> Growth through the Thorn
>  by Soniclink137
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Proposal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Alright now little pigies, it’s time to go back into your cage,” Fluttershy said sweetly in a sing song voice.  

The butterscotch colored pegasus mare was in charge of herding the farm animals and was getting the pigs to walk into a pen surrounded by a white fence. Next to her a brown and white dog called Winona was also helping with the herding. Fluttershy would gently nudge the pigs along the path she wants them to go; while Winona would bark to keep the pigs in line should she need to. Thanks to the both of them, the hearing didn’t last that long, as it only took a few minutes to get all of the pigs in.

“There you go,” Fluttershy said as she locked the pen door. “Remember, so long as you guys be nice boys you don’t have to hear Winona’s loud barking.”

Winona gave Fluttershy an annoyed look before she went off to play, her job now done. She ran off at high speeds, her tail wagging rapidly and her tongue out as she panted. She ignored all obstacles that she could pass through, including a pile of red, orange, and yellow leaves that was just raked up by a caramel colored earth pony stallion.

“Aw come on!” Caramel said as his pile of leaves went flying in the wind. “This is the third time I had to rake these leaves again!”

“I’m…sorry,” Fluttershy said as she turned her head away from Caramel’s direction and backed up. “I…didn’t mean for that to happen.”

“Caramel,” Big Macintosh said in a warning tone. Just like Caramel, Big Macintosh was raking the leaves of the field. He was at Fluttershy’s left a few yards away yet he still heard both Caramel and Fluttershy.

“I…didn’t mean that!” Caramel said. “I was just…stating my annoyance. I didn’t mean anything against Fluttershy.”

“Ya better not,” Big Macintosh said. “You best be careful now.”

Caramel was still on thin ice, or at least according to Big Macintosh he was. Because of a misunderstanding where Caramel was caught kissing an ex-marefriend of his, Wind Whistler, while he was supposed to be dating Applejack, Big Macintosh does not trust the farmhoof. The only reason he let Caramel back on the farm is because they needed the help. Beyond that, Caramel has to prove himself.

“Now, be careful there too Big Macintosh!” Applejack called out. She was a ways away behind Fluttershy doing the same thing as everybody else, but still at least able to hear what is going on, though just barely. “Caramel ain’t done nothin you need to yell at him for! If Ah though Caramel meant to hurt Fluttershy then Ah would have made sure to get him for that already.”

Big Macintosh did a 90 degree turn to his left to look at his sister. “Ah just want ta make sure he ain’t pickin on her,” the red earth pony said. “Ya said you don’t want me messin with Fluttershy, and Ah think Ah’m allowed ta want the same thing.”

“Ya can just so long as ya ain’t pickin on poor Caramel as well,” Applejack told him.

After that everybody went back to what they were doing before the whole argument happened, except for Fluttershy who proceeded to feed all the animals on Sweet Apple Acres breakfast. They all did it silently, whether it was because they had a rake in their mouths or because they had feed in their mouths. The silence kept on for a few minutes, until Caramel got his first pile done for the third time.

“Everypony look out!” Braeburn called out from far away.

Everybody looked over to see the yellow earth pony was running with a pig that strayed from the group when Fluttershy and Winona didn’t notice. He was running so fast that he lost the hat he usually had on his head, causing his brown mane to blow behind him. Though he still had his usual brown vest on.

“Open up the pen, quickly!” Braeburn said as he continued to chase the pig.

“Ah got ya!” Applejack called out, because she happened to be the closest to the pig pen at the time.

Applejack ran up to the pig pen and quickly opened it up for Braeburn. Braeburn chased the pig closer, making sure that it didn’t leave the path. His run brought him through the pile of leaves that Caramel just raked up for the third time, causing it to spread out for the fourth time much to Caramel’s disappointment. Just a few seconds after passing the leaves Braeburn managed to chase the pig into the pen, and just a few seconds before he reached the pen itself, Braeburn jumped to the left of the pen. At the right of the pen Applejack bucked the door closed to make sure that no pigs came out.

“Phew, that went well,” Applejack said. “Y’all ok there Braeburn?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Braeburn said. He turned around to look at Applejack. “I’ve ran with the buffalo before in Appleoosa, so this is nothing.”

Fluttershy walked up to Braeburn and Applejack timidly. “I’m…sorry I didn’t get them all. I was…I was so sure that I put them all in their pen but…I was…wrong. Sorry.”

“It’s alright Miss Fluttershy,” Braeburn said. “Your doin good with the animals. Ya just happened to miss one. It happens to the best of us.”

“But that means I have to rake these leaves up for the fourth time,” Caramel mumbled as he continued to rake up the leaves once again.

“Hey, y’all can at least be glad you’re getting help,” Braeburn said. “Ya gotta imagine how hard this would’ve been for them previous Runnin of the Leaves considerin it was only the two of them.”

“Yeah yeah yeah,” Caramel said as he continued to rake. 

He eventually finally managed to rake up his first pile for the umpteenth time, only to look over and see that Applejack and Big Macintosh both have about six piles of leaves, and even Braeburn was getting to work on some raking, though he was going slower because he was taking the leaves that were left behind by everypony else.

“Alright, let’s hope this pile managed so survive for more than five seconds,” Caramel said as he looked over to find another spot to rake.

As soon as Caramel turned his back to the pile of leaves he felt the soft feel of leaves hitting his hind hooves. As soon as Caramel felt that he rolled his eyes. He didn’t want to look back and just continue pretending nothing is there, but he knew he was going to have to anyways. Caramel turned around to see a white pegasus with a blue mane standing where his pile of leaves used to be, breathing heavily.

“Soarin’.” Caramel said.

He rolled his eyes as soon as he saw the pegasus.  Sweet Apple Acre’s greatest customer will usually drop by on the weekends when he wasn’t in Canterlot practicing with the rest of the Wonderbolts to buy some pie. Though this time he decided to literally drop by, much to Caramel’s annoyance.

“Soarin’ you’re here?” Applejack asked. “Didn’t ya get enough pie when you were last here?”

“That’s…not…why…I’m…here,” Soarin’ panted. He walked over to Applejack. “Rainbow Dash…is coming.”

The Apple Family all looked around at each other realizing exactly what Soarin’s vague statement means. Big Macintosh and Fluttershy both looked up in the sky at Soarin’s message for any trace of rainbow colors. Caramel decided to take this opportunity to hopefully be able to rake up the leaves without any distractions. Braeburn took it upon himself to figure out where the best hiding spot he could find was, and Applejack decided to question Soarin’.

“What does she want this time?” Applejack asked.

“She wants some apple fritters,” Soarin’ told her. “And yes, that is not part of her diet.”

“How did you get here faster than her anyways?” Fluttershy asked.

“The doctors told her to tone down her speed,” Soarin’ said. “But that doesn’t mean she isn’t right behind me.”

“Well I’m out,” Braeburn said as he went towards the orchard. “You’re in charge of keepin her away Jay Jay.”

“Yeah Ah’m on it,” Applejack said.

She looked up along with Fluttershy and Big Macintosh and eventually noticed the rainbow colors high up within the sky. Once those Rainbow colors passed by a white cloud, she also noticed a bit of cyan along with it. Those colors all came closer as soon as they reached the airspace above Sweet Apple Acres as Rainbow Dash descended to the ground. She quickly landed and then walked up to Applejack.

“Hey Applejack,” Rainbow Dash said. “Do you happen to have any of your amazing apple fritters around anywhere? I brought plenty of money to buy it with.”

“Rainbow Dash, don’t you have a diet to keep?” Soarin’ and Applejack both asked at the same time.

“Aw come on,” Rainbow Dash attempted to say smoothly. “You don’t mind if I do a little cheating on my diet? Just for one day? One little day? After all what’s the worst that could happen? It’s not like it really matters anyways.”

“Rainbow Dash,” Applejack said in a warning tone. “Don’t ya have somethin you need to take care of?”

“Ahh I’m sure he or she will be fine with just a little cheating on my diet,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy said in as harsh a tone that Fluttershy can manage. She stepped in between Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “You are pregnant right now. You have a foal growing in you as we speak. You are not just feeding yourself, you are feeding your foal as well, and everything you eat affects that foal.”

Rainbow Dash started backing up as Fluttershy continued her rant. “That is why you need to go on a diet. Now I don’t want to hear anything about you cheating on your diet. I don’t care how bad your cravings are, you are going to stick with your diet. Do you understand me?”

“Y-yes Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Geez,” Soarin’ said as she watched Fluttershy knock some sense into Rainbow Dash. “I’d hate to get on her bad side when it comes to foal care.”

“Ah reckin she probably gets it from her like of critters,” Applejack said. “She’s always takin care of the little critters so Ah guess foals are under the same category.”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh said as he looked at her with amazement, though he didn’t show it on his face. “She’s always so kind and makin sure that Rainbow Dash is a good to her foal. She would probably be a great mother herself.”

Big Macintosh looked over towards his sister. “Listen Applejack, Ah think it’s time.”

“Time for what exactly?” Applejack asked.

“Time to add a new member to the family,” Big Macintosh said. “Ah’m gonna propose to Fluttershy.”

Applejack’s mouth dropped in surprise. “Say what now?” she asked.

“He said he’ going to propose to Fluttershy,” Soarin’ told Applejack, which got him an annoyed look from the earth pony mare.

“This really proves it for me,” Big Macintosh said. “She reminds me of Mah. How she is always so caring to not only us, but the farm animals, and even other foals. She always really loved foals and would coo others foals whenever she passed by them and make them laugh.”

“Your mother…really sounds like a nice pony,” Soarin’ said as he swallowed hard. I should know that well.

“Yeah. And that’s why…Ah really want to propose to her,” Big Macintosh said.  “Ah think she would make a great mother and wife.”

“Ok Ah get that but…Ah think this is too soon,” Applejack said. “Ah mean, ya both have only been dating…”

“Around the same amount of time Soarin’ and Rainbow Dash have known each other,” Big Macintosh finished for her, making her argument invalid.

“Well…yeah but…” Applejack tried to think of a good excuse but she lost her excuse. 

In truth Applejack had always been worried ever since her brother and her friend started dating that Big Macintosh would take things too fast Fluttershy, or otherwise hurt her friend. Her worry was more for Fluttershy, who she believes won’t stop Big Macintosh from going too fast. She’s already seen a few circumstances that they both swear is a misunderstanding, like when she was first coming to help out on the farm Applejack learned they were both spending most of the day hidden in the orchard. 

“Listen you…Ah want you to make sure Fluttershy is ok with this if ya really plan on proposing to her,” Applejack said. “Ah ain’t about ta let you force her ta marry you if ya don’t want her to.”

“Ah ain’t gonna do that either,” Big Macintosh said. “Ah think she’s ready as well.”

“What’s that? My cousin’s about to get hitched?” Braeburn asked. 

“Braeburn you’re here?” Applejack asked as she turned around to see Braeburn walking from the direction of the orchard.

“Yeah, by the looks of things Fluttershy is doin a good job on Rainbow Dash, so I figured I could come over and listen in on the conversation,” Braeburn said. Braeburn focused his attention back at Big Macintosh. “Big Mac, you really thinkin about gettin hitched?”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh answered.

“Well that sounds like a good time,” Braeburn said. “I’ll wait for the announcement first, but it sounds like Pinkie and I have a party ta plan. Or maybe a couple.”

“A couple?” Applejack asked. Realization hit her face. “Wait…y’all ain’t thinkin…are ya?”

“Not yet exactly,” Braeburn said. “But maybe sometime soon. It wouldn’t surprise me if in the middle of all of this wedding planning Pinkie and I fell like havin one of our own. And it’d be better before another party she’s planning makes her feel like havin ‘one of her own’.” 

Braeburn looked over at the pregnant mare, still in the midst of backing up from the pursing rant by Fluttershy, and everybody followed his gaze to figure out exactly what he meant.

“So you’re both thinkin of getting hitched now?” Applejack asked.

“Yeah,” Braeburn said. “It’s about time too. It’s been forever and a day since the Apple Family has grown. We haven’t had an Apple Family wedding in years and all we’ve been doin is losing members. I think it’s about we bring a bit more happiness into the Apple Family.”

“Well I’m happy for you guys,” Soarin’ said as he cut into the conversation suddenly. Everybody turned over to look at him, surprised at his sudden statement. 

“I’m…uhh…going to get Rainbow Dash out of here,” Soarin’ said. “I think Fluttershy’s got the point across to Rainbow Dash and it’d be better if I get her out of here anyways. But yeah I’m uhh…happy for you. See you.”

“Not yet,” Big Maciontosh said. “Ah want you and Rainbow Dash ta be here when I make the question.”

“Wait, so you’re doing it now?!” Soarin’ asked. “Shouldn’t you get an engagement ring or something before asking her?”

“Ah don’t need it,” Big Macintosh said. “All Ah need is Fluttershy.”

“Obviously you haven’t seen a country proposal, city stallion,” Braeburn said while giving Soarin’ a friendly smack on his shoulder. “We ain’t about all the fancy stuff; we’re more about bein with our mares.”

Braeburn looked over once again at Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy and saw their conversation was pretty much dwindling down. So he yelled out “Hey over there! If you two are done here, Big Macintosh gots something he wants to say!”

Fluttershy’s head did a 180 while Rainbow Dash lifted her head to see what is going on. Both mares started walking back towards the group. Rainbow Dash took her side next to her husband Soarin’ while Fluttershy went in front of Big Macintosh. All eyes went on Big Macintosh, who was nervous even though it didn’t show on his face.

“Y’all were really good out there,” Big Macintosh told her to start, because he wasn’t sure where exactly to start.

“Well…thanks Mackie,” Fluttershy said as her checks turned to red. She always ends up getting embarrassed when using Big Macintosh’s pet name around other people, even though she likes saying it.

“Fluttershy’ ya know you’d make a good mother,” Big Macintosh said to her. “Y’all are so kind, and so caring. And ya always manage to make me smile. So Ah hafta ask ya Fluttershy.”

Big Macintosh sat down and picked up once of Fluttershy’s forehooves with both of his. He stared into Fluttershy’s eyes and popped the question. “Fluttershy, will y’all marry me?”
> Faint
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Fluttershy, will y’all marry me?”

Fluttershy stood there staring at Big Macintosh, her purple eyes staring into his green eyes. She opened up her mouth wide, but nothing came out of it. Big Macintosh could hear her steady breathing but it didn’t indicate anything besides surprise.

“Listen Fluttershy, Ah’m askin this now, but if ya ain’t ready yet Ah can understand,” Big Macintosh backpedaled just in case. “Ah don’t want you ta do anythin you’re not ready for. But if ya are ready than Ah want ta know if ya are.”

“I…I…eep!” Fluttershy managed to squeal before she fainted on to the ground.

Everybody gasped in surprise surrounded Fluttershy quickly out of worry and surprise as she fell to the ground in a faint, with her eyes closed and her mouth still opened. Rainbow Dash took the initiative and put her ear to Fluttershy’s chest to see if she still had a pulse. After a few seconds of listening Rainbow Dash heard the quick beat of Fluttershy’s heart.

“Alright she’s still alive,” Rainbow Dash said as she lifted her head up. “She just fainted. Come on everypony, let’s get her inside!”

Everybody, except for Caramel who was still more focused on raking the leaves and hadn’t noticed yet that Fluttershy fainted, worked together to lift up Fluttershy and  carry her. They all carefully carried her across the field to the red farmhouse. As soon as they reached near the door Applejack turned around.

“Caramel!” Applejack called out to get the farmhoof’s attention. “Get over here and get this door open!”

“What the…?” Caramel asked as he looked from what he was doing. He saw everybody holding up an immobile Fluttershy and guessed exactly what was happening. While he wasn’t sure why one of them couldn’t just stop carrying Fluttershy to open the door since they had more than enough ponies to carry her he didn’t question it and instead ran over to the door.

“Thanks Caramel,” Applejack said as he opened up the door.

“No problem Applejack,” Caramel said as they all walked Fluttershy into the house.

After making sure they all went in Caramel looked over back at his rake, to see that it feel on the pile of leaves causing the leaves to scatter once again. As Caramel looked at the leaves in disbelief he facehoofed. “Just…Fluttershy fainted so you should go check on her Caramel,” Caramel said as an excuse not to rake up those leaves for a fifth time. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s a good enough excuse for Applejack. I…hope.”

Caramel turned around and walked into the farmhouse.

~

Everypony placed Fluttershy on the long side of the couch when they reached the living room. By now Fluttershy’s mouth was closed so when they placed her down she looked like she was almost sleeping. Afterwards everypony else sprawled out around the living room and found a spot to sit down while they waited for Fluttershy to wake up.

“Well…that went well,” Applejack said as she looked over at her friend.

“Uhh…I haven’t read any of those sappy romance novels like Twilight or Rarity, so can somepony tell me if a mare fainting at a proposal is supposed to be romantic?” Rainbow Dash asked. She of course looked at Soarin’ while asking that.

“I don’t really know,” Soarin’ said. “I haven’t read anymore then you have.”

“I’m gonna doubt that’s normally romantic,” Braeburn said. “But hey, I’m not exactly positive on everything.”

“Well Ah guess we just gotta wait for Fluttershy ta wake up,” Applejack said. “Then we’ll hear her answer.”

But as they sat there and waited for Fluttershy to wake up she didn’t for a long time. They all sat there just waiting for a while, a few hours was surprising considering a pregnant Rainbow Dash was there, though she was pacing around all that time. Finally Rainbow Dash lost all patience and spoke out.

“Would you guys call me when Fluttershy wakes up?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I’m going to do some flying instead of waiting.”

“Rainbow Dash, do you remember what the doctors said?” Soarin’ asked.

“Yeah yeah I know,” Rainbow Dash said as she went for the door to the living room. “Keep the tricks at a minimal intensity and don’t overexert yourself yada yada yada.”

“Rainbow Dash,” Soarin’ said in a warning voice.

“I know Soarin’,” Rainbow Dash said. “I’m just going to make it some loose flying. It’s just something to do so I don’t lose my mind while waiting for Fluttershy.”

Rainbow Dash turned around and gave Soarin a look. “You know exactly what happens when I lose my mind Soarin’.” 

After saying that Rainbow Dash walked out leaving Soarin’ gulping with a reminder her many mood swings. Mood swings that she seems to only have around Soarin’ and never seems to have around their adopted daughter Scootaloo. Whether that was intentional by Rainbow Dash, or Soarin’ just always happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time Soarin’ did not figure out.

“I think I’ll go out and make sure she’s not doing anything she shouldn’t,” Soarin’ said. “As Rainbow Dash said, call me when Fluttershy wakes up.”

“Alright you two,” Braeburn said.

“Just try not to ruin the leave piles we made,” Caramel continued. “We worked hard all morning to rake them all up.”

“Whatever!” Rainbow Dash called back.

The two of them left the building and they both took off. Rainbow Dash signaled with her wing to tell Soarin’ she was just going to go around the orchard just in case he wanted to follow her. They both flew over the barren trees of the apple orchard, Rainbow Dash right in front with Soarin’ a few feet behind.

“You know you didn’t have to follow me,” Rainbow Dash said back to him without turning back.

“Yeah I know,” Soarin’ replied. “I guess I just wanted to do a little flying as well. Get a few things off my mind.”

“Worried about Fluttershy and Big Mac?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Yeah...kinda,” Soarin’ said. “Do you have an idea of why Fluttershy fainted?”

“She’s Fluttershy Soarin’,” Rainbow Dash answered. “There could be a number of reasons why she fainted. I don’t really know why.”

Well I hope everything turns out alright, Soarin’ thought. Braeburn was right; it’s about time the Apple Family got some new members. Those two…always hoped that their kids would find love and somepony to be happy with. Sort of like…how happy there were right before the end.

“Soarin’.” 

Soarin’ was too far in his thoughts and didn’t notice the voice calling out for him. He had his head facing down towards the orange and red ground as he flew over, not even paying attention to his wife.

“Soarin!”

This time Soarin’ actually looked up to see the purple eyes of his wife right in front of him, not caring about his personal space. As soon he saw that he flew back in surprise, his wings flapping franticly behind him. He eventually righted himself up and looked over at an annoyed looking Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah Dash?” Soarin’ asked.

“Come on, we’re heading back inside,” Rainbow Dash said.

“But we’ve only been out here for a few minutes,” Soarin’ said. “Are you really that…?”

“NOW!” Rainbow Dash commanded before flying back towards the farmhouse.

“Yes Dashie,” Soarin groaned. As they were flying back he mumbled “mood swings.”

They both flew back across the orchard and to the farmhouse. After landing right in front of the farmhouse Rainbow Dash quickly let herself in without bothering to knock. Soarin’ followed close behind her.

“Hey is Fluttershy still asleep?” Rainbow Dash asked as she walked in.

“Yeah, she still is,” Applejack answered.

“It’s…it’s mah fault,” Big Macintosh said.

“No it’s not your fault,” Caramel said in order to comfort Big Macintosh.

“Yes it is,” Big Macintosh said strongly. “Applejack, you were right. Ah…pushed Fluttershy ta do something that she wasn’t ready for. Ah should have waited longer before proposing to her. She wasn’t ready and Ah shouldn’t have pushed her too soon.”

“Big Mac…while Ah like ta be right ya don’t know that yet,” Applejack told him. “Fluttershy hasn’t said anything yet. All she did was faint. She mighta fainted out of excitement.”

“You and Ah both know that isn’t true,” Big Macintosh said. “Fluttershy fainted cause she didn’t know what ta say to me, and when she wakes up she’s gonna agree to the wedding even though she doesn’t want ta. Ah…know Ah’m really intimidating and can’t act forceful and Fluttershy thought Ah would hurt her if she didn’t agree.”

“Big Macintosh will you stop doing that?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I’m the only one here that’s allowed to come to wild conclusions around here. You don’t know nothing right now!”

“But Ah…” Big Macintosh started.

“But nothing!” Rainbow Dash interrupted. She walked up to Big Macintosh and ignored all personal space as she went directly in front of him. “Listen you, you don’t know anything until Fluttershy tells you, you got that?! So she might have fainted. This is Fluttershy were talking about! I’d be amazed if she didn’t faint during your first kiss together! The excitement could have just gotten to her and that’s why she fainted. Or she fainted from surprise. But I don’t want to hear a thing about ‘oh, she fainted because she doesn’t want to marry me.’”

“Fainting means nothing! Until you hear it from Fluttershy you don’t know how she feels about it! I went through the same thing with Soarin’. When I learned I was pregnant with this foal,” Rainbow Dash pointed her right forehoof towards her stomach, “I thought Soarin’ wouldn’t like it because he was really grumpy that day…”

“To be fair I was just out of a really hard practice so it wasn’t my fault that I wasn’t in the best of moods,” Soarin’ said. Rainbow Dash shut him up with a quick angry look that said “Don’t interrupt me!”

“Anyways…I thought Soarin’ wouldn’t like the fact I was pregnant because he was grumpy that day, but as soon as I told him it made his day. It was a complete misunderstanding between us that we could have stopped if I had just told him in the first place. So since you don’t want to go through the same thing I did, as soon as Fluttershy wakes up I want you to hear what she has to say! And don’t think she won’t tell you like it is! I have known Fluttershy since we were just fillies! She knows that she can deny you if she isn’t ready and you won’t hurt her. Hey, if you try then Applejack and I will kick your flank into next week.”

Big Macintosh was silent for a few seconds taking Rainbow Dash’s words, but of course those few seconds were beyond Rainbow Dash’s patience. “Well are you going to run away or what?!” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Eenope,” Big Macintosh said.

“It’ll be ok Big Mac,” Soarin’ said. “Remember when you were talking about Clementine you said Fluttershy is as kind as her. I’m sure as soon as she wakes up she’ll accept your marriage proposal.”

Soarin’ wasn’t really thinking of what he was saying before he said it, so those words came out of his mouth before he realized he said their mother’s name out loud. Luckily while it did get him a glance from Braeburn, nobody else particularly paid attention to Soarin’s slip of tongue. They were more focused on Big Macintosh’s problem than Soarin’.

“Eep!” said Fluttershy as she woke up.

“Fluttershy you’re awake!” Rainbow Dash said as Fluttershy sat up.

“W-where am I?” Fluttershy asked softly as she looked around the wooden room of the Apple Family living room.

“You fainted outside so we brought ya into the farmhouse,” Applejack asked.

“Oh I…did?” Fluttershy asked.

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh said. He walked up to Fluttershy. “Fluttershy Ah’m sorry.”

“Big Mac didn’t mean to scare you,” Applejack continued for him. “If it was too early then we’re sorry.”

“No, that’s not it,” Fluttershy said. She smiled. “I…was so happy when hearing that, that I just couldn’t contain my excitement. And I…guess I just fainted out of happiness.”

Fluttershy got up and walked right in front of Big Macintosh. “Mackie, do you really want to marry me.”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac said. “If ya want to.”

“Eeyup,” Fluttershy answered in an imitation of how Big Macintosh would say it, minus the accent “I will.”

There were hooves clapping and congratulations sounding as soon as Fluttershy finally said that. Both the stallion and the mare wrapped around in each other’s hooves in a tight embrace. After a few seconds of the two hugging they broke apart allowing everybody else to talk.

“See what did I tell you?” Rainbow Dash asked. “And you were worried.”

“Your right,” Big Macintosh said as he turned to face Rainbow Dash. “Thanks.

“No problem,” Rainbow Dash said. “I knew you would need some help. You stallions tend to always blame yourselves when things go wrong. You two have fun now.”

Rainbow Dash walked to the back of the room to let everybody else congratulate them and Soarin joined her. “Rainbow Dash, did you seriously know he needed you to tell him that?” Soarin asked her. “Is that why you went back in so early?”

“Maybe,” Rainbow Dash answered. “I just…sort of felt that I needed to be here at that time. I don’t know why I just did.”

“Well ok then but…” Soarin’ started but then he decided not to argue it. He let his wife have her random reason as to why she figured it out even if it didn’t make sense to him. His attention turned instead to the conversation up front.

“Well then guess we’ve got a party ta plan,” Braeburn said. “I better get Pinkie here right away so we can get started. Y’all probably also should go to Miss Rarity soon and see if she can help ya.”

“Ah don’t need her ta make me a tux,” Big Macintosh said. “Ah plan on wearin Papa’s old tux to the weddin.”

“I guess that sounds good,” Braeburn said. “Even if Uncle Earligold can’t be there ta see you married, at least he can be with ya there in spirit.”

“You’ve been hangin around the buffalo tribes a lot haven’t you?” Applejack but by then Soarin’ stopped listening.

Eraligold…Clementine, Soarin’ thought. I really wish you could have seen this. I really wish you could have seen your son get married. And I wish it wasn’t my fault you can’t.
> Scootaloo's Plan
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash both flying through the cold sky on the way to Carousel Boutique. Scootaloo was mostly going there to play with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, while Rainbow Dash had other reasons for being there. She was starting to show, and she needed the dress that is carrying in her saddlebags adjusted to adapt for her extended stomach for the weddings coming up soon. Both Fluttershy’s wedding…and Pinkie Pie’s wedding that’s coming up soon in Appleoosa. Which Scootaloo wasn’t happy about at all.

“You have got to be kidding me,” the orange pegasus said. As she said that her purple scarf that matches her mane hit her in the face, so she had to push it out of the way before continuing. “Do I really have to come?”

“Yes Scootaloo,” Rainbow Dash said in an annoyed voice. “You have to come to Pinkie’s wedding.”

As Braeburn predicted, as he and Pinkie panned for Fluttershy and Big Mac’s wedding he ended up proposing to Pinkie Pie. They immediately planned for both weddings and during that planning both Pinkie Pie and Braeburn decided to hold the wedding in Braeburn’s hometown Appleoosa instead of in Ponyville. Which means all involved in the wedding have to plan a weekend in Appleoosa in order to attend.

“Oh come on!” Scootaloo said. “I already have to go to Fluttershy’s wedding in a few days! Why can’t you let me go off for Pinkie’s wedding?”

“Because Fluttershy’s going to the wedding and we can’t find you any other foal sitters. So unless you can think of somepony to keep an eye on you while we’re in Appleoosa you’re going to have to come with us.”

Scootaloo thought for a second but her thinking caused her to stop flapping for a few seconds. As soon as she fell down a few feet Scootaloo started flapping her wings frantically, but it had no rhythm and accomplished nothing besides making her hover for a few seconds before falling some more. Rainbow Dash quickly flew under the falling filly to catch Scootaloo on her back. The impact caused Rainbow Dash to fall for bit from Scootaloo’s weight and the weight she is already carrying, but as soon as Scootaloo got back on her wings they both flew a bit higher to avoid the buildings of Ponyville.

“Careful Scootaloo,” Rainbow Dash said. “I already have trouble carrying you or this foal. I can’t carry both.”

“Sorry Rainbow Dash,” Scootaloo replied.

Rainbow Dash looked over at their location above Ponyville before looking back at Scootaloo. “Come on Scootaloo, let’s land,” she said as she started slowly descending. “We’re close enough to Rarity anyways.”

“Sorry Rainbow Dash,” Scootaloo said again. She started descending along with Rainbow Dash.

“It’s…ok Scootaloo,” Rainbow Dash said as she touched the ground, feeling the cold path on her hooves. “It’s just…becoming a little annoying to fly nowadays.”

“Well I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Scootaloo said as she followed suit. “After all you’re Rainbow Dash.”

“Yeah yeah Scootaloo,” Rainbow Dash said. They both stopped over at the Carousal Boutique and Rainbow Dash just went on in.

Inside instead of Rarity who they were looking for a blue Unicorn stallion with a white mane was working on the sowing machines. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo both stopped in surprise and looked at the stallion wondering what the hay he was doing here. Eventually the stallion noticed the two and paused his work to talk to them.

“What the heck are you doing here Pokey?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Where’s Rarity?”

“Rarity is in Canterlot right now, so she asked me to look after the store for her,” Pokey said. “Also because she should be looking after Sweetie Belle I also took that job.”

“Rarity is in Canterlot now?!” Rainbow Dash asked. “The wedding is starting soon. This is the worst possible time she could’ve picked to go to Canterlot!”

“Exactly,” Pokey said. “She’s been working herself too hard for the wedding so Twilight forced her to go on a quick vacation to Canterlot. And Rarity had me look after the place and finish up what she wasn’t able to.”

“Wait, so Rarity is overworking herself for Fluttershy’s wedding, but she didn’t for Rainbow Dash’s?!” Scootaloo asked, acting as if it is the greatest injustice in all of Equestira.

“Well the entire Apple Family is comin over for the weddin,” said a young voice from upstairs. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, both wearing scarfs, were walking down the steps of the Carousal Boutique, coming down after hearing Scootaloo’s voice. They both quickly walked up to where Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash were standing.

“So Ah kinda expect her ta be overworked,” the cream colored earth pony continued. “Applejack said that the Apple Family hasn’t had a weddin since before Ah was born, so pretty much everypony’s outgrown their fancy wear.”

“Rarity told me they either need new dresses or they need them all adjusted,” Sweetie Belle continued, “and Applejack apparently recommended them all to Rarity. She told me she’s glad for the business, but it’s really hard on her.”

“Alright fine,” Scootaloo said grudgingly.

“Well now that you’re all here you girls can go off and play now,” Pokey said. “Preferably…somewhere that isn’t here.”

“Alright we’re going,” Sweetie Belle said as she started walking for the exit, Apple Bloom right behind her.

Scootaloo started following them, but then she realized something, which caused her to immediately turn back to face Pokey. “Hey, maybe you can foalsit me during Pinkie’s wedding?”

“No, I’m going to be going to the wedding as well,” Pokey told her. “Pinkie Pie invited me, so I’m going.”

“Oh come on!” Scootaloo said. With another annoyed grunt she turned around to follow her other two friends.

“Are you really that against going to a wedding?” Sweetie Belle asked as soon as Scootaloo caught up to them.

“It’s not that,” Scootaloo said. “I still owe Rumble a day of hanging out with him and doing what he wants for helping me out. But we’ve both been too busy for me to make it up for him. So I was hoping we could hang out during that day since Rumble told me he had some free time that day, but I guess that’s not happening.”

“Why do I even need a faolsitter anyways?” Scootaloo continued complaining much to her friends’ annoyance. “I’m not a foal! I’m almost a teenager! I don’t need to be constantly watched by somepony!”

“Scootaloo, the point of having a foalsitter is not to have somepony watch you,” Sweetie Belle said, “it’s so you have somepony that can help you just in case something bad happens. Like say you happen to fall again while trying to fly.”

“Hey, who asked you?!” Scootaloo said angrily. “How did you know anyways?”

“I saw you fall,” Sweetie Belle said. “Don’t worry though, I’m sure Rumble won’t mind the fact that you can’t fly. So you don’t have to worry your little crush on him.”

“What?!” Scootaloo asked. “I-I don’t have a crush on Rumble!”

“Sure you don’t,” Sweetie Belle said. She activated her magic causing her horn to glow white and when she next spoke it was in Scootaloo’s voice. “Oh Rumble you’re so awesome. Will you please…be my special somepony?”

Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stopped their walk and had their mouths opened up. Apple Bloom was amazed, whereas Scootaloo was both amazed and offended. But they both did not expect Sweetie Belle to be able to do that and Apple Bloom even looked over at Scootaloo to see if she actually said that.

“How did you…?” Scootaloo asked.

“I was looking through Twilight’s spell books and I found an interesting spell,” Sweetie Belle explained, a smile deeply placed on her mouth. “I think you girls can figure out the rest.”

“Well I…I…whatever,” Scootaloo said, deciding to give up. “What are we going to do anyways? Besides walking through the snow?”

“Ah don’t know,” Apple Bloom said. “Ah’m just glad Ah’m even able to play with all the wedding stuff goin on at Sweet Apple Acres. There all really busy there.”

“That’s it!” Scootaloo said as she stopped and jumped, her wings fluttering. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both looked back at Scootaloo wondering what exactly she figured out.

“I know what we’re going to do!” Scootaloo said. “We’re going to go to Sweet Apple Acres and help them out! Soarin’s there also so if were really helpful, maybe he can get Rainbow Dash to let me stay here instead of going to Appleoosa!”

Neither Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle were exactly keen on that plan. “What are we even gonna help with anyways?” Apple Bloom asked. “Ah’m the only one here with a talent that’s actually useful fur helpin out with stuff like that.”

“I don’t know,” Scootaloo said. “We’ll think of something. How hard could it be to find something to help them out?”

“Well let’s see,” Sweetie Belle said. “I’m a singer, and you’re a daredevil. Where do you see that helping out with directions? It’s pretty much as Apple Bloom said: we’re don’t have anything that could help.”

“Well I’m also a pegasus and you’re a unicorn. I’m sure we can think of…” But Scootaloo was interrupted by a sudden snowball hitting her at the left side of her face. “OW!” Scootaloo yelled out as she looked over to see where the snowball came from.

“Kaboom!” yelled out a voice in a Trottingham accent. “The cannons have successfully hit their mark!”

“Pipsqueak!” Scootaloo yelled out as she saw the white earth pony with dotted brown spots. He was standing behind a snow fort with a pile of snowballs behind him, probably waiting to launch it at anypony who happens across the path. “I’m going to get you for that!”

Scootaloo hopped off the ground and spread her wings out. Flapping them quickly she flew up high into the skies, up to the point where the clouds were. She grabbed one of the clouds, still full of snow, and brought it down right over Pipsqueaks head. Scootaloo then flew over the cloud and stomped on it hard from her anger. With a burst of thunder a pile of snow fell on Pipsqueak, making the already white earth pony even whiter.

But just to add insult to injury, Scootaloo flew around the snow pile that was covering up Pipsqueak in a blur. She wasn’t able to really fly around the snow pile that fast, but it was fast enough to get it at least a few feet above Pipsqueak’s head. As soon as the snow flew away from him Pipsqueak looked up wondering what happened. It was of course as soon as he looked up that Scootaloo dropped the snow pile back on him.

“That’s what you get!” Scootaloo yelled as soon as she touched back down to the ground and kicked some more snow on the pile. “Next time try picking on somepony that can’t control the weather!”

Scootaloo walked back up to her friends who were both watching her with various expressions. Apple Bloom was pretty much indifferent to Scootaloo dropping snow on Pipsqueak while Sweetie Belle wasn’t looking too happy about that. As soon as Scootaloo rejoined them both and they started walking away Sweetie Belle used her magic to lift up the snow off of Pipsqueak. 

“Thanks fair maiden!” Pipsqueak said as the snow was thrown into a pile next to him.

“No problem!” Sweetie Belle said while trying to hide a blush. “I was…happy to help you. And maybe when I’m done here…I can join your crew?”

“If the maiden wants to,” Pipsqueak said. “I’m sure having another maiden joining my crew wouldn’t be too bad.”

“Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo called out as soon as she noticed Sweetie Belle wasn’t following them. “Come on already!”

“Coming!” Sweetie Belle said. She turned back to Pipsqueak. “I’ll…see you later Pipsqueak.”

“See you Sweetie Bell,” Pipsqueak responded.

“Was that really necessary?” Sweetie Bell asked Scootaloo when she caught up. “All Pipsqueak did was hit you with a snowball.”

“And I hit him with snow,” Scootaloo said. “That’s pretty much the same thing. Besides, it’s his fault he happened to hit a pegasus that can dump the snow on hi…” Scootaloo trailed off for a moment before she figured out something. “That’s it!”

“What is?” Apple Bloom asked surprised at Scootaloo’s suddenly epiphany. 

“Apple Bloom, Fluttershy’s having the wedding outside right?” Scootaloo asked as she turned to face Apple Bloom. “Right in front of your house?”

“Yeah, that’s what their plannin,” Apple Bloom responded.

Scootaloo looked forward and pushed herself further with a burst of speed. “Good! Let’s go! We’re going to do an early Winter Wrap up around Sweet Apple Acres!”

“Scootaloo, you were hardly able to lift the snow over Pipsqueak,” Sweetie Belle pointed out. “What makes you think you can get the entire yard?”

“Because you’re going to help me,” Scootaloo said. “Twilight said that they use magic in Canterlot to change the seasons. So we’ve got a pegasus and a unicorn to help make it spring there.”

“And what an Ah gonna do?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Well Apple Bloom,” Scootaloo said, “You’re going to help plant flowers all around the area. We’re gonna make the place look awesome! Come on girls!” Scootaloo dug her hooves into the snow and took off, running faster on the way to Sweet Apple Acres.

“Well this is going to be interesting,” Sweetie Belle said as she ran to follow Scootaloo.

“Ah…alright than,” Apple Bloom said as she followed suit.
> CMC Snow Clearer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Alright y’all let’s just take a little break,” Applejack said. “We can get back ta workin on the place later.”

There was the sound of hooves walking through the snow for a few minutes and then a door opening and closing. Afterwards there was silence with nothing moving on the yard. But eventually there was the shaking of snow covered leaves as Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle all hopped out of a snow bush.

“Good their gone,” Scootaloo said. “Let’s get started!”

Scootaloo walked forwards but as she walked she noticed she didn’t hear the sounds of hooves behind her. She looked back to see Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were both shivering and their teeth chattering from the cold, both their scarves white with snow. Scootaloo rolled her eyes when she saw them.

“Was it really that cold in there?” Scootaloo asked.

“Y-yeah,” Apple Bloom though the cold.

“H-how the heck are you fine?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Pfft, try flying above the clouds during the winter at night sometime,” Scootaloo said. “Then talk to me about cold.”

“C-can you try and m-make it a bit warmer?” Apple Bloom asked.

Scootaloo rolled her eyes before looking up into the sky. She flew up into the sky and above the clouds. Eventually some of the clouds parted directly over Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom and the sun shown down on the two, allowing then to warm up a bit from the sunlight. The snow quickly melted from their scarves and they felt much better.

“Thanks Scootaloo,” Sweetie Belle said.

“No problem,” Scootaloo said as she flew back down. She landed and looked at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell, her eyes brimming with determination. “Alright girls let’s get down to business!”

Scootaloo pointed a hoof towards Apple Bloom. “Apple Bloom, are you able to get the seeds from the barn?”

“Ah can try,” Apple Bloom said. “Ah don’t think anypony should be in the barn ta see me.”

“Alright good!” Scootaloo said. Apple Bloom nodded and walked over in the direction of the barn.

Scootaloo then turned over to Sweetie Belle. “Alright Sweetie Belle, will you be able to handle getting rid of some of the snow on the ground?”

“Some,” Sweetie Belle said. “I don’t think there’s any way I can get it all. I specialize in music magic and stuff that involves my voice. I’m not really that good with anything beyond basic telekinesis and low level magic that don’t involve my voice. And unfortunately none of those low level magic spells involve Anima Magic.”

“What are you, a dictionary?” Scootaloo asked. “What is Anima Magic anyways?”

“Magic involving fire, electricity, or wind,” Sweetie Belle explained. “But that’s beside the point. I’m going to have to lift the snow up with telekinesis and I don’t know how fast that is going to be. I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it before they come back from their break.”

“Well then…” Scootaloo looked around at the area when she noticed the white arch that was near the farmhouse. The arch looked similar to the one that was over a stand during Soarin’ and Rainbow Dash’s wedding, however the decorations on it were suited to Big Macintosh and Fluttershy.

“Right here,” Scootaloo said as she showed Sweetie Belle the arch. “If we’re going to get rid of the snow in one area then it should be here. This is probably where they’re going to put that same platform Rainbow Dash and Soarin’ got married on. So we should clear the snow away from here and make it look really awesome!”

“I…guess I can try that,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Good,” Scootaloo said. “As for me…”

Scootaloo looked up into the sky. “Heh, I’m gonna fly up and get rid of these clouds. It’s not going to really help that much since the wedding isn’t today, but maybe it’ll help melt the snow a bit.”

“Alright I guess…” Sweetie Belle said, but she wasn’t really paying attention to what was going on. She was instead looking at the area thinking of where she was going to get rid of the snow first.

As Scootaloo took off for the skies Sweetie Bell walked over to a few yards away from the arch. She looked at her distance between that location and the arch and didn’t really like it. So she moved a few steps closer and after looking back over at the arch she decided she liked the position she was in.

As soon as she got into the right position she put her horn close to the ground and it started to glow. As it glowed Sweetie Bell lifted up her head and the snow in front of her flew up along with her. She then walked around the arch in a circular area lifting up the snow as she goes counterclockwise around the arch. Whenever the snowball she materialized from the snow she was picking up got large enough that she was having trouble keeping it up she would throw it to her right to get it out of the circle.

As soon as Sweetie Belle got done making the large circle around the wedding arch she looked up into the sky. There was no sight of the orange pegasus within the air when Sweetie Belle looked up at first however eventually Scootaloo finally poked her head down from the clouds. As soon as Scootaloo descended near enough Sweetie Belle raised her hoof to bring Scootaloo down.

“Yeah, what do you need?” Scootaloo asked in an annoyed voice. She flew down and hovered over Sweetie Belle.

“Are you really doing anything that interesting that you need to ignore me?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Well I’m just…pushing clouds so…no,” Scootaloo said. She sighed “I have no clue how someone as awesome as Rainbow Dash would seriously push clouds for a job. It’s so boring.”

“I don’t really know,” Sweetie Belle said, not really caring. “Anyways, do you see this circle that I drew around the arch?” Sweetie Belle spun her hoof around so Scootaloo could get the idea.

“Yeah…and?” Scootaloo asked.

“I want you to push the clouds away around that circle first so that the sun shines down and helps warm up the snow,” Sweetie Belle said. “That’ll help me clear it out a bit faster.”

“Alright I’m on it,” Scootaloo said as she flew back into the sky.

Eventually little splotches of light started appearing around the circle as Scootaloo pushed the clouds away. As Scootaloo was pushing the clouds away Sweetie Belle was continuing using he telekinesis to pick up the snow around the circle going closer and closer in as she completes each circle.  It was very slow progress at first but as she got closer in and as soon as Scootaloo started clearing a wider area of clouds causing the sun to shine down and warm up the snow.

Scootaloo cleared the clouds around the circle Sweetie Belle asked her to much faster than Sweetie Belle managed to get rid of the snow. As soon as she pushed the last cloud away she looked down to see Sweetie Belle hadn’t even gotten half the snow around her circle. Scootaloo, annoyed at how little progress Sweetie Belle was making and how little time they had, flew down to see her.

“Do you need some help clearing this place out?!” Scootaloo asked in an annoyed expression. Sweetie Belle somewhat ignored her and kept walking around in the circle. “Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo yelled to get her attention as she flew around with her.

“You just move on with your cloud pushing around the area,” Sweetie Belle said. “I’ll be fine.”

“Sweetie Belle we don’t have a lot of time,” Scootaloo pointed out. “Soarin’ could come back from his break any time now! We need to be going 20% faster!”

“I’ll be fine,” Sweetie Belle said. “You’ll just do a messy job with it anyways. I’d rather do a good job then a sloppy job even if it isn’t as fast as it should be. Just keep clearing out the clouds and I’ll be done with this eventually.”

“Sweetie Bell, it’s not like it matters anyways,” Scootaloo said. “The weatherponies will probably move the clouds around before the wedding anyways so it’s not like me pushing the clouds will do anything. I might as well help out here.”

Before Sweetie Belle could further protest Scootaloo flew away towards the center of the arch. “Alright wings don’t fail me now,” Scootaloo said as she started flying around the arch in as high of speeds she could manage. …Which wasn’t very fast at all.

That’s…not fast enough to whip a tornado, Scootaloo thought as she flew around, remembering while she was flying to keep her wings flapping. Well then I guess instead of doing that I’ll try something else. 

Scootaloo paused in mid-flight as she thought of something that just might work. There was an advanced level flight trick that she saw Rainbow Dash doing one time while she was practicing. Rainbow Dash told Scootaloo not only it was an awesome trick but it also was an old Winter Wrap Up trick that was used a long time ago.

Heh, Rainbow Dash and Soarin’ told me not to try this move until I’m better but I think I can manage. It didn’t really look that hard to do. I’m sure I’ll be able to pull it off. After all, Rainbow Dash taught me everything she knows. And this will really prove that I can be left alone!

Scootaloo flew into the snow to the point of where her belly was touching the cold snow for a few seconds before she took off again and did a barrel roll as fast as she could. The wind force around her caused the snow where she hit down to come up with her, and the rotation drew snow around there in to fly up along with her.

Alright just keep this up Scootaloo and you’ll be able to get rid of all this snow, Scootaloo managed to think through the vertigo from spinning around too fast. She didn’t really expect how spinning that fast would affect her and it was hard for her to concentrate on where she was going. Heck it was hard for her to see where she was going with the world spinning around her. She eventually closed her eyes to try and avoid getting too dizzy.

“…loo!” Scootaloo just barely heard but she wasn’t able to make out what it was or where. She didn’t even know where she was flying anymore. She kept her wings flapping but by now all sense of direction was lost on her as she spiraled around and around and around. She could be heading on a direct route to the ground and she wouldn’t know it.

This…isn’t…working…out! Scootaloo thought. I…need...to…stop…spinning.

But Scootaloo’s body was not functioning as she wanted it to and she could not stop spinning no matter what she tried to do. She was having trouble gaining a single breath because the air around her was blowing all the oxygen away from her. The nausea was causing her to lose function all over her body and she felt on the verge of fainting. And to add more to it she felt snow hitting her constantly on all sides causing her to freeze up on all sides.

Eventually when Scootaloo reached her limit, when she was just seconds away from conking out she felt the wind pressure on her sides lessoning greatly. She was eventually able to stop spinning and she felt herself land on something solid. What happened after she hit that solid thing she didn’t exactly know, but whatever happened it brought her to the ground.

As Scootaloo landed on the cold ground she tried to figure out exactly what was going on so she finally opened her eyes. She tried to look around but all she saw was swirling white around her with maybe a splotch of color here and there but she was unable to get any idea of what those colors were. She was barely able to stay conscious right now, so figuring out shapes wasn’t going to happen.

“Scootaloo!”

“S-S…Soarin’?” Scootaloo asked. She tried looking at the area were the voice came from and she could just barely make out the white pegasus because of his navy blue mane.

“Scootaloo what were you thinking?!” Soarin’ asked harshly.

While Scootaloo wasn’t able to see her ears tuned into Soarin’ out of surprise. She had never heard the normally easy going pegasus yell ever before, especially at her, and while it horrified her she couldn’t block it out. She was compelled to listen to it.

“Rainbow Dash and I told you that is a dangerous move, we told you shouldn’t try that until you’re a better flyer! What in the world made you think to try it?! Do you realize what you could have done Scootaloo?! You were high in the sky and you didn’t look like you were going down any time soon! You could have flown too high and been unable to breath! You could have seriously hurt yourself, or even killed yourself Scootaloo!”

Every single word Soarin’ said almost hurt Scootaloo. This was the first time she was being yelled at by a somepony she trusts almost like a parent. Somepony who almost was a parent, even if it hadn’t been for that long. And it hurt. It really hurt her right in the heart.

“Soarin I’m…sorry,” Scootaloo said while trying not to cry in front of everybody. “I-I thought…”

“You thought you were invincible! You thought you were able to do anything you wanted to! It didn’t matter how good you actually were, you thought you were good enough! You overestimated yourself and could have hurt yourself or other ponies!”

“I…I…”

“Scootaloo you’re coming straight with me! We’re going back home and when we get there, you're grounded!”
> The Thorn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few minutes earlier

“Thanks for the pie Applejack,” Soarin’ said after he finished stuffing his face into a plate of apple pie.

“Uhh…no problem Soarin’,” Applejack said. It didn’t matter how many times the copper colored earth pony saw Soairn’ chowing down on one of her pies like it’s the only thing saving him from death, it always surprised her. She should be flattered that somepony likes her pies so much but still it sometimes just weirds her out. 

“Anyways, we should probably get back ta work. We can only keep Big Mac away for so long and you and Ah both know when he gets back he’ll insist ta do the work.”

“Yeah we should,” Soarin’ said. 

But before either of them got up they heard the front door slam open and two pairs of hooves running across the wooden floor. The kitchen door was the next thing to burst open so Soarin and Applejack looked over to see what exactly was going on. Apple Bloom, who happened to be carrying a saddle bag, and Sweetie Belle were at the other side of the door looking frantic.

“What goin on you two?” Applejack asked. “Ah thought y’all were supposed to be at Rarity’s place.”

“Soarin’,” Apple Bloom panted. “S…S…S…Scootaloo!”

“What about Scootaloo?” Soarin’ asked. He was starting to get really nervous based on how frantic their speech is.

“She…she…she,” Apple Bloom started but she was hardly able to get a word out no matter how hard she tried.

“Just come here!” Sweetie Belle yelled out. “Now!”

Soarin’ and Applejack both got up which signaled Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom to show them the way. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle quickly ran back the way they came with Applejack and Soarin’ in hot pursuit. They eventually burst outside at which Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom immediately pointed their right hooves towards the sky.

Outside there was snow blowing all around, to the point where it looked like there was a mini blizzard all around Sweet Apple Acres. The snow that Sweetie Belle originally managed to clear out was once again covered up. Vision was obscured in white because of the blowing snow. It was pelting the four ponies. And all if it was coming from a fast stream of spiraling wind, leading upwards towards the clouds. With the top of that stream pointing up to an orange pegasus filly that was going higher and didn’t look like she was going to stop.

“Scootaloo!” Soarin’ yelled out. 

His heart was beating faster than he would ever thought possible. Not only was Scootaloo at a point where she looked like she didn’t know what she was doing, but this was way too familiar to Soarin’. The look of how it is outside, what Scootaloo was doing, everything reminded Soarin’ of something he would rather forget. And it’s because of that Soarin’ is completely paralyzed. 

“Soarin’ ya gotta do something!” Apple Bloom said. She looked up to see Soarin’ staring at Scootaloo, but otherwise he wasn’t doing anything at all. “Soarin!” Apple Bloom yelled again trying to snap him out of it.

“Soarin’ what’s the matter with y’all?!” Applejack asked.

Soarin’ continued to be oblivious to all noise around him until Applejack gave him a quick kick in the side. That managed to snap Soarin’ out of it and he shook his head to get a thought in his brain. “I’m on it!” Soarin said as he spread his wings and took off.

He flew up to where Scootaloo is as best as he could considering there was high winds surrounding him and pulling on him at all sides. As Soarin’ got up closer to Scootaloo the winds were becoming more intense but that didn’t stop the Wonderbolt. He went over towards Scootaloo’s location fighting the winds as best as he could.

Soarin’ eventually got close enough to Scootaloo to see the orange pegasus well enough to notice the details. Her purple mane was moving being blown into a mess, even worse than it usually was. There were also several white splotches all around her body and wings from the snow that hit her. Her eyes were closed, yet she must still be conscious because her wings were still flapping frantically. But Soarin’s trained eye from working with Wonderbolt trainees could tell that her wing speed was slowly decreasing which worried him greatly. 

“Alright Scootaloo just a few seconds,” Soarin’ said even though he was pretty sure Scootaloo couldn’t hear him right now. “I’ll get you out of there.”

Scootaloo was spinning clockwise so Soarin’ flew around here counterclockwise to counteract it. He flew against the wind no matter how strong it was using all of his Wonderbolt training to combat it. Eventually the winds were getting less strong and Scootaloo was spinning slower and slower. As soon as Scootaloo was done spinning she stopped moving her wings and Soarin’ fell under her so she wouldn’t fall to the ground.

Soarin’ slowly floated Scootaloo towards the ground. After Scootaloo stopped spinning the wind she wiped up died down along with her so Soarin’ didn’t have to expend much energy getting Scootaloo to the ground. As soon as he landed he grabbed Scootaloo into his mouth and placed her on the ground in the snow. Once Scootaloo was in the snow she opened her eyes and started looking around, but she seemed so disoriented while looking around.

“Scootaloo!” Soarin’ yelled.

“S-S…Soarin’?” Scootaloo asked. She looked around disorientingly a bit more before her eyes finally locked on Soarin’, though not really on his eyes.

At that point in time, all the fear that hit Soarin’ when he saw Scootaloo could have hurt herself, all the pain from seeing that move be used once again, and all the anger from the memories he had all combined and he just blew up.

“Scootaloo what were you thinking?!” Soarin’ asked harshly. “Rainbow Dash and I told you that is a dangerous move, we told you shouldn’t try that until you’re a better flyer! What in the world made you think to try it?! Do you realize what you could have done Scootaloo?! You were high in the sky and you didn’t look like you were going down any time soon! You could have flown too high and been unable to breath! You could have seriously hurt yourself, or even killed yourself Scootaloo!”

“Soarin I’m…sorry,” Scootaloo said. She looked like she was just barely able to hold back the tears that were in her eyes. “I-I thought…”

“You thought you were invincible! You thought you were able to do anything you wanted to! It didn’t matter how good you actually were, you thought you were good enough! You overestimated yourself and could have hurt yourself or other ponies!”

“I…I…” Scootaloo’s voice was started to sound weak but Soarin’ kept on pressing.

“Scootaloo you’re coming straight with me! We’re going back home and when we get there, your grounded!”

And just like that all eyes were on Soarin’. Even though he was surrounded by only earth ponies and unicorns, besides Scootaloo, they all gasped at what he said. Grounding in terms of an pegasus punishment means that the disobeying pegasus kid will usually have their wings tied up so they can’t fly and they will sometimes be taken somewhere on the ground where they will be safe, yet not very accessible except for by sky so they can be in solitary while they think about what they’ve done. Pegasi on the coast will usually use abandoned islands for that purpose, though they usually won’t go that far away just to make sure their kids don’t get hurt by attempting to swim. It was a punishment that was seldom done, only for breaking very severe rules.

Soarin’ himself was surprised at how he was acting right now. Scootaloo was the closest thing Soarin’ had to a daughter, at least right now since he didn’t know whether Rainbow Dash was going to have a filly or a colt. And even though he hadn’t adopted her for long he still wanted to make her as happy as he could to counteract where he got the poor filly from. But the pain just made him lose all sight of reason and even though Scootaloo was next to tears he just couldn’t help it.

“Soarin’ she was just trying to help!” Sweetie Belle said as she walked over to Scootaloo’s left side.

“Yeah. We were just tryin to clear up all the snow for ya,” Apple Bloom continued for Sweetie Belle as she walked over to Scootaloo’s right side. “We wanted ta help you guys make this place look good for Big Mac and Fluttershy’s weddin.”

“And Scootaloo tried that move because she wanted to clear out the snow quickly,” Sweetie Belle said. “We were going to surprise you with it so we wanted to get it done fast.”

“Soarin’,” Applejack said as she walked up to face him. “Ah ain’t the one ta talk to ya about your family, but Ah think Scootaloo has learned her lesson mighty fine.” Soarin’ looked over at the filly who was still trying not to cry, though her face was down. “Yeah Ah mean, she did mess up but Ah’m gonna bet half of Sweet Apple Acres she ain’t about ta try it again.”

Soarin’ looked at Scootaloo and he calmed down. Seeing her face and really taking it in caused him to finally stop his anger, and then he felt really bad about himself. He felt bad about letting his past make him act so harshly to Scootaloo.

“Scootaloo…” Soarin’ said in as calm of a voice as he could make. “I’m…I’m sorry.”

Soarin’ walked up closer to Scootaloo and then crouched down to her level. Soarin’ took his right forehoof and put it under Scootaloo’s chin. He gently lifted that chin up to have Scootaloo to look into his eyes.

“Listen, I was just worried about you,” Soarin’ told Scootaloo. “You looked like you were about to lose consciousness up there and then who knows what would happen after that. And this whole situation…I’m sorry Scootaloo. I…just overreacted.”

Scootaloo was still silent though she didn’t look like she was as sad as she was before. Maybe. Soarin’ couldn’t exactly tell because he wasn’t that good with emotions but he thought Scootaloo was a little less sad.

“Well…at least I got somepony that worries about me,” Scootaloo said.

“Hey Scootaloo, how about I take you home, but instead of grounding you, let’s warm you up,” Soarin’ said. “You’re still going to be punished, but you’re not grounded.”

“I…guess that’s fair,” Scootaloo said unenthusiastically.

“Come on Scootaloo let’s get going,” Soarin’ said. “You can climb on my back for now until you’re ready to fly again.”

Scootaloo nodded and climbed back on to Soarin’s back. Before taking off though Scootaloo looked over at Applejack.

“Sorry but I…gotta take care of this,” Soarin’ said. “I’ll be back to help out tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Applejack said. She looked over at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. “By the look of things Ah got me a few extra helpers.”

“Aw man!” Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom both said at the same time. Apple Bloom continued, “We were only doin this because Scootaloo wanted ta get you to let her stay here durin Pinkie’s and Braeburn’s weddin.”

“Girls!” Scootaloo yelled from Soarin’s back, the energy back in her voice.

“We’ll talk about it later,” Soarin’ said. He then saluted in Applejack’s direction before taking off back towards Carousal Boutique to find his wife.

~

“Come on come on!” Rainbow Dash yelled.

“I’m working on it,” Pokey responded. He was finally working on adjusting Rainbow Dash’s dress after having finished a few other projects first. Yet now that he started the pregnant mare lost all her patience.

“Well move faster already!” Rainbow Dash yelled redundantly.

“Rainbow Dash, I’m not Rarity,” Pokey said. “So I’m not going to go as fast as your used to her going. Just wait a second.”

Rainbow Dash huffed and walked over to the right wall to wait. But naturally that lasted about five seconds before she lost all patience again. Soarin’ and Scootaloo just walked in when Rainbow Dash lost it again and yelled.

“Move faster Pokey!” Rainbow Dash yelled out in desperation. “Faster!”

“I told you I’m working as fast as I can!” Pokey responded back in anger. He noticed Soairn’ and Scootaloo walking in. “Why don’t you just go home and I’ll have it done by tomorrow. Plenty of time before the wedding.”

Rainbow Dash huffed and wanted to yell some more at him but when she saw her husband and adopted daughter she decided to cool it. “Fine I’ll go,” Rainbow Dash said as she walked to where Scootaloo and Soarin’ were standing.

“Uhh Rainbow Dash…” Soarin’ started.

“We’re going,” Rainbow Dash said as she passed by Soarin’ and went out the door.

“Alright Rainbow Dash,” Soarin’ said not wanting to annoy his wife any father while she was angry. He turned around and followed Rainbow Dash out.

“Rainbow Dash we need to talk about something,” Soarin’ said. “Scootaloo here, disobeyed our orders and nearly hurt herself doing a flight technique she shouldn’t have.”

“What?!” Rainbow Dash asked. She looked up at Scootaloo. “Scoots are you ok?”

Of coruse, Soarin’ thought. The normally easy going colt yells at Scootaloo yet the pregnant mare who looks like she's ready to kill me everytime I interrupt her on something minor doesn't. I fell even worse now.

“Of course I’m ok,” Scootaloo said. “I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

“Anyways…” Soarin’ continued, “Luckily I’ve already got an idea. Scootaloo here will help me set up for Fluttershy and Big Macintosh’s wedding.”

“Aw man!” Scootaloo said.

“Aaand," Soarin' continued, "you are going to be going with us to Pinkie and Braeburn's wedding, whether you want to or not. But because I will admit I was too harsh without explaining why I was harsh before. So I'm not going to tie your wings up Scootaloo, and so long as you do a good job, you're not grounded."
> Wedding Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack and Big Macintosh were both standing at the entrance to Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was wearing just a simple dress while Big Macintosh was wearing a fancy tux and looking extremely uncomfortable with it. They were both waiting for a certain thing to happen, something which Big Mac is nervous about.

“Ya ready for this?” Applejack asked.

“E-eeyup,” Big Macintosh said nervously as he looked over at the door again.

“Come on, it’s not like ya can mess up at your weddin,” Applejack told him as she playfully hit Big Macintosh’s shoulder. “All ya need ta do is say ‘Ah do’ and ya have her. And then ya gotta wait a bit on your honeymoon for after Braeburn and Pinkie’s weddin next week.”

“And what about you?” Big Mac asked. “How are y’all and Caramel?”

“Fine,” Applejack said. “Ah don’t he’s proposing to me anytime soon considerin we already have plenty of weddins ta go through. He might eventually, but that ain’t gonna be for a while now.”

“Alright. But when Ah’m gone me and Fluttershy better not come home hearin about any funny business that happened here,” Big Macintosh said.

“Ah ain’t gonna be alone while Ah’m here,” Applejack told him. “Remember Apple Bloom is gonna be here as well. Besides, y’all shouldn’t take out your nervousness on me. You’ll do fine Big Mac.”

Suddenly the door opened and Twilight, wearing her royal formal gear. She had a deep purple dress, similar to what she wore on a gala night a few years ago only embedded with gold within it, the same golden hoofshoes with a small gem shaped like her cutie mark on it, and the Element of Magic as a crown. As she walked in she looked directly at Big Macintosh.

“Well, it’s time,” Twilight said.

“Are ya sure you want to do this Twi?” Applejack asked.

“Yeah of course I am,” Twilight said as she turned to Applejack. “I would have done the same for Rainbow Dash and Soarin’s wedding, but you know how Rainbow Dash is. But this is something I’ve wanted to do ever since Rainbow Dash got married. It’s about time I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, officiate one of my friends weddings.”

“Are ya ready for it?” Applejack asked.

“Yeah,” Twilight said. “I’m a little nervous but I think I’ll be fine.”

Big Macintosh walked up to Twilight and nodded in her direction. Twilight took that as him saying he’s ready so she turned around and faced the door. Applejack walked up directly behind Twilight and Big Mac joined in the rear. With the three in formation they all walked outside where the wedding was about to take place.

Outside thanks to magic the place looked like spring. Thanks to the hard work of Soarin’ and Scootaloo the snow around Sweet Apple Acres was removed and thanks to the hard work of Applejack, Caramel, and Apple Bloom there were flowers everywhere. The only place there wasn’t flowers was the path leading out of Sweet Apple Acres because it was about to be walked on.

The ponies, including pretty much everypony in the Apple Family, were each lined up in gender order. On the left side of the field facing away from the stage all the stallions and colts were standing in two lines and on the right side of the field facing away from the stage the mares and fillies were standing in two lines. 

Twilight, Big Macintosh, and Applejack walked on to the white platform. As they walked on Twilight stopped closer towards the back in the middle of the platform, Applejack went off the platform and was at the front of the right line of ponies, right next to Apple Bloom and Babs Seed. And Big Macintosh walked front and towards the left of the platform, waiting for the bride.

Eventually from the horizon came up Fluttershy, in a white brides dress including a veil over her face. To her sides her parents were both walking with her, her father on her left side, her mother on her right. They all walked along the makeshift isle until they reached the front. That is when the bride’s parents both split off into the lines and Fluttershy walked up to the front right of the platform. As soon as the bride and groom stood up on the platform Twilight levitated a book called ‘what to say when officiating a wedding’ towards her and began reading from it.

“Friends, family, ponies of all ages,” Twilight began. “We are gathered here on this day to celebrate the union of Big Macintosh and Fluttershy.” Twilight realized she was once again having her voice be forced by reading from a book so she closed it up for a bit to talk. “On this day, this normally winter day if it wasn’t for the weather, that I’m sure is very significant to all of you. It was on this very day so many years ago, that Eraligold and Clementine both disappeared from our lives.”

While nopony noticed it, out in the crowed Soarin’ shuttered at the reminder of that day.

“On this day that brought about so much sadness to the Apple Family, we will bring out so much happiness with the marriage of these to. While some branches of the apple tree have been cut out much more will soon be grown. And through those new branches, many more flowers will bloom and many more apples will be born.”

After the more personal moment Twilight once again opened up the book and read from it. She turned over at Fluttershy while still reading the book. “Fluttershy, do you take Big Macintosh, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till your...” Twilight read the next part and wasn’t sure about it “shows end?”

Braeburn looked at Pinkie Pie across the aisle from him. “Were y’all the one that got Twilight that book?” he asked.

“Yeah, why?” Pinkie Pie asked. She was looking uncomfortable because she hasn’t moved in a few minutes.

Twilight looked at that line for a bit and decided to change it a bit. “Uhh…until death do you part?” Twilight asked with the refined line.

“Y-yes,” Fluttershy shyly said.

Twilight turned over towards Big Macintosh. “Do you, Big Macintosh, take Fluttershy, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh said.

Twilight looked into the crowed. “If anypony objects to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Rainbow Dash was about to jokingly hold up her hoof with a large mischievous smile on her face, but both Applejack and Soarin’ gave her a look to which she immediately put her hoof back down. “I was just kidding,” Rainbow Dash said, with guilt on her face, yet she still kept her mischievous smile.

“Then if there are no objections, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Twilight said as she once again closed the book. “You may now kiss the bride.”

Big Macintosh and Fluttershy came together and embraced each other in a passionate kiss sealing the deal. As the two kissed there was a loud cheering from the crowed as the ceremony ended. They broke apart and Twilight nodded for everypony to gather around.

“Alright Big Mac,” Applejack said as she got up. “Ah just hafta ask, now that the weddins done what do ya two plan on doin?” 

Previously Applejack asked the two whether after the wedding Fluttershy would be moving in on Sweet Apple Acres. Fluttershy was fine either way but preferred being at her cottage whereas Big Macintosh also wanted to join Fluttershy at her cottage but didn’t want to abandon the rest of the Apple Family at Sweet Apple Acres. So they both decided to talk about it for a bit before deciding something.

“Well we both thought about it,” Big Macintosh started.

“And we both decided that we will be living at my cottage,” Fluttershy continued for him.

“However Ah ain’t gonna abandon y’all,” Big Macintosh finished. “Ah’ll be back every day Ah can.”

“So Ah guess after this reunion, that means goodbye huh?” Applejack asked.

“E…eeyup,” Big Mac said.

“Not ta ruin the mood a bit more, but the same will happen after me and Pinkie’s wedding,” Braeburn said. “I’m gonna move out of here and Pinkie’s gonna move out of Sugarcube Corner after next week.”

“Are ya both headin to Appleoosa?” Applejack asked.

“Nah we’re still sticken around here Applejack,” Braeburn said. “Appleoooosa’s already got all the help it needs. Me and Pinkie are getting ourselves a house in Pooooonyville and I’m still gonna help ya out.”

“Ya sure you guys hafta leave?” Applejack asked.

“Yeah we do,” Braeburn said. “Trust me, when ya and Caramel get married you’re gonna want ta have the space as well.”

Apple Bloom nudged a brown earth pony with a pink mane. “What do ya think they need all that space for Babs?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I’d guess for when they get some foals or something,” Babs said in her Manehatton accent. “My papa always said ya need a lot of space for foals.”

“Nice reminder,” Rainbow Dash said as the pregnant mare looked at her stomach, which was obscured by her white dress. She looked back up, expecting some kind of reaction from Soarin’ but instead of getting that Soarin’ was busy staring over at Fluttershy and Big Macintosh, who were getting chats by both Fluttershy’s family and a few other memebers of Sweet Apple Acres. 

“Soarin!” Rainbow Dash yelled to get his attention.

Soarin’ snapped out of it and looked over at Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Dash, do you think that they’ll make good parents?” Soarin’ asked as he pointed a wing towards Fluttershy and Big Macintosh. 

“Yeah…I guess,” Rainbow Dash said. “Big Macintosh has been raising Apple Bloom along with Applejack and Granny Smith for years. I think they’ll be fine.”

“And what about us?” Soarin’ asked. “Do you think we’ll be good parents?”

“Uhh…sure?” Rainbow Dash said. “I’m not…really sure. We’ve been doing…ok with Scootaloo I guess. So yeah, when this little guy or girl is out I think we’ll do fine.”

“I hope so,” Soarin’ said. He looked back over at the Apple Family.

“What is wrong with you today?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I’m just thinking,” Soarin’ said. “I kinda wish Eraligold and Clementine were here to see their kids get married.”

“You don’t even know them,” Rainbow Dash pointed out because she didn’t know otherwise.

Should I…should I tell her? Soarin’ questioned to himself. Should I tell all of them? No, not yet. There is too much happiness going on right now. I don’t want to ruin it for all of them. Plus I know that they’ll hate me for it. And I don't blame them. I almost hate me for it.

“Alright everypony, let’s all head inside and let the party begin!” Twilight announced, snapping Soarin’ out of it.

“Come on Soarin’ let’s go,” Rainbow Dash said.

“…You go on ahead,” Soarin’ said. “I’m…not feeling too well. I think I’ll go home for the night.”

“Alright Soarin’,” Rainbow Dash said even though she was confused. “I guess I’ll…see you tonight. But your still going to go to Pinkie’s wedding with me, sickness or no sickness! That’s going to be the last time I see them for a while.”

“Yeah I know,” Soarin’ said as he took off before the guilt got to him. It’ll be nice to have a change of scenery anyways.

Rainbow Dash watched him fly and then shrugged. She then followed the crowed inside for the party that Pinkie Pie planned, with no care in the world. She was heading in to hang out with all her friends before they all split up with all of their growing families.
> News
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a bright spring day at Sweet Apple Acres as Applejack was busy working on the things around her empty home. Ever since Braeburn and Big Macintosh moved out, besides when they come over to work, Applejack has been pretty much left alone not including Apple Bloom. She hopes that somepony will change that soon, but that hadn’t happened so far.

Applejack went about what she was doing, which wasn’t much since the apples were blooming and she couldn’t do much apple bucking, Big Macintosh is usually the one who did seed spreading and things like that, Caramel did all the fixing up around here, and Braeburn also did a few odd jobs and did the cooking. The only thing she could really do was herd the animals while waiting for everypony to get here, which Fluttershy could do herself but Applejack likes to do it for her. Fluttershy already has plenty of animals to take care of at her house including her devil bunny Angel, so Applejack didn’t want to bother her with the animals around here as well.

“Yah, yah,” Applejack cried out as she one again had to herd the pigs into their pen. Dang pigs are always escaping, she thought as she tried to rope in all the pigs into the pen. Why is it always the pigs? Y’all don’t see the cows doin that…well lately anyways.

Normally Applejack would be good with this, but for some reason she was having a lot of trouble. She could not get the pigs in a unified line because they kept scattering off to do their own thing. When they did she would rope them back or have Winona bark at them but they were only two against an entire herd of pigs that wanted to do their own thing.

“Come on Winona, we gotta get these pigs in fast before Big Mac gets here,” Applejack said. “Ah don’t want ta give him the idea that Ah can’t handle things here.”

Winona gave out a loud bark and tried getting the pigs back in at least a circle so they both could get them out from there. Applejack rounded the pigs, while kicking up grass as she ran, and tried to scare the pigs into a circle. It worked for the most part, but the pigs were still frantic. Every time Applejack thought she got them all a pig would decide to move out, and then another, and another.

Applejack stopped for a moment, closed her eyes, and screamed in anger. She wanted to throw down her hat onto the floor and stomp on it out of anger but she managed to control herself that much. Why the hay is this so difficult today? Applejack thought. I have never had this much trouble with the pigs.

“Now come on you guys, please stop giving Applejack so much trouble and just go into your pen,” said a gentle voice.

Applejack opened her eyes to see Fluttershy talking to the pigs and herding them just fine, much to her dismay. Fluttershy managed to get the pigs in a line and into the pen in just a few seconds, versus the hour that Applejack took with no progress. That made Applejack feel even worse about herself.

“Listen Flutters, Ah’m…Ah’m sorry ya had ta do that for me,” Applejack told her.

“Oh it’s no problem,” Fluttershy said with extra cheer in her voice. “I wanted to come here anyways. I have something I wanted to tell you, so I flew all the way here before Makie comes here.”

“Ya wanted ta tell me something?” Applejack asked.

Fluttershy nodded. “Yeah!” she said.

Fluttershy walked up closer to Applejack. When she got close Fluttershy put her muzzle next to the orange earth pony’s left ear. She whispered for a few seconds in Applejack’s ear before backing up to see Applejack’s reaction. Applejack had her muzzle open out of complete surprise.

“Ya…you’re?” Applejack asked.

“Eeyup,” Fluttershy said, taking in her husband’s speech. “I’m off to tell everypony else! See ya later Applejack.”

Fluttershy flew off leaving Applejack standing there just looking in her direction in surprise. While Fluttershy was flying towards Ponyville both Braeburn and Big Macintosh were about to enter when they noticed Fluttershy flying overhead. The both looked up and watched as she passed by before walking up to Applejack.

“Did she tell ya?” Big Macintosh asked.

“Y-yeah,” Applejack said. A tear started flowing out of her left eye.

Braeburn chuckled. “Sounds like Fluttershy gave ya the same news that Pinkie Pie got’s huh?” he asked.

Big Macintosh and Applejack both snapped their heads towards Braeburn in surpise.

~

“Pinkie Pie!” Fluttershy yelled as she flew into Sugarcube Corner. But when she went in all she saw within the pink walls were the Cakes working the restaurant as usual. Of course after seeing that Fluttershy backed up a little out of embarrassment from her outburst.

“Pinkie Pie is in the kitchen honey,” Mrs. Cake said. “You can head back to meet her.”

“Umm…ok,” Fluttershy said shyly. She sheepishly walked over across the floorboards of Sugarcube corner to go in the back to the kitchen.

When she got inside the white kitchen the pink party pony was bouncing around working on the usual cooking. She seemed to be really peppy today while baking her cupcakes, even for Pinkie Pie, and she was also being hasty while making them. She was dashing around at speeds that would make Rainbow Dash jealous in order to get her work done.

“Hey Pinkie Pie!” Fluttershy said, excitedly but quietly.

“Hi Fluttershy!” Pinkie Pie said excitedly and loudly. She waved a hoof over at Fluttershy before bouncing up to her.

“Pinkie, I’ve got good news!” Fluttershy said.

“Really? Me too!” Pinkie Pie said with a bounce.

“Oh really?” Fluttershy asked. “Well…you can tell me your news first and I’ll…tell you mine after you.”

“No you go ahead!” Pinkie said. “You came all the way here to tell me. Your auntie Pinkie will go after you.”

“…Pinkie I’m a year older then you,” Fluttershy said.  She came to an idea. “How about we both say it at the same time?”

“Alright!” Pinkie said. “Three…two…one…”

“I’m pregnant!” they both said at the same time.

They both looked at each other in surprise after saying that. There was silence for a few seconds as they both looked at each other in surprise from their announcements. Eventually Pinkie Pie spoke.

“You are?” she asked unnaturally quietly.

“Yeah,” Fluttershy said. “I just learned this morning. What about you?”

“I learned last night!” Pinkie Pie said. “I’ve been trying to get done here as fast as I can so I can tell everypony!”

“I want to tell everypony too,” Fluttershy said. “In fact I’m going to see Rainbow Dash as soon as I’m done talking to you. I’m sure she’ll be able to give me a lot of advice for it since she’s only a few months away from having her foal.”

“So how far along are you?” Pinkie asked, not holding anything back.

Fluttershy blushed and turned her head back. “About…two months along,” Fluttershy said. “I…didn’t notice it because I thought it was a spring flu.”

“Same here!” Pinkie Pie said. “I thought I just had too many sweets, which I’ve been eating a lot of lately, because I’m apparently having cravings now, which is weird because I don’t really feel like I’ve been eating that differently, I’ve just been eating how I normally eat and…”

Pinkie Pie continued rambling on for a few minutes her subjects randomly, not saying on a subject for too long. Fluttershy respectfully let her continue rambling for a while without interrupting her, even if she wasn’t exactly fully listening. Eventually Pinkie Pie managed to stop rambling in which Fluttershy spoke.

“Well I should be going now,” Fluttershy said. “I know you need to get back to work.”

“Yeah I should,” Pinkie Pie said. “But we’ll all meet up later right?”

“Yeah we will,” Fluttershy said. “I’m off to see Rainbow Dash now. See ya later!”

“See ya Fluttershy!” Pinkie said as she went back to cooking.

Fluttershy left the kitchen and walked back though the dining hall. Once she was out of Sugarcube Corner she took off for the blue skies above Ponyville above the many buildings. While avoiding the weather patrol, she flew among the clouds flying towards Rainbow Dash’s cloud home.

Rainbow Dash’s cloud manor was outside of Ponyville, not really seeable from the town unless you are on the very edge of it. It was actually quite large, even before she adopted Scootaloo and married Soarin’, and Rainbow Dash likes to brag that she built it herself.  Though included now is a staircase leading to the ground so that Rainbow Dash can get into Ponyville while she is weighted down by her foal.

Fluttershy walked onto the small balcony of Rainbow Dash’s house and let herself in. She walked around the entrance and took a left to go the living room where Rainbow Dash will spend her time reading while she can’t fly. Soarin’ would also be in there with her on weekends when he wasn’t at the Wonderbolt headquarters training. Which it happened to be at that time.

Rainbow Dash was resting on the couch on her back with a Daring Doo book within her quite unamused face. Soarin’ was on the couch next to her with a smile on his face, a hoof on Rainbow Dash’s extended belly rubbing it gently. While Fluttershy walked in Rainbow Dash winced and Soarin’ smiled all that bigger knowing that was his foal kicking.

“Rainbow Dash! Soarin’!” Fluttershy called over at the two pegasi.

Rainbow Dash looked up from the book she was reading to see Fluttershy walked in. She put a smile on her face as she waved over at them. “Hey Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash said.

Rainbow Dash attempted to get up but the extra weight prevented her from getting up that well. Soarin’ used his strength to help her and eventually they managed to get Rainbow Dash back on her four hooves. After that they both walked up to Fluttershy, Soarin’ moving a bit slower so that his wife could keep up with him.

“Hey Fluttershy, what are you here for?” Soarin’ asked.

“I have good news,” Fluttershy said. “I’m pregnant!”

“Really?!” Rainbow Dash asked out of surprise.

Fluttershy nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah I am!” she said. “I’m going to be a mother soon, just like you will be Rainbow Dash!”

“That’s awesome Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash said. “Hey listen, if you need some advice you can always ask me.”

“Advice number one, be nice to Big Macintosh even if you’re really angry at that moment,” Soarin’ said. “Remember, you will probably feel better in a few minutes so it’s best not to take it out on him. He will thank you for it later.”

Rainbow Dash gave him an annoyed look to which Soarin’ responded with a nervous smile.

“Also Pinkie Pie is pregnant as well!” Fluttershy said without reservation.

“Oh…wow,” Rainbow Dash and Soarin’ both said. They both looked at each other with their eyes wide. The unspoken message of, avoid her while she is having her mood swings, passed between the two before they looked back at Fluttershy.

“Well…that’s…good for you guys I guess,” Soarin’ said. 

“Pinkie Pie is going to bring everypony together soon!” Fluttershy said. “As soon as we’re all done with work we’ll meet up!” Fluttershy fluttered for a few seconds. “I’m so excited I could just scream!” Fluttershy landed on the ground and she quietly yelled “yay!”

“Good for you Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash said. “I guess we’ll see you later then right?”

“Yeah,” Fluttershy said. “See ya later.” Fluttershy then ran out of the living room quickly in an excited run.

“Wow, Fluttershy is really excited isn’t she?” Soarin’ asked.

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash said. “This is probably the most outgoing I’ve seen her. And then just imagine what’s going to happen when Pinkie’s done with her work. The entire town’s probably going to know.”

“Yeah, it’s kinda nice if you ask me,” Soarin’ said. “It seems the…Apple Family is really growing. I’m…glad for them.”
> Friendly Chat
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Geez Apple Bloom, it looks like your family is really growing,” Spike said. 

The purple dragon with green spikes and Apple Bloom were both walking along the path out of Sweet Apple Acres and back into the main town of Ponyville. They Spike had his arms out wide while he walked and he was enjoying the nice hot summer air. Apple Bloom was on the other hand sticking as much as she could within Spike’s shadow so she didn’t have to face the full force of the heat.

“I mean, your brother is going to have a foal, your cousin is about to have a foal, and your about to even get another brother-in-law since Caramel proposed to Applejack,” Spike continued. “That’s like what, five extra family members?”

“Yeah Ah guess,” Apple Bloom said. “Mah family might be growin, but the house is kinda…empty. It’s only me and Applejack that are there, and nopony else. At least until Caramel can finally start livin with us, it’s just…really empty.”

“Heh, it can’t be anywhere near as bad as in the library,” Spike said. They both had just passed the outer buildings of Ponyville. “When Twilight is gone, it’s pretty much me and the owl alone most of the time. At least where you live Big Mac, Caramel, and Braeburn come in every day. The library hardly ever gets anypony to come in lately, and since Cool Breeze is finally born Rainbow Dash has been spending more time taking care of him or getting a few flights in instead of reading. It’s been getting…really boring.”

Apple Bloom bounced ahead of Spike on the dirt path. “Well if it’s so boring then why don’t ya work on cleaning the library or organizing it?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Because Twilight’s back anyways and…” Spike chuckled, “somepony else, or two somepony’s are already doing that.”

Spike hit the ground running, bound for the direction of the library. Apple Bloom, assuming that Spike was going to show her who is working at the library now, took the steps to keep up with him. Naturally Apple Bloom had the running advantage so she was easily able to catch up with Spike, but Apple Bloom decided to stay behind him and let him lead.

Eventually they reached the literal tree house that was the Ponyville library, and Twilight’s home whenever she stayed in Ponyville, which she did every time she is not needed in Canterlot for royal duties. Spike walked up to the door with a smile on his face and Apple Bloom followed closely behind with a look of wonder. With dramatic effort, Spike pushed open the door to the library and allowing Apple Bloom to look into it and see what all this drama was about.

“Why isn’t your wing fixed yet?” asked the annoyed voice of an orange filly Apple Bloom knows well.

“I don’t know,” responded another voice that Apple Bloom was less familiar with, but still heard enough to know who it was. “I guess I sprained it harder than I thought.”

“Ugg…fine. I’ll take the top shelves then.”

Apple Bloom looked in to see Scootaloo flying to the top of the left shelves, dusting them with a duster that she is holding in her hoof. Below her dusting the lower shelves was a light gray pegasus with a dark gray mane and his right wing held out at a strange angle. Neither of them looked amused, but Scootaloo looked downright annoyed whereas the light gray pegasus just looked bored.

“Scootaloo, Rumble, what are y’all doin here?” Apple Bloom asked as she walked in.

Scootaloo looked over at Apple Bloom. “Hey Apple Bloom,” Scootaloo said. “We’re here as punishment getting lost in the Everfree Forest.”

“Be glad,” Rumble said. “If they didn’t catch us then we probably wouldn’t be here right now.”

“Yeah yeah yeah,” Scootaloo said as she looked back down at Rumble. “You don’t have to remind me.” Scootaloo looked back at Apple Bloom. “We’re almost done anyways. But we would have been done sooner if somepony…” she looked at Rumble “told me that he couldn’t fly yet.”

“Sorry, but I didn’t want to disappoint you,” Rumble said. He looked around for a ladder, since he was done with the bottom shelves, and grabbed it. Rumble then went to the opposite side of where Scootaloo was dusting to start dusting himself.

“I know you were hoping we’d be able to start practicing today. And it is kinda your fault you didn’t notice my right wing still looks…” Rumble looked at his right wing “weird.”

“Yeah I get it,” Scootaloo said as she moved over to a different shelf. “Your wing better heal soon!”

“The doctor said I should be able to fly by tomorrow,” Rumble said without keeping an eye off his work. “So we’ll be able to train together then. We just have to wait one more day.”

“Well this is going to be a long day then,” Scootaloo said as she moved over to the next set of shelves. “I’m grounded from my scooter and we can’t do any flight training. I’m going to be so bored.”

“Well if ya both want, me and Spike can keep ya company ‘till you’re done,” Apple Bloom said. “Then we can all play with each other.”

“Really?” Spike asked from the outside of the library. He walked in to the library with an unbelieving look on his face.

“I’m ok with that,” Rumble said. 

Apple Bloom and Spike both went to the center table to wait for Rumble and Scootaloo to get done with their cleaning. Apple Bloom was perfectly fine waiting for them but not really Spike so much. Spike was annoyed that he was spending a day he didn’t need to be in the library in the library.

“Yeah I guess I’m fine with that,” Scootaloo said. “Though we should be done right now if somepony just told me he couldn’t fly yet.”

“I told you I’m sorry,” Rumble said.

“Yeah I forgive you,” Scootaloo said with a sigh. “But you owe me some impressive tricks when we finally start training. I’m sure Thunderlane taught you plenty of awesome tricks; though probably not as awesome as the tricks I’ve seen Rainbow Dash do.”

“Alright deal,” Rumble said.

“How are you guys done so soon anyways?” Spike asked. “I thought your punishment was reorganizing the library, not cleaning it.”

“Well that was the plan…but then I realized the library doesn’t need organization,” Twilight said. Twilight Sparkle, in her unicorn form like she usually is when she stays in Ponyville, came down the steps from the second floor to the first. 

“So I decided instead to have the two dust all the shelves,” Twilight continued. “They both already learned their lesson enough from getting chased around inside that forest, so I decided to let them off easy.”

Scootaloo and Rumble managed to round the library by the time Twilight got down the steps so Scootaloo landed back on the ground and Rumble got off the stepladder and they both stood in front of Twilight. They looked up at her expectantly hoping that they were done with their task for the day. Twilight took a step back at the two pegasi’s glances before looking nervously around the room.

“Alright…I think you’ve gone enough,” Twilight said. “You guys can leave now.”

“Finally!” Scootaloo said. “Let’s get out of here you guys!”

Scootaloo and Rumble walked over to the table and placed their dusters on it. Afterwards they both hoofbumped each other and Apple Bloom and Spike got up from the table. All four of them nodded to each other and they all walked out from the library.

“So what are we going to do?” Rumble asked.

Apple Bloom nodded. “Hide and seek at Sweet Apple Acres?” she offered up.

“Sounds good to me,” Scootaloo said. “But I bet I’m going to…”

“No flying!” Apple Bloom, Spike, and Rumble all told her at the same time.

“I wasn’t going to,” Scootaloo said in her defense.

“Sure you weren’t,” Apple Bloom said in a sing song voice before she hit the ground running, bound for Sweet Apple Acres.

“I wasn’t going to!” Scootaloo repeated as she ran off to catch up to Apple Bloom.

Rumble and Spike both looked at each other and rolled their eyes before running to catch up to the girls.

~

Soarin’ was flying through the skies trying to cool off. A couple days ago Scootaloo went missing, and while they found her and a colt called Rumble in the Everfree Forest, they were inches away from death. While he, Rainbow Dash, and Thunderlane were flying he saw the two of them just seconds away from getting mauled by a Manticore. If they were any slower, of Rainbow Dash didn’t dash off when she immediately saw them, then they wouldn’t be here right now. The stress of yesterday was still getting at him, so he just needed to fly. Maybe go to Sweet Apple Acres and grab a pie, but otherwise just fly.

Just…gotta calm down Soarin’, Soarin’ thought. Scootaloo’s safe and sound right now and hopefully won’t go into that forest anymore. And nothing else bad is happening. In fact, plenty of good things are happening. My son is born and healthy, Big Mac, Fluttershy, Braeburn, and Pinkie Pie seem to be doing fine. Also Caramel finally proposed to Applejack. It’s nice to see all that happening.

Soarin’ looked up into the sun for a few seconds before turning his head away before he burns them out. He took a deep breath before looking down at the green ground below him as it flows by. While he was looking down, he noticed Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Spike, and Rumble walking along the dirt path to the left side of where Soarin’ is flying. They seemed to be talking about something so Soarin’ flew a bit closer to listen in on what they were saying.

“Well Ah ain’t exactly sure,” Apple Bloom said. “Ah…never really met ‘em.”

“Do you know anything about them?” Rumble asked Apple Bloom.

Who are they talking about down there? Soarin’ questioned. He couldn’t see their expressions from up there so he couldn’t tell what they were feeling right now.

“Not really,” Apple Bloom said. “Ah’ve…Ah’ve always been told that Applejack and Big Mac are just like ‘em. So Ah guess the closest think Ah have to knowin them is those two.”

Oh please tell me that she’s talking about an aunt or an uncle or something, Soarin’ thought even though he knew exactly who they were talking about. Deep inside, he realized who Apple Bloom was talking about because she was right. They were sort of like Applejack and Big Mac.

“Do we really have to talk about this?” Scootaloo asked in a voice that obviously suggested the subject was touchy for her. “Can’t we talk about something else?”

“What’s wrong Scootaloo?” Spike asked.

“Take a quick guess!” Scootaloo said, turning her head to face Spike. “Remind me what happened one year ago?”

“Oh…yeah,” Spike said.

“Well at least you have Soarin’ and Rainbow Dash now,” Rumble told Scootaloo. “They’re pretty good parents right?”

“Yeah…they are,” Scootaloo said. “Still I kinda prefer what you got Apple Bloom. Sure your parents weren’t around, but I’d rather have two loving parents who aren’t around then two parents that ignored me most of the time. I wish I didn’t have to go through my entire foalhood with those two.”

“You two have it even better than me,” Spike said. “Not only don’t I know my parents, but if I did I’d probably learn that they’re both jerks. Just like pretty much my entire race is.” Spike lowered his head in shame.

“You ain’t a jerk Spike,” Apple Bloom said. “Or at least…Ah don’t think ya are. So ya can’t say all dragons are jerks.”

“So…that means pretty much I’m the only one here who has a normal foalhood and normal parents,” Rumble said.

“Shut up!” came the triple response to which Rumble tried to suppress laughter to.

“Well to your guy’s defense, you all turned out alright if you ask me,” Rumble told them. “Sure you guys might not have the best pasts, or really the best parents, but you guys got a great family anyways, now don’t you?”

“Yeah I guess,” Scootaloo said after turning towards Rumble, probably to give him some sort of look.

“Still you can’t blame us for wondering what could have been,” Spike said.

They all made it to the front gate of Sweet Apple Acres, at which they all stopped for a few seconds.

“Ah wish that Ah could have at least met my parents once,” Apple Bloom said.

That was all Soarin’ heard as after that he flew off away from the four kids and to his own things. Beyond that he was pretty sure the four of them would go off to play, plus he didn’t want any guilt to crush him anymore. He decided to go back home and hope that seeing his wife and foal will help him feel better. His foal that he can see grow up and hopefully see do great things.

That’s it…Soarin’ thought. I…can’t take this anymore. I’m…going to tell them. I’m not going to let this guilt crush me this more. Next winter…on the exact date that happened…I’m going to go over to Sweet Apple Acres…I’m going to bring my wife as well…and I’m going to tell them all. I’m going to tell them exactly what happened. And if they hate me…then I deserve it but I need to get this off my chest now.
> The Truth
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was that day. As the cold snow fell down on Soarin’s cloud home he knew it was that day. He promised himself six months ago that at this day, he would do it. He managed to survive all that long, trying to avoid the feeling of guilt of what he was about to admit. But now on the day that it happened so many years ago, Soarin’ was going to confess the truth to all of the Apple Family, and let them take it how they will. Even if they hate him for it, it’s something he needs to get off his chest.

After finishing up his breakfast in his cloud kitchen, Soarin put his bowl in the rainwater sink and walked upstairs where his wife, his son, and his adopted daughter are waiting even if they don’t know it yet. After going up the cloud steps he stepped up into a long hallway and took the first cloud door to the right.

Inside the room Rainbow Dash, currently in a blue scarf embroidered with a lightning bolt, was fitting their squirming light blue pegasus son with a mane filled with the cool colors of the rainbow into a violet coat so he could venture outside with the family. She was having a bit of trouble, as evident by her annoyed expression, and not being the most patient pony she looked like she was on the verge of giving up. But eventually she managed to fit him in the coat, to which she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Finally Cool Breeze,” Rainbow Dash said. “*sigh* could you have been any harder to fit in that?”

“You know you could have asked me,” Soarin’ said as he walked in to grab his Wonderbolt scarf.

Rainbow Dash looked over at Soarin’. “Yeah, I could have, but I need to learn to do this on my own,” Rainbow Dash told him. “You won’t always be available to help me get him in this coat, and if we happen to have more than one foal I’m not going to make you put coats on both of them.”

“More than one foal?” Soarin’ asked.

“I’m…not against it,” Rainbow Dash said with an elongated I’m. “We’ll see what happens.”

She…probably won’t want to after she learns what I have to say, Soarin’ thought pessimistically. But…I’m not going to let that stop me. I have to tell the truth.

“Rainbow Dash…would you mind coming with me to Sweet Apple Acres?” Soarin’ asked. “I…there’s something I need to tell everypony there.”

“Alright Soarin’?” Rainbow Dash said as she tilted his head and looked at Soarin’ with a questioning look. 

Rainbow Dash placed Cool Breeze into the pegasus foal carrier Twilight bought her and then walked out to the door. She looked over to the right and yelled, “Scootaloo, we’re heading to Sweet Apple Acres! You want to come with?”

“Yeah sure I guess!” Scootaloo said. “Just give me a second!”

There was the sound of movement and thunder as Scootaloo shifted around in her room, doing whatever it is that she’s doing. Eventually Scootaloo’s door opened up and she walked out of her room wearing her purple scarf and a random hat with red, white, and orange put together on four sections and a green propeller on top that was not doing well at covering her purple mane. She didn’t look too happy, and that propeller hat is probably why.

“Uhh…Scootaloo?” Rainbow Dash asked. Rainbow Dash and Soarin’ were both looking at her confused, while Cool Breeze was laughing, probably for unrelated reasons. “What’s with the…”

“I lost a bet to Rumble,” Scootaloo answered quickly. “I don’t even know where the heck he got this hat. I guess it looks familiar but that’s about it.”

“Alright we’ll take your word for it,” Soarin’ said as he attempted to suppress a laugh. He noticed to the right of him Rainbow Dash was also trying not to laugh.

“Can we just go?” Scootaloo asked. “Let’s get this over with.”

“What do you have to do anyways?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Scootaloo did not answer Rainbow Dash and just kept silent, her annoyed expression telling it all. Soarin’ figured that she had to wear it out for a day or something, just to embarrass herself. This wasn’t the first bet Scootaloo lost and it probably won’t be the last so both Soarin’ and Rainbow Dash were used to stuff like this happening. So long as it was all in good fun they were fine with it, and as far as they have heard it is all in good fun.

If it’s for today I…I almost feel bad that we’re dragging Scootaloo out here, Soarin’ thought. But I doubt it’s just for today if she’s so eager to get whatever it is done. Either way I’m not going to let it stop me. I can’t.

~

The three pegasi flew over the white ground through the gray skies, and the pegasus foal was flapping his wings frantically even though he was strapped to Rainbow Dash’s side tight and couldn’t go anywhere. They flew effortlessly through the cold sky as they went in the direction of the white trees of Sweet Apple Acres. The empty flat white ground passed by as they went through.

Scootaloo was flying more focused on just flying, Rainbow Dash was focused on her husband, and Soarin’ was focused on what he was going to say when he got to Sweet Apple Acres. The time when he was going to tell his secret was coming closer and closer and he knew it. He was so worried about everypony’s reactions that he was amazed he could keep flapping his wings.

“Soarin’ we’re here,” Rainbow Dash said snapping Soarin’ into facing up. 

As Rainbow Dash said they were all right in front of the red farmouse facing it’s snow covered roof. From there they could see Applejack working on shoveling the area, but they could see no other Apple Family members around. Soarin’ hoped if they weren’t outside that they were at least close. He didn’t want to repeat what he has to say multiple times. Once was enough.

“Applejack, where is everypony else?!” Soarin’ called out to the farm pony 

Applejack both looked up from their work to see Soarin’. “There all inside,” Applejack told him. “Fluttershy and Big Mac were thinkin about goin on an anniversary but…” Applejack looked inside, “they decided instead to spend the time with their family.”

“Heh yeah I can imagine,” the previously pregnant mare said. “Being pregnant is tiring enough, but I can’t imagin how it feels to have twins.”

“Alright then,” Soarin’ said with a sigh. “Applejack, would you mind coming with us inside? I have something I need to tell you all.”

“What do ya mean; you’ve got somethin to tell us?” Applejack asked.

“I…don’t want to repeat myself,” Soarin’ said. “Just…come with me.”

Soarin’ walked around the farmhouse and into the door. As he walked in there Applejack walked over to Rainbow Dash with a look of confusion on her face. They both looked at each other.

“I don’t know what this is about either,” Rainbow Dash told her. “He hasn’t told me or Scootaloo anything. Or at least…he hasn’t told me anything.” Rainbow Dash looked over at Scootaloo.

Scootaloo was facing in the direction Soarin’ walked but she sensed Rainbow Dash’s gaze. “No he hasn’t told me anything either,” Scootaloo said. 

“Well Ah guess there’s only one way ta find out,” Applejack said. “Let’s head inside everypony.”

~

Everybody got settled in to the living room. Big Mac and Fluttershy were both together on the couch on Soarin’s left, Big Macintosh barely getting enough room because of his pregnant wife next to him. Braeburn was currently alone on a chair next to Big Mac and Fluttershy, his wife probably at Sugarcube corner for the day. Applejack and her husband Caramel were directly in front of Soarin’ because that is where his focus is. Sitting at his right was Rainbow Dash who was rocking Cool Breeze back and forth with her hooves, and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were both sitting on the floor at corner in between where Applejack and Big Mac. Finally to Soarin’s right was the empty chair that used to belong to Granny Smith.

“Alright everypony…I have something I have to admit to all of you,” Soarin’ said. “This is…hard but I have to tell you.” Soarin’ took a long deep breath. “It’s…about your parents.”

“Our parents?” Applejack asked. “What about our parents?”

“I…knew your parents,” Soarin’ said. “It was for a short time, but I knew your parents. And…it’s my fault that they’re gone.”

“What?!” Applejack, Caramel, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Braeburn all asked at the same time. Big Mac himself lost his stoic expression for one of surprise and Fluttershy looked up questioningly at Soarin’.

They all looked at him silently for a few seconds before Big Macintosh decided to break it. “Ah reckin that y’all got a story to tell huh?” he asked Soarin’.

Soarin’ nodded. “Yeah.” Soarin’ took another deep breath before continuing. “It…happened a long time ago, back when I was just a colt:

~

If you saw me back then, none of you would recognize me. I was so much different back then than I am now. Back then I was a pretty rambunctious colt. I was that troublemaker that never followed any rules besides my own. I was brash and cocky, even more then Rainbow Dash ever was.

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash said, cutting in to Soarin’s speech.

“Sugarcube, would ya mind not interrupting,” Applejack said.

“Sorry,” Rainbow Dash said apologetically. Soarin’ rolled his eyes before continuing.

Anyways, during this day I was in a winter flight camp. We were flying back to Cloudsdale after a trip and Ponyville was in our path to reach Cloudsdale. At that time there was a large blizzard around Ponyville and even miles beyond. We heard from the weather station that the blizzard was going on for a while and out of control, and nopony knew when it would stop. So we all stayed close and didn’t do too much strenuous flying. We all went through the blizzard just fine until nightfall when we needed to stop. Our flight instructor got us a house and we all stayed in that house. 

It was in the house right before dinner. That was probably not the best time since we had already burned off a lot of calories flying through this place since lunch and most of us were famished at that point in time, but that was when it happened. Me and another pegasus, called Comet Blitz, one guy who I hated back then because he didn’t think of me as the best around, got in a fight. A very, very stupid fight. 

“Yeah right, there is no way you can fly normally in this blizzard,” he told me. “The winds are howling out there. Winds at that speed would greatly impede your flight.”

“Yeah whatever you dork,” I told him right back.  “This blizzard is nothing! A foal could fly just fine through this thing. You guys are just all a bunch of wimps.”

“I’m telling you that nopony can possibly do anything here,” Comet Blitz pointed out. “Our instructor is having trouble around here if you hadn’t noticed. Heck I don’t even think a Wonderbolt would be able to fly here.”

“Yeah I’m sure they wouldn’t,” I said sarcastically. “You want me to prove it? Because I can!”

“You’re going to seriously fly out there?” 

“Oh I’m not just going to fly out there,” I told him. “I’m going to do a trick out there. And not just any trick…” I thought about it for a few seconds before I came to a very stupid realization. “I’m going to do that one trick. That spinning trick that used to be used for Winter Wrap Ups. Yeah that’s it! Not only will I show you just how good I am, but I’ll also help us get out of here faster. Then you’ll be thanking me.”

“You wanted to try out that trick?” Scootaloo interrupted.

“Scootaloo…there’s a reason I was so harsh to you last year,” Soarin’ said. “I’m sorry for what happened but you reminded me of my greatest mistake ever. I didn’t want you to do something you would regret just like I did.”

“You know, y’all really don’t sound like yourself back then,” Applejack pointed out.

“I told you, I was much different back then than I am now,” Soarin’ said. “I…actually hate how I was back then.”

“Well go on,” Apple Bloom said. “What happened after that?”

“Soarin’ that’s an advanced level trick,” Comet pointed out. “You may be top of the class but that doesn’t mean you can do an advanced level trick especially in this weather. It’s just not possible.”

“Watch and learn Comet,” I said.

“Soarin’ you’re not doing this,” Comet said as he walked around me to the entrance to block me. “This is mad!”

“Heh, just admit that I can do it!” I told him. Truthfully I wasn’t even sure I was able to, so just getting him to admit it was good enough for me.

“No I’m not going to,” Comet said stubbornly.

“Then get out of the way!” I yelled.

I moved past him and out the door and into the cold blizzard. Giving him a cocky smile I spread my wings and took off for the skies. And that’s…the last thing I remember from that moment. I was told later that I did the trick well at first, and even bragged about it, but then I spiraled off into a random direction and nopony was able to find me. But I don’t remember any of that.

“So what does all this have ta do with my parents?” Applejack asked.

“That’s the next part,” Soarin’ said. “I’m…getting there.”

The next thing I remember is the sweet taste of apple pie in my mouth and going down my throat. I woke up slowly to the taste of that and as I looked up I noticed two earth ponies, a light green earth pony stallion who was wearing a Stetson hat and a yolk and an orange earth pony mare wearing a red bow, standing right in front of me who were sort of force feeding me the pie. After I fully woke up I backed up out of surprise from seeing them, and seeing them feed me.

“Who are you?” I asked. “Where am I? What happened?”

“It’s ok,” the orange earth pony told me. “You’re safe right now.”

I then once again realized that I was eating something. I looked over at the female’s face and saw she had a pie tin in her mouth with a slice of pie missing. They both obviously noticed my questioning look so they explained it to me.

“We heard a noise outside and when we looked out we found ya all tucked out there,” the light green earth pony explained to me in a country accent. “We brought ya in here ta get ya outta the cold, and when we did we heard your belly rumbilin somethin fierce. So we thought it might help ya by givin y’all a slice of pie.”

“Alright…” I said. “Thanks…I guess.” I noticed I was still hungry so I looked back at them. “Hey…do you mind if I…have a bit more? I’m still…really hungry.”

They both gave each other a look before nodding at each other. “Sure,” the orange earth pony told me. She dropped the pie off right in front of my face. “Here you go. Eat up as much as you want.”

“We’ll be in the other room if ya need us,” the light green earth pony said.

I started eating and as I did the two earth ponies walked away from me and into the other room. They closed the door, but they didn’t do it tightly enough to block out the sound. So while I was eating and they were talking I was able to hear everything they said.

“You know, that is out last…”

“Yeah Ah know Clementine. Ah know all about it. But Ah…it just feel right ta do that for him. Ah…you know Ah would feel bad if Ah did something else.”

“Yeah I know. Eraligold I…just want to make sure you’re ok with it.”

“You’re the one who gave that colt the pie.”

“Granny Smith did tell them they sould have packed a bit more just in case,” Big Macintosh mused. “But Pah was always stubborn.”

“I know I did. I just…couldn’t turn a blind eye on him. He’ll need the strength if he is going to go back to wherever he came from. But you know I’m still worried about…”

“Ah am too. I hope they’ll…be fine without us. They have Mah there with ‘em so Ah…hope they’ll be fine. Mah knows how ta take care of things.”

“I just wish Apple Bloom could have…”

“At least…we can give them a few things ta remember them by. Do ya know where the bag is?”

“Yeah it’s right here.”

“Good. Ah think ya know what ta do.”

It sounded like they were moving a bit around there but I just stayed there eating the pie and didn’t pay much attention to them. Eventually after I was finally finished with the pie the two ponies, Eraligold and Clementine, came in. They didn’t have any of their accessories on and instead Eraligold was holding a large saddle bag.

“Hey kid, do ya think you can carry this bag? It’s kinda heavy,” Eraligold asked me. 

He placed the saddle bag on me and as he said, it was heavy. I nearly feel with my four hooves moving four ways, but I managed. It just took me a bit to get used to the extra weight on my back.

“Yeah I can carry it, but I can’t fly with it,” I said. “It’s way too heavy for me to fly with, especially within this storm.”

“Ah figured just about as much,” Eraligold said. “Don’t worry Ah ain’t gonna have ya fly with it, especially since ya got close ta…” Earligold may have stopped but I knew he was about to say dying. “Anyways, all ya need ta do is take this to a place called Sweet Apple Acres. We’ll point ya in the right direction and all ya need to do is walk there. When your there just drop it off and then ya can head back home. Do ya think you can do that?”

“Y-yeah I think I can,” I said. I don’t know why I did since I used to never help anypony else and only cared about me, but maybe it was because they saved my life.

“Are you sure you’re ready to go out there?” Clementine asked me. “You did just faint.”

“Yeah I’ll be fine,” I said, still cocky as ever. “I’m feeling ok and ready to go.”

They showed me to the door and we all went out. When we went outside I noticed it was daylight, and probably the next day. In fact it almost looked like I was out for 24 hours.

“Alright, just go in this one direction,” Eraligold said as he pointed directly the way we were facing. “Just walk straight in this direction and wait until you reach a large red farmhouse. That is where you need to go. Just place the saddlebag at the door for us if ya would.”

“Alright. I will,” I said.

“Good luck,” Clementine told me as I walked off. As I walked off they both walked back inside the house and the last thing I heard was the slam of the door.

~

“So I did what they asked me to, and I brought the saddlebag over to Sweet Apple Acres and placed it in front of the door away from the wind,” Soarin’ said to finish off. “I didn’t know exactly what was inside but I had a good guess.” He looked over at Applejack, who was wearing a Stetson hat, Apple Bloom, who was wearing a red bow, and Big Macintosh, who was wearing a yolk.

Soarin’ looked towards the floorboards. “Afterwards I flew off and returned back to my flight group. I returned home and besides getting punished for flying off, nothing happened to me. But I still couldn’t get those two out of my mind. I still couldn’t stop thinking about them. So one day I returned back to Sweet Apple Acres to see them again…and that’s when I heard. Eraligold…and Clementine…both died. The night after I was there…they both died because they didn’t have enough calories to keep them warm through the night.”

“And you want to know what the worst part is? Do you want to know what hurts the most?” Soarin’ asked as he looked back up. “The next day the weather patrol finally got the snowstorm under control. The blizzard was over the next morning. All they needed to do was last one more night…and they would have survived. If I wasn’t an idiot, if I didn’t go flying when I shouldn’t have…they would have been able to share the pie…and they would have survived.”

“So now you know. It is my fault that your parents died. It’s my fault that your parents are gone. It’s…all my fault.”

Soarin’ stopped talking for a few minutes. As he was silent the rest of the room was silent, taking in Soarin’s story. Soarin’ noticed that everybody was looking at him in shock, not exactly sure what to make of him. There were no harsh words yet, but Soarin’ figured it was just a matter of time.

“So…that’s your story then?” Applejack asked. Soarin’ couldn’t read her voice but he looked over her and nodded.

“So Mah and Pah…?” Apple Bloom asked. There were plenty of tears in her eyes.

“Both died to give me another chance I didn’t deserve,” Soarin’ finished for her.

“Soarin’ aren’t you being a little hard on yourself?” Rainbow Dash asked. Soarin’ looked over to see Rainbow Dash staring at him…and Cool Breeze was asleep in her hooves. “After all, they seemed to both agree with it.”

“They wouldn’t have needed to if I didn’t brag about my skills and went out to prove them,” Soarin’ said. “If I wasn’t so cocky and stupid.”

Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Braeburn all caught each other’s eyes and a silent conversation came between them. They all nodded and then their eyes bored into Soarin’. Soarin’ gulped, expecting his punishment to come.

“Alright, come with me,” Applejack said. She got up from the couch and walked behind Soarin’ towards the door. Soarin’ got up and with shame in his steps, he walked to follow Applejack. Big Macintosh and Braeburn both got up as well to follow him.

They walked out of the farmhouse and back in to the orchard. It was a long walk but it was one Soarin’ felt he needed to go on. They passed by tree after tree as they went farther into the orchard. 

Eventually after a few minutes they reached a clearing. Within that clearing, Soarin’ saw three headstones that were covered in snow on the top, just like the floor around them. Applejack lead him over to those gravestones and that was where Soarin’ figured out where they were going. To the graves of Applejack’s parents.

“Well we’re here,” Applejack said. Applejack went behind Soarin’ and gave him a gentle push towards the gravestones.

“So what do you want me to do?” Soarin’ asked. He noticed Applejack walked up to his left, Braeburn to his right, and Big Macintosh stayed directly behind him.

“Well what do ya think?” Applejack asked. “Thank them.”

“Thank…what?!” Soarin’ asked. He was expecting to have to do something much harsher for what he did.

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Thank Mah and Pah. Ya know, fur savin your life?”

“But…shouldn’t you be angry with me?” Soarin’ asked. “It’s thanks to me that your parents are gone.”

“Oh believe me, Ah ain’t exactly happy with you about it,” Applejack said. “But it took guts ta admit the truth ta us. And as the Element of Hnosty, Ah can at least respect that. And we also know somethin y’all don’t know.”

“When Mah and Pah were found, they were found cuddling together, with a smile on their face,” Big Macintosh said.

“Ah never knew why they had such a smile on their face until now,” Applejack continued. “Ah never knew why they died either. But now Ah do. It was because they gave a stupid kid another chance.”

“And if ya ask me, that just gives me much more respect for Uncle Eraligold and Aunt Clementine,” Braeburn continued for Applejack. “And as for you, well I don’t think anypony here thinks any less of you.”

“Ya might have been a stupid colt, but at least we know Mah and Pah’s death didn’t go to waste,” Applejack once again continued. “We can’t change the past Soarin’. Ah’ve wanted ta bring back Mah and Pah so many times it ain’t even funny. But Ah know Ah can’t. Same way, ya can’t change what ya did. But ya can learn from it at least. Ya learned from that and Ah reckin ya did much better now didn’t ya?”

“And Mah and Pah had done all they needed ta do,” Big Macintosh finished. “And helpin ya out did plenty of good. It’s thanks ta that, that Scootaloo got out of that home and with you and Rainbow Dash, where she wanted ta be. And you’ve even got your own family that’s growin’, none of which would have happened if ya didn’t meet them.”

Soarin’ did a 360 to look at all of them. “So do you guys forgive me?”

“Well…Mah and Pah did decide ta help you even though it would hurt them themselves, so…” Applejack sighed. “They gave their lives ta save ya. Ah reckin…Ah can’t stay mad at ya if my parents were so kind to ya.”

“But do you forgive yourself is the question,” Big Mac said.

“It’s…still my fault that your parents aren’t able to watch you guys and see how you’re growing,” Soarin’ said.

“Says who?” Applejack asked. “Our parents are watchin us all the time. They might not be there, but they can still see us. And Ah reckin that they wouldn’t want ta see ya beatin up yourself because of it.”

“Alright…thanks,” Soarin’ said. He walked up to the gravestones. “Eraligold, Clementine, thanks. Thank you both. I still wish you could have been here to see this, but at least you’re watching. I hope you both are smiling at what you did, for everypony here.”

Soarin’ blinked a few times before doing a 180. “Well everypony…let’s head back inside,” Soarin’ said. “I think this calls for some pie.”

Everybody else rolled their eyes while still laughing. It wasn’t a happy laugh, because of the situation, but it was still a laugh nevertheless. “Alright fine,” Braeburn said through his laughter as he turned to leave. “But y’all owe me double the cost.”

“He’s kiddin by the way,” Applejack said as she saw Soarin’s reaction. “Ah think triple should just about do it.”

Soarin’ was aghast, but that didn’t stop the Apple Family. “Ah think quadruple,” Big Macintosh said as he turned to leave. “For every new purchase.

“Alright fine,” Soarin’ said.

“We’re kiddin Soarin’, we’re just kiddin’,” Applejack said as she and Soarin’ both left.
> Epilogue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The copper earth pony walked up across the wet grass in the orchard she owns, heading directly for a clearing she knows so well. She walked through the early spring air, going slowly because she was carrying extra weight, to a place that has much meaning to her. As she reached the clearing she walked to the center, and stopped in front of three headstones. When she stopped in front of them, she took off her hat and placed it on the grass below her.

On the gravestone farthest to the right, the name Clementine was written. On the stone in the middle, right next to the grave to the right as it should be, was the name Earligold. And finally, on the grave farthest to the right, the name Smith Apple was written, and that was the name the copper earth pony was most familiar with, only she knew it better as Granny Smith.

“Hey y’all,” Applejack said as she sat in the wet grass in front of the graves. She had a sad look on her face and attempted to avoid crying as much as she could. “Ah guess it’s time ta give y’all a bit of an update on what’s happenin.”

Applejack looked at the flowers that surrounded the area. “Ah think Apple Bloom’s gonna do fine now. It was a bit of a shock ta hear exactly what happened ta you two, Mah and Pah, but Ah think she’s recovered. It was a bit hard on her but thanks ta her friends she’s managed. Well, her friends and Twi’s assistant Spike. She’s also been hangin around him a lot lately. Ah don’t know whether Ah should be worried or not, but for now Ah think she’s just lookin for another friend ta help her.”

Applejack then looked to the sky. “Ah think she, and pretty much the rest of us have all forgivin Soarin’. That poor stallion still sort of blamed himself for you guys being…gone and all but when Apple Bloom told him she forgave him, Ah think Soarin’ got the biggest smile on his face. And it was even bigger when that same day he learned that Rainbow Dash was pregnant with their second foal. Now Soarin’ has Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Cool Breeze, and another foal coming soon. Ah reckin’ he’s got a pretty nice family started.”

Applejack noticed a few butterflies flying to her right. “Granny Smith, y’all will be happy ta know that Big Macintosh is also gettin a nice family started. He and Fluttershy both had their twins, and they were both nice and healthy. They were fillies, one a pegasus and the other an earth pony. And even though it ain’t Apple Family tradition, they named the pegasus filly Clementine after you Mah. The other one they named Fallawater Apple. Ah gotta say, seein those two whenever Big Mac and Fluttershy bring them over is great. Ah just love seein those two.”

“Speakin of seeing foals, Ah also get ta see Pinkie Pie and Braeburn’s new colt every once in a while, their little Apple Cobbler. Boy is that colt ‘bout high energy as his mother is. Ah swear he’s only ‘bout a few months old and already Pinkie and Braeburn can hardly keep an eye on the little foal. But his mother definitely enjoys him and whenever Ah’m at their house Ah can always hear the sound of laughter.”

Applejack, about done with what she was going to say, got up from her spot and put her hat back on. “Ah guess I’ve been rambilin on for a bit longer then Ah should,” Applejack said. “Ah should head back ta doin my work. But Ah’ve got one more thing Ah need ta say before Ah’m off. Rainbow Dash ain’t the only one who’s expectin right about now.”

Applejack walked over towards a small pond to the right of the gravestones. She looked into the water to take in her reflection. It took a bit of leaning for her to see what she wanted to see, and she nearly fell into the water to do so, but she managed. She managed to get just close enough to the lake to look at the reflection of her elongated stomach because she is carrying a foal inside that stomach.

“Ah learned this just a few days after we brought Soarin’ over here, and it’s about time Ah told y’all this,” Applejack said. “Ah’m…pregnant myself. Ah’m gonna have my own foal sometime soon. And after talkin about it with Caramel, Ah bet you guys know exactly what Ah’m gonna name him or her when they’re born.”

Applejack walked back over to the three graves one more time. “If Ah happen ta have a colt, Ah’m gonna name him Eraligold, and hope that the colt is gonna be as selfless as Pah was. And if Ah happen ta have a filly, Ah’m gonna name her Smith Apple, after the mare that raised me after you were gone, Mah and Pah, and Ah hope she’s gonna be as kind as you were Granny Smith.”

Applejack looked up at the skies and saw the sun getting close to the center of the sky. “Well Ah guess that’s all Ah’ve got ta say ta you guys for now. But Ah’ll be back later. And someday, when my foal is old enough ta understand, Ah’ll bring him here. And Ah’ll tell him all about what y’all did for me, for us, for Ponyville, and for Equestria.”

And with that, the farmpony tipped her hat in the direction of her family’s grave before walking off to where her husband, sister, brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew were all waiting for her. As she walked off she passed a small tear down her face. That tear was one of great sadness for the three ponies who are lost to this world. But it was also one of great happiness as she knew that their family was growing much larger, and she knew wherever those three were, they were smiling down on all of them.