Apples and Tiaras

Neither of them wanted to say it to each other - they could barely believe it themselves - but it's staring them right in the face; Applebloom and Diamond Tiara are in love with each other. It took them a long time to admit it to themselves. Although, each one has a reason why they're not telling the other.

for Applebloom, it's Tiara, her new friend who's currently 4 months pregnant. not to mention all the mean things she did to her when they were foals themselves. And she had her own things to deal with.

For Tiara, it's mostly her father. He's not a fan of Filly-Foolers and if he finds out his own daughter is one herself, he's liable to go ballistic. Plus, there's all the stuff from Applebloom's side; pregnant, mean when they were foals, having her own problems to deal with.

It's tough as the year is getting closer to Hearts and Hooves day- the Equestrian version of Valentines day. Not to mention that Applebloom has been acting rather mysterious lately, like she's hiding something, and Tiara hadn't gotten a chance to ask what she's hiding.

Applebloom flipped though a book about the internal organs about canines, getting all the intel she could out of it.

Tiara poked her head out of the kitchen and watched her for a moment. Back when they were foals, she was cute with that ribbon in her hair. Now, with her hair hanging loose and the bandanna around her neck, she's... she's hot. Hot enough to make Tiara feverishly blush.

She shook her head and snapped out of it. "right, enough of that." she sighed. she zipped back into the kitchen and sighed with a groan. "Still need to figure out where she's going every Saturday."

"Every Saturday?" Zim asked, eating a bowl of Oat Flakes.

"Yeah. every Saturday at 8:00 A.M., she always goes somewhere with Helios but i don't know where."

Saturday at 8... "Longs as she doesn't interfere with my Transmorphers: Alpha show, i don't really care."

Tiara rolled her eyes. "Men and their robots."

Tiara sighed as she rested her head on her hoof on a table near a StarMane. "I just don't know what to do." she muttered, playing with her drink's straw with her other hoof.

"Here's an idea: Ask her!" High Rise exclaimed. Snowdrop and Blade nodded in confirmation. "Doing stuff like this isn't going to give you answers." the 2 nodded agian.

"I tried. She always said that she was just going out for a walk. But i don't buy it. One time, i saw her come back covered in grease."

"Grease?" the 3 of them all said.

"Yeah. the kind of grease you'd find from machinery. I don't know what she's doing but it's defeanatly not a stroll."

"Why not follow her?" Blade asked.

"I tried. i lost sight of her. Whatever she's hiding, she doesn't want ponies to see."

"Doesn's Zim know?" Snowdrop asked.

"He's being kept in the dark, too." Tiara pulled her drink close. "Just what is she hiding?" she muttered as she took a drink.

"Maybe she's a stripper." Rise's accusation caused Tiara to spit up her drink onto Snowdrop. the Blind Pegasus blinked then wiped the coffee off.

"What?" Tiara gasped. "What makes you think she's a stripper?"

Rise shrugged. "always sneaking out of a Saturday at the same time, being secretive and all that."

"And the grease?" Snowdrop asked.

"Everyone has a weird fetish. Somepony or Gryphon or someone must have a machine turn-on or something."

As much as Tiara hates to admit it, it does explain where Applebloom goes every Saturday. But there must be a reason why, considering it's true.

The next Saturday came and, like clockwork, Applebloom snuck out of her bedroom, careful not to wake up Zim. He came home drunk last night from his 5th date with Snowdrop. First, they went out because he couldn't hold on to a woman and she wanted to see why. why does she keep saying yes?

Applebloom slowly made her way down the stairs, careful not to step on the creaky one. She jumped over that and landed on the floor just two steps down. She went though the front door, softly opening and closing it. Helios, the Crystal Dragon pet of hers, was waiting for her.

"Shh." she went. you'd figure she wouldn't have to do that after all the times she had. Turns out Crystal Dragons aren't the smartest of creatures. Fiercely Loyal, though. He nodded and took to the air, causing a gust of wind that brushed dust over her. Using him as a distraction in case Zim and Tiara got curious and followed was a unfortunate sin but she had to do it. she quickly looked around to make sure nobody was there, then went on her mary way. She was unaware that a certain pink earth pony watched her leave.

"Okay, Applebloom. time to see what you're hiding." Tiara crawled her way out of the bushes and followed not too far behind.

Helios flew though the skies above, keeping a close eye on his master. it saw the building they were heading towards and flew for the roof.

Applebloom yawned and made her way though the Trottingham streets. Once she was certain that Zim wasn't following, she fell into a casual stride.

Tiara poked her head out of a bush, making a nearby couple look at her odd. She tip-toed out of the bush and slowly headed to the former country girl. Applebloom glanced back. Tiara quickly went behind a table, barely big enough to hide her 4-month pregnant belly. Applebloom didn't notice her and went on her way. Tiara poked her head back out and went after her.

Applebloom looked around again, not noticing Tiara who didn't have time to hide, and turned right, heading into a alley.

"why's she heading down there?" Tiara muttered. She learned from experience that heading down alleys aren't good. Hoping Applebloom isn't doing something stupid, she followed after her.

Applebloom reached a crossroads and turned left. From the shops Tiara remembers seeing out front, one of them was... a Adult place. "Oh, no. don't tell me Rise was right." Tiara whined. "The one time i want her to be wrong." She trotted up to the cross-roads and peaked out.

Applebloom opened a door and went into one of the buildings. Tiara doesn't remember which one was the Stripper joint from back here, but it's looking like it's true. Tiara walked down the other alley and headed to the door Applebloom entered. she reached it and pressed her ear to it.

"...okay, What do i do today?..."

Tiara bit her hoof. "Oh, no." She whined. She's not going to have her potential Marefriend be a stripper. And she had all that extra weight so what she has planned will work. She backed up a considerable amount then slammed into the door, breaking into the place. "Applebloom, Stop!"

Applebloom jumped in her skin and looked back to see Tiara behind her. "T-Tiara?!"

the Unicorn was about to berate her when she noticed that the building Applebloom was in... was completely desolate. well, not entirely desolate- there are tables covered with blueprints and paint, wrenches and buckets of loose grease, plastic covers hanging from the ceiling and walls. "What is this?" Tiara asked.

Applebloom groaned. "This is too soon for anyone to find out."

"What are you talking about, Applebloom?"

Applebloom sighed. "I was building this in secret."

"Building what?"

Applebloom grabbed a sign and held it up. "My Veterinary Practice."

Her practice? wait, there's a flaw in her story. "Wait. How did you get the bank loan? i thought they turned you down!"

"Yeah. well... remember when you had to have surgery for your kidneys?" How could she forget. She and Silver Crown almost died. If it wasn't for Zim, she would be 6 feet under. "Well, your Dad was really thankful i did all i could so he offered a reward. I asked for a good reference, which he gave, and i got the loan and the deed to this place." She gestured to the large room which was going to serve as her examination room.

"So... all those Saturdays you were sneaking off, you were coming here?"

"Ditto."

"But why not hire a construction crew?"

Applebloom picked up a hammer. "Applejack taught me that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. So... i've been working in secret."

"But why? the rest of us could've helped."

"But i was going to surprise you all with it; let you all in on it at the grand opening. guess that turned out well." She finished sarcastically.

Tiara shook her head and chuckled. That's the mare she's in love with- a complete dunderhead. "Right. *Sigh* if it makes you feel any better, i'll keep this a secret."

"You will?" Applebloom delightfully asked.

"Yeah. why not? you helped me a lot; may as well return the favor."

Applebloom happily gasped then hugged her. "Oh, thank you, Tiara!"

Thought initially caught off guard, Tiara smiled and hugged her back. Applebloom's hair smells like lilies. That's her favorite flower. "Listen. you've been working in secret for 4 months. what do you say we head out to lunch?" Tiara suggested.

"Music to my ears, Tiara." Long as she's with her, she doesn't care where they go or what they do. Now, if only the two of them will spill their true feelings.

Either way, the truth is coming out on Heart's and Hooves.