My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Matchmaker

Chapter 8

“wow. Zilver really said that?” Ash asked. The humans gathered at Orion’s engine room when they learned of what had transpired hours earlier to the guys.

“yep. The Scumbag said that he was gonna have nothing to do with Applejack or their foal.” Aura angrily said.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“yeah, but Spike and Rarity have a big problem.” Ash said. “thanks to Sweetie Belle and her love for Spike, there’s a chance that their relationship is over and done with before it began. And he had such a good plan to win her love.”

“well, you haven’t keep keeping an eye on Shadow.” Satoshi said. “he’s in love with Dash but since she’s going out with Soarin’, he’s keeping his feelings bottled up. Eventually, they’re gonna explode out.”

“well, Twi and Halo are reaching a breaking point. Literally. I think if they don’t talk soon, they won’t have a chance to reconcile this.” Req muttered.

“well, me, Bahamut, and Sora can safely say we don’t have to worry about this.” Jax said as she leaned back.

“aren’t you guys lucky?” the rest sarcastically replied.

“but seriously, we need to do something for them.’ Sora said. “If not, this could cause a lot of damage to them.”

“especially Starlight.” Req added. “If a expectant mother gets under a lot of pressure, it can have very bad consequences on the baby. I‘m glad Jess was strong willed when she was pregnant.”

The gang looked at each other and nodded. “well, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… Requiem, time to unleash the romance monger.”

Requiem disappeared for a moment and reappeared dressed as Cupid. “I’m ready to go to work.” she jokingly said. A arrow tipped with the heart symbol fell out of the plastic bow she held. Everyone gagged at the outfit and instantaneously came up with the same reaction:

“Lose the outfit!”

Zilver & Applejack
Thinking of the Future

“wow. Pregnant. That’s gotta be weird for you, Sis.” Applebloom said. Applejack carried a bushel of apples into the barn and set them down. “and should you even be working?”

“I’m only a week Preggers, Applebloom. I can still work.” the 2 walked on outside. “Besides, I remember Mama working clear into her 11th month with you.”

“Well, that explains my strong back.” Bloom muttered. “but you ain’t Mama, Applejack.”

“no, but I’m gonna be one.”

The 2 walked past Big Mac and Aura, both of whom were pumping a well with a tough pump. “and what about Zilver? Will he be helping with the kid?”

Applejack angrily scoffed. “Zilver. That son of a Manticore ran off, not wanting anything to do with us.”

“he did what!?” Applebloom exclaimed. Both Aura and Big Mac overheard this and looked at each other.

“I knew Zilver was lazy but I didn’t know he would run off if things got bad. The next time I see him, you know what I’m gonna do?”

“Show him one of Aura’s ‘special’ tapes?” Applebloom joked.

Big Mac looked at Aura with a big of a angry pout. “they’re exercise tapes. I need to keep in shape.” Aura truthfully said.

“uh-huh.” Big Mac replied.

“no. no. I’m not that cruel.” Applejack thought about what to do to Zilver if she ran into Zilver again. “think I’ll just give him a good old-fashioned beat down.”

“be sure to bring me along.” Applebloom said with a mean snicker.

Applejack and Applebloom walked off, leaving Big Mac and Aura to talk about what this. “I never pegged Zilver as a pig.” Aura muttered.

“beg pardon?” Big Mac asked, wondering what he met by that.

“It’s a human expression and Zilver is a PRIME example of that. Though if Jess was here, she’d think of a even worse word to describe him.” a light bulb went off over Aura’s head, making him snicker evilly. “I got a pretty good idea on how to deal with him.”

“how?”

“Zilver’s always been one to skirt responsibility. So, we make him responsible.”

“how?”

“By getting me a Job!?” Zilver exclaimed as he stared up at the sign for the Moonlight/Sunlight Tavern.

“yeah. It’s perfect.” Aura said. “listen, me and Mackie have been talking…” Big Mac comically looked at the screen when Aura said ‘Mackie.’ “…and we figured that as long as you are in town, you should help out. What better way to do that then with a job?”

“b-b-b-b-b-b-but I don’t know the first thing about a job. Halo always handled the money problems.”

“if you didn’t have jobs, how’d you get paid?” Big Mac asked.

“funding from the academy an…”

Aura hit himself in the forehead with the palm of his hand. “Oh, that’s right. I forgot Halo was a professor at a university.”

“Researcher at the Royal Academy of Science, genius.” Zilver rolled his eyes. “but yeah, I never worried about that.”

“probably because you were a free-loader.” both Big Mac and Zilver said. “now come on!” both pushed Zilver into the tavern.

Zil stuck his hooves into the ground, grinding them both to a halt. “Hold it! Why should I get a job!?”

“it’s either that…” Aura cracked his knuckles as Big Mac hit his front hooves together. “…or get a beating.”

“do they have a opening for a bus boy?” Zil quickly turned and walked on in.

“That actually worked?” both a stunned Big Mac and Aura said.

“…and once you picked them all up, you put the dishes here. The dishwasher will come out and deal with them after that. Got it?” the barkeep asked Zilver.

“yeah. Yeah. I got it.” a bored Zil replied.

“good.” he tossed Zil a apron, who barely caught it. “you start right now.”

Zil waited till his new boss was out of hearing range when he groaned. “those 2 are gonna pay for this.”

Aura gave a mean chuckle as he and Big Mac walked back to the farm.

“This plan will work, right?” Aura asked. “I mean, getting a job will teach him responsibility, right?”

“I hope.” Mac replied. “and hopefully that place will change his mind too.”

“About what, Applejack and the foal?”

“yeeup. At night, it’s one of the raunchiest places in town. But during the day…”

“What, it’s a kid friendly place?”

“one of the best in town.”

Aura chortled as he looked back to the tavern. “oh, this is gonna be good.”

Zilver sighed out of boredom as he wiped down a table. He had been working there for 3 hours already but nopony had come in during those 3 hours.

“yeah, the days can be pretty slow. It’s at night where we start getting the ponies rolling in.” the barkeep explained.

“great. Then I call day shifts.”

the barkeep rolled his eyes. The door jingled open. Both looked to see Octavia and Vinyl walk in with something covered in cloth on Vinyl’s back. “Hey! If it ain’t 2 of my fave performers.” the barkeep said, sucking up. Zil rolled his eyes. “when did you 2 get back in town?”

“about a couple of days ago.” Octavia said.

Vinyl put what she was carrying on a table. “what is that?” Zil asked.

“this is our new son.” Vinyl took the cloth off to reveal a baby basket underneath with a baby inside. “our little Electronic Symphony.” she softly said, kissing him on the cheek.

“a baby?” Zil said in surprise. “who… how… I didn’t know that Filly-Foolers could get pregnant.”

“They can though fertility clinics.” Octavia said.

“but… who was pregnant? Neither of you 2 had a baby bump.”

“well, some mares don’t show pregnant bellies. Haven’t you seen that show ‘I didn’t know I was pregnant?’” Vinyl asked.

Zil raised his hooves in defeat. “ ‘nuff said.”

Octavia rolled her eyes. “listen, Motif. Me and Vinyl need to go see the Mayor for something. You mind keeping an eye on Sym for us?”

“Sure thing.” the barkeep replied.

Zil stuttered in confusion. “babababababa. Wait. Sure you want to leave your newborn here? In a tavern?”

“it’s fine, Zilver. Motif is the friendliest barkeep in the world and quite good with kids. Plus, he’s a friend of Vinyl’s father.”

A uneasy Zil wasn‘t so convinced. “oookay.”

“he’s only a week old so he shouldn’t be much trouble.” Octavia kissed her sleeping son on the head. “we’ll be back in a hour, at most.”

Vinyl and Octavia left, leaving Zilver alone with the baby. “uh… what am I supposed to do with this thing?”

Motif’s face distorted a bit. “really? You don’t know how to take care of a baby?”

“never met one before. Do they… eat meat?”

Motif’s eyes lowered a bit. “you’re kidding, right?” Zil shook his head ‘no’. “well, it’s not all that hard. Come here.” Zil shrugged and walked over. “welcome to ‘Taking Care of a Baby 101’. my name is Motif and I’ll be your instructor for the day.” Zil rolled his eyes.

The manly duo returned to Sweet Apple Acres just as Applejack started to leaving, pulling a wagon of barrels.

“where’re you going, A.J.?” Aura asked.

“taking down some cider to the Moonlight/Sunlight Tavern. They placed a big order, hence the wagon.”

“Need some help?” Big Mac asked.

“naw. I got it. This pregnancy ain’t gonna slow me down a bit.” she said with confidence. With one tug, she set off for town. “(but raising the little tyke’s gonna be a problem if Zilver doesn’t help.)” she thought to herself with some worry.

“hope she’ll be okay.” Aura said.

Big Mac gave him a glance. “Ponies aren’t tough on your planet?”

“They are but, truth be told, you guys are the first ponies I met.”

“right.” Mac chuckled. “whatever you say.”

The two walked to the barn to help Applebloom move some hay when Aura remembered something she said. “where did A.J. say where she was going?”

“I think it was called the Moonlight/Sunlight Tavern.”

“Ah.” Aura opened the doors and walked right in. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

Tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick DING!

“Zilver’s there!!” they both exclaimed in panic.

Electronic Symphony laughed as Zilver put on a puppet show for the little tyke.

“this is easier then I thought.” Zil laughed.

“Told ya.” Motif chuckled. “Sometimes being a parent is the best thing that can happen to you.”

“how do you know?” Zil asked.

“I have 2 daughters; Berry Punch and Berry Pinch.”

One of Zil‘s eyebrows lowered in confusion. “think I know where that rumor came from.” he muttered. He shrugged and went back to putting on a show for Sym.

The doors to the tavern opened up. A.J. rolled a barrel of cider up to the bar. “hey, Motif. Got your order.”

“thanks, Applejack.” Motif grabbed it and rolled it into the back.

Applejack went out to get more when she noticed Zilver entertaining Sym. “Zilver?”

Zil stopped dead when he heard that voice. He looked to her. “Un… hey, A.J. un…” he looked down to Sym and stuttered. “un… this isn’t what it looks like.”

“Really?” she angrily replied. “cause it sure does look like it to me!” she stormed on out.

“wait, Applejack.” Zilver ran after her.

Motif walked out and saw Zilver run outside. “oh, boy.” he muttered.

Applejack kicked the rest of the barrel’s off the wagon and walked in front of it when Zil ran out.

“Applejack, wait. I…” A.J. beaned him right in the face. He went down in just one blow. “guess I deserved that.”

“just be glad that’s all I’m gonna do to you!” A.J. angrily exclaimed. Zil got up and Applejack beaned him again. “Guess I had one left.” she beamed.

“okay, 1 was enough. 2 is just overkill.” Zilver groaned. He got up just as A.J. headed to the wagon. “wait, Applejack.” A.J. stopped and looked back. “I’m sorry for running out on ya. I just… panicked.”

“I take it this is the first time this happened to ya?” she asked.

“yeah. I’m not good with responsibility and I shy away from problems.”

“like me.”

“un… well… yeah.”

Applejack gave a solemn smile. “well, you were doing just find with that kid in there. And you‘re working in a bar. That‘s a responsible job.”

Zil looked back to the door and gave a slight smile. “yeah. Guess it is.” Zil thought for a moment. “listen, A.J. I want to make up for what I did.” Applejack gave him a suspicious look. “really. So, tell me what to do.”

“you really mean it?” She sternly asked. Zilver rapidly nodded ‘yes’. “then meet me at the doctor’s next week. Gonna find out if I really am pregnant or not.”

“okay. It’s a date then.” Zil said. He heard what he had just said and face-hoofed. A.J. chuckled softly.

Aura and Big Mac watched from behind a alley. They looked at each other with a faint smile. “better then nothing.” they both said.

Applejack waited in a examination room, wearing a trademark gown as all patients must wear. She still kept the Stinson, though. She looked up at a clock mounted on a wall and angrily scoffed. hoof steps came running from down from the hall.

The door opened and Zilver walked in, panting up a storm. “Sorry I’m late. Motif had me working overtime.”

If that was a excuse, it was a lame one, but A.J. went with it. “it’s okay, Zil. I’m gonna get my results in a few minutes so we got time to talk.”

Zil panted. “Okay….Okay…. Just… let me get some water first.” he walked over to the sink, grabbed a plastic cup, filled it up, and drank it down. “ho. I needed that.” he panted. He waited till he cooled down before talking again. “talk about what?”

“well, about us. Did you just sleep with me for a passing fling or…”

“…or did I love you?” he interrupted, guessing the answer. A.J. nodded. Zil crumbled up the cup and threw into the trash. “un… I have some feelings for you, but I wouldn’t call it love. I find you cute; sexy even, but love… not really.”

“that’s a shame.” A.J. sighed. “Cause I love you, Zil.”

Zil chuckled. “well, between that and the kid, I’m pretty much backed into a corner, aren’t I?”

“Yeeup.”

The door opened up and a House-looking pony walked in. Zil walked over to A.J. and held her hoof. “well, I’m afraid I got some bad news.” they both gulped in fear. “the test you took gave a false positive. You were never pregnant in the first place. I can understand if you’re disappointed.”

A.J. decided to answer for them both. “a little, but also relieved. This was truly scary for us both.”

“Yeah. Yeah it was.” a distant Zil said.

After that, the 2 relocated to a hill outside of town.

Both had expressions of confusion when they read something written out of rocks on the other side of the ‘valley’.

“ ‘you will be in my heart eternally, my one and only love?’” they both read. They looked at each other and broke out laughing.

“Someone must be really sappy.” Applejack laughed.

“no argument.” he pretended to gag.

the two sat down close to each other as they watched the sunset. Zilver lamentably sighed, catching A.J.’s attention. “Something wrong, Zil?”

“yeah.” he looked to the sappy writing. “Truth be told, I was actually looking forward to becoming a dad.”

“Really?” Applejack asked in surprise.

“yeah. Spending time with that squirt of Vinyl’s and Octavia’s changed me a bit.”

“I saw.” A.J. chuckled. “you were quite the entertainer.” Zil nervously chuckled as he scratched the back of his head.

A awkward moment fell over them as they got uncomfortable. It was Zil that broke the silence. “um… listen, A.J.” Applejack looked over to him. “Un… if you don’t have a date for Hearts and Hooves next week, I was thinking that… maybe, that you’d want to go…”

A.J. shut him up with a peck on the cheek, making him turn a dark shade of red. “of course, Zilver.”

Zil smiled. A.J. snuggled up next to him. He just sat back. They watched the sun set on one tough chapter of both their lives, hoping the dawn will bring a better one.

i tried cutting Twilight and Halo out but it always came out awkward. just remember that Applejack and Zilver are on the right.