Red wind taking some leave from cloud busting since rainbow dash was accepted into the Wonderbolts forever not one to just sit at home had decided to take some time to help Sweet Apple Acres during his two weeks he had shown up everyday helping as much as he could since he hadn’t been living in Ponyville long he needed to try and learn where everything was and it was great exercise, but the real reason was the Third oldest member of the apple family, Applejack. As he walked towards his destination for the day he decided to reminiscent on how he met this mare he had fallen so hard for.
TWO WEEKS AGO
Red Wind was walking towards the market for his breakfast while trying to find something for him to do it on his day off of cloud busting until he came across a certain stall with an orange furred mare wearing a tan Stetson hat and her golden mane was in a twisted ponytail.
“Well howdy there pardner don’t think I’ve seen you round these parts I’m Applejack”
Red Wind just stood there completely dumbstruck this mare was the most beautiful mare he’s every seen. Almost as tall as him, and with just a glance she was extremely strong. Applejack was snapping her fingers in the stallions face trying to get his attention until getting irritated she poked his nose that’s when he snapped out of his trance moving back slightly he stutter out a small reply
“Hello I’m Red Wind have been in Ponyville maybe half a month now”
the mare gave a laugh as she hit his back as the blacked furred stallions face went red not used to talking to mares like this one so he thought the best course of action would be to get his food and move one quickly before he embarrassed himself anymore, if that was even possible.
“Well I was hoping that if you would be willing to sell me some apples?” his retort was quick and immediate towards the mare
“Well shucks, I was just playin’ with ya friend and how about I give you a small bushel free o’ charge as an apology ‘kay?
Red Wind had nodded quickly as she handed him a bushel of apples quickly thanking the mare as he picked up one and hesitantly took a bite out of one of them as he savored the taste his mood changed so suddenly letting out a squeal of absolute joy this appple somehow tasted better than the ones h got from any other supermarket or food stalls around the few places he has eaten at.
“Sweet Celestia these are good, like REALLY good how in the name of the sun and moon do you get to make these apples even better then any other apples I’ve ever eaten whats your secret Miss Applejack?”
The mare blushed looking at the Pegasus
“Well I’ve been farming all mah life so I don’t really know myself ah just do what I as born to do at that was farm if you really want to learn you can always come by and see how we do it if’n you wanted”
The pegasus stared into the lush green eyes of the mare losing himself in those beautiful green iris trying to find his tongue after a full minute of babbling he agreed to the invitation so he would go to her home.
TWO WEEKS LATER
Red wind looks up towards the familiar red barn that the same sight has seen almost going on two weeks now. As he approached the barn the littlest one of the apple family AppleBloom.
‘HOWDY RED WIND!”
he little filly ran towards the pegasus was suddenly tackled by the tiny filly even though she was like maybe eight she was as strong as a full grown mare life on the farm really does doing wonders on for the filly. He returned the hug with as much gusto as he could manage Red Wind lets the filly go as she runs off saying something about helping her friends with some project for school. The filly dashed off so suddenly as he turned around he returned to his path towards his other friend and crush. Moving with the swiftness that came with being a pegasus he went up towards the small house a knocked on the door. After a brief silence the door opens to Applejack standing there giving off that smirk he loved so much.
“Well good mornin’ to ya Wind” AJ chirped out lively as she gave the stallion that had been around for so long a bone crushing hug. Wind had returned it but groaned out as bone started cracking in his bod, even though it hurt it was by far the best feeling being hugged by this mare he could really call his friend.
“morning AJ bones crush go let please.” he sputtered out as the mare lt him go from the hug but lingered to just for a few moment as they met eye to ey red on green both blushing as she walked out so they could get to work since harvest season as just around the corner the two were in for a long dayof work not taht either on cared since they knew they could do it.
The hours rolled on mostly without a hitch while tending and pruning to the trees there was a minor stampede of cows heading towards the main square so AJ had to leave with her dog Winona went to deal with it while she had ran off wither her dog Winds mind wandered ash she watched her just in case something went wrong but watching a mare like AJ just work was hypnotic along with being the hottest thing he’d ever seen. Beyond the stampede there wasn’t much more to do so they quit early for the day. As Wind and AJ were walking back they were conversing on AJ’s most recent trip that the map had sent her too.
“I swear to you this i may not like Flim or Flam and i would much rather throw them across Las Pegasus but it was thanks to them we out swindled that no good swindler.” AJ said with pride. Wind knew that the whole Las Pegasus fiasco had was one of her favorite stories to tell even though she wasn’t as boastful as Rainbow was she did like showing off her achievements, especially her wall of ribbons she got from the rodeos she had entered in all her life. Dinner at the Apples’ had never been short of hilarious or well eventful from AppleBloom telling stories of her day or Granny Smith was just reminiscing on her youthful days especially since she was at Ponyvilles’ founding so it was always a good night. Once dinner was done Wind and AJ took care of the dishes which was a simple task the two had spent so long together they were like well oiled machines.
“Thank ya a lot for helping mah family and I these past two weeks Wind.” AJ had said as she walked the stallion out of the small home it as already dark and Luna’s pale moon was shining bright and high in the sky.
“It was no problem AJ I’m your friend and I’m willing to help you out anytime barring whenever I’m at work I am at you beck and call.” the pegasus retorted letting out a long yawn “Besides by the time I get up tomorrow I should be able to get back to my cloud busting so I’m excited for that!” as he finished out he flaps his wings proudly doing a loop over the earth mare. Applejack chuckles as she bids the stallion good night they parted smiling a quick hug Red watched her walk away shuddering
“why did I fall so far for you AJ?” The stallion walked back to his small home letting himself in and getting a quick shower and he had gone to bed since tomorrow as going to be a big and long day.
MIDNIGHT
There was a loud banging on Reds door, as he awoke from his slumber one of the pegasus team had informed an emergency situation had taken place just a few moments ago a lightning storm from the weather factory had made its way from Cloudsdale and made its way towards Ponyville the Wonderbolts were containing it but the weather team was to be on stand by just in case something went wrong. So the two pegasi took towards the sky. As they both reach a certain height, Red noticed a faint orange glow towards the outskirts of Ponyville towards “Sweet Apple Acres” h said out silently as he took off towards the farm faster then the crystal express. As he arrived at the scene it was made blatantly apparent that lighting had struck the iron rod on top of the barn and had caught the barn ablaze. Red was concerned about of his friend and her family. The stallion had raced around the barn to see the Apple family outside trying to help douse the flame save Granny Smith. Red ran up and grabbed buckets of water helping them douse the flames until there was a scream heard inside the barn, Applejack had looked up at the and saw that AppleBloom had been on the top floor window as jets of flame came out of the falling building. Without thinking both AJ and Wind throw away what empty buckets they had and both storm into the barn with the intent to save AppleBloom.
Hindsight wasn’t thought of as the stallion and mare both made there way up to the second floor. AJ using her strength she threw collapsing beams away While Wind used his wings to bat away the flames protecting them both while each made their way up the burning barn, once the duo reached the top Applejack ran towards window they had saw the filly in to find her unconscious, AJ had gotten hold of the filly and she returned to the stallion when a board had come down above AJ’s line of sight but Red saw it. Red dashed forward slamming his body into the fallen board tearing his wing as he crashed against the wall. AJ turned around and saw the injured stallion limping back towards her.
“you two get out of here I’ll cover you.”
Reds’ response was simple but to the point as he covered the two mares walking them out the door as the barn collapsed behind the three. The walk was slow and agonizing as they made their way back into the crowd while trained fire ponies dealt with the fire, AJ was holding the little filly as one of the fire ponies was trying to resuscitate her younger sister, While Red sat next to nurses as they checked his torn wing hopefully he could fly again. Even if he didn’t at least the filly was safe and AJ was safe too.
time flew by as the fire was extinguished and the guard had come and gone getting statements and evidence just in case this was foul play by some delinquents or if it was just truly an accident. Red as sitting on one of the peaks of the hills watching the moon lower from the horizon ruminating over what had happened earlier he knew it was the right thing but at what cost, would Applejack hate him for doing something so reckless, would this hurt their friendship since she did it too but she was family that was just something family does for each other right? He folded his arms feeling a familiar pain in his upper arms as he heard hoof-steps coming up behind him. Just listening to the light but firm steps it as Applejack the pegasus just looked forward with a glazed expression waiting for as thee mare sat beside her
“Hey Red Wind?” she asked out as she sat next to him the expression changed from the neutral tone to a slightly fearful one it was transparent that this was going to be something extremely important due to the fact it is very rare she calls him by his full name.
throwing caution to the wind he turned towards the mare “Yeah I actually have to talk to you about something too” his hesitation was there but he was resolute he was going to tell her everything no holding back.
“Why did you go into the barn back there i know mah sister but you just went in along with me even though you could have gotten hurt... Well worse then you already are so just humor me, why did you do it?” AJ’s question was obvious but there was something more then just “It’s what friends do” especially since he dove past her and intentionally injured his wing just to save the two mares.
“Let me ask you a question first Applejack did what I do Make you angry? Since you did the exact same thing at the exact same moment but went about it in vastly different approach towards the situation”
AJ had a stunned look on her face she wasn’t mad at him quite the opposite she was over the moon in knowing some pony was also willing to endure the flames to save that special little filly. “Of course not Red i actually wanted to thank you for the help since there was the whole dying aspect of saving AB i’m more curious on why you dove in the way of the falling beam instead of pulling us out of the way” she let out a small giggle as Red’s face-palms rubbing his face as the thought never occurred to him.
“One Ms. Snippy thank you for dashing away my fear on the first thought and the second one was because I didn’t want you to suffer the same fate that m brother and mother did” h looked down somberly as he hard AJ gasp this was going to hurt him more then she knew but she deserved to know.
“Back when i was just a colt about AppleBloom’s age There was a fire in my home back in Hollow Shades it wasn’t a big one but it was still bad, my father and I were coming home from the weather factory to finding my mother and older brother were burnt to cinders after an oil fire from that they didn’t get the chance to escape in time the news was shocking to say the last and father was devastated but and fell into a minor depression that was how we stayed until i was my brothers age when he had himself admitted into a mental home because he was afraid he was going to hurt himself or me so he sent me away to Canterlot so i could live with my mothers family but that didn’t last long if you’ve met any pony from Canterlot have sticks shoved up their rumps so i ran away back to Hollow Shades so i could try and save m father from himself but i was too late.”
as red continued his tale he his eyes watered remembering the pain when he found out what his father did to himself but her soldiered on it was almost over and one pony should know his life story ven if he or she would forget in time.
“he took his own life not a few days prior leaving a note explaining the grief he was feeling was to overwhelming so he wrote his will leaving me a small fortune of two hundred thousand bits so i could survive on at least until i could get on my feet. I only used enough to get me a small house on the outside of Ponyville and that’s how I ended up here and well you know the... OOPH!” he was attacked from the side by the mare as she nuzzled into his side he put his arm around her as he finished his tale
“it wasn’t all bad in the end I lost a lot but I gained more just being with you family, Applebloom reminds more of when I was her age and just to see some pony I care for let the same thing happen to me so I just sprang into action trying to prevent the same evil recurring and this time I WAS strong enough to fix it so I did it even if it cost me my life.”
they sat there in silence Applejack took in the story slowly as more of his motivation was made apparent but there was still one other thing he wasn’t telling her and he was intentionally avoiding her eyes. She turned his head towards her and she held his chin firmly this was her moment it was time to tell him the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
“That’s not the only reason I came out here Sugarcube.” he held her arms “I haven’t said the whole truth to you but here goes” she held her breath and gave it a slowly released it was time
“Ever since it you offered to help us i was nervous to talk to you Wind and and after maybe thee first few days being around a stallion like you mad me feel all tingly inside but after these last few weeks ah’ve learned about you and soon we became frien... MMPH!” that was all way said as Red pulled Applejack towards him as he pulled her towards him and he kissed her. As they kiss held Red held her lose letting his actions guide him as he pullled her closer wrapping his arms around her wholly.
“AJ ever since i met you I’ve felt this way for you i couldn’t stand it any longer if i came out of that fire i was going to tell you this but i was scared you would reject me it may seem irrational but i truly feel this way about you and i just wanted to at least get that off my the... AGGH!” the attack was as sudden as his was AJ had pushed the pegasus onto the ground as she pinned him to the ground giving him another kiss. She felt the same way so no more words had to be exchanged as the two laid there holding each other while dawn was slowly approaching.
it was the dawn of a new age for Both the earth pony and pegasus and with there two wills and each other they could look towards the future in high spirits and hope for a brighter tomorrow