Red Eye

by Fonypan


Session 15 - Don't Get Any Big Ideas




Rarity came downstairs to find Sweetie Belle curled up on the couch with a book. Her daily routine for the past two months. Rarity joined her sister on the couch.

“Sweetie, when is the last time you were out of the house?”

“I bought some groceries last week.”

“Grocery shopping doesn’t count. You need to get out and have some fun, before you go stir-crazy.”

“I’m all right.”

“Why don’t you hang out with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo for a while? They must miss you terribly.”

“I don’t know. It’s been so long since the three of us spent any real time together. And they’re married, now. They probably don’t want a third wheel hanging around.”

“Nonsense. They were your best friends! I just know they’d love to see you.”

“So, what? I just go to Sweet Apple Acres and ask if they want to hang out?”

“Yes, exactly!”

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask.”

“That’s the spirit! Be sure you take a scarf, it’s cold out.”

----------

A short while later, Sweetie Belle found herself in Sweet Apple Acres. She hadn’t come around since arriving as a guest at Apple Bloom and Scootaloo’s wedding. The trees were all bare, and a thick blanket of snow covered the ground.

Sweetie Belle walked up to the door of the Apple family home, and knocked. Applejack answered the door and smiled widely.

“Hey there Sweetie Belle!” said Applejack. “Long time, no see.”

“Hello, Applejack!” Sweetie Belle eyed Applejack’s tummy bulge. “I see you’re expecting. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. I wasn’t going to say anything, I heard about your troubles.”

“It doesn’t bother me. I can’t have foals, and that’s okay. I’m happy for you and your future foal.”

“Well thank you kindly, Sweetie Belle. That’s a very mature outlook.”

“Do you know if you’re having a filly or a colt?”

“A colt. We’re gonna name him Red Streak.”

“That’s a cute name!”

“Yup! It was nice seein’ you again, but you’re probably lookin’ for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, right?”

“Yeah, I came to see if they want to hang out.”

“Those overgrown fillies are in the orchard, playin’ in the snow.”

“Thanks! I’ll see you later, Applejack.”

“Uh huh.”

Applejack shut the door. Sweetie Belle turned and trotted off into the orchard. She followed a dual-trail of hoofprints in the snow. It didn’t take her long to spot Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Scootaloo flung snow at Apple Bloom with her wings, while Apple Bloom tried to dodge.

Scootaloo noticed her old friend approaching, and grinned. “Hey Sweetie Belle! Heads up!”

Sweetie lifted a foreleg just in time to intercept a clump of snow aimed for her face. “Snowball fight, huh?”

“No!” said Apple Bloom. “I don’t have wings or magic powers! It’s not a fight if I can’t return fire. This is snowball abuse.”

“You make me sound so mean,” said Scootaloo. “I thought you wanted to play?”

“Yeah, I thought we could just make snowponies in peace,” said Apple Bloom.

A snowball thumped Apple Bloom on the nose just as she finished talking. While Scootaloo readied another projectile, Sweetie Belle telekinetically lifted a mound of snow. She dropped it on Scootaloo, coating her head and back with snow.

Scootaloo exhaled sharply, blowing snow away from her mouth. “Pretty sneaky, Sweetie Belle.”

“I try,” said Sweetie Belle.

Scootaloo vigorously shook, tossing the snow off of her body. “So, what’s going on? You haven’t really kept in touch.”

“Yeah,” said Apple Bloom. “How are things going with that stallion of yours?”

“I, uh. I had another stillbirth. Bebe blamed me and asked for a divorce. We’re still working that out.”

“What a jerk!” said Scootaloo. “Let’s go pelt him with snowballs.”

“I don’t think that’s going to help,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Well, why else would you come by?” said Scootaloo. “Especially since it’s snowball time.”

“I thought we were past snowball time?” said Apple Bloom.

“It’s always snowball time,” said Scootaloo. “As long as there’s snow on the ground, snowball time never ends.”

“Actually, I thought we could all just hang out,” said Sweetie Belle. “Like we used to. You know, go on an adventure or something.”

“We went on adventures tryin’ to earn our cutie marks,” said Apple Bloom. “We already have ‘em. I guess we could go on some kind of tree whisperin’ love adventure with paint?”

“I have the perfect idea!” said Scootaloo. “Sweetie, you need to get laid.”

“That is a pretty good idea,” said Apple Bloom.

“What?” said Sweetie Belle. “I’m still technically married. You realize that, right?”

“Was your ex any good in bed?” said Scootaloo.

Sweetie Belle blushed. “That’s personal!”

“That’s a ‘no’,” said Apple Bloom.

“He was,” said Sweetie Belle. “I just don’t want to talk about my sex life. Or anything involving Bebe.”

“See? That’s exactly what we’re talking about!” said Scootaloo. “You’re all hung up on your ex. You need somepony to jar you loose!”

“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t swing that way.”

“We aren’t going to do it,” said Scootaloo.

“Yeah, that’d mess with our dynamic,” said Apple Bloom.

“But you two are—“

“That’s different,” said Scootaloo. “Look at my cutie mark.”

“I still think it means you really like to eat apples.”

“She sure does!” said Apple Bloom. She and Scootaloo shared a glance, then giggled together.

“All right, I get it. You two can stop, now.”

“Wow, you’re a real stick in the mud,” said Scootaloo.

“So if you weren’t propositioning me, what were you talking about?”

“We’re going to hook you up!” said Apple Bloom.

“With who?”

“A stranger at the bar!” said Scootaloo.

“That’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard.”

“That’s because you’re sober!” said Apple Bloom.

“So, then what? Some stallion spends the night with me, becomes the love of my life, and we live happily ever after?”

“No,” said Scootaloo. “You find a cute guy, let him warm your bed tonight, and then you never have to see him again unless you actually want to.”

“But my divorce with Bebe isn’t even final.”

Apple Bloom put a hoof on Sweetie Belle’s shoulder. “Sweetie, a divorce is never final.”

“If you really don’t want to do it, we can just play in the snow,” said Scootaloo. “It is, after all, snowball time.”

“Well, no. Now that I think about it, I suppose I could use a little attention.”

“That’s the spirit!” said Scootaloo.

“To the bar!” said Sweetie Belle.

The three mares made small talk on the way to the bar. They traded stories, and caught up on the years they’d spent apart. Time flew by, and they were at the bar quite soon. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo led Sweetie Belle to a hightop that provided a good view of the rest of the bar, but was also out of the way enough that they wouldn’t be bothered.

After just a moment of sitting, a peppy young mare in a black apron strolled up to the table. “Hello! What will you be having tonight?”

“Appletini,” said Apple Bloom.

“I’ll also have an appletini,” said Scootaloo.

“And I’ll have the last word,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Great! I’ll have those right out for you, ladies.” The server left the three mares for the bar.

Apple Bloom snickered after the server left. “That was almost clever, Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie shrugged. “I just like gin.”

The server returned just minutes later with three cocktails. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle exchanged jokes while sipping their drinks. They laughed together, like they had so many years ago. Though they had long since grown up and discovered their special talents, they were still the crusaders.

Sweetie Belle was the first to finish her drink. “I’m having second thoughts about cheating on Bebe.”

“Don’t get cold hooves now!” said Scootaloo. “It’s not even cheating, he dumped you.”

“There’s a guy sitting alone over there,” said Apple Bloom.

“What if he’s waiting for somepony?” said Sweetie Belle.

“You won’t find out if you’re over here with us all night,” said Scootaloo.

“Shoo! Go talk to him. And don’t come back unless you want to watch us make out,” said Apple Bloom.

Sweetie Belle stood from her seat and approached the lone stallion. She cast a glance over her shoulder to find that Apple Bloom wasn’t joking.

“Hey there. Is anypony sitting here?”

“Looks like somepony is, now. Long time, no see, Sweetie Belle.”

“Snips?” Sweetie Belle mounted the barstool next to her childhood acquaintance. “Wow! What are the chances?”

“Pretty good, I’d say. I come here every day after work. Sometimes alone, sometimes with coworkers.”

“How have you been?”

“Up and down. Mostly good, though."

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“What about yourself? How are you doing?”

“Not great. I’m going through a messy divorce. My friends think I need to get my mind off of my ex.”

Snips grinned. “Apple Bloom and Scootaloo sent you over here to hit on me, huh?”

Sweetie blushed. “How did you know?”

“They set Twist up with Snails two years ago. Must have gone well, they got married that spring.”

“I’m not looking for marriage. If we do this, I want to keep it casual. No strings or commitments, just…you know.”

“Friends with benefits?”

“Yes, exactly.”

“Sounds good to me. I don’t think I’m cut out for a real relationship.”

“Even then, I’m not sure I should do this.”

“Let’s just share a drink as old friends and catch up. Whether or not we spend the night together is up to you, and you can decide that later. No pressure. The important part is that we have this chance to hang out.”

“That sounds lovely.”

“Great! What are you drinking?”

“I could go for a my fair lady.”

“Barkeep! A my fair lady for my friend here! And I’ll take another greyhound.”

Snips and Sweetie talked the night away. Later, they did indeed leave together. Both a little tipsy, but neither totally hammered. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo watched on with ear-to-ear smiles.

“We did it again,” said Scootaloo.

“We’re in the wrong line of work,” said Apple Bloom. “We should be matchmakers.”