Equestria was at peace once more; every ancient enemy that had risen to tear it down was either vanquished or had become allies. Nightmare Moon had returned, her heart freed from hatred to become Princess Luna once more. Discord, the living embodiment of chaos, had been shown that chaos and harmony did not have to be exclusive concepts, his heart tamed by a yellow-coated mare. The changelings had evolved from parasites into a peaceful utopia; the dragons from greedy raiders into strong leaders; the yaks from warmongers to guardians of peace. The Pony of Shadows had been freed from his darkness. King Sombra and his umbral kin had been freed from their curse. Even Tirek had become somewhat reformed with the company of his fellow prisoner, Cozy Glow. Yes, Equestria was once more in a golden age of peace – perhaps true, everlasting peace.

Where there is peace, heroes must naturally move on from their adventures. For some, the transition from globetrotting saviors to everyday citizen was easy, allowing them to simply pick up where they had left off; for others, it was difficult adjusting to the lack of excitement and fame. For a special few, however, it was the picking up that was more difficult, especially when so much had changed in their time.

Applejack sighed as she wiped sweat from her brow. She scanned the orchard of Sweet Apple Acres, making a quick count of the apple buckets. A good harvest so far, and timely gathered, especially for one mare's work. That nagging reminder of loneliness stirred a familiar pain in her chest and the usually work-minded earth pony decided a break was probably best. She trotted back to the farmhouse and sat down inside, feeling the warmth of the fireplace during the unseasonably cold autumn.

Hold on, she hadn't lit the fireplace. As usual, she had forgotten that it too had become her responsibility alone. A quick glance at the green flames lifted her spirits.

"I hope you don't mind," a deep, young voice said, "I thought you might like coming into a warm house."

Applejack turned to look at the dragon peeking from the kitchen. He had grown over the years – another reminder of how much had changed since the peace. Round, green fins had become darker spikes, and he often got on all fours just so ponies wouldn't have to crane their necks to see his face, but it was still the dragon she had known from the beginning.

"Howdy Spike," she greeted, smiling, "What are you doing here? Not that I don't appreciate the company, of course."

"That's actually why I came," the dragon smiled, scaled lips sliding back and revealing ivory fangs, "I was thinking you might want some company."

"Thoughtful of you, but I'm fine," the mare said, shortly.

"You're a terrible liar," the dragon grunted in a weak effort at laughter as he entered the living room. He was slightly larger than Big Macintosh when he got down on all fours – quite a large growth spurt, even for dragons. "I can't stop thinking about it; the thought of you here, alone…"

"I don't need pity, Spike," Applejack felt her lips curl in disdain, so she avoided looking at the dragon to spare him her scowl.

Her eyes raked across photos of her family, instead, which only drove the truth of his words home. Big Macintosh had decided to take a few apple saplings with him to Our Town, starting his own orchard in a new home with his wife, Sugar Belle. Applejack had expected him to stay on Sweet Apple Acres, to claim his inheritance of the land as the oldest sibling, but he had left it all to Applejack, knowing she was more firmly tied to Ponyville than he could ever be. Apple Bloom and her friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, were the new globetrotters, following their older sisters' examples and traveling Equestria and abroad to help all creatures find their way in the world, aided by a network of fellow Crusaders. Granny Smith… well, no pony lives forever, sadly. It broke all their hearts, but at least she had lived long enough to see lasting peace, which was more than many ponies could say.

"I don't pity you, AJ," the dragon sighed, "I worry about you. You always choose suffering alone, trying to carry all the responsibility on your shoulders. I never see you around anymore, and I know that the others have been so busy, lately…"

"Spike, it's sweet that you've been thinking about me," Applejack stretched her aching back, wincing, "but it's not necessary. I've just been busy, is all. Apples don't pick themselves."

"You can't run an entire orchard by yourself," Spike frowned, "I mean, you've forgotten to light the fireplace, for Celestia's sake! Why not hire some extra help around the farm?"

"You seem to forget Sweet Apple Acres is always hurting for bits," the mare muttered before rounding on the dragon, "And I don't want no handouts from the Princess of Friendship or the Ambassador to the Dragons!"

"How about the Ambassador to the Changelings?" Spike smirked.

"Him neither!" the farmer snapped as the dragon laughed, "I can't abandon this place, Spike… I can't leave my home. I can't afford to get help, either."

"Can't any of your cousins move in to help?"

"They have their own families, their own farms and businesses," the farmer shook her head.

"Have you considered starting a family?" Spike asked.

The mare spun around, cocking an eyebrow at the dragon.

"Exactly when am I supposed to find time to court a fella?" she asked, "More important, what stallion is left in town who'd be interested in settling down on a farm? A young stallion with a penchant for hard work, at that. Flirting with those types was always more Rarity's thing."

The dragon stayed silent, contemplative. Applejack watched his stony expression, studying the dragon. He'd matured considerably in the ten or so years since he and Twilight had moved from Canterlot to Equestria. He was no longer a child, and she wasn't just thinking about his wings or increase in size. He had grown much and as Twilight entrusted more responsibility to him, he grew to fill his mantle as ambassador to two separate lands with humility and wisdom. He was no longer the young, tubby drake that pined after Rarity, nor was he Twilight's assistant. He had become his own dragon, with his own titles and offices, mentoring young dragons and other non-ponies, helping integrate immigrants into Ponyville, which had become a hub for trade, learning, and culture.

"Do you honestly think no one would find you attractive?" Spike asked, snapping the mare from her observations.

"What?" Applejack asked, coming back to the moment, "Well, I've never really been too keen on looks. Y'all have said I'm pretty before, and I've had moments in those fancy dresses Rarity had me wear where I've felt easy on the eyes, but I ain't the young mare I was anymore! Ten years have come and gone, and I've only got about ten or more before I can't have foals. Clock's a tickin', as Granny Smith would say."

"So that's it," Spike grinned.

"What?" Applejack glared at the dragon, not liking his tone.

"That's why you don't think you can find a Special Somepony!" he chuckled, "You think you're too old? You're only, like… 25!"

"I-I'm older than that, Spike, and you know it!" the mare blushed.

"You certainly don't look it," the dragon murmured, eyes scanning her for a moment while he still had a smug grin on his face.

"Did you just… check me out?" the farmer blinked, then smirked slowly, "You trading down from Rarity?"

The dragon looked away, cringing at her comment despite an obvious effort on his part not to.

"It should be pretty obvious by now that I got over my childhood crush, AJ," he mumbled, annoyance slipping into his tone, "I'm not a kid anymore."

"No, I suppose not," Applejack frowned, scanning the dragon. He was still grimacing. "Don't tell me you want an apology just because I can't help seeing the little drake I helped raise from time to time."

"It's not that," Spike sat up, looking down at the now far shorter mare, "I don't like how you talk about yourself… All these casual comments about how you aren't pretty, or that you're somehow a downgrade from Rarity. It makes me sad to listen to that."

"Sorry," the farmer's face flushed in embarrassment, "I can't believe I've fallen to self-pity…"

"I think you need to get out more, see some friendly faces," the dragon smiled, "not work so hard."

"I appreciate the sentiment, partner, but this harvest needs to be finished on time," Applejack shook her head.

"Then I'll help you," Spike offered, surprising both of them. He decided to roll with the decision regardless.

"What about your ambassador jobs?" the mare asked, suspicious.

"I've actually been training Ocellus and Smolder to replace me in both positions," Spike confessed, shrinking in on himself a little. Applejack looked unconvinced, so he elaborated, "I can't stay in the castle anymore."

"What?" Applejack rounded on the dragon, shocked, "Why not?"

Spike looked at the mare for a moment before scanning her living room, looking at every photograph in turn. A sad smile tugged at his lips as he scanned the captured moments of happiness. He felt his heart grow heavy and decided to deflect the question a little while.

"I've always been jealous of you," he admitted. Applejack looked bewildered, not expecting the conversation to take that turn at all. The dragon decided to continue before she could force him to answer her question. "You have such a large, loving family. You're so close to everyone you're related to, and all of you meet up at least once a year. I'm happy to have Twilight and her family as my own, but… no matter how much they accept me, I'm still not quite a member of the family. I mean, I am, but they can't seem to decide if I'm Twilight's brother or son… Never mind my identity crisis."

"I thought you figured all this stuff out years ago, Spike," Applejack laid a comforting hoof on the dragon's forearm.

"It comes back, from time to time," the dragon gave a derisive laugh, "I've never known my blood family; never met my real parents, or any siblings or cousins. I've envied that about you. You remember your parents, at least; you have cousins and siblings. I know it's petty to want that."

"It ain't petty," Applejack chided, "I've… I've been envious of other ponies from time to time. Ponies with both parents still alive and kicking, I mean. Especially when I was younger. It's natural to want a whole family, to know your parents and where you come from."

"I can't live in the castle anymore because…" Spike took a shaky breath. "She's never around anymore." Applejack didn't say anything, letting her friend vent. "We used to be inseparable – I was always her Number One Assistant. As things in Equestria changed, though, she's become so busy with her job, and I with mine, and the few times I get to see her it's only for a few minutes… I can't handle it anymore; I need to be somewhere where I can spend my free time with somebody besides courtiers and bureaucrats! I need friends."

"Oh, Spike…" Applejack wrapped her forelegs around the dragon in an embrace, feeling the warmth of the magical fire within him radiating into her. She felt a strange sense of peace but forced herself to break away lest the hug become too long. She looked up at him, making sure their emerald eyes locked. "You can stay with me as long as you need, Spike."

"Really?" the dragon seemed surprised.

"Yes, really," Applejack smiled, "We've got plenty of rooms. All I ask is that you help with chores and the harvest."

"I can handle that," Spike beamed, "I think I remember what to do around the farm."

"Not much has changed," Applejack giggled, "We'll start early tomorrow. Normally I ain't one for putting off for tomorrow what can be done today, but this is a special occasion, I suppose."

The farmer stretched again, wincing at an obvious pain in her back. It hadn't escaped the dragon's attention the first time, and it certainly didn't escape his attention now.

"Applejack," he began, "exactly how much have you been working?"

"Oh, the usual…" the mare's mouth scrunched up as she avoided looking at Spike.

"Applejack…" the dragon repeated.

"Alright, so maybe I've been working double shifts!" Applejack huffed, "It's not like there's anything else to do around here, and I need to get this work done!"

"Lay down on the couch," Spike sighed.

"Excuse me?"

"Trust me, okay?" the dragon gave a reassuring smile.

Applejack narrowed her eyes at him as she approached the couch but couldn't detect anything suspicious. Once she was on the couch, laying down, she felt a little silly. Spike wouldn't do anything untoward, of course, but she suspected some kind of childish joke or prank. She shook her head clear of the thought. Even as a youth he had never been one to do that kind of thing to a mare with a stiff back. The sudden sensation of his clawed digits on her back, warm and strong, made her tense up and all but jackknife off the couch.

"Whoa there!" she exclaimed, glaring at the dragon with a blush, "Spike, you can't just touch a mare without her permission!"

"Would you have gotten on the couch if I told you I intended to give you a massage to ease your muscles?" the dragon asked, hands on his hips.

"…Maybe," Applejack avoided eye contact again, feeling Spike's eyes boring into her, "Alright, so maybe not. You know I don't handle pampering well."

"This isn't pampering," Spike returned his hands to her back, beginning massaging her muscles, "This is for your health. Celestia, your muscles are so swollen and stiff! For the next few days, you aren't working the field."

"Now hold on an apple-bucking minute-!" Applejack began, trying to rise but unable to resist Spike's hands keeping her firmly in place. He was stronger than she remembered, and she hadn't accounted for her exhaustion.

"No 'buts', AJ," Spike chided, "You can handle two or three days of not kicking trees. It's not like I'm saying you can't do any work; just not the strenuous stuff."

"So you're a doctor now?" the mare deadpanned then winced as fingers worked a particularly-painful bunch of muscles.

"I don't understand why you mares are always so stubborn…" Spike shook his head, "You're almost as bad as Rainbow Dash, honestly. All of you work too hard."

"That's rich coming from you," Applejack chuckled. She felt his ministrations slow.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked. Applejack looked up at him, seeing genuine confusion on his face.

"You were Twilight's assistant since you were a youngin, cleaning and writing her letters," the mare explained the obvious, "and you somehow found time to help Rarity at the Boutique and me on the farm, and help us on our adventures. You're probably an even harder worker than me."

"Huh…" the dragon smiled at her, "Thanks."

"For what?" Applejack was the confused one now, "I'm just telling you the honest truth."

"Well, no pony has ever told me I was an exceptionally hard worker before," the dragon shrugged, "I did all that work for all those years and I just thought it was expected of me. I didn't realize until much later that most ponies my age did considerably less work. No one ever thanked me for doing more than others." Melancholy touched his features, the sight of which made Applejack's heart ache. He smiled again, trying to hide it. "Are you feeling better?"

"It hurt a little, but it's getting better," she commented, neutrally.

"Just tell me where to massage and I'll do my best," Spike chuckled.

Applejack nodded agreement, occasionally instructing Spike where to work. Muscles that she hadn't felt in days ached in pain before being worked into soothing relief. Pent up stress exploded and faded away. Slowly, slowly her body relaxed for the first time in weeks, maybe months. She felt calm wash over her. She drank in the presence of another living soul, taking in the warmth of his hands. She felt an odd sensation, as if there was a white-hot cord of iron connecting them. The green fire inside him heated up the wire, funneling into her and igniting something primal deep inside her. It felt like an uncomfortable – but not unwelcome – heat in her core, an itch that needed scratching.

"Lower," she instructed absentmindedly, only half-lucid. Spike obliged, his claws flitting to her lower back. "Legs…" the mare murmured, almost drunkenly slurring her speech.

Spike tilted his head though she couldn't see it then shrugged. It made sense that her legs would need massaging, too. After all, she used her legs far more than her back in bucking apples. He shifted his claws towards her legs, but he hesitated from working her thighs despite the obvious tension there. It would be politer to start with her ankles and work his way up. He ignored the thoughts tickling his brain and the warmth in his cheeks as his dexterous digits massaged the swollen muscles of Applejack's ankles, claws working through mud-flecked fetlocks. Applejack giggled and twitched at his attention, causing the dragon to smirk. So, she was ticklish? He filed that away for later.

"Higher…" Applejack instructed, her voice taking on a dreamlike quality.

Spike felt his mouth dry a little as he began working her calves. Swollenness aside, they were strong, full limbs, yet not rock-hard muscle as he'd naively expected. They were… soft, supple, and a little tender from his massage. He absentmindedly stroked them for a moment rather than massage them. A contented sigh from Applejack made him remove his hands hurriedly, cheeks coloring.

"Higher…" she said, tone still thick with drowsiness. Spike hesitated. Maybe she was asleep? That would mean this was skirting into dangerous territory… She spoke up again, more lucidly, "Spike, why'd you stop?"

"Sorry!" he chuckled, returning to work.

His eyes widened as his clawed fingers dug into the soft, full flesh of her thighs. They were thicker and more muscular than he imagined, but in line with her figure perfectly lithe. How could she be Applejacked and still seem almost petite in her figure? He tried to focus on his work, worried his massage could be construed as groping as he worked the supple flesh. He bit his lower lip as his hands traveled further up. He worried where exactly he should draw the line when Applejack moaned and he stopped, eyes wide and cheeks crimson-hued.

"H-higher!" the mare exclaimed, snapping her head up with sudden vigor. Now completely lucid, shocked into full wakefulness, she blinked and gathered her wits, then looked back at the blushing dragon whose hands were full of her thighs. Color spread along her cheeks as she processed what had happened while she was out of it. "G-get your scaly hands off of me!"

Spike immediately obeyed, jumping back – tactfully out of bucking range, just in case. The mare stared at him and he stared back, both crimson-cheeked and wide-eyed. This was mortifying! Spike was like a little brother to her! To have gotten so… excited from his touch – it made her feel sick. What would he think of her? How traumatic that must be for someone who was probably like an aunt to take a perverse pleasure in a kind act… She looked at him and saw that while he was wide-eyed and blushing, he was staring at her intently, green eyes dark with desire, smoke gently wafting up from his nostrils.

Wait… had he liked that? No, that couldn't be. He was into fancy debutants and city mares, not an old maid on a farm. Then again, he had scanned her earlier. That had been a joke, surely. Still…

"Th-thanks for the massage, Spike," she said at last, "sorry if it made you feel uncomfortable."

"Not at all," the dragon said in a husky breath, a light cloud of brimstone-scented breath washing across the room to greet the mare's nostrils. He blushed at his own audacity. "I-if you wanted to stop, I understand."

Applejack did a double-take. If she wanted to stop? What the hay was that supposed to mean? Did he want to continue? Wait, why was she asking if he wanted to continue? Did she want to continue? She eyed him, feeling her eyes take on the same darkness as his did. That invisible, white-hot cable connecting them grew even warmer, even more charged. She felt it tugging, then. Oh no. Oh no, no, no! She shouldn't be feeling this way for Spike!

Against her rational thinking, she laid back down on the couch, this time with her belly up, blushing. Goodness, what would her family think?! She couldn't vouch for her parents, but Granny Smith would probably chastise her and tell her to take it out to the barn… It wasn't as if the Apples disapproved of premarital rendezvouses; quite to the contrary with some branches of the family. Spike only stared at her, mouth slightly ajar, unsure if he was reading the situation correctly.

"C-come on, now," Applejack stuttered, "we ain't got all night; we have to be up early for the harvest."

"Uh…" the dragon's blush spread, "Are you sure about this?"

"Spike, I haven't had a stallion show interest in me since Trenderhoof, and that fella gave me the creeps!" Applejack explained, propping herself up on her elbows, "I like you, I think you're a handsome dragon, and most importantly I trust you. Right now, I just… I need you. I know that sounds like something out of one of Twilight's weird novels, but-"

The mare was cut off by the dragon embracing her and bringing her in for a passionate kiss she was completely unprepared for. Her eyes were wide as their muzzles pressed together, lips locking. Her lids slowly dropped shut as she melted into it, feeling his forked tongue slither along her lips, begging for entry. She gladly obliged and within seconds their tongues were flitting between each other's mouths. She felt her way along his sharp teeth, picking up earthy flavors of various gemstones. She also felt his tongue – his impressively dexterous and long tongue – make its way around her mouth. Spike enjoyed drinking in her apple flavor – sweet, juicy, invigorating. He felt himself shudder with the effort for restraint.

"Let's take this somewhere a little cozier, sugar cube…" the mare suggested, short of breath. Spike nodded, picking her up off the couch and carrying her bridal style towards her room. "Whoa there, lover boy! I'm perfectly capable of walking!"

"Not after tonight, you won't be," the dragon chuckled, perversely.

"I thought you said I shouldn't do anything strenuous?" Applejack allowed herself to join in the banter, a similar grin crossing her rosy face.

"I'll gladly do all the work, my dear," Spike chortled.

"Oh, it's my dear now, is it?" Applejack giggled as they reached her room, "You gonna treat me like some dainty doll?"

"I respect you too much for that," the dragon laughed, laying her down on her bed. She looked up at him, excitement lighting her eyes, but he hesitated.

"Do you not want to?" the mare asked, disheartened and feeling foolish, "I-I understand! I didn't mean to pressure you or nothing!"

"It's not that," Spike assured her, grinning, "I was just… I wanted to try something I read about in a book, b-but I've never… been with a mare before, and I'm not sure how to ask…"

"Wait, you're a virgin?" Applejack furrowed her brow, feeling a little conflicted.

"Y-yeah," the dragon's blush deepened, "S-so?"

"Shouldn't you be saving this for someone special?" the mare asked.

"You are someone special," Spike said with a genuine smile. Applejack felt almost abashed by the blunt honesty of the statement.

"I'm serious, Spike!" she insisted, "You only get one first time! Are you sure you want to use it up on a mare like me?"

"I honestly can't think of a better mare, and that's not just the hormones talking," Spike crossed his arms, a little insulted that Applejack would think he didn't know any better, "Who did you give your first time to, then?"

"Uh…" the mare looked down, guiltily, "This, uh… this is my first time… heh."

"Are you kidding me?" Spike gaped, "W-wait, so all this time you've been chastising me about making sure, and you're a virgin too?! Well, are you sure?"

Applejack took a moment to consider it, forcing herself to not worry about his feelings in the matter or her hormones or her loneliness.

"Ever since my family's moved on, and our friends have gotten so busy, I've been awful lonely," she confessed, "and I've been trying to deal with it like I always do – without complaint. You're the only fella who's ever kept checking in on me, and the only one who's offered to help even when I'm too stubborn to ask. Shoot, I can't think of a single guy in Ponyville I'd rather have my first rodeo with. I guess I just never thought about you that way until tonight."

"Wow…" Spike was touched, "I… I'm sure of this, AJ. I want this."

"Alright then," the farmer nodded, smiling, "Now… what's this thing you wanna try?"

"It's nothing dangerous, I promise!" Spike gave a weak grin, "You might think it's gross or weird, though…"

"From what my cousins have told me, gross and weird can be a lotta fun," the mare giggled, "Lay it on me."

Spike shrugged before resting on his haunches at the edge of the bed. Applejack raised an eyebrow in curiosity, wondering where this was going. He felt his hands spread her things and blushed as she saw his fanged maw open and reach forward. Her breath hitched as he peppered her inner thighs and marehood with ginger kisses, eliciting a series of twitches and whimpers from her. Finally, he kissed her directly on her most sensitive region, causing her back to arch. She felt his tongue slither into her with its impressive length and she jackknifed, shoving his head closer with her hooves and shuddering at the pleasure.

"Good gravy!" she exclaimed, drooling as Spike mumbled a protest into her pussy. She released her hold on him, letting him breathe. "Sorry about that, sugar cube! I just… I've never felt that before!"

"Was it alright?" the dragon asked, wiping schlick from his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Mmm… feel free to do that whenever you'd like…" Applejack chuckled, "Did you like it, though? I can't imagine it tasted good."

"Actually, it was delicious," Spike beamed, "Tasted like apples."

"You're pulling my leg!" the mare snorted.

"Not yet I'm not," the dragon chuckled and they both fell into lighthearted laughter. They looked at each other, smiling softly. "Are you sure you're okay with this? You want to do this?"

"Absolutely," Applejack nodded.

"It won't change anything between us?" Spike asked, "It won't make anything… awkward?" Applejack shook her head, so he shrugged.

Spike stood up to his full height, before leaning forward and bracing himself. Applejack shuddered at the presence of the two, scaly arms on either side of her, just within her peripherals. Most of her attention was focused on the sharp features of Spike's face, hovering above her. Her eyes drifted downward as she watched his penis unsheathe from his lower body. Her eyes widened at the sight; it was way different than what she'd seen in anatomy classes or accidentally peeked from her brother. It wasn't as long, had a strangely-pointed head, and was…

"Are those barbs?" she asked, gaping at the little bumps of harder tissue decorating it.

"I prefer to think of them as spikes," the dragon laughed at his own joke. His dick hovered over her for several moments. He tapped it against her. "Knock-knock."

"For Celestia's sake, quit acting like that and let's get to it, already!" Applejack giggled at his antics despite a minor annoyance. She couldn't fault him, though; they were both lacking experience and not wanting to mess up.

Spike slid into her slowly. Applejack twitched at the pain of her hymen being breached while the dragon eased in, holding his breath in anxiety. As soon as the mare muttered a small "Ow!" and Spike caught sight of blood, he tensed, eyes wide and wondering what to do. He wasn't completely naïve; Twilight had taught him about pony anatomy and especially that of mares, since he seemed sexually attracted to them, in his early adulthood. He knew that this was a natural part of the process – cherry popping, to borrow one of Pinkie Pie's more colorful phrases. Still, the experience was different for each mare, some not being able to handle the pain, others not even noticing it had happened. He waited for a reaction from Applejack.

"W-what are you waiting for?" she huffed.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Spike furrowed his brow at her, "I don't want to hurt you."

"Don't flatter yourself," the mare chuckled, "I think I can handle it."

"All the same," the dragon glared at her, "I think I'll start off slow… Is that fine with you?"

"F-fine," Applejack muttered, still wincing at the pain.

Spike allowed himself to slide further in at a quicker pace, closing his eyes and biting his lip at the warm, moist cavern molding itself around his member. It was better than he could have imagined! So warm, so soft, so wet! It felt almost like an apple pie. The comparison threatened to make him burst into laughter, considering his dick was in a figurative "Apple pie". Still, he'd never believed the stories about sex, that it could feel better than anything else. He was blessed with warm hands and opposable thumbs, and so he could more easily masturbate than his peers, but even lotion and teenaged fantasies of mares couldn't measure up to the real deal. He pulled back and thrust forward, slowly and evenly grinding his way along Applejack's insides, feeling her suck him back in and hesitate to let him leave.

Applejack was having a different experience. Her hymen breaking had hurt. It hurt a lot. She had never given particular attention to sexual urges, save for a few moments born from a combination of lust and having nothing to distract her. She wasn't an expert on the subject, but she suspected so many years with so little attention had made the sudden penetration all the more difficult. Perhaps they should have engaged in foreplay a little longer? No, she decided she could handle the pain and work through it. She felt Spike move in and out of her, stirring up her insides and fueling the agony of her "graduation" to marehood. She wanted to beat him senseless, or at least demand he slow the hay down, but to do so would be to admit it hurt and she didn't want to appear weak after acting tough. Then, gradually, the pain disappeared and an entirely new sensation overwhelmed her. All the nerves along her inner walls tingled with the coarse brushing of Spike's girth. His heat radiated into her like a hot iron, but instead of pain she only felt its warmth. She began to melt, to lighten, to lift.

Then she began to scream and moan, brazenly and unashamed.

"Faster, Spike!" she demanded in her drawl, "Harder! Come on, now!"

And the dragon obliged, eagerly. He was raw, fierce, green eyes shining with powerful lust through a haze of smoke pouring from his panting maw. The sight of him over her, so threatening with glistening fangs and greedy want on his face lithe, muscular arms on either side of her, trapping her… it made her shudder in a wave of sudden pleasure. She'd rarely experienced orgasms, often finding other things to work out her frustration than masturbation, but they paled in comparison to the climaxes she experienced. One rolled into another as Spike simply pumped on, oblivious to how well he was doing and eager to do better.

Suddenly he pulled out, shocking the mare with the sudden emptiness and cool inside her. She looked up and yelped as Spike – eyes reptilian with Dragon Greed – flipped her onto her stomach. She said nothing, breathless, as he mounted her from behind, hands gripping her hips, and thrust with great speed and force, slamming into her with some hidden reserve of energy. She moaned loudly, tongue lolling out, eyes rolling back at the experience. Such energy! Such wanton passion! It made he mind white out momentarily. When she came to she realized he'd lifted her right off the bed and was standing on his hind legs, supporting her weight with his arms. Her eyes widened at the realization this position would be far more difficult with a stallion.

Then he began lowering her while thrusting his hips rapidly, gravity helping add more depth and power behind their coitus. Applejack screamed in delight, then shivered as she felt Spike's tongue slither along her neck and cheek. She turned her head quickly, not caring if it seemed desperate, and the pair kissed. Lips mashed, tongues wrestled, saliva dripped down their jaws.

"Applejack…" Spike breathed out huskily, some lucidity returning in his eyes, "I'm close."

"I-I don't suppose Twilight ever mentioned whether or not dragons could put a bun in a pony's oven?" the farmer asked, voice vibrating with the constant up-and-down motion of their love-making.

"She said the research was inconclusive," Spike huffed, straining not to orgasm, "since no pony has ever coupled with a dragon before."

"I guess our first time is the first time, huh sugar cube?" Applejack giggled then moaned as she came again.

"I-I'm serious, AJ!" the dragon let out a small whimper, "I'm gonna blow! Do I pull out?"

"Don't you dare!" the farmer snapped. Some small part of her mind, the responsible and rational part, questioned the logic of this course of action. Of course, it had been buried by a mountain of horniness even before they took things to the bedroom, and thus was resigned to wondering exactly what had come over her to make her like this. "Fill me up, Spike!"

As if her command was all he needed, Spike let go of his restraint and climaxed with a draconic roar, green flames erupting from his gullet at the same instance an abundance of cum erupted from his member. With the final slam, Applejack's breath hitched in her throat as she felt an overflow of dragon seed, hot as magma and harmless as cool water, fill her. She shuddered with additional climaxes, feeling the liquid expand her insides and spill out of her in a torrent of cream strands. Finally, the dragon fell backwards onto the bed, breathing heavily and no longer ejaculating. Only then could Applejack breathe once more. She felt his member begin to go flaccid inside her and lifted herself on shaky legs, savoring every inch that slid from her until it was done. Like a cork it popped out, followed by one last rivulet of cum.

Rolling off of the dragon to lay beside him on her bed, they both panted in exertion, staring up at the ceiling. With the hormones fading the realization of what they had done hit them full force, and with it came uncertainty and anxiety. They looked at each other, trying to determine what the other was thinking. Was their regret? Did this make things different between them? Awkward? No, they decided as they stared into each other's faces, smiles breaking out on their face. Not awkward, at any rate. Different, perhaps, but not awkward.

"I was gonna have you sleep in Big Mac's room," Applejack said, voice a little shaky from recently-recovered breath, "but it's a little late to be pulling down linens, and we have to be up early tomorrow. Why don't we bunk for the night?"

"You won't mind?" Spike asked with a cheeky grin. His tone was jocular, but it was a real question. Sure, they had just had sex, but he didn't want her to feel obligated or anything.

"Mind your warm body fighting off the chill?" Applejack laughed, rolling over, "I'd have to be crazy to mind that."

Feeling the night catching up with them, the couple quickly swapped the soiled sheets out for clean ones and cuddled together beneath several quilted blankets. Wrapped in the dragon's heated limbs, Applejack sighed in contentment. She could get used to this. It was a shame, she lamented, that the stay wasn't permanent. Eventually Spike would move on, she figured. Little did she know Spike was worried about the same thing in reverse, that eventually he'd overstay his welcome. Both of them pushed their anxieties aside, choosing to bask in the afterglow until sleep claimed them.

A/N: I should just say that I know some of this probably isn't "anatomically correct". Cut me some slack, please. This is my first clopfic.

I'm not sure if dragons are warm or not, or if they have magical fire inside them, but I felt it was in-line with the MLP universe.

I'd like to thank my good friend FallBlau on FiMFiction for helping proofread and edit this for me. His stories are way better, so check him out if you can.