Upper Crust and Country Flour


                                            Upper Crust and Country Flour


                                            Summary; a collection of moments, featuring an older than depicted CMC and Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara, and the drama they get up to.


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                                            >"Out of my way, Hayseed!"

                                            "Oof- hey, watch where you're..."

                                            >Before Applebloom could get her sentence out a trail of violet and silver hair was already whipping around the corner, the jingling of jewelry trailing behind them.

                                            >Scootaloo made a face towards the direction that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had left in, her tongue out and nose crinkled.

                                            >"What's up with DT these days? She's been a huge bitch ever since the formal."

                                            >Applebloom scowled at her.

                                            "That ain't nice, Scoots."

                                            >"It's true! It's always, 'get out my way', that, 'you're sitting in my seat', this, 'no, don't eat our lab project'! God, she's gotten worse than ever lately."

                                            "It's not her fault!" Applebloom protested, "She's under a lot of pressure, 'n' stuff. Right Sweetie?"

                                            >Sweetie Belle coughed awkwardly and refused to meet Applebloom's eye.

                                            >"Well... She has been a bit more abrasive than usual."

                                            >"Or a total bitch?" Scootaloo chimed in.

                                            >Sweetie shrugged, "Yeah, sort of. She's been the worst to you, AB, I don't know why you're defending her still. It's not like we're really friends anymore."

                                            >Scootaloo snorted and shot Applebloom a smirk that left her cringing.

                                            >"Hard to hate your crush," Scootaloo declared.

                                            >Applebloom blushed.

                                            "You're just makin' stuff up, it ain't like that."

                                            >"You're still not over her? Come on, Bloom, we're not Freshman anymore."

                                            "I told you it ain't like that Sweetie! Honest!"

                                            >Neither of them looked convinced, and Applebloom wasn't even sure she convinced herself.

                                            >Damn it...

                                            >"Oookay, we don't need another intervention do we?"

                                            >Applebloom shuddered.

                                            "No, no! I swear, I ain't all ga-ga like I was for that weirdo Pie sister. It ain't nothing, promise."

                                            >"We believe you, Applebloom," They definitely didn't, "We're just worried you'll get hurt again. I mean, really, Diamond Tiara? She's been bullying us for years. Even when we were sort-a friends she wasn't really nice to us."

                                            "Yeah, yeah, I know," Applebloom muttered, "Trust me, I remember."

                                            >Applebloom was spared any further teasing by the ringing of the bell.

                                            >"Come on AB, if we don't get to class VP Luna is gonna kill us!"

                                            "Err, you guys go on ahead, I gotta use the bathroom."

                                            >"Whatever. Come on Sweetie, it's her funeral!"

                                            >Applebloom watched them stride down the hall towards their shared art class.

                                            >She waited until they were completely gone from sight before she left her locker.

                                            >She spun on her heel and followed after Diamond Tiara's wake, turning the corner and strutting down the hall.

                                            >It was lined with doors on either side, but none of them were classes.

                                            >The first door on the left, the only one with light not visible through the latticed window.

                                            >Anxious itching crawled under her skin as she looked left and right down the dead-end hall.

                                            >The rest of the students were sticking to the main hallway to get to classes, and none paid her any mind.

                                            >She turned back to the door with a shaky breath.

                                            >It only took a soft knock, three in quick succession then one more after a moment's pause.

                                            >The door unlocked with a soft 'pop', and Applebloom quickly ducked inside.

                                            >A hushed voice greeted her.

                                            >"Did anyone see you?"

                                            "Nah, hall's clear."

                                            >The other girl in the cramped closet sighed and slumped against the nearest shelf.

                                            >"It's a little nerve-wracking, but there's something to be said about how all this cloak-and-dagger that sets your heart aflame and your blood pumping."

                                            >Applebloom tilted her head.

                                            "Cloak and dagger? Blood pumping? You reading those... novels again?"

                                            >Her blush lit up the room.

                                            >"I do not read smut!" She whined.

                                            "Okay, sure," Applebloom muttered, scratching her cheek, "I guess, but when the guy has a thingy like a horse in them- mm!"

                                            >A soft hand covered her mouth as the girl in front of her let out a low growl.

                                            >"I. Do. Not. Read. Smut."

                                            >Applebloom smirked under the soft hand pasted across her lips.

                                            >She recoiled, pulling away with a look of disgust and a palm full of spit.

                                            >"You're gross sometimes, you know? You don't even know where my hand's been!"

                                            "A prissy girl like you?" Applebloom smirked and took a step forward, so the tiny closet seemed even smaller, "Probably carry around hand sanitizer."

                                            >She grumbled something under her breath.

                                            "What's that?"

                                            >"I said I have some in my bag..."

                                            >Applebloom laughed.

                                            >She circled her arms around the pouting, blushing girl in front of her, and pressed their lips together for a long, sweet moment.

                                            >When she pulled away the girl in her arms was flushed for an entirely different reason, her eyes wide and moon-like cresting over the horizon of her glasses.

                                            >Applebloom licked her lips to taste Silver Spoon's strawberry lip gloss.

                                            >She pinned the lithe girl in her arms with her emerald green eyes that were crinkled by her wide smile.

                                            "I missed that..."

                                            >"We did it yesterday, and... Ah... The day before..."

                                            >She melted in Applebloom's arms as feather-light kisses trailed her jaw.

                                            "Ain't enough."

                                            >She laughed, low and breathy, and it spurned Applebloom on even more.

                                            >"Your friends still think you're not over... Ah! Oh... Diamond?"

                                            >Applebloom laughed, "I ain't that great an actor, but I can fool those two- mm!- like nothin' else. Tiara still think you're in an extra-ciricia?"

                                            >"Extra-curricular," Silver Spoon laughed, "And yeah, home-ec, or government, or something. Hasn't noticed."

                                            "Ain't she a peach," Applebloom drawled, "All the more for me, I suppose."

                                            >Their lips crashed together, drawing a sweet groan from the both of them.

                                            >They separated long enough for Applebloom to lean in close to Silver Spoon, drawing her close while holding them steady against the nearby shelving.

                                            >Silver Spoon's arms came around Applebloom's neck, threading through her fiery red hair.

                                            >Applebloom tugged at the band holding Silver's long braid together, and took the opportunity to card through long, curled locks of silk.

                                            "I love your hair," Applebloom blurted.

                                            >Her ears tinged pink as Silver laughed.

                                            >"And I yours, darling."

                                            "Huh?"

                                            >Silver pulled back enough so that Applebloom could see her, then she affixed a stern expression on her face and adopted a country accent.

                                            >"You gots perddy hair, darlin'."

                                            "Better," Applebloom chuckled.

                                            >They broke out into giggles after a moment longer and Silver slumped back into Applebloom's chest.

                                            >The final bell rang, signaling that the period had begun.

                                            >Applebloom would probably be missed in class, but it was only art, and Silver was so far ahead she had taken a free period.

                                            >The benefits of being a bumpkin and an over-achiever, they would both say about the other.

                                            "This closets a little stuffy, ain't it?"

                                            >Silver sighed, the glassy look in her eye being replaced with the cool, calculated stare that made Applebloom feel stupid.

                                            >Not that she'd admit that, Silver had more than enough on her plate.

                                            >"We have this conversation every time, Bloom."

                                            >Applebloom rolled her eyes.

                                            "Yeah yeah, your dad, Tiara, Tiara's dad, the whole frickin' world. I get it."

                                            >"And that's why you're the best secret girlfriend in the whole world," Silver muttered happily, pressing a kiss to Applebloom's cheek.

                                            >Applebloom pulled them flush together and sunk to the floor, Silver curled into her lap with her face pressed into her neck.

                                            >Applebloom took a moment to relax, letting the darkness of the closet and the rhythmic breath of her girlfriend soothe her flared temper.

                                            >Hot breath washed over her skin and left goosebumps behind, but she didn't mind, not when she could hold Silver Spoon.

                                            >It was all worth it.

                                            >"I've got a date coming up," Silver Spoon muttered, her eyes closed and her lips trailing kisses along Applebloom's neck.

                                            "Yeah? 'Nother set up by the old man?"

                                            >"Hmm.. No, I found a lovely twenty-five year old son of one of my father's business partners to set myself up with. Dinner, dancing, procreation, all the fun stuff."

                                            "Hardy har har."

                                            >"Mmhmm... Funny enough, we'll be dining outside Twenty-Second and Seed in the city. One of those top-shelf restaurants."

                                            "Oh?"

                                            >"Wouldn't know any cute hayseeds that have a truck that could come rescue me after, would you?"

                                            "I might know one. Fancy a box of wine, or a bottle?"

                                            >Silver laughed, "A box, you bumpkin."

                                            "Only the best for my darlin'," Applebloom promised, tightening her hold around Silver's middle and burying her head into her soft hair.

                                            >"Of course."

                                            >They fell silent.

                                            >The closet was the closest thing they had to somewhere they could be themselves, without going outside city limits.

                                            >It was serene. Just the two of them.

                                            >A world within a world, free of nosey friends, bossy teachers, and even bossier parents.

                                            >Applebloom began to rub Silver Spoon's back, and, much to her delight, began to softly hum a tune.

                                            >No matter what happened they were together now, and they would be together in the future.

                                            >Silver Spoon's teeth nipped at her neck, and her lips slanted over Applebloom's when she gasped.

                                            >She pulled Applebloom's hand down, down past her blouse, to her thigh, then further back, and...

                                            >Yeah, Applebloom decided, she wasn't going to give this up.

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                                            >Something about the humid, dusty air, the roar of the crowds, and thundering hoof beats made her smile foolishly and practically vibrate in delight.

                                            >Not to mention the strong arms and tight back of her secret sort-of girlfriend wrestling a calf to the dirt floor with a rope.

                                            >A jolt of pleasure raced up her spine - Applebloom could tie *her* up like that any time.

                                            >Yeah, Silver Spoon loved the rodeo.

                                            >It was a simple joy, found only by the love of a certain Hayseed and her tanned, muscled arms.

                                            >She was captivating.

                                            >Dressed from head to toe like a modern cowboy; denim jeans, a rhinestone shirt, and a pearly white ten-gallon hat made her the spitting image of a gun-toting, damsel-rescuing cowboy.

                                            >Silver couldn’t get enough.

                                            >She didn't even mind the toothless hillbillies, lingering stench of cow shit, and the eyesores that were seated all around her.

                                            >Yep. It was practically perfect.

                                            >Well…

                                            >”This place is disgusting, can we go yet?” Diamond hissed, “I don’t even know why we’re here in the first place!”

                                            “Shush,” Silver laughed, “We’re supporting our friends, right? Besides, it’s no worse than those dances your parents put on. At least the people are friendlier.”

                                            >”My dances smell better,” Diamond sniffed, “And the food isn’t so greasy, either.”

                                            “Calm down DT,” Silver said, before leaning forward enough to whisper conspiratorially to the taller, older girl, “Besides, I remember a certain someone fawning over that churro place at the last rodeo we went to.”

                                            >”I’ve found something tolerable in a mountain of less-than-reputable, boorish, pig-headed troglodytes. A need in a haystack, truly," Diamond hissed scathingly.

                                            “You know you didn’t have to come,” Silver mused, “I can take care of myself for a single night. Besides, Scoots, Sweetie, and AB are here. Plenty of protection.”

                                            >”I may be less than pleased to be here, Silver, and I don’t know why you even want to come to these things in the first place, but I can’t just leave you to the wolves. Or bulls.”

                                            >Silver laughed and bumped Diamond’s hips with her own, “It’s cool, go find a churro or something, I wanna watch AB crush that calf wrangling record.”

                                            >Diamond peered over at a man that spat a wad of chew on the dusty floor and cringed.

                                            “If you insist.”

                                            >Silver's laugh followed in her million-dollar wake.


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                                            >She sighed and slumped against the arena’s wall.

                                            >The prickly wood scraped unfavorably against her back, and her legs were starting to ache.

                                            >Trying to stay upright in what amounted to a dirt pit in heels wasn't her idea of fun.

                                            >Being surrounded by all those screaming, tobacco-chewing, smelly people made everything seem even worse.

                                            >Here it was much quieter and the heavy smell of tobacco, the unwashed masses, and cow shit was all muted, replaced instead by hay and crisp, cold air.

                                            >She opened her eyes and took in the sights.

                                            >Tiny fires blinked and flickered in and out of existence, propped up by the glowing of nearby diners and restaurants and market stalls, cut across by the shuffling crowd.

                                            >It was almost picturesque, like something her father would have hanging in his study named "The Detestable Masses" or something similar.

                                            >It would be tacky, and overly expensive, and likely made by some pretentious artist with a too-large nose and a beret.

                                            >Diamond laughed at the thought.

                                            >It was almost enough to make following Silver to this ridiculous fair worth it…

                                            >”What's so funny?"

                                            >Well... Almost.

                                            “Scootaloo.”

                                            >Scootaloo froze at her glacial sneer.

                                            >”Woah, stiff much? Chill out.”

                                            “I’m… Sorry,” Diamond groused out, ”Why are you here?”

                                            >”It illegal to be walking around at a festival?”

                                            “You know what I mean.”

                                            >"Not sure I do."

                                            "Stop being so annoying!"

                                            >"How am I being annoying? I'm just standing here!"

                                            "You know how annoying your mere presence is, Scootaloo."

                                            >”Enlighten me.”

                                            “Must you?” Diamond shot her a withering look.

                                            >Scootaloo laughed, “Yeah, I must. AB is taking a break, so I am too. Beer?”

                                            “I’m not old enough to drink that swill, and neither are you,” Diamond sent a narrow-eyed look at the brown bottle in Scootaloo’s hand.

                                            >”It’s a party,” Scootaloo shrugged, holding the bottle out for her, “Besides, it makes the crowd almost pleasant.”

                                            “Whatever do you mean?”

                                            >”Oh come on, you think I’m blind? You don’t like all these people around you, right? Neither do I. Come on, I know it’s not million-dollar champagne, but…”

                                            “Fine, if you are so insistent. Maybe it will make *your* presence tolerable."

                                            >Diamond grabbed the bottle from Scootaloo’s hand and took a swig.

                                            >Regret punched her in the mouth, her jaw clenched irritably and her throat stung as she tried to keep the alcohol from being spit back up.

                                            >Scootaloo laughed.

                                            >”Yeah, it’s really not million-dollar champagne.”

                                            “So I’ve noticed. But… Thank you.”

                                            >”That looked painful.”

                                            “What?”

                                            >”The thanks. Haven’t heard one of those from you in a while. Or ever, really.”

                                            “Well I’m saying it now, so don’t take it for granted, dummy!”

                                            >Scootaloo laughed at her reddening face.

                                            >Diamond downed half the bottle to keep herself from saying something she wouldn’t regret.

                                            >The three terrors were Silver Spoon's friends - kind of - so she should try to play nice.

                                            >”Hey, you like churros?”

                                            >Diamond grimaced as she pulled the bottle from her lips after one last pull, but she kept it down.

                                            >Scootaloo was looking at her, hand in her pocket and legs crossed.

                                            >She thinks she so cool…

                                            “They are… Tolerable, for carnival food.”

                                            >”It’s a rodeo.”

                                            “Semantics, Scootaloo.”

                                            >”Woah,” Scootaloo blushed, “That’s kinda… Why’d you bring that up?”

                                            “...What?”

                                            >”You know… Er, semantics?”

                                            “You should’ve paid attention to biology,” Diamond groused, “Where are these churros? They sound much more tolerable than this conversation.”

                                            >”Fine, fine, come on.”

                                            “What are you doing?”

                                            >Diamond look down at the hand clutching her own, soft and dainty and pale contrasting with calloused and rough and tanned.

                                            >”Uh… Holding your hand?”

                                            “Is that necessary?”

                                            >Scootaloo laughed, “Chill, it’s not, like, a thing. Come on, I saw a stand over there…”

                                            >Diamond let herself be pulled along, draining the rest of the bottle as a warm blush colored her cheeks.


                                            **


                                            >”Mm, so good,” Scootaloo moaned, chomping down on her churro.

                                            “They are acceptable.”

                                            >”Acceptable? Glowing praise from you, DT.”

                                            “What does that mean?” Diamond snapped.

                                            >Scootaloo shrugged, “Just didn’t think you were into this kind of thing.”

                                            >Diamond side-eyed her.

                                            “What ‘kind of thing’?”

                                            >”Do you have to make it weird?”

                                            >Diamond stopped eating and her eyes narrowed at Scootaloo.

                                            “Tell me what you meant.”

                                            >Scootaloo sighed, exasperatedly, as if Diamond was the one not making sense.

                                            >”I just mean that I didn’t think rodeos and greasy food and all that were your scene. Excuse me for assuming.”

                                            >Diamond looked away, a shameful blush coloring her cheeks.

                                            >She wasn't very good at this, was she?

                                            “I… Silver Spoon is here. I do not know why she would want to show up to something such as this, but…”

                                            >”You’d do anything for your friend? Yeah, I get that.”

                                            “You would.”

                                            >Scootaloo snorted into her churro.

                                            >”How do you make that sound like a bad thing?”

                                            “It’s not. It’s a commendable quality.”

                                            >”Commendable quality? Jeez, if you were any more stiff you’d be a walking two-by-four.”

                                            “Excuse me?!”

                                            >Scootaloo laughed, “I’m kidding. God, you prissy girls are so easy to rile up.”

                                            “I am not prissy!” Diamond said, stomping her foot.

                                            >”I bet you won’t even sit down to pee.”

                                            “It’s not my fault that the toilet here is disgusting!” Diamond hissed.

                                            >Scootaloo laughed and nudged her with her shoulder.

                                            >”Calm down, I was just kidding. Hey, want another beer?”

                                            “More drinking? I shouldn’t…”

                                            >Scootaloo shrugged and took a large step towards another stall.

                                            >It was mostly deserted, but a single worker made an impression in the velvety blackness of the night’s sky.

                                            >It only took a second for her to flash her ID before she got another drink.

                                            “How do you do that?”

                                            >”What? Oh, it’s all about confidence,” Scootaloo flashed her a winning smirk, “*Feel* 21, *be* 21.”

                                            “I see…”

                                            >Diamond shook her head.

                                            >”What? I’m so convincing!” Scootaloo said, a smirk already on her lips, “Here, listen. ‘Hey, I’m all old, and stuff’.”

                                            >It was a stupid joke, and not really funny, but Diamond couldn’t help but laugh.

                                            >Scootaloo gave her a goofy grin.

                                            “Very convincing. Mind if I?”

                                            >Scootaloo took a long draw, then let Diamond do the same.

                                            >They both shuddered.

                                            “That’s… That’s really awful. And that’s not even including how much better the wine I have at home is.”

                                            >”You really get to drink at home?”

                                            “As if anyone would deny a Rich.”

                                            >”Of course, I forgot, the all-mighty, all-encompassing Rich dynamic.”

                                            “Wow, I’m truly impressed,” Diamond dead-panned, “I didn’t think you knew even half the words you just said.”

                                            >”I just guessed,” Scootaloo laughed.

                                            “Of course.”

                                            >They fell in step together in a comfortable silence.

                                            >Diamond enjoyed the peace that being around Scootaloo seemed to bring, much to her own surprise.

                                            >She kept the crowds away, and didn’t demand her attention, and…

                                            >And a million other small things that made being around her bearable.

                                            >She eyed the girl striding next to her.

                                            >She wasn't at all like Diamond remembered.

                                            >The goofy spazz with arms like noodles and a chubby face and irritating voice was someone else, like they all were.

                                            >In her place was a young woman, all sharp angles and defined muscle and cool confidence (with a lingering bit of childish goofiness that made her, her).

                                            >She was almost tolerable now, if Diamond really had to admit it to herself.

                                            >Diamond sighed.

                                            >Scootaloo was almost, well, someone she could see herself liking.

                                            >”So whats being a billionaire like?”

                                            >Barely.

                                            “My father is wealthy,” Diamond corrected, “I am not.”

                                            >”What? So, like, you don’t get to use your dad’s money?”

                                            “Foolish is the man that allows his kin to splurge of his own earnings.”

                                            >”What’s that?”

                                            “It’s an old saying. One my father loves to use when denying me an advancement of my allowance.”

                                            >Diamond huffed and bit sharply into her churro.

                                            >”So you’re saying you act all richy-rich, without being all richy-richy?”

                                            “I… Suppose you could say that."

                                            >”So you’re a poser!”

                                            “W-what?!”

                                            >Scootaloo laughed at her incredulous look.

                                            “I am not a poser! I do not pose at being all, as you say, ‘richy-rich’!”

                                            >”Right, so you’ve got all this money you can throw around, right?”

                                            “Hold your tongue!” Diamond hissed, an angry blush covering her cheeks.

                                            >Scootaloo shoved a finger in her face, an idiotic smirk on her stupid, pretty face.

                                            >”You’re totally blushing!”

                                            “I am not!”

                                            >The irritating twit laughed at her.

                                            “I’m leaving!”

                                            >Diamond began to stalk away, but Scootaloo's voice stopped her.

                                            >”Hey, hey, I’m sorry. I’m just teasing.”

                                            >Diamond huffed and hugged herself around the middle.

                                            “Well I do not like it. It makes me feel uncomfortable.”

                                            >”Woah, sorry. Are you really bothered about it?”

                                            “I do not like being teased.”

                                            >”Yeah, no one does, but, like, uh. Sorry, I just mean, is it a ‘thing’ for you?”

                                            “A ‘thing’?”

                                            >”Yeah. There are things that I won’t tease Sweetie or AB about, no matter what. Is that just all teasing for you?”

                                            >Diamond huffed, “I don’t know why I must explain myself to you, but I suppose I shall. I do not like being prodded at. I suffer enough of that in my daily life that I would prefer to keep the ‘teasing’ to a minimum in my private life.”

                                            >”What do you mean? Someone's bugging you?”

                                            “I’m rich,” Diamond spoke bluntly, “My life is open to the tabloids because of it, whether I like it or not.”

                                            >“Ah, right.” Scootaloo sobered, her face stony, “I won’t push you anymore. I’m sorry.”

                                            >Diamond let her arms fall to her side and she sighed, long and suffering.

                                            “I am being ridiculous, I know that. I’m sorry I am.”

                                            >”Nah, don’t worry about it. Everyone’s got their ‘thing’.”

                                            “Oh? And what’s yours?”

                                            >”Do you really have to ask?”

                                            >Diamond nearly gulped, her eyes straying to the loose sleeve on Scootaloo’s left side.

                                            >”I hate people making fun of my hair.”

                                            “W-what?”

                                            >”Yeah. It’s so overplayed, it’s almost sad now, but people making fun of my hair always bugged me. What, did you think I was talking about my arm?”

                                            “Of course not!”

                                            >Diamond totally did.

                                            >”Yeah, everyone thinks that.” Scootaloo chuckled, almost bitterly.

                                            >”Hey, I’m sorry but I don’t really want to get into it here.”

                                            >Diamond felt a weight in her chest at that pronouncement, as if some door had closed off in front of her.

                                            >Something about Scootaloo's expression, casted to the side and framed by the waning sun's last rays.

                                            >She looked like an art piece that Diamond would have in her study, "A Woman Yearning,", it would say, and it would not be ridiculous or tacky.

                                            “I am sick of this festival. Maybe we could go somewhere else? Somewhere private.”

                                            >”Er… Yeah. Yeah, let’s do it.”

                                            >Scootaloo’s hand wrapped around her own, and Diamond was pulled along.

                                            >She didn’t mind.


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                                            >They found a nice, isolated bench to sit on.

                                            >Far from the festival, far from the crowd, the flickering lights blinked in the distance.

                                            >Scootaloo stretched herself across the length of the bench as Diamond tucked herself in, the night’s chill brushing over her exposed, goose-bumped skin.

                                            >Diamond tolerated Scootaloo's legs crossed over her lap, but only barely.

                                            >”It’s nice out here,” Scootaloo started.

                                            “Yes, it is. The woods around here are rather nice, aren’t they?”

                                            >”Yeah.”

                                            >Diamond slunk her arm around Scootaloo’s middle, snatching the still half-full beer and stealing a quick draw from it.

                                            >Her head buzzed and her cheeks were flush with warmth, both from the beer and the girl pressed uncomfortably close.

                                            >She really needed something to take her mind off of the fact that the bottom of Scootaloo's abs were peeking out at her.

                                            >The beer in her hand tasted awful, but it did the job.

                                            >Diamond broke the silence first, slightly slurred.

                                            “How… How does it feel?”

                                            >”Huh?”

                                            “To be missing a limb, I mean.”

                                            >Tactful.

                                            >”Oh. Oh, uh, I dunno. How does it feel to have two hands?”

                                            “How could I explain that?”

                                            >Scootaloo shot her a wry grin.

                                            >”How can I explain what it’s like having one, then?”

                                            “Humor me.”

                                            >”Well its… It’s like, you reach out for something with something you know isn’t there, but it feels like its there. I can still feel my watch on my wrist, but I know if I stretch out my arm and look down I won’t see the time. Know what I mean?”

                                            >Scootaloo sighed and slumped against the bench.

                                            >”It’s… I can’t explain it better than that.”

                                            “I’m sorry.”

                                            >”Don’t worry about it, you didn’t cut my arm off, right?”

                                            “I just mean that I am sorry that you are missing your arm, and that you have to live like that.”

                                            >”It’s not so bad. The sympathy points from hot chicks is pretty nice.”

                                            “Of course,” Diamond scoffed, “Lose an arm, and all you can care about is how it gets you laid.”

                                            >”It’s better than being all woe-is-me about it.”

                                            >Diamond huffed and smoothed her skirt unconsciously.

                                            “I suppose it is commendable how blaise you are about it. I couldn’t even imagine.”

                                            >”It wasn’t so bad. At least I didn’t get the best part of me amputated, right?”

                                            “And what is that?”

                                            >Scootaloo shot up, her hips rocking back and forth as she smirked over her shoulder at Diamond.

                                            >”What do you think?”

                                            >Diamond rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

                                            “I’ve seen better.”

                                            >But not by much, Diamond kept to herself.

                                            >”So you’ve been looking?”

                                            “I didn’t say that.”

                                            >”Wait, lemme guess. That weird Pie sister in our year? She’s got a cracking ass, under all that fabric.”

                                            “Hardly. I have standards, you know.”

                                            >Scootaloo collapsed back onto the bench with a laugh, “Really? Standards, huh? Soooo… Wait, not Coach Biceps?”

                                            “That’s an insult, if I’ve ever heard one!” Diamond spat, “How dare you even suggest such a thing!”

                                            >”Sorry, sorry, didn’t mean it like that,” Scootaloo said, with an infuriating smirk on her face, “So, who is it then?”

                                            “Who is what?”

                                            >”Who’ve you been checking out?”

                                            “No one, obviously!”

                                            >”Not what you said.”

                                            “It’s what I meant.”

                                            >”Come on, tell me! Promise I’ll keep it a secret!”

                                            “I thought I told you that I didn’t like teasing?”

                                            >”Not teasing, I swear. I really, really, promise to keep whoever you’ve been ogling to myself.”

                                            >Diamond squinted at her.

                                            “That sounds suspiciously like teasing.”

                                            >”Trust me?”

                                            >Diamond didn’t, not for a moment.

                                            >Trusting meant letting people in, and that was a mistake.

                                            >Her father had educated her on what letting people in meant, and it was never good.

                                            >Just heartbreak and pain and suffering.

                                            >Still…

                                            >Scootaloo wasn’t really one of her detractors.

                                            >She was sweet, if a bit naive, and utterly devoted to those she called ‘friend’.

                                            >”So, so? Who’re you checking out? Come on, DT!”

                                            >And utterly, utterly annoying.

                                            “I don’t remember us being friends,” Diamond spat acidly.

                                            >”Ouch. I know we aren’t really, but it’s one of those nights, right?”

                                            “Whatever are you talking about?”

                                            >”You know? One of ‘those’ nights. Where everything is so calm and quiet, and we make huge discoveries about ourselves, and confess stuff, and whatnot. So tell me.”

                                            >Diamond huffed, “That’s a ridiculous notion.”

                                            >”Promise I won’t tell.”

                                            >Scootaloo shuffled closer, they were barely an inch apart now.

                                            “I’m… It’s not like that. I’m not superficial.”

                                            >”Never said you were.”

                                            “I’m not an egotist. I just like… I just want…”

                                            >”Chill, okay?”

                                            >Scootaloo’s wide, magenta eyes and wild, devil-may-care hair were in her face now, and the overpowering scent of cinnamon tickled her nose.

                                            >She rested her hand on Diamond's shoulder, and gave her an easy smile.

                                            >”It’s all cool. No judgement, I swear-”

                                            >Scootaloo stopped, the last inches closed as Diamond pressed their lips together.

                                            >She started to pull back but Diamond kissed her harder, threading her fingers through her short fringe of reddish hair.

                                            >They separated for a second, long enough for Scootaloo to quip out, “So, me then?”, before their lips came together again.

                                            >If Silver could see her now…

                                            >Diamond let her arms circle around Scootaloo’s neck, drawing them closer together.

                                            >It was only moments later that their lips parted, both of them panting.

                                            “I… I… Don’t think this means anything,” Diamond muttered, eye half-lidded.

                                            >”Right. A full on make-out sesh, and it doesn’t mean a thing. Got it,” Scootaloo panted, her tongue running around her lips.

                                            “Not a thing,” Diamond moaned as Scootaloo’s teeth nipped at her neck.

                                            >Scootaloo hummed, sending a shiver up Diamond’s spine at the sensation that vibrated up her throat.

                                            >They were almost molded together now, Scootaloo pulling Diamond into her lap and pressing their lips together once more.

                                            >Diamond pulled away, finally, after several long minutes.

                                            >She buried herself into Scootaloo’s shoulder.

                                            “Keep this to yourself,” she muttered, “Please… Please don’t tell anyone.”

                                            >”Why?”

                                            “I don’t…”

                                            >Diamond pulled away, far enough for Scootaloo to see her trembling lip.

                                            “I don’t want people to think I’m a freak.”

                                            >Scootaloo shot up, throwing Diamond off her lap as she reeled back, as if she was slapped.

                                            >”Is that what you think? Cause I like girls I’m a freak? That cause *you* like girls *you're* a freak? What the fuck Diamond!”

                                            “N-no! I- I don’t, I mean-!”

                                            >”Come on DT, just spit it out! We’re not friends,” Scootaloo’s jaw clenched and her hand curled into a fist, “We’re not anything, so just say whatever bullshit you wanna say and get it over with!”

                                            “I don’t want everyone to know!” Diamond grasped desperately for something to say, “I don’t want them to know I’m- I’m…”

                                            >”Gay? A faggot? Just spit it out. Spit it out! Say it!”

                                            “I don’t want to be abandoned!” Diamond screeched, burying her face into her hands as she let out loose, uncontrolled sobs.

                                            “I don’t want my friends to ditch me, or my dad to toss me out. It’s selfish, but I…”

                                            >”It’s cowardly.”

                                            >Diamond looked up at Scootaloo, at her scowling face and clenched jaw and trembling arm, like she was about to hit her.

                                            >Like a caged animal.

                                            >”You’re a coward, you’re pathetic, and I’m so fucking sick of it! You think you’re so much better than everyone else, but you’re not!”

                                            >Diamond whimpered.

                                            >Scootaloo didn’t stop, though, she was in a rage, her face flush as she paced back and forth across the small clearing.

                                            >”You- you act like this perfect little girl, but when push comes to shove you’re daddy’s bitch. You're a whore for his money, a monkey dancing on a fucking stage! A self-repressed faggot!”

                                            “I-”

                                            >”Don’t! Just… Don’t. Don't you fucking dare say another word.”

                                            >Scootaloo tugged at her hair.

                                            >The clearing was silent, at least between them.

                                            >Diamond could still hear the distant roaring of the crowd.

                                            >This wasn’t how this was supposed to go.

                                            >She wasn’t supposed to kiss Scootaloo, she wasn’t supposed to offend her in the worst way possible, she wasn’t supposed to be anything but a hanger-on for Silver Spoon tonight.

                                            >But…

                                            >Scootaloo, her face, her voice, her presence drew her in.

                                            >Commanded her, made her want to break the rules.

                                            >Finally she spoke, barely audible, but she knew Scootaloo heard it.

                                            “I’m sorry… I don’t think you’re a freak, for being… For being gay.”

                                            >”Yeah, you say that, but what happens when I show up to school on Monday and you call me a faggot in the middle of the hall? Is that what this is? Some sick game to make fun of me?”

                                            “No! No, I promise!”

                                            >”You promise? Yeah, like a promise from a Rich is worth anything-”

                                            >Scootaloo was cut short as Diamond shot to her feet and pressed their lips together again.

                                            >She tried to pull away, but Diamond wrapped her arms around her neck and kept them together.

                                            >Only after a few more moments did she let her, not until they were both panting, and flushed.

                                            “I promise. I’m…”

                                            >Diamond sniffled and buried her head into Scootaloo’s neck.

                                            “I’m gay. I’m gay, and I hate it, and I’m so sick of ignoring it!”

                                            >Scootaloo couldn’t help but wrap her arm around Diamond’s middle, but she stayed silent and let her speak.

                                            “I just want to be normal,” Diamond whispered, “Normal, and not gay, and ready to take on the family legacy. Normal. But I’m not, and I just… Cant I have an easy ride, for once?”

                                            >Scootaloo hugged her tight and spoke, her voice soft.

                                            >”There’s no such thing as an easy life, it all sucks. I’m sorry.”

                                            “Yeah, figured that out.”

                                            >”You’re a smart girl.”

                                            “No teasing.”

                                            >”Is patronizing, teasing?”

                                            “Yes!”

                                            >”Alright, sorry.”

                                            >Scootaloo laughed, then pulled Diamond into a hug, and Diamond relented easily.

                                            >They let themselves sink into each other, now silent and calm and collected.

                                            >Everything seemed so serious and so trivial.

                                            >Diamond kept herself focused and tried to ignore the growing urge to kiss Scootaloo again.

                                            >They pulled themselves from each other after another long, still moment.

                                            “The rodeo is nearly over,” Diamond muttered, “Silver will be expecting me, soon.”

                                            >”How soon is soon?”

                                            “I thought you hated me?”

                                            >”I’m mad,” Scootaloo admitted, “Madder than I’ve ever been, but I know it’s not your fault. It’s your fucked up family’s fault.”

                                            “My family is… Contentious.”

                                            >”That’s a word for it.”

                                            >Diamond sighed, and nodded.

                                            “I’m sorry, very sorry. I can’t just change, not on a dime.”

                                            >”Which is why I’m not walking away,” Scootaloo murmured, her breath hot in her ear, “I believe you’re better than that. Prove me right?”

                                            “Hmm... Maybe. Let’s get back to the festival, before we’re missed.”

                                            >”We were missed half an hour ago,” Scootaloo admitted sheepishly, “Sweetie’s been texting me for forever.”

                                            “Wait… Scootaloo, you oafish buffoon!”

                                            >Diamond’s phone was blinking for her attention, demanding she answer the two-dozen texts and half-dozen calls.

                                            >”Hey, you kissed me!”

                                            “If I knew that being gay would cause me this much trouble I would’ve reconsidered it!”

                                            >She dialed the most recent number - her father’s - and prayed that it wasn’t too late to stop the hounds from being sent to look for her.

                                            >”So your saying that kissing me was worth missing all those calls?”

                                            >Diamond screeched inarticulately.

                                            >The phone answered and her father’s voice, harsh as it was, relaxed her.

                                            >Cold, clipped and straight to the point.

                                            >"You missed three of my calls," Father said simply.

                                            "S-sorry daddy. I didn't hear your call."

                                            >"Pay more attention. Please collect Silver Spoon and return to your driver, he should be arriving momentarily. I expect you back at the manor in one hour."

                                            "Yes daddy."

                                            >Diamond placated her father for a moment longer before the line went dead, and suddenly she was thrust back into reality.

                                            >’the moment’, as Scootaloo described it, was gone, replaced instead with a shitty bench and too-cold air and uncomfortable silence.

                                            >Scootaloo's warm arm wrapped around her, and for a moment she felt better.

                                            >”So I know you're kinda upset, but would you wanna make out a little before we go back?"

                                            >Diamond threw her phone at her.

                                            *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


                                            "Yes it is quite lovely, isn't it? The décor is rather avant-garde."

                                            >"Truly. Enjoying your wine, Silvy?"

                                            >Silver Spoon bit her tongue and kept her face placid and calm as she regarded the man in front of her.

                                            "It is excellent, Robard."

                                            >His hand rested on hers, and his smirk sent a shiver up her spine.

                                            >"Only the best, for my Silvy."

                                            >Silver took a bite of her food.

                                            >It took all she had not to grimace at the odd texture of fusion cuisine.

                                            >Surrounded by a weird mesh of southern and northern and foreign décor she felt like she was in a painting hanging in Mr. Rich's study.

                                            >Her phone buzzed and she was quick to check it.

                                            >Applebloom's face flashed on her screen for a moment and she kept her bright smile under wraps.

                                            >"A text from your father?"

                                            "Oh, yes. I must be leaving soon, unfortunately. My evening studies are calling for my attention."

                                            >Her father said nothing of the sort - AB was simply sitting across the street in her beat-up old truck.

                                            >A box of wine in the passenger seat and a bag of burgers too, no doubt.

                                            >"Unfortunate. Your presence is ever so delightful, Silvy."

                                            "I feel quite similar."

                                            >"Shall I take the check, then walk you to your driver?"

                                            "Oh, no need. My evening tutor is a simple walk down the block, in fact. I can surely make the journey on foot."

                                            >"If you so insist. Shall I walk you, then?"

                                            "I imagine you're quite busy yourself, Robard."

                                            >"Not so busy to not make time for you," Robard said smoothly as they stepped out of the restaurant.

                                            >Silver Spoon kept the grimace from her face as she kissed his cheek, the stubble uncomfortable against her lips.

                                            "I must run along. Send my best to Mr Grobtech?"

                                            >"Father does love hearing of our little adventures, miss Spoon."

                                            >Silver waited for the man to pull his million-dollar car before she raced across the street.

                                            >The rusted, faded-red truck with Applebloom's bright red hair in the driver's seat were waiting for her.

                                            >She threw open the passenger's side door and slid in.

                                            >A quick kiss greeted Silver's cheek and a delighted giggle was Applebloom's answer.

                                            >"Hey there darlin'. Saw that schmuck you were with. Guy looks like someone Big Mac would go after."

                                            "Didn't know that Mac liked twinks."

                                            >"He likes anything that... feminine. I love him, but he's a weird kinda guy. Caught him dressin' up once as a lady with miss Cheerilee."

                                            "What? And I'm just hearing about this now?!"

                                            >"I don't like to talk about it," Applebloom admitted with a blush.

                                            >Silver Spoon shuddered, before she spotted the bag sitting on the bench seat between them.

                                            >Applebloom had already pulled out of the parking lot, so when Silver suddenly squealed in delight it was all she could do to not ram into a nearby building.

                                            >"Fuck Silver!"

                                            >She was promptly ignored as Silver fished out a thick burger and pulled the wrapping apart.

                                            "You brought burgers? God I could kiss you! That weird fusion cuisine was awful."

                                            >"Fusion cuisine?"

                                            "Yeah. Imagine andouille sausage and avocado in a spring roll. It was..."

                                            >Silver shuddered again, half in disgust, half in delight, as she sunk her teeth into a burger.

                                            >"Yikes. All these yuppies fancyin' up downtown, with all their yoga studios, and coffee shops, and fusion cuisine. Pushin' out decent folk, too. It's a shame."

                                            "Careful AB, remember, I'm one of those awful gentrifiers your grandma likes to hate."

                                            >"Err. Right. Well, you're special. Ain't afraid to get a little dirty."

                                            >Silver smirked and shuffled closer to Applebloom.

                                            "Darn tootin'," Silver mocked, "Gettin' dirty is just another sorta day, cowpoke, 'specially. with. you."

                                            >Applebloom shuddered when Silver's tongue darted out to tease her jaw.

                                            >"A-ain't the kind of dirty I was talkin' about, sugar."

                                            "I just got off a date with a guy almost twice my age, can we pull over and make out soon? I gotta get that nasty cologne off me."

                                            >"When you phrase it like that, how can I ever say no?"

                                            >Applebloom's booted foot stepped on the gas and the truck lurched forwards.

                                            >Silver Spoon laughed, "So eager! Do you really like me that much?"

                                            >"Darlin' I got a full box of wine, a couple burgers, and a hot girl practically in my lap. I'm as eager as a junebug in May."

                                            "Well hurry up then!"

                                            >It was only a few more minutes (most of which was spent with Silver's teasing lips and exploratory hands keeping her half-focused on the roads) before Applebloom was pulling them down a dusty backroad.

                                            >It wasn't long before they were pulled into a small alcove in the Apple Family orchards.

                                            >Apple buds were blooming, painting the perfectly blue sky in a mixture of greens, pinks, and the whites of fluffy white clouds.

                                            >"Come on. We're a bit away from the barn and house, so we should be all kinds of alone out here. Big Mac and AJ are on the other side of the orchard anyway, tendin' to some kinda bat infestation."

                                            "Bats?"

                                            >"Yeah. Might be some kinda kinky dress up with that weirdo Fluttershy girl though. Girl's weirder than Big Mac."

                                            "AB?"

                                            >"Yeah?"

                                            "Shut up and kiss me."

                                            >"Yea-!"

                                            >Silver Spoon pulled Applebloom over her, wrapping the country girl in her arms and locking her legs around her waist.

                                            >Their lips slanted together, and Silver was pleasantly surprised to taste - of all things - Cherry.

                                            "Lip gloss?"

                                            >"Heh, yeah. Rarity caught me tryin' out some of AJ's makeup, and she went on and on about all the sortsa things I could use. Somethin' called Mareuvian Eyeliner, or somethin'. Gave me a tube of this. Like it?"

                                            >Her answer was Silver Spoon kissing her, slowly and sweetly.

                                            "I love it."

                                            >"I love you."

                                            >The words fell out of Applebloom's lips, surprising the both of them.

                                            >They sat in an awkward silence for a moment, staring blankly at each other.

                                            "Oh."

                                            >"...Oh?"

                                            "I mean. Wow."

                                            >"Wow?"

                                            >Applebloom's pleased smile turned into a frown.

                                            "Wait, AB, don't- I mean. Wow! You love me!"

                                            >"Yeah. Yeah, I guess I do. And you?"

                                            "And me what?"

                                            >Silver spoon winced when Applebloom's frown turned incredulous.

                                            >"I mean. Do you love me too?"

                                            "AB... You know I can't say it back."

                                            >Applebloom pulled off of her and reached down for the box of wine.

                                            >She didn't bother trying to tap it, instead she ripped the top open and took a great big swig of the swill.

                                            >Her jaw clenched.

                                            "AB, I promise, I promise you," Silver started, rising up to meet Applebloom and hugging her around the torso, "You're so important, but, you know I can't. We can't. Not yet."

                                            >"Stop it. I know."

                                            >The words sounded hollow.

                                            >"You're... You're you. And I'm me."

                                            "It won't be like this forever! Just a couple more years, then..."

                                            >"Then what?"

                                            >Any of the previous hope she had said those words with seemed gone, now.

                                            "I'll go to college, and Daddy will pay for it. We can get a nice little apartment off campus, you can get a job in the city. It'll be domestic! Like, two girls, living in the big city. Just the two of us."

                                            >"Silver, you always say that. I don't know if I want that life."

                                            "W-what?"

                                            >Silver's unsure grin faltered.

                                            >"I ain't built to be cramped up in some little box in downtown, supported by some other man's money."

                                            "You can get a job! Something out in the country. A farmhand, like you are here."

                                            >"Silver."

                                            "Come on AB. It's just four years, then we can move back here! Wherever you want! Hell, I'll even buy you a *new* farmhouse! And a new barn! Cows, and everything!"

                                            >"Silver."

                                            "AB - I like you, a lot, and I can't see myself without you. You and I..."

                                            >Silver Spoon cupped her face.

                                            "We're perfect together."

                                            >Their eyes locked together for a long, silent moment.

                                            >Applebloom looked away first.

                                            >"I hate your life."

                                            "What?"

                                            >"T-the parties, you invite me too, the sneaking around after you get off a fake date, sneaking around school just to kiss in a fucking closet because your dad might be upset that we're fucking."

                                            >Applebloom rubbed her eyes, misty as they were.

                                            >"I hate it. So, so much. People whisper about me, Silver. Last time I was at one of your upper-crust balls they all kept looking at me. I was wearing one of AJ's old dresses, I looked like a fucking picnic table, and everywhere I looked people were laughing at me."

                                            >She sucked in a sharp, shuddering breath.

                                            >"I hate it Silver. But I love you."

                                            >Silver sat there in shock, but Applebloom wasted no time in taking three more great mouthfuls of the bitter wine she had brought.

                                            "I... I didn't know."

                                            >"I didn't want you to. I hate how different where we come from is."

                                            "AB, please. Please look at me."

                                            >She turned Applebloom's face to her.

                                            >Applebloom still wouldn't meet her eye.

                                            "I... I love you. I love you, more than I'm scared of my father."

                                            >Silver Spoon sucked in a sharp breath.

                                            "I said it. I l-love you."

                                            >"Silver, it ain't all peachy just cause you said that."

                                            "I know. We'll make it work."

                                            >"How?"

                                            >The words were once more hollow, almost defeated.

                                            "I promise you," Silver said, softly, "We'll make it work."

                                            >Silver pulled Applebloom into a kiss.

                                            >Much more wet this time, for sure, but it warmed Silver's cheeks and set her heart racing like it always did when they kissed.

                                            "I promise you, we'll make it work."

                                            >"Stop that," Applebloom muttered as Silver crawled into her arms, practically on top of her, "I might start believing you."

                                            "Good. It'll be great," Silver whispered, her tongue flicking out at Applebloom's ear.

                                            >"Oh yeah? Drink some wine and tell me about it."

                                            >Silver nodded and took a swig of the mostly-torn bag of wine.

                                            >It tasted foul, and bitter,  but sent a pleasant buzz shooting up her spine to settle in her head.

                                            "It'll be nice."

                                            >"Yeah?"

                                            "An apartment downtown, right next to the college."

                                            >"Mmh, keeping doing that."

                                            >'That' was Silver's teeth, tongue, and lips decorating her tanned flesh with hickeys.

                                            "Nice and roomy. We could grow something. Mint, or something, something that smells..."

                                            >Applebloom gasped, then moaned hotly when Silver's fingers slid into her mouth.

                                            >Her lips wrapped around the digit and Silver's other hand skittered up her rock hard stomach.

                                            "Smells good. Like basil, or thyme. A water feature maybe. You'd love it. I promise."

                                            >"W-why?"

                                            "Mmm? Well, I'd be there-" Silver scraped her teeth on Applebloom's neck, "And you could get a job. Something nice. I could get you a job managing all those idiots that work for Father."

                                            >"Sounding a lot like somethin' I ain't interested in, Silver."

                                            "I could, ah, I could convince you."

                                            >"How?"

                                            >Silver snaked down Applebloom's body, her lips meeting that *one spot* right above her navel where her stomach meets her ribs.

                                            >Applebloom's back arched as a moan was wrenched from her lips.

                                            >"T-thats convincin'!"

                                            "I know you, AB, I know you're a country girl," Silver muttered, peppering her tanned skin with kisses, "Trust me. You'll love it. You can visit here anytime you like."

                                            >"How would you convince your dad to let me stay with you? And my family - oh god! - They'd, Granny would freak if she knew I was shackin' up with you."

                                            "Wouldn't matter. All those dates he sets up won't happen when we're a couple hours away and, mmhm! Your family wouldn't even know. We'd be besties right till  we got married."

                                            >Applebloom fumbled around for the bag of wine and pulled it to her lips.

                                            >She took in a deep draw and offered another to Silver, which she gratefully took.

                                            >"Married?"

                                            "I said I loved you. I said that, when I knew it was a bad idea. I own that left finger, AB."

                                            >"You might. Gotta fight my other suitors for it."

                                            "Your other suitors?"

                                            >"Yep. AJ was worried about my business connections, so she started arrangin' all these dates for me-"

                                            >Silver pounded her on the chest, and looked up at Applebloom with a pout.

                                            "That's not fair."

                                            >"Life ain't."

                                            "Neither is this."

                                            >Applebloom thought that that one *special spot* set her nerves on fire, but Silver's lips seemed to find something even better.

                                            >"Fuck!"

                                            >She squeezed the bench seat, her entire body shivering in delight.

                                            >Silver laughed and slumped onto Applebloom, completely boneless.

                                            "I'm sorry for not saying it sooner." Silver muttered.

                                            >"Saying what?"

                                            "I love you."

                                            >"I know. I just wanted to hear you say that again."

                                            >They lay there now, resting in the evening sun that warmed them down to their bones, both of them ensconced in the warmth of each other and the delight that they drew from being in each others' arms.

                                            >"I'm still not sure about all this," Applebloom admitted, "Your dad's gonna let you go to college?"

                                            "Why wouldn't he?"

                                            >"He's tryna sell you, or somethin'."

                                            "Sell me?" Silver laughed, "No, no, it's not like that. I'll admit that my father is overbearing, and bull-headed, and set in his ways, but he still does love me."

                                            >"Huh?"

                                            "He's not trying to sell me. If I say no to one of his business partner's sons he won't be angry. He's just trying to get me to marry someone close because it's good for business, but if I really say no then he won't force me."

                                            >"Your dad, millionaire extreme, is settin' up play dates?"

                                            >Silver laughed.

                                            "Has since I could walk. I remember meeting up with this cute little kid that dad was so sure was the one for me. Shame he was gay."

                                            >"Seems to be the running theme," Applebloom remarked dryly.

                                            "My Father isn't some kind of super-obsessive weirdo, he's just really driven in his business. Did I ever tell you about my grandfather?"

                                            >"Err, no, can't say that you have."

                                            >They sat up now, the drama from earlier seeming to bleed away as they indulged in more wine and let thoughts of the future drift away.

                                            "My grandfather hated my father. I don't think Mother has ever explained exactly why, or how much he hated Father, but I know for a fact that if he could have, Grandfather would have killed him and hidden the body."

                                            >"Woah."

                                            "Right? But Father took over Grandfather's business when he stepped down, and in a few years he doubled the worth of it. In a decade the business was worth almost a hundred times what it was when Grandfather was heading it. Grandfather was forced to admit that, maybe, my father wasn't quite so much of a screwup as he thought. Mother was very pleased."

                                            >"And why are you tellin' me all this?"

                                            "You don't see it? Father is Grandfather, and you're Father. Except he doesn't know about you, yet."

                                            >"Huh?"

                                            >Applebloom looked flabbergasted.

                                            >"I'm a country hick, like all your friends and everyone says. How can I be anything like your dad?"

                                            >Silver laughed, stretching across the bench and kicking her feet up in Applebloom's lap.

                                            "You really think Father came from money?  He got a scholarship to the college Mother attended almost by accident, they met, and that's the story. Father was penniless until he married Mother. Grandfather was furious, but he eventually came around."

                                            >"Great. Now I just gotta turn my back on everythin' I've ever known, increase the value of a company a hundred times, then marry you. Then I'm sure your dad will like me."

                                            "Oh, AB, it's not like that. You know I would never force you to give up being a farmer. Just, for a little bit, okay? I kinda like watching you out in the orchards, anyway."

                                            >"Really?" Applebloom asked dubiously.

                                            "Are you asking if I like seeing my girlfriend's chiseled physique all sweaty and barely clothed?"

                                            >Applebloom blushed.

                                            >"You're terrible, Silver."

                                            "I prefer honest."

                                            >"Terrible. I'm tired of hemmin' and hawin' about this 'n' that. You didn't finish your burger, and I didn't even start on mine. Let's finish that, drink some more bad wine, and just relax?"

                                            >Silver tucked her legs under her and pressed a kiss to Applebloom's lips.

                                            "I love you. I'm sorry if I couldn't say it before. That's a wonderful idea."

                                            >"You're a damned temptress, how could I ever say I didn't love you right back?"

                                            "Well I try so terribly hard to keep myself fit. Diamond's routine is killer."

                                            >"Speakin' of. Guess what I caught DT doin' in a janitor's closet?"

                                            "Diamond Tiara? In a janitor's closet?"

                                            >"You'll never figure it out."

                                            >Silver hummed, tapping her finger on her pretty pink lips.

                                            "Was she screwing Coach Biceps?"

                                            >"W-what? Is that a rumor?!"

                                            "I love Diamond, but that girl has more daddy issues than I do."

                                            >"That... adds up."

                                            >Applebloom winced when the memory of DT calling Scootaloo 'Daddy' flashed through her mind.

                                            >She really didn't want to think about that.

                                            "So?"

                                            >"Right. She and Scoots. In the closet. It was traumatizin', Silver. You ever seen a one-handed lesbian goin' to town on a pillow princess right off the main hall?"

                                            >Silver's jaw dropped open and her glasses slid from her nose.

                                            "Her and *Scootaloo*? What the hell?"

                                            >"I know right? Silver, I'm tellin' you, when I saw that prissy girl with her skirt all hiked up and Scootaloo's fingers-"

                                            >Applebloom shuddered, "Scootaloo is as close to me as AJ. I saw my sister goin' down on a girl."

                                            >Silver shuddered.

                                            >She needed that heavy draw of wine to keep herself balanced.

                                            "I knew Diamond was gay, I didn't think her standards were... Well, Scootaloo."

                                            >"You knew DT was gay? And you didn't tell me?"

                                            "How did you think I knew I was gay?"

                                            >"Uh. Some kinda self-exploration, or somethin'," Applebloom muttered, her face apple-red.

                                            "Diamond is even more gay than I am. More gay than Rarity, probably. She's so repressed it all kind of explodes all at once."

                                            >"You're sayin' I could've been hookin' up with the richer friend this whole time and you didn't tell me?"

                                            >Silver shot her an unimpressed look and slugged her on the arm.

                                            >"That's fair," Applebloom laughed, rubbing her smarting arm.

                                            >Silver returned to the burger that she had abandoned earlier.

                                            >With a single bite she was reminded of why she hated fancy 'upper-crust' cuisine.

                                            >It was simple, but delicious.

                                            >Much, as she peered over to Applebloom, like the girl next to her.

                                            "So. Scoots and DT, huh?"

                                            >"I know. Weird, right?"

                                            "So weird. What did they say when you walked in on them."

                                            >"Well. I kinda just stumbled across them. I heard noises in the closet, and I figured, why not open it. Could be a critter or something. Only to find out that Diamond Tiara sounds kinda like a squirrel when she's-"

                                            "I get the idea."

                                            >"Right. They just gave me- lord, they gave me this look. DT looked like she about pissed herself, and Scoots pulled away and she said-"

                                            >Applebloom started to laugh.

                                            >Any lingering awkwardness was well and truly gone now.

                                            >"She said, 'do you mind?', before she saw it was me. Lord I can still the look on her face. I just said 'sorry!' and shut the door. Haven't talked to them since. Scoots' been avoiding me. Sweetie's been textin' me askin' what's up."

                                            "Have you told her?"

                                            >"I love Sweetie. She's as much a sister to me as Scoots, AJ, or Mac, on occasion, but that girl can't keep her trap shut to save her life."

                                            "Diamond is similar. She's kind of a gossip queen sometimes."

                                            >"She started that rumor about Cheerilee and Big Mac didn't she?"

                                            "That wasn't a rumor."

                                            >Applebloom waved her off.

                                            >"That's what they all say. Big Mac didn't dress up in that corset and lingerie and you can't prove otherwise."

                                            "Wait, didn't you say-"

                                            >"Didn't happen."

                                            "But-"

                                            >Applebloom squished her cheeks between her hands, "Didn't. Happen."

                                            "Right."

                                            >They stared into each others' eyes.

                                            >The tension broke quickly when they both started to laugh.