50 Shades of Hay

Rainbow opens the door to her personal carriage, allowing me to clamber inside nervously as she follows behind me. We calmly sit on the same side of the carriage, about an arm’s length apart. Well, when I say ‘we,’ I mostly mean ‘her.’ She hasn’t mentioned the outburst of passion that exploded in the elevator earlier. Should I? I mean, should I mention it or just pretend it never happened? She doesn’t seem to be affected by what happened, but then again, it’s damn near impossible for me actually tell what she’s thinking.

We sit in a content, awkward silence for a few moments as we speed towards Ponyville. My Zen-like state is shattered when Rainbow’s ringing phone echoes over the carriages sound system. Funny, I didn’t know it had a sound system.

She presses a button on the wall near the entrance of the carriage.

“Dash,” she snips.

“Miss Dash, its Welch here. I have that information you requested,” a raspy, disembodied voice states over the speakers.

“Good E-mail it to me. Anything to add?”

“No, Ma’am.”

She presses the button  and the call ends. No ‘good-bye’ or ‘thank you.’  I’m glad I never took her job offer seriously. She’s too controlling and cold with her employees. Not that I was planning on leaving Sweet Apple Acres, mind you, I could never leave my family and my home. My thoughts are interrupted as the phone rings again.

“Dash.”

“The NDA has been E-mailed to you, Miss Dash,” a mare’s voice announces.

“Good. That will be all, Aloe.”

“Good day Ma’am.”

Rainbow hangs up by pressing the button again; there is a brief pause in the silence when the phone rings again. Holy moly, is this her life - constant nagging phone calls?

“Dash,” she snaps.

“Hi, Rainbow! D’you get laid?”

“Hello Elliot – I’m on speaker phone, and I’m not the only one in the carriage,” Rainbow sighs.

“Who’s with you?”

Rainbow rolls her eyes. “Applejack.”

“Hi, AJ!”

AJ.

“Howdy, Elliot.”

“Heard a lot about you,” Elliot states huskily as Rainbow frowns.

“Don’t believe a word Rare says.”

Elliot laughs.

“I’m dropping Applejack off now,” Rainbow emphasis my full name. “Shall I pick you up?”

“Sure.”

“See you shortly,” Rainbow hangs up.

“Why do you keep calling me Applejack?”

“Because it’s your name,” she replies nonchalantly.

“Ah prefer AJ.”

“Do you now?” she glances towards me and arches an eyebrow.

We’re almost at Sweet Apple Acres. It hasn’t taken us very long.

“Applejack,” she muses. I scowl at her, but she ignores me. “What happened in the elevator – It won’t happen again, not until it’s permitted.” We come to a halt just outside the farm house. She climbs out first and holds the door for me, ever the gentlemare.

“Ah liked what happened in the elevator,” I murmur as I climb out of the carriage. I smile to myself and head up the steps to the front door when I hear a low, almost inaudible chuckle come from behind me.

Rarity and Elliot are sitting at our dining room table. She has the most un-Rare-like goofy grin on her face. Rainbow follows me into the living room. Despite Rarity’s I’ve-been-having-a-good-time-all-night grin, she eyes Dash suspiciously.

“Hello, AJ,” she leaps up to hug, then releases me and frowns as she examines Rainbow.

“Good morning, Rainbow,” she says, with just a hint of hostility.

“Miss Rarity,” Dash replied in her stiff, formal way.

“Rainbow, there’s no need for formalities, her name is Rare,” Elliot grumbles.

“Rare,” Rainbow gives her a polite nod and glares at Elliot, who simply grins and rises to hug me.

“Hey, AJ!” He smiles. His blue eyes twinkling, his coat is similar blue to Rainbows, except several shades darker, and he has a brilliant flowing brown mane and tail. I like him immediately, he’s nothing like his sister; but then again, they are adopted siblings.

“Howdy, Elliot,” I smile back at him.

“Elliot, we’d better go,” Rainbow says mildly.

“Sure,” he replies as he breaks his hold on me and turns to Rarity. Draping his right foreleg over her shoulder, he brings her into a long, lingering kiss.

Jeez… get a room. I stare down at my hoofs, embarrassed. I glance over to Rainbow, to find her watching me intently. I narrow my eyes at her. Why can’t you kiss me like that? Elliot continues to kiss Rare for a few more seconds before breaking the kiss and pressing his forehead against hers.

“Laters, babe,” he grins.

Rare just melts. I’ve never seen her melt before – somehow the word ‘compliant’ comes to mind. Compliant Rarity, Elliot must be good. Rainbow rolls her eyes and stares at me, her expression is unreadable, as usual. Honestly, I don’t know why that still surprises me.

She reaches out and tucks a stray strand of my mane behind my right ear. My breath hitches and I lean my head into her hoof, her eyes soften as her hoof trails down my right cheek and rests on my chin. All too quickly, her touch is gone.

“Laters, babe,” she murmurs, and I can’t help but snicker because it’s so unlike her. But even though I know it’s just a formality, it still moves me.

“I’ll pick you up at eight,” she says as she turns to leave, opening the front door and stepping out onto the porch. Elliot follows her to the carriage but turns and blows Rare another kiss.

“She really likes you,” Rare muses as we watch their carriage pull away from us.

“Yeah, Ah like her too,” I reply with a content smile.

“So, she is gay.”

And then it hit me like a tonne of bricks. Horse apples. I knew I forgot something. I gulp and turn to face her.

“Aww jeez Rare, Ah never thought… A-ah know ya like stallions and what not but, a-are you okay with this? Me liking another mare, Ah mean.”

She smiles back at me. “Darling, love comes in all shapes and sizes. Of course I’m alright with this. I’ve actually known about your orientation for a while now… or did you honestly think I didn’t notice you admiring my flank while I wasn’t looking?”

My eyes widen, “A-ah have NO idea WHAT you’re talking about,” I clamp my mouth shut and dart my eyes left and right.

Her smile widens. “Applejack, you are a terrible liar.”

My ears flatten against my head and I grin sheepishly at her. “Yeah, yeah Ah guess Ah am.”

We walk back inside the farmhouse and sit down at the dining room table. Rare clears her throat and fixes me with a gossipy look.

“So, did you.. ?” she asks batting her eyelashes, the burning curiosity in her voice is blatantly obvious.

“No,” I reply simply, shaking my head. A coy grin spread across my face as I glance back at her. “You obviously did though.”

Rare nods furiously. “And I’m seeing him again this evening.” She clops her hoofs together and fidgets like an excited school filly in her chair. Her excitement is contagious and I soon find myself grinning from ear to ear.

“Rainbow is taking me to Canterlot tonight.”

“Canterlot?”

“Yup.”

“Maybe you will then?”

“Oh Celestia, Ah hope so.”

“Really?” there’s genuine surprise in her voice.

“Yup.”

“Wow. Applejack, finally ready for it, and it’s with Rainbow Dash – hot, sexy billionaire.”

“Oh yeah – it’s all about the money,” I smirk and we both fall into a fit of giggles.

“Has she kissed you yet?” she asks, catching me off guard.

“Once,” I blush.

“Once!” she scoffs.

I nod. “She’s very reserved.”

She frowns. “That’s odd.”

“Ah don’t think odd, covers it.”

“Well, in any case we need to make you simply irresistible for tonight,” she states with an air of determination.

Oh no… this sounds like it’s going to be humiliating, and painful.

My face falls. “Rare, you know Ah hate all that frou-frou stuff,” I grumble.

“Nonsense darling, I will not take no for an answer, not until I’ve made sure you are positively ravishing!” With that, she throws her forehoof over my shoulder and leads me into her bedroom.

Several hours passed before I was ‘presentable’ enough for Rare to finally take her hooves off me. I may not be a huge fan of lady-like elegance, but even I can appreciate how much work she put into my make over. She styled my hair, sweeping my fringe flat against the left side of my forehead, while several soft tendrils hung down around my shoulders and neck, making up the rest of my mane. She even lent me one of her more expensive dresses, an all-black, backless dress that surrounds my neck and covers my body all the way down to my hind hoofs. The dress is embedded with small diamond like beads, giving it a shining finish.

I can’t stop my mind from racing as I pace back and forth between the kitchen and the lounge room. Rainbow mentioned some kind of paperwork; I don’t think she was joking about it, based on how seriously she took it. Then again, she does have an… interesting sense of humor. It’s frustrating trying to decipher her cryptic meanings. On top of everything else, I can barely contain my excitement. Tonight’s the night! After all this time, am I ready for this? I mean, I want this but… I guess it’s just my nerves getting the better of me… great. Now all I can think about is what somepony like Rainbow Dash sees in a nopony like me. Smooth move pony girl, that wasn’t a depressing thought at all. Huh, it’s been a while since my subconscious took a swipe at me. I almost missed her… almost.

I glance at the wall-clock in the kitchen. It’s nearly eight o’clock and I can’t help it but feel a sickening nervousness deep down in my stomach. I stop dead in my tracks when I hear the creaking sound of the front door opening. I take a calming breath to steel myself and walk out into the hallway.

Rainbow Dash is standing in the open doorway, wearing a smart navy blazer with a white button up shirt while she brandishes her signature tomboyish mane. Our eyes lock for a brief moment, before hers trail down my body. Her wings flutter slightly and I feel a fresh blush cross my cheeks as I saunter towards her.

“Good evening, Miss Dash,” I say in my Manehattan accent.

She blinks, and her mouth pops open. “Good evening, Miss Jack. I take it you’re ready?”

I nod, and we make our way out of the farmhouse, parked a few meters away from the house is a gold and white, open top chariot; it was large enough for only two ponies. There are four white Pegasus Stallions attached to the front of the carriage, all of which are wearing white suits that cover every part of their body, except their muzzles and wings.

I freeze in my tracks, wide eyed with uncertainty. Dash stops when she realizes that I’m no longer walking beside her and glances back at me as she cocks an eyebrow.

“Something wrong, Miss Jack?”

I shift my gaze from the chariot to her, “We’re flying to Canterlot... in that?” I say still wide eyed.

She nods. “Is that a problem?”

“I am an Earth pony, Miss Dash. I would like to emphasize the word Earth, as in, on the ground, where it’s safe.”

She grins as she makes her way towards me, standing beside me she drapes her wing over my back and pulls me closer to her. I blush again as our bodies make contact.

“If you think you’re safe from me on the ground, you are sorely mistaken. And, I would never dream of endangering you. Please, trust me.”

“Very well,” my voice is small.

While still gripping me with her wing, she leads me towards the carriage. We step into it and sit down, I’m sitting directly beside her, and her wing is still draped over my shoulder.

“Ready when you are, Miss Dash,” One of the stallions calls out.

“Very well, take us up,” Dash says plainly. I stare down at my hoofs as we begin speeding along the path that leads from Sweet Apple Acres into Ponyville. Once the wind begins to ruffle my mane, I hazard a glance to my left. I notice the trees seemingly sinking into the ground, as the blackness of the night sky engulfs us.

I recoil from the sight and scoot closer to Dash, keeping my head down as I do so.

“It’s alright, Applejack,” she coos into my ear.

“I don’t suppose I’ve mentioned I’m afraid of heights?” I say as I clench my eyes shut.

“Don’t worry, we’re almost there. Look, see for yourself.”

I glance up at her, I didn’t realize that my head was actually buried in her chest, and as a result, our muzzles are now only inches away. Her eyes are low as she gazes at me. She breaks my gaze and stares at something off in the distance. Cautiously, I slowly turn around to see what she’s looking at.

Directly in front of us, illuminated by the light of Luna’s moon, is a gigantic, white cumulus cloud, hovering several miles above the city of Canterlot. The stallions pulling our carriage are heading directly towards it, showing no intention of even attempting to change course.

I snap my attention back to Rainbow.

“Uh, Dash?”

“It’s alright.”

“But their head-“

“Shhh, you’re going to want to see this,” she grins.

Hesitantly, I refocused my attention on the rapidly approaching cloud just as we collide with it. I flinch as the foggy mist sweeps over us and then… nothing, I open my eyes and glance around, and… I can’t believe what I’m seeing.

We’re inside the cloud!

The carriage, along with the stallions pulling it, is parked on a flat, circular concrete landing area. There is a small path that leads from the landing area to a large square building, which also appears to be made of stone or concrete.

Dash exits the carriage and gestures for me to follow her. I do so, scurrying out of the carriage to catch up with her. We walk along the concrete path until we reach a steel plated door with a number pad next to it. Dash punches in some numbers that I can’t make out, and a moment later, the steel doors slide open.

We step into a small featureless room with a second steel door and number pad, identical to the first.

“How… how is this even possible?” I ask, dumbstruck.

Dash smirks as she turns her head to face me, “A combination of Pegasi magic and Earth pony ingenuity,” she states proudly. Her face falls and she eyes me warily. “Applejack… you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, you know that don’t you?”

I give her a small smile, “I would never do anything I didn’t want to, Rainbow.” I strive to sound as convincingly confident as I can, because at this point, I’d probably do anything for her. It must have worked, because she smiles at me as she punches, what I assume is the same code as before, into the number pad. Once again, the doors slide open after a few moments, and we finally step into Dash’s home.

Somehow the word ‘huge’ doesn’t accurately define it. The square room we’ve walked into is ginormous; the walls and ceiling are painted white and adorned with paintings while hard wood makes up most - if not all - of the flooring. The wall opposite the entrance is actually a giant window; soft moonlight rays cast dancing shadows around the room as the cumulus cloud outside swirls and moves around the house. Directly to the left of the entrance is a square tiled section that holds a very modern looking kitchen, complete with all of the necessary appliances. Left of the kitchen is a small doorway, which leads up a brief flight of stairs; opposite the kitchen, tucked neatly in the far left corner, is a full-size, shiny black grand piano. At this point I’m not even surprised… is there anything she can’t do? Along two thirds of the right hoof wall is a polished living area with a large U-shaped couch that can sit six ponies, a small glass coffee table, and a stainless steel fire place in front of it. Directly right of the entrance is a large, maple wood dining table with enough room for twelve ponies.

“Would you like a drink?” she asks as she leaves my side and ventures into the kitchen.

I blink at her. After last night?! Is she trying to be funny?

“I’m going to have a glass of white wine. Would you like to join me?”

“Yes please,” I murmur as I make my way to the far window and gaze out at a dimly lit Equestrian landscape. I walk back to the kitchen area – which takes a few seconds since it’s quite far from the glass wall – and Rainbow is opening a bottle of wine. She’s removed her jacket.

“Pouilly Fumé okay with you?”

“I’m afraid I know nothing about wine, Rainbow. I’m sure it will be fine.” My voice is soft and my heart is thumping in my chest. This is just… I want to run away. What am I doing here? You know exactly what you’re doing here, my subconscious sneers at me. Yes, I do want to bed her.

“Here,” she hoofs me a glass of wine. The glass itself is heavy contemporary crystal. I take a sip; the wine is light, crisp, and surprisingly delicious.

“You’re very quiet, and you’re not even blushing. In fact, I think this is the palest I’ve ever seen you, Applejack,” she murmurs. “Are you hungry?”

I shake my head. “It’s a quite a large place you have here.”

“It is,” she agrees, her eyes glow with amusement. I take another sip of wine.

“Do you play?” I point my chin at the piano.

“Yes.”

“Well?”

She cocks an eyebrow, and I roll my eyes.

“Of course you do. Is there anything you can’t do well?”

“A few things,” she says flatly as she takes a sip of wine. She doesn’t take her eyes off me. I can feel them following me as I turn and glance around the room.

“Would you like to sit?” I nod and we make our way over to the white leather couch. As I sit, I can’t help but furrow my brow as I stare at the gently lit fireplace.

“Something on your mind?” Dash inquires as she sits beside me, her body is half turned to face me. She rests her head on her left hoof, her elbow is propped up on the back of the couch.

“Why did you give me Tess of the d’Urbervilles specifically?” I ask as I meet her gaze.

Rainbow stares at me for a moment. I think she’s surprised by my question.

“Well, when I saved you from that carriage, and you were looking up at me all ‘kiss mah, Dash, kiss mah,” she pauses and shrugs. “I felt I owed you an apology, and a warning.”

I can’t help but chuckle at her impression of me.

“It’s a bit late for that now, and I do not sound like that,” I feign annoyance at her.

She smiles back at me. “You don’t sound like that either, what is the purpose of the accent, if I may ask.”

“I wanted to make a good first impression?” I reply sheepishly.

“Manehattan is full arrogant, pretentious snobs who all think they are better than you because their great, great grandfather held an audience with the princesses. Its accent does you injustice,” she states earnestly.

I smile. “Well Ah’m glad you think so, ‘cause it was getting on mah nerves, speaking all fancy like that.”  My smile fades and I fix her with a serious look. “So, uh… is that the only reason?”

She thinks for a moment. “It seemed appropriate. I could hold you as some impossibly high ideal like Angel Clare, or debase you completely like Alec d’Urberville,” she murmurs, her eyes are low and dangerous.

“If those are the only two options, Ah think Ah’ll take the debasement,” I smile coyly at her. I really hope that’s what she wanted to hear.

She gasps. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“That’s why Ah’m here.”

She frowns. “Yes. Would you excuse me for a moment?” She gets up from the couch and disappears through a pair of doubles doors to the right of the fire place that I previously hadn’t noticed before. She’s gone for a few minutes and returns with a document.

“This is a nondisclosure agreement,” she shrugs and sets the document on the table in front of me. She looks a little embarrassed. “My lawyer insists on it. If you’re going for option two, debasement, you’ll need to sign this.”

I’m completely bemused. “And if Ah don’t want to sign anything?”

“Then this,” - she uses her right hoof to gesture between us - “Is as far as our relationship goes.”

“What does this agreement mean?”

“It means that you cannot disclose anything about us. To anypony.”

I stare at her is disbelief. This is bad, this is really, really bad. But now my burning curiosity is overpowering me.

“Alright. Ah’ll sign it.”

She places a pen on the table, and I grab it with my mouth.

“Aren’t you even going to read it?”

“No.”

She frowns. “Applejack, you should always read anything you sign,” she admonishes me.

I force the pen to the left side of my mouth, so I can talk. “Rainbow, what ya fail to realize it that, Ah wouldn’t talk about us ta anypony anyway. Even Rare. So it’s irrelevant whether Ah sign an agreement or not. If it means that much to ya and ya lawyer - which it obviously does, then fine. Ah’ll sign it.”

She gazes down at me and nods gravely. “Fair point Miss Jack, well made.”

I sign the dotted line of the document and slide it across the table to Dash. She grabs it, folds it neatly in half and places it in a chest pocket of her shirt. I down what’s left of my drink.

“Does this mean you’re going to make love to me now, Rainbow?” Her mouth drops slightly, but she recovers quickly.

“No, Applejack, it doesn’t. First, I don’t ‘make love,’ I fuck… hard. Second there’s a lot more paperwork to do. And third, you don’t know what you’re in for. You could still run for the hills. Come, I want to show you my play room.”

My mouth drops open. Fuck hard?! This is really, really, really bad. But why are we looking at a play room?

“Do you play poker?” I ask and she just laughs out loud at me.

“No, Applejack, not that kind of game. Come.” I follow her as she leads me into the double doors that she retrieved the paperwork from. It leads into a short, low hallway with two doors either side of us and a third at the far end of the hallway. Rainbow leads me through the door on the right; it’s a quick climb up a flight of stairs before we come to another door.

There’s something different about this door. For one thing, it’s an old wooden door with an old looking lock. Dash fishes a key from her pocket and unlocks the door as she takes a deep breath.

“You can leave anytime. The carriage is on standby to take you wherever you want to go. You can stay the night and leave tomorrow. It’s fine whatever you decide.”

“Just open the darn door, Rainbow.”

She opens the door and steps aside to let me in. I gaze at her once more. Taking a deep breath I step through the door… And I immediately wish I hadn’t. It feels like I’ve just stepped into the dungeons beneath Canterlot.

Holy shit…