//------------------------------// // Subject 97: Hidden Desires // Story: Interviews With Equestrians // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// I had to say that our workout was a really good one. There were some strange yoga poses and positions that Tree Hugger had apparently taught to Cheerilee, but it was worth it to see what she could do. For the first one, she was on top of me, and applied a lot of pressure to my body to help grind out my stress and tensions. It also assisted her in feeling relaxed as well, because I heard her give a satisfied sigh. It was difficult to keep up with a mare that was a bit older, and far more experienced than I was. But I guess that was half the fun of it, wasn’t it? Though, after the first set of exercise, I was already panting a little. “Are you tired?” she asked with a teasing flutter of her eyes. I blushed, and chuckled. “Hehe...nah, I’m good. You’re amazing at this, though.” She giggled as she stood up. “Well, when your parents stay on your flank about staying in shape and finding the right guy, you learn how to do a thing or two. I could feel your hooves the whole time. The muscular tension was thick enough to cut through.” She turned around, and prepared to start the next one. “Wait...your parents?” I asked, “What’s the matter with them?” Cheerilee turned her head to look at me as she bent downwards to engage the next position. “Ah...well, I suppose now’s a good time to tell you. To make a long story short, they were always trying to push me around to getting with a guy and it got to a point where I felt like having a romantic partner was the only way I could feel...validated within myself if that makes any sense,” she explained with a frown. “And how do you feel now?” That frown became a smile. “That I needed to find happiness within myself first before I could realize that there was somepony out there that could love me. That being...you.” Oof. That hit me right in the best spot: My heart. It felt like I had fallen in love with her all over again. “Wow...I...I never would have expected.” She giggled, and wiggled her tail at me. “Yes. You deserve all the love in the world. Now...are you going to help this old mare with the next stretch, or do I have to do it myself?” I smiled, and approached her. “No, ma’am. I’m always willing to try new things.” Outside… “Now let’s see if you really are going to stay out of business where you don’t belong, Pale Vest--” Trixie stopped dead in her tracks as she stared through the window. A shade of crimson across her muzzle. “...” At Cozy’s Home… Since dad was doing stuff with Cheerilee, I knew he’d be in good hooves for the time being. All I was worried about was my next move regarding how I’d make money and move up through life. As for my future...I had no idea. Pale had given me a second chance, but who's to say that I really had an opportunity to redeem myself? It was all very...confusing for me to think about. I sighed, and sat down on my couch to watch TV for a while. It was a strange thing to witness, technology had advanced since I had been turned to stone for twenty years. Businesses flourished, ponies had mechanical augments, new types of weapons and magic had been developed. By golly, the world was a whole new place! Not to mention the advent and creation of loads of new agencies to seek out and uncover secrets like the one that Pale was a part of. Part of me really wanted to be more involved somehow. But I knew that not everypony would trust me. It was on me, myself, and I to earn back the trust that I had burned all those years ago. With Hearth’s Warming Eve next month, I’d need all the support I could get. And I already had some ideas. Knock-knock! My ear flicked when I heard a light tap upon my front door. “Coming!” I responded. I flew over to the door, and opened it to find the yellow earth pony mare from the Apple Family Farm. “...Applebloom? What are you doing here so late?” She had a saddle on her back. Tied down to that saddle with three straps was a steel case that held two apple pies inside. “Mind if Ah come in?” she asked. I sniffed, and got a waft of delicious cinnamon apple that hit my nose. “Sure, no problem! What’s the pie for?” I let her in, and closed the door behind her. Applebloom trotted into the dining room, and placed the case on my table. “These are yer bonuses for helpin’ me out at the farm the other day. If ya wanna become a full-time helper, just say the word.” “F-for me?” I couldn’t believe it. That was so awesome of her to do. But taking a job at the Farm full time? No way. Applejack would throw a fit both at me and her sister. And that was the last thing I wanted. “Thank you so much. But I-I don’t think AJ would want…” “Shuck, sugarcube,” the youngest Apple sibling consoled me with her older sister’s favorite term of endearment, “Ya’ll ain’t got nothin’ to worry about. Starlight became friends with mah sister and Ah in no time. What makes ya think ya can’t do the same?” I tapped my hooves together nervously. I wasn’t exactly sure how to put it into words, but I did my best. “Because...well, I’m just concerned for whether or not I...can show that I’m worth being her friend.” The yellow earth pony put her hoof on my shoulders, and gazed into my eyes with her own honest ones. “Cozy. Ya’ll wanna know somethin’ Granny Smith told me before she passed?” That’s something I never would’ve expected. Bringing up her deceased grandmother for a conversation like this...it must have been really important to her. So I made an effort to hear her out. “What did she tell you?” “She said, ‘If somepony wants to make a change for the better, no matter who they are. Give them that chance. Only if they deny it should ya take ‘em down.’ And looks like to me that yer takin’ the chance, ain’tcha?” I nodded. “Well, yes. Pale fought so hard to bring me back. So it’s only fair that I listen to what he says and try to make friends with others. I can’t undo what I did in the past, but I can still be a better pony today.” That was unexpected. Applebloom was surprisingly motivational, and it gave me the ammunition I needed to go forward. However, I didn’t want to be locked into being a farmer. I wanted...something. I just didn’t know what it was yet. “For now...I think I’ll help out on your farm when I can, if that’s okay.” “Ain’t nothin’ to it. Ya know, Applejack and Ah just started harvestin’ pumpkins fer the Ponyville Days Festival this comin’ Fall.” She nudged me with her hoof, “We could sure use a helpin’ hoof. And then, ya’ll may even find somepony that’s willin’ to give ya a job! What is is that yer good at?” I tapped my hoof on the ground. “Um...planning? Organization? Scheming? Tactics?” Applebloom rubbed her hoof against her chin as she gave it some thought. “Hmm...sounds like you’d be the perfect manager fer...somethin’! Heh. Er, sorry. It’ll come to ya, don’t worry.” “Yeah, you have a point. And thanks for the pie. Wanna stay and eat some together?” She shook her head. “Would love to, but Ah gotta get back home, and start workin’ on mah alchemy studies. Ya know, muh potions n’ junk. Ya never know when somepony’s gonna need a brew.” She grabbed her saddle, and giggled. “Hehe. Plus, Ah got like half a dozens pies in the fridge at home.” Oh duh! Why didn’t I think of that? I laughed along with her as I escorted her to the door. “Well, thanks for that Bloom. I’ll be sure to think about what you said.” Applebloom trotted through the door as I opened it. She was about to say goodbye when I saw her ear flick. “Hm? Now what’s she doin’ over there?” “Eh?” I poked my head out of the front door. Applebloom pointed towards Pale’s house that was just across the road. I looked a bit closer, and saw Trixie hiding in the bushes. Wait what?! Was she spying on him? Unless...oh…I knew why. “That’s a bit strange ain’t it, Cozy?” she looked at me with a glare of confusion. “Well...I think it’s because she’s probably been ordered by Princess Twilight to make sure Pale doesn’t do anything crazy.” She continued to stare at me, now even more confused than before. “Wait, wait, what? Ya’ll gon’ have to back it up, partner. Ah thought Twilight liked makin’ use of his skills. What happened?!” Well, it was going to be interesting to see how she’d react, that was for certain. “No way!” Applebloom shouted, her bow stood up on end along with her ears, even, “So there’s this new Changelin’ that’s out and about and he can’t help find her? Landsakes, that’s a heavy load.” “Well..she’s not exactly active yet since she doesn’t have an army. But King Thorax is going to assist in tracking her down,” I explained, “But yeah. Pale’s not allowed to get involved, so I’m guessing Trixie’s just watching out for what he might do.” The earth pony mare scoffed. “Tch. Yeah, that’ll totally work. And Ah think Ocellus might be able to help if she catches wind’a this, ya feel?” “Most definitely,” I replied with an earnest nod. Then I looked up, and saw Trixie quickly get up, and flee the scene with a bit of a spooked look on her face. What could she have seen in Pale’s house that made her get so...scared? “Well that was weird, what could be going on that made her leave?” “I dunno,” Applebloom replied as she watched the blue unicorn dart off into the night. “But we probably should see what’s goin’ on fer ourselves. Make sure nothin’ bad is happenin’.” “Agreed.” I said as I stepped outside of my house, and closed the door behind me, “Let’s go.” And so, Applebloom and I walked across the road on the quiet night to see just what been happening in Pale’s house that warranted Trixie to spy on him, and simultaneously made her run away. The answer was something I wasn’t prepared for. Literally. As we got closer, we could hear faint grunts, and groans that came from inside. It sounded like Cheerilee and Pale were really working out hard in there. But for whatever reason, Applebloom looked put off as well. Her ears--and bow--drooped downwards. “Uhhh...maybe we should head back home,” she commented and started to back away. I tilted my head. “Eh? What are you talking about? It just sounds like they’re working out. Probably wrestling, or whatever.” “Oh my Twilight Sparkle above. She’s been in stone fer so long that ain’t nopony’s taught her about the bees and the birds! Ah knew from experience when Ah heard Big Mac and Sugar Belle ‘wrasslin’. That ain’t wrasslin’! But Ah gotta make sure she don’t find out. At least not yet.” Applebloom looked like she was lost in thought for a moment. I was about to say something, but she spoke out of the blue. “Um….why don’t we have a sleepover, heh! That way we can keep talkin’ and learn more about what ya wanna do?” “Hm…” I tapped my hoof against the ground. I guess Pale and Cheerilee working out wasn’t very interesting to look at. “A sleepover sounds pretty cool. I got loads of snacks and stuff that aren’t apple-related. And some new craft projects I’ve been working on. Wanna see?”” I trotted back across the road to my house, satisfied knowing that Pale was happy. “Phew. Thank heavens. Dodged a mighty explosive bullet, there.” Applebloom thought to herself as she followed. “Sure! Ah’d love to!”