//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9 
// Story: Small Stallion Is Small 
// by Fat1thatyoulove 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 9 – Fireflies

The day has rolled out without a hiccup since I was able to bring the courage to try and talk to Applejack. Luckily that courage did not have to be put to the test today seeing as how she apparently is too busy to talk with the stallion she had her way with the other day. Not that I would complain by any means.

However, for the moment my thoughts are not dwelling on earlier today. Instead my mind much like my eyes have focused on the small little light bugs that continue to pour into the room darker room from the open window.

Sure the night time air continues to loft into the room with a slightly unwanted chill, but seeing as how I am using my fireplace's light to attract the fake star light bugs.

I hold my eyes to the window as the crack of the low and controlled fire continues to dimly bring more flashing bugs into my dark house. The fur around my eyes has been painted with a dark green almost forest coloring that I sometimes use on the bodies I work on at my job. Around my neck and my body sits a makeshift leave suite I crafted for reasons I cannot recall right now...But seeing as how I did it I know my reason made sense. Even if the plants do itch against my fur.

My stance in the room has been motionless, even if one of the mindless flickering bugs lands on my snout I stand like a statue; just biding my time.

By my count there has to be a least ten or so flashing bugs to the room now. With another slow and methodical count I slowly start to reach my hoof to the chair I pulled close to me.

My hoof quickly finds the half full jug of water as I continue to slowly count the bugs in the room. As the last count comes down I spark my horn up and throw the jug of water into the fire as I scream out, "Now Spider Mane! Claim your pry!!"

The smoke in the room starts to make me cough a little, but I maintain my held stare as I now watch the stunned bug falling to the ground from the smoke that runs into the room from the quickly put out fire.

For a few moments I stand there just watching my plan come into action, but the dark of the room gets the better of me as I spark my horn up to eliminate the area around me.

My magic quickly turns on the lights of the living room as I look around to all the small twitching bugs on the ground, "Ah...This worked out nicely."

I nod my head to the bugs on the ground as I slowly turn my eyes around the ground for the spider. I quickly locate its wood brown hair as I watch it dragging a silky web behind it as it collects all the bugs on the ground.

This action, even though smart sparks my voice up in a little disappointment as I shake my head, "I told you to put a web across the window...You are half Garden Orb Weaver, you make your mother sad Spider Mane." I click my tongue a little as I continue to judge the spider's plan.

However, my silent stare is brought to an end as my ears flick to a sound at the door.

I quickly turn my head as the hoof knocking to the door rings around the house, "Quick, Spider Mane make yourself look decent! We have company-..Wait..."
I shift my eyes towards the dark outside world as my ears fall down, "Or maybe you should just hide somewhere."

The flies still flapping their tiny wings to the ground are quickly scooped up as my magic swings one of the windows of the house open, "Um, j-just one moment!"

My magic bolts the bugs out of the house as I turn my attention to the spider and its web sack that has not moved from the room. I panic a little not wanting to make who ever is outside angry, so I quickly scoop the spider and the web up as I toss both a little more into the hall an out of sight.

The spider quickly scurries away with the web still attracted to itself as it disappears into the darker hall.

To the absent spider and cleaner looking house I try to fix my mane, it is at this moment I realize I still have my plant covered outfit around myself. I toss it to the side as my magic brings the door open and I give a little smile to the orange coated blonde hair pony I halfheartedly expected to see.

However, despite my smile her emotionless and slightly worried face quickly ties my tongue as I try to speak up, "Hello, pleasant day we might could have had correct?"

The mare does not take a hoof into the house as she just blinks a little confused to the comment, "I-I guess..."

"Um...W-would you like to come inside?"

My words do not bring the mare in as she rings her voice out again, this time with a lower tone that I never in my wildest dream could I have imagined, "I'm surprised you didn't call the guards on me Stony..."

The smile to my face fades as I rub my hoof to my neck, "Y-yes well...You have nothing to worry about."

Applejack's head lowers to eye level with me as she shakes it, "I-I really am sorry Stony, I ju-just don't know what in tarnation came over me."

I nod to the mare's deeply concerned voice as I speak up, "Actually Applejack I believe it is my fault."

The mare quickly shakes her head as she speaks up, "Don't try to be neighborly Stony, I know you can't even more a few baskets of apples without your magic. I know what I did."

"No Applejack." I sigh already feeling this round about conversation ending with us parting ways to never talk again. Which of course would prove a horrible thing seeing as how close we actually live near each other, especially in a small town like Ponyville.

My voice rings out a little louder as I clear my throat, "I was the one that messed up that spell...I know you would have never had done what you did if it weren't for that."

The mare is silent as she just tries to soak in what I told her. Her silence of course only reassures my thoughts as I stare the the beautiful gold hay and bright coated mare.

Applejack slowly starts to bring her voice back up as she turns her eyes from me, "W-well Stony ah wouldn't just do some'thin like that...I mean i'm not saying your not a nice pony I just-..."
I wave my hoof not wanting to her anymore as I speak up, "It's fine Applejack, I knew it wasn't real."

The words bring the mare's head down a little more as she slowly brings her voice out, "Why ya'll saying so down like? Y-you didn't do that spell on purpose did ya?"

I quickly shake my head as I wave my hoof, "No no...I was just distracted by your comment."

"I didn't say anything that offended ya did I?" The mare's face slightly tightens as she looks to be racking her brain for the night she seems to have pushed out of her mind.

"It was nothing, just a lack in judgement is all."

Again my words bring the mare's voice back up as her low tone comes up, "It wasn't about the you being into stallions right?"

My nose slightly scrunches up to the comment as I shake my head, "Like I said, it was just a lack in judgment."

The mare blinks to the words as she cocks her head, "I didn't mean anything by it Stony, I mean its fine if you like stallions, I know-.."

"I don't!" My voice rings over the mare's as I stare to her, but my tone quickly changes as I shake my head, "I lost focus because...Well I always kind of thought you were interesting and tall and I don't know nice."

Applejack's eyes widen a little as she takes her head back a little more, "O-oh Stony...I'm so sorry."

I give a little groan to the apology as I roll my eyes, "Really I think we should be over that by now." My heart no longer cares what my mind speaks up, instead my slightly shaking body from admitting my feelings, even if they were obscure continue to dwell within me.

My voice continues as I slowly extend my hoof to the open door, "It is not your fault Applejack, it is mine for having a fault in my judgment and focus."

As the door starts to close Applejack brings her hoof to it as the normal commanding southern tone comes out a little more, "Hold your horse feathers their Stony, you shouldn't beat yourself up over this. And closing the door in my face isn't very neighborly of you."

I shrug to the comment as my eyes halfen their gaze, "Neither is forcing yourself onto somepony who really likes you and then just saying you're sorry for doing something amazing."

The mare's eyes widen as her strength to her hoof laps a little.

Her lacking in power allows my to push my hoof a little more as I start to close the door again. However, my plan is cut short as the mare's strong body holds the door, "I...I didn't know it was like that Stony...."

I sigh as I roll my eyes, "Sorry to make it awkward, it's fine really." I try to push my hoof forward, but the working mare's leg is just too firm for me and instead i'm left just staring to her as she continues to look me over.

"L-listen Stony, I don't do what I did with just anypony...And I can't be honest to myself nor can ah be fair to you without giving this a chance...I-its just not me." Applejack's words are a little unsure, but she holds her stern face.

The mare's expression loosens my hoof as I blinks to her, "W-what do you mean?"

Applejack shrugs as she speaks up, "Maybe we can try this." She puffs out her chest a little as she turns her eyes from me, "I can't live with myself with having something like this on my mind...And at least this way you can't send no guards on me."

I continue to just blink to the mare as I slowly bring my voice up, "Y-you want to go on a date?"

The mare immediately nods her head as she speaks up, "It's only fair for me and you."

My mind blanks as I just stare to her, but I ring out a simple response as I set my hoof back to the ground, "W-would you like to come in then?"

Applejack's ear flicks to the comment as she pauses, but she brings her voice out as she slowly nods, "Y-yeah, why not."

I blink to the comment still not completely sure as to if she really is going to go through with this or not. But as I step aside she comes in and closes the door behind her.

I stare to her for a moment before speaking up, "Um...I'll make some tea I guess."

Applejack gives a simple nod as she holds a slight smile, "Sounds nice."

Again I just stare to her, now focused on the smile for the moment as I slowly turn towards the kitchen.

However, as I start to trot away Applejack's voice comes up, "And Stony...No magic, cuz if you do anything to the tea, i'll hog tie you to a tree."

A slight smile comes to my face as I nod, "And how do you know I wouldn't like that?"

Applejack blinks to the comment as she rubs her hoof to her head, "Uh..." She pauses for a moment before she brings her voice up again, "J-just know i'm keeping an eye on ya."

I nod as I start up into the kitchen with a slight spring to my step.

End of chapter 9