//------------------------------// // Pecan Bun // Story: Rotten Apple // by Arwhale //------------------------------// Rotten Apple by Arwhale It didn’t have eyes. But it didn’t matter; Apple Bloom could still feel it boring up at her through the fabric of her saddlebag, its lidless gaze never wavering in the slightest. She turned her head away, gnawing at her bottom lip. It didn’t alleviate the swimming sensation in her gut, and when she looked back over her shoulder, the bag was still sitting on the bed right beside her. The faint scent of toasted nuts and sweet glaze wafted into the air, but the appetizing aroma only made the feeling in her gut worse. To her, it might as well have been the smell of the barn coming in through the window. Apple Bloom hunched over and rested her chin in the soles of her hooves, elbows propped up onto her knees. She shot the bag a death glare. Unintimidated, it did not budge. Defeated, she gave a wide-mouthed sigh and sank even lower into the edge of the bed. “Gosh, Apple Bloom,” she whispered to herself, “you really are rotten.” … “Jeez, Sweetie!” Apple Bloom exclaimed, holding a hoof to her head. “When Ah said ‘pass it here,’ Ah didn’t mean for ya to peg it at mah face!” Backing up until she was standing a little ways away, Sweetie Belle directed her gaze downward, kicking idly at the ground. The rubber ball rolled lazily over the grass away from where it had beaned Apple Bloom in the head. “Heh, sorry…” She gave Apple Bloom a sheepish smile, looking over to Scootaloo. The other filly was facing away from them both, but the hoof stuffed in her mouth, coupled with the occasional snicker, made it obvious that she was trying not to laugh. Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. “Nah… it’s fine.” Apple Bloom shook her head a little as if coming out of a trance. “Just took me a little by surprise, is all…” Scootaloo’s snickering intensified. “Heheh, yeah, I’d say…” She shrank back a little when Apple Bloom’s sharp glare went her way, but that did not stop her from being bold. “You made a really funny face right before the ball hit you…” “Oh, really?” Apple Bloom replied, going on the defensive and putting on a tough façade. A hint of a smile showed itself on her lips. “And what kinda funny face?” The question lingered in the space between the three girls. While Sweetie Belle appeared uneasy, Scootaloo seemed to notice Apple Bloom’s smile almost right away. Biting her quivering lip, she took a deep breath, sucked in her stomach, and stretched the corners of her mouth as obscenely wide as she could. “Blubbalubbalubbalub!” Scootaloo stuck out her tongue and wiggled it up and down, crossing her eyes and tilting her head to the side. It was the stupidest face she could make. When she uncrossed her eyes, the first thing that came into focus was Apple Bloom charging straight for her, eyes locked on target. This time, it was Scootaloo’s turn to look surprised. “Whoa whoa WAAA!” Apple Bloom did a flying leap straight into Scootaloo, tackling her to the ground. The two of them rolled over and over on the grass, Apple Bloom’s hoof digging into the other filly’s scalp in a rough noogie while Scootaloo tried frantically to break away. Unfortunately, the sound of their mutual laughter was lost on Sweetie Belle, and the unicorn filly rushed over frantically to the wrestling pair. “Guys, guys, stop! Stop it!” she pleaded, reaching out to pry Apple Bloom off of Scootaloo. “I’m sorry for the whole ball thing, I sh—” Sweetie fell silent, her mouth parting into a ‘O’ shape. She noticed the smiles on her two friends’ faces almost right away, causing her to move back a step and withdraw her outstretched hoof. She gave an embarrassed smile. “What’re ya talkin’ about, Sweetie?” Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow quizzically. The two of them had frozen their antics and were now staring up at her. Sweetie Belle began to stammer, suddenly feeling very stupid. “Oh, I uh…” She averted her eyes and blushed. “…I just thought you guys were fighting ‘cuz of the ball and…” Scootaloo’s response to this sentiment was a hearty guffaw. She pushed herself up from the ground and shook her head mirthfully. “Pfft, fighting? We were just playing around!” She walked over to Sweetie and punched her lightly on the shoulder. “Relax, don’t be so uptight.” Apple Bloom wiped some mud and grime out of her hair before agreeing with Scootaloo. “Yeah, Sweetie. We’re just messin’ around.” She smiled in reassurance. “Now, you wanna pass the ball here? Just not at my face this time?” Her teasing laugh made Sweetie blush even deeper. Still, she shook her head slowly at Apple Bloom’s request, grimacing. “Ehhh… I dunno. I don’t really feel like playing anymore…” Scootaloo cocked her head. “Huh? Oh, come on, Sweetie…” “Apple Bloom!” Somepony called from the edge of the schoolyard. The three Crusaders turned around to see Apple Bloom’s older sister, Applejack, making her way over to them. She had a tan saddlebag draped over her shoulders. “Time to head on out, Sugarcube!” Scootaloo blew a raspberry, sighing. “Welp, I guess it doesn’t matter anymore.” She walked over to the red ball, nudging it along with her snout toward the schoolhouse. “I’m gonna go return this to Miss Cheerilee. See you guys tomorrow.” She walked away as the two other fillies mumbled their goodbyes. With a bit of reluctance, Apple Bloom walked over to her sister, tossing her own saddlebag onto her back and shooting Sweetie an apologetic look. Applejack frowned. “Somethin’ the matter, AB?” she asked. Apple Bloom shrugged. “Nope. Everything’s fine.” She sidled up to Applejack and gave Sweetie Belle a parting wave. “See ya later.” “See ya.” Sweetie waved back before slinking over to the schoolhouse, carrying her head a low. Applejack took notice, and turned to her younger sibling again. “You sure everything’s alright, sis?” Typical of Applejack to be concerned. While it was something Apple Bloom appreciated more often than not, there were times when it got a little out of hoof. Suppressing a sigh, Apple Bloom nodded. “Eeyup. Ah promise. Just…” She wracked her brain for something to say, but decided that it wasn’t worth the effort. “…There ain’t nothin’ wrong. Okay?” It was only after she’d finished her sentence that Apple Bloom realized just how unconvincing she sounded. Even so, she tried to remain as casual as possible, facing straight forward and holding her head up high, but she couldn’t stop herself from wincing as the period of silence stretched on and on. She chanced a glance up at her older sister, but quickly looked back away as Applejack’s brow wrinkled with undisguised skepticism. “Well… alright, then.” She spoke at last. Apple Bloom suppressed another sigh, this time from relief. “Ah’ll take your word for it.” Apple Bloom knew darn well that was code for, “Ah don’t believe you, but Ah’ll save it for later.” She rolled her eyes, but said nothing. That was when she noticed Applejack was making a left turn on the road, heading in the opposite direction of home. The filly tapped Applejack on the shoulder. “Where are we going? Home’s that way…” She pointed to the right with a jerk of her head. Applejack continued to walk the other way. She smiled, adjusting her hat so that it was straight. “Ah already told you this morning that I had to run a few errands up at the market,” she answered. “That’s what the saddlebag is for. Remember?” Apple Bloom’s memory took a second to come back to her. When she remembered, she sulked. “Aww… can’t ya just walk me back home first?” she whined. Applejack pursed her lips and shook her head. “Nope. Home’s too far away, and Ah don’t have time to make two trips,” she reasoned. “Besides, it won’t take that long.” Apple Bloom’s frown only deepened. She muttered under her breath, “That wasn’t true last time…” “Hmm? What was that?” Applejack asked. Apple Bloom kicked up a clod of dirt, sending it down the road. “Oh, nothing,” she replied. “Nothing at all.” The pair headed to town, Apple Bloom dragging her hooves in one last act of civil disobedience. … Fortunately, to Apple Bloom’s pleasant surprise, the errands had indeed gone by relatively quickly. Some carrots from the market, a couple of jugs of milk, a carton of eggs, and a small bag of brown sugar later, they appeared to be headed back home. But yet again, Applejack detoured from the main road, heading somewhere else. Losing patience, Apple Bloom gritted her teeth together. “How many more places do we gotta go? Ah thought we were going back, now,” she asked. Her limited, childish patience was already wearing thin, and it was rapidly turning her mood sour. Applejack chuckled. “Okay, okay. Just one more stop, sis,” Applejack assured. “I gotta head on over to Sugarcube Corner and talk to Pinkie about a couple of things, and after that we’ll head back home. Alright?” Grudgingly, Apple Bloom nodded her head. She trailed Applejack slightly, eyes wandering in search of something interesting to occupy her attention. But as they made it further down Ponyville’s main street, something unexpected made her turn her head. It wasn’t anything she’d seen. Oh, no. It was the first whiff, the first instant she detected the presence of something sweet wafting through the air, carried by the cool, early-autumn breeze. As they drew closer, the smell grew stronger: the scent of glazed sugar mingling with crisp cinnamon, the faint, buttery aroma of flaky pastry and the earthy, sweet scent of chocolate. Nutmeg, clove, and candied fruits, a symphony of flavors blended together, yet each somehow distinct. Apple Bloom’s mouth watered, unaware of a strand of drool trickling out of her mouth until it landed on her right hoof. Her eyelids, which had flickered shut, snapped back open as the sensation brought her back to reality, and when she saw what was in front of her, she realized that they were already standing at the bakery’s front entrance. Applejack placed her hoof on the door. “Alright. Ah promise this won’t take too long.” A silver bell above the frame jingled to announce their arrival. “C’mon.” For the first time since she’d come to town, Apple Bloom was more than willing to comply. With the smell of the bakery in the foreground and an added spring to her step, she followed Applejack in. The chipper, perky voice of a familiar party pony called out to them from behind the counter. “Well, lookie who it is!” Pinkie Pie smiled at them in greeting. She bounced around the counter until she was standing in the lobby area. “Here to exchange those recipes? Oh, and hi, Apple Bloom!” Despite Pinkie’s cheerful greeting, Apple Bloom almost had to force herself to say ‘hi’ back, waving timidly. While she did not dislike Pinkie by any means, there was always something off-putting about the way she always seemed so filled with energy. “Yes, as a matter of fact,” Applejack answered, making Pinkie Pie redirect her focus back to her. She reached behind her and opened the flap of her saddlebag. “Ah got ‘em right here with me. You said Mrs. Cake had the glazed raspberry muffin recipe that Granny Smith’s been…” The rest of the conversation faded into the background as Apple Bloom’s mind began to wander elsewhere. She tuned out the rest of her sister’s and Pinkie’s businesslike conversation as she looked all around the bakery, scanning over the long glass counter filled with all sorts of delicacies. Tarts, cookies, cakes, and pastries lined the top and bottom shelves, forming a myriad of pastel colors akin to a stained-glass mosaic. Her eyes panned over the display from left to right, lips moistening the further she went… And then she saw it. The grand finale, poised on top of the counter and kept on a golden platter underneath a glass dome foggy with steam. A towering pile of flaky, golden pastries, drizzled with ribbons of sugary glaze. Bits and pieces of candied pecan adorned the tops of each one in the stack, and each crevice of the spiraled pastry was painted a warm shade of cinnamon. Even from under the dome, tendrils of warm steam seeped through the crack between the cover and the plate. Apple Bloom’s hooves developed minds of their own. She took two steps toward the display, drawing toward it like a moth to the light… “Oh, I see you’re looking at the Cake’s latest treat!” Apple Bloom was brought out of her trance by Pinkie’s shrill voice cutting through the air. With a jolt, she hopped on her hooves and faced the counter. The smiling pink pony’s gaze seemed to delve into the deepest reaches of her soul. She blushed as though she’d been caught with her hoof in the cookie jar, shifting her focus between Pinkie and her sister, who had only just turned her head. “Umm… Ah, uh…” She didn’t get very far with a reply. In a pink blur, Pinkie zipped over to the platter and tapped on the glass dome with her hoof. “These babies,” she gestured to the foggy glass with her forehooves, rearing up on her hind legs, “are the Cake’s amazing, stupenderific, wondertastical, super awesome brand-spanking new…” She flourished her hooves dramatically, lifting the lid. Immediately, the steam escaped from the confines of its prison, dispersing throughout the bakery and carrying with it a mouth-watering aroma that tingled Apple Bloom’s spine. “… Pecan cinnamon swirl buns!” The name rolled off her tongue like water down a slide. To Apple Bloom, it was the new name for bliss, heaven come down to earth in the form of a pastry. Nearly all of her favorite things put together in one tasty treat… Naturally, she turned her head, looking at Applejack. Dilated pupils and lips pushed slightly outward in a puppy-dog pout implored her sister without having to say a word. It was the look she’d practiced for just such an occasion, one she’d even occasionally tested in her bathroom mirror. There were few in Equestria that could resist. But unfortunately, repeated exposure numbed the effect. And since Applejack was her sister, there was nary a pony who had been exposed to it more in all of Equestria. An apologetic close of her eyes and a bite of her bottom lip, and Apple Bloom’s features deflated like a balloon left out in the heat. She already knew the answer long before Applejack shook her head. “Err… ‘fraid not, Sugarcube.” She smiled apologetically, first to Apple Bloom, and then to Pinkie Pie. “It’s getting’ awful close to dinner, and one of those things is sure to spoil your appetite.” Hearing her response, Apple Bloom’s eyes narrowed, and her pout turned into a full blown sulk. She discreetly rolled her eyes, aiming her gaze down at the floor. It was the classic, ‘you’re gonna ruin dinner’ response that either Granny Smith or her older siblings always gave whenever she went with them on errands. It wasn’t like she could help it when they always did their shopping after school! Still, she knew better than to talk back. She kept her thoughts and sense of injustice to herself, a displeased grunt the only thing she dared to muster in retort. “Well, who says she has to eat it before dinner, Applejack?” From behind her. It was Pinkie Pie again, but this time, she wasn’t talking to her. Apple Bloom’s head shot back up. “She can take one home, and then she can eat it for dessert after! Duh!” Pinkie bounced over to Applejack with an eyebrow raised and a coy smirk on her face. “No spoiled appetites or anything!” Apple Bloom’s ears pricked up, and in an instant, newfound hope surged through her. Pinkie the salespony was taking her side. And if Applejack’s contemplative expression was anything to go by, it was working. “Hmm… but won’t it get all cold and stale by then?” Applejack asked. Just this question alone was enough to make Apple Bloom inhale slowly through her nose, lips stretching out into a smile. Her sister, her stubborn-as-a-mule sister, was actually considering Pinkie’s suggestion! Apple Bloom was not the only one who noticed. Smelling a sale, Pinkie’s smirk widened. She took a step toward her and giggled. “Stale? Oh, no, silly!” she replied. “They won’t go stale that fast! And the best part is, these babies taste super good either hot or cold, so they’ll still be just as delicious after dinner as before!” After the conclusion of her sentence, Apple Bloom could have sworn that Pinkie Pie winked in her direction. Whether she did or not, Applejack did not notice. Instead, she appeared to be reasoning over the matter in her mind, tapping her chin. Pinkie only continued to stare at her, grin widening like a salespony after a successful pitch until finally, Applejack caved. “Well… when ya put it that way… alright.” Apple Bloom had to stop herself from dancing a jig in the middle of the bakery. Instead, she beamed at Pinkie in silent thanks, standing on the tips of her front hooves with contained euphoria. This time, Pinkie left no doubt, winking at her before turning to Applejack. “You’ve made a most excellent decision!” She darted around the glass counter and shot behind the cash register. “How many? Just one? Maybe two? Or how about thr—” “Just one, Pinkie,” Applejack said with a chuckle, cutting her friend off before she could get to ten. “Ah’m not a huge fan of pecans, but I’ll just get one for Apple Bloom, here.” She smiled down at her little sister, reaching around and opening up her saddlebag. “Gimme just a sec… how much are the damages?” “Three bits!” Pinkie chirped. She opened up the cash register and waited for Applejack to hoof over the money. Applejack rummaged around in the bag with her snout for a few moments. And then, a few more. Apple Bloom fidgeted anxiously, front hooves making light clops on the tile as she shifted her weight from one leg to another. And then, Applejack froze. She looked somewhat comical, head stuck in the bag with the rest of her body not moving an inch. Then, slowly but surely, she pulled her head back out… with a single bit coin clenched in her teeth. She dropped it on the tile floor in front of her, brow furrowing downward. “That… that can’t be right…” she said. Her voice lowered to a near whisper. “Ah had to ‘ave taken more money with me than that…” Again, she reached into her saddlebag, this time on the other side, and repeated the process. She came up with nothing. Thoroughly flummoxed, she sat back on her haunches. “Ah… Ah guess Ah didn’t have as much with me as I thought…” she said. “Ah had enough for errands, but Ah usually bring more…” It took a second for Apple Bloom to register what was going on. Slowly, imperceptibly, her ears and bow drooped as the tragic news came to light. She glanced up at Pinkie, and then back over to her sister, who was still seated on the floor. The two sisters made eye contact; Applejack lowered her head. “Ah’m awful sorry about that, Sugarcube…” She grimaced. “Shoulda been keeping better track…” Apple Bloom said nothing, at least not at first. Instead, she could only stare at the single bit coin on the floor, eyes riveted to it. Her sulk returned, twice as deep this time. Pinkie appeared sympathetic. “Aww, sorry, Apple Bloom.” She leaned toward her over the counter. “I would just give one to you as a ‘free sample,’ but the Cakes said I’ve been doing that all willy-nilly lately. They made me Pinkie Promise not to ‘cause it’s all been adding up, so… sorry.” She smiled sheepishly. And that was that. No flaky bun, no cinnamon sugar and creamy icing. No toasted pecans. Nothing. Applejack cleared her throat, breaking the silence. “So... Ah guess I should just do what Ah came here for, then…” Her ears folded down, and she gave Apple Bloom another grimace in apology. “Ah’m real sorry, Sugarcube.” Apple Bloom grunted, casually shrugging her shoulders. “It’s alright...” She may have said one thing, but it was the way she said it that conveyed the exact opposite: gaze directed away, lips clenched in her teeth, and her tone of voice lowered in apparent displeasure. Applejack opened her mouth briefly, preparing to speak, but before she could get a word out, she was interrupted by the screeching whine of a smoke alarm. The sound made Pinkie rocket five feet into the air, the hairs on her mane standing on end. “Oh no! Oh gosh no NOT AGAIN!” She galloped over to the kitchen and burst through the door. Her panicked voice could still be heard from within. “Ohhh, the Cakes are gonna kill me!” Apple Bloom crouched down reflexively, wincing as the smoke alarm’s wail clawed at her eardrums. When she looked up, her sister had already sprung into action, shedding her saddlebag and tossing it down beside the single bit coin on the floor. “Oh, consarn it… Hold on, Ah’ll be right back. Just stay right there, AB!” Applejack bolted around the counter and raced into the kitchen, leaving her little sister all by herself in the bakery’s main lobby. “Ah’m comin’ Pinkie!” Shortly after, the sound of something hissing, probably a fire extinguisher, could be heard over the incessant beeping of the alarm, along with Applejack and Pinkie’s raised voices mingling together. This was followed by the sound of something metal clattering on the floor. Apple Bloom could only watch the door and listen, crouching down with her hooves placed protectively over her ears. “Uhh… alright,” she said, too quiet and too late for either pony to hear her. Seeing the wisps of blackish smoke coming through the cracks in the kitchen door, her brow creased downward with concern. Still, she wasn’t all that worried; she knew very well that Sugarcube Corner had experienced its fair share of burnt cookies and blackened brownies over the years, especially with the sometimes inattentive Pinkie Pie behind the counter. Heck, she’d even been the cause of a couple of them way back when she’d baked with Pinkie Pie to try for her cutie mark… She froze mid-thought. Her eyes had slowly drifted away from the door as she mused, panning from right to left, across the glass counter… …and onto the platter of pecan buns. For a few moments, she did not move a muscle. The platter, in Pinkie’s haste to battle the blaze in the kitchen, had been left uncovered. The glass dome lay off to the side, leaving the haphazard stack of treats exposed. An odd knot formed in her throat, coupled with a strange tingle which worked its way into her hooves. She inhaled once before the breath became trapped in her lungs, and her stomach felt as though it were floating in a vacuum of empty space. She’d felt this way, once before. It took a little while to put her hoof on it. But when she remembered, it came back to her in a flood: Zecora’s hut, a little over a year ago. She’d been standing in front of the zebra’s medicine workshop, an array of herbs, plants, flowers and seeds lined up in untidy rows all along the counter. A stone mortar and pestle had been placed dead in the center. But it was what was in the mortar that had caught her eye: a harmless looking violet flower, the petals gently curved around a cluster of long, yellow anthers like an ornate bowl and set atop a bed of heart-shaped leaves. Zecora had gone to retrieve another ingredient for a special potion, leaving her alone in the hut. She was alone this time, too. Applejack and Pinkie were in another room, and from the sounds of it, they were still occupied. And through the faint odor of smoke, the smell of the steamy pecan buns made a resurgence the harder she stared. They all looked so good, so appetizing... and she couldn’t have any of them, all because her dumb big sister hadn’t brought enough money along. After already being denied once, she’d gotten her hopes back up, only to have them shot down once again. It was all so unfair… so unfair… Apple Bloom was only partially aware of what she was doing as her hooves glided over the tile floor, inching forward carefully so as to not make any noise. More loud hissing came from the kitchen, followed by a short exclamation from Applejack and another metallic bang. Apple Bloom shot frequent glances over to the door, angling her ears toward it in spite of the high pitched whine of the smoke alarm continuing to fill the air. She was almost beside the counter, lips moistening with approval as she could make out each individual chunk of candied pecan and the glistening of the icing reflecting the light back to her eyes like the glint of a shining gemstone... She took another peek at the closed kitchen door, wincing as she tried to discern the sounds of her sister and Pinkie through the alarm. They did not sound like they were coming out. Apple Bloom took another step, and another, until her snout was nearly pressing against the glass. Another peek. Nothing. Knees trembling and pupils wide, she reared up on her shaky hind legs and propped herself up against the counter. The sweets were steaming less, but the heavenly aroma nonetheless became overpowering as she drew closer. It masked everything like a dense fog, ethereal and enticing at the same time. Another peek. Still nothing. She took a deep breath, reaching around her back and opening the flap of her saddlebag in preparation. However, as she realized how close she was to the danger zone, to the possibility of being spotted if they unexpectedly emerged from the kitchen, her movements quickened, hoping that the sound of her bag being opened and the tapping of her front hooves on the glass would be masked by the loud alarm and the barrier of the door. And if she did get caught… She pushed the thought from her mind and reached up with a sweating hoof, eyeing one of the rolls placed near the edge of the stack. Apple Bloom hesitated for a moment, weighing which one would be best to take without her deed being noticed. She took another short breath, trying to stop her hooves from shaking and eyed one bun in particular sitting near the outside of the pile. Honing in on her prize, she reached out her hoof toward it… …And with a dexterity that managed to surprise even herself, she snatched the pecan bun off of the platter with a swipe of her hoof, brought it over her shoulder, and dropped it into her waiting saddlebag with a soft plop. Hooves still trembling, she stole another glance at the closed kitchen door and retreated away from the counter, situating herself back in the same spot she had been in before. Or, at least, she thought it was the same spot. She hoped. Apple Bloom took a sequence of deep breaths, tensing up her legs to keep them from shivering with the nervous excitement surging through her. It was still taking some time to process just what she had done; it was invigorating, exciting, but also scary. Like one of those neat thrill rides she had ridden at the carnival last summer. She had to consciously remind herself to act casual. Nothing had happened; what they didn’t know wasn’t going to hurt them. It was just one little pecan bun, right? No big deal. They wouldn’t find out. Besides, it served Applejack right, getting her hopes up only to tell her no again, making her come with on yet another stupid errand trip after school… The smoke alarm shut off. Oddly, Apple Bloom’s ears had become so accustomed to the noise that even the high-pitched shriek had practically faded into the background. The silence seemed to have an even greater effect on her; it made her feel vulnerable. She shivered, but brought herself back under control, instinctively tightening the strap on her saddlebag cover. Applejack and Pinkie Pie’s voices were much clearer than they had been before, and soon after the smoke detector had shut off, Apple Bloom could hear them approaching from behind the door, getting closer. Finally, the door swung open. Applejack came out first, followed closely by Pinkie Pie. The pink pony’s head was scraping against the floor. Applejack wiped a bead of sweat from her brow and made a remark over her shoulder. “Boy, that sure was a mess.” She gave a low whistle. “Them things were smokin’ like no tomorrow. Good thing y’all don’t have any sprinklers installed.” Applejack’s low chuckle didn’t seem to brighten Pinkie’s low spirits. She tried to smile, but only managed to give a mirthless laugh. “Yeah. I’d probably just end up flooding the place twice a week and they’d have to close up shop.” She wiped a strand of her deflated mane out of her eye. “Anyway… Thanks a lot for helping, Applejack.” The other mare shrugged. “No prob, Pinkie. Glad Ah could help. And don’t worry about the Cakes. It was just one batch. Ah doubt they’ll get all bent out of shape just because of that,” she reasoned. Pinkie Pie sighed. “Yeah, you’re probably right… oh, and thanks for the recipe. I’ll be sure to give it to Mr. and Mrs. Cake when they get back.” “No problem, Pinkie.” Applejack tipped her hat. “Tell 'em that Granny Smith and all the rest of us appreciate it.” Apple Bloom squirmed in her place, shuffling on her back hooves with discomfort. They were getting closer. She sat so that her saddlebag was angled away from them and retightened the strap. Taking another deep breath, she tried to stay calm. Pinkie Pie waved a silent farewell, still appearing a bit down in the dumps but smiling nonetheless. Applejack waved back, and before Apple Bloom knew it, she and her sister were once again side by side, walking out of the bakery. “Sorry about all of that, AB,” said Applejack as they exited the store. She wrapped a hoof around her withers. “Thanks for waiting so patiently. Somethin’ happened and Pinkie forgot about a batch of macadamia nut cookies in the oven that were burnin’ something fierce. Phew…” At her sister’s touch, Apple Bloom’s entire body tensed up like a coiled spring. She nearly looked back over her shoulder to make sure that her saddlebag was still closed and that her stolen cargo was still hidden from sight, but stopped herself at the last second. Act casual. Natural… “Y-yeah,” Apple Bloom said, clearing her throat. “Good thing y’all were there…” Applejack nodded in agreement. “Eeyup. Poor girl’s got a lot on her plate, lately, running the store while the Cakes are gone. Something's bound to get burned eventually, Ah suppose." Applejack continued to speak, but Apple Bloom wasn’t listening. Her mind kept on honing in on one particular phrase her sister had uttered, conjuring up images of what was only minutes in the past. A lot on her plate… The plate of pecan cinnamon swirl buns. Oh, there had been a lot of them on there, that was for sure. Stacked tall, disorderly, partially stuck to one another by the layer of icing drizzled over the tops of each one and the melted cinnamon sugar… each one of them exactly like the one that was currently hidden in her saddlebag… “Uhh, Apple Bloom?” Applejack’s voice snapped her out of whatever state of mind she was in. Apple Bloom gasped, roughly shaking her head as a chill traveled down her body before looking up into the concerned eyes of her older sister. “You okay, hun?” she asked. For a moment, Apple Bloom’s mouth moved without making any sound. That is, until she managed to come back down to earth, take a deep breath, and respond as calmly as she could. “Y-yeah. Ah’m fine.” She twitched her flank from side to side, re-adjusting the saddlebag over her croup. Unfortunately for her, Applejack’s concern was still plainly evident. “You sure? Y’all haven’t seemed like yourself…” She wrinkled her brow. “Did somethin’ happen today that you haven’t told me about? Was it somethin’ from school?” Apple Bloom shook her head. She was wilting under Applejack’s scrutiny, silently hoping and praying Applejack wouldn’t suspect anything. “No, nothin’ happened. Ah-Ah’m fine, don’t worry…” Despite her best attempts to deflect her sister’s concern, it was painfully obvious that they were not being met with success. Even so, Apple Bloom had to stop herself from sighing with exhausted relief as Applejack at last turned her gaze away, choosing instead to face the front. “Well… alright.” And just like that, they both fell silent. Hoofsteps were the only sounds either of them made as they made the return journey home, remaining quiet all the way until the gate of Sweet Apple Acres came into view. Though the thoughtful frown had never left Applejack’s features, she nonetheless refrained from saying anything more. Apple Bloom, for her part, followed her sister at a short distance the whole way back. She angled the saddlebag away and constantly adjusted the straps, tightening them until they squeezed around her back like a boa constrictor. And yet, despite closing it as tightly as possible, Apple Bloom swore that she could still faintly detect the aroma of candied pecans seeping through the fabric. She never thought such a wonderful aroma would have made her feel so nauseous.