//------------------------------//
// Errands 
// Story: Forbidden Sugar (Cube) 
// by Alottapony94 
//------------------------------//

Applebloom finally felt restored after a good amount of sleep. “Ahhhhh…the joys of not sleeping like a crazy person.” Applebloom remarked to herself, after getting a good sleep in on Saturday. “Hey Applebloom! Do you want some apple pancakes?” Applejack cheerfully peaked in to Applebloom’s room. “No, Ah don’t want your pancakes!” Applebloom turned over. “Come on, you can’t be mad at a sister forever can ya?” Applejack smiled friendly, going over the side she turned. Applebloom turned on her front. “Ah can!” Applebloom announced. Applejack’s smile completely fell, but she tried remaining stoic. “Well…if that’s how you feel, I’ll get out.” She hung her head low. Applebloom felt a pang of deep guilt, but shrugged it off. 

Applejack still had her head lowered as she walked down the stairs, her Stetson hat hiding her face. “Big Mac, I just don’t know what to do. When will she forgive me?” Applejack said sullenly. “Ah think you need to spend some time apart. Applebloom needs to figure out on her own that she is also at fault. You need to see those friends in town, or anywhere really. You need your friends, Applejack.” Big Mac advised. “Ah guess you’re right. Ah can always count on my friends. Thanks.” Applejack gave Big Mac a quick hug before cheering up and heading into town. “No problem.” Big Mac said, and then he headed upstairs. 

“Applebloom, are you playing with those fillies today?” Big Mac asked. “No, we’re hanging out on Sunday because Sweetie Bell and Rarity are going to Canterlot together today, something about visiting some stallion called ‘Fancy Pants’. Why?” Applebloom asked. “Ah was hoping you could help me with a little errand.” Big Mac suggested. “Well, what is this ‘errand’?” Applebloom asked. “There are two sick chickens in our coop. Ah need you to carry one while Ah carry the other. Ah’m going to Fluttershy’s so she can treat the chickens, find out what’s wrong with them. She’s always good with her animals, birds and suchlike.” Big Mac explained. “I’ll go, ’cause Fluttershy is a cool mare. How do you hold the chicken?” Applebloom asked. “I’ll show you when we get down to the shed.” Big Mac simply said. 

Big Mac and Applebloom held the chickens as they ventured the ten minute journey to Fluttershy’s. As soon as they got there, there was chatter from all the animals but there seemed also a strange sense of tranquillity from nature. Big Mac knocked on the door. Fluttershy opened the door, with a small graceful smile decorating her face. “Hello Big Macintosh. Oh, you’ve brought Applebloom too. Oh how wonderful. Please come in and sit on my couch, but be careful not to step on any small animals on your way over.” She greeted them. Applebloom and Big Macintosh followed her over to the couch, careful they didn’t step on anything. “Oh, these chickens are lovely, poor dears, how did they get so sick?” Fluttershy asked. “Ah don’t know. They have been sniffling, have runny noses and they be running a fever.” Big Mac noted. “So they have a cold?” Fluttershy asked. “Ah think it’s that.” Big Mac answered. “Ok, I know just the thing. Wait here.” Fluttershy said, rushing to get the remedy.

Applebloom watched two roosters inside the house, near the foot of the couch, to fill in the time. But then the roosters gazed at each other, then held each other’s talons while nuzzling. “Hey Big Mac, look at this.” Applebloom called his attention to the affectionate roosters. He stared at them puzzled. “Now what in the hay is that all about? That is strange for sure. Aren’t they both male?” Big Mac asked just as Fluttershy walked in. “Not at all. These roosters are in love. Aren’t they cute?” Fluttershy marvelled. “But two roosters don’t make a chick.” Big Mac intervened, trying to not get the wrong idea in his sister’s head. “Yes, you would think that, but it isn’t the ability to have chicks that brings these roosters together. They’re just in love, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Not saying that you can’t think what you like.” Fluttershy tried being nice about every detail. “But…these are the only pair right?” Big Mac continued. “Um…not exactly. There’s some more of these kinds of couples. There’s also chickens that love each other. I don’t know how it happens, but it’s still wonderful.” Fluttershy explained meekly. 

“Ok then. So what’s this remedy?” Big Mac asked, sighing in the first sentence. 
“Oh um, it’s a little something I worked up myself. Some honey, a squeeze of lemon, stewed eucalyptus leaves, some pineapple juice, and a pinch of spice. It’s my standard cold remedy. You give three doses to the chickens which is about one tablespoon, one in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. After three days, the chickens should be better.” Fluttershy explained the remedy. “Thank ya’ll kindly Fluttershy. Well, Ah best be off. Ah have to buck the apples today because Applejack is out in town. Applebloom?” Big Mac nudged his sister. “Big Mac, Ah wanna talk to Fluttershy about…something. I’ll be back at the farm soon.” Applebloom said. “Do you know the way back?” Big Mac checked. “Big Mac…Ah have been walking to Fluttershy’s and back since Ah was five.” Applebloom replied. “Ok. See ya’ll later.” Big Mac said.

As soon as the door closed, Fluttershy turned to Applebloom with an encouraging big grin. “What is it dear Applebloom?” She asked in her usual quiet voice. “Um…Ah am like those chickens you mentioned. Ah’m crushing on another filly. Do you think that’s right?” Applebloom said unsurely, uncertain about how this would go down. But something unexpected happened. In something unlike Fluttershy, she jumped up, squealing with joy, as gracefully as she could of course.

“Oh of course it’s right Applebloom! This is a great day. I was wondering when ponies would wise up and act on their real feelings. You see, I’ve seen this with almost all my animal species. Sometimes, the boys like the boys and the girls like the girls. But Ponyville, even all of Equestria is so stuck in their old ways that they accept the opposite as fact. Don’t ever let them tell you that you’re wrong. There are probably some poor ponies out there who are hurting badly because they can’t express this. We are animals too after all. You have feelings. It’s ok to pursue them. They’re not fake, people just tell you that they are so they won’t have to deal with the fact that they are not. Now that someone brave like you is out there, more awareness can at least be spread around Ponyville.” Fluttershy said. 

Applebloom leapt forward, hugging her close and taking Fluttershy by surprise. “Fluttershy, it’s great to have someone that finally understands. Thank you for understanding.” Applebloom said into her front legs. “That’s ok. If you ever feel conflicted, come back to my cottage and we can talk.” Fluttershy kindly offered. “Thanks again. Ah gotta go catch up with my brother, but I’ll come visit someday.” Applebloom accepted her offer. Fluttershy opened the door for her on her way out. “Goodbye Applebloom.” She waved her off. “Bye Fluttershy.” Applebloom called out as she left the cottage. 
Applebloom took the scenic route through the town as she thought Fluttershy’s talk would be much shorter, heck she didn’t even think Fluttershy would accept her after what she confessed. But yet again, Fluttershy’s heart-warming kindness proved itself in leaps and bounds. 

Then, by the apple stall of all places, she spied a purple tinted grey unicorn filly. Applebloom seemed frozen in place, as she watched a scene with Dinky and her mother Derpy who was looking puzzled over an apple. “This isn’t a muffin. This is an apple!” Derpy said, confused. “No Mom, I was thinking that you could use this in your muffin. It’s not a muffin yet. But you can make it into those sugary apple bits you put in your muffins.” Dinky explained to her mother. “Ok!” She nodded.
Applebloom’s heart meanwhile was beating in her ears. She felt like she couldn’t move a muscle, a light blush covering her cheeks. What’s wrong with you? Get yerself together silly filly! Applebloom scolded herself in her head. Luckily Dinky happened to look her way. “Hi! Applebloom!” She cried out happily, running towards the disarmed filly and disarming her even more with a greeting nuzzle, pressing cheek to cheek. Applebloom’s blush grew. “Hey Dinky. You look…nice.” Applebloom said, being so shy she could rival her family friend Fluttershy’s timidness. “Thanks.” Dinky smiled. 

Derpy rushed over. “Muwfin, who is this filly?” Derpy asked curiously. “I know her from school. Her name is Applebloom, and she’s one of my new friends.” Dinky linked an arm around Applebloom’s shoulder. “She’s a lovely filly.” Derpy remarked after seeing how happy being around Applebloom seemed to make her daughter. “Yes, she is a lovely filly.” Dinky complimented. “Do you two like playing?” Derpy wondered. “Oh, well, we haven’t really apart from yesterday. Hey, do you want to come over tomorrow at midday? I’m inviting Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell, do you know them?” Applebloom invited. “Yeah, they kind of took it upon themselves to introduce me. But Scootaloo was kind of weird about it.” Dinky said. “Don’t worry. She’s suspicious of some ponies.” Applebloom told her. “Ok. What’s your address?” Dinky asked. “34 Apple Drive or just Sweet Apple Acres, the farm of Ponyville.” Applebloom answered. “Mom, can I go tomorrow? Please?” Dinky put on a puppy face for Derpy. “Of course Muwfin!” Derpy said with a mother’s love clearly present in the voice. 

“She said yes! Oh thank you, thank you Mom!” Dinky squeezed her mother tight and then took Applebloom’s front hooves, bouncing up and down while both of them squealed. Then when Dinky stopped, Applebloom still kept a tight hold of her front hooves, and they lingered just a little too long, gaining some unappreciative glares from the various townsfolk who didn’t take these kind of relations between fillies too well. But Derpy couldn’t hide her admiring look. Even though it was another filly, maybe these were true feelings. Dinky shook herself. “Uh…huh huh…” She laughed awkwardly seeing the glaring townsfolk around them, bringing the two back to reality, and with clear regret Dinky pulled her hands away from Applebloom’s. “Sorry Dink. I didn’t know what I was thinking.” Applebloom apologized. “It’s ok.” Dinky meanwhile pleaded in her thoughts, Hold my hooves again, Applebloom. 

“Muwfin, we have to make Muwfins! You can see Applebloom tommorrow!” Derpy reminded. Ok, bye!” Dinky said. “Bye!” Applebloom said back. “Bye! Time to fly.” Derpy grabbed Dinky, strapping her on her back before flying up to Cloudsdale, with Dinky waving all the way up to the cloudy point where Applebloom could no longer see her. She knew with joy that she would see her tomorrow, and with that thought she pranced happily back to Sweet Apple Acres.**