Autumn Leaves

Chapter III

Where the Wild Roses Grow

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The Morning After Hearts and Hooves Day

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The light pitter patter of rain drops against your face stirs you awake, the morning sky choked with dark storm clouds and the low rumble of thunder rolling through the air from a great distance away. You wipe the water off your face and look around, gathering your surroundings. Seems like you must have fallen asleep at the lake last night. You clench your right hand, and feel soft fur beneath it. Looking over you see a blonde mane and an orange coat lying on your chest. Applejack must have fallen asleep here as well. The memories of last night stride through your mind, and a smile creeps its way onto your face.

You bring a hand to your lips and wonder if it all really happened. It was just so... sudden, really. But you don't regret the kisses you shared with her, not for an instant. Whatever this feeling the two of you had for each other, it felt right. It felt true. The rain drops on your head fall faster and

faster. Damn, this storm is getting closer by the second.

"AJ?"

You gently nudge her, trying to wake her up. She stirs and comes to, smiling when she see you.

"Oh,” she yawns, a sleepy smile on her speckled cheeks. “Mornin' Anon... did we sleep by the lake?"

"Mmhmm. Seems that way."

"Oh. Well ain't that interestin'?.. Oh shoot, it's rainin?"

"What, the water from the sky give it away?"

She nuzzles your face and gives you a smirk.

"Wise-ass. C'mon, let's get home b'fore this storm hits us."

And with that, the two of you jump to your feet and run off, racing each other through the pelting rain. You both ran side by side, water from puddles splashing at your feet and at her hooves, both of you laughing as you ran onward to Sweet Apple Acres. By the time you got back home, the two of you were muddy and soaked to the bone, giggling like idiots as you both entered the farm house. What awaited you though, made you both freeze in place and stand in nervous fear. Right inside the front door entrance sat Granny Smith, rocking slowly back and forth as she stared at the two of you accusingly.

"Well good mornin' yungins'” Granny says, rocking back and forth at a snail’s pace, eyeing both of you. “Fancy seein' ya' here, what with ya' never makin' home last night and all. What've y'all been up to, hmm?"

She's knitting something while looking right at the two of you. No blinking, no loss of eye contact. Just a hard, stern, grandma stare.

Oh god, she meant business.

"Uh.." you mumble.

"We uh.." Applejack says, spluttering.

"We were out at the lake-"

"Yeah, yeah we were havin' our picnic-"

"For Hearts and Hooves, and it got late, and-"

"We must've jus' fallen asleep or somethin', you know-"

"Yeah we were SO tired and uh, you know we, uhm, just decided to sleep there for the night."

"Yup. That. What he said," says Applejack, nodding rapidly. You both give her a smile, hoping she wouldn't inquire further about your evening.

"Mmhmm?” hums Granny, suspiciously. “That so?"

"Yes'm,” you and Applejack both reply.

Granny Smith's eyes slowly went from you to Applejack, eying her with suspicion, then sent her gaze back over to you.

"Anon, did'ja treat Applejack nicely like a fine gentlecolt should?" she asks, still knitting whatever it is she’s knitting. You think she’s just doing it for dramatic effect, anyway. And a gentlecolt? You weren't a colt, or a stallion, or any form of horse, but you weren't going to argue this out.

"Yes'm," you answer politely.

"Did she have a good time with'ya?"

"Yes'm."

"Ya gave'r a nice meal and a good view down by the lake?"

"Yes'm."

"Did'ja kiss'r g'night?"

"Yes'm."

Granny continues her stare, looking at you quizzically, but with a tiny smile on her face. Applejack's mouth is slightly agape, and she stares at you, wide eyed. What? You answered her question, why are they looking at-

Aw hell.

"What I mean is-” you begin floundering, “I, uhm, I kissed her goodnight but not kissed her like- uh... oh god, um, well...uh.."

"Well tarnation, Anon, look at us!” Applejack says, cutting you off as she gives a nervous chuckle. “We're awful filthy, aren't we? C'mon, we should go get cleaned up. Outside. Away from here. Now."

Applejack you are a lifesaver. The two of you quickly shuffle past Granny Smith and exit the back of the farm, your cheeks red with blushing at the whole situation. Granny watches both of you, smiling and shaking her head, giving a tiny chuckle.

"Teenagers... mah stars,” she mumbles to herself, still knitting in her old rocking chair.

You stand outside under a tin roof with Applejack as you fill a bucket with water from the farm's water spout.

"Did ya see that?” Applejack says to you. “She was just... sittin' there... WAITIN' on us... ya don't think she thought that we... well, you know.."

"What? Oh, GOD no. No. No no no. Just... no."

"Ah mean, you didn't really help us out with that little blurb a yours back there."

"Oh come on, I'm sorry! How was I supposed to know she was gonna ask me if I kissed you? It came out of nowhere!"

Applejack puts a hoof to her face, and mumbles into it disappointingly.

"Ah thought you were th'smooth talker, ya lummox. Now Granny think we're bu-"

You cut her off when you splash her with the bucket of water, drenching her from head to hoof in

chilly water, the dirt and mud from her fur washing away. Sufficed to say, she's not enjoying it.

"No. No she does not. She thinks we're two young people who happen to have a crush on each other. I think. Maybe. I hope that's all she thinks, that is."

AJ shakes herself of the water, doing her best to get dry. She whips her mane back, sending a torrent of water at your face. You take it like a man, despite it being more than cold.

"Okay,” you say as you wipe water from your eyes, “Yeah, I deserved that."

"Darn right ya did,” Applejack says as she pokes her tongue at you. She begins ringing out her hair, while you refill the bucket to wash yourself off.

As the bucket fills, you strip down to your bare bones, rubbing your arms as goosebumps ripple across your skin from the cold that the rain has made. Taking the bucket, you dump the water over your head and body, bearing the icy chill of the water as it drenched your skin. Having had enough, you whip your head side to side to get the water out of your face and grab a small towel, drying your hair.

"So.. uh, I guess last night was good? I mean, you enjoyed yourself, right?" you ask AJ, still drying yourself off.

"...yup," Applejack mumbles back.

"The necklace wasn't too much, right? You said you liked it, but... you know."

"Oh yeah... love the... necklace," she says again, sounding distracted.

"You alright?"

"Just fine... fine, just fine.."

What the hell's gotten into her? You turn around and see that Applejack's been staring at you. Below the "belt." As you turn to face her, her cheeks glow with an unearthly red hue, her eyes growing wide.

"What?"

"Nothin' Ah just... you.. nekkid.."

Nekkid? Oh, right, naked... Wait. You whip the towel from your head down to your groin, concealing yourself as quickly as possible. You'd forgotten that being naked around Applejack NOW was a lot weirder than when you were younger. You'd wash up like this all the time, go swimming in the lake and ponds like it as well. They were ponies, they were naked ALL the time, you thought it wouldn't matter. But now apparently it does matter, as you've caught Applejack red...hooved?.. in the act of ogling your rear.

"AJ."

"...yup?" Applejack mindlessly says, eyes still locked on the spot your towel now covers.

"YO APPLEJACK," you shout, snapping a finger at her. AJ shakes her head, breaking her trance and lowers her ears, blushing further as what she's been doing dawns on her.

"Oh gosh, Ah didn't- I mean Ah wasn't tryin' t'look on purpose, Ah just... oh lord..."

"Were you staring at my ass?!"

"Ah wasn't starin', Ah- Ah was just, uh.. Ah was just admirin'!"

"Somehow that sounds worse than staring. And then when I turned around?"

Applejack promptly shuts her mouth and doesn't say a word, darting her eyes side to side. Great. Just great. You toss the towel onto Applejack's head with a quick laugh, pick up your wet clothes, and head inside. You head to the room you shared with Big Mac and find him sitting on his bed, reading a small book. Mac didn't particularly mind your nudity. It was a guy thing, you think. It really didn't bother either of you.

"Oh hey Mac. Readin'?

"Eeyup."

"Cool. Is it one of yours, or mine? Or wait, did you get it from the library in town?" you ask him.

"Eeyup," he replies, flipping a page in his book.

"Eeyup to which, the former or latter?"

"Latter."

"Oh okay, cool."

You toss your wet clothes over the window sill, leaving them to dry once the rain stopped and the sun came back out. Walking over to your dresser, you pulled out a new change of clothes and changed, feeling better about being in a fresh pair of jeans.

You jump over onto your bed, opposite the room of Big Mac, and relax.

"Good night?" Mac asks, not looking up from his book.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Pretty calm, actually."

"I hear ya kissed mah sister."

You glance to Big Mac, still reading his book. He looked like he always did. Just as calm as ever. There’s a sinking feeling in your stomach when you hear him say that, though.

"Uh... where, uhm, where'd you hear that?"

"Apple Bloom."

“Really?”

“Eeeyup.”

“Oh... uh... well what uh.. are you mad or something?”

“Nope,” Mac says, closing his book. “Mah sister’s just important to me, is all. You know that. So do me a favor, will ya?”

“Well, sure. What is it?”

“Don’t hurt her,” he says, strong and stern as he stares into your eyes. “You treat her right. You do anything, and I mean ANYTHING, then you and I got problems. Got it?”

There’s a rather pregnant pause in the air as you and Mac continue to look at each other. Your body is ramrod stiff, not moving whatsoever as you continue to sit on your bed. Mac keeps his gaze on you, almost probing your intentions with those calm eyes of his. Then, after maybe a solid minute of staring, he turns his attention back to his book, flipping a page with otherworldly calm. You, on the other hand, get up and walk out of the room, trying to escape the tense situation you just had. Treat her right. You had no other plans, of course. You were always treating her right, you thought. What could you do to treat her wrong? You walk down the hall, rubbing your head as you do so in confusion, when you arrive at Applejack and Apple Bloom’s room. You're about to knock, but are stopped as you hear voices coming from inside. From what you can tell, they belong to both of them respectively. You decided that if Apple Bloom spied on you, then you'd spy on her for a bit. Pressing your ear to the door, you listen.

"Whaddya mean ya followed us to the lake?!" says Applejack, muffled by the door.

"Ah mean ah snuck out, crept behind y'all and followed ya to the lake t'see what big surprise Anon got fer ya!"

"Apple Bloom, why in Equestria would ya go an' do that fer?"

"Ah was super curious."

"Ugh, have mercy..."

"It's a real pretty necklace, sis. Ah didn't think Anon was gonna get ya' somethin' THAT great fer Hearts an' Hooves, Ah just figured he'd made ya a card or somethin'. Ah told ya he'd be a perfect very special somepony fer ya!"

"Oh... well thank ya, Apple Bloom, that's mighty kind of ya t'say about Ano-"

"So were ya grossed out by the kiss?"

"APPLE BLOOM. HUSH."

"Heehee, Ah knew it! Ah knew the both of ya kissed last-"

"Apple Bloom Ah swear when Ah'm through with ya they'll never find where Ah buried ya, Ah give you mah word."

You draw yourself away from the door and smile. Seems like Applejack had her hooves full with Apple Bloom as it is. No need to add your two cents to it all. As you go back to your room, you wonder what all of this will bring about. Maybe things with Applejack would end quickly and quietly. Maybe the two of you would continue to be with one another. There was no way of knowing, really. But you knew in your heart that you yearned for the latter, no matter what.

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One Year Later

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Relax. Control your breathing. Deep breath in. Focus on the target. Deep breath out.

Fire.

An arrow shot from your finger tips, sailing at a tree in the distance and piercing a single red apple near the tree's top. You were getting the hang of this archery thing. For months you have been training with a bow and arrow. You wanted to go hunting eventually, and you remembered reading about a super hero that used archery in some comics when you were younger. Guy wore purple, had a funny looking helmet. Eventually, you actually got around to making bows, most of which you ended up breaking, and fletching numerous arrows. Fluttershy had been kind enough to lend you feathers from her assortment of birds for your use. You liked her, she was nice. On top of all that, it was nice to get a hobby that tailored to the whole “having hands” scenario that you had going. You read somewhere that unicorns in this world could use bows as well, what with magic and all, but you never saw anyone in Ponyville use one before. You felt kind of unique in that sense.

Applejack jumps into the air in delight when the arrow hits its mark.

"Well Ah'll be,” Applejack says, looking at the pierced apple in the distance. You weren't kiddin' around Anon. Ya sure are talented with that thing, now aren't ya?"

"Practice makes perfect, after all, but I'm nowhere near perfection,” You say, pointing at the countless other arrows lodged into the trunk of the tree. You had missed. A lot. “C'mon, I gotta go get those arrows back, I guess."

The two of you walk through the orchard, the smells of Fall finally beginning to arrive in Equestria. The trees had begun changing to a brilliant hue of red and gold, and from a distance the whole valley looked like it was painted in a sunset.

"So, are ya really considerin' goin' huntin'?"

“Maybe. I know how you feel about it, so that’s sorta putting me off the idea just a bit."

Applejack laughs squeamishly. "Ah don't know, are ya sure ya want to do that? Ah mean, you'd be hurtin' another critter."

"Right, but I wouldn't let it go to waste. I'd eat it."

"You'd just shoot a critter and then go straight t'eatin' it?"

"Well not right away, no. I'd have to haul it back here, skin it, gut it, then cut off the choice... pieces..."

You promptly stop talking as Applejack adopts a look of sheer horror at you.

"Okay okay, fine, sorry no hunting."

"Ah just can't believe that people from your Earth place eat other animals! It just seems... barbaric in a way, Ah guess."

"Well wait, griffons eat meat. Same with dragons, from time to time, right?"

“Yeah, but-” She says, but just sighs and shakes her head, giving up the argument.

Once you both reach the tree, you give a swift boot to the trunk and the apple with your arrow falls to the ground. Taking the arrow out, you promptly take a bite of the fruit, and get to work on yanking the missed shots out of the tree. It was gonna be a while.

"Well, other than yer plans for savagery in the forest later on,” Applejack says, yanking out an arrow with her teeth, “Are ya' ready for the big get together?"

"Oh yeah, yeah. Can't wait to meet the rest of your family. How many cousins do you have?"

"'A couple dozen, give or take."

"All of 'em have the word 'Apple' in their names?"

"Yup."

"Fun."

You take another bite from your apple. There was going to be a big family reunion up in Manehatten soon, and since you were somewhat considered family to the Apple's you'd be going as well.

"By the way,” Applejack says, helping with another arrow, “Ah should warn ya about mah family up North, the Oranges. They can be... well, they're fancy city-folk. That's all Ah really gotta say."

"Hahaha, so the stuffy type?" you ask, taking the last arrow from the tree with a tug.

“Just about, yup,” AJ replies with a grin.

Wiping your brow, you can’t help but ask. “Hey... you think they’ll like me?”

“Hm?” Applejack asks, cocking her head. “Who?”

“The Apples. The rest of your family, I mean.”

“What’s not to like?” she asks, laughing softly as she bumps her hip into yours playfully. “You’ll be fine, Anon, trust me. You’ll get along with the rest of mah family better than a dog in a field of milkbones.”

You stand with Applejack by the trunk of the tree, leaves falling occasionally to the grass below. Applejack darts her head around the tree, looking to and fro for followers. You glance around the field as well, looking for any signs of Apple Bloom, or anyone from home, for that matter. The two of you still acted like it was some big secret, after all.

"No sign of Applebloom?" you ask nonchalantly.

"Nope," she replies.

She gives you a sweet smile and you sit down, resting against the trunk of the tree as Applejack crawls into your lap. You return her smile and take off her hat, resting it on the ground next to you.

"Think we'll ever stop sneaking away like this?" you ask, running a hand through her blonde mane softly. AJ just shrugs and nuzzles your cheek.

"Ah don't rightly mind. If sneakin’ off means we get a mighty pretty view like this, then Ah might be fine carryin’ on like this fer a while."

You'd have to agree with her. The sight of the leaves this Autumn looked beautiful this time of year. You caress the side of Applejack's face, her cheeks warm to the touch. You nuzzle her neck, sending her into a light fit of giggling. She had that nice, “Applejack” smell you’ve gotten so accustomed to, that smell of hay and apples mixed into her fur at all times. When you stop nuzzling her, Applejack’s face is inches towards yours. You throw a small smile her way as the two of you closed the gap between your lips. Days like these were nice.

"Hey y'all!"

Son of a bitch.

Applejack headbutts you in surprise, both of you recoiling in pain, causing you to hit your head on the tree.

"Apple Bloom, WHAT are you doing here?" you ask, rubbing the back of your head, in pain.

"Followin' ya," the small filly replies from behind the tree

"Why?!" Applejack asks rather loudly, her face twisted in an angry, embaressed mess. Apple Bloom puffs up her cheeks in retaliation.

"Don't y'all get sore at me! Granny told me t'keep an eye on y'all. 'Make sure those two don't go ruttin' in the orchard,' she said. Ah don't know what ruttin' is, but Ah guess it means kiss. So Ah guess Ah did mah job!"

Applebloom gives a bright, proud smile. You and Applejack look dumbstruck at her. Oh god, Granny Smith thinks... she think you and Applejack were going to...You look to Applejack and mouth the words, 'Go home now?' She nods.

"Hey, where are y'all goin'?” Apple Bloom asks as you and AJ get up and promptly march back to the farm. “Anon? Applejack? Wait up!"

"Never a dull moment around here," you say to Applejack, sighing. Applejack laughs and gives you a playful shove.

"Just wait till ya meet the family."

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Days Later

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The Apple clan steps off the train to Manehattan as the whistle of the locomotive blares loudly, announcing your arrival. As soon as you’re off the train the smell of the city hits you hard. Concrete and brick was everywhere, the buildings soared into the air, and you could hear everything that was passing by. Ponyville was quiet, deathly so in the night, but this place was all noise, noise, noise. You and the family walk along the sidewalks of the Manehatten streets, Apple Bloom on your shoulders, as you all try and get by the immense crowds of the city.

“Well buckle mah britches, ain’t this just as crowded as an ornery beehive on a midsummer’s day?” Granny asks as a few ponies bump into her.

“Mah stars this is just aggravatin’ as all hell,” Applejack says, shoving past pedestrians as best she can.

“Oh it ain’t that bad, sis!” Apple Bloom declares happily from atop your head. She gives a happy grin, snuggling into your hair, content in the knowledge that she’s not the one walking through walls and walls of ponies.

You give a small chuckle, easily pushing past ponies of various shapes and sizes. Eventually all of you arrived at a large townhouse complex, a number of buzzers with names next to them by the main entryway. After ringing the button with the name “Oranges” next to it, the doors unlock and you step into the building. What followed next was stairs. Why stairs? The elevator was busted, apparently. Go figure. After climbing a number of flights, the five of you arrive to the Orange family suite. A swift knock on the door produces a clementine colored mare with an orange mane.

“Oh, good! The rest of the family has arrived. How delightful. Please, please come i-” she begins to say before she stops herself, looking at you. “Oh. Who might you be...sir?”

“Uhm, hi there. I’m Anonymous. I’m actually-”

“My word!” the mare says, taken rather aback. “I must say, I wasn’t expecting a minotaur to show up to our little reunion, I can assure you.”

“Uh,” you start, but Apple Bloom is quick to chime in.

“This is Anonymous!” she says happily from atop your head. “He’s part of the family!”

"The family?" the mare asks, looking back at you. "Really?"

"Yes ma'am, aunt Orange," Applejack says, trotting up beside you. "We're all here for the reunion, after all."

The mare, Aunt Orange, looks to Applejack and nods, still eying you slightly. "Well... then come on in! Say hi to the rest of the family, get comfortable!"

With that, she steps back inside and you all shuffle into the high rise suit. You're immediately taken aback by all this. Elegant satin curtains draped the large, bay windows of the apartment. Fine dining plates and crystal glasses adorned the large dining table in the center of the room. To the right and left, you could see various ponies of different shapes and sizes, all with some variation of apples on their cutie mark. Unlike the room, however, many of them seemed humble, simple folk. One, with large buck teeth, was chewing on a houseplant. You were pretty sure it was plastic, but he didn't seem to mind. You stand awkwardly with Applejack, staring at the huge family before you.

"So... what now?" you ask, your hands shoved in your pockets.

"Now? Well go on, go meet some of the family!" AJ says with a bright smile. "They'll love you, promise."

With a sigh, you walk to a few colts by a window, raising your hand up in a wave.

"Hey there," you say to the green one, "Name's Anonymous. How you guys doing?"

The colt gives you a wary stare, inching away from you slightly. "Who the heck are you?" he asks, glancing from you to his brother. Or, who you guessed was his brother.

"I'm part of the family," you say, giving a reassuring smile as best as you can.

"Uh... huh..." he says, before the both of them glance at each other, nodding and trotting to the other side of the room. Well... this was going swimmingly.

You swear, you probably had a better chance of making new friends if you just asked some of these ponies if they wanted to go to the local bar and have a drink, rather than stay in this stuffy apartment.

...But now that you thought about it...

-------

Later

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You stood in a bar downtown with Applejack, Big Mac, Apple Fritter, and Apple Crumble, knocking back shots of hard cider. You five were the bartender's best friends at the moment. Thank goodness the drinking age here was eighteen. You down the small glass of cider and slam it down to the table, giving Applejack a competitive glare.

"That's six shots down, AJ. Care t'keep up?"

Applejack doesn't even bat an eye as she shoots down two more shots, one upping you.

"You're move, tree puncher. Let's see if yer as good with that mouth'a yers as ya are with yer hands!"

She gives a sly wink, but you don't let the innuendo phase you. You motion to Big Mac, who's downing a mug at the moment. He nods, and orders another mug. You take a shot, then two more, and catch the mug of cider as it slides down the bar to you, downing them all in ten seconds flat. You'd been boozing it up with Rainbow Dash some weekends so the practice was definitely helping. The bits from two years ago that Rarity let you keep was funding your current outing as well.

Apple Fritter knocks back her mug and laughs heartily. "Ha!" she laughs, "Looks like he's beatin' ya AJ! Ya gonna lay down an' just take it from him like that?"

You give AJ a smirk. "Yeah Applejack, ya jus' gonna lay down an' take it?"

"Play yer cards right, n'maybe Ah will!" she says with a sly yet competitive edge to her voice.

"Haha!" Laughs Apple Crumble. You had tagged along with he and Fritter a few hours after arriving at the apartment. They, unlike some of the other family members, were pretty friendly towards you. "Sounds lahk a challenge t'me!"

The festivities get slightly interrupted when a pony knocks into you, spilling your drink.

"Watch it, flank-face!" says the stallion who knocked into you.

"Eh yo, Tony, good one! Flank-face, HA!" chimes in his buddy.

These two colts were bronze coated, with slicked back, heavily gelled manes. Aw hell. Guido Ponies.

"Hey, he didn't do nothin' to y'all!" Fritter says, slurring slightly at the bigger one. "No need t'go calling people names like that."

The colt names Tony takes off his shades and looks at the five of you. "Well shit, I didn't think they started lettin' Mules into this joint!"

"Who're you callin' a mule?!" AJ retorts, the cider on her breath heavy and apparent.

The other guido pony speaks up. This guy's name was Jack, apparently. "Just the bunch'a mules sittin' at the bar, that's who! Hey, Tony, look at this one. Shit, ain't she a pretty thing eh?"

Jack runs a hoof through Applejack's mane, but she smacks it away.

"Hands off, ya low down creetin'," Applejack hisses back.

"Learn some manners, ya frickin' hick!" Tony shouts back, slipping his shades back on his face. "Bet ya haven't been laid in months, what with that attitude." He leans in close to Applejack and sneers.

"You know, you ditch these mules and come with me, I can fix that for ya."

"I think the lady will pass," you say, not even look their way as you down another shot.

"Who da'fuck is this guy?" the Jack stallion asks.

"The guy who'll kick your teeth in if you don't my special somepony and my family alone, that's who. Now why don't you fuck off?"

"I don't like big monkey freaks tellin' me to fuck off," Tony says, his snout now right in your face, snorting in anger at you.

"Ain't that nice," you say, as you slam down another drink. You grin to him, slightly tipsy for your own good. "Now fuck off."

"I don't know why I'm even botherin' with all'a yous," Tony says, sneering at your group. "You mules are all just a bunch of inbred fuckin' freaks, anyhow."

That tears it. You're off the bar stool and right in front of Tony, a glare in your eye.

"Say that to my face," you say, staring right at him.

"I said," Tony repeats, getting in your face again, "All you mules are just a bunch of inbred, fuckin', freaks. Now, you gonna do somethin' about that?"

"Nope," you say with a tipsy grin. "I just wanted to get your attention so he could get behind you."

"Wha-"

Tony is cut off as Bic Macintosh calmly, and stoically, breaks his mug over his head, sending him crumpling to the floor. Before he can do anything in retaliation, you crack a fist across Jack's jaw, sending him flailing backwards.

"I think the party's over guys," you say as you pat Big Mac on the shoulder in appreciation.

"Eeyup," he says, smiling back at you. Brothers. You'd have each others backs.

You toss the bartender the rest of your bits, more than enough for what you had bought to cover for the barfight you just had. It was probably the quickest fight you'll ever be in, to be honest. With that, the five of you leave for the Orange's estate. Eventually, the five of you break off, Big Mac leaving with Fritter and Crumble to get there quicker while you and Applejack go it at your own pace.

"This was nice," you say to her, the light of the sun beginning to set in the distance.

Applejack lets out a quick chortle. "Ha! That's a laugh. Leave it to a buncha' city slickers t'ruin a fine evenin' out on the town."

"Aw well, whaddya gonna do?"

"Haha, yeah... hey Anon?"

"Yup?"

"What ya said back there, to those greaseballs? About you bein' mah special somepony?.. Did ya mean it?"

"Course I did," you say, patting her head. "What, you didn't think we were?"

"No Ah, well uhm... I don't rightly know, Ah guess Ah thought... never mind. It doesn't matter."

"No go ahead, what is it?"

"Well o'course we were special someponies fer that one Hearts an' Hooves-"

"And the ones after that," you add in with a smile.

"Right, yeah, the ones after that too Ah guess," she says with a laugh. "Ah never thought we made it official, ya know?"

"How do we make it official?" you ask, smirking. "Do I propose?"

"Hehe, naw. Nothin' that extravagent. Besides," she says, showing off her necklace, the silver glimmering from the rays of the sun. "Ya already gave me this here necklace. No need to go bustin' out a ring anytime soon."

"Ha, fine fine. So, really, how do we make it official?"

Applejack ponders this for a moment, and smiles slyly. "Leave that t'me. All in good time, as it were."

You shrug and crack a grin. She's probably have the two of you race for it, maybe even see who bucks the most apples. AJ was like that. You both walked on, taking in the sites and sounds of Manehatten as you made your way back to the Oranges. The rest of the day was spent mingling with family and friends, idle conversation and songs being passed around the dinner table and games played in the evening. By the time the sun had set, most of the Apples had left for home, leaving just you and AJ's family with the Oranges. You had all decided that you'd stay the night, then leave for home in the morning. Granny, Applebloom and Applejack shared a room, leaving only one other guest room available. Since you felt grateful to Mac for his help in the bar fight earlier, you deferred it to him, taking to the couch instead. You rested on the soft couch, your mind being flooded with Applejack's words.

Make is official? Back on Earth, if you liked a girl, you just, you know, asked her out. Ponies did that too, so you didn't really know what Applejack had planned. Knowing her though, it probably involved a ton of endurance and heavy breathing afterward. Most bets or deals with her involved some sort of sportsmanship. You figure you'll just find out later, and close your eyes to sleep. Not long after, you feel something rustle on the couch with you. Whatever it is, it's on top of your chest. You open your eyes to be met by Applejack's, her eyes sleepy and half open.

"Evenin'," she says in a hushed, quiet voice.

"Uh... evenin'," you say back, blinking. "What are you doing?"

Applejack raises up her head and unties the bow on her ponytail, letting down her blonde mane.

"Making it official."

You're silenced before you can even respond as Applejack locks you in a soft yet strong kiss, your inhibitions flying away. You wanted to protest, at first, but you longed for these moments with her. You run a hand through her hair and pull her closer to you, taking in her scent and relishing in her embrace. Funny... the two of you had kissed plenty of times before. You didn't really know how this was making it official. Applejack breaks your kiss and smiles seductively, as she creeps down in between your legs.

Oh.

That's how.

Silent passion crept through the house, your voices hushed to low whispers and moans, intensity reducing them to simple, silent gasps. The innocence of two young teens was abandoned, left in it's place the unity of two lovers as they intertwined with each other. And as the moments of burning passion dimmed down to a softly burning ember, you held Applejack closer than you ever thought you'd hold her.

"...Applejack?" you ask in a whisper, holding her closely to your body.

"Mmhmm?" she hums out.

"I love you."

"Ah love you too."

You embrace the mare you've grown to adore, never wanting to let go. Had you known what was to come in the following years, you would have wished this moment would last a lifetime.

Unfortunately for you, life would have plans that would be out of your control.

~End of Chapter III~