//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Wrong Recipient // by elmago02 //------------------------------// “Here.” Fluttershy said, offering the rolled letter to the little blue jay that was standing on the windowsill. The jay extended one of his legs to grab the letter, but it was quickly pulled away from him before she could even reach it. “I don’t know if I should send it.” The pegasus said, holding the letter to her chest. The blue jay and the other animals in the cottage rolled their eyes and sighed. This had been the routine for a good part of the morning. Their caretaker had decided to write a love letter to the pony that had caught her attention, but whenever she was about to send the letter on its way, she would chicken out. Fluttershy shook her head. “No, if not now, I will probably never do it.” She said with determination, extending a trembling hoof and offering the letter once more to the bird. The bird squinted his eyes, looking between the mare and the letter. He lifted his leg once more, slowly moving it forward to grab it. “Wait, wait! I just want to make sure that I wrote everything I wanted to say. This is really important after all.” She said, running to her desk and unrolling the letter to take one more look at it. The animals sighed once more, getting tired of this routine. “Hey, Big Mac. How ya feelin’ this mornin’?” Applejack asked as she entered her big brother’s room, with Apple Bloom following close behind, carrying a bag of ice. The big stallion lowered the book he had been reading, looking with a neutral expression at his sisters. “A little better, but it still hurts.” “Of course it hurts. Ya sprained yer leg,” Applejack said, walking to the foot of the bed to take a look at her brother’s bandaged ankle. “It will take a few days for the pain to go away. And at least a week for it to fully heal. Thank Celestia it’s only a minor sprain.” “Eeyup.” Applejack moved to the side, allowing her little sister access to the injured limb. The filly jumped on the bed, careful not to step on Big Mac, and placed the bag of ice on the injury. “This should help,” Apple Bloom said with a smile. “Thank you, Apple Bloom,” Big Mac said as he ruffled the little filly's mane. He then looked up at Applejack. “Ah’m sorry to leave all the work to ya… again.” “Hey, don’t worry, ‘sides, It’s not like last time. Ya were almost finished with your side of the farm when you sprained yer leg, right? It’ll only be an afternoon of extra work, maybe two.” Applejack then looked at the clock on her brother’s table. “Well, Ah better get goin. If Ah start now, Ah’ll be done before supper.” The mare turned around and left her brother’s room, waving goodbye at her siblings. “Hey, Applejack,” Apple Bloom called before the mare got far. “Do ya want me tah help ya today?” “Nah, sugarcube, Ah’ll be fine. Ya should stay here and watch over Big Mac. Make sure he doesn’t move that leg of his. Understood?” Apple Bloom saluted before running back to Mac’s room. Applejack resumed her walk to the first floor of the house, greeting granny smith on her way to door. “See yah fer lunch, Granny,” she said, tipping her hat. Granny Smith rocked back and forth on her chair. “Don’t ya go and overdo it like ya did last time, ya hear me?” “Don’t worry, Granny. Ah just have a dozen Apple trees to buck on my side, then I move to the northern orchard to finish Mac’s job. He said that he would have finished yesterday if he hadn’t injured his leg, so I’m sure there won’t be that many trees to buck.” “Alright. Then go ahead. I’ll make sure to have somethin’ good fer lunch.” Applejack grinned. “You always have something good fer lunch. “Damn right ye are.” AJ chuckled. “Well, see ya latter, Granny.” Applejack left the house and made her way to the eastern orchard to start working on her side of the farm. Like every other day at the farm, Applejack worked diligently, managing to clear the apple trees on the eastern orchard just before lunch. She then took half an hour to rest after lunch before moving to the northern orchard to continue. She was moving at a really good pace, and Big Mac had been right, there weren’t that many apple trees left to buck. She had been working for the most part of the afternoon, and it would take her an hour more to finish the job. Applejack lifted her back hooves and gave a powerful kick, the apples of the tree falling to the baskets she had previously placed below it. “That was a good kick,” Applejack said with pride, seeing as she managed to knock all the apples in only one try. She wiped the sweat from her brow before starting to move the full baskets to the cart and placing the empty ones around the next tree. The sound of flapping wings caught Applejack’s attention, so she lowered the basket she had been carrying and looked up. A little blue jay was flying above her head, holding what looked to be a scroll with its feet. The bird slowly lowered its height until it was at the same level as Applejack’s head. It flapped it’s wings, remaining in place right in front of the mare. “Uhmm… Hi?” Applejack said, not really knowing what to do or what to expect. The bird chirped at her, moving a bit closer and lifting the scroll. “Is… Is that for me?” The bird chirped again. Applejack had no idea if it was an affirmative or negative chirp, so she just extended her hoof. If it was for her, the bird would drop the scroll, if not, then no idea what to do next. Thankfully, the bird did drop the scroll on Applejack’s hoof before flying up to the sky. ‘Ah hope this doesn’t mean Derpy lost her job,’ Applejack thought worriedly, looking at the bird getting farther and farther. The mare lowered her gaze to the scroll, noticing that there was no seal on it like the ones she had seen Twilight receive. Applejack sat on her haunches and put the scroll on the ground. She took the tip of the pink ribbon that kept the scroll rolled between her teeth and pulled it, the parchment unrolling to reveal a single page containing a neatly written letter. She started reading, her eyes slowly widening with each word her brain processed. “This… is this really from her?” Applejack mumbled, her heart beating like crazy. She had to read it a second time to make sure that it wasn’t her brain playing a prank on her, that she had read it correctly. Maybe it is wrong to say this in a letter instead of standing in front of you and saying it, but I’m scared. I’m scared of what your answer might be, but I have hope that there is a chance that you will say yes. There’s not a single day in which you don’t show up in my thoughts. Not a single day I don’t think about your mane, or your coat, or those bright and beautiful green eyes. I can’t help but think how much I would like to be held by those strong hooves of yours. I can’t help but think of your voice, with that cute accent of yours, saying my name in an affectionate way. But just thinking about all that isn’t enough. Not anymore. I need to know if you will accept me as your marefriend, if that’s okay with you. I know this is too sudden, so I will wait as long as you need for your answer, be it a yes or a no. With love, Fluttershy. ‘Fluttershy… loves me?’ Applejack’s mouth stayed agape and her gaze went lost in front of her as she fully understood meaning of that sentence. A red crimson blush spread over her cheeks, her breath went erratic. ‘Fluttershy loves me.’ Applejack hooves trembled, a smile stretching on her face, becoming bigger and bigger, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She grabbed her stetson and threw it up to the sky. “YEEEEE-HAWWWW!!!” the mare shouted in complete happiness. She couldn’t believe this had just happened. This was another dream, right? Applejack lifted a hoof and bit it hard. It hurt, it really hurt. This was, real… this was happening. ‘Ah… Ah have to go and see her,’ Applejack thought, reading the letter for the third time. ‘Ah want to see her and… and tell her that yes, that Ah want her to be my marefriend. That Ah want her to be the most important part of my life.’ Applejack trotted over to where her hat had landed, She placed the rolled letter in it before placing it back on her head. She then turned around and ran to the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres turning to the left, in the direction of the Everfree Forest. Applejack was filled with energy. It was like she hadn’t just spent the afternoon bucking trees under the hot sun. She felt like she could run all the way to Canterlot and back. Hay, she would run to the Crystal empire if Fluttershy was there. But no, Fluttershy was here, in Ponyville, waiting for her answer, and she wouldn’t make the beautiful mare wait a single second more. She had been in love with her timid friend for months now, maybe even over a year, as she wasn’t sure when exactly she had started feeling this attraction. She had never found the strength to pursue it, thinking that Fluttershy wouldn’t be interested, that she would just make things awkward for her friend. But this letter… this magnificent and incredible letter said that Fluttershy felt the same way, that she wanted a relationship with the country pony. Applejack ran up the hill, and from the top, she could see the cottage of the pegasus at the distance. As she got closer, she could see the shy pony standing on the front of the cottage, giving out food to her animal friends. “Fluttershy!” Applejack shouted, speeding up her pace even more. The pegasus looked up, startled from the shout, but her surprise quickly changed into a warm smile as she saw her friend coming closer. “Oh, hello, Applejack. What brings you here?” Applejack stopped in front of her friend. She took the scroll from under her hat and presented it to Fluttershy. “This.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened, her cheeks gaining a rosy color. “I… I…” “Is all of it true?” Applejack asked, unrolling the scroll. “What is written in this… Do ya mean all of it?” Fluttershy looked to the ground, pawing at it, remaining quiet for a few seconds. “...Y-yes… I shouldn’t have, right? I’m sorry if it upset you. I just wanted to tell B–” Fluttershy’s words were cut by the sudden embrace of the farm pony. “Upset me?” Applejack laughed. “The complete opposite, sugarcube. Ah couldn’t be happier.” Fluttershy relaxed and returned the embrace. “That’s good to hear.” Applejack pulled away, lifting a hoof to gently caress Fluttershy’s cheek, her gaze filled with love and affection. “Uhm… Applejack…” Fluttershy started, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the mares actions. “What… what are you…” Fluttershy stopped, looking down as she was no longer able to endure the other mare’s intense gaze. “No need to be shy.” Applejack lifted Fluttershy’s face. “Ah love ya, Fluttershy, Ah always have.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “What?” “Ah would be extremely happy with ya as mah marefriend.” Fluttershy was at a complete lost of words. “... Applejack, I don–” She was instantly silenced, as the orange mare hadn’t been able to hold back and did what she had wanted to do for months. Applejack kissed those beautiful lips that she had longed for, with all the passion she had been hiding inside of her. They remained like that for a moment, with Applejack enjoying every second of those soft lips, thinking how much better was this compared to her dreams. A carrot to the back of Applejack’s head finally made her stop. “What in tarnation?” Applejack glared back at the little bunny, who was returning her glare. The little bunny was stomping his foot in annoyance, he gestured back at the large line of hungry animals, then pointed at the pile of animal food that was lying right next to the yellow mare. “Oh, Ah guess Ah interrupted ya in the middle of yer work,” she said with a small chuckle before her eyes widened. “Horse apples, Ah forgot to finish the work. If Ah don’t get all the apple baskets to the barn before night, Granny will tan mah hide. “Ah think Ah can finish mah work at the farm today, so we can spend tomorrow together, alright?” Applejack brushed a lock of mane out of Fluttershy’s face. “Goodbye, love,” she whispered, placing a gentle kiss on the yellow mare’s cheek. The farm pony let go of the caretaker and slowly walked away, giving one last look back from the top of the hill before trotting back to the farm. Angel Bunny only stopped glaring at the orange pony when this one was out of sight. Nopony should get in his way to get his meal. He jumped to the front of the line, waiting for Fluttershy to give him his salad, but the mare didn’t even move a muscle to serve him. He looked up in annoyance to see what was the problem this time. Fluttershy just stood there, with her mouth slightly ajar, her ears folded back and eyes looking at nothing, not even blinking. He knew what was happening, Fluttershy’s brain had shut down. Angel jumped on the mare's back, then moved to her head. He patted at her forehead a few times, trying to get a reaction, but nothing happened. He pulled the mare's ears and mane, but still no reaction. Angel knew that he wouldn’t accomplish much, he needed help. He looked at Harry the bear, who was looking from the side a little worried. Angel whistled to get his attention then instructed him to go grab a bucket and fill it with water from the river. Harry did as instructed, bringing the filled bucket back to the rabbit. Angel jumped off and told Harry to empty the bucket on the mare. Harry was against the idea at the beginning, but after being told that he wouldn’t get his meal if he didn’t do it, he didn’t hesitate to pour the cold water on the caretaker. Fluttershy gasped as soon the water made contact with her. She shook her head, spreading droplets of water everywhere. She looked around, not really sure where she was. A little touch to her hoof caught her attention. She looked down at Angel Bunny, who was about to demand her to serve the food, but was quickly interrupted as the mare scooped him up in a tight hold. “Oh, Angel, please, please, please tell me that I just imagined all of that. Tell me that Applejack didn’t came here and said she loves me.” The bunny sighed, shaking his head to answer the frenetic mare. Fluttershy dropped the bunny, who landed face first on the ground, and started to pace around in circles. “Oh nononononono. I-I… How? Why? I just don’t… The letter.” She stopped on her tracks. “I… I did write that it was for… I’m sure I...” Fluttershy thought back to what she had written on that letter the day before. “Oh, Celestia.” Fluttershy slumped, realising that she not only had forgotten to write Big Mac’s name, but that she had been really vague in the letter. “But why did Applejack get the letter? I… “ Fluttershy looked around, noticing a little blue bird perched on a nearby tree. She closed the distance in a second. “Mr. Blue Jay, why did you gave Applejack the letter? It wasn’t for her, it was for–” The bird interrupted her, shaking his head and chirping defensively. “I wasn’t specific?” The bird chirped again. “I just told you to give the letter to a pony?” The bird chirped once more. “To the one that was bucking the trees in the north?” The bird nodded. “Oh no, what am I going to do? I… I have to fix this. I have to tell Applejack that I… I don’t…” ‘Ah love you, Fluttershy, Ah always have.’ Applejack words resonated on her mind, making Fluttershy groan. “This is a complete disaster. I need… I need advice… Rarity! I have to go and ask her what should I do.” Fluttershy extended her wings, prepared take off, but her attempt was frustrated by a powerful grip on her tail. “What?” Harry looked at her, a pleading expression on his face. His stomach growled loud enough to be heard all over the place. “Oh, right,” Fluttershy said, descending to the ground. She just noticed that the sky was getting dark and there was still too many mouths to feed. “I… I guess it’s too late, I’ll ask her tomorrow.” As Fluttershy finished her work for the day, she couldn’t help but think the problem her letter had caused and how she could fix it.