•)15(•

Downside

A good eight hours was almost enough rest after a night like that. He woke without any mental, emotional or physical disturbances or discomforts, being able to stand up in his bed and stretch widely. His eyelids were a bit heavy, but that was merely a side effect of morning.

Right now, nothing sounded better to him than an emerald with a little jam spread around it. Yeah, that would be nice.

Flipping over his pillow, he revealed one of his many secret stashes of precious, delicious gems. His eyes sparkled with hunger as he reached for a forest-green emerald, intent on making it his first meal of the day. When it was in his grip, he hid the stash under the pillow again.

It was then that he realized how late he had stayed up and how long he had been able to sleep, discovering how late he slept in. He looked at a clock hanging on a nearby wall.

"Ten-thirty!?" he shouted. He then ran up the stairs to yell at the late sleeper.

Upon reaching the top step, he found the reason for such laziness, therefore keeping his mouth shut and turning on his heel to head back downstairs for the breakfast he still had in mind. What he saw would scar him, but only temporarily. He knew this would happen, but he had hoped it wouldn't happen as early as it did.

Hearing small footsteps, Twilight stirred lightly from her sleep while still in the embrace of her newly beloved. As she opened her eyes, she saw Pinkie Pie, still with her eyes closed, lips slightly parted, and her chest rising and falling slowly.

Slowly was the unique description of the image before her.

With a personality that worked at a million miles-per-hour, Pinkie Pie seldom presented herself like this. So naturally, nopony would be able to see her in this state.

Nopony but Twilight Sparkle.

She would have to remember and cherish this moment for the rest of her life, for it may have been a one-time occurrence. The way that the pink pony's curly-cotton-candied mane laid spread out on the bed, she could actually see the separate strands of it. The way that her mouth was partly open but lacked drooling made her seem more precious. The way her form rose and fell with her breathing made her seem at peace. Her breath smelt like strawberry frosting with a little hint of chocolate somewhere in there, too. She emitted a tender warmness that could be addicting in some ways. It all reminded Twilight of when she was laying by the fireplace as a filly, reading her most favorite story while basking in the warmth of the flames close by.

She could still remember most of that story by heart. She remembered it had one of those switch-a-roo plots where it mainly focused on the bad pony's life, rather than the good pony's. She remembered how the evil pony eventually saw the good in everypony, therefore discontinuing his scheme near the end of the story.

The more she observed, the more she wanted to just drift back to her dreams of her, falling asleep. She wondered if Pinkie was having a good one or not.

She then saw her slowly sit up. This surprised her quite a bit. Pinkie's eyes were still closed as she stretched widely. Her eyes then popped open, full of energy and hyped up for the day. Turning to see her most favorite pony, she gasped, remembering her dream.

"Twilight!!"

Twilight smiled despite the burst. "Good morning, Pinkie."

Pinkie opened her mouth, ready to release a truckload of words onto Twilight, but then paused and replied. "Good morning..."

Twilight was shocked. She expected a much more energetic greeting from the hyperactive pony, especially after last night, being the first night they slept together as a couple.

"Anywho," Pinkie quickly got back on track, "I had this strangely, seemingly confusing but interesting dream last night!"

Twilight laughed lightly. "That wasn't a dream, Pinkie..."

Pinkie shook her head. "No, no, no! Not that dream, cause that wasn't a dream. That was most definitely real. I remember it perfectly. But that's not the point! The point is that I had a dream last night and I think it meant something!!"

'Uh-oh...' thought Twilight, bracing herself for impact. "...Was it good? What was it about?"

"It was... i-it was about--..." Pinkie hesitated. Twilight could see there was something in that dream that bothered her significantly.

The unicorn then sat up and rubbed Pinkie's shoulders. "What is it, Pinkie Pie?"

Pinkie looked away shortly before looking back at Twilight. "...It was us... i-in the future... Not the far future... it looked like it could happen soon, actually. We were... married and--"

"Married?"

Pinkie blushed deeply. "Yeah, married."

Twilight blushed deeply, as well. "Wow... That's quite a jump..."

"I know..." Pinkie giggled. "Anywho, the dream was mainly about us, but it was also about... some other ponies. I think they were fillies... I couldn't see them very well because they were standing so far away."

"Where were we?"

"I think we were at a bridge of some sort... The bridge in the park. We were staring at each other almost... scared and... anticipating something. I think we were about to kiss, and after we did... that's when I saw the two fillies behind you, I think..."

"I know you're not finished yet," Twilight stopped her, "but I think you'll have to explain it to me a little more thoroughly for me to tell if it means anything."

Pinkie Pie sighed uncharacteristically. "Okay..."

~~~

I waited outside in the evening air for my most favorite pony to arrive. I had told her we were meeting on the bridge at the park. I planned a whole list fun-a-riffic things for us to do! I hoped that this would be one of the most amazing times would ever have! After all... this would be our first date.

I saw her approach the bridge with a eensy-weensy, teeny-weeny bit of nervousness. She didn't come dressed in anything because I asked her not to beforehoof. I asked her to come as she was, and that's just what she did!

The moment her eyes met mine, there was a small connection between us. It may have outwardly small, but the inside was a completely different story. On the inside, I felt butterflies fly around carelessly in my tummy. I wondered if Twilight had the same feeling as she walked toward me. The closer she got, the the butterflies' flapping became more intense! I kept wondering how the butterflies found a way in there in the first place.

It was almost like meeting her for the first time again, only without the part when I was like *gasp*.

When she stopped right in front of me, she had a face full of nervousness and just downright anxiety.

"What's the matter, Twi?" I asked her. "You look kind of worried. Is something wrong?"

"Well..." she started, "I guess I'm just afraid of what everypony will think of us. I mean... look at how the other ponies, Applejack and Rarity, reacted to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Applejack was disgusted... and Rarity fainted for Pete's sake! I'm really worried, Pinkie... I don't know what to do because the path that we're taking is so uncertain. I don't know what will happen... Do you?"

I shook my head. "Of course not, silly." She looked at me like I was crazy. "But think about this..." I continued, "If somepony took out all the uncertainty in a really good mystery book, would it still be really good?"

She looked to be pondering this. "I don't think so," she said, shaking her head. "Come to think of it, I don't think any type of book would sell without the uncertainty in it..."

I nodded. "And why's that, Twilight? Why's the uncertainty so important?"

She looked down over the edge of the bridge, into the creek. "It's what makes readers want to find out more. It's what makes it... fun..." She looked back at me. "Pinkie, I know what you're trying to get at, but in books, things happen that would more likely be truly devastating in the real world. If we tell everypony or let them find out, who knows what they'll think of us? I'm pretty sure they won't even accept who we truly are."

I put a hoof around her and held her close to me. "Oh, Twilight... Why do you care so much about what other ponies think about us?"

I think my words had a type of affect on her because she stopped her reasons and looked to be thinking of a whole lot of things while staring out at nothing in particular. She then looked at me. "...I ...u-uhm..."

It sounded like she was having trouble finishing her words, so I made it so she didn't have to. I kissed her.

I kissed the unicorn with a playful feeling that I just knew needed to be shared with her. Her lips were tense because of her anxiety, making it hard for me to get across to her via kiss. However, after about fifteen seconds, she began to not worry so much, causing her lips to be super-duper soft and more lovey-dovey-wovey feeling. I love it when she kisses me back! Do you know what it's like to be kissing your most favoritest pony in all of Equestria?

I think I'm getting off track. Anywho, I was kissing her, and she was kissing me. That's when I heard a noise coming from two fillies. It sounded like two fillies I was familiar with, too. It sounded like they were trying to ask somepony something.

"Uh... Scootaloo?" The first voice was Apple Bloom's. "What're Pinkie Pie an' Twilight doin' over there?"

Oh no... The one downside I forgot about having a fillyfriend of my own...!

Influence.

Twilight must have heard also, because she stopped kissing me and turned toward the direction of the voice. But when she did, she froze when she saw a whole horizontal line of Apple Blooms blocking the path. They were looking at her innocently and pleadingly.

I turned around as well, only I saw a whole line of Scootaloos blocking the path. "Yeah," they all said. "What are you two doing?"

We both stuttered for words.

"I... We, uhm..."

"It's just... We... were..."

~~~

"What happened next?" asked Twilight.

"I woke up!" Pinkie answered.

"Oh." Twilight sighed and slid out of the bed. "Well, I do have a book on interpreting dreams. That'll help me be able to tell if any of that means something."

"Oh, oh! Twilight!" Pinkie raised her hoof.

"Yes, Pinkie?"

She lowered it. "Can we eat breakfast first?"

Oh, yeah... Food... "Sure."

~ * * * ~

"Hey, Scootaloo?" whispered Apple Bloom.

"What's up, Bloom?"

Apple Bloom rolled over see the orange Pegasus filly. "Why'd ya insist on sleepin' together?"

Scootaloo turned her head to look at her. "Isn't that what most couples do?"

Apple Bloom was having trouble staying comfortable. "Yeah, but... It's awfully uncomfortable..."

Scootaloo sighed. "I know what you mean... I guess I just thought it would be right for us to sleep together because we... well, uhm..."

"Because we are together?"

Scootaloo nodded.

"Well, Ah hate ta break it to ya, but Ah don' think we're really... together yet..."

"What do you mean?"

"What Ah'm tryin' ta say is..." She looked up at the ceiling. "Do ya really wanna spend the rest o' yer life with me?"

Apple Bloom's meaning seemed to hit Scootaloo like a brick. "I... I dunno..."

"Exactly, right?" She looked back at Scootaloo. "Ah ain't sure either. Ah mean, why would we wanna be with each other forever? Tha's like, forever, right?"

"It's forever alright..." Scootaloo inched away from Apple Bloom. "There. You should be a little more comfy now."

"Thanks."

Scootaloo rubbed her hooves together. "I think the only reason why two ponies would want to be with each other for that long is because they must really, really, really like each other or something."

Apple Bloom put a hoof on her shoulder. "That's called love, Scootaloo."

Scootaloo shrugged. "Oh, yeah...." She scratched her head. "I do really like this kissing thing, by the way. Whenever it happens, I never want it to end. You kiss really good."

Apple Bloom blushed. "So do you. Ah really like the way ya rubbed mah mane, too. Ah don' ever wanna stop what we have here."

"Me neither." Scootaloo then realized something. "Wait... Wouldn't that mean we would have to fall in love?"

"With each other, yeah... How in the world we do that, anyhow? Ah mean, Ah like ya an' all, but... Ah'm not really sure Ah actually love ya." She fidgeted at the word love. "Ah do find mahself a little attracted to ya, though... After all, y'all are pretty cute, ya know."

Scootaloo's cheeks turned a deep red. She hid herself under the blankets, trying to hide her blush.

"Awww..." whined the earth filly. "Now Ah can't see yer pretty little face."

Scootaloo kept under the covers. "I'm not pretty," she said, her voice being muffled. "...Or cute..."

Apple Bloom pulled the blanket off of her friend's head, revealing her blush. "But you are. Yer pretty and cute. In fact, yer one o' the cutest ponies Ah ever laid eyes on."

"R-really?"

"O' course." Apple Bloom hugged her, hoping she would just admit it. "Yer pretty orange coat, yer wonderfully pink' mane an' tail an' how they curl at the ends... and yer beautiful violet eyes. Ah think it's kinda cute they're a little faded. But it all makes ya look so cute ya wouldn' even imagine."

Scootaloo pulled away from the hug and stared at her stoically. She then timidly asked "Do you really think so?"

Apple Bloom smiled and nodded. "Ah really do, Scoots. An' by the way, there ain't nothin' wrong with bein' pretty or cute... or even beautiful..."

Scootaloo was flattered from head to hoof. Even Celestia's compliments would pale in comparison to the opinion of her best friend. "That's terribly nice of you, Apple Bloom, but... I'm nowhere near as beautiful as you are..."

Apple Bloom should have (but had never) seen that coming. Now, it was her turn to blush noticeably. "Aw, shucks... Ah didn' even see that one comin'. Ah guess that's what Ah git fer callin' mah friend beautiful. But honestly, Ah don' think Ah'd ever stand a chance against yer fine looks."

The tangerine Pegasus was becoming redder by the second. "I think we'd better stop before this gets out of hoof..."

Apple Bloom decided to have a little fun, slowly inching her muzzle closer to her friend's. "Before what gits outta hoof, Smooch-aloo?" she joked slyly.

Scootaloo had no idea Apple Bloom could be so... enticing. Her lips began to tremble as the two became closer. She knew Apple Bloom wanted this, but she had trouble deciding if she herself wanted it, also. Maybe if she just let it happen, it might not seem like such a bother. So, with slight hesitation, she replied in a playful tone, "Just... the fact that you're about to, you know... kiss me."

Apple Bloom stopped moving when their lips were close to three centimeters apart. She then lidded her eyes half-way and said "An' do ya have a problem with that?"

Scootaloo lidded hers, as well. "Not at all."

Apple Bloom proceeded with her movement, eventually putting their lips together, causing both to close their eyes fully.

Neither of them ever expected the art of kissing to be as wonderful as it was. The first time was made up of pure uncertainty and curiosity. This one was of emotions caused by playfulness and a hint of wanting. There was still a mutually shared sense of oblivious motives between the two. They knew it was still a new feeling. The feeling of mutual acceptance.

In a way, it was a type of 'friends with benefits' agreement. They both had alot of things to think, talk, and be stressed about, and they both had kissing/comforting benefits.

"Ah don' think... Ah ever wanna share this... with anypony else..." Apple Bloom whispered between kisses.

"Same here." Scootaloo pulled away to speak further. "It's actually hard to imagine myself kissing anypony but you."

Apple Bloom smiled. "Yeah, it is. Tell ya what... How about we go on a date this evenin'?"

"Yeah, sure... But wait, are you saying you want to try to fall in love with me?"

"Well, what's wrong with that?"

"I thought ponies only fell in love if they really, really, really liked each other..."

"That's what datin' is for, Scoots. Ah figure if we spend more time together - just you and me - then we'll git ta know each other better. That's what makes ponies fall in love with each other. The only reason ponies would really, really, really like each other is because they know each other so well or they're naturally attracted ta each other or both."

"Ohhhhh..." Scootaloo nodded. "This is still going to be really awkward, though..."

Apple Bloom nuzzled her and put her head against her chest. "Oh, Ah know. But who cares? It's not like anypony's gonna hate us or anythin'..."

Scootaloo sighed. "Yeah, I guess not."

Apple Bloom breathed slowly against her coat. "By the way, Ah do really like ya. Ah'm just not entirely sure yet."

Scootaloo nodded again. Then she froze. "Wait, you... like me?"

Apple Bloom looked up and smiled at her. "Sure do."

Scootaloo smiled back. "Wow... I was never really sure I would find anypony who would like me that way. That's wonderful, Apple Bloom, but I'm not still not sure I like you back..." Apple Bloom's smile faltered and Scootaloo noticed. The orange filly then scooted down to her level, sincerely looking her in the eye. "But maybe this date or the next few will change that. Maybe I'll end up liking you back eventually."

The earth pony smiled again. "Ah sure hope so..." She closed her eyes and sighed contently, knowing she had a chance with her. She wasn't too surprised when she felt Scootaloo's lips on her own again, but she was not one to complain, either. This time, she just let the Pegasus push against hers, letting her take the lead and do whatever she wanted to.

She then felt the startling wetness of Scootaloo's tongue. It made her twitch heavily for a split second. She wondered what the point of this action was. Did she just want to lick her lips, or did she want to go past them?

Feeling another poke, she knew the answer. Perhaps this would be a delight for the both of them, anyway.

Feeling one last prod asking for entrance, Apple Bloom complied and parted her lips for her friend. As soon as she felt orange pony's tongue enter, she began to lose control of her thoughts. They wandered around Scootaloo and how pretty she truly was, how she was brave and willing, and how she constantly tended to get the three of them in trouble.

As soon as the word three crossed her mind, she regained control.

She pulled away quickly, surprising Scootaloo and causing a whimper from her. "Scoots!"

"I'm sorry! I didn't think--"

Apple Bloom shook her head repeatedly. "No, no, that's fine, Ah liked it..."

Scootaloo was relieved. "Oh, well then what? What's wrong?"

There was a long pause.

Finally, Apple Bloom spoke up, her face full of worry. "What'd ya think is gonna happen ta Sweetie Belle?"

Scootaloo froze. "I... I dunno... Where do you think she went last night?"

"Ah don' know either... Ah hope she didn' git too worked up about seein' us together like that. She seemed awfully disappointed 'r disgusted 'r somethin'..."

"Yeah..." Scootaloo rolled out of their embrace to face upward. "...Hey, Apple Bloom?"

"What?"

Scootaloo's eyes darted back and forth between Apple Bloom and the ceiling before she closed them and sighed. "I-I don't feel very comfortable telling anypony else about us... Not even Pinkie Pie."

"Well, o' course not Pinkie Pie, she'd tell all of Ponyville in a jiffy! But... why not anypony else?"

Scootaloo kept looking at the ceiling. "Well... did you see the look Sweetie Belle gave us?"

"Yeah. She looked... rather scarred, like she regretted seein' us like that or like she didn' wanna be 'round us fer awhile..."

"That's what I mean. How do you think everypony else would react?"

Apple Bloom embraced her again. "Ah see what ya mean... An' if ya think about it, nopony reacted too well when they heard about Rainbow Dash an' Fluttershy. Mah sister is prob'ly still cryin' her eyes out, an' Sweetie Belle fainted. From what Ah heard from Big McIntosh, Rarity did, too."

Scootaloo giggled. "It must run in the family."

Apple Bloom laughed as well, before returning to the original topic. "Anywho, Ah guess Ah'm thinkin' the same thing. Besides, they'll all think we're out of our minds."

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. "Why would they think that?"

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "Yer still in element'ry, right?" she asked as a half-joke.

"Yeeessss... Duh...?"

"Exactly! So am Ah! We're so young an' little that they'll say it ain't any good fer us. They'll try ta tear us apart. Don't ya see that?"

"Ohhhhh..." Scootaloo nodded. "Yeah, I see... Definitely a no-no then."

Apple Bloom nodded as well. "So, Ah guess what we have ta do is keep it a secret fer now until... well... uhm... well, Ah dunno how long, really..."

"Me neither," said Scootaloo. She then perked her ears up. "Actually, it could be a really long time before we can let them know."

Apple Bloom shrugged. "Well, Ah guess it could..."

The more Scootaloo thought about it all, the more she was filled with anxiety. How did this even happen? It started out as a little bit of comfort and ended up bringing them into a potential relationship. She was so confused, she shut her eyes tight and let them leak uncontrollably.

Apple Bloom took notice and took action. "Oh, Scootaloo, don' cry... Ya don' have ta do that in front o' me..."

Once the Pegasus filly opened her eyes and looked at her, Apple Bloom gasped inwardly. She could see how much this all bothered her, how much she needed somepony there for her. She then held her firmly to her chest, but also as carefully and lovingly as she could, for her pegasus friend seemed quite delicate at the moment. Almost fragile.

"Whatever comes our way, Scootaloo," said Apple Bloom, stroking her friend's mane, "we'll git through it together, ya hear?"

Scootaloo sniffed and nodded. "I hear."

Apple Bloom kissed the top of her head gently, inhaling the scent of her mane and nuzzling her for good measure. "Ya know what ya remind me of?" she whispered softly.

Scootaloo thought for a second before shrugging. "No. What?"

"The most beautiful sunset," Apple Bloom finished.

Scootaloo tried to put the pieces together, wondering how that would make sense. "I-I don't get it..."

"Well, what's not ta git?"

Scootaloo shrugged again. "I dunno, just... I guess I just don't see the similarities..."

"Oh," said the earth pony, "well, picture any old sunset on the water, first. Now make the sky the color of yer eyes, the clouds the color of yer mane, and finally, the sun the color of yer coat. That, in mah opinion, is the most beautiful sunset."

There were a few short seconds of silence before the reaction. "Wow..." said Scootaloo. "That's so touching, Apple Bloom. Pretty sappy, but still touching. Where did you even think of that?"

Apple Bloom recalled the memory easily. "It was the very first time Ah saw ya. When both you an' Sweetie Belle came out from under the table at that dumb party. You were the first ta speak up, and that made me look at ya. That's when Ah imagined it, yer colors reminded me so much of the sun an' the sky an' the water an' the clouds... It was jus' too much, so Ah didn' say anythin'. Ah figured it would be really super awkward for ya, anyway."

"You can say that again..." the orange filly giggled.

"Yeah..." Apple nuzzled her sweetly. "Listen, Ah'm sure Sweetie Belle will be fine, she jus' needs some time ta think about it an' git used to it."

"Yeah, but what are we gonna do?"

Apple Bloom sighed. "Ah don' really know, Scoots..."

Scootaloo snuggled further into her chest, basking in her sweet scent of red delicious.

As they lay in bed together, Apple Bloom looked at her again, a feeling of warmth coming over her. But it also felt like that warmth was barely staying with her. She wished this warm feeling would never leave, and that everything would end up okay.

She knew that, like the seasons, everything would come and go. If anything were to stay, there was only one thing she would always want to keep for herself.

The filly in her forelegs.

She couldn't even think of any reason that Scootaloo would have to leave, but she still hoped to Celestia that it would never occur.

She might just go insane, and probably end up doing things she would regret later if her sunset were to leave her and never return.

Her sunset...

A specific song came to her mind as her thoughts blazed.

She began singing slowly, as if it were a lullaby.

"The springtime brings out... the brightest green in things...

And... the tiny sprouts push... the soil from their way... Mr. Sun, please don't go away...

'Cause the winter saddened all the flowers, and the oceans turned to grey...

And the sky cried down for days and days... Mr. Sun, please don't go away...

The bird and bees sing... happy things as they fly into the sky...

And... lonely trees grow... families in their leaves... Mr. Sun, stay here, won't you please...

'Cause the winter saddened all the flowers and the oceans turned to grey...

And the sky cried down for days and days... Mr. Sun, please don't go away...

Mmmmm...

Mmmmm...

Mmmmm... Mmmmm..."

She heard and felt the Pegasus sigh against her contently. There was just enough peace inside Apple Bloom that she also let one out. Nothing could ruin this.

Nothing could ruin this moment.

There was a light knock on the door, snapping them both from their thoughts. "Who is it?" asked Apple Bloom.

"It's Applejack."

Their eyes widened.

"Ya need ta git up now, lazy-flank! It's past twelve, ya hear?"

They looked at each other. "Hide!" whispered Apple Bloom. Scootaloo nodded quickly, removed the covers, rolled off the bed, and hid underneath it. They then heard Applejack lower her voice, talking to somepony else.

"That sounds fine, Rarity... Ah'll see ya then an' there, sugarcube. Travel safely now. Bye..."

'What in Equestria is Rarity doing here?' thought Apple Bloom.

She then heard her sister raise her voice to the level it was before. "Come on, Apple Bloom! Git on up! There's pie waitin' fer ya downstairs, ya know..."

This got her excited. "Pie!?" she exclaimed. "What kind?"

"Apple."

Apple pie may have been getting old, but pie was still pie, and pie was yummy, nonetheless. "Okay, then. Ah'll be right out, jus' hold on a minute..." She hopped off the bed and looked under it. "Will ya be alright fer a couple minutes while Ah go have some breakfast?" she whispered. "Ah'll bring ya some..."

Scootaloo looked at her, interested. "Pie?" she whispered back.

"We have it fer breakfast once ev'ry week," replied the earth pony.

Scootaloo smiled. "Oh, okay. Sounds good. I can stay under here for awhile, I guess."

"Well, alrighty then." Apple Bloom stood up. "See ya in a few minutes. You can do whatever ya please as long as ya don' get caught. Ponies might become suspicious..."

"Yeah, I got it. Now go get some breakfast." She shooed her away.

'Oh, the 'up's and 'down's of a possible relationship...' she thought.

Author's Note

Hello!

I'm pretty sure there are a bunch of mistakes in this one. If you see any, please let me know.

By the way, this story will be about twenty chapters long, but there will be several following the same plot.

p.s. - anyone who reads this should look up that song by Kina Grannis called Mr. Sun.