Purrs, Paws and Collars

Fluttershy was relaxing in her back garden, sitting on a quaint wooden bench watching the birds feed off the berry trees and the squirrels running up and down from their hollowed-out homes. It was pleasant with a slight breeze and a fair amount of sunshine.

The peace was not to last as a very disgruntled Applejack, Applebloom and a stoic Big Macintosh rounded the corner.

"Consarnit, damned wing rodents!"

"There eatin all our crop!...just what I need after hanging with Sweetie Belle, to come home to those 'suckers'"

"Eyeup"

Fluttershy gathered both girls into a short hug and parted.

"Have the bats returned to the farm."

Applejack couldn't help but snort in anger.

"They're not only back, but they've already gobbled up half of our zap apples. I had to call pest control to get rid of them!"

Apple Bloom looked thoroughly annoyed but also tired, and her hair was a complete mess.

"We can't work the farm for the next couple of day's, so we have nothing to do!"

Big Mac stepped forward in large form casting shadows over the other girls, and removed his hat, putting it to his chest.

"Well, howdy, ms Fluttershy, I'm mighty sorry for dropping in on you like this, but would it be ok if I stayed over for a little bit."

"You're more than welcome, Macintosh, and we are going to be family. After all, the sofa folds out into a bed, so you can use that."

"Much appreciated."

The four of them walked into the house and then into the living room where they all sat—each with a hot beverage of some description.

A little while into the relaxation, the three Apple siblings took it in turns to use the shower as all the hoo-ha with the bats left them at best smelling rather 'ripe'.

The recognisable jingle of the house phone startled Fluttershy from her thoughts; she hurried over before it stopped ringing.

"Um, Hello..."

"Hi, Fluttershy, it's only me."

"Twilight, it's so nice to hear from you."

"You too, say I hope it's not too much trouble. I was just wondering if you wouldn't mind 'dog-sitting Dashie for a couple of hours?"

Fluttershy felt an excited grin stretch across her face at the prospect of having some time with her oldest friend.

"I would love to...Big Mac's going to be here as well."

"She'll like that. Big Mac and Dashie have good chemistry. I'll drop RD off in about...five minutes."

Fluttershy said her goodbye's and did a little jiggle in place.

"Somone looks happy."

"Rainbow Dash is coming over for a while."

Applejacks face adopted a competitive smirk but then remembered something, and it changed into a small smile and rubbed the back of her head.

"I forget that Rainbow isn't like her younger self anymore... she's her true self now, it was obvious now that I think about it, the race's an arm-wrestling match, Rainbow didn't like doing any of those things, but she did them because I liked to do them."

Fluttershy stroked AJ's back.

"It's ok, Jacky. I sometimes forget too, and we've all changed. Some of us have just changed a lot more than we realised."

"Well, I'm going to respect the fact that Dash ain't no roughhousing tomboy anymore and be extra gentle with her"

"I think Rainbow will appreciate that."

-Five Minutes Later-

Twilight's car pulled up outside the Flutter-Jack residence; both girls got out of the car and walked up to the house.

Rainbow transitioned into a small sprint when she saw Fluttershy open the front door and gave her a big hug. Fluttershy scratched the back of Rainbows head, eliciting some soft pants. In time, she broke the hug for Twilight to walk up behind her and kiss her on the cheek.

"Now ', Cool Breeze', you be a good girl, ok."

Rainbow nodded enthusiastically.

"Don't worry, Twilight; Rainbow always behaves herself."

Rainbow turned to face her fiancée, grabbed her head and planted a big kiss on her lips.

"It's ok ', Brainiac'. No need to worry about me."

Twilight smiled at the second use of the pet name and stroked her cheek before turning around and heading back to the car.

The front door closed behind them as they entered the house and the hum of Twilights car faded into the distance.

Fluttershy removed the leash from Dash's collar, and they both went into the living room. Applejack stood up from the sofa with her hand extended but was caught off guard when the other girl glomped her with a big hug.

"It's good to see you, AJ."

Applejack rubbed her back before answering.

"It's really good to see ya too, sugar cube."

Next was Applebloom, who received a scratch behind the ear and purred in content.

Big Mac stood up from his seat; Rainbow Dash was officially the shortest in the room.

She took a couple of steps and ran at the towering farmer with both arms open. Macintosh caught her with one hand and raised Rainbow into the air until her back was touching the ceiling in a playful show of affection. Dash burst out laughing at the weird sensation.

"Mac, ha..haha...come on, let me down."

Mac's voice was deep but carried with it a smirk.

"I'm sorry I didn't quite get that. Could you speak up?"

"I SAID GET ME DO- HAHAHA- FROM HEEEERE"

Big Mac lowered and re-raised his arm, giving his guest a bumpy ride.

"What was that? Did you say to keep you on the ceiling all day...alrighty then."

"NO!... Applejack, can you tell your brother to put me down, please."

"Nope"

Rainbow poked her tongue at her friend and then honed in on Fluttershy.

"Shy, can you help me down."

"I think I better get dinner started."

Fluttershy, seemingly not having heard her, walked into the kitchen."

Rainbow just hung there limply, not knowing what to do.

"I've been betrayed."

"No, I think you've been 'let down."

Rainbows eyes went wide, and before she could say anything, she was dropping and fast towards the floor. Both of Mac's hands caught her sides, and she stopped her nose inches from the floor.

She got up and tidied her clothes, then gave Mac a usual hug which he returned in kind.

"Every time?"

"Yep, Every time."

Applejack went into the kitchen to help Shy, Big Mac turned on the TV to some Quiz Show, Rainbow laid on the plush carpet, and Apple Bloom rested her head on the girl's stomach and at some point, all three of them had fallen asleep, they woke up to the smell of delicious piping hot food, they all got themselves seated at a large round table a succulent joint of lamb that had marinated in mint sauce idled in the centre, everyone except Applebloom had the lamb, while she had a nut roast.

"This is delicious, Fluttershy, thank you."

"Oh, I didn't cook this. I only made the mint sauce."

Rainbow looked over to Applejack, who was smirking slightly.

"Thank you, AJ. It's delicious."

Applejack reached over and ruffled Rainbow's hair."

"It ain't no problem, Dash, now eat up we have rhubarb and apple crumble for dessert."

...

After everyone had finished eating, they sat back. Each made a little burp to honour the food, and then one horrendously loud burp, which could've made the water ripple, drew attention to Big Mac, mouths agape.

Mac kept a stone face and pointed to his left, and everyone mouths grew a little wider when they saw a blushing Fluttershy.

"...Um, excuse me..."

Everyone burst into fits of laughter, which quickly quieted when what had to be the most significant dish of crumble stumbled from the kitchen and onto the table.

Applejack looked at everyone with a semi-serious expression.

"Now, I expect every morsel cone, and because I know you must still be hungry, I made one for each of you."

Big Mac and Rainbow looked at each other in astonishment, and then they both looked towards AJ.

"That's not funny..."

"Good, cuz I ain't got much of a head for humour...now to get to eatin."

...

A full Big Mac sat down on the plush armchair. A full Rainbow Dash sat down on the full Big Mac. A full Apple Bloom sat down on a full Rainbow Dash that was sat down on a Full Big Mac, and together, they all fell asleep.

A deep bellowing noise emanated from the triple occupied seat.

Rainbow woke up in shock from the unexpected noise and screamed, alerting Big Mac into standing up, inadvertently tossing the other two to the floor. Apple Bloom gave a startled hiss as a first response, and then they sniffed once twice three times.

"Ah, for cryin out loud, Mac...oh god, I can smell the mint sauce."

Apple Bloom left the room, leaving a guffawing Rainbow rolling around on the floor, which was about to have a stitch from laughing so hard.

Big Mac opened the nearest window.

"Pardon me."

Rainbow wiped a tear from her eye.

"It wasn't even you who farted, and it was me...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!"

Apple Jack and Fluttershy looked on in horror at their friend who had just let off a whopper of a rear-end woodwind solo.

"Well, I'll be darned, missus Dash. I'm kinda jealous."

Rainbow looked at Fluttershy through tear-stained eyes.

"Sorry about that, Flutters"

Fluttershy waved her friend off.

"Oh, no need to apologise, Dashie...you can help with washing and drying.

"...Wut..."

Fluttershy and AJ both looked at her with eyebrows raised.

"Fine, come on, Apple Bloom, let's go wash up."

Rainbow casually dragged the younger sibling with her.

"Hey, I don't consent, no! AJ, help me."

"Don't break anything, Apple Bloom."

"Fine, I'll help, but I'm doing the dryin."

-Two Wet Pet’s Later-

Big Mac was reading the latest issue of Orchard's Monthly, and Apple Bloom was sat with Fluttershy while receiving some scratches in all the right places.

Rainbow had decided to sit next to Applejack, who encapsulated her with a strong arm.

At first, Dash was surprised by the action but soon warmed up and felt comfortable enough to rest her head on the farmer's shoulder. The size disparity between the two bordered on hilarious. Applejack was tall and muscled.

At the same time, Rainbow Dash was smaller and agile, which left a lot to be desired in the strength department but give her some running shoes, and you got yourselves a human bullet.

Applejack found this out the hard way when during a game tag a couple of years ago, she thought she had a good chance of catching her friend but caught her off guard when she had had nearly gagged her only for her target to sprint off into the distance at a cheaters pace.

Even now, AJ has not been able to catch her friend in a game of tag.

One by one, sleep took hold, and eyes began to close the woes and frustrations, and excitements mellowed out into dreams and memories, and then Twilights car pulled up outside and soon enough, the Librarian and her Dog were on their way home.