//------------------------------// // Tender Moments // Story: Chasing Apples, Bells and Oranges // by Solarip //------------------------------// Chasing Apples, Bells and Oranges By: Solarip Chapter 7: Tender Moments The bright and brilliant rays of the morning sun shone through the windows. Rumble was lying on the floorboards where the sunlight directly hit his stomach. He laid passive as he rested his head on the floor, his gaze on the ceiling. The sounds of hoofsteps and high-pitched voices struck his ears, but he didn't mind. It wasn't irritating, nor it was a nuisance. The fillies weren't even loud. Instead, they spoke with controlled volumes, whispering on some occasions. He turned to look at the clock. "Nine o'clock," he said to himself. He rested on hoof on his forehead, and the other on his chest. He raised his head to the fillies in front of him. The first that caught his eye was Apple Bloom's crimson tail. It was wagging left and right, which brushed the floor under her. Why is it wagging? Pencils, paper and eraser shavings were scattered around it. He slowly looked upwards, only to see her head facing him. Her eyes were fully locked on to Rumble; her cheeks were flushed in crimson. Below it was a feature that stands out the most: her warm and gentle smile. Rumble suddenly felt the heat in his face as he stared at her heart-warming smile. Seconds later, Sweetie Belle tapped on her shoulder. Apple Bloom snapped out and whipped her head away from the light grey colt. Before he lowered his head, he saw Sweetie wave at him with a wide grin. He lazily raised his hoof and waved back. Afterwards, he placed the same hoof on his head and rested his head on the floor once again, hoping that he might find something to do or something to be busy about. Luckily, he found a question to keep him occupied. Similar, similar. What's similar between three fillies and one colt? Well, besides being young and studying in the same and only school in Ponyville. Let's see here... Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are like three peas in a pod. They seem happy when they're together. They would go through quests of great dangers just so they can get their cutie marks. That's what they have in common, but what about for me? I mean, I became friends with them not so long ago. I don't even know half of what I should know about them. They should see me as a stranger, new to their usual quirks and shenanigans. I can't explain why, but they see me as a close friend of theirs. Someone they can trust and rely on so easily. "Rumbly-wumbly," Sweetie Belle called. "Rumbly- wumbly?" Scootaloo asked. "Yup. That's what I call him." Rumble lifted his hoof from his head in response. He squinted until his vision clears, and saw Sweetie Belle. Her muzzle was just inches away from his. However, he didn't flinch. Instead, he simply stared at the filly in front of him. "Hi," he said. "Hi! We're going out for a bit to get some supplies in town. I-Is it okay if you stay here?" she asked with hesitation. He turned to his left and saw the other two fillies with their saddlebags on their backs. Scootaloo had her head turned away, but her eyes were locked on him. His attention turned back to Sweetie. She innocently stared at him as she waited for an answer. "Sure. I'll stay right here," he said as he laid his hooves and head on the ground. "Okay. See you later!" Sweetie said as the trio left, shutting the door behind them. Seconds later, Rumble was left again with time to think. Staring at the same ceiling from before, his mind was filled with questions regarding the Cutie Mark Crusaders. From their likes and dislikes, to their personalities as a whole, he answered as many questions as he can. Unfortunately, he didn't know them much, so he hadn't answered much. Minutes later, he shrugged it off. Maybe I should ask them when they get back later. His attention drifted to other little wonders. He noticed the warmth of sunlight on his belly and the breeze entering through the windows. The sounds of swaying branches, chirping birds, and the distant chatting of pegasi are music to his ears. The tranquil harmony around him caused Rumble to close his eyes. Soon enough, his mind wandered off as he drifted off to sleep. * * * * Rumble woke up from a peaceful nap on the floor which was given warmth by the sun. He opened his eyes, only to see the same ceiling he stared at before. He turned to see the clock, and a faint smile grew on his face. Realizing that he had slept for only half an hour, he closed his eyes, ready for another nap. Before he was about to nap again, he heard tiny breaths other than his. He quickly opened his eyes and scanned the room to see if nopony else was there. He was wrong. He looked beside him and saw a snoozing Scootaloo. Her left hoof rested on the floor, while her right hoof was on her chest. She had an innocent smile. Rumble grinned widely without realizing. It's okay if she took a nap, too. He rested his head back to the floor. He turned to his other side, but his were met with Apple Bloom's mane. He pulled his head back slightly. I think they saw me taking a nap when they got back, so they slept as well. His thought was cut off with a scent so sweet and familiar. It felt like he would want to smell it all day. He looked around, and saw nothing that caught his eye. The scent also disappeared. He sighed and lied back down facing the yellow filly. Seconds later, the delectable fragrance went back. I think it came from... Apple Bloom. Since she was sound asleep, he didn't have anything to lose. He slowly leaned forward as he was making sure he didn't make a sound. He neared his muzzle to her crimson mane, and got a whiff as gentle as he could. Apples and mangoes. Wait, are there even mangoes in the farm? Rumble was lost in his reverie of fresh fruits as he continued to sniff her mane. Seconds had passed, then minutes. He held a hoof on her head as he rested his muzzle on her mane. Apple Bloom folded her hooves close to her chest, which Rumble ignored. He held her head closer to him. But what he didn't realized that his friend had already woken up. "R-Rumble..." He ignored her call, but Apple Bloom didn't mind. She placed a hoof on his chest. Rumble felt the gingerly touch. He stopped sniffing her a second later. He pulled his head back and looked down, only to see Apple Bloom. She had a bashful smile, her cheeks were as red as her mane, and her eyes looked up to him, pleading for more. She started to rub her hoof against his chest. The tingling sensation made Rumble blush furiously. "S-Sorry for waking you up," Rumble whispered. "I-It's o-okay. But um..." her voice faded. "But?" he asked as held his face closer to hers. Apple Bloom pulled back slightly, her blush filled her face. "I-It's just... could you, um, continue doing that?" she asked shyly. "Doing what?" She didn't say anything in response. Instead, she lowered her head until her mane was in front of his face. She held his chest with both hooves, and her muzzle touched his neck. Every breath she took tickled him, but he didn't mind. I guess she wants it. He rested his muzzle back on her mane and continued to be lost in her scent. He placed one hoof on her ear, and began to caress it unknowingly. Apple Bloom blushed even more and buried her head on his chest. "It tickles," she whispered. "Rumble?" a voice called. He pulled his head back and raised his head in response. He looked for the source of the voice. He turned and saw Scootaloo with a look of annoyance. Her forelegs were crossed and her tailed swished in perfect rhythm. Did I do something wrong? "H-Hi Scootaloo." "Hmph," she uttered as she whipped her head and stared at a window, a pout on her face. "What's wrong?" he asked as he let go of Apple Bloom, who was completely lost in what he did. She didn't say anything. Her eyes only turned to Rumble. He went closer to her, and as he did, her strong facade faded. She turned to him and looked at him with sad and pleading eyes. "I-It's just..." Rumble stopped when he was mere inches apart from her. She looked down and sighed. "C-Can I... hug you?" she stuttered. "What?" He was taken aback by her words. Is she serious? A moment of eternity passed. Apple Bloom was still in her own world, Rumble calmed down a little, and Scootaloo looked up to him with adorable eyes. Seconds later, she raised both her hooves up as if she was about to hug him. "Please?" she asked quietly. Now this is a different Scootaloo. I don't want to let her down though. "O-Oka—" He was cut off by Scootaloo as she dove to him gleefully. Orange hooves were wrapped around him tightly. Once he was laid on his back, she nuzzled his chest passionately. Both were madly blushing, but they didn't mind. Suddenly, a thought came to him. He held Scootaloo by the shoulder, which called her attention. She stopped and looked up to him. "What's wrong?" Scootaloo asked. "Where's Sweetie Belle?" "Oh! She went to Rarity's and grabbed some stuff we need for the project," she explained. "What is our project anyway?" "Well we plan on making a huge painting about what we have in common," she explained further. "Oh cool! What do we have in common anyway?" he asked. Scootaloo tapped her chin with a hoof. Seconds later, she said, "You just have to find out." He sighed in defeat. "Fine," he concluded. "Now, can we get back to hugging?" she asked with a smile on her face. "Sure." With that, she rested her head on his chest and continued to hug him tightly. Rumble turned to Apple Bloom, who snapped out of her daze. She got up and went closer to him. She lied down just beside him, her forehead gingerly touching his muzzle and her muzzle gingerly touching his forehead. Well, this is awkward. Seconds later, she started to nuzzle him. The colt's face went redder than before. He wanted them to stop, but something inside him doesn't want to. With a shrug, he ignored his conscience and laid passive as two fillies continue to nuzzle or hug him. This gave him time to think. I think I'm getting to know them quite well. Sweetie Belle obviously cares for me. The night the both of us had was a clear sign. Apple Bloom smells like apples and mangoes and she can be really adorable and awkward at times. But as for Scootaloo, I think she's cold, but she warms up to me occasionally. I think the Cutie Mark Crusaders like me.