The Quest for the Golden Apple

A couple days later, after Applejack had finished the book, she went back to Ponyville.  Not only did she want to return the book, but she also wanted to see if Twilight was back.

Upon arrival at the library, she found Twilight was still gone.  Spike was on the couch, munching on a sandwich.

"...Oh, hey AJ.  What's up?"  He said, standing up.

"Finished th' book."  She pulled it out of her saddlebag, held it up, and waved it. "Ah take it Twi ain't back yet?"

"No.  Evidently they had other plans..."  Spike sighed.  "...It's so...  Dull around here.  Nobody to talk to."

"Aw.  Sorry 'bout that, Spike.  Ye can come hang 'round with me if ye need ta."

"...Then who's going to keep an eye on the library?"

"Whooo?"

Applejack and Spike both looked up at Owlowiscious.  "...Ain't he able to?"

"...I never thought of that, AJ.  He might, but...  Eh, I need a vacation."

"Well, feel free t' stop by anytime!"

"...Thanks, AJ."

"Yer welcome, Spike.  Anythin' fer a friend."

Spike nodded.  "...So, what else is up?  Anything interesting happening lately?"

"'Less you count Big Mac's... 'Hot-streak'...  Nah.  Nothin' different.  Same stuff, different day."

Spike blinked.  "...TMI, AJ."

They shared a chuckle.  "What?  You asked!"

"Still!"

After a facehoof and a facepalm, Applejack spoke up again.  "...How've things been goin' round here lately?"

"Boring.  ...But Twilight has been having the weirdest guests over lately.  Before she left, that is."

"Weird?"

"Like...  Oh, how do I put this?  They're the kind of ponies that...  have no personal hygene, are fat and...  Obsess over stories and stuff.  She talked to some fat dude last week who was evidently a historian.  I swear, he knew -everything- about Equestria's history.  Specifically the time when Celestia was at war with the griffon kingdom, where they invented armor and stuff.  He went on for hours!  And he smelled like rotten eggs!"

Applejack snarled more and more in disgust at every detail.  "...Ah've seen a couple ponies like that.  Ah've even smelt a few...  Eeyuck!"

"Do you know the smell when they raise their arms and reveal their pits?"

"...Do Ah want to?"

"...Probably not."

"Then let's leave it be."

"...Yeah..."

An awkward silence followed.  Applejack decided to break the ice.

"Oh!  Spike!  Also, was hopin' ye had another book on these...  Golden apples.  They're interestin'."

"Sure do.  Hold on..."  Spike grabbed the ladder and rolled over to another section.  After a minute or two of searching, he pulled out three books.  "...These should show you more."  He said as he held them up to Applejack.

She took them and set them to the side.  "Great.  But right now, Ah got a question for ya, Spike."

"Hmm?"

"Ah got quite a few ideas from this here book."  She bumps the Daring Do novel.  "Look.  Bein' on the farm is growin' pretty old. Ah'm gonna go insane if Ah don't break out of my routine some time soon.  Maybe if Ah learn more, we can find out where these golden apples may be 'n' what they do 'n' stand for.  ...'N' maybe take 'em fer ourselves."

Spike burst out laughing.  "...You...  Y-You think that...  Hah!  ...AJ, I'm sorry, but, going after something like that is crazy!  Nopony has ever found one, no matter how hard they looked!"

"Hmm.  Let me read these.  Ah'll get back to you..."

"Heheh, okayyyy, AJ.  I'll see you around."  Spike said as his friend went out the door.

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The next day...

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The next day, Applejack opened the door and was greeted by Spike, who was still skeptical about Applejack's plans.

"Heh.  So, what'd ya find out?  Anything?"  He said sarcastically.

Applejack cleared her throat.  "...Maybe the people who looked before didn't know how to negotiate with dragons.  'R maybe they didn't get a good look at this."  She pulled out a book.  It was about The 'Mareyans'; an ancient civilization of ponies whom inhabited the mountainous regions north of Canterlot.  "There's actually more crunch t' this apple than Ah thought."

Spike wiped the smug look off of his face, grabbed the book, and started reading.  After a few minutes, his eyebrows raised in surprise, and his eyes were wide with interest.  "...Tombs...  Crypts...  Applejack, you aren't seriously considering this?  We have next to nothing to go by other than the fact they have tombs."

"Or do we?  Look at page 755."

Spike nodded, and flipped the page.  It was about the reflection pool.  "...And into her own reflection she stared, yearning for one whose reflection she shared...  They made that pool?!"

"Yeah, they did."

"How did Pinkie know about that thing anyway?"

"Ah dunno."  Applejack took the book, set it aside, and turned Spike's head to face her.  "'N' that's where Ah think we should start.  If nothin' else, we'll at least solve a mystery or two." She said with a smirk.

"...Applejack?"  Spike said as he stared off into the distance in deep thought.

"Hmm?"

"...This just might work..."  He said, thinking about it.

"Ah know.  That's why Ah came back.  Suggest we go talk to Pinkie, see just how much she knows."

"Great idea."  Spike said, nodding.

"Want a ride, Spike?"

"Sure thing."  He said as he hopped up onto Applejack's back.  It took him a minute to get used to Applejack's muscular frame; Twilight didn't work out much, and the difference in width and... Comfort... was noticeable.

As they trotted along, they finally came across Sugarcube Corner.  They walked in and were greeted by the ringing of a small bell.

"Oh, hello, Applejack!"  Ms. Cake called.  "What brings you here?  More of the pie?"

"Nah, actually.  ...Though, it does sound good right now.  Can ye get me 'n' Spike a slice?"

Ms. Cake nodded, and went back to get a pie.  When she came back and put it in the oven, she looked back over at her two new guests.  "So, if it isn't the pie, what brings you here."

"Pie."  Applejack said, chuckling.

"...Huh?  ...Oh, Pinkie?  Heh."

Applejack nodded, and opened her mouth to speak.  She was cut off by Ms. Cake.  "...But, uh, she's in Appleoosa right now."

"...Appleoosa?  Why?"

"...I thought you of all ponies would know, Applejack?  It's Braeburn's birthday!"

Applejack's face grew red from embarrassment.  How could I forget?  "...Oh...  Ah forgot..."

"Oh well.  I'm sure he won't mind a late happy birthday?  Better late than never!"

DING!

"Oh, your pie's done.  One second..!"  Ms. Cake chimed.

As Applejack and Spike found a seat at one of the tables, they whispered to eachother.  "...Great.  Appleloosa's a day away by train..."

"I know.  We still gonna go?"

"Ah want to.  You?"

"Yeah!  There's no way I'm going back to the boring old library with that obnoxious little--"

The plates were set down on the table, steaming hot slices of pie on them.  After Applejack handed Ms. Cake ten bits, she walked off.

"...Alright, Spike.  Think we should bring friends?"

"...I dunno.  Twilight and Rainbow are gone, Pinkie's busy with parties, Fluttershy is...  Fluttershy, and, from what I hear, Rarity isn't having a good time with some of her orders and the crusaders mixing..."

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Rarity grabs Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo's necks, and hurries them outside the burning boutique.

"Sweeite Belle?!  Scootaloo?!  How do you set *OATMEAL** on fire?!*"

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"...Best not get in her way, then."  Applejack nods.  Just then, she tried to think of a witty comeback to say something about Spike and his crush on Rarity.  But before she did, she stopped herself.  Is that really her place?  ...Does she even know how deep it is between the two of them?  No, she doesn't; she seldom talks to Rarity or Spike, and is rarely in town to even do so.  How would Spike take a joke like that?  She didn't know; she hasn't been around him long enough to know his sense of humor.  With that, she didn't want to know how he would react; she didn't like stepping in minefields.  At this point, she felt like merely an acquaintance as opposed to a friend, and it hit how how little she actually knew Spike.  ...Maybe this would be the perfect opporitunity to change that.

"...So it's just you 'n' me against th' world?  ...I kinda like the sound o' that."