A Day Off

Chapter III: Doubt

Apple Jack walked through the center of Ponyville with her head held low to the ground. Something inside her told her that she should feel ashamed of herself for taking advantage of her close friend or how she lacked the self-control to keep her own actions in check.

I mean I know she wanted it, but what in tarnation drove me to do those things. I wasn't raised like that. Apple Jack thought as she passed by Lyra Heartstrings. Maybe I should ask her since she, no. Just keep going, don't make eye contact.

"So Apple Jack, how was it?" Lyra asked in a saucy voice.

Apple Jack's ears shot up in surprise. How could she possibly know about what happened? Apple Jack thought as she turned her head slowly towards Lyra. "I don't know what you mean, darlin."

Lyra giggled and hopped toward Apple Jack. "Your face has 'I just had sex' written all over it."

"I don't know what yer talkin about, Lyra" Apple Jack lied.

"Huh and here I thought the most honest pony in Ponyville never lies. I heard what was going on in Rarity's bedroom from her open window. You also reek of her musk, I know that smell anywhere." Lyra walked alongside Apple Jack and smelled the air along her side. "Oh, that's her alright, she was even a bit rough with you tonight." Lyra pointed at how ruffled parts of Apple Jack's coat were.

"Um, it was a really busy workday. My coat is always a mess when I'm done workin." Apple Jack lied, though she knew there was no way Lyra would fall for it.

"Sure, 'workin'." Lyra moved up to Apple Jack's ear and whispered. "Workin Rarity's flank. Let's do away with the white lies, Rarity is a screamer and I heard her yell your name from her window."

Apple Jack stepped away, tripping over her own back legs and landing flat on her back, accidentally exposing her sex to Lyra before covering it quickly with her tail.

"It's fine, Apple Jack. I'm not here to judge you, I'm just making an observation. Judging by your posture and facial cues, I suspect you are feeling guilty about what happened." Lyra reached out a hoof to help Apple Jack up. "Wow, you are heavily built. I can see why Rarity likes you so much." Lyra pulled a bit harder, helping Apple Jack right herself.

"Please don't tell no pony. I- I need time to work things out in my head" Apple Jack pleaded.

"Don't sweat it. I completely understand why a pony like you would want to keep the filly fooling under wraps. I was shy once too ya know" Lyra said with a smile on her face. Lyra lowered her voice again and looked around. "Maybe you could talk her into a four way with Bonbon and I. You know, if your into that kinda thing."

Apple Jack didn't know what to say. First, she took advantage of her friend and LIKED it and now she has other filly foolers asking her for sexual favors. "I taint doing nothing of the like!" Apple Jack shouted.

"Hey, calm down I only wanted to-"

"No, I know what yer trying to do, yer tryin to turn me into one of them city mares that makes love for fun. I taint that kinda mare!" Apple Jack ran off past a few shocked Ponyville residents down an alleyway, within moments she was out of sight.

"I wonder what's wrong with her? I never knew Apple Jack to be so ... paranoid" Lyra said to herself as she tapped her hoof on her chin.

"I think you were too upfront with her. For a pony that is supposed to be honest all the time she's really bad about accepting the truth" a voice from above said.

Lyra looked above her to find a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail casually performing a backstroke in the air. "Oh, hello Rainbow Dash. I surmise you overheard everything?"

"Yep, been following her movements since she left Rarity's boutique. She looked a bit distressed, so I thought I would follow her a bit, to make sure she was okay" Rainbow Dash said as she landed beside Lyra.

"Well, if anypony can help her through her-" Lyra looked around to see if anypony was listening in. "Her filly-fooling problems, it's you, Rainbow Dash" Lyra finished with a wink of her eye.

"What is That supposed to mean?" Rainbow Dash asked, a disgruntled smirk on her face.

"Oh come off it Rainbow, everypony knows about your escapades in flight school or does the saying 'no muff too tough' ring any bells?" Lyra finished with a giggle.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, an agitated curl in her lip as she sighed. "Really now? I seduce one hot mare cheerleader in Flight School on a bet and everyone calls you a lesbian for the rest of your life" Rainbow Dash growled as she took back to the skies.

"Just one mare? I heard it was the entire cheerleading squad" Lyra said as Rainbow Dash took to the air.

"As if, I'm good, but not that good" Rainbow Dash said, trying her best to cover her obvious dishonesty with a smile.

"Sure, I totally believe you, Rainbow Dash" Lyra said with a snide grin on her face.

"Whatever, not caring what you think. I got a friend that needs my advice. Do me a favor though, drop by the library and tell Twilight what's going on. The egghead always has a plan when it comes to friend problems." Rainbow Dash gave short, one hoofed salute before flying off after Apple Jack.

***

Apple Jack braced herself up against a wooden post near the bridge leading over the river to her farm. She quickly slumped over and fell on her side as she tried to catch her breath. Her legs felt like mashed butter and the burning in her lungs was nearly unbearable.

I shouldn't be so tuckered out. I didn't run that fast, did I? Apple Jack thought as she rolled herself into a more comfortable resting position. I'll just rest here for a moment and maybe get to bucking apples. With any luck I'll forget all about what just happened. Hopefully Rarity will too.

"You know, with you being the second most athletic pony in Ponyville I would expect you to not be so tired after a short run."

Apple Jack's ears perked up, she knew that sarcastic tone anywhere. Looking into the sky, she spotted the rainbow-maned cyan pegasus relaxing on a cloud above her. "What do you mean by 'second most athletic pony'? If memory serves me right me and you are equals."

"Pfft, hardly. I had to gimp my wings just for you to keep up" Rainbow Dash replied with a sharp grin on her face.

"Oh really? You wanna race right now ... err, I mean five minutes from now" Apple Jack stood up, but felt a bit dizzy and immediately laid back down in the grass.

"Calm down, I'm not here to goad you into a race I'll win anyway. I'm here to talk about your little 'exploits' at Rarity's boutique this afternoon" Rainbow Dash jumped from the cloud and landed behind Apple Jack.

"W-what are ya yammerin on about? I haven't even seen Rarity at all today" Apple Jack shifted her eyes away as to not make eye contact with Rainbow Dash.

"You're not fooling anypony here, AJ. I mean honestly the only pony in town that doesn't know your little tells when you're lying is Sweetie Belle" Rainbow Dash said as she circled around the right side of Apple Jack.

Apple Jack stared into Rainbow Dash's eyes and Rainbow stared back in return. Is she bluffing or does she already know? Did she overhear me talking with Lyra? Wouldn't be the first time she stuck her nose in somepony else's business Apple Jack thought as she watched Rainbow Dash's body language intently.

"You know, instead of watching my wings to see if I'm bluffing I'll tell you what I observed straight up. I saw you leaving Rarity's boutique in a rush, your coat all sweaty and mangled. I overheard your entire conversation with Lyra and now that I'm close to you I can smell the leftover musk from your little encounter with her." Rainbow Dash walked in front of Apple Jack and laid in the grass in front of her. "I'm not here to judge ya, I'm here for girl talk. So, what's on your mind?"

Apple Jack opened her mouth, but hesitated. Do I really want to talk about what happened with the largest blabbermouth in Ponyville? If this got back to granny, she might never talk to me again. She might even disown me.

"Listen, you can tell me anything. I promise whatever ya say will be just between us" Rainbow Dash put her right hoof over Apple Jack's right hoof and smiled.

Apple Jack was taken aback, pulling her hoof back as if Rainbow Dash were infected with fleas. I have never seen her this sincere before, normally she is all bravado or goofy. She's actually taking this seriously Apple Jack thought.

"Sorry fer pullin away like that. I have just never seen you so ... serious about, well, anything really. You're not even this serious about flying" Apple Jack said as she lowered her head shamefully. "You sure you want me to tell you what's wrong? You think any less of me for it, will ya?"

"Why would I think less of you for a little woohoo fling with Rarity? Mares have needs ya know, there's no shame in it" Rainbow Dash said calmly.

"No, you don't understand. You see it all started when Derpy delivered the wrong mail to both of us and I kinda walked in on Rarity well ... in a really vulnerable and compromising position" Apple Jack said while blushing.

"Her bondage gear, right?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Wait, you know about that?" Apple Jack replied, surprised.

"Who do you think told her and Fluttershy about the distributor? Apparently I'm everypony's go-to mare for anything lesbian or kink related. You know, despite me not being either of them" Rainbow Dash furrowed her mane in an agitated manner. Rainbow Dash eyes went wide and she blushed momentarily. "Whoops, shouldn't have let slip that Fluttershy is into that, heh. That one's going to be weird to explain."

"Wait, you're not into mares? I mean, I'm not trying to pry into your personal life, but you just, you know, seem like the kinda mare that would be into that kinda thing" Apple Jack said while looking Rainbow Dash over.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Seduce one or two mares in flight school and everyone just assumes you're straight up lesbian for the rest of your life. It was a phase, all teenage ponies go through it." Rainbow Dash stared at Apple Jack, who seemed entirely unconvinced. "Fine, I do occasionally have filly fooling flings, but I'm into stallions as well. I mean have you seen the butt on Soarin?"

"Ahem" Apple Jack cleared her throat in an attempt to get Rainbow Dash back on topic.

"Oh, sorry. I kinda went off on a side tangent there. So what happened exactly?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well, you see, she was trying on her new bondage gear when I caught her in a really compromising position. At first she was all askin me to help her get out of her gear, but as I tried to get her out well, she got aroused." Apple Jack blushed, tilting her hat down so Rainbow Dash couldn't see her embarrassment.

"Not uncommon. You're a strong earth pony, Apple Jack. Some dominatrixes are turned on by the possibility of a stronger mate" Rainbow Dash added.

"I didn't know that! Before I knew it, she was askin me to, you know, sex her up." Apple Jack looked around to see is any other pony was listening in. "The weird part was getting aroused by how helpless she was as she begged me to do her. Before I knew what I was doin I was doing kinky bondage stuff with her."

"So the real question here isn't if you're into this kinda stuff, but if Rarity was sane of enough of mind to say yes and it wasn't the hormones doing the talking" Rainbow Dash said.

"Yes, I mean, no to some, but yes to others." Apple Jack sighed dejectedly. "I don't even know my own emotions anymore. I know I enjoyed myself, but I was brought up thinking that kinda relationship is T- Tabard? Is that the word I'm lookin for?" Apple Jack asked.

"Taboo is the word you're looking for AJ, tabard is some of the garments you see on the royal guards when they need to be extra fancy. The real question here is twofold; are you really into filly fooling and did you take advantage of Rarity when she was vulnerable. Oh, and I guess how your family reacts will eventually be part of it, but that's something I really can't help you with" Rainbow Dash said.

"So what do ya reckon I do? Do I tell Granny Smith and the rest of my family that I'm doing something they will see as wrong or do I keep it a secret? How do I handle the whole Rarity thing?" Apple Jack asked.

"The only way you can fix those problems is to face them, AJ. I can be here if you need moral support or a shoulder to cry on, but most of those you have to solve first hoof. Did you try maybe making a second date with Rarity? Just to see if it wasn't just a one time fling?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well, I did kind of agree to come to dinner tonight, though I think she was still a little flirty with me when she made the invitation" Apple Jack pondered.

"Well, you're not gonna get the answers you need sitting there in the grass." Rainbow Dash stood up and stretched her wings. "I mean, if you want to just sit there in self-pity, then by all means pity yourself, but the AJ I know always took challenges in life by the horns. I guess I was wrong though, I guess Big Mac wears the harness in the Apple family" Rainbow Dash teased as she took to the air.

Apple Jack snorted angrily, blowing away the dust on the ground below her. "You take that back, I never backed down from no challenge from nopony. For your information Big Mac only wears the harness because it only fits him, we don't have spares" Apple Jack growled as she stood up.

"Excuses, excuses! A real pony would have taken your problems head on without any hesitation. The way your acting right now makes me think you're some kind of puny city pony. Maybe you can go cry in a ditch somewhere about how Ponyville doesn't have the right hats for you, loser!" Rainbow Dash stuck her tongue out at Apple Jack, blowing her a raspberry before flying off into the distance as fast as she could.

"Well, at least I, at least ... aww who am I kiddin." Apple Jack watched as Rainbow Dash disappeared into the distant clouds. She knew her friend was just trying to goad her into being herself, but this situation was far more delicate than normal. She means well, but if granny doesn't accept me for who I am or who I've become then there will be fallout. I could lose the only home I've ever known.

Apple Jack sighed dejectedly as she turned around and stared at Sweet Apple Acres in the distance. "I guess the only way to find out is have a talk with her." Apple Jack began to run toward home, but decided after just a short burst that she was better off taking her time. She needed to find a way to bring the question up to Granny Smith carefully, one wrong word and she could be expelled from the farm, possibly even disowned.

Apple Jack slowed down to a brisk walk, she stared at the ground below her, trying to think of a way she could make Granny Smith accept her or at the very least understand what she was going through. Maybe if I bring it up as just a young mare experimentin, that it really isn't anything serious. Apple Jack tried to imagine what Granny Smiths reaction would be, but she kept coming up blank. The only reaction she ever got from her while growing up about anything related to 'filly fooling' was always negative.

Apple Jack kept running scenarios in her head, but in each situation the outcome always ended poorly. Before she knew it, she had walked head first into the post holding up the Sweet Apple Acres sign in front of her house. "Ow, gosh darnit, who put that there?" Apple Jack grumbled to herself as she rubbed her head. Apple Jack stopped and stared at her home. In front of the House Apple Bloom was playing fetch with the family dog, Winona. Nearby Big Mac was tossing the last few hay bails into the back of the barn and in the kitchen was Granny Smith, sitting in her rocking chair, knitting, as she watched the stew on the stove cook.

Pony feathers, bringing this up during dinner wouldn't be a good idea, better do it before Apple Jack thought to herself.

"Hey sis!" Apple Bloom yelled as she waved cheerfully. "Why such the long face? You eat somethin that didn't agree with ya?" Apple Bloom moved in to inspect her older sister, but Apple Jack turned away in shame.

I forgot how the others might react. Apple Blooms too young to know about filly fooling and Big Mac has never said anything on the subject at all. "I'm fine Apple Bloom, I'm just thinking too hard is all." Apple Jack tried to fake a grin, but she knew Apple Bloom could see right through her. "I need to talk to granny iffin ya don't mind."

Apple Jack walked past Apple Bloom, her head held low as she opened the front door, closed it behind her and headed for the kitchen.

Meanwhile, outside, Apple Bloom and Big Mac watched as Apple Jack made it through the house towards the kitchen through the windows.

"Big brother, sis doesn't seem to be herself. Like she's got something horrible hangin over her head" Apple Jack said, her voice lowered in concern.

"Eeeyup" Big Mac replied.

"You reckon we should listen in on what sis and granny are gonna talk about?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Ehhh ... " Big Mac hesitated. He put his hoof up to his chin to think. The last time I listened in on one of Apple Jack's discussions with granny was when she was going through her first mating season. Big Mac thought. If I get busted again, I'll be cleaning the chicken coup for months.

A tug on Big Mac's tail brought him out of his thinking daze. He looked back to see Apple Bloom using her puppy like eyes and quivering lip tactic, a tactic that he still had not found a counter for. "Eeyup, let's listen in." What more can I do, she knows that works every time.

Apple Bloom motioned for Big Mac to follow her as she lowered herself low the ground and sneaked along the house up by the back door to the kitchen. Apple Bloom pressed her ear up against the crack at the bottom of the door and Big Mac put his ear up against the window, taking care to make sure very little of him was visible through the glass.

"Howdy AJ, you here to taste what I'm makin fer dinner? Cause I don't recommend it, undercooked turnips are a might bit bitter" Granny Smith said as she stirred the contents of the pot from her rocking chair with a cane.

"No granny, I'm here to discuss personal stuff, I have something important that you need to know." Apple Jack scratched at her right leg with her left hoof. Apple Jack turned away shamefully, not making eye contact with Granny Smith.

"Oh? Ohhhh! Well then, I've seen that face before. It was your mothers face when she told me she was pregnant with you if I remember right. Same leg scratching and not makin eye contact." Granny Smith rocked back and forth in her chair. "So, I guess I'm gonna have great grandchildren soon and you're gonna be a mom."

"No- no granny you misunderstood, I'm not pregnant" Apple Jack tried to interject.

"Fiddlesticks! Your mother came to me the same way you did today and I did the same thing to my ma when I was around your age." Granny Smith set her knitting gear aside and looked Apple Jack in the eyes. "So, how far along are you and who's the stallion that managed to get you all aflutter?"

"Granny, listen. I'm not pregnant and I'm not dating any stallions. The truth is ... " Apple Jack hesitated, the look of confusion and disappointment on Granny Smith's face was almost too much to bear. "I think I'm a lesbian ... or at the very least, bi-curious."

Granny Smith's face went from confusion to surprise, but as she opened her mouth to say something, Apple Jack interjected in an attempt to explain herself.

"Now, hold your horses. I know you been against that kind thing all your life and stuff ..."

Meanwhile, just outside the back kitchen door.

"Big brother, what's a lesbian?" Apple Bloom asked.

"It's when a mare likes another mare, Apple Bloom" Big Mac replied.

"What's so wrong with that? I like plenty of other mares. I like Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Cheerilee ..." Big Mac shook his head and Apple Bloom stopped numbering the mares she likes. "Somethin wrong brother?"

"I mean likes them in a romantic way, the kissy, kissy, huggy, huggy kinda way." Big Mac noticed the state of confusion on Apple Bloom's face. "For the lack of a better expression, your sister likes another mare in the 'birds and the bees, flowers and the trees' kind of way."

"Oh, that kinda way. I think I heard soemthing like that around town, something about filly fooling being another word ... wait. Brother, we have to go in there and help Apple Jack" Apple Bloom said determinedly.

"I know what yer thinkin and I know granny has a history of not being exactly friendly with lesbians, but -" Before Big Mac could say another word, Apple Bloom kicked in the back door and stormed into the kitchen, much to Apple Jack and Granny Smith's surprise.

"Apple Bloom, were you raised in a barn, err, neve rmind, that doesn't quite fit. I mean we taught you better manner than that" Granny Smith complained.

"I know that, but I have something to say to you granny. I'm a lesbian too, just like my big sister" Apple Bloom stated proudly.

Granny Smith just stared at Apple Bloom and then back at Apple Jack, a look of both confusion and bemusement on her face. "Well, if I hadn't taken my heart medicine today, I think I woulda been in real trouble from all this shock. Am I the only pony in the room that likes stallions?"

Big Mac stepped in the doorway and held his head high. "I do!"

A frown ran across Granny Smith's face quickly followed by a smile. "I see what yer all doing here. listening in by the back door and bustin in here to support your sister when she needed support the most, but I can see right through it. Fer starters, Apple Bloom is too young to even know what a lesbian is."

Apple Bloom scratched the back of her head. "I do to granny, at least in a superficial kinda sense."

"I also know for a fact that Big Mac has been fawning over that teacher in town, Was Cheerilee her name?" Granny Smith asked.

Big Mac crossed his front legs, blushing furously. "E-eyyup."

Granny Smith turned her attention to Apple Jack. "Darlin, I don't care if you're in love with a mare, a stallion or a buckin tree, just as long as you are happy. If you're happy then I'm happy." Granny Smith got out of her rocking chair and embraced Apple Jack in a hug.

"But granny, I thought you hated filly foolers. I heard you getting angry about them before" Apple Jack said as she pushed Granny Smith away in surprise.

"Who said anything about filly foolers? You're not one of those pedophiles are ya?" Granny Smith asked.

"Wait, pedophiles? I didn't say nothing about that kinda thing" Apple Jack arched her head in confusion. "Wait, do you think the phrase 'filly fooler' means 'pedophile' ?"

"Yes, why?" Granny Smith asked.

Apple Jack, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom all looked at one another and then back at granny Smith. Suddenly, Big Mac and Apple Jack started laughing hysterically, Apple Jack nearly in tears.

"What? Did I say something funny?" Granny Smith asked.

"Granny, filly fooler or fooling is another word for lesbian. It's got nothing to do with underage ponies, at all" Apple Jack said as she wiped a tear from her eye.

"Eeeyup." Big Mac Agreed.

"I don't even know what's going on. What's a pedo-pile?" Apple Bloom asked.

"It's pronounced 'pedophile' and don't you worry about it. I'll tell you about it later." Big mac said.

"So all these years I been using the word wrong? I coulda swore I had a dictonary somehwere that said otherwise." Granny Smith headed into the living room and a few moments later came back with a large book on her back. As she set it on the kitchen table, dust clouds shot into the air, making the ponies around it cough reflexively. The pages were brackish brown around the edges, the binding looked to have replaced at some point, but was barely holding the book together. The cover was red, but very dirty and the title was just barely visibble, which read 'Celestial Dictionary: Volume Two' in faded gold lettering.

Granny Smith opened the old book and began to turn that pages until she reached the f section of the old book. "Lemme see, fillet, filler, ah here we are, filly fooling." Granny Smith traced the definition with her hoof to make sure she got it right. "Filly fooler, a pony that tries to have sexual intercourse with under-age fillies. Also see colt cuddling and pedophelia."

Apple Jack walked up behind Granny Smith and closed the old dictionary. Noticing that tha lower half of the book was covered in caked dust, she set her foreleg on the bottom of the book and began to rub vigorously. After a few moments she could start to make out some words that had been obscured but the caked dust.

"Celestial year 1477 edition? Granny, where did you even get this book? It's over half a millennium old." Apple Jack asked.

"Oh, I didn't know it was that old. The feller that was giving them away in Canterlot said it was just damaged from misuse. I got them back when you were both just a few years old each. Figured I would need to brush up on all the young folks slang." Granny Smith said as she examined the old dictionary.

"Well ya got yer wish, kinda. You kept up with the slang of five hundred years ago" Apple Jack teased.

"So, all this time you all thought I had something against ponies becuase of what mate they chose? I thought you all knew me better than that. You know my motto, live and let live. It's not like who other ponies fall in love with hurts me any. The only way I would get angry with yall is iffin you were dishonest with me." Granny Smith paused for a momment, her hoof against her chin. "Or if yall suddenly didn't like apples, then we would have a problem."

"Well I like peaches more than Apples, granny" Apple Bloom said jokingly.

"Well then yer grounded, young lady" granny Smith teased.

Apple Jack, granny Smith, Big Mac and Apple Bloom all shared a laugh together.

"Nice one, granny. Iffin ya don't mind I need to take a shower and dress up fancy. I got a date tonight" Apple Jack said as she glanced at the clock above the back kitchen door.

"Oh, wheres my manners. Who's the lucky mare your going out on a date with iffin ya don't mind me askin?" Granny Smith asked.

"It's Rarity, granny" Apple Jack replied.

"Rarity?" Big Mac, Apple Bloom and Granny Smith all said in shocked unision.

"Yep, Rarity" Apple Jack smiled and headed for the livingroom, towards the stairs.

The three Apple family members stood in the kitchen, all of them in shocked silence until Big mac finally broke into song.

"I take, one step forward, I take two steps back. We come together cause opposites attract" Big Mac sang as he remembered an old song.

"Panela Abdul?" Granny Smith asked.

"Eeyup" Big Mac replied.

"Fitting for the situation, I suppose" Granny Smith said as she scratched her mane.

"Who in the hay is Panela Abdul?" Apple Bloom asked.

Granny Smith looked at Big Mac and nodded her head. "Big Mac, could you go fetch my old casette collection? I think a certain filly needs some music education.

"Eeyup!" Big Mac replied energetically.

Meanwhile, Apple Jack raced up the stairs, but halfway up she felt the nervousness from before creep up on her. She stared down at her forelegs and noticed they were shaking slightly. I don't get it, granny accpeted me for who I am. Why am I all jittery all of a sudden? Apple Jack thought hard, but then the realization struck her. She had never even been on a date, she had never even attempted to court anypony up until this point. There was also a lingering doubt in the back of her mind that Rarity was just in it for a fling, that it was all hormones and not mutual attraction that brought them together.

Apple Jack stood there in the middle of the stairwell, deep in thought about what she should do, what could happen. "What if she doesn't love me at all?" Apple Jack tried running scenarios though her mind like she did before she told Granny Smith about her filly fooling ways when the realization struck her.

The only way I'm gonna find out is if I try and hope that she feels the same way about me.