//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Wrong Recipient // by elmago02 //------------------------------// Ten days had passed since the last visit of Applejack to Fluttershy’s cottage. They had met several times and hung out in those days, but never alone. They had always been in the company of the other girls, having fun at a party, enjoying a quiet lunch together or saving Ponyville from some kind of danger. Applejack had kept her distance. Aside from the usual greeting, she barely said a word to the shy pegasus. While this saddened the pegasus, she didn’t make the slightest effort to change this, hiding behind the excuse of giving the country mare space. But in reality, she was just afraid of saying anything. Fluttershy just stood to the side, observing how Applejack interacted with the girls. She watched closely how Applejack moved around them, how she talked, smiled and laughed with the others. She watched how all that energy she had around their friends momentarily disappeared whenever her eyes locked with Fluttershy’s, just to quickly return as she looked away. Their weekly pony pet playdate had been mostly the same, with Applejack avoiding looking in her general direction, busying herself with throwing a ball for Winona. The play date had quickly reached its end, with everypony saying their goodbyes and walking to their respectives abodes. The yellow pegasus didn’t move to leave, watching from under the shade of a tree as an orange mare trotted away. Just before the mare got far, she turned back, her eyes finding Fluttershy’s, not bothering to look away this time. Fluttershy’s eyes widened and her heartbeat quickened. With a small smile, Applejack lifted a hoof and gave a lazy wave at the pegasus. Fluttershy was stunned for a second, but she quickly recovered and waved back, a smile spreading over her face. Applejack then resumed her way to her home, leaving the park. Fluttershy maintained her eyes locked in the direction the mare had just left, still a little surprised by the little gesture. If Applejack had waved at her, then that meant… Fluttershy ears dropped, her smile disappearing as a wave of sadness filling her chest. Applejack was slowly moving forward, and that would be probably for the best, even if she had fina– A tap to one of her hooves caused the mare to jump in surprise. She looked around in alarm, searching for the source of the sudden touch. Angel Bunny stood near, with an annoyed look on his little face. “A-Angel, you scared me.” The bunny rolled his eyes, then made a few gestures with his little paws. Fluttershy nodded. “You’re right, it’s time to go back home,” the mare said, waiting for Angel to jump on her back before walking away. “Fluttershy,” one of the girls called from behind, causing the mare to jump in surprise once more. The little bunny was launched to the air, flying a short distance before landing face first on the ground. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry, darling. It wasn’t my intention to scare you.” “I-it’s okay, Rarity,” Fluttershy said, trying to calm herself. “Um… did you need something?” “Not really, but... Do you have a moment? I would like to have a little talk.” “Um, y-yes.” Fluttershy turned her body, giving her full attention to the fashionista. Angel lifted his face from the floor, looking with annoyance at the unicorn and his caretaker as he dusted himself, completely ignored. “… What do you want to talk about?” Rarity kept quiet for a second, just looking inquisitively at her friend’s expression, like trying to figure something out while doing that. Rarity’s eyes looked past Fluttershy to the distance for a brief moment, then focused back on the mare. “Things with Applejack… they are getting better, I guess.” Rarity quickly noticed the look of confusion in the pegasus face. “I saw the little wave, and I have to say, it makes me feel a little more at ease.” Fluttershy frowned, tilting her head. “I-it does? W-why?” Rarity sighed. “Darling, you didn’t talk to me again about this letter problem, and it didn’t feel right to inquire about the subject.” The unicorn frowned. “But… I did notice that your… interactions with Applejack have been… non-existent.” Fluttershy looked down at her hooves. “Ohh… You noticed.” “I did, and so did the girls.” “They did?” Fluttershy looked up worriedly. “Did you tell them about…” Rarity shook her head. “Of course not, darling. It isn’t my place to tell them about this. But I did tell them that it would be better for us to give the two of you some space and wait for either of you to approach us,” Rarity said with a warm smile. Fluttershy returned the smile. “Thank you, Rarity.” “No problem, darling.” Rarity’s smile became a sad one. “Things seemed to be a little hard for you and Applejack this last week, but I’m happy they are slowly going back to how it was, she’s slowly getting over you. It… It will just take a little more time.” Fluttershy frowned, turning her face to look to the horizon, or more specifically, in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. “I… I don’t want that,” she mumbled. “Hmm? What was that, darling?” “I don’t want that…” Fluttershy said, adding a little more of strength behind each word. “I don’t want things to be like before.” Rarity looked with a scrutinizing eye at her friend, trying to understand what the shy pony had just said. “I… I don’t understand. You don’t want… Are you upset with Applejack?” Rarity frowned at her friend. “Did she do something after the incident in the boutique?” Fluttershy furiously shook her head. “No! No she didn’t.” “Then why do you want things to remain like this? Don’t you want to be able to talk normally with Applejack as before? Don’t you want to be friends again?” “I never said I wanted things to remain like this. But I... I don’t...” “What do you want then?” Rarity asked forcefully. “I want to be more with Applejack!” Fluttershy said a little louder than intended, quickly hiding behind her mane as she realized what had just escaped between her lips. Fluttershy tentatively looked between the locks of her hair at her friend, who was looking back at her, a smile– no, a smirk slowly forming on her face. “More… When you say more, you mean…?” Fluttershy’s blush was intense, the red hue spreading to her ears. She didn’t utter a single word, giving her answer in the form of a small, barely perceptible nod. Rarity smirk widened. “I knew it.” “What?” Fluttershy asked as she brushed her mane out of her face. “You knew? But I… How? Did one of my animals tell you?” Rarity laughed amiably. “No, darling. I wouldn’t even be able to understand them if they tried. I had a hunch after I saw something. I had my doubts at the beginning, but it slowly became obvious what was it.” Fluttershy’s eyes knitted in a frown. “What was it?” Rarity didn’t answer right away. She was silent, as was Fluttershy. Rarity breathed, slowly opening her mouth, and Fluttershy leaned forward. “You have been looking at her with desire.” Fluttershy blinked, processing what her friend had just told her. She slowly retreated back into her mane as a blush invaded her face. Rarity gently nudged her friend to get her attention back. “I had been watching both of you, looking how you acted when we all were together. You looked at her from the distance with a sad expression, but it just… gradually changed. I certainly am quite interested in how this came to be.” Fluttershy fidgeted with her hooves. “You remember the envelope we found in the picnic basket?” “Of course,” Rarity answered quickly, her eyes brightening along her excitement. “I can only imagine how romantic the letter must have been. Yet another aspect of Applejack that I had no idea about.” Fluttershy shook her head. “It wasn’t really that romantic. It was simple, only one line, but it was really special. It made me understand just how great she is.” Rarity smiled warmly. “If you don’t mind me asking, what did she write?” Fluttershy looked again in the direction of the apple farm. “I hope I can make you as happy as I feel whenever I’m next to you,” Fluttershy said with regret, her face filled with sadness, the blush disappearing. “Darling, what’s wrong?” “She has always thought of my happiness first.” Fluttershy ears dropped. “Did you know that she went to my house to apologize?” “I certainly had no idea.” “She did. She apologized for… for kissing me, for making me uncomfortable. She cried. Even when she was hurting, she thought she was the one who did wrong. After what happened… Happiness is the last thing she will feel when she sees me.” Fluttershy dropped to the ground, covering her face with her hooves. Rarity sighed. “You are probably right.” Fluttershy felt a pang in her heart, hearing her friend confirm what she had just said. “You’ll have to do something about it.” “But what can I do?” The pegasus asked, a tinge of desperation in her voice. Rarity moved Fluttershy's hooves, allowing the pegasus to look up at her. “You have to make her happy. Ask her out.” “What? But I… I can’t do that. After what happened, how could I–” “Fluttershy, it was a simple misunderstanding, it’s better to forget it and focus on the now. Right now, you want this. You want her, and I’m pretty sure she still wants you.” Fluttershy’s face gained again a red color. “S-she does?” “But of course!” Rarity exclaimed with conviction. “Now stop hesitating and go find her! Tell her that you are sorry, that you want her and that you will take her out on a date! Let her make you happy, and you be sure to make her happy in return!” Fluttershy looked at her friend with awe, feeling her body fill with energy and hope thanks to her speech. “You are right,” she murmured. “You are right!” Fluttershy stood on her hooves, running in the direction of the apple farm. Her wings unfolded, beating once, twice and thrice before taking of to the sky. “Bye, Rarity!” Fluttershy shouted as she flew away. Angel Bunny looked at his caretaker getting farther away, leaving him forgotten. “Come on Angel, I believe I still have some carrot cake left in the boutique,” Rarity said, as she trotted to her home. The little bunny just shrugged before chasing after the unicorn. Fluttershy landed just outside the Apple house, hesitating for just a second before shaking her head and steeling her nerves. She was going to do this, and she was going to do it now. She would walk to the door, knock and pour her feelings to that mare. Fluttershy got in motion, standing in front of the door and lifting her hoof, just one last moment of doubt that she quickly got over as her appendage met the wooden door. The door opened, revealing the matriarch of the Apple family on the other side. “Good afternoon, Granny Smith. Its Applejack home?” “Ya are the one that broke my granddaughters heart,” Granny said, glaring at Fluttershy. “Get out of mah property,” she slammed the door on Fluttershy’s face. Fluttershy was stunned, looking at the door while playing the words of the older mare again and again on her head. She felt how the courage and determination slowly left her body, letting her head hang low. She slowly turned around, walking away from the Apple residence. “Miss Fluttershy!” Fluttershy looked back to see Big MacIntosh, who had just come out from the Apple house, trotting to catch up with the mare. “I’m really sorry about that.” Fluttershy shook her head, letting her gaze fall to the grown. “She’s right, I broke Applejack’s heart. I shouldn’t have come.” Big Mac stopped the mare before she could even move a hoof. “Ah haven’t had the pleasure to really get to know ya better, but with the little things ah have seen and heard from mah sisters, Ah know that ya didn’t intentionally do it. Am Ah right?” “I-I would never intentionally hurt one of my friends… But I still did it. I hurt Applejack.” “But ya came to talk to her today and apologise, right?” Fluttershy gave a small nod. “Miss Fluttershy, right now, that’s what is important, not what happened in the past.” “I…” Fluttershy hesitated for a moment. “I really want to see Applejack, but after what Granny said, I don’t know if I should–” “Don’t mind what Granny said. She’s a bit angry, but once all of this gets sorted out, she’ll be back to normal… But we better move to somewhere she won't see ya,” Mac said, looking around. “Over there is a good place,” he said, signaling towards a path that ran through one of the orchards. Both of them walked along the path, with Mac leading the way.   As she followed Big Mac, Fluttershy noticed one thing. “Is your leg completely healed? I see you're not limping anymore.” “Eeyup. Just went yesterday to see the Doctor. Gave me the A-OK,” Mac said happily. “That’s good to hear,” Fluttershy said happy for the stallion. After a moment of walking in silence, Big Mac finally stopped and looked back at the mare with a serious expression. “Miss Fluttershy, may Ah ask ya somethin’?” Fluttershy nervously looked at the stallion. “Uhm… sure, what is it?” “Do ya really feel somethin’ for me?” Fluttershy blinked, repeating what Mac had just asked her in her head as her cheeks gained a pink hue. “W-what do you mean? “Ah’m askin’ if ya still feel attracted to me,” Mac said, keeping a neutral expression on his face. Fluttershy took a step back, surprised by the sudden question. “I-I-I… How did you kn–” “Yes or no?” Fluttershy looked at Big Mac, who remained expressionless, his voice with the same neutrality. She hadn’t really thought much about it in this days… Or being more precise, she hadn’t thought about Big Mac at all. She remembered the last time she had seen him and how she had been so nervous, wondering if she looked good. Big Mac, to her, was still a great stallion. He was quite attractive and nice. That’s why she had developed a crush on him… Well, that and because Big Mac was the only stallion she talked to at all. But that was all it was, a crush that hadn’t lasted for long. Back then she had only imagined herself going out with a stallion. Dating mares was something that had never crossed her mind, and that was still the case. She didn’t think about dating other mares, she only thought about dating the most speciall pony she had ever known, the pony who always acted in a gentle and caring way for her. Her mind couldn’t stop thinking about her and their time together. Her eyes being unable but to look for her every time she was nearby. Her heart beating like never before whenever she thought of being more than friends. “No. I-I don’t really–” “Ya like mah sister,” Big Mac interrupted, his face and voice still as stoic as before. Fluttershy didn’t hesitate to answer this time. “Yes. T-That’s why I came here. I wanted to tell her and… and see if she still feels the same.” The stallion finally smiled at her. “She does,” he said, turning around and resuming his walk. Fluttershy looked down, feeling happy to heard that. She was also a little curious to know how the stallion knew how she had felt for him. She looked around for a second, spotting the stallion with a good lead ahead of her before running after him. “Big Mac… Uhmm, how did you know that I… That I used to… Uhmm.” Big Mac looked at the mare from the corner of his eye, remembering how Applejack had been acting distant this week. The thing was, she had only been acting distant towards him. When he had finally asked why she was like that with him, she had just remained silent at the beginning, but after some insistence, she had simply answered: “Because she loves ya” with a face that could only be interpreted as complete defeat. He didn’t really need any kind of clarification of whom his sister was talking. It did surprise him that the yellow pegasus was interested in him… But that just wouldn’t happen. It didn’t had much to do with his sister liking that specific pegasus, or that the pegasus wasn’t his type of mare. He would be lucky to have the gentle and quiet pony as marefriend, but he had his eyes on another gentle and quiet pony. Big Mac stopped once more. “This is as far as Ah go.” Fluttershy looked with confusion at the stallion, not sure what he meant with that. Before she could say anything, the stallion turned around and walked back. “Where are you going?” “Ah believe Applejack and ya could use some privacy to talk,” Mac said as he got farther away. “What? Where is she?” Fluttershy asked, looking around for the mare. “Just keep walking in the direction we were going, ya will find her at the top of the hill,” came the voice of Mac from the distance, with the stallion already lost behind the trees. Fluttershy stood still, worried of moving towards the mare, but she just couldn’t go back. There was nothing to gain by giving up at this point, when she was this close. While she felt a bit worried, not sure of what she would say to the mare at the end of the road, she didn’t had a doubt that she did want to see Applejack as soon as possible. She moved forward, the words of Rarity and Big Mac filling her with courage. Applejack still felt something for her. With each step she took, she only felt more and more eager. Fluttershy had finally left the orchard behind, moving up the hill where she could see a single apple tree. Fluttershy could feel her heartbeat quickening as she got closer, spotting an orange body under the shade of the tree. “A-Applejack?” Fluttershy called out, slowing her pace until she completely halted. Fluttershy smiled as she took a good look at the mare who was lying on her side, sleeping soundly. She couldn’t help but think how beautiful and calm the mare looked like that, with her tousled mane and her coat slightly covered with dirt, her hat toppled near her head. Quietly, Fluttershy rounded the mare and sat next to her. She would wait there for the mare to wake up. She wanted to be the first thing that the mare saw when that happened, and the first thing she would do would be pour her feelings. A gentle breeze blew over the hill, causing the orange mare to shiver. Without even thinking, Fluttershy extended her wing covered her friend with it. The country mare unconsciously pulling closer to the pegasus. “Mmm ...ttershy,” Applejack mumbled in her dream, with the other mare smiling widely at that, feeling warm inside. She felt giddy after hearing that the mare was dreaming about her. Applejack’s hat moved a little as the wind blew again, a little stronger than before. Fluttershy quickly held it down with a hoof and pulled it closer, gently placing it on top of her friend. Fluttershy wasn’t sure how much time had passed. To her, it didn’t feel that long, but it must have been at least two hours as the sky gained a beautiful orange tint, with the sun slowly approaching the horizon. A yawn to her side caught her attention. The mare under her wing beginning to stir. Fluttershy looked quietly as Applejack lifted her head, their eyes meeting. A small smile showing on the country mare as she slowly leaned closer, locking her lips with the pegasus. Fluttershy’s eyes widened, completely caught off guard. Images of the previous kiss she had shared with Applejack flooding her mind. But this time, it was different. She didn’t freeze, completely conscious of what was happening as she enjoyed and returned the kiss. She lifted a hoof to cares Applejack’s cheek, but as soon it made contact, the orange mare pulled back, a look of panic on her face. “Oh buck,” Applejack said, shrugging of the wing on her back and jumping away from the pegasus. “F-Fluttershy?” Fluttershy stood up. “Appleja–” “Ah didn’t mean it!” Applejack shouted, taking a shaky step back. “Ah… Ah thought it was a dream! Ah swear!” “Applejack,” Fluttershy started. “It’s okay. I–” “No. It’s not okay! Ah said Ah wouldn’t do it and here Ah am, forcing mahself onto you again!” Applejack said, her whole body shaking. “Ah’m sorry, Fluttershy. Ah… Ah just keep screwing things with you! Ah s-should just stay a-away.” She turned around and rushed down the hill. Fluttershy looked at her friend running away, just like when Applejack had learned the truth about the letter, or when she had ran away after apologizing to Fluttershy. But unlike those times, Fluttershy wouldn’t let her get away. She quickly took up to the sky, easily closing the distance between the two from above. She dove down from the sky and tackled the orange mare to the ground, both of them tumbled over, rolling down the hill a short distance before they stopped. Fluttershy found herself on top of the other mare, who was looking up in stunned surprise. Fluttershy took this chance before Applejack could recover and push her off to lower her head and capture the country pony lips with her own. Fluttershy did her best to pour as much passion as she could in the gesture, just like she remembered Applejack had done that first time. Fluttershy broke the kiss, breathing heavily and feeling light headed. She looked into Applejack’s widened eyes, gently caressing her cheek, unable to hold the words inside. “I love you, Applejack.” Applejack blinked once, twice, thrice before her eyes started to burn as they gradually filled with tears. “This really is a d-dream after all,” she said, covering her face with a hoof. Fluttershy pushed the hoof out of the way. “This isn’t a dream.” Applejack’s face crumpled, with the tears now freely flowing down her cheeks as she cried. Fluttershy managed to roll both of them over, swapping their positions so she could wrap her hooves and wings around the orange body. “I’m sorry it took me this long to realise it,” she whispered on the mare’s ear. “I really love you, and I want nothing but to make you happy.” The sun hid in the distance and let the moon rule over the sky, the stars helping it, decorating the sky. Two ponies not even bothering to look at the beautiful display, as one was too busy crying in happiness, and the other running a hoof up and down the mare’s back, feeling content.