After leaving Miss Mare’s office, Nick returns to his ongoing lesson of Advanced Drama. He opens the door to find the pupils huddled around Quil as she and they watch the other students one by one and in groups of no more than four attempt their performance on stage. He lets Quil know of his return with a wave of his hand in her view. She turns and recognises his return and places a finger to her lips with clear indication that she was focused. He nods and, despite a blatant look of annoyance from Quil, silently walks up the stage steps and to the computer behind the curtain. Out of view of Quil and most of the students gathered around her, he does not turn on the computer but sits on the chair and watches and observes the student’s routines.
One by one and group by group, they walk on the stage and perform varied skits in front of Quil, who watches with a judgemental gaze and critical thoughts. Each single student performs solo, reciting a section of dialogue of their choosing, while the group act out scenes that are more action oriented. They are judged not only on their acting capabilities and how well the lines are read, but by the section they have chosen and how well they portray the part. After their performance, they are given approval or disapproval by the tutor and a lecture on how to improve their capabilities.
One particular performance stood out to Nick: Sweetie Belle’s. Costumed as a lamb, she gives off a vibrant and significant representation of the Little Lost Lamb early in chapter three. She scans the empty hall and calls out for her master shepherd, giving her all for the role and even sheds a tear for authenticity. Despite not always being able to tell acting apart, Nick could tell by the quality of her voice she was completely focused on her role.
Quil gave away nothing. Her face was deadpan, her movement was minimal, and her eyes were stern. Even during Sweetie Belle’s breakdown as the finale she showed no emotion, but also gave little criticism. Her biggest complaint was Sweetie Belle’s body language, that she was too strict and needed to relax more. “Keep your chin up.” She told her. “A lost sheep needs to show its helplessness, not voice it.”
After all the students perform their part, they remove their costumes and place them back in the chest. Quil continues her lecture, congratulating her group for the performances they gave despite most of them giving an adequate display at best. The praise however did boost even the less-signified student’s moral and they high five and congratulate each other on their first successful audition with Quil.
A few minutes more and the class ends. With a farewell and a final constructive comment from their tutor, the students leave in their groups. Nick stands up about to follow his fellow classmates but was beckoned by Quil with a wriggle of her finger and a sly grin indicating him to come closer. He does so with the expectance of yet more discipline.
For a while she speaks with him like a friend would, or a tutor to another tutor. She talks about the students’ acting and asks to share his thoughts on them. He answers with a hint of indecisiveness, telling her that it is not his place to judge, though he secretively admired Sweetie Belle’s attempts and was sucked in to the world she had believed to be her reality. She pats his shoulder forcefully, the various-sized rings digging into him and no doubt leaving a mark later, and tells him decisions are the world’s reels and that they push novices to apprentices.
She then goes on to state that his removal from class would not affect his due work. He anticipated this and apologises for it. He tells her it was out of his control and that it should not happen again. She tells him not to worry about it so much and that she simply wishes for the score to be finished before the end of the year, which he tells her he can.
She then abruptly changes subject and starts asking questions about his time with the Princess, as if wanting to hear the latest updates to a celebration they were gathering at; why he was summoned, what he was taken for, and the significance of it. He finds her interest in the Princesses curious but shifts it aside as simple admiration. He tells her nothing of what the Princess had discussed with him, that it must remain secret by request of the Princess herself and explains that the situation will not affect his lessons with her or his work on the music for the play, of which she seems to care most about.
She raises one of her eyebrows and rhetorically whispers what plans the Princess had discussed with him. He does not answer, knowing that she was not directly asking him. She tells him she understands, though a little disappointment hung on her words that she was not allowed entry to their secret.
Wanting nothing more, and making it clear, she dismisses him in a hurry. She says she has another class after the lunch break and immediately spins away from him and begins setting up. Nick watches her for a few seconds as she closes the chest and pushes it back under the stage only to drag out another heavier-looking chest before he turns and leaves her to set up.
Outside, he is greeted by waves of students all heading towards the courtyard and presumably to the cafeteria for their well-deserved lunch break. He follows the flow of the crowd through the corridor, out onto the courtyard and down the stairs where he then parts ways and heads back to his room.
In his room, awaiting his return, Jesse is hovering before the window between the kitchen and the bedroom staring out onto the grounds. She turns around when she hears the opening of the door.
“Welcome back.” She says. Nick closes the door and steps into the living room. “I made you some juice.”
She indicates a tall glass of orange coloured juice sitting on the attached counter in the kitchenette which holds orange juice. He thanks her, walks over to the glass and takes a sip. It is still cool, and it slides smoothly down his throat softening his jugular muscles. He sighs in satisfaction.
“How was Drama?” Jesse asks. “Any stars-to-be among the group?”
“I wouldn’t place any bets on it.” He says, lowering the glass and swirling it. “Although that Sweetie Belle has potential.” He takes another swig. “Mm, but do I have a story to tell.”
Her face brightens and her smile beams. She always loved a bit of gossip and was always excited to hear a tale. Nick knew he could trust Jesse to keep secrets but still told her about the promise he made to keep it nothing but. All except one, every secret he ever told her she has succeeded in keeping between her and himself.
She flies onto the sofa and makes herself comfortable and awaits his story. Before he tells his tale, he finishes his drink and leaves the glass on the side. Leaning on the headrest of the sofa, he tells her about the meeting with Celestia in its entirety.
Jesse loved the way Nick told his stories. He spoke in a monotone voice as he tried to recollect the events and, breaking his monotony only with quotes as he tries to mimic their voices. While he could not keep the attention of a young child, his explanations on the details were almost unnecessarily eloquent. The details of his explanations could give anyone whose ears were attentive a clear image of what he witnessed; like listening to a song being repeated, or rewatching a film over and over again. It felt like familiar turf was being tread, as if the listeners were there with him, walking by his side.
A few details of his meeting were left out but others he described in greater detail, keeping the most important ones, beginning with the arrival of Twilight Sparkle taking him to Celestia. Halfway through his presentation he started pacing as he talked his way into Miss Mare’s office where Princesses Celestia and Luna were awaiting his arrival. His thoughts resonated with Jesse’s. She listens intently, eyeing his body language and making few interruptions. The interruptions she did make were from surprise.
Her first interruption was upon hearing him state that both Princesses were together. It was an uncommon visual, but not extraordinary. She states what he already knows; that they are rarely seen together except in the most important conventions. Usually it was singularly Celestia who attended these events as the majority of them were held during the day and her sister would be resting for the coming of night. Rarely were events held in the night, and more often than not they were not as major as those her sister would attend. Jesse asks just how dire the situation was to require the presence of both Princesses, to which he replies with a shrug and carries on.
Her second interruption was after he spoke about his transfer between rooms and being forced to live alongside Twilight. She tells him it gives her shivers. After being told about Twilight’s attitude through Nick’s experiences, she has grown a dislike towards her as thought of a friend let alone a roommate. He emphasises that they will be nothing more than studying partners. Even then, she seemed reluctant.
Nick tells her, “Even if I did want to become friends, I don’t think she’d allow it. That mare’s got some serious issues going against her. Which brings me to why Celestia wants us to study together…”
Her third and final interruption was not of surprise but of another emotion. After she was told about his own personal request that Celestia agreed to help with, she sprung up from the seat. She tells Nick she is disturbed by accepting Celestia’s help without consulting her as a second opinion. She asks if he thinks she would stick to her word. He answers with a nod and a note of confidence.
“Your choice.” She says bleakly. She hops off the seat and floats back in front of the window.
“You have to give her some credit; she is royalty after all. She has many more strings to pull than I to give her an advantage.”
“Including yours?” She responds sharply over her shoulder.
“Don’t act like it’s the end of the world, Jesse. The last thing I need is for you to put a downer on the situation. Anyway…”
He finishes his story while she leans on the wall of the bedroom. She closes her ears and refuses to listen to the end of his story. She lingers on the thought of Celestia helping Nick with his personal plans and stares out of the window.
“I just don’t trust this mare.” She says after a brief silence. “Both of them. They have plans, I can feel it. They’re keeping their cards close to their chests,” then adds in a mumble, “but I can’t figure out why. It just doesn’t make sense. Why would they be so willingly eager to help?”
“You have little trust in anyone nowadays.” Nick says with a light smirk. “It won’t be as bad as you think. Who knows? She might even open herself up to us and you might even get along with her. Even if you don’t, we only have to the end of the academic year anyway. You watch, it’ll fly by, and you’ll be like, ‘Oh, I wish I didn’t have to say goodbye to Twilight so soon’.”
“I have a strong feeling this isn’t going to work out quite as well as you hope.” She says glumly, ignoring his pathetic imitation of her.
They pause for a moment to gather their thoughts. While it is true Jesse has grown more aware of the lack of loyalty in both persons, her feelings have been mostly proven right much to Nick’s discontent. Despite how much he is unwilling to admit it, he too felt he was being taken advantage of. But, once again with the thought of the endgame constantly on his mind, he pushes those thoughts to the farthest reaches of his head. At least for the moment.
He rests on the sofa, sitting on the headrest and watches Jesse. She looks out of the window with folded arms and eyes full of thought. He could tell what was coursing through her head, that this entire situation is a bad idea and Celestia was not to be trusted, but he allows her time to think it through. He allows her to gain an understanding that this is what he needs, or rather desires, and will be a benefit to everybody involved. Hopefully.
After a long thoughtful debate, Jesse finally speaks. “What does Celestia want you to do, exactly?”
“I’m not sure entirely.” He answers. “I think she wants me to change Twilight’s mind towards humanity; show her that they aren’t as bad as she makes believe.” He leans back, stretching out his arms at either side and resting them on the back of the sofa, and looks up at the ceiling. “If that is the case, the question of how remains. What can I bring to the table that Celestia hasn’t already?”
Even now, without proper provocation on what his goal is, he tries to figure out the best and quickest way to earn Celestia’s stamp of approval. He tries to think of the easiest and less arduous ways to change Twilight’s mind. His thoughts return with little quantities, however.
Jesse continues to stare out of the window. She watches the younger students playing outside in the sunshine, chasing each other in and out of the hedge maze and kicking a football between each other. She sighs loudly. “Why can’t you just forget about them? Live your own life without thinking of them? Have a decent job, earn a decent wage. Settle down and have kids, grow old and grey with little worries.”
“You would have me abandon my entire career progress?” He says angrily with a stare of annoyance. One of his personal gripes is being told to forget about his goals, and it is made worse when Jesse tells him this. “Would you have me ignore all my efforts? Burn all my plans? Disregard all I have worked towards? Do you wish for me to live the rest of my life wallowing in endless misery? Do you want me to sustain a feeling of hollowed emptiness forever? Is it so hard for you to accept that this is what I want? What I’ve worked so hard for?”
“No, what I mean is…” She does not finish the sentence and instead pauses. She sighs again and looks up into the bright blue sky. She bites her lip to prevent her from choking. “I don’t know what I mean.”
“I think I do.” He says, calming his voice down. He stands and walks up behind her. “You worry too much.”
“Pfft.”
“No, I’m serious.” He stands behind her and talks to her gently. “You worry too much. I’ve been taking notice and I think it all boils down to one simple fact.”
“Yeah?” She looks over her shoulder at him. “And what’s that?”
“I remember you telling me, years ago, that you don’t like change.” Upon hearing this, she looks back out of the window. “You say you embrace it, but I know you hate it. You’re becoming more and more tense because of it, and it started with the departure from home.” She says nothing and continues to stare out of the window. He hovers a hand on her shoulder. It does not connect, but she feels his touch. “This change will be for the better, Jesse. You just need to loosen up a little. Relax. You need to take some time off and float in the clouds like you used to. Clear your head a little.”
She turns to face him directly. He knew that floating in the clouds was one of her favourite pastimes and it resonated with her. He could feel her heartbeat picking up pace and her face growing a little brighter.
“But…” She starts, but Nick immediately interrupts her by answering her question before she asks it.
“Don’t worry about me. I’m not going anywhere.” He smiles. He takes a step back and adds, “Whatever happened to that book of yours, anyway?”
“I’m working on it!” She answers, placing her hands on her hips and leaning forward. “I’ve just been too busy lately.”
“Busy? With what?”
She wraps her hands around her back and glances away from him. “You know… stuff…”
He folds his arms in amusement. “No, I don’t know. What ‘stuff’ exactly?”
“You know… deity stuff…”
“You’ve been slacking, haven’t you?”
“Humph!” She folds her arms and blows out her cheeks. “I have not been slacking. I told you I’ve been busy.”
His smile widens into a chuckle and he holds up his hands in defeat. “All right, all right, I believe you.” He lowers his hands and points at her. “But you did promise I’d be the first to read it when it’s ready, you know.”
She smiles and nods. “Okay. You win. I’ll float a while before I head out tomorrow. A-and maybe again before I return.”
“That’s the spirit.” Nick says, patting her on the head. Again, it does not connect but she feels its touch. “I think you deserve it. I’ve got to pack, get ready for our departure. I’m receiving a letter tomorrow, from Celestia, with information on where to meet her.”
“A letter?” She makes light of the situation by giggling upon repeating the word. “I haven’t heard that word in years. It’s 2110 and she’s still using letters?”
“I presume she means an email or a direct message.” He heads to his room, opens the door, and enters with Jesse following. “I suggest you start packing your stuff before you leave tomorrow. Preferably tonight. I don’t want you leaving anything behind like you did last time.”
He drags out his rucksack from underneath the bed and throws it onto the sheets with a flop. He unzips the main pocket before stepping towards his closet. He starts removing his shirt and bottoms hanging from the railings and begins folding and rolling them up. He places them into two corresponding piles at the side of the sack, one for each set of clothing.
He walks around his bed to the drawer in the corner and opens it up. He removes his pants and socks from the individual compartments, folds and rolls his pants and ties his socks together, and places them into neat piles at the side of his shirts.
He walks back around and begins to pack, first the bottoms, then the shirts, then the pants and socks. He leaves out one outfit – his uniform and a pair of socks and pants for tomorrow – and zips the sack up. He rests the bag on the seat of the chair near the door, which also hangs his uniform jumper on the back.
He walks back to the top of the bed and sits on it. He pulls out the drawer of the side table and removes the Dushuck (I’m having second thoughts about calling it that now… I’ll come up with something better, I promise) and places it on top of the table to ensure he does not forget about it.
“What lesson you got next?” Jesse asks upon seeing the device.
“It should be three hours with my personal tutor.” He says. He also removes a small coin purse from the table. “But since they’re still absent I’m free for the rest of the day.”
He unclips the purse and rummages his thumb and forefingers inside. From it, he removes a folded American dollar note and three Silver Bits and drops them into his trouser pocket. He places the purse on top of the Dushuck and, with every storage furniture now empty of his clothing, heads back into the living room.
“So, what are you going to do now?” Jesse asks following close behind.
“I think I’ll take a trip to the cafeteria.” He answers. He heads to the exit of his room. “Have some lunch and see what Pinkie Pie’s up to.”
“Pinkie Pie? Pinkie Pie’s here? I haven’t seen her in ages. How’s she doing? Does she still remember me?”
He places a hand on the door handle and turns to face her. “She remembers all of her friends.” He answers with a grin. “Would you like to join me?”
Her smile gleefully widens and she pirouettes towards him. Nick opens the door and she floats out onto the corridor. With him close behind, he closes the door and ensures the lock is functional.
“I’ll see you down there.” Jesse says before phasing through the walls of the building.
He heads down the corridor and pushes his way through the doors and into the lower courtyard. He heads around the outskirt of the courtyard and through the doors leading to the main reception. After giving Grace an acknowledging wave, and a finger flick and wink to Victoria to which she responds with a grin, and walks out of the building.
He steps outside into the direct sunlight. He holds up a hand to shield his eyes. Immediately he spots Jesse entering the cafeteria. He shakes his head, amused by her eagerness, and heads down the steps. He stops on the last step before the dirt path upon hearing a heavy rumbling sound.
He turns to face where the direction of the noise, tilting his hand in suit, and finds the bright golden mane of Applejack underneath her leather hat walking alongside a larger pony coated red with a short, jagged, orange mane and tail. The stallion was pulling a large wooden cart filled with produce and covered with a blanket wrapped tightly around it. Around his neck was a large wooden collar that looked heavier than the stallion himself. Both ponies were on their way towards the cafeteria.
“Nearly there, Big Mac.” Applejack tells him as they near Nick. “Only a few more steps. Then we can finally get some lunch.”
“Hey, little mare.” He greets as they walk by. “How are you?”
“Hello, Nick. I’m good, thanks for asking.” She answers as he walks alongside her. “We’re making a delivery from Sweet Apple Acres to the canteen. They’re running out of carrots.”
“Carrots?” Nick repeats, pulling a face of disgust. “Repulsive things they are.” He glances over her and peers onto the cart. “The entire cart filled with them?”
She looks over the cart and laughs lightly. “That would be a lot of carrots. I’d say about one-third of the cart is a carrot bag. The rest is filler. We try to give them more than they request because they drain them so quickly, and it requires less trips from us.”
“You won’t find me draining your carrots, let me tell you. Besides, what about the farm you were working on the other day?” She tilts her head at him as she figures out what he means. “Don’t they provide for the café’?”
“Oh, that farm.” She says, figuring out he means the farm north-east of the university building. “That farm is run by mostly apprentice farmers, students and volunteers. They don’t produce as much produce as we do up at Sweet Apple Acres, so they tend to ask for help.”
“That makes sense, I guess.” He places his fingers on his forehead and rubs thoroughly. “This might sound a little embarrassing. I recognise your voice, but I can’t recall your name.”
She chuckles light-heartedly. “My name’s Applejack.” She retells him.
“That’s the one.” He says, snapping his fingers before quipping, “I’m surprised you remember my name.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” The large cart-puller gruffly interrupts, sharply turning his head in his direction.
Nick is taken aback by his sudden interruption. The stallion is larger than average stallions he had made acquaintances from, ranging a foot and a half above Nick. His voice is as deep and booming as a bass singer in a quartet, which stirred some thoughts in the back of Nick’s mind.
“Steady on, big bro,” Applejack says, “I’m sure he didn’t mean any offence from it.”
“None at all.” Nick says, eager to explain. “It’s simply a matter of being unable to remember names as well as other people, unless they stand out.” He gets another, sharper glance from the cart-puller but not another word was spoken. He continues in elaboration. “I recognise the sound and tone of the voice much easier than names or faces. I recognised your voice, that’s all.”
“Seems reasonable. Wouldn’t you agree, Big Mac?” Applejack says, looking up to him with a grin. He says nothing and continues to effortlessly pull the cart.
“Applejack,” Nick repeats, tapping his forehead. “I’ll remember it next time.” She smiles, and he leans in real close to her and whispers into her ear, “Who’s the big guy?”
“This here’s Big MacIntosh,” Applejack introduces, “but most call him Big Mac. He’s my big brother and runs the farm with me and the rest of the close Apple Family.”
“Good afternoon, Big Mac.” Nick greets with a small wave. “I’m sorry if we got off on the wrong foot. My name’s Nick. Nice to meet you.”
Big Mac hears him but does not entertain his gesture. His face remains focused on the trail ahead. His breathing is steady yet weighted. The large collar around his neck jingles loudly with every heavy hoof step. He responds to his greeting with an elongated nasally huff.
Applejack tells Nick, “Don’t mind him. He’s a little overprotective of his family.” She adds in whisper, “And a little shy.”
“Okay, I get the overprotective part…” Nick whispers back.
“How’re you finding life at the university?” Applejack asks in an attempt to discontinue the subject.
Nick shrugs. “As basic as all the other schools and colleges I’ve been to. They call it a university, but it makes no difference. Advanced lessons and larger commodities, but that’s about it. I have no faith in the tutors so far, and I’ve only had two classes of which both tutors I’m not apprenticed under.”
“That’s not what I meant…” Applejack says under her breath but decides not to correct him and instead comments on his attitude towards the staff. “Don’t be so harsh to judge. There are good people that teach here.”
“Yeah? Well I’ve yet to meet them.” Nick says with a wrinkling of the nose. He pulls his arms over his head and stretches. “Anyway,” He continues, relaxing his arms, “I’m just about to head for some lunch.”
“Us too.” Applejack says as they reach the steps leading up to the entrance of the cafeteria. “Would you like some company?”
“Sure.” Nick says. “I was going to check in on Pinkie Pie anyway, would you mind if she joined?”
“No, not at all. The more the merrier.”
Applejack removes from the back of the cart a small brown paper bag packed with her lunch. She tells Big Mac that she is going for lunch with Nick and asks if he can finish delivering the goods, which he answers with, “Eeyup,” and follows the path down the side of the building. He slowly proceeds around to the back. There, Miriam was awaiting his arrival and, with the help of two underlings, helps with the unloading of the cart.
Applejack tells Nick that she will find them a seat while Nick picks out his lunch. He accepts and grabs a plastic tray from the stand near the entrance as Applejack ventures into the busy hall in search for a free table for them.
He enters the long line leading up to the front of the servicing counter and awaits his turn for service. When the line moves up, he grabs himself a packed sandwich of cheese, lettuce, and tomato and two small bottles of flavoured water, one flavoured raspberry and the other lemon from the display case, and places them all on his tray.
He moves along, sliding his tray on the steel railings as he goes. When he reaches the servicing counter, he is served by none other than Pinkie Pie herself working hard at the till with her mane curled underneath a hair net and an apron wrapped around her chest and underbelly. Hovering above her shoulder, watching her work, was Jesse. She did not notice him until he greeted her.
“Good afternoon, Pinkie.” He greets.
Upon hearing his voice, she looks up and her face beams. “Nick, how are you?” She asks with less enthusiasm than he is used to. She enters his offerings into the till.
“I’m great, thanks for asking. How about you?”
“Tell her I said hi!” Jesse voices loudly from behind her.
“Jesse says hi.” Nick repeats.
“Jesse is here too? Hello, Jesse.” Pinkie Pie greets, turning her head to the opposite side where Jesse was hovering. “How have you been?”
Jesse hovers to where Pinkie Pie was facing and lowers herself to meet her gaze. She floats inches from her face, but Pinkie Pie remains oblivious. “I’ve been fine, thanks for asking.” She answers. “I’ve been told to float in the clouds for a wh-”
“Not now, Jesse.” Nick sharply tells her. Pinkie Pie turns at him. “She says she’s fine.” Nick repeats. Jesse gives him a piercing glance before turning her nose at him and floats away into the kitchen. “Pinkie, do you have a moment to talk? I need to ask you something.”
“Of course, that’ll be one dollar thirty-five, but what did Jesse want?”
“I’ll tell you later.” He hands her the money, which is placed into the register, and he receives his change.
“No you won’t!” Jesse shouts from the kitchen in the back.
“Okay. I’ll finish up here and come join you in a just a moment.”
“Thanks. I’ll be sitting with, Applejack.” He tells her after a two-second pause to remember the name. “Look for the cowboy hat.” He gestures taking off and putting on a hat before turning and scanning the hall in search for the table Applejack sits at.
He spots her hat from amongst the crowd sat at a table in the middle of the hall close to the entrance and heads towards her. As he nears, he notices two other bodies sitting with her: the elaborate hat-wearing Sophie sitting at Applejack’s side, and the murky-haired Mika sitting at the opposite, both of whom have been sitting there since their arrival.
Applejack’s brown bag was placed on the table and was unfolded and tucked in at the bottom, revealing its contents to all who cared. She had already eaten half of a grey-grass sandwich as the crusts were placed overlapping each other inside the torn walls of the bag, and was starting on the second. Beside the bag sat a small carton of apple juice with a straw piercing out of the hole and an unpeeled orange which gave off a slight fruity smell.
Nick places the tray on the table and slides it across the waxed steel surface with a loud squeal, interrupting the conversation between Applejack and Sophie, and sits at Mika’s side.
“It’s okay, just disrupt our conversation halfway through.” Sophie sarcastically says as he manoeuvres the cheap, plastic-base chair around and sits down.
“With pleasure.” Nick says with a sly grin as he pulls himself in, the steel legs screeching on the tiled floor as he does so.
“I couldn’t find a free table.” Applejack explains as Nick grabs one of the bottles and unscrews the lid. “So, I thought we’d sit with Sophie and Mika. You three know each other, right?”
Mika nods as Nick says before taking a sip of his drink, “Not a problem, what are we talking about?”
“Just been telling Sophie about the recent delivery from Sweet Apple Acres.” Applejack answers.
“Ah, the carrots.” Nick says, pulling out his tongue after his swig and screwing the lid back on the bottle.
“He doesn’t like carrots.” Applejack says, exposing his not-very-defined secret to the rest of the group.
“What?” Sophie says in surprise.
“Thanks, Applejack,” Nick says, elaborately throwing a hand in her direction, “why don’t you tell them about my wooden leg as well?” She holds a hoof over her snout and snickers, trying not to spit blades of grass and breadcrumbs over the table.
“How can you not like carrots?” Sophie asks.
“You have a wooden leg?” Mika asks with genuine intrigue hanging on his voice.
“How can you like carrots?” Nick responds. “They’re disgusting.” He glances to Mika. “What?”
“Do you really have a wooden leg?” Mika repeats, trying his hardest not to glance down and look at his legs.
“How can you not?” Sophie says.
“No, it was a joke.” Nick answers.
“Oh.” Mika says with disappointment.
“I mean, I don’t like eating them,” Sophie continues, “I don’t like the crunchy texture, but the smell of freshly picked carrots is gorgeous.” She lifts her nose and sniffs as she imagines herself in the fields early morn to pick only the freshest vegetables. Nick gives her a look of disbelief, while Mika subtly leans away to peer underneath the table for a clearer look at Nick’s legs. “I find it interesting.” She continues through his stare. “The cultivation, I mean.”
“By all means. To each their own.” Nick says before tearing the seal off the sandwich packet and removing one of the triangular-cut slices of bread. “I for one have no interest in the subject.” He takes a bite and adds with a mouthful of satire, “So, please, carry on.”
Sophie squints heavily at him before returning her attention to Applejack. “So, anyway, before we were rudely interrupted.” She shifts her eyes to Nick, who pulls his tongue out at her. “Aren’t your trees ready to bear?”
Applejack gulps, downing a bite from her sandwich. “Not yet.” She shakes her head. “I reckon they still got another week or so before they start blossoming.”
“You think maybe I could help in gathering them?”
“I don’t see no harm in it.”
“Great! I’ll drag Toby to help, too.”
Applejack was about to speak, but Mika unintentionally interrupts her. He flips his Bit and asks, “Can I help too?”
“Of course.” She answers. “I was gonna say, you don’t need to ask to help. We’ll gladly take all the help we can get. It can get pretty hefty doing it all by ourselves.”
“You don’t have volunteers?” Nick asks after finishing his sandwich.
“Um, excuse me?” Came a muffled, almost silent voice at the end of the table.
The four of them look over to find Fluttershy standing at the edge of the table. In her teeth’s grasp was a tray. Upon this tray lay a colourful bowl of a colourful fruit salad with various fruits, such as sliced apples and bananas and individually plucked grapes and raspberries, all peeking over its rim like curious children. On the plate at its side sat a colourful Vegieburger layered with lettuce, onion strips, and tomato slices, and slathered in mayonnaise. In the corner of the tray stood a clear glass filled with white artificially-prepared milk.
“What’s up, Fluttershy?” Applejack asks.
“Everywhere else is full.” She says. The tray bounces wildly as she speaks. The milk in the glass swills aggressively, almost spilling out. “Can I sit with you?”
“Of course.” Nick says, tapping the table at his side. “Pull up a chair and park ‘er up.” He grabs a hold of his chair and slides over slightly, bumping into Mika’s chair and moving him up to make room for her to sit.
“Thanks.” She says.
She ignores Nick’s movement and sits in the empty seat at the opposite side of him beside Applejack. She places the tray on the table and begins tucking into her fruit salad using a curved spoon.
After a short moment of silence, Nick repeats his question to Applejack before Fluttershy showed up. “You don’t have any volunteers to help with your labour?”
“No.” She bluntly answers. “People who come up just like to visit, sometimes purchase a jug of our Sweet Apple Cider. All the hard labour is left up to us; the Apple Family.”
“Why don’t you come along?” Sophie asks. She reaches over and swipes his sealed bottle from the table.
“Hey!”
“Why don’t you help us harvest apples?” She says, unscrewing the sealed lid and taking a large gulp of water. She sprays the water out to her side after realising what flavour it is and wipes her mouth. “Yuck! That’s disgusting.”
Nick grabs the bottle out of her hand, and the lid afterwards and screws it on, and places it out of her reach. “Why don’t you forget about it.”
She scratches her tongue with her nails before continuing. “You and Fluttershy. I think both of you should come. Toby tells me you haven’t been to Sweet Apple Acres yet. It really is a sight to behold up there.”
“I don’t think so.” Nick rushed his answer. “If there are thieves about, I don’t want my apples stolen.”
“I’m happy to help.” Fluttershy says.
“There won’t be any thievery on my land.” Applejack tells them, throwing an orange slice into her mouth. “Though we decided to give permission to pick out a handful of apples to volunteers as payment.”
“I’m happy to help.” Fluttershy repeats, thinking she had not been heard.
“Apples for labour.” Nick repeats. “I like your thinking.”
“I wouldn’t bother asking someone like him.” Came a familiar voice from behind Nick. Nick and Mika turn around to find Rainbow Dash standing in the aisle, chewing noisily on a cookie. Upon seeing her, Mika releases a sharp gasp and looks down and away from her. “His weak arms probably can’t even carry a bucket of apples.”
“Hello, Rainbow Dash.” Sophie and Applejack say simultaneously. Fluttershy smiles at her with a mouthful of Vegie-meat. Nick swivels his chair around for a better view of her and straightens up.
“And a good afternoon to you, too.” Nick says in jest. Mika says nothing and continues looking down.
Rainbow Dash huffs and ignores his greeting and greets the others instead. She pulls forth a chair from the far reaches of the opposite table with her wing and pushes it between Nick and Mika. “Scoot up, Squirt.” She tells Mika, and roughly yet playfully nudges him with a hoof.
He slides his chair across quickly, and Nick does the same, making enough room for her and she flicks her tail through the space between the seat and the head and letting it dangle. Mika sits a little further away from Rainbow Dash than Nick does and keeps her in the corner of his vision.
“What you eating?” Nick asks Rainbow Dash as she takes another bite from the cookie.
“What’s it to you?” She says sharply, spitting bits of cookie over him.
“Play nice, Rainbow.” Applejack tells her as Nick flicks away bits and pieces off of his uniform shirt.
She shifts her eyes to Applejack then back to Nick. “A Cook-hay.” She reluctantly tells him, though indirectly as if telling Applejack.
“A Cook-hay?” Nick repeats.
“A cookie made purely with hay.” Applejack answers.
“It’s delicious.” Fluttershy says.
“I have an extra one if you want it.” Rainbow Dash says to Fluttershy, holding up another cookie sealed in a clear plastic packaging.
“Never tried one.” Nick says as Rainbow Dash slides the cookie across the table to Fluttershy. She takes the cookie and places it at the side of her now-empty bowl for later.
“Tough luck.” Rainbow Dash sneers. “I only bought two.”
“That’s all right.” Nick says with a grin. He pauses for a moment, glancing at the water bottle Sophie had uninvitingly taken and took a swig out of. “Here.” He says, his mischievous grin growing as he slides the bottle over to her. “Why don’t you have this water, a sign of no ill will.”
She looks at him with a stare of disgust. “No!” She blatantly says, sliding it back. “I saw Sophie drinking from it, so no.”
He laughs loudly, grabbing the eyes and ears of the nearby tables. “There’s no fooling you, is there?” He says with a shake the bottle. “Though I hear some spit gives it that extra flavour.”
“That’s disgusting!” Rainbow Dash says.
Mika starts gipping as he imagines someone else’s saliva sliding down his own throat.
“Knock it off, Nick.” Sophie tells him and he backs down. “You’re making Mika uncomfortable.”
“It’s just a bit of fun.” He says as his defence. “No harm in it.”
“Can we please get back to organising next week’s apple harvest?” Sophie pleads.
At that moment, Pinkie Pie jumps to the end of the table at Nick’s side and places her hooves on the surface. “Hey, guys!” She says, greeting the five with a smile as always.
“I guess not.” She ambiently says, tossing a hand and slamming it onto the table.
The rest greet her with high hi’s and hello’s. Mika glances up quickly to figure out who it was before resuming his staring at his lap.
“Sorry for taking so long.” She says to Nick. “It will have to be a quick one. What did you need to speak to me about?”
“That’s not fair!” Jesse shouts from behind Pinkie Pie. Nick looks over her to find Jesse pointing excessively at Rainbow Dash. “She’s already made an appearance in this episode! She can’t make two appearances! Favouritism!”
“Will you stop shouting!” Nick firmly says. The group look at him with confusion except for Pinkie Pie who is used to him talking to Jesse, and Mika who still stares away from the group.
“Who’s shouting?” Rainbow Dash asks, scanning the hall.
Realising what he had done, Nick slowly turns to face her and asks, “What?” in an unconvincing act of distraction.
“I think he means Jesse.” Pinkie Pie obliviously answers her question. Nick quickly faces her and gives her an abrupt stare.
“Who’s Jesse?” Sophie asks.
“Who are you?” Jesse says, flying to her side.
“You don’t know who Jesse is?” Pinkie Pie says, despite Nick’s piercing stare. “Jesse is Nick’s, mmph mph mph…” Nick quickly places a hand over her mouth and muffled her words.
“Isn’t Jesse your, gohb…” Fluttershy tries to continue for her, but Nick forces the head of the water bottle into her mouth.
It is too early to reveal just who Jesse was to his acquaintances. He had told Pinkie Pie before that he wanted to earn the trust and friendship from people before revealing more about himself, but she must have forgotten in the stress of her work.
“You two are too loud for your own good.” Nick tells them both.
They glance between each other and nod as an indication that they understood his thoughts. He slowly removes his hands, and the bottle, from their mouths and they rub their snouts.
Applejack looks on in interest as she tries figuring out his little secret. Sophie voices her thoughts before she could ask them herself.
“Soo, who is Jesse?” Sophie asks, leaning in with intrigue.
Throughout the rest of the conversation, Jesse floats around the table as she examines them and learns from them.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Rainbow Dash says with a final gulp of her snack. “She’s Nick’s imaginary friend.” She could not contain a straight face while saying it and burst into giggles.
“An imaginary friend at his age, are you serious, Rainbow?” Sophie asks, giving Rainbow Dash a stare of pure unbelievability.
Nick shrugs and smiles avoidantly. “I guess you figured out my secret.”
“Wait,” Rainbow Dash stops giggling, “are you serious?”
She stares at him, waiting for his answer, but he does not meet it. He shifts his eyes away and nods ever so discreetly. She recognises his slight movement and laughs hysterically. She flaps her wings as she leans backwards and invades Mika’s personal space, who quickly rose from his seat and flew out of the cafeteria with pace without anyone noticing he was gone. Nick figures it is better to be humiliated by a false secret than to be stripped of his identity for advantages and allows himself to fall victim to her amusement.
Applejack rubs her chin, ignoring Rainbow Dash’s outburst, and stares judgingly at Nick. Unlike Fluttershy, who had a vague understanding of who Nick is and what Jesse is to him, she was uncertain of his true characteristics. She had already figured out that there was more to him than he let on but does not know what exactly he is hiding. She decides to play the waiting game and let him unveil more about himself to her when he is ready; despite her displeasure of his dishonesty.
Sophie could care less. Her mind is focused on the task at hand; that is to sit everyone down and talk about next weeks’ plans for the harvesting of apples. It annoys her that no one is taking this as seriously as she is.
Nick turns away from Rainbow Dash and faces Pinkie Pie. To her he reveals his reasonings as to why he had asked for her.
“I have a favour to ask, Pinkie.” He tells her above the noise of Rainbow Dash’s laughter. She faces him for full attention but was unable to keep half an eye off Rainbow Dash. “You see, I have this date this Friday…”
“Ooooo!” The group turn their attention to him. Even Rainbow Dash had her intrigue attained as she sits back straight.
“Shut up!” Nick humorously tells them and turns back to Pinkie Pie. “You think you could help set it up?”
“Of course.” She says. “This is Pinkie Pie you’re talking to; the bestest party pony around the University! Don’t you worry, I’ll set everything up.”
“But remember, Pinkie,” he adds with a serious note, “this is a date, not a party.”
“Of course, I’ll remember.” She glances over her shoulder before adding, “And you’ll spread my good name around if I pull it off?”
“Of course. I was thinking of compensating you as well, but recommending you is the least I can do.”
“Thank you.” She says. “I appreciate it. I got to get back to work. Just leave everything to me. It’ll be a date you’ll never forget!”
“No, thank you for helping me out. I really appreciate it.” And with that, she leaped and trotted back to the counter.
He turns back to his group to find them all staring at them. Except for Mika, whose seat was now empty besides Rainbow Dash.
“So?” Sophie says, leaning further in and in a hushed voice.
“So, what?” He says, oblivious to her eagerness.
“Who’s the unlucky girl you’ve roped into dating you?” Rainbow Dash asks.
“The receptionist.” He answers, ignoring her attempts to trigger him.
“Grace?” Applejack asks, with a tint of confusion in her voice.
“No, Vicky.”
“Victoria?” The three say in shocked unison. Even Fluttershy stares at him in open-mouthed surprise.
“Uh, yeah.” He answers with an awkward smile. The four glance between each other with concerned looks cut deeply in their expressions.
“Eh, that’s not a good sign.” Jesse says, hovering at Nick’s side. “I told you she was trouble.”
“Why?” Nick asks, glancing between the four. “What’s with the shocked faces?”
“You do know she already has a boyfriend, right?” Applejack tells him.
“If you can call him that.” Fluttershy says.
Nick shifts his eyes and slowly shakes his head.
“Does ‘Julian Dréard ring a bell?” Sophie asks. Again, he shakes his head. “Nasty piece of work, he is.” She leans in closer and lowers her voice. “Was given a five-year sentence for the apparent manslaughter of at least two mares.”
“Two mares?” Nick repeats, as shocked as anyone would upon hearing the news.
“I heard it was three.” Applejack says, throwing in her two-pennies’ worth.
“Humans.” Rainbow Dash says, spitting the word as it passed her lips with a pungent taste. “Disgusting.”
“Disgusting indeed.” Fluttershy says, matching Rainbow Dash’s repulse though not for the same reason.
“Wait, what do you mean, ‘apparent’?” Nick asks.
“Well,” Sophie starts, “it was never made clear just who killed them. He wasn’t found at the scene of the crime. In fact, he was miles away when the bodies were found. He was at his home with his family and stated that he was with them for the entire month of December; his family backed him up on this.”
“Around Christmas.” Nick confirms, stating the obvious. Sophie Nods. “How did they know it was him?”
Applejack answers this question. “They found something at the crime scene; one crucial piece of evidence that turned all their leads to Julian.” She pauses.
“What was it?” Nick asks eagerly. He waits for her to reveal what was found, but it was Rainbow Dash that interjected.
“It was a glass cat-eye.” She says. “Ripped right out of his own defenceless cat.”
“A cat’s eye?” Nick repeats. His thinking gears were churning away in his head.
“Were it not for that single solitary shard of glass,” Applejack continues, “Julian would still be at large, and still with Victoria.”
“Good riddance.” Rainbow Dash says, waving a hoof. Sophie nods in agreement.
“Nothing’s been heard from him since.” Sophie says.
“I hear they still keep in touch.” Fluttershy adds.
Nick glances between them. “Why are you telling me this?”
“So you know what you’re getting yourself into if Julian is set free.” Sophie answers.
“Which is inevitable.” Applejack says. “If you do ever run into Julian, just be careful.”
“Pfft.” He waves his hand at them all. “I’m not going to be easily intimidated by someone I’ve never heard of. If anything, he should be careful of me.” He shows an almost maniacal smile. “I will not be so easily pushed aside.”
They sit in ambient silence for a moment. The worrying atmosphere of the conversation had drowned their enthusiasm and they were struggling to bring it back up to the surface.
Sophie realised now that Mika had grown quiet and looks over to find his seat empty. “Hey, where’s Mika?” She asks upon noticing the empty seat beside Rainbow Dash. The group look over and begin glancing around the hall but find no sign of him. “Damn. I’ll have to explain to him later when… oh, right!” She snaps her fingers. “The apple harvest! I almost forgot.” The group voice their thoughts that they too had forgotten about the apple harvesting by all the distractions. “Can we please focus on it now? I’ll have to tell Mika later, and Toby too.”
The group nods. They lean in and focus all their attention on Applejack’s arrangements on when the apple harvesting season will begin. She specifies a day for the next week and states they are needed in at first light. They are told to meet at the farmhouse at Sweet Apple Acres and will start with or without a full group. They all agree to the terms and place their hands together, binding a promise.