The Apple family silently and unanimously agreed to not talk about what just happened. Applejack kept glancing at the clocks around the house. Each minute that ticked by drew Applejack closer to having to meet Zack during her heat season. She dreaded that.

Her worries kept her up all night. Simulations kept playing in her head, most of them taking a turn for the worst. It didn’t help that she got horny again in the middle of the night, forcing her to deal with it.

The next day came, and Applejack debated whether she should get out of bed or not. She sighed. She had a job to do, hormones or not. She jumped out of bed only to gasp as pleasure ran from in between her thighs, “Gal dangit…”

She quickly rubbed one out as fast as she could. She went downstairs, still blushing. Applebloom noticed this, “Hey AJ! Why th’ blush?”

Applejack grimaced, “Remember how Ah told ya ‘bout estrus?”

“Uh, yeah...wait, are ya-”

“Yep. C-can ya tell Big Mac too? Kinda don’t want ta be ‘round any guys right now.”

“Is that why yer nervous ‘bout Zack?”

Applejack froze, “Wh-whut makes ya say that?”

“‘Cause were family. Ah know ya well ‘nough ta know when yer nervous. Do ya like Zack?”

Applejack didn’t move. Applebloom asked a valid question. Did she like Zack? She already said she was her friend, but really just only said it to make him feel better. Right?

His smile is nice… And he doesn’t mind farming, actually seems to enjoy it...maybe… “Ah...Ah dun know….M-maybe. He is cute-”

Applejack froze again. She glanced at Applebloom, who had a smug smile, “Ya do like him, don’t ya?”

“...yah, Ah do. Ah do like him. Ah wanna get ta know him better. But...Ah can’t. Not durin’ heat season,” She looked at her little sister with pleading eyes, “Please don’t tell anypony else, okay? Ah dun even know if he likes meh back.”

“‘Course he likes ya back!”

“How do you know?”

Applebloom rolled her eyes, “Duh, it’s pretty obvious. Ah knew as soon as he came over and asked ta work wit’ ya.”

...really? He just wanted to work with me? Or is she just seeing things. I don’t know anymore…darn hormones... “Ah dun know, ‘Bloom….Ah’m not that special.”

“Yes ya are! More than ya realize! Yer th’ specialest pony Ah ever met.”

“Yer jus’ sayin’ that ‘cause Ah’m yer sister.”

Applebloom shook her head, “‘Course not. Ah dun hafta be yer sister ta know yer really special.”

Applejack smiled faintly and rubbed Applebloom’s head, “Thanks, AB. Still, Ah can’t talk ta him jus’ yet.”

“‘Cause o’ th’ heat thang? Whut’s it like? Can ya tell meh?”

Applejack shifted. She briefly considered making an excuse up and run away from this conversation. But...Applebloom deserved a head’s up on what she was going to face later in life, “Ya think of stallions...a lot.”

“That’s it? Ya jus’ think of colts? That don’t seem too bad. If that’s whut it’s like, Ah dun understand why ya can’t talk ta ‘em.”

Applejack bit the inside of her cheek, strategizing on how best to explain it, “Ya mostly think of jus’ one part o’ ‘em...you...uh...think o’ their privates.”

Applebloom donned a confused look, “Their privates? Ya mean whut’s ‘tween their legs?”

“Yeah...Y’know they’re different from us mares, right?”

“‘Course Ah do. Ah still dun see why ya think o’ their privates.”

“Ah thought Ah told ya ‘bout estrus? Why’re ya askin’ all these questions.”

Applebloom looked guilty, “Ah...didn’t really pay attention.”

Applejack sighed, “...alright. Pay attention this time. Ya at least know how foals are made, right?”

Applebloom nodded, “Yep. A colt stick his penis in mah vagina an’…” she squinted, thinking of what she was told, “...an’ somethin’ squirts inta meh, an’ that makes a foal...somehow.”

“Sperm. He squirts sperm inta ya. Okay, now that we got that outta th’ way, Ah can tell ya what estrus really is.”

Applejack motioned her to Applebloom’s room and they both sat on the bed, “A mare can git pregnant even when they’re not in estrus, but it’s hard. Estrus, though, makes it so that a mare gits pregnant no matter whut. Yer body wants ta be pregnant, even if yer mind doesn’t.

“It also makes ya really...uh...worked up.”

“Worked up?”

“Yeah...yer vagina gets hot.”

“Ookayy...but why?”

“Like ah said, estrus is yer body tellin’ ya ta git pregnant. It makes yer vagina hot so ya want ta get pregnant.”

“Why?”

“‘Cause when yer in estrus, touchin’ yer vagina an’ havin’ sex feels really good.”

“An’ if it feels really good, it makes ya wanta go out an’ have sex wit’ a stallion, right?”

“Exactly. Which is why Ah hafta avoid stallions. Ah might say or do somethin’ Ah wouldn’t normally do. An’ gettin’ pregnant is th’ last on mah list right now.”

“Think Ah got it. Thanks fer explain’ it ta meh.”

“Yer welcome. Anytime, sis...now, Ah gotta git ta work. See ya later, Applebloom.”

She trotted out of her sister’s room and went to the door to open it. Zack was there. Shoot. So much for getting out into the orchard without meeting him. He smiled at her, “Hey, Applejack.”

Applejack forced a smile, “Howdy, Zack-”

Applejack sniffed. She could smell Zack. It was a little hot out, making him sweat a bit. Ponies have a better sense of smell, much better than humans. He probably didn’t even realize he smelled.

A blush spread over her face. Her nethers started to heat up. No no no no no not noooww! Zack tilted his head, “Are you okay?”

“Ah-Ah’m fine!” she replied, her voice an octave higher than normal, “It was nice seein’ ya! Ah gotta go...buck apples. ‘Cuz that’s whut we do here….we...buck apples….Bye!”

Applejack hurried off, leaving Zack confused. Applejack didn’t pick a particular direction, just anywhere away from Zack. She trotted a few minutes into the orchard before stopping.

He smelled good...if that’s just him being sweaty, I wonder what his musk is like...Applejack found herself drooling. She wiped her mouth, shaking her head. Focus, AJ. Applebuck season is almost here. Can’t afford to be distracted.

Applejack took a step and let out a quiet moan. Have to focus. Buck apples.

Another step and she bit her lip. Gotta concentrate. Gotta...gotta….aw heck.

Applejack quickly looked around before sitting her plot down. She spread her legs, sighing, “Ah hate estrus.”

Author's Note