Chapter 2*

Applejack paced around her room, thoroughly panicking. Her estrus season was a week from now, and she just hired a human that she found attractive. She couldn’t just fire him, that would be rude and wrong. If word got out that she fired a human just because he was human, her business could suffer. On the other hoof, if word got out that she had a secret fetish for humans, ponies could talk. They could say she only hired him because she was an anthrophile. She could be seen as a pervert and her business could suffer from that too. She quite possibly made the biggest mistake of her life.

Or maybe not. Her mind started to wander again. She could seduce him and have quite possibly the greatest sex of her life. She could even get a relationship with him.

Applejack shook her head. No. Gotta think of the farm. Gotta think of the farm. She looked at the mirror that was in her room. You can do it. You can control yourself. She bit her lip. Could she really? She might have a chance if she wasn’t going to go into heat. But estrus was only a week from now, and Applejack, like most mares, got horny during that time. While she was confidant she wasn’t at risk of losing complete control and raping him, she could still make huge mistakes.

She could come onto him too strong. She could say something she would regret. She could weird him out by staring at him too much. Heaven forbid that she’d admit to being an anthrophile.

More and more ways things could go wrong ran through her mind, each worse than the last. She felt like crying. She suddenly shook her head. No. Gotta think smart. What would be the smartest thing to do? The obvious and possibly the most effective choice would to avoid him as much as possible.

She flopped down on the bed and sighed. Might as well get some sleep. Besides, heat season is a week from now. I could think of a way to get out of this mess by then. I’ll be fine. That thought calmed her and eased her way to sleep.

~~~

Applejack woke up hot. Way too hot. And wet. She groggily opened her eyes. The sheets were damp. She lifted the covers and groaned. She made a “mess” during the night. She didn’t know how she was going to explain why she needed to clean them.

She moved and her nethers burned. Applejack froze. She couldn’t be in heat now. It was too soon. I’m just worked up. That’s all. Please let it be that.

She moved and groaned. Have to take care of this now. Can’t afford to be this worked up when Zack comes over….cum….I wonder what his tastes like? Applejack shook her head and hit it with her hoof a few times. Might as well get it over with.

She locked her door and laid back down on the bed. She spread her hind legs and almost immediately was hit with her own musk. It made her head swim as she slowly moved a hoof down to her winking slit.

She moaned once she made contact. She started to rub it. Been awhile since I last did this. Forgot how good it feels.

She spread her puffy vulva, letting the cool air hit it and sending shivers up and down her spine. Her worries faded from mind as she enjoyed the feelings she was now experiencing.

She moved her hoof up and started to rub her teats next. This caused one of her hind legs to shiver and twitch. Using the tip of her hoof, she flicked the nipple. Applejack bit her lip to suppress a moan.

She moved back down and pressed her hoof hard against her vagina. She started to rub it faster than before. She ignored her clit for now, not wanting this to end so soon. Her mind started to daydream as she did this.

A faceless human male stood before her. Applejack bit her lip as he knelt down between her legs. He inserted his long, wonderful fingers into her wet pussy. She moaned loudly, bucking and grinding her hips against his hands

She mewled in ecstasy as he moved his fingers in and out. He curled his fingers upwards, making her squirm. He used his thumb to rub her clitoris. Applejack panted heavily, “D-don’t stop!”

The human doubled his efforts and jammed his fingers in and out of her cunt faster than ever. Applejack’s world went white as her eyes rolled back into her head. She jerked and shuddered as she came harder than ever before.

Applejack’s world slowly came back into focus as she came down from her orgasm. She sighed happily. I needed that. She looked at her hoof. It was soaked. She wiped it off on the sheets she was going to clean. She gathered them up and unlocked the door.

Unfortunately, she encountered Big Macintosh on the way. He raised an eyebrow, “Why’re ya cleanin’ th’ sheets? Ah thought ya jus’ did it last weekend…”

“...reasons,” Applejack was sure she was blushing.Big Macintosh raised an eyebrow but thankfully said nothing.

Applejack put them in the washing machine. She went down to have breakfast. Applebloom and Granny Smith were already at the table. Applebloom spoke up, “Mornin’, AJ! Big Mac says we hired a human.”

Applejack nodded, “Yep. We did.”

“Whut’s his name?”

“Zack.”

“Is he nice?”

“He sure does seem like it.”

“Whut’s he like?”

“Ah don’t really know-”

“Does he have onna them tattoo thingies?”

“Ah don’t-”

“Whut about-”

“‘Bloom!” interrupted Granny Smith, “Stop askin’ so many questions! Yer talkin’ Applejack’s poor ear off.”

“Sorry, Granny.”

One of Applebloom’s questions struck Applejack. Applejack had no idea what Zack was like. He could be nice, or he could be cruel. She doubted that last one, but it raised the point: who exactly did she hire? It was relatively useless to run a background check on him at this point, especially since he just moved into town from who knows where.

This led to a conundrum. She couldn’t stay with him for very much longer due to estrus, but she had to in order to find more about him. She could ask somepony to spy on him, but that was dishonest. And she didn’t like dishonesty. Besides, she had a feeling she was going to be forced to be dishonest for the next couple of weeks; she didn’t want to add to it.

“Applejack?”

Applejack blinked. Applebloom and Big Macintosh was staring at her, “Yer waffles are gettin’ cold,” said Applebloom.

“Sorry,” Applejack said before focusing on her meal.

“Ya alright? Ya were starin’ off inta space,” said Big Macintosh.

“...Ah’m alright. Jus’ thinkin’ ‘bout Zack. Honestly, Ah don’t know if it was a smart choice or not ta hire him.”

“Ah’m sure he’s plenty nice!” said Applebloom.

“Yeah...Yeah, yer probably right.”

~~~

Zack arrived around nine. Applejack decided for him that he wouldn’t be bucking apples off of the trees. Instead he would do other tasks, such as carrying the baskets, harvesting the other crops, feeding the livestock, and doing repairs. Unfortunately for her, she had to tell him this in person.

Applejack took a deep breath as Zack walked up the road. Gotta focus. Just tell him what he needs to do and leave before you say something you regret. She put on a smile and waved at him, “Howdy, Zack! Ya ready fer yer first day on th’ job?”

He smiled and nodded. Okay Applejack. Just tell him what he has to do. Just tell him… “That’s a nice shirt yer wearin’.” Darn it.

Zack looked down at his shirt. Applejack didn’t know exactly what it was, but it was obviously an emblem or symbol of some kind, “Thanks.”

“Whut’s it mean?”

“...it's a long story. I’ll tell you later. I’m kinda eager to start working. Never farmed before.”

“Yer not buckin’ apples, though.”

Zack blinked, “Why not?”

“Because yer so different from a pony,” she found herself saying without thinking.

Much to her distress, he frowned for a few moments before shaking his head, “Well, what am I going to do?”

“Let’s start ya wit’ somethin’ easy. Th’ animals need feedin’. When yer done wit’ that, ya can harvest th’ other crops. Do th’ carrots. There’s a lotta them, so don’t worry ‘bout not finishing them in a single day.”

He raised his eyebrows, “You mean don’t only harvest apples here at Sweet Apple Acres?”

Applejack frowned at him, “Yeah. We do.”

Zack winced, “Sorry. Where’s the animals and crops?”

Applejack was mentally kicking herself. In hindsight it should have been obvious that Zack was joking. Now he probably thought she was no-nonsense kind of mare. Sure, she took her work and job seriously. But she was still a pony who liked to have fun.

Applejack tried her best to keep a neutral face, “Barn animals that need feedin’ are ta th’ east, an’ th’ carrots are to th’ west.”

Zack nodded and quickly left, avoiding looking at her. She watched him go before turning to leave so she could do her own job.

~~~

THWACK!

Applejack grunted as she came back to her resting position after bucking the tree. Her innate Earth Pony magic made the apples fall in a controlled way, all landing in the four buckets around the tree. It also cushioned the apples so they wouldn’t bruise.

She wiped her forehead and looked to the horizon. The sun was beginning to set. It was time to find Zachary and tell him he was done working for the day.

Zack. Applejack frowned. She hoped he forgot about what had happened earlier. She shook her head. The past was in the past. She couldn’t change it, so she might as well move forward.

She was happy about one thing, though. She found out that her heat hadn’t come early. She was just worked up, that was all. She also didn’t think about Zack or any other human since. She just focused on her work.

She saw Big Macintosh first, “Y’see Zack anywhere?”

“He’s at the animal’s barn. Said he finished harvestin’.”

Applejack blinked. Finished? She trotted to the barn. Her ears twitched.

“...dunno, Miss. I can’t really read her. One minute it seems she’s happy to see me, the next it’s like she wants to get away from me as soon as possible.”

“I’m sure she was just having a bad day. You sure you’re alright?”

“Yeah....” Applejack heard Zack yawn, “Just tired.”

Applejack stepped into the barn, pretending that she didn’t hear them talk about her. Or at least she was going to until she saw the state Zack was in, “Landsakes, Zack! Whut in Equestria didya do to yerself?!”

Zack jumped. He gave a tired wave, “Oh, hey there Miss Applejack…”

Applejack stepped closer. Zack was pale and had bags under his eyes. She glanced at his hands and her eyes widened. They were red and blistered, “Heaven above, Zack! We gotta get yer hands looked at!”

“It’s nothing, really. I’ll treat them back home,” he said before attempting to stand up. He stumbled, bracing himself on the stall the cow he was talking to stood.

“Ya can barely stand up! Yer in no shape ta be attempting ta walk alla way home!”

“I don’t want to intrude-”

“Here, lean on meh. We’re taking ya to th’ house.”

“Really, Miss Applejack-”

“Zack,” spoke the cow softly, “You should take up her offer. It’s not smart to try to walk home in your state. What you need is a good night’s sleep.”

“We have a spare bedroom ya can use,” Applejack said, walking up to him.

Zack grimaced, “...alright.”

He tried to steady himself by putting his hands on her back. He hissed in pain, which Applejack noticed, “Ride on mah back. Ah can carry ya ta th’ house.”

“Are you,” Zack yawned, “Are you sure? I’m bigger than you.”

“Ah’ll be fine. C’mon, hop up.”

“...not really hopping if I can just do this…” he clumsily swung his leg over her. Applejack winced as his shoe grazed her back, but Zack didn’t seem to notice.

Applejack grunted when he put his full weight on her, “Oof, yer heavier than Ah thought.”

She was looking forward so she didn’t see him smirk, “Are you calling me fat?”

Applejack’s eyes bugged out, “No! Ah didn’t mean it like-”

“Re-” he yawned again, patting her head, “Relax, Miss Applejack. I’m just joking.”

“...oh.” Applejack knew she was blushing and hoped Zack didn’t notice, “...y’know, ya don’t hafta call meh ‘Miss Applejack’. Y’can jus’ call meh Applejack.”

“Okay.”

Applejack walked, albeit slowly, to the house. A lewd thought attempted to cross her mind but she vanquished it. Now was not the time. Zack was forced to bend down onto Applejack in order for them to get through the door. Applejack felt his breath on her neck, suddenly getting goosebumps.

Applebloom saw them. She opened her mouth, “Uh-”

“Can’t talk now, ‘Bloom. Gotta help Zack.”

Applejack carried him to the bathroom, “Sit on th’ toilet.”

“Alright,” he said, yawning.

Applejack looked beneath the sink to retrieve gauze, “Show meh yer hands.”

He hesitatingly obeyed. Applejack grimaced, “Whut did ya do??”

“I just finished my job.”

Applejack stared at him with wide eyes, “Ya harvested all o’ th’ carrots?! That was over a tenth o’ an acre!”

“Was it?” he yawned, “Kinda all blended together.”

Applejack shook her head in disbelief, “Yer stayin’ th’ night.”

“But-”

“No buts. How many times do Ah hafta say this? Yer in no condition to walk back home!”

Applejack didn’t want Zack to stand up until he went to bed so she got a washcloth and wet it. She tried to wash it a gently as she could. Everytime he winced, she found herself doing the same. Eventually she finished and gently took his hands. She started to wrap the gauze around them.

Applejack frowned, “Quit squirmin’. Yer makin’ meh mess up.”

“Sorry Miss- I mean, sorry, Applejack.”

The two stayed silent after that. Applejack eventually finished and guided him to the guest bedroom. She insisted he went to sleep now, and managed to make him get into bed. He fell asleep as soon as he got settled.

Applejack closed the door, staring at it for a few moments. She wasn’t exactly hungry. She was more tired than anything. Maybe it’s time for me to hit the hay as well.

She went to her room and got under the covers. She looked at the picture of her late parents that were on the bedside table. What would they think if they knew she was an anthrophile? Would they be okay with it? Would they be disgusted? While interspecies relationships were somewhat common, most ponies were wary of humans because of all the violence in their media. Not enough to cause discrimination, but enough that the idea of dating a human was rare.

Applejack looked up at the ceiling. She was...scared. She already messed up two times today. Thankfully they were minor blunders, but that could change once estrus season hit. She turned onto her side, staring at the picture for a while before her eyes slowly closed.

Author's Note

Help, how do I romance?