Apple Spritzer lazily sauntered into the living room, over to their aunty Big Macey and cousin Dandy Mac. They plopped themselves down between their aunt's forelegs and sighed. Dandy was sat beside his mother, hastily opening a letter from his pen-pal over in the Crystal Empire.

"What's troublin' you Spritz?" Macey hummed, turning her attention from her son to her sister's child. Herself and Dandy were the only ponies Spritzer was out to as being nonbinary, or were at least informed that they'd been questioning, they weren't exactly sure yet. Them and Macey had sat down together one evening to find a new name they'd feel more at home with, eventually deciding on Apple Spritzer.

They were somewhat confident in themselves, but they wanted to be 100% sure before telling their mama. They didn't doubt their mama would be accepting, but they didn't want to confuse too many ponies if they were wrong.

"Nothin' much, it's jus'," they looked up at their aunt, "mah teacher Miss Cheerilee paid us a visit sayin' she came for sum cider, but ah' can see through um' like glass, she's lyin'!" they exclaimed, offended.

"Ah don' know why she's /actually/ here, b-but she lied! Liars are no good! Mama says so herself! But- but mama didn' see Cheerilee wus' lyin'- I ain't bein' no silly filly because I know she weren't telling truths! Aunty Macey what do ah' do? Mama could be in danger," they stared hopefully, praying their aunt was on their side and had a good suggestion.

Macey stared back, thinking of what to say. She already knew Cheerilee was crushing hard on her sister, and she knew AJ felt the same way, but she wasn't sure if this was something she'd have to share with Spritz. Honesty is the best policy, but was it worth the trouble of worrying the foal if nothing came of the crushes? She wasn't sure either if it was too soon to suggest another pony coming into Spritzer's life, what with their mother Treehugger recently leaving.

The farmer wasn't one for holding grudges, but she had a strong distaste for that lazy mare. She didn't do much for the farm during her time there, as if she did anything at all, anything of use at least. She didn't see what AJ had seen either. At all. She hid it as to not upset AJ or Spritzer, but both she and Applebloom were overjoyed with Treehugger's departure and celebrated among themselves.

Macey cleared her throat, "uhm, well sweetheart, you're not bein' silly for being concerned, ah' can see where you're comin' from, but I assure y'all got nothin' to worry about." She smiled reassuringly. "Cheerilee's a good friend of mine and ah' know she'd never have bad intentions. What ah' think happened was she wanted a reason to visit your mama, but didn't wanna sound- er- desperate or clingy, so she told a white lie-"

"What's a 'white lie'? Ah' thought all lies were bad," Apple Spritzer interrupted.

Macey glanced over at Dandy to see if he was going to answer, since he usually would, but he was contently reading his letter. She turned back to Spritzer, "a white lie is a small, harmless lie, some ponies tell them to avoid hurting somepony's feelins'."

Spritzer thought to themselves for a moment, /harmless? Ah' thought all lies were bad, that's what mama told me that… Was she lyin' to me? Wasn't she supposed tah' be the element of honesty?/

"So… ah' ain't gotta worry 'bout what Miss Cheerilee's up to?"

Macey shook her head, "mah' gut's tellin' me she's not up to anything, she's a good pony"

/A good pony who lies? So it's okay to lie? Miss Cheerilee's a good pony and she wouldn't lie if it was the wrong thing to do…/