Applejack yawned loudly once again, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands before washing them again. She touched her cool and damp fingers to her face in an attempt to wake herself up, but it did little to help. Having her sister over the previous night had been something of a burden, as she was up most of the night shivering or shifting for room and comfort. Besides that, Apple Bloom talked in her sleep, and flailed about randomly. She was just lucky it wasn't too particularly busy up at the bar, though the rest of the pub had a couple of rushes that night.

The water dripped from the tap several times after she had turned it off, but eventually it stopped. Starting a Margarita for a server to take to a customer down in the pub, Applejack shook the loud contents beside her ear in another attempt to alarm herself, though even that didn't work. As she did, she was too distracted to hear a much older man approach the bar and stare at her carefully. His smirk grew wider as he looked the girl over, and he placed his long and elegant fingers onto the counter.

“Well, good evening, my dear,” the man addressed Applejack, who turned and looked upon his less than familiar face.

“Evenin',” the barmaid responded uneasily, noticing a strange feeling she got when she looked at the man, something ominous and creepy.

His dark and greying hair was cut straight and pushed back over his head, and though it may have been dyed, his long, snow-like beard shouted his age. He was tall and slender, and had sharp and piercing eyes that matched the firmly pressed and crisp edges of his suit. Shifting and tightening his strangely obnoxious and ostentatious tie, he kept up the conversation.

“I'm here to see Cherry, she told me she would be in today,” the man said casually, sucking on his lips as he rolled them about.

“Right. Ah heard someone was comin' t' see her,” Applejack agreed, turning and heading over to the phone. “Ah'll give her a ring down in th' office.”

“By all means,” his sneaky, low voice slithered out from between his teeth.

Picking up the phone, Applejack tried the direct office line, but paused as she held the microphone part of the phone to her shoulder and asked, “Who should Ah tell her you are?”

“What, she never mentioned me?” The man faked some hurt expression, and still Applejack waited on his response. After running his agile fingers down the corners of his blazer, he responded, “You may know me as her third ex-husband, the one whose alimony pays for this place. But you can call me Discord.”

“That so?” Applejack had never heard much about Jubilee taking his money, but she did know him as her last husband. As she put the phone back up to her ear, she absently made conversation with the man, “Discord, tha's an interestin' name.”

“For an interesting man, I assure you.” He tipped his head in a bow and not-so-modestly accepted the possible compliment.

“She ain't answerin', Ah think she's on th' other line,” Applejack told him as she glanced down at the lines as displayed on the phone receiver box. She sighed and placed the phone down for the moment. “Can Ah get ya a drink while y'wait?”

“I'd hate to put you through the trouble,” Discord replied in a mock-innocent voice.

“Ah offered.” Applejack turned to face him and placed her hands on her hips.

“Well, in that case,” the man hummed while he twiddled his beard thoughtfully. “I'll just take a little glass of water, please.”

Applejack stared at him questioningly for a second before she complied, saying, “Comin' up.”

Taking a glass out from under the counter, she started on preparing the most simple of requests. She scooped up some ice from the box and gently slid it into the glass before filling it with the cold liquid contained in one button of the soda dispenser. As she did, she noticed the way Discord continued to watch her, and she felt uncomfortable about it. It reminded her of the way Miss Jubilee tended to observe her. Still, she finished pouring the transparent fluid and replaced the nozzle in its sheath.

She placed the drink on the counter before him and tipped her hat respectfully before turning back to the phone. Once more, she lifted the phone from the receiver and pressed the direct line to the office, holding it to her ear as she listened to the ring. Discord took the glass and brought it to his lips, sipping at it none too thirstily.

“So, you're her barmaid, hmm?” Discord spoke up once more, this tone light and intrigued though the question seemed too simple not to have some underlying motivation or inquiry.

“Ah reckon so,” Applejack carefully replied, letting the office phone ring and ring as she desired something else to talk about.

“And a fine young one at that,” he went on, and Applejack felt herself tense up under his critical eye. “Cherry can be such a tease, putting you all in outfits like that.”

Glancing back at the much older man, the barmaid warned, “Careful, Discord.”

He was not a man to take a hint, though. His teasing and taunting raspy voice called back to her, striking a nerve accurately, “With an ass like that, it's no wonder she left me for you.”

Applejack slammed the phone down at once, not startling the man at all. What he had just implied could not have been true, it couldn't. Of all the things she had been forced to do with Jubilee, home-wrecking was not one at all. Besides that, she sure didn't want this man going around telling people such lies and foolishness. She glared back at him over her shoulder as she felt her fists clenching, and chewed her words carefully over while trying not to yell.

“Al'right, that does it,” she growled as she turned to face him, pointing a threatening finger at him. “You better keep your rank gab shut 'bout whatever bitterness you got, 'cause Ah hardly wanna think 'bout them lies m'self, much less have th' whole bar in on it. I'll go get Miss Jubilee personally.”

“Ooh, and feisty to boot,” Discord mused as Applejack left from behind the bar, the door swinging behind her. “Too bad Cherry never was one to share.” Discord leaned his elbows behind him onto the bar counter, crossing one leg behind the other and leaning back casually.

“Ah ain't above wallopin' ya,” Applejack spoke in a low and hushed voice, her eyebrows arching over narrowed and accusative eyes.

“Wallop away,” Discord inched forwards bit by bit and let his eyes trail over Applejack's body mercilessly. “If it'll get you get a little closer.”

With a blank expression and a shake of her head, the barmaid sighed. She waved him off and continued down the lounge towards the office, leaving but one sentence in her wake, “Ah have no clue what Miss Jubilee saw in y'all.”

“That'd be the money!” Discord called after her, presenting a confident smirk before laughing.

Muttering incoherently to herself, Applejack descended the stairs to the office promptly. Rainbow Dash was at the host stand as she passed, and raised her head as if to address her, but noticing her obvious sour mood, she said nothing. Frowning, Rainbow Dash let the girl walk away without so much as a word. The barmaid hurried down the steps and through the hall, stopping in front of the office with an irritated expression.

Knocking three times, Applejack called to the woman in the office, “Miss Jubilee.”

“Come in, darlin',” a voice responded, and she knew it was the woman she requested. Applejack did as she was told and went inside, making sure to hold the exit open after her as an escape in case her boss wanted something more from her than a message. Cherry turned in her chair as she placed her phone down on the receiver as smiled at Applejack, saying, “Well this is a surprise, y'all comin' down without me even requestin' ya.”

“Miss Jubilee, a man named Discord's here t' see ya,” Applejack relayed the information in a serious tone.

“Oh my, y'all met already?” Cherry Jubilee sounded disappointed, her lips pouting as she spoke. She stood up and went over to Applejack, tilting her head and running a delicate finger under the freckled girl's jaw. “An' here Ah was gonna show you off t' him.”

“... Right,” the barmaid grumbled as she didn't know how to respond to that, but kept on topic, “Well, he's by th' bar.”

“After you.” Jubilee's hand touched the door to hold it open and she gestured for Applejack to go first.

Hesitating for a cautious moment, Applejack decided to follow the command and lead the way. As she turned around and exited the doorway to the office, Miss Jubilee found a particular interest in a certain part of her body, first leering at it and then reaching out. The barmaid felt a rough pinch on her rear and flinched at once, gawking back at her boss irritably. The woman merely chuckled and placed a hand on Applejack's lower back, guiding her forward once more.

Applejack hung her head a fraction as she led Miss Jubilee back up the stairs, frowning as she knew she would now have to deal with two perverse older people. She only hoped the two would reconcile some difference and get back together, leaving her alone at the bar while they did some unfortunately imaginable things in the office, leaving her out of it. As she arrived at the top of the stairs, she found Rainbow Dash doodling something on the host stand, which she readily erased with one hand as her boss and love interest passed her.

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes subtly as she noticed the way her boss walked so close to Applejack, and she felt some unfounded jealousy flare up. The woman's heavily shadowed eyes trailed the barmaid objectively, and it made the hostess shudder and cringe. Surely it meant nothing, but she felt an uneasy weight in her stomach, especially when the barmaid in question avoided meeting her gaze. She watched the two go up to the lounge and greet an older man, and though more guests came into the pub, she knew she would keep a curious eye up there.

“G'd evenin' there, handsome,” Miss Jubilee greeted her ex-husband pleasantly.

“Well, if it isn't the busty little thorn in my side,” Discord responded with a sly grin.

“Thorn in your pants, from what Ah see,” her eyes trailed down suggestively, and the man she ogled merely leaned back and accepted the invasive gaze.

“Oh lord,” Applejack grumbled as she passed the two, getting back behind the bar.

“From what I hear, you're not too interested in thorns at all,” the man hinted, his eyes narrowing on the barmaid as she took her post.

“Y'all have eyes, should be obvious why.” Cherry leaned over the bar counter, running her tongue along her bottom lip as her interest caressed Applejack. “Applejack darlin', y'all offer ma man here one'a your sweet, sweet drinks?”

“Most ain't sweet, actually, them bein' liquor an' all,” Applejack mumbled as she moved some bottles around to find one in particular, reading over the order slips that had printed up. She bent down to grab some fruits for garnish from the lower mini fridge and placed them on the counter. “All he got was a glass o' water.”

“Shoot, y'best wrestle one up for me too, sugar. Seein' ya bendin' over is makin' me all hot an' bothered,” the older woman purred, biting at her plush lips and raising her eyebrows in a teasing manner.

“Y'all're botherin' me too, Ah reckon,” Applejack grumbled in a hush irritably, tossing some ingredients into two side-by-side glasses.

“What was that?” Miss Jubilee's voice dropped a little lower in tone, and Applejack tensed up to realized she had been heard.

“N-Nothin', ma'am.” The barmaid curtly bowed her head and hid her eyes beneath the brim of her hat, hurrying along with her duties.

“Sounded for a second there like y'all were givin' me more o' that tasty lip,” Miss Jubilee proposed, leaning further over the counter and tilting her head. Applejack carefully glanced over at her boss, swallowing nervously. Cherry's expression seemed both promiscuous and dangerous, a usual look she gave Applejack, and it always made the barmaid uneasy. “Sugarplum, come a little closer, will ya?”

“Miss Jubilee?” Applejack spoke the woman's name as she did as she was told.

“Tha's better.” Cherry reached out to the now nearby Applejack and placed her hand under the girl's chin, drawing her across the counter a few more inches and reintroducing their far-too-similar gorgeous green eyes. “It's the holidays, darlin', why're y'all actin' so odd? Somethin' wrong?”

“Who, me?” Applejack stalled, pursing her lips like she was keeping in one of her many secrets. “Nothin' Ah ain't told ya b'fore.”

“Ah see.” Rubbing her thumb along Applejack's cheek tenderly, Miss Jubilee inspected each individual freckle as they tapped along the barmaid's face, her leering attention much more than just unwelcome. “Well, maybe Ah'll keep y'all a spell late tonight, throw some extra hours your way for th' holidays. Hmm?”

Applejack's eyes widened as she realized what the woman was actually offering, and she was momentarily lost for words. Her hesitance and reluctance was clear, and she uneasily looked over the woman's shoulder at the host stand. Her heart stopped as she noticed that Rainbow Dash was staring right at her, her attention firmly set. Tilting her head slightly to the side, the hostess silently wondered what the barmaid and her boss were doing up at the bar, and even the thought of it made her furiously jealous. Applejack's eyes softened ruefully on the poor young girl, and she managed to find an adequate response to ease the situation.

“That's, uh, mighty fine of you t'offer an' all, but Ah ain't feelin' that great. B'sides, since y'all're carryin' ma cider, Ah ain't too short on funds,” that was something of a lie, but she said it anyway.

“Aww, breakin' ma heart.” Miss Jubilee puffed out her lips in a pout as Applejack played coy and distracted. “Ah'll just have t' come 'round more often now, won't Ah? Give y'all a reason t' wanna stay.”

“You haven't changed a bit, Cherry my dear,” Discord mused pleasantly, his finger running around the rim of his glass of water.

“Don't go gettin' nostalgic an' jealous, honey, though Ah see why ya would,” the woman spoke in an amused tone, finally releasing Applejack so the barmaid could continue her work.

“Y'all gonna hang around here all night?” Applejack grouchily asked, raising an eyebrow at the pair across the bar. She chanced another glance down at Rainbow Dash, and noticed the distant and objective expression on her face, which made her feel all the more guilty and embarrassed to have been touched by her boss while the girl was watching. Feeling rage welling up towards the devious older woman before her, she let her voice drop a little lower as she added, “Or can Ah get t' work now?”

“Oh sweetheart, what else might Ah pay y'for?” Miss Jubilee grinned and extended another wink, which made Applejack wince uneasily. “Y'all're right, we best be gettin' t' business. C'mon Discord, we can talk in ma office.”

“I should hope for a little more than talking after being apart for the last few weeks,” the man slyly said as he abandoned his glass of water in favour of following the woman towards the stairs.

“Keep on dreamin', honey,” Cherry replied in a light laugh, blowing a kiss back at Applejack as the two went across the lounge.

Merely casually casting a half-salute half-wave back to her boss, Applejack resisted the urge to flip the woman her middle finger. She knew Cherry would not hesitate to return the sentiment, in a much more crude manner. Applejack clicked her tongue in disgust at the thought and shook her head, shrugging the uncomfortable feeling of self-loathing off her shoulders. Her eyes drifted back to Rainbow Dash, who simply watched Miss Jubilee and her ex-husband pass her on their way down to the office before looking back up at Applejack.

Something in Rainbow's eyes gave Applejack a horrible feeling, or perhaps, it was something that was not there at all. As their gazes met, Applejack noticed the seeming apathy and despondence that Rainbow's eyes seemed to hold, and it crushed her. Bouncing her eyebrows passively just once, the hostess broke their connection and busied herself with continuing to doodle on her host stand. She wasn't sure why she should have felt angry or hurt by any of what she may or may not have seen, all she knew was that she did. She hated how emotional and jealous she could be sometimes. Biting her lip, Rainbow dug the wax pencil into the plastic floor-plan and scribbled a dark black smudge.

Rainbow Dash found it in her best interest to avoid Applejack for the rest of the night, as she could tell something had put the barmaid in a bitter mood too. Meanwhile, Applejack had a hard time just imagining how she could face the girl, that is, until she had already left. Instead of hanging around for her usual drink after work, Rainbow Dash had opted to go home after her shift, leaving Applejack alone and rueful at the bar. She should have been more honest, she should have said something, she should have not been so scared or petty. But still, she worked on like nothing was wrong.

Noticing, hours later, when Jubilee and Discord decided to come out from the office, Applejack's dull and loathing eyes stuck to the pair as they parted at the door. She could tell from Discord's now ruffled collar and Miss Jubilee's recently re-applied lipstick that something had gone on down there; she knew the signs herself all too well. Discord finished adjusting his tie and smirked a pompous grin as Miss Jubilee mouthed one more kiss with her plump lips, which made Applejack roll her eyes. Still, her chest tightened to see the two act like that, and she could not pinpoint why. Just as the man was about to take his leave, Discord turned and looked up at the barmaid, which startled her. The older man's grin grew ever sharper and more aggressive, and he lent her an arrogant and smug wink before getting on his way.

She wasn't so sure why that, too, bothered her, but she said nothing as the man finally took his leave. Even if she hated Miss Jubilee for an array of reasons, it still kind of hurt to see her fooling around, with no concern at all. Applejack hissed a laugh though, finding the whole situation terribly trivial and hypocritical. Another noise caught her attention, and she glanced across the bar to find a rowdy patron barking something mostly incoherent at one of her cocktail servers. This was not the first time that someone had gotten aggressive in that pub, in fact, it wasn't even the first time that evening. Reluctantly, Applejack placed the rag she had been absently using down on the counter and came out from behind the bar.

“Seriously dude, if you are going to make a scene about it, you've clearly had enough,” Vinyl was telling the man as she glared at him blankly and put her hands on her hips.

“Who the hell are you to say how fucking much I've had?!” the man nearly shouted, and Vinyl winced before over-playing some act of popping her ears due to the volume.

“Uh, the girl who served them all to you,” the cocktail server grumbled obviously.

“Exactly, now do y'fucking job and, and get me some damn more beer!” he raised his voice again, and Vinyl sighed audibly. “Fucking bitch.”

“Now, now,” Applejack decided it was a good time to step in, as she could see Vinyl's face going red as the man called her such a name. She gently nudged Vinyl out of the way and rested her hand on the patron's table, asking, “What's goin' on over here?”

“Sweet—barkeep, get me a damn beer, would ya? Like, fuck.” He slammed his hands on the table clumsily. “Your servers 're incompetent as shit.”

Applejack could smell alcohol all over the man, so much of it that it actually sickened her, which was surprising considering she worked behind a bar. Keeping her tone gentle and even, she responded, “How much've you had, sir?”

“Not e-fuckin'-nough. And no scrawny lil' shitfuck waitress should be telling me when I'm done, I've had a really hard-ass day and wanna—just want to drink, is that so bad?!” his voice raised again, and Applejack nodded along with him, trying to be understanding.

“What'd you call me?!” Vinyl jumped back into the conflict, but Applejack placed a hand on the girl's shoulder and met her eyes firmly, telling her when it was time to back off. With a snort, she did as she was silently requested and took a few steps back.

“Ain't nothin' wrong with needin' a little time t' relax, Ah know that much,” Applejack agreed with the man, who seemed pleased to be heard. “Only thing is, Ah gotta make sure ma servers and other patrons 're taken care of too. How about y'have a glass o' water, see how y'feel, an' if ya really want something, Ah'll toss ya over a Vodka Soda, on th' house.” Applejack told him politely, having something of a trick in mind. Easiest way she found to calm down a disgruntled guest was to offer something free, and with mixed drinks, often intoxicated people would hardly notice if she forgot to mix in the liquor.

“I don't want a damn Vodka Soda,” the man did not take the offer, in fact, it seemed to enrage him. His friends, who sat near him, said nothing about it, and seemed amused by his actions. “I just want a fucking beer, is that too damn difficult for you idiots?!”

“'scuse me?” Applejack tried to remain reasonable, narrowing her green eyes on the belligerent man. “Sir, if y'can't calm down, Ah'mma hafta ask you t' leave.”

“This is a free-fucking-country, you can't tell me where to be or where to not be,” he growled, scooting his chair out and abruptly standing. Applejack did nothing but watch him intently, not even flinching as he got right up into her face and yelled, “Damn useless redneck!”

“We're jus' doin' our jobs too, sir, our days ain't over yet an' we wanna make it through 'em without confrontation. Ah ain't lookin' fer trouble 'r nothin',” the barmaid carefully tried to reason with him, but he did not seem to be in the mood for a talking to.

“Too fucking late,” the man barked as he roughly shoved Applejack, surprising everyone around them with the sudden violence.

Applejack stumbled a step backwards and stared at the man, trying to figure out what must have possessed him to attack someone in public like that. She opened her mouth to speak, but before any words came out, the man was against her once more, grabbing her by what little amount of fabric covered her chest. He took firm hold of her and forced her backwards again, slamming her against the bar counter and pressing her to lean back over it. She caught herself with her elbows and resisted the force, though it was difficult to do so since the man was so large and aggressive.

Now, Applejack was not afraid of any physical altercation, but she was uneasy having it happen right in her bar. She didn't have time to look over and gauge the terrified expression of Vinyl, or of some of her other co-workers as they noticed what was going on, but she knew they must have been unsettled by it. Her hands gripped at the wood around the counter and she winced as she man pushed harder against her, feeling his great big hand squeezing between her pounding breasts. He pulled back his fist at once, and with fury in his eyes went to swing at the much smaller barmaid.

He wouldn't have the chance to finish his assault though, as he was stalled by some firm yet femininely ginger touch on his arm. Wild eyes glanced back at whoever had stalled him, and from beneath his behemoth form, Applejack could make out the figure too. The barmaid's eyes grew wide as she recognized her rescuer, and yet at the same time, she felt very uncertain and her heart beat hard in a different way. Into the light she stepped, and Applejack was entirely lost for words as she came around the man and met his assertive and commanding presence with her own.

“Ah'munna ask ya nicely only this once,” Cherry Jubilee's voice was threatening and stern, though somehow it retained its charming allure. Her deep crimson hair fell in few loose strands around her attentive and warning expression, her hand tightening around the man's arm. “Get yer dirty hands off'a ma barmaid.” The words were possessive, and for some reason, Applejack liked to hear them that way.

The man glared back at her, his teeth grinding the beer residue in his mouth around. He noticed her attractive attire, and even through his angry drunken haze he ogled the woman, though his words were still just as rude, “And if I don't?”

With a pleasant smile, Miss Jubilee peeled back the frills of her long skirt and revealed a thin, silver object contained within a slim holster, something both Applejack and the patron recognized immediately. It sparkled in the dim lighting, from barrel to trigger, and reminded the barmaid and her patron of mortality. It was some kind of old-style revolver, something Applejack had never seen her boss bring out for any reason. Her skirt fluttered back down before any other eyes caught sight of the piece.

Cherry hummed warmly as she tapped the man on his arm twice, telling him, “Ah don't want things t'get uglier than they already are. Y'understand, honey?”

After a short, resentful hesitation, the man roughly released Applejack, shoving her further onto the counter as he stepped back. He adjusted his shirt and made to leave as he growled at her, “Fucking crazy bitch.”

Miss Jubilee leaned back and placed a hand on her tilted, curvaceous hip, watching the man and his buddies head back down the stairs and out the door. Her heavily shadowed eyes shifted over to the young barmaid, who still leaned back awkwardly onto the bar counter. Applejack stared at her savior thankfully until the woman smiled at her, leaning so close over her that she could feel the heat of her body before taking her by the arm and helping her back up. With her heart beat still racing, Applejack allowed the woman to run her hand along her waist as she inspected her.

“Y'al'right there, Applejack?” Miss Jubilee's voice was soft and considerate, and she was so very tender with her affectionate touching. The barmaid had almost never heard the woman call her by her name, but it did not sound odd to her at all.

“Uh, yeah,” Applejack hesitantly answered, swallowing the butterflies in her stomach that were flapping around as the woman she thought she hated caressed her. “W-Why'd you do that?”

“Darlin', believe it or not, Ah like ya,” Miss Jubilee seemed almost shy or embarrassed as she said that, a fond smile crossing her luscious lips. Applejack stared at her in shock as the words came out, and as they did, she wasn't sure she believed them, “You're somethin' special, an' Ah'd lose a lot more customers than one rowdy son of a bitch t' prove that.”

Applejack blinked, wondering how she felt about those words. She took a slow breath as she tried to sort it out, but finding nothing, she dumbly asked, “What?”

“Chin up, ma little sugarplum.” Cherry reached out and placed a hand under Applejack's chin one more, softly raising it before letting it slip away, her finger trailing slowly along her skin. “Ah'll be here when y'need me. Y'all know that.”

Applejack was utterly dumbfounded, and stood up against the bar tensely as she watched her boss flash her one last suave smile before walking away. Finding herself with her eyes glued to the woman, even noticing the particularly enchanting sway of her hips, Applejack frowned and shook her head. Never had her boss been so selfless and kind, so brave and honest, and it terrified her. She was content thinking Cherry was evil, self-indulgent and incapable of being a decent human being, but now she was suddenly conflicted. Had Applejack been too quick to judge the woman?

“... What?!” the barmaid breathlessly repeated in a confused tone.

“Applejack, are you okay?” Vinyl came up to her next, touching her shoulder and shaking it gently. “I'm so totally sorry man, I had no idea he would just, like, attack you!”

“Naw, it's... it's fine, Vinyl,” Applejack absently responded, shaking her off and faking a smile. “Let's jus' get back t' work, don't ya think?”

“Uh, yeah, yeah okay,” the cocktail waitress agreed in an uneasy tone, letting the barmaid pass her and return behind the bar.

As soon as she got back to her comfort zone inside the counters of the bar, Applejack all but fell apart. The violent situation had hardly bothered her, but it was Miss Jubilee's actions that had rattled her so deeply. Her hands pressed up against her head as the thoughts swirled around, and she could feel her breath quicken. With something so small as an act, Applejack's entire opinion of Miss Jubilee had shifted. It was too easy for Applejack to hate someone who she thought was awful, selfish and incorrigible, but now that she realized the woman was more than that, it truly scared her.

Did Miss Jubilee actually care about her? Did she have stronger feelings than a desire to ravage and torture? Worse, did Applejack feel anything back? No, Applejack could not afford to consider the woman anything more than a nuisance, anything more than an abusive employer who blackmailed her into doing her will. One good act could not make up for all the awful things Cherry had done to her over the years, and Applejack knew she would be naïve to forgive so easily.

The barmaid loathed the fact that Miss Jubilee hung around in her head until closing, and continually tried to shake her out. Did the woman get off on confusing the poor barmaid like that, did she enjoy pissing her off and pleasing her at the same time? Several times Applejack would groan or grumble, and once or twice it was overheard, but no one said much of it. Still, Applejack knew that whatever she was feeling was stupid and groundless and temporary, and she really, really wanted to get back to what actually meant something to her. She knew already what she wanted, and no matter how confusing her boss could be, she could not change that. As she climbed into her truck, her hands and feet began to drive somewhere other than home, whether she willed them to or not.

She was at the door in moments, and stood there for a good few seconds before deciding to do anything. Her knock was loud and aggressive, and she slapped her hand impatiently against her thigh for a painfully long time until there was an answer. A thin line of light crept across the carpeted hallway as the door opened, and inside, a familiar form came into sight. The young girl stood there before her, donning nothing but a pair of short spandex shorts and a loose, low-cut tank top that revealed her enticingly toned stomach. She stepped clearer into sight, holding a glass of water in her hand, something she often finished off right before bed to avoid a hangover.

“Um... hey, Dolly,” Rainbow Dash said with an uncertain tone, wondering what brought the barmaid over at such a late hour, or perhaps an early hour.

“Screw me.” Applejack commanded without reservation, knocking the door open and wrapping her arms right around the young girl in one swift motion.

Their lips clashed together passionately, and before Rainbow Dash even knew what was happening, she was returning the kiss. She haplessly dropped the glass of water and kicked the door shut, dragging the barmaid after her towards the bedroom. The water splashed up and hit their feet, but neither cared as they made their way through the dimly lit house. As they approached their destination, Applejack stepped out of her swollen work boots and tore off her jacket, leaving the rest of her clothing to be roughly ripped off by the girl in her arms.

With heavy and aggressive breaths, Rainbow Dash moaned into Applejack's lips and twisted her clumsy hands tangling into all corners of the barmaid's clothes. They tumbled into the bedroom and immediately collapsed onto the bed, entwining into each other's embraces and disregarding any perceived personal space. Each party was upset by every article of clothing that broke their furious kisses, but as their equally bare skin came together, they found it worthwhile.

Rainbow Dash's mind whirled too quickly for her to comprehend, as she had expected none of this in the slightest. She could not even hope to remember each curve of the barmaid's body as her fingers ran over her, so desperate to feel her. She tried so hard to remember the shape and presses of the blonde girl's lips, but ecstasy rose too quickly for her to follow and she succumbed to merely trying to keep aware despite the tantalising feelings. Before she knew it, Applejack had yanked her shorts down around her ankles and lunged between her legs.

“Oh, fuck!” Rainbow groaned loudly as she grabbed at her sheets, her head falling back in joy. “I'm so glad you're here, I fucking, fucking...”

“Shhh,” Applejack hummed into her loins, her tongue slipping out immediately. She wasted no time easing the girl into the situation and instead ravaged her every fold mercilessly.

“I can't help it,” Rainbow moaned as her fingers ran into Applejack's hair, fondly combing through it. “Oh, my... fuck.”

Rainbow leaned back, ignoring the way her shirt was still half on her arm in favour of indulging in focusing on the glory that occurred between her legs. As Applejack roughly worked on her, biting and squeezing at every chance, Rainbow moaned louder, her legs tightening around the barmaid. With a smug grin, Applejack went deeper, digging her fingers into her orifice without consent and licking every drop that came out. Another raspy groan emerged from Rainbow Dash, and feeling the girl's body nervously or anxiously tighten and tense around her, Applejack pulled an inch or so away to speak.

“Jus' relax, darlin',” Applejack echoed words that had been spoken to her before, and the realization of that stalled her still. Glancing up at Rainbow, she noticed the uncertain and anxious expression across her face, and remembered who it had been who had uttered those words to her in the first place. It had been Miss Jubilee. Applejack sat up slowly and looked curiously at the girl before her, swallowing in fear before asking a question she was afraid to know the answer to, “Do... do y'really want this, Rainbow?”

“What?” Rainbow Dash sat up abruptly, her eyes flashing open and catching on the blonde between her legs. Her hands reached around her thighs to where Applejack's rested and she took them. Without reservation, she spoke the honest truth aloud, “Applejack, I've never wanted anything more.”

A smile graced Applejack's face and she nodded proudly, glad that she was not forcing the girl into anything. Crawling a few hand-steps closer, the barmaid kissed Rainbow Dash, humming a simple, “Good.”

“Now, enough talking.” Rainbow Dash grinned as she shoved Applejack to the side, roughly taking charge and climbing on top of her. “It's my turn.”

Rainbow Dash hurriedly began undressing the barmaid, her ecstatic fingers too anticipatory to control. For once, Applejack enjoyed the aggressive ravishing, breathing heavy breaths that rose her chest between them as her heart raced. She could not look away, loving the way the girl ran down her body with kisses and licks like she adored the taste of mere skin. Chuckling, Applejack was quite fond of how Rainbow's clumsy fingers had trouble tripping on the laces of her barmaid outfit.

At last, Rainbow undid the ensemble enough to dig her fingers inside, and she traced the toned lines on Applejack's stomach. Though she desired desperately to see how the blonde girl looked without her usual garb, she was not sure she wanted to chance killing the mood by flicking on a light for a better view. Still, through the darkness, as she shakily slid down Applejack's undergarments, she could see the glimmer of moisture, feel the heat so near to her hands. Swallowing as her wide and eager eyes fought to catch the slivers of moonlight against the blonde's freckled skin, Rainbow devoured Applejack's form with her lascivious gaze. Earnest to actually sip from the girl, Rainbow Dash leaned down and indulged herself.

Author's Notes:

Holy shit, almost a month without an update... I've been a busy lil' bitch I guess.
Anyway, I worked hard to get this chapter out to you guys without rushing it and losing quality, because I think it's an interesting chapter. New character, new dilemmas, new developments... and don't worry, next chapter should be a doozy in its own right.