//------------------------------// // Come Back To Me (Apple Bloom/Rumble) // Story: I Love You // by Inferno demon Dash //------------------------------// Apple Bloom let out an angry, slow deep breath from her nostrils as she glared at the young, gray pegasus stallion that she had been dating for almost three years. She stared into his purple eyes as she ground her teeth into a fine white powder, carefully gathering her thoughts. She had to choose her words carefully, or else she could say something that she wouldn’t be able to take back. “Ah’m not choosing mah potion making over you by going to Zebrica, Rumble. But Ah’ve been waiting for this opportunity ever since Ah became Zecora’s apprentice! Ah need to do this, Ah finally have time off from working at the school and the farm. Ah’ll only be gone a month, and if Ah impress the shamans that Zecora trained under, Ah could have a shot at becoming the first pony shaman in Equestria! Why can’t you understand that? Ah thought you supported me?” Apple Bloom spoke slowly, her tone a mix between anger and disappointment. Rumble’s eyes widened as his mouth fell open in shock, before he closed it and scowled, his eyes narrowing as he stomped a hoof hard onto the wooden living room floor of the Apple’s family house. “And I thought we were going to discuss this after we moved in together, AB-” “Ah told you Ah’m not moving to Cloudsdale! It doesn't matter how long the new cloud walking spell last. Ah want to live here, in Ponyville. What’s so wrong with moving in with the family and working the farm?” She asked loudly, her tail swinging side to side, gritting her teeth when Rumble scoffed as if she just suggested he have his wings surgically removed to become an Earth pony. “I’m not saying we need to move to Cloudsdale, but there are too many ponies living here as it is! Between Granny Smith, Applejack, Big Mac, Sugar Belle, and now Big Sugar, we can’t take two steps without crashing into someone! I don’t mind working the farm with you or your family, but that’s too many ponies in one bucking house-” “Excuse me?!” Apple Bloom screamed, her ears went behind her head as she nearly growled. “My family has always had multiple ponies living here, long before Ah was born! We pride ourselves on taking in those in need, whether they are blood or not. Ah don’t complain when Ah’m over at your place with your brother, Cloudchaser and Flitter-” “I told you, the girls are working on getting their own place, and Thunderlane’s thinking about moving in with Rarity. Once they do, you can move in with me, but moving in with your family is just too much!” He shouted, breathing hard as his wings unfurled behind his back making him give a quick flap before having them settle to his sides once more. “I know you love your family, Apple Bloom, and I’m not trying to take them away from you, but wouldn’t it be nice to have some privacy?” He spoke with a sigh, taking a deep breath as they both heard the front door open and saw Sugar Belle trot in with a smile before she stopped at the entrance to the living room, embarrassed at the fact that she felt she interrupted something. “O-oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know anypony was here. I just came to check on Big Sugar and get dinner started. Is Granny Smith still sleeping, Apple Bloom?” She asked. The young mare nodded, quickly looking back at her boyfriend who rubbed his forehead with a hoof. “You’re fine, sis. We were just talking. We’ll get out of your mane and finish our conversation elsewhere.” Apple Bloom went towards the front door smiling at Sugar Belle halfheartedly, leaving Rumble with no choice but to follow, leaving the unicorn confused before the door was shut behind her. “You see what I mean, Bloom? There are not many places to go in a two-story house with six ponies in it, and you want to add me to the mix?” He whispered as they walked to the barn, Apple Bloom opening the large door and paused as she saw her brother working on a wagon. Big Macintosh looked up and waved with a smile as they responded in kind before she shut the door again and gave an audible sigh. “Alright, maybe you’re right. It’s getting a bit too crowded-” “A bit?” Rumble interrupted with a blank expression. “A bit,” She repeated as they walked farther into the sea of apple trees and she continued. “But this is my home, Rumble. It’s not like I can just uproot my life and move into town with you-” “It’s not even twenty minutes from the farm. If it’s really an emergency then you can obviously run, you got four perfectly good working hooves after all. Besides, do you even get an allowance or do you just-” “Have a roof over my head, food on my plate and a nice, warm bed to sleep in, one that you’ve slept in many times?” She asked making him groan before they finally sat down, far enough away to not be overheard. “I-I don’t mean to insult you, Apple Bloom, but you don’t pay for rent, water, utilities, farm equipment, medical expenses or groceries, do you?” She opened her mouth to respond before slowly closing it as she rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof. “No.” She whispered softly making the pegasus place a wing over her shoulder as she sighed and leaned into the embrace. “But I work at the school of friendship to save as much as I can for the family, I do owe them something after all.” Rumble gave her a sad smile and nuzzled her cheek. “And that’s very noble of you and I’m sure they appreciate it, but you’re not learning about the real world if you spend your whole life on the farm. I’m sorry for getting angry over you going to Zebrica with Zecora. I thought you were realizing you needed to start living your own life and that you were going to move to a different country to do it.” He spoke calmly as she turned towards him in shock before he held up a hoof. “But I know you would never do that. Apples stick together after all. Thinking about the future, I want us to get married one day, Apple Bloom, and I know you want children, right?” He asked as she looked towards the ground and gave a small nod, blushing at the thought of them being married and settling down. Apple Bloom couldn’t help but wonder what Babs would say about her marrying a pegasus. “I know family is supposed to be there no matter what, I’m the same way with my brother. But I want us to be prepared to do things on our own, even if it’s something simple, like moving in together or teaching you how to pay bills. We all got to learn sometime, right?” Rumble finished with a small smile as she turned her head to look him in the eyes before she took a deep breath. “Ah know, but Ah’m scared.” She whispered as he could only hold her tighter in his wing before leaning forward and giving her a small kiss. “Believe me, I am to, Apple Bloom. But we can do this. All you have to do is be willing to take that first step with me.” He responded as she swallowed the saliva in her throat and bit her lip, thinking carefully over what he was asking while they sat in silence. “Ok.” She replied, so quiet that he barely heard her as he chuckled, kissed her forehead and leaned his head on her own. “We’ll figure it out, I promise.” He whispered, not noticing the tears that slid down his girlfriend’s face at the thought of moving away from her family that she’s known her whole life, even if it was only twenty minutes away before she sighed and wiped them away with a hoof, trying to keep a brave face for the pegasus she loved, despite her fears. “I know...I love you, Rumble.” She said as he gave a gentle smile she could not see. “And I love you, Apple Bloom.” He answered as the two sat in silence, watching what remained of the day pass them by.