Cherry Trees

Trees. Cherries. Wagon. Baskets.

Another day.

Applejack paces around the tree, checking the layout of her baskets. For the hundredth time.

Who does she think she is?!

She glares off into space, stomping around in a tight little circle.

Frou-frou sneaky sideways seductress.

Tryin’ to take advantage of her workers. Ain’t right.

Oh, let me just help you with that awful pain in yer back. No, no, don’t mind me, none o’ them alterior motives here.

Applejack snorts, flaring her nostrils.

Why, I oughta...I oughta...

Do something. I mean...something. Right?

And what did you do?

Applejack pauses, hanging her head. The angry fire in her eyes dies down a little.

Nothin’. Not a darn thing. Snuck off to my room with my tail between my legs.

Why? Why did I do that? What is up with me?

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Her head darts up again. Those green fires flare up, crowned by the angriest of eyebrows.

NO.

This ain’t my fault. Not this one.

Naw, she did it. She came on to me. She did that.

Inappropriate. Violation of trust, or some such. One of them fancy Twilight words, fer sure.

Indeed. I got half a mind to...I dunno, sue or somethin’.

“Eh...” she says out loud, still stomping around in a circle. Her glare softens.

That don’t seem right. I mean...she just likes me, is all. Right?

So what? It ain’t like she asked.

Didn’t even ask if I was into mares.

Because I am definitely not.

Even if she is mighty fine.

Applejack halts again, this time out of shock.

Maybe she is. Don’t see how that really matters.

Applejack retracts completely into her thoughts, a rare occurrence. It’s a weird, floaty feeling, totally lost in thoughts and memories and other not-real fancies. Wordless, smoldering anger blots out her vision, indignant and aggrieved. She can almost feel the older mare’s hooves on her back, the whisper of her breath, the fleeting tickle of her tongue.

Applejack shudders. She shakes her head, coming back to reality.

Look at me, all shook up. Out of sorts again.

But it ain’t my fault. Not this time.

She had no right. She ain’t gettin’ away with this!

Applejack had taken off early this morning, heading out to work alone, early enough to hardly see anypony else. As usual. This time, it had felt like sneaking out. She hadn’t caught so much as a glimpse of Cherry Jubilee.

Enough of this slinkin’ around. When I get back in tonight, gonna give her a piece of my mind.

Damn straight. Gonna give it to her, straight up.

Then we’ll see who has who by the mane.

She nods to herself, satisfied.

Now...what was I doing again?

She looks around, blinking her eyes. She’s been standing by the same tree for minutes now, surrounded by empty baskets. She scoffs out loud.

What is this, a road crew? Get to work!

She nods again, chuckling at the ridiculousness of the whole thing. Applejack, letting some mare get to her. Letting it get in the way of work! Unthinkable. She turns around and sets up for a good hard buck.

But something feels off. She shifts on her hooves, glancing over her shoulder. She shifts again, trying to line up against the trunk just right.

Thinks she’s so lovely with that mane of hers.

She snorts the thought away and tenses up, shifting her weight to her front hooves. Tremors of pain leak out from between her shoulders, subdued but still alive.

How’s she even have a body that fine at her age?

Ignore ignore ignore buckin’ time let’s go, aright head down, weight front, hooves are a-go...

I bet she likes it rough

Bucky McGilligan lands solidly against the trunk with a pleasing THUNK. Kicks Magee goes wild, sailing off into thin air.

“Ah! Grrr...” Applejack growls as she catches her balance, wobbling on her hooves. A few pathetic bunches of cherries land around her, mostly missing the baskets and falling in the dirt.

C’mon, girl, get it together.

She takes a deep breath, clearing her head.

Get to work. Just work. Do your job. Make ‘em proud.

She adjusts her stance and throws out a solid kick.

Thunk.

A good hit. Back in the groove.

Thunk.

Cherries fall around her, slowly filling the baskets.

Thunk.

She pauses, wobbling on her hooves again. Something’s still off.

Get her outta yer head. Do your job.

But it isn’t that. There’s a funny tightness in her hindquarters, almost like the pinching pain in her back. She’s intimately aware of every brushing movement of her legs, and just now realizes that her tail’s been flicking around on it’s own. Fanning off the growing heat underneath.

Applejack sighs loudly.

Aw, just shoot me. Now? Today?

She recognizes the feelings. It happens all the time back home, usually after heading into town and catching an eyeful of some handsome something-or-other.

Don’t even think about it.

But there ain’t nothin’ else for it. Come on, nopony’s around.

Yeah, but...

She ignores her own weak protests, glancing this way and that. She is alone, as far as the eye can see anyway. She rolls her eyes, hardly able to believe what she’s about to do.

Why’d she have to mention he had eyes for me? Y’know, what’s his name...

She still has no clue which one he is.

I hope it’s that gray one with the big ears. He could ride me anytime!

She gets a goofy smile for just a second. Then her face turns deadly serious. Still cautiously looking around, she backs up a step closer to the tree.

This is crazy.

Ain’t nothin’ else for it. You know you can’t work right when yer all riled up.

Fine, fine, get it done. Make it quick.

She lifts her tail and steps backward, shoving her rump up against the smooth trunk of the cherry tree.

She sighs loudly, relishing the pressure against her netherlips. She was far more wound up than she’d realized, and instant relief washes through her body. She takes a long, slow, smooth blink, just standing there with her crotch flush against the bark.

Huh. Skinny little things. Ain’t that somethin’.

It’s wildly different than an apple tree. Smoother. More curved. The hard wood feels perfect against her folds, warm but not hot. The trunk is just smaller enough that the curve presses into her deliciously, parting her lips effortlessly.

Aright...what’s it gonna be this time?

She glances around again, giving her rusty imagination time to gear up. It isn’t often that she lets herself fly off on flight’s of fancy. Even here, it’s only allowed for the most utilitarian of purposes.

How about that fella with the big ears? Bet that ain’t all that’s big about ‘im.

She grins and flexes her hips a little, but it barely does anything. There’s nothing going on in her head—just a lonely mare doing a lonely tango with a most-likely lonely cherry tree. The stallion she’s trying to imagine is formless and wispy, barely there.

I barely know that guy. Can’t even remember what he looks like, mostly.

No dice. She frowns deeply, wiggling her hips against the trunk in a fashion that does absolutely nothing for her. That burning, pushy tightness between her legs is getting worse, a growling hunger just barely whet.

Come on, come on...

She thumps her hips against the wood, pressing herself open. It’s barely enough—she’s all kinds of wound up now, impatient and frustrated.

Come ON already let’s DO this.

And then an old favorite pops into her head.

She remembers him. Oh, does she ever. Never talked to him, never knew nothing about him, never saw him again, but she remembers.

A black stallion. All black, dark as night, with a shiny black mane. Never saw anything like it before, or since. She saw him just once, right there in town square, while she was stuck ringing up a customer. He walked by, nice and slow, and she’d stared and stared and stared and then gone home and done pretty much what she’s doing now.

She bucks her hips, shaking the branches above her. A jolt of heaven shoots out from that special spot at the top of her mound as it brushes just slightly against the bark. She bites her lip, evening it out into a goofy grin.

Aw yeah...there’s the stuff...

She almost really does feel him mount her, strong hooves running up her back. She flexes her hips up and down, sliding herself along the bark of the tree, imagining a strong stallion there instead.

Wonder what his name was.

Probably something like...uh...

I dunno. Beefcake SexyHooves?

She would be the first to admit that she ain’t exactly a poet.

Whatever. Beefcake SexyHooves is good enough for me.

She picks up speed, grinding herself against the tree. Her make-believe stallion is running his hooves up and down her shoulders, pressing, prodding, resting his weight on all the right places.

She stops grinding and lowers her head, pressing that special spot against the tree. She gasps, quietly, and her stallion lowers with her, sliding his silky coat along her body. His forelegs hook over her tired shoulders, she can feel his dusky breath in her mane, whispering nonsense.

She wriggles her back end in tight little circles, a long-practiced habit by now, rotating around that perfect spot where it’s rested against the wood. Warm excitement spreads out from between her legs, hot and tingling, like feeling returning to a numb hoof.

He runs his nose up her neck, pouring out hot breaths against her coat, and runs a tongue up her ear, right to the tip. She cringes in delight, rolling her eyes back a little. Suddenly, she slams her hips back and forth, bucking against the trunk.

THUNK THUNK THUNK

“Ah!” she gasps out loud, immediately darting her eyes around. Her heart pounds—someone could come walking along any second now. She reaches one hoof up and takes her hat off, shoving one side of the brim between her grit teeth.

He presses himself against her, a big, solid, beautiful hunk of male teasing at her entrance. She jolts her hips back and forth a few more times, trying to take it, to make it hers. Leaves shake above her, sending light pink petals fluttering to the ground.

“Mmmmm!” She bites harder on her hat, not even tasting it. He’s still just teasing, prodding with the tip, dangling satisfaction just out of her grasp. She bends down lower, her hind legs shuddering, and grinds just her nub against the bark again.

He snorts into her mane, squeezing tightly with his arms as he bears down on her. Sweat runs down her temples as she rubs herself off, harder, faster, getting closer.

Almost...come on...almost...

She jerks her hips harder, wrapping her tail around the thin trunk of the tree, pulling it into her.She pants through her teeth, ramming her clit against the bark over and over again, trying to force the bark through the folds and hood protecting it, if she could just get the darn thing right on top of it...

THERE. There it is!

Her eyes bolt open as that magic spot feels a direct touch, sending tremors up her spine. She presses desperately against it, pulling furiously on her hat, stretching it against her teeth.

HOOOO YEAH! Give it to me, stallion!

Her bucking loses pace, getting erratic. She’s right there, teetering on the edge. He runs a tongue up her ear again, bathing it with warm breath.

What else could I do fer such a lovely young mare...

She rams her rump home one last time, taking in a sharp breath and holding it.

Such as yerself?

Her hips spasm and shake, clenching on the inside. She lets out a few gasps, feeling everything, the tension, the pressure, the wound-up distraction, hiss out of her slowly. Her hooves relax and sink into the dirt a little. A valve in her hips has opened, finally unwinding everything tangled up inside.

Her stallion is gone, blown off with the rest of her steam. She lets out a few relieved breaths, putting her poor hat back on her head. She stands up straight and steps away from the trunk, dragging her tail away and letting it fall.

“Phew!” She wipes at her forehead, feeling worlds better.

I’d like to see a real stallion finish me off that quick.

She snorts sarcastically. Was that quick?

It ain’t like I would know. Ain’t like I’ll ever know, rate I’m goin’.

She lets out one last sigh, just a quick one. She’s wasted enough time.

Aright, girl. You know the drill. Back to work.

She moves a few paces around the tree, away from the wet spot on the bark. She doesn’t pay it any mind. She quickly gathers up the stray cherries, tossing them into random baskets.

The wagon is a few feet away, only about half full. She hasn’t even filled one yet today.

Shoot, that’s almost as bad as one of them other workers.

Her breath has just about caught up to her, eased along by the smooth relaxation in her hips and legs. Back in working order. All better.

Back to work. Then I’ll sort that mare out.

She grins, a glint of victory already in her eyes. She sets up again for a good, hard buck.

Nothin’ to it.

* * *

Nothin’ to it, indeed.

Then why am I still standin’ out here?

She’s standing in a dark hallway, tensed, ready to spring at a moment’s notice. The house is sleeping around her, silent.

A door looms ahead. Her door. The door to her room.

Applejack had come back late, again. She had eaten alone, again. She had hardly seen another pony all day. Again.

She gulps loudly, the sound echoing through the empty hall. She wonders why her mouth is so dry. Her heart pounds in her ears, pumping pure exhilaration through her veins.

Just go knock.

That’s right, just do it!

Pound that thing right in!

But her hooves refuse to move, struck deaf somehow. She hems and haws and fidgets, not quite sure how to do so—it’s an unfamiliar state of being.

Yer puttin’ Fluttershy to shame here.

Still, she holds on her hooves. Not moving an inch.

Screw-up. Failure.

Probably just botch this up somehow, too.

Enough!

She stomps her hooves quietly, walking in place. She glares, pure determination. She nods to herself, raising a hoof to take the first step...

The doorknob turns.

Applejack freezes. Her heart stops mid-pump and leaps up to huddle with her throat.

The door slowly swings open, leaking soft light into the dark hallway. Cherry Jubilee is standing there, staring out at her, like she knew all along. Her face is weary but relieved, a mother tut-tutting as her foals finally come home.

Applejack seizes up completely, one hoof hovering in the air. The two mares stare at each other for a long moment.

Shoot. Caught. Caught with red hooves.

Now what just a darn minute...

“Uh,” Applejack says, the sound tumbling out her mouth from nowhere.

“Well, are you gonna stand out here all night?” Cherry Jubilee says, standing aside and beckoning with a hoof.

Applejack recovers, setting her face back to determined frown. She marches into the room, not nodding or greeting, dead-set with duty to be done.

She gets distracted for just a moment as the door closes quietly behind her. Cherry Jubilee’s room is...well, it’s beautiful. Fancy, but rustic. Every piece of furniture is finely carved, from the dark wood of the vanity to the decadent canopy bed. Everything is shades of lacquer and deep red, a warm, storied place.

Applejack starts to admire it, but tears her eyes away. She turns around. Cherry Jubilee is standing at the door, one hoof still up on the wood. She’s staring down at the hardwood floor, wistful and mortified.

Aright, uh...gonna give her a piece of my mind. I guess.

“I’m sorry,” Cherry Jubilee says, not looking up.

Applejack startles a little before remembering her anger from before. “Good,” she says. “You oughta be,” she adds, narrowing her eyes.

“I am.” Cherry Jubilee lets her hoof fall and finally meets Applejack’s eyes. “That was wrong of me, last night. Downright wrong.”

“Didn’t seem to be stoppin’ you,” Applejack says.

“I know,” Jubilee says, wincing and letting her hoof fall. “I know, sugar, I’ve done you-”

“Don’t call me that,” Applejack barks, pure reflex. That word again—that good bad word that makes her feel funny all over when it rolls off Cherry Jubilee’s lips.

Cherry Jubilee blinks a few times, her mouth hanging open. “Of course. Right.” She sighs and shakes her head, looking embarrassed by her own self. “I owe you every kind of apology. I didn’t mean to spook you like that.”

“Spook me?!” Applejack stomps a hoof. “Spook me?!” She tenses up her legs, not quite sure where she’s going. “What exactly did you mean to be doin’, then?”

“I’m so, so sorry sug—Applejack.”

Applejack feels her glare start to harden at the sweet word, but it jumps into a haughty nod as Cherry Jubilee catches herself.

Kinda miss the sugar, honestly.

Cute little word. Felt like candy in my ears.

I’ll bust out sugar cube and we can just have each other’s sugar.

She furiously shakes her head, shaking off her thoughts. “So what? Sorry? That’s all you got to say for yourself?”

“What else do you want me to say, Applejack?”

Jubilee’s eyes glint, light green to match Applejack’s own fires. Applejack thinks of some choice words to suggest, but she gets caught up—her ears flick and burn at the sound of her own name.

Almost as bad as sugar.

“Just tell me what you need,” Cherry goes on. “I didn’t want you to leave before I got to make amends somehow. Whatever you want. A few months pay, a lifetime supply of cherries. Anything.”

A few MONTHS?!

Applejack’s mouth goes dry all over again. She can smell apples and hear the rustle of her trees, the laughter of her friends.

No...no. Not like that.

She sets her face up, grim and stark. “Don’t think all that sounds necessary.”

“You can’t be serious.” Cherry Jubilee glares at her. “Yer gonna walk outta here with nothin’?”

“I ain’t about to take nothin’ that I didn’t earn.” Applejack glares back. “Besides, who said I was walkin’ out?”

Cherry Jubilee’s mouth drops open. Applejack balks a little—she had said it as a reflex, looking for an argument. The question itself honestly hadn’t crossed her mind.

I’m...I’m staying?

Course I am. ‘Til the job’s done.

Ain’t like I got anywhere else to go.

She takes a long, thoughtful pause, trying to sort out the mess swirling around in her chest. “I’d like to finish out here, if that’s alright with you.”

Cherry Jubilee takes a second to look confused. “That’s fine with me. More than fine.”

“Well aright then,” Applejack nods.

We done here?

“If all that’s settled,” Applejack takes a sure step, angling to leave, “I think I’ll...”

“Wait. Applejack. Please.”

She does wait.

“About before, I...” Cherry looks plenty remorseful, but there’s something more there. Longing. “I thought you and me had a little spark between us.”

Applejack snorts, loudly.

“If I was wrong, that’s fine, I understand. I misread things, I s’pose. Probably ‘cuz I’ve taken such a shine to you. I hope you don’t mind me sayin’.” She looks up and they lock eyes, freezing the words in Applejack’s throat. “You’re a lovely mare. Inside and out.” Cherry’s eyes flash on the last sentence.

Applejack feels her face go blank.

Nopony’s ever said anythin’ like that to me before.

That ain’t true. Rainbow said it. Twilight, too. That one time.

Okay, but a stallion ain’t never said something like that.

She feels heat in her ears and forces herself to admit the obvious.

“Okay, that’s...well shucks, I’m flattered and all,” she says, only a little flustered. “But it just ain’t a good idea.”

Cherry looks hurt, but just fine with being hurt. She asks why, with her eyes.

“I came here to work, not get tangled up with some mother mare,” Applejack says.

Cherry Jubilee cocks an eyebrow, everything but confusion disappearing from her face. “Beg yer pardon?”

“Especially when that other mare is my boss, right? That ain’t on the level.”

“I hope to blazes you don’t think of me like that. I brought you here as a friend,” Jubilee says. She looks hurt, real hurt. “A friend in need, maybe. But a friend. You ain’t some nameless worker to me.”

Applejack grudgingly remembers when she first met the older mare—they’d hit it off instantly. But once everything went south-wise with the rodeo...

I been pretty cold to her, haven’t I?

Well, I’ve always been my own boss. How am I supposed to act to her?

Never had a problem with my boss sexin’ me up back home.

She almost chuckles.

And what about a friend?

The chuckle falls, dead. She scrambles for some kind of defense.

“Besides, I don’t mean to stick around too long. No offense and all, I mean it’s nice here, but I do need to get home at some point,” Applejack rambles, trying desperately to fill in the silence. “It wouldn’t work out, what with me fixin’ to take off on you.”

There. Let her down easy. Poor girl.

Applejack nods, satisfied.

“Is that all it was? I thought—”

Applejack jumps to cut her off. “I mean, what kinda way was that to go about it, anyhow?”

“What?” Cherry Jubilee cocks an eyebrow, again.

“Sneakin’ it in all sly like that. I ain’t sore that you got a thing for me,”

I ain’t?

“But that ain’t no way to do it. Where I’m from, you like somepony, you let ‘em know, straight up.”

“Is that what you...?”

“Why, if I had a thing for somepony, I’d march right up to ‘em, look ‘em in the eye, and then I’d say somethin’ like,” Applejack glares into the other mare’s eyes, feeling her heart pick up, “I think you’re mighty fine! I wanna take you into that bed and make you a mare right here and now!”

Cherry Jubilee puts a hoof to her breathless chest. She recovers quickly and gets a sly look, throwing a flirty flounce of her mane.

Uh...y’know, if. Righ?

Cherry Jubilee steps forward, prowling. Applejack feels cornered all of a sudden, but it’s strange—no panic. No discomfort. It almost feels...

“Applejack?” Cherry Jubilee says, a husky whisper.

“Miss Jubilee?” Applejack leans back, stuck on her hooves.

The other mare stalks closer.

Course, I forgot to mention that I don’t swing...that...way?

Shoot, that’s the most important bit, ain’t it?

You’d think I woulda said that first thing.

Applejack’s thoughts trail off, dampened out as the other mare draws closer.

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe it can’t work out. Between us,” Jubilee says, coming to a stop.

Applejack leans back, as far as she can. Cherry is inches away, Applejack can smell some kind of sweet perfume and hear her breath.

“But I think you’re mighty fine. And I wanna take you into my bed all the same.” Cherry Jubilee raises a hoof, just barely brushing it against Applejack’s chest. Applejack follows the hoof with her eyes, frozen in place.

“Tonight? I wanna make you a mare.”

Now THAT’S more like it!

She rests her hoof against Applejack’s coat. Applejack can feel her heart pounding against it. It feels like red-hot blood is burning in her cheeks.

It’s just...it’s just that somepony’s touchin’ me all lovey like. That’s all, that’s all it is.

She darts her eyes up and down, leaving her mouth hanging open.

“Whaddya say, sugar?” Cherry says.

That word. With that voice. Husky, strong. But refined and delicate. A real lady.

“I...uh...” Applejack stammers, caught and locked in Cherry Jubilee’s eyes. That hoof slides up, tracing a path up Applejack’s neck. It hooks, gently, around the back of her head, brushing through her mane.

“I’m yours,” Cherry Jubilee whispers. “Whatever you want.”

Boy, that sounds...but...I’m not...it...but she...

Nervous sweat trickles down her temples. Craving pounds through head.

Do I want her?

I think I do. I want something right here.

But she’s a...

Well if I do, then I do. Ain’t no use bein’ coy about it.

But I CAN’T, she’s a—oh, buck it, ah give up.

Applejack’s mind checks out completely, exhausted from warring with itself. All that’s left is hunger, wrapped up in dark, unknown desires.

That vicious hunger rears up in her chest with a snarl, tightly wound through years and years of lonely yearning. Before she can even recognize it, she darts forward, brushing her nose against Cherry Jubilee’s. She catches herself at the last second and jumps in place, coiling back onto her hooves.

Cherry Jubilee freezes, eyes huge, mouth hanging open. Then she gets a knowing smile, pulling Applejack close again.

Applejack panics and pulls her hat off her head, peeking out over the brim. She wedges it between them like a shield.

“Ugh,” Cherry Jubilee scoffs. “What is holdin’ you back, girl?”

Applejack winces from behind her hat, straining at a fraying leash.

Holdin’ me back?!

But I don’t even like mares or know what to do or how to do with I mean for Sun’s sake I ain’t never been with any—

I like this mare.

This is crazy. I’ve gone crazy.

Just do ‘er already!

Applejack quivers in place, fumbling with her hat.

“Applejack?”

Applejack winces at how good it sounds.

“Oh, sugar. You’ve never been with a mare before. Is that it?”

Applejack forces her eyes up, humbly mumbling her answer. “I’ve had a few mares come on to me, to be honest,” she says. “Never really stuck before, I guess.”

“Never stuck, huh?” Cherry Jubilee smirks.

“Well I’ve never looked at a mare the way-”

The way I look at you.

“...Like that.” Applejack holds her breath. “Y’know, uh...romantic like. Never felt that way before.”

“You feel that way now?” Cherry Jubilee brings her other hoof up, hanging them both around the back of Applejack’s neck. She pulls in close, crushing the hat between them.

“Uh,” Applejack begins, knowing she can’t lie to save her life. “I think...I...”

She can’t say it. She can’t say anything, stuck in a doorway leading out into a whole world she never knew of before.

Cherry Jubilee stares at her, into her, for what feels like a very long time. Applejack feels something starting to give way inside—maybe all this doesn’t exactly make sense. But it doesn’t feel wrong. She’s still blushing, burning up in the grasp of lovely, feminine arms.

“Shucks, Miss Jubilee-”

“Cherry,” she interrupts. “Call me Cherry. Please.”

“Cherry.” The word feels lovely on her tongue, almost like eating the fruit itself. Applejack sits back on her haunches, dragging Cherry with her. She keeps creasing the brim of her hat with both hooves. “I’ve never, uh...” she falters, trying to wrangle more words.

Cherry Jubilee just waits, letting Applejack dig herself deeper.

“What now?” Applejack asks.

“Now?”

Applejack nods very seriously.

“Well...that’s really up to you, sugar.” Cherry leans forward, gently placing her teeth on Applejack’s hat. She waits for permission, and Applejack gives a small nod. The hat is gently tugged from her hooves and carefully placed on a trunk at the foot of the bed.

Applejack sits with empty hooves, hearing those words ricochet in her ears.

Up to you.

She tries to remember anything she’s heard from Rainbow Dash about how it goes down between two mares. Nothing comes—there’s nothing in her head but Cherry Jubilee’s sultry voice. The mare in question gives her a look that says she knows exactly what to do.

“How about,” Cherry Jubilee begins with a glint in her eye, “We pick up where we left off last night? Would that be alright?”

Applejack gulps loudly and nods once. Cherry offers her hoof, and Applejack takes it. Part of her, the part that still hasn’t caught on, throws it’s hooves up in consternation. The rest of her is slowly, gently, led over to the bed.

They climb onto the mattress together, sinking into a thick quilt. Applejack sits upright, still not sure what to do. Cherry lies down next to her, just slightly on her side. Relaxed and regal. She reaches up and undoes the yellow ribbon keeping her hair in check, spilling the thick locks down onto her shoulders.

Applejack stares shamelessly.

Wavy hair. Curvy.

Almost as curvy as those fine flanks of hers.

Wha-? Well, how about that.

She lets a sigh out, relief washing over her as hidden thoughts finally find a voice. Her eyes wander—Cherry isn’t wearing the bathrobe, just her usual pink ribbon around the neck. Applejack gets the urge to bite down and tear the thing off.

“May I?” Cherry Jubilee asks.

“Huh?” Applejack blinks, feeling caught again. She nods anyway.

Cherry Jubilee sits up. Applejack holds still, tensed and alive, as the other mare reaches over and grips her red hair tie. Cherry looks up at her with a saucy grin, holding the fabric in her teeth, and tugs a few times. Golden mane goes spilling out all over the bed.

Applejack’s eyebrows shoot up as Cherry dives back, and then she gasps at the feel of tugging on her rump. She looks back to see her tail fanned out, let loose on the world.

Cherry Jubilee settles down next to her, close up against her side. Applejack steels herself up—that frilly little ribbon around her mare’s neck is getting in the way. It has to go.

She leans down, barely brushing against Cherry’s coat. She takes one end of the ribbon in her teeth and pulls, slowly, not a tug but a long, even pull. The fabric slides and the knot comes undone, no resistance at all. Applejack can feel the silky sliding of the ribbon falling off the other mare’s neck as she pulls, calling goosebumps to attention all over her body.

It falls free. It dangles from Applejack’s lips for a moment before she drops it unceremoniously, looking back up at it’s owner.

The two mares stare at each other, naked in every way. Applejack gets lost in the pale curve of Cherry’s neck, long and elegant now without the ribbon there, curtained with that luscious violet mane.

Cherry leans over, suddenly, and nuzzles against her neck. Applejack finally sighs and relaxes—she understands, now, why other ponies waste so much time chasing after this kind of thing. Why someone would drop anything and everything just to feel a lover’s touch.

She shudders, feeling Cherry’s muzzle in her mane and against her cheek. Hot breath across her coat. A hoof slides over her shoulders, pulling her into it. She closes her eyes and lets it all wash over her. It’s so much more than she ever imagined it could be, just feeling somepony else there, touching her.

Sorry, Beefcake. The real deal is just too good.

It is good. So, so good. More gooder than....well...shucks.

Who needs words, anyway?

She snaps her eyes open, aiming to return all these lovely favors. Applejack goes to nuzzle Cherry back, her hooves trembling, and ends up damn near tackling her. They tumble over sideways, and Applejack finds herself hovering over a lovely mare laid out on her back.

“Oh!” Cherry lowers her eyelids, her forelegs curled in close between them. “I don’t remember this part from last night.”

“Me neither,” Applejack pants out. Every part of her is filled with a rush of, of something, alive and wound up tight. She feels like she’s running, sprinting her heart out, about to take a jump and win the whole darn thing.

“Well?” Cherry’s lips turn up in an incredibly seductive smirk. “You gonna finish what you’re startin’ here, sugar?”

Applejack licks her lips, panting harder. She can feel Cherry’s legs wrapped loosely around her midsection. Her tail whips around like crazy.

This is it. You do this, there’s no turning back.

She stares longingly at the mare under her—the shining eyes, her mane all splayed out across the sheets, that cute little mark on her cheek.

What are you waiting for, idiot? She’s RIGHT HERE.

Applejack’s eyes go wider as it sinks in. This is real. It’s all happening.

Right there for the taking. For me.

And then Applejack takes her. She pushes in, cramming their lips together in a fierce kiss.

“MmmMMM!” Cherry moans, her forelegs trapped between them.

Applejack just about dies. It feels so good, better than anything she can think of. Even better than a stiff drink after a hard day’s work. She holds back at first, just pressing their lips together, feeling the tingles of hot, wet breath. But Cherry isn’t having it—she darts her tongue out, drawing Applejack’s into a sultry dance across their mouths.

It’s her first real kiss. She makes it a long one, never doing anything halfway. They fight back and forth, turning their heads this way and that. Applejack lowers her body, sliding her arms around Cherry’s shoulders and the back of her head, running her hooves through the silky curves of her mane.

Cherry vises her legs around Applejack, trapping her close. She can feel Cherry’s thick tail lashing up at her, tickling the backs of her thighs. She fights back, their tails copying their tongues, flicking and lashing against each other.

She can’t breathe. She pulls back, finally, feeling the other mare do the same, and opens her eyes.

Cherry is under her, squeezed close, looking almost dazed. Both of them are panting, their breaths fighting to catch up. Cherry yanks her arms out from between them and pulls Applejack down by the mane.

WHOA there!

Applejack’s eyes go wide and stay wide as she’s pulled into a rough kiss. She closes them right away—it’s weird and uncomfortable, keeping them open. Harder to focus on all the wonderful going on around her tongue.

Their bodies are pressed together, warm, so warm and close. Applejack feels Cherry’s lips pull away and then strike again, kissing all over her nose and muzzle and face. They’re tickling, wet little kisses, and Applejack chuckles blindly as they land all over and start running down her neck.

Cherry’s hooves slide down, down Applejack’s sides, sending shivers quaking through her body. She starts kissing back, not quite sure where she’s hitting—somewhere in the neck/cheek region, most like. She feels Cherry’s lips up by her ear, feels hot breath blowing loudly right into her hearing. Teeth start nibbling on the tender skin right under her ear.

“Ah...” Applejack almost moans, barely keeping a handle on it. She starts to squirm, to get away from that nibbling, it feels too good, but Cherry loops one arm around her back, holding her tight. The other arm slides up behind one of her thighs, locking their hips together.

She struggles vainly, just a little, having fun with it.

Shoot...she’s got me right where she wants me, huh?

Cherry keeps nibbling and kissing, driving Applejack crazy. She can feel the older mare flexing her hips up, into her, rubbing their coats together.

Mean trick, that. Well played.

Actin’ all...come and get me, I’m just a tender flower of a lady.

Now lookit her. Takin’ over.

Cherry pulls her into another rough kiss, expertly massaging with her tongue. Applejack surrenders to it, loving every second.

Boy, if only she could mount me!

She smiles through the kiss, making her mind up to at least try to give as good as she’s gettin’. She slides one hoof down Cherry’s back and around her side, caressing her smooth coat.

“Mmmnnn!” Applejack moans loudly as the other mare bites down on her lip, almost hard enough to hurt, sending her haunches shaking. She loses track of what her hoof was doing, just reveling in the action.

It’s weird—somehow, distantly, she lets go. Just...letting Cherry Jubilee have her way.

Shoot, if I was doin’ this with Rainbow we’d be fightin’ about who’s doin’ what by now.

Heh, probably woulda been fun.

But this is...I dunno, it’s...

Cherry takes Applejack’s hoof in her own, still kissing and nibbling. She guides Applejack’s hoof, sliding it down her exposed belly. Applejack doesn’t have to do a thing. She hangs back and lets someone else take charge, for once. Cherry guides her hoof lower, and Applejack’s breath catches in her throat as she lands in the wet, tender valley between the other mare’s legs.

“Ah~!” Cherry stops kissing and shudders at the touch, pressing her forehead against Applejack’s.

...It’s nice.

Applejack starts to rub with her hoof, just tracing a clumsy up-and-down stroke. She tries to be careful but her hoof is shaking, full of pent-up wants. Cherry lets out a cute little squeak, the kind of sound you’d never expect to hear from a mare like her. Applejack remembers to grin. It doesn’t last long.

“WHOA!” Applejack’s whole body jolts as Cherry slides her hoof down her belly, slamming right into that lovely special spot. There’s no eager shaking here—Cherry works her with a sure hoof, touching everything just right.

“Guh! Ah!” Applejack gasps out, raising her rump up on her hind legs, giving the other mare room to work her magic. Cherry draws her into a furious kiss, not missing a stroke all the while, sending Applejack’s hoof into shuddering, clumsy spasms.

Applejack growls into the other mare’s mouth, furrowing her brow. Cherry’s voice may be muffled, but it’s been replaced with that lovely tongue and that lovely hoof, doing all kinds of things Applejack’s never dreamed of. She starts bucking her hips a little, moaning as that hoof caresses between her folds.

Cherry breaks the kiss and grins up at her, smug, predatory. She squeezes Applejack in closer, yanking at the base of her thigh, not giving her room to squirm. Her hoof dances around that special spot, now hard and quivering.

“AH! D...da...ugh!” Applejack grunts, her upper body teetering on one hoof.

Damn damn DAMN GodDAMN!

Applejack grits her teeth and falls, defeated and happy about it. She shudders and groans, sweating all over the lovely lady mare under her. Her hoof fumbles around, tangled up in all kinds of limbs, still feebly fighting back.

She can feel Cherry’s sly grin against her cheek, and then the quick peck of a kiss. Cherry’s hoof makes one last fierce, maddening push, sliding right against the clit...

Holy bucking HELL is that good

Jolts of pleasure shoot out from that wonderful spot, everything below her navel is tingling. And then suddenly it’s gone and Applejack is pushed, rolled over onto her back. She pants loudly, her mouth lolling open. Her legs spread on their own, ready and wanting, she’s sopping wet and chomping at the bit.

But Cherry Jubilee, in what can only be madness, pulls Applejack’s legs closed. She sits up, still with that sly smile, and rolls Applejack onto her side. The feeling of her own thighs sliding together makes Applejack bite her lip.

She looks up, wound-up and confused.

What’s all this now?

As if reading her thoughts, Cherry winks at her.

I got this. Just lemme show you how it’s done.

And then Cherry dives down, running her tongue roughly up Applejack’s flank and across three red apples.

“AhhhhhhhhHHHH!” Applejack almost yells, digging her hooves into the quilt. Cherry forces her muzzle into Applejack’s flank, nuzzling and licking, drinking in the sweet red marks. Then she wedges her hoof between Applejack’s legs, and the orange mare decides now would be a fine time to lose her mind.

She howls in delight. Her tail jolts out straight, all the stray blond coming together. Her eyes go wide as pie tins, pupils shrunk to barely anything, her whole body taken over by the pleasure down in her hips. It’s ecstasy, complete and absolute, better than anything else in the whole damn world.

Cherry pulls back, roughly splaying Applejack’s legs open again. Applejack tenses up, barely able to, almost gone—and then Cherry bends down and dips her tongue inside, just firm enough, flicking it around the glistening need beneath Applejack's legs.

This time, Applejack really does lose her mind.

Her back arches, throwing her chin up towards the headboard. Her mouth hangs open, breathless.

Cherry runs her tongue up and down,

Applejack chokes on her own gasps,

then she slides her way up, flicking left and right,

she looks down and sees just a mop of lovely violet,

she finds her way home, to the top of the mound,

and then she feels a bolt of pure pleasure light up her whole mind.

Applejack throws her head back in a silent yell, tensing every muscle in her body. A valve inside her breaks and blows open wide as she comes, really comes, for the first time in her life.

* * *

She lies on her side, lazily looking out the window at nothing. At stars. It’s quiet, and still. The room around them is dimmer than the stars outside, lit by just a few dying candles.

One of Cherry’s arms hangs over her shoulder. She can feel the other mare breathing behind her.

It’s nice. She feels...

Wow. Most fun a mare can have, right there.

Different. Loose. Unwound. Almost drunk, a good drunk, like havin’ friends over and just takin’ it easy.

Different.

A weak little smile teases at her lips.

Didn’t know I had it in me.

It’s better. It’s...

Different.

She almost chuckles, wondering why that word keeps whispering itself in her ears.

Shoot, can’t believe I never did this bef—

She freezes. Her heart lurches in place as words and thoughts and memories come blaring into her head. Family. Friends. Apples.

What...what did I just DO?

This ain’t me. This ain’t honest ole’ Ponyville Applejack, most dependable of ponies.

What...what am I doin’?

What would Granny say? What would Mac say? How am I ever gonna explain this to Applebloom?

What the hay am I even talkin’ about?

All my friends are gonna laugh, like they knew all along, me lyin’ to ‘em all this time...

What would Momma and Papa say?

She cringes, uncomfortable under the other mare’s arm.

I can’t do this it ain’t me I can’t do this what was I thinkin’ oh sweet Celestia what am I gonna—

Cherry Jubilee scoots closer, nuzzling against the back of Applejack’s neck. She murmurs some sleepy nonsense. Applejack tenses up at the warm body against her back, but she can’t hold it—it all slips out of her in a pleased sigh.

But it feels so nice.

Applejack curls against Cherry’s arm, clinging onto it.

Maybe this is just some...I dunno, like a fluke weird kinda deal. I ain’t into mares.

A noble part of her scoffs in outrage at the idea.

That ain’t fair. Not to her. All she did wrong was want you. Care for you.

Applejack twists herself up in a worried scowl. She doesn’t feel different anymore. She’s wound up, penned in, torn in a dozen stressful directions at once. Worn thin.

It felt nice, for a just a little bit there. Like nothing mattered.

Like everything was gonna be okay.

She misses that feeling.

This is all moot anyway, I’m gonna be headin’ back to Ponyville just another few weeks.

Her eyes light up. That’s it!

That’s it! It’s just...this place. Everything’s different.

She wonders briefly if maybe there’s something in the water here.

No, that’s cockamamie. It’s just...

There is Ponyville Applejack. And there is Dodge Junction Applejack. And they are different things. And that is okay.

There we go. Simple as that.

She nods to herself, snuggled warmly against another mare.

Nopony has to know.

She smiles a little, happy to feel different again. Almost relaxed.

Nopony’ll ever know.

She can go home and stuff this whole lovely thing in the same bag as those damn every-color-but-blue ribbons and we can all move on same as before.

That’s right.

She nods again. She’s free. Free, here, for a just a little while. She stares out at the stars again, clear and twinkling in the dry air. She shuffles her back, snuggling against the warm body behind her.

And she loves every beautiful second of it.