Prologue
- Prologue -
A Crazy Instinct
“Well, that's every type of pizza, pasta, and cheese I can think of! I guess we're not Istallion chefs...”
As Sweetie Belle declared her conclusion, giving a definitive muzzle-scrunch of frustration, all three Cutie Mark Crusaders gazed up at the tall, lean griffon who stood nearby, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Thanks again for letting us borrow your kitchen, Chef le Grand,” Scootaloo piped up.
“Yeah, this was real nice of ya!” Apple Bloom chirped enthusiastically. She wore the bright smile of a giddy young filly with nary a care in the world. As if to restore proper homeostasis, the yellow-green filly's expression faltered just slightly as her next thought emerged. “Sorry 'bout the mess, though,” she uttered with slight embarrassment.
Gustave briefly scanned his once-flawless workplace, almost losing his cool, collected composure as his mind wracked with the note of each splotch, stain, puddle, pile, and otherwise blemish tarnishing his usually sparkling kitchen. However, in spite of the fact that he'd probably be up a bit late tonight restoring his sanctuary to its former glory, the griffon gently shut his eyes and gave the young ponies a warm grin.
“But of course, mon fillies,” Gustave replied with genuine warmth, his sharp Prench accent making his every word exciting and interesting. “I am always more than happy to help the younglings with an interest in fine cuisine. Perhaps next time,” he nearly shuddered at the thought of doing all this again, “you will try a new palette, no? Something from Prançais, perhaps?”
“That's okay, Mr Gustave; I think we can all agree,” Scootaloo glanced at her compatriots as she said this, “that none of us are meant to cook for a living.” The other two fillies nodded slowly, bland expressions on their faces.
Several seconds of increasingly awkward silence passed, until Sweetie Belle made herself heard once more. “Well, thanks again for everything, but I really have to go! It's gonna be late soon, and Rarity gets really feisty when I make her worry.” Shivering at the idea, Sweetie Belle stood up and began to turn toward the door, hesitating momentarily to see if her friends would leave as well and travel with her.
Sure enough, Apple Bloom lit up and hopped to her hooves. “Yeah, and Applejack's gonna throw a fit if Ah don't do mah evenin' chores. I'd better get back home, too.”
Scootaloo joined the party, last but probably most enthusiastic of the three. “Rainbow will probably be home soon! I don't want to miss her for a second.” Ever since the orange pegasus had been officially adopted by her cyan idol, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo was perhaps the happiest filly – neigh, the happiest pony - in all of Equestria.
Once all three fillies were up, they each gave a quick “Bye!” and dashed out the door together. The poor chef didn't even get the chance to respond before they were gone, not to mention that he would've liked some help cleaning up. It was a good thing he didn't have any orders for tomorrow.
* * *
Once they had put about a half-mile between themselves and the cookery, the Cutie Mark Crusaders slowed to a casual canter.
“Well, that was a fluke!” Scootaloo decreed. “I hope I never have to see another lasagna!”
Sweetie Belle flicked Scootaloo's nose with the tip of her curly tail, eliciting a small squeak of surprise from the tomboyish pegasus. “Oh hush, silly. So what if we're not grade-A chef material? There's always something new to try!” Sweetie gave her friend a positively chipper smile, and upon seeing the snowy unicorn beam so brightly, Scootaloo could only grin herself. Apple Bloom noticed a flash of some strange warmth in the chicken's eyes for a moment, but as suddenly as it had appeared it was gone.
Still smiling, Scootaloo responded, “Yeah yeah, I know. I was only joking.” As she spoke, the orange pegasus inadvertently unfolded her right wing, letting it come to rest across the back of the small unicorn.
The result was quite amusing for any onlooker, which, at the time, consisted only of one young earth pony donning a red bow. As soon as Scootaloo realized that she'd lain her wing on Sweetie Belle, she jumped about two hooves in the opposite direction of her friend, a mad blush lighting up her cheeks. Sweetie stopped progressing for a moment, her cheeks emitting a pink glow with an intensity identical to Scootaloo's. Apple Bloom had to stifle a chuckle or two at her best friends and their antics.
Quickly deciding not to let the moment drag out, Scootaloo made a proposal. “H-hey, girls! I'll race ya to Sweet Apple Acres!” The pegasus crouched in a runner's stance, waiting for some response.
Unsure of what else to do, the unicorn played along. “Uhh, sure!” Sweetie replied after a second or two, also wanting to quickly move past the slightly awkward encounter. “Ready?” she queried in her orange friend's direction.
Scootaloo nodded, and the pair streaked down the road without needing further provocation.
Well, those two sure are makin' somethin' out of each other's company, Apple Bloom said to herself as her friends rushed away, completely disregarding her. It was just as well; Apple Bloom was fairly tired and didn't really feel like excessively expending her energy. The Acres were visible in the distance, anyway. It's odd... Sweetie and Scoots are acting different 'round each other today. I wonder what's goin' on between them... She was drawn from her thoughts as she heard a yelp a short ways ahead of her.
The orange and white fillies hadn't made it far. A few seconds into their little race, Sweetie Belle had tripped over a small rock on the path. Scootaloo, who was just behind the white unicorn, ran into her and emitted a short cry. The two tumbled down the road a little ways, coming to rest with Sweetie Belle laying on Scootaloo's belly, their muzzles hardly an inch apart.
They lay there, their eyes locked and their unified blush radiating immense heat, fazed by the whole situation and rendered incapable of movement. A moment that could have been eons passed before Apple Bloom appeared a couple of hooves away, one eyebrow raised and staring at the other fillies.
“Hello? Equestria to weirdos?” Apple Bloom said in amusement. Sweetie shook her head violently and hopped off of Scootaloo, followed by the aforementioned pegasus slowly rising to a standing position, her expression as blank as her flank. The bright olive filly could only shake her head and chuckle. Thinking it best to move on for now, she resumed the journey toward home and asked, “So, what should we do tomorrow?”
* * *
The last few minutes of the trot back to Apple Bloom's home was pretty normal, all things considered. The three fillies brainstormed a few ideas for the next day's cutie mark acquisition attempts, and then proceeded to engage in idle chitchat. They laughed and talked together all the way to the farm's main gate, reaching it just as the sun hit the horizon and the sky was at its most vivid.
“Well girls, Ah guess I'll see y'all at school tomorrow!” said the little earth pony. Sweetie and Scootaloo gave similar goodbyes and were off, trotting step-for-step in the direction of Carousel Boutique. As her two best friends wandered away together, Apple Bloom couldn't help but notice that they seemed to grow closer with each step, their pelts nearly brushing together as they marched away in parallel with the sunset.
Eeyup, Apple Bloom thought, They definitely have a thing for each other.