Author's Notes:

Part of this scene was written to Bryan Adams' song "Nothing I've Ever Known" from the movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. Here's the link if you want to listen to it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilToQcuJKB0
The lyrics to this song, it really fits Skyward's situation best. Rather than chance legal retaliation, I did not post the lyrics, so you'll have to find the lyrics yourself or listen to the song proper.

“YA DID WHAT?”

Applejack’s roar echoed through the house as she advanced on her cousin, ears back and hooves slamming the floorboards with every step she took.

Rarity tossed her head, giving the stallion a disappointed look, never mind she was pretty angry too considering her little sister had gotten hurt because of his carelessness with the teddy bear cholla in his orchard. “How could you, Braeburn?”

The amber maned stallion snorted. “Ah’ve been tryin’ to apologize t’ her all dang day! An’ this is mah house ya know! Ain’t my fault if she’s going t’ be a prissy, stuck up pony ‘bout it…”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Priss--oh, for corn’s sake! That’s the biggest pile of horseapples Ah’ve ever heard! She’s jest as much a farmpony as we are, Braeburn! And Ah told ya before—she don’t like it when other ponies sneak up on her. Haven’t ya noticed me an’ the girls always make some sort of noise to alert her so she knows we’re comin’? It ain’t just outta common courtesy, ya know.”

“But cuz…”

But Applejack was on a roll and she wasn’t stopping anytime soon as she advanced on her cousin, pointing a hoof at his muzzle.

“She’s done a lot fer the family since she came t’ Ponyville. Helped us out durin’ applebuckin’ season; and, durin’ Winter Wrap Up in Ponyville she helped to plant the fields and she did it ALL. BY. HOOF! Didn’t use a lick o’ magic for that! An’ she saved Apple Bloom’s life! Twice! Her family an’ village raises pumpkins instead of apples, but that shouldn’t matter, right? So what if she’s a unicorn? Skyward’s an honest, hardworkin’ pony, just like Twilight and Rarity are!”

Rainbow Dash landed next to Braeburn, giving him a glare from fierce magenta eyes. “Yeah, this is your house and all, but ya know, YOU’RE the one that asked ALL of us to come down here and help! And since Skyward’s a farmpony too, AND one of our friends, you can bet your flank we’re gonna ask her to come along!”

Braeburn winced—he’d gotten a good earful from Granny Smith about respecting mares and letting ‘bygones be bygones’, never mind his right ear hurt like hay now. But the second Applejack and the others had heard from an upset Apple Bloom that Braeburn had gotten into it with Skyward and then kicked her out of the house, the six mares plus one baby dragon were furious with him as well.

Pinkie Pie snorted, nudging Fluttershy in the side. “I’m thinking somepony’s jealous,” she murmured to the butter yellow mare, who blinked at her friend. “Braeburn? Jealous?”

The pink party pony nodded her head. “Well, DUH! He really really reeeeeallly likes Skyward, but Skyward doesn’t like him back like that, you know? Aaaaaaand he’s got a rival—Trouble Shoes! Every single time they’re with her, they’re super-duper nice to her, but when she’s not looking, they’re glaring like a pair of angry dragons at each other! They’re both fighting over Skyward, see?”

Pinkie Pie sighed, her mane deflating a little. “Problem is, he likely took his own jealousy out on Skyward and now she might be scared of him.”

Applejack, who had overheard the other two mares, turned to look at them and then turned back to look at her amber maned cousin. “You’re jealous?! Is that why yer bein’ such a plothead?”

Braeburn snorted, ready to retort with a denial, but with every single pony (and dragon) in the room glaring at him, he sighed and sat down, his ears drooping, but still slanted backwards to show his annoyance. “Is it that obvious?”

Rainbow Dash snorted. “Tch…DUUUUUHHH. It’s not hard to see when you see Trouble Shoes getting close to her or talking to her. You get that look in your eye, Braeburn, and it’s pretty scary. I mean geez! That stink eye you got makes a cockatrice’s stare look bad!”

Fluttershy spoke up. “Didn’t you think that maybe Skyward thought you were angry at her whenever you were glaring at Trouble Shoes? Did you even think about her feelings at all?”

This obviously hadn’t occurred to the amber maned stallion, and his irritation faded to concern. That hadn’t crossed his mind at all, and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her or scare her. But he’d gone and ended up doing just that anyway, it seemed.

“Well! I certainly would think the same thing if I caught somepony giving me such a horrible glare! Never mind you’re clearly interested in her too! Honestly, Braeburn; posturing for a rival is all well and good, but NOT when the mare is in the same room!”

“Rare, ya know sometimes that’s unavoidable,” Applejack pointed out, and the ivory unicorn mare sniffed. “Oh, perhaps, but nonetheless! Never mind first impressions, sometimes the way one pony acts can be the bigger difference overtime!”

“Makes me wonder what Skyward thinks of him now,” Spike muttered, glaring at the light gold coated stallion. “I certainly wouldn’t want to be around anypony who treats other ponies like that.”

Braeburn looked at the floor—in his efforts to prove himself the stronger and more desirable stallion he’d likely gone and bucked up his chance at courting the bluesteel unicorn mare.

“Hey, where are they anyway? I haven’t seen them since we got back to the house!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, looking around for the two other ponies, ducking in and out of doorframes, looking under pillows and even under Applejack's hat, earning an exasperated look from the orange farmpony.

“Ah done told ‘em t’ skedaddle while Ah taught Braeburn a lesson in respect. Not sure where those two went off ta,” Granny Smith mused.

“Well, it’s full night out, an’ Trouble Shoes has his own cabin, so it’s likely they’re stayin’ in it right now,” Applejack ruminated, shaking her blond mane. A faint smirk touched her mouth—Skyward, staying with Trouble Shoes in his cabin? Boy howdy if that wasn’t the start of a romantic novel, she didn’t know what would be.

“Think we should go find them? I can fly out and find them in ten seconds flat,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed, heading for the door—only to find herself held back by a magenta aura.

“Not until morning, Rainbow—we can go find them then. Besides, we need to be sure that tempers have cooled by then too,” the navy, purple and magenta maned/tailed unicorn mare said with a shake of her head, glancing at the amber maned stallion, who had the grace to look ashamed.

A sudden roar of thunder, a blazing flash of lightning, followed by the unmistakable sound of pouring rain caught their attention. The ponies crowded around the windows, even as three frightened shrieks upstairs made Rarity and Fluttershy run up the stairs to comfort the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“Aw, come on! I knew Appleloosa was scheduled for a torrential downpour, but it wasn’t supposed to happen until next week!” the rainbow maned pegasus mare muttered.

Braeburn came over to look outside, his ears drooping in distress. “They moved it up some since we need water fer the new trees we planted. Ah just hope they’re all right out there…”

The orange farmpony sighed, seeing her cousin was genuinely remorseful—and likely coming to the realization he might have lost the battle and the war for her Haylian friend’s heart. “Look. Tomorrow we’re gonna go find both Skyward and Trouble Shoes, and yer gonna apologize to Skyward good and proper. She was jest stickin’ up fer me. There was no reason for ya to yell at her the way ya did.”

“Also, you must consider her feelings as well, you know. Maybe she might just want to be friends, Braeburn, but ultimately, you must respect her choice. You can’t force a mare to love you—because that is not love. That is being utterly selfish.” Rarity said coolly, giving him a disdainful expression as she turned and walked up the stairs.

“If anypony would know about that it would be Rarity.” Twilight Sparkle murmured.

“Let’s get some shuteye, ya’ll. We got more t’ do tomorrow an’ we gotta find Skyward and Trouble Shoes so they can join in on th’ bonfire tomorrow night. Now git!”

The rest of the ponies and Spike meandered upstairs—Applejack was about to follow, but something made her turn and she looked back over her shoulder. Braeburn was looking at the flames in the hearth, looking lost and mournful. The orange farmpony sighed—he was family even if he had been a right bucking moronic plothead that had let his jealousy get the best of him.

“Braeburn?”

“Ah…Ah’ll be all right, cuz. Jest…she’s so purty and jest...well...fierce…Ah thought, well, Ah thought Ah had a chance…”

Applejack gently shook her head at her cousin. “Yer a handsome stallion, don’t doubt it, but ya have a lot of habits Skyward doesn’t like and one of ‘em is sneakin’ up on ponies all the time. Ya startled her pretty badly both times, an’ Ah can tell ya right now she hates that. Also, d’ya even know what she’s like? Ya know what she likes and what she don’ like?”

Braeburn shook his head. “Granted Ah haven’t gotten t’ know her real well yet but…not really…”

Applejack sighed. “Here’s a little advice. Gettin’ t’ know a mare is half th’ process, Brae. Ya don’ know her, not well enough t’ establish anythin’. An’ with ya sneakin’ up on ponies an’ being loud, she doesn’t like that too much. Ya can likely be friends with her but…Ah honestly think she wouldn’ be a good love match fer ya. Besides—Cherries Jubilee’s been makin’ eyes at ya lately.”

Braeburn blinked, looking over at his cousin in surprise. “She has?”

Applejack snorted and shoved him with one hoof, but gently. “Go see her before we bring Skyward and Trouble Shoes back here. Yer gonna see Ah’m right. An’ Braeburn?”

“Yeah?”

“Remember what Rare said t’ ya. She's right; ya can’t make a mare love ya. Be yerself, but, try readin’ what she likes an’ doesn’t like. If it happens, it happens. If it don’t, well, try fishin’ elsewhere.”

The orange farmpony nudged him. “Get some sleep, Braeburn. Mornin’s gonna come soon enough anyway.”

The amber maned stallion nodded soberly, glancing at the flames once more before he turned and followed his cousin up the stairs. He knew sleep wasn’t going to come easy to him tonight but he kinda had that coming. The only thing he could hope for now was for Skyward to accept his apology…

And maybe, if he was lucky, just be a friend to her.

*****************************************

When the first rays of Celestia’s sun shimmered through the windows of Trouble Shoes’ cabin-wagon, Skyward stirred, blinking her eyes open sleepily. The first thing she noticed was that she was warm—warm and wonderfully comfortable. The second thing she noticed…

Was the familiar scent of hickory wood, sun warmed straw and a husky, deliciously masculine scent she knew belonged to…

Wait a minute.

She turned her head just enough, and she froze. Trouble Shoes was curled around her, and his head was resting on her withers and back—she could see him right in front of her since her head was near his when she lifted her head and turned it towards him. He was sound asleep, too, his breathing deep and even. The Haylian mare swallowed hard, nervousness and a strange warmth mixing in her belly. She didn’t know what to do and yet…

Within the confines of his body surrounding hers, never mind her cloak tossed over them both she felt, strangely enough…safe.

Warm.

Wanted.

She’d seen other ponies snuggled up like this after huge parties in Fiador Village—all of them couples, cuddling together for warmth as well as wanting to be near the other. Biting her lip, she debated with herself—move, or don’t?

She didn’t want to wake him—he looked so peaceful. He looked content, snuggled next to her like this. And despite the fact she wanted to move…

She couldn’t bring herself to do so. She wanted to remain like this, and yet...

However, the decision was taken out of her hooves, because she felt him move. She turned her head to see his green eyes blink open once, twice…

He smacked his lips, yawned mightily, shook his head…then he saw her. She blinked at him, a shy smile tugging at her muzzle at how handsome he was, even though he was waking up from sleep himself. Most of her tension drained away when she saw him smiling at her, and she smiled back at him, grateful for some of her mane hiding her muzzle and face.

“Good morn to thee, Trouble Shoes. I pray one did not awaken thou too soon…?”

“Good mornin’ t’ ya too, Sky. Nah—time fer us t’ git up anyhow. Ya sleep all right?”

Skyward smiled, nodding her head at him, brushing her mane out of her eyes and turning her head to yawn. “One slept quite well, thank ye for inquiring. What of thou; didst ye sleep well?”

“Ah did, thanks fer askin.”

She stretched, shaking herself out once he was on his hooves himself. She ‘pulled’ out her brush from her satchel with her magic and began trying to tame her mane and tail as he moved away from her—albeit reluctantly. The morning was slightly chilly even though the sun was rising—desert nights were extremely cold, and she’d forgotten that. Trouble Shoes turned to ask her what she wanted for breakfast and watched silently as the bluesteel unicorn mare combed out her royal blue and indigo streaked mane and tail.

“Ah never knew yer mane was so long,” he murmured, and she turned to look at him, blinking in surprise.

“Is---is it now? Hmm…mayhap one might need a trim if it is getting too long…”

“Nah…ya don’ need a trim, sugarcube. Yer fine jest as ya are.”

Skyward chuckled, giving him a warm smile, and trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. She braided back part of her mane, securing it in place, then turned to offer her own help with cooking their morning meal, which consisted of hot cornmeal porridge with honey, jalapeno fritters, potatoes and more cholla buds he had gathered sometime in the past with onions and hot chiles, and some hay bacon, plus cider to drink.

After they had eaten and they had done the dishes, they came out into the slowly warming morning sunlight. The air smelled as if somepony had scrubbed it clean, plus the scent of wet dirt and plants filled their noses. Trouble Shoes sniffed the air—a familiar scent caught his nose, and he smiled. He glanced at Skyward, who was watching a snake close by. The snake wasn’t a western Equestrian bronze-back rattlesnake; it was a non-venomous sandsnake. She was keeping her distance and watching it carefully.

“C’mon…Ah wanna show ya somethin’.”

Curious, Skyward cocked her head at the big stallion, glancing back at the snake, who was wriggling under a rock close by. “Hmm? What is it?”

He grinned at her. “Follow me an’ find out, Sky.”

She chuckled as she followed him into the forest once again.

“Hey…close yer eyes a second?”

Puzzled and a little wary, Skyward did so. She felt Trouble Shoes nudge her forward, but he did guide her around rocks in her path so she wouldn’t trip over them, and she felt the temperature rising slightly, meaning that they had left the forest proper and were now in the desert scrub area.

“Might one open mine eyes now?”

She heard him chuckle, and bit back the surge of heat that rippled through her at hearing that deep laugh of his. “Go ahead, Sky. Ah think yer gonna love what yer gonna see.”

The Haylian mare opened her eyes…and they widened in amazement at the beautiful sight spread out before her.

“Oh…my…”

Where had once been a blandish landscape of browns, dull greens, grays, black and beige, now was a riot of explosive color. All of the cacti in their vicinity were in blossom because of that downpour, and hundreds of cactus blossoms were now in bloom. Their scent and color flooded the area around them; Skyward moved forward; she didn’t get too close, for fear of getting spiked, but the blossoms were so pretty, she just had to see them.

“So…there is beauty in the desert if thou knowest where to look,” she murmured, reaching out to touch a deep pink blossom carefully with one hoof.

“Yeah…yer right ‘bout that,” Trouble Shoes replied, but his eyes weren’t on the desert flowers. He glanced at her, then at the flowering cacti around them. His eyes lighted on a big flower—it was the color of a ripe plum. He carefully plucked it, wincing as some of the spines poked him when he did so, but he got it off the plant. He moved close to her, making sure to make some noise so she heard him. Skyward turned, her left ear perking at his hooves on the rocks, and when she turned to regard him…

She carefully took the blossom in her hooves that he offered her and nuzzled it, inhaling the sweet, gentle scent. “It is beautiful…”

The Clydesdale-esque stallion gently tucked it behind her ear, and she blushed, reaching up to touch it before she smiled up at him.

“Thank ye…it is lovely. I shalt treasure it always.” Trouble Shoes chuckled at her, his eyes warm and soft as he gazed upon the bluesteel unicorn mare, surrounded by desert flowers, and one tucked behind her ear. “Yer welcome, Sky.”

He slowly crossed to her…he gently nudged her with his muzzle, before he lifted one hoof and tenderly caressed her muzzle. She leaned into his touch, lifting one hoof to rest it against his own, turning her muzzle slightly into his hoof and closing her eyes briefly before looking up at him again.

Leaf green locked with royal blue, each seeming to get closer…and closer…

“Skyward! Trouble Shoes! Where are you guys?”

The two ponies parted swiftly as a certain purple baby dragon rounded the corner, waving at them. “Hey you two! Been looking all over for you guys!”

Trouble Shoes coughed, shaking his head. “Were ya now, Spike? Mah apologies—Ah jest wanted t’ show Skyward what it’s like out ‘ere after a good rain.”

The baby dragon gave him a thumbs up and a big wink—Skyward was nosing a couple of yellow cactus blossoms and missed the deep blush on the stallion’s muzzle as a result. “Oh I can’t blame you for that! Isn’t it great? Everywhere’s like this where you find cactus! It’s amazing! Oh, that reminds me—the others sent me to find you guys. They want you both to come on back!”

Skyward wet her lips before she spoke, tilting her head at the baby dragon. “Art thou sure?”

Trouble Shoes shook his mane out of his eyes. “Ah’m gonna say it now, if Braeburn Apple’s got a problem with Sky, he’s gonna have a problem wit’ me.”

Spike snorted, waving a four clawed hand at the two ponies. “Nah. You don’t have to worry about him. Trust me. Everypony gave him a good piece of their mind last night, and we all want you both to come back. And we still need help too—there’s a lot of wood and stumps that gotta be moved before tonight’s bonfire. That, and you’re our friends! We’re not just gonna leave you two out of everything.”

Skyward and Trouble Shoes exchanged glances before the huge stallion nodded his head. “Awright then. Yer sayin’ there’s more wood t’ be hauled out?”

Spike nodded. “Ee-yup. But this time it’s gotta be taken to the train station—they’re gonna sell the lot of it elsewhere. It’ll benefit the town for sure! And Trouble Shoes, you can bring your cabin with you, so you won’t have to go too far if you don’t feel comfortable sleeping in Braeburn’s house.”

The big stallion nodded again, and then looked thoughtful for a moment, before glancing at his companion. “Why don’ ya run on ahead, Skyward? Ya can let th’ others know Ah’m comin’.”

“Art thou sure? I do not wish thou to think me lazy,” she said with a distressed look, glancing around, and blinked when he nudged her gently.

“Yer anythin’ but, sugarcube. Truth be told, it’ll be a big help iffen ya did, cause ya can set things up fer me. Once Ah git there, Ah can jest hitch m’self t’ the wagon an’ come on down t’ help ya’ll.”

“That’s a great idea, Trouble Shoes! C’mon, Skyward, let’s get going! Those trees aren’t gonna plant themselves!”

Skyward nodded, but she turned back towards the great stallion and nudged him with her muzzle, giving him a warm smile before she turned and ran after Spike. Because her back was turned, she didn’t see him sigh softly and smile after her…

Nor did she see the warm look in his green eyes.

*****************************

An hour and a half later found Skyward meandering through the streets of Appleloosa—she had on another Haylian style tunic and her cloak, her sword and shield hidden under the cloak proper. It would be a bit longer before Trouble Shoes got to Braeburn’s ranch-house, and she had already gone and set the wagon up for him, helped clear some creosote bushes from near a few more apple trees, and she had also made some fresh lemonade for anypony who wanted some—she made damn sure there’d be more than enough. The cactus flower wasn't behind her ear—when she had returned to the ranch-house with Spike, she had gotten compliments about the desert blossom in her mane.

She had asked Rarity if there was any way she could preserve the flower as it was, and Rarity had started on designing a mane-pin for Skyward with the desert flower sealed in a thin sheet of clear crystal as the centerpiece. When the fashionista had slyly asked who had given her the flower, the ivory unicorn mare had given her a knowing grin at seeing the tell-tale shy smile on the bluesteel unicorn mare’s muzzle and gave her an approving nod. However, the fashionista needed a new set of sewing needles, and Skyward had offered to go get them for her while she worked on her new mane-pin.

She had gotten the needles, and was now making her way back to the ranch-house. The sound of a guitar caught her attention, the light, gentle strains of music reaching her ears, and she perked them, turning her head towards the sound—and the player. He had a flying bald eagle clutching a guitar in its talons as a cutie mark, and his coat was a deep, rich golden color. His sock markings were a brown so deep it was almost black, and his mane was the same way—you couldn’t tell if it was black or brown. His eyes were the same color. He wore a broad brimmed brown hat and a brown vest. The strings hummed out a gentle yet melancholy tune at the strange pony’s touch.

It seemed heart-achingly sad, as if the guitar itself was weeping. The dark gold coated stallion began to sing—he had a decent voice to be sure; he was already drawing a crowd. The lyrics of the song, however, caught Skyward’s attention and she stopped to listen. The words plucked more than one heartstring for the bluesteel unicorn mare as she slowly turned towards the singer, ears pricked and quietly listening. She wasn’t the only one drawn in by the lone singer on the stage, thankfully, but the words of the song…

Skyward sat back hard on her hindquarters as the sorrowful song continued her breath short in her lungs and tears burning her eyes, but with a herculean effort she forced them back. The song was perfectly describing how she was feeling now. Her home was calling her, calling her to save it. So many lives had already been lost, and more would be lost still, especially if she didn’t fulfill her destiny as the Heroine of Time.

And yet…

Was it wrong, was it selfish, to wish to be loved?

Especially when she may very well have found somepony who actually did care for her, and see her as she was?

She bit her lower lip so hard she tasted her own blood, trying to hide her inner emotional agony. The song was deeply affecting her, and she knew why.

Granted she’d never been in love before. But now? She wondered if she truly was.

And she knew she was torn: torn between duty towards her destiny and the love she had undoubtedly found here.

Skyward bowed her head, grateful for the other ponies and her cloak’s hood concealing her from sight as hot tears escaped from her eyes and they trickled down her cheeks. She drew in a shaky breath, her heart feeling as if it were going to burst from her chest with the amount of emotions running through it.

The bluesteel unicorn mare shook her head, brushing at her eyes and swallowing the lump in her throat. She managed to sneak out of the group of ponies, but not before levitating a few Bits for the singer in question and tossing them towards the slim Kiger mustang colored stallion like others were doing. She focused and teleported—right by the river near Braeburn’s ranch-house. She stared at the water, shaking a little and trying not to start crying—she stomped her front hooves in rising distress, hissing Haylian curses between her teeth.

Nothing to fight, nothing to take her anger and pain out on, she didn’t know what the buck she was going to do, other than snap at the wrong pony…

Hearing loud hoofbeats behind her, her ears turned backward. She could tell it was a mare…not a stallion—thank Farore for that…

“Ya okay sugarcube?”

Skyward turned around—it was Applejack. The orange farmpony looked at her friend in concern—she could tell Skyward had been crying. Mutely, the royal blue and indigo maned/tailed unicorn mare shook her head and turned back to look at the rushing water below her. Concerned, Applejack came over to sit by the Haylian unicorn she called ‘sister’.

“Hey now. Ya wanna tell me what’s chewin’ yer tail, sis?”

“I…I know not what to do, Applejack. One is being torn in twain…duty, or love? How dost one choose? How canst one choose?”

The orange farmpony rubbed her chin, removing her hat and blowing out a breath. Boy howdy Skyward definitely didn’t pull punches that was for sure.

“Ah’m not sure what th’ problem is, sugarcube…wanna elaborate?”

Skyward bit her lower lip. “Mine duty is to mine country…mine home. One art the Heroine of Time. The only pony who apparently can aid mine Princess in defeating Ganondorf. And yet…”

Applejack waited; she could tell this was serious. Skyward wasn’t a mare that cried easily—or cried on the inside or in private. For her to be weeping openly like this—something was wrong.

The bluesteel unicorn mare sucked in a unsteady breath and began to speak. “Princess Luna told one, long and long ago…that one might find more than friendship here. She wast right. But…as well…one is afraid. Some ‘Bearer of Courage’ I turned out to be…”

The blond maned mare cocked her head. “Afraid? Afraid of what? To fall in love with somepony?”

The Haylian mare shook her head, tears once again spilling from her eyes. “Nay…being…being touched by a stallion. The Zora Prince…he wast…less than…”

Applejack’s eyes narrowed to emerald green slits—she hated being right at times. Skyward’s behavior when she had spoken of the Zora Prince now made a lot more sense, and she sorely wished it hadn’t. When she spoke her voice was low and rough with anger...but that anger was not directed at her 'sister'. “What did that bucking horseapples fer brains try to do to ya?”’

Skyward sniffled. “One…one told Rarity about this, in Hayrule before we descended to the Ocean Gate Fortress. But…Goddesses…one wasn’t sure if one could tell anypony else…”

“Take yer time. This ain’t easy fer ya, Ah can see that. Just take a breath. What did that slimy riverworm do to ya?”

“He ambushed one…grabbed mine hind legs…he…licked me betwixt mine hind legs, more than once…if not for Rarity one wouldst hath been trapped in a breeding den with the bucking son of a hydra…”

Applejack didn’t think anypony could see red, but she knew she was right now. It made sense how frightened and upset Skyward was now—some oversexed stallion who had used his cock instead of his brains had almost raped her kin-sister and now she was suffering for it. Thankfully the bright side was, he hadn’t succeeded. But the damage had been done—and Skyward was now unsure about physical intimacy with a male. Especially now, since she had apparently now found a stallion who wasn’t just interested in her…but could very well be in love with her.

“Aww, sugarcube. Now ya listen here. Ah can’t imagine how hard it is fer ya right now.”

“One feels so debased…like a cheap tavern whore…”

Applejack instantly snorted. “Yer anythin’ but, Skyward. Nah—ya listen here t’ me. Yer nothin’ of the sort. Yer not th’ type to go lettin’ any stallion approach ya and try t’ mount ya after a few flowery words an’ a glitterin’ gift or two. If Ah’m right, ya probably bucked them in the muzzle if they even tried anythin’ stupid before ya were ready for ‘em, right?”

The bluesteel unicorn mare nodded, and Applejack nodded at her. “There ya go. But ya know what…Trouble Shoes may jest be the stallion fer ya. He’s been patient with ya so far, an’ downright sweet. An’ despite the fact he’s klutzy, Ah know he ain’t stupid. Ah think he knows how skittish ya are considerin’ how he’s seen ya act around Braeburn.”

“But thine cousin…thine cousin is no slavering sex crazed pervert hay-bent on mating and buck everything else under the sun and moon…”

Applejack hugged her friend and kin-sister, and Skyward broke down and sobbed into the orange farmpony’s shoulder. The blond maned mare nuzzled her in comfort, knowing this had to be absolute torture for the bluesteel unicorn.

“Yeah, yer right. My cuz wouldn’t lay a hoof on ya like that, and neither would Trouble Shoes. Jest between us mares—ya woke up this mornin’ and what did ya see?”

“Just…well…he wast curled ‘round me. Just…there, sleeping. And yet, he looked so comfortable.”

“That’s it? Jest snuggled up to ya, keepin’ ya warm?”

Skyward nodded, sniffling and rubbing one forehoof across her eyes. Applejack rubbed her back with one hoof, trying to soothe further.

“Trouble Shoes might not look like it, but he's a real gentlestallion. He coulda done other things, but he didn’t. Says a lot ‘bout a stallion’s character if they got a sexy mare in bed with ‘em an’ they don’t do a thing unless ya outright tell him ya want him. Ah’d say give him a solid chance, sugarcube.”

Skyward half laughed, half snorted at that, shoving a grinning Applejack, before her smile faded at a dark thought that poked into her brain. “Tch…and what then, should he ask about…”

“Well…ya tell ‘im th' truth. That ya had a nasty run in with a jerk of a stallion back where yer from, an’ he tried to make ya his, ya weren’t havin’ any of it, an’ he attacked ya. Ya don’ need to go into details. Ah don’ think that’s gonna scare him off. Ah think that’s only gonna get him riled an’ want t’ protect ya.”

“And yet…one is supposed to be courageous…”

Applejack snorted. “Yer not a coward. Nah—ya listen here. There’s fear, and there’s a mare’s fears. Ya got captured by some insane madpony hay-bent on tryin’ to prove yer from another world. Then ya got that fish-finned bucking idiot who didn’t know how to take no fer an answer, an' try t’ mate ya without a ‘by yer leave’. Sweetie, yer anythin’ but a coward. Yer a mare too, with a mare’s wants, needs an’ fears. That’s what ya gotta understand; Heroine of Time ya may be, but yer a pony too. An' ya can talk to any of us 'bout this. We're here for ya, sugarcube.”

Skyward shook her mane out of her face, wiping at her eyes with one hoof. “And yet…mine duty. I do not wish to shatter his heart. What if one must go back home and…one cannot return? T’would break me to hurt him so…”

Her voice broke mid-sentence, and the orange farm-mare hugged her. “Ya hear what’s comin’ outta yer muzzle right now? Ya care enough ‘bout ‘im to think about him before yer thinkin’ bout yerself. That’s what real love is, Skyward. And, Ah’m sure the Princesses’ll have an answer fer that. Try to have hope, Skyward; Ah know it’s painful—Ah’ve pined over a coupla stallions mahself…ya didn’ hear that from me, mind ya.”

The Haylian mare managed a watery chuckle. “Hear what? One must hath water in mine ears.”

Applejack grinned at her. “Exactly! Now, c’mon. Let’s get back to the ranch-house an’ get th’ rest of those saplin’s planted—Trouble Shoes is gonna be here any minute since he’s bringin’ his cabin-wagon close by.”

Skyward splashed some water on her muzzle, and she turned to follow the orange coated mare back into the apple orchard. Though her heart still weighed heavy with her great-uncle's legacy, a smile came unbidden to her muzzle when she saw Trouble Shoes trot into the vicinity and wave to her, smiling at her warmly as she crossed to his side and greeted him.

Applejack grinned at the two ponies over her shoulder; anypony had to be blind, deaf and dumb as a box of rocks to not see the warmth and affection the two ponies had for one another. Skyward laughed at something he said and lightly shoved him with one hoof, saying something in return...then squeaked and bolted when he made a grab for her with a wicked grin on his muzzle. He chased her around before he playfully shoved her in the water trough--and she popped up soaking wet and sprayed him with a jet of water from her horn, laughing hysterically.

"Hey ya two! C'mon and quit playin' around, we got work t' do!" the orange farmpony hollered, but was unable to stifle the grin on her face and the laughter that echoed from not only them, but the rest of their friends as well.

It was going to be a great day--and it only promised to get better.