It was an alluring smell that now wafted through the air of Sweet Apple Acres. The kind of smell that all knew instinctively as being that of lovingly-made home-cooking. And so it was today that Applejack, with a proud smile upon her face, looked down at the oven of her kitchen, waiting patiently as the seconds rolled by on the nearby clock. Eventually, and with much confidence, the clock struck the appropriate time, causing her smile to grow yet further.
"There we go!"
Reaching for a nearby pair of gloves, the young farmer opened her oven up, allowing yet more of that lovely smell to emerge from within. Very carefully, she reached inside, and within moments, pulled out the delicious-looking food within; a freshly-baked apple pie. Turning, and with the pie still in her hands, the youth kicked the oven door behind her, closing it swiftly. Chuckling to this, she made her way over to the table at the centre of her kitchen, placing her creation right in the middle. After taking her gloves off and putting her hands upon her hips, she glanced up at her guest, who was currently eying the food intently.
"Well? Don't be a stranger, Adagio. Eat up!"
The eldest of the Siren sisters smirked slightly, in that way she was known for, before casting a look to her host.
"I must confess, it looks most appetizing."
Another hearty laugh escaped the farmer.
"Yep! Ya won't find no pie better than this one right here!"
Adagio nodded to this, reaching over for both her plate and fork, which were close by on the table, before getting out of her chair and starting to serve herself a modest portion. Applejack watched carefully as the Siren sat back down, taking a single fork-full of her pie and placing it in her mouth. After a few moments of silence, Adagio swallowed, looking up to Applejack with a genuine smile.
"Delightful. Simply delightful. Sonata wasn't kidding when she said you do these well."
Pride covered Applejack's face once more, as she too now took a place at the table, right next to Adagio.
"Apple family recipe! Ya can't beat it!"
While Adagio once more nodded in agreement to this, both she and Applejack were halted from continuing their conversation. For just then, they both heard the distinct sound of somebody running down the stairs of the house. Turning, they looked on just in time to see the unmistakeable shape of Apple Bloom, who now rushed past the kitchen door almost in a blur, speaking out at break-neck speed.
"Goingoutseeyoulatergottagobye!"
But Applejack, who was no stranger to such goings on, stood up from her chair as soon as this took place, pointing a finger right where the girl had gone, before taking on a stern look and calling out to her.
"Hold it right there, Missy!"
With curiosity, Adagio watched as, slowly but surely, the young Apple began to make her way back into view. And here, both girls noted that she was not dressed in her usual attire. Instead, she was, rather surprisingly, clad in a bright green sun-dress. It was the kind of outfit that the girl was not exactly known for, which immediately caused a raised eyebrow for Applejack. As for Apple Bloom herself, she was trying hard to stare down at the floor, rather than look her sister in the eye. But, as was expected, the latter soon spoke up, her tone about as stern as her expression.
"And what, exactly, do y'all plan on doin today?"
Twiddling her thumbs, Apple Bloom looked as if she was trying to think of the right words to give as an answer, and so took a few moments before finally speaking, with her voice tinted with clear nervousness.
"Um...out?"
Applejack frowned.
"Ah can see that. But where?"
"Well...er...me an the girls are goin to the park?"
In the silence that followed, Applejack looked her sister over, before finally asking the question that everybody knew was going to be asked.
"Why are ya dressed like that?"
Grabbing the hem of her dress' skirt, Apple Bloom once more struggled for an answer.
"I...um...thought it'd be good for...ya know...makin an effort ta look nice on a nice day...I guess?"
Naturally, such comments earned more than a little suspicion from her elder.
"Seems a might strange for a simple day out with Scoots and Sweetie, don't ya think?"
To that, Apple Bloom couldn't help but gain a slight blush on her cheeks as she once more tried to answer.
"Well...I guess...we might not be the only ones there today."
Folding her arms, Applejack narrowed her eyes a bit.
"Oh?"
Apple Bloom shook her head.
"Ah mean...maybe there are some...other folks from our class?"
Applejack stood there, having a hard time trying to make out exactly where her sister was going with all of this, and all the while, Apple Bloom herself was still trying to avoid looking directly at her older sibling. However, this awkward sister-sister moment was soon interrupted, as Adagio, who had been silently watching this entire time, now spoke up, a wide smile upon her face.
"Oh...oh! That is...just adorable!"
Both Apples turned to look at her, with the younger seeming more than a little nervous while the elder seemed just confused about it all. Adagio cleared her throat, her gaze straight at Applejack when she finally started explaining herself.
"Well, Apples, it appeared as though your dear little sister has taken an...interest in somebody."
Immediately, Applejack's head snapped in her sister's direction, with the latter's face now erupting into a massive blush.
"Bloom? Is this true?" Applejack asked.
It took a while. but eventually, the younger sister gave a short nod.
"Um...yeah."
As one would expect, Applejack was rather speechless at the moment, with her mouth hanging open to what she'd just learned. Adagio, naturally, was very much amused by this, leaning back into her chair and taking another bite of her delicious apple pie. And that just left Apple Bloom, who, given the circumstances, decided that it might be best just to try and start explaining herself.
"His...his name is Tender. Tender Taps. We're in the same classes and...well...we got to talking a while back. He's really nice and...I...I just..."
Finally, Applejack snapped out of her shocked state, looking to her sister with intrigue.
"Wait...Tender? Ain't he that little dancin kid?"
Apple Bloom nodded.
"Yep! He's really good at it."
Applejack once more raised an eyebrow.
"So...ya got this little crush on this boy, so ya decided ta pretty yerself up and try ta get him to notice ya?"
The younger sister looked down nervously as she poked her index fingers against one another.
"Um...yeah?"
Applejack sighed, but before she could get in another word to her sibling, Adagio got out of her chair, catching the attention of the others. The Siren walked over and, to the confusion of Apple Bloom, placed her hand upon her shoulder. After a few moments, Adagio took on a genuine smile, speaking in a calm and reassuring manner to the youth.
"Apple Bloom...believe me when I say that doing this sort of thing is not necessary."
While the younger seemed somewhat disheartened by this, Applejack looked to her former enemy with an approving expression.
"Thanks, Adagio! Ah knew..."
But, she couldn't finish her words, as Adagio carried on.
"All this effort is hardly needed, young one. If you want this boy, he can be yours without trying to doll yourself up."
Applejack's eyes snapped open and looked to Adagio with dismay, while Apple Bloom's face lit up once more.
"You...you mean it?"
Adagio nodded.
"I do. Remember...like many others, you are my descendant. Do you know what that means?"
Apple Bloom shook her head, prompting Adagio to carry on.
"I mean that, like your sister here, you have the blood of a Siren in you. And that means that, if you want someone, it won't take much to make them yours."
Applejack stood there in place, a flabbergasted look plastered on her face as Adagio kept on giving this advice to the young girl before her.
"You don't need some pretty dress to make this boy notice you. It's all in subtlety. An accidental bump into him here, or perhaps a giggle there. Little things. Trust me, a boy his age will get the message."
Apple Bloom took those words in, looking to her elder with a smile.
"Ya really mean that?"
Adagio nodded.
"I do. So if you want this boy...go and get him. Get him with all the low-key flirtiness and adorableness that a girl your age can muster."
A look of determination now broke out on Apple Bloom's face, and while she at first looked as if she was about to turn around. She instead stopped and paused. After a moment or two, she glanced back to Adagio, and grew into a wide smile before, to the latter's surprise, leapt forward and embraced her in a tight hug.
"Thanks, Granny Dagi! Yer the second-best Granny ah know!"
"Damn straight!" called an elderly-sounding voice from the other room.
Surprise flashed in Adagio's eyes for a moment over the current circumstances, and while hesitant over this, she soon relaxed, returning the hug. And, yet again, Applejack just stood there with her mouth hanging open as she tried desperately to get a handle on the situation. But, she was too late, as her young sister now bolted out of the room, heading right back up the stairs to, most likely, get changed yet again. And it was here, with the youth finally gone, that the farmer shook herself out of her trance-like state, frowning at Adagio in a clearly-disapproving way.
"Bloom is too young ta be goin out an catchin some boy!"
Adagio flipped some of her hair aside.
"Oh please! I was even younger than her when I first started taking an interest in males like that!"
Applejack frowned further.
"That's not the point! Ya shouldn't go around tellin her this is okay! Bein all flirty an stuff? It ain't...it ain't wholesome! It ain't Apple!"
To this, Adagio turned, with one of her infamous smirks now growing on her lips.
"Oh? Then tell me, Applejack...how wholesome was it to go and deliberately try skinny-dipping in front of another girl's boyfriend a few months back?"
Immediately, Applejack froze again, looking very much like she was using all of her might to come up with a retort, only to hit a wall with every single attempt. In the end, and after having to endure Adagio's already-prepared look of victory, the famer sighed, moving over to the table and just slumping down in her chair.
"Ah can't believe this! She's just...just..."
"So young?" Adagio finished.
"Exactly! What if she can't even do this?"
Adagio chuckled to this, taking her own seat nearby.
"I wouldn't worry about it. Besides, like I said, it doesn't take much to get a reaction out of some people."
Applejack rolled her eyes.
"Oh yeah? Ah figure it'd be harder than y'all are always sayin."
Now, if there was one thing most people knew about Adagio, it was to never challenge her. She stared at Applejack for a time, maintaining that smirk of hers, before slowly and calmly starting to slip one of her purple gloves off her hand. With her limb now uncovered, she reached over and, before Applejack could react, took hold of the farm-girl's hand.
"What the...?!" Applejack began.
But Adagio was already working, taking her thumb and gently making circles in her descendant's open palm.
"So...are you saying that this isn't doing anything for you?"
Applejack, feeling the thumb on her skin, looked to Adagio, then back to her hand, and back and forth before, in the end, yanking her hand away entirely. As for Adagio, she could see, just for a moment, that her host was indeed bearing a blush upon her cheeks, even as she tried hiding her face. In the moments that followed, Applejack muttered angrily under her breath.
"Ah hate y'all...ah really, really hate y'all right now!"
But Adagio merely chuckled.
"And that, Applejack...is what makes it fun."
