Hearth’s Warming Eve was just around the corner and the ponies of Ponyville have been hard at work turning the small hamlet into a beacon of the festive season. Twilight’s Castle was this year's big project as it’s large halls and many spacious rooms were more than enough to hold the entire town and a little more for a holiday party that could last two days straight. Everypony had been taking shifts shaping up the castle, and currently much of Ponyville's younger residents were the ones hanging streamers and setting the massive tree in the main room.
“I’m all for helping out and what not… But couldn’t Twilight just you know, poof everything where it needs to be.” A young grey pegasus with a darker two tone grey mane and tail whined while trying his best to level the massive tree that was nearly ten time his size, with help of course. “I mean even Pinkie could even do it before we’d be able to blink…”
“Shut it Rumble, you invited yourself to this remember.” A Pegasus of about the same age called out from the other side of the tree. The mare craned her head far enough to the side just to give the flustered Rumble a raspberry.
“Yea yea, I just could let you do this by yourself you know.”
“Aww, they are just the most adorable couple!” A light and squeaky voice rang out, just in time for both Pegasi to shoot the offending ivory unicorn a death glare.
The orange Pegasus that was holding the tree with Rumble didn’t take the insult floating. With her face redder than the ornaments on the tree, the orange Pegasus let go of it to fly a little closer to her giggling friend to start arguing the difference between being adorable and awesome. However Rumble was not to keen to the argument as he was left holding the heavy tree by himself as it hasn’t been set yet. Kicking his wings into overdrive, the tree quickly leaned far to the right and there was little he could do to stop it. He was straining so hard he couldn’t even open his muzzle to call out for help as his teeth were clenched shut as he tried violently to salvage the situation. No pony on the ground was any wiser to their immediate doom, as Rumbles strength failed him and he was sweeped down with the large tree.
“Scoots move!” The ivory Unicorn would have loved to keep teasing her smoldering friend, but she loved not being smashed by a gigantic Hearth’s Warming tree more.
“Nope, not falling for that one again…” Scootaloo responded with a roll of her eyes.
“Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle!” Rumble’s frantic shriek tore through the castle.
That got Scoot’s attention as she whipped around to see her Coltfriend riding the massive tree to the ground. Scootaloo was being trained by one of the greatest fliers to ever grace the Equestrian sky’s, and was considered to be the next Fleetfoot if her Dexterity was anything to show. But right now, she was nothing more than Scootaloo, the dumbfounded mare as the tree toppled down right next to her with a loud crash as ornaments and branches went everywhere in the room. Somewhere in between Sweetie Belle managed to escape, but Rumble and Scootaloo weren’t so lucky as they were nothing more than a mass of tangle limbs in the debris of the tree.
All the noise caused the few ponies in the room to turn from their tasks in shock, and even more to flood into the room fearing exactly what had happened. Apple Bloom, Diamond Tiara, and Button Mash were just a few of the ponies that bleed through the open double doors.
“Alright, I told ya this was gonna happen.” Apple Bloom simply stated. Running a yellow hoof through her red mane, she surveyed the damage. The large young yellow mare knew what Scootaloo and Rumble equaled, and that was pure unadulterated disaster.
Ever since they hooked up, Muffins has been getting a run for her money for most property destroyed around town. Still the frown couldn’t taint Apple Bloom's face for long, as she saw at the epicenter of the destruction none other than the two who caused it. It was almost facehoof worthy to watch the two berate each other for who caused it while they were littered with pine and ornaments. Still there was quite the mess to get cleaned up, and Twilight would have a cow if she saw the state here main room was in.
“Eh.” Sweetie Belle couldn’t say much, instead she just slide to the side and hopefully out of sight.
“Button, get Sweetie will ya, and start cleanin’ this mess. I will go deal with those two feather brains.” Apple Bloom directed.
“Annnd what about me?” The suggestiveness that tinted Diamonds voice was lost on the straight forward mare.
“Button and Sweetie might need some help picking up the ornaments or what not, ya can start there.” Apple Bloom’s voice was nothing but kind, and that irked Diamond to no end.
“Sure thing…”
Diamond rolled her eyes as she sauntered away to the corner that her other two friends were sitting in. The young mare even glanced back once to the yellow love interest of her’s to only see her barking at both Scootaloo and Rumble who were still pointing hoofs at each other. It’s been some time since the CMC got their cutie marks and everypony in their class graduated. Things have really changed, all their chosen careers were taking shape. Even if her closest friend Silver Spoon had to leave to Manehattan for a silversmith apprenticeship. But all that was fine and good, those things were to be expected.
What wasn't to be expected though was the fact that she was one of the few ponies left from their class without a special somepony. Heck, she hasn't even had a kiss from her parents let alone anypony else, and it wasn't for the lack of trying either. Diamond had been trying to romance that big sexy apple for a few weeks now, and in the first two she had no idea which way she swung. That was until Sweetie dropped the ball when she got a hold of some alcoholic Cider. Now knowing that her big sexy apple was strongly in favor of the female persuasion only told diamond to double her efforts… or failures if recent experience was to serve her.
“Ouch, I didn't think Apple Bloom was that dense.”
“Pff, I wouldn't call her dense. Seriously DT, what was that?” Sweetie interjected playfully, cutting Button off by hopping right in front of him.
“I was trying to be flirtatious, heck, I even batted my eyelashes at her twice… Twice Sweetie!” diamond wailed in defeat.
“Maybe you just need to be bold or something, that's kinda what I did to pull in sweetie here.” Button said.
“Yea, if trying to sneak into my room to plant a note to only find yourself interrupting my parents love making by climbing into the wrong window counts as bold. Then yea, go with ‘i spent two days in jail’ here. Sweetie belle mocked in return.
“Hey!”
“Bold…” Diamond thought out loud.
“You can't be serious.” Sweetie dead-panned.
Oh but she was, diamond was in a state of contemplation at that point. If their was one thing she was known for, it was never doing anything halfway. That's what made her such a good bully, and a even better ally, she would take it there After all she even fought a Minotaur kid from another school for bullying pip-squeak some time back, her trademark tiara even got broken that day. Everypony tried to buy her a new one, but she refused, it was like turning over a new leaf for her. But hopefully bold didn't mean getting her flank kicked again.
Bold in this situation meant much worse, it meant rejection. There were many things the young mare could deal with, but rejection was one of the few she couldn't stand for. Being hoofed much of everything in life gave her a grand sense of entitlement. And she felt entirely entitled to the apple across the room. Glancing up past Buttons smug look and Sweetie’s disappointed one, diamond could see her attraction helping the two destructive pegasi hoist up the battered tree.
A Smirk graced Diamonds muzzle as she got up on all fours. Completely forgetting to help Sweetie and Button, the confident made marched her way over to the hard working Apple Bloom. Diamond had a plan… that is if a plan consisted of having no plan, then I'd all work perfectly.
“Will ya two stop and just fly a little to the right!” Apple Bloom was trying her best to direct the tree back up while she gripped the rope it was hoisted to between her teeth.
“we've been going right!” both Rumble and Scoots shouted simultaneously.
“Oh for the love of… That y'all left!” Apple Bloom shouted back the best she could.
The young mare was right there, right behind her apple. At that moment Everypony was occupied with finishing up cleaning the mess, but diamonds focus was on that of Apple Bloom's large and toned flanks that rolled perfectly up her equally toned and muscular back. And all those muscles we're being expertly worked by her tugging on the rope, the view was perfect. That was until Apple Bloom decided to sit down for better positioning. Diamond blinked twice, and hoped nopony noticed her mess up. However if Sweetie's childish giggling in the background was anything to go by… somepony had definitely noticed.
“Whatever…”
With a shrug, Diamond did the boldest thing that raced across her muddled mind at the moment. She licked her, not a simple lick, nor a quick one. Diamond went the full nine miles, accurately all the way from the base of her back in up to her neck. Her pink tongue dragged slowly against the grain as she could taste the work on the large yellow mare. However it was the instant diamond made contact that Apple Bloom noticed everything was wrong with the world, the yellow mares fur bristled up in futile resistance as the tongue on her back made an arousing trail up to her neck. The sheer shock of the situation made her jaw drop, effectively making her lose a grip on the balancing rope. The sudden slack made both Rumble and Scootaloo look down in confusion only to see the sight unfold before their very eyes.
“Whoa…” both pegasi said in unison as They let go of the tree to ogle in disbelief.
When Diamond was finished the foolishness of her action finally caught up with her when Apple Bloom whipped around with brimstone in her eyes. And the brimstone turned to solar rage when she saw a panicking Diamond taking a few steps back, but her purple eyes weren't focused on Apple Bloom, but something behind her. It only took a second for the shadow to Eclipse them, and that's when they both knew… they had messed up. Unlike Scoot’s disaster, they both were closer to the base of the tree. Which was large enough to easily crush the two mares.
However a painful impact eluded them, because a rainbow flash had swooped them up and out the way in a heartbeat. However the flash of rainbow was going a bit too fast and managed to careen into a closed window instantly shattering it. Still both Apple Bloom and Diamond was safe because whoever had saved them had used herself to shield the pair from harm, but they were no longer flying. Instead they found themselves all sprawled out in the fields south of the castle.
“Augh, for Celestia's burning flanks I don't get paid enough for this!” A familiar scratchy voice yelped in pain.
That caused both mares to look up at the hurt pony hobbling circles a few hooves lengths away from them, clearly trying to walk off the pain.
“Dash, what did ya come from?” Apple Bloom questions while brushing herself off.
“I don't know, my mom… oh and you're welcome.” Dash hissed.
“Sorry Rainbow, I got distracted by somepony…” Apple Bloom's expression grew flat as she turned towards Diamond. “Somepony that needs ta do a bit of explaining.”
Diamond in response simply blinked.
“Really… You two just need to kiss.” Rainbow looked up to the Castle and the busted window. “I got some explaining to do myself.”
“I'll pay for it.” Diamond mumbled.
“Awesome, that means you're taking responsibility for it… Loyalty out!” Dash saluted before jetting off back through the destroyed window, injuries miraculously ignored.
“How does Sweetie's sister deal with her?” Diamond questioned.
“How am I supposed to deal with you!” Apple Bloom replied, still wholly focused on what got them where they were.
“Kiss me?”
Apple Bloom blushed a bit at Diamonds quick response. Which was all the purple mare needed to take a few tentative steps forward. The situation needed to be defused, and Diamond recognized that. And there was blood in the metaphorical water, plus that was the first time she ever saw her lovely apple blush. Now with a bit more confidence and control, Apple Bloom was being circled by a predatory Diamond.
“For quite a while now, I wanted you… no, no… I want you, and I want you now. I'm tarde of the teasing and waiting, So how about it, kiss me.” Diamond demanded in a low enforcing tone, one she stole from her mother's playbook.
“I-uhhh, why didn't you just say so?” Apple Bloom muttered, losing much of her steam as her blush intensified.
“I just did.” Diamond dead-panned.
“No, y'all sexually assaulted me, possibly caused thousands of bits worth of property damage, and it kinda sounds like ya are threatening me…” Apple Bloom’s brow raised slightly. “And how do ya know I even swing that way, ma family if anything are very tradition-”
The larger yellow mare's explanation was abruptly cut off by a pair of soft purple lips making heavy contact with her own. Diamond was fully prepared for the beating she thought she was going to receive. If it wasn't sexual assault before, it surely was at that point, she could join Button in the spent a day in jail club. But the beating never came, instead Diamond was pleasantly shocked to find that her apple had leaned into the passionate kiss, allowing the possessive mare to have her way.
It had felt like an eternity, but the two final broke the kiss much to Diamonds dismay. Despite that however, Diamond still sported a goofy grin, as if she just got away with robbing the cookie jar. Applebloom on the other hoof simply stood stock still, face redder than the Apple's she farmed.
“That was ma first kiss…” Applebloom whispered in a voice most unlike her. “Ya stole my first kiss.”
“Oooohhh.” Diamond took a few steps back, and Applebloom took a few steps forward. Her green eyes expertly trained on the panicking purple mare.
“...” Appleblooms silence spoke volumes of Diamonds fate
“With my last breath I curse Button Mash!” Those were Diamond Tiara’s last words be for Applebloom pounced.
ELSEWHERE WITHIN THE CASTLE
“Wow, I just got a very foreboding feeling…” Button Mash quipped will finishing up damage detail.
“What's that noise?” Sweetie asked, trotting up next to her coltfriend in confusion “ Is that Diamond I hear?”
Rainbow Dash however was interrupted from literally licking her wounds once she heard the panicked screams of a young mare. Tiredly looking down from her perch, she looked down to see Everypony stopping what they were doing to look out the shattered window in a mix of confusion and suspense. Which was all the motivation Dash needed to fly from her makeshift perch in the ceiling to see what was up.
“Hey scoots!”
The Pegasus in question flew from the window to Dash in a heartbeat. “Yea, what's sup.”
“I'm almost afraid to ask.” Dash asked.
“What happ… nevermind.” Scoots looked from the window and back to Dash. “I think Apple Bloom is about to maul D.T. or something.”
“Ah, alri- No, she's paying for the window!” Without another word, Dash bolted past The stunned Scootaloo and headed right out the window for a second time.
It took less than a blink to find the cause of the distraction. Diamond Tiara was literally running for her life around a tree with a furious apple farmer hot on her tail. It was almost comical to watch them go round and round, still dash didn't understand why Apple Bloom wouldn't just stop and let Diamond run into her. Oh well, Apple Bloom’s physical prowess was starting to show as she was catching up to the smaller purple mare.
“Might as well.” Swooping down, Dash scooped up Diamond as if she had done it a thousand times before.
All Diamond could do was release a startled yelp in response.
“Rainbow Dash, that ain't fair, lemme destroy her!” Apple Bloom huffed, taking a few test jumps to see how close she could get to her now airborne target.
“Whoa whoa, I think Everypony needs a second to cool off.” Rainbow pointed out while safely flying an extra foot or two into the air. “I think you two just need to sit and do some explaining.”
“I'll show her some explaining!” Applebloom barked back.
“I'm sorry, Jeez what do you wa-aaaahhh!” Diamond begun to scream as Dash lowered her closer to Apple Bloom. “Take me back up, take me back up!”
“Ya, maybe I won't have to if you do this right…” Dash said in an annoyed tone.
“Ah, I'm sorry, really I am. I mean your beautiful, I always thought you were, and I have a habit of ruining beautiful things…” Diamond sniffed, mostly hating the fact that Everypony was watching from the Castle window. “Every time I thought about telling you or approaching you about the way I feel, I either got intimidated or gave up. I-I really like you Apple Bloom…” Diamond kept her eyes closed the whole time, she didn't even realize that Rainbow Dash had completely lowered her to the ground yet.
Apple Bloom’s hard gaze softened as she saw her friend lay her heart out on a platter for her. It caused her once again to go on a full on blush. The Apple farmer wanted to sock it to her, but now a more conflicting emotion was steadily arising.
“So what got in ya head that lickin’ the mare y'all like would get the point across?” Apple Bloom questioned.
“Uhh, bold action, It was Buttons idea!” Diamond defended.
“Hey!” Buttons offended shout could be heard from where they were standing.
“Ah shoulda known…” Apple Bloom cracked her neck and sighed as she looked down into Diamond's pitiful purple puppy dog eyes. “Know what, y'all owe me big time. How about ya buy me dinner, nothing too fancy got it.” Apple Bloom finished on a stern note.
Diamond could believe her ears, was the stars aligning. She looked up to Dash who wore a triumphant smirk, then to the broken window where Everypony was just as shocked, and then to her big sexy Apple.
“Date?” Diamond said dumbly.
Apple Bloom’s blush deepened as she nodded.
“All's well that ends well, just call me cupid!” Dash boasted.
“Rainbow Dash!” The sound of a furious Alicorn rung through the Castle as Everypony in front of the window scattered. Their image was promptly replaced with that of the owner of the furious voice.
Applebloom and Diamond both wordlessly looked to where Rainbow once was to only see a leaf blowing in the wind. Wherever the Pegasus had gone, it was far from explaining the situation to the angry Alicorn.
“Ugh…” Diamond groaned.