”I've got to admit it's getting better (Better)
A little better all the time (It can't get no worse)
I have to admit it's getting better (Better)
It's getting better since you've been mine
Getting so much better all the time”
Getting Better
-Lennon & McCartney
The Beatles

“We’ll I’ve got some things to take care of in town AJ, so I’ll be heading out now. Applebloom, you want to stay with your sister?” asked Big Mac

“Sure do, if it’s ok. Is it ok?” Applebloom was sitting next to Applejack on the bed.

“How you feeling sis?” asked the big Clydesdale.

“A might tired, but little Applebloom can stay here if--“

“Hey Applebloom, you up there?!” a small but strong voice yelled up from the library.

“Hey there Scootaloo, sure am!” Applebloom hollered back, causing Applejack to flinch. The sound of little hooves galloping up the stairs was followed by the entrance of a little orange filly with a mane the color of raspberry sherbert. She slid across the floor on wet hooves from the snow, much the same way Applebloom had, but this time it was intentional and therefore with a little more style,

“Whoa there Scoots,” said Big Mac with a smile, “let’s take it easy, this is someone’s home.”

“Oh, sorry Big Macintosh, sorry Twilight, I was just so excited to hear Applebloom was here and especially that Applejack was ok. Except for the ambrosia, of course. Heyyyyy Aaaaaplejaaaaack,” she spoke slowly and loudly “howwwww arrrrrrrre, youuuuuu?”

Applebloom felt it necessary to match her friend’s volume “First of all its amnesia, not ambrosia and second of all it means she don’t remember stuff, not that she’s a deaf idiot!”

“Oh. Sorry Applejack”

“Don’t you worry about that, uhh…Scootaloo?” Applejack said looking hopefully at Twilight, who was standing behind Scootaloo. Twilight nodded with a smile. Applejack turned to Mac and pantomimed a yawn.

“Hey crusaders, I hear there’s some great sledding over at the hill in back of the school house!” Big Mac informed them. They took the bait.

Applebloom looked sheepishly at her sister. “I can stay here with you sis, if’n you want…”

“No, y’all go have fun, I was gonna take a nap anyway.” Applejack said, pretending to yawn.

“OK, you get your rest,” Applebloom said to her and gave her a big hug. She looked down at Scootaloo and the two fillies gave each other great big grins as Applebloom leapt off the bed and trotted down to the living area.

“Hey Big Mac, you don’t suppose that Miss Cherillee will be there do you?” asked Scootaloo coyly. Rumor had it that Big Mac and Fluttershy were seeing now but once upon a time he and the school teacher had had a brief courtship after a certain love “potion” had been slipped to them by the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Big Mac just rolled his eyes and smiled.

“You take it easy Sis, and don’t let Twilight here make you work too hard,” Big Mac said as he leaned over and kissed Applejack on the forehead. He went down to the living area and walked up to Twilight. He looked into her eyes and spoke. His deep voice rumbled softly as he whispered to her.

“You OK Sparks?”

“Yeah, I think so,” she answered, then spoke a little louder so it didn’t seem like they were whispering. “Whew, what a day! Dr. Stable is very happy with her progress and that makes me happy.”

“How’s your heart holding up?” he asked again in a low voice. This time her smile broadened and her eyes closed in pure joy.

“Better than ever!”

“Then so is mine.” Big Mac replied giving her a hug.

“I saw that Caramel is outside the diner giving out free hot chocolate” Big Mac announced to the two small ponies. “Ya’ll wouldn’t be interested in some, now would you?” The two filly’s looked at each other “Yeah!” then did a high hoof, smiled and took off, galloping down the stairs to the library.

Suddenly only one set of hooves was heard, then they stopped. Then they started again, only this time they sounded like they were coming back up the stairs.

“Hey Applebloom, where ya goin? I thought we were getting hot chocolate,” called Scootaloo.

The only sound in the library was of one set little hoof beats bounding up the stairs. As she reached the top, Applebloom, her eyes wet with tears shot past Twilight and Big Mac and ran up the stairs to the bed loft. As Applejack watched this scene unfold she felt the tears rise and by the time Applebloom got to her they were both crying.

Applebloom climbed into her big sisters open arms. They stayed that way for a little while in the sacred silence. Twilight put her head on Macintosh’s shoulder and he put his arm around her. They looked at each other as the tears rolled down their cheeks and smiled. Scootaloo had come up the stairs and into the room to see what was going on but before she spoke she sensed it and had to wipe a couple of tears away herself.

Applebloom eventually pulled her head back. The two looked at each other for a moment and then nuzzled.

“You don’t want that hot chocolate to get cold, now do you?” sniffed Applejack.

Applebloom just shook her head and smiled, wiping the tears off her cheeks with the back of her hoof.

“You come back later, after you go sledding, ok?”

“It’s a deal!” said Applebloom and gave her sister one last big hug, then trotted downstairs and joined Scootaloo.

Big Mac looked up at his sister in the bed loft and then over at Twilight.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen two happier ponies. Y’all behave yourselves now,” he said looking at Twilight with a smile and giving her a wink. A blush rose in her cheeks,

“Bye Twilight, bye Applejack” said the two little fillies and all three headed down the stairs.

Moments after they left there was the sound of the library door opening and slamming shut hard. It meant only one thing – the return of Rainbow Dash.

“Hey up there! I’m back with some-…” the tone of her voice suddenly changed to whispered aggravation “No Pinky – I wanted it to be a surpr… sheesh! Never mind.” Her voice then returned to its previous volume “Stand by, incomiiiiing!”

A moment later the pink pony with the pale blue eyes came bursting through the doorway into the living room area. She ran out from under the bed loft overhang and while sliding on her knees, spun 180 degrees. She looked up to the bed loft and opened her arms wide.

“APPLEJACK!” she squealed in delight.

“Uhh, Pinky Pie!” Applejack called down after recovering from a truly grand entrance.

“Do you remember if you still have the ambrosia?” Pinky asked

“Pinky, call me crazy but were you talking to Scootaloo earlier today?” asked Twilight

“Yes I was, Crazy! I told her all about Applejack’s ambrosia.”

“It’s amnesia, Pinky and yes she still has it,” explained Twilight, “how are you doing?” she asked with a smile

“How am I doing what, Crazy?” As usual Pinky was talking like a squeaky machine gun. ”By the way, why do you want me to call you Crazy, Twilight? That’s nuts! Oh I get it! You want me to call you crazy because you’re nuts, is that it? How about you Applejack, are you nuts too? Maybe you are but you just don’t remember because of the ambrosia.”

Applejack was laughing too hard to answer. She had tears in her eyes and her face was flushed. Twilight wanted to give Pinky a hug but it was too late – she was already galloping up the stairs to the bed loft.

“Hi Applejack, do you remember me? I’m the same pink pony who you saw down there a few minutes ago.” Pinky said, pointing to the living room. “When you’re feeling better I’m going to have the biggest party that Ponyville has ever seen and you will be the guest of honor. You’ll probably forget it, but don’t worry, I’ll remind you. I am the entertainment chairpony of Ponyville.”

“Face it Pinky, you ARE the entertainment of Ponyville!” yelled up Twilight.

“Hey there guys, how is everypony?” Rainbow Dash stepped out of the opening of the stairway and immediately popped up, hovering up to the bed loft and landing next to the bed. She sat down next to AJ. “Hey there gorgeous, how are you feeling? You’re looking good, which is sayin’ something - considering I’m sitting next to you. Hey, look who else I bought with me. You guys remember Noteworthy from the winter wrap up, don’t you?”

A cute young earth stallion stepped into the living room. His coat was a rich blue/gray and his mane and tail were dark heather blue. There were three notes on his flank; He had amber eyes and a solid build, and stood there looking shyly down at the floor.

“H-huh-hi ladies” he said, lightly pawing the ground. He was carrying a guitar case on his back.

“Hi Noteworthy! I remember you – you were very understanding and pretty patient when I, uh tried to help with the winter wrap up last year...” said Twilight, “I think I might have slightly buried you under some snow when the plow got away from me…” she smiled with some embarrassment, “It’s great to see you again. That’s Pinky Pie up there with Applejack”

“Hi there,” he said looking up to the loft, “I’d forgotten all about the whole snow thing. I have to say it’s kind of an honor to be with you three. The Mane Six are, well, heroes to a lot of us in Ponyville,” he answered looking up at Twilight who seemed a little embarrassed. Then he looked up to the bed loft with as sweet and wistful a look as Twilight had ever seen. As his gaze met Applejack’s, the young blonde pony’s expression froze and she swallowed.

“Well I cain’t say I recollect you, but I sure wish I did,” she said, blushing. His face turned a bit red as well.

Twilight raised an eyebrow and scowled.

Rainbow Dash interrupted the moment. “So I was telling Note here how you’re like Ponyville’s answer to slowhoof himself Eric Clopton. So Note here teaches music at the music store on Stirrup Street. When I told him about what happened he just about knocked me down running out of the store with his guitar case.”

“I’m , uh, always looking to make beautiful ponies, uh I mean music, beautiful music, with ponies” he said looking at Applejack, “and when Rainbow Dash told me it was Applejack, well, I…uh” he stammered .

“Uh-huh, well, it was really nice of you to come all the way over here, through the snow” Twilight said turning to him, “but Applejack was just saying that she was tired and was going to take a nap now so maybe later-“

She was cut off buy the sound of a guitar being strummed from the bed loft. Applejack looked down at them from the bed, with the guitar in her lap and a big smile on her face, broken only by a subtle glare at Twilight.

“Is that a Tailer? Those are may favorite acoustic guitars! I have a couple of Maretins too, but I love my Tailer’s for their mid-high range.”

“Oh, yes, thank you, it was given to me…” Twilight began to say but realized he was already half way up the stairs to the loft. She sighed and looked at the floor.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The reading room, located off the main library room, was a quiet place to relax and read. All the walls were tall leaded glass in a diamond pattern. The winter sun shone in brighter than usual as it reflected off the snow. Most of the panes were translucent- the glass-maker had deliberately trapped bubbles in the glass, many of them were stained a variety of colors. As the light streamed through those they left scattered colored shadows across the floor and on the large overstuffed white sofa upon which Pinky, Rainbow and Twilight sat drinking Neighirish coffee and having cookies.

“You OK Twilight?” asked Rainbow, “you look kind of bummed. I hope you’re still not mad at me for what happened at the diner.”

“Of course not Rainbow, you were just really upset. I was kind of in total meltdown myself. I guess I’m just tired.” During the brief silence that followed, the sound of the two guitars could be heard playing together. Suddenly the strumming stopped and laughter followed.

“Oh, it’s just so great to hear Applejack laughing!” said Pinky as she tossed a cookie into the air and caught it in her mouth.

“Yeah, just great” muttered Twilight, her cheek resting on her hoof and her eyelids half closed. “Anyone want another coffee?” she asked draining the remainder of her cup.

“Sure, I’ll get it,” offered Rainbow Dash with a smile as she popped up to an unsteady hover, “What about you Pinky Pie?”

“Okie-dokie-lokey!” answered Pinky, her face a big silly grin and her body wavering.

“…and don’t worry of you spill a little extra whiskey in mine Dash” offered Twilight wavering slightly herself.

“…or whipped cream! In fact make my whipped cream a double, I’m feeling hard core” said Pinky Pie with a wicked squint.

Dash looked at Twilight with a raised eyebrow “Ya know if you’re tired you can throw us out and get some rest – including lover boy up there. Wow, what a flirt!”

The thought of snuggling in with Applejack bought a dreamy smile to Twilight’s face.

“I’ll tall ya what,” said Pinky, “on second thought, hold the coffee and the whiskey just bring me a cup of whipped cream barmaid! And step on it – chop chop, *hic*. Those first two coff-a-cuppies were great, but…”

These were Pinky’s last words right before her eyes rolled back in her head and she tipped over to her right, thankfully landing on a clear area of the couch. She immediately began to snore.

“Well that’s one down,” said Twilight blinking slowly. “Rainbow, I think I gotta tell you something, it’s been driving me crazy and I have to tell one of you.”

“This sounds like it’s gonna be good” said Dash with some excitement. She landed on the couch next to Twilight and leaned forward. “So what’s up?”

“Well after Applejack was hurt-“

Suddenly Noteworthy was standing in the entrance to the reading room holding his guitar case.

“Oh, I’m sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to say Twilight, you sure are taking great care of Applejack. You really are one special pony. Shining Armor must be so proud. I don’t know if you remember me – I helped him out at the wedding. He and I kind of hit it off. You guys are some great family, and all I know is if I ever get really sick, you’re the one I’d want to be taking care of me.”

He was being sincere which depressed Twilight even more.

“Well that’s a really very nice of you to say thing. I deed indoo remember you at the wedding…” The additional whiskey from the last swallow moments ago had made its way from Twilight’s stomach to her intestine where it had quickly been taken in and was now traversing her brain/blood barrier.

Dash, hovering behind Twilight, looked at the confused face of the blue stallion and held her hoof up to her mouth and twisted it in a drinking motion, while making her eyes go googley.

His eyes shifted and looking over Twilight’s shoulder at Dash, he nodded knowingly. Twilight swayed slightly and called over her shoulder “I am not drunk Dashie, I’m just reeeely tired. *hic*”

“Sure you are Twi,” replied Dash as she landed on the couch next to her.

One of the things that surprised Twilight about her new wings was their sensitivity, especially with respect to their erogenous properties. When stroked in certain ways the sensation was extremely pleasant and would turn pegasi or alicorn pony’s thoughts instantly toward the carnal pleasures of the body. It was a very personal thing to do and not usually done in public, but after a couple of spiked coffees, Dashie’s prankster side just couldn’t help itself. She ran her hoof down that ridge on Twilight's wing.

Twilight’s eyes fluttered closed and a sighing moan issued from her mouth. Dashie had expected just a little shiver, not that. Noteworthy raised an eyebrow.

“Uh… is she ok? Maybe I should stick around and help out, you know with the possibility of more snow coming, I could make sure you two get through it ok.”

Twilight, recovering from the sensations replied quite definitely and perhaps a little harshly.

“No.” Then she turned to Dash and glared.

Dash blinked at the tone of her voice, pulled her head back a little and grinned sheepishly at Twilight. Noteworthy recoiled very slightly.

“Uhh…don’t worry Note, she isn’t like that, she’s just tired and she’s had a couple,” Dash explained.

Twilight muttered “Yeah, I’ve had a couple…I’ll bet lover boy over there’d like a couple too”

“Saaay…Note, didn’t you come in with a jacket? I’ll bet its upstairs, I’ll wait here while you go grab it.”

“Oh, yeah, thanks”

As he trotted back up the stairs to the living area Twilight muttered “and make damn sure that’s all you grab, buster!”

“Twilight! What the hay is wrong with you?!!” Dash was incredulous.

She turned on Dash. “How dare you do that to me?! Stroke me in public like that! In front of him no less!”

“Oh, yeah,” she instantly went back to her cheesy grin, “sorry about that. I thought it would wake you up a little, seeing as you’re so sleepy and all. It usually just gives me a shiver, kinda clears my head. But wow, are you sensitive! You should’ve seen your face, you were the picture of hot.”

“Really…? Like how hot…? Oh wait, no, don’t try to change the subject! That wasn’t funny.”

“No? You know what was funny was you getting your bridle into a bunch over Noteworthy being so sweet with AJ. What’s up with that?”

Twilight blinked slowly. “AJ is in a very vulnerable place right now, I-I don’t want him taking advantage of that. The last thing I need is some horny, young, hot to trot ponyboy hanging around here trying to get his hooves all over her...”

As Dash listened her face became dreamy. “hmmmm…I wonder if he’d like an escort back to the music store…”

“You know, I’ll bet he would” said Twilight changing tack with a sly grin. “Actually I have to say it looks as though they really do get along, and we need to keep AJ happy so she’ll heal, I just want to make sure that he’s good for her. I wish there were some way to know…”

“Ya know Twi, if you want me to check him out, get his background, just say so, you don’t have to be all secret agent. I’d love to do it, like the guy in “Daring Do and the Mystery of the Thin Pony.”

“I’m pretty sure he’s not a secret agent, just-” Twilight stopped as she heard his hoofsteps on the stairs. Dash gave her a wink and headed out to the main room. Knowing that she’d be getting some information on Noteworthy put Twilight in a far better state of mind.

“So how is she?” asked Twilight in a much friendlier tone.

Noteworthy smiled back and seemed relieved. “She’s doing great. I think she’s a little tired out. She asked if you could come up and keep her company.”

“Of course! See you later guys” she called down, suddenly up on the stair landing and trotting the rest of the way up to the living room.

-------------------------------------------------

“Hey AJ, Noteworthy said you’d like some company.”

“Hi Twilight, yeah, I need something to calm me down a little. That colt is a bundle of charm and cuteness that just won’t quit.”

He’s a bundle of something, I’ll give you that…

“He is quite the charmer,” Twilight commented.

“Here – lookit what he showed me on the guitar-” and with that she went into a complex series of picking patterns and chord changes that dropped Twilights jaw. “He says I’m better than he is.”

“You’re better than anypony I’ve ever heard!”

“Shucks Twilight, that’s awful sweet of you to say.”

“AJ, you could make money playing places.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Eyup!”

“Wow. You know speaking of eyup, are you sure Big Mac is my brother?”

Twilight smiled and chuckled, “Of course silly, why?”

“Oh nothing, it’s just he is just so…wow. Big and handsome, strong, smart, the whole package. Are you sure you two are just ‘friends’? I don’t know how you keep your hooves off him.” Applejack had a wistful look in her eyes.

“Woah AJ, I don’t know what that hit on the head did to you but it sure awakened your libido – that’s a sense of sexual desire.”

“Twilight, as you commented earlier I have adopted a more sophisticated vocabulary I just choose not to express myself in that way. It feels unnatural and forced. In any case, I’m well aware of what a libido is and from what you say, mine is well, ready and rarin’ to go!”

“I should say so. Just keep it reigned in until you’re sure that Noteworthy is AJ-worthy.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well you don’t really know that much about him, that’s all.”

“Well I know that he’s polite and kind and is doing a great job teaching me how to play the guitar”

I’m sure that’s not all he’d like to teach you.

“Well you’re a very talented student- that makes it pretty easy.”

“Well he did take the time to carry his guitar all the way over here through the snow’” AJ said with a little annoyance, “and look, he gave me this here book for free – it has all kinds of exercises I can do to improve my technique, though I wouldn’t-a minded seeing some of his technique.” AJ said with a smile and a raised eyebrow.

“You know, speaking of exercises…”

“I thought we were talking about technique”

“AJ, can we just stop talking about him for five minutes?!”

“AJ, can we just stop talking about him for five minutes?!” Applejack said in a mock serious tone.

“Stop it!”

“Stop it!” mocked AJ again.

Twilight grimaced with a growl and Applejack, now nose to nose with her grimaced and growled right back at her. Twilight hated anyone mocking her and had scorched Dashie’s butt the last time she did it, but this time she was so over come with affection that she could only burst into laughter. Applejack joined her and the two of them laughed like fillies for the next few minutes.

“I have a deal for you” offered Twilight

“What kind of a deal?”

“A deal deal. You exercise for 10 minutes and I get you some applesauce with cinnamon.”

“I got a better deal. I exercise for 15 minutes and you get us some of that there Mareirish coffee I smelled earlier.

“I’m not sure you should be drinking AJ”

“Well, you let me worry ‘bout that, sugar.”

Twilights eyes flew wide open. She was incredulous. “What did you say?”

“Shakestirrup never repeats.”

“I’m not kidding, what did you say?!”

Applejack looked concerned. “Well you let me worry ‘bout that.”

“No the very last word!!”

“Uh you mean sugar?”

Twilight lept off the bed loft and with a graceful thrust of her wings circled around the living room squealing like a filly on Hearthswarming morning. She landed back on the loft, and gave Applejack a tight hug.

“Wow, you sure like sugar.”

Twilight laughed and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. “No, ‘sugar’ was one of your signature words. You called everyone sugarc-” she stopped short. “It’s just a really good sign. You may be getting your memory back!”

Applejack hugged her back. They stopped and looked at each other for a moment. Twilight felt an incredible desire to just lean forward and kiss her, she couldn’t remember ever wanting anything more in her life. That Mareirish coffee sounded great right about now, heaven knew Twilight needed a drink.

“What would you say to that Mareirish coffee to celebrate?” asked AJ

“Sure. Right after you do your 15 minutes of exercise”

“Ten”

“Alright, 10”

Twilight went over to her and helped her up and out of bed. She held Applejack carefully in her arms and then steadied her. As Applejack slowly let go, her hoof ran down the length of Twilight’s wing. It sent a wave of physical desire through Twilight that started in the wing and ended somewhere between her legs. She fought to strangle the moan that threatened to escape her lips. It managed to come out as a whimper.

“You okay Twilight? You look a might flushed. I hope I’m not too heavy.”

“No, not at all, I’m fine.” Twilight’s mind filled with images and she imagined what it would feel like to have Applejack’s lips touching hers, to feel her tongue…

“Hey Twilight, what’s with your wings?”

Twilights wings were responding to Applejack’s inadvertent caress and to the erotic images in her mind. Twilight had not gotten used to wing erections yet. She immediately thought about Spike. Her wings relaxed.

“Oh that? It’s nothing, really, they do that sometimes after I exert them, you know - the way I just did, before, when I flew. Hey look at you – you’re doing great.”

Applejack was a bit wobbly but she was definitely getting it. After almost 15 minutes she went back and sat down on the bed.

“So, what about that coffee m’am?

“I think that can be arranged. How do you like it? Milk and sugar?”

“Ah was thinkin’ more like whiskey and whipped cream.”

“Oh, that, I guess we did say Mareirish Coffee, funny how you forget things like that…”

“Oh don’t worry, I’ll remember for both of us. Even if I do have ambrosia.”

Twilight trotted downstairs to the living room.

“You know it’s funny,” called AJ down to the living room, “Noteworthy seems so shy. I wonder if he’s ever had a marefriend? He said that he’s had a couple of dates, nothing serious. Did you ever see him with anypony?”

“I never really paid that much attention to him. He seems nice enough.” Twilight fought to keep from gritting her teeth.

“I wonder if he’s a virgin…” mused Applejack

“WHAT?!” Twilight froze.

“If he’s ever had sex with a mare, you know?”

“I know what a virgin is, AJ, I was just surprised at your, uh, curiosity.”

“Twilight?”

Twilight took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She knew what was next and so spoke the answer before it was asked.

“We never talked about it AJ, but I think you are.”

“Really?” She stopped and thought about it for a minute. “I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

“Does it matter? Does whether or not you’ve had sexual intercourse matter?”

“I reckon it does, yes. If I wasn’t I’d like to know who my first colt was. Why do you think I’m a virgin?”

“If by that you mean what evidence do I have to support your virginity – then it’s because there aren’t any geldings around with their legs twisted in a knot.”

“Is Big Mac really that protective?”

“I’m not sure, but do you really want to find out? And…” Twilight continued “if you want to know why you’re still a virgin, it’s because, well… I don’t know. You’re always either working at the farm, or taking care of Applebloom, or making sure that everything is running smoothly at Sweet Apple Acres.”

Twilight had come back up with a tray of cookies and two Mareirish coffees.

“Here you go AJ,”

“Thank you Twilight. Here’s to best friends!”

“I’ll do you one better, here’s to love...”

They each took a sip and promptly covered their muzzles in whipped cream.

At first look at each other they laughed and sprayed whipped cream over the other, which brought on another round of laughter.

“So how is it?” asked Twilight

“Good, I guess. It’s my first, as far as I remember…Once I have another I’ll be able to compare.”

“Uh huh. I suppose I’ll be hearing that a lot.” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Hearing what a lot?” Applejack smiled and took another sip.

“So anyway,” continued Twilight, “your life was pretty full

“Sounds like I didn’t have much time for a coltfriend.”

“And don’t forget all your extracurricular activity with the Mane Six. It cuts into all our potential love lives, though we all suspect that Rarity has a few paramours in Canterlot.”

“Do I have any life outside of the farm, my family or the Mane Six? What about time for me?”

“Well you and I spent a lot of time together, like this, just talking. And Rainbow Dash came by regularly to hang out and either compete with you about whatever or drink hard cider. We do things as a group, like picnics, sleep-overs, and Pinky Pie seems to have a party at least once a week. Did I mention that you have a dog – she’s a border collie named Winona. Sometimes I think she’s smarter than me.”

“Yeah, you told me a couple of days ago. I don’t know why my mind keeps a-going back to sex. Was I this hot to trot all the time?”

“Not that I remember, of course after some hard cider the conversation could get pretty interesting. I remember one time Rainbow Dash told us about this crazy experience at camp…”

“Oh yeah? What happened”

“I’m not sure I should talk about it, at least now. It’s pretty raunchy and I don’t feel like getting all worked up and it sounds like you’re getting worked up without it.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Twilight had left the door open, hoping that Applejack might at least pause a moment before answering, but if nothing doing. Just thinking about Dash’s story started Twilight’s juices flowing. She went back to her guaranteed libido stomper. – Spike. Thoughts of him was like a fire hose on any hint of sexual excitement.

-------------------------------------------------------

Applejack sat on the bed with a photo album in her lap and sighed. “I look at these pictures of me and they might as well be of another pony. It looks like she’s having a good time but I don’t remember any of it.” Applejack continued to turn the pages slowly.

“Nothing? Does anything look familiar?”

“No. I know our family song, Apples to the Core, I remember that, but I cain’t say it means anything to me.” She looked up and her eyes were filled with tears. “I know about all the ponies that have come to see me but they don’t mean anything to me. Not even that sweet little Applebloom, but I reckon she’s already hooked my heart.” Applejack had stopped turning the pages at a photo of her little sister and her at the Sisterhooves Social, both of them covered in mud. Twilight watched and said a silent prayer that something was coming through. She saw Applejack’s shoulders start to shake and immediately sat next to her and put her forelegs around her, pulling her close and rocking her as the blonde pony sobbed. “what if I get worse? She’s such a little thing. Who is going to help her?” her voice broke and she looked up at Twilight with anguish “She’s in those years where she’s gonna really need somepony”

“And she’ll have somepony sweetie, she’ll have you and all of us. We’ll get her through this and we’ll get you through this”

“I just feel so lost and so scared that it might happen again.”

“And if it does, I’ll be right here with you.”

“What if it doesn’t?”

“Then I’m kicking your flank out as soon as you can walk, unless you can pay rent.” Twilight deadpanned.

Applejack began to laugh then cocked an eyebrow “Do I have to pay in cash?” she asked coyly.

“What did you have in mind?” Twilight feigned puzzlement

“Oh I don’t know...” She licked her lips

“You are such a naughty pony!” Twilight felt hope rise in the possibilities

“Get that Noteworthy back here and you’ll hear what a naughty pony I can be!”

“I’ll bet” Twilight sighed.

Twilight did her best not to grit her teeth. At least it cheered Applejack up. Great, to cheer Applejack up we need to talk about sex. She’s sitting in my bed, her mane all tousled, the sheets, the bed, the room, all smell like her and now we have to talk about sex. She shifted her hips a little and felt something. Then she clenched and it felt good. She clenched again and felt the slickness between her legs. Oh that’s just wonderful…

“So AJ, did I tell you about the time Spike and his dragon’s code of honor and how he followed you around all day?”

“You know Twilight, he sounds like a great little guy, but why do you keep bringing him up?”

“Sorry. How about a game of Marenopoly?”

“I hate that game” Applejack rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, me too. Do you like Buckgammon?”

“Never played. As far as I know, that is.”

“Okay, well I’ve only played a couple of times.”

“Do we have to play a game?”

“No, of course not. What would you like to do?”

“Well, I kind of wanted to play the guitar a little, if it’s alright.”

“I’d love that, would you like anything to eat? We still have tons of food from the party. Do you like sherbert?”

“What flavor?”

“Orange, mango, and raspberry, I think.”

“A little of each then” Applejack said with a smile and began to tune up. Twilight went to the edge of the loft and drew a breath. She looked down to the living room below. She closed her eyes and took another deep breath.

“You know if you fall and hurt yourself I won’t be able to help you.”

“Uh huh.”

“You’ll be stuck down there and I’ll be stuck up here.”

“Yeah” Twilight started to look very worried.

“But Twilight, I utterly trust you and I know you can do it and I know that you’ll be fine,” then she suddenly got an odd look on her face and said, “If you don’t do it, you’ll regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.”

It was a line from their favorite movie Canterblanca. They used to say it and others to each other all the time in mock drama.

“…But what about us?” Twilight spoke the line she’d spoken a thousand times though this time with true gentleness

“We’ll always have Paris” answered Applejack, “Where the hay did that come from?!!”

Twilight rushed over to her and threw her forelegs around her and started to cry. “We used to say that all the time to each other!!! It’s from our favorite movie!! We’d quote lines from it all the time!! You’re starting to remember!!”

“Do you really think so? I remember things like that here and there like the family song, and that just came to my mind!” yelled Applejack excitedly. “Maybe I am on my way back!!” They hugged again and after they let go, Twilight stepped and extended her wings and with a smile soared gracefully in a circle down to the living room. She looked up and the two of them locked tear filled eyes.

“Here’s looking at you kid” said Twilight

Author's Notes:

Sorry the chapter is so long.