Apples to Apples

     Two hours. It took you two hours to finish the south field. You follow Applejack around. She did promise to be your guide around town and the farm. She doesn't leave the field, and instead sits down and leans against one of the trees. She invites you to set down beside her. You oblige her request.

"Tell me about ya, cousin." She says.

"What?" You reply.

"Tell me about mah cousin. Ah don't really know ya yet. Ah'd sure like to." She explains.

"Okay. What do you want to know?" You ask.

"Just anything. You got a nickname? Just callin' ya 'cousin' is gettin' a bit boring." She inquirers.

"Well, my sisters would always call me speedy because I'm so fast." You respond.

"Well, we've already got a Speedy. He's one of Rainbow's friends." She tells you.

"Oh. Well, I guess I haven't got a nickname in that case." You reply.

"Well, then Ah'll just have to think one up! Ah got another question." She says.

"Shoot. I'll answer anything you can throw at me." You say.

"Why are ya always starin' at me?" She asks.

     Out of everything she could possibly ask, it had to be that. You feel your stomach jump when she asks it. Your mind begins racing as it tries to make an excuse. When it can't make one up, you just tell her the truth. Not the whole truth. Just part of it.

"Well, I just think you're really pretty. And I can't really help myself, is all." You tell her.

"Gee, thanks. Nopony has ever told me that before." She says, blushing a bit.

"Really? I can't see why they wouldn't. I mean, you're beautiful." You say.

'Okay Cassinova, shut it down before you do something stupid.' You think.

"You really think so? Or are ya just bein' nice?" She replies.

"I really think so AJ. Don't you?" You reply.

     She's really blushing now. It seems like she's never been complimented. You find that notion insane. How could nopony have complimented her before? Was their somepony else who got all the attention?

"Well, Ah don't know. Ah ain't never been told Ah was." She says.

"You are, AJ. You're the best looking mare I've ever seen. No joke." You say.

"Aw shucks, you're too kind. Ah'm not that pretty. Rarity's much better lookin'." She responds.

"That uppity unicorn? Really? She tries too hard. She doesn't have your natural looks." You tell her.

'You're going to do something stupid. Stop complimenting her so heavily.' Your mind tells you.

"Really? Ya think so?" She asks.

"I do. You sure do like compliments, don't you?" You reply.

"Yeah. It's kinda nice. Ah've never been told those things before." She tells you, her cheeks a bright red.

"Well, I'm glad it made you happy." You say, smiling.

"Thanks cousin. If it means anything, you ain't too hard on the eyes yourself." She says.

"Why thank you!" You respond, blushing a bit yourself.

"Ah like ya cousin. You're real nice. Ah think we'll be good friends." She says with a smile.

     Friends. The one word you really didn't want to hear. It stings more than hearing "cousin" everytime she addresses you. This time, you actually wince. You're just glad she didn't notice it. You swallow hard, and speak.

"Yeah. Friends." You say, keeping a smile on your face.

     The two of you sit in silence for a while, just enjoying one another's company. Soon, the sun begins to sink into the sky, and you decide to return to the farm before nightfall. It doesn't take long to get there, and it doesn't seem like the others (aside from Granny Smith) had returned from what they were doing.

"Well...what should we do now?" You ask.

"Ah thought you were goin' to town for a bit." She responds.

"I was going to, but I'm not so sure anymore." You say.

"Why not?" She asks.

"I just don't have anything to hang out with." You explain.

"Well, Ah'll hang out with ya." She offers.

"You don't have to, AJ. I'm fine here." You say.

"Oh come now. This place isn't all that fun. Truth be told, Ah wouldn't mind goin' to town mahself. There just isn't all that much to do around here. Plus, it'd be a nice way for us to get to know each other better." She explains, smiling.

"You seem real eager to get to know me." You say.

"Sure am! Ya hardly told us about yerself." She responds.

"Well, I guess there's no harm in it." You say.

     The two of you set down your baskets, and head to town. With little to do,  Applejack leads you to a bar. She orders you both a drink before you can object. Normally, you don't drink. It never really appealed to you. Not that you'd never touched liquor before, you have. You just chose not to do it very often. In this instance, she'd already paid. It would be rude not to drink it.

"So. What's my cousin like? Tell me about yourself." She insists once more.

     You oblige her request, and begin telling her about yourself. Before you knw it, you've both been through quite a few drinks. You'd strayed from the original topic, and were just rambling. You were having a back and forth about who knows what when you finally decide to leave. The two of you get up, and walk out, using one another for support. You're still rambling on, and laughing.

     The two of you stumble back to the farm, and Applejack leads the two of you to the barn.

"Hey, thahouse is overthare." You say, speech slurred.

"Yeah, but weshoodnt wake up th'others." She replies, speech slurred as well.

     She leads the both of you to the back of the barn. There, you find some pillows and blankets. The two of you bed down, and continue to talk. At this point, you've begun sharing secrets.

"AJ, Ivegot a secret ta tell ya." You say.

"What izit?" She replies.

"You, are thebest pony ever." You tell her with a drunken snicker.

"Thanks! Ivegot one too." She says.

"Imlissening." You reply.

"Didjyou know that, ive never had myfirst kiss?" She confesses.

"Noway! Thatznot true, you liar." You say.

"Its true." She says.

     You sit in silence. She does too, and is looking down at her hooves in embarrassment. The awkward air is growing thicker by the minute. Finally, you decide to do something.

"Do ya want it?" You ask.

     She nods a few times, and giggles a bit.

"Alright." You say.

     You sit up, and face one another. You lean in once, and miss each other by a mile. You try it once more. This time, you both lean your heads in the same direction and knock them together. You both laugh at that, and try once again. Like they say, the third time's the charm. You both connect in a kiss. You continue to kiss for a few minutes before she breaks it.

"Thanks ferthat." She says.

     You nod, and feel the energy in your body begin to vanish.  You yawn once. When your eyes open, you notice AJ has already passed out. Next thing you know, you collapse, and slip into the welcoming blackness of sleep.