Apple Brand Steel

I awoke to a pair of hooves pressing against my my shoulder. A long waking sigh later and I pulled my head from Apple Fritter's side. Her pillow status fulfilled once again, leaving me well rested, if a bit sweaty. I rubbed my face, banishing the oddly hot feeling of Fritter's side.

I sat upright, looking around the still dark room and spotting my alarm. I managed to shut it off just before it started going off. With that miniature crisis averted I poked Fritter in the ribs, forcing her awake, "...Come on...it's time."

Fritter let out an angry snarl and rolled onto her stomach, "...Dave...ya bucker...why'd I gotta get up now?"

I found her hat on my bedside lamp and tossed it onto her head, "You're living here now...you gotta pitch in." I rubbed my eyes as light flooded the room, "Go...go start breakfast. I'll shower and swap out...alright?" Fritter just grumbled angrily, "Alright!?"

"Alright! Dang.... Six in the dang mornin' I ain't gonna be the nicest mare." She slapped the side of my head with her tail and jumped off our bed. "Ya dink."

I scoffed and wandered into the bathroom. "You should be thanking me!" I leaned against the wall as I went towards the shower, "I let you stay here...you freaking move in...least you could do is make breakfast."

Fritter shouted from the other room, "After all the crap ya' pulled!? Dang, you be glad I still think yer' worth it!"

I stopped at the bathroom door, "You snuck into here just to see me naked...you're not a saint either!"

Things got quiet, our yelling match apparently done. "Penis!" Fritter shouted, shattering my concentration and sparking something in my gut. I started chuckling like mad at the pure absurdity. My raspy laughed heartwarming in the early summer morning.

I got into the shower, the hot water soothing my achy muscles. "...Penis...." I continued to laugh. Something about the sudden craziness just resonated with me. Unfortunately it brought up a few bitter memories. My previous interactions with the Apple family rather vulgar and mean. But after a bit of an ego check, I had come back, said my sorrys, and found my place back amongst the slowly growing and human friendly family.

I finished up with my shower, leaving the water running and hurrying to the kitchen. My small house easily navigated but still rather spacy. I found Fritter working at the stove, flank bouncing as she tapped her back legs, "Dang ol' little filly gonna--"

I snuck up behind her, pressing my member against her flank, "Hello...."

Fritter froze for a moment, looking back at me before going back to bouncing her flank, "Dave's got a pecker like a month old colt, dang if he did a dang damn with it."

"Pfff, you're the one that liked to grab at it." I wrapped my towel around my waist and found a seat, "Shower's open...and on."

Fritter spun around, "Well say that next time! Don't just go stickin' your sausage next ta' me when we're wastin' water!" she bolted off, leaving me to tend to the apparently failed waffles, now melting into pancakes. I did my best to salvage it. I managed to finish them up as the water pipes overhead stopped rumbling. I plated them, sugared them, and set them down on the table.

Fritter hurried back, head wrapped in a towel, her hat resting atop the strange head warp. "Done- daaang. Ya know, you're kinda useful when you're not a jerk."

I took a seat next to her, staring out the window, "Look, I said I was sorry, we're...are we dating?" I asked, scratching my crown with the back of my fork, "You were never really clear about that."

Fritter just ate, ignoring me until she had sufficiently stuffer her face. With a single greedy swallow she sent the steamy pancake straight to her gut. "Aaauh...what?"

I just stared at her with a mix of awe and shame. "...Are we dating, or are you just staying here?"

Fritter just cocked an eyebrow, "We ain't havein' sex...ain't like I'm more than a dang pillow right now." She jumped from her chair, "Dang' suck at herding...."

I just stared at my plate. "I never even wanted to. It was your idea...."

Fritter came back, dried out and ready to go, "And it was a dang good one 'till ya went out and left us for Dodge!"

I scratched my neck, really trying to hide my face, "Look, I said I'm sorry--"

"Don't be sorry damn it!" Fritter snapped, slamming her hoof down, "Go out, find Carrot, and get Applejack." She huffed and sat down, "Ya' been drawin' in that book since ya got back."

"Why are you so interested in who--"

"Because I like em too!" She walked over and put her hooves on my table, "Not like...in a weird way. But it's a close thing, ya know." She traced her hoof along the table, "I like ya Dave...but I know ya like Applejack...an' I know Carrot Top likes ya too." She looked me in the eyes, "Now ya gonna go, get your mare, and settle down with us, or ya gonna dance around like an idiot with a spider in your boot!?"

I was slightly stunned, "Uh...what?"

Fritter bopped me with her hoof, "Go find the mares you wanna love...and love them...and me.... I count...."

I stood up, walking past her, getting dressed in a fireproof cotton shirt and some jeans, and met Fritter back in the kitchen. "So...are we dating or--"

She stopped me cold with a hoof to the shin. I crumpled, falling to my right knee and clutching hit hit, "Fritter! Why!?" she walked up to me, pressing her lips against my own for a mere moment. She backed up, smiling smugly, "Oh...that's why...." I licked my lips, the taste of syrup riding them. "You could just...ask next time."

"Well it's not like ya don't know...."

I got back to my feet, dusting my knee off, "Fair point. Now, actual question. Do you actually think I have a shot with Applejack? I mean...I was really...really, shitty to her."

Fritter cringed, "Well, it ain't that bad. And she asked ya'  ta' stay. So...I'd say ya got a shot."

I stood before her, feeling my skin flush at her reassuring talk. "Well...I...oh screw it." I leaned down, hugging her. I pulled her against my chest, her hooves landing over my shoulder. I held her tight, kissing her cheek as I pulled back.

Fritter grew red, pulling her hat down and mumbling, "Dang...I don't...dang...." She covered her face with her hat as best she could, "That was...." she lunged forward, grabbing my leg, "That was real nice."

"I gotta be nicer." I put my hand on her head, messing with her hat, "My friend was right...too angry." I rubbed the back of her head, "Alright, work time."

Fritter refused to let go, "Not yet partner...not yet."

I indulged her, letting her nuzzle my leg as much as she wanted. It filled me with a pleasantly fuzzy sensation. One I hadn't felt in a long time. "Why did we not hang out more in Appleloosa?"

Fritter finally broke the hug, "Cause, you were always workin' on something! Now...well...now you're still doin' stuff, but it's different stuff."

I stopped and looked down at her, "...Fritter...what do you do down here?"

She froze, "I uh...work.... The fields...."

"That it? Because...Carrot said the same thing...and it doesn't--"

Fritter cut me off, holding her hoof out defensively, "Look, I do stuff. I don't do as much stuff as I would like, but I do stuff!"

"Whatever." I started laughing as I turned to the door, "I have to go and, forge pure steel with my leathery hands, creating metal works the likes of which the world has--"

Fritter shoved me out the door, "Yeah, yeah, get out there."

I stepped outside, getting a look at the warm rolling farmland I was settled on. Orchards to the north, the town to south, the Apple's farmhouse to the east, and yet more fields and houses to the west. It was wonderful. But I turned to the converted barn next to my house, hurrying inside my makeshift workshop and looking over my forge.

A simple stone fire pit and a load of metalworking tools littered the shed. I found my tools, threw scrap steel into a crucible, and started forging. The smell of molten metal filled my nose as I filled the crucible full, creating a cup of molten steel.

I plucked it from the fire, quickly taking it to a horseshoe mold and sending the gooey metal spilling into the molds. I felt a bead of sweat work into my eye, making it extremely difficult to slowly and evenly pour the steel.

But, as the metal ceased to flow, and the molds were filled, I stepped back and looked over my work. It felt good, productive. Pride filled my body as I watched the first set of horseshoes since my return were forged. "Dave," Applejack's voice stunned me, making me jerk my body forward and against the hot forge, "Whoa there partner!"

"Applejack...please...for the love of god don't do that."

She took a step back towards the barn door, "Sorry, I didn't--"

"I just...hot metal...fire, not good for startling." I explained, looking down at her, "So uh...sorry, what's up?"

Applejack smiled and trotted over to a special chair I used for fitting Horseshoes, "Just a checkup is all." She smiled wide, beaming at me as I took off my gloves and found my toolkit, "Got a date--"

I let out an amazingly rough cough, "What!?"

Applejack just nodded, unfazed by my sudden panic, "Yep. Nice human I met a day or two ago."

I locked up, "But...you...me...I thought--"

"Dave...ya know what ya did...and ya don't get ta' just come back and pretend it didn't happen." She cocked her head, "I'm sure you'll be fine."

I lurched forward, sitting on the ground before her hooves. "...I...Seriously?!"

She cocked her head, "Dang...you're real torn up about it ain't ya...."

"I'm fine! I'm- fine!" I leaned forward, undoing the screws that held her horseshoe to her hoof and taking it off. "I'm totally fine!"

"Ya don't look fine...." she noted, flexing her legs, "Ya want me to come back some other time?"

"Just, no!" I went to work, cleaning crud from her muddy hooves, "It's completely fine!" I dug my nail against the inside of her hoof, cleaning out dried mud and brushing off her hoof with a firm brush. "I'm...fine."

I picked up her back legs, looking at her hooves and checking for chips or deformities. "Nothing...nothing...you're fine." I let her hooves drop rather harshly, "That's it...you're completely fine."

Applejack looked at her bare hooves, "Uh...Dave--"

"Go!" I pointed to the door, I have work to do!"

Applejack gave me a worried look, jumped off the chair, scooped up her horseshoes and walked out of my workshop. I waited until she was a ways away before closing the door to the barn.

I had a single moment as I laid my hand on the door. "Don't...Dave...don't... Don't...." I felt a tear roll down my cheek, "...Damn it...." I fell to my knees, letting out a horrid sound like a dying animal. I rolled onto my side and clutched my knees to my chest. "...Damn it all...damn it...damn...damn...." I laid on the dirt floor of the workshop, lamenting my crushed dreams.

I laid on the floor, the door swinging open and hitting my across the back of my head. Carrot Top walked in, spotting me on the floor and walking to my front, "Oh my gosh, Dave, what happened!?"

I just laid, wordlessly on the floor. Eventually I got to my knees, hugging the farm pony and clutching her tight. "...My heart hurts...."

Carrot wrapped her hooves under my arms and around my ribs, "First month back and you're already sad!? Why?"

I stopped my pity party, growing a steely resolve. "You know what...no." I jumped upright, "I'm not laying down for this!"

Carrot just stepped back, "Laying down for what?"

I looked down to the sweet carrot orange mare, "Carrot, I need your help."

She leaned on her hooves, shifting forward and back, "Well that's great! But I--"

I leaned down, putting my arm around her and holding her close, "How well do you know Applejack?"

Carrot grew uneasy as I leaned cheek to cheek with her, "Pretty well...we're related...."

I nodded, rubbing my cheek against her, "She the jealous type?"

"Dave?"

I turned Carrot to face me, "You still wanna give me a shot?"

Carrot started growing red, "What...like dating? I mean...is Fritter--"

"Yes...we're...apparently together."

Carrot looked up, "Well. I mean...sure, why-- Mmmph!?" I locked her in a deep kiss. She pushed away slightly, not enough to pry herself away from my weak grip. "Mmmph...mmmhmm...mmmmmh...." She moaned as I kissed her, flicking her tongue against my lips.

"Whoa- easy." I pulled back, leaving her tongue out, blushing and eyes closed. "...Uh...Carrot?"

"Hmm? Oh!" She returned to her normal look, now adorn with a bright red blush, "Sorry...I thought--"

"No tongue...."

"No tongue?"

"No...."

"Oh...okay." Carrot backed up, "So...what now?"

I shrugged, "Now I plan. But, you came for something right?"

Carrot looked around the room, "I was gonna come say hi...but I got a little more than, hi." She flicked me with her tail and turned towards the door, "You know where I live...."

I looked out of the barn, over to Carrot Top's house across a ten foot wide foot path from my own. "Uh...yes, yes I do." I turned to the forge, finishing up the horseshoes and continuing about my work day. All the while, plotting my devious attempts to get Applejack back, even if I had to fight tooth and bloody claw, to get her back.