Author's Note

Chapter contains: Human/Humanized, Incest, Unrealistic Anatomy, Harem/Polygamy

Choices

My eyes flew open as I was suddenly thrust back into the waking world. For several moments, I lied still, waiting as my brain processed the sudden change. Above me, I saw the familiar ceiling of my bedroom, bathed in the soft light of morning. The mattress below me and the blankets above me formed a soft, warm cocoon that I could have recognized solely by touch. Even the smell of the air was familiar, for it was largely my own smell that clung to the sheets of my bed. My heartbeat calmed as I recognized where I was and what I was doing there, although it took me a few moments more to remember why I had found my sudden reappearance in my room so jarring.

As the memories of the previous night came rushing back to me, I gave a start, reflexively sitting up in my bed. I forced myself to breathe steadily, reminding myself that my little adventure had just been a dream. Well, “just” a dream might have been an oversimplification; to me, it had felt as real as anything. Despite the fact that I had just lived through it, the sequence of events was already becoming muddled in my mind. Princess Luna had said something about dreams being forgotten if not held onto, and while there were certainly some parts that I would gladly have let slip away, I felt I could not afford to give up even a single detail of that life-altering night. Concentrating, I cast myself back into my memories, running through the whole thing one step at a time.

It had all started with that somewhat embarrassing meeting with Princess Luna in my own dream. If I had known I was going to be visited by royalty, I might have shown a little bit more restraint in sampling the ice cream paradise I had found myself in. Thankfully, she had shown much more concern for her duties as the guardian of the dream world than my lack of manners. I had been confused as to why she had sought me out to help her banish my family’s nightmares, but I had been more than willing to help her if it meant protecting the people I loved. It wasn’t until later that I realized how unprepared I had truly been.

I had visited each of them in turn, first Buttercup, then Apple Bloom, then Applejack. Each one of them had constructed a fantasy in their minds, a place where they could be as they truly wished to be and exemplify the trait they venerated most, be it youth, maturity, or femininity. Thanks to my preexisting presence in all of their dreams, I had been able to step right in and take part in the events as they had unfolded. All three of them had been happy to see me and had delighted in having me all to themselves. However, their sweet dreams had quickly soured when confronted with the existence of each other.

Each one of them had feared the others, feared that they would outdo them and steal me away. Their deep-seated feelings of inadequacy and their jealousies of each other manifested in the most horrific ways, warping them in both body and soul. It was only due to the intervention and invaluable assistance of Princess Luna that I had been able to banish the fears that infested their hearts. She had been the one who had helped me piece together the puzzles and learn things about my family that I had never known before. They had needed help, so I had helped them in the only way a simple farm boy could have. I gave them my love, I gave them my sympathy, and I gave them my assurance that I loved each of them just as they were and that I always would.

I had doubted the effectiveness of my intervention, but the princess had seemed convinced that my gentle words would do them good, both in the present and in the future. I had been somewhat surprised to learn that the enigmatic woman had cared so much for the wellbeing of me and my family, especially when it came to our unusual circumstances. It had been her expression of support for myself and my family that had led me to mention the message we had received from Princess Celestia the day before. I had not understood Princess Luna’s agitation upon seeing the message for herself, but given her kind words regarding my family’s love, I had felt comfortable giving her permission to discuss the matter with her sister. That had been the last thing I had heard from her before she had returned me to my humble bed in my little old bedroom in my family home.

Replaying the events in my head certainly helped me come to terms with them, but it did little to assuage the lingering worry in my heart. While I had seen each of their troubled hearts soothed in turn, I could not forget that their crippling fears might still linger deep down inside of them, waiting to come forth once again. It would be up to me to ensure that they never gave into despair again, to make sure that they never again doubted my unconditional love for each one of them. I was their man after all; I had promised to take care of them, although I had never imagined that promise might lead me to where it had led me the previous night.

I glanced about my room, the sight of familiar furniture and colorful little models providing a much-needed sense of peace and safety. I looked to either side of me, seeing the empty halves of the mattress next to me. At the time, I had wondered why Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Buttercup had all asked to spend the night apart from each other and from me, a request that I had confusedly obliged. In hindsight, of course, it came as no surprise to me why they would not have wanted to be around one another. I felt a strange feeling of loneliness come over me all of a sudden, a feeling which I recognized on a conscious level was a bit silly. I had slept on my own for so many years, and yet the thought that I had just spent a night without them in my arms left me feeling incredibly unsatisfied. I had an intense desire to seek them out, to embrace all three of them and make up for lost time, so that is exactly what I set out to do.

As I slowly lowered myself out of my bed and onto the floor, I took note of the bright yellow sunlight streaming in through my window. It was late; well, it was late by Apple family standards. Most people probably would have pulled the covers back over their eyes and tried to get in one more hour of sleep if they had woken up at that time. I imagined that the rest of my family had probably already finished breakfast and were out in the orchard at that time. I wondered, however, why they hadn’t come and woken me up. Resolving to find out, I quickly threw on my clothes and headed downstairs.

To my surprise, I heard the sounds of eating coming from the kitchen and smelled the delectable scent of fried food. Not one to question a meal, however, I quickly descended the stairs and crossed the living room to the kitchen. After my experience the night before, I was a bit hesitant as I peered into the kitchen, half-expecting to see rotted wood and peeled wallpaper once more. Thankfully, the only thing out of the ordinary was the presence of Buttercup, Apple Bloom, and Applejack all sitting at the kitchen table and eating breakfast, despite the lateness of the hour. I took another brief moment to observe them from afar, ensuring that it was truly them I saw before me, but other than looking a bit tired, all three of them appeared just as they always did.

I cautiously stepped into the kitchen, the old, creaky floorboards announcing my presence. The three women looked up from their plates and over to where I stood. When their eyes fell upon me, all three of them smiled those beautiful smiles of theirs that always managed to put my heart at ease. I couldn’t help but smile back at them as I made my way over to the table.

“Good mornin’, sweetie,” said Buttercup.

“Mornin’, sugarcube,” said Applejack.

“Mornin', big guy,” Apple Bloom attempted to say through a mouthful of eggs.

“Good mornin’, you three,” I said, leaning in and giving each of them a hug and a kiss in turn.

“I left some food in the pan for you,” said Buttercup, nodding towards the stove.

“Thanks, Mama,” I said, heading over there. I shoveled the remaining portion of eggs, bacon, and toast that she had set aside for me onto a plate, then carried it back over to the table and took my seat.

“So, what’s the big deal, sleepyhead?” said Apple Bloom teasingly. “We’re almost done with breakfast.”

“You’re one to talk,” I said just as teasingly. “Shouldn’t you be out workin’ already?”

“We all got a bit of a slow start this mornin’,” said Buttercup.

“Thankfully, Granny was in a good mood, so she didn’t come around with the pots to wake us up,” said Applejack.

“Well, that’s good,” I said, choosing my next words carefully. “So...I take it y’all slept well then?”

For a split second, all three of them froze, then slowly resumed eating. In that brief span of time, I saw peculiar, bittersweet looks pass over their faces, fading so quickly that I probably would have missed them had I not been actively watching for them. I had no way of knowing how well the three of them remembered their dreams, but evidently, they were still holding onto the feelings, if nothing else.

“Well...yeah,” said Applejack.

“Eventually,” said Apple Bloom.

“Mmm-hmm,” grunted Buttercup as she chewed.

I didn’t press the subject, not wanting to force them to recall their experiences if they did not want to. Instead, I steered the conversation towards more typical subjects, such as the day’s chores, upcoming events, and the sort of lighthearted gossip that they were wont to share. Before long, all four of us were chatting and giggling together like old friends, which we really were, in a sense. After what the four of us had been through, I was more than happy to just spend a little while relaxing and enjoying the company of the women I loved.

As expected, they ended up finishing their meals much quicker than I did, as they had had quite a head start on me. I worked on catching up to them as they carried their empty plates over to the sink to be washed. I expected my sisters to head straight outside to get started on their chores while Buttercup finished up in the kitchen, so I was surprised when the three of them made their way back to the table and took their places around me.

“Anon?” said Apple Bloom. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Us too,” said Applejack as she and Buttercup approached.

I swallowed my mouthful of food, cautiously looking back and forth between them all. “Uh, sure,” I said.

“I, uh...I just wanted to say that...I’m sorry,” said Apple Bloom. “I’m sorry how I acted last night.”

“I am too,” said Applejack. “After we got that message, I was feelin’ grumpier than an old billy goat; I had no right to be.”

“We we’re all feelin’ down in the dumps,” said Buttercup. “We were so hung up on what we thought we’d lost that...we didn’t stop to think about what we already had.”

“You were right about what you said,” said Applejack. “You and me...and Apple Bloom and Buttercup...we’re all happy together. We’re happy together just the way we are. I...I can’t speak for them, but...I’d be happy if things did just stay the way they are.”

“I would too,” said Apple Bloom. “Thanks to you and...thanks to you bringin’ us all together like this...I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I’m happier than...I ever thought I would be. I realized I was bein’ a fool for bein’ mad...mad that I couldn’t have even more than I already did.”

“If you were bein’ a fool, then so was I,” said Buttercup. “To tell you the truth, after we got that message and...we were thinkin’ about all that marriage stuff...I got a little bit....jealous. I started thinkin’ that...we were gonna end up splittin’ up. I started thinkin’ that...if you had to marry someone, Anon...it wouldn’t be me.”

“You weren’t the only one,” said Applejack. “I was feelin’...scared...scared that you’d choose one of them over me. I was scared that...you’d give up on me.”

“AJ...Apple Bloom, Buttercup,” I said, “I’d never give up on you...any of you.”

“We know that...now,” said Apple Bloom. “When I woke up this mornin’...I remembered who I was dealin’ with. I remembered who you are and...who they are and...how much you all love me. Y’all are my family. I should never have been afraid of any of you.”

“We shouldn’t have run away from each other last night,” said Buttercup. “We should’ve stayed together and...been honest with each other. We shoulda just...told each other how we were feelin’, then we could’ve avoided all of it.” Buttercup suddenly started chuckling and shaking her head. “I’m your mama...I should’ve known that. I can’t believe I let my fears get in the way of steerin’ y’all right.”

Apple Bloom reached over and gently squeezed Buttercup’s hand. “We all make mistakes sometimes,” she said. “It ain’t nothin’ to be ashamed of.”

“That’s the good thing about havin’ someone,” said Applejack. “You can slip up every once in a while. You can...be weak...because there’ll always be someone else who can be strong for you...like you were, Anon. When the three of us were panickin’, you kept your head. You tried to make us feel better; you tried to get us to keep our hopes up and...not be upset if it was all for nothin’. It was our fault for not listenin’ to you.”

“You’re always lookin’ out for us like that,” said Apple Bloom. “You always try to make us happy. I love so much for that.”

“We love you so much for that,” said Buttercup. “We love how you make us happy, but...we love makin’ you happy too. You’ve done so much for all of us that...it doesn’t feel right to keep you from somethin’ you really want...somethin’ that’ll really make you happy.”

“What’s that?” I said.

“The same thing we all want,” said Applejack. “The thing we thought we were gettin’ last night. We want to be together...all of us. We want to be with you and we want you to be with us. We want to belong to you...for real. We want to have a normal life with you. We want to...go on dates and...spend time with our friends together and...hold hands in public. I know we still don’t know how things’ll turn out, but...we don’t want to keep you from all of that...just ‘cause we can’t all have it.”

“What are you sayin’?” I said, although I could already sense where the conversation was headed.

“I’m sayin’ that...even if things don’t turn out the way we want ‘em to...we still want you to be happy...you and...whoever you choose to spend your life with,” said Applejack.

“But...I can’t do that!” I said. “I can’t just...choose between you three!”

“Anon, please!” said Apple Bloom. “Let us finish.” Despite my wholehearted objection to the suggestion, I managed to shut my mouth and let them continue. “We ain’t tryin’ to force you into anythin’ you don’t wanna do. We just wanna give you the choice.”

“We know you love us, sweetie,” said Buttercup, “and we know you always will. That’s why we’re doin’ this. We know that, no matter what you decide to do...it ain’t gonna split us apart. We know you’ll go on lovin’ all of us as much as you ever have. We know we’ll go on lovin’ each other just as much too.”

“It’s like you said: no matter what happens, we’ll deal with it together,” said Applejack. “This doesn’t have to be somethin’ that splits us apart. When two people close to you, two people you love more than anythin’, get somethin’ that’ll make them happy...you should be happy for ‘em. Even if you can’t share that happiness, you should still support them...and you should still be happy for them. I intend to do just that.”

“We do too,” said Apple Bloom. “That’s why we’re tellin’ you this. We want you to know that...whatever you decide...we’ll be happy with it. If you do what really makes you happy...then we’ll accept it, no matter what.”

“You don’t have to worry about us,” said Buttercup. “You don’t have to worry about makin’ us all happy. Just this once, do what makes you happy; do what you want. You do that...and that’ll make us happier than anythin’ else.”

“Like we said, we ain’t tryin’ to pressure you into anythin’,” said Applejack. “We just want you to know how we feel. We owe you that. Just promise us...you’ll keep all this in mind. Promise us you’ll at least think about it. Okay?”

I looked at each one of them in turn, gazing into their beautiful eyes. Whatever I might have thought about their proposal, I could see as clear as day that all three of them were telling the truth about it. That is not to say that I saw no sadness in their eyes, far from it, but I also saw profound happiness and the immeasurable depths of their unconditional love reflected in them as well. I didn’t dare to reject them outright; I had seen what pain had resulted from them bottling up their inner feelings. Regardless of what I chose to do, I had to accept their feelings, even the bittersweet ones.

I sighed. “Alright,” I said. “I’ll...I’ll think about it. I’ll promise you that much.”

“That’s all we ask,” said Buttercup, taking my hand and squeezing it.

The three of them smiled their most genuine smiles at me, clearly trying to make me feel better about the whole affair. For their sake, I smiled back at them, trying to show them that I accepted the feelings behind their proposal, if not the thing itself.

“C’mon, girls,” said Apple Bloom. “I think we’ve bothered him enough for one mornin’.”

The other two silently nodded, then rose from their seats. Each one of them came up and gave me a quick kiss before they left, kisses which I gladly returned. They all headed towards the living room, where they would be slipping on their shoes and heading out to start on the chores. When they had turned their backs to me, I couldn’t help but hang my head, staring down at the plate before me. I still had a fair bit of food left to finish, but in the state I was in, even the thought of crispy bacon seemed unappealing.

“Hey,” said Applejack softly. I looked up and saw her peeking back into the kitchen, a hopeful smile on her face. “See you outside?”

I couldn’t help but smile back at that beautiful, freckled face. “Yeah,” I said.

Applejack withdrew out of my sight once again, and I soon heard the front door close, leaving the house silent. I looked back to my food, forcing myself to swallow down the last bit of it. It tasted like rubber, but I knew that it would not do to be hungry on top of being saddled with the biggest decision I would ever have to make.

The bright, yellow sun hung high overhead, casting its warm light down on me and the trees around me. My woody friends proudly displayed their fresh coats of green, as well as the beautiful light pink of their blossoms. With the coming of late spring, and the promise of summer in the near future, they were already beginning to shed their soft petals, making way for the coming of juicy, red apples. A warm, gentle breeze caressed their limbs, sending down a sparse, but constant shower of pink onto the ground beneath them. Even the air itself seemed in the spirit of things, carrying upon it the familiar scents of the orchard, those of home, of new life, and the promise of new beginnings. I couldn’t have asked for a better day for a marriage proposal.

I saw them in the distance as I approached, all three of them waiting beneath the limbs of the two twisted trees that sat atop the old, carved rock. The trees, or tree, as I liked to think of them, were a marvelous sight even on a typical day, but in bloom, they were enough to leave even a family of apple farmers in awe. Unsurprisingly, the three of them were busy taking in its quiet majesty as I drew near, holding hands and looking up at it. We had always seen it as a symbol of strength, strength to do what was right, strength to struggle against adversity, strength to stand by the people you loved and the things you believed in no matter what. I hoped in my heart that the impossible tree that dared to defy tradition and convention would somehow give me the strength to do the same.

Even if it did not, seeing the faces of the three people I loved more than anyone else in the world would have given me all the courage I needed. They turned to face me as I crossed the clearing towards them, smiling those same heartwarming smiles that lived permanently in my heart. All three of them were dressed in plain, grubby work clothes, worn jeans and old shirts clinging comfortably to their bodies. Their messy hair was tied back in ponytails, and their faces bore hints of sweat and dirt. But as I stared into the three pairs of sparkling eyes before me, I would not have hesitated for a moment to declare them the three most gorgeous women in Equestria.

“There he is!” said Apple Bloom. “What took you so long? We’ve been waitin’ up here forever.”

“Apple Bloom,” said Applejack flatly, “it ain’t been more than five minutes.”

“It ain’t like I mind comin’ up here for a spell,” said Buttercup, “but we got a lot of work to get done today, sweetie.”

“I know, I know,” I said. “I promise this wont take long.”

“Promise what wont take long?” said Apple Bloom.

“Well...the reason I told y’all to meet me up here is because...I have to talk to y’all about somethin’,” I said.

“Okay,” said Applejack in a curious tone. “We’re all ears.”

I took a deep breath, summoning every scrap of strength I had within me. Even after all the planning, all the preparations, in the end, it still came down to just me and them. Even with all the help I had received, I still needed to rely on my own strength to confront them with the choice I had made. I didn’t know how they would take it, but I had made it through the past year not really knowing how things would go either. The only consolation I had was that I was doing what I knew in my heart to be right. It was my decision, and I would live with the consequences no matter what.

“Applejack,” I said. “Apple Bloom. Buttercup. I...I love you; all of you. I really wish I were better with words, then I could tell y’all just how much I do. I...I need you three. I need you in my life...and I need you as more than just my family. I don’t know how I’ve gotten by all these years without y’all by my side. I can’t remember how I managed to be happy without bein’ able to hold you three in my arms. Maybe I never really was happy. Compared to how I am now, I don’t think I was. I don’t know if I could ever go back to the way things used to be. I don’t know if I could handle havin’ one of you so close, but...not bein’ able to love you like I do.

“You three are a part of me, as much as my bones or my heart are. And...I like to think that I’m a part of you too. I think that we belong together, all four of us. We belong together...and I’m not gonna let anythin’ stand in our way. I don’t care who or what might try to keep us apart. I don’t know what’s in store for us. I don’t know what sorta struggles we’ll have to go through...but I know that I’ll gladly deal with all of it...if it means bein’ with you. That’s why...that’s why...” The words caught in my throat; the words I should have had to think about the least becoming the most difficult to say. “I need you three to close your eyes.”

The three of them were staring at me with strange looks of happy confusion on their faces. At my request, they stole quick glances at each other, but then did as I asked.

“Hold out your hands,” I said.

All three of them slowly extended their hands, cupping them before themselves. When they were in position, I took a deep breath, then reached into my pockets, withdrawing the items I carried within them. I stepped forward and, into each of their hands, placed a palm-sized, lidded box. The boxes weighed next to nothing, but each one carried the weight of a lifetime of love, happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and a thousand other things. As their fingers curled around them, I stepped back, preparing to cast the proverbial die.

“Open,” I said.

As one, Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Buttercup opened their eyes, and as one, they each inhaled sharply. They stared down at the boxes before them as if they had never seen such things in their entire lives. Aside from the colors of the boxes, one being red, one orange, and one yellow, they were wholly unremarkable to look at, giving no outward hint at their contents. Of course, even a fool could have guessed what lay within them, and the three of them were as clever as they were beautiful.

“Anon,” said Apple Bloom scarcely louder than a whisper.

“Wha...what is this?” said Applejack, her voice as shaky as a spring sapling in a storm.

Buttercup didn’t need to ask; her recognition was as plain as the nose on her face.

“Open them,” I said.

Three sets of soft, feminine fingers slowly reached for three lids, grasping them and holding tight. For the briefest of moments, the world fell still, holding its breath in anticipation. My own breath caught in my throat as well as I waited out the longest seconds I had ever lived through. With the tiniest of squeaks, which sounded as loud as thunder claps in that quiet, three lids were pushed back, revealing the treasures they contained.

Apple Bloom had the most explosive reaction, letting loose a barely restrained shriek while staggering backward a few steps. Thankfully, the golden ring and the fiery orange gemstone it bore did not fall from her grasp. One of Buttercup’s hands flew to her mouth, stifling a whimper as she looked down at her own ring and the brilliant blue-green gem upon it. Her tears arrived within moments, yet she dared not close her eyes, lest she be denied the sight before her for even a split second. Applejack, on the other hand, seemed content to merely stare silently at the stunning green gem on her own ring, the expression of awe on her face so intense you’d think she was looking upon the most beautiful thing in the world.

For several long moments, their gazes were locked on their respective rings so securely that it would have taken a crowbar to shift them. When the initial shock had worn off enough for them to process the situation, they finally managed to tear their eyes away and look back at me. By the time they did, I was already down on one knee before them.

“Applejack...Apple Bloom...Buttercup,” I said, looking at each one of them in turn, “I want to be with you three for the rest of my life. I want that more than anythin’ else in the world. That’s why...I want you to marry me.”

A moment of silence passed as I waited and watched the indescribable mix of emotions visible on their faces. I am sure the look on my own face was no more tranquil than theirs, as I could barely contain the feelings welling up within my own heart, stretching it out like an overinflated balloon, ready to pop at the slightest provocation. With my soul laid bare before them, I could do nothing but wait for their decisions, knowing full well that they would change our lives forever.

“Anon,” whimpered Buttercup.

“Yes!” cried out Apple Bloom so loudly that it could have spooked the birds a mile away. “Yes, yes, yes!” She lunged at me, nearly tackling me to the ground as she grabbed onto me and held me in the tightest embrace she had ever given me. She buried her face in my neck, her never-ending stream of affirmatives muffled by my shirt and her tears. I couldn’t help but let out a strange chuckling sob as I steadied myself and rose to my feet, carefully lifting her up with me.

My tears were already flowing, yet I still managed to raise my head and look upon Buttercup’s face. She had a head start on me; her cheeks were already sopping wet. I smiled at her, waiting patiently as she forced her trembling lips to form the sounds of a soft, gentle “Yes”. A moment after that beautiful word had reached my ears, she stepped forward, and I pulled her into the embrace as well. She pressed her face into my chest and wrapped her arms around Apple Bloom and I, just as I nuzzled her poofy hair.

One more time, I lifted my gaze, looking upon my first and longest love. Applejack did not even have the strength to raise her head and look at me, so overcome was she by her tears. But as she stood there, trembling, whimpering, and clutching her ring to her breast, she still managed to nod her head, doing so so vigorously that I thought it might fall off. I chuckled in spite of myself, quickly reaching out and pulling her towards me. The four of us instinctively latched onto each other, completing the embrace that had become second nature to all of us.

The next few minutes passed like a dream, my mind vacant of any notion of time, reason, or anything that was not my undying love for the three people in my arms. Their ample flesh felt more pleasant, their slick cheeks felt softer, and their distinctive feminine scents were more intoxicating to me than they had ever been before. Each one of us shed what felt like gallons of tears as we filled the orchard with the sounds of our happy sobs and, eventually, our happier laughter. Nuzzles were given and kisses were exchanged in plenty, ranging from the quick to the slow, the gentle to the passionate, and covering every inch of our damp faces.

When we finally began to surface from the depths of our shared euphoria, our tears had long since run dry and we were too out of breath to laugh any longer. Instead, we merely pressed our faces together and stared into each others eyes. No words passed between us; after everything we had been through together, after every precious minute of our lives we had given to one another, we had learned to read each other as well as if we had our thoughts written on our faces. For the first time in a very long time, we were all on the same page; no more secrets, no more hidden feelings, just our shared love for each other.

When their eyes finally moved from mine, it was only to look down at their hands and the boxes they still clutched within their fingers. My family and I were humble people, but even we could appreciate the stunning beauty of the three works of art between us. I was fortunate to live in a country where one could often find precious gems simply by digging around in the dirt or by exploring a nearby cave. While this was fact ensured that all but the finest jewelry was relatively cheap, I had still gone all-out, spending a huge portion of my meager savings on purchasing the three rings. In that moment, I thought to myself that every bit of that money had been worth it to see the looks on their faces, not to mention the look on the face of the local jeweler when I had made my purchase.

I brought my hands to theirs, carefully removing each ring from its container one by one and sliding it onto the appropriate digit. Apple Bloom’s slender fingers welcomed the orange gem that sparkled with as much energy and life as the sun above us. The calming, soothing blue-green of Buttercup’s gem stood our proudly against the pink of her soft, plump flesh. Finally, the deep green gem slid onto Applejack’s strong, yet feminine fingers, its color conjuring up images in my mind of the mighty, yet stoic trees around me. The three of them could not help but stare at the beautiful things on their hands, caressing them as gently as one would an infant.

“They’re...they’re beautiful,” said Buttercup softly.

“You can say that again,” said Apple Bloom.

“They’re the most beautiful things...I’ve ever seen,” said Applejack, almost lapsing back into a sob.

I put my arms around them once more, gently pulling us all together. “You deserve them,” I said. “All of you.”

“You know, Anon...you’re right,” said Buttercup. “We do belong together...and I want it just as much as you do. I need it as much as you do.”

“We’re gonna be together, alright,” said Apple Bloom. “And I don’t care what anyone else says; I don’t care what they think. I love y’all, and that’s all that matters to me.”

“No matter who or what stands in our way,” said Applejack, “we’ll fight it all together. And...I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather have lookin’ out for me...protectin’ me...than you three.”

“You don’t know how happy it makes me to hear all that,” I said. “But...we might not have to do as much fightin’ as you think.”

“What do you mean?” said Applejack.

“Well...there’s someone who’s willin’ to...help us out on that front,” I said. Understandably, my vague response had brought confused looks to their faces, which I intended to quickly rectify. I looked away from them, gazing across the small clearing we stood in and over towards the apple trees at its edge. “I think it’s time we tell them,” I called out loudly.

My three fiancées followed my gaze over to the trees and brush off to the side. Their confused expressions turned to ones of surprise as a shrub was rustled by an unseen force and the soft grass before it was pressed flat in distinctly shoe-shaped patterns. These apparent footprints slowly made their way towards us, coming to a stop a short distance away from us. A moment later, a brilliant point of yellow light appeared in midair above them, flashing so brightly that we were forced to squint. The light faded again as quickly as it had flared up, although the sight that replaced it was more dazzling than the sun itself.

She stood at least a foot taller than me, although the long, alabaster horn protruding from her head made her look even taller. Despite her impressive height, she was not at all willowy, as her various widths were equally as impressive. The two tree trunks that passed for her legs were even thicker than Buttercup’s, and led up to the widest set of hips I had ever seen on a real woman. I hadn’t meant to look, of course, but I had not been able to avoid noticing the absolutely colossal rear end attached to the back of those hips, so huge and round that it seemed to have its own field of gravity, enough to draw in the gazes of everyone around her, at least. Compared to the rest of her, her waist was relatively thin, giving her an hourglass figure with deep, sloping curves.

As if her bottom didn’t give her enough of a presence, she also sported a pair of breasts that easily surpassed those of any other woman I had ever seen in terms of sheer size. Despite being large enough to potentially sustain a full-grown adult, each of those perfect teardrops was as perky as any I had ever seen, showing not a hint of sag while still giving off a slight jiggle with every movement she made. Every acre of her feminine flesh was covered in the most perfectly tanned skin I had ever seen, although this was largely speculation on my part, as the elegant gown she wore covered everything from her shoulders to her ankles, minus her arms. Both this dress and the pair of huge, feathered wings folded against her back were as white as the most picturesque of puffy clouds, creating a striking contrast. Aside from her dress, she wore a pair of golden sandals, a large, golden amulet bearing a deep purple gemstone, and a golden crown.

One would think that, confronted by such an imposing figure, my family and I would be shaking in our boots, and yet that was not the case, for the face that looked upon us from atop that powerful body instantly banished any fear that might have taken root in our hearts. Those perfectly carved, feminine features seemed to radiate a warm glow that gave her an aura of serenity, comfort, and compassion. I might have even gone so far as to say that the smile she gave us was motherly, as I couldn’t help but be reminded of my own mother’s smile as I gazed upon her. This angelic visage was surrounded by long, sparkling tresses of pink, purple, green, and everything in between, and that seemed to be constantly blowing in a slow breeze that wasn’t there. The only flaw I observed in her countenance, and indeed her entire body, if they could really be called a flaw, were the traces of dried tears that stained her perfect skin.

Despite having seen her earlier, I could not help feeling a profound sense of awe as I stared up at her. My family had no such benefit, however, and so reacted as one would expect someone to when suddenly confronted by the co-ruler of Equestria.

“P-P-P-P-P-P...” stammered Buttercup.

“Princess Celestia,” said Applejack softly, no less enthralled for having met the princess many times before.

Apple Bloom let out a panicked squeak, quickly stepping back from our embrace and turning to face Princess Celestia. She froze for a split second, her frazzled brain presumably overwhelmed by the situation. She soon regained at least some of her senses and dropped into a low curtsey, remembering her manners. Buttercup and Applejack quickly followed suit, stepping back from me and carefully lowering themselves into curtseys of their own, bowing their heads and, in Applejack’s case, removing their headwear. While I found their startled reactions cute, I couldn’t rightly find amusement in them, as I had been similarly overwhelmed when I had first met the princess face-to-face.

“Applejack, Buttercup, Apple Bloom,” said Princess Celestia in that smooth, harmonious voice of hers, “please...stand and look at me.”

My family slowly rose back up to their full heights and raised their heads, looking up at her. If the shock and surprise of her sudden arrival hadn’t been enough, the realization of what she had just seen us do turned the cheeks of all three of them red.

“Uh...P-Princess?” said Applejack. “Er, Your Highness, I mean...if we’d have known that you were here...we would’ve...I-I mean, we never would have...”

The princess raised one of her perfectly manicured hands and politely signaled her to stop. “Relax,” she said. “None of you has done anything wrong, either one your own...or together.”

Whether due to her command or due to her undeniably calming presence, the shock faded from their faces, although the awe remained. I noticed the three of them attempt to discreetly straighten their clothing, fix their hair, and wipe their faces.

“Princess?” said Buttercup. “You...you know...don’t you?”

“Yes, I do,” said Princess Celestia. “That is the reason I have come here today. I wished to see you all for myself. I have been told much about you, about you and your situation. I wished to see how much of it was true.”

“I reckon...Twilight must’ve told you all about us, didn’t she?” said Apple Bloom.

Princess Celestia took a moment to shoot me a knowing look. While Twilight Sparkle had indeed pled our case to her mentor, apparently going so far as to write an entire essay on the ethics of polygamy, what had really been the significant factor had been the intervention of Princess Luna. True to her word, she had spoken with her elder sister about my family, our relationship, and about Princess Celestia’s worrying message. Shortly afterward, Princess Celestia had visited me personally while I was out alone in the orchard and had explained everything. During this conversation, I had requested that Princess Luna’s involvement in the whole affair be kept a secret, as I did not want my family wondering why she had betrayed the privacy of their dreams without their knowledge. Agreeing that her sister would probably prefer it that way as well, Princess Celestia had agreed to keep that little tidbit between us.

“She did,” said Princess Celestia. “She told me that there were four people she knew, four people she cared for very much, who had been afraid to share their love with one another. When she told me this, I realized the true nature of your situation...and I realized the mistake that I had made. When I wrote to you, I did so out of a desire to bring you peace and happiness, but in my ignorance, I fear that I only managed to bring you grief. I decided to speak with you all in person this time, so that such unfortunate accidents might be avoided. I have come to share my true feelings with you...and to offer my sincerest apologies.” With that, the princess of Equestria bowed her head towards us, a gesture of respect that some people worked their entire lives to obtain.

“Princess!” said Applejack. “You don’t need to do that! If anythin’, we’re the ones that should be apologizin’.”

“That apology would be the unnecessary one,” said Princess Celestia, smiling down upon us. “None of you has cause to feel afraid or ashamed, not in my mind at least. While Twilight might have overstepped her bounds slightly in bringing you to my attention without consulting you first, I think you and I all know that she did what she did out of love, just as you all have done what you have done out of love. Because of this, I cannot rightfully condemn any of you for your actions.”

“But...what does this mean?” said Buttercup. “What does this mean for us? You...you saw us. You know that we’re...together.”

“I do,” said Princess Celestia, “and if I have any say in the matter, together is where you will remain.”

“You mean...?” began Apple Bloom.

“Yes,” said Princess Celestia. “I meant what I said in that letter. I place the happiness and well-being of my subjects above all else, and would never seek to keep them from the people they love. While my words might have been misplaced, my feelings were not, and I have seen today that I was right in my judgement. I never doubted the words of she who testified to your love, but to see it in person, to see just how much you all truly want this, well...let’s just say that it is not every day that I am moved to tears.”

“We do want this,” said Applejack. “We want to...be with each other. We want that more than anythin’...and we’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.”

“Your bravery is admirable,” said Princess Celestia, “and that goes for all of you. All of you have demonstrated how seriously you take this, and so I must take this just as seriously. I made you all a promise, a poorly worded promise, I admit, but a promise nonetheless, and I intend to follow through on it. I shall do whatever is in my power to ensure that you all can live a happy life together. I shall even arrange for that marriage that I mentioned. I would ask you all if that is what you wish, but...I believe Anon has already taken care of that.”

“You knew about this, didn’t you?” said Buttercup, giving me a smile.

“Well...yeah, I did,” I said.

“Please, don’t be upset with him; his intentions were noble,” said Princess Celestia. “It is true that I came here several days ago and spoke with Anon privately, telling him everything that I am telling you now. I offered to speak with the rest of you as well, but he asked that I not. He said that he wished to tell you all...in his own way. I only asked that I be allowed to observe, so that I could see how much you all truly wanted this. Another reason is because...I always enjoy a good surprise, and by the looks on your faces, I’d imagine you all enjoyed it as well.”

“Enjoyed it?” said Apple Bloom, as she stepped up to me and hugged me tightly. “I loved it. Just like I love you, big guy.”

Applejack chuckled as she came up and hugged me as well. “I’m gonna get you back for this, sugarcube,” she said with a smile.

“You almost gave me a heart attack, young man,” said Buttercup jokingly, “but I loved every second of it.” She, too, drew closer and joined the embrace.

I hugged all three of them against me, chuckling along with them. We leaned in and exchanged quick, playful smooches with each other while nuzzling our noses together. A few moments later, however, Applejack got a thoughtful look on her face, and looked back at Princess Celestia.

“Princess?” she said.

“Yes, Applejack,” said Princess Celestia.

“Why are you doin’ all this for us?” said Applejack. “When we got your message, Twilight made it seem like you were really stickin’ your neck out for us already, but even now, now that you know what’s really goin’ on, you still want to help us. Ain’t this gonna be a heap of trouble for you?”

Princess Celestia chuckled softly. “Always thinking of others, aren’t you, Applejack?” she said. “I won’t lie to you all; there will be ramifications for what I have promised to do. Twilight was not wrong when she said that publicly approving of an incestuous union would cause a stir, and adding in polygamy will certainly not help that. I imagine it might be difficult for me to handle what comes in the following weeks, months, and years...but that does not mean that this task is not worth doing. For your sake, and for the sake of...others like you, I do this gladly.”

“Princess,” I said, “we can’t thank you enough.”

“If there’s ever anythin’ we can do to make up for this...” began Apple Bloom.

“I appreciate your gratitude, I really do,” said Princess Celestia, “but you four have already done more for me than you know. All I will ask of you is that you never forget this moment. Never forget the happiness you have right now, here with the people you love the most. Hold it in your hearts for the rest of your lives, just as you hold onto each other. If you can do that for me, than I will consider any debt you owe me to be repaid a thousand times over.”

“Oh, we will,” said Buttercup, nuzzling my chest. “You can count on that.”

“Excellent,” said Princess Celestia. “Now, perhaps we should head back to your home. We have much to discuss.”