//------------------------------//
// 21 - Family 
// Story: Slice of Velvet and Pear 
// by David Silver 
//------------------------------//

"Ah think ah got it."

Big Mac looked over at Applejack's declaring things. "What've ya got?"

"Mah feelings. Sorted, ah mean." She nodded firmly as she stood up. "Got it all straight."

"That's good." Big Mac moved to sit beside her. "Gonna share, or ya just like teasin'?"

Applejack prodded at her bigger brother, a happy smirk on her face. "Gettin' to it, promise! Now, don't know if ya know or not, but Twilight came up and asked if we could kiss, but not like sisters."

This got a blush out of Big Mac, somehow going even more red. "Nope."

"Yep, happened. Now, she was as confused as ah was. Still pretty sure somepony put her up fer it. Not even mad." She waved it off. "But ah've been thinkin', fer months."

Big Mac sat up tall at that in a jerk of a motion. "That lon'?!"

"This is serious!" Applejack thumped the soft ground, glaring at her brother. "And ah don't think ah want a mare, especially not Twilight. She's a great sister, but not what ah'd want from a girlfriend, which I don't think ah want at all."

Big Mac was silent for a moment, a trick he still had, even if not nearly as refined. "So... ya want a stallion then?"

It was Applejack's turn to darken. "Wouldn't mind a nice one... A hard workin' one! Like my brother." She placed a hoof on him. "Except not my brother."

"Aw shoot." He did not look that upset to be put out of the running. "Well, alright then. If ah run into any that look right, ah'll let ya know."

The siblings touched shoulders and met hooves, that all sorted out. "Whatcha talkin' 'bout?" A small pony had joined them, her ribbon bobbing in her little trot over. Apple Bloom was looking at them both curiously. "Can ah help?!"

Applejack broke into laughter at the idea. "This ain't somethin' ya can, but ah 'ppreciate the thought plenty." She hooked an arm around Apple Bloom, drawing her in for a hug. "Yer the best lil sis ah could ask fer!"

The Apple family had no doubts at that moment.





"You look upset." Moon raised a thick brow at Twilight. "It is an unusual look for you. May I be of assistance?"

"Oh, um... You wouldn't want to hear about this, I think." She worried her hooves together a moment. "Oh! I meant to say thank you. You two have been really going all out for me. I don't think the library's been this clean so consistently before."

"I appreciate your noticing." But Moon Dancer didn't look that proud. "You're avoiding the question. I've employed similar techniques before. Is it private?"

Twilight listed a little to the side. "A little bit. You remember, before... Did I mention? I had asked Applejack if she... wanted to try romance. She brushed me off. It's just, apparently, she's been actually thinking about it, a lot, for months..." She cycled her hooves in the air. "And decided she really likes me as a sister and friend, and not like a girlfriend."

Moon went still, words failing her.

"Moon Dancer?" Twilight poked the abruptly stiff mare. "You alright?"

"I don't know what to say." Moon inclined her head. "Putting this into priorities... I am sorry you were hurt by her decision. Can I help?"

Twilight let out a strained laugh. "Funny thing, but now I think I need a few months of considering. It's a funny thing, like I feel rejected, again, even though I already was. Nothing changed today, but feelings... they're like that."

Moon set a hoof on Twilight's side, but no words came. Her emotional vocabulary wasn't up to the task, so she just didn't even reach for it. And yet, a smile came from Twilight. Perhaps nothing had been exactly the right thing to say. Moon made a little mental note for the future. Sometimes, just shutting up was the correct course of action.





"Twilight, this will not do, darling." Rarity shook her head, eyeing the old dress hovering before her. "I will not have my friends going to the gala in this." She considered it a moment. "In fact... I can't allow this for any of you." She clopped her hooves. "So I'll fix it."

"Fix it? It's fine." Twilight waved at her old and plain dress. "Just needs a little touching up."

"Ha ha... No." Rarity shook her head firmly. "You sit back and let a professional handle this! I'll have darling dresses for you all!" She got to measuring Twilight from top to bottom, making notes of her findings. "We will be the belles of that ball, and they'll be talking about us for years!"

Twilight was just as suddenly shoved out of the store. "A-alright?" The door closed, a 'busy' sign hung from the doorknob. Creation was happening. "Well..." She could at least inform the other girls of what had happened. She went off to do that. Most were happy to get the news.

"Oh, that's very nice of her." Fluttershy rubbed at her cheek and fluttered her lashes with thought. "I hadn't even asked."

Applejack nodded proudly. "Shouldn't be too hard. Ah'm a classic country mare."

"Better show off how awesome I am." Rainbow pumped a hoof with a grin.

Pinkie bounced and giggled, which was her response to many things. "Can't wait to see it!"

It was Moon who was least prepared. "I usually just wear what the princess gives me to wear."

Rarity cocked a brow up at that response. "But you're not living with the princess, dear. Unless she's made plans, I imagine she plans you to select something this year." She tapped at her chin. "You go every year?"

"It is not optional." Moon nodded as if that was obvious. "She is my mentor." Her ears suddenly pricked. "However, you are a professional."

"Thank you." Rarity looked pleased at the statement. "But that--"

"I mean that I should trust your judgement." Moon turned to offer her profile. "Whatever dress you make, I feel certain it will be of sufficient quality. Thank you for offering your talents."

Rarity curled a hoof to her chin. "Hm. Ah! Do you have pictures of your old dresses? That'd give me a starting point. Failing that, tell me what your favorite things are. Is it magic? I think it's magic."

Moon inclined her head. "It is magic." Found out. "You have been paying attention." She glanced away and back. "It is also Twilight, though I am unsure how to make that a theme in a dress."

Rarity colored suddenly as she burst into a titter. "Oh my! Dear, making such confessions... I love it. Hm, I'll do what I can."





Applejack slid a small plate forward. "Go on."

The plate began to glow with magic as Twilight lifted it up to twirl slowly for her inspection. "Very nice, like it just came out of a book." She tapped at it once before daring a small bite. "Mmm! You've been practicing."

Applejack nodded with satisfaction. "The Gala keeps on gettin' closer, an' ah don't want to mess this up! Ah'll help, and learn. Come back twice the chef ah already am!"

Twilight poked lightly at her friend and sister. "I thought you were more of a rodeo pony than a chef?"

"Are ya sayin' ya can't be both?" Applejack raised a brow. "Different things at different times. Not like ya can even do rodeo most days anywho. But cookin'? Now that's everyday. Ya gotta eat. So if ah can put down some quality vittles fer my family, then ahm doin' somethin' right, near as ah can figure."

Twilight raised her hooves wardingly. "Sorry, I wasn't trying to chastise. I'm jealous, not naysaying. I'm just a librarian."

"You keep saying that." Applejack thumped Twilight on her rump, right where her books of a cutie mark was. "You are more than just that. Jus' like ah'm more than an apple." She gestured back at the three apples that adorned her side. "Ain't much about rodeo that involves apples, sugar cube, but wouldn't give that up now. Ya done help us 'round here all the time, but that ain't much a book thin', last ah checked."

"Books can help learn all kinds of apple farming tips," countered Twilight with a bright smile. "Which I am more than happy to bring to this table, especially if it means I get more Applejack treats." She took a fresh bite of Applejack's confection with obvious pleasure. "Mmm..."

"Did ya save some fer me?" There was Pear Butter, entering the room at a walking clip-clop. "Ah wanna taste!"

Applejack cut a fresh slice with a wide serving spatula she held in her mouth, allowing her to serve up a new small plate towards her mother. "Here ya are! Ah think ah'm gettin' the hang of it."

"Ah'll be the judge of that." Pear Butter sat at the table with a proper look about her, faked as it was. She took a small nibble, making quite the showing of sampling and judging it. "Hm. Hm... Ya sure yer usin' enough of the Prench Press?"

Applejack raised a brow high at that. "That's fer makin' drinks, mom."

"Oh." Her official look faded into giggles. "Right. Well, this tastes wonderful." She licked up some of the delicate frosting. "Can't believe my little girl went and made something so fancy like this." Pear looked at Twilight with sudden new judgement.

"Hm? Did I do something?" Twilight set down her mostly emptied plate.

Pear crossed her arms. "Jus' wonderin' what you'll be doin' at that fancy party. Applejack'll be workin'."

"Makin' us proud." Granny emerged from the stairs to join them.

Twilight beamed at the announcement. "Changed your mind?"

Granny snorted softly. "Not entirely, but if she's gonna do it, ah ain't gonna not support her. It's honest work, an' it's helpin' the farm. So..." She climbed up onto an available chair and sat. "So ah'm gonna try one of these fancy treats ah yers."

A plate was served with a smile. "Be real honest wit' me. Can't get better without feedback."

Granny took her turn, smacking her lips together with the taste of it. "Yer usin' a bit too much honey." She wobbled a hoof. "Makin' the taste off and thickenin' it right up."

Applejack recoiled. "Um, thanks! But... how do ya know that?"

Granny hiked a brow at Applejack. "Whippersnapper! Ah been cookin' before you were even a fond thought in her eyes." She thrust a hoof at Pear as if accusing her of something. "Ah got a trick or three up mah sleeve when it comes to makin' a sweet little treat. Now, ya asked for honest, and ya got it. Now what?"

"Now..." Applejack turned back to her ingredients, tapping at the floor as she did so. "Now ah try to do it again, but better!" And back to cooking she went, ready to incorporate the feedback she had gotten. "Thanks fer the tastin'."

Pear laughed, clapping as she did so. "She ain't lyin'. She's been servin' up tastiness in this house fer years now."

"And ah will for years more." Granny nodded with the confidence of a pony too stubborn to quit doing it. A smile came on her despite that. "Though it does sound like ah'll have more help around here wit' that. Just don't go thinkin' that gets you off yer other chores!"

Twilight giggled at the exchange. "Apples to the core, the lot of you." But suddenly she was grabbed, an arm around her by Pear.

"Don't act like that don't include you." She was hugging Twilight firmly with the one ensnaring arm. "Mah little bookworm of a niece. The right worm can give an apple some character."

Granny hiked a brow at that. "Ain't tryin' to eat no apples what got worms in it."

"Then we pluck it out." Pear Butter made the motion as if doing so. "But this worm's not gettin' tossed out. She's cute, and she's ours."