What Happened To Yesterday

Arc 1: The Way Things Are

An excited feminine voice vocalized a happy tune that carried its way across the sun kissed apple orchards that covered the lands just outside of the small hamlet known as Ponyville. The scenery was exquisite, beautiful strong apple trees, their blooms just showing through. It was a sight that ponies all over Equestria envied.

But the tune that wafted through the blooming trees brought it all together. It was jovial, but not extremely so. To most ponies it brought to mind a mother’s touch, or a home cooked meal around the family table; a state of pure bliss and relaxation.

It made sense, this pony’s special talent was to make ponies happy. It was this particular pony’s duty to make sure that nopony ever frowned or felt bad, therefore singing such a jovial tune was a wonderful way to accomplish that.

The stallion’s pink fluffy tail bounced up and down, as did his equally pink and fluffy mane and his whole body for that matter. It was an efficient way of travel, well…for him at least. Most ponies didn’t bounce like that, they found that it suited this particular pony was a much more bouncy individual than themselves.

“Ooooooooh Applejack~!” The joyful vocalizations stopped and out came that long call. “Where are yooooooou~?” It was their weekly meeting at Sweet Apple Acres, after all the two earth pony males of their tight knit almost all female group needed to stick together.

“Consarnit, can you quiet down?” A hulking  figure stepped out from behind a particularly large apple tree. His orange coat gleamed with a fresh coat of sweat, acquired from working hard amongst the many trees, and a Stetson rested upon his golden locks. “Do the words ‘secret rendezvous’ mean anythin’ to you?”

“Nope!” The word was accompanied with a large smile. The orange pony facehoofed, here he thought he was the element of honesty.

“Course not…” The orange pony sighed. “Sometimes I wonder why I hang out with you…” The heavily accented sentiment was accompanied with a low chuckle and a slight smirk.

“Cuz you loooove me, duh~!” In a single bound, the pink pony was practically on top of his friend, so much so that their noses were touching. Quickly and discreetly, the larger farm pony pecked the pink pony on the lips.

“And don’t you forget it, Berry Bubble.” Applejack smiled down at the smaller stallion, it wasn’t often that he demonstrated affection publicly…well if secluded in a rarely patrolled part of the orchards could be considered public. After all, what kind of stallion would he be if he wore his heart on his metaphorical sleeve? A weak one, and he was not a weak stallion.

“Aww, only a little kiss? C’mon Jackie, Berry needs his loving.” Berry puckered up for a bigger smooch, his companion gave a hasty glance around, making sure no pony would see this, and kissed his overly-affectionate(in his mind, at least) coltfriend.

Once the kiss went on for more than a few seconds, Applejack could feel his cheeks start to blush. Why did Berry have this effect on him? Every time the stallion hugged him, or even looked at him with the right look, he would blush furiously. It was maddening! He knew he had affection for Berry, or else they wouldn’t be unofficially dating, but he didn’t know why the pink ball of energy had such a…a compromising effect on him.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity out in the open, the kiss ended. Applejack licked his lips, the taste of icing and baked goods always hung around after kissing Berry. It wasn’t unpleasant or unwelcome, it was just distracting when there was work to be done.

“Hey AJ, Can’t you just take the day off this once? I still have that super-duper-awesome-spectacular day planned.” Ugh, this again. Berry had been pushing Applejack to take a day off so they could go on a date the overly-hyper pink pony had planned. Applejack had told him time and time again, he couldn’t just leave the farm with Big Macintosh in charge and only Applebloom as help. That would slow down the harvest, and that could hurt the farm, and the farm came before anything else.

“Berry…” He sighed quite loudly. “Y’know I can’t just up and leave, I’ve told you a hundred times. I have to shoehorn in these meetings as it is…” Berry’s perky exterior visibly dropped, his mane sagged a little and his ears laid flat. “Do you  want the farm to go under?” Berry just shook his head. “Then I can’t leave, this farm is the most important thing in my life. I can’t let any harm come to it.” Aaaaand he just realized what he said. To his colt friend. Time to remedy the folly. “But you rank a close second, Berry, I promise!” That probably didn’t help anything whatsoever. Sometimes, being the element of honesty honestly sucked.

“Okay Applejack, I understand…” Applejack visibly flinched, he didn’t like hearing that tone of voice coming from Berry. It hurt him in his heart of hearts, like something fundamental to his whole being was being stabbed. It didn’t feel right. “I’ll just go, you probably need to get back to work…” Now it was being wrung from his very body, Applejack just wanted to embrace Berry and never let go…but he couldn’t. He had a farm to run, sadly.

As the now solemn form of Berry Bubble walked away, Applejack took off his hat and let his head hit the tree beside him a few times, maybe they could beat some sense into him.

--

Berry walked into Ponyville, an oppressive cloud of despair hanging over him. Not one big enough to send him spiraling into an episode of insanity, but one big enough to radiate sadness in every direction.

That seemed to be more common these days. When he and AJ had started secretly dating four months ago, everything had seemed like a Technicolor paradise of love and joy, now it was a monochromatic hell. Every time he brought up a date, or just hanging out outside of their secret meetings, Applejack would just shoot him down and bring up how the farm was what mattered, not him. It hurt, like realizing you forgot to get oven mitts a little too late.

So Berry set a course for the same pony he always went to when Applejack did something, the one pony who ate up his drama like none other. Rarity. She was the one to offer sage advice for relationships, and love hearing all about the problems that plagued ponies.

Carousel Boutique was not busy, he could see that from a mile away. Then again, it never was. Nopony ever went to the shop to order a dress, nopony who was close enough to the shop could afford it. All of the orders came via mail, then if a follow-up visit was needed, some noble would stop by for their measurements. Today was a no-noble kind of day, thank Celestia.

Berry nosed the door of the boutique open and took a look around. Rarity was nowhere to be seen, she was probably upstairs taking a nap, or in her design room sorting through her organized chaos.

He took a step in. As soon as his hoof clacked against the tile beneath it, the marble white unicorn he was looking for was already at his side. Even he wasn’t sure how she moved so fast.

“Berry, darling. How are you today?” Her pseudo-Canterlot accent always seemed rather pleasing to his ears, calming almost.

“Not good, Rarity…not good.” The fashionista took this as a sing and made Berry sit on her plush red divan. It was their talking-spot.

“Oh dear, more trouble with your lover?” Berry nodded. “Well you just sit down right there and tell Rarity all about it.” She cooed gently and stroked his mane. Like his mother used to when he was upset, it was nice to have a friend like Rarity. She was just so easy to talk to, sure all of Ponyville knew Berry was gayer than rainbow colored chaps, but he only talked to Rarity about his relationships. Not that she knew who he was dating, Applejack was very specific about making sure nopony knew, he was still hiding deep within the closet.

“Well I went to go see him during his break again…” Berry sighed, he hated bothering Rarity with his nonsensical relationship problems, but he also loved her help. “I asked if he could take the day off, y’know for that date I’ve been planning, and he just told me..” He gulped, desperately trying to fight back the tears he could feel forming in the corners of his eyes. “He told me that his job was more important than me…”

“Well I’ve never heard of such a ridiculous stallion! He says he loves you then says that? A cur, that’s what he is! Nothing but a filthy cur, not worthy of your affection.” Rarity wiped away his forming tears with a perfectly manicured hoof. “Anypony who would dare say that is not worthy of all the love you have to give, Berry. Trust me.”

“B-But I love him, Rarity…” It was true, Berry had dated other stallions before but Applejack was something special. He could feel it. It was something he could explain or identify, he just knew this. “I don’t wanna leave him…”

“Well it doesn’t seem like he loves you. Why, you’ve never even been out together, You only get to see him on his breaks, and he puts his work above you. You could do so much better, Berry.” He could only offer a sigh in return, Rarity had been pushing for a breakup since the first problem popped up. Berry’s been fighting that, but now…it just seemed inevitable. What if the next time Berry visited Applejack he chose work over him permanently? It was a thought that kept Berry up at night, it was terrifying.

“But…I love him…” There was nothing else to say, no argument against her points. He could only repeat that single mantra.

“Then let him go.” Rarity spoke calmly, surely. “If he loves you, then he’ll come back to you…if not, then I’m afraid you will have to move on.” It was the truth…no more denying that. Something had to be done, Berry couldn’t stand the pain anymore.

“Okay…” It was a defeated sound, one Rarity dreaded. All of the poor stallion’s relationships seemed to be doomed to fail. “Rarity, why can’t you be a stallion…? I’d date you in a second.” Berry always ended their little chats with the same joke, and every time Rarity responded with:

“Why can’t you be straight?” It was just a little something to lighten the always oppressively sad mood that accumulated when the pink pony entered the boutique. “Now on your way, handsome. I have work to do.” Rarity, in a very ladylike fashion, got off of the sofa and left the room, leaving Berry to his own devices.

--

“Applejack…?” The voice came to the farm pony and messed him up mid-buck. Like always, the voice threw off his concentration…this time that meant one of his hooves slipping, spreading his legs and making him rack himself on the apple tree. Applejack sang soprano before collapsing to the ground in agonizing pain. “Ohmygosh! Applejack, I’m so sorry!”

AJ heard the hooves beating against the ground as they came over, then the bright pink hooves entered his now lowered frame of view, then  bright blue eyes consumed his entire field of vision. They looked worried and sad, not normal for them.

“Berry…?” Applejack’s voice was a few octaves higher than it’s usual tone. “W-What’re you doing here…?” Applejack found his strength and got up on shaky legs. The pain he just experienced was the kind that stayed with you for an excruciating period of time, he wouldn’t be bucking any trees for at least another hour.

“I-I came to talk to you…sorry for making you…yeah.” Something was wrong with Berry, Applejack could tell that from just the tone of the pink pony’s voice.

“I-It’s alright…” Applejack picked his hat up from where it fell and put it on his head. “And don’t worry about me, I’m fine. I’m a big stallion.” He coughed and swallowed the pain, it could wait to be dealt with. “So, what’re you here to talk about?”

“W-Well I was hoping we could talk…” Something was definitely off…was Berry still upset about what he said earlier? AJ sure as hell hoped not. Berry could bounce back from most things in an instant, if something was staying with him it spelled bad news.

“Alright, guess we could go to the barn…Big Mac and Applebloom went to town for a spell.” Applejack shifted uncomfortably, still feeling the pain from his run in with the tree. “And I could use a break…” Berry nodded and started towards the barn, Applejack followed close behind. After all, the old saying goes: ‘I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you walk away.’ This went double for Berry, such a nice plump flank bouncing as he walked…

“Applejack?” Berry looked back to see Applejack trotting along mindlessly. He followed the orange pony’s gaze to his own flank. The little action brought a smile to Berry’s face. He knew Applejack worshipped his rump, it was how Berry first got Applejack to show his love in a more…physical way. Just the thought of their first time together made Berry smile, it was so much fun watching Applejack fumble around, trying to figure out what to do.

Berry, forgetting why he was here, added a little more bounce to his walk. He could just feel AJ’s lustful gaze on his rump. He enjoyed the attention, it brought back the earlier days of their relationship. Happier times.

As soon as the duo entered the barn, Applejack kicked the barn door shut and put the lock on. Whatever Berry was here to talk about could wait, Applejack was all bothered now and he needed some relief. Berry turned around and opened his mouth to talk, but not a word came out because AJ was on him instantly.

While it was true Applejack wasn’t very affectionate in public, in private he was so very passionate. More so than any of Berry’s past coltfriends, or even all of them combined. The best part was his drive, if he wanted something, he would get it. Right now, Berry knew what he wanted and knew that while it was useless to fight it, that he wanted it too.

His tongue tangled with Applejack’s in his own mouth. Applejack had the dominance, Berry just followed his lead. In one fluid motion, Applejack lead them over to a stack of hay and pushed Berry onto it. Berry had learned early on in their relationship that he loved Applejack’s dominance, it was refreshing to have somepony whose personality was more consuming than his own.

“Berry, y’alright with this?” Still a polite stallion like always, a true gentlecolt, and here they say chivalry’s dead. Berry gave a nod, he couldn’t lie…mainly because a certain part of his anatomy was giving away what he really wanted, the same part of his anatomy that was using the blood meant for his brain, which had totally forgot why it came here in the first place.

Applejack preferred making love to his coltfriend like this, face to face. He couldn’t stand mounting, they’d tried it once but it just didn’t feel right. Berry liked to kiss, and Applejack just loved watching his face become enraptured in pure pleasure.

Applejack didn’t give a thought about lubricant, he could feel his own natural lubricant covering that base. The pain from his injury didn’t even register in his brain anymore, he was too busy focusing on his lover, who moaned when AJ’s member prodded at his entrance.

Berry let his mind wander as its pleasure center erupted when Applejack pushed himself into Berry. Even just a little bit of Applejack went a long way, he was larger than most stallions…they knew how to grow ‘em on the farm.

Applejack closed his eyes and just relished in Berry’s tightness. AJ wasn’t sure how the hyperactive pony was so tight considering all of his past coltfirends, then again a lot of things about Berry didn’t make sense.

He pushed deeper, then retreated. It was a rarely practiced dance that Applejack had quickly perfected. Push deeper, then retreat. Applejack took a forehoof and stroked Berry’s throbbing member. While it was true Berry wasn’t as big as Applejack, he was still a good size…well, Applejack thought so. He didn’t have a lot to go off of in that department.

“A-Applejack, I love you!” Berry wrapped his forehooves around Applejack’s neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss to keep himself from screaming in pleasure as Applejack finally bottomed out, his full length firmly buried in Berry.

Applejack could only agree as Berry let loose a small scream of ecstasy in his mouth, it was one of the downsides of Berry, he was quite….vocal. There was always the chance of being caught and having to explain…this.

Berry and Applejack were too lost in each other’s embrace and love to notice the window on the upper level of the barn swing open and an equine form enter through it. The pony watched for a few minutes, either out of shock or interest. When she finally found her voice…well, it wasn’t at the opportune time.

Applejack’s stamina had improved in the months he had been with Berry…considering Berry was his first and he had never pleasured himself…well it was actually impressive. With one last push, he drove himself as deep as he could and unloaded inside of his lover with a long, loud moan. At the same time, he felt Berry’s member twitch in his hoof and shoot its load over both of their chests.

“Huh, you two sure know how to go at it.” Both stallions froze mid-climax. Two pairs of eyes, one green one blue looked up and met with a pair of magenta eyes beneath a polychromatic mane. “Always knew Bubble Butt here was a colt cuddler, never figured you for one, though.”

Applejack quickly pulled out of Berry and covered his shame with the only thing available, his hat. This was the most shame and embarrassment he had ever felt at one time. It was so excruciating it was actually painful.

“Hey Dashie.” Berry sat up, obviously not worried about the mess that covered the lower half of his body, and waved at the cyan blue pegasus sitting on the loft.

“Sup Bubble Butt. So how long have you and Mr. Tree-trunk over there been an item?” Rainbow Dash’s calm attitude and bluntness did not help AJ’s mood. It’s like she didn’t just see both of them going at it.

“Oh about f-” Applejack cut him off.

“We’re not an item.” Both ponies looked at him, one curiously and the other hurt.

“You’re telling me the pony you were just plowing like a field is not your coltfriend?” Once again, blunt euphemisms do not help anything, AJ was beginning to think she was doing this just to make him feel even worse.

“Well…uh…y’see…” Applejack was scrambling…he wasn’t a good liar, so he chose something that was true and just decided to leave out some stuff. Not lie, just…alter the truth to benefit the situation, he just hoped Berry could forgive him. “I haven’t had…that in a while, and I knew Berry was a colt cuddler and couldn’t turn me down, plus he kinda looks like a mare…” The look Berry was giving him was going to haunt him for a long time, he could tell. It was like Berry had just been told he was adopted or that he had a terminal illness. Shock, and pure hurt.

“Yeah?” Dash was suspicious, he could tell. “You that hard up for some tail that you had to go to Berry? Sheesh, you could at least have a little pride, buddy.” Applejack watched Berry leave out of the corner of his eye. Once the pink pony left the barn, the faucet outside turned on, signaling he was getting cleaned off.

“I just needed something before I burst, y’know?” AJ chuckled, trying to hide the worry he was secretly feeling about Berry. He hated this charade already, it hurt to even think about Berry like just some cheap lay.

“Trust me, I know the feelin’ well my friend. Just surprised you’d bat for the other team to get some.” Dash rolled off of the loft and landed gracefully on her hooves. “But uh..we can talk about this later, I think you need to clean yourself off. You’re covered in Berry juice.” Applejack craned his head to look under him, his chest fur was indeed matted down with the sperm of his lover.

“Good idea, I’ll clean up an we can talk about why you decided to break into my barn.” Applejack pushed open the door of the barn and trotted over to the water spigot, it was still on from Berry’s use of it. Applejack pushed the bucket under it, filled it to the brim, then ungracefully poured it over himself. He wanted to get the smell of sex off of him as quickly as possible.

“Soo the reason I wanted to talk to you was that Twilight doesn’t have the gall to talk to you.” Dash was hovering above the now soaking wet stallion. “Say, you look good with a wet mane. You should keep that up, maybe you won’t have to go to Berry anymore.”

“Right, now what in tarnation do you mean: ‘Twilight doesn’t have the gall to’?” Applejack ignored the Berry barb, he wanted to get done with Dash so he could run after his pink special somepony and apologize until he lost his voice.

“Well the egghead’s been pining over you. ‘Applejack this’ and ‘Applejack that.’ It’s getting annoying, and she won’t ask you out. So I, being a good and awesome friend, decided to take the situation  into my own hooves. Even set up a date. Tomorrow, Sugarcube Corner, six PM. Be there and I guarantee you won’t have any more trouble getting any. Trust me, Twilight’s hotter for you than the sun.”

Things just got a little bit more difficult around here…