//------------------------------// // Chap 20 // Story: A Stallion with a Question // by Ugly-Duckling123 //------------------------------// It had been a long fun afternoon in the grotto. Apple Bloom, after granting Mac's request of letting him sleep, had spent all day making daisy chains and flower reef's slipping one reef, with the help of Honey, onto a dead as a log big brother making him look like one of those eternally alseep princesses in her story books. And making one for herself and the horses, who instinctively ate them as soon as she gave them over. It was around two hours before sunset when Mac finally woke up. "So am I the King or the Prince of the Flower Fairies sis?" he asked taking the reef off his head to look at it better smiling to a doing her homework Apple Bloom by the river. "You're Prince Pansy," Apple Bloom said speaking as though she had rehearsed this, not looking up from the book she was meant to be reading for school to do a report on next week. "And I am Queen Apple Blossom. And am bored and hungry...." she said marking her page and spinning over and sitting up to look to her brother. "Well did you leave anything for us to have for tea?" Mac asked pleasing her by placing the reef back on his head and going over to help her to the tent and basket. "Sure I did," Apple Bloom said smiling. Unsure how to feel about this smile, Mac set her down and retrieved the basket, opening it to revel... "Bread and jam and jam and bread..." Mac said looking up to his sister "No sausages or marsh mellow or anything like that? Because I'm sure I made sure to pack some of those in there this morning." "You did..." Bloom said "And I've been having them all afternoon. There's not a lot to do here if your brother is asleep and all you can do is make daisy chains and flower reefs, and homework." So the siblings had jam sandwiches and agreed to go back to the house in the morning to re-refill the basket for Sunday's day of this camping weekend. Thinking he should call the house to warn them they'd be coming back, as soon as Apple Bloom was in her sleeping bag, plus ten minutes to be sure, Mac got out his phone and began calling. ~~*~~ Rainbow Dash had just finished calling her and Pinkie Pie's parents (since she was asleep) to say they would be staying over at Applejack's, and was about to hand it to Granny Smith when it started ringing. "Hello?" Granny said in her cheerful voice. "Hey Granny, sorry if this is waking you up or anything." Mac's voice came out of the receiver. "Oh no problem dear, we were all just getting ready for bed. The girls and Spike have been working all day on those decorations for Wednesday you know. And hows Bloom doing?" "Fine, but that's kinda the reason I'm calling. How much stuff exactly is there for this plan is out and how quick can you pack it away some where?" "Enough that it's not too little but not too much dear, why?" Granny answered now getting attentions from everyone. "We're going to be paying the house another visit in the morning to refill this basket Bloom emptied today. So just want to give y'all a heads up and stuff in case something's out and junk." Mac gave as a reply. "Ok dear I'll tell the girls," Granny said calmly "Goodnight oh and say goodnight to Bloom for me." With that Granny Smith hang up and looked to see all those who were still awake, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack were watching her with questioning looks. "You girls may want to get that stuff packed away tonight," she said fishing out some biscuit tins for the food and heading for the kitchen and the food that had finally all cooled down. "Err... why Granny?" Applejack asked but helped her none the less. "Mac says Bloom cleared out their basket today, so they'll need to come by in the morning to restock," Granny said smiling. Understanding the four girls after checking that everything was dry, rolled everything up and stashed decorations into boxes. Once they were done and they were in a safe place, somewhere out of the eyes of Bloom when she came back, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack each took a kid and somehow, took them to the guest room, so they'd be out of sight as well. After writing a note, saying don't come down until 9:00 not that they thought any of them would be wake before then anyway, the girls made it back down to the living room where the unscheduled sleepover was being set up, Twilight and Pinkie already asleep on the floor under their blankets. "Goodnight girls," Granny Smith said poking her head in as she passed the living room before going up to bed. "Night Granny," all who were awake sleepily said yawning, before closing their eyes and falling asleep. The next morning, as early as possible while still being in a suitable time for Apple Bloom, Mac woke her up so they could once again head back to the farm to refill the basket, and this time collect some games and fun things to do so Queen Apple Blossom would be pleased. They got into the house at 8:25, saying 'Hi' to everyone who was sitting around the breakfast table enjoying piles of pancakes. "Good morning you two," Granny said by the stove pouring the batter into the pan. "Morning Granny," Apple Bloom said cheerfully coming to sit next to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. "Nice accessory Mac," Rainbow said snorting slightly nodding to his head at the flower ring on it he didn't realize he was still wearing. "Thanks," he said smiling "But you really have Bloom here to thank for it. You can have it if you want, but it comes with a title. That is if that's alright sis..." he said to Apple Bloom as he re-refilled the basket. "I can always make another one for you," Apple Bloom said "So it's fine with me Prince Pansy..." The reactions that came off the girls made Mac's ears grow the brightest pink he thinks they had ever gone. Applejack and Rainbow letting out loud hollers, after nearly choking on their food and drink because it went down the wrong way out of surprise, whereas Pinkie, Twilight and Rarity were lightly giggling behind their hands smirking. Fluttershy was just smiling and twirling her hair around her finger, blushing slightly. "Thank you Queen Apple Blossom for embarrassing in front of the rivaling kingdom's court like that," Mac said dully taking the crown off and walking over to Fluttershy and carried on the act. "Thank you for not joining in, in my humiliation with your sisters dear Princess," he said crowning Fluttershy and pecking her on the cheek earning some 'Ooh...'s and even more giggles. With that, a new fully stocked basket and some board-games and a couple of packs of cards. Mac and Apple Bloom were off again. "So what would Her Majesty like to do first today since we now have games to play?" Mac asked lifting Bloom down carefully and taking the basket over to the tent out of the way of her sneaky hands. "We would like to go exploring through the magical forest of Applaland and discover and observe Unicorns," Bloom stated using the Royal 'We' and her poshest of posh voice. "Well it's a good thing I bought binoculars then," Mac said waving around imaginary binoculars handing a pair to Apple Bloom who took seat by the river by the trees, followed by Mac. After a bit Mac asked "See anything yet?" "Not yet..." Bloom said moping the binoculars up to her eyes sweeping the area suddenly stopping on Appleseed and Honey Crisp. "Wait I've found them," she said in a hushed whisper. "Where?" Mac asked gasping holding up his binoculars and pointing them in the way Apple Bloom had hers. "Right there," she said "See the little filly Unicorn and her father watching over her in the shade of the trees directly opposite us..." she said describing where to look. "You mean those two ordinary horses right there?" Mac asked confused. "There not horses," Bloom said "Can't you see their beautiful horns and shiny white coats?" Bloom asked. "Nope," Mac said. Then there came a rustling from the entrance to the clearing. "Who dears enter the magical forest of Applaland without the Queen of the Forest's permission?" Apple Bloom called out from where she sat when Fluttershy came into view. "Tis I, Your Highness, Princess *Maraposia*" she said curtsying smiling gently. "The good Queen of my kingdom asked of me to bring you some of her cookies to show apologies for my sisters laughing at your Price earlier today." she explained holding up a small bag of cookies. "You may then, join us on our journey to observe Unicorns," Apple Bloom said holding out an imaginary pair of binoculars as Fluttershy came over. "And tell Prince Pansy that there are indeed two right there." she said holding hers up again nodding to the horses. "Oh my," Fluttershy said playing along "Such lovely, magnificent creatures these beings are." she said smiling "I just love the way the sun shines on their white coats like that. Oh look the filly's coming over to us..." Honey was indeed coming over to them, most likely either because Fluttershy was here now too, or she smelt the cookies. "Meh just a plain old young horse to me," Mac said shrugging. "Then you need your eyes testing Prince Pansy," Apple Bloom said slowly raising her hand to meet Honey's nose. "If I may My Lady," Fluttershy said greeting Honey too. "I believe it's because the Prince is a boy. Boys can not see these magnificent creatures that like us girls better than them." "My eyes work just fine Queen Apple Blossom," Mac said "For example I am at this very moment, witnessing the most beautiful thing on this planet right here before me," he said nodding to Fluttershy making her blush. After a bit more time in Appaland, the three of them went over to the tent to have their lunch. "So a came of 'Guess Who' after this the Bloom?" Mac asked handing his sister and fiancée sandwiches before pulling out some for himself. "But you always win at that..." Bloom wined her mouth full. "I can play with you if you'd like Bloom," Fluttershy suggested smiling sweetly. "Ok..." Bloom said. 10 minutes later "Yay we win again," Apple Bloom and Fluttershy called out together hugging each other. "I propose we play something else," Mac said packing up the game. "Just because you lost on every round," Bloom said proudly. "It was not every round ok?" Mac said placing the lid on the box. "Yes it was." "No it wasn't, Fluttershy you were keeping score right?" Mac asked "Please tell us what it was." "The scores were..." she said pausing for effect "Out of the 15 rounds, Me and Bloom 15 you 0. Sorry." she said. "Ha! Told ya," Bloom said as she started making a new flower crown for Mac. While she was busy with that Mac took Fluttershy aside. "So hows everything coming?" he whispered, he found out a few years ago that Apple Bloom had very good ears. "Last night we decided that after Bloom goes to school on Monday, the decorations will be brought here. But before that I shall look after the stuff at my cottage tonight," Fluttershy began. "And all the food will be stored in the hay loft cause..." she paused to see if Bloom was listening but lowered her voice anyway "Because of her leg." "What about the tables and stuff to lift the stuff off the ground and ladders and stuff for the banners?" Mac asked nodding in understanding. "That's where you come in Your Highness," Fluttershy said curtsying and smiling a bit "We will need a big strong prince like you to bring the Objects of Necessity in to the place of question." "And I am blessed that you fair madin think that I, Prince Pansy, can be such a prince," Mac carried on bowing to his princess "However my royal doctors said to me I can not do any heavy lifting of things until at least Tuesday. And even then I doubt they will let me do things like that." "Does the trail for thy royal carriage come through here?" Fluttershy asked looking over to Appleseed getting an idea. "It used to," Mac said getting to where Fluttershy was heading "But it stopped being used after we lost the king and queen. So I'm not sure how good it is now." "What you guys talking about?" Apple Bloom asked by Mac's elbow a new crown in her hand for him. "We were just talking about a few slightly forgotten carriage trails Bloom," Mac said smiling kneeling down for her to place the new crown on his head. Then getting an idea since if they're going to be using it, they needed to see how it is said "Would you two want to come and help me find it?" "Like a treasure hunt?" Bloom asked a spark of adventure in her eye. "Not quite," Mac answered balancing the answers in his hands "More a go and observe and see if it's still useable." "Why?" Bloom asked confused "Why does it need to be found all the sudden?" "Granny said the next family reunion, after the mess AJ got everyone into at her try, will be given to me," Mac said helping Bloom onto Honey while Fluttershy hoisted herself onto Appleseed. "And I'm thinking, that one of the things she did right was try and change the route for the hay-cart ride. So I'm thinking on bringing them here," Mac said stepping back and throwing his arms out "But to do that, we need to see if the track's still useable." "There wont be any fruit bats or anything will there?" Apple Bloom asked, getting Honey to back up a bit, a nervous look on her face. "I'm not sure about 'Anythings'," Mac said going over to the tent and packing a sack of first aid stuff, water, and some other 'just-in-case' things "But I doubt we'll come across the fruit bats. They stay to themselves over in the west orchard. So ready?" he asked coming over after placing the basket and games in the tent and zipping it up. Getting nods, Mac began to lead the two horses down the trail that would hopefully connect to the hay-cart trails back at the farm.