//------------------------------// // Chapter 132 - While // Story: Quest For Harmony // by destinedjagold //------------------------------// “Apple Bloom” It sure is cold up here. Ah'm just glad that Ah'm already used to these kinds of weather temperature an' all. Poor Spike's havin' a hard time with the cold though. But he brought a thick blanket with him this time, which was clever thinkin'. “Hey Sweetie,” Ah heard Scoots from beside me calling Sweetie Belle. “Spike could use a warm hug, by the way,” she snickered, and so sorry Sweetie, but that was really funny, especially how red your face just became. “Would you two just zip it already!?” Sweetie squeaked, and Scoots an' Ah laughed some more. “Oh?” Twilight's voice broke through our laughter. “Sweetie, do you...have feelings towards Spike?” “No I don't!” Sweetie Belle whined, and quickly crossed her hooves on her chest. “What about you, Spike?” Spike shook his head. “I still don't get what the hay is going on...” Really? Seriously!? Ah looked at Spike in disbelief, an' then at Twilight. The unicorn and Ah stared at each other for a while, and from there, she passed me a silent message that Ah received pretty clear: Spike's still too naive or too ignorant about love. Judging from Sweetie's drooped ears, she felt sad about it as well. “Aw, cheer up, Sweetie Belle,” Ah offered, catching everypony's attention. “Look on the bright side: you'll be his very first.” “Yeah,” Scoots nodded her head at her. “You could...uh, I dunno... Take good care of him, and things like that?” Leave it to Scootaloo to give some advice. “You give advice just like Rainbow, Scoots.” “Shut up!” she turned and glared at me, and Ah snickered as Ah playfully punched her shoulder. “I can take care of myself, you know,” Spike spoke, crossing his claws on his chest. “I'm not a baby!” “But you still are a baby dragon, right?” Shining Armor asked with a smile. Spike frowned. “You had to point that out, didn't you?” Ah turned and stared at the ground below, since Ah was seated on the edge of the carriage an' all. Huh, that town down there sure looks familiar... “It's alright, Spike,” Sweetie spoke, “to me, I think you're a very brave and sweet young dragon.” “You...you really think so?” “Yeah!” Scoots cheered. “Knock him out, Sweetie Belle!” “Wanna test if you can fly, Scoots?” “Um... Eheheheh... I think I'll pass on that one, Sweets...” “Scootaloo, right?” Twilight spoke, and after a while, she continued. “I'm really really sorry about what happened to your wing...” “Nah, don't sweat about it, princess.” “I'm not a princess...” “Besides, that was a long time ago, and like you guys said: it was Discord who did all those, so don't worry!” “Can we land this thing, though?” Ah asked as Ah turned to Twilight. “Please? Ah wanna visit mah family an' see how they're all doing.” Twilight thought about it for a short while before nodding. “Well, I don't see why not. But I need to ask you to make it quick.” Ah nodded. “Right. Jay needs us on the other side an' all that. Thanks, Twilight!” Shining called the pegasi stallions' attentions and ordered us to land. Soon, the carriage flew downward in a spiral-like fashion, and before we even knew it, we finally landed right in the middle of the huge red barn and the apple orchard. Several workin' ponies in the orchard gasped and wondered what was goin' on. Their nervous looks was gone when they saw me jumpin' out of the carriage and greetin' them all in general. They greeted back, which made me smile. It really feels nice to feel welcomed in home. “Apple Bloom!” and then came the mare Ah was lookin' for. Applejack just got through the small crowd of ponies and began trottin' towards me. Ah met her halfway and we gave each other a hug. “How ya doin', ya little filly?” “Ah'm not a little filly anymore, Applejack!” Ah argued as we pulled out from the hug and glared at her. “Ah'm a young mare now!” Applejack just chuckled and rubbed her hoof on mah head. “Ah know, Apple Bloom. Ah just find it hard to believe though... Mah little sister, all grown up...” Ah playfully batted her hoof off of mah head. “Sheesh, never thought you'd be one of those sappy-type ponies too, big sis.” She chuckled, and Ah joined her. “Ah can be sappy if Ah want to, li'l sis.” Ah was about to say somethin' to that, but we heard a few voices from behind. An' judging from Applejack's angry look, Ah'd say it ain't pretty. Ah turned and saw the other gals were behind Twilight and Shining Armor. The two unicorns were talkin' to mah brother. “Now what in tarnation's going on over there?” Applejack mumbled as she trotted pass me and was heading towards the unicorns. Ah wanted to follow her, but Spike and the gals, upon seein' mah sister approachin', decided to come to me instead. “What's goin' on?” Ah asked as soon as mah friends were now with me, and when Applejack began talking to the unicorns. “Huh?” Scoots asked. “Oh, well, your brother confessed his undying love to Twilight over there...” “HE SAID WHAT!?” Applejack and Ah shouted in perfect unison. Even Ah was amazed by that. “Now just hold a freakin' stinkin' minute here!” Applejack continued with an angry frown. “Did Ah just hear that correctly!? Mah brother, loves, Twilight!?” Ah'm not quite sure if Applejack should be carryin' her voice that loud though. I glanced back, and saw the pegasi stallions were ushering the workin' ponies to return to their work. They allowed Braeburn to trot towards us though. “Think this will end well?” Braeburn asked as he reached us. “I don't think so,” Spike shook his head. “Shining Armor's a very protective brother, and judging from Bloom's sister, I'd say Applejack's also a very protective sister.” “Ya got that right...” Ah whispered... “What do ya mean ya don't know!?” Applejack's voice cried out. “Could you keep your voice down, please?” Shining's voice broke through. “And as my sister said, she doesn't know if she feels the same way to your brother!” “Ya hear that, Mac!? So quit yer stupid fantasy and start thinkin' realistically!” “AJ, don't you tell me what Ah should and shouldn't do with mah feelin's here! Ah like Twilight, no, Ah love her! That's why Ah decided to stay by her side durin' the war!” “Big Mac, sir. During those times, my sister was possessed by Discord!” Spike, Braeburn and the girls an' Ah looked at each other with worried faces as the four ponies were still arguing at each other. Braeburn suddenly flashed a sad smile. “Aw well... That would definitely take a while.” He then looked at us with a happy smile. “Anypony hungry? There were still freshly baked pies inside the barn last time Ah checked.”