"What did I just see?" Richard asked himself rhetorically as he ran as fast as he could towards home. "Since when have Applejack and Fluttershy been an item? Perhaps I should ask Twilight later?"

"Oh no, you can't do that." Richard almost jumped out of his skin, turning to find Fluttershy floating gracefully next to him, easily keeping pace. "I mean, please don't tell anyone."

"Look, Fluttershy, I'm really sorry for running in on you and Applejack back there, but I really have somewhere to be, so if you don't mind..." Richard spotted a nearby alley way, one narrow enough that Fluttershy wouldn't be able to follow him in the air but after just a couple of steps he felt his feet being yanked from underneath him and he fell to the ground heavily.

"Oh no you don't, you varmin."

Richard barely had time to register the loop of rope caught around his legs before Applejack was looming over him, her frame casting him in shadow.

"Now, I'm going to untie your legs and help you up, but no running away now, you hear?" Richard just nodded in response. "Good."

"Oh, Richard, are you alright?" Asked Fluttershy as she stepped up next to Applejack and gave him the once over. "That looked like a nasty fall."

"He's fine, Fluttershy." Replied Applejack before Richard even had chance to open his mouth. "He can hardly have been hurt just falling over in the middle of the street."

"You yanked his feet from under him. He could have hit his head, or broken a bone. You really need to be more careful." Said Fluttershy.

"I had to do it, Fluttershy, I didn't want him to get away."

"Get away?! We all know you could outrun him in your sleep. You just wanted to hurt him because he interrupted us." Fluttershy harrumphed.

"No I didn't. And how could you suggest such a thing. I may have wanted to scare him, but that's all."

"Scare him? What on Equestria for?" asked Fluttershy. "If anything, it's me that should be frustrated, all that build up and no release."

"Alright fine, would it make you happy if I apologized to him?"

"That would be a good start."

"Fine," said Applejack, turning to Richard, who'd been standing there looking at them dumbstruck. "Look, I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to hurt you, but please don't tell our friends about this."

"Wait, you're saying they don't know about you two?" asked Richard.

Applejack and Fluttershy looked sheepishly at each other, Richard noticing a tinge of crimson on each of their cheeks.

"No, they don't," said Applejack.

"At least not yet," said Fluttershy. "We're still not sure what we are yet, and we don't want to cause any issues until we know for certain what this is. So please don't tell anyone."

Richard just stood their amazed as they both stared at him expectantly, a slight tinge of worry creeping on the Applejack's features as he stood silently.

"Alright," said Richard, taking a deep breath. "I wont, but I'd advise you next time to not have sex outdoors if you want to keep it a secret."

"It's pretty much just after dawn," said Applejack.

"And no one normally goes that close to the forest either," added Fluttershy.

"Actually, thinking about it, I've never seen you up this early before," mused Applejack. "What in Equestria are you doing up this early? And what were you doing out by the Everfree forest."

"Actually," said Richard. "I was coming to find you Applejack, I went to the farm but he told me you'd be over at Fluttershy's."

"And how did you find us near the forest?" asked Fluttershy

"Oh, that? Angel pointed me in the right direction. Anyway, I can see you two have plans so I guess I'll head on home..." Richard had barely took a step before a Fluttershy blocked his path with one of her wings.

"Our plans can wait, Richard," said Fluttershy kindly. "Whatever you wanted to talk to Applejack about must be important if you got up at this time of the morning."

"Fluttershy's right," said Applejack fixing him with a stern glare. "Besides, you look like you've been ridden hard and put away wet. Whatever you need, I'm sure we can help. Nothing to do with that silly bet of yours perhaps?"

RIchard sighed, "Not exactly, no. Well, I mean, it might be but the whole thing is just so confusing."

"Hmm," Fluttershy hummed happily. "How about we go back to mine and talk about this over some tea. I don't really think an alleyway is the best place to have a comfortable discussion."

"That sounds mighty nice, Sugarcube." Applejack nuzzled Fluttershy who draped a wing over her in return.

"Sure, I'm actually quite thirsty. Though I would advise you not to look too obvious if you want to keep it a secret."

"Right, so what exactly is the problem, Richard?" asked Fluttershy as she placed a tray carrying three mugs and a tea pot down on the living room table before taking a seat next to Applejack and across from Richard.

"Where to start?" he asked Rhetorically before pouring himself some tea and taking a testing sip.

"How about at the beginning," said Applejack with a smirk before getting her own tea.

"Ha. Ha." Richard laughed sarcastically. "Well I guess it started yesterday, I was just finishing my job fixing a fence for Roseluck when Twilight came out of nowhere with a jug of lemonade and just started acting really weird."

"Weird how?" asked Applejack. "I mean Twi's not the most social of ponies, so maybe it was that?"

"Oh no, this wasn't social awkwardness, she kept leaning on me. I mean she was almost stroking me." Richard paused to take another sip. "You know, if I didn't know better I might have assumed it had something to do with her meeting with Rarity."

"A meeting with Rarity?" asked Applejack.

"Yeah, she said she had to rush off for a meeting with her after she gave me the lemonade."

"Hmm," hummed Applejack, turning to face Fluttershy. "You don't suppose..."

"That Rarity is trying to help Twilight win the bet?" finished Fluttershy. "I dunno, would Rarity really do that?"

"Oh please," said Applejack. "A chance to try and teach someone else how to act all silly like one of her trashy novels? Of course she would."

"Wait, are you trying to say Rarity wants me to lose?" exclaimed Richard. "Why? What did I do? Does she not like me?"

"No, it's nothing like that," soothed Fluttershy as Richard looked on the verge on panic. "Rarity just has something of a 'fetish' for romance. She's probably imagining the whole situation as basically a real life 'My Fair Stallion'."

"Hmm, okay then," said Richard as he calmed down. "But that's not even the bad part though. I mean I think whatever Twilight did might have had some sort of weird effect with the potion and everything." Richard braced himself as he considered carefully what he was going to say.

"Last night I struggled to fall asleep. I just felt so hot and sweaty and I'm almost certain its the effects of the potion. However, even when I managed to fall asleep I had some 'weird' dreams."

"What kind of dreams?" asked Applejack.

"Weird ones." said Richard evasively.

"Oh no, sugarcube. You don't ask for our help with something and then not give us the details." Applejack paused as she felt Fluttershy's eyes boring into the side of her head. "What I mean is, it's hard for us to help if we don't know everything. I promise, nothing you say will be mentioned outside of this meeting."

"O-okay," Richard said bashfully. "The dreams were of a more 'passionate' nature, involving me and, ahem, Twilight."

"Oh my," gasped Fluttershy. "So you dreamed that you and Twilight were having..."

"Sex?" asked Richard. "No, not really that far, just a lot of her, and it seemed really intense. Like, when I woke up I could almost still see her right there in front of me, her eyes haunting me."

"And this worries you?" asked Applejack.

"Well, a bit. Quite a lot actually. I just can't help but wonder..."

"That these feelings aren't just from the potion," Finished Applejack. "Well unfortunately relationships aren't my forte but I might have some help for you."

"What kind of help?" asked Richard enthusiastically. "I'd take any help if it helped me get to sleep. Without losing the bet of course."

"Of course," Applejack smirked. "First, however, I need to ask that you don't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you. Or you Fluttershy." Applejack paused, prompting both of them to mime out a Pinkie promise. Satisfied, Applejack continued.

"Well, you see, the Apples have for generations had their own secret recipe for a 'tonic' that helps us mares get through our heat. It aint fancy and sure tastes like dirt but it takes the edge off it and I was planning on sneaking some out of grannies cabinet and letting you have it."

Richard looked at Applejack with a mixture of emotions across playing across his face. Finally however he settled and shook his head.

"I'm sorry Applejack, I can't accept." Richard sighed. "Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing gesture, and I really appreciate it. But I can't help but think of it as cheating, and if not, it still goes against the spirit of the bet. I said I should be able to cope and I will. Besides, that's not my biggest issue, it's this whole sudden fascination with Twilight."

Fluttershy giggled, "Oh Richard, it's not sudden. We've all seen you stare at Twilight's 'features' even if you didn't notice it yourself."

"Wait, really?"

"Yes," Fluttershy giggled again. "Even if you've not been actively attracted to her before now, your subconscious has appreciated her from afar."

"So you're saying these feelings are genuine?" Richard asked.

"No, or at least not entirely. I'm not exactly versed in relationships either. More that at least part of you finds her pleasant to look at." Fluttershy growled in frustration at his vacant expression. "I'm sorry, I'm probably not explaining it right. If only Cadance was here, she'd probably be able to find an answer in a flash."

"Cadance! That's it." exclaimed Applejack. "Why don't you send her a letter. As a princess I'm sure she'd love to hear from you, and I know she'd be able to answer your questions."

"I don't know," said Richard quietly. "If I send the letter regularly, I doubt they'll get it anytime soon. And if I send it via Spike, he or Twilight will ask questions and I definitely don't want them to know about this."

"Well, why don't you go and visit her?" asked Fluttershy. "She's the only princess you haven't met yet and I know she'd happily help you. Especially since it involves her sister in law."

Richards eyes shrank. "Sister in law? Oh crap, what if she hates the fact I've even looked at Twilight. And lets not forget Shining Armor."

"You needn't worry about Cadance, she's an extremely nice and understanding pony. Especially when it comes to matters of love and relationships," said Fluttershy. "She'll treat you well.

"And with Shining Armour, don't make it sound like you're lusting after his sister and I'm sure you'll be fine," added Applejack.

"Alright, fine, you've twisted my arm." said Richard, causing both Applejack and Fluttershy to beam. "But if I wind up dead or worse, I'm holding you two responsible."

"Oh stop being such a filly," teased Applejack. "You'll be fine. Besides, I bet you'll love the Crystal Kingdom, it really is a beautiful place."

"Uh-huh," agreed Fluttershy.

"Okay, I'm going. But one quick question before I leave. Do either of you know how much a ticket costs?"

Author's Note

Okay first things first. Story isn't dead, but thanks to everyone who put the story in their dead or dying folders to motivate me.

Second, not edited due to no editor, but hope you enjoy

Third, thanks for continuing to read, it means so much.