Day 2

West Jersey had a very pleasant sleep that night. In fact, he found himself waking up at five a.m. the fallowing morning all on his own. Also, while most days would have had a desire to return to sleep like he might, he felt full of energy. Spending a good two hour tidying up his house, and another working on something he hadn’t in a long while. Then about a half hour before he was due to meet up with Melody Orchard. It felt like nothing could go wrong.

Almost as if the forces that control cliches could be, his phone rang. Knowing who it likely was before he even answered, the stallion took a moment to take a few deep breaths, figuring it was better now than when he was on his date.

“Hello?” He calmly answered, remembering for a moment how the person he thought might answer back said he shouldn’t always assume things.

“Morning, West,” His father answered back. “How’s it going, son?”

On the other hoof...

West took in a deep breath before answering, “Fine, fine, is all fine.” He wiped his forehead. “What can I do for you?”

“Can’t a father just check in on his son?”

‘Only when it’s to see how I’ve fucked up this time or to encourage me to move back in,’ He proudly thought to himself, rather than say out loud.

Reminding himself about what laid ahead, West casually answered, “Oh, no, everything’s great.” As he said it, his foot started to tap as his fingers played with the phone.

“Great.” His father answered with a jolly laugh. “So what are your plans today?”

He was about to respond with his usual, nothing, which may or may not have led to his father asking if he could come over to help with some chores. Which he could have said no too, only to get a, ‘Why not? Is something wrong, son? Maybe we should look into a therapist you can’t afford son,’ response. Versus saying he was working on his hobbit’s.

Unfortunately, he actually did have plans that day. In less than an hour actually. However, if he knew his father and mother, if he told either of them that, they would then just go on and on asking a million questions. Then, without even telling them about the lesbian fusion bit, would find some way to suggest falling in love with her was a bad idea. It was part of (although not entirely) the reason he was single prior to Melody, believe it or not.

So, how could he tell his overprotective father that he had a date that morning?

“Um… Nothing really. Have some plans to clean my house and such.” Not a lie, since he had spent the whole morning cleaning, and was even getting into the habit of doing something every day.

“Ah, yes.” West could tell his father had nodded at that, and was probably rubbing his chin between the pause. “Well then, how about... You clean out your gutters today?.”

Having already planned to clean the bathroom, West tightened the hold on his phone. “Sure thing, dad.”

The phone went quiet as West realized just how much bite he had let slip in those last couple of words and started to mentally slap himself.

“Oh, well, if there’s something else you’d rather do-

“No, dad, it’s fine!” he tried to add with a little more cheer. “That sounds perfect.”

“Alright… I’ll leave you be and check in on you later. Oh! Have you gotten the outfit for your nieces party tomorrow?”

“Yeah. I’ll be there. Still ten o'clock?”

“Hasn’t changed.” His dad confirmed. “Alright then. I love you, son.”

“Love you too, dad,” West replied with as much energy as he could. He let out a breath as he hung the phone up. A bit too close for comfort, although the underwear he immediately saw on the floor after he thought he’d taken care of anything in case his dad did a surprise visit didn’t help.

******

“Really?” Twilight Sparkle asked on her end of the phone. “Wait! Aren’t you gay?”

“I thought so too,” Melody Orchard shrugged as she played with the phone cord in her underground barn apartment. “At least, yeah, you’d think so because my two half’s are, but no! My guess is either Applejack or Coloratura might have been a little bit bi. Or it’s that thing where you add a negative number with a positive number, whatever that’s called.”

“It's just called multiplications.” Twilight answered. “But getting back on topic-

“I’m aware of all the why nots, Twi. But I told him last night and,” Melody let out a dreamy sigh. “he said he doesn’t mind, and wants to give this a chance anyways.”

“Um,” Twilight said, before realizing that it wasn’t as if there was a serious reason they needed to keep fusions a secret. Although there was one secret she was sure was supposed to be kept hidden. “Ah! And, does he know who you are?”

Melody paused a bit before saying, “Not yet. I made it a little teasing game for him to guess. I’m willing to bet it won’t take him long to figure out I’m part Applejack. As for the half I’m really worried about him finding out… I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”

“Alright. Well, you enjoy your date with him this morning, and I’ll see you later this afternoon for an examination.”

“Sounds good, Twi. I’ll see yay then,” Melody replied before she hung up, and took a long look at herself in the mirror. It was too early to be anything but excited.

*****

“Hey!” West waved, spotting Melody at one of the outside tables.

She looked up at him from her coffee cup with a smile. “Morning, handsome. How’d you sleep?”

“Good,” Weste said, leaving out some details that made it ‘great’ for tac. “So,” he swung into the chair adjacent, “how has your morning been, miss Applejack.”

Melody eye’s widen, before relaxing into a teasing grin. “How’d you guess?”

“Well,” West answered, rubbing his chin. “At first, when I was thinking about your name, and where I might have recognized you before learning about the whole fusion thing, I thought; Orchard? Actually, my first guess was that carrot and strawberry farmer.”

Melody gave him a death glare.

“For the fur colors!” West insisted, holding his hands up. “Then I thought, but carrots and strawberries don’t grow in orchards! Then I realized we had an apple farm in town. It wasn’t until I looked up a photograph of the elements in a paper that I was confident enough to make the assumption.”

“Well fancy that,” Melody whistled, booping him on the noise. “I found me a smart boy then.”

“Yeah.” West chuckled, sitting up straight in his chair.

Pinkie Pie zoomed in next to them, asking “Hey, guys! So, what can I get you two love birds today?” She gave them a wink.

Blushing, the pair ordered pancakes before being left alone again.

“So,” West continued, “one of the elements, huh?”

Melody tensed. “And, what’s that’s supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, nothing!” West tried to defend. “Well, I mean, I definitely would have thought out of my league, to be honest.”

Melody huffed and crossed her arms. “Don’t knock it until you try it.”

“I’m being sincere!” West groaned. “Come on! You mares seem like ponies any guy would kill to be with.”

“That’s sweet and all, but,” Melody leaned forward, “before you found out who I was, and if you had a say and picked over which of us would be hottest…

West averted his gaze. “I mean… I’m with you now, and it’s not if I had thought I’d stand an honest chance with any of them before.”

Melody narrowed her eyes. “Humor me.”

“Is that you, or your Applejack talking?” West gulped.

“Say it.”

“I don’t really think-

“Say it.”

“Is this really-

“Come on, now, sugarcube, no need to be shy. The fact it wasn’t immediately Applejack says enough already.”

“I just don’t think-

“Say it!”

“You are really persistent, arnt-”

“Say it!!”

“Alright!” West caved. “Rarity! If I had to pick it be Rarity!” He covered his mouth, as Melody slumped back into her chair. She then laughed out a loud laughter that caught everponies, including Pinkie’s who was just coming to them with their pancakes, attention.

It was attention West didn't like. Knowing in one way or another it would reach his dad.

“Alright, alright! Quite down, please!” he begged.

Melody righted himself as she realized how nervous he looked at all the attention they were receiving. “Oh… Oh! I’m sorry.” She rubbed her neck. “Not the attention seeking type?”

“It’s,”West said with his tone sounding a bit upset, but chilled at Melody’s concerned expression. “It’s nothing. Just complicated.”

“Ah.” Melody said, as Pinkie Pie sat their food down onto the table.

They ate in awkward silence, before he said, “Well, Applejack was definitely my second favorite.”

Melody let out a relieved sigh. “Under the circumstances, I’ll take that as a compliment. Even without I can admit you have good tastes.”

West blushed and smiled at that. “Thanks,” He leaned forward. “So I guess one down, one to go?”

Melody held her fork in mid-air between bites.

“I would have thought maybe one of the other elements, but aside from meeting half of them last night, just didn’t match your color or Melody part of your name. I have a few guesses, but none of them-

“You work today?” Melody cut off,. “Cause if not, I was thinking, maybe we could go for a swim somewhere.” She winked at him, and West’s face turned scarlet.

“Um… Yes, actually, I do. Two o’clock. But then I have the next two days off. Although the one tomorrow I have reserved for my birthday nieces party. It’s what I was doing at Carousel Boutique to begin with.”

“Aw!” Melody coed. “You have a niece?”

“Yeah,” West answered with a giggle “Sweet little thing. It’s her tenth birthday.”

Melody smiled and cupped her hands. “Well that sounds like a great idea.”

West blinked. “Say what now?”

“Your nieces party.” Melody smiled as if nothing was wrong, before realizing how that might be. “I mean, if you can bring a guest that is, I’d be happy to be your plus one.” She frowned at PJ’s shortness of breath. “Oh, sorry! I over-step-

“NO!” West interjected. “I’d love to, but-

What, was he supposed to say he had pride and daddy issues? That the last thing he wanted was for his dad to pester him over something like this? Then again, she was honest about the fusion and how this might not last after things, he supposed he owed her the same.

“I just kind of have some… Family complications. Nothing bad!” he assured her. “If anything, when I say it out loud, it’s kind of piety.”

“Oh?” Melody scooted closer and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You want to share?”

West sighed. He really did. “Well, I guess long story short, my parents can be a bit overprotective. Good hearted, but it’s always trying to dictate my life to the letter. Always judgmental if I like-

His pupils shrank.

Melody tilted her head. “Like what?”

This was getting better and better. Still, if she really was part element of honesty, lying would do no good. If she was going to realize this wasn’t going to work out, now be the time.

West took in a deep breath. “Alright, well… I’m kind of into… animated, kid shows.”

“Oh, really?” To his surprise, she sounded rather excited before flinching back. “I mean, may be a mood killer, but,” she fidgeted with her hair, before saying softly, “My Little Human?”

West’s eyes widened. “You’re a fan too?”

They both perked up, smiled, and then laughed.

“Oh, thank Celestia,” West said as he shook his head. “I mean, yeah. If there was anything I was the most afraid of ending this relationship, it be that and, maybe also like to write fan fictions about the show for its fandom.” He said fast and softly, hoping Melody wouldn’t hear.

However, she did.

“Sound interesting, honestly.” Melody beamed.

West stared. “Really? I mean, it’s not like I’ve ever sunk so low as to write or read any of the porn, I assure you.”

She raised an eyebrow at him.

“Eh... Well, regardless, if I had, I’d at least make sure it was well written and not just sex but a story that just happens to have sex in it.” He coughed. “Although it sometimes feels no one cares or is interested even when I do that now-a-days.”

“Hey,” Melody assured, reaching out for his hand. “Don’t give you that easily.” Her more Coloratura half spoke up. “Doing what you love may not immediately get you the results you want. But stick too it, and you’ll never know where it may take you. Personally, I wouldn’t mind giving your stories a read sometime.”

West’s face brightened up. “Well thanks. Means a lot... Although you’re taking this whole thing rather well.”

Melody shrugged. “It was my favorite show as a kid. Even then, there’s nothing wrong with liking whatever you want. I still watch it on the road sometimes. Although it’s another getting someone else into it.” She groaned. “I still trying to get Applejack more into the newer generation.”

“Road?” West questioned.

Melody fidgeted, before saying, “Well… So who’s your favorite character?!”

The rest of the morning was spent with them nerding out, talking about fan theories, while West shared some of his fan fiction premise ideas that Melody seemed to like and even through out some suggestions he’d have never thought of on his own.

Author's Note

That last bit was kind of a last minute add on I skipped over with my proofer when I saw no new likes or comments for this story -:-
Oh well! I’m in this for the art and expression, although comments and words to prove people are liking this would still be welcomed too ^^’