Marjoram woke up to silence for the first time in several days. Breathing a sigh of relief, Marjoram sank back into his pillows. Rainbow must have left then. Fluttershy had sent one of her 'feathered friends' to the library late the night before, informing Twilight and Rainbow that Harry the Bear would be leaving in the morning.
This meant that Rainbow could leave after several, excruciatingly tense days. As much as Marjoram enjoyed seeing Twilight happy, and she was happy having several sleepovers with one of her friends, Rainbow's attitude made Marjoram grind his teeth.
Rainbow complained constantly about her damaged wing, though she tried to tone it down around Marjoram. She didn't seem to care that in a few short weeks she'd be good as new: flying about Ponyville and Cloudsdale like the accident had never happened.
Marjoram didn't have that luxury. Any day now, the temperature would plummet and Autumn Wrap Up would begin in earnest. Marjoram's lungs wouldn't deal well with the massive differences in temperatures. Too hot, and Marjoram's lungs and throat dried out. Too cold, and his lungs would freeze up in shock.
Most people weren't conscious of the varying, different temperatures that ruled over winter. Houses were often too hot, and the outside was almost always too cold. It was going to be a delicate balance to find the right temperature for the library: to help Marjoram breathe, as well as keep the books safe.
In all, Marjoram figured this winter was going to be rather difficult.
A knock jolted Marjoram from his warm, drowsy thoughts. Marjoram freed himself of the blankets, and began the morning trek up the single flight of stairs that was growing more and more difficult with each day.
Marjoram steeled himself for the morning ahead, trying to imagine what Twilight wanted. Finally making it up the stairs, and trying to hide the fact he was wheezing already, Marjoram entered the kitchen.
Spike was chowing down on some sort of sandwich, while Twilight was busy putting a tray of something in the oven.
“Hey!” Spike greeted, covering his mouth so no one could see the half-chewed bits of food in his mouth.
Marjoram nodded in acknowledgment, sitting beside the dragon.
Twilight shut the oven door, and smiled, “How are you feeling? Better?”
Marjoram shrugged, “The same. What's the weather supposed to be like?”
“Supposed to drop tonight,” Spike butted in, “I talked to some of the weather pegasi this morning.”
Marjoram winced, “Lovely.”
Twilight offered a sympathetic smile, “So far you're doing pretty well health wise. Hopefully you won't get too bad.”
Marjoram caught the small flash of fear and uncertainty, even if Spike didn't. Twilight wasn't as good a liar as she thought, but Marjoram couldn't figure out what could be making her lie to him-
“Would you like toast or scones with your jam?” Twilight interrupted Marjoram's thoughts, “If you want to eat now, I can make toast. Spike found a scone recipe he wanted to try-”
“So we made it!” Spike said brightly, “They smell good already.”
Marjoram offered a small smile, “I'll have some scones, then.”
Twilight smiled brightly, though Marjoram couldn't help but notice the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Marjoram shook himself mentally. Twilight wouldn't hide anything from you if it was important. Don't let your feelings toward her friends cloud your perception of her.
Marjoram sat quietly, and waited for his breakfast to finish baking in the oven.
(LINE BREAK)
That afternoon, when Twilight and Spike had gone off to get groceries for the week, a knock interrupted Marjoram's reading. He opened the door to find Applejack standing outside, holding a basket in between her teeth.
Marjoram stepped aside to let her in, shutting the door firmly behind her. Applejack set the basket on the nearest desk.
“Thank ya kindly, sugarcube,” Applejack smiled. “This is the last of the Zap Apple jam Twilight ordered. I was already on my into town, so I thought I'd drop it off myself.”
“Thanks,” Marjoram offered a wane smile of his own.
Applejack shifted her weight from hoof to hoof for a moment, then smiled again, “I'm glad you like the jam. Did Twilight tell you the apples are magical?”
Marjoram thought, “I think she mentioned while I was in the hospital, but I don't think she mentioned anything else. Do you know what the magic does?”
Applejack shrugged, “Nothin' as far as anypony knows.”
“I could run some tests, if you have any apples left-”
“Sorry sugarcube, the raw apples usually just get eaten, baked, or turned into jam pretty quickly after harvest time. If you're up to it, though, you can do some fancy-shmancy tests on the trees if you'd like.”
Marjoram nodded, “Thank you. Would you mind if I come over tomorrow and get some samples? It's probably best if I run my tests here, than out in your orchard.”
Applejack's smile widened, “Of course you can! If you'd like, you can have lunch or something with us-”
Marjoram shook his head, “No thank you, Applejack. I appreciate the offer-”
“If Granny saw you, she'll force you to come in and eat anyway,” Applejack's green eyes shone mischievously, “I'll see you tomorrow. Enjoy the jam!” With that, the Earth Pony left Marjoram alone, with the basket of jam jars.
Marjoram looked at Applejack's basket, and smiled a twisted smile, “She's smarter than I thought. I need to give her that basket back.”
Marjoram put the jam jars away, then put the basket on the little table beside the front door. By the time he'd gotten settled and began to read again, Twilight and Spike came back. Marjoram noted their presence with a nod, but not much else. He was too absorbed in his book-
“Marjoram, could you lend a hoof!?”
Marjoram rolled his eyes, and joined the pair in the kitchen. Using his magic, he helped Twilight and Spike put away the groceries.
Twilight smiled brightly at him, “I noticed the extra jam jars. Was Applejack here earlier?”
“You just missed her,” Marjoram replied. He opened his mouth to tell Twilight about the testing he was going to run, but the words stuck in his throat. Instead he said, “She left her basket here. I'm pretty sure it's a clever plot to get me over to Sweet Apple Acres for lunch tomorrow.”
Twilight chuckled, “Probably. Will you be alright on your own? Spike and I can come with if you'd like.”
“I'll be alright, I think,” Marjoram replied easily, “It'll be my last outing before things get super cold. I'll take it easy, Twilight, I promise.”
Twilight looked worried, but nodded reluctantly, “All right. Let me know if you change your mind.”
Marjoram smiled, “I'll be fine, Twilight. Spike, are you ready for your science lesson?”
Spike groaned, but obediently padded into the main room of the library, Marjoram following the young dragon.
(LINE BREAK)
The next day, Marjoram set off to Sweet Apple Acres with the basket and his saddlebags full of the equipment he would need. He had his cloak on, as well as a scarf. Marjoram made his way leisurely over to the farm, stopping to rest several times along the way.
Once he got to the farm, it was nearly impossible to ignore the fact that fall was drawing to a close: there wasn't a single green leaf among the apple trees. As Marjoram plodded down the last of the dirt road to the farm, he saw Apple Bloom with two other fillies. Apple Bloom waved a hoof in the air, “Hi, Marjoram! What are you doin' here?”
“Returning the basket,” Marjoram gestured to the floating basket near his head.
“I'll take it!” Apple Bloom beamed, “We were heading' over to the barn anyway. Thanks!”
“Do you know where Applejack is? I need to talk to her-”
“Oh sure,” Using a hoof, Apple Bloom pointed to a bunch of trees that didn't look anything like apple trees, “She's planting a few more Zap Apple trees. She'll be over there.”
“Thanks,” Marjoram walked to the rows of leafless trees, and wondered about the odd appearance of all the trees. Certainly magic, they don't feel right.
Marjoram found Applejack digging holes near the far end of the orchard. She saw him coming, and galloped over to him, smiling, “Ah! There you are, I was beginning to wonder if you were gonna show!”
Marjoram resisted the urge to roll his eyes, “This is fascinating, as I haven’t heard of anything like your zap apples before. This could be very profitable for you and the magical community.”
“D’you think so?”
“Ponies have been trying to find natural occurring magical food for centuries,” Marjoram explained, “We think it could revolutionize how food is grown, and we want to see what effects it could have on ponies.”
Applejack nodded, “That could be neat. Now, what do ya need for the test?”
“An apple would have been preferable. If you have any seeds, that would be the next best thing. If all else I can probably use a bit of branch or bark.”
Applejack smiled, “Good news is that I’ve got some seeds leftover. Big Mac got me a few too many. How many do you need?”
“Two should be enough,” Marjoram offered a slight smile, “Thank you for this.”
“It’s not a problem!” Applejack smiled, “If you want to go to the house, I’ll bring you the seeds when I’m done.”
Marjoram nodded, and went to the farmhouse. Unsure of what to do, he knocked only to have the door open after only a few seconds.
Granny Smith offered a big smile, “Come on in dear, Applejack told me you were coming.”
“Thank you for having me,” Marjoram replied slowly, unsure of what else to say.
Granny’s smile widened, “Anytime. Now, you just sit down at the table.Lunch will be done soon.”
Marjoram followed Granny into the kitchen, and sat down at the table. He watched as Granny wandered to the stove, stirring soup, and checking something that was in the oven. Marjoram looked around the comfortable, clearly lived in kitchen, wondering how old some of the pots and pans were.
A few minutes later, Apple Bloom and her friends trotted in, giggling. They washed up in the kitchen sink, and sat down themselves.
Granny took the pot off of the hot burner, and turned to Apple Bloom, “Would you mind getting your brother, squirt? Maybe yell at Applejack?”
“No need Apple Bloom,” The door opened, and Applejack and Big Mac walked in from outside, “We’re here. You go ahead and serve the guests while Big Mac and I wash our hooves.”
“Alright, deary,” Granny smiled. She brought the pot to the table, and began to fill the bowls full of it. When she was done serving soup, she took two loaves of bread out of the oven, and sliced them, bringing them over before sitting herself down.
Marjoram, while not very hungry, did his best to eat a polite amount. While the food was good, and Marjoram felt slightly grateful that they’d thought of him, he was uncomfortable with the situation. He wasn’t sure if the offer of food was out of kindness, pity, or both. No matter the situation, Marjoram wasn’t sure what to think of the whole thing.
Soon enough, Marjoram found himself finished. Granny forced him to take a few containers of soup, and several slices of bread home. Applejack gave him two seeds, and with a round of goodbyes, he made his way back to the library.
A few weeks, and I’ll see what’s in this. Marjoram thought, after he’d gotten back to the library and downstairs into his room. He set the flask in a dark drawer, and stared at the half-empty flask of the potion Twilight had made him.
Marjoram remembered trying to ask Twilight what was in it, but so far she’d dodged his questions. Feeling slightly guilty, Marjoram prepared another magic-analyzing solution, and dumped the potion inside. If Twilight won’t tell me, I’ll figure it out myself. Sorry Twilight, I trust you, but I need to know what I’m basically drinking by the litre.