Chapter 33: A Tail of Two Ponies
Applejack stepped off the train that night, sighing in relief. The night was already half over, and she had a bunch of chores to do in the morning, but a smile still found its way onto her lips. “Ponyville never looked so good.”
“Did they change something about it?” Sketchy asked at her side. “It looks the same as ever to me.”
Applejack chuckled. “That’s a figure of speech. It means I’m glad to be home.”
“Oh,” Sketchy said. “In that case, I agree that Ponyville never looked so good.”
She chuckled more.
Sketchy looked up at the stars overhead. “So … what happens now?”
“We figure things out,” Applejack said. She put a hoof around his shoulders and hugged him. “Should we focus on selling pictures here in Ponyville, or export them to Canterlot? How should we handle all those commissions from nobles? What do we do with that apartment in Canterlot?”
“Actually,” Sketchy said, “I meant where should I sleep tonight? I’m not renting an apartment in town anymore.”
“Oh.” Applejack blushed a little. “Sorry, guess I just got excited thinking about the future.”
Sketchy smiled. It was a faint thing, but sincere as could be. “I’m excited by the future as well, though you still haven’t answered my question.”
Applejack hesitated for a moment. “Well, I guess you can sleep on our couch tonight.” She started walking toward Sweet Apple Acres. “Just don’t get the wrong idea after all that smooching, okay?”
Sketchy frowned and tilted his head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“Never mind.”
They walked the rest of the way in silence, with no noise except for their own hoofsteps and a gentle night breeze.
When they reached Applejack’s home, she paused. The lights were on downstairs. “Huh, guess somepony stayed up late waiting for us.” She opened the door and stepped inside.
Granny sat in the front room, resting in her favorite chair, with Big Mac on the couch. “There you are,” Granny said. “I was starting to get worried about you.” Her eyes lit up when Sketchy came into view. “And I see you got your coltfriend back too.”
Applejack smiled in spite of herself. “Yeah, I suppose I did.”
“For which I’m grateful,” Sketchy said. He put his hoof on Applejack’s shoulder, and she leaned into it.
“Sketchy,” Big Mac said, ears pressed back, “sorry for getting angry.”
“I need to apologize too,” Granny said. “We all thought you’d taken advantage of our Applejack, and we said and did some things we ain’t proud of as a result. I hope you’ll be able to forgive us.”
Sketchy looked at them, his expression unreadable. “So you didn’t actually want me to look for Applejack in the Crystal Empire?”
Big Mac blinked. “What?” He shook his head. “Nope. That was …”
“Sarcasm?” Sketchy asked.
He nodded.
“I’m not very good at knowing when somepony is being sarcastic,” Sketchy said, looking down at his hooves.
“Oh.” Big Mac wilted. “So you really-”
“Went all the way up there looking for me?” Applejack said. “Eeyup.”
It was mighty impressive how much Big Mac could shrink down into the couch. “Sorry,” he said quietly.
Sketchy seemed to think about that for a moment, then he smiled. “I forgive you. I would be angry too if somepony took advantage of Applejack.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Granny said. “Both parts, actually.”
Big Mac nodded.
“Glad we could get that worked out,” Applejack said, “but it’s plenty late. We should be getting to bed.”
“Of course, of course,” Granny said. “Here, you’ll be needing this.” She reached down behind her chair and brought up a shovel.
“Granny!” Applejack shouted.
“What? I still wanna see another generation of Apples before I kick the bucket.”
Sketchy blinked. “Should I assume this is one of those things you’d rather not explain to me?”
“Yes,” Applejack said, struggling to ignore the shovel. “Forget it and go to bed- couch! Go to couch. I mean,” she jabbed her hoof at Big Mac, “you, go to your bed.”
Big Mac stood up with a smile and hugged Applejack before heading up the stairs.
Next she pointed at Sketchy. “You, go to the couch.”
“Okay.” Sketchy walked over to the couch and lay down. “Good night.”
Applejack ignored her grandmother, who was mumbling something about being a spoilsport. “Good night, Sketchy.” Then she walked upstairs as well and went to bed. Still, she couldn’t help but look toward where she knew Sketchy was resting. Here. In her house. Like a part of the family.
She fell asleep with a smile on her lips.
( | )
Sugarcube Corner was nice and calm the next day, just busy enough for a steady hum of conversation to fill the air. Also, Pinkie wasn’t working the counter. Applejack was grateful for that. She didn’t want to imagine the ruckus her friend would cause once she realized Sketchy was back to stay.
“I missed this place,” Sketchy said. “Allow me to pay for whatever you order. What’s the phrase? My treat?”
“Fine,” Applejack said, “but I’ll pay for your food next time.”
“That sounds fair.”
They each ordered a sandwich and sat down at their usual booth. “We should visit the copier after this.” Sketchy said. “I still have the originals of most of my drawings. We could start selling copies in the marketplace again.”
“Right,” Applejack said. “We’ll add that to the list right after we figure out how to handle all those angry nobles in Canterlot who’re upset because you missed their appointment.”
“Perhaps schedule them all for one day of the week,” Sketchy said. “I have that apartment now, so we could go up the night before, spend the whole day at appointments, and come back the next morning.”
“And spend two nights alone together?” Applejack asked with a smirk, because she already knew he didn’t mean anything dirty by it.
“Yes,” Sketchy said. “Spending time with you would be a nice perk.”
Applejack smiled and bit into her sandwich. Sprout, tomato, and lettuce; nice and crunchy.
Dash walked in just then, and a huge smile lit up her face. “Hey, you two.” She walked over to their booth. “When did you get back?”
“Last night,” Applejack said.
“Nice.” Dash turned to Sketchy. “So, you staying in Ponyville for good?”
“For as long as Applejack wants me to stay, yes.”
Even Dash had to grin at that. “Dang, I guess you two are official now. Wait until Rarity hears. You two, stay right there!” She was out the door before Applejack could say a word.
Applejack grumbled. “There ain’t no way this will end well.”
“Why?” Sketchy asked.
“Because I know my friends,” Applejack said. “Rarity will tell Twilight, and Twilight will tell everypony else, and then all five of them will come rushin’ in here to congratulate us and make a big hullabaloo.”
Sketchy tilted his head to the side. “So making a big deal of a friend’s happiness is bad?”
“More like embarrassing.” Applejack took a deep breath and smiled. “Oh well, at least I’m pretty sure I can survive it.”
They didn’t have long to wait for Applejack’s predicted swarm of friends. The group of them burst into Sugarcube Corner less than ten minutes later, all asking questions, and offering congratulations, and speaking over each other in their enthusiasm.
Rarity practically jumped into Applejack’s lap. “You did it! You went and brought back your one true love!” She swooned. “Oh, it’s so romantic!”
Applejack rolled her eyes, fighting down a smile. “Good to see you again too, Rares.”
Eventually the group quieted down enough that Twilight could ask, “What will you two do now?”
“We’re working on that,” Applejack said. “Though I guess there ain’t no hurry.” She looked at Sketchy and smiled. “We have plenty of time to figure things out.”
Rarity got a sly smile. “So have you two officially become an item, then?”
Sketchy gave her a confused look. “What kind of item?”
Twilight cleared her throat. “I think she meant to ask if you two have hooked up.”
“I don’t understand,” Sketchy said. “Hooked up to what?”
Dash groaned. “Are you two banging, or aren’t you?”
“You mean like hitting things?” Sketchy asked. “Neither of us has punched anything lately.”
All five of Applejack’s friends facehoofed.
Applejack leaned back against Sketchy with a contented smile. “Sketchy?”
He put a hoof around her, holding her tight. “Yes?”
“Never change.”
The End
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Last chapter could have been an ending.
This one made it better.
Edit: But it's still marked Incomplete. Epilogue?
9077472
I’m trying to convince him, but right now, he and I are also working on something a little extra
Well this was an interesting story, I hope to see more of your work in the future.
9077472
Looks that way. Don't know it could get much better but if anyone can pull it off it's Vedues.
End???
D:
Was a fantastic story, thanks for the experience and for all the laughs. I hope to see more of you in the future.
Y'know, this reminds me of the Hard Reset universe, with the weathervane. Were you tryna reference that?
camo.derpicdn.net/5651f0923a4a1d934d27613580d691127364926e?url=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv674%2FMarianLH%2FPonies%2FFluttershy-WooHoo.jpg
It’s so [fluffy] adorable I could die!!!
9077472
Space cadet moment on my part. It should be listed as complete now.
9077564
DAwwwwww
It’s all I had left in me, but don’t let that detract from a fine story that warmed my heart and made me chuckle and even chortle.
Have a fav and a watch.
What’s next for you? Anything in particular planned?
Sequel! Sequel! Sequel! (I’m not biased! Shut up!) Sequel! Sequel!
Well, that's a good ending.
9077528
Like a sequel?
Edit: lol, just refreshed comments.
loved it
Wait. Is this the end? No! I refuse to believe it! This story is too amazing! I demand a sequel!
I enjoyed this fic so much. A shame I can't upvote it more than once.
Thanks for writing this amazing story.
I don't mind if a sequel springs up or not. I'm happy how the story has ended.
Perhaps you can write another story of the other Mane 6 meeting an oddball as their special someponies.
This whole thing was really good, thanks for writing it!
I love this, perfect! YOUVE DONE A GREAT DEED TODAY! Now Im filled with the empty void of searching for something else to fill my soul as I treck forward unto a new dawn.
Great story I was reading it while cooking dinner and my family couldn’t understand why I sounded like a hynea while making pasta, oh and great job on 31 different butt puns for titles.
:D
I loved that story.
I haven't been able to say that in a long time.
I don't want it to end, but at the same time, I have no complaints because the ending is perfect.
Good work Vedues.
I look forward to more of your stories
"And they lived happily ever after, to the end of their days."
lovely, just lovely. you managed one of the most important things about writing stories like this.
I hope to see more from you, its rare to see a nice, slow, budding romance story. Have you, perchance, read subconscious attraction? Its another nice little romance, this time with rarity. Though more silliness, and less pathos.
9077788
Oh there is sooooooo much truth to that, it hurts
Great story and funny/beautiful ending!
10/10!
Went from a slightly lewd premise to a sweet, highly enjoyable romance.
I’m really going to miss this.
9077240
I'm glad you enjoyed that. It was one of my favorite moments to write.
9077252
Maybe it's because I'm a colossal geek myself, but I love writing Shining as a nerd.
9077262
It's okay, we all need to chop onions sometimes.
9077268
Aw, Twilight's adorable there!
9077300
Thank you.
9077362
That's what my imaginary friends keep telling me too.
9077394
I'm glad, but don't be too impressed. I spent a few months writing and revising this story before I ever started posting.
A cute story, I enjoyed the whole thing, and you did an amusing job ...
9077447
He clearly means digging out the weeds in the flower beds.
9077463
I might come back in a sequel and do more of them dating, but for now at least, I'm happy leaving our two lovebirds here.
9077466
Admittedly, he was picked on a lot as a child, and drawing sexual art is a weird career for griffons as well, so every griffon either knew him by face or by reputation as that one pony who lived in Griffonstone and had a strange job.
9077536
Thanks for sticking with it all the way to the end, and I hope whatever I crank out next will be to your liking as well.
9077528
. For anyone who's curious what we're talking about, "A Little Extra" is the working title for my next story.
I see what you did there
9077555
I'm flattered, but that was just a goof on my part. I forgot to mark the story as complete. Still, I may toss out a few random scenes of Sketchy and AJ if ideas hit me in the future, kind of like what Home Is For the Weak did.
9077571
Fluttershy is the only pony who can make cheering so adorable.
9077573
I'm glad. It still makes me laugh that this story was originally going to be a bit of harmless fluff with little to no plot. Thanks for sticking with it!
9077584
I'm working on a couple of stories in what little spare time I can scrape together. One will be a sort of sequel to this story, where Rarity is going to a dating agency to find her own true love, but the guy working there has a crush on her and so he keeps setting her up with bad matches. Another involves the Equestria Girls characters getting trapped in the Fallout universe (because no one has ever thought of combining MLP and Fallout before). The last is a blatant self-insert that's my own twisted take on stories like Gilded Sister, Soaring on Little Wings, and Oh To Be Old Again.
9077588
Maybe if the muse strikes me. The last thing I want to do is tarnish this story by rushing out an inferior sequel that it didn't need.
9077592
I'm glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for seeing this all the way through!
9077596
More like rcmgamer is being witty. "A Little Extra" is the working title of the story I'm working on now.
9077597
Thank you!
9077607
Thank you, and I do have a few story ideas that would take place after this one, but Sketchy and AJ wouldn't be the main characters. I may also write a random assortment of scenes between these two, but there wouldn't be any overarching story behind it.
9077615
I do have an idea for an oddball love story between Rarity and Caramel, but it's still in the brainstorming phase of development.
Regardless, thank you so much for your kind words!