The 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.