Apple Hospitality

Warm.

This bed is heaven. Maybe if you don't open your eyes, you can stay here forever. Everything you feel is soft and warm. Even some warm air gently brushes your face and you crack one eye open.

Then both eyes open wide in shock.

Applejack's face fills your vision, only inches from yours. You remember she's in heat and frantically struggle to remember last night. Last thing you can recall is her massaging near your butt. You start to silently hope nothing happened, but then... is that really what you hope?

Trying not to wake her, you slowly turn your stiff neck and look down at your two bodies. You're both on your side facing each other, the blanket pushed down to your thigh. Your one arm is tucked under her, her head on your upper arm and your hand trailing down her back. Your other arm is at your side, bent so your hand rests lightly on her barrel, fingers dug slightly into her fur. Her cast is resting on your neck, her other foreleg tucked between you, fuzzy foreleg just brushing your chin. Her torso is pressed up against yours, one leg resting on your side, the other stretched out alongside your thigh.

It's honestly amazing how warm and cozy this is.

From what you can see and feel, you decide she probably didn't do anything more than massage you. Are you relieved or disappointed?

With her pressed against you like this, you feel her chest swell with a deep breath, bringing your attention back to her. She cracks an eyelid open, meets your eye, and her mouth quirks into a tiny smile. She lets out a faint, happy, "Mmm..." then shuffles her head closer, tucks her muzzle under your chin, and mumbles something that sounds like, "...a view."

You consider trying to wake her, since it must be about time to get to work. Then you remember she's injured and Big Mac said you're off for two days to recover. You let out a soft sigh of relief, then close your eyes.

You could get used to this.

You wake suddenly. Did you just hear the door open?

You lift your head, ignoring the stiff pain in your neck, and see Granny Smith standing in the doorway. Your blood runs cold, but the old mare just smiles and you relax marginally, somewhat surprised by her gentle expression.

She leans in close and whispers just loud enough for you to hear, "She still asleep?"

You nod.

"Now be honest, Anon. Ah promise it's okay if'n y'say yes, ah just need t'know: Y'all do anythin' last night?"

You think for a moment, then remember your sleepy conclusion from earlier and shake your head. In a faint whisper you say, "I was dead tired and don't remember much, but I don't think so."

She eyes you critically, then relaxes and nods, "Alrighty, ah believe ya. Be right back."

She walks away and you slowly lower your head to the pillow to relieve your aching neck. A moment later, you see Granny's head pop up from behind Applejack's and she whispers again.

"Apple Bloom 'n Big Mac are already out workin', an' I'm 'bout to head into town. House'll be empty for a good long while." She holds up a glass of murky tea and continues, "Ah brought 'er medicine. Ah suggest ya make 'er take it as soon as she wakes up, 'cause if'n ya wake 'er up in a pose like that an' don't get 'er that medicine... well ah don't doubt she'd get awful excited real quick."

She sets the glass down on Applejack's end table, steps out the door, gives you a wink over her shoulder, then silently shuts the door behind her.

...So that was weird.

You try and process what just happened. Bringing her medicine up here you can easily understand, especially after pointing out how easily Applejack might get excited. But why did she specifically point out the house will be empty? Of course everyone will be out working. Unless...

Your eyes widen.

No... she couldn't have meant...

A tiny incredulous laugh escapes your lips. Did Granny really just try and set you up with Applejack?

Applejack mumbles a bit in her sleep and stirs slightly. Your heart begins to pound, unsure what to do, unsure if you even want to be set up with Applejack. Actually, you've never really thought of her like that before--or any pony, really. They're adorable, sure, but...

You look down at Applejack again, really look at her this time. You focus on her forehoof first, pressed against your chest, and notice her fur floofs up a bit around the base of the hoof. You gently wrap your hand around it and look at its underside. Despite how much she talks about Rarity poking fun at her, it's quite well taken care of. It's no hooficure of course--the hoof is scratched up a bit from her work--but it isn't chipped and the underside is clean, even up to its squishy frog.

You carefully release her hoof and shift your attention to her body. Lying on her side like this makes her barrel sink in a little, which accentuates the curve of her hips. You return your hand to her flank and gently stroke down her side. Moving along with the fur like this, she feels incredibly smooth and you can easily feel the ripple of muscle under her coat. You stroke the other way against her fur and it folds up easily, soft and fluffy.

You look back up to her face--and jerk your hand away in surprise. She's staring right at you with a humorous smirk.

"Enjoyin' the view, sugarcube?"

You sputter, unable to even put two words together. She giggles and covers your mouth with her hoof, her frog pressing against your lips. You try to wiggle away but she presses down on you with her cast and the hindleg on your hip.

"Hey, where ya goin'?"

You pull your head back away from her hoof and manage to sputter, "Y-Your medicine is, uh... over there."

She twists her head to look at it, then turns back to you, looking suddenly uncertain, almost anxious.

"Well... d'you want me to take it?"

You hesitate, your mind racing, "...What do you want?"

Her ears turn down and she looks away, "Don't rightly know, if I'm honest." She bites her lip and meets your eye again, "That's, uh... kinda why I asked you."

God she's cute.

You bring a hand to her cheek and smile, "I think your cycle is confusing you."

She groans and pushes your hand away, "C'mon Anon, it ain't like my mind is messed up. Even off the medicine like this, I can still think clearly." She turns her head away and mumbles, "I'm just buckin' horny, is all."

You cough awkwardly, "That's, uh... that's kinda what I mean, though. You shouldn't make such... decisions... in this state of mind. I, uh... well, I know what it's like to be so horny you'll take anything you can get."

She doesn't respond immediately, ears twitching nervously, then she abruptly shoves against your chest and scoots away.

"Anythin' I can get? I can't get nopony! I can't even get you!"

"Wait, huh?"

She turns away and mumbles angrily, "Jus' tryin' to be myself like everypony says ya should, an' what's it gotten me? Hardly ever seein' stallions, ones I do're always chasin' Rarity 'cause she's so gosh darn gorgeous--"

"Uh, AJ?" You struggle against your stiff muscles to sit upright.

She sits up and grows louder as she continues to rant, "--or chasin' Twilight 'cause she's smart as hay an' a buckin' princess to boot, or hay even chasin' one o' all them other cute mares in town jus' ripe for the taking--"

"Applejack."

She rubs her leg with a hoof, yelling angrily now, "Dunno why ah even buckin' try anymore, oughta jus' stay 'ere on the buckin' farm 'cause o'course nopony'd ever pick a buckin' ugly work horse like me!"

"HEY!"

Ignoring your body's angry protests, you grab her around the torso with both hands and she yelps as you lift her into the air. You pull her away from the edge of the bed and plop her down in front of you, facing you. Her ears flip straight back and she glares at you, clearly furious. You glare right back.

"That right there was the biggest load of horse shit I've ever heard come outta your mouth!"

She snorts and flicks your leg with her tail, opening her mouth to reply, but you cut her off.

"No, you fucking listen right now. I can't believe you, the element of honesty, can sit there and spout such utter shit. Don't you know you gotta be honest with yourself just as much as with everypony else!?"

She jabs your chest with a hoof and shouts, "Ah am bein' honest!"

You grab her by the shoulders and shout back, "No you fuckin' aren't! 'Ugly work horse'? You're the best lookin' mare in this whole damn town!"

She takes a deep breath, looking about ready to scream.

Then she does a mental double take and all the anger seems to drain out of her, leaving her looking confused.

"W-What? But... but you... I-I thought..."

You blush as you realize what you just said without thinking and let go of her, turning away with your ears burning. Applejack stops stammering and the silence looms over your both, quickly becoming unbearable, forcing you to say something, anything, just to break the oppressive silence.

"I... I don't know. I'm just so... I feel like I can't be certain about anything these days." You look back and see her watching you, mouth slightly parted, both ears focused forward on you, "But Applejack, there is no chance in Tartarus you're ugly."

Her lip quivers and her tail twitches, "You... really think so?"

You smile weakly, "Lying to you is a pony sin, right?"

A laugh catches in her throat and she turns away to take a few steadying breaths. Then she slides off the bed and downs the herbal medicine in one quick gulp.

"You're right," she says when she sets down the glass, "I shouldn't try an' make such decisions like this." She meets your eye, then blushes and looks away again. "I'm, uh... Look, I'll be honest, Anon. I like you. A lot. Enough that I really don't think it's my heat... but you're right, o'course I can't be sure. I won't try anythin' 'til my heat is done, okay? But uh..." Her blush deepens and... did she just lift her tail a bit? "If there's anything you wanna do..."

"Whoa, girl."

She giggles nervously and you stretch your neck and wince, "Honestly I'm probably not even capable of, uh... that right now."

She hops back up onto the bed, "Here, lemme help. I never did finish your massage."

"You sure that's a good idea?"

"Don't you worry, that medicine's fast, I'll be fine. 'Sides, I did say ya ain't leavin' 'til I finish my massage, right?"

You lie down as before and she gives your shoulders, neck, and arms a quick once-over since they'd already been done, before giving your thighs and calves a longer, more thorough massage. She has you flip over and massages the top of your thighs, then your chest as well. You try to act like you aren't watching her and notice she keeps looking over your body as she works, blushing faintly.

Finally she leans back and you sigh contentedly, "Ooookay... back to sleep..."

She pokes your side, "Nuh uh! If you got the whole day off, that means I ain't gotta spend the whole day bored!"

You eye her warily, "Aren't I supposed to relax and recover?"

"Ah, you'll be fine. I jus' wanna head in to town, hang out a bit." She waves her cast at you, "Doc came by last night while you were still out with Big Mac an' said it's safe to walk on, just no trottin' or buckin'."

You reach up and boop her muzzle, making her eyes cross, "Then go walk into town, don't let me stop you."

She wiggles her snout and snorts, then refocuses on you. "No way! You an' I ain't done hardly nothin' but work together. It's 'bout time we spend some quality time together just as friends."

She shoves your legs with a hoof and they slide off the bed, forcing you to catch yourself and sit up, "Alright, alright, fine! Lead on, Ms. Apple."

"Ugh! Ah hate walkin' this slow!"

You turn away from the peaceful landscape to look at Applejack. She's hobbling down the path beside you, stepping carefully with the cast around her foreleg. You chuckle gently and flick her ear.

"I think I enjoy this pace."

"Well I sure as hay don't! I'm used to always havin' stuff to do..."

"Then maybe it's time you learn to slow down and relax since we're off for a couple of days."

"And how the hay am I 'sposed to relax knowin' how hard my family's workin' back home 'cause o' my foalishness?"

You rub her neck, "I'm sure you'll make it up to them once you've healed."

She looks away grumpily, but doesn't pull her neck away.

"Besides, you know as well as I they'd just refuse your help and make your rest so you can heal."

She grumbles something under her breath, then sighs, "I just get antsy if I sit still too long. Always feel like I gotta be workin' on somthin'."

You walk on in silence for a bit, trying to think of how you can help.

"Maybe... maybe you can just think of this as another job. You did say you wanted to help me befriend ponies in town, right?"

"An' just what kinda job is that?"

"The kinda job for the element of honesty and the nicest pony I've ever known, that's what."

She nickers and turns away again, ears perking up slightly. A few moments go by and as you're looking up at a particularly nice looking tree, she says, "So... you're really enjoyin' this?"

You look down at her, but she's still turned away, "Definitely. I walk this path every day to and from work, but with you it's more... relaxing."

You set your hand on her withers and her skin twitches, but she doesn't otherwise react. Ponyville comes into view as you crest the next hill together, with the school Apple Bloom goes to on your left.

As you pass the school and turn into town, you gesture to the first house on your right, "By the way, my house is right here, right by the path that leads to the farm. Can't remember if I ever told you before."

"That's pretty convenient." She looks up at you and grins, "Mind if I take a look inside? I'd like to see what yer place looks like."

You aren't really comfortable with her in your house after her recent behavior so you throw up the first excuse you can think of, "Uh... it's kinda... messy?"

She rolls her eyes, "Oh apple cores, I don't mind a little clutter, that just means its lived in."

You hesitate, but you can't think of a good reason to refuse. Then she sits in front of you, drooping her ears, "C'mon Anon, please?"

You throw your arms up in defeat and turn toward your house, muttering under your breath, "Damn cute ponies with your damn cute faces..."

She nickers happily and hops up as you open your door inside. She follows you and shuts the door, then laughs incredulously when she sees how stark and empty your living room is.

"This... this is messy!? Gosh, y'all must think my room's a disaster!"

You sigh and sit down on your couch, one of the only objects in the large empty room, "Okay, no, it's not messy. That was just... Ugh. There probably isn't even enough in this house to make a mess."

She hops up on the couch and scoots close, "There really ain't much here... don't ya get bored?"

"Of course I do! Why d'you think I've worked almost every single day since I started at the farm?"

You slump back into the couch and she shuffles awkwardly, "If I'da known how little ya had to do--"

"What? What would you do, Applejack? There's nothing to do in this fucking town except hang out with other ponies, and we both know nopony wants to hang out with me."

She sets a hoof on your thigh, "I'm hangin' out with you, ain't I?"

"Only 'cause the alternative is death by boredom."

She chuckles, "Hey now, it ain't just cause of that! I like hangin' out with you."

You turn a skeptical look on her, a bit surprised by how close she was sitting, "How? You said it yourself: we haven't done hardly anything except work together."

"C'mon Anon, I was just messin' around when I said that. We been talkin' over dinner darn near every night an' what with all your help the past few days..." she snorts lightly and you feel the puff of breath against your neck, "I been spendin' more time with you than with my own family."

She turns away and casually leans forward, dropping off your couch, "But anywho, why're we just sittin' here talkin' 'bout hangin' out when we can actually be hangin' out?"

You give her a small smile, "Alright fine, what do you want to do?"

She trots toward your door, "Just follow me."