A few days had passed since your talk with Applejack and things were back to normal. Or at least they should’ve been. For some reason you felt uncomfortable around Applejack. You weren’t afraid of her telling your friends your secret. She had promised that she wouldn’t, and Applejack always kept her promises. You just couldn’t describe it. Whenever you looked at her your chest would tighten, you felt like your body was about to break out into a cold sweat, and it became hard to breathe. You also had to stop your gaze from shifting to her lower half constantly. You had no idea of what to make of all of these changes. But you knew somepony that might. The only problem was getting to them. You’d have to tell Applejack where you were going. You shook all of the doubt from your mind. If things were going to be normal between you and her then you had to do this. You found Applejack in town, selling her products like she usually did. When she saw you she greeted you with a warm smile. You felt the tightening in your chest return. You ignored it the best you could and walked up to her.
“Hey Applejack, I was thinking about going to Canterlot to visit Flarewing.”
“Why do ya wanna do that?” Applejack asked.
“Well, the last time I saw him was when I was in a hospital bed. So I figured I should hang out with him for the day.”
“Alright, just be back soon.” Applejack said with a sigh.
“Got it, you’ll see me in about two weeks and have to come get me from the hospital.” You replied with a wicked grin.
“That’s not funny Blackstar.”
“So I take it you don’t want that to become a regular thing between us when I leave town?”
“Just go before Ah change mah mind.”
“Fine, don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.” You said as you vanished in a flash of light.
You appeared on the outskirts of Canterlot and made it through the gates without a problem. You talked to the guard for a little bit and then headed towards your destination. It was the middle of the day so there was a good chance you knew exactly where to find him. You walked down several streets and walked up a set of stairs until you were at the door to Flarewing’s apartment. You knocked and waited a while but there was no response. You tried to knock again but that yielded the same results. You let out a quick sigh and fished out the spare key he had given you and stepped through the door. You had been to Flarewing’s apartment once or twice before and nothing had changed. It wasn’t dirty or clean, just a little sloppy. There were a few empty containers lying around and papers were scattered along his coffee table. Unfortunately Flarewing wasn’t in the front part of his apartment. You thought that he was most likely asleep. You walked down the hallway and slowly opened the door to his bedroom. Much to your dismay you found Flarewing getting “acquainted” with a Unicorn mare. You carefully closed the door with your face taking on a crimson hue. You took a few deep breaths and calmed down. After a while, an idea popped into your head and an impish grin spread across your face. You used your magic to change your voice and appearance. You now looked like a slender young mare with virtually the same coloring that you had before. You had to stop yourself from laughing like a madman and threw the door open.
“FLAREWING, WHAT THE HAY ARE YOU DOING!” Both ponies stared at you dumbfounded. You fought the urge to smile and continue. “How could you cheat on me?! After everything I’ve done for you? I’m going to be the mother of your child and this is how you repay me?” The young mare scrambled to her hooves, trying and failing to collect herself.
“Oh dear Celestia, I’m so sorry. I...I had no idea that he… I swear I’m not that kind of mare!”
“Just go, Flarewing and I need to have a long talk.” You said, closing your eyes and turning away from the mare. She nodded furiously and ran out of the apartment. Flarewing tried to stop her but it was too late. He made it back to you and stared you up and down, trying to figure out what was going on.
“Who the hay are you?” He asked. “I know for a fact that I haven’t gotten anypony pregnant.”
“You wound me Flarewing. Don’t you recognize me?” You asked with a smirk on your face.
“Blackstar is that you?” Flarewing asked you in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, I was here to ask you about something important.” You said strutting across the room and taking a seat on his bed. “But then I found an opportunity to mess with you and I couldn’t let that go to waste.”
“Yeah thanks for that. Now I have to find a way to explain this to everypony.” He said with a groan.
“I’m sure you’ll be able to figure something out. Now, I really do need your advice.”
“Look, before we have this important talk… would you undo your transformation? It’s really weird seeing you look this hot.” Flarewing stated, continuing to look you up and down.
“Woops, I guess I forgot to do undo it once we were alone.” You said, returning to your normal form. “Okay, so I wanted to ask you…”
“Blackstar,” Flarewing interrupted.
“What is it?”
“You still sound like a mare.”
“Sorry,” you giggled before undoing the spell. “Is there anything else I forgot or can I ask you for that advice I wanted now?” Flarewing nodded and you took that as your sign to continue. “Lately things have been kind of weird between Applejack and me. You remember Applejack right?”
“Yeah she’s that orange Earth pony that you work for right?” And what do you mean weird? Did something happen between you two?”
“Not really, A few days ago I told her almost everything about my past and, ever since then I’ve had the weirdest reactions whenever I’m around her.”
“What kind of reactions? You’re gonna have to be specific.” You told Flarewing about the symptoms you had been experiencing. When you were finished Flarewing just started to laugh.
“What are you laughing about? Is there something wrong with me? Flarewing shook his head and placed a reassuring hoof across your shoulder.
“No, there’s nothing wrong with you. In fact you’re perfectly normal. You have a crush on your friend Applejack.” Flarewing said with a grin.
“What?! There’s no way I have a crush on Applejack!” You barked. “She’s one of my closest friends. And at this point we’re almost like family.”
“Sorry dude, but the heart wants what the heart wants. But I’ll tell you what. Let’s see if you really do have a crush on her. Can you use your magic to make me sound like her?”
“Yeah, that shouldn’t be a problem.” You stated, failing to see where this was going.
“Good then close your eyes and do it.” You did as you were told and waited for a minute or so. All of a sudden you felt hot breath on one of your ears, causing it to lay flat on you head. “Blackstar, Ah want ya. Ah want ya so bad.” Applejack’s voice purred. “Please Ah want ya to plant a big ol’ apple tree inside me.” The voice practically begged. You felt your entire body go flush and a cold sweat broke out along your forehead. Your eyes shot open only to see Flarewing looking at you with a smirk. You quickly undid the spell and turned away from Flarewing. “Wow, I got a reaction out of you in less than ten seconds. You must really like her.”
“Okay maybe I do like her, but what am I supposed to do about it?”
“You’ve gotta tell her. The worst thing she can do is say no.”
“That is not the worst that could happen!” You snapped. “What if she doesn’t like me that way? Or what if things don’t work out between us? It could put a huge strain on our friendship.”
“You not telling her about this is already putting a strain on your friendship!” Flarewing roared. “The longer you sit on this the harder it’ll be to tell her. And Applejack won’t wait for you forever. Eventually some other stallion is going to see just how pretty that mare is and sack up and ask her out! Is that what you want to happen?! Do you want her to run off with somepony else?”
“No,” You sighed.
“What was that? I couldn’t hear you.”
“No,” you said a little louder.
“I still can’t understand you.”
“No,” you yelled. “I don’t Applejack to be with some other stallion!”
“You’re damn right you don’t!” Flarewing replied, beaming from ear to ear. “And if you want to make that mare yours then you have to do something about it. You’ve got to show her you’re serious.”
“What should I do?”
“Do some crazy gesture that shows her exactly how you feel.” You thought about it for a moment until a bolt of inspiration ran through you. You quietly told Flarewing your idea and a small grin formed on his face. “That could work.”
You spent the better part of the next hour working out the details of your plan until you felt that you were ready. You thanked Flarewing and teleported back to Ponyville. You had a determined look on your face as you started to frantically search for Applejack. Luckily, she was alone in the barn finishing her chores when you found her. She turned around quickly and was surprised with your expression. “Blackstar, what’s wrong? Ah thought ya were still in Canterlot.”
“There’s no time for that! I think I saw Vampire Fruit Bats in the orchard!”
“What?!” Applejack boomed, a look of horror plastered on her face. “The last time Vampire Fruit Bats came in Ponyville nearly starved!”
“I know, but there weren’t that many of them, so if we hurry we can stop them before this becomes a huge problem!”
“Lead the way.” Applejack said as you both rushed out of the barn. You led Applejack to a distant hill in the orchard that overlooked the rest of the town.
“This is the last place I saw them.” You lied. “They should still be around here.”
“Ah hope yer right. Ah’d hate t’think what would happen if we let them run amok.” Applejack said with a shudder.
You let Applejack scan thee trees while you prepared your spell. You fired it off into the air and allowed it to take shape. Once you were finished you got Applejack’s attention and pointed her towards the sky. Her jaw dropped as she saw what you had created. Up in the sky for everyone to see was the message “I <3 Applejack” with a recreation of her next to the message. Applejack turned to you with a look of utter disbelief on her face.
“What’s this all about?”
“Just what it says,” you said, your nerves starting to get to you. “Lately you’ve been on my mind constantly. I have to stop myself from staring at you and… I think I’m falling for you Applejack.” Your words seemed to sink in and what could only be called a smoldering look appeared on her face. She strutted over to you until you were barely inches apart.
“Is that right?” She asked wrapping her fore-hooves around your neck. You were barely able to nod, which made her look intensify. “Then you’d better prove it t’me.” And with that Applejack pressed her lips to yours. Your mind slipped away and you allowed your instincts to take over. Your tongues found each other and started to explore your mouths. Your tongues continued to dance along one another until you felt like you were going to suffocate. Just when it almost became too much, you both broke away from the kiss. You were both still panting as you looked in each other’s eyes and smiled.
“Oh by the way I lied about the Vampire Bats.” You said dumbly.
“Ah kinda figured that out.” Applejack replied with a laugh.