Pretzelparty

Fortunately (for Celestia, at least) Silver failed to notice that smirk and instead glared at the fruitbat who was formerly on her highness's nose. Upon hearing her remark that she may send him to the infamous Colonel Pummel the color almost drained from his face. Silver had always been doing his best as a member of the R.E.A. and in his time in it he'd heard many things from the troops about him. That he was incredibly strict and bordered on overbearing taskmaster status. As much as Silver respected his superiors he did not wish to be reprimanded by one of the R.E.A.'s most reputable and tough officers... but if he had to he would,"I-I will accept any punishment you deem necessary your highness... and I'll take it even after I have dispelled these rumors." As his Sister walked by, apparently having gotten her kiss and apples as well. Looking at her sternly he spoke up,"Presteza! would you please control your pet?" Even though Fresco had moved on to spend some time with Fluttershy... and was now apparently sticking his tongue out at the guard pony for taking that tone with his owner, Silver still felt he needed to reprimand his little sister. Given Silver's sudden change of demeanor it didn't take long for his sister to put together that the princess must have been messing with him, "Wotsa matter, Silver? Did yer first cru--" Soon she found her brother's hoof cover her mouth,"Shut it!" he said sternly while the mare rolled her eyes then pushed his hoof away and approached him to whisper something in his ear; something that made him beet red and shut him up until Both Celestia and Blueblood had finished their interactions with Applejack. Walking towards her old acquaintance, Fluttershy she smiled brightly at the pink maned pegasus."I hope Fresco wasn't tellin' ya anything too bad about me!" she said jokingly as the aforementioned fruit bat fluttered over and perched on the cream colored unicorns head, "By the way, wot were ya sayin' about Milk snakes?"

The mare chuckled lightly as Applejack admitted to suspecting her own athletic aspects and gave her a firm nod, " Well then ya got quite the nose on ya! Guess that's somethin' we got in common." she said with a playful chuckle. In regards to Applejack's last little remark of playful competition she scoffed and smirked, "I shoulda guessed ya'd be racin' too... Sorry ta tell ya this, Miss Applejack but if anypony's be left in the dust it's you!" The mare lifted her hoof to brush the fringe of her mane that hid one of her eyes from view so she could go right back this subtle battle of the gazes the two ponies were engaged in, her smug smile only grew wider as she heard Applejack approve her 'tipping' idea. "Well... good, maybe if it's reall--" before she could finish what she was saying the kiss was planted on her. The Apple mare wasn't the only one who felt that sudden jolt of electric-like energy as their lips collided. As odd as it sounded the feeling she got from the kiss wasn't in any way romantic, flirty maybe but felt more like it showered her with the energy of two powerful personalities colliding. For a few seconds it left the poor out-of-towner slightly dizzy. Luckily, she managed to regain her bearings soon after the lip-to-lip contact and blushed just as intensely as the kisser did even after Applejack ended the kiss. Blinking once or twice the mare laughed only semi nervously before sliding five more bits on the table and looking to the elderly mare who was collecting the bits she paid with, " Wow... Yer granddaughter's one hay of a kisser, Ma'am! I'd definitely say it was worth at least... five extra bits don't ya think?" "I'm glad ya asked. The name's Presteza, Travelin' artist and the world's future greatest painter in history!" she stated, puffing her chest out slightly with pride. It seemed that the mare had dreams just as big (if not bigger) than her previously shown streak of confidence. Before she head off to grab her bags and put them on her back she looked back to her soon to be rival and smirked, "I look forward ta racin' with ya! I'll try not ta make it too embarassin'!" she said playfully and moving aside for the next in line.

The golden tan mare scoffed lightly but let a smile spread over her face shortly after. As the bags were set at her side she couldn't help notice an interesting inflection in Applejack's voice, she could have sworn that was the tone of skepticism. Taking off one the saddlebags she bore on her she laid it down and put a bushel in both bags with the intent of draping the last one over her back when she was ready to take her leave. looking through one of the smaller pockets on her bags she eventually pulled out a small sack that made a faint jingling sound as she moved it. "Oh I'm positive. I'm a lot stronger than I look y'know!" she stated proudly while returning to the stand for the promised kiss and to provide the promised payment. Dropping the pouch on the table she opened it up and slide fifteen bits forward under her hoof, "I'm pretty fast too... in fact I'm gonna join in the runnin' o' the leaves this year and I betcha I'll win!" Looking in at her bit pouch she smirked a bit as she saw she had a few more bits left inside, "Hmmm... if I really like the kiss, could I pay a li'l extra... a sorta tip as it were?" she asked playfully. For a moment it looked like the lieutenant was going to let out a sigh of relief, "I see... maybe her time on the road has improved her manners a bit. I guess she is growin' up... doesn't stop me from worrying about her though." As the princess' expresion grew sad the lieutenant's own expression fell. Seems in his desire to embrace this opportunity to relax and drop his typical formal attitude he had pretty much forgotten the detail of exactly who he was talking to! How could he forget the ... complicated... relationship between the royal sisters and not watch what he said?! The marish stallion gulped and bowed nervously, "I-I'm sorry, you highness. I meant no disrepect... I simply assumed... I-I ... actually don't know what I assumed to be honest."he admitted as he hung his head forlornly. As his gaze met the ground, similar to his sister's actions earlier... although not as intense he began to doubt whether he really belonged in the royal guard now. If he couldn't show proper respect to the princesses in even a casual setting, how could he be expected to be a trustworthy guard for them and their kingdom? his doubts were only heaped upon each other more-so with the princess' next words in regards to his reference to what other guards had said. Why did he have to bring up stupid rumors that circulated the barracks when he honestly had no way knowing whether or not they were true? stupid, stupid guardpony! As he stared at the dirt below his face he had sudden, inexplicable urge to bury his head in it as if to escape his self inflicted embarrassment. As he tried to speak it sounded as if his voice was almost shrinking," I-I'm sorry, Princess. I'll T-try and tell those under my command to stop spreading baseless rumors as soon as I return... that is unless you don't wish me back..."

"Hello, Miss Presteza! ...And hello to you too, Fresco! Oh, everything at the shelter is wonderful! A nest of milk snakes just hatched, and they are the cutest little things!" Looking at the little bat, Fluttershy asked her "Well Fresco, are you having fun with Presteza?"​Fresco shifted on the princess' nose and soon took flight off of it and landed on Fluttershy's outstretched hoof. In response to The pink maned pegasus' query the creature let out a series of squeaks in Fluttershy's ear. If Fluttershy listened the little creature would say that he was being treated wonderfully. After looking back in the princess's direction the little creatures asked who exaclty she was and why she was so tall... fresco wasn't the most knowledgeable of his kind. "Oh yes well, trust me these apples are way better than mah kisses." Applejack started straightening up her booth, cleaning it off of old sales notes and loose bit coins. "So we got all the typical varieties of apples. Which kind would you like, miss?" Applejack leaned forward on her left leg against the wooden sales booth, angling her eyes to mirror the competitive personality the yellow unicorn presented. Almost like it was a challenge of personality.​Presteza couldn't help but notice Applejack's change of posture and those angled eyes, as an artist she had to have a keen eye for such a detail especially when painting ponies. She remembered some of the other mare's of the upper class in Canterlot and Trottingham would give her mother a somewhat similar look before having a few subtle jabs at eachother. Obviously the young painter had no intention of causing any sort of confrontation with the Apple mare but she couldn't help but return the gesture for a moment as she looked through some of the apples that were on display. Looking at the several apples she noticed once particular name that sounded really tasty; Honeycrisp. Pointing her hoof to the box bearing the sign with 'honeycrisps' on it and said rather proudly, "I think I'll take... two- no three Bushels o' those... actually, Fresco may want more than 'is own bushel. Just a sec please." Turning around she raised her voice and yelled to the fruit-bat currently resting on the princess's nose, "Fresco! raise a wing fer each bushel ya want!" almost immediately the little creature stretched out a single wing. Seeing her little flying friend's response, the silver maned mare gave a nod and looked back to Applejack, "Yea, Three Bushels o' Honeycrisps if ya would! I can carry 'em myself." After stating the amount of apples she intended to eat she returned to this unspoken challenge of personality and slightly narrowed her eyes at the mare in the stetson, staring with her icy blue eyes right into Applejack's own bright green eyes. For any bystanders watching, one could practically see sparks flying between the two spirited ponies as they conversed, "So... if I buy three bushels I get three kisses. is that 'ow this works?"