//------------------------------//
// Rabbit - Esle Ynopemos 
// Story: Appleshy Prompt Tag Collab 
// by Twinkletail 
//------------------------------//


Written by Esle Ynopemos




Applejack had come a long way with Fluttershy since that stammering confession by the bridge. She had gotten the timid pegasus to open up to her, had steadily won her trust through patience and little gestures. These days, Fluttershy treated Sweet Apple Acres as a second home, and Applejack was the only pony she would let enter her cottage without first knocking. After a great deal of hesitation on Fluttershy's part, Applejack had even managed to introduce herself to her parents, who seemed like decent folks.

All in all, the future looked bright for the couple. There was just one little problem that needed to be dealt with.

That varmint.

Applejack didn't call him that aloud, of course. To do so was to invite a painful, shocked look on her marefriend's face that Applejack didn't dare risk seeing again. That had been a long week.

But a varmint was what the little white rabbit was. He acted sweet enough in front of Fluttershy and her friends, but once Applejack had started spending more time with his caretaker, the claws had come out. He had waged an all-out campaign against her attempts at courtship. He was a devious little rodent, deftly sabotaging her efforts to get close to Fluttershy. He was an expert at manipulating situations to make Applejack look like a villain, and it was only due to Fluttershy's sweet, forgiving nature that Applejack ever had any success at all in convincing her otherwise.

It was time for this to stop. With that in mind, Applejack found Angel taking a midday nap in the middle of the couch. One eye slid lazily open as her shadow passed over him.

“You and me need to have a talk,” she said.

Angel scowled, but sat up nonetheless, blinking the sleep out of his eyes. He peered up at her expectantly.

Applejack crossed her forelegs across her chest. “I'll start with what needs sayin' the most. I ain't leavin'. I aim to stick by Fluttershy for as long as she'll have me, an' if I got anything to say about it, that's gonna be a good long while. Ain't nothin' you can do about that.”

Angel Bunny stuck his lip out at Applejack, then rummaged between the couch cushions, finding a few peanut shells to pelt her with.

The farmer patiently weathered the rain of detritus. “Yeah, you can keep on doin' what you been doin'. It won't drive me away, but I reckon you could make a pretty good go at makin' me miserable.” A peanut shell smacked her in the middle of the forehead. A small smirk formed on her lips. “But...”

The rabbit paused, a paperclip raised and ready to throw. He raised an eyebrow.

“But if ya do that,” Applejack continued, “I'll have to take these fresh garden greens to sell at the market.” She pulled a bag out of her pack, revealing a juicy head of lettuce. From their fresh scent, it was mere minutes from the ground, only a rinse and a short walk separating it from the garden.

Angel's stomach growled as he stared up at the delectable offering.

“See, that's one of the great things about comin' from a farm,” said Applejack, taking a leaf from the bag. “I got access to the freshest, tastiest food. Carrots, chard, the juiciest apples you've ever tasted... mm, I'm gettin' hungry jus' talkin' about it.”

Angel reached a paw towards the lettuce leaf.

Applejack grinned, holding it just out of his reach. “And I'd be willin' to make sure your meals get made with these high-quality ingredients, if you're willin' to show me some consideration.”

Angel frowned, rubbing his chin with a paw. After a while, he stood up, extending his paw out to her.

Applejack shook it with her hoof. “Old earth pony way of business,” she said, tossing the leaf of lettuce to the hungry bunny. “If there's a problem, throw food at it.”