The Favor that Changed it All

It was right around 6:00 A.M. in the morning when one of the rosters cried out at the first glance at the sun starting to rising up, Big Mac naturally slipped out of his bed and went to wake his sisters up to get started on their morning chores. “Wake up AJ,” Big Mac knocked quite hard on her bedroom door, “Time tah have some breakfast.” Big Mac then walked up Apple Blooms bedroom door, but instead on knocking on it hard, he knocked on it gently not to spook his little sister, he said, “Raise and shine Apple Bloom, them pancakes ain’t gonna eat themselves.” He made his way down stairs, passing Granny Smith who was sleeping in her rocking chair snoring, and into the kitchen to get started on breakfast for the family.

Apple Bloom lazily opened her eyes to see that Esbin still had her arms around him with her head resting on his chest, she tenderly kissed Esbin on the neck, the again under his muzzle, until she made her way up to his lips. Esbin woke with a startle and realized what was going on, he kissed Apple Bloom on the lips and broke away said with a smile, “Good morning.” Apple Bloom giggled and pecked him on the cheek, she would have snuggled up to him more but she shortly heard Applejack call out from down stairs, “Apple Bloom, ya better wake up or there won’t be anything left tah eat.” Esbin looked at Apple Bloom with wide eyes, like he thought AJ was going to walk in on them. The fear melted away as Apple Bloom kissed him again, when she broke the kiss she pulled something from out of her nightstand, “Uh, Apple Bloom,” Esbin asked, “What is that?” She popped one of the small tablets into her mouth and swallowed it, then she said, “Birth control pills, Applejack said ah had to take these when ah was old enough tah use them. She says it keeps me from gettin' pregnant, ah took one yesterday before ah came down tah meet everypony.” “Huh,” Esbin thought, “So that would explain why she was okay with me cumming inside her.”

Apple Bloom slipped out her bed and shook herself, Esbin straightened his hair with a hoof, and he suddenly gasped and said, “MOM AND DAD! They probably made it back home last night, oh man I’m in so much trouble!” Apple Bloom finished tying her bow to her hair after she just finished brushing it, “Calm down Esbin, just tell them what happened yesterday and everything will be fine.”

“Wait, you really want me to tell them what we did last night?” Esbin asked in confusion.

“No ya silly Willy, about the family reunion, I’m sure they’ll understand.” Apple Bloom said with a raised eye brow.

"Oh, right,” Esbin said with a chuckle, Apple Bloom opened the door and went downstairs, but not before she gave Esbin a wet tender kiss on the lips and said, “I’ll see ya around, ya stud. And remember, this is our little secret.” Apple Bloom said as Esbin nodded.

"Apple Bloom,” Applejack called out.

“I’m comin' I’m comin keep your hat on.” Apple Bloom shouted as she went thought the living room. Esbin quietly trotted down stairs not to alarm anyone from noticing him, he gently opened the screen door, closed it and took off in full gallop back to Ponyville. “Please don’t be mad, please don’t be mad!” Esbin repeated as he galloped back home, he skid passed the corner of the dirt road and made it back to his family’s house. He franticly opened the door, closed it behind him as he went inside to trot upstairs and saw that his parent were still asleep in their bedroom, Esbin sighed with relief and made his way down stairs to make some breakfast of his own. About thirty minutes later, Esbins parents came from upstairs to see that their son had made breakfast for the three of them; toast with jam and butter, cereal, juice, and fresh fruit. “Morning mom, morning dad,” Esbin said as his parents walked in, “Hope you had a great time last night.” Charles yawned as he took a seat by the table and said, “It went fantastic, who knew my boss was a heck of a golf player! So, how were things yesterday, did you have fun with you friends kiddo?” Esbin thought for a moment with a pear slice in him mouth, he swallowed it and answered, “Well Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were busy with other stuff, but Apple Bloom and I had a blast at the Apple Family Reunion! We played horse shoes, hoof wrestling, racing, OH and Apple Bloom showed me how to slow dance.” Margret hummed after sipping her tea, she said, “Sounds like our little colt had a fantastic time with his little friend.” The family continued with breakfast as the morning rolled into noon, Esbin went off to purchase some groceries for dinner tonight: cabbage, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, and potatoes.

“Okay,” Esbin said to himself marking a check on his list, “That’s the last of it. I better head home before my mom starts to worry.” He took off into a simple trot as he left the farmers market but shortly bumped into somebody as he made a quick turn around one of the buildings; he fell to the ground with the groceries falling out of his saddlebag. When Esbin cleared his head, he finally saw how he had run into, it was Sweetie Belle. “Sweetie Belle!” Esbin said with shock. “OH I’m so, so sorry! I didn’t see where I was going; here let me help you up.” He extended his arm hoof to help the white unicorn off the ground, who said, “No, it was my fault, I should have paid more attention to where to the path, but thank you Esbin, you are a true gentlecolt.” As Sweetie Belle stood back up, she help grab the various vegetables that were scattered on the ground, as Esbin went for the last carrot Sweetie Belle hands was just on. “Oh,” Sweetie Belle gasped, “Sorry.” “Oh that’s alright,” Esbin said with a blush. “Thank you. So how were things at the spa with Rarity?”

“Pretty boring if you ask me. Although, I did enjoy have a pedicure, a message, and the mud baths.” Sweetie Belle said while showing over her perfectly filed hoofs.

“Whoa, those spa girls sure do wonders.” Esbin complimented.

Sweetie Belle blushed trying not to show, then she said, “Yah, sorry about ditching you yesterday. It was really short notice and Rarity insisted that I should come with her. But enough about me tell me what did you do yesterday?” Esbin took a step back as he thought about the events that took place the other day, he replied, “I spent most of the day with Apple Bloom and her family at the Apple Family Reunion.” Sweetie Belle gasped and said, “The Apple Family Reunion, I’ve heard Apple Bloom mentioned it to me and Scootaloo one time but I’ve never been to one of them. What it like? I bet you had an amazing time.” Before Esbin could come up with an answer he suddenly remembered the intimate moment he shared with Apple Bloom, every moan, touch, and feeling just overwhelmed him, but he didn’t show it to Sweetie Belle who was still waiting for an answer.

“Well? How was it?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Oh sorry, ah, it…it was…it was pretty fun.” Esbin said, trying to come up with something to say.

“Ah ponyfeathers, I wish I could have been with you but Rarity insisted.” Sweetie Belle whined. Esbin saw her disappointment, and tried to think of something to say.

“Hey did you do something with your mane?” Esbin asked.

“Oh, yes I ran out of my favorite shampoo so I had to barrow Rarity’s. It helps raise volume and gives me extra curls to my hair.” Sweetie Belle said as she childishly fiddled with her long hair.

“I like it, it really suits you.” Esbin complimented, she blushed with a giggle. “Say what brings you here to the famers market?” he asked.

“Oh I came to purchase some spearmint. It’s my favorite.” Sweetie Belle chirped.

“Hold on, I have some in my saddlebag.” Esbin said, he reached into his bags and pulled out several sprigs of the sweet smelling plant. “Here, you can have it. I bought it because it one of my favorite plants and I had a little money left over so I kind of wanted to treat myself to a little spearmint. I think you need it more than I do.”

Sweetie Belles mouth was slightly agape from what she just heard, Esbin had just offered her his spearmint sprigs without even charging her for them, just out of simple kindness. She didn’t even know that Esbin loved spearmint, the only thing that ran through her mind how generous Esbin was until she finally said, “Esbin…thank you. This is probably been the sweetest thing you’ve ever done for me.” Esbin rubbed the back of his neck and said, “Hey anything for a friend, especially my friends. Well I shouldn’t keep you, I should be heading back home or my mom will have cow. Bye Sweetie Belle until next time.” Esbin trotted off leaving Sweetie Belle with a small blush on her face, as soon as she turned around to head back to the Carousel Boutique, she muttered, “Friends. Best friends.”

With a twist of a nob, Esbin enter his home and saw that his mother was already chopping some turnips in the kitchen. “Charles?” Margret asked. “Is that you honey?” “No mom,” Esbin replied as stepped through the living room, “It’s me. I got you the ingredients you needed.” Margret looked to see her son walk in and said, “Oh how wonderful, just give them to me and I’ll start getting dinner ready.” Esbin handed his saddlebag to his mother who placed it on the counter top; he said before he left, “I’ll be up stairs if you need me mom.” “Oh that reminds me,” Margret said before Esbin reached the stairs, “One of your friends Apple Bloom stopped by to drop something of for you in your room. “Thanks mom,” Esbin said as he trotted upstairs to his room. He noticed on his night stand was a potted flower, a bush-like plant the almost entirely resembled a cherry blossom tree, only it had a rose coloring to it. Esbin walked over to his bed to set his rump on, he slowly leaned to the plant and sniffed it. It smelled just like the perfume Apple Bloom wore yesterday.

Meanwhile back at the Carousel Boutique, Rarity sat by her sewing machine working on a new dress design and she had been working on the past week, she stopped the machine and her using her magic to levitate the dress over one of the mannequins. With a flash of light the dress was wrapped around the mannequin, with that finished Rarity turned to levitate a bright and feathery chapeau and place it elegantly atop of the head. After placing the hat Rarity took a quick sip of tea from a nearby table, she examined the form with great detail, “Hhmmm,” Rarity hummed. “The colors seem to fit, the double stitching is unnoticeable to the pony eye, the lace bring a settle illumination, and yet. Something seems off, just something I just can’t put my hoof on, what do you think Sweetie Belle? Sweetie Belle?” Rarity turned to see that her younger sister lying on a cushion staring outside the window, Sweetie Belle didn’t seem to notice her sister calling to her. “Is everything alright Sweetie heart,” Rarity asked with concern. “You seem a little distracted.” In her mind, Sweetie Belle could only think about Esbin earlier today and all previous encounters that she was with him even as far back when they had their first Cutie Mark Crusaders meeting together.

She couldn't help to imagine Esbin as a strong, tall, and broad unicorn who trotted up to her with a bouquet of roses in his mouth as bowed to her leaving the roses in front of her. “My, my fair Sweetie Belle,” the imaginary Esbin said in a gentleman’s voice, “You look quite fetching today.” Sweetie Belle blushed as she tried not to make eye contact, Esbin raised a hoof to keep her from facing away. “Your hair is so soft,” Esbin complimented with a tender tone, “like angle feathers. And your eyes, like milky emeralds.” Sweetie Belle giggled as he blushing grew more vibrant. Esbin looked deep into her eyes; he stepped away and said, “I’ve brought you a gift fair lady.” He levitated out a tray of dark colored cookies and presented to Sweetie Belle with a bow. “Dark chocolate spearmint chip cookies!” Sweetie Belle chirped. “These are my favorite, how did you know?!” Esbin simply grinned and said “The great minds of lovers such as us think quite alike, my lady. And I must admit they too are my favorite as well.” They each took a cookie and ate it letting the mixture of chocolate and mint fill their taste buds, as they swallowed, Esbin said, "Sweetie Belle, since the first day I’ve met you, I knew that you and I were meant to be. Therefore I must ask you one question.” Esbin dug into his luxuriance saddlebag and pulled out a golden ring with a large diamond gemstone in the center of it. “Will…,” Esbin paused, “Will you accompany me as my bride?” Sweetie Belle stared blankly at the ring in front of her, tears has started to form in eyes. “YES!” Sweetie Belle cheered, “I mean, yes. Yes I will marry you my love.” Esbin used his magic to slip the ring onto Sweetie Belles horn and cheerfully said with a smile, “Oh miss Sweetie Belle, you have accomplished of making me the happiest stallion of all of Equestria!” “Oh Esbin,” Sweetie Belle sighed passionately. “Oh Sweetie Belle,” Esbin said tenderly as he leaned in the young mare in front of him, they each closed their eyes and perked their lips as they drew close, and closer, and closer until…

“Sweetie Belle?” Rarity asked as she trotted over and gently tapped the dazed unicorn on the shoulder, Sweetie Belle quickly snapped back to reality nearly jumping out of her skin. The both screamed as Sweetie Belle fell from her cushion and onto the ground, while Rarity quickly took several steps back nearly knocking over one of the mannequins in the process she had in the bed room. “SWEETIE BELLE,” Rarity shouted, “What in the name of Equestria was that all about? I mean really darling, you’ve scared the living day lights out of me! You should…” Rarity stopped in midsentence to see that her younger sister had started to cry, “Oh Sweetie,” Rarity said in a sympathetic tone, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to shout at you of course. It’s just that I was trying to get your opinion about my new dress if it needed anything. But you seemed quite distracted.” “It’s not your fault Rarity,” Sweetie Belle said as she dried her tears, “I’ve had my mind on other things.”

“What could be more important than assisting me with my newest dress design,” Rarity asked.

“Well… like… stallions.” Sweetie Belle replied with a blush.

“Stallions, oh Sweetie why would you think that…” Rarity questioned at midsentence before realizing Sweetie Belle tried covering her face from blushing.

“OH MY, Sweetie Belle you have a crush on somepony don’t you? What’s his name? What is he like? Where is he from? How did you two meet? Does he have a brother? Was he polite to you? Oh I hope he’s a real prince charming.” Rarity asked as she bombarded her sister with questions.

“RAIRTY,” Sweetie Belle shouted interrupting her sister’s interrogation, “This is really personal, I’ll tell if only you promise not to tell anyone about this. Got it?”

“I promise,” Rarity said with a warm smile.

“Okay, you… remember Esbin right,” Sweetie Belle asked feeling embarrassed.

“You mean that young stallion friend yours that use to live in Canterlot? You have a crush on him?” Rarity asked Sweetie Belle who looked away for a moment to nod without looking at Rarity.

“Well, I assure you there’s nothing to be ashamed of; it’s perfectly natural to have feelings for a childhood friend, especially one such as Esbin. He seems quite the gentlecolt.” Rarity said turning Sweetie Belle around so she could look at her putting her hoof on Sweetie Belle shoulders.

“I know it’s just that I don’t think he thinks of me more than just a friend. I mean… oh I just don’t to express me feeling to him and make a fool out of myself! What should I do Rarity?” Sweetie Belle asked with a nervous look on her face.

“Well if I was in your position and wanted Esbin to think of me more than just a friend, I would suggest doing something special for him.”

“Such as,” Sweetie Belle asked rising an eye brow.

“Such as complimenting about his mane or buying something that catches his eye. Maybe ask him out to lunch or…” Rarity was cut off by Sweetie Belle who suddenly hugged her sister without warning.

“Thanks Rarity! You’re the best.” Sweetie Belle chirped as Rarity calmed herself as she gently patted her younger sister on the head.

“Yes, well. Now I have a question for you sweet heart.” Rarity said.

“What might that be?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Do you think this dress needs more sapphires?” Rarity asked stepping out of way to let Sweetie Belle examine the clothed mannequin. She stared at it intently to think for a moment a said, “Honestly the dress looks fabulous the way it is, if you ask me.” Rarity went wide eyed for a split second, but went to examine the mannequin again. She pondered Sweetie Belle’s opinion for a moment and suddenly gasped and said, “IDEA. Do we still have some of those sapphire opals?” “Um I think so,” Sweetie Belle said as she thought, “There might half a box left downstairs.” Rarity took off toward the bedroom door to search for the gemstones while Sweetie Belle stayed in the room and walked over to lie down on the pillow cushion near the window and began to think. The only thing that ran through her mind was finding a way impress her friend Esbin, suddenly her head tilted up; Sweetie Belle thought, “IDEA! I know exactly how to get Esbin to like me. But I better do it on a day where Rarity won’t bother us, until then, I’ll just daydream about that prince charming of mine.” Sweetie Belle soon slumped on the cushion and let her imagination run free as her eyes closed. “Oh Esbin,” Sweetie Belle muttered, “of course I would love another cookie.”