Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye~ H Jackson Brown Jr.
Today Applejack had gotten up later than expected, which delayed her duties and chores and that would force her to work even faster than before. Although it was probably about two in the afternoon, she refused to stop until she heard a familiar voice yelling her name.
"Hey there Applejack!" Spike's voice echoed through the orchard as the dragon ran to his friend. At the sound of him, Applejack stopped doing her labor and turned towards Spike."Well, well, well... Look who's here, it has been a while, Spike."they both hugged each other with big smiles on their faces.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry about that; Twilight has been extra busy with her duties as a princess and asked for my help, but she's done, for now......" he replied, saying the last part with a scared expression. After Spike said that, she couldn't handle herself and gave into a full laugh. "Bet ya Twilight has too many duties on her hoof." a few seconds later, she heard Spike's stomach growl."You know, now that I think of it, Fluttershy invited me and dear Applebloom for lunch. Wanna join us?" Spike's eyes glowed with happiness at the mention of food. "Really? Thanks Applejack, I've been so busy that I decided to skipped brunch a few hours ago."Spike confessed with an embarrassed blush. "Good thing I'm bringing you along then; Let me go get Applebloom and we'll be on our way.
Applejack made her way around the orchard until she arrived at the barn, where Applebloom was painting a few chopped wood planks red. "Still painting, I see." Applebloom nodded her head excitedly with a big smile plastered on her face. "Yes! I wanna finish this house for Winona as fast as I can." she answered while her paintbrush moved with precise strokes. "Guess this will have to wait till' later, little sis. Fluttershy is waiting for us so that we can have that lunch, remember?" Applejack heard a gasp from her sister and the next thing she knew, everything was in its place and Applebloom out the barn and into the house. "That sure was fast..."
Outside the barn, Spike was standing with a confused expression and a hand scratching his head. "I'll take a wild guess and say that was Applebloom." she smiled and rearranged her hat while she responded."Eyup! You know how fast she can go."
Spike laughed and shook his head just as Applebloom came out of the house with a basket in her mouth. "I'm betting you're ready?" Applejack asked. "As ready as an apple would be!"
she giggled as her big sister rubbed her mane in affection. "Come on; Fluttershy must be waiting for us already." Applebloom finally noticed Spike and gave him a hard shake on his hand."Hey there Spike! Long time no see!" Meanwhile Spike was trying to save his hand from the welcoming gesture. "Yeah, it sure has been a while."
Seeing Spike giving her a look for help, Applejack decided to intervene, "Come on ya'll! We have a feast waiting for us."
Along the way to Fluttershy's home, the three of them talked about their last days and how things have been going on Ponyville. Although Applebloom didn't talk as much since she was holding the basket with her mouth and would rather look around town, seeing everypony doing their regular duties and work.
"I really missed talking to you, Jackie" Spike admitted while his cheeks blushed slightly. Jackie was a nickname Applejack allowed him to say when they talked or mostly when no one else was around. Their friendship had grown in the last couple of months and when he had free time, Spike would be found with her. Sometimes, they would simply chat, other times he would offer to help around the farm. "Me too; after all I had no dragon to bug on my daily routine." after that being said, she pushed him slightly out of the trail, both of them laughing.
From a few steps up front, Applebloom was listening to every word they said to each other. She couldn't help but smile widely, knowing her sister had a friend that would keep her mind off work from time to time. She had a feeling it might even be something more than just a simple friendship...
"So how's Twilight coping with this new status?" Applejack asked to her young dragon friend, sensing the outburst he would make just about now. "She's not..." he answered calmly much to her surprise. "She's stressed! Even more than before; do you know how many books arrived two days ago? I had to organize them all in new shelfs!!" he said with his arms raised above him at which she laughed at. "Alright, alright, I get it Spike." she responded as he looked at her dead into her eyes and calmly replied in a serious tone. "You have no idea..."
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By the time they got to the cottage, Fluttershy was outside, sitting down on a blue blanket that had been placed on top of the grass."Oh, I'm so glad you got here; I just finished bringing all the food outside. Thank goodness I made extra or else we wouldn't have enough for you Spike." As they approached even more, their eyes landed on the sweet food in front of them. There were cupcakes, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cookies and a carrot cake. Every pony and dragon quickly sat down in their places and got a plate out of the basket Applebloom brought as they got a piece of everything.
"I'm so glad you're all enjoying the food and it is nice to have friends accompany me at lunch." Fluttershy said as she took a bite of her sandwich. "Well, ya know, we can do this more often." Applejack offered as Spike piped in. "That sounds amazing to me, as long as I get these delicious cookies." both ponies sniffled a laugh as they saw the young dragon devour the sweets. "Well, that is a wonderful idea. I'll check my schedule and next time I have a day off, we'll have another picnic. Sound good?" asked Fluttershy timidly, her friends gave each other a look and they quickly nodded a yes.
Once everypony and dragon was finished, there were no traces left of the delicious food that had been there a few minutes ago. "I hope you enjoyed the meal" Fluttershy mentioned just as a bird flew down from the sky and chirped uncontrollably at her. "Oh my; I’m sorry but I need to go. One of my bird friends got sick and needs medical help" Fluttershy quickly said in a worried tone as they only got to say their goodbyes as their pegasus friend rushed to the aid of her patient.
"Well, guess we all have to go back to. Those chores won't be done by themselves." Applejack said as she cleaned and organized everything back in her basket. "But big sis...I'm so tired" Applebloom replied, yawning in the process. "She's right, Ja-Applejack; It's getting late, and we better get ready to sleep. I can see you're tired as well."
With both her friend and sister insisting of relaxing, she couldn't ignore the feeling of her sore muscles and so she agreed. "Fine, ya'll get away with it...I have to admit, it has been a tough day."
Applejack got Applebloom on her back along with the basket and started walking home with Spike by her side, as silence was all around them. Once they had arrived at the farm, Applejack stopped at the porch and whispered to Spike. "Meet you in 10 minutes at the roundin', got it?" Spike nodded and walked right into the orchard, knowing exactly what she meant. Meanwhile, Applejack carried her sister to bed, wrapping her gently with a blanket and just as she was going to leave, Applebloom spoke up in a sleepy voice….
"Sis..can you sing me a lullaby."
At such a request, AJ didn't know what to say. She didn't have the best voice, but she could never say no. "I..." she sighed, knowing it was better to get it over with. No one was around anyway. "Sure thing, sweetheart." Applejack settled down beside her little sister and started to sing in a hushed tone.
"Stars and moons and air balloons,
Fluffy clouds to the horizon, I'll wrap
you in rainbows and rock you to sleep
Again.
Teddy bears of pink, ducks and lambs
Of white, don't you cry I'm here now I'll
be your nightlight.
Stars and moons and air balloons,
Fluffy clouds to the horizon. I'll wrap
you in rainbows and rock you to sleep again.
Smiles to cure the frowns, twirling and
tumbling in laughter, someday life will
always be happily ever after.
Never more will the storms come to
Destroy your little world, never more
will the waters rise till the mountains
no longer touch the skies.
Stars and moons and air balloons
Fluffy clouds to the horizon, I'll wrap
you in rainbows and rock you to sleep
again."
When Applejack opened her eyes, Applebloom was sound asleep. She leaned in and kissed her forehead in a loving gesture.
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The last sun rays were illuminating the sky as Applejack sat down next to Spike on their private hill. They both loved the sight that the hill granted them, so they would mostly meetup there. They had decided to call it “roundin” so no pony would suspect anything.
"I thought you'd left me all alone, Jackie..." he said in a hurt tone that sounded as fake as pink apples." Wouldn't dream of it Spike." she replied as she nudged his head forward.
“Hey! What was that for?" he asked while touching his head. "You almost said my nickname in front of my sister, that's why." Applejack answered as she rolled her eyes.
"Sorry; gez, dunno why you don't want any pony to know."Spike muttered.
"Because they would never get over it, startin' with Rarity. Wouldn't want her to start getting idea, now do we, lover boy?" Spike blushed and casted his sight downward ."Don't call me like that..."
Applejack smiled, knowing her friend didn't like it, but she continued to tease him no matter what he said.
"What? Lover boy? Don't see nothin' wrong with it, sounds cute. Just like you!"
That comment only made Spike get even redder and Applejack laughed. "You know Jackie, I'm as old as you, and I'm not cute."
"Yeah, yeah...whatever ya say, lover boy."
Spike was about to say something when he realized the way that AJ looked, her mane was flowing with the wind and her eyes seemed to shine with their own source of light. The last couple of sun rays gleamed on her figure, making her natural beauty show even more.
"Cat got your tongue, lover boy? I asked ya a question."
As if being in a trance, Spike snapped out of it and looked at another direction. Trying his best to ignore his strange thoughts. "Sorry, Jackie. What did you say?"
"I asked you, how are things going with Rarity?"
"Oh...that, well we've been talking, but I don't think it will work out. I mean, I've tried to hint to her that I feel something for her."
"Let me take a wild guess, she doesn't pay attention to it?"
"Not to all..." replied Spike, as he lowered his head to the grass, hiding his sadness. Applejack couldn't bare to see her friend so sad and scooted closer to him, grabbed his arms and gave him a tight hug. Spike held AJ close to him, the feeling inside his chest aching and at the same time warm. "Thanks, Jackie."
"Don't mentionate, sugar cube."
Spike looked at her with annoyance. "Seriously, how many more nicknames do you have in that mind of yours?"
Applejack simply smiled and got up from her place. "Do ya really wanna know?"
"Yes."
"Too bad; I ain't saying!" Applejack said as she ran away from the hill and to her home. From far away, she could hear the distant voice of Spike. "Jackie! Come back, that's not fair!"