Baseballs and Bows

It had been at least two hours since Applejack left. All that time, First had nothing to do but sit and fidget. What was there to do in a farm? he thought.

At this time, First still didn't know what to do, still unsure what to do. So, in boredom, he decided to stare at the sleeping filly next to him.

In a way, she seemed peaceful. The casts and bandages and injuries didn't hurt her sleep, at least, he thought. On her head, he saw that her bow was seriously messed up. First frowned. It probably looked real nice before he went and knocked everything out of place.

He looked around the filly's room. In the corner was a wooden wardrobe. He walked to it and opened it. In it, he found bunches upon bunches of the same red bow on the floor, along with several dresses and clothes hanging above them.

He looked back at the filly, the one called Apple Bloom. Then, he had a thought. If she's going to be in a bed from injury because of me, the least I can do is make her look good.

And so, he took one of the bows from the wardrobe, walked back to the bed, then, with as much care as possible, took off the messy bow and put the new one on.

Just as he finished, however, he noticed her eyes slowly open and her body stirring.

"Mmm.." she mumbled. First widened his eyes in silent surprise, wondering what to do and panicking at the same time.

"A-applejack...A-apple.." she began to say, as if it was her healing word.

"Uh," First began to spurt out, "your sister, Applejack? She's, uh, out to work at the moment." He touched her shoulder. "Are you OK?"

She didn't respond. A few seconds later, though, she did react, as at that moment, her eyes dashed to the sound of First's voice, making him double-take for the second time that day.

Calming down, First looked straight into her eyes. They were big and brown..and innocent. Man, he was never going to live this down.

"Who..who are you?" she said.

"I'm, uh, First Base."

She started mumbling to herself, as if trying to remember something. Then, her eyes somewhat lit up and widened a bit.

"Baseball player First Base?" she asked.

First stared in confusion and surprise. "Uh, yeah?"

Apple Bloom's eyes widened a bit more, almost fully open. Then, she slowly pushed her body back up, with First watching in astonishment and worry.

"I've..I've seen you play," she said.

"Oh...really?"

"Yeah." She yawned, rubbing her eyes. "I saw you playing in the field not long ago."

First's eyes went fully open. He started to back away. She's starting to remember what happened! He might as well have ran out at that moment to save her the moment of anger when she recalled that fateful moment.

"You're..good."

First stopped. Oh. That was..unusual, he thought. Well, not unusual that she thought he was good, because he knew he was good. She's just the first to actually say it.

"Well..thank you." He smiled.

She, in turn, smiled right back, which gave him good feelings in his body all over. It felt good to be smiled at.

"Just next time," she continued, "try to watch where yer hittin' that ball." She grabbed her head. "Don' want any actual brain damage on me."

First did a double-take once more. "Y-you..remember what happened? And you're not mad?!"

Apple Bloom shook her head. "Not the first time mah head's been conked. Especially when I tried to get mah cutie mark in football without a helmet that one time. Whoo, rough day it was fer me." She giggled at her thought, but then instantly cringed and grabbed her leg.

She took off her blanket, and saw that her leg was in a cast. "Ah, man!" She looked at First. "The last time ah had one'a these, I couldn't do nuthin' fer a week. That I'm miffed at!"

First slumped his head a bit in sadness. There's the anger, he thought. It may not have been the yelling fit he was expecting, but it still hurt.

Apple Bloom frowned and lowered her eyebrows seeing First sad. She smiled, and lifted his head. "But ah do thank ya fer being wit' me right now."

"Uh, actually, I carried you here."

"Ya did? bah yerself?"

"Well," he started to rub his hoof and looked away, feeling a little pride and embarrassment, "yeah."

Apple Bloom smiled, looking at his bashfulness. Quick as she could be, she jumped down from her bed and walked to First.

First stared in confusion, but then was met with surprise when Apple Bloom up and but kissed his cheek.

"Thanks."

First could only stare, blushing and awkwardly smiling. "No problem."