Today was a clear day, not a cloud in the sky. The sun shone down upon Equestria with bright hot clarity; warming the ground, and the ponies living beneath its burning rays.
On this particular afternoon Applejack was bucking apples. And bare trees. It was a good way to clear her mind; it was familiar, something to do, something that rarely needed thought; allowing her to reflect on other things.
The sun glinted off of her orange coat, beads of sweat trickled down her face. Her mane was a mess, strands of hair hanging in front of her face. Powerful muscles rippled underneath her coat, and Twilight could only stare in awe as the farmpony worked.
Twilight shook her head furiously; No! She wasn’t here to admire! She cleared her throat, hooking her forelegs over the fence. “Hey, Applejack!”
“What in tarnation?!” Applejack was so startled she slightly missed, bucking the tree to the side. The apples shook, and then fell; completely burying her.
“Oh my gosh!” Twilight cried, leaping over the fence and galloping towards her friend. She swept the apples, leaves and branches aside and pulled Applejack out. “Are you alright?”
“Whu…? Oh! Yeah, I’m fine!” She rubbed the back of her head, adjusted her hat and looked up. Her emerald green eyes widened. “Oh! H-hullo, Twilight…”
Twilight gave a weak smile. “Hey, um… I hope you’re not busy?” her eyes flickered towards the apples, which had missed the baskets placed around the tree – not a single apple had made it to a basket.
“Oh, n-no! O’ course not! Need something, hun? I still haven’t forgotten to return that library book now, have I?”
“What? No.” Twilight closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. “Applejack, you know what I’m here for, please don’t try to avoid it? Please?”
Applejack shook her head, “Now Twilight, I ain’t never tried to avoid things. So… shoot.”
Twilight felt a blush rise on her cheeks. “…How about an apple pie to start with?”
~~~
“That was a stupid question. I shouldn’t have said that!”
Twilight followed Applejack, who was trotting ahead of her. They were on the dirt road between Ponyville and Sweet Apple acres, headed towards Ponyville.
“Applejack! Don’t ignore me!”
“Hey now, I ain’t ignorin’ you! I just got… I needed a moment.” She slowed, allowing Twilight to catch up.
Who would have thought apple pie would be the last thing AJ wants to hear about? Twilight thought, biting her lip. “Look, Applejack, I’m really sorry. That was stupid.”
Applejack glanced at her. “Don’t forget the whipped cream, now.”
Twilight blinked, confused for a moment, and then when the realization hit her, a high pitched giggle escaped her lips. Applejack laughed too.
Wonderful! Maybe this won’t be so hard, Twilight thought. “So, Applejack, about last night…”
“I’m all ears…” Applejack said, although subconsciously her ears had flattened. Once again, Twilight took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to play with your feelings-“
“S’all right, Twilight. I ain’t mad or anythin’, I’ll get over it.”
Twilight smiled weakly at her friend. They’d entered ponyville now, and she felt self-conscious that somepony might be listening, but nonetheless she felt there was no going back as they continued aimlessly walking.
“You’re a good friend, you know that?”
Applejack smile sheepishly, “Twilight, it’s nothin’…” She turned a sideways glance towards the lavender unicorn. The way she moved, the rhythmic beat of her hooves on the dirt ground; the way her mane was softly blowing in the breeze. Twilight caught her staring, and the orange earth pony quickly turned her head; lowering her hat onto her forehead a bit.
“So, Applejack… there won’t be any… like… lingering feelings, will there? I mean, I don’t expect you to have a direct ‘yes or no’ answer or anything! But…” Twilight trailed off. The silence was extremely uncomfortable, and Twilight was glad when the murmuring of the stream interrupted it. They were near the little bridge that crossed the river in the middle of town.
Applejack looked thoughtful before finally saying slowly, choosing her words carefully. “Look now, Twilight. I can’t promise anything, but I won’t let any o’ these feelings get between me and our friendship. The feelings will wear off eventually, I know they will. Feelings like these always do.”
Twilight couldn’t help but smile, but said softly: “But… I don’t want you to hurt inside, or anything. I mean… I don’t know much about love, but…”
“Twilight, this ain’t love, it just ain’t. I love you as a friend, but not in that way. I understand that now – that fight las’ night was stupid, and I see that.”
They stopped for no reason, they were standing on the bridge. “Well,” Applejack continued, “these feelins’ ain’t love, it’s…. it’s…”
Twilight’s eyes widened. “Infatuation!”
“Yeah! That! It never lasts.”
Twilight smiled widely, “Applejack! Oh my gosh! You’re right!” She grabbed Applejack by the shoulders, staring into her eyes and grinning widely. Applejack stared into the dark purple, sparkling eyes, that wide, cute smile…
“Infatuation! It won’t last, it will pass! It really isn’t love; they just think they love me! Thank you!”
She hugged the earth pony tightly. Applejack gasped; feeling like her entire skeleton was being crushed. “It’s… nothin’! Ah! Can’t… breathe….”
“Oh! Sorry!” Twilight blushed, dropping Applejack who gasped for breathe. Twilight smiled sheepishly, then turned her gaze out towards the gently moving stream.
Applejack followed her gaze, watching it move.
Twilight closed her eyes, smiling softly. “Sometimes it takes another to make one understand…”
“So… How about some apple pie?” Applejack suggested, grinning.
“That sounds wonderful!” the two trotted down the bridge. Nopony noticed the bubble-gum pink hoof slip out from behind a bush and trip Applejack –
- Sending the earth pony face-first into the stream.
“Applejack!” Twilight cried for the second time that day, diving into the water.
Applejack struggled under the surface; dizzy, confused, and not quite sure yet which way was up.
Twilight swam down and wrapped her forelegs around AJ’s middle, and pulled her up.
Applejack gasped as she was pulled to the surface and dragged out onto the dirt and grass.
She lay on her back, coughing.
Several ponies trotted up, and Pinkie appeared. “Oh my gosh! Twilight, she’s suffocating! Quick, CPR!”
“What? Pinkie, I’m fine!” Applejack cried indignantly between coughs.
“Oh no!” Pinkie cried, “Twilight, we’re losing her! Quick, do mouth to mouth!”
“What?!” Twilight blinked, but before she had time to react Pinkie placed two fore-hooves on the back of the unicorns head and forced her down. “Hey!” She cried; her lips inches from Applejack’s.
“Woah, nelly!” Applejack's eyes widened, and she quickly wriggled out from under Twilight, and jumped to her hooves. “Pinkie Pie, cut that out!”
Pinkie let go of Twilight and hugged Applejack tightly, nearly knocking her over. “Woah, now Pinkie, I’m fine.”
“We nearly lost you!” Pinkie gasped. “Wha? No ya didn’t, I’m fine!” Applejack gently pushed the pink pony off.
The few ponies who had crowded to see if Applejack was okay had wandered off now, and Pinkie grinned widely. “Oh, is that my laundry I hear? Gotta go!” and with that she was off.
Applejack helped Twilight to her hooves and sighed. “That pony…I love her to death, but…” she trailed off into a chuckle. “Y’all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” Twilight ran a hoof through her wet mane. “Thanks. But are you okay?”
“I’m alright, Sugarcube.” She tapped her own chest, as if to prove that no water would be coughed up. Twilight cocked her head, watching the water run down Applejack’s wet fur. Her mane hung limp around her face, and the earth pony pulled it out of her emerald green eyes with a hoof. Her fur glistened, her Cutie-Mark seemed to glow, as did her face.
“So, about that pie…” Applejack started, and Twilight was snapped out of it. “Yes! Pie, let’s have some pie! And let’s not forget the whipped cream!” the two shared a laugh and trotted off towards Sweet Apple Acres.
As they went, Pinkie sighed. “That didn’t work! I’ll need to try something else…”
Pinkie's getting jealous? Oh no!
google.co.uk/search?hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1024&bih=672&site=imghp&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=oh+noes&oq=oh+no&gs_l=img.1.1.0l10.2739.2739.0.5813.1.1.0.0.0.0.149.149.0j1.1.0...0.0...1ac.1.gsiThv_pg2o#biv=i|0;d|kk6MdPsQNFzQdM:
I know I'm not your editor, but I just want to point out a few things -
Don't forget to capitalize that!
*breath
*head
1599207 Whoops, thanks! I shall fix it! *Ties cape around neck and flies off majestically into the screen*
1599218
There are a few other mistakes (pointed out above; I edited my comment), so if you need any help editing, I'll be glad to help!
"cocked her heat" head?
1599254 Oh, pfft. I wish I could blame autocorrect
1599232 Oh, OK then. That's sweet.
1599201
Uh, no. I apologize, but is quite obvious that she is trying to ship them.
1599352 Wahtever.
1599359
Very well then.
So... Pinkie is prepared to make her friend almost drown to make them fall in love?
With her as your friend, who needs King Sombra? Bucking A!
So yeah, I'll return to comment on the slew of typos and other mistakes after your editor has gotten her hooves around to it. For now, I really, REALLY like it how AJ is the sensible one of the mares. Unlike the three others, she actually has a sliver of commons sense in her noggin. In before the next chapter proves me 120% wrong.
Also... why do I have a strange craving for Apple-Pie?
Ohh, loved this one. So Pinkie is trying to get them together...? lol.
My favorite part:
Laughs were definitely shared.
I wonder if Pinkie will just try to get AJ and Twi together, or if she will try it with everypony... Probably would be more interesting with the latter. I hope Rainbow shows up somewhere in the next chapter! ...I also hope Twilight comes out of that encounter okay. lol.
There was a formatting error I found, unless you wanted it like this.
You italicized 'Twilight thought' when it probably shouldn't be. Anyway, looking forward to the next chapter! ...Really looking forward to it.
Silly Pinkie, you're supposed to ship them not turn them into a ship!
1599547
Ha! I laugh at your craving for apple pie, as in a few minutes it shall be mine. Muah ha ha ha!
Ok, that was mean, and I apologize.
Fun chapter!
Good, good!
Pinkie Pie as crazy Match Maker with crazy plans for the WIN!!!
I really hope she won´t only ship AJ with Twi, but also finds funny/interesting ways to ship RD with Twi, Shy with Twi and Rarity with Twi. <3
Loved how AJ handles this as an adult while you show at the same time that she does hav the feelings and that they probably wont leave after all despite what she told her purple friend.
Also liked how you made Twi slowly see her friends not only as friends but also as the beautiful mares they are. I wonder how her encounter with RD will be, how she´ll go back to Rarity and Fluttershy to speak with them again and to just like with AJ notices their kind of inner and outer beauty which makes them so desireable.
What i´d like to see after Twi had the chapter with RD (with possible Pinkie Pie perfect plans invovled XD) are also chapters of the viewpoints of the others, in their minds and with their words and actions. Like Rarity and Fluttershy being in the spa and while talking about this and that, somehow get into the topic about Twilight and their feelings for her and if that is love or "just infatuation" which will "go away with time", but if so why were they so happy when they thought Twi were flriting with them and so crushed when that wasn´t the case, etc.
Maybe also involve SPike/the princesses in some way as advisors and such, could help to move the story forward in other ways than Twi meets pony x and pony x still loves Twi while Twi gets more and more unsure about her own feelings for her friends.
Maaaaaybe a whole chapter outta the viewpoint of Pinkie Pie in which she spends a whole day trying to bring her plans to bear fruits with shipping Twi with the rest of her friends?^g^
Hope we´ll get a quick update soon. Don´t leave us hanging! :D
1600123 You have no idea how much I love your comments. Seriously, they put such a huge smile on my face!
Hopefully updates will come sooner, though once again I can't promise anything
and yes there will be more Pinkie Pie and her plan
1600142
Great, now i can´t stop blushing and grinning akwardly happily for the next hour. Thanks for that.
It´s actually a bit rare to see good fics with many chapters which can use chapter lengths under 2000 words well. Normally the good fics needs a real lot more words per chapter to feel good or be one-shots with lotsa more words too, you somehow don´t. Though sometimes you need to clarify if those 4 fell in love with Twi due the flirtying OR if that was just the famous last drop into the to the brim filled barreö which made their feelings for Twi overflown.
Like RD trying to sleep on a cloud rethinking of what had happend the past days, why she had reacted so horribly, said those terrible things (all that showed how deeply she was hurt and also how afraid she was to lose Twi to another pony) as well as trying to remember when that all started when she begun to look at Twi longer than neccessary or started to enjoy listening to her explanations more than she used to and such.
Same for the other three.
Giving them sometimes later inthe storyline such a "alone with your thoughts" part would help the readers to get into their minds and see their fe#elings and their reasonings for what they did why as well as when they started to feel for their friend in a way friends normal wouldn´t.
So far we´ve seen most things outta Twi´s POV and understand her and her reasonings and feelings very well, the other 4 (and Pinkie Pie though i doubt anybody can understand Pinkie Pie 100% XD) are still kinda a half-mystery to us. Their feelings were pretty open, the rest though with the why, when and what exactly are pretty much still not cleared up yet for each of them.
What will also be important is that Twilight will have to understand those hidden parts of her friends as well else she´ll never will understand them completley. Right now she´s running after the idea that this is all an infatuation, sure she´s worried and afraid to hurt her friends but at the same time to afraid to deal with this as "true love", maybe cause she never had experiended something like that before and doesnt know how to act upon it.
Especially if its 4 cute, beautiful, wonderful and attractive mares everypony would love to have as a marefriend, but she got the whole packet? Yeah, i would panic too in her hoofs and not understand the world anymore.
What is so likeable about her, what makes her so attractive to them, what do they see when they look at her compared to what Twi sees when she looks in the mirror? Such a alone part about Twi with her thoughts and fears about her friends feelings for her after having meet them all and somehow seen that they all wants to be her friends yet still seem to have some feelings for her which goes over the bounds of friendship could help to wrap things up with the Twi POV, feelings and reasonings before moving on to the other 4 to make it easier for the readers to get on all sides of the story and understand or at least see their view of things.
Though i believe you´ve got this planned out already.
Sooner updates and more Pinkie Pie plans are always great things to hear, so good luck with getting your ideas outta your head onto the paper!
lol i was actually eating half a apple pie while eating this.......made it hard to continue without thoughts trying to go south with apple reference.....
I must admit I find this fanfic very satisfying to read, simple plot that's weird but you make it work pretty well, I love all the awkards situations created and keep wondering how each pony will react, can't wait to see more ^^
Is it just me or did Pinkie just reference Doctor Horrible?
1601486 I didn't, because I don't know what Dr. Horrible is. But who's to say Pinkie didn't reference it all on her own?
At first I was confused about what she had said so I went back and read the "apple pie" line.
I still didn't get it, so I tried to think of a dirty joke using Applejack and apple pie and then I //dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Pinkie_loool.png //dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Pinkie_loool.png //dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Pinkie_loool.png 'd
1601658 Well, mostly it was because in chapter one Twilight had asked AJ to bring an apple pie when she invited her over
1601664
Ooooh, bringing up bad memories, that explains it too...But, that's not as funny as Twilight accidently asking Applejack for cunnilingus though...
1601676 It sort of goes both ways
1601681
Hooray for Double Entendres! Also, it seems Pinkie Pie is my agent of shipping. Go Pinkie Pie Go!
1599352
She is my agent of Shipping.
I always look forward to these. A great balance of sadness and hilarity, which is awesome.
This story is "painful" to read because I can see where this is going to blow up..again and again.
Overall I think the story is very good. (I Haven't read many comedy fics but this is the best yet.)
1599207
I always cock my heat
1601979 I always heat my cock in the oven before I eat it
1601985
I am now thoroughly confused. Thanks, I'll be up all night have a nervous breakdown.
1601998 What? Chicken makes for fine eating, don't you agree?
Pinkie got the wrong idea. xD
1602005
Just because I agree doesnt make me any less confused. I like tur-duck-in, you may agree, that still confuses others.
1602059 It's supposed to be a joke. Cock - a word for penis, is also a word for a chicken. Oven can also be interpreted as the vagina
Fun! One more correction:
“We nearly lost you!” Pinkie gasped. / needs a paragraph break here / “Wha? No ya didn’t, I’m fine!” Applejack gently pushed the pink pony off.
Stop trying to ship ponies pinkie...
Applejack's part should be its own separate paragraph.
So they started in Sweet Apple Acres, went to town for apple pie, then left the river for Sweet Apple Acres for Apple pie?
WHAT?!
1613423 No, they wanted the apple pie at Sugarcube Corner, ended up on the bridge aaand whoops.
1599218 hey! That's illegal! *rips hole in air and chases after (insert author's name here)*