A Friend In Needby WhiteoutChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 1The late-summer sun poured down on the leaves of Sweet Apple Acres’ orchard like thick honey, warming apples that were just beginning to ripen into redness and baking the colorful coats of the farmponies tending the trees. Several stallions were making their way towards the barn, laughter echoing under the trees, their coats dark with sweat in the humid early afternoon. Beneath one of those trees, two mares were settled on a checkered blanket with a picnic basket between them. Both were watching as the stallions stored their tools and stepped over to the pump to rinse away the sweat and dust of the morning’s work before turning to their own lunch. A small sound, almost a whine, drew Applejack’s eyes back to the pony beside her. Fluttershy’s gaze was firmly fixed on the stallions at play. The tinge of blush on her cheekbones and the soft rustle of feather on feather as she shifted her wings were obvious enough, but when Applejack saw her friend’s tail twitch upwards as one colt shook out his long mane, she couldn’t resist a bit of gentle teasing. “See something you like down there?” Applejack drawled, making sure to keep her voice low enough not to carry over the droning of the cicadas as she grinned over at the intent pegasus. Fluttershy stiffened as her friend’s words broke her concentration on the colts, and she turned to Applejack with a deepening blush. “I... um... that is.... yes.” Each statement was more embarrassed and softer than the last, as the Fluttershy’s blush deepened further and she turned her eyes downwards to intently study the weave of the blanket she rested upon with every evidence of fascination. A gentle hoof lifted her chin, and Fluttershy looked up into Applejack’s sympathetic smile. “It gettin’ to you, sugarcube?” At Fluttershy’s hesitant nod, the young farmer grimaced sympathetically. “Late summer’s always worst about it.” Turning, Applejack dug into the picnic basket, busying herself with laying out lunch to give her friend a little time to recover her composure. She looked up from digging out the small peach tarts intended for desert as Fluttershy cleared her throat. “Um, Applejack?” The usually meek mare’s voice was a bit strained, and more that a little frustrated. “How can you ignore it so easily? It just doesn’t seem fair!” The farmer chuckled, leaning back against the apple tree that was providing the two mares with shade and taking a long pull from a cool bottle of lemonade before replying. “Couple reasons, actually, sugarcube.” “Oh?” The question was definitely edgy. “Well, for one, it gets easier with practice. “ Tipping her battered old hat off onto the blanket, Applejack smiled reassuringly over at Fluttershy. “After a couple summers you get used to being on edge for a while.” “I actually asked Twi about it the other day. Couldn’t help but notice you were getting twitchier than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, and wanted to see if she could help without really telling her why I was asking.” At Fluttershy’s startled look, Applejack reached over to pat her friend’s hooves reassuringly. “She didn’t ask questions, so no need to get embarrassed. She kinda went into lecture mode on me, but I learned a couple useful things. Like how pegasi don’t usually get the little speech the rest of us fillies do in pony biology.” Fluttershy blinked in confusion, her embarrassment overtaken by confusion. “What little speech is that?” “The one about how estrus works, sugarcube.” Applejack chuckled at Fluttershy’s renewed blush, but continued. “What we’re both feeling is normal, you know. Just how pony bodies react to more sunlight, a little leftover from back when the weather meant having foals in the winter was dangerous business.” “Oh...” Fluttershy nodded, then sighed, muttering a touch bitterly under her breath. “Wish they’d told me that in school...” “Usually it doesn’t matter for pegasi, sugarcube. Ask Rainbow about it some time.” Applejack snorted. “She’s up above cloud level basking in the sun year round, so she’s always like this. With all that, most pegasi don’t feel the change of seasons like somepony who stays on the ground most of the time will.” “So they’re just used to this... need?” At Applejack’s nod, Fluttershy relaxed a bit more, taking a dainty bite of her sandwich before confusion caught up to her again and she turned back with another frustrated question. “But that doesn’t explain how you are so calm! Or Twilight for that matter!” “Twilight actually told me her little secret on that one. She’s got a spell to help keep her from feeling it so bad.” Applejack said between bites of sandwich. “Seems our little magical genius had the same problem back in Canterlot.” That surprised a laugh out of Fluttershy, and she relaxed a bit more as good company distracted her from her body’s urges. “She didn’t.” “Oh, she sure did. Turns out that glow Princess Celestia puts off? Pure sunlight. So spending all that time studying with her...” Applejack trailed off, grinning wickedly over at her friend. “Let’s just say even Twilight was getting a little hot for teacher before she figured out why.” Fluttershy giggled, hiding her smile with a hoof. “Poor Twilight!” “Yeah, she was a mite upset about it.” Finishing off her sandwich, Applejack stretched luxuriously before continuing. “As for me? Well, while you were checking out those shapely flanks, did you happen to notice all those stallions have something in common?” “Um...” Fluttershy’s blush was back, but she thought about it for a minute before replying. “They do all look a little alike...” “A little nothing, sugarcube. They’re all related.” Applejack grimaced, waving a hoof at the barn and its’ occupants. “To me. We hired out a bunch of the cousins this year so they'd have an excuse to hang around Ponyville. They’re all family.” “Oh my... so...” The dawning realization on Fluttershy’s face was enough to set Applejack to chuckling. “Eyup. Even with all the natural urges a hot summer brings, family’s still family. I just stay out of town ‘til I get used to it each year.” Applejack’s expression turned a bit more speculative, and she raised an apprasing eyebrow at Fluttershy. “You know, there is another way to quiet down the urges, but I don’t think you’re gonna like it.” The pegasus mare perked up, looking pleadingly up into the farmer’s eyes. “What is it? I would love to be able to go shopping without looking at every stallion I pass like he’s one of Pinkie Pie’s desserts!” “Just grab yourself a friendly stallion and rut him senseless.” To her credit, Fluttershy didn’t lock up in shock at the suggestion. She actually considered it for a moment, then her ears flattened and her expression fell as she turned teary eyes on Applejack. “I couldn’t do that!” “It ain’t like anypony’s gonna judge you for it, sugarcube. Plenty of single mares have discreet little ‘agreements’ with the nicer stallions in town...” Fluttershy’s empathetic head shaking cut Applejack off midsentence. The pink maned pegasus was shaking like a leaf in a stiff breeze, looking so miserable Applejack couldn’t help but pull her into a hug. Fluttershy immediately buried her burning face in her friend’s mane, just clinging for a bit as the earth pony gently patted her until the panic subsided. Finally, she relaxed with a sigh, looking up at Applejack through her pink mane. “I couldn’t do that, Applejack!” She laughed, frustration apparent. “You know how nervous I get even talking to somepony I don’t know well, much less...” “Much less inviting them into your bed.” Applejack said as her friend trailed off, with a wry grin for her own mistake. “I should know better than that. Sorry, ‘Shy, I surely didn’t mean to upset you.” “Oh, it’s alright, Applejack!” Fluttershy leaned in to hug the other mare again, pulling away with a smile and settling down next to her companionably. “If you say so, sugarcube.” “I do.” Fluttershy nodded, still smiling. The two mares chatted for a while longer as they finished their lunch, leaning companionably against each other and catching up on the various events around the the farm and cottage. Once the last pastry had been devoured and the basket packed away, Applejack stretched out on the blanket with a satisfied sigh. “That really hit the spot, Fluttershy. Thank you kindly for bringing lunch over.” “Oh, it was no problem, Applejack. I guessed that even you had to get tired of your own cooking eventually!” A drowsy chuckle was the farmer’s only reply as she settled down to nap for a bit in the heat of the day. A few moments later she peeled one green eye open as a gentle warmth settled next to her, then smiled slightly as Fluttershy cuddled up to her side. “Y’know, for somepony who gets nervous so easily, you sure don’t have any problem relaxing around your friends, ‘Shy,” Applejack muttered sleepily, curling up slightly to comfortably rest her chin on her hooves. “Don’t be so goldarned hard on yourself.” “Mmf.” The heat, a full stomach, and the drowsy droning of cicadas in the trees had slowly lulled Fluttershy into sleepiness of her own. The familiar warmth of a friendly pony was encouraging her as well, and she quietly snuggled closer to Applejack, burying her nose in the other mare’s mane. Fluttershy’s relaxation was complete enough that she sleepily replied before thinking twice. “Too bad you aren’t a stallion, then. That’d make it easy...” With her nose buried in Applejack’s blonde mane, the sleepy pegasus didn’t see the slightly wicked grin slowly spreading across her friend’s face. ~ * ~ Chapter 2The summer sun was just starting its slow descent on another hot and humid day as Applejack trotted up the road from Sweet Apple Acres into Ponyville proper. It had taken a bit of planning, and calling in a couple of favors with her cousins, but she had managed to arrange things to her liking. An early afternoon off and nopony expecting her back until late the next night was perfect for her plans. The thought brought a playful grin to Applejack’s face. Oh, she had plans alright. Fluttershy had left the Acres after a brief nap, but not before Applejack managed to talk her way into an invitation for dinner the next week. Sending the troubled pegasus on her way with a hug, Applejack had started planning even as she watched the slightly unsteady pink and yellow form vanish across the green fields towards the cottage at the edge of Everfree forest. Making the arrangements was easy enough, she thought. Now for the really fun part. Putting it all together. ~ * ~ “Is all this rigmarole really necessary, Twilight?” Applejack asked. She was standing in the basement of the Books and Branches Library, at the center of a sprawling diagram of various magical symbols sketched out on the floor in paint. From outside the circle, Twilight Sparkle looked up from checking the runes against the spellbook resting on the floor with a smile. “Proper procedure must be followed, Applejack!” She gestured to the diagram with satisfied little smirk. “This is a complicated spell, and I am not going to take any chances on it not going exactly right.” “If you’re sure...” Applejack’s voice made it clear that the explanation had done nothing to reassure her, but she wasn’t about to call the whole thing off. Too many of her plans for the evening revolved around this spell going as planned. Her eyes followed Twilight Sparkle’s happily humming form as the unicorn finished putting the last touches on the spell diagram and neatly stowed the small pot of white paint she had been using to trace the arcane symbols. Turning back to the spellbook for a moment, Twilight levitated a small scrap of parchment that had served as a bookmark and took up her quill. “Okay. Let’s make sure we’re ready. Spell diagram complete? Check.” She checked off the box happily, moving down the list with care. “Spell subject? Check.” Applejack silently rolled her eyes, holding back the urge to snicker at the cute little scowl Twilight gave her when she noticed. “Reference material? Check. Proper atmospheric lighting? Check. Consent forms signed in duplicate? Check.” Methodically, Twilight Sparkle worked her way down the list, checking off each item with neat strokes until she was satisfied everything was perfect. After what seemed like hours to the impatient Applejack, she set aside the checklist and turned back to her friend with a smile. “Okay, that’s almost everything. One last question, and we can do this. You read the warnings in that consent form, right?” Twilight’s smile grew into a smirk as she listened to Applejack mutter something that sounded like “Mostly.” “Well, we’ll go over the highlights then. There are three things you need to remember about this, Applejack. First, this is a limited time spell that will reverse on its own. You’ve got until sunrise tomorrow, although if anything at all goes wrong, I can cancel it for you at any time.” Twilight’s voice was brisk, not quite the scholarly lecturing she could sometimes fall into, but doing her best to make sure Applejack understood exactly what was going to happen before she did anything. As she spoke, she paced around the outside of the circle, her horn glowing as parts of the painted runes lit up in sequence in response. “Second, this is a physical change only. You’re going to feel a bit strange at first, but the body is just a container for the mind. You’ll still be yourself on the inside.” Twilight looked up from the runes at that, to smile sympathetically at Applejack. “Princess Celestia ‘volunteered’ me to be the demonstration model for this spell back at the University, so you can trust me on this one. I know exactly what it feels like.” Applejack blinked at that, taken a bit aback, but nodded to Twilight. “That does make me feel a mite more comfortable, sugarcube.” Twilight smiled again, moving to stand directly in front of Applejack before picking up the spellbook in her magic and floating it to lie on the floor in front of her. “Good. This is a complicated spell, and the more you relax and don’t fight it, the faster it will go. Last point then. The third thing to remember is the most important.” Leaning forward until her nose was almost touching Applejack’s, Twilight stared into the earth pony’s green eyes, her expression hardening for a moment. “Don’t break her heart, or I’ll turn you into a newt.” Applejack blinked at the fierce protectiveness in Twilight’s eyes, her ears going back at the sharp tone, then she shook her head with a wry chuckle. “I figured you’d guess why I was suddenly all eager to volunteer for this.” At Twilight’s nod, she continued. “You know I wouldn’t hurt a friend, Twi, but I give you my word, this is all to make Fluttershy feel better, not worse.” Twilight’s smile returned with a giggle. “That’s what I hoped you would say. Excellent, we are ready to begin. You just stay right there and relax, and I’ll have this set before you know it.” With that, Twilight closed her eyes in concentration, the violet light of her magic brightening around her horn. The runic circle on the ground echoed that brightening, and in a few moments Applejack was forced to squint against the glare. Twilight had become just a darker outline against the wall of light, her horn a point of burning magic almost too bright to look at. Then the light flared, blinding Applejack for a moment. Slowly her vision cleared, the light fading back to form walls of calligraphic script floating in midair, as if Twilight had drawn them in light rather than simple paint. She had only a moment to marvel at the sight of glowing runes hovering against the darkness of the library basement before the drone of soft words in an unfamiliar language brought Applejack’s attention back to Twilight Sparkle. Twilight’s eyes were still closed as she recited the complex formula of the spell, but the steady hum of powerful energies lent her voice a hint of hollow echo as she shaped the raw magic into the forms she would need. The fine orange hairs of Applejack’s coat began to rise as the magic gathered around her as well, and she shivered as pure power caressed her gently under her friend’s control. Slowly the power built, leaving the air within the circle heavy with magic that pressed in on Applejack from all directions. The pressure grew for a few moments more, then Twilight reached the climax of the spell. As she pronounced the last word in a ringing voice, the pressure on Applejack suddenly spiked, then vanished as the spell grounded itself through her, pouring power into her with a disorienting wrench that wasn’t so much painful as intensely odd. The first thing Applejack felt as she recovered from the disorientation of the spell’s completion was a gentle nuzzle. She slowly opened her eyes, blinking as the basement seemed to shift for a moment then settle once again. Twilight Sparkle was standing in front of her, smiling victoriously, but something looked odd about her. It took Applejack a moment to figure out the problem. “Twi, why’re you so... short?” She blinked at the sound of her own voice. It was her own soft drawl, right enough, but in a warm tenor rather than her usual contralto. She blinked again, then chuckled. “Guess it worked, then.” Twilight Sparkle nodded, looking up at the orange colt who now stood a good few inches taller than her with a grin. “Just as planned.” The unicorn stepped back a moment to look her friend over, silently kicking herself internally for not realizing a few things sooner. Applejack made one hell of an attractive stallion, to her eyes. The spell had traded the athletic grace of a mare for a stallion’s hard muscle, making the hard-working farmer’s strength much more obvious. Silently, Twilight dragged a full-length mirror over with her magic so Applejack could get a good look at herself. “That’s one heck of a spell.” Applejack had to admit the family resemblance was even stronger as a colt. It was glaringly obvious that he was related to Macintosh, although the orange stallion in the mirror was a few inches shorter and a good bit less bulky than his red coated brother. The square jaw was much the same, though, and Applejack adjusted his hat before leaning down to nuzzle Twilight Sparkle gratefully. “I think this’ll do nicely. Much obliged, Twi.” The slight blush across her cheekbones as Twilight looked up stirred something deep in Applejack, and he gave her a lopsided grin that only served to deepen her blush and set her to stammering for a moment until she regained her composure. “You...er... you’re welcome, AJ!” Twilight cleared her throat briefly, before turning away to hide the blush. “Ahem. Your saddlebags are on the table over there, I picked up the things you asked me to so you shouldn’t have to stop in town....” Such was her distraction that she didn’t realize Applejack had moved until a warm neck stretched across her own, and Twilight found her side pressed against a muscular chest when Applejack pulled her into a hug. Warm breath tickled her ear as a soft, amused voice rumbled to her. “I mean it, Twi. Any time you need anything, you just let me know.” Applejack closed his eyes as Twilight Sparkle seemed to melt against him, savoring the faint smell of lavender and old books that always seemed to cling to the librarian’s mane. After a long moment, she pulled away, turning around to face Applejack with a slightly wistful smile. “I’ll hold you to that.” Leaning up, Twilight Sparkle buried her nose beneath that square jaw for a moment, savoring the scent of apples underlaid with the faint musk of a stallion’s natural scent, then settled back on her haunches to smile up at her friend once more. A momentary flicker of magic brought the loaded saddlebags floating over to settle comfortably across Applejack’s broadened withers. “You’d better get going, AJ. Fluttershy’s probably a wreck by now, and if you’re late she’ll just get too wound up with worry to enjoy herself.” Applejack nodded, and headed for the stairs with a smile. A brief clatter of hooves on stone steps and he was gone, leaving Twilight Sparkle sitting on a basement floor that was rather more damp than it had been a few minutes ago. For a moment she closed her eyes, letting her imagination drift to how good it would feel to have her back pressed into that strong chest, face down on the bed and... With a wry chuckle, Twilight dragged herself to her hooves and headed for the stairs a well. A bubble bath, a bottle of wine, and one of those romance novels Rarity kept checking out sounded like the order of the evening. Chapter 3The honied rays of the setting summer sun were painting the few clouds left in the sky in brilliant oranges, reds, and pinks as Applejack ambled back down the road out of Ponyville. It had taken him a few minutes to get used to his newly lengthened stride, but the distraction had soon faded before a growing sense of anticipation. This plan had seemed impossible when he’d first come up with it. Impossibility hadn’t counted on Twilight Sparkle’s encyclopedic knowledge of obscure spells, though. Applejack certainly had, and so far everything was going to plan. Being a stallion was definitely an interesting experience. Even his perspective had changed. The several inches of height that he’d gained in taking on a masculine form made everything seem slightly smaller in comparison, and the powerful ripple of muscles as he walked was quickly bringing a new appreciation for just how strong Macintosh really was. “No wonder he was so worried about me gettin’ the Acres harvested by myself,” Applejack muttered under his breath as he approached the fork in the road that led out towards the Everfree forest, “I ain’t nearly this strong.” His musings were cut short by the sound of two very familiar voices approaching up the other side of the fork, cheerfully bantering back and forth. “... so then I told her ‘Inkie, you can’t eat that, it’s got fur!’ and she said ‘Pinkie, kiwifruit are supposed to have fur!’ then I said ‘But they aren’t supposed to be blue!’ and then she said ‘You should know, you’re the expert on eating things with blue fur!’” Pinkie’s cheerful tirade was cut off by a slightly outraged groan from her companion, followed by good natured chuckles. “Pinks, you didn’t have to tell her about us!” “Silly Dashie. It’s not like I’m gonna lie to my sisters. Besides, I like ponies knowing you’re mine.” The emphasis on that last word was enough to quirk one of Applejack’s eyebrows, just in time for the two mares in question to come around the last bend in the path. Pinkie Pie was in mid-bounce, the obviously heavily loaded saddlebags strapped to her back clearly no impediment to her usual one beat gait. Her eyes were narrowed in concentration as she attempted to nip the tip of the rainbow striped tail dangling just out of her reach. The slightly blushing blue pegasus above her was clearly toying with the pink mare, twitching her tailtip just a little to occasionally brush Pinkie’s nose teasingly as she smiled down playfully. “I wouldn’t want you to, Pinks, but I dunno how our friends are gonna react...” Dash’s words trailed off in mid-sentence as she spotted the pony approaching on the road, and she squinted against the sun to try and figure out who else was out here. “Hey, Pinkie, I think we’ve got company!” Applejack had just enough time to pull up to a stop before he found himself nose to nose with a very excited pink pony. More than just nose to nose, in fact, as Pinkie didn’t so much come to a stop as bounce off of his chest, knocking him back on his haunches in the road, all the while grinning like mad. “Hiiii~!” Pinkie Pie warbled in sing-song greeting from somewhere against Applejack’s broad chest. A lopsided grin made it’s way onto Applejack’s face in response, as he carefully helped the other earth pony back onto her hooves before straightening his battered hat. “Afternoon, Pinkie.” Pinkie Pie pulled back to stare up at him, blinking in confusion. “Ooo. How’d you know my name,” she asked curiously. Applejack just rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Well, Pinkie, could be ‘cause I’ve known you since the day you moved into Ponyville.” He said, looking over at her with amusement. Pinkie Pie blinked at him a couple times, then giggled, her smile returning like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. It was a good look on her, Applejack thought. Nopony else could get away with that sort of almost aggressive cheerfulness without it seeming forced. “Oh, hey, AJ!. You got a cold or something?” Pinkie asked as she shook herself to re-settler her saddle bags. “Somethin’ like that, Pinkie, only... well, not like that at all, actually. What’re you two doin’ all the way out here?” Pinkie Pie brightened even further at the question, waving a hoof at the pegasus still making her way towards the pair. “Oh, we went out to my parents’ place today. Rainbow Dash had never met my family, so she came along on my usual visit!” Applejack smiled over at Pinkie for a moment before standing back up off his haunches, noting idly that Pinkie’s mane was still at least a couple inches taller than he was. “Sounds like a good time to me. Your folks are right hospitable, Pinkie.” Candy pink curls bounced around as Pinkie nodded, excitedly hopping from one hoof to the other as she chattered at Applejack. “They really are. They liked Dashie a lot too, which is the bestest.” Leaning in, the pink pony mock-whispered conspiratorially. “She was super nervous about making a good impression.” A chagrined groan from above brought Applejack’s eyes up to his best rival and sometime good friend, who had caught up and was just now hanging from her wings with one hoof over her eyes, limp with embarrassment. “Piiiinkiiiee, AJ didn’t need to know that either!” A bubbly giggle was Pinkie’s only response, and Rainbow Dash just shook her head. “I swear you do that on purpose, Pinks.” Running one hoof through her tousled mane, Dash eyed Applejack with curiosity. “So, I gotta know, what’s got you all... stallion-y, Applejack?” A sudden grin flashed onto Dash’s face, and she swooped down to hover at Applejack’s eye level. “Finally give up on beating me in a race fair and square?” Applejack just chuckled, refusing to take the bait. “Not hardly. Y’all know Twi’s been itching to try that gender-swapping spell of hers out, so I volunteered.” “Ooo, it works? Neat!” Pinkie giggled enthusiastically. Suddenly, Applejack was very aware of his changed anatomy, as he became the focus of a curious Pinkie Pie. “I... yeah... wait...” The pink mare bounced around him, poking curiously at his heavily muscled shoulder, then dropping to examine one shaggy fetlock before vanishing out of his line of sight. A curl of fluffy mane brushing someplace that was definitely not for public consumption was enough to draw a strangled yelp out of the stallion, who jerked up onto the tips of his hooves and took a couple quick prancing steps to firmly put Pinkie in front of him. “Pinkie Pie,” Applejack shouted in a mix of embarrassment and irritation, “Cut it out!” Applejack’s shout was a bit louder than expected, but the strangely plaintive note was enough to stop Pinkie in her tracks. Embarrassed, she looked away for a moment, scuffing one forehoof in the dust before turning back to the stallion who was giving her a look that had a hint of fear to it. “Um... whoops. I kinda got carried away there.” Pinkie said sheepishly, a slight blush glowing against the pink of her coat. “Sorry, Applejack!” Clearing his throat nervously, Applejack nodded. “It’s alright, Pinkie. I just ain’t used to this whole being a stallion thing yet, and you startled me there.” “I think AJ’s got other things on his mind than being your jungle gym anyway, Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash said as she dropped to her hooves, folding her wings neatly. “Besides, we’re running out of daylight here.” Pinkie Pie nodded her agreement, eyeing the sunset’s colors. “Silly sun, setting on us.” She then turned back to Applejack with a grin. “We totally told the Cakes we’d be back in time for dinner, so time to go! Seeya, Applejack!” Applejack nodded, a bit relieved but doing his best not to show it and hurt Pinkie Pie’s feelings. “S’alright, Pinkie. You two have fun now!” The pink pony just grinned, and turned to Rainbow Dash. “Well, what are we waiting for, Dashie? Let’s go!” A chuckle was her reward, as Dash reached over to ruffle Pinkie’s eternally tousled mane. “I’ll give you a head start, Pinks. First one to the Corner gets to pick dessert?” “DEAL!” Pinkie’s shout echoed off the nearby woods as she took off for town, bouncing along at a deceptively quick pace. “Bye Applejack!” Applejack just waved to the rapidly retreating form of his friend, then turned to the pegasus next to him. A little bit of nervousness tingled through him as he wondered why she had decided to stick around after sending Pinkie Pie back to town. “So, what’s up, Rainbow Dash?” Dash didn’t reply right away, instead opting to circle Applejack for a moment, looking him over appraisingly. She smirked a little at the flowers peeking out of his saddlebag, but kept quiet as she paced. Applejack’s skin was starting to crawl with nervousness by the time Dash broke her silence. “Going out to Fluttershy’s?” Surprise at Dash’s calm question added to Applejack’s nervousness, but he nodded, swallowing to moisten a suddenly dry mouth. “Eyup.” Dash nodded, looking far more serious than usual as she spread her wings, fluttering over to hover directly in front of Applejack and look him in the eye. “The daisies are a good call. She likes daisies.” Applejack nodded slowly, not quite sure what to say as Rainbow Dash turned away for a moment, running a forehoof through her mane. Turning back, the pegasus grinned. “I’m no good at this stuff, but listen.” Turning back to Applejack, Rainbow barreled on, speaking bluntly to cover her own awkwardness. “Fluttershy is probably the closest thing to a sister I’ll ever have. I know you, AJ, and you’re a good pony.” Rearing up, Rainbow threw her forehooves around the startled Applejack’s withers, crushing him in a surprisingly fierce hug. He stood there for a moment, blinking, before one forehoof almost reflexively rose to hug the smaller pony back. This is nice, he thought. He’d spent a lot of time around Rainbow Dash, of course. She was one of his best friends, after all, and they were constantly finding new ways to compete with each other for fun. But this was the first time he’d ever realized just how light the rambunctious pegasus actually was, despite the strength of her forelegs around his neck. Her coat was soft, where it slid against his own, and surprisingly warm. As Rainbow tucked her head against his neck, her wild mane buried him to the chin, the faint scents of clean rain, ozone, and mare that he suddenly realized were just her becoming so much stronger this close. Applejack lowered his chin, hugging her closer and burying his nose in her mane. He stood for a long moment there in the setting sun’s last light, breathing in her scent and marveling at the contrast of warm softness and hard muscle pressed tightly against his chest. Marveling at the feelings welling up inside, the warmth of friendship laced with a heat that he had never known as a mare. The strangeness of it all sent a shiver through Applejack’s skin, followed by another as a throaty chuckle from Dash caressed his neck with warm breath. “Thanks, Applejack.” The stallion’s reply came out a touch higher pitched than expected. Trying to ignore the blush spreading across his cheekbones, Applejack cleared his throat before continuing. “For what, Rainbow?” Setting her hooves against his shoulders, Rainbow Dash pushed herself out to forelegs’ length, grinning up at Applejack from beneath her tousled bangs. “For helping Fluttershy out like this.” Smirking, she quieted his automatic disclaimer with a gentle hoof pressed to Applejack’s lips. “Don’t tell me anypony would do the same, this is above and beyond. Just... be good to her, okay?” Applejack barely had time to process that before Dash darted in, pressing warm lips against his own in a quick kiss before pushing off of his shoulders to throw herself back into the air. He could only stand there bemused as the pegasus took off for Ponyville, calling back one last time. “If you break her heart I’ll break your knees!” He stood there for several minutes, lost in thought. The faint cherry taste of Rainbow’s kiss still on his lips and a fire raging in parts of him that were entirely new to his experience as his scrambled thoughts raced. Eventually, a broad smile cracked the stallion’s confused expression, and he chuckled. “Silly Dash, of course I’ll take good care of her.” Still blushing slightly and walking a bit carefully, Applejack turned down the path towards the Everfree, and the warm glow of the cottage-tree silhouetted against the shadowed woods. Author's Note I promise, there is clop in this story somewhere. It just keeps spawning more narrative for me when I try to get to it! Chapter 4The evening sky had descended into the pale blue of twilight by the time Applejack reached his destination. His hoofbeats on the simple wooden bridge seemed far, far too loud in his ears as he crossed the babbling brook at the base of the hill and started up the winding path to Fluttershy’s front door. Nervously, Applejack looked up, half expecting Fluttershy to be waiting for him on the path. The grass-roofed cottage squatted atop its small hill, looking more like a part of the landscape itself than a dwelling in the evening shadows. Only the warm glow of lamplight from the first floor windows broke the illusion, as it cast a homey warmth over the carefully tended herb and flower gardens along the meandering and empty path beneath his hooves. Taking the last few steps a slow walk, Applejack stopped before the front door, taking a moment to dust himself off from the long walk out. He raised his hoof to knock… and stopped, heart racing. He couldn’t do it. This whole idea was a mistake, and it was just going to end in tears. He half turned to go before stopping again with a scowl. No way was he going to back out on his friend. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, the big orange stallion muttered under his breath. “C’mon, AJ, get it together. This ain’t nothin’ to be scared of. You’ve been up here for dinner dozens of times!” But never like this, he thought to himself, ears drooping. Coming over for dinner was one thing, but this… this was a date. He’d planned this whole thing out like any other project, one step at a time. But now that he was here, it all seemed like such a bad idea, like something out of one of those trashy romance novels Rarity was always reading. With a sigh, he turned to go, head hung low. One hoof was on the path when a sound from the open kitchen window stopped him in his tracks. A soft, familiar voice, instantly identifiable and utterly familiar, drifted on the wind to Applejack’s suddenly perked ears. “Oh, Angel Bunny, I know it’s getting late. But don’t worry, she’ll be here.” Fluttershy’s voice sounded just as nervous as he was feeling, and what it said cut straight to his heart. A quiet rattle of pans and clink of china drowned her out for a moment, but the stallion’s straining ears caught her quiet words again. “Applejack has never let me down, Angel. She’s the most reliable pony I know. She said ‘about sundown’, and the sun’s not all the way down yet. I j-just know she wouldn’t s-stand me up.” The quiet pegasus sounded like she was trying to convince herself as much as Angel, and a stab of guilt cut into Applejack’s nervousness. He wasn’t the only one with worries here. Straightening, he rushed back to the door, reaching out a hoof to knock on a door that was suddenly opening in front of him. Off balance and unused to his extra bulk, Applejack’s hooves slipped out from under him and he landed on his chest with an ‘oof’ and a thud, seeing stars for a moment. As his vision cleared, he became aware of two things. Firstly, Fluttershy’s welcome mat was surprisingly comfortable to land on. More important, though, was the blurry white figure standing at the end of his outstretched muzzle and glaring at him with beady little black eyes. Angel was clearly not a happy bunny, and from the way he was tapping one long foot and glancing pointedly from the fallen pony in front of him to the sunset and back, it was pretty clear why. The look he was giving Applejack couldn’t have said ‘Where have you been?’ any clearer if the little rabbit had a sign. “Er, I…” Applejack stammered a bit, painfully aware that being sprawled out on the welcome mat, rear end in the air, was far from dignified. “I was just…” The little rabbit just rolled his eyes, reaching out to bop Applejack right on his sensitive nose with one hard little hindfoot. Angel looked to be about to wind up for another kick when something made him glance back over his shoulder. Applejack followed the little rabbit’s gaze, the sound of hooves on wooden floor and a soft call coming from inside the house. “Angel bunny? Where’d you go?” Another kick to his snout brought Applejack’s attention back to the rabbit, who was glaring up at the stallion again. Once he was sure he had Applejack’s undivided attention, Angel glared over at him. Nodding towards the open door, the bunny pantomimed an excellent imitation of an upset Fluttershy before shaking his head angrily at Applejack. Leaning in closer, the little rabbit poked his paw aggressively against Applejack’s nose before drawing it across his own throat in a cutting gesture. Applejack blinked, belatedly starting to get to his hooves as Angel hopped back just inside the door. He was just dusting himself off when the bunny poked his head back out with the same glare as ever. Angel stared him in the eye for a moment before pointing to his own eyes, then back at Applejack. The message was clear. ‘I’m watching you...’ The hoofsteps inside were much closer, and Angel ducked back inside, obviously feeling Applejack had been sufficiently cowed. The big stallion was almost bemused that the tiny rabbit had threatened him, but wasn’t about to take things lightly. That bunny had a mean streak. He was still brushing himself off and adjusting his saddlebags when the door creaked open further, a familiar pink maned head popping out to look around. “Angel, honey, where are you hiding? Mama’s got to…” With a startled little meep, Fluttershy broke off, pulling back for a moment until she thought recognized the pony on her doorstep. “Applejack? There you are!” The way her voice changed from concerned to pleased and excited was enough to send a unexpected tremor through Applejack. Nervousness faded, replaced by the start of a matching excitement as Fluttershy opened the door the rest of the way. “Eyup. Sorry I’m late, Fluttershy. I ran into Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash on the way over, and you know how hard it is getting Pinkie to stop chattering sometimes.” Applejack was quite surprised to find an easy grin on his face as he spoke. But then, why not? He was right where he wanted to be, about to share dinner with a friendly little mare who he liked quite a lot. This would be easy! That sentiment held out right up until Fluttershy stepped out into view. Fluttershy looked great. That was his sole thought, and the impression didn’t change any as her face lit up with a welcoming smile. She’d tied her mane back in a loose tail, letting the soft lines of her face show much more than usual. A delicate touch of cosmetics drew attention to her baby blue eyes, enhancing them without looking artificial. And the dress…. Applejack wasn’t usually very interested in fashion. There was working clothing, and showring finery, but the best he could say is that he cleaned up nicely. He was all too aware just now that Fluttershy was pretty enough to be a model, and the deceptively simple blue dress she was wearing showed off that beauty to perfection. Rarity had to have been involved, he thought offhoofedly. Nopony else would have gone to so much trouble to make a simple dress lie so flatteringly across the soft curves of Fluttershy’s hips, or to get the texture just right to compliment the smooth line of her graceful wings. The sheer stockings were just the perfect touch, making already graceful legs look even more delicate. He was aware he was staring, but couldn’t stop himself. “That’s quite alright, Applejack!” She was smiling at him, and it lit up her face like Celestia’s dawn. He managed what sounded like a vaguely affirmative noise in response, and Fluttershy took the moment to lean in and wrap her hooves around his neck in a brief welcoming hug. She dropped back to stand in front of him with a giggle, craning her neck up a bit to see his face. “Oh my. You’re a lot… taller.” Applejack nodded, trying to remember how to shape words but still tripping over his own tongue. “Twilight did a good job,” he managed to rumble out. Really? That was the best he could manage? Fluttershy giggled again, nervousness forgotten as the conversation turned to their usual topic, their friends. “I’m sure she did. She loves getting to try out new spells so much!” Glancing back to the doorway, Fluttershy gestured with a hoof. “Why don’t you come inside, Applejack? Dinner’s almost ready, and I’m sure you’re ready to get out from under those saddlebags.” The big farm pony grinned in reply, turning to follow Fluttershy into the house. “I’d love to, sugarcube.” Author's Note Remember, kids. Do -not- mess with the bunny.
Chapter 1The late-summer sun poured down on the leaves of Sweet Apple Acres’ orchard like thick honey, warming apples that were just beginning to ripen into redness and baking the colorful coats of the farmponies tending the trees. Several stallions were making their way towards the barn, laughter echoing under the trees, their coats dark with sweat in the humid early afternoon. Beneath one of those trees, two mares were settled on a checkered blanket with a picnic basket between them. Both were watching as the stallions stored their tools and stepped over to the pump to rinse away the sweat and dust of the morning’s work before turning to their own lunch. A small sound, almost a whine, drew Applejack’s eyes back to the pony beside her. Fluttershy’s gaze was firmly fixed on the stallions at play. The tinge of blush on her cheekbones and the soft rustle of feather on feather as she shifted her wings were obvious enough, but when Applejack saw her friend’s tail twitch upwards as one colt shook out his long mane, she couldn’t resist a bit of gentle teasing. “See something you like down there?” Applejack drawled, making sure to keep her voice low enough not to carry over the droning of the cicadas as she grinned over at the intent pegasus. Fluttershy stiffened as her friend’s words broke her concentration on the colts, and she turned to Applejack with a deepening blush. “I... um... that is.... yes.” Each statement was more embarrassed and softer than the last, as the Fluttershy’s blush deepened further and she turned her eyes downwards to intently study the weave of the blanket she rested upon with every evidence of fascination. A gentle hoof lifted her chin, and Fluttershy looked up into Applejack’s sympathetic smile. “It gettin’ to you, sugarcube?” At Fluttershy’s hesitant nod, the young farmer grimaced sympathetically. “Late summer’s always worst about it.” Turning, Applejack dug into the picnic basket, busying herself with laying out lunch to give her friend a little time to recover her composure. She looked up from digging out the small peach tarts intended for desert as Fluttershy cleared her throat. “Um, Applejack?” The usually meek mare’s voice was a bit strained, and more that a little frustrated. “How can you ignore it so easily? It just doesn’t seem fair!” The farmer chuckled, leaning back against the apple tree that was providing the two mares with shade and taking a long pull from a cool bottle of lemonade before replying. “Couple reasons, actually, sugarcube.” “Oh?” The question was definitely edgy. “Well, for one, it gets easier with practice. “ Tipping her battered old hat off onto the blanket, Applejack smiled reassuringly over at Fluttershy. “After a couple summers you get used to being on edge for a while.” “I actually asked Twi about it the other day. Couldn’t help but notice you were getting twitchier than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, and wanted to see if she could help without really telling her why I was asking.” At Fluttershy’s startled look, Applejack reached over to pat her friend’s hooves reassuringly. “She didn’t ask questions, so no need to get embarrassed. She kinda went into lecture mode on me, but I learned a couple useful things. Like how pegasi don’t usually get the little speech the rest of us fillies do in pony biology.” Fluttershy blinked in confusion, her embarrassment overtaken by confusion. “What little speech is that?” “The one about how estrus works, sugarcube.” Applejack chuckled at Fluttershy’s renewed blush, but continued. “What we’re both feeling is normal, you know. Just how pony bodies react to more sunlight, a little leftover from back when the weather meant having foals in the winter was dangerous business.” “Oh...” Fluttershy nodded, then sighed, muttering a touch bitterly under her breath. “Wish they’d told me that in school...” “Usually it doesn’t matter for pegasi, sugarcube. Ask Rainbow about it some time.” Applejack snorted. “She’s up above cloud level basking in the sun year round, so she’s always like this. With all that, most pegasi don’t feel the change of seasons like somepony who stays on the ground most of the time will.” “So they’re just used to this... need?” At Applejack’s nod, Fluttershy relaxed a bit more, taking a dainty bite of her sandwich before confusion caught up to her again and she turned back with another frustrated question. “But that doesn’t explain how you are so calm! Or Twilight for that matter!” “Twilight actually told me her little secret on that one. She’s got a spell to help keep her from feeling it so bad.” Applejack said between bites of sandwich. “Seems our little magical genius had the same problem back in Canterlot.” That surprised a laugh out of Fluttershy, and she relaxed a bit more as good company distracted her from her body’s urges. “She didn’t.” “Oh, she sure did. Turns out that glow Princess Celestia puts off? Pure sunlight. So spending all that time studying with her...” Applejack trailed off, grinning wickedly over at her friend. “Let’s just say even Twilight was getting a little hot for teacher before she figured out why.” Fluttershy giggled, hiding her smile with a hoof. “Poor Twilight!” “Yeah, she was a mite upset about it.” Finishing off her sandwich, Applejack stretched luxuriously before continuing. “As for me? Well, while you were checking out those shapely flanks, did you happen to notice all those stallions have something in common?” “Um...” Fluttershy’s blush was back, but she thought about it for a minute before replying. “They do all look a little alike...” “A little nothing, sugarcube. They’re all related.” Applejack grimaced, waving a hoof at the barn and its’ occupants. “To me. We hired out a bunch of the cousins this year so they'd have an excuse to hang around Ponyville. They’re all family.” “Oh my... so...” The dawning realization on Fluttershy’s face was enough to set Applejack to chuckling. “Eyup. Even with all the natural urges a hot summer brings, family’s still family. I just stay out of town ‘til I get used to it each year.” Applejack’s expression turned a bit more speculative, and she raised an apprasing eyebrow at Fluttershy. “You know, there is another way to quiet down the urges, but I don’t think you’re gonna like it.” The pegasus mare perked up, looking pleadingly up into the farmer’s eyes. “What is it? I would love to be able to go shopping without looking at every stallion I pass like he’s one of Pinkie Pie’s desserts!” “Just grab yourself a friendly stallion and rut him senseless.” To her credit, Fluttershy didn’t lock up in shock at the suggestion. She actually considered it for a moment, then her ears flattened and her expression fell as she turned teary eyes on Applejack. “I couldn’t do that!” “It ain’t like anypony’s gonna judge you for it, sugarcube. Plenty of single mares have discreet little ‘agreements’ with the nicer stallions in town...” Fluttershy’s empathetic head shaking cut Applejack off midsentence. The pink maned pegasus was shaking like a leaf in a stiff breeze, looking so miserable Applejack couldn’t help but pull her into a hug. Fluttershy immediately buried her burning face in her friend’s mane, just clinging for a bit as the earth pony gently patted her until the panic subsided. Finally, she relaxed with a sigh, looking up at Applejack through her pink mane. “I couldn’t do that, Applejack!” She laughed, frustration apparent. “You know how nervous I get even talking to somepony I don’t know well, much less...” “Much less inviting them into your bed.” Applejack said as her friend trailed off, with a wry grin for her own mistake. “I should know better than that. Sorry, ‘Shy, I surely didn’t mean to upset you.” “Oh, it’s alright, Applejack!” Fluttershy leaned in to hug the other mare again, pulling away with a smile and settling down next to her companionably. “If you say so, sugarcube.” “I do.” Fluttershy nodded, still smiling. The two mares chatted for a while longer as they finished their lunch, leaning companionably against each other and catching up on the various events around the the farm and cottage. Once the last pastry had been devoured and the basket packed away, Applejack stretched out on the blanket with a satisfied sigh. “That really hit the spot, Fluttershy. Thank you kindly for bringing lunch over.” “Oh, it was no problem, Applejack. I guessed that even you had to get tired of your own cooking eventually!” A drowsy chuckle was the farmer’s only reply as she settled down to nap for a bit in the heat of the day. A few moments later she peeled one green eye open as a gentle warmth settled next to her, then smiled slightly as Fluttershy cuddled up to her side. “Y’know, for somepony who gets nervous so easily, you sure don’t have any problem relaxing around your friends, ‘Shy,” Applejack muttered sleepily, curling up slightly to comfortably rest her chin on her hooves. “Don’t be so goldarned hard on yourself.” “Mmf.” The heat, a full stomach, and the drowsy droning of cicadas in the trees had slowly lulled Fluttershy into sleepiness of her own. The familiar warmth of a friendly pony was encouraging her as well, and she quietly snuggled closer to Applejack, burying her nose in the other mare’s mane. Fluttershy’s relaxation was complete enough that she sleepily replied before thinking twice. “Too bad you aren’t a stallion, then. That’d make it easy...” With her nose buried in Applejack’s blonde mane, the sleepy pegasus didn’t see the slightly wicked grin slowly spreading across her friend’s face. ~ * ~
Chapter 2The summer sun was just starting its slow descent on another hot and humid day as Applejack trotted up the road from Sweet Apple Acres into Ponyville proper. It had taken a bit of planning, and calling in a couple of favors with her cousins, but she had managed to arrange things to her liking. An early afternoon off and nopony expecting her back until late the next night was perfect for her plans. The thought brought a playful grin to Applejack’s face. Oh, she had plans alright. Fluttershy had left the Acres after a brief nap, but not before Applejack managed to talk her way into an invitation for dinner the next week. Sending the troubled pegasus on her way with a hug, Applejack had started planning even as she watched the slightly unsteady pink and yellow form vanish across the green fields towards the cottage at the edge of Everfree forest. Making the arrangements was easy enough, she thought. Now for the really fun part. Putting it all together. ~ * ~ “Is all this rigmarole really necessary, Twilight?” Applejack asked. She was standing in the basement of the Books and Branches Library, at the center of a sprawling diagram of various magical symbols sketched out on the floor in paint. From outside the circle, Twilight Sparkle looked up from checking the runes against the spellbook resting on the floor with a smile. “Proper procedure must be followed, Applejack!” She gestured to the diagram with satisfied little smirk. “This is a complicated spell, and I am not going to take any chances on it not going exactly right.” “If you’re sure...” Applejack’s voice made it clear that the explanation had done nothing to reassure her, but she wasn’t about to call the whole thing off. Too many of her plans for the evening revolved around this spell going as planned. Her eyes followed Twilight Sparkle’s happily humming form as the unicorn finished putting the last touches on the spell diagram and neatly stowed the small pot of white paint she had been using to trace the arcane symbols. Turning back to the spellbook for a moment, Twilight levitated a small scrap of parchment that had served as a bookmark and took up her quill. “Okay. Let’s make sure we’re ready. Spell diagram complete? Check.” She checked off the box happily, moving down the list with care. “Spell subject? Check.” Applejack silently rolled her eyes, holding back the urge to snicker at the cute little scowl Twilight gave her when she noticed. “Reference material? Check. Proper atmospheric lighting? Check. Consent forms signed in duplicate? Check.” Methodically, Twilight Sparkle worked her way down the list, checking off each item with neat strokes until she was satisfied everything was perfect. After what seemed like hours to the impatient Applejack, she set aside the checklist and turned back to her friend with a smile. “Okay, that’s almost everything. One last question, and we can do this. You read the warnings in that consent form, right?” Twilight’s smile grew into a smirk as she listened to Applejack mutter something that sounded like “Mostly.” “Well, we’ll go over the highlights then. There are three things you need to remember about this, Applejack. First, this is a limited time spell that will reverse on its own. You’ve got until sunrise tomorrow, although if anything at all goes wrong, I can cancel it for you at any time.” Twilight’s voice was brisk, not quite the scholarly lecturing she could sometimes fall into, but doing her best to make sure Applejack understood exactly what was going to happen before she did anything. As she spoke, she paced around the outside of the circle, her horn glowing as parts of the painted runes lit up in sequence in response. “Second, this is a physical change only. You’re going to feel a bit strange at first, but the body is just a container for the mind. You’ll still be yourself on the inside.” Twilight looked up from the runes at that, to smile sympathetically at Applejack. “Princess Celestia ‘volunteered’ me to be the demonstration model for this spell back at the University, so you can trust me on this one. I know exactly what it feels like.” Applejack blinked at that, taken a bit aback, but nodded to Twilight. “That does make me feel a mite more comfortable, sugarcube.” Twilight smiled again, moving to stand directly in front of Applejack before picking up the spellbook in her magic and floating it to lie on the floor in front of her. “Good. This is a complicated spell, and the more you relax and don’t fight it, the faster it will go. Last point then. The third thing to remember is the most important.” Leaning forward until her nose was almost touching Applejack’s, Twilight stared into the earth pony’s green eyes, her expression hardening for a moment. “Don’t break her heart, or I’ll turn you into a newt.” Applejack blinked at the fierce protectiveness in Twilight’s eyes, her ears going back at the sharp tone, then she shook her head with a wry chuckle. “I figured you’d guess why I was suddenly all eager to volunteer for this.” At Twilight’s nod, she continued. “You know I wouldn’t hurt a friend, Twi, but I give you my word, this is all to make Fluttershy feel better, not worse.” Twilight’s smile returned with a giggle. “That’s what I hoped you would say. Excellent, we are ready to begin. You just stay right there and relax, and I’ll have this set before you know it.” With that, Twilight closed her eyes in concentration, the violet light of her magic brightening around her horn. The runic circle on the ground echoed that brightening, and in a few moments Applejack was forced to squint against the glare. Twilight had become just a darker outline against the wall of light, her horn a point of burning magic almost too bright to look at. Then the light flared, blinding Applejack for a moment. Slowly her vision cleared, the light fading back to form walls of calligraphic script floating in midair, as if Twilight had drawn them in light rather than simple paint. She had only a moment to marvel at the sight of glowing runes hovering against the darkness of the library basement before the drone of soft words in an unfamiliar language brought Applejack’s attention back to Twilight Sparkle. Twilight’s eyes were still closed as she recited the complex formula of the spell, but the steady hum of powerful energies lent her voice a hint of hollow echo as she shaped the raw magic into the forms she would need. The fine orange hairs of Applejack’s coat began to rise as the magic gathered around her as well, and she shivered as pure power caressed her gently under her friend’s control. Slowly the power built, leaving the air within the circle heavy with magic that pressed in on Applejack from all directions. The pressure grew for a few moments more, then Twilight reached the climax of the spell. As she pronounced the last word in a ringing voice, the pressure on Applejack suddenly spiked, then vanished as the spell grounded itself through her, pouring power into her with a disorienting wrench that wasn’t so much painful as intensely odd. The first thing Applejack felt as she recovered from the disorientation of the spell’s completion was a gentle nuzzle. She slowly opened her eyes, blinking as the basement seemed to shift for a moment then settle once again. Twilight Sparkle was standing in front of her, smiling victoriously, but something looked odd about her. It took Applejack a moment to figure out the problem. “Twi, why’re you so... short?” She blinked at the sound of her own voice. It was her own soft drawl, right enough, but in a warm tenor rather than her usual contralto. She blinked again, then chuckled. “Guess it worked, then.” Twilight Sparkle nodded, looking up at the orange colt who now stood a good few inches taller than her with a grin. “Just as planned.” The unicorn stepped back a moment to look her friend over, silently kicking herself internally for not realizing a few things sooner. Applejack made one hell of an attractive stallion, to her eyes. The spell had traded the athletic grace of a mare for a stallion’s hard muscle, making the hard-working farmer’s strength much more obvious. Silently, Twilight dragged a full-length mirror over with her magic so Applejack could get a good look at herself. “That’s one heck of a spell.” Applejack had to admit the family resemblance was even stronger as a colt. It was glaringly obvious that he was related to Macintosh, although the orange stallion in the mirror was a few inches shorter and a good bit less bulky than his red coated brother. The square jaw was much the same, though, and Applejack adjusted his hat before leaning down to nuzzle Twilight Sparkle gratefully. “I think this’ll do nicely. Much obliged, Twi.” The slight blush across her cheekbones as Twilight looked up stirred something deep in Applejack, and he gave her a lopsided grin that only served to deepen her blush and set her to stammering for a moment until she regained her composure. “You...er... you’re welcome, AJ!” Twilight cleared her throat briefly, before turning away to hide the blush. “Ahem. Your saddlebags are on the table over there, I picked up the things you asked me to so you shouldn’t have to stop in town....” Such was her distraction that she didn’t realize Applejack had moved until a warm neck stretched across her own, and Twilight found her side pressed against a muscular chest when Applejack pulled her into a hug. Warm breath tickled her ear as a soft, amused voice rumbled to her. “I mean it, Twi. Any time you need anything, you just let me know.” Applejack closed his eyes as Twilight Sparkle seemed to melt against him, savoring the faint smell of lavender and old books that always seemed to cling to the librarian’s mane. After a long moment, she pulled away, turning around to face Applejack with a slightly wistful smile. “I’ll hold you to that.” Leaning up, Twilight Sparkle buried her nose beneath that square jaw for a moment, savoring the scent of apples underlaid with the faint musk of a stallion’s natural scent, then settled back on her haunches to smile up at her friend once more. A momentary flicker of magic brought the loaded saddlebags floating over to settle comfortably across Applejack’s broadened withers. “You’d better get going, AJ. Fluttershy’s probably a wreck by now, and if you’re late she’ll just get too wound up with worry to enjoy herself.” Applejack nodded, and headed for the stairs with a smile. A brief clatter of hooves on stone steps and he was gone, leaving Twilight Sparkle sitting on a basement floor that was rather more damp than it had been a few minutes ago. For a moment she closed her eyes, letting her imagination drift to how good it would feel to have her back pressed into that strong chest, face down on the bed and... With a wry chuckle, Twilight dragged herself to her hooves and headed for the stairs a well. A bubble bath, a bottle of wine, and one of those romance novels Rarity kept checking out sounded like the order of the evening.
Chapter 3The honied rays of the setting summer sun were painting the few clouds left in the sky in brilliant oranges, reds, and pinks as Applejack ambled back down the road out of Ponyville. It had taken him a few minutes to get used to his newly lengthened stride, but the distraction had soon faded before a growing sense of anticipation. This plan had seemed impossible when he’d first come up with it. Impossibility hadn’t counted on Twilight Sparkle’s encyclopedic knowledge of obscure spells, though. Applejack certainly had, and so far everything was going to plan. Being a stallion was definitely an interesting experience. Even his perspective had changed. The several inches of height that he’d gained in taking on a masculine form made everything seem slightly smaller in comparison, and the powerful ripple of muscles as he walked was quickly bringing a new appreciation for just how strong Macintosh really was. “No wonder he was so worried about me gettin’ the Acres harvested by myself,” Applejack muttered under his breath as he approached the fork in the road that led out towards the Everfree forest, “I ain’t nearly this strong.” His musings were cut short by the sound of two very familiar voices approaching up the other side of the fork, cheerfully bantering back and forth. “... so then I told her ‘Inkie, you can’t eat that, it’s got fur!’ and she said ‘Pinkie, kiwifruit are supposed to have fur!’ then I said ‘But they aren’t supposed to be blue!’ and then she said ‘You should know, you’re the expert on eating things with blue fur!’” Pinkie’s cheerful tirade was cut off by a slightly outraged groan from her companion, followed by good natured chuckles. “Pinks, you didn’t have to tell her about us!” “Silly Dashie. It’s not like I’m gonna lie to my sisters. Besides, I like ponies knowing you’re mine.” The emphasis on that last word was enough to quirk one of Applejack’s eyebrows, just in time for the two mares in question to come around the last bend in the path. Pinkie Pie was in mid-bounce, the obviously heavily loaded saddlebags strapped to her back clearly no impediment to her usual one beat gait. Her eyes were narrowed in concentration as she attempted to nip the tip of the rainbow striped tail dangling just out of her reach. The slightly blushing blue pegasus above her was clearly toying with the pink mare, twitching her tailtip just a little to occasionally brush Pinkie’s nose teasingly as she smiled down playfully. “I wouldn’t want you to, Pinks, but I dunno how our friends are gonna react...” Dash’s words trailed off in mid-sentence as she spotted the pony approaching on the road, and she squinted against the sun to try and figure out who else was out here. “Hey, Pinkie, I think we’ve got company!” Applejack had just enough time to pull up to a stop before he found himself nose to nose with a very excited pink pony. More than just nose to nose, in fact, as Pinkie didn’t so much come to a stop as bounce off of his chest, knocking him back on his haunches in the road, all the while grinning like mad. “Hiiii~!” Pinkie Pie warbled in sing-song greeting from somewhere against Applejack’s broad chest. A lopsided grin made it’s way onto Applejack’s face in response, as he carefully helped the other earth pony back onto her hooves before straightening his battered hat. “Afternoon, Pinkie.” Pinkie Pie pulled back to stare up at him, blinking in confusion. “Ooo. How’d you know my name,” she asked curiously. Applejack just rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Well, Pinkie, could be ‘cause I’ve known you since the day you moved into Ponyville.” He said, looking over at her with amusement. Pinkie Pie blinked at him a couple times, then giggled, her smile returning like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. It was a good look on her, Applejack thought. Nopony else could get away with that sort of almost aggressive cheerfulness without it seeming forced. “Oh, hey, AJ!. You got a cold or something?” Pinkie asked as she shook herself to re-settler her saddle bags. “Somethin’ like that, Pinkie, only... well, not like that at all, actually. What’re you two doin’ all the way out here?” Pinkie Pie brightened even further at the question, waving a hoof at the pegasus still making her way towards the pair. “Oh, we went out to my parents’ place today. Rainbow Dash had never met my family, so she came along on my usual visit!” Applejack smiled over at Pinkie for a moment before standing back up off his haunches, noting idly that Pinkie’s mane was still at least a couple inches taller than he was. “Sounds like a good time to me. Your folks are right hospitable, Pinkie.” Candy pink curls bounced around as Pinkie nodded, excitedly hopping from one hoof to the other as she chattered at Applejack. “They really are. They liked Dashie a lot too, which is the bestest.” Leaning in, the pink pony mock-whispered conspiratorially. “She was super nervous about making a good impression.” A chagrined groan from above brought Applejack’s eyes up to his best rival and sometime good friend, who had caught up and was just now hanging from her wings with one hoof over her eyes, limp with embarrassment. “Piiiinkiiiee, AJ didn’t need to know that either!” A bubbly giggle was Pinkie’s only response, and Rainbow Dash just shook her head. “I swear you do that on purpose, Pinks.” Running one hoof through her tousled mane, Dash eyed Applejack with curiosity. “So, I gotta know, what’s got you all... stallion-y, Applejack?” A sudden grin flashed onto Dash’s face, and she swooped down to hover at Applejack’s eye level. “Finally give up on beating me in a race fair and square?” Applejack just chuckled, refusing to take the bait. “Not hardly. Y’all know Twi’s been itching to try that gender-swapping spell of hers out, so I volunteered.” “Ooo, it works? Neat!” Pinkie giggled enthusiastically. Suddenly, Applejack was very aware of his changed anatomy, as he became the focus of a curious Pinkie Pie. “I... yeah... wait...” The pink mare bounced around him, poking curiously at his heavily muscled shoulder, then dropping to examine one shaggy fetlock before vanishing out of his line of sight. A curl of fluffy mane brushing someplace that was definitely not for public consumption was enough to draw a strangled yelp out of the stallion, who jerked up onto the tips of his hooves and took a couple quick prancing steps to firmly put Pinkie in front of him. “Pinkie Pie,” Applejack shouted in a mix of embarrassment and irritation, “Cut it out!” Applejack’s shout was a bit louder than expected, but the strangely plaintive note was enough to stop Pinkie in her tracks. Embarrassed, she looked away for a moment, scuffing one forehoof in the dust before turning back to the stallion who was giving her a look that had a hint of fear to it. “Um... whoops. I kinda got carried away there.” Pinkie said sheepishly, a slight blush glowing against the pink of her coat. “Sorry, Applejack!” Clearing his throat nervously, Applejack nodded. “It’s alright, Pinkie. I just ain’t used to this whole being a stallion thing yet, and you startled me there.” “I think AJ’s got other things on his mind than being your jungle gym anyway, Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash said as she dropped to her hooves, folding her wings neatly. “Besides, we’re running out of daylight here.” Pinkie Pie nodded her agreement, eyeing the sunset’s colors. “Silly sun, setting on us.” She then turned back to Applejack with a grin. “We totally told the Cakes we’d be back in time for dinner, so time to go! Seeya, Applejack!” Applejack nodded, a bit relieved but doing his best not to show it and hurt Pinkie Pie’s feelings. “S’alright, Pinkie. You two have fun now!” The pink pony just grinned, and turned to Rainbow Dash. “Well, what are we waiting for, Dashie? Let’s go!” A chuckle was her reward, as Dash reached over to ruffle Pinkie’s eternally tousled mane. “I’ll give you a head start, Pinks. First one to the Corner gets to pick dessert?” “DEAL!” Pinkie’s shout echoed off the nearby woods as she took off for town, bouncing along at a deceptively quick pace. “Bye Applejack!” Applejack just waved to the rapidly retreating form of his friend, then turned to the pegasus next to him. A little bit of nervousness tingled through him as he wondered why she had decided to stick around after sending Pinkie Pie back to town. “So, what’s up, Rainbow Dash?” Dash didn’t reply right away, instead opting to circle Applejack for a moment, looking him over appraisingly. She smirked a little at the flowers peeking out of his saddlebag, but kept quiet as she paced. Applejack’s skin was starting to crawl with nervousness by the time Dash broke her silence. “Going out to Fluttershy’s?” Surprise at Dash’s calm question added to Applejack’s nervousness, but he nodded, swallowing to moisten a suddenly dry mouth. “Eyup.” Dash nodded, looking far more serious than usual as she spread her wings, fluttering over to hover directly in front of Applejack and look him in the eye. “The daisies are a good call. She likes daisies.” Applejack nodded slowly, not quite sure what to say as Rainbow Dash turned away for a moment, running a forehoof through her mane. Turning back, the pegasus grinned. “I’m no good at this stuff, but listen.” Turning back to Applejack, Rainbow barreled on, speaking bluntly to cover her own awkwardness. “Fluttershy is probably the closest thing to a sister I’ll ever have. I know you, AJ, and you’re a good pony.” Rearing up, Rainbow threw her forehooves around the startled Applejack’s withers, crushing him in a surprisingly fierce hug. He stood there for a moment, blinking, before one forehoof almost reflexively rose to hug the smaller pony back. This is nice, he thought. He’d spent a lot of time around Rainbow Dash, of course. She was one of his best friends, after all, and they were constantly finding new ways to compete with each other for fun. But this was the first time he’d ever realized just how light the rambunctious pegasus actually was, despite the strength of her forelegs around his neck. Her coat was soft, where it slid against his own, and surprisingly warm. As Rainbow tucked her head against his neck, her wild mane buried him to the chin, the faint scents of clean rain, ozone, and mare that he suddenly realized were just her becoming so much stronger this close. Applejack lowered his chin, hugging her closer and burying his nose in her mane. He stood for a long moment there in the setting sun’s last light, breathing in her scent and marveling at the contrast of warm softness and hard muscle pressed tightly against his chest. Marveling at the feelings welling up inside, the warmth of friendship laced with a heat that he had never known as a mare. The strangeness of it all sent a shiver through Applejack’s skin, followed by another as a throaty chuckle from Dash caressed his neck with warm breath. “Thanks, Applejack.” The stallion’s reply came out a touch higher pitched than expected. Trying to ignore the blush spreading across his cheekbones, Applejack cleared his throat before continuing. “For what, Rainbow?” Setting her hooves against his shoulders, Rainbow Dash pushed herself out to forelegs’ length, grinning up at Applejack from beneath her tousled bangs. “For helping Fluttershy out like this.” Smirking, she quieted his automatic disclaimer with a gentle hoof pressed to Applejack’s lips. “Don’t tell me anypony would do the same, this is above and beyond. Just... be good to her, okay?” Applejack barely had time to process that before Dash darted in, pressing warm lips against his own in a quick kiss before pushing off of his shoulders to throw herself back into the air. He could only stand there bemused as the pegasus took off for Ponyville, calling back one last time. “If you break her heart I’ll break your knees!” He stood there for several minutes, lost in thought. The faint cherry taste of Rainbow’s kiss still on his lips and a fire raging in parts of him that were entirely new to his experience as his scrambled thoughts raced. Eventually, a broad smile cracked the stallion’s confused expression, and he chuckled. “Silly Dash, of course I’ll take good care of her.” Still blushing slightly and walking a bit carefully, Applejack turned down the path towards the Everfree, and the warm glow of the cottage-tree silhouetted against the shadowed woods. Author's Note I promise, there is clop in this story somewhere. It just keeps spawning more narrative for me when I try to get to it!
Chapter 4The evening sky had descended into the pale blue of twilight by the time Applejack reached his destination. His hoofbeats on the simple wooden bridge seemed far, far too loud in his ears as he crossed the babbling brook at the base of the hill and started up the winding path to Fluttershy’s front door. Nervously, Applejack looked up, half expecting Fluttershy to be waiting for him on the path. The grass-roofed cottage squatted atop its small hill, looking more like a part of the landscape itself than a dwelling in the evening shadows. Only the warm glow of lamplight from the first floor windows broke the illusion, as it cast a homey warmth over the carefully tended herb and flower gardens along the meandering and empty path beneath his hooves. Taking the last few steps a slow walk, Applejack stopped before the front door, taking a moment to dust himself off from the long walk out. He raised his hoof to knock… and stopped, heart racing. He couldn’t do it. This whole idea was a mistake, and it was just going to end in tears. He half turned to go before stopping again with a scowl. No way was he going to back out on his friend. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, the big orange stallion muttered under his breath. “C’mon, AJ, get it together. This ain’t nothin’ to be scared of. You’ve been up here for dinner dozens of times!” But never like this, he thought to himself, ears drooping. Coming over for dinner was one thing, but this… this was a date. He’d planned this whole thing out like any other project, one step at a time. But now that he was here, it all seemed like such a bad idea, like something out of one of those trashy romance novels Rarity was always reading. With a sigh, he turned to go, head hung low. One hoof was on the path when a sound from the open kitchen window stopped him in his tracks. A soft, familiar voice, instantly identifiable and utterly familiar, drifted on the wind to Applejack’s suddenly perked ears. “Oh, Angel Bunny, I know it’s getting late. But don’t worry, she’ll be here.” Fluttershy’s voice sounded just as nervous as he was feeling, and what it said cut straight to his heart. A quiet rattle of pans and clink of china drowned her out for a moment, but the stallion’s straining ears caught her quiet words again. “Applejack has never let me down, Angel. She’s the most reliable pony I know. She said ‘about sundown’, and the sun’s not all the way down yet. I j-just know she wouldn’t s-stand me up.” The quiet pegasus sounded like she was trying to convince herself as much as Angel, and a stab of guilt cut into Applejack’s nervousness. He wasn’t the only one with worries here. Straightening, he rushed back to the door, reaching out a hoof to knock on a door that was suddenly opening in front of him. Off balance and unused to his extra bulk, Applejack’s hooves slipped out from under him and he landed on his chest with an ‘oof’ and a thud, seeing stars for a moment. As his vision cleared, he became aware of two things. Firstly, Fluttershy’s welcome mat was surprisingly comfortable to land on. More important, though, was the blurry white figure standing at the end of his outstretched muzzle and glaring at him with beady little black eyes. Angel was clearly not a happy bunny, and from the way he was tapping one long foot and glancing pointedly from the fallen pony in front of him to the sunset and back, it was pretty clear why. The look he was giving Applejack couldn’t have said ‘Where have you been?’ any clearer if the little rabbit had a sign. “Er, I…” Applejack stammered a bit, painfully aware that being sprawled out on the welcome mat, rear end in the air, was far from dignified. “I was just…” The little rabbit just rolled his eyes, reaching out to bop Applejack right on his sensitive nose with one hard little hindfoot. Angel looked to be about to wind up for another kick when something made him glance back over his shoulder. Applejack followed the little rabbit’s gaze, the sound of hooves on wooden floor and a soft call coming from inside the house. “Angel bunny? Where’d you go?” Another kick to his snout brought Applejack’s attention back to the rabbit, who was glaring up at the stallion again. Once he was sure he had Applejack’s undivided attention, Angel glared over at him. Nodding towards the open door, the bunny pantomimed an excellent imitation of an upset Fluttershy before shaking his head angrily at Applejack. Leaning in closer, the little rabbit poked his paw aggressively against Applejack’s nose before drawing it across his own throat in a cutting gesture. Applejack blinked, belatedly starting to get to his hooves as Angel hopped back just inside the door. He was just dusting himself off when the bunny poked his head back out with the same glare as ever. Angel stared him in the eye for a moment before pointing to his own eyes, then back at Applejack. The message was clear. ‘I’m watching you...’ The hoofsteps inside were much closer, and Angel ducked back inside, obviously feeling Applejack had been sufficiently cowed. The big stallion was almost bemused that the tiny rabbit had threatened him, but wasn’t about to take things lightly. That bunny had a mean streak. He was still brushing himself off and adjusting his saddlebags when the door creaked open further, a familiar pink maned head popping out to look around. “Angel, honey, where are you hiding? Mama’s got to…” With a startled little meep, Fluttershy broke off, pulling back for a moment until she thought recognized the pony on her doorstep. “Applejack? There you are!” The way her voice changed from concerned to pleased and excited was enough to send a unexpected tremor through Applejack. Nervousness faded, replaced by the start of a matching excitement as Fluttershy opened the door the rest of the way. “Eyup. Sorry I’m late, Fluttershy. I ran into Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash on the way over, and you know how hard it is getting Pinkie to stop chattering sometimes.” Applejack was quite surprised to find an easy grin on his face as he spoke. But then, why not? He was right where he wanted to be, about to share dinner with a friendly little mare who he liked quite a lot. This would be easy! That sentiment held out right up until Fluttershy stepped out into view. Fluttershy looked great. That was his sole thought, and the impression didn’t change any as her face lit up with a welcoming smile. She’d tied her mane back in a loose tail, letting the soft lines of her face show much more than usual. A delicate touch of cosmetics drew attention to her baby blue eyes, enhancing them without looking artificial. And the dress…. Applejack wasn’t usually very interested in fashion. There was working clothing, and showring finery, but the best he could say is that he cleaned up nicely. He was all too aware just now that Fluttershy was pretty enough to be a model, and the deceptively simple blue dress she was wearing showed off that beauty to perfection. Rarity had to have been involved, he thought offhoofedly. Nopony else would have gone to so much trouble to make a simple dress lie so flatteringly across the soft curves of Fluttershy’s hips, or to get the texture just right to compliment the smooth line of her graceful wings. The sheer stockings were just the perfect touch, making already graceful legs look even more delicate. He was aware he was staring, but couldn’t stop himself. “That’s quite alright, Applejack!” She was smiling at him, and it lit up her face like Celestia’s dawn. He managed what sounded like a vaguely affirmative noise in response, and Fluttershy took the moment to lean in and wrap her hooves around his neck in a brief welcoming hug. She dropped back to stand in front of him with a giggle, craning her neck up a bit to see his face. “Oh my. You’re a lot… taller.” Applejack nodded, trying to remember how to shape words but still tripping over his own tongue. “Twilight did a good job,” he managed to rumble out. Really? That was the best he could manage? Fluttershy giggled again, nervousness forgotten as the conversation turned to their usual topic, their friends. “I’m sure she did. She loves getting to try out new spells so much!” Glancing back to the doorway, Fluttershy gestured with a hoof. “Why don’t you come inside, Applejack? Dinner’s almost ready, and I’m sure you’re ready to get out from under those saddlebags.” The big farm pony grinned in reply, turning to follow Fluttershy into the house. “I’d love to, sugarcube.” Author's Note Remember, kids. Do -not- mess with the bunny.
