//------------------------------// // Photo Finished // Story: AppleShy: The Series // by solsticebrony888 //------------------------------// Applejack started to feel ancy during the last few tree's she was planning to buck. She couldn't help but think of the possible down-sides to being on top of a float, usually saved for a regular couple, with her and Fluttershy. She knew to others that it wasn't normal , and after being Fluttershy for a month and a half, she didn't care whether it was normal or not. Still, the idea of being ridiculed by ponies from all across Equestria didn't exactly get her exited, even if it was just an assumption. She tried to force herself not to be nervous; she didn't want to psyche herself out before they even told Twilight they want to do it! But the thoughts kept creeping back in her head, time after time. What if we are boo'd? What if they don't like us? As tough of a pony as she is, being in the spotlight in front 100s, maybe 1000s of ponies from all across Equestria made her more than just slightly nervous. It made her even more nervous to think of how Fluttershy felt, especially after being the one to convince her in the first place. After bucking her last tree, she assumed Fluttershy would be there any minute to meet her and decide one-and-for-all if they wanted to do this. Carrying the apples she just bucked behind her in crates, she made her way back to the farmhouse. She assumed since Fluttershy wasn't here yet, she could go in and be with her family a little bit, for a confidence booster. After she left the apples in their area, the orange pony entered their home. "Anypony home still,?" The mare said with an echo from up-stairs. A deep voice responded, "Eeeyup," Applejack sighed out of relief; the perfect pony to talk to when nervous is always Big Macintosh. She had already told him about the parade and her and Fluttershy's involvement, but she didn't feel nervous when it was still a whole day away. "Big Mac, where are ya?" "Kitchen," Immediately she made her way to the kitchen , sitting at the table across from her older brother. "The parade is soon i'int it?" The stallion questioned. "Yeah...ah'm, um starting to be a lil' nervous, ah kinda don't whether me and shy' should do this, ya know. Ponies can be cruel sometimes, and I ain't wanna put her through that," "Well, Nopony can be sure, But ah'm willing to bet they'll be happy for ya, not mad or nothin'" "But what if they are? What if they boo and Insult us?" "Stop thinkin' that nonsense. A lot of Ponyville know's bout you and Fluttershy anyways and they seem fine with it. It's not like you to be nervous, can't be good for Fluttershy," Applejack smiled slightly,” Hehe, ya think so? And ah know. Ah'm feelin' better juss talkin' 'bout it" Having something told to her that she already had assumed made the mare feel a bit better. "...Eeyup," "Thank ya kindly, brother. Ya always know what ta say to make me feel better, “After blowing a rogue piece of mane out of her hair, she continued ,"Speaking of the parade, are the apple pies, fritters and everythin' else ready?" "Yup, on their way now," At this time, they heard quiet, barely noticeable knocks on the door, so they knew Fluttershy was there. On her way to the door the orange pony said ,"Good. Thanks for helping so much today, sure are a big life saver!" The stallion nodded as the orange pony left, excited to meet her mare. Pleasantly surprised that Fluttershy didn't really look too nervous, it calmed Applejack’s conscious immediately. "Ya ready, darlin?" The orange pony said, after a kiss. "I, um...yes," responded the shy pony, as they started their walk towards Twilight's house. "If ya don't want to do it, we don't have ta, sugarcube. Ah won't be down in the hay about it or nothin'," Fluttershy shook her head ,"I...do. But i will be nervous...but us being the first mares to be there...just sounds like we'd be um helping a lot of ponies out there, like Twilight said...," Applejack beamed, “Well, ah agree totally. It's not like we're gonna the main float anyway, everypony’s gonna be waiting for Princess Celestia," "I know...that's why I'm doing this," Fluttershy got a little closer to Applejack and nudged her lovingly on the nape of her neck, causing her to giggle and blush. "I always feel better when you're with me..." "Ah do too, Sugarcube. Now let’s go show em what we got," She said, unsure about whether that statement made sense for what they're doing. <><><><><><><> Twilight Sparkle greeted the couple with a surprised smile. "Oh my gosh! You two came! Thank goodness! I was really stressing out. Come on in," The couple came in to a surprisingly empty home, the only other thing there was a sleeping Spike on a pile of books. "You may be wondering why nopony is here, they're already at the start preparing their floats for Celestia. Wait until you see Pinkie Pies! It's practically made of candy!," "Wait. Does that mean we're late?" Fluttershy questioned, slightly worried. She sat next to Applejack on the floor. "Oh, no. Your float is near the last. The other couples that will be on it are there already, probably wondering who's going to be at the top!" Twilight said with a giggle, while Applejack and Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief in unison. "Um, When do we have to be there?" Twilight used her magic to fly a clock in front of her. "22 minutes exactly," She said, thusly returning the clock to wall from which it came from. "Well, We might as well get there early. No sense In waitin' 'till the last minute. Ya comin' Twilight?" "Of course! I have to make sure the floats are ready," She sighed another heavy sigh of relief, as the three ponies left her home to make their way to the parade. ,"I'm SO glad you two came...I was so lost at who I was going to pick!" 'No problem, Twilight. What's our float look like?" Twilight thought for a second on how to describe their float ,"Ok, um, Your float is the one second too last, it's all pink and surrounded by even more pink banners, one that says 'Cutest new couple' under the top, which you guys will be at. It's not too high up, compared to where all the other ponies will be. There's only 2 or 3 other couples, but they've been together too long to be chosen to be the newest," Applejack grimaced at the thought of all the pink surrounding her. "Who are um, the other couples?" Asked Fluttershy with a smile. "Oh! Um, Derpy with DrWhooves...cute couple huh?? they've been on the float the past several years! and OH! Soarin the Wonderbolt, he's with somepony, but he said had to keep it a secret until it's time for the parade for some reason. I personally think it's Spitfire. A Wonderbolt with a Wonderbolt? DUH!," She chuckled ,"And the last couple that should be there is this couple from Manehatten, but their names escape me at the moment," "6 other ponies sounds 'bout right for a float," Applejack remarked pointlessly, having no clue what she was talking about. They soon turned a corner, into a slowly building crowd of ponies, most of which they have never seen before. It surprised all three of them, the turn-out now seemed like it would be higher than they expected, because so many were there already. Fluttershy gulped. Her visible nervousness motivated Applejack to be confident about it. ,"Ah bet they're going to cheer their heads off when they see us, Ah reckon!" "That's the spirit, Applejack!" Mused Twilight. Fluttershy seemed to feel a little better. The three ponies edged their ways through the crowd, until they turned a corner that the crowd wasn't allowed in. They then set their eyes upon a magnificent row of beautiful floats, all pulled by 3 stallions in the front, two in the back (for breaks) all attached by regular rope onto their muzzles. Each float represented something different for Princess Celestia to see when she arrived. The first being a float of Princess Celestia made by the fillies and colts still in school. It had a 'Welcome Princess Celestia" banner that streamed across the statues neck. Applejack and Fluttershy were very surprised at how good it turned out. The second float was of the Wonderbolts, all six modeled to look triumphantly flying with fake clouds and a sun in the background. The third was another of Princess Celestia with her shorter sister Luna at her side, clearly celebrating the return of the 2 rulers. After that was the float Fluttershy and Applejack would be on top of. They saw the other couples gathered next to it. After their float was the float Pinkie Pie made, a big candy bar, made out of tinier pieces of candy that would be passed out to the crowd afterwards. Behind the entire float was a group of marching band ponies, some holding up a big flag for Equestria, while most of the others had instruments. "I have to go, girls, I need to make sure everything is right for Princess Celestia. Your float's right there thanks again!" "No problem, Twilight. Anythin' fer a friend," Applejack then led the way to their float, which was all ready to go. "Um, Hi there Y'all!" She greeted the other ponies, getting a multitude of responses back. Both her and Fluttershy noticed Soarin there with nopony else, at least not seen yet. "Soarin', who're ya with?" Applejack questioned, knowing that he's probably been asked that by everypony else that was there. The blue maned stallion sighed "Well. I guess it's ok if we show now, the floats about to go off. Rainbow, you can show yourself dear," "...Rainbow?" Applejack repeated, not expecting the rainbow Pegasus of all ponies to be with anypony, not as an insult; but the fact that she assumed Rainbow Dash felt it was lame to be with another pony. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Me and Soarin' are datin'. Please don't make a big deal out of it," the rainbow Pegasus said, as she flew out from around the corner. "Wait, wuh?" Applejack squinted her eyes at them, “How are me and Fluttershy the newest couple if you 2 juss started datin'? Makes no sense, sugarcube," Soarin sighed, as Rainbow slowly flew into his arms ,"We've been together a lot longer than you think," Derpy and DrWhooves seemed uninterested by the whole conversation, while the other couple from Manehatten hadn't even showed yet. "W-well, um, Congratulations you two! Ah'm glad ta see at least one other pony me and Fluttershy know here," The orange pony said with a smile. "Thanks Applejack," Rainbow Dash said, "I wonder what Twilight's gonna do when she sees US on the float! Haha I bet she'd pass out!," The 4 shared a collective chuckle at the thought. Applejack changed her attention to Derpy and DrWhooves, "Hey, Y'all! Name's Applejack and this my mare Fluttershy, nice ta meet ya'll!" Derpy looked at Applejack and Fluttershy at the same time, "Hey! Hi, Yeah uh um, It's great to meet you, you're the ones going up on top right huh?" Applejack tried to look her in the eyes, but failed ,"Uh..Yep! Sure are! A bit nervous though, it's our first time doing somethin' this public together, ya know?" Out came a deep and slightly accented voice from DrWhooves, "We know how you two mares feel, our first time, back around 3 years ago, we were the ones up-top. If was absolutely marvelous. You two have absolutely nothing to worry about! It's quite fun, actually," He turned his attention to Fluttershy, who was admiring a bug ,"She's a quiet one, isn't she?" The Dr. said with a hearty chuckle. "Yep! As quiet as they come. Ah juss think it's adorable. She's the most caring pony ah ever met…ah mean, look! She’s distracted by some sorta animal as we speak" The orange pony said with a chuckle. "My GOSH, I Love ANIMALS," Said Derpy, sloppily jumping over to Fluttershy to see what she was looking at, consequentially scaring both Fluttershy and the bug, which flew away. "Awe. I'm sorry about that..." The mare apologized, lowering her head in shame. "It' s um, fine..." Fluttershy said, saddened about the bug. Scaring the Pegasus once more was a loud OMIGOSH from behind her. Pinkie Pie finally saw Rainbow Dash with Soarin'. Fluttershy darted next to Applejack to stay away from the pink ponies rampage of ecstatic jumping that was sure to follow. "That pony sure does have an extraordinary amount of energy!" The stallion remarked. "That's Pinkie Pie fer ya," At this moment, the stallions at the front of the float gave them the signal to start boarding, which was immediately followed by emphatic 'AWH YEAH' From Rainbow Dash. After a pink blob passed in front of the couples to make sure her float was ready, Applejack and Fluttershy went first. They climbed up, Applejack first. Fluttershy nearly tripped, which only worsened her rising nervousness. They entered the top part of the float, only about 5 feet above the rest, and sat in comfortable pink seats for the two. they were surrounded by a short wall, that they could easily see over/be seen from. After them, the rest of the couples boarded the lower floor. At this point, they saw the first float leave, and the marching band get up and get ready to start playing. "Ya ready, sugarcube?" the orange pony said, receiving a shy squeak in response. She put her hoof on Fluttershy's cheek and lifter her head up to look at her "Come on, 'Shy. There's nothin' to be afraid of, Ah'm sure this'll be fun," Not budging, Applejack sighed. The fact the float finally started to move didn't help Fluttershy's confidence. "You guys ready?" Said an exited Rainbow Dash ,"I am! I can't wait!" She flew down to Soarin' before either could respond. "Here," And with one long kiss, Applejack could see Fluttershy felt a little better. Maybe even a little dazed from the kiss she wasn't expecting. Just then, Their float then turned the corner into a huge crowd of ponies from all across Equestria.