On The Wings of Love

Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy where making their way to the barn as Big Macintosh was walking out, pulling a now-empty cart behind him.

Seeing him, Applejack looked dead at him and said. "Now, Ah don't wanna hear a word out of ya Big Macintosh."

Giving his sister a humorless look, the stallion merely stopped in his tracks.

"You weren't gonna say anything where ya?" Applejack asked dejectedly.

"Nope."

Facehoofing, AJ apologized to her brother.

"Ah'm sorry Big Macintosh. Think ya could cover for me in the south fields for a while? Ah gotta talk to the girls for a bit."

He replyed with a simple "Eeyup."

Trotting out of the barn towards the trail, as he passed Fluttershy, he gave her a small nod and a smile. Then, without a word, headed south towards the golden delicious fields.

Applejack sighed.

"Ah need to calm down. First Ah yell at ya down in the orchard. Them I'm jumpin' on Big Mac as soon as Ah see him."

Shaking her head as she pushed the door open and walked in, she beckoned the girls to follow her.

"Ah don't know about you two, but Ah could use a drink." Applejack said, grabbing a bottle of cold cider from the ice bucket and a few mugs.

"Actually darling, that sounds rather lovely." Rarity said, sitting down on one of the chairs at the table where Applejack had plopped down and graciously accepting a mug.

"Yes, I'd like one too... if you don't mind." Fluttershy said.

After handing each of the girls their cider, Applejack poured herself some and started sipping on the cool drink.

For a moment there was silence, each mare just drinking her cider until Applejack finally piped up.

"So... Rainbow Dash huh?"

"Oh, um... yes." Fluttershy said quietly, Blushing slightly.

"Sugarcube, if'n ya don't mind my askin'... what brought all of this around? Ah know you two have been friends since flight school, but what changed?" Applejack inquired, raising her gaze from her glass to look Fluttershy in the eyes.

Fluttershy sighed and looked into her cider.

"Do you remember when we all went to the Best Young Flier competition in Cloudsdale?"

"Ah sure do! That Sonic Rainboom was somethin' else!" Applejack said, calling up the exciting memory.

"I still remember how I felt when I saw her do that. I felt like my heart was going to explode! I felt so proud of her... So happy that she had finally done it. I'd watched her practice and practice. Watching as she failed every time... it broke my heart. Then when she did that to save Rarity and the Wonderbolts, that was when it all just clicked for me. When she got back, I could have kissed her right then and there. I was THAT happy for her!" Fluttershy recalled.

Rarity caught herself as she was starting to say "So why didn't you darling?" Instantly thinking of the reasons that the usually timid pegasus would have against such actions.

Sighing to herself, Rarity said "So what are your plans now? I know you're telling all of us, which leaves Twilight and Pinkie Pie to tell but I doubt we'll have any trouble from them. How do you intend to talk to Dash about this though?"

Applejack glared over at Rarity, while tact and gentle word play where normally the fashionista's social talents... she had been uncharacteristically forward in her last question. And it showed. Fluttershy's eyes widened and her breathing quickened... she was scared to death.

"Way to be subtle there Rares." Applejack said, facehoofing lightly before walking over to the nearly-hyperventilating Fluttershy.

"Easy does it there sugarcube." She said, pulling a small bottle from under the table and pouring some of its contents into Fluttershy's drink, putting a forehoof around the pegasus.

"What-is-this?" Fluttershy said between gasps.

"Somethin' t' help steady ya nerves Flutters."

She didn't need any other explanation. She started taking big gulps of the drink. Hoping whatever Applejack had just put in there would do the trick. Stopping to take a few breaths, she started making herself breath more calmly. Noticing a distinctive warmth coming from within her chest as the drink's new nature was revealed to her.

"Whew, what was that Applejack? I'm starting to feel all warm and fuzzy."

Applejack held up the bottle. "Sweet Apple Acres Black Label. We don't make much of it and we don't sell much of what we make. Its more-or-less a family secret. Good for calmin' ponies down though."

Setting the bottle down, Applejack continued, "Anyways, back to the topic at hoof. Ah think what Rarity so "tactfully" asked ya is actually a pretty valid question. Cuz ya know you're gonna have t' talk to her sugarcube." She was showing her claim to fame as the Element of Honesty.

Sufficiently calmed down, Fluttershy sighed and said "I don't know. I've thought about just coming out to her and saying it but... the thought of her rejecting me..." she looked down and continued "I can't bear the thought of that happening."

Applejack and Rarity glanced at each other, then back to Fluttershy.

"An' just what makes you think she's gonna say no?" Applejack asked.

"Applejack, I'm not even sure if she feels anything like what I do. I'm not even sure she's a Fillyfooler for Faust sakes!" Fluttershy exclaimed, tears starting to roll down her cheeks once again. Hanging her head, she drank the last of her cider and set the mug down on the table.

"Well, Ah can't answer that one for ya sugarcube. All Ah can tell ya is that she's told me before that she ain't been with no stallion's. She didn't elaborate past that, but the way Ah look at it, that means one of two things." Applejack disclosed before continuing.

"One: She's still "pure" in most every way."

"Or Two: She's a Fillyfooler."

Rarity leaned over to whisper into Applejack's ear.

"But what if she lied about having not been with a stallion?"

Turning to look at the white unicorn with a flat expression, Applejack point-of-factly asked "To the element of honesty?"

"Ah... right... sorry darling." Rarity said, she had momentarily forgotten the reason that they had come to Applejack was because of that fact.

"Besides that fact," Applejack continued "Ah'm pretty sure Ah've caught Rainbow checkin' out a few mares flanks in the past. Could be wrong though."

"Really?" Both Rarity and Fluttershy where rather shocked to hear Applejack say that.

"Yup. Will say this though, some of those mares, even AH couldn't help but stare! And Ah'm not even into mares like that!"

Applejack's last statement gave Fluttershy hope. Hope like she didn't think she could have about this whole situation.

Wiping the last of the tears from her eyes, Fluttershy hugged Applejack and said

"Thank you Applejack, for everything."

Hugging her back, Applejack said "Aw, think nothin' of it 'shy. You just go out there and find your happiness."

Giving a hug to Rarity as well in departure, Applejack asked "So, where are y'all headed now? Ah'd come with ya but I got t' get back t' buckin' them there golden delicious down." as she gestured towards the south.

"We figued Twilight would be the next stop. She lived in Canterlot for most of her fillyhood so she's probably got a pretty open mind about such things."

"So that leaves Pinkie and Dash after that." Applejack stated, a knowing expression on her face.

"Well, good luck you two!" she said, breaking into a smile as they trotted back towards Ponyville.

As Applejack watched her two friends leave, Granny Smith opened the door of the house and hobbled over to her and asked "So, Big Mac was right?"

"Yea, he was Granny..."

Nodding sagely, Granny Smith just said "Well, Ah just hope she finds happiness. Everypony deserves to have somepony special." and slowly walked back towards the house.

Looking back at Granny Smith as she left and sighing, Applejack started her trot back down to the southern fields. She had a feeling it was going to be a long next few days.