Entrapment

Fluttershy stirred the pan of almonds as they toasted. Everything had to be perfect for tonight. There was a guest en route. An important guest, at that. If the meal went poorly, the conversation would follow suit, and they wouldn't even make it to the demonstration.

Just then, the door swung open, and an adorable yellow-orange filly ran into the kitchen, tossing her bag aside. "Welcome home, sweety," chuckled Fluttershy, touseling the filly's mane. "How was school?"

"School sucks," the filly groaned, crossing her arms and slumping over the edge of the kitchen table. "I don't know why we need addition. Can't we just keep counting?"

Fluttershy shook her head. "You're going to run out of fingers eventually. When that day comes, you'll need to know how to add."

"By the time the numbers go that high, I won't need them anymore."

Fluttershy gave her almonds one more quick stir before sitting down across from the filly. "Your father brings home two hundred and thirty-eight auru every two weeks. Your aunt brings home four hundred and sixteen auru every month. Your mother averages about a hundred auru, give or take a few argents. If our monthly budget is seven hundred and fifty auru per month, can we afford to buy you a new dress?"

The filly shrugged. "I don't know."

"That's why you need addition. Subtraction, too." With a pat on the shoulder, she stood up and stirred the almonds, making sure they didn't burn.

"I guess so... What's for dinner?"

"Cauliflower almond soup."

"Aw, mom... Can't we have something else?"

Fluttershy turned off the fire, being satisfied with the level of roast on the almonds. "Apple Tarte Tatin, we're having company tonight. And if my memory serves me, she likes spicy food."

"Is it another one of Daddy's coworkers?"

"No, it's one of Mommy's friends. We haven't talked in seven years, and I'd like to change that. So I'll need you on your best behaviour."

"Okay..."

Over the next hour and a half, Fluttershy and Apple Tarte Tatin worked together to finish their homework and dinner preparations. They were just about to move the soup into the blender when Applejack and Big Mac walked in.

Big Mac scooped up his daughter and placed her on his shoulder. "Evening, Precious," he chuckled, as the two adjourned to the living room. "How was school?"

Applejack stayed in the kitchen with Fluttershy, assisting her sister-wife with the final preparations for dinner. "How are you holding up?" she asked.

"Very nervous," was Fluttershy's response. "What if she doesn't accept it?"

"She will. I just know it."

"But what if she doesn't?"

"Then we go back to the way things were last month. You have a kid here. Big Mac and I are staying here no matter what. You've elected to stay with us. If that remains your decision, we're glad to have you."

"You know I won't leave. I'm just worried about what she might say."

Applejack pulled Fluttershy in close and gave her a long, reassuring kiss. "It doesn't matter what she says. If she disapproves, we just go back to what we were going to do anyway. If she does approve, we can gauge her reaction. That will tell us whether or not we can tell the others. She's our only safe bet right now."

Fluttershy hugged Applejack, resting her cheek against her shoulder. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry," Applejack chuckled. "I'm the one who needs to tread carefully. Why don't I finish up here? You go put on a shirt. She'll be here soon."

Fluttershy looked down at her chest. She had spent so much time in the zebra kingdom that she had grown accustomed to their dress code, and had forgotten that Equestrian standards didn't usually allow the mares to walk around with their breasts so lightly covered. She blushed at the thought of the reaction she'd elicit if she answered the door with this much exposed skin to an Equestrian.

She moved to the master bedroom and changed into a more conservative outfit. This one was very form-fitting, but it covered up her skin. As an added measure, she decided to borrow one of Applejack's work shirts. It would better cover her breasts, at least.

As she came out, there was a knock at the door. She answered it, opening the door to a sight that made her heart flutter. A blue pegasus with a rainbow mane stood outside the door. "Rainbow Dash! You made it!"

Rainbow grabbed Fluttershy by the wrist, pulling her into a tight hug. "It really was you. I thought for sure this was some kind of trap."

"No trap here," smiled Fluttershy, rubbing Rainbow's back. "Come on in. We were just about to have dinner."

Rainbow had a lot of questions throughout dinner. While Fluttershy was remiss to talk about the events that had lead up to the three of them staying here until after Apple Tarte Tatin went to bed, she was more forthcoming about the happier elements of her story, such as the decision to have a child with Big Mac. Rainbow was quite taken with the little filly, as she reminded her of Scootaloo when she was younger.

"She seems really sweet," said Rainbow, coming back from putting Tarte to bed. "Now then." The smile drained from her face as she looked to the others. "I want you to tell me why you all disappeared. Then I want to know why you didn't come back. After that, I want to know why you didn't contact me for seven years. Finally, I want to know why you asked me not to tell anypony that I knew where you were."

Fluttershy began with the story of how she was kidnapped, and how Applejack had come to rescue her. As the girls finished detailing their first week, Big Mac chimed in with his story. After the party at the castle, Applejack took over, explaining how Big Mac had purchased them, as well as the house they were now living in.

"If Big Mac took care of all of your problems, why didn't you return to Ponyville? We were worried sick about you."

Applejack took a deep breath. "It's because of Apple Tarte Tatin."

"I'm sure she'd fit in just fine, AJ. She seems like a nice kid."

"That's not the problem. The problem is, she was almost mine."

Rainbow Dash raised her eyebrow. She wasn't sure what that meant. Not until she noticed that Big Mac's hand was gently caressing his sister's waist. "You mean to tell me that you entered an incestuous relationship with your older brother?"

Applejack closed her eyes and nodded. "That's why we didn't come back. The stigma of what happened here is going to stick with us forever. The three of us share a bed every single night."

"It doesn't have to be that way, AJ. You could come back to us. We can help you."

"We don't want to separate," said Fluttershy. "The three of us are closer than we've ever been. It may not be ideal, but we're happy together."

"And what about your daughter?" growled Rainbow. "Do you really think she's safe here? You just told me about how you were raped while under the king's protection! You expect me to believe that she's not in any kind of danger?"

"Such was an outlying variable, not the norm," responded Big Mac. "Besides, child trafficking is practically non-existent here. It's easier to find somepony willing to vent your frustrations. It's actually safer to raise her here. We just wanted the opportunity to return to Ponyville in the future, even if it's just for a visit."

"There aren't many places where Big Mac and I can go without persecution," said Applejack. "Even if this isn't the right place, that little filly deserves to know her father and aunt. We can't go back to living in Equestria, Rainbow. Not the way the laws are."

Rainbow took a deep breath and buried her head in her hands. "I need time to think about this."

Fluttershy stood up. "I'm going to go change outfits. I want to show you that living here isn't all bad. I learned to dance, and I'm less afraid of crowds now. Watch me dance for five minutes, and you'll see just how much good came of this whole ordeal."