Chap 7

---PonyVille---

“That is quite the load of apples you have there today Apple Jack!” Twilight exclaimed as she met her friend. “Yup, a old friend is stayin for a bit at the farm and he’s workin, just like old times,” Apple Jack smiled. “Would it happen to be that umm Tiger Dusk guy?” Twilight asked. “Yeah… how did ya know?” Apple Jack asked. “Oh I saw him walking through PonyVille last night with Pinkie Pie and Apple Bloom,” Twilight answered and realized suddenly, “wait he’s an old friend?” “Uhuh” Apple Jack nodded. “What’s the story Apple Jack?” Twilight asked. “Well…” the two fillies exchanged their stories. “So it’s true that he’s a Knight then..” Twilight thought. “Yup… he told us the whole story.. or most of it, I reckon,” Apple Jack answered. “But… aww that’s so sweet!” Twilight giggled. “Huh?” Apple Jack asked. “He bought the hat for you when you both were little ponies,” Twilight had a small grin on her face, “he must like you,” “err.. you think so Twi?” Apple Jack asked with a small blush across her face. “The REAL question here is DO you like HIM?” Twilight Sparkle pointed at Apple Jack. “Wha.. err hmm.. “ Apple Jack stuttered, “that’s kinda a weird question to ask out of the blue sugar cube…” “Why is it so weird AJ?” Twilight looked at her friend who was a slight pinkish shade of orange now with a lifted eyebrow. “Well err,” Apple Jack couldn’t lie. “Ok ok, but keep it hush hush alright?” Apple Jack looked around and whispered. “Yeah.. Ah do like him, and Ah wanna tell him, but he always seems so distant.. when Ah try to get close to him, or even this morning.. Ah tried something and well Ah don’t know if it worked or not..” Apple Jack rubbed her left leg with her right hoof embarrassed. “Hmm how about I check how the two of you behave while you hang out together? Then I’ll do some research in my books and I’ll come up with the answer! It’s the perfect plan~” Twilight clapped her hooves together. “Ah… don’t know sugar cube.. that sounds like some might trouble there…” “No trouble at all Apple Jack! It’d be fun even!” Twilight answered. “Ah .. Ah don’t know,” Apple Jack said with uncertainty in her voice. “Apple Jack I haven’t seen you act this way before… you really must like him,” Twilight wiggled her eye brows. “Aw cut it out Twi..” Apple Jack tried to hide a smile. “Anyways… 2 apples please,” Twilight smiled as she pointed to 2 shiny red ones. “On the house fer ya Twi… jus don’t let anyone know about ya know..” Apple Jack blushed again. “Pinkie Pie swear” Twilight did the motions and managed to close her eye this time for the cupcake in the eye.

---Sweet Apple Acres---

“Hmm.. well I guess I’m done all the chores for now.. so maybe I should go and check out PonyVille” Tiger thought out loud. “Or am I just going to go see Apple Jack?” he mumbled. He shook his head again, “gotta get my head on straight, I promised myself to keep quiet about it”. Tiger Dusk walked out of the barn and headed for the gate.

---PonyVille---

Tiger looked around the town, trying to see if he could recognize any of the buildings. “Oh..yeah that’s right! I promised Pinkie Pie a party…” he reminded himself. “Hmm,” he tried to remember where Sugar Cube Corner was. “You look a little lost there dear,” came a polite filly’s voice from behind him. “Ah.. sorry miss, it’s just I haven’t been around here in a very long time,” Tiger bowed his head a little. “Aren’t you the polite colt,” said the pretty white unicorn pony. She had well brushed and curled long violet hair and had one of those ‘proper’ feeling type of feelings around her, the kind that Tiger remembered that a lot of ponies had back in Canterlot. “The name is Tiger Dusk, miss..?” Tiger put his manners to work. “I am Rarity,” she did a curtsy even though she didn’t have a dress on. “You don’t seem to be from around here Tiger, what has brought you to our humble PonyVille?” Rarity asked. “To tell you the truth Miss Rarity.. I am not quite sure anymore,” Tiger chortled a little. “You look like you just came from Sweet Apple Acres, judging from the direction your standing. Are you a friend or relative to Apple Jack?” Rarity asked. “A old friend, I guess,” Tiger’s voice trailed off, and he shook his head, “pardon me Miss Rarity, I was being rude there for a moment.” “Not at all! Though you do seem to be thinking quite a bit if you’ve got your head in the clouds like that,” Rarity giggled a little. “Actually I have a question if I may?” Tiger asked. “Please ask away,” Rarity smiled. “Are by any chance the lady.. who weaves the fine scarf that I always find in Canterlot? The one with the nice looking ‘R’ on the tip of it?” Tiger asked. “Why yes,” Rarity smiled proudly that her work had been recognized. “I just wanted to thank you Miss Rarity, because without that scarf I probably would have frozen myself when I went venturing into the far parts of Equestria,” Tiger bowed again. “No no.. there’s no need for that Tiger Dusk,” Rarity flushed in the face a little. “If you’d allow me to ask one more question,” “it’s no problem at all,” “where might I find Sugar Cube Corner?” Tiger asked. “Oh, I was just heading there actually, a friend of mine, Pinkie Pie told me she was planning a party and needed some ribbons to decorate,” Rarity motioned for Tiger to follow. “What a coincidence,” Tiger smiled as he followed, “I was going to go meet with Pinkie Pie as well”. “Oh do you know Pinkie Pie?” Rarity asked, suddenly interested that this new pony knew 2 of her close friends. “Yes, and just this morning I met a… oh yes Rainbow Dash, she was quite lively, very swift if I do say so myself,” Tiger laughed remembering the halo of rainbow that he had saw as Rainbow Dash flew at mach speed. “Why yes! Rainbow Dash is a friend of mine as well!” Rarity exclaimed. “I think all the ponies in this town are really nice,” Tiger brushed the back of his mane again as they walked together, “though there is one particular pony.. “ he stopped again. “Tiger you seem to be infatuated,” Rarity smiled slyly at him, “who’s the lucky mare?” “Lucky?” Tiger blushed a little, could he tell Rarity about his problem? “It might be improper to tell a secret though Miss Rarity..” Tiger turned his head away. “It’s also improper for a gentle colt such as yourself to refuse a question asked by a lady,” Rarity shot back with a smug look. “…Nothing gets by you does it, Miss Rarity?” Tiger gave up. “Almost nothing, I like details,” Rarity tossed her mane. Tiger started to tell Rarity about how he was thinking about Apple Jack, and how they were child hood friends. He then told her about his dilemma and how he just could not tell Apple Jack for the fear that he might mess up their friendship. “Why, Tiger Dusk I did not know you were the shy type!” Rarity let a small giggle slip. “I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t let anyone know,” Tiger was starting to regret this now. “Now Tiger, I think it’s very important that you let Apple Jack know about your feelings at least! Otherwise you’ll find yourself feeling very awkward whenever you are around her, and that itself could lead to hurting your friendship with her!” Rarity explained. “..That is true,” Tiger thought about the bit of wisdom he had just been given. “Besides, I think it’s rather marvelous that Apple Jack has such a gentle colt as a secret admirer,” Rarity teased Tiger. “Miss Rarity, you really do know how to make a colt’s head spin,” Tiger laughed. “It’s a gift darling…. IDEA!!” her eyes brightened up. “Yes?” Tiger looked at her curiously. “Why not give her a gift along with your confession?” Rarity asked. “Wait.. I didn’t say I was going to confess to her now did I?” Tiger thought for a second. “We are here,” Rarity smiled.