Getting a second opinion (Patreon)

Applejack's started her day after having what had been a very surreal evening of sleep in my Equestria dreamscape. Link As the day dawned over Sweet Apple Acres the mare was beginning to wonder if she'd made the right call. She'd agreed to meet King Trafalgar Maximilian Augustus Leopold the III tonight in her dreams and have a coffee with his Majesty.

     She'd just met the king for the first time a couple of nights ago, and her initial impression was that the diminutive ruler was an honest, likable if a bit eccentric fellow. Link However as Celestia's orb rose higher and higher into the morning sky, AJ felt more and more like she wanted a second opinion. And the only pony she could ask was...

     Applebloom closed the run to the chicken coop and turned around to see her big sister trotting up to her. "Hey there Sugar Cube!" The mare called to the filly. "Ya got a second ta talk?"

     The filly hung the scratch bucket up on its hook outside the run and looked up at her big sister. "Sure sis! Wuts on yer mind?"

     The yellow-orange mare scuffed a back hoof on the ground and looked around the barnyard to see if any other pony was watching. Big Mac was nowhere to be seen, and Stone Mane was helping Granny Smith shuck peas on the front porch about 100ft away. Satisfied that nopony could hear them the mare continued.

     "Well um, uh Little Bloom. What I wanna ta git from ya is what yer opinion of the king is. Ya know the king we met in that Dream Realm place a couple of nights ago. I reckon that ya probably know as much about him as anypony. Well except fer Highness, Princess Luna."

     The filly's face scrunched up for a bit. "Well I've only met him a few time, but he seems like he's a good egg, and he was Princess Luna teacher when she was a filly and she thinks the world of him! Why ya ask?"

     AJ pushed her Stetson back on her head. "Well um, I was wunderin if ya think it would be alright fer a pony ta meet his Majesty all by themselves?"

     "Oh I've met him befer all by myself!" The filly perked up. "After my run in with..." The filly paused. "With Last Thing in Canterlot. Link The night after that I met with him in my dreams and we talked about it. Link He's really a caring type!" Applebloom gave her sister a curious look. "Ya gittin at something sis?"

     AJ suddenly found it hard to look her little sister in the eyes. She started looking randomly around the barnyard. "Oh um nuthin. Nuthin much. It's just. Well. Ya know when we a met him? Well. Uh, when were gittin ready ta leave his Majesty asked if I might wanna join him fer a coffee one evening in that Dream Realm place." Link 

     The mare started shifting back and further on her hooves. "So, I said ya sure at the time and he said he'd a git back ta me. Soooo, last night this big red parrot showed up in my dreams. Have ya all met a big red parrot in yer dreams Sugar Cube? His name was Scarlet Bar...Barbedus er something like that." AJ started speaking faster and faster. "Anyhoo! This parrot had a message from his Majesty asking if I wanted ta meet him tanight fer coffee, and I said ya sure, so, um, uh, I'mgonnahaveacoffeewithhimtanight!" She suddenly blurted out.

     The barnyard was suddenly very quiet except for the clucking of the chickens. Finally AJ looked back down at her little sister. Applebloom was staring up at her with this big smirk on her face. AJ felt her cheeks suddenly grow warm. After a moment the filly said.

     "Sis, are ya gonna be goin on date with his Majesty?"

     AJ's cheeks felt like they were burning now. "Oh! Ah! I don't think it's a date. At least not a real date! Sort of half date! Like when ya just wanna be friendly like with somepony and–"

     Applebloom's smirk grew even larger. AJ started to sputter. "Applebloom! I, uh, don't know whatcha ya are all thinking, but, but wipe that look off yer face! Land sake girl! When did ya start acting like this? Have ya been hanging around Miss Petina without me a knowing?"

     AB giggled. "So ya are gonna meet the king fer coffee. Okay! Sure! I think ya will have good time. Soooo, are ya gonna ta tell anypony else about this, ooorrrr do ya want this ta be a secret?"

     Applejack suddenly squinted at her sister. " Well, at the moment I don't want everypony in Ponyville talking about it, and Granny and Big Mac would probably git all fussy about it and wanna ask me a ton of embarrassing questions. So whatcha gittin at sis?"

     The filly looked up at her sister and smirked again. "Wweeelll. If ya were willing ta do my chores and Stone Mane's fer the rest of the day I'd be willing ta fergit we ever had this here chat. So whatcha say sis?"

     The mare silently scowled at the filly for several second then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Fine! Fine! I'll do yer chores fer ya. Ya little scheming critter!"

     Applebloom let out a holler. "Alright! Thanks sis!" Then she tore off toward the front porch while yelling. "Hey Stone Mane! Sis said she's gonna do the rest of are chores fer the rest of the day! Let's go inta town and git ourselves an ice cream!"

     AJ grumbled and slowly followed behind the filly.

To be continue.