Chapter 12 - Confrontation

“You serious?” Rainbro asks, raising an eyebrow. “Did they really do that?”

“Yeah.”

“Well Anon,” she chuckles, relaxing back in the couch, nursing her cider once again, “Looks like you’ve got a few mares with their eyes on you.”

“I know… and that’s not something I want right now.”

“Hey dude, lighten up!” Rainbow nudges your shoulder. “Maybe you’ll find out it’s not as bad as you’re making it, huh?”

“I don’t want to get between their friendships with each other. I think it’s best if I stay out of relationships with anyone.”

Rainbow sighs, handing you the bottle. “Here. This’ll make you feel better.”

Taking the bottle, you lift it to your lips and swig down nearly half of the bottle in one go, before handing it to Rainbow, who stares wide-eyed at the bottle for a few moments. “That help?” she asks, looking back at you.

“Not really,” you sigh, getting up. “Hey, I’m gonna head out for a bit. I… I need some time to think this over.”

“Want me to come with?”

“…Do what you like.”

Sighing again, you walk over to the front door, grab a light jacket, and head out into the summer night air, the smell of cut grass and flowers strong in your nose. Neither of those mares had ever acted that way towards each other, at least not in your presence. Especially not about something like that.

Applebloom especially; you didn’t expect ANYTHING like that from her. How long were both of them suppressing those feelings?

Sighing, you continue your walk. At this time of the year, you personally enjoyed these long walks at night, it gave you time to think to yourself. But tonight is different. Tonight you need to confront the mares on their behavior. It’s not too late at night, and you know how young mares love staying up late whenever they can doing whatever it is… well, mares do.

You never really knew, nor cared to look into it.

The trail slowly begins to taper off from stone, to gravel, to just a plain dirt road as you make your way up into the Apple family’s territory. The sky is clear tonight; it reminds you a lot of the illustrations in those books you had, back when you were learning how to read the fancy new way of writing these ponies had.

Finally, a few steps from the door, you realize what you’re about to do. You’re stepping into the bear cage now, Anon.

But it’s something that needs to be done.

Hesitating for but an instant, you raise your fist to the door, and knock three times. Those few moments that pass between you knocking and the door opening are some of the most anguishing, suspenseful moments of your young life, you think to yourself.

Finally, the door opens. It’s Big Macintosh. Oh sweet merciful Celestia, you’re glad it’s him.

“H-Hey Big Mac,” you take a second to collect yourself before continuing, “Could I come in? There’s… something I need to talk with you and your sisters about.”

He looks inside for a few seconds, and then turns to you and speaks. “It’s gettin’ late out, Anon. Y’better make it quick, don’t want ya catchin’ cold on yer way back,” he nods, his calm demeanor and deep voice soothing your nerves a bit.

“Thanks. I won’t be long.”

Big Mac steps back and lets you inside, where you’re greeted by the all-too-familiar living room of the Apple family.

“Hey there, Applejack.”

She turns to look at you, sizing you up. “Whad’ya want, Anon?”

“We need to talk.”

“About?” she asks, raising an eyebrow. “Ah thought ah said ya weren’t allowed in unless otherwise told, hm?”

“AJ-“ ,ou stop yourself before you use that nickname, “…Applejack, it’s about your younger sister.”

Her expression hardens, and she lowers her eyebrow. “What about mah sister?”

You cautiously walk over to one of the chairs and sit down, making sure to keep an eye on her at all times. Big Mac has left the room at this point, so it’s just you and her. “Applejack, your sister has a crush on me.”

“Ah know,” she says. “What of it?”

“Not like a normal crush, Applejack. I’m talking about a CRUSH.”

Her eyebrow widens again. “Ah don’t follow.”

“Like… hm…”

You’re really reluctant to compare the two, but…

“Kind of like what you and I had going, only completely one-sided.”

Her eyes widen a bit. “What happened?” Good, you’ve got her attention. Not quite broken past the hardy exterior of hatred she has for you, but at least you’ve made some progress to get her to listen.

“Today, at the lake, I was hanging out with Scootaloo, eating lunch. And then I hear her come by and the two of them start bickering, until they finally came to blows.” You let out a heavy sigh. “And it was for no other reason than because I was eating lunch with her, from what I could tell. Can’t a guy have a picnic out on the lake without having to worry about mares attacking each other because of it?”

Applejack seems to be getting the picture. “So you were at th’ lake, huh?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Applebloom told me you an’ Scoots were out in th’ orchard ruinin’ next season’s harvest,” she says, scratching her chin with her hoof. “Naturally, ah go out to where she pointed, an’ see that a bunch o’ mah apples, not even ripe yet, had been pulled righ’ from the trees.”

“What?! Who would do something like that?”

“Been wonderin’ ‘bout that mahself fer a while now.” She turns her head to look up the stairs. “Applebloom!” she calls out, “Get down here!”

The sound of hooves galloping along the ceiling is heard as the cherry-haired mare comes to the top of the stairs. “What d’ya want, sis?”

“Did you lie t’ me ‘bout Anon and Scoots messin’ with the harvest?” Applejack gives her sister a stern look. “Anon here says he wasn’t doin’ anything o’ the sort. Now one o’ ya is lyin’ t’ me,” she says, looking back to you. “An’ ah don’t take kindly much t’ bein’ lied to…”

She stands up from her seat, looking between the two of you. “Well? Who’s it gonna be?” she asks, brushing a few strands of her mane out of her face. “Which one o’ ya is lyin’ t’ me, huh?” It’s obviously Applebloom, you know that. But why is Applejack dragging this along?

…Oh yeah. She hates you, and you already lied to her once before.

But Applebloom doesn’t look like she’s going to crack anytime soon. Walking down the steps, she just keeps putting on that innocent look, shooting you a few faces when Applejack’s face is turned away. “Ah saw him, sis!” she exclaims, pointing a hoof accusingly at you. “He was out with Scootaloo an’ they were knockin’ off apples! Kept saying ‘This’ll show her to ruin our summer’ and things like that!”

Your face is starting to get red with anger now. Blatant lying is one thing, but you never blame someone else for your troubles.

Except for that one time in Trottingham. But that was totally justified, and doesn’t count.

“That’s a lie, and you know it!” You’re addressing Applebloom directly now. “You and Scootaloo came to blows earlier today, Applebloom. You can’t tell me something isn’t wrong with that picture. The two of you are best friends, what would cause you two to suddenly start fighting like that?!”

“Because o’ you!” she growls back, her eyes fixated on you. “Because Scoots thinks that because she's been gettin’ closer t’ ya, that she’s instantly ‘entitled’ to bein’ yer one an’ only mare.” She stamps her hoof on the ground. “Do ya have ANY idea how long ah was waitin’ fer ya?”

You shake your head.

“Well, let’s just say that Scoots ain’t the only one that’s had her eye on ya, Anon… mah big sis knows this too, an’ that’s…” She turns to look at Applejack, “that’s why she don’t want me t’ be near ya, ‘cause she’s scared that I’d make the same mistake that she made!”

“That’s enough, Applebloom. You made yer point—”

“No, sis. No, ah haven’t,” Applebloom interrupts her sister, turning to look at you again. “Anon, why can’t ya see that Scoots isn’t good for ya? That look she keeps givin’ ya… it just ain’t normal,” she says in a calmer tone. “It ain’t a good thing; I can’t put my hoof on it but it just ain’t good…”

“Alright, I think I’ve heard enough.” You let out a sigh. “Applejack, your sister lied to you to try and frame me and Scootaloo for whatever reasons she had. But that’s just what it was: a lie.”

Applebloom’s ears drop a bit at your tone. Applejack nods, her eyes still fierce against yours, but behind that hard exterior, you know she understands that you’re telling the truth here.

Besides, you love apples. You wouldn’t dare do something like that, even if you were pissed at Applejack for whatever reason.

“Applebloom, I know you have those feelings for me, I’m not stupid. I know Scootaloo does, too; she even admitted it to me the other day.”

Her eyes widen in surprise. “Then why—”

“Because I wanted to do my best to keep our relationship as friends, so she wouldn’t end up in the same situation Applejack and I were in back then.”

Applebloom looks between the two of you. “Anon, ya never really did elaborate on that…” she sheepishly replies. “What exactly did happen between both of you?”

You shake your head again. “I’m not exactly in the right position to talk about that at this time. Ask your sister if she feels comfortable about it.”

Patting her head, you step around back towards the front door. Before you open it, you hear Applejack’s voice. “So yer just gonna up an’ leave like that, huh?”

Your eyes widen, and you turn to look at her. She flashes you a grin. “Didn’t even say goodbye, ya jerk,” she says, waving a hoof dismissively at you. “Jus’ get outta here, Anon.”

Pausing for a moment, you continue opening the door before smiling back at her.

“See ya, AJ.”

You see her brow twitch a bit at that, but she just scoffs this time, turning away. “You know how ah hate that nickname,” you hear her say as you leave.

Walking out into the brisk night air, you breathe in through your nose, and exhale a deep sigh of relief, before continuing on your way.

Tonight went a lot better than you thought it would. You’re actually managing to leave the Apple family’s home while not in a casket; and in one piece, no less.

Welp, time to go talk to Scootaloo now. Ugh, you were afraid of this…

Applebloom’s words didn’t fall on deaf ears. You had noticed that look she gave you as well, and it looks like you weren’t alone in your suspicions. You have to confront her on that. If you ever plan on having this friendship stay the way it is, she needs to stop seeing you as that kind of person.

The trees are pretty thick in this part of the orchard, you remember. Hopefully Luna’s moon will be bright enough for you to be able to find your way around…

After meandering on and off the path unknowingly for about ten minutes or so, you finally come to what you hope is the tree house that Scootaloo has made her home.

At least, you hope it’s the right one. You’re not sure if there are any other tree houses in the orchard, and you wouldn’t want to come across something you didn’t want…

Like that time with the hornet’s nest. But we don’t talk about that anymore, Anon. Too many bad memories. And pain. So much pain…

Both mental and physical. You had to stay in the hospital for at least a week and a half after that just because of the trauma it caused to your younger self. You still have nightmares of them from time to time… No time for that, though! The last thing you want to be thinking about are hornets and their huge stingers, piercing your—

You feel a shiver run up your spine. Time to stop thinking about that sort of thing.

Approaching the tree house, you eye the walkway up. It’s a bit strange, but nothing you can’t manage. You take the first step and immediately a loud creaking noise is heard. It scares a few birds in the distance, even.

“Hello?! Who’s out there?” you hear a female’s voice come from inside the tree house.

“Scootaloo? It’s Anon; can I talk with you for a bit?”

“Anon?! Wh-what are you doing here?” she stammers a bit, and you can hear her clamoring about in the tree house as you make your way up.

“Listen, I know we’ve had a lot of weird stuff happen the last few days between the two of us, and I just…” Your words trail off when you see her. The moon may be obscured by the trees, but you can tell something isn’t right.

Her eyes are bloodshot and her mane and fur is completely ragged; more than that, her entire body is trembling. “Oh Anon, I’m… I’m sorry you have to see me like this, I…” she turns away, “I swear this isn’t how I look normally…”

Well, you can obviously see that. But there’s definitely something amiss…

She has a… different look in her eyes this time around. Not one you’re familiar with.

“S-so, um… what’d you want to talk about, Anon?” she asks nervously.

“Well, I was wanting to talk to you about earlier today, but if this is a bad time—”

“Oh, no! No, not at all!” she quickly replies, opening her door further. “Come in, please! Can I get you anything? We’ve got a few snacks lying around, I think…” she says, running back inside the tree house.

“No, that’ll be fine; I’m not planning on staying for very long. Just a quick word and I’ll be going.”

Going against the hunch telling you to get the ever-living fuck outta here and try another day, you opt to be the polite one and take her up on her offer. Walking inside, you immediately notice the size difference between the tree house and the Apples’ home; you can barely stand at full height in here without smacking your head against something.

“So, what’d you want to talk about, Anon?” she asks, sitting down on the floor. You do the same.

“I wanted to talk about what happened earlier today, at the lake.”

She’s silent for a moment, before replying.

“…Oh.”

End Chapter 12

Author's Note

Here we go! We have a few more chapters left, so hang in there a little longer!

~Wuten