//------------------------------//
// Night Out 
// Story: My Little Pony: The Brothers of Discord 
// by mr.myxsiple 
//------------------------------//


CHAPTER 14
NIGHT OUT


The next day...

It was late in the afternoon. After work, Ironhead made a quick dash home to shower and freshen himself up for his...date with Applejack. The time leading up to the date was kinda awkward between them, but they managed to stay cool about it.

As he stepped out of the shower, he went over the plan in his head. They was going to have dinner at the Silver Leaf, a restaurant decent enough for a first date and not too fancy to make her feel nervous or anything. The food was good and pretty cheap as well; it was perfect.

At least, he hoped it would be perfect. Looking back on just how he asked her out, he never really mentioned a date at all. Heck, Applejack might think that this whole things was just a regular hang out with a friend, nothing special or romantic about it at all.

He didn't even know if she felt the same way about him. What if she totally got the wrong idea? What if all this thing does is just make things awkward between them and possibly ruin whatever relationship they had together? With all honesty, he could take a rejection, but the idea of no longer being friends with Applejack...that was even scarier.

He tried to stay calm about it. No matter what would happen during the following days, he would focus solely on this one night, and he was going to make sure Applejack enjoyed it.

He dried himself up and fixed his mane, making it its usual messy, but decent style. He mentally debated on whether he should bring flowers or not. It seemed like a sweet gesture, but he was worried that it would make it look like he was rushing this.

Gah...Why can't this be easy?

In a matter of minutes, he was all set for that night. There was just one more incredibly annoying thing to deal with. Ironhead grabbed a chair and placed it right across the doorway. He sat down, crossed his hooves and waited for his brother just like he did a few days ago.

He didn't wait too long; after about five minutes, the door swung open, and Scar stepped in. After closing the door, he turned around and was shocked to find his brother the say way he did a few days ago. Ironhead got up and made his way to the startled pegasus.

"I-I didn't hang out with Rainbow today! I swear!" Scar was quickly silenced as Ironhead shoved a hoof in his mouth.

"I'm...going out tonight." he told his nervous brother. "I think you know where I'm going, and I admit it OK? I really hate to do this, but to make it fair, you can do whatever you want tomorrow." Scar's eyes widened, but Ironhead continued. "But, if you rub it in my face in any way or follow me tonight, I'm hurling you all the way to Vanhoover. Get it?"

Scar nodded in full understanding. Ironhead really hated threatening his brother, but if there was one thing he hated, it was gloating. He removed his hoof from Scar mouth, wiped it, and spoke much more calmly. "Don't wait up for me. Get the soil to dad, and stay low OK?" Ironhead said.

Scar nodded once again. Finally satisfied, Ironhead decided that it was time to go. "OK...Let's do this crap!"

He quickly turned and galloped out of the room and down the hall. "Hey wait!" Ironhead screeched to a halt and turned around. He found his brother sticking his head out the doorway and beaming at him. "Go get her bro." Scar said with a playful salute.

"Yeah. I'll tell you all 'bout it!" Knowing that his brother had his back, Ironhead ran off to go make Applejack's night a truly memorable one full of optimism and cheer.



That optimism and cheer however slowly vanished as he neared Sweet Apple acres, replaced by worry and anxiety. It came to a point when he was sweating so much, he was tempted to race back to his apartment and take another shower. He walked down that road several times; why was this time so difficult?

Nevertheless, he pressed on until he finally reached the barn. He took a deep breath and knocked; he waited for a while for somepony like Granny Smith or Big Mac or Applebloom to answer it-

"Applejack?" He wasn't expecting to confront her already.

"Oh, howdy there Ironhead. Ya ready to go?" Applejack said still slightly nervous on how things would turn out.

"Y-Yeah; all set here." Ironhead replied with a nervous chuckle.

The two were suddenly interrupted by an elderly voice. "Aww, ain't that the sweetest thing."

Granny Smith suddenly squeezed herself between the two and pulled them close to her. "Oh, I remember when yer gran pappy firs' asked me out. Took 'im a lot longer that Ironhead over 'ere to finally do it." She laughed and made the two ponies near her blush with embarrassment.

She eventually released the two. "Now you two have fun ya here? Stay safe and be back by 11."

"Granny, I know what I'm doin'; I ain't a little filly no more." Applejack said embarrassed by her grandmother's treatment.

"O' course you ain't. You got yerself a nice, handsome young stallion now." Applejack and Ironhead turned redder. "I'll leave you two alone now. Have fun!"

With that, she shut the door, leaving Applejack and Ironhead in the middle of a very awkward silence. This was eventually broken by Ironhead who cleared his throat and turned to her.

"Hey AJ, totally random question: Just how old is granny?"



"Anyway, thanks for hanging out with me tonight AJ." Ironhead said once they left the farm. "Ever since I got here, I never really got to hang out with anypony much."

"S'no problem sugar cube." Applejack told him. "Ya deserve a night out from workin' hard all day."

"Hey, you deserve this just as much as me." Ironhead told her. "You work just as hard as me AJ. The farm wouldn't last a day without you."

"Aww..." She couldn't help but feel a little flattered. "Don't know 'bout that. Big Mac's a lot tougher than ya think."

"Yeah." Ironhead agreed. "Big Mac know's what he's doing, but there's just one thing..."

"Hmm?" Applejack raised an eyebrow. "What about him?"

Ironhead shrugged. "Well...he's not you Applejack."

That response took her a bit by surprise. She opened her mouth to say something, but her companion had stopped. "Anyway, we're here." he said indicating the building before them.

"The Silver Leaf?" she asked him.

"Yeah. This places looks nice, and the food's good. Why?" Ironhead asked.

"Well I know this place." Applejack told him. "Me and my friends ate here lot's o' times b'fore."

"R-Really?" Crap crap crap crap crap crap!

"We sure do. S'nice place, the Silver Leaf. Y'all got good taste Ironhead."

Oh thank Celestia. "Y-yeah. Let's go get a seat."

Glad that things were OK so far, Ironhead led the way into the restaurant. They took their seats and browsed the menu. "OK Applejack, you're the expert here. What's the best thing they got?" Ironhead asked.

"Hmm...Oh, the Daffodil sandwiches 'ere are good. I get 'em all the time." she answered.

"Good enough for me. Hey waiter guy!" A pegasus waiter with a notebook Cutie-Mark approached them. "We'll get two Daffodil sandwiches."

"And throw in some Apple Family cider while yer at it." Applejack added.

The waiter took those orders and left the two alone. "You guys make cider?" Ironhead asked surprised.

"Shore do. Best cider in all o' Ponyville." Applejack said proud of her family's accomplishment. "Cider season starts in 'bout...a month or two from now. Helps us rustle up enough bits for when winter hits. We could always use and extra hoof or two."

"Yeah...You can count on me." Ironhead told her brimming with confidence. "Maybe I can get Scar to help out too. He's not gonna like it though 'cause he hates getting up early..."

The suggestion made the farm pony smile. "That's so like you sugar cube. Y'know, we need more than strong, tough ponies over at the farm. We need ponies that we can trust and depend on, ponies like you."

"Oh uh...eheh." Ironhead said blushing a little from what she said. "Thanks Applejack; that means a lot."

"Hey. I'm jus' sayin' what I'm seein'" Applejack said holding her hooves up.

Just then, the waiter arrived with their orders. "This does look good." Ironhead remarked holding up his sandwich. He then too a large bite out of it. "And it tastes good too."

"Glad ya like it." Applejack said starting to eat as well.

"Yeah, but I always liked daisies more."

"Eh, daisies're fine. If ya ask me, it's Sunflowers that really pack a lotta flavor."

After that, the two of them dissolved into casual chit-chat and story exchanging. Ironhead only asked about her and her life and tried his best to deflect any questions about his own while at the same time giving satisfactory answers. He didn't want to lie to her, especially on a night as special as the one they were having.

He loved this. Heck, they both were enjoying this moment. Chatting about each other and other seemingly trivial things, enjoying a nice meal, taking a sip of Apple Family brand cider every now and then, they almost forgot about anything else in their lives except for that moment.

After a what seemed like a long time, the chatter had died down a little. Ironhead had insisted he'd pay and did so without question. It was 10:35, and Granny wanted Applejack home by 11. They were just finishing up their cider so that they could leave.

As the mare stared into the amber liquid, a question began buzzing around in her head, a question she'd been meaning to ask, since the night began. Heck, she'd been meaning to ask it since he asked her out. Taking a sip of cider, she finally asked it.

"Ironhead, ya mind if I asked ya somethin'?" she said.

"Huh?" He put down his drink. "Sure AJ. What is it?"

She went straight to the point. "Is this a date?"

On the outside, Ironhead seemed perfectly calm thanks to his powers. On the inside however, he was screaming in panic. He played every possible response in his head and every possible response she would have. Having no idea which combination would happen drove him crazy.

Just be honest with her. a voice in the back of his head said. Honest...Just like her.

Honesty...Applejack deserved some honesty after all the lies he'd been telling her. He didn't want to lie to her, not now, not ever. He knew it was for a good reason, but he was sick of lying to somepony so kind and honest with him. He wasn't like Ash nor Psych; he didn't and wouldn't let that thing within him define who he was.

It was then that he made a decision. As soon as this was all over, as soon as Ponyville was safe, he would tell her everything-who he was, his past, his family, all lies would be dispelled. He would be completely and openly honest with her and hoped that she would still accept him. And what better way to start than with her question?

"Y...You're right Applejack...This uh...is a date."

Both faces turned crimson. Applejack looked away as she wondered how to respond to that. "I-If you totally got the wrong idea, I'm sorry!" Ironhead exclaimed upon seeing this.

"No need to apologize Ironhead." Applejack explained turning back to him. "It's just well...I just don' know. This stuff's never happened to me b'fore."

That took him by surprise. "Seriously? You've never been asked out on a date before?"

She shook her head. "Most stallions 'round here all like Rarity. I even heard Rainbow's caught some boys' eyes too."

"Yeah, like my brother." Ironhead added with a chuckle. It seemed to calm both him and Applejack down a bit. "Y'know, forget about those guys. If they can't see how cool you are, then who cares about them? 'Cause there's one guy in this town that can see it. And that guys's...well...wondering if you two could still be friends even if you don't like him back..."

Silence followed after his little speech. Ironhead finished his cider completely hoping that it would be enough to the dull the pain of a rejection if it came. Applejack cleared her throat, and he braced himself.

"Sugar cube...I had a lotta fun tonight." she told him. Ironhead's insides clenched. "It's not the kind of fun I get with my friends or the kind I get with my fam'ly. It's...a new kind, an' well...I like it...An' I think I like you too Ironhead..."

His insides unclenched, but he continued to remain still. Ironhead looked at her face trying to see if she was kidding or not and ended up seeing a cute blush along with a shy smile. Slowly, an identical smile spread across his own face as his insides were screaming with triumph.

Applejack's smile however quickly vanished upon seeing the time. "Land sakes, we got 10 minutes ta get back to the farm!"

"Ah c'mon." Ironhead said with a casual wave of a hoof and still ecstatic about what just happened. "So you're not back by 11, what's the worse Granny can do?"

"Trust me; you don't wanna know." Applejack said warningly. "She looks real nice, but when it comes to us, may Celestia help ya."

Now Ironhead was slightly intimidated. "OK. I think know the fastest way back to the farm." There was a slight pause; maybe it was the cider talking or the joy he felt from her acceptance, but whichever it was, it made him say his next few words.

"Race ya there!"

He was gone in less than a second. Applejack stared at the spot he was at before turning in the direction he ran off to.

As Rarity would say: It was on.



She managed to catch up with him as they entered the road leading to the farm. Ironhead's stamina was a little more than her's, but she was much quicker than she was; she went right passed him, turned her head and gave him a subtle wink before sprinting the remaining distance to her home.

Shortly afterwards, Ironhead arrived slightly out of breath. Hearts hammering in their chest from the activity, they remained silent for a while as they caught their breaths. "Well...we're here." Ironhead said awkwardly.

"Y-yeah, an' not a minute past 11 either." Applejack said noting the time. Once again, an awkward silence enveloped the two.

"Uh hey, thanks for tonight Applejack. I had a really good time." Ironhead told her.

"Me too. Can't wait fer next time." Applejack replied. The idea of there being a next time lifted his spirits.

"Reall? Uh...I can't wait." Ironhead said beaming. "I'll make sure I take you someplace you haven't been yet."

Applejack smiled in happy anticipation. "It's a date then."

Ironhead smiled back at her. "So uh...I'll see you tomorrow I guess." he said with a shrug.

"Uh huh. Bright an' early like always." she said with a nod.

"Yeah. So uh, thanks again AJ, Good night."

"...G'night sugar cube..."

She suddenly leaned forward and gave him a small peck in his left cheek. The kiss lasted only for about a second, and it only felt as soft as a butterfly landing on him, but the contact was enough to send a massive jolt through the colt's body, widening his eyes, blanking his mind, reddening his face, and paralyzing his muscles. As Applejack pulled away, Ironhead tilted to the side and, with a loud thud, hit the ground stiff as a board. He would remain like that for about 15 minutes.

The sight made Applejack chuckle slightly. Still slightly red in the face, she turned and entered her home after wishing him good night once again.

I guess bein' a goofball runs in the family...