//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12  
// Story: Small Stallion Is Small 
// by Fat1thatyoulove 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 12 – Really taking this serious 	

The setting sun reach the end of its journey fairly quickly after I got home. Not that I would notice that is, seeing as how my neck hurts from the hours I spent just staring up to the apple trees for my magic to really be effective.

The cold pack I have wrapped around my neck does little to negate the still sore muscles as I sit quietly on the couch in front of the comfortable fire. No book even sits to my hooves thanks to the slight stiff neck I have.

A little groan rolls from the back of my throat as I speak up, "Trees should be shorter..."

My comment brings a smile to my face as I continue to think out loud, "...Or I need to learn a growth spell."

The words flick my ear as I tap a hoof to my mouth, "Hmm..."

However before I can make any real progress on my thoughts the sound of a hoof to my door turns my head as I study the closed door for a moment.

"Ya'll gonna let me in Stony?"

The voice from behind the door quickly brings me to stand as I forced my tired out muscles into motion, I stagger a little as I try to balance the cold pack to my neck. Luckily though I spark my horn up to the door only half way across the room.

My magic makes quick work of the door's lock as the light orange coated mare comes in, all the while balancing something in her hoof.

But before I can speak up the mare starts up in a little laugh as she looks over the cold pack around my neck, "Ha ha ha, did ya have fun today?"

I squint to the mare trying to plan out a response, but my quick wit gets the better of me as I shell out the first thing that comes to mind, "I was hot, sweat and sore, and not in a good way."

The mare holds a slight smirk to the comment as she shrugs, "Fair enough, thanks for your help though. That makes everything a little easier for tomorrow's bunch."

I wave my hoof to the comment as I speak up, "It wasn't that bad..." I hesitate before continue, "Will you be needing any help?"

Applejack turns her sight towards the wood table in the kitchen as she shakes her head, "Naw, the next bunch of Zap Apples won't be that much." Her long firm legs quickly bring her to the table as she places the tin foil wrapped item onto the table, "Besides, I didn't come here to talk about tomorrow."

Her hooves come up to the tin foil of the item, "Ah came here because ya'll ran off before you got to sample the fruits of our labor." The silver foil comes undone to resolve a small round rainbow colored pie.

"We always make a few pies for us, it's how we know if the harvest was good or not..." She wiggles her hoof to her mouth as she continues, "If your tongue gets tingly you know you got your self a good apple."

I just blink to her as I nod, "Alright."

Applejack holds her smile as she nods towards the chair at the table, "Well come and get it, I guarantee you will enjoy it fresh."

Despite her smile I move a little slow towards the table as I spark my horn up to pull out the two chairs from underneath it. Truth is, I rarely ever eat at the table seeing as how the feeling of having my legs dangle towards the ground is not something I really enjoy.

But, I get onto the chair as I slump a little so that my hooves only sits an inch away from the floor.

The mare looks me over for a moment as she turns towards the drawers and cabinets behind her, "So where ya'll keep your cutting knives and plates?"

I spark my horn up to the a cabinet and drawer as I float out the items she just said. However, the simple task brings an unexpected sound from the mare as the big brown spider jumps from the cabinet and onto the ground.

"Whoa Nelly!" Applejack's eyes are wide as she watches the spider quickly running away on the ground, "Did ya'll see the size of that thing?!"

Trying to copy her tone I nod my head as I give a simple laugh, "Oh, I-I know...I wonder where that could have come from?!"

I hold my smile to the lie as Applejack starts after it for a moment, "I'm gonna see if I can get it."

My ear flick's to the mare's words as I wave my hoof, "No."

Applejack blinks to my quick response as I slowly bring my voice up, "I'll get it, wouldn't want you to get your hooves dirty."

The mare just cocks her head to the comment as she speaks up a little confused to my choice in words, "You're kid’n right?"

I jump from my seat already knowing from her tone that this mare has her mind set, I quickly bring my voice up as I trot towards the hallway Spider Mane ran to, "I'll get, no sense in killing a dumb creature."

Applejack blinks to my quick trot as she takes the plates and knife I got out, "Alright."

To the mare's averted eyes I dart into the hallway as I look for the brown spider, "Where are you...Oh."

My eyes quickly lock to the spider that has stopped to the sound of my voice, "Ah there you are..."

The mare from the kitchen speaks up as she tilts her head towards the wall way, "Did ya say something?"

I quickly turn back as I scoop the spider up and hide it behind me, "Oh no, no...I was just saying that the spider went into my room. I'll get it." I hold the faked smile as I dart into my room in search of anything to put the spider in. My eyes quickly lock to a jar holding some dust I collected, for reasons that escape my mind for the moment.

Either way, my magic quickly takes the jar and cap next to it up and over to me as I poor the dust out and drop the spider in. I cough a little but I bring that jar to my eyes as I speak up in a whisper, "I will be back for you in a little okay?"

The spider just stares to me in silent through the glass.

The stare brings my voice up a little dramatic as I call back into the hall, "Oh! I was able to catch it." I tort back into the hall with the jar floating close to me as I continue towards the front door, all the while trying to put the show on for the mare, "I'll just dump him outside."

Applejack just blinks to me as she shrugs, "Um...Okay?"

I nod to her words as I dart through the front door my magic has opened, I stand a little out of the doorway as I quickly locate a little bush to hide the jar in. As I put the jar down I whisper, "This hurts me more than it hurts you...I'll be back when she leaves."

Spider Mane just curls its legs up as I take my head from the jar and trot back inside.

To my newly reappeared body the mare at the table speaks up, "Well, come on and try it."

I nod as I trot towards the table and retake my seat, "Alright..." I stare to the bright cake for a moment as I slowly bring my voice up, "Eating this will not turn my mane into your friend's right?"

Applejack gives a slight laugh to the comment as she brings her hoof to scoop up the piece of pie, "You mean Rainbow Dash?"

I just blink to the name as I slowly nod my head, "...Yes..."

"Nope, this is just a piece of pie." Applejack quickly brings her snout to the pie as she takes an unladylike like bite of it and beings to talk, "Mhmm, and good to."

A slight smile comes to my face to the mare's bold personality, but I avert my length stare as I float the pie to my mouth as I take a bite. However as my teeth sink into it my horn pops and the pie falls back to the plate.

Applejack give a little laugh as she nudges me with ease from across the table, "That good huh?"

The tingling in my mouth keeps my mouth shut as I try to chew through the slightly bigger bite then I should have taken, "Mhmmm...."

"Glad you like." Applejack proudly straightened her posture as she reach to another piece of the cut up pie.

I swallow the piece I was chewing as I feel my horn's magic starting up without my consent.

The steady chime and glow of my magic catches the mare's attention as she just smiles to my confused face, "Well the zap apples are magic."

I bring my hoof to my horn as I flick it a little to shut the consent chime up. This action brings Applejack's full mouthed voice up as she nods, "Don't that like...hurt?"

"Hm? Oh no, it only hurts if somepony else does it."

My comment cocks the mare's head as she swallows her bite of pie, "But it hurts?"

I nod to the comment as I stare back to the little bit of pie I have left on my first piece, "Yes."

Applejack cocks her head as she speaks up, "But ah thought horns was like wings, and ya'll get some kinda joy out of uh...flicking it?"

A slight laugh comes up from me as I shake my head, "Not at all...That would be like saying you get enjoyment out of rubbing your hooves or something."

My words bring a coy comment from the mare as she smirks, "Well ah mean having somepony rub my hooves is nice...But I can't do it myself."

I squint to the comment as I cock my head, "So you're saying earth ponies like their hooves being fondled?"

"Pfff, you don't gotta go and make it sound like that." Applejack's quick comment brings a slight smile to my face as I nod back to her, "Oh? But it's fine to stay flicking my horn?"

The mare shrugs as she turns her attention back to the little bit of pie on her plate, "Sounds better than rubbing your horn right?"

"Fair enough." I shrug to the comment as I bring my hoof back to my own piece of pie.

For some reason we both hold our gaze to the other pony across from us as we take another bite of pie.

However unlike before this one is a lot slower...At least, until Applejack brings her voice up, "You know something Stony, that spell you did a few days ago did really help." She puts her head down a little as she continues, "Uh...Even if we did kinda do some other things."

I slowly nod to the comment as I shift my eyes a little, "Yeah."

"Um...T-there has been something I have been wondering though." Applejack bites her lip a little as her normal in control demeanor falters, "I-I can't be pregnant right?"

The words pound against my ears as I swallow a little, but my always logic seeking mind comes back into control as I speak up, "N-no. All the spells on that page help with heat...Some just have side effects like um the one I accidentally did...But no. All of them negate conception."

For a moment the mare just blinks to me as she slowly brings her voice out, "S-so no?"

"Yes, you are not pregnant." As soon as my words ring into the room the mare across from me gives a loud sigh of relief as her once tense face now becomes smooth and calm.

The sigh however does have an impact on me as I look her over, "I-is that why you wanted to spend time together Applejack?"
My comment flicks the mare's ear as she looks up from her plate, "Uh...What was that?"

"Is that why you wanted to spend time together?" My voice my have come up a little faster, but it still holds its low tone as I wait for a response.

Applejack looks me over for a moment as her emerald color eyes just walk over every inch of my face. But she sighs as she nods, "Ah can't lie Stony...It was, but I mean...this isn't because of that."

I nod to the comment as I shrug a little saddened, "Because ten percent of something is an effort."

The mare lowers her head a little as she speaks up, "I mean...I don't have a problem continue to give this a shot Stony. You're a great guy and all Stony."

My ear flicks to the comment as I look back to her.

She continues as she now starts to wiggle her hoof towards me, "Sure you're a little different but it's kinda interesting."

I look her over for a moment as I nod, but just as I do a twinge of pain runs through my neck.

Applejack notices the slightly pained expression on my face as she rubs her hoof to her own neck, "Uh, this doesn't really seem like something I should just offer after what we were just talk'n about...But I could give you neck a little rub down, i'm pretty good with muscles."

My ear flicks to the comment as I speak up with a slight laugh, "What, is this the part I invite you into my bedroom?"

The mare gets a slight smirk to the comment as she laughs, "You really are a bold little thing aren't you?"

"Ha." I wiggle my hoof to her as I continue, "Well I did just find out that the only reason I even had a chance with you was because you thought you were pregnant. I figure I have nothing left to lose seeing as how your mind is clear and there won't be any reason for us to continue this."

Applejack holds her slight smile to the comment as she looks back to me, "Uh huh? And was that the brighter side of this?"

I shrug to the mare as I speak up, "No sense in not being honest."

For a moment we just stare to each other, but that moment ends quick as the mare stands up from the chair, "Tell you what, I do your neck and you do my hooves. Kicking trees all day is not really something I enjoy...Deal?"

My eyes widen a little to the mare's words as I speak up, "Wait what?"

Applejack nods towards the hall as she speak up, "I am offering JUST a friendly gesture Stony."

For a moment I just continue my stare but my flank is pulled from the seat as the orange mare tugs me along, "One on the left is your room? "

I nod my head as I continue to be lead to my own room by this mare. However, despite my shorter legs the trot across the room is quickly brought to an end as she turns her gaze into the bedroom, "Huh...I am actually surprised you keep a clean room."

I clear my throat as I speak up, "Why is that?"

She shrugs as she trots a little more into the room, "I just didn't think you would be that kinda stallion."

"I label my spoons also." The comment blurts out of my mouth a little faster then I would have liked, however it brings a slight laugh from Applejack as she nods, "Ah saw."

She holds the little smile as she nods to the bed, "Uh, you can just lay down. The way I do it won't take long."

The mare's choice in words flick's my ear as I just stare to her.

My unmoved stare brings the mare's voice up as she shifts a little, "You know, for a massage."

"Oh...Yes, right." I slowly trot past the taller mare as I bring myself to sit on the bed and remove the cold pack from my neck.

Applejack wiggles her hoof to the bed as she speaks up, "Just lay on your stomach."

"Yes..." I slowly move into the center of the bed as I do what the mare said, all the while just trying to rack my brain as to whether or not this is just going to be a massage.

Before I can think to hard the weight in the bed shifts as the mare comes into the bed beside me. My head faces away as I just flick my ear to the mare's approach.

"Alright Stony..." As her words come down I feel her hooves come around my neck as she starts to push against my tense muscles.

The mare's position is still next to me, but her weight now comes to her hooves as she continues to push the tension at the base of my neck.

A low exhale of pleasure comes from me as I close my eyes to the hooves that fight against the pain in my neck.

My sound brings a slight laugh from the mare as she starts to press a little harder, "Feeling a little better?"

"mhhm...."

My nonsense nods Applejack's head as she starts to move her hooves up my neck.

Her motions start to bring my head forward a little as I stretch to the loosening muscle the mare's soft but firm hooves have started to break out.

However, as her hooves come to middle part of my neck I feel a little warmth starting to grow to my horn. Despite my turned gaze the low light of my magic that sits to the bed shines a little to my field of vision.

Applejack must have noticed the magic as she starts to massage a little harder all the way up to the base of my spin. This new attention starts to make me close my eyes as I fall victim to the relaxing feeling.

For the next few moments her hooves continue this little motion. But as she start up at the bottom of my neck one more time I feel the burning on my horn starting to get a little warmer as I find my eyes clenching shut and my breathing almost stop.

Applejack's hooves quickly shoot up to the back of my head like before, however this time my horn sparks up with a faint popping sound as little wisp of magic start to jump from my horn. My mouth opens wide as a loud moaning exhale escapes with the breath I held.

My back legs jiggle a little to the magic on my horn as Applejack takes her hooves from my neck with a little laugh, "There, feel better?"

I'm silent for a moment as I just blink to the side of the wall I stare at from my down position on the bed, "MhMhhhHmM..."

My wordless sentence brings another laugh from the mare as I feel her weight starting to shift from the bed. As it does I bring my head up as my half eyed gaze turns to the mare, "A-am I doing you?"

Applejack looks over my face as she cocks a little smile, "How about tomorrow?"

The words immediately nod my head as the mare starts to trot from the room, "Sounds good to me. Night Stony."

I start to move from the bed as my wobbly legs plant to the ground, "Y-you’re leaving now?"

Applejack nods as she continues into the hallway, "Yep, don't want Big Mac to come looking for me again. All I said I was doing was dropping the pie off."

I continue to follow after the mare as she comes to the front door and opens it, "A-alright...Good night Applejack."

She nods to the comment as she smiles, "Night Stony." As her words come to an end she closes the door.

The sound rings through the house for a moment as I turn my wobbly trot to the couch for a moment. I flop onto with my head to the ceiling as I blink my slightly tired eyes, "Uhhhh....That was amazing..."

My eyes slowly start to close for a moment as I feel a strange tiredness drop over my body.

- - -
(An hour or two later)

The sound of my slight snoring shakes me as I jerk my head up from the back of the couch.

"OW!!!" I rush my hooves to my neck as I rub it and scream to myself, how long was I sitting like this?!!

I look around the brightly lit room for a moment as I try to think, however my eyes lay to the fire-less fireplace as a thought comes to my mind, "Ah! Spider Mane!"
I jump to my hooves as I rush to the door and fling it open.

The sound of crickets in the trees around my house ring to my ears as I turn my head to the bush as I float out the jar.

However as I start back into the brightly lit house my smile fades as I look over the curled up unmoving spider in the jar.

I blink to the spider as I tap my hoof to it, "Spider Mane?"

My hoof to the glass does nothing as the motionless spider just sits there. But, my voice quickly comes up as I sigh, "Did you die on me?!"

My voice doesn't alter the spider as I groan a little, "You dumb spider! I put you in this jar to keep you safe-Oh..." I look over the cap on the jar as I nod and lower my voice, "Yes...Well tomorrow I will put holes in the jar."

I sigh as I turn my trot into kitchen, "But don't think i'm not mad at you still...You know not to hide in the cabinet." My magic comes to the locked cabinet as I unlock it and float out the book, "...I mean really Spider Mane, I can not trust you can I?"

I trot over to the table as I pull out the step stool and uncap the jar to poor the dead spider onto the table, all the while continue to scold him, "...Perhaps next time you will hide somewhere else hm?"

The curled up spider just sits on the table as I rolls my eyes and open the book to the page I have book marked. I float over the spider's old leg as I run turn my attention to the other ingredients I need.

The whole process of this spell only takes a few moments as the dead spider is wrapped in the purplely magic.

As the pop of my spell comes undone I stare to the spider that continues to lay on its back. However an unamused groan comes up as I roll my eyes, "Get up Spider Mane."

My voice quickly springs the spider back to life as it flips back to its legs.

I rub my head a little as I sigh, "Alright Spider Mane I am very tired, so let's make this quick...hold out a leg."

The spider curls its legs to its body as its black eyes stare up to me like he always does.

End of chapter 12