Author's Note

Note on writing Applejack's dialogue: I tried to strike a balance between flavor and ease of reading. I didn't want it to distract too much, so in many cases I opted for standard spellings rather than reproducing her speech phonetically.

The Station

I missed Fluttershy. Badly, and in more ways than one. I missed her for her kindness, her quiet beauty, her beautiful turquoise eyes. But I also missed the incredible sex. Sure, my little encounter with Cup Cake helped in that regard, but I can't wait to see my Fluttershy again.

It was a little over a week since Discord brought me to Equestria, the only human in a land filled with technicolor ponies. And it was the day my Fluttershy and her friends were set to return from an urgent mission in the Crystal Empire. So I waited for her at the train station, more than a little nervous about meeting her friends. It had been a warm morning, and the day would only get hotter, without a cloud in the sky to stop Celestia's glaring sun from beating down. Ponies milled about the station, mostly avoiding me--but a young colt wouldn't stop staring at me, despite his mother's dirty looks and muttered scolding.

A gray pegasus was also looking at me, or trying not to appear like she was looking at me--I'm not quite sure, exactly, where she was looking with those crossed eyes. She seemed intrigued anyway. I was about to go talk to her when the train whistle blew in the distance. My heart leaped in my chest. I waited, with no small amount of excitement and impatience, as it rolled heavily into the station, clanging and chugging, blowing off a great hiss of steam. The brakes screeched, but before the engine had stopped, a pink-haired, yellow pegasus came flying toward me.

"Jack!" Fluttershy squeaked. If she were any heavier, she would have tackled me with her hug. As it was, I stumbled back, hugging her tight around her midsection while her forelegs wrapped around the back of my head.

I kissed her cheek. "I missed you so much, Fluttershy."

"I missed you too."

A husky voice interrupted. "So this is that heeyoomin you were talking about?" I looked up to see an athletic blue pegasus with a rainbow mane, flapping her wings several feet away. She crossed her forelegs suspiciously.

"Rainbow Dash!" A purple pony with wings and a horn chided her. "You must be Jack," she smiled at me. "My name is Twilight Sparkle. You seem to have left quite the impression on Fluttershy."

My yellow pegasus released me from her embrace and stood next to me, the top of her head at chest height, with a wing stretched across my backside. "I'm sorry for being so rude. Everypony, this is Jack. He's...my special somepony."

Several dozen ponies were making their way off the train, but she was clearly addressing the five closest to us.

A white unicorn with a dark purple mane curtsied, offering me a hoof which I took and kissed in a gentlemanly manner. "It's so lovely to meet you, Jack. I am Rarity," she enunciated each syllable with care. "Fluttershy seems quite taken with you. I do hope you'll be joining us at Sugar Cube Corner."

"Nice to meet you, Jack! I'm Pinkie Pie!" an overly-excited earth pony reached a hoof out to shake my hand. I took it, and smiled at her. She was pink, and slightly plump, with a tightly curled mane of a darker pink. "Now, who's ready to party?"

"Well, I'd love to join you, everypony," an blonde-maned, orange earth pony spoke up in a country accent that made I'd sound like ah've, "but I've been away all week and I've got a lot of work to do." She had flecks of a lighter color in her coat, clustering around her face, shoulder, and back, resembling freckles. Her body was clearly powerful, as thick as Pinkie Pie but well-muscled. She may not have the muscle tone of Rainbow Dash, but I had no doubt she was much stronger. "Corn's not gonna plant itself." She tipped her cowgirl hat to me. "By the way, I'm Applejack. It was nice meetin' ya, Jack, but I've really gotta get to the farm."

"Aawww," Pinkie cried in disappointment. "Can't you at least come by for a piece of cake?"

"Sorry, Pinkie, I surely can't." Applejack began to walk away as the train let off another hiss of steam.

"Wait!" I called to Applejack. Turning to my special somepony, I spoke just above a whisper, "Fluttershy, I really missed you. And I'm very happy to meet all your friends. It's just--" I paused, sighing, "--I'm a little, intimidated by meeting them all at once. Maybe, instead of going to the party, I could help out on the farm today. Then I could get to know just one of your friends at a time." I shrugged. "And with my help, maybe she could spare the time for a piece of cake."

Fluttershy's face registered disappointment. "I understand. I'm actually a little shy myself." She turned to Applejack. "If Jack helps you on the farm today, do you think, um, maybe you would have enough time to join the party for a little bit?"

"Well," the orange pony considered, green eyes looking up, "I reckon I would."

"Yippee!" Pinkie exclaimed.