//------------------------------// // Family Matters. // Story: Keeping Secrets // by Stunt Monkey //------------------------------// The next morning. Boxing awoke in a sudden shock, the Nightmare kept repeating in his mind every time he tried to sleep. The orange mare sleeping next to him stirred and opened her eyes, he noticed he was lying on a familiar bed. Soft rays of sun leaked in through the window, "Ya' have that dream again?" Applejack asked groggily. "MmHm" Boxing nodded. "It happens every time, I fall asleep and I see myself standing there with Sunny. We are watching a show mare boasting and preforming magic tricks, and when he walks up to me, we hug. And then... everything melts." Boxing whipped the blanket off of him and got out of bed, he walked over to the window and looked out. Celestia's sun was rising slowly, at the same time, the loud sound of a rooster crowed. Cock-a-doodle-doo! Well, at least I got some sleep. "Box, why don't you come back to bed so we can finish what we started last night." Applejack said lustfully, stroking the bed sheet in circles with her hoof. Boxing walked back over to the bed and climbed in, he kissed her on the nose and put his hoof to her stomach, stoking her. Applejack twitched and giggled. "You know Ah'm ticklish there." "I know." Boxing said as he leaned in and kissed her, soft and gently, it lasted for a few seconds before he pulled away, Applejack opened her eyes and smiled at the stallion. *** Six ponies sat down at the large breakfast table. Applejack, Boxing Glove, Granny Smith, Rainbow Dash, Big Macintosh and little Apple Bloom too. Many plates of baked good and bowls of fruit were laid out in front of all of them, there was an awkward silence in the room as Granny Smith eyed Rainbow and Boxing. "So, when are y'all givin' me great grandfoals?" Granny Smith blurted out. "-KOFF!- Blar... Granny?! Why would you say somethin' like that!? And in front of small Apple Bloom too." Big Macintosh hollered. "Y'all think Ah' don't know what's goin' on? Mah' folks build this farm! An' me and yer' Gran Pappy rebuilt it! Ah' know y'all are ruttin' behind those walls." Boxing, Rainbow, Big Macintosh and Applejacks faces went bright red. "What me and your grandson do is none of your business!" Rainbow shouted, which quickly escalated into arguing. Well, this is awkward. Applejack nudged Boxing in an attempt to get his attention away from Rainbow's argument, he looked to her, she scrunched up her face and nodded her head towards the elderly mare. "We should tell her." she whispered, Rainbow and Macintosh were still arguing loudly with Granny Smith. "Ok, fine." Boxing felt defeated, he wanted to keep this a secret as long as possible. He pushed back his chair and stood up, BANG! BANG! BANG! he bashed his hoof down on the table loudly. It caught every ponies attention. "Ahem." he cleared his throat. "I think it's about time. We have something really important to tell you." every pony stared at him, a small quiver of fear took over his body. "And when I say we, I really mean Applejack. AJ, you tell 'em." Boxing chickened out and sat down in his chair once again. "Son'bitch..." Now all eyes were on her. "Fine..." She stood up and playfully punched Boxing in the shoulder. "Me an' Boxin' are havin' a foal." The room was silent, Rainbow was trying to hold in her laughter, while Big Macintosh and Granny Smith darted a sinister expression at Applejack. "Y'all hate me now don't ya'?" Rainbow burst out giggling. "Shut up RD, this is serious." "Damn straight, I owe Rarity fifty bits. Why couldn't you wait until Pinkie got knocked up? I had money on this." "Pinkie ain't even into stallions." Applejack retorted. Rainbow's smile faded. "Well, Ah'm happy for the two of you, 'bout time." Granny Smith hooped off her chair and walked around the table full of food to Boxing and Applejack, she pulled the both of them into a warming hug. A moment passed and Granny Smith walked back to her side of the table. "Speaking of Pinkie Pie, I need to go see her today about the Zone's ice cream supply, apparently she has eleven new flavours." Boxing spoke. Boxing leaned over and kissed Applejack on the nose. "Alright. Ah'll come visit after I finished doing some morning jobs round the farm." Boxing got up and left, heading right for Sugarcube Corner. *** "Hiya Punch!" Pinkie shouted excitedly as Boxing entered the building "Pinkie Pie! You've know me for over six months, how do you still get my name wrong? Boxing Glove! Not Punching Glove." Boxing huffed in a small rage. "Relax Boxy! I know what your name is, I just like to play a little joke every once in a while." Pinkie giggled. "Come with me to the store room, you can taste my new flavours in private." Pinkie Pie said as she walked towards the door leading to the store room. "Good idea, we'll have to make this quick though, AJ will come looking for me shortly." Boxing followed her. 10 Minuets Later "Boxin'! Ah'm earl..." Applejack stopped speaking. She stood alone in Sugarcube Corner, which was strange, she could have sworn that she told Boxing that she'd meet him here. "Now where in Equestria could those two have gone?" Applejack walked around the room, finding nothing. "Woah! it's so BIG! Mmmm! It tastes to good! I want more." Applejack heard Pinkie Pies voice boom from across the room. She trotted over to the door that the sound was coming from, slowly she pressed her ear to the hard wood. "Okay, okay. Just hold still I don't to spill it all over your face or the floor." Applejack heard her lovers voice speak. "I don't care, I'll lick your cream off the floor if I have to, it's so gooooood! Mmmmm," She moaned. "don't stop! More! More!" Pinkie shouted on the other side of the door. Applejack turned around and bucked the door open, even though she could have just opened it with a gentle nudge of her hoof. "Just what in the hay is goin' on here?" "Oh hi Applejack! You can help us taste ice cream, my favourite is vanilla! What's your favourite? Chocolate? Strawberry? Caramel? NO WAIT! Let me guess... Is it apple?" Pinkie Pie drawled on about how many flavours of ice cream were her favourite. Applejack looked to Boxing, and sure enough, in his hoof was an ice cream cone balancing four scoops of ice cream on top. "Hi AJ. Gee Pinkie really loves vanilla ice cream. Would you like some?" he offered the ice cream cone in his hoof to her. Applejack shrugged. "No, but thank you for asking." "More for me then!" Pinkie Pie shouted as she dived for the cone in Boxing's hoof, taking it all in along with most of Boxing's foreleg. "Pinkie, gross." Pinkie opened her maw and released him from her grip. "Oops, sorry Boxy." *** Meanwhile, at Carousel Boutique. Rarity and Stryker collapsed in a pile over each other, their manes were ruffled and damp with sweat, a result of their love making, that lasted through most of the night and most of the morning. "Oh Stryker, Darling. That was incredible, we have to go again." Rarity said with enthusiasm. "I'd love to... -Huff- Rarity, but I am exhausted." Stryker panted heavily as he rolled over to his own side of the bed. "You used that same excuse for the last three times, and that didn't stop you." Rarity retorted. "-Huff huff- Raity, you wanted a foal. I think... -Huff- I gave you one... -Huff- or two." "Really? Do you think we could?" Rarity asked, filled with excitement. "Rarity," Stryker rolled over to face her. "You know I love you with all my heart. Having two foals would be the greatest gift I could ask for, but I don't think I'm even ready for one." he placed a hoof on her cheek and stared into her eyes. "I'm doing this because I love you." he leaned in and kissed her on the nose. SLAM! The door burst open, Tropical Punch stood there with a shocked look on her face. "How could you?!" her cheeks were already stained with tears. Oh great, here we go. She must have been listening from the other side of the door. Stryker thought to himself. "Tropical, darling what is the matter?" Rarity asked. "You haven't told her?" Topical looked right to Stryker, Rarity did the same. "Told me what, dear?" she raised an eyebrow. "Rarity, I meant to tell you sooner. I just wanted... I don't... No. Here it is. The truth is, me and Tropical have been involved for the last few days... Romantically involved." Stryker finished and tried to hold a smile. "You have been rutting one of my best friends, your employee, behind my back?" Rarity said calmly. "Yes, I know. You must absolutely hate me right now, I'm the worst kind of pony. I don't deserve your love." Stryker fell silent. "Stryker, I'm really disappointed in you. I'd like you to leave now." Rarity said, Stryker lifted himself off of the bed and walked over to the open door where Tropical was standing. "Rarity, I want you to know. I love you." Stryker said before he left, Tropical followed him. "Go away Punch." he reached the front door and turned before leaving. "Don't bother coming into work tonight, you're fired." This is the worst day of my life. Boxing was right, I am a terrible pony. To Be Continued...