Ponyville is a village not known for it's nightlife. It is however, known for a few other things, such as it's vicinity to the Everfree forest, the three young fillies that are notorious for half the towns problems, and the six heroic mares that cause the other half. But the small town does have a night life. Well, it has a tavern that is busy every night. The Salt Block. The local tavern was a popular hang for ponies to drown their problems in cider, lemonade and root beer.
Tonight, Applejack was making the last delivery of her day. Two dozen apples. Applejack made this delivery every two weeks and could always count on seeing some familiar faces.
Usually, she would see Rainbow Dash trying desperately to quench her mighty cider thirst with the lower quality stuff. She would see Berry Punch with a half empty bottle of fine grape juice. And finally, Rarity would be unwinding with a small glass of sparkling water with a squeeze of lime.
Applejack slowly trotted through the crowd and entered the kitchen through the door behind the bar. Applejack set her apples on the kitchen counter and called for the taverns proprietor. "Lemon Shandy? Ah got yer apples." From behind another doorway, Lemon Sandy walked out and smiled when she saw Applejack.
Lemon Shandy was a short, pudgy mare with a bright yellow coat, lime green mane and tail, and sparkling blue eyes. Her cutie mark was a sliced lemon with a blue straw sticking out of it. "Thanks AJ. Let me just go get your payment. Just put the apples in the refrigerator."
After Applejack put the apples away, Lemon trotted up to her with a small bag of bits and Applejacks favorite drink. Fruit punch. Grinning, Applejack placed her payment in her saddlebags and took her drink. "Thanks Lemon. Ya always know just how ta treat yer deliverymares."
Lemon smiled. "You're welcome AJ. Have a nice night." Applejack tipped her hat and walked back out the door into the tavern, drink in hoof.
After exiting the kitchen, Applejack was about to walk to her usual spot in the tavern when something caught her eye. Or rather some pony. Sitting on a bar stool, with the top half of her body laying on the bar and surrounded by four empty glasses sat Applejack's old fillyhood friend and someone she never thought she would see here.
Bon Bon.
It had been years since Applejack had last spoke to Bon Bon, but even though it had been so long, Applejack immediately knew something was wrong. For one, Bon Bon wasn't much of a drinker. She always brought a bottle of water when Pinkie Pie was throwing a party. Secondly, Bon Bons shoulders were shaking. And lastly, her marefriend, Lyra, was nowhere to be seen.
Something was obviously very wrong.
Applejack walked up to the hunched over mare and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Bonnie? You alright?" Applejack asked softly. Immediately to the touch, Bon Bon's head shot up. The cream colored mare stiffened when her eye's fell on Applejack and as quickly as she sat up, she turned away. In that short time, Applejack was able to get a good look at her face.
Bon Bon had been crying.
Her eyes were puffy and there were tear stains running down her face. The two sat in silence for a few moments before Bon Bon spoke. "What do you want, Applejack?" Bon Bon's voice was quiet and broken.
Applejack sighed as she sat on the stool next to Bon Bon. "Look, Bonnie? Ah know we haven't spoken much since...y'know, but ah know when a pony is upset. You know ah told ya you could come ta me whenever you had a problem." Bon Bon shifted, but kept her back to Applejack. "Please Bon Bon? Ah'm sorry we drifted apart. Ah never meant fer that ta happen."
A moment passed before Bon Bon sighed and she turned to face Applejack. Her eyes were glassy as new tears started to form. "Lyra...she...she broke up with me." Applejack let out a small gasp and placed a hoof on Bon Bon's shoulder. "Ahm so sorry sugarcube."
Bon Bon gently pushed off Applejack's hoof and sighed again. "It's not your fault. I should have seen it coming."
Applejack swished her drink around in her cup. "Do ya wanna talk about it?" Bon Bon looked into Applejack's eyes for a moment before looking to the bartender and motioning for another root beer.
"She started acting...well, different after she came back from some human convention in Canterlot." She paused to take a swig from her drink.
"That was almost six weeks ago. At first it didn't bother me. I just thought that she was thinking about some new human theory's she heard there. Anyway, she started writing letters and always tried to get the mail before I did." Bon Bon wiped some moisture from her eyes.
"One day, I got curious about her letters, so I asked her about it. She got all defensive and said it wasn't any of my business. That's when I realized that something was going on." She sniffled before taking another few gulps from her drink.
"Then today, a strange mare came to the house with a bouquet of flowers." Bon Bon covered her eyes with the hooves as she let out a quiet sob. "L-Lyra...she'd been seeing that, that HUSSY behind my back...f-for six weeks! A-and I was too stupid to see i-it!"
By now, Bon Bon was sobbing uncontrollably. Applejack wrapped her forelegs around the crying mare and brought her into a strong hug. Bon Bon let herself fall in as she wrapped her forelegs around Applejack's barrel and cried into her chest.
"Shhh Bonnie. You ain't stupid." Applejack comforted her as she rubbed her back and began gently rocking her back and fourth. "Sometimes ponies ain't who they seem ta be." Bon Bon buried her face further into Applejacks chest continuing to cry for several more minutes. After a short time, her sobs turned into quiet hiccups.
Applejack released Bon Bon and placed her hooves on her shoulders. "You okay sugarcube?" Applejack asked, a small gentle smile on her lips. Bon Bon sniffled and rubbed her eyes with her hoof.
"Y-yeah. Thanks Applejack. I really needed that." Bon Bon replied, letting a faint whisper of a smile cross her lips.
Applejack's smile vanished when she noticed Bon Bon's new predicament. "Do you have a place to stay sugarcube?"
Bon Bon looked down to the bottom of her stool. A few stuffed saddlebags leaned against it. "I was just going to rent a motel room until I could find a new place. I hoping I can-"
"Absolutely not." Bon Bon was interrupted by Applejack. "No friend of mine is gonna be stayin' in some motel room after what you've gone through." Bon Bon turned to Applejack with a quizzical look on her face. "You can stay with mah family in the guest bedroom."
Bon Bon's eyes widened as she listened to what Applejack was saying. "A-are you sure? I can't just take up your guest room! Won't it be weird?!"
Applejack waved her hoof and looked Bon Bon straight in the eyes. "It'll only be weird if ya make a big deal out of it. You're one of mah oldest friends Bonnie. Ah ain't gonna turn mah back on you."
Bon Bon said nothing for a few moments, looking Applejack over to make sure she was being serious. Finally, Bon Bon relented. "A-alright Applejack. I'll stay with you until I can afford a new place." Suddenly, the entire days stress washed off her, and a new wave of fatigue took her. Bon Bon yawned widely and tried to rub the sleep from her eyes.
"Ah guess that's our cue ta leave." Applejack chuckled, leaving a few bits on the bar. Bon Bon slid off her stool and slipped on her saddlebags. After tightening them, the two set out the door to Sweet Apple Acres. Unfortunately for Bon Bon, the farm was clear on the other side of town, and the sweet making mare was exhausted. Fortunately for Bon Bon, Applejack was there to help.
The cream colored mare stumbled several times on the way there. Finally, when they were crossing through town square, Bon Bon decided she had enough and took a seat on the edge of the fountain. "Bonnie? You okay?" Bon Bon raised both her hooves to her face to rub the sleep out of her eyes as she nodded. "Do...ya need me to carry you?" Bon Bon said nothing, as she stared off into space. Again, she nodded.
Applejack chuckled, shaking her head as she walked towards the tired mare. "Upsy daisy." Applejack gently slung Bon Bon over her back. Bon Bon wrapped her forelegs tightly around Applejack's neck as she rested her head between the apple mares shoulders. "Heh. Comfy?"
"Uh-huh." Bon Bon replied quietly.
By the time Applejack reached the outskirts of town, she could hear the rhythmic breathing of Bon Bon's sleeping form. A wave of nostalgia rushed over Applejack as she remembered when they were fillies. When they would play too long, Applejack would frequently carry a sleeping Bon Bon back to her parents. Applejack let a smile creep across her face.
It was late by the time Applejack made it to the farmhouse. Unsurprisingly, the kitchen light was still on. 'Bic Mac must be waitin' fer me ta come home.' Applejack pushed open the door and walked through the entryway. Sure enough, there was Big Macintosh, nursing an apple cider.
"Evnin' Mac." Applejack whispered. The large red stallion looked at Bon Bon's sleeping form draped over his sisters back. He gave her a confused look. "She just went through a bad break-up. She's gonna be stayin' with us until she can afford a new place." Big Mac shrugged, but said nothing.
Applejack walked up the stairs as quietly as she could, wincing every time she came across and unexpected creak. Finally, Applejack came to the guest bedroom. As quietly as she could with the sleeping mare still on her back, Applejack folded back the blanket and slid Bon Bon into the bed. The whole time, she remained asleep.
Gently, Applejack tucked Bon Bon into the bed and smoothed out the comforter. Applejack took a moment to look at her sleeping friend, taking in how peaceful she looked. After a few moments, Applejack leaned forward, brushed away Bon Bon's bangs, and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. "G'nite Bonnie." she whispered.
Author's Note
And here it is. My very first story.
I'm so nervouscited!
In case you couldn't tell, this is a Applejack X Bon Bon shipping story. I came across it as kind of a footnote to a few other stories and I guess I just fell in love with it. Now we just gotta see if anything can come of it.
Breakfast With the Apples
Morning at Sweet Apple Acres starts early for the Apple family. Even before the Celestia raises the sun, Big Macintosh is already out in the barn, grabbing baskets or preparing the plow for a new field. Granny Smith is usually up second, preparing breakfast for the waking farmers. Applejack will go through the orchard to place the baskets beneath waiting trees before bucking apples. Even Applebloom wakes a full hour earlier than the other members of her class to do her pre-school chores. Unfortunately for the Apple families new guest, morning didn't start for her for another three hours.
Light streamed into the guest room on the second story of the Apple family farm house. Right into the face of a cream colored mare. Scrunching up her face in irritation, Bon Bon groaned and rolled onto her side facing away from the window. A deafening CRACK echoed through the orchard, sending a burst of pain through her head. Wincing, Bon Bon cradled her head between her hooves. Currently, she was suffering from a sugar crash. (Think of it kind of like a hangover.) "Bucking root beer." she muttered grumpily. "Never...again."
While Bon Bon tried to fall back asleep, a young, pale yellow filly with bright red hair and an oversized pink bow strolled into the guest room."MORNIN' MISS BON BON!" a cheery, high pitched voice seemingly screamed directly into her ears.
Bon Bon whimpered and grabbed onto her head. "Please...please stop shouting. I'm right here." she said, rubbing her temples. She recognized this voice. It belonged to non other than Applejack's younger sister, the adorable Applebloom.
Applebloom looked at Bon Bon who cradled her head between her hooves and tilted her head in confusion."SHOUTIN'? AH AIN'T SHOUTIN'. AH'M JUST TALKIN' TA YA." the young filly remarked, wondering why she would say that.
"Sugar...craaaaaaassshhhh." Bon Bon groaned.
Applebloom's eyes widened in realization as she rubbed the back of her head with her hoof. "OOP. SORRY. MAH SISTER TOLD ME YOU WAS OUT DRINKIN' LAS NIGHT. GUESS AH JUST FERGOT. IS THIS BETTER?"
"Shhh..." Bon Bon whispered, putting a hoof to her lips. "Just a whisper please."
"Is this alright?" she asked.
Bon Bon sighed. "Perfect kiddo. Juuust perfect."
Applebloom grinned, feeling comfortable that she was quiet enough. "Mah sister just wanted you ta know that breakfast will be ready fer ya when yer ready."
Suddenly, Bon Bon's pain was suddenly the last thing on her mind. Worried that she might have slept in too long and missed opening her shop, she shot into an upright position to look for a clock...and immediately regretted it. Bon Bon let out a pained groan and fell back into the pillow as she gripped her head between her hooves once again. "Apple...bloom? What time is it?"
Applebloom zipped out of the room for several seconds before the pitter-patter of her hooves on the wood floor returned to the guest room. "It's just seven fifteen."
Bon Bon sighed in relief. She still had more than an hour and a half before she opened her shop. She opened later on Saturday's anyway. "Applebloom? Can you go get me a glass of sugar water?"
"Sure thing! Anythin' ah can do ta help!" Bon Bon hissed in pain as the young filly darted out of the room. But, even though she was hurting, she couldn't help but smile at her eagerness to help. 'Applebloom...you remind me so much of your sister. Always so ready to help a pony in need.'
<///>
After half an hour, a quick shower, and three glasses of sugar water guzzled with great enthusiasm, Bon Bon's headache had become just a dull throb. Bon Bon checked herself out in the mirror one last time before deciding to head down to the dining room, the sweet aroma of pancakes and maple syrup beckoning her closer. Sniffing the air like a dog, Bon Bon was welcomed to the kitchen by Granny Smith, who was standing over the stove and griddle full of sweet, sweet breakfast. Granny looked over to their new house guest and smiled warmly to her.
"Well look who decided ta return to the land o the livin'! Landsakes mare, you look as bad as that o-possum that Winona brought home last week."
Bon Bon chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Good morning to you too Mrs Smith. Need some help with breakfast?"
"Oohh you can just call me Granny, yougn'. And while her here, ya can help me by cookin' up some hay bacon."
The two mares exchanged small talk while they cooked, talking about the weather, current events, and even exchanged a few recipes. Granny Smith was impressed at Bon Bon's knowledge of cooking, even going so far as saying she could give Applejack's cooking a "run fer her bits." Within a few minutes, the two had a some good sized stacks of pancakes and hay bacon. Granny Smith walked onto the front porch with a bell while Bon Bon and Applebloom set the table and grabbed an extra chair, setting it next to Applejack's spot.
"BREAKFAST IS READY EVERYPONY!!" Granny Smith shouted, ringing the bell as she did so. Within moments, Applejack and Big Macintosh were tearing through the orchard to the farmhouse. Big Mac was first to reach the door.
"Morning, Big Mac." Bon Bon greeted. Big Mac smiled and nodded in return.
Applejack was next to walk in, muttering to herself for letting Big Mac get to the farmhouse before her. "Morning, Applejack." Bon Bon smiled.
"Mornin' Bonnie. How'd ya sleep las' night?" Applejack grinned.
"Like a filly. Thanks again for letting me stay here."
"Anytime, sugarcube. What are friends for?"
"When you two are done cluckin' like a couple o' hens, ah'd like ta have some breakfast fore' Big Mac eats it all." Granny said, pushing the two into the dining room. Big Mac and Applebloom were already helping themselves when they got in.
Bon Bon was impressed that Applebloom was eating the same amount that Bon Bon usually would. 'Guess that's what farm work does to you.' It kind of made Bon Bon jealous. Especially when she saw Applejack's stack. 'JEEZ! She's got to be eating at least twice as much as me! How does she keep herself from getting fat?!'
While Bon Bon was busy thinking about the eating habits of the Apple family, Applejack felt the need to break the comfortable silence and strike up conversation.
"So Applebloom, you got anythang new yer learnin' about at school?"
"Yesh. We're learnin' bout thesh-"
"Don't talk with yer mouth full."
Applebloom quickly chewed her food before swallowing with a loud gulp. "Sorry sis. Anyway, we're learnin' bout these thing's called, uhh...mike, no that's not it. Macro...umm...Y'know. Those tiny critter's like germs and what-not. Mike-row-or-gan-izims?"
Bon Bon looked up from her plate. "Microorganisms?"
"YEAH! THOSE!" Applebloom exclaimed, pointing her fork at Bon Bon. "Miss Cheerilee says that they're all 'round us and they're too tiny fer us ta see." Applebloom explained before shoveling more pancakes into her mouth. "It'sh acshally kinda intereshtin'. *gulp* Maybe I'll get mah cutie mark in macrowerganizm studyin'."
Applejack and Bon Bon chuckled at the young filly. "Not if'n ya keep mispronouncin' microorganism." Applejack joked.
Happy that they were talking, Bon Bon decided to see if she could get more than a few words out of the red stallion sitting across from her.
"So, Big Mac. Are you going to be busy today? I should guess that you've got a lot of applebucking to do."
Big Mac looked up from his plate at Bon Bon before nodding his head. "Eyup."
"..."
"..."
"...Sooo...You're going to be on the farm all day then?"
Big Mac nodded again. "Eyup."
"..."
"..."
"Not going to be at the stand today?"
Big Mac shook his head. "Nnope."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...Well...okay then."
Applejack hid her giggles behind a hoof while Applebloom outright laughed. "Yer silly, Miss Bon Bon."
Applejack snorted back a laugh when Bon Bon turned to glare at Applebloom. "Yeah. You are silly Bonnie. Ya should've known that was all you were gonna get outta him."
Big Mac smiled. "Eyup." he chuckled.
After a short laugh, it was Granny Smith who spoke up next. "What'sa matter there young'n? You've barely touched yer food. Not hungry?" Granny asked, pointing a hoof at a half eaten pancake on Bon Bon's plate.
"What? Oh, no I'm hungry. I just-" Bon Bon never finished her sentence when Granny tossed three pancakes onto her plate.
"Eat up there, Missy. Ah made extra fer ya. Gotta make sure yer nice and energized fer yer job."
"But, I don't do all that much physical work. I'm just a-"
"Hesh up now. Ah wanna see that plate cleaned up now, ya hear?"
"Umm...okay."
Applejack reached out for the plate of pancakes next. "Hand 'em over now. Ah gotta lot of buckin' ta do today. HEY! Applebloom! Get yer little hoof offa' that pancake. Go get ready fer yer chores."
"Uuugh. Fiiiiine."
"Here now, young'n. Ya can't have those pancakes proper without some syrup ta go with it."
"Oh! Uhh...thanks miss Smith, but I really don't need-"
"Hesh now. And ah thought ah told you ta call me Granny. Mah Mama's name was Miss."
"I'm actually kind of full..."
"Nonsense! You've barley touched yer plate! Here. Have some more."
"ACK! I REALLY DON'T NEED ANYMORE!"
Applejack couldn't help but giggle while she watched Granny pile more pancakes onto Bon Bon's plate. 'Maybe she'll help out on the orchard to work off some breakfast weight.' she thought to herself with a smile, finishing off her breakfast. 'Could be nice to have an extra pair of hooves help'in out.'
Applejack looked up as Bic Mac stood up from his chair and stepped towards the sink to wash his dishes. Applejack stood up to help, taking one last look at Bon Bon, struggling to keep up with Granny's demand to 'eat up'.
Grabbing a dish towel, Applejack moved to dry the dishes as Big Mac washed them. "Bit fer yer thoughts? Ah never got yer opinion on Bon Bon stayin' with us fer a while."
Big Mac looked over his shoulder at their guest before shrugging. "Can't say it bothers me too much. She's better company than some other mares we've had here. 'Specially those blue, rainbow maned ones." Big Mac joked, gently elbowing his sister.
Applejack chuckled. "Yep. Ah ain't gonna argue with that. She's definitely some good company." Applejack looked back to Bon Bon, who just had one pancake left. She glared at it, like she was blaming it for the situation she was in. Applejack sighed wistfully. "It's nice to have a familiar face back here." Applejack turned back to face her brother. "Ah missed havin' her around here."
Bic Mac smiled gently at his younger sister. "Ah missed havin' her 'round here too sis. Havin' her here is gonna feel like old times."
A strained belch escaped from behind the Apple siblings. The two turned to see Bon Bon, her plate cleaned and syrup caked around her mouth. "Okay Granny. Oof. I'm...ugh...I'm full." Bon Bon groaned as she leaned back in her chair and rubbed her distended belly. "I'm never...gonna eat...ugh...again."
Granny Smith grinned as she grabbed Bon Bon's dishes. "Good girl. Now you best be gettin' ready ta leave now." she said, ruffling Bon Bon's mane and handing her a napkin.
Applejack chuckled as she watched Bon Bon waddle out of the dining room and back up to her room to grab her saddlebags and clean up. "Yep. Just like old times."
Author's Note
I swear I think I know what I'm doing with this story. Perhaps I can make this work yet. But fret not! I have plenty of ideas for future chapters.
Remember, I love your feedback an comments. Keep 'em comin'!
