Split Apple

They withdrew further into the barn, as if a few hay bales could provide proper protection. Hiding in the house felt improper at best in the middle of the day, and neither felt like just waiting.

Fancy was ever the gentlestallion. He took his time and always allowed her to set the pace, but he did do as stallions did. As it turned out, Joanamac could perform that dance. The... odd part was that him doing that involved him rubbing against more sensitive areas than a pony even normally had. Each movement made her stallion parts sing as they were slid along, and her female parts picked up the second half of the choir.

All Joanamac could do, that first time was vocalize the chorus going on inside her. Never had she known such complete bliss. It was a shame it could only last so long before it came down to warm hugs and nuzzles. At least Fancy wasn't one of those stallions that just did it and was done, no, he was quite happy holding her close as the two stood side by side, both warmed with their exertions and pleasure. "Ma'am."

Joanamac perked an ear. "Yea?"

"I mean no ill-will towards Orchard." He sat on his haunches. "But you... Each different, but quite a mare. Don't let anypony tell you otherwise. Now... This is your home, you should clean up in your bath."

"Great advice." And there was Applejack, walking into view with the smarmiest grin on her face. "And kindly stop makin' a mess in mah barn, if ya will. Ah swear, take mah eyes off the two of you fer one moment!"

Joanamac's ears went flat against her head as she shrank down, embarrassed at being caught by Applejack.

"Now hold on just a minute," Fancy said, stepping forward. "There's no need for recriminations here. Joanamac and I are both consenting adults, and what occurred between us was private."

He moved to stand protectively in front of Joanamac. "I understand this may seem improper to you, and I apologize for that. But Joanamac deserves happiness as much as anypony. If I can provide her with comfort and affection, is that truly so wrong?"

Applejack considered his words, scuffing a hoof against the ground. "I ain't sayin' it's wrong, exactly. Just surprised is all. Big Mac - I mean Joanamac - they're my sibling. It's my job to look out for them."

She sighed. "But yer right, they got a right to make their own choices. I shouldn't be bargin' in here and causin' a fuss. Just lookin' out for my own, is all."

Joanamac lifted her head, peeking out from behind Fancy. "I'm real sorry, Applejack. Shoulda been more discreet-like. Didn't mean ta upset ya none."

Applejack waved a hoof. "It's alright. And like Fancy said, y'all are consentin' adults. I shouldn't be pokin' my nose in where it don't belong."

She tipped her hat to them. "Y'all have fun, just maybe pick a better spot next time. Somewhere that ain't my barn." She flashed a grin to take any sting from her words.

"It won't happen again, you have my word," Fancy said. "Now, I believe I shall take my leave and allow you two to talk. Joanamac, perhaps I could invite you to dinner soon?"

Joanamac smiled shyly. "I'd like that real fine."

With a parting bow, Fancy headed out, leaving the two Apples alone. Applejack came over and gave Joanamac a gentle nuzzle.

"I'm happy for ya, sis," she said. "Just wasn't expectin' to walk in on...all that. But anypony who makes ya smile like he does must be somethin' special."

"He is," Joanamac replied. "And Applejack...thanks for understandin'."

The two siblings shared a warm embrace, tensions fading away. There were still adjustments to be made, but they'd handle it as Apples did - together.

It took Joanamac a moment to realize an issue. "Wait a sec..." She turned to the door heading out, where Fancy had gone a moment. "Ah can't do that!"

"Can't do what?" Applejack quirked an ear at Joanamac. "If ya mean... do things with Fancy, ya already did it..."

Joanamac shook her head quickly. "Jus' visit him like that. He's a rich pony, he can just throw things down. He can afford to grab a last minute train and come visit. Ah can't do that." She curled a hoof to point at herself. "That ain't really a thin' ah can do. How'm ah gonna go visitin' him one day fer dinner?"

Applejack chuckled instead of looking alarmed. "Ya silly pony. Did ya forget what yer sister kin do?" She pointed up, through the ceiling, at Canterlot. "Orchard Blossom can teleport, 'member? So, ya jus' have to make a day trip out of it. No bits involved. You two work it out, and make a whole day of it." She started for the exit. "Now, ya finish yer chores before you went and had fun?"

Joanamac jumped into movement, following after Applejack. "Even if ah did that, that'd mean a whole day of me not doin' the chores ah should be doin'."

"As if I never took a day away." Applejack thumped to the side against her sister. "Please. You've covered how many days while ah was off savin' the world an' whatnot?"

Joanamac considered Applejack's words and had to admit she had a point. With a small smile, she said, "Reckon yer right. Ain't like we never took time off afore. An' havin' Orchard Blossom around means the farm won't miss me too much for a day."

She nudged Applejack playfully. "Maybe while I'm gone you can give Winona some extra belly rubs. She'd love that."

Applejack chuckled. "Now that's an idea I can get behind. That ol' girl deserves some pamperin'."

Her expression turned serious for a moment. "But are ya sure about this thing with Fancy? I know he's a gentlepony an' all, but still..."

Joanamac nodded firmly. "I'm sure. He's always treated me right, even back when I was..." She trailed off, still getting used to referring to her old self.

"Back when you were you, just a different flavor," Applejack finished for her. "I get it. And I trust yer judgement."

She gave Joanamac a playful shove. "Now get on with your chores afore I put ya to work in the south fields. I know how much ya hate pickin' in the prickle patches."

Joanamac stood up tall. "Actually, ah finished 'em afore ah went and got distracted. How's your side of the orchard lookin'?"

"All done." She gave a hoofs up. "Why ah wandered in the barn, an' found you bein'... busy in a different way." Her brows flattened. "Now... some part ah me thinks ya might be misunderstandin' me. Ah didn't mean you two gettin' 'long. Ya already know what pony he is. Yer his plus one as Orchard Blossom, ain'tcha?"

"Y-yeah." Joanamac reared up on a fence, leaning on it with her belly. "What of it?"

Applejack joined her, leaning on the fence next to Joanamac. "So, hate to bring this up, but when a stallion and a mare love each other very very much..."

Joanamac colored across her face quickly. "Ah know how foals are made!"

"Do ya?" Applejack adjusted her hat, tilting it across her eyes. "Then are ya tryin' to make one, or just not thinkin' 'bout it?"

Joanamac's eyes widened as Applejack's implication sunk in. She hadn't even considered the possibility of getting pregnant from her encounter with Fancy.

"I...I wasn't thinkin' about that at all," she admitted, cheeks flaming red. "Just got caught up in the moment is all."

Applejack nodded sympathetically. "I figured as much. And there ain't no shame in it - you're explorin' this new side of yourself. But you gotta be smart about it too."

She put a gentle hoof on Joanamac's shoulder. "I know you love Fancy, and he clearly cares a great deal about you too. But a foal is a big responsibility, and not somethin' to just stumble into. You should talk with him, make sure you're on the same page."

Joanamac took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Yer right. I wasn't usin' my head. Ah'd need to talk to Sugar Belle too! We're the couple... Any foal ah went and suddenly had would be both of our problem, er, issue, er... It'd involve us both!" She stomped a hoof, sliding down from the fence to do so. "Shoot... ah really messed up. What if a foal does happen?" Worry was building by the moment.

"How do ah even get them out of there?" Joanamac pointed to her posterior. "The door leadin' out's a bit cramped... Ah really didn't think this through. Ah didn't think at all." She pressed a hoof against either of her temples. "Jus' did what felt good... What am ah, an animal?! Jus' some critter?"

"Easy easy." Applejack patted her clearly upset sister. "Odds are, nothin' happened. We pony aren't that fertile, fer good or bad... Y'ain't in yer season, are ya?" She sniffed, not that she had any hope of telling much besides the fact that Joanamac had enjoyed herself recently. "Are ya?"

Joanamac sank to her haunches. "How do ya tell?"

Applejack blinked at her new sister. "Wait... Ya... 'Course ya don't know!" She threw her hat to the ground suddenly. "Of course not! Ya haven't been a mare fer long. Ya don't know what half the things ya feel are... This may be the body ya wanted, an' welcome to it, but ya don't got a dang clue what's goin' on in it. Y'ain't been taught, and yer barely just startin' to feel any of it."

Joanamac hung her head, cheeks burning with embarrassment. Applejack was right - this was all still so new to her. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I shoulda been more responsible. I just got caught up in everything."

Applejack tilted her chin up gently. "Hey now, no need for apologies. Ain't nopony's fault, just is what it is. But we can fix it."

She retrieved her hat and plopped it back on her head. "First thing's first, we gotta get ya educated. Bein' a mare's more complicated than just havin' the parts. There's cycles and such to understand."

Joanamac perked up a little. "You'll teach me?"

"Of course!" Applejack thumped her chest proudly. "May not be an expert, but I reckon I know my way around bein' a mare well enough. We'll cover the basics, get you on steady hooves."

She cocked a brow and grinned. "Then we'll have a little talk with Fancy and Sugar Belle, set some ground rules. Ain't no harm in havin' fun, but everypony's gotta be on the same page."

Joanamac smiled, tension draining away. "Thanks, sis. Don't know what I'd do without you."

"Hey, that's what family's for." Applejack pulled her into a one-armed hug. "We got this. Just take it one step at a time."

The two walked to the house, looking sure of their part in things again. "One thing."

Joanamac perked an ear. "What's that?"

Applejack bumped against her. "You should check in with Twi and Starlight. Bring up this... Don't gotta go into no specifics, but check with 'em, ask 'em what you should do, if things go down that road. Don't want you gettin' hurt, or no foal neither, for that matter."

"Yeah... Yeah, good idea." Joanamac rubbed at her cheek. "Nopony ever told me bein' a mare had so many ways... It's more complicated than ah gave credit for."

Applejack swatted at Joanamac with her hat. "Ya dan' fool." Her tone didn't sound angry. "Ya been one, um, as Orchard Blossom, and ya didn't even notice some of it? What..." She colored sharply. "Has she also been enjoyin' Fancy? She may be facin' the same issue dependin' on things. Ah'd bare that in mind... 'Least she has less, uh, complications. But bein' a mom's plenty of complications all on its own."

Joanamac looked up towards the distant city of Canterlot. What future had she signed herself for without even thinking about it?