Chapters The Apple of My (Familial) Eye
You Love Her Like Kin, And No More, Y'Hear?
Applejack Apple was an attractive mare. Everypony knew it. Not in the same way that Rarity was - classy and proper and feminine - nor in the way Fluttershy was - delicate and quiet, like a flower - no, Applejack was beautiful in a way entirely her own.
Her coat was the perfect shade of orange, like an Autumn sunset. Her eyes were two glittering emeralds, determined and strong, yet light and amiable. As a result of several years of hard work, her figure was firm toned, and curved in all the right places. Her mane was like a million strands of gold, shimmering in the sunlight, capped with her trademark Stetson, which she inherited from her father.
In short, she was an Apple-scented mare-of-your-dreams. For every stallion harboring a crush on the elaborate Rarity, there was one who's eye had caught sight of the headstrong Applejack.
One such stallion, was her cousin Braeburn.
It had all started about three years ago. Just after they turned fifteen. Braeburn was three months older than her, and, being a teen male, his thoughts turned to smut most of the time. But this was different. He was visiting the Ponyville Apples for two weeks, to help with Applebuck season. Appleoosa had more than enough farmponies to aid them this year, but Sweet Apple Acres had only two - one of whom (Big MacIntosh) was recovering from a twisted hoof.
He had yet to drink his coffee this morning, having just woken up, and he was heading into the bathroom. His sleep-addled ears did not hear the sound of the radio, and the obvious fact that the bathroom was occupied.
"Gooood morning Equestria! " came the radio-DJ's voice. "I'm Apple Melody, broadcasting live from Canterlot and this is In The Know, On The Beat! Lets start with a little something to get your sleepy flanks moving! "
Then his ears failed to hear sweet, high, clear Sounthern voice singing along to a song on the radio.
"Prancing down the street, strutting my stuff,
My Daddy buys me things, it's never enough.
I pretend I don't know that they stare,
Nopony gets me and I really don't ca-a-a-are." came Applejack's voice as she accompanied 'Better Than You'.
And because Braeburn was so sleepy, he didn't notice a thing. He walked into the bathroom, slung his towel onto the rack, and stepped into the square of frosted glass that was the shower cubicle.
"BRAEBURN ALEXANDER APPLE!" screamed Applejack, "WHAT IN TARNATION ARE YOU DOING ?!" she was backed against the wall in shock, her front legs crossed over her front. Ponies didn't normally wear clothes, true, but they still didn't like being seen in the shower.
Suddenly wide awake, Braeburn leapt out of the shower, babbling his apology like a three year old.
"OhmyCelestiaI'msosorryAJIdidn'tknowtherewasanyponyinthereI'msotiredIdidn'thearyouohmypleaseforgivemeI'msosorry!" he exclaimed, grabbing his towel and running out of the bathroom. He heard the door lock behind him and the creak of the shower door as Applejack climbed back in to finished her shower.
Braeburn's face burned with shame. His only consolation was that, once Applejack had finished her shower, coem out of the bathroom and said, "Oh, morning Braeburn. How'd you sleep?" before winking at him in a way that said, I won't tell if you won't and walking downstairs for some breakfast.
After what he came to call The Shower Incident had been locked away and the key thrown into the dark canyon of take-it-to-your-grave, Braeburn started to think about it a little more deeply. Now that the initial shock and embarrassment had subsided, he began to realise how pretty Applejack had looked...her eyes shining as if the water had polished them...the water rolling over her strong-yet-feminine, athletic body, making her sunset coat cling to her curves...the playful smile and the almost flirty wink as she came out of the bathroom...and he found himself gazing into space mistily.
"And now ," came Melody - the radio DJ - 's voice over the bathroom radio, "Another little something to keep you moving-and-grooving! "
The sound of another pony's voice brought Braeburn to his senses, and he realised that he had been standing in the shower for ten minutes, doing nothing but letting the water wash over him.
"Morning, Braeburn!" came Apple Bloom's voice, as clear and bright as the sun. He smiled as her dazedly,
"Morning, Apple Bloom." he replied, ruffling her cherry-red mane. "Morning, Big Mac," he added, noticing the stallion sat at the table. Big MacIntosh inclined his head as response.
"Morning, everypony!" came Applejack's voice. Now, her mane and tail had been dried, brushed and tied back, and she was wearing her Stetson. She had several, but only one had been the one her father owned, and that was the one she wore most days.
Everypony else in the room smiled their replies. Despite being the third eldest, Applejack was the pony who had the most to do with the farm - Granny being too old and Big MacIntosh being too shy to deal with business matters such as haggling.
"So, what are we doing today?" Braeburn asked, tucking into a much needed cup of coffee.
Where were you half an hour ago? He asked it silently. Half an hour ago had been just before he'd walked in of Applejack.
"Ah reckon we'll start with the East field," Applejack told her cousin and big brother, "And work our way West. Sound good?"
"Eeyup." Braeburn and MacIntosh replied in unison.
"All right, then." Applejack said, stamping a hoof on her plate, sending the apple into the air and swallowing it in one bite. Through the food in her mouth she said, "Let's go."
Braeburn gulped down the rest of his coffee, and Big MacIntosh merely stood up, having already eaten and put on his yoke. the three of them bid goodbye to Granny Smith and Apple Bloom, (who was pulling on her saddlebags for school) and walked out the back door, making their way through the apple orchard to the East fields.
THWOCK!
Applejack's powerful rear legs made contact with the bark of the apple tree. the apples on it's branches quivered for a moment, before falling into the baskets below. She wiped her brow triumphantly, and turned to watch the two stallions nearby.
Big MacIntosh was bucking trees with one rear hoof. He was nearly twice as strong as his younger sister - Applejack could remove every apple from a tree with a single two-legged buck, whereas MacIntosh could remove nearly every apple from a tree usuing only one hoof.
Braeburn, like most ponies, needed to buck a tree two or three times to remove every apple from a tree. He was the weakest of the three - at last as far as rear legs were concerned.
Once Braeburn finally removed the apples from the last tree in the field, the trio stopped to have a break. They each picked an apple from a basket, and snacked on them slowly, making polite conversation, enjoying the sun, whatever.
MacIntosh was thinking about how thankful he was to his cousin for staying to help, and debating on whether or not to take another aspirin for his hoof.
Applejack was still giggling slightly at Braeburn's antics as a sleep-zombie from earlier this morning, marvelling at how good the apples tasted - and what lovely pies, fritters and cider her family would make with them.
Braeburn was thinking how pretty Applejack looked.
The way the sun caught her shining hair; the way her chest moved as she took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of her life; how the sweat glistened on her neck and torso...
NO! He thought violently, no, she's your cuz, Braeburn! He scolded himself, you ain't that kind of farmpony. You love her like kin, and no more. Y'hear?
He did hear. But he didn't listen.
The Apple of My (Familial) Eye
Kin, Remember? Kin, And No More.
Braeburn remained conflicted for the next three years. On some days, he could almost forget about it. On occasion, he could push it right to the back of his mind - maybe be roped in by a pretty mare; a kiss or two, a sly hoof where hooves shouldn't go - but never for long. Then he would remember, and be obsessed with his beautiful cousin once more.
On some nights, he would lie awake in bed, thinking what it would be like it he did take her. What it would be like to go to sleep in the same bed as her, and wake up with her too. He still had friends, and a social life, but he had somewhat regressed into a tragic romantic.
So when he was invited to visit for Hearth Warmings three years later, he didn't know what to do.
"Howdy cuz!" called Applejack, waving a hoof to her yellow cousin through the snow. She was standing at Ponyville train station, and the Appleoosa Express had just screeched to a halt. Braeburn had just disembarked, and was looking for his cousins. Applejack was waving wildly to attract his attention.
"Howdy!" her cousin called back over the howl of the wind. he saw her easily - he could never mistake anypony else for Applejack, not with the shade of her coat, or her mane.
No! he told himself, Kin, remember? Kin and no more!
"Braeburn!" called Apple Bloom, jumping up and down and grinning. Once Braeburn approached it was all he could do to say a quick hello to the two fillies before the younger one launched into a series of tales about her friends and her - the Cutie Mark Crusaders - and their various attempts to earn their cutie marks.
"But right now, we're all just learning special skills with Twilight." Apple Bloom told him, she had chattered all the way back from the station, and now the three of them had finally entered the warmth of Sweet Apple Acres' farmhouse. "We go every week." Apple Bloom continued, "Ah'm learning how to make potions." she told him, "It's real interesting, d'y'all wanna see?" she offered. Braeburn smiled at her.
"Ah'd love to, Apple Bloom." he replied truthfully, "But Ah'm mighty tired right now, Ah just wanna rest, okay?"
Apple Bloom was a little disappointed, but she understood. She was a sensible, sweet little filly. She pulled off her pink (to match her bow) scarf and handed it to her older sister before whizzing off to her room. Applejack smiled.
"The amount of energy she's got now, Celestia knows how strong an Applebucker she'll be." the orange mare remarked, pulling off her own green scarf. It matched her eyes perfectly, Braeburn noticed.
"Ah reckon she could give Big Mac a run for his money." Braeburn agreed. He pulled off his saddlebags and placed them on the floor, "Where am Ah sleeping this time around?"
Applejack looked at him apologetically.
"Ah'm afraid you're gonna have to sleep in the barn." she admitted, "We turned the spare bedroom into a place for Apple Bloom to practice her potions. Just as well we did really," she added thoughtfully, "One of them exploded, took a wall out. If it had been her room, might've taken out two" she waved a hoof, ending the tangent "Anyway, we made the barn all nice and cozy for you. So you needn't worry. It's just a little...inconvenient." she finished.
Braeburn smiled and pulled his saddlebags over his back again, "As long as it's warm, Ah won't complain." he said, "Lead the way, AJ."
She did.
True to her word (as always) Applejack had made the barn as homely as possible. When you entered, there was the normal bottom half, filled with hay and farm tools, but if you went up a staircase on the side, you could see that the top floor had been done up nicely.
Tucked into a far corner was a double bed (which had survived the explosion) and a bedside table that Applejack had made herself from old apple-timber. On the table was a lamp, and another hung from the rafters above. In the walls were pictures of Apple family relatives, some of which Braeburn hadn't seen in years. There was a large wardrobe next to the bed, and beside that, a desk, a chair and a window. Big MacIntosh and Applejack had even managed to get the old radiator working, so it was toasty and snug.
"What do you think?" Applejack asked, turning so she could see her cousin's face. He was smiling,
"Ah think it's wonderful." he said, "Looks very cozy. Ah'm gonna enjoy my stay here."
Applejack grinned, "Ah should hope so."
The evening passed amiably. Braeburn unpacked his saddlebags, had a few minutes to himself (mostly scolding and self-disgust) and then he joined his hosts in the main farmhouse for dinner.
Being Apples, his hosts knew how to cook. Dinner was delightful, and once everypony was done, they waddled into the living room for some after-dinner chat. Once Apple Bloom had said her 'goodnight's and gone to bed, a few mugs of hot cider made their way into the Apple family's hooves, and they sat around the fire, trading stories of what the others had missed.
“And it was just this Hearts and Hooves Day that Apple Bloom and her friends thought it might be fun to set up Big Mac with their teacher, Cheerilee.” Applejack was telling her cousin, “Ain’t that right, Big Mac?”
“Eeyup.” He replied, taking a drink of warm cider, and for a moment, the only sound was Granny Smith’s soft snores.
“Needless to say it all went badly. If mah memory serves, you both ended up at the bottom of a pit, looking like you were about to get married.”
“Eeyup.” Big Mac agreed, his deep red coat changing in shade slightly (not that may would have noticed) as he blushed at the memory.
“Ah remember Cheerilee, Ah think.” Braeburn said, “Ain’t she the dark violet one? With the pale pink striped mane?”
“Eeyup.” Big MacIntosh answered, Braeburn smiled,
“There are worse mares to fall in love with.” He said, smiling as he leant back in his chair and took a long drink of cider.
“Like who?” asked Applejack, “You sound like you’re talking from experience.”
And so, Braeburn launched into a very humorous, and very long-winded tale about a surprisingly persistent mare who had decided he was The One for her. It included several objects being thrown at him in rage or desire (as far as throwing was concerned, it was usually herself when it came to the latter) and a visit from a very protective big brother.
“Sounds like you, Big Mac.” Applejack remarked, grinning. Big MacIntosh looked up at the mention of his name. Applejack turned to Braeburn, “He makes it his job to scare off any stallion Ah’ve ever taken a fancy to. At this rate, Granny Smith’s gonna die a granny.” She jerked her muzzle towards the elderly sleeping pony in the rocking chair.
“What’s that s’posed to mean?” Big MacIntosh asked, his longest speech of the day, (and possibly the week)
“Well,” Applejack explained, “between your scaring off every eligible stallion within three miles, and your shyness, ain’t none of us gonna have foals.”
“I resent that description.” Big MacIntosh said,
“Don’t mean it ain’t true.” Applejack replied, draining her cider mug. Big MacIntosh stuck his tongue out at her, Applejack retaliated by sticking out her own tongue. For a while they looked at eachother darkly, then they broke into grins.
Braeburn smiled as he watched the two of them, still so amiable after all these years. He glanced at the clock, and drained his own cider mug before saying,
“Well, it’s getting late, and Ah reckon Ah’m tired enough to hit the hay now – literally.” He added, “Ah’ll let mahself out, don’t y’all worry.” He stood up and made for the front door.
“Ah’ll walk you out.” Applejack said, “Ah could use a quick stroll before Ah turn in anyway.” She stood up herself and turned to her big brother.
“Night, Big Mac.” She said,
“Night.” He replied, making his way to the staircase. Applejack pulled a blanket over her sleeping grandmother before opening the front door.
The Apple of My (Familial) Eye
Nopony Has To Know. Okay?
It had stopped snowing now. The snow glistened in the soft starlight, and the crescent moon glittered like a silver sickle in the velvet night. It was a beautiful sight. The barn was a heap of white snow – the layer on the roof must have been ten feet thick, for it had snowed solidly for five days, and there was nopony to disturb it there.
Applejack and Braeburn made their way towards the barn, carefully pulled the door open, and stepped into the warmth. The light from the makeshift bedroom glowed cosily and dimly.
“It ain’t half nippy out.” Applejack remarked, shivering slightly, “Ah might cut mah walk short.”
Braeburn chuckled, “You wanna stay in here for a minute? Warm up?”
He meant it. The walk to the barn was usually a good five minutes, but in the dark and ice and snow, it felt more like ten. Both of them were shivering, though Braeburn less so, as he was wearing his vest as well as his hat.
“You know, Ah think Ah will.” Applejack replied, climbing the staircase with her cousin. She pulled a small barrel of cider from the dark corner of the barn. It had been sat next to the other radiator, and was warm because of it.
“How long has that been there?” Braeburn asked, Applejack chuckled,
“Longer’n you.” She replied, cracking it open and inhaling the spicy, apple-y aroma, “This is the alcoholic kind.” She said, “Puts a little more fire in your belly.”
She dug around in the drawer at the bottom of the wardrobe and produced two mugs, she then poured each of them a large, generous mug of the stuff. They drank it quickly, for it was too good to take your time with.
“Ahhh,” Applejack said in a satisfied voice, “That hit the spot.” She placed her mug down on the desk and stood up.
“You sure you can make it back on your own?” Braeburn asked, concerned. It was nearly pitch black outside.
“Ah live here, Brae.” She told him, “Ah could find mah way back blindfolded.”
Braeburn smiled at this, “True.” He remarked,
“You bet it is.” Applejack said, “Element of Honesty.” She puffed out her chest importantly.
Just then, there was an almighty CRASH
“What was that?” Applejack exclaimed, running to the window, but seeing nothing out of the ordinary.
“Ah reckon Ah know.” Braeburn said, a tremor of fear in his voice. Applejack turned to him,
“What?” she asked,
“Ah think that was the snow on top of the barn. Ah also reckon that it means we’re snowed in.”
And when Applejack pulled open the barn’s front door, only to be met by a cold wall of snow, she knew her cousin was right.
Applejack sat down on the bed heavily. Braeburn had placed a blanket around her shoulders - a good deal of the snow built up against the door had flowed in when she opened it, burying her in an icy heap. Applejack was a strong pony, no stranger to the elements, but she wasn't a superpony.
“Great.” She said, “Just great.”
Braeburn smiled, “Hey, could be worse, cuz.” He told her, sitting down beside her, “We could’ve been snowed out .”
“Then we would’ve gone back to the farmhouse, and you could’ve bunked with Big Mac.” She said, “We don’t know how thick the snow is, and if it snows more...we could be in here for days .”
Braeburn blanched at this. Not only would that mean very little - if any - food and drink, but it also meant constant company with the one pony he wanted more than anything in the world, and the one he most certainly could not have.
He looked out the window, "Ah reckon if we broke it, one of us could jump out..." he mused, Applejack laughed humorlessly,
"Ha! If you wanna break your neck!" she cried bitterly, "We're twenty feet up, and the floor around us is concrete!" Twenty feet was the equivalent of five Braeburns standing on eachother's heads.
He hated to say it, but his cousin was right. They were stuck until the snow melted, or they were dug out. Either way, they were stuck for at least the night.
"Don't worry," he said, "Big Mac'll dig us out." he said. He hoped. He prayed .
Applejack glared at the floor, "Couple years ago, the barn's roof-snow fell and blocked the door, we couldn't get in for three days, and that was with half of Ponyville helping."
"What if a Pegasus flew in through the window?" Braeburn suggested,
"You kidding?" Applejack replied, "It may not be snowing now, but it soon will be - no Pegasus has been flying around for a week."
And so, they continued in this fashion, Braeburn suggesting a way out, Applejack shooting it down bluntly. The truth was this: unless there was no snow for the next three days, they would be stuck for at least a week. As it was, they were stuck for the night.
"Uh...AJ?" Braeburn said, his face flushing. She turned to him,
"Yeah?" she asked,
"Ah...er...Ah need to go to the little stallion's room." he said, blushing deeper.
"Go down the stairs, Ah'd recommend the hay bale in the back." she said. Braeburn did so, and they designated that hay bale as their temporary latrine. Neither of them particularly like the thought, but it had to be done.
Once that was...dealt with, and Braeburn had returned, a new issue arose.
"Well, Ah'm turning in." Applejack said, removing her hat and placing it on the bedside table. She snuggled down into the double bed.
"Uh...cuz?" Braeburn began, she looked at him, giving her his attention,
"Yeah?"
"Where am Ah gonna sleep?"
Applejack looked at him, "It's a double bed, ain't it?" she said, "Meant for two? Come on, you can bunk with me - Ah won't kick you, promise."
Braeburn blanched again. luckily, Applejack had closed her eyes, and she probably would not have noticed in the poor light anyway. He was thinking how this would only complicate things, and how he couldn't think of a decent excuse apart from the truth - and no way was he telling her that . Reluctantly, he pulled off his own vest and hat, and lay down on the other side of the bed.
Nopony has to know, okay? he told himself, all you gotta do is not make a move. Keep your distance. Pretend it's Big Mac in there - that might help.
But try as he might, it didn't. Big MacIntosh was not a young, athletic mare. He didn't look like Applejack. Nor did he smell like her. It didn't work, not one bit.
He turned decidedly away from her, jerking the covers around himself. Applejack, who was half asleep, pulled them back over her side, resulting in Braeburn being yanked a good foot backwards, so much so that he could feel her spine against his.
Applejack was well and truly asleep now. She turned over in the bed, her muzzle now mere inches away from his. Braeburn's breathing quickened - she looked so much more beautiful up close. Her gentle breaths warmed his face, and her front hoof was right neck to his cheek. he longed to lean forwards and close the gap between their mouths....
NO! No! She. Is. Your. CUZ! Off limits!
The violent motion roused Applejack, and she found herself staring at her cousin, who was wearing an expression of contortion, like somepony had punched him in the stomach. She wondered briefly if she had done so.
"Braeburn?" she said softly, "What's wrong, sugarcube?" she used the endearment now, showing him that it was all okay.
Braeburn sighed. he knew he was going to tell her the truth, whether he wanted to or not. Her honesty rubbed off on him - much to his dismay at that moment.
"AJ..." he began, "Ah...Ah have a confession to make." he said, lowering his eyelids in shame.
"What's that?" she asked gently. She wanted to put a hoof on his shoulder, pull him close and tell him it'd be alright, but somehow, she felt as if that would make matters worse.
"Ah...you see..." he stammered, then took a deep breath, "For three years now, Ah have been totally, completely and inexplicably in love with you." he said, "And Ah know it's wrong and sick and twisted, because you're mah cuz, and yet...it just feels right ." he finished, bowing his head, waiting for an exclamation of disgust.
The Apple of My (Familial) Eye
And Nopony's GOING To Know
What he didn't expect was the soft touch of her lips on his own. Just of a soft touch of lips on lips, and she pulled back quickly, but still, he was surprised to say the least.
"What...?" he asked, dazed, Applejack looked up at him with teary eyes,
"Ah've felt it too..." she admitted, "Ever since Appleoosa." she paused and took a breath, "Y'all were preparing for the Pie War with the buffalo...and Ah realised that if you got hurt...it'd kill me. More than it would if it was Big Mac or Apple Bloom..."
"That's how Ah felt too." he said,
Applejack sighed, and looked up at him, tears in her perfect emerald eyes, "What's wrong with me, Braeburn?" she asked,
"Nothing." he replied, leaning closer to her, "Nothing at all. You're perfect."
"No. Ah'm sick, that's what Ah am." she said bitterly, "In love with mah own cousin."
"Ah am too." he pointed out, "And there's nothing we can do to change it."
They lay there in silence for a while. Not sure what to say to each other. Applejack was scolding herself for effectively calling Braeburn sick, and Braeburn was silently over the moon that his feelings were requited.
"Hey...Braeburn?" Applejack began eventually. Braeburn looked up,
"Yeah?"
"How're we related again?"
"Well..." he paused, "Ah believe your Granny's mother was mah granny's mother's sister." he said,
"So...we're third cousins." she said after a minute. "We share barely any blood at all."
Braeburn looked at her, "What're you saying?" he asked,
"Ah'm saying that even by Equestrian law, it's legal." she replied, "And that there's no chance of anypony walking in on us. And nopony has to know."
"Are you suggesting...?" he asked, dumbfounded. Not displeased, no, never. He was dumbfounded that Applejack actually felt the same way .
Applejack met his gaze, measure for measure, "Only if you want to, sugarcube." she replied truthfully.
"Ah want to." he said, "Ah want to more than anything. Ah want you more than anything else in Equestria."
"Ah want that to." she replied huskily, before closing the gap between them.
Braeburn had been unprepared for the first kiss, but for this second one, he was ready. He dug one foreleg underneath her and wrapped the other over her, pulling her tight against him, feeling her racing heartbeat right next to his own. They were kissing fiercely, Applejack's forelegs around Braeburn's neck, pulling his mouth onto hers. He pushed her lips open with his own, and the kiss deepened.
"I always thought you'd think Ah was sick because of this." Braeburn said against her mouth, "That you'd hate me and cut me off."
"Ah could never hate you, Braeburn." Applejack replied, breaking away from the kiss to whisper to him, "Not when all Ah want is for you to kiss me and never stop."
Braeburn obeyed her wish only too happily, rolling so that she was on top of him. Applejack could feel the hard, strong muscles of his stomach, and the dull ache of want stirred in her abdomen. She pushed herself closer to him, the couple wanting nothing more than to climb inside each other, where it would be safe and warm, and never, ever come out.
Braeburn's hooves were on her back, pressing her closer to him, sending shivers down her spine. He moved away from her mouth and placed a trail of kisses down her neck and collar bones, finally kissing the spot above her pounding heart before he found her lips again.
Applejack suddenly felt something very warm, solid and male against her stomach, and realised that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. He pulled away.
"AJ." he said breathlessly, "If we don't stop now...Ah won't be able to stop mahself..." he swallowed, "Do...do you-"
"Yes." she said, answering his question before he even finished asking it, her mouth found his again and they were kissing. She rolled around so that now she was underneath him. "Ah want you, Braeburn Alexander Apple." she said against his mouth, "Ah want you, right here, right now."
Her sentence finished with a gasp-slash-moan, and her eyes flew open in surprise as she realised he had done as she asked..
And it felt like Heaven.
Braeburn was fighting hard not to lose his self control. They were both whispering each others names against one anothers mouths as they started to move. In unison, they matched every motion, every sound, and Applejack felt a tight coil in the base of her stomach.
"Braeburn..." she gasped his name against his mouth as he moved, feeling every single motion he made inside of her. They were no longer kissing, their mouths just so close that they were breathing the same air. Braeburn felt himself getting close, very close, and knew it was only a matter of time... Applejack felt much the same, they were both teetering on the precipice of ecstasy. They gasped each others names over, and over and over.
And they they fell.
At almost exactly the same moment they fell deadly silent and saw stars at the edges of their vision. Braeburn felt himself go, and briefly enter that dark, wonderful mysterious place you only enter when absolutely ecstatic. They looked at each other, an expression of absolute bliss on their faces.
"Ah..." Braeburn said breathlessly. He licked his dry lips, "Ah've waited a long time for that."
"Was it as good as you hoped?" Applejack asked. Her mane and tail had come loose from their ties, and she looked every bit the ravished fair maiden from a romance film. Braeburn had never seen anything more beautiful in his life.
"Better." he replied, still mesmerised by her appearance.
Applejack smiled lazily at him, "Ah see you're not that tuckered out." she said dryly, with a glance to his crotch, and he blushed upon realising that he was standing to attention once more, "You hinting at something?" she asked,
"Depends." Braeburn replied, "You want to?"
"Oh Celestia, yes." Applejack replied, and Braeburn's mouth came crashing down on hers.
They spent the rest of the night exploring each other. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. They had never felt so close to another pony before in their lifetimes. It was a night they would both remember for the rest of their lives, even though they would not marry each other when the time came. When Celestia raised the Sun the next morning, it was an unusually hot, warm day, devoid of any snow. Applejack looked down with a mixture of relief and disappointment. She was glad that they wouldn't be snowed in for days on end, but she had rather enjoyed her private time with Braeburn, and had been hoping for a little more.
Braeburn had never felt so happy. He had had a massive grin on his face for the entire night - even when he had finally fallen asleep, with Applejack in his embrace.
When he woke up, Applejack was still lying next to him, gazing out of the window at the sunny day. He felt slightly disappointed that he would not get to spend some more time with Applejack, but he knew it was for the best.
"Good morning, sugarcube." Applejack said to him. He smiled,
"Morning."
Applejack smiled back, but it was a sad smile, "Ah just wanna clarify something with you, if that's alright."
Braeburn nodded, "Sure."
Applejack looked steadily at him, but her eyes sparkled with sad realisation, "This ," she gestured to herself and him, "Can't happen again." she said, "It was fun, heck, it was amazing ," she kissed him lightly on the lips, then continued, "but it was a one off, okay?"
Braeburn nodded. He had expected as much, and if Applejack hadn't brought it up, he would have.
But it didn't stop his heart from breaking.
Nor did it stop Applejack's from breaking too.
The Apple of My (Familial) Eye
The two of them were rescued later that day by Rainbow Dash and a few other Pegasi. Now that the storm had cleared up, the Pegasus rescue team easily flew to the window, Applejack bucked it apart, and the two Earth ponies were deposited safely on the ground. Then the four Apples enjoyed a wonderful Hearth Warmings.
Though they knew it was for the best, Braeburn's and Applejack's hearts broke at the knowledge that 'it' had been a one time thing. They knew that a continuous relationship with a family member (even if they were third cousins) would only bring shame to the Apple family name, and to themselves from the rest of their family. It was simply not how things were done.
Several years went by, and Applejack married a respectable, wonderful young stallion. He was everything she had ever dreamed of and more. She did love Braeburn, but in the end, it was platonic. One fling had been enough for her - and it had been amazing - but one had definitely been enough. She was truly okay with that. And Braeburn was too.
But just like a little part of Applejack's heart always belonged to him, a little part of Braeburn's heart always belonged to the orange mare. Even after he married a sprightly mare - with whom he was indescribably happy - and had two foals - whom he adored - there was always that little part of his heart that was owned by his third cousin. They never forgot that night. And both of them still loved the other deeply. For the most part, it was platonic, but there was those little parts of them that stirred with want every time they saw each other.
Over the years, they learned to ignore it, but it was still there.
Which is why, they say, Braeburn Alexander Apple, and Applejack Honeycrisp Apple had chipped hearts.