After Galen left, Pinkie was promptly whisked off to a back room in the kitchen by an ecstatic looking Mrs. Cake and was promptly interrogated about the happenings of the date. Pinkie couldn't help the heat that rose on her face nor the floating feeling that rose up to accompany it either as she gave her all the details. Mrs. Cake nodded approvingly at the details with a warm smile that only grew as she heard more and more of what went on. She especially seemed to approve of Galen's actions regarding Alex's accident, putting her well being above a few relatively minor injuries he sustained in helping her. By the end of her retelling, Mrs Cake pulled her into a firm hug as she nuzzled the side of her face and told her that she was so happy that she finally found such a wonderful stallion to date. After she said that, she added with a chortle that she would still give Galen a hard time just to keep up appearances.

Pinkie protested this but gave way when she saw the expression on her face. If that look had anything to say about the hard time she'd be giving him, it would likely involve embarrassing ribbing and snarky comments thrown his way more often than anything. Pinkie giggled and agreed to her demands so long as she didn't make him too embarrassed in front of a crowd. Mrs. Cake simply said that she'd try, but no promises. Pinkie couldn't help but giggle in response as the elder mare turned back around and told her that Applejack was still waiting upstairs in her room to see how her date had gone. Pinkie thanked her for letting her know and hightailed it upstairs with a clatter of hooves while Mrs. Cake just chortled and settled herself back behind the register.

Applejack was napping when Pinkie came barging into her room and awoke with a startled snort and some owlish blinking. Pinkie didn't even giggle at the sight as she bounded into the air with a squee of pure joy and tackle hugged Applejack into the bed with an oompf and a bounce that sent her many pillows flying around the room in a multicolored spray. Applejack couldn't help a little squirm as their bodies and coats meshed together ticklishly, making her half giggle and half moan from the sensation.

“Somepony's in a good mood,” she finally said as Pinkie settled down with a forceful nuzzle to the side of her face. “Ah take it you had a good time?”

“You wouldn't believe everything that happened!” she replied as she launched herself from her embrace and onto her back with a pomf. “So much happened and I don't even know where to start!”

“Try from the beginning, sugar cube,” Applejack replied with a laugh as she moved to a sitting position and poked her marefriends tummy, making her giggle and squirm from the light touch.

“Okay,” she said as she flipped herself over onto her side with a slightly dreamy expression and began telling her everything that happened from when they first left the bakery. This retelling took a bit longer as she went into greater depth for the mare who shared her heart. She really couldn't help it when she went off on tangents about this or that thing that he did which made her feel so special. Eventually, she couldn't help herself as she wiggled around and pulled Applejack into a warm, fuzzy embrace as she gave a little sigh of contentment in the embrace of her lover.

“Sounds like you had a great time,” Applejack said with a happy grin plastered on her face.

“Oh, you better believe it,” Pinkie replied with a giggle. “I'm sure you're going to have just as much of a extra special time like I did.”

“We'll see,” she said with a hum as she ran a hoof through Pinkie's soft mane. “Sometimes, it's nice to take it nice and slow.” Pinkie couldn't help it as she started laughing with a faint blush. Applejack gave her a moderately annoyed look and asked, “What, if I may ask, is so funny?”

“That's exactly what I tried and we practically had a make-out session!” she managed between bouts of laughter. Applejack couldn't help but snicker at the irony of her statement and just kept quiet so Pinkie could get it out of her system. “But seriously...” she finally said once she had calmed down a bit. “Just have a good time, but not too good of a time if you know what I'm saying...” She couldn't help the leer she gave Applejack who flushed at what she was implying.

“Don't you worry about that,” she assured with a hug and nuzzle. “Ah want us both to be there when we get to that special kinda fun...”

Pinkie flushed as she pulled her into a deep kiss. It wasn't passionate, but it made sure to convey her love and appreciation for the mare in her embrace. “I know,” she said a bit breathlessly when she finally broke away. She turned a bit pensive as she blushed furiously and looked straight at Applejack. “But... I've... Never actually been with a stallion in that way before...”

“Ah'm sure Ah can teach you a thing or two before we get to that point,” she replied with a saucy wink and grin. “Until then, Ah'm afraid that you'll just have to make due with little ol' me to keep you satisfied.”

Pinkie's blush covered her whole face as she turned crimson as she processed that bit of information. “I think you'll keep me more than satisfied until then,” she meekly squeaked in reply, getting Applejack to chortle in amusement as she tried to hide behind her mane. She couldn't as Applejack cut her off as she swooped in with a fervent kiss to show just how right she was. They lost track of who was who in that brief moment and existed simply within each others hearts, surrounded by warmth and knowing that they were loved unconditionally.

They broke apart almost thirty seconds later, not with a gasp, but with a sigh as they simply cuddled and adjusted their positions so that they could spoon. Pinkie melted into Applejack as the tan mare took the position of the big spoon, shuddering slightly as her hooves wrapped possessively around Pinkie's waist. “Ah suppose Ah'll have to live up to expectations, then...” she whispered coarsely before firmly nibbling along the edge of a flighty ear.

Pinkie took in a shaky breath and let it out silently as she writhed against her lover. “Just be who you are and I'll be the happiest mare alive,” she whispered just loudly enough for Applejack to hear. She didn't reply with words, but if the tender kisses and licks on Pinkie's neck while her hoof traveled ever lower had anything to say about anything in particular, she had heard well enough...

Galen, when he got back to the farm, couldn't have been any happier. He had this little bounce to his step that carried through the rest of the day, even after going out to help Big Mac with his harvesting chores since Applejack hadn't been home yet. Apple Bloom tagged along since her friends had other plans for the day and she had been floating about the house doing whatever was needed or seemed like fun, mostly playing with Riley and Winona in the yard. She asked about how his date had been and he gave her the general idea of what he and Pinkie did as well as about their little detour to the clinic so she would have the right information if any of her friends or classmates asked. He brushed off her concerns easily enough as he pulled filled carts from the orchard, unloading them and returning to where Big Mac was working, showing her that they were nothing more than deep scratches.

The rest of the day passed by quickly as he worked with the two siblings. Despite the intensive labor, he never seemed to burn through all of his energy and the others seemed to notice it. That same energy carried him through all the way into the house where he promptly began cooking for everypony, automatically increasing the serving size so that Applejack would have something to eat when she would inevitably show up. The meal was prepared in good order and as reliably as clockwork, Applejack walked into the kitchen with a cheesy grin and flush that clearly showed what she had been up to that afternoon. Galen and the others kept silent on her activities, although they wore their own little grins that told her that they knew and she took her usual seat with a rising blush that set the others to chuckling.

As they ate, Galen was the center of the conversation as they asked him about the details of his date. Even Big Mac seemed interested in picking up a few pointers from his date, keeping an open ear but the crowd around the table preventing him from asking any questions lest he be teased by his siblings. The meal was finished with thanks to Galen for his efforts, Applejack and Bloom volunteering to clean the dishes since he'd both cooked it and had a long day on top of it. With them taking care of that, Granny, Big Mac and Galen retired to the living room to relax and make small talk in the little remaining time before they would turn in. Once finished, the two sisters joined the others for a bit of relaxation.

It didn't take long before most of them were fighting yawns, droopy eyelids and bobbing heads. So with yawning farewells and tired smiles, they bid each other a good night and made off to their own rooms for the night while Applejack and Galen hung back. Once the sound of hoof steps faded from hearing, Applejack turned to Galen with a warm smile and said quietly, “You really knew what to say today, Galen... Ah've never seen Pinkie so happy after a date with anypony aside from maself...”

“Ah didn't say anythin' other than what Ah wanted 'er ta know, Jack,” he replied with a smile of his own. “She found 'er own happiness. But she had ta accept tha' happiness too. It's like she's so used ta giving it ta others tha' she don' know 'ow ta be greedy anymore.”

Applejack couldn't help but laugh at that. “Ah'm sure if Rarity weren't the Element of Generosity, Ah'm sure Pinkie would be next in line. She really is a sweet mare, and Ah'm sure she'll want to snuggle up with you again sometime soon...”

Galen snorted with an amused grin at that. “Ah can't say Ah'd be 'gainst tha'. She's a great nap partner.”

“That she is,” Applejack replied with a grin of her own. “Anyway, you'd best get yourself to bed 'cause Ah got a heck of a day planned for us tomorrow.”

“Ah'm sure Ah can keep up,” he replied with an easy grin.

“In that case, Ah'm sure you won't mind eatin' those words when you can't even walk home tomorrow,” she said with a flick of her mane and a competitive smirk that looked more predatory with the look in her eyes.

Galen's grin widened in response, putting a hand in his pocket while the other scratched his bearded chin. “If yew can do tha', Ah'll put on yer maid outfit an' clean this house from top ta bottom.”

Applejack barely managed to choke back a laugh, but regained her composure quickly enough. “Ah'll hold ya to that bet,” she replied as she walked away with a sway to her hips that had Galen staring until she disappeared from sight. With nothing else delaying him, Galen made his way back to his room and turned in after quickly stripping down to his boxers and shoving Riley over to make room for himself.

The next morning found Galen waking up with prickling nerve endings as the silvery sunlight poured through his window to the point that it almost seemed excessive. Riley was already gone from his bed, so he made his way to the bathroom to freshen up with a quick washing before returning to his room and dressed himself up in a dark green tunic and brown leggings after changing his boxers. He wandered into the kitchen shortly after and found Applejack wearing her maids outfit and humming cheerfully as she went about her work. When she noticed that he had come in, she swung her hips a bit and flicked her tail just enough to tease him with a brief glance of her lacy black panties that gave him a case of burning ears. She chuckled at his reaction and gave him a wink before saying in a slightly husky tone, “Go ahead and take a seat, sugar.”

Galen couldn't say a word in reply as he did as instructed. Applejack kept up her teasing flashes and behavior until the sounds of the others waking up forced her to reel back her behavior. Galen couldn't hide the color of his ears, so when Apple Bloom came in and saw his state and her sister acting as if nothing was going on she put two and two together to figure out what had been going on. “You know, it's not good for you to raise his blood pressure like this unless you plan on helping him... unwind,” she said with a devilish grin as she watched the pair choke and splutter as their faces flushed brightly.

Their replies were cut off when Granny walked in and saw what was going on and an identical grin came across her face. “Ah don't have ta get out mah spray bottle an' spritz you two like a pair o' cats in season, do Ah? Ain't gonna be nothin' fer me ta slip in, now is there? A mare my age can't be too careful anymore...” To add a bit more to her teasing, Granny lowered her face close to the floor and made as if she were inspecting it for anything to be wary of.

Where they had been able to make some indignant noises at the least for Apple Bloom, it was as if they had been punched in their stomachs by the way it felt when Granny had said her piece. Their blushes turned from a vibrant red to a deep crimson and they let out a strangled gurgling. For Apple Bloom, it was too much and she broke out in laughter, falling on her side as it became too much for her. Granny just settled on a hearty chuckle as she moved to the table and took her seat. “You should keep an eye on yer cookin' or it might start burning, Applejack,” she said once she settled in her seat. Applejack gave a little jolt and quickly returned to her cooking while Galen's expression slowly turned rueful.

“Mornin', Granny,” Galen said once his flush had receded and he had found his voice again. “Ah see yer in a feisty mood this today.”

“What're you talkin' about, sonny? Ah'm always feisty,” she replied with a cackle. “Besides, It ain't everyday when Ah catch mah oldest granddaughter flirtin' with her stallion in the kitchen.” She ended this with a smirk and a wink. Galen couldn't help but glance over at Applejack and saw that her ears were still trying to match the shade of Big Mac's coat which gave him a few chuckles as well. Apple Bloom's laughter had finally petered out and she got up with a few residual laughs before wobbling over to her seat and pulled herself wearily into it.

“You going to finish those hash browns before they turn to char, sis?” Apple Bloom teased from her seat.

“They'll be ready when they're ready, Bloom,” Applejack replied in a slightly higher pitched voice than usual. That made all three of them chuckle in shared amusement until Big Mac strolled in through the doorway. He took note of the scene and chose not to comment unless he brought down the wrath of his oldest sister and moved to his seat.

“So, you ready for our day tomorrow?” Bloom asked with an eager bounce in her seat. “Me and the girls were planning everything all out yesterday morning and we're sure you'll have a great time!”

“Ah'm sure it'll be great,” he said with a wide grin. “So long as Ah'm not gonna be launched out of a catapult or somethin' similar, Ah'm all for it.”

Apple Bloom laughed and waved off his teasing comment. “No, no, nothing like that, but it'll definitely be something to remember.”

“Ah'm lookin' forward ta it then, Bloom,” he said as his grin turned into a warm smile.

“Breakfast's done,” Applejack chimed in a moment later, sliding the pile of golden brown hash browns onto a large plate before turning off the stove. She brought everything over quickly and made a special show of serving Galen his own meal, much to his embarrassment at being teased like this in front of her own family. The others though it was worth a few laughs as he tried to ignore her treatment, but his tense responses to questions and mechanical motions gave away exactly how much she was getting to him.

When Applejack finally took her seat, she served herself a healthy portion and everyone dug in with gusto. Their meal was demolished in less than fifteen minutes and the room deserted of all others aside from Applejack and Galen no less than five minutes later. Galen stood his ground in front of the sink and cleaned the dishes that Applejack had heaped by the side while she dried them as he passed them to her. Between the two of them, this chore was done in short order and they retired to the living room couch for a brief rest to go over the plans for the day.

“So, Ah was thinking about a nice walk through the Whitetail Woods to start and we'll see what happens from there,” Applejack said when Galen asked her. “We can probably drop by Sugar Cube Corner for lunch at the least and catch Pinkie up on what we've done so far.”

“Sounds reasonable ta me,” he said with a smile. “Anything special planned? Or are ya jus' gonna wing it?”

“Ah might have a thing or two planned,” she said with a slow smile and a wink. “But that's for later, sugar cube.”

“Ah'm ready an' rearin' ta go when yew are,” he said as he stood up with a stretch that strained the shoulders and sleeves of his tunic with his physique.

“Just let me get outta this get up and we can be on our way,” she said with a smirk as she got off her perch on the couch and sauntered to the base of the stairs. “Unless you'd care to help a mare out, that is.”

Galen watcher her through his stupor and saw Applejack teasingly twitch her hips, tail flicking here and there in invitation. Instead of answering, Galen stood up uncertainly and gave her a nervous smile. Applejack simply grinned widely and motioned for him to follow her up before she scampered up the stairs herself. He scurried after her and caught sight of her tail as it disappeared past the top step. He raced up the stairs and saw her saunter into her room with a wink and a smirk.

As she stepped into her room, Applejack felt as if her heart were about to beat through her chest. This was the most forward she had ever been with a stallion and she had been with a few in her younger years before they proved either unworthy of her attentions or would fall short of her standards. That wasn't to say that a romp in the hay wasn't worth a night of her attentions of course, but this was her first joint venture with another mare and it gave a whole new cast to her situation. Suddenly, a shadow fell across her and Applejack looked over her shoulder with a sultry smirk to see Galen standing there with a slightly uncertain cast to his expression.

“Well, what're ya waitin' for?” she asked as her expression turned to one of devious innocence. “A written invitation?”

Galen didn't reply as he walked in and knelt down by her side and trailed a gently curved fist across the side of her muzzle in a way that reflected Lero's demonstration to replicate a nuzzle. Applejack leaned into it and smiled at the gesture before lightly kissing the inside of his wrist. Galen couldn't help the jolt in his heart rate as he felt he lips make contact with his skin and smiled warmly despite the wealth of emotions flowing through him. She pulled back with a small smile and sat patiently, waiting for him to make the first move.

Seeing her obvious gesture, he reached up and gently took the bonnet from her head, deftly unpinning it when he noticed how it pulled her mane with it and set it to the side. She didn't break eye contact with him the entire time and smiled broader when he took off her head piece without a hitch. Her heart began racing as she realized that he was about to pull off her uniform next and couldn't help the flush that graced her cheeks as she sat back on her haunches, lifting her forelegs up with a slightly nervous smile that Galen reflected with an involuntary gulp. He reached forward and grasped around her surprisingly slender waist, feeling the swift movement of lean muscle underneath her coat and slowly lifted the uniform up and over her.

As Galen's hands came to rest around her waist, Applejack couldn't help the hitch in her breath as his hands gently grasped her and immediately began lifting her uniform over her body. His hands seemed to leave behind them a trail that smoldered until his progress stopped when her uniform was mostly off yet left her eyes and forelegs enshrouded in fabric, his hands tightening around her forelegs as she felt the heat of his body lean forward and radiate against her hesitantly. As if on queue, the moment broke and the rest of her uniform traveled the rest of the way off her body and landed in a wrinkled heap on top of her bonnet with Galen crouched noticeably closer to her as she opened her eyes.

Finally sitting there in nothing but her lacy panties, Applejack couldn't help but finally feel embarrassed at being seen in such a way. She couldn't explain why she felt this, but the sheepishness she felt was enough for Galen to pick up on, making him stand up and move outside until she was ready to go out. Applejack couldn't help but feel a surge of disappointment at the lack of something she couldn't adequately describe in their shared moment of intimacy, but she knew she was the one holding up their plans as she felt the elastic band of her panties shift amid her fur. Quickly stripping herself of them, she trotted up to him and rubbed her shoulder against his hip with an easy smile. “Thanks for the help, sugar cube,” she said with a mix of bashfulness and happiness that he had been so eager yet restrained, not pushing any boundaries she didn't say he could cross. In the past, most stallions would have had no problem pushing her offer to get the most out of it, but not Galen and his respectful treatment of her.

“No problem,” he rasped out in a slightly huskier voice than his usual tone.

Applejack couldn't stop the chuckle that passed her lips and sauntered to the stairs with an eager grin splitting her face. “You ready for some fun today?”

Galen shook the remainder of the fog from his mind and answered her grin with his own. “Yew bring it an' Ah can take it.”

“Well, come on then,” she half yelled with a laugh as she leaped down the stair case. “The day's burnin' away and we're just standin' about!” She finished with a clatter as she landed halfway down the stairs and clattered down them with a laugh of unrestrained joy. Galen only stood still for a couple moments until the mares words and actions connected with his mind, making him give a bark of laughter of his own as he launched himself after her and gave chase, barely making it through their storm door before it closed too much for him to slip past.

Applejack had slowed her pace for him to catch up, but when he came hurtling out of her house, she put on a turn of speed that would have left most in the dust. Galen let her build a lead for a few seconds as he stretched his legs on the run, slowly building his pace into his usual loping run that he poured himself into. Applejack laughed as Galen soon caught up with her and raced him down the old dirt road into Ponyville, drawing eyes and shocked looks as the two energetic lovebirds flitted and flirted with each other in a way that only two active beings could in their sudden race to the woods. They dodged, wove and jumped over any and every obstacle they came across, whether it be living or not.

They passed through the town in what seemed like a few stray moments and picked up their pace once they made it to the road leading to the woods. For being smaller than Luna and without the advantage of wings to aid in her running, Applejack put on a turn of speed that had Galen scrambling to use all his running techniques to keep abreast of her. The wind picked up and pushed at their backs as they raced, giving them a light feeling that only heightened the joy of their contest. Soon, the woods were a long throw away and they redoubled their efforts to beat the other. They hurtled down the path so fast that they left even the wind behind for a few brief moments and burst into the woods with a cry from each of their throats to give voice to their earnest desire to win.

They quickly slowed down, keeping to walking at a leisurely pace under the emerald tinted shade. “Hoo~” Applejack said in a voice that wavered slightly from the exertion she'd given in the race. “You really know how to put up a fight.”

“Ta be honest, Ah considered lettin' yew win,” he replied before he gave her a wink that said he would have still won for entirely different reasons and making her laugh. “But Ah can't pass up a challenge an' yew gave me one helluva run fer mah money.”

“Can't say as Ah've had such a fun race since Rainbow an' Ah competed in the Runnin' of the Leaves last year,” she said with an easy grin. “Ain't like the first time we ran it as a competition though. That was a real mess at the end.”

Galen gave a chuckle at that as he brought up a hand and wiped off a good amount of the sweat that had collected on his forehead. “Sounds like yew two go at it more often than not,” he replied with a smile that he knew what it was like to have a friend who pushed him to his limits.

“Every so often, yeah,” she said with smirk. “But we haven't really found out who's the best overall yet...”

“Maybe it's better tha' way,” he said as he leaned from side to side with his arms over his head as he stretched the muscles around his ribs so they wouldn't stitch up. “No hard feelin's at tha end.”

“That's what Ah thought,” she said with a rueful chuckle. “But Ah know she wouldn't settle for anythin' less than my best and Ah couldn't do any less than give it. Plus, it's always great when Ah can knock her down a peg or two.” She finished with a conspiratorial tone.

Galen couldn't help but give a hearty laugh at that. “Maybe she's rubbin' off on ya?”

“Ah knew Ah didn't sweat the small stuff so much until she started competing with me... but Ah gotta say that it does feel good ta win these little competitions that spring up with her...” she mused out loud.

“Nothin' wrong with tha', but yew should know when ta cut back a bit,” he replied in a decidedly somber tone. “Ah know how tha' sorta thing can sour a great friendship.”

“Ah'll keep that in mind,” she said with a consoling tone.

“So, what did yew 'ave in mind aside from tha run 'ere?” he asked with a smirk as he changed the topic.

“To be honest, the run was more for me than anythin',” she replied with a blush and a snort of amusement. “But a walk through the woods was mostly what Ah wanted ta do before we moved on...”

Galen chuckled at her blush, but didn't say anything about it. “A walk through tha woods with yew sounds wonderful, Jackie.”

Her blush deepened a couple shades at his alternate nickname for her, but neither made comment as they both opted to simply enjoy the moment of solitude with one another. The woods was alive with birdsong as well as the infinite amount of noise produced by nature and they could both feel it as they made their way down the trail. They weren't sure how long they were silent, but it was a silence that was more meaningful than any amount of words could convey.