> Aria Blaze Is A Femboy
>  by Violently Irrelevant
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Ch. 1 - Another Day, Some More Pain And Plotting
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aria slams the door to her room. She makes sure it is locked before slumping down with her back towards it. She closes her eyes and thumps the back of her head against the thick wood a couple of times. A long, drawn-out sigh and a shudder through her entire being later, she lunges forward to get up. She shuffles out of her boots and slings her vest against the door of the nearby closet. A second later, she is already executing a reckless jump, landing in a belly-flop on her untidy bed. She rolls over onto her back and stretches her limbs out as far as they go. A little pop, a little cracking. She fiddles about for a bit to find the filthy controller of her way-too-old stereo. A few pushes of crusty buttons and a tune starts. Intense. Angry. Mindless Self Indulgence. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, letting the disharmonious discord wash over her.
 
Annoying fucking Adagio. Brainless bimbo Sonata. She rubs her temples with her thumbs while exhaling. Another disastrous day, it has been far too long being led into oblivion by Adagio's so-called leadership. The one always casting a shadow over them all and taking every lead. Aria groans, she could do such a better job, a brutal revolution unrivaled. Treading around this sleepy dirthole and playing the puppet is taking a mental toll worthy of a breakdown. She makes sure to raise the volume enough to the point she is certain her sisters hear the musical non-music. A tiny, would-be fanged smile plays on her face before fading into another painful frown.
 
She raises her head slowly and lets her body follow. She hunches over and lets her head fall into her hands. The music kicks off once again, fast, angry. She looks up and cannot help but to smile at the futility of it all. All this time attempting to conquer and rule with a duo of fools at her side. This world, this banishment, exceedingly painful and seemingly endless. Now the orange idiot has them trying to infiltrate some school, all simply based on their magic charms. Sure enough, their physical forms may have changed but their voices are strong here, even without the magic they need to properly dominate.
 
She looks up and around, her room is plain, just a few necessities. No bells and whistles, frizz and lace. The day has been long enough, all she wants to do is brood, hate and relax. Annoying her sisters with her personal choice of music is the only thing that nearly makes her smile again. She shifts a bit and begins tugging at her pants. Flattering, sure, uncomfortable as all the hells though. She grunts and snarls, gets them off and sends them in the same direction as her vest. Blouse and panties is a whole lot more relaxing than the full getup. She can almost appreciate her physical form like this. She rolls around on the bed for a bit, letting the cacophony in the room mingle with the chaos in her head.
 
The day comes to mind. Rage bubbles. She keeps getting pushed to the back, overshadowed by Adagio and endlessly arguing with the fool of fools. Why does she even talk to Sonata? Right, their eternal bond. That is definitely the worst. Perhaps even worse than the worst. She slams a fist into the bed. Not even the music can dispel the annoyance of such a thought. She spreads out over the bed again. Crushed, outweighed, back-seat, nothing to say. She crashes her hand into the wall, instantly regrets it but clenches her teeth and keeps quiet. She goes completely limp for a moment, staring up into the ceiling. At least she has a few moments for herself when the madness is done for the day. She can plot and just zone out, not having to play the henchwoman for a good few moments. 
 
She breathes in deep, then out just as strong. Hands rubbing together for a second before traveling down her chest and stomach. She sighs and stops the movement at her waist. She is so sick of her sisters getting or literally taking all the attention. Adagio with her oh-so-sly charms and massive hips. Sonata with her disgustingly likable dumbness and ample chest. Aria absent-mindedly licks her lips for a second and lets the angry intensity of the music surge back into her head. She debates with herself if she drew the short straw in their bodily transition or if she hit some kind of subtle jackpot. Not being as well endowed in either place would seem a loss but she has had the unique opportunity to explore something completely different. Her tight, fit body may not have Adagio's hips or Sonata's breasts but something in between and more. A slim, toned figure, more feminine than most and strong enough to her liking. No bust but something else that has has kept her entertained in the darkest hours. She was cursed, or blessed as it were, with something different between her legs.
 
She lets her hand slip into her panties and lay over the dormant thing. She grins to herself. The other fools have no idea. No idea what they are missing and no idea what she is capable of. Her secret is a pain to keep but her plans for revenge are enough to give her the strength to carry on. Plenty of enemies to be conquered. She exhales slowly and closes her eyes yet again as she imagines finally getting even the smallest victory. Crushing the pathetic resistance of this world with Adagio as her enslaved right hand and Sonata... Well, she could fit in somewhere. A useful tool for her final goal. She starts to snicker, soon falls silent and lets out a soft hum instead. No time for merriment, even if the thoughts in her head are delicious. She has to stay focused, keep her entire being together. Her hand in her panties grips and squeezes, ever so careful, before retreating. The use of such a tool will come later. A weapon in the right or perhaps even wrong hands. She lets her head swim into the music again. Short bursts of anger to rival her own. Some of them even mirror her own issues. This short time alone focuses her, strengthens her mind and helps her body follow. She risks a small smile for herself but it is very soon interrupted by a hammering on her door. A loud voice outside demands her attention and presence. Adagio. Another useless gathering to listen to her plan and the coming day. The coming torture. Aria barks out a short response and shuffles off her bed, stands up and grunts mildly before picking up and struggling back into her pants. She corrects all that needs to be corrected. Have to keep up the illusion, at least for now. 

> Ch. 2 - The Hunt, The Idea And The Masturbation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adagio's little power-meeting had been just as boring and useless as a thousand times before. She babbled on and on about some dumb plan and generally glorified herself for nearly an hour. Aria zoned out after the first few minutes and found a particularly interesting stretch of plain wall to stare at. She only gave a little bit of attention as Adagio explained a difference in the usual tactics. Infiltration instead of a brazen take-over. She ordered the seduction of at least one member of the Rainbooms for each sister. Aria scoffed at the idea but did not protest it. Sometimes it is best to just let Adagio run wild and prod her about her failings later. Besides, crushing that disgusting boyband from within is a delightfully sinister idea. As well as the cherry on top, getting to see Sonata bumble around and fail miserably. Unless of course someone of the guys is big into all-boobs-no-brains. Aria offered the thought very little further consideration.
 
--
 
Back in the relatively comfortable sanctuary of her room, Aria sits staring at herself in the mirror. To make this plan anywhere near good or even the least bit exciting, she will have to map out the enemy and make very precise strikes. How hard could it be to make any of those chuckleheads fall for her? Just too bad they are all so disgustingly annoying. Sure, some more than others. The pink freak and the sporty blue bastard almost makes her dry-heave just thinking about them. Perhaps the simple-minded farmboy or the slimy fashionista. Either of those could work. She is unsure if she even wants to go near the shy guy or the mega-geek. Then again, there is something about those two, some air of mystery about them.
 
She looks away from her mirror-image for a moment, thinking of whatever weirdness she might have picked up on. The shy guy is always hanging out with animals, so there is bound to be some creepy sex-thing there. The nerd is most likely gay. She has seen him stare dreamingly at that fire-haired dolt. She snickers shortly to herself, a sound entirely drowned out by the grinding of her music. Not that picking up a gay guy would be any kind of trouble.
 
She looks back into the mirror and touches her face for a moment. She looks good even without make-up. All dolled up, she is a force to be reckoned with. All this thinking, planning, preparing for the hunt actually has her in high spirits. She notices, wipes the smile off her face, curses Adagio for altering her mood and slowly rises from her seat. She takes the few steps required to yet again crash on the bed. This time, the pants will stay off for as long as possible. Perhaps she'll wear a skirt tomorrow. Yeah, that is a good idea. She rolls over and closes her eyes. Maybe the coming day won't be the worst after all.
 
A decent night's sleep. A long morning ritual in which none of the sisters even see each other for an hour or two. Girl stuff. They are good at it, today begins the next phase of their operation. Aria flails around her room with the stereo on absolute max. Insanely intense breakcore, get her psyched and keep herself in check. So much hate wants to spill out of her but is kept in through a barrier of music. 
Spike-clad boots, Mis-matched stockings with holes, black plaited miniskirt, striped crop-top and her aquamarine jacket. She is deadly. Sharply dressed for the kill. She slathers on just the right amount of cosmetics with practiced expertise and grins for herself in the mirror. She's got this. She will outshine Adagio so hard that the orange bitch is going to have to eat it for months. She spins on her chair and lets her happy expression fade. Game-face on.
 
She meets up with her sisters and they all nod to each other in silent acceptance of each other's visages. Then they make their way to the battleground, or school, as it were. As they arrive, they have had a short talk about who is hunting who. Aria gets stuck with Applejack. Could have been worse but not her first choice. Then again, who was her first choice? Perhaps it is better to just get dealt some cards for this play. No, it is Adagio screwing with her, as usual. The trio does something they usually do not. They split up. Each sister off into a different direction to stalk their prey. Sure, the members of the Rainbooms are usually found together but that situation is not optimal. Have to find an opening, have to corner each boy individually.
 
Aria walks with style, accenting each step with the sway of her hips. She has mastered this body and it is not like the art of seduction is something new to her. She soon finds that she is in luck, up ahead stands Applejack and Butterscotch, apparently discussing something. As Aria approaches and the boys notice, Butterscotch instantly blushes and looks away. Applejack looks Aria over with an appraising gaze, apparently not at all bothered about being obvious. Aria walks up rather close. She ignores Butterscotch and locks eyes with Applejack. He looks down at her from his towering height, smiles and speaks.
 
"Hey there sugar, need anythin'?."
 
Aria reads his face in silence for a few seconds, then flashes him a tiny, mysterious smile. While still looking as vicious as ever. If her thought-of tactic does not work with this one, there is no loss.
 
"Yeah, you."
 
Applejack raises a brow.
 
"And how y'all figured ya'd get me?"
 
Butterscotch has already mumbled some excuse and left. Probably scurried off to hide behind the other boys, where ever they are. Aria hardly even takes note that he disappeared. She is completely focused on Applejack. A brutal first attack in what was going to be a subtle plan in the long run. She has to keep herself in check not to spill too much of the excitement she is feeling.
 
"Tonight, you'll take me to some eatery, play the gentleman, I'll pretend to be interested, then we'll go somewhere more comfortable... Or noisier, I don't mind dancing."
 
She shrugs. Applejack still has that semi-interested, halfway clueless look on his face. Is he actually slow or just good at this game? She cannot wait to pluck his mind. Her predatory gaze falls on the small details of his movement as he turns his head to the side and clicks his tongue once before focusing back on her. His smile takes on a lovelier aspect and he actually looks quite handsome.
 
"Well then, little lady, y'all are in for some gettin' then. Mind tellin' me ya name before we go a-datin'?"
 
Aria huffs victoriously and tosses her head a bit.
 
"Aria Blaze."
 
Applejack removes his hat and puts it to his chest while bowing his neck slightly. 
 
"Mah pleasure, Aria Blaze. Call me Applejack."
 
Aria fakes some appropriate pleasantry and keeps her subtle smile just that, subtle. She can't wait to see how bad the other girls are doing while her little fish already swallowed her bait. Hook, line and sinker.
 
"Well, Applejack, you can pick me up at the corner of 5th and Palomino. Eight, sharp. Never leave me waiting."
 
Upon completing her brash command, she simply turns on the spot and starts walking. Almost unnecessarily slow. Perhaps milking it a bit too much but she simply cannot help it. She made her point and Applejack is stylish enough not to bark out some answer. She can practically feel his eyes checking out her entire being as she walks away. Her steps slowly picks up. The movement of her hips is very smooth, she has had a lot of practice, she knows it is fuel for the fire she just lit.
 
Aria struts around a bit, feeling good about herself. Staring down random students and making sure everyone knows how visually stunning she is. Applejack will get to do the talking. He is more than likely already spilling the beans to his little group of silly bastards. Hopefully with a big, sloppy counter-serving of how a snide Adagio and bumbling Sonata also attempted some manner of pick-up and failed mercilessly.
 
Aria finds Adagio and Sonata on the steps of the main entrance. Just seeing them is like a feast for the gods. They have obviously not succeeded. Sonata is hammering on some hyperactive hand-held console while Adagio is disregarding all subtlety, smoking a cigarette like there's gold on the end of it. Aria steps over in silence, keeping the usual face of discontent she has while in the general vicinity of Adagio. Naturally, the poofy mess of orange is the first one to notice her while Sonata does not seem to notice anything at all. Adagio puts out her cig and glares at Aria as she approaches. Aria basically cheers inside but she knows well enough to keep her cool. Adagio speaks in her usual unbearable tone.
 
"There you are. I was beginning to think you'd ran off."
 
Aria snorts and waves her hand in a dismissive motion. She would run to the edge of the galaxy. If she could. Bonded to these idiots for an eternity will make one feel that way. The downsides are many and the upsides are usually too short to be enjoyed properly. Time to fire away and perhaps take some pleasure from her momentary progress.
 
"I was busy getting a date. Tonight."
 
Sonata turns her head up with a "oh, so that was what I was supposed to do"-look on her face while Adagio has more of a barely contained rage on hers. Aria is loving it. She even tops the fury-cake with a short flashing of a mischievous grin. Adagio notices and her voice almost cracks as she attempts her usual condescending tone and nonchalant expression.
 
"Good, then I know the easy part has been taken care of. You keep that disgustingly honest farmboy busy and we corrupt the rest of their dynamic little tribe."
 
Aria crosses her arms and groans audibly. Adagio is just shoveling crap again, saying whatever to make it sound like she plans everything perfectly. A little light goes up for Aria, a grand idea. She is going to turn this whole thing on its head. She will be the one to corrupt the Rainbooms. She will single-handedly destroy them from within. She will have them all eating out of her hands. Then she will take Adagio down. Hard and absolute. For now, she will have to swallow any pride and just play along.
 
"Mhm, great plan, Adagio. I'm just gonna head home and get ready to do some real damage."
 
She locks eyes with Adagio and they exchange a long, hateful moment. Sonata shrugs and goes back to her game. Adagio falsely softens up and smirks for Aria.
 
"Do that, you need all the preparation you can get."
 
Aria gives Adagio a dead stare for a good few seconds, resisting all and every urge to just throw up two middle fingers and start shouting. She decides for some sarcasm instead.
 
"I'll see you after the successful downfall of our enemies, great leader."
 
She spins around to make her exit, feeling Adagio's eyes on her in a much different light than Applejack's. Perhaps this dating stuff won't be so bad after all. Just having a big, strong man do whatever she wants instead of being bossed around by a prissy bitch for once. Aria lets her hips move in their usual seductive sway as she grins lightly for herself now that Adagio cannot see the small crack of glee on her face.
 
--
 
After arriving home, Aria allows herself another little moment of victory. She makes sure the front door is locked, as well as the one to her room. Music on brutal blast, she just stands in the middle of the small, four-walled space for a while, taking it all in. Finally, an opportunity and an idea that will slash her oppressive bonds. Dominating Adagio in this way will be the ultimate magnum opus of their long squabble. Being the boss will feel impossibly sweet.
 
Rage, hate and frustration boils within her. She undoes her boots and kicks them off. She takes a few light, dancing steps on stocking-clad feet while tossing her jacket off. Skirt was a good idea, nothing constricting or distracting. She falls backwards onto her bed with closed eyes. Letting the electronic blasts of the music sweep her mind away for a few moments, her hands wander aimlessly. She lifts her skirt and hook a few fingers into the lace of her panties. There seems to be a little bit of constriction after all. She has made very sure to be able to wear any outfit, regardless of what she does and does not need to hide. Right now, the thoughts of grinding Adagio's face into the dirt apparently has her a bit hot and bothered.
 
She breathes in deep through her nose, then exhales slowly. Her dainty fingers search for something easily found beneath her skirt. A growing erection. She hums in delight for herself as she grasps it while pulling her panties down a bit. Small, smooth member now freed, she begins working it by hand. She rubs the tip between index-finger and thumb, her eyes still firmly shut. Her mind runs rampant. Her soft fingers holding her privates begin to move. She teases herself while an assorted gallery of dominance plays out in her mind. The violent music simply background-noise now. Her hot little cock twitches as she moves her hand up and down. She rolls her hips and dares a moan out loud. She picks up the pace, grasping the fabric of her skirt tightly with her other hand. She moans again, followed by a pant and whimper. She is so warm, tingling. Her mind floods with even more images. A certain shape forms in her mind's eye. She moans again, her body convulsing for just a second. A hot spray splatters the lace of her panties.
 
Biting her lip, she opens her eyes. The last image she saw haunts her. Applejack's handsome smile. She blinks rapidly a few times and breathes in deep to compose herself. She stares up at the ceiling for a minute or two, letting her arms lay limply besides her. A recovery of some kind, she obviously needed that whole burst of sexuality. Now she can go for the next step in the plan with a clear mind.
 
Or, well, a fairly clear mind in either case. She no longer has any idea how it will be to face Applejack with the thoughts currently spinning in her head. She takes solace in the roaring music and rises slowly. Time to get clean and fresh, doll herself up to truly dazzle and then get back to the hunt.

> Ch. 3 - Classically Romantic, Different Outcome
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A lengthy shower. She recovers strength while drying off. More music, a bit more thought. Some things malicious, some things of different, pleasant natures. However the evening pans out, a small victory is already had. Aria is absolutely certain that whatever happens, the grand idea to defeat Adagio through the feeble minds of the Rainbooms will be realised. She observes her naked shapes in the mirror for a long while. This form is not too difficult to manage, she is basically a girl anyhow. With that comes the part of all this that is actually quite entertaining, quite thrilling even. The subterfuge. She stretches and raises her arms, spinning slowly to take in the perfect visage before her. How will she dress for the event? She has the feeling that Applejack will be quite casual, he is definitely not the suit-and-tie type.
 
She starts with picking through her underwear-drawer. Quite the collection of very meticulously chosen little pieces. Something for every occasion, every outfit. Provocative and mundane alike. Lace is out of the question. A normal string then? A pair of covering hotpants? Of course; both. She digs up a very thin red thong. She wiggles into it. The soft red fabric rides up her ass and over her hips alike, just as expected. She dances over to her closet and starts tearing through it, she knows exactly what she is looking for. A tiny sliver of frayed jeans hotpants. Very daring, fairly country. She grins for herself as she slides the fabric up over her delicious behind. Already, she is an entire arsenal of tricks and traps.
 
She takes a few steps, the tiny, tight clothing is surprisingly comfortable. She runs her hands down her smooth, almost entirely flat chest. She does not mind that part of her physical being. Those things jiggling around on Sonata's chest look rather bothersome to manage. Sure, they are some kind of ticket and for an airhead like her and they seem to be working. Then again, Aria could never do that whole act, happy-go-lucky and showing off a bouncing cleavage. The thought bothers her. She'd rather rip her own arm off than to be that ditsy. She forces the thought out of her head. She then searches around for some kind of top to hide her minuscule would-be breasts while still showing off her tight, flat stomach. Sticking with the theme that comes with the hotpants, a white string-top with the bottom part cut off does the job just right.
 
She spins in front of the mirror again, feeling mighty confident that if not her winning personality blows the cowboy away, her appearance surely will. She pulls her fingers through her hair, messing it up. She will be slumming with the country-folk, she might as well have a fitting style. She touches up on her makeup, adding an entire layer of sluttiness over the previous subtle colouring. She spends hours meditating in a deep, dark sea of violent musical tunes. A predator resting up before a sprint. She mulls things over in her head, she cannot say she isn't atleast a bit excited. It has been ages she has been let off her leash like this. She pretty much counts down minutes till the time to leave. It will be interesting to see if he keeps his timing but somehow she is already pretty sure on the outcome.
 
Time to leave, she scoops up her aquamarine jacket and slings it over her shoulder while walking out the door. No sign of Adagio or Sonata. They must be out sulking somewhere. She offers them no more thought and makes her way down the street. She is only a few minutes early but on the approach, she is already greeted by the smiling form of Applejack. He is standing with his back against a large, well-used pickup truck. Aria cannot help but to smile, he's just one big walking stereotype, a handsome, muscular stereotype. Aria swallows at the thought, it is a good thing she took care of herself earlier. She doesn't need those thoughts rattling around her head right now. She keeps herself together the best she can as she walks up to him.
 
Just as she thought, he dressed casually. Buttoned down flannel with rolled-up sleeves, nothing underneath besides heaving muscle. Ripped-up jeans and by all the Gods, actual cowboy boots. Aria wants to hate it, she wants to point and laugh. She cannot, she is absolutely entranced by what stands before her. She fights herself in her head, meanwhile, Applejack has noticed her blank stare and obvious internal conflict. He leans forward, takes a step and towers above her.
 
"You look lovely, sugar."
 
Aria snaps out of it, looks up and gives a dismissive grin. He caught her off guard. She was thinking. Wait, what was she thinking about? Right, heaving muscles. She lets her half-smile fade into practiced apathy and takes a step forward of her own. She raises a hand and takes her time to watch Applejack follow her motion closely. She slides her delicate fingers onto his chest.
 
"You're not so bad yourself."
 
She breathily whispers the words, sensual, close. She then pushes off against his chest and takes a step back. He is like chiseled granite, no movement besides a very slight pressing of skin against her soft little hand. She shrugs the distraction off and flashes a quick smile. Instantly followed by a question. Take the weight off, give him the play.
 
"Where are you taking me tonight, cowboy?"
 
Applejack keeps his steady, handsome little smile and simply observes her for a while. He has apparently thought of this conquest in a similar manner as her. The game is on, well, it didn't end but the rules sure did change.
 
"Seein' as I know jack-diddly squat about y'all, beside that ya're damn easy on the eyes, I thought we'd just do it the ole-fashioned way."
 
Aria manages a stern look, keeping silent and giving him the look of "well, go on." He shakes his head once, just a little twist of the neck and a slightly grander smile.
 
"I'll show ya, get in the truck."
 
A fine play. Aria curses herself for still thinking of all this as a game, a hunt. Then she praises her ability to focus, to hold back. Wait, no. She is always absolutely concentrated and ready. She huffs for him.
 
"I'll decide if I like surprises when we get there."
 
She turns to the door, he has already reached over to open it for her. So he is indeed playing the gentleman. Good. At least that part will be easy to figure out. She moves to climb in and almost instantly receives unspoken assistance. She is about to protest but simply cannot as Applejack pretty much lifts her into the car. She looks at his face to find him sporting a pleasant smile. He is testing her the same way she was prodding him with commands. Interesting. She strikes a little pose in the seat and watches him close the door, round the car and get in to start it.
 
She observes his every gesture. He moves like he owns the place. He gives her a glance and starts the large, old-model vehicle. The great beast of a truck sputters alive and soon they are on the road. Aria throws a quick look around the interior of the car, nothing really standing out. Clean but not immaculate, a few tools, a few extremely typical-looking country music albums. Aria looks out and around, attempting to see where they are going. This entire place sure looks different in the dark, from the view of a huge car. She casts glances over to Applejack every now and then. He apparently does the same as more than once, their eyes meet at the same time.
 
"Sorry 'bout the silence, I'm not sure what to say to y'all. After all, I've been followin' 'til now."
 
He finishes his interestingly low blow while turning onto a road Aria has never seen before. She lets out a loud huff and just glances at him for a second before something up ahead draws her attention. He sees her looking and speaks some more.
 
"I figured, dinner an' a movie would be appropriate. I mean, hope ya like home-cookin'."
 
Up ahead is a drive-in cinema. What he means with a home-cooked dinner is still a mystery but she can guess. She is extremely torn between being absolutely offended and just melting on the spot. He really is disgustingly genuine. Really, who would say that, let alone think of it?
 
She makes a quick little noise, indecipherable and not very loud. It would seem he has won the aspect of surprise. Probably for different reasons than he would think but evident enough. He does not comment. He is already pulling up into the small queue before the ticket-booth. She remains absolutely focused on his face. She has no idea how to handle this situation. She thought she was prepared for just about any typical date-scenario. This one is from like a hundred years ago. It has her extremely conflicted. Sit around in a giant pickup truck while watching Gods-know-what on a giant screen and eating some home-grown picnic? She has never suffered through this before. It is so strange, so different. This world is full of little surprises. Good and bad. Just have to figure it all out.
 
Applejack chats with the guy in the booth like they are old buddies. He doesn't come here that often, does he? Perhaps he does. As part of dates? Surely, nobody comes here alone. Aria's head races. Is this his go-to thing? Is that good or bad? She spins in free-fall for a moment before yet again being snapped out of it by Applejack. This time by a deft turn that allows him to back up into a parking spot. By now, Aria is watching with actual interest of just what in the world he is doing. As the vehicle no longer moves, he gets out, steps around and opens the door for her. She fakes ladylike gratitude and accepts his offered hand before stepping out. He brings her down with the same strong precision as when he brought her up and then walks with her to the back of the car. 
 
"Now, y'all might be wonderin' how we're to watch a movie with the truck all turned 'round."
 
He speaks while opening the back-bed of the truck. He heaves himself up onto the elevated space without any effort and then offers her both his hands. Aria looks at him for a moment, still skeptic to the whole thing. She ultimately boils it down to not having anything better to do, he is really hot and she does not want to face Adagio if this fails in any way. It is some kind of strange win-win situation while at the same time being a loss. She reaches up for him and cannot stop herself from letting out a cute little yelp as he lifts her. While knowing he looked the part, she very much underestimated his physical strength. He lifts her as if she was a sheet of paper. He even steadies her nice and quick, causing none of it to be uncomfortable. She knew it, he has definitely done this before. A thought that is very soon reinforced by his next action. He walks over to a large crate on the truck-bed and opens it. He then pulls out a large mattress and some pillows. Aria just marvels at it. She underestimated him in more ways than one. This is all wrong and right at the same time. Surely, he must feel secure in that her reaction will not be negative, considering how she picked him up to begin with. She watches him roll out the comfy-looking mass of cloth and pepper it with pillows. There is even a home-sewn quilt. Were she weaker, she would have lost it there and given it all an audible "d'aww".
 
Applejack finishes padding the work-space of the truck and sits down, pats the space beside him and starts rummaging through the crate again. Aria drags for a moment, then sits down next to him. Close, like when she first approached him. The speechless happenings of the last few moments are burning in her head. She is allowing herself to be lead and it does not even feel wrong. As long as she has a good idea of what's what, she has this in the bag. Her chain of thought is interrupted by Applejack holding out a bottle and some semi-fancy glasses.
 
"Wasn't sure what y'all wanted to drink, so I brought everythin'. There's a lil' bit before the movie starts, might aswell get better acquainted."
 
Aria gives him a raised eyebrow but accepts a glass. She watches him effortlessly pop open the bottle and fill her glass. Some kind of champagne. Is he mocking her with "playing the gentleman" or is he genuinely just romancing her? She is bothered to find that she cannot read him at all. He pours one for himself and holds his glass up for her.
 
"Hope ya like horror, sugar. It's pretty much the only thing we get in these kinda venues anymore."
 
Aria drinks and observes him. Still not figuring it out, is he deliberately attempting to get her clasped onto his arm in terror or is he actually just trying to entertain her? All things aside, the champagne is good. She takes another sip before looking at him under a furrowed brow. 
 
"I think I can handle it. What are we in for?"
 
Applejack looks to her with an uncharacteristically sly smirk.
 
"I s'pose I'll spare ya the mystery for that one. We're about to partake in the rare treat that is "Highshool of lost souls". I hope y'all haven't seen it too many times."
 
Aria takes another, deeper sip. She does like horror, even the awful, cheesy stuff. He's got her on the ropes already and she very much was not in the slightest expecting anything like this. She went hard, he came back equally forceful. She cannot say she isn't at least a bit impressed. 
 
"In all honesty, I didn't expect this. That's all the gushing you are ever going to get out of me."
 
Applejack answers her honesty-comment with a plain, beautiful smile and the refilling of her glass. He doesn't seem to mind her general demeanour or is it perhaps that she wandered straight into his trap? She accepts the filling of her drink and brings it to her lips while planning her next move.
 
Applejack leans back on his elbows and looks out over the mostly empty theater lot. After a moment of surveying the scene, he looks to Aria with a purposeful face.
 
"Oh come now, sugar, ya'll've been head-over-heels since that corner in Palomino."
 
Aria blinks a few times fast. Now he is the one turning things on their head, he's flipping her tactics all around. She exhales sharply through her nose and drinks her glass down before discarding it. Some kind of show of defiance. She turns her attention back to him with a honey-sweet sultry look. A long show of bedroom eyes before speaking.
 
"I've been interested since I first saw you stride through the halls of that dull school."
 
Applejack raises a brow, the rest of his relaxed expression remaining the same. It is like he is daring her to speak more. A short moment of silence later, he speaks anyhow.
 
"So there's a physical attraction. Alright then, what more do we do with this?"
 
Adagio wasn't kidding. Annoyingly honest indeed. Kind of a strange twist with someone who is so slippery in the game they are playing. Aria slowly creeps closer to Applejack's broad frame. 
 
"I told you to be the gentleman so I could play along, you have lead so far, why not show me something more?"
 
She lies sensually stretched out over the surprisingly soft covers, leaning on one elbow and looking up at him. He shoots her a glance and then looks to his glass as he puts it away.
 
"Alright then, how do these things usually go?"
 
He mutters the words, pretty much to himself while rooting around in his crate again. He soon pulls out some beers. He offers her, she declines. He takes one for himself and continues speaking.
 
"You have the moxie of a horse-trainer just waitin' to break a wild one."
 
He cracks open his can and drinks at length. She observes him all along. She has definitely realised she took this challenge with her brazen approach. She eagerly awaits his continuation. She does not have to wait long.
 
"The longer we dance around one another, the longer it takes us to get anywhere."
 
Aria holds back a sharp exhale. He is indeed playing her. She should have prepared a backup plan. Then again, she can always pluck one out of thin air. Although, this classically romantic scene does feel stupidly good, why not just roll with the punches? She nods, mostly for herself as she creeps even closer to him. Just as she is about to brush up against him, she reaches out. Instead of touching him, she snags a beer and gives him a wicked grin. She leans back and opens it, drinks and does what she can to hold back a face of disgust. She had forgotten how bitter and bland this drink can be.
 
"Alright then, Applejack. Where do we start? I may be new around here but I like challenging... Well, everyone..."
 
Applejack observes her with genuine interest as she starts. She does what she can to sound consistent. She has a hard time figuring whatever lies or truth are coming out of her right now. It has been a long time since anyone listened to her at length. She feels herself slipping more and more with every moment. She needs to embrace it, perhaps even play the part for a moment. The girly girl. It does not sit right with her but right now, it feels like it could be real easy.
 
"I just thought I could actually have a good time for once. You struck me as someone who could put up with that."
 
She hears her own words echo in her head as she falls silent. She gave far too much of an in for him. He looks up, his smile gone. She picks up on it instantly. His serious expression is hard to read. It is strangely soft and caring. He raises his can but does not drink. He looks into her eyes for a moment, his intensely green irises almost shimmering in the half-light.
 
"Don't get many good times, do ya, sugar? Runnin' from somethin'?"
 
He breaks eye-contact and finally sips his beer while looking at some cars that just entered the lot. Aria sits stunned for a moment. Even a little bit of truth stings but he also just gave her about all the ammunition she needs. She puts the disgusting beer away and reaches out to grasp Applejack's arm. His attention instantly snaps back to her.
 
"How about we just watch teenagers getting slaughtered for a while and talk about broken emotions afterwards?"
 
Applejack gives her a crooked grin that soon settles into his stupidly, annoyingly, horrendously sexy smile. Aria holds onto his arm and leans her head against his shoulder. She does not rest for long before looking up to him again as he speaks.
 
"Anythin' the little lady wants."
 
Aria huffs with a smile and with that, they spend a lengthy moment in silence. Aria gets a moment to collect her thoughts, just being around the cowboy is making her head spin. Her girlishness will have to act as her weapon. All other things are straight out the window it seems. The drive-in slowly fills as the minutes crawl along. Applejack drinks beer slowly and sits immovable, her massive, muscly pillow. He apparently minds the silence just as much as her being skin-rubbingly close. Someone honks a horn, someone else answers. A few voices shout and the surrounding audio-speakers crackle alive. The large screen lights up and almost instantly, some terrible local commercials starts playing. The advertisements drone on for a few more minutes, then a bored voice announces the evening's viewing of "Highscool of lost souls".
 
Aria perks up a bit and Applejack flashes her a smile as the film's gritty intro fills both hearing and vision. Terrible terror from a time not too long ago. From a highscool not too far away. The stereotypes are many and the depth is... Well, shallow. Excellent.
 
Aria spends the first part of the movie far more invested than she could ever have anticipated. Cheesy old stuff like this is just the perfect catalyst for her hate and joy alike. Did he get lucky picking horror or was it a planned move? It could be a thing he does with any girl. Could also be chance. She did approach him today, not like he had much time for preparation. Then again, a few jump-scares later and she is basically sitting in his lap. A perfect mix of her girlishness and his ability to make her feel safe and wanted. Wait, what? 
 
Aria chuckles after a particularly gruesome onscreen death, one by mop-handle. She buries her face in Applejack's neck and breathes deep in his scent. There isn't even the slightest hint of cologne or anything like that. It's all man-musk. She lets out a shuddering exhale but stops dead in her tracks, breathless as she feels a broad arm around her. She dares not look up, she dares not see that handsome smile right now. She corrects her sitting, turning her eyes back to the screen while wiggling her behind into his lap. She notices something. Something hard. Something she is certain is not in his pocket. It is far too large-and-center for that. Well well, she has that kind of effect, just being close like that?
 
She swallows hard as she feels his other arm envelop her. A firm grip to steady her further. She revisits the previous thought of feeling safe. By now, she has gotten over tactics and games. She is actually enjoying all of this, awful movie and gigantic cowboy alike. She places a hand on top of one of his and makes herself comfortable against his taut chest. She feels tiny wrapped in his arms and the whole aspect is surprisingly pleasant. She is happy about the darkness and murder on screen. It helps her mind from dancing to a far more chaotic tune than it is right now.
 
A tune that comes crashing in as soon as Applejack moves his free hand down her thigh. Aria jolts, places her other hand on his to stop the movement and then instantly regrets it. She breathes in deep and takes the risk to look at his face. He is wearing a sharp little smile and his gorgeous eyes are as emerald as ever, even in the dark. Her own eyes flit back and forth, her nostrils flaring in rapid breath. She cannot let him touch her like that. Not yet, anyhow. She twists a bit and turns. Their eyes meet for just a second before she flings both arms up. She knocks his hat right off his head before hoisting herself up. Then she turns all the way around to come face-to-face with him. Her knees touch down on the soft padding and her flat chest presses against his rippling muscles. She gives him a wild look, then presses her face into his. Lips on lips. She kisses him multiple times, sloppy, uncoordinated pecks and a panicked attempt to match him once he answers. She runs one hand up into his unkempt hair and keeps the other on his shoulder. Kiss after kiss, they go back and forth until he gives her a very slight lick. After that, she does not hesitate for long. The next opportunity given, she meets his tongue with hers. The kissing deepens, tongues dancing in unison. She rolls her hips against him, feeling that large, hard bulge in his pants grow even bigger.
 
She grabs the back of his head with both hands and kisses him as passionate as she can. Grinding up against him while his enormous hands wander her body. He does not waste time with taking great handfuls of her behind. He lifts her to pretty much bounce her up and down as he answers her kisses. She has to look to the side to catch a breath and bite her lip as he squeezes her. All of this is already too far. She has to calm down, ease her spinning mind. She lets out a very obvious, sensual moan right into his ear before tossing herself to the side. Getting out of his grip would not even be possible if she did not surprise him. She falls onto the padding and pants a few times while doing what she can to hide her own bulge from his sight.
 
After very swiftly getting out of the initial shock, Applejack leans over to place a trying hand on her hip.
 
"Y'all right there, sugar?"
 
Aria closes her eyes for a second and takes a deep breath before looking up to him. A lost expression mingling with a smile on her face. What could she possibly tell him? She shuffles to her knees and places both hands on his chest. She remains wordless and breathless but lets her actions speak instead. She slides her hands down and soon places both her delicate hands on his crotch. He takes her cue and observes in silence. Button away and fly down, she is soon rooting around in his pants. He is a little bit tense but lets her do whatever she wants. A bit of tugging at clothing and before long, she has unearthed the treasure she was seeking.
 
His eyes widen as he observes her marvel at his mighty manhood. She keeps her eyes on it as she moves to sit on her knees in front of him, holding his mast rather tight, even if her hand looks like a pixie attempting to grab a tree. He breathes in, attempting to think of something to say but is interrupted by her soft lips meeting the tip of his member. He exhales through his nose and holds as still he can while she gives the same kissing-routine to his cock as she did his face. Little pecks, sloppy smooches and trying licks. He grits his teeth and tenses every time she sucks on the tip or rounds it with her tongue.
 
Aria gives a long lick along Applejack's shaft, appraising the size of his manhood. It is impressive to say the least and has definitely found its way straight into her mind. She kisses the tip and then flexes her jaw to attempt to take it in. She presses her lips over the tip and pushes her head down until she cannot take any more. Applejack grunts audibly as his member enters the tight hole that is her mouth. She does what she can to give him some tongue before pulling back, gasping for breath. She is about to go right back in when a hand on her head stops her. She looks up to him and finds that devilish smile of his.
 
"Now, don't hurt y'self, sugar."
 
Aria huffs and looks away from the handsome visage that is his face to the enormous throbbing manhood in her hands. She goes down again, licking the tip before forcing even more of it into her mouth. This time being a whole lot quicker with pulling back but just as fast putting her mouth back around it. She bobs up and down, letting her lips caress the tip of his manhood until she has him panting. She sucks and licks, rejoicing in his strong hands trailing her body as she pleasures him. His cock twitches in her mouth, she strokes it carefully while kissing the tip and gets even more satisfying reactions. He grunts and tenses up. She does not stop, even for a moment. She can feel his hand grasp her messy hair and hold on tight as he pants and huffs. She has him on the edge and she knows exactly where this is going.
 
She picks up her pace and uses more tongue before locking her lips around his member, basically letting him fuck her face as they match strokes. She takes as much of his massive manhood as she can while deriving great delight from his moans. He is close. She wants him to finish, she wants to taste him. She milks him until she feels a shudder go through the entirety of his massive being. She presses down and holds back a gag as she feels his member twitch, halfway down her throat. A hot explosion, he exhales wordlessly and throws his head back. She remains still for a few seconds, then pulls back just as his cock pulses a second time, unleashing a similar but slower-flowing stream of semen. She coughs once, then looks up to him, a slippery strand of cum dripping from her lower lip. He is looking entirely entranced as he gazes at her. He then lunges forward to grasp her with both arms, pulling her along as he falls backwards. He embraces her tightly and kisses the top of her head. He breathes in deep, meaning to say something but only manages a long exhale. She trails a finger down his chest while correcting herself with her other hand. Her erection is almost painful now but the rest is extremely pleasant. He lays completely still for a while, then squeezes her tightly for just a second before shuffling about a bit.
 
"There's still some of that movie left, sugar."
 
Aria presses a hand into his chest and lifts herself up enough to look at his face.
 
"So, let it play..."
 
Applejack chuckles softly and squeezes her again. That's all the conversation he needs. For now. Aria settles down again and licks her lips, his taste still very strong on her lips, in more ways than one. Listening to murder on the big screen has never been so pleasant.

> Ch. 4 - Gentlemanly Charms And The Consequences
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aria jerks awake. How long was she out? Cannot have been more than a few minutes. She blinks and hears the music for the closing credits. She looks up as she feels a broad hand stroke down her back. She is instantly reminded why she fell asleep to begin with. Applejack's huge frame made for a disturbingly comfortable bed. She lets her eyes land on his face. He is smiling but there is something else in his expression.
 
"Y'all move pretty fast, Aria Blaze."
 
Damnation. She had completely forgotten she is doing this for a whole myriad different schemes and reasons. She tries to keep it together but her panic is apparently rather obvious on her face. Applejack notices and quickly continues.
 
"Not that there's anythin' wrong with that. Y'all can believe me when I say I'da stopped ya if I thought somethin' was wrong..."
 
Aria looks clueless for a second, then shines up. He hasn't figured her out at all, he's just talking about her amazing blowjob. She props herself up a bit and gives him a soul-suckingly sweet face. Then he continues.
 
"There is somethin'... Y'all ain't told me, though."
 
She swallows hard, her eyes slip off him while she does what she can to keep her sweet face. Her gaze locks back onto his face as he places both his hands on her behind.
 
"Y'all've been pokin' me with somethin' the last half hour or so. Know anythin' 'bout that?"
 
Aria just blinks at him. She feels like a dunce. How can she have ruined this for herself already? She opens her mouth to speak but nothing comes out. She is completely dumbstruck. His grip of her prevents instant flight, not that he is holding her down or anything but her first and only thought is to flee. Applejack reads her like an open book. He shuffles around a bit while crooking his body. He gets closer and closer. Then he does the unexpected. He kisses her. A long, soft pressing of his lips onto hers.
 
Still entirely paralysed, Aria feels like her head is about to explode. What in all the infernal planes of Hell just happened? She manages to answer his kiss with a very slight movement of her lips. He pulls back and smiles at her, his face now only holding his genuine, handsome smile. Nothing troubled, nothing questioning. 
 
Aria feels strange, like what just happened was some vivid dream she had while awake. She wants to be angry, mainly at herself but simply cannot find the emotion right now. Her secret, her power and weakness so haphazardly thrown away by her own mistake. She overestimated her own ability to hold back as well as Applejack's magnetism. Now, she is all laid bare, so far without full exposure and the giant cowboy doesn't seem to mind? It blows her mind. Did he know from the beginning? No, he was obviously attracted to her as a girl. Well, she is a girl, just with a few surprises.
 
"Gettin' kinda stiff layin' here like this."
 
He puts emphasis on the word "stiff" and gives her a devilish grin. Aria's face flushes. She notices herself blushing and within moments rage and hate finally bubble up inside of her. A very odd sensation when mixed with lust and confusion. She looks to the side but soon focuses on his face again as he gives her behind another firm grab. After the greedy grope, he says nothing, he simply begins moving. Aria blinks in more confusion as she is simply swept along in the wave of muscle. He very gently holds onto her as he moves to sit up, letting her twist around to sit as well.
 
"Ya know what, Aria? We never ate... Well, perhaps one of us did..."
 
He snickers softly and gives her a not-so-apologetic look as she shoots daggers with her eyes. She then just sighs and touches his cheek.
 
"I'm not hungry... I... I feel a bit tired. Jokes aren't really helping..."
 
She looks away yet again, only to get tugged back once more by Applejack's surprisingly soft touch. Their eyes lock.
 
"I'm sorry, sugar. I'm just a bit rattled, I think. Please, lemme make it up to ya. Y'all did mention ya didn't mind a dance. Will ya gimme the honor of taking ya to one?"
 
A spark of life blossoms in the dark bog that is her mind. He really does seem serious about... Well, whatever he is doing. She has been deconstructed into some blubbering mess and he is actually attempting to put her back together? The game might not be back on but she can feel her spirits rise. Fast, like fire. Eating up the last of the confusion within seconds. Rage, hate, lust and now adventure conquers her mind. He did start out the awkward little discovery with a kiss after all. That raises all kinds of questions. Perhaps he is indeed just playing the gentleman, although a bit of boy-talk slipped through. Screw it all, she'll take her chances.
 
She quickly flings her arms around his neck while bringing her face close to his. He almost looks a bit shocked as she kisses him. Although, it does not take him long to answer. She feels a mess but his lips help. She is so far out into deep water and in way over her head. He can keep her afloat. An extremely strange feeling. Yet again, oddly comforting. Then again, that's been the entire thing with him, hasn't it? She has to watch it with that kind of familiarity. Kind of hard to corrupt someone's friends if they suddenly turn into your prince charming.
 
The drive-in theater slowly empties. Some remain, some join in for the next show. Aria spends a long time in Applejack's embrace before having somewhat stabilised herself in her current predicament. A small wick of her inner fire rekindled, she is ready to face something, however silly it might be. She leans back and takes a deep breath.
 
"So where are we going, cowboy?"
 
Applejack hums softly and brushes a stray strand of hair out of her face.
 
"Well, little lady, seein' how we are both dressed for the occasion, I hope y'all like country music."
 
Aria raises a brow and gives him a semi-disgusted, semi-interested look. She is unsure about the prospect but she did take the leap long ago, she is yet to hit the bottom. She stretches a bit, quickly pecks his cheek and gracefully enough gets up. He just sits there for a moment, watching her move. His calm, handsome expression has not changed in the slightest. He is still viewing her in the same light as when they met, isn't he?
 
She could shudder at the thought. Mainly because of what just transpired. It all rushes back in her mind. It reminds her of however awkward she feels right now, half an hour ago, she was a different beast altogether. She takes another deep breath of the surprisingly fresh night air and stretches again.
 
"I have so many things to say to you..."
 
She speaks with her back turned towards him. She hears him get up but does not look. She surveys the milling of machines for a moment before speaking more.
 
"... Some are lies, some are disgustingly heartfelt... You just keep playing the gentleman and we'll get along beautifully."
 
She looks over her shoulder as she falls silent to find him standing close behind her. Apparently she has all his attention. A good re-start. Perhaps doing some silly country-dancing will do her good. She spins on the spot and looks up to him.
 
"Perhaps we will actually get some talking done..."
 
He answers nothing, just reaches out and takes her dainty little hand in his enormous paw. He lifts it to kiss the back of her hand before letting it go and walking over to the edge of the truck-bed before stepping off. Well on the ground, he holds an arm raised for her. She manages a smirk as she makes her way. As she takes his hand, he more-or-less sweeps her legs out from under her and yet again carries her like she weighs nothing. For a short moment, Aria is several feet taller. She does what she can to hold back but as he starts to spin, she cannot help but to giggle. He takes a few steps around, waltzing badly with one arm under her behind, the other holding her hand in his. She gasps and giggles again. Feels a little bit like flying. Her giggle echoes in her brain. That is the last of her resolve leaking like holes in a balloon filled with battery acid. She does what she can to focus her mind for just a second of thought. Even with all the bumps, this has been a great success. She can allow herself a few moments of fun, right? Tomorrow is just back to the grind of ignoring Adagio. 
 
Just thinking about it has her mind very close to another snap. She snatches Applejack's hat off his head and puts it on her own. He looks up to her, she looks down to him. He slowly lets her slide down his body, her slight weight compared to his strength making the move slow and smooth. When face to face, he stops her, gives her a mysterious little smile and then speaks.
 
"Y'all're just about the most interestin' thing that's happened to me in months. I ain't gonna be a shit-kickin' chickenfarmer and tell ya otherwise. Just have to... Talk, yeah. Well, right after..."
 
He interrupts himself by leaning in to kiss her. She accepts. As their tongues dance briefly, she is struck with the reality of the situation. A whole lot of complications. She is definitely getting somewhere here but at the same time, she is sinking. She is totally falling for Applejack, if she hasn't already crashed head-over-heels. She has been through this whole dance before and never really had an issue that compares to this. Dangerous, frightening, thrilling. She takes a few things into account; she has her way into the enemy for the road to corruption. For more reasons than one, this entire situation does feel good. Finally, she has appearances to keep up and it might yet work out. The last thought is heavily influenced by the physical act currently going on. Applejack pulls back from the kiss and by doing so rouses Aria back to the land of the conscious. She offers him a brief smile as he reluctantly sets her down.
 
"I'm ready for that dance now, Applejack."
 
The cowboy nods once and ushers her along to the passenger-side door of his pickup. He opens the door for her and offers her the help to ascend once more. This time, she knows what to expect, so she happily accepts his help and soon makes herself comfortable inside the truck. He shares a look with her as he closes the door and walks around the truck. Securing everything and getting ready. He gets into the vehicle and makes it roar alive. It isn't long before they are out of the drive-in and headed for some other place at the edge of town. Applejack messes about with the car-stereo for a moment and it crackles alive. Slide guitar and snare drum soon fill the car at some volume. He casts a glance to see how Aria is reacting. She pokes at the brim of the far-too-big hat and gives him a raised eyebrow. She is absolutely adorable. Applejack focuses back on the road and swallows hard. He is hiding it well but his mind is racing. The last hour or so has been mental chaos for them both. He played and will keep playing it cool. Keep himself and her busy so he doesn't have to try to lie about something. He is absolutely incapable of that. Even to a complete stranger. He gets all weird and scrunches up.
 
Aria looks out into the clear night. The stars are out and the darkness isn't as dark as it seemed before. The music gets to her, it is much more invasive than she would have thought. Not just some old guy whining about the law-man or drinking too much. This is actual hard-hitting music with a country flavour. Applejack takes a turn and up ahead is what one could only describe as a very, mercilessly stereotype cowboy hangout. For the mildest choice of words. Other words that come to mind are "redneck shithole".
 
Aria takes as deep breath as Applejack pulls up into an empty spot, just next to a car that is equally enormous to his own. As he turns his vehicle off, she can hear the sound from within perforating the walls, a wild thumping of country music. Softer than what was playing on the stereo just a moment ago but wild none the less. Applejack glances over to her before getting out of the car. He really is dedicated to opening doors for her. She cannot deny it feels pleasant. Once the gate of the metal chariot is swung open by his hand, he offers her a hand to step out.
 
"Welcome to Joe's Pony Farm. The farmin' business has been replaced by a stage an' bar."
 
He offers his hand and she accepts. Before she knows it, she is on his arm, stepping through a crowd of loud, drunk ruffians just to get up to the swinging saloon doors. She does what she can to manage another deep breath before the plunge. Stepping inside, she lets the atmosphere wash over her like a loud, sticky wave of sludge. She involuntarily digs her fingers into Applejack's arm and throws him a glance from under the brim of the large hat she is wearing when she feels him chuckle. He meets her gaze with a smile and leads on. The place is not exactly packed but definitely active. Nearly every table is surrounded by what can only be described as a very niched clientele.
 
The band currently on stage sounds like music every dad ever would listen to. If those dads were four bottles of whisky down and looking for a fight. Aria lets her eyes zoom around while never missing a step alongside Applejack. No chance in the nine Hells she strays away from his arm's length in this place, even for second. She follows him up to the bar and watches him interact with the keep. An order, a table. She is mildly impressed by his ability to get his way, even if this is a usual haunt for him. Before long, they are lead to the side by a waitress dressed almost identically to Aria. Applejack seems awfully pleased with the entire situation and for a rare few seconds, Aria can actually find the humour in the things surrounding them. She did dress to match him after all.
 
They are placed by a tiny table and the waitress drops drinks in front of them. It seems Applejack is having more beer, driving safe indeed. Aria examines her whatever-that-is cocktail with an appraising look. They definitely didn't get checked for ID's. Applejack observes Aria's mild bafflement over the frilly pink drink for a moment before speaking.
 
"That there's a Sweet Mary-Sue. Looks like frilly foo-foo and tastes the part."
 
Aria gazes at him from under a lowered brow with a clearly unimpressed look on her face. She starts to speak but he interrupts her.
 
"I didn't mean anythin' by it, y'all're my belle an' I'm gonna treat ya to a few things."
 
He leans in close with a calm smile.
 
"No more knuckle-draggin' humor. I ain't gonna start spoutin' nonsense again 'til ya make me blush like a rancher's daughter in springtime."
 
Aria's face softens up and she reaches for the drink. It's probably going to be better than that horrendous swill she tried earlier. She holds up her glass and he clinks his bottle against it. 
 
"Here's to secrets."
 
Aria answers with a mock-angry expression and takes a daring swig of the pink liquid. Sweet was the word. The cocktail is actually quite good, goes down easy. Will it affect her? The small amount of champagne did. Does she care? Not anymore. Instead of a well-planned hunt, this has all just turned into an emotional disaster. Well, that and one of the best nights she has had in years.
 
She takes another sip as things bounce around in her head. She wants to fuck him. She should fuck him. Bring him home early in the morning and make such a racket that Adagio can't sleep for hours. She nearly empties her glass while daydreaming about the perfect sex-scene. Applejack's muscular body and huge manhood, Adagio's banging on the door and annoyed screaming. She snaps to when she notices her glass actually being empty. Applejack is observing her in silence. He speaks as soon as she has returned to the land of the conscious.
 
"Lost y'all for a minute there. Ya zoned into complete bliss. Didn't I tell ya the drink was good?"
 
She looks from his face to her empty glass in a bit of a haze. Blinking slowly, she nods a few times.
 
"Yeah... The drink..."
 
He is about to offer her another when she interrupts him by bouncing up and grasping his arm.
 
"Let's dance."
 
Applejack responds by emptying his bottle and allowing himself to be tugged along. There are not alot of couples on the fairly wide space before the stage but there are enough bodies swinging to blend in with for a kind of calm milling. They take each other's hands and step into the motion. Applejack leads and leads well. She was never in doubt about his dancing ever since he mentioned it. He is definitely the type for a barn-dance or the likes. She just never thought about seeing his massive body move like this. Nothing too complex but definitely calculated. Yet again, he makes her feel tiny by just swinging her around like she has the weight of a small bag of feathers. He manages to match up their pace to the music, stepping rather hectic. She feels awake, she feels alive. They exist in their own little sphere. The rest of the room, no, the rest of the world disappears on the backburner of their wild dance.
 
She is swung around like a dead leaf on an autumn breeze. A good few times, Applejack seems to forget his own strength and lift her up without meaning it. Getting flung around like that makes Aria tingle all over. More like a good feeling of weightlessness rather than something dangerous. Applejack's powerful aura of safety still has her completely spellbound. They dance through song after song, the harmonious noise guiding his steps and her mind. Both of them have no idea how long since they started when the band crashes through their final song and comes to a stop. Applejack actually looks a little winded. Aria leaps up and hangs on around his neck. It does not take him long to embrace her and hold her up. They share a longing look. Aria decides it is time. She leans in to whisper as the momentary silence allows it.
 
"I want you..."
 
Applejack just stares at her, wide-eyed as he holds her up to be face-to-face with him. What is going on in his head? She tries her best to think positive thoughts. Then, a moment later, as if a slow process has just cleared up in the mist of his mind, Applejack gives her a red-hot gaze accompanied by a grin.
 
"Y'all do, now? Yeah, well, how do we go about somethin' like that?"
 
Aria swoons a bit for a few different reasons. This is a perfect step in the right direction for her plan. Also, well, she is ridiculously horny and that needs tending. Wait, wasn't that the plan now? Whatever her reasons are anymore does not matter. That pink Mary-Sue made her tipsy and she just wants to touch and feel every part of Applejack's mountain of muscle. Maybe she'll just parade him in past Adagio and Sonata's no doubt boring and useless evening activity. That'd surely annoy them an equal amount as to being woken up by the sound of lewd activities. She has the devil in her eyes when she takes his hand and begins tugging him along.
 
"Let's go to my place, right now."
 
Applejack almost looks confused as she leads him off the dancefloor. She has found some new courage. That part he enjoys. The rest is a bit fuzzy, his head is desperately attempting to wrap itself around how all of this is going to work. They make a swift exit and before long, they are in Applejack's humongous pickup again. He drives expertly along the dark country roads, even after six beers. Aria has stopped thinking about anything other than the event at hand. She plays out a thousand different scenarios in her head. Entering that crummy apartment will never have been so good.
 
The road home feels short and long at the same time. The fuzzy tunes on the stereo makes it all blend into a cosmos of passing lights in the dark. A few directions after entering town, they are back where they started. Only not on the corner but closer to Aria's shared home. Applejack manages to park mercifully close and before long, they are both standing before the door to the apartment. Applejack made sure to bring extra drinks, looking very apologetic while picking them out of the back of his truck. Aria does not note or care. Her head is already swimming in the soft cloud that will very soon be Adagio's barely suppressed rage.
 
She opens the door and strides in, head held high. Applejack follows closely and barely looks around. Aria scans the small common-room of the apartment and finds, just as expected, Adagio and Sonata on the sofa. She offers them no greeting, she just puts on a smug grin and walks up to her door. Just as she and Applejack get into her room, Adagio is on her feet, halfway over to them. Aria closes and locks the door, doing her best to hold back an uncharacteristically happy snicker. She places both hands on Applejack's broad chest and pushes him to walk backwards toward the bed. He barely has time to set his beers down before she topples him onto the bed. She grasps his shirt and tugs it up, reveling in his expression, something between relaxation and panic. She is in command again and that is exactly what she wanted. She looks him straight in the eyes as she slowly unbuttons his shirt. He lays back and keeps his look of conflicted satisfaction. How will this go down? He cannot deny he is attracted to Aria in all kinds of ways. Perhaps just let her lead on again and see what happens. As if on cue, she climbs on top of him as she is done opening his shirt. She leans down to place her face in the middle of his pecs. He is warm and his heart-beat is stomping a very firm beat, perhaps a bit elevated but nothing too flustered. She takes in his scent. He smells so thickly of manly musk that he might aswell sweat testosterone.
 
She kisses his chest, slowly, carefully. Too carefully for her own liking. She corrects it by placing another kiss, this one longer and wetter. He runs his hands up and down her slight frame and she can already feel his erection growing from where she is seated. She wiggles her hips a bit to tease him. His response is to very decisively place both his hands on her behind. As his hands explore her, she gropes him just the same. Her entire being aches, a feeling she has not been able to shake for a long while now. She kisses his neck and gives a little nibble while discarding her jacket behind her back. She bites him rather hard before pulling back. Their eyes meet, she gives him an evil grin. He simply observes her in silent interest. Aria tries to figure out the next step. A moment of hesitation. Should she take her top off? Of course, it would be like proving a point. Nothing left to hide now, the charade resumes later. Right now it is just the two of them in their own little sphere. Not even the seething siren on the other side of the door shall disturb them.
 
She grabs her top and lifts it over her head. Applejack watches her do it. She sits on top of him in all her flat-chested glory. He still looks a bit hesitant, his hands remaining on her hips. She leans down and brushes her cheek against his. A kiss to encourage. Their lips meet and his hands slowly crawl up over her naked back. Tongues dance as he reaches around to gently caress her miniscule breasts. Their kiss is hot and heavy, he does not seem to have any reservations there. She bounces a bit up and down on his now fully erect member. He breaks the kiss and bites his lip. His jeans struggle to contain his rigid meat. As she notices, she moves to unbutton his pants. She looks up to him as she zips his fly down. Then she glances down to his cock as it is freed. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before stretching over him in a cat-like manner. Her shapely behind in the air as she peels her sliver-like hotpants down. Leaving only her extremely thin panties covering her. She has not been this exposed around someone in a long time. She settles down into his lap again.
 
He observes her for a while. Her pretty face, slim body and throbbing little erection. He cannot put words to it, not even in his head. Well, sometimes it is best not to think so damn much. While his head spins a bit, the sultry, needy look on her face melts its way straight into his soul. He lets his hands run down her tight stomach and end up on her hips. He says nothing, just locks eyes with her. A few moments later, he gives her a trying rolling of his hips, her tiny weight on his massive erection feels good. For them both. Aria lets out a sound of pleasure. Applejack responds with excitement rather than his new-found apathy. His muscles ripple as he rises to a sitting. He pretty much meets her face-to-face as she is very small compared to him.
 
"Just bare with me, sugar."
 
He whispers the words before kissing her, deep and passionate. She presses herself up against him and slowly starts bouncing her ass up and down, her arms clasped firmly around his neck. He melts onto her lips and his hands are very quickly back on her behind. He soon gets greedy. She knew it, with an ass like hers, who needs tits?
 
Aria speaks into his ear in a sweet and lusty voice.
 
"I want you inside me..."
 
She can hear Applejack swallow. He does not stop his kneading of her bottom. He is probably debating with himself again. She can wait. A little while anyhow. Applejack's touches slowly die off. She glances at his face to find him as smiling and handsome as ever. They exchange a certain look, then he suddenly flips to the side, rolling her over onto her back. He holds himself up with both arms, thick pillars of strength. His shoulder-length blonde hair cascading around his face. His thick, meaty member pressing against her much smaller package. The look on his face is very obvious, there is only one way this can and will go.
 
He hovers above her for some time, then slowly lowers himself, crawling down her a short bit. He puts two fingers into the hem of her panties and tugs. Her smooth, fully erect private parts pops out, just as stiff as his. He inhales sharply through his teeth and then runs his hand down it. Aria shivers in delight. A tiny bit of encouragement that drives Applejack further. He caresses her member again, this time locking his fingers around it and giving her a few soft pumps. It is Aria's time to bite her lip and tremble at his touch. He fondles her member for a little while, looking like he is trying to make sure if it's real or not. She writhes at his touch. How long has it been since someone touched her like that? Years? She lets out an adorable little moan. Applejack looks at her face, lies down next to her and leans in to kiss her while slowly starting to jerk her off.
 
Aria's moans intensify as Applejack gets more and more brave in his ministrations to her aching rod. His hand is large and rough but that only fires off more things in her mind. How was she ever hesitant about seducing this hunk? In this moment, she is absolutely spellbound. He picks up pace, she moans out loud. Just as she does so, he leans in for a little love-nibble of his own. He bites her neck while he gives her member a well-practiced stroking. She clasps her arms around him the best she can and just dead-straight moans him in the face. Her expression is that of wild ecstasy and her body convulses slightly. Applejack bites her again. She whimpers and scratches him with her well-manicured claws. Or, well, nails as it were.
 
After a few minutes of Applejack teasing Aria's member, he gets a bit more adventurous. He lets his hand wander lower. He is careful when caressing her smooth sack and then digs in. He uses a finger to prod her hidden hole. She shudders and caresses his face with both hands. They share a long glance before she whispers.
 
"There is lube in the drawer." 
 
She indicates with a nod. When Applejack reaches for it, she turns over onto her side. She has had alot of practice, all of it alone. The prospect of attempting to take in Applejack's tremendous manhood has her shivering in anticipation. She hears him open the drawer and find the lube. She bites her finger. She twitches a bit after one of his arms wraps around her, then grasps his hand with both of hers. She holds her breath as she feels a finger touch her hole again, this time it is slippery. She holds back a little gasp as he slips it into her, trying at first. He spreads her asshole with careful movement of slippery fingers. She shudders and moans through sealed lips. Is he simply enjoying himself or is he... Examining her? 
 
The thought dissipates as she feels his fingers leave her. A moment later, after a bit of shuffling, the large, warm shaft of his member pushes up between her asscheeks. It is very slippery and very hard. She inhales deeply and looks back to him. He is entirely focused on her slim little body. He holds her steady with one arm and handles his huge erection with the other. He teases her asshole by prodding it with the tip of his cock, lubing her up further. She makes a playful little noise and moves to push a bit back against him. His tip spreading her slightly. He grunts audibly at the same time as she gasps. She then lets out a ragged whimper as he begins pushing. He enters her bit by bit.
 
"Don't stop... Fill me up..."
 
She murmurs the words and kisses his arm. He pushes slightly harder. His large cock-head finally popping inside. Her eyes go wide as she takes in the sensation of his slippery member slowly penetrating her. It is his turn to moan as her incredible tightness grips him. He proceeds carefully. In her head, she is thankful for it. He is definitely larger than anything she has tried before. She buries her face in the bend of his arm and breathes rapidly as he goes deeper and deeper. He manages half his manhood inside of her before stopping. 
 
She is already muttering nonsense. Sexy, lustful nonsense, almost unintelligible. He pulls back just as slow as he entered her. Then, just before his tip pops out, he pushes back in. She moans and whimpers, desperately guiding his hand down to her throbbing erection. He takes her member in his hand and rubs it slowly. If he had any problems with her cute little cock before, they are gone now. Her breath is hot on his skin, she twitches again and again as he teases, pleases and fucks her. Slow and deep.
 
He digs his fingers in under her and grasps her hip. A few slow thrusts soon turn into rapid repeats of shallow penetration while he strokes her faster. She presses herself against him and does her best to match his strokes. He alternates going shallow and fast with going slow and deep. He matches the strokes of his hand with the thrusts of his manhood. Aria gets louder and louder in her moaning, sometimes just blurting out garbled words about how big he is and how much she loves it. Most of it is absolutely genuine and true. Aria imagines Adagio listening in from the other side of the door. Hating every second of pleasure Aria is getting. 
 
Applejack rams his cock into her, almost a bit to deep while rubbing the tip of her cock with his fingers. She answers it with a long, strained, quivering moan while her member oozes pre-cum. Applejack's attending fingers gets slick with her juices. He fills her up time and time again. Her tight body writhes in his grip. He kisses the back of her head, then her neck and finally, as she turns, he kisses her face.
 
Lips against lips. She accepts his kiss and turns it very sloppy and very long, taking a few seconds every now and then to moan against his face. He buries his member deep within her and runs his hand up her stomach. Staying it on her chest, he whispers into her ear.
 
"Get up on all fours, sugar."
 
She answers him with another kiss, then moves. He follows along, hand on her chest to hold her steady and manhood still inside of her. She spreads her fingers out over the bed-covers and crooks her back for to present her behind as much as possible. He towers behind her and slowly drags a hand down the curve of her back. He pulls back, only to sink his cock back into her. He goes even deeper than before. She cries out, a loud, long moan mixed with a few words.
 
"Ah, fuck! Applejack...!"
 
She cannot manage much more than that. She is speared so deep on his member that her mind is running all over the place. In that very moment, It is almost like Applejack reads her chaotic mind. She is already in some kind of ecstasy, might aswell make it more intense. He leans in and caresses her member again before grabbing it for a stroking. She pants and moans, twitches and presses herself against him the best she can while he works up a fair rhythm taking her from behind. 
 
"Applejack... If you do that... I'm gonna... I'm..."
 
She finishes the almost-sentence with a breathy exhale ending in a whimper. Her entire being tenses up, then shudders. Her cock erupts with a shot of hot spray. She mixes her moans with incomprehensible words yet again and her arms begin to buckle. Applejack slows down with both touching and penetrating her. Her chest heaves and her body shivers. She just had the most powerful orgasm in a long, long time. 
 
She gazes up over her shoulder, panting. Slicks strands of hair stuck to her face. He leans down to topple her over. She pretty much falls handlessly with his motion. He wraps her in him and pulls out of her, making her feel empty for the first time in a while. He grinds his slippery manhood up between her buttocks while yet again nibbling on her neck.
 
Aria tires to catch her breath but seems like she cannot. She twitches again, his strong arms steadying her. She pants out words but cannot seem to find her voice.
 
"You... I..."
 
She gives up attempting to speak and falls into a girlish giggle for a few seconds. She has just about a million things and lies to voice but as of right now, she is as empty in the head as Sonata. Applejack just squeezes her and says nothing as well. Aria wiggles against him. She got at least a good few degrees of satisfaction. Although she wishes she could have annoyed Adagio more. Then again, Applejack is still hard. She turns around and snuggles up against him.
 
"Now, how shall I make you cum, hm?"
 
Applejack locks eyes with her for a while. His lips slowly curl into a subtle smile. There is mischief in his eyes but as he speaks, he says something pretty much opposite of what she had expected.
 
"Y'all've already tamed that pony once today, how 'bout we snuggle up an' work it out in the mornin'?"
 
She is a bit disappointed by his still disgustingly gentleman-like behaviour. On a related note, it is nice knowing he followed her command without fail. She would love to fuck the gentleman out of him. All the dirty thoughts swimming in her mind run rampant with a maddening mix of emotions and physical feelings. Her concluding thought is simple enough; she wouldn't want to leave his embrace for anything in the world right now. The cherry on top will be waking Adagio with loud morning-sex.
 
"You can stop playing the gentleman now..."
 
She runs her fingers down his chest for a few seconds, stopping as he speaks.
 
"Sugar, I haven't been playin' anythin' in particular."
 
He kisses the top of her head.
 
"My game's cleaner than y'all's. I jus' haven't figured ya out yet."
 
Aria looks up to him, eyes wide for a second. He what? He is just jammering on now, right? He didn't just act all lovely for hours only to drop some bomb on her in a moment like this? No, that cannot be. He must be referring to her hasty approach. She goes from feeling shot down to having another small celebration in her head.
 
"Oh, cowboy, you'll see I'm full of more surprises."

> Ch. 5 - Stirring Up The School
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aria murmurs something and turns over. The morning has come and even through her thick curtains, the sun annoys her. She blinks and pats around herself, searching for something in her messy bed. No mountain of muscle present. Her eyes snap open, pain instantly rushes in and she has to close them to avoid the light. She didn't dream up all of yesterday, did she?
 
She takes a deep breath and groans audibly while running her hands down her body. She isn't wearing much. She hears a little noise and her eyes snap open again. She looks around in a daze to find a heavenly sight. Applejack. He is sitting on her desk-chair, dressed only in his underwear and observing her closely. Watching her sleep? She cannot decide if it is really cute or just creepy. Perhaps both. He has many things on his mind.
 
She sits up, crosses her legs and stretches her upper body. Not entirely attempting to move seductively, not entirely avoiding it either. Applejack huffs some manner of delight and remains still and quiet as he watches her. He lets her soften up her tight little body for a moment before speaking.
 
"Y'all're quite the heavy sleeper. I opted 'gainst walkin' outta here, seein' on how y'all like ya door locked... So I've been havin' my fun jus' watchin' y'all sleep."
 
Aria's eye twitches slightly but she puts on a cute little smile. Did he figure some more stuff out or is he simply being courteous? Does not really matter right now. The door remains locked and the eye-candy is seated in her chair. She takes another deep breath and shuffles to get out of bed.
 
"What time is it?"
 
Applejack does not take his eyes off her as he answers.
 
"Well, we're definitely not up with the rooster. Should'a been in class a few hours ago, I reckon."
 
Aria raises a brow but afterwards simply breaks into a soft chuckle. He either has some kind of impenetrable defence or he is still blissfully unaware of her actual intentions. Whatever those were... Are... Whatever. She stands up and takes a staggering step. Looking around the room, she scans about for an outfit. She needs something just flashy enough. This is where she shows off Applejack as hers. Parade him around with no certain concern for it herself. Adagio will probably attempt to play it off but pretty much everyone else in school will be very inquisitive. If she pulls it off proper, she should be in with all of Applejack's dorky friends by the end of the day.
 
While she is tearing through her piles of discarded clothing and closet alike, a little light goes up for her. She had sex last night, hot, sticky sex. She needs a shower. She turns to Applejack while quickly slipping into a zip-up hoodie.
 
"We're going to get even later, I need to freshen up... Feel free to help yourself to whatever in the kitchen."
 
Applejack raises a brow but says nothing. He observes her movements closely as she saunters over to the door. She looks back to him and blows a kiss as she unlocks the door and exits the room. The last she sees of him is that he rises to follow her. He's still only clad in underwear, if Adagio was around, she'd have a heart-attack. Or an aneurysm. 
 
Aria quickly makes her way over to the bathroom. She casts one last glance back before slipping in. Applejack is slowly lumbering towards the kitchen. She feels a brief pang of disappointment but waves it off. He probably needs to eat something anyway, can't work all that muscle without fuel. She decides on being as quick as possible. Just as much as she would love to stay in and do nothing all day, prancing around school playing the new couple is simply too alluring. She turns the shower on and undresses while it warms up. She takes a good long look at herself in the mirror. Smudged make-up and even messier hair than last night. She still looks good. She gives herself a smug grin and turns to step into the shower.
 
The warm water splatters over her like extra-pleasant rain. Within seconds her tight little body is glistening. She closes her eyes and exhales in delight. She runs her hands up and down her body for a moment, slowly massaging the night's stiffness out of her muscles. Her hand wanders to her crotch. Grabbing her package fills her head with memories of last night. She cannot help but to touch herself.
 
Right in the middle of getting herself excited, she is interrupted by a noise. The door? She does not have any time to think or react before the shower-curtain is pulled aside. She brushes water and hair out of her face. Once she can see, her entire field of vision is taken up by a muscular, orange torso. She is about to speak but does not as Applejack steps into the shower. He towers above her in the cramped space, looking even larger than usual.
 
Aria observes as the silent behemoth gets increasingly moist in the far-too-low waterfall of the shower. She slowly reaches out and places both hands against his chest while looking up, not entirely unhindered by the stream of water. Before she can do anything more, he has embraced her with both his arms. He leans down and kisses the top of her head and then leans in for a kiss on the lips. She accepts the kiss with a certain hunger, not wasting any time with getting her tongue involved. It is almost like he felt her lust bubbling up. Or was it simply his plan all along? He is a little sly, isn't he? Perhaps he is the one full of surprises. 
 
Her train of thought grinds to a halt as she feels his hands on her behind. She does not give up the kiss, she simply does what she can to deepen it while pressing her wet body against his huge frame. She is excited. She cannot recall ever having someone come in and join her in a shower. At least not for as long as she can recently remember. She does not want to be naked around her sisters and has had little to no reason to invite someone else into such an intimate place. With Applejack, all boundaries and defences have been either wilfully removed or torn down. 
 
She pulls back and takes a deep breath before brushing water and hair out of her face again. She looks up to Applejack the best she can and finds him with a calm smile.
 
"I was thinkin' I'd hurry y'all along... Although it'd seem I've done nothin' but slow ya down."
 
He moves a little and reaches out for something behind her. When his touch returns to her, it is with a cold slipperiness.
 
"So I figured I'd take matters into my own hands..."
 
As he speaks, the extremely slight cold of his hands turns into warm bubbles. He lathers the soap over her back and behind with a seemingly trained precision. Before long, his enormous hands are flying everywhere. He touches her more all over while soaping her up than he did during sex. Perhaps her body is a bit more familiar now. Maybe the shower-scene has got him going, or... She lets her thoughts spill away with the running water as he gets a bit frisky. She breathes in deep and grits her teeth for a second as he brushes his hands over her erection. He is still very reluctant touching her like so but it seems he is challenging himself time and time again. This time, the slow start has a purpose. He is cleaning her, getting half a decent shower himself and has free reign to grab and feel her tight, wet shapes. He very obviously enjoys her expertly sculpted body. Perhaps some part, if not most of his mind still sees her as fully female. She has no issues with that, he has proven himself in more ways than one.
 
That is, proven himself to be one hell of a gentleman and interesting sex-partner as well as all around rather... Tricky. He is a tough nut to crack. Who would have thought that there could be such sly intelligence behind that charming smile and mountain of muscle. She shudders under his touch and brushes up against him. She notices his half-mast, held by his underwear that he inconveniently wore into the shower. He grips her by the shoulders and turns her around, a bit forcefully. Aria looks over her shoulder to him with pouted lips and a bit of fake offense. She enjoys his commanding moments, as long as they are short. He gets physical instead of babbling and she appreciates that. On the other end of the same rope, he is real good with following orders. She closes her eyes and lets out a long exhale sprinkled with pleasure as he runs his hands down her flat chest and tight stomach. Applejack stops at her hips and leans down a bit to embrace her with his entire muscle-bound frame for a moment. The water covers her completely and gives him a good soak as well. The warm water and the gentle, muscular embrace creates its own little sphere of existence. She just stands there, head in the clouds and mind at ease as he washes her.
 
What feels like far too short of an eternity later, his hands have caressed every curve of her body. The soap washes off in the cascade of water and the cleansing is complete. Applejack turns off the water and Aria blinks hers eyes open as the blinding water dissipates. She turns and gives Applejack's chest a quick lick before flashing him a wicked grin. She exits the shower with very smooth, accentuated movements. Applejack watches in silence as she grabs a towel and starts patting herself down. He is obviously enjoying the show. Aria does a little spin and wraps herself in the towel before getting another for her hair. As she busies herself with getting dry, Applejack quickly wrings out the wet parts of his hair, runs his hands down his body a few times and steps out of the shower. Apparently, that is as dry and done as he gets. He bends down and gives Aria's neck a quick peck of his lips while exiting the bathroom. Her attention snaps to him and they exchange smiles before he disappears back to her room, leaving a wet trail. Aria takes a deep breath, closes the bathroom-door and focuses on herself. Freshen up, get ready. Daydream a bit about whatever naughty shenanigans she can get up to later.
 
When done in the bathroom, Aria quickly makes her way back to her room. If only Adagio could experience all this prancing about without any shame. Aria smirks for herself as she thinks about facing Adagio in public, an equal-level battlefield, with Applejack by her side... She shudders in anticipation. She stops in the doorway to her room. Applejack has managed to get into his pants and boots. It is Aria's time to enjoy the show for a short moment as Applejack puts on his shirt. When done, he looks up and finds her standing close, hands behind her back and a bit leaned forward for optimal oogling. He smiles for her.
 
"Ain't courteous to ask a lady to hurry up, so I'll go wait for y'all in the kitchen. Perhaps we'll only add an hour or two to our current delay."
 
His smile turns into a grin as he rises. Aria huffs. He can poke fun all he wants, they are already almost that late... Oh, wait. She breathes in for some retort but Applejack has already left the room. She shrugs it off and starts tearing around the room for an outfit once more.
 
She goes for a fairly casual outfit. As casual as it gets with her wardrobe. Pants and a thin top, boots and a cropped denim vest. A dazzling array of purple, turquoise and aquamarine. Perhaps not as side-by-side with Applejack's outfit as last night but she cannot become a shadow to him, she will be in the center of attention and he will be her spotlight. At least to a certain crowd. She exchanges a few expressions with herself in the mirror as she puts on her make-up. Evil smirk, apathy, annoyance, disgust. She nails them all. She is perfect.
 
A slow blink of long, sculpted eyelashes and she is ready. She rises and checks herself one last time before leaving. Well out in the common area, she finds Applejack standing leaned against a wall. As she appears, he sparks alive. He steps over to her.
 
"Lookin' like the apple orchard after a soft summer rain. Lil' miss delicious."
 
She gives him an uninterested stare for a second, then lets a sickly-sweet smile slowly creep onto her face.
 
"Keep that thought, cowboy. Now, let's go."
 
She sweeps past him and tugs a little at his shirt. She meant to go for his collar but it was a bit of a stretch to reach. Was it not for her purposeful stride, she would look like a child pawing at an adult. Applejack follows along in either case. His calm, handsome smile ever present on his face. 
 
Exiting the building and finding the way to Applejack's truck does not take long. Applejack yet again opens the door for Aria and helps her into the enormous vehicle. A short drive later and they roll onto the school grounds gloriously late. The area around the school itself is bustling with activity, students going here and there or simply sitting around outside in the lovely weather. Applejack navigates the maze-like parking lot like it is his own farmyard and finds a good spot. Curious eyes watch as he exits the car and stay on him as he goes to open the other door. Aria makes a grand entrance by hanging around Applejack's neck with both arms. 
 
The curious eyes that observe go wide. Butterscotch scrambles to his feet and quickly stuffs his bunny into his backpack. He stumbles and then sprints into the school, he has to find someone, anyone to tell. He never thought it would happen, he had even dismissed it after his hasty retreat when Aria approached initially. Now, it has become pretty clear that Applejack and Aria are an item. All of that overnight. Is that how those things go? Butterscotch almost slams into Elusive because of his thoughtful sprint. The stylish, purple-haired young man gracefully grabs his featherweight friend. A swift manouvre to avoid disaster. Once slowed down and out of his mental fog, Butterscotch squeaks. Elusive raises a brow and sighs while shaking his head slowly.
 
"Well, this is either really good or absolutely awful, so let's hear it."
 
Butterscotch blinks a multitude of times while catching his breath. As he calms down, Elusive drags him off to the side, you know, just so they don't cause a scene.
 
"Applejack..."
 
Butterscotch starts. Elusive sighs again. This could take ages. Mercifully, Butterscotch soon continues.
 
"He's... With... Aria Blaze."
 
He nearly whispers the words. Elusive rolls his eyes and throws his arms in the air.
 
"You already told us!"
 
Butterscotch shrinks and looks to the side. He manages to stammer out a few more words.
 
"No... Just now... Arrived... Together, hugging..."
 
Elusive's eyes go wide. That's quite the tasty morsel of easy gossip. How very unlike the cowboy to take such strides. Something is fishy and he very much wishes to know what.
 
"Well, we should definitely tell Dusk Shine and Rainbow Blitz... I'm not really certain about Bubble Berry but he will probably hear it anyway... So we'll have a lot of good input, won't we?"
 
Butterscotch shrinks some more and just mouths out words in response. Elusive grabs him by the wrist and pulls him along in search for the others.
--
 
Aria strides through the halls, arm-in-arm with Applejack. She is leading with purpose, more or less pulling him along. They may not be much of a spectacle but they sure do turn a lot of heads. Applejack is actually a bit shy for the extra attention but takes it in stride. Aria on the other hand just ignores all the faceless crowd around her. She is on target for something beyond. Have to find Adagio, even Sonata is fine. Or any of the Rainbooms for that matter. In fact, any of the Rainbooms would probably provide further progress. Finding one on his lonesome is unusual, so she has to count on luck... Or, well, count on Applejack to make luck for her. She slows down and looks up to Applejack as she hangs a bit on him instead of pulling. He meets her eyes and puts on a questioning face. She bats her eyelashes at him with an innocent expression.
 
"So... What's our plan, cowboy?"
 
Aria puts extra pressure on the word "plan". She presses herself up against him and looks deep into his eyes. Applejack gives her a little smirk as he grips her slim waist with both his gargantuan hands.
 
"Well, I gotta get to class. Meet y'all out front after?"
 
Aria chews on her lip in thought for a moment. She does not like separating from him. Although at the same time, nothing of this is going to work if they are attached at the hip. She sighs and reaches up to touch his face. Just as her fingers find their mark, he lifts her. She lets out an embarrassingly loud yelp but is soon silenced by a kiss. She melts onto his lips and embraces him best she can. Things stir inside of her. The red-hot spark that has been present lately fights wildly with the annoyance she feels in Applejack no longer being completely wrapped around her finger. She will have to remind him who is boss later. In a hot and steamy way. Then again, he does not seem to have any issues with showing their little thing off. Their kiss lasts for quite some time in the middle of the stream of students hurrying along the corridors. 
 
Applejack breaks the kiss and puts Aria down, a sugar-sweet, handsome smile on his face. Aria looks to the side and lets her fingers trickle down his chest.
 
"Front steps, as soon as you can..."
 
She looks up, dramatic sadness on her face. He is captured by her eyes for a moment as her expression changes. A flash of cruel malice fills her vision and a sharp smirk creeps onto her face. She somehow manages to slither out of his grip and takes a step back.
 
"Don't keep me waiting too long, I might lose interest..."
 
Applejack raises a brow and nods once. His calm smile unwavering.
 
"Don't y'all go frettin' now, sweet, mysterious lil' Aria Blaze. Ain't many hours an' I'll be achin' the same as y'all."
 
With those words, he takes a backwards step, gives her a last glance and then turns. There is no direct hurry in his steps as he leaves but with his long stride, he is soon gone. Aria stands still and silent for a while, just watching him leave. It is first when he disappears she notices there is a little audience gathered, gawking at her. She stretches and gives them all a dismissive sneer. Time to go see who she can get a hold of to pass the time. 
 
--
 
Dusk Shine sighs deeply and rubs his temples with both hands. Watching Elusive prance around like the crownless king of gossip and having Butterscotch being absolutely desperate to escape is not his idea of a good study-hour. Just as Elusive is pressuring Butterscotch to tell Dusk Shine whatever details he missed the first three rundowns of the current predicament, the door opens. The three boys freeze for a moment, is it Applejack? Is he carrying Aria Blaze slung over his shoulder?
 
Rainbow Blitz enters the room with hurried steps and a wild look in his eyes. He scans the room to find out who is there and then quickly makes his way over to the ones present. He speaks as he approaches, hurried words in a cracking voice.
 
"Guys! Where's Applejack?!"
 
Elusive shines up and digs his nails into Butterscotch's shoulder. Apparently he is enjoying making the shy one talk about this subject. Butterscotch winces and Dusk Shine rolls his eyes before focusing back on his reading and writing. Rainbow comes to a stop and leans with his hands against the back of a chair.
 
"I have it on good authority that he just made out with Aria Blaze in front of basically the whole school."
 
Dusk mutters something and does not look up. Elusive squeezes Butterscotch's shoulder and the pink-haired boy seems to finally have had enough. He wrenches himself away from Elusive's dainty grip and rather dexterously lunges for his backpack before hastily leaving. Rainbow watches him go.
 
"What's up with him? I mean, he's even more jittery than usual..."
 
Dusk mutters again while Elusive glares after Butterscotch. His toy left. What a bummer. The purple-haired young man turns his attention to Rainbow Blitz.
 
"He's been like that since Aria approached Applejack and him yesterday... He just told us those two showed up for school together today. Hours late."
 
Rainbow shrugs.
 
"So you mean Scotch is upset because Applejack is playing hide-the-cucumber with one of the bitch-queens?"
 
Dusk looks up, sighs and shakes his head.
 
"No, Rainbow. Butterscotch is upset because Applejack is acting strange and whatever it is between those two, it is happening far too quickly."
 
Rainbow looks unimpressed.
 
"Dude, Applejack just needs some action. He's all work and no play and have you seen the size of his-"
 
Dusk Shine slams a book shut to silence Rainbow Blitz. Elusive looks offended at being startled along with the rainbow-haired ruffian. Dusk takes charge of the conversation again.
 
"We have to... I don't know. Have a meeting. First we'll see what Bubble Berry has been doing, he's been missing almost all day..."
 
The boys nod in unison. Their mystery-problems quota has just increased a few levels. 
 
--
 
Butterscotch hurries down the near-empty corridor. More or less everyone is in class. He needs to find Applejack. No, she could be there. She cannot be around when he talks to Applejack. That is extremely crucial. Scotch glances around nervously. He could go wait by Applejack's truck or even by the farm. No guarantees she won't be attached to him when he shows up though. Scotch chews his lower lip in mild panic, his mind running rampant as he makes his way, yet again. This time, his head-in-the-clouds walk is not interrupted by a steady hand, it ends in a crash.
 
Butterscotch looks up from the floor after falling on his behind. He blinks rapidly a few times at who he ran into. She gives him a death-glare and colour instantly leaves his face, no, his entire body. He stammers some excuse while desperately attempting to get up. He stops mid-motion as she holds out a hand for him. He examines her outstretched digits and trails his gaze up her arm, to her face. He dares not meet her gaze but casts a brief glance. Aria. Well, he is not just now realising it, he knew full well when the crash initially happened. It is just mind-boggling to him that he ran into her in the first place. The helping hand does not help with clearing anything up.
 
She looks annoyed. She wiggles her fingers for him to get a move-on. He takes one last deep breath and raises a trembling hand. She smirks evilly and wraps her slender fingers around his. A surprisingly strong and quick tug later, he is on his feet. She is a little bit shorter than him but makes up for it with being menacing and scary. She seems all too gleeful with having him in this position. He starts attempting to excuse himself and move away. She is having none of it. She pushes against him, sending him into an uncomfortable backwards paddle. Before long, his back slams into a closed locker.
 
Aria stays close, holding on to him. She observes him with flashing eyes and a sinister smile.
 
"You..."
 
She leans in close. Butterscotch holds his breath and his watering eyes are locked to the side. She continues.
 
"You don't have to be a stranger. I'm with Applejack now. We'll be... Good friends."
 
She forces a smile. Butterscotch does not even look at her. Her words cut like a blazing blade. He has to say something, anything. He is caught, she is close. He finally focuses on her, a desperate attempt to get out of the situation.
 
"No... No. You are... There's something wrong with you."
 
Butterscotch falls silent just as he hears his own words. His panicked eyes flits back and forth over her face. First she looks troubled. Then she looks annoyed. Then, scariest of all, she smiles.
 
"You say "no". I guess that's okay. I'm just gonna make sure... Make sure you say "yes" next time."
 
One of her slender hands takes a firm grip of his shirt's collar and she begins to drag him along.
 
"Let's go get better acquainted."

> Ch. 6 - Something To Pass The Time
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Butterscotch whimpers softly as he is dragged along. To where or why he does not know. Aria is surprisingly strong for her slight frame and her momentum is swift and purposeful. It does not take her long to shove Butterscotch into some tiny side-room. A broom-closet or the likes. Once in there, Aria makes sure the door is securely shut before turning her attention to Butterscotch again. She hovers around him for a moment, examining his uncomfortable expression and posture.
 
"You don't have to be scared of me. I only want to get to know Applejack's friends better."
 
Aria creeps up very close to Butterscotch as she speaks. He fidgets and actively avoids any eye-contact. His face carries the desperate look of having something to say without managing any words. Her actions tell the opposite of what she is saying. Intimidating him may be easy but for now, he is equally confused as he is frightened.
 
"Then... Why... Are we in a closet?"
 
Aria's sharp expression fades for a moment but soon re-forms. She basically pulled him aside in a thoughtless moment. Was she excited to find him? Not really. Is he potentially a good catch for her plans? Yes, everyone of the Rainbooms is. It just appears she cannot pick and choose the order they come in. Butterscotch will have to do for now. All her catches can't all be far-too-pleasant, like Applejack. Aria places a hand on Butterscotch's shoulder while speaking softly.
 
"Don't you want to know what your friend sees in me...?"
 
Butterscotch finally stops avoiding looking at her. In fact, he locks eyes with her. His lower lip trembles as he breathes in.
 
"I... Uh... I... I know..."
 
Butterscotch falls silent with a hard swallow. Aria raises a brow and observes him closely. She knows he is a nervous weird-o but she never expected it this bad. Then again, she did lock him in a supply-closet. With herself. She looks into his eyes for a moment. They show off an absolute panic. A moment passes in near silence, the only thing making any noise is Butterscotch's rabbiting breath. Finally, when he has worked up enough courage or perhaps lost his final nerve, he speaks further. As much as a wheezed whisper is speech anyhow.
 
"I know your secret."
 
Aria freezes, looking rather surprised. Then her eyes narrow. Getting upset over a simple word like "secret" isn't going to get her anywhere. Which one of her secrets is it? She leans in close and glares into Butterscotch's eyes. He only manages eye-contact for a second. She is so close he can smell her sublime scent. Hells, he can almost taste her on the air. She whispers, a hot breath beside his ear.
 
"So, what little secret of mine do you think you know?"
 
Butterscotch attempts his best to shrink away. He cannot escape. He could bolt for the door but he does not know if he can make it. Her soft-fingered claws are already upon him. He remains silent. She is impatient. 
 
"Oh, you will tell me. One way or the other."
 
With those words, Butterscotch has had enough. He dodges to the side, as quick as he can. Wrenching out of her grip is not all too difficult but as he is halfway through his escape, she grips him. With her oddly explosive strength, she easily holds on to him but with her slight weight, she is tugged along in his movement. She slams into him, trips over him and falls on top as they go crashing to the floor. 
 
Butterscotch looks up to the ceiling in a daze, he hit the back of his head. Aria sits straddled over his midsection. She grasps him by the collar and hoists his throbbing head up from the cold, hard floor.
 
"No running, sweetie. There is only one way this is going to end... Now, you tell me what I wanna know."
 
Butterscotch looks at her, fearless for just a second as stars dance about his vision. He sighs deeply and his eyes lower slowly. His voice, when it finally comes, sounds like the final breath of someone who is dying.
 
"... You're not a girl..."
 
He almost sounds relieved as he whispers it. As if the secret has been burning inside him for quite some time. Aria flinches, as if he just slapped her in the face. She instantly simmers with rage. Preparing herself for a moment like this, meditating on a calculated response does nothing for her right now. A calm response is not what she manages at all. With the minimal amount of time it takes for the words to reverberate in her head, chaos rises in her. Rises and takes over.
 
"You little creep, don't you start insulting me just because you don't approve of me being with your friend!"
 
Butterscotch just observes Aria's little explosion of rage with a strangely serene expression. Keeping the secret was apparently a whole lot more cumbersome than telling it to the right, or perhaps wrong, person. He wanted to talk to Applejack about it but ever since he saw the two of them together like that, he had no idea how to approach the subject. Aria obviously does not like his silence and continues.
 
"You don't know anything about me!"
 
Butterscotch raises a brow. Courage comes from the unlikeliest of places and right now, timidness and fright take the backseat to the truth. He puts on the most defiant face he can muster and props himself up, the best he can, on his elbows.
 
"Look... Lady... I don't care about your private affairs but I do care about my friends. You can hate me all you want, I'm not gonna let you mess with Applejack..."
 
Butterscotch actually manages to put on a pretty well-kept stern expression. He feels the warm rush of victory as Aria grunts and begins to get off of him. She sits back, onto her knees and observes Butterscotch with a death-glare. He awkwardly attempts to gather his limbs and balance alike. Malice and spite flash in Aria's eyes. Just as Butterscotch is about to rise, she springs from her seat on the floor and grabs him anew. Her speed and strength yet again easily has him cornered. Back against the wall for the fourth or fifth time today, Butterscotch has no idea how to react to this situation. What is she going to do? Punch him? That would be an instant loss for her.
 
What happens next comes to him in slow-motion. It is as if the world suddenly spins at a tenth of time's usual acceleration. Aria leans in with the slowest swift motion he has ever seen and plants her lips against his. The cogs of his mind feel like they have rusted stuck with a million years of decay. He cannot comprehend what she is doing and how in all the world he could react. While his brain desperately tries to count through and comprehend all the factors of this situation, he can feel his lips accept hers. Some kind of automatic response, mindless. Her lips are soft. Actually, they are delightfully soft. A tremor goes through Butterscotch's entire being as Aria presses herself against him. She attempts to deepen the kiss and he cannot do anything other than follow her motions.
 
Their tongues meet. Hot, slippery. Butterscotch keeps his eyes firmly shut and his arms down. She is so close. He is not entirely certain he wants to escape any more. He tryingly places a trembling hand on her hip. She is rather shapely. For a boy. With those thoughts, Butterscotch breaks their kiss and pulls his head away to the side. He attempts to catch his breath but nearly chokes on it as he feels Aria's soft fingers against his rather obvious erection. She skilfully touches him through his pants and he just stands there, panting lightly. Aria leans in close, taking his earlobe between her lips a few times before whispering.
 
"Told you we'd get along."
 
She turns a bit and wraps him in her arms. One hand dipping into his pants and one creeping up his chest. Another shudder goes through him as she grips his member and begins stroking it. She is good at it. Probably because of practice on herself. The thought makes Butterscotch's eyes spring open and he starts a wobbly step before Aria stops him with her firm embrace.
 
"You don't like it?"
 
Her tone drips of seductively real lust. He bites his lip and throws her a quick glance. All he has to do is shake his head. Bark out a "no". Take another step. All these things are impossible for him and Aria sees it, as if reading his mind. She works his private parts a little more intensely. He holds back a grunt, then whinges softly as she touches the side of his face. She pushes lightly while leaning in to kiss him again. He does not reject her.
 
Their tongues swirl around far more intensely than earlier. Butterscotch dares a peek through his eyelashes. Aria is beautiful. She kisses adorably cute. A real contrast to her usually scowly character. Butterscotch melts a bit inside with the adorable visage before him and just as he breaks down into complete swoon-mode, her eyes snap open. Their eyes meet and she instantly spots his emotion. She pulls back with a little gasp. She also stops the motions of her hand on his member and squeezes it. Butterscotch just stares at her for a moment, dumbfounded. She looks to the side for a short moment, apparently gathering herself. She then gets right back in his face, a particularly evil grin playing on her lips.
 
"I want you."
 
Her hands snake away from his body for a short moment. He turns to face her as she undoes her pants, tugging them down to her thighs. Butterscotch lets his eyes wander, from her face, down her tight body. He stops as his vision ends up on her erection, hidden by black lace. She reaches out and touches his face, leans in close and gives his upper lip a quick lick before murmuring.
 
"Suck it."
 
Her words are not a request, not an invitation or suggestion. It is a command. Butterscotch looks her in the eyes, she responds with a sultry look. He swallows hard as she plays a bit with the long fringe of his hair. She presses herself up against him. She already has him in the deepest pit of her trap, now is the time to seal the deal.
 
"... Or do I have to ask... Nicer?"
 
She reaches for his member again, an uncomfortable angle but perfectly serviceable to tease him with.
 
"Come on now, play with me. It won't cost you your soul..."
 
She leans in and kisses him again. A fairly mind-altering move, perhaps. She does what she can to work his member along with their passionate, sloppy kiss. Perhaps the best persuasion is that without words. A lengthy kiss breaks into her leaning back with a softer-than-usual smirk on her face.
 
"But what I'm gonna let you do to me might just have that very price. Now... Suck it."
 
Butterscotch just blinks at her. This is not how he expected this whole situation to unfold. It really is just one of those days. He slowly lowers himself onto his knees. His lips trails lazily down her clothed chest while one of his hands, rather reluctantly hooks a finger in the hem of her panties. Soon he sits face-to-lace and hesitates. Aria places a hand on his head and plays with his hair. He slowly rolls her panties down and with a motion slower than the decay of wind, his hand touches her erection. His second move is quite literally the opposite to what just transpired. Once Butterscotch has a hold of Aria's member, he instantly leans in and kisses the tip. She lets out a surprised little giggle that only continues as she feels his lips around her tip. It is her turn to have a quake run through her entire being. His lips are heavenly and she is still very much pent up from all the wonderful times with Applejack.
 
Butterscotch takes more of her into his mouth and she lets out a cute little moan. She does her best to keep composure but it is getting increasingly difficult. He licks carefully, all around the tip. She shudders again. That sexual tickle is absolutely raw. She grasps for his head, as if to stabilise herself more than anything else. Butterscotch is definitely trying his best but just as it were, his best is good enough. His sucking and licking soon has Aria panting. This is something she has not felt from anyone before, save herself in lone, bored hours.
 
She twines her fingers in his hair and attempts some very careful movements. Butterscotch responds well and times his licks like as if he has done this before. She moans again. This just feels too good. She does not know how long she can hold back and he only just started sucking. In a sudden move, he grasps the base of her member and forces it all into his mouth. She lets out some word-less exclaim and grasps his head tightly with both hands. She does not hold him in place, she is far too excited to feel where this goes next.
 
Butterscotch holds on for a moment but soon pulls back. Her equipment is by no means huge but none the less a foreign object in his mouth. He kisses the tip again and then wraps his lips around it. This time as he licks, Aria's shuddering comes with a whole lot more force. She lets out a long moan as Butterscotch pulls back with a cough. Her hot, viscous spray dripping from his lips. He looks confused and surprised as he swallows while wiping his lips with the back of his hand. He was not prepared and she gave no warning.
 
Aria is unsure if any of this even followed her original plan but the results are none the less satisfying. She takes a slow, stiff step back and lets her eyes fall on Butterscotch's face. He looks a whole lot better like this. On his knees, wide-eyed, lips slick with semen.
 
Aria blinks rapidly a few times and takes a deep breath through her nose. She then lets out a deep sigh that ends in a smile. She is revitalised. Time to mess a bit more with Butterscotch and see where it goes.
 
"You're good at that..."
 
She drums her fingers softly against the top of his head. He looks up to her with a blank expression. She lets her fingers wander down the side of his face, caressing him.
 
"Come join me and Applejack anytime."
 
Butterscotch twitches slightly and begins shuffling to his feet. All the while giving Aria a very conflicted look. A few times while gathering himself, he looks like he is about to say something. He does not. On the other hand, he does seem to have new-found courage to meet her eyes. Through it all, his confusion shines bright. Aria is enjoying every second of it. She is just about to say something more when Butterscotch attempts another escape. This time, she is incapable of halting him.
 
Butterscotch flees head-over-heels, managing to brutalise the door enough to get out of there. Aria watches him go with no small degree of disappointment. She would have loved to play more of their games. Now she will have to wait and see how other things work out. She feels safe enough in having at least a few days before Butterscotch tells anyone some kind of version of the story. If he ever tells any of it, that is.
 
Riding a little bit of afterglow and a whole lot of adrenaline, Aria makes sure she looks as much of her usual perfect self as possible before exiting the small room. She does not at all care for if someone noticed any of the usage of the little hide-away. With the way things are progressing, she'll be the talk of all the school anyway. She stops herself from putting on a far-too-happy smile as she strolls down the near-empty hall. Just have to waste some more time and she'll soon have her claws in the broad, muscular frame of Applejack once again. All in all, the day so far has been easy enough.

> Ch. 7 - Busted!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack looks at the cracked display of his ancient cellphone. A message from Butterscotch. A short, vague explanation that he left early and that he needs Applejack to come over to his place, as soon as possible. Butterscotch also states adamantly, as stern as caps lock makes anything, that he must be alone.
 
Applejack dismisses the message as it just being typical Butterscotch. He won't instantly rush over there but he is definitely a bit irked over the stranger-than-usual behaviour of his shy friend. Not the particularly curious type, Applejack replies to his friend and tells him he will make it over once he has settled what his evening holds for him. He does not mention Aria, Butterscotch seemed bothered last time she showed up. No need to upset him further.
--
Long, slow school hours have crawled by. The day may have been shorter than usual but it felt twice as long. Applejack slowly strolls down the busy hallway. The last class he had was some kind of science or something. He zoned out in the very beginning and does not even feel bad about it. Not hearing a peep from his friends all day does not bother him either. He feels good on his little cloud, it has been a while since he had fun like this. Just as he told Aria, she is the most interesting thing to happen in a long while.
 
A good few curious gazes follows him. He notices a bit of murmuring as he passes. A strange feeling, he has never really been the target of gossip before. It does not feel particularly good but it is at least a little exciting. Mainly because those that talk know nothing. That is definitely part of the excitement. Everyone that are so interested in something that is not their business will have to wait and see what happens. Applejack opens the front door and exits the school. Standing on the steps outside in the afternoon sun, he scans about the area until his eyes fall on who he wanted to find. Aria stands leaned against a wall not far off. She looks incredibly bored, staring off into the distance.
 
Applejack walks over without saying anything. She stands as if frozen until he enters her field of vision. The second she lays eyes on him, an evil smirk replaces her bored apathy. She steps away from the wall and instantly brushes up against Applejack, like a kitten looking for affection. He sweeps one arm around her and just smiles at her in silence. She wastes no more time and reaches up to give him a quick kiss before speaking.
 
"So, what are we in for, cowboy?"
 
Applejack absent-mindedly fondles her behind while going over things in his head.
 
"I'm not quite sure, sugar. Butterscotch was actin' real strange. I mean... More than usual. I think I should drop by an' see what's eatin' him. I could come by y'all's place after. Maybe we'll busy ourselves with not watching another movie."
 
His groping hand is distraction enough to help soften the irritation Aria feels. He did not offer much thought before he chose to go to Butterscotch rather than simply staying with her. She will have to work harder. Also, would that little scaredy-cat blab to Applejack right away? Would it matter? Perhaps she should be there to steer it all in the right direction. Or perhaps in the wrong direction, as it were.
 
"I'll come along to soothe your friend."
 
Applejack's first hand on her butt is joined by a second one. He looks deep into her eyes with a thoughtful expression. He hesitates, Aria notices right away. As he remains silent for a moment, she finds her window to make her move. She has to convince him before he has a chance to overthink anything.
 
"I won't get in the way. I'll even pretend to be nice."
 
Her words soon have Applejack chuckling softly. She has intrigued him yet again. The fact that she is more or less impossible to read as serious or merely jesting makes her statement a thing of uncertainty. She is like a mystery machine, just  wind her up and watch her go. Anything could happen and he is not entirely certain he has a problem with however things go. She is a refreshingly bad influence. He dares not even think about how his boring afternoon would be like without her. 
 
Oh, right. The so-called boring afternoon is supposed to kick off with him coming to the aid of a clearly distraught Butterscotch. His head feels fuzzy after trying to put all factors of the situation into their correct mental compartments. Taking a good long look of Aria's dainty visage soothes his jumbled brain. She is something to focus on. Having her along will keep him sharp. 
 
She could wait in the car, stroll around, hells, she could even just wait outside Butterscotch's door. Applejack has dealt with plenty of freakouts from the pink-haired boy and he has yet to face one he could not manage.
 
Applejack breathes in deep through his nose, finally settling his thoughts on a plan. His hands reluctantly let go of Aria's behind while he smiles for her.
 
"Let's go see what's agitatin' Butterscotch. Y'all're gonna have to play real nice. That boy's more spring-loaded than an unbroken pony."
 
Aria sticks very close to Applejack and holds back a sinister snicker by putting on a sharp, evil grin. If only Applejack knew... Well, he might. He will. He should. Just not yet, right? What will she do if Butterscotch goes off rambling? Deny it? That is not a very good fix for the long-game. 
 
With everything in motion, she will have to roll with the punches. Delightfully exciting and horribly tricky. She clings to Applejack's arm and begins to form whatever contingency-plans she can in her head. 
 
As they enter the parking lot, Aria spots something up ahead. The undeniable shape and colour of Adagio. She is standing at the edge of the lot with someone. As Aria and Applejack draw closer, she makes out who Adagio is with. Sundown Glare. The wild-card. Of course Adagio went for him as soon as Aria showed off her lead with Applejack. Stupid Adagio, she's not only full of herself, she is lazy too. Sundown is an instant route into the minds of pretty much all the Rainbooms, even if he is not officially part of their group. He is outcast, uncertain around just about anyone. Not in the same shy, twitchy way as Butterscotch but more or less like a beat dog. Aria cannot hear what is being said between the two but it does seem like Adagio has already snaked her way to his full attention. He actually looks genuinely interested in what she is going on about. Whatever vile trash that could possibly be. 
 
Squeezing Applejack's arm a bit, Aria gets his attention as they reach his truck. She reaches up and puts her hand against his face. Applejack watches calmly as her face distorts in a mixture of thought, annoyance and barely contained spite. He raises a brow and is just about to question her when he notices her eyes. While she is close to him, her eyes flit almost constantly to another couple, down the way. Applejack follows her glance with his own and spots Adagio and Sundown. So she is eyeing her sister hitting on the fire-haired boy. Why does it seem to annoy her? Applejack sets his analysis of the situation aside for later and leans down to focus Aria with a quick peck on her cheek. Just as she fully focuses back on him, he cannot resist commenting.
 
"Y'all bothered by ya sis' gettin' some?"
 
Aria's eyes flash, her cheeks flaring up in an instant. This simply cements Applejack's suspicion, even though he does not yet know the full story. She slaps both hands against his chest and looks to the side while sighing. She has to play this one cool, there is still the issue of going to Butterscotch's. When she looks back to his face, she is wearing a strong, neglecting look. 
 
"No, I've got you. Wrapped around my finger."
 
She reaches up to cling around his neck with both arms while looking deep into his spring-green eyes.
 
"Screw her."
 
With that, Aria quickly spins and flings open the door to the truck. Applejack's eyes follow her lithe movements as she climbs up and sits down. She soon gives him a relaxed pose and smirk.
 
"Come on now, cowboy, let's leave this dreadful place."
 
He nods slowly a few times and wastes no time entering the truck and getting it rolling. The drive to Butterscotch's place is not all that long. However, for Aria it feels like an eternity and the blink of an eye at the same time. She is deeply lost in thought. Her being quieter than usual even has Applejack react, turn down the ever-present music and ask.
 
"Somethin' troublin' ya, sugar?"
 
Aria looks to him and blinks. Words form from her subconscious.
 
"I didn't do anything... What?"
 
She tilts her head to the side and puts on a thoughtful furrow of the brow. Another crack in her facade. If this keeps up, she is going to have to be knee-deep in bad excuses. She gives Applejack no additional time to ponder and fills in.
 
"Don't worry about it, cowboy. I'll be fine once we get some more sweet, sweet alone-time."
 
Applejack raises a brow but nods. He is not sure he is going to enjoy dragging something out of her, so he will not. All of this started off with secrets, why not continue in the same way? Honesty always triumphs in the end and he is patient. Especially when things are as interesting as they are now. With all that, they roll up the quaint wooded road to Butterscotch's homey little cottage-slash-animal shelter.
 
The gigantic engine rumbles to a stop, both driver and passenger get out at the same time. Applejack hesitates for a second, then just shrugs it off with a short comment.
 
"Will y'all please jus' keep in the background, I'm gonna assess the damage."
 
Aria forces herself to answer with a cute face rather than a snide snicker. Applejack walks over to the door to knock while she hovers in the background, leaned against a fence-post. She sees the door open but Applejack's massive frame blocks out the rest of the view. Images flash by in Aria's mind, the adorable, lost look on Butterscotch's face, his lips slick with semen.
 
A little shudder goes through her just as she notices Applejack entering the cottage. She looks for a sign to follow but finds none. Both of the boys are inside but the door was never closed. Her curiosity piqued, she slowly approaches.
 
A small number of steps closer and Aria can see inside. Applejack is clearly talking to someone, being rather animated. Wasn't Butterscotch the one in need of consolation? She creeps closer until suddenly, Applejack sharply positions his arm in a pointing motion, towards outside. To her? Aria freezes mid-creep and composes herself. If she is indeed the object of attention right now, she wants a lead-in of looking at least partially innocent. She observes in silence as Applejack turns to her and sees she is closer than he expected. He does not react to that little fact and raises his voice enough for her to hear.
 
"Would y'all come here, sugar? There's a lil' issue I think y'all can be the judge of."
 
Aria has managed to compose herself well enough to give a fairly casual first answer. While she takes only parts of a moment to attempt to figure the situation out, she steps closer to the door. 
 
"Is that so?"
 
She sounds relaxed enough, yet her mind is racing a mile a second. All and any preparations she made in her head does not help as she is walking into a completely unknown question. The thrill and terror are the same. She takes a deep breath before stepping inside of the door-frame.
 
Well inside, she is met by a regularly nervous Butterscotch and a strangely hard-to-read Applejack. The cowboy is wearing his usual calm, smoulderingly sexy smile. There is just something. Like a silent annoyance. She stands still and quiet, expectant for what comes next. 
 
Butterscotch fixes his eyes on Applejack. For a few seconds, the silence is deafening. Finally, Applejack speaks again.
 
"So, Butterscotch is feelin' y'all "Dazzlings" ain't whatcha' say y'are."
 
Aria tenses up but plays it off. How is this reveal going to go and who is going to get embarrassed? She is feeling safe enough in that Butterscotch spun some evasive story. He probably just attempted to play a spiced-up "they are evil" card and ended up explaining it badly. Then again, she could be walking into a trap. She sucks on her lower lip for a moment of thought while swaying a bit to and fro on the spot. Then she inches closer to Applejack and alternates her point of focus between the two boys.
 
"Well then, Butterscotch, what is it that irks you so?"
 
A faint blush creeps onto the shy boy's face and he looks down for a moment. Aria quickly glances at Applejack but the musclebound behemoth stands still and silent. Perhaps a part of dealing with Butterscotch's delusions? He did say this happens every now and then. 
 
Just as Aria starts doubting, Butterscotch answers, wide-eyed and flustered.
 
"You know full well what, Aria Blaze! You-"
 
He interrupts himself in the middle of a burst of words. His wild-eyed gaze strays to the side. He is visibly shaking. A single pearl of sweat trickles down the side of his face. Aria puts on a smug grin. She feels the intense sting of excitement, the rush of uncertainty. She stops herself from taking a step closer to the shy boy. She would very much like to poke and prod him a bit, assert some more dominance. Just as she debates with herself, she notices Butterscotch taking a deep breath. He turns to Applejack, a crazed defiance on his face.
 
"She's got a dick, Applejack! I don't care if you know... Or whatever that implies... Just... She..."
 
His breath vains, his short burst of rage giving way to something that is more than likely regret. Regret that he spoke out to begin with. Applejack stands still and silent, although he is pretty easy to read. His brow is furrowed and his eyes are locked on Aria. Applejack's targeted annoyance calms Butterscotch down just enough to keep him from running off or hiding. The air is thick with confusion. Aria notices Applejack and bites her lip briefly. Butterscotch spots another way in and manages to croak out more words.
 
"She... She forced me to..."
 
He trails off again and Applejack's stern eyes start to feel like they are burning the side of Aria's head.
 
"What's he referrin' to, sugar?"
 
Aria's head flutters high in the fumes over some toxic lake. She was so certain this specific scenario would not happen, all she can do is stare dumbly at Applejack's handsome face. After a short moment of paralysis, she manages what she always does and collects herself for a sharp little grin and a dismissive expression.
 
"Oh, you mean our little incident earlier... Where you accused me even more than just now? I admit, some of those things are true... I think you've got the rest twisted up though."
 
None of them specifying details, none of them giving a straight answer. Aria may keep a decently cool exterior and Butterscotch might have conjured a thimble of courage but it all boils down to a now visibly upset Applejack.
 
"Aria. Y'all need ta get more specific. Now."
 
Aria swallows hard but plays it off the best she can. She puts on the most innocent face she can muster and creeps even closer to Applejack.
 
"Fine. I was minding my own business, waiting for you. Then oh-so shy-boy here took it on himself to chat me up, talking about secrets. Talking about how I'm bad for you..."
 
Aria trails off while placing a hand against the cowboy's chest, seeking some manner of response. She needs to know where she is going with this lie. So far, fortunately, Butterscotch has not interjected. Although Applejack still remains full-on annoyed and says nothing. Aria continues.
 
"Lured by talk of secrets, we ended up in a closet..."
 
Butterscotch looks like his entire being is blushing. He really does not want to talk or hear about any more of this. He fidgets anxiously while Aria continues.
 
"He's been watching me, Applejack. Creeping or something... I don't know. He started talking about... Well, you know."
 
She looks down while placing her other hand against his chest. When she looks up again, it is with intense sad puppy eyes.
 
"One thing led to another... A burst of... Emotions... So close in that little room. Can't say he looked displeased with the entire thing."
 
The living blush formerly known as Butterscotch lets out a hoarse little squeak. Applejack's stern look has given way for a good amount of confusion. He takes one of Aria's hands in his and sighs deeply. He gives little to no indication of how he feels about the entire situation, besides his obvious disappointment. Or is it fatigue? Helplessness? Aria feels an odd sensation, an icy tingle down her spine.
 
His large, warm hand around hers gives her hope. He has not rejected her, he will not reject her. She shudders in anticipation for what is to come next. Applejack takes half a step to get close enough to Butterscotch to lay his free hand on the shy boy's shoulder. The pink-haired one looks up with silent panic in his eyes. Applejack offers him a small smile.
 
"I haven't the slightest idea 'bout this lil'... Issue we have on our hands. As y'all seem rather reluctant to go into details, I'm gonna have to figure this hen-house hoopla out mahself."
 
Applejack only remains silent for a brief moment after speaking, enough time to lock eyes with both of them and finish with a light squeeze of Butterscotch's shoulder. He then continues, knowing he has their undivided attention.
 
"I'm gonna figure y'all out. First step is a drink in mah hand. Butterscotch, I know ya keep cider around the house... If ya'll could fetch some, please, I jus' need a few breaths of fresh air with mah sugar belle."
 
Butterscotch quickly scampers off without a word. Clearly relieved to get out of the situation, if but for a moment. Applejack slips an arm around Aria and ushers her along outside. He makes sure they take a few steps away from the door before speaking.
 
"Now, sugar, I don't like playin' games like these. I ain't one ta judge, I learned that the hard way. I jus' need ta know enough ta calm Butterscotch down." 
 
Aria looks up to him with an expression best described as hopeful. Sinister cynicism dances around her brain. He isn't mad at her? Can he even get mad at her? Is he allowed to? 
 
She exhales slowly while her eyes flit about his features for a moment. He is annoyingly perfect in his calmth and kindness. Perhaps she should not poke a bear that sleeps. Perhaps she actually has more to lose than just another corrupted heart of an enemy underheel. 
 
No. With all that has happened, what in all the multiverse is she thinking? She can't fall for his poisonous niceties. Lapping up too much of such would ruin her very being. A sharp, bitchy smile cuts into her soft, pretty face.
 
"Okay, cowboy. Here's the thing..."
 
She tilts her head to the side while pointing a long, sleek finger at herself.
 
"I'm extremely high maintenance. Some would take that as an insult or a turn-off, me, I just accept it as the truth."
 
She makes a little gesture with her hand to end the pointing and takes a very small step closer. She lets her voice drop down a bit, husky, sensual. It crosses Applejack's mind how she has never for a second even sounded boyish.
 
"Butterscotch really did approach me, told me I was no good for you. I guess we just had it out for each other..."
 
She presses herself up against the blonde hulk and finally gets some manner of response from him. A short, ragged breath. She looks up to him and lets the vile bitchiness drop from her face.
 
"He didn't like me... I didn't like him. So, I changed that."
 
Applejack lets one hand crawl up her back and stay there. Their eyes lock for a long moment, it is as if she can see words attempting to form behind those emerald orbs of his.
 
"So y'all done gone fucked him?"
 
Aria freezes up for a moment, this time not at all from nerves. A coy smile plays on her lips as she reaches up to touch the side of his face.
 
"What if I did, cowboy? Would you leave me...?"
 
She does not want the answer to that question but teasing for it and getting a little feel is too good to pass up. She quickly fills in.
 
"You needn't worry, what actually happened is a bit... Stranger."
 
The wheels of Applejack's mind turn frantically without finding any traction. Aria notices and purrs with satisfaction. She leans in close, reaches up and stands on her toes to get a proper hold of him. She lets her breath tickle his ear a short while before whispering.
 
"I wasn't the girl in that little fling."

> Ch. 8 - Open To New Things
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rays of afternoon light shine in through narrow cottage windows. The warm glow glitters in floating specks of dust and various animal hairs. Everything is silent, save for a lone thump of glass against wood. 
 
Applejack leans back into the deep-seated sofa after putting his bottle down on the table. The bottle takes the sheen of a stray ray of afternoon light, just like a good five or six of its equals already on the table.
 
Applejack breathes in deep. Butterscotch looks up from his half-empty bottle and shifts in his chair. Aria stretches lazily in her already comfortable position so close to Applejack.
 
The blonde cowboy opts out of speaking for another cider. Bottle within his reach and cap no obstruction, he soon cements his silence in long gulps of frothing golden liquid. This further silence is finally broken by the unlikeliest voice.
 
"Oh, for goodness sake, I'm going insane. Someone say something, anything!"
 
Butterscotch looks surprisingly brave as he speaks. After falling silent, he shifts again and drinks his cider while eyeballing the two across from him in the sofa. Aria perks up and looks to Applejack who is still healthily working down his drink. When the cowboy has put away his sixth or seventh bottle, he clears his throat. Everyone in the room expects a much more booming voice, even himself. What comes out is a hissing croak.
 
"I jus' can't wrap mah head 'round any'a this."
 
Butterscotch lets out a frustrated noise.
 
"What is there to get, Applejack?! She... He... Raped me!"
 
Aria shoots Butterscotch a warm, venomous glance. She is taking great delight in Applejack's confusion and the fact that she seems to be winning against impossible odds.
 
"Oh, no, cutie. You can't rape the willing."
 
Applejack looks to Aria just as she manages to actually tick Butterscotch off enough to warrant a furious response.
 
"Willing?! You forced me!"
 
Aria gives him a long look, accompanied by a sly smirk. 
 
"Did I, really? That's not what I recall. I just remember getting up close and personal, having a little smooch..."
 
Whatever rage bubbling inside of Butterscotch is subdued by other feelings as images flash round his skull. A bright blush rides his face. Applejack desperately reaches for another bottle. Butterscotch has had enough. With a deep sigh, he stands up.
 
"Applejack, you're acting..."
 
Butterscotch interrupts himself with another deep sigh. Aria is now at full attention. There seems to be almost nothing that will make her the loser of this situation, that does not make it less intriguing. Applejack pours another half bottle down his throat, then answers before Butterscotch speaks more.
 
"Look, Scotch... I ain't got anythin' clever to say 'bout this entire... Thing. I mean, Hells bells, a day ago I apparently didn't even know what I wanted..."
 
He gives Butterscotch a certain look, the pink-haired boy understands and is not at all amused or relieved.
 
"So you mean what happened is a good thing?"
 
Aria huffs loudly and puts on a huge smile when both boys turn their attention to her.
 
"You are conflicted... Unsure about something you ultimately liked... Just ask Applejack, he's been there."
 
It is Applejack's time to blush and Butterscotch's turn to misunderstand. Did Applejack do the same he did? The mental image of the enormous cowboy going down on Aria does not form more than a foggy idea. Something he can imagine but something that is impossible to picture in his mind's eye.
 
Butterscotch stares at Applejack in silence for a short while, attempting to sort through his thoughts. The fact that Applejack looks more than mildly embarrassed bolsters the shy boy's confidence. Applejack does not notice, his head is somewhere else and he has managed to drink himself quite the bit blurred. Butterscotch breathes in deep and time seems to slow as he begins to speak.
 
"So... Did you?"
 
Applejack shakes awake and blinks at Butterscotch. What did he just say? What is he implying? No, wait. He blew Aria. He thinks Applejack did such as well. Grasping for a bottle but only finding empty ones, Applejack sighs before rumbling out an answer.
 
"I... Well, honestly, it ain't what y'all think, Butterscotch. I mean, I did fuck her..."
 
He trails off to the sound of Aria's evil snicker. She lets one hand travel down Applejack's chest while taking in the annoyed, confused look on Butterscotch's face. Applejack's obvious mental conflict about who did what and why it matters brings her endless joy. Basically, this entire conundrum is made up by so many layers of unexplored issues that it hurts the cowboy's brain to attempt to rationalise it.
 
It is Butterscotch's turn to empty his bottle with some haste. When doing the same move as Applejack did for another, he soon finds their stores dry. Without any real warning or explanation, he takes off in search for more.
 
Aria cuddles up close to Applejack again as she watches Butterscotch go.
 
"Am I still the most interesting thing in months?"
 
She practically purrs out the words and catches  Applejack off-guard. He throws her a hazy, drunk stare. She blows a kiss and gives him a blazing-hot sultry expression. Aria can see every little twinkle in his mildly dimmed eyes just invite a big, fat load of "fuck it".
 
"I ain't lied so far an' I ain't gonna start now."
 
He does not elaborate more, he simply sits up straighter, discards his held empty bottle and turns his full attention to Aria. Even sitting, she is tiny next to him. A smile spreads on his face, as sure and smouldering as always. Aria feels something bubble up inside of her. Is this one of those small victories she has been dreaming of? By all rights, she messed up. The only thing to come from that so far is excellent, thrilling entertainment. Not at all bad.
 
Aria hums softly and reacts to Applejack's hand the way a cat would as he caresses the side of her face. He then lets his massive digits run down her neck. She closes her eyes for a second and he makes his move. 
 
His touch leaves her, as does he the sofa, just to sit back down, face-to-face with her. He hovers above her for a moment. She peers at him through her sculpted eyelashes, expectant. He wastes no more time and leans in to kiss her. She accepts with ravenous lust. He tastes sweet of the cider and it is clear he means business. She kisses back, just as greedy as he gets. It does not take long for him to cover her in him and lets their tongues take to battle. She slings her arms around his neck and giggles softly as he takes a very short break to breathe. He soon silences her again by diving back in. Lips on lips, tongue meets tongue, they kiss as if they have been waiting days for it.
 
Applejack's hands absent-mindedly wander, searching for something. His mind is somewhere else and he clearly shows it. Through all the blabber about gender and sexuality, he still considers her female. Enough to thoughtlessly expect to find breasts to fondle, in either case. Aria cannot stop herself from giggling again. There are multiple reasons for her to boil over, the main one definitely being the sense of victory. Actual victory. Even after the massive cluster-fuck that just happened, Applejack is all over her.
 
She hangs onto him and pulls herself closer, about to whisper in his ear when she is suddenly interrupted. The light flick of metal, a rude thump of glass-on-wood. Aria and Applejack both look up to find Butterscotch standing surprisingly close. Bottle of cider in his hand and a brand new batch on the table.
 
"Don't let me interrupt..."
 
Butterscotch mutters the words through generous helpings of cider. Applejack looks back to Aria with the devil in his eyes. She freezes for a second, then watches him move. What is he up to now?
 
The large cowboy moves surprisingly lithe and swift. Both Aria and Butterscotch observes him as he untangles himself from the sofa and stands up. 
 
"We obviously have a few things ta talk 'bout, or, sort through as it were. No need ta be all uptight 'bout any o' this..."
 
He grasps a non-empty bottle from the table and uses it to point to Butterscotch. Aria can't believe her eyes or ears. Applejack is doing half her work for her. He has yet to disappoint her in any way.
 
"Come join us."
 
Applejack motions to the sofa with one arm. He then takes a long step closer to the pink-haired boy to lay a hand on his shoulder. Butterscotch looks up at Applejack with a certain annoyance mixed in with his usual apprehensiveness. Aria makes sure to move in the sofa, opening up a comfortable amount of space. Butterscotch hesitates, his eyes flit from person to person in disbelief. 
 
With one last pleading look to Applejack, Butterscotch finds no other way to go. He is ushered into the sat-down sofa. Aria perks up and gives him a half-subtle, half-vicious smile but keeps her hands to herself. Butterscotch hardly notices as he is too busy making himself as small as possible. Bottle between two hands and head hanging low, he more or less holds his breath until Applejack sits down. 
 
The old sofa creaks and Butterscotch looks up as Applejack slings an arm up on the backrest behind him. The shy boy is sandwiched between the couple. Applejack clinks his bottle against Butterscotch's and puts it to his lips as the silence between them is deafening. Aria is just as breathless as Butterscotch but with a different expression on her face. Wide eyes sparkling and a sublime little smile as she observes and enjoys every second of Butterscotch's torment. 
 
Applejack seems to be punishing Butterscotch in his own way. A brotherly punch. Is it a natural reaction or simply a way for Applejack to deal with the situation? He's already drank too many ciders to be able to drive out of here. Perhaps he trapped himself on purpose?
 
Aria sits silent, pondering and watching Applejack harass Butterscotch. Soon enough the boys are drinking together, the pink-haired one warming up a bit to being the center of attention for the moment. Aria is absolutely taken by Applejack's quirky little solution. Yet again, he proves himself to be hard to read. She has no idea if he is just being silly or if he had a perfectly calculated plan. She does not even care if it tosses a wrench in the machinery of her plot. Although so far, all it has done is boost her conquest.
 
She reaches out and touches Applejack's outstretched arm and gets a glowingly warm glance from the cowboy. 
 
"Why don't y'all have a drink, sugar? Finest cider in town, this."
 
He raises his bottle and takes a swig as if to cement the point. Aria nods slowly, a bit to herself as she shifts to be able to reach the table. She purposefully steadies herself with a firm grip of Butterscotch's leg. A tremor goes through the shy boy's entire body. He looks at her. She offers a sultry look while leaning back and raising her bottle. Butterscotch immediately looks back to Applejack.
 
The massive man just smiles for him. He is disturbingly relaxed. Very mischievously up to something, too. Butterscotch breathes in slow and deep, then settles his mind with another drink. He does not want to admit it to himself but this feels nice. After all that happened and with Applejack's calm disposition to it all, what is there to be bothered by? If anything, knowing what he knows now, he feels closer to his friend than ever before. If Applejack, traditionally raised as he is, can be open to new things, why couldn't he?
 
He shakes his head. What was that? Oh, Applejack and Aria are talking about something. He was just reminded of the feel of his... Her cock in his mouth. He attempts to drown the thought in more cider. It does not take. Images flash by in his mind, mixed with feelings and many more things of a less-than-tangible nature. He recalls the raw lust he felt. He remembers so clearly her reaction to him servicing her. The more intense he got, the less grip she had. The more he felt good about it. The less he understands.
 
Swirl, spin. His head is floating off to somewhere he did not know existed. From sort of a muffled fuzz, his hearing turns back to normal, letting the sounds of the room rush back into his consciousness. 
 
Applejack falls silent in his planning the evening with Aria and looks to Butterscotch who is suddenly glaring at him. A wide-eyed mad stare and a vacantly hanging lower lip.
 
"Butterscotch, y'all right there?"
 
The pink-haired boy's vacant stare shakes off into something like a man possessed. He springs up out of the sofa and grasps Applejack by the collar with both hands. His bottle clatters away and spills on the carpet. Before another blink of an eye, he presses his face against Applejack's, locking lips with him.
 
Aria instantly perks up, what looked like an assault turned out to be something quite different. Applejack is stunned, he just sits leaned back and lets it happen. For quite some time. Butterscotch is a surprisingly good kisser, if not a bit careful and clean. The cowboy softly answers the prolonged smooch and finally, Butterscotch is done.
 
He simply falls back, flopping down into his previous position. Straight back into deep thought. He grabs a new bottle from the table and ignores Applejack's few, deep chuckles. 
 
Butterscotch tries to make sense of his action. How did that make him feel? Nothing? No, that is too obscure. More specifically, not an explanation. He wanted to see if he could recreate the emotion on the tip of his tongue, as it were. He did not want to touch Aria, now sitting rather stunned herself but with a sharp, satisfied grin on her face. No, he had to try Applejack, it was the only way to make sense of things. Kiss his friend and see if something stirs. 
 
Did it? Undeniably, the answer is yes. Perhaps not the same tingle as with a cute girl... What is he thinking? Why would he even consider something like that with his friend? His mind races, only to stop when a large, heavy hand comes to rest on his shoulder.
 
"Y'all look more flustered than a wet hen. Can't say I was expectin'... Well, any of this. Jus' gonna be one of them days, I suppose."
 
Butterscotch nods slowly. Not the answer or answers he had hoped for earlier. Earlier is gone, that entire issue has bloomed into a beautiful garden of madness. He just sits still in a fuzzy sea of warmth for a moment, until suddenly, his vision is obscured. First, a cascade of purple in the form of hair. Then, two giant, ravenously appraising purple eyes. He swallows hard and just stares at Aria as she has parked her cute little behind in his lap.
 
"I was thinking... Since me and Applejack had such a... Wonderful time watching a horror flick last night, we could repeat that little evening but with the three of us."
 
Butterscotch looks to Applejack, he looks back to Aria. A long stare soon accompanied by a slow shaking of his head. Aria instantly puts on a vicious frown. Butterscotch stumbles over his words.
 
"I... I mean, I'd love to watch a movie... Just... Not... Horror."
 
Aria huffs but lets her frown dissipate into a more neutral look. She reaches out and touches the side of his face with her soft fingertips. A bright blush completely dominates his face. 
 
Aria takes in the sight for a while, then gets up, slinks over to Applejack, kisses him on the mouth and stands up. She draws the glances of both boys by stretching.
 
"Let's take a look at whatever little library of films you have then, shy boy."
 
Applejack barks out a little laugh. Part for 'shy boy', part for the looming disappointment she is about to face with Butterscotch's video collection. He swiftly rises from the sofa himself.
 
"Well, gotta go see a man 'bout a mule. Pick a good one, y'hear!"
 
Then, with a few long, heavy steps, the cowboy has disappeared from the room. Butterscotch looks from where Applejack disappeared to where Aria stands. He nods once for himself before getting up. They are just going to watch a movie together, he even gets to assist with the pick for once, what's the worst the evening could hold?

> Ch. 9 - Aria's Next Victim
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aria chokes back another laugh and hides her subsequent giggling by attempting to muffle it with her drink. She squeezes Butterscotch's leg with her free hand and throws a glance over her shoulder, to Applejack. She is now the one in the middle and she is feeling good about it. The massive man beside her meets her gaze and gives her a small smile through his boredom. Never in a million years would he have thought Aria and Butterscotch had any taste in common, let alone a film like the one they managed to dig up. Butterscotch's movie archive is a horrible mix of comedies, romantic comedies and romantic... Romance. Only the lightest type of drama. 
 
What is currently being enjoyed, or in Applejack's case, toughed out, is a low-budget romantic comedy by the title "Last train to Ponyville".
 
Applejack has seen the film more times than he would like to count or admit. Not on his own, sure, but with friends like his, it has been undeniable. Surely Butterscotch has seen it a nauseating amount of times. While Applejack is suffering in silence, Aria has been attempting and, to an adorable degree, failing at keeping her laughter in check. A delightful break in her usually more measured and vicious demeanour. Butterscotch has warmed up to her rather well. Getting to relax with a common laugh is working wonders on him.
 
Another silly slip-up from the characters in the film, Butterscotch lets out an awkward chuckle and Aria joins him. They stop, share a glance and then clink bottles together. The moment is so cute, even Applejack would have commented. If he was still awake.
 
The other two do not notice the movie has claimed its first and probably only victim. They happily remain seated in silence, watching the softest conflict in film history. Through a few cheap laughs, a few sparkling drinks and more or less being forced to stay close, Aria and Butterscotch have completely forgotten to butt heads in any way. In some manner of twisted reality, they have bonded pretty well. By all means, they are still bonding.
 
The movie carries on. Butterscotch has gotten comfortable enough to quote a few lines, sometimes matching the film and sometimes even speaking before the line has been delivered. To his great delight, even if he does not express it, Aria seems to find all of it very enjoyable.
 
Maybe he was wrong about her. Well, perhaps besides whatever happened earlier. Then again, even with all that has gone down, here he is sharing one of his favourite movies with someone who is obviously on the same page. His mind starts off on a tangent again but this time, the cider works fine as a dampener. The pink-haired boy does not even flinch when Aria leans against him. She tilts her head to lay it against his shoulder, finally eliciting a slight tremor from Butterscotch. Just a second later, she sighs in satisfaction. Whatever tension he just experienced releases instantly. She can feel his posture ease and it has her grinning for herself.
 
Aria cannot even lie to herself, she is very much enjoying this in more ways than one. Getting to know these boys is surprisingly fun. Teasing them and getting away with pretty much anything just makes it better. On top of that, the cider is good and the movie is like nothing she has ever seen. She shifts a bit and gets even closer to Butterscotch. His initial reaction is to flinch, a shockwave through his entire being that swiftly dissipates into something like a soft shrug. His discomfort fuels her. His acceptance is delicious.
 
The surprisingly well-written drama on screen draws her attention once more. The big finale is obviously coming and she is sucked right back in by the main character's choices and the consequences. Did she just spend a few days in the same drama-haze as the film? No. She had less laughs and more sex.
 
She re-arranges her sitting again, this time letting one arm slither around Butterscotch's midsection. She pulls him close and cuddles up against him without words. Butterscotch does not even react with any usual jumpiness. He takes a deep breath and enjoys the closeness, a perfect accompaniment to the film.
 
Aria hangs on to Butterscotch in silence. The shy boy drinks slowly, finally completely relaxed. On screen, the last train leaves in the background. The main character approaches his love slowly. They gaze longingly into each other's eyes. It is absolutely perfect feel-good cheese. It is Aria's turn to shudder lightly. All the romance of late is making her soft. She plays it off by loosening her grip and taking a swig of her own drink. Not really a smooth execution, just like the last fifteen times she tried to keep her laughter in.
 
The characters on screen kiss. Deep, passionate. Butterscotch sighs softly. The kiss is very realistic and with his fanboy ways, he knows why. The two on screen are in love for real, not just on film. Love is something that has been eluding him lately. Lust has crept into the vacant spot and right now, with Aria's complete disregard for personal space, a little something is stirring.
 
Dramatic piano music and an early night sky on the screen, Butterscotch swallows hard as certain thoughts rush into his head. He turns to look at Aria, only to find she is already eyeing him quite intently. He freezes, she hesitates. He notices, a spark of courage surges through him. He leans in.
 
Their lips brush against each other. Both of them slightly parted, a bit absent-minded. Her lips are soft. His lips are soft. Before long, they lock into a hot, needy kiss. Instantly lost in the moment, both of them discard their drinks in favour of letting their hands wander. Butterscotch embraces Aria with a surprisingly strong grip and she melts into his kiss. His skill is practiced, a signature softness to his every movement makes her let out a little sound of pleasure when he pulls back.
 
Butterscotch looks at Aria with a certain kind of desperation in his eyes. She breathes in to speak but he interrupts her by going for her lips again. He shifts and puts some pressure on her. She takes a slow falls sideways onto the floor. She ends up on her back with him over her. He hovers face-to-face for a second, then goes for a deeper kiss. Aria is helpless under his touch, he may lead carefully but he does lead. He testingly pokes his tongue into her mouth and she answers without hesitation. Exploring licks soon make way for the slippery wrestling of their tongues. Aria throws her arms around Butterscotch's neck and keeps their kiss up until he breaks it for breath. She remains very close and with her first gulp of air, she lets out a soft, long, erotic moan. With her next breath, she whispers close to his ear.
 
"I want you."
 
Butterscotch stops himself from diving in for another kiss and just remains still for a moment, staring at her in silence. Would he? Could he? Not only is this an entirely new experience due to her physical form. Getting with someone else's lover is also something he never thought he would do. Especially not a close friend's. While that friend is sleeping in the sofa, just an arm's length away. A surge of fear and excitement rushes through him. He lets out a choppy breath and nods once. 
 
Aria hums in delight. The pink-maned boy did not last long in the role of leader. His reign was short but sweet. Time for her to take the reins, again. This time, she gives him a more intimate treatment. She lays back down on the floor and lets her arms around him fall away slowly.
 
"Let's not wake the sleeping giant..."
 
Butterscotch looks contemplative a moment as he takes her words in. He then swallows hard and nods in the same fashion as before. She smiles for him, leans in for a quick peck on his lips and then shifts to get up. They stand up together, as quiet as they can. Both glance over to Applejack. He seems soundly asleep. The forbidden thrill of the entire situation gives Butterscotch a certain spring in his step. Besides, he will surely feel more at ease when not in the direct vicinity of Applejack.
 
Butterscotch chooses not to speak and grasps Aria's hand to pull her along. The rooms of the cluttered, homey cottage disappear in a blur behind them. Before long, they have ascended a bulky, narrow staircase leading to a secluded loft above. The ceiling is draped with various sweeping draperies. Large sheets of cloth that make the space upstairs look larger and more cramped simultaneously. Cosy, like the inside of a large, well-used tent. Just like in the rest of the cottage, there are things everywhere. Knickknacks stacked from floor to ceiling. Butterscotch navigates the room with familiar ease, pulling Aria along to the inner workings of his sanctuary.
 
Finally, when he stops, they stand before a large, puffy bed. The ceiling and walls around them remain covered in cloth. The only illumination that allows them to see is dim natural light finding its way into the room from a narrow window. Aria sits down on the bed and Butterscotch turns on a small bed-side lamp. He needs to see to be able to focus. The dark may have been more comfortable but he has made up his mind.
 
Aria's eyes are intently locked on Butterscotch as she rather briefly discards her pants and vest. She strikes a little pose in her thin top and cute panties. Butterscotch nods sharply to himself before sitting down on the bed as well. Aria does not allow any doubt grow in his mind. She gets up close to him right away and kisses him on the lips before hanging close and speaking softly.
 
"My turn to..."
 
She falls silent and grins for him while she undoes his pants. Butterscotch shifts to let her undress him but seems to be able to do little to help. She gets up out of the bed and dumps his pants on the floor. They share a glance and he starts fumbling his shirt off. She kneels before him and lets her soft fingers dance up and down his legs. He trembles in anticipation and the bulge in his pants is an obvious enough indication that he is ready for what is to come.
 
Aria hooks her fingers in his underwear and playfully tugs at them while looking at his face. His expressions are delightful, she has never seen so many emotions mix into so few expressions. Fear, lust, confusion, definitely excitement. She presses herself in between his legs and hoists herself up a bit to kiss his chest. She lets her breath dance over his skin while she lowers herself slowly. Every second he has to wait is agony. Sweet agony.
 
Finally, she releases his member from its constricting cloth. She caresses it with one hand while gathering her hair with the other. She leans down and takes his tip in between her lips. He holds his breath. She can feel his firm warmth radiate against the plush moistness of her lips. She flicks her tongue over his tip and gets a very satisfying moan in response. Enough teasing for now. She slides his cock into her mouth. His size is not very impressive compared to Applejack but he is still no disappointment. She forces as much of him as possible in, only to find she is able to take all of him. As her lips wrap around the base of his shaft, she can feel his fingers crawl onto her head. He pants lightly and twines his fingers into her hair in a cramp-like grip. It is obvious he has never felt something like this before.
 
Aria holds it until tears begin welling up in her eyes, then releases his now glistening wet cock to pull back with a gasp. She looks up to him with pride written all across her face. He looks like something in between getting punched in the head and winning a million bits. Aria eyes him intently while stroking his rock-hard, twitching member. He is about to say something but the first word just turns out garbled as she invites his member back into her mouth.
 
She presses down hard, engulfing all of him again. This time, she does not hold for as long but does not let her lips and tongue leave his manhood either. She sucks and licks, bopping her head up and down with the occasional slurping sound. A good few motions into it and she yet again forces him deep down her throat.
 
Getting a bit overly enthusiastic backfires slightly and she gags out a cough. Butterscotch instantly panics but is halted in the middle of it as she pulls back and looks up at him. A bit of spittle still connecting her lower lip to the tip of his member. A small overflow from her eyes has begun smudging her make-up but she looks blissfully happy. Butterscotch swallows hard. He feels dirty and dirty feels right. Her heavenly fingers on his cock and the slutty visage of her face has him completely entranced.
 
She closes her eyes and nuzzles her face into his crotch. She gives short licks along the length of his shaft while he lets out strained noises. He grasps her hair with another cramp-like grip and begins moving, slow and unnecessarily careful. His slippery member rubs against the side of her face and she lets out a short giggle before silencing herself with a mission. Finding out that she can push his entire length down her throat has her very excited. She can't wait to get a bit braver with Applejack's humongous rod. She gags again as she gets a bit overly enthusiastic and Butterscotch whimpers out some semi-words.
 
"I don't... You... Careful. I'll... Oh... Cum..."
 
Aria pulls back extremely slow, making sure to lick and kiss thoroughly before simply leaving Butterscotch's member completely by its lonesome. She plays her fingers across his chest and gets up while pushing him down onto the bed. Butterscotch does nothing to protest, he simply lays down on the sea of softness and watches her every movement. She wipes her lips with the back of her hand. Her ruined make-up remains the same. A sharp grin spreads on her face as she crawls up over him, only to fade into a deceptive, coy expression as she hovers above him much like he did earlier on the floor downstairs.
 
Just like in that earlier moment, not a second is wasted. She lowers herself onto him and wraps him in her tight little body best she can. Butterscotch places his hands on her hips and just lies there, staring. He can feel it. His erection. No, her erection. It is such a strange contrast to the rest of her very soft, feminine form. She even has rather shapely hips, really the only thing missing would be breasts. He finds his mind drifting and quickly ropes it back into the fold. None of that matters now. She made his manhood rock solid and she seems rather intent on dealing with it. 
 
He blinks slowly and cannot help but to let out a strained, lustful groan as she decides to nibble on his neck. His jumbled thoughts are swept under a mental rug and his hands decide what is best for the moment. Two great handfuls of Aria's shapely behind.
 
She moves a bit on top of him and kisses his face a bit here and there. Getting his attention, she looks into his eyes for a moment. 
 
"I want you."
 
She puts a fine, sensual tone to the words and ends it with her lips curling into a particularly wicked smile. She then softens up her expression by seeking his lips with hers. She grinds against him as they share a sloppy, intense kiss. With it comes a prolonged moment of them both teasing each other as well as themselves. Grinding, kissing, touching. As their making out ends momentarily, they are both panting. Aria raises her head with closed eyes and flaring nostrils. After catching her breath, she lithely slithers off of Butterscotch. She lays on her side right next to him and places a hand on his chest. He looks to her and finds her wearing a mysterious little smile.
 
"You have any lube?"
 
She asks casually. Butterscotch's already full brain attempts to grasp the question and struggles with even getting a silent answer for himself. Sure, he's got lubricants for at least a few different uses... Oh, no, of course. His eyes widen a bit at the realisation of what she is actually asking for. She is still not female. They will need sexual lubrication. He nods a few times for her and rolls over to the side of the bed. He is absolutely certain he has something they could use. His bedroom has seen more action than most would assume.
 
As Butterscotch tears through the messy insides of a bedside drawer, Aria makes herself comfortable. The bed is absolutely astonishing, it is so soft and puffy that it is a bit difficult to move around in. She looks up at the could-be tent ceiling and lets her hands wander down her body. If things keep on falling into her lap like this, the only real obstacle left would be Adagio. She huffs a bit to herself at the thought and rubs her erection through her panties. As a bonus on top of it all, Butterscotch is not even half as bad as she thought he would be. Things are finally going her way, indeed.
 
She lets out a cute little moan as she touches herself. Butterscotch returns into her field of vision, a wild look on his face. He presents a mostly-empty bottle of what does indeed appear to be nothing less than sex-lube. His expression is light but sheepish as he hands it over to a mildly unamused Aria. He acts as if he does not know what to do with it. If he does not, who used the missing lube?
 
Aria hums softly and shuffles closer to Butterscotch. She is not in the mood to play around. Well, she is, but not to dance around with any issues. She flips herself over and crooks her back. She can practically hear Butterscotch swallow as if his throat was filled with dry gravel. She looks over her shoulder to him and lazily chucks the bottle back to him.
 
"I'm done waiting. I want you inside me."
 
Butterscotch's face loses all semblance of his natural skin tone. A deep blush covers his entire face. Sure, so far things have been easy enough but this step requires some mental coaxing. Aria notices his hesitation and decides to encourage him. She reaches for her ass and cups her dainty fingers around one of the cheeks, pulling a bit at it. Butterscotch swallows hard again and holds back some kind of desperate wheeze. The dark lace of her underwear is pulled into a thin sliver and reveals her tight, inviting asshole.
 
Lube-bottle in a trembling hand, he approaches her, taking ages to cross the tiny distance between them. She waits but definitely not patiently. He reaches out and places a hand on hers while lining up his erection for a good angle for what is about to happen. He breathes in deep and focuses on getting his member as slippery as possible. His next point of attention for the dwindling container of lubricant is her. He squeezes out generous amounts just above her entrance. The bottle sputters its last and he quickly discards it to put his fingers against her firm behind. He rubs a bit, testing. Aria is getting impatient, she lets out a little sound of annoyance. Butterscotch snaps out of his trance for long enough to be able to gather courage. He slips a long, slender finger into her, easy. He moves up as close he can to cuddle up against her while beginning to pump in and out of her, slowly.
 
Aria moans, soft, encouraging. She rolls her hips and bucks a bit against his hand. All this teasing is going to make her explode early. That is not acceptable.
 
"Just... Fuck me already, shy boy."
 
Butterscotch's finger stops, then is withdrawn. Aria soon feels something larger line up and press against her tight hole. Butterscotch squeezes an arm in under himself to hold his glistening erection while he grasps her hip with his other paw. He pushes. She meets him. The head of his manhood pops into her and they moan together. He halts his advance and sounds out of breath. Although not for long as he then thrusts into her, vigour seemingly restored. She gasps, he moans again. Her tight little ass grips him as tight as a fist. He fits more and more of his length inside her until finally having to stop. He is just about balls deep in her. Aria practically vibrates from the sensation. She wants more. She needs more. With a trembling hand, she searches and finds his. She grips him with a cramp-like motion and instantly puts his hand on her cock.
 
Butterscotch's mind is far too busy with the tightest hole it has ever felt to protest anything. He dips his hand into her panties and grasps her member with a gentle, yet firm grip. There is no doubt he knows how one of these work. He pulls out of her to the very edge of his manhood, then pushes all of it back in. Meanwhile, his soft fingers caress her member with an expert touch. Aria whimpers from all the attention and pushes back towards him. Butterscotch moans out loud and picks up his pace, both hips and fingers.
 
"That's it... Fuck me!"
 
She does not shout but definitely loudly declares her intentions. Butterscotch only responds in light grunts and the now rather steady pace in which his slippery manhood fills her over and over again. His caressing fingers in her panties is now just full-on jacking her off. Aria pants and shakes, there is no way she can hold on for any amount of time now. Butterscotch leans in and kisses her neck. Aria just lets out an uncharacteristically bubbly giggle, then yelps out a long, sensual moan as she comes. Butterscotch caught her by surprise as the kiss came with a bite. A rather hard one. He buries his cock into her one final time, then stops. Aria can feel his member erupt inside of her, a brief explosion of heat. All she can do is lay there, panting.
 
They just breathe together for a little while in a close embrace. Aria greatly enjoying the absolutely magical softness of the bed. Butterscotch removes himself from her tightness, sighs in satisfaction and starts sitting up. He suddenly stops in the middle of his motion. Aria looks up, what is it?
 
"I was wonderin' where y'all had slunk off to... Oh."
 
Applejack stands right across from the bed, newly lifted sheet of cloth in hand.
 
"Well, well... What have we here?"
 
Eyebrow cocked, his expression is impossible to read.

> Ch. 10 - Watch This
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Butterscotch looks like an agonised statue. Locked in an uncomfortable position and with only one movement available; his eyes following Applejack's slow pacing. 
 
The huge man is walking slowly from wall to wall before the bed. He appears as though he is in some kind of deep thought. He really is not. Perhaps a little deception, perhaps he is taking a few moments to gather himself.
 
The only thing on his mind is Aria. Well, her and all the sudden issues that surround her. She is a wild one, an unbroken horse. He debates with himself whether he should attempt to break her or if that is simply just a total dick move. At the same time, he is quite certain she is unbreakable.
 
She just fucked one of his best friends and he has a hard time feeling angry at her. Wasn't he a big part of goading Butterscotch on? Everyone in the room is equally guilty. Maybe. Applejack sighs, then rumbles out a grunt. Butterscotch sits up straight as a flagpole. Aria shifts a bit, lays comfortably on her stomach with her head in her hands. She looks mischievous and keeps unbroken eye-contact with Applejack.
 
The massive cowboy steps close. He reaches out and grips Butterscotch's shoulder. First offering him a grim look, then a warm smile.
 
"Jus' don't tell me y'all put that movie on jus' ta lull me ta sleep."
 
Butterscotch was already shrinking into an atom, disappearing out of normal existence when he is jerked back into reality. This whole thing is not Applejack being angry, this whole thing is Applejack making a joke. A harsh jest, probably seated in displeasure but none the less he is attempting to play it off. 
 
Butterscotch glances at Aria. She is transfixed on Applejack. She radiates mischief. It is as if she wants Applejack to get upset. At least, she looks like she wouldn't mind the punishment.
 
Applejack and Butterscotch looks at each other in silence for a moment. The shy boy seems fully mute. Applejack knows him well enough not to take it the wrong way. Suddenly, there is a movement in the bed. Aria rises swiftly, pretty much jumping out of bed. Her slim, tight body moving with the grace of a wild animal. Before any of the boys can react, she grabs a hold of Applejack and presses herself against him.
 
"Good thing you woke up. We've just warmed up..."
 
She glances down to Butterscotch and finds his face looking like he just got asked to solve an impossible equation. She grasps the collar of Applejack's shirt with one hand and just observes him, as if waiting for an answer to a question she did not ask.
 
"So, a cum-spattered bed is y'all's warm-up, is it? What are we doin' here, sugar? Y'all gonna go 'bout randomly fuckin' mah friends?"
 
Applejack hears his own words leave him in a far angrier tone than he intended. Aria raises a perfectly sculpted brow. She is not in the mind to back a single inch. They gave her the power by making her blameless so far. She is enjoying her position far too much to give it up any time soon.
 
"What if I am?"
 
She puts on a very defiant expression, a wicked little smile mingling with her intense eyes. Applejack just sighs into a sexy, measured smile of his own. He is annoyed, sure. By any usual standards, he should just drop it all and leave. This is, however, not in any way the usual standard. Her seductive ways may prove overpowering but is it not just exactly what he signed up for? Did she just get into his head from the get-go? No. He chose this. Besides, Butterscotch hasn't been laid in ages...
 
He halts his thoughts. The entire situation has become a plunge into the deep end, it is a good thing he is an excellent swimmer. He shifts his attention to Butterscotch who still looks as apprehensive as ever. It's been a while since Applejack saw him naked. The shy boy is keeping up well, even of he still looks like a twig in comparison to the huge cowboy.
 
Apparently, Aria is bored with Applejack's thoughtful silence. She does not care if it is some kind of silent treatment or if he simply does not have a decent response. She has other things on her mind.
 
"Applejack..."
 
She purrs out his name. Her grip of his collar turns heavier and she trails her other hand down his chest. She is not the slightest bit timid about just grabbing on to his jeans-hidden manhood. He does not stop her or protest. She cannot help but to snicker lightly while she nuzzles her face against his chest. She gropes him a bit more intently and looks up at him with an adorably innocent face.
 
"There's something I have to try..."
 
Applejack blinks slowly and attempts to find a protest but cannot. What does she mean? It should be rather obvious with her hand on his cock. Then again, things have been a bit muddled lately. He watches her creep slowly down the long slope of his body, meanwhile unbuttoning his jeans with nimble fingers.
 
She wastes no time with showing him what she meant about trying something. His member is already half-mast from her being close and touching him. Everyone in the room marvels at the enormous thing as Aria presents it. Applejack cannot help but to notice Butterscotch looking intimidated. He does not have any time to take in his friend's discomfort as Aria begins playing with his manhood. The cowboy's eyes snap to the slim figure before him. She looks up at him while stroking his cock. He is about to comment about her make-up but gets an answer to his inquiry without voicing it. Aria has barely begun kissing his man-meat before she takes him in and makes him go deep.
 
Applejack lets out a mixed noise of surprise and pleasure. Butterscotch perks up and pays attention, momentarily drawn out of his mental shell. Seeing Aria hungrily attempt to choke down Applejack's enormous member is embarrassingly hot. Butterscotch's eyes are wide and both his hands cover his already full erection. Applejack is awestruck by Aria's unstoppable voracity, this is very different from the romantic little blowjob she gave in his truck-bed.
 
Aria gags, coughs and Applejack freezes, much like Butterscotch before. The cowboy's hesitation does not last, however, as Aria simply does not give up. A quake goes through him as she forces a little bit more of him down her throat. She looks up at him with desperate lust in her eyes. Her eye-liner and mascara cascading with a slow flow of tears. Not tears of sadness or pain but tears of necessity.
 
Applejack cannot help himself, he moans out loud. Where did this come from? He has never felt someone take his member this deep before. It feels absolutely amazing. He places a trembling hand on Aria's head and bites his lip to keep himself silent. She has found another weakness of his, one he himself did not know of.
 
Aria gags again, this time she pulls back for a breath. Long, thin threads of sticky saliva clings to Applejack's massive manhood. The cowboy gasps and his fingers twine in Aria's hair. 
 
Butterscotch watches with more than slight jealousy as Aria licks and kisses Applejack's manhood. Thoughts clash in his head; what is he looking at? His friend's extremely attractive boyfriend... Or his friend's giant cock? In either case, he feels conflicted.
 
It is almost like Aria reads Butterscotch's mind. She takes a moment to pull back from lovingly nuzzling her face against the giant cock and throws the uncomfortable shy boy a glance. No words are needed as their eyes meet. She beckons him with the twitch of a sculpted brow. Butterscotch shuffles off the bed and steps over. He stands next to Applejack and instantly looks smaller, in more ways than one.
 
Aria kisses the tip of Applejack's member while looking up at him with a mischievous expression.
 
"Watch this."
 
She removes herself from Applejack's crotch and dives into Butterscotch's. He does not resist as she removes his hands and takes control of his cock. Applejack remains characteristically stern and quiet but does not object. He observes closely as Aria wastes no time with taking more and more of Butterscotch into her mouth. The pink-haired boy moans out loud as she bobs up a down a few times, he is sensitive from his previous orgasm. Aria only gags lightly as she works her way down Butterscotch's shaft. The short moment she had with Applejack's equipment prepared her well for her little display.
 
Butterscotch moans again, as if channeling Aria in her inability to express her own lust and pleasure. Her lips are firmly sealed around the base of his cock and she does what she can to look up at Applejack, as if seeking approval. She instantly notices that she has his full attention and she reaches out to stroke him with one hand. She pulls back from Butterscotch's manhood and goes to work on Applejack's. Teasing and pleasing them both is easy as she stands on her knees before them. Hands and mouth. Lips and tongue. Long, sensual gazes with her tongue swirling over both their tips. 
 
Butterscotch breathes ragged and bites his lower lip. Applejack cannot help but to quiver ever so slight from the teasing sensation. Was he any lesser of a man, he would have blown his load already. He lets his grip of Aria's hair fall away and instead gently caresses the side of her face.
 
"Very impressive, sugar. I just feel..."
 
He falls silent while he reaches down to hold onto her with a careful but firm grip. He easily lifts her up to get her face-to-face for a moment before kissing her. Apparently her having both boys' cocks deep down her throat does not stop him at all. After a brief kiss, he speaks more.
 
"... Y'all need some more attention y'self."
 
Applejack takes a step forward, then dumps Aria on the bed. She cannot help but to giggle girlishly as she sinks into the billowing softness. Before she can do much else, Applejack has heaved himself up on the bed and over her. Both his arms extend like carved pillars to keep up the rest of his mass. He simply hovers for a moment, seemingly without any direction of where to go next. He did want something but how will he go about getting it?
 
Finally, he huffs softly and puts on a bit of a wicked smile. Something has come to him, something that has him silently plotting for a few seconds. Aria writhes underneath him, longing for more physical attention. She runs her hands up and down her lightly dressed body and lets out little pants of encouragement. Applejack observes her with great delight for a moment, then tosses his head up to look over his shoulder. 
 
Butterscotch stands still and silent, hands again covering his obvious erection. The cowboy gets his attention with a prolonged gaze and the shy boy takes a hesitant step closer. Applejack beckons with a nod and a visibly anxious Butterscotch steps even closer. Aria looks on with annoyance as Applejack whispers something to Butterscotch. She does not get to stew in her displeasure though, as Applejack pushes himself up into a standing on his knees. The whole bed wobbles from his movement and a second later, his large hands are on her again.
 
He flips her as if she weighed nothing. She giggles again and spots Butterscotch crawling up onto the bed. Her giggle ends in a questioning little noise. What are the boys up to? What did Applejack whisper?
 
The questions in her head are all momentarily dispersed. Chased away by the feeling of the warm, heavy length of Applejack's meaty manhood. He rests it on her still-slippery behind as he leans in over her again. His breath is hot on the back of her neck. She can hear him hum in pleasure as he slowly moves against her. She answers with a long, sensual sound of her own and she raises her behind to meet him. 
 
She hears Applejack take a deep breath, obviously about to say something. Yet, no words find their way out into the sex-scented air of the enclosed space. Instead, another quick kiss on her neck and two gigantic hands hooking onto each side of her hips. She cannot do much but to yelp and choke back yet another giggle as Applejack uses the old method of show-not-tell. He hoists her up to a standing on her knees. She instantly goes along with it and crooks her back to present her tight ass as much as possible.
 
Aria looks over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of the heavenly sight that is Applejack's enormous member being lazily slapped between her buttocks. The cowboy looks busy. Sure, her inviting behind is distracting but she gets a feeling he is up to something. He is definitely being more sly than usual. When she takes her eyes off the muscular man behind her, she is greeted by what is more than likely the next step in Applejack's current plan.
 
Before her, Butterscotch stands on his knees, manhood at the ready. He does not look very sure about his position but there is indeed a certain anticipation on his face. They have decided to share her. At least in this moment. She raises a brow and smiles as Butterscotch avoids her gaze. She reaches up with one hand and trails her soft fingers down his flat stomach. Butterscotch steels himself enough to look her in the eyes and she can see him visibly shudder as her hand ends up on his member.
 
Butterscotch glances to Applejack. The cowboy gives him a smirk, then lines the tip of his manhood up with Aria's back entrance. He pulls the thin cloth of her underwear aside and wastes no time with prodding the tight hole. Aria tenses, huffs and leans forward. Her face presses into Butterscotch's lean musculature. Her breath brushes over his skin in multiple wordless whispers.
 
Applejack pushes more. Her slippery ass invites him with at least some manner of ease. She moans against Butterscotch and fumbles around for his member. Her breath on his skin soon turns into needy kisses as she brings his manhood to her lips. She licks and sucks on his tip while trying to keep herself steady. Applejack's grip holds her firm, so it is not a lack of stability that requires her attention. It is the overwhelming sensation of the entire situation, it is making her legs buckle.
 
Applejack slowly fills more and more of her tight hole. He inches his massive meat into her while she greedily sucks on Butterscotch. Her head bobs up and down rather enthusiastically as the stuffing from both ends intensifies. Finally, she has to stop her sloppy fellatio to let out a long overdue moan. Applejack pulls back, almost all the way out. Aria glances back at him, only to find the flash of a grin as he pushes back in. She has no time to express her displeasure with feeling empty before she is filled anew.
 
Aria dives back in with a moan around Butterscotch's member. She then silences herself with his entire length. The only communication she manages after that is a little grunt as Applejack thrusts particularly deep. Aria impaled between them, the cowboy and the shy one look up, lock eyes and simply stare for a moment. It is as if the realisation of what they are doing hits them at the same time. Hits them hard. They have come a long way, in more ways than one, from what caused Applejack to drive over to begin with.
 
Balls deep in a boy is not how Butterscotch expected his evening to unfold. Yet here he is, lip-tremblingly close to his second orgasm. Applejack observes Butterscotch's face closely as the pink-haired boy closes his eyes and carefully pets Aria's head. A little twitch, Butterscotch tenses up, his fingers creep into a claw in Aria's hair. He moans, louder than pretty much any noise Applejack has ever heard coming out of the shy boy. Aria lets out a noise of her own, as if answering him. A choke, gag and then a wet cough as she pulls back. A trickle of sperm begins escaping over her slippery lower lip before she instantly smears it against Butterscotch's flat stomach. She coughs again and breathes heavily for a moment. Butterscotch may be done but Applejack is still filling her up completely.
 
Butterscotch looks up slowly, yet again meeting Applejack's gaze. What meets him is a soft, yet determined look. The cowboy is still impossible to read. Applejack gives Aria a slow, deep stroke and then halts his rhythmic pounding. Aria answers by letting her hot breath dance over Butterscotch's skin and her fingers press into his sides. She looks up at him with an overwhelmed, erotic face. A tremor goes through the shy boy. He takes a ragged breath and then begins retreating. The last part of him to leave the three-way is his hand on her head.
 
Aria's shoulders sag and her head soon meets the puffy softness of the bed. Ass still high in the air. She wiggles it a bit from side to side to entice the owner of the long, hard thing that is still inside of her. Applejack answers with a deep grunt and two greedy handfuls of her behind. He parts her buttocks and slowly withdraws from her tight hole. He lets his tip slip in and out a few times, making her whimper from the teasing. He enjoys the sight and makes sure to drink it in before stopping completely.
 
Aria gasps as Applejack pulls back. She looks over her shoulder, stray strands of sweat-slick hair stuck to her face. Messy make-up and cum-stained lips. Her eyes burn with need. She is annoyed at the empty feeling he left her with. Applejack simply smiles. Then, with a surprisingly graceful movement, he flips to the side and lays down. Aria begrudgingly lowers her behind and lays down face-to-face with Applejack. They share a longing look, only broken for a second by Butterscotch. The shy boy, by some miracle of bravery, lays down close to Aria. Applejack's eyes switch target for a moment. He gives Butterscotch a raised brow while reaching over with a huge hand to ruffle his hair. When the inappropriately placed big brother move is over, he puts his focus back on Aria.
 
"This was... Fun."
 
He sound sincere enough, perhaps even a bit devilish. Then his face goes serious. Calm but just a bit distant.
 
"I'm still mad with y'all though. Bit o' perspective's all good but if I'm gonna play nice, so are y'all. I wanna understand ya, sugar. Y'all're gonna have ta understand me, too."
 
Aria huffs softly but does not dismiss him or show any signs of disagreeing. He may not be right but she can almost see what he means. Yet again, he proves helpful by just being the way he is. All he wants is this little romance to "work out". The same goal as she, just with a completely different result.
 
"Okay, cowboy. I'll won't make your friends blow me..."
 
She puts on a mock-sorry face and reaches out to touch him, trailing her fingers down whatever parts of his body she can get a hold of. Applejack does not look amused. Aria continues.
 
"I mean, if you satisfy me, I won't cause any trouble."
 
A very fine lie. Most of it is just colourful truth. Perfectly relatable to in the situation and on top of it all, she can feel Butterscotch's discomfort as if it was a cloud of acrid smoke in the room. She shifts a bit to find the shy boy behind her. She moves to brush up against him while glancing over her shoulder. All she sees is blush. Butterscotch is all out of courage.
 
Applejack lets out a low, rumbling sound followed by a deep sigh. He sits up straight and stretches, then sighs again before slowly shuffling off the bed while speaking.
 
"All's well, sugar. I'm gonna go shower... Then..."
 
He looks at them, shrugs and smiles.
 
"... I'm gonna drink mahself ta sleep. Both y'all lil' floozies owe me breakfast anyway."
 
The massive mountain of muscle stands up in the enclosed space and stretches again. Aria and Butterscotch both observe in silence as he simply walks off, buck naked between the hanging sheets of cloth. As he finally disappears, they look at each other in silence for a long moment. Finally, Aria speaks.
 
"What's a floozies?"

> Ch. 11 - Jack n' Scotch
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The lush woodlands around Butterscotch's cottage have erupted into all kinds of night-time activity. Sounds of the forest, scents of the under-brush. Applejack sits outside in the well-kept grass under a great oak tree, taking it all in along with his drink. Cider in hand and eyes mindlessly fixed on a small strip of the sky visible through the slowly swaying thicket. His thoughts are no longer very lively, they have been smothered in a golden river. A moment for himself is proving far more serene than he expected.
 
Applejack holds up his bottle and eyes its half-empty content. How many did he have? He cannot recall and counting bottles does not tickle his fancy. Things that stroke him the adventurous way lately have been so confusing that even counting is out of the picture. The thought makes him snicker.
 
He breathes in deep through his nose. All through the pleasant nighttime scents, he can still smell that small, enclosed space. He breathes out sharply and takes another breath to steady himself. A sound catches his attention, careful steps over the grass.
 
He looks behind him to see Butterscotch approaching, a quite pensive look on his face. Applejack just smiles for him. If he is having a weird night, he cannot even begin to imagine what Butterscotch is going through. As the pink-haired boy comes closer, Applejack pats the grass beside him. An invitation not needed but given anyway.
 
Butterscotch looks straight ahead as he sits down, close to Applejack. It takes him a moment to shift his eyes from the serene woodland to the now inquisitive-looking cowboy. The shy boy forces a smile even though his eyes tell of something roiling just beneath the surface. Applejack is patient, as usual. Butterscotch breathes in to speak. Applejack waits in tense, excited silence. He has no idea at all what will come out of the shy boy. He may not expect much but anything might happen.
 
Butterscotch focuses on his large friend and just sits in breathless silence for a moment. Excuses and explanations mingle in his mind, along with the want to just talk about anything else. Finally, something enters his mind that makes him involuntarily let out a short, hoarse sound. He recalls kissing Applejack. A strange moment, even before the cavalcade of oddities that followed.
 
Why did he do that? Well, he knows why, he just tries to make sense of it. He knows for sure he wanted to and he actually acted on impulse for once. Very uncharacteristic of him. A little walk on the wild side that quickly came crashing down around him. If, in fact, things could possibly crash more. His entire world is rocked to the core. Good things and bad. He has a hard time putting his finger on what is positive and negative though. It is all like some warm, fuzzy grey-area in the middle. Just as comfortable as it is confusing.
 
Butterscotch breathes in through his nose while closing his eyes. He then swallows hard and opens his eyes to look deep into Applejack's.
 
"Um... About earlier..."
 
Applejack shines up as Butterscotch attempts to convey something with far too few words.
 
"Yeah? What part? The one where y'all snuck off with mah girlfriend-boyfriend an' fucked her?"
 
The cowboy ends his questions with a sloppy giggle. He sounds more than fairly intoxicated. Judging by how many drinks Butterscotch saw him down, it is not short of a miracle he is still awake. In all common sense, he definitely should not drive tomorrow. Butterscotch begins his answer by looking both uncomfortable and disappointed. He sighs, loud for him, while tilting his head to the side.
 
"I meant earlier... Between us..."
 
Applejack looks dumbfounded for a moment. So many things have happened, most of them definitely warranting discussion. A few blurry thoughts later and Applejack realises Butterscotch is fully excluding Aria from whatever he is trying to say. The pink-haired boy is blushing furiously, looking overwhelmingly uncomfortable. He is maddeningly adorable. He kind of has the same glint in his eyes as when he suddenly kissed him. A thing between them. One more little layer in the mess they have created. 
 
"Oh, yeah..."
 
Applejack trails off while his eyes flit over Butterscotch's face. He has seen the shy boy blush a million times. He has had plenty of time to take in every detail of his face. He has seen him naked multiple times before. Now, both surprising and not, all he wants to do is throw him down in the grass and fuck him till they both pass out. 
 
Applejack chuckles a bit to himself and diverts his attention to the swaying tree-tops. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath through his nose. The fresh, earth-scented night air does nothing to clear his head. His attention snaps right back to Butterscotch as the pink-haired boy inches closer. Applejack attempts to play it cool and empties the last of his cider into his mouth. However, the moves he planned in his head are shakily executed and he only notices halfway that there is far too much cider left. His would-be cool moves come to an end as cider leaks from the side of his mouth. He drops his bottle, swallows hard, coughs, laughs and nearly falls over with attempting to steady himself. Butterscotch is there to catch him. An arm across Applejack's broad back and a surprisingly courageous hand against the side of his face, stopping the tiny rivulet of cider.
 
Applejack takes what sounds like a panicked breath, then seeks Butterscotch's eyes with his own. A short glance. Butterscotch looks down. He is trembling lightly and it is not from any cold. Slowly, the shy boy looks up. First to his hand. Then, an eternity later, he shifts his gaze to the drunkenly dimmed, yet sparklingly curious green orbs that are completely focused on him.
 
Butterscotch tries to think of something to say. He did not plan any of this and now he is out in deep waters. Applejack just smiles, a drunken, would-be clever grin that simply makes him sexier. He cups an enormous hand around the side of Butterscotch's neck, stopping for a second as he is distracted by soft skin against his rough fingers. Then, before any of them can hesitate more, he leans in and kisses Butterscotch on the lips.
 
Butterscotch reacts the same as Applejack did earlier. A stunned daze that slowly unfolds into accepting and absent-mindedly answering the kiss. Butterscotch's entire body trembles as their careful smooches intensify by the second. Testing, seeking lips soon turn wet and both boys get greedy.
 
Applejack places a hand against the other side of Butterscotch's face, as if to hold him steady. Although he applies no pressure. The pink-haired boy would not even guess the cowboy was capable of such a gentle caress. The thought rushes down the slope of his mind, closely followed by an avalanche of lustful thoughtlessness. Tongues meet, not even hesitant or held back. Within seconds, the kiss reaches peak intensity and persists for what surely feels like minutes.
 
When the hot, slippery make-out session finally dies down a bit, Butterscotch pulls back and looks to the side. He can feel Applejack's enormous hands slip away. This is what Aria must feel like at all times around the giant cowboy. Tiny and strangely safe. Everything about Applejack feels safe. That is probably why Butterscotch had the courage to do all the things he did to begin with. At least that is how it seems now.
 
Is he attracted to Applejack? Without a doubt. More than he is attracted to Aria? Possibly. Does that make him gay? Does it matter anymore?
 
His spiraling thoughts are calmed by Applejack's arm around his shoulders. He leans in close and inhales. Applejack smells like sex along with a healthy dose of manliness. His scent is surprisingly alluring. Butterscotch wants more. How would he go about such a thing?
 
He sneaks a trembling hand onto Applejack's side and slowly inches it up on his chest. The heaving mountain of muscle just observes him in silence. He is enjoying the attention just as much as Butterscotch is indecisive. He wants to see how far his friend will go. What his goal is. If it coincides with his own.
 
Butterscotch swallows hard, apparently debating something with himself. Applejack is about to give him a push when suddenly, the pink-haired boy begins shuffling about. They share an awkward stare as a brightly blushing Butterscotch climbs into Applejack's lap, facing him. He manages a rather intense look before his gaze wavers off to the side. He whispers, almost inaudible.
 
"It's just... Please..."
 
Applejack's face is serious. He gives an understanding look while his hands creep up Butterscotch's thighs, onto his sides. The shy boy's blush deepens to critical levels and he leans in very close. Applejack can feel his breath tickle his skin as he whispers a few more words.
 
"... Please don't joke around..."
 
Applejack huffs and pulls back to look Butterscotch in the eyes. He quickly accents it with one of his trademark smiles. His response is not in words, but in another kiss. Easier this time, less hesitation and their tongues meet quickly. 
 
The kiss starts just as intense as how the last one ended. Applejack wraps Butterscotch in his thick arms. First he lets his hands wander upwards, then he applies light pressure as he slowly lowers them. One hand ends up resting at the small of his back while the other cups around one of his buttocks. Butterscotch breaks the kiss for a second to make an alerted little noise but then simply melts back onto Applejack's lips.
 
Applejack slowly and carefully caresses his friend's slim body. He might not have the same feminine curves as Aria but he is soft and smooth. The cowboy shifts a bit and Butterscotch breaks their kiss with a gasp. He can feel Applejack's growing erection. A now rather solid lump in his pants, twitching to be set free. Never in forever did the pink-haired boy think he would be the one to give Applejack an erection. The thought is encouraging, at the very least.
 
Butterscotch lifts himself up a bit and crooks his back to move his behind. A more comfortable seat for him on top of the cowboy's privates. He wants to move more. He wants to tease Applejack but cannot muster the will. His breath is shaky but his eyes are intense. It does not take long before Applejack notices his halted advance. Perhaps a bit of encouragement will give the shy boy enough reason to take the next step.
 
Applejack gives himself a more generous helping of Butterscotch's behind while moving his own hips in slow motions. His now solid member undeniably gives Butterscotch a good idea of what he is sitting on. 
 
As Applejack moves, Butterscotch falls forward and wraps his arms around Applejack's neck. He feels strange all over. Tingly, light-headed. He has known full well for some time now that his own erection is a fact. The rest of it is something he does not know how to deal with. He draws a deep, ragged breath and then manages to squeak out a few words.
 
"I want you... I just... Don't know how..."
 
Applejack's motions stop and he leans back a bit. Butterscotch follows along but understands the movement enough to look Applejack in the face. He is met by a soft smile and hazy, tired eyes.
 
"Let's... Uh... Let's take it easy, yeah? I mean... Don't wanna hurt y'all."
 
Butterscotch bites his lip but nods slowly. What is it they are agreeing to anyway? He is not so sure he can handle any penetration or the likes. Then again, they have options, don't they? He recalls sucking off Aria. He recalls the entire process. Something came over him. A mind-numbing lust. Does he feel the same now? No, this is different. This feels... Romantic.
 
Butterscotch mouths a few silent words. Applejack nods slowly, waiting for a re-take. The pink-haired boy simply becomes even more shy as he notices. The words ringing out loud and clear in his head. He wants to offer to suck Applejack's massive manhood. He is fairly certain he will never be able to say it but perhaps he can pull off an obvious enough hint. 
 
"I... I can... I mean... I want..."
 
He trails off and looks to the side, lowering his head to rest it against Applejack's chest. He has never felt this awkward in all his life, the strange happenings of the last few days included. Just as his desperation begins pulling into misery, he is roused by Applejack's broad hand gently brushing up his back. He looks up. Applejack is still smiling, as calm as ever.
 
"Jus' take all the time y'all need, Scotch. I ain't goin' anywhere."
 
Applejack's aura of safety along with his undeniable magnetism gives Butterscotch even more butterflies. He could handle being the girl as long as it is Applejack who is the man. The thought makes him feel a bit better in the middle of all his awkward unease. He sighs and puts on a faint little smile of his own.
 
 "I could... Suck..."
 
He swallows hard and falls silent as he hears the word coming out of his mouth. No turning back now. Even Applejack tenses up a bit. Does he want that? Surely, an escalation is not too strange after their prolonged kissing. Mischief parades around in the cowboy's head. In this exact moment, he cannot see any down-side to having his adorable friend's lips wrapped around his cock. If there were any doubts about things like that, they have been fully discarded.
 
Applejack nods slowly, almost a bit to himself. He then wraps Butterscotch in his arms again and leans in for a quick but wet kiss. As he breaks it, Butterscotch follows his motion for a little bit, trying to get more. Applejack teases him by allowing their lips to meet briefly before pulling back. Butterscotch gives him a bashful glance. He is into it. They both are. Perhaps trying to use words was an unnecessary move. He does not linger on the thought. 
 
Slowly, the pink-haired boy inches downwards. Out of Applejack's lap and onto all fours on the ground. He would be opposed to doing any of this outside if it wasn't for the familiar serenity of his home. He reaches for Applejack's belt with trembling fingers, only to get halted by a large hand on his own. He looks up only to find Applejack's calm face.
 
"Here, lemme..."
 
The cowboy quickly removes the obstacle of clothing with a quick unbuckling and undoing of his fly. He tugs a bit at his jeans while Butterscotch sits up, just staring at what Applejack reveals. Even though he has seen it before and in action very recently, he still marvels at it as if it was his first introduction.
 
Butterscotch has a hard time even taking his eyes off it. The difference from the earlier situation is becoming completely clear to him. He is the one about to service that testament to masculinity. Emotions and thoughts clash, he feels so many things as he attempts to re-gain his earlier enthusiasm. His poise, if he ever had some, is not dragging him along any more. He will need to command himself. 
 
While Butterscotch is lost silently arguing with himself, Applejack observes him closely. There are a few doubts in his head, not quite as vivid as Butterscotch's but more what happens later. How will he feel in the morning? Barriers broken down, lines crossed and more than one point-of-no-return fancifully flung over the shoulder. Definitely a lot of questioning and re-questioning of one's stance on many a thing. 
 
While contemplating, Applejack's field of vision suddenly fills with a smooth pink. A very dainty grip of his manhood and a warm, slightly moist softness against the tip dissipates his chaotic thoughts. He releases a short, stumped sound as Butterscotch carefully strokes his massive meat while giving it a very pleasant kiss. Applejack has to take a breath to keep steady. His now rock-hard cock responds well to the attention. His eyes search for something to focus on in the cascade of pink.
 
As if by thought-transfer, Butterscotch looks up through a few long strands of hair just as he lets his lips pop off of Applejack's tip. A sharp shudder goes through the cowboy as he looks deep into those innocently seductive deep pools of teal. Butterscotch simply gives a longing glance, then goes right back at it. He kisses and licks again, hand now moving slightly faster. Applejack cannot help it, he moans. At first, Butterscotch tenses up at the sound, then lets out a little sound of his own as he casts another glance. Applejack looks out of breath. In all honesty, he actually looks a bit shaken. This encourages Butterscotch like nothing before. 
 
He parts his lips as much as comfortably possible and attempts to take Applejack in. Images of Aria's enthusiastic blowjob flashes by in his mind. He couldn't do that. He isn't going to try. He stops just after managing the tip. Applejack brushes a strand of his hair aside. Such a gentle touch, even with those huge hands. Butterscotch can feel Applejack's manhood twitch in his mouth. His brain is on full blast, his own erection is nearly painful. He pulls back, only to dive back in, attempting for more this time. Applejack grunts. Butterscotch strokes faster and wiggles his tongue, it feels awkward but every little motion gets new, more intense reactions from Applejack.
 
Butterscotch delights in another caress from an enormous hand. Applejack twines his fingers in the shy boy's silky hair. Butterscotch bops his head up and down, surprised by how much of Applejack's impressive cock he can take. He sucks and licks, mixing the sloppy sounds it produces with faint moans of his own. Before long, Applejack is panting as well. His manhood twitches along with tensions throughout his whole body. Butterscotch does not let up. He knows what will happen and right now, he does not mind. It won't be a surprise this time.
 
"Ah. Fuck... Scotch...!"
 
Applejack rumbles the disjointed words through his teeth. He does not really elaborate any further but Butterscotch can guess well enough. He locks his lips around the tip of Applejack's member and strokes him faster. A crooked, awkward movement that none the less sends more sparks throughout the cowboy. Applejack tenses again, his fingers gripping Butterscotch's head a bit rougher as an orgasm washes over him. He rolls his hips slowly for a careful but unstoppable thrust into Butterscotch's mouth. Held steady in the position he chose, Butterscotch can do little other than accept Applejack's surprisingly thick load. How much does he have? He did come earlier, didn't he?
 
Butterscotch grips Applejack's sides and swallows desperately. The thick, creamy shot of semen easily fills his mouth and begins to overflow. Swallowing a second time is difficult. The shy boy pulls to the side for a gasp of air. A wet cough and a few pants later, he looks up to Applejack who is staring at him with eyes wide open.
 
Butterscotch wipes his lips with the back of his hand and finally swallows a second time. The taste is not great but the feeling and the look on Applejack's face are both heavenly. They share a long glance, Applejack looks like he has a thing or two to say but does not speak. Butterscotch dares a small smile. None of them can explain any of this. They both hope that will never be necessary.
 
Aria bites her lip and sighs. Are they going to stop now that things were getting good? She shakes her head, a bit to herself, as she turns away from the back porch to stalk away back into the cottage. Tomorrow is going to be interesting, granted Applejack is not too hungover to drive. They just gave her the ultimate gift. A few more things to hold over their heads. She breathes in deep and smiles. Who knew this plan would be so much actual fun?

> Ch. 12 - Taking Care of Scotch
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Butterscotch's smile fades slowly, he has no idea what to do now. Applejack notices and quickly takes command. He reaches out and snatches the shy boy with a surprisingly precise movement. The strength that follows is less surprising. 
 
Applejack simply lifts Butterscotch, even from sitting and an uncomfortable angle. He handles him like he weighs nothing and easily places him back into his lap. Butterscotch yelps at the unexpected move and blinks as he ends up sitting on Applejack again, this time with his back against his chest. The cowboy wraps him in his thick arms and Butterscotch shivers as he feels Applejack's breath against the skin of his neck. After a short moment of just holding his smaller friend, Applejack speaks in a low tone.
 
"There's somethin' that needs ta be taken care of..."
 
Butterscotch gasps as he feels Applejack rub his aching erection through his pants. He tries to look over his shoulder but cannot turn much. Applejack wastes no time in getting better access to Butterscotch's privates. The slim boy is not wearing a belt so the obstacles are few. He dips a large hand into Butterscotch's clothing and touches his manhood carefully. Butterscotch writhes at his touch. He did not fully realise what Applejack was up to until it was blatantly obvious.
 
Pants tugged down and throbbing erection released to the night wind, Butterscotch takes ragged breaths as Applejack works his member. His skilled grip is unbelievably pleasant and he knows exactly how to make the smaller male comfortable. It crosses Butterscotch's mind again that this is how Aria must feel.
 
Being the girl. Something he is currently very much enjoying. He lets out an absent-minded moan as Applejack strokes him at a rather vigorous pace. Butterscotch does what he can to press himself against his friend. He does not know where to leave his hands. They wander, mostly over Applejack's arms. He shifts and tenses a bit as it all becomes too much. Panting, moaning, Butterscotch whimpers out a few words.
 
"Applejack... I... I'm gonna..."
 
His words only encourages the cowboy. Fast and purposeful wrist-work brings the shy boy to an orgasm. His solid member erupts into a tense shot, then a slow, viscous dribble. The initial load ends up somewhere in the grass beside them, the rest of his warm fluids soon coats Applejack's hand. Butterscotch's breathing slows down and his tensions release. Only to flare up again as Applejack leans in to give his ear a nibble. 
 
"I think we'd better get back inside... I gotta clean up again..."
 
Butterscotch relaxes, sinking into Applejack's muscular haven. He delays his answer to just stay there for a moment, basking in the afterglow. Finally, he awkwardly puts his privates away and attempts to get up. With his movement comes all of Applejack, easily aiding the smaller male to stand. Butterscotch yelps but soon just smiles about it all.
 
"Thank you... For taking it seriously, I mean..."
 
Applejack lets his hands trickle down Butterscotch's back to finally give his butt a light squeeze.
 
"Y'all don't have ta worry 'bout a thang."

> Ch. 13 - Handling His Machine
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The morning sun is warm and uncomfortably bright as it beams in through the tiny window of the otherwise very dark bedroom. Aria turns over in the endlessly soft bed to avoid the light shining into her eyes. She extends her arms and pats around herself in the sea of comfort, attempting to find something, someone. When she finds nobody, she sighs deeply while reluctantly opening her eyes. Did none of the boys come to bed? They must have had way too much fun last night. 


She wonders for a short moment if they realise how obvious they were. She then guesses they have no clue that anyone ever saw what happened out on the green. In either case, she has a full hand of good cards for the next play.

 
Applejack grunts, holds a hand over his eyes and exhales slowly. His head is not exactly pounding but the extended drinking-session last night took its toll. He shifts a bit and finds that there is a slight weight on top of him. He manages a smile and runs his hand up the back of the person so close to him. A muffled noise in response, then some movement. Applejack risks the morning light in his eyes to seek what he assumes is Aria's face. Instead of flashing orbs of purple, his gaze falls on sleep-drunk, squinted eyes of pale teal. Around them, a cascade of bright pink.


Things start trickling down the backed-up pipes of Applejack's brain. He never made it to the bed last night. The more he figures where he is, the more it all comes back to him. He had more sex yesterday than he's had in months. Most of it can be attributed to his gender-ambiguous girlfriend. However, the rest of it and the one he spent the night with is one of his best friends. The whys and hows simply makes his creeping headache heavier.

 
Butterscotch notices the puzzled look on the cowboy's face. A bright blush flares up on his own as all things that led up to this moment rattles around in his head as well. The shy boy bounds up off of Applejack with a hastily mumbled excuse.

 
"I'll put on some tea..."

 
Applejack smiles for himself as he watches him leave. Butterscotch is an unkempt mess, at least compared to his usual groomed visage. His hair is all over the place, his clothes are messed up. He remains adorably attractive, even to the cowboy's sober mind. Applejack is unsure if that is a positive thing but he soon concludes that it is at least better than being indifferent.

 
He rises slowly, eyes closed. Getting up out of the sofa proves difficult but not impossible. His next thought is of Aria. She must still be sleeping. If she was not, the wake-up moment he and Butterscotch just had would have been completely different. She would have appeared out of nowhere and instantly slain Scotch with some horrid comment. 

 
Applejack would not have minded, a bit of rough play does one good. Too much of it, well, pretty much everything gets too much for Butterscotch. Even in small doses. Yesterday was the exception. It does perhaps not prove the rule but as the shy boy is off on a most transparent excuse, Applejack offers the idea no more thought. Let Butterscotch tear up the kitchen for a while, clear his head. If such a thing is possible.

 
The cowboy breathes in deep through his nose and sits with his hands cupped against his forehead. A minute or two passes, the sounds of Butterscotch's animal companions fills his hazy head. Finally, he stands up, sending something skidding over the rug-filled floor. A bottle? The remote? No, his phone. Applejack swears under his breath and takes two staggering steps to retrieve the old, cracked device.

 
As he turns the thing face-up, he is greeted by something unusual. Missed calls. Lots of them. At least one from all his closest friends. At first, he has a moment of panic. Then, he finds a numerous array of vague text messages from Elusive. It has taken the cowboy a long time and a whole lot of hard work to be able to read the fashionista. His messages are no better. Applejack grunts and dismisses the messages. If they are having some crisis over him disappearing for one night, let them have it. Pocketing the phone, he leaves the room to go up the stairs.


Aria sits on the edge of the bed, a little uncomfortable. She is not a big fan of wearing the same clothes she wore yesterday. She meticulously cleaned herself up before falling asleep last night. Right now, that changes little. The silence upstairs is deafening until broken by a slow, creaking sound. The stairs. She springs up off the bed and casually walks through the jungle of hanging sheets to see who is coming. Either of them is fine, she just rather would have it be...

 
"... Applejack!"


She rushes the last few steps to embrace him as he reaches the top of the stairs. He wraps her in his muscular arms and lets out a low hum of what surely is satisfaction. She looks up into his sleepy eyes and paws absent-mindedly at his chest.


"Can we just... leave?"


Applejack gives a few tiny nods and takes a deep breath, then stands silent for a moment before speaking.

 
"I jus' need ta... Ah, blazes, I don't know... Drink some water an' talk to Scotch for a bit..."

 
Aria tilts her head to the side and prods an extended index-finger where before she was softly petting.

 
"You're not driving. I am. Go get your water and I'll make ready."

 
Applejack raises both eyebrows and is clearly about to disagree when he simply settles for a few more nods. He does not want to admit it but she is right. He should not be behind the wheel right now. Besides, he is a little excited to see how she handles his car.

 
He takes a very short step back and digs around in his pockets for his keys. Aria watches him for a bit, a sly grin creeping onto her face. After he's searched in vain for some time, she holds up a hand, keys dangling from her index-finger.

 
Applejack stops dead in his tracks and gives her an unamused look. When did she take those? Is it that she does not trust him after all those drinks? He has a feeling she would just talk to him. This is something else. Aria keeps her sharp expression. He does not need to say anything to tell her enough.

 
"You left them on the table, cowboy. No big mystery there."

 
Applejack huffs at her words, then smiles. He does not really care if she is messing with him or not. Perhaps she is being sweet in her own way. He would like to think so.

 
"Well then, sugar. Y'all go play around with mah big, strong truck... I'll be joinin' y'all shortly."

 
Aria's grin fades into a softer smile for just a second as she comes close again. This time, she reaches up and kisses him before taking a sharp turn and stalking off downstairs. Applejack stands still, watching her descend the stairs with much more ease than he. 

 
What in all the world does he have to say to Butterscotch? Thanks for last night? He grimaces at the thought. Lumbering down to the kitchen with a purposefully slow stride, he is none the wiser when he arrives. His head is entirely empty.

 
Butterscotch is sitting at his small, robust kitchen table. The entire room is so picturesque, it is almost unreal. The morning sun shines in through the old, thick glass window and nearly exclusively illuminates the table, leaving the rest of the old-timey kitchen in shadow. Butterscotch looks up from his tea with a careful smile.

 
"I was too busy to go to the store yesterday. Not much for breakfast..."

 
Applejack croaks out a short laugh and remains standing in the doorway. Butterscotch's smile persists. The moment is awkward. Fairly obvious and not at all unexpected. It all could have been far worse and finally, Applejack takes a slow step into the quaint little kitchen.

 
"Aria wants ta drive outta here... I'm thinkin' I need a hearty meal an' a nap..."

 
Butterscotch nods once. He has no real reason to stop Applejack. He would not mind being alone for a little while. He has a hefty load of thoughts to sort through. Besides, he needs to wash his bed-sheets, among other things.

 
The two boys share a moment of silence, just looking at each other. Finally, Applejack chuckles, a slow, dull sound as he makes his way around the kitchen. He has been here enough times to know that the environmentally-aware master of the cottage has a place for recyclables. Applejack quickly finds a plastic bottle and fills it with water from a sputtering tap. He then steps towards the doorway from whence he came. 

 
Before exiting, he throws another glance back to Butterscotch. The pink-haired boy has not taken his eyes off of the cowboy for the entire time since he entered the kitchen. They share another small smile before Applejack disappears outside. He really has to speak to Butterscotch later. Without Aria. 

 
Slowly sipping the water, Applejack exits the cottage to step over to his car. Halfway through the small distance, he stops dead in his tracks at what appears before him. The huge truck stands at an odd angle, halfway turned away from the cottage. The engine is running and the front is elevated by the uneven ground. On the hood of the car, Aria sits, leaned back with arms extended behind her. She is wearing his hat and a smug grin. 

 
Is she parading the fact that she managed to turn the truck around real bad? Perhaps she is doing it just to provoke him. Perhaps she just wanted a good spot to pose on. He steps closer and drinks more water, the early-day warmth not at all agreeing with his hangover. He wipes his forehead with the back of his hand and rumbles out a few words.

 
"Y'all sure about handlin' mah machine?"

 
Aria is sitting real pretty and she knows it. She may not look like a real cowboy, or cowgirl, as it were. Although she does indeed lend some fantasy to the stereotype. Applejack tries to ignore her absolutely radiant attraction but as a good few times before, there is no stopping it. Aria tosses with her head, flicking the large hat up and away from obscuring her face. Her sly smile remains and she huffs before answering.

 
"Yeah. I'll drive your car, too."

 
An easy, cheap shot. He walked into that one. Applejack sighs audibly and nods once. He would have enjoyed the humour if he could. He steps up close and slowly runs a limp hand down her thigh.

 
"Then lead on, sugar."

 
He lazily throws his hand up off her knee and snatches his hat. The familiar weight on his head feels good, as well as a shield from the sun's marauding rays. He then sticks his water-bottle in his back pocket and reaches out to pluck Aria from her perch. She clearly needs no help getting down but accepts his motion anyways, smiling sweetly as he lifts her.

 
He swings her around and she quickly leans in to kiss him on the lips. He is not quick enough to kiss her back but none the less tries and is left kissing the air. She giggles shortly and slips out of his grip to reach for the driver's-side door. Just a second later she has swung it open and gotten into the car without his gentlemanly help.

 
Applejack shuffles around the car to get in the other side. Once in there, he has to stop and just observe for a while. Her tiny frame looks extremely out of place in his well-worn driver's-seat. She has already ruined all his settings. She turns to him as she starts the engine. A devious look on her face.

 
"So, where are we going, cowboy? Your place?"

 
Applejack's eyes go wide for a moment. Something has clearly come up in his mind. He shakes his head a few times. 


"I'm sorry, sugar. I couldn't handle havin' y'all 'round my brothers right now..."

 
Aria's attention snaps away from the car, onto Applejack's face. What did he just say? Brothers that he doesn't want around her? Why? Her curiosity runs rampant.

 
"How come? Are you embarrassed over me?"

 
She speaks the words with a pinch extra malice. Not meaning to put him down but at least disarm him a bit. Applejack just looks tired as she asks, he is obviously not in the mood of discussing the issue.

 
"Of course not, sugar. It's just... Well, y'all're too darn cute ta have 'round those two horndogs. Can't we jus' go ta y'all's place?"

 
Aria lets out a not-so-subtle sound of disappointment. Applejack can't just leave it at that and expect her to back down. She drums her fingers against the worn gear-shift. Her eyes are wild and her smile is exquisitely sinister.

 
"What do you think would happen? Last night all over again?"

 
Applejack visibly cringes. He breathes in deep and then answers her smile with a tired, blank expression.

 
"No, sugar. Such a grandiose get-together ain't nothin' I'm havin' too often..."

 
Aria shrugs. She is not in the mood to show mercy but with all things going on, she might have to. She makes eye-contact with Applejack and gives him a less devilish smile.

 
"Maybe you're right. I might even let you sleep when we get back to my place."

 
She puts her attention back on the car and does a fair job on getting it rolling. Applejack holds back whatever comments he has about her driving. He is happy enough not to be behind the wheel right now. Even as she unknowingly abuses the motor and shifts like a blind old lady. Before long, the gigantic truck is roaring through the dusty, thin roads on the edge of town. Aria does not even slow down as she pulls out on better paved roads. Applejack is unsure she fully knows what she is doing. However, he is equally unsure if he can bring himself to care.

 
A moment of calmth, Aria manages the vehicle road-legal enough. Applejack has just managed to start relaxing for real when his phone goes off. Another message. Elusive is vaguely pointing out that he talked to Butterscotch. Applejack sighs. With friends like the pale, effeminate fashion enthusiast, it is not at all strange that he needs fully disconnected alone-time.

 
He glances over at Aria. Alone-time has become a whole lot less lonely. He wonders for a moment what was said between Butterscotch and Elusive. The first thought is not too messy. However, all that comes after is the icy feeling of knowing that Elusive would be the one to wrench information out of anyone. Butterscotch being an exceedingly easy target.

 
Skidding over the pavement, Aria cannot stop herself from giggling evilly for a second before the truck stops. Her parking is just as atrocious as her driving. On the up-side, in that entire ride, nobody got hurt and there was no property damage. Applejack looks out, sighs and then gives Aria a feeble smile.

 
"I ain't gonna sugar-coat it. I need ta re-park this truck mahself."

 
Aria gives Applejack a mocking frown while leaning back in the driver's seat.

 
"Don't like the way I handle your big, hard machine, hm?"

 
Applejack shrugs with a trademark handsome smile.

 
"Ah didn't mean it like that. Y'all drive like the hellcat y'are. That ain't changin' the fact that how it's standin', it'll get towed."

 
Aria pulls a face and groans in a very over-the-top fashion. She then nearly instantly perks up, grinning sharply as she begins a slow climb out of her seat. She approaches Applejack in the roomy compartment, prowling up to him like a feline. She hovers a while before him, estimation in her eyes and a subtle smile on her soft lips.

 
Applejack tilts his head to the side as he looks at her. As Aria gets up in his personal space, he clearly does not mind. He flicks his hand up and caresses her cheek with the back of his fingers. He then shuffles away from her, reaching for the door with his other hand.

 
"If y'all wanna cuddle, I'll gladly accommodate ya, soon as we're inside."

 
He moves away from her, leaving her with a disappointed look on her face as he exits the car. She does not linger on any of it, she is having at least a bit of fun. As he re-enters the vehicle, she is lazily scrolling through his phone. Applejack does not notice at first but reacts as he looks over to her while shifting into reverse.

 
"What the- Hey! Sugar, tha' thing's got a password for a reason."

 
Aria looks up with an uncharacteristically goofy grin. She shrugs in silence and puts the phone down. She knows it is. She is just being brazen about it because she wanted him to notice. Did she really? Is she on the path of making conflict? No. She was merely curious. Many doors have been opening lately and she must explore them all. She cannot just be treading water with Applejack forever.

 
Her thoughts are interrupted by a large hand on her own. A soft touch from rough digits. Her eyes instantly seeks his and she has to swallow hard to get her mind back on track. He is far too good for all of this. If she was capable, she would feel bad for him.

 
All she feels now is... Different. A bit fuzzy perhaps. All too comfortable, just like the last few days. All of it is like a sand-trap, the more she tries to get anywhere, the deeper she sinks into the hole. What is lurking down there? Probably more emotions.

 
She smiles for him and then looks out the window. He is handling the truck the way she has been handling his other "machine". He seems an expert on getting into tight spots.

 
Applejack parks proper and soon they are both out of the truck. Arm-in-arm the short walk over to her apartment, Aria runs through things in her head. She did not gather much information but the bits she got was enough. 

 
Well inside, she does not bother with looking around, she just marches into her room, as usual. Applejack follows quietly and lets out a short sigh of relief as he sits down on her untidy bed. He takes his hat off and places it beside him on the bed before falling backwards. 

 
Aria wastes no time. She has a new idea. She takes a few swift steps around the room, discarding her clothing, down to her underwear. Applejack props himself up on one elbow and watches. Aria notices and stops in the middle of picking out a new bra. She raises a brow at him and pulls a little face.

 
"I'm gonna let you sleep a bit. I have a few things to take care of..."

 
She prowls closer to him, sensual in her stage of undress. She creeps up on the bed and gets up close.

 
"Don't worry about my idiot sisters, I'll lock the door. There's an extra key by the mirror... Just watch out for Adagio, she's been on a real bitch-rampage lately."

 
Applejack nods slowly while his eyes travel up and down her body. She is just incredibly tight. Even with his headache, lustful thoughts are already clouding his mind. A stray thought strikes him; Are Aria's sisters like her? With bodies that don't really match or make sense? Probably not the blue-haired one, she has massive knockers. Adagio on the other hand, maybe. Although those hips are a show on their own.

 
He swallows the thought away and lays his head back with another sigh. Aria sweeps by to kiss him on the cheek before bouncing out of the bed to go back to her underwear-hunt. He watches her for a moment, a dreamy look on his face. She may play a hard game but he is enjoying every second of it.

 
Aria slips into a pair of excellently form-fitting jeans. As she is checking herself out, she spots a fitting bra along with a simple black top. Scooping them up and nimbly putting them on, she then steps into her boots. Nothing fancy or especially alluring about this outfit but she rocks it anyway.

 
She turns to sneak up close to Applejack again. She quickly slinks onto the bed to pull him out of his half-asleep state with yet another little peck. He responds as much as he is able and gives no resistance as she slips away to leave.

 
He looks like he's out cold as Aria throws one last glance over her shoulder as she exits the room. She makes sure the door is locked and makes her way outside. Car-keys spinning around her finger. She looks up to the mid-day sky as she walks the short distance to Applejack's truck. She has made up her mind. She needs to return to the scene of the crime. Just spending time with Applejack would be a blessing but she can afford no such luxury. She has things to play around with while the ball is in her corner.

 
She takes a deep breath of the fresh summer air before stepping up and in to the huge truck she just drove. The interior of the car has an undeniable scent of Applejack. Something she can imagine her bed having later as well. The thought is pleasant. She glances at herself in the dusty mirror, fixes a smudge of stray make-up and then starts the engine. It sputters to life a little more smoothly this time.

 
Time to go back to Butterscotch's and see what she can do to shake things up further.

 
> Ch. 14 - A Party Invitation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun is still high in the sky as Aria comes roaring down the dusty roads outside Butterscotch's homestead. She has a better hang of the huge car already. She manages to slow down so she approaches the cottage at a decent speed rather than like a bat out of hell.

Just as she turns onto the property, she spots something different in front of the cottage. A car. Shining white, clean and fancy. Who could that be? She calls upon her knowledge of the Rainbooms and quickly deducts that it is probably Elusive. The fashion-man. She knows him only very briefly.

From what she has seen and heard, he is quite different from the others. He seems very concerned with both gossiping and finding out truths. At least she gathered as much from quickly looking through all those messages in Applejack's phone. He is probably here sniffing about, trying to find out what happened to Butterscotch. He is undoubtedly looking for information on Applejack and herself.

Aria parks Applejack's truck at the very edge of Butterscotch's vast garden and carelessly strolls up towards the cottage. She has no real plan, no real excuse to be here. Sure, she now has enough of a relation to Butterscotch to actually be here but explaining that to someone else will be hard. Hard but not impossible. She figures the challenge will keep her sharp. During her little walk, she runs a few things through in her head.

Why is she here to begin with? Does she even know that herself? Yes. Partially. She needs to poke and prod Butterscotch a bit and see what comes out. It is probable that she is not the only one with such thoughts. She can only hope that she is the first one to attempt it. It seems unlikely that Butterscotch would hold up under any extended interrogation.

Aria comes close to the front door. No movement or sound from the inside. She hovers by the door for a short moment, listening. When nothing shows itself, she taps the knocker a few times. Another moment of silence, then she can hear hurried, light steps approach. The footfalls end but the door remains closed. Aria leans in to listen and right then, the door opens. She manages to think that she is happy it does not open outward.

Butterscotch slinks out from the crooked doorframe and quickly closes the door behind him. He looks her up and down with wild eyes and then half-hisses, half whispers.

"What are you doing here? Where's Applejack?"

Aria keeps a cool head and a cold expression. She looks deep into Butterscotch's eyes. His nervous gaze does not linger long on her. He glances back at the door as if it could suddenly disintegrate and leave him defenseless. Aria reaches her hand up and snaps her fingers, right next to Butterscotch's ear. This gets her his full attention. He gives her an anxious but steady look.

"Oh, Applejack is resting. I just came by to look for my phone, I think I left it somewhere... I figured we got close enough for it not to be..."

She leans in close and lets her breath brush against the side of his face.

"... Weird."

Butterscotch flares red and she can hear his breathing shift. She lingers close for as long as she can, not really taking any other steps. Butterscotch's mind races at the speed of light. He cannot for the life of him think of an excuse not to let her in. Her in there is of course a scenario he would rather avoid. Yet it seems the only way. What would he ever say to Elusive? How would Rainbow Blitz react?

Just as he teeters on the brink of full-on panic, the door opens. Out peeks a blue face, surrounded by wild, cascading rainbow. He has a certain intensity in his eyes and his smug smirk only gets more intolerable as he spots Aria. Actually as he spots the entire situation, with Butterscotch looking like he's choking and the smoking hot troublemaker ridiculously close to him.

Rainbow holds back a snicker and opens the door more. Aria raises a brow, more in surprise than anything else. She did not expect the rainbow kid to be here, there is no chance in any Hell he drove that white thing.

"There you are! With the chick of the moment none the less. Come on, dude, Elusive just got off the phone!"

He throws a quick look down Aria and then pokes Butterscotch in the shoulder. Aria looks unimpressed while running things over in her own head. Going in there with all of them could definitely ruin her plans. At the same time, leaving them alone with Butterscotch and more new questions could spell the same disaster.

"Bring her too, this is gonna be awesome..."

Rainbow trails off as he turns to step back into the cottage. Before Butterscotch can do much else, Aria invites herself as well. Butterscotch is left standing in front of his own home. He remains frozen for a moment, then, at the realisation of what is about to happen, he bounds after Aria.

Butterscotch catches up to Aria and gives her a desperate, questioning look. She gives him nothing in return but a purposeful stride into the living-room. She stops as soon as she notices Elusive. The purple-maned young man simply gives her a long, strangely neutral stare as she walks into the room. His ever phone-gripping hand lowers slowly as Aria stops. His face has an expression of dumb awe for just a second. Elusive glances to Rainbow who is standing leaned against the wall, observing the spectacle with a grin on his face.

Understanding he will get no help from his friend, Elusive composes himself. A quick glance to Butterscotch instantly assures him of a few things. This was not a planned visit and there is definitely more to all of this than he originally thought. Either that or his usually spot-on sense for these things is suddenly off. It has never, ever been off before.

"What a surprise! Butterscotch said nothing of other guests."

Aria haphazardly fakes a look around the room and then spends quite the moment of pondering before even bothering with some kind of answer. She fixes her uninterested glare on him again and raises a quizzical brow.

"Oh, you are here..."

She shrugs and turns to Butterscotch, now paralysed in fear behind her. Leaning in close, she whispers, very faint.

"What do we tell them, huh? We had a quiet little movie-night and the phone's probably in the sofa... Or could it be in the bed?"

Butterscotch twitches slightly and puts a hand on Aria's shoulder. He does not want her to explain anything. He does not even want her to talk. He slips his arm around her shoulders and leans in close to whisper.

"What are you doing? Just... Just find it and go. We can talk later."

Just as he finishes, Elusive speaks up again.

"Oh come on now, let's not be rude. Let's get to know each other! I was going to invite you and Applejack to my little soirée tomorrow evening... Now that you showed up, I need not wait."

Aria tilts her head to the side and cocks a sculpted eyebrow. Invite her? She keeps her attention on Elusive and simply waits to see if he has something more to say. They stare at each other for a moment, Elusive taking a little more defiant stance as Aria just glares at him. Finally, she speaks.

"What kind of party is it?"

Her upper lip twitches momentarily, beginning a grin but soon dying off into uninterested apathy.

"A stale, boring fancy dinner?"

Aria's and Elusive's eyes are burning holes in each other when suddenly, they are both thrown off by a rainbow blur. Rainbow Blitz steps in like a referee would to separate two stubborn boxers. He is wearing an annoying grin and is apparently more than happy to answer.

"It's a kick-ass backyard party! Get off Elusive's dick or you're gonna start tasting it."

He is quick. Walking, spinning and waving his arms while talking. Aria feels a cold tingle down her spine. A venomous hate bubbling up. This rainbow tornado will be her downfall some day. For now, all she can do is gather herself and keep a stern face.

Rainbow gets right up in Aria's face with a big grin. Butterscotch has since retreated, quietly and desperately searching for a possible lost phone in the sofa. Aria sighs while locking eyes with Rainbow.

"I challenge you to... Heck, I dare you to come. Elusive ain't the party master here. Me and Bubble Berry's got this."

Elusive throws his hands up.

"Hey!"

Rainbow Blitz throws a glance over his shoulder before spinning around and sauntering past Elusive. He slaps the purple-haired boy on the shoulder, his grin unwavering. Just as he passes, he reaches up to quickly rip through Elusive's hair.

Elusive yelps and shoots Rainbow daggers with his eyes. He only just manages to keeps his cool. Gritting his teeth while maniacally fixing his bangs, he takes a deep breath and looks to Aria again.

"Well, there you have it. I do hope you can come. Now, excuse me, I've got a Rainbow hooligan to teach some manners."

Elusive goes after Rainbow just as Butterscotch gives up the sofa. Aria watches the circus as Rainbow easily gets away from Elusive's grasping hands and Butterscotch gets in the way. Is this really what happens behind closed doors? Is this really how these boys behave on a regular basis?

Aria finds herself grinning. If these idiots are the only thing that stand between her and world domination, she might yet get what she wants.

Butterscotch shoos Elusive off and steps over to Aria. Rainbow has already sprinted out the back door. Elusive goes after him and Butterscotch finally seems to relax a little. Aria gives Butterscotch an unimpressed look.

"I can't believe you're having all this fun without me."

Butterscotch just shakes his head slowly, eyes closed. He takes a deep breath and looks at her.

"Look, you... I don't... I need you to go, okay? I mean, we can talk later or something. Just... Please go."

A thump from out on the veranda makes Butterscotch twitch. He looks at Aria with pleading eyes. She contemplates things for a second. This is not an opportunity calling, this is something else. A warning perhaps? A flash in her mind. A sour thought. If the goofballs are having a party of any size, that means all of them will show up. Even the one Adagio was chatting up. For all she knows, this could be the arena for the next decisive battle.

With Adagio there. Aria shakes her head and blinks the thought away as Butterscotch touches her carefully. He gives her a concerned look, then does what he can to usher her towards the door. She hardly fights him, she mostly just drags her feet. Butterscotch throws concerned glances over his shoulder as he follows her to the door.

"Whatever deep thoughts you have... Just please, have them somewhere else. Please?"

Well by the door, Aria nods once and gives Butterscotch a very brief smile. He seems to relax a bit more right away. She is leaving without any further fuss.

"Your friends are weird. I'm looking forward to that party."

She brushes up close to Butterscotch and rests her arms on his shoulders. She puts her forehead against his and finishes the move with a quick kiss on the lips. Butterscotch instantly burns up with a blush. He hesitantly accepts the kiss before realising what he is doing and attempts to manouvre out of her loose embrace.

Aria lets him go and turns her attention to the door, entirely clueless that they were just observed. A certain rainbow hooligan caught a perfect little peek of their kiss through the windows to the back porch.

Butterscotch watches Aria leave with part relief, part sorrow. The sway of her hips has him spellbound for a good few seconds before he is startled by a noise from behind. The back door. He closes the front door and spins around, eyes wide. Even through the clutter of the cottage, he has an unobstructed view. Rainbow Blitz stands casually leaning in the doorway. Elusive is nowhere to be seen.

The rainbow boy is uncharacteristically quiet. The particularly worrying smile he wears is no comfort either. Butterscotch just stands there, dumbfounded. His head is reeling and his body immovable. His teal gaze mingles with Rainbow's rose. Rainbow examines Butterscotch for a while, then is torn from the moment as Elusive comes up behind him.

The purple-haired boy asks Rainbow what is going on. He gives no answer. Instead of attempting to coax further, Elusive turns his attention to Butterscotch. He gets in past Rainbow and quickly steps over to the shy boy.

"Oookay... I see the situation has... Transformed. What is going on now? Why is Rainbow giving you the stare-and-smirk? Is it because of Aria? Does he know something that I don't?"

He bathes Butterscotch in a cold waterfall of questions. The shy boy just does what he can to try and shrink away. Elusive is relentless, as usual. He does not get too up close but his eyes are intense as he searches for any information that Butterscotch may reveal.

Butterscotch fidgets for a bit, avoiding eye-contact from everyone in the room. He breathes in for some half-assed excuse that never makes it passed his lips. Rainbow has stepped in with his usual speed and soon sweeps Butterscotch along with him into the kitchen. Elusive groans loudly and follows. It seems getting anything out of Scotch is going to be a world-class headache.

During the few steps it takes to get to the kitchen, Butterscotch just stares at Rainbow with confusion and panic. What is he doing? Why did he interrupt Elusive? A rescue? If so, why?

Rainbow can barely contain his curiosity and enthusiasm as he speaks in a hissed whisper.

"I know you know I saw. Dude! Where did your sudden balls of steel come from? Applejack would crush you and she's not even your type!"

Butterscotch wheezes out a vague response and shakes his head, letting his long hair fall around his face.

"It's not what you think..."

Rainbow stops Butterscotch just as they enter the kitchen. He suddenly looks serious if only for a short moment before going back to grinning like a lunatic.

"I don't know... I can think of a whole lot of things."

With Rainbow's last word, Elusive catches up. He is furious but only shows it in his usual measured grace. At least that is what he thinks. Rainbow has been rattling him all day and now with secrets right under his nose, he is beginning to get a bit twitchy.

"Come now, gentlemen, don't be all secretive. We should be open with our feelings and troubles."

Butterscotch sits down on a chair with an almost inaudible sigh. He has nothing to add. He does not even know what Blitz might be plotting now. He is very happy that he did not say anything right now. Then again, he has a nagging feeling this will be a bombshell later.

Rainbow snickers hoarsely and gives Elusive a mind-numbingly smug grin before finally speaking up.

"Nah, trust me. You're gonna enjoy this much more if I tell you at the party."

Rainbow steps away from Elusive with a bit less of a smirk and goes to the fridge to fish out an energy drink. Butterscotch sits dead silent, desperately trying to form any kind of plan for whatever future reveal Rainbow has in mind.

"We've still got planning to do. When's Dusk and Sundown gonna get here, anyway?"

Elusive goes from grumpy to shining up as Rainbow reminds him there are more people arriving. Surely someone will back him up in puzzling together what is going on. They might even help him with dragging secrets out of Butterscotch or Rainbow.

--

Aria drives slowly, the opposite of how she dominated the road earlier. Many things rustle around in her head. So little time to prepare. She has to fish for information from Adagio and she is very much not looking forward to it. On the other hand, she has Applejack waiting in her bed and hopefully she gets to tell him the news. A whisper in his ear as she gets a few more handfuls of that taut body of his.

She sighs the daydream away and pushes a little speed. While she is in no actual hurry, the thought of having Applejack help her pick an outfit excites her more than it feels like it should.

The drive home is uneventful and she soon barges into the apartment, not knowing or caring the situation inside. First, she notices that her door stands slightly ajar. Then she hears voices. Someone she does not really recognise along with Sonata and Applejack. She makes her way to the livingroom. The sight that meets her is not something she would ever expect. Applejack is nursing a cup of coffee, normal enough. In the other sofa is Sonata, cuddled up close to a very, very pink figure.

The pink boy perks up as soon as Aria enters the room. Applejack notices and instantly gets up to greet Aria with a big, strong embrace. Aria and Sonata spend a short moment murdering one another with their eyes and then turn their full attention to their respective guy.

"Y'all can imagine mah confusion when I woke to a familiar voice..."

Applejack gestures to Bubble Berry. Aria takes her attention off of the enormous cowboy for just a second to look at the pink boy. He looks like he is about to burst. Tangled in Sonata's busty embrace but still looking like he needs to run around the room a hundred times. He gives her a big smile and a little wave. Sonata looks disgustingly content. Aria makes a mental note to verbally abuse her later. She focuses back on Applejack and nods in the direction of her bedroom.

"Can I talk to you, alone?"

Applejack raises an eyebrow in no real confusion. He then just nods and steps thataways. Aria sticks close but waits until they are behind a shut door to talk.

"I went to Butterscotch's place... I lost my phone... Anyway, Elusive and that Rainbow... Thing was there. Apparently there's a party tomorrow... Something the boys are throwing together."

Applejack nods slowly at her words, ignoring the comment about Rainbow. Aria almost looks hopeful for his response so he mulls it over for a bit before answering.

"Well, we're a thing now, I hope... So..."

He reaches out and takes her hands in his. She gives him a dismissive, yet rather transparent look. She is going to have a million problems soon. The longer she can keep Applejack on her side, the better. Besides, little things like him taking her hands like this makes her feel uncomfortably warm and fuzzy.

"If we can dance in public, we can dance aroun' mah friends. Will y'all gimme the pleasure o' that?"

Applejack puts on his angelic smile and squeezes her hands softly. He is satisfied with how the invitation or question or whatever managed to get posed. Bubble Berry had begun ranting about the party as soon as he stepped in the door. He did not even know Applejack was in the building. Then again, Applejack himself had no idea Berry was running with Aria's sister.

Aria looks up into Applejack's eyes for a nearly uncomfortable amount of time, nodding all the while. She then switches gears to deal with the current situation.

"I'd like that... Now, I guess we gotta go listen to my idiot sister and your friend make baby noises at each other..."

Applejack barks out a short, loud laugh.

"Nah. In all honesty, I think I've 'ad just 'bout enough o' that for today. How 'bout we jus' plan for t'morrow?"

Aria creeps up close to Applejack and embraces him with genuine warmth.

"My saviour. What did you have in mind? Wanna help me dress accordingly?"

Applejack runs his hands down her back and gets greedy with her behind. He looks very pleased with her idea.

"I could dress y'all up like the lil' doll ya are"

She scans his face. He looks mischievous. Aria responds with an evil smirk. She has an idea that might make the afternoon even more fun than, well, the fun she is already having.

"I'd like nothing better than to put on a show for you. Just... Not here... Not with those two in the other room. Why don't I let you buy me a new outfit?"

Applejack nods. Not that he is particularly interested in shopping for clothing but he has a big, hard feeling finding an outfit is not the only activity in their future.

"We ain't goin' to Elusive's shop, are we?"

Aria sharply raises a sculpted brow.

"Oh, by the powers, no. I didn't even... Elusive has a shop? You know what, don't answer that. I've got this. Let's just go."

Applejack leans down to kiss her on the lips while reluctantly letting go of her butt.

"Alright then. I'm drivin' though."

Aria huffs loudly and drums her fingers against his chest.

"You wish."