"Isn't he...a bit too young for your reach?"

"Ah guess."

"How old is he?"

"Ah don't know."

"Then why do you like him?"

"It's...complicated, alright?"

Applejack hides in her stetson as Rainbow Dash bombards her with questions.

"Dash, lay it off. Love is a really fickle thing when it comes to different people, and explaining it clearly is actually harder to do." Anon admonished her.

The three sat around in a circle in Applejack's room, the fourth member being Applebloom, who was curled up in Anon's lap. She had her eyes closed but her ears open to the conversation. A plate of Anon's apple fritters was placed in the middle. Some were half eaten and crumbs littered the place.

"If ya really wanted to get Spike, we could make a love potion for ya." Applebloom added in.

"More like love poison." Anon grumbled.

"If it works, it works." Applebloom giggled.

"Ah don't feel it's right  forcing somedragon ta like me. Ah'd prefer it they liked me for who ah am, not because ah gave them some magic potion." Applejack replied.

"Well, then what do we do?" Rainbow Dash said.

"Well, first of all, we need to get Applejack's present to Spike first. That should be the starter. After that, we need to get them alone, preferably in a nice quiet place, so that they can speak to each other without interruptions." Anon rubbed his chin. "That's going to be hard, but nothing is ever easy when you're trying to get something you want, right?"

Everyone nodded in unison.

"Once again, ah thank ya kindly for ya help, especially you, Anon." Applejack said.

"No problem" Anon smiled as the two looked at each other.

"Oh sure, leave me out why don't you." Rainbow Dash mumbles.

Thursday- 3 in the afternoon. 30 hours left until the event.

Twilight's library- 5 present: 3 ponies, 1 human, 1 dragon.

"I hope that plan last night was worth it." Rainbow Dash whispered.

"It will totally work. Just trust me on this and it will work, I promise you." Anon replied.

"Alright then." She said.

Anon absentmindedly searched around the bookshelves, reading books with a language that he cannot read yet. Rainbow Dash was by his side, presumably dying from boredom. Applejack however, was with Twilight in the kitchen, making snacks. Spike was the first to greet the two in the 'living room' as he descends the stairs.

"Mornin'." He yawned.

"It's the afternoon." Rainbow Dash replied.

"Oh, right." Spike said. "So why are you guys here?"

Anon closed the book he was (not) reading and turned to face him. "Applejack decided to make breakfast for you, since you decided to fall into a sleep coma when Twilight tried to wake you up." Spike laughed at the remark.

"Sometimes, I just feel like sleeping and not doing chores for a while" He smirks.

Spike approaches the two, looking at the book that Anon is holding.

"Woah, Anon. I never knew you had a marefriend!" He says in awe.

"What?" Anon said, puzzled.

"That book you're holding!"

"What about it?"

"It's called: How to treat your special somepony. Didn't you read the title?"

"Uhh...yeah, forgot about it." Anon smiled sheepishly.

"So who's the lucky mare?" Spike asked.

"Uh-"

"Who says that you have to know?" Rainbow dash added as she flew to spike's face. "Mr.Nosy."

Spike walked back a little, seemingly intimidated, but his fear soon turned into realisation as a sly smile came to his face.

"Aww, I get it." He smiles at Rainbow Dash.

"Get what?!" She retorted.

"Anon, that's one special somepony you have." He snickers.

Anon was quickly taken aback, a slight hint of embarrassment came to his cheeks. He quickly closes the book and returns it to the shelf, right before looking at Rainbow Dash, who was oblivious to the dragon's comment.

'Did he mean...Rainbow Dash?' He thought.

Before he could contemplate any further, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack return to the main room, The latter carrying the tray of apple jewels that shone like diamonds.

"We've got some snacks!" Twilight shouted as she carried a tray of drinks. Applejack trotted behind her, carrying her own tray on her back. As always, her face seemed shady and was partially blocked by her stetson, blush evident.

Well, at least it was one way to mask herself.

"Niiice." Spike said, jumping and snatching a drink from the floating tray. "I've been thirsty ever since I woke up."

"Which was like, a second ago." Rainbow Dash mumbled.

Anon looked at Applejack, who was already staring at him like a lost puppy. He nudged his head to Spike, telling her to make her move. Anon stares at Rainbow Dash next, initiating her own role. She nods begrudgingly.

"Hey Twilight, do you have..uhh...any more Daring Do books that I haven't read yet?" She puts up an improvised smile. Her very words made the purple librarian light up like a bulb as a smile was plastered across her face.

"I think I some upstairs! Come with me!" She happily gallops off-scene.

'Tango down.' Anon thought.

"Hey Spike." He said.

"Yeah?" The purple dragon replied.

"Applejack has something for you." He pointed at the tray behind her. The dragon stared at the earth pony, eyes glued to what might be behind it.

"Uh, ah made ya something Spike." She smiles as she turns around. Anon comes over and picks it up from her back, showing it to Spike.

"Woah, are those cooked jewels? I didn't even know that you could cook 'em!" Spike said in awe as he stared at the diamond-shaped food. He observed them quietly, peering at the red apple skin. He then took a small sniff of it, then suddenly pulling back.

"Wait a sec, these aren't jewels." He said, picking one up as he said so.

"Well, no they aren't." Anon smiled sheepishly as he rubs the back of his head.

"They're apple jewels! two things in one." Applejack added in. She grabbed one with both her hooves and presented it to the purple dragon. "Here, take a bite, it might not be an actual jewel...but it's the best ah can do." She smiles.

Spike took it from her hooves and thanked her properly. He examined the 'apple jewel', turning it around to look at the fleshy underside that hid under the ruby skin. He then opened his mouth, taking in half of the snack.

He chewed as the human and the pony stared in silence. Beads of sweat rolled off of Anon's head, whilst Applejack was frozen in fear. The anticipation was killing them, it wasn't long before they would crack-

"It's nice."

Anon and Applejack sighed in relief.

"But it's not the real deal, sadly." Spike returned the remaining half back to the tray.

"Darn." Anon said. "I thought you'd like it."

"I did, it's just not what I usually eat. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to leave this place and hide in the Sugarcube corner before Twilight sends me on any more errands." Spike casually walks out of the room, leaving Anon and Applejack in the room.

Anon held the tray with one hand, whilst hearing the upstairs conversation of Rainbow Dash and Twilight sparkle. The two were speaking about a pony named Daring Do, though that was all Anon could hear. He then looks back to Applejack, who looked petrified.

"Woah, what's with you?" Anon bent down to her level.

"He...he didn't like it." She stared at the un-eaten piece that was placed in the corner of the tray, all lonely and such.

"He didn't say that, Applejack. Don't over-complicate things! He only said that it wasn't the real deal." Anon replied.

"He might 'ave well said that it was terrible." She droops down her head in shame.

"Don't be so harsh on yourself."

"Ahm not."

"Well, then. I'll take a bite." Anon said as he took a clean piece from the 11 apple jewels that were left. He at it rather quickly, due to the fact that it was just a small piece of an apple. "See? Tasty." He smiled.

"Ah don't need yur pity Anon." She said, still staring at the floor.

Sighing, Anon took another piece and put down the tray. With his vacant hand he lifted Applejack's head, smiling at her quivering lips and bloodshot eyes.

"Don't be such a crybaby." He said as he hand-fed her an apple jewel. "And if you say that this is bad, well...then you're just making fun of your own cooking." He said as she chewed slowly.

"It's..fine ah guess." She whispered.

"Good, then we'll eat this together because I'm as hungry as a bear." Anon sat down on the bench tree, patting down next to him for Applejack to sit there. She complied quietly, taking her seat next to him. Anon placed the tray on his lap as he started to take the apple slices. one by one.

"This ishnt gonna full me up fully. We're gonner have to shtop at your place for more." Anon spoke as his mouth was getting filled.

"Don't speak with your mouth full." Applejack giggled as she playfully punched him.

And when she meant 'playfully punched him', she actually meant 'cause a bruise', from what Anon felt as she did so.

"Open wide." Anon held an apple jewel on his hands.

"Ahm not a filly, Anon."

"That's what they all say, now open wide."

Obliging, Applejack opened her mouth.

"Good girl." He patted her on the head. She smiled with her cherry cheeks slightly full.

And so, the satisfied human and his earth pony friend left the library, ditching the rainbow mare for a few minutes before she caught up with them, frustrated and angry at the two.

"So are you going to go after him?" Anon spoke.

"Ah don't know." Applejack stared at the earthy floor.

"It's too late, AJ, and I'm hungry." Rainbow Dash added in.

"Well you should've joined us when we were eating!" Anon snapped.

"I was busy!"

"Busy reading!"

"It still counts!"

The two bickered as Applejack walked alongside them in the pavements of ponyville. She looked around, staring at the couples and at the others. Some made open displays of affection, whilst others decided that nuzzling was more than enough.

'Hearts and hooves day tomorrow! Find that special somepony!' The banner on the Sugarcube corner said.

Tomorrow was the day, the day that would decide whether the earth pony would be going along and manning the stall for the ball event...or whether she will join the others with her date as they dance in the moonlight...and hopefully spend the night with each other.

Loneliness creeped inside her heart, the one that most mares share on that dreaded day. There weren't that many male suitors in Ponyville, so it was made clear to the mares that it was either they fight to the death for the stallion's love, or form a herd. The latter was more picked in this situation, but it was never the best option.

Herds often leave certain mares and stallions out, depending on the size. There is also compatibility, wherein if that mare didn't like another stallion in the herd, then it would make an inequality within the group. This inevitably causes the herd to dissolve into smaller factions: the ones who are fine with being each other...and those who are left out.

Larger herds were harder to control, whilst smaller herds were more unstable, due to the common error of a stallion liking only one mare in the group and then leaving the rest to the other stallions.

Applejack avoided all of that. She wanted a stallion for herself and only herself. She wanted a stallion that was strong and one who would grow mighty. She wanted to have a caring Stallion who loved her cooking as much as she loved him. And if she was lucky, she wanted a stallion who could cook well.

And yet, Spike fit none of those requirements at that current moment whilst she thought to herself.

"Applejack."

"..."

"Applejack!"

"Wha? Yeah?"

Applejack stared at Anon, who was calling to her.

"Do you wanna find spike in the Sugarcube corner?" He asked.

She looked at him, at his determined face.

Was it all worth it?

Could she really have the gall to ask Spike?

She knew she wouldn't be able to, and even if that were fixed...she'd still have to reassure herself of the fact that...well...Spike already has his eyes on somepony else.

She already knew who it was from the librarian who lives in a tree.

"Well? It's your choice." Anon said as he stared at the sugarcoated restaurant.

"Hurry up AJ, my stomach is killing me." Rainbow Dash groaned.

"..."

"So what are you gonna do for Hearts and hooves day then?" Anon said.

"Ah guess I'll be manning the store with Granny smith." Applejack replied.

"Are you sure your granny can help? Age can make you lazy an unproductive."

"She's stronger than you think, Anon."

Anon and Applejack sat by an orchard in the fields of the Apple estate. Rainbow Dash was given permission to fly around and eat some apples whilst the two rested. It was the afternoon, and the sun was beginning to fall down the Earth.

"It's a shame."

Applejack looked at Anon as he spoke those words.

"Some stallions are missing out with a mare like you."

She stared at his face, she stared at his expression as he spoke to the sky.

"I mean, you're successful, you're respected, and best of all: You're a hard worker when it comes to getting something you want."

She smiled as his attempts of flattery.

"I like that."

Eyes widened, she stares at the human who said those very words.

"You know, Rainbow Dash is the only one who has a date for the ball tomorrow evening. Which surprised me, since I thought all of you were bringing dates, what with being the elements of harmony and all." Anon mumbled.

"Y-yeah." Applejack whispered.

He looked at her.

"Well...then at least I'm not the only one who's having trouble getting a date." He chuckles as he ruffles her mane.

And there, she felt it.

Her heart felt like it was being twisted. The sudden realization and slight fear that grips her very self. She could say it, she could ask him that one question that she dares to ask. But fear of rejection holds her back with thin strings. She needs one more push...just one more push to muster the courage she needs to make it.

'I-it's not like it h-has to be love! A-ah can ask him....ask him like a friend right? It's not like ah like him or anything...ah think.'

Anon stops his hand gestures, and looks at Applejack, who has her eyes glued to him. Her mouth biting her lips and a prominent blush is plastered onto her cheeks.

"A-anon."

"Uh....yeah?"

"Ahm gonna ask ya something real serious."

"Mhm."

"Would you...um...would you like to..."

"Are you going to....."

She closes her her eyes.

Next Chapter: The liar mare and the lonely human. Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour