//------------------------------// // Spring Heat, a Wonderful Season // Story: Spending Time with Applejack // by Tower of 0 //------------------------------// Applejack groaned loudly as she threw herself on the bed in her room. She was thinking that Ivory might have been driven off by the fact that he found her masturbating in his shower. Heat is a wonderful but terrible thing it seems. Even though Applejack may not be knowing of how Ivory is thinking right now. It's not like he would overreact or act irrational towards the act, she knew him better than most, but yet, had a burning passion for the artistic unicorn she had in her life. "Ah just don't know what to do." Applejack was speaking to herself, and a picture of her and Ivory. "Ah want you more than anythin', yet, you might as well be far out of mah reach." Applejack brought the picture to her chest and hugged it tightly, she didn't care that her leg was in pain right now. She was busy thinking about the only other stallion she knows best. The heat cycle was tearing at Applejack's heart more than the memories she has of Ivory. It was like it knew just exactly what she wanted, but was messing with the situation. She never knew how close he was to her heart until that day he left for Manehattan. Sure, the work on the farm made that year and a half go by quickly without him, but it was so odd only to see him for a little while before he went back. Applejack was more than happy to hear about his early homecoming. Her tears wouldn't be held back that moment the train arrived at the platform with her long-time crush. Applejack let out a content sigh, thinking about that summer, with a small grin plastered on her muzzle. She placed the picture back in its rightful place to turn on her side and gaze out unto Celstia's sun setting. Maybe she'd get out in a few days and do some small work that wouldn't involve her bad leg. Applejack's ear flinched a little at the sound of the dinner bell and slowly drug herself out of bed. She started to think about the days when Ivory did stop by for visits. He would help on the farm anyway he could no matter how much she had protested. Those thoughts were even present while she ate. But something was holding back, either it was for her or for him. Applejack couldn't shake that feeling no matter what. It was time to let her feelings show to Ivory, maybe if even he might not feel the same way to her. A risk this mare was willing to take all by herself. No push from anypony else, no push from anything, just Applejack and Applejack alone. --- Ivory finally finished the painting he was working on for a full month. Random thoughts and memories of Applejack crossed his mind. He had proven many times over that he would always be there for her. Ivory did grow up with Applejack to see that independent, beautiful mare she became. Wait.... He questioned his mind, ...beautiful? Ivory! This is your friend you're thinking about! But something felt... right.. to him to proclaim the mare he always known beautiful. Ivory shook his head clear of thoughts to check on the time. The sun was setting, dinner time. The piano stopped its sweet caress of melodies on the surrounding air. Ivory let out a sigh, he had to think about how he was going to approach the situation with Applejack. So far, he knew that ignoring it would not be an option, he cared for her. Probably more as a friend than he knows himself. --- Applejack was heading back up the stairs and off to her room in a slight limp. Luna's night sky had consumed Equestria with its stars to make it astonishing. She climbed into the bed and tucked herself in. Only one thing, or pony for this matter, occupied her mind. The heat was in full swing and it was ramping up the ante on Applejack's feelings for Ivory tenfold. What exactly is he to me? Applejack had that only question on her mind as she slowly fell asleep. There she stood, in an unending plain of grass. A voice in the distance calling out in a whisper. "Applejack," it beckoned in a tone all to familiar to the orange pony. "Applejack, come here." But where? Why was this voice beckoning her to follow its origin? Applejack might not be too sure about following the voice, but surely, she ventured forth. Through the grass she trotted, with no other signs of life around this plain. In an unestimated amount of time, that orange mare stumbled upon an oak tree, the leaves a bright green hue, that bark a dark chocolate, and the branches spreading themselves wide. The tree stood alone in the distance, as if it has been here for longer than it seemed. It looked so familiar to Applejack though, but what was that one missing little detail? As the orange mare circled the trunk of the oak, that missing detail became visible. A memory had placed itself in her dream. There it was, that single memory that might have sparked the feelings Applejack felt for Ivory. Some odd years ago, when both friends were still young, they had a day in the park and carved initials into the oak's bark. She looked on to a gaze as she remembered. "AJ + ID BFF" Applejack read aloud with a smile. That memory stayed with both of them, immortalized in the bark of that simple oak tree in the park. Applejack felt a nudge at her side, tearing her focus away from the tree. There he stood, the stallion she has known since she was a filly that was outside her family. Just smiling softly at her as he closed in. Faces mere inches away now, both leaning in centimeter by centimeter until.... The sound of the rooster calling in the morning ripped Applejack from fantasy to reality. Opening her eyes slowly to the sound and flipping over in discontent. "So close..." She grumbled to herself before finally tearing herself away from the bed.