Red Fire

Applejack had cleared most of the east field. But, its was getting late and she needed to go help Granny with dinner. She wanted to let her brother and Dash know that dinner was about an hour away before heading to the house.

She could tell they had just finished some work on the barn. “Where the hay are they?” Looking around, the spring house’s open door caught her attention. “O they went to cool off”

A mild fear built up in her as she approached the open door. Something wasn’t right. It was too quiet. They always kept the door shut unless somepony was inside. "Where are they?" she thought out loud. Solemnly looking into the little building she couldn’t make sense of what she saw. Her brother collapsed on the floor, curled around the equally lifeless Dash. Her breath faulted. Fear almost got the better of her before she realized they were breathing.

‘They're sleepn’?’ Her mild anxiety turned into full confusion. As her eyes adjusted to the dim of the room, she started to see the subtle, and not so subtle, signs of the two recently having been in the throes of passion. She was dumb struck. Wincing at seeing her brother and friend still covered in passion’s sweat. At the same time, they looked so loving she wanted to coo at them.

Turning quietly she left. Thinking to herself: ‘I’ll let the dinner bell wake them, no sense in embarrassing them. This could get messy... Err complicated. I can’t have them go through a bad break up. If either one hurts the other it’s gona be bad... Dash is the element of loyalty after all, and my brother, he ant much different. This could be a long haul thing too... O’ my. I need to think about this.’

Something had awakened Dash. She was tired, her body felt like she had just finished a cross country race. Her head was fuzzy and hurt a little. The trickling water of the spring sounded like the best thing ever. Big Mac was curled around her, one leg thrown over her wings and shoulder. If she wasn’t so thirsty, she would have been content to lay in his arms till he woke up. But, with the water teasing her so close by, she had every intent of getting up right now. Her attempt to pull free resulted in Mac mumbling and rolling over. She wasted no time getting to the shimmering pool. Her mind cleared as she drank the ice cold water. Standing by the basin she thought about what had happened; it didn’t make any sense.

She knew that she had instigated the sexual encounter, but why? Did she want to see where this could go? She knew that he was a long term type of guy. But, did she want to be in a committed relationship? Would Big Mac be someone she wanted to share her life with? Sure Big Mac is an attractive stallion, but it never had crossed her mind she wanted a relationship with him. Was this a result of her first summer heat coming on?

Her eyes light up as a thought shot through her mind. ‘O sweet Celestia, did my heat start today... No, I don’t feel like it, and It’s too early in the year. I have to get Twilight to cast that no-foal spell on me tomorrow!’

Dash shook her head “Gaa! Too much to think about!” she shouted in frustration.

Her outburst woke Big Mac. Rolling onto his hooves he gave her a soft smile. “Hello there.”

A thought sprang to Dash’s mind “Did Scooterloo drug us with that love potion?”

“Nope. That was crazy. No mistaking what it does to you.”

Big Mac plunged his muzzle into the spring and drank deeply. Dash was still thirsty and sipped along side him. Mac watched as she sipped at the water. She was miles away in her head. Eventually she met his gaze. Leaning forward he kissed her. She was taken off guard at first, but then pressed into it. The cold water contrasted his warm tongue. Making it feel as though it could leave burns, if it were to lay against the same spot too long.

Big Mac slowly pulled back from dash. “Lets clean up.” Walking outside and motioned for her to follow.

Taking the first steps outside Dash realized that she was in fact, quite sore. “Owe... Geez! Big Mac, You should warn girls about that thing!”

“You weren't complaining at the time.”

Before she could decide how to take that, Mac had taken up a bucket of sun-warm water, and was slowly pouring in over her. It felt good, but now she was soaked all the way through. “That feels good. But, what about a towel?”

“Shhh, relax” Big Mac produced a curry comb from somewhere and started wiping the water off her. The strong steady scrub of the curry comb felt wonderful. Dash couldn’t recall the last time she was curried. She had been a filly, probably by her mother. His movements were strong and intentional.

After he had dutifully tended to drying her, he broke the silence. “Granny hates it when I come in the house dirty. So, clean up down here before going in... There, all better?

The melted pegasus could only muster a "MmmHmm" and a meager nod of satisfaction. She watched as Big Mac took another bucket buy the rim with his teeth and swiftly looked straight up. Dumping the bucket’s contents over his entire body. He reached for the Curry comb, but Dash snatched it up before he reached it.

“My turn!” She blurted with a grin. It took her three times as long to dry Big Mac. As he was twice as big, and she took the excuse to feel the firm contours of his body. For probably the first time ever, she saw no reason to rush.

Soon the supper bell started its frantic chime. Big Mac stood still and enjoyed the last bit of attention from Dash and the curry comb. He thought that they must have let Applebloom ring the triangle bell tonight. As it was louder and longer going than normal. Big Mac went back in the spring house and straightened a few things inside before pulling the door shut as he walked out. “Lets go eat”

Dash hadn’t realized it till now, but she was starving. Taking to her wings she hovered over Big Mac as he plodded to the house. “I’ll come back the day after tomorrow, in the morning, to get that barn painted. I have some errands in Cloudsdale that need to be done tomorrow. Have to start getting ready for winter wrap-up”

“You can sleep here if you want” Mac said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“No I... I need to get an early start tomorrow. To get everything done. I have things at home that I have to take with me.” She felt awkward. While that was all true. Normally she would have just said no to such a question. She was talking herself out of it as much as she was trying not to hurt Big Mac.

Dash saw a little disappointment in his eyes. It pulled at her heart. The idea of sleeping in his arms sounded nice to her. But, no... This didn’t feel right. She had her own bed, her own house! Cuddling up in a stallion’s arms like she’s afraid of the dark just isn’t something in she did. She was frustrated with her own thoughts. Never had a sexual encounter take control of her emotions before. What was different this time?

The warm glow of the house and the smell of hot food broke her train of thought.

Dinner was a monster of a meal that left her so full she wanted to wait before trying to fly, lest she get a cramp in her side. She spent the time regaling Big Mac, Granny, and Applebloom with stories from her adventures.

The evening waxed and running short on stories she hadn't already told, Dash said her goodbyes to the family in the living room. Exchanging an awkward hug with Mac as she did so. She hadn’t seen Applejack since getting up from the table. Wanting to see her too before leaving she went looking for her. She found her sitting on the back porch, alone staring out into the starry night. It had turned cold, the air was sharp and the night sky perfectly clear.

Applejack had been thinking about the possible outcomes of this new situation. Playing out them out in her head. Some ended badly, some didn’t. She even got a snicker from the thought of Dash and a little red pegasus foal. Hearing her friends steps on the porch, she spoke somberly without breaking her gaze from the starry view. “Don’t hurt him Dash”

“You know?” Dash said in surprise. Suddenly feeling awkward.

“Yea, I kinda walked in on ya” Applejack replied in a deadpan tone.

“I’m sorry I don’t know... I” blushing with embarrassment. She couldn’t think what she should say.

Applejack cut her off. She was smiling, but a little sad too. “I’m not offended by what ya did. It’s just that. He’s my brother, almost a father to me. You can hurt him. You don’t really know him. Not yet. And you’re my friend. I don’t want to lose you, and I don’t want to see him hurt. You understand what I’m sayin right?”

“Yea” Dash sat down besides her on the edge of the porch and joined her in star gazing. “I really don’t want to hurt him. Something happened today that I don’t understand. I felt drawn to him like a moth to a flame. And the funny thing is, I don’t know how long I’ve felt like this.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “That never ends well for the moth ya know.”

The two friends snickered at the broken tension for a few moments. “I’m glad you got me to talk about this” Dash said, still smiling. “Saying that out loud helps. I’m going to head home to sleep on all this.” Dash hugged her friend and began the flight home.