Chapter 5: Secrets
What trepidation might have resulted from Pinkie Pie’s impromptu declaration was quickly put to flight as the restaurant side filled up with families eager to try something new. While not flooded, the bar got quite of a bit of notice as well, and Silver was having a grand time chatting with customers and serving his drinks. They were received much like a pony dying of thirst might receive a pitcher of iced water from the sky, held aloft by Celestia herself, and he quickly realized he would have his work cut out for him trying to keep up production until the regular stuff was prepared. He refused to worry about it, continuing to ply his trade until a rather large, red earth pony made his way over and sat at counter, fixing him with a piercing glare.
“Evening, sir, what can I get you?”
“Ah wanna know why mah sister doesn’t like you.” That accent...
“Oh, are you talking about Applejack?” Silver was hard pressed to keep his spirits up in light of the stallions blatant distrust for him. “Honestly, I don’t know. I haven’t really had much of a chance to get to know her. Is she here?”
“No, she left. Said somethin’ ‘bout you bein’ a liar, know anythin’ ‘bout that?”
“A liar? I make a point of never lying to anypony, much less a nice mare like your sister. If I weren’t working, I’d go try to make amends right now.” Big Mac digested the information, sitting in thought for a while before rising and heading back towards the restaurant side. He didn’t seem like a bad sort, but Applejack was awfully perceptive, and she wouldn’t distrust somepony without a good reason. He hoped Applebloom would return soon with Applejack in tow, so they could get the whole mess sorted out.
“Sis, wait up a second!” Applejack continued her slow walk, not paying her sister’s voice any heed. “Come on, Applejack, what’s goin’ on? It’s not like you to just leave yer friends.”
“Applebloom, ah really don’t wanna talk about this right now, ok?”
“No, it’s not ok. I know you’re upset about somethin’ but you’re makin’ a liar outta yerself!” Applebloom cowered as Applejack whirled on her, the mare’s usually calm green eyes blazing at the accusation.
“Don’t you call me a liar, Applebloom, ah won’t stand for it! You know I hate lyin’ more than anything!”
“You said you were goin’ to try.” The filly stood her ground, even as the tears started to creep into her eyes. “You said you were goin’ to try, an then you just walked away! You call that puttin’ forth an effort?”
“Applebloom, I...” She had no rebuttal, no excuse, nothing with which to defend herself. What her sister had said was the truth. “Applebloom, ahm sorry fer yellin’ at ya. You’re right.” Applebloom struggled to keep a brave face as she was wrapped in her sister’s hooves.
“Darn tootin’ ahm right. Now come on, Big Mac is waitin’ for us.” They began their slow trek back to the tavern, with Applebloom perched on her back while she held on around Applejack’s neck. “Sis, ah know you ain’t been feelin’ well, but ah still look up t’ you. Ah just wanna see you happy. So if gettin’ yelled at is part o’ it, then you can yell at me all day.”
“Now don’t be talkin’ like that, I ain’t got any intention of bein’ like that. Not unless you get into the cider again.”
“Ah was just curious, an’ you’re the one who gave it t’ me! Ah didn’t think it’d make me go crazy!”
“How you managed t’ glue yerself to the ceilin’ fan, ah’ll never know. Any idea?”
“Nope, ‘cause I can’t remember. Now step on it, sis. Ahm famished!” It was strange, the comfort that could be gleaned from a filly’s simple words. They had a way of snaking past all of the convolution and apprehension that cloud the mind, and Applejack silently thanked Celestia for blessing her with a family as supportive as hers. She couldn’t imagine what she’d be like, having to deal with somepony like Proud Skies, as Storm Blitz had growing up. The noise and bustle of the tavern was audible well before it came into view, and Big Mac was waiting for them at the door.
“Thanks fer sendin’ Applebloom for me, Big Mac.”
“Eeeyup. Now come on, ah could use some vittles.” The trio entered and made for the line, which fortunately had died down by this time. She waved to her friends, who had commandeered several tables, merging them together so they could all sit together. Having placed their orders, they joined the group, though Appebloom immediately excused herself to hang out with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, who were with Grace. Fluttershy still hadn’t adjusted to the bustle, and she gave a slight start as Applejack placed a well meaning hoof across her shoulders.
“Easy there, Fluttershy, it’s all right. Just try t’ relax. Besides, you know most everypony here, don’t you?”
“Well, I recognize a lot of faces, but I’m not used to crowds like this.”
“Do not worry, Fluttershy. We are in the civilized region of this establishment, and here we shall stay. Somehow, I’m not surprised to see Cerulean has found his way over to the less reputable side,” Rarity muttered, glancing across the way. Applejack followed her gaze, and spied the couple bantering cheerily with Silver, Dawn seated quietly on the counter taking in the sights. Storm and Rainbow Dash were seated right next to them, and Applejack felt a tugging in her chest, as if she were out of place.
“Big Mac, should ah...”
“Eeeyup.”
“But what about mah...”
“It can wait. Go on, Applejack.”
“Yeah, go git yerself a stallion!”
“Applebloom, you hush now.” As she departed, Berry Punch arrived with her food, and was quite curious to see her leave.
“Is somethin’ wrong, Berry?” She snapped back to reality at the deep voice, and gave an apologetic look to Big Macintosh, who had no doubt noticed her prying eyes.
“No, Big Mac, nothing’s wrong. I just... hope things go well for my cousin.”
Applejack had barely sat down when Dawn appeared in her lap with a flash, babbling a storm and motioning wildly with her hooves.
“Yer right, Dawn, things are a little wilder over here.” There were a few less than responsible ponies that were already quite inebriated, guffawing loudly and staggering about; it was exactly the kind of behavior that Applejack detested. “Tch, no respect fer anypony or anything, gettin’ that drunk in public.”
“Well, perhaps they are letting go a bit too much, but they’re happy.” Applejack tensed as Silver’s smooth voice came from behind the counter as he broke away from the last customer and turned his attention to her.
“Happy at whose expense, Silver? What if they ‘urt somepony?”
“That’s what Quakehoof is for, of course. I can’t say I approve of their behavior, but they’re paying customers.”
“O’ course, the ends always justify the means.”
“Applejack, take it easy,” Cerulean said quietly, disturbed by her unusually confrontational manner. “Silver’s not hurting anypony. He’s really a nice stallion.”
“Oh, don’t you worry none, Cerulean. Ah’ve seen the way he is with mares. He’s plenty nice.”
“Applejack, what’s going on with you? You aren’t normally like this...” Applejack almost knocked Twilight’s hoof away as it descended, but the fact that she even felt the urge caused her to pause. Why was she acting like this? Silver hadn’t actually done anything to give her a reason to be so perturbed, nor had her friends.
“Ah don’t know, Twilight.” It was the honest truth, nothing was making any sense. She didn’t bother fighting back as Twilight’s hooves encircled her shoulders as Dawn attempted to do the same, though the little filly couldn’t even make it halfway around her midriff. Silver had spent years perfecting the happy face, but the verbal assault very nearly broke through, her words piercing much deeper than he would have guessed possible. Applejack looked up as he slid a cup over to her, filled to the brim with some sweet, gala cider.
“That one’s on the house.” Applejack stared at the glass as Silver started to walk away, having a short lived, albeit heated, argument within her head.
“Ah’m sorry.” Silver immediately returned his attention to the glowering mare who refused to make eye contact.
“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart.”
“Don’t call me that.” Was there anything he could say without upsetting this mare?
“Listen, I don’t know what I did or said to upset you, but whatever it was, I’m sorry.”
“Secrets.” He raised an eyebrow, not having the slightest clue what she could be talking about. “All ah have seen of you has been sweet talkin’ an’ secrets, and ah have no respect fer either.” Silver couldn’t quite understand how being friendly with everypony would lead her to that conclusion. He was just trying to be polite the way he had been raised, not mislead anypony. But if answers were what the mare needed to ease her mind, then he’d be more than willing to grant such an easy request.
“All right, then, fire away. Ask me anything, and I’ll answer.”
“Ok, then, what’s really goin’ on with you an’ Berry?”
“Like I said, she’s my cousin. She helped me get everything set up here while I was still in Manehatten. Somehow, and I’ve stopped trying to figure out how, that crazy pink friend of yours made it past the wards before opening and caught me hugging Berry, which apparently is the new indication of being the father of somepony’s child.” Applejack had to admit that sounded just like Pinkie. One question down, way too many more to go.
“Why do you talk t’ every mare like she’s yer special somepony?”
“That’s really not my intention. I was always told to treat mares with respect, like I would my own family, so I just talk to them like they’re all my closest friends. I can see why you’d think I’m just being a flirt; you’re not the first pony to accuse me of such.” Applejack took a tentative sip of her drink, testing the flavor and holding the fluid in her mouth, rolling it across her tongue. It wasn’t the same as their homemade cider, not even close, but it wasn’t half bad either. She indulged in a larger drink, continuing to assess the flavor. She didn’t sense any half truths or outright lies, but something was still nagging at her, and it was driving her crazy that she couldn’t put her hoof on what it was.
“Let me see yer cutie mark.” While the action shouldn’t have caused him to flush, being asked for a view of his flank from the mare caused a slight increase in his blood flow, though he obliged the request without hesitation. “What’re those funny markings?”
“I can answer that,” Twilight chimed in, ever eager to flex her knowledge on all things magical. “There are two symbols there, the first being “aqua vitae,” or “Waters of Life.” It’s normally a reference to alcohol. Second is “Silver Spirit,” which stands for distillation and perfection. When put together it would mean something like “alcohol distilled to perfection. And the jug means, well, it’s just a jug.”
“I’m still shocked to meet somepony who knows anything about alchemy. I only met one or two, aside from my mother, in the city. There’s been an alchemist every generation on my mom’s side for the last seven, I believe.”
“What about your father, what’s he do?” Cerulean asked, levitating his cup away as Dawn tried to sneak a sip. The foal, having made her way onto the counter, gave chase but immediately tripped on her long hair, falling face down and sliding a short distance. Cerulean scooped the pouting filly into his arms and cradled her as she tried to calm down, cursing her hair for foiling her daring plan.
“He brews alcohol, much like myself.”
“You said you were from Manehatten, right?” Applejack interjected. “Is that why yer dressed all fancy?” A slight, nearly imperceptible shift in his eyes caused her to narrow her own as he answered.
“One of the reasons, I suppose. It’s normally good for business to be dressed at your best.”
“That’s not the real reason, is it.” Her confidence on the subject was a little unnerving, due in part that she was indeed correct. But the real answer wasn’t something he could just give out, not yet.
“Listen, there are some things that aren’t meant to be revealed right away. I won’t lie, you’re right, there is more to it. But I can’t tell you, just as I’m sure there are some things you wouldn’t tell me if I asked.”
“Shoot, pardner, ask away.” She allowed a slight grin as he pondered her challenge, confident that she would win. Her smile slowly drained as he asked one of the two things she wouldn’t answer to anypony but her closest friends, and even then only after several years.
“Why do you always wear that stetson?”
“‘Cause ah like it.”
“And now you’re not telling the whole truth either, swee... Applejack.”
“You callin’ me a liar?”
“Not at all.” Letting her icy stare meet his cold shoulder, he turned to continue helping the increasing number of thirsty ponies. He’d let things go their course for now, but he was already working to identify who would be the rabble rousers. He was grateful for the chance to collect himself after attempting to deal with Applejack, and as he watched everypony enjoying themselves, the worries again began to fade. Seeing that her stare had no effect, she instead focused on her mug, staring at the cider in a slump.
“Applejack, what the hay was that all about?” Applejack drained what remained of the mug in front of her and turned to face Rainbow Dash and Storm, who had been listening to the exchange with growing confusion and concern. “You know, Applejack, Storm had plenty of secrets when he came to Ponyville, but as we grew closer he let them out, one by one. It’s not fair of you to expect Silver to just tell you everything. Remember the last rodeo competition you participated in?”
“You’re right, Rainbow Dash, ah know that. What ah don’t know is why everythin’ is botherin’ me so much. It’s not fair to anypony, much less mah friends.”
“Don’t worry about us, Applejack, we’ll be with you every step of the way.”
“Yeah, Twilight said it. It’ll take more than a grouchy Applejack to scare us away.” Applejack was positive at that moment if friendship were visible to the naked eye, then the room would have been glowing brightly, and for the first time in what seemed like months the nagging doubts in her mind disappeared, or at least eased considerably. Even if she couldn’t trust herself, her friends would be there to keep her on track. Given her recent performance, she was going to need it.
“Um, Rarity? Do you want to go hang out with Twilight and Applejack?” She looked up from her long since empty plate at Fluttershy’s inquiry. “It seems like you’re kind of down, so I thought maybe you’d want to go hang out with the rest of our friends?” She said nothing and returned to staring at the tiny pieces of food that had been spared consumption, tormenting them with a fork though not putting them out of their misery.
“As much as I appreciate the offer, Fluttershy, I have a hard time convincing myself to be around the two stallions who are with them. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten what they made me eat at the last tea party.”
“Um, actually, you did ask for it.”
“And what about this?” she countered, pulling out a list of every horribly uncouth thing Cerulean, and to a lesser extent Storm, had done. Fluttershy gave a look over the list for a time before shaking her head.
“Rarity, they had a good reason for every one of those. You really shouldn’t hold a grudge like that.”
“Fluttershy, they’re tearing our friendships apart!”
“I’m sorry, Rarity, but I don’t agree with you. Storm and Cerulean are both very nice, and they’ve made two of our friends very happy. If you can’t be happy for them, then maybe they’re not the problem.” Fluttershy stood and left a very shocked Rarity to herself, nervously making her way through the crowd, and giving the rowdier ponies wide berth as she joined the rest of her friends. Pinkie Pie, who had yet to receive her one drink, soon appeared next to Fluttershy and demanded drinks for the both of them. Big Macintosh was the only pony left at the table, and he looked away from the now glowing Applebloom and her friends as Rarity turned her questions to him.
“Can you believe what Fluttershy just said?”
“Eeeyup.”
“What, you agree with her?”
“Eeeyup.” Having Big Macintosh throw in his lot with them prompted Rarity to reassess her position.
“Perhaps I am being a bit too harsh on them, I suppose.” Big Macintosh didn’t bother answering the statement, but motioned towards the group with a nod and returned his attention to Applebloom, who had invited Ruby into the group and were have a grand time romping about and glowing mane to hoof. There was a slight vibration in the table as Rarity stood and made her way across the room, passing through to the bar only for Aloe to fall from her chair onto the ground in front of her, not knowing her limit and consuming a bit too much. Sniffing disdainfully she made her way around the snoring pony and to her friends as Quakehoof stooped to collect the unconscious mare. Silver noticed and motioned him over, pulling a small vial from under the counter which Applejack regarded with suspicion. He scribbled out a note and stuck it to the vial, whispering some instructions to Quakehoof before he returned the mare to her sister, who was likely to end up in the same position if she had another drink.
“Silver, what was that stuff you just gave Quakehoof?”
“It’s something I’ve been working on for a while. Not everypony that gets drunk means to, and not everypony that means to acts like a foal. That vial contains an experimental drink that lessens the effects of a hangover, and clears the body of any residual alcohol. That poor mare doesn’t look like a heavy drinker to me, and I’d hate for her to have such a rude awakening.”
“How many drinks ‘ave you served her, anyhow?”
“Just two.”
As the last of the ponies filed out of the door, Silver heaved a sigh and sat down on one of the stools, resting his head on the counter. A smile curled the corners of his mouth as he heard hooves approach, proceed to the casks and fill two cups, sliding one expertly to a stop right next to his right hoof.
“What’d you think of your first day, Berry?” he asked as he gratefully took a large swig of the cider. The good stuff would be ready in a few days, but for now, this would do. Berry didn’t answer immediately, draining her cup in one long gulp before gasping for air and filling another.
“It was a lot of fun, Shiny. Oh, that drink was a great hit with the kids, by the way.” Ruby would have confirmed this but she was too busy snoring, having fallen asleep about an hour earlier, though still glowing faintly. “But onto the more important question, how are you doing? I’d expect you to be a bit more triumphant after such an opening.” He chuckled softly but didn’t answer, swirling the cider and staring into the golden fluid as if to scry his response. “Is it, oh, I don’t know, a mare problem, perhaps?”
“You need a few more drinks in you before you’re allowed to make that kind of assertion, Berry.”
“Oh, is that an invitation? Don’t mind if I do,” she giggled, finishing her second mug and selecting a different flavor. She didn’t chug it down, but rather took a seat next to her cousin and sipped it appreciatively. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?”
“It’s a little early to say much of anything on the matter, but if you really must pry, fine,” he replied, giving her a mock look of exasperation before continuing. “Applejack...” Applejack what? He didn’t even know how to finish the statement. “I think... I mean, she... how do I say this?”
“Figures you’d set your sights on the toughest mark,” she laughed, shoving him playfully. He barely moved, and she quieted herself in response to his silence. “Be honest with me, Silver. Has she really caught your eye? As long as I’ve known you, you’re never taken a romantic interest in anypony, not even infatuations. So if you’re telling me that somepony finally has sparked your interest, it’d be quite the event.”
“Well, then this is your Grand Gallopin’ Gala, Berry. She has.”