Applejack swiped the sweat off of her brow as the mid-summer's day’s heat beat down upon her. She had been working hard on the harvest, and at this point, was admittedly feeling a little sore. Not that she minded, of course. It meant she was getting work done, work that had to be done.
This didn’t mean she wouldn’t pass up a reason to take a break though, especially if otherwise she may have passed up on a possible new customer. And so, with the appearance of a purple mare in a tattered black cloak, she left her buckets and trotted over. “Howdy there! I don’t believe we’ve met before. Is this your first time to Sweet Apple Acres?”
Twilight bit her tongue as she thought about the reason she was here. She shook her head and took in a deep breath. “I’m looking for a Small Macintosh. Do you know where he might be?”
Applejack’s eyes slowly drifted down to being half closed as she realized just why she was here. Big Mac had been getting plenty of suitors as of late, and this had to be one of them. She didn’t even bother with learning his name first! She resisted sighing as she knew she’d lost another cute mare to her brother, and instead kept her smile on. “I do. He is in the west field, though, his name is Big Macintosh, not small.”
Twilight felt her cheeks burn and thanked her luck for having met the farm mare first. “Thank you.” She turned to head to the field, and then turned again to go to the field, and then turned a third time, completely confused by now. She finally turned back to Applejack. “I’m sorry, but can I bother you again?”
She stifled a smile. “Yes, Sugarcube?”
“Could you possibly show me where the west field is?”
Applejack rolled her eyes. “I would love to.”
Twilight beamed at her. “Really? Thank you so much!”
She sighed as the two started to trot through the fields. Twilight was too nervous to really say anything, and Applejack was stuck in her head as she tried to think about how unfair it was for Big Mac to get everyone. Not that she would have said yes since she knew nothing about this mare, but it would still have been nice to get propositioned for even one date in the past month, while Big Mac had five in that time. Don’t keep thinking like that AJ. You’ve got your family, and that is what matters.
This thought still didn’t make it any easier for her as they broke through the trees and found Big Mac slamming his back hooves into a tree. The gentle thud of apples filled the air, and the shy stallion paled as he saw the two of them. His mind immediately went where Applejack’s had, and as good of a face as he put on so as not to insult the mares, he was getting tired of it. At this rate, he soon wouldn’t be able to go into town without finding some pony that he had turned down.
“Hey Big Mac. She wants to talk to you.”
He nodded. “Eeyup?”
Twilight took a deep breath in before bending her forelegs down low while she almost kissed the ground. “I am here to apologize. I can’t say how, but I recently made you look like a fool, and that was bad of me. I do hope you will forgive me.”
Both Apple family members looked at each other, but neither knew what in the world the mare could be talking about. Applejack stepped forward and tried putting a hoof on the mare’s shoulder. Without finding the resistance she had expected, she stumbled forward and through Twilight before crashing to the ground.
Twilight almost jumped off the ground as she felt her essence get brushed through by Applejack, but kept her hooves planted. She had wanted to apologize to Big Mac, but Sunset and her had also agreed that they might not like a wraith being in town, and that tact would be needed in her reveal. Unfortunately, Big Mac’s wide eyes told her she may have lost that ability now.
All three looked at each other before Twilight squeaked out, “I’m sorry for bothering you, have a nice day,” and evaporating into darkness.
Applejack and Big Mac looked at each other. “Do you know what that was?”
“Nope.”
“Me neither.” Applejack was quiet for another few moments before standing up. “I’m calling Aunt Pepper.”
“Eeyup.”
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Rainbow Dash almost laughed at the darkened shed that Sunset had led her to on the edge of town. “So, you think I’m afraid of the dark or something?”
Sunset kept her face stoic. After Rainbow had come within five inches of shocking her again today, Sunset had wanted a chance to make Rainbow ‘jump’ like she had. Add that with never having gotten back at her the electrical treatment on the first day they had met, and she had much to get even about. “Oh no, I do not. I simply believe that this is the best place for you to meet my pet.”
Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Pet?”
Sunset merely nodded as her horn glowed. The door slammed shut and it left Sunset and Rainbow in a bubble of orange light. At least, until a green ball of fire popped into existence at the other end of the shed.
Slam! Rainbow almost took flight as one of the lights was taken out by something very large, or at least, very strong. Another light heading towards the two was snuffed out and the shack shook from the force. Rainbow looked at Sunset. “I-I don’t know what your doing, but it’s not going to–“
Slam!
She jumped into the air as a large, skeletal claw beat the ground just ahead of them, snuffing out the final green light. Just then, from behind the slowly revealed manticore, came something that caused Sunset to facehoof. “Woo.”
Fluffy turned around, his smile on his face widening as he heard his master’s call. Rainbow stifled a giggle from what she presumed was a sound effect, at least until she a green light appear in front of her while Sunset’s light went out. There, bathed in the ghastly glow, the shadow of her hood deepening the curves of her face, was a purple unicorn that held the green, necrotic flame. Rainbow’s wings snapped to her side as she threw the ball towards Fluffy and said, “Catch!”
Fluffy came right next to Rainbow as he ate the magic in midair. Twilight shot a blast of ice onto the ground and the shocked stiff Rainbow Dash slid along the cold ice and the ground, only stopping once she got to Sunset.
The curtains to the shack opened up and Twilight floated down to them with Fluffy right behind her, small flames still curling out the side of his grin. “So, did you like our performance? I bet if they let me and Fluffy compete in competitions, he would love the blue ribbon he deserves.”
Rainbow looked up at Twilight and then back at Sunset. “Fluffy?”
“Yep. Rainbow. Please meet my friend, Twilight the wraith, and her pet, Fluffy.”
Rainbow looked at both of them for a few moments before getting up to her hooves and coughing. “Sorry, got wing lock there for a few moments. I’m, um, going to go home now.”
Sunset put a hoof against the door as Twilight furrowed her eyebrows. “You can’t tell anyone, alright? I trust you, and that is why you get to know about her.”
Rainbow glared at Sunset. “I just got scared from something called Fluffy. I don’t want anyone other then you ever knowing about this.” She stomped out the door while Sunset rolled on the ground laughing.
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Fluttershy hummed to herself as the last rays of the day fell beneath the sky. She had a basket of apple fritters beside her and hoped Applejack would have stayed up to try them with her. She was confident that she had gotten the recipe right this time and that they would be just as fantastic as when her adopted sister made them. Of course, I can’t even make myself try them first, so how confident am I really? She lowered her head and sighed.
“What has you down?”
“Oh nothYeep!” She jumped as a face came out of the branches next to her and she realized that somepony had spoken to her, instead of just her thoughts. She then turned her head, the face being oddly familiar. “D-do I know you?”
Twilight furrowed her brows. “I don’t think so. My name is Twilight, and I’m a friend of Sunset Shimmer. She thought that since I am a shut in and never sleep, and you were nocturnal, it might not be a bad idea for us to try to become friends.”
Fluttershy bit into her cheek just before her brain sparked with why the wraith was familiar. She backpedaled and almost fell off the branch she was on. She whimpered as she the twigs snapped and she had to reposition her claws. Twilight moved forward, hot on her trail. “Please, don’t run. I know it may be weird to befriend a spirit, but I promise I mean you no harm.”
She whimpered as she brought her wings over her eyes for a moment. She hated being able to see ghosts like this, even if it was normal for bat ponies, as it only ever led to trouble. Fluttershy swallowed hard. “Pl-please leave me be.”
Twilight opened her mouth, but looking at Fluttershy’s shaking form made her rethink pushing the shy mare further. She hung her head low, her cloak swaying in a nonexistent breeze. “Yeah, I… I understand. I’m sorry to have disturbed you, and please keep my existence a secret.”
Fluttershy peaked over her wings as Twilight slowly floated away. A small lump formed in her throat and she bit into her lip. Come on Fluttershy. Applejack says I should give everyone a chance, and this should be no different. “Wait!”
Twilight turned around. “Yes?”
“You… you don’t have to go, okay? I’m just… kind of scared I guess.”
Twilight nodded to herself and then smiled at Fluttershy as she waved towards her. “Then we’ll talk tomorrow. When you feel scared again, I can leave again, and we’ll slowly get comfortable that way. Sound like a good plan?”
Fluttershy’s heart grew lighter at the offer to be alone and nodded. She got one last nod from Twilight before the wraith floated away. The first cries of the bats within the forest reminded Fluttershy of the time and that she had a plan for the night. So, with nervousness for tomorrow night with the spirit and excitement for her fritters, Fluttershy flew towards Sweet Apple Acres.