Twilight stepped out into the sunlight, the day was gorgeous. Rainbow Dash would've been proud of a day like this, she thought as she stepped onto the yard in front of the library. A warm breeze ran through her mane as she inhaled the scent of fresh green grass, the air was rich with the smell of apples, the northbound wind carrying the fruit of the Apple family orchard with it on its way to Canterlot. With a smile that gave off a peace of mind she hadn't felt since the events at the Corner, Twilight made her way into town at a leisurely trot, thoroughly enjoying the cool wind and warm sun. Ponyville was bustling in its usual small ways, the sound of laughter and conversation was in the air as the towns resident librarian stepped into the Café. A familiar drawl hit her ears that made her smile again; Applejack was in the corner chatting with the proprietor of the Café with Big Macintosh's massive apple-red coated self, standing phlegmatically to the side of his fiery sister.
"Applejack, Big Mac, what are you doing in town so early?" she asked stepping up next to them, Applejack was looking better than before, the clean air and every-day chores of her life seemed to be helping. They reminded her of better times and better days to come.
"Oh, hey there sugarcube, me an' Mac was jus' deliverin' the weekly crates o' apple cider ta the Café here." She answered, Twilight couldn't help but feel a little relief when she saw her friends' face, the bags under her eyes were almost gone, her coat was the healthy shade of orange-cream it had always been before, and best of all her eyes were the mischievous glittering emeralds she remembered from her first day in Ponyville.
"Well I'm glad I caught you, I was just trying to decide what to have for breakfast, would you and Mac like to join me?" she asked cheerfully, Applejack smiled in return.
"Aw hun I'd love to but ah've got a few more roun's ta make afore ah can kip into a meal, how 'bout you come around fer lunch though sugar? It's been awhile ain't it Mac?" She offered.
"Eeyup," came the usual answer from Applejacks perpetually cool-headed brother. It was a running joke in Ponyville that if Mac ever got more than five words out it'd be because the sky was falling. Twilight liked Big Macintosh though, something about the big red workhorse carried a sort of passive calm, whenever he was around everything just seemed to get a little less hectic, it was like time slowed down a bit and moved at Mac's pace, rather than its own.
"I'll see you there then Applejack, I wouldn't miss lunch at the farm for anything in Equestria," she answered truthfully, lunch at Sweet Apple Acres was a sumptuous if simple affair since the spread had to be big enough for all the hard working ponies to get their strength up again.
"Tha's righ' ya won't hun, I'll tell Granny Smith to set another place at the table for ya," Applejack returned playfully bumping her hoof against Twilight's, "C'mon Mac, let's get on."
"Eeyup, ye have a good mornin' Miz Twa'light" Big Macintosh drawled pleasantly.
With that, the Apple siblings left as the Café employee's took the newest delivery into the back, Twilight sat down to a daisy sandwich for breakfast and buried her nose in a good book. It was a story about peace after war, of loved ones finding each other again and old woes being buried, Twilight had read it three times in four days. Each time she liked it all the more. The sandwich was delicious and the apple cider was perfect, she suspected it had come from the very apples she had just seen being wheeled into the back by the waiter. She closed the book, having finished it yet again to find that it was only a little after ten in the morning, Twilight had spent the better part of three hours in the booth and she flushed a little in embarrassment as she left the restaurant. She thanked the waiter on her way, leaving her bits on the counter and earning a smile from the employees who, by this point were well aware of their librarians' habitual reading stints and were far too inured to them to have taken offense. The sun was still showering its warm light down on the little village as Twilight stepped out into the cool air, the smell of apples and flowers hung around her as she inhaled the welcome scent.
Twilight was halfway to town hall when, on a whim, she decided to detour to the park. A short trot later she was enjoying the feeling of the grass on her hooves as she sat down next to a small pond, glancing over she smiled at the pony near its edge. A pastel yellow Pegasus was tossing bits of bread into the lake and talking softly to the ducks that were surrounding her.
"Good morning Fluttershy," Twilight said softly as she lifted herself up and approached, careful not to startle the colorful water fowl that were enjoying her friends generous treats.
"Oh, good morning Twilight, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," she said, her voice in its usual whispery timbre. Twilight waved a hoof and smiled.
"I was quiet, I didn't want to disturb you," I answered, "How have you been keeping?" Twilight asked that question every time she saw Fluttershy, and she was always given the same answer.
"Better than yesterday Twilight, thanks for asking,"
Twilight nodded, she knew what her friend was going to say, but it was something that she needed to ask all the same. She knew that Fluttershy would answer differently if she was inclined to, otherwise the best Twilight could do was remind her friend that she was here and that she cared. They stood quietly by the shore of the pond together for a time, listening to the cheerful quacking of the ducks as Fluttershy finished tearing the remains of what appeared to have been a daisy sandwich apart and tossing it into the water.
"Hey Fluttershy, want to come to Lunch at the Apple's with me? It's been too long since we've all been together," Twilight ventured, "What do you say? Please?"
"Well… that does sound nice..." she said softly.
"Then it's settled! I'll let Applejack know," Twilight said, cheerfully, "let's go find Rarity; we can't do this without her."
Fluttershy nodded and they made the short trot back to the Library, it was quick business, writing the letter and having Spike send it off in a wash of emerald fire.
"Spike, we're having lunch up at Sweet Apple Acre's ok? I'm going with Fluttershy to find Rarity and invite her too," Twilight said as the two ponies were leaving.
"Alright, I'll see you girls there then," Spike answered, a hopeful look in his eyes, Twilight shook her head and smiled as Fluttershy giggled, the little dragon's crush on Rarity was pretty well known by the whole town, not that Spike knew that of course, he would've been mortified.
With that the two friends got out onto the road, as they were walking Twilight turned to Fluttershy, "Hey… you've been pretty quiet lately Fluttershy, is everything alright?" Twilight asked.
Fluttershy was silent for a moment before answering, "I'm just not used to being… not ok with being alone… I guess. Sorry, that doesn't make much sense."
Twilight just shook her head and smiled, "I know exactly what you mean actually…" Fluttershy looked inquisitively at her friend.
"I don't sleep well, I wake up with nightmares every night, I think the only reason I've been ok this whole time is Spike," Twilight answered slowly, "He's always there, he takes care of me more lately than I take care of him, I feel bad about it sometimes, he's just a baby dragon, he shouldn't have to worry about me."
Fluttershy sighed softly, "We're doing it again Twilight."
Twilight arched her eyebrows, "Doing what?"
"Holding things back, the last time things got so bad because we didn't want to admit how bad things already were," Fluttershy continued, "If we had just admitted how hard things were becoming then maybe…"
Twilight nodded solemnly, they continued in silence for a while, the mood dampened somewhat before Fluttershy perked her head up.
"We should just get together more I think," she said, Twilight raised an eyebrow, Fluttershy had changed since the castle, she was more assertive even though she was quiet, she stuttered less and stood a little straighter. Twilight smiled at her friend, glad that she was becoming stronger even if Fluttershy herself couldn't see it.
"Yea, you're right, well we're here, you go check the Boutique, I'll look around the shops, one of us will find her then we'll meet up at the town hall in an hour ok?" Twilight said, her organizational skills kicking in automatically. Fluttershy just giggled at the instructions before nodding, spreading her wings, and taking off toward the Carousel Boutique.
Twilight was starting to get a little discouraged, she'd checked the fabric shop, the café, and even asked the mayor whom she'd run into outside the town hall with no luck. Maybe, she thought, Fluttershy has had better luck than me. Twilight was walking down one of the small thoroughfares of Ponyville keeping an eye open for the pristine white coat and vibrant mane of her friend when she caught a different though equally familiar sight, a massive red-coated workhorse standing at the apple stall on the side of the street.
"Hey Big Macintosh, what are you doing out here, doesn't Applejack usually run the stall?" Twilight asked as she stepped up to the stall, inhaling the fresh scent of the Apple Family's finest apples.
"Eeyup."
Twilight waited for more before shaking her head and dropping a few bits on the counter, Macintosh eyed them for a second before digging through one of the bushels and withdrawing one of the biggest and juiciest apples Twilight had ever seen.
"Wow, thanks," she said as he handed her an apple that fit neatly in his giant hoof and easily eclipsed hers.
"Eeyup."
Twilight giggled and bit into the apple, chewing thoughtfully she sat down beside the enormous colt as he plied his trade in his usual quiet and unassuming manner. For a moment Twilight just sat and ate, quietly enjoying the calm day, the sunshine, the sounds of the village, and the juiciest apple she'd ever bitten into.
"Thanks Mac," Twilight said quietly as she finished, tossing the core into a barrel at the side of the stall.
"Jus' an apple," he said in his deep basso rumble.
"No, I mean, thanks for looking out for Applejack, and for being around, it means a lot to us. All of us, so… Thanks Mac."
"…"
"James," came the unexpected response, it was almost a whisper in the same way distant thunder was quiet.
The word stopped Twilight as she was standing up and turning to leave. Positive her ears must've been playing tricks on her she turned back to regard Big Macintosh with a look of surprise bordering on shock.
"W-what?" she stuttered.
"Mah firs' name," he answered as he handed an apple to a smiling customer before cocking his head to meet her eyes.
Twilight stuttered in a manner that brought a queer sort of quirk to Macintosh's lower lip, it took her a moment to realize it was probably his equivalent of a smile.
"O-oh," Twilight said intelligently, an unexpected blush rising to her cheeks as she struggled to find some kind of words to say for what might have been the first time in her life.
"Ah'll see yew up at the farm ah reckon, 'bout rea'y tah close up this 'ere stall til arter lunch," he continued, the slow calming drawl bringing Twilight back to ground level.
"O-ok… uhm, you haven't seen Rarity by any chance have you?" Twilight asked a little lamely, Big Macintosh just shook his head.
"Oh, alright, well… I'll see you at the farm then… James." Twilight answered, for some reason the name brought a magnificent flush to her face and she dropped her eyes down, unable to meet his clear green orbs.
"Righ', I 'spect yew will at tha', G'afternoon then Miz Twa'light," he answered slowly as he attached the remaining apple-bushels to his omnipresent work harness. Twilight just nodded, still staring intently at ground as she fought to master the lively blush that seemed to be covering her face. Macintosh of course, simply pretended he saw nothing and continued on his way.
Twilight looked up as he walked away and let small smile seep onto her features that turned into a grin, she felt better than she had in days. She trotted out in the other direction to the town hall, the hour was almost up and Fluttershy was always a little early, she smiled widely at the sight of the pastel pegasus and the even wider at the immaculate white unicorn next to her. Rarity looked tired but happy, her gaze was distant though, as if she was listening for something, her attention snapped back as she noticed Twilight approaching.
"Darling, your timing is perfect; we just arrived," Rarity said happily as she trotted over to meet her friend, sharing a warm embrace before parting. Twilight smiled back at her old friend before nodding to herself.
"Rarity, it's been too long since we've spent some quality time together," Twilight said, "Did Fluttershy tell you the plan?" she asked.
"Oh darling I couldn't agree more, and yes she did, I would love to have lunch with you all, I… I have missed all of you very much," she finished quietly, for a moment she looked sad, as though something were weighing on her before the look vanished behind her perfect features. Twilight thought briefly about asking her what was wrong before mentally shaking her head, it wasn't the time, and they were going to all have lunch together, as a family, the way it used to be. Questions could come later but for now it was time for peace and a small celebration of friendship.
Granny Smith had outdone herself, though not without a little 'help' from the crusaders. The kitchen ended up looking like a flour bag had exploded and all three of the little fillies were stark white, they were still sneezing flour when the spread was laid out. The five friends; Spike, Rarity, Twilight, Fluttershy, and Applejack, all sat together along with Big Macintosh. As the food was laid out and the drinks served Rarity rose unexpectedly, the glass raised high as her clear and melodic voice rang out.
"To seats left empty and friendship eternal."
The toast was met with the clinking of many glasses being raised in silence, five glasses stayed up a moment longer than others before meeting their owners' lips. The sun shone high in the sky and the breeze smelled strongly of apples as five friends as close as family shared a moment of calm and peace in the light of a beautiful day.
