Pony Fluff (Not to be confused with Fluffy Pony)

>Have you mentioned how much you love this dang farm?
>Second home and all.
>Doesn’t hurt the wonderful Applejack’s there as well.
>It’s one of your several days you work here.
>As always, AJ greets you.
>You make sure to give her a kiss, making her blush in that adorable way.
>”Hate ta tell ya ther’ Sugarcube, but taday yer milkin’ the cows.” She says with a smirk. “Ah gotta kick it in the orchard.”
>You make a frowny face. Even though it’s hard work, each moment on the farm is almost like a date for you.
>”Don’ gimme that pouty look.” she says, kicking your leg playfully. “I’ll be sure to fit in some time fer ya taday.”
>You sigh. “Fiiiiiine, not like I LIKE working here or nothing.” You say, sticking your tongue out at her.
>You watch her trot off.
>Dat flank.
>You laugh to yourself as you head off to the barn
>Few years ago, the thought would have made you want to throw up.
>Oh how far you’ve fallen.

>You grab the buckets for the milk.
>Oh well, not so bad.
>The cows talk!
>And they’re super friendly.
>The second you walk in, the leader (for lack of a better word), greets you.
>”Oh, hello there Anon.” She chimes, why do they sound like midwesterners?
>Because it’s adorable, that’s why.
>”Hi Bess, how are you all doing today?” You say as you set up.
>She nods, swallowing some hay. “Very well, thank you for asking. Oh! are ya here to milk us again today?”
>”Yes ma’am,” You tell her with a smile.
>She smiles widely. “Oh that’s good, isn’t it girls?” The assembled cows nod and moo in agreement. “Your hands are always welcome here.”
>You chuckle awkwardly, you’re sure she didn’t mean to sound so creepy.
>You set the buckets up and get to work, grasping a teat in each hand and gingerly pulling in downward strokes.
>Bess moans and looks back at you. “No need to be so gentle there, I can stand it if you went a bit rough...”
>Damn it... Why do they have to talk.

>After your milking duties are completed, you transfer the milk into their jugs so they can start the next process.
>Whatever that may be.
>You wave goodbye to the cows and they all moo and wink at you contently.
>Stupid creepy cows.
>The sun’s high in the sky, must be getting close to lunchtime
>You know Granny Smith will have something prepared, but you decide to look for Applejack first.
>You look up at one of the trees.
>How hard can apple bucking be?
>You give the tree a hearty kick. Now your foot hurts, but hey, an apple fell from the tree.
>And right on your head.
>Now your foot and head hurts, good job.
>Oh well, doesn’t dampen your good mood.
>You come through a clearing and spot AJ leaning against a tree, eyes closed and a sweet smile on her lips.
>You smile and quietly settle in next to her.
>You don’t wake her, just enjoy being close to her.


>You take a bite of your hard won apple, the crunch wakes her. She notices you and smiles. “Caught me nappin’ eh?”
>”Yup, want a bite?” You ask, indicating the apple.
>She nods and you take a chunk out of it and hold it between your teeth.
>She chuckles and brings her face to yours, pulling the piece out and eating it.
>”Want another?” You ask with a sly smile.
>She nods and you repeat the process.
>One more. You hold the piece between your teeth.
>This time she tosses the apple aside and locks lips with you.
>You smile and laugh against her lips.
>She pushes away and puts on a mocking indignant tone. “Ther’ ah was tryin’ ta be all romantic like and you just wanna laugh at me.” She melodramatically crosses her forelegs and looks away from you.
>”Yup,” you say, “I’m a jerk.”
>You lean in and nibble along her neck, making her melt.
>You lay her down in the grass.
>Yeah, you love this damn place.

>You two bask in the afternoon sun. You both should really get back to work, but it’s just so peaceful and you feel too good.
>AJ snuggles into your chest.
>”Hey AJ?” You say kissing the top of her head. “Can I ask you something?”
>She just gives a grunt of acknowledgement.
>”Remember when Scoots was taken?”
>Another grunt.
>”I thought I’d be scared... terrified.” You sigh. “I can barely watch a damn fireworks show without freaking out.... So why was that so easy to me? Why was it like putting on an old glove?”
>She looks up at you. “Ah don’t rightly know.... Maybe fighten’ was just somethin’ ya got used ta.”
>Shit, that scares you even more.
>She senses your feelings.
>”It’s not a bad thang.... You were fighten’ fer yer daughter... yer family. I’da done the same thing fer Applebloom.” She kisses the underside of your chin.
>It makes you smile.
>Good ol’ Applejack. She knows how to make you feel better.
>”Ah knew I’d find ya two out here!” Granny Smith hollers, slowly sauntering up. “Out here shamefully cajollin’ while ah made a lunch and eerythang.”
>You and AJ scramble to your feet.
>”Ya do yer hanky-panky on yer own time, not when ah’m tryin ta feed ya.” She winks and smiles as she drops off a basket full of food and heads back.
>You look down at AJ, “Picnic Miss Applejack?”
>She lays out a blanket. “It’d be mah pleasure.”

>You work another day and you head home.
>Scootaloo’s waiting for you with dinner ready.
>You thank her and kiss her head.
>She looks pretty tired though.
>”Hey sweety, you been sleeping well?” You ask after a while.
>She frowns and shakes her head. “No..... I’ve had some nightmares.”
>You figured as much. After what she went through. She was mostly unharmed. A few bumps and bruises, but as a hostage to be sold, they treated her better than you expected.
>”Well, I know you had nightmares when you were younger.... Damn, call me a bad father, but what were they about?” You never got around to asking that. They got better, you know that, but you never inquired.
>She pushes some of her food around her plate. “They were... They were about you leaving. Abandoning me and leaving me all alone again.”
>Oh wow. “Well they stopped obviously, what happened?”
>She looks up at you. “They came true.”
>Right through the heart.
>She sees the impact her words had on you. “Dad, for the first few months, I HATED you.... I just.... You left me. I know it was what you HAD to do, but I... I needed you.”
>You just nod, unsure what to say.
>”I got older... I can’t say I forgave you completely, but I understood a little more.” She sighs. “I’m sure my anger made it hard for Dash, she did her best though.”

>After dinner, she heads to bed. You let her know that if she needs, she can always sleep in your bed... Like she used to.
>But, she’s a big girl now. Doesn’t need her dad like she used to.
>Hmmm.... When she mentioned Rainbow Dash, it hit you that you haven’t seen her for a while.
>In the morning, you commit to tracking her down.
>Not too hard, she’s shoving clouds around in preparation for a slight rainfall.
>You wave, she waves back and keeps working.
>You wave more.
>When she starts ignoring you, you do the only logical adult like thing you can think of.
>You start throwing rocks.
>After the first few attempts, one bounces off her flank.
>She frowns and finally comes down.
>”What the heck dude? I’m kind of busy.” She says in a surly fashion.
>You shrug. “Dunno, it’s been a while. Wanted to see how you were doing.”
>”I’m fine, now if you’ll excuse me.” She tries flying off, but you grab her by the tail.
>”OW!” She screams, before easing back down. “Seriously? What the hell?”
>You take her by the sides of her head. “I will not leave until I get the answers that I seek... How. Are. You?”

>Her face squishes in your hands as she pulls away. “Fine.... FINE!” She yells as she gives you a hoof to the gut, releasing her.
>She sits there for a while, the skies already thoroughly grey. “How’d you do it?” she finally asks.
>”Do what?” you say, confused.
>”That.... that was ONE thing.... and it was the hardest thing I ever had to do.” She looks up at you, behind her eyes, agony. “You and AJ lived through two years of that.... How?”
>That’s something you never thought about. “I don’t know. It was just something we had to do. We just accepted it.”
>She shuffles a bit. “Well why do I look back on it and be terrified? How come I can’t look back on it and laugh like how you and AJ do?”
>You laughter surprises her. “It’s because you’re still sane Dash.”
>Well, she’s definitely looking at you like you’re insane.
>You get down to look her in the eyes. “Dash, you did something AJ never did.... You helped me directly protect my daughter.... Because of that, I owe you everything.”
>She shrugs. “Least I could do I guess.Not like I did a great job raising her while you were away.”
>You give her a gentle playful slap on the face. “Pshaw Dash, you did the best you could... Speaking of, We’d love to have you over again sometime.”
>She flies up and shoves a confrontational hoof in your chest. “The BOTH of you? Or do you just want me to babysit while you have sexy fun times with Applejack?”
>”Oh?” You bat your eyelashes at her. “Are you jealous Dashie?”
>Just before she goes back to her duties, she shouts back to you. “Pft, of YOU maybe!”
>Damn that Rainbow Dash.