Sonic: Friendship is Eternal Ch. 28

The Sweet Smell of Apples

Applebloom was grinning ear to ear as she walked up to the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were talking with Shadow, the sound of Applebloom entering caused them to stop and turn to greet her. Though they had arched brows at her still smiling face.

"What's got you so happy?" Scootaloo asked.

"Ya'll aren't gonna believe this, but mah sister has a date" she said.

"You mean like a romantic type of date?" Scoot asked, earning a happy nod from her.

"Well who's the special somepony?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Ya'll ain't gonna believe this neither, it's Knuckles" she said, her smile growing more. Shadow just grinned, having already figured it was him. Scoot and Sweetie Belle's jaws about hit the floor from hearing that.

"Knuckles?!" Scootaloo asked in disbelief. Applebloom just nodded more.

"Didn't see that coming" Sweetie Belle said.

//that's because you haven't seen how they are around one another// Shadow thought as he watched the girls talk about this. As he kept watching his thoughts began to slowly drift toward Twilight. Her lavender coat and violet hair, and her radiant violet eyes that enticed him every time he gazed upon them. His mind kept going, not one single thought drifting away from her. Her intellect, her potential, her voice, her…wait a minute, how long have I been thinking about this? Shadow wondered before noticing his cape was being tugged on by the girls.

"Oh…sorry girls" he said looking at them.

"Dude you were out like a light. With your eyes open" Scootaloo said.

"Not only that but your face is all red" Applebloom said. Shadow just arched a brow, the blush fading away.

"Who were you thinking about?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Bet ya 10 bits it was Twilight" Applebloom said with a grin. Shadow just looked at her, some of the blush returning.

"I think you might be right" Sweetie Belle said. Shadow just rolled his eyes and chuckled, today was going to be a long one.

Sweet Apple Acres

Applejack was bucking trees, needing to get the day's work done so she'd have more time to think. Knuckles had left to hang out with Sonic and Tails for the day. She was still a little surprised, she had a date with Knuckles. Of course she knew a lot about him, but she still felt there was so much more to learn of the red echidna. Her mind continued to focus on just him and the fact she was going to be on a date with him later that night. With a smile and a contented sigh she turned to the buckets full of apples and moved them to where they needed to be.

With Sonic Tails and Knuckles

"Whoa there…slow down" Sonic said as he looked at Knuckles, trying to wrap his head around this. "You're telling me that you and Applejack have a date later tonight?" he asked, as if to clarify he wasn't going crazy.

"Sonic for the hundredth time yes, we have a date later tonight" he said in an irritated tone since he was getting tired of this really fast. Sonic just put a hand to his forehead and shook his head, his eyes wide in surprise.

"I must be crazy…because I keep hearing the same thing" he said

"That's because you keep asking the same question!" Tails shouted at him, irritated of this as well.

"It's just so hard to believe…" Sonic said.

"What? That I'm faster than you when it comes to girls?" Knuckles said with a smug look. Sonic exaggerated his expression for taking offense to that, which he didn't really. The three friends shared a laugh at that.

"You nervous?" Sonic asked, hoping to get back at Knuckles.

"Nah, what's there to be nervous about?" he asked. Sonic at this point had an evil grin on his face, which he was quick to hide.

"You mean you don't know?" he asked. Knuckles just got curious at this.

"Like you have any idea" Tails said, seriously doubting Sonic could give any sensible advice.

//one of these days Tails….// Sonic thought in irritation "just ignore him Knuckles and trust your old pal Sonic" Sonic said as he draped an arm over Knuckles' shoulders.

//he's doomed// Tails thought as he watched Sonic begin to give Knuckles advice, until Knuckles found out the advice was utter baloney and bopped him on the head.

"I do know what I'm doing you know" he said as Sonic hit the ground with a silly grin on his face. Tails laughed at the scene, glad to see his two best friends being themselves.

Twilight's House

Twilight was outside, enjoying the fresh air with Spike at her side and Owloysius standing on her back. She smiled even more when she turned her gaze forward and saw Shadow and the girls walking toward her. Shadow waved once at her as they got closer. Twilight's heart began to pound in her chest, watching as he got closer and closer. Her mind starting to make many thoughts appear, some of which were very sensual and graphic in their romantic nature. A blush brightening her cheeks as she found she couldn't stop them. Heat began to run through her body, from her hooves to her flank as the thoughts continued.

"Twilight?" Shadow called for the 3rd time, finally jarring her out of her trance.

"Huh?" she asked, thanking him in her head for freeing her from the thoughts.

"You feeling alright?" he asked. She smiled at him and nodded shyly.

"I'm just real eager to start the next lesson" she said, looking into his eyes. He looked right back at her and smirked.

"Alright. I think it's time you learned the most basic offensive move. Chaos Spear" he said holding onto his green emerald. She used her magic to retrieve her red emerald. Spike and Owloysius standing at the side with the girls.

"So Owloysius, you think she can do it?" Spike asked.

"Hoo?" Owloysius replied

"Twilight, you know. Wait, I'm not falling for that again" he said, the girls giggling at the scene before they all looked over to watch Twilight.

"First step, charge your energy. Call out to the emerald for its power. Then concentrate it into your horn, and fire" he demonstrated, firing a Chaos Spear into the sky that dissipated before reaching the clouds. She watched and gulped nervously, her anxiety kicking in as she called out to her emerald. She could soon feel the power begin to enter her body, and that just made her nerves fire off more. She managed to get ahold of herself before doing her best to move the energy into her horn. Her eyes shut tight as she concentrated. Then she could hear it, a crackling sound from the energy in her horn. She opened her eyes and did her best to look up to see her horn. All she could see was some of the energy crackling off the tip.

"Chaos Spear" she said, though the energy didn't fly out of her horn at all. Instead a small pop was heard as the energy quickly faded. She could immediately feel his gaze upon her. Her anxiety returning as she looked toward him, her eyes meeting his.

"Try again" he said calmly. She nodded, trying again as she stored power in her horn. The crackling of energy audible as she focused on making this work.

"Chaos Spear" she said, this time it left her horn before popping and fading. It didn't go far, maybe an inch or two. She bit her bottom lip before turning to Shadow, who was moving closer to her. She blushed when he got closer, looking into his eyes as he wrapped an arm around her so their faces were beside each other. The girls and Spike all started silently teasing the two of them since they weren't looking, giggling softly in their mischief.

"Let me help" he said softly. Twilight couldn't speak, only nod. Her voice being robbed from her by her nerves. She repeated her earlier steps, the energy soon crackling on her horn.

"Alright. Now imagine trying to hit something without actually having to trek over to them." He said, stretching out his other arm and making a gun with his hand. Pointing at the clouds above. "Take aim and fire" he said. She concentrated on his words, using his arm as a guide feeling more nervous as she gave it another try.

"Chaos Spear" what happened next brought a smile to Shadow's face. A Chaos Spear flew forth from her horn and into the sky, fading away before the clouds. She smiled as she saw it fly, happy that she did it.

"There you go" he said softly, with an easy smile to her. She turned her head a bit to face him, her blush deepening when she saw how close they were. Their faces were just inches from the other, all he had to do was turn his head and their lips would make contact. This thought made Twilight blush even more. Shadow unwrapped his arm from her and turned to look at her, now at a more comfortable distance. Though remaining awfully close. She felt a sort of emptiness when he removed his arm, a slight chill replacing where his warmth was. She drew a circle in the dirt with her hoof as she tried to find the words to say to him.

"Hey Shadow…" she began, finally managing to get her mouth to work. He looked at her with a curious gaze. "There's a um…meteor shower this Friday…and umm..I was wondering if you would…like to…" she had trouble finishing her sentence, her nervousness getting the best of her. Her cheeks warm as could be from all the blood that rushed to them, causing the blush.

"Sure" he said, already knowing where she was going with this. She smiled happily at him, now more excited than nervous. She then saw a smile on his face, one that made her even happier. Scoot pretended to gag herself at the mushy scene in front of her while Applebloom and Sweetie Belle watched with stars in their eyes at how cute they found it. Spike was in the same boat as Scootaloo. Owloysius was just being Owloysius, sitting there being as silent as ever.

That Night

Applejack's nerves were on fire as she checked herself in the mirror, making sure her mane and tail were nice and brushed. Same with her coat, tonight was going to be an interesting one that was for sure. She was wearing a short dress. Red in color with patterns of white that symbolized the apple family namesake. Her mane was done up in a French braid. Her tail was just loose, no bands or anything to hold it. She looked at her hat before smiling. Tonight she wasn't a cowpony, tonight she was a girl. Going out with a special man.

Knuckles walked up to the door of the house, knocking on it and seeing Big Mac on the other side as the door opened.

"Here to get my sister?" he asked.

"Yes I am" he said with a grin. Big Mac just smiled before heading upstairs and knocking on Applejack's door. "Yer date's here" he said before walking to his room.

Applejack immediately felt nervous when she heard her brother say that. She took a deep breath and exhaled before giving her reflection a determined look before heading out of her room and down the stairs to meet Knuckles. When she saw him she felt her heart race and chest tighten. Knuckles smiled at her, finding himself in a similar situation.

"You look lovely" he said as a blush appeared on his cheeks. She blushed at the compliment, smiling at him.

"Thank you" she said before Knuckles turned to face the same direction as her and put a hand on her back as they walked together.

"Be back before midnight you two!" Big Mac called out from the window. Both of them blushing as they kept walking. Her mind was going a mile a minute as they walked, eventually reaching a restaurant that was still open at this hour. One table open outside the establishment, with candles burning bright as they got closer. Applejack could feel her heart skipping with joy as she saw the table, and even more so when Knuckles pulled her seat out for her. She smiled and sat down, Knuckles pushed her chair in before going around and taking a seat across from her. As soon as he did their eyes met, both gazing at one another. Smiles widening on both their faces.

"That dress looks very lovely on you" Knuckles said, being the first to break the silence. Applejack blushed at him saying that.

"Thanks, it was my mother's when she was my age. She told me this dress was the one she wore when she met my dad." She said, the dress really meaning a lot to her. "Oh if only she were around with dad." She said softly. Knuckles heard that and a sad smile appeared on his face.

"Sorry for your loss." He said with utmost sympathy. She just smiled.

"It's alright Knuckles, I know they'd be proud of me" she said.

"Reminds me of how I feel about my father." He said. She had an understanding smile on her face as she listened.

"I never knew my mother, only my father. He trained and raised me to guard the Master Emerald. I have utmost respect for him. If anything happened to the master emerald I'd feel as though I'd let him down in some way" he said. Applejack just looked at him, extending her hoof and laying it on top of his hand.

"It's alright" she said softly "I know no matter what that he must be very proud of you right now" this brought a smile to Knuckles' face.

"Thanks Applejack" he said. They spent the rest of their time talking about themselves and of course eating their meal once they got it. Knuckles was walking home with Applejack, his arm wrapped around her to keep her close as they walked. She didn't mind, in fact she welcomed the closeness. The feeling of him right there next to her. Knuckles felt the same, enjoying the fact he had someone to be with like her. They entered the house and quietly made their way upstairs, stopping in front of her room.

"Knuckles that was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it." she said happily.

"Me too Applejack" he said with a smile. Their eyes locking on one another and looking deep into them. Hearts racing, chests tightening, nerves tingling, all this as they gazed deeply into one another's eyes. She slowly leaned forward, as if driven by an unseen force. Knuckles met her halfway, their lips meeting in soft kiss. Knuckles wrapping his arms around her neck as they lost themselves in the moment. Applejack could feel her heart race at the excitement she felt, though reluctantly she backed off. Refilling her lungs with precious oxygen, looking deeply into Knuckles eyes before they both entered her room. She smiled at Knuckles as she got out of her dress and unbraided her hair before going over to him with a smile. He just smiled back, climbing into bed with her before wrapping his arms around her to hold her close to his body as they shared another kiss and melted into the night.