A/N: I know, I'm sorry, I don't wanna have to put an author's note, but I just need to explain about the holiday: This story contains a holiday called Hearts and Soul's Day. I wrote the outline to this story before the announcement of Heart and Hoove's Day. The holiday is central to the story, and until Heart and Hoove's Day is aired, I will keep it as it is. Might change it after the episode airs. Just be aware of non-canon-ness. (But really, how concerned with canon should I be when I'm shipping every character? Heh.)
Chapter 1 – Sunrise
Sunrise
Applejack took a deep breath as she opened her eyes. She stretched, rolled out of bed, fixed the sheets, and ambled to the bathroom to get ready for the day. After that, Applejack trotted over to Apple Bloom's room. Opening the door, she wasn't surprised to see the little filly still asleep. Like a proud mother, Applejack watched her little sister sleeping for a few moments, wondering if she should even bother waking her up that morning. But she knew from experience how grumpy the little filly could get if Applejack didn't keep her sleep schedule consistent through each day, so reluctantly, she nudged the sleeping form.
"Up and at 'em, Apple Bloom," Applejack said softly, pulling back the filly's covers. "Time to get up."
Apple Bloom groaned, curling up after the warmth of her blankets had been removed. "Few more minutes?"
"Now, come on," Applejack said, nudging the filly before opening the drapes and letting the rising sun shine in. "Time to get ready for sch—er, I mean, the day."
Apple Bloom sat upright in her bed, eyes half lidded, taking in what her sister had said before becoming fully aware. Her eyes shot open, the look of exhaustion replaced by that of annoyance. "Aw, Applejack!" The filly said, grabbing her blankets and curling up in her warm bed again. "It's Heart and Soul's Day! We don't even have school! Why do Ah have to get up?"
"Because Ah have to deal with you when you can't sleep at night from getting up so late," Applejack said, pulling back her sibling's covers again. "And then Ah have to put up with yer whinin' all day when you don't get enough sleep. So Ah'm sayin' it's time fer you to get up." With a final nudge to the little filly, Apple Bloom groaned.
"FINE!" she said, getting up in a huff and stomping her hooves as she went to the hallway. She muttered, "When Ah'm an adult, Ah'm leavin' so Ah can get up whatever time Ah want."
"Alright, Apple Bloom," Applejack said, shaking her head, as she fixed the covers on the bed. Fillies! So cute when their was asleep, and then THAT.
As Applejack walked down the stairs, she could smell breakfast being made by Granny Smith. 'That ol' mare sure do get up early to spend the rest of the day sleepin',' Applejack thought to herself. Once downstairs, she greeted her grandmother and her brother with her typical, "Mornin', ya'll," before she helped them set up the table.
A typical morning in the Apple family home: Applejack and Big Macintosh went over what needed to be done for the day on top of their everyday duties. Sometimes they discussed Apple Bloom before she came downstairs, like how she was doing in her studies and how she's progressing in helping to run the farm. Granny Smith would talk about how things were done in the old days while doing her part to make breakfast, if not outright making the entire meal when it was her day, or help plan out any big harvests or sales that were coming up. Then Apple Bloom would come downstairs, bright eyed and bushy tailed, usually talking about what they were going to do in school or with the other 'Cutie Mark Crusaders.'
Today, however, there was a little more electricity in the air. Being a festival day, this usually meant a big day for sales. "Gotta make deliveries this mornin'," Applejack said. "The Cakes are lookin' forward to making some real nice pastries to sell for today. And we gotta go to market with our own baked goods. Ah s'pose Ah could get started on makin' what we need for today while you make the deliveries, and…" Applejack looked at the three members of her family only to see they were staring at her. "…what?"
"Applejack!" Apple Bloom said. "You said you were gunna take it easy this next holiday after workin' so hard over Hearth's Warmin' Eve!"
"Eeyup," Big Macintosh agreed with a nod.
"Ah do recall, yes, you did say that," Granny Smith said, closing her eyes and nodding in agreement.
Great. Even Granny Smith agreed with that statement. "Well, Ah can't just take a day off," Applejack defended. "This is a FARM. If we all don't do our part, how in the hay is it gunna run?"
Big Macintosh answered, "One day off won't harm no pony."
"And one day workin' won't harm me none, either," Applejack said, frowning. "What is with y'all? It ain't like Ah don't always get annoyed after a hard holiday season. Ah just said that cause Ah was frustrated."
"Yeah, but Applejack," Apple Bloom said, "You've been workin' so hard since then! You hardly even hang out with your friends anymore!"
"An' it's makin' you grumpy," Big Macintosh finished.
Everypony at the table nodded in agreement.
"HOW exactly have Ah been grumpy?" Applejack asked, her frown increasing.
"Well," Big Macintosh said. "Right now, yer gettin' grumpy." Again, everypony nodded.
"You were just tellin' me this mornin'," Apple Bloom began, "That you have to put up with me when Ah don't get enough sleep, but we have to put up with you when you don't…you know…relax."
"Oh, Ah was just tryin' to get you to get up," Applejack said, though the look on her face gave away that she was trying to play off how she felt about her sister sleeping in.
Big Macintosh pushed his plate aside and looked to Applejack. "We've been doin' fine with sales. The deliveries today will more than cover expenses. Granny Smith has already offered to make pasteries today. Apple Bloom will help her out – it's time she learned, anyhow. We all want you to enjoy the holiday."
Applejack's eyes went wide. Enjoy the holiday? Her? With all the work that needed to be done on the farm? She didn't find the idea of sitting around with so many things that needed to be done left in the hooves of her family in any way relaxing. "And what in the name of Princess Celestia do you expect me to do while y'all are workin' hard? Take a spa day?" Apple Bloom giggled at the idea.
"Go hang out with your friends," Big Macintosh said. "Take Winona for a run. She needs the attention. Enjoy the festival tonight. But we don't want to see you workin' today."
Applejack sighed, looking at Big Macintosh with as forceful a stare as she could give. "Now, you listen to me, Big Macintosh. Ah don't want to just sit around and do nothin' productive. Ah'm gunna go and make my pasteries and sell mah apples and do mah work on the farm, and there ain't nothin' you can do about it!"
After having been kicked off of the farm until she agreed to take the day off, Applejack walked around Ponyville with a dark cloud over her head. Not a literal one, but surely if there were, it would be raining on her right at that moment. She wasn't even sure where she could go. It was just after sunrise, who would be awake at this hour?
As though to answer her question, Applejack noticed the lights on in the Carousel Boutique. Curious, Applejack trotted up to the door, which had a 'closed' sign hanging from it. But she could clearly hear somepony running around inside, muttering to herself.
Applejack knocked on the door. "We're closed!" Rarity yelled to the door, before a loud, "OW!" could be heard.
"Y'alright in there, Rarity?"
Applejack heard something being knocked over, and what sounded like trotting to the door. When the door opened, a frazzled and sleep-deprived Rarity greeted her. "APPLEJACK! I am SO glad to see you! Come in, come in!"
Applejack cautiously walked inside, seeing bolts of fabric, ribbons, thread, and dress forms spread haphazardly throughout the boutique. The unicorn closed the door behind the earth mare. "Rarity," said the earth pony, "What in the hay happened here?"
"Oh, Applejack," Rarity said as she raced around the room, picking up bolts of fabric and thread with her magic and racing them over to other parts of the room. "I have been up all night trying to finish this dress I promised for a VERY important client in Canterlot. She needs it ready for this afternoon, no later, for the festival tonight. I have been so swamped at work, but I couldn't say no! This could mean big business for the boutique!" Rarity sat at her sewing machine, sewing up a cobalt blue fabric. Next to her was a gown regal enough to be worn at the Grand Galloping Gala.
"Rarity," Applejack said, stepping over the mess to walk up to the mare, "Ya couldn'ta started earlier?"
"Don't you think I would have tried?" Rarity nearly barked at Applejack. "She is a VERY difficult client, and this isn't the first time she's ordered a dress from me last minute. If she didn't have the connections she does in Canterlot, I would have dropped her like…like…like something that needs to be dropped quickly!"
"A bad habit?" Applejack finished.
"Yes! Oh, I'm so tired, I wouldn't know how to finish…"
"A sentence?"
"Yes…" Rarity stopped her frenzied sewing to let out a sigh. She put on her red glasses and rethreaded the sewing machine. "I don't think I'll get any of my other orders finished for the week without pulling two more all nighters. But after that, I have some time off. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm taking time off if I have to stick a rabid manticore at my door to keep customers away! Oh, some time at the spa would be wonderful right now!"
"Oh," Applejack said. "Well, maybe Ah should get outta your mane…" She started backing up.
"No! Applejack!" Rarity dropped what she was doing and turned to the earth pony, putting her hooves on the other's shoulders. "My parents wanted to go to Manehatten for the Heart and Soul's Celebration tonight, so I have to watch Sweetie Belle. But I can't, I simply CAN'T, when I need to do the final fitting in Canterlot!"
Applejack looked at Rarity, giving her a quizzical look. "Well, just come out and say it, then. Ya want me to take Sweetie Belle for the day?"
"If you can," Rarity said. "I know I'm asking a lot. You have so much to do for today, as well, but at least if she is with Apple Bloom, she'll be entertained."
"Well, it works out, Rarity," Applejack said. "The family wants me to take some time off for the festival."
"And YOU said yes?" Rarity asked, now giving Applejack a quizzical look.
"No," Applejack said, looking away, annoyed at what had transpired that morning. "But at least now Ah have an excuse to go back onto the farm." Rarity hugged the earth pony.
"You have no idea how happy you've made me! After I'm done with all my orders, I might just have to make you something fetching, darling!" She went back to her sewing machine, smiling with satisfaction despite how tired she appeared.
"You don't gotta make me anythin', Rarity," Applejack said. "Now…do ya need any help?" Not working on the farm was already starting to drive her crazy.
"No," chimed Rarity's voice as she pulled up the item she was sewing and attached it to the dress, using magic to stitch everything together. At this, Applejack frowned.
Twilight Sparkle was up bright and early, packing a few items in her saddle bag – just a few necessities, like her books: The History of Pony Holidays from A to Z, and How to Make the Most of Your Day Off. She debated whether or not to wear some festive clothing, but thought better of it, before heading back upstairs. Spike had refused to get up early. Now he was fast asleep again, sprawled out in his basket, snoring lightly as Twilight Sparkle scanned the room for anything she might have missed. Satisfied that everything was fine, the unicorn used her magic to tuck Spike in to his basket before heading down the stairs and out the library.
She had to admit, she was excited for the Heart and Soul's Festival the town was going to put on. The year before, she had so much fun with her friends. They had a picnic during the day, and enjoyed the festivities that night as a group. But trying to get her friends together again this year proved to be near impossible. She managed to get Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie for a get together, but Rarity and Applejack had been swamped with work. Rainbow Dash had been missing in action, and the unicorn hadn't had a chance to invite her.
Still, with all the preparations and the excitement for the night's events, she was really looking forward to spending some time with at least some of her friends, if not all. Maybe by the end of the day, she could round up the other three and they could spend time together.
With this goal in mind, Twilight Sparkle trotted towards Sugar Cube Corner. The bakery was going to be open early, and the unicorn promised to help out with stocking the store while the Cakes were busy baking. It was a chance to help out, since the Cakes would be busy that day, as well as talk to Pinkie Pie about their plans, and possibly see some of her friends on a somewhat hectic, but very happy day.
As she walked across Ponyville, the sun rising slowly into the sky, a few early morning vendors were beginning to set up. The streets were being lined with floral decorations. Twilight Sparkle gave a friendly nod to Rose, who was busy spreading rose petals alongside the dirt roads. She knew how much work the pony had put into preparing for this day, and though the mare looked tired, she seemed satisfied that her roses would be so important on such a joyous holiday.
Making her way to Sugar Cube Corner, Twilight Sparkle knocked on the door. After a small wait, Pinkie Pie peeked out of the door, before her face broke into a huge smile. "Twilight! You're here bright and early!" Moving to the side to let the unicorn in, the pink pony was so excited, she was practically buzzing. "We're busy, busy, busy here, as you can tell," she said as she closed the door and walked the unicorn into the store. Twilight Sparkle saw the babies, Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake, in color coordinated diapers, cooing in the corner as they played a game that only made sense to them. Every movement the other baby made caused the two to fall into a fit of giggles. When the giggles subsided, the other baby would move, and the giggles would ensue all over again.
"Over here, we have set up the cookies and cupcakes," Pinkie Pie went on, taking a cupcake, tossing it in the air, catching it in her mouth, and eating it with gusto. "Mmm! Just right! And over here are the cakes! The food, not the ponies. And here are the pasteries, like streusels and muffins and tarts, and all those good things! And we even have a candy section this year!" Pinkie Pie stood proudly by the set up. "I did it myself! Isn't it great? And back here," said the mare, opening the swinging doors. "Is where all the magic happens!"
Mrs. Cake was carrying a tray of sugar cookies from the oven to the decorating table while Mr. Cake looked over, setting down his piping bag. "Good morning, Twilight," he said. "Thank you again for helping out today. Between the babies and the business, we just can't keep up on a holiday like this anymore! You have no idea how much this helps out."
"It's no problem, Mr. Cake," said the unicorn. "I enjoy the chance to try out new things, especially when it's to help out a good friend." She smiled to Pinkie Pie.
Mrs. Cake set down the cookies, "Oh, dear, no one's watching the babies," she said, before trotting out the swinging doors. "And thank you, Twilight!" she called from behind the doors.
"No problem!"
"Certainly not!" Pinkie Pie said. "Because we're putting you on boxing and stocking duties!" To Mr. Cake, she said, "Trust me, no pony is more organized than Twilight, here!"
"I'm glad to hear it," Mr. Cake said, picking up his piping bag and resuming his work.
Pinkie Pie walked the unicorn through the order fulfillment and stocking process, and Twilight Sparkle went right to it. The work environment was fast paced and chaotic, between Pinkie Pie being herself, the Cakes running back and forth, and the babies constantly needing attention. But the unicorn enjoyed the challenge.
While putting orders in boxes in the back room, there was a knock on the back door. Twilight Sparkle looked around, but she was the only one there at the time. "Twilight!" Pinkie Pie said, sounding strained. "Can you get that?" Curious as to why her friend sounded odd, the unicorn used her magic to open the swinging doors. Pumpkin Cake was chewing on Pinkie Pie's hair, while Pound Cake had the mare in a head lock. "It must be Applejack with the apples," Pinkie Pie continued, jerking backwards, trying to get away from the babies' grips.
"Uh, are you okay?" asked the unicorn.
"Oh, they do this all the time!" Pinkie Pie said. Then, Pound Cake let go of Pinkie Pie and started pounding on her head. "Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. MRS. CAKE!"
"Oh, dear!" The baker said, shuffling over to the babies. "You stop that right now, Pound Cake."
"I'll just go get the door," Twilight Sparkle said. The swinging doors swung closed just as Mrs. Cake was trying to pry the babies off of Pinkie Pie.
Opening the back door, the unicorn stepped back in surprise. Having expected to see Applejack at the door, she was instead greeted with the large frame of the earth pony's older brother. "Big Macintosh!" said the mare, smiling. "Good Morning! Happy Heart and Soul's Day!"
The red earth pony seemed slightly perplexed at having been greeted by the librarian and not one of the three bakers who ran Sugar Cube Corner. He even stepped back to look at the sign to make sure he was at the right place. "Er…hello, Miss Twilight."
"I'm helping out for the holiday," she explained. "The Cakes and Pinkie are a little tied up right now. So! You brought apples?" The earth pony nodded, before taking off his harness and moving to the side of his apple cart. He took out a bushel of apples, placed it on his back and walked inside.
"Where do ya want 'em?" he asked.
"Oh, uh…I don't know," she said. "Just right there is fine, I guess." As he was putting the bushel down by the table the mare had indicated, Twilight Sparkle noticed something in the stallion's collar. "You look very festive, by the way," said the unicorn.
Big Macintosh looked back at Twilight Sparkle, giving her a puzzled look.
"You have flowers on your collar," she said.
Not being around the earth pony much, Twilight Sparkle was surprised to see the stallion go so wide-eyed. His demeanor was usually so calm and collected, save for a spell changing his behavior. The mare pushed that thought out of her head. Both times she could think of where Big Macintosh was under a spell, she would prefer not to think about. Instead, she watched with some stifled amusement as the earth pony tried to crane his neck and twist his body to see the flowers. When a small laugh escaped, the stallion looked back at Twilight Sparkle, and frowned.
"Here, let me get that for you," she said, walking up to him, balancing herself against his side as she stood on her hind legs and took the flowers off with her mouth. "See?" said the unicorn, showing the stallion a rose and some carnations tied together with a red ribbon.
Big Macintosh looked at the flowers, before frowning. "Apple Bloom…"
"You didn't know she put them on you?" Twilight Sparkle asked, flowers still in her mouth.
"She hugged me before Ah left," he said. "Ah shoulda known…"
Just then, Pinkie Pie came through the door, and upon seeing the two ponies, stopped cold. Then, after a moment of registering what she saw, she smiled broadly. "I didn't know you two were spending the holiday together!" she said, hopping up and down in amusement. "This is SOO great! You'll be Applejack's sister-in-law if you two get married!"
"WHAT?" Twilight Sparkle said, slightly muffled by the flowers in her mouth. She turned beat red. Glancing at Big Macintosh, the stallion once again had a look of shock on his face, before taking two steps away from the unicorn. "PINKIE!" Twilight Sparkle used her magic to take the flowers out of her mouth. "Why would you say that! He was just delivering apples!"
"Well…then why were you giving him flowers?" asked the pink earth pony.
"Wha-I…" Twilight Sparkle looked at the flowers she was holding up, before letting them fall to the floor. "No, no, no, Pinkie, you've got it all wrong. He had the flowers, not me."
"So he was giving you flowers!" Pinkie Pie said, smiling again. "That is so sweet! I wish some pony would give me flowers!"
"Oh, my gosh," Twilight Sparkle said, bowing her head and shutting her eyes. "Pinkie, he had the flowers on him and he didn't know it! I was just taking them off! There is no marriage involved!" She stamped her hoof to make a point.
Pinkie Pie pouted. "But if there was a marriage, then I could plan the party. It would be a wedding no pony would ever forget! I can picture it now-!"
"Uh," Big Macintosh said, interrupting Pinkie Pie before she went into a long-ended description of their fictitious wedding party. "Ah should go. The payment?"
"Oh! I'll go get it from Mr. Cake," Pinkie Pie said. As she turned to trot happily out the swinging doors, she chimed, "Now don't do anything naughty while I'm gone! There ARE babies in the next room, after all." And then the doors swung closed.
Twilight Sparkle stared at the doors, glaring in anger. She would expect this type of behavior from Rarity, but not from Pinkie Pie. Well, okay, Pinkie Pie being inappropriate was not beyond reason, but the mare rarely commented on matters of the heart. Still, the pink mare was probably deeply immersed in the spirit of the holiday for her to make such an assumption of the two ponies.
"Um," said the unicorn, giving a side long look to the stallion. He looked like he had just witnessed something that he couldn't believe. And seeing as he did not often have to deal with Pinkie Pie, he probably did. "That's just how she is. Excuse her."
"Eeyup." Still, he didn't look at Twilight Sparkle. An awkward silence hung in the air until Pinkie Pie came back in with the payment.
"Here you go!" she said with a sing song voice. "Now, I'll leave you two alone to say your goodbyes!" Then her voice turned serious as she pointed a hoof at the two ponies. "Just remember – chocolate is the most romantic of foods in the world. You don't mess around with chocolate and love. Especially when you're surrounded by it!" Humming a merry tune, Pinkie Pie skipped out of the room.
"I don't even…" Twilight Sparkle said, her eye twitching, as she stared at the doors. Then she sighed. She was an adult. She shouldn't let some teasing get in the way of having an adult conversation with a stallion. Turning to Big Macintosh, who was putting away the bits in his saddle bag, she gave the best smile she could muster. "I'm sorry about that. She's just being Pinkie."
"Eeyup," he said again, turning back towards the mare, though not looking at her. He walked towards her, causing the mare to take a few steps back involuntarily. Then he picked up the fallen flowers, and bit off one of the red carnations. He looked to Twilight Sparkle, and raised an eyebrow. "May Ah?"
"Uh…sure," she said, not knowing what he meant. Suddenly, his head was right up against hers.
All of the unicorn's muscles went stiff. She wasn't sure what was happening, but she was sure that Big Macintosh was very close to her. Her heart beat faster, wondering what was going on. A part of her expected him to lick her again, like when he was under Discord's spell. But then, he pulled away, and Twilight Sparkle could see something out of the corner of her left eye. He had put the carnation in her mane.
"It'd be a shame to let them flowers go t'waste," he said, placing the rest of the flowers on the counter. "Have a good holiday, Miss Twilight." And with that, the red earth pony turned, ambled out the door, closing it behind him.
Twilight Sparkle stood there a moment, and she could feel her face had turned red. It didn't take long for her to snap out of it when she turned to see Pinkie Pie peeking in from the open space under the swinging door. She was smiling broadly, and when Twilight Sparkle's eyes fell on her, she couldn't hold back her excitement. "THIS IS SO EXCITING!" she screamed.
"Pinkie!"
Twilight Sparkle threw herself into the work she had been assigned – placing orders in boxes – while trying to forget the incident that happened earlier. Of course, it was rather difficult, seeing as Pinkie Pie wouldn't shut up about it, despite the unicorn's protests. The pink earth pony was being so grating about it, that Mr. Cake even had to step in and ask Pinkie Pie to stop, lest she scare away their only extra helper for the day. With an, "Okie Dokie Loki!" the mare finally stopped, and allowed the unicorn to get back to work.
Pushing those thoughts aside, she concentrated on placing an order of red and pink frosted sugar cookies into a box. While looking at the names on the order form, she noticed a familiar name down the list. She pushed the finished order to the side and looked at the name on the list closer.
"Hey, Pinkie!" the unicorn called. Pinkie Pie was in front, setting up the display cases. When she came through the swinging doors, she had frosting on her nose, and Twilight Sparkle recognized the green frosting from a small cake Mrs. Cake had just put out.
"Yes, Twilight?" She batted her eyes at the mare, obviously expecting the unicorn to bring up the incident earlier.
Twilight Sparkle used her magic to lift the list up to Pinkie Pie's face. "What's Rainbow Dash's name doing on the order's list?"
Pinkie Pie's smile faltered for a moment, before she replaced it with an even broader smile, but Twilight Sparkle could see the panic in her eyes. "Oh! That! Well…she has plans for today…"
"Plans?" asked the unicorn. "That she would need to order…" the unicorn looked at the list again, "Four apple tarts for?" Then as the unicorn looked more at the special order description, she frowned. "In the shape of hearts?"
"Well, it IS Heart and Soul's Festival, silly!" Pinkie Pie said, taking the list from the unicorn in her mouth and placing it down. "She's just trying to be festive!"
"Rainbow Dash?" Twilight Sparkle asked, raising an eyebrow. "Getting festive over a day that celebrates love? Hearths Warming Eve, I understand, but love?"
"Well, I don't ask 'em! I just sell 'em!" Pinkie Pie said, smiling nervously. "So! Back to work! Ooohh!" Pinkie Pie caught a glimpse of the cookies that Twilight Sparkle was working on, but as she leaned across the work bench to grab some, the unicorn lifted the box up beyond her reach. Pinkie Pie frowned with a huff.
At the train station, Applejack helped Rarity with her supplies – The unicorn had the dress, the earth pony had the accessories in a bag. The white mare loaded her items onto the train, before leaning out the window. "If you would be a dear and pick up Sweetie Belle within the next hour? My parents will be leaving around then. Thank you so much, Applejack! Ta-ta!" The mare closed the window without the earth pony having time to say anything.
The morning sun had risen into the sky enough that the town was mostly awake, and Applejack sighed in defeat at having lost so much work time because of her family. Resigned to having to spend the day "relaxing", the mare trotted back towards town, wondering what she was going to do with herself.
