//------------------------------//
// Chapitre Huit 
// Story: The Operatic Angel 
// by misskoifishpony 
//------------------------------//

While Butterscotch was journeying back to his room, Applejack was spending his morning in the barn. He was quietly washing and polishing the carriage gear. He was hoping that doing some cleaning would get his mind off of what happened yesterday. Unfortunately, it didn't. The silence of the morning made it worse actually. Because he was alone, he couldn't help but think about the whole incident.

He whispered out loud "Why couldn't it just be simple?"

"What's not simple?"

Applejack nearly jumped out of his furry coat when he heard the voice coming out of the blue. He quickly looked up to see who scared him.

He squeaked out with a nervous smile on his face "Barb!"

But he immediately coughed into his hoof soon after "Ugh I mean.."

Then Applejack emphasized in a deep yet smooth voice "Barbara."

Barbara, little confused by Applejack's change of tone, asked slowly "Did I...scare you?"

Applejack coughed into his hoof before replying "Not scare, just...take me by surprise. That's all."

Barbara meekly said while holding her claws close to her chest "Sorry."

Applejack remarked softly "No need to apologize sugar cube."

He smiled at her before returning back to his cleaning duty. She shyly walked towards him, feeling thankful that Applejack was focusing on something else.

When she was just a couple of inches away from him, she nervously whispered "Did you like your apple?"

Applejack stopped polishing and washing, and turned his attention back to Barbara. She was looking down at her feet and twiddling with her fingers. He was taken back by the lack of her usual cheer.

Applejack knew something was wrong. He hesitantly answered "Uh y-yeah, I did. I always do."

When Barbara lifted her eyes to meet AJ's eyes, he quietly questions her "What's the matter sugar cube?"

Barbara asked with great sadness "Are you mad at me?"

Applejack replied quickly "What? No! Of course not. I would never get mad at you. What made you think I did?"

Barbara slowly explained "After your fight with Elusive yesterday,...you didn't see me afterwards. You didn't say good bye. Did I do something wrong?"

Applejack cooed while lowering his body down to the ground next to Barbara, "Oh no no Barbara. You didn't do anything wrong. I was just mad at Elusive and...I needed to cool off. In order to cool off...I needed to stay away from him. I'm the one that needs to apologize...not you. I'm so sorry."

Then, he softly nuzzled his muzzle into her right cheek. And Barbara responded naturally by nuzzling gently into the other side of his face. They both closed their eyes while doing this.

Applejack deeply enjoyed feeling Barbara's baby soft scales on his nose. He could feel the sweet warmth that radiated from her cheeks. Applejack wondered if his coat was soft enough for Barbara. He wanted her to enjoy this experience just as much as he did. He wished he could embrace her like this forever. Then again, he always wished for so many things that they could do together. But it always ends up the same. Sweet yet incredibly short moments together. Applejack had to learn quickly to linger in these moments...for as long as Barbara could allow him.

Barbara gently pulled away from Applejack with a big yet kind smile on her face. That smile of hers instantly melted Applejack's heart. He grinned back at her and fluttered his eyes half closed. His mind was taken over by their blissful moment together.

Barbara then responded with a twinkle in her eye "Thanks AJ. I don't know what I've done if we were...well...fighting. It just wouldn't feel right, you know?"

Applejack sighed peacefully "I know what you mean. I wouldn't feel right neither."

Barbara then wondered "Hey Applejack?"

Applejack smiled while lowering his head a little closer to Barbara "Yeah Barb?"

Barbara turned her head slightly to the left while commenting "How come you and Elusive always have to fight?"

That question rapidly evaporated the sweet feeling in their moment. He lifted his head back to it's original position, and took a moment to think. He couldn't tell her the real reason why they fight. Applejack loves her, but she loves Elusive. Elusive wants no pony to have her except for him. Applejack, unfortunately, is jealous of that jerk.

Applejack carefully explained while scratching the back of his thick neck, "Elusive and I...are ponies that just...don't see eye to eye. And when stallions don't see eye to eye on...certain things...they fight. It's what we do."

Barbara remarked "Well, why do stallions have to do it that way? It makes no sense!"

Applejack sighed out "Yeah, I know. It is pretty silly, but that's how things are. Once stallions set their minds on something, they can't let it go. Stallions are too stubborn to change."

Barbara crossed her arms and mumbled "You mean, Elusive is too stubborn to change."

Applejack's eyes widen at Barbara's conclusion, almost taken back by her critical tone. But he was silent for a moment, just so Barbara would continue to explain her thoughts.

Barbara sighed out "Just say it Applejack, you don't like Elusive and you think he's a jerk. Just like every pony else."

Applejack defended "Barbara, it's not like I don't like him. Like I said before..."

Barbara interrupted "Please Applejack, just admit it! Just say it!"

Applejack was speechless. He never seen her like this. He didn't know that she cared about what every pony in L'Opera de Cheval thinks.

Barbara uttered out sadly "I'm sorry AJ, it's just...I'm so tired of every pony assuming the worst out of Elusive. Just because he has certain expectations for things...does that make him a bad pony?"

Applejack lowered his head back to her eye level and whispered "No...no it doesn't."

Barbara continued while looking into Applejack's eyes "If every pony...got to know him like I did...they would see that he's really sweet. And kind,and...special. He's a gentlecolt and.."

Applejack interrupted her softly "It's okay Barb, I understand."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before continuing "I'll tell you what Barb. I'll give Elusive a chance and...be his friend? How's that sound?"

Barbara gasped. Her eyes and her smile grew big. She squeaked out with excitement "Really?!"

Applejack chuckled out "Ugh really?" Then he added a big fake smile at the end.

Barbara immediately hugged Applejack around the neck with all her might. Applejack blushed in this new embrace. She exclaimed "Oh thank you Applejack!"

"Barbara!"

The small dragon and the earth pony turned towards the opened front barn door. In the light of the morning sun...was Elusive. The white unicorn was wearing a blue velvet jacket with a fine white ruffled shirt underneath.

Barbara waved happily at him while still hugging Applejack. Applejack's face turned red at the sight of Elusive. Barbara proclaimed joyously "Hi Elusive!"

Then, Barbara jumped out of Applejack's lap and ran towards Elusive with a smile on her face. Elusive welcomed her into his forelegs and returned her smile.

He tells her "I was so worried about you."

Barbara adds "Sorry Elusive, but I wanted to talk to Applejack before the day got started." She turns her gaze back to the earth pony and exclaims "And Applejack has some great news for ya!"

Elusive cocks his head to the side and utters out "You do?"

Applejack, feeling completely embarrassed, explained "W-Well I...uh...I just wanted to say...that I hope that we can forgive and forget about yesterday. You know, let bygones be bygones. Um...whatya say?"

Then Applejack offered his hoof towards Elusive and gave him a small smile.

Elusive was very hesitant, confused, and skeptical of Applejack's apology and offer. However, he can see little Barbara looking at him with such hopeful eyes. As if waiting for him to shake Applejack's hoof.

He let out a small sigh before shaking the orange stallion's hoof. Elusive gave his new 'friend' a fake grin while saying "I say let bygones be bygones as well. So glad that we are finally to make...amends."

Their little hoof shake was short and straight to the point. Elusive turned towards the opera house and told Barbara "Come Barbara, the opera awaits."

Then Elusive looks over his shoulder at Applejack and adds "Have a good morning...Monsieur Le Pomme."

Elusive elegantly walks back to the opera house. Barbara gives Applejack a cheerful good bye before following her unicorn crush. Applejack waves back at the cute dragon and returns her good bye. He mumbles through his smile "What have I done?"