>You sigh contently from your spot on your bed, a lazy day today
>Looking to your right, you see Applejack curled up, her hat over her eyes as she dosed with a smile
>She must be thankful that the harvest season is over, letting her spend time with you
>To your left is Twilight, pressed into your side with a book in front of her as she read with a content smile
>The purple unicorn had proven herself to be very lovey, even by p0ny standards, and seemed to dislike not being in contact with you if you are around
>Not that you minded at all, in fact you enjoyed it too
>Your mind turns to the last and undetermined of your love interests, Rainbow
>You haven’t seen her for several days and you’re sort of worried  
“Say Twilight”     
>The unicorn snuggled up to your side looks up from the book she was reading
“Any idea where Rainbow is? I haven’t seen her for some time”
>Twilight puts a hoof to her chin in thought, quietly ‘hmm’ing
>”I think she said she had business in Cloudsdale, not sure what though”
>Seems like a legitimate reason, though you still can help but worry some
“Well, what ev-!”
>You’re cut off as your stomach loudly growls, making AJ shoot up in fright
>”Land’s sakes! Hit the dirt! It’s a-“
>AJ stops short when she realizes where she is
>With an embarrassed blush and a sheepish smile she says “Erm, whoops?”
>Twilight giggles behind her book and you grin amusedly
“Well now that you’re up, what do you girls think about heading out for lunch?”
>Twilight looks at the clock on your night stand “Well we’ve just been lazing around all day, I think it’s a nice idea”
>”Some grub does sound great right about now” Applejack agrees
“If we’re in agreement then, lemme get ready, you girls feel free to pick where we’re going”
>You rise off of the bed and trudge over to your dresser
>Feeling like a scrub, you just change your shirt while AJ and Twi chatter idly behind you
>You turn to them after tossing the old shirt into a laundry hamper, slightly more kempt than you were before
“Ready if you girls are”   
>After a nod from both, you and your mares head out into town
>As you get outside and lock your door you feel eyes on your back
>Turning, you see Twilight and AJ staring at you
>You force back the urge to fidget
“Something wrong?”
>AJ tilts her head to the side “Anon, if ya don’t mind my askin’ why do ya always lock yur door? It’s not like somep0nys gunna bust in”
>Damn
>It seems like more and more lately that you’re being forced into corners about earth
>No one here locked their doors, windows, or anything really
>Not one of the p0nies around town even owned weapons, save for decorations
>You forgot just how peaceful this place is
“Just a habit I guess…” you answer, trying to keep the uncertainness out of your voice
>”But why would that be a habit?” Twilight asks with a frown
>Of course Twi and her inquisitiveness would force you back into the best avoided subject of humanity
“Well…”
>You feel horrible about lying to Twilight and Applejack, these two have been nothing but nice to you, even going as far as to offer their hearts
>But you can’t help but feel icy stabs of fear at the idea of them finding out about how chaotic earth is
>Would they think you to be like the rest of humanity?
>Would they leave you?
>The feeling of helplessness is so frustratingly foreign to you
>With human women, you were always in control of any relationship you were in, and they were easily replaceable  
>But with these two…
>Unique, genuinely loving, and always a pleasure to be around
>Dammit man…You need to step up your game
>”Anon?”
>Twilights voice cuts you from your thoughts
“Yes Twi?”
>”You sort of…spaced out there, are you ok?” she asks with a concerned expression that Applejack mirrors
“Fine, just fine…” You say
>You take a breath and think for a moment
“It’s just a habit that everyone in my family did, not too sure why”
>Twi still seems a bit uncertain “Whatever you say Anon”
>Walking through town with Twilight and Applejack on either side of you, you notice more stallions than usual give you a scowl as you pass, prompting Twilight and Applejack to glare back
>You’ve got an idea why but don’t want to make a conclusion without being sure
>”Here we are” Twilight announces as you all come to a stop in front of a medium sized building
>You take a look at the place  
>A medium sized café that seems to be preparing for the lunch rush, waiters and waitresses milling about cleaning tables and such
>Settling down to a clean table, you, Twi and Applejack take a look at the menus as a yellow furred unicorn waitress wearing an apron trots up
>”Hello! Anything I can start you out with? Drinks?” she asks with the usual semi-forced server cheer, telekinetically holding a small notebook and pen
“Water is good for me” you say, still looking through the menu
>”Ah’ll have an apple juice” AJ says predictably
>”Water for me please” Twilight says, her eyes looking back and forth from 2 items on the menu
>The waitress nods and jots down the beverages on her notepad “Sure thing, be with you soon!” she says before trotting off to the kitchen, but not before giving you a wink of her eye over her shoulder
>With a roll of your eyes you decide on a salad
“So, how is having time off treating you AJ?” you ask, hoping to stir up conversation
>”Actually we still got a bit o work to do before we can call this season over, still gotta store n preserve all tha apples before winter” She says with a look at the colored leaves floating around in the wind and the steadily shedding trees
“I see, want any help with that?” you ask as you rest your head on your propped up fist
>Applejack smiles, her bottle green eyes reflecting appreciation “Anon if you ain’t the sweetest…but Ah think we’ll be alright, gunna start teachin’ Applebloom ‘bout the farm, starting with the apple storing”
“Well, whatever you say sweetness, just let me know if you change your mind”       
>Any further conversation was halted as the waitress comes back with the drinks
>Passing them out, see takes out her notepad again “Ready to order?”
>You give Twilight and Applejack a questioning glance, prompting both to nod
“I believe so”
>You, Twilight and Applejack place your orders as the waitress jots them down
>”Alright, should be just a few minutes” she says before walking over to another table
>”Say Anon, if you’re not doing anything tonight…” Twilight begins
>You look at her with a raised eyebrow, silently telling her to continue
>”Would you like to go star-gazing with me tonight?” Twilight asks hopefully
>You cut your eyes to Applejack to see her reaction
>Not really fazed apparently, she seems amused in fact
>Twilight notices you look to the orange mare and hastily turns to her “N-not that you can’t come AJ, I’m sorry! I-I didn’t mean to sound so-!” Twilight tries to rush out, her face the picture of distress
>Applejack just hold up a hoof, stopping the purple mare “Sug it’s fine, Ah’ve got lots to do tonight and Ah’m not gunna git on your case for wantin’ to spend time with Anon, this is a herd ya know”
>Ever levelheaded, one of the things you love most about the cowp0ny
>Seems like a trait that few human women tended to have
>Twilight breathes a sigh of relief, her whole body relaxing “Thanks AJ, I just figured it to be rude seeing as you’re the lead mare here”
>Lead mare?    
>You lean forward some, wanting to hear this
>Applejack gives her herd-sister a funny look, mouth set in a small frown “Urm Twi? Ya do know that the whole concept of a ‘lead mare’ is kinda out dated right?”
>The unicorn blinks in confusion “But the book said that the first mare in a stallion’s herd is the lead one, and that they are more or less in charge of the other mares in the herd”
>The stetson wearing p0ny rolls her eyes “Maybe, but it’s still an old thing Twi, heck, Granny said it was gettin’ old right before she left her herd to work the farm”
>Now that was saying something, if you were right, then Granny Smith is close to 90 years of age
>Twilight opens her mouth to argue but stops when you reach over and take her hoof and Applejack’s in a hand each
“Look you two, no need to get into it over this, besides I don’t think I could ever place one of you over the other” you say with conviction
>You really couldn’t, that would just be unfair to an extreme
>Twilight and AJ look at you, at each other, and then back to you
>Both smile cheekily and lean over the table
>Twilight plants her lips on your right cheek as Applejack does the same to the left
>With a simultaneous smooch sound, they both pull away, still smiling brightly
>You blink and look at them, your own mouth curving upward into a smile
“Double teaming me? How unfair”
>Both of them share a few short laughs at your expense
>The waitress comes back, the food held in a telekinetic aura
>“Here you are” she says dispassionately, some envy in her eyes when she looks at Twilight and AJ
>The rest of the time at the small establishment is spent trading small talk between bites of food, a calm and pleasant atmosphere
>”Say Anon, you never answered my question” Twilight says as the waitress brings the bill
>You didn’t did you?
“I would love to go star gazing with you Twi”      
>She smiles one of her room brightening smiles
>Taking a look at the bill you reach down to the bits pouch on your belt only to be stopped by Applejack
>”Anon? what are ya doin?”
>You look at her skeptically
“I was about to pay the bill is all”
>Both of your mares look at you like you had just sprouted another head
>”Anon it’s nowhere near proper to let a stallion pay for a meal, me and Applejack can cover it” Twilight says with Applejack nodding
>Whoa whoa whoa, what?
>A woman paying for a guy?
“You two aren’t … serious are you?”
>They both look at each other then back to you, disbelief on their faces
“Well looks like we’re going the improper route then” you say as you place the bits on the table and rise
>”Anon! Why would you do that?” Twilight asks, obviously upset over the break of the social norm
“Back on Earth it was considered bad manners to have a woman pay for a man, or mare pay for a stallion I guess works better here”
>”But that’s not how it works here Anon, this isn’t Earth”
>You sigh and bring your hands to your temples, rubbing them gently
>How is it that some things are the same here but others are different?
>You’re not sure, but you can feel a headache forming about it
>“Twi simmer down some, there’s no need to be all worked up over this” Applejack says, once again coming to the rescue as the voice of reason
>Twilight sighs and looks up at you, her ears flat back on her head “Sorry about that Anon, I guess I forgot just how different everything must be for you”
>Dammit not the whole sad routine      
>As you and the mares walk out of the eatery, you walk between them and pull both close
“You know, some things are different, and I’m sorry if I grate on your nerves with it, but you know what I’m glad is different?”
>Both look up at you and shake their heads
“That you two are here, you make this all worthwhile” you finish with a smile filled with charm
>Applejack and Twilight’s expressions morph into looks of adoration, which seem so fitting in their faces
>Both happily press themselves into you as you all walk back to town, the warm feeling of the p0nies on your sides making everything seem right with the world
>”Well, it’s been swell you two, but Ah gotta head back now, take care!” Applejack says as the road back to the orchard comes into view
>Rising up to her hind legs, Applejack plants her front ones on your midsection and leans in for a kiss, one that you gladly offer
>Once her lips meet yours you can’t help but wonder if p0ny lips where make for just kissing in mind, the apple and cinnamon flavor as well as the softness of them bringing the thought to you
>The dirtier side of you wonders what her other set of lips would taste like
>Breaking the kiss Applejack falls back to 4 hooves with a small blush on her face and a loving expression aimed at you
>Turning to the road she starts off
>You and Twilight wish her well as she leaves
>You glance up at the sky, it would still be a few hours before Celestia set the sun and you needed to make a run back to your office back at the hospital to finish up some paperwork you’ve been blowing off
“Hey beautiful, I need to make a run to my office, want to come?”
>Twilight blushes at the compliment but perks up at the thought of seeing where you work
>”Sure Anon, sounds nice”  
>You and the magic mare head off to the hospital in a content silence
>Making some good time you and Twilight walk in to see Redheart at the front desk
>Said nurse looks up from the a paper she was reading to look at you and Twilight
>”Something I can do for you Anon, Miss Sparke?”
“Nothing much Redheart, I just have some things to do I and I figured I would bring Twilight along”
>Redheart just shrugs and gets back to reading her paper
>You beckon Twilight along up to the next floor to your office
>Opening the door you’re glad to find Horse is not going through your stuff this time
>Twilight looks around the room, steadily gravitating toward the bookcase
>Sitting down, you’re pleasantly surprised to find less work than you were expecting
>”So how is it here Anon? I know you were a psychology student before but how was the transition?” Twilight asks looking between several  of the books you had
>You ‘hmm’ as you sign a report on Lyra Heartstrings
>That mare is about as crazy as they come
“Well it was a bit rough, but I think ‘difficult’ would be pushing it, you p0nies are much more balanced than humans”
>Twilight looks up from the books, surprised “But how? You seem to be more sensible than a lot of p0nies I know, if what you say is true then humans have a history of mental illness?” she asks, going into her ‘Egg-head mode’
>You nod, signing another paper
“Exactly, I can’t even begin to tell you just how many exist, a lot of humans are walking time bombs and sometimes they don’t even know it”
>”Facinating…” Twilight trails off
>Signing the last paper, you look outside to see the sun beginning to dip under the horizon
“Well, I think it’s about time Twi”
>The mare raises her head from a psychology book to peer outside before she grins
>”Great! Let’s get back to the library and get my telescope, I know of a perfect spot”
>Twilight hops up from her spot and walks to you
>”Ever teleport before Anon?”
>Is she?
“No” you answer, sounding worried
>”Well, hang on”
>Twilight’s horn lights up, and in a flash and a sickeningly violent lurch of space, the library takes form around you
>You fall to your hands and knees, feeling your lunch fighting its way up your throat
>That was not pleasant at all
>”Anon! I’m so sorry!” Twilight rushes up to you, putting her neck under your arm and raising you up with her
>You gulp back the taste of bile and steady yourself on your feet before responding
“It’s fine Twi, just warn me better next time”
>Dusting yourself off you bring a hand down to Twilight’s head and scratch right behind her ear, eliciting a pleasured sound from her
“So, the star gazing?”
>Twilight snaps out of the spell the ear scratch put her under and trots off “Right, just let me get my telescope”
>Coming back with a long box, a book, and a blanket held in a purple aura, she smiles sweetly at you and motions to the door
>You walk over and open it for her, doing your best charmer smile and gesturing out
“Ladies first”
>She giggles and trots out after a call of “Spike! I’m heading out with Anon! Stay out of trouble…and the junk food!
>You chuckle at the grumbling coming from the back of the library before following the purple mare out
>Walking along in the cool evening air you and Twilight head to the edge of Everfree while the sun sinks below the horizon, letting Luna’s stars show themselves
>You look up and feel awe, the nights were never this beautiful back home
>No, back on earth you mean, THIS is your real home
>”Here we are!” Twilight says as you and her come to the crest of a tall hill overlooking much of the surrounding area
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T82LpzWEx7U&feature=related
>You look at Twilight and feel your breath hitch
>Against the star laden background on the hill, her violet eyes and immaculate matching coat reflecting the light of the billions of stars around, she looks at you with such genuine affection that it makes all the previous relationships you had feel like poor jokes by comparison
>This would have made the perfect motif for a painting that would have be hailed as masterpiece for centuries
>You take a moment to dedicate the sight to memory      
>”Coming Anon?”
>Her voice brings you out of your thoughts
“Yeah…”
>You walk the rest of the way up and seat yourself down next to the mare
>With a flash of magic the box opens and a telescope assembles itself from inside
>Set up, Twilight points it to a star cluster and opens the book she brought, reviling it to be an astronomy book
>”See Anon? this one is called…”
>You sit with her, content to just listen to her voice and be with her tonight
>While looking at the clusters of lights overhead, you can’t help but visualize Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow in different areas of them
>Eventually the telescope is abandoned as you and the lavender mare just lay on your backs, looking up at the infinite sea of lights in a comfortable silence, broken only by the chirping of crickets and the wind through the autumn trees  
>”It’s such a beautiful view tonight” Twilight remarks quietly, looking at the sky, her expression a mix of content joy and wonder
“That it is, this it is” you say, looking at her rather than the sky
>Twilight feels your eyes on her and turns to her head to you
>Realizing what you meant she flushes red and looks away
>”You’re just saying that…” she mumbles
“You really think that?” you ask skeptically
>She glances at you again
“Twi, you are without a doubt one of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever met, I think you need to stop underestimating yourself”
>She still seems unsure, looking between you and the night sky
“Fine then, if you weren’t beautiful would I do this?”
>”Do wh-“
>You sit up and pull her close before pressing your lips to hers in a tender kiss
>Twilight’s wide eyes flutter shut as she throws her forelegs around your neck, returning the kiss
>Breaking for air, you wrap your arms around her waist, holding her close as put your forehead to hers, looking deeply into the violet eyes of the intelligent mare
“Twi….Stop underselling yourself”
>She smiles softly and pulls you into another kiss
>At that moment you were sure nothing could go wrong
~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Rainbow Dash flies down to the porch of her cloud house, the night lights making the flight easy
>Slowly walking inside as she mulled over the last few days
>If the rumors are true, then Anon started a herd, Twilight and Applejack being the only members at the moment
>Rainbow narrows her eyes, she’s getting in on that tomorrow, and not a damn thing will stop her
>There is no stallion she wants
>But Anon on the other hand…
>In her bathroom, she stops to look in the mirror
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hwDgEoEiZI
>A small patch of purple under her eye catches her attention
>She grits her teeth in frustration at the sight and looks for her seldom used make-up bag
>Dammit dad…
>Why did she let him do this?
>Fixing up the smudged make up to her normal cyan color, she trots off to bed, hoping her family drama won’t ever be found by her soon-to-be human