An Old Apple Friend

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.