Timed Ramblings

by Midnight herald


Boundaries

Applejack winced as something thudded and tumbled downstairs. “Nothing broke!” Twilight yelled up a few seconds later. Applejack smiled and felt her shoulders relax. From the sound it had made, Twilight had probably dropped great-aunt Peel’s victrola. Would have been a shame to lose such a fine machine to clumsiness.

“Hey Twi?” Applejack called back, turning her attention to the bedroom and, more specifically, to the tiny bonsai bush cradled in one of her forelegs. “Is there anywhere in particular I should put Tranquil-stream-flows-down-the-mountain?” The teeny plant had been an anniversary gift from Pinkie, and was at least twice as persnickety as any of the trees on the Acres… but Applejack liked the challenge of it.

“Anywhere’s fine,” Twilight answered when she’d reached the top of the staircase. “Pinkie? You want help with those curtains?” Twilight brushed by Applejack, throwing in more wing contact than was strictly necessary. Applejack shivered in delight and made a note to get Twilight back somehow.

“Y’sure about that, Twi? I don’ wanna interrupt your workflow or whatnot,” Applejack said, glancing around for surfaces near the windows, but not too near. Twilight turned around with a playfully exasperated smile on her face.

“Really, AJ, it’s fine,” she promised. “Just put her wherever you think she’ll be happy.”

“Alright, then,” Applejack mused, looking again. She finally placed Tranquil-stream on the far side of the nightstand and fidgeted with the pot until her leaves were getting just enough of the afternoon sunlight.

“Oh, that’s nice,” Twilight almost moaned. Applejack sighed -- she knew that tone of voice intimately.

“Please tell me the two of you aren’t …” Applejack began, half-threatening.

“Yeppers! Tootally rolling in the sheets!” Pinkie crowed. The two of them burst out into hushed giggles, and Applejack turned around to see exactly what her girlfriends were up to. Two tousled heads poked out from a pile of every sheet and blanket Twilight owned. Applejack shook her head. They only giggled like that when one of them was being clever with words.

Twilight smiled bashfully and held up two forelegs tangled in thick, red cloth. “Applejack, what do you think of the flannel ones?” Applejack checked the door was more-or-less closed before she trotted over, smirking slightly. She nuzzled at the fabric and found it soft and cozy; exactly what she’d want to be sleeping on tonight.

“I think I like it,” she admitted, “But I may have to join y’all in a full immersion experience to be completely sure.” Pinkie giggled as Applejack tackled her into the body-warmed mass of bedclothes and wrestled playfully for a while, nuzzling into Pinkie’s chest while her hooves tangled into Pinkie’s mane and massaged the lithe muscles beneath her soft coat and wonderful layer of pudge. Pinkie giggled and nipped at Applejack’s ear, then careened mercilessly into a tour of any and every spot where Applejack was still ticklish. Eventually they came to a natural truce, breathing in satisfied pants. Then Pinkie got a mischevious glimmer in her eye and twitched ever-so-slightly toward Twilight, who watched them happily. Applejack gave a barely-perceptible nod and squirmed, wriggled her way through the sea of cloth until she’d reached Twilight’s side.

“Well,” Applejack began, “I think the flannel is probably the way to go. Pretty darn soft, though not nearly as soft as this.” And while Twilight’s face still registered confusion, Applejack nosed into her wing, getting a wonderful faceful of downy-soft feathers. Twilight’s eyes unfocused and her mouth moved soundlessly. With a sinfully wicked chuckle, Pinkie began working her magic up and down Twilight’s neck in little licks and nibbles. Twilight whimpered from the dual sensations, desperately trying to wrap her hooves around the both of them.

--TIME--

“Hey, you guys gonna be ready for dinner --” Whatever Spike had been carrying had fallen to the ground, and Twilight stiffened as if she’d been electrocuted. Applejack was out of the tangle in seconds and gently herded Spike out the door. She sat down next to him in the stairwell and sighed as he leaned into her.

“Sorry you had to see that, Spike,” she began. His little claws wrapped around her chest. “Musta been around eight times, I’d need to ask Mac a question and I’d see things I ought’nt.” They sat in silence for a while, until Spike’s breathing had evened out. “So to keep it from happening again, it’s real important that you remember to knock before you walk into the room like that, okay, Spike?” Applejack felt him nod against her, and she nuzzled the top of his head gently. His scales felt smooth a silk against her chin.

“Alright, Spike. You feeling better?” He nodded again, stronger this time. “Now I seem to recall you sayin’ something about dinner, right?” Another nod. “So how’s about I teach you the recipe for that cream sauce you like so much?”

Spike pulled back and looked at her with wide eyes. “Applejack, last time I asked you you said it was a secret!”

Applejack grinned and ruffled his crest. “Last time you asked was different, Spike. You weren’t family back then.”