CHAPTER TWO
"A Room With A View"
"Boy howdy, it sure is good to have ya back here, kiddo," Applejack said to the young pegasus as they entered the house. "When ya left last time ta go back ta Los Pegasus, Rainbow just didn't act right for a week. Ya'll can take a seat right there at the table if'n ya like, an' ya can put yer saddlebags over by th' door if'n ya want." Applejack said as she motioned a foreleg toward the dining room, walking past it to enter the kitchen. Behind her, Violet dropped her bags by the door, and sauntered back into the dining room, taking a seat at the rough, wooden table. Applejack called back to her from the kitchen, her voice echoing from inside cabinets as she removed a number of plates and cups.
"Sa how long ya plannin' ta stay in Ponyville, sugarcube?" Applejack asked as she cantered back into the dining room, back laden with plates and cups. She sidled over to the table as Violet made a motion to get up and help her, but Applejack just motioned her away. As Violet took her seat once more, Applejack, in one deft motion, slid the plates and cups from her back, onto her forelegs, and into place on the table, where she proceeded to set one in front of Violet, one in front of her own chair, and one in an empty chair next to her.
"Sugarcube?" came Applejack's voice. Violet realized she had let her mind drift for a moment. She blinked rapidly a couple of times, and looked in Applejack's direction, a look of reproach on her face.
"I'm sorry, Applejack, what did you say?"
Applejack smiled. "Oh, tweren't nothin' important. Ah was just askin' how long ya planned on stayin' in Ponyville. Ah mean, your letter said somethin' about bein' here for much of th' Summer, but ya didn't go inta too many plans after that. Ah figured ya'd want to be gearin' up for that trip out to Baltimare, what with yer need fer higher learnin' and whatnot."
Violet cleared her throat. "Oh, well, the thing is, I-"
"Ya know," Applejack said as she scratched her chin, and not realizing she had interrupted the young pegasus, so focused on her own words, "Ah never did want none o' that fancy learnin' mahself. Was always happy as a farmpony. Life is simple this a-way, and Ah couldn't ask for anythin' better in life. Oh, Ah ain't got nothin' against anypony who wants ta learn new things, and fill their heads with knowledge. Ah appreciate that. Shoot, Twilight is one o' mah best friends, and sometimes Ah wonder where she crams all o' them numbers and figures and whatchamadoos. She's a walkin' library, and that takes some kind o' dedication, real studyin' and workin' hard ta memorize all them things, and from what Ah hear tell and seen, ya've got that same kinda dedication. Yer like yer sister, Violet, when ya put yer mind to somethin', ya just don't give up until you get what yer out to get. Don't tell her Ah said that, it'll go straight t' that big fat ego, o' hers," she finished with a chuckle.
Violet blushed at the praise, even as small butterflies flitted about in her stomach. She began to speak. "You know, now that you've brought it up, I haven't really decided about that, Appleja-"
Before she could continue, she was cut off by the loud cracking sound of the front door bursting open, a familiar voice calling from the family room. "Hey, AJ, I'm home!"
"I'm in the dining room, Rainbow," Applejack called out, winking at Violet. A few moments later, the brash pegasus rounded the corner, her eyes immediately focusing on her partner. She leaned over and kissed her on the neck. "So, what's for dinner?" she asked, her voice lowering to a sultry level. "I hope it's nothing, because I want to take you upstairs, throw you in the bathtub, wet your mane, kiss you all the way up and down that beautiful body, and get you all soaped up. After that, I'm going to lick all the bubbles off your cute little p-"
Violet coughed lightly.
Dash's eyes went wide as she turned to see who it was that had interrupted what she thought was a private moment. She noticed Violet seated at the table, her face blushing hard. Dash could only figure her own face was much the same. She turned to look at Applejack, who had covered her face with her hat. That seemed to be her best defensive move, and Dash envied her.
She turned back toward Violet, and trying in vain to think unsexy thoughts so that the deep red rose of her cheeks would fade, and that she'd look less guilty in front of her younger sister. It wasn't working. In fact, it was probably getting worse. Still, Dash wasn't one to hold back. She would just forge ahead and hope for the best.
"Violet! It's uh, great to see you, kiddo! When did you, uh, you know, when did you get in, what time, you know, the train <ahem> did it get here, did you come here and hear... things?" She trailed off, her eyes narrowed, and looking from side to side.
Violet had started giggling, but she stopped and put up a hoof to help the giggles subside. "It's okay, Rainbow Dash. It's not like you and Applejack being intimate is a secret."
Dash's eyes went wide once more, her blush deepening, while Applejack pushed her hat further against her muzzle.
"Oh! Um, really?" Rainbow Dash's embarrassment turned to curiosity. "I mean, did someone tell you something? Because I haven't told anyone, not even Derpy even though she-"
"Oh, no, nothing like that," Violet interrupted, "it's simple biology. You're a young couple, you're engaged to be married, so it's only natural that you would be intimate with one another."
"Ah, yeah, I get ya," Dash said, the blush starting to fade, "something you learned in school or something. Cool." She paused for a moment, looking around, and leaned in, almost conspiratorially, "Um, you didn't happen to learn anything else about techn-"
A muffled voice interrupted Dash's question. "Could we please talk about somethin' else now?"
The room was silent for a moment, and then Dash and Violet began giggling fitfully at the modest mare's attempt at mustering whatever dignity she had left. After a few seconds, she, too, joined in on the laughter, taking her cowpony hat and sitting it back on her own mane, her face red with mirth more than embarrassment. Plus, she could never stay annoyed with Rainbow, and especially not with her sister Violet.
A short while later, after things had calmed down, and all the food had been set out, the three mares were happily eating and talking, filling each other in on what had happened since Violet's last visit, and bringing her up to speed on all of the latest news around town. Finally, the conversation drifted over to Violet's itinerary.
"So, Violet," Dash said around a hunk of pie in her mouth, "what are you going to do while you're in Ponyville? You've got all summer to have fun and see how cool it is to live here."
Violet, who had long since finished her pie (and how delicious it was!), looked at her empty plate. "Oh, well, I really wanted to help out on the farm, and I wanted to get a job in town to earn some bits."
Applejack's eyebrows went up at this. "Ya want ta help aroun' the farm? Why that's mighty nice o' ya, Violet. I mean, iff'n ya really want ta help, but it ain't easy work. It's hard from mornin' ta night, and everythin' in between."
"I know, Applejack, but I don't want to be some kind of leech. I want to pull my weight and do my fair share. You two are giving me free room and board, and I can't just let that go without giving something in return. Still, I'm also going to need a job in order to make some bits." Violet reached for her glass of juice and took a sip before continuing. "If I'm going to save up, I need to start now. Do either of you know if any place around here is hiring?"
"Hmm...," Rainbow Dash said aloud, scratching her chin with her hoof, "I could ask around work and see if they need anypony for some part time help moving clouds up in Canterlot. That way, you could help AJ on the farm, and still make some bits on the side."
Violet and Applejack looked at Dash simultaneously, their faces showing surprise.
Dash looked around the room and back at the two mares at the table. "What?" she asked, feeling around her muzzle, "is there something on my face?"
Violet spoke first. "Rainbow, that's a really good idea!"
Applejack piped up, "Yeah, Rainbow, that was pretty durn smart of ya. Who knew ya had it in ya?" she said, turning to wink at Violet. The two mares laughed as Rainbow Dash's face contorted into a frown. "Hey! I'm smart!", she huffed, as the two mares laughter grew. Rainbow Dash snorted, grabbed Applejack's hat, and zipped out of the room.
"Hey, ya consarn razafrazzin' blue winged terror! Come back with mah hat!", Applejack yelled as she jumped out of her chair, and bolted out of the room in hot pursuit.
Violet's giggles subsided as she sat back on her chair. Her heart was light, her mind at ease. It was so good to be with family.
<(/)(\)>
"We hope this room is cool enough for ya, Violet," Rainbow Dash said to her sister as they climbed the stairs. The evening sun shone through the hallway as they rounded the corner and turned to the right. She pushed the door to the room aside, and moved to allow Violet entry.
There was a large, four post bed with large, fluffy pillows, and a beautiful red and yellow comforter on top that depicted a sunny day in an apple orchard, with apple barrels and swaying trees in the sunlight. Over in the corner of the room, was a large dresser, and a wooden writing desk. Violet, suddenly warmed by the prospect of using the desk, walked over to it immediately. She ran her hooves across the surface, feeling the worn down pattern of the wood grain. This desk had seen much use in it's history. It brought up memories of the last time she had been here.
"Applejack," she called out behind her without turning her head, "you're okay with me staying in Big Mac's room? I know how much family means to you and all, and I just don't want to intrude where I don't belong."
A peep from Rainbow Dash was quickly silenced by an orange hoof, and Applejack slowly cantered over to where Violet was standing. She watched the young pegasus run her hoof over the wood grain, as if in reverence of what secrets that desk had been privy, the years of love, anger, frustration, happiness, and loss that had been indelibly linked to it's own history by the scratching of ink on parchment.
Applejack placed her hoof on Violet's shoulder.
"Sugarcube, Big Mac and Granny Smith felt that it was time ta move on ta greener pastures, ta carry on the Apple family legacy elsewheres. We all got so much ta prove ta so many, we all can't stay in th' same place forever, an' since Rainbow and Ah were stayin' here in Ponyville, we should carry on th' Apple family name and they'd go show those youngin's out in Coltorado what it means to be an Apple farmer. 'least, that's what they done told me, an' Ah don't think they'd be lyin' to any of us."
She put her foreleg around Violet's withers, and nuzzled her ear.
"Let me tell ya somethin' else, darlin'. Yer mistaken if'n ya think ya ain't close family. Ah done told ya plenty o' times over, that yer a part o' this family. Yer the sister o' the love o' mah life, and ya stood by me through thick n' thin, an' Ah will never forget it. Ya know, some ponies use their families fer bits and boardin', and then throw 'em in th' ditch at the first sign o' trouble, but I'm an Apple." She motioned behind her for Dash to come over to where they were standing.
"We're Apples," she continued as Dash put her hoof on the other side of Violet's withers. Applejack grasped Rainbow's hoof and they both leaned in and hugged Violet, whom tears had begun streaming down her face as she turned to look at Applejack, and then Rainbow Dash. She grabbed them both in a group hug, and squeezed, muffled sobs coming from the intermingled manes of Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Finally, Violet pulled back, a small smile on her face, her eyes still wet with tears, and small dark streaks running down her cheeks where they had run freely.
She sniffled once more. "We're Apples."
Her smile blossomed until it reached her eyes.
Rainbow Dash ruffled her younger sister's mane. "That's right, kiddo, and that makes us cool."
Then she cleared her throat. "Alright, now. Enough of the sappy stuff!"
She moved away from the trio, and dropped Violet's saddlebags on the bed. "Let's get you packed away, squirt, because tomorrow we're going to Cloudsdale!"
<(/)(\)>
Later that night, when everypony else had gone to bed, Violet sat at the old, wooden desk. She was scratching away with her quill, writing in her old diary by the weak light of a small candle she had found in one of the drawers. It had been some time since she had written in her diary, but the strong pull of family, the excitement of being away from her old home in a new place with so many opportunities, it made her want to write, and she felt it was better to start up a conversation with an old friend rather than a stranger, and so there she was, putting into words her thoughts and feelings.
Dear Diary,
Today I was given a great comfort. An assurance that I was, am, and will always be, a part of a great family. There's nothing like family, you know, and while there are times that you get angry with them, and refuse to talk to them, or even times when you think you don't need them, I found that a pony who thinks this way will only set themselves up for heartache.
For all of the annoyances family can bring, it also brings one crucial element: love. Without love, a family isn't a family, they're just a group of strangers who just happen to be thoroughly acquainted with one another. It's a weird thing, too. I'm a part of a family that loves each other, and that makes me proud to call myself an Apple.
Speaking of apples, I need to ask Rainbow Dash what they're doing now that Big Mac and Granny Smith aren't around. I had heard that Applejack had hired some cowhands, but I didn't see anypony around today when I arrived from the train station. Surely they wouldn't be without help, especially on an orchard the size of this one! Well, all I can do is ask.
Rainbow Dash, my sister. The greatest sister, my only sister, but still the greatest sister in all of Equestria. I know she acts all cool and aloof, but I know better. That mare is the kindest, sweetest mare anypony could ever hope to know, and she might pretend to be above it all, but her heart breaks just as quickly as the next mare's when she thinks she's lost or unloved. I have made it my vow, as you know Diary, to never let her feel alone or unloved. Now I pass that same vow onto Applejack, who has made my sister so happy, that I can feel the love pour off of them.
I'd never tell Rainbow Dash, but Applejack has surely changed her. She's not quite as brash, not quite as aloof as she once was. Love completed the missing piece in my sister's heart. Who knew it would be fixed by a cowpony from Ponyville? I sure didn't, but it's one of those things that you just can't ever see coming. It's like a reverse Pinkie Pie party, which I can see coming a kilometer away. That should be interesting when it happens.
Well, Diary, I need to get some rest. Rainbow Dash and I are flying to Cloudsdale tomorrow. Hopefully while I'm there I can check out their university while I'm getting a job. I haven't yet told either of them that I plan on staying in Ponyville for a long time, maybe even for the rest of my life. I know I'll have to tell them, and while I believe with my heart that they'll accept that gladly, sometimes you just wonder. There's always that little bit of fear.
But no matter what, I know that Applejack and Rainbow Dash will love me. Rainbow Dash is the heart of loyalty, and whether she knows it or not, so is Applejack, who would weather the fires of Tartarus if it meant protecting her family. I am confident they will accept my decision, and won't bug me to go live in some big city like my parents.
So, until next time I write you, my dear Diary, wish me luck!
~ Violet
With that closing entry, and a quick jot of her signature, Violet placed the quill back in the ink well, blew out the candle, and fumbled her way to the bed. Sliding under the covers, she took one last look around the darkened room, and closed her eyes.
As she lay there, she imagined she could feel the presence of her family across the hall, and with that, her mind became fuzzy, and she drifted off to sleep. After a few moments, nothing else was heard but gentle, rhythmic breathing.
And a light snore.
<(/)(\)>