//------------------------------// // Chapter II // Story: The Stone // by TheKing2001 //------------------------------// Sunset I shifted in the bed slightly as I yawned, squeezing my eyes shut to avoid the rays of sun passing through the blinds as I desperately tried to cling to the sleep realm as I liked to call it. “Ay yo!” I heard Rainbow whisper loudly, presumably to the other girls. “Come look at this!” “Well, Ah’ll be.” “Adorable!” “That’s actually pretty cute,” Twilight added. “Agreed,” Fluttershy chimed in as Rainbow snickered. “I’m so taking a picture of this and showing them when they wake up,” Rainbow said as I listened to a slapping sound. “Ow!” “Do not take a picture of them sleeping. Come, we will make breakfast with Granny Smith while the two stay comfortable,” Rarity chided as I shifted again. What the hell did she mean by two? I listened as the girls snuck out the room and the door shut before I opened my eyes and looked around curiously. “Oh God almighty,” I whispered to myself as my eyes widened. Pinkie was sleeping next to me with her face shoved into my neck, smiling faintly with an arm around my waist as I turned redder than a fire truck. I partially forgot she fell asleep with me last night. I honestly thought it was a dream for a little bit there. “This is probably the best day of my life. Even better than when I got my cutie mark.” I think all of Canterlot would agree with that. When I got my cutie mark, I accidentally had a magic overload and set damn near the whole town on fire. Thank the lord no pony remembers that anymore. If they do, they didn’t talk about it when I was there last with Twilight. “I kinda wish Rainbow took a picture,” I muttered as I glanced at my phone charging on the night stand. I grabbed it and sighed as I unlocked it before smiling and taking a quick selfie. Might as well capture the moment since I have the technology. “Waffles,” Pinkie muttered as I sniffed the air for a brief second. “How can you do that?” I asked as Pinkie yawned. “I know my baked goods,” Pinkie answered as she opened her bright blue eyes that I secretly adored. “Trust me on this. Applejack and Rarity are making waffles, presumably with caramel and sliced apples with Fluttershy sneaking in strawberries for herself. Apple Bloom is probably assisting the two.” I thought about that for a moment. Pinkie always did have this weird uncanny ability of knowing things without seeing said things happening. We just learned to not question her abilities to save our sanity. Well, all of us except Twilight. There was that whole thing with Twilight adament on finding out about Pinkie’s patented Pinkie Sense. I’ll admit, it was slightly amusing at points. I’ve never seen Twilight run that fast to avoid getting a piano dropped on her by a sheepish looking Derpy and Raindrops that one day when the two tried moving it into the upper level of the school. “Breakfast!” Granny Smith shouted as she opened the door and looked inside. “Come and get it before there’s none left.” “Syrup,” Pinkie muttered as her eyes widened. “Can we actually stay like this for a bit longer?” I asked with a faint grin hopefully as she gave me a confused look. “Why? Breakfast first. I’m not gonna wait on a Granny Smith breakfast. She can cook better than anyone and I mean anyone. Just don’t tell the Cakes I said that please.” I gave a sigh but nodded. She had a point there. Especially since we were helping on the farm after, we couldn’t really afford to miss breakfast. “Yeah, I won’t say a word.” I lifted the basket full of apples with a grunt, setting it in the bed of the truck Big Mac had left. I wiped some sweat off my head and glanced at Applejack. She made this seem so damn easy, almost enough to make me jealous. Almost. “Heyo,” I glanced down at Apple Bloom before offering a warm smile. “Want some help?” “Sure kid but if I’m having trouble, I’m not sure what help you’d be,” I commented and ruffled her hair with a grin. “Where’s Scoots and Sweetie at?” “Bein annoyin as usual,” Apple Bloom rolled her eyes as she handed me another basket. “Arguing over stupid shit.” “Don’t let Applejack or Granny hear you talking like that,” I warned as I picked another apple. “I remember the first time Granny heard me curse. And I thought facing mom when she’s angry was terrifying, she doesn’t hold a candle to an angry Granny Smith.” Apple Bloom winced as I gave a smirk. If I knew Apple Bloom well enough and I did, I know she’s been on the receiving end of the old woman’s wrath plenty of times. “So you and Pinkie, huh?” Apple Bloom asked with a mischievous grin as she sat on the tailgate of the truck as I shot her an incredulous look before throwing my hands in the air in defeat. “Are you kidding me?” I shouted as she chuckled. “Does everyone know I like her? I wouldn’t be surprised if Twilight back home knows.” “Probably does and Ah only because of Sweetie saying she could tell based on the signs. If it makes ya feel better, Scoots had no idea,” Apple Bloom offered with a faint smile. “Ah don’t think Pinkie knows though. Ah love that girl to death but she’s a bit oblivious. Means well though.” “It’s what I like about her,” I admitted as I joined Apple Bloom on the truck bed. “She’s so carefree, I’m jealous. Wish I was like that.” “Ah see. Why ain’t ya working with her on picking apples?” Apple Bloom asked as we both looked over to her and Twilight nearby laughing about something as Pinkie jumped to grab an apple on a higher branch. “I don’t know. Just sorta happened, I guess? I wouldn’t have minded if she was over here but we fell asleep together last time. Some space for her might be nice,” I shrugged. “Don’t want to smother her after all.” “This is Pinkie Pie we are talking about,” Apple Bloom pointed out flatly as she raised an eyebrow slightly. “Smothering is what that girl does.” I tensed up slightly. I didn’t necessarily like anyone insulting Pinkie, even if Apple Bloom was just pointing out the obvious. I can’t remember the last time anyone ever insulted Pinkie around me because I tend to get pretty rude when they do. I think the last time was someone named Lightning Dust or whatever from CPA at the Friendship Games. “Ya should tell her,” Apple Bloom commented as she swung her legs back and forth. “What’s the worst Pinkie could say, no? That girl is your best friend and loves you to death. She would easily still be your friend after if she said no. Ah personally think she’d say yes in a heartbeat. The two of you look pretty darn happy in each others company.” “You’ve been spending too much time with Sweetie Belle,” I said dryly as she smiled. “Maybe so,” Apple Bloom admitted as the younger girl jumped down. “So are ya gonna do it?” “Probably not,” I answered as she gave me a dirty look. “Ah’m no Scootaloo so bear with me here. Ah said, are ya gonna do? Get up off ya lazy ass and go get ya girl before Ah kick your ass into next week. Am Ah clear?” Apple Bloom demanded as she gave me a shove. “What are you, a coward? That ain’t the Sunset Ah know.” I stared at her in stunned silence. She had a point there. Pinkie would still be my friend after wards easily. Almost nothing breaks that girls spirits. “You’re right,” I clenched my fist and stared at Pinkie. “I’m gonna go up to her and ask her to dinner somewhere. Somewhere she can have fun because that girl is a fun addict. I will tell her I love her and that’s that damn it!” “Good!” Apple Bloom clapped with a large smile. “Ah was runnin out of motivational speeches Ah’ve heard Scoots give.” “Who are you telling you love?” Pinkie demanded as we both jumped and spun around. “My leg started twitching and I knew you were ho to something. Do I know them at all?” “Oh you know her,” I chuckled and admired Pinkie with a blush. “Better than anybody, except maybe me.” “Oh this is gonna be difficult,” Pinkie muttered as she toyed with her geode around her neck. “A lot of people know me. I’m the most popular girl at school. There’s Lyra, Lemon Zest, Flash, you, the other girls, Norman, Derpy, Bon Bon...” Apple Bloom and I looked at each other as Pinkie continued naming off our classmates. “Vinyl,” Pinkie mused as I snickered. “What?” “Never change Pinkie. Never change.” “Why would I change?” Pinkie gave me a confused look. “My dress is clean unless I got some dirt on it somehow. Do you not like it?” Like was the understatement of the year. “It’s perfect Pinkie. Just forget it,” I reassured as she hugged me and I hugged her back with a smile. “Thanks for the hug.” “You’re welcome Sunset!” And my face is now a tomato again.