//------------------------------// // 202. Leap of Faith - Part 3 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// As Thunderlane approached the farm, he couldn’t help but gulp. He was about to do something that would really cross some borders. After his little wing slip earlier that day when he saw Applejack, he’d decided it was time to do something about his feelings. But before he could work up the nerve to say anything to Applejack, there was another step he needed to take, and it was an important one. The dirt path through the orchard wound along, showing off the prized apples from which the Apple Family made their livelihood. But this lovely sight was ignored as thoughts of the coming conversation blurred through Thunderlane’s mind. This was going to be tough, and he couldn’t help feeling somewhat worried. The loud unmistakable sound of apple-bucking just reinforced his fears. After all, the Apple Family was well known for two other things besides their apples. Their love for their family, and their ridiculous leg strength. Thoughts and concerns continued to fester in his mind, until a flash of red and a sharp impact forced him to focus. Before him stood Big Mac, a smile on his muzzle, a strand of wheat in his mouth and his enormous hind legs slamming into the trunk of an apple tree. The big red stallion noticed his friend approaching and ceased his bucking. “Howdy Thunderlane. What brings you `round here?” Thunderlane was silent for a moment, trying to think of how to start shooting the breeze before breaking the ice. However as he noticed Big Mac’s smile starting to shift as he noticed the darker stallion’s worry, Thunderlane just started talking. “Hey Big Mac… I uh… I was actually hoping to talk with you about something important.” The bigger stallion could tell this was a rather serious conversation, so he gave a nod and indicated to a spot under some trees he’d already bucked. Thunderlane followed him and the two sat beneath the shadowed limbs out of the hot sun. “So… uh, I’m not sure how to get into this… see I… well first I suppose I need to ask you a question.” Mac nodded, so Thunderlane continued. “Well… ever since your mother and father… well after they weren’t around anymore,” Mac’s eyes shadowed for a moment, as painful memories flashed, before he nodded for Thunderlane to continue, “Well, ever since… you’ve… you’ve taken on the role of the stallion of the house. The pillar of strength and support that your sisters needed you to be. Whenever your sisters needed you, you were there, watching over them like a guardian, keeping them safe and helping them grow.” Mac was a little confused about where this conversation was going, but he nodded his head in agreement. He had indeed had to take on that role for his family, and was proud of it. “Right now, Apple Bloom is still young, and she still needs a strong guardian to protect her. Applejack however… well, she’s not a little filly anymore, she’s a strong independent mare with a will that couldn’t be crushed by anything. What I wanted to ask you, Big Mac, is… is how you would feel if… hypothetically… somepony were to come about hoping to… to court her…?” Big Mac’s eyes widened at this, a wave of understanding flooding through him. He recalled the way Thunderlane’s wings had shot up earlier after seeing his sister at the swimming hole, and odd nervous behaviors that Thunderlane had exhibited around AJ that he had dismissed all came to the forefront. However Mac could see right away just nervous and worried Thunderlane was, and the way he had worded his question to ask in hypothetical, in the event that the answers he wanted weren’t well received. He sat in silence for a moment, his eyes closed, while Thunderlane sat beside him, hoping that his questions wouldn’t strain on a powerful friendship he had forged with the farmer. Finally, Big Mac spoke. “Well, tha’s certainly a big question, Thunderlane. Ah’ll admit thawts o’ mah lil’ sisters findin’ a companion an’ startin’ a family of their own weren’t high up there in mah thawts. An’ th’ idea of muh sisters leaving mah protection t’ be protected by another stallion has me worried. However, Ah love mah sisters, an’ above anything else, Ah wan’em t’ be happy.” The red stallion opened his eyes and turned his head to the dark grey pegasus, making sure their eyes were focused on each other. “Ah think, if’n this ‘hypothetical’ stallion were t’ ever wanna be with Applejack, Ah’d want t’ know they could look after her. She’s strong an’ brave an’ fierce, but she is still mah lil’ sister, no matter how old or strong she gets, and Ah’d want t’ know that she was cared for an’ protected. “Ah’d want to know tha’ this stallion understood th’ values tha’ Applejack holds dear, had a respect for th’ Apple Family ways an’ was willin’ to try for th’ long run. Ah cain’t see th’ future, and Ah know tha’ sometimes relationships end, but if some stallion wanted t’ be with mah sister, Ah’d want `em t’ damn well try with all their heart an’ strength to be with her until the end. But most importantly…” Big Mac placed a hoof on Thunderlane’s shoulder, forming a connection with him, making him no just how much this last requirement meant. “Most importantly. Ah’d want them t’ make mah sister happy. T’ love her an’ care for her an’ bring her joy. Above all else, Ah wan’ muh lil’ sister t’ be happy. An’ if this ‘hypothetical’ stallion turned out t’ be a pegasus friend who Ah’ve trusted with muh life, well Ah know they would have the heart t’ do just that.” Thunderlane froze, as he felt Mac’s acceptance. The big farmer beside him gave his shoulder a brief pat, before hauling himself back to his hooves and started to make his way back to the tree he’d been bucking. Thunderlane watched him for a moment, before a feeling relief, fear and joy all surged through him. Big Mac had given his blessing. Now all that was left was to work up the nerve to actually say something. Big Mac watched out of the corner of his eye as Thunderlane took to his wings and soared away from the orchard, a wave of happiness and nerves exuding from him as he went. He gave a brief chuckle and gave the tree one last buck, knocking all the apples loose into the baskets below. “What did you talk with Thunderlane about?” a quiet voice asked from beside him. The big farmer turned to see his beloved Fluttershy standing next to him, a curious smile on her muzzle as her gaze turned from the rapidly disappearing Thunderlane and back to her husband. Big Mac smiled and wrapped a hoof around his shy, a slight blush coming to her cheeks as he did so, though it was accompanied by a happy smile. “Sorry hon, this was somethin’ private between th’ two of us. He had somethin’ real important t’ ask me, an’ made sure he knew Ah gave him mah blessing. Now, it’s up t’ him how t’ move forward, but until he does, Ah won’t be sayin’ a word.” Seeing that Fluttershy accepted his answer, the bubbling happiness he had been feeling washed through him and he impulsively pulled his shy into a passionate embrace, kissing her with all his might. As he pulled back, he could see she was flustered, a little confused about what had him in such a good mood, and if her wings jolted stiff on her back were any indication, she was excited to get a little more passionate. “Ah’ve finished muh chores for th’ day an’ it seems you have some free time as well. What say we spend a little quality time as husband an’ wife back at th’ house…?” Fluttershy’s face was almost completely red, but her lustful eyes and her return kiss, made her answer loud and clear. “This sucks…” Soarin sighed as he walked through town. After finding out the Nesting Pegasus Inn was completely booked, he’d tried the places Mrs. Comfort had suggested, only to find them all a bust! Berry Punch was having her bar renovated, and couldn’t have tenants underhoof while the Red Caboose bed & breakfast was undergoing an intense fumigation. He tried a few more places, but all those visiting ponies who’d come for some dumb tonic had practically taken over the place! As the sun was setting, Soarin finally gave up and decided to try asking one of his friends if he could at the very least spend the night, and somehow wound up headed for Sweet Apple Acres. But instead of the usual farmhouse, he was drawn to Big Mac and Fluttershy’s place, and seeing some lights on inside, he knew they were home. *KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK* Stepping back from the front door, Soarin waited politely, wondering who would answer: the gentle red giant who would welcome him kindly into his house, or his delicate and demure wife, who would likely insist he step inside from the chilly night with almost mother-like compassion and maybe even offer him a nice warm bowl of soup or hot cuppa cocoa. They wouldn’t let him down, and while he would put his hoof down that he would only ask to stay for a short few days, he would still be grateful and even be helpful in any way he could. He had no intention of being a freeloader. He would accept their hospitality, lend a helping hoof to any chores, he would begin a search for his own residence and… Soarin finally noticed he’d been standing on the veranda for a few minutes, having been distracted by his thoughts. He tried knocking again, and waited a few minutes more. He sighed when he noticed Big Mac and Fluttershy didn’t have a doorbell, and finally tried calling for them, “Big Mac? Fluttershy!” He knocked again, “Hello?” Soarin sighed again and wondered, Their lights are on, so where are they? As the evening chill began to settle upon him, Soarin ruffled his feathers with a quick shiver in effort to shake away the lowering temperature. As much as he respected his friends’ privacy, he didn’t want to stand out here all night. With a sharp sigh, Soarin stepped out from under the veranda and went around the house where he saw the lit windows. With a few easy flaps he rose, expecting to see Big Mac and Fluttershy enjoying the evening with a pleasant talk or maybe a good book, and peered through the window, about to rap on it to get their attention. His hoof froze, as did almost his wings, and he felt the blood rush to his face as he quickly flew away! Big Mac and Fluttershy were indeed enjoying the evening. In bed. Together. Soarin swore he would never speak of what he’d just seen to anyone and only prayed the image of Big Mac and Fluttershy doing it doggy style would somehow vanish from his brain.