It didn’t take very long for Apple Bloom, Nocturnus, and Scootaloo to recover from the surprise that the former gave the latter’s earlier that morning. Apple Bloom was still thoroughly embarrassed and more than a little guilty for walking on her friends the way she did and did her best to make it up to them. After a bombard of apologies, Nocturnus and Scootaloo were finally able to convince Apple Bloom that neither of them was mad at her for watching them. That they honestly didn’t expect anypony to find them due to how far away they were in the orchard. It took more than a few minutes for Apple Bloom to calm down and recover from her bashfulness, as well as another heated feeling she was dealing with. Thankfully, Scootaloo and Nocturnus were more than patient enough to let Apple Bloom take the time she needed, even if it didn’t take very long.

Once she gained control of herself, the trio proceeded to help her gather up the swimming items that Apple Bloom had taken with them. In her fall, she had accidentally scattered them in all directions and needed more than a few helping hooves to clean it up. By the time they were fully set, they were within the range of the pond, and it was still broad daylight outside. As excited as she was to mess around, Apple Bloom had yet to realize that swimming wouldn’t be the only thing she’d be doing with her friends. And what they were soon going do would be more fun than any kind of swimming they’d be doing.

“S-so, are y’all sure that ya ain’t mad at me were walkin’ in on y’all like that?” Apple Bloom asked, looking in between the bat pony and pegasus. “A-Ah can understand if ya guys are since it was kind o’ wrong fer me t’ do that.”

Nocturnus sighed softly, looking at Apple Bloom with a gentle, if not slightly annoyed, look. “Apple Bloom, for the fifth time, me and Scootaloo aren’t upset with you. Why would we be after you just happened to stumble upon us when we least expected it? Especially on your families’ farm nonetheless? If anything, you should be the one upset with us for doing it on your farm. Not the other way around.”

“He’s right.” Scootaloo murmured, looking more than a little guiltily, the sexual rush she felt having long gone. “When we had arrived here, we were told by your parents that you weren’t quite free yet. And you were tending to the western orchard. So, we-”

“Hold on what?!” Apple Bloom shouted, cutting Scootaloo off. “Ma an’ Pa knew that y’all were here the entire time?!”

“Yeah, they did,” Nocturnus replied, tilting his head innocently. “They didn’t tell you?”

“No, neither o’ them did.” Apple Bloom replied hotly, her anger not directed at Nocturnus. “Ah was under the impression that y’all still hadn’t got here yet. That’s why Ah was gonna go down t’ the pond an’ wait for y’all while Ah set up our swimmin’ suits an’ floats.” She grumbled and kicked at the dirt, lashing her tail angrily. ‘Note to self: chew Ma an’ Pa out fer not tellin’ me that Nocturnus an’ Scootaloo were here an’ lettin’ me walk in on them during their rodeo.’

“Oh… I’m sorry about that Apple Bloom. I thought they had told you.” Nocturnus frowned, confusion plastered on his face. “I guess they must’ve forgotten to tell you that they had already came.”

“Yeah, sure they did.” Apple Bloom replied, her tone laced with sarcasm as she looked behind her. As quickly as her anger flared, it dissipated as she sighed. “It’s alright, Ah ain’t mad at either o’ ya. An’ Ah ain’t made that y’all were havin’ sex on th’ orchard. Ya ain’t the first ones Ah caught gettin’ it on either, an’ Ah’m sure it won’t be the last either.”

Scootaloo’s ears perked. “What?”

“Nothin’, nothin’.” Apple Bloom shook her head as she set her saddlebags down, all of them having made it to the pond. Opening the both of them up, she took out the floats and the water toys, setting some of them over to Scootaloo and Nocturnus. “Anyway, ya guys wanna go ahead and go fer our swim? It’s been a pretty long time since at least a one o’ us got t’ hang out with one another. After the week that Ah’ve had, Ah could really use a nice big dippin'.”

“Sure, Apple Bloom! That’s what we all came here for anyway. We did talk about it last night while having dinner with your family.” Nocturnus replied brightly, taking a pair of floats. “Plus, it does get pretty hot this month during June. So, we gotta take as many chances as possible to real, cool down, if you know what I mean.”

Scootaloo giggled softly, playfully swatting at Nocturnus’s shoulder. “Oh, we know what you mean Nocturnus. I always love a good dip somewhere where I can really get all that stress out of me.” She leaned in towards her coltfriend with a half-lidded gaze, planting a soft peck on his lips. “Especially if it’s with you~.”

“And I don’t think I can go swimming or diving anywhere if I don’t have you there to see me do it.” Nocturnus retorted, giving a fanged grin as he stroked Scootaloo’s cheek. “I love it when your mane gets all wet and cling to that adorable face of yours. It just makes me want to take you under the water and rail you right there. Including when the water makes you even wetter than you usually get”

“Are you saying you like it when I get wet in the water?” Scootaloo cooed. “Because it sounds like you’re saying you get turned on when you do see me all wet~.”

“You’re damn right I do~,” Nocturnus replied, pressing his forehead against Scootaloo’s. “Because I want to bang you all the more when I see you wet all over~.”

Scootaloo gave a gasp of mock surprise. “Are you saying that you’ll plow me if I get all wet and slick?”

“Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.” Nocturnus breathed, putting his lips close to Scootaloo’s so she could feel his breath. “Why don’t we find out, shall we?”

A slash of water snapped the two lovers out of their increasingly lustful state, and they found themselves being drenched by a huge wave of water. Both foals squealed as they looked to where it had come from, only to see Apple Bloom floating in the water.

“If y’all ‘r done makin' each other hornier than Timberwolves in heat, c’mon and git in this pond!” She urged, holding a large beachball in her hooves. “This ball ain’t gonna fly ‘round this pond itself!”

“Oh, you are so gonna pay for that one Apple Bloom!” Nocturnus said, hurriedly putting on his own swimming equipment. “Just wait, you’re gonna be squealing like a piglet by the time I’m done with you!”

“Challenge accepted!” Apple Bloom smirked, swimming a few more feet away from the trio. “Hey Scoots! Are ya gonna git in on this ‘r what?!”

Scootaloo laughed softly to herself, tying her mane back in a ponytail while still letting her bang cover her other eye. Flaring her wings, she galloped towards the edge of the pond and jumped, plunging inside before joining her friends in their watery game.

The splashing of water and the laughter of ponies could be heard in the Eastern Field of Sweet Apple Acres as Apple Bloom Scootaloo and Nocturnus played their game of ball. The game had only started half an hour ago, but from the way it was being played, it could’ve gone even longer than that. It was still daylight outside, and the sun was still a long way away from setting, so the colt and fillies had plenty of time to get to relieve their stress. The ballgame was indeed helping in that aspect in every way, and the trio was far from done.

“Head’s up Apple Bloom!” Nocturnus cried, leaping out of the water as best he could as he hit the ball forward. Apple Bloom ran into him just as it hit it, having tried to get at it before he could throw, leaving her unable to stop it. “Let’s see if you can get to it before I can!”

“Ah know Ah can git here b’fore you!” Apple Bloom said, taking a dive in the water as she began to swim freestyle. Through the water, she could see Nocturnus following behind her, and quickly picking up speed. She smirked as she saw the ball getting closer within her sight and began cheering when she got within range. Before Apple Bloom could get it however, it suddenly shot in the air, along with two orange hindlegs following after it.

“W-what the-?!” Apple Bloom cried, watching as the ball sailed away from her. looking back in front of her, she watched as Scootaloo emerged from the water. “Hey, that’s not fair! Ya can’t use yer legs t’ throw th’ ball!”

“Oh, and why not Apple Bloom~?” Scootaloo cooed, smiling playfully at the scowling farm filly. “I don’t remember you saying that we could only use our forehooves to toss the ball around the pond. You just wanted us to continue tossing it until we managed to get it back over to the shore~.”

“Y-yeah, but…that didn’t mean you could use yer hooves!” Apple Bloom stammered, not noticing Nocturnus swimming ahead of her. “Other ponies in water polo don’t use their hindlegs when they throw the ball over the net!”

Scootaloo nodded, running a hoof through her wet purple mane. “That’s true, but we’re not playing water polo, are we? So, we’re all free to use whatever methods we can to win.” She glanced behind Apple Bloom and stifled a giggle. “Speaking of which, you may wanna get to the ball before my little Nocty does~.”

“WHAT?!” Apple Bloom bit her lip to stifle her curse before diving back into the water and frantically swimming after Nocturnus. Scootaloo watched in silent amusement as the farm filly frantically tried to catch up, managing to just barely. With a final lunge, she burst out of the water and all but wrapped her hooves around the ball, looking to the side to give Sheton a victorious smile.

“HA! Ah got it now Nocturnus!” She cried cheerfully. “Now Ah have the upper hoof in this duel of water, balls, and hooves! Whatcha gonna do now?!”

“Whaddya think I’m gonna do Apple Bloom?!” Nocturnus asked, smirking widely as he playfully got into Apple Bloom’s face. “Wait, I know! I’m gonna claim the ball for myself!”

He lunged for Apple Bloom, giving a bit of a flap of his bat wings as he did so, but Apple Bloom managed to duck to the side. She laughed merrily as she chucked the ball forward, watching as it landed in the center of the pond. As soon as it did, Scootaloo tried to make a break for it, diving into the water with the grace of a mermaid. Apple Bloom wasn’t having any of it and picked up the pace in her freestyle so she could get to the ball. Try as she might though, Scootaloo proved to be the quicker one and got the ball in her hooves.

“Got you, Apple Bloom!” She chirped as she held it high above her head. “Now, I’m gonna finish this!”

“Oh no, you won’t!” Apple Bloom shouted, swimming as fast as she could too. “If there’s one pony that’s gonna finish this, it’s me!”

Scootaloo laughed as Apple Bloom swam at her, ducking and evading her leaps at her as she kept the ball securely in her hooves. Every couple of seconds, when it looked like Apple Bloom was going to catch it, Scootaloo would throw it into the air. This kept Apple Bloom from managing to reach it, but her stubbornness refused to let her give up. She continued to try to get the ball away from Scootaloo, all while the pegasus filly continued to keep it safe, both laughing all the while.

Nocturnus, who had been making to follow after Apple Bloom, stopped upon watching the scene play out before him. A fond smile came to his face when he saw his fillyfriend and Apple Bloom jumping and splashing about in the water. The squeals and giggles they were making her like music to his ears as their eyes shined with mirth and happiness. As he continued to watch, Nocturnus couldn’t help but take a bit of a closer look at them, presumably Apple Bloom.

‘Gosh... Apple Bloom looks so pretty with her mane down and wet like that.’ He thought to himself, watching as Apple Bloom’s scarlet whipped around and clung to her head and neck. The orange of her irises seemed to gleam as the sun’s light reflected off of them, making Nocturnus unable to look away. ‘And the way her eyes are shining, they’re so beautiful, even more so with the smile. She looks so cute and sexy like that…’ The colt blinked as that last thought sunk in. ‘Wait…did I just-?!’

“Here Ah come Nocturnus!”

The colt jumped when he saw Apple Bloom rushing towards him through the water, the ball sailing right above his head. Realizing that it was about to hit him, Nocturnus hunched his body down and leaped into the air, both forelegs raised. At the same time, Apple Bloom jumped as well, somehow reaching the same height as he was going. Before either knew what had happened, both foals’ lips unceremoniously mashed against one another’s.

To say that time froze at that moment would’ve been like saying that the magnificent towering Macintosh Hills and Foal Mountains were mere pebbles in a barren wasteland. All concepts of time, reality, space seemed to lose all meaning to Nocturnus and Apple Bloom as they floated where they were. No other sound and no other sight graced their eyes or ears except for what was in front of them. At first, they couldn’t properly process what had just happened, for they were too shocked to try to do so. It was only when they felt themselves land on something warm and hard, did they get brought out of their stupor. Their eyes widened as their pupils decreased in size, the full magnitude of what they were doing finally setting in. With a muffled cry, Apple Bloom tore her lips away in a way that made it seem like she had just kissed a frog, a sharp smack emitting as she did so.

“Mah Gaia!” Apple Bloom yelled as she leaped off of Nocturnus. One of her hooves came to her muzzle as her face went bright red. “Ah… Ah… A-Ah didn’t…!”

“Apple Bloom! Nocturnus!” Scootaloo cried as she rushed out of the water, immediately come to her friend and coltfriend’s aids. “Are you two okay?!”

“Ah… A-Ah… uh…” Apple Bloom was unable to form a proper response.

“Y-yeah, we’re okay Scootaloo!” Nocturnus replied, quickly coming to the rescue. “W-we… we had run into each other p-pretty hard.”

“Uh…y-yeah.” Apple Bloom said, her hoof still up to her muzzle. “W-we weren’t expectin’ that t’ happen.”

Scootaloo looked to be about to reply but stopped when she saw the looks and language in Apple Bloom and Nocturnus’s bodies. She looked back and forth in between them, paying close attention to their muzzles. It didn’t take long for Scootaloo to realize what had happened, and a soft gasped left her as she took a couple of steps back.

Apple Bloom and Nocturnus noticed the look in Scootaloo’s eye, and their stomachs dropped like ducklings from a cliff's edge. ‘Oh no…’

“U-um… Apple Bloom… N-Nocturnus?” Scootaloo began, her voice soft and tentative, yet incredibly apprehensive. “D-did… did you two…u-um…”

“Ah…Ah, w-w-w-we…” The farm filly whimpered. “W-w-we, w-we didn’t mean to…”

“Apple Bloom, please… j-just tell me,” Scootaloo said, looking into her friends frightened orange eyes. “D-did you and Nocturnus…k-kiss accidentally?”

Apple Bloom gave no reply, her shame preventing her from doing so as she lowered her head, the scarlet bang of her mane hiding her eye. Scootaloo looked over at Nocturnus, who was pawing at the ground awkwardly, biting his lip hard. With as much courage as he could muster, the thestral colt nodded, before his mane spilled over to hide his eyes. Scootaloo said nothing, but she too looked off to the side, an unreadable expression on her face as her cheeks heated up in a blush.

Suddenly, a yellow blur washed over her vision as Apple Bloom shot passed her, the floats she was wearing on her elbows flying behind her. A cry mix with embarrassment, guilt, and shame left Apple Bloom as anime tears sprayed from her eyes like out of control hoses. As she tore up the hill, Scootaloo and Nocturnus heard her comically wailing out her apologies up until she vanished into the orchard.

“A-Apple Bloom, wait!” Nocturnus shouted as he made to fly after her but stopped when he saw how far she had gotten. Clenching his teeth together, he stomped the ground hard, making the ground split beneath his hooves. “Selene's twin pickaxes!”

“Oh, dear. That was unexpected.” Scootaloo murmured as she watched Apple Bloom ran off into the orchard. “I didn’t know she’d take it that hard.”

“Scootaloo, I am so, so sorry!” Nocturnus cried desperately, clasping his hooves together. “That was by accident I swear! Complete and total accident!”

“I-I know, it’s okay Nocturnus. I’m not mad,” Scootaloo replied, shaking her head as she smiled in reassurance. “I-I just…wasn’t expecting it to happen. I-if at all.”

“M-me neither. I mean, I was literally jumping for the ball before she was.” Nocturnus muttered as a massive sweatdrop appeared on his head. “I wasn’t expecting her to jump for it at the same time, so… wow.”

“M-mhm.” Scootaloo nodded, looking down at her hooves and up at Nocturnus. “Y-you think w-we should, um… g-go after her?”

“Yeah, good idea. She has to be feeling like shit after what happened.” Nocturnus nodded resolutely, grabbing his hat. “Come on! The sooner we get there, the sooner we can make her feel better.”

“R-right, though we should clean up a-and get dried f-first,” Scootaloo replied, gesturing to the ball and other swimming items. “I don’t think G-Granny Smith w-will like it if we leave everything l-like this.” She looked away as she muttered, “Or how we’re gonna make Apple Bloom feel better…”

“Right,” Nocturnus said, stopping as he barely caught onto what Scootaloo said. “Wait, what was that you just said?”

Scootaloo quickly shook her head. “N-nothing! Let's just go!”

Author's Note

Heh, poor Apple Bloom...she was not expecting that to happen at all. One minute, she was having the time of her life with her friends after working herself tired in the orchard, and the next his happens? I kind of feel bad for doing that to her, even though it's supposed to tie in with what's going to happen in the next two or three chapters, which will soon be pretty hot and raunchy. I'll just say right now, the hardest part of this was the beginning of the chapter, other than that, everything else went pretty smoothly, or at least as smooth as these little clopfics will go. In the next one, Scootaloo and Nocturnus will take a bit of time comforting Apple Bloom, while some shocking confessions come in which will lead to something really fun for them all!