Honesty and Dragons
Chapter 2
Birthday Bash
Applejack blinked in surprise at all of the ponies gathered in the barn. Big Mac and his fiancée Sugar Belle, Apple Bloom and the other two of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Granny Smith, Grand Pear, and her friends were all there, along with the Cakes. There was a banner hung across one of the lofts, several presents placed in a large pile, and there was a two layered apple cinnamon cake with apple green frosting.
"Happy birthday, Applejack!" Pinkie Pie zoomed up to her and gave her a wide grin. "Were you surprised? I bet you were so surprised!"
Applejack chuckled. "You bet I was, Pinkie." She said to her friend.
Rainbow Dash landed on the ground and went up to her best friend and rival. "Happy birthday, AJ." She said, and the two of them shared a hoof bump.
"Thanks, RD." She said with a smile.
"Do you want to open up some presents?" Fluttershy asked, coming up to them.
"Come on, Applejack!" Pinkie exclaimed excitedly, dragging her to the pile of presents. "Which one do you want to open first?"
AJ laughed at her friend's over excitement. "Easy there, partner!" She scanned the semi-large pile and saw one that captured her eye. It was a large rectangular small box all wrapped up in yellow paper. Judging from the glittery green bow on it, she knew who it was from.
"Is this from you, Rarity?" She asked, raising a knowing brow.
Rarity laughed. "Of course, darling." She answered. "Open it."
Applejack grabbed an edge of the paper with her teeth and tore the wrapping away with one pull. She then opened the box and saw a simple yet lovely apple red dress. There were no sparkles, bows, or jewels that Rarity usually put on for a lot of her dresses. The velvet red dress only had short sleeves, and there were artificial pink apple blossoms on the embroidery and trim. There was also a large apple blossom clip for her Stetson hat or for her mane.
"Rare..." Applejack was speechless.
"I made it simple enough for yet fabulous enough for every pony else." Rarity said. "Just in case there is a special occasion in the future, you can wear it."
The country mare hugged her sophisticated friend. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." She hugged her back. "To be honest, I thought that you would open mine last."
Applejack chuckled. "Hey, you and I have different tastes, but you are one of my best friends. It won't really matter to me."
The two broke the hug, and Applejack placed the lid back on the wide and flat box. She then saw a smaller, more cube-like box that had been wrapped up in light red paper. She opened it and saw a shiny silver dog whistle. She grinned as she blew the silent whistle, and her loyal dog, Winona, came into the barn, tackled her mistress, and started licking her face.
Applejack laughed loudly as the licks tickled her face. "All right, Winona! Ya heard me, now settle down!" She said through her giggles.
Fluttershy then came up to her, and helped her up. "I thought that whistle would come in handy." She softly giggled.
Applejack hugged her. "Thanks, Fluttershy." She carefully placed the whistle back in the box, and then saw a more flat box. She opened it and saw a brand-new lasso.
"I thought you could use a new one after your last one snapped." Rainbow said, hovering up above her.
AJ smiled and brought her friend down to the ground for a hug. "Thanks, Rainbow Dash." She said. "And yer right. I do need a new lasso for herding the cattle and for training for future rodeos."
"Do mine now, do mine!" Pinkie hopped up. She then held up her present. Applejack opened it, and after the usual confetti burst out, and landed in her face, she brushed them off and saw a new cookbook.
"I looked through it, and there are some new recipes that include apples." Pinkie said. "Maybe soon, we can try one to see how it tastes."
AJ hugged her overly excited friend. "Thanks a lot, Pinkie." She said.
A wrapped box enveloped in raspberry pink magic then floated over to the country mare. She took it and then turned over to Twilight with a knowing smile. "Is it a book, Twilight?" She asked with a knowing smile.
The lavender alicorn smirked back at her, and gave it to her. "Not just a book." She said as Applejack tore the paper off and saw a brown blank journal, with a felt red apple on the cover. "I thought you could use a journal for your own personal thoughts."
AJ smiled at the Princess of Frienship and gave her a hug. "Thank ya, Twilight." She said. Then, she whispered the next part in her friend's ear. "This will help me more than ya can think."
When they released the hug, Spike then came up to the birthday girl. Applejack was still amazed that he was no longer the baby dragon she once knew when she first met him. He was now the size of a young stallion, towering a couple of inches above her, and his spines have grown edgier.
"Howdy, Spike." The farm mare greeted her dragon friend.
"Happy birthday, AJ." Spike said with a smile. "I have to say..." The dragon looked away, rubbing the back of his head.
Applejack gave him a confused look, but then had a sneaking suspicion. "Spike, did ya forget-"
"I didn't forget about your birthday!" Spike quickly assured her, waving his claws franctically. "I just... didn't know what to get you."
Twilight did a face-hoof.
"But, I promise that I will find you one as soon as possible." He vowed, while doing the Pinkie Promise.
Applejack rolled her eyes playfully, and placed a hoof on his shoulder. "C'mon now, Spike." She said. "I would've liked anything ya gave me."
The dragon gave her a thankful smile. "Thanks, AJ."
Pinkie then popped up and in between them. "Come on, everypony! Let's party!"
Granny Smith then walked over to her elder granddaughter. "Granny, I thought that ya be in bed." Applejack said.
"Naw." The elderly pony shrugged off. "I'd rather be missing mah legs than missing my grandfilly's birthday."
AJ smiled at her, and gave her a tender hug. Granny then turned over to Pinkie. "Now, how about that ditty I asked ya for?"
Pinkie zipped away, then immediately came back wih a specific record. "Right here!" She said with a wide grin. She then placed it on the record player. "Sing it, Granny!" She cheered as Granny began to sing. Sometimes, the other ponies would echo it, or sing along as they began dancing.
Granny Smith: Don't matter what you look like.
Don't matter what you wear.
How many rings you got on your hoof,
We don't care, no, we don't care.
Don't matter where you come from.
Don't even matter what you are.
A dog, a pig, a cow, a goat;
Got em' all in here, we got em' all in here!
If they all knew what they wanted,
What they wanted, need to do.
I told 'em what they needed,
Just like I be telling you.
All: You gotta dig a little deeper.
Granny: Find out who you are.
All: You gotta dig a little deeper.
Granny: It really ain't that far.
When you found out who you are,
You find out what you need.
All: Blue skies and sun shine,
Guaranteed.
You gotta dig, dig.
You gotta dig, dig.
As Applejack joined in the dancing, she felt like there was something that Granny was trying to imply in what she was singing. Maybe she'll ask her when all this is over, and it was just the two of them.
Granny suddenly pulled Spike aside and away from every pony after she saw him fawning over Rarity again. She finally decided to set his lovestruck mind straight.
Granny: Spike here is a mighty fine feller,
You wanna find the right one for ya.
Spike was a little confused by the question, but nodded slightly. But before he could turn his eyes back to the white unicorn, Granny began singing again.
That mare that ya keep pining for,
Will she make you really happy? No!
Spike was about to protest against it, but she continued.
All: Pining ain't got no soul,
Pining ain't got no heart.
Granny: All ya need is look beyond what ya see,
And y'all finally find that brand new start.
The elderly then began to spin the dragon around in a circle, almost drilling a hold into the ground. She then stopped him and smirked as the dragon had stars spinning around his head.
All: You gotta dig a little deeper.
Granny: Don't have far to go.
She then gestured with her head, and Spike followed it to see Applejack dancing with her little sister, Apple Bloom and her friend, Tender Taps. For one cruel moment, Spike felt like shunning what Granny was trying to imply. His heart belonged to Rarity only, right? But he shoved it aside, anyway. Applejack was one of his best friends, and only a friend. At least, that was what he told himself.
All: You gotta dig a little deeper.
Granny: Tell everypony Granny told you so.
Can't tell you what you'll find,
Maybe love or grant you a piece of mind.
Dig a little deeper and you'll know.
Though he wasn't feeling his face growing warm with heat, Spike still felt like keeping his eyes glued on the country mare. AJ was one of the six girls of whom he was pretty close with, other than Twilight and Rarity. She was reliable, strong, honest, caring, and he'll admit it this once, beautiful in her own way. He knew that the mares who had been his best friends for so long are all attractive in their own way.
Rainbow Dash, though, was cool and all, but not his type. But, she would definitely attract stallions that would have to keep up with her if they want her. Pinkie Pie also was pretty, but a little bit too energetic. Any stallion who would want her will have to have a similar mind that can understand her sheningans, which would probably be a one-in-a-million shot. Twilght, though, was like his mother, sister, and boss all in one. Any colt that would want her as a marefriend would definitely need his approval before getting any closer to her. Fluttershy, however, she was lovely, but he wouldn't make her happy, nor would she.
But, that only left Rarity and Applejack. Rarity was the mare that his heart began beating for since the moment he saw her. Her mane was like purple silk, curled wonderfully, and her eyes were sapphires. Her coat was as white as snow, and she had a generous heart to match her obvious exquiste beauty. However, the many times Spike had tried to impress her, the further away she seemed to get. Yet, his stubborn heart wanted the sophisticated unicorn. But, does it still?
Applejack, she was obviously pretty charming when he had first met her as well. Her mane was like straw that is glowing in the sun, and her eyes were like emeralds. Her orange coat always seemed like it was kissed by Celestia's sun; glowing amazingly, even when it was covered in dirt splotches and/or sweat. Her tiny white freckles on her face contrasted perfectly with her coat, giving her a sense of purity, despite her rough exterior. She really does care about all the ponies that mean to her, and she is not afraid to speak her mind. In Spike's mind, there is no pony that is better suited for the Element of Honesty.
The dragon finally got his conflicted mind out of its musings before any pony noticed. He then went back to celebrating with every pony else.
But, his intense pondering didn't go unnoticed by Granny Smith. She softly smiled while shaking her head. At least some part of what she was trying to say got to him. She slowly trotted over to her elder granddaughter and got her attention.
"Sugarcube." She called. Applejack turned to her granny.
"Yeah?" She asked. The elderly mare carefully beckoned her closer to with a frail hoof. AJ obeyed.
"Yer parents would be so proud of ya." She said to her.
Applejack was slightly taken aback. "Ya mean that?" She asked. Granny nodded while smiling widely.
Granny: Yer ma and pa were the loving ones,
Family through and through.
You your parents' daughter.
What they had in them, you got in you.
Applejack decided to take her granny in a little dance, and then switched with Grand Pear.
All: You gotta dig a little deeper.
Granny: For you, it's gonna be tough.
All: You gotta dig a little deeper.
Granny: You ain't dug that far enough.
Dig down deep inside yourself,
You'll found out what you need.
All: Blue skies and sunshine,
Guaranteed.
The celebrating then spilled outside of the barn, with everyone singing and dancing along.
"Come on, every pony!" Apple Bloom encouraged.
"Let me hear you sing!" Pinkie added joyfully.
Blue skies and sunshine,
Blue skies and sunshine,
Applejack: Blue skies and sunshine,
All: Guaranteed!
Every pony then started cheering loudly as the party continued on for the rest of the day. Granny sat down in a rocking chair, and watched with a soft smile as Applejack mingled with her friends. Now, all she needs to come to terms with whatever is bothering her for the past couple of months.