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Romance in Appleloosa

by Cora Zone Unicorn

Chapters

Prologue

Flim had been walking around Ponyville for days, trying to find the bright red farm called "Sweet Apple Acres." He had been trying to find a certain orange Earth pony with a beautiful golden mane that happened to be tucked under a cowboy hat. He had been dying to see her. Hear her thick country accent. Oh, that accent that just made his heart skip a beat; not to mention her mesmerizing emerald green eyes.

Oh, those eyes. He could gaze into those shining emeralds for all eternity.

The unicorn with peppermint hair stopped when he found himself at Sweet Apple Acres. He smiled, for he was excited to see the lovely orange Earth pony. Flim, then, started sprinting towards the farm, calling her name.

"Applejack! Applejack?!" He moved his head back and forth, searching for her.

"Flim?!" shouted a feminine voice. A voice he knew he would never get tired of.

Flim ran to where he heard the voice, he ran to find her near the watering hole that she and her family would go swimming in.

She ran toward him, her mane and tail flowing behind her as she ran. She tackled him, whilst embracing him at the same time. They both were on the ground, Applejack on top, she giving him tender kisses all over his face. He smiled, for she looked so happy to see him. Though, she seemed worried as well.

Oh, but no matter what she was feeling or how she looked, the Country gal looked beautiful to him. Always have, always will.

"Now, now Applejack. You can... stop... kissing me... for one moment... and help me... get up!" The pale unicorn said in between kisses. Truthfully, he didn't want her to stop but he was getting embarrassed that the pony he loved was on top of him.

Applejack laughed as she got off of him, extending her hoof to help him off the ground.

"Sorry, about that, Sugar Cube," she apologized.

"Oh, no worries, my dear," he chuckled, pulling her closer to him. "Besides, I've never had a welcome like that before."

Applejack raised her eyebrow at the unicorn as he gave her a sly smile. "Ya know, sometimes ya jus' get on m'nerves."

Flim then pulled his marefriend closer to him, kissing her full on the lips. He felt her smile against his lips, whilst her hooves wrapped around his neck. He poked his tongue begging for permission before entering. She granted. Flim felt his tongue wrestle with hers. As he lifted his hoof up to her luscious, soft golden mane, the unicorn heard his beloved give a soft moan as he ran his hoof through the long strands of hair. He, then, heard a little giggle. Oh, that giggle. She suddenly pulled away from him. Looking down to the ground.

"What's wrong, Applejack?"

"A've jus' been so worried."

"Why have you been worried, my most favorite apple?"

"Well... ah jus' thought that..." she trailed off, not finishing her sentence.

"Thought what, my dear? Come now, tell me the truth," he told her, cupping her chin with his left hoof. They locked eyes for a moment. Both silent before she spoke.

"Well, ah haven't seen ya for the past few days and... well, Apple Bloom, Big Mac, and Granny Smith told me that they thought that ya and Flam were planning another way to sabotage the farm and make us move out of Ponyville," she admitted, not being able to look at her coltfriend in the eye.

Flim's eyes widened in shock. Not being able to speak for a few moments.

"Whaa-?! No, Applejack, I would never-"

"Are ya and Flam going to try to find some way to drive our family apart? Away from our friends?" she began to yell at him now.

"No! Of course n-"

"How do ah know ya ain't fibbin'?! How do ah know ya'll ain't just gonna come here tomorrow and tell my family that this property isn't ours and take it down and turn it into ya'lls little 'Flim Flam Fields'?!" Applejack's eyes were starting to water, showing that she was about to cry.

"No, no, no, no, no, Applejack! Don't cry! Anything but the crying!" he begged. He went to wipe her tears away but instead, his hoof went through her. Suddenly, as she vanished into thin air, his brother, Flam, appeared by his side.

"Well, done, brother! We've finally taken the Apple Farm from that little family. Now, we can start Flim Flam Fields," Flam said, his left hoof around his brother's shoulder, laughing in victory.

Flim, however, had a unbelievable expression on his face as he saw the Apple family walking away in sadness and betrayal. It broke his heart to see them go, especially the one he loved with all his heart.

He began running toward her, shouting her name.

"Applejack! Applejack, wait!"

She turned around to face him, her family included. Sadness in her voice.

"Ya'll betrayed us. Ya betrayed ME!"

"No, no! Applejack, I had nothing to do with this, I swear."

"Forget it, Flim. We're though!" the Country Earth pony snarked at him.

He looked at her in disbelief.

"Ah will NEVER EVER forgive ya for this! And ah will NEVER love ya ever again!" That was when his heart broke into a million shattered pieces.

"Goodbye Flim. Ah hope ah never see ya'll two in the future." She walked away, her head held high. Her family walking behind her.

"Applejack. Applejack! APPLEJACK!"

Flim gasped, sitting up in his bed. His body covered in sweat from head to hoof,

"What's wrong, brother?" Flam asked him, still half asleep.

"Nothing. Nothing. Just a bad dream."

"Alright then, well, try to go back to sleep. We've got a big day ahead of us."

The mustacheless unicorn laid back in his bed. He turned his head to look at the clock.

3:15 a.m.

He wasn't so sure he could sleep at all the rest of the night, for what he had just dreamt was still locked in his mind: Would she truly never forgive him? If he went back to Ponyville and apologize to her, would she believe him? Will he ever stop dreaming and thinking about that orange, golden-maned mare with that thick southern accent and hypnotizing emerald eyes? More importantly, will he ever stop loving her?

Meeting Once Again

Flim had barely gotten any sleep last night. The nightmare the unicorn experienced had gotten the best of him. He had been feeling guilty of trying to take the Apple family's farm and causing the young Country mare's grandma to jump off a high dive and almost get herself critically injured, or worse - KILLED!! He was so deep in his thoughts, that he didn't hear his brother calling his name.

"Flim! Brother?! FLIM!!" he shouted, throwing a pillow at him.

"Aggahahga! Hey, what was that for?" the slightly younger looking unicorn looked at his slightly older-mustached brother, caught off guard. He picked up the pillow with his magic, a green aura surrounding his horn and the pillow itself.

"Sorry about that, brother of mine. But for the past few minutes you were just lying there in bed, staring at the wall. What's wrong?" Flam asked.

"Nothing. I've just been having some deep thoughts," he admitted.

"Thoughts about what?" the mustached one asked him.

"I-It's not important. Anyway, what is it that you want?"

"We've got to get ready for today. We've got to go and sell the rest of our 'Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic'!" Flam told him.

"Uh... don't you think that's a bad idea, considering what happened back in Ponyville?" he asked his older brother as he put on his blue and white stripped shirt, along with his hat and black bow tie.

"Oh, that's just one town. We're now in the great town of Appleloosa. What happened back there, can't happen again; especially since that little Country mare and her family are there and not here," his eldest unicorn with the mustache explained.

The moment his brother mentioned "the little Country mare," his mind immediently went back to the last time the two of them were in Ponyville. The last time he saw the Apple family. The last time he saw... her. The last time she spoke to them. Flim was suddenly brought back to the world when he felt his brother's hoof tap his shoulder.

"Flim, brother, are you ready or not?"

"O-oh! Y-yes. I am," he hesitated.

"It can make you shorter, taller or even grow old

But why want that, with one drink, you can be young again"

"SOLD!" shouted a yellow pony with dirty blonde hair as he held a few bits in one hoof. He was also wearing a cowboy hat and brown vest.

"Congratulations, my kind, sir. You've just made the purchase of a lifetime," the oldest of the two unicorn brothers said as he took the bits and gave him the bottle, using his magic.

Suddenly, the two unicorns were surrounded by ponies, begging to get their hooves on the bottled-up substance. After what seemed like hours, the tent had finally cleared, leaving just the two unicorn salesponies.

"Well, that went better than expected," Flim said, a little surprised.

"Of course it did. What'd you think was going to happen?" Flam asked.

Flim stayed silent.

Flim and Flam went back to counting their money. They were just about to finished when a familiar voice rang through the tent.

"Well, well, well. Ya'll jus' never learn do ya?" the feminine voice asked.

The two of them knew who that voice belonged to. They both looked up slowly, only to see EXACTLY who it was: the Southern Belle of the dear Apple Farm back in Ponyville. Flam was just shocked to see that same pony, that exploited them back a couple months ago about the exact same product, was here in a different town.

Flim, on the other hoof, was too focused on how beautiful she looked. Mostly, the way she was leaning against the opening of the tent. Her right hooves crossed against her left ones. Her expression focused on the two of them, clearly an unamused one at that. Her cowboy hat covering the base of her forehead, making her eyes look more vibrant from the light.

"A-Applejack?! What are you doing here in Appleloosa?" Flam asked, still shocked due to seeing her in their presence.

"Oh, well, ah jus' came over to see how my dear cousin was doing since he hurt his left hoof playing some silly game with some of those, them there buffalos. An' wouldn't ya know it? Ah get here jus' in time t'see him about to drink one of ya'lls phony... little... tonics!" she said quite furiously.

They should've guessed - she's an Apple... this town being called "Appleloosa"... should've known she'd have family here in this part of Equestria.

"Oh, is that all? Well, who is this cousin of yours?" Flim asked Applejack.

Applejack raised an eyebrow at him, which Flim found very attractive for some odd reason. "Braeburn!" the orange mare shouted. Flim and Flam looked toward the opening of the tent to see who the Apple's cousin was. They looked at the ground to see the sillouhette of the pony about to come in. Both their eyes widened as the mare smirked when they realized it was the same pony, or rather, stallion, who was to first to purchase their "Flim Flam Tonic." Only now did they notice the stallion had a bandaged left hoof.  

"That's your cousin?" Flim asked as he whispered in her ear.

"Eeyup." Applejack looked at her cousin, who looked down at the ground. "Now, now, Braeburn. Give it ta me," she told him.

Braeburn reached for the pocket inside his vest to get the jar. He gave it to his favorite cousin.

"Good, Braeburn," she said as she patted his head. The Southern Belle turned to face the Flim Flam brothers, holding out the jar to them with her hoof. "Now, if ya'll would be so kind as ta give me the amount of money my dear cousin used to pay for this so-called 'tonic', we'll bes' be on our way."

"Now, what makes you think we'll do just tha-" Flam was about to ask when he suddenly got interrupted.

"Now, brother! Don't be so rude! We can't ignore a customers' request. Especially, one as lovely as the mare right in front of us," he admitted. The mustached unicorn looked at his brother in confusion.

"Oh, don't ya dare try ta sweet talk me, mister," the blonde country mare responded bluntly.

"What makes you think I am? Here you are, dear Applejack" he said to her as he used his magic to take back the bottle and give her back the amount of bits her cousin paid with.

Applejack looked at him in confusion. The pale yellow stallion smiled at her, his white teeth showing. They seemed to gleam, letting her to realize how shiny they were.

"U-uh, thanks. Uh, c'mon now, Braeburn. Let's get ya home. I'll help take care of ya," she said as the two country ponies made their way out of the tent. She looked back at the two salesponies, but mostly Flim. Just as the two cousins were about to walk out the tent, she caught the young unicorn brother giving her a wink, which caused her to blush a little.

As Applejack and Braeburn were out of the tent and into the street, Braeburn spoke.

"Did that one unicorn just flirt with ya?"

That question caught the blonde-maned mare off guard. But only for a second. She looked at her cousin as they began trotting toward home.

"Why, of course he didn't. Knowing him, he was probably just trying to sweet talk me into changing my mind about getting your money back," she told her cousin as they began walking to his home.

"If he wasn't flirting with ya, then why'd he call ya a 'lovely mare'?" he questioned.

"Well.."

"And if you say he wasn't flirting then why'd ya blush?"

Now this really caught Applejack off guard. Did she really blush back there? Sure, she thought that Flim was obnoxious, arrogant and manipulative but she also thought that he was pretty hoofsome. Wait. Hoofsome? Did she really just think that? Did she honestly think that Flim Skim was hoofsome?

"Uh, cous... are you alright? You're as red as an apple on a hot Summers' day."

This caused Applejack to come back from her deep thoughts. She looked at Braeburn, an annoyed expression written all over her face.

"I'm fine. Let's get ya on home," she told him, the both of them trotting towards the west side of town.

When the two country ponies were out of sight, Flam walked over to his brother. "Um, heh, excuse me, brother of mine?"

"Yes? What is it?"

"I don't mean to be rude... but, uh," the oldest of the two unicorns stuttered, "did you just flirt with the enemy?" he asked giving him a sly, yet worried, smile.

Was he flirting? Flim, himself, didn't think he was. He thought he was just being honest. Then again, he couldn't tell the difference between the two.

Shopping with the Enemy

Applejack was sitting on the front porch of her dear cousin's house, thinking about how she was going to help him with his orchard, not to mention, take care of him. But mostly she was thinking about what happened there with the Flim Flam brothers, particularly with Flim.

What happened back there? she thought. Was he actually flirting with me? Or was he just trying to let my guard down so I just give in to his tricks?

This has been bugging her ever since she and Braeburn returned from the tent. Ever since Braeburn asked her why she blushed, she began wondering: why did she?

"What are ya thinkin' about, couz?"

Applejack jumped when she heard a random voice come from behind her. It took her a moment to realize that it was just Braeburn. She put her hoof on her chest, turning her head to look at her cousin.

"Braeburn! Ya scared me! Ya got ta be careful!" she exclaimed.

"Hey, I'm sorry," he responded, his hooves up in the air, as if in surrender. "Ah was jus' wondering what ya were thinking about."

What could she say? 'Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about Flim Skim.' No! She couldn't! If she did, he may automatically think that she had feelings for the unicorn, which she certainly didn't. She dicided to ignore his question and try talking about something else.

"What were ya even doing out of the house? Ya know ya can't walk on that hoof of yours for a few weeks."

"Ah jus' wanted to see what all the fuss was about in the town. Besides, ah was bored staying in the house all day. Ah needed ta do something productive," Braeburn explained.

Applejack rolled her eyes. She got up from the front porch and extended her hoof to help Braeburn off it as well. She then put him against her for support as they began to go back inside the house. She gently laid him on the couch, his left hoof being elevated by a few pillows the end it.

"Now, try ta stay off that hoof, Braeburn. Or else, ya'll make it worse."

He groaned in response.

"Don't worry. If ya need anything, jus' call me."

"Uh, AJ?" said he.

"Yes? Do you need something, couz?"

"Actually, ah do. Could you please go an' buy some things I need? Ah was supposed ta go grocery shopping some time this week," he explained.

"Sure, ah'll go an' get ya your groceries. Where's the list?"

"It's over there on the kitchen counter," he told her, pointing with his right hoof.

She went to the counter to find a page full of food and supplies listed on it... a full page. This didn't bother though, she's used to going out shopping. Usually it was either herself or Big MacIntosh who did the shopping. Other times it would be Granny Smith and Apple Bloom.

"All right, then. Ah'll be back later with the stuff you need. Jus' don't leave the house. Try to read a book or something."

"Oh! But reading is boring!" he complained.

"Hey, who doesn't like to read a bang-up tale from time to time?" she asked.

Braeburn raised his right hoof.

AJ rolled her eyes, putting on her saddlebag before going off to the market.

Flim was wondering about what happened back in the tent earlier today. Mostly, he was thinking about what Flam had asked him.

Did I really flirt with her? he asked himself. I'm pretty sure I was just being a nice guy. I didn't want to cause anymore trouble to her family. Especially her extended family.

The young unicorn's thoughts were suddenly interrupted when his older brother sat next to him on his bed.

"What seems to be the problem, brother?" Flam asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you've been sitting here with your hooves against your cheeks for the past 15 minutes," he told him.

"Oh, was I?"

Flam nodded his head.

"Sorry. Nothing's wrong... I was just thinking about today," he admitted.

"Yes, speaking of what happened today: why'd you do it?" the oldest of the two asked.

"I just didn't want to end up hurting another one of Applejack's family."

"What are you talking about? That stallion wasn't going to do anything stupid."

"What makes you think he wouldn't? Applejack said he got hurt by playing some silly game with some buffalos. If he drank our so-called 'tonic' and went back to what he was doing, he could've ended up in a full body cast! Do you not remember what Granny Smith attempted to do after she drank it? She jumped off a six story high-dive and almost got herself killed -- KILLED!" he ranted to Flam.

Flam was taken aback by his brother's sudden outburst. Was he trying to defend the Apple family? He gave him a bewildered look.

"I don't understand," he said.

Flim scoffed at his brother. Of course he doesn't understand, he thought.  He got up from the bed and began to head towards the door.

"Where are you going?" he asked him.

The mustacheless unicorn put his hoof on the door knob. He took a deep breath before answering.

"I'm going to get some fresh air," he responded bluntly before leaving his brother... dumbfounded.

Applejack had just arrived to the market, her saddlebag brought with her. She looked at the list her cousin had written down.

Alright, now. Let's see... new pie pan. The orange country mare was just about to walk toward the pie pan booth when she suddenly bumped into somepony, both of them falling on the ground. Not mention her hat falling off as well.

"Very sorry about that, young filly," the myserious pony apologized. At least now she knew it was a stallion.

"No, no. It's quite all right," she responded. She suddenly heard a gasp from the stallion in front of her. She forgotten to see whom it was she bumped into.

"Applejack?" the mysterious stallion asked all surprised.

Wait, a minute! I know that voice, she thought. She looked across from her to see that it was none other than Flim Skim.

"Flim?!"

The pale unicorn got up quickly, extending his hoof to help her off the ground. She noticed that he seemed kind of embarrassed.

"I am very sorry, Applejack. I didn't realize it was you that I bumped into. I'm so used to seeing you with your hat," he explained.

It was then that the Country earth pony realized she was missing her hat. She looked over to see that it was about a yard away from her.

"It must've fell off when ah bumped into ya," she told him.

"Well, then, here. Let me get it for you."

"Oh, no, Flim, that's quite alright. Ya don't have ta," she said to the unicorn.

"Please, Applejack, I insist."

Before she could respond, the pale salespony horn was starting to be surrounded by a green aura. Her stetson hat being surrounded as well. The hat began floating towards her in a gentle manner. It was only a few seconds before it was placed back on her head.

"There you go, my dear," Flim said giving her a soft smile. For some reason, the Earth pony couldn't help but smile back at him.

"Uh, Th-thanks. A-ah better be going now," she stuttered.

"Wait! Uh, Applejack, where are you going?" he asked.

She didn't answer for a second. "Well, since Braeburn has a broken hoof, he asked me to get some groceries for him."

"Well, maybe I can help you?"

She stopped in her tracks. Help me? Why does he want to help me? she asked herself. For that matter, why does he even care?

"Ya want ta help me? But why?" she asked him both curiously and suspiciously.

"Well, there seems to be a lot of items on that list and, well, I thought a mare like yourself would want somepony to help you carry at least half. Besides, I think it would be thoughtful if you had some company."

"Well... Big Mac an' ah would always go get the groceries together, but since he's busy back at the Apple Farm... I guess... why not?" she accepted.

"Great!"

"Jus' one condition: don't try ta smooth talk any of the ponies at the market," she told him.

"Deal."

The mare gave him a sly smile before they started trotting toward the market. Then a thought came to her.

"Flim?"

"Yes?"

"Where's Flam? Shouldn't he be with you?"

"Oh, him? I kind of went off on him back where we're staying. So, I left him.

"Ya went off on him? Why? What was it about?" she asked him.

Flim couldn't tell the mare he secretly loved that the reason he went off on his brother was because of her and her family. So he decided to tell her something simple.

"Oh, it's not that important. Besides, I'm not really comfortable talking about it." He wasn't lying about that.

"If ya say so."

The two of them then started to get everything that was on the list.

Flim's Decision

The unicorn and country earth pony had been shopping together for what seemed like ages. The two seemed to talk and laugh at each other's jokes the whole time while doing the shopping. Applejack was starting to think that Flim wasn't as bad as she thought he was.

"Ah got ta say, Flim, you're not as bad as ah thought ya are," the country mare admitted.

"Oh! Well, thank you. That means a lot," he responded, giving her a sweet smile.

Applejack smiled in return. She had to admit... he has a great smile. Wait, what?!

Flim loved seeing her smile. Seeing her smile made him happy. Her smile made him fall in love with her all over again.

Both ponies spent the rest of the time asking each other questions. Each question they asked, they were to know each other a little better. A lot better if you asked Applejack, especially. There was more to Flim than just the smooth-talking salespony he is.

It was then that they both realized that they were at her cousin's farm. The time seemed to have flew by. The orange mare went up the five steps of the front porch before turning towards the unicorn.

"Thanks a lot for helping me out, Flim."

"Awh, it was nothing. Glad I could be of service," he said giving her a little bow.

Applejack laughed. "Well, ah better take this stuff inside."

"Would you like me to help you?"

"Oh, no, Flim. There's no need. Ah think ah can manage carrying the rest inside. Besides, ya helped me out enough already," she answered him, truthfully.

"Alright, well, then. I'll just leave you to it," the unicorn said as he used his magic to take his half of groceries off of his back. "Maybe we can do this again some time?"

"Whoa, there, partner! This was jus' a one time deal. Ya may 'ave been a big help but ah still don't think ah can trust ya," she said boldly.

Even though Flim knew that she represented the element of honesty, it made his heart sink hearing her say that she still doesn't trust him. Or his brother, for that matter. But he couldn't let her know how painful it was to hear her say that, so he put on a neutral face but trotting back to where he and his brother were staying.

Applejack watched the unicorn salespony trot off back to where he went. She noticed that he looked a teeny bit off. Not a goodbye or anything. Was it because of what she said to him? Sure she thought it was a little harsh to say that she couldn't trust him even after helping her get the stuff that Braeburn needed, but it's the truth.

She knew how he and his brother worked. They may seem nice and smooth but in reality, they trick you into doing things and buying their phony products. Even convincing you to believe that doing the wrong this is the good thing.

The country mare wasn't going to fall for that trick again. Last time she did, she almost lost her grandmother. The only guardian she had in her family to help take care of her, her big brother, and little sister.

Applejack finally brought the groceries into the house, setting them down next to the kitchen counter. She turned to realize her dear cousin wasn't on the couch where he should be. The orange country pony groaned in frustration.

"Braeburn! Ah told ya ta stay on the couch. Ya better not have left this, here, house! Ya know as well as ah, that ya can't walk on that broken hoof of yours," she said searching throughout the house.

She went up the stairs to find his bedroom door open. Applejack looked inside to find Braeburn sitting in bed, his head covered by an issue of "Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Statue."

Seriously? Does almost everypony in Equestria read these books? she thought. Applejack shook the thought out of her head before entering his room.

"Ah thought ya said the reading was boring."

Braeburn put down the book to find that it just his favorite cousin. "Well, ah did but ah had nothing else ta do. Ah can't leave the house an' ah certainly can't even do my chores with this broken hoof ah have here," he explained, pointing to the hoof with a cast on it.

That's right! The country mare forgot about that. Who's gonna help do his chores while she's taking care of him? Surely, she could it by herself but she thought that she could buck all the apples from the trees by herself during Applebuck Season when Big Mac was hurt... and well... she and her friends knew how that turned out.

"Well, make sure ta stay off that hoof. In the mean time, ah got ta think of how ah can take care of ya and your chores," she told him, trotting out of his room.

Flim had returned to where he and Flam where staying. His thoughts were still on what Applejack had told him. The last thing she had said to him before he came back.

Applejack still doesn't trust me? he asked himself. Even after what I've done today, she still doesn't trust me? The young unicorn kept asking himself questions: What can I do to make her trust me?

"Oh, brother, you're back," a male voice said, out of nowhere. Flim turned just to see that it was his older brother Flam. "Feel better after getting some fresh air?" he asked.

"Hmm? Oh, yes! Yes, I feel much... much better," he answered, almost forgetting what Flam was talking about.

"I must say, you were gone quite a long time. Almost an hour. Usually when you go get some fresh air, your gone 10 minutes."

"Yes, well, something came up - but it's not important. Shouldn't we be off to bed?" Flim asked, quickly changing the subject.

"Oh, yes! We do gotta to sell the rest of our 'Flim-Flam Tonic' tomorrow! See you in the morning."

Flam, then, quickly scattered off to his room while Flim stayed put. He was thinking of a way to get the orange mare, whom he couldn't stop thinking about, to trust him. But the more he thought about it, he didn't just want her to trust him - he wants her to forgive him. Both he and his brother.

However, Flim didn't think that it would be possible for the Southern Belle of a mare would forgive him after the way he tried to speak to her. Himself, on the other hand, was a maybe. Perhaps if he did something to help make up for what he and his brother have done. Something more than just help her with her groceries.

The unicorn salespony had a light bulb go off in his head as he thought of the perfect solution. Although, he knew that his brother wasn't going to like it one bit.

Applejack has been up right before Celestia had risen the sun. She wanted to get most of Braeburn's chores done before he had woken up so she would have more time to take care of him.

She had to buck the apples off the trees and then feed the pigs, she still had so much to do after that. The country mare didn't mind though; she's used to doing her chores by herself, but do her cousin's and also take care of him? She needed help.

She was a little sweaty, for she wasn't out that long... about half an hour or so. The orange earth pony was just about to buck the apples off one of the trees when a voice came out of nowhere.

"Do you usually wake up this early to work?" the voice asked. It sounded like a voice that belonged to a stallion.

Applejack turned her head to the side to see the pale unicorn salepony who helped her out with her groceries the day before.

"Ah could ask the same about ya," she replied. "What are ya doing here?"

"Well, I... uh... I quit working with my brother."

The orange country pony looked at him in disbelief. He quit working with brother? she asked herself. But why? Did it have something to do with what he told her yesterday?

"Why did ya quit? Ya'll were a team... a smooth talking-trickster kind of team but still a team."

"I know. But since I'm not working with him anymore..."

Applejack became curious. What was he trying to say? Please, don't tell me this is going where ah think it is! she thought.

"I was wondering... may I work on the farm with you?" he asked, sounding hopeful that she'll accept.

Eeyup. This went exactly where she thought it went.

Flim's New Job

"A'm sorry, what did ya jus' ask me?" the blonde-maned mare asked the peppermint-maned unicorn.

The unicorn salespony took off his hat with his left hoof, placing it against his chest. The unicorn held it so tightly aganst his chest, that he felt it would leave an imprint on his white and blue stripped shirt. He felt his face getting hot.

Why do I feel so nervous? he asked himself. I never feel this nervous around her.

"Well, you see, Applejack..." he began, "lately I've been growing tired of tricking other ponies into buying me and my brothers products and..." he trailed off.

Flim looked at Applejack right into the eyes... those glorious, hypnotizing emerald eyes. He can see that she didn't look like she was convinced with what he was saying so far. He decided to go on.

"Well, to make a long story short: I told Flam that I wanted to make an honest living... not cheat people. He's.... pretty upset with me."

Applejack looked at the pony before her, raising an eyebrow at him. She couldn't put her hoof on it. She looked at him closely the whole time he was explaining his reason to work with her. The noticed that he looked nervous.

Why did he look so nervous? she asked herself. Flim Skim never looks nervous. By the looks of it, he seems to be telling the truth, but how can ah be sure?

A light bulb went off above her head as the perfect idea struck her mind. The mare went over to the unicorn.

"Hmm...." she said, examining him. "Ah guess ah could use some help around here. After all, Braeburn won't be able to do much since he does have a broken hoof."

The unicorn got all excited. His grin going from ear to ear.

"Oh, thank you, Applejack."

"Now, hold on there, partner. Ah said ah would consider it. Besides, how do ah really know your being honest with me?" she asked him.

"Well, you can go over to the tent back in the town. That's where Flam is. He'll tell you everything," the young unicorn told the young mare.

Applejack gave him a little smirk. "Alright, then. Ah'll go over to town and ask him. If he tells me exactly what you told me... A-ah'll let ya work with me. In the mean time, why don't ya go inside the house and keep Braeburn company? At least he'll have somepony ta talk ta while A'm gone."

"It would be my pleasure," he responded, gratefully.

"Up the stairs, second door to the left," she told him as he began walking toward the house.

Applejack, then began walking toward the direction of the town. Ah sure hope he's telling the truth. After all, ah do need some help here.

Applejack had been walking for about 20 minutes until she had finally reached the Flim Flam Brothers' tent. It looked vacant from where she was standing. The inside was empty, not a pony in sight.

"Hello? Flam? Are ya here?" she asked throughout the tent. She could've sworn she heard an echo.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the little Country mare," said a male pony's voice from the far end of the tent. The voice was, indeed, Flam's. He came out of what looked to be a secret room. "What brings you to my humble aboad?"

"Uh, your humble aboad? I thought it was both yours and your brother's," she said. The orange earth pony didn't want to make it sound like she what happened.

"Oh, don't you mention that traitor. He quit on me when I least expected it."

Applejack's eyes widened in surprise. So Flim was telling the truth, she thought.

"He quit? Why did he do that? Did he say?"

"All he told me was that he wants to start living the honest life. Not tricking people," he responded, a bit of attitude in his voice.

Applejack noticed the mustached unicorn had a grumpy look on his face. Golly, Flim wasn't kiddin' when he told me that his brother was upset with him.

"Wait a minute, why do you even care? Matter a fact, why are you even here?" he asked her.

She had to think of something fast. She had to come up with something, that wasn't technically a lie. The perfect thing came into her mind.

"Oh, well, you see, ah was strolling through town and ah just happened to notice that this place wasn't packed like ah thought it would be. Ya know, considering how ya and your brother would get other ponies attention," she explained. She convinced herself that she dodged a bullet. Most of the things she said to the unicorn wasn't a lie.

"Yes, well. Considering what happened earlier today, getting other ponies attention isn't going to be as easy as it used to be..." he said rather solemnly.

Applejack had to admit, she felt kinda bad for him... Just a little bit.

Meanwhile, Flim was inside the male country earth pony, Braeburn's, bedroom keeping him company. He sat in a chair right beside his bed. They talked for about 20 minutes to help pass the time.

"So, how long are you going to stuck like this?" Flim asked him.

"Well, the doctor said that ah have ta stay off of it for at least three to four weeks," Braeburn replied.

"In the name of Celestia, my friend, what kind of game were you playing with those buffalos?"

The country stallion gave the (former) unicorn salespony a little smile, a squee sound coming out in the process of doing so. His cheeks turning into a light shade of red in embarrassment.

Flim rolled his green eyes at the thought of the possible game that caused poor stallion to hurt his hoof so badly.

"Well, ah have a question for ya, Flim."

"Yes? What is it?"

"Were ya flirting with my favorite cousin the day when AJ went to get my money back?"

The caught the unicorn off guard. One of the relatives of the mare that he secretly loves was asking him if he was flirting with her? What could he say? He couldn't just say to him, off the bat, that he's been in love with the pony since the moment he laid his eyes on her.

"I-I wasn't flirting with her... I-I just thought I was being generous," he replied.

Braeburn squinted his eyes at him in suspision. "If ya say so," he said, not sounding very convinced. Flim was just about to respond when a certain voice came from the front of the room.

"Well, how's everything going on in here?" the voice asked. Flim and Braeburn turned to see that it was Applejack, leaning against the door frame with her forehooves crossed.

Flim thought that of the exact same pose she was in when Applejack met them in he and his brothers' tent about two days ago.... only the rim of her stetson hat was covering the base of her forehead.

"Great! Jus' great, cous," Braeburn responded.

"Good. Uh, Flim would ya come with me, please?"

Flim got up from his chair. "Centainly, Applejack."

The unicorn followed the earth pony down to the living room, leaving Braeburn in his bedroom alone.

"The pony's more in love than all the buffalos with our pies," the country stallion said to himself.

"What is it you wanted to see me about?" the unicorn asked.

"Well, ah went ta ya'lls tent an' asked Flam what happened... an' uh... turns out ya weren't lyin," the orange mare told him.

Flim smiled in excitement, but kept his act together. "So.... does this mean...?"

"Well, ah do need some help with doing Braeburn's chores, not to mention, taking care of him for the next few weeks. So.... yes, Flim, ya can work on the farm with me," she said, giving him a little smile.

"Oh, thank you, Applejack. I am very grateful that you've accepted."

"Yes, well, there is one thing."

The caught his attention. There's more? he thought.

"Yes?"

"Well, ya can't work on a farm dressed like that," she told him, her hoof pointing at his hat and blue and white stripped shirt with black bowtie.

"Well, what do you suggest I wear?" he asked her.

"Here's some of Braeburn's old clothes. They don't fit him anymore, too small. They seem to be about your size," she said, giving them to the unicorn. "Now, go on over ta the barn an' change while ah get some things ready for ya ta do."

The unicorn watched the country mare go towards the back of the house while stared at what was given to him to wear.

It took about five minutes for Flim to get his regular clothes off and his new attire on. He put his old clothes in a little pile next to him as he put on new ones. He came out wearing an old brown vest and a dark blue ascot.

He had to admit, he didn't look half bad in old western attire. And it felt good that he didn't have to keep wearing that hat of his anymore.

He came out of the barn to see Applejack a few hooves away from him. He held his old attire on one hoof as he began walking toward her.

Applejack looked up to see Flim already changed into his new outfit. She had to admit, she kind of liked him a lot better in this outfit than his old one... Wait, what?

"Oh, good. You're all ready. Uh... those old things... ya won't be needing them for a while. Ya can jus' put them away once we're all done with today's chores."

Flim just nodded his head as they began walking towards the back of the house.

"Now, since ya may not know that much about working on a farm, a'm gonna teach ya everything there is ya need ta know, so.... let's get started."

Showing You the Ropes

Applejack had spent about the last couple hours teaching Flim how to do specific things on Braeburn's farm. Right now, she had been teaching him how to corral the sheep for the past half hour... He wasn't doing a very good job at it but she can tell he was trying.

"I guess I'm not that good when it comes to gathering up the animals," the male unicorn admitted.

"Yeah, ya could use a little work on... well, everything. But, don't ya worry, sugar cube. You'll get the hang of it," she replied truthfully.

Flim knew she was the element of honesty, and that's one of the things that he loved about her... Which made him felt bad even more when he and his twin brother kind of forced her to lie to everypony in Ponyville a few months back.

The earth pony patted his head. "Alright, then. Now, let's go and get some apples out of the trees. We're gonna have help Braeburn sell 'em since he won't be able ta get out of bed without hurting himself even more."

"Get apples out of trees? Oh, that will be easy!" he exclaimed. He trotted a few leagues ahead of Applejack to where he was in front of about ten, or so, trees. His horn began glowing, a green aura surrounding it, and the apples as well.

He focused unicorn was about to levitate all of the apples of the trees when suddenly, he felt a hoof touch his horn, causing him to stop the spell before it was even beginning.

"Whoa, there, partner! Let me set this straight: If you're going to work on a farm with an earth pony, you're gonna have to work LIKE an earth pony. Which means, NO MAGIC!"

"No magic?" Flim asked, confused. "Why is that?"

"Look, ah don't know if ya noticed but, Appleloosa is home ta about 98% earth ponies and 2% buffalo. Also, 99.9% of the ENTIRE Apple family are earth ponies. Ta us, using magic to do work on the farm, is taking the easy way out if somepony WITH magic wanted ta work alongside anypony in the Apple family," the blonde-maned mare explained to the unicorn stallion.

The unicorn stallion nodded his head, showing that he understood. If he wanted to prove to the mare of his dreams that he was serious about working with her on her cousin's farm up until he's well, then he didn't want to disappoint her now.

"Besides, ah think it would be good for ya ta gain some muscle while ya work here," he told him as her tail brushed underneath his chin causing his knees to almost collapse from underneath him.

What does this mare think she's doing to me? he thought to himself.

Applejack went on ahead and taught him the proper way of getting apples down from the trees: Apple bucking. Before she began bucking some of the apples down from the trees, she put three buckets on three of the four sides of the trees.

She turned her body around, taking a few steps forward so she had enough room to be able to buck the apples off correctly. The orange female earth pony bent down on her two front hooves, supporting herself for when her two hind legs hit the tree trunk in unison. The force of the hit was so strong that it caused every single apple from the tree to fall, filling up all three buckets to a high point.

She smiled at herself for doing a great job, as usual. This was, after all, just as if she was working back home at Sweet Apple Acres. She looked over at Flim who had his jaw slightly open, due to shock. She looked back and fouth between him and the amount of apples that she had knocked down.

Applejack chuckled a little, "Oh, no need ta worry, Flim. It might seem intimidating at first, but after bucking a few of these, it will become natural ta ya. Ya don't have ta get as many down as ah did," the country mare assured him.

The blonde-maned earth pony noticed that he still seemed kind of nervous.

"Well, uh... let's... give this a shot, shall we?" Flim said, trying to convince himself not to be nervous around Applejack.

Applejack watched Flim as he trotted to one of the trees next to the one she had done. She let him prepare to a few minutes before warning him.

"Now, Flim ya be careful. If ya don't get the bucking jus' right, ya could sprain a hoof."

As soon as she told him that, she noticed that his face turned pale. Even paler than his skin tone, but she then saw him shake his head as if to get the thought out of his mind.

The unicorn began to set himself up, taking a few steps away from the trunk, bending down on his two front hooves. He then, kicked the tree as hard as he could. After doing so, his ears perked up as he heard a few thuds in each bucket.

He looked to see about ten apples in each bucket. Applejack went to take a look as well.

"Ya see? That wasn't so hard, now, was it?" she asked, sounding happily. "Not bad for your first try either. Before ya know it, ya'll will have apples in buckets stacked as high as mine. If not, maybe higher."

"You really believe that, Applejack?" he asked her, sounding a bit surprised.

"Hey, would ah tell ya something ah thought wasn't true?"

The unicorn blushed lightly at her response. They both looked over the orchard to see the sun going down.

"Looks like Celestia is getting ready to end the day," Flim said.

The orange earth pony yawned in response to that. "Ah say we do the same. C'mon let's have some dinner then go ta bed. After all, we've been working all day. Ah think it's we go inside."

"Agreed."

The two ponies headed back inside the home of the relative of the country mare. The two had some soup before deciding to hit the hay. They walked down the hall before Applejack stopped in her tracks.

"Ya'll can sleep in the guest room while ya work here. Ah'll be staying in the room down the hall," she told the unicorn.

"Very well."

"Ya know, Flim, ya did pretty well for it being you're first day. Maybe having ya around won't be so bad."

The peppermint-maned unicorn gave the blonde-maned mare a pearly white smile, which seemed to somehow cause her stomach to turn inside out.

"I very much appreciate that, Applejack. And I also hope that me working alongside with you, will help me become a better stallion."

Applejack didn't know what to take from what just came out of his mouth. She became sort of... confused. However, she was also in awe with what he had just told her.

She watched him go inside his room, giving her a wink before shutting the door and saying, "Goodnight, Applejack."

So Many Questions

Applejack had been standing in front of the peppermint-maned unicorn's bedroom door for what seemed like ages. She had been trying to process in her head what he had just said. What he had said sounded genuine... but there was something else there that she just couldn't put her hoof on. She was in such deep thought that she didn't notice her cousin peeking out of his room.

"So," the male country earth pony said suddenly, causing the mare to jump a little, breaking out of her thoughts, "how'd his first day go?"

"Oh, um... pretty well. Ah, mean, he could use a little work with corralin' the animals," she replied. Braeburn just nodded his head. "An' a little more practice with his apple bucking an' soon enough, it'll be as if he's been working on the farm his whole life."

The country mare's cousin just smiled, nodding his head. "Well, that's great ta hear."

Applejack quickly shook her head in realization. "Wait, just a cotton-pickin' minute!" she exclaimed, "What are ya'll doin' out of bed?!"

"Oh... nooo reason," he said sarcastically.

She rolled her eyes. "Go on, now. Get!" Applejack requested, shooing him back into his room.

Braeburn lifted his front hooves up as if to surrender, backing up into his room.

Braeburn was back in his bed, his left backhoof now properly elevated. He layed down as his favorite cousin was making sure he was tucked in well.

"Ya know you're not supposed to be putting any weight on your left hoof. Ya'll need ta stay in bed."

The stallion groaned. "But it's so boring! Ah've got nothing better ta do other than read my Daring Do books. An' ah already read all of those."

His cousin rolled her eyes. "Oh, c'mon, now. I'm sure ya'll can think of something ta do."

"Ah doubt it."

The mare was just about to leave her cousin's room when she suddenly was caught off guard with what he asked her.

"Hey, cous, why were ya staring at that there, uh, Flim Flam brother's bedroom door?"

She didn't know what to say. Was she staring? As a matter of fact, she didn't even realize she was staring.

"Ah... ah jus' was in deep thought, ah guess," she responded, not sounding so sure.

He narrowed his eyes, giving her a suspicious look, but then quickly nodded, letting it go. "Oh, alright, then. Well, goodnight."

"Goodnight," the orange mare replied, shutting off his bedroom light.

Applejack was in her bed, but she hadn't been asleep for the past half hour. She was laying on her right side, listening to the crickets who were chirping outside. She looked out her window, gazing at the beautiful full moon that Princess Luna had brought out that night.

However, as she lay there, gazing at the moon, listening to the chirping of the crickets, she couldn't help but think: Why did Braeburn ask her why she was staring at Flim's bedroom door? Why did he give her that look when she told him that she was just thinking? It seemed as if that he didn't believe her for a split second.

But why wouldn't he believe her? After all, she is the element of honesty. However, as she went deeper into her thoughts, she began thinking about some things that had came over her the past couple days:

One) Why was it that when Flim smiled at her, her stomach turned inside out?

Two) When she talked to the Flim Flam brothers back at their tent when she first arrived to Appleloosa, why was Flim complementing her?

and Three) Why did she blush after he did so?

These were questions that had been possessing her mind. She didn't have the answer to these. And she wasn't sure if she ever will.

Flim was in, what he would call, his new room. He layed in bed, thinking about how his first day working on the farm went. He thought it went pretty well. Sure, he wasn't that good at gathering up the animals or trying to get some of pigs to get clean or getting all of the apples to fall out of the trees, but he knew he will improve as the days will go on...

Of course there will be one specific thing that will be distracting him from time to time: His sweet, sweet Applejack. Granted, she wasn't really his but he will do absolutely anything for the mare that he secretly loves with all his heart. He really wanted this to make up for what he and his brother had done to her and the rest of her family in the past.

The young unicorn stallion got up from the bed and walked on over to his window where he listened carefully to the soft chirping of the crickets that were outside in the night. He looked up to the moon that the Princess of the Night had risen, taking in the beautiful night sky. He closed his eyes lightly before whispering a soft request.

"Dear, dear Princesses, if I may, please, in time, let me leave the past in the past. Let all of the trouble that I have caused with my own brother be gone from here on out. I wish to be a con no longer, but an honest stallion. An honest stallion who will gain the trust of a certain golden-maned Country mare and eventually her love in return."

Flim opened his eyes softly, looking at the stars in the night. He continued, "If I am to become an earth pony in order to gain her trust and win her heart, then so be it. With Celestia and Luna as my witnesses, I, from here on out, will no longer be dishonest."

As Flim had finished, he looked back up at the Princess of the Night's sky, to see that two shooting stars had flew across the atmosphere. He had took that as a sign that both of the Princesses had heard his request.

The male, now former, unicorn Salespony, had walked back over to his bed. He layed on his right side, continuing to listen to the chirping of the crickets, gazing at the full moon that Princess Luna had risen. As he did layed there, his began thinking:

One) What was it about this one particular mare that made his stomach turn inside out whenever he saw her?

Two) Why was it that when he first saw her again in Appleloosa, the first thing he did was complement her, as if to get some sort of reaction from her?

and Three) Why was it that whenever she looks at him, he secretly blushes?

He was certain he knew the answers to two out of three of those questions. However, the one he didn't know the answer to... well, he wasn't sure if he ever will.

Something New About Flim

Applejack had woken up to the sound of a rooster cock-a-doodle-dooing with all its might as Celestia had began rising the sun. She let out a big yawn as she stretched her way out of bed. She gazed over the horizon as only to see Flim already up working. She was overcome with a state of shock and surprise.

The mare fixed her blonde mane before putting on her Stetson hat. She then, went to the bathroom to brush her teeth, soon after. She went down the hall to see if her dear cousin was yet awake. She knocked on his door a few times before walking in.

"Come in!" Braeburn replied through the closed door.

Applejack opened the door to see that he was sitting up in his bed, a tray with a plate of pancakes with maple syrup and a glass of apple juice on his lap. She looked confused at what was before her.

"Uh, morning there, Braeburn. Where'd ya get the breakfast?"

"Oh, that there fella ya hired a couple days ago made me some breakfast since ah'm not allowed to get out of this bed for the next couple weeks," he explained to her.

Applejack was surprised. She almost didn't want to believe it. Flim! Flim Skim, of the Flim Flam Brothers... doing something like this.

"Ya know, ah'm kinda glad ya hired that fella. With him bein' a unicorn an' all, we could get a lot a stuff done around the house," Braeburn said, before taking a bit of his pancake.

"Hmm... well, he did do a really kind thing for ya. By any chance, do ya why he's outside at this time of day?" she asked him.

"Ah'm not sure. Ah'm kinda surprised as well. Ah never thought that a unicorn like him would ever be up this early... or, earlier, for that matter. Why don't ya go ask him, yourself?"

Applejack was hesitant for a moment before nodding her head, moving toward the door. She was almost out of Braeburn's range when he suddenly spoke.

"Oh! AJ, one more thing!" he exclaimed from his room.

"Yes, what is it, cous?"

"Flim, there, wanted me to tell ya that there's breakfast for ya in the kitchen. He also said that ya might want ta heat it up by the time ya get down ta the kitchen."

The country mare widen her eyes a bit at the new information her cousin had given her. Flim made her breakfast as well? Why did she feel skeptical, suprised and... happy... at the same time? She quickly took the thought out her mind before giving her cousin a soft tip of her hat before going down to the kitchen.

Flim was outside in Braeburn's front yard of the farm. He had been up since about half and hour before Princess Celestia had risen the sun. He had been doing some thinking as he was out in the open for the time being. He realized that he had been doing a lot of that lately.

He was thinking about last night, and what he had vowed to the Princesses. No, he surely wasn't regreting it. In fact, he was rather serious when he had made that vow. However, he started thinking about the possible ways that could cause him to break the vow he had made. One major thing being his twin brother.

What of he finds a way to tempt him into conning innocent ponies once again? Or worse, what if he were to find out his feelings for the country mare and threaten to ruin her and her loved ones... AGAIN?! Flim possibly couldn't risk losing her. He didn't want his nightmares to become a reality. Even if that were to happen, he would have to find some way to prevent it.

Suddenly, a sound of a front door shutting caught his attention, breaking him out of what he was thinking. He looked no further than to see no other than Applejack. He noticed how much more radiant she looked in this early of daylight.

He felt himself starting to get a goofy smile on his face and tiny little hearts starting to expand around his face before lightly shaking his head, trying to stay cool, calm and collected. He surely wasn't going to give any hints that he's been head over hooves for her since the very moment he met her back during Cider Season. At least... not now anyway. Thankfully, it seemed like she didn't notice anything... and that would've been embarassing.

"Well, good morning to you, dear Applejack," he greeted her, trying his best not to be all lovestruck.

"Good morning ta ya, Flim. Ah'm surprised you're even up this early, if not, probably earlier."

The unicorn chuckled. "Oh, well, then. You'll be surprised to know that ever since I was a little colt, I would always like to get up half an hour before dawn to watch the sun be risen by Princess Celestia."

Flim watched her seem to peek curiousity and interest as she tilted her head a bit to the side. "Oh, is that so?"

"Yes, it is so, in fact. Not even my own twin brother Flam knows that I do such a thing."

"Why is that?" she asked him. "Why wouldn't ya let your own brother know something like that?"

"Ah, well, Flam's not the kind of stallion who's in that sort of thing. Plus, he's also not an early riser. Sure, even though, he and I traveled around Equestria trying to sell our latest products, it was never as when I would awake," he explained.

"Then how did ya keep your brother from knowing?"

"Well, after I would watch the sunrise, I'd stay out for a few minutes before quietly going back inside pretending to be asleep."

"Now, that seems a little silly, in my opinion."

"You may think so, but I do not," he replied, chuckling a little bit. The mare did so as well.

Applejack didn't think Flim of being an early riser like her. It seemed to her as if they had a little something in common. She kind of liked that, to be honest. There was more to him than just being a salespony-slash-con artist. It also seemed that he had a bit of Earth pony in him, as well. A lot of the earth ponies that she knows of are early risers, like Pinkie Pie, for example.

"Well, Ah'm glad that ah got ta know a little bit more about ya, then, Flim," she said, truthfully. "There's more ta ya then meets the eye."

"Well, as long as I'm helping work on your cousin's farm, you'll be getting to know me a lot better than before," he told her giving her a soft smile.

That's when her stomach did it again. Why was it that whenever he smiled at her, it caused her stomach to turn inside out? She still had no answer to that. She quickly changed the subject, hoping that her stomach would feel normal.

"Ah do have one question, though," she told him, "how did ya make breakfast early in the morning so quickly?"

The female earth pony noticed him shaking his head while chuckling. She raised an eyebrow at him. "What's so funny?"

"Applejack, you may not have noticed buutttt," he said, drawing out the last word before continuing, "I'm a unicorn," he said simply, his horn glowing a dark green aura around it.

She was about to mention something, before he interrupted her. "You said I cannot use magic while working on the farm. You never said anything about not using magic while helping out in the house."

The mare gave the unicorn a stern look before she spoke. "Ooohhhhh, you're still gonna be a smooth talker, ain't ya?"

"Only, when I think it's necessary."

The golden-maned country earth pony clenched her teeth, trying to make herself not as annoyed by his tatic. "Fine. Let's just get some stuff done around here."

"As you wish, m'lady."

Applejack could suddenly feel her cheeks turning a light red. Was she blushing?

"What are we up to today?" he asked.

"Well," she began, "We're going to the market."

Teased by an Old Friend

The two ponies had been walking for a good amount from Braeburn's farm to the small town. The country stallion's home being a little ways away and all. They were silent for the amount of time that they were walking, so far. The only thing they could hear was the sound of their hooves as they walked along the path.

The unicorn couldn't stand the awkwardness, and neither could the mare. The two of them were starting to feel a little uneasy when it came to this unwanted type of silence. That's when the unicorn stallion decided to finally speak during this moment.

"So, Applejack..." he began, "How come it's just you that came to Appleloosa?"

The country mare looked at him for a moment, curious as to why he would ask such a thing. However, she decided in her mind that it would be better to answer than have that really awkward silence stay about.

"Oh, Um... well, uh," she began hesitantly. "Big Mac an' Granny Smith are busy back at Sweet Apple Acres, y'know, preparing for the whole Summer Sun Celebration. As for Apple Bloom, well, she an' the Cutie Mark Crusaders are in Manehattan visiting her cousin Babs," she explained.

He nodded his head, listening to her every word. "So, you, specifically, were only pony capable of coming all the way here from Ponyville to help take care of him?"

"Well, Granny Smith and Big Mac both thought it was best that ah'd be the one ta come over an' help."

The stallion gave a small smile before turning his head back to the pathway. The mare then turning her head towards him, trying to look him in the eye.

"Ah think ah can guess why ya and your brother are here," she said logically, giving a small chuckle.

He chuckled as well. "Yeah... no use explaining it..."

Applejack and Flim had spent the rest of their time talking to help their trip seem like a breeze. They talked about all sorts of things: Their families, their hobbies, etc. It wasn't long until they both realized that they had finally arrived to the small town.

"Well, would ya look at that. We're here!" Applejack exclaimed.

"Oh, pardon me, Applejack, but why are we here? I don't believe you ever told me a reason as to why we have to come here."

"Well, we're here ta get more medical supplies for Braeburn. He's kinda running out."

"Alright, well, what do we need to get?"

Applejack took out a little notepad that she had inside her saddle bag. There was a list of a few items on it. "Let's see. We need to get some gauze, bandages, cotton balls, an' some disinfectant spray."

The mare noticed him raising an eyebrow at her, almost as if he's giving her a skeptical look. "You DO realize he doesn't really need all that stuff, right?"

"Hey, better safe than sorry," she replied, unknowingly sounding fiesty. The unicorn rolled his eyes.

Both the orange mare and the pale yellow unicorn trotted towards a convenient store where a good friend of Braeburn and Applejack's worked. Surely, enough, she could get a discount on a few things. They walked inside together to see a mare working behind the counter.

The mare had her light red mane wrapped up in a tight bun, strands of her hair on the sides of her face, lightly covering up her little freckles. She was a light brown earth pony, wearing what looked to be a dark blue work apron. Applejack smiled at the mare.

"Well, howdy, Mariana," she greeted the her.

The working mare looked over to see one of her dear friends' cousins. She waved at her, giving her a big smile.

"Why, hello there, Applejack. Long time, no see," she greeted in return, as the orange mare and a stallion, whom she's never seen before, walked up to the counter.

Applejack laughed. "Well, it has been a while."

The red-headed mare gave a sly smile before turning her head over to the unicorn that happened to be with her. She looked at some of his features: peppermint mane, hypnotizing green eyes, amazing smile, attractive. He seemed like a hard worker in her eyes.

"An' who jus' might ya be?" Mariana asked the stallion.

"Name's Flim, ma'am," he replied.

Polite, too? the working mare thought. Talk about a package deal.

"Well, it's very nice ta meet ya, Flim."

"Likewise."

"We were wondering if ya had any of these items that ah could get for Braeburn," Applejack explained, showing her the list.

The light brown earth pony narrowed her eyes to get a better look. She looked at it for a few moments before answering.

"Ah, yes. We do have these. If you go ta the very back of the store, they should be in the last three aisles. Ya can't miss 'em," she explained.

"Thanks a lot, Mari," the orange pony said, gratefully.

"Ah, don't mention it."

"C'mon, now Flim. Let's go get this stuff," Applejack said.

"Uh, Applejack, if you don't mind, I think I should go get the items on this list," the unicorn told her.

"Oh," she said, raising her eyebrow, "why is that?"

"I just think it would be easier if I went and got everything. Besides, it looks like you too have some catching-up to do," he explained to her.

The country mare thought it over for a moment before giving him an answer. He is being polite. "Well, alright. Go on ahead. Make sure to take my saddlebag with ya."

The young stallion used his magic to take the bag off of the mare's back and onto his, giving her a salute. The salute caused her and the working mare to laugh. He smiled before going off to get the items off the list.

Applejack watched as Flim trotted off to the back of the store to get what they needed. She hadn't even notice she was still staring until she heard her friend clear her throat from behind her. The country mare turned her head to see Mariana giving her a strange look.

"Sooo.... when'd ya meet Flim?" she suddenly asked her.

"Oh, well, ah met he and his brother Flam a couple years back. Ah jus' happened to meet 'em again here a few days ago." She watched the working mare nodding her head, understanding what she was telling her.

"An' uh, where's his brother?"

Applejack became hesitant. "Ah'd... rather not say. Now, it's not what ya think!" she quickly added.

The red-headed pony raised both her hooves in defense, almost startled. "Hey, hey, hey! Ah'd wasn't thinkin' anything." The orange mare wiped her head in relief.

"On the other hoof...." Mariana began, "he's kinda cute, don't ya think?"

Now this really caught her off-guard. Did she actually just ask her that? She gave a shocked, but also, a confused look to the mare working behind the counter.

"What?"

"Oh, c'mon, Applejack. Don't play dumb. Ya find him attractive, don't ya? If ah were ya, ah know ah would be."

"We- wel- well, ah... um..."

"Why, after a few minutes of examining him in my mind, ah know he's a perfect match for ya," she said.

"Now, hold on there, Mariana," Applejack exclaimed, "look, Flim is a nice guy an' yes, ah'll admit he's a little bit attractive, bu-"

"But" she interrupted her, "don't ya think he would be a great coltfriend for ya?" she asked.

Now, Applejack had absolutely NOTHING to say to that. Her and Flim? Flim Skim? Of the Flim Flam brothers? Her and the stallion that tried to make her and her family lose their farm? Her and the stallion that gave her granny a fake tonic that nearly caused her lose ANOTHER member of her family forever? No! She couldn't possibly see her and Flim together.

However, the more she thought about it, the more she thought about all the good things that he's done for her lately. He gave her a refund when his brother wouldn't. He quit working with his brother to help take care of Braeburn and his farm. He helped around the house, and now he's somewhere in back of the store getting everything on the list for her.

She then suddenly started thinking about his smile. The smile that always tended to make her stomach turn inside out. Then his emerald green eyes; the eyes that could cause any mare to get lost in...

The country mare was suddenly brought back to the real world once she heard Flim's voice from a few feet away. He waved his hoof at her and Mariana as he made his way toward them and the front counter.

"Think about it," Mariana whispered in AJ's ear.

"I've gotten everything that was on the list," Flim said as he reached the counter. Applejack suddenly began blushing.

Mariana smiled. "That'll be 20 bits."

A Moment by the Farm

Flim and Applejack had been walking their way back to the farm. He couldn't help but notice how quiet the golden-maned mare had been. She was like this ever since they left the convenient store in town. Flim couldn't help but wonder why. He decided to find out, for he was not only growing anxious, but he also felt the awkwardness only growing.

"You've uh, been awfully quiet since we left town," he said, trying the break the growing awkward silence.

The mare perked up, turning her head towrds the unicorn stallion. She hadn't even realized that she hadn't talked since they had left. Her mind was kept in one specific place, thinking about what her friend Mariana had told her.

"Oh, have ah? Heh... ah haven't realized..." she told him quickly, looking away from him, trying so hard for him not to see the blush forming on her cheeks.

He gave her a confused look, though she obviously didn't see. He couldn't help but get the feeling that she was trying to avoid making eye contact with him. If that was the case, he didn't understand why.

"Are you feeling alright, Applejack?"

"O-oh, yeah. A-ah'm fine," she replied, her face turned to the side, away from him.

Flim could obviously tell she was lying, after all, he knew that she is the element of honesty. For her to be that, well, that really makes her a terrible liar. Why she was lying to him was another question that popped in his mind.

"Is there any reason why you're not looking me in the eye, at the moment?" he asked her, a little bit of concern in his voice.

"It's jus' that the sun's that way an' the light was hitting me in the eyes," she answered him.

He raised an eyebrow at her. He had to admit that that was a clever way to answer his question, but he knew she still wasn't telling him the truth. He was going to find out why she won't look at him or tell him the truth if it kills him.

"Well, if you won't look at me due to the sun getting into your eyes..." he began, "then..." he said, moving over to her right side, "I'll just move over here to your right," he exclaimed. "Now you don't have to worry about the sun getting into your eyes when you look at me."

As soon as he said that, the mare immediately turned her face towards the ground. Flim looked at her with a shocked expression on his face. For some reason, she didn't really want to look at him... or talk to him. It was bothering him. He wanted her to look into his eyes, he wanted to hear her beautiful voice. He didn't want to come to a conclusion that she was ignoring him.

Just as they were about to reach the farm, he took matters into his own hooves. He stopped walking for a moment, grabbing her right hoof in the process, pulling her whole body turn toward him. His other under her chin, trying to make her look him in the eye.

"Alright, AJ. What's the matter?"

The moment Applejack felt Flim grab her hoof with his, she felt her heart stop. She felt her entire face becoming red and hot. She suddenly felt her body being pulled toward his. The mare felt his other hoof under her chin, trying to get her face to look at his.

The shadow of the brim that was on her Stetson covered her face, so the top half of her face was pretty dark. She was hoping that it would stay that way, being that her face felt like it was on fire.

The mare then felt the hoof that was under her chin, up against her right cheek. His other hoof still holding hers, almost as if he didn't want to let go of it. She suddenly felt him caressing the fur on her cheek. The little orange pony didn't know why, but she didn't want it to stop. It felt so peaceful to her. She felt her eyes start to close softly due to how nice and serene she was feeling.

"Is there any reason why you won't look me in the eye?" he asked her in a calm manner, almost in a whisper.

The country earth pony opened her eyes softly as she heard his voice. A strand of her hair suddenly coming out from her under her hat. The mare became mesmerized at the unicorn gently tucked the loose strand behind her ear. He'd done it so carefully, so gently... She suddenly felt his hoof return to her cheek, caressing it once more. Applejack felt as if she was being entranced, she didn't want him to stop; she found it to be so soothing.

"Is there any reason why you won't talk to me, as well?" he asked.

Applejack felt the stallion let go of her hoof, and placed the hoof that was holding it, onto her shoulder, the other not leaving her cheek. She wasn't sure why, but she wanted his hoof back in hers. It was at that moment she realized she still hadn't answered his question.

"Please... Applejack, give me an answer," he said, almost begging.

The orange country mare finally decided to look, lifting up her face. Finally looking him in the eye, which she quickly found herself getting lost in. His deep glistening emerald green eyes. Now, she didn't want to look away from him... but she knew she had to answer sooner or later. And by the looks of it, Flim looked almost desperate for her to say something.

"A-ah jus' have a lot on my mind, at the moment," she replied, finally. "Something specific that ah've been thinking about since before we even left the convenient store," she admitted to him.

AJ watched as the unicorn seemed almost relieved to get an answer out of her. However, she then saw a look of concern come across his face. Suddenly, she felt his other hoof on her other cheek, now, both sides of her face being caressed. Her whole body feeling light, her heart racing as if it were about to burst. She closed her eyes, relaxed.

"Is it something you would like to talk about?" she heard him ask.

She opened her eyes once more. She turned her head to the side, using both her own hooves to come in contact with both his, making them break contact with her face. The soothing sensation leaving her body, making her feel a bit solemn inside.

"No, no. I'm not... in the mood ta... talk about it right now," she told him. "It's something I'm not comfortable with."

The unicorn nodded his head, showing he understood her. The mare looked over at him, shyly. Suddenly not wanting to look at him again. She decided that she needed to get out of this situation quickly.

"Um... h-how about ya go on an'... an' take that ta Braeburn an' keep him company? Ah'm gonna go on an' get some work around the farm done."

The young stallion gave her a slight smile and nod before heading toward the house, Applejack being left behind, feeling relieved. She began convincing herself that she dodged a bullet. She wiped her forehead before starting to work.

It was the middle of the night and Applejack couldn't sleep. She was laying awake on he bed, thinking about what happened today. Yes, she was thinking about what Mariana had said, but her main focus was on what had happened earlier today with her and Flim.

She didn't know what was going with her lately. She found herself thinking about the unicorn more and more. His hypnotizing emerald green eyes, his soft-looking peppermint mane, his voice, his smile. Now, especially the way he caressed her face with his hooves that seemed to put her in some sort of trance. The way her hoof felt in his...

Why, she felt herself yearning for him. She wanted more. She wanted nothing more than for him to hold her. She didn't want for him to just hold her face with his hooves, she wanted for him to hold all of her!

And yet... she didn't know why...

Braeburn's Plan

It had been days since the moment Applejack had with Flim. She still couldn't get him out of her mind. It was worse whenever she saw him working on the farm or in the house. There were moments while working along his side that their hooves would collide when it came to picking up apples from bucking the trees or feeding the pigs. He would look at her and she look at him, trying her hardest not to blush.

She was now in her cousin's bedroom, now putting on a splint for his hoof. The doctor said that he can walk around as long as he had the splint on. The mare backed away as the stallion got out of his bed.

"Well, it's about time ah got out of this, here bed," Braeburn told her, stretching his body. "Ah bored out of ma mind from laying there. Having nothing better ta do than read an' look out the window."

The mare rolled her eyes at the complaining relative of hers. "Now remember, Braeburn, ya can walk on your hoof now, but still can't help around with the farm. Doctor said so. He doesn't want ya ta risk putting all your other hooves in casts," she told him. "Then, ya might as well, be bedridden for the rest of your life."

"Ah'll do anything ta not be in that bed dying from boredom," the stallion replied, using his hoof to do a pinkie promise.

The two country ponies began going down the stairs, the house being quiet. The only sound being their hooves after each step they took. After a moment, Braeburn spoke.

"So, how are things going with that there Flim fella?"

Applejack's eyes widened. Just when her mind was starting to rid itself thoughts about the unicorn. She decided to quickly give him an answer.

"Oh, um, things are going... pretty well. He's coming along great. Flim's... starting to get a long stronger with all the apple bucking he's been doin'," she said, sounding a little embarrassed talking about it.

She noticed the stallion raise an eyebrow at her, giving her a look of skeptisism. Applejack then heard him clear his throat.

"An' uh, how's he been treatin' ya?" he asked.

"Oh, fine. Jus' fine. Very polite," she responded. Braeburn nodded. "Well, uh, how 'bout ya sit in that there, rocking chair while ah go help Flim out?"

"It beats laying in bed all day," he responded.

Braeburn sat in the rocking chair watching his favorite cousin and the Flim fella, working on the front yard. He knew that Flim was in love with his cousin from the very moment he spoke with him. Now seeing Applejack becoming smitten with the unicorn was just too obvious.

No doubt the unicorn had no clue. He was too in love to even notice that she was smitten. Braeburn didn't tell her this but he saw what happened between the two of them a few days ago from his bedroom window. He saw the whole entire thing.

He saw how gentle the unicorn was being with her. He wasn't yelling at her, he wasn't hurting her. He looked corncerned for her. The earth pony noticed from his window that she wasn't looking at him. He figured that he was asking her why, so suddenly.

Now, of course, he had to remember the unicorn making bold move to take her hoof in his and caress her face. Especially since she didn't pull away so quickly. In fact, she didn't for a he didn't know how long. It seemed to Braeburn that she didn't mind that he was doing something so bold.

It was then that Braeburn obviously knew that his cousin was smitten. She was starting to return the unicorn's feelings. He knew that they were meant to be. After all, they do seem to have lots in common. Also, the way that she's been acting around the former Salespony, yeah, he had to think of something to get them together.

Suddenly, it hit him! He had a plan, and he was going to need his to get some information from his good friend Mariana.

Flim came inside the house, late that night. Applejack had gone early to get some sleep, being she felt "plum tuckered out," as she would say in her sweet accent. He made his way into the living room where he met Braeburn, sitting on the couch.

"Well, hello there, Braeburn," he greeted him. "How's it feel to finally be out of that bed?"

"Ah feel a lot better from doing anything but read or look out my bedroom window," he replied. "Thank ya for asking."

The unicorn smiled at the stallion whom gestured for him to take a seat across from him. Flim gratefully accepted and sat down.

"So, Flim," he began, "how long have ya been in Appleloosa?"

"I was originally going to be here for just a few days with my twin brother Flam, but seeing that I wanted to make myself a better stallion, I decided to leave and help Applejack here on your farm?" he answered truthfully.

"An' what do ya think about the bond between ya and my cousin?"

Flim wasn't sure how to answer this one. He couldn't just come out to Braeburn and tell him that he loves her. He decided to play it safe. "Well, I believe that she and I have become good friends now."

"Well, that's great to hear," he replied, smiling at him. "By any chance, have ya heard of the 'Appleloosa Country Festival'?"

The unicorn grew confused. "No, I believe I haven't. What is it?"

"It's a festival that all of Appleloosa holds every year. It jus' so happens ta be this Friday," he informed him.

The earth pony pulled out a flyer that just so happened to be in a pocket inside his vest. It had been folded about four times. Braeburn held it out as a dark green aura began surrounding it, levitating by magic by Flim's horn for him to be able to read it better.

The flyer was red and brown with the top half being a picture of Appleloosa and the bottom half  being little snippets of all the activities. The most highlighted being the "Great Appleloosa Country Dance," where there are photos of some local Apploosians dressed in formal attire. The unicorn's attention was brought back Braeburn as he spoke.  

"My very good friend Mariana's the one who sent me that flyer. She's also the head of the Great Appleloosa Country dance," he told him. You've met her, haven't ya?

"Yes, I have, actually."

"Ya know, ah think it would be a great idea if ya took her," he suggested.

Flim was caught off-guard for a moment. "Oh, no, no. I couldn't," he said, a light blush appearing on his face.

"Oh, c'mon now. Ya'll two should take a break from working here an' go out there an' have a little fun," he said, encouraging him. "Besides, Applejack's always wanted ta go."

"'Always wanted?'" he wondered. "You mean, she never went before?"

"Nopony ever asked her," the stallion replied. "Look, this may not sound like her, but she's always been that kind of mare that wished a stallion would ask her to a dance, sort of like a date," he told her.

Flim was shocked to hear this from the relative of the mare that he secretly loved. Nopony asked her? Why wouldn't anypony ask her? She's beautiful, a hard worker, caring, not to mention loves her family. The unicorn could think of a million reasons why any stallion would be lucky to go with her.

Flim then got up from his seat in the living room, dropping the flyer in the process. He then looked at the stallion still sitting across from him.

"Alright, Braeburn. You've convinced me. Tomorrow night, I'm asking her to the Great Appleloosa Country Dance!"

Flim then made his way upstairs to his room. He went up there so quickly, so determined, thinking about taking Applejack, leaving Braeburn all alone.

Braeburn smiled to himself, happy at how this little conversation went. The stallion then got up from the couch fixing his vest. He was about to go up the stairs before he saw the flyer that Flim had dropped. He picked it up, looking at it, smiling at it.

"Nailed it."

Being Asked to the Festival

Applejack had decided to take a break from working on the farm today and spend some time with Mariana. She felt kind of bad for not really spending a lot of time with the mare since she had arrived in Appleloosa. The two of ponies were sitting on the front porch of Mariana's house, having a drink of apple cider.

"So, how have ya been Mariana? I know we haven't really talked that much since ah arrived," Applejack said, apologetically. "Let alone spend some quality time together."

"Oh, that's quite alright, Applejack," the red-headed mare respnded. "Ah know that you've been awfully busy back home in Ponyville an' also here, helpin' take care of Braeburn an' all."

"Heh, heh. Yeah..." the orange pony laughed.

"By the way, are ya gonna go to the Appleloosa Country Festival?" she asked her.

"Oh, Mariana, ya know ah would love ta, but most likely ah won't," AJ replied, a sad tone in her voice.

"Applejack, you've jus' gotta go!" the brown earth pony exclaimed. "Ya need ta stop working an' have a little fun once in a while."

The orange country mare took a sip of her apple cider before responding. "Look, Mari, ah know ya mean well, but somepony's gotta help take care of Braeburn. Ah can't risk him getting even more hurt than he already is," she pointed out. "Besides...." she began, looking a little sheepish, "No pony's even asked me..." she said, looking away from her friend embarrassed, covering her face with her Stetson.

Mariana looked at the now shy pony. She figured that she would say that. She knew Applejack long enough to know that she would want somepony to ask her. If Braeburn's did in fact work, she'll sure be asked out by Flim later today. The red-head got up from her seat and put her hoof on orange mare's shoulder.

"Aw, don't ya worry, AJ. Who knows? Today might be the day somepony will ask ya," she told her, squeezing her shoulder a bit.

Applejack gave her a little scoff. "Heh, yeah, right. The only pony that would probably ask me would b-" she stopped right there, not even finishing her sentence as she felt her face become red.

Mariana knew who she was gonna say. It wasn't that difficult to figure out. Applejack had become smitten with Flim. Braeburn had told her about how his dear cousin would always blush whenever he asked her about him. He had also told her about she acted around the unicorn... always trying her hardest not to blush and how she would always give him a little goofy smile. He might as well had just said that his cousin was head over hooves for the stallion.

"C'mon now, Applejack. Why don't we go back ta the farm," she asked her.

The orange mare finally removed her face from her Stetson hat. "Alright, let's go, then."

The two mares finished their glasses of apple cider before heading off ta Braeburn's farm. Mariana just hoped inside that Flim will have the courage to ask her dear friend out to the festival.

Flim had been having one thing pondering his mind all day.... Asking his dear sweet Applejack to the Appleloosa Country Festival. That was it! Absolutely it! Nothing else was on his mind. He was thinking about all the possible things that could happen. Would she say 'yes'? Would she say 'no'? Would she think he was joking? Would she already have a date, even? So many questions were in his mind.

His had been feeding the pigs when all these thoughts came to his mind. He suddenly started thinking out loud. Unknowingly asking the pigs for advice.

"Should I ask her to the festival?" he asked them. The pigs just chomping away on their food. "What if I ask her and she already has a date? What if she flat out rejects me?!" he asked, almost in a panic-y way. "I mean, if she does, she'll probably be really gentle and honest about why she wouldn't want to go with me. She'll probably just say something like," he began to talk in his best impression of the mare, 'Oh ah'm sorry, Flim, but ah jus' don't think that's such a good idea. Me an' ya, together, well, ah jus' find that kinda strange,'" he said, in an attempt to sound like her.

The pigs oinked while some other pigs grunted, showing that they didn't like it. Flim ran his hooves through his mane, giving out a groan of frustration. He than began talking to the pigs once again.

"Yes, I know that doesn't sound anything like her," he responded, putting his head down, his hooves gripping the pig pen fence. The pigs oinked at him once more. "Yes, I know I'm probably over thinking this... Maybe I shouldn't ask her at all," he said, a sad tone in his voice.

All the pigs looked at him, oinking and grunting in his face. He shot his head up to see what the fuss is all about. The unicorn noticed all of them shaking their heads, oinking and grunting with all their might.

"You... really want me to ask her?" he asked them. All the pigs nodded their heads, he gave them all a confused look. "You really think she'll say 'yes'?" They nodded their heads once more. He gave them all a big grin. "Very well, then. I shall ask her when she comes back from Mariana's."

Suddenly, a voice from behind popped out of nowhere. "Ya, um... do know you're talking ta a bunch of pigs, right?" the voice asked him.

Flim turned around to see none other than Braeburn, leaning up against the barn wall, his crossed together. His back hooves crossed together as well. The unicorn looked back and forth between he and the pigs.

"Oh, sorry, about that," he apologized.

"Oh, don't worry about it. Working a farm will do that ta ya," the stallion admitted. "One of AJ's own friends told me that she talked to a tree like she was its own mother. It jus' so happened ta be one of the trees that she brought here to Appleloosa to add ta our orchard. Ah believe she even named it 'Bloomberg'."

The unicorn and the earth pony laughed. Flim didn't find it strange, he found it kind of cute that Applejack would take care of a tree like a child and give it a name. In fact, it's something he believed she would do.

"Well, I guess I'm just a little nervous about asking your cousin to the festival."

"Don't be nervous, fella," Braeburn told him. "Jus'... go on up ta her an' ask."

"But what if she says 'no'", he asked.

He noticed the earth pony look over to the side. The unicorn's ears perked up to hearing the sound of laughter. The unicorn watched as the earth pony faced him once more, giving him a sly smile.

"Well, there's only one way to find out," the stallion told him.

Flim looked over to his right seeing Applejack and Mariana walking up toward the farm, laughing and smiling. He started getting nervous all over again. He looked at Braeburn who tilted his head to the side, gesturing for him to go over there. The unicorn tried his best to stay calm, taking in a deep breath in the process. He began walking toward the two mares.

Applejack and Mariana had just arrived from Mariana's place. The two of them just having a great time chatting and telling jokes. She was having such a great time that she had forgotten about Flim for a while. That is until she saw the unicorn walking toward them. Mariana noticed this and suddenly went quiet as the the stallion came up to them.

"Applejack, so glad that you're back," he greeted her. "And it's nice to see you Mariana."

"Nice ta see ya too, Flim," she greeted in return, giving him a smile. "Um, if ya don't mind, ah'm gonna go on ahead an' talk with Braeburn."

The two of them, let her go on ahead, leaving the two of them alone. The mare and the stallion stood in silence for a few moments. Applejack looking away for a few seconds before looking into his eyes. Flim looked at the ground, poking it with his hoof for a few second before looking her in the eyes as well.

Flim cleared his throat. "So, um, Applejack..." he began, trying not to sound too nervous, "have you heard of the Appleloosa Country Festival coming this upcoming Friday?"

Applejack could feel her heart skip a beat and a lump in her throat. He was asking her about the festival? Why was he asking her about that? Could it be possible that this is going where she thought it was going?

"Oh, um, y-yes. Ah've heard. A lot of the townsfolk are really excited for it," she replied.

"And... you don't.. by any chance... already have a date, do ya?"

Applejack's heart began racing at what felt like a million miles per hour. If this really was going where she thought it was going, she'd better answer quick!

"Um... no. Why do ya ask?"

"Well, I was just wondering, if you didn't already have a date, we could..." he said, trailing off due to how nervous he was, "go... together..." he said, finally.

Applejack couldn't believe her ears. Flim was asking her the festival! Her! She didn't know what to think. More importantly she couldn't figure out why she was so happy. She decided to give him an answer quick, but still staying calm.

"Oh, well, sure. Ah would be honored ta go with ya, Flim."

"You would?!" he asked her enthusiastically. She gave him a soft smile while nodding her head 'yes.' "Great! Well, then I'll pick you up at 7:00 on Friday."

Applejack chuckled. "Alright, then."

Applejack was back in her room, along with Mariana. Mariana was sitting on Applejack's bed while she was pacing around the floor. She was pacing around her room telling her about what just happened. She was finally going to the festival. She always wanted to go there, and now she'll finally be able to.

"Ah've never seen ya so excited before, AJ," the brown earth pony with the red mane said.

"Oh, Mari, ah'm finally gonna go ta the festival. Not to mention, Flim asked me," she said, a goofy smile spreading across her face, not even realizing it.

"Oh, so you're excited for your date with him?"

Applejack stopped in her tracks, turning to face the mare sitting on the bed. "Whoa, there, nellie. Ah am not going on a date with Flim. He an' ah are jus' gonna go ta the dance together which is where we'll be able ta get some time spent together," she said, giving her a smug look.

Mariana raised an eyebrow at her as the orange mare slowly came to realization. Her eyes widened, "Oh my Celestia, ah am going on a date with Flim," she said almost in a panicky way.

"Told ya!"

"Mari, what am ah gonna wear? What am ah gonna do with my mane?" she asked frantically.

Mariana got off the bed, putting both of her hooves on Applejack's shoulders, calming her down. "Now, now, Applejack. Calm down."

Applejack began taking deep, slow breaths, calming herself down. Mariana, then placed her on the bed, still holding her by the shoulders. She looked her in the eye.

"Look, ah happen ta know somepony who's a great hairstylist. She can get your hair taking care of. As for what you're gonna wear, well, ah'm afraid ah don't know any pony who does clothes."

A lightbulb went off above the orange mare's head, giving her a brilliant idea. She began taking out a piece of paper and a pencil and began writing. The red-headed pony looked at her confused.

"What are ya doing?" she asked.

"Ya may not know any pony who works with clothes," she began, "but ah happen to have a friend who design's great clothes," she continued.

Applejack finished writing the letter and put in an envelope. She handed it over to Mariana. "Here take this letter ta the post office an' tell 'em it needs ta get to Ponyville, stat!"

The brown mare nodded her head before trotting out of her sight. Applejack let out a deep sigh as she saw her make her way to the post office. She sure hoped that Rarity would get here as soon as she read what she wrote in that letter.

Rarity Arrives

It was the following day after Applejack had written to Rarity about what had happened with Flim and he asking her to the festival. With the festival being in a few days, she was surely hoping that her friend would get here before then to help design an outfit to wear.

She was in the front yard, plowing the garden while Flim was helping with getting the seeds planted. He was becoming a big help; Braeburn's chores were getting done in half the time it actually takes the country stallion or herself to do.

The two of them would eventually sneak a peek at each other from time to time, trying not to get caught. Whenever one of them did, their faces would start to heat up due to the blush appearing.

The two of them finished by the time lunch came around. Beads of sweat were running down their faces due to the heat of Celestia's sun. The mare lifted the yolk off of her neck, releasing all extra weight that was bounded in her neck.

"Hoo-whee! That sure was a job well-done, there Flim!" she said excitedly. "We got the plowing done in less than half an hour."

He gave her a great big smile. "Well, it's a lot easier if one pony does the plowing with the other plants the seeds. Gets the gardening done much faster."

Hearing what he said reminded Applejack of how Twilight helped out Winter Wrap-Up a couple of years ago. Her organization is what helped all of Ponyville be on time for Spring for the first time in years. Now that she thought about it, Flim sort of made her think about the Princess of Friendship.

The two ponies then turned over to the sound of a horse-drawn carriage coming up toward the farm. Applejack could only assume that it was Rarity.

"Um, Flim why don't ya go inside the house an' fix us up some lunch? Looks like a friend of mine is here."

The stallion nodded his head, trotting off to go inside the house. The country mare walked towards the carriage, to see who had arrived.

The carriage door opened to reveal, who she had expected: Rarity. The white unicorn had a stylish straw Stetson, with 3 black beads on both sides, and five little tiny sea shells on the rim of the hat. She was also wearing a sky blue ascot, the same color as her cutie mark: three diamonds.

"Applejack! I came as I got your letter," she said, getting out of the carriage as quickly as possible. Her horn glowing a light blue arua, levitating about 10 luggage bags.

"Wow, Rarity. Ah knew ya would want help design a dress for me but... is all this really necessary?" she asked, staring at the amount of bags she had. Then again... this is Rarity.

The unicorn scoffed, almost sounding offended. "Now, Darling, you should know that all that I have brought along with me is COMPLETELY necessary. After all, you HAVE told me you always wanted to go to the festival."

Applejack said nothing.

"I must say, though, of all the ponies in Equestria," she said, "Flim Skim? Of the Flim Flam Brothers?"

"Yeah, ah know. But ya know that ah always wanted somepony ta ask me an'... when he did a-ah jus' couldn't say 'no'."

Rarity looked at the expression on her face and smiled. "Well, well, well," she said, giggling. "Somepony's seems to be quite smitten."

The earth pony gave her a look that seemed to say "What? No, I'm not!" The elegant unicorn trotted off towards the house; her bags coming along with her. Applejack trotted not to far behind.

Rarity was first greeted by her dear friend's cousin, Braeburn. He was just at the bottom of the stairs as soon as she came in.

"Well, howdy-doo there, Miss Rarity. How's everything back in Ponyville?"

"Why, hello there, Braeburn. Everything is just splendid back home. How's your hoof?" she asked.

"Oh, it's getting better. Ah no longer have to stay all couped in my room."

"Oh, my goodness. That must've been so dreadful!"

"Ya have NO idea!"

The sound of the front door shutting had interrupted their little conversation. Rarity looked over her shoulder only to see that she had accidently left her friend behind.

"Oh, dear Applejack, I'm sorry," she apologized.

"Aw, no worries Rarity."

All of a sudden, the pair of pale yellow hooves appeared from the edge of the kitchen enterance. Rarity looked over to see none other than, she guessed the "former" con artist, Flim Skim. She noticed that he had looked to have gained some muscle. Probably from all the work that he's been doing on the farm along with Applejack.

The unicorn designer thought he looked attractive when she and the other girls had met him and his brother a couple years ago... But now... wow. She can see why AJ didn't want to admit being smitten with him.

She also had to admit, she like him in that vest and ascot a LOT better than what he used to wear. Rarity thought it suited him a lot more than that tacky white and blue stripped shirt and black bowtie.

"Hey, Flim. Ya remember Rarity, don't ya?" Applejack asked.

The unicorn stallion looked over at the unicorn with curled mane and tail. He was staring at all the luggage she was carrying. He and his brother had only met her briefly back in Ponyville. However, they haven't really talked.

"Oh, yes. I do believe I remember. Nice to properly meet you, Rarity," he said, shaking her hoof.

"Likewise."

The stallion gave her a welcoming smile before turning over to Applejack.

"Applejack, there's an daisy salad sandwich I made on the table for you if you want to eat it later."

The orange mare looked over his shoulder, suddenly running her hooves through her mane. Her face felt flushed.

"Oh, um... thanks. I'll eat it later. Right now, Rarity an' ah are gonna go upstairs an' catch up," she said, shoving her friend up the stairs.

"Alright, I'll just put it away in the fridge."

She nodded as she and Rarity went to her room.

Applejack had opened up the door to her room, shoving her inside. The impact of the shove causing the unicorn to stop using her magic and drop all of her luggage.

Rarity gasped in shock at the mess her country friend made her do. "Applejack, it is very unlady-like to push somepony to the point where they drop all of their belongings."

The earth pony rolled her eyes. "Sorry."

The high-class pony decided to change the subject. "Well, Flim has certainly gotten even more attractive since the last time I've seen him."

Applejack stayed silent.

"Don't you find him attractive, AJ?" she asked her.

The country pony felt her face burn hot. Her face almost completely covered in blush.

Rarity knew her friend was embarrassed to say that he was. She wouldn't even turn to look at her. The mare decided to change the subject.

"So, how about you tell me what you would like for your outfit?"

Another Moment and a Little Chat

There was less than five days left until the festival and Rarity had been working on Applejack's dress for the occasion. As of right now, she had been working on the bodice of her friend's formal attire.

The bodice was white with little puffy sleeves. Brown and yellow stripes surrounding the neck line, forming a "V." She had been trying her hardest to follow the design she had made, with some notes that Applejack had written down.

Though she had been at this for a while, she decided to take a little break and look out the window from where AJ was staying.

She saw Applejack on a ladder, fixing some loose frames on the roof of the barn. A few nails on the board and a hammer in her mouth.

Rarity turned her head to see Flim raking some dead leaves that had fallen from a couple of the trees. A dark green aura surrounding the utensil; its claws scraping the ground bringing all the leaves together into one compact pile.

The unicorn mare's attention was immediately attracted back to her country friend as see noticed the ladder begin to wobble.

Applejack had been fixing the frame of the roof on Braeburn's barn. Some of the boards were starting to come out loose. The mare had a hammer in her mouth, about to impale the last couple of nails in place when the latter she was standing began to wobble.

"Whoa, Nellie..." she said, as the latter began to move more unsteadily.

Her hooves started to lose their grip on the each side of the ladder. Probably due to some of the sweat that had been developing from the heat of Celestia's sun.

Before she knew it, the mare had lost contact with the ladder, falling a good 20 feet. She closed her eyes tight, preparing for the worse. However,  she didn't feel any impact with the cold hard ground. She didn't feel any pain, whatsoever.

No, instead, she felt a pair of strong arms holding her. She opened her eyes to see that it was none other than Flim. As she looked around, she noticed that the ladder was stopped halfway from hitting the ground.

Flim's magic had surrounded it, putting it back against the wall of the barn. The mare looked over at her savior, almost in awe.

"You alright, Applejack?"

The pony was suddenly brought out her thoughts. "O-oh!" she stammered. "Yes, I'm fine."

"You've got to be more careful, AJ. If not, you'll end up like Braeburn," he said, looking into her eyes still holding her.

The country pony blushed slightly at what he had said. He is right. I do have to be more careful.

The unicorn gave her a smile that made her heart skip a beat. It was this time she noticed how attractive he really was. How his emerald green eyes seemed to captivate her in the daylight. How his teeth gleamed whenever he gave her a genuine smile. Not to mention the strength he had gained since he started working with her on her cousin's farm.

"I'm going to put you down now so hold onto me, that way you don't accidently hit the ground."

Applejack nodded as she put her hooves around his neck. It was at this moment she realized that he had been holding her bridal style.

The unicorn crouched down a little, tilting his body over to the side. He removed one arm from underneath her hind legs while the other still remained on her back.

The two ponies stood upright, looking into each other's eyes. Her arms still fasted around his neck; his around her waist. Neither of them said a peep. For just a few brief moments, for the first time, this didn't feel like an awkward silence.

"Thanks for catching me," Applejack said, not wanting to look away from his hypnotizing emerald green eyes.

"You're very welcome," Flim responded, a gust of wind flowing through his peppermint colored mane.

The gust of wind soon became stronger. This caused the two ponies to look away from each other and toward the direction from which direction the wind was coming from.

They then looked up to the sky only to realize that a storm was coming in. Grey clouds were starting to cover the beautiful daylight sky. Leaves from the trees and bushes were starting to flap against the wind, even a few coming off the stems.

The mare grabbed hold of her Stetson, for she didn't want it to get blown away by the wind.

"Looks like a storm's coming!" she shouted through the harsh wind. "We should get inside."

"Yeah, you're right. We don't want to get sick."

Without thinking, the stallion took her hoof in his and ran to the front porch.

As the ponies made it to the porch, drops of rain began to pumble towards the ground. The pitter-patter sound being heard all around the farm.

It took them a moment to finally notice they were still holding hooves. The two blushed, immediately letting go, looking away from each other.

"Um... A-ah'm gonna go an' see how Rarity's doing."

"Th-that's fine," he responded, awkwardly. "I'll be in in a minute."

Applejack gave him a sly smile before walking into the house, leaving Flim alone on the porch, listening to the sound of the rain.

About five minutes passed before Flim made his way inside the house. He made his way to the kitchen to get a glass of apple juice.

His horn soon became surrounded by a dark green magic aura, opening the fridge and levitating a pitcher toward the table. He closed the fridge door behind him and levitated a glass on the table, pouring the contents from the pitcher into it.

He was about to take a sip when a voice interrupted him.

"Well, it seems to me that you and Applejack were enjoying each other's company."

Flim looked up to see none other than Rarity, up against the opening frame of the kitchen entrance.

"Oh, Rarity. I thought Applejack went to see how you were doing."

"She did. After she came to see me, she decided to clean herself up."

Flim nodded his head.

"You know, in all my years of knowing Applejack I have never seen her so smitten."

The stallion raised an eyebrow at her. "Smitten?"

"Of course, she's too stubborn when it comes to admitting she needs help or fancying anypony," she said, pouring herself her own glass of apple juice.

"Well, you're right when it comes to her being stubborn at times. However, I think you're wrong with her having a liking to me."

"Oh, please. I've only been here for not even a day and I can already tell just by the way she looks at you. Not to mention, I just so happened to be looking out the window when I saw that little moment you two had."

Her comment nearly caused him to spit out his drink.

"I just didn't want her to get hurt."

Rarity looked at him for a moment, a smirk appearing on her face.

"You love her, don't you?"

Now that caused him to actually spit out his drink for real. He truly wasn't expecting that to come out of his mouth.

"How do you know that?"

"Well, for the past few hours I've been here so far, from studying how you act around her and also how you're the one that's taking her to the festival, it's quite obvious."

Flim put his head down, both his hooves rubbing the temples on his forehead.

"Oh, don't be so embarrassed, Darling. Personally, I find it quite sweet for a former foe of hers to be so attracted to her."

"But even when I was her foe I loved her then. I've loved her since the moment I met her."

"Well, just wait a little while and I'm sure she'll return her feelings completely."

Flim looked at Rarity giving her a small smile.

"You know since I'm here, I think I'll make you an outfit for the festival as well. Now, tell me, do you have anything in mind?"

Ah Am NOT Smitten

Applejack was in her room, talking to Rarity. She decided to keep her company whilst she worked on her and Flim’s outfits for the festival. The country mare settled herself on her bed, watching her friend sewing her outfit together.

With the festival two days away, Applejack had become both nervous and excited. She was excited to finally be going to the festival… but she was also nervous due to the fact that she happened to be going “allegedly” on a date with Flim this upcoming weekend.

“So, Rarity,” she began, “when do ya think Flim and I’s outfits will be finished?” She rotated herself on the bed, her hanging off the edge, upside.

“Well, I should be able to get it finished by tomorrow afternoon, at the latest,” she responded. Her hooves continuing to move the two pieces of fabric together, stitching them. The young mare looked at her friend, who was smiling a silly smile.

Rarity decided to take a little break from sewing and have a nice little chat with one of her dear friends. She walked over to Applejack, taking a seat next to her on the bed. She moved her head downward to the point that they were now seeing eye-to-eye. “What’s with that silly smile of yours, Applejack?”

The southern pony groaned as she flopped on her belly. Her hooves lay on the edge of the bed once she felt she was comfortable. She took a deep breath before speaking. “I’m just really happy right now…. and a little nervous about friday,” she admitted.

The unicorn gave her a little smirk. “Are you nervous about going to the festival,” she asked. “Or are you nervous about going to the festival with Flim as your date?”

Applejack’s eyes widened. She didn’t know how to answer that. Her face began to heat up; she could feel the blush appearing on her cheeks. “A-a-h-ah,” she stammered, “A-ah’m not nervous about Flim bein’ my date!” AJ immediately covered her mouth with both hooves, for that had become louder than she intended it to be.

Rarity did nothing but laugh. “Oh, darling, don’t be so embarrassed. It’s natural for a lady to be all flustered when she becomes smitten with a certain stallion.”

The blonde mare glared at her. “Ah am NOT smitten,” she protested.

The unicorn simply scoffed. “Please, I can recognize whenever a mare is smitten just by a simple look she gives him.” Rarity looked at Applejack’s red face. Her eyes dilating in frustration. “Believe me dear, you’ve shown it quite a few times.”

The pony let out a frustrating groan, getting off the bed and walking towards the bedroom door. She turned around to face her friends. Her hoof laying on the doorknob. “When are ya going to get through your head that ah ain’t smitten. Ah’ll never ever be smitten!” She twisted the knob, but not yet opening it. “Especially with Flim!” Applejack then opened the door, quickly running out the room, slamming it behind her.

Rarity remained on the bed staring at the bedroom door. She lightly shook her head. “That pony is still too stubborn.” The mare then got back to work on her outfits for the two.

Flim was in the living room, taking a break from working on the farm. He sat quietly in a little chair, reading a book. He turned to the next page wanting to see what happened next to Detective Sherlock Hooves and his pal Trotson. His horn illuminated, bringing a cup of warm tea to his lips.

Ahh, yes. A good book and a cup of tea. A nice way to relax after good day’s work.

His peaceful time reading was soon interrupted. His ears perked up by the sound of hooves coming down the stairs rather quickly. He lifted his head to see Applejack looking frustrated as she was coming down from the second floor.

A concerned look spread across his face. “Everything alright, AJ?”

Applejack lifted her head to see Flim in the living room. She sighed. “Yeah. Yeah, ah’m fine. Just a little frustrated, is all.”

Flim nodded his head. “Frustrated about what,” he asked, setting his book down on the stand next to the chair.

She ran her hoof through her golden-blond mane. “Nothing. It’s just about something Rarity said.” The pony turned her head, not bothering to make any eye contact.

Flim noticed that she wasn’t looking at him again. Why does she never want to look me in the eye? He got up from his chair and began walking toward her. The whole house was silent, you couldn’t even hear Rarity’s sewing machine from upstairs.

Not even from outside could you hear a peep. It was literally nothing but the sound of his hoofsteps along with the creaking of the floorboards.

He was now right in front of her. Placing both his hooves on each side of her face, he turn her head, forcing her to look at him. This sort of gave him a déjà vu vibe, for it reminded him of when he and Applejack were coming back from the town.

“Do you want to talk about it,” he asked, in a soothingly calm manner.

Once again, Applejack had become entranced by his tender touch. She just loved the feeling of his hooves caressing her face. Her eyes closed gently, before opening up once more. Her emerald eyes met his and she felt as though that she had become hypnotized.

For some odd reason, the earth pony felt the urge to bring her face closer to his. She was tempted to see what would happen if she did. Without knowing it, Applejack had found herself staring at his lips.

They look so inviting…. so soft…. so…. kissable-- Wait, WHAT?! The girl mentally slapped herself for thinking such a thing. She felt her face immediately turn red and felt on the urge to panic. She forced his hooves off of her and looked away once more.

“N-no,” she stuttered. “A-ah don’t. It’s not important.” She began to walk toward the front yard but stopped after a few steps. The orange mare took a deep breath .

She decided to calm herself. Thinking for a moment, AJ thought it would help her feel better if she were to prove to Rarity and herself that she wasn’t smitten with Flim at all. She just thought of him as a friend. The girl turned to face him. “Do ya want to get some fresh air an’ talk for a little bit?”

He gave her a genuine smile. “I would very much enjoy that my dear, Applejack.”

She felt her heart skip a beat with that smile and the little name. The county mare, however, smiled in return. The two of them heading towards the front porch to talk.

Applejack came back to her room, only to be greeted by a smirking Rarity. Her hooves were across her chest as she sat upright on the bed. “Soooo,” she began, “how was your little conversation with Flim?”

She shook her head, her eyes widened. “H-how’d ya know ah was having a conversation with Flim?” A surprised expression appeared on her face.

Rarity shrugged. “I didn’t until just now.” The unicorn gave off a little laugh.

“Well, ah don’t care what ya say. Ah am NOT smitten with Flim.”

The fashionable pony got up from the bed and walked up to her. “Oh, yes. You say that now, but before you know it, you’ll be head-over-hooves for him. Why, you’re probably in love with him already,” she said, causing AJ’s jaw to drop.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Rarity!” she protested. “Even if ah were smitten, which, ah AIN’T, it wouldn’t make sense bein’ that ah’ve only got to really know him for about a month or so since he’s been working here.”

The unicorn smirked at her once more. “Besides, it’d be a little early ta call it ‘love.’

Rarity walked toward the door, but not before patting her friend on the head. “Whatever you say, darling.” A blue aura surrounded her horn, whilst also surrounding the doorknob. Opening it with her magic, she walked out of the room and down the hall. Closing the door behind her, she left a, once again, frustrated Applejack, alone in her room, letting her words soak in her friend’s mind.

As she stood alone in her room, she began to wonder: Am ah actually smitten with Flim? Or even… in love with him?

She let out another frustrated groan before throwing herself on the bed.

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