The sun illuminated the Ponyville sky as Phoenix trotted to the local jeweller with a bag of bits in his pocket. As he entered the newly-opened shop, he began to look around as the bored-looking stallion watched him. Phoenix looked around the brooches, rings, diadems and necklaces, but couldn't find anything that caught his eye.
"Is there anything I can help you with, sir?" The clerk asked in a dull tone.
"I was just trying to find the perfect piece of jewellery for my girlfriend." Phoenix replied.
"What do you think she would like?" The clerk asked. Phoenix thought for a moment before replying.
"It would have to look good, obviously. But, it would also have to be practical so she could wear it whenever she liked, therefore it would have to be fairly durable too." Phoenix explained.
"Well, what you see is what I've got." The clerk said rudely. Phoenix didn't look at him as he took his little bag out of his pocket and opened it slightly to reveal the large number of bits inside.
"...Would you like to see our other stock?" The clerk asked a little more politely.
"Yes, I would, thank you." Phoenix replied. The two stallions entered to back room where the more expensive items were. Phoenix began to look around while the clerk once again watched him. Finding nothing in the diadem section, Phoenix was about to move on until something caught his eye. A brooch. It was relatively small, but in terms of gemstones, it was quite large. It was a simple circular cut ruby, with a metallic stalk and leaf added to the top. The clerk noticed Phoenix's extra attention on it and began to speak.
"That is a one hundred carat ruby with a golden stalk and leaf." The clerk expressed dully.
"It looks like an apple." Phoenix said, seemingly to himself.
"Well, yes it do-."
"I'll take it." Phoenix said before the clerk could reply. The clerk's eyes widened as Phoenix hoofed over the bag of bits.
"U-uh. Very well. W-was there anything else, sir?" The clerk asked, astounded.
"No, thank you. That will be all." Phoenix said as he took the brooch in his magic. The clerk placed the bits in the cash register and Phoenix placed the brooch in his pocket as he left the shop. Phoenix began the return trip to his home only to run into Pinkie Pie just before he reached his door.
"Hey, Feenie! I was looking for you!" Pinkie said excitedly.
"Hello, Pinkie. Why were you looking for me?" Phoenix asked.
"I was gonna invite you to Gummy's after-birthday party this afternoon!" Pinkie said excitedly.
'Of all the times she makes up an excuse to have a party, it had to be today!' Phoenix thought with annoyance.
"This afternoon? As in, this afternoon this afternoon?" Phoenix asked.
"Yeah!" Pinkie replied.
"Have you asked any of the girls?" Phoenix asked.
"No, not yet. Why?" Pinkie answered, unfazed.
'Then, I don't have to worry about saying an excuse that she's heard already.' Phoenix thought.
"Well, I'm afraid that I don't think I can make it." Phoenix said. Pinkie's eyes widened before giving a sadly disappointed expression.
"Why?" Pinkie asked.
"I've got to drop something to Applejack this morning and then I'm attending a game of high-stakes no-limit Appleloosa Hold 'Em at the casino. I can't say for sure what time that'll finish. Sorry." Phoenix lied with an unchanging sympathetic expression.
"Oh. Okay. That's a shame." Pinkie said disappointedly.
"Maybe the girls can come though, right?" Phoenix asked to cover his tracks.
"Yeah! I guess it'll just be us girls!" Pinkie said excitedly before she began to bounce towards the library. Phoenix exhaled before unlocking his door and walking inside. Grabbing a blanket from the cupboard near the door he covered his cargo before lifting it and walking outside once more with the covered package in tow. He took the long way in order to avoid any complicating confrontations with Pinkie Pie, meaning when he actually arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, Pinkie was already leaving. Making sure she wouldn't spot him, he made his way to Applejack, package still with him. Upon seeing him, Applejack unhinged herself from the cart of apples and embraced him.
"Didja bring it?" Applejack asked. Phoenix nodded before removing the blanket from his package revealing a fuel crystal-powered karaoke machine.
"Great! Come on, let's put it in the barn." Applejack said as she began to walk towards said barn with Phoenix following close behind her. As they entered, Applejack motioned for Phoenix to place the machine in the corner. After he did so, Applejack was about to say something, but Phoenix interrupted.
"Before we start AJ, there's um... something I'd like to give you." Phoenix said before taking the brooch out of his pocket and holding it front of her with his magic. Applejack let out a gasp as she took in what it was. After stumbling over her words numerous times, she finally spoke.
"I-It's beautiful... It's really for me?" Applejack asked with teary eyes.
"Of course. I had to replace the flowers in some way, didn't I?" Phoenix replied, gladdened that she liked it. Applejack took it in her hoof to get a closer look at it.
"How much did it cost?" Applejack asked, worried that he may have spent too much. She jumped slightly when she felt his hoof on her cheek.
"It doesn't matter. You are more important to me than any amount of bits." Phoenix said before kissing her on the cheek. Applejack's cheeks turned bright red as she gasped.
"I-is this how you feel when Ah do that to you?" Applejack asked breathlessly.
"Well, is you heart beating quickly?" Phoenix asked.
"Yep." Applejack replied.
"Mind can't think of anything except what just happened?"
"Yep."
"Burning sensation in you cheek?"
"Uh-huh."
"And you don't want any of it to end?"
"Nope."
"Then, yes. That's pretty much it in a nutshell." Phoenix finished with a smile which Applejack returned.
"Gosh, you really didn't have to get me somethin' so... beautiful." Applejack said, still in awe of the brooch.
"Well, one beautiful thing deserves another." Phoenix replied, causing Applejack to blush again.
"Phoenix, stop it! Mah heart's gonna thumpa-thud outta mah chest if ya keep doin' that!" Applejack exclaimed with a shy smile. Phoenix simply chuckled before Applejack moved her other forehoof and removed her hat. She then unclipped the brooch's pin and stabbed it through the hat's fabric on one side and clipped it once again. Following which, she put the hat back on her head.
"Beautiful." Phoenix said.
"It does look good, doesn't it?" Applejack cheerfully replied.
"Oh, the brooch. Yeah, it looks good too." Phoenix replied humorously.
"Darn it! Ah walked into that one!" Applejack exclaimed with a large smile and a red face as they both laughed. Applejack's smile changed slightly as her gaze went back to Phoenix.
"Ah just thought of a way to repay you, sugarcube." Applejack said teasingly.
"AJ, you don't need to repay me. This was just me showing how much I care." Phoenix replied as Applejack walked closer. Her muzzle came closer and closer to his own until he could feel her breath on his fur and blushing skin.
"Then, this is me doin' the same." Applejack said before she pushed Phoenix against the barn wall. He let out a small gasp as his heartbeat began to increase even more than it had already.
"Pucker up, sugarcube..." Applejack whispered softly, before slowly closing her eyes and leaning closer, lead Phoenix to do the same without thinking. The distance between there muzzles grew ever smaller. The gap ever shrinking.
Smaller.
Smaller.
Until...
Their lips met. It was unlike anything Phoenix had ever experienced before. He could always rely on his mind to analyse and absorb every piece of information in everything that surrounded him, but in that moment, the only thing that was on his mind was the mare he was kissing. He knew that he wouldn't be able to think of anything else, but he also knew that he didn't want to. He suddenly remembered some descriptions of a first kiss from very bad romance novels that he used to read, but they all suddenly made sense to him.
Despite it not being her first kiss, Applejack knew within a second of contact that it was her best. It was like an electrical force shooting through every part of her body and she never wanted it to stop. But, she knew that the best part of it was Phoenix was enjoying it too. She was his first. And she took pride and honour in that. Her hooves wrapped around his neck and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. After she did so, Phoenix hesitantly placed his hooves delicately on her hips. After what felt like a well-spent eternity, their lips disconnected, leaving them breathing like they had both just completed the Running of the Leaves at full throttle. They shared a shaky, shy laugh before looking around to see two figures in the doorway.
One of the figures was Rarity with a look of joy and adoration on her face. The other, with only shock on hers...
...Was Apple Bloom.
Applejack's eyes widened as she moved away from Phoenix, who understood immediately.
"Why were you two...?" Apple Bloom asked softly.
"We were... Uh... R-rehearsin' a play! Yeah! That's just one o' the scenes!" Applejack exclaimed nervously as she had a large smile on her face. Phoenix placed his hoof on her shoulder to get her attention.
"AJ... She knows." Phoenix said simply.
"Well... Ya never know..." Applejack argued weakly. Phoenix lightly tapped his temple with his hoof.
"Yes, I do." Phoenix replied. Applejack sighed before motioning Apple Bloom to come closer, Rarity in tow.
"Alright, Bloom. Ah'm gonna tell the truth. Phoenix is mah... special somepony." Applejack admitted.
"Why didn't both o' you just tell us?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Ah was just waitin' for the right moment to tell you." Applejack said.
"And I never said anything, because I felt that you'd want to hear it from your sister rather than me." Phoenix continued.
"Ah guess... How long's it been goin' on?" Apple Bloom asked.
"About a month now. Ah really was gonna tell you." Applejack said.
"Well, now Ah know. Are ya gonna tell Big Mac an' Granny Smith now?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Ah guess we've got no choice now." Applejack said with a small amount of dread.
"We'll do it after Pinkie Pie's party. We've still got so much to prepare." Phoenix said.
"Ok. Can Ah tell Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom asked as she prepared to leave.
"As long as the three of you don't tell anypony else before we talk to Macintosh and Granny Smith." Phoenix replied. Apple Bloom nodded and walked out of the barn as Rarity squealed and hugged both of them.
"That was so adorable! What brought on the kiss? Was it good? Was it magical? Details, darlings! Details!" Rarity exclaimed. Both Phoenix and Applejack blushed profusely at the personal questions that Rarity was asking.
"W-we're not gonna answer that question, Rarity." Applejack said with embarrassed finality. Rarity simply squealed with excitement.
"That means it was good! Eeeeeh!!!" Rarity squealed again. Phoenix blushed again as he shyly looked towards Applejack.
"...Was it?" Phoenix asked quietly. Applejack looked back at him, blushed and brushed her hoof against the ground shyly.
"Y-yeah. It was really good." Applejack whispered with a shy smile. Phoenix tried to fight it, but he eventually allowed a shy, slightly proud smile on his face.
"Oh, you two are just adorable!" Rarity exclaimed. The two blushed once more before the three of them began to prepare for the party. Rarity headed out to begin her part of the mission before more and more of their friends started to arrive starting with Twilight, then Rarity returned and then Fluttershy arrived. However, some complications arose when Rainbow Dash came zooming through the barn doors and Applejack closed them.
"I know you're IN THERE!!" Pinkie yelled through the door. Applejack signalled for everypony to stay quiet before she opened the door slightly and answered Pinkie.
"Oh, uh. Howdy, partner!" Applejack said, trying to sound casual.
"Mind if I... take a look inside the barn?" Pinkie asked angrily.
"No! Uh, Ah mean, yes, Ah mean... You can't come in here." Applejack said with finality.
"Rainbow Dash just went in there." Pinkie countered. Phoenix knew that Applejack would have trouble getting rid of Pinkie, so he disobeyed her and walked into Pinkie's sight.
"She already left through the skylight while you were speaking with Applejack." Phoenix lied with a straight face. Applejack looked shocked for a moment, but became calmer as the lie was better than anything she could come up with.
"She did? Then... why can't I come into the barn?!" Pinkie asked angrily. Before Phoenix could answer, Applejack answered first.
"Oh, we were just havin' some... alone time." Applejack said with a nervous smile as she wrapped her hoof around Phoenix. After a moment of shock, Phoenix reciprocated the action.
"So? That doesn't mean I shouldn't come in." Pinkie accused, her tone unchanging.
"No, sugarcube, Ah mean... alone alone time." Applejack said as she bumped her flank against Phoenix's, causing his entire face to turn a deep shade of red. Pinkie finally understood what she meant as she blushed also.
"Oh... Yeah, I don't wanna go in." Pinkie said quickly as she scuttled away, embarrassed. Applejack and Phoenix exhaled as they closed the barn door, placed their backs to it and slid to the floor on their haunches.
"'Alone alone time'?" Phoenix asked her, careful not to speak too loudly.
"Oh, shut it. It got her to leave, didn't it?" Applejack replied. After half an hour of preparing the decorations and the girls teasing both Phoenix and Applejack, they were ready to get Pinkie. After Phoenix volunteered to get her, he walked back to town and reached Sugarcube Corner. He ascended the stairs and knocked the door to Pinkie's room. He heard Pinkie's voice from the inside, so Phoenix opened the door to see a rather crude, unsettling party Pinkie was having with inanimate objects.
"Sorry I couldn't talk to you earlier, Pinkie Pie. Applejack and I felt rather guilty after we made you leave like that." Phoenix said apologetically.
"Uh-huh..." Pinkie said through gritted teeth.
"Indeed... So, we decided to invite you over to Sweet Apple Acres for some pie, as means of an apology." Phoenix continued, a little unnerved.
"No, thanks. I'm spending time with my real friends. Isn't that right, Madame le Flour? Oui! Zat is correct, madame!" Pinkie said as herself, then as 'Madame le Flour'.
"...A bag of flour, a pile of rocks, a bucket of turnips and a clump of lint?" Phoenix asked.
"Yes." Pinkie replied.
"...Well, that beats my fanfiction. Pinkie, I really must insist." Phoenix said.
"She's not goin' anywhere. I most certainly am not! I'm having a wonderful time here." Pinkie said. Phoenix sighed before replying.
"If you don't come with me, I'll pick you up and carry you out. And you don't have a ball pit to escape from me like last time." Phoenix threatened. Pinkie looked around herself to see that there really was no nearby ball pit to aid her escape.
"Rats. I'll kick and scream as much as I need to to escape." Pinkie said with finality.
"You want to do this the hard way? Fine. Ahem. Soap." Phoenix said after clearing his throat. Suddenly, Pinkie's body became completely stiff as her face became completely non-expressive and her eyes were looking in different directions. Phoenix then grabbed her and a slice of cake in his magic and carried her to Sweet Apple Acres. Dropping her in front of the barn, Phoenix waved the cake in front of Pinkie's nose, wafting its scent in front of her. After a moment, she regained her expressions, movement and her sense of direction. Before she could protest, Phoenix pushed her inside, where a chorus of 'surprise' sounded. Pinkie was less than pleased as she was under the assumption that Phoenix and the girls had staged a going away party for Pinkie as they were lying to her all day. The girls then began to explain the necessity of the deceptions in order to make it a surprise. When Pinkie was wondering why the party was taking place, Phoenix chuckled, catching her attention.
"I swear, Pinkie, you forget every year." Phoenix said. In that instant, Pinkie's hair flared into its normal poofiness and hugged everypony else in the barn.
"Because it's my birthday! Ooh, how could I have forgotten my own birthday?" Pinkie exclaimed. After some apologies from everypony, the party began and continued for hours. Even Pinkie was a little tired at the end of it. After the party, true to their words, Applejack and Phoenix stood at the threshold of the Apple family home.
"Well, this is it." Phoenix said worriedly.
"Don't worry, Phoenix. Ah think you're amazing. If that ain't enough for mah family, they'll just have to live with it." Applejack replied.
"Applejack, I know how much family means to you. You don't have to put me before them." Phoenix replied looking into her eyes. Applejack remained silent for a moment before smiling.
"It's moments like this that make me wonder why Ah was ever worried 'bout them not acceptin' you." Applejack said before she gave him a peck on the lips. Phoenix blushed slightly and rubbed the back of his neck with his hoof as Applejack opened the door and walked inside, Phoenix following close behind.
Beata O' Luna,
You know I am a perfect man.
Of my virtues I'm immensely proud.
Beata O' Luna,
You know I'm so much purer than,
The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd.
Then tell me, O' Luna,
Why I see her standing there,
Why her sapphire eyes still scorch my soul.
I feel her, I see her,
The sun caught in purple hair,
Is blazing in me out of all control!
Like fire!
Hellfire.
This fire in my skin.
This burning,
Desire,
Is turning me to sin.
It's not my fault!
I'm not to blame!
It is the peasant girl,
The witch who sent this flame!
It's not my fault!
If in Faust's plan,
She made the devil so much,
Stronger than a man!
Protect me, O' Luna!
Don't let this siren cast her spell,
Don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone.
Destroy Rarity Belle!
And let her taste the fires of hell!
Or else let her be mine and mine alone.
The doors opened to reveal a royal messenger.
"Your highness, we have just received word that the bearers of the Elements of Harmony will be attending tomorrow's gala. We informed you as soon as we received word, just as you requested." The messenger stated.
"Excellent. Now, leave. I must prepare for the gala." Prince Blueblood replied. The messenger nodded and left Blueblood's bedchambers as Blueblood turned back to his fireplace.
Hellfire.
Dark fire.
Now peasant, it's your turn.
Choose me or,
Your pyre.
Be mine or you will burn!
Faust have mercy on her...
Faust have mercy on me...
But she will be mine,
Or Ponyville... will... BURN!!!