Out in the fields, Applejack was hard at work. She was doing what she did best, effortlessly bucking apples out of the trees. She was in such a rhythm she didn’t even notice Big Macintosh walk up behind her. Setting herself up for another buck, she was shaken out of her trance when she heard somepony behind her.
“Hold it there, AJ!” shouted the muscular red stallion.
“Big Macintosh! Ah didn’t even notice ya there, big brother. Whatcha need?”
“C’mon inside. Lunchtime,”
“What?! It’s noon already?!” yelled the orange farm pony.
“Eeyup.”
Applejack tore out of the field, leaving a confused Big Macintosh in her wake. Shrugging, the stallion figured something important was going on and leisurely trotted back to the farm house. ‘How could Ah have forgotten?’ Applejack scolded herself. ‘Ah can’t believe it! Ah totally forgot about today, and now Ah’m later than Granny Smith waking up from her nap!’ she increased her speed, silently continuing to scold herself for being so forgetful.
“Hey, Applejack!” she heard from the sky.
“Sorry, Rainbow! No time!” yelled the orange blur. Rainbow Dash just smiled, looking at the direction Applejack was headed.
Almost at her destination, she pushed herself to speed up a little bit more. The years on the farm were paying off, giving her a nice speed advantage over the average pony. As she rounded the corner, the cottage came into view. Applejack smiled and kept running. ‘Almost there!’ she told herself. Slowing herself to a slow trot, she took the chance to catch her breath and wipe the sweat off her forehead. There was only one thing left to do now, and that knock. Raising her hoof to knock, the door swung open to reveal a brightly smiling Fluttershy.
“Applejack! I’m so glad you’re here! I was thinking that um… that you wouldn’t come…” the yellow Pegasus began to frown, as though Applejack was here to make some sort of excuse about why she couldn’t stay.
“Now, Sugarcube. Ya know Ah’d be here! Ah wouldn’t miss spendin’ time with you for the world! Ah just… lost track o’ time on the farm. When Big Mac told me what time it was, Ah ran straight over!”
Fluttershy smiled, “Come in, Applejack.” She ushered the orange pony inside and gave her a peck on the cheek as she passed her. Applejack blushed and continued her way into the cottage, Fluttershy closing the door behind her. Meeting in the kitchen, Fluttershy suggested Applejack go and sit on the couch while she put on some tea.
“You got it, sugarcube,” the earth pony obeyed and made her way to the living room. Meanwhile in the kitchen, Fluttershy was getting her thoughts together. ‘Applejack and I have been dating for almost month,’ the Pegasus thought to herself, ‘I’d like it if we could celebrate it like a normal couple.’ The whistle of the kettle broke her free of her thoughts. She fixed the tea and brought the tray to a patiently waiting Applejack. Setting the tray on the table, Fluttershy curled up on the couch with her mare.
“Thank ya for the tea, darlin’,” said Applejack. She could feel Fluttershy smile on her shoulder as she nuzzled in closer. The two ponies sat together and talked about, well, nothing while they sipped away at their tea. They both really enjoyed their time together, they could sit and do nothing and it would still feel special; it was special. As the mares finished their tea, Fluttershy sat up. Applejack saw that she looked nervous or unsure about something, she put a hoof on Fluttershy’s.
“Ya look like ya need to say somethin’, sugarcube.” Said Applejack, subtly trying to coax her thoughts out of her. “What’s on yer mind?”
Fluttershy sighed, “Applejack, I’ve wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Well then, go on. Ya know Ah’d never judge ya none.”
Taking this as a go-ahead, Fluttershy started, “Well, I’ve been thinking… How long have been dating?”
“Four weeks next Wednesday,” answered the pony, confused and a bit scared at where this was leading.
“Right,” smiled Fluttershy. Now any and all ‘bad’ thoughts were pushed out of Applejack’s mind, the smile was reassuring. The Pegasus continued, “and I’ve been thinking that I’d like to celebrate it. Like a normal couple…” she trailed off and worry set back in with the farm pony.
“Ah know where yer goin’ with this, ‘shy, and Ah don’t think Ah can do it.”
The Pegasus frowned, “Applejack, please. I like spending time with you, don’t get me wrong, but I’d just like to be able to you know, um… go out.”
“Ah know ya would, sugarcube, but Ah don’t know… Granny Smith might not take it as well as Big Mac. She’s the one Ah’m worried about gettin’ angry with me. And what about the other girls? What’ll they think!?”
“Applejack, I know it’s hard. We could do it together if you think it would make it any better.” Fluttershy smiled and gave Applejack a nuzzle.
Applejack’s ears perked up, “Ya know what, Fluttershy… Yer right! But Ah think Ah’d only be able to do it with you by mah side. And if ya don’t mind… Ah’d like to tell the girls first.”
A happy squeak escaped from Fluttershy, accompanied by an ear-to-ear smile. “Oh, thank you, Applejack! Now we can finally be like a regular couple!” Wrapping Applejack in a heartfelt hug, she gave the mare a warm kiss. The kiss lasted for what felt like forever, but that didn’t bother either pony. In fact, that’s just what Fluttershy wanted. But all good things must come to an end.
Breaking the kiss, a blushing Fluttershy looked at a blushing Applejack. “Umm… Applejack?”
“Yes, sugarcube?” answered the glowing orange pony.
“Don’t worry about telling the girls, I’m sure they’ll be happy for us. But if they have any problems with it, I’m sure Rainbow Dash can make them see that it’s not all that weird.”
“Rainbow Dash?” questioned Applejack, “Just what in the hay does she know?”
Fluttershy began to panic, ‘What if she’s mad that I told? What if she never wants to see me again because I promised to not tell anypony else?’ Reluctantly, she started, “Well… she knows.”
“She what!?” yelled Applejack, but quiet enough to not hurt the shy Pegasus’ feelings. After all, there would need to have been a good reason why Fluttershy told her.
“Well, you see… Rainbow Dash has been my friend for a long, long time,” Applejack nodded. “And she noticed that something was off about me a few weeks ago. She’s known that I’ve been a… a…”
“Fillyfooler,” finished Applejack.
“Yes,” frowned Fluttershy, “since Flight Camp. I’ve always known I didn’t like colts, and she was the only person I could confide in. My parents have always thought of me as a disappointment.” Applejack looked at Fluttershy.
“Sugarcube,” she started, “yer not a disappointment. Yer the best thing ta ever happen to me!” She gave Fluttershy a hug and she took it as a sign to continue her story.
“Thank you, Applejack.” Fluttershy smiled. “So she noticed something was off about me, that I seemed happier than usual. I couldn’t keep it a secret from Rainbow of all ponies, so I told her about us. I knew she’d be able to keep it a secret when I told her I hadn’t told anypony else. Please don’t be mad, Applejack.”
Applejack took a moment to process what she just heard. “Ah could never be mad at ya, sugarcube! Ah just wish ya would’a told me ya told somepony else is all.” She gave Fluttershy a kiss on the cheek and smiled, “If you trust Rainbow, then so do Ah. Now what say we go an’ round up the girls an’ tell ‘em the good news?”
Fluttershy squeaked what sounded like an ‘okay!’ and gave Applejack a quick kiss on the cheek before jumping off the couch. Applejack followed the yellow Pegasus to the door and they started out to gather their friends. First stop; Sugarcube Corner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The group of five mares arrived at Twilights’ library home, Fluttershy knocked on the door.
“Oh, hi Fluttershy.” Twilight poked her head out of the door some more to greet the rest of the group, “Hi, girls. What brings you here?”
“Umm… Twilight,” Fluttershy started. “Are you busy? I mean, do you have a few minutes to talk? There’s something important that needs to be said to you and the rest of the girls.”
Twilight looked at the clock, “I guess I have some time in-between lessons, come on in everypony.”
The ponies exchanged pleasantries with each other on the way into the library. Finally, they all gathered in Twilight’s den for Fluttershy’s announcement. Confused expressions crossed the face of everypony in the room (except for Rainbow Dash, who stood there smiling,) when Fluttershy and Applejack stood in front facing the four girls.
“Girls,” started Fluttershy. “We um… Applejack and I uh… have something to say…”
Applejack took over, “What Fluttershy here is tryin’ ta say is we’re… ‘together’.” Nopony said anything. “Fillyfriends,” she finished.
Smiles crossed the mouths of the other three ponies, joining in with Rainbow Dash. All at once, they started talking to and congratulating the mare couple, who then joined in the sea of smiles. Applejack put her foreleg around Fluttershy, who in return gave Applejack a kiss on the lips, which sent a wave of cheering through the library.
Fluttershy looked at Applejack, “What did I tell you, Applejack?” she smiled.
“Ah guess you were right, sugarcube. They took it mighty well.”
“Of course we took it well!” a certain pink pony chimed in, “and this calls for a par-tay! No, wait! Make that two!”
“Applejack, dear,” ‘Just what Ah need,’ she thought, ‘a lashin’ from Rarity.’ “you simply must come by the boutique some time! We’ll get you ready for a night on the town when you two decide to go public!”
Twilight looked at the two mares, “I’m really happy for you two. I wish I could find somepony who shares my passion for books…” she sighed. “But honestly, don’t let me bring you two down! I’m happy that you trust me, us, enough to share your secret.”
Rainbow Dash stood there and smiled at her best friend since they were both fillies, and her fellow Element of Harmony. ‘You did it, Fluttershy.’ She thought to herself. ‘I’m proud of you, you really did it.’
With a kiss on the cheek from Applejack, Fluttershy spoke up, “I want to thank you girls for being so understanding, friendship really is magic. Applejack and I are lucky to have friends like you girls -”
Applejack continued, “but we’ve got another matter o’ business ta take care of, so we best be on our way.” The group disbanded rather quickly, but not before thanking Twilight for her hospitality and giving the two mares their blessings.
Side by side, Fluttershy and Applejack began to walk towards Sweet Apple Acres where the orange farm pony had taken off from hours earlier. Not long after the couple left Twilight’s library, a familiar cyan pony landed almost perfectly in-step with the two mares. Rainbow had startled Fluttershy, and as a result she pressed herself into Applejack as a means of feeling safe.
Rainbow looked at the yellow Pegasus and apologised, “Sorry, Fluttershy. I didn’t mean to scare you,” she sounded sincere. “But I just wanted to say that I’m proud of you. I remember the day you told me that you didn’t like colts, and now with Applejack you look really happy.” Smiles lit up the faces of all three ponies. “I think I know what you’re heading off to do now, good luck. Oh, and Applejack, look out for Fluttershy.” With that, Rainbow Dash flew off, back to her home in Cloudsdale.
Applejack looked at Fluttershy, “’Shy… Ah’ll always be here for ya.” Fluttershy gave her mare a nuzzle as they continued walking, that was her way of saying thank you. Before long, they came to the gates of Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack looked worried, and Fluttershy knew she needed to provide some encouragement.
“Applejack,” she started. Applejack’s ears perked up, “I know you’re worried about what might happen when you tell your family. But just know that like you’re here for me, I’m here for you. If they don’t accept us, then it’s their loss; you’re a fantastic pony and I… I love you.” The words were a confidence boost for both of them.
“Ah… love you too, Fluttershy.” Fluttershy let out a squeak and leaned in for a heartfelt kiss, but it didn’t last long. There was business to be done.
“And if they do accept us,” added Fluttershy,” all the better!”
The mares began to walk down the dirt road leading to the farm house, confidence evident in their steps. Applejack opened the door to the house and motioned for Fluttershy to go first, earning a blushed smile from the shy pony. Passing into the kitchen, the mares passed a playing Applebloom and a relaxing Big Mac. Finding Granny Smith in the kitchen was going to make this easy.
“Everypony,” started Applejack, “come into the kitchen if ya please. Ah got somethin’ to tell ya’ll.”