Applejack and Rainbow have been together a while and life is good. Too good in fact. They've been living the dream, but the fabric of reality quickly unwinds for the rainbow maned pegasus. Sometimes, things aren't quite what they seem. Other times, maybe they're exactly what you want them to be.

“The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple.” -Oscar Wilde

My submission for the Appldash contest here.
Props go to Gutovi-kun for editing for me. Thanks again.

Big Macintosh is a stallion of few words, but that doesn't mean he's slow or uneducated. Unknown to any outside the Apple family, he's a wiz at math and finds himself smitten with the one pony who could share his love for numbers, and who just so happens to be the personal student of Princess Celestia; Twilight Sparkle. With a "gentle" nudge from his persistent sister, Big Mac manages a date with the purple unicorn, but a relationship might turn out to be more work than either one bargained for.

Featured on Equestria Daily on January 8, 2013.

On the eve of Hearth's Warming, families gather around the comfort of warm fires and tell the stories of the holiday. But not everypony can have that luxury.

One pony walks the cold land, abandoned to the chill of the winter weather. But, while wandering the streets of Ponyville, the stallion notices a particular pink pony smiling at him from the window of a local bakery. Little did he know that her simple gesture would change his life forever.

And, as he looks back on his life, he will know that a miracle did happen on that one Hearth's Warming Eve.

Applejack has always had a secret dream, one that some ponies would find strange for the tomboyish farmer. She's always wanted somepony to treat her to a special romantic night, while being treated like a real lady. Turns out all she had to do was have a certain rainbow-maned pegasus catch her in a dress. Such an awkward moment will lead them to a night neither will ever forget.

WINNER OF THE APPLEDASH CONTEST!

Also on Equestria Daily

Frederic Horseshoepin was born to be a pianist.

Frederic Horseshoepin was the most gifted student his instructor had ever taught.

Frederic Horseshoepin was the top of his class in music school.

Frederic Horseshoepin has been chosen to play a concert at Cantergie Hall.

So why has Frederic Horseshoepin never been good enough?

Twinkie Pie. Appledash. Rareshy. You know these pairings and may have favorites of your own. But what if every member of the Mane Six were paired with every other member in the same fanfic?! That's what the Combinatorics Project is--an epic treasury of fifteen ships spread across five parallel universes increasingly full of plot and whimsy. Can you guess which couple is which?
* The angster and her secret admirer
* The burlesque showmares
* The celebrity marriage
* The commune farmers
* The curse victim and caretaker
* The dessert caterers
* The hopeless homebodies
* The industrial mavens
* The mad scientists
* The masquerade hosts
* The model train overlords
* The multiversal adventurers
* The orchard grafters
* The rivals in love
* The weather aficionados
Plus: Twilight blows up like a balloon and goes out to 'have a spicy time'! Applejack and Rainbow Dash are competitive about everything! Rarity dresses like a butterfly--and later in five outfits at once! Pinkiezilla crushes a miniature town and argues with Octavia about her instrument! Fluttershy dances with an angel and keeps a weather diary! Derpy tells a six-word joke! Not everypony ends up happy, but most do! A little suspense is a good thing. Bitter sorrow! Transcendent joy! Probability cupcakes are cupcakes that cupcakes!
Note: This story was written during Season Two, so a few small things are out of date.

Big Macintosh goes on strike when he sees he's the one doing all the heavy lifting and harder work at Sweet Apple Acres while his sisters frolic. His idea catches fire throughout Ponyville, and soon every stallion is up in arms! Sexism explodes in the tiny town, it's Stallions on Strike!

When Flim and Flam discover their beloved catchphrase is being used by a television personality, they respond in the only way they feel is appropriate: by filing a lawsuit.

This story is a sequel to Antipodes

Several decades after the heroic actions of Jigsaw, Tiptoe, and Incendia restored the princesses, the world has begun the slow process of healing. Spectrum is a headstrong young stallion from Totemhoof who signs up with an excavation team in the hopes of experiencing a life changing adventure. What he finds will send him into a head-on collision with forces he can't begin to comprehend- and, perhaps, a chance to fulfill his destiny.

Sequel to Antipodes- though you don't need to have read it to enjoy this, I hope.

AKA An2podes

Whether by the sword or the slow decay of time, Shining Armor will die.