Applejack's Family Bonding

”I’ll have the same as.” You say to the barkeep, and his eyes flutter a little as he holds in a guffaw. Applejack has no such compunctions, and lets out a bray of laughter that causes you to blush with embarrassment.

"Aw, I'm sorry cuz." Applejack puts her leg around you again, and your neck tingles with the contact. "It's not that I don't believe you can drink it, but it might be a bit much for your... unicornish tastes."

Ooooooh, them's fightin' words. You tell her as such, fixing your gaze on the approaching barkeep as Applejack continues to try to dissuade you. You get your drink, and, feeling Applejack’s eyes upon you, take a big gulp of it before you can second-guess yourself.

"Mmm, this is great!" It’s cool and sweet, with a slow burn on the finish that tastes faintly of roasted apples.You continue to sip your drink and turn to converse with the orange mare, who is completely incredulous by this point.

"Well I'll be! We may have another champion drinker in the family after all. A round on the house for my whisky-sippin cousin!"

The bar resounds with loud cheering at AJ's proclamation, and suddenly you have a wave of affectionate hooves clapping your back and tousling your mane as the dancing and jubilation intensify.

"Alright, alright, give the colt some room to breath." Applejack shoos the admiring crowd away to your slight displeasure, but as both of you loosen up you begin leaning in close, laughing and hugging as you recount bygone reunions. Just now getting to the time Apple Tart got caught with the barber, Applejack places a hoof on your lips to shush you mid-story.”Hey cuz, I was just- would you like to dance with *hic* me?

You don’t even think, you just say yes.

”Sure, I love to dance!”

A little loose from the applewhiskey, you hit the floor with ease and begin dancing in time with Applejack; the two of you immediately go into a well-rehearsed jig as a circle forms around the two of you. You're keeping in step, feeling a little floaty but doing everything you can to keep it perfect. The tempo shifts, and suddenly AJ draws you near, her face mere inches from yours. She’s gone, lost in the music and having the time of her life as she gently hip-checks your flank before giving you a vicious grin that speaks volumes. You narrow your eyes and match her bit for bit, the both of you turning away and leaping upwards, kicking your back legs together with a thunderclap sound that fits perfectly in time with the music. She pivots away, reappearing some 5 yards in front of you before charging directly at you.

Your mind reels with past routines and dances, unsure of how to finish as the song nears its climactic conclusion and AJ prepares to drop low when in that brief instant of eureka you remember what to do.

You piston all four of your legs harder at that instant than you thought possible, your horn lighting up with a concussive wave as you propel yourself over the gracefully sliding orange mare; four little craters left in the floor of the barn.

All is quiet as the song trails off, and then suddenly the two of you are completely mobbed, hoisted aloft and carried around the barn as the cheers and applause caused the very framework to shake. After what feels like an hour of congratulations and admiration, a progressively more red-faced Applejack draws you aside.

"Ahm thinkin' it's about time you and me got away from the fans for a little bit." She nudges you gently, your coat feeling somehow burning hot where she touched you. "I'll have to make you a nightcap, least I could do for my number one dancing partner cum wizard."

~~

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