Love, Loss and Apples

by Real_SilentPony

Dear Princess Celestia

Dear Princess Celestia,

Some lessons are a lot harder to learn than others. Some lessons can take a lifetime to learn, but thankfully that wasn't the case with me. See I lost a pony I loved. I was dishonest with him and everypony I knew and I lost him; nearly lost all my friends too. I learned a mare should never be afraid to stand up for herself and no mare should ever apologize for loving another pony.

Honestly and hard work will always win through in the end. You see, love is like an apple tree. When you first see it as a seed, it ain't much. Just a seed. But if you plant it right, and take care of it, it'll grow. It won't always be easy, but if you do things right that little love seed with bloom into the most beautiful thing in Equestria. I learned that the hard way, but I'll say this; it will always be worth it.

Your loyal subject,

Applejack

P.S. It sure would mean a lot to me if ya'll could come to the weddin'. We aint set a date yet, but I is hopin' it's in spring when all the apples are in bloom. Consider this a standin' invitation for ya' and ya' sister, Luna. Everypony is welcome to my weddin'.

See ya' then!

~The End~

Comments

[thewaffler]

If you are the real author, I feel bad that someone stole your fic. I'm more inclined to believe you mostly because on fanfiction.net the fic "Desert Sky" was published last year and the guy who posted the other three of your stories didn't post that one. He has also written no blogs. I'm more curious of the whole plagiarism thingy because stealing stories is terrible. In all honesty the best way to prove you wrote your stories is write something that isn't on FF.

That being said this is one of my favorite fics of all time.

[Celestias Paladin]

All right I've started to reread this story so I can give the review that it needs. One thing stands out, the scene transitions are jumpy. You go from one to the other without warning or a horizontal divider. It's annoying but bearable for now, and I will finish reading the story.

[Real_SilentPony]

3249288

Yes. I sadly had to report her when she didn't respond to my PM to take the stories down. I gave her several days, but her account hadn't been active in almost 7 months. So I reported her and the admins agreed I was the original author, 'cause I have the original FF account.

I'm honestly just glad folks like my stories so much. I'm not looking for 'extra' recognition.

[Fireseeker]

I had a small panic attack when I tried to find this story today
Glad I found it again, and posted by the real author. Shame someone took credit for your work.

Anyway, I will definitely have to re-read this and leave comments on each chapter.
But as of now, let me simply say that this is one of my favourite fan fictions of all time.
Truly a masterpiece of pony literature

[lunarknight of wubs]

I just finished reading this fiction and all i have to say is this Where the BUCK was this all my life this was a great romance i actually cared about the characters you created and i didn't notice any large grammar mistakes and you made an overall well written emotional romance i bow to you sir and give you 5/5 Applejack's
AND all my Fluttershy's

[ForlanceAbice]

Uh, you might wanted to have posted a chapter a week to get readers in.
Most people don't like reading a whole boatload at once.
Plus, it'll get you more views and exposure.

[Celestias Paladin]

Alrighty the review I promised.

Spelling: A few things popped up but nothing horrible and story destroying
Grammar: Nothing jumping out
Formatting: Only issue I see is the lack of dividers between sections
Romance: I'm not a fan of "Love at First Sight" since it very rarely handled well. You did a good job on it, they may have fallen in love at first sight but you made them work for that love. Plus the challenges you threw at them made sense
Characters: You did a good job keeping the canon characters in well... character and not falling for the more flat characterizations out there. Even Soarin', who is described by Matt Hill his Voice Actor as having not much personality beside being a 'Bolt and his love of Pie, was pretty well done. OCs are well done as well, those needed had good depth and helped moved everything along (Japser is the only one that doesn't really serve much purpose).

All in all you did damn well on this. And you want to know a funny thing... Matt Hill was asked what pony should be with Soarin', he answered Applejack and not just because she can make a mean pie.

Concordia Incivta
Celestia's Paladin

[Shadow_Wolf]

a most excellent story! Soarin' x AJ for the win!

[Sakugen]

I loved this story! Really turn me to the AJxSoarin ship. Wish this story got more attention.

[Shock and Awe]

sorry about the theft. this is an amazing story. i felt really in touch with the characters. do you continue this world in any of ur other storys?

[Metalpony666]

My sweet celestia, this story deserves more atention and likes!!! It was an amazing story! One of the fex stories taht is focused on AJ and Sorain. let me tell you that I totally enjoyed it, Master piece, sir, Such a master piece.

[Pyrotechnic]

HOW Dare that individual take credit for your story. I even gave her compliments and she ignored them. Well, I am re-downloading the proper story. I even told a friend about this story under that pen name

This story is the primary story I used in my AJ/Sourin debate that doesn't actually exist Lots of people seem to believe Sourin should be with Dash, but this story made me support that AJ/Soarin is OTP for Soarin.

I feel cheated in some way....

Good job and this story was awesome.

Have to correct that wrong with the friend though

[Real_SilentPony]

4051318 Thanks man! Glad you like it!

[AppleMelody]

I love this story! I remember reading it about a year ago, and it was the thing that got me into SoarJack in the first place. I'm not sure if it was your version or not, but at any rate, I love this ship, and your story really does it justice. It's a shame that somepony else was getting all the credit for what is truly a marvelous piece of literature. This story easily made it to my favourites!

[Softy8088]

Okay, I originally read this story when it was posted under a different account. I explained my thoughts on it, but that comment is, I presume, lost along with that particular instance of the story. Here's a short actually pretty long sum-up, based on my memories:

This story was well-written and kept my attention throughout. I wanted to finish reading, to find out how it ended. That's always a good sign. It was well-paced, although the massive chapter "Finale" could do with being broken up.

And yet I strongly dislike this story.

It comes down to the plot, and the characters.

This is a tale of Soarin', who is in all respects a perfect gentlecolt, getting used as life's punching bag, emotionally and physically, and falling in love with a mare who repeatedly proves that she doesn't deserve him. Why does this poor guy keep getting physically hit? Why doesn't he do anything about it?! Why is he expected to come and rescue Applejack, after how much she hurt him? It's disgustingly unfair.

Why is Applejack so horrible? The entire plot hinges on her being a liar for no good reason whatsoever. How hard would it have been to say, "I love ya, Soarin, but let's hold off on meetin' my family. I haven't told 'em about us. I will, I promise, but I just need to wait a bit longer." When things go wrong, she blames the pony she loves the most and hurls the most hurtful words she can at him. She deserves to lose him at this point. Following this, she becomes an emotional and physical wreck, weak and pathetic.

I like Applejack, but this story turns her into some kind of emotionally-unstable, pathetic, lying, selfish, bitch. I couldn't make myself like her with a gun to my head. The only flaw Soarin' has is that he somehow keeps loving her.

I was wishing, hoping against hope, that the ending of the story would be Applejack and Soarin admitting that there was too much damage done, that they can't be together, and going their separate ways. It would have been poignant and meaningful then, but the story takes the cheap "Love must win!" route.

Why does Big Macintosh feel the need to punch the stallion who's making his sister happy hard enough to draw blood? There is something profoundly sick about this mindset; I doubt Mac would be happy if Soarin's sister clocked AJ for taking his virginity. The thought that a male necessarily harms a female by having sex with her, that she "loses" or "gives up" something by doing so, and that the male is in some way guilty, is horrible. Big Macintosh is a horrible character here.

There is a pervasive thread of sexism woven throughout the tale. Applejack is irrational and emotional; she must be forgiven, because she is a mare smitten. Soarin' suffers for Applejack's sake, but he must endure, since he is a strong stallion, and in the end must be the shining knight; Applejack's rescuer from herself. It's insulting to both Applejack and Soarin; to both males and females.

I'm not a tumblr SJW - I just call blatant sexism where I see it.

And what insanity is this business of keeping Soarin' from knowing the identity of his parents?! Children have a right to know where they came from. It's another instance of the universe having something against Soarin' - of his life being the plaything of others' decisions, which he's simply expected to endure and be strong in adversity yet absolutely gentle and forgiving to those he loves. This poor stallion deserves to know his own family history, and to make decisions about his own love life without being pressured and emotionally manipulated from every side, to have somepony he can love who will not use the most private parts of his life against him and whose brother won't casually abuse him just because he's the male in the relationship.

The story will not allow him any of these things.

The romance in this story is sick and unhappy, yet the author seems to think it's a triumph of love, and a bonding of two lovers who belong together.

This story has received plenty of upvotes both times it has been posted on FimFic. I'm an outlier in my dislike of it, I know. I respect the author's talent in putting together something that elicits a true emotional reaction from so many people, myself included. There is real talent here, no doubt, and I wish the author well on any further writing endeavours.

But I didn't like this story.

[Dinos4Ever]

I remember reading this story on Fanfic.net many years ago, when the fandom was still young and I was still new to it. I remember this was among the first fanfics I ever read and it was certainly the first big, multichapter epic I'd ever read from the fandom. It was one of my favorites, but Fanfic.net had an unreliable favorites system. I'm just so glad I've been able to track it down again. You sir, have earned my fave and thumb just from my memory of this fic alone. Can't wait to give it another read! :D

[Chi-Cop1]

As a fan who has taken an interest in Applejack and Soarin fics, I can confidently say for certain, this is hands down the best. Excellent, excellent work! You took the time to build a background for Soarin and develop the characters so well. Seriously, this story is very creatively done and organized. You also capture the emotions of the characters perfectly, making the reader feel what they're feeling. With that said, I'm damn surprised this story hasn't gotten more attention, I.E. artwork on deviantART and what not. I might just have to commission a picture to change that. ;) Again, Great work! After reading this, I don't think can see Applejack with anybody else but Soarin at this point! D

[StarzGecko]

6711005 Dude I agree! I just found this story, and amazing by how well it is written.

I'm not into romance stories but this here was just... Breathtaking.

The love the author put in here truly made this story special.