Comet's Tale

The Show Stoppers

The warm morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the Apple family kitchen, casting a golden glow over the cozy wooden table where the family had gathered for breakfast. The smell of apple pancakes, fresh biscuits, and steaming cider filled the air as plates clinked and the usual morning chatter filled the room.

Well, mostly usual.

Apple Bloom sat at the table, idly poking at her pancakes with her fork, her expression unusually thoughtful. Normally, she'd be scarfing down her food faster than Winona chasing a squirrel, but today, she took slow, deliberate bites, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Braeburn, who had been happily munching on a buttered biscuit, took notice first. He tilted his head and nudged Apple Bloom's shoulder with his hoof.

"Somethin' on yer mind, cous?" he asked, his voice full of curiosity. "Ya ain't eatin' like ya normally do. Usually, we gotta make sure ya don't inhale the whole plate before we get a chance."

Applejack, seated across from her younger sister, paused in mid-bite of her pancake, glancing at her suspiciously. "Yeah, Apple Bloom. What's up?"

Apple Bloom took a slow sip of her apple juice, drawing out the moment. "Ah was just wonderin'..." she started, dragging her words out in a way that immediately made Applejack tense up. "What were ya doin' last night, sis?"

Big Mac and Braeburn glanced at each other, sensing something brewing. Granny Smith continued sipping her coffee, unconcerned—for now.

Applejack shot the filly a wary glance. "Feeding the pigs. Same as always."

Apple Bloom leaned in slightly, lowering her voice just enough to make it dramatic. "So... feedin' the pigs is what we're callin' it now?"

No. Nope. Not happenin'. She kept her expression calm, but internally, her brain was running laps around Sweet Apple Acres. Did Apple Bloom really see? How much? And why in Equestria was she bringing it up now?!

Then, with all the grace and subtlety of a stampeding cow, Apple Bloom casually blurted out, "'Cause Ah coulda sworn Ah saw ya and Thunderlane exchangin' spit last night."

The reaction was instantaneous.

Braeburn choked violently on his food, sputtering and coughing as he frantically reached for his water. Granny Smith's spoon clattered onto her plate as she let out a surprised "Land sakes, child!" Applejack, face redder than a bushel of apples, shot up from her seat so fast that her chair nearly tipped over.

"What in tarnation kinda words are those?! Where'd ya even hear that?!"

Apple Bloom, utterly unbothered by the chaos she had just unleashed, casually took another bite of her pancake. "Probably Rarity's place. She and Sweetie Belle talk about this stuff all the time when Ah visit."

Braeburn, still recovering from his near-death experience, wiped his mouth and groaned. "Of course it was Rarity," he muttered under his breath. "That mare's got a way with fancy words, but she really shouldn't be usin' 'em 'round fillies..." Thunderlane and Applejack... huh. Y'know, that actually makes some sense. His mind briefly wandered to the way Thunderlane had been hanging around the farm lately, offering to help, always chatting with Applejack. And the way they interacted... well, he would be more surprised if there hadn't been somethin' brewing between these two.

Meanwhile, Granny Smith was attempting to restore order by whacking her wooden spoon against the table. "Enough o' this hullabaloo! Apple Bloom, young lady, that ain't proper breakfast conversation!"

Apple Bloom crossed her forelegs, grinning smugly. "Ah'm just statin' facts, Granny."

Applejack groaned and buried her face in her hooves. " This is not happenin'..."