Chapter 8
Debts, Old and New

Strangely it looked kinda like Rome infrastructure, with Italian style streets and Greece buildings. I didn't say that out loud cause nopony would know what I was talking about. Fluttershy was being distracted by Spike as he told her his dream on the way over here. Something about a giant hill of gems? While the other 5 ponies cornered me, I told them to make a line, I was gonna deal with this appropriately.

First was Pinkie Pie, she looked at me, the stare off went down. After a minute she blinked then I blinked in relief, I knew for a fact you couldn't beat Pinkie in a stare off, but... Maybe she just couldn't look at me. She went right up against me and muttered "I Pinkie promise not to come between you and Fluttershy" she trotted off with a bounce, cause I've only seen her walk or run, if she was going average speed it was always a bounce. Then Twilight approached with almost a tearful face, "If you ever hurt her--" I cut her off, "That will never happen. I would kill myself before I did that, so it seems you have nothing to worry about" she gave a weak smile and was off. Next was Rarity who seemed unnaturally happy "OH I can't wait till the wedding-- oops speaking of fancy here is your tux, dress before we enter the castle, not before no need to get it dirty." She deposited the tux and she too was off, next Applejack, she seemed neither sad nor depressed, either that or she was just good at hiding her expressions, in fact she seemed happy "I gotta say, I'm proud of Fluttershy, I'd love to see her with a-- man." I grinned "I'd be the only one in Equestria for the job" she trotted off, the next one even I feared...

Rainbow dash. And I had the perfect solution. I started the conversation. "Hey Rainbow dash?" She looked up with her slightly droopy head. "Yeah?" "After we visit the castle I need you help with something even the flim and flam brothers couldn't make" she sighed "if you want me to, tell me what I need to do so I can plan for it in my-- very busy schedule" she said looking away. I asked her for: a metal rod, she said she knew where one was. Something to put a hole in a wall, she smiled and showed me a nice buck off to the side. And a captured thunder cloud, she said that would be tricky but she could do it. And I asked her for the best mechanics pony around, she thought for a moment and told me the Flim and Flam brothers were the closest things to mechanics around. Damn... I was hoping not to involve them, but then my thoughts drifted to Twilight. Hmmmm....

Fluttershy went with me everywhere, even putting her hoof in my hand as we went through the city. I steered clear of most restaurants... I think Pinkie put something in the cupcakes I ate at her place, I'm STILL full! Fluttershy was already getting over her... 'Shyness' and was constantly getting more and more.... Forward. We were walking under a low arch and she swung me around and we twirled around as she kissed me she was standing on her hind legs as I held her right under her wings which Rarity told me was appropriate when holding any Pegasus.

She no longer seemed interested on picking up an order of special fertilizer for her animals, possibly because she was all over me, when I told her she had to for the animals her inner self reawakened and she went dragging me behind the whole time. We got there and the clerk said it was already paid for. She seemed surprised and told him nobody knew about the payment or what she was getting. She looked at me "YOU?!" I saw pure love kindle in her eyes. "How?" I was just about to say I didn't do it when I was interrupted, "Well, you didn't expect me to leave the new couple empty handed didja? I didn't know what it was and after hearing what I needed to from Rayne here." Applejack passed the clerk who tipped his hat at her "I couldn't resist helping out a little"

Fluttershy blushed heavily, "Thank you Applejack... I don't know what to say..." I gave Applejack a raised eyebrow she gave me the famous "we need to talk" looks I told her me and Applejack needed to talk alone, she agreed which was rather strange, usually new couples are always suspicious of anyone else, on top of that she was talking to the clerk which was REALLY weird but it seemed she was just muttering under her breath, poor guy. Applejack went into her satchel (I don't wanna be mean and call it her saddle bag... Just doesn't seem right, I SHOULD be calling it a backpack...) as we went into the alleyway on the side of the building , then paused with her head stuck halfway into the bag then just tossed me the bag. "Here Sugarcube, I don't need it, I was gonna buy a ticket to the next rodeo but instead I'll pry be IN the rodeo." I timidly looked in the bag I saw a slight glimmer and shut the bag immediately trying to give it back "No hon, you keep it" when I shook my head no she pushed me down and sat on my knee awkwardly so if I moved in any direction at all it hurt. I started to tear up and I looked at the ground in defeat, "I know I won't be able to pay this back and this is too much money to be considered a friendly gift... What are you up to Applejack?" She laughed "I'm not UP to anything, this isn't just a happy couple gift though... Your right about that. And there will be plenty of time tah work it off trust me." I had twelve dirty thoughts at once. But was glad when she said "You'll be working in the farm, since you did so much better than Big Mac you could pull the plow some more! We have two fields that need to be plowed, consider this, the payment for those fields plowed... Plus you'll be able to be hanging out with ma brother more often!" I smiled and said with a small nod, "Consider them plowed" she got off practically with her whole 'flank' in my face and turned around offering me a hoof which I took gratefully. We went back inside to see Fluttershy spying near the door the whole time, which was something I thought was gonna happen. "So are you going to Rayne?" I looked at her and then Applejack who was already putting the fertilizer on her back and nodding at me, "Yes, I am, I won't take up a job there, but debts need to be paid" she smiled "That's my boyfriend." Those words haven't seem to been said by her for a long time... In fact possibly never.

Author's Note

This one just tells us about a new, and very worn out AJ needing someone else around the farm. Hope you enjoy