Sorry about the wait guys, the site was wonky on my end but I'll make it up to you! Promise!

-Flutter Shy's Chores-

I was happy to help Apple Jack with her chores. I loved Sweet Apple Acres, the birds chirping, the bugs buzzing, the smells, the sights, it was like heaven just at the edge of town. Considering how close I live, I went to the orchard quite often and some times I would help with the animals and everything. It was nice working outside on a bright sunny day like today. Working beside Rainbow Dash just made it better.

I used the ladder to pick the apples one tree at a time, being careful to not get them too bruised as I let them fall into the bushels at the base of the tree. Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, wanted to get as much done as quickly as possible and jumped straight to the low hanging branches and plucked several off a branch at once, dumping them to the ground before hopping down and putting them into the baskets.

It wasn't long before we reached the end of the row, many of the trees picked clean, all of the bushels filled to the brim with apples. I turned to smile at Rainbow Dash, my breath heavy and my face slightly sweaty from the exertion of working in the sun for so long. I wasn't used to it, my pallid complexion and tendency to stay indoors made it difficult for me to do outdoor work. Rainbow Dash gave me a thumbs up and that's when I noticed her hands were cut up from hanging in the trees for so long.

A pang of emotion shuddered in my chest. I couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible for her pain. If I hadn't been using the ladder the whole time, it would've saved a lot of stress for her hands and she wouldn't be like this. A gasp passed between my lips and I stepped forward, grabbing her hand without thinking "Are you alright?" I exclaim, uncurling her fingers to get a better look at her palm.

"I'm fine." Rainbow Dash insisted, pulling her hand away from mine, glancing away and frowning slightly. Was it my imagination, or was Rainbow Dash… blushing? Why would she be blushing? This wasn't like the dance, where she asked me to dance. That was fun. I wish we had done more time to be together alone like this.

I felt my cheeks flare slightly at the thought of the dance, was she thinking about it too? "Uh, wh-what's wrong, Rainbow Dash?" I ask timidly. I wish my voice didn't quiver so much, I wish I could be more like Rainbow Dash, or Pinkie Pie, or anybody else I knew.

"N-nothing!" She said forcefully, rubbing her hand and shaking her head, "C'mon, we should see how the others are doing…" she trailed off, walking towards the other rows where the other girls had gone.

I took a deep breath and stood up straight, commanding attention like I did when animals were misbehaving "Not until you put something on those cuts, young lady! I will not have you ripping off your skin and getting an infection!"

Rainbow Dash turned around and rolled her eyes "You sound like a mom," she teased, walking towards me all the same, a grin playing across her pretty face. It was my duty to protect my friends, even if I couldn't do it like Rainbow Dash, I could still try my way.

I grabbed Dash's hands in mine and pulled a handkerchief out of my pocket, wiping away the small amount of blood that was there. I tied the handkerchief along one hand and frowned at the other. I didn't have anything to bind it.

"That's ok," Rainbow Dash insisted with a chuckle, "I'm fine, really, I don't need anymore help."

I shook my head and refused to listen to her. I patched Rainbow Dash up before, often after soccer mishaps. She always tried to insist she didn't need help even if she couldn't speak straight. I smiled as I got an idea and ripped the hem of my skirt off, but as I went to bind her hand…

I found myself with my back against an apple tree, Rainbow Dash hanging her head and shaking it slowly, her hands on either side of me, making sure I had nowhere to run. I blushed a bit, this was very… intimate.

"How can you be this sweet?" She muttered under her breath. I blushed and smiled to myself, I couldn't help but enjoy the compliment, "Seriously, I don't get it. You're so willing to help others and do so much just because you can…"

"W-well… I just try to do the right thing, I guess. It's really no big deal…" I try to laugh it off, but it doesn't seem to work. It does catch Rainbow Dash's attention and she glances up into my eyes. Her stare held my gaze, she had gorgeous eyes, they seemed to glitter in the sunlight. "I wish I was more like you, Dash… You're so strong and brave. You have no fear what others think of you and you always do what's right."

"Flutter Shy, that's ridiculous! You're the bravest person I know. You might worry what others think of you, but you never let that stop you when it comes to anybody besides you. I may do what's right, but you're always right. I can never think of any time you weren't." Rainbow Dash sighed again. I couldn't believe how intense this was, it seemed too corny to be true, "Flutter Shy… I wish I was more like you."

I smiled again and for once around Rainbow Dash, my hands were calm. They weren't fiddling with anything, I wasn't trying to find an excuse to leave, or something to look at. I only had to look her in the eye and take deep breaths. Was this how Apple Jack always felt, laying everything out in the open like this? It was calming and focusing. It felt pretty great actually.

But, as Pinkie Pie had proven at the dance, words can only get you so far. Some times action is necessary. I needed to get my point across. And in this clarity, I knew what my point was. At this point in time I could finally realize why I was so jumpy around Rainbow Dash, why she led me out of my shell and why I was so happy around her. I loved Rainbow Dash.

Mi was going to take a move out of Apple Jack's book but Rainbow Dash, as always, beat me to it. She pressed our lips together quickly, feeling the full extent of the kiss for a brief moment before pulling back and blushing, breathing heavily like she did after a soccer match.

I blushed and slowly leaned in again, gently kissing Rainbow Dash again, this time it lasted longer. I'm really glad my first kiss was at Sweet Apple Acres.

Well, there you go! We're almost done with the orchard ark and soon enough, the weekend will finally be over! I love hearing from you guys, and if you have any work you think I should read, I'd be more than happy to leave a review!