Farmhand

She was leaning forward in a chair, deeply engrossed in a book. The cover was blank, no title to show what she was reading, but she was extremely focused on whatever it was. Her black coat was neat and a bit glossy, her mane spilling over one shoulder, the blonde highlights shining against the brown. Her light blue eyes danced along the pages quickly.

Somepony cleared their throat, and she looked up slowly, to see her friend from oh-so long ago.

"It's been a while." Quill looked down at her, then slid into a seat across the table from her and glanced at the book.

"What are you reading?" He raises one eyebrow, still watching her, face hard to read. She took a soft breath and slowly closed the book, folding down the corner of her page. She looked up at him, her normally playful and mischievous eyes looking anything but.

"Quill, where did you go?" She gazed at him searchingly.

"I asked what you were reading." His face, too, was set differently than normal, currently cold and stony.

"Take a guess, smart-flank. How do you think I found you? Tons of ponies know your name, you've been lucky if you've avoided attention so far. I needed only ask around to find out you were in town. Some mare named Rose told me."

"So...my book." Not a question.

"Yeah, genius. Now where did you go?"

"It doesn't matter." He glared, refusing to budge.

"Quill." She stared at him, then her face softened and she sat back, looking at him. "Quill, you don't understand how worried I was." She blinked, regarding him coolly, not sure how she should act at this point.

"I'm sorry that I worried you. I thought I had to go." He told her. That much was true at least. Now, it seemed, the mare had realized she wasn't getting any answers out of him.

"Tainted...Diamond." He muttered her name slowly, teasing out the word, and she raised an eyebrow at him in question.

"It's been nice seeing you again." He stood, no intent to say more.

"I'll be seeing you again." She nodded, and walked out of the library, leaving him alone as she trotted down the stairs and out the door. Shaking his head, he walked slowly to the staircase, looking down over the rail. To his surprise, Apple Bloom was there, hunched over a book similar to the way Tainted had been.

He almost called out, then thought better of it as a young white-coated mare walked from between two bookshelves and sat next to her.

"I can't find books on Timber Wolves mating habits anywhere!!" The white-coated pony exclaimed in a whisper-yell.

"It was a weird paper ta assign us ta begin with." Apple Bloom groaned quietly, shutting the book and relaxing in her chair, shifting. Her flanks probably hurt like hell, assuming she'd been there for a while.

"Think we should call it a day and head out?" Apple Bloom looked at her friend, then sighed and nodded. As luck had it, she glanced around at the balcony when she stood. He started to duck away, but she had already seen him.

"Quill!! What're you doing here!?" Several ponies glared at her from nearby tables for her noise, and she blushed, grinning sheepishly. She murmured a few words to her friend and then headed to the stairs, starting up. Quill grinned shiftily, glancing at Apple Bloom's friend, who was waiting by the table and looking up, smiling in an odd way. He couldn't quite figure out why she was smiling, and it unnerved him somehow.

"Where have ya been? Ah haven't seen ya aroun'."

"Oh, I've been staying in an inn, finishing something up."

"Project for school?" She looked up to him, curious.

"Oh, no, I'm done with school." His eyes widened, he hadn't meant to say that, per se.

"But how, ya can't be any older than meh..." Apple Bloom looked confused, then shook her head. "Doesn't matter." She wiped the confused face away and replaced it with a friendly smile.

"So, what was it ya were workin on?" She smirked, a twinkle in her eyes. Not that he was looking at her eyes, or anything. Her smirk was knowing, like she knew something and wasn't letting on. Not that he was looking at her lips, or something like that.

"So, Quill, tell me, your last name wouldn't be Fletch, would it?" He flushed, looking down slightly to meet her eyes.

"How did you know?" He asked, like he didn't already know.

"Apple Bloom, I'm gonna head home. See ya tomorrow!!" Apple Bloom's friend smirked, winked, and headed out the doors, leaving Apple Bloom and Quill roughly alone. Apple Bloom blushed and turned back to Quill, then glanced down.

"Your books are quite popular. I would've recognized you by now if there was a picture in your book." She was smiling widely, now, getting excited. "And it's only been a couple years, yer book got so popular!! I should have realized it was you at first but of course I couldn't really have but sweet Celestia I can't believe I met you and din't realize it and I-" Quill laid a wing against her side.

"Stop, please. That's what I hate about writing." He looked at her, eyes slightly narrowed.

"What, the...what?"

"The attention. That's why I didn't send a picture in with the book." She looked at him, confused for a moment.

"But what's wrong with attention?" She tilted her head, excitement simmering down.

"I like a quiet life. I've never had friends save for two, I try not to draw attention to myself, quiet is just what I like."

"Wait wait, two friends?!!?" Her eyes widened in surprise, and she took an involuntary step back.

"Uhh...I meant I've never had many friends. Like usually no more then one or two at a time." He lied quickly. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously and leaned closer, looking at him as though she could see the truth same as his fur.

"Hmm...you're to easy to read. You're lying. Tell me more?" Quill shook his head, glad all talk of his being an author was forgotten.

"Come on, Quill, please?" Her eyes widened slightly, and he glanced around. The ponies had filtered out of the library, he and Applebloom were the only ones in sight.

"Umm...no. Not gonna happen." He looked away, staring hard at a poster that said Celestia reads!!! with a picture of the princess reading a foal's book. The book was Green Fish Ornate Fish Twenty One Fish Eight Fish.

"Quill," She gently laid her hoof on his chin and turned his face back towards her. "What's the matter. You're trying so hard to hide it, but ah kin tell, you're depressed. Ya just don't want anypony to worry about ya. Don't want them to care."

"You're right, okay? I don't want anypony to worry, because there are ponies with far bigger problems then mine." He tried to walk past her, but she pinned him gently against the wall, not giving up on answers yet.

"Quill, ya kin trust meh...then again I guess ya don't have a reason to..." She glanced away nervously, scared she was pushing to much.

"You're right, I don't have a reason to...but..." He looked at her nervously before continuing; "I do, though. I know you're not going to judge me, I figured that much out by now." He chuckled softly, looking up.

"Quill, yer right, ahm not gonna judge ya," She released him, letting him stand by himself, but he didn't leave. Something made him stay. "But ya don't have ta tell me anything. Just remember, ah do wanna listen. I don't know what has happened to ya, but ahm here for ya no matter what." She smiled wanly, watching him closely. To her surprise, his eyes were wet. A moment later he blinked, though, and the tears were gone as fast as they had appeared. It was a moment before he spoke again.

"Thank...Thank you, Apple Bloom..." He wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug, and didn't let go for several moments. When he did back away, a light blush was staining his face.

"Look, Apple Bloom, I-"

"No." Apple Bloom put a hoof on his chest and he stopped talking immediately. "Why don't ya come stay with us for a few days. I'll talk Applejack into it." She was determined to get more answers out of him. She needed more time with him to do that.

"Umm...it's actually the last night I payed for at the inn. If you're sure...but she really doesn't want me to stay there."

"Well there's one solution to that!" Apple Bloom looked at him.

"And what's that?"

"Ya kin help around the farm, make yourself useful to her! Like a farmhand!!"

"Where does that term even come from, I've never quite known what a hand was." He looked at her curiously.

"Oh, it's just one of those things ya say that doesn't really make any sense. A term without a known start! Anyway, if you stay as a farmhand, Applejack maght even let ya stay without putting up a fight!!" Apple Bloom seemed excited at this idea, and she almost reared up.

"I only have one question, Apple Bloom." He was still looking at her intently. Not that he liked looking at her, or anything.

"What's that?" She asked.

"Why do you want me to stay with you?" Her mouth fell open slightly. Suddenly learning more about him seemed a feeble excuse that would raise the question of why she wanted to. And that was not a question she could answer.

"Because your my friend and ya need a place ta stay!!" She blushed and looked away, covering her open mouth with a hoof. Quill blushed, too, finding this oddly adorable, and wrapped a wing around her. Because she was his friend, not because he wanted to get closer.

"So let's head back!" She stepped sideways to get closer and started heading down the stairs. They walked out companionably and headed towards Sweet Apple Acres. He didn't think Applejack would let him stay easily, but they didn't need to worry about that until later. Right now, he had a friend and that was what mattered. Now. Now was all that mattered.

A/N-I don't expect most of you to understand Quill's last name, it has a personal meaning for me. Please leave a comment!!