Passing Afternoon

by Closer-To-The-Sun

Rating: everyone
Tags: Romance, Slice of Life, Apple Bloom, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Spike
Length: 2321

A young filly and a dragon take part in their secret book club.

"There are things that drift away,/Like our endless, numbered days." -Iron & Wine, 'Passing Afternoon'

Apple Bloom and Spike have a secret book club. While they enjoy their books, sometimes the world of fiction doesn't always provide the escape they'd hope.

Cover image drawn by Smeallie on Twitter. Used with permission.

Published 2020-05-23 22:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-05-23 22:40:01 UTC

Passing Afternoon

Spike was hurrying as fast as his little feet could carry him. He was weaving in and out between all of the bystanders that were out and about in Ponyville that afternoon. Clutching the book he had in his claws, he was trying to pick up the pace. He was already running late, and wasn’t looking forward to being scolded.

The crowds seemed to dissipate as he reached the edge of Ponyville. He continued along the beaten path along the stream. However, he abandoned the trail as it left away from the water and chose to follow the riverside. Through the tall grass, he was coming up to his destination, where a yellow filly with a large pink bow on top of her red mane was impatiently waiting.

“Took ya long enough,” her hooves were crossed as she sat on the log, her face a bit pouty.

“Sorry, Apple Bloom!” Spike apologized as he got closer, “Twilight wouldn’t let me leave until I finished all the chores she had for me, and she kept thinking of all sorts of stuff for me to do!”

Apple Bloom still had her hooves crossed as her nose was up. She couldn’t keep it up, as she peeked out of one of her eyes and smiled. With a giggle, she forgave the dragon, “It’s okay! Ah was just gettin’ worried ‘bout ya.” To Spike, the filly’s smile brightened the already beautiful day.

The day was cloudless and the nearby tree offered cooling shade to the two youngsters. They had placed the log that Apple Bloom was sitting on under the shade a while back for their little hideaway. Right next to them was a smaller stream that eventually connected to the main river that cut through the town of Ponyville. However, it seemed that everypony had forgotten about the small tributary and it’s small nearby waterfall. But it was okay, because it was the perfect retreat for Spike and Apple Bloom.

“Now,” the filly proclaimed as she stood up onto her hooves, “ah call to order the super secret society of Apple Bloom and Spike’s Book Club!” She held her hoof up as if she was showcasing a secret gesture.

“Here, here!” Spike saluted with his free claw. “But next time, I get to put my name first in our secret club.”

Apple Bloom scoffed and motioned her hoof, “Pffft, like that will ever happen. What’cha got ta read today, Spike?” She sat back down, this time on the grass next to the long, leaning up against the log for support.

He brought the book up and moved it to show Apple Bloom the cover, “It’s this really neat book! It’s called Warriors about all these different clans of cats who have all these different ways of life, and this one cat named Rusty who leaves home to live with the ThunderClan and….oh, I shouldn’t say too much or I’ll ruin it for you!” Spike was very animated as he spoke. The cover he showed to Apple Bloom was that of a cat sitting majestically, staring right at the viewer. “It’s kinda funny how I found this book, because at first I thought it was about a bunch of different gangs trying to beat up this one gang, cause Rainbow Dash told me about a book of a similar name.”

“Heh, seems like ya’ve taken quite a likin’ ta that book,” Apple Bloom commented with a chuckle.

“You’re telling me! I found out about this book two days ago and I can’t put it down!” Spike explained as he took a seat next to Apple Bloom. “Twilight seems really happy that I’m reading this book, too. I think she wants to talk with me about it.”

“Well, Miss Twilight can’t join our book club, this is our book club and ours alone!” Apple Bloom sounded a bit defensive.

“I know, I know!” Spike reassured the filly, “You already said that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo won’t join.”

“Ah don’t think either of them would want ta join,” Apple Bloom commented, “Scootaloo wanted ta try a new scooter stunt today, and ah think Sweetie Belle is only watchin’ her in case Scootaloo crashes….again.”

Spike had a smirk, “That sounds about right. Anyway, what did you bring to read today?”

From seemingly out of nowhere, Apple Bloom pulled out a comic book. “Well, since ya said a lotta great things ‘bout it last time, ah thought ah’d give that one comic a read.” The comic was entitled Trottrot in Appleloosa. “Ah have ta admit, this character Trottrot is really neat and the adventures he has are just wild, and his dog Snowy reminds me of Winona! Ah already read the first book!”

“Just wait until you meet the Captain! I’m positive you’re going to love Captain Hackamore.”

“Ah can’t wait to read more of these! There’s so many of them!”

A warm smile appeared on Spike’s face as Apple Bloom praised the book he recommended, “So, are you gonna admit that comics can be true works of literature?”

Apple Bloom playfully shoved Spike, in which they both laughed, “Maybe, if ya stop being such a nerd ‘bout them!”

The two of them started to read their respective books. There was a quiet stillness in the air, with the only noise coming from the soft rustling of the leaves in the branches above and the sound of the small nearby waterfall. Apple Bloom leaned her body against the dragon as she was working her way towards the end of the comic. Spike didn’t mind in the least. After all, the two had been having these secret little dates for sometime.

After a little time, Apple Bloom reached the end of the comic. She closed the cover and looked forward for a bit, as if to process everything she just read.

“Oh, you’re done?” Spike noticed, looking up from his book. He took a mental note of where he left off and looked at Apple Bloom, “How’d you like it?”

“It was good, better than the others ah’ve read even,” Apple Bloom looked up at Spike from her resting spot as she trailed off.

“Hmm? I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming,” Spike commented.

The filly didn’t reply right away. She lifted her head up and got up from her seat and stretched her body for a few moments. Afterwards, she sat down on the grass in front of Spike. With the comic in hoof, she opened it up again to flip through the pages, “Ah dunno. While readin’ these books, there’s all these great adventures and fights between good guys and bad guys. It’s really neat to read, but….”

“See, there’s that ‘but’. I knew it was coming,” Spike pointed out.

“It seems like the good guys don’t always win in real life,” Apple Bloom continued.

“What do ya mean?”

Apple Bloom replied as she laid her back down in the grass, her eyes now fixated on the branches above. “Like with Trottrot. He has all these bad guys after him no matter where he goes, but with quick thinkin’ and a little luck, he and Snowy make it out a-okay against those bad guys. But in real life, it ain’t that easy.”

Spike placed his bookmark in his book and closed it. He placed his elbow on the book in his lap and rested his chin in his claw. “Starting to see how the world of fiction is better than reality, huh?”

“It’s just not fair!” Apple Bloom cried out, as she took the comic and flipped through the pages, “How can the universe just be so mean? There’s all these bad things that happen ta good ponies, good creatures! But just because there’s some pony out there that thinks they’re better fer whatever dumb reason, they think they can do whatever they want!”

“Ya know, Twilight told me something about cosmic justice and all of that,” Spike closed his eyes as he remembered, “she told me that ‘the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice’.”

Without lifting her head off the ground, Apple Bloom turned her head to look at Spike, “What the hay is that supposed ta mean?”

A small smile appeared on his face, “When I asked that very same question to her, Twilight told me to think about it. And I did, for a week even. What’s even crazier is that she refused to give me any hints the whole time. Finally, she caved and told me.”

“And?” Apple Bloom still had her gaze fixed on Spike.

“She explained that it’s a very simple way of saying that no matter how unfair or unjust this world might be, you have to remember how long time itself is. Our time here is almost like a blink of an eye compared to the age of the universe itself, and there are almost endless good and bad things happening. But despite that, the good does outweigh the bad,” Spike described. His voice was calm and soothing, sounding almost wiser beyond his years. “I guess the best way to explain it is that even if bad things happen, over time the good will outweigh the bad.”

Apple Bloom turned her attention back to the comic that she held above her head, “If that were true, Diamond Tiara would be in detention fer the rest of forever.”

“Well, there’s still time for that,” Spike joked, “We can always help bump the path in the right direction.”

“So yer saying ah should help Diamond Tiara get detention?”

“What? No, that’s not what I mean, Apple Bloom!” Spike corrected quickly, shaking his head and moving his arms quickly in a similar manner. “What I’m trying to say is that individually, we have the ability to help make every creature’s life better. And it doesn’t have to be big things, even small, simple gestures to others can have a big impact.”

Apple Bloom continued to look at the comic. However, she wasn’t reading or paying it any attention. Rather, her mind was absorbing every word that Spike said.

“I know it’s not exactly a satisfying answer, but it’s still something that gives me hope and gives me something I can do,” Spike said.

Again, Apple Bloom laid in silence, the comic being propped up by all four of her legs. However, she did finally speak when she heard that Spike was softly chuckling to himself. “What’s so funny, Spike?” she turned her head to look at him.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that how you’re holding the comic with all four of your hooves!” he was doing his best not to chuckle with his hand over his mouth, but it was to no avail.

“What ‘bout it? It’s how mah sister used ta read books and ah learned it from her!” Apple Bloom closed the comic and sat back up. Her cherry red mane and tail both had twigs and grass stuck in them. This caused Spike to laugh more. The filly quickly figured out about the debris mixed in with her hair fibers. “Oh, come on!” she complained.

Spike motioned to her as he set his book aside, “Come over here, I’ll help.”

Apple Bloom sat down in front of Spike, her back facing the dragon. Without a word between the two, Spike began carefully removing the leaves, sticks, and such. Each time he pulled something out, he would set it aside.

“How’d you get so much stuff stuck in here so fast?” Spike asked as he pulled out more and more items.

The filly didn’t answer. Her mind was elsewhere, particularly still back on what Spike had said earlier. “Do ya really believe all of that? ‘Bout the good outweighin’ the bad?”

“I gotta,” Spike answered, running his claws through Apple Bloom’s tail to get rid of any leaves he may have missed. He then focused his attention on her mane, “Sometimes it’s the only thing that keeps my spirits up. But the way I see it, believing in that gives me the chance to brighten the lives of others. Small acts make big waves.”

“Well, it’s working on me,” Apple Bloom moved her head slightly to be able to see Spike out of the corner of her eye, giving him a soft smile. His claws moved through her mane. “Thank ya.”

Spike smiled back, “Always happy to.”

Apple Bloom looked forward again, allowing Spike to work on finishing. “Maybe yer right. And that thing that Twilight said kinda reminds me of somethin’ Applejack told me once.” The pony shivered a little as Spike’s claws ran through her hair. “She once told me ‘ya win some, ya lose some, but what matters is that ya live ta fight another day.’ Guess ah never put much thought into it until now.”

“Sounds like you’ve got a really smart sister.”

“Ah know,” Apple Bloom smirked.

Spike pulled one last twig out of her mane, “Alright, I think that should do it, Apple Bloom.”

The filly shook her head, her mane bouncing around, free from any issues. “Thank ya, Spike!” she said as she fell backwards and into Spike’s lap. Her head rested against his body, which caused Spike’s chin to barely rest on top of Apple Bloom’s head and between the gap in her bow.

The sudden weight of the small pony knocked the wind out of the dragon, but he couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah, not a problem,” he said.

The two rested next to each other as they looked forward at the wind softly blowing the grass around. Above them, the branches of the tree swayed, causing the spots of sunlight to move at a moment's notice. The rustling of the leaves clashed with the sound of the nearby stream. For a moment, all of Equestria faded away for the two youngsters.

“Ah really enjoy these lazy afternoons with ya.”

“Me too.”

END