Equestria Handiman: The Saga Continues

“Ok sis, we have been over this a thousand times, you are more than ready, let’s go over the list one last time.” Applebloom was pumping her sister up, as the two looked determinedly at each other while looking at the backpack on the table.

“Sunscreen?”

“Check.”

“Towel?”

“Check.”

“Sunglasses?”

“Check.”

“The bathing suit I picked for you?” Applebloom smirks and AJ blushes a bit, but nods. “C-Check, Applebloom are you sure this will be ok?”

“The magazine pony calls it the stare hook! Come on sis, do you want Mark's attention or not?”

“Y-Yeah, yeah! I do!” She pumps herself up a little more.

“That is more like it, now what are you gonna do?”

“Go to the beach with my friends.”

“Who are you gonna spend time with?”

“Mark!”

“And what will you do to keep his eyes locked on you?”

“Be sexy!”

“There you go! Now get going, and make him drool!”

“Yeah!” Rushing with Adrenaline, she puts on a pair of sunglasses and exits the house heading straight to the train station where the rest of her friends were waiting. She was wearing her usual jean short shorts but rather than her usual white shirt and flannel t-shirt. The farmer opted to wear a plain red t-shirt tied up in the front to accentuate her breast just a tad, to give her friends and the object of interest a small sample of what was to come.

After a short ride and leaving their belongings in secure lockers, everyone headed to the spot on the beach the princesses reserved with a grill, and a table ready to make a barbecue party as well as reserving a secluded island like part of the beach with a half moon section covered landmass reserved for private parties. With small natural hot springs pony made for extra small privacy for couples so they could enjoy a party without bothering or being bothered by the press or fans, where the stallions already in their bathing suit of boxers and speedos set the table and anything else ready, before heading to the beach to enjoy the crystal blue ocean in front of them, while the mares take their time in changing into their bikinis.

Unfortunately for Mark, from all his herd, besides Fluttershy only Umbral had the free time to join so they promised to save a piece of cake for Milky and Surprise, and tell them how it goes. Twilight’s whole herd was a given, and thankfully, Pinkie’s too managed to arrive, as well as the Princesses and Cadence and her family, ensuring that this would be a big party, even more so with the alternative Twilight also coming along, arriving in time for the party and everyone having no issue of her tagging along. Mark having the slight suspicion judging by Flash’s blush and his fiancee's smirk that she wanted to give him some eye candy with how she would look in a bikini in 20 years, specially one that will obviously be a size smaller.

“So Flash, what is the big announcement you wanted to tell us?” Shining asks, as he pulls his own surfboard while looking at the pegasus in question as he only chuckles. “Ah ha, don’t get ahead of yourself Shining, we will break the news once everyone is gathered.'' He smirks at him, making him groan.

“Did Twily set you up for this? Is this why you all have been so secretive?”

“Maybe.” He fakes ignorance before chuckling and stands up. “She told me how much fun you had putting her through that scavenger hunt.”

The captain’s eyes widen as he watches him rush toward some waves in the water.

“Wait…you…is this your way or saying that Twilight is pregnant!?” Shining runs after him.

“I will never tell!” He laughed it off, before diving into the water.

“Well this certainly seems to be starting on the right hoof.” Cheese Sandwich laughs at their antics as he picks up a shovel and a bucket. “Spike you lived with them, what do you think the secret might be?”

“Hey ever since I started dating Gabby I haven’t been in the castle all that much.” He fakes surrender, before smirking, “But I’m not gonna tell even if I may know something about it so you better change the subject.”
“Ok then, what about this, will you and Gabby be starting a herd soon?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“Oh I don’t know, I just thought that the idea of Rarity in a bikini might give you two an idea or two.”

That made him pause, not really expecting to hear that.

“Rarity and I are only friends, Cheese.”

“I’m just saying it has been a while now, and I see how she and Gabby have been getting along pretty good. It wouldn’t be so far-fetched if you ask me.”

Spike looks down unsure before looking at Mark. “What?”

He asks, confused.

“Do you seriously not have anything to say about it? She has been helping you a lot getting into a relationship.”

“I'm thankful for her for all of that, I think she helped me realize how free spirited I am in that regard.” He nods with a smile. “And while it's true we had a bit of a history, I’m not sure we really clicked, you know? Unlike Shy or Milky, Rarity can be a bit…intense for me.”

“Intense?…Rarity…even though you are dating Umbral and Surprise…Rarity is the intense one.” He looked at him in disbelief.

“What can I tell you, my draconus brother, behind closed doors she can become quite the beast in the good way if you catch my drift. ”He chuckled at Spike’s blushing face until Mark patted his back. “But if you are asking for my blessing or something you got it.”

“Really? I-I mean, what?”

“Yeah, I will always treasure what we had, and if I could I would love to be the one that sweeps her off her feet, but unfortunately, I really don’t think we would fit that way, but you and Gabby, well…I think Cheese said it better.” He waves at the two. “Now if you excuse me I think I will go swim some laps in the water.”

“Ok I will go hold the fort here then. I…have a lot to think about now.” Spike ponders sitting on a chair.

“I will go build a sand apartment.” Cheese announces heading in another direction.

“Don’t you mean sand castle?” Spike questions him with a raised eyebrow

“Nope.” He immediately answered with a laugh without skipping a beat, leaving him alone to hold the table while waiting for the rest of the mares.

“Spike?” The voice of Rarity startles him, and when he looks back he gulps when he saw Rarity on a one piece blue bikini, with diamond holes at the front one big one that shows a bit of her boobs and another smaller one underneath it as well as sunglasses, next to his marefriend Gabby who had a similar one piece orange bathing suit although more reserve and with her back exposed to let her wings free. “Where are the rest of the stallions?”

“Hi Rarity, Gabby, we finished setting everything up, and they wanted to have some fun on the beach while I wait for the rest, where are the rest of the girls anyway?”

“Well it seems like they had the same idea.” Rarity chuckles and lays a towel on the sand before laying on it. “Can’t really blame them, actually, this is supposed to be a little time to have some fun, we will see everyone when it is time for some snacks. In the meanwhile would you be a dear and put some lotion on my back Spikey?”

“Me too.” Gabby asks the same laying next to Rarity both giving him their backs as he gulps remembering what Cheese told him. “I want to have a bit of a tan care to give us a hand honey?”

“S-Sure.” He nods and puts some lotion on his claws.

Meanwhile a bit further in the water, Mark finishes his fifth lap before resurfacing to take a deep breath and sigh in relief.

‘Ah this is life.’

“Well howdy partner!” The voice of Applejack behind him catches Mark's attention. “Looks like you are having fun, how is the water?”

“Hey Applejack, come on in the water is Fi, fi, fiiiineah!” Mark turns around only for him to stumble his own words, once he looks clearly at the farmer, in complete shock and subsequently gulps at her bathing suit.

At first he thought she was wearing her lasso as her two piece bathing suit, for how it has golden strings going in a x formation across her abdomen and hips, as two small triangles of fabric cover part of her breasts, and a diamond shape small light orange fabric with palm trees pictures on it barely hides her pussy while at her side there were some lose strings completing the alluring factor of her strap swimsuit, after a while AJ’s hand appear in his field of vision which makes him to look up and makes him realize how he was ogling causing her to laugh slightly. “Did you see something you like, sugar cube?”

“Yeah, I mean!…yeah.” Mark finally confesses being honest, and letting go of a breath he didn’t know he was holding as Applejack steps into the water and toward him. “I’m sorry for ogling, but I just can’t take my eyes away, I didn’t think you would wear such a skimpy…skillfully crafted bathing suit.” He corrected himself with an intense blush. “I always imagined you with a more reserved and practical type.”

“Well.” Her eyes turn sultry and she puts her hand over his chest. “Maybe that was the old me, who didn’t care in the sligtless for all that fru-fru stuff, or looking good, or whatever, but ever since we had our little ‘practice’ date, I have been thinking.”

“T-Thinking about what?” Mark was placed against a rock as she continued her advance.

“Oh, this and that, how good of friends we are, how much fun we have on our date, how long we have known each other.” For each statement she gets closer to him, leaning her head closer, for a kiss. “How happy could we be in the same…”

“Not so fast Applejack!” The voice of Rainbow Dash hovering above the two kills the mood and when looking up and behind in the case of Mark they saw none other than Rainbow Dash standing on top of the rock wearing her own assemble, one that immediately catches Mark attention as he could only gulp once more and feels his speedo getting even tighter than before. Like AJ’s hers was also skimpy, despite being a one piece bathing suit, it was a white extreme swimsuit, hollow at the center that showed all of her stomach and tightly contained her breast held in place by two golden chains going over her shoulder and a third one acting as a belt.

“There is no way I’m letting you get ahead of me.” Dash complains with crossed arms and a small glare that soon AJ copies, as she dives in and lands next to the two sending waves that push Applejack away from Mark as Rainbow Dash hugs his arm, and flutters her eyelashes.

“Hey hotshot, did you miss me?” She lightly giggles, confusing Mark at her tight embrace, making him feel more of her breast as a light blush forms on her face. “I sure did, after that awesome night we had together.” She bit her lower lip, and shivers at the memory alone. “Never thought bumping uglies could feel that good, or be that awesome. Never again will I poke fun at you.”

“W-Well glad to hear you enjoyed it that much.” Mark’s own blush was starting to get deeper, but couldn’t shake his concern for her well-being. “D-Dash, are you feeling ok?” Mark raised an eyebrow at how the normally tomboyish daredevil was acting so mellow, and even girlish around him.

“Oh I’m feeling way more than ok hotshot, for the first time, I’m ecstatic from having lost our little bet, and have been eager for a rematch.” She smirks, and gets closer until their noses are about to touch. “But this time let's make it even hotter! You really did a number on me Marky, you got my lungs going and now I think I grew addicted to that anaconda living between your legs, I need it in me dude. And I’m not talking about just another booty call, no, what I want is something deeper, so what do you say if we grow the herd, and in the process make it even more awesome?” Her legs start to rub his hip as she starts to slowly dry hump him in barely contained excitement, making him gulp and unable to come up with a response to such a claim.

“Oh no you don’t! You hot headed slut!” Applejack yells and grabbing his other arm pulls Mark away, and pries Dash away from him with a shove, before hugging his chest and rubbing her cheek against him lovingly. “If you think I will simply let you waltz in and steal my thunder when Mark and I are about to have our moment, you have something else coming.”

“Back off you horny farmer! I called first dibbs!” Dash complains, trying to shove Applejack and grabbing his arm nuzzling his other cheek.

“The heck you did, this is not a competition, and I came first, so beat it!”

“I gave you a head start, and I'm done waiting, so YOU beat it.” They continue to bicker with one another, while nuzzling Mark even faster, trying to outdo the other.

“Gi-Girls? Girls!” Mark tries to calm them down, but they just keep bickering and dry hump him until he can't take it anymore.

“Ok! Enough!” He pushes the two apart, and looks at one another. “Seriously what the heck has gotten in you two?”

“Proving my point, from what I’m seeing.” Fluttershy says, appearing in front of the 3 with a neutral face and crossed arms. “This is exactly why I wasn’t sure if you could truly join.”

“Fluttershy?” Mark looks at her confused as she smiles, managing to calm him down and drink in her green micro bikini that fills him with a mix of arousal and familiar happiness as she approaches, and gives him a quick kiss on the lips. “I’m sorry you were caught in the middle of another of their bickering spats, sweety. I tried to tell them to wait, but it looks like they just decided to ignore me.” Fluttershy sends a small glare at the two, who just retracted like fillies being scolded by their mom.

“You see.” Fluttershy looks back at Mark as he hugs her back. “After your practice dates with them, AJ and Dash came to Milky during Nightmare Night, well to all of us actually and explained how they wanted to join our herd.”

“Wait, what?!” Mark's eyes go wide and looks at both of them, as they smile shyly at him with blushed faces. “They really want to be a part of our herd? Fluttershy nods with a smile.

“Naturally, we were as surprised as you are now, but to be honestly part of me was prepare thinking this could happen, although I was thinking it will be Rarity and either of them”

“Hehe, yeah she is sweet, but I simply didn’t see us clicking all that much, she is more like a very special friend.” Mark confesses with an embarrassed chuckle that Fluttershy joins in.

“Oh I agree completely, but anyway, at first I was more than happy to welcome them in, I mean Milky is not the only one that can bring her friends right?”

“Right.”

“And she, and the rest were also intrigued, in fact Surprise and Umbral already had their dates with them, and they gave their blessings. Milky is on board too.”

“Heck yeah, and it was awesome, I made sure to show Umbral a good time and a hot ride.” Dash comments with a big pride filled grin and a slap on her own rear.

“Surprise was a really nice and kind mare, which I had an incredible time with, I really fell in love with the entire herd.” Applejack admits with a big smile.

“And they loved their time with you two as well.” Fluttershy adds, before her expression soars a bit. “And while normally I wouldn’t mind welcoming either of you in our herd, I’m the last one with reservation, well me, and you Marky.”

“And why is that? I thought you would love to have Rainbow Dash with us, I mean she was your childhood friend and Applejack was the very first friend you made when you moved to Ponyville. She helped you out when you were scared of everything and even offered their famous Apple hospitality. What is to doubt about it?” Mark ask her in concern

“You are right and if things were different I would welcome either of them in a heartbeat, but while they would be incredible additions on any herd I’m not sure if things could work out if they are in the same herd” She confess looking down in shame not liking to having to do this but knowing it was necessary to voice her opinion and the one problem of letting them join.

“Give us a chance Fluttershy” Applejack pleaded with concern, placing a hand on the pegasus shoulder.

“Yeah, AJ and I can play ball no problem, we can make this work” Dash added.

“Your bickering just now tells me otherwise” She snapped back at them. “Don’t you see you still treat this as some sort of game or a competition, Mark is not some prize to win or a competition to show off. He, or us. I bet you even started gloating on how the other had a better date with Umbral and Surprise didn’t you?”

“Well I mean, isn’t that like flattering?” Dash shrugs.

“You see? That is my concern, when you two are together things eventually turn into a competition, that is not what being in a herd is all about, it is about understanding, bonding, solidarity, and looking out for each other.”

“We can be that.” AJ confirms with determination.

“Fluttershy calm down, you have been too harsh on them.” Mark pats her shoulder, trying to relax the distress mare.

Sighing, she calms down and nods. “I’m sorry, it's just, we are not just a bunch of kids playing house here, despite how free spirited we might be, we are a loving and supporting herd. Maybe we have our qualms here and there, but for most of the time, we try not to fight as much.”

“Hate to break it to you sugar cube, but herds bicker from time to time, that is what being in a relationship is all about.” AJ confesses.

“Not like you two are, we have a hierarchy, yeah, and there is an alpha, but for the most part we don’t believe that either of us is superior to the rest.”

She grabs Mark's hands, and walks away. “And until you prove to me that you genuinely care for each other and will not start ‘keeping score, or grudges’ because of who is better at what, I simply can’t accept you in our herd. I’m sorry.”

“W-Wow, Fluttershy where are you taking me?”

“Take care of what the two were trying to pull on you a minute ago.”

“What? Come on Fluttershy is not that big of a deal, you don’t need to go spreading your legs now.”

She turns around, and smirks. “Who says I will do that?” She giggles at his expression, and gets closer. “I know how much you were staring at me, how good is your swimming?”

He shivers when she purrs in his ear. “Catch me if you can.” She retreats just before he could grab her, and swims away as fast as she could.

“Sorry girls! Have to bounce!” Mark apologizes to Dash and Applejack before going after Fluttershy.

“Well there goes the plan then.” Dash looks down and sighs in disappointment. “All this dollying up for nothing then.”

“You know, everything would have played differently if you had just left me had my turn first.” AJ glares at the daredevil.
“What? And then be the sloppy second? No way, besides, things would have worked way better and faster if you had let me do my move first.”

“Oh really? And why is that?”

“Applejack come on, our stud has two pegasus and a Thestral in his herd, it is clear that Mark likes him some wings.” She emphasizes her point by extending her own with pride. “And who could blame him? They are just awesome”

“Please, there is a reason he picked an earth pony as his alpha, our sugar cube has a nice head on his shoulder and he knows where the good stuff is.” She flexes her arm. “You might have your grace and your speed but we got you beat where it really counts and he said it himself. He loves the home feeling, only an earth pony can give him, between the two I bet you would be the entree while I’m the main dish.”

They keep glaring at each other in frustration until they hear someone clearing her throat. Looking ahead they saw Ruling Twilight wearing a fairly simply dark blue two piece swimsuit, slightly alluring but by no means skimpy like what they were wearing.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation you were having while I was taking a dip.” She confesses with some small amount of embarrassment. “You four weren’t exactly quiet while you were fighting a moment ago.”

“Sorry you had to hear that Princess Twilight.” Applejack apologies, while Dash waves a hand dismissively.

“Eh, don’t sweat, I bet this is no different than what you deal with our counterparts right?”

“Actually, it hasn’t been in a very long time.” She recalled in fondness earning the attention of the two. “They managed to bury the hatchet, and found a common ground to stop their competitiveness.”

Ruling Twilight looks at them with a smile. “Would you like to hear how they did it? It might help you with the small dilemma you are having with Fluttershy.”

They blink and look at one another before turning to the princess again and nod, making her smile widder and clap her hands together.

“Excellent! Then this is what happened…”