//------------------------------// // The Letter, What's it Say? // Story: Just One Chance // by ndisfoshiz //------------------------------// “I can’t believe he still hasn’t gotten the message,” Sweetie Belle said to Applebloom. The weekend was over and it was Monday. Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and Scootaloo were on their way to Sugar Cube Corner for an after school snack. “I know,” Applebloom said, “it’s so annoying! I would have thought he would have stopped when I turned down his ‘date’ invite.” “Well, at least you’re no longer grounded,” Scootaloo said, “why did you get grounded again?” “I threw a tantrum, apparently, when Applejack told me to clean the kitchen. It’s stupid I know.” “Yeah, it is,” Scootaloo said. The three best friends walked into Sugar Cube Corner to find no line. Only Pinkie Pie, who was giving the mail pony, Ditzy Doo, an order of what was without a doubt muffins. Beside her was her daughter Dinky Doo. “Hi Dinky!” the crusaders said in perfect harmony. “Oh, hello Applebloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle,” Dinky said. Dinky was not in school today and they three little fillies could tell why. Dinky was sick. Her nose was clogged and red, her voice was different, and she looked very tired. “Wow, you really are sick,” Scootaloo said. Applebloom shot her a death stare. “I’m sorry Dinky,” Sweetie Belle apologized. “It’s okay. It’s just a cold, I’ll be back in school by the end of the week,” Dinky explained. Ditzy Doo then turned around, holding two boxes in her mouth by a ribbon tied to them. “Why hello girls!” she said joyfully as her one eye looked at the crusaders and the other at the ceiling. “Hey, Ditzy Doo,” Applebloom said, “did you get a chance to try the zap apple muffins yet?” “Yes and I loved them! Your Granny makes the best!” “Good, I’m glad you liked them.” “Oh,” Ditzy said putting down the boxes, “by the way, this letter is for you. I must have forgotten about it when I dropped off your family’s mail.” Ditzy Doo gave Applebloom a plain white envelope with her name and address on it. Ms. Applebloom Sweet Apple Acres Ponyville, Equestria 00008 “Thanks Ditzy,” Applebloom said smiling. “You’re welcome,” Ditzy replied, “well we better be going.” Ditzy and Dinky walked out of Sugar Cube Corner as the door closed behind them and the bell above the door rang. “I hope Dinky gets better,” Sweetie Belle said. “Me too,” Applebloom said putting the letter in one of her saddlebags. The three crusaders walked up to the corner and ordered some vanilla cupcakes with strawberry frosting. Once they were all done eating and contemplating what they should try next in an effort to get their cutie marks, the three friends parted for the day. Applebloom walked back to Sweet Apple Acres. Before she opened the door to her house she sat on the porch and took the letter out of her saddle bag. She tried to figure out who it was from. The penmanship wasn’t one she recognized. Inside the envelope, was definitely a letter along with something else. What is it? she thought. Curiosity got the better of her and she began to tear open the envelope. Just then Applejack opened the door behind her startling the filly. “Hey, there sugar cube, how was school,” Applejack asked. “It was good,” Applebloom replied tucking the letter into her saddle bag. “Good, now come inside, we need your help with dinner.” Applebloom got up off the porch and took her bags to her room, forgetting about the letter. She went downstairs to help with dinner. “No Big Mac,” Granny Smith said, “I told you this a thousand times!” “Look Granny,” Applejack proposed, “we have zap apple jam, sauce, pie, juice, you name it! The only zap apple thing, we don’t have is, zap apple cider.” “Yep,” Big Mac agreed. Applebloom set the table as Big Mac set down a tray of grilled daisy salad sandwiches with hay fries in them. Applejack was right behind him with a tall pitcher of apple cider, left over from the season. Granny Smith was the last to the table with some thick cut caramelized zap apples. Applebloom immediately helped herself to a sandwich, some apples, and a glass of cider. Everything looked so delicious and smelled even better. Applebloom ignored the debate going on around her as she dug into her dinner. The sandwich had the perfect balance of the healthy taste and yummy taste. The lettuce was perfect and crunchy, which the daisies added a bit more taste to it. The hay fries were chewy and warm and gave a nice bit of saltiness to the sandwich. The bread was just store bought bread but when it’s fried up, it adds some crunchiness to the sandwich. Putting her sandwich down, she moved onto the apples. Zap apples on their own are great but when they are caramelized they taste even sweeter. Biting off half of one of her apple chunks, Applebloom chimed back into the debate. “Listen I’ve tried to make it before the flavors are just not right,” Granny Smith explained, “The zap apples are too sweet which make the cider too bubbly and foamy.” “Then we just gotta find a way to modify it,” Applejack purposed. “Yep,” Big Mac agreed. “Well, you can try but I’ve tried everything,” Granny Smith argued. Applebloom then remembered her date with Snips. The sparkling lemon water was his uncle’s recipe. Maybe that's the way to do it, Applebloom thought. “What if it wasn’t cider?” asked Applebloom. “What do you mean?” Granny Smith asked. “Why don’t we make it into sparkling water instead of cider?” “Oh Applebloom, that’s….” Applejack paused, “not a bad idea!” “Yep!” Big Mac agreed excitedly. “That’s great Applebloom,” Granny Smith said, “but we don’t know how to make sparkling water.” “But I know some pony that does.” Applebloom proceeded to tell them about Snips's uncle Seltzer. She described the sparkling water to them, how it had the perfect balance and one did not overpower the other. She then began to think about Snips and their amazing night together. She had never felt like that before and really liked it. This is going to be harder than I thought. Applebloom thought, I’m actually starting to like him. “Applebloom!” Applejack said. “Huh?” Applebloom said coming out of her trance. “I said we’re gonna need to meet this stallion,” “Oh, right. I’ll ask Snips if he’ll be in town sometime.” The family then celebrated with a toast of cider. Applebloom finished her dinner and went to her room. After finishing her homework, she got ready for bed. She brushed her teeth, took a shower, and relaxed like she normally does. While relaxing she remembered the letter she had gotten earlier that day. She immediately rustled through her saddlebags and found it. Tearing open the rest of the envelope, she took out the letter and something fell out. It was a charm bracelet with a little amethyst gem hanging off the middle of it. Around the bracelet it had two charms, an apple, and a flower. Applebloom! My name, she thought. She immediately put on the bracelet. It was a little big but stayed on her hoof. This is beautiful who would do this for me? She then picked up the letter and began to read it. The more she read it the bigger a smile she got. My Dearest Applebloom, You have been on my mind nonstop since this past Saturday night. Those three hours, I had with you were everything I wanted to do gone completely right. You loved the food that was prepared, I knew because when you tasted the soup for the first time you lit up like one of Luna’s full moon nights. Getting to watch Celestia lower the sun and Luna raise the moon with you by my side was truly exquisite. Your eyes had stars in them and your mane looked elegant with the light from the candles shining onto it. Whenever the moonlight hit your bow, one of the few on it gems would sparkle brightly, but not as brightly as you though my sweet. I know I may not be the tallest, handsomest, smartest, or most athletic of all the colts in our class, but I can promise you this: I will respect you and admire you no matter what happens between the two of us, whether you become my filly-friend or not. Applebloom you are a very special filly to me and it is going to be hard to pretend you and I have nothing at all in class. I just want you to know that I like you and you are beautiful in every way to me. My heart will be waiting for when we may meet again. With all my heart, Snips He thinks I’m beautiful? Applebloom thought, I don’t believe it! He thinks I’m beautiful. Applebloom rolled on her bed silently squeaking with excitement and happiness. She felt loved, respected and happy. She couldn’t believe that such an awkward colt could put together such a beautiful letter and with such woderful metaphors. She was charmed and romanced instantly. Once Applebloom had calmed down, She grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and began to write. My Special and Charming Snips, Come to the lake near my house Wednesday after school. We’ll swim, eat, and have fun, just the two of us. Applebloom P.s: I loved our date it was everything I wanted and more! Applebloom put it in an envelope and wrote Snips name on it. I’ll place it in his saddle bags tomorrow morning, she thought. She clutched the letter addressed to her in her hooves and pressed it to her chest as she fell asleep thinking of her new special some pony.