Applejack - Day 2

>In the early hours of the morning, you managed to wake up and head upstairs,cleaning up some of the mess Twilight made.

>Going up to her room, you find her splayed out on the floor beside her bed, legs kicking in the air as though she were running.

>Smiling, you head on up to where she was, pick her up and gently tuck her back in to bed, drool having seeped on to your hand as you had her head cradled in your hold in one hand with her bottom in the other.

>Heading back downstairs, you make way for the bathroom.

>After a nice, cool shower and depositing your worn clothes in the basket by the door, you head back downstairs to the basement where your new room was located and got yourself dressed in fresh clothes you found packed inside your new cabinet beside your bed.

>Spike seems to be waking up as you're getting your shirt on.

"Morning Spike. Sorry if I woke ya. It's still early, so go get some shut-eye."

>Grumbling to himself, he turns, pulling the covers back over and finds his way back to the land of nod.

>Tiptoeing quietly up stairs after slipping on and tying up the laces of the custom-made trainers Rarity had made for you the other day, you make your way out of the library and in to the streets of Ponyville.

>There was someone you needed to visit during this hour.

>They'd surely be able to help you in your current predicament and perhaps help you get a proper schedule going for your exercise routine.

>Breathing in the fresh, early-morning air, you head off.

 

>Knock knock knock knock.

>"Yeah, I'll be with you in just a minute..."

>You hear a chain being moved about on the other side of the door before it opens up.

"Turner! Glad to see you looking well"

>He certainly seemed a lot perkier than he was a few days ago at the market, that's for sure.

>You were glad he left his job a took some time off.

>It was really draining on him and boy did it show.

>"Heh, well it's a pleasure meeting you too. Now how can I help you in this early hour?"

>He was always a night owl, but he always managed to find some time to take a nap.

"I need some help. Got a date this coming Saturday."

>"Ah, you too?"

"Hm?"

>"Well... come inside, it must be chilly out there!"

>Inviting you in, you follow behind, closing the door behind you as a tinkering bell rings gently overhead.

>"Take a seat, right over there."

>He gestures you to sit in one of the more comfortable looking armchairs sat in front of the fireplace by a nice coffee table of sorts.

>Sure, it was fairly small for you, you managed just fine.

>Taking a seat opposite you, your friend picks up a mug of hot chocolate he had placed on the table and take a sip, closing his eyes as he leans his head back.

>The sound of crackling fire rests between you.

>He opens one eye, looking at you as you relax.

>"Want some?"

"Nah, I'm good."

>...

>"So... the mayor asked me out on a date."

>You look at him in fair surprise at the revelation.

>"Oh don't look at me like that... she's lovely."

 

>"Sure, she can get quite hot-headed at times and is the cause for over half my problems, but she's actually a really nice pony once you get to know her."

>The two of you continue to enjoy the fire's warmth in peace.

>"So whose the mare and/or stallion set for Saturday then?"

"You know I don't swing that way, Turner."

>"Ehhhh~", he replies, grinning at you, turning his hoof over and over in an arch and back in front of himself.

"No, I did not touch that guy inappropriately."

>Now HE'S giving you that damn look.

"Cut it out. He was just passing me my drink."

>His eyebrow raises further as his smirk continued to widen.

>...

>"Care to tell me who your mystery date is?"

>...

"Can't say. Sorry."

>"Aw, come on! I told you mine! Why do you have to keep stupid secrets from me? I'm your buddy, buddy!"

>...

>"Okay, okay, fine. Keep your secret, imaginary date to yourself then. What did you come here for?"

"I just need some help getting ready for my date."

>"A date with someone you won't tell me the name of? Buddy, there's not much I can do for you here if you don't fill me in! Dates differ from mare to mare. Not saying I'm savvy with many, but I have a good eye and you know that, so fill me in already!"

"It's..."

>"Come-ooooon~"

>...

>"Saaay iiiiit~"

>...

"...It's Applejack."

 

>"...Oh."

>...

>Your friend remains quiet as he looks away from you.

>You sit, looking down, twiddling your thumbs before gazing back at the fireplace.

>Turner's expression is hard to read for most ponies, but you had no trouble on guessing what the issue was.

>It was a bad idea coming here.

>It was a bad idea to even bring it up.

>You should've just laid down, in your bed and stayed asleep.

>...Damn it.

>"How did it go over?"

"What?"

>You turn to face your long-time friend as he catches your attention.

"Oh... well, she, uh... she just sorta asked."

>"Just tell me what happened."

>...

"I... caught her in the bathroom."

>...

"I meant to take a bath but I didn't know-"

>"Okay... Okay."

>...

>"Go over to Carousel Boutique and beg for Rarity to make you a suit. I know how 'strapped for cash' you are, as you like to put it... so, you've gotta hope to high hell and get real lucky. You're gonna need to look real sharp."

>He cuts in again just before you were about to speak up.

>"You're also gonna need some casual clothes, or work clothes - whichever you'd prefer. She's probably gonna have you work with her for the day or something before the real date begins."

>You nod in acknowledgement, neither of you still able to look one another in the eye.

>"You're gonna go take her dancing. Some place nice and quiet; late evening, choose the location."

>You just got an idea in mind.

"By the lake. Perhaps a picnic?"

>"Sure, go with that."

>...

 

>It took a while for the awkwardness to pass, but you eventually got to talking about each others' daily lives.

>He got a hobby in literature and you told him about your new room.

>After some further conversation, you parted ways, just as the sun was coming up across the horizon.

>You waved goodbye, as did he before you set off on your morning run.

>Going from casual pacing to light jogging and in to a run.

>You ran around the outskirts of Ponyville, through Whitetail Woods, past the Everfree Forest entrance and up to Fluttershy's cottage to take a break, having seen her outside, feeding some of the critters scurrying about and around her.

>Waving, you catch her attention upon approach as some of the critters climb up her to hide inside her mane.

"Oh. Sorry, Fluttershy. Just thought I'd stop by and say 'hello' since you're up and all."

>"What brings you out here?", she asks you, gently nuzzling one of the critters that had nervously poked their head out from inside her mane, comforting them in to exiting.

>You weren't any immediate danger to them anyway, so they had no need to worry.

"Just catching up on some exercise."

>You start jogging in place, rotating yourself in an anti-clockwise circle.

>By now, the other critters have taken their leave from within her mane.

>"Oh good. It's nice to just take some time to yourself and have a good stretch sometimes!"

>She plants her front hooves in to the ground in front of her and stretches her front half forwards.

 

>U-Unf...

>N-No.

>Think about Applejack.

>Think of her doing that.

>Not Fluttershy's tiny backside, but Applejack's sweating, round, thick, strong thighs after a hard day's work.

>That's the stuff...

>Fluttershy, done with stretching, trots in place, copying you by spinning around in circles.

>"Y'know... this is kinda fun! Heh-huhuh~!", she giggles adorably, chasing her own tail, patting it with a hoof for each time one's raised as she wags it around.

>You smile at her before setting off down the path to continue your exercise, waving her goodbye.

>She seems to be happy, laughing to herself in the distance now, on her back, kicking her legs around in joy as her friendly critters surround her.

>You make your way past Carousel Boutique and continue on as you knew they wouldn't be open for another three and a half hours.

>Picking up the pace from your mild jogging back to a run, you head on past a few familiar houses, waving to the pony who delivers the Thursday papers.

>He chucks one over to you as you go, wishing you a good morning as you do the same.

>Having caught it, you roll it up nicely and fit it in your back pocket.

>Continue this every day and you'll feel better about yourself in no time!

>A cool breeze, fresh air and a life of freedom.

>What better things were there in life than being here in Equestria?

>You had all you could ever need.

>Well... almost.

>You were going to face a lot of challenges, but it'd be worth it.

>For her.

 

>Upon approaching the library's front door, you slow your pace and do some stretches to help prevent aches and pains from arising.

>Keeping your back straight, you lean to side, keeping your legs separated, forming an upside-down 'V' and lean your opposite arm upwards and over as far as you can stretch, feeling the pull.

>You do the same for the other side after a short while.

>Switching up, you lean a hand against the base of the tree and stretch your opposite legs outward, behind you, grasping your foot in your other hand and stretching yourself out.

>After you start feeling the pull, you give it a moment before switching over to the other side, leaning your other hand against the tree and stretching out the other leg.

>Amongst these exercises, someone apparently had been eying you.

>Glancing over your shoulder, you spot the familiar pony and wave them good morning.

>Roseluck got up the earliest amongst the three sisters and had a far busier schedule than the others and it was nice to get to see her during this part of the day when she looked a little more relaxed before the chaos of the day would fully hit.

>Perhaps you could lend her a hand sometime.

>She could really use some time off.

>All done with your stretches, you head back inside and make your way in to the kitchen to get a start on breakfast.

>Now what would Twilight and Spike like for breakfast?

>More importantly, what should you have?

>You checked your option, but you hadn't much to work with.

 

>You managed to sort out breakfast for Twilight and yourself fairly well; settling for regular cereal for the main meal and having made some shortbread for afters.

>Spike was a lot more difficult, considering his diet mostly consisted of gems, cutting them up and/or mixing them well would prove to be quite a challenge given your first attempts.

>Fortunately, Spike had woken up by now and groggily plodded in to the Kitchen.

"Still can't do much with the gems, Spike. Got any ideas of what you might like for breakfast?"

>"I'll just have what you're having...", half-awake he plods his way over to his chair in front of the dining table and shuts his eyes tight, hoping to strain whatever sleep he has left out of him.

>Twilight eventually comes down, thanking you for helping her back up to bed last night and for the breakfast you've made.

>Things are sailing smoothly so far.

>"Got any plans today?", Twilight asks her dragon assistant.

>"Well, I'd been planning on going over to the market to pick up some groceries."

"We're kinda running low."

>Twilight takes a brief moment to think this over.

>"Right. I'll need to run a checklist of our weekly groceries and take full inventory to see what we don't need, what we should get rid of and what needs to be picked up."

"Alright."

>"First, we finish up breakfast. Can't start the day without it!"

>Twilight really enjoyed her meal and gave you her thanks while Spike remained a true neutral.

>So begins the start of a new and busy day.

 

 

>While Spike and Twilight are out to pick up the groceries, you've been left in charge of being responsible for the library and it's maintenance.

>Seriously, Twilight gave you the speech.

>You were tidying up some of the remaining books that Spike had been working on cleaning up and reorganizing before responsibilities were handed over to you.

>Little guy was quick to ditch his one errand for another and I suppose he just wanted to spend some more time with Twilight.

>He hasn't been to happy lately and you never figured out why...

>It only took about fifteen minutes before you got a knock on the door.

>Perhaps Twilight left her bag behind?

>Opening it, you don't see anybody.

>Closing the door, you find it stop, just before it shuts.

>Looking down, you see a small, yellow hoof keeping it open.

>Slowly opening the door again, you see the faces of none other than the-

"What did you call yourselves again?"

>"The Cutie Mark Crusaders!", they yell in unison, hoof-bumping one another in a tripod fashion.

"Oh, right, so what brings you here so early?"

>"Well, we thought we'd take another look around the library to see if we could find some books that may interest us!"

>Apple Bloom says this, already having squeezed in between your legs and poking around in some of the books on the lower shelves.

>"Yeah! It could spark off a few good ideas!"

>Sweetie Belle followed behind, weaving around one side of your legs to catching up to the Apple filly.

 

>Turning to face the front door once more, you look down to find Scootaloo just looking... bored? Melancholic?

>You weren't quite sure, so you decided to press the immediate matter.

"Hey."

>Crouching down, you reach almost-eye level with her, given how tall you were.

"What's the matter?"

>You say gently so only she could hear.

>She glances up at you but quickly focuses her attention back to her friends inside the Library.

>Getting up, she doesn't answer you, choosing instead to follow after them as you get up, allowing her to pass by stepping aside, closing the door behind you.

>You make your way over to the closet and take out some of the stools they had, placing them down for the girls to take a more comfortable seat.

>Just in case, you grab several cushions as well and place them around the perimeter of the bookshelves in case they try to take something from one of the higher-up shelves and accidentally fell down.

>They also make great seats too.

>While Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom actively go through a book at a time, skim-reading, Scootaloo looks to be prodding some of the shelved books gently before moving on, enthusiasm not evident but nonetheless remains unnoticed by her fellow crusaders.

>To help them out with the process, you decide to bring up a question.

"Well, if you're the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders', what kind of talents interest you above all others? Be honest."

>For a moment, Scootaloo glances up at you again before looking to the books once more.

 

>Up on the wooden ladder, having reached one of the books up top, Apple Bloom climbs down to answer you after having chucked the book over to Sweetie to catch in her improving magical grasp.

>"Ah suppose ah enjoy going on adventures, really."

>"Hmm... I like doing lots of things! Even if I'm not good at doing it, I enjoy it all! For better or worse, I don't have any regrets, I suppose." Sweetie Belle brings up.

>...

>"Scootaloo?"

>Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom look over to see what Scootaloo was up to.

>Apparently she'd been fiddling around with a snow-globe that had been on one of the shelves amongst the books.

>Must've been Spike's or something.

>...

>Timidly, you decide to speak up to break the silence.

"What interests you, Scootaloo?"

>...

>"I just want to fly."

>...

>So much for that...

>Her friends seem to be looking down to the floor, somber expressions written on their faces.

>You suppose this was a fairly touchy matter, but you didn't want the others to feel discouraged just because of that.

>You reach up high for the top shelf and pull down one of your own particular favourites.

>'The Grand Adventure of Goldie the Aquatic Bird'.

>It was your favourite since arriving here for just how bizarre and out of place it was.

>Twilight hadn't been fond of it, pointing out all that was apparently 'wrong' with it and what did and didn't make sense.

>For someone who loved books, she sure didn't like this one.

>You liked to tease her about it in public conversation.

 

>One fascinating tale later and you've got Scootaloo perched on top of you head, Sweetie Belle latching herself around your left arm while Apple Bloom lies down in your lap like a cat.

>"That was an amazin' story! Ah wish mah big sister would read me more stories like that!"

>Apple Bloom pouted in thought, subconsciously rolling over on to her back with her hooves in the air, allowing you to give her a tummy rub.

>"Ahh-hh-hh-hh~", her voice vibrates as you rub up and down in quick motions.

>"Stahp it! That's ticklish!", she giggles.

>Scootaloo peers over at the shenanigans while Sweetie Belle moves forward, still clinging to your arm with one hoof and proceeds to blow a raspberry on Apple Bloom's tummy.

>"Sw-... Sweeti-ii-ie Be-e-e-elle~!"

>Apple Bloom has broken out in full with laughter, tears welling up in her eyes.

>Scootaloo hops down to your side, extends her tiny wings and presents them for Apple Bloom to see with a cunning grin.

>"No! N-No! Not tha-"

>...and before you knew it, Scootaloo added on to the furious assault on Apple Bloom's tummy, tickling her with the tips of her feathers.

>Apple Bloom by now has bitten her bottom lip and by now you take note that this was more than enough.

"Okay girls, settle down."

>Unfortunately, they didn't let up.

>You watched as Apple Bloom's eyes slowly crept up, rolling upwards inside her head.

>A torrent of urine squirted out of the filly and in to the shocked face of Scootaloo.

 

 

>"O-oh!! Ewahh!"

>Scootaloo leapt a few feet backwards as the stream raised to steeper arch in to the air before eventually coming to a slight drizzle, then stopping.

>Apple Blooms face turned from one of momentary relief to that of worry.

>"A-Ahm sorry! Ahm so, so sorry!"

>She covered her face with her fore-hooves and began to cried.

>Scootaloo looked like a mixed bag of emotions as pee dripped from the tip of her mane and her snout as she scrunched up her face, furiously trying to brush both the urine and it's smell off of her.

>You certainly lost control of the situation and you'd be in trouble for sure.

>Getting up, uneasily, you begin carrying Apple Bloom over to the bathroom.

"I'm just going to take her to the bathroom so she can get cleaned up. Sweetie Belle, bring Scootaloo to the bathroom after Apple Bloom's done, okay?"

>Sweetie Belle nods in acknowledgement looking terribly guilty for what had transpired.

>Approaching the bathroom door, you enter and place Apple Bloom in the tub.

"I'm gonna give you a quick wash, if that's all right? Sorry about the belly rub... I shouldn't've done it."

>"...I-It's awlright, mister. I'm a big, strong pony... like mah sister! I-I can take of myself jus fahn!", she pouted, somewhat apologetically.

"Are you sure?"

>"J-Jus run me the water here and ah'll let you know when to go."

>You gather a loufah, soap, lavender-scented shampoo and the conditioner and plonk them down besides the tub on a stool for Apple Bloom to reach.

 

 

>You turn on the taps to start the flow of water in to the tub.

>Testing it, you find that it's fairly warm and getting hotter, so you slow it down once it reaches a comfortable temperature for Apple Bloom.

>"Thank you..."

>Looking around, you find what you're looking for.

>"Bubble bath!"

>Opening the lid, you start squirting the lavender scented substance in to the tub as the water rises, bubbles beginning to form as the aroma fills the room.

>"She prods one of the bubbles with her hoof, popping it, causing her to giggle as she continues to pop any big bubble that happens to form.

>This keeps up even after you've turn off the taps once it reached three-quarter ways to the brim.

"Think you can take care of yourself from here, Apple Bloom?"

>Cheered up, she looks in to your eyes with a grin of confidence and with her best Big Mac impression replies with "Eeyup."

>Shutting the door behind you, you make out continued giggling as Apple Bloom plays about in the tub.

>Looking down, however, you see Sweetie Belle resting a hoof on the withers of Scootaloo who still dripped with urine on her front.

>She didn't look to happy about the situation, but was more disappointed with herself at this point.

>Turning around, you knock on the door and ask Apple Bloom through the side if it would be alright if Scootaloo joined her.

>You don't seem to be getting a response as the only sound you make out is the shifting of water.

 

>However, you hear her climb out of the tub as the water sploshes around and the patting of wet hooves approaching the door from the other side.

>Backing away, you watch as Apple Bloom opens the door slightly and waves for Scootaloo to come in.

>Scootaloo follow as Sweetie decides to stay outside with you.

>Closing the door behind them, you hear the two of them climb in to the tub together with an exchange of apologies.

>Not wanting to listen on two bathing fillies for an extended period of time, you lead Sweetie back to the main hall, heading to the closet to get out a bucket and mop.

>As you head to the kitchen to fill up the bucket with cleaning agents and warm water, Sweetie Belle starts clearing the area where the incident took place so you could clean up the puddle that had spread across the floor in a line.

>You dip the mop into the bucket and lift it out, just above as Sweetie Belle used her magic to help drain most of the water out of it before you began scrubbing the oak floor where the suspect urine laid in wait.

>You'd repeat the process several times until the smell was fresh and no linger odours attacked your senses.

>The cleaning agents you used were particularly special as when used on any oak surface, it would be absorbed, given that it collects nutrients, strengthening it.

>Caution is advised when using these specialized agents and thankfully Twilight trusted you to use them when necessary.

>Sweetie Belle seems to have gone back to reading books.