Winter Blossom and Apple Bite ran wildly through the rows of apple trees as Apple Bloom followed them. The older Apple smiled while the foals ran in circles around her, as images of herself running around with her friends flashed before her eyes.
Cadence followed Applejack back home. Just like the Library, the earth pony house was exactly the same as always, only the evidence of new painting jobs betrayed the changes; it gleamed under the sun that hung high in the sky. As the orange mare opened the door; the capitvating smell of baked pastries, fruits and other delicacies soon hit Cadence's nose, making her close her eyes momentarily to take it all in. Accompanying the pleasing smell, the wind carried the singing of a familiar voice. She entered the house, which had the same receiving air as always
They headed towards the kitchen. Upon entering that room, the first thing to notice was a portrait of Granny Smith hanging in the wall opposite to the door, next to a cabinet housing kitchen tools. In the wall adjacent to it, a cream colored earth pony mare with a pink and blue tail had her head stuck into the oven. Her voice came muffled, obviously she held a recipient in her mouth.
"Applejack, Apple Bloom, can you help me and set the table? I've got my hooves full with all this food here."
Cadence giggled, while Applejack chuckled. "Sure, Sugarcube." She turned to Cadence. "Come here, hon, we've gotta get that fast."
They walked towards the large dining table and set up a hoof sewn mantel, dishes and cutlery around the table, Applejack counting all the heads to make sure everypony had a seat. When it was finally ready, both mares turned their heads back at the sound of a spoon falling. Bon Bon held her mouth open, looking at Cadence in shock.
"Cadence! Why didn't you tell us you'd be coming? I would've prepared things better... Oh, nevermind, we'll fix it up easily."
Bon Bon recovered from the surprise and walked forward to meet Cadence, enveloping her in a sweet hug. Once they broke apart she looked around.
"But where is Winter Blossom? You surely didn't come alone, did you?"
"She's out there with Apple Bite and Apple Bloom. They should be back any moment."
Bon Bon nodded and looked towards the table. "I suppose we'll need a couple more seats at the table. Applejack, can you bring them? Cadence, please help me over here."
Cadence followed her, smiling while she observed one of the newest Apple family members hard at work in front of her. Soon after, everything was set; Bon Bon called out from the kitchen window.
Winter Blossom and Apple Bite entered the house in a rush, herded by Apple Bloom. The eager colt sat instantly at the table, but was met with a glance from his mother.
"Go and wash your hooves with your cousin right now, Apple Bite."
He smiled sheepishly and as they both hurried towards the bathroom, Big Mac entered the house. Cadence waved at him.
"Have you been doing fine, Big Macintosh?"
The red stallion demeanor was still the same as always. He dedicated the briefest of looks to Cadence and opened his mouth.
"Eeyup."
She smiled, already accustomed to his silent ways. She noticed Bon Bon's peaceful smile when looking towards him, including the bright shine in her pupils; his own face didn't seem to change in the slightest, but she could feel how he reciprocated her emotions: it was very strong, despite all their subtlety.
After the requisite prayer for Granny Smith, the foals went to Apple Bite's room for a nap. Cadence helped Bon Bon with the kitchen while the others returned to their duties. She looked at the housemare the whole time, going from here to there.
"I'd like two dozens of Pink Ladies, please." Bon Bon smiled as she came to the front of the Apple family selling booth, in a ritual that was repeated very often. She looked to the attractive stallion standing behind the counter.
"Well, Big Mac, ya heard the lady, get goin' and bring them apples here for her!" Applejack's authoritative voice made the big red stallion turn back and rummage between the apple filled bushels. Bon Bon just looked incredulously at Applejack, and she blinked, but she could've sworn the farm mare had winked at her. Finally Macintosh returned with the requested apples and filled her basket with them. She blinked once more, paid them and trotted hurriedly out of there, with her heart beating wildly as if she had just participated on a frantic race; her cheeks were red and puffing as she stopped, taking a breath. She looked behind her, seeing the long line that went in front of the apple selling booth. She knew also that a lot of mares would be making eyes to Big Mac -a couple of stallions would also try to gain Applejack's attention-, but it was to no avail, as the Apple siblings were a couple of earth ponies even more married to their jobs than regular earth ponies. She turned her head around and headed back home while thinking of the upcoming Hearts and Hooves day. She opened the door, only to find the inside of the house as the usual mess Lyra left before leaving.
She had a nice unicorn for a housemate, but the musician was rarely at their shared apartment, and when she was, she made everything a disaster. She always managed to congratulate herself to Bon Bon when she was around, though, and paid the rent with the accuracy of a well maintained clock. She trotted to the kitchen, leaving the apples over the table in the middle of the room, and proceeded to clean the house thoroughly, before opening her small confections business.
Bon Bon wiped the last dish with a dry cloth and Cadence floated it towards the cupboard. The earth pony smiled warmly to her.
"Well, I've got to go to the house and work on the business. You're going to Ponyville, right?"
"Yes, I need to talk to Pinkie Pie. Let's go?" asked Cadence, receiving a nod. Soon they were crossing the farm's main gate to take the path to the village. The first steps were taken with silence between the two mares, until finally Cadence spoke.
"You are still happy after these years, right?" asked the Princess of love, looking at the mare walking by her side with curiosity. Bon Bon didn't turn to look at her, but a small smile formed at her lips, and she answered with a soft, but firm voice.
"You know that I am, and I will be. I have everything I could ask for."
Cadence smiled as well. "I'm glad of that." She looked to the front briefly, as they reached the peak of the hill and began descending, looking once more to her companion.
"And how's Applejack been doing?" The curiosity returned to her face.
Bon Bon didn't turn to look at her. "She's the same as always. Bullheaded, she works restlessly and says there's not need for such things as of now. She isn't averse to the idea of having foals to perpetuate the family, but she isn't all that concerned for it. And the same can be said of the others, though you know that already."
Finally, the earth pony's blue eyes came to lock into hers, as they were halfway down the slope. "You're still set on it."
"Of course. Who would I be if not, then?" asked Cadence with total seriousness in her voice, matched by her expression. Bon Bon let out a small chuckle.
"I'm sure Canterlot and other big cities are very complicated places...," said Bon Bon in a low tone, pensively, as they approached the bottom of the hill.
She passed the comb through her mane once again. Every single hair was properly kept down. Her mane and tail shone brightly. She had been at them for the best of an hour. She picked the small, pink hair clip and put it in the blue section of her hair, looking at the mirror. She smiled at herself, trying to ease her mind. She didn't wear any dress, as she didn't want to appear overly eager, but her hair spoke all by itself. Giving herself a last glance over the mirror, she went out. She refrained herself from biting her lips in nervousness, as she feared she might overdo it and leave a mark on them. Everything had to be perfect.
She did not realize when her hooves had brought her in front of the line, as she found herself in his presence. The evening sun radiated in his golden hair, and his bright green eyes looked straight into hers. She suddenly felt the heat coursing through her whole body. Her throat seemed to have been sucked dry of any moisture, and she opened her lips, but no sound came out. The stallion in front of her just looked at her -she was sure his sister was by his side, but she couldn't break apart from his sight- and was about to open his mouth when she beat him to the punch.
"Macintosh, I want to go with you to the Hearts and Hooves day celebration," she said in a dry tone, somehow managing to avoid hurrying out her words, that went out and hit the air like a fist. Big Macintosh played around with the stick of hay held in his mouth, his expression seemingly unchanging. She couldn't wait anymore for a answer that didn't seem to come forth, and raised her leg, when his voice came out deep and clear.
"Eeyup."
"But haven't you considered that, probably, it isn't that big of a deal for everypony?"
Cadence's lower jaw was almost dislocated, the princess having opened her mouth quite widely.
"Of course it is! We're talking about love here, one of, if not the most important force in all of Equestria! I think that you of all ponies, understand it, don't you?"
Bon Bon turned to look at the front again. "Yes, I understand." She paused briefly. "Is not that I wouldn't like that for them. I see Applejack can get quite overwhelmed sometimes, but ever since Granny Smith passed away, she's been at it quite hard, everyday.
As for the others, I'm not really very well acquainted with them, with the exception of Fluttershy, but she's not your goal, right?" Bon Bon smiled softly at the princess, whose mind was working full machine at that time. They entered Ponvyille in silence, separating at the park. Cadence kept walking, until she found the familiar bakery. She looked at the door of Pinkie's candy empire.
"I will definitely do this."
She pushed the door open.