cooopercrisp's 1,000 Word Prompts

by cooopercrisp

Rating: mature
Tags: Slice of Life
Length: 16985

A collection of 1,000 word shorts to get me back into writing form.

These are just a bunch of short snippets I'm writing to try to get back into the writing form. Originally intended as daily prompts, I'm now writing these in between working on my other stories.

Cover image not related, it's just my profile pic.

The Teen rating was bumped up to Mature for some clop I'm writing as of March 1, 2014.

Chapters marked with an asterisk are incomplete stories. Chapters will get other tags as needed.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-03-05 01:46:10 UTC

The Letdown

        “Let’s not forget about the last Hearts and Hooves Day,” Scootaloo grumbled. The three crusaders were at school, and memories of last year’s fiasco were plaguing them. They had completely embarrassed Big Mac and Cheerilee. Apple Bloom had done extra chores for a month to make up for the ludicrous idea.

        “I still think they would have been cute together,” Sweetie Belle maintained. Scootaloo rolled her eyes.

        “Well, Twilight’s banned us from taking out that book talking about love potions,” Scootaloo reminded her friends. “And for good reason. We were acting like morons.”

        “Pretty strange for you to admit that, Scoots,” Apple Bloom teased.

        “What’s that supposed to mean?” Scootaloo asked, glaring at Apple Bloom.

        “You’re always the one comin’ up with these hare-brained schemes to get our cutie marks. And they get us nowhere.”

        “So? At least I’m creative.”

        “You’re also kinda dangerous,” Sweetie Belle said carefully. “I mean, you gotta admit, you come up with the ones that get us into the most trouble.”

        “Oh yeah? Well at least I have ideas! You two are the ones who hesitate and always try to hold me back. How are we ever gonna get our cutie marks if we don’t take some chances?”

        “We’re too old to be actin’ like that now! We’re in the fifth grade! We gotta start bein’ more mature.”

        “Oh no…” Sweetie Belle moaned. “Girls, hide me!” She ducked behind Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

        “What’s with you?” Scootaloo asked, but then she saw that telltale beanie and carton of apple juice. “Oh, for Celestia’s sake, Sweetie Belle. You’ve gotta stop hiding from him.”

        “I don’t want him to notice me!” Sweetie Belle cried. “He always comes over and talks way too much about his ‘video games,’ and no matter what I say, I can’t get him to leave me alone!”

        “Maybe he likes ya,” Apple Bloom suggested. Button Mash looked around and saw Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. He also saw who he was looking for crouching behind them.

        “Hey, Cutie Mark Crusaders!” he called with his whiny voice before galloping over. “What’s happening?”

        “Hi, Button Mash,” Apple Bloom greeted him politely. “How’re you doing?”

        “Great! Hi, Sweetie Belle!” Button waved enthusiastically.

        “Hi…” Sweetie Belle mumbled, waving back halfheartedly.

        “Didja hear about that new game that came out yesterday? I hear it’s one of the coolest games ever!”

        “Ya don’t say?” Apple Bloom said. “What’s it about?”

        “Oh, it’s great! You’re on an island, and you get to build all kindsa stuff! I was wondering if you wanted to come over and play with me after school!”

        “Are you even allowed to have fillies over?” Scootaloo asked.

        “What’re you talking about? Of course I am! My mom’s not lame like other moms. She actually likes playing video games, too!”

        “That’s great…” Sweetie Belle muttered.

        “It is pretty cool!” Button said. “I mean, how many foals can say they have an awesome mom like that?”

        “I wouldn’t know,” Apple Bloom said bitterly.

        “Oh, Apple Bloom. I’m really sorry,” Button said. “You must think I’m such a jerk.”

        “Nah, it’s no big deal. I just wish I could remember what my parents were like.” Apple Bloom stared off in the distance.

        “Trust me, you’re not missing much,” Scootaloo snapped. “Always grounding you, making you do your homework. It’s not fun.”

        “Don’t listen to her, Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle said. “It’s really hard when you don’t have parents to care about you. But you’ve got Applejack and Big Mac and Granny Smith, and you’re all one happy family, right?”

        “I suppose so,” Apple Bloom said.

        “I think I kinda know how you feel,” Button chimed in. “I don’t even know what happened to my dad, and every time I bring it up to Mom she tells me to be quiet or to go to my room.”

        “That’s awful,” Apple Bloom said. “You deserve to know who your parents are, and if they’re gone, what happened to ’em.”

        “Yeah, but what can you do?” Button asked. “Anyway, Sweetie Belle, sure you don’t wanna come over and play with me?”

        “Depends on what you mean by ‘play with you,’” Scootaloo muttered.

        “Huh?” Button asked.

        “Ignore her,” Sweetie Belle said. “Anyway, I don’t think I have time today. My sister wants to take me shopping in Trottingham.”

        “Man, you’re always so busy,” Button complained. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to avoid me.”

        Scootaloo opened her mouth, but Apple Bloom stuffed her hoof in it. Peeved, Scootaloo licked it with her tongue, and Apple Bloom quickly took it out and wiped it on the ground.

        “You’re disgusting!” she complained to Scootaloo.

        “You’re the one shoving hooves in places where they don’t belong,” Scootaloo retorted. “Speaking of shoving hooves into places where they don’t belong…”

        “Scootaloo, please!” Sweetie Belle cried, now blushing. “We get the point already.”

        “Well, maybe you want to be honest to Button Mash for once!” Scootaloo snapped.

        “Huh?” Button asked. “Sweetie Belle, what’s she talking about?”

        “Scootaloo!” Sweetie squeaked. “That’s not fair!”

        “No, what’s not fair is being so polite that you end up stringing the poor guy along!”

        “What?” Button asked, scratching his head. Apple Bloom smiled and put a hoof on her shoulder.

        “I think what Scootaloo means is…” she started.

        “No, Apple Bloom,” Sweetie said. “Let me tell him.”

        “Tell me what?”

        “Come on, Button,” Sweetie said. “Let’s go talk where we won’t be interrupted.” She shot Scootaloo a dirty look. Scootaloo smiled sheepishly.

        “Um, okay…” Button said as he walked with Sweetie Belle over to the far end of the playground. He looked confused as Sweetie Belle gave him a serious look.

        “Button, I think I know why you’re always trying to talk to me and inviting me over,” she began.

        “What do you mean?” Button asked, although his cheeks turned pink.

        “Look, it’s Hearts and Hooves Day. I think you know what I’m talking about.”

        “Oh.” Button’s cheeks blushed even harder. “You know, maybe you’re right. But I mean, just...look at you! You’re really pretty and smart and you’re always so nice to me―”

        “Button, please let me finish,” Sweetie Belle requested, and Button Mash stopped talking. “Look, I’m always really nice and polite to you because...well, I’m a nice pony. But I have to be honest. I don’t really feel the same way about you…”

        “Oh.” Button said, looking away. He looked completely downtrodden, and Sweetie realized too late that Hearts and Hooves Day was probably the worst day to be letting him down.

        “Look, I still wanna be friends,” she started, but Button held up a hoof.

        “No, I’m not gonna get stuck in the friendzone. I was really nervous about telling you how I felt. I thought about it for weeks, and today it seemed especially important. I was gonna tell you when you came over today, but I guess there’s no point now.” He began to walk away.

        “Button, where are you going?” Sweetie asked.

        “I gotta get to class,” he called, not missing a beat. Sweetie watched him leave sadly before her two best friends went over to her.

        “That could have gone better,” Scootaloo said. “He looks like shit.”

        “Scootaloo, come on,” Apple Bloom said. “Look, Sweetie, I’m proud of what you did. It’s not easy bein’ honest about that kinda thing sometimes.”

        “You know, it’s funny,” Sweetie said. “At first he just annoyed me, but now that I get what’s going on, I’m starting to feel bad for him.”

        “Oh, dear Celestia, don’t give him a pity date,” Scootaloo warned her.

        “I wasn’t gonna do that,” Sweetie exclaimed. “I just don’t wanna see him down in the dumps like that.”

        “He’ll get over it,” Scootaloo said, waving a hoof. “He’s a colt. He’ll just jump onto the next filly who looks halfway decent.”

        “If he gets lucky, that is,” Sweetie said with a wink.

        “Hey, I’m the one who’s supposed to make the innuendos around here!” Scootaloo protested. Suddenly, the school bell rang.

        “Looks like we’re going back to class,” Apple Bloom said. “Do ya think we apologized enough to Cheerilee about last year?”

        “The way we’re going,” Scootaloo replied, “we’ll have to apologize for apologizing too much.”

        The three crusaders laughed as they made their way back into the school.

The Trip (Part 1/3)

        There was a loud rapping at the door of the Golden Oaks library. Twilight moaned and peeked at the clock on her wall. 3:00 in the morning.

Who’s knocking on the door at thishour? she wondered as she dragged herself out of bed and down the stairs. The knocking became more incessant the longer it went on. Twilight’s fatigue waned when she started to wonder why the pony knocking was in such an urgent state.

        She opened the door and watched as Rarity collapsed onto the floor. She was giggling uncontrollably and her eyes were bloodshot. Twilight lifted her up with magic and tried to set her down, but Rarity swooned when she was upright, and Twilight had to keep her in her magical hold.

        “Rarity, what’s going on?” Twilight asked urgently.

        “Twilight, it’s...you...I just wanted to see you for a moment,” Rarity slurred. She suddenly panicked and darted her eyes around the room.

        “Spike’s not here, is he?” she stammered.

        “He’s still asleep,” Twilight said, her eyes betraying true worry for her friend.

        “Good. I don’t want him to see me like this…” Rarity started giggling again. “Although, maybe it would be kinda...kinda funny if he did. Oh, Spike!” she suddenly shouted. Before she had a chance to make a louder cry, Twilight cast a spell on the door to her room to muffle the sounds from the outside. She then set Rarity down on the couch and watched in disbelief as she rubbed herself against the fabric.

        “This couch is so soft…” she slurred as she pawed at it like a kitten. “Wherever did you get it? That strange Quill and Sofa place?”

        “Rarity, what’s going on?” Twilight asked, unable to hide the distress in her voice.

        “Oh, well I was at this party, you see, and...was I drinking? I must have been, because my drink tasted funny and the next thing I knew I was floating on air!”

        “Rarity! Somepony must have put something in your drink! What kind of party was this?”

        “Well, it was in Trotterham,” Rarity said, which Twilight took to mean Trottingham, the nearest city to Ponyville. “The music was really loud! My ears are still ringing, but I don’t even care! I was laughing and dancing and there was a cute gentlecolt who I think...I think he was looking to take me home, and I almost took him up on that offer. But then I started to feel really dizzy and then I knocked him to the ground when I stumbled and he must have been offended because he stormed off. And then the rest…” Rarity waved her hooves in the air. “The rest of the night vanished, and all I remember is knocking at your door! Please tell me Spike can’t hear me! Oh, I still can’t decide if I want to see him or not!”

        “Rarity,” Twilight said, her breaths coming faster as a result of the new developments, “I think I should bring you to the hospital.”

        “No!” Rarity bellowed, startling Twilight. “Could you imagine this getting out to all of Ponyville? My reputation would be ruined!”

        Twilight relaxed a bit. If Rarity was still collected enough to be concerned with her social standing, perhaps the situation wasn’t so dire.

        “Twilight, where’s Spike? I think I want to see him now. Or maybe I don’t! Oh, I don’t know what I want!” Rarity hiccuped and started giggling again. “Bring him down here. Yes, bring him down. Bring him down, bring him down! Spikey-Wikey, come on down!”

        Twilight bit her lip, the gears in her head whirring. Perhaps it would make Rarity calmer if she saw Spike, and that if she was calmer she might go to sleep.

        “Okay, Rarity, I’ll go get him,” Twilight said, ready to dash up the stairs. She reconsidered and levitated Rarity to bring her upstairs instead.

        “Wheeeeeeeeeee!” Rarity cheered as Twilight galloped up the stairs. She removed the barrier on the bedroom door and opened it.

        “Spike, wake up!” Twilight called urgently, rushing over and shaking him back and forth with her hoof. Spike mumbled groggily and opened his eyes to see Twilight and Rarity. Spike stared at Rarity in disbelief.

        “What’s wrong with her?” he asked.

        “I don’t know! I think she’s on something, but I can’t tell what it is.”

        “On something? What are you talking about?”

        “I think somepony slipped something into her drink.”

        “Oh, that kind of something?” Spike asked in a panic. “We need to get her to the hospital!”

        “Twilight, put me down!” Rarity demanded. “I want to talk with my little Spikey-Wikey alone.”

        “No way am I leaving you alone with him in your condition,” Twilight said sternly.

        “That’s so unfair!” Rarity said, but then she started giggling again. “No, it’s fine if you see it.”

        “See what?” Twilight asked, butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

        “Just put me down!” Rarity shouted, and Twilight was so spooked that she let her drop. Rarity slowly got up from the floor and stumbled over to Spike.

        “Rarity, what’s going on?” Spike asked, stepping away from her as she slinked closer.

        “You’ve no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this…” she said. Suddenly, inexplicably, she pounced on Spike and kissed him passionately, running her hoof through his scales. Spike’s eyes bugged open in surprise, but Twilight grabbed Rarity with her magic and lifted her away from Spike.

        “Rarity, you’re not in your right mind right now and you need to go to bed!” Twilight declared.

        “But I love him, Twily…” Rarity said with a pout. Spike was still stunned at the sudden kiss.

        “You’re very confused and whatever was in that drink is clouding your judgment! Now I’m going to take you home and you’re going to go right to sleep!”

        “But I want to stay here!” Rarity whined.

        Twilight was done negotiating. She marched out of her room, levitating Rarity behind her as she began her journey to Carousel Boutique.

        “Stay here, Spike, and wait for me to come back,” Twilight said.

        “Um, okay…” Spike replied blankly. Twilight then took Rarity with her out of sight, leaving Spike alone, lost in his own thoughts.

The Trip (Part 2/3)

        With Twilight having left Spike alone, he had little to do but mull over that kiss.

That was weird. Not what I was expecting at all. I mean...did I even like it? I mean, yeah, it’s Rarity, but...she was so out of it. How does she even feel about me, if she’s willing to do that but only when she’s “on something,” or whatever Twilight meant by that. Is she too scared to kiss me when she’s sober? Or maybe she doesn’t like me and she was just being loopy…

        Spike groaned and lied down in his basket, staring at the ceiling. He closed his eyes, but his mind was still whirring and he couldn’t shut it off.

What should I do? Should I go to the boutique tomorrow and talk to her? Or should I leave it alone and wait ’til she’s ready to talk to me? What does this mean about us? *Is* there an us?

        Spike groaned and turned over on his side.

I’m too young for this…

        He heard hoofsteps coming up the stairs. Assuming it was Twilight, he didn’t respond.

        “Yoohoo, Spike…” came a sultry voice that definitely didn’t belong to Twilight.

        “Rarity,” Spike replied nervously, “what are you doing back here?”

        “Twilight and I had a talk,” Rarity said, “and she agreed to let me back up here. I came to...finish what I started, so to speak, and I won’t leave until I’ve finished properly.”

        “What are you talking about?” Spike asked.

        Rarity remained silent, instead choosing to saunter over to him and plant another fiery kiss on his lips. Spike was sent off on a whirlwind as he returned the kiss eagerly, reaching out to touch her face.

        “Spike!” Twilight called, shaking him from his reverie. When he opened his eyes and saw Twilight, he realized it had been a dream. He rubbed his eyes and turned to her nervously.

        “Twilight, what am I gonna do?” he stammered. “Rarity, she...I didn’t expect her to do that, and I wanna know why! Does she like me? Was she just wasted and not herself? What am I gonna do the next time I see her? What do you think—”

        “Hush now, Spike,” Twilight said softly, and already he could feel his nerves settling. “To be honest, I have no idea what was wrong with Rarity tonight. She fell asleep while I was levitating her, so I just set her softly to bed.”

        “By herself?” Spike asked. “But we don’t know what she was on! What if it kills her?”

        “Spike, it’s not going to kill her,” Twilight responded. “I checked her vitals when I set her down. Her pulse and heartbeat were normal and she was breathing soundly. Besides, Roseluck saw us and agreed to watch over her for the night when I told her what had happened. It’s going to be fine.”

        “But Twilight,” Spike said, “what am I gonna do tomorrow? What do I say to Rarity if she comes over, or if I see her out in Ponyville? What if she doesn’t remember what happened? What if she does remember and it didn’t mean anything to her?”

        “Spike, please,” Twilight said, stroking his head. “Let’s just think logically for a minute. Has Rarity ever shown signs of liking you that way?”

        The question made Spike think, allowing him to calm his emotions and handle the situation more pragmatically. “Well, she always smiles when she sees me, and she gives me gems to eat whenever I help her, and she’s always really nice.”

        “It’s because she’s a good friend,” Twilight replied. “She’s deeply grateful for all the help you give her, and she is always happy to see you, but that doesn’t mean she likes you that way.”

        “Well then why did she kiss me? That’s not something a ‘friend’ would do.” Spike crossed his arms and pulled away from Twilight.

        “Spike, I think...well, whatever she took tonight, it might have warped her thinking a bit. Perhaps it was her own bizarre way of sharing her gratitude with you. Her head wasn’t thinking clearly, but I think her heart was in the right place. Does that make sense?”

        Spike sighed and faced Twilight again angrily. “No, it doesn’t make sense! A kiss is a kiss, no matter how it happens, and you can’t mistake that for anything! I’m gonna go over to Carousel Boutique tomorrow and get her to confess how she feels about me.”

        “And what do you think will come of that?” Twilight responded, noticing a sharpness in her voice that reflected her waning patience. “I mean, do you honestly expect a full-grown mare to fall in love with a dragon who is still in his infancy?”

        “I’m old enough to know what’s going on!” Spike shouted back. “And what does age have to do with it? It’s just a number.”

        Twilights sighed and rubbed her temple. “Spike, look. I know you’ve had a crush on Rarity for a long time, and up until now, I’ve just accepted it as a young drake’s hormones developing in a healthy way. But if you confuse this for an actual chance at a relationship, I think you’re going to get your heart broken needlessly. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you’re just too young to even attract Rarity, let alone start to date her.”

        Spike let out a deep sigh, and tears began to well in his eyes. “Why can’t this work out? Why do I have to get stuck being her friend when we both know I’m hoping for more?” A few tears leaked out of his eyes and ran down his cheeks. “I almost don’t even wanna see her anymore. It’s too painful.”

        “Spike, you know that would break Rarity’s heart,” Twilight said. “She wouldn’t dream of putting you through so much torment, and she would hate to see you this sad. But you have to accept reality, and realize that there will be other ponies, or dragons, or maybe even a griffon.”

        “Yeah, but it won’t ever be the same,” Spike grumbled.

        “I know it hurts right now,” Twilight said, “but it’ll get easier over time.”

        “Maybe you’re right,” Spike said, “but I don’t have to take your word for it. I’m going to Rarity’s tomorrow and hearing it straight from her. Then we’ll see if you’re right.”

        Twilight smiled. “If that’s what you want to do, I think that will be all right. Would you mind terribly much if I went with you?”

        “I’d rather it be kept private,” Spike said, glaring at Twilight.

        “I’d only go to make sure Rarity understood what happened. For all we know, she might not even remember it, so it’s only fair to give her all the facts before hearing you out.”

        “Fine,” Spike said. “I’m tired and I wanna go to bed.”

        “Okay,” Twilight said, breathing a sigh of relief. “Goodnight, Spike.”

        “Yeah, yeah,” he said before shutting his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

The Trip (Part 3/3)

        Alas, Spike’s sleep was dreamless, and when he woke up in the morning he felt a feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. His assertion that he was going to see Rarity today was fading fast. He shut his eyes to try to block out the sun and rolled over onto his stomach.

        Twilight prodded him gently in the back, and his claw stretched behind him to swat her hoof away. Twilight giggled and prodded him again, and he swiped his claw harder.

        “Spike, you said you were going to talk to Rarity today…” Twilight said with a giggle.

        “What’s so funny?” Spike mumbled.

        “Oh, nothing much. I figured you would be ready to go as soon as possible, and to see you sleeping like this is just kinda...ironic.”

        “Twilight, maybe it’d be better if I didn’t know…”

        Twilight’s smile faded. “Didn’t know what?” she asked.

        “About Rarity. I know she doesn’t like me that way. Why do I have to hear her say it?”

        Twilight sat down next to Spike’s bed, no longer in a mood to tease him. “Spike, what’s the worst that could happen? If it turns out she doesn’t like you that way, nothing will change, because you’re expecting that anyway.”

        “What do you mean ‘if?’” Spike demanded, now turning back over and facing Twilight with a glare. “You were a lot more certain she didn’t like me last night.”

        “I know I was. I was flustered by the situation last night and I took that out on you. I’m sorry.”

        “Like I’m supposed to believe that,” Spike grumbled. “You were so dead set against me having any hope. Why change that now?”

        “Because I was thinking about it last night since I couldn’t sleep, and I realized that it’s not up to me to decide what’s best for the two of you. It’s really something you and Rarity need to decide for yourselves. And if there’s actually something there, I have no authority to stand in your way. You may still be in your infancy cycle, but you’re mature enough to know what you’re getting into. I think we all fall into the trap of underestimating you…” Twilight frowned and turned away. Spike felt a warmth in his heart and smiled, rising out of his basket and giving Twilight a hug.

        “I’m ready to talk to her now,” he said.

        “Are you sure?” Twilight asked, turning her head to face him. “I don’t want you to do something you’re not ready for.”

        “I’m not ready for it,” Spike said with a bold smirk, “but I’m doing it anyway.”

        “That’s...quite mature,” Twilight said, now grinning. “See? I underestimated you again.”

        “Don’t worry about it, Twilight,” Spike said, patting her on the back. “You’re not the first. You won’t be the last. Now let’s go before I get a chance to brood about it and chicken out.”

        “Lead the way, then,” Twilight said, pointing her hoof at the door. Spike walked with a swagger in his step that Twilight desperately hoped would not be punctured. But, as she said, it was up to him and Rarity to decide. It wasn’t her place to dash his hopes for the sake of trying to protect him.

        When Twilight knocked on the door to the Carousel Boutique, they heard Rarity moan for them to come in. When they entered, they saw her lying on the couch with a large cup of water in her hoof. She took a slow drink from it and rubbed her temple with her free hoof.

        “As you can see, I had to close the store today to recover from...from whatever happened last night.”

        “Yeah, about that…” Twilight said, unsure of how to bring up the subject of Spike, or if Rarity even remembered what had happened between her and Spike.

        “Oh dear…” Rarity said, glancing over at Spike, who was wearing the most conflicted expression on his face. He was staring intensely at her with a mixture of fear and excitement. It made her stomach even more unsettled than it already was. “Why, hello Spike. Um...what brings you over here?” Rarity glanced at Twilight nervously.

        Twilight turned to Spike looking for reassurance. He nodded in her direction, and Twilight nodded in reply. “I’m going to leave you two to talk,” she said. “I’ll just, um...wait outside.” She hustled over to the front door of the boutique and showed herself out.

        Rarity gazed over at Spike, but she couldn’t look into his eyes for long. She sighed and took another sip of water.

        Spike twiddled his thumbs, the confidence he’d had leaving the library now quickly deflating. “Do you...do you even remember what happened last night?” he asked.

        “The kiss, Spike. Let’s call it what it was. No use tiptoeing around the subject when we should be talking about it like grown-ups.”

        “Yeah, well, um...uh...why?”

        Rarity rubbed her temple and let out a long sigh. “I’ve always known that you liked me, Spike. And I’ve always felt, well...like I was using you.”

        “Using me?” Spike asked. This was the first time he had even considered that.

        “Oh, darling, your naivete breaks my heart,” Rarity said. “You’re still young to the ways of the world, aren’t you? I constantly ask favors of you because, well...I know for a fact you’ll do anything for me as long as I ask it. It’s quite convenient...I mean for me, certainly not for you, and...this is all coming out wrong!” Rarity’s shouting left her head reeling, and she took another sip of water.

        “I think I see what you’re getting at,” Spike said. “Well, Twilight kinda does the same thing, sometimes, but I think it’s for a different reason.”

        “You’re like the little brother she never had,” Rarity said. “She talks about you all the time, you know, whenever we see each other. I imagine it’s because she knows how you feel about me and how close we are. And we are close, Spike, just...not like that.”

        This was the answer Spike had been expecting and dreading since he first woke up this morning. He turned away from Rarity. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” he said. “Twilight said it would never work between us.”

        “Spike, that’s...well, I can’t say that’s not true, given the norms with which I grew up. And I suppose at this point I can ask no more of you. I’ve been brutally unfair to you, and it’s about time I admitted it and started to treat you better, like more of an equal.”

        “An equal?” Spike asked.

        “Spike, when I woke up this morning, you were all I could think about,” Rarity said. “Once I remembered what had happened last night, I realized that I was taking you for granted and treating you like a child.”

        “But, hold on,” Spike said. “I mean, I’m not surprised this is how you would respond, but why kiss me in the first place if you know you didn’t like me that way?”

        “I think…” Rarity said, trying to concentrate through her headache, “that I’ve been needing to find a way to express my gratitude. I knew deep down I had to repay you for all of your kindness, and in my...unsettled state, I gave you the thing I thought you wanted most. My judgment eluded me, and I want to apologize for confusing you. I can only imagine how I would feel if the stallion of my affections came onto me so suddenly in such a restless state.”

        “Keep Trenderhoof away from the hard stuff then,” Spike said with a sneer. Rarity laughed heartily, but then groaned and held her head.

        “I appreciate the humor, Spike, but I don’t think I can laugh safely right now,” Rarity said. “It makes me happy to see you taking this in stride.”

        “Well, it’s like Twilight said,” Spike replied, “the worst that could happen is that I’d be in the same place I started. And I guess a lot of the stress has been taken away. I mean, well...I think I need some time to be sad for a while, but there’s no reason we can’t stay good friends.”

        Rarity’s eyes welled up. “Oh, Spike, I’m ever so grateful to hear that.”

        “Aw, don’t cry, Rarity,” Spike said, walking over to her and wiping the tears from her eyes. “I think whatever was in that drink kinda threw you for a loop.”

        “You’re right, of course,” Rarity said. “I need some time to recover.”

        “Well, if that’s what you need, I can give that to you.”

        Rarity mouthed the words “thank you” at Spike with a smile on her face.

        “Well, I guess I’ll tell Twilight we’re done talking, and we’ll be on our way. Do you want us to stop by later today to check up on you?”

        “I would love that, Spike,” Rarity said. “Thank you.”

        “Don’t mention it.” Spike waved at Rarity and walked out the door to meet back up with Twilight.

        “How’d it go?” she asked when Spike came over to her.

        “It went well, Twilight,” Spike said. “You were right, of course, but it’s not really so bad.”

        “I’m glad to hear it,” Twilight said with a smile. “Let’s go home, and I’ll make you a really nice lunch.”

        “Twilight, if I want nice, you know I’m gonna have to make it myself.”

        Twilight laughed a bit harder than she should have, and Spike grinned as the two of them walked down the road on their way back to the library.

The Injury (Part 1/5)

        Applejack wiped away the sweat pouring from her forehead as she bucked yet another apple tree. Her hind legs slammed into the tree, and a fiery pain shot through her legs. She moaned and fell to the ground, cursing under her breath as she waited for the pain to pass.

        Big Mac approached, pulling a wagon full of baskets of apples, and he hustled over to Applejack as soon as he saw her on the ground.

        “Applejack, what happened?” he asked with a pang of worry in his voice.

        Applejack was breathing heavily. She looked up at her brother and blushed, then tried to pick herself off of the ground. Her hind legs wobbled and gave out on her, bringing her back into the dirt. Big Mac unhitched himself from the wagon and lifted Applejack onto his back.

        “Will ya put me down, ya big oaf?” Applejack asked. “I can take care of myself.”

        “I’m taking you inside. You need to rest.” Big Mac was already making his way towards the house.

        “But we’re behind schedule on the apple bucking as it is!” she shouted, but her hind legs were aching, so she stopped protesting.

        “How long have you been working today?” Big Mac asked.

        “I started at sunup,” Applejack said in between heavy breaths.

        Big Mac looked to the sky and saw the setting sun shining pink and orange. “Did ya take any breaks today, like for lunch?”

        “Uh…”

        “Applejack, I thought you knew better than that. Didn’t Twilight warn you about not taking too much on yourself?”

        “Big Mac, I know you’re concerned, but I’m not really in the mood for lectures.”

        “I know. I’m sorry, sis, but I get like this when I’m worried.”

        “I’m gonna be fine, Mac. Just a little sore is all.” Another twinge of pain cascaded down her legs and she gasped.

        “No way, missy. We might have to get Nurse Redheart to make a house call.”

        “Will you quit fretting? This happens all the time.”

        “How many times has this happened before?” Big Mac asked. The house was now in sight, and he hustled as fast as he could while keeping Applejack securely on his back.

        “Uh...well, the last time it happened was...erm…” Another shot of pain had her reeling.

        “Land’s sake, AJ, are you sure you didn’t break ’em?”

        “I’m positive! For Celestia’s sake, you worry more than Twilight! Just give me a few minutes rest and I’ll be up and at ’em again before you know it.”

        “Well, I’m definitely getting Nurse Redheart to check up on you. I wanna make sure you’re okay.”

        Applejack let out a sigh. “Whatever makes ya feel better.”

        “Good.” They arrived at the house, and Big Mac went immediately upstairs and laid Applejack on the bed.

        “Now, you stay right there and don’t move a muscle. Do ya want anything for dinner? Some soup?”

        “I’ll let you know when I’m hungry,” Applejack said. “Now, go on. Don’t mind me any. I’m gonna be fine.”

        “Okay, I’ll be fine as long as you stay in bed,” Big Mac said. He backed away from the bed and left before shutting the bedroom door behind him.

        Applejack huffed and turned over on her side. Big Mac’s just being a worry-wart. Maybe I was working too hard, but it’s just a little pain from a long day of work. I’m sure I’ll be fine in the morning.

        Her hind legs were throbbing now, and Applejack was doing her best to ignore them and trying to fall asleep. The pain kept her awake, and she groaned in frustration as she turned over on her stomach and buried her head in her pillow.

        There was a knock at the door, and Applejack cringed before lifting her head from the pillow.

        “Big Mac, if that’s you checkin’ up on me, you can just forget it.”

        “Sis?” came the voice of Apple Bloom. Applejack felt a pang of guilt at being so short with her sister.

        “Sorry, Apple Bloom. You can come in.” The door opened, and Apple Bloom went up to the bed and stood up on her hind legs, resting her forelegs on the side of the bed.

        “Big Mac told me you injured yourself. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

        “Injured myself? He’s making such a big deal out of it! I’m just a little sore, that’s all. You can tell him to stop bein’ such a pain in the butt and leave me be!”

        “Sheesh, don’t shoot the messenger,” Apple Bloom said. “Do you want me to leave you alone?”

        Applejack was flustered, but she took a calming breath. “No. I’m real sorry, Apple Bloom. My hind legs really hurt, and they’re keepin’ me from fallin’ asleep.”

        “I’m real sorry to hear that,” Apple Bloom said. “I wish I coulda helped you with the buckin’. Then maybe you wouldn’t have had to do so much on your own.”

        “It ain’t your fault, Bloom. I just bit off more than I could chew today, and I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

        “Big Mac said he went to see if Nurse Redheart could stop by to check up on you.”

        Applejack smiled. “I owe him an apology. I know he’s just worried about me, and maybe I was downplayin’ it a bit. They still hurt really bad…” As if on cue, a fiery shot of pain crawled up her hind legs. Applejack winced, and Apple Bloom gasped.

        “Do ya want me to get some pain pills for ya? I think Granny Smith has some for her hip. Maybe you can borrow some from her.”

        “No, no. She needs ’em more than I do. Just...let Big Mac know I wanna see him when he gets back.”

        “Can do, sis!” Apple Bloom proclaimed before leaving the room. Applejack smiled. She couldn’t blame her family for trying to take care of her. Now she just hoped she could recover as quickly as possible.

The Injury (Part 2/5)

        Big Mac knocked gently on Applejack’s door, having heard no stirring from inside her room. When she didn’t answer, he opened it a crack and peered into the room. Her eyes were closed, she was breathing deeply, and there was a calm look on her face that he hadn’t seen in a long time. He smiled and carefully shut the door.

        Big Mac made for his own room, but a door opened and Apple Bloom ran into his leg. He looked down at her, a bundle of nerves, and smiled.

        “She’s sound asleep,” he said, and the panicked look on Apple Bloom’s face faded.

        “That’s a good thing, right?” she asked.

        Big Mac nodded.

        “Oh, but I wanted to check up on her,” she said with a pout. “I wanna make sure she’s okay.”

        “She’s sleepin’ like an angel,” Big Mac said, “and Nurse Redheart agreed to check on her first thing in the morning. I can sleep easy knowing AJ’s gonna get the care she needs, and you should, too.”

        Apple Bloom gazed intently at Applejack’s door, but then returned her gaze to Big Mac and nodded.

        “You have a goodnight, sis,” he said, leading by example and going to his room. Apple Bloom looked once again at her sister’s door before reluctantly returning to her own room.

        “Applejack?” Nurse Redheart asked gently. She was in her bedroom with Big Mac and Granny Smith, all three looking at Applejack with concern. Big Mac had never seen her this sound asleep, and it was a little worrisome.

        “Is she gonna get up?” Granny Smith asked, and Redheart turned to her.

        “I’m sure the incident’s left her exhausted, but we’ll need her awake before I can check up on her.”

        “Right,” Big Mac said. He then prodded his sister gently. “AJ? You gotta get up.”

        “Huh?” Applejack said, gradually waking up. She looked up into Redheart’s face and her eyes shot open.

        “What the—? Why in the world is...Mac!”

        “AJ, I told ya I was bringing Nurse Redheart over to check up on you.”

        “What for? I’m totally fine,” she said, rising from her bed. The other three ponies winced when Applejack’s hind legs touched the floor and she hollered in pain. Big Mac immediately helped her back into bed, and for once she didn’t object.

        “We don’t want you moving anywhere anytime soon until we know what’s wrong with you,” Redheart informed her. Applejack nodded and rested her hind legs on the bed. Redheart took out a cuff connected to a large rubber bulb.

        “I’m just going to take your blood pressure,” she said, wrapping the cuff around Applejack’s foreleg and keeping her eye on the meter as she began squeezing the bulb. Applejack felt the cuff getting tighter and tighter and could actually feel the blood pumping through her veins, but just as the pressure was about to be painful, Redheart stopped and slowly let out air. She eyed the meter with concern and looked at Applejack as she put it aside.

        “Your blood pressure’s a bit high,” she informed her. “How hard have you been working in the fields?”

        “Well, um...yesterday I worked from sunup to sundown, but that was just a normal day for me.”

        “Normal?” Redheart asked, turning to Granny Smith.

        “She and Big Mac are hard-workin’ ponies,” Granny Smith told her. “Hardest workin’ ponies in Ponyville.”

        “While that is admirable,” Redheart said, “I’m afraid strenuous labor day in and day out takes a toll on a pony’s body. I need to have a look at her hind legs.” Redheart turned and reached for Applejack’s legs.

        “Now hold on a second!” Applejack implored. “Is this gonna hurt?”

        “It might,” Redheart said, “but if I don’t get a feel for what’s going on, I can’t properly treat you.”

        She touched Applejack’s legs, and Applejack winced. Redheart took care not to aggravate the injury, but she felt around the leg looking for the source of the pain. When she kneaded the leg, she immediately stopped after Applejack cried out.

        “Is she okay?” Big Mac asked in alarm.

        “She’ll be fine,” Redheart said. “I know what the issue is now.”

        “What is it?” Granny Smith asked.

        “She has stress fractures in her hind legs,” Redheart announced, and the room went quiet. Applejack’s face was the picture of panic, while Big Mac and Granny Smith stared at her worriedly.

        “She’s going to be okay,” Redheart said, “provided she stay in bed for a few weeks to give her body the chance to heal itself. In the meantime, I can prescribe some pain medication to ease the discomfort in her legs. She can take them twice a day with the morning and evening meals.”

        “And I’m supposed to stay in bed the whole time?” Applejack asked. “What if I have to go to the bathroom?”

        “Oh,” Redheart said.

        “Oh?” Applejack asked, staring at her in disbelief.

        “We have a host of unicorns on staff” Redheart asked. “They could help you get to the bathroom when you need it.”

        “Uh...I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want some strange pony liftin’ me with magic. What if they drop me and injure me any more than I already am?”

        “Well...I can’t think of any other way for you to get the help you need,” Redheart said, “unless Twilight or Rarity could take the time to assist you.”

        “Seriously? Twilight’s a princess and Rarity runs a huge business. I can’t ask them to come over here and help me go to the bathroom. Oh, Celestia…”

        “Uh, Applejack?” Big Mac asked.

        “Yeah?”

        “Maybe you can’t get them to come to your house, but maybe you can stay in one of theirs. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind taking you in for a few weeks.”

        “Well, I ain’t going to Rarity’s,” Applejack said.

        “Why not?” Granny Smith asked.

        “She’s way too fussy, and I’m not in the mood to be babied. Big Mac, can you see if Twilight wouldn’t mind having me at the library?”

        “Absolutely,” he said, leaving the room.

        “Okay then,” Redheart said. “Well, if you need anything else, feel free to send someone to my office and I’ll make sure to stop by and assist you when I can. I hope you get well soon.”

        “Thank ya kindly,” Applejack said, and Redheart waved goodbye before exiting the room.

        “Uh...Granny Smith?” Applejack asked. “Where’s Apple Bloom?”

        “Right here!” Apple Bloom cried, stumbling into the room buried under a huge piece of cardboard paper. Granny Smith helped her flip the paper onto the bed face-up. Applejack looked at it and smiled.

        It was a crudely drawn picture of Applejack with her hind legs in casts and a note that said “GET WELL SOON.”

        “You made this for me?” Applejack asked.

        Apple Bloom nodded enthusiastically.

        “I couldn’t sleep last night, ’cause I was worried sick about ya, and I decided while I was awake, I’d do somethin’ to help you feel better.”

        “That’s mighty sweet of you, Apple Bloom,” Applejack said.

        “It’s okay,” Apple Bloom said, “’cause now I get to take care of ya while you’re recovering!”

        “Bloom,” Granny Smith said, giving her a sobering look. “Applejack’s goin’ to be stayin’ at Twilight’s while she’s recovering.”

        “What?” Apple Bloom asked, already beginning to whimper.

        “Don’t you worry none, Bloom,” Applejack said. “You can visit as often as you want. I’m sure Twilight won’t mind. And I’ll be better and back on the farm before you know it.”

        “Oh,” Apple Bloom said. “I guess that’s okay…” She slumped out of the room, sniffling a bit before she was out of earshot.

        “Granny Smith,” Applejack said, “can you—”

        “I’ll talk to her,” she said. “You just focus on gettin’ better.”

        “Thanks,” Applejack said. “I’ll make sure to focus on my recovery from here on out. I just hope Twilight doesn’t mind havin’ me over.”

        “She’ll be more than happy to help you,” Granny Smith said. “You’ll see.”

        “Yeah, I guess I will,” Applejack said with a smile. Hopefully I’m not a burden on Twilight. Celestia knows she has enough going on as it is...

The Injury (Part 3/5)

        Big Mac knocked gently on Twilight’s door with Applejack draped over his back. They heard some shuffling from inside the library, and then Spike answered the door.

        “Hey, Big Mac,” Spike said, “and...Applejack?”

        “Yeah?”

        “Why are you riding on Big Mac’s back? You okay?”

        “Hi!” Twilight called, coming to the door. She saw Applejack and her smile diminished.

        “Applejack,” she asked, “are you hurt?”

        “What was your first guess?” Applejack snapped, then winced.

        “Oh my goodness! Come in, come in. What happened?” Twilight ushered Big Mac inside and levitated the couch over so Applejack could lie in it. She lifted Applejack with her magic and set her down gently on the couch.

        “I hurt myself buckin’ apple trees,” Applejack strained to say. “Nurse Redheart says it’s a stress fracture in both my hind legs. She said a few weeks of bed rest and I’ll be up and at ’em—”

        “Applejack, that’s terrible news!” Twilight cried, fidgeting and looking around as if she was unsure which direction to rush off to. “Spike!”

        “What?”

        “Uh...get Applejack something to eat!”

        “Like what?”

        “Anything! Can’t you tell she’s famished?”

        Applejack cleared her throat. “Twilight, I’m really not that hungry—”

        “Oh, of course you are, don’t be silly! Big Mac, get her a drink of water. I need to find a book on stress fractures to see how I can help!”

        Twilight rushed off to her room, and Big Mac was almost looking for a cloud of dust where she had been standing. He leaned over to Applejack and whispered into her ear.

        “Sure you don’t want to see if Rarity can take you in?”

        “Nope. You think Twi’s bad. She’d be nothin’ compared to Rarity. I’ll manage.”

        Twilight flew back down the stairs so fast, she almost fell. Big Mac looked at her with concern.

        “You all right there, Twi?”

        “I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s Applejack we need to be worried about! Okay, so I found this book about physical injuries on the back of my shelf. It’s a little outdated because they still make references to acupuncture treatments for headaches when modern-day medication has been clinically proven to be more effective. Oh, but that’s not important right now! I have to find the chapter on stress fractures. Did you get her that glass of water, Big Mac?”

        “Uh...eeyup.”

        “She drank it that quickly?”

        “I was thirsty,” Applejack said.

        “Oh, of course. You have to get your fluids. Maybe get her a second glass, Big Mac? That would be great.” Twilight wandered off into the library proper to see if she could find any other books that might help. Big Mac looked at Applejack with even more concern.

        “Still better than Rarity,” Applejack said. “Now you go on home. They need ya back at the farm. I’ll be fine here.”

        “Do ya want me to check in on you later?”

        “Whatever you want. Just go before she tries to rope you into anything more serious.”

        Big Mac nodded emphatically and hustled out the door.

        “Big Mac, where are you going?” Twilight called, but he was long gone. “Shoot, I needed him to try this experimental treatment. Oh well, I can probably elevate your legs and work the spell at the same time.”

        “Twilight.”

        “Spike, where are we on that food situation?”

        “Still working on the entree!”

        “Twilight, I really don’t need—”

        “Applejack, if there’s anything you need, anything at all, just say the word and I’ll be more than happy to—”

        “Twilight!” Applejack shouted, setting her completely off guard. The two of them took deep breaths and looked at each other for a moment.

        “I appreciate the concern,” Applejack said, “but I really only came here for help on one thing.”

        “And what’s that?” Twilight asked.

        “Well, I’m gonna have a hard time gettin’ to the bathroom in my condition,” Applejack admitted with a gulp. Twilight just stared at Applejack with her mouth open.

        “And here I am, making it out to be some complete catastrophe, and that’s all you need help with?” Twilight asked.

        “Well, yeah, pretty much…”

        Twilight’s cheeks were red now. “I’m sorry. I was probably just making things more stressful for you. But if you look at this over here, this technique might cut your recovery time in half, and all I would need to do is set up a sling for your legs to keep them elevated while I—”

        “Twilight!” Applejack said curtly. “Just help me with the restroom, and I’ll take care of the rest. Don’t go out of your way tryin’ to help me when you’ve got your own work to do.”

        “Okay,” Twilight said. “Okay. Spike!”

        “Yeah?”

        “We’re all set on the food. Applejack’s not hungry.”

        Spike cursed under his breath. “I put a lot of effort into this bisque, you know!”

        “Well, store it in the fridge and maybe we can reheat it later for Applejack’s lunch.”

        “Fine,” Spike said, going to get the ceramic wrap. “It tastes much better fresh, but what do I know…”

        “Sorry, Spike,” Twilight said. “I got a little out of control because I was worried about Applejack and I—”

        “A little out of control?” Spike asked in bewilderment. “You were full-blown missed-a-letter-to-Celestia out of your mind!”

        “What? That was way worse than this. I’m just trying to take care of my friend. You’re the one who’s getting all huffy.”

        “Because I put my heart into everything I make, and you take it for granted!”

        “I said she could have it for lunch later, so she’s going to enjoy it. What’s got you so testy all of a sudden?”

        “I could be asking you the same thing.”

        “Twilight! Spike!” Applejack shouted. The two of them took a break from glaring at each other and turned to Applejack, who was glaring at both of them.

        “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m under a lot of stress right now trying to get over this injury. I can’t be spendin’ the time tryin’ to keep you two from doin’...whatever the heck this is.”

        “Oh, Applejack, I’m sorry!” Twilight said, hustling over to her and kneeling at her side. “Spike and I...well, it’s been a little tense lately, but of course we shouldn’t be taking it out on you. We promise to get along and help you in any way we can.”

        “You do?” Applejack asked.

        “Yes.”

        “Good, ’cause I gotta take a leak.”

        “Oh,” Twilight said. “Well, let’s get going then.”

        Twilight lifted Applejack with her levitation and brought her to the bathroom door. She hesitated when she got there.

        “Twilight,” Applejack said, “you’re gonna have to go in with me.”

        “Applejack…”

        “I ain’t thrilled about it any more than you are, but you can’t be flyin’ blind here. You gotta make sure I’m right over the bowl, or you’ll have to do quite a bit of cleaning…”

        “Applejack, please,” Twilight said, blushing fiercely. “Okay, I’m going to get you over the bowl and then I’ll look away while you do your business.”

        “You can keep me steady?”

        “As still as a rock,” Twilight said. “It’ll be fine.”

        “Well, let’s go then.”

        Twilight levitated Applejack into the bathroom and held her over the bowl before turning away. She was squeamish, and once she heard the sound of tinkling she started to shudder.

        “Is this uncomfortable for you?” Applejack asked.

        “A little,” Twilight said. “I mean, I can’t even listen to anypony else urinate when I’m in public, and…”

        “Twilight,” Applejack said once the tinkling stopped. “This is the one thing you have to do for me. If you’re uncomfortable doin’ it, we can try goin’ to Rarity’s to see if she can take care of me.”

        “No, Applejack, it’ll be fine,” Twilight said. Applejack flushed the toilet and Twilight smiled. “I’ll get used to it.”

        “You sure?” Applejack asked.

        “I promise,” Twilight said.

        “Great,” Applejack said. “Now, I’m feelin’ like a nap. Can you bring me back to the couch?”

        “Nonsense,” Twilight said with a smile. “You can have my bed.”

        “That’s mighty kind of you, Twilight,” Applejack said with a grin. Twilight levitated her carefully over to her bedroom and laid her down gently on the bed.

        “Just holler if you get hungry or need anything else,” Twilight said. “It’s gonna be okay.”

        “Thanks, Twilight,” Applejack said.

        “You’re welcome. Have a good nap.”

        “I will,” Applejack said, shutting her eyes and already feeling like she could drift off to sleep.

The Injury (Part 4/5)

        It didn’t take too long for news to spread about Applejack’s injury, and so Applejack was awoken from her nap by Rarity trampling into her room, with Twilight chasing behind her.

        “Rarity, I told you, she’s sleeping!” Twilight called, but when she saw Applejack stir, she exhaled and rolled her eyes.

        “Rarity, at the very least don’t smother her.”

        “Applejack, darling!” Rarity cried, making no indication that she had heard Twilight. “I’m ever so sorry you’ve suffered such a physical malady. If there’s anything you need me to do, I will be at your hoof and willing to provide.”

        “Rarity, there’s no need,” Applejack said. “Twilight’s already done more than enough.”

        “Why didn’t you tell me right away?” Rarity asked. “There’s plenty of room at the boutique, and I could have pampered you with the utmost of care. Hot showers, delicious food, anything you could have asked for.”

        “Rarity, I came to Twilight’s because I didn’t want all that,” Applejack said. “At least, I didn’t wanna take time out of your busy schedule to take care of me. To be honest, Twilight was freakin’ me out at first, but she and I have gotten settled, so I appreciate the offer but I will have to decline.”

        “But what am I supposed to do?” Rarity asked. “I’ll be worried sick about you and have nothing to do to help.”

        “Rarity, I’m already taking care of all that,” Twilight said, putting a hoof on her shoulder and smiling. “Applejack will be in good hooves. Although if something happens to Spike, I’m sure he’d be more than happy to have you help him recover.”

        “Very funny, Twilight,” Rarity said with a laugh. “But of course I would be there for him and anypony else who needed me.”

        “Applejack! Applejack!” came a soft voice from the stairs. In flew Fluttershy, who went to the bed and stroked Applejack’s head. “I heard you were at Twilight’s and had suffered a serious injury, and I just had to see you.”

        “How’d you get into the library?” Twilight asked.

        “Spike let me in.”

        “Uh, Twi?” Applejack asked. “Could ya maybe ask Spike not to let anypony else in until Rarity and Fluttershy leave? It’s gettin’ a bit crowded in here.”

        “APPLEJACK!” came a shrill voice, and they saw a pink blur zoom into the room and stop just short of the bed. Pinkie’s face was utterly distraught.

        “Applejack what happened to you?” she asked. “Bon Bon and Lyra told me you got hit by a runaway cart and you were writhing on the ground screaming for help and nopony was there to hear your cries of pain!”

        “Pinkie, that’s not what happened!” Applejack shouted, desperate to cut her off before she talked everypony’s ears off. “I bucked one too many apple trees yesterday and suffered some stress fractures on my hind legs. Nothin’ else happened, certainly not as terrifyin’ as whatever Bon Bon and Lyra told you.”

        “Oh,” Pinkie said. “Well, to be honest, I kinda made it more dramatic than what they told me.”

        “It’s a good story,” Rarity said with a smile, “perhaps for a novel. But the accident is horrific enough without embellishing whatever rumors you’ve heard.”

        “Twilight, the door?”

        “Right!” Twilight said, making her way out of the room. She was almost knocked over by Rainbow Dash as she rocketed into the room.

        “So, got some battle scars, didn’t ya, AJ?” she exclaimed. “How’d it happen? Roseluck told me you got trampled by a stampede of cattle.”

        “Where are all these rumors coming from?” Fluttershy asked.

        “Nah, Rainbow, just bucked a tree too hard,” she said. “Nothin’ excitin’ about it.”

        “Oh, but what didja get out of it? Break a leg? Dislocate your knee? Got paralyzed and can never walk again?”

        “Stress fractures in my legs,” Applejack said curtly.

        “Well, that’s boring,” Dash said, hovering above her and scrutinizing her legs. “You know how many injuries I got when I was in flight school? Pulled a few wing muscles, broke each of my hooves at least once, even dislocated a shoulder when I got into a fight with a griffon who was stalking Gilda.”

        “That all true, Fluttershy?” Applejack asked.

        “I don’t think he was stalking her,” Fluttershy offered, “but all the injuries are correct.”

        “He was totally creeping her out, though,” Dash said. “Writing her letters and saying hi to her all weird-like. Had to beat the stuffing out of him so he’d leave her alone. Got me suspended for a few days. Worth it!”

        “That’s great, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said nonchalantly. Dash exhaled through her nose and grimaced. “I think we’re making Applejack uncomfortable, though. It’s pretty crowded in here.”

        “Oh my,” Fluttershy said. “I didn’t even think we’d be making Applejack feel uncomfortable. There’s so many of us here…”

        “Yeah, and I’m feelin’ mighty tired right about now,” Applejack said. “I appreciate y’all for visitin’, but it’s probably better if we just stick to one-on-one visits from now on.”

        “Okay, so who gets to stay?” Dash asked.

        “I wanna stay! I wanna stay!” Pinkie shouted, bouncing up and down. “I want to find out all the gory details!”

        “Pinkie, it really wasn’t that special—”

        “I’ll stay and keep watch over her,” Rarity said. “Twilight needs a break, after all. Don’t you, Twilight?”

        “I’m fine for now, Rarity, but thanks.”

        “Well, I wouldn’t mind staying,” Fluttershy said, “but only if nopony else wanted to. But I guess Pinkie and Rarity already said so, so maybe I don’t need to stay after all.”

        “You know what?” Applejack asked. “None of y’all are staying. I kinda just want Twilight here for now. Maybe she can schedule visitin’ hours for you so we’re not too crowded in here.”

        “An excellent idea,” Twilight said. “Okay, you heard the patient. Everypony out.” She ushered them all towards the bedroom door with her outstretched wings. The rest of Applejack’s friends were grumbling but moving slowly towards the door. Once they were all out, Twilight shut the bedroom door and turned to Applejack with a smile.

        “Thank ya kindly, Twilight,” Applejack said. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind, I kinda gotta go again.”

        Twilight blushed, but she nodded and lifted Applejack with her magic and moved towards the bathroom.

The Injury (Part 5/5)

        As the weeks rolled on, Applejack and Twilight maintained a friendly, if distant, repertoire. They realized pretty soon that Applejack didn’t need to holler for her when she wanted food or a trip to the bathroom, so Twilight suggested giving her a bell that would sound through the library. Twilight would always drop what she was doing to make sure she could tend to Applejack’s needs.

        The bathroom trips, the primary source of awkwardness during this recovery, became almost second-nature. They talked, joked, and laughed while Applejack’s business went on in the background.

        When Applejack was starting to get a little stir crazy lying in bed all day, Twilight brought her down to the library or even out into Ponyville to get some fresh air. A half hour or so was all Applejack could handle at first, but as the recovery went on, she could stay out for a few hours at a time. All of the ponies in Ponyville greeted her kindly and offered her warm wishes.

        Applejack’s friends visited, too, according to a schedule set up by Twilight that fit everypony’s needs. As Applejack came closer to full recovery, one particular visit from Rainbow Dash resonated with her.

        “Heya, AJ,” she said, floating over head with her trademark smile.

        “Howdy, RD,” Applejack said with a tired grin.

        “How’s the recovery going? Think you’ll ever walk again?”

        “Har har,” Applejack said with a grin. “I can actually put some weight on my legs and stand on them for a little while, so walkin’ will come sooner than you think.”

        “Awesome. So, uh...well, what’s it like having Twilight take care of you?”

        “Dash,” Applejack said sternly. “I know that tone in your voice. I know where you think it’s going. The answer is no.”

        “Oh, come on, AJ. She’s been at your beck and call for weeks, always by your side when you needed her. You telling me that doesn’t affect you at all?”

        “Where’s this idea comin’ from all of a sudden?” Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow.

        “You haven’t seen Twilight talking about you!” Dash implored. “Whenever you’re brought up in conversation, she always smiles and starts giggling at first. And then when she gets going talking about you, it’s almost like she’s glowing. Know what I mean?”

        “That’s great, Dash,” Applejack said, rolling her eyes. “Nothin’s gonna come of it, so you can take off the shippin’ goggles and let’s talk about your job or something.”

        “AJ, you’ve always been a numbskull about this stuff. Are you telling me you haven’t noticed?”

        “I know she’s bein’ a good friend, and that’s all it is.”

        “Okay, let’s forget the Twilight angle for a moment. How do you feel?”

        “I’m grateful for all her support,” Applejack said, but she blushed pink for a moment. Dash noticed.

        “Why are you blushing then?”

        “I’m not blushing! Really, Dash, you gotta stop bein’ so gung-ho about all this. You’re fishin’ for somethin’ that ain’t biting.”

        “Please, don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.”

        “You know what?” Applejack said, glaring at Dash. “If you don’t drop this right now, I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.”

        “Okay, okay, geez. Don’t get your saddle in a bunch.”

        For a time after that, they conversed about more mundane subjects, mainly Applejack’s recovery and Dash’s work as a weather pony. Applejack got hungry, though, so she rang the bell. A few moments later, Twilight came into the room with a nervous smile on her face.

        “What can I help you with, Applejack?” she asked.

        “I need some food,” she said.

        “Right away. How are you doing, Rainbow Dash?”

        “Great. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

        Applejack looked horrified, but Dash was already following Twilight down the stairs. Knowing Dash, Applejack knew this was bound to spiral out of control quickly. There was nothing she could do about it, though, except wait for Twilight to return with her food and then do damage control.

        So, maybe she had grown a little attached to Twilight. Dash was taking it way over-the-top and she was afraid that her next conversation with Twilight would be awkward. She didn’t have long to wait, though. Twilight came back with a sandwich and a small bowl of soup and she was already blushing.

        “Applejack…” she began as she set the tray down on the bed.

        “What did Rainbow tell ya?” Applejack asked curtly enough to make Twilight’s heart sink a bit.

        “She told me I had better confess my feelings to you,” Twilight said. “She already told you about me, right?”

        “Yeah,” Applejack said, “and I don’t want this to become some gushy bare-all of our emotions. Look, Dash got me thinkin’, and maybe there is somethin’ there for me, but I can’t be sure right now and I think we need to hold off until my injury’s healed.”

        “Nurse Redheart said that would only be a few more days,” Twilight said, now looking away from Applejack. “Will that be enough time for you to figure things out?”

        “Well, I might need a few dates after that,” Applejack said with a wink. “But hey, you never know what might happen. What I do know for a fact is that I’m grateful for all the care you’ve given me over the past few weeks. You made me feel so much calmer than I would have been if I had stayed at home or gone to Rarity’s.”

        “Well, Applejack,” Twilight said, running a hoof through her mane and smiling at her, “I’m really glad to hear that, I guess. Oh, there’s so much I want to say, but I should just let you eat your food. I don’t want to make things awkward.”

        “It’s fine, Twi,” Applejack said, “we’ll have plenty of time to talk about those things.”

        “Thank you, Applejack.”

        “You’re welcome, Twilight.”

Two Months Later

        “It’s your monthiversary!” Pinkie Pie screamed as Twilight and Applejack went into Sugarcube Corner walking side by side. She rushed over to them and offered them two cupcakes with frosting in the shape of a heart. “How are you guys doing?”

        “We’re great, Pinkie,” Twilight said, looking to Applejack and smiling. “Really great.”

        “Ditto,” Applejack said, nudging Twilight with her shoulder and winking at her.

        “Well, I’ll get you two a private table,” Pinkie said, “but no getting all mushy-mushy around the other customers.”

        “Relax,” Applejack said. “We don’t do that kinda stuff in public.”

        “In private, on the other hand…” Twilight said with a roguish grin. Applejack chortled and started blushing. Pinkie Pie giggled and snorted while she led them to their table.

        Twilight and Applejack stared into each other’s eyes as they dug into their cupcakes.

        “I’m glad we’re giving this a shot,” Twilight said.

        “Yeah, it’s really nice,” Applejack replied. “Honestly, I never would’ve predicted this would happen two months ago.”

        “Me neither. It’s crazy, right?”

        “Absolutely,” Applejack said, wiping some frosting from her muzzle. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

For the First Time (Part 1/3) [sex]

        Candles burned inside Rarity’s royal chambers. At least, that’s what they looked like to Fluttershy, who had never seen Rarity’s bedroom look more regal. The room was dim in the candlelight, but adorned with rose petals and a majestic purple on the walls. But that was nothing compared to Rarity’s bed. She had transformed it into a four-poster with silk curtains surrounding the bed and red satin sheets.

        Fluttershy suddenly gasped as a white hoof touched her shoulder gently. She turned to see Rarity giving her a lascivious stare with her eyelids drooped. She had let her mane down, trading the signature curl she carefully wore during the day for a simple, straightened length of hair that was sultry in its simplicity. It was as if Fluttershy was looking at a side of Rarity the world rarely saw, an alabaster mare in her most comfortable and, indeed, most divine state.

        Rarity caught herself in a giggle and gave Fluttershy a soft smile. She leaned towards Fluttershy and gave her a soft kiss on the lips, brushing against her mouth ever so slightly, lingering for just a moment before pulling away.

        “Are you ready for this?” she asked, her face thinly veiling a twinge of fear. Fluttershy felt her cheeks flush as she gazed into the beautiful blue eyes of her long-time marefriend.

        “About as ready as I’ll ever be,” Fluttershy said, swallowing nervously and giggling a bit. She tried to give Rarity a sultry stare, but Rarity held back a snort.

        “I appreciate the effort,” she said, “but you don’t have to try to make yourself seductive. You’re alluring just the way you are.”

        “Oh, I am?” Fluttershy asked. Rarity stepped closer and gave her another kiss, a bit firmer and a bit longer than the first.

        “Absolutely. Why else would I have invited you to my bedroom? I’m not here to tease you or play games. I have been wanting this for a long time.”

        “I feel the same way,” Fluttershy muttered, but her eyes shifted to the carpeted floor.

        “What’s the matter, darling?” Rarity asked, able to gauge Fluttershy’s discomfort at the sight of her fidgeting and her pink cheeks. “I understand if you’re nervous. I’m also eager with anticipation, but there’s a bit of me that is unsure of what will come.”

        “Rarity, it’s not that I don’t want to do this. I’ve been waiting for a long time, too, but I guess there’s a part of me that feels scared.”

        “That’s perfectly understandable,” Rarity said, “especially for your first time.”

        “And that’s another thing,” Fluttershy added, reminded of another qualm of hers by Rarity’s words. “You’re more experienced with this kind of thing than I am. I just want to make sure I can...measure up.”

        “Oh, darling, there’s no need to fret about that,” Rarity said, lifting Fluttershy’s chin so she could look into her eyes. “I have no expectations about tonight. We’re going to take it nice and slow, get ourselves comfortable before we frolic beneath the sheets. I’m sure you’re going to be wonderful, because I love you so much.”

        “I love you, too, Rarity,” Fluttershy said, with a serious gaze in her eye. Rarity smiled and stole a kiss from her, catching her off guard and making her blush again.

        “If you wish, I’ll take the lead here,” Rarity said. “All you have to do is follow along. I promise I won’t leave you behind.”

        Fluttershy nodded and shivered with giddiness. “I still can’t believe this is happening.”

        “I completely agree. Yet here we are.”

        Rarity turned away and crawled onto her bed. She laid on her side, facing Fluttershy and rubbing the sheets, enticing her to join her. Fluttershy smiled and climbed into bed next to Rarity. Rarity pulled her in close, their chests making contact and their hind legs intertwined. Rarity brushed Fluttershy’s mane behind her ear so she could gaze into her lovely sky-colored eyes.

        She quickly closed the gap between their lips and planted a hot, wet kiss on Fluttershy’s mouth. She wrapped her hoof around Fluttershy’s head and pulled her in closer. Fluttershy felt herself melt as Rarity’s soft lips pressed against hers, and in her eagerness her tongue toyed with Rarity’s lips. Rarity welcome it into her mouth and played with it with her own tongue.

        Rarity rubbed Fluttershy’s foreleg and stroked her side before lightly brushing against Fluttershy’s wing. Fluttershy shuddered but responded eagerly by wrapping her legs around Rarity’s waist. Rarity was caught off guard by the sudden movement and her stomach was churning, but she rubbed Fluttershy’s wing vigorously. She pulled free from Fluttershy’s lips and planted hot kisses on her neck, now pressing her hooves against Fluttershy’s chest.

        She experimented with a little nip, and Fluttershy cooed, so Rarity gave her a few more bites that made her quiver. The anticipation was eating her alive, and she wanted so badly to spread Fluttershy’s hind legs open and delve into her folds with her tongue. But she knew she had to be patient; Fluttershy was as delicate as a flower, and needed to be treated with care so that her petals wouldn’t blow away in the wind.

Where did thatanalogy come from? Rarity wondered, but she figured that the rose petals had something to do with that line of thinking. She then mentally kicked herself for losing focus and resumed her delicate foreplay by pressing her lips against Fluttershy’s chest. Her hoof rubbed Fluttershy’s cutie mark, which made Fluttershy gasp and start to giggle.

        “Ticklish?” Rarity asked between kisses.

        “A little,” Fluttershy whispered with another giggle. “But that doesn’t mean you have to stop.”

        “Well, then,” Rarity responded. She suddenly pulled Fluttershy’s hind leg up and stared down at her luscious pink petals, which were already dripping with her sweet nectar.

Come now, Rarity, enoughwith the floral metaphors! But there was no helping her from making one last analogy before swooping in for the kill.

        It was about time for Fluttershy’s flower to be plucked.

For the First Time (Part 2/3) [sex]

        Fluttershy was feeling nervous, the way Rarity kept trailing her kisses down her body. She felt breezies fluttering in her stomach that got more excited when Rarity started kissing her belly. The erotic sensation of her wings being rubbed was getting her heated. She started to breathe more heavily and make cooing noises that encouraged Rarity to continue.

        Suddenly, Rarity spread Fluttershy’s hind leg open. Fluttershy looked down and noticed that Rarity was staring directly at her vagina, an area where she was already feeling slick. From the crude lessons in sex Rainbow Dash gave to Fluttershy in flight school, she could predict what was coming next.

        She gasped as Rarity began to lick the soft, pink skin surrounding the opening in her privates, and Fluttershy’s breaths turned to gasps as she felt a sensation that was both fiery and electrifying at once.

        Rarity seemed to know exactly what she was doing, quickly encroaching into Fluttershy’s opening with her tongue and toying with her inner bulb, a pink nub that made Fluttershy aroused whenever she touched it with her hoof. Rarity was doing more than touching it, though. She was flicking her tongue back and forth across the nub, causing it to twitch and send sparks of sensation through Fluttershy’s body.

        Rarity could taste Fluttershy’s juices now and smell the raw scent emanating from Fluttershy’s flower. It got her excited enough to delve even deeper into the hole, trying to stick her tongue as far inside as she possibly could. She was feeling quite heated herself now, and to alleviate the aching arousal, she reached down to her own folds and rubbed herself.

        Fluttershy’s breath was quickening and her heart was pounding. Images of Rarity filled her head as Rarity played with her so energetically. Fluttershy couldn’t help but moan when Rarity spread her folds apart to penetrate even deeper with her tongue.

        Rarity worked with a sense of urgency, a rush of excitement that compelled her to make Fluttershy scream out in ecstasy as quick as she could. A flickering thought in the back of her mind told her it wasn’t right to rush this, but she had been waiting for this moment for so long that she quickly snuffed out that thought.

        Fluttershy’s moans grew louder in between quick gasps, and she bit down on her lip to try to quiet them. But Rarity was relentless, and those moans quickly rose in pitch. Her breathing was louder, her loins felt like they were on fire, and she was clenching onto her bed sheets to relieve some of the tension. Her moment was coming soon, and she knew it.

        Rarity’s lips were wet with Fluttershy’s juices, but she could clean that up later. She was so intent on getting Fluttershy to orgasm that her mind was free of all other thought. She rubbed her lips against Fluttershy’s folds as her tongue burrowed into her.

        Suddenly Fluttershy screamed and spurted juices from her vagina as her body rocked her with spasms of pleasure. Fluttershy could hardly catch her breath, and she rocked her hips to ride along with these waves of euphoria. Rarity knew Fluttershy had reached her climax, so she extracted herself from her vagina and rubbed it with her hoof to prolong Fluttershy’s high. Soon, though, Fluttershy’s breathing slowly returned to normal and she stopped squirting fluid on the sheets.

        Rarity was about to wipe her lips clean, but Fluttershy suddenly lurched towards her and kissed her passionately, licking Rarity’s lips clean and probing her mouth with her tongue. Rarity could feel a heat rising through her body as Fluttershy continued to kiss her. She half expected Fluttershy to go down on her and start returning the favor, but before too long the kisses softened in intensity and Fluttershy eventually stopped, rubbing a hoof through Rarity’s mane and gazing into her eyes with a satisfied smile.

        The look made Rarity melt, and she had to bite back her slight disappointment to return Fluttershy’s look of adoration.

        “Rarity,” Fluttershy purred in a voice that was starting to drive Rarity crazy. “That felt amazing. I didn’t even know my heart could beat that quickly.”

        Rarity gave an exacerbated grin, trying to catch her breath herself. “Well, I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

        “I absolutely did,” Fluttershy replied, and she pushed forward and kissed Rarity again, parting her lips with her tongue and pulling her body close. Rarity felt that fire start burning again, but she did her best to quench her expectations, assuming Fluttershy wasn’t comfortable enough to properly reciprocate the affection Rarity had just provided her.

        The kisses stopped again, and Fluttershy let out a yawn.

        “Ah,” Rarity said, “the post-coital drowsiness, or at least that’s what Twilight calls it.”

        “Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.

        Rarity cringed, realizing she had broken a promise she had made to herself. “I apologize,” she said. “Poor form and all.”

        “Oh, I’m not mad,” Fluttershy clarified. “How can I be after what you just did to me? Oh, Rarity…”

        Another barrage of kisses soon followed, but Rarity hadn’t the heart to enjoy them. She remembered that Twilight had hesitated to perform sexual favors initially during their relationship. Relationship, Rarity thought, that’s a polite thing to call it.

        Fluttershy pulled away and gazed at Rarity sadly. “Is something wrong?” she asked, now looking carefully into Rarity’s eyes and finding a hint of torment in them.

        “Not at all,” Rarity said with a giggle that she hated for its phoniness. “It’s great to be able to make you feel so good.” That comment felt laced with bitterness, and Rarity cursed herself for letting it leak out.

        “No, I think I understand what’s going on,” Fluttershy responded. “You did all that work for me, and I haven’t done a thing to return the favor. Is that right?”

        Rarity wanted to ensure Fluttershy that it was not necessary for her to do that if it made her feel uncomfortable. She wanted to hush her with a few soft kisses and cuddle up against her as they closed their eyes to fall asleep. Instead, her inner unease escaped with her words. “How did you know?”

        “I have Dashie’s extensive history to go by,” Fluttershy said, “so I know how this all works in theory. But...it’s just, I’m not sure I’m ready to do that for you. It makes me feel so nervous and scared, but I know it would be unfair of me to leave you unsatisfied, so that’s making me uncomfortable, too. I wish there was a way to fix this…”

        Rarity smiled and hushed Fluttershy with a soft kiss. “You’ve already done more than enough,” Rarity said. “We’ll get to that in time. For now, let’s just say you owe me one.” She winked at Fluttershy, and Fluttershy smiled softly in reply.

        “Now that that’s settled,” Rarity said, “be a dear and cuddle up next to me so we can spoon.”

        Fluttershy eagerly turned around and snuggled up against Rarity. The feathers on her wings made Rarity tingle when they touched her, but she wrapped her hooves around Fluttershy’s body and pulled her close, giving her soft kisses on her neck.

        “Let’s just go to sleep for now,” Rarity said, “and we’ll talk in the morning. Okay?”

        Fluttershy suddenly felt a wave of shame and despair. “Okay…”

        “Splendid. Goodnight, my dear Fluttershy. I love you.”

        “I love you, too, Rarity.”

        Rarity was able to shut her eyes and breathe deeply, but Fluttershy kept her eyes open, looking about the room. Her guilt made her unsure how she was going to fall asleep, but her inhibitions kept her from alleviating that guilt.

        She was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and it was going to take some time for her to resolve her thoughts before she could fall asleep with Rarity snuggled up close behind her. The thought of Rarity so near to her calmed her a bit, enough for her to close her eyes, but her thoughts were still wandering as she laid in bed next to her lover.

For the First Time (Part 3/3) [sex]

What am I going to do? Fluttershy asked herself in the dead of night. Rarity was sound asleep by now; her indecision had made sure of that. It would be quite rude of her to wake her, even if it was for something that pleasurable. There was nothing else she could do, so she decided it would be best to try to fall asleep.

What if Rarity breaks up with me? Fluttershy whimpered and then tried to snap herself out of her melancholic state. I’m being ridiculous. Rarity loves me. She would never leave me over something so trivial.

        But it wasn’t completely trivial. In fact, sex was about as nontrivial as it got. Maybe if she waited long enough, Rarity would wake up on her own and then she wouldn’t need to worry about being polite…

Oh, this is stupid! Fluttershy berated herself. She turned over and prodded at Rarity’s shoulder. Rarity opened an eye and smiled when she saw Fluttershy.

        “Then it wasn’t a dream,” she said groggily.

        “Rarity, I’m really sorry!” Fluttershy said desperately. “It was so unfair of me to let you do...that to me and not bother to try to do it in return for you. If I could just swallow my pride and get over my fears then I can be the lover you deserve. But I’m just so scared, and I don’t know if I can—”

        Rarity silenced her with a kiss, long and deep. She parted from Fluttershy and brushed her mane away from her face.

        “You’ve already done more than enough,” Rarity said in an attempt to soothe her.

        “No,” Fluttershy responded sternly. “No I have not. I’m going to make you happy no matter what it takes.”

        “Fluttershy, darling, it’s really okay to wait if you’re not comfortable with this.”

        Fluttershy kissed Rarity so fiercely that her thoughts were temporarily suspended. “If we were going to wait for me to be comfortable with anything, especially this, we’d be waiting for a very long time.”

        “Are you sure, darling?” Rarity asked, trying to hide the excitement in her voice so that it wouldn’t influence Fluttershy’s decision.

        “I’m positive,” Fluttershy replied. She lowered her head to Rarity’s succulent gem and stared at it blankly. She crawled back up to face Rarity sheepishly.

        “Um...what am I supposed to do?” Fluttershy asked.

        Rarity let out a hearty laugh, but stopped when she saw Fluttershy’s look of dismay. “Without getting too clinical, you know full well where the clitoris is. You just have to stick your tongue in there and play with it however you like.”

        “Oh,” Fluttershy said with a nod. “I think I can manage that.”

        “Just be wary, darling,” Rarity said. “I’m a bit of a squirter.”

        Fluttershy chuckled and lowered her head again. She took a sniff and felt dazed from the musky aroma emanating from Rarity’s loins. But now was not the time to hesitate. She planted a wet kiss on Rarity’s other pair of lips to warm her up. Rarity giggled a bit, but those giggles turned to moans as Fluttershy kissed her more deeply. She could taste a salty substance that was quite delectable.

        Fluttershy then stuck her tongue into Rarity’s hole, and Rarity gasped with anticipation. Fluttershy was shaking, so she wrapped her hooves around Rarity’s waist to steady herself and then started to flick her tongue around.

        “Yes, that’s it,” Rarity said amidst deep breaths. “Don’t be shy.”

Kind of hard to when it’s in my name, Fluttershy thought, but she couldn’t let herself get distracted now. She drew back a hoof and rubbed Rarity’s folds. She could feel moisture gathering on her hoof, which was a promising sign. Rarity’s gasps of pleasure also encouraged her to keep at it.

        There was a sharp intake of breath, and Rarity’s breathing became more shallow and excited. Her hips bucked on their own accord, and Fluttershy’s tongue slipped and fell outside of Rarity’s opening.

        “Sorry, darling,” Rarity gasped as she tried to steady herself. Fluttershy smiled and probed Rarity again, this time flicking her tongue across faster. Fluttershy rubbed Rarity’s cutie mark with a free hoof, which made Rarity moan.

        “Don’t stop,” Rarity pleaded amidst sharp intakes of breath. Fluttershy heeded the command and lapped at Rarity with even more fervor. Rarity could feel an energy start to build up from her stomach and emanating throughout her body.

        “Fluttershy, yes. Oh yes!” Rarity screamed before her whole body began to rock. The energy sprung up from every nerve and could find only one escape in the form of shrieks of ecstasy. Rarity pounded the sheets with her hoof and her mind was clear of everything but the intense pleasure Fluttershy was giving her.

        If Fluttershy could voice her thoughts, she would be cheering right alongside Rarity, but she remained focused on prolonging the orgasm. True to Rarity’s warning, she could feel a spray of fluid squirting on her muzzle. She did her best to avoid swallowing it, and she was extremely proud that she had been able to elicit that kind of reaction. It couldn’t last, though, as Rarity gradually came down and her breathing slowed to normal. As she caught her breath, Fluttershy crawled back up to her and gave her a wicked grin.

        “Are you sure that was your first time, darling?” Rarity asked. “Because that was divine.”

        Fluttershy nodded proudly, and Rarity laughed and gave her a heartfelt kiss. She could taste her own juices on Fluttershy’s mouth.

        “So that’s what I taste like,” she mused as she broke away from the kiss.

        “Tastes good, yes?” Fluttershy asked.

        “Yes, darling,” Rarity said. “In fact, I’m ready for a second helping.”

        Fluttershy groaned playfully as she melted into another passionate kiss. They reminisced about the magical night as they laid in bed together, lost in their emotion. When the reverie broke and the two of them gazed into each other’s eyes, they couldn’t help but smile.

        “I think you’ve sufficiently paid me back,” Rarity cooed. “In fact, I might actually owe you now!”

        “Let’s just call it even,” Fluttershy said. “I’m feeling a little tired.”

        “Yes, I could use some sleep as well,” Rarity agreed. They tucked themselves beneath the sheets and snuggled up close to one another.

        “Goodnight, sweet Fluttershy,” Rarity said. “I love you so much.”

        “I love you too, Rarity. Sweet dreams.”

Five Minutes Flat [sex]

        Applejack and Rainbow Dash staggered out of the club laughing their asses off. They leaned into each other and nearly fell over as they staggered down the road.

        “Did you see how pissed that stallion was that you were my date?” Dash asked amidst fits of laughter.

        Applejack wiped a tear from her eye. “Yeah, I reckon he was lookin’ to plow you pretty hard. Wonder how big his cock was.”

        “Well, too fucking bad for him. I ain’t into them!” Dash slapped Applejack on the back as they laughed even harder. “I mean, I know you play for both teams, but I think dicks are icky. Icky dickies.”

        Applejack giggled madly at the rhyme. “Too bad you ain’t got a strap-on. Then I could play for both teams at the same time.”

        “Applejack, I can’t believe you mentioned that! I was gonna wait ’til we made it back to the hotel, but I brought one with me.”

        Applejack stared at Rainbow Dash wide-eyed before busting out in laughter again. “No shit. Where’d you get it?”

        “It’s actually Twilight’s,” Dash said. “I think her coltfriend likes getting his ass fucked, but every time I bring it up, she won’t tell me. Anyway, she cleaned it with some magical doohickey, so it’s clean enough for us to mess around.”

        “Better tell Twilight to clean it before we give it back to her,” Applejack drolled. “I wouldn’t...wouldn’t want my cum makin’ it all sticky.”

        “AJ, that’s what it’s for. She’ll understand.”

        “Well, let’s get back to the hotel before I pass out!” Applejack hollered, and the two of them staggered down the road. Trottingham was a nice enough town that there wasn’t any real danger of crime, but it was also large enough to have clubs and bars and it was close to Ponyville. That had made it the ideal place for Applejack and Rainbow Dash to have a trashy date night.

        They finally made it back to the hotel and to their room, on the first floor as Applejack wisely requested. Dash struggled to use her key to get in.

        “Gimme that,” Applejack said. “I have steadier hooves than you.”

        “You’re telling me. That’s why you give the best hoofjobs.”

        “Oh, stop!” Applejack barked, slapping Dash playfully in the chest. Dash gasped, sounding affronted, and smacked Appledash right in the ass.

        “Fuck off!” Applejack said with a jeer, but she managed to unlock the room and open the door. Dash flew over to the bed and stumbled when she landed, so she fell over onto the other side of the floor.

        “You all right, Sugarcube?” Applejack asked as Dash lifted herself off the floor. She was laughing hysterically and smiling.

        “Yeah. Just got a little dizzy on that landing. Here, lemme get the dick thingy so we can get started.”

        “Really?” Applejack asked, shutting and locking the door and putting the key on the nightstand. “No foreplay? No hoofjob or eating out? We’re just gonna go straight to the dick?”

        “What’s the point of building it up when we can just fuck the way we want to?” Dash asked, climbing into the bed and putting on the large purple strap-on. “Now get on the bed and get ready to get wrecked.”

        “Yeah, right,” Applejack said, crawling into the bed next to Dash. “I bet you won’t even get me to cum. You have no fucking idea how a dick works.”

        “I bet I can give you your first orgasm in five minutes flat,” Dash said, now adjusting the strap-on so it was snug and secure. “Then you’re paying for breakfast tomorrow.”

        “And you’ll pay if I don’t get off by then?” Applejack asked.

        “Fucking right. Now, are we gonna do this or what?”

        Applejack spread her hind legs. “Fuck me, Rainbow Dash,” she purred. She then broke into a fit of laughter.

        Dash, however, had a look of determination on her face. She crawled over to Applejack and took a look at the clock on the nightstand. Applejack looked at it, too, both of them waiting for the second-hand to reach the twelve. Dash started counting down the seconds.

        “Three...two...one...go!” she cried, and she pushed the strap-on into Applejack’s vagina. Applejack was taken aback by the force she thrusted with, a force that was almost painful. The thought of Dash ravaging her likes this was beginning to make her wet, but she had to keep her resolve. It hadn’t even been ten seconds yet, and she could already feel herself getting moist.

        Dash wouldn’t let up, keeping an eye on the clock as she rocked back and forth. The artificial dick was pushing in and out of Applejack, and Dash was pleased when she started to see moisture on the appendage.

This ain’t gonna do it, she thought. She bent down so her face was level with Applejack and she planted a sloppy kiss on her lips. Applejack gladly returned the kiss, accepting Dash’s tongue into her mouth almost immediately. She could feel her loins starting to heat up.

Quick, Applejack, think about something that’ll turn you off. Granny Smith immediately came to mind, and she was starting to calm down. That meant she wasn’t returning the kisses enthusiastically, so Dash forced her tongue even deeper down Applejack’s mouth.

Damn it, this isn’t working! Dash gave up on the kissing and bit Applejack in the neck. She did this repeatedly until Applejack started gasping, and once that happened she bit harder and faster.

        Dash took a quick look at the time. Three minutes already! Applejack was holding out way more than she expected, so she kneaded Applejack’s chest with her hooves. Applejack started moaning, but Dash moved her hooves over to Applejack’s cutie marks. When Applejack gasped, she knew she had hit the sweet spot and started massaging them.

        Applejack’s breath quickened and her tongue was now lolling out of her mouth. Dash knew her lover and recognized that she was getting close, and not a moment too soon. She had just hit the four minute mark, and that second hand was ticking awfully fast.

        Applejack bit her lip to keep from screaming Dash’s name. She was starting to sweat, and the force with which Dash was thrusting into her was setting her loins ablaze. Pretty soon, she couldn’t hold in her screams, so she shouted Dash’s name into the air.

        Dash switched over to quick, powerful thrusts that made Applejack’s whole body shake. Thirty seconds left! The strap-on was now quite slick, but that didn’t mean Applejack was having an orgasm.

        Then Applejack let out a high-pitched wail. Dash looked down and saw cream spray out of Applejack’s vagina. She took a quick look at the time and saw she only had ten seconds to spare. She rode out the orgasm and then dismounted Applejack, pulling the strap-on out and lying down next to her.

        “Oh, fuck,” Applejack gasped, trying to catch her breath. “You just barely pulled it off. Good job.”

        “Have fun paying for breakfast tomorrow,” Dash said with a smile.

        “Don’t think you’re gettin’ off so easy,” Applejack said. “Take off that strap-on, and I’ll show you what an orgasm feels like.”

        “As if I don’t already know,” Dash remarked with a wink.

        “Well, I guarantee this one’s gonna be better than all the rest,” Applejack promised.

        “Prove it,” Dash challenged her.

        Applejack laughed as she crawled on top of Rainbow Dash and gave her rough kisses. It was only fair to pay her back after the ride Dash had just sent her through, and the night was still young yet.

The Drunken Kiss [incomplete]

        “Twilight, is she gone?” Applejack asked, cowering under the window of her house at Sweet Apple Acres.

        “I can’t tell if I’m crouched down next to you,” she said flatly.

        “Well, could you check?” Applejack pleaded, teeth chattering and eyes shifting back and forth.

        Twilight huffed and rose from the floor to look out the window. There was nothing outside but the bright blue summer sky and a grove of healthy apple trees, their leaves rustling in the warm breeze.

        “I think she’s gone,” Twilight reported, and Applejack heaved a huge sigh of relief.

        “What’s gotten into you, Applejack?” Twilight asked as Applejack rose from the floor, adjusting her Stetson. “You’re acting like a filly about all of this.”

        “I know, but I’m so embarrassed! I don’t think I can show my face to Rainbow Dash ever again!”

        “So you got a little drunk at Pinkie’s party last night,” Twilight recounted with a casual grin. “That’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

        “You know it was more than that, Twilight,” Applejack said sternly, staring Twilight down. Twilight grinned sheepishly and looked away.

        “Applejack, ponies have done sillier things when they’ve been intoxicated. Do you remember Berry Punch dancing on the table before it collapsed from under her hooves?”

        “That was a relief. At least that got the attention off of me and Dash.”

        “But Applejack, don’t you understand why she’s been looking for you all day?” Twilight insisted. “Isn’t it obvious how she feels about you?”

        “Oh, what was I thinking? I was talkin’ to you and told you I had a thing for Dash, and you convinced me to go over to her and talk to her. That makes this your fault!” Applejack jabbed at Twilight with her hoof.

        “My fault? You’re the one that started making out with her!”

        “What are you talkin’ about?” came Apple Bloom’s voice from the kitchen. Twilight and Applejack stared at her blankly, Applejack’s hoof still prodding Twilight’s chest. She lowered her hoof and smiled at Apple Bloom.

        “Never mind, sis, ain’t nothin’ wrong.”

        “I heard somethin’ about makin’ out,” Apple Bloom said, rubbing her chin with her hoof.

        “This is really a private matter between me and Applejack,” Twilight reasoned.

        “Oh, so you were makin’ out with Twilight?” Apple Bloom asked.

        “No!” Applejack shouted. “I mean, heh...no, Bloom. But it really ain’t your business, as Twilight said.”

        “Fine…” Apple Bloom said with a sigh. “I’ll just go outside.”

        “Thank ya kindly,” Applejack said, before giving Twilight a dirty look.

        “Did you really have to blab like that?” she asked.

        “Sorry,” Twilight said. “I got a bit carried away.”

        “Well, she was gonna find out sooner or later… But Twilight, what am I supposed to do? I can’t face Dash after...after all that!”

        “Sure you can,” Twilight said. “You’re one of the bravest ponies I know. We both know it wasn’t a mistake. You have genuine feelings for her. And she’s been looking for you all day, so what does that tell you?”

        “She probably just wants to make fun of me…” Applejack said gloomily, covering her eyes with the brim of her Stetson.

        “Applejack, I promised Rainbow Dash I would help her look for you, and now that I’ve found you, I have an obligation to bring you to her.”

        Applejack raised the brim of her Stetson back and glared at Twilight. “That’s real low, Twilight. Real low.”

        “It’s the truth. We stuck cupcakes in our eyes and everything. Now, come on, are you going to be a foal about this? You’re worse than Rarity the first time she saw Trenderhoof.”

        “I thought I told you to never speak of that pony ever again.”

        “But the comparison is valid. Look, you and Rainbow Dash have been friends for years. Look at all you’ve been through together! All those competitions, all those adventures. It was almost like it was destined to happen.”

        “Pfft,” Applejack sputtered. “By that logic, I could've fallen in love with you.”

        “And if I felt the same way, I would be more than happy to tell you. Now are you going to go after what you really want, or are you going to let her slip you by?”

        “I’m...but Twilight―”

        “No buts! You deserve to go after what makes you happy. Does Rainbow Dash make you happy?”

        Applejack’s cheeks turned rosy and she chuckled. “I guess she does.”

        “I could tell. You wouldn’t be this much of a softie if you weren’t really in love. So stop twiddling your hooves and go get her!”

        “Well okay then! I’ll talk to her and we’ll see if we can’t work something out.”

        “There you go!” Twilight cheered with a smile that Applejack happily returned. “Now we just have to find her.”

        Twilight and Applejack headed for the front door. Twilight swung it open with her magic and nearly hit Rainbow Dash in the muzzle.

        “Rainbow Dash! What’re you doin’ at my doorstep?” Applejack asked.

        “Um…” Dash stammered, blushing fiercely. “I was just about to knock and...heh, I don’t know really. Why’s Twilight here?”

        “Dash, that’s rude,” Applejack said. “Twilight’s my guest.”

        “Actually, she has a point,” Twilight declared. “I should really be getting home. I left poor Spike all alone at the library.”

        “But I thought Rarity was with him,” Dash said.

        “Bye!” Twilight called loudly and pranced out the door, leaving Applejack and Rainbow Dash alone. Dash looked at Applejack sheepishly, and Applejack was staring off into space. She shook herself out of it.

        “I’m sorry, I’m being rude. Do you want to come in?”

        “Uh, sure,” Dash said. Applejack stepped away from the entranceway, and Dash flew in and took a seat on the couch in the living room. Applejack headed off for the kitchen.

        “Do you want something to drink? Apple juice? Lemonade?”

        “I’m not thirsty,” Dash said.

        “Come on, now, Dash. It’s a hot summer’s day. You must be dyin’ for a drink.”

        “Applejack, you know why I’m here,” Dash said. Applejack nearly tripped as she made her way back to the living room.

        “Dammit, Dash, do you have to be so quick to the punch?”

        “I think last night you were quicker to the punch. You drank like five cups of it, and you know how strong Pinkie makes it.”

        “Oh, Dash, you’re right. I was wasted last night. I, uh, don’t even remember half the stuff I did.”

        “Do you remember kissing me?” Dash asked, and there was a hint of malice in her voice. Applejack coughed and glanced around the room.

        “Uh, that don’t really ring a bell,” Applejack said a bit loudly. “Musta been really plowed if I don’t remember that.”

        “Then why have you been avoiding me all day?” Dash asked. “Look, if you’re ashamed of it and wish it hadn’t happened, you could have just told me. I’m a big mare, I can handle a little disappointment.”

        “Hold on a sec,” Applejack said. “You’re sayin’ you’d be disappointed if I didn’t enjoy it.”

        “Uh, yeah, what’s your point?” Dash asked, now feeling more nervous than Applejack.