What Happened To Yesterday

Berry trotted through Ponyville,he had been doing so for a few hours now. He wasn’t sure if he should be sad about what AJ said…or just downright pissed. It was a mixed bag. He felt sad that AJ said he was nothing but an easy lay, but he was mad that he felt used…like some sort of cheap floozy.

He thought about just going home…but that didn’t seem appealing. It was fun being surrounded by sugar and sweets, but only if you were in a good mood. Then he thought about Rarity’s, but he’d already bothered her for the day. He didn’t think that a subsequent visit would be appreciated. Twilight was…well, Twilight. Sometimes Berry wondered if the element of magic was a robot. Fluttershy would just agree with whatever he said…everyone just seemed like a lost cause.

“Hey Berry!” Somepony bumped into him and hiccupped. A glance revealed it to be none other than Berry Punch, the town…well, drunk. She ran her own bar and regularly partook of the stock.

“Oh, hey Berry…” Yes, it was weird sharing a name with the town drunk. Yes mail sometimes got switched around, and yes he secretly found it annoying. “What’s up?”

“Wh-why the long face, Bubbles?” Like usual, Berry Punch was smashed and it wasn’t even five o’clock. “S’got you down?” She leaned heavily on him.

“Just stuff, Berry…nothing a little party can’t fix.” He smiled at the thought of a party. He would invite Twilight, and Rarity, and Fluttershy, And Rainbow Dash, and Apple….jack…and so much for a smile.

“I-I think I got the perfect party for you, mister. Come step into my office…” She pulled him towards her establishment, Punch Drunk. Berry tried to pull away, but resistance was futile.

“I don’t drink that stuff.” It was true, other than the occasional hard cider during cider season, he was as sober as a Horsmon preacher. His parents taught him, who by the way were Horsmon, that drinking was a contemptible sin.

“Awww, c’mon buddy. Berry Buddy, Bubble Buddy. Bubbly Berry Buddy. J-Just one drink, I promise you’ll like it.” He was about to protest again when Berry Punch stuck an alcohol covered hoof in his mouth. “It’ll make me super happy~” While he was trying to get the taste of various hard liquors out of his mouth, he condemned his cutie mark. He couldn’t deny somepony their happiness. That wasn’t how he operated.

“Okay…one drink. Something sweet.” Berry pushed the door to the bar open. It was dark, some old band was playing over the jukebox and only a few patrons dotted the seats. Berry Punch sat him down at the bar and went behind the counter.

“I-I got jus the thing for you, Bubdy.” Silently, Berry Bubble wondered just how drunk the other Berry was. “S’called the Apple Berry. Super good, trust me.”

While the drink master went about making her concoction, Berry lamented this choice. AppleBerry…it was the name Berry came up for his and Applejack’s relationship. Y’know, celebrities have all of those mish-mashed names, so Berry took it upon himself to make one for them.

He wondered what Applejack was doing…

--

“Well howdy, Rarity.” Applejack too the hat off of his head and wiped the sweat from his brow. It had been a few hours since the incident with Berry, and he had decided against running after the pink pony. If Dash was watching, she might figure him out. But right now, he was wondering what in the hay Ms. Prissy herself was doing out on his farm. She hated the dirt and grime that one would often accumulate while walking around here.

“Yes, ‘howdy’ to you as well Applejack.” She seemed mad, well not just mad. More like…vengeful? “I just had the most interesting talk with Rainbow Dash.” Applejack’s blood froze and his eyes widened. “That’s right, you and I are going to have a little discussion, mister.”

“Can we go inside at least…?” Applejack could feel his face starting to warm up, wherever this was going it wasn’t going to be good.

“No we certainly cannot. We will stand right here and talk.” Who knew her eyes could be that cold? Applejack didn’t, and now he wished he didn’t know that small fact. Unceremoniously, he plopped down on his rump. The faster he did what he was told, the faster all of this would be over. “Good, now Berry and I have been talking for quite a while. I do enjoy the relationship drama that stallion seems to attract, simply the juiciest gossip around.” Rarity’s eyes briefly flashed with her usual self, then returned to cold dark hatred. “For the past month he’s been coming to me and talking about his mysterious new coltfriend and how, after a few months, this colt had just taken to ignoring him. At first I couldn’t believe it: Berry Bubble being ignored? ‘How preposterous!’ I thought. After all, Berry is such a loveable young stallion. Don’t you agree?”

Applejack was going to answer in the affirmative, but Rarity cut him off.

“Then today he comes to me in tears saying how this rapscallion said that his work is more important than Berry! Poor berry was devastated, heartbroken. I told him that this stallion was no good for him, not one bit, and it was time to cut his losses. I can guess that’s what he came here to do, break up with you.”

In an instant, Applejack’s world shattered. He had guessed that Berry was bearing bad news…but nothing like that. If he had known how Berry was feeling…he would’ve…he would’ve…what would he had done? Okay, so he didn’t know…but he would’ve done something to make everything better!

“Then Rainbow Dash comes to me and says she has ‘the juiciest piece of gossip ever’ and being me, I simply had to know what it was. To my surprise, it was that she caught Berry and yourself in a compromising situation in your barn. Now I knew that my Berry would never cheat on somepony he was in a relationship with, so I knew this stallion was you. Then she goes on to tell me, that once you’re finished and she intervenes that you say Berry was a last resort, and that you ‘needed it before you burst.’ I knew I was right in telling him to break up with you, you were just using him.” The last words came out in a low snarl that caused Applejack to flinch. But he was not going to sit there and be insulted.

“Now hold on just one minute, Rarity. You have no right stickin’ your nose in my business, and you sure as hay don’t need to be lecturin’ me on my relationships when you can’t even hold onto a stallion yourself!” Once his rage subsided, Applejack realized what he said…and the shocked look on Rarity’s face. “Aww…Rarity, I’m so sorry..” He slowly reached out to her, to comfort her, for a hug. He didn’t know, it just seemed like the right thing to do. However, his hooves were thrown away with magic.

“Don’t touch me, you cur! You are the worst possible pony I have ever met. I was right in telling Berry to leave you!” Rarity stormed off, leaving Applejack sitting down in the dirt, confused.

--

“Then he jus’ goes and tells me that his dumb ol’ farm is more important than me.” Berry was hanging on a stallion in a booth. At this point he had one or ten drinks in him, he didn’t quite care at this point.

“No way!” The purple unicorn stallion he was sitting with seemed to be intent on his story. Then again, if Berry was sober he probably would’ve seen the type writer in front of the unicorn and found out why.

“Yeah! He jus’ doesn’t appreciate me, tha’s his problem…” Berry let his head fall, his muzzle falling into the glass in front of him. His tongue explored the glass and discovered it was empty.

“Thank you so much, Berry. I needed a talk like this.” The unicorn downed the last of his white Russian, picked up his typewriter and got up from the booth. “See you tomorrow night, Berry.”

“Catch you later, BT. Happy….whatever the hell it is you do!” Berry waved at who the male Berry could only guess was a regular patron. “Soooo Berry, no more mopin’?” Berry shook his head a little too much and became dizzy from it.

“Eeenope. All smiles and bubbly feelin’s for me, Berry! I mean you Berry, not me Berry…even though I said ‘me, Berry‘. But I meant you Berry, not me Berry. Berry Berry Berry Berry!” The stallion let out a sharp giggle that turned into a snort. “We have the same names!” The pony devolved into one large giggle fit and fell onto the floor to punctuate his laughing with rolling.

“Alright Mister Giggles, I think you’ve had enough. I need you to go on your way before I get a noise complaint.” Berry Punch came over, showing surprising sobriety by picking up the full grown stallion and carrying him outside into the now cool night air. She sat him down on shaky legs and pointed. “Sugarcube Corner’s that-a-way, Tipsy.” Berry retreated into her bar, leaving the stallion on his own.

“Uhh….what…way?” Berry Bubble looked around through alcohol-laden eyes and decided on going left. Left seemed to be a good idea for some reason, so left he stumbled. Not man ponies were out at….what time was it? Hell, Berry didn’t know. It was dark’o’clock. That’s what time it was.

In a fit of spontaneity, Berry burst out singing. Well not really singing, more like vocalizing. It’s what he did, it made him Berry Bubble. He had a tune in mind, but it kept changing, as did his tone. It shifted from happy to sad, to elated, to angry. It was a song that could not keep one form.

“Berry…is that you?” The stallion stumbled out of his song, fell forward with his rump in the air and looked around for the voice. The fact that his vision was blurry did not help locate the owner of the voice. “Berry, That is you!” Okay…he knew that voice from somewhere. It was…umm…uh..okay. It was a pony. He knew that much.

“The one and…wait…no. The second and only Berry!” He giggled, snorted, and let his rump fall to the ground with the rest of him. A white hoof entered his vision.

“I have been looking everywhere for you, Berry. Where have you been?” White hoof…pony…uh….Vinyl? No she doesn’t sound like that. Celestia? Nah, her hooves are massive. Shining? Wait, no. His hooves are blue, his fur is white. Uh…yeah, no clue.

“Been at the bar thingy, Punchy said I needed a drink…Boy was she right!” He rolled onto his back in order to see who was above him. Oh, it’s Rarity! Of course, how could he forget her?

“That dingy establishment? Heavens, I didn’t think you indulged in such elicit activities.” He saw her horn light up blue, then he saw the glow circle him. He didn’t feel unicorn magic often, but when he did it always made him smile. It just felt…sparkly.

“It cheered me up!” Berry felt himself get lifted off of the ground and carried away. “Kinda like magic, it made me feel all warm and smiley!”

“Honey, alcohol is never the answer to your problems. Maybe a sip of wine here and there, but never a binge, dear. Now you are coming home with me until you crash and burn, Celestia knows what will happen if you have a hangover in a bakery.” Berry quietly wondered what a hangover was and why one would be bad in a bakery…

--

“Right…I can do this. Just go in there and tell ‘er you can’t do this…simple. It’s not like you’re cruelly shootin’ her down or destroyin’ her only chance at a relationship for the conceivable future.” Applejack was standing in front of the library, his hoof raised to knock on the door. He was going to tell the nerdy librarian the truth…that he was gay and that he would still love to go out, as friends. Nothing else.

He was just about to knock, when the door opened. The purple unicorn he was looking to talk to was standing there. She wasn’t looking ahead of her and ran into him, her muzzle bumping into his neck, causing her to look up.

When Twilight realized who she bumped into, a deep blush crossed her face. She stood up and looked around for a few seconds before she spoke.

“H-Hey Applejack…I was uh, just coming to talk to you.” This caused AJ to raise an eyebrow.

“At this time of night? You do know I get up early right?” He knew that was a little hypocritical, but it was a legitimate question.

“W-Well I was just thinking that maybe I could get you one on one with none of your family, and Spike just fell asleep. I didn’t want him worrying, and I was just wanting to…to…I’m sorry, I’m rambling.” She looked down at her hooves and kicked one idly.

“Well I’m here now, so what’d you want to talk to me about?” Dammit, he wanted to get this out of the way, not watch her bumble about. He could feel the roguish grin cross his face. Double Dammit! Why did he have to be such an attractive stallion

“W-Well Rainbow Dash told me that she set up a date for us…a-and you said yes. I was just going to tell you that you really don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I understand, trust me.” The first worry that Applejack had was that Rainbow Dash had told Twilight what she saw. He couldn’t handle another friend knowing that. With that secret that seemed to be looming over him, he decided on a course of action. He wanted this situation rectified, he needed to do damage control.

“Well I came here to accept the proposal. I know RD already said it, I just feel that it’s better to do so to your face.” Oh Celestia, what in the hell was he saying? “I would be delighted to go on a date with you.” Alright, well that was done now. No going back.

“Really? Oh thankyouthankyouthankyou!” She jumped out and hugged him tightly. “Come in, come in. We’ll have tea.” Applejack was pulled into the lion’s den, ready to be devoured.

--

“I’m disappointed in you, Berry.” Berry felt soft blankets envelop him. Somewhere in the boutique, Berry felt the world spin and decided to close his eyes. It was easier. “You know if you ever have problems that you can come to me. There’s never any need to resort to drinking.”

“I’m sorry…” Berry opened his eyes to see an upset unicorn standing over him. That would never do. So he reached up and pulled her into a much needed hug. “I won’t do it again: cross my heart hope to fly,  stick a cupcake in my eye.” He didn’t do the accompanying motions, his hands were kind of tied up at the moment.

“You better not…I’m not going to let you destroy yourself because of some idiotic stallion who’s not good enough for you…” She hugged him tight before letting him go. “Now you’re going to stay with me tonight, tomorrow you’re going to wake up feeling miserable. So you get some rest, alright?”

--

The next day Berry woke up feeling refreshed and better than ever! He was in the kitchen of Carousel Boutique with Sweetie Belle. He loved working with her, always so eager to try and cook. That’s what they were doing now, attempting to cook.

“Okay. Now you just gotta take the spatuler there and flip-flop that there flapjack.” He liked talking to kids, it was fun. He got to use even more ridiculous words and sentences than usual, and they actually enjoyed it! Sweetie Belle grabbed the spatula between her teeth and worked it under the pancake. “Alright, now just flip it. One quick jerk upwards and make that a flyjack.

Sweetie Belle did as she was told and sent the flapjack skywards. The two ponies watched as the pancake fell down smoothly on the skillet. Both of them threw their hooves up and cheered.

“That’s two pancakes for you, three for Rarity, and seven for me! Good job Sweetie.” He ruffled the little unicorn’s mane and returned the gigantic smile she was giving him. “Now you go set the table, I’ll go wake your sister.”

“That’s not a good idea, Berry.” Sweetie grabbed him, trying to stop him. “Rarity’s a monster when she’s woken up…”

“Don’t worry, I can handle her.” He gave Sweetie a wink and set off towards Rarity’s room.

When he entered the room of the diva, he saw what he expected. Rarity lay in the center of the bed, the sheets around her not even wrinkled, wearing a sleeping mask and some kind of green stuff on her face. He didn’t know what it was, mainly because he wasn’t that gay.

He crept across the room and loomed over the sleeping mare. It was time for the patented Berry Bubble Breakfast….wake-up…thing. Okay, so he didn’t have a perfect alliteration for that, but it still worked. He drew in a giant breath and leaned in close to Rarity. In a single breath he whispered gently into her ear:

“Tom the rock…”

Rarity bolted upright, ruining her perfect bedding, tore off her sleeping mask with magic and glared daggers at Berry.

“You were told to never speak of that again…” Berry, not surprisingly, fell to the floor laughing wildly. “Berry Bubble! You apologize right now!”

“I-I’m sorry, Rarity…” Berry was too busy laughing until it hurt to give a proper apology, but that would have to do for now. Rarity got up, kicked him in the ribs sharply, and stomped off towards her personal bathroom. “O-Ow..” His laughing calmed down to nothing but a few giggles. “O-Okay. I’m super-duper sorry, Rarity. But Sweetie Belle and I made breakfast and I volunteered to wake you up.” Berry stood up and followed Rarity, as she climbed into the shower he leaned against the doorframe.

“Berry, I’m taking a shower. Would you kindly leave? It’s improper for a gentlecolt to see a lady in the shower.” it was obvious by her glares that she wouldn’t move until he either moved or gave a rebuttal.

“Rarity, I’m gay. Seeing you with a wet mane isn’t going to set me straight. Plus, I sorta wanna talk.” With a grunt of obvious disapproval Rarity turned on the shower knob. “So…I wanna say I really am sorry for last night…it’s just…my coltfriend and I, we had another incident…”

“I know, Darling. Rainbow Dash stopped by and told me what happened between you and Applejack.” Berry gaped. “Yes, I know it’s Applejack. And after knowing what he’s done and what he did I gave that rapscallion a piece of my mind.” Berry opened his mouth to speak. “Ah-ah. You be quiet. I had every right to intervene as your best friend. I told him that you were right to break up with him.”

“But…I didn’t break up with him, Rarity.” Rarity stopped with the lathering of her mane to give Berry a confused look.

“What?”

“I-I couldn’t do it. I mean, sure he can be a little too involved in his work…and what he said to Dashie hurt me. But I knew he said it because he’s not ready to admit he’s gay yet…I can give him time. Love takes patience, after all.” Berry gave a sad smile. “Don’t worry, it will all work out.”

Rarity smiled back and gave a curt nod. “I see your point. While I do not agree with your decision, as your friend I must support it.” Rarity decided to leave out the fact that Applejack was going on a date with Twilight tonight. The poor colt probably couldn’t handle it.

--

Applejack stretched languidly, keeping his eyes firmly closed. It felt like he slept on a rock, now he knew his bed was the most comfortable thing in the world. This was definitely not his bed. His first thought was that he was at Berry’s. The poke his sheath received only reassured him of that. He knew how Berry loved to wake him up, and Applejack was quite okay with the method. He smiled as he felt his member start to slide out of its sheath. Looks like his (not-so)little buddy was already awake.

“Oh my…” The voice was distinctively female. Not like Berry’s. His still sounded like a stallion’s voice, just on the higher end of the stallion scale. This…this was female. Thinking the worst, AJ opened his eyes and looked down. A curious purple unicorn’s head was a little too close to his emerging friend.

“Whoa! Twilight! What in the Celestia’s name are you doing?!” Applejack rolled over from his back, which he had been sleeping on, to his stomach. Which painfully pushed his semi-erect member against his stomach.

Twilight could only blush and turn her head away. “S-Sorry Applejack. Just…uh…studying up on male anatomy?” Ugh, he didn’t have time for this. He was late getting up anyways. First order of business, a nice cold shower. He didn’t care about what Twilight saw, he just needed to get to the farm quickly.

He stood up from the couch, painfully aware of his raging erection and the gaping look that Twilight was giving it, and headed to use her bathroom. He would sort out this mess later.

--

“I’m so proud of you, Sweeite!” Rarity praised her little sister for making a meal that didn’t require a hazmat suit to get near. A first time for everything. “And thank you too Berry for helping.”

“No problemo, Rarity! I love working with your little sister. She’s the best.” Berry stuffed a syrup laden pancake smile into his mouth and gave Sweeite and gooey smile, at which the little unicorn giggled.

“Rarity?”

“Yes Sweetie Belle?” Rarity cut up her pancake into manageable bits, the complete opposite of Berry. Speaking of, the earth pony was washing down the pancakes with a glass of orange juice.

“Is Berry going to become my brother?” Two things happened, Berry did a spit-take with his orange juice, and Rarity choked on her pancake. Both of them coughed violently from the small ordeal.

“Wh-where would you get an idea like that, Sweetie?” Rarity answered because Berry was still busy working the OJ from his pipes.

“Well you guys are spending a lot of time together…and he went to wake you up and didn’t come down when you took a shower. I just kinda figured you guys were doin’ stuff grown ups do when they’re alone.” That earned another coughing fit from berry and a shocked look from Rarity.

“A-and what would that be, dear?” Rarity asked, clearly concerned about what her little sister knew of the birds and bees.

“Iunno. Kiss and stuff?” That earned a sigh from both ponies.

“No Sweetie, berry is not going to be your brother. Trust me when I say that I am not his type.” Rarity went back to eating her breakfast.

“But you’re pretty and nice. Why wouldn’t you be his type?” Rarity, obviously not wanting to take this one, looked to Berry. Luckily he was already on top of the situation.

“Well Sweetie I don’t like mares. I like colts…some colts like other colts and some mares like other mares.” Berry had scooted his chair closer to Sweetie Belle and put a hoof on her little head.

“So you’re a colt-cuddler?” Sweetie looked up at Berry innocently with her bright green eyes.

“Now Sweetie Belle, that’s a hurtful term. That’s only used by ponies who don’t like ponies like me. Don’t you like me, Sweetie?” Berry looked down at Sweetie with big eyes.

“Of course I do, Berry!” Sweetie defended herself. “I’ve just heard Diamond Tiara say that before…” Berry mentally made of note of that and gave Sweetie Belle a big hug for reassurance.

“It’s okay, Sweeite. You just didn’t know…And to answer your first question; I would love to be your big brother, even if I’m not married to Rarity.” Berry  kissed the top of Sweetie’s head and smiled.

“Really?” The little unicorn squealed in delight, then increased in volume when Berry nodded in the affirmative. Seeing somepony this happy? This is what Berry lived for, it made his day.