Target Acquired: Tickle Time!

Night Fury woke up early the next morning, intending to go to Sweet Apple Acres. His plan was to possibly help Applejack with whatever work she needed to do, and in return, surprise her with his tickle attack.

He himself was never really an early riser, especially after he let go of all his past stress from home and learned to relax. But, he knew that AJ was a different story with her working the orchard before anypony else in town even cracked so much as a yawn.

“She’ll never see it comin’!” He chuckled to himself. “And, who knows, it might help her relax afterwards. Win-win, either way!”

He pulled out his list and circled AJ’s name.

“Target Acquired!”

—

Night Fury was walking up to the little farm house at Sweet Apple Acres. He looked around to see where Applejack was, but had no luck. He did notice Big Mac loading hay bales into a wagon, possibly headed to feed their cows. Perhaps he knew where AJ was.

“Hey there, Big Mac.” Night Fury greeted, walking up to the stallion. Big Mac had just loaded the last bail when he heard his name, and turned to acknowledge the call.

“Howdy, Night Fury,” he greeted, politely. “How’re you?”

“Doing well. Is Applejack busy?” Fury asked, getting straight to the point without giving the details. “I wanted to see her today. You don’t know where she is, do you?”

He noticed the stallion expression became more solemn, and it worried him.

“Did… something happen to AJ?” Fury asked, concerned. “Is she okay?”

“She’s upstairs in her room, Friend,” Big Mac admitted. “Bucking trees earlier this week left her with a pretty nasty sprain. Doctor Whooves gave her some pain killers, but told her to stay off of her legs until further notice. She told me this morning that she’s about to implode with boredom.”

“Dang! That sucks. I've had some broken bones myself, so I know how that feels.” Fury admitted. “Is she okay with having some company? I’d like to help her out however I can.”

“Ah’m not sure how much you can do, but Ah’m sure she wouldn’t mind the company,” Mac said with a smile. “Why don’t ya see for yourself? Door’s unlocked. Make yourself at home.”

“Thanks, Mac.” Fury replied, heading inside the farmhouse.

He found his way to the second floor, where the bedrooms were. As he approached AJ’s room he could hear what sounded like soft sobbing, and it made him sad.

“Knowing how busy and helpful she usually is, it doesn’t surprise me that she’s kinda upset. I hope this works,” he said to himself.

He gave three quick knocks on AJ’s bedroom door, and waited for a response.

“C-come in,” he heard Applejack say from the other side.

Fury gently pushed the door open, and he noticed the atmosphere become a bit lighter, as Applejack gave a sincere smile when she saw him.

“Night Fury,” she sighed, happily. “Good to see you, Partner.”

“Hey AJ! You look like you’ve seen brighter days. What happened?” Fury asked, hopping onto the bed and nuzzling her neck.

“Doctor Whooves said I sprained it pretty bad during my exercising.” She admitted, solemnly. “Nothing’s broken, but it still hurts like crazy. To be honest with you, this has been really hard on me, not being able to help my family with everything like I usually do. And sadly, Twilight and Starlight are away for the time being. So… I’m gonna have to let this heal naturally.”

Admitting the reality of the situation caused the farming mare to start sobbing again, feeling bad about not being able to help her family and friends like she’s so used to doing.

Fury’s heart broke, seeing his friend so sad. He knew he had to do something. Then he had an idea.

“AJ, I think I know how I can cheer you up some,” he stated.

“R-really?” she hiccuped. “H-how so?”

He dried her tears with his tail, before heading over to her hooves.

“Uhh… Night Fury? If you haven’t noticed, I can’t do much with my hooves, at the moment. What with my leg being busted and all, you know?” She stated, confused as to what he was planning.

“That may be true,” Fury stated, before smirking. “But you can still feel things, right? No damage to your nervous system, correct?”

Applejack raised a confused eyebrow at that question, completely forgetting how much pain she was in.

“Uhh… yeah,” she stated, plainly. “Where’re you going with this?”

Fury answered her by taking hold of her injured leg and began to massage her muscles. This caused Applejack to start to groan and squeak. It was painful, but she quickly realized that her injured leg was becoming increasingly less painful.

“Oww… oh, my… AHH!” She began to squeak, as he relieved some of her pain. Within five minutes, it felt completely painless. AJ sighed contently as he walked back towards her resting head.

“Feeling better?” Fury asked politely.

“Yeah…” She admitted, with a blush.

“Nice! That’ll make the next step that much sweeter.” he said with a sly grin.

“Huh? Next step?” Applejack asked, confused. “What in tarnation are you talking about, Fury?”

“Oh nothing, just a little trick I cooked up to cheer you up. Now hold still…” Night Fury moved up the apple farmer’s body until he was nearly face to face with her, smiling sinisterly before he chuckled darkly and went in for the gold.

“AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Applejack burst out, laughing hysterically as he tickled her tummy. “FUURHRHRHRHREEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!”

“Cootchie Cootchie Coo!” Fury teased. “You sure look like you’re having fun.”

“Ahhahaahahaha! It tickles! Hahahahahahahaha!” Applejack squealed as she continued laughing hysterically.

“Yeah, that's the point, cowgirl. Now, let's move on to the weak spots. Apple Bloom had a lot to spill about you earlier this week.” He said cheekily.

Applejack’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as she let out an audible gasp. Her cheeks turned the color of her famous Red Delicious Apples.

“Oh no! Fury, don’t you dare! Yer gonna pay if you do it!” she said, beginning to panic.

“Oh I dare, and I've got a big bet running on this one!” He said, slyly.

“Fury, please no!” Applejack pleaded, desperately.

Fury ignored her as he began to gently stroke his paws up and down AJ’s injured hoof, causing the farm mare to completely lose it and laugh hysterically.

“GYAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Applejack exploded in ticklish glee, tears of laughter flooding out of her eyes. Fury smiled proudly, knowing that his plan was working.

“Yeah, there we go! Apple Bloom really wasn't lying, your hooves really are your weak spots. And to think with all that bucking, you'd be impervious to this. Looks like I owe the CMC some well needed immunity from my attacks. For now…”

“OHHOHOHOHOHOH C’MOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHONHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!” Applejack bellowed, continuing to laugh hysterically.

“Oh come on nothing, AJ. You know you can't fight this!” Fury said, effectively calling upon the unforgiving forces of karma to come forth. Applejack then felt a sting of pain in her leg, getting her to immediately stop laughing and moan a pained grunt.

But it looks like her leg can, and what a fight it's putting up!

Fury immediately stopped his tactics and checked on his friend. “Woah woah, you okay AJ?”

“Ice… needs ice.” Applejack moaned. Fury nodded and opened her window to sound the alarm.

“Apple Bloom, Big Mac! The pain is getting worse for AJ! Need some fresh ice up here, double time!”

“Horseapples! On the double, Fury!” Apple Bloom hollered back.

Big Mac didn’t even respond. He quickly ran to the ice chest and filled some buckets, the two quickly climbed the stairs and ran to Applejack’s bedside. Apple Bloom and Night Fury quickly began to spread ice all around her leg. Fortunately, the pain didn't last long as the cold ice calmed down her nerves.

“That oughta do it. How ya holdin’ up, sis?” Apple Bloom asked, concerned for her sister's health.

Applejack’s breathing began to steadily become more regular, and her facial expressions relayed the relief that she was now feeling.

“Ahhhhhhhhh,” she sighed, contently. “That feels much better!”

“Glad you're all good now, AJ. Sorry if I triggered the pain, I was just trying to keep your spirits up.” Fury said, feeling a little guilty for what he thought was something he started. The orange earth pony quickly shot that theory down.

“Fury, that wasn’t your fault by any lick o’ the word.” She said, reassuringly. “Ah understand you were wantin’ ta help me feel better. And ya have, you can’t do anything to hurt me.”

“AJ’s right. We all heard ya making her laugh to try and cheer her up. It's nothing to be worried about, you were just tryna make her have a good time.” Apple Bloom said.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac added. “And if’n anypony thinks otherwise, ya got us to back ya up.”

“By the way, I’m still safe from gettin’ targeted for a while, right?” Apple Bloom asked quietly, blushing as she did so. “N-not that I don’t want it ta happen, though.”

“For now, but just until I get around to it. Don’t think your little info dump will save your little brigade forever.” Fury said, slyly.

“I didn’t think it would, to be honest,” Apple Bloom giggled, sheepishly. “Sweetie Belle’s looking forward to your visit, too. Scootaloo… not so much.”

“Just about the same way your sisters reacted. Can't say I'm too surprised.” Fury chuckled. “Well, I'm glad you guys thought I was in the right here. I'm just doing what I can to make my friends laugh, and that's what I love to do. Well, besides Pinkie, of course.”

The Apple siblings had a good laugh at that statement. Fury chuckled too as he once again pulled out his list and crossed off the apple farmer.

“Target Down.”