An Old Apple Friend

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”