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It was a slightly hazy day, with a decent chill in the air. Not many ponies were out in the nippy weather. Despite that, Chopping Block was happily clopping their way down the street. The mare’s large size and thick fur coat allowed her to make it to Carousel Boutique without getting very cold at all.
Still, as Chopping Block entered the elegant store, her muscles gave a twitchy little shiver as it adjusted to the change in temperature. In addition to the gust of chilled wind, the ringing of a bell announced her arrival.
“Just a moment, darling!” A posh voice sounded from upstairs, soon followed by the sound of delicate hooves. “Ah, Chopping Block!” Rarity said as she emerged from her abode. “There you are! Are you ready for your fitting?”
“I thought I told you to call me Ceebs,” Chopping Block said with a slight laugh in her deep voice as she approached the podium the unicorn used for her models. “Or at least CB?”
“But darling, you have such a striking name! It is one that simply must be announced!” Rarity said to her friend as she got out her supplies. “…Though, I suppose Ceebs does have a rather cute ring to it.”
CB smirked. “That, and I’ll bite ya’ if you don’t call me that more often.”
Rarity giggled as she floated her measuring tape over. “Oh, CB, save that for Applejack, will you?”
A blush instantly snuck up on CB’s face, their eyes widening. “What’s that supposed to mean?” She whined slightly as the tape wrapped round her barrel.
“Oh, nothing…” Rarity teased. “I simply think it’s downright adorable how smitten you two are.” She gave her measurements a keen eye — in between knowing looks towards CB.
CB’s face continued to darken in color as it tried to hold their tongue.
“ She’s the adorable one!” CB finally broke. “But that’s not here nor there! I’m here for a fitting.” The mare pouted, even as the measuring tape withdrew.
Rarity tossed her hair with a smile as she brought out a neatly folded pile of clothes, one of which — a saddle and skirt combo — she immediately started putting on CB. “Oh, but this is the best time for gossip, darling! I work quickly, but you still need to try on your clothes don’t you, CB? So what other way to spend the time?”
“Wearing them in silence…?” CB suggested.
“Haven’t you the teeniest bit of gossip for me, darling?” Rarity pleaded, even as she diligently adjusted the sizing of the garments. “What about your last date with dear AJ?”
Chopping Block was quite flustered at this point, and gave in. She began whispering in Rarity’s attentive ears about how their last date — a lovely trip to the lake — had gone.
Predictably, Rarity immediately started squealing in secondhand joy — though her stitches stayed pristine.
By the time all the clothes were fitted, CB felt so flustered it could hardly stand it (though she actually wasn’t upset , just a bit overwhelmed from all the thoughts about Applejack).
“ Rarity… ” CB’s ears folded back slightly as they holstered the bag of clothes. “Thank you for the fitting, but I’ve got to go now — AJ needs help on the farm.”
“Oh! Of course, darling.” Rarity beamed. “Tell Applejack I said hello!”
CB turned red once more, mumbling a goodbye.
———
After dropping off their new clothes at their house, Chopping Block arrived at Sweet Apple Acres.
“Howdy, Ceebs!” Applejack greeted her girlfriend with a large smile as she pulled out some barrels on a cart. “The apples are all ready for a buckin’, and we got plenty to buck, so ahm mighty pleased ya’ came to help.”
“I wouldn’t miss it!” CB said with her own shy smile. “I really do like helping you out on the farm. It’s the least I could do for you.”
“ Aww ! Well ain’t ya’ as sweet as sugar!” Applejack cooed lovingly. “But if yer helpin’ out, ah really do have tah repay ya’ somehow or other. Maybe we can mosey on over to a date sometime soon, if ya have the time?”
Her tone caused CB’s face to ignite. “I wouldn’t mind that, but just spending time helping you on the farm is reward enough…” She shyly confessed as she hooked herself up to the cart, right next to AJ. “I get to spend it with you , after all.”
A blush lit up Applejack’s face in return, and she couldn’t help but pause from her assistance to slightly pull her hat down over her face. “That… means a lot to me, sugarcube. Thank ya’.”
The two mares stared at each other lovingly as CB finished settling into their harness. Then, after checking over everything one last time, the two of them started off towards the expansive orchard.
As it trod over the soil and grass, CB couldn’t help but glance over at Applejack, ears turned towards her as well. Every time their flanks brushed as they walked, CB felt themselves shiver — and not from the cold.
Rarity’s teasing briefly popped into their head, causing their embarrassment to spike as they nearly tripped over a stray rock.
“Ya’ alright sugarcube?” Applejack asked with concern.
“Y-Yeah,” CB stammered. “Just a kinda big rock.”
Applejack nodded “Gotta keep an eye peeled for those.”
“So,” The larger pony started in order to distract herself from her flustered state. “Which part of the orchard were we starting at again?”
“Right up here, actually!” AJ smirked. “Ya’ got good timin’ askin’ that.”
The two ponies giggled a bit to themselves as they began unhooking themselves from the wagon and bringing the barrels out beneath the trees.
As usual, the trees were healthy and happy — full of shiny green leaves and large apples in various shades. The fruit were plentiful — to the point of causing the branches to sag slightly with their weight.
“Wow, looks like both you and the trees worked overtime…” CB commented as it looked up at the gently swaying branches.
“Yep! Ah imagine they’ll find it a relief once we get all that off’a them. Can’t imagine always carrying that much on my back, heh…”
“Yeah, at least we get breaks!” CB joked.
“Not now though, that’s fer certain!” Applejack smirked as she got into position to buck the first tree.
SLAM!
As Applejack’s hooves cracked against the tree, the earth pony’s power sent shockwaves up its branches, and apple after apple tumbled into the barrels below.
Plunk! Clunk! Bop!
CB dutifully helped collect any missed fruit, before moving back to let AJ buck again.
SLAM!
Plunk! Clunk! Bop!
The two farmworkers soon fell into a rhythm of bucking trees, moving barrels, and collecting apples — occasionally swapping places with each other as they made their way through the orchard.
SLAM!
Plunk! Clunk! Bop!
SLAM!
Plunk! Clunk! Bop!
SLAM!
Plunk! Clunk! Bop!
CB wiped a brow. Their fur was coated in a lather of sweat, even with the cold — which she was quite glad for at this point — and her hooves and coat were getting a bit dirty. But she didn’t mind at all.
The large mare glanced over at her girlfriend. Applejack was in her element — quite literally — and she was a gorgeous sight, regardless of how dirty and sweaty she was too.
AJ moved with a steady, grounded grace. She wore a focused, determined look — which complimented her features quite nicely. Her muscles stretched as she got in position to buck the next tree.
Chopping Block smiled goofily as it admired her.
Suddenly, a drop of something wet and cold landed on CB’s muzzle, startling her. She craned her neck upwards.
Far past the leaves of the apple trees, the sky was filled with dark grey clouds, which had encroached on them without notice.
Another fat glob of rain splattered against CB, causing her skin to twitch.
“Hey AJ, it’s starting to rain!” The larger pony rumbled worriedly as she motioned above them. “Was that part of the schedule?”
AJ paused from her work to blink up at the sky.
“Darn,” She said with a frown. “Ah forgot tah ask Rainbow what weather was planned today. We gotta pack up — don’t know how much’ll be pourin’.”
The rain soon began falling in earnest as the two ponies gathered their harvest. The wind picked up as they set themselves in their harnesses, and by the time they reached the barn, they were both sopping wet.
“This is a quick one!” CB remarked as her wet hooves struggled with the latches of its harness.
“And ah’m guessin’ it’s a bad one too…” Applejack said worriedly as she helped her girlfriend out.
Applejack’s words were soon proven right.
Moments after being freed from their equipment, a bright flash of light lit up the barn from the outside, culminating in a loud BOOM!
Chopping Block shrieked in unison with the clap of thunder, tripping over the discarded equipment in her haste to get away.
“Ah! Ceebs!” Applejack fretted, catching her girlfriend when she started to lose her balance.
CB instantly clung to the other pony in desperation. She whinnied nervously, folding her ears back as tight as they could as it shivered in AJ’s hold.
“Oh, sugarcube… it’s alright, ah promise ya’. Just a bit a’ rain…” The smaller mare soothed, running her hoof over CB’s soggy mane.
CB shivered even as she calmed down some, the cold and fright getting to her.
“Let’s get ya’ into the house, where it’s nice an’ dry, alright Ceebs?”
CB nodded, sniffling. Applejack helped her up and led her out of the barn and into the house
AJ led CB to the living room and hoofed over some spare towels for her soggy girlfriend.
“Sit here, ah’m just gonna check on Granny, Big Mac, and Applebloom, then I’ll be right back, ‘kay? Just dry off in the meantime.”
“Thanks…” Chopping Block said as they began wringing their hair.
Applejack smiled reassuringly. “It’s no problem sugarcube.”
Just as she promised, it was hardly a few minutes before Applejack was back — carrying blankets and some warm hot cocoa.
“Got ya’ somethin’ tah warm up.” AJ proudly presented her gifts.
“Aww, thank you…” CB smiled tiredly as she snuggled her now dry body into the blankets and began sipping at the drink.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door!
“AJ? Applejack dear, is Ceebs here?” Rarity’s voice called from the other side.
Applejack hurriedly opened the door, knowing how the unicorn disliked staying out in the rain, only to be greeted by the worried faces of all her closest friends!
“Girls? What’re ya’ll doing out here in this weather?” Applejack said as she urged her friends inside.
“Well, that’s exactly why we came.” Twilight began to explain. “We know CB was with you today, and that she hates thunder, so when the storm started, we all decided to come and check on her!”
“Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t warn ya’ about the weather, Ceebs.” Rainbow apologized. “You doin’ okay?”
“Um, I get scared of thunder too, so I really wouldn’t mind keeping you company…” Fluttershy said softly.
“I’ve got a spare umbrella, should the rain last any longer.” Rarity smiled as she gently folded said ornate umbrella. “You are welcome to have it.”
“And I brought some marshmallows for hot chocolate, since that always helps cheer me up on rainy days!” Pinkie cheered.
CB peered out from the blanket pile, her eyes watering.”Girls… sniff… You’re all so sweet!” It bawled. “Thank you!”
Immediately, her friends rushed to comfort her, cooing soothingly as they wrapped them in a hug.
Soon, they were all cuddling under the sea of blankets, drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows and distracting each other whenever the storm made itself known.
“I’m sorry I’m such a mess…” CB said with a slightly sad smile. “Thank you again.”
“Nonsense!” “No way!” “You’re not a mess!” “It’s alright!” Their friends reassured her.
“It’s alright sugarcube, even the toughest of ponies can get scared.” Applejack reminded it.
“What matters is that we’re all here for you.” Twilight said happily.
“And we’ll always be there!” Rainbow grinned.
“Yeah!” The rest of the ponies chorused in agreement.
CB blushed, burying her muzzle in the sheets to hide it. “Thank you!” They squeaked.
Applejack couldn’t help herself, and planted a sweet kiss to her girlfriend’s cheek, causing them to squeak again.
Her friends giggled at her cutely embarrassed face, and cuddled closer.
And even as the day faded into a stormy night, Chopping Block felt so much less afraid than before — and more loved than ever.