An Old Apple Friend

Chapters

Silhouette On The Hill
Salute
Apple Biscuits
A Stupid Dream
Thanks for these memories
Big Day
83rd annual dance
My Blue Box
Looks Better This Time
Since Yesterday?
38 Bits
Quite A Girlish Squeal
Glittery, Shiny Trail

Silhouette On The Hill

The stallion gracefully continued to walk down the dirt path, noticing some heart-warming landmarks on his way; the Unforgettable Well, sat next to the path, slates missing off of its roof, paint peeled back. The chicken coop sat on the opposite side, its doors and roof, weather stained, and the Straw around the legs, soggy and Slushy. Walking further down the path, the stallion was slightly overwhelmed with a sense of belonging, remembering the first time he’d walked down this path, He was different back then, he hadn't seen the things he’d seen now. He didnt have his cuts, bruises, or artificial ribs, he was whole.

The stallion stopped walking and turned his head, gazing off, over toward the almost endless rows of apple trees that infested the golden brown soil. He swayed off of the path and stood on the grass on the side. He rested his hoof on the splintery, white coated picket fence that surrounded the path, still lost in the almost hypnotic hills. He began to think about that one special tree, sat upon the tallest hill, away from the barn. He snapped out of that thought and tuned his head towards the barn. The Barn, the Big, red and white, wooden barn was still there, after all these years it still stood, slightly slanted, but still standing. Another smirk escaped his mouth, as he once again reminisced in old memories.

Over at the farm, Big Macintosh came from around the side of the barn and passed through the heavy barn doors, pulling a cart of delicious heart apples with ease. At the same time, Applejack came out from inside the barn, and squeezed around the cart, narrowly avoiding the heavy, wooden wheels of the cart

“Careful there mac” The Orange pony yelped out “Y’almost ran over mah hoof” she proceeded to complain.

“Sorry sis” mac said flatly, not even turning his head; he was concentrating on the job ahead unloading the cart in the barn, going back around the bar, picking up another load of apples, and repeating the process. He casually entered the apple pit in the corner of the barn.Applejack stood at the corner of the barn door. Observing Big Macintosh as he unhitched the cart and nudged it with his nose, pouring out its content into the pit, each apple making a ‘bump’ as it hit the aluminium floor of the pit.

Applejack caught something in the corner of her eye, not an annoying thing, but certainly noticeable. She cautiously scaled her head over to the pathway, just below where the hill raised. Standing, or rather leaning on the picket fence, there was a shape, a pony shape, not clear enough to establish who it was, but defiantly recognizable as a pony. Its build was very much like a stallion. From Applejacks point of view, she could only see a silhouette, sitting alone on the hill of path, its shadow bearing down over the land in front of her, creeping up to her like a snake. The silhouettes head raised and faced the direction of Applejack, the snake like shadow mimicking its every move.

The stallion on the fence realized somepony was watching him, he couldn't quite establish who it was either, but could only guess. Whoever it was, he knew he had to act. He pushed himself off of the fence, catching his balance as he shuffled back onto the path. He, then again, started walking down the path. Keeping he eye on the pony staring back at him. His duffel bag rustling against his side as he walked.

Applejack didn’t remove her gaze off of the mysterious Pony; she just slightly turned her head towards the barn.

“Mac?” she slightly shouted into the barn. Hoping to hear a response, but instead of the usual ‘eeyup’, her ears were met with a loud thud. Applejack turned her head fully into the barn, finally looking away from the silhouette approaching closer on the hill. “What ‘chu doin in there?” she questioned the sound. Big macs head reached around from the inside of the barn, looking back into it.

“Nuthin’, nuthin” his head turns to Applejack “What is it Applejack?” he came back at her, trying to avoid answering her Question.Applejack let the loud thud slide out of her mind, she was much more curious about the pony walking closer on the hill.

“we ain’t expectin’ company are we?” she said in a serious tone to Big Macintosh

“Nope” he replied in his usual tone, he too stared at the pony on the hill.

“Then who’s that?” AJ ask calmly, hoping Mac would lay her off the burden of curiosity.

As stallion walking on the hill got closer to the barn, he began to see another pony at the barn door; he knew that was big Macintosh, he could tell from his build, and his familiar red coat. His pace increased, and his head nudged forward as he walked. He began to make out the basics of Applejack. Her glorious orange coat that almost reflected light, Her beautiful golden mane that flowed in the air, hung by her side, and the adorable , yet he wouldn’t say it to her face, little cowpony hat, placed perfectly on her head.

From AJ and Macs end, the stallion also became visible, barely. While Big Mac was still pondering who the pony could be, Applejacks eyes opened wide, and her heart began to race. She saw who it was, she saw that mane, tale and coat, she saw that stallion on the hill. She saw ‘him’.

Before she could move, before she could speak, before she could even blink, Applebloom burst out of the barn doors, sending Big Mac flying across the floor. Applebloom ran up ahead and stood in front of Applejack, eyeballing the stallion traveling down the path. Her legs were spread and a giant grin invaded her face. She managed to squeal out a single word before the grin took her face over.

“COOKIE!”

Salute

The stallion continued walking down the path, pretending he hadn’t heard the little filly shout his name, not that he couldn’t have heard her.

Applebloom leaned forwards, and stuck her head out further, trying to make sure it was who she thought it was before she accomplished her next action, although she was pretty sure it was.

The stallion, however, kept a straight face, trying to look official in front of the 3 ponies, well, two and a half ponies; Big Mac was still dazed on the floor from the sudden door to the head.

The serious looking stallion stopped in his tracks, a round four feet from Applebloom who was still standing in something close to pounce mode. His eyes were fixed on the filly, squinted and still. The suddenly unsure Applebloom slowly unset herself from her stance, returning to standing normally, but still slightly leaned forward. She too, stared back, but her eyes were shaky. The two ponies faced off, standing in silence, staring at each other like statues. The stallion straightened and clenched his shoulders, preparing for what was about to happen.

“Where’s my salute?” he softly commanded, still staring into her shaky eyes.

Applebloom was slightly shocked. She didn’t expect a first response like that. But she complied. She watched her front leg slowly rise to her head, like he’d taught her many years ago. Once it was placed; she looked back at the stallion standing in front of her.

A long pause swept in between the two of them, before the stallions head lowered, and a large movie star smile conjured up on his face.

“That’s my girl” he managed to mix in with a chuckle.

The smile on Applebloom’s face returned and even grew bigger. She again leaned forwards, stuck her head out, and pounced at the stallion like a loaded spring. She landed on his head, and gripped it almost as tight as she could.

“Ah knew you’d be back” escaped her mouth in another squeaky tone. She tried to stay clung to his leg, but started to slip. She descended down his leg like a monkey on a grease pole and hit the ground with a slight thump.

The stallions smile grew, and he picked her up with his mouth and sat her upon his shoulder.

“I did Promise didn’t I?”. He nuzzled her. His attention turned to Applejack to his right; she was looking like she’d just seen a ghoul. He figured it was because he hadn’t been back here in such a long time, but he tried to think if it was because of anything else.

“Cookie” she uttered in a questionable tone. “I didn’t know you’d remember us”.

“It’s nice to see you too” he returned with a smirk, upon which Applejack too, unexpectedly ran up and hugged him. Her hoof wrapped around his neck, slightly squeezing him and crushing Appleblooms tail, but she didn’t notice, she was suddenly hit with realization. She hadn’t seen him in so long.

“wah didn’y ya tell us you were comin’?” Applejack questioned.

“I didn’t know I was, but my hooves brought me here” He replied

“well ya know you always gotta place at Sweet Apple Acres”

Big Mac got up off the floor and rubbed his head. His eyes were circling, watching the birds fly around. He barely had time to shake his head and identify the stallion, before the barn door swooped around and hit him a second time, once again sending him flying and on to the floor. Granny Smith appeared out of the barn.

“What’s with all the commotion out here?” She asked, before seeing the stallion stuck to Applejack and Applebloom. She walked up to the stallion slowly and gazed at him with her droopy orange eyes. “Mavis, is that you?”

Cookie smiled and responded slow and loud so she could hear. “No Ma’am, it’s Cookie.”

The mare and filly let go of Cookie, and stood back to let Granny Smith see him. Granny Smith looked at him confused and tried to get the gears moving in her head, guessing who he was.

“Cookie, from the dance years ago…y-you let me stay here for a few weeks” he tried to reason with her.

“Err. Sorry sonny, can’t… ooooh, wait, Cookie? Squadronnn… organiser, right?” she fumbled together.

Cookie laughed at the mistake jokingly “Squadron ‘Leader’ Ma’am, well not anymore”.

“oh sorry dearie, mah memory ain’t what it used to be”.

“That’s alright Ma’am, mines not either” he related.

“Not a Squadron Leader anymore?” Applejack asked and reproached him “you didn’t get fired did you?”.

“Fired? No, Prompted, he stepped back to adjust himself “You are looking at Group Captain Cookie of the Royal Pegasus

Guard” he said squarely, trying to impress the three and a half ponies around.

Big Mac once again got up and rubbed his head with both his hooves. He quickly Snapped back to look around him, making sure nothing was about to hit him again. He turned back and walked over to where everypony was gathered.

“Big Mac? You get bigger every time I see you” cookie indicated.

Big Macs eyes widened and focused on the Pegasus “Cookie?”.

Both Applejack and Applebloom nodded, and Granny Smiles just smiled back at him.

“The one and only” Cookie said jokingly

Big Mac picked Cookie up and swung him in his arms like a ragdoll, laughing all the way.

The Apple Mares looked at Big Mac with a 'What is this' look on their faces. Big Mac never acted like that. Why would a quiet and gentle big stallion do that?

“Whoa whoa whoa” Cookie exhaled as the Life was hugged/squeezed out of him “calm down there Mac”.

Big Mac snapped back to reality and noticed the four ponies watching him. He dropped the pony he was crushing and cleared his throat

“Et hmmm, err, good to see ya” Big Mac said before Running into the barn to flee his awkwardness.

Cookie got back up off the floor, and dusted off his duffel bag and himself. “Well, I didn’t expect that”. The other ponies were still on shock from the burst of character from Big mac.

“Well err… how bout you get yourself inside and catch up with us?” applejack stated

“Of course” Cookie said, as his hooves started moving again, towards the barn. Applejack and Applebloom followed, with Granny smith trailing behind with her bum hip

“So wah'd you really come back?” Applebloom awkwardly asked.

Cookie stopped in his tracks once again, notched his head, and answered; “because I wanted to see my family”

Apple Biscuits

Cookie sat on the settee in the living room. He found it hard to get comfortable after spending so long boxed in that carriage. He nudged around on the settee, making it squeak and holler. The apple shaped clock on the wall said it was 13 minutes past 5, meaning that journey in the carriage must have taken around 4 hours. The sound of spoons banging against glasses and water boiling in an old kettle rang throughout the house.

Applebloom was sitting on the other side of the settee, staring at Cookie like a dog does at a piece of meat. Cookie looked over to here now and again, until he confronted Applebloom's stare with his own.

“What is it Bloom?” he asked politely.

She continued to stare at him with a grin. “ah’m just glad you’re back”.

Cookie smiled and nudged up closer to her, taking her under his wing and pulling her closer, wrapping her up in his gleaming, soft, whitish grey, wing feathers. Pulling her even closer when she was close enough to grab her, with his leg and wing around her, he nuzzled her head, her bow clipping through his mane. “I’m more than glad to be back”

Appleblooms head bobbed as Cookie nuzzled her, the grin on her face was still there. When he stopped, Applebloom looked up at Cookie, examining his head, and tried to figure out what ad changed about him.

"You look different, did you..." Another death pause swept the room "did you get a mane cut?" Applebloom asked.

"Since a few years ago?" Cookie responded quite sarcastically "yes, yes I did." ruffling the bow sat upon her head.

“Well it looks good” she said, still trying to put her hoof on what had changed about the stallion.

Cookie stared deep into her eyes, seemingly caught in them.

"Wha'd is it?" Applebloom asked inattentively.

"oh, I'm sorry Bloom, I...I just can't believe how much you've grown up, how tall you've gotten..." Cookies left ear deflated slightly, and a remorseful frown covered his mouth "How much I've missed"

Applebloom too frowned, but warmed up to him, this time, she nuzzled his side, causing Cookie to flinch slightly, and jump. Applebloom stopped and propped her head back, once again looking up at him “w-what’s wrong?” she asked.

Cookie moved slightly down the settee and gently rubbed his side “oh, nothing, just a little cut I got”

Applebloom moved Cookies hoof, revealing a faint scar up his side “oh, ah’m sorry Cookie, does it hurt?”

Cookie chuckled “only a little now, that was all just a little bit too fast”

Applebloom once again leaned into Cookie, but this time, a bit softer, her bow touching his side and reverting around his back near his wing joints. “Ah’m still sorry”.

“It’s alright” He tugged her closer and snuggled next to her “you didn’t know”.

At that moment, Granny Smith and Applejack walked into the living room, Granny Smith carrying a tray of tea and apple biscuits on her back. Her bum hip caused the tray to rattle and shake, making an ever more annoying noise as the spoons shacked inside the mugs.

“Didn’t know about what Sugarcube?” Applejack asked.

“Oh, nothing, just a little rough stuff with my little champ here” he again ruffled Appleblooms mane, she shut her eyes and giggled.

“Well alright, as long as you two are careful now” Applejack said as Granny Smith set down the tray on the coffee table next to the settee.

Cookie picks up one of the white and blue mugs, filled with the dark, steamy liquid; He bought the mug up to his lips and gently blew on it. ”so” he lowered the mug “Tell me, how’s everything on the farm been?”.

Applejack butted in “just fine. But business’ been boomin’ lately, and we’ve been findin’ it hard to keep up with deadlines” she sat on the recliner next to the door.

Cookie raised the mug to his lips once again “Well looks like I came just in time, didn’t I” He took a short sip of the tea, it was still a little hot, and made him scrunch his face, and the rather strong taste didn’t make him seem any more appealing as his calm face started to peel and the corners of his eyes started to water.

“You ok dearie?” Asked Granny Smith, picking up a plate of apple biscuits.

Cookie lowered the mug and blinked rapidly, trying to get rid the tear dams about to burst in his eyes. “Hmm?” He set down the mug “oh yes I’m fine”.

Granny Smith raised the plate higher, so Cookie could get a view of what was in them. Cookie looked at the biscuits and smiled “No thank you, I’m alright”.

He did like Granny Smiths apple biscuits, but he lost his appetite somewhere over Griffon Territory a few years back, and only ate to sustain himself, his level of hunger was not enough to force himself to eat yet.

“oh oh oh!” Applebloom got off the settee and headed out of the living room. Cookie, Applejack and Granny Smith all watched her zip out of the room.

“Where’s she off to in such a hurry” Cookie said in a whisper.

Applejack shrugged her shoulders “probably up to her room”. Applejack realized and turned to Granny Smith “where’s he gonna sleep tonight?”

Granny smith quivered her chin and thought “ he could take Big Macs room, ah’m sure he won’t mind”.

“Oh no it’s alright, I’ll just take the settee, I don’t need a bed” Cookie tried to pleaded.

“Are you sure” Granny smith said

“Hey, I’ve slept in worse” Cookie responded with a sense or mischief in his voice, as he rocked side to side on the settee.

“Na that won’t do, I’ll ask Big Macintosh if you can have his bed, that’s the end of It” Applejack once again butted in.

Cookie smiled and accepted “thank you, but only of Mac agrees. Thanks”

Applejack came zooming into the room and slid on the carpet, skidding her into the centre of the room. “TA DAAAH” She cried out. She was wearing a velvet Red cape, bearing a strange blue symbol. “Whada ya think?” she asked intensively.

He didn’t know what to make of it. He just sat there, trying to understand what she meant by it.

“Oh, I joined a club”.

“A club” Cookie seemed surprised.

“Yep, I'm ah proud member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, we’re on a mission to find our special talents”.

“You are” He yawned “A mission? Well, I’ll be sure to accompany you on one of them” he smiled.

“You tired” Asked Applejack, turning to look at the apple shaped clock.

“Well, It was a long ride” Cookie said, stretching on the seti.

“well come on, I’ll find Mac, you set up in his room” Applejack said.

Cookie stood, grabbed his bag and walked up the stairs, to Big Macintosh’s room. And Applejack went off to find Big Mac.

A Stupid Dream

Cookie walked up the creaky, rickety stairs up to First Floor of the barn and towards the hallway, which was littered with pictures, photos and frames on the wall. Some had applejack on them, some had Mac and Bloom, and some had Granny Smith with an old stallion, sitting happy on the porch.

Cookie stopped, and stood in front of the door to Big Macintosh’s room. The door was stood tall and thin, it was a faded shade of blue, much like Cookie’s eyes in dim light. Like two other bedroom doors in the house, it had a symbol on it, an apple, a Macintosh, Big macs cutie mark.

Another bedroom door had three red apples on it, Applejacks room. And another had a golden brown pie on it, Granny Smiths. The fourth bedroom door was seemingly blank, cookie looked at the door and figured out that was Appleblooms room.

“How long is that going to stay blank?” He said to himself in a chuckle.

The green paint of the apple on Big Mac’s door had faded in time, and the tip of the stem had begun to peel back. Cookie opened the door to the bedroom and stood half in the doorway. The smell in room was neutral, slightly musty, but neutral. The curtain on the window only half stopped the light from entering the room, causing him to clearly see the dust float around the room like hundreds of tiny shooting stars. The room was rather plain for a character such as Big Mac, a bed, a desk and a wardrobe. No posters, papers, clutter or mess, it was like a new tenant’s bedroom.

Cookie walked fully into the room and dropped his duffel bag next to one of the leg of the desk. He then proceeded to walk over and sit on the bed. His weight causing him to slide and sink. He found it surprising how soft the bed was for a hard working farm stallion.

Cookie barely heard the hoofsteps coming from the hallway, and could see dim shadows passing under the door. The door opened, and Applejack's head poked around from behind it. “Mac says it’s ok, you get a good night’s rest ya hear”.

Cookie nodded “Thank you Applejack”.

“no hun, thank you” Applejack said, quick in response”.

Cookie seemed confused by her response, “thank ME? Whatever for?” he asked.

Applejack paused and looked directly at him “for comin’ back” she said with a sincere smile. “Go’ night sugarcube” She

finally said, retreating he head from behind the door and walking away. Her hoofsteps could be heard from Mac’s room.

Cookie sat at the corner of the bed, still staring at where Applejack’s head had been, just thinking to himself silently.

He yawned, and proceeded to get into the neatly made single bed he’d been sitting on. It didn’t take him long to fall asleep. Compared to most of the places he’d slept in the last few years, this had to be the most comfortable. He fell asleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow.

Less than a few hours after he’d fallen asleep, he was disturbed by, once again, the sound of hoofsteps in the hallway, although these ones treaded lighter and faster. Cookie gently woke, with his eyes still half closed, he looked over at the bottom of the door. He could see a shadow pass in front of his door. Not long after, his door suddenly swung open, lifting the dust in the room once more, except this time, there was no light to see them.

A filly stood at the door, her eyes teary and red, and her knees shaking. Before either of them could say a word, the filly jumped onto the bottom of the bed and ran up Cookie’s leg.

“Mac!” she cried out “Mac ah had that nightmare again” she said in a snivel. She clutched onto Cookie’s stomach for dear life, burying her face in his chest.

“Ap-Applebloom?” cookie asked, he was still dazed from drowsiness.

“Cookie?” she looked up, wiping her eyes “oh darn. I’m-I’m sorry Cookie. She let go of him, her eyes still red.

“It’s alright Bloom” He wrapped his wing around her side slightly “What’s wrong?” He asked.

“oh nothin’” she again rested her head on his chest, looking out the window “Jus' a stupid dream”.

“you wanna tell me about it?” He said in a soft tone.

“Na, it’s stupid”

“I’ll tell you one of mine” Cookie tried to bargain with her.

“Really? Ok, well…” She moved from on top of his chest to under his front leg in an attempt to get comfortable. Cookie then proceeded to wrap his wing around her, like a whitish grey, feathery pullover. “It’s about me going into the apple orchard and getting lost” she said in slight panicky rush “and the path gets smaller and smaller and I get trapped and I…” she cuts herself before she almost burst into tears again, instead her face cringed at the memory of the horrible nightmare, she dug deeper into cookie and pulled his wing further over her.

“shh shh sshhh, it’s ok, it’s ok…” Cookie said in comfort. “I got you” For some reason, Applebloom calmed down by his words ‘I got you’. She felt secure and peaceful, like nothing could get her.

“R-Really?” She asked

“Yeah, nothing’s going to get you while I’m here. And it’s not as if you can’t handle yourself, my lil’ farm filly” He ruffled her mane.

“Thanks Cookie” She wiggles her body, sliding further down in the bed, under the covers, like a pig in a blanket. “So what’s yours?” She asked.

“Mine? He asked. He leaned into her ear “My nightmare is that I wouldn’t get to see you again” He nuzzled the top of her head, causing her head to bob up and down and Applebloom to giggle uncontrollably.

Applebloom yawned and her eyelids closed one after the other. She slowly wiggled her body to sink further into the covers. Cookie wrapped both his hooves around her and pulled his wing in, simultaneously pulling her closer.

“Go’ night Cookie” She said in a slight slur.

“Night Bloom” He responded, he too started to drift off, until he dropped off into a lesser than deep sleep.

Thanks for these memories

Cookie woke to the sound of a roosters call, his eyes slowly and lazily opened, and were instantly attacked by the harsh sunlight sneaking in through the gap in the curtain. The room laid still; No dust in the light, no clutter on the floor, and nothing out of place. The only thing that was different to when he first closed his eyes in that bed, was the filly wrapped in his hoofs. Applebloom was still clung to his chest, her mouth agape, and her main drooping over her eyes. Lying in the bed, holding Applebloom like a new born foal, the only thought that creeped from the back of Cookies mind was ‘this is the only female I’ve slept with in years'. He quickly relised what weird thought had just passed in his head. He shook off that thought ‘N-Not that way’ he repeated in his head. He proceeded to unlock his legs from around Bloom, and move her hoof, giving his space and freedom to move without waking her up. He was rusty with trying not wake her, clearly, his previous weird thought was true.

He sat on the corner of the bed, looking at the floor, trying to regain some composure from that sleep, which was the most comfortable sleep he’d had since he was shipped out months ago. But he couldn’t stay there; he got on all fours and walked to his duffle bag, picking up a brush and some moisturizer. He slowly and quietly walked to the door, Opening it caused, once again, the dust in the room to take off, and swim around the room in the morning sun like a ballet in the spotlight. He walked to the bathroom with the brush and moisturizer and stopped at the door, he looked around the hallway and knocked on the bathroom door.

No answer.

He opened the door to the bathroom, creaking, like all the other doors in that house. He walked in,opened the moisturizer and applied it to his newest collection of scars, as instructed to by his doctor, his face cringed up, it wasn’t the easiest thing to do, but it would be a hell of a lot more painful if he didn’t do it. After that painful self-appliance was done, he went on to do his mane and coat with the brush, an idol process which he did as much as possible. In his mind, presentation was the majority importance in his life, next to success, efficiency, self-reliance, his service and his leadership. Without his officers’ cap and his tags, he was no pony out there, just another stallion. He couldn’t live life without the service anyway, whatever his rank be, that’s all he knew, and all he was good for.

He stood there looking in the mirror on the wall, examining himself. He wasn’t proud of what he saw; scars, age, battle use and emotional pain, all the things he’d see, all the ponies he once knew, all the chances he’s taken wrongly, all just part of him now, it had been a part of him for years, and yet he still didn’t accept it, it wasn’t who he wanted to be, a fault.

He opened and spread his wings, his tools, his weapons, his talent, the things that gave him purpose. They too had taken their toll; flying the way he did, and where he did, had caused some… problems, and because of those problems. The majority of his dominant primary feathers in his right wing were artificial, and had been since an untimely accident when he was just a Flight Sergeant, he managed to fly just fine with them though, even though he didn’t like to fly when not needed to.

Each time he thought of his past, he thought of work, of the Royal Pegasus Guard, not of fun times with friends, but of papers, and conferences, and battlegrounds, and training, and sacrifice…

“Thanks for these memories” he said under his breath, as silently as he could, almost trying to keep it to himself, from his former self anyway.

That’s where he cut himself off from his trail of thoughts; he didn’t want to think about that right now. Now he was here, in the comfort of his friends. He wanted to get away from his bad thoughts.

His self-discussion was interrupted by a knock at the door

“You nearly done?” Boomed the voice of Applejack.

Cookie smiled, her voice perking up his mood, as he remembers why he’s really here. He walked over to the door and fully opens it “all yours” He said confidently.

“Oh, mornin' sugarcube” She said

“Morning” He came back at her.

“Sorry, thought Mac was in there, breakfast is almost ready, do you wanna grab a chair at the table downstairs?”

Cookie thought for a second. He was hungry, again, taste didn’t matter, he didn’t have the appetite for it, but if he wanted to work, he had to eat, force himself to eat more like. “Sure, thanks AJ”. He walked out of the bathroom.

“uh” she said with a curious voice “no problem hun” she walked passed him, walking the opposite direction into the

bathroom “See ya down there” she shut the door, with the same creak than when he opened it.

Cookie couldn’t help but smile like a dope at the door, he was overwhelmed by her kindness and insistency. Even in that brief interaction. He escaped that deep escapade of a thought and went downstairs as instructed.

Big Day

Cookie reached the bottom steps of the stairs. He felt gracious walking around with his freshly groomed mane in the company of others, as he has always been quite the attention seeker. He slid into the kitchen from behind the stair guide, and was quick to notice the aroma of newly backed bread directing him to the pasty green coloured mare standing in front of a creaky, light green aga. Steam and a heavenly scent escaping one of the open doors of it. Cookie was so lost in the smell of wondrous bakery, that he almost ignored the fact that there were 3 other ponies in the room, Big Macintosh, sitting on a stool that was clearly too small for him in the far corner of the room at the table. Applebloom, sitting on the other side, facing the open door where Cookie had entered, and Granny Smith, stood at the aga.

“Oh mornin’ Cookie” Applebloom said, sitting up right on the stool.

Big Mac nodded at her, then turned to Cookie.

“How’d ya sleep?” Applebloom asked.

“How did I sleep?” He asked, walking closer to the table where they were sitting. “I slept brilliantly” He ruffled her mane. “And how did you two sleep?”

“Great, knowin’ ah had a guard pony protectin’ me as a slept”

Big Mac seemed confused, he obviously didn’t know about the drama that happened last night. Applebloom noticed his weird facial expression

“Oh” She scooted closer to Big Mac “Ah had that nightmare again” She said through her teeth as if it were a dying secret. “And ah thought he was you”

Big Mac nodded simply and accepted it.

“And how did you sleep” Cookies head notched over to Big Mac “you sleep well?”

Big Mac once again nodded “Eeyup” He Called.

Granny smith turned from her duties at the aga and placed a board of hot crossed buns on the table, the mere sight of the could turn any hungry pony into an eyeing statue. “Y’all gotta get somthin’ in yer. Big day today”. Big Mac and Applebloom both grabbed a hot cross bun each and started devouring it like they were seconds from starvation.

Cookie just sat and watched, he did feel hungry, so he too started eating, even with his lack of apatite he did find the food rather tasty. While the food was being eaten, Applejack walked into the Kitchen from behind the stair guard, and stood where Cookie had.

“Alright everypony, gotta hard day ahead of us, gonna wanna get ready” she said with her chest out, looking very leader ready.

It took everypony a few minutes to get outside after they cleaned up after breakfast, but once they were, a sudden cloud of realization came over them, the realization that they had work to do, a lot of work.

“Alright Apples, same jobs as usual” Applejack said, speaking to the Apple family. The rest of them walked off, but Cookie stood firm. “Oh, Cookie” Applejack stood back and thought long “hmmm…” She looked over at the carts Big Mac was heading over to “Oh, go with Mac and grab a cart. Once I buck a tree, you and Mac gotta gather and empty the apples in the loading bay, and let Bloom and Granny Smith do their work” She began to trot off, before stopping and turning “You alright with that”.

Cookie, eager to please the mare that was giving him food, drink and a roof over his head, happily obliged “More than alright, I’ll get right to it”.

Cookie walked over to where Big Mac was standing and hitched himself up to a line of carts, which was clearly built for Earth Ponies, for his wings didn’t fit in. So he had to keep them un-tucked from his sides, which made him feel uncomfortable. But, with a few minutes of fumbling around wings, he managed to find a spot for his wings.

Applejack stood at the first row of apple trees, she was quick to take position, facing away from the first tree. Her eyes narrowed and head lowered. Her hips ascended above her head with her back legs, at this point she was standing on just her front legs. Her back legs trusted backwards, striking the first tree with more than brute force, a crack struck the air, and the ears of everypony around her. Causing the apples to surrender and drop into the buckets placed under the tree. They fell perfectly, not one missing the buckets and rolling astray. Cookie was amazed by her strength; he knew he couldn’t even make one fall, let alone the whole batch.

Seeing Applejack Buck the whole first row of trees didn’t dampen his amazement, every time felt like the first.

Cookie was snapped out of yet another daze, by Big Mac, who was inching forward waiting for Cookie to respond.

“C’mon, our turn” He said in his burly voice.

Cookie began to drag himself forward with the cart behind him. Big Mac speeding off ahead of him, not in a fast way, but in a faster than him way. Cookie hadn’t walked ten paces and he was already feeling strain. He managed to reach his first tree, where he went on to empty the full bucket into his carts.

Applejack stood back after she’d bucked her last tree, perspiration visibly pouring form her forehead, she stood next to Applebloom over by the apple loading bay, she wiped her forehead and slumped herself on the ground next to Applebloom, who was staring off somewhere, with her hoofs resting in her cheeks, and had a silly cutesy smile on her face.

“What ‘cha lookin’ at?” Asked Applejack.

“Oh, uh...” Applebloom replied, half concentrating and mumbling “nuthin’”

Applejack looked off in the direction Applebloom was looking in, and narrowed it down to two possibilities of what she could be looking at; an apple tree, or Cookie. One of Applejacks eyebrow raised.

“Nuthin’ huh?”

“Yeah…” She looked up at Applejack.

“ya can’t be lookin’ at nuthin’”

“Just ma coltfriend” Applebloom said calmly, before realizing what she had just said.

“Your what?” Applejack asked seriously.

“he’s ma coltfriend” She moved closer to Applejack “but er, don’t tell him ah said it”

Applejack giggled "Alright I won't tell your coltfriend...That he's your coltfriend"

Cookie was struggling to pull his two full carts of apples, Perspiration dripping from almost all of him. Inch by inch, he moved closer to the loading bay, where her could finally stop and rest. He started to grind his teeth, and narrow his eyes. He could see his target and he wanted to meet it. He finally stopped outside the bay, his legs shaking and his mouth jittering from how hard he was grinding his teeth. His legs gave way, and he fell to the floor and rolled over. He’d done it, two full carts of apple. A cheeky smile claimed his face as you could see he was proud of himself.

Until a rumbling alerted him and a shadow covered his body. Big mac stood there, his head high and only lightly moistened by perspiration, and barely out of breath, Cookie raised his head and looked behind Big Mac, to see eight full carts of apples.

Eight full carts…

Cookies ears flopped down and he dropped his head, Big Mac hardly broke a sweat with eight carts, and here he is, collapsed on the floor.

“Good work boys” A cry came from the other side of the bay. Cookie looked up to see Applejack, Granny Smith and Applebloom, smiling and tired after the work. “C’mon, y’all head inside now, Applebloom and I''ll finish up here” Granny Smith said, entering the loading bay with Bloom.

Cookie dragged himself off the floor and into the barn.

“You did good out there Cookie” Applejack said from behind him.

“Thanks” he slurred out. “You weren’t bad yourself” He chuckled out.

83rd annual dance

Cookies eyes slowly yawed open, the fresh dry sunlight that sneaked through the window hit them; he looked once again down at the filly, snuggled up, sleeping under his leg. This night’s sleep as was even better than the first one somehow, maybe the face that he knew he was sleeping soundly with somepony that actually cared about him.

Just like the morning before, he tried not wake the sleeping filly almost welded to his side. He unwrapped his leg from around her back and slid from underneath her grasp. Applebloom slowly fell from her clingy position, and reverted to a fetal grabby one. Cookie watched her change, her slow actions mixed with the crunchy noise she made on the sheets when she moved, and the light bouncing off of her bright yellow coat, put a dopey smile on his face. He was staring at her supposed Fillyfriend, obviously he wasn’t in a real relationship with her in his eyes, but he wanted to make the filly happy, and if pretending to be her Coltfriend made her happy, he’d do it.

He stood there for a few minutes, just staring at her, before leaving the room, and the filly to sleep. He walked across the chickadee hallway and down the bumpy stairs to the kitchen, where just like last time, housed Granny Smith at the aga, Big Mac in his little stool, and Applejack in Appleblooms stool.

“Morning all” he said cheerfully.

“Howdy Cook” Applejack acknowledged him.

Big Mac just nodded followed by Granny Smiths “waz’ aat?” turning her head towards Cookie in the doorway. “Oh, Mornin’ sunny. How’d ya like yer eggs?” she asked.

Cookie thought about that, not the request of how he liked his eggs, but if he was in the right mood to eat. He was a tad hungry, plus he didn’t want to seem impolite. “Brown and scrambled please”

“Comin’ right up” she said turning back to the aga.

“Ready for your second day?” Applejack asked.

“After I get these eggs in me I will be” he said jokingly “will you?”

“I’ll be jus’ fine” she said.

Granny Smith slid a plate across the table towards cookie. Which stopped right in front of where he was sitting. On it, was a mush of brown scrambled eggs. Just like he asked for. “Thank you Granny Smith”.

“Jus’ call me Granny” Granny Smith asked.

“Sure thing…Granny” he hesitantly said.

"Well, eat up y'all, another big dad upon us" Applejack said. grabbing the attention or everypony in the room.

The barn door swung open, and a tired, drowsy Pegasus swaddled in. passing into the living room. He wasn’t as tired as the day before after the arduous work he’d been doing. But he was, in a sense, weary.

He gently sat his rump upon the recliner opposite the couch and sighed. Another day’s work finished.

He didn’t know how long he was going to stay at Sweet Apple Acres; he had the good part of a month left of his military leave left but he couldn’t stay that long. He thought he was over staying his welcome already. So staying that long was out of the question.

His pondering to himself was interrupted by both Applejack and Applebloom walking into the room.

“Havin’ fun on your lonesome?” Applejack jokingly asked.

Cookie turned to them “Just thinking".

“Thinkin’ of what?” Applebloom butted in.

He paused for a moment. “Nothing” he replied. “Just tired thoughts again”

“I’ll get ya a cuppa tea” Applebloom said before jumping up and rushing out of the living room and into the kitchen.

Applejack and Cookie both watched her rush out of the room and into the kitchen.

“What’s that all about?” Applejack asked.

Cookie knew why Applebloom was acting so strangely. Since of last night, he was her supposed Coltfriend. But he didn’t want to tell Applejack that, out of fear of her reaction.

So he just shrugged his shoulders and crinkled up his lips. Trying to seem as clueless as possible towards the subject.

Applejack hastily sat down on the couch opposite Cookie. “so…”

“So?” Cookie repeated.

“ya know, the Ponyville yard dance is on tomorrow night.”

“It is, wow, I didn’t know that thing was still going on.

“83rd annual dance. You ARE goin’, aren’t ya?”

“Of course I’m going. I wouldn’t miss it for the world”

Applebloom came rushing in with a cup and saucer, splashing some tea on the floor. “Here ya go” she nudged the cup and saucer towards Cookie.

“T-Thanks Bloom” he took the cup and saucer, and patted the free side of the recliner, for Applebloom to sit. Applebloom jumped up and sat to the open, dipping part of the free space Cookie provided.

“So, y’are goin’ to the dance then?” Applejack asked.

“Yep, just need a date” he squeezed Applebloom with his free leg and laughed. Applebloom giggle after him.

“How ‘bout ya take Lightning Bolt”

“Sorry, who?” Cookie asked confusedly

“The mare you danced with last year. Pegasus, White coat, blue…” She was cut off by Cookie

“Oh, her, well I’d love to go with her again, but” He looked down at Applebloom, then back up to Applejack. He once again squeezed Applebloom. “But I don’t want to cheat on my Fillyfriend”

My Blue Box

“Mac?” Cookie hollered out through the house. “You here?” He hollered again.

Three knocks came from upstairs in slow order. Cookies head searched the ceiling for the source of the knocks. It fixed on the top right corner of the ceiling, Macs room. He decided to head up. Out of the living room, into the hallway, up the Creaky stairs, across the landing, and to Big Macintosh’s door. He stood there listening to some sort of rumbling coming from behind the door, like a Bull in a, well anyplace really, whatever’s going on in there must have involved a fight.

Cookie cautiously opened the door leading into the room and stood in the doorway, his predictions were right, there was a fight. Big Mac sat in the corner of his room, surrounded by clothing and bed sheets, tangled in a dark red scarf, fighting with a bow tie caught on his hoof, and losing.

“Mac what are you doing?” Cookie hysterically asked.

Macs head twisted towards the doorway, a sock on his head followed too. “Findin’ you sumhin’ t’ wear for the dance” he said plainly. Mac looked at the sock on his head, crossing his eyes. “Applejack asked me to find sumthin’ in your size”. He blew the sock out of his face, only to have it return to its place.

“Here” Cookie said mixed with a giggle waling over to him. “Let me help you” he cleared the clothes off of Macs back and untied the bow tie on his hoof. “Something to wear you say?” he said, flicking the sock off of his head. “Why what are you wearing?”

“Jus’ ta collar and tie” He shook his head, getting rid of any hidden clothes on him. Several more socks and a sun cap flew off of him “Nutin’ special”.

“Nothing special? But it’s a special event.” Cookie said in slight desperation.

“T’ be honest, it’s the only thing that fits me now” Mac explained.

“Oh, well then, I guess that’s ok”. Cookie said, fluffing the dust off of Macs shoulders. “anyway, what do you think would

suit m…” he stopped talking. His ears perked up. He curled his head towards his duffle bag, and then to the curtains covering the window facing the apple field. He walked over to the window and swung open the curtains covering it. He looked out of the window and fixed his vision on one thing.

The tallest apple tree on the tallest hill in the apple field.

“You know what Mac?” He said still dazed out of the window “I think I have something to wear”

Mac looked on the ground, at all the clothes that surrounded him that he had struggled to get out of that wardrobe. Cookie spun his head to see Macs rotating around him at the mess he’d made, and then up to him.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you clean up” Cookie said.

Cookie opened the door and the shutter of the house and trotted up to the white fence. He looked up at the tallest apple tree on the tallest hill in the apple field. He galloped up the hills of the apple field, towards the vision the tallest apple tree on the tallest hill.

He reached the Tree. The tall, wide, dark, old, ripe with apples tree. He walked around it a few times, his eyes searching on the bark. He stopped in his tracks and stirred at a line running down the bark, not a natural line, one carved with a shark blade. It was faded, and the bark had healed around it. His eyes and head followed the line, from top to bottom to beyond the bottom, running down the bark towards the ground. His head stopped, and looked at the spot directly under the line on the bark.

He sat his rump in front of the tree and tapped the ground under the line on the bark. The tap then turned into a prod, a prod to jab, and a jab to a dig. His hoofs slipped into the soil, pounding downwards. Every hit making its way deeper and deeper until He’d made himself a little hole.

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. CLUNK…

His hoof hit something, something metal. He scurried his hoofs in the hole to uncover something blue and silver. Cookie lifted the blue and silver object out of the hole slightly, revealing a small, scratched, metal, blue box.

He gently rested it on the ground next to the hole, and wiped the rest of the dirt off of the top. At his last wipe, some wording was revealed.

‘WONDERBOLTS’ ‘Spread Your Wings’

A childlike smile came upon Cookies face. “Our Blue Box” He said slightly damp eyed. He drummed on the top of the box and slowly opened it. Inside the blue box, was what he’d put in there, 6 years ago. Cookie reached into the box and searched around.

Its contents included a black and white photo, a purple plastic tulip, a little Wonderbolt action figure, his Squadron Leader tapes and 2 notes.

He took out one of the notes, it read;

'To the Apples bunch, hope you all have, are having and always will have wonderful lives, and I hope to see you again soon.

Cookie'

Sadly, he’d written that on one slightly drunken dance night 6 years ago. Hence the shaky penmanship.

He picked up the second one, it read;

'I would like to becum a Wonderbolt becos I am strong and fast and frendly and I will be the captin of the wonderbolts in no time.

Higher. Faster. Further.

Cookie'

It was written by Cookie in faded orange crayon when he was young, very young. “Higher. Faster. Further.” He repeated out loud. It was The Wonderbolts Motto.

He put both the letter back in the blue box and picked up the photo. It was of him, Cookie with his old squad back in his Squadron Leader days. There was Boxcar, sitting on the floor contently. Light Lifter flexing his muscles in comical form. Blue Sky Ruffling Altitude mane, who’s leaning on a 20 pound bomb. And Cookie, standing in the middle, winking. A caption on the photo reads

'Her finest. 7th High flyers Squad. Royal Pegasus Guard'

“Her finest” He repeated. His Squads motto. He placed the photo back in the blue box and paused. He looked at the contents of the blue box, then to the Apple house, and back to the blue box.

He hesitantly fumbled around at the tree for a few minutes. He put the stuff back in the blue box, closed the lid, dropped it in the hole, closed it up, and stood up. He patted down the dirt in the hole, trying to make it seem in the ordinary, when he noticed Applejack, Applebloom and Granny Smith trot up the path on the opposite side of the acre. He looked over at them. Cookie tried to cover the hole as best as he could, and finally, walked back to the house. Leaving the small, scratched, metal, blue box.

Looks Better This Time

Cookie reached the front porch of the house, slightly puffing from his light run. He opened the shutters and the door and walked in. Applejack, Applebloom, Granny Smith and Big Macintosh were stood around the table in the kitchen, bags and all on top of it.

“What’s in the bags?” Cookie asked, still breathing a tad heavily from his little run.

“Jus’ some things for tomorrow” Granny smith answered as she rested another bag on the table top. Her head turned to Mac. “Did ya find him anything to wear?”

Mac was about to speak, before being beaten to it by Cookie “It’s ok, I’ve er, I thought I’d just wear my jacket. He said proudly “Will that do?”

“That’ll do fine” She said.

“Well alright, I’m all sorted” Cookie reassured.

“Me too” Applebloom said. “You Mac?”

“Eeyup” he responded, as per the norm.

“I think I’ve got most of the stuff for me and Granny, so I think we’re almost ready too” Applejack said, gazing at one of the full bags on the table.

“Perfect” said Cookie. “anything I could do?”.

“Jus’ be ready for tomorrow” Granny assured.

“Will do”

Cookie was in his room, well, Macs room, standing above his duffel bag. He stared at it long before bending his head down and undoing the knot at the top of it with his teeth. He bent his legs to get lower and to see better into the bag.

He opened it, and pulled out a crumpled up, old, brown, leather bomber jacket from the bottom. It was crushed and had a few leaves and a lot of on it. It was at the bottom of the bad so of course some stuff had to get on it. He shook most of it off and wrinkled it out. Shacking it in his mouth. Once shook, he dangled it in front of him to inspect it. No rips, tears or marks on it, well, no more than usual.

Once fully inspected, he slid one sleeve over his hoof, followed by the next. A bit short on the sleeves, and a bit tight on the waist, but other than that, it was perfect for tomorrows dance.

“Cookie” Applebloom’s voice bounced into the room. “Did you find that something?”

“Yes I found it?” He echoed out.

“Can I see?” she asked.

“Sure, come on in”

Applebloom wandered into the room slowly and noticed Cookie in his Bomber Jacket “Hey you wore that the first time you came here” She said, squeaking her tone as she said ‘last’.

“Did I?” He asked. His memory really isn't what it used to be.

“Yeah, it was a bit darker though”

“Yes it was newer back then I suppose” He turned to look in the mirror “And it hadn’t seen as much” He stuck his hoof in his pockets. Nothing in the right, and just an odd piece of paper in his left, an order form from his office, it too was crumpled and folded. He stuffed it back in and turned around to face Applebloom. “What do you think anyway?”

“It looks better than last time”

“Bloom, are ya ready for bed?” Granny Smiths voice peeped out.

“Not yet” She stepped back and out of the room back into the door frame. “Cookie?”

“Yes?” He responded.

“Can I sleep in here again tonight?”

“Still having those nightmares?” He asked questionably.

“The what” She said, not knowing what he meant.

“Night-Mares” He pronounced slowly and clearly.

“Oh yeah, still got ‘em”

“Well ok, if you really want to”

“Thanks” She finally said, skipping out of the room. Passing Applejack, Squeezing passed her.

“Applebloom go get ready” she gently ordered.

“I’m goin’”

Applejack turned to see Cookie checking out his stature in the mirror on the wardrobe. “Well look at you” She said “All dressed up. You look good”

“Thank you” He pulled at his right sleeve, hoping to make it longer. “I can’t wait to see you ‘all dressed up’.

“Well you’re gonna have to wait”

Cookie smiled “gladly”.

Applejack backed up “get some shut eye”

Cookie started taking off his jacket “I will”

“Go’night”

“Night”

She closed the door. Cookie rested his jacket on the chair pulled up to the desk in the corner, and sipped his body into the neatly made bed. Sitting in the bed contently, he waited for Applebloom to come in and slip in next to him.

In the time between him getting in to bed and Applebloom coming in, he had time to think, and try to scrape together some memories of the first Dance he went to with the Apple Bunch, 6 years ago. Not a lot came to him, maybe tomorrow would bring back some sweet memories.

In the middle of his thoughts, Applebloom landed on the Bottom of the bed, bouncing a further few inches towards Cookie sitting blankly in the covers.

“Ready” She shouted.

Since Yesterday?

Cookie stumbled down the stairs, and was met with havoc in the kitchen, With Granny Smith bumping back and forth cooking an early breakfast. It wasn’t as rich smelling as it had been the previous few mornings, the kitchen smelt smoky.

“Everything ok in here?” Cookie asked concerning.

“Oh, mornin’ dearie” Granny said, working hard over her stove. “Yeah everythin’s fine.” She lifted lid off of a pan, which was bubbling over its sides. “Take a seat at the table, I’ll bring it all over”

Cookie abided, and sat at the table, alone. “Where’s everyone” he spoke softly.

“Hmm?” Granny said distracted by her cooking.

“Where Is Everyone!” He said louder.

“Oh, gettin’ all their things together for tonight”. She said as she tipped the bubbling pot into a sieve sitting next to it.

Applejack was sitting on the porch with Applebloom, Winona and a sewing kit between them.

“I told ya not to go runnin’ round in yer dress like that” Applejack said with a smug hint.

“I was just seein’ if it still fits” Applebloom said innocently.

“Since yesterday?”

Applebloom shrugged “I could have grown”

Cookie opened the shutter behind them, walking onto the porch.

“What are you two up to?” He asked.

“I’m jus’ fixin’ a dress a certain filly ripped”

Applebloom shuffled away from Applejack. Catching the attention of them both.

“Good nigtths sthleep?” Applejack asked with a pin in her mouth.

“Very, but my legs gone dead, somepony was hugging it too tightly”

Applebloom shuffled further away, attempting to whistle.

“Ah darn” Applejack fumed, spitting out the pin in her mouth. “yer gonna have to wear this with pins in it, it won’t hold

otherwise.

“Awww” Sulked Applebloom. “But ya can see ‘em so clearly, can we cover it up?” She asked desperately.

“With what?” Applejack asked back.

Cookie propped up from the porch, “Hold on a tic” he said, dashing into the apple orchard and out of sight.

Applebloom and Applejack sat there looking into the apple orchard, wondering where he’d gone to. Clueless, they waited for him to get back.

He popped out of the apple orchard and trotted over to Applebloom and Applejack sitting on the porch, with Mystery on their faces.

“Will this do?” He said, holding a purple plastic tulip, in his muddy hoof.

“Where in Equestria did ya get this?” Applejack questioned “Theses don’t grow out there”

“No I know, I just er, found it” He held, shaking the mud off of his hoof.

“Found it?”

“Yep” He offered it to her.

“It’s not ever real” Applejack said as she felt the texture, taking it gradually.

“Yes I know” He smiled dumbly.

“Well, I… I think it’ll do” She slipped the purple plastic tulip through a small hole in the dress where the rip was, just along the neck. It covered most of the pins, but was still visible slightly.

“I guess it’ll have to” She said. She looked up at Cookie “ ‘you’ should get ready too”.

“ok” He obeyed .

“And tell Mac to do the same could ya?”

“I’ll be sure to” he leered, turning back to the shutters of the house.

“Be ready to go at 6” She shouted into the house.

38 Bits

It was a wonderful Saturday afternoon. The sky was a mighty blue, and was rarely bothered by clouds. The sun shone down on Ponyville like it was a shadow in the open. A dirt road ran through the grass and divided the trees on each side. The air above the road glimmered with heat like angry ocean waves. Rabbits and Squirrels ran through the tall grass, mazing in and out of it rapidly. Butterflies gently flew through the air, acting with the wind like a leaf caught in an updraft.

The peace was disturbed, as a rumbling started to pass through the ground, the Critters in the long grass stopped, and set their eyes down the dirt road. A slight dust cloud was kicked up by four wooden wagon wheels running slowly along the road. As the rumbling got closer, the critters scattered and ran off into taller grass, trying to escape the peace disturber rattling along the road. Sat upon the wagon wheel chaise was a grey wooden cart. The paint on the door hinges was crusty and faded, and the windows covered with dust, making it hard to see into them.

The cart slowed down and eventually stopped along the dirt road. The Stallion pulling the cart gave out an almost everlasting Puff. Perspiration dripping from his head, as it lowered towards the ground, heavy from exhaustion. After a few seconds trying to catch his breath, the Stallions head raised and turned left, facing the corner of the cart.

“Here we are buddy, time to ge’d up” He said in a slow slur, calling out to the Pony in the cart. The stallion had a chance to blink a few times before the cart began to rustle. The weight in the cart shifted towards the left, and the lock on the door was lifted, letting it swing open. As the door swung, the Crusty and faded hinges let out a high pitch wine, killing the silence in the open for the precious amount of time that it did. A hoof rested on the step of the door, followed by another. The hoofs rested there, not moving and not heavy. The first hoof moved forward and down, laying itself on the ground. The dirt, dust and pebbles made a satisfying crunch under the weight of it. Again, followed by the second hoof then the third and fourth, each hoof making the same sound as it hit the dirt.

A Stallions head peered out of the doorway, looking slowly across the landscape, scanning for evidence that they reached the right destination. The head stopped and turned to the Stallion at the front of the cart.

“That ’a be 38 bits” the Cart puller said after his breathing had calmed down.

The Stallion stepped further away from the cart, from under the roof, letting the sunlight finally hit his back and mane. His head once again turned to the landscape in the distance. He shut his eyes and inhaled the fresh air that surrounded him. A satisfying sigh came from deep in the stallion’s lungs. He had longed for that First breath of county air, different from city air, and certainly different from the stale air inside the cart.

“Buddy” said the cart puller flatly. Making the Stallion open his eyes and turn his head. He stared blankly at the cart puller, waiting for him to speak

“38 bits” he repeated, with a slightly knaggier tone. The Stallion dropped the faded green duffle bag flung over his back and rummaged around in one of the compartments, he pulled out a bag of bits, he gathered together the required 38 bits and hoofed them to the Driver, who looked down at the 38 bits, and then lifted his head towards the Stallion, his eyebrow raised. The Stallion rolled his eyes and reached further into the bit bag, flinging him two more bits. The Driver then proceeded to drop them into the box implanted in the woodwork on the side of the cart.

“Much oblige, so long” the cart started moving again as the driver trotted off down the road. The wheels making a constant crunch noise rolling on the dirt. The cart slowly disappeared from sight as it got further and further away from the stallion standing at the road side.

The stallion was tall, and his head was straight, not slouching. His coat was a dim white, showing signs of light grey. Groomed and clean. His wings were tucked by his sides, no feather out of place, all in line and smooth. His mane was long, flowing in the air whenever a breeze passed him, it was Egyptian blue and Coal black. The two colours in his mane did not separate or boarder, they intertwined with each other. His mane also groomed and clean. His left ear was torn at the top, although it was healed, it was still pointy and dark in some places. His eyes were squinted and sensitive to the open sunlight. They were pale marina blue, although they were pale, they were still the first things you noticed when you saw him up close.

He walked every stride with purpose, or at least made it look like it. One hoof paced in front of the other As he ventured to the other side of the road, the crunch noise being made with every step. His eyes met with the Arched Sign hanging over a path leading off and over the hills, the chains holding the sign wade and squeaked in the wind. He gently came to a halt, his eyes still gazed upon the sign;

“SWEET APPLE ACRES”

A slight smirk sat upon the stallion’s face, his heart beat slowed to a relaxing rate and his breathing became calmer. He proceeded to walk under the sign and down the path, leading to Sweet Apple Acres. As he did so, thoughts started to pass through his head, thoughts about his last visit here. Thoughts about how he’d waited for this day to happen again. Thoughts about the closest thing he could call family.

Quite A Girlish Squeal

Cookie wondered into the living room, clumsily, walking into low tables and swaying from left to right like a spirit on a chain, caught in the wind. He stood over the couch, trying to stay standing, but after all that work, his body simply couldn’t. His knees notched and his legs bent, sending him falling sideways onto the couch. He landed heavily, squishing the air out of the cushions under him, making a loud ‘POMF’ as he landed, at this point, he couldn’t even think about his top priority, looking presentable. His head smacked against a soft cushion, also forcing the air out from under him. He was physically exhausted. He could barely hold his eyes open, and his jaw hung open. His legs flopped down and swung around by the side of the couch. Out of all the things he’d done, all the work and flying, he’d never been more tired.

Applejack stepped into the living room, glaring at Cookie who had melted into the couch. “Y’alright Sugarcube?” She asked hesitantly.

Nothing but a muffled ruffle came from the pillow under Cookies face “mff, hmm phmmuff uf”

Applejack moved closer and tilted her head “err, what was that hun?”

Cookie gathered some strength to lift and turn his head, before dropping it again, except now he was facing Applejack. “I’m fine, just a tad tired”

“Ya look more roughed up than tired” Applejack said, looking at the still clear red mark of the horse collar from the cart, moulded into Cookies back. She examined the rest of his body, and set her eyes upon his back right leg.

Cookie looked down at his leg to see a measly cut, followed by a small, narrow bruise. He forced himself up, sitting upright on the couch. He looked back up to her and locked eyesight with her. “Don’t worry about me” Words he truly meant.

Applejack backed up and turned “Can’t help it sugarcube” she echoed as she left the room.

Cookie stretched out to see where she went. But fell back, once again deflated, letting his body just rest. He closed his eyes; he could hold them open any longer.

A few minutes later, just before Cookie dozed off, he was disturbed by the sound of hoofsteps coming towards him. But he kept his eyes closed. He hoped whoever it was wouldn’t bother him.

Before he could start concentrating on falling asleep, a blinding pain overwhelmed him. His eyes flashed open, and his body shot up, he also let out quite a girlish squeal, a noise even he didn’t know he could make. By the time he covered his mouth to prevent anymore silly noises escaping, he was able to see the cause of the pain.

On his leg, just over his bruise, he saw a small, brown, soaked sack, and holding the sack in place, was smiling Applejack, just about as giggling point.

Cookie cleared his throat and put on his manliest voice “Et hmmm, what er…what was that?” he said deeply.

Applejacks face was bursting; she could hard keep her laughter in.

Cookie sighed “……. Go on”.

Applejack exploded with laughter, shaking the sack under his bruises. Cookie flinched as the sack moved around on his wound. “Ouch”

Applejack wiped away her teary eyes with her free hoof “Ha.. Hmm haha..fewww, sorry sugarcube” she steadied her hoof on the sack. “jus’ not a noise ah was expectin’”

Cookie took is embarrassment well, and sort of got a kick out of it himself “You and me both”. He looks again at the sack, squashed on his leg “What’s that?” he questioned.

“Vinegar” she answered. “Ta keep the swellin’ down”

“Thanks AJ”

Applejack smiled up at him, and quickly turned her attention back to the sack “Now you keep that on there for a couple more minutes, ya hear?” she got up.

Cookie nods and holds the sack in place.

“ya need a little nap too before dinner, if you really are ‘just a tad tired’”

Cookie smirked and looked up at her again “yes mother”

She grinned “I’ll call ya down for dinner”

After his nap and a pleasant Dinner, Cookie slept soundly in his bed, well, Macs bed. He wasn’t properly in bed, he looked like he’d just fallen in and the covers had grown over him. Even after his nap, he was still too tired to try and get comfortable.

Just like the night before, he was provoked by the familiar sound of hoofsteps in the hall. His ears twitched at the sound of the hoofsteps and with every twitch, his eyes opened slightly. He sat against the head board of the bed. A shadow, danced around the stage of the door. And again, the door swung open. Cookie wasn’t as surprised to see Applebloom standing at the door, not as hesitant as last night, or as frightened. Be she looked nervous; she hid her line of sight behind the bed footboard.

“Bloom?” Cookie called out gently.

Applebloom stood there in silence, looking down and scanning the floor, inching forward into the room as she did, before she softly spoke. “ah er…ah had another bad dream again”

Cookie was shocked. This time she knew Big Mac wasn’t sleeping in his room, but Cookie. And from conversations earlier in the day, she now knew he was sleeping on the couch in the living room. But, he didn’t need to ask any questions. For all he knew, the Filly was just scared of another silly dream. He smiled, and lifted up the corner of his duvet. Applebloom beamed, and swiftly maneuvered into the bed, under his leg again, just like last night. With Bloom swaying further down into the bed, trying to get comfy. When she was, and when some time had passed; Bloom sat up a bit, closer to Cookies ear.

“Hey, Cookie, ya ‘wake?” she whispered.

His eyes were still closed “mmmm” He hardly responded with.

Applebloom bit her lip, and proceeded to whisper “y’are ma Special Coltfriend aren’ cha?”

Cookies eyes shot open faster than they did when Applejack put the sack of vinegar on his bruise. “you-your what?” He hollered lightly.

“Ma Special Coltfriend, y’ are, right?”

Cookies looked up at the ceiling and the first thing that went through his mind is ‘I’ve just been asked out…but a filly, not even one fifth my age’.

How could he say no though, no to a friend, no to a Filly who looked up to him, no to somepony as cute as Applebloom. He had a few seconds of inner thought, before leaning down and whispering into Appleblooms ear “You know I am” He planted a kiss on her forehead.

Applebloom giggled and turned light pink “Ah knew it” she said in a proofed tone.

Cookie kissed her head one more time, before resting his head on his pillow again. Applebloom shuffled some more and slid further under the covers. Cookie wrapped both his hooves around her, pulling her up and closes, squeezing her tight.

“Night Cookie” Applebloom said satisfyingly.

“Night Bloom” He responded. Wrapping tighter.

Cookies first thought, was ‘I’m sleeping with my Marefriend’. But that thought quickly eluded him, and he drifted into the darkness of sleep, yet with Bloom next to him, or should I say his Marefriend, the darkness seemed…warmer.

Glittery, Shiny Trail

Applejack seemed mostly confused by Cookies statement; she wanted to ask both Cookie and Applebloom about it. But before she could utter a word, Applebloom zipped up out of the recliner.

“I gotta go work on my…” she stopped herself from saying too much and dropped down onto the floor “…Thing” she ran

towards the hallway “I’m gonna work on the thing in my room, nopony come in ok?”

“Thing?” Cookie asked.

“For the dance” She called out from the stairs, holding onto the banisters.

While Applebloom was gone, an uncomfortable silence fell over the living room Cookie and Applejack were in. until Applejack turned to Cookie and said “Fillyfriend?”

After explaining what had happened the night before to Applejack multiple times, she asked “So she thinks you’re her Coltfriend?” Applejack asked Cookie, knowing what his answer would be.

“Correct”. Said Cookie.

“But Y’aren’t?” she asked with her head tilted slightly, waiting for the answer she wanted.

“Well…” He went on to say.

“Well what?” Applejack inched closer.

“I didn’t want to break her little heart or anything, so I just said…”.

“Yeah?" Applejack asked.

“Yeah” Cookie confirmed.

“Well what’cha gonna do about it?”.

“Nothing” Cookie shrugged. “I mean it’s not like she ‘expects’ to do anything, right?”

Applejack nodded in agreement “I guess you’re right” she said. “But if she finds out you’re jus’ fakin’ this, she’ll be mighty upset”

“Don’t worry. I’ll treat her like my little princess”

“Don’t ya treat her like your lil’ princess already?” Applejack asked rhetorically.

A flattered smile appeared on Cookies face, at the same time Applebloom came back in to the living room, with glitter, glue, colour stains and pinkie purple fabric stuck to her hooves. She ran in trailing a glittery, shiny trail behind her. She jumped up on the recliner Cookie was sitting on and dropped next to him.

“What in Equestria are you making?” Both Applejack and Cookie said simultaneously.

“It’s a secret” Applebloom stuck her sticky, shiny hoof in the air.

“Bloom, go take a bath, you wouldn’t want to look like that if Princess Celestia walked in right now would ya’?

Applebloom slowly lowered her sticky, shiny hoof. “No”.

“Then go wash up and get ready to go out” Applejack Got up and off of the couch. “You, Granny and I need to get some things for the dance tomorrow”. She walked to the door frame to the kitchen.

Applebloom got up and went upstairs, again, leaving a trail of glitter behind her.

“Leaving me with Mac?” Cookie asked.

“Ya can ask him about something to wear for the dance”. She strapped a saddlebag to her side. “Ya can’t go like that” She smiled and walked out of the kitchen, and stood near the front door, waiting for Granny Smith and Applebloom to come downstairs.