Poison Kiss

Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, and I roll in barrels of cider for the big day tomorrow. We already put up the cider stand yesterday. My friends said they were going to visit me today because I'm going to be busy all week.

"I'm going to get up extra early so I can get a good spot in line for the Cider." Rainbow Dash says.

"That never works." Pinkie Pie says.

"Why don't yall' just sleep over my place. Then you'll be sure to get the first spot in line." I say.

"No way! You're the best!" Rainbow Dash says.

" Wouldn't that be a little unfair? Can't we do a little work so we earn our spots in line." Fluttershy says.

"Sure." I say.

" I guess that makes sense." Twilight Sparkle says.

" Do you mind if Tunesong tags along?" Rarity asks. I bite my lip.

"Ah don't mind at all, but yall are gunna' get your hooves dirty. Anypony that's a friend of Rarity's is a friend of mine." I say hoping that they would decline.

"Are you okay? You're acting kind of funny." Twilight Sparkle says.

"Of course Ah am. Ah'm just a little anxious for cider season." I say.

A grey blurry shape hits the side of my barn. "Who threw that rock?" Apple Bloom asks.

"I'm not a rock, I'm Derpyhooves." Derpy Hooves says throwing her mailbag over her shoulder.

"You got a letter from your parents, Applejack. They're going to visit you tomorrow so they can help serve cider." Derpy Hooves says.

" You have parents?" Spike says.

" No, she's from outer space. Of course she has parents, Spike. Derpy, can you send this letter to Princess Celestia for me while you're at it. Spike has been feeling kind of down lately." Twilight says.

" Here's one for you from Tunesong, Rarity." Derpyhooves says.

" Gimme! Gimme!" Rarity says tackling her to the ground. She snatches the letter and reads it out loud.

Dear Rarity,

I think about you all the time. You're eyes shine like starlight. Your smile is like the sun letting out all the rain. Your lips are as soft as flower petals. You are so beautiful, and your heart is so giving. I can't wait to see your gorgeous face again. I will only stop loving you if that flower dies.

I love you so much

~ Tunesong

A red rose was in the envelope. Fluttershy cringes. "That was a very nice letter." She says.

"What a goof! The flower isn't even real." Pinkie Pie says.

" That's the point!" Twilight Sparkle says.

" How do you know." Pinkie Pie says.

" Because I got the same stupid letter three years ago." Twilight Sparkle says.

" You did?" Rainbow Dash says. Twilight Sparkle opens her book and takes out a rose just like the other one.

" It's my bookmark." She says.

" Why would someone send fake flowers? They look nice but they don't smell very good. If I were your boyfriend I would send you real flowers." Spike says.

" Otherwise she'd be covered in thorns." Tunesong says from behind.

Fluttershy hides behind me. " Tunesong, you're here!" She says grinning and wrapping her front legs around him. He pushes her main out of her eyes and kisses her the same way he kissed Fluttershy. She is as happy as she's ever been. I can't tell her the truth. I just can't.

" I better give them their privacy." Derpy says.

" Derpy! Look out for that- Chimney…" Twilight Sparkle says. I hear a loud thud. Grey feathers drift down from the sky.

" I'm okay." She says.

" Ah can't wait for yall to meet mah parents." I say.

" I don't know. I get nervous when I meet new people. I bet your parents are very nice though." Fluttershy says.

When we are working I keep a close eye on Tunesong so that he doesn't start any trouble. Maybe inviting him isn't the best idea. Tunesong takes Pinkie Pie behind the barn.

" Pinkie Pie. I think I might need a doctor, you take my breath away." He says in a deep voice. He's really going to need to see a doctor after I'm done with him.

" Do you know what takes my breath away. When I scream really loud. Like this, AAAAAHHHHHH-"

" We don't need a demonstration." He says moving his ears back.

" I can probably carry about five of those apple crates Rainbow Dash is holding." He brags.

" Really? I can put my tongue up my nose and put my whole hoof in my mouth. Want to watch?" She says.

" No thanks. I think I'll be getting back to work." He says. He sees me behind the tree by the barn.

" I heard somepony scream. Is everything alright?" I ask.

" Everypony is fine Pinkie Pie was just being weird." He says.

" Yeah, she'll do that. Ah'm gunna go back to work." I say.

I kick seven trees and load the apples in crates for Rainbow Dash to load into the juicer.

Tunesong lifts up a crate that Rainbow Dash is carrying.

" Do you need some help?" He asks

" No. I got it all under control." She says.

"You're very strong." He says.

" Yeah, yeah, I know!" She says.

" You get work done pretty fast too." He says.

" Yep, fastest in Equestria." She brags.

"I'm impressed. Usually mares aren't that tough." He says.

" What was that last part?" She says shooting him a death glare.

" It was nothing. Your mane is so colorful." He says.

" Seriously, what's up with all the complements. Are you like flirting with me. If you are I'm not interested. I would never do that to Rarity." She says.

" No! I am just trying to get her friends to approve of me. We might get married someday." He says.

"That's a relief. I don't have much time for a relationship. I'm not the housewife type of mare." Rainbow Dash says lifting more crates.

" I'm going to go see if Twilight needs any help." He says.

" Hey, Twilight. I see you still kept my rose all of these years." He says.

" Leave me alone." She says.

" You know I still haven't stopped having feelings for you. You still seem to care about me." He says.

" I said, leave me alone. You're too late. You're with Rarity now. You should be happy. She's more beautiful than I'll ever be." She says.

" I want you back though." He says kissing her cheek. She pushes him away.

" Sometimes in life you don't get everything you want. I want to be alone and you don't see that happening." She says. A tear trickles down her face.

" Stop it! Leave her alone!" Spike says blowing fire at him.

I kick a tree so hard that the whole tree falls down along with the apples.

" It looks like Applejack is in trouble!" He says galloping over to the fallen tree.

" Ah guess ah don't know mah own strength." I say.

" Quit following me around , okay. I'm sick and tired of you stalking me. I know you want me, but you're not my type. I'm way out of your league. I'm sorry, Applejack." He says.

" That's okay, two-faced tramps ain't mah type either." I say kicking dust into his face.

" Maybe if you dressed nice like the day I met you I would probably have feelings for you. I don't really date cowgirls like you. I only talk to smart, sophisticated mares like Rarity. " He says.

"Ah might not sound and look smart, but ah know a tramp when ah see one." I say.

" I'm not a two faced tramp. I just want everypony to approve of me. " He says.

" That's fine! Ah'm just looking out for Rarity. She saved mah life. You don't know how lucky ya are to have someone like Rarity. Ah know she might get on mah nerves some times, but she's the nicest pony I've ever met." I say.

" Ah saw you and Fluttershy Kissin' in the woods when I was looking for mah sister. I trust ya as far as ah can throw ya. That's not very far cause you're twice mah size. You owe Rarity an apology." I say.

"What makes you think she'll listen to you?" He says.

"Ah never lie. If Ah did tell 'er she'd believe me. So why doncha' be an idiot someplace else." I say.

" I'll be more successful than you'll ever be. Treekicker." He says. I see Rarity coming up the hill.. He puts his face up to mine. I know what he's trying to do. He's going to kiss me and tell her that I kissed him and he was trying to push me off. Rarity would never forgive me if she saw that. I swing my back legs at his face. He yelps. " Are my teeth still in?" He says.

" Yeah, but yer nose is bleeding pretty bad. Serves ya right." I say.

He runs over to Granny Smith and Fluttershy.

" Applejack, why did you kick my beloved Tunesong?" She asks.

" He had it comin'." I say.

" Why?" She asks.

" Because he's…" I trail off when I see her distraught face. She was so happy this past couple of days and I was ruining it.

" Nevermind, we're sorting things out." I say.

" Was he the one who knocked the tree down? Is that why you're so mad?" She asks. I don't answer.

" Can we please just act like it never happened. It's really complicated." I say.

" What do you mean, complicated. Do you think he's replacing you?" She says.

" Is he?" I ask in a nervous tone.

" No, of course not!" She says smiling a little. I hear voices ring in my head.

( I promise

I don't think Tunesong is right for Rarity and nopony will listen to me

Would your best friend ever lie to you?

BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

WHACK

Applejack! Applejack!)

" Applejack!" She shouts.

" What?" I ask.

" You just spaced out and started breathing really heavy. Is everything alright." She says.

" Ah don't know. That keeps happen' to me ever since the bee accident. Ah don't know why. Ah just want it to stop." I say making sure my cutie mark is still on.

" I know you're not feeling so well, but that doesn't mean you hurt Tunesong. I love him and I want him in one piece." She says.

"When mah parents get here everything will get all better." I say.

Fluttershy sprints doen the hill with tears flooding out of her eyes. " Go away! Just go away!" She screams.

"Fluttershy! I'm sorry!" He says.

" Ah'll talk to her. You take care of Tunesong!" I say to Rarity.

" I want to go home! I can't take it anymore. I just can't. I saw Rainbow Dash talking to Tunesong and how loyal she was to Rarity. I want to be like her. I don't want to be afraid. I want to be able to stand up to anypony and say no without worrying about hurting their feelings." She sobs.

" Fluttershy. It was just a little mistake. Everypony makes them. Ah made more mistakes than apples in this whole orchard. We can't worry about the past or we won't make it out of this web of lies." I say.

" I knew Tunesong for such a long time and he is so easy to talk to. When I talk to him I don't feel afraid anymore. He kissed me first, but I kissed him back. I was nervous I didn't know what to do. I feel so guilty. I just want to go home." She says. Okay, so this is officially going to be the worst sleepover ever.

" Have some cider before ya go." I say handing her a mug.

" Okay, thank you." She says whipping her hoof against her eyes.

" Bye, Fluttershy." I say.

" Ah think yall should take a break." Big Mac says.

" Me too." I say hiding the stress in my voice.

The whole night Tunesong played us great songs on Granny's old piano. It was out of tune but he still played it very well. Rarity won't talk about anything else but all of her dates with Tunesong. It's actually getting very aggravating but she's so cheerful that nopony confronts her about it. Pinkie Pie gave him a nickname Loonietune. He doesn't like that very much. At least none of us were fighting anymore. We are all pretending to get along for Rarity. Well, Pinkie Pie's not pretending. She's just oblivious to the whole situation. The only thing we all have in common is that we're worried about Fluttershy and thirsty for cider.