//------------------------------// // Thankfulness (edited) // Story: Getting Back to Good // by FlufferNutters //------------------------------// Two weeks pass as life goes to normal for Luna and Peanut Butter. Two days from Thanksgiving while Luna cooks dinner while Peanut Butter is on the couch writing in his notebook when there is a knock on the door. Luna stops chopping vegetables and turns her head towards the door with a raised eyebrow . "Coming!" Luna shouts as she puts down her knife. She walks to the door as she wipes her hands on her apron before standing in front of the front door and opens it. "I swear if you are another Sombra's Witness I'm going to flip." Luna says as she peeks to see who it is. Standing outside of the doorway is an older looking woman with salt and pepper hair, green eyes, and a few wrinkles around her eyes and mouth and wearing a dark red dress with a white wool jacket over it, and red high heels. Luna steps back in surprise as she steps aside from the door way. "Aunt Auburn, I thought you weren't supposed to show up here until tomorrow." Luna says as the lady walks in. "I got hear early so I can catch up with you and your sister." "Well that's good to hear, please sit where you would like, I'll put some tea on for you." "Thank you." Luna closes the door and goes back to the kitchen to make tea as Auburn Sky goes to the living room to see Peanut Butter laying on the couch still writing. She jumps back and quickly screams causing Luna and Peanut Butter to look at her with Peanut Butter raising an eyebrow. "Aunt Sky what's wrong?" Luna asks. "Who is this young man in your house and why is he here?" "I was going to surprise everyone, but this is Peanut Butter, I'm his legal guardian." "First Celestia with Sunset, now you with this one, I swear you two are so similar, how old is this one?" "About a year older than Sunset." "I see, you do realize teenage boys are a handful right Luna?" "I know, I deal with them all the time at the school especially yours, this one though hasn't been that bad." "I heard that Luna." Peanut Butter snips as he peeks above the couch. Luna chuckles before she puts a mug of water in the microwave and presses the heating time before pressing start. "The mouth on this one is appalling." Auburn says. "Reminds me of myself when I was his age." "Yes it does and it should be dealt with." "Aunt Auburn, he is a good kid, he hasn't had it easy." "Doubtful, unlike my son this one is a delinquent waiting in the wings." "I wouldn't mention your son around P.B. if I were you." "Why not?, my Blueblood is a gentleman." "More like a snobby shithead if you ask me." Peanut Butter snarks. Auburn gasps and turns towards him with her eyebrows curved into an angry expression. "How dare you talk ill of him like that!" She scolds. "He goes after me for no reason thinking he's the big shot only for me to put him in his place." "Wait a minute, he mentions someone who annoys him that he calls a street rat, is that, you?" "Yep." "If you just did what he said and just accept it then things wouldn't be bad for you." "That's not how I do things and that's not how life works." "I can see why he finds you annoying." Auburn scowls. Peanut Butter gets up and places his notebook down and stands tall facing Auburn with his fists clenched. "I have seen what people like him become and what they do, I will not stand by and let him get away with those things." Peanut Butter grabs is notebook and marches past Luna and Auburn and goes into his room. Luna sighs as Auburn looks towards her with a raised eyebrow. "I do hope you have no plans on adopting that child, he's a troublemaker in the making." Auburn says as Luna serves her tea. "You just met him, he's not really a troublemaker, he's still adjusting and can be a bit hostile at times and I warned you to not mention Blueblood." "You're making excuses for him." "You have no idea what he went through Aunt Auburn." "That is no excuse for his behavior." Luna drinks her own tea as she glares at her. "He's part of this family, whether you like it or not." "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you." Luna and Auburn sit and drink their tea in silence as Luna continues checking on what she is making. After Auburn finishes her tea she places her cup down and gets up. She picks up her purse and heads to the door. "I will let Celestia know that I will not be joining and I will be with my husband and son for the holidays." Auburn mentions. "Okay, thank you for stopping by." Auburn leaves with a huff as Luna is pinching the bridge of her nose before going to shut and lock the door. She walks over to Peanut Butter's room and knocks on his door. He opens the door a few seconds later to see Luna with a raised eyebrow towards him. "Hey Luna, what's up?" Peanut Butter asks. "I'm sorry for how she treated you, but I feel you are also at fault for what just happened." "She started it with that smug attitude of hers towards me." "It takes two to get into an argument P.B.." "I know, but she still started it." "And you could have finished it by ignoring her, look all I'm saying is that you could have handled it better, I know you're still trying, but I need to point it out to you so you can be aware, okay?" Peanut Butter looks down and away from Luna. "Okay, are you still bringing me to A.J.'s place tomorrow?" "Yes I am." "Thank you." "You're welcome." Peanut Butter shuts the door as Luna heads to the kitchen as the rest of the night is quiet between them. The next day comes as Peanut Butter is dressed in boots, jeans, t shirt, and his light brown hoodie with ear muffs matching the color of his hoodie at Luna's request due to the weather as Luna drives him to A.J.'s farm. Peanut Butter looks out the window during the trip with a small smile on his face as Luna pulls into the driveway and parks her car. "Now P.B., I want you to be good while you're here, I'll be back at three to pick you up." Luna says. "I will." "Good, have fun." "I will, bye." Luna backs up and drives off as Peanut Butter turns around to see Applebloom run towards him before jumping to hug him. Peanut Butter catches her and hugs her back with a giggle. "It's good to see you too Bloom." Peanut Butter greets. "Glad you could come, A.J. and Big Mac are in the fields out back, we can take thuh four wheeler to get there." "Alright Bloom, let's go, get your helmet while I get it started." "Okay." While Applebloom gets her helmet Peanut Butter goes to the four wheeler by the garage and looks it over before starting it up, revving the engine up a couple times before Applebloom returns in a green helmet with apples around it. She gets behind him and wraps her arms around him before slowly turning the vehicle around before speeding towards Applejack and Big Mac with the engine roaring. A couple minutes later they see Applejack and Big Mac in the distance before slowing down and stopping right next to them. Applebloom gets off as Applejack puts a basket full of apples on the four wheeler. "Nice to see ya P.B., just in time too, we got a few more trees left and we'll get it done quicker with you helpin'." Applejack says. "It's nothing, besides it's been a while since we last hung out." "Yeah, it's long due, about five years over due." "Yeah." Peanut Butter revs up the four wheeler as Applejack covers the top of the basket. "Yer good ta go." Peanut Butter rides off towards the house kicking up some dirt along the way as he follows the same path he did to get there. After two hours they all finish and ride back to the house on separate vehicles. They park the vehicles in the garage by the house before going inside. at the front entrance of the house Applejack stops Peanut Butter before going inside holding an old handmade picnic basket with a blanket over the top of it. "What do you say P.B.?" Applejack asks. "Sure." They both go to the garage and get on one of the four wheelers and head out to the orchard towards a clear hill near by. Once there Applejack lays out a blanket on the grass before sitting on it next to the basket as Peanut Butter sits next to her. She takes out a couple plates and takes out a couple sandwiches and then takes out thermoses and hands him one and a plate with a sandwich. She opens her thermos as steam comes out of it like smoke from a chimney. Peanut Butter does the same to discover hot chocolate in his thermos. "Thanks for the help P.B., it means a lot to me and my family." Applejack thanks. "No problem, I've always tried to help you guys when I can." "Yeah, but you always did it when it was just Big Mac and Granny." "I did that to protect you." "I know P.B., but that's in the past now, what matters now is that you're back." "Yeah, it's a nice view here by the way." "It is, I thought it would be a perfect spot for us to catch up proper." "You always had a knack for that." "That I do." "So much has changed since then huh?" "Yeah, it has, how were things for you?" "Difficult to say the least, I made a few good friends along my travels, though let's face it, none of them could top you and Rarity." "Yeah, anyone in particular?" "Well there is one." "Oh?" "Yeah, her name was Cherry Blossom, she, was a good friend of mine growing up and her family was super nice." "That's good to hear, why didn't you stay with them?" "Personal reasons, but I was always welcomed." "Ah, I noticed you said was, what happened?" "I'd rather not talk about it." "I understand." "I still cared about you two even after I left." "Why?" "Because you two were my first real friends." Applejack smiles slightly looking away. "That means a lot ta me P.B.." "Well it's true." "Ah know, but still, I never heard ya say anything like that until now." "I see, I'll try to say that stuff more often then." "I never really got over you, ya know." "I had a feeling." "I just suppressed it fer years that I sort of forgot, then when you showed up it came back with joy and anger." "Why anger?" "Because you showed up out of the blue after all those years and found out that you have been here for longer than when we found you." "I see." "Yeah, ah'm glad we are still friends though." "I'm still surprised that you still consider me your friend." "I didn't at first, but after thinking it through I feel different." "How so?" "I don't see you as who you were from back then, but at the same time, I feel like the best parts of ya are still there, just damaged ah guess." "I guess that's true, though I'm trying to fix myself little by little." "I'm glad you are and I'll be here fer ya like when we were kids." "Thanks A.J., I needed to hear that." Peanut Butter eats some of his sandwich and sips from the thermos. He looks out over the rows of apple trees in front of them seeing a bit of the city in the distance. He smiles before shifting his eyes to Applejack and smiles before taking another bite of his sandwich. He suddenly feels something wrapping around his chest and turns his head to see Applejack hugging him with her head on his arm. He blushes before returning the hug with a hug of his own. Applejack lets go as does Peanut Butter, both smiling and blushing as they look at each other. "Ah hope that wasn't too awkward for ya P.B.." Applejack says. "Not at all, it was nice honestly." "I think we need ta head back, Luna should be back by the time we get there." "Yeah, time does fly." "It sure does." They both pack up and get on the four wheeler to head back to Applejack's house. Peanut Butter revs the engine and rides towards Applejack's house. As they return they see Luna's car in the drive way with Luna leaning against it looking in their direction. She sees them pull into the garage as Peanut Butter gets off of it to take off his helmet and put it away. Luna smirks as he walks towards her. "I'm surprised you know how to drive one of those." Luna admits. "I'm full of surprises." "That you are." Peanut Butter puts the helmet back on the hook it was on and turns to Applejack. "I'll catch you later A.J." Peanut Butter says. "Catch ya later P.B." Peanut Butter gets into Luna's car as Luna gets in before she starts it and pulls out of the driveway. As Luna drives, Peanut Butter looks out the window looking at the cars and houses pass by before turning his head towards her. "So what's the plan?" Peanut Butter asks. "Well, tomorrow we will be spending the day home and Thanksgiving we will go to Celestia's for the day." "Sounds good." Luna pulls into her parking space and turns off the car before getting out with Peanut Butter doing the same. They go up the stairs and go inside the apartment. When inside Luna goes to her room while Peanut Butter takes off his shoes and places them on the rack near the door before going into his room. He comes back out in black pajama pants, a blue shirt, black socks, and a dark red hoodie and sits on the couch before turning on the TV. Luna comes out of her room a few minutes later in dark blue sweatpants, a dark blue shirt, and sky blue slippers as she heads to the kitchen and takes out a small popcorn popper, a large bowl, and a bag of popcorn kernels. She plugs in the popcorn popper and adds in the kernels before placing the bowl underneath the vent of the popper to catch the popped pieces of popcorn. "It's been a while since we did this." Luna mentions. "Yeah it has, I was starting to miss our movie nights." "Good news is that we have tonight and tomorrow to watch what we want." "We're doing one with Sunset and Celestia on Thanksgiving aren't we?" "Yes, we're spending the night there so I want you to pack a bag of clothes for the next day along with your toothbrush, toothpaste, and pajamas." "Okay." "What should we have for dinner?" "I'm okay with whatever, Luna." "Pizza it is, did you check your blood sugar?" "Did that in my room." "Did you write it down?" "Yes." "Good." "Oh hey, Fred's Hot Dogs is on." "Oh nice." "Yeah." A few minutes pass as Luna melts butter for the popcorn as the bowl is nearly full. Peanut Butter changes the input as the Neighflix logo dimly shows on the TV. Luna spreads the melted butter over the popcorn before tossing the popcorn in the bowl to spread the butter before she unplugs the popper and sits down next to Peanut Butter on the couch. "What do you want to watch?" Luna asks. Peanut Butter looks at the screen with a raised eyebrow and a scrunched up face. "I have never heard of any of these movies." "Let me help you out there." Peanut Butter gives Luna the remote as she looks through the selection before choosing a movie called 'The Arctic Transit'. Peanut Butter's eyes go wide at seeing it. He turns his head towards Luna with a surprised look on his face. "They actually made it into a movie?" Peanut Butter asks. "Yeah they did, I take it you were read the book as a kid?" "Yeah, dad used to read it to me every year." "Would you like to watch it?" Peanut Butter is silent for a minute before nodding. "Yes please." "Alright." Luna hits play on the remote before the movie starts playing. Peanut Butter smiles as he takes some popcorn from the bowl and eats it. The movie finishes and the screen returns to the selection menu. Luna picks another movie and starts it. As the night goes on they watch more movies. After the fifth movie Luna looks at the clock and sees that it is one in the morning. She looks at Peanut Butter who is fast asleep on the couch. She smirks and picks up a blanket near by and moves the bowl of popcorn before unfolding the blanket and placing it over him. She quietly tip toes to her room and shuts the door before going to bed. The following morning Luna gets up and walks out to the living room and looks at the couch to see Peanut Butter still sleeping. She then goes to the kitchen and fills the pot of her coffee maker. An hour later Peanut Butter wakes up to the smell of breakfast cooking before looking up over the back of the couch. Luna turns her head to see the top of his head show above the couch. She smiles as she sees this. "Looks like someone is up." Luna says before giggling to herself. "Good morning to you too Luna." "Hungry?" "Yeah." "Breakfast will be ready in a bit." "Okay." Peanut Butter gets up and goes to the bathroom as Luna continues to cook. A few minutes later Peanut Butter comes out and returns to eat breakfast. Luna finishes as he sits down and they both eat. The rest of the day is quiet as they watch shows and movies. With Luna cooking for the next day. The following day Peanut Butter and Luna get up early and pack the car with their bags and food for dinner at Celestia's house. Peanut Butter is wearing his usual outfit with the exception of a grey and black plad button down shirt instead of a hoodie. The car is packed as Luna brings down the last bowl of food with her. She gives it to Peanut Butter before getting in the car with him. "Now P.B., I'm going to let you know ahead of time that we will have other family members at Celestia's home, if you get overwhelmed let me know and I'll take you to a quiet part of the house." Luna mentions. "Okay, I just hope they don't act like the other one did." "No they don't." "Good." "If we get there in time we can watch the parade with them on TV." "That would be nice." "There's other surprises as well." "Oh?" "Yes, but you'll find them out through out the day." "Okay." A half hour later they arrive at Celestia's house and pull into the drive way. Sunset opens the door as Luna and Peanut Butter unload the car and bring everything inside. Peanut Butter places the food on the table in the kitchen as Luna puts the overnight bags in Celestia's guest room on the second floor. Peanut Butter and Sunset sit in the living room on the couch watching the parade on TV as Luna and Celestia work in the kitchen. Luna looks over towards the television seeing the backs of Sunset's and Peanut Butter's heads as well as the television and smiles. Celestia puts the turkey on the tray above the oven. About three hours later there is a knock at the door. Sunset gets up and answers the door. She opens it to see an older looking man with salt and pepper hair, a blue button down shirt, red tie, black dress pants, and brown loafers. Sunset smiles and hugs him when he comes inside. "Uncle Nova!" Sunset shouts gleefully. "Hey there Sunset, how have you been?" Sunset stops hugging him and lets him into the living room. "I've been well, how about you?" "I've been doing fine, your aunt is bringing in some food, I see you're watching the parade." "Yeah, I am." "Where's your mother and Luna?" "Kitchen." "Okay, I'll have to pick on them a bit before I settle in the living room." Just as he enters the kitchen a woman with a dark red dress, blonde hair, and high heels comes in holding a bowl with plastic wrap. Sunset comes over to her to help bring in food. "Hi Aunt Hem." Sunset greets. "Why hello there Sunset, thank you for taking that bowl by the way." "You're welcome." Sunset takes the bowl into the kitchen before going back out into the living room and hugging her aunt and goes back towards the couch. Her aunt sits down on the chair against the wall facing the TV and notices Peanut Butter on the couch. He looks away as she sees him. "Oh Sunset, you never said you'd have a friend over." Hem Press says. Sunset looks towards her aunt. "Well I wouldn't exactly say my friend." "Oh, so he's your boyfriend?" Sunset's face goes red. "I think it's best if Aunt Luna explains it." Sunset gets up and comes back with Luna a few seconds later. "I see you have met the newest member of our family Hem Press." Luna says. "Well not formally, he seems pretty shy if you ask me." "He is, his name is Peanut Butter, but we call him P.B.." "Ah, he looks a lot like that young man you had over when you were in high school." "Well he is his son." "That explains the resemblance." "It does, as for his shyness, he'll open up in time." "Any tips?" "Let him talk to you on his own, he hates being pushed to talk if he doesn't want to." "I'll keep it in mind." As the day goes on more family members come with food and well wishes. Peanut Butter goes into the guest bedroom on the second floor as more relatives arrive causing more noise to fill the house. Meanwhile in the kitchen, Luna and Celestia are setting up the table with food. Celestia goes to the living room and takes out a small bell in her apron pocket and rings it. The room goes silent as all eyes are on her. "Attention everyone, dinner is almost ready, please sit down at the table, kids, go to the kitchen and sit at the table." Celestia shouts. Everyone makes their way to their seats with Sunset going to the adult table. Celestia raises her eyebrow as Peanut Butter is not seen. She goes upstairs and looks towards the guest room. She knocks on the door before opening it to see Peanut Butter asleep on the bed. Just then Luna comes up the stairs and sees her. Celestia turns her head towards her and places her finger over her mouth and shows Luna what she finds. Celestia shuts the door quietly. "I think we should set aside food for him." Celestia suggests. "Yeah, I think nerves got the better of him." "Probably." They both head downstairs to eat with the rest of their family. During the meal they set aside a plate of food for Peanut Butter and places it in the fridge covered in plastic wrap with a sticky note with his nickname on it. Hem Press looks towards Luna as she returns to the table. "Is P.B. not joining us?" Hem asks. "He wasn't feeling well so he went upstairs." "That's a shame." "Yes, but he has been overwhelmed by a lot of people before so I at least get why he is upstairs." "He sounds like he is your pride and joy." Luna pauses for a minute, looking down before a small smile is on her face. She looks back up at Hem Press. "Yes he is." "I'm glad to hear that Luna." A short older man looks at Luna holding his fork full of food. "I heard you followed in your sister's footsteps and got yourself a younglin'." He says. "That I do Grandpa Star Rise, he's not feeling well so you probably won't be seeing him tonight." "That's a shame, hope he feels better." "I hope so too." As the evening continues, leftovers are packed and dishes are washed as family members start to leave. As the last of them leave Celestia, Luna, and Sunset hear footsteps coming from the stairs. They look to see Peanut Butter looking away from them with his head down. "I'm sorry for not being down here to meet your relatives." Peanut Butter apologizes. "It's alright P.B., you had your reasons." Luna says. "Then why do I feel like shit?" "That's normal P.B., but we aren't mad at you, we left you some food in case you were hungry." "Thanks, I'll take up on the offer." Peanut Butter goes to the kitchen and sees a plate covered in plastic wrap with a sticky note with the letters 'P.B.' on it. He smiles as he takes off the plastic wrap and heats it up in the microwave. After the food is warmed up he takes the plate and sits at the dining room table and eats. He looks towards the living room and sees Celestia, Luna, and Sunset bring in boxes from the garage and set them down in front of a tree in the corner of the room. He raises an eyebrow at them. "What's all that for?" He asks. "It's a tradition in our family, we decorate our Hearth's Warming tree on Thanksgiving, we'll start when you're finished eating." Luna explains. Peanut Butter continues eating his food while the others watch TV. After he finishes eating he places his plate in the sink and goes to the living room behind the couch. Sunset opens a box and pulls out a bundle of lights with Celestia and Luna taking out tinsel and more lights. Sunset looks at Peanut Butter and smiles. "Ready?" She asks. "Yeah, I'm ready." "Awesome, help me untangle these lights." "Sure." Peanut Butter walks over to Sunset and helps her with the lights. Luna and Celestia smile as they do the same with their own bundle of lights. After the tree is decorated they all go to their rooms with Peanut Butter going into the bathroom to get into their pajamas and return to the living room. "Time for the Hearth's Warming movie marathon everyone." Celestia announces before going into the kitchen. Luna nudges Peanut Butter with her elbow with a grin. "This is something she and I started a couple years ago to start the holidays, it just sort of stuck." Luna whispers. "Nice." "I'll go help her with the snacks." "Okay." Luna goes into the kitchen. Peanut Butter sits on the couch with Sunset. Sunset looks towards him with a smile. "Having fun?" She asks. "I am actually." "Good, I was hoping to hear that." "So what was it like while I was upstairs?" "Very busy to say the least, loud too." "Yeah, it was starting to get that way when I came up, too much noise and too many people." "Yeah, it's understandable that you went up there." "I hate that I did though." "It's okay, I did the same thing my first family gathering too." "I still feel guilty though." "That's normal P.B., they understood." "Luna was talking about me?" "Only when someone asked about you." "Oh, okay." "She didn't want people to make assumptions of you, she told them that you are a good person, just trying to put yourself back together is all, and they understood that perfectly." Peanut Butter smiles a bit as he looks down at his hand as he moves his fingers around. "That's good to know Sunset, thanks for letting me know." "You're welcome." Just then Luna and Celestia return. They place the popcorn and other snacks on the coffee table and go back and return with drinks. "Alright, kids on the floor." Luna says as she places her glass of wine on a coaster on the end table next to her. Peanut Butter and Sunset get on the floor in front of the couch as Neighflix starts up on the TV. Celestia scrolls through the list and finds a movie. "Oooo, A Hearth's Warming Story." Celestia says. "After that let's watch The Arctic Transit." Peanut Butter says. "Good pick, Sunset?" "How The Snart Stole Hearth's Warming." Sunset answers. "Good choice, Luna if you say Live Fast I'm skipping you." "But it is a Harth's Warming film, I swear." "Not by my book." Luna sticks her tongue out in Celestia's direction causing Sunset and Peanut Butter to giggle. "Fine, It's a Pretty Good Life." "Thank you." Celestia pushes the play button on the remote as the movie loads. Throughout the night they laugh and smile as the movies play. Sunset and Peanut Butter pass out during the fourth movie next to each other on the floor with Sunset leaning on Peanut Butter. Luna and Celestia smile looking at them. Luna looks out the window and sees dark clouds in the sky in the near distance. "A nasty storm is coming." Luna says. "Good thing you two are here then." "It is."