Romance and the Fate of Equestria

Well, that was easily the raunchiest chapter in the story's history. Both Rarity and Rainbow basically climaxed onscreen, for crying out loud. Not really, but pretty much. And it's a chapter about sitting around talking about sex that's as long as most of my bigger action setpieces. Wow. And it was only after finishing that chapter that I realized, "Holy crud, it leads directly into this one…"

Since most chapters work pretty well on their own as stand-alone scenes, my planning process involves jotting down every chapter I've thought of, and then deciding what order to put them in. Sometimes I have to be careful, like making sure that a chapter in which Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are still friends comes before the chapter where they part ways: I almost failed to do that. Thankfully, I caught it and had the chapters switch places (while making sure it didn't put any other Crusaders-centric scenes in the wrong order) long before such a thing became imminent. Ever since, I've kept a closer eye on such things…

But for the most part, a lot of the chapters are little scenes that could be placed pretty much anywhere, as long as their respective subplot remains in the right order. That being said, I really should have hired someone with an eye for interior decorating. It's bad feng-shui to place an extra-naughty chapter directly after another extra-naughty chapter. Yup, this one's pretty much just as sex-charged as the previous one. I didn't realize that until just now, that the two naughtiest vignettes on my plan happen back-to-back.

Chapter One Hundred and Eighteen

Late in the evening, Applejack raced into her home and set down her groceries and other supplies on the kitchen counter. She glanced at the dining table, where she had a huge binder full of her finances and business plans.

She sighed. "I can't," she muttered. "It's too much. Maybe tomorrow…"

She wandered into the living room, and was surprised to see a fire in the hearth. A moment later, something on the floor in front of the fireplace stood up: it was Fluttershy, roused by the sound of Applejack's hoofsteps. Beaming, Fluttershy trotted forward, until she saw Applejack and froze in her tracks with a peep of surprise.

Applejack stared blankly. "Howdy, Fluttershy," she said cautiously.

Fluttershy's cheeks flushed pink. "S-s-so sorry, I was waiting for Big Macintosh. Are you expecting him soon?"

"Yeah, he should be home any minute," Applejack replied, her eyes travelling over Fluttershy and realizing that she was wearing green-and-white striped stockings that completely covered all four of her legs.

"I was just… waiting here," Fluttershy said awkwardly. "To surprise him."

Applejack shrugged. "Mkay, good. What's with the socks?"

"It's… cold," Fluttershy said unconvincingly.

Applejack raised an eyebrow, and Fluttershy's entire face went red.

"Heh," Applejack chuckled humorlessly. "So, we got somethin' new to add to the list of things I didn't need to know about my brother's sex life: he's into socks. Boy, that list just keeps on gettin' longer every day."

"I…" Fluttershy strained, before swallowing hard and proceeding calmly. "I couldn't tell you for sure if he's into them, but… well, who can resist a mare in socks?" She grinned.

"That's true," Applejack agreed, looking her over. "You're probably… right…" She let out a low whistle of amazement. "That is quite the figure you're sportin' there."

"Um… thanks?" Fluttershy said uncertainly. "I… I've been told I have a nice body, I guess. Like, I've heard that before. I'm glad you agree."

"Well, ya do," Applejack assured her. "Especially with the socks, they really set it off."

There was a long silence as they avoided each other's eye, simply standing there in the middle of the living room.

"Hope it works for ya," Applejack finally said, a bit too hastily and sharply. "See ya later." She started marching purposefully upstairs.

"I'm sorry," Fluttershy cried out, halting Applejack in her tracks. "This was a bad idea. I shouldn't have come here. I'll just go back to my house. Can you tell him to meet me…? No, I can't make you do that. That would be awkward… I'll leave him a note. Then I'll—"

"Fluttershy."

"Huh?"

"Take it easy," said Applejack, backtracking down the stairs. "Stay right where you are."

"Really?" Fluttershy squeaked. "Are you sure? I mean, your room is directly above the living room, and right across the hall from his room… I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable."

"It's fine," said Applejack, approaching Fluttershy and touching her face. "Look, my brother's a great guy. The way I see it, if there's a beautiful mare in socks waitin' in his own living room for him to come home so she can have sex with him, he's probably done somethin' to deserve it."

"He has," Fluttershy agreed, suddenly gushing. "He's a wonderful stallion."

"Well, don't deprive him of his rightful reward on my account," Applejack assured her.

"Thanks," Fluttershy said emotionally. "I hope you know how much I really and truly love him."

"Yeah," said Applejack. "Yeah, I do know that. And he loves you, and… that makes me happy. Occasionally resentful, but happy. I love you and him, and it's a real treat to see y'all together."

Fluttershy nodded slowly. "Are you absolutely sure I can… 'meet' with him here? I don't want to intrude. This is your home…"

"Fluttershy, don't even begin to think that you could ever intrude on me," Applejack said firmly, placing both of her hooves comfortingly on the back of Fluttershy's neck. "You're like a sister to me. You're part of my family whether or not you're gettin' your chimney swept by my brother, so you're always welcome under the Apple roof. 'Cause it's your roof too. Consider this your home to do as you please."

Fluttershy smiled, her eyes quivering with moisture. "Thank you, Applejack. I love you."

"Love you too," said Applejack, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "But you knew that."

"I'm really grateful," said Fluttershy, staring into space absently. "You have no idea…" She paused, then looked back at Applejack and raised an eyebrow at her. "Getting my chimney swept?"

Applejack snorted with laughter.

"What was I saying?" Fluttershy muttered in amusement. "Um… oh, right—I can't begin to express how grateful I am for the change of scenery." She slouched in embarrassment. "I don't think anypony really comprehends just how full of animals my house is. There's not a single room in the place that's not packed with them. So when he and I are being intimate… he has no idea they're there, but I can hear them. Talking. Watching us, and commenting on our… actions. It's very distracting."

"I can imagine," Applejack said solemnly.

"Sometimes even inhibiting," Fluttershy went on, whispering confidentially. "I'm not often able to… finish on a high note. I didn't want him to know I had that problem, but I've reached the breaking point. I can't sleep with him at my house anymore, not with all those little pairs of eyes on me. I need to have an actual… you know." She winced. "So… I can come here and be with him anytime I want?"

"Of course, sugarcube," Applejack promised. "Anytime you want. Sweet Apple Acres is happy to have you. And don't ever feel like you need to sneak around, or hide anythin' from me or Apple Bloom. We know what's up. We… get it. And we just want you to enjoy yourself. Don't you ever let us bother you."

"Well, thank you, but of course I'm going to be discreet and respectful," Fluttershy said in surprise. "As much as I can, that is. I know there's no avoiding being overheard… but, well, I don't really mind that so much if it's ponies. More palatable than animals…"

"Heh," Applejack snickered. "Guess it's true what they say about quiet fillies with a rose-colored mane."

"What, that they're kinky?" Fluttershy giggled. "I'm… I'm a little bit kinky. Not more so than anypony else, though. Just… the normal amount."

"Well, don't bring it to his attention that you could get overheard," Applejack advised. "I've never had sex, but I can imagine that havin' your little sisters on your mind ranks pretty close to being watched and heckled by critters on the list of things that cause performance issues…"

"One would certainly hope so," Fluttershy said jovially.

"Well, I'll leave ya to it," said Applejack, walking to the stairs again. "Oh, and by the way, if you're ever short on protection, there's a huge box of condoms in the Crusaders' clubhouse."

"There is?" Fluttershy said in alarm. "Why?"

"The Crusaders pooled their money and got it. You know them three fillies, always prepared for anything. I know what you're thinkin', but don't worry, they're all leagues away from ever havin' to use one. They're mostly there for Twist and Truffle Shuffle to pilfer, but they didn't take the bait. So, don't fear for nopony's innocence, and, you know, help yourself. If you don't take any, they'll just gather dust until they expire, so they're up for grabs."

"Okay," said Fluttershy. She breathed in deeply through her nose, then slowly let it out. "Well, for such a potentially awkward situation, this went really, really well."

"Couldn't've gone better," Applejack agreed. "See you in the mornin'? At breakfast?"

Fluttershy brightened. "Okay! Yeah…"

Applejack went upstairs. As she did so, she heard Fluttershy talking to herself.

"Take me," she whispered. "No, no, that's no good… take me," she said in a husky voice. "Ugh, no, I can't pull that off." She took a few breaths to prepare herself, then gave a tiny, innocent peep of, "Take me? Oh, yes! That sounds good! Let me make sure… take me? YES! Oh, that is golden!"

As Fluttershy laughed and whooped to congratulate herself, she heard Applejack chuckle on the floor above. Fluttershy froze in terror, then reminded herself to relax. After a moment's reflection, she gave Applejack a giggle in return.

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Endnotes

Hidey-ho, I'd thank to thank kushi02 for breezing through this whole thing in just a few short days. Top-notch!

Check this out: Darth Link 22, author the legendary fanfic Post-Nuptials and its expanded universe, promised that starting today he'd take a look at my work. I'm very excited about that. The RFE continuity and his Nuptialverse have so much in common; I feel like anyone who likes Darth Link's work is guaranteed to like mine as well, if only they were given a nudge in the right direction. A nudge like, say, Darth Link giving it his personal stamp of approval, eh? Fingers crossed, people.