The tree swayed violently, dropping its load of ripened Summer Crop Apples into the buckets placed around it.
“Not bad.”
“Thank you.” Frank bowed, albeit jokingly. He had decided to help with the applebucking, as a way to thank the Apple family. Even though Granny Smith and Applejack had not been pleased with the idea, Granny Smith decided to let him help some (after all, he did offer).
Trying to buck the tree next to his was Applebloom. Though she had perfect bucking form, not one single apple fell. But that didn’t stop her. She repeated her form quickly. Big Macintosh rushed over and stopped her. “Whoa, Applebloom. You’re still probably too small to knock any off.”
Applebloom sighed. “Yeah. Still too small.”
“Hmmm… I wonder…” Big Macintosh looked at Applebloom, then looked towards the other end of the field. “I don’t think she’d mind…” He muttered to himself.
“Who?”
“Y’know, when Applejack was your age, she had a treehouse. I think it’s mostly damaged, though.”
Applebloom started bouncing around again. “Maybe we can repair it!”
“That’s for Frank to decide, I have to buck these trees, and I’m too big for that old tree. And Applejack’s in town… again. For the entire day.”
Frank knew that Applebloom would beg and grovel for him to help, even if he said no. Not that he really minded. “Sure. But we’re gonna need a lot of lumber.”
“Right next to the treehouse.”
“Business is really slow right now. I mean, it’s the dead middle of summer, and nopony can even think of going outside, let alone think of wearing clothing!”
Applejack nodded. “By the way, where’s Pinkie?”
“She couldn’t come. Sugarcube Corner is packed with ponies wanting Ice Cream. They’ve been at it almost non-stop since breakfast.”
“Hmm.” Applejack looked down at the salad that she was preparing. Needs more Tomatoes.
Rarity turned towards Applejack. “You’re awfully quiet today. Something bothering you?” She looked out the window towards Sugarcube Corner… there was an awful lot of dust there. “And when are they going to be done there? I heard that somepony bought it and is tearing it down to build something new there.”
“A house,” muttered Applejack softly, “a house.”
Rarity nearly dropped the pie she was carrying. “How do you know this, exactly?”
“I know who bought it. And he’s at Sweet Apple Acres until it’s done.”
“You make him sound like a terrible pony.”
“It’s Stablehaus.”
Rarity’s face contorted into a frown. “Oh.” Applejack had told her all about him. And from what she heard, she didn't want to meet the colt.
Applebloom carried the toolbox in her mouth. It was small, red, and rather light.
Frank, meanwhile, was underneath the treehouse, examining the beams and floorboards of the old structure. While doing this, his horn was sparkling like a fire, as he was casting a shield to make sure that he didn’t get injured. As he heard Applebloom approach, he called out “Don’t come under here! I’m not sure if it’s safe!”
Applebloom set the toolbox down a good distance away from the structure, and she stood next to it, waiting as patiently as she could. However, patience wasn’t her strong point, and Frank knew this. “All right,” he stopped casting the spell as he walked out from under it, “The beams are in good shape, but the floor was too thin in the first place, and it probably couldn’t have held me up, even when it was new.”
“So we’re gonna make a thicker floor?”
Frank grinned. “We’re gonna make a floor so strong that it could hold even Big Macintosh up. And also maybe add a couple more columns around the tree, to make sure it’ll be around.for a good, long time.”
“And what can I do?” Applebloom was eager to help in any way that she could.
“Could you go get us something to drink?”
Applebloom was slightly disappointed at the nature of the job, but she happily bounded off towards the Farmhouse.
Frank laughed. Then he climbed the staircase carefully, and entered the treehouse, making sure to gently step where a beam was. A small magic spell later, and all the floorboards had been turned to dirt, leaving the outer walls, roof, and basic structure intact. He flew out shortly after that.
A knocking came from the door. “It’s open!” shouted Rarity. In walked Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash.
“Hey!” shouted Rainbow Dash.
“Hay is what we eat, Rainbow. It is not a proper greeting.”
“So?”
Rarity facehoofed and was about to begin a long lecture about how she'd told her over and over. Applejack laughed nervously and stepped between them. “Why don’t we go eat? Ah bet you guys are hungry!”
“Yeah! Let’s eat!” Rainbow Dash sat down. Rarity sat across from her, and Fluttershy and Applejack sat between the pair. “I hear there’s a new colt in town. Any of you heard?” While Fluttershy shook her head, Applejack and Rarity looked at each other and then nodded. “You do? Is he cute?”
“Rainbow, you’ve asked that about every guy who shows up in town. And it’s usually been me you’ve asked!”
“That’s because they’re usually making a beeline for Carousel Boutique!”
Rarity was about to respond, but she realized just how true that statement was. Applejack, sensing that Rarity was uncomfortable, responded on her behalf. “True, but he made a bee-line straight fer Sweet Apple Acres.”
“So you know him? Where’d he live and go to school?”
“Maresland, went to Cloudsdale and Canterlot.”
Fluttershy’s eyes grew wide, and she nearly spit out the bite of salad that she had taken. But she swallowed it before speaking. “Is he an Alicorn?”
“Yeah, why?”
“His name’s Stablehaus, isn't it?”
“Yeah… that’s right… say, Fluttershy, how do ya know him?”
“He helped me get back up to Cloudsdale once.”
“And how did you thank him?” Rarity asked, suddenly showing interest in the direction the conversation had gone.
“I took him on a tour of the school…” Fluttershy’s voice trailed off, and she hoped that Rarity wouldn’t think that she was omitting something.
“Unconventional, I suppose. But then what? Your voice trailed off at the end.” Yes, Rarity had noticed that Fluttershy was hiding something.
Fluttershy’s mind went into overdrive as she desperately searched for an excuse to leave. “I… um… I’m going to say hi.” And she quickly stood up and started trotting toward the door.
“Fluttershy, darling.” Rarity had risen up too, and had quickly stopped Fluttershy from exiting. “There’s something you’re not telling us.”
Fluttershy stood there quietly, unwilling to speak. The silence grew, and eventually, Rainbow Dash couldn’t take it anymore. “We just watched as he was laughed off campus!”
Rarity was so surprised that she failed to notice that Fluttershy had secretly snuck out. When she did, all she saw was a light yellow and pink streak leaving Ponyville.
A/N: Please Comment! I would REALLY like to know what you think so far!