//------------------------------// // Chapter three: Pillow Thoughts // Story: The Appleshy Chronicles // by Flutterbrony //------------------------------// Fluttershy snuggled into Applejack to be as close as she could, feeling the partly-awake pony shift slightly to better accommodate her. Fluttershy closed her eyes. She was warm, she was happy, she was safe, and she was ready to sleep. Welcoming the darkness, she blocked out everything; except for Applejack. Listening to her breathing was like a lullaby, and soon she was fast asleep. The serene haze of dreamland came into focus, Fluttershy remembered this. This was the day her and Applejack became a couple. Though deep in her sub-conscious, Fluttershy managed to smile. She remembered this day like it was yesterday, and she didn't mind living it again at all. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Oh, hi Applejack," Fluttershy greeted the orange pony. "What are you doing here?" "Well, Ah was wonderin' if ya could lend me a hoof o' yers t'day. There are some squirrels on the farm an' -" "Say no more, Applejack!" the shy Pegasus cut her off. "Great! Well, uh... Ah don't need ya right away, but it's always nice ta have someone ta talk to ain't it?" Fluttershy smiled and followed Applejack outside, closing the door behind her. 'Maybe today I could finally tell Applejack my feelings...' thought the Pegasus. 'Oh, who are you kidding, Fluttershy? You could never tell her. Even if you did, she'd probably laugh at you.' Fluttershy frowned at the thought, but she was happy to be helping Applejack. "So what's the problem with the squirrels, Applejack?" asked Fluttershy. "It a'int a big problem," began Applejack. " just a few of 'em decided to climb into some trees Big Macintosh an' Ah were s'posed to harvest today. Ah just thought it would be best if Ah didn't hurt the critters, an' Big Mac agrees. So Ah came an' got you. Ah hope ya weren't busy." "Oh, no. I wasn't busy at all. In fact, I was thinking of coming to see if you'd want to keep me company today." "Well, it looks like Ah beat ya to it." Fluttershy smiled, "It looks like you did." They walked in silence until they crossed the fence into Sweet Apple Acres, Fluttershy spoke up. "So, um, where are the squirrels?" She asked. "Follow me," replied Applejack. They walked for a little while longer until they came to a tree lot with Big Macintosh standing by a tree, probably trying to get the squirrels out. "Hey, big brother." "Oh, howdy, AJ." answered Big Mac. "Ah brought some help, just like ya asked." said Applejack, pointing a hoof towards Fluttershy. "Good, we need it." Big Macintosh turned to Fluttershy who was smiling, "Ya think ya can get them critters outta these trees?" "Oh, yes," answered Fluttershy. "It won't be a problem at all." "Then we'll get outta yer mane, c'mon AJ." With that, the two farm ponies turned and let Fluttershy get to work. "Come on out, little squirrels," she began coaxing them out. "I'm not here to hurt you. In fact, I'm here to do the complete opposite." Busy at work, Fluttershy didn't even notice Applejack come back and hide behind a nearby bush. 'Woo-wee,' she thought. 'Fluttershy sure is beautiful, what with the sun shinin' off her mane an' all. An' she sure does have a way with animals. Ah mean, a half dozen o' them critters are already on their way back home.' At this time, Applejack knew that she wasn't going to let Fluttershy leave without telling her how she felt. She was worth the risk. Back on the other side of the bush, Fluttershy was getting out the last of the squirrels out of the tree, this gave Applejack the perfect opportunity to compliment her. The rustling of the bush startled Fluttershy, as Applejack emerged she bagan to feel calm. "Oh, hello Applejack," Fluttershy began. "I, um, got all the squirrels out of the trees." She said with a smile. "Ah see that, thank ya fer yer help, sugarcube," Applejack moved closer to Fluttershy. "You're welcome. I don't mind helping out," Fluttershy smiled. A serious look crossed Applejack's face, "Sugarccube... There's somethin' Ah've been meanin' ta talk to ya 'bout." Fluttershy's smile faded, "Oh, um... Okay..." "Ya see, Fluttershy. Fer a while, Ah've uhh, 'admired' you." Fluttershy's smile began to return. "An' Ah don't know what it is, but Ah have strong feelin's for ya. Ah understand if ya don't feel the same way, but Ah just needed ta tell ya..." "Applejack! I feel the same way!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fluttershy was awoken by the buzzing of her bedside alarm, well rested and what felt like later than usual. Groggily, she reached out to turn it off. Something didn't feel right. She was able to reach across the bed with no obstacles. "Applejack!?" she yelled out loud. Frantically opening her eyes to search for her mare, she found a note in her place. She picked the note up in her hooves, unfolded it and started reading. Good morning, sugarcube. I didn't want to wake you, you look adorable when you're asleep. I had to get back to the farm for chores, Granny Smith and Big Mac would be right angry with me if I wasn't there in time. I fed the animals for you before I left, just to make your morning easier. When I'm done on the farm, I'll come right back. I love you. - AJ Fluttershy put the note on the bedside table and got up and out of bed. Smiling, she went downstairs and started on breakfast. With the animals taken care of, she could relax for a little while before going into town to do a bit of shopping. Fluttershy started the kettle and put the toaster down. Waiting for the kettle to boil, she went over to the cupboard and got out the honey for her toast. It didn't take long before she heard a *pop* a loud whistle. Taking the kettle off the burner, she fixed her tea and toast. She took her tray into the den and quietly ate. "I wonder what Applejack is doing," she thought out loud. Feeling kind of lonely, Fluttershy decided to go see Pinkie Pie and surprise Applejack with some lunch cupcakes. 'Well, it wasn't lunch yet, but it will be soon!' she thought. Quickly enjoying the rest of her tea, she took her dishes to the sink and washed them. Shopping in town could wait, she was off to see her mare! The day was warm, Fluttershy enjoyed feeling the sun on her mane. The weather team had done a good job of clearing the sky. It was a nice day for a walk to Sugarcube Corner, a day there wouldn't be many left of. Winter was coming soon, and the thought of spending Hearth's Warming Eve with Applejack made Fluttershy smile. The walk into Ponyville was short, and Fluttershy was surprised to see the streets so busy. Even Sugarcube Corner was busy with ponies, eager to get their sugar fix. When Pinkie Pie saw Fluttershy walk in, she yelled a greeting from behind the counter. "Fluttershy! Hi!" Giving an enthuastiac wave, which Fluttershy returned less enthuastiacally. Pinkie was motioning for Fluttershy to come closer. Wading through the sea of ponies, she obeyed the pink pony. "What can I getcha, Fluttershy!?" Pinkie beamed. A few ponies closer to the front of the line groaned at the special treatment the yellow Pegasus was recieving. Pinkie ignored the protests and listened to her friend. "I was just thinking of getting some sweets for Applejack and I, I want to surprise her on the farm." answered the mare. "Oh! I know just the cupcakes!" An excited Pinkie Pie bounced into the back and returned moments later with two cupcakes with chocolate icing and pink hearts on top. "Pinkie, those are perfect," a smiling Fluttershy said. Pinkie responded by getting a small box to put the cupcakes in. "How much do I owe you, Pinkie Pie?" she asked. "You can't put a price on love, Fluttershy! These ones are on me!" "Thank you, Pinkie. You're a good friend." "Aww, it was nothin'! Hey! Are we still gonna have a party for you and Applejack?" she asked. "Oh, um, I don't know." "Well isn't there something special coming up? Anything?!" "Well, we have been dating for almost a month..." said Fluttershy. "When?! We can have a Monthiversary party!" "On, um, Wednesday..." "Then it's settled! I'll see you and Applejack on Wednesday!" shouted an excited Pinkie Pie. "You can come here, I'll have balloons and streamers, and cake and punch, and music and games, and -!" "Okay. I should be getting to Applejack, I'll see you on Wednesday Pinkie. Thanks again for the cupcakes." "Bye, Fluttershy!" yelled Pinkie Pie as she went back to serving her now angry customers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On the farm, Applejack was carrying a cart full of apples out of the fields. She looked up to the sky to get an estimate for the time of day. It was close to noon, 'Almost quittin' time,' she thought. As she got closer to the barn, she could see a yellow blur come slowly into focus. A smile crossed her mouth as she picked up speed. Quicker than it would normally take her, she was at the barn face-to-face with a smiling Pegasus. "Heya, sugarcube," she greeted Fluttershy with a kiss. "What're ya doin' here? Not that Ah a'int suprised or nothin', Ah just didn't expect ta see ya here." "Well, um. I just thought that maybe you'd like a surprise visit." "Well suprised Ah am! What's in the box?" "Oh. I went by Sugarcube Corner and picked up something sweet for us. Maybe we could consider it lunch." "A mighty fine idea, darlin'. It's close enough to quittin' time, so what say we grab ourselves a blanket an' fill ourselves up with cupcakes an' fresh apples?" A squeak of approval came Fluttershy, which resulted in Applejack quickly running inside the house and returning a minute later with a blanket and a small basket. "I'll follow you," said Fluttershy with an excited grin. Applejack lead her to a small clearing in the orchard and laid down the blanket. As Fluttershy curled up on the ground, Applejack went and put the basket under an apple tree. With a light-hoofed buck, she filled the basket up. Returning to the blanket, she placed the now full basket beside the box the cupcakes were in. Fluttershy opened the box and gave Applejack her cupcake with a kiss on the cheek. Seeing the heart on top, mixed with a kiss from Fluttershy made Applejack smile and blush. "Yer sweet, darlin'." she said. "The cupcakes were Pinkie Pie's suggestion," smiled Fluttershy. And like the night before, they ate and talked about nothing. They enjoyed just being able to be together without anypony else finding out and being upset. After finishing off the apples, Applejack looked at Fluttershy and kissed her. For no reason in particular, just because. The two mares curled up together on the blanket and fell asleep. Not out of fatigue, but out of just being together. It was a nice way to spend time with the pony you loved, wasting the day away. This time, it was Applejack who had the dream.