Love Letters

Chapter Ten:

Apple Bloom awoke very gingerly; the sun having only been up for two hours and her being out late the previous night, against the orders of Big Mac, left a little tension in her muscles. The mare lock-jointedly descended the stairs into the hallway, travelled down the hallway and entered the kitchen; Big Macintosh pulled quickly away from the middle child's ear, the yellow mare's older sister, the room turned dead. The lean orange earth pony turned to the youngest and pulled her own cheeks to her ears, ''Howdy little sis', glad to see ya up with the sunrise, were ya good for your bigger brother?'' The yellow pony looked over at her huge stallion sibling and gave him a sheepish smile, Big Mac was never the angry type, and Apple Bloom knew he couldn't stay mad at her.

''Eeyup.''

''Well aint' that just peachy? I really don't know how you do it Big Mac.'' The orange mare said, in the typical adult-to-child condescending manner. The stallion didn't puff his chest at all, but only winked at the yellow mare and answered,

''Patience, AJ.'' Thanks Big Mac, I owe ya one. Apple Jack shouldered her brother,

''Ah have plenty of patience, sure I went to that fancy mandatory agriculture assembly, so what are you sayin'?''

''Ah aint' saying much.''

''Well let's keep it that way,'' Chuckled the pony, walking over to the kitchen door, ''Anyhow, I'm going over to see Twilight, need to give back this darned book, gonna see what's she's been up to. You get yourself to school little lady, I'll be back in and hour to help harvest, Big Mac.'' And leaving the room; a clink and thump from towards the front of the house not shortly after.

Apple Bloom sat down at the kitchen table and surveyed breakfast, if I were me... what would I eat? The drowsy pony shovelled some toast onto her plate and peach jam onto that, dexterously filling a glass with apple juice with her other hoof. The red earth pony was washing dishes very slowly, every plate and glass drifting from counter to sink to drying rack. After washing down a particularly dry bite of toast with freshly squeezed juice, Apple Bloom peered over at her elder, ''Uhhh, Big Mac?''

''Eeyup?'' The stallion acknowledged firmly. The filly didn't want to ask, Apple Jack normally scolded her for asking about adult conversation, despite being allowed occasionally over the last few months; also considering how the red pony had just saved her hind from a tongue lashing,

''What, uh- what were you'd talking about? If you, uh, don't mind me askin'.'' Apple Bloom immediately started munching on her meal. The huge red earth pony peered out the window, he focused on something intently.

''You know the way you've been tryin' to get work with Tooth N' Nail?''

''Uh, yeah?''

''Eeyup.'' Returning to the dishes.

''What? I do-'' The yellow pony spurted the ends of her apple juice and fell off her chair and over the table to get closer to the serene stallion. ''Naw, you're joking me, you're not are ya? Please tell me you're not joking!'' The mare bounded in place then put her chin to the floor in anticipation for the response; Big Mac slowly toweled a paint glass and lightly put it down onto the drying rack,

''Eeeeeeyup.'' The stallion elaborated. Oh my sweet Celestia. Apple Bloom rose up and tackled her benefactor, toppling him; a plate followed, shattering. Big Macintosh lightly heaved.

''Yeeeeehaaww! Thank you Big Mac! Thank you, thank you, oh thank you!''

''You're gonna be payin' for that plate!''

''You bet I am!'' The stallion belly-laughed and tried to get up, heavily cracking his back in the process,

''Oof! Granny sure gave me something.'' Aw, shoot. Apple Bloom stepped up from her brother, her jaw must have come loose, Big Mac's stoic silence broke with another loud crack when he violently tried to buck the air from his prone position. He peered up at his younger sister and burst out in laughter, his crisp bones still bubbling. Sceptically, the yellow mare joined in and fearfully pulled the stallion to his hooves; the large red pony strained, panted and wheezed a leg around the filly. Eventually, he calmed, Apple Bloom still giggled jointeethedly, ''Eeyup.''

With regards to sleep, Twilight would have been happy to lie in that particular day, another reason being she didn't expect any business, though neither force could subside the epic work ethic of which was the unicorn, I'll make work if I have to. But the unicorn was awoken prior even to her early start; she pulled herself together into a creaking, joint rigid mess; body slightly less staunch. Somepony was knocking at the door, furiously by the sound of it, ''Please, stop knocking, I'll be there in a moment, stop!'' Twilight rushed down the stairs, sparking the main room's candles into light, Spike didn't react as per usual. The purple pony peaked through the tarps, lest it was more than one pony at the door, what is wrong with you? It's only Apple Jack!

''Howdy Twi! Uh, I nee- wooah!'' The unicorn forced her friend through the door and slammed it safe,

''Sorry about that Apple Jack, there's been some crazy things happening around Ponyville. It's good to see you back, how was your trip?'' Rushed Twilight, almost forgetting to hug the confused mare.

''Uh, yeah, it was good, 'bout that Twi, Ponyville I mean.''

''Oh, don't tell me about Ponyville, I'm glad you're here, I just really need someone I can sit down with and vent to.'' The unicorn cut-in a second time, ''You know, I always thought Ponyville was a really friendly-''

''Twilight.''

''- but oh brother! Was I wrong. I don't like saying-''

''Twi.''

''- names but do you know this one earth pony called Ruby Scoop?

''Twahlight!'' Did I say too much?

''Y- yes, AJ?''

''About that, Big Mac was telling 'bout what's been going on here in Ponyville while I've been gone.'' Gone: The past participle of go, departed from.

''Oh? And?''

''Ah don't like it.''

The purple mare's brain, having blown a few connections, led her towards a shiny blue floor, into the kitchen. Apple Jack appeared to not care, making her way over to the table in the main room of the library, ''Would you like some coffee? Or anything else?''

''Nah, I'm fine, I don't drink that black muck, throws me off mah work.'' Coffee: The seed if a coffee plant. I don't drink coffee either. The unicorn topped the kettle with water and set it on the stove to simmer, Okay, maybe she's talking about her absence from the market, maybe Flim and Flam are in town, no, no, no, they would be at that meeting too... or is it only agriculturalists? Maybe something's happened that I don't know about... The kettle boiled furiously, whistling to no attention from the purple pony, and what if she does know? what then? what am I going to say? But she should be okay with it, right? She is my friend and all, but she's been living in Ponyville longer than most ponies, and if my suspicious are right that's the roots of the problem...

''Woah Nelly, Twilight you got that kettle screaming hotter than Uncle Albermarle Pippin after a bad harvest.'' Apple Jack exclaimed, Twilight rocketed into the celling away from the work pony's voice, sending magical sparks everywhere. Gravity quickly had her falling back onto the floor and heavily onto her back. She recovered relatively slowly and by the time her body topped her hooves and she reached for the kettle it had already moved,

''W- wha?''

''Twilight, we need to talk.'' Well, there are my fears...

Her coffee brewed, Twilight prepared herself for the worst, the orange mare sat at the relatively unused kitchen table and chairs set, staring. The mug finally finished and Twilight rushed over to join her friend, wow, this is bitter, how does Spike drink this? Apple Jack spoke up, after taking a glance through the ajar door at the dragon herself, ''You sure we won't wake up the little fellah?''

''No, he sleeps, um, sounder than a rock.'' The unicorn playfully said,

''Uh, yeah... so, Big Mac was telling me about yerself and Fluttershy...''

''Yeah? And what did he say?''

''He said a lot...'' Good thing you can't lie... ''I just wanted to know if it's true.'' The orange mare said in a stern tone. I guess I should be truthful too,

''Yes, it is, very recently, that myself and Fluttershy 'found each other', so to speak. Apple Jack, I'm being as honest as possible, I want you to know I trust you; it's gone very fast, it's been... what, three days? And we'v-'' The earth pony rose a hoof and looked away,

''Stop right there missy, ah, uh, don't need to know the details. So was Big Mac right?''

''Yes.''

''Well, uh, I don't know how to put this, as friendly as possible, I guess... you do know those kind of relationships are the most unnatural thing in Equestria?''

''Oh Apple Jack-...''

''But it's true! I don't wanna be bad or nothin', aw darn Twilight, you're one of my closest friends!'' Said the orange mare, in a defence of some sort,

''I was hoping you would be supportive! I hoped I could really talk to you about this! Rarity is helping a whole lot but in the completely wrong way, and Spike is just trying to block it out!''

The earth pony scratched her neck and went to say something, Twilight quickly took a loud sip from her cup, hoping it would distract her friend, wow, I think it's starting to work. Everything became clearer, finer details came into the view, such as how uncomfortably angry her friend sat, and how the coffee mug left shallow orange stains on her favourite coaster that reads 'for ponies that can't hold their cider'. ''You know... ah really am sorry Twi, it wasn't nice of me to come in judgin' you an' all...'' The orange pony pushed the clock.

''Thanks, Aj, it can be hard to give up what you believe, and I understand that.'' Said Twilight, feeling some shivers in her spine.

''Heh, heh. Yeah, I do admit, Ponyville can be a bit of eccentric when it comes to new things, like you remember that time we had seaponies swimming up river? Boy was Celestia sore at Spike and his 'special ambassa-derin' techniques.'' The work mare beamed, leaning in on the table. Thank Celestia; if we weren't able to settle this I would have had a heart attack. Very briefly, the unicorn felt like crying but choked back her tears. Don't want friends feeling wrong when they should-n't.

''Right, I'm going to make tea!'' Proclaimed the librarian,

''Uh, didn't you just have coffee? Won't you be bouncin' off the walls?'' Questioned Apple Jack,

''Yes, but now I want tea, and besides, it's herbal, strawberry: for calming and self-connecting.'' Twilight actioned her breathing,

''Good plan?... Aw hay, fill 'er up, you got apple?''

''Just for you.''

Twilight found her Twilings - because it has her name in it - strawberry and loganberry tea, warms the mind and heart, makes one calm with herself. It's always herself and not oneself, and her Princess's Choice mulled apple. Loose leaves... Rarity clearly understands my love of loose leaves, the mare chuckled and magicked Spike's burr grinder and press from directly above her, then the end cupboard swung open and two cups were unsheathed and put down on the counter adjacent the grinder. ''I only have spare leaves for you, so it might take a bit longer, if that's okay.''

''That's just dandy.'' Replied Apple Jack. The purple pony eyed the work pony and the cups she had taken for them, she lined the cup up with her friend's eyes, whoa, olive. Twilight ground up the leaves and tipped them into the press, adding water to both it and her cup, once the kettle had finished boiling. Finalising her loganberry-strawberry mix, the unicorn trotted back over to the table, cup on back,

''We'll need to let that brew for five minutes or so.''

''I never knew you were some sort of tea connoisseur.''

''It's one of my hobbies, studying is great but it isn't all it's made out to be when studying simple things like... oh... I don't know... the possibilities of monogamy in certain plants, sometimes you need something to get through the easy stuff.''

''Easy stuff? Twilight! Have you been adding something wacky to that tea of yours?'' Joked the orange mare,

''Ha! The same thing Ponyville is taking!''

Apple Jack chuckled a little, ''There is something I want to ask of you though Twi, don't be going all sour apples about this.''

''I'm not really sure what you mean.'' Said Twilight, true to her words.

''Well, once this all blows over I just hope you can forgive Ponyville, hopefully they will forgive you too.'' Said the orange mare, in a quietly condescending manner,

''Wait, what?'' The purple pony glanced at the press, went over to it and pushed down the plunger, ''I have nothing to apologise for, I'll stop being bitter when I get an apology for wanting to love.'' The colour drained from the work pony's eyes and she became jittery,

''Oh, I'm not saying you have to apologise or anything, ah- I'm just saying if you let go of all this that Ponyville, in their, uh, current state, might forgive you for making the freaky with Fluttershy.'' Twilight finished filling her friend's cup with scolding tea, the heat leached from the gas & liquid and surged through the handle, the pony's hoof and into her veins. The heat condensed into rage on its short journey right to the librarian's head,

''The what? Is that what you think this is? A swing?'' Demanded the purple pony. Apple Jack stood up, concern on her face, anger in her words,

''Now wait just a darned minute Twilight, I'm gone one week and all of a sudden my friends are hookin' up with one another and going at it, I didn't even think it was true when it came to the older pony stuff. Fair enough with that 'love' an' all but one week, Twilight, and you's are snuggling it up in bed, one. Week.''

''And? What's so bad about that!?'' Fumed the unicorn, whacking her counter top full force, knocking mulled apple from its tree top and onto the counter. Apple Jack went a tint of red, obviously trying not to lash out at the venting librarian,

''Well if you're gonna be shouting at your friends then I think I might just go back to mah side of the barn.'' Tipping her head to the ceiling,

''Are yo- at this time?!''

''I didn't do nothing!-'' Defended the work horse.

Twilight gritted her teeth and white noise enveloped her thought, double negatives... ''And it's not right to be shoutin' at your friends like that, have a little understandin'.'' Restarted Apple Jack, more smarmy than before,

''Understanding?''

''Yes, ah just hope in the fut-''

''Get out.'' Said Twilight, unable to bare the torture of the earth pony's voice; if Twilight had remembered her magic she knew her actions would have been a lot more exaggerated, she was just thankful that she had forgotten what that was,

''What?''

''GET THE HELL OUT'A MY HOUSE!'' Exploded the purple mare, shouting loud enough to wake even the comatose dragon.

Apple Jack didn't attempt at a response, she eyed the molten unicorn and left, pushed the door closed as if everypony was still asleep, and then slammed the front door, ''What was that all about?'' Groggily questioned Spike. Twilight peered at the cup of tea, knots worked their way up her trachea and she thought. What am going to do with you now? She huffed; she hadn't even noticed she had. The dragon peeped into the kitchen only to jump back behind the door to avoid the magically catapulted mug, I really liked you, the olive green capsule lay shattered on the sparkling tiled floor in still-boiling apple. Spike peeked back through the door frame to find the soaking shattered mess, and went about cleaning it up. He first got his towel and wiped up the water - quickly tasting it while his mistress wasn't looking; it was incredibly salty - then started trying, and failing, to put the pieces back in their right places, ''Comm'on Twilight, p- please? It's only one friend, it's okay.''