Farmhand

With another set of hooves to help, the chores were done by midday. They'd started at dawn, sure, but now they had half the day free. Initially Applejack had planned to give him the same amount of chores Apple Bloom if not a little more, but he had helped with more than she asked, doing a surprisingly good job, until Applejack was free too. She laughed as she walked off towards Ponyville at a trot, not having expected to be free for at least another few hours.

Applebloom had come upstairs, where Quill had gotten clean and was now carefully preening, working on his second wing. He shook his head, blushing slightly, and spit a few feathers into the trash, laying on his stomach on the bed with the trash on the floor beside the bed. She stayed in the doorway, watching, and wondering why he was blushing so badly. Then she remembered what preening did to pegasi, and blushed herself. She guessed he needed to preen every so often. His wings had been looking messier then a smashed apple the last few days.

Now, however, as he finished the wing he was working on, they looked sleek and glossy, and she tilted her head, admiring them. For a moment she wondered what it was like to have wings, to be able to soar freely through the air, and to walk on those fluffy white clouds that so often soared overhead. To kick through the clouds that needed to go and to round up the stray clouds that sometimes wandered down to the ground. The air offered so many more opportunities, and there was a solid iron door between ponies and it. Wings were the keys to get through.

He put his head on the blanket, wings still spread, and the blush gradually faded from his face. Roughly a half hour later, his face was completely clear and the lustful gleam was gone from his eye. It was then that he slowly stood, seeing Applebloom, and his eyes widened as he blushed again, out of embarrassment this time. She vaguely wondered why she had been standing there so long. She had sort of zoned out watching him.

"How long...have you been standing there?"

"Uhh...I just say ya finish up yer right wing...I kinda zoned out..." She was blushing, too, now, feeling like she had intruded on something private. He shook his head roughly for a moment, then stopped.

"It's okay, what's done is done. Anyway...did you need something?" He tilted his head ever so slightly, looking at her as his blush slowly faded.

"Well, ah was gonna head over to the Carousel Boutique. That's where Rarity and Sweetie Belle stay. Rarity is Sweetie's older sister, and she's a huge fashionista. Anyway, ah wondered if you would maybe wanna come with me?" She pawed the floor, looking down nervously. It was getting old, but she needn't have worried.

"Course, I'd love to come. Lead the way." He snapped his wings shut and walked up to her. She smiled, laughing softly, and led him from the room.

The building was festive, he thought to himself, with bright colors and beautiful decorations. Apple Bloom knocked on the door without hesitating, although nothing happened.

"Silly meh," she giggled, looking back at Quill, "ponies are supposed to just walk in. This is technically a store of sorts." And she pushed the door open, walking in with Quill.

"Welcome to the Carou-oh hello there Apple Bloom, darling. Who's your fri-oh, this must be Quill!" It was a white mare, her purple mane styled into curls, and her deep blue eyes shining. She was, in a word, beautiful.

"I see you've talked to Applejack?" Quill raised one eyebrow, and Rarity nodded in response. At least he assumed this was Rarity, for he could see a resemblance to Sweetie Belle in this pony.

"Yes, dear. I must say, though, I've never read your book. Reading isn't exactly one of my hobbies. Pinkie and Fluttershy also haven't read them, but Rainbow and Twilight sure have. We were wondering whether you might join us at the castle for lunch tomorrow? Applejack was going to tell you about it, oh dear, maybe I shouldn't have..."

"It's okay, Rarity! Ahm sure Quill would love ta!!" Apple Bloom nudged him encouragingly, and he nodded, smiling.

"They wanted you at noon, darling. Pinkie and Applejack were going to bring the food, and those two are quite the bakers. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. Now, darlings, I'm assuming you came here to see Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom nodded, and Rarity made a tsk tsk noise.

"I'm afraid she's at Sugarcube corner. I daresay they won't want their little date interrupted. Sorry to say, you two." She smiled warmly, not wanting to offend them, just relay a message.

"That's okay, Rarity. Thanks for telling us." Apple  Bloom smiled, too, and together, she and Quill retreated through the door.

"Well, that blows..." She leaned against the wall between the door and a window. Quill wrapped a wing around her reassuringly.

"I'm sure we could think of something else to do, don't worry about it." Apple Bloom leaned against him comfortably and closed her eyes, yawning softly.

"Tired?" Quill looked at her concernedly, then leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes as well.

"Maybe a little...I didn't get any sleep last night."

"Hmm...why's that, Apple Bloom?" He stayed he was, then they both slid down the wall so they were sitting Lyra-style, and he squeezed her slightly with his wing, holding her close without really thinking about it. He was totally relaxed, now, but he felt like there was something to say. Something on the tip of his tongue that he wanted to, needed to, say, but he didn't know what. Pushing the thoughts from his mind, he listened for her answer.

"Ah had...some stuff on meh mind. Ah didn't manage to clear my head enough to fall ta sleep." She glanced up at him abashedly, and he smiled, deciding she didn't want him to ask what she was thinking about. So, he didn't.

"Well, hopefully you sleep better tonight." He nuzzled her softly, feeling oddly content. Suddenly, that urge to say something returned to him, the urge to get something massive off his chest, and still, he didn't know what. He let out a shaky breath, trying to ignore the feeling. She noticed the uneasy sign and slowly turned, still leaning against him with his wing around her, and looked up at him. The street was empty for now, so they were alone.

"You okay?" Her eyes were wide, and he looked at her steadily, wrapping his hooves around her.

"Apple Bloom..." He stopped, shaking his head slightly, not sure what he wanted to say.

"Yes?" She turned more, so she was almost in his lap, and then shrugged, getting the rest of the way into his lap. He wrapped his other wing around her, too, looking up at her. "What is it, Quill?" He blushed, unsure as to why.

"Umm...I'm not sure.." He blinked at her, still looking up into her eyes. She was starting to blush as well, and she, also, was unsure why.

"Are ya sure ya don't know?" Her ears were perked up, and she looked almost...hopeful?

"Yeah...I have to say something...I just...can't...don't know what...sorry..." Quill looked apologetically up at her, but she smiled and shook her head.

"Don't be sorry, ya didn't do anything wrong. Ahm sure you'll figure out what it was ya needed ta say sooner or later." She leaned a bit closer without meaning to, and he blushed darker. She was just planting her hooves to stand, though, and she slowly stood, taking her time in straightening. Quill frowned slightly, missing the warmth, then blushed at his thoughts and stood, clearing his face.

"It's getting late, maybe we should head home..." She looked at him, and again she looked like she was internally debating something.

"Y-Yeah...I guess so. We're gonna miss dinner."

"That's okay, I'll fix us something." She smiled and stepped up to him. His breath caught as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug, but she let go as quickly as she had taken hold and backed up, turned, and backed up again so she was next to him. Together, they started heading off for the farm, close enough that they were touching.

Quill almost said something, but he gently bit his tongue. Now was what mattered. And now, he had Applebloom. He realized what a weird thing that was to think and blinked, but kept walking with her. After all, it was true, in a way.