As more of the water drained from the tub, Applejack slowly shook her head to free the hair from her eyes.

"Oh, cool yer apple sauce, Woodman," Applejack laughed off his dismissal. "It's not like you even see me like that. And sorry sugar cube, I can't say I see you like that either. I'm not so easily caught up in every pretty face who bats an eye my way, like my brother."

Lumberman shouldn't have been surprised. "You know about Big Mac having the hots for Kelly?"

Applejack laughed at the idea of not being able to see her brothers obvious love-struck antics. "My brother's about as good at keeping secrets as he is wearing a dress."

That warranted a questionable look from Lumberman.

She sighed, not too proud of her brothers' stunt, despite how funny it was. "Yeah... That happened alright."

"You know, I must have really lost my mind," Lumberman admitted. "I'm in a cartoon, sitting in a bathtub of bloody water from one of my best friends, sharing tequila with a pony and listening to her talk about her brother crossdressing before I wash her ass."

"Honestly," Applejack started to address the madness. "I think aside from the blood, which I ain't too thrilled about neither, there ain't much of this that's really out of the ordinary. You got any crazy stories that come close to this?"

Perhaps he spoke a bit too soon."Aside from the cartoon world part... I might know a few that has this beat."

After that bit, Lumberman didn't actually start with her backside. He insisted on working his way back and letting it soak more so that it would be easier to clean. Applejack found his modesty and shy nature with her to be rather admirable, if not comically uncomfortable. If nothing else, teasing him the way they all seemed to tease each other was a quality she was quickly learning to appreciate.

"So, what do ya really think about Big Mac n’ Kelly?" She asked, trying to gauge his response, seeing if there was more to get him worked up over.

"I don't think I'm the right one you wanna ask about that. Ask Chris next time you see 'em," Lumberman sort of answered her question.

She was a little saddened that he didn't give an actual answer. "Why would I ask him? Yer right here, so I'm asking you."

"Apple Hat, I'm still trying to accept the fact that y'all exist, and trying not to look at you like you're just some dumb animal. Plus, I plan on finding a way home first chance I get. So, you'll have to forgive me if I'm not jumping into the singles lounge to pick up a date. Chris, though. He knows all about you and damn near everything about this place. I wouldn't be surprised if he had the hots for you or one of your friends."

"Chris?" She asked, thinking how little he interacted with the other mares when she was around. "You really think so?"

"Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, but homeboy has some issues." He answered back, sounding a little sad as he said it.

"What kind uh issues?"

Lumberman continued to work more of a lather on her chest from behind. "Chris is lonely. Always has been, even with us. Never been on a date or even really had a girlfriend. All his dream girls are fake."

The conversation took a more serious turn.

He went on with more details. "He fell in love with characters from video games, cartoons, comics, anything and anyone that wasn't from reality."

Applejack was stuck somewhere between trying to stay involved in the conversation and being distracted by Lumberman's hands working through her fur. They were massaging her better than anything Aloe and Lotus ever provided at their spa. "So why do you think that means he has an eye out for us?"

Lumberman thought back to all the MLP items Chris would forget to hide and all the things he knew he bought from Kelly's shop when she still had it. "Because... Chris loves the show you guys are all from. And he always finds someone to fantasize about being with from the shows he loves. I mean, we all did when we were just a bunch of dumb kids. He just never really grew out of it. Plus, I know he's had the hots for other non-human characters. Others that were kind of like you ponies. Creatures that were a mix of human and animal that could talk and do all the things you do."

"I don't get it, emph," Applejack almost let out a moan. She was enjoying this rub down too much. "Why not just find a real lady instead falling in love with some pony, or creature, or human that ain't even real?"

It was sad for him to think about how Chris must still feel after all these years. So much so that he stopped what he was doing for a moment.

He sighed and picked up his pace again. "Because sadly, for some people, they think love is a fantasy. So they find a fantasy to love instead."

Thinking about that made it hard to enjoy the treatment she was receiving. "That's... that's really sad. Does Chris think like that?"

He nodded. "Yeah, pretty sure he does."

"Why though?"

Lumberman took another shot from his bottle before offering another sip to Applejack. "Because, just like the rest of us, his family really fucked him up."

Applejack took a few more sips before signaling that she had enough. "Okay, what's fucked mean?"

"Ah, shit," Lumberman let himself slip out. "I really gotta stop swearing like that in front of you."

"Well, it's too late now. Better explain it, so I don't up’n ask yer friends instead." She half giggled, putting him on the spot.

"Okay, but keep in mind this is one of the worst ones to use back where I'm from. But ignore the fact that we tend to use it a lot." He laughed.

"But yeah. Fuck is a word that means pretty much whatever you want it to mean, depending on how you use it. There was a video some philosopher or educator made that went over just how diversely that word can be used. But when I say his family fucked him up, I mean that they damaged or messed him up. Emotionally at least. Treated him like he was a blight on their family. Acted like it was wrong to show him any love or get close to him."

"Yeah, I can see how that can mess some pony-er, human up," She acknowledged what he was saying, only messing up slightly in the process.

Lumberman continued. "Otherwise, it can mean something or someone is a big piece of shit, pretty much. Just anything bad. But, a lot to times it's just another word for hard sex."

"Y-you all actually got a word for that? Woah! That means that's a thing y'all actually do?" That last definition really seemed to have gotten her fired up. Her cheeks tinged slightly red as she continued. One wouldn't be able to tell if it was the alcohol or her shock from embarrassment. "What's that even look like? How hard can a human actually rut another human for it to have its own name? Ruttin’ is-"

Applejacks lips were suddenly met with the bottle of tequila again. No warning, just the mouth of the bottle tilted up to her lips, letting more of the alcohol-fueled goodness pour into her mouth. She started to drink it, obviously, but mumbled something in protest.

"Nah. Nope. You're asking too many bad questions, Apple Hat. I gotta shut that shit down." Lumberman explained, trying to curb this long string of inappropriate questions.

Before taking in too much, she turned her head to the side to free herself from the otherwise welcomed treat. She coughed a bit of it up. "Now what didja go on and do that for? You were being all nice and friendly just a second ago."

"Apples, I'm sorry, but if you haven't picked up on it yet. The whole topic of sex is kind of a no go zone for me. Anything sex-related when I'm with you makes me just a little bit uncomfortable, alright?"

Well, if the serious conversation was over, might as well go back to teasing him. She raised her hoof to pull her wet hair back and turned to stare down Lumberman with her best set of bedroom eyes. "Why's that, Woodman? Scared of what you might find in the single's lounge before you head home alone for the night?"

Trapping him in another uncomfortable moment, she brought herself up to all fours and approached him, stepping between his legs that she had been sitting between. "Maybe Big Mac didn't fall so far from the tree after all. Maybe-"

Before she could make him any more uncomfortable and wind him up, she fell forward from her front legs giving out again. Her face bounced off his chest, and she fell into his lap.

"Awe shit," She cursed correctly with a laugh. "I just meant to spook ya, some... I think you gave me too much of your drink again."

"Ya think?" Lumberman scoffed.

"Hey," She started to complain. "Don't look at me. You're the one who told me not to guzzle it like last time and then jammed it in my mouth without asking."

Thank god the others weren't in earshot. That phrasing was all to perfect of a setup.

Lumberman didn't fight the blame. "Fine. You're right. It's my fault."

Again he reached over and pulled the cork to the tub, letting the dirty water start to drain again.

As the water level started to lower, Applejack nudged him in the gut. "Hey... Hey Lumberman."

He didn't even look down at her when she was intentionally trying to annoy him. "Yeah, Apples?"

"You still need to wash my ass," She chuckled again, letting the alcohol get to her.

Lumberman let his head fall limp back over the side of the tub. "Fuck me," He groaned.

She continued her little laughs in his lap, happy to be able to mess with him like this again. "Nah. None of that rough stuff. Just wash it."

If he hadn't realized that she was messing with him just like his other friends would have, that might have ruined the night. "Oh come on, Apple Hat. We both know that's the only reason you wanted me to stay."

"Wha?" Applejack coiled back. "No. I was just joking," She sat up in front of him. Trying to take herself out of a bad position. "It must be your funny water making me act goofy."

Lumberman stopped her rambling with a toss of her wet hair over her face again. "Girl, I can't tell if you're conceded or just can't tell when I'm joking with ya."

She sat there, feeling stupid for falling for her own joke. “Ya know, yer a real asshole, Woodman."

It didn't take long for the dirty water to drain and the new water to be drawn. Not much would be needed since Lumberman's suggestion actually worked. Having Applejack sit in the water did rinse most of it away. Much of what was left was dirt and dust from the floor in the truck that she had sad on that dried to her.

"I still feel kinda weird about this," Lumberman complained.

Applejack was getting tired of hearing this broken record. "Yeah, and ah'm just tickled pink about it. Can you just get this over with? I swear. I can't tell what's worse. You needing to be here to wash me up, or you whining and crying about it."

He stared at the backside of apple horse. It was a horse butt. Two rounded cheeks with a tail covering up all the parts he didn't want to see. Yet, it wasn't really a horse's butt. He unwillingly studied it more as he started to work in the shampoo. The anatomy was distinctively not human but was still unmistakably somewhat human-like. It seemed like everything from the hips down to her knees were pulled from a healthy young woman and repackaged with fur and a tail to go onto Applejack's body.

"I'm sorry for giving you so much grief before," Applejack apologized. “Ah do appreciate you doing this for me. Despite how uncomfortable it must make you feel, me being... you know... a pony and whatnot."

It wasn't hard for him to listen to her apology, but it was hard for him to keep focus. He made the unique discovery that the angle he was looking from over her backside, she looked a lot more like a human on all fours.

It was everything from her hips to her hair. All of her feminine curves, the small of her back that arched up to her shoulders, even the way her hair fell was reminiscent of women he had in this same position.

"No, don't mention it." He answered back with some hesitation. "But to be honest, and I might sound like an ass for saying this, but you actually look a lot more human from this point of view."

She chuckled lowly. "I don't even want to hear an explanation fer how you came to that conclusion there, partner."

He didn't respond back to the last comment, and she didn't need him to explain. She was just glad that the bath was almost over. Then again, as awkward as this whole arrangement was, everything he had been doing to her was enjoyable. Something about those tiny appendages he used to work up a lather felt so much better than another pair of hooves doing the same job. Working them over her stiff muscles was heavenly. And some area's felt particularly lovely. But lovely in a way she hadn't felt before.

Rubbing down her neck and over her barrel was particularly nice, but so was what he was working on now. It wasn't just a sense of relief in her plot from hauling all the heavy loads, or even the soreness from bucking apple trees, now being worked out. It tingled with a warmth that radiated from where his fingers pressed in and sort of tickled in her tummy.

Almost just like the tequila, the more of this feeling she had, the more she wanted.

Her body responded to the sensations by raising her tail, little by little, with every inch that he worked farther in and farther down. Whatever technique was being used on her, it was good enough to take her mind away from the hardships of today's events. Her mind seemed to blank out to focus on the warm tingly reaction she was having.

Lumberman noticed the tail moving, which raised some concern. "You doing alright up there Apples?"

She gave a soft sigh, but unlike the kind she would normally release, this one carried a suspiciously sensual tone to it. "Yeah..."

Whenever Applejack was trying to mess around with Lumberman, he picked up the fact that she did so with either a coy attitude or something hyperbolic. This was neither of the two. Plus, if the tail lift was factored in, he didn't know what to think. At least not until he thought about what it would mean if she wasn't trying to play a trick on him.

Was it possible she was goating him in all night just to get him to feel her up? If so, why?

He looked again at her posterior. Everything left uncovered by the suds and her tail looked to be clean. But again, his eyes took everything into perspective. Yes, the fur, ears, and tail took away from illusion his mind was drawing, but they couldn't remove the alluring shape that Applejack naturally held from this perspective.

Applejack spoke up, sounding a bit nervous, if not alarmed. "Uh... you're getting mighty close to that poking and prodding territory there, mister."

"What?" Lumberman asked, pulled out of his moment of weakness of fully taking in her figure.

He regained his spacial awareness and felt like something was wrong with his hand placement. He started to pull his hands back but was able to look down fast enough to see that part of his thumbs had worked their way under where her tail was lifted.

"Oh shit," He apologized, pulling his hands back to himself.

"No, no. You're fine. You didn't touch nuthin I'd have to tell Big Mac about," She said with a grin and a wink, looking back over her shoulder at him. "Guess that's partially my fault for moving my tail like I did. I swear, sometimes these tails must have a mind of their own. I must of been too relaxed to cover up... well, you know."

It was an honest mistake, but he still felt terrible about it almost happening. "I'm sorry, I wasn't watching what I was doing. But hey, you're all cleaned up. So you just need a rinse off, and you're good to go."

He started feeling worse about his carelessness after thinking about his wandering mind and borderline inappropriate thoughts. "Again, though. I'm so sorry if I-"

"Relax sugar cube," Applejack was quick to shut down his continued apology. "I know you weren't fix'n to pull something funny on me. You're a real stand up fella. And come on, -" She turned to her side and sat to better talk to him, face to face. "You made it pretty clear I'm not the kinda girl you'd go chasing after, right?"

That should have been an easy out for him to take, but to do so still made him look like some kind of hypocrite, if not in some way bigoted to denounce their entire species as something lower than human.

There just wasn't enough time for him to figure out where he stood with all the ideals of morality, society, and his own humanity fighting for dominance in his head. All the more difficult when each side tripped over their conflicting values.

"I'm sorry I said that. It was an asshole thing to say the way I did," He replied to the excuse she gave him.

"Does it help not seeing my face?" She suddenly asked.

"What?"

"Well, when I was facing away from ya, you said that I looked more human from where you were sitting. Does it help to see me as something more like you when you can hear me but not really see me?"

"I suppose that helps a little," He answered, but something nagged him in the back of his mind.

A strange desire to tell her what he really thought started to claw at his mind. It wasn't like before when he was with her in the forest, and he had the uncontrollable urge to word vomit. Maybe it was guilt for leering at her the way he did. Then again, a blow to the head, half of a neighbor’s house ripped away in front of him, Applejack’s abandoned family, and just everything else, who's to say what was bringing this on.

"- but I also said that because even physically, I see a lot more in common with the kind of woman I've been with than what I would see as a wild animal." That wasn't the whole truth, but it was nearly close enough to what he thought.

Much like he wanted to do with this conversation, he pulled the cork one last time to drain the tub.

"Oh..." She replied back to his confession.

Perhaps all the back and forths were getting to her and having her rethink the whole interaction they had tonight.

"Did you see anything you like?" She asked with a coy grin in a sultry voice.

"Holy shit. You just don't quit. Do you?" Lumberman shot back with a laugh.

Applejack didn't hide the fact that she was messing with him anymore. "Well excuse me Mr. Down To Rub Down In The Tub. It's not every day a hard working mare like myself can find a stud willing to whisk me away and give my butt a well-needed scrub. Which was fantastic by the way, thank you very much. Plus, yer playing hard to get is actually kinda cute when you think it's working," She blabbed on.

"Playing hard to get?" He mockingly objected. "I'm sure anything I do would be considered playing hard to get when compared to you sticking your ass in my face."

"Ha! Says the guy who tried to sneak his way in," She countered.

Lumberman scoffed. "Sneak in? You practically invited me in. A tail with a mind of its own. I'm pretty sure you two share the same mind."

Applejack turned away from Lumberman as he reached up to start the water up again. "Oh please, that only happened because how good it felt with you rubbing me like you did back there," She answered back with no forethought to filter her words.

"Woah!" Lumberman proclaimed aloud, raising his hands up in defeat. "Okay, you win this round. I'm not even going to try to top that one."

"What?" A bit too late she realized that she didn't reply with some witty quip, she had tried to explain herself, and he took it as some sexual advance towards him. "Now hold on."

A torrent of warm water poured over her head. Lumberman jumped right to the rinse of phase. "Nah, it's good, seriously. We'll just get you rinsed off and then we'll head back inside to check up on your friends." He explained while filling up another bucket.

It was a relief that he wasn't taking her seriously, but she had to wonder if what she felt was something sexual in nature, given the way he reacted.

However, she was a virgin and wouldn't know. Come to think of it, she knew very little about sex other than it being the means to procreate. The actual physicality of it was something that was never explained to her. She tried to wonder how something as simple as being given a bath could be sexual. Thinking about it gave her a familiar glow of warmth in her stomach and the pleasant tingling sensation again.

Another bucket of water was emptied down the back of her neck and over her shoulders. The warm water running through her fur only further reminded her of Lumberman's methodical work to clean her.

"Oh, sweet Celestia, to have his..." She had a brain fart, time to try again. "I just him to rub his..." She had no idea what his appendages were called. All that time he worked them through her soiled fur and into her overworked muscles, she never bothered to ask what they were or why they worked so well to clean her.

"Uh, Lumberman?" She asked to get his attention. "Can I ask you a silly question."

Lumberman didn't put much thought into what she would want to ask. He didn't think anything could catch him off guard at this point. "I don't see why not. What ya want'n to know?"

"You don't have hooves or claws. What do you call them grabby things you got?"

"Oh," He felt a bit let down to be asked such an underwhelming question. "Your brother asked the same thing, kinda."

He poured another bucket over her midsection before returning it under the running water. "We got hands with fingers to grabby things, and feet with toes to walk on."

He didn't bother pointing them during the explanation. He figured it was pretty self-explanatory.

"I see, must be pretty nice to have something like those," She admitted. "They feel a lot nicer than another ponies hooves."

"So I've heard," He joked, pouring another bucket over her backside and down her flanks.

Applejack turned to hide her blush. She had every right to feel embarrassed. But again she felt that same sensation running through her as the warm water descended to where she wanted his hands to be again.

"No come back?" He asked, grinning while shutting the water off, a little proud to get one in on her.

"Nah, I don't wanna go and make ya feeling uncomfortable again. That or sticking my hoof in my mouth," She chuckled.

She said that, but honestly she was getting flustered thinking about him. Maybe he didn't see a creature that was an equal because the other was so different, but she did. Although, nothing on the lines of a potential mate.

"Now hold up just a minute there Applejack," She thought to herself. "Ain't no pony thinking about settling down with some alien-human that doesn't plan on sticking around. No use getting worked up over a rut'n stuff that would never happen. Celestia all mighty. Ain't no pony thinking about a rut neither."

Her thoughts had her questioning again what she felt earlier in her bath from his hands. Maybe those feelings weren't sexual. They could have been something completely different. Perhaps human hands were unique in a way that they naturally made those nice feelings happen in ponies.

"Um... How do I rinse your underside?" Lumberman asked, not sure how to work it all out.

His question took her out the contemplations she had of that night's experiences. "He really must be alien if he didn't know how a pony would rinse off their chest and belly," She thought to herself.

"Oh, usually we just stand up on our hind legs and rinse off like that."

Now for the question of the night. "Okay. Can you stand up?"

"I think so," She said, trying to convince herself.

She hunkered down slightly, trying to get enough momentum to push herself up onto her hind legs. Sadly, hunkering down turned into a slow descent to the bottom of the tub.

"Or maybe standing and walk'n is bout as much as I can muster. Sorry," Her voice hindered, being disappointed in herself and for ending up belly flat on the bottom of the dirty tub. "I didn't mean to lay back down."

"No worries. Just means I need to put myself in another compromising position is all," He joked.

"What kind of position would that be?" She asked, worried he would do something he didn't want to do, unless he was joking.

He started to reveal his plan while he moved himself and straddled his legs over her back. "I'll help you stand and keep you balanced. Then I can rinse you off. Ready?"

This plan didn't seem so wild, but she secretly like the idea of him putting his hands on her again. "Okay, just don't go dropping me like a sack of rotten potaters."

"Only if someone walks in, Apples," He half-joked.

He wormed one arm under her elbow and across her chest. She had to help get herself upright on all fours, but he had her well under control after that.

She was impressed with his strength, being able to lift and hold her with just one arm. Plus, she again had his hand pressing deep into her chest. More than that actually. His arm was wrapped around her, and his chest pressed tightly against her back. This gave way to the new discovery that any part of a human body could bring about that new sensation that was quickly becoming a guilty pleasure.

He fumbled with the bucket for a moment, eventually getting it positioned so he could pour it. The water started down her throat and over her chest but pooled against his arm that held her.

Applejack braced herself in Lumberman's grip while he raised her higher and leaned back to expose the rest of her body to be rinsed clean. More water washed away what little debris and suds from the bottom of the tub she had collected.

However, a new sensation came into play. The water that ran along her torso streamed lower between her thighs to be drained, flowing alongside and running off the end of her marehood. Her mind became fervent with excitement. "Holy horse-fucking human hands!" Her mind shouted.

Her breathing quickened, and pulse jumped erratically. This was more than the tingle she felt earlier. It was far more vivid and demanding of her attention. Her mind beckoned for more stimulation but did so without the knowledge of how to provide it. All she could do was struggle to maintain her ground against his hold.

"Did I get it?" Lumberman asked, ignorant of the maelstrom she was recovering from.

Applejack gulped, trying to recover. "Sure did," She answered, trying to hide any sign of her brief moment of stimulation.

Lumberman had noticed her legs lost some of their support while he was holding her, but assumed it was due to her exhaustion. He gave it no thought and lowered her back to all fours.

He looked down to her, dripping wet and standing with a slight quiver over her body. "Okay, umm. I guess I'll rinse off, then I'll grab us some towels and we can head in."

Applejack stood there, her body fighting not to calm itself from the excitement. She struggled to understand what all happened to her. It all came on so quickly, and there was hardly any time to process it. Its intensity and unlikely source should have given her concern, but the desire for more overrode such options. It was like her instincts were telling her to pursue another encounter for more gratification.

Splashing water caught her attention. It was from Lumberman rinsing off the grime and fur that clung to him after taking care of her. She couldn't help but watch him rub himself down. Oh merciful Celestia, everything those hands could do was some form of magic all their own. Even his body, upright and unlike nothing she ever envisioned herself wanting to be close to, now became a curiosity to explore.

"Apple Hat, you waiting on me for something?" Lumberman asked, starting to get weirded out by her staring at him washing off.

She had to think quickly, not wanting to make the same mistake of just blurting out what was on her mind. "I'm stuck in the tub. I can't even shake the water off to dry. I uh... I just feel bad having to rely on you so much." Silently she celebrated not making a fool of herself again.

"Shit, sorry, Apples," He apologized, somehow forgetting how helpless she was in this state.

He shook his hands of the water and grim before kneeling down to her. "Come here ya big baby," He joked, trying to get a rise out of her.

"Big Baby?" You trading in my old nickname for a pet name? I'm flattered," She jabbed back, uncontrollably flirting with him.

He was seriously taking a shine to how well she could play with the jokes. It was like she was turning it into a competition to beat him at his own game. "Oh, ho, ho, ho. You still got jokes? I see how it is. Just can't leave well enough alone, huh?"

Applejack gave a come and get me look. "Hey, you started this. I can't help it if you're just that easy to beat."

"Easy to beat? What makes you think you're winning all of a sudden?" He asked, setting her safely to the ground.

"I seem to recall two hands being raised in the air accepting defeat," She responded in the slyest manor.

"Hey," He squatted down face to face, pointing a finger to accuse her personally. "... beginners luck."

Having him right where she wanted him, she tilted her head ever so slightly, beaming those bedroom eyes, "I'm just a fast learner, sugar cube," and playfully swatted him in the face with her wet tail.

"Oh my god. Did you just slap me in the face with your wet ass tail?" He couldn't believe the balls on this mare.

"Awe. Did it hurt? Come here you big baby," She cheerfully mocked him.

She raised a hoof to rub his cheek all better but still couldn't support herself with anything less than all four legs. Thankfully Lumberman was there to catch her.

"Dang nab it..." She vented out. "I was gonna rub yer cheek like a little colt. It would have been funny, too."

He laughed off her claim. "Yeah, yeah. I would have been in stitches, I'm sure. Now quit stalling, and let's get you dried off."

Her fur was too waterlogged to try and tackle with towels alone. He decided the next best thing was to use his hand like a squeegee. Needless to say, Applejack had no objections.

Lumberman, on the other hand, was wondering how he got himself into this mess. "Shit, Apple Hat. I doubt even a princess gets this much grooming. How the fuck you talk me into pampering you so much? I never even treated my ex this nice."

"Beets me, hun. I just wanted your tequila," She said, dismissing his concern.

"Again with the tequila?" He protested, stopping his work to put that claim to rest.

"Ope. Caught you slacking off on the job, Woody," She gleefully scolded him, slapping him in the face with her tail again.

"Egh. You better knock that shit off, or I just might hit you back," He warned her, obviously joking.

Applejack wanted to keep him going. "What? I told you. That tail of mine has a mind of its own."

He took the bait. "Yeah, keep talking that lie. Maybe one day I'll believe you."

She returned with her sultry voice again. "Speaking of which, I noticed you saved the best for last again."

He turned to her rump and saw that she was right. Again he started from the front and was working his way back.

"Oh, and I bet you're broken up inside over that," He said, trying to shoot down any ideas of ill intent on his part. "Just make sure this time you tell me if you start to enjoy it so much that you lose control of your tail."

Applejack blushed but turned to hide her face. "Beginners luck, Woodman," Striking the back of his head with her tail.

"You're really pushing your luck there, Apples," He half-heartedly warned her.

Lumberman worked his way back, feeling like he was willingly walking into a trap. This time though, he wouldn't be so careless to be led into the same pitfall. He held both hands together at the thumbs, slowly pulling them down together, gripping tighter and tighter the more his hands could wrap around her muscular flesh.

Applejack was more in control this time as well. She still tried to take in and examine how her body reacted to his touch but kept a watchful mind on her tail. It was just as good as the first time, and much easier to manage than the rinse off she had. However, this ended much sooner than the shampoo session. Although, it was probably for the best since it took a surprising amount of control to keep her tail in check.

"Towel time?" She chirped.

"Holy shit, Apples," He spat. "What about me? What about my needs?"

"You need somepony to give you a scrubbing and an after bath rub down?" She asked with another coy grin that was becoming bolder with every use.

He shook his head, shaking his finger at her and laughing under his breath. "You're gonna be the death of me, girl."

With little resistance left, he toweled her off as requested, only refusing to dry the upper half of her tail. That was too much for him to handle, and far too inappropriate for him to consider, even in her current state.

"Okay, now turn around," Lumberman ordered.

Applejack cocked her head to the side. "What for? I thought you were done. Unless yer gonna finally dry my-"

"No!" He said a bit too loud. "I'm gonna dry off and put my pants back on.

There was a question she hadn't thought to ask before. "Why do y'all wear clothes all the time anyway? Is that normal for you?"

Lumberman didn't have the patience to go into detail about human culture and decided to diverge himself to the most straightforward answer instead. "Look, we don't have tails to cover our backside, and unlike horses, we can't hide our dicks up inside our body. "

"Dicks?" She asked, making it known she wasn't clear on that kind of slang.

"Dicks. Penises. Private parts. Schlongs. The one-eyed trouser snake. The in and out trout. Believe me. We got like a million names for it. But yes, we cover ourselves up with cloths because otherwise, we'd be flopping around for the whole world to see."

"Is that a bad thing to do in your world?" She asked, honestly not knowing.

Lumberman stared down at her, the unspoken response telling her not to push the topic written all over his face.

"What? This wouldn't be the first human thing I've asked you to explain to me, tonight," She blurted out, trying to defend her question.

He responded firmly, but in such a way that asked for some apathy to his needs. "Applejack... please..."

"Okay, fine. I just don't understand what the big deal is. Even the most well-dressed ponies don't bat an eye at another pony or other critter walking around nude. There's nothing wrong with the body your born with."

"There's more to it than that, Apple Hat," He tried to explain without actually explaining as he walked past her, wearing his pants again.

"Now let's go -" He pulled back the flap of the tent for her. "God only knows how long we've been out here. Everyone's probably up already talking shit about us for being out here so long."

"You think so?" She asked, slowly moving along.

"Knowing my friends, oh yeah." With the flap closed, their bathing experience would end with their secrets intact.

The two were greeted on their way back by three guards roving their patrol.

"Morning," One of them greeted them.

"Morning?" Lumberman objected.

The group stopped, with the same pony guard filling them in. "Well, yes, sir. You were attending to Miss Applejack for over three hours. Mr. Macintosh requested that we not disturb either of you."

The guard gulped and looked down to Applejack, only to avert his eyes just as fast. "He said it was for our own good. Oh, also, Miss Applejack. We were told to inform you that your grandmother and sister are both fine and were given free room and board in town until repairs on your house are finished. All covered by the Princesses, of course."

Applejack was relieved. "Well, that's certainly some good news to hear. I knew Granny was a tough enough cookie to make it out of there just fine, but it's good to know she's being taken care of."

"Yes," the guard agreed with her, still afraid that she might hurt him if she were angered. "Also, all the others seem to be asleep inside. So do be quiet when returning. Docs orders."

Lumberman certainly missed a lot. "Hold up. They still haven't woken up?"

The guard shook his head. "No, sir. Quite the opposite. All the others, aside from the princesses, have already woken up and gone back to sleep. We were actually concerned for Miss Applejack's well being for how long we thought she was staying awake."

"Any idea when they should wake up?" Applejack asked.

"Well, before the Doctor and his nurse retired for the night in the upstairs, they said it could be any time from the midnight to sunrise."

Applejack lowered her head. "Oh, well, thank you for the update,"

"You're very welcome, Miss Applejack."

The three saluted and continued on their patrol, leaving the two to continue on their way.

"Jesus Christ, I can't believe we were gone for three hours," Lumberman spoke in utter bewilderment.

"Yeah," Applejack nervously chuckled as she started back to the house again. "Pretty crazy, right?"

This new information made her feel a bit uneasy but also opened up another opportunity for her.

Applejack requested one last favor before they reached the house, and it was a rather selfish one. "Hey, Lumberman?"

"Yeah, sup?"

"Could I... sleep next to you tonight?" She sheepishly asked.

"What? Why?" He didn't think this was her trying to prank him, but the question came out of nowhere.

"Well... Oh, forget it. You'll probably just laugh at me for it." She whined, sulking away.

"Oh come off it, Apples. Just tell me."

"Well, it's just that everypony I know and trust is probably just as plum tuckered out as me. And I imagine Big Mac is all wrapped up in Kelly, so... I don't feel all that safe out here around all the guards. And it's kinda chilly out tonight with me not completely dried off and all."

"So you want me to be your security blanket?" He asked bluntly, still not sure if there was some hidden agenda she was hiding.

"I mean. I remember how quick you came to stand up to the rest of Celestia's guards, even Celestia herself. You didn't hesitate or show any fear at all. So... I'd feel a lot safer with you there to watch over me, maybe keep me warm until I dry off at least."

She hung her head, fearing his rejection and ridicule. "I understand if you wouldn't want to."

He questionably stared down at her. "Is this some kinda gag or you just trying to get me to sleep with you?"

Applejack looked up to the cloud covered night's sky, deciding to forego the seriousness with the kind of humor that had worked so well for her so far. "Well, I suppose getting you in the sack with me would be checking another item off my bucket list."

"You're just as bad the rest of my friends, Apples, but fine. I can be your guardian blanket for the night." He answered, playing down her insecurities.

Applejack tried to defend her pride. "And by bad, you mean that you have this much trouble keeping up with your friends, too?"

"Oh, come on now Apple Hat," He continued to joke with her, leading them finally into the lowly lit house. "I've been taking it easy on you this whole time."

Applejack continued the banter quietly into the living room, barely lit with one candle burning. "I know you like to get handsy in the bathtub, but don't be getting any funny ideas in here."

Lumberman had to switch to a stage whisper. "The only funny idea I had all night was drop-kicking your ass off the roof."

She chuckled at his reluctance to admit that there must have been part of him that enjoyed their bath time together the way she did. "Just hurry up and grab the covers before I catch a cold would ya."

Lumberman stopped at an empty mattress. "Where'd Rarity go?"

"Rarity moved away from Pinkie's snoring," The fashion horse answered for herself, speaking from Cerb's lap. "So if you two could keep your lovers quarrel down below a dull roar, it would be greatly appreciated."

Applejack answered back, speaking just above a whisper. "Sorry. It's been a crazy night, and I may have had a wee bit too much to drink again."

Rarity popped her head up from Cerb's lap. "You..." She spoke too loud and had to quite herself. "You two had a toast out there all by yourselves?"

"No, nothing like that," Lumberman answered for her, dropping a mess of extra blankets over Applejack. "She was having a hard time dealing with Kelly, you know, so I gave her a few drinks to help calm her nerves. It wasn't a celebration or anything."

Applejack managed to nuzzle her snout through the pile of blankets, her nose and mouth barely poking through the folds. "It's the truth, Rarity. I would still be a mess if it weren't for this guy over here."

Rarity didn't try to come back with another snide remark. "Well, I can understand that. It would seem we all had a hard time dealing with the terrible news after waking up." - She laid her head back on Cerb's lap and snuggled in closer. "Seems we all found some comfort in each other, at least those of us who could stay awake long enough to comprehend what happened."

She closed her eyes and held a long exhale, readying herself to try and sleep again. "But please do keep it down if you can. Our new friend Chris was kind enough to help stand watch with the guards tonight. A kind gesture since we were struggling to stay awake while waiting for Kelly. It would be rude not to accept his kind offer."

"Can do, Sugar Cube," Applejack answered back, more controlled and monotone with her voice.

Lumberman had busied himself, remaking the bed for them and putting down an extra layer for comfort on the mattress. "Okay Ice Queen, I'm ready for some sleep if you are."

She was slow to climb her way over the mound of blankets still left between her and the bed. The fabric crushing around her hooves and wrapping around her made it even more difficult while being as tired as she was.

"Good grief, girl. I swear I gotta do everything around here," He said in jest, half pretending to be aggravated by the extra work.

On contact, he came to find the cool air and her damp fur had indeed left her with a chill. She was by no means warm to the touch. "Oh shit, Apples, you really are cold. Come here."

His motions were given with care, but his efforts were assertive when he dragged her onto the mattress with him. He quickly pulled a blanket over them both and hugged his arms around her barrel. "That's my bad. I should have used more towels and dried you off better."

"No, no. Stop apologizing," Applejack pestered him back. "I know you had a hard time with drying me off. And I'm sorry for being a pest through the whole thing. That was mighty inconsiderate of me."

He smiled and blew some of her stray hairs out of his face. "That's only half true, but at least you made it fun."

Applejack gently stroked the back of his hand with her forehoof. The smooth texture of his skin against the frog of her hoof was a new sensation she found herself to enjoy. "Yeah, you too, Woodman."

He huffed in lieu of any laughter. "Good night, Apple Hat."

"G'night."

Across the room, Rarity was still awake. And despite the best efforts of the two to stay quiet, Rarity overheard every whisper.

Normally such a scandal would be the gossip of the town. Not that Rarity would gossip about such a close friend like Applejack, but that's just what level of a wow factor what she just witnessed held. Instead, she found herself to be jealous. Not that she had a thing for Lumberman, her eyes were set on Cerb.

No, she was jealous of how close Applejack was able to be to her new Lumberman fellow. How did she get so lucky? Well, perhaps not that lucky. Much of their exchanges seemed to be more friendly than lovely. Or were they flirts? With such a dynamic, it was hard to tell. Regardless, it all made her feel like Cerb was much further away than she wanted him to be.

A solution would all require plotting at a later time. For now, she would allow herself to simply enjoy being able to sleep with the comfort of the human stud for whom held the affection she desired.

"Because sadly, for some people, they think love is a fantasy. So they find a fantasy to love instead."

That phrase really stuck with me after I wrote it.

Over the years I developed an interest in human phycology, sociology, and human sexual development and other related topics. I find it so interesting how some people start to gain different interest, fetishes, or the other subject matters they find attractive. Even more so for those who suffer from loneliness. How they can start to romanticize and sexualize different people or characters. Or even how they somehow don't, or won't, let go of them.

There is a certain sadness that comes from that long-held desire for affection. I don't think anyone really deserves to be alone. It's a horrible feeling that can harden one's heart and lead them to an undesirable complacency that leaves them sheltered and withdrawn. Or in some cases, leaves them in a continuous self-fulfilling prophecy of isolation from intimacy.

How this all relates to Chris? Well... we'll start to find more about him eventually since he's not too active at the moment. Don't get me wrong, he's a solid dude. Just give him some time.

Also, give AJ some time to sort herself out. That girl is confused as fuck, right now.