//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12: Back home! 
// Story: War, Apples, and Love 
// by Island_Dancer96 
//------------------------------//

"Riley!" Applejack gasped, "Riley… oh, I just… are you...?" she did not have the words to describe what she was feeling or how to respond.

Riley was just too happy to be home for the time being to think about what had happened during his time in Europe. "AJ, it's okay, I'm home, I'm fine. That's all that matters." He walked up to her joyfully, brushing his nose against hers.

She pulled away, her eyes full of happiness. "Riley I think Applebloom will want to see you." 

"Okay." Riley said.

It turned out that Applejack had brought her over to the living room. Applebloom snorted happily and barreled into Riley. 

"You're home! You're home! Where have you been?" The red haired girl asked.

Through their tears, Riley couldn't help a smile, neither could Applejack. 

"I've been on a little adventure," Riley chuckled, blinking away his tears.

"Tell me! Tell me!" Applebloom exclaimed, pressing herself harder against Riley's leg.

"Not now, I'll tell it to you later," the Mustang pilot said, smiling. Applebloom  looked disappointed. 

"Ah," he smiled, "Don’t be sad. I've brought you back something." 

Applebloom's face lit up, "Show me! Show me!" The little redhead girl jumped up and down in excitement.

As soon as they got to the living room, Riley pulled out his gift for the little girl. It was a miniature flag –one of the things Applebloom oddly loved, as Riley had found out in a letter from Applejack- with the Wonderbolts insignia printed on it. Applebloom went wild, holding the flag in her hand and running across the yard, watching it whip around as she ran.

As Riley watched this, he was thankful. He was thankful to be back in Texas, alive and in one piece. The Mustang pilot knew the dreadful memories of his time in Europe during World War II were going to be permanently pounded into his head, but that didn't matter. He was home and reunited with Applejack. The war was over, the Allies had won, and the Axis Powers had lost. He turned to his girlfriend, Applejack, and she looked at him. As the two lovers looked at each other, Riley knew that they had a lot of catching up to do.