Bringing your marefriend to meet your family was, most ponies would agree, a stressful time. Applejack prided herself on her cool, calm demeanour, but inside she was shaking like a leaf. Fluttershy, the complete opposite of cool and calm, was visibly trembling. Her wings fluttered anxiously, her tail swished, and her eyes darted back and forth, constantly searching for escape.
Then again, Fluttershy was always searching for escape. A pony like her didn’t live very long without being either very quick or very aggressive, and Fluttershy certainly wasn’t the latter. And she had lived a very long time indeed.
Truthfully, Applejack wasn’t sure which of the two of them was more nervous. If the night went bad, she might lose her family, her reputation, and her marefriend before morning. Then again, if things went worse, Fluttershy might not live to see the morning at all.
“It’s gonna be okay, Shy.”
Applejack gave her best reassuring smile. Fluttershy tried to smile back, but it was a weak smile at best. Not the smile she’d fallen in love, certainly. Ironic that a pony who could only go out at night would have a smile so radiant.
“Um, Applejack?”
She looked up. “Yeah, Shy?”
“We... don’t have to do this right now, you know. We could do it next week. Or maybe next month! There’s really no rush.”
Applejack sighed. “I know, sugarcube. But we’ve been over this. You know I’m not much of a liar. My kin are bright folk, they’ll figure us out sooner or later.”
“I know, Jackie. It’s just... you’ve already given up so much for me.”
“I’ve given up... Shy, your family won’t even look at you anymore.”
“They weren’t my family!”
Applejack was surprised by her volume, but not as much as Fluttershy was.
“Sorry!” Fluttershy squeaked out.
“Hey, it’s alright. We all got strong feelings when it comes to family. Just mine are pretty good feelings and yours... not so much.”
Fluttershy nodded, and looked at the ground. Her wings continued to flutter in agitation.
Applejack leaned up against her as they walked.
“Hey. Shy?”
“Yes?” Fluttershy was looking right at her.
Her ruby eyes weren’t tearing up, but they were concerned.
“You know I’m a terrible liar, right?”
That got a smile out of the pegasus, at least. “You’re... not very good at it, no.”
“So you know I ain’t lying when I say this.”
Fluttershy nodded expectantly.
“We’re gonna get through this. You and I have both been through rough patches, before uwe met and after. And we figured it out, didn’t we?”
“Mhmm.”
“My Granny’s a fierce old bat, if you’ll pardon the phrasing.”
Fluttershy giggled a little bit at that. That was certainly a good sign.
“But she loves her kin, and she’s relentless against anyone who harms them. Once she sees you’re the first type, our troubles are as good as over.”
“I hope so.”
The Acres were coming up into view now. The old orchard looked a bit spooky this time of night, but neither of them were ones to jump at shadows. Unless the shadows jumped back.
Fluttershy’s flightiness seemed to get worse for every step she took closer to House Apple. Not for the first time, Applejack wished she had a wing just so she could hold the mare closer when she was fretting like this. Certainly it made Applejack feel better to be under her wing... not that she’d ever admit that.
She settled for entwining Fluttershy’s tail in hers. The poor thing nearly took off at first contact, but once she realised what was happening she smiled and cozied up. The two walked the rest of the path in silence. Maybe Fluttershy’s wings stopped fluttering because she felt better, maybe it was just AJ’s barrel restraining one of them. Either way she’d call it a win.
There was a lamp lit on the porch. Granny Smith was sitting in a rocking chair, waiting for the two of them to approach.
“Applejack! Where have you been, the food’s getting cold!” she admonished.
“Sorry, Granny! Got a little caught up on the way here.”
Behind her, she heard Fluttershy paw at the ground. They both knew they were late because Fluttershy had needed convincing to come in the first place.
“Well, at least you’re here now.”
Applejack headed in, followed by Granny Smith. Fluttershy hung back on the porch.
“Well, what are you waiting for, child? An invitation?” Granny called back.
Applejack froze. How could she have forgotten?
“Come on in, sugarcube.” she whispered.
Fluttershy gratefully smiled and stepped across the threshold. Applejack heard Granny muttering quietly behind them. Hopefully she could smooth this all over soon.
Big Mac was in the kitchen, working hard on supper. Applejack wasn’t sure what it was, but it certainly smelled delicious.
“I’m home, Mac!” she called.
The big stallion nodded, not looking up from the stove. He had a remarkably gentle touch for cooking for his size. How he could even add a pinch of something with those hooves had always puzzled Applejack, but somehow dinner always came out perfectly seasoned.
Apple Bloom was sitting at the dining room table, polishing her cutlass. The poor filly could barely swing the thing, but she kept watch on it like it was a newborn. Its tip glistened under the lamps in the room, clearly very sharp.
Applejack heard a quiet “eep” behind her and saw a very anxious Fluttershy, staring wide-eyed at the blade.
Apparently Apple Bloom heard it too. “You okay?”
Fluttershy just nodded. Sweat moistened her brow.
“She’s a mite nervous, is all,” Applejack said hurriedly. “Doesn’t get out much.”
Apple Bloom shrugged and went back to polishing.
“C’mon, Shy, lemme show you around.”
She led the trembling pegasus up the stairs to her old bedroom, closing the door quietly behind them. Even the soft “click” of the latch made Fluttershy jump. She shot across the room, ending up cowering under Applejack’s bed.
At this point, Applejack knew better than to ask if she was okay. Instead, she sat down next to the bed, leaning up against it.
“You know, it’s not too late to back out. I sure don’t like lying, but saying you aren’t feeling well is true as anything right now.”
Fluttershy didn’t respond.
“I know you feel like you’re sort of in the wolves’ den right now, but--”
“I’ve been in a wolf’s den, actually.”
It was almost too quiet to hear, but Applejack had trained her whole life to hear what didn’t want hearing. A skill that came in quite handy when Fluttershy was nervous.
“You have?”
“Mhmm. I was helping a momma wolf with a sick pup. She was very nice.”
“You were in a cave between a mom and her young? You’re braver than I give you credit for.”
“Oh, I was perfectly safe. Us, um, creatures of the night, we tend to stick together.”
“Ah. Suppose that makes sense.”
They sat in silence for a moment. Fluttershy probably because she liked the quiet, and Applejack because she’d wasn’t sure what to say. Slowly, surely, Fluttershy crept out from under the bed, leaning up against Applejack.
“Are you going to tell them?” Fluttershy finally asked. “About what I... am?”
“I won’t lie. Especially not to family.”
Fluttershy whimpered.
“That don’t mean I’m just gonna let them drag you out back either, though. You remember when we met your clan?”
Fluttershy nodded, suppressing a shudder.
“You know I can hold my own. I don’t fancy going against my kin, but... You’re worth that, Shy. Not many ponies I can say that about, but you’re just as much my family as the rest of them.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Huh? What’re you apologising for?”
“For making everything so... complicated for you. Your life was so much easier before I came along and messed everything up.”
“Don’t think it was so much ‘easier’ as ‘lonelier.’ If some family strife is the price of getting to fall asleep with a beautiful mare, then I suppose I’ll just have to pay it.”
Fluttershy started to say something else, but Applejack cut her off with a kiss. It was the best kind of interruption, really. If she did her job right Shy wouldn’t even remember what it was she wanted to say afterwards.
With an acrobat’s grace, she looped her forelegs under Fluttershy’s and yanked the surprised pegasus out from under the bed and against her barrel. She gave tremendous squeak, before being silenced once again by Applejack’s muzzle.
A horrible, pessimistic part of Applejack’s brain told her that this might well be their last kiss together. She dismissed the thought immediately, but supposed it couldn’t hurt to enjoy it just mite more than usual.
She didn’t know how long the two of them were at it, but she did know the usually-timid pegasus was kissing quite aggressively when Granny Smith called from downstairs.
“SOUP’S ON, EVERYPONY!”
The two of them extricated themselves. Applejack got up and stretched, reaching for her hat. Before she could set it on her head, though, Fluttershy was grooming her disarrayed mane with her tongue, carefully sorting it back into place.
“Those ain’t feathers, you know,” Applejack chuckled. “Though if you want some, it looks like yours could use a once over.”
Fluttershy squeaked, retreating and preening herself quickly. Pegasi instincts were mighty strong, it was lucky this one was so adorable.
Satisfied they didn’t look too much like two ponies who’d just snuck off to make out, the two of them headed down the stairs toward the dining room. The rest of the apple clan was already gathering around the table, Apple Bloom’s precious cutlass swept thoughtlessly to the side.
Somehow the scents from earlier had gotten even stronger and more enticing. A giant bowl of spaghetti sat steaming proudly in the center of the table. A still-bubbling pot of Bologneighse was placed carefully on a trivet. On either end of that display were a colourful chopped apple salad and a big plate of breadsticks.
It was a good thing Applejack’s manners were so deep seated, else she’d be muzzle-first in that pasta before she could think twice.
As it was, she took her seat patiently, trying her best not to salivate.
Fluttershy was still nervous, but it was obvious that their ah, discussion upstairs had improved her spirits. She sat down in her chair and tried to smile at the Apples. It was hard to do while hiding behind her hair, but Applejack knew she was doing her best.
Hopefully the food would distract both of them. Once everypony sat down, the bowls and plates made their way around the table. Applejack heaped on everything she could get her hooves on - being an earth pony was hungry work at the best of times, and today had been trying. She wasn’t above trying to eat a feeling or two.
Looking over at Fluttershy, she realised the mare had only served herself salad and plain pasta. A sinking feeling hit her stomach as she realised why, and she said a silent prayer than nopony else would notice.
“Don’t you want some garlic bread, sugarcube? You’re skinny as a post!” Granny Smith scolded.
The poor pegasus blanched, somehow turning her yellow coat even paler.
“Uhm, no thank you,” she whispered.
“You sure? It’s mighty delicious!” Apple Bloom added.
“I’m sure it is, but I think I’m okay.”
Big Mac narrowed his eyes at her. “You got something against garlic? You didn’t touch my sauce neither.”
“Uhm...”
“Matter of fact, those teeth of yours are mighty pointy too,” Granny Smith added. “Something you ain’t telling us?”
Apple Bloom was looking elsewhere, at something Applejack couldn’t quite make out. She leaned forward, trying to see what it was.
“Sit up straight, Applejack. Don’t be rude,” Granny Smith chided.
Just as Applejack was about to retort, Apple Bloom gasped and pointed.
It was a mirror, down the hallway across from the dining room. In it, four ponies were seated at a dining room table. A certain pegasus was notably, unavoidably, painfully absent.
After that, everything happened quickly. Granny Smith pulled a throwing dagger from her hair. Big Mac somehow located a crossbow and levelled it at Fluttershy. Even Apple Bloom retrieved her cutlass from the end table it ended up on.
And between her family and her marefriend, AJ stood on two hooves, completely unarmed.
“AJ... step away from the vampony,” Granny Smith said slowly.
“Can’t do that, Granny.”
“I know this is tough to accept, but she ain’t a normal pony.”
“I know that, Granny. I ain’t moving.”
“You... knew? You brought that thing there into our house?”
“She ain’t a thing, Granny. She’s my marefriend.”
“The hay she is! What have you done to my granddaughter, you beast?”
Granny Smith addressed the last comment though Applejack at Fluttershy.
Applejack could hear the mare whimpering, even over all the yelling. She raised her forehooves, covering as much of the mare as possible.
“Now here's how it's gonna be,” Applejack started.
“Who put you in charge?” Apple Bloom demanded.
Her cutlass glinted in the lights of the dining room.
As much as she hated to do it, in the back of her mind she was calculating her odds. She could take Apple Bloom, of course, bless the little filly. Big Mac and Granny Smith would both be a challenge on their own, though, and she was unarmed.
Hopefully it didn't come to that.
“I’m in charge because y'all aren't thinking straight.”
“I’m thinking plenty straight, AJ.” Big Mac's crossbow was unwavering. “You brought a monster into our home, and I don't intend to let it leave.”
“We swore an oath!” Apple Bloom yelled.
The filly putting on a brave face, but her voice wavered. She was scared. Well, fair enough, Applejack was pretty well terrified too.
“We swore an oath to protect the weak from those who wish them harm. Now who do y'all think is which right now?”
“What are you saying, AJ?” Big Mac asked.
“I’m saying Flutters over here is shaking like a worm in a chicken coop because y'all have half an armory pointed at her! Does she look like she's about to hurt anypony?”
Apple Bloom put down her cutlass.
“I think we should hear her out.”
“Hay no!” Granny Smith's eyes narrowed. “That monster has my AJ in some kind of thrall! She ain't thinking straight!”
“Um.”
Everypony looked at Fluttershy in surprise, Applejack included.
“I’d like to say something. Um, if that's okay.”
“She’s gonna put us in a trance with her words!” Apple Bloom cried.
She grabbed her sword again, backing slowly away.
“Apple Bloom, that's sirens.” Applejack shook her head.
“Oh. Right.”
Big Mac and Granny Smith didn’t lower their weapons, but they didn’t stop Fluttershy from talking.
“You’re all right. I’m a vampony. But...” She cut them off as the Apples moved to reply. “I don’t think we need to fight. I’d really rather we didn’t, actually. I love Jackie very much, and she loves all of you, and I... well, I know what not having a family feels like.”
“Shy...” Applejack moved to comfort her, but stopped when she realised she couldn’t while still shielding her
“I know there are vamponies out there who do bad things. A lot of them are really mean, and when I didn’t want to be mean they... did some really not nice things to me.”
“And you expect us to believe you’re not like them?” Granny Smith asked, clearly still skeptical.
“She ain’t,” Applejack said. “You know how I found her? She was sleeping in a gutter, taking care of a litter of kittens whose mom had abandoned them.”
“They were the sweetest things.” Fluttershy smiled for the first time since coming downstairs. “I hope they’re doing well now.”
Granny Smith frowned, then lowered her weapon.
“Granny?” Big Mac didn’t lower his, but he looked over at her.
“Taking care of kittens ain’t like raising foals, Mac. They need constant care, twenty-four hours a day, for weeks. You don’t do that on a whim.”
“Maybe she was just trying to fatten up up!” Apple Bloom glared. “Vamponies drink blood. Right?”
“Vamponies can,” Applejack corrected.
“Say what now?” Big Mac asked.
“I don’t actually do that... thing anymore.” Fluttershy explained quietly. “I never liked it, so I stopped. I got really sick, but eventually I got better. Now I just eat like a regular pony.”
“Did you know they could do that?” Applejack asked Granny Smith.
“No, I didn’t. Don’t reckon most vamponies know that either.”
“Seems to me,” Applejack said, “We’ve been going about this all wrong. Vamponies don’t need to hurt anypony else. Changelings don’t need to feed on love. What else don’t we know? Maybe Werewolves don’t need to lose their minds. Sphinxes might just need somepony to talk to. Think of all the good we could be doing if we didn’t shoot bolts into everypony who looks at us funny!”
Applejack glared right at Big Mac. After a tense staring contest, he sighed and shouldered the crossbow.
“I think there’s only question I have left,” Granny Smith announced. She walked around the table, motioning for Applejack to step aside and showing that she was unarmed.
Applejack did so, but she stayed within striking distance. Things were going well so far, but she knew fortunes could shift at a moment’s notice.
Granny Smith looked Fluttershy up and down. The pegasus’s earlier confidence had faded quickly, and she was once again looking like she desperately wanted to sink into the floor.
“Fluttershy, was it?”
Fluttershy just nodded.
“Are you taking good care of my AJ?”
“She...” Applejack started to respond, but Granny Smith shushed her with a hoof.
“I want to hear this from Fluttershy.”
“I...” Fluttershy stood up. “I would give my life for her.”
Granny Smith grinned. She turned to Applejack.
“AJ, your father showed me I was a fool once. We’d been fighting with the Pears for long as anypony can remember, and he went and married one. I was hopping mad at first, but it turned out they were just ponies, same as all of us. Seems to me like you’ve done that again. Bright Mac’d be proud of you.”
Applejack smiled. That was all she could do, because she certainly wasn’t going to cry in front of her family and her marefriend.
“Fluttershy, welcome to the Apple Family.”
Suddenly Big Mac and Apple Bloom were there too, wrapping the frightened pegasus in a big hug. She squeaked, but once she realised what was happening she softened into the embrace.
They broke up eventually, Granny Smith admonishing them for “letting the food get cold.” Spaghetti was doled out, salad served. Big Mac even found some bread that didn’t have garlic on it for Fluttershy. Everything was going well enough that Applejack was suspicious, just waiting for the other bit to drop.
“So,” Granny Smith finally asked. “When’s the wedding?”
It was going to be a long night.