Fiddling with Her

A cello sang its dulcet notes as it danced in time with synthetic beats.

What is going on?

Two different worlds intertwined, harmonizing and blending together.

Did I miss anything?

Harmony was shattered when a misplaced note from the cello upset the balance.

Am I just overthinking things?

The electrical half of the duo stopped, but the cello pushed on.

Was there anything I could have done?

“Yo, Tavi.”

What am I going to do?

“Hellooo, Tavi, you there?”

How am I—

And then the world was filled with white.

Octavia blinked as the pillow slipped down off her face. “Vinyl, did you just—”

“Yep!” Vinyl proudly admitted without a hint of shame or fear.

“Why?” Octavia asked with narrowed eyes. One of her hooves twitched, as though hungering for a certain white unicorn.

“Well, you weren’t hearing me calling your name, so I had to do something a bit more to get your attention.”

“And you chose to do so by throwing a pillow instead of a more civilized option.”

“But it was the most fun option. Well, the most fun option I could think of that would not result in you trying to put me in a hole.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” grumbled Octavia. “So why did you stop the recording?”

Vinyl’s grin disappeared. “Really? You don’t know?”

“No, please enlighten me.”

“Dude, Tavi, you uh… kind of messed up a bit on one of the parts.”

Every trace of annoyance drained from Octavia. “Oh…” Silence prevailed for a few seconds before she cleared her throat and raised her bow back to her cello. “Well, my apologies, Vinyl. I’ll be more careful. Let’s just take it back from the top.”

“Yeaaah… No.”

“I’m sorry?”

Vinyl sighed. “Look, Tavi, you’ve been making all sorts of mistakes all day, and it’s getting worse. Heck, you didn’t even know you made the last one until I told you. Doesn’t help that you are pretty much raring to bite my head off—well, more than usual anyway.”

Octavia gave a quiet, sheepish laugh. “I guess I have, haven’t I? Sorry, Vinyl. I suppose I’m just having an off day.”

“Maybe, but I find that hard to believe, because…” Vinyl’s face scrunched up in thought. “It’s like… It’s because you’re…” She waved one of her hooves in a circle. “Well, you!”

Octavia cocked her head to the side. “Thanks… I think?”

“It’s just that, even when we try new or hard stuff, you get the hang of it pretty quick and breeze through it. Today, you’re not only totally blowing at something we played loads of times, it also feels like your parts are lacking that oomph. This isn’t just some off day for you. Something else is up.”

Octavia glanced away from Vinyl. “It’s nothing. Let’s get back to work.”

“Tell me.”

“No.”

“Tell meeeee!”

“You’re annoying.”

“Yeah, you say that every session. Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!”

Octavia groaned, burying her face into a hoof. “Really, it’s nothing. At least, nothing you have to be concerned about.”

“But it is, Tavi,” Vinyl whined. “If you keep this up, we can’t put out our next record, and if we can’t do that, it means we won’t make any bits. Before we know it, we’ll both go poor and lose our homes and have nothing to eat but grass!” Vinyl’s bottom lip quivered as she looked up at her. “You wouldn’t want that to happen to your old pal Scratchie, would you?”

Octavia gave a deadpan stare at the simpering pony in front of her. “First of all, we both earn enough from other avenues. Second, we already eat grass.”

“Yeah, but the grass from the store down the street is soooo good.”

Octavia rolled her eyes. “And, second of all, you do know that you would probably look a bit more compelling if you took off those ridiculous glasses of yours, right?”

“The shades are never coming off, babe,” Vinyl replied, maintaining her pouting lips. “Just imagine two big, sad eyes asking you why must you be so cruel.”

“Vinyl…”

“Seriously, Tavi,” Vinyl said, her tone and expression shifting to a more serious demeanor. “I do want to help, and not just so we can finish the record. You’re my friend, and I know something is eating you up on the inside. So tell me, pleeease? Come on, I bet it has something to do with Applejack.”

Octavia blinked. “How did you…”

“Last time I saw you even remotely this worked up was when you couldn’t figure out what birthday present to get your marefriend. Face it, you act pretty cool most of the time, but when it comes to her, you sometimes can get a bit crazy.”

Octavia sighed, setting aside her instrument and plopping herself onto a couch. “Alright, alright, you’re right. It is about Applejack. I think it started after we came back from the Crystal Empire. She seems to be distracted with something. Whenever I’m with her, it feels like her mind is somewhere else half the time. I’ve tried asking her what’s wrong, but she keeps saying that she needs time to figure things out.”

“Well, maybe all you have to do is chill out,” Vinyl suggested. “I mean, I know I bugged you to fess up, but something tells me nagging her might not be as effective. Anyway, she probably wants to get her head together or something before talking to you. Who knows? You could be getting all worked up over something really small. Is it really that hard to give her a little time and space?”

Octavia’s gaze drifted to the floor. “To be honest, yes. She’s been spending less and less time with me, and when I tried to see her yesterday, I could not find her. What’s troubling is that, at one point, I think I caught a glimpse of Applejack ducking into an alley. I chalked it up to me being paranoid at the time, but when I couldn’t find a trace of her again today, I’m not so sure anymore.” She let out a sigh. “I… I think Applejack is avoiding me.”

“Aww, that can’t be true. Maybe Applejack is really busy and doesn’t have the time to meet up with you or something like that. I’m sure there’s a good explanation somewhere.”

“With all the time I spend at Sweet Apple Acres, I would know if she was behind in her work, and I would also be the first to know if anything popped up. There’s no way she should be so hard for me to find unless she’s purposefully avoiding me. I’m worried because the last time Applejack didn’t want to talk and started hiding from me…” Octavia’s breath hitched as she felt a small pang in her chest.

To Octavia’s surprise, Vinyl scoffed. “You’re being dumb, Tavi. I’ve seen you lovebirds hanging out, and even I can see how great you two hit it off. There’s no way your relationship is going down in the dumps.”

“Then why would she be avoiding me?”

Vinyl sighed and shrugged. “Okay, that I don’t know. Hard to say without hearing it from the mare herself. Still, I really don’t think she would do anything drastic without at least talking to you. Give her some credit. I’m sure she’ll come running back to you in no time.”

Octavia fell silent. While her friend’s reassurances helped ease her anxiety a bit, hearing that all she could do was wait only agitated her even more.

“Listen, why don’t you go on home, Tavi? It’s late, and you look like you could use the rest.”

Octavia glanced at the clock on the wall and grimaced. They had worked well into the night, undoubtedly because of her numerous mishaps. It was a good thing Vinyl was such a good, understanding friend underneath all the teasing and eccentricities. Still, it was the latest they had ever spent in a session, and she felt dreadful that it was all her fault.

“Vinyl, I’m sorry for keeping you—”

“Uhp, uhp, uhp,” Vinyl chided, silencing Octavia with a raised hoof. “Don’t forget who I am, Tavi. I pretty much live for the night life. Besides, you’re going through a pretty rough time, so I can cut you a bit of slack. Why don’t we also take the next few days off as well?”

“A few days?” Octavia asked. “Do you really think we can afford that kind of downtime? Not to mention the fact that I haven’t exactly made tonight’s session that productive.”

“Relax, Tavi. We’re still way ahead of schedule, so taking a break isn’t going to kill us. Besides, you got more important things to deal with. You should use the extra time to find your marefriend and buck some sense into her. The next time I see you, I want to hear that you two are back to making kissy faces with each other.”

For the first time that day, Octavia laughed. It was a small laugh, but it was a much-needed break from the bleakness. “Thank you, Vinyl. Perhaps you’re right as well. The last few days have indeed been quite trying, and it’s not going to get better until I resolve the matter with Applejack.” She let out a long sigh. “I just hope I can get her to sit down with me.”

“You going to be okay?”

Octavia offered a wan smile and nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. I appreciate all the help.”

“Hey, no problem.” Vinyl helped Octavia pack up and walked her to the door. “Just remember this the next time you try to club me.”

“I’ll try to keep it in mind.” Octavia looked back at Vinyl. “Thanks again, Vinyl. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

With their goodbyes said, Octavia started her trek from Vinyl’s place to her own home in Ponyville. Given how late it was, the stars and the moon had already been out in full force for some time. As she looked up at the celestial bodies, memories of her first moments in Ponyville came to mind.

It had been roughly a year since she had left Canterlot and arrived in Ponyville. What was only meant to be a brief visit had became an extended stay when she first laid her eyes—or rather, her ears—on Applejack. Drawn by her mastery with her fiddle, Octavia practically begged Applejack to help improve her own music. What she got was so much more.

Despite their different backgrounds, they became close friends. At the same time, Octavia slowly unraveled Applejack’s troubled past, becoming a confidant for her new friend’s more profound troubles that she kept secret from everypony else. Trial after trial they faced, both from outside forces and within their hearts, until, eventually, their friendship had blossomed into love. A few months after they became an official couple, Octavia had taken permanent residence in Ponyville to live happily with her marefriend and the rest of her new friends.

That is, until recent events evoked new worries.

Octavia sighed as she made her way through the streets. Despite Vinyl’s encouragements, she found herself receding back into turmoil.

Is Applejack really avoiding me? We do our best to see each other everyday, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Granted, it has been only been about two days since I've seen her, but I should’ve at least heard something from her.

There has to be a better explanation for why I can’t find her, but what?

Her steps became more languid as her mind conjured scenarios and theories, each more troubling than the last.

What if she’s afraid of telling me something? What if… what if she has lost interest in me?

Octavia came to a halt. Suddenly, she felt lonely, and it was not because of the empty streets. It took her several moments before she shook her head and resumed her walk, although her hooves now dragged across the ground, as though she was burdened with a heavy weight.

No, best not think about that. Ever… Octavia scolded herself, but that lingering thought refused to be pushed away, content to lurk in the back of her mind and fester with fear and doubt.

By the time she was nearly home, Octavia felt both physically and mentally exhausted. She would resume her search for Applejack in the morning. For now, all she wanted was to pass out in her bed. However, if last night was any indication, there was going to be a lot of tossing and turning before she would finally succumb to the sweet caress of sleep.

Rounding the corner leading into her block, her exhaustion instantly evaporated.

Sitting in front of her house, her back turned towards Octavia as she gazed at the stars, was none other than Applejack.

As if the sudden reappearance of her lover was not enough, what was even more surprising was how she looked.

Applejack had forsaken her beloved stetson—not that it could have fit the new manestyle she was now sporting. Instead of her simple ponytail, her mane was done up into a fancy coiffure. The long strands had been fashioned into an elaborate braid, tied together by red ribbons studded with rubies. Even in the faint light of the moon, the gemmed accessories made Applejack’s mane look like it was shimmering, allowing Octavia to gawk at the meticulous brushing and trimming.

Eager as she was to finally speak with Applejack, she could not help but just stand there and stare in awe at the sight before her.

When she finished ogling the beautiful sight, Octavia walked towards the seated pony. Even though her hooves barely made any sound, Applejack turned towards her when she got close, as though sensing her presence.

“Hey, my melody,” Applejack greeted with a faint smile.

And in that very moment, Octavia felt her heart flutter.

‘My melody’. Derived straight from her last name, it was a special moniker Applejack adopted for her not too long ago. Though it was simple, it carried the symbolism of how they met and bonded over their music.

Her worries and heavy thoughts momentarily faded away. But, as quick as it went, her mind was brought right back down to Equestria, reminding her where they were and all that had transpired.

“Applejack, what are you doing here?” Octavia asked.

“Ah came to see you,” Applejack answered, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“But now? Do you know how late it is?”

“Well, to be fair, Ah have been waitin’ for a while.”

Octavia’s brow furrowed. “How long exactly?”

Applejack shrugged. “Not sure, but Ah guess sometime before supper.”

“What?!” Octavia cried out. “That means you have been out here in the cold for hours! Oh my goodness, Applejack, I’m so sorry. Vinyl and I lost track of time, but if I knew you were coming, I would’ve hurried back. You could’ve even come and get me. I feel awful that—”

“Octavia, stop.”

Immediately, Octavia fell silent, yet still worriedly looked at the mare in front of her.

“It’s fine. Really.”

“But—”

“Don’t worry about it. Yeah, Ah could’ve went and interrupted your music session, but Ah didn’t want to be rude, so Ah waited. The time just slipped my mind when Ah got lost in my thoughts, but it doesn’t matter how long Ah waited. For you, Ah can wait.”

Octavia silently stared at Applejack. All she saw was a loving smile devoid of judgment. After a sigh, she smiled back.

For a few moments, they were lost in each other’s eyes, but a low rumbling sound from Applejack’s stomach broke the silence.

Applejack’s eyes jolted wide open, and all she could say was, “Uhh…”

“Apparently, your stomach is done waiting.” Octavia tried to stifle her laugh.

Instead of the expected witty retort, Applejack blushed and looked away. “Dang it, why did that had to happen?”

“Applejack, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m guessing you missed dinner waiting on me,” Octavia said with an understanding smile. “It’s too late to go anywhere, so why don’t we go inside and I’ll fix you a little something?”

Applejack immediately perked right back up. “Yeah, sure. That would be nice.”

Octavia opened the door, gesturing for her guest to go on in. As Applejack walked past her, Octavia gave a small start when she felt her gently brush her body against hers, despite having plenty of room. At the same time, she caught the scent of something that confused her even more.

Is… Is she wearing perfume?

Octavia wordlessly set her cello aside as Applejack sat down on the living room couch. Now that they were in the light, she could see that Applejack had not just done up her mane. Her fur had a fine sheen with not a single speck of dirt anywhere. Subtle touches of makeup adorned her face—just enough to accentuate her natural beauty.

In all of their time together, Octavia could not recall a time she had seen Applejack put so much effort into her appearance. Even though the results were breathtaking, Applejack’s bewildering behavior was nagging away at her mind.

Still, she could wait a little bit longer. Interrogating her marefriend while she was on an empty stomach was not exactly something Octavia thought one should do in a relationship.

“Um, Octavia, you alright?”

Octavia shook herself out of her daze, mentally chiding herself for staring yet again. “Sorry, I was… nevermind. Would you also like me to get you something to drink while I make you a snack?”

Applejack chuckled sheepishly. “Actually, if it’s alright with you, Ah could go for somethin’ with a bit of kick.”

Octavia raised an eyebrow. “Alcohol? At this hour?”

Applejack again chuckled nervously, her eyes drifting to the floor. “Y-yeah, Ah think Ah’m goin’ to need it.”

Octavia eyed her a bit longer before retreating into the kitchen.

As she sifted through her cabinets, Octavia did the same with her increasingly jumbled thoughts. She had expected things to clear up once she found Applejack, but instead, things had become even more muddled.

At least there was one saving grace she found comfort in amidst the confusion. Despite the perplexing situation, she reasoned that since Applejack went to great lengths to put on such a stunning look, there was bound to be something big coming up.

She selected a bottle of wine she had planned to save for special occasions. If Applejack was doing all of this for her, she might as well do what she can to return the gesture. Balancing a tray on her back with the aforementioned wine, along with two glasses and a hastily-made daisy sandwich, she made her way back to her waiting marefriend.

“I think you will like this.” Octavia set the tray down and poured a glass for Applejack. “I picked it up when—”

Octavia’s eyes widened when Applejack grabbed her drink and took a big swig.

“Whoo-wee, that was good. Is that crystal berry?” Applejack asked.

“Um, yes… I enjoyed it so much when we went to celebrate Princess Cadance and Shining Armor’s anniversary at the Crystal Empire that I brought back a few bottles.”

“Oh yeah, Ah remember that.” Applejack went quiet for a few seconds before taking another drink, effectively draining the rest of her glass.

Octavia knew Applejack was no stranger to alcohol, given the fact that Sweet Apple Acres produced cider of both the light and hard kind. However, seeing a glass of wine being chugged in less than a minute was a cause for concern. She also could have sworn she heard a tone of sadness in Applejack’s voice when they mentioned the Crystal Empire.

“Heh, good wine,” Applejack sheepishly complimented when she noticed Octavia’s stare.

Octavia silently nodded, refilling Applejack’s glass before finally filling her own. She was going to have to eventually address the Ursa in the room, but, for now, she really needed a drink.

Seating herself right next to Applejack, Octavia swirled her glass of wine, allowing the aroma to reach her nose before closing her eyes and taking a sip. A mixture of sour, sweet, tartness, and a hint of spice came together in a perfect blend to tantalize her taste buds. Taking a few more sips, she felt the beginning of a pleasant warmth spread through her body, taking the edge off the anxiety that had been building up all night and giving her that little push she needed to finally take the plunge.

After enjoying her wine and collecting her thoughts, Octavia opened her eyes and was hardly surprised to see Applejack was already diligently working through her beverage. Seeing that the sandwich was also finished, she took a deep breath.

No more waiting. She needed answers now.

“It really is good to see you, Applejack,” Octavia began.

“Good to see you too, Octavia.”

“I haven’t seen you much these past few days,” Octavia continued in an even tone.

“Right, sorry about that,” Applejack quickly replied. “Ah actually was gettin’ ready for tonight.”

“You mean all of this?” Octavia waved her hoof at Applejack’s entire body.

“Yep.”

“I know you’re not a fan of dressing up, but did it really take you this long to do that? You seemed to be awfully busy for quite a while.”

“It wasn’t just my new ‘do. Ah had a bunch of things Ah wanted to get ready, and Ah probably wouldn’t have been able to get it all done without Rarity’s help. Not only did she help with my look, she helped me set up and plan some of the other stuff Ah wanted to do tonight.”

“You were with Rarity? But I asked her if she knew where you were yesterday.”

“Yeah, sorry about that too.” Applejack rubbed the back of her neck. “Since Ah wanted tonight to be a surprise, Ah made her Pinkie Promise to keep it a secret.”

“Ah.” Octavia nodded knowingly. She had been around Pinkie Pie enough to know the dangers of breaking a Pinkie Promise.

Applejack fidgeted in her seat. “Um… If you don’t mind, Ah really would like to know what you think of my new look.”

“You look absolutely wonderful,” Octavia sincerely answered. “Then again, I would still find you beautiful when you’re covered in dirt and mud. At least like this, you’re more huggable.”

That got a hearty laugh out of Applejack. “Don’t let Rarity hear that. We spent an entire afternoon just decidin’ on my mane alone. Not to mention all the time she spent with me at the spa to get me all gussied up. Ah haven’t seen her eye twitch that much since she tried to make all of our Grand Galloping Gala dresses.”

Octavia giggled. “I know very well how much you two bicker with each other. It’s actually quite endearing most of the time. I wouldn’t be surprised if some ponies thought you two were a couple instead.”

“Well, too bad for them. Ah already got a prissy pony of my own,” Applejack remarked with a grin.

“Bring her around next time. There’s an insufferable yokel I know she could meet. They would probably get along… or possibly drive each other crazy.”

“Or both.”

“Both indeed,” Octavia agreed with a fond smile. “So what else did you plan for tonight?”

“There were a couple of things. One of them was me hopin’ to take you out to a nice restaurant, but Ah guess that kind of slipped through, huh?”

Octavia felt her heart sink a bit. “I still feel terrible for making you wait so long and miss dinner.”

Applejack shook her head. “Like Ah said, it’s not your fault. You didn’t know Ah was comin’. We’ll just chalk it up to bad luck and try again another day.”

“If you say so.”

“Anyway, after eating, Ah figured we could’ve taken a nice walk around the park, given how clear the skies are tonight. After that, Ah would walk you back here, and um… maybe spend the night?”

Octavia’s eyebrow arched. “Are you asking to sleep over?”

“Uh, maybe?”

Octavia chuckled. Over the course of their relationship, there were plenty of times where they were enjoying being with each other so much that they lost track of time and ended up having a sleepover. It was always a spur-of-the-moment sort of thing, but this was the first time one of them had outright asked for it. Regardless, the outcome would not be any different.

“Of course you can,” Octavia replied.

A big grin sprouted across Applejack’s face. “Thanks, Octavia. Ah really appreciate it.”

Octavia felt the tension she had been feeling slowly dissipating as their conversation continued through the night, making up for the missed time that had been lost over the past few days.

Vinyl was right. She should have calmed down instead of letting her worries overcome her. All this time, Applejack was just trying to prepare a surprise date night, and while things did not go as planned, the gesture was appreciated all the same.

However, as the night went on, the smile on Octavia’s face petered out when she noticed that Applejack was fidgeting anxiously, her gaze frequently flicking toward the clock on the wall.

“Applejack, is something wrong?” Octavia asked.

“No, it’s just that it’s gettin’ kind of late,” Applejack replied.

“I suppose that’s because you have to get back to Sweet Apple Acres early in the morning.”

“Actually, Ah already did tomorrow’s chores. Even then, Ah asked Big Mac and Apple Bloom to cover for me. Ah’m all yours for tonight and tomorrow.”

“Then why do you seem so nervous?”

“Well, Ah um, actually was hopin’ we could do one more thing tonight…”

Octavia tilted her head slightly. “This late? Whatever could that be?”

All Applejack was able to muster was an incomprehensible mumble. Her eyes had a newfound interest in the empty glass in her hooves.

“I’m sorry, what?” Octavia craned her ear closer.

Again, Applejack’s words were too quiet to discern. Her face matched the color of her beloved fruit.

Octavia resisted the urge to facehoof. “Applejack, you’re going to have to speak up. I cannot hear—”

“Sex!” Applejack blurted out. “Do you want to try havin’ sex with me?!”

Silence draped over the room as Octavia stared wide-eyed at Applejack.

“At least Ah get points for askin’, right?” Applejack joked after a few moments, chuckling very nervously. When all she got was a blank stare, she groaned and buried her face into her hooves. “That wasn’t quite how Ah wanted to pop the question. You probably think Ah’m an idiot or some sort of creep for bringin’ this up.”

“I-it’s alright. I’m not mad or disgusted or anything. You merely caught me off-guard. Just to make sure though… did you really just ask if we could have sex?”

“Y-yeah.”

“I see… Could… Could you give me a moment?”

“Oh… Um, sure. Right. Take as long as you need,” Applejack replied, putting on an uneasy smile.

Octavia nodded in thanks before trying to get a grasp on the situation. The two of them had never gone further than kissing and snuggling, so Applejack’s sudden proposal had blindsided her. Granted, they were bound to pursue the act at some point. She just did not expect that point to be right now.

Even when her mind had finally caught up with her, she still was lost on what to do. She needed more answers.

Octavia took a deep breath. “Applejack, I’m not consenting or rejecting the idea of us having sex just yet, but I would like to at least know why the sudden interest.”

“Because Ah want to make you feel special.”

“And why do you suddenly feel the need to do that now?”

“Ah need a reason to do somethin’ nice for my marefriend?” Applejack asked innocently.

“No, but I suspect there is one right now,” Octavia countered. “At first, I believed all of your odd behavior was preparing for this date night, but now, I’m not so sure. We’ve never even talked about sex before, and now you’re telling me you planned for it. It just feels like this all came out of nowhere, but, at the same time, I can’t help but feel that you’re not telling me something.”

“Well it’s because… um…” Applejack looked down at her hooves before letting out a long sigh. She slowly ran her hoof over her head and played with her mane. “Dangit, Ah really was hopin’ to at least leave that until tomorrow so that we could enjoy tonight.” She let out another drawn-out sigh before looking back up at Octavia. “Do you know what today is?”

Octavia blinked. “It’s Saturday.”

“No, Ah meant do you know what’s special about today?”

Octavia racked her brain for an answer. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, special events, nothing came to mind. She slowly shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t know.”

“Ah don’t blame you. It’s a lot more significant to me than you.”

“What is?”

“Exactly one year ago was when Ah made the biggest mistake of my life.”

“Biggest mistake of your life?” Octavia repeated to herself. It took only a few seconds to fully understand what she meant. “The day we parted ways.”

“More like the day Ah almost ruined our friendship.”

Octavia winced and chose to not confirm the statement, which hit a bit too close to the truth. Instead, with that key information shedding a new light on recent events, she pursued the other queries that came to mind. “So is that why you have been acting so odd after the Crystal Empire?”

Applejack nodded. “Celebratin’ Princess Cadance and Shining Armor’s anniversary reminded me of the other thing that happened on their weddin’ night. When you confessed your love to me, when Ah ran away from you, and when Ah let things start to fall apart.”

“Why didn’t you talk to me about this?”

“Ah didn’t want to worry you. It’s still a sore subject for the both of us, and Ah thought that it would go away after a day or two.” Applejack shook her head as her gaze returned to the glass in her hooves. “But it didn’t. Ah kept on tryin’ to wait it out, but it got worse. Eventually, Ah ended up havin’ a nightmare, and, well… it was pretty bad.”

Octavia reached for one of Applejack’s hooves, rubbing it soothingly.

Applejack returned the gesture by squeezing her hoof. “Apple Bloom, she… she was sick again in the hospital. As you can imagine, Ah got all worried for her and became a mess. It felt so real, and it really hurt to see her like that again. Ah felt so scared and alone. Ah hoped that you would come to comfort me and make things right again.

“Instead, Ah saw the very day when we argued, when Ah told you that Ah didn’t want you around anymore. Ah could still remember your face—the face of somepony who had their heart broken. That… That hurt the most… That’s when Ah realized that Ah pushed you away, but, this time, you never came back.”

“Oh Applejack…” Octavia could not help but hug Applejack. “I’m here.”

Applejack let out a weak laugh. “Ah know.”

“How have you been holding up since you had that dream?”

“Well, Ah couldn’t get anymore sleep that night, so Ah ended up just lyin’ in bed thinkin’.” Applejack looked up into Octavia’s eyes with a tiny smile. “As bad as that nightmare was, it did confirm one thing, and that is how important you are to me. Eventually, Ah ended up getting’ the idea that Ah could do somethin’ for you on the same day that we broke up. It would be my way of makin’ it up to you.”

“Hence all the planning for tonight.”

“Yeah. That’s the other reason Ah didn’t talk with you much. Ah wanted to keep everythin’ tonight a surprise and, well, even though Ah got the idea that sex could further our relationship. It’s not somethin’ you normally bring up in a conversation, if you know what Ah mean.”

“Applejack, we don’t have to have sex to show your love. We’ve gone through so much together, and it’s already clear how much we care for each other.”

“But that’s exactly why Ah want to try it. Sex is one of the ways ponies can show their love and trust for their partner. Ah put you through so much, and Ah wanted to show how much you mean to me. It’s somethin’ Ah want to do for you.” Applejack sighed. “Maybe, just maybe, we can make a good memory so we can forget that awful time.”

Octavia closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Hearing that the guilt still plagued Applejack even after a year had transpired from that dark day was worrisome. However, as Octavia looked back over the past few days, she realized that Applejack was not alone. Their fallout and the period after was a difficult time for the both of them.

“Applejack, there’s something I would like to tell you,” Octavia stated, opening her eyes to give her a solemn gaze. “It might not be pleasant, but I need you to hear me out.”

“Go right ahead. Ah’m all ears.”

“When I noticed you started to act strangely, you know that I was worried for you, right?” After receiving a slow nod, Octavia continued. “Well, at first, that was true, but as time passed and I saw you less and less, those worries turned into fear. Even though I knew it would not happen, a part of me could not help but think back to that very same incident you are afraid of. I thought you were avoiding me again.”

“You… You thought Ah was…” Applejack’s eyes shrunk into pinpricks as her jaw hung agape. “Oh, sweet Celestia… Ah’m such an idiot… Octavia, Ah—”

“Shh, shh, shh.” Octavia gently silenced Applejack with her hoof. “I’m not trying to make you feel guilty. Let me finish. Anyway, when that fear lingered in my mind, it became all I could think about. It caused a few restless nights and started interfering with my work. Imagine my relief when I found you waiting for me. Even if the evening had turned out to be rather interesting, I’m just so happy that you’re here.”

Octavia slowly brought her hooves around Applejack’s back and rested her forehead on Applejack’s own. “You’re not the only one who still carries scars from that day.”

“Octavia…” Applejack reciprocated the embrace. “Guess we both need more time before we’re truly over with what happened. Ah should’ve went to you. Sometimes Ah forget that Ah don’t have to try and fix everythin’ myself.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear. As long as we have each other, we’ll be fine.” Octavia planted a kiss on Applejack’s forehead.

“What did Ah do to get a great mare like you?” Applejack asked, holding Octavia even tighter.

“Probably because you shower me with all sorts of apple products.”

“Knew you were in this just for the apples.”

Octavia pecked Applejack on the cheek. “And I have my favorite one right here.”

Applejack laughed. “That was pretty bad, but Ah’ll take it.”

“Good, because you’re stuck with me, bad jokes and all.”

“Ah wouldn’t have it any other way.”

A few moments of silence passed as they remained in each other’s embrace. Octavia sighed happily, closing her eyes and resting her head on Applejack’s shoulder. All was silent but the quiet rustling of Applejack’s hoof stroking her head.

Moments like these were what Octavia loved most about their relationship. She had thought she would never find anything else more fulfilling than her music, but, as she was right now, nestled safely in Applejack’s hooves, it was like the worries and troubles of the world were put on pause.

Eventually, a combination of the day’s events and the warm embrace of her living pillow started coaxing her to drift off to sleep.

“Hey,” came Applejack’s voice, along with a soft nudge on her cheek.

“Hmm?”

“Ah’m guessin’ it’s gettin’ close to bedtime. Why don’t you go on up first? Ah’ll clean up down here for you really quick.”

Octavia nodded and headed upstairs to wash up. Not wanting to keep Applejack waiting, she took a quick shower, just enough to refresh herself.

After finishing, she went to her bedroom to find Applejack sitting in front of a mirror, removing the ribbons and turning her head from side to side as she examined her mane.

“It’s such a shame that you didn’t get much time to show off your new manestyle to me,” Octavia said, sitting beside Applejack.

“Well, you did like it, right?”

“Very much so.”

“Then that’s good enough for me. Although, Ah could always try sleepin’ with it.”

“I’ve seen your mane when you wake up. I can hear Rarity’s screams already.”

“Sounds mighty temptin’ to me,” Applejack replied with a snicker.

“As amusing as that would be, she did help you, so maybe you should not torment her. Well, at least not for this thing.” Octavia tapped Applejack’s head. “Besides, I don’t think you’ll be comfortable in bed with that. Your head is big enough as it is.”

“Your bed can take it. Ah mean, it holds you, and considerin’ all the apple fritters you keep on—”

“Just get in the shower,” Octavia commanded, playfully shoving Applejack away.

“Yes, ma’am,” Applejack chirped, giving a mock salute before heading off to the bathroom.

Octavia shook her head, chuckling softly at their banter. Her mirth quickly faded when she sat down on her bed, her thoughts returning to Applejack’s proposal. Although she now knew the reason Applejack wanted to have sex, she still was not sure if she was ready for it.

She pondered over the situation until Applejack came back into the room. The sight of her marefriend’s mane flowing freely in all its splendor ground her thoughts to a halt. She had grown really fond of Applejack’s mane when she first saw it let down. She was so captivated that she sat in frozen silence until Applejack nudged her with her muzzle, chuckling knowingly.

Octavia patted the spot next to her with a hoof. Applejack promptly sat down, brushing their sides against each other.

“I really do love your mane like that,” Octavia said, gazing at Applejack’s golden locks. “Better than what you had earlier, in fact.”

Applejack chuckled. “Good to know all that fuss from Rarity was worth it.”

Octavia ran her hoof through Applejack’s mane, enjoying the feel of each strand of hair brushing against her like threads of silk. “It’s true, though. While you looked fantastic earlier, this is so much more fitting for you. You really should let your mane down more.”

“Ah wish Ah could, but it’s so much harder to manage and clean up after a day workin’ on the farm.”

Octavia gave a small sigh. “I know.”

“But that just means you have a little more to look forward to on nights like these.”

Octavia merely smiled as she looked into Applejack’s eyes. Those emerald eyes she had fallen in love with, along with everything else attached to them. She slowly leaned in closer, and Applejack did the same until their lips joined together.

As she felt Applejack’s soft lips upon her own, Octavia felt her heart thump faster. It was one of many kisses that they had shared with each other, but each one sent the same rush of elation through her body as the rest. It was all too soon when Applejack pulled back from their tender embrace.

“So, um… You never did give me an answer if you wanted us to try, um, you know,” Applejack muttered.

Octavia sighed. “I know. To be honest, I’m still not sure. It’s not like I’m against it, but I can’t help but feel at least a bit nervous about it. It’s a big step for both of us.”

“Well, the way Ah see it, we’ve been together for months—heck, over a year if you count everythin’ since we first met—and, from the way Ah see it, sex is somethin’ two ponies can do to really show that they love each other.”

Applejack smiled. “And Ah really love you, my melody. More than anythin’.”

Anxious as she was, Octavia smiled at her heartfelt words. “Thank you, Applejack. That really means a lot to me.” Her smile faded. “I’m sorry that I’m having such a hard time giving you a straight answer. I’m still not sure if this is something we have to do to prove our love.”

“This isn’t somethin’ Ah want to prove to you. Ah want to do this for you. You done so much for me, and Ah’m askin’ if you’ll let me show how grateful Ah am to have you. Ah promise Ah’ll be careful, but if you really feel that we shouldn’t do it, then we don’t have to.” Applejack gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “Ah know this is not exactly an easy decision, and Ah’ll understand if you can’t answer me now. Whether you decide we try it tonight, months later, or even never, know that Ah’ll love you all the same and that’s with all my heart.”

Octavia fell silent as she felt her heart stir. Applejack was giving her a choice. If she wanted to, she could take the safer, more comfortable route and refuse the act without any fuss or guilt.

But Octavia was not completely sure if that was what she wanted.

Despite being one of the most renowned musicians in Equestria, she had actually never dated anypony before Applejack, let alone get in bed with anypony. Whenever she had the need for relief, she made do with her hoof and a good romance novel. Yet, if her readings were any indication, it was that sex with another pony was many times better, and she would be lying if she did not admit that she was not at least a little bit intrigued.

What was most important was not curiosity or lust, but the love she had for Applejack. Sex can very well change a relationship—for better or worse, and Octavia feared for the latter. While she knew that Applejack would not get upset over a bad lay, it could make things awkward between them. She cherished their times together, and she was not too keen on anything that would potentially hamper any of that.

Octavia bit her lip, unable to make a decision or even able to ask for more time, but when she looked into Applejack’s eyes for guidance, she saw patience, love, and something else.

She saw the pony who would do anything for her, and the pony she would do anything for. They would not have gotten this close if the both of them did not take any risks.

Whether it was because they never felt the need to or that they never dared to, sex was behind a threshold that they had not crossed. Tonight’s events, however, had caused cracks to emerge in that wall, and even though it was still not clear what laid behind it, stepping into the unknown was a small price to pay for a mare like Applejack.

“Alright then, let’s try it. Right now,” Octavia announced.

“R-really? That’s… that’s great, but are you sure?”

Octavia nodded and smiled. “I love you too, Applejack. I admit that I still have a few worries, but it’s not because I doubt your integrity. Far from it. It’s just that sex can be a pretty big deal in anypony’s life, especially if it’s their first time.”

“W-wait, first time? This is your first time? But you were doing so well in Canterlot! Nopony tried to court you before me?”

“Oh, there have certainly been more than a few, but don’t forget how much I wrapped myself in my music. I didn’t have time nor care for such things.” Octavia smiled. “Well, until a special apple farmer came into my life. She opened up my eyes to the world, but I ended up having eyes for only her.

“Applejack, you are my everything, and there is nopony else I would rather have, now and forever.”

“Octavia, Ah…” Applejack’s eyes started to tear up, but she quickly wiped them and gave a broad grin. “Thanks, my melody. That means a lot, and Ah hope that Ah can make this mean a lot for you too.”

“It already is.” Octavia smiled then closed the gap between them.

She eagerly submerged herself into a kiss, savoring the soft lips of her special somepony. A small shiver racked her whole body, both from the kiss and from the knowledge that she had just agreed to explore a new aspect of their relationship.

When Octavia felt Applejack’s tongue seeking entrance into her mouth, she obliged right away, meeting Applejack with her own. She hummed contentedly as their tongues gently caressed each other in their private, elegant dance.

As they continued to thoroughly explore each other’s mouths, Octavia ran her hooves through the mane she adored so much, then wrapped them around Applejack’s neck. At the same time, Applejack wrapped her hooves around Octavia’s back, entwining them together. With their chests pressed upon each other, she could feel the faint heartbeat of her special somepony against her own.

Up close, the faint aroma of apples and grass reached Octavia. Applejack’s perfume had finally dissipated, leaving behind a familiar scent she knew and loved. There was no more pretending and no more hiding. This was the real Applejack. Her Applejack.

As their mouths were still locked, reveling in each other’s taste, Applejack placed a hoof over Octavia's heart and carefully pushed her back down onto the bed.

Octavia’s heart jumped as she was placed in a compromising position, but it was not because she was nervous or afraid. She was eager and excited as Applejack looked down at her, a caring look upon her face.

“You ready?” Applejack asked.

“Yes,” Octavia instantly replied.

“Alright, we’ll take this slow. If you feel uncomfortable or anythin’ just say somethin’, and Ah’ll stop right away. And if you need me to change anythin’, just let me know. A-and if you—”

“Applejack, shh.” Octavia stroked the nervous mare’s cheek. “Remember, I trust you.”

Applejack smiled, took a calming breath, and touched Octavia’s hoof with her own. “Thanks.”

Again, Octavia was treated to the touch of Applejack’s lips when she leaned down to kiss her. As their lips joined, she felt her partner’s body shift until Applejack had her hind legs straddled across her barrel.

Octavia could feel her whole body heat up—partly from her blushing face, partly from the building desire that Applejack’s sensual touches were evoking in a certain part of her body.

Once Applejack got herself situated, she broke the kiss, flashing a warm smile, before delving right back in.

Octavia drew a sharp breath when Applejack landed a kiss on her neck and then licked the same spot, the touch sending a tingle down her body. It was different from what she had imagined, but in a good way. She let out a quiet whine as Applejack continued lavishing attention to her neck.

As promised, Applejack took it slow, gingerly caring for her as though she was the most precious thing in the world.

The methodical treatment slowly but surely trailed down Octavia’s neck and onto her chest as Applejack’s body slid down her own. The feeling of their fur rubbing against each other and Applejack’s hooves brushing her sides sent shivers down her spine.

Warm and safe in Applejack’s hooves, Octavia was loving every moment. As Applejack continued showing her affection, Octavia could feel an ember of arousal grow within, stoked from both her own desire and Applejack’s tender care.

Despite sinking into a haze of bliss, Octavia knew from her own solo sessions that the anticipated moment was drawing near. When Applejack’s attention finally made its way between her legs, she could not help but tense up.

Her reaction did not go unnoticed. Applejack stopped right away. She grabbed one of Octavia’s hooves, squeezing it, and looked back up at her, silently conveying her concern.

While Octavia appreciated Applejack’s caution, she had a more pressing matter that needed attending to. Moaning at Applejack, she nudged the waiting mare’s hoof, urging her to continue.

More shivers ran through her body when Applejack resumed her ministrations and moved down between her legs. Just the feeling of Applejack’s breath brushing against her sensitive parts was enough to make Octavia moan again in delight.

Applejack’s warm tongue lightly brushed circles around Octavia’s delicate folds as her hooves kneaded her inner thighs. Unlike before, when each touch added to the building pleasure, Octavia felt like a bonfire had been lit inside her, a warmth that suffused through her entire body and made her pant and squirm.

She felt Applejack pause in her movements, and Octavia guessed what was coming next. She closed her eyes and braced herself.

Applejack’s tongue slipped between her folds, and Octavia let out a loud gasp that filled the room.

It had happened. Applejack had taken her first time and her body.

And it was glorious.

Applejack had only used the tip of the tongue, but Octavia felt like she had been struck by lightning as a jolt of pleasure racked through her.

Barely any time passed before Octavia felt Applejack withdraw. She barely restrained herself from yelling out, instead silently praying for her lover to resume.

But it never came.

Suppressing the urge to whimper, Octavia opened her eyes to see Applejack had a pensive look as she smacked her lips. “I-is something wrong, Applejack?”

“Oh, uh, sorry, Octavia. Just got distracted with, um…” Applejack blushed and averted her gaze.

“Distracted?” Octavia took a deep breath, trying to calm her hammering heart, and sat up. “Distracted by what?”

“Your, um… taste.”

Octavia blinked. “My what?”

“Ah mean, how you taste… down there…”

“Oh, I see…” Octavia frowned. “Wait, are you saying I taste bad?”

“No, no, no!” Applejack quickly shook her head. “It’s just that… Ah kind of thought it would be like somethin’ sweet or nice. Instead, you kind of tasted bitter. But not bad bitter! A bit salty as well… Ah think… Actually, it’s really hard for me to describe it.”

“Uh huh… So, where did these expectations come from?”

“Well, uh, Ah might’ve read it from… somewhere…”

Octavia’s eyebrow arched as her inquisitive gaze caused her fumbling marefriend to squirm.

“Stop givin’ me that look.” When Applejack’s request fell on deaf ears, she let out an exasperated sigh. “Alright, alright, Ah didn’t want to do this without at least a little preparation, so Ah might’ve read a few books.”

“You read a guide on how to have sex?”

“N-no! Not really…” Applejack replied, a faint blush on her face. “Ah borrowed a few of Rarity’s more, uh… descriptive romance novels. Ah really didn’t want to check out a ‘How to Have Sex’ book from Twi. Ah was lucky that Rarity thought Ah was just usin’ them for more romance ideas.”

Applejack’s face grew even redder as she admitted, “It’s also my first time doin’ this, and Ah wanted to at least get an idea of what to do so that Ah wouldn’t make a mess or ruin the moment.”

“Applejack, I greatly appreciate how much thought and effort you have put into doing this for me. And you don’t have to worry. We haven’t even gone through everything, and you’re already making me feel so wonderful. You’re doing a splendid job, and I’m glad I’m doing this with you.”

“Thanks, Octavia. It’s a relief to hear that you’re enjoyin’ it.” They shared another long kiss before Applejack continued, “Alright, Ah think that’s enough talk on me readin’ up on how to do it, so we can actually do it. Uh, Ah mean, if that’s alright with you.”

Octavia felt her face flush from just the thought of resuming their activity. Nodding her consent, she lay back down on the bed.

Applejack moved back down between Octavia’s legs and started licking around her folds. Again, Octavia felt the onsets of her arousal returning from Applejack’s heavenly ministrations and the anticipation of her marefriend’s next move.

She let out a yelp when she felt Applejack’s tongue enter her again, but it was soon replaced by moans and whimpers as the appendage started flicking around, sparking bursts of pleasure. Despite Applejack’s cautious pace, the dexterity and feeling of her lover’s soft tongue reached places Octavia could not tend to with her own hoof, seemingly hitting all the right places and bringing her to higher levels of arousal that she had never achieved before. She could feel even the tiniest movements Applejack was making on her sensitive flesh.

Amidst her throes of passion, she briefly wondered why she was so reluctant to partake in this heavenly, carnal bonding. This was far more pleasurable than her own readings had suggested, and it allowed her to be so much closer to Applejack.

“A-Applejack… P-please… More…” Octavia breathed out, using one of her hind legs to to nudge Applejack’s head closer.

And Applejack obliged.

Octavia’s moans grew even louder now that Applejack was no longer making brief passes with her tongue. She was submerged in bliss as Applejack thoroughly explored her folds. Her mind was flooded with thoughts of Applejack and the amazing sensations her caring marefriend was bestowing onto her.

Just as the heat in her haunches was reaching its peak, Applejack stopped.

Catching her breath, Octavia could still feel Applejack’s breath between her legs, pleasantly tickling her every time the air brushed against her sensitive parts. This time, she could not hold back a few quiet whimpers from escaping her. While she did not want to rush things, the unsated heat in her loins had grown to unbearable levels. She needed relief, and only Applejack could give it to her.

“You… you were doing so good,” Octavia called out raggedly. “Why did you st—AHHH!”

Octavia’s back arched when she felt Applejack’s tongue pass over her clit. It was a quick and soft touch, barely grazing the surface of it, but it was enough to send a jolt of ecstasy through her body. She hardly had a reprieve before Applejack continued licking her clit.

At first, the licks were slow and careful, but as Applejack’s tongue brushed against her clit faster and faster, each one caused Octavia’s body to flinchshake with delight.

If it were not for Applejack’s strong hooves holding her down, Octavia was sure she would be flailing all over the bed. Reduced to a quivering pile, all she could do was gasp for breath and howl for Applejack not to stop as she felt her lust ascend to unprecedented heights.

“A-Applejack, I-I think I’m getting close,” Octavia announced when she felt a pressure building up down below. “Don’t stop… Please don’t stop.”

Applejack responded by increasing her ministrations to a fervent pace as she wrapped her lips around Octavia’s clit and gave a powerful suck.

Octavia let out an unrestrained scream as her mind was shattered, and the intense pleasure running through her body quickly pushed her over the edge.

Yelling out her lover’s name, she was drowned in an ocean of euphoria as her body spasmed with ecstasy, releasing all of its pent-up pressure. Even behind her closed eyes, dancing lights invaded her vision while she rode out the swell of pleasure.

It took a few moments for her body to calm down, allowing her mind to finally started piecing itself back together. Breathing heavily, she could still feel the occasional tingle of pleasure pulse in her. As more and more of her coherency returned, she caught her own musky scent, but most notable was that the weight of a pony was no longer upon her.

Slowly opening her eyes, she saw Applejack using a clean part of the bed sheet to wipe her face of her juices.

“So, did Ah do good?” Applejack asked, even though she already had a smile of somepony who knew they did a good job.

Octavia responded by wrapping her forehooves around Applejack’s head. Even though her current state only allowed for a feeble pull, Applejack got the message and leaned down, letting Octavia give her a deep, passionate kiss.

“Ah assume that’s a yes?” Applejack asked with a smirk.

“Very much so,” Octavia replied between breaths, still sprawled out on the bed. “Thank you for that.”

“No, thank you. Thank you for puttin’ up with this foolish mare. Ah’m glad that you let me do this for you.” Applejack leaned back down and planted a kiss on her nose. “You mean so much to me, my melody, and Ah’m so glad you wandered into my life.”

Octavia hummed in agreement as her heavy breathing started to calm down. She let out a satisfied groan when Applejack’s hooves returned to massage her. While her first tryst was incredibly gratifying, her muscles were still a bit taxed after the strenuous activity. It probably was the afterglow talking, but Applejack’s gentle massage felt even better than the spa ponies that Rarity treated her to from time to time.

Silence fell between them as Octavia enjoyed the relaxing care. Any hints of soreness and fatigue were quickly chased away as Applejack’s hooves worked her over.

“Guess Ah literally took your breath away,” Applejack remarked with a soft laugh once she finished the massage, leaving behind a satisfied Octavia.

“You were just that marvelous,” a rejuvenated Octavia stated. “Hard to believe it was your first time.”

“Well, it was, and Ah got to admit that Ah was pretty darn nervous, but once Ah saw how much you were enjoyin’ it, Ah really got into it.” Applejack cleared her throat. “Um, if you don’t mind me askin’… was it really that good? What’s it like?”

“Where do I begin?” Octavia replied. “It’s… It’s simply divine. I never felt anything like it before. Honestly, I don’t know how I would ever be able to describe it.” A devious grin flashed across her face. “So that’s why I think I’ll just show you instead.”

“Wait, wha—whoa!” Applejack yelped when Octavia suddenly sat up, wrapped her hooves around her, and flipped their positions, allowing Octavia to look down at a now blushing Applejack.

“Uh, h-hey, Octavia, um… w-what are you doin’?”

Octavia’s playful expression vanished when she saw how nervous the mare below her was, leaving behind a soft, caring smile. “It’s my turn to do this for you.”

Applejack gave a sheepish laugh. “Y-yeah, Ah kind of figured that. You really don’t have to do this, Octavia. Ah already know you love me.”

“Then let me return some of it. Please? I might not have prepared for this like you, but I want to at least try to make this enjoyable for you. This is both my way of saying thanks, as well as showing that I will do anything for you.”

“Or anythin’ to me, in this case.”

“I could certainly think of worse stuff I could do, such as punishing a certain apple farmer for making an awful joke.”

Applejack chuckled softly. “So, this is what you really want to do?” she asked, smiling up at Octavia.

“Yes,” Octavia immediately replied with conviction.

“Alright then. Ah wanted to make this night all about you, but Ah can see this is important to you as well. Besides, if you want me to have a bit of fun, who am Ah to turn it down?”

Octavia grinned and again kissed Applejack on the lips.

There was something about Applejack that brought out her playful side, and their romp in bed had only amplified that. Despite having been on the receiving end not too long ago, her desire for Applejack had given her a second wind.

Applejack had already given her an experience to remember. Now, it was her turn.

After ending their embrace, Octavia went up to Applejack’s forehead, peppering it with kisses.

She had always wanted to try something. So, as she used her hoof to gently stroke Applejack’s chest, enjoying the feel of her soft orange fur, she moved even further up until she was right next to her target.

“H-hey, what are you dooooouuuuh…” Applejack’s words devolved into a long, throaty moan when Octavia clamped her mouth on one of her ears and started sucking.

“Th-this feels weird…” Applejack exhaled. “But also good…”

That only encouraged Octavia to increase her assault. With Applejack’s ear still in her mouth, she used her tongue to tickle the tip inside and was momentarily surprised when Applejack started squirming.

Even with her whole body on top of Applejack’s, Octavia had a bit of a tough time staying on top of her more physically fit partner as she jerked around in ecstasy. Determined to subject her marefriend to a most pleasurable experience, she kept her hold on Applejack’s ear.

As she continued to caress Applejack’s ear, she enjoyed the sounds Applejack was making. Hearing Applejack moan and whisper her name sent a chill through her, and she continued to tend to Applejack’s ears.

Eventually, Octavia felt herself needing a break. She relinquished her hold on Applejack’s ears, leaving her marefriend panting on the bed.

“That… That wasn’t in any of the books Ah read,” Applejack remarked.

“You’re starting to sound like Twilight,” Octavia joked, lightly bopping Applejack’s nose. “Not everything can be learned from books.”

“Then where did you learn that?”

Octavia was silent for a moment before letting out a mock sigh of disappointment. “From my own romance novels…”

The smirk on Applejack’s face would have been infuriating if she was not in such a compromising position.

“Moving on from our questionable reading habits, I’m going to keep on going, alright?”

After receiving a nod, Octavia started kissing along Applejack’s neck and then licking the spots she just passed over. She was pretty much mimicking Applejack’s earlier moves since they were so successful when they were used on her. In an attempt to make sure she gave it her all for the mare she loved, she used her hooves to rub Applejack’s body during her oral explorations.

Feeling the tautness of her muscles, Octavia got a more personal look at Applejack’s physical prowess. Given the hums of satisfaction emanating from Applejack, her hooves were not only making her more aroused, but it was easing the tension in her toned body. She made a mental note to look into massaging techniques for the hard-working farmer.

Octavia kept up her ministrations until she finally arrived between Applejack’s thighs. Apparently, her foreplay had worked better than she thought.

A wave of a thick, earthy smell hit her face, making her feel a bit heady and even sparking a small fire in her loins. She quickly shook off the intoxicating effects, reminding herself this was about Applejack now, and resumed tending to her marefriend.

Octavia heard a gasp when she started licking along the sides of Applejack’s folds. It only encouraged her to try and make more of those sounds.

Glancing over to Applejack’s mound, she could not help but look in wonder as the area became more and more moist. Unable to hold back her curiosity, Octavia flicked her tongue through Applejack’s slit, eliciting a tremble and a squeak.

Octavia let the taste linger on her tongue a bit. She could not help but chuckle when she caught something interesting. “So, it’s true—you are what you eat.”

“What… what’s so funny?”

“I understand what you meant earlier. It’s pretty hard to describe it, but the taste of apples is mixed in. It’s subtle, but it’s definitely there.”

“Guess that just means you’re not eatin’ enough apples.”

“Oh, I’m having one right now.”

Octavia dove right back between Applejack’s hind legs, brushing her tongue across Applejack’s mound and earning another yelp from her.

As Octavia tended to the sensitive area around her lover’s clit, Applejack’s pants and mumbles for more filled her ears. It made her happy knowing that she was getting such a heated response from Applejack.

Whether it was because she was better at this than she thought, or because Applejack was just that turned on from her activity, it did not matter much. What was important was that Applejack was happy because of her.

Octavia adjusted herself into a more comfortable position and then, after taking a deep breath, cautiously lowered her tongue into Applejack.

She heard a loud gasp when her tongue connected with the pink flesh, and her taste buds were flooded with the musky, faint-apple nectar she sampled earlier.

The room was filled with the mewls of Octavia’s victim as she used long, slow drags of her tongue to explore Applejack’s interior. Hearing Applejack’s breathing becoming louder and rapid, caused Octavia’s heart to race again.

Emboldened by the results of her performance, Octavia increased the pace. At this point, the nectar trickling from her lover’s slit tasted like ambrosia, fueling her zealous drive. Working up her partner into a feverish mess, Octavia ventured up to Applejack’s clit and lavished attention on it with fervor.

“C-consarn it, Octavia!” Applejack cried out. “I-if you keep this up, Ah’m… Ah’m goin’ to—”

Octavia stopped to look back up at Applejack and smile. “Then just do it. Don’t hold back. This moment is for you.”

Immediately, Octavia plunged her tongue right back into her depths, alternating between swirling her tongue in Applejack’s soaking slit and her clit. This was also Applejack’s first time, and she was going to make sure that Applejack would remember it for a long time.

As she continued, Applejack’s legs clamped down on her head, trapping her in a musky, furry confine until the job was done. Even with Applejack’s legs around her head, the moans and cries of the mare before her were heard clearly over her own slurps and sucks. All her senses were of Applejack, and it only fueled her desire to drive her to her climax.

When Applejack’s legs tightened over her head, Octavia knew what was coming.

With an ear-piercing scream, Applejack achieved her release.

Octavia blinked in surprise as juices sprayed onto her face, but she quickly got over it and delved as deep as she could, lapping up the nectar that was flowing from Applejack’s orgasm.

When Applejack finally relaxed, her legs releasing their grip, Octavia backed away, tired but happy that she was able to give Applejack this moment.

Sighing happily, Octavia got up and wiped away her lover’s liquid lust, but not before taking one last taste, savoring the taste of apples and her marefriend.

She looked down at Applejack, who was lying exhausted on the bed, her chest heaving after her explosive finish, her leg twitching in a way that Octavia could not help but find adorable.

“That… That was somethin’,” Applejack managed between breaths.

“We really need to work on your vocabulary,” Octavia quipped.

Applejack weakly batted Octavia’s side with a hoof.

“But at least it looks like you enjoyed it.”

“You better dang believe Ah did!”

Octavia chuckled before lying back down right next to her. After adding their intimate escapades to the list of tonight’s events, she was pretty much on her last leg. She let out a coo when Applejack moved to wrap her hooves around her.

“Ah’m so glad we got to do this. And not just because it felt good,” Applejack said in a tired voice.

Octavia nodded, nuzzling into Applejack’s neck. “I am too. Sharing this with you has been quite the experience.”

They went silent for a few moments, enjoying each other’s embrace, until Octavia asked, “Does this change anything between us?”

“What do you mean?”

“I… I’m not too sure. I guess I’m wondering if anything is going to be different from this point on.”

Applejack hummed in thought for a moment before saying, “Yep.”

“Oh?”

“We need to have more sleepovers.”

Octavia laughed. “While I do agree with that, you know that’s not what I mean.”

“Well, Ah know that after tonight, Ah feel even closer to you now. Anythin’ else, Ah don’t know. Hard to say what’s goin’ to happen in the future, but just like you said, as long as we have each other, we’ll be fine.”

“That sounds marvelous.”

They silently sealed the deal with a kiss. Their romps in the bed had been full of kisses laced with lust and passion, but this was one of pure care and love.

Octavia pushed herself into the sweet kiss, but it was cut short by her yawning. Applejack followed suit with a yawn of her own. They had consummated their love in more ways than one, but now all that was left in both of their minds was sleep.

As her eyes slowly closed, Octavia watched Applejack’s do the same, until darkness enveloped her.

“Good night, Applejack.”

“Good night, my melody.”