Curtains into the Soul

by AppuhCobbler

Rating: everyone
Tags: Comedy, Romance
Length: 4003

The shy and timid bespectacled Apple Cobbler finds herself looking love tips from fellow ponies.

Heart and Hooves Day may have been over months ago but it's never too late to find that special pony, at least, that's what Apple Cobbler, a young but timid pony is hoping for. After meeting a very special pony at a local candy shop, she tries to approach him but finds herself hiding behind her glasses. Losing hope,she decides to take a walk before bumping into a very lively pony.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-05-06 00:16:58 UTC

Tell me about it, BIG TIME

Hnnngghh, she sighed frailly.

It was 10 o' clock in the morning. Most ponies were busy at this time of day, adults and even teens at work or children . She was glad Sorbet was there to step in when she was about to leave, but sorry that she didn't thank him and just walked out, or in reailty, ran out with tears about to drip down her eyes.

Smooth move, Cob, made yourself look like a fool and now you're just walking away. Wait, where am I going, anyway? Probably no where like I am with him, she thought cynically. She had recently stopped running and slowed down to a walking pace. She had kept her head down the whole time, too disheartened to look up. Maybe what they said is true, she began walking at a faster pace. Forever alone... She then found herself trotting while looking downwards at the ground, too disheartened to look up at where she was goin-

*THUUDD!!!*

She had landed on her back but more importantly and painfully, her head felt rather numb. Did-... did i bump into a wall or some pon- aww no. Without even knowing if she actually bumped into some pony and not a wall, she shook her head to regain full body control and got back up, seeing some pink coated pony. "Are you..." she was trying to make out the pony, her vision was still blurred probably because of the concussion, "Pinkie Pie? And..." she squinted further noticing two black rather rounded outlines on the pony's eyes, "are you... wearing glasses?"

The pink coated pony who was still on the floor, still felt wobbly from the impact. She probably took most of the impact since I ran into her, Apple Cobbler thought, now feeling worse that she inflicted the most pain onto some other pony.

The pink pony, in an instant, got back up, much to Apple Cobbler's surprise.

She then shook her head violently. And out of nowhere, she started uttering, "WhooooWhooooWhooooo..." whilst swaying forwards and backwards from Cob's face, repeatedly.

Alright, it's Pinkie, she confirmed, now feeling more comfortable. She can tell by the high pitched and free spirit voice, as well as what she was doing, like back when Applejack was awarded a trophy for her work in Ponyville, Pinkie and Applejack were doing the same thing to the trophy, swaying back and forth at the trophy, enjoying the perspective.  Not to be mean and sound like I was exploiting Pinkie, but Pinkie rarely ever loses her cool or held a grudge against anypony, so it wasn't like Pinkie is going to be that mad at me. Well, that is if you break a Pinkie Promise or push her to insanity by not going to her parties.

It wasn't hard to know about these things. Ponyville is such a small town. Stories of individual ponies circulate pretty fast. Though more personal facts were made public than normal during that time when the little fillies started a gossip block in the newspaper. Thank Celestia, she wasn't on there. But that's probably because there wasn't anything interesting about her. She sighed.

"...whooowwWhoo-" Pinkie noticed a frown on the pony face. "Hey, what's wrong?" she asked with a empathetic tone.

Apple Cobbler didn't raise her head nor looked at her, "Oh it's nothing, Pinkie," she began to take steps to walk past Pinkie.

She just passed Pinkie by a few steps before she heard a *ZIP* from behind and when she looked upwards, she saw Pinkie right in front of her.

"You look new in town and awfully... small from where I'm standing."

Pinkie was just standing two feet away from her.

"I also never met a..." Pinkie paused a bit, "a mare with a mustache," she said with a puzzled look.

Apple Cobbler directed her eyes down to her nose.

"Oh wait, silly me. I think It's my Groucho glasses you have on there. We must've exchanged glasses when we bumped into each other. No wonder you looked weird when I swayed back and forth" Pinkie explained, giggling while quickly switching the two spectacles around in a blink of a eye.

She opened her eyes with her old pair of glasses back. Finally, I can see. And I thought I was still suffering from a concussion.

Pinkie took a good look at the pony, now with her real glasses. And in an instant, Pinkie gasped, sending her into the air, looking like she was sucking in an unhealthy amount of air before landing and excitingly said, "Hey, I know you! Then again I know everypony from around here." She saw Apple Cobbler's true color. She had a orange-brown coat, yellow mane, rich blue eyes, and her glasses were rather oblong, but didn't look like the one Rarity wore. They were more like reading glasses but not too rounded or rectangular. It really complimented her rich blue eyes, though.

"You were that pony that I helped when I sang my Smile song. I think it was when I was singing 'I'm gonna make you smile, and I will brighten up you da-aay."

It was true, she was tanning that one day but fell asleep. When she woke up, the sun had moved away, causing the tree to create a shade above her. It wasn't like she was in the shade to begin with, which some ponies assumed.

"Wait, why were you even in the shade? You can't get tanned that way, silly." Pinkie said, eyes closed and grinning.

Apple Cobbler was embarrassed but she was too apathetic at that moment.

"Pinkie..."

"Wait!... weren't you the pony that I knocked out while I was doing a cartwheel in the Sugar Cube Corner?"

"It's fine, Pinkie. And I uhh... I've had a rough day, do you mind if you let me go ho-"

"A rough day? Nopony should have a rough day on this beautiful day of perfection," she said gleefully. "You can tell me about it. Tell me about it BIG TIME," Pinkie encouraged while pressing her eyes against Cobbler's.

Alright... this is getting awkward, she thought, turning her face to the side. She didn't want to tell Pinkie this. It was embarassing and worst of all, it was heartbreaking to the point she almost cried a while back. But... it was Pinkie, she will never leave you and... something in her, her heart, told her what she was about to do was the right thing to do.

"Alright, I... I was working at the Sweet Affairs candy store down at the Town Meet. I was talking to my friend about a certain colt that I met a few days earlier and the shop. And, he was really cute, and he was nice to my friend taking his order while I was in the kitchen."

"OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!﻿" Pinkie exclaimed in excitement, "What does he look like? Is he a unicorn, pegasus, earth, or wait, I know, a unigasearth!" she blurted out.

"I gues- I guess I can tell you if you don't tell any other pony." Apple Cobbler said wearily.

Pinkie gasped in excitement, "I Pinkie Swear." she replied, looking incredibly steadfast. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"

"Oh, alright. Well," she started to herself blushing, "he looked like..."

"Like?" Pinkie's eyes enlarged, waiting in anticipation.

"Lik-," Apple Cobbler stopped, something behind Pinkie Pie caught her eye. She turned her face away to the left, avoiding the direction which Pinkie was at. "Uh, Pinkie, it's been really nice talking to you, but I gotta run, ha ha ha..." she said, chuckling unconvincingly, "Well, see you!"

And with that, Apple Cobbler turned tail and dashed away, leaving zip lines that disappeared before Pinkie can track it.

"What just happened?" she asked herself, "Did she see him in the..." she turned to see a, "crowd." A crowd had formed by a local book store as it was the launch of the new book, "Equipoise: Celestia on Trial".  Her eyelids lowered halfway, disappointed. "Huh, looks like I can't be much of a help...

...

"If I give up that is," she said in a thrilled manner, with a big grin.

It just get's better and better

*BWOOOOOOOOOOSSHHH*

She plowed right past the door and rightfully moved on to locking the entrance door that she just came in through.

"Whew," she uttered in relief, with her back against the door and eyes closed. She was panting from the amazing dash she just performed to get out of that unexpected situation. She never expected him to be just a dozen meters behind Pinkie right after being at the Bakery. Thankfully, he was talking to his friends, none of whom caught eye of her. His friends had previously been in the Bakery with him. The same friends who mocked me, she remembered, rolling her eyes in frustration.

She opened her eyes, looking upwards. She had remembered about Pinkie. She felt horrible for ditching her. I really hope Pinkie Pie didn't take it as me ditching her to get out of her question. Pondering on what to do next, she put Pinkie above everyone and everything else tomorrow. Starting tomorrow, she will apologize to Pinkie.

Feeling better about herself apologizing to Pinkie tomorrow and therefore feeling less guilt, she got back up on her hooves and started walking up the stairs. I should also apologize and thank Dimples for taking over my spot. He was always there to support her and now, she too walked out on hi-

"OH! APPLE COBBIE, DEAR?"

Apple Cobbler's walk up to her room was cut short, her mother's affectionate voice came from the kitchen.

Walking back down the stairs, she turned left and as she was about to enter the kitchen, she smelt the distinct scent of cinnamon. They say that the more you eat, smell, or see of something over a certain period of time, it leaves less of an impression on you than the first time you were exposed to it. But that wasn't the case with cinnamon, let alone her mom's cooking in general. To Apple Cobbler and many other ponies who have taken a bite or more of her mom's, dishes, it never feels old and instead, tasted as good as before if not better in some cases.

The same couldn't be said for Apple Cobbler though.

"You called, mom?" Apple Cobbler asked timidly, her head peeking from the wall.

"Oh Cobbie, I didn't expect you to be back so early," her mom turned her eyes to Apple Cobbler tucked away in the corner. She looked troubled, "Is something wrong, dear?"

"Uhh, yeah, I guess I'm feeling a bit under the weather today," she said in a uneasy tone. She didn't want to dwell on the colt she liked by mentioning him to her, so it was best to not mention anything about him, she thought. "Dimples is looking after the Bakery now, mom," she assured her.

"What a sweet colt," her mom said blissfully, stirring the mix in the bowl.

Apple Cobbler took a good view of the kitchen. Sliced apples, used butter, and baking kitchenware littered the table that was centered in the middle of the room. Certain parts of the table and floor was covered in flour. That's my mom... another typical day at home, she thought, softly smiling.

"Cobbie, do you remember about Wednesday?" her mother asked, without looking at Apple Cobbler.

Not wanting to be lost for words or sound irresponsible, even though she honestly forgot, she uttered, "Well, Wednesday's the day, uhh, the day..."

"The day either Princess Celestia or Luna visit Ponyville," she reminded, "I read in the papers that either two are visiting small towns all over Equestria to promote new businesses. And I know my Cobbie will blow them away."

Aww rotten apples, what could've made me forge- wait, never mind, she rolled her eyes at how unfortunate her life's been after being constantly reminded about... him.

"Heh, heh heh... totally, mom," she replied, trying to sound confident but it came out unconvincingly, instead.

"Oh, speaking of 'blowing them away', sweetie, I saw a couple pictures of the colt you liked, that'll... 'blow you away' in the Daily Mare papers today."

Apple Cobbler's eyes slightly widened.

"I didn't know he was part of the Wonderbolts, dear. Oh my Cob!" her mom's face became excited, "My young sweet Cobbie might get together with a Wonderbolts!" her mom said gleefully, jumping up and down, consumed by how stimulating that notion was.

"Dashing, aerodynamic, brave, and just plain... charming," she said in awe, gleeing.

Apple Cobbler turned red, embarrassed and uneasy by her mom pushing him right in her face but more so from how ridiculous her mom is acting at the knowledge of him being a member of the Wonderbolts.

"Alllriiigght, mom," she began walking up the stairs to her room, "I guess I'll leave you to your cooking and your... secret obsession with the colt I like," Apple Cobbler teased, chuckling as she closed the door.

"He'll be flying through the skies, holding hooves with my own daughter like in Supermar- Wait, what?" she said, stopped short when she realized what Apple Cobbler had said.

________________________________________________________________________________

Wow, what happened here? She panned left to right, remembering the mess of a room she had left two days ago. And now, it was all gone. Her clothes weren't on the floor, her bed was done, and her work desk seemed cleared. All thanks to her mom.

"I really do take ponies for granted, lately" Apple Cobbler said to herself, feeling a bit guilty. She wasn't the one who showed her appreciation for other ponies directly. Her timidness meant that she mostly uttered 'Thank you' or 'I really appreciate it' in a very apprehensive tone. Instead, she usually preferred to offer help some time in the future, or better yet, bake sweets for them. Though, she wouldn't join them in partaking the sweets unless they asked.

Her mother on the other hand, was a different story. Apple Cobbler's sign of appreciation to her was to never give up hope. Her mom was ever so supportive of her. Her mom knew how Apple Cobbler's self confidence was... different from many. Being teased and called Four Eyes as a young filly affected her self confidence, deeply.

Apple Cobbler's cutie mark of a... apple cobbler (not surprisingly) couldn't have been possible if her mom wasn't there to support her all the way. And in the end, Apple Cobbler made the finest apple cobbler dish in Ponyville Elementary Eat-Out Competition, gaining her cutie mark at an age when most of other classmates were getting cutie marks as well. From then on, Apple Cobbler's resilience was all that was needed to make her mom wake up every morning with a smile.

"I really wish I can forget about him right now," she wished quietly out loud. Her infatuation with the colt has lately distracted her not only at work but also in her personal life. Case and point, her room that is often tidied by her herself, NOT by her mom.

She walked up to her desk, taking a seat before thinking what to do next. I could write up a list of things I need for Wednesday, in three days, or maybe I'll just start reading MAR3STR- "Huh?" she said, perplexed. There was a newspaper on her desk. She took a closer look at it. It was the Daily Mare. It usually covered the biggest stories all across Equestria.  and saw a provoking picture on the cover page.

Her heart pounding, trouble breathing, and anxiety rising. She was on the verge of fainting, but she managed to keep her eyes open and shrunken pupils focused on the image.

"H-he was... kissing another pony!??!"

The picture showed him being sandwiched between two ponies, the Valley Girl ponies. One of which he was kissing and the other having his hooves over her shoulder. It seemed like it was a house party since Ponyville didn't have an official place for these types of parties. Most parties in Ponyville were organized by Pinkie, and everypony knew how her parties were. They weren't as rave-like as this one, so it was likely that she had no part in this party.

She turned the page to the actual article and started reading the important parts through skimming. "... This happened last night?" she said out loud. Again, too shocked to keep it i-

"COBBIE???"

She barely heard her mother's voice through the door, but she was desperate for anything in order to break this 'madness'.

"MY HOOVES ARE FULL! CAN YOU BE A DEAR AND OPEN THE DOOR? WE HAVE A GUEST!"

Whew! Apple Cobbler wiped the sweat off her forehead. As she got up, she turned the paper over to the backside and put it in a drawer. But then all of her composure disappeared when she had a sudden realization.

Oh no... *Pinkie Pie***, she dreaded.

Please let it not be Pinkie, she wished while walking out of her room. I've had enough of any more antics for one day. She can't imagine experiencing any more anxiety or panic attacks. First the incident at Sweet Affairs, then Pinkie and him showing up, then the competition on Wednesday, THEN him being on the Daily Mare, kissing those- those Valley Girl ponies, and now... Pinkie's back to torment me.  She would usually feel saddened by it but now, she was irritated. Her frown turned into a scowl. She was ready to scream at her.

"Why can't you understand that I just want..." she turned the door knob and the door opened, "...TO BE ALONE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, PINKIE PIE!!!! AAAARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"

...

"Umm... something wrong, 'cous?"

Uhhhh... that's not Pinkie's voice.

...

Oh no...

Honest Help

"Why can't you understand that I just want TO BE ALONE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, PINKIE PIE!!!! AAAARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"

Apple Cobbler was so gripped with frustration, so much so, that she kept her eyes closed while and even after shouting at Pinkie.

"Umm... somethin' wrong, cuz?"

Wait... that's not Pinkie Pie's voice.Oh no...

She knew whose voice that was. Apple Cobbler slowly opened her eyes, certain of who she was going to see.

"You alright, hon? You looked purdy angr- I mean, uhh, worried back there." Applejack said, showing concern for Apple Cobbler.

Applejack, awwwww no. Apple Cobbler turned her eyes away from AJ. Applejack was just there standing, looking confused but at the same time, her face also showed signs of being amused. She kinda thought it was amusing to see Apple Cobbler's...  over-assertive side, for once.

Apple Cobbler couldn't believe what she just did to her cousin. But she was more appalled that she could've been yelling at Pinkie Pie. While Pinkie can, admittedly, sometimes be too determined for her own good and invade somepony else's privacy to do so, in the end of the day, all she'd want was to put a smile on your face, or at the very least, help you with your troubles. In fact, Apple Cobbler had and would never yelled at any pony... until now.

Despite her heart pounding, the tremendous weight of guilt and the sheer embarrassment, she managed to center her eyes back at Applejack, forcing out an apology.

"I'm terribly sorry, AJ. Terribly, terribly, TERRIBLY sorry. I just had a stressful da-"

"OH, APPLEJACK!" her mom popped out of nowhere from behind, startling the two. "I'm so glad that you could come after all to help with Apple Cobbie."

"Help me with wh-"

"Not a problem, Miss," Applejack replied to Mrs. Cobbler, not knowing that she interrupted Apple Cobbler, "I decided to clear two acres of apples earlier than usual so I can help my cuz here."

"Awww, how nice."

"Um, Mom..." her mom turned to Apple Cobbler, she finally got her attention, "Can you please tell me why Applejack's here?" she asked, hoping it wouldn't offend Applejack.

"Oh sweetie, didn't I tell you about Applejack coming to help you fetch the freshest and finest apples for Wednesday."

Apple Cobbler swayed her head, hinting at a clear, 'No'.

"Huh, I wonder why I never told you about it just earlier before."

Yeah, it's a mystery, she sarcastically thought in a disgruntled manner. She couldn't believe how much almost everything that is transpiring around her is a result of her crush. To recap: her mental health both at work and home, the unwanted and random encounters (including Applejack) and the competition on Wednesday were all somehow linked to her feelings for him. She had a strong suspicion that her mom forgot to mention about Applejack because of him.

No, maybe she was distracted by other things like cooking and how well I'll do on Wednesday, she told herself. Why would I even think like that? feeling bad for doubting her mom.

"Alrighty then, ma'am. We best be off to Apple Acres. C'mon, AC, we got some apples need bucking." Swaying her hair before turning around to head to the

"Cobbie, before you go. Can I have a word, with you? ... I'm didn't mean to make the day worse for you or distract you with... him, but deep down, I kinda got carried away but that was because I was that happy because I was happy for you.

REASON WHY HE KISSED: "Heh, I uhh, had a bit too much apple cider that night... a certain special type of cider" (drunk)

I'm terribly sorry, Applejack.

It's important because Dimples and I just started our business. Most close within a month or two because of how hard it is to attract ponies, already usual customers to places like the Sugarcube Corner, AND pay for the costs at the same time.

"Why, a nice, timid, and cute pony like you can probably win his heart," Applejack encouraged.

Apple Cobbler subtly smiled, but deep inside, it boosted her confidence greatly. Coming from Applejack, the honest of ponies in Ponyville, was indeed, something to not be taken lightly.

"So uhh, who's the lucky colt you're bringing to Apple Acres for lunch one of these days, cuz?"

Applejack is asked by

"Oh, did I forget to tell you about your cousin, Applejack, coming over?" she pondered.

I wonder why, Apple Cobbler sarcastically thought, referring to her mom obsessing over him earlier.

DIMPLES IS GAY

Applejack wants to bake goods for Rainbow Dash and her friends so they go to the farm to get fresh apples.

Applejack:You're not like Fluttershy, Cobbie. You

After it is revealed that Soarin' is who she likes, Pinkie is investigating the book store. There happened to be a group shot of the ponies in line. And she bases who Cobbler might on her glasses and timidness (Gizmo, and etc.)

tension: Princess Luna or Celestia are about to visit  Ponyville and the Sweet Affairs store might be visited. Because of Apple Cobbler's recent complication with Soarin', she hasn't been as focused at work. Worse, she hasn't made her special Apple Cobbler (cutie mark) because of this and her inferiority complex (thinking it sucks)

In the end, she gets in trouble by her mom for leaving to go to Soarin's party (with fake look) without permission and on the day eve of the arrival. Sobbing on her balcony, Soarin' appears nearby and flies up to her. Cobbler tells him that she's sick of being the good girl, the intelligent one, the timid one. Soarin' then tells her, "Y'know, that's kinda the reason what I like about you. Glasses and all" puts on her glasses and asks if he can help her with her Apple Cobbler tomorrow (learn more about Soarin's geekier and Apple Cobbler's less geekier side). His love for pie helps her bake te best Apple cobbler on the arrival.

Bullies: High Hoof, Muscle Mare

Chapter 4

"Bigger straws?"

Well, duh. The bigger the straw, the faster they'll finish their drink. Hence, thus, and therefore... they'll be buying more drinks."