Old Fashioned Love

by Rose Quill

Seeds

She's really a softy after all, I thought to myself as she kissed me back.

I never guessed that Dash would have been one for the tender side of things before we started dating. But since then, all the little glances and soft touches had added up to a more complex side to Rainbow. If nothing else, the fact that she went through the lengths that she did to set up that hang gliding session a while back to share her love of flying with me should have cinched it.

Her hands posted themselves on either side of my head and she pulled away. Reluctantly, I might add. I saw her wings gently move above her, giving her a slightly angelic look. I felt my pony ear twitch again.

“You have any idea what that does to me?” she whispered softly to me, a wingtip coming down to brush against my cheek.

I grinned. “Ah think so,” I said just as softly. “Same thing ya do t’me when you kiss me like that.”

She leaned down and rested her forehead against mine, a content smile on her face.

“We’re quite the pair, eh?” she whispered before sliding to the side, her wing stretching out to cover me in its embrace. “The farm girl and the hot shot?”

“”s not that odd,” I replied. “Shoulda seen sooner the amount of similarities we’ve got.”

“Huh?” she grunted, primaries spreading slightly.

“Farmin’ and competition aren’t that different, Ace,” I said, seeing the quirk of her mouth at the nickname. “We both have a goal that we train for in different ways. You train by running and working out, honing yer body into as efficient a machine as you can. And it works, by the way.” I traced a finger along the outline of one of her exposed abs, smiling as she twitches.

“Ah train by tilling the ground and making sure to keep the crops well watered,” I continued. “If the soil doesn’t get the right balance, nothing will grow. Sometimes we add a bit to the soil to help the plants, just like you only eat protein bars close to training sessions.”

“That's more so I don’t hurl after a heavy meal and the heat from exercising,” she said, her eyes flashing. “But I get your point.”

I slid a hand under her neck. “Mah other point is,” I said as she cuddled a little closer. “We both have a lot in common. Like our height.”

“AJ,” she said. “You’re close to six feet! I’m a shrimp compared to you!”

“Ah know that,” I said. “And Ah hate it sometimes. Ya know how hard it is t’find clothes that fit me? Just like you hate being comparatively short. Even though yer not.”

“I’m five five,” she muttered.

“And national average is five three ’n change, hon,” I said. “And you wear it good. Ya got a lot of power and not a lot of mass to have to move.”

Her face became thoughtful. After a few moments, she looked at me. “You really hate being tall?”

“It ain't always awesome,” I said. I kissed her forehead. “Now Ah’m going back to sleep, got to get up early and run out to Sunset’s to help her install that new bookshelf for Twilight.”

She caught my face before I turned away and kissed me in a way that made me wish I could stay up a little longer, her wing brushing against my cheek.

“So you keep me in your dreams, too,” she said cheekily, closing her eyes.

And boy howdy, did I.

---

I brushed my hands against each other as we stepped back from the bookshelf. Stained with a deep cherry finish, the cabinet sat next to the one built into her wall. I glanced at the fiery haired woman.

“Ya sure that’s where you want it?” I asked.

Sunset nodded. “It’s been decided,” she said, rolling her eyes slightly. “I’ve got my orders, after all.”

“Ah’m only asking ‘cause there may not be any studs behind it to secure it to,” I said. “Knownin’ Twilight, she’ll likely load that thing full t’ the brim with textbooks.”

She pointed to the wall above the shelf and I saw a few lines lightly marked on the wall.

“I know,” she said. “I helped her find the studs before she chose.”

I laughed and picked up my drill.

“Well, then,” I said. “Ah suppose we both got our orders then.”

After securing the shelf and a short lunch with her catching up, I headed back out to my truck and climbed in. On the dash of my truck, tucked against the speedometer, was a small envelope with my initials on it. I picked it up and was mildly surprised at the weight of it.

Opening it, I pulled out the letter.

AJ,

I'm not great at words or expressing my feelings, but you probably already know that. I'm better at showing rather than telling.

So, I got you this. I know it's not much, but I wanted you to have it. I know our anniversary or whatever you want to call it isn't for a few weeks yet, but after the last few days, I don't want to wait any longer.

Love you,

Ace

I smiled at the letter and looked into the envelope and pulled out a small necklace with an apple charm on it. I felt my heart flutter a little and slipped it on, letting it fall against the tank top I wore under my unbuttoned work shirt.

“What a coincidence,” I said, reaching into the compartment under the seat and pulling out a small box, opening it to see the custom bracelet that had both her cutie mark and the symbol she had on everything else engraved on it.

“What a coincidence indeed,” I said as I started the old pickup and shifted into drive.

Comments

[Wolfkin]

I liked this. A nice continuation, and POV change, from last chapter and the ending was really nice. They might be married within the year, they might just be together without the "piece of paper" for years. Either way, I think they'll be mostly happy.

[Tchernobog]

!!

[MySisterBroughtMeHere]

Applejack and Rainbow contemplating just how much they have come to mean to each other was incredibly lovely, as was the final moment with Applejack in the pickup.

Twilight needs a new bookshelf. Why is that not so surprising? Loved the moment with Sunset.

[Gidano90]

Congratulations, really a great story! Not at all it's over among my favorites. But I'm wondering, do you have an interest in writing stories about the other pairs of your continuity like this? If the answer is I can not wait to read Pinkie and Aria. Because your idea of putting them together really surprised me, in a positive sense, I would not have thought of it. Still compliments!

[Rose Quill]

8190451

I do, actually.

A Gem Richly Won - Fluttershy and Rarity

On The Inside - Pinkie and Aria

Peaceful - Adagio and Sandalwood

and I'll link as they are written and posted. Also, keep an eye on the timeline, in case I forget to update this.

[AJtheRaven]

Lovely

[ClosetBrony]

Another lovely and comfy story. Thanks!

[The Shadow]

I'm not much of an AppleDash shipper (Sunlight all the way, with a dash (no pun intended) of SunShy), but this was a beautiful story and actually brought a tear to my eye in a couple of places.

Good job. Very good job indeed.

[Witchrblizzad]

AWWW... i lov this so much!

[Kittamaru]

8626495
Tis the truth. I hope life finds you well and truly happy, and that the gentle, passionate love you seek finds you. It was a shock to me when it happened... and, now, we are just a few short weeks away from welcoming our son into the world. I never imagined getting married, much less having a family... but, well, here we are heh

[Eroraf86]

Definitely one of the better AppleDash fics I've read. Which isn't many, but whatever. Point is, this is really sweet.

[MixMassBasher]

This is a great Appledash fic!

[ScisetShimmerEvan]

“”s not that odd,” I replied. “Shoulda seen sooner the amount of similarities we’ve got.”

It's*