It was a short while later before Applejack and Troubleshoes arrived at the gate of Sweet Apple Acres, the restaurant only a short walk from her home and one reason why it was one of Applejack's favorite hangout. As Applejack unlocked the front door, Troubleshoes took another look around himself. He took in the beautiful, rural view around him, of apple trees as far as he could see, a number of grass fields, as well as various flower plants also visible from the porch of the main farmhouse. He could see what he could tell were cornstalks just starting to grow and the trees just starting to produce their leaves given it was only the start of Spring, with Winter Wrapup only having finished a few weeks ago.

As they stepped inside, Applejack did a quick look around and checked the rooms of the house, coming to the conclusion she was expecting: they were still alone. As she'd been told earlier, Granny Smith was off visiting family, Big Mac was out on a date with Cheerilee, and Apple Bloom was on another Crusader mission with her friends and co-Crusaders Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo under the supervision of Fluttershy. Smiling widely at their solitude, Applejack invited Troubleshoes to have a seat in the living room or to feel free to look around the family room, then offering him a drink before she went to clean the caked mud and chili odor from earlier off.

Troubleshoes remained seated on the couch with his beverage until Applejack returned some minutes later, her mane in a towel but the rest of her otherwise unclothed as per Ponyville standard – and her undiluted beauty made Troubleshoe's jaw nearly drop off and onto the floor. She'd been beautiful in that dress, but now...

"Hot darn Applejack, yer... yer beautiful!" Troubleshoes exclaimed, almost regretting the words once they left his mouth. What if he was being too forward? What if she viewed the compliment as something it wasn't? What if—

"Well, thanks Sugarcube!" Applejack said cheerily, Trouble seeing a light blush burning on her cheeks again at the compliment. "Ahm jus' glad t' be outta that gal-darn dress. Ah wanted t' come to the restaurant jus' like this, but mah friend Rarity jus' insisted Ah wear that thing an' some perfume...bleh." Applejack said, sticking her tongue out at the fact that she'd actually done it.

Troubleshoes let his eyes wonder over Applejack's now-uncovered body, seeing the faintly bulging musculature that had once been hidden by the all-covering frock, that toned frame no doubt earned from her countless years of hard work on her farm. He then felt his eyes drawn down her barrel to her firm rear, seeing the curves so perfectly placed. Not too wide, not too flat, utterly perfect.

"Like what y' see there, stud?" Applejack had asked lightly and followed with a soft chuckle, snapping Trouble out of his daze. Realizing he'd been virtually eye-humping her, Trouble bit his lip and quickly looked away from her, a blush hot on his face. "Ah, it's alright Sugarcube. Ah know how stallions are when they get 'round an attractive mare." Applejack teased, only making his muzzle sink lower.

"Well Ah know the view from there is mighty fine—" Applejack started, giving Trouble a smirk, "—but Ah should get t' work cookin'." She gave a light chuckle before walking towards the back of the room. "Y' can go take a shower, then feel free to either relax er look 'round the family room a bit if ya want while Ah make supper. Guest bathroom's upstairs, first door on the right." Applejack offered, giving him a nod as she then parted ways with him and headed to the kitchen. Shortly after, the utilitarian sounds of chopping and the sizzle of simmering vegetables could be heard, Applejack getting to work 'craftin' her vittles'.

~

Troubleshoes meanwhile took Applejack up on her offer of a nice shower to clean up and, after he finished that, he chose to explore, always a curious sort even if his explorations generally did end in something getting broken or knocked over - or in the worst cases somepony getting unintentionally hurt. He got up and looked around the family room, especially focusing on the family pictures. As he picked up a rather old-looking, gold-framed photograph of two middle-aged ponies, he figured that they must be Applejack's parents. Suddenly he lost his grip on the frame and seconds later a crash of breaking glass could be heard as it hit the floor, the sharp sound echoing throughout the reverberant house.

Applejack came galloping to see what was the cause of the ruckus moments after Troubleshoes had dropped the frame, quickly seeing Troubleshoes sitting over a pile of broken glass and holding the now-bent picture frame that had contained the photo of her parents. She quickly rushed over and carefully picked through the broken fragments of glass, grabbing the unharmed photograph itself and looking at it, then feeling tears coming to her eyes again as she was reminded of her parents for the second time that day.

Applejack couldn't help it as warm tears rolled down her cheeks, holding the photo close to her and hugging it against her chest as memories of them flowed back to her, reminding her just how much she missed them even after all these years without them. She hugged the photograph to her chest tighter as she felt the hot tears roll down her cheeks, remembering her father chasing her through the fields one early spring evening, seeing her mother smiling as she'd watched her filly and stallion play. She remembered they'd gone for ice cream after that, with her laughing softly as her father had smeared some ice cream on her muzzle, getting back at him by doing the same back to him...

Troubleshoes could only watch on as this tough mare was once again brought to tears in his presence, Applejack looking up to him moments later as she quickly recovered. Wiping the tears from her eyes then her muzzle before carefully placing the photo down, she quickly got to work cleaning up the broken glass. She'd have to remember to buy a new frame next time she was in Ponyville.

"S-sorry, Ah don't know what got int' me." Applejack said with a froggy voice, clearing her throat a couple times before proceeding, "Ah don't usually get so emotional 'round others."

Troubleshoes nodded in understanding, then indicated the bent frame he was holding. "Sorry bout yer frame...Ah'll get y' a new one later, promise." Then he felt his curiosity take over again – "Those your parents? They look like wonderful ponies." he asked, watching Applejack visibly tense and instantly regretting his question as he watched Applejack's eyes start watering again.

"Y–yeah, they...were." Applejack answered unsteadily, looking on the verge of tears again. Before she let them fall again, however, Applejack quickly wiped her eyes and sniffed instead. "Sorry, Ah need t' get back to supper. 't-ain't gonna cook itself after all!" Applejack suddenly exclaimed, turning tail and moving back to the kitchen.

Troubleshoes watched as Applejack walked away, subconsciously studying every aspect of her toned rear and her now-unbound tail again as she did. Before she left the room, however, Applejack—surely unconsciously mind—flicked her tail to the side, revealing to him the supple, petite treasure underneath once more before her tail swiftly moved to a downward position again. It was just a subconscious action, right? But she'd kept her tail up so long for a simple flick of the tail...

As Troubleshoes was left to ponder that and Applejack's previous actions, however, there was no doubting it now – Applejack was definitely, subconsciously at least, inviting him to...mount her.

~

Just under an hour later Troubleshoes heard the clanging of a triangle, a classic example of a dinner-bell, that was much like the one his own mother had used during his colthood to announce supper being ready. As he entered the dining room, he was quickly ushered to the table by Applejack and promptly seated, the sweet aroma of baked corn and the bold scent of sauteed peppers and onions that had been floating throughout the house and teasing him the whole time making him quite eager to chow down.

Applejack quickly moved to her own seat – but was surprised to find Troubleshoes instead pulling her chair out for her! "Thank ya kindly Clyde! Such a gentlecolt!" Applejack said – before once again ending up on her back, facing the ceiling with her forehooves against her chest and back legs spread wide. Apparently Troubleshoes had misjudged the distance of the chair from the table, ending up in Applejack once again meeting the ground – for the fourth time that day.

"OHMIGOSH AHM SO SORRY!" Troubleshoes shouted, quickly helping Applejack up – only for him to lose his own balance in the process and end up with her landing on top of him, both in stunned silence at what had just happened. Then Applejack suddenly burst out laughing and Troubleshoes couldn't stop himself from joining in, the melody of their laughter dancing throughout the empty house as the pure absurdity of what had just happened set in.

When they'd calmed down after a while and stopped laughing, Applejack bent over and gave Troubleshoes another kiss on the lips, surprising him once again as she locked lips with him, pinning him down but at the same time being gentle with her embrace. After she broke the kiss a few moments later, she then climbed off of Troubleshoes – but unknowingly left something behind. Troubleshoes noticed a patch of matted, sticky wetness on his lower barrel as he felt it cool when it was exposed to the air – knowing only one thing it could have been, given its location right under where Applejack's crotch had been and what they'd just been doing.

They both went and sat at the table, with Applejack then serving the meal she'd prepared and the rest of the dinner going off without a hitch. They talked and laughed while eating the delicious, lightly–spicy meal; Troubleshoes telling a particularly hilarious recounting of a clowning act he'd done in the Fillydelphia and making Applejack howl with laughter as though she'd actually been there watching it, his depictions so vivid that she actually felt like she had been. With their meals Applejack had included a large bottle of apple cider for them to split and after pouring a mug for each, she led a toast to their future endeavors, whatever they may be.

~

As Troubleshoes cleaned the dishes even after Applejack's initial refusal of his help because he was her guest, he nearly dropped a piece of the fine Japonies glassware but barely managed to catch it before it could shatter in the sink. He'd broken enough of her stuff already as it was after all! He quickly finished the other dishes without incident and soon after met Applejack in the family room, only to be introduced to another large bottle of hard apple cider.

They'd then talked more as they drank mug after mug of the fizzy apple drink, neither Applejack nor Troubleshoes noticing that the sun had set until it was well into the night, too caught up in their laughing and talking and joking around to notice how many hours had passed since dinner. Troubleshoes was constantly making Applejack laugh and riveting her with tales of his past rodeo performances or of his foalhood misadventures, and when it was her turn, Applejack would tell of one of the many adventures she and her five friends had been on or discussing her own rodeo competitions, unintentionally humbling the stallion at just how grand her accomplishments were compared to his.

As the second bottle of cider reached empty, both ponies' speech grew slightly slurred, a misplaced word here or there clearly displaying their inebriated state. "Ah...Ah, think we should go up to mah room now." Applejack said suddenly, throwing Troubleshoes for a loop. Surely she couldn't be asking what he thought she was...

"Why?" Troubleshoes asked – not totally oblivious to the implications, but highly doubting them. Plus, it would be mighty awkward if he made assumptions like that and they turned out to be false.

Applejack smiled a really suggestive smile before getting up and walking over to the rather large – and might she add rather attractive – stallion. As she got nearer, Troubleshoes bent down to reach eye level with her – and as he did, Applejack put her muzzle right up against his ear before whispering her desires to him; "Ah really like ya Troubleshoes, and Ah'd like t' have some fun with ya. Up in mah room."

Troubleshoes' eyes expanded to the size of saucers as he'd heard the confirmation of what he'd thought Applejack had meant earlier – and instantly knew nothing good could come of it. He'd only ever gotten to this stage with one of his previous mare-friends before, knowing there was likely a good reason behind that.

"Applejack, y'sure about this? Ah mean, Ah ain't th' most lucky of pony and doin' somethin' as serious as this with ya...Ah just don't know how it could possibly end well." Troubleshoes said, knowing his track record with mares was not a good one.

"Yah, Ahm really sure." Applejack said in the most seductive, wanting voice he'd ever heard from a mare, with her then getting up and walking over to him and nuzzling his muzzle with her own. "Do ya think Ahm perty?" she suddenly asked, the last question Troubleshoes would have expected to hear from her.

What kind of question was that?! Troubleshoes asked himself, never before having seen such a beautiful mare before. To him, she was like an angel sent to him, her perfect—"A'course yer... beautiful, Applejack! What kinda question is that?" Troubleshoes asked aloud, seeing as Applejack smiled softly at the compliment.

"Then come upstairs with me?" Applejack once again asked seductively, making another tingle go down Troubleshoe's spine at being asked by such a beautiful mare to join her in her bedroom. As she started to walk to the stairs, Applejack's rear was facing him and he found himself again watching her flank move ever-so-perfectly as she took each step, shifting so smoothly as the well–toned muscle underneath moved flawlessly...then he looked up to her—and noticed she was watching him!

"OH! AHM...UM..." Troubleshoes stammered as he felt his face flush, only to get a quiet chuckle from Applejack. Troubleshoes watched in awe as Applejack then lifted her tail over her back, flagging herself to him and putting her pert marehood on full display – leaving no doubt of her intentions and making Troubleshoes unable to assume mere subconscious displays anymore. She wanted him, and there was no denying that now.

"Y' like what ya see there, lover–boy? Hmm? Well come get it!" Applejack said in a teasing tone, then lowered her tail and started up the stairs quickly, giggling all the way. Troubleshoes couldn't even hope to resist her feminine allure as he got up from the couch and nearly tripped over a side-table in his eagerness, narrowly avoiding crushing it under his hooves as he made his way from the couch to the stairs, pursuing the mare who had now so obviously invited him to share her bed with her.

Author's Note

Oh, Applejack!

Next chapter is where things start to get...juicy. ;)