"Huh?"

Applebloom dropped the apple buckets from her back. She cautiously glanced around the tree she was working on to investigate the quiet plop she just heard. From the faint sound the object drew, Applebloom guessed it wasn't an apple and was probably much lighter than one. Applebloom was surprised she heard a sound that low in volume, but then again, Applebloom seemed to have better hearing than most fillies her age. Applebloom didn't necessarily know why exactly, she just guessed it had to do with her farm upbringing. That usually explained it.

At first, she did not see it. The grass was growing tall this year, and Applebloom often had trouble finding pens and bits in the stuff. After closer inspection, however, she finally spotted a small area of grass where the leaves seemed to bend from holding the weight of a solid object. What made this area so interesting to Applebloom was that it was located directly under Celestia's sun, which meant that the object couldn't have been an apple, unless the apple rolled down from a tree which the yellow filly doubted.

'Ah wonder what that thing can be. Maybe a bird? Something from a pegasus? Well, there's only one way to find out.' Carefully, Applebloom began to creep towards the unidentifiable object that lay only feet ahead of her, her excitement, and irrational fear, brimming.

As she got closer to the object, she spotted what for a second she thought was claws, which caused her to stop moving and start breaking into a cold sweat. After she forced herself to continue pressing forward, Applebloom saw they were just metal spirals connected to a slightly larger rectangular object. Finally, when Applebloom was close enough to get a good view of the thing, she sighed a breath of relief.

It was just a purple spiral notebook, nothing special about it all. Nothing really seemed off about it, just something a Pegasus probably dropped from their saddlebags on their way home. Though there were large black letters located on the purple cover, and Applebloom repositioned herself around the book to read them.

The filly gingerly picked up the notebook with her hooves, and read out loud, 'The Book Of Appledash: The Guide to Forming a True Pairing with the Ponies Rainbow Dash and Applejack.'

Applebloom froze, causing the notebook to fall forward from her hooves, landing letter side up on the tall, green grass. 'Why does this book mention my sister? And Rainbow? Is somepony her pulling my leg?' Applebloom looked around her farm, but only saw green-red apple trees ripe for the picking. 'Maybe there's somepony hiding behind one of these here trees. Maybe Sweetie or Scoots or something. This would be their style of a prank. Lousy prank includin' my sister in it.'

"This ain't funny!" Applebloom called out to the apples, shaking her hoof for emphasis. Yet nothing but the gentle October breeze seemed to respond to her outbursts. Lowering her hoof, she looked back down at the notebook, and thoughts of rage and betrayal were quickly replaced with those of curiosity.

What was in that notebook? Did it truly contain a guide to romance, specifically the romance of her sister and Rainbow Dash? She never really spotted anything going on between the two mares, yet she seemed to lack certain realizations when it came to love. That Hearths and Hooves Day disaster certainly came to mind. The only time Applebloom ever truly learned about romance was from those comedic renditions of Rarity's sappy romance that Sweetie Belle mocked at the CMC Official Sleepovers. Maybe, just maybe, this book could give her some pointers. Just because the young Apple wasn't too knowledgeable about romance didn't mean she didn't care about impressing the colts at the Ponyville schoolhouse.

Applebloom also struggled to comprehend that her big sister may be gay. Now obviously, Applebloom had no problem with lesbian relationships. Same-sex relationships were just a natural part of society in Equestria, especially in Ponyville. But Rainbow Dash and Applejack behaved like stallions so much Applebloom like to joke they were stallions stuck in a mare's body. Maybe it was a case of opposites attract. Would the book tell her that? Could the book contain answers to all of her lesbian centered questions?

Even as her mind argued with herself to leave the stupid book alone, Applebloom saw her hoof extending towards the fallen notebook, determined to read it's contents.

"APPLEBLOOM! SOUPS READY! COME ON BACK TO THE HOUSE FOR SOME LUNCH!"

Applebloom's hooves jolted back up and instinctively trotted towards the house. She made it past the tree she was working on until the distraction before stopping. She looked back over towards the general direction of the book. Even though she couldn't see it, she could still feel it's allure calling to her curiosity. Why couldn't she take just it? It would only be as an experiment to prove it's legitimacy. What's the harm in that. She'd be like Twilight Sparkle. She was always experimenting with new and exciting things when she first came to Ponyville, and now she was a princess. So what if it was dropped by a passing pegasus? If they really cared about it so much, they should have taken better care of it.

Applebloom stomped her hoof on the ground. "Oh Tartarus, fine!" she cursed. She quickly trotted back to the flat plain of grass where the notebook dropped and picked it up with her mouth. Turning back around, she trotted back to the apple barrels and began to haphazardly shove the book into the piles of multi-colored apples. This book needed to avoid the detection of Applejack. There was NO WAY that would turn into anything other than a disaster.

"This purpose of this book is to help initiate the romantic pairing between the mares Appledash and Rainbow Dash. The rules of the book are the following:

"1- The following steps will start on the next page. Once the step is completed, it will be crossed out and the next step will appear. There can be no skipping steps, the steps must be completed in order. There are no time limit to complete the steps unless specified otherwise. The steps will mostly involve some form of participation to achieve romantic success.

"That concludes the rule of the notebook. Don't screw up. Don't know how you could really mess it up, just follow the steps you silly filli- I-I mean random mares who found this book. Or stallions!"

Scootaloo looked up from the notebook she was reading from and turned to the bed which Applebloom was laying in. "Uh, Applebloom. Those final few sentences were really weird. I'm kinda convinced somepony's pulling your hindleg here."

Applebloom raised a hoof to the ceiling. "If you think that's weird Scoots, just turn to the next page." Instead, Scootaloo closed the book and gently layed it on the floor before giving it a pat. "You know what Applebloom, I'm actually good. This is WAY too weird for me, and I have no intention of talking about this thing any- HEY, SWEETIE!"

Mid-sentence, Sweetie Belle reached over Scootaloo to grab the notebook. She was now quickly opening it again and flipping to the next page. "Sweetie, give it back!"

The unicorn filly briefly looked up from the book to address the orange pegasus. "Oh come on, you can't tell me you don't want to know what the first step is! In a potentially magical book!?"

Scootaloo stubbornly stomped her right forehoof on the ground. "Hay no. Why should I care about Rainbow Dash's personal life?" Several seconds passed. "Okay, fine, yes I do care about Rainbow Dash's personal life." Scootaloohurriedly walked over to Sweetie Belle's position on the floor of Applebloom's bedroom, and together they silently read out the single line on the 2nd page.

It was a good solid minute of silence after the two fillies read the step, and Applebloom stared at the silent ponies from her bed, waiting for a surprising response any moment. Sweetie Belle finally broke the silence by looking up from the book, her brow furrowed. "Wait, what does 'come out' mean?"

Applebloom rolled off her bed and threw her hooves in the air. "How should ah know? Ah thought you two would tell me!"

Scootaloo rubbed her forehead with both hooves, her small wings twitching on habit. "Wait, wait. Why does Applejack need to 'come out' to get this Appledash name? Stupid name by the way. Real clever, idiot."

Sweetie Belle lightly smacked Scootaloo on the back of the head before giving her own thought on the strange term. "I think Rarity said something about Lyra and Bon Bon coming out, and that was around the time their relationship became public in Ponyville. Maybe that has something to do with it?"

Applebloom walked over to Sweetie Belle and snatched the book from the floor. She then walked back near her bed and struggled to cram the spiral notebook in the unorganized, messy drawer of her nightstand. After several unsuccessful tries, she finally managed to jam the book in the drawer, and pushed the drawer back closed. She then turned back around to face the sitting Sweetie Belle.

"Alright, now we're getting somewhere, but ah still have no idea what it means!"

"OOH OOH OOH! I THINK I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS!" Scootaloo yelled, smacking Sweetie in the face with a flailing hoof. Her wings were on the fritz, flapping so fast Scootalo hovered a bit off the ground

"OW! Be careful with that hoof, will you?" the unicorn scolded, rubbing her now sore muzzle to try to rub the pain out of it.

Scootaloo stooped hovering for a bit, and a sheepish smile appeared on Scootaloo's face. "Heh heh, sorry about that Sweetie. Got a little carried away there." With the apology covered, Scootaloo turned to Applebloom, who was leaning against her mattress with her hooves crossed, excitement once again taking hold. "I think I know what 'coming out' means!"

Applebloom raised her eyebrow, intrigued. "What?"

Scoot also stood up on all fours and began to pace around the room, her wings once again flapping with a vengence. "Well think about it. Apparently, Sweetie's sister said that Lyra and Bon Bon came out when their relationship became known to all of Ponyville. This means that it can mean only one thing!"

Scootaloo stopped pacing when she was only inches away from Applebloom's face, her smile brimming with excitement. "Do you see where I'm going with this?"

Applebloom began to lean her face with Scootaloo's own, sweat forming on her brow. "Uhhhhh, nooo?"

Scootaloo took a few steps back, then jumped in the air, almost smashing her head on the wooden roof of the bedroom. Her wings were able to suspend Scootaloo in the air for a couple more seconds, enough to let out her following message: "It means it's when a pony finally decides to enter a public relationship!" Pleased with her conclusion, Scootaloo gently landed back down on the floor, eagerly anticipating Applebloom's response with big eyes and a wide smile.

Applebloom rubbed her chin with a hoof, letting the words sink in. "You know, that actually makes some sense." Scootaloo's smile widened, her pride skyrocketing."

Momentarily forgetting about her sore nose, Sweetie Belle shot up on all fours and clapped her forehooves together. "I think you're right Scootaloo. It all makes sense considering Applejack. Think Applebloom, how the public is Applebloom about her romantic life?"

Applebloom walked on over to her window, gazing out towards the many, many trees that occupied Sweet Apple Acres. Sure enough, she found Applejack working on a cluster of particularly ripe looking trees, nothing but concentration carved on her face. She always seemed to be infatuated with work and friendship. Maybe she needed convincing to pursue romance. Applebloom looked back at Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, who were both looking back at her with anticipation. "You know what girls? Ah think you have a point"

"Yes!" Scootaloo exclaimed as she pumped her fists in the air, leaving one hanging. "Give me a bump Sweetie!" Sweetie enthusiastically accepted the offer, the slap echoing across the room.

Applebloom raised a hoof to try to calm the girls down. "When should ah try to get mah sister to 'come out' then?"

"Why not tonight?" Sweetie offered.

"Tonight!?" Applebloom exclaimed, taken aback. "Why should ah do it so soon? The book said there ain't no rush to get it done, and besides, the book could still be a load of hooey, let's not forget. How do we know it will actually look."

Scootaloo raised her hand up for an answer as if that would actually accomplish anything. "Come on, Applebloom. Even if this book doesn't mean anything, there's no harm done really if you make your sister 'come out'. So why not tonight. It's not like this could get complicated or anything. What do you say." Done with her explanation, Sweetie and Scootaloo eagerly awaited Applebloom's answer.

With a reluctant sigh, the earth filly gave in. "Fine, ah'll do it."

"Yes!"

"Yes"

"But girls, you have to promise not to tell anypony else about this plan and the notebook. If anypony else were to find out about that there notebook, it would cause a whole mess of trouble. And whatever happens, we won't make this a repeat of Heart and Hooves."

The mere mention of that day caused the three to shudder. Applebloom stretched her hoof out, a wide smile on her face. "Crusader promise on three?"

"Yeah!" exclaimed the two fillies simultaneously as they joined their hooves with Applebloom's.

"One."

"Two"

"Three!"

At once the fillies all threw their outstretched hooves in the air, yelling "CUTIE MARK CRUSADER PROMISE, YEAH!"