Applejack had never been so relieved to see her butt glow.
The preposterousness of that sentence notwithstanding, this call to action couldn't have come at a better time for Applejack. She was far from the type to take pleasure in some pony or group of ponies experiencing a friendship problem so dire that they needed outside assistance to get through it. That simply wasn't her style. In this particular situation, though, the map couldn't have called her at a better time. An adventure was just what she needed to get her mind off of the problems she was dealing with in Ponyville. At the very least, it would get her away from Fluttershy.
Under normal circumstances, getting away from Fluttershy would likely have been the last thing on Applejack's mind. The two had been a couple for over a year now, and by all accounts were fantastic together. Sure, they might not have been the most exciting couple in the world. They couldn't match the dynamic energy and passion of Rarity and Rainbow Dash. They didn't share a deep intellectual bond like Twilight and Moondancer did. And Pinkie...well, Pinkie was Pinkie, and whoever she happened to be dating at the time–Soarin at the moment–was usually able to work off of that. Applejack and Fluttershy were, to the naked eye, not quite as exciting as the others, but what they lacked in thrills, they made up for with pure happiness. They didn't need to be exciting. All they needed was the quiet presence of the other to be happy and problem-free.
Or at least mostly problem-free. If they were entirely problem-free, then Applejack wouldn't have been so ecstatic at the idea of getting far away from Fluttershy. It had already been two days since Fluttershy had stormed out of Applejack's house, and the two hadn't spoken to each other since. Seeing Fluttershy that upset and that open about being upset was a shocker to Applejack for sure. She was usually the type to bottle it up when she was really upset, and it typically took some prodding to get her to talk. This time, though, she seemed more than okay with telling Applejack exactly how upset she was. Hearing sweet little Fluttershy shout in anger was quite the experience. Applejack had never dreamed that talking about the two of them moving in together would get her so riled up, but the fact remained that it had. Applejack felt awful shouting back at her, but it was just her way to respond in kind when somepony yelled at her. Neither pony had made an effort to see the other in the last two days, but the events still weighed heavy on Applejack's mind. A trip to who knows where to solve a friendship problem was just the ticket to clear her mind. Once the problem was solved, she just had to take a little longer getting back so she could think things over clearly.
Applejack strode through the castle halls on her way to the room where the Cutie Map was. She idly wondered where she'd be sent for this friendship mission. Last time she'd gone to Manehattan, and while she enjoyed spending the time with Rarity and was happy with the final result, Manehattan was way too big of a city for her to feel comfortable in. She hoped that maybe the map would send her somewhere she would feel more at home in. Maybe Appleloosa would be nice? And she wouldn't be opposed to Dodge Junction. Hopefully whoever she was going with—if anypony at all; she wasn't certain that the map always sent a party of two—would feel the same way.
"I'm here!" Applejack called out as she entered the throne room. "Got here as fast as my hooves would take–"
The farmer froze in place as she caught sight of Fluttershy standing with Twilight, her own cutie mark glowing as well.
Applejack wasn't sure if there was a being higher than Celestia and Luna, but if there was, he or she had a terrible sense of humor.
The two mad marefriends glared across the room at each other, the tension thick enough that even those super knives that were always advertised really late at night when Applejack couldn't sleep were unlikely to make an incision in it. The fact was not lost on Twilight, who smiled awkwardly.
"Oh!" Twilight exclaimed. "This is...great! So good that the map chose the two of you, isn't it?"
"Fantastic," Applejack responded.
"Wonderful," Fluttershy replied.
"Great!" Twilight shouted, absolutely aware of the sarcasm present. "Sooo let's see where you are going, hm?" Applejack walked up to the map, making sure to use Twilight as a buffer between her and Fluttershy. She still loved her, but right now she needed that buffer, and she figured Fluttershy likely needed it too.
The three ponies watched the facsimiles of Applejack and Fluttershy's cutie marks floated across the map of Equestria, showing far more cooperation than their owners wished to at the moment. The marks twirled around each other, dancing across Equestria until they finally came to a stop in a location that made both Applejack and Fluttershy's hearts sink.
"Las Pegas?"
Neither Applejack nor Fluttershy looked at the other as they spoke in unison. Had they been on better terms with each other, they might have found their tandem distaste to be amusing, but for now it was just another irritation.
"Las Pegas!" Twilight said, beaming. "Such a rich and unique city! So colorful, so interesting..."
"So busy..." Applejack muttered.
"S-so loud and crowded..." Fluttershy whispered.
"So energetic and full of life!" Twilight swooned. "Oh, I wish I could go with you..."
"You should!" Applejack and Fluttershy said quickly. Once again, the unison was not enough to make them even look at each other.
"Oh, no," Twilight responded, although she looked none too eager to do so. "The map called for you two, not me. And as much as I'd love to experience that exciting, fast-paced culture in person..."
Twilight stopped suddenly as she watched the map begin to do something she'd never seen it do before. All six eyes stared in awe as the map seemed to zoom in on Las Pegas, enhancing the image more and more until the shapes of individual buildings were discernible amongst the map's contours. Applejack and Fluttershy's cutie marks swirled through the streets, dancing between lavish buildings until they finally settled over a rather large palatial structure. All three ponies stared in awe, though whether it was in reference to the map's new feature or the beauty of the building was uncertain.
"That lil' feature sure would have come in handy with mine and Rarity's trip to Manehattan," Applejack mused as they inspected the featured building.
"Well, it does limit the thrill of the search," Twilight said. "But it sure is helpful!" She gave the two a pleading smile. "Have fun, okay? I know this isn't the best time for this, but please, for your own sakes if not the sake of the mission, try to enjoy yourselves."
Applejack and Fluttershy made eye contact for the first time since they'd arrived at the castle. It only lasted for a brief moment before both sighed, looked away from each other, and nodded.
"Great!" Twilight responded, again, still not fully sold on her own enthusiasm. "Now get out there and make us proud!"
Both ponies responded with noncommittal mumbles before heading to the door. The two gave each other a little glare as they reached the door at the same time. Applejack stepped aside to let Fluttershy go first as she usually did. Unlike the other times where the intent was chivalrous, though, this was more to keep from having to interact more. Fluttershy took the invitation with a tiny "hmph" as she made her exit, and Applejack responded in kind as she did the same.
"...Have fun," Twilight said with a sigh. It was a futile effort, but she hoped that saying it would help.
~~~~~~~~~~
Applejack felt her knees begin to shake as she looked over the extravagance that was Las Pegas. If Manehattan had made her nervous, then a new word probably had to be invented for what she was feeling right now. Manehattan was bustling and busy, and Las Pegas held these same traits, with the added bonus of being loud. The place was an endless sensory onslaught. The bright lights, loud noises, and scents of unfamiliar food and other things that Applejack preferred not to think about came from all angles, and it was just too much for the country pony.
It seemed to be too much for Fluttershy as well, considering the fact that Applejack could feel her lightly moving against her side. Her behavior was a stark contrast from what it had been like on the train. While she hadn't been so petty as to not sit next to Applejack, she certainly had not tried for any physical contact. In a normal situation, the two would have held hooves or leaned against each other, often with Fluttershy wrapping Applejack in a wing. None of that was present on this train ride. The two barely even spoke for the whole ride, and when they did their conversation was limited to short questions and responses related to the mission.
Applejack had half a mind to move and let Fluttershy deal with the fear by herself, but her conscience won out. Even if she wasn't terribly happy with her marefriend right now, she still cared about her and couldn't bring herself to abandon her. So she let Fluttershy huddle lightly against her, giving her a little sideways glance. She had to admit that it was nice to get a little tenderness again after a few days without. The relief was short-lived as Fluttershy caught Applejack's eye, realized what she was doing, and took a step away from her once more. Applejack's heart sank for a moment before she remembered how unhappy she was with Fluttershy and let it go.
Given the incredible architecture of the building's representation on the map, both ponies figured finding it would be a breeze. What the map hadn't let on was that while such a building would have stuck out like a sore hoof in Ponyville, the same could not be said for Las Pegas. Nearly every building they passed was decadent in design, so much so that it was hard for one to stand out over the others.
"We should ask for directions," Fluttershy said.
"Don't need to," Applejack replied. She practically heard the sigh from Fluttershy before it happened and rolled her eyes. "I mean it."
"Don't make me ask," Fluttershy said.
"Don't think you would," Applejack replied. She knew Fluttershy was far too timid to ask a random stranger for directions. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Fluttershy pouted. Then, to her surprise, Fluttershy began to approach a passerby. Applejack turned to watch, a bit of morbid curiosity overtaking her. She watched as Fluttershy tried to speak up, but lost her nerve as the pony trotted past her. She began to try again with the next passerby, but the same thing happened. Part of Applejack watched this with a sense of satisfaction, knowing she was going to win this one. That part was quickly overpowered by guilt when she saw Fluttershy pout pitifully. Annoyed as she was with her, Applejack couldn't stand around and let her look like that. Some battles weren't worth winning.
"Pardon me," Applejack said, walking up to the pony that Fluttershy was trying to approach. "We're looking for a big crystally-icy-looking palace thing. Any idea where it's at?" She saw the little satisfied look on Fluttershy's face out of the corner of her eye and felt the odd combination of frustration and relief overtake her. Fluttershy's grin, though, was nothing compared to the big smile on the other pony's face as he looked between the two mares.
"Looking for the Ice Palace, huh?" he asked. "It's two blocks up and one to the left. You two girls enjoy your stay." Something about the stallion's grin and soft chuckle as he left felt a little unsettling, but Applejack couldn't place her hoof on it.
"Well that was right neighborly of him," Applejack said, a slight tone of uncertainty in her voice.
"I could have done it," Fluttershy said quietly.
"You tried and you couldn't," Applejack said. "I know how you are talking to ponies you don't know. Couldn't make you do that." She could swear she saw a smile begin to creep across Fluttershy's muzzle. She could have left it at that, but for some reason her mouth kept going. "Looks like you got what you want like usual."
Any trace of mirth instantly disintegrated from Fluttershy's face. Applejack didn't need a visual or audible cue to know she'd messed up, but the frown and "hmph" from Fluttershy accomplished that goal regardless. Applejack knew she'd done wrong, but this time her stubbornness won out over her compassion, and she didn't bother with an apology. After all, she had nothing to apologize for. Fluttershy did always get her way in the end.
It was a short and mostly uneventful walk the rest of the way, although the hustle and bustle of the city streets tried valiantly to make a case for the opposite. Both ponies were determined to take care of the friendship problem they'd been called for as quickly and efficiently as possible. That meant no attention paid to the street performers that tried to distract them, no idly wandering into other buildings, and no stopping whatsoever. Distractions were plenty, but to the two focused ponies, there was no time for such things.
Soon enough, the two found themselves standing before the very building they had been searching for. The words "Ice Palace" were visible on the building's sign, and the name couldn't have been more fitting. If Applejack and Fluttershy didn't know any better, they would have guessed that the entire place was made of ice. Whatever it was made out of, it certainly did a good job of appearing as a mind-bogglingly never-melting structure of ice. Of course, such an idea was preposterous, given the general humidity of the city, but it as nice to imagine, and rather easy with the visuals provided to them.
"After you," Applejack said as she walked up to the door. It was out of sheer instinct. She may have been upset with Fluttershy, but that didn't mean she had to throw all of her manners out the window.
"Mm," Fluttershy responded as she walked past Applejack. The farmer couldn't help but sneak a peek at Fluttershy's backside as she passed. It only lasted a moment before she tore her eyes away. As lovely as Fluttershy's backside was, this was hardly an appropriate time to stare, and doing so would likely just make Fluttershy more upset with her if she were to catch her in the act. She did her best to keep her eyes up and forward as she followed Fluttershy inside.
As Applejack took her attention away from Fluttershy's rear, she couldn't help but notice the decadence of the palace. True to form, the ceilings, walls, and floors all had the same icelike appearance as the exterior, but accompanying them were grand furnishings that would have looked perfectly suitable for a Canterlot gala. A huge, shimmering chandelier set the tone rather well, casting the foyer in a gentle, elegant glow, the resplendence of which was magnified by the way the light reflected off of the smooth icy surfaces. A few mates walked out of one door and into another, all dressed in matching sequined tops and skirts. The skirts seemed a little short to Applejack, but she wasn't fitting to say anything about it. After all, in a city like this, the local businesses probably had to do a lot to garner the attention of the tourists, and the simple truth was that mares in skimpy skirts had a good chance of getting patrons talking. It wasn't a business model that Applejack was looking to employ any time soon on the farm, but she could respect it.
"Welcome to the Ice Palace!" a cheery voice sang out. The voice belonged to a perky blue unicorn who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. She wore a uniform that was somewhat similar to the other mares Applejack had seen, but replacing the sequined top was a slightly more businesslike jacket. "My name's Blueflame, and I'm the owner!"
"Well howdy there, Blueflame," Applejack said, giving her a neighborly smile. She wondered why the owner of a business would not only be greeting ponies who entered, but be wearing the same short skirts as the other workers. Again, though, it wasn't her place to judge. "I'm Applejack, and this here's..."
"Fluttershy!" Blueflame exclaimed, causing the pegasus to yelp in surprise. "Like I wouldn't recognize you, Miss Former Fashion Model! Oh, I still have one of your posters up in my room!"
"Th-they made posters...?" Fluttershy squeaked. Applejack sighed lightly, beginning to wonder just how much Fluttershy knew about royalties.
"They did!" Blueflame giggled. "Oh, this is so cool! Can you sign an autograph for me?" Fluttershy took a step back, looking for all the world like she wanted to be anywhere but here right now. Applejack took a certain joy in watching this interaction. It was nice to see Fluttershy getting recognition for her looks, even though it was probably the last thing Fluttershy wanted. A crueler part of her also enjoyed watching Fluttershy get so uncomfortable, but she wasn't proud of that part.
"Maybe a little later," Applejack said, stepping between the excitable unicorn and the pegasus who was far less so. "We've kinda got some important business to attend to right now." She raised a brow as the grin on Blueflame's face grew even wider.
"Heehee...of course you do," Blueflame responded. Applejack and Fluttershy exchanged confused looks, before they remembered they were annoyed with each other and looked away.
"You know why we're here?" Applejack asked. She idly wondered if the map had upgraded itself to also let the ones they were being sent to help know that help was coming. She quickly dismissed that idea, waving it off as ridiculous.
"Of course!" Blueflame replied with a giggle. "I'm pretty sure it's the same reason everypony else comes here, huh?" She waggled her eyebrows and gave them a playful smirk.
"Uh...you mean we ain't the first ponies to come here trying to solve a friendship problem?" Applejack asked. Now it was Blueflame's turn to be confused.
"Friendship problem?" Blueflame asked. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you see," Applejack explained. "This might sound a little crazy, but we're friends with Princess Twilight Sparkle, and we have this map that shows us where to go to solve friendship problems. It sent us here from Ponyville, so we were wondering what kind of friendship problem there might be that'd warrant calling us here."
Blueflame listened quietly as Applejack gave her little speech, giving little glances over to Fluttershy every now and again. Her eyes filled with wonder as Applejack namedropped Princess Twilight. She would have to ask for another autograph.
"A friendship problem? Here?" Blueflame asked. "Wow...I wasn't aware of anything like that happening here. But I suppose if you were sent here by your map, then there must be something, huh?"
"Apparently," Applejack responded. "So, would it be alright if we talked to the workers and the customers here to try and figure it out?" Blueflame let out a little giggle at this.
"Oh, I don't know if our clients really want to be bothered," the unicorn said with a smirk. "But you're welcome to talk to the employees, and if you find any clients who are willing to talk, then by all means!"
"Why wouldn't the clients want to talk?" Applejack asked, tilting her head.
"Heehee...they tend to be a bit busy," Blueflame replied, giving the two a little wink. Then she gave Fluttershy a little look over. "Tell me, are you two a couple?"
"We are," Applejack answered, confused as to the relevancy of the question. "Why?"
"Oh, that's a shame..." Blueflame lamented, still smiling. "Tell you what: how about you two get a room and take some time to relax before you go questioning ponies, hm? Ponyville to Las Pegas is a long trip." She gently placed a hoof on Applejack's shoulder, sparking a little look from Fluttershy.
"Hm...yeah, I guess that's not a bad idea," Applejack replied, pretending not to notice the hoof. The look from Fluttershy hadn't escaped her attention.
"Great!" Blueflame said, beaming. "You can use our VIP room, since you P's are VI!" She giggled at her own joke before continuing. "Feel free to make yourself at home in there and use anything you'd like! Go take a load off. And if you find yourselves wanting to invite another pony in to take a load with you, just hit the call button. Any of our employees would be happy to help! Although if I could be honest, I don't think anypony here can beat me, so feel free to call me if you want the best experience you can get!"
Blueflame's little spiel had set off enough red flags to blanket a hoofball stadium. Applejack eyed the unicorn curiously, finally summoning forth the question that had been on her mind, yet had managed to evade recognition this whole time.
"...Exactly what kind of establishment are you running here, Blueflame?" Applejack asked. Blueflame raised a brow, then giggled.
"Oh, you haven't heard of the Ice Palace?" she asked. "It's the finest and most enchanting brothel this side of Las Pegas."
Fluttershy immediately attempted to gallop out of the building. If Applejack's reflexes weren't so quick, she very well might have succeeded.
"Brothel?!" Applejack shouted, loud enough for some of the patrons nearby to stop in their tracks.
"Maybe you should have researched us a bit before you came here?" Blueflame offered. She was still smiling, but it had faded somewhat, having been a bit offended by the ponies' extreme reactions. "Don't worry. Anything that happens in here is strictly confidential."
"But...but..." Applejack stammered. "Ponies...in here...have..."
"Sex?" Blueflame finished, rolling her eyes slightly as the word caused the two to blush. "Yes. That is what happens in a brothel. I'm sorry that my business offends you this much."
Applejack and Fluttershy were stunned to silence, with Fluttershy in particular looking about ready to faint. It was safe to say that this turn of events was far outside not only their expectations, but their comfort levels as well. If it wasn't for the mission at hoof, Applejack might very well have been making her exit just as Fluttershy had tried to, albeit likely in a more calm manner. Though in all honesty, it wasn't fair to judge what she might have done in that kind of situation, as neither of them would have even been in Las Pegas at all, let alone in this particular building, if it wasn't for the mission.
And the mission was the most important thing right now, the more Applejack thought about it. As much as she couldn't understand why she and Fluttershy were the ones called for this—not that she could think of any of her friends as any more fitting—the fact remained that they were, and they had a duty to solve whatever friendship problem the brothel had in store for them. They weren't comfortable about this, but neither was Applejack when she had to go to Manehattan; although to be fair, this was a far different situation. Regardless, they were here for a mission, and as far as Applejack was concerned, they would be sticking it out until it was a success.
"No," Applejack said quietly. "I'm sorry we offended you. We shouldn't have reacted like we did. We'll take that room, if the offer's still valid." Fluttershy gave Applejack a pointed look, but Applejack paid it little heed. Accepting the room was the least they could do after hurting Blueflame's feelings.
"It sure is!" Blueflame responded, perking back up almost instantly. "And don't worry about offending me. It takes a lot to do that!" The unicorn giggled as she pointed down the nearby hall. "The VIP room is right down that hall. You can't miss it! It kinda does say VIP over it and all."
"We'll keep an eye out," Applejack said, giving Blueflame a polite smile. "Thanks." With that, she headed down the hall. Fluttershy still looked terribly uncomfortable, but did her best to hide it.
"Th-thanks," Fluttershy squeaked. She then zipped down the hall after Applejack, trying her hardest not to look at anypony or anything on her way.
"What a sweet couple," Blueflame giggled as she watched them walk off. She then glanced around the hall until she located one of her workers. "Buttercup! Is the VIP Room set up with all the usual accommodations?"
"Just as always, Miss Blueflame!" Buttercup responded.
"Great!" Blueflame said, beaming. "I'm sure those two will find something to pass the time with."
"Well...this ain't so bad, right?"
Fluttershy said nothing. She was being quiet even by Fluttershy standards, and that was beginning to unnerve Applejack. Although the frown on the pegasus's face was doing an even better job of unnerving her, and both paled in comparison to what the decor of the room was doing to her. The large heart-shaped bed was fine; cute, even. The mirror over the bed would have been an odd design choice nearly anywhere else, but all things considered, it made sense here. It was mainly the various shackles attached to the walls and straps hung from hooks that made her uncomfortable. The various dresser drawers weren't helping, as Applejack's pesky imagination was doing a good job of filling in the blanks of what they likely contained. Such endeavors were unwillingly helped along by the few drawers that had labels. The one labeled "Bad Mares" was a particular standout. And while the "toy chest" looked from the outside like one that Apple Bloom might have had when she was young, she was rather certain that its contents were vastly different.
"Look, I know you're not comfortable here," Applejack said, emerald eyes perusing the various bottles that sat upon the dressers. "Can't rightly say I am either."
Again, Fluttershy said nothing. Applejack had half a mind to confront her and tell her to lighten up, but she also had half a mind to not exacerbate things, and that half was winning the mental battle by quite a margin. Her gaze settled on a line of bottles that looked like perfume bottles, labeled with Prench names that she was not nearly classy enough to understand. She wasn't really a fan of perfume, but an utter lack of anything better to do led to her reaching for one of the bottles. She squinted, reading the tiny label on the bottle.
"Ew de Luxure," Applejack read. "Why would they start the name of a perfume with 'ew?' Seems counterproductive."
"Eau," Fluttershy corrected quietly.
"Oh what?" Applejack asked. "You got an answer for that?"
"It's pronounced 'eau,'" Fluttershy said, inspecting the bedsheets carefully before having a seat on one rounded end of the heart-shaped bed.
"Oh," Applejack responded. Her hooves fiddled with the bottle, carefully removing the cap. She brought the bottle up to her nose, giving it a little whiff. Her eyes fluttered closed as she took the scent in, a calm smile crossing her face. The scent was absolutely heavenly, so much so that she couldn't help going in for another sniff. She couldn't place the exact scent, but something about it reminded her of Fluttershy. It didn't even smell like the perfumes Fluttershy would wear on occasion, but somehow it still managed to bring forth thoughts and images of Applejack's love. A devilish little smile crossed her face as she put the cap back on. Blueflame had said that they could use anything they wanted, and since she wasn't exactly looking to use the other things she was likely referring to, she figured this was fine. She gave herself a few spritzes, then sauntered in Fluttershy's direction. After how much they had been arguing recently, she figured the mood could stand to be lightened.
"How do I smell, Shy?" Applejack asked, adding a playful hint of husky seduction to her voice. She certainly wasn't expecting it to lead anywhere, but as long as it could relieve the tension a bit, it was worth it. Fluttershy looked up slightly, giving the air near Applejack a little sniff. She was clearly trying to hide her reaction, but the ear perk and the extra few sniffs gave her away.
"It's nice," Fluttershy said, her delivery not at all matching the reaction that Applejack knew she was trying to hide. "But you shouldn't be touching their things."
"Why not?" Applejack asked. "Blueflame said we were welcome to use whatever we wanted. And I thought you liked when I did girly things like wear perfume for you."
"I do," Fluttershy responded. "But I also like not staying in brothels."
Applejack let out an exasperated sigh and regretted it instantly. Fluttershy had gained a penchant for passive-aggressive comments when she was annoyed, and this was not the time for it. The sigh was regretted because she knew exactly how Fluttershy would react to it.
"What was that for?"
There it was. Applejack was now fighting a losing battle. Any option she chose was certain to make things worse, so Applejack went with her gut and chose to tell the truth.
"Fluttershy," Applejack began, taking a seat on the other side of the bed. That was as far as she got for the moment, her words getting caught in her throat as she glanced over to her marefriend. The way Fluttershy looked over her shoulder, her long mane cascading down and covering one eye demurely, was enough to momentarily derail her train of thought. It was hard to stay annoyed at such a picture of beauty and grace. Fluttershy clearly wasn't even trying to seduce her right now, and yet there she was, pulling it off effortlessly. Gorgeous visions of her beloved danced through her head. The way she purred in her ear when they were alone. The way her supple body, trim yet curvy in just the right places, left her weak in the knees. The way her long, pink mane sprawled out and blanketed the top half of the mattress when they would—
"Go on," Fluttershy said. Applejack snapped back to reality, realizing that she'd stopped dead in her tracks mid-sentence. She wasn't sure how long she'd been silent, but it had been long enough. She caught the faintest glimmer of a smile on the corners of Fluttershy's mouth. She had definitely caught her in the act, and while she didn't seem ready to say anything about it, she certainly seemed to have been flattered by the fact that she'd just stunned Applejack to silence. Fluttershy had grabbed control of the situation with a simple look over her shoulder, but Applejack wasn't about to give it up. She took a breath to center herself before continuing.
"You know why we're staying here," Applejack said. "We're here on a friendship mission, and if we have to get a little uncomfortable along the way, so be it."
"I agree," Fluttershy responded. "But that doesn't mean we had to stay here. There are plenty of other places we could have chosen to stay in our downtime."
"That may be," Applejack said. "But you saw how much we upset Blueflame when we reacted poorly to finding out what this place was. You're all about kindness. I'm sure the last thing you want is to hurt other ponies' feelings."
"You're right," Fluttershy said. "But we could have easily apologized for our behavior, thanked her for the offer, and said that we'd find somewhere else. We didn't have to accept the room." By this point, Fluttershy had turned to face Applejack head-on, one of the few times she'd even attempted to do that since they had their spat two days ago. She wasn't looking mad quite yet, but Applejack could tell that it wouldn't be far off if she wasn't careful with her words.
"We didn't have to," Applejack said evenly. "But it was the nice thing to do. I'm sure ponies have to pay a fair amount for this kind of room here, and here she is letting us stay for free. She's offering us her hospitality out of the kindness of her heart and you want us to just say no? You want us to hurt her feelings more by turning down her hospitality?"
"I'm just saying that we didn't have to stay here if we were uncomfortable about it," Fluttershy said, a trifle louder than before. "And I'm not comfortable with it. I wish you wouldn't put words in my mouth."
Applejack frowned, once again fiddling with the perfume bottle once again. She was starting to get frustrated with the back-and-forth, and the scent of the perfume was oddly soothing to her. She huffed quietly as she gave herself another spritz, trying to think of how to respond.
"Look, Fluttershy," Applejack finally said after a moment of silence. "What's done is done. I'm not gonna go tell her we changed our mind again, cause that'll only make things worse. We're just gonna relax in here for a bit, then we'll go figure this friendship problem out, and then we'll leave. You'll only have to deal with it for a little while."
Fluttershy was silent, and Applejack wasn't sure whether or not that was preferable to another passive aggressive comment. Another response came to Applejack's head, and before her mental filter could catch it, it had escaped her mouth.
"Sorry you couldn't get your way this time," Applejack said curtly. "Bet you're not used to that."
Applejack felt like kicking herself as the words came out, feeling like a helpless onlooker. Her feeling of helplessness was only exacerbated when Fluttershy came at her like a pink and yellow blur. The push from the pegasus was not exactly a powerful one, but it caught Applejack so off-guard that she ended up falling onto her back on the mattress. Before she knew what was even happening, Fluttershy was standing over her, her long pink locks obscuring her peripheral vision.
"Stop saying that!" Fluttershy said. She was far from yelling, but her voice still held a startling intensity, one that shook Applejack even more than yelling would have. Applejack tried to interject, but whatever she had to say was quickly muffled by the hoof that Fluttershy placed over her mouth.
"I'm talking now," Fluttershy said, a surprising authoritative tone to her voice causing Applejack to hush up immediately. "It hurts my feelings terribly when you insist that I always get my way. You know for a fact that it isn't true, especially considering what we've been arguing about, so you're just saying that to hurt me at this point, and that's immature and awful of you. If you care about me at all, you'll apologize to me right this instant."
Applejack stared up at Fluttershy, positively stunned. She felt like a scolded child under the intimidating gaze of her marefriend. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought that Fluttershy had used her stare on her.
"I'm sorry, Fluttershy," Applejack said quietly, her ears folding back against her head. As ashamed as she felt of herself, though, she never broke eye contact with Fluttershy. And if that was the strangest thing about the situation, then there would have been nothing else to question about it. Things would have been far easier for the cowed cowpony were that the case. But alas, there was one additional caveat to the situation Applejack found herself in.
Something about the way that Fluttershy had taken control of the situation was unbelievably, undeniably hot.
"Thank you," Fluttershy said. The anger hadn't completely left her face, but it had softened and was now joined by a bit of relief. "And I forgive you, but you really need to be careful with what you say."
Applejack had barely caught any of what Fluttershy had just said. All she could think about at that moment was just how much being in that position had turned her on. She had never really considered herself the type to enjoy being subjugated in such a way, but something about demure little Fluttershy tossing her down and asserting dominance over her seemed to press buttons whose existence she wasn't even aware of prior. She had always thought herself a rather uninteresting mare as far as sexual interests went, but her eyes had suddenly been opened to a new kink. Visions of Fluttershy bossing her around danced through her head as she embraced this new perspective, and each vision was more alluring than the last.
"Oh my goodness..." Fluttershy suddenly said, all hints of anger in her tone and expression having vanished. "I'm so sorry I got that upset with you." She began to move from her position over Applejack, and the farmer could see her fantasies slipping away before her eyes. She quickly threw her hooves in the air, trying to hold Fluttershy in place.
"Wait!" Applejack shouted. She found herself panicking mentally as she watched Fluttershy's ears fold down from the loud shout. The assertive temptress was swiftly being replaced by her usual timid self, and while Applejack loved her usual timid self dearly, she wanted more of a taste of this new side of her.
"What is it?" Fluttershy asked, her long pink mane shifting as she tilted her head. Applejack took a deep breath. It was now or never, and never wasn't an option.
"Keep doing what you were doing," Applejack said, cheeks burning brightly.
"What?" Fluttershy asked, a baffled expression on her face. "Apologizing?"
"No!" Applejack replied. "The thing before the apologizing."
"You mean...when I was shouting at you?" Fluttershy asked. Applejack decided not to mention that what she was doing could hardly be classified as shouting. Needlessly specifying would muddy the issue, and that would only get her further away from her goal.
"Yes, that," Applejack said.
"You want me to shout at you?" Fluttershy asked. "Why?"
The typically-strong earth pony felt her hooves tremble slightly, afraid of what Fluttershy might think of this new little interest. Fluttershy wasn't usually the type to judge one harshly for differing interests, but this was something else completely. Still, she pushed forth. She had come this far already; there was no backing out now.
"Well..." Applejack said, breaking eye contact and looking off to the side. "Frankly...it was real hot how you just took control and got all authoritative and such. And I think it would be amazing if you...did that...more?" The hesitance in her voice grew and grew as she watched Fluttershy stare in confusion. Never would she have expected herself to be reduced to a quivering bundle of nerves like this just from talking to Fluttershy about something–though to be fair, this wasn't a topic she'd ever expected to broach.
"You think it's hot when I order you around...?" Fluttershy asked. She didn't need much clarification from Applejack, having heard her loud and clear. Echoing her was simply for her own sake as she tried to wrap her head around it. A faint blush dabbed at her cheeks as Applejack nodded.
"I'd be awful pleased if you did it some more," Applejack said.
"Oh goodness..." Fluttershy said quietly. "I...I don't think I could...I felt terrible enough shouting at you even when you deserved it. I don't know if I could for no reason..."
Applejack did her best to not roll her eyes. Normally she loved how sweet and kind Fluttershy was, but now it was getting in the way. She briefly toyed with the idea of legitimately getting her upset and kicking it off that way, but quickly nixed it. The last thing she wanted was to kill the mood completely, and if Fluttershy was truly upset with her, that was exactly what would happen. Gentler methods would have to be employed.
"Fluttershy," Applejack said softly. "I know it sounds odd, and I know you think it would be too mean. But...think of it as a stage performance!"
Applejack regretted her words the second she saw Fluttershy tense up. Perhaps that wasn't the right analogy for this particular pony.
"Okay, okay, forget the stage performance thing," Applejack said, gently rubbing one of Fluttershy's forelegs with a hoof. "Just...look, I know it sounds odd, and that it's against everything you're used to, but could we just try it? Maybe...maybe it'd help you get some frustrations out? That way it'd help both of us, you know?"
Fluttershy tilted her head slightly. Applejack could swear she saw the gears turning in that yellow head of hers. That was definitely a nice bit of progress, and yet she wasn't quite sure what to think of that. On one hoof, she was one clear step closer to what she wanted, but the fact that it had taken the idea of getting frustrations out to kick the consideration process into high gear was a bit disheartening. Had she really been that awful to Fluttershy recently? The thought caused Applejack's ears to fold against her head. She had never wanted to hurt the one she loved so badly.
"...Give me a moment to think about it, okay?"
It wasn't exactly what Applejack wanted to hear. Letting the situation deescalate meant running the risk of losing it for good. Denying Fluttershy's request, however, had the possibility of bringing up the exact same result. The choice was obvious.
"Alright," Applejack relented. She watched with a modicum of regret as Fluttershy retreated from her position of power atop her and sat back down on the bed. The concept of badgering her until she agreed to her idea danced around in Applejack's mind like an insistent gnat, but she refused to entertain it, instead opting to pull herself off of the bed. Idly inspecting the room would give Fluttershy some time to think, and maybe even give Applejack an idea or two.
Applejack approached the dresser, her curiosity combining with the need to do something to pass the time and making for a deadly combination. Her eyes scanned the drawers until finally settling on the one labeled "Bad Mares." A part of her wasn't sure if she was ready to look inside and see just what whoever had set up this room had in mind when they thought of bad mares. That part of her did not seem to be the part that controlled motor skills, as one hoof reached up and slid the drawer open. The second Applejack laid eyes on the drawer's contents, her cheeks turned a bright crimson. Her mind, which appeared to be far more lewd than she had ever believed, was already racing with idea after dirty idea. Maybe she didn't need Fluttershy to yell at her–although that would still be welcome. This would suffice in its place. She quickly ducked her head into the drawer, picking its contents up in her mouth.
"Fluttershy?"
The call disturbed the distracted pegasus from her thoughts. Her head tilted slightly in Applejack's direction, but that slight action quickly became more exaggerated as her brain attempted to comprehend the sight in front of her. The sight of Applejack was rather normal and expected, though the deep blush on her cheeks and meek look in her eyes strayed ever so slightly from normalcy. The abnormality lay distinctly with the leash and collar that she held in her mouth.
"O-oh my..." stammered the startled pegasus as she stared at the object. How could an object that otherwise held such innocent connotations, especially to somepony like herself who dealt with them in an innocuous sense nearly every day, elicit this kind of naughty thought pattern from her? The answer couldn't have been more obvious if it was written on parchment right in front of her, for it was clearly written on the seductive look in Applejack's eye and the lusty growl in her voice.
"Maybe you don't have to yell at me," Applejack purred, letting the collar shake to and fro and watching Fluttershy's eyes follow it so perfectly that she could probably hypnotize her with it. "After all, a pet's owner can make them do darn near anything even with a gentle voice, right?" She noticed the brief trepidation in Fluttershy's gaze and smiled reassuringly, trotting closer to her love. "C'mon. It'll be fun. Please?"
Fluttershy's heart skipped a beat. The idea of it all was just so...kinky. She wasn't typically the kinky type. As far as bedroom activities were concerned, she sometimes even feared that she was a bit too vanilla. Applejack never complained, of course. She always seemed more than pleased with their sexual escapades. Still, it was evident from this little incident that there was a desire for something new and exciting. Despite the current state of their arguments with each other, Fluttershy still loved that silly pony. "If this makes her happy," she thought, altruistically and as if her own nethers weren't beginning to heat up at the concept, "Then I guess I can give it a try." She wasn't lying, she told herself. She was merely nudging the truth aside.
"Come here," Fluttershy said, her tone slightly more motherly than any tone she'd usually take with her lover. Applejack was more than happy to comply, grinning eagerly at the object of her desires. The leash dangled from her mouth, and Fluttershy couldn't help but smirk as she thought about what she would say to her critters in situations like this.
"Okay," Fluttershy said sweetly, patting the bed with a hoof. "Put it down for me, and we'll see about getting your collar on." The sentence felt so bizarre when directing it towards another pony, but Applejack didn't seem to mind as she obediently leaned over the bed, dropping the leash and collar where Fluttershy had instructed her.
"Such a good girl," Fluttershy praised her, feeling rather silly but already beginning to have some fun with it. She scooped the collar up in a hoof, bringing it close to her face to read the little note that was dangling from it.
"Dear Owner," Fluttershy read. "To ensure ownership of your pet, hold the dog tag up to your cutie mark for ten seconds." It sounded peculiar for sure, and Fluttershy couldn't figure out for the life of her why such a thing would be recommended. It seemed pretty benign, though, and she couldn't figure out a legitimate reason not to do so. She felt foolish as she held the collar next to her rump, but all things considered, that was very unlikely to be the strangest thing that happened in this room tonight. A small flash of light from the collar attracted the attention of the two mares. When it was pulled away from Fluttershy's rump, the two were surprised to see a perfect representation of her cutie mark on the face, matching colors and all.
"Wow..." Applejack said, leaning in to get a closer look. "That's some fancy magic."
"Mhm," Fluttershy agreed. The corners of her mouth turned up in that special breed of smile that was equal parts playful and diabolical. "And now it'll be very clear whose pet you are." The hint of gentle seduction behind those words took both ponies by surprise, Fluttershy most of all. She figured that maybe she was kinkier than she thought, if the scent of her own arousal as it intertwined with that of Applejack's enchanting perfume was any indication.
"Heh...sure will," Applejack replied. Her cheeks burned brightly, their color rivaling that of the apples on her rump. It was delightfully startling seeing Fluttershy seemingly take to this so well. She leaned in, stretching her neck out so the symbol of ownership could be fastened around it. She suppressed a giggle as Fluttershy's gentle hooves traced along her neck, the cool leather of the collar trailing behind. Gentle as her touch was, it was hard not to feel small and inferior to the owner of said hooves as they carefully tightened the collar around her neck. She couldn't take her eyes off of Fluttershy's face, noting her expression as she did the deed. There was that little hint of voracious desire behind it, but the serenity of that smile on her face grabbed Applejack's interest even more. Her eyes drifted down to follow Fluttershy's hoof once the collar had been secured. Hearing the tiny jingle of the butterfly-adorned tag as Fluttershy flicked it with the tip of her hoof only solidified her new role further in her head.
"Don't you look so nice in your new collar?" Fluttershy cooed. Applejack could feel goosebumps all over her body as Fluttershy talked to her in such a sweet, yet condescending manner. This was somehow even better than the shouting.
"I asked you a question, cutie," Fluttershy said, smirking. "I'd like an answer."
"Oh!" Applejack exclaimed, smiling awkwardly. "Uhh...yes?"
"Yes what?" Fluttershy asked.
That mare was good.
"Yes, Fluttershy," Applejack answered obediently. For the briefest of moments, she toyed with the idea of calling her Mistress, but she decided against it at the last moment. She didn't want to push Fluttershy too fast into this kind of thing. If she wanted to be called Mistress, she would probably let her know, possibly right then and there.
"Very good, if a little vain," Fluttershy said with a giggle. She shifted positions on the bed, resting on her rump and letting those slender hind legs out in front of her as she reached for her bag. One wing dug into the bag, eventually producing a hair brush that matched her mane. "Now lay down and rest your head on my lap. I like my pets looking neat and tidy."
Applejack paled slightly. Fluttershy was getting more into this than she had planned. She was expecting some sexytime fun, but clearly Fluttershy wanted to take full advantage of the whole pet thing first. It felt a little odd to her, but the whole thing was odd to begin with. Plus, she couldn't help but admit two things to herself. First, it was heartening to see Fluttershy with a sincere smile on her face after the issues they had been having. Second...
"I gave you an instruction, honey," Fluttershy spoke up. Her smile remained calm and her tone mostly saccharine, but the tiniest hint of sternness had found its way into her voice; a certain firmness which, despite how slight it was, still managed to worm its way straight through Applejack's mental defenses. "I'll say it again, but I'd prefer not to have to repeat myself any more. Come lay your head down like a good girl so you can get your brushies." A pat of her lap with one wing was added for emphasis, as her hooves were busy giving herself a little spray with the perfume from before.
Applejack knew she had heard practically that exact phrase from Fluttershy before. She spoke exactly like that to her animal friends who didn't listen to her on the first go. And the use of "brushies" made it all the more embarrassing. She was treating Applejack like a proper pet, and it was driving her wild to see the timid Fluttershy take control so succinctly. She wanted to listen to Fluttershy's orders. She wanted to be a good girl. And thus, the typically-proud farmer climbed onto the bed, collar jingling all the while, and rested her head submissively on those buttery yellow legs, her own forelegs resting on either side of it.
"Such a good, sweet girl," Fluttershy practically sang, resting a hoof in Applejack's mane and giving her head a gentle pat. "Now stay still while we make you even prettier than you already are."
Applejack was a fair bit larger than Fluttershy–at least as far as bulk went. Fluttershy had the slight height advantage, but nopony would have ever tried to argue that she was the larger of the two. And yet she felt utterly small as Fluttershy began to brush out her mane. The last pony to hold her head in their lap and brush her like this was her mother–a thought which she quickly banished from her head, as thinking about one's mother during an act performed with the intent of future lewdness didn't quite sit right with her. Regardless, she had completely surrendered control at this very moment to Fluttershy, and she couldn't find the words to describe just how nice it felt. She closed her eyes, rubbing Fluttershy's leg gently with a hoof as she enjoyed the brushies. Fluttershy, unsurprisingly, had such a soft and careful touch, and Applejack couldn't find any reason to complain, even as she felt her remove her mane tie. It was rare for her to let her mane down, but it seemed that Fluttershy wanted it down, and right now Applejack was willing to give her just about anything she wanted.
"Aren't you just beautiful?" Fluttershy cooed as she put the brush away. Fluttershy had called her beautiful plenty in the past, but something about the way she said it this time made Applejack's heart burst with pride. Having a beautiful pet made her owner so happy, which made her happy in turn. She opened her eyes and looked up, sighing happily at the sight of Fluttershy's radiant smile shining down on her. She leaned up to try and meet her lips in a kiss, but a hoof resting on her head stopped her.
"Ah ah," Fluttershy chided. "A good pet doesn't just give kissies without permission. Are you a good pet?"
"Yes, Fluttershy," Applejack said, blushing heavily.
"Yes Fluttershy, what?" Fluttershy said coyly. Applejack gave her a flummoxed look, trying to suss out what she was getting at until Fluttershy decided to grant her mercy. "What are you?"
"Oh!" Applejack exclaimed. "Yes, Fluttershy, I'm a good pet." The words felt so alien and yet so right as they spilled out of her mouth.
"Good," Fluttershy said, giggling softly as she stroked Applejack's mane. "Now, let's see just how obedient you are, alright?" She removed her hoof from Applejack's head, giving it a little wave. "On your hooves, honey." Applejack barely wanted to move her head from the soft comfort of Fluttershy's lap, but she wasn't about to obey a direct order, so on her hooves she went, rolling off of the bed and standing up.
"I'm so lucky to have such an obedient pet," Fluttershy cooed. She waved her hoof in front of her again, this time in a circular motion. "Now let's do a little turnaround for me, hm?"
Applejack was quite happy to comply, moreso than she would have expected. The odd rush of being at the mercy of her sweet, demure Fluttershy's beckon call was intoxicating, and if the scent of her own arousal wasn't already obvious alongside the delicious aroma of the perfume, the little spin that she did for her owner would have easily brought it to her attention. She made sure to hesitate at just the right time during her turn, flagging her tail ever so slightly so as to offer a teasing glimpse at what lie below. Just because Fluttershy was in control didn't mean that she couldn't have her fun too–unless Fluttershy told her she couldn't, of course. At this point, there were very few commands that she wouldn't obey from Fluttershy, outside of those that would cause harm to herself or others. She looked to Fluttershy's face upon the completion of her turn, and judging by her red cheeks and the just-barely-noticeable bit of sweat on her forehead, she was clearly enjoying herself just as much as Applejack was, if not moreso.
"G-good girl," Fluttershy said. Applejack wasn't sure how to take that little stutter. The thought of being so alluring that she made Fluttershy break character was a nice one, but she didn't want to lose the authoritative Shy that was turning her on so much. Luckily, that didn't seem to be an issue as Fluttershy cleared her throat and took a breath to center herself. The way that look of calm power returned to her face so easily was wonderfully astonishing. Her recent ability to take on a role and stick to it with little variance never failed to impress.
"Now, sit," Fluttershy commanded. Applejack was itching to move on to the more lewd commands, but a pet never spoke back to her master, and so she sat.
"Beg," Fluttershy instructed. Applejack was unsure what her plan was here, as the desire was clearly evident in her eyes, but she played her game anyway. Sitting up on her haunches and letting her front hooves dangle in front of her, she let her tongue loll out of her mouth and panted just like an eager little puppy for good measure. It was embarrassing, certainly, but the only one to see her in this state was her master, and if this embarrassment made her happy, then it was all worth it.
"Oh my..." Fluttershy said, just a bit of husk behind her voice. Applejack's ears perked in concern.
"Is something wrong?" Applejack asked. She hoped not to have to break character, but if something was wrong, that kind of took priority over the fun they were having.
"Yes, honey," Fluttershy responded. The pegasus shifted positions, turning to lay on her back. She peered down her body, eyes full of lust as she spread her hind legs. The sight of Fluttershy's glistening folds made Applejack weak in the knees, the collared pony's eyes unable to focus on anything but. With their recent spat, it had been a good while since the two had engaged in any manner of carnal behavior. Even though it was quite obvious that these activities were heading in this direction, that didn't make the sight any less exciting.
"It looks like all of our playing has made a little bit of a mess," Fluttershy said, in that practiced breathy tone that always managed to turn her lover on. "And you know what that means."
"Wh...what does it mean, Fluttershy?" Applejack stammered. She had an inkling that she knew exactly what it meant, but Fluttershy was in charge, and things would go at the pace she chose.
"It means," Fluttershy responded, "That I need a good, obedient pet to clean up the mess she's made." Those last words were emphasized by a growl that was positively dripping with seduction. She had discovered her ability to speak like that by accident some time ago, and as soon as she saw Applejack's positive reaction to it, she knew she had stumbled upon a gold mine. The combination of that sultry tone and the request she'd made with it was a lethal one, and Applejack practically dove towards the object of her desires.
"Stay."
Fluttershy's command cut through Applejack's primal instincts like a knife through butter. For the briefest of moments, she considered disobeying. She was so close to Fluttershy's marehood that its scent was overpowering, and she wanted nothing more than to close that distance and bury her face in it. She wanted those juices to coat her face and tongue, just another way of marking her as Fluttershy's property. As Fluttershy's property, though, she knew that she was required to follow her orders. As much as it pained her, she let the distance between her face and her prize remain. A cursory glance towards Fluttershy's face revealed the most devious of grins. Although the desire was also evident in her face, it was clear that she was enjoying this position of power.
"Ngh..." Applejack groaned. It was taking every ounce of willpower in her well-muscled frame to keep herself from disobeying and taking what she wanted. Every single thing about the pegasus in front of her was so utterly tantalizing, and that damnable fact served as both a reason to resist and the impetus to obey. Her legs trembled like jelly, sweat dripped down her forehead like a waterfall, and her breathing was as heavy as a third simile, but still she held out. Even when a single feather from Fluttershy's wing danced alluringly over those folds and reached out to paint Applejack's nose with her honey, she still held out. Her purpose, as long as she wore this collar, was to obey, and doing so would only make Fluttershy happier and the reward that much sweeter when she was granted access.
"Such a good girl," Fluttershy whispered between labored pants. As much as she was relishing this position, she clearly wanted Applejack just as badly as Applejack wanted her. She gave her love a little wink, followed by a wink from one of those lovely teal eyes. Her next words were more a growl than anything else. "Now, come and get it."
Applejack didn't need to be told twice. Like a starved mare presented with an opulent feast, she dove straight in, lapping voraciously at Fluttershy's honeypot like it was the only form of sustenance she'd see in weeks. Fluttershy was always able to turn her on, but it was entirely possible that this whole act of being so completely controlled by her had riled her up more than anything they'd done previously. Her ears perked as she listened to Fluttershy's lustful moans. It had been far too long since she'd heard those sweet noises, so long that she nearly forgot what they sounded like. Compared to the curt tone she would take with her during this recent fight, these sounds were akin to the singing of an angel. Applejack was determined to bring that celestial chorus to a crescendo, and as her skilled tongue worked the beautiful mare in front of her, she was sure that such an occurrence was not far off.
"O-oh my..." Fluttershy moaned, hind legs squirming under the pleasurable assault. "S-stop..."
As little as she wanted to comply, Applejack stopped, a single drop of Fluttershy's juices falling from her muzzle. She took a moment to catch her breath before looking to her love in confusion.
"Is something wrong?" Applejack asked.
"Yes," Fluttershy squeaked. "I need you up here, now. It's not fair that only you get a taste."
Applejack laughed lightly as she moved from her position. In her efforts to please Fluttershy and be a good pet, she'd barely even paid any attention to the burning in her own loins. It was just like Fluttershy to be more concerned with Applejack's pleasure than she was, even when trying to play it off like she was doing it strictly for her own personal gain. She climbed onto the bed and atop the pegasus, trying to gently lower her hindquarters down towards her face. It was soon apparent that "gently" was not in Fluttershy's plans, as her forelegs suddenly wrapped around Applejack's hips and pulled them down. Applejack was able to react quickly enough so as not to drop her full weight right down on her love's skull, but the powerful legs that saved her from this fate soon went weak as Fluttershy's muzzle got to work. She was always so good at this, so much so that Applejack nearly forgot to get back to work, too enamored with the blissful feelings. It wasn't until she felt a light tug at her leash that she remembered what she was supposed to be doing, and she was more than happy to dive right back in.
Applejack's forelegs wrapped around Fluttershy's hips, taking in the wonderful, slightly-plush feel of her rump as she hosted her up to give herself a new angle of attack on her love's privates. It startled her just how naughty she felt for doing so without her permission. She'd only been wearing the collar and doing Fluttershy's bidding for a short time, and yet Fluttershy's control over her was so strong that she found herself feeling guilty about doing things of her own free will. The thrill of that realization might have pushed a weaker mare over the edge, but Applejack's stamina was a force to be reckoned with. Applejack hoped with every inch of her being that Fluttershy would be interested in playing around like this in the future, because the feeling was like nothing she'd ever experienced. Based on the pegasus's eagerness and apparent enjoyment, she doubted that this would be an issue.
Applejack continued to work her lover as she had been instructed, writhing in ecstasy as Fluttershy's adept tongue pushed her closer and closer to her limit. Fluttershy was well-acquainted with Applejack's marehood by this point in their relationship, and she knew exactly how to work her just the way she liked it. That cute little tongue danced around and between her folds, teasing at her clit every here and there, but not too much. Fluttershy knew her pet in and out, and Applejack knew her owner just as well. Sometimes making a meal of Fluttershy's honeypot alone wasn't quite enough to satisfy her, so one orange hoof snuck its way up that soft yellow rump, the very tip of it poking at her tight tailhole. The pegasus let out a squeak of pleasure, rewarding her pet by doubling down on her tongue action. Even despite her stamina, Applejack could feel herself getting close, but she was determined to finish Fluttershy off before she could enjoy her own orgasm. She redoubled her efforts, certain that poking the tip of her hoof into that pucker would help to push her over the edge. Sure enough, the sweet song of Fluttershy's ecstasy soon echoed against the walls of the suite. Applejack couldn't say she minded one bit as Fluttershy stopped pleasuring her to ride out her climax. The joy she felt from making Fluttershy so happy was enough to hold her off until she was ready to continue. Sure enough, after she'd had time to come down, Fluttershy's tongue returned to Applejack's nethers with a renewed fervor, as if to reward her pet for a job well done. Like an absolute master, that tongue worked Applejack flawlessly, hitting every single one of her weak points until a loud, happy wail accompanied the strong earth pony's melting into a pile of blissfully satisfied jelly atop her lover and owner. Even after Fluttershy's tongue had cleaned Applejack completely, she still hugged her hips and held her close, nuzzling gently between her hind legs.
The entire room was quiet, save for the gentle breathing of the two mares as they quietly enjoyed each other's company. The two had long since shifted positions, and now lay contentedly in each other's forelegs. The collar stayed secured around Applejack's neck, and while it was more than likely that it had been left there due to a lack of initiative taken to take it off, Applejack couldn't help but be rather content with keeping it on. Besides, Fluttershy seemed to be having fun batting the tag around.
Applejack stared into the eyes of the love of her life. Seeing her this cheerful was always a lovely thing, made ever lovelier by the knowledge that their spat made it seem like it had been forever since she'd seen her this happy. The mare had the sweetest smile in all of Equestria. When she smiled, those beautiful teal eyes would scrunch ever so slightly, just enough to create a tiny wrinkle at the corner of her right eye. And that laughter...it was like music to her ears. Every single thing about that mare was beautiful, more beautiful than any other sight the world had to offer. Her happiness only made it more noticeable.
"I'm sorry."
The words took Applejack by surprise, especially since they'd come out of her own mouth. It wasn't the sentiment that shocked her; she'd certainly been wanting to say it for a little bit, but something, likely her pride, always made her have to refrain.
"You're sorry?" Fluttershy repeated, looking about as confused as Applejack. "I think you did a wonderful job. You were a great pet."
"Not about that," Applejack replied, though the compliment did make her cheeks color. "About...you know."
There was a brief moment of utter silence before realization struck, and Fluttershy's smile faltered slightly.
"Oh," the pegasus said, and nothing more. Her curious expression jabbed at the collared earth pony.
"Yeah..." Applejack said. Her hooves started to rub Fluttershy's back gently, right between the wings. It was her favorite spot for rubs, and Applejack knew it well. "I know I've been awful stubborn and pigheaded about this whole thing, and I doubt I have to tell you why."
"You don't," Fluttershy responded. "But I'd like you to anyway." For the briefest of moments, Applejack found herself straying back to the mindset from earlier. The collar was still around her neck, after all. It was fairly clear from Fluttershy's tone, however, that having her perceive this as an order wasn't her intent. Not that it made her any less interested in doing what she'd been asked. The farmer let out a soft sigh.
"I want us to move in together more than anything, Shy," Applejack told her. "I love you so much it hurts sometimes, and the thing that makes me happiest in this world is seeing you happy. But I love my family too, and I ain't planning on stopping my farm work. I thought you coming to live at Sweet Apple Acres just made the most sense."
"And I understand where you're coming from with that," Fluttershy said, moving back slightly so the two could look into each other's eyes more easily. "I really do. I love you too, and I would love to move in together. But it just makes more sense for us to live at my cottage. I've got so many animal friends that I care for here. I couldn't possibly relocate them to the farm, and if I wasn't home, they'd have nopony to take care of their needs."
"They're animals, Fluttershy..." Applejack answered. She could feel the temptation to raise her voice, but actively fought it back. She couldn't bear to shout at Fluttershy right now. "They can take care of their own needs."
"Mostly, yes," Fluttershy responded. "But there are some that need more help than others. And even barring that, many of them have been coming here for years. Even ponies have a hard time breaking habits. Imagine what it's like for a little squirrel who's never known another way of life?"
"But I've got ponies at the farm who need me too!" Applejack insisted. She heard her voice raise ever so slightly, and kept it in check before it could raise any more.
"Applejack..." Fluttershy said softly. "They don't need you." The pegasus hesitated, taking note of Applejack's expression and reviewing just how what she'd said might have come off before continuing. "I mean, they need you, but not in the same way those animals need me. Granny Smith is more active than you'd think. Apple Bloom is nearly a teenager and she's matured so much recently. Even if they did need help in the time that you wouldn't be there, Big Macintosh is more than capable, and now that Sugar Belle has moved in, she's around to help too. It's just a little bit of a walk from here to there, and you'd be walking there every day to help with the farm, so even if there was some emergency, you'd either already be there or just be a short walk away. Do you see where I'm coming from?"
Applejack held her breath. Fluttershy's points made far more sense than she wanted to admit. Maybe she did get a bit overprotective with Granny Smith. Maybe she did dote on Apple Bloom just a bit too much. The way she'd put things made so much sense, and yet here she was, still holding back from conceding her point. The only reason she could possibly think of for doing such a thing was that...
"You're scared to move away from your family."
Applejack felt her mouth go dry. She looked back at Fluttershy, into those big, caring eyes. The words, despite being spoken without the least bit of venom behind them, sliced through her mental defenses like a 1000 degree knife through...well, practically anything, if those videos Apple Bloom liked so much were to be believed. Her first instinct was to vehemently disagree these allegations, but she found herself unable to speak. The words rang true, far more true than she would have liked.
"You don't have to agree," Fluttershy said, one hoof moving to stroke her mane. "I know it's hard for somepony who's lived with family their whole life to leave them."
"I did leave them once," Applejack said softly. "When I was a filly. Even though I went to live with other family, it never felt right."
"Mhm," Fluttershy responded, continuing to stroke that mane. "It's not easy for some ponies. Like my brother, for example. I know it's a very different situation with him, but it still has its similarities." The pegasus nudged the side of Applejack's head, turning it so the two were face to face. "I would love for the two of us to live together, but we don't have to do it right now if one or both of us isn't completely ready for it."
"Right..." Applejack said. "Maybe...maybe we could wait a little bit? It could give me a little time to ease myself into the idea. I'll spend a bit more time at your place until it feels more natural to call it home."
"That sounds like a good idea," Fluttershy told her, before moving in for a hug.
"Thanks, Shy," Applejack said, nuzzling her love's cheek. "I'm awful sorry for giving you such a hard time about all of this and saying such hurtful things to you."
"I forgive you, honey," Fluttershy answered, giving Applejack a soft kiss. "And I'm sorry too. I know I can get a bit...catty, sometimes, when things aren't going my way and I think they should be. You don't deserve that, and I'm sorry for being like that to you."
"Shh," Applejack said, giving her the most genuine smile she could. "I forgive you too."
Just as the two were about to share another kiss, they were distracted by a faint glowing emanating from their rear ends. The two glanced past each other to look at the other's cutie mark.
"Oh my goodness..." Fluttershy said, eyes widening. "I guess the friendship problem we were supposed to solve..."
"Was our own," Applejack finished. She couldn't help a quiet chuckle as she nuzzled Fluttershy's neck. "Guess the map recognized the problem better than we did, huh?"
"I guess so," Fluttershy said, sighing happily. "Does that mean we can head home?"
"Let's go tomorrow morning," Applejack told her, resting against her lover. "It's late, and leaving would mean that I'd have to get out of this comfy position." She chuckled once more, eliciting a giggle from Fluttershy as the two laid back down. Fluttershy's hoof traced along Applejack's neck, coming to rest on her new accessory.
"Think Blueflame will let us keep the collar?" Fluttershy asked.
"I sure hope so," Applejack replied.
