What if: Jethro's house appeared on the edge of Appleloosa instead of near the Everfree Forest?

Warning: Sexual Content in this chapter, but not full on clop.

General Perspective

"Say 'Uncle', Braeburn! Say it!"

"Never!"

"You know you're not gonna win, right?"

"Nnng! Ah'll beat ya one of these days, Judge!"

"I seriously doubt that. Now say 'Uncle'! And call me Jethro!"

The majority of Appleloosa's citizens were gathered around the large mud pit at the edge of the small settlement as were a few Buffalo, cheering for their favorite to win the weekly wrestling match between anypony who wanted to challenge the reigning champion of the mud pit: the strange alien who'd appeared a few months ago on the edge of town.

One morning, the citizens of Appleloosa had woken to discover a small house with a small property line around it, complete with grass. It had been a tense couple of days for everypony as they'd waited for whoever lived there to come out since there'd been a magical barrier set up immediately around it. Finally, the door had opened and a strange bipedal creature stepped out, looking as surprised and scared as the Appleloosans felt. But Braeburn had been the first to step up and welcome the alien stallion to their fair town.

The poor human, as they came to know his species, was carted around town by the happy-go-lucky Braeburn and had treated him to a large welcome meal. That was the icebreaker that the town needed, and soon he was being asked question after question.

Over the course of the first couple weeks, Jethro, which was the human's name, had slowly relaxed around the townsfolk. Braeburn had stuck close to him, making sure that the newcomer felt welcome despite his unusual appearance.

If his association with Braeburn hadn't gotten him fully accepted by the Appleloosans, it had definitely been how he handled the Buffalo crisis that began a month after his arrival. Buffalo had begun to demand the removal of all the apple trees on the land, and when Jethro heard about it, he'd gone silent and said he'd look into it. He grabbed a backpack and, despite Braeburn's protests, headed out into the desert.

A day after he left, he'd come back to the town with two Buffalo, a female named Little Strongheart and a larger male, the chieftain of the Buffaloes. The townsfolk had never seen Jethro look so stern when he gathered Sheriff Silverstar, the mayor of the town and Braeburn and took them into his property. Nopony could hear what was said, but they'd watched as Jethro had mediated between the two with an extremely stern expression.

Barely an hour had passed when the six came stepping out and announced they'd reached an agreement. A portion of the orchard would be replanted and a path made for the Buffalo and in exchange for the remainder of the apple trees being left alone, the Buffalo would be granted some of the apple pies Appleloosa was famous for.

Jethro became a town hero that day, and Chief Thunderhooves had even made him an honorary member of the Buffalo tribe. During the next election for town judge, an anonymous Pony put Jethro on the ballot. The poor stallion was actually voted into office. He wasn't too happy about it, and despite being told he could decline the posting, he still took the job since he needed bits as his own food was running out.

The town was even further surprised when he sprouted wings sometime later. And not just any kind of wings: the wings of an Alicorn. Despite this, and his apparent new talent for magic and Earth Pony strength, the Appleloosans loved having him in their town.

"Nnnng, goshdern it! Uncle!" Braeburn shouted in defeat.

Jethro, who was wearing something he called swimming trunks, was sitting on Braeburn's back and pulling his hind legs back, grinning. He finally let go, sending mud flying as Braeburn's hind legs hit the surface of the mudpit. "And that's another hundred bits you owe me, dude," Jethro laughed as he turned to face the crowd. "Who else wants a go?"

On one side of the crowd, Sheriff Silverstar, Hardy Joe, the owner of Hardy's Hardware Store, and Charity Way, the local schoolmarm, were busy cleaning the mud off of themselves after having lost once again to the human. The other townsfolk looked at each other, nopony wanting to even try. After a few seconds, he chuckled and headed to the edge of the mud pit. "Thanks for coming down, everyone. Now, if you don't mind, I'm gonna go home and take a shower. I've got mud everywhere. See you all at the dance tonight?" There was a roar of approval. "Alright! Later!"

Apple Fritter's Perspective

Appleloosa had one large barn, but it wasn't your typical barn. It was owned by Apple Fritter, a mare of twenty-eight who'd been one of the first to settle the land. She had a light-yellow fur coat, bright green eyes, emerald green tail and mane, the latter of which was tied in pigtails, tied down with bright red bows. Her cutie mark was of three apple fritters. She'd come from the town of Holstein with her cousin Braeburn and had brought the tradition of Friday barnyard dances with her. She'd spent a lot of her money to build The Dancing Way, a large barn built especially for anypony to cut the rug on the weekends after a long week of hard work.

She was just beginning to set up when the door to the barn opened. "Knock knock, anybody home?"

Apple Fritter smirked and turned to see Jethro standing in the doorway, waving. He was wearing the Stetson that Braeburn had gotten for him as a welcome gift, a pair of jeans, dark brown boots that had been caked with dust, a light brown faux leather shirt and a red kerchief around his neck. "You're early, you know," she chuckled as he stepped in and shut the door. "Dance doesn't start fer another three hours."

"You say that every time I come, but you never kick me out," he smiled back at the mare, and that smile made Apple Fritter's own smile widen. Strange though he might have been to her, she, like her brother, had become quite close with the human.

Especially since she and Braeburn were the only Ponies in town privy to his secret.

After he'd received his wings and other new gifts, Jethro had shut himself away from the world for about a week. Growing worried, she'd convinced her cousin to pay him a visit to check up on him. When they'd arrived, his window was open and the device he'd called a Teevee was on. Showing their cousin Applejack in some sort of moving comic form along with five other simply drawn mares, one Unicorn of whom she recognized as the one who had come to their family reunion at Sweet Apple Acres on the day of the Summer Sun Celebration.

Jethro, having no choice, told them a very unusual story about the moving images they'd seen. Apple Fritter didn't want to believe it at first, but when he showed the two of them their own cartoon selves, she had to believe it. She'd seen how nervous he was about them potentially asking him to leave town, and had immediately reassured him that they'd never do such a thing. They'd keep his secret ever since that day. He admitted that his idea for the Buffalo had come from an episode of the show, which he then showed them. Apple Fritter was a bit freaked out by it, but had kept her word and hadn't spoken to anypony else about it.

"Don't give me any reason to," she chuckled as she removed her own Stetson and set it aside. "Here to help again?"

He held up his hand, which began to glow. Nearby, a few tables began to roll around to the edges of the barn. "I always do."

She giggled, holding her hoof up to her mouth. She wasn't as traditional as the rest of Appleloosa was when it came to the use of magic to do things. She was honestly fascinated that a human could even do magic, especially after he'd explained that normally humans couldn't perform any magic. "Your help is always appreciated," she said.

"I'm glad to help," he said, "and besides, it's good magical practice."

She snorted. "Just don't punch a hole in my barn again."

"It was one time, Frit. One time, damn it!" he protested. "I swear…you put one hole in a barn on accident and you're labelled for life!"

She laughed and turned away, a blush forming on her cheek at the nickname she allowed only him to call her. "You're too easy to tease," she replied.

Suddenly, she found herself in his arms as the ground fell down. He laughed as she squealed and immediately clung to him as he haltingly flew up to the haybales on the second floor of the building where the foals would play as the adults danced. The two of them landed in a heap, both laughing heartily. Jethro grabbed a pile of hay and tossed it at Apple Fritter. She immediately took some in her hooves and threw them back before launching herself at him, landing on top of him laughing.

As the laughter died down, she looked into his deep blue eyes, and he looked back into her own green ones. As if on cue, the two began kissing each other with passion. Apple Fritter put her hooves around his neck and Jethro put his arms and wings around her. Her heart began beating faster as she deepened the kiss with her coltfriend. She and Jethro had been seeing each other for about three weeks now, and she couldn't have been happier. He was hardworking, kind, gentle, protective, and a jovial soul. In her mind, he exemplified the Tenets of Harmony very well, perhaps even as much as the Bearers of Harmony themselves.

She squealed in surprise as he pushed her onto her back, his hand running through her mane expertly. She shuddered at his touch and moaned slightly, spreading her legs involuntarily. She waited in anticipation as his hands moved down her stomach.

Unfortunately, the barn door burst open just as things were getting hotter and heavier for the new couple. "Jethro? Fritter? You two in here?" Braeburn called out.

Quickly the young couple broke away, faces red. Jethro straightened his hair out and peered over the edge. "Up here, Brae."

Braeburn looked up at him, one eyebrow raised. "And just what the hay were you two doin' up there?" he asked.

Apple Fritter peered over as well, purposely leaving her mane in the mess it had become during their makeout session. "You sure you wanna know, dear cousin?" she asked with a coy tone and expression.

To his credit, Braeburn blushed and shook his head. "I knew you two were seein' each other, but I don't need to know that much!"

Jethro lifted Apple Fritter in his arms and spread his wings, gently gliding back down to the dance floor. Giving his marefriend a kiss on the cheek, he put her down then faced Braeburn. "What's going on? Something on your mind?" he asked.

Braeburn cleared his throat. "Right! I just got a telegram from my cousin Applejack. Apparently, she's gonna be comin' to town next Saturday with one of her favorite trees fer our orchard."

"Oooh, that would be…Bloomberg," Jethro replied with a smirk.

"Already?" Apple Fritter asked as she brushed the hay out of her mane and fixed up her ponytails.

"Eeyup," Jethro said. "If it goes anything like that one episode, she'll be bringing the other Bearers of Harmony and Spike."

"I can't wait to see them," Braeburn said happily. "I've gotta get things ready fer 'em!"

"Hold your horses, dude," Jethro replied with a chuckle as he put his hand on Braeburn's back, "we'll all give them a welcome they won't soon forget! But first, we've got a barnyard dance to prepare for!"

The sun was far below the horizon and the moon was rising high in the sky when the Friday dance ended. Apple Fritter was pleased to see nearly everypony in town attend that night. Jethro had even broken out some country music from his own world which had gotten the crowd really dancing. He'd gotten better at dancing, and he danced with not only Apple Fritter but with Charity Way and a few other mares, but mostly with Apple Fritter.

After the last Appleloosan had left, it was just Jethro and Apple Fritter who immediately began to clean up the place. After having done it together for a few weeks, they had a system where Jethro used his magic to pick up garbage and Fritter would hold garbage bags to catch them. As they did this, Jethro spoke up. "Next Saturday, huh…?"

"You okay there, sweetie?" Apple Fritter asked.

"I'm just debating whether or not I wanna meet the Bearers of Harmony or not," the human said.

"Why not?" she asked. "You seemed so gung-ho about it earlier! My cousin Applejack is one of the nicest mares out there!"

"It's not her I'm worried about," Jethro replied. "It's Twilight Sparkle. She's the personal student to Princess Celestia, and when she sees me, She might just tell the Princess about me."

Apple Fritter nodded in understanding. Jethro had expressed his worry at having to potentially meet the Princess at some point in the future. "I've heard she's incredibly kind and understanding," she said.

"And she can move the sun, dear," Jethro said as he took a seat in one of the nearby folding wooden chairs. "You know how much power would be required back home to do that? Let's just say it's a fuckton. If she deems me a threat, well, I'm a novice at magic at best and I can't really fly all that well yet. I wouldn't be able to stop her if she tried to take me."

Apple Fritter stopped her cleaning, walked over, climbed into his lap and snuggled up against him, removing her Stetson in the process. "Jethy," she said, using the nickname he'd allowed her, and only her, to call him, "You're overthinking this. Even if the Princess tried to take you, you've earned a life among us. We'd never let anything happen to you." She reached up and gave his cheek an affectionate lick.

He blushed and held her closer in his arms. "You're right, you're right," he said as he buried his face in her mane, kissing her head affectionately.

"I'm always right," Apple Fritter giggled as she snuggled closer into him, trying her best to comfort her special somepony.

The two of them sat like that for a while, the gas lanterns in the barn their only illumination. Jethro's hand stroked her mane gently and Apple Fritter's hoof circled around his chest equally as gently. After a while, she spoke up again. "I met her once, actually."

"Who? The Princess?" Jethro asked.

"Twilight Sparkle, I mean."

"Really? When?" Jethro asked.

"During our last family reunion," she explained. "It was just before the Summer Sun Celebration."

"Hold on," Jethro said as he pulled out the device he called a cell phone. Apple Fritter watched as he tapped at it. "Ooooh, there you are," he said as he showed her a cartoonish image of Apple Fritter putting her namesake on a picnic table. "You look good as a cartoon, but you look better in person," he chuckled as he pulled her into his arms for a kiss.

Blushing hard, she kissed him back, then slowly pulled away. "Come on, sweetie. We've got a lot to clean tonight."

"Right," he said, standing and putting her back down. "Back to cleaning!"

The next day…

"I swear, I was never an apple fritter fan before you made yours," Jethro was saying as he leaned against one of the apple trees in the Appleloosan orchard. "Yours are da bomb."

Apple Fritter blushed and inhaled deeply, exhaling as she lay next to her coltfriend on the picnic blanket underneath the shade of their favorite tree. "I like making them for you," she said softly as she nuzzled her face into his chest affectionately. She was rewarded by his hand running through her mane. The two lay there in the late morning shade, enjoying each other's company. Soft instrumental music was playing from a small speaker set which Jethro had connected to his fancy phone. "Are you still scared?" she asked.

"Scared about what?" he asked.

"Meeting the Elements of Harmony?" Apple Fritter asked.

"Eh, I'm still decently scared," he said, "but I'm not a pussy. I know you Ponies, and they'd hear about me eventually even if I didn't show up. So I'm gonna meet them on my own terms."

Apple Fritter's heart swelled with pride. She knew her coltfriend wasn't a coward, and it made her happy to see him growing. She remembered when he'd confided in her and Braeburn about his last love and his parents. It had broken her heart to see Jethro so distraught after holding it in for so many years. That moment cemented the fact in her head that he was different from a Pony, but that didn't stop her from giving out subtle hints to him about wanting to be with him. It had taken longer than expected, and when he'd told her about the species difference being a major part in why he had been so reluctant to become closer than friends, it had been yet another reminder that he wasn't a Pony.

Still, she'd pushed through, confident that she could win his heart. And on a picnic day similar to this one, she'd broken down and confessed her feelings. The way he'd responded hadn't quite been the way she'd expected. Instead of accepting her or turning her down, he asked her out on a proper date, just to, in his own words, "Test the waters." And on the third date, he'd finally confessed that he, too, had fallen in love with Apple Fritter.

"Glad to hear it, Jethy," she said happily as she stood and kissed his cheek.

He smiled, a bit of pink coloring his suntanned cheeks. "I figured you would," he replied. "But before then, I wanted some alone time with my girlfriend. Or marefriend. Whichever you prefer."

"Anything that tells those pesky stallions that I'm a taken mare," she smirked.

Jethro laughed. "It ain't easy being the sexiest mare in town, eh?"

Now it was her turn to blush. "Awww," she giggled as she climbed onto his lap and snuggled up close in a Ponyloaf, "You're too sweet to me."

"Sweet as apple pie, cutie," he grinned, poking her muzzle with his finger, which caused her to scrunch up.

She moved up closer, eyes lidded in a very obvious expression. "Not as sweet as you," she cooed as she slowly moved her forelegs around his neck. "Now, give Frit some sugar."

"Your wish is my command," he smiled as he put his arms around her, their lips locking once again.

Apple Fritter closed her eyes and relaxed in Jethro's strong, protective hug. She'd had a couple of coltfriends before when she was younger, but none had made her feel as desired and as loved as this human had. And as strange as it was, he was an amazing kisser.

She moaned in surprise when Jethro's hands began to wander down a bit, finally grasping her flank and giving them a gentle squeeze. She blushed hard, tightening her own grip on Jethro and deepening the kiss as best she could. She found herself pressing her marehood against the bulge she could feel growing in his jeans, moving her hips back and forth.

Just as one hoof went to the zipper on his jeans, he reached down and stopped her. They broke apart from the kiss, and Apple Fritter gave Jethro a questioning look. Both human and Pony were panting heavily from the heavy makeout session. Slowly, Jethro shook her head. "Haaah…not out…haah…here," he said softly before taking a deep breath and exhaling. "Not in public. Not during a festival."

A feeling of disappointment briefly washed over her, but it was gone in the next instant. She nodded. "I…I'm sorry, Jethy," she said. "I know how hard it was for you to find a Pony sexy earlier."

"Actually, not so much anymore," he admitted. "I…um…I've got a confession to make," he said, suddenly sounding nervous.

Her ears perked up and swiveled towards him. "What?" she asked.

"I've…caught myself checking you out more and more, and having very…sensual dreams…about us."

If she'd been blushing before, she'd be as red as a Red Delicious now. Her heart was over the moon with joy as she began showering his face with kisses. "Why didn't you tell me sooner, Jethy?" she asked excitedly.

Jethro chuckled and kissed her back. "I was still coming to terms with it, I guess," he replied. "And I wanted to be absolutely sure of it. But after Friday's little session and today, I'm positive. I'm finding the Pony form sexy. And you're the sexiest."

Her kisses only increased as she both kissed and licked his face eagerly. "I'm so happy," she said, and she meant it. Not even her previous coltfriends had called her sexy. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome, babe," he said as his wings spread over her. The warmth and softness of his wings around her was something that no blanket could match, and she'd experienced Jethro's heated blanket.

"Better be careful where you wrap those wings, stud," she said as she yawned, "I might just fall asleep."

She watched as he reached down and stroked her mane. "That sounds heavenly. A nap with you."

She curled up under his wings, smiling as she closed her eyes. "Sure…sounds good…" And just like that, she was out.

She woke later to Jethro gently stroking her cheek. She yawned and stretched. "Nnng…what time is it?"

"Just past three, sleepyhead." Jethro smirked and leaned in close. "You have the cutest snore," he whispered, ruffling her mane playfully.

Apple Fritter cleared her throat, then in her attempt to imitate the cartoon version of Rarity, harumphed. "A lady doesn't snore, my good sir!"

He grabbed her Stetson and put it on her head. "Of course, babe. Still cute as hell."

She blushed and pulled her Stetson over her head. "Well, let's get cleaned up and head back," she said.

It took them only a few minutes to pack up the basket and head back into town. The sun was still high in the sky but was beginning to head west. The temperature was at the highest, and Apple Fritter was looking forward to spending time at Jethro's house. He had something he called central air and heating, which kept the interior of the house at whatever temperature he wanted. Of course, at first, they had to drop of the picnic basket at Apple Fritter's own cabin.

As they headed back towards Jethro's house, the green maned mare looked over her shoulder, then lifted her tail and winked. "See anything you like?"

Jethro blushed, and pushed his own Stetson down tighter on his head. "Get back here, you!" he laughed as he began chasing her.

Laughing, Apple Fritter ran towards the town, sticking her tongue out at her colfriend. "Come and get me!"

She ran ahead of him and he continued chasing her, using his own limited flight abilities to keep up, but for the most part running as hard as he could. With one final push, he leaped up and tackled her, sending the two sprawling. A number of other Ponies turned to watch, amused grins on their own faces as Jethro began to tickle the young mare. "Gotcha!" he grinned.

"Eee! Cut it out! That tickles!" she shouted with delight as she squirmed in his grasp.

"Say 'Uncle', baby," he chuckled.

"Never!" She threw some dust into his face and began running away, "Gotta catch me first!"

"When I get my hands on you, you'll regret it!" he called back as he ran after her.

And the chase continued. She ran through the alleys and even bucked a few obstacles into his way to keep him from catching her. Of course, those damned wings of his made it easier for him to jump over said obstacles without losing ground. The two were laughing hard when Jethro once more caught her right in his grassy yard. They went tumbling, their matching Stetsons going flying as they fell.

"Hah…hah…when are you ever gonna learn…that I'll always…hah…catch you…no matter how far…you run…?" Jethro gasped between pants.

Apple Fritter giggled and moved closer. "As soon as…you realize…that I'll never…let you go…?" And with that, she locked lips with him once more, forelegs thrown around his neck happily. She squealed in joy when he kissed back, throwing his own arms around her. As had happened the day before, the young couple deepened the kiss, but with nopony else around to stop them, it only kept on going. Apple Fritter could feel herself growing more aroused, and she finally broke the kiss, giving her stallion a seductive growl. "You. Inside me. Now."

"You don't have to ask twice," he replied with his own growl as he lifted her up with ease. He opened his door and walked into the air-conditioned house, closing and locking the door behind him. "Nobody's gonna interrupt us now, dear," he replied as he continued kissing her all over while carrying her to his bedroom. He tossed her onto the bed and closed the door behind him.

She repositioned herself on the bed, sprawling out and displaying everything for him to see. "Get those clothes off and plow me. Right now!"

Jethro licked his lips. "Your wish is my command." And with that, he began to unbutton his shirt…