//------------------------------// // A Family Afffair // Story: AppleShy: The Series // by solsticebrony888 //------------------------------// A Family Affair As a filly, Fluttershy was just discovering her passion for animals and living creatures in general (Except for full-grown dragons of course) she never really had any crushes as at a young age and was pretty reserved growing up. She still considered herself as a mare who liked colts, just never really had the courage or motivation to try and find love, because she was quite content with just taking care of all kinds of creatures. Applejack on the other hoof, was always trying to impress a colt she was interested in. Pulling all the tricks she knew just to get a chance to spend time with one. Not once did she think about a mare in that way back then. Now everything was different. Fluttershy was the first confess her feelings, which even surprised herself. She couldn't have been happier when Applejack admitted she had the same feelings for her. They may not understand why they feel so attracted to each other, after considering themselves ponies who only likes colts, but they knew they were more happy as a couple, than as friends. After a wonderful sleep, Fluttershy woke up, curled in her bed, content and comfortable. She blinked a few times trying to get a grasp on the past few days for her. All-in-all they had been wonderful. All the worries she had had before all of this, all of the apprehension of hiding her feelings are now gone, and as she lovingly thought of Applejack, she realize this is only the beginning of something wonderful. Adding to this, So far she and Applejack have been accepted by her friends for their choice, and even praised by their spastic friend Pinky Pie. After giving herself a few minutes to fully wake up, the Pegasus pony let out a happy sigh and floated out of bed, promptly making it. She said hi to one of her birds perched on her window, then trotted downstairs, her hooves making a very slight clicking noise on the wood. Hearing this from downstairs, Angel the rabbit waited impatiently for her food. "Oh, Angel, your food. I'm sorry," Fluttershy said softly. She thought about where she kept the bunny's food, and then went to her kitchen and came back with the bunny's carrot. Less inclined to argue due to hunger, Angel grabbed the carrot and merrily hopped out to his little house in Fluttershy's backyard. Pleasantly surprised, The shy pony made herself comfortable on her couch and began to recap Pinkie Pies party in her mind, which was thrown in her and Applejack's honor. It was a wonderful party, with heart-shaped cupcakes, good music, and friends one-by-one congratulating her and Applejack on their new-found affection for each other. She remembered one specific moment when Ponyville's more well-known mare-couple, Lyra and BonBon, came to say their kind words to her and Applejack. They gave good advice, and asked them out to dinner. Fluttershy loved the idea of a 4 mare double-date. BonBon, who did most of the talking anyway, specifically told Fluttershy to just stick by Applejack if things around them got bad. Her new friend really calmed her mind about being with another Mare. Too her, she was just being with someone she truly loves. After trotting around her home, doing her regular chores that she's done a million times before, she decided it would be fitting to make her way to Pinkie's to thank her again for such a wonderful party. She nodded in approval of her own thought, because Pinkie Pies house was on the way to Sweet Apple Acres, which is where she could find Applejack. Applejack...the yellow mare thought. Her heart skipping a beat at the thought of the Earth pony. "She's...perfect," she said in her soft voice, blushing lightly. The pegasus quickly checked her mane too make sure she looked nice for her mare. She left another carrot on the entrance to the backyard for Angel, gave some food to her mice that live in the hole in the wall. Now that she was all finished with her chores and feeding her animals, she trotted out the door, just to be stopped not 4 steps out by a voice to her left. "Fluttershy, we need ta talk sugarcube," the Earth Pony said half, head lowered and breathing heavy. The Pegasus squealed, then lowered her head in embarrassment until she saw Applejack standing there, exhausted. Fluttershys heart sank,at the sight of the stressed earth pony. ,"Oh Applejack.. um what do you need, I'm sorry.." she said, trailing off. "Ah told ya about Apple Crisp and Ambrosia right?," She said less a question than a statement. Who she was referring too were the eldest ponies besides Granny Smith who run the apple family. Apple Crisp and Ambrosia manage pretty much everything that each farm that the family owns across Equestria is doing. They make sure each is ran well and productively. That's their main purpose in the family. 2 ponies manage the family almost as a company until they're too old and then relinquish the positions to someone more capable, I.E Big Macintosh who's only slightly younger than them. Applejack continued ,"Well, they ain't that fond of us bein' together. How in the hay they found out, Ah don't have a clue, but they got in a huge argument with Big Mac and Granny Smith over it...i didn't even dare ta talk. Ah don't know who in the hay they think they are, but they got a lot of nerve insultin' THIS pony" The earth pony said, enthusiastically stomping her hoof on the ground for emphasis. "And hey, it's ma choice, not there's, they shouldn't be so uptight about it.," Applejack said with purpose. She turned her attention to Fluttershy who seemed to be taking Applejack's rejection a little different. "Awh, Fluttershy...don't be sad.." The orange pony mused, immediately comforting her, by her side. Applejack waited for a response, but didn't receive one. "Fluttershy..ah'm sorry..ah don't ever want ta see ya sad...Crisp an' Ambrosia just need to...Ah ain't even know...but ah have you and that's all ah need..." Fluttershy lifted her head up, confused by the last thing Applejack said, "D-did they kick you out Applejack?.." she lowered her head again. Without giving a straight forward yes or no, Applejack still answered her question, "I-it's not your fault sugarcube...ah shoulda' waited a Lil longer..it's too much for them ta handle...they juss aint used to the idea of two mares bein' together. Ah'll make sure they change their minds " Somehow.. The Pegasus looked up again and said "I didn't know that us being together would cause this..." her voice trailed off again. Seeing how sad this has made the shy mare, The earth pony's guilt gave her a bit of confidence, just to help Fluttershy calm down. Fluttershy looked at the ground, she couldn't look at Applejack to say what she felt obligated to say next, "We don't have to-" her voice trailed into a squeak, but she regained her composure quickly, "We don't have to be together if it keeps you from your family...That's unfair for you," Fluttershy said. To her, this whole situation was her fault for confessing her feelings in the first place. It hurt Fluttershy more than she expected just to say that. But Applejack had other things in mind, so the earth pony sighed, then said "'Shy, ah love that about you...always caring for others instead of tendin' to yourself, ...But it ain't juss you now, sugarcube. it's us.. and ah know we should stick together durin' tough times like this, juss like BonBon said," The earth pony moved closer to Fluttershy, nudging her lovingly near the nape of her neck, causing the yellow mare to blush. "It means a lot to hear that from you..." Fluttershy said, nearly in a whisper. Applejack could see that she was starting to feel better about it all. Applejack kissed her lightly on the cheek, causing her mare to blush even more, with a smile. Fluttershy nuzzled into Applejack a little more. If anything could make her feel better about this situation that she felt she caused, it was being next to Applejack. Soon enough she was nearly sleeping, forgetting the world around her, and the fact they were just outside her house. It took at least 20 minutes for the two ponies to realize they were still outside, distracted how comfortable they felt from being together, not that they minded. All they thought about was each other, and how great it feels to be in each others hooves. Applejack softly stroked the Pegasus's mane back and forth, while Fluttershy closed her eyes and just took it all in. "'Shy..ya awake?" Applejack broke the silence. She seemed to be more level-headed about the whole situation. Fluttershy yawned quietly, getting an immediate reaction from the orange pony. "Awhh darlin'" Applejack mused with a smile. "Yes?" Fluttershy leaned to the side to look at the gushing pony beside her. "Nothin', it's juss that ya have the cutest yawn," The earth pony said with an adoring smile while visibly repeating it in her head, thus causing Fluttershy to blush again. She wasn't at all used to this kind of attention. "Sorry Hun, go on," She said with a giggle. "Oh. Um, well I thought that, well if you're not going to live at Sweet Apple Acres anymore, um. Maybe you could stay with me for a while" she said, slightly surprising Applejack, who hasn't even thought about where she would live. ,"That is, um if it's ok with you.." her voice trailing off again "Sugarcube.." Fluttershy felt embarrassed for asking due to the silence before Applejack's answer, so she looked down nervously. "Ah'd love too. If they ain't gonna give me a chance to show that our love is real, then ah shouldn't have to pay no mind to what they think 'bout me movin' with ya," She said with a defiant grin, using her hoof to wipe some rogue hair from her face. Fluttershy smiled, "Oh that's great! I'm sure my animals will love you! Angels been needing so much extra attention lately, I'm sure he'd like a new friend! Oh this is just great!" The Pegasus exclaimed with a big smile. With a laugh the earth pony replied, "Well ah'll make sure not to scare your bunnies again. You being happy makes me happy..." Her charm even surprised herself. "That's ok, Applejack. You worked yourself too hard that day, you didn't know," Fluttershy said reminiscent of the day Applejack worked herself into exhaustion just because she refused help from friends. Finally realizing that they've been outside for a while, Fluttershy slowly got up and gave a hoof too Applejack to help her up. Then Fluttershy realized something. "I think somepony lost their hat,"she giggled, pointing to Applejack's slightly frizzed mane. Instinctively reaching for her hat, Applejack's hoof just met air. "Ah, this silly gal must a' lost it on the way here..." The orange pony chuckled. She contemplated going to search for it, even at the risk of running into family searching for her. Well they must be searching for me..even though ah'd assume they'd expect to see me here at Fluttershy's. "Well...should we go, um,go find it?" Fluttershy said, even though she assumed that Applejack didn't want to go at the risk of seeing some of her family around town. "Well, ah...-yeah, ma hats really all ah' have to ma name right now," She turned to Fluttershy with a smile, "Shall we?" Applejack mused, politely letting Fluttershy go first.