Nervous Feather

Featherweight left ButtonMash and Rumble as they went their separate ways, satisfied with Rumble’s excitement to go get the new console. He fluttered away toward Sugarcube Corner, change clinking in his pockets as he went. He walked by some stalls at the market, then a shady stallion looked up at him by the apple stall and said, “Hey, kid. Wanna make some quick bits?”

Featherweight, not wanting to be rude or say yes, replied to the stranger, “No, thanks, mister. I already have enough bits.” The pony waved him off, and Featherweight hazily jumped away.

As he trotted away home he heard screams coming from the market, followed shortly by a familiar voice shouting, “I’m the Yes Colt.”

Featherweight ran down the street shouting, “There’s a mad pony with a gun in the market! Guards! Help, Mad Pony!” He flew down the streets so fast that he narrowly missed the group the young mares that ran the floral stalls, gossiping around a green haired pink earth pony. He shouted an apology and continued flying down the road until he saw several guards flying straight toward the market stalls, and then Featherweight slowed down and started walking. As his heart returned to normal, he realized that he had shot right past Sugarcube Corner, and was almost to Sweet Apple Acres.

Great, he thought to himself. What were you going to do, go up to her door and ask if she wanted to go hang out? You’d be shot down faster than you can shoot your camera. He sulked with his head down, and turned around wearily, running smack into hers truly. “Oh, h-h-hey Applebloom. What are you doing?” His surprised and shaky tone took AppleBloom to no surprise, seeing as that was how he always talked when she was around.

“Ah! Featherweight. Didn’t see ya there. What are you doin out here by the Orchards?”

He quickly tried to muster up what little bravado he had as he said, “I-I came to make sure you weren’t over by the market where those robbers were. I guess you weren’t.”

AppleBloom shook her head vigorously, “Ah nope, I was over by the school with Scootaloo and SweetieBelle, and I was just about to go get some bits and go head down over to go see ‘em down by Sugarcube Corner.”

Featherweight shook his head and replied, “How about I pay for it. I was about to head over there, and I have enough bits for the both of us. What do you say, AppleBloom?”

AppleBloom eyes lit up slightly and said somewhat quietly, “Ya sure? I don’t wanna inconvenience you er nothin.”

Featherweight shook his head and smiled, “I don’t mind, I have enough bits. So let’s go, shall we?” He pointed a hoof down the road into town.

The duo trotted into town slowly, chatting to each other about school, and other small things neither one of them really were interested in. As they ambled to the front door of the sweet shop, Scootaloo was bouncing out the door, a small smile adorned upon her face, making Featherweight really wish he had brought his camera with him today. She would have ran right into him if it weren’t for AppleBloom commenting slyly, “Did ah miss it? Awww. What he say?” Scootaloo’s eyes widened in shock of one of her best friends voices ringing.

“Oh, sorry didn’t see you there, Featherweight. I’ll tell you tomorrow, at the next crusaders meeting.” AppleBloom shrugged as Scootaloo galloped away, and then she and Featherweight walked into Sugarcube Corner, stomachs growling.

“Two strawberry milkshakes, please,” Featherweight asked Mr. Cake, gently setting the bits onto the counter.

Mr. Cake looked at the two and replied, “Sure thing Featherweight. And keep your bits, it’s on the house.” Featherweight put the money into the tip jar, unwilling to not pay for their snacks. AppleBloom grabbed a booth by the window, the evening sun beginning to go down glowing in the window. Featherweight grabbed the shakes and carried them over to her, smiling shyly as he did so.

As they finished their shakes, AppleBloom looked at Featherweight and said, “Thank you again fer the shakes there, Featherweight. I really appreciate you doin this fer me, considerin that I don’t really know you too much.”

Featherweight coughed a bit and said sheepishly, “Don’t mention it. Gosh, I wish I had brought my camera, the light is just perfect to get a picture of you.”

She smiled back and smiled, “Ah, you don’t mean that, your just ah flatterin me.”

Featherweight smiled a bit and said, "No I mean it, the lighting just compliments your amazing face." They sat quietly, both looking out into the street, watching as the sun began to start its journey down.

AppleBloom suddenly said, “I have a better place we can go watch the sunset, if yah wanted to.”

Featherweight sat up and replied, “Sure, I wouldn't mind watching the sunset with you, on one condition. You let me go grab my camera real quick.”

Applebloom got up and left the booth, smiling as her voice rang out, “I wouldn't have it any other way.”

Featherweight and AppleBloom looked out at the sunset from the hill, watching the beauty of Celestia’s work. Featherweight took his camera and got a couple of pictures, the old radio AppleBloom had playing away in the background. As a particular tune played on the Radio, Featherweight started tapping his hoof and singing along.

Applebloom, knowing the song well, asked aloud, “I didn’t know you liked Trot McGraw? He’s one of my Favorite singers!”

Featherweight, still in the melody of the song, replied, “He’s a legend. I love this song. It makes me want to dance.” AppleBloom blushed shyly as he suddenly held out his hoof and asked politely, “Say, can I have this dance?”

AppleBloom pinkish blush turned  as red as her brother’s coat, and muttered, I-I don’t really know how to dance, Featherweight. I got two left hooves.”

Featherweight grabbed her front hooves suddenly and stuttered, “I-it’s easy; I’ll teach you. Just put your hooves there and there. No, there. Good. Now, just follow my hoovesteps, and I’ll lead. O.k you’re getting the hang of it.”

The two foals danced around to Trot until the song ended, and Then AppleBloom said blushingly, “Thank you, Feathers. I think I am getting the hang of it now. Is it o.k if I call you feathers? Your name is just so long sometimes.”

Featherweight lauged slightly and mused the nickname. “It’s ok, You can call me Feathers. And let’s just see how well you’ve learned,” He said as another song, this time from the Equestrian Young Band, came on.

The two danced gracefully atop the hill, singing along to the song they both knew well.

Baby why you wanna cry

You really ought to know that I

Just have to walk away sometimes

They swirled around to the beat, their voices mingling softly together, then both of their  voices rang out when the chorus began, both of them smiling and spinning as they sung.

Crazy Mare, don’t you know that I love you,

And I wouldn’t dream of goin’ nowhere

Silly Filly, come here, let me hold you,

Have I told you lately,

I love you like Crazy, mare.

They swirled around, caught up in their dancing, almost knocking over the radio. They dance to another verse or so, until at the last chorus, right after the Have I told you lately part, Featherweight opened his eyes and said to AppleBloom, “I love you like Crazy, Mare,” as he slowly pressed his muzzle against hers, their lips melting together softly. His heart pounded rapidly, like he was jumping over Canterlot, and his mind felt like it was fried from the emotions running through it.

Feather weight, after what felt like an eternity of joy, pulled back from the embrace and looked into her beautiful amber eyes, both of them trying to remember how to breathe. Featherweight began searching for an emotion other than the mutual shock, trying desperately to see how she felt. He stumbled heavily as he said, still inches away from her beautiful face, “I-I-I-I am so sor-” Her lips cut off his voice, His sentence lingering in the air. The song faded into the background, the sun finally crossing the horizon, snapping them back into reality after the pure bliss of their embrace. The two just backed off and looked at each other, eyes full of something, some feeling that neither one of them fully understood but both enjoyed immensely. Then Featherweight, realizing that the sun had well set behind the trees and the only light they had had come from the lights of Apple Bloom’s house, the broke the silence and said, “Well, my parents are probably worrying about me, so I better head home.”

Apple Bloom’s face hung low as she solemnly agreed, but before Feathers left, he shouted out, “Hey, look up!” As AppleBloom did a flash suddenly appeared, and Feathers lowered his camera. “See you tomorrow?” He asked in a small voice.

She replied with a playful grin, “Of course, silly. Where else would I be tomorrow?” They both laughed as they said their goodbyes, and Featherweight laughed inside about how Button and Rumble were going to react to this when he tells them.