugged. “He really must stop showing off though, this is the second time this month. He's going to end up in the hospital at this rate.”

“I assume you lectured him about such dangers, no?”

“Err...” the stallion looked at the ground, gently poking the hoofboards. “I did... mention it but ummm...”

“Oh dear. Don't tell me you're frightened to tell him such things! Oh brother,” Lotus rolled her eyes. “Sure, yelling at the mayor for a half an hour about her brand of hair dye is no concern, but telling that harmless lug to stop hurting himself is too much?”

“That brand was a travesty and you know it! A few years and her mane would have been lost, beyond repair! And... and I've told him. Just... not quite as loudly.” He gently tapped his hooves together. “He... he reminds me of some of... them.”

Lotus stopped, and shook her head. “He is an absolute dear. He never, and would never, participate in such deplorable behavior. Not to mention none of them were that big. I'm pretty sure if you took just a few moments to get to know him, you'd find you have a lot in common.”

“He might decide to crush me like a can if he got to know me,” Aloe whispered under his breath. He trotted after her and looked at the schedule once he got behind the desk. It was going to be another busy day but, fortunately, no Rarity or her friends. He was certain he could handle things without her around. Most importantly, there was no Discord.

By mid afternoon Aloe felt like a brand new pony. All the anger and pain had finished leaking away when he spent the day tending to the needs of their guests. He loved the sounds and looks of ponies as all their suffering just disappeared under his experienced hooves. When he finally left the shop to go get lunch for everypony, he did it with a smile on his face and skip in his step.

So, as always, the universe conspires to ruin such things. He headed to a wonderful little shop, known for their delicious daisy sandwiches, and had just finished ordering their meals. It would take a while for them to be ready, so he had taken a seat, expecting a nice, relaxing wait. Instead, he soon heard a cough behind him. A gentle cough. In fact, it was so gentle most ponies would have likely ignored it or assumed it was the wind. But not he, no. He'd heard that cough a few times, quite a few times. He didn't even have to turn around to know who it was.

Settling in for what he knew was coming, he let out a sigh. “Hello Fluttershy,” he said dryly. Sure enough, a small yellow pegasus with a pink mane stepped forward.

“I, ummm, I-I hate to be a bother, err, d-do you mind if I sit here? I mean, I just saw you come in, and I thought maybe I could, ummm...” The mare looked down at the ground as she spoke, struggling to invite herself while also trying to hide from view.

“Please Fluttershy, have a seat.” Aloe watched the mare get into the chair opposite him, and sighed. He knew what this was about. Any pony would. Discord. Fluttershy was one of the kindest, most gentle mares in all of Equestria, not to mention one of the Elements of Harmony. She somehow could see the good in any pony, even when it didn't exist. For example, in abominable creatures like Discord. She was the one who had turned the monster to 'good', though Aloe didn't buy it.

“I ummm, I just, err, I-I talked with Discord and he--”

“Oh, I imagine that creature had all kinds of things to say,” Aloe said with a growl. He struggled not to raise his voice, though it was a fight he was quickly losing.

“Well, errr, I understand you and him don't get along. At all, but, I errr, I-I just wanted to talk to you about that. Y-you see, he's, ummm, h-he's not... like that any more.” With every word the pegasus got lower and lower in her seat, by the end her eyes were just barely peeking over the table. “I-I'm sure if you got to know him now, you'd see he's really quite sweet. There's no longer any need for him to be turned to stone.”

“Oh, I don't think he should be turned to stone.”

“Really?” Fluttershy said with a happy sqwee. She quickly sat up. “He'll be oh so happy to hear you aren't mad any--”

“That thing should be destroyed!” Aloe said with an angry hiss. “Torn asunder! Turned to stone then shattered, pieces to the four corners of the realm! A hundred, no, a thousand pieces!” He tried, but couldn't hold the venom back from his voice as he watched the pegasus wilt under his words.

“I-I'm so sorry. But... I-I think if you just gave him a chance. I mean, it was just a haircut, I-I'm sure he never meant to upset--”

“JUST A HAIRCUT?” Aloe practically howled the words and stood up. He blushed and sat down, suddenly aware of how many eyes were watching them. He shook his head. “Fluttershy, you're a dear. Really, you are. You're just too trusting. That thing is an abomination. It'll turn on all of us the moment it gets a chance. I know you're the element of kindness, but even you should be able to see where this is going. Something will happen, then he will destroy us all! You can't be friends with a thing like that. It's not possible!”

“I... I think you're wrong,” Fluttershy said before sinking into her chair. “I-I'm sorry. I just... he's not that bad any more. He's working on it, on everything. He's trying really hard to fix his mistakes. If you'll just give him a chance, I'm sure you'll see he's worth forgiving.”

“There is nothing that creature could possibly do to make me forgive him. Fluttershy, I'm sorry, but no. He's a monster. If you want to run around, putting your head in his jaws, then fine. But don't ask me to let that... that thing near me.”

“What if he--”

“Nope.”

“How about--”

“Nope.”

“But--”

“NO! Fluttershy, just let it go! I want nothing to do with that creature! I hope it dies in a pit, torn asunder by scorpions, knowing until it's last possible breath that nothing, NOPONY ever cared about such a cruel, sick, twisted creature.” He regretted the words almost instantly as the tears began to form in Fluttershy's eyes. “No, wait, Fluttershy, please don't--” But, it was too late. The pegasus got to her hooves and galloped from him, leaving him standing there as everypony just stared at him, glaring. “I was talking about Discord!” His revelation caused many of the ponies to nod knowingly before going back to their meals, though a few still glared. After a few minutes his food was ready and he returned to the spa, his mood successfully ruined. Again.

The next few days passed relatively smoothly. Rarity and her friends were giving him a wide berth, fortunately. However, his mind began playing little tricks on him. After upsetting Fluttershy, he began imagining things that Discord might do to... get him back. He woke up more than once from dreams where his bed suddenly snapped down on him, eating him whole. He kept thinking he was seeing the beast in the mirror out of the corner of his eye, or taking the form of a shampoo bottle when he looked away. It was quickly getting to the point where he was afraid to be in his room alone, and could barely fall asleep.

He knew his sister noticed, though she didn't say anything. However, he was unsurprised when the door jingled one evening and an all to familiar(and beautiful) earth pony stood in the doorway. Hat and all. He gulped nervously. “H-hello again Miss Applejack. Did you wish to make an appointment or...?” his voice nervously trailed off as he watched her. Though he knew she walked towards him in a normal pace, he swore she was moving in slow motion. The sweat gently glistened off her glorious coat, making her shine in the lobbies lights.

“Ah came here for you,” she said before glancing out. “Sorry, ah kinda had tah rush down here 'fore yah all closed. Didn't get time tah freshen up.”

“I... I hardly n-noticed...” he said gently, unable to look away as he swore steam had to be coming out of his ears.

“Come again? Ah think yah said that in Prench, sugarcube.”

Oh by Luna's flank he wished he could be her sugarcube. To be a gentle sweetness on her tongue and, ahh! Focus! “O-oh! Sorry! I meant, I could make you some tea? W-wait, you came here for mwa? Whatever for?” Oh, he hoped she was going to kidnap him away. Eeee, she might even tie him up first! She had the lasso on her hip!

“Well... it's about what happened a few days ago.” All his fantasies shattered.

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Now, ah reckon what happened in the past is your business and ain't none ah ours. However, yah gotta understand Fluttershy means her best. She really jus' wants everypony tah get along, even ones like Discord. Ah know he's not... exactly the most trustworthy ah creatures. But when yah go ahead an' just tear into Fluttershy like that, we gotta bit of a problem.”

“I... I never meant to yell at her,” Aloe squeaked as he sunk into his chair. He wanted to get mad, but Sweatyjack was just a bit too much for him to get mad at.

“Ah know. But right now, this whole things got yah more tensed up than a rattlesnake. Since ah reckon it's our fault bringin' the troublemaker here, it's our fault fixin' it.” She paused for a moment. “Well, mah fault. Rarity's still in a bit of a tizzy thinkin' you'll banish her for good.”

“It's... it's really fine, I-I've got it under control. I just...” He trailed off and lowered his eyes, chewing on his lower lip.

Applejack watched him for a few moments before shaking her head. “Listen. Yah already...” She paused for a moment and looked around, making sure no pony was listening. “Told me yer big secret. Ah haven't told anypony. But ah reckon whatever this is has got yah all chewed up on the inside like a worm in ah apple. Ah don't say yah gotta tell anypony, but ah am tellin' yah I'm here tah listen if yah need somepony other than your sis tah talk tah.”

Aloe slowly nodded, poking his hooves together. “Okay.” Granted, he wasn't sure if he really agreed or it was the power of Sweatyjack. She probably could have convinced him to switch to maple syrup shampoo with a look like that.

“Well, alright then. Yah ever wanna talk about it, jus' let me know. Yah all know where tah find meh.” She turned and trotted towards the door.

“No... I mean. Okay. I'd like to... talk about it. If you... if you have the time? Now? We have the kitchen upstairs, I could make some tea. I'd just need to get Fluffyhoof to watch the counter for a bit. O-or if you want to take a shower first.” He had to pause for a moment there, the idea of her doing that a bit too much for his delicate mind to handle. “I uhhh, we'll be closing soon. Maybe before you were done. You wouldn't be a bother, at all!”

The mare smiled and nodded. “Ah reckon that'll work out fine. A shower would be nice.”

Aloe grinned and gave her directions to the bathroom, watching her go up the stairs with less than civil eyes. He did look away after a few moments, but he knew that image would haunt his memories for a long, long time. He knew he wouldn't mind dreaming about it, at least.

Long Talk

Aloe gently sipped his tea and watched Applejack, sitting across the kitchen table from him. The shop had been closed for a while now, so everypony else had gone home. Except for Lotus, who was sneaking around outside the room and listening in, intent on stepping in if things went bad. But only then, as she was quite happy her brother was working up the nerve to talk to the cowpony now.

Unfortunately, the key word was working. He had yet to say a word, and the mare wasn't willing to force the issue either. So instead, the two just sat across from each other, sipping tea and staring. Aloe's throat felt like it was stuck in knots. He'd recited this speech a million times in his head, but now every opening line sounded either stupid, or disappeared from his mind as quickly as it came.

In fact, the more he thought about it, the more certain he was his outburst a few nights before was unwarranted. He was likely the one at fault, getting so easily riled over something like that. She'd probably roll her eyes and think it was stupid. That he was stupid. Not worth her time. Probably tell all her friends and then spread the word to all the ponies in--

His thoughts were interrupted by a gentle hoof on his. “Yah okay? You're getting' awfully pale,” Applejack said with a comforting smile.

“No. Yes. I-I'm fine. I'm sorry, this was stupid. D-Discord was right, I was just... just over reacting. I never should have gotten so mad. I'm sorry to waste your time.”

“Now that's a loada pig swill,” Applejack snapped. “Ah saw how upset an' hurt yah looked after what he gone and done. It can'ta been stupid or a waste ah time if it made yah feel like that. Now come on, ah ain't gonna laugh an' ah don't plan on leavin' until yah go ahead an' get all this out. Yah look ready tah burst, so ah know yah gotta tell somepony. An' trust meh, after bein' friends with...” She paused for a moment. “Well, the lotta 'em, ah know just cause somethin' might seem silly at first, don't mean it is.”

Aloe gulped softly, before nodding. “Okay... it's just... I've never really talked to anypony else about this. Well, other than Lotus, but she was there so she already knows everything. It's just, I don't want you thinking I'm stupid. I know it... it'll sound like a stupid thing to get upset about when you hear it...”

“Ah dun care how silly or stupid it may sound, if it goes an affects yah like this, ain't no such thing as a stupid story. Yah hear?”

“Really?” he asked softly before a quick nod brought a smile to his face. “Well, I ummm... I got a haircut once and it was a really bad experience and it was... kinda scary for me.” Outside the room, Lotus face hoofed.

“Now somethin' tells me there's a bit more to the story than that,” Applejack said with a sigh and roll of her eyes.

“Well, it's kinda long and I don't want to keep you here all night.” Red flooded his cheeks as he realized he did want to keep her here all night, but for different reasons.

“Now just go ahead an' start from the beginnin'.”

He took a deep breath and poked his hooves together. “Well... it... it all started when I was a colt. No, possibly before that. I uhhhh... well. Both me and my sister took after our mother. A lot. Our father didn't really know how to deal with it. He still doesn't, honestly. He has a lot of trouble understanding why a stallion would be more interested in dollies or hair products than who won the recent super cup or which hoofball player scored all the ground smacks.”

She cocked an eyebrow at his bad grasp of the proper terms, but didn't interrupt.

“Before I went to school, he tried to get me more interested in the things he thought boys should be, but it never really worked. It didn't help that I was shaped like a filly, so most ponies didn't even notice. Almost everypony else treated me like a filly, so he was afraid I'd never become the kind of... stallion he thought I should be. That he thought I'd grow up to want to be.”

Applejack's eyes went wide. “He didn't... did he?”

“Didn't... no! He didn't do anything!” Aloe said, waving his hooves frantically. “He was a... decent father! He was just confused, he'd never have hit me or anything like that. He just did what he thought was best. So he devised a way to make sure... everypony knew exactly what I was. Everypony.”

She gulped nervously and tapped her own hooves together.

“He enrolled my sister and I in a private school, complete with gender separated classes. Before then, most ponies my age would hardly have noticed me. But once, well, that... I stopped being the little pink filly, and started become the tiny pink colt. I tended to be... weaker and smaller than my peers. Since we were separated based on gender, I quickly became the easiest target around. I... had trouble making friends, and retreated into myself. When I told our father, he told me I just had to stick up for myself. T-that it would toughen me up.”

Tears began to form around the corners of his eyes before he shook his head. “I... I didn't know how. I'd always had my s-sister at my side. I was outnumbered, much smaller and alone. I tried once, but it was a pathetic attempt, it just made things worse. Our mother said to try ignoring them, so they would move onto easier prey who they would get a rise from. I... I tried that. But there was no easier prey than I. They just tried harder and harder until I'd break. Sometimes it took a week or so, but they just kept doing it, over and over.”

“What about your sister, Lotus? Yah ever go an' talk with her about it? Ah know sometimes it can be hard talkin' like that when you're bullied, but ah've always told Applebloom that yah gotta go tah your family in times like that, if yah can't handle it on your own.”

“There wasn't anything she could do. Besides, she was doing wonderfully. While I was struggling in classes, she was excelling. While most the colts found me easy to torment, the fillies found her to be amazing. We... talked a few times. But she had no control. Aside from trying to talk to the boys.” He shivered. “If I thought I got picked on before, it got twice as bad once I had my sister try to defend me. Our father, however, seemed almost overjoyed. He merely saw it as harmless rough housing between boys. Even called some of them my friends.”

“The pranks were... mostly harmless,” Aloe whispered as more moisture flooded his eyes. “I... I got a few b-bruises. Had a few uniforms damaged, but nothing s-super bad. It wasn't until my t-third year that things got... r-really bad.”

“What happened?” Applejack asked, though watching Aloe fidget in his chair made her feel a little nervous. It reminded her a little of whenever Applebloom got frightened and was working up the courage to tell. She had to resist moving to his side and giving him a cookie and warm milk.

“Well... my sister and I were at that age where everypony had their cutie mark, but us. To be fair, our cutie marks were more with tending to ponies. Not many ponies trust young colts and fillies to give them a hair cut and shampoo, let alone a massage. We tried all manner of things, until we did find ours. It was actually a pretty fun experience that led to it. You see, our mother had...” He paused and shook his head. “No, that is unimportant. I... when I finally did get my cutie mark, I was ecstatic. I didn't think anything could bring me down. I walked through the halls with my head held high. I realize now that was a bad idea.”

“Now that ain't right,” Applejack said with a hmph. “Gettin' a cutie mark is one ah the most important times in any young ponies life. Yah had every right tah be excited. Ah know ah was when ah got mine, an' ah was plum miserable right before.”

“Yeah... my cutie mark was a flower though. They said it was a filly's cutie mark.” He had to blink a few times to stop the tears from coming down, though his voice got low and sad. “Then... then I said it was for shampoo, that it meant I was going to be an amazing stylist one day, that I was going to help ponies. Remove their stress. Maybe a barber. I honestly didn't know what I was going to do, I just knew I wanted to help ponies feel pretty and good about themselves.” He lowered his eyes. “I was so proud, they just did the only thing that came to mind when they couldn't get a rise. They pinned me down and they... they hacked off my mane and tail. They just used a-an old pair of... of...” He choked on the words as his entire body trembled. “S-shears. Cut it down to a d-disgusting stump. I-I screamed, but they were a lot bigger a-and stronger t-than I. I couldn't... I couldn't fight them. By the time the teachers arrived I was hideous.”

Applejack gulped and looked around. “Ummm, Lotus? Yah all here?” The other twin erked, but didn't move. After a few moments of silence, the cowpony got up and moved beside the trembling stallion, unable to resist his quivering any more. “Ah uhhh... Ah don't think that's one lick ah stupid.” She put an arm over his side, giving him a comforting hug. “Yah all were proud an' happy an goin' through what shoulda been one ah the happiest times ah your life. Instead yah got... tormented an' hurt, just cause someponies were bigger an' stronger than yah.”

“So... y-you don't think I-I was stupid for... g-getting so upset?” He tried to suppress the tears, but they refused to be stifled, cascading down his face and ruining his makeup.

“Not at all. Ah tell yah what, somethin' like that happened tah my lil sis, ah'd be seein' red for a week. Ain't no reason anypony should be treated like that.”

He smiled and stared up at her. The tears made her seem blurry, but her scent was majestic. Slightly dirty, but not as in dirt dirt, but living dirt. Like grass and life and... he couldn't explain it. She also smelled like apples, which he guessed wasn't really surprising. He tried blinking away the tears while he stared up into her eyes.

They were a beautiful, soft green. They almost glittered in the kitchen light. His entire body began to tremble and feel warm, for reasons other than pain and humiliation. He finally couldn't hold it back any more, he pushed forward, his lips towards her.

He was stopped by her hoof. “Easy there, sugarcube. Ah know you're all upset an' stuff, don't do anything you'll regret later.” A small hint of pink now flooded her cheeks as she looked away.

“W-what?” he said, his mind struggling to process her words. “Regret?”

She nodded and smiled. “Ah understand, you're all hurtin' now so yah lookin' for somethin' that feels affectionate and comfortin'. Don't go throwin' your body places when you're vulnerable like this, sugar cube. Yah'll jus' end up hurtin' yourself later.”

He stared at her for a moment in disbelief, the knot in his stomach expanding, turning it into a hard mass of discomfort in his gut. He couldn't hold it in, he tried. He choked back the words, but they refused to resist. “I-I've been wanting to throw my body at you for months!” he finally spit out. Sadly, he really wished he could have thought of a better way to say that.

“Ah'm sorry, dear? Yah said all that in Prench again.”

He blinked a few times before chewing on his lips. Finally, they came out, calmer this time. “I... I've been wanting to... to be with you for months. I mean, talk, and... and maybe more and... I just never, I've never had the courage to, and, and I...”

She stared for a few moments before pulling away. She stared at him, mouth hanging, before speaking. “Wait, yah mean yah ain't inta stallions?”

“What?” Aloe asked, unable to think of a proper response to that.

“Ah mean, ah thought yah were a, yah know... intah the rougher sex.”

“What? No no no no no no! No!” He shook his head quickly. “I mean, I will admit I-I have been able to... admire particular specimens in the past, but I've never really considered any, err, relations with them.”

“But yah went an' swooned durin' mah brother's solo durin' them ponytones songs.”

“Darling, EVERYPONY swooned during those numbers. I'm honestly surprised the mere sound of them didn't impregnate a half dozen mares with each line! I had to purchase my sister a number of tests just to make sure she was safe afterwords.”

“But, err, yah always go, an ummm, help mares here too. Ah mean, yah...” Her cheeks turned bright red.

“I help stallions as well. I am a professional, I know how to separate myself and keep a session from getting uncomfortable.” He paused before looking down. “At... at least I did. For... for everypony but you. That's why... I always made sure it was somepony else who... helped you when you were here. I... I didn't wish to...”

She sighed, and reached out to pat his head. “No, ah understand. An' I appreciate the feelin' but... ah'm afraid it won't work out.”

“W-what?”

“Yah all are nice an' all. But well... yah got enough problems. It's one thing for me tah keep this secret, since it ain't no pony else's business. Not tah mention, no pony is gonna ask me if yah really are a mare or a stallion. But... errr...” A light blush creeped into her cheeks. “If err, ah was tah accept these kinda feelin's from yah, ah ain't no good at lyin'. Your secret would come out, and that jus' ain't worth riskin' over a lil ol' crush.”

“But... but I...” Aloe said softly and pulled his hooves up to his chest. “I thought... you might... I... I understand.” He hung his head. “It was just a stupid crush anyway. I'll... I'll move on.” He didn't know why, but he swore this rejection was twisting up his insides even worse than the hair cut had. He knew she was right though. “Y-you're right. But... but if everypony found out?” His voice was filled with hope.

Applejack sighed and gave a nervous smile. “If everypony ever finds out, then sure. Ah'll give it a shot. But don't you go rushin' yourself. You're hurt an' got a long time tah heal.” She paused and reached out to pat his head. “An ah don't blame yah. Ah'd ah thrown jus' as much stuff at Discord after that. Ah don't think there's a thing he could do tah make me forgive bringin' back hurts like that.”

“Okay,” Aloe smiled back at her. “Please... don't tell the others w-why I hate him so. It's... just between us. Please?”

“Of course sugar cube. Yah all feel better?”

“Y-yeah,” he lied. The pain of the hair cut had receded. However, the pain of rejection was echoing in his heart and it was all he could do not to burst into tears. “I-I'm kinda feeling tired. I think I'll turn in early. T-thank you for talking with me.”

“Anytime, jus' let me know if yah ever need another shoulder tah lean on,” she said with a smile before trotting out. Once she was outside the room, she let out a soft sigh of relief before glancing back. She hadn't expected him to develop those kinds of feelings for her. She was just thankful she had that easy excuse to fall back on, she didn't want to hurt him when he was feeling so vulnerable. She certainly didn't feel comfortable being put on the spot like that. She trotted down the stairs and left, a light jingle signaling her exit.

Aloe went straight to Lotus, who was hiding in their room, once the telltale jingling alerted him to Applejack's departure. He sobbed into her shoulder, while she wrapped her hooves around him. “There there, it's okay,” she said in soothing Prench.

“Do... do you think I should?” Aloe asked gently.

“Should what, dear?”

“I know y-you were listening. I'm not dumb,” he said bitterly. “D-do you think I should... t-tell everypony?”

Lotus let out a soft sigh. “I... don't know. That's a lot to ask. You've worked on this secret a long time, and been quite happy with it. I have no idea what the effects of telling could be. Things could be... worse now.” She glanced down at her sobbing brother, wishing she could tell him he could tell everypony and everything would be fine, but she she knew the world didn't work that way. She could only give him the best advice she could think of. “I definitely do not know if you and Applejack would make it, either. So all I can say is... don't tell anypony until you, yourself, are ready. Do not do it just because you're hoping Applejack will love you if you do.”

Aloe sniffled, but nodded. Lotus didn't let him go, gently patting his back as he sobbed against her.

From a nearby mirror, Discord sat on the reflection of the table and chuckled with a wicked grin, his fingers tapping together. “My oh my. Now that's not the kind of advice you give a friend. Whatever happened to honesty?” The grin spread even wider as he grabbed a pear from a reflected picture of a fruitbowl, taking a bite from it. “Everypony said I should apologize, and I think they were right. Poor, wounded Aloe. Tut tut. I know just the way to do it.” He disappeared, leaving the half eaten pieces of fruit dangling in the mirror.

As the clock struck midnight across Equestria, and the lands beyond, a thick newspaper appeared on top of every dining room table. Emblazoned across the top read the words 'The Discord Times, 1st edition.'

Rock Bottom

Lotus stifled a yawn and trotted into the kitchen, her hair brushed but still damp from the shower. Down the hall she could hear Aloe still taking his. She moved to the fridge, pulling out some eggs and milk before turning towards the table. She stopped and stared, confusion etched on her face. She hadn't had a chance to get the paper yet, and she didn't think Aloe would get it while she was in the shower. She shrugged and placed her load on the table, before freezing.

She saw the name of the paper and, under it, a small picture of her brother. “Oh no.” She scooped up the paper and quickly began reading the cover story.

'Now all you little ponies, I'm sure you're wondering what brings this amazing piece of journalist genius to your homes, but allow me to polish your thoughts and explain all in a simple manner.

This is my apology, to a young stallion known simple as Aloe (Picture shown above)'

“Oh by Luna, please no...” Lotus said gently and kept reading.

'I, during my much darker, crueler days harmed this pony in a way that left him, yes him, scarred for life. I've decided to offer my apology in the most glorious of manners, showing all of the very ways of friendship my new, dear friends have shown me.

Loyalty: Well, I've made an entire paper, just about this lucky stallion. Detailing every aspect of his life from his chosen meals this week, to his little crush with Applejack, the element of honesty.

Kindness: I am of course offering the greatest of kindnesses by going that extra mile for him, without even being asked. What could possibly be more kind?

Generosity: I've done all this on my own, using my own magic and spread it across Equestria and beyond, so no pony, dragon, griffon, horse or zebra could possibly miss out on knowing how deeply, deeply sorry I am for hurting him.

Laughter: Oh, I'm sure we'll all have a good laugh after this, I know I am.

Honesty: Ah yes, my new favorite element. See, that was a joke, we're laughing already. However, this poor, poor stallion has suffered oh so much and has such deep, dark secrets that he's too afraid to reveal to the world. In fact, they're even keeping him away from true love. Now, what kind of friend would I be if I didn't help him with these secrets?'

Lotus' ears went flat on her skull while she read, her mouth open with horror. She flipped through the pages quickly, glancing through as fast as she could. Everything was there. What happened. His hiding. Coupons for spa visits. Their ADDRESS! “D-Discord?” she asked softly. “C-can you hear me? Please tell me this is just a joke. Please oh please tell me you haven't spread this all over Equestria.”

“Spread what?” Aloe asked as he trotted into the kitchen, looking around. “You haven't started breakfast yet? Is something wrong?”

“What? NO! I just, no!” She looked down at the paper, then back to him. “I need to go take care of something bye!” she gripped the paper in her mouth and galloped off, zooming by him so fast he spun in place.

“What? Hey! Come back, what about... well that was weird.” Aloe said and watched her disappear with concern. He hummed for a few moments, before trotting after her.

Lotus galloped down the road, her destination a large tree, that had been converted into the town's library, near the center of town. Ponies stared at her as she galloped, though she hoped it was just because she was moving so fast so early in the morning. She didn't waste any time when she arrived, her hooves pounding on the large door.

The door opened after a few moments, revealing a small purple dragon. “Can I help you?” he asked, though he looked quite annoyed to have been woken up. “Lotus? Do you know what time it-- ack!”

Lotus couldn't wait any more, she galloped inside, nearly tackling him. “Spike, where's Twilight, the princess, this is an emergency, Discord has gone too far!”

“Wha? Twilight's not here.” Spike grumbled with another yawn. “She had some paperwork to take care of, won't be home until tomorrow. What did Discord do?”

“He, it, no no. There's no way he'd go that far. Even he wouldn't... right? Where's your kitchen?” A simple gesture from the dragon told her where, and she galloped off. To her horror, the same paper was laying flat on the table. “No no no. He couldn't. He didn't. Why would he... why...”

There was more knocking on the library's door, drawing an exasperated sigh from Spike. “Don't any of you ponies know when we open? It's the same time everyday!” He opened the door.

“Hello, Spike darling. Has my sister been here?” Aloe gently waved a hoof. “I saw her gallop this way.”

“She's in the kitchen,” he grumbled before walking away. “Lock up when you two leave.” A few moments later the sound of the slamming door echoed through the library.

“Sister? Why did you rush off like that?” he asked before trotting into the room. His sister stood with a large, fake smile on her face.

“No reason!” she said and pushed back against the wall, struggling to keep both papers hidden behind her, wishing she was a unicorn so she could hold it with magic.

“What are you hiding? Did something happen?” he asked and tried to maneuver to see what was behind her, while she struggled to keep both pinned behind her to the wall. It wasn't long before one fell to the ground. He reached out a hoof to grab it, but she dove on top of it.

“NO! You can't see, go! Go go! Go back home, I-I have it taken care of!”

“Sister, something is wrong. You said that in Prench. Tell me.”

“No! It's, it's fine!” Lotus spread her hooves over the paper, so Aloe lunged forward and tore the second one free from behind her. “No! Give that back!”

“No! What is it you're trying to hide from me?” He darted behind the table, keeping it between them before tossing the paper on the top. One glance made him freeze. “What... what is this?”

“D-don't read it!” Lotus squeaked, though the horror on her brother's face froze her in place. His eyes scanned across the surface, his breathing getting faster and faster with every line.

He finally stopped when he couldn't go any more, wobbling from side to side. The world around him seemed to be spinning and he couldn't focus. His sister tried to help him, but he shoved her away. How could Discord do this? This wasn't, this was beyond cruel! He couldn't breath, his entire body was hurting. He thought about his trip here, how ponies had stared. Of course, they'd all seen this, everypony knew. Everypony. They'd kick him out of town, make him leave the spa, he couldn't go anywhere! Discord more than had the power to spread it everywhere! There was nowhere... nowhere he could...

Lotus cringed as her brother finally dropped, his eyes rolling back in his head and body laying limp. She nudged him a few times, but received no reaction. Fortunately, his breathing had returned to normal. “SPIKE! I need you to go get the doctor!” she yelled before moving to Aloe's side, gently brushing his mane back. “It's going to be okay, brother. You're going to be okay.”

Aloe groaned when a bright, white light blurred across his vision. His eyes slowly opened and he stared into the warm glow. “Am... am I dead?”

“No, brother,” Lotus said and the light shut off. He was laying in a hospital bed, his sister besides him. Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy were all near the hoof of the bed, looking sheepishly at the floor.

“C-could I be?” he asked softly as he felt tears welling up in his eyes. “Did he... really...”

“N-now, I'm sure he was just trying to help,” Fluttershy said softly. “He probably thought he was doing the best thing for you.”

Aloe's mouth fell open, before he shook his head. “I don't... I can't even. How can you possibly still defend that creature? That evil monster?”

“I-I'm sure when we get a-a chance to talk to h-him, he'll have a g-good excuse for what he did.”

Aloe just shook his head and closed his eyes. He felt exhausted, emotionally and physically. He wanted to scream and shout at her, but he couldn't. “What happened?”

“You had an anxiety attack, a rather bad one,” Lotus said with a gentle sigh. “Doctor says you'll be fine, you just need plenty of rest and relaxation. You're free to come home whenever you like.”

“How... how is everypony... t-taking it?” Aloe asked with a soft whimper. None of them could look him in the face now. “Oh by Celestia.” He wanted to cry, but he felt too tired even for that.

“Ah'm sure it'll be fine. Once everypony gets used to the idea, errr, they'll learn tah get tah know an' like the new you,” Applejack said with a nervous smile. “Well, ah mean, they already like yah. But they'll like the, err, the real yah jus' as much as the other.”

“Oh by Luna,” he said softly as both hooves covered his eyes and he once again found the strength to cry.

“Oh dear oh dear, why ever are you crying? I thought you'd absolutely adore my gift!” an all too familiar, and smug, voice said.

“Discord! Yah gotta lotta nerve showin' your face here!” Applejack yelled. Aloe slowly lowered his hooves and saw the abomination, now the size of a pony and leaning against the wall opposite his bed.

“W-wait, I'm sure he has a good reason for what he did, we should at least hear him out!” Fluttershy said quickly and frantically waved her hooves.

“Fluttershy, darling, there is no need to defend such behavior,” Rarity said as she glared at the monster. “What he did was... was beyond deplorable! Imagine, tearing poor Aloe from his secrets, kicking and screaming. How could you possibly be so cruel? This is a new low, even for you!”

Discord put a talon to his mouth, eyes wide and shocked. “Cruel? No no no! I was merely being a good friend. Just like all of you taught me.” His eyes turned to Applejack as her grinned. “After all, wasn't it you who told him his secret was keeping you two apart? Now you two can go off and find true love, with nary a secret between you. No lies. Isn't that just wonderful? The gift of honesty.” His eyes gleamed red for a moment as the grin got wider. “Unless, of course... there was another reason you shot him down? But that couldn't be, could it? I'd be devastated to find out my little gift was wasted. I mean, I was merely trying to help my friends.”

“See?” Fluttershy said with a smile. “He was just trying to be... wait, what?” Every eye in the room turned to Applejack, who looked like a deer in the headlights.

“Eh... heh heh. I, err, no, that was... t-that was the only reason. A-ah mean, err...” Applejack nervously poked her hooves in the ground. “Nnnope, no other reasons. Eh... heh heh... ehhh...”

“There, all settled. Now Aloe, aren't you so happy? I do hope this means you've accepted my apology,” Discord said with the widest smile on his face.

Aloe just whimpered and curled up into a little ball as best he could, trembling. “Why... why are you even doing this to me? W-why do you do this? I-I get it. You're stronger than me. Y-you have magic, I don't. Just... just please leave me alone. Y-you win. I'm sorry, I forgive you, whatever you want. Just please, please leave me alone...”

Discord chuckled before leaning back. “Not even a thank you. Oh well, I guess this is what friends are for.” He rolled into a ball and disappeared.

Aloe pulled the blankets over his head and just whimpered softly. Lotus sighed before motioning towards the door and leading the others outside the room. Once they were out, she closed the door behind them. “Okay, I'm going to try taking him home. I'd think it might be best if...” she paused and shook her head. “I... I don't even know.” She glanced to Applejack. “You.”

“W-what?” the cowpony asked with a nervous gulp.

“I can guess you have no desire to... be with my brother. I see the way you locked up. I know this is asking much, but please don't tell him. He's... suffering much. There's no way to just hide this. I don't know how ponies will act, and he will likely suffer much more before the week is over. So... please, just avoid him? Do not come to our spa. Rejection could simply be too much for him now.”

Applejack gulped and nervously nodded. “A-ah reckon that's for the best. Ah'll try tah keep outta all ah your manes until he's feelin' alright again.”

“Thank you,” Lotus bowed her head before heading back inside.

“Really? But in the paper it said you and him shared a flaming romance of passion, broken only by... errr...” Rarity trailed off at the earth pony's glare.

“Yah read that filth? Yah do realize Discord was the one who gone an' wrote it?”

“Errr, well, I may have glanced at it. I mean, it was so juicy, and the pictures and stories were really well edited. I only read a little bit. There was a three part expose on the third page about the different shampoos he uses during different seasons and I err...” Rarity trailed off and tapped her hooves together, blushing red.

“Ah got ah farm tah run. If things calm down, let meh know,” Applejack grumbled before trotting away. She soon made it outside, though her steps were heavy and pained. She knew Discord was to blame for what happened, but she couldn't help feeling a bit guilty about what happened. She had been honest about her reason for rejecting him. Just not completely honest. She glanced back to the hospital and sighed. For the first time in a long while she considered giving him a shot. At least once, if he was still interested. “Not like jus' one time could hurt. Probly,” she muttered to herself.

Besides, what could possibly go wrong with starting a relationship on a foundation of guilt and Discord's tricks?

The Invitation

Aloe just laid in his bed, blanket wrapped tightly around himself. The sun had gone down over an hour ago, but he could still hear his sister downstairs talking. Ponies had been coming by all day, likely to ask if it was true. He'd heard yelling a few times, but he didn't have the courage to go down and face them. The walk home had been devastating, every time a pony looked at him he had to hang his head in shame.

An open book laid on the bed behind him, but he couldn't bring himself to focus on it. He'd finally given up after reading the same paragraph four times and still having no idea what it said. All he could think about was the fact his secret was out and his life was ruined. He hadn't even been able to eat anything all day, even the thought of food making him nauseous.

Suddenly the window besides his bed shattered, drawing a startled cry from the stallion. A large rock, with a note wrapped around it, rolled across the floor and hit the wall by the door. He heard galloping a moment later and his door burst open. “ALOE!” Lotus screamed. It took her a few moments to realize her brother was still in bed and, contrary to her fears, hadn't tried to hurt himself. Her eyes then fell on the rock. She pulled the note and opened it, letting out a gasp.

“What's it say?” Aloe asked softly. He tried to get out of bed, but glass was now streaked across the ground, making it a terrifying prospect.

“It's... not nice. They're telling you to go home and... don't... don't worry. I'll call somepony to come help fix this up and... don't move. I don't want you cutting yourself.” The door closed behind her and she trotted out.

Aloe stared down at the shattered pieces of glass. He glanced to some of the longer, sharper pieces and shivered, backing against the wall and hugging his pillow to his chest. “I-I'm sorry...” he whispered before crying into the pillow.

Lotus woke the next morning, shivering. The room was dreadfully cold, the tape and plastic over the window having done little to keep the chilling night air out. The glass was now gone and, fortunately, a new window would be arriving later that afternoon. The local glass smith had offered to replace it, free of charge, with safety glass. Albeit, cheap glass, but it was nice to know someponies still saw them as friends.

She felt nearly as drained as her brother after the ordeal of the last day. A few dozen ponies had come, some merely to check if the paper was telling the truth. At this point she couldn't really deny it, so she'd settled their curiosity. Most had been accepting and even apologetic for even having to ask.

Some, on the other hoof, had been less nice. A few were threatening to sue, calling her brother a pervert and lecher. Some demanded that he quit, or at least be forced to only work with male guests. Some were just blindly angry, looking for anything they could yell and scream about, without any actual sign of what they wanted, or how things could be made right again in their eyes. All those ponies had been calmly, and politely, told to vacate the premises and not return lest she contact the authorities for trespassing. Fortunately, the negatively reacting ponies seemed to be the minority. Unfortunately, there were still plenty of ponies yet to have said anything, and she had no way of knowing which side of the spectrum they'd fall on.

Her brother was still sleeping, curled into a little ball around his pillow. She sighed and decided against waking him, instead going about the morning procedures herself. Thankfully, there was no 'Discord Times' to greet her when she arrived in the kitchen. She wasn't feeling awake enough to cook a proper meal, so she just started up a batch of oatmeal and sat down, sighing as she tried to figure out what to do.

Her brother was in pain, but she knew he would heal if given the chance. Fortunately, Ponyville WAS a (normally) quite accepting place. She doubted there would be too much damage once the initial shock was over. However, until then, even Ponyville had its share of troublemakers. The rock through their window proved that. And, as with anywhere, the worst sides tended to be the loudest. More broken windows, among other things, would likely occur before all this was over and she had no idea how deep her brother's depression would get before it was all over. How much damage the worst parts of the town would do. Not to mention if they pushed him too far.

She lowered her head and sighed. There was only one thing she could think of. Closing the spa and going away. Just for a while, until everything blew over. She just had to think of someplace he'd be willing to go, that would be secluded enough for him to get his strength back. Someplace where they wouldn't constantly be gawked at or face the scorn of ponies who didn't quite... understand what he was.

The first choice was nearby, a marvelous and generous striped zebra known as Zecora. Unfortunately, she lived in the Everfree Forest, a place of strange magic and terrifying monsters. While she doubted the kind zebra would scorn her brother, she doubted they could endure more than a day or two living in such a fearful place. But then again, what pony could? She'd never understand how that zebra could bear to live there. Just the thought of it sent chills down her spine.

The next place in mind was Fluttershy's cabin, namely since it was partially her fault this entire thing happened. Being surrounded by animals could make him feel much better as well, animals tended not to judge. Unfortunately, it was the place he'd most likely run into Discord, so that was a buck no.

A nice vacation to the Crystal Empire or Canterlot sounded like a good idea at first glance, but in both Aloe would likely stick out too much, and the latter could bring him far more scorn than this small village.

She was shaken from her thoughts by a faint knocking. It kept going and, after a few moments, she realized it was coming from downstairs. Lotus then noticed the acrid smell of smoke, her oatmeal sending up thin strands. She raced to the stove, turning it off and looking down at her burnt breakfast with an annoyed sigh. The knocks drew her attention again, making her abandon it and trot downstairs.

She opened the door and let out a groan. Applejack was standing there, nervously scuffing the ground. “Err, 'ello. Careful!”

“Hello Applejack. Careful of wh--” Lotus went completely still when something dripped onto her head. She ran a hoof through her mane, it came back sticky. She quickly trotted outside and turned to the front of the building, her mouth falling over.

Eggs had been splattered against the wall, coating the front of the building with their goo. It was still quite early in the morning, so very few ponies were around to see what she did next.

Tears started going down her face and she let out a sob, her entire body shaking.

“Errr, Lotus? Yah all okay? It's jus' a few eggs. Err, ah can get the girls an' ah'm sure we can clean it up in a few minutes. Won't take long at all.”

“It's... it's not that. It's everything. I don't... I don't know what we're going to do,” Lotus said before sitting down and staring at the mess. “We... we're a team. A-Aloe and I. We do this together. I don't... I don't know what I'm g-going to do if he can't come back from this. I-I can't run all this by myself. What if he doesn't get better? What if he can't?”

Applejack frowned and slowly put a hoof over the mare's shoulders, gently patting. “Now you listen here. Yah all are family, your brother's goin' through a bitta a rough patch, but ah know it'll get better. Especially with yah there helpin' him. An' ah know he ain't gonna leave yah behind with nothin' yah can't handle. Family jus' don't do that tah each other.”

Lotus slowly nodded, wiping her eyes. “I... y-you're right, dear Applejack. We are stronger than this. We... we will be fine. I just need us to find a place we can stay until all this dies down.” She shook her head, taking deep breaths to regather herself. Then something occurred to her. “Wait a moment. Applejack, why ever are you here? Is there some problem?”

“Err, well actually, ah came tah make yah an offer. Ah know all this hasta be pretty hard, especially bein' in the middle ah town an' all that. Thought yah might wanna get away for a bit, so ah came tah ask if yah an' your brother wanted tah come down to the farm 'til all this blows over. Seein' as it is partially mah fault, ah'd be fine lettin' the two ah yah hole up in some ah the spare rooms we have for when the whole family gets tagether.”

Lotus stopped for a few moments, then smiled. “That sounds simply luxurious. Why, if I didn't know better, I'd accuse you of having read my mind.” She paused for a few moments. “But, what of my brother's crush? Won't be being so close cause you discomfort?”

She shrugged. “Ah'll be fine. Ah think ah can deal with a bitta discomfort, considerin' what yah all will haveta deal with if yah stay.” She motioned towards the eggs. “Besides, after livin' a week or so on a farm, he jus' might give up on that lil crush ah his. An' if not... well, ah told 'im I'd give him a shot. Way ah see it, can't be any harder than wrastlin' oiled pigs,” Applejack said with a chuckle, then gulped. “Err, not tah say he's--”

“No, I know what you meant,” Lotus said with a chuckle. “Be careful though. Unlike those pigs, my brother won't be trying to get away. I doubt he'd mind the oil, either.” She shut the door, leaving the blushing Applejack on the porch as she trotted upstairs. She nudged her brother awake, drawing a whimpering sob from him. “Dear Aloe, it's time to get up.”

“I don't want to. I want to just lay here and die,” he grumbled, pulling the covers tight around him.

“I have a surprise for you. We'll be closing the spa for a few days and going on a trip.”

“Go without me. There's nowhere I can go now. Discord has told everypony!”

“Oh dear. Well, Miss Applejack will be so disappointed, after she came all the way down here and extended a personal invitation to her farm. But I suppose I could tell her you don't--” She was cut off as her brother sat up.

“Lady Applejack invited us to her farm?”

“Yes, until all this blows over. Does that not sound exciting?” To her disappointment, her brother was up, but he still lacked a smile. Still, it was better than nothing.

“I... I suppose I could...” He shivered. “I-I don't know if I can go. W-we'd have to w-walk by all those ponies.”

“If you hurry, then there will be few ponies on the street.” She took a deep breath. She hated to do this, but she had no real choice. “After working the fields so, Applejack will likely be tired. It could be a good chance for you to demonstrate your massage talents and win her, ahhh, further to your side.”

The stallion's ears went straight up as red tinted his cheeks. “I-I'll pack,” he said with a soft squeak before jumping to his hooves and gathering things. Lotus smiled as her brother worked, happy to see some life having returned to him.

The door to Fluttershy's cottage opened wide, startling some of the animals that called it their home. Discord stood in the doorway, a jacket over his arm and a bowler hat on his head. “Oh Fluttershy, I'm home!” he called out in a happy voice. Unsurprisingly, Fluttershy was sitting on her couch, gently feeding a baby bunny by hoof. “How's my favorite, urk!” He took a step back at the nasty glare she gave him.

“We need to talk,” she said firmly before handing the bunny to her rabbit, Angel. She flew out the door, grabbing his arm as she went and shutting the door behind her. Discord followed after her, an amused expression on his face.

“Oh, whatever for?” he asked, voice filled with the innocence of somepony who knew their guilt, but also knew they wouldn't be punished.

Once they were by the mailbox outside the cottage, Fluttershy stopped and turned to him. “Discord, I am very disappointed in you?”

“Why? The dye washed out, completely harmless.”

“What? No! Because of what you did to Aloe. That was a very, very mean thing you did.”

That made even him confused, as he tapped his chin. “What? But you told the others that--”

“I know what I told the others!” she said before looking up at him with sad eyes. “No pony deserves to have to stand alone when others accuse him.” She placed a hoof on his elbow. “And I know being a good pony is difficult, and sometimes you make mistakes, and I really do believe you were trying to help him. But the way you did it, can you honestly tell me you weren't indulging your old, meany side a little?”

“Why Fluttershy, I nev--”

“Remember, honesty is important for a friendship.”

Discord sighed and looked down at her. If it was any mare but Fluttershy, he'd have turned her into a balloon or something. But alas, friendship required sacrifice. “Fiiiine. I'll admit I may have gone a little too far. Maybe let my meany side out, just a tiny bit.”

Fluttershy smiled and flew up, patting the spirit with her hoof. “There. Now, I want you to promise me you'll never do anything like that again and you'll go and apologize to him.”

“What? But--”

“You hurt him, deeply. You owe him an apology.” She then crossed her front hooves and looked him in the eye. “A real, proper apology. With meaning. No papers.”

The spirit let out an exasperated sigh, before nodding. “Very well. If you were anypony else but you, Fluttershy.”

She smiled and gave him a hug. “But I am. That's why we're such good friends.”

He grumbled and watched her fly off. Once she shut the cottage door behind her, he snapped his fingers. The world fell back behind him, as if it was a cheap backdrop on a stage, to reveal the spa pony's room. He looked around and cocked an eye. The broken window was new. “Hello?” he called out. He received no response, so he decided to go exploring.

The place was barren and empty, not a pony in sight. He found a crumbled up note on the vanity mirror. He opened it and read, soon chuckling. “Now now, that's so rude and distasteful. If you want to drive a pony away...” A large grin formed on his lips before he tossed the note to the ground. “I'll show you ponies how it's done. And to think, I thought apologies had to be boring.” He disappeared with a pop, though his twisted laughter continued to echo through the building.

Farm Life

Applejack glanced at the twins, both following behind her with downcast eyes. The walk had, so far, been unpleasant. At first she'd thought it was fine, until she started paying attention and noticing just how many ponies were peering out their windows, quickly trotting around corners or just plain hiding when they came down the streets. As if Aloe had something infectious. It kind of reminded her of when Zecora used to come to town, creating a pang of guilt at how she had treated the poor girl.

Fortunately, they were now on the long path to Sweet Apple Acres, which meant no more homes or ponies to be passed. She decided to start trying to cheer them up. “Yah all are comin' at a nice time. Almost time for the harvest an a few ah the smaller fields are ripe for the pickin', means all kinds ah good eatin's comin' up. Granny Smith always makes some ah the best pies durin' this time too. Everypony gonna be pleased as punch tah have some guests around. We already have a room yah can stay in, across from Big Mac's. All we got in there are a coupla scarecrows we need tah mend, and a paira beds for when we got the whole family tagether. If yah need anythin', feel free tah ask.”

“Of course, thank you Miss Applejack,” Lotus said with a smile. “If you require aid with anything, please feel free to ask us as well.”

“Err, 'course. Eh heh,” Applejack said before looking straight ahead. She doubted either of them could buck so much as a shoe tree, let alone an apple tree.

“Not, ahhh, with the harvest obviously. My brother and I are not fit for such tasks. However, we are both quite skilled with a needle and mending, if you require any repairs. We'd also be more than willing to lend out hooves to massages, if anypony requires it.”

“Oh! That all would be fine, mighty kind of yah,” the cowpony said with a chuckle. “Aloe, yah all okay? Yah been awfully quiet.”

“Huh? Errr, no. I mean, yes, I-I'm fine!” he said with a nervous squeak. In fact, he was better than okay. Once they'd left the town and he'd started to pay attention, he'd found he was walking behind Applejack. With the heat beginning to rise, he found she was getting a tiny bit... sweaty. A glorious sight for any pony to behold, but for him it was a thing of miracles. Red coated his cheeks and he shook his head. “I uhhh, I don't think I've been out here much aside from your sweet apple cider.”

“Tha's okay. Ain't a whole lot out here tah see unless yah are a fan of apple trees an' watching a buncha farm ponies workin' up a sweat.” Fortunately, her back was turned so she missed Aloe's stumble and Lotus' smirk. “We all find ways to keep ourselves entertained though. Huh?” She turned at the sound of a crash, quickly seeing Aloe face first in the dirt. “Yah all okay?”

“Y-yes!” he said with a loud squeak. “I-I'm sure I'll be entertained!”

“Yah went an' said that in Prench again,” Applejack said with a chuckle. Lotus, meanwhile, was struggling to keep her laughter down, her entire body quivering with mirth.

“I... I am fine,” he said again, this time in Equestrian. “So, it will just be us?”

“Well, we got a farm hoof helpin' us out about this time. They all stay in the house as well. Caramel right now, but in a few weeks when the work gets more difficult we'll have a few more.”

“Caramel? Oh! Was he the delightful stallion you brought in last harvest, after the tree fell?”

“As a matter ah fact he is. Ah'm surprised yah remembered.”

“Err, I, well, ummm, I remember most ponies who c-come. He had a very soft, supple back. I was quite surprised, I expected it to be a lot firmer, like Big Mac's. An excellent coat as well. It's comments like that, that made you think I was into stallions, wasn't it?”

“Well, a lil bit. Ah'll be honest, ah really did think yah had an eye on mah brother for a while. With the whole pony tones thing an' all.”

“Darling, everypony was crushing on your brother after one of those songs. He was majestic, dazzling, a true pony amongst ponies,” Lotus said with a delicate sigh. “Whoever ends up with him is going to be quite the happy mare.”

“I still say there were probably foals popping into existence after those numbers,” Aloe said with a smile. “If I was capable, I'm pretty sure that voice would have been enough to make me pregnant. He probably could have taken me right after and I wouldn't have objected in the slightest.” More red coated his cheeks when both mares stopped and stared at him. “I... I meant that as a figure of speech. Not that I'd let him actually... h-how much longer to the farm?”

“Ain't much further, sugar cube. Ah'll make sure tah see if ah can have mah brother sing yah all tah sleep,” Applejack said with a snicker. A moment later Aloe's stomach rumbled, turning his face even redder. “Ah'll see about getting' yah somethin' tah eat too. The early mornin' chores should be done now, so should be about time for breakfast.”

“S-sorry,” Aloe said before lowering his gaze. “It's been a... rough couple of days. I haven't eaten much. Err, do you ummm... does everypony know we're coming?”

“Well, they knew ah was gonna invite yah. Mighta thought yah'd say no, but no pony is gonna mind yah bein' there. The Apple family knows how tah treat a guest proper.”

“Oh, we've heard stories. You'd be surprised how many ponies have told us after spending some time on your farm,” Lotus said with a giggle. “I think it will be delightful. Ah, there it is!” Off in the distance, the house was just barely coming into view. “It's hard to believe so few of you run this entire farm all by yourselves.”

“We hire help when we need it, but yah'd be surprised how little work there is aside from harvest time an' sowin' time. The magic in the land does such a good job keepin' the plants healthy and glowin' red. Durin' this time ah year we mostly jus' tend to the animals and keep inventory, make sure we ain't getting' any infestations or such. Get any fixin' done, like we were plannin' on fixin' the eastern fence so we could send the cows back out there tah graze without worryin' about any of them timber wolves givin' 'em a right scare. Gotta buck the few fields that like ta come in early. Probably headin' down tah town later tah help with some odd jobs too.”

Lotus let out a whistle. “My goodness, when do you find time to sleep and relax?”

“Ah get by jus' fine. Runnin' a farm ain't easy, but it's a nice enough life. Ah wouldn't trade it for anythin'. Runs in the family, after all.”

Aloe sniffed the air as the delightful scent of pancakes, hay bacon and prench toast enveloped them. The window of the kitchen was open, allowing the scents to wrap around them as they came closer. “Truly, it smells delightful. I sure hope there is enough. My sister and I can eat a lot more than you'd think.”

Applejack merely chuckled and opened the door, motioning inside. Both the twins mouths fell open at the sight of the course. Stacks of hay bacon, toast, pancakes, eggs, and just about everything imaginable for a well balanced breakfast stood on the counter, and Big Mac wasn't even finished. Already there was enough to feed the two for a week! “I thought you said Caramel was the only one staying here with you?” Lotus asked nervously.

“He is. This should be enough, don'tcha think?” Applejack asked. Soon, the largest feast the twins had ever seen laid before them, causing them to share a nervous glance. Then the bell was rung. “Come an' get it everypony!”

Applebloom was the first to arrive, her face lighting up when she saw the two. “Ah knew yah'd say yes, ah jus' knew it!” She galloped over to Aloe, a grin on her face. “So, if yah're really a guy, does that mean yah can or can't get pregnant? Big sis says you're meter saxiphone.”

“Applebloom!” her sister snapped. “Ah'm sorry Aloe, ah thought she'd know better than tah be rude towards guests.” She glared at the little filly, causing her to take a seat and hang her head.

“No, it's fine,” Aloe said with a sad sigh. “It's actually a lot more common than most ponies think. You've probably met plenty of ponies who have their genders ahhhh... less apparent to varying degrees. The fact my sister and I are twins is one of the reasons my case is so severe.” He then paused for a moment and chuckled. “Though, technically I guess I would be, hee hee, meter saxiphone. But no, I can not get pregnant. My sister can though.”

“ALOE!” Lotus snapped.

“What? She's old enough to ask me, she's old enough to-- eek!” Aloe was shoved out of his chair with a powerful push from his sister.

“We're at the dinner table, show some manners.” She then looked up at the staring ponies. “Err, sorry. We were just--” The table burst into laughter, drowning out her words as Aloe slowly climbed to his hooves, sliding into the chair.

“Now Lotus, ah didn't think ah'd have tah tell yah, but no horseplay at the table,” Applejack said with a light snicker and mock scold.

“Sorry ma'am...”

“An' you two,” the farm pony turned the scold on Aloe and Applebloom. “No more talk about pregnancy's at the table. Yah hear?”

“Yes ma'am...” the two said in unison.

Before long the whole family was gathered together. The twins stared in wide eyed amazement at the sheer quantities the family could put away. Even Applebloom was able to easily out eat the two of them put together, and she was the lightest eater of the bunch. Before long, talk of business and play were being spread out between bites, including funny stories of what they'd been doing lately.

Caramel's stories dominated the field, as he told about the odd jobs he'd been doing before returning to the Apples for the field work. Laughter and happy words spread through the kitchen like wildfire, though in Aloe's eyes it all ended too soon. The farm ponies galloped off to work the fields, leaving them alone with Granny Smith, the oldest member of the family who just no longer had the energy to do the harder work on the farm.

The elder pony smiled at them before looking to Lotus. “Now yah must be the young'in lookin' tah capture mah lil gran' daughter's heart. Mmmm hmmm. Ah see what the paper says, takin' a close look at yah ah can still barely tell yah be a stallion. Even with the eyes an' the hooves. Maybe a bitta the ears, but ah'll be darned.”

“W-what? But... but I am a mare,” Lotus said softly before holding up her hooves and examining them closely. “What's wrong with my hooves?”

“Ummm, I'm the stallion,” Aloe said softly. “Though... I'm a little curious how you know.”

“Who yah thunk reads the paper around 'ere? Wait, yah be a stallion? Now ah jus' don't believe that. Roll over on yah back.”

“WHAT? NO!” Aloe shrieked and cowered behind the table. “I'm not going to, you, scandalous, I won't, you...” She narrowed her eyes at the elder mores laughter. “You were pranking me, no?”

“Hee hee, an' yah fell for it like ah was sellin' yah a bridge. So you're the one lookin' tah win mah granddaughter? Me an' yah gonna haveta getta know each other then. Yah any good with a needle?”

“As a matter of fact, my sister and I are fabulous with needles. Well, we're no Rarity, but we know our way around a few pins,” he said proudly as he puffed out his chest.

“Good, yah two can help meh with some ol' fashion mendin'. Won't take long.” The elder mare slowly crawled from her chair, her entire body shaking as she made her way out of the room. She dropped down in an old recliner, a basket of torn clothing besides her. She soon had a needle and thread for all of them as they got to work. “Now, tell meh about you'self.”

“Err, well, I'm co-owner of the spa with my sister. I, ummmm, I'm a great masseuse and I know all the tasks required to help a pony relax. I'm not really strong compared to ummm, any of the ponies who work here. But I'm really good at my job so...”

“So yah'd plan to stay in Ponyville if yah an' Applejack got hitched? What about the farm?” the elder pony asked with a cocked eye. Lotus pretended to be focused on her own stitching, though her ears rose.

“I... I don't know. I mean... I didn't expect to have... this happen at all. I didn't plan to tell Applejack. I thought it might go away if I just... didn't focus.”

“Well, that ain't no way tah go about a crush. All yah gonna do is make yourself more miserable and long for it even more. Ain't yah got any common sense?”

“N-no ma'am...” Aloe mumbled, squirming the entire time. He found himself soon being racked over the coals by the elder mare, asking everything from his favorite meal to his retirement plan.

He didn't know how long he was there when he heard the door open again. “Oh thank Celestia!” he blurted out and turned.

Applebloom gave him an odd look. “What's got yah all worked up for?”

“N-nothing...” He glanced to the elder pony, who was still rambling something at him. “Save us...” he whispered.

She snickered softly and nodded. “Aloe, Lotus, yah wanna help meh make some snacks for the others? Ah could use the extra hooves.”

“Gladly!” Lotus said before putting the needle down. Granny Smith gave them an odd look, but soon shrugged it off and went back to mending.

“Granny Smith, we were thinkin' ah havin' a picnic down by the swimmin' hole, wanna join us?” Applebloom asked with a smile.

“Hmmm? Down by the ol' hole? Jus' try an stop meh!” the elder pony said with an enthusiastic smile.

“Mmmkay. Ah'll let Applejack an' the others know when ah head back out.” She then trotted into the kitchen, the other two following behind.

Aloe quickly made his way to the nearby window, gazing out. To his delight he could see Applejack, off in the distance. She was bucking trees, moving baskets and loading wheelbarrows. She was fast, though she didn't rush. The earth pony would flow from one task to the next, never hesitating. Skill and practice molded into a strange dance of work efficiency. Even though the sun was casting its hot glow on the land, the mare didn't pause aside from the occasional moment to wipe sweat from her brow.

“D'awwwwwww,” Applebloom said, breaking his focus.

“What? I-I was watching the, ummm, sun rise!” Aloe lied, horribly.

“Darling, you were starring for almost a minute and a half. Not to mention the sun rose hours ago,” Lotus said with a gentle snicker.

He blushed and looked down. He must have been staring a while, as they'd already brought out the makings of a few sandwiches and were putting them together. He moved to join them, his face crimson enough if showed through his coat. “I was just... admiring the... art of her skill. She is, uhhh, quite talented. Lots of endurance, I'd have passed out by now, doing that work.”

“Aw shucks, that ain't nothin'. Yah should see us durin' full pickin' time. Her an' Big Mac can buck almost an entire field between 'em faster than yah can build a dam.”

“Well, I've certainly never built a dam, but I imagine that is quite fast,” Aloe said with a blush. “No wonder you ponies can eat so much. You must plow through calories faster than... errr... did I say something?”

Applebloom just glared. “Yah callin' us all fat?”

“What? No! Never!” Aloe shook his head quickly. “I was just admiring your worth ethic! Such hard work, day after day. I don't think I could do it.” He paused and glanced out the window again. At the worst. Possible. Time. Applejack had been taking a moment, whipping her hat off and shaking her mane out so the sweat cascaded around him. The poor stallion didn't have a chance, falling over with a strangled, gurgling sound.

Applebloom hopped off her stool and galloped to his side. “Yah all okay?”

“Oh, he'll be fine. He just over heated,” Lotus said with a soft smirk before walking to the sink and taking out a glass. “I know how to fix him.”

Aloe, now considerably wetter, and the others trotted out into the field, their saddlebags bulging to the brim with food. The three workers let out a little cheer at the sight. “Granny Smith says the swimmin' hole'll be fine,” Applebloom said with a nod.

“Mmm'hmm.” Big Mac nodded back, before trotting towards the house to gather her.

The five remaining started trotting through the fields. Applejack's coat glistened with sweat, the matting of her coat revealing every perfect curve of her body. It took every fiber of Aloe's resistance to not stare, which he only achieved by staring at the ground.

“So, what happened to yah?” the farm mare asked, looking him up and down.

“I had an accident with a glass of water. It was, err, a tad chilly.”

“He passed out when he saw yah workin' the fields an' Lotus tossed a glass'a water on 'im,” Applebloom said with a big grin on her lips.

“Applebloom!” Applejack snapped. Aloe was too embarrassed to say a word, just nodding away.

“To be fair, dear Applejack,” Lotus said with a smile. “You did look quite dazzling, all sparkling and sweaty in the fields. I can hardly blame my brother for his behavior. I was a little tempted to stare myself.”

The mare just turned her own brilliant shade of red, to match Aloe's. Not another word was spoken as they made their way to the pool. It was surprisingly large, with a small little beach and some trees. They set the blanket in the shade, then Applebloom galloped off and leaped into hole, eliciting a shriek from Applejack.

“Not without your floaties!” the elder sister yelled before galloping after her, tossing her hat aside. “What have ah told yah?”

“But it's just a few minutes, ah'll be careful, honest!” The filly gave her biggest, saddest, poutiest eyes to her sister, even her drooping bow helping to add to the effect.

The elder sister rolled her eyes before nodding. “Fine. Ah guess if she's in, won't hurt the rest of us tah get our hooves wet. Yah all comin'?”

“Yee haw!” Caramel yelled before galloping past her and leaping in as well.

The twins shared a nervous glance, before shaking their heads. “Errr, we'll watch our supplies,” Aloe said quickly. “You three have fun.”

“Well, alright then,” Applejack said before leaping into the water. To Aloe's disappointment, the water was very deep so he couldn't see much aside from her head. The twins took up residence under a tree and watched the frolicking ponies, letting the cool breeze relieve their heat. Soon enough, Big Mac and Granny Smith joined the three, splashing and having a grand old time. They'd even brought the floaties.

The filly glanced to the twins. “Yah all gonna come in? Water's fine!”

“We're fine,” Lotus said nervously.

“Aw, come in yah young whipper snappers,” Granny Smith said with a chuckle. “Yah all can't jus' lounge about under a tree, you'll grow mushrooms!”

“Really, we're quite comfortable. Just enjoy yourselves. How about we start setting up the picnic, okay? Eh heh...” Aloe said with a nervous gulp.

Applejack watched the two for a moment, rubbing her chin. Finally, her eyes went wide. “Yah two can swim, can'tcha?” Their faces went pale in unison. “Ah golly, yah two really are twins. Even panic the same.”

“It's not, there just, we didn't have anywhere to swim back home. It just became one of those things we never learned,” Aloe said, poking his hooves together nervously.

The farm pony smiled up at him. “Want us tah teach yah?”

“Err...” He stared. He didn't want to humiliate himself in front of her. On the other hoof, that smile was just... mesmerizing. Fortunately, his sister was far faster acting than him. She gave him a shove, toppling him down the hill with a shriek. He landed on the ground in front of Applejack with a groan.

“Ah'll take that as a yes. Big Mac, mind if we use your duck floater?”

“Nnnnope,” the stallion said before tossing her the circular duck floatation device and she put it around Aloe's head and down around his waist. She snickered softly at how easily it fit.

“Now come on.”

“Wait!” he cried out, but it was too late. He was yanked into the water and let out a scream. In a blind panic he flailed about, his hooves not touching the bottom. Instead, they latched onto Applejack. He accidentally dunked them both a few times before he finally calmed down enough for her to keep them both afloat.

“Yah all okay now?”

“Whimper.”

“Nothings gonna happen. See? Ah gotcha.” She held onto both his front hooves and slowly swam backwards, pulling him with her. “There, yah trust me?”

He whimpered and slowly nodded. “Good. Now jus' try kickin' your hooves while we go. Don't worry, yah won't fall with meh holdin' your hooves an' the floaty around your waist. Gotcha?”

He did as she said, blushing nervously. “O-okay. Hey!”

“Jus' relax. Ah still gotcha.” She moved to his waist, her hoof on his stomach. “There, now try kickin' with both hooves.” He started, sending water flying everywhere as the spectators let out eeks and tried covering their faces. “Easy, sugarcube! Yah don't gotta swim that hard, jus' keep gently paddlin'. Ah gotcha, no need to panic. Ah ain't gonna let yah drown, ah promise.”

He smiled and soon, his movements were much softer and gentler. She soon lowered her hoof a little, but stuck with him, letting him know she was there. That she wasn't leaving him. Though he couldn't swim without help, he was soon able to go from side to side, even without her, with the floatation device.

“There yah go. Now ah reckon a few weeks ah this an' yah won't even need the duck,” Applejack said with a smile.

“You're a very good teacher,” Aloe said with a blush as he bobbed up and down in his lil floaty.

“I've had some practice. Yah aren't any harder than teachin' Applebloom. Now it's Lotus' turn.”

The mare froze under the tree. “E-excuse me?”

“Yah heard meh. Yah didn't think you were gonna get off scott free, didja?”

Lotus whimpered and shook her head. “I-I'd really rather not.”

Aloe smiled and called up in Prench. “Oh no, sister. After tossing me down, the least you must do is join me. Come! The water is fine! Cold as ice, but fine!”

“Not a chance!” Lotus yelled back.

“Then you leave me no choice.” He glanced to Big Mac before switching back to Equestrian. “Would you mind singing?”

“Huh?”

“Please, sing the music in--”

“I'm coming!” Lotus yelled before trotting down the hill, her face bright red. She shot her brother a nasty glare. “You're a wicked beast, you know that?”

“I'm also soaking wet, thanks to you. The least you could do is join us.”

“Ah'll get some more floaties,” Applejack said with a chuckle before crawling out of the water. Aloe froze and stared at the sight of water cascading down her body, dripping down her powerful legs, enveloping her--

He teetered over forward, dunking under the water with his back hooves kicking out helplessly, shrieking into the water as it shot up his nose.

Aloe sat on the beach, a towel wrapped over his shoulders as he watched his sister swim back and forth. Her movements were still clumsy, but in the short time she'd already abandoned the need for floaties. “How yah feelin'?” Applejack asked as she took a seat besides him, water still dripping down her body and holding her mane flat.

“U-ummm... fine,” he said gently, careful not to look at her and instead focusing on the foods. He'd been slowly setting everything out, an excuse not to return to that dreadful water.

“Yah aren't mad about it, are yah? Ah'm sorry ah got out then, ah thought—”

“What? No! I'm not mad at you, I could never be mad at you! I'm just a little, well, err...” He glanced back to his sister, who was splashing Caramel. “Jealous.”

“Ah gee. Yah don't gotta be jealous about none-a that. We all learn things at our own pace, won't do yah no good tah get upset cause she's a bit faster on the uptake than yah are. Took meh a whole summer tah learn tah swim when Big Mac taught me.” Applejack reached out and patted his shoulder, before moving down to help him unpack.

“Well... I-I guess.”

“Don't yah worry your lil pink head, you'll get better the longer yah practice. End a your visit yah might not even need the floater at all.”

He grinned and nodded. “I sure hope so. You're an excellent teacher.”

She shrugged. “Ah think we gone an' had that talk already. Don't worry about it sugar cube, wasn't any trouble. Come on everypony! Lunch time!” she yelled before letting out a whistle.

Soon the ponies were gathered together, eating a hearty meal. Aloe occasionally glanced at Applejack, hoping to catch her glancing at him, preferably with a blush. Sadly, she didn't seem to look at him any more than anypony else, focusing most her attention on whoever she was chatting with, or who was telling a story. Blushes never seemed to enter her cheeks. He wondered if she even remembered what she said about his advances and was beginning to question if she had meant it. His gaze lowered to his sandwich and he considered telling her it was okay if she wanted to forget the whole thing. It would be fine if she didn't feel for him that way. But he was too afraid to find out what her answer would be.

Applejack, on the other hoof, couldn't stop thinking about it. She saw the way the stallion's eyes lit up when he looked at her, as if she was the only pony in the world. She couldn't deny she found it flattering, if a bit embarrassing. Very few ponies had ever looked at her quite like that. Sure, she'd gotten her share of lustful leers(farm ponies were great at those), but he seemed more star struck when he watched her, than perverted. She could only think of one pony in recent memory who had looked at her like that, and the problems it had caused.

Unfortunately, the guilt of everything that happened still rested on her shoulders. Though she knew it was barely her fault, the majority of the blame rested squarely on Discord, she couldn't shake what she felt was hers. A part of her hoped the pony would be so miserable here, that he'd run off and never think about falling for a farm pony again and she could avoid breaking his heart.

Though, another part of her gave him a little respect for not breaking yet. She was half tempted to take him out to the fields and see how well he could do out the there. Then a rather wicked idea, for her at least, came to mind. “Hey Aloe, Lotus. We don't gotta lot left until the fields work is done, yah wanna come on out and get your hooves dirty? Can show yah some-a the work that got mah hooves in that state yah always complainin' about when ah come to your spa.”

“I think I'll pass,” Lotus said quickly, shaking her head. “I'll stick to mending, thank you very much.”

“I'll give it a try,” Aloe said with a smile. “I'll try anything once.”

Applejack nodded with a smile. After ten minutes of real farm work, she bet he'd be racing to the hills.

Troubling Thoughts

Aloe trotted ahead of the group, his head held high as he walked. His stomach was full and he felt quite refreshed after having the cool water through his mane. In fact, he only cared about... twenty percent that his mane and tail were a bit off kilter. He tried not to think about it. Applejack had directed him in the direction they were going, and he was now examining all the trees as they went.

Many of the apples were still small and rock hard, hardly a proper harvest and definitely not ready to be bucked. On occasion they found one tree beginning to show the signs of red, but still not enough to consider. He was so focused on trying to see the targets first, he didn't hear the others talking behind him.

“Yah sure about this? He's liable tah hurt himself,” Caramel said as he watched the happy stallion.

“Don't worry, he'll stop long 'fore that,” Applejack said confidently. “He's just high on romanticizin' what it is we do here, doesn't understand just how much work goes inta runnin' a farm. Ah jus' wanna give him a proper showin'. Once he's tired himself out he can jus' rest in the--”

“There!” Aloe yelled before galloping off. The barrels and cart they were using still stood ready for bucking. He galloped to one of the trees, the empty barrels already placed and ready to be filled. “Applejack, watch!” He closed his eyes and bucked.

A single apple dropped on his head. “Huh?”

Applejack face hoofed. “'Bout as well as any of us coulda expected.”

Another few bucks echoed through the field until, finally, the buckets were filled. “Err... I did it,” he said sheepishly, chest rising quickly with every rapid breath. “Took me... a few more tries than I wanted it to...”

Applejack trotted up to the tree and glanced up. After a few moments, she gave a nod. “Well, took yah a few more'n it would one ah us, but yah got 'em all down so ah can't complain. Now yah jus' latch the buckets on the side ah your saddle and... oh. Big Mac, we bring any spare saddles?”

“Nnnope!”

Applejack sighed, before glancing around at the other trees they still had to buck. “Listen, we already got a buncha trees primed. Yah try buckin' 'em down an' we'll get 'em to the cart, okay?”

“S-sure,” Aloe said with a nod, before trotting away. His back hooves were aching like he couldn't believe, but he didn't want to give up so easily. It wasn't as bad as he'd thought it would be. Hard on the hooves, but nowhere near the exhausting torture he'd imagined. Then again, all he had to do was the bucking. That and it was only one tree.

Each tree that released its bounty to him made his hooves ache worse and worse. After the third tree he was forced to limp, each step sending sharp pain through his pastern. He looked up, stopping to watch the others for a few moments. They easily went from tree, to carrying the buckets, back to tree without stopping. He bit his lower lip and watched Applejack for a moment. Her eyes caught his and she smiled.

“Yah all okay? If yah need tah stop, it's fine.”

“I'm fine! Just... taking a moment to catch my breath. Eh heh...” He moved to the fourth tree, looking up with a nervous gulp. It looked as big as a barn and solid as a mountain. He turned his back to it, and readied himself, digging his front hooves into the ground. He gave a small buck, the tree barely moving and only giving a few apples. He let out a growl and tried again, this time receiving nothing for his troubles. With an annoyed growl he leaned forward, before kicking back with every ounce of force he could muster, his legs rocketing out.

Applejack looked up as the scream piercing the air. Her ears twitched a few moments before she saw Aloe, laying on the ground on his back, clutching his back hoof with tears going down his face. She galloped over, her eyes widening as she saw the injury. “Big Mac, run tah town, get Nurse Redheart. Tell her we got a nasty cracked hoof. Caramel, help me with Aloe.” She dropped down besides him, putting a hoof on his shoulder. “Shhhh, it's okay. Aloe. Take deep breaths. Calm down, just calm down.” She did her best to avoid looking at the hoof, though she couldn't stop it.

Both of his back hooves had cracks across the ends, the repeated strikes seemingly been too much for them. However, the back right one had the deepest. It had cracked all the way up to the coronary band and formed a red, throbbing wound under it. The stallion was trembling, though the initial pained screams had died down. She took his left while Caramel took the right. With their similar heights they were able to easily hold him up and carry him back to the farm.

“What happened?” Lotus asked when they entered the building, her eyes wide as she watched her quivering brother.

“Split hoot,” Applejack said quickly. “Applebloom, get meh the first aid kit.”

“On it!” the filly said before galloping off into the kitchen. The carriers followed, quickly placing the whimpering stallion on the table. His twin hovered around, watching nervously but too afraid she'd get in the way.

“Caramel, start boilin' some water. Don't know if Redheart will need it, but better safe than sorry. Aloe, just sit still. This'll sting a bit.” Applejack sat on the ground, holding his hoof level, though careful not to touch the wounded bits. Applebloom soon galloped up, the plastic container with a big red cross held in her mouth. She dropped it by her sister.

The farm mare gulped and slowly pulled out a bottle and waited until the water was started. She then nodded. “Caramel, 'old him.” Aloe blinked in confusion when he was grabbed, moments before letting out a scream as what felt like liquid fire traveled down his hoof. Applejack got a firm kick to the side of the face for her troubles, but she was soon finished and the stallion was released, who quickly dropped onto his side and whimpered. “That should keep it from gettin' infected. Sorry, sugar cube. It's gotta be done.”

“What happened?” Lotus finally asked.

Applejack sighed and pulled out a sanitized cloth, pressing it to the wound and eliciting another hiss of pain from the stallion, but he didn't recoil too much. “Ah did something plain stupid. His hooves weren't trained for this kinda work, ah shoulda known better. Ah've seen enough broken hooves tah know better.”

“You're not answering me!” the spa pony said angrily. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself and just tell me!”

“Ah had him buckin' trees he shouldn'ta been buckin'. Some'a those trees are like buckin' a steel wall. Ah'm sorry.”

“Is he going... is he going to be okay?” the mare asked, watching her brother with quivering eyes. “I've... I've seen some really bad effects from these, will--” She was silenced by a shake of Applejack's head.

“Nah, he'll be fine. Eventually. Nurse Redheart's dealt with more ah these than ah can count, she'll get him right as rain in no time. It'll probably hurt somethin' fierce for a while.” She glanced up at him and let out a sigh. “Ah'm really sorry about all this. Ah shouldn't have asked yah tah come help.”

Aloe whimpered. “Can... can we not have this t-talk now?”

“Err...” Applejack glanced to Lotus. “He's talking in Prench again.”

“He doesn't want to talk. Please, just let him rest until the nurse gets here,” Lotus said before moving to his side, gently running a hoof through his mane. She soon began whispering to him in Prench, soothing the stallion.

Applejack sighed, occasionally glancing towards the kitchen door. Redheart had shooed all of them away once she arrived, to deal with the poor stallion. Big Mac and Caramel had gone out to finish the chores, but she had stayed behind to keep Lotus company.

“You're, uhhh, really good at calmin' him down,” Applejack said nervously to break the tension.

“Indeed. You do realize it is not your fault, no?” the spa pony asked softly.

“How come? If ah hadn't been tryin' tah drive him off ah wouldn't have tried to--”

“Please, Applejack, I was wrong before. Don't hide it. Just tell him you aren't interested. Before he gets himself killed or worse. Tell him you don't like stallions like him, it's better he gets his heart crushed now, rather than his body and heart crushed later.”

Applejack blushed red and looked down. “It... it has nothin' tah do with him though. Or him bein' all like that. It really is all meh. Ah mean, in a few years or so, ah might, maybe, consider it. Ah might even like it. Jus' right now ah got far too much on mah plate tah be seekin' any kinda romance.”

Lotus stared, eyes wide. “What?”

“Look, there's a lot tah do on the farm. It's... it's kinda like you an' your brother. Yah can't really do all this stuff without 'im, right? Well, it's like that here. Ah'm needed. Not tah mention ah can't leave Applebloom and Granny Smith tah Big Mac alone, that jus' wouldn't be fair. Ah got far too much responsibility tah the farm tah jus' go datin' some stallion and droppin' everythin' else.”

The spa pony just stared, before giggling into her hoof.

“What? What's so confounded funny?”

“Nothing. Hee hee. I just find it humorous that you've spent more effort in trying to deny his advances and avoid them, than you would have if you just went on a date.”

“W-what? Ah told yah, ah got a lot ah--”

“No pony, especially not my brother, is asking you to abandon your responsibilities. He'd just like to help you with them and possibly become one. I'd suggest you discuss these things with him or tell him that you are completely not interested. Do not keep stringing him along like this, in the hopes he'll lose interest. Or you will be responsible for whatever harm he gets himself into. Understand?”

Applejack slowly nodded, hanging her head. “Ah... ah gotcha. Ah'll... ah'll figure it out. Thanks for all your advice an, uhhh, understandin'. Ah'll... talk to your brother tanight.”

“Please do,” Lotus said with a smile before trotting away to the other room, intending to help with more mending.

Applejack watched her go before sitting down, eyes lowered on the ground. She really did have too many responsibilities, Lotus just didn't understand. Besides, it wouldn't be fair to him if she just put him on the bottom of the list. Even if that's what he wanted. She let out an exasperated groan before getting back on her hooves and trotting outside. That fence still needed mending and it might help to clear her head.

“GAHHHHHHH!”

“AYEEEEEEEE!”

Applejack froze, her ears perking at the screams. The sun was almost down, and her body was covered in sweat from the hard labor of fixing the fence. Still, it was a good job and she felt proud of the job. However, the screams tore all those thoughts from her mind and she galloped into the house, brandishing the hammer in her mouth.

Her eyes narrowed at the sight before her. Applebloom and Aloe were sitting on the living room couch, the latter in a hoof cast. They were playing on the game console the former had borrowed from one of the colts in town. The game they were playing was very dark, with just a small flashlight coating a small tunnel in light.

“Hurry up! Slendermane's gonna catch ya!” Applebloom yelled, sitting on the edge of the seat.

Aloe said something in Prench, his hooves moving around on the controller. All of a sudden a very tall, strange black pony, missing a face and with legs at least three times the length of a normal pony's, appeared in front of them and the screen fizzled out before going black.

“GAHHHHHHH! AYEEEEEE!” the two ponies yelled in unison and hugged each other, staring at the screen with wide eyed horror.

“Really? This is what yah all are gonna do with your time?” Applejack said as she leaned against the couch from behind.

The two just screamed louder before falling out of the couch, eliciting a pained moan from Aloe. They stared up at her for a few moments, then glanced to each other. Finally, they burst into laughter.

“Yah shoulda seen your face!” Applebloom yelled before pointing.

“You were the one tossing the controller at me!” Aloe said with a grin.

Applejack rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop her smile. She put the hammer down before moving to help Aloe up. “It's almost night time. Yah all have dinner?”

“Yeah, we rang the dinner bell but yah didn't come,” Applebloom said before jumping onto the couch. “There's left overs in the fridge.”

“Ah wasn't really hungry. Had a lot on mah mind.” She glanced down at the pair. “Where's everypony?”

“They're all talkin' in the other room. Ah think Lotus is tryin' tah convince Big Mac tah make his own cologne,” Applebloom said before making retching noises. “Ah don't know why anypony would want somethin' like that.”

“I could see it now,” Aloe said with a giggle. “Applespice. For those who want to look, and feel, like they have the music in them.”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Applebloom, tah bed with yah.”

“But Applejaaaaack,” the two said in unison, giving her doe eyes.

“We've almost beat this stage!” Aloe said.

“Can we at least get to ah save point?” Applebloom asked, her ribbon going limp as she pouted.

The farm mare rolled her eyes. “Fine. Yah got until ah finish supper. But not a second more, yah hear?” The two cheered and she heard the strange, gentle music playing as she trotted into the kitchen.

She made up a small bowl of spaghetti for herself, though took her time eating it. The mare had finally come to a decision, but the most difficult part came next. Telling him. She knew it would crush him, but she just didn't feel it would be fair to him with all the other things she had on her plate. She planned to tell him tonight, but she just had to find the correct time.

Applejack finally took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. Ah'll tell him once ah get Applebloom in bed. It'll be the best, an only time.” She glanced down at her meal and sighed. She'd barely touched it. She then glanced out the window and let out another sigh. The sun was gone and the stars twinkled above, who knew for how long. She quickly downed her meal and rinsed the dishes off before walking out to the front room.

Applebloom and Aloe were laying on the couches, sound asleep. The former was sleeping in the latter's lap, their game black, aside from showing their score and time in the corner. She guessed they waited for her, but she hoped they hadn't for long.

She started with the filly, gently nudging her. Unfortunately, both woke up. “Come on, yah two. Time tah get tah bed in some real proper sleepin' quarters.” The filly was much too tired to make more than half-hearted objections, and soon was sprawled out on her sister's back and taken upstairs to her room. Applejack soon came back down and looked at the stallion. “Yah wanna sleep down here, or want me tah help yah get upstairs?”

Aloe looked down, then outside with a soft yawn. “Upstairs would be nice, please...” He tried to stand up, but with only three good hooves he teetered over quickly.

“Come on, yah silly pony,” Applejack said before moving to help him up. “What did Nurse Redheart say?”

“She yelled at me a lot,” he said timidly once they started walking. “Said I should have known better. I really should have, but I thought the hoof pain was just because it was a new experience. Not because they were cracking. I've seen enough cracks, I should have known better than to get my own.”

She nodded. “Yah shoulda. But accidents happen. Ah've done mah fair share uh dumb things over the years. Pride'll make a grown pony act like a foal sometimes.”

“Yeah, heh heh.”

“So...” she said softly, trying to divert the conversation to what she had to tell him. “Ah've been thinkin' a lot...”

“Yes?”

“Ah jus' think... until yah get this hoof all better, yah should take it easy,” she finally said, mentally cursing herself for cowardice.

“Oh, I will. Don't worry, I know how to tend these. Plenty of patients end up coming to our spa after injuries like this, so my sister and I have lots of experience with them. I never thought I'd get one of my own.”

“Does it still hurt?”

“Only when I touch things with it. Or when I breath.”

She chuckled. “Good tah know. Let us know if yah have any more problems.” She finally made it to his room and opened the door. She turned on the light, but with a sudden pop it died out. “Well, that's a might annoyin'. Ah'll have it looked at in the mornin', okay?”

“It's fine. We won't need the light in the night, anyway,” he said with a chuckle. She brought him to the nearer bed and gently put him in.

“Yah all rest fine, okay? If yah need anythin', give a shout.”

He nodded before she tucked him out. She then walked out the door, the light flickering on for a few seconds after. He let out a groan and sat up, the light flickering off again. “Bucking...”

The light flickered on again, and he saw something out of the corner of his eye. The light flickered out as he turned, and his blood froze.

Standing in the corner, staring at him, was Slendermane. The faceless pony in black just watched him, the darkness enveloping the monster. Aloe let out a blood curdling scream, flailing about before falling out of his bed.

The door opened a moment later, the light flickering on for a few seconds before going out again. Applejack quickly scanned the room, finding the flailing pony on the ground between the wall and bed. She darted to his side. “What happened? What's goin' on?”

“It's Slendermane! He's here! Look! He's going to kill us all!”

“The buck?” the mare turned to stare at where he pointed. All she could see were two of their old busted scarecrows, one stacked top of the other with the bottom one missing its head. They were wrapped in old black rags. After a few moments she started giggling uncontrollably.

“What? What is it? What?” he asked before she helped prop him up. Once the light flickered back on, his cheeks turned bright red. “That's... it... it really looked like Slendermane in the dark. I-I swear!”

“Ah'm sure it did, sugar cube.” She helped him into bed before trotting to the scarecrows. She glanced back at him for a moment, the poor stallion huddled up into a little frightened ball, his mane all and tail all wild and erratic. She quickly looked away, grabbing the scarecrows. “Listen, ah'll go ahead an' move these, so yah can get a good nights sleep.”

“I don't think I'll be able to sleep now,” he whispered, blushing bright red as the lights flickered out again. She sighed and dragged them outside the room and shoved them out the door. She glanced back at the stallion, huddled in the darkness, blanket wrapped tightly around himself.

With an exasperated sigh she trotted forward, determined to do what she should have done to begin with. Applejack sat on the bed and looked him straight in the eye. “Aloe, we needta talk.”

“Yes?”

“Here's the thing. Ah got a lot on mah plate. Ah got a farm tah help run, ah gotta keep an eye out on both Applebloom an' Granny Smith. Ah got animals tah tend to, trees to grow, a business tah run. No tah mention ah got friends ah need ta help sometimes too. Ah don't have a lot a free time.”

His ears sank. “And... I get it. You don't want to waste it on me.”

Applejack stared, but slowly smiled. What could it hurt? “Ah don't think that would be so bad. Ah jus' want yah tah know where you'll stand. If we date, ah won't be able tah be at your beck an' call. Ah'll try tah spend time with yah, but ah got a live tah live. You'll be a part of it, but yah won't rule it. Yah got that?”

He nodded, a wide grin blossoming on his face.

“An' another thing. Ah don't want yah goin' an' changin' who yah are for me. If we can't be ourselves, we ain't gonna have a chew toy's chance in Tartarus. None ah that skulkin' around, watchin' me, hopin' ah'll pick up on some invisible signals yah sendin' out and things'll get better, either. I'm not puttin' up with none ah that nonsense. Yah got a problem with the relationship, yah gonna tell me, an' we're gonna fix it. An'... if we don't work out, an' yah start feelin' miserable? Break it off. Ah'm not givin' any promises that any ah this will work out. Just ah'll give it a shot. Ah don't want yah puttin' your life on hold jus' cause you're hopin' ah'll one day change what ah am. Yah got all that?”

He nodded rapidly, his face wide and grinning as he suppressed the urge to squeal. He finally reached out and hugged her. “Thank you thank you thank you!”

She blushed and prodded the ground. “N-no need tah get so happy. It ain't like ah agreed tah marry yah. Ah jus' said ah'll give you a shot.”

“Yeah, but that's a chance! You'd be surprised how many mares won't even give that,” the stallion said with a happy grin, soon the mare joining in on the hug.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” a cloaked pony asked as he and two others slowly tip hoofed through Ponyville. The moon was out, but it only gave a little light in the darkness.

“It'll be easy, come on. Besides, no way they can prove it was us,” the second pony said before stopping in front of the spa, looking up. A few of the lights were on. “Huh. Looks like they fixed the window already.”

“What if somepony sees us?” the third asked.

“You wanna chicken out? Come on, imagine how awesome Rosering will think you are once she finds out you were here. You heard what she was saying about him.” A small carton of eggs floated up by his head. “Besides, he deserves it.” He threw one of the eggs and it whipped around to hit the first pony in the face.

“Hey!” the pony shrieked, shaking eggshells out from the hood. “What was that for?”

“Wind caught it, yah idiot. Come on, let's do this.” The three began throwing eggs full fury, but their attempts were in vain. The eggs either hit the ground far before hitting the building, or whipped around to hit them. Soon the three were covered in egg whites and shells. “Yah idiots! Can't you throw straight?”

“It wasn't me! You threw those too!”

“By Celestia, you two are useless!” the pony growled before spitting out some egg shells. He then took out a brick, wrapped in a note.

“Errr, are you sure we should? They might figure out--”

“Don't be stupid. This is a brick, that was a rock, there's no way they'll know it was the same ponies. Hup!” The rock sailed through the air at the second floors window. However, once it left the ponies magic, the blinds opened and a pony was standing in the middle. The brick smashed through the window, crashing into the ponies skull as the three stared up with horror. A moment later a scream pierced the night.

“You, you killed him! Her, one of them!” the first pony said, trembling so badly the cloak was shaking.

“S-shut up, I didn't, it was his own fault, he, run!” the second finally yelled and the three galloped away.

Moments after they left, the window repaired itself and Discord stood in the room, gently tossing the brick up and down in his hands. “Oh yes. Apologies can be such fun.” He chuckled before snapping the brick in half, tossing half of it into his mouth and blowing a bubble.

The Plan

“H-harder...” Applejack said with a soft groan, before letting out a loud yelp. “T-too hard, too hard!”

Aloe rolled his eyes. “You know, just because you're... far stronger than me, doesn't mean you can take whatever I can give.” He smiled and gently pushed a hoof against her back, swirling it into a gentle circle. “I may lack strength, but I more than make up for it with finesse...”

“Mmmmm, an' yah certainly know how tah use those hooves of yours, don'tcha?” the earth pony asked with a seductive grin.

“Of course...” He leaned in closer. “I know how to use my hooves for all sorts of things. As well as the rest of my body...”

“That does sound-- COCK-A-DOODLE DOO!”

Aloe let out a shriek as he sat up in bed, looking around frantically. Outside, the crow let out its loud cry, signaling the rising sun. He groaned and shook his head. “S-stupid Aloe. She'd never think of EEEEE!” He started clapping his hooves together as the previous night flooded back to him.

“Sleep well, brother?” Lotus asked, laying on the bed besides his, eyes cocked at his amusing, cheerful display.

Crimson flooded the stallion's cheeks and he looked away. “I... I wasn't... I just... I mean, I-I was excited because, she, it... shush!”

“I'm guessing this bout of excitement means the fair Lady Applejack has... hinted at acceptance of your desires?”

“She said she'd give me a chance! She said she'd give me a chance!” he said in delight, bouncing in the bed as he clapped his hooves together again.

“I see.” Lotus slid from the bed, chuckling softly. “I'll go and get breakfast, rest here. Remember, stay off that hoof.”

He sighed and nodded. “Of course. Don't worry, I won't climb out of bed without help.” He glanced down at his hoof. It still ached, but he was far too excited to focus on it. The moment his sister left the room, he started bouncing up and down again.

Lotus chuckled and walked down the stairs, softly shaking her head. The Apples were sitting at the table, eating their breakfast. She cleared her throat.

“Yah all up already?” Applejack asked before standing. “After all the excitement last night, ah figured yah two would be out until noon. Here, want meh tah make yah up a plate?”

“No. Well, yes. One for Aloe too, please. But before that, may I speak with you? Privately?”

“Awwwww,” Applebloom whined, though her sister ignored her and trotted over.

“So, what's on your mind?” the mare asked once they left the kitchen.

“My brother is excited, quite excited. I take it you have decided to take him up on his desires, no?”

“Err, ah agreed tah try datin' him, if that's what yah mean. Ah didn't really try anythin' naughty though, if that's what your wonderin'.”

“No, I am not. Frankly, that would not be my business. I'd just like to... please, be gentle with him. Do not break his heart, or lead him on.”

Applejack sighed. “Ah ain't tryin' to! Ah'm jus' tryin' tah work all this out, too. Ah jus' thought, well, what could it hurt tah give 'im a shot? Yah tellin' me ah shouldn't 'ave?”

“No. I'm just asking... I don't know. Please don't hurt him. He is dear to me and he has suffered enough.” Lotus paused for a moment. “Out of curiosity, have you ever dated before?”

“Noooope.”

“Would you like some pointers? I know a number of traditional dating procedures.”

“Datin' procedures?” Applejack asked with a snicker. “We're not goin' on some royal get tagether, jus' bein' tagether. Ah figured ah'd just follow some'a the things Rarity always talked about.”

“Rarity talked about? How do you mean?”

“Well, she always talked about gettin' flowers an' candies an' those kinda things. It's in all the movies an' stuff too, an' ah figure Aloe probably likes some'a the same things as Rarity, so ah'll just do that stuff.”

Lotus opened her mouth to object, but then froze. She hummed for a moment, and nodded. “Actually, that would probably work well. I imagine my brother would adore being treated like Rarity.”

“See? Nothin' to it. Ah got this whole datin' thing in the bag,” Applejack said confidently, waving a hoof to the side. “Don't yah worry your lil pink mane. Ah ain't plannin' tah hurt your brother. Worse comes tah worse, he's still a friend an' ah plan tah treat 'im as such.”

Lotus nodded with a smile. “Thank you. I'll take that breakfast now.”

Aloe nestled up in bed. His plate, still half full from the bountiful feast that Applejack had made, was on the bedside table. He glanced out the window and let out a sigh. It would still be a few hours before noon and, he was hoping, the return of his crush. He closed his eyes and tried to be patient, but it was hard.

“Psst!”

“Huh?” Aloe looked up at the sudden sound. He didn't see anypony though. “Is somepony there? Hello?”

“It's me. Are yah alone?” Applebloom's voice came from outside the door.

“Yes, I am. Though if I wasn't, you're talking loud enough they'd know you were there,” Aloe said with a soft snort. “Come in.”

The little filly trotted inside, a wide grin on her face. “So, ah hear yah gonna be mah new brother in law!”

Aloe's face turned red and he quickly shook his head. “What? No no no no! We're just, me and Applejack are dating, we're not, we haven't decided to--”

“Why not? What's wrong with mah big sister? Yah don't think she's good enough tah be married tah one'a yah spa ponies?” The filly trotted to the bed and glared up at him. Even though she was about a third of his size, he had a worrisome feeling that she could kick his flank, so he quickly huddled under his blankets.

“N-no! Not at all! Your sister is an amazing, talented mare. But I don't know if we're going to get married. We're just dating, sorta. I mean, we haven't even gone on a date yet. I-I do like your sister a lot though, and I hope she'll come to like me a lot.” He nervously poked his hooves together. “I guess it really depends on how our first date goes. If it goes well, who knows? We might fall in--”

“First date?” Applebloom's eyes went wide as saucers, practically sparkling in the light. “Don't you worry your lil head, ah'll take care ah everything! Eeee!” She darted out of the room before he could make an objection.

“What... what just happened?” he asked, staring at the now empty doorway.

After the confusing encounter, Aloe laid back and took another small nap. He was woken up by something tickling his nose. “Huh... huh... choo!” He sneezed, shooting back a few inches and nearly toppling out of the bed with a shriek, hooves flailing as he tried to grab onto something. A hoof grabbed his own, pulling him back firmly onto the mattress.

“Yah okay?” Applejack asked, smiling down at him. A small bouquet of daisies was lain on the bed besides him.

“I'm fine. What are these?” Aloe asked, nudging the flowers.

Applejack blushed and took a small step back. Before she had felt quite confident, but now that the flowers were in front of him, she couldn't help but feel nervous. What if they were the wrong kind? Rarity was always going on about flowers, but she mentioned roses the most often, so what if those were the most important ones? There were a few plots of daisies in the right field, what if it was considered lazy just grabbing what she already had? “Err, they're flowers.” She mentally kicked herself, of course he knew they were flowers.

He giggled. “I meant, why? Did, errr, did you pick them, for me?”

“Err, well, yeah. Ah mean, ah figured yah might like 'em, what with yah bein' stuck up here all day. Some nice wildlife tah cheer yah up.”

He stared at them, confusion on his face. She felt panic rise within her, until a large smile spread across his face. “Eeeeeee! They're beautiful! I've never gotten flowers before.” He paused. “Well, not from somepony I've been dating. I used to get them all the time at...” He trailed off and shook his head. “Thank you, Applejack. I love them!” He gave them a little hug, nibbling on one of the heads.

“Well, ah'm happy. Want a hoof gettin' downstairs? We finished the days chores an' were gonna have a nice meal inside.”

“Oh, I ummm, I'd love to.” He held out a hoof and she easily pulled him out of bed, practically picking him up as if he was a colt. “You're really quite strong,” he said with a blush.

“Applebuckin' an' workin' on the farm all day will do that.”

“It's a really attractive quality in a mare,” he said gently, grinning as the blush creeped into her cheeks. He then gasped. “Oh, that reminds me. Your sister, did she talk to you after we chatted?”

“Huh? Nah. Ah didn't even know she talked tah yah. Ah let her run off tah go play with her friends a couple'a hours ago. Ah don't know where she is now. Why, whatcha chat about?”

“Huh? Oh, umm, nothing important. We just talked.” He lied, not wanting to freak her out with talk of marriage or brother in lawness. It was hard enough getting her to agree to give him a shot without such things.

Applejack led him downstairs, glancing over at him. He still held the flowers to his chest, as if afraid they'd disappear if he put them down. She didn't know why, but she liked that. It gave her a soft, warm feeling knowing he found them so valuable. Maybe dating wouldn't be so bad, after all.

The pair were soon downstairs and she had him propped up in a chair. “Yah need anything? How's your hoof feelin'?”

“A lot better, actually,” Aloe said before looking around the table. Everypony was staring at them. “Err, yes?”

They quickly looked away, causing Applejack to roll her eyes. “Don't mind them, they're jus' nosy.”

“Okay,” he said softly, still holding his flowers to his chest. Everypony kept glancing at him and even his sister kept nudging him under the table with her hoof. He grinned and nodded. “So, Applejack, I think they're all curious when we're going to have our first date.”

“Cutie mark crusader date planners!” three fillies yelled as they toppled out from one of the cabinets.

“What in tarnation?” Applejack yelled and took a few steps back.

“Ow, ow, my wings fell asleep,” the little orange pegasus filly with a purple mane, Scootaloo, said with a groan as she tried stretch out.

“Get off!” a little white unicorn filly with a pink and purple mane, Sweetie Belle, said from under Applebloom.

“Sorry. It's hard tah see where ah landed,” Applebloom said before hopping off and crashing into the ground. “Ow, mah leg fell asleep.”

“What were you three doin' under there?” Applejack asked, glaring down at them. “How long were yah down there?”

“Over an hour, ow,” Scootaloo said with a groan. “It was Sweetie's idea.”

“Hey, we might have gotten our dramatic entrance cutie marks! Awwww...” Sweetie whined when she looked at her flank, still bare.

“What's all this about?” Applejack asked again.

“We're going to prepare your date!” Applebloom said before shakily getting to her hooves. “It's gonna be the best date ever and we're going to get our cutie marks an' ah'm gonna get a new brother in--”

“Nnnnnope,” Big Mac said before standing up, slamming a hoof down and glaring down at the three. He remembered all too well what happened when these three got involved, especially in romantics.

“Awww, come on, we jus' wanna help!”

“Nnnnnope.”

“Pleaaaase?” Sweetie asked, staring up with wide, sad eyes.

“Nnnnope.”

“We learned our lesson, no love potions or love poisons!” Applebloom said quickly, staring up at well.

“Oh, why don't we let them?” Aloe asked, getting startled stares from everypony.

“What?” Applejack asked.

“What can it hurt? She's your little sister, so I'm sure she'd work her heart out. And it would be a one of a kind experience. Not to mention, a surprise. Surprises are good on dates, yes?”

“Ah'm not sure yah know what you're agreein' to,” Applejack said nervously and glanced down at the three beaming fillies, doing their best to look innocent and adorable.

“I'm certain it will be fine. What's the worst that could happen?”

“The date goes horrible and Applejack dumps you on the spot?” Lotus said quickly.

“Oh... err... well...”

“We promise it won't happen!” Applebloom said quickly.

“We'll make it the most romantic date ever!” Sweetie said.

“And it'll be totally awesome!” Scootaloo added.

“Well, ah'll let Aloe decide,” Applejack said with a chuckle. “Since he gone an' got your hopes up.”

The three mares turned their gazes on him, smiling up at him.

Aloe nervously gulped, then nodded. “I see n-no reason to say no.”

“Cutie mark crusader date planners!” the three yelled as they ran out from the kitchen.

“Yah all get back here for lunch!” Applejack ordered.

Aloe took a seat and glanced to the mare of his dreams. Well, with her sister planning it, surely they wouldn't mess it up. Right?

Romantic Evening

After lunch, the CMC disappeared. Applejack dragged him into the front room and began his preparations. “Okay, whatever yah do, do not drink anything that yah can't identify. Especially if they're staring at you expectantly, yah got it?”

Aloe nodded. “You don't really think they'll do anything like ummm, potions, do you?”

“Appleblooms been workin' on all kinda potion stuff lately, ah dun wanna risk fallin' in love with yah.” She paused when his face fell. “Ah mean against mah own will. Fallin' in love with yah cause ah like yah is fine.”

He eeked. “S-so you think you might fall in love with me?”

“Yah are kinda adorable sometimes, but ah don't know, maybe. No pushin' it.”

“Yes ma'am!” he said, giddily hopping up and down in his seat. “So, what's next?”

“Jus' be careful. The kids mean well, but they have a tendency tah get a bit... outta control. Ah don't want tah see yah getting' hurt cause they decided tah do a lion tamin' show or somethin' silly like that.” She paled. “Ah buck, what if they're plannin' somethin' like that? Ah should probably get Fluttershy just in case.”

Aloe giggled. “I'm sure it will be fine. Your sister and her friends are delights, just filled with energy. I'm sure that no matter what they do, it will be wonderful.” He reached out to take her hooves. “Because you'll be there, I know no matter what it'll be the best date I've ever had.”

Applejack blushed and looked away. “Well, ah shucks. Yah Prench ponies certainly know how tah sweet talk a gal, don'tcha?”

“Only the most beautiful and marvelous ones.” He brought the hoof up and placed a soft kiss against it. “Now, you're so stressed, how about I help you relax? This couch is more than long enough, I could give you a nice massage?”

“Wouldn't yah have tah stand for that?”

“Not at all, I could straddle your back and... oh. I guess that, ummm, could be a bit... uncomfortable for you. I wouldn't want you to feel I was trying to take advantage.” Red flooded his cheeks.

She smiled and pat his head. “Nah, ah know yah wouldn't. Sure, why not? Let's see if yah can help me de-stress a bit.”

“Eeeee! See, you're going to find out the best thing about dating a spa pony!” he said before scooting to the side so she could lay down.

“Cutie mark crusader taxi service!” Echoed through the house as the three fillies barged into the house.

“What? Ah'm up!” Applejack yelled as her eyes opened and she sat up, sending Aloe flying through the air with a shriek. He crashed a moment later and let out a soft groan. “Yah okay?”

“I... I'm okay... ow. Please, l-let's not do that again,” he said with a soft whimper, laying on his back with his hooves in the air. “Please...”

“So what's yah all hollerin' about?” Applejack asked and moved to help the poor stallion get to his hooves. “Wakin' me up like that...”

“Your perfect, spectacular, amazing, definitely going to lead to love and getting Applebloom a new brother-in-law--” Sweetie started.

“Not to mention totally awesome,” Scootaloo said quickly.

“--Date is about to start! Your taxi awaits.” The three fillies moved besides the door and bowed.

“Hope you're ready for this,” Applejack whispered before slowly helping the stallion outside. She froze. “The hay?”

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash stood in the yard, a golden air-chariot strapped to their backs. The latter was smirking at them. “You two going to move it? We didn't borrow this so you could spend all night gawking at it!”

“What in tarnation are you two doing here? Where did you even get that? That's not one of the... oh, it is...” Applejack said with a soft groan.

“That... that's one of the royal chariots, isn't it?” Aloe asked, his mouth falling open. “How did... we're going to go to jail, aren't we?”

“Twilight let us borrow it!” Applebloom said quickly. “When we told 'er all about your date, she said she'd be happy tah help! She was really busy though, so we just asked to borrow one of them fancy chariots. Then we asked them if they'd be willing tah pull yah tah where everything's set up! Yah know, on account ah Aloe's bum leg.”

“My leg is not bum!” Aloe said quickly. “It's a cracked hoof, it's quite common! Not... to this extent, obviously, but it happens all the time. I... err... this is all quite... so we're not going to jail for grand theft chariot?”

“Doesn't sound like it,” Applejack said with a sigh before pulling him towards it. “Come on, we'd best get goin'. Ah reckon we keep Rainbow grounded more than we have to, she'll try losin' us in the clouds.”

All five of them, including the fillies, climbed into the chariot. It was crowded, but Aloe didn't mind. It gave him a great excuse to lean against Applejack.

“Oh, and yah all gotta wear these,” Applebloom said before pointing towards a small package on the ground. “Rarity made 'em!”

Applejack picked up one of them and cocked an eye. “They're smaller than mah head an' compact. Yah sure Rarity made 'em? Ah don't even see any giant head pieces the size'a the moon.”

“Yep! She said it would be something simple but pretty!” Sweetie said with a squeal of delight. “Like you two!”

“She called us simple but pretty, eh?” Applejack asked with a sigh before pulling it out and opening hers. She let out a startled gasp as the rather fancy white cowpony hat, complete with orange feather, expanded to its full size. There was also a white gem studded neck bandana that sparkled in the light.

Aloe slowly opened his and gasped. His was a pearl coated headband and collar, just like the ones he wore at work. He slowly put them on, before cringing and patting his face. “I... I forgot to put my make up on, and my eyelashes and brush my mane!”

“Yah look fine,” Applejack said with a smile, before humming. She tried to think of what Rarity would like being called. “Yah look... radiant.”

“Y-you really think so?” he asked, perking up. His mane billowed in the wind, so he supposed brushing wouldn't have helped much. “Where are we going, anyway?”

“North orchard!” Applebloom said before the three fillies stood up in the back, peering out the edge. “Woo hoo!”

“Yah all didn't haveta go through all this for such a short distance, ah coulda carried him,” Applejack said with a chuckle, switching out to the new fancy hat and holding it down with a hoof. “Woulda been a lot easier an' less chance of air sickness.”

“Air sickness?” Aloe asked, before peering over the edge of the chariot. He paled and nearly toppled over the edge, barely being saved by Applejack.

“Easy sugar cube! What's wrong?”

“H-high...” he said with a soft whimper, wrapping his hooves tightly around her and shaking. They were soaring high over the trees, the tallest of which was too far to leap onto. “W-why are we s-so high?”

“Yah aren't scared ah heights, are yah?”

“Earth ponies aren't meant to fly! We're meant to be on the ground, s-safe and sound,” he said, still clutching to her tightly.

“Shh, don't worry. Rainbow an' Fluttershy would never let us fall. You're as safe up here as yah would be back at the farm. Okay?” Applejack said with a snicker.

He continued whimpering, clutching for dear life. She let out a sigh, before reaching out and gently brushing his mane, gently humming to him.

“D'awwwwww,” Applebloom and Sweetie said in unison. Scootaloo just rolled her eyes.

Aloe began to calm down, sighing softly and relaxing, just a little bit, against her. She continued to sooth him until they landed. A covered well, which now had a tablecloth over it, stood in the center of the clearing. “We're here. Yah feelin' better?”

“Y-yes. Sorry, I ummm, I'm not really... good with heights.”

“Ah understand. Jus' happy your sister showed me that lil trick ah hers. Calms yah down right quick,” the mare said with a chuckle. “Yah feel up for this?”

“Yes, sorta. I-I think I'll be okay now.” He hopped out from the chariot and let out a happy sigh.

Applejack turned to follow, but felt a nudge on her tail. Rainbow looked up at her. “You sure you want to do this? I mean, he's kinda... a wuss. Yah know?”

“Yeah, but he's pretty good with his hooves. Might jus' make up for it,” she said before hopping out from the chariot, chuckling at the wide eyed stare on the pegasus' face.

Two small chairs had been set up in front of the well, directly besides each other. The two took a seat and then there was a blur. Suddenly there was a lit candle in the middle of the table and the two pegasi and the three fillies were gone.

“Did... did you see that?” Aloe asked.

“No. Ah blinked. The h-- EEK!” Applejack nearly toppled backwards as a pair of plates seemed to spring into being in front of them. A second later it held small tiny bite sized cucumber sandwiches. “Pinkie? Is that-- Yikes!”

Suddenly a pink mare with a wild, pink mane was behind Applejack and squeezing her cheeks. “Shhhh, you'll break the magic if you acknowledge my existence!” Then she disappeared in another blur.

“How the heck does she do that?” Aloe asked, his mouth open.

“Ah got no idea. Just Pinkie bein' Pinkie ah suppose. I hope the others are okay, they disappeared awfully quick. Hope she was gentle.”

“Ah dang it, I'm covered in sap!” Rainbow called out from the trees.

“Not again!” Scootaloo whined.

“I think they're fine,” Aloe said with a snicker. “So, ummm, we're here. Is there... anything you wanted to talk about?” He gently reached out a hoof to touch hers. Once they did, soft music filled the air as birds began to gently sing their melody.

“And there's Fluttershy's other contribution,” Applejack said with a grin, before popping one of the sandwiches into her mouth. “Ah'm guessin' Rarity made these. Lil cutesy appetizers got her name all over 'em. Dessert should be a real treat if Pinkie's behind it.”

“Your sister and her friends found an excellent way to celebrate our first date, didn't they?” Aloe asked, mentally cheering as she didn't pull her hoof away.

“Gettin' all mah friends tah help was a bit interestin', ah'll say. Ah may have underestimated them.” She smiled to him and then glanced down at his hoof on hers. She gave it a little squeeze. “Ah... would like tah know one thing. You're from Prance, right? What made yah come down here all the way from there?”

He sighed and lowered his gaze. “I... I don't have many happy memories of my home. To be honest, I don't think Lotus did either. Our father had... many problems trying to deal with us, after the incident.”

“Oh no. He didn't send yah back to that school did he?”

Aloe groaned and shook his head. “Oh, no. After that, he knew better than to... well, he became accepting of me. Kind of. The guilt seemed to eat away at him after I... I had a bit of a breakdown after that. He took us from that school and... tried to understand me. Unfortunately, he misunderstood the kind of pony I was.”

“What, he keep tryin' tah get you tah be all manly?”

“Oh, no. The opposite. He tried to get me a sex change operation.”

Applejack choked on the cucumber sandwich. Aloe started pounding on her back as a glass of water miraculously seemed to materialize in front of them. “You okay?”

“Y-yeah,” she said, coughing weakly. “Come again? He tried tah get you a... a what now?”

“Tried to turn me into a girl.” He quickly raised his hooves and shook his head. “N-not forcefully! It's just, it's what he thought I wanted! I mean, I liked... dressing up, and make up, and... and all those filly things. Well, what he saw as filly things. He thought I... wanted to be a girl.”

“Err, yah didn't? Yah don't? Ah thought for sure yah were goin' for that.”

“Well, ummm... not really,” he said with a soft smile. “I like... being pretty, dolls, all those things mares tend to like. But I don't really want to be a mare.” He gently gulped. “I just... like those things. Most ponies don't find it acceptable for a stallion to like those kinds of things though, so I just pretended to be a girl. Not to mention, the outfit lines for mares tends to be a lot more varied than stallions. I just hate suits soooo much. I mean...” He paused as he tried to think of a suitable example that wasn't Applejack. “Well, look at Rainbow Dash. She likes rough housing and getting... well, a lot of stallion things. Doesn't mean she wants to be a stallion, does it?” He then paused for a moment. “Wait, she doesn't, does she? Because--”

“Ah don't think she does. Though right now ah imagine she wishes she was a bit less sappy. So, uhhh, how did all that work out?”

“Very confusingly. I still don't think my dad understands what it was I was telling him,” he said with a smile. “Once my sister and I finished school and saved some money, we decided to move someplace where they wouldn't know my past. Celestia had a number of incentives to business starting ponies at the time, so we ended up moving down here.”

“Oh yeah. Ah remember those, it's why Rarity went an' opened the boutique. Was a great year for us, we used our incentives tah buy a whole slew ah new equipment. Mosta it still works. Like that plow.”

“Yep, they were quite nice. I doubt we'd have made it without them.”

“Was awfully nice ah your sister tah come with yah. Looks like yah got a real strong family bond there.”

“We... we do. I don't know what I'd do without her, I know I could never run the shop without her.” He paused for a moment and smiled. “In fact, she reminds me of you. Strong, caring and an amazing sister.”

Applejack blushed and shook it off with a hoof. “Ah, now yah jus' doin' that flattery thing again, yah silver tongued scoundrel.”

Aloe giggled and then gave her hoof another squeeze. “So, I told my story to you, I think it's time I got to ask you a question.”

“Sounds fair, whaddaya wanna know?” She popped another sandwich in her mouth.

“What... what is it like, being one of the elements of harmony? I mean, it must be really stressful, but I'd love to hear about it.”

She sighed and shook her head. “Well, ah'm sorry tah disappoint, but there ain't a lot to it. Heck, most ponies didn't realize any of us were the elements when we still had 'em. They just knew there were six'a us, somewhere in Equestria. Even in Ponyville some ponies don't know. Only one of us is recognize regularly, is Twilight. An' that was more because she was Celestia's student before hoof. Now they know her cause she's a princess an' all.”

“Oh...” He gave her hoof another squeeze. “So there's nothing else? Come on, please?”

She sighed. “Well, ah'll be honest. It's almost all Twilight. If she had met jus' about any other pony, ah'm sure they'd be the element ah honesty now an' ah'd jus' be a farmer.”

“What? That can't be true, I mean, you're one of the most honest--”

“Ah got mah element for tellin' her tah fall, cause ah knew the others would catch her. It wasn't some great feat ah honesty, ah just knew she'd be fine, so ah told her tah let go. Pretty much any pony else coulda done it. Tah be honest, ah wonder all the time what woulda happened if there had been any pony else who'd gone with 'em instead ah me. Maybe if Big Mac had been the one tah be in charge ah all that grub, he'd be the element'a honesty now.”

“That can't be right. I mean, you're one of the most honest ponies ever! And... and you talk. He never does that.”

She snorted. “Ah know. But like it or not, in the end it all comes down tah Twilight. She was the one destined for greatness an' all that, the rest ah us are jus' here tah help her. Which is fine, don't get me wrong! Don't think ah'm complainin' or nothin'. Ah'm happy bein' the element ah honesty an' ah wouldn't give it up for the world. Jus', sometimes ah wonder if there isn't some other pony out there, more deserving.”

Aloe frowned and then sighed. “Well... I'm going to be honest. I think you like that. There probably is.” He cringed as the frown creased her brow. “But hear me out! Individually, there might be a pony more deserving. But it's not about who's more deserving. It's about who has that whole... friendship thing. Even before Twilight came, you were friends with all of them, right?” She nodded. “And you always make time for them? Even if there are ponies out there, who are more honest, that doesn't mean you're not worthy of it. I mean, what other pony would be that honest, have such a wide assortment of friends and be willing to go to the scariest place in Equestria with some random unicorn you'd met in one day? It wasn't just your honesty that got you your element.”

She snorted. “Ah suppose. Tah be fair, it was less scary than the alternative. Not give Rainbow something tah do so she'd end up chargin' the castle herself. Probably got the whole town blown up.”

“So, ummm, the Equestrian games are in a month. Do you, err, have tickets? I mean, are you going with any pony?”

Applejack chuckled, and nodded. “Ah am. We're all goin' up with Twilight. She has a big fancy royal princess thing goin' on right after so we all agreed tah be their for support.”

“That's really nice of you. Do you plan on... missing all that work?”

“We got a coupla workers tah help out while ah'm gone. Twilight's helped me out enough times on the farm that ah can afford tah miss a few days. Won't be any big deal.”

“Unless another threat to Equestria pops up, right?” he asked in a joking tone.

“Now don't you go temptin' fate,” she said with a chuckle, then glanced down at his plate. “Yah've barely touched your food, why not?”

“Well, ummm... it's silly...” Aloe said with a soft giggle. “But, I uhhh... well... to be honest.” He nervously poked his hooves together. “If I eat them faster, it'll mean the date ends quicker and I don't want that to happen.”

She snorted and shook her head. “Oh, yah don't have tah worry about that.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. If yah don't hurry up an' start eatin' your food, ah'll eat 'em for yah. Sides, ah don't plan tah be out here all night so we can finish eatin'. An' ah'm sure my sister has somethin' else in mind for us once we're done eatin'. So hurry up, you'll need your strength.”

He giggled and popped one of the sandwiches into his mouth. “I hope whatever they have in store for us isn't as scary as the flight here.”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Aloe screamed, caught his breath, then started screaming again. “AHHHHHHH!”

“Yee hawwww!” Applejack yelled, holding onto her hat as the two zip lined down the trees. Aloe was holding on as tight as he could, his yells echoing through the trees. “Yah should open your eyes, the view is great!”

“I'm gonna die I'm gonna die I'm gonna die!”

“You're yelling in Prench again! Wait, how do we stop these things?” Applejack asked, worry beginning to go through her when she saw the end coming up. A large branch sticking out where the end of the line was attached. “Ah buck. Ah knew saying yes was a bad idea.”

“AHHHHHHHHHHH!” Aloe screamed again, until they hit the end and the line stopped. Unfortunately, their rope didn't and they were flung up and around the tree branch again and again, until eventually the two came to a stop, now tightly bound to the branch.

Applejack glanced down to the stallion, now trapped to her chest. “Ugh, yah all okay?”

“Mmphhhh... mmfffll, whimper.”

“Yeah, ah'm startin' tah think we shoulda said no too. Yah really gotta work up your resistance to that filly stare. It's powerful, but they're jus' going to keep using it on you if yah don't fight back. Especially if yah keep lookin' straight at it like that.”

“Mmmff.”

“Don't worry, we're still alive, we--” There was a loud crack as the branch began to groan. “--we'll be down in a second.” The branch collapsed, dropping them in a tied heap on the ground. Applejack spent a few seconds unbundling them, finally getting the stallion off her when the others arrived.

“That! Was! AWESOME!” Rainbow yelled, a wide grin on her face. “I never thought I'd say this, but you two really flew! I wanna go next!”

“Ah think we broke it,” Applejack said with a groan. “Aloe?” She gave him a little nudge, but he didn't respond. She rolled him onto his back and let out a little gasp. “Ah think it mighta been a bit too much for him.”

He didn't stir, his eyes little swirls.

“Awwww,” Scootaloo said with a whine. “We didn't even get to try bungee jumping or the fighting for your honor!”

“Come again?” Applejack asked with a cocked eye.

“Yeah, we were going to have him fight Rainbow for your honor, it was going to be romantic!” Sweetie said with a sigh. “We even set up some jousting equipment, just like the crystal ponies used. Well, kinda like those ones.”

“Uh huh... Rainbow, yah didn't agree tah any of this, did yah?” Applejack asked with a sigh.

“Nope. Though jousting would be an awesome way to spend a date. You two should do that next!”

“It was going to be a surprise!” Applebloom said quickly.

“Yeah, ah'm gonna get Aloe here back to the farm. Rainbow, Fluttershy, Pinkie, can yah take the kids home?” Applejack asked before lifting the now barely conscious stallion onto her back.

“But big sis!” Applebloom asked, giving the filly eyes.

“I'll... I'll do whatever you say...” a dazed Aloe said with a groan, caught once again in the gaze's power.

“Eeenope. Come on, fella. Yah need tah get back to the farm an' get some rest. Yah had a big day,” Applejack said. Her friends got to work, getting the chariot ready. She shook her head. “Jus' take them home an' give it back tah Twilight. Ah think a nice walk in the orchard will be nice for him.” She then turned and trotted through the trees.

“Sorry...” Aloe mumbled, laying limp on her back. “I've never... gone zip lining before...”

“It's fine, sugar cube. Ah hope yah had fun.”

“I certainly did.”

“Yah learn your lesson?”

“I-I can't help it. I just look into those wide, adorable eyes. It's hypnosis, I swear.”

“They do got mighty powerful eyes.”

Aloe sighed and watched the ground go by. After a few moments he looked up. “Ummm... did you? I mean... well...” He poked his hooves together. “Did... did the worst possible thing happen?”

“Yah don't have anything else broken, as far as ah can tell, so ah'd say no.”

“I mean... do you still want to... date me?”

Applejack stopped, looking around the trees for a few moments. The two were completely alone. “Well...” She let the word hang in the air.

“Y-yes? N-no?”

“Ah see no reason tah break up with yah. This was actually a nice night. Mostly. Ah'll might need tah toughen yah up a lil bit, but ah think it wouldn't be the worst thing ever tah stay with yah. 'Sides, you're kind cute.”

“Eeeeeee!” Aloe squealed with delight, waving his hooves around in delight. Applejack cringed and decided investing in some ear plugs wouldn't be the worst investment.

Twilight, the purple alicorn princess, groaned from her position at her desk in the Ponyville Library. A book laid in front of her, its words illuminated by the weak candlelight. She reached a hoof up to stifle a yawn, before letting out a shriek when she realized it wasn't her hoof she way yawning into. “AHHHH! Discord!”

“Hello princess, all is well I hope?” the creature asked before pulling his talons away, disappearing, then reappearing on her desk standing only a few inches tall. “You really shouldn't stay up so late, it can't be good for your eyes.”

“What do you want, Discord?” she asked, shaking her head to clear her mind. “I'm tired and not in the mood.”

“Me? Want anything? I'm just merely paying you a visit! That is what friends do, is it not?” He grinned up at her with an innocent smile.

“Discord, I'm not buying it. What do you want?”

“Just curious if you've read the paper lately?”

Twilight cringed, her wings locking up. “Why... yes. I have. I assume you mean the Discord times?” she asked through gritted teeth. She wished she could yell at the monster, but without the elements to seal the beast away in stone, there was very little she could do to truly punish him. Like a child immune to groundings, he knew it and abused it.

“Yes, yes. Dreadful business that. However, Fluttershy says I really must apologize, who knew that helping a friend could be so tricky?” he asked, shaking his head in mock sadness.

“I know you didn't come here just to tell me this. Discord, what do you want?” Twilight asked with a low growl, struggling to hold back her temper.

“Why, I've merely come to ask your advice. You are the expert, are you not? However can I possibly make it up to this poor, damaged pony?”

Twilight sighed and took a deep breath. She was too tired for this. “I don't know if you can. Try apologizing. A lot. I don't know, some grand gesture to show you learned your lesson, that you truly are sorry for what you did. Something--”

“Grand gesture, got it,” he said before disappearing with a wicked chuckle.

The princess groaned and face hoofed. “Bucking...” She pulled out a quill and scroll. “Dear Princess Celestia, I regret to inform I am going to be unable to attend tomorrow, as I will be too busy trying to stop...”

A unicorn stallion snuggled into his bed, sighing contently as he dreamed of his wonderful marefriend, Rosering. He was suddenly jarred awake by something smacking into his bed. “H-huh? Wha?” he said with a groan, before looking around. It was too dark to see anything, so he flipped on the light switch.

In his room stood Aloe, a brick in his face. The boy could see the lamp behind the pink pony, through him. The light flickered for a moment and the earth pony was gone.

The unicorn stared in horror, before letting out a scream.

Returning Home

The next few days passed quickly, with Aloe spending most of his time nestled up in bed. Finally, his release came. He laid on his back as Nurse Redheart slowly unbound his hooves and smiled. “Well, this looks much better than it did. I take it you've been careful not to walk on them?”

“Of course,” Aloe said with a grin. Technically, zip lining wasn't walking.

“Good, now, this may sting a moment, but it'll go away.” She proceeded to put small white globs on his hooves. They tightened and stung his hooves, but after a few moments they formed into white, thick hoof covers. “These should allow you to walk fine until they properly heal. Just don't buck anything and come in for a weekly check up.”

“Oh... so it means I should go home?”

“For the love of Celestia please do,” the mare said, then cringed.

“What's that supposed to mean?” he asked, confused at such a harsh reaction.

She sighed. “Well, you and Lotus have been away for a few days now. Without the spa being available, we're constantly being hounded for massage therapy. We have one on staff, but we usually direct those ponies to you! Our masseuse is on the verge of quitting! Not to mention, apparently some pony found out about you getting hurt, now I get four or five calls a day asking if you're hurt. Half the time from the same ponies! It's as if they have no idea what patient/nurse confidentiality is!”

Aloe smiled. “Ponies are... are really worried about me? They aren't happy I'm gone?”

She shrugged. “You twins keep your prices respectable and offer a good service. I imagine everypony will be happy to see you two return.” She paused. “Most ponies, at least. I know our masseuse will be.”

He nodded, gently poking his hooves together. “So... I can get up?”

“Yep. You can walk as much as you like, so long as it's just walking.”

“Thanks!” He reached out and gave her a big hug. “If anypony asks, tell them we'll be back tomorrow! I can't wait to get back to work!” He let her go, face red. “Err, sorry. Got excited.”

Redheart shrugged. “You aren't the first to hug me after good news, and you won't be the last. Have a nice day, Aloe.” She picked up her bags and trotted away. “Remember, weekly check ups!”

“Yes ma'am!” he said happily before getting off the bed and preparing to dance.

“No dancing!” the nurse yelled, glaring from the doorway.

“Err, right. Eh heh heh...”

Applejack trotted towards the house, her mane and coat matted with sweat from the hard days labor. She actually felt pretty good, she'd been receiving massages from her new colt friend the last few nights and she was beginning to like the idea of having a masseuse around the farm. Caramel and Big Mac didn't have any objections either, since the twins were more than happy to do them as well. Even Granny Smith was becoming more spry with those two around to help with some proper exercises.

For now though, she was looking forward to cooking dinner then taking a long, comfortable bath. However, as she came closer to the house a delightful, but strange, sent filled her nostrils. “What in tarnation? Do yah all smell that?”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac said.

Caramel frowned. “Yah don't think Applebloom is tryin' tah gain her cookin'--” He let out a yelp as the other two ponies dashed inside. They stopped at the entrance to the kitchen, letting out relieved sighs.

Aloe and Lotus were humming softly as they chopped up vegetables, fruits and hay. Most of it when onto large plates, with an assortment of dips. The latter looked up and smiled. “Dinner will be ready in a moment. How about you three get upstairs and clean off.”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac said, before galloping off and laying claim to the first shower.

“Hey! That's cheatin'!” Applejack objected, slowly trotting up the stairs. “Second ones mine.”

“Awwww,” Caramel whined.

The three were soon showered and back down for dinner. The table was filled with small snacks to munch on while the twins finished preparing the dinner. They even had softer little bite sized pastries that Applebloom and Granny Smith just adored.

“Yah sure yah should be walkin' about, Aloe?” Applejack asked before downing a piece of broccoli. “What'd Redheart say?”

“As long as I don't gallop or anything, it'll be fine.” He paused and turned to them. “This is a special celebratory dinner. Now that I'm mostly better, I'll be heading home and getting out of your manes. So tonight, prepare for a meal of...” He looked back. “Well, actually you all eat really well normally. Prepare for a meal you don't have to make yourselves! Don't fill up on appetizers, we have a delectable meal prepared for you five.”

The twins got back to work, humming happily as the five shared looks of mixed emotions. After a few moments Applejack spoke up. “So, err, yah all plan tah leave immediately? Ah mean, you're all welcome tah stay if yah want. Yah two have been excellent guests.”

“No, we couldn't dream of impeding on your hospitality any longer,” Aloe said with a smile before looking at the timer. “You've all been so delightful, but there is so much hard work to do here, taking care of us couldn't have been easy.”

“Err, it really was no problem,” Applejack said quickly. “Yah all were wonderful. Weren't a hassle in the slightest.”

“Oh, you are too kind. But--”

“Now yah listen here, young'in,” Granny Smith snapped, slamming a hoof down on the table. “If mah grandaughter says yah weren't no hassle, it means yah weren't no hassle, yah got that?”

The twins hid behind a plate and nodded. “Y-yes Granny Smith,” they said in unison. The timer dinged and the two ponies quickly replaced the appetizers with the meal. A large casserole, a pot of thick stew and a number of small pastries filled with thick cream were placed on the table.

“Huh. Ah didn't think the two of yah knew how to cook things like this,” Applejack said with a grin. “Err, no offense.”

“It wasn't that hard,” Aloe said with a blush. “We know how hard you ponies work, so we had to make you something with plenty of filling.” They quickly began dishing everything out and the dinner talks began.

“So, yah all sure about headin' back? We wouldn't mind havin' yah around a bit longer,” Applejack said with a grin.

“Especially with those massages,” Caramel said with a sigh. “Ain't nothin' like workin' all day knowin' yah have one of those tah look forward to.”

Aloe giggled, “Well, I'll definitely come by to visit, and I'll be more than happy to perform those tasks. But we really should return. We've already been gone almost a week and we didn't have anypony we could leave in charge.” He let out a soft, disappointed sigh. “We really should find somepony who can run the shop when we're not around.”

“We don't usually go on vacation,” Lotus said softly, poking her hooves together. “Perhaps Silktouch?”

“Maybe, she... oh, ahhh, sorry. We can discuss all that later, no need to talk business at the dinner table,” the stallion said nervously.

“So, did they ever find the pony who bricked your shop?” Caramel asked.

The twins locked up. Aloe shivered. “I... I don't know. Lotus, h-have you heard anything?”

“No. I haven't gone back to town either. Did Nurse Redheart mention anything?”

“No... oh Celestia. Who knows what they did to the shop while we were away?” Aloe sunk into his chair and rested his head on his hooves. “The place could be burned down...”

“Now sugar cube, ah'm sure that's not what happened,” Applejack said quickly. “Don't yah worry, we can all go down their tomorrow an' see about fixin' anythin' that's gone down. If somethin' serious happened, ah'm sure Twilight woulda come an' got me.”

“I... I guess,” he mumbled, nudging his plate. He took a few bites before getting up. “I... I'm not really feeling hungry. I'll come down to help with dishes in a bit...” He got to his hooves and trotted away, returning to the front room and dropping down on the couch.

Applejack sighed and glanced to Lotus. “Ah've spent enough time with Rarity tah recognize a drop an' pout. Think ah should handle it, or you?”

“You have been succeeding quite wonderfully lately, how about you.” Lotus gestured towards the exit. “You're quite skilled at this, to be honest.”

“Eh. Yah spend enough time with Rarity, yah learn how tah handle it. Least he doesn't whine quite as high pitched,” Applejack said with a shrug before trotting out to see the stallion. “Yah doin' okay?”

“Huh? Oh, I-I'm fine. Just thinking...” Aloe mumbled. “I just wanted some time to think. I'm n-not wallowing in my misery, I swear.”

“Uh huh. Sure yah aren't.” She sat down next to him.

“I know what you're going to say. I need to get over it, right?” he mumbled, poking his hooves together.

“Well... no. Somepony went outta their way tah hurt yah, an' ah imagine that can't feel right no matter how tough yah try tah be. However--” She reached down and put a hoof over his. “This ain't like when yah were a kid. Yah aren't alone. Your secret may be out, but yah still have ponies who care about yah, friends this time. It ain't yah versus a buncha bullies. Yah got me, your sis, all your other friends. Yah ain't gonna haffta do any ah this alone, ever again.” She gave his hoof a little squeeze. “But yah are gonna haveta face your fears, that means goin' back tah town and dealin' with whatever they did.”

“I thought you were okay with us staying?”

“Ah am, but not if it's just cause yah wanna hide. Don't worry, we'll be with yah an' help yah with whatever comes.” She got to her hooves and pulled him up. “Now come on back tah dinner. Yah ain't alone and yah shouldn't spend your last night as our guest tryin' tah be.”

He smiled, nodding. “Okay.” He followed behind her and sighed. “I... I don't know if I can though. I mean, face them. I'm not sure if I'm... if I'm strong enough.”

“Then we'll be there tah help pick up the slack. Cause that's what friends do.”

Aloe gulped nervously as they slowly trotted towards Ponyville. Lotus and Applejack were on either side and even Big Mac had come, on the opposite side of lotus. The four slowly trotted towards the spa. He let out a gasp when he saw it.

The building was pristine. From top to bottom, the walls were painted, windows had been fixed, even the roof shingles they had been meaning to repair were all replaced. He stared, mouth agape. “It's... it's wonderful. Who did this? Wh-- AHH!” He was suddenly glomped from behind, causing the others to whip around.

Cherilee latched onto him with a fervor, her hooves tied tightly around his neck. “Oh Aloe, you, you have no idea how much I missed you! It's been horrible, horrible! Without our weekly sessions, I had no way of.. of... err, hello.” She looked up sheepishly at the staring ponies.

“I-I was only gone a couple of days,” Aloe said softly, his face just red enough to pierce his coat.

“Please don't do it again! Or... err, leave a replacement.” The mare slowly unwound herself from around his neck, looking around nervously as she realized the scene she just made. “I... I don't suppose you're planning to reopen today, are you?”

“Err, we are. We'll be--”

“I want your first appointment!” she said quickly.

“Err, but didn't you read the paper, I'm a stal--”

“I want your first appointment!” she repeated, ignoring his objections. “I don't care if you're a stallion, mare or thirty story dragon.” Her eyes twitched. “I have so much we have to talk about. Glue! There was glue EVERYWHERE!”

“Oh, umm, in that case. Errr, we'll be open in an hour or so, just come back--”

“Okay!” she said happily, walking off with a spring in her step.

“Well, that was... weird,” Aloe said nervously as he watched the mare leave.

“A tad,” Applejack said with a shrug. “Maybe yah are a tad better with the mares than yah thought,” she teased.

His cheeks flared up, then he grinned. “Well, I got you! Sorta. I can't be all bad.”

Lotus chuckled and trotted to the door, pushing it open. The place was pristine, the floor even mopped. “Wow. He really went the extra mile when he fixed that window.”

“I guess we better call everypony, let them know we're back,” Aloe said before smiling back at Applejack. “I... I guess you were right. This isn't so bad. Maybe it can-- AHHHHH!” He screamed and dove behind her.

It took the mare a few moments to catch what startled him, but when she did her eyes narrowed. “Discord. What are you doing here?” she asked with a growl, the strange creature leaning back in the chairs of one of the hanging paintings.

“What? I'm just here to greet the returning spa ponies, is that so bad?” He snapped his fingers and appeared behind them, causing Aloe to whimper and topple over before trying to crawl away. “Now now, I'm here to apologize. Fluttershy was quite insistent that I do. I even went the extra mile and fixed up your little... home. I wasn't sure what was vandalized and what was original, so I fixed everything. I hope you don't mind.” He said with an almost innocent grin.

“W-what?” Aloe asked, looking around wildly. “Wait, you did all this?”

“Of course. It was Twilight's idea. A grand gesture, no?” he asked, as the grin slowly took on a darker, more wicked tint. “I did everything a pony like you could want. Why, I even--”

“Discord!” Twilight suddenly yelled from the doorway, her horn glowing. “I've been looking everywhere for you. What were you... oh, ummm, hello Aloe. Happy to see you're back. Now you!” She turned to the spirit of chaos. “What is it you're up to?”

“What? I'm merely being a friend after my dreadful mistake. Trying to make amends.” He put an arm over his forehead and mock swooned. “Is it not enough? Can I not even try to apologize without being called a villain?”

“I'm not buying it, Discord. What is it you have planned?”

“He's telling the truth,” Aloe said softly, though he made sure there was a piece of furniture between him and the creature. “All he did was fix up our shop. No trickery, no damage, no destruction. Just... fixed it. I really didn't think he'd be capable of something so... nice.”

Twilight stared for a few moments, before looking to the others. “Really? That's it?”

“Seems so, sugar cube,” Applejack said with a shrug. “Maybe Fluttershy was right. He can do some good when he really tries.”

The alicorn let out a sigh of relief. “Well, that's a relief. Discord, I'm... sorry for doubting you. I'm sure you can imagine why I-- ahhh!” she let out a startled cry as she was nearly barreled over by three panicked young stallions. They galloped straight to Lotus, and fell on their knees before her.

“Thank Celestia you're back, you have to save us!”

“What?” the mare asked, staring down at the quivering stallions.

“We're sorry we threw the brick and egged your place, we didn't mean to hurt any pony! We just thought it was a good prank! A prank, we didn't mean to hit your weirdo brother with the brick!”

“WHAT?” Aloe yelled, turning to glare at them. “That was you? Why you--”

“AHHHH! It's back! Save us!” The three dove behind Lotus, quivering. “Please, stop it before it devours our souls and takes us down to tartarus! We're sorry, we'll fix everything, do whatever you want! Just make it stoooooop!”

“What?” Aloe asked, his mouth falling open as he just stared at the three terrified ponies.

“Please, keep it away! We need our souls!”

Discord burst into laughter, before lounging on the couch. “Ah yes, I did say I went the extra mile for you, dear friend,” he said with a snicker. “To ensure no pony tormented you any more.”

“What?” Aloe asked, turning his gaze to him. “What did you do?”

“These ponies decided it was okay to hurt you and destroy your property. I merely decided to... penalize them for such actions.” He pulled out half of a brick, before tossing it into his mouth where it melted like cotton candy. “That is what friends do, is it not? Hurt those who hurt their friends?”

“You... you what? You did...”

“No need to thank me. Just consider it part of my apol--”

“WHAT IN TARTARUS IS WRONG WITH YOU?” Aloe finally screamed, struggling with all his might to say it in Equestrian and not revert to Prench. “What in that depraved, sick mind of your could possibly make you think I wanted anything like this?”

“Now sugar cube--” Applejack started, but was quickly interrupted by Aloe holding up a hoof.

“No, that's it. I mean this. What in tartarus is wrong with you? That... that bullying was the worst part of my life. All of my most painful memories, things that almost destroyed me, are because of that! What could possibly make you think I'd want anypony to have to go through that!” he screamed, stepping out from the shelter to glare at the creature.

Discord chuckled, though he went silent when a bar of soap hit him upside the head.

“It's just funny to you, isn't it? Just because we're ponies, just something for you to torment for your sick little games. Concepts like bullying don't mean anything to you, do they? All because you've only been on the giving end of them! I really hope one day you finally get to experience how it feels not to be the strongest, most omnipotent being around. To finally understand how it feels to have somepony else able to do whatever they like, and you're helpless to stop them. Then, maybe you'll finally stop being such a sick monster and see why what you've done is just... just so horrible!” Aloe yelled, tears welling up in his eyes.

Discord glowered at the pony, his fists clenching. He then looked to Twilight. “Well? He's being quite rude after my kind gift, don't you have anything to say?”

“No. He's right,” Twilight said before glaring to him. “Just go home, Discord. You've caused enough troubles.”

The spirit's eyes narrowed, but then he shrugged. “Very well. I can't help it if none of you can appreciate my brand of friendship.” He snapped his fingers and disappeared.

Aloe gulped and slowly the color drained from his face. “I... I just yelled at Discord, didn't I?”

“Eeyup,” Applejack said with a smile.

“I'm going to be turned into a frog, or worse, aren't I?” he asked with a soft whimper.

“Eeenope,” she said with a chuckle and patted his head. “Yah did fine. Don't worry, we'll keep Discord off your back, an' if he tries anything we'll be there tah get yah outta it. However, we still got another issue to deal with.” She motioned to the three cowering stallions, who still refused to come out of hiding behind Lotus.

Every pair of eyes in the room, aside from Twilight's, turned to them.

Aloe sighed gently and sat down on the lobby couch, besides Applejack. The doors were now locked and the moon stood high in the sky. In the back, the three 'volunteers' were working to put everything away, under the strict supervision of Lotus.

The day had been wonderful for him. While there were a few awkward moments, few ponies seemed to mind his status. Even Bulk Biceps, who he was certain was going to kill him, had merely given the earth pony a tearful hug. He'd also threatened to give any pony who ever tried anything mean like that again, a stern talking to.

He reached out a hoof to gently touch hers, internally cheering as she didn't pull away. “So, I ummm... thanks.”

“What for?” she asked with a cocked eye.

“Everything. I ummm... I can walk now so I... I'll ummm, when do you think you'd like to go on another date? This time, I'll prepare it.”

She hummed for a moment. “Ah got some time near the end'a the week. Ah gotta help Rarity with some movin' tomorrow an' Applebloom with her homework. After that ah gotta lotta work, we're gonna try repairin' the... well, ah'm jus' awfully busy.”

Aloe shrugged and scooted in closer. “I don't mind, I'll wait as long as I need to.” He slowly brought her hoof up to his mouth and placed a delicate kiss on it. “You're so very much worth it.”

She blushed and looked away. “There yah go with that Prench flattery again. Yah know yah don't haveta.”

“Oh, but I want to.” He giggled and looked into her eyes. “Thank you so much, Applejack. It really does mean the world to me that you're still giving me a chance even though...”

She sighed and lightly tapped him on the head. “Now don't yah go off on that again. We're jus' datin' sugar cube. Frankly, ah ain't findin' yah too bad. Bit of a whiner, but you're kinda cute sometimes too.” She gave his cheeks a little pinch, eliciting a pout from the stallion. “In a good way. But our relationship is just getting started, and we have a lotta time tah figure out how we're gonna end up. So stop worryin' about bein' thankful an' try enjoyin' yourself. Ah know ah am.”

He nodded and then gave her a hug. “Sooooo, does this mean I'm almost to the point I might get kisses?”

She burst into laughter. “Now don't you go pushin' it, sugar cube. We got all the time in the world.”

Author's Note

And finished! I'll be honest, the story went a lot longer than I initially intended it to. I don't regret it though. I hope everyone enjoyed it and I might one day write a sequel to it, Aloe was a lot of fun to write. Thanks for reading.