Forever and Always
A Bed to Share
The long grass tickled her hooves as the Pegasus pony slowly made her way through the long, winding stalks. Fluttershy shivered as they tickled at her belly, giggling slightly. The meadow, with its whispering stream and tall, leafy trees dotted about, was truly a beautiful place, but she had no one to share it. At least, that was what she thought, until Fluttershy spotted the shape of a pony under a shady apple tree.
With a gasp of delight, she began to gallop towards the pony. As she got closer she made out more details. It was an earth pony mare with an orange coat and a long, blonde mane. A worn-down old hat covered her face, a piece of wheat sticking out of her barely-visible mouth. If she had been happy before, this was something else. Fluttershy knew who that mare was.
She drew to a sudden stop under the cool shade, so different to the heat of the sun. Slowly, teasingly, she drew up her head to reveal deep, gorgeous green eyes and a freckled face. Fluttershy smiled softly and took a few more steps forwards. Applejack pushed upwards, quickly closing what distance remained between them and folding her into a hug. Applejack was so warm and strong, immediately putting her at ease. Fluttershy flung her arms around her neck without hesitation. They lay together, content just being by the other’s side.
A constant pattering fell upon Fluttershy’s face, each little slap brining her further from her dream. Moaning, she twisted away from the annoyance to try and return to sleep. Suddenly there was a hard slap against her face. Her eyes opened wide with a gasp at the brief pain. Angel Bunny stood atop her shoulder, tapping his foot in annoyance, hand held out to bring another blow to her. When he saw the raw, burning anger in her eyes, he quickly dropped the hand sheepishly.
“Angel!” Fluttershy gasped, fixing him with a stern look. “You do not hurt ponies, and that was uncalled for. Why, I’m so mad, I think I’m going to have to punish you,” She grabbed her pet by the scruff and, despite his struggles, put into him in a wire cage. “Now you stay there until you decide to say sorry.”
Fluttershy strutted across the room, her hooves making a quiet clacking on the wooden floorboards. She closed the door behind her, only then allowing herself a squeal of delight. She lifted a hoof to take a step, pausing to nibble on her lip. Was she too harsh on him? What if he hated her now? With a gasp, she spun around, grabbing the doorknob. Before Fluttershy could go inside, a ding-dong sounding from downstairs, announcing a visitor. She let her hoof drop meekly to the floor. She would have to deal with him in a minute.
Fluttershy flapped quickly down the stairs towards the door, just as the bell rung again.She landed neatly, folding her wings by her side. Opening the door a crack, she peered out.
“Hello? Who is it?” She said quietly. Pushing the door further open, she caught sight of her marefriend standing with a large grin on her face. “Oh, Applejack, it’s you! Do you want to, um, come inside?”
“’Course ah do,” Applejack trotted inside. “Ah did come to see ya after all.”
Flutttershy rapidly smoothed her scruffy mane down with her hooves before closing the door. “Did you? That’s nice.”
“Ah,” Applejack dropped onto the sofa. “It’s certainly quiet ‘round here. Where’s that little rascal rabbit of your’s?”
She squeaked, hiding behind her pink mane. “I’m a horrible pony; I locked him up in a cage! I’m so, so sorry!”
“Really? That’s great!” Applejack laughed. She frowned when Fluttershy didn’t smile, hurrying to her side. “Aw sugarcube, don’t be upset. Why’d ya’ll lock ‘im up anyway? It doesn’t seem like you.”
“Um,” she said quietly. “He slapped me.
”
“He what?!” Fluttershy jumped at the loud yell. Applejack placed her hooves on the side of Fluttershy’s face, pulling her round to stare into those deep green eyes. She shivered as Applejack traced a hoof tenderly along her cheeks. “Are ya’ll hurt?”
She blushed. “N-no, I’m fine.”
“Good,” Applejack hugged her. “Now, how ‘bout some tea? Ah’m a might thirsty.”
Fluttershy blinked at the topic change. “Of course, I’ll make some.”
She fluttered into the kitchen, filling the kettle with water she left to boil and grabbing a couple of mugs and teabags. She hummed quietly to herself as she prepared the drinks, pouring the heated water into the two mugs and dropping in the teabags. She stirred them, scooping out the used up teabags. Fluttershy twisted her head towards the living room, where she could just about make out Applejack relaxing on the sofa.
“Do you want any milk or sugar?” She called.
“No thanks, Flutters.” Applejack replied.
Quickly adding a splash of milk to her own tea, she reached out with her wings to tenderly balance the mugs. Happily, she trotted out to where her marefriend was waiting.
“Here you go,” she tilted one wing down so Applejack could take the tea. “I hope you like it.” She smiled, sitting next to her and taking a small sip.
“Thank ya’ll very much,” Applejack gulped down the tea, not seeming to mind the obvious heat. “Ah forgot to get a drink on th’ way out, ah was a lil’ bit distracted.”
“It’s fine,” Fluttershy said. She fiddled with her mug, biting her lip before she asked her question. “What were you distracted by, if you don’t mind me asking.”
“Naw, ah jus’ needed to ask ya’ll a question,” the intensity of her gaze left shivers down Fluttershy’s spine. “A real important question.”
“G-go ahead.” Fluttershy mumbled, burying her head in the tea, although careful not to burn her tongue, a knot of tension forming in her stomach.
“Well, Fluttershy,” Applejack seemed nervous, rubbing the back of her mane, then taking her hat of and fiddling with it, having already finished with the tea. “Do ya’ll remember ‘bout a year ago when we first started dating?”
She smiled, memories of a beautiful autumn day whisking before her. “Of course I do, that was the best night of my life.”
The farmer smiled weakly. “Yeah, well, do ya’ll remember you were kinda scared ‘bout bein’ in a relationship an’ all? An’ ah said that ah’d take it slow for ya?”
“Um, yes?” she was beginning to worry again, although trying not to show it. “Why?”
“Ah was thinking that we should, y’know, move onto the next stage of our relationship,” Applejack said. “Ah think we should move in together.”
Fluttershy froze. “Move in together?”
“Y-yeah. But ah can’t leave mah family, ya’ll know? So ah think ya’d have ta move in with me.”
Fluttershy so badly felt like crying right then, her eyes slightly watering, but she made sure she didn’t, turning her head away silently.
“Fluttershy, sugarcube?” Applejack turned her around, forcing her to stare into those eyes she loved so much. “Are ya’ll okay?”
“I’m sorry,” her voice squeaked and she coughed daintily to cover it. “But I can’t. I have to stay here and look after my animals. Besides, if I brought them over to Sweet Apple Acres they’d eat all the apples.”
“Oh yeah,” she laughed, but it was weak. “Ah didn’t think about that before. But…” her eyes glimmered with hope. “Ya’ll special talent is takin’ care of th’ critters an’ all, so couldn’t ya’ll just make sure they don’t, or somethin’?”
Once again she felt like crying, and once again she forced back the tears. “Yes, I could,” she sighed sadly. “But I… can’t. I mean, I know we’ve been dating a long time and all… but I don’t want to move in with you. I love my home and all the animals here need me. I can't let them down.”
Watching the smile slip from her face was painful, and when Applejack forced another one back on, it was very fake. “That’s okay. Um, ah better be going.” She got to her hooves and ran quickly to the door.
“Wait!” Fluttershy cried, scenes of Applejack crying rising to her mind. She scrambled to her hooves, dropping the tea (gently so it didn’t break or spill) on the table and galloping through the open door, not bothering to close it behind her.
She took to the air, using her wings to her advantage as she chased after Applejack. “Wait!” she cried again. “Applejack, wait!”
The farm mare skidded to stop, allowing Fluttershy to catch up to her panting. “W-wait…” She gasped.
“Heh, sorry ‘bout that,” she gratefully took the hoof that was offered to her. “It’s just this kinda meant a lot to me.”
“Oh Applejack, I’m so sorry,” she hugged her tightly. “How about I come back to your house and we can talk about it.”
“Ah’d like that. Ya’ll want a pony ride?” Applejack bent down, presenting her back.
“Huh? I can walk, silly.” She giggled at the idea.
“Aw, it’ll be fun, c’mon!” She said.
Fluttershy blinked, realizing she was being serious. “Oh… okay.”
She beat her wings, slowly lowering herself down. She wrapped her front hooves around Applejack’s neck, trying not to lean on her.
“Geez Fluttershy, how come ya’ll are so light?” she shook her head. “Anyhow, let’s get a-goin’!”
Suddenly, Applejack took off at full pelt, digging her hooves into the dusty ground. Fluttershy yelped, clinging on tighter. She blushed, loosening her grip and settling down. The motion underneath was almost comforting once she got use it, as was the clopping of her hooves.
Watching the hat bobbing up and down on her head, Fluttershy got an idea. Hoping she wouldn’t mind, she lifted the hat of Applejack’s head, placing it on her own. This caused her marefriend to chuckle, something that brought a grin to her face. Free from the hat, Applejack’s mane flowed down her shoulder like liquid gold, ending in a tight ponytail. She smiled, resting her head against the soft mane, hat crooked atop her head.
They turned a corner, revealing a wide-spread orchard of apple trees, as well a sign reading ‘Sweet Apple Acres’. Behind that was large red barn and a bench, which Granny Smith was currently hauling herself past with her walking stick.
“Howdy, Granny!” Applejack reared upwards, making Fluttershy yelp and cling to her again. She chuckled, letting Fluttershy climb of, but not taking the hat back.
“Hey there, young’n,” Granny Smith chortled. She winked at the still-dizzy Pegasus. “And good to see ya’ll too, Fluttershy.”
“Oh, you too, Granny Smith.” Blushing, Fluttershy took the hat of her head and placed it back where it belonged.
“Do ya’ll both want some apple pie? Ah jus’ made the tasty lookin’ pie ya’ll ever saw- ah swear it was hollering in mah ear for me to eat it right!”
“That sounds nice,” she smiled, taking a few steps forwards, before noticing both Granny Smith and Applejack had stopped. “What? What’s wrong?”
She looked behind her to see a large red stallion charging over the bend, panting heavily and sweating buckets. He drew to a stop in front of the little group, drawing in deep gulps of air.
“Lots a-bulls,” Big McIntosh wheezed. “Headin’… this way.”
Sure enough, a huge herd of beasts was stampeding through the orchard, trees crashing down as they made their way towards the barn, snorting and grunting though their noses.
“Sweet gravy!” Applejack screamed. “They’re gonna tear down th’ farm at this rate!”
Fluttershy shrieked, darting behind her, not wanting to face the bulls. Her entire body shook, her breath short panicked. She didn’t know what to do, forgetting everything apart from that she was scared- very, very scared.
“C’mon, Fluttershy, on ya hooves!” Applejack ordered. “We gotta get out of here or else we’ll be dragon food.”
With another shriek, she took the air, flying faster than she knew she could. Wind whizzed past her, tears streaking out of her ears. All that mattered at that moment was getting as far away as possible from those angry, terrifying bulls. Once her adrenaline began to wear out she stopped, dropping onto a fluffy white clouds that was coincidentally floating. She pushed her hooves into the soft mass, keeping her balance as she caught her breath.
Fluttershy shook her head, turning breathlessly to look over her shoulder. The bulls had changed direction, focusing on a new target- the apple family.
“Applejack!” She screamed, gory images of her marefriend being torn apart by the big, sharp tusk of one of those bulls sent blood pumping round her body, all of her fear being shoved to the furthest corners of her mind. Without hesitation, she leapt of her cloud in a dive.
Fluttershy angled sharply towards the ground, focusing her entire being on flying quickly and directly to save Applejack. She flared out her wings, slowing herself down enough to draw to a sudden stop in front of the bulls, who screeched to a halt in surprise.
“And just what do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, pressing her face close up against the biggest bull’s, who she assumed was the ringleader. “You, whether you have a good reason or not, have just rampaged through Applejack’s home and put her and her family in mortal danger! Do you know who Applejack is, mister?” the bull nervously shook his head, sinking towards the ground in the face of The Stare. All around him, not that he noticed them, the members of his herd were slipping away. “Applejack is the fastest, strongest, kindest, toughest mare you will ever have honour of meeting, and she is my marefriend, which means she’s my responsibility and she belongs to me! And do you what I don’t like?” he was shaking now, all alone as the other bulls abandoned him to her fury. “I do not like it when my marefriend gets hurts, and if you so much as lay one hoof on her, I will destroy you! Now run before I tear you to pieces!”
The bull didn’t need any more invitation than that, wheeling around a speeding of in the hoof prints of the others that had long gone. Fluttershy dropped to the ground, breathing heavily, her anger still running through her blood.
“Uh… Fluttershy?” She spun around, snorting, to see who dared interrupt her, only to blink in shock to see it was Applejack. Her cheeks flamed and her legs buckles as she dropped down and cowered on the floor.
“I-I’m sorry you had to see that.” She whimpered.
“Flutteshy, ya’ll were amazing!” her head snapped up. “Hoowee, did ya’ll send those beasts running! They won’t be showin’ their faces ‘round here for a long time,” Applejack wrapped her into a tight hug. “Although, ya were a
might possessive.”
Fluttershy giggled. “I love you, Applejack.”
“Ah love ya too, Fluttershy.” With a light squeeze, Applejack let her go.
“Uh… not to ruin the moment, or anythin’,” Big McInosh interrupted. “But we got a real mess on our hooves t’ clean up.”
They all glanced back over the field of devastation the bulls had caused. It was truly a sickening sight and made Fluttershy look away, horrified that any creature could do such a bad thing.
Applejack sighed. “Ah guess we’d better get started then. Fluttershy, ya’ll can go home now, although ah’m very thankful fer all of ya help, but we need to get started fixin’ this mess.”
“What?” the very idea stunned her, making her earnestly shake her head. “You need help to fix this, and I want to help. I want to be by your side, helping you every step of the way,” she gasped, her eyes widened. “Yes, that’s right! Applejack, I was wrong. I can control the animals and I want to be here with you. I want to move in with you.”
“Do ya’ll really mean it?” she gasped. “Yer not pullin’ mah tail?”
“No, I’m completely serious.”
“Oh, ah’m so happy!” the next thing she knew, she was lying on the ground, an energetic mare peppering her face with little kiss. “Thank ya’ll so much!”
Fluttershy smiled I will love forever and always, Applejack