Eavesdropping.
Copyright © 2012. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro. Cover image is owned by Lumorn.
Version 2.0
Published 12/4/12
Chapter One: Eavesdropping.
“Ah can't believe Ah left that history book at Sweetie Belle's!”
Apple Bloom raced down the main thoroughfare of Ponyville as fast as her little legs could carry her. Two saddlebags filled with school books hung from her sides.
“Miss Cheerilee's gonna be so upset with me. 'Specially since this is the third time this week.”
She maneuvered her way through the stalls and stands that doted the street and weaved between the ponies that were doing their morning shopping at those stalls or making their way to work.
She cut in front of a blue male unicorn.
“'Scuse me.”
“I say!”
She then skidded around an orange female earth pony.
“Pardon me.”
“Foals these days.”
The yellow filly stopped behind a brown male earth pony who was carefully looking over a pear.
“Why would you want a pear when you could have a delicious apple instead?”
Just as he was about to respond, she was off again.
“But I'm allergic to apples.”
Successfully navigating the hectic market area, she made a beeline for the library.
“Ah should have listened to Scootaloo. She said we'd never get our 'Cutie Mark Crusader Study Group' cutie marks, but did Ah listen? Nooo. Oh, why did Ah let Sweetie Belle convince me to have it at her house? And why did her parents have to lock their house and not give her a key before they left for work? Ah just hope Twilight has a copy of the book I can borrow.”
She approached Ponyville's library. Strangely, all the blinds were closed and the sign which should have said “Open” instead read “Closed”. Apple Bloom slowed to a stop as she arrived.
“Closed! How can Twilight have closed it!? It's nine o'clock. Oh, this isn't good. This isn't good at all. What am Ah gonna do now?”
Just as she was turning to leave, she heard a shout from inside.
“I don't know!”
Apple Bloom turned back around.
“That was Twilight. Ah wonder what's goin'?” she walked up to the door before she stopped.
“No! Ah shouldn't listen in on other ponies' conversations. Just imagine what Applejack would do if she found out Ah was eavesdropping on one of her friends.”
Apple Bloom's imagination quickly answered the call and put together several possible scenarios ranging from realistic ones that had Applejack yelling at her and then grounding her, to a more over the top one which involved a soccer field, forty gallons of ammonia nitrate fertilizer, twelve copper pipes, and Scootaloo's scooter.
'But it can't be that bad? Remember what Sweetie Belle said: “Licking doorknobs is illegal in other countries”—wait, that's not right! “Rarity listens in on other ponies' conversations all the time. If my big sister does it, it can't be bad!”'
Apple Bloom's face brightened.
'Ah suppose it couldn't hurt. Besides, what if Twilight needs help? And if Ah don't help her, she'll snap like a baby sapling in a thunderstorm like she did last time.'
She stifled an involuntary shudder at the memory of the Smartypants Incident.
'It's best not to think about that day, you'll start talking to yourself.'
The yellow filly glanced around to make sure no pony was watching. Luckily for her, they were too busy rushing around town to pay any attention to her. She then pressed an ear to the door.
“—ep and woke up with a pair of wings.”
Apple Bloom furrowed her brow.
'Wings? Somepony woke up with wings? What wings? Maybe it's Spike! He always looked like he needed a pair of 'em.'
She continued to listen.
“—on the Forward when I went to bed and that was at ten. How late did you stay up?”
“That isn't a baby dragon's concern.”
“So after midnight then.”
Apple Bloom began to grow frustrated.
'C'mon! Get back to talkin' 'bout the wings. Why's Spike got wings? Oh! Maybe he's starting to get older and it's like that 'puberty' thing Applejack always refuses to tell me about.'
She listened on.
“They warned me it would ruin my life. I just didn't realize how badly ruined it would be.”
Apple Bloom pulled away from the door.
“Augh! Ah don't have time for this. Ah'm gonna be late for class.” she once again turned to leave, “Ah don't know how Rarity does it.”
“No...No one!”
Apple Bloom turned back to the door and gritted her teeth.
'You don't have time for this! Class starts in a few minutes. But...but...what about Spike? And why's Twilight so upset about it?'
“Grr. Fine. But Ah'll only listen for a minute. But if Applejack finds out about this, she'll be sure to tan mah hide.”
Apple Bloom resumed her eavesdropping.
“—ike. They don't need to find out about this!”
“Have you thought about how you're going to hide it? It's not like you can have Rarity make you a jacket or—”
'What's goin' on? Ah thought this was about Spike? It's not like Twilight's grown wings.'
“You're right, Spike. Clothing wouldn't work at all.”
“Finally, she sees the lig—”
“Which is why magic will be my savior. As it always is.”
Apple Bloom heard the distinctive sound of a teleportation and saw a flash of light from the mail slot in the door.
“Wait a minute.”
She glanced at the mail slot and then looked behind herself at the mailbox a few feet away.
“Why does the library have both?”
After shrugging it off, she manipulated the slot open and peaked inside.
'Ah'm already listenin' in on their chat, mine as well see what their doin too.'
A moment later, Twilight teleported back, now holding a book.
Apple Bloom's eyes widened with shock. It took every ounce of willpower she had to resist screaming or gasping.
'W-What?!'
Attached to Twilight's back were two lavender wings.
Apple Bloom looked away and rubbed her eyes for a moment.
'Th-That can't be right. She's a unicorn. Ah, that has to be it. It must just be some kind of optical illusion. Granny Smith said that once you know it's an illusion, it loses its effect.'
She looked again and sure enough, the wings were still there, just as effective as before.
'What in tarnation's goin' on?!'
The yellow filly stumbled away from the door and took off towards the schoolhouse.
“Ah gotta tell Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Once they know, we can figure this all out. If she really has wings, then we gotta know why.”
Because she was no longer listening in on Twilight and Spike, she neglected to hear Spike's final comment.
“Yup. End horribly.”
End of Chapter One.