Apple Bloom led the way down the road, with overcast night skies above and the apple orchards of Sweet Apple Acres on each side. She and Star bantered back and forth, laughing at each others jokes and Star retelling a few of the stories from his time as a recruit.

“See, we weren't allowed off castle grounds during initial training. But this one pegasus was so sick of the dining hall he snuck out. He thought he was home free till the next morning he had three drill sergeants interrogating him. He just about wet himself. All for a bean burrito.”

Apple Bloom laughed softly, “Iff'n it was me, I woulda at least got something more tasty like apple pie. Way I figure it, if yah gonna break tha rules, yah might as well do something worth the cost of tha punishment yer gonna get.”

Star nodded to her, the two of them becoming softly illuminated as they entered the halo of light around the Apple Family house, “True, though I don't see you as the rule breaking type, AB. No offense.”

“None taken, Star.” She reached for the handle and swung open the back door, “I'm quite happy doin' things tha right way and-” She cut off as she stepped into the kitchen and gasped, “What in the world are you two doing!?”

Star looked over his friend's shoulder. An orange earth-mare with the yellow mane, who he knew as AB's sister, AppleJack. Was spread eagle on the kitchen table. A pink earth-mare with hot-pink curling mane had her head between AJ's thighs. Both the ponies froze as Apple Bloom's shout startled them. The pink one, who Star now recognized as Pinkie Pie, lifted her head up, muzzle soaked and giggled, “What does it look like I'm doing silly?” She licked her mouth clean and beamed an innocent, joyful smile at her.

“It looks like yer getting yer...her...um...” The yellow mare blushed, “Yer gettin it all over the kitchen table! Where we EAT!” Apple Bloom stomped a hoof to the floor.

AppleJack rolled over so her back was to the new comers, looking a little ashamed, “I'm right sorry yah walked in on that Apple Bloom, but yah know how...uh...enthusiastic Pinkie can get.” She glanced over her shoulder and noticed the colt behind AB, “Oh dear, and a guest. I'm right sorry y'all.” She slid off the table and nuzzled at the pink party pony who happily returned the gesture. “We'll take this here else where.” She got a better look at the colt and smiled shyly, “Star, it's good tah see yah, though I can't say that was my most proud way to welcome home a friend to tha family.”

Pinkie Pie swooped up and hugged the two younger ponies and giggled, “She told me she had a family secret recipe in there. Do you have one too?” She glanced at AB who promptly balked and glared at her sister.

“Sorry Pinkie, can't say I do.” The younger sibling said through gritted teeth.

“Okie dokie lokie!” The high-strung mare bounced out the door, “Come on AJ! We'll go recipe hunting at my place!”

AJ's cheeks were red with embarrassment as she pulled her hat low on her head, “Iff'n I didn't love that mare, I swear...Hold yer horses Pinkie, I'm mah coming.”

“Not yet you aren’t, silly!” Pinkie giggled delightfully, much to AJ's chagrin.

“I'm really sorry 'bout this Apple Bloom and Star. Y'all have a good evening, yah hear?” She scooted past the other ponies to chase after the hopping pink pony.

AB rolled her eyes and coaxed Star inside before slamming the door, “I swear, Star. Ever since those two been together, it's been one awkward moment after tha next. I'm mah beginning to think Pinkie LIKES getting caught.” She shook her head softly and stuck out her tongue in disgust at the slight sticky spot on the table, “My word and we eat on this. Let me get tha bleach.”

A little while later, the table, and just for good measure, the counters were sanitized. AB started to make dinner, with Star's help. She had protested at first, but he stead-fast on assisting. So in short order, the two friends were laughing and chatting away making a delicious dinner of lettuce wraps with a black-bean tomato filling, golden cornbread, and cream-of-mushroom hay-bites. While it had taken a messy hour and a half to prepare, they wolfed down the meal in a quarter of that. Both of them tilting back in their chairs, bellies happily filled.

“Burp” Star covered his muzzle and smiled apologetically to his friend across the table, “Sorry AB. Just slipped out.”

She giggled and rose to start clearing the dishes, “Nah, it's ok. I mah glad yah enjoyed it. It was fun making dinner with some other pony. Usually we all just take turns.” She pointed to his chair and gave a stern eye as he rose to help with the cleaning, “Sit Mister. We still have dessert.”

“Oh right, your big surprise! I still doubt it's better than your family's apple-cobbler.” He leaned on the table and watched her wander about, cleaning and putting away dishes.

“We'll see about that yah silly colt. Now.” She opened a side drawer and pulled out a long strip of black cloth. “I want it tah be a surprise, cause I wanna see if you can guess what's in it.” Star arched an eyebrow as she wandered around behind him. The make-shift blindfold fell over his eyes, leaving him in the dark. He grunted softly as she tied it tight, “No peeking, can yah see anything?”

Star smirked, “No AB. Nothing.”

“Good, sit tight.” He could her her soft click of hooves wander into another room. Patiently he waited. A few minutes of silence then hoof clicks wandered back in. There was a soft thud as something landed on the table before him. He sniffed the air, nothing out of the ordinary. A drawer opened to this right and the clatter of silverware. Then the sliding of metal on metal and the drawer was closed soundly. The hoof-steps came up to his side and AB giggled, “Alright, Star. Open up.”

Star smirked at her voice, “Really? I feel a little silly getting fed like this.”

Apple Bloom laughed, “Hey now, don't you trust me?”

Star grinned, “Nope.”

He heard the mare gasp in mock disbelief, “Fine, no dessert for you then. I made it special just for you Star.”

“Ok ok.” The pegasus sighed softly, shaking his head with a grin. Rolling his eyes under the blind-fold, he opened his muzzle wide. There was a pause then the cold surface of a spoon slid in against his tongue. He closed his lips around it and the spoon was draw out gently, leaving the cold flavor of hoof-made ice-cream melting in his mouth. He blinked in surprise. It wasn't just the hint of vanilla as he chewed and licked at it. There seemed to be...bits of fruit too and something else. He sorted through the mixture in curiosity as Apple Bloom giggled next to him.

“Like it so far? Can you guess what's in it?”

He tilted his head, tongue exploring the quickly melting cream. He chewed a fruit bit and tasted the flavor. “Raspberries...and...the chewy chunks...marshmallows? There's also a very very faint hint of cinnamon.” He swallowed and licked his muzzle as he heard the filly laughed delightfully.

“Oh wow, you're good at this Star. Me and the other two girls made this up not long after graduation. Want more?” he nodded and so the yellow earth pony spoon fed the colt, one bite at a time. He could hear her sneak a few of her own mouthfuls of ice-cream.

“Mmm...good stuff...can I take the blind-fold off? I feel kinda silly.” Star asked after swallowing his current taste.

“Well...one more mouthful, ok?” The colt nodded and opened his mouth. He was surprised when he felt another mouth press to his, a tongue curling inside to feed him a scoop of already melting sticky ice-cream. In that awkward moment, a fore-limb flailing in surprise, he heard AppleJack shout behind him.

“What in tha sam-hill is going on here?” He could feel Apple Bloom jerk away as he undid his blind-fold.

“None of your business, AppleJack. What are yah doing back anyhoof?” The younger sibling shot back defensively.

“Tha heck it isn't little missy. Pinkie left her party-planner book.” She frowned at her sister and flicked a cold stare at the colt. “Looks like we best be havin' a talk. StarStep, if you'd be so kind to leave us for the evening?”

Star dropped the black cloth and noticed AJ and AB glaring daggers at each other.

“I'm old enough to do what I want, AppleJack. You're not tha boss of me anymore. I'm a grown mare.” Apple Bloom near shouted.

“Yah not be doing that under mah roof.”

“So what, it's ok for YOU to fool around on the kitchen table and leave me to bleach out yer 'fun' but it's not ok for me to kiss ah colt? Huh?” The yellow earth-mare stomped a little closer to her orange sister. “I'm not a little filly anymore, stop treatin' me like one!”

“I will just as soon as yah stop acting like one!” The slightly larger orange mare stomped her own hoof.

Apple Bloom looked over her shoulder and smiled to the pegasus, “Come on Star, let's go up to my room. We can play around up there in private.”

“No.” Star said quietly. AB looked shocked, AJ simply nodded. “I don't think that's a good idea.” He bowed his head gently to AJ, “Hey AJ, sorry for any trouble.”

The earth-mare frowned and glanced from him to her slightly bewildered sister, “Apple Bloom, why don't yah escort yer friend out and say yer good-byes. I'll be in the living room. We need tah talk.” She walked out of the kitchen as Star walked to the back-door. Apple Bloom bounded over to stop him.

“Wait! Star, I don't understand!” Her eyes were pleading, her muzzle turned down in an uncertain frown. “Didn't yah like mah surprise?”

Star sighed softly, “AB, the dessert was delicious. The dinner was wonderful and just being able to chat like old-times was the best part.” He could see her lower lip quivering. He rested a fore-hoof on her shoulder, “Apple Bloom...”

“...was it mah kiss? I know I'm mah terrible kisser. Yer like the second colt I ever have kissed. It seemed like a really good idea. What did I do wrong? Why wont yah stay with me like yah did Scootaloo? Am I not a pretty?” Her eyes were watering.

“Oh AB...You're a beautiful filly.”

She felt to her haunches, “Then why don't yah want me?”

With a heavy sigh, Star sat next to her and unfurled a wing to hug her to his side, “AB, where did all this come from? I didn't think you thought of me in this way.”

“I...I don't know Star. I mean...I haven't ever been with anypony before and...I just thought...I was sort of jealous when Scootaloo told me about her visit with yah. Aren't we all friends?”

“Oh...” He reached over to wipe away a stray tear from his friend's face, “AB, no tears. You're too strong a mare for that. You're a kind, tough, honest, hard-working pony. You built a new business from the ground up, you keep close ties with your family and have tried to be the best friend you can while following your dream. Do you remember after that Hearts and Hooves card? How Scoots was the only one of you three to still pursue me? She was pretty relentless even though she knew, you all knew, I was moon-blinded. I still am a little. Luna is my green apple.”

“Yer, what?” Apple Bloom looked at him confused.

“Um, sorry, it's a little example Cheerilee gave me. The short version is this. Princess Luna still has number one spot in my heart. She always has. But I'm beginning to understand, there's room for other ponies.”

“Is...there room for me too?”

“Do you want there to be?” He looked down at the earth pony and brushed aside her red-mane from her light orange eyes.

Apple Bloom fidgeted with her hooves a little, “I...donno. Maybe? It just sorta seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Star sighed softly, “Don't forget how much effort Scoots put into being near me even when I wasn't a very good friend. Thinking back, I don't think I was too good a friend to any of you.”

“What, no! You were a great friend, still are Star! But, yer right. She did stick to yah like glue, huh?” She was thoughtful for a moment, reflecting back on their youth together.

“I'm glad you still consider me a friend AB. I don't know that you want me as a special somepony. I live off in Canterlot, and that's not really fair to you. You have a job and family here in Ponyville. Could you ever leave all that? Could you expect me to leave what I've worked so hard for?”

The yellow pony shook her head, “No. But what about Cheerilee? I know you two are well...you know.”

Star chuckled, “Cheerilee's number one spot in her heart is Twilight. Did you see how happy she was when we gave her tonight's present? She loves me and I love her, but there's never any question of my place in her life. I'll visit, and write and always be her colt-friend for as long as she'll have me. But let's be honest here, AB. She doesn't want me like she wants Twilight.”

He pulled his wing from Apple Bloom's shoulders and stood, “AB, I will always love you as a friend. I refused to spend the night with you, not because I dislike you. But because I love who you are and think you're a brilliant, honest, loving, and beautiful earth pony. We both know we'd regret in the morning, wouldn't we?”

AB chewed on the edge of her lip for a moment and nodded. She smiled and reached up to ruffle he mane. “Yer right, Star. I'm still a little jealous of Scoots though. I've never been with nopony and now that I've got mah dream shop set up. Well...it feels ah little empty.” She shrugged and sighed with a glance towards the living room, “Best wrap this up so I can have a talkin' to with AppleJack. Listen Star, thanks fer being so gosh-darned logical about all this relationship stuff. It's a lot harder to work with than wood.”

“Yeah, I can understand that, AB. Though there's a lot of screwing in both.”

Two full seconds passed before the earth pony caught the double meaning and cracked up, “Oh, that was terrible, Star!” She punched him in the shoulder, “That's for the bad joke!” She stood and gave him a sly grin, “Before yah go. Would yah tell me what my best feature is? I know yah used to stare a lot at Scootaloo's wings.”

Star made his way to the door and looked the yellow earth pony over. “Besides your eyes? Your flanks.” He smirked and winked at her blush.

She looked back at her cutie-mark and giggled, “Mah flanks huh. Well...don't that beat all.” She fixed her look on the doorway to the living room and gave another sigh, “If nothing else, Star.” She glanced back at him with a soft smile, “This little fight with mah sister has shown me it's time to get mah own place and start mah own life.”

He nodded, pulling open the door and stepping outside, “That sounds like a plan AB. Ever need a friend to talk to. You know where to find me. Good night, AB.”

She darted to the porch and gave him a light kiss on the cheek, “Good night, Star. Yah feather-brained crazy colt.” She giggled, waving to him as he bounced off the porch and began a quick trot down the road into the gloom of the overcast evening.

About half a mile out from the farm-house, Star began to wonder about Apple Bloom. This whole thing was a bit of a shock. AB had never shown that kind of interest in him before. But maybe tonight would help her personal life for the better. He would offer the support he could, and if she was serious about trying to start something with him, so be it. But he suspected she just wanted a taste of what Scoots had. A little envy of a mare who's never been in the hooves of another.

There was a sharp rustle from the bushes to his left. Guard instincts kicked in and he flared his wings to leap from the ground. He managed two flaps before jerking sideways and being slammed into a tree. The wind knocked from his chest he coughed and shook the daze from his head. He was being pressed against the rough bark of thick apple-tree, a blue magical field holding him mid-air. He could hear grass crunching underhoof as somepony approach, just out of his vision.

“I don't know who you are.” A voice hissed in his ear, “But we don’t need some fancy colt from Canterlot messing with our fillies. Isn't it enough you're plowing that school-mare? I guess even chubby ones need a good rut once in a while.”

Star groaned from the pressure the magic placed on his limbs and wings. Whoever this unicorn was, their telekinetic field was significantly powerful.

“Now...” The colt's voice growled in Star's ear. “You can stay and buck that fat pink mare till you're blue in the face, or you can go the buck back where you came from. But you WILL stay away from Apple Bloom. She's mine! If I see you kissing her again, I swear to Celestia I will snap your wings like twigs. Am I clear?”

Star frowned and fought against the field to turn his head, but all he could make out was a shadowy outline. A hoof punched between his wing-bases and he gasped in pain. “I said, am I clear?” The voice growled threateningly. Star coughed a few times.

“Yeah, I get you.”

“Good, splendid, glad we could see eye to eye on this. I'll be watching. Stay the buck away from my filly.” His hoof-steps receded back into the trees and at last the field vanished. Instantly Star jumped to the air and began a spiral search pattern to find the attacker. But in this overcast nighttime, he see nothing but shadows and trees. With an ache between his wings he glanced at the Apple Acre's homestead and banked for his parents house. He'd have to be careful in handling this till he knew more of what was going on.