The morning was pleasant and the sun was shining, but a light breeze promised it wouldn’t get too hot. Perfect, fluffy clouds drifted through the sky and overall it was promising to be a very good day indeed.
Apple Bloom hummed happily as she led Sweetie and Scootaloo to the castle gates. The guards outside gave them a curious look, but let them pass without any troubles.
Sweetie furrowed her brows as Apple Bloom continued down a hall and seemed to know exactly where to go. “Uh, Apple Bloom?”
“Hmm?”
“…Why are we in the castle?”
“Not that it isn’t awesome and all, but yeah, even I’m a little confused here.”
Apple Bloom grinned as she looked over her shoulder, “Oh don’t worry, you’ll see soon enough.”
Sweetie pursed her lips but didn’t say anything else. She looked around and took comfort in the fact they seemed to only be in the outer halls of the castle, places usually open to the general public.
The hallway was stunning, with high ceilings supported by marble columns and multiple stained glass windows depicting beautiful renditions of important figures or places in Equestria.
Eventually, they came to another set of doors, the guards at this one stopping them. Apple Bloom dug through her saddlebags and presented a laminated pass. After a quick inspection, the doors were opened and they were let through.
Sweetie gasped as they walked through the entrance to the Royal Gardens. Beautiful hedges surrounded them, creating a feeling of seclusion as they trotted down the path and further in.
Even Scootaloo was moved by the sights, a soft ‘whoa’ escaping her as the hedge path opened into the main garden area. It was large, open, and full of life. There was flora and fauna of all kinds, trees and flowers and animals that they had never even seen before.
Sweetie sputtered, “Apple Bloom, how, this is, I mean…”
Apple Bloom was grinning madly as she trotted over to a pond and whisked a picnic blanket out of her bags. She sat down on it and gestured Sweetie and Scootaloo over, waiting until they had settled down before answering Sweetie’s unasked question.
“Well, we do know the current reigning princess. It only took one message to let her know our plans and ask for a favor.”
Sweetie blushed and shifted on the blanket, “Gee, kinda wish I had thought of that. Maybe then we could have actually seen the Opera…”
Scootaloo shrugged, “Eh, I don’t think we really missed out there. No offense Sweetie, but I think the donut date ended up being way more fun than an Opera would have been.”
Sweetie pouted for a moment before sighing and nodding, “Yeah, you’re right.” Her lips twitched into a smirk, “Either way I got to see you in a dress, so it was all worth it.”
Apple Bloom snickered as she pulled out tins and boxes full of treats. “Yeah, that was the best part I think.”
Scootaloo stuck out her tongue, “Well maybe if you ask nicely I’ll put it on more often.”
Sweetie gasped, her voice reaching an almost ear piercing octave as she squeaked, “Really?!”
A flock of birds scattered from the trees near them and Scootaloo winced as she took her hooves away from her ears. “Yes, so long as your voice never does that again.”
Sweetie grinned widely and, not trusting her voice, simply nodded. Apple Bloom chuckled and waved her hoof over the opened food containers. “Well, help yourselves. I had Sugar Belle help me with some of the baking.”
Scootaloo licked her lips and shifted through a box of turnovers, finally selecting one and taking a bite, “Mmm, yum!”
Sweetie carefully cut into a fruit tart, ‘oohing’ as she placed her slice on a small plate. “Yeah, this looks amazing, thanks!”
Apple Bloom smiled and cut herself a slice from the same tart, “No problem. I’m happy to bake for y’all.”
They lounged and snacked on the various desserts, enjoying the beautiful day and delicious food. Little conversation was had, and what was what had was to point out animals and compliment the food further.
Scootaloo flopped onto the blanket with a satisfied sigh and looked up at the sky. After clearing away some of the containers, Apple Bloom and Sweetie joined her, their heads next to each other.
A comfortable silence settled over them as they watched the sky. The weekend had had its fair share of crying and laughter, fun and not fun moments, and it felt nice to take a moment and forget about it all.
Sweetie hummed in thought, face scrunched as she seemed to debate something before she rolled onto her stomach and threw her hooves around Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. They turned on their sides and snuggled into her without question, though both wondered what triggered this sudden bout of affection.
Sweetie let out a deep breath, “Do you ever stop to think how lucky we are? How a single, random chance event brought us together and started us on this path? And, and then every decision, every argument and every time we came back together…What if one time we didn’t? Where would we be?”
Apple Bloom lifted her head and kissed Sweetie. “I don’t rightly know, but I can’t say I never thought about it. It’s a scary thought, to imagine a future without the two of you. Even a future where we just stay friends don’t feel right.”
Scootaloo raised her head as well and kissed them before sighing. “Yeah. You girls are just, you are the best things to ever happen to me. I don’t know where we would be, but I’m happy with where we are now.”
Sweetie sniffled and wiped away the tears that had formed in her eyes. “I’m really happy with this too. Even though our first two dates didn’t go perfectly to plan, they turned out well.”
Apple Bloom kissed away a stray tear on Sweetie's face and smiled, “When has anything ever gone perfectly according to plan with us?”
Scootaloo chuckled, “Yeah, we are like, the definition of ‘not perfect’. And you know what, I don’t think I would have it any other way.”
Sweetie tilted her head, “You mean ‘imperfect’?”
Scootaloo groaned, “Sweetie, I’m trying to have a moment here, stop being such an egghead.”
Sweetie smirked, “I thought you liked me how I am?”
Scootaloo deadpanned her and Sweetie giggled before pecking her lips. “I’m sorry, you are trying to be sweet and serious, please, continue.”
Scootaloo huffed, though a smile pulled at her lips after the short kiss. “Anyways, mushy romance stuff, love you through the good and the bad, life wouldn’t be the same without you, yada yada yada. There.”
Apple Bloom snorted, “That was about the most Scootalooest way to say it.”
“Oh yeah? I’d like to see you do better.”
“I can’t, so I won’t.”
Scootaloo sat back with a blush, feeling strangely flattered. “Oh.”
Sweetie laughed and nuzzled both of them before standing up to stretch out. She let out a soft groan as her back popped and shifted around a bit. “I think my legs are still sore from skating so much yesterday.”
Scootaloo shrugged as she stood up, “I told you you could take more breaks. I don’t feel anything.”
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes as she stood up, “Oh don’t tease her like that, Sweetie isn’t used to that much exercise in a day.”
Sweetie sniffed and held her nose up, “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear any of that.” She then looked around, “Hey Apple Bloom, is all of the Garden open to us?”
“Most of it. There are some private areas we aren’t supposed to go, but they are roped off.”
Sweetie nodded, “Cool. You girls want to go and explore a bit?”
Scootaloo shrugged, “Sure. Is there anything interesting in here we should try and find Apple Bloom?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“Cause you are super good with maps and stuff.”
Apple Bloom opened her mouth to retort, but instead sighed. “I guess. Oh! Actually yeah! There’s a maze around here filled with flowers from all over Equestria and beyond. Twilight set up a sort of scavenger hunt thing for guests to fill out as they go through.”
Scootaloo perked up, “A scavenger hunt? Do we get a prize?”
Sweetie snickered, “Knowing Twilight, it's probably the knowledge we gained by going through.”
Apple Bloom nodded, “Yeah that's pretty much it. But it’s really pretty and I think it’ll be fun.”
Scootaloo pouted at the thought of not getting a prize but shrugged it off. She wouldn’t admit it out loud, they had just finished all the mushy love talk, but maybe, just maybe… her prize would be time with the two ponies she loved most.
Apple Bloom packed up the remains of the picnic and the blanket into her saddlebags and pointed towards a large set of hedges, just around the pond. “That’s the entrance over there.”
Scootaloo looked around with a sly grin, “Do you think Twilight will be mad if we…” she dropped down into a runners starting pose, wings flared out, “…raced there?”
Apple Bloom matched her grin and dropped down too, “What’s that saying about asking for forgiveness rather than permission?”
Sweetie face-hoofed, “Ugh. You guys can race but I’m gonna walk there. Want me to take your bags, Apple Bloom?”
“Sure! That’s awful sweet of you. Almost as sweet as knowing I’m gonna win.”
“You wish! I beat you to the donut shop and I’ll beat you here too.”
Sweetie rolled her eyes as she took Apple Bloom’s saddlebag and put it on her own back. She started towards the maze entrance at a casual trot, ears flicking as she heard Scootaloo count down from three.
There was the sound of hooves beating against the ground and a strong breeze that washed over her as Scootaloo and Apple Bloom took off past her, sprinting as fast as they could. She sighed and shook her head, wondering if the frequency of their impromptu races would only get better or worse the longer they were together.
She turned her face to the sky and smiled as the warm sun beamed down on her. She thought to the other night, when Apple Bloom instigated the race to Joe’s and how much fun it was. Then to today, when she was too sore to think about running. She wouldn’t always participate in Apple Bloom’s and Scootaloo’s races, but she was glad they didn’t seem to mind when she did.
Sweetie furrowed her brow as she looked back to the ground, to the distant shapes of Apple Bloom and Scootaloo prancing around the entrance, no doubt having another round of arguing who got there first.
She found herself thinking about their relationship. Three very different mares somehow coming together as friends, and, eventually, lovers. They had the same disagreements and spats, but there was a different feeling when it was with someone you loved.
She thought about their love language, how they each showed each other they cared. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were very physical, and these sorts of races were commonplace, even if the situation was slightly inappropriate.
Sweetie’s love language was also fairly physical, though more with touch. Yet, she also loved to give and receive gifts; no matter how small. A box of chocolates here, a flower there, even a pretty rock found while walking was greatly appreciated.
What all this said about her relationships, she wasn’t sure at the moment. What she was sure of though, was that she loved those mares more than anything and was grateful they agreed to this date weekend.
She was smiling again by the time she got to the entrance. She pecked her marefriends cheeks before turning her attention to a table set up with cards and pens and a sign explaining the rules.
Scootaloo picked up a card, “Looks like we get a prize after all, the card!”
Sweetie giggled and picked up one for herself, “Well, it is a lovely looking card.” She peered closer at the pictures and names of the flowers they would try to find. “Oh wow, I’ve never heard of half of these.”
Scootaloo gasped dramatically, “But I thought you knew everything?!”
Sweetie’s deadpan didn’t last for long as Apple Bloom’s snicker made her lips tremble back into a smile. “Ugh, I just can’t stay mad at you.”
Scootaloo’s grin was downright devilish as she retorted with a smug, “I know.”
Apple Bloom coughed to get their attention, waving a hoof at the maze entrance. “Y’all ready to try and find flowers?”
Sweetie nodded, “Yeah, let’s go!”
Apple Bloom led the way as they passed through the entrance and into the maze. Hedge walls towered on either side as they trotted down a grassy path and delved deeper into the confusing twists and turns.
At seemingly random intervals, there were small alcoves with pots of flowers, some of which Sweetie was happy to point out were on her card.
Scootaloo scratched her neck as she stared at a hanging pot and looked down at her card, “Wait, do we all have different flowers?”
Apple Bloom compared her card to the pot and marked it down, “Looks like it. I’ve got this…” She squinted at the writing, “Blue Bacopa? Yeah, I think that’s what this is.”
Sweetie nodded, “Yeah, I don’t have this one, but I did have Oxalis Triangularis and Rhododendron.”
Scootaloo scrunched her nose as she reached out to the lower hanging flowers and took a closer look, just to make sure she didn’t miss it on her card. “And those are in ponish…?”
Sweetie giggled, “The ‘false shamrock’ and azaleas.” She frowned slightly as Scootaloo sneezed, and then coughed. “You okay Scootaloo?”
Scootaloo nodded, sniffling and rubbing her nose as she stepped back from the pot. She coughed again, “Y-yeah, I think it’s just all the pollen.”
Apple Bloom frowned in concern, “I don’t know Scoots, your voice is sounding kinda bad. There’s a first aid station somewhere around here, maybe we should go try and find it.”
Scootaloo lifted a hoof to wave off Apple Bloom’s concerns, but stumbled and fell down. Her breathing became labored, raspy gasps and she clutched at her throat, which was feeling weird all of a sudden.
Apple Bloom cursed and grabbed Scootaloo, throwing her over her back and pointing at Sweetie. “Twilight said to send a flare up if we ran into any trouble, there are guards everywhere and they’ll see it and come help.”
Sweetie nodded, trembling as she focused her magic enough to send a flare into the sky. Almost immediately, a guard teleported in, eyes scanning around to assess the situation and check for danger. His eyes widened as he saw Scootaloo, “Allergic reaction?”
Apple Bloom nodded, “We think so. It’s getting worse so I’m worried it’s severe.”
The guard nodded, “We have a hospital wing for staff and injured visitors. I’m going to teleport us out. This may feel weird.”
His horn lit and with a flash of light and loud ‘pop!’, they were outside the maze. Apple Bloom shook her head to clear it and looked at the guard, “Alright, where to now?”
“Follow me.”
They took off at a quick canter, Sweetie following behind with a worried look on her face. The hospital wing wasn’t too far away, and soon Scootaloo was on a plain white hospital bed with nurses fussing over her.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie stood in the corner of the room, trying to stay out of the way. Apple Bloom had her hoof wrapped around Sweetie, comforting the shaking unicorn.
“Apple Bloom…She’ll, she’ll be okay, right?”
“Eyup. She’s in good hooves Sweetie.”
Once Scootaloo was stabilized with an oxygen mask and IV drip, the nurses stepped back and sighed in relief. One of them turned to Apple Bloom and Sweetie, smiling softly. “She’ll be okay, you got her here in good time. She’ll need to stay here for a few hours just to be safe, but she should make a full recovery.”
Sweetie sat down hard, tears rolling down her cheeks, “Oh thank Celestia. Thank you. Is it okay if we stay here?”
The nurse nodded, “Of course, just be respectful to the patient on the other side of the curtains. Just flag down a nurse or push the call button if you need anything.”