//------------------------------// // Secrets Revealed. // Story: Keeping Secrets // by Stunt Monkey //------------------------------// That Afternoon "She's been in there for hours." Rainbow Dash whispered, she had her head pressed up against the wooden door to Applejack's bedroom. "Maybe she's sick?" Big Macintosh suggested. "Nah, she was fine this morning. When she rushed in earlier, she was crying." Rainbow pulled her head away from the door and looked back to Big Macintosh. "I think somepony upset her." "D'you think Boxin' had somethin' to do with this?" "Maybe. Let's go ask him." Rainbow said. Swiftly trotting down the staircase with Rainbows brilliant plan in mind, the both of them headed straight to Ponyville to confront Boxing. "Uagh... Finally they're gone." Applejack groaned to herself as she rolled out of her bed. She walked over to the locked door, unlocked it and stepped outside. She too had the wise plan of going to Ponyville, but not for the same reason Rainbow Dash did. *** "Why, Applejack darling? Please, do come in. Would you like some tea?" Rarity invited the sad looking orange mare at her front door inside, Applejack didn't speak, she just collapsed onto a nearby couch and started crying. Rarity galloped over to her and sat by her side, putting her arm around her shoulder. "What's the matter Applejack?" "Rarity, Ah' don't know what to do." Applejack managed to say as she collapsed into Rarity's embrace. "What ever do you mean darling?" Rarity asked. "Ah'm pregnant with Boxin's foal." She sobbed. Rarity's jaw dropped as she heard what Applejack had just said, she shifted in place uncomfortably for a moment as she tried to process. "Are you absolutly sure?" Rarity asked. "Yes. The doc told me this mornin'." Applejack wiped her eyes with a hoof. "How did this happen?" Rarity barked. "Well, It could'a been any number of time-" "No no no. I meant, did you not take any precautions?" Rarity interrupted. "Well, I've been eatin' some herb from Zecora. She said it would cancel the... Well, you know." She pointed to her stomach with a hoof. Rarity took her hint and quickly placed her hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "Applejack darling, I suggest you make haste and tell Boxing Glove what has happened. I'm absolutely sure he will be over the moon with joy." "Really?" "I'm positive. After all, Stryker and myself never keep secrets from each other." *** "I have to keep this a secret from Rarity forever!" Stryker pressed forward again, locking muzzle's with his employee pinned under him. Tropical moaned and pulled away, "I don't care if she finds out." she pushed forward again, losing herself in the euphoria. Stryker hoisted him self up, his unsheathed penis was ready to penetrate her. When suddenly the door slammed open. "Boxing! Ah' need to-OH SWEET CELESTIA!" Applejack quickly covered her eyes with her hoof and backed into the closed door behind her. "Applejack?! Oh my- uh- I can explain!" Stryker quickly removed himself from on top of Tropical and walked over to Applejack. "Just listen, I can explain." "Explain what Stryker? I just saw you two just about to hump like rabbits." "It's not like that, I swear." He paused and took a seat on a nearby couch, Tropical trotted over to join him. "The truth is Applejack, I think I have feelings for Tropical." Stryker smiled at Tropical, she playfully licked him on the nose. Applejack scrunched her face in disgust. "Stryker, how long has this been going on? You and Punch?" "Just this morning. Something you said yesterday made me think." He swung his arm over Tropical's shoulder. "Even if I can't have Rarity, treat her like a queen and take her all over the world, I know that I still have other ponies that will love me. What would you do if you did something that would make Boxing stop loving you?" "Shut up! Ah' came here to tell Boxing the truth because we love each other and we trust each other." Applejack shouted, Stryker jerked his head up. "The truth? Truth about what? What truth are you talking about Applejack?" Applejack scrunched her face up again once more as she tried to think of anything she could say that would stop him asking questions, fear ran through her like a train. "Nothin'! Just tell me where Boxin' is!" "He's upst-" Stryker didn't even get to finish his sentence as Applejack trotted straight up the staircase to her right, she made a right turn and found Boxing in his room, standing upright, hitting a red punching bag hung from the ceiling. Applejack charged in. "Did you know 'bout this?!" "Yes AJ, I found out this morning, Rarity is going to be torn." His arms dropped as he stopped hitting the punching bag. "An' you didn't try to stop 'im?" Applejack asked. "AJ, Stryker is... Well I guess you can say he's lucky." Boxing sat on the edge of his bed. "What do you mean?" "That red die on his flank. Do you know what's it for?" "He said it's for gambling." Applejack joined him on the edge of his bed. "Yes, that's true. But that die is for all games. Poker, Black Jack, heck even Bowling and Tennis. That's not how he sees it though, he thinks that the 'Lucky Dice' will help him keep Rarity." Boxing wrapped his hoof over Applejack's shoulder as she nuzzled into his chest. "But, he's wrong?" Applejack said. "That he is." Boxing brought his other around and embraced her into a hug. "Applejack, I want you to know that I will always love and I will never betray you, unlike Stryker." "Really? Always?" Applejack pulled her head back and faced him. "Always." He smiled gently. "I'm pregnant." Oh...... THUD! *** "Boxing! Can you hear me?" A distant familiar voice called as Boxing felt a blast of wind in his face, he forced his eyes open, but only saw complete darkness. Where in Equestria am I? Wait a second! The darkness around him started to fizzle and wobble as it began taking shape, giving depth and colour to the strange nightmare-like dimension. "Boxing! Wake up!" he instantly recognized it as Stryker's voice. "Stryker?! -er -er -er!" Boxing's voiced echoed. The darkness had completely vanished as Boxing saw the all to familiar village before him. Hoofington? I haven't lived here for two years. coloured blurs started taking shape as ponies, the blurs were crowded together around what looked like a big purple and blue wagon. Wait! I remember this. "Stryker?" he called out again, there was no echo this time. Boxing walked up to the crowd of ponies, pushing past to see what all the fuss was about. It was an azure mare with a purple wizard hat and cape decorated with stars, preforming various magic tricks. Right at the front of the crowd was himself? Boxing stood shocked as he looked at himself this weird nightmare version of himself was slimmer and slightly shorter, standing next to him was a pegasus with his wing draped over his younger clone and tail entwined with his. "Sunny?" he said to himself, the pegasus turned around and trotted towards him. "Box, you need to wak- oof!" Sunshine was cut off when Boxing reached out and embraced him tightly, almost tackling him. "This is incredible! How are you here?" Boxing started planting kisses all over his face and hugging him tighter every second. Something was off, the pegasus in his hooves was as cold as ice. "Box, you need to wake up." Sunshine repeated. "What?" Boxing stopped and gave a confused look. "This is just a dream, I'm dead. I died five years ago. You need to wake up." "No! It can't be, thi- ouch!" Boxing felt a harsh invisible slap across his face, all the colour around him started to melt and wobble in and out of shape. "No, Sunny! Don't leave me." the pegasus began wavering and wobbling as his entire body started to melt into a puddle of goopy colours. "Box, you need to wake up!" Boxing felt another slap across his face. His eyes blinked, the next moment they opened again, the world around him was back to normal. Stryker and Applejack were looming over him to his left and Tropical Punch was standing to his right. "Box! You need to wake up!" Stryker yelled as his swung his hoof across Boxing face once more. "Ouch! What was that for?" Boxing rubbed his cheek. "Oh thank Celestia, you're awake." "Why'd you wake me up! I was right there with him." Boxing pushed his brother away. "We woke you up because you blacked out and you were having some sorta' nightmare." Applejack retorted. "Nightmare? But it felt so... It felt so real." Boxing sat up, that's when he noticed he was on his bed, he leaned up against the huge wooden oak headboard. "You saw 'im didn't you? Sunny I mean." Applejack spoke. "I did. He was right there in my hooves." "Alright, we'll leave you two be, come on Punch." Stryker and Tropical left the room with a concerned look on their faces, the door closed behind them with a soft click. "Is it true?" Boxing asked, trying to avoid looking into Applejack's eyes. "Yes." She responded calmly. "Are ya' mad with me?" She scooted up to him and snuggled up to his left side. "No, I'm not mad. I guess I was just shocked is all," Boxing moved his hoof up and placed it onto her belly. "who else knows?" "Rarity. I told her." Applejack said calmly. "You know, I get that you are the Element of Honesty and all. But sometimes your too honest." Boxing laughed gently. *** That Evening. Knock! Knock! Knock! "Rarity? Are you home? I need to talk to you." Stryker called after he knocked on her door. "It's open dear, come in." Stryker obeyed and entered her home, in front of him, he saw Rarity and Tropical Punch sitting on Rarity's favourite cushions, each sipping a glass of wine. "Oh... I see you two have met." Stryker said nervously. "We live together darling." "Oh... hehe, right." He rubbed the back of his neck with a hoof. "Punch? Can I talk to you for a moment?" His eyes darted to Rarity just as she nonchalantly took a sip from her glass. "In private?" Tropical placeed her wine on the small table between her and Rarity, "Sure thing boss." she said as she stood up and walked over to him. "I thought you were here to talk to Rarity though?" Crap, this is really bad timing. "I was... but uh- since your here, kill two problems with one stone right? hehe." The two of them slipped into the kitchen, leaving Rarity to herself. Stryker peeked out through the slit of the closing door, after a short moment he turned to Tropical Punch. "What are you doing here?!" "I live here!" She retorted. "No! I mean with Rarity? Please tell me you didn't tell her about us?" He begged. "No, of course not!" She huffed. Stryker planted his lips into hers, Tropical let out a soft moan. Stryker pulled away and whispered. "Okay, now I need to talk to Rarity, privately. Go help Box out at the Zone, I'll pay you extra." He winked. "Alright." She turned and pushed the door open walking up to Rarity. "Terribly sorry Rarity, but Boxing needs some help out at the club." She downed the rest of her remaining wine and trotted to the door. "Don't wait up. Ta-ta." "Goodnight." Rarity waved at her as she left. Stryker walked over to her and sat where Tropical had previously sat. "Rarity, the reason I came here was because I've been keeping a secret from you." Stryker looked into her eyes. "I know Stryker, I've known since this morning." Rarity finished her wine. "What?! And your calm about this?" Stryker was confused. "Yes, in fact one day I hope we can have one of our own." Rarity said as she poured herself another drink from the wine bottle held in her magic aura. "Wait, what?" "Applejack's pregnancy, she told me this morning." "APPLEJACK IS PREGNANT?!" Stryker shouted. "Please, keep your voice down. Did you really not know about this?" "No, this is the first I've ever heard." "Oh please darling, you can't tell Applejack that I let it slip. She would be absolutely furious with me." "I won't." Silence fell over the room, both ponies sat awkwardly. "So... You want to have a foal?" Stryker broke the silence. "Yes, it's true. I know that my beautiful figure would be ruined for a year, but it's all worth it for our own bundle of love." Rarity took another sip of her drink. "Well, I think being a father would be incredible. When you decide on this Rarity, I will be ready to support you." Stryker scooted over to Rarity's side of the table and placed his hoof around her, embracing her into a hug. "What about tonight?" Rarity lifted her head off of his chest and looked into Stryker's eyes. "Are you absolutely sure?" Stryker's glance was intense. Rarity leaned up and kissed him on the nose. "Positive." *** "Hello Boxy, Stryker sent me here to help out." Tropical said as she entered the club and walked behind the bar. "What for? It's a dead night." Boxing lifted a hoof and pointed, Tropical noticed that almost no pony was in sight. She saw Twilight lying down next to Cheerilee on the soft cushions, over on one of the tables, Big Macintosh was nursing his own beer while he talked with Caramel. "Well, I'm still getting paid extra." She said. "Very well, but it won't be much." Boxing retorted. "Oh, no. I'm not getting paid money, Stryker and I have this thing where I scratch his back and he gives me a taste of his delicious vanilla co-" "OKAY! Did not need that image." Boxing scurried to cram his hooves into his ears. "heh- Sorry." "It's okay, just go measure the levels of the cider barrels and when you've done that, dry the freshly cleaned glasses." Boxing said. "Yes boss!" Tropical saluted and started her given tasks. Boy oh boy, business tonight is incredibly slow. Then again it is a weekday and we don't have any acts booked in. I wonder if Applejack ever get's bored working on the farm? Although in her condition she shouldn't be pushing herself, I'm sure Big Macintosh can handle it himself for the meantime. Boxing's glance drifted over to the red workhorse drinking his beer. He has nice, strong, big muscles. Oh Luna's Mane, what in Equestria am I thinking. To Be Continued...