Pride and Freckles
“There you are, I've been looking all over- Oh, sorry, wrong pony.” Rainbow Dash said, as the pony she thought was Applejack turned around. It was an easy mistake to make, she was exactly the same color orange, and wearing a cowpony hat. But the cowpony hat was battered, and this pony's mane and tail were a dusty beige that went with the tumbleweed cutie mark she had. They hung loose, messier than even Applejack usually let herself get.
But when the pony turned around to glare at her, Dash noticed the same freckles she thought were so cool every time her friend smiled. The rest of the face seemed tired, from the gray eyes to the sour expression.
Dash gave an embarrassed shrug and flew to the other side of the train station, looking for Applejack. There were a lot of ponies leaving the rodeo in Canterlot that ended that morning. Applejack had done better than last time and having Dash come along seemed to have cheered her up when she lost, so there was a lot less danger of AJ exploring the wide world of agriculture this time.
She spotted AJ from the front, sure it was her this time. Her cowpony hat had a blue ribbon pinned to it. Dash had pinned that there herself, it was from the cattle roping event Applejack won this weekend. Dash had cheered her lungs out for her even though AJ hardly needed it. AJ was a winner, and Dash had decided that all of Equestria should know as soon as they saw her, so Dash pinned that first blue ribbon right to her hat. It made AJ chuckle when she saw it, but she'd worn it proudly the whole time they were at the rodeo.
“It's really you this time, right?” Dash asked, grinning as she flew up to where Applejack was standing on the train platform.
“Um, yeah?” Applejack raised an eyebrow. “I mean, I reckon it's been me the whole time.”
“Not a few seconds ago.” Dash said, landing next to her. “There's this pony across the train station, and she looks almost just like you. Well, she's the same color, at least. And she has the same freckles, and a cowpony hat.”
“She's wearin' a stetson, ya' say?” Applejack said cautiously.
“Yeah. It's not as cool as yours, though. No blue ribbon.” Dash smiled, flipping the end of the ribbon with her hoof. She was almost more proud of Applejack's win than AJ was. Applejack was awesome, and she was Dash's friend. That added to Dash's coolness just by association.
“Huh.” AJ seemed to be staring straight ahead across the train tracks, at nothing. “You sure she's the same color?”
Dash nodded. She knew AJ's pale orange coat by heart. “Yeah. Exactly.”
“Did ya' catch her cutie mark, by any chance?” Applejack said. Dash could tell she was trying to sound casual, but there was something hesitant about the question.
“It was a tumbleweed. I guess she's probably from around Appleloosa.” Dash responded, watching AJ carefully.
“Could be.” Applejack said softly.
“Why do you wanna know?”
Applejack blushed. “I- I guess I'm just curious. It don't mean nothin'.”
That blush drove Dash crazy. Normally she could be cool around her best friend, but when she blushed her freckles stood out, and her green eyes seemed brighter, and Dash realized that her best friend was the cutest mare she'd ever seen.
But Dash also knew that letting somepony know you thought they were awesome that way, not like a friend but like more than a friend, required some kind of tact. So she tried to drop subtle hints.
“She wasn't as cute as you.”
Applejack was pulled from whatever she was staring at to stare at Dash, confused.
“I mean, not that I think you're cute.” Dash added quickly. “She just looked kind of worn out.”
That sent AJ right back to staring across the train tracks. She was quiet for a few minutes, then sighed and said, “I reckon she might.”
“Do you know that pony?” Dash asked, glad that AJ picked this to think about rather than her idiotic attempt at flirting.
Applejack looked at Dash, as if deciding what to say. Finally she said quietly, “Just wonderin' if she's a relative.”
Dash shook her head. “No way. I've met all your relatives. There's Apple what's-her-name and Apple um, somepony else, and they all have cutie marks that make me hungry.”
Applejack chuckled, and turned her head to Dash. “Did ya' ever hear how I got to Sweet Apple Acres, Dash?”
“The normal way? Your mom and dad loved each other a lot. . . or at least put up with each other enough to be in the same bed for a while.” Dash added, thinking of her own parents.
Applejack smiled softly, “Somepony left me in this hat, by the front fence.”
“That's another way it can happen.” Dash said with a grin. But Applejack wasn't laughing, she just had that quiet smile on her face. “Wait, you're serious?”
“Yup.” She nodded.
“That pony I saw!” Dash said excitedly, catching up to AJ in the conversation. “You think she's related to you!”
“Could be.”
“We should find her! Maybe you could find out where she's from.”
“I don't really wanna, Dash.” Applejack looked back over the tracks. “We might be related, but she ain't my family. My real family's all Apples. I can't even think what I might say to that pony.”
“It's easy.” Dash said. “'Hey, do you know somepony who left a foal in Ponyville twenty years ago?' is a good place to start.”
Applejack was quiet for another minute. “And what if she's the one that left me?”
Dash's eyes went wide. “That might have been your mom! AJ, you have to talk to her.”
“She ain't my ma.” Applejack explained without a hint of anger or sadness. “Even if she's the pony that had me, she gave that up. That pony knows where she left me, if she wanted to talk 'bout it I'm still right there.”
“. . . She just left you there? Where who knows what could've happened?” Dash wondered, studying AJ. Beautiful cowpony, rodeo champ, most dependable of ponies, element of honesty. Somepony had just given all that up. They never even realized how awesome she was.
“Sorta. She mighta had reason to believe Granny Smith would take me in, since she'd already taken in Mac. And everypony knows Apples are good folks, right?” Applejack said with a grin.
That didn't satisfy Dash. She pressed on, starting to get a little angry at the idea. “How could somepony just leave a baby foal?”
“I don't rightly know, sugarcube.” Applejack said kindly. “I like to think she wanted me to have a better life than she could give, but I reckon I'm never gonna know that's true.”
“That's not what parents do.” Rainbow Dash said firmly, hovering and crossing her forelegs. “My parents couldn't give me a great life, but my dad worked his tail off to give me the crummy one he could manage. I can't talk to him for two minutes without him reminding me how he worked at the weather factory sixty hours a week to pay for a tiny cloud house in the bad part of Cloudsdale. And my mom's been married to that jerk for years, just so they could take care of me. . . but they took care of me! They didn't shove me off on somepony else to raise.”
“I'm glad I'm at Sweet Apple Acres, Dash. I love my family.” Applejack said, looking at Dash with a slight frown.
At first Dash thought she was upset about her mother, but after a few seconds it registered what the look was. It was pity. Dash realized that she hadn't made her parents sound all that heroic, and that AJ's foalhood on Sweet Apple Acres had her own foalhood beat in a lot of ways. Dash blushed, she hated being pitied, but she felt like even AJ's non-existent mom was better than her parents. This was all her dad's fault anyway.
“I'm glad you're at Sweet Apple Acres too.” Dash grumbled, wishing for a minute that her parents had left her at Sweet Apple Acres.
“And I'm glad your folks loved ya' and took care of ya'.” Applejack said, giving her a friendly nuzzle. “They're good ponies.”
“I guess. . .” Dash sighed. The nuzzle from AJ cheered her up a little, but she couldn't quite agree about her parents.
“Dash, everypony makes choices. Long as they're doin' their best, and tryin' to do right, ya' can't blame 'em.” Applejack pointed out.
“Tell that to my dad.” Dash joked bitterly. “I'm pretty sure I never made a choice he didn't blame me for.”
“Well it ain't gonna help if ya' blame him for his.” AJ raised her eyebrows.
It was Dash's turn to be quiet. The last time she wrote to her dad, it was to send a picture from the royal wedding. She wrote to her dad every time she did something awesome, so he knew how much better she was doing than he predicted, than he had done. Here was AJ with a blue ribbon on her hat, and a pony who might be the mare who gave her up across the train station.
After a while Dash asked, “You're really not mad at her? You don't wanna take your ribbons and rub them in her face, and show her what she missed out on?”
“That ain't what those things are for, and you know it.” AJ admonished. “Those are things I can be proud of, they ain't for makin' other ponies feel bad. I know my family and friends love me. How some other pony out there thinks 'bout me don't matter a lick.”
“Well you should feel proud. You're an awesome pony.” Dash said, feeling proud of Applejack herself. In a lot of ways, Dash had to admit that AJ was a better pony than she was. Not as cool, but more grown up.
“Thanks.” Applejack smiled, blushing a little.
That blush again. Dash couldn't stop herself. “I mean, um, really awesome. Like. . .”
Rainbow Dash darted down and gave Applejack a quick kiss on the cheek. She was rewarded with a blush deeper than she'd ever seen on the orange pony, as AJ's eyes went wide.
Then Dash's actions caught up with her brain, and her own eyes went wide.
“Um, I mean. . .” Dash stammered as she searched for any excuse for what she'd done.
Applejack just smiled, and leaned over and kissed her cheek the same way.
“Really?” Dash asked, a surprised grin on her face.
“Yup.” Applejack nodded and nuzzled her.
“Awesome!” Dash said, nuzzling back. “This is so cool. We can go out sometime, right? Like, together?”
“I'd like that." Applejack said, grinning. "Ya' know, this rodeo went a lot better than last time. I got a blue ribbon, and a pretty blue pegasus to go with it."
"Yeah, do you know how amazing you have to be to win me?" Dash teased.
Applejack chuckled, "Well I guess I pulled it off."
Dash looked into her green eyes. "You couldn't help it. You're really amazing, AJ."
"So're you, Dash." Applejack said honestly.
"Of course I am. That's why we're perfect together." Dash smirked.
Applejack laughed and shook her head. "My ribbons and your flyin' crown would look right nice together, I suppose."
"Everypony will know we're the best couple in all Equestria!" Dash grinned at AJ, with her blue ribbon on her hat and those cute freckles, and chalked up one more awesome thing to write home about. Then she caught something out of the corner of her eye.
A train pulled up to the next platform over, and Dash saw a flash of orange in the crowd. She followed it to where the orange pony with the tumbleweed cutie mark got in line to board the train. AJ was still looking at Dash and smiling.
“Uh, AJ?” Dash nodded to where the other pony was waiting.
AJ followed Dash's nod, and the smile fell from her face, replaced by a curious expression. She stared at the mare as the line moved into the train, her eyes never leaving the pony. Dash knew because her eyes never left Applejack, as she tried to imagine how anypony could give up somepony so great.
It was lucky for Dash that she had, though. Applejack wouldn't be Applejack without Sweet Apple Acres, and Dash couldn't be nearly this happy without Applejack. Everything that made AJ awesome and special came from growing up on that farm, that's why she had those apples on her flank. She decided that maybe that pony had done the right thing, for Applejack and for Equestria, and for Dash.
Dash smiled and leaned over, kissing Applejack's cheek again as the pony boarded the train. “Gotcha! Two to one.”
Applejack chuckled, looking away from the train and into Dash's eyes. “Well, now I'm gonna haveta catch up.”
“Ha! Let's see you try.” Dash said, flapping away just out of Applejack's reach as AJ jumped after her.
“Come'ere you!” Applejack's said with a grin, trying to catch Rainbow Dash as the train to parts unknown pulled out of the station.
***
The weathered mare looked out the window of the train, her eyes following the pony she'd come to see. Last year had been a coincidence, she'd been watching the rodeo and caught sight of the orange pony with the apple cutie mark. If that made her wonder, the stetson she put on her head after each event answered the question. The girl did good, but not good enough for herself. Not used to disappointment, the mare figured with a smile.
This year the mare made a special trip, just to see if she'd be back. Sure enough there she was, with another year of practice under her saddle and that same stetson on her head. She won a few blue ribbons this year, and next year she'd probably do even better. She was young yet.
Gray eyes watched the young mare laughing and chasing that pegasus who'd been cheering her all weekend, knowing she'd never see those pecks on the cheek turn into something more. The girl had her own life, her own family and friends, and it looked like a good one. But there would be another rodeo next year, and maybe both orange ponies would show up again. Maybe there would be hints, the same pegasus with her, maybe even a deep kiss after a tough event. More little reminders for the old mare that she had made the right choice.
Also LikedSimilarAuthor
- bookplayer · 1.5k words · 383 18 · 6.3k views
- LunaTheFox · 6.8k words · 385 8 · 8k views
- bookplayer · 32k words · 664 21 · 12k views
- DbzOrDie · 192k words · 335 48 · 5.7k views
- UnlicensedBrony · 7.4k words · 291 14 · 8.4k views
- bookplayer · 15k words · 403 24 · 6.7k views
- bookplayer · 1.3k words · 233 7 · 6.4k views
- bookplayer · 4.6k words · 365 5 · 4.5k views
Stats
Page generated in 0.238 seconds
Total duration
1,003 users online
83,208 hits today, 2,054,621 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Proofread and improved by DbzOrDie.
This story is set in the same head canon as the one shots Three Little Apples and Of Cottages and Cloud Houses. For more backstory on AJ and Dash's families you can check out those fics.
Someday there might be a longer fic following this (I make no promises.) Fave this if you'd like to read it, I'll send out a blog post if it's ever posted.
I like this universe you're creating around you fics
makes me want to read moar!!!
Have a freakin' comment because you deserve it. Once I finish up with my damn reading I'll read this.
Guys, this is important, you need to read more bookplayer.
Seriously guys. Not a joke.
jeez.
iambrony.jsmart.web.id/mlp/gif/131930877806.gif?1319412024
media.comicvine.com/uploads/5/52044/2060390-i_like_it.jpg
Cute story.
I found this utterly charming in whatever way it is that leaves me with mixed emotions.
(Disclosure: my own personal OC, never seen in any fic, has a tumbleweed for a cutie mark.)
This pulled my heartstrings
Loved the read! 
AppleDash? Aww man, did you have to? With little kisses in public?
Nice story though, you evil shipping person.
I liked it. There was one problem that I didn't like. First thing you do, you start off with the awkward scene where Dash finds someone who looks like Applejack, but isn't.
I didn't like that too much, specifically the way you did it. Reading it was awkward itself. You should either A) Add a small intro or something before that scene, or B) Change the way the scene is introduced.
That is all. Nothing else that sticks out; will look closer for more things.
Awesome. Awesome, awesome, awesome. I loved everything about it. The intro, Dash's confession without confessing, and the gray-eyed mare's perspective. It was so cute. I just don't even know what to s--
static1.fjcdn.com/comments/LAWDY+_84264407c1f258556b523e893815eea9.jpg
1228695
I second this. bookplayer writes some excellent fanfiction.
As usual, loved this one, too. I'm enjoying getting these bits of history. Continuity is awesome.
1228695
Pity comments! My favorite kind!
Really, you're an awesome friend. Do you know how many times I've wished for a happy Fluttershy emoticon just for you?
1228872>>1228888
Thanks!
1229447
Thank you.
And maybe your OC is related to AJ's birth mother.
1230072
Aww, thank you!
1231068
1232313
I'm a shipper, what can I say?
Oh yeah, I can say thanks.
1232430
I personally liked jumping straight into the scene. It creates a questions right away- why is there a pony who looks like Applejack? Where is Applejack?
It's just one way of doing things. Sorry if you didn't that part, but I'm glad you liked the story!
1233989
Thanks!
1234283
Thanks! I have a longer fic idea that builds on all three of these, but I don't know when I'll get to it. You know how many fic ideas I have.
Warning! Headcanon detected
Conflicting headcanon found...
Would you like to overwrite C:\Program Files\My little pony: friendship is magic\fandom\headcanon\AppleJack\parents died during her youth.
[yes] no
Overwriting... ... ... ...
New headcanon accepted
C:\Program Files\My little pony: friendship is magic\fandom\headcanon\AppleJack\parent abandoned her at Sweet Apple Acres and she had a sweet childhood. Has been added.
So glad to see you continue this theme of family building. Detailed characters so often have backgrounds as diverse and compelling as they are. The show hints but hasn't yet devoted any significant time to said history. Until they do, if they ever do, there's a fertile, untapped land for ideas and authors. Seeing you carve out your own piece has been a treat because you do it so well.
<<Applejack had done better than last time and having Dash come along seemed to have cheered her up when she lost, so there was a lot less danger of AJ exploring the wide world of agriculture this time.>>
Chronologically this is being set after the season 2 wedding finale, yes? I also liked how you set up the relationship reveal further down with subtler lines such as this one. We see initial friendship in "Of Cottages and Cloud Homes" turn into something deeper in the show as all six characters learn about their special connections to each other, which then takes its next step in this story. Much as I can enjoy a well done "shock and awe" reveal or a character getting hit over the head with a clue-by-four, there's something to be said for natural progression. Since we don't get any narration from AJ's perspective in this story or the first one, and "Three Little Apples" only has the one comment about how she hasn't decided yet who she's into, lines like the above also give the reader a window into her thoughts too. It keeps her returned feelings for Dash from appearing to be out of the blue.
<<Applejack was awesome, and she was Dash's friend. That added to Dash's coolness just by association.>>
This got a smile from me too. Writers sometimes portray Dash's confidence as a mask. I see it more as a forcefield and her friends are the generators. When they're succeeding, her confidence is also high and she can deflect whatever is thrown at her. Moments where her inner turmoil slips out have almost always been in moments where she's by herself, or at least absent from her friends (I can only think of one instance where that wasn't the case). It's one of the reasons I find her bragging strangely endearing rather than annoying. When she does something awesome, yes, she shouts it to the world. But if you're her friend and you do something awesome, she will also shout it to the world.
<<“Did ya' catch her cutie mark, by any chance?” Applejack said. Dash could tell she was trying to sound casual, but there was something hesitant about the question.>>
I always wondered how much Applejack knew (or looked into at some past point) about her natural genealogy. To me, the expression she gave Twilight in "Three Little Apples" contained a layer of inevitable resignation in it, like she knew someone was eventually going to ask. I just got this sense she was holding back. Asking what the mare's cutie mark was seems to go along that line.
<<There's Apple what's-her-name and Apple um, somepony else, and they all have cutie marks that make me hungry.”>>
Hands down, funniest line in the story to me.
<<“She ain't my ma.” Applejack explained without a hint of anger or sadness.>>
Moments like these, and Dash's "That's not what parents do" paragraph, exemplify how differently these two characters see the world and the things in it that are important to them despite all their similarities in personality. And yet, they still work well together when you write their back and forths.
<<Dash blushed, she hated being pitied, but she felt like even AJ's non-existent mom was better than her parents. This was all her dad's fault anyway.>>
This was my favorite paragraph in the story. Just... the abruptness of those two thoughts combined with how well they contrast yet at the same time help define Rainbow's character was amazing. I hope you do continue forward if/when you feel inspired to write that longer fic, because you've certainly set a compelling stage.
<<“Come'ere you!” Applejack's said with a grin, trying to catch Rainbow Dash as the train to parts unknown pulled out of the station.>>
So with all this deserved gush, gush, gush, do I have any real criticisms about your story? Well, no. But I do have a preference. This line above? I would have preferred if that had been the last line in the story, if those last three paragraphs had been excluded.
Let me explain. Despite the fact that this is told from Dash's perspective I felt like the magnifying glass was on Applejack the entire time. This was her story even if we never got in her head. Now, I think she knows a bit more about her birth parents than she lets on, but that's speculation on my part. I don't doubt her sincerity at all though when she says she doesn't want to ask why she was left at Sweet Apple Acres regardless of how curiously she stares at the end. I like her explanation about what family is to her. And that's kinda my thing with character study stories: I want to be there with the character too. If Applejack really doesn't want to know her mother's motivation then I don't want to know either. That way, if she ever changes her mind, it'll be first-hand knowledge for me, the reader, as well. And if I never know... then I'm ok with that. I can guess if I want to, but Applejack defined her position so well it's not important for me that I have to know. Having those three paragraphs at the end then, even gleaning the tiniest sliver of motivation from the mother without AJ's knowledge, I feel like something gets taken away. Yes, I'm weird, I know. And as I said, this isn't a true criticism. The ending was well written and full of emotion. There's nothing wrong with it. My preference is the opinion of one person. I just felt like I should state it.
Overall, this is yet another well written story. The dialogue was at its usual level of quality I've seen in your other works. The imagery was minimal, but since the setting never changed I was able to get a good picture of where everyone was. Dash and Applejack were in character throughout, and I loved the message AJ gets across with regards to her family and her definition of it. An absolutely solid tale and thank you for sharing it!
1236199
I'll have to take the blame for those three paragraphs.
I came up with the idea and she decided to roll with it.
1234336
I like it, too . . . it's just the way you did it . . . I think it might've been the dialogue. Maybe like a little "Rainbow Dash approached her" paragraph, or something.
You get what I mean?
1236199>>1236388
No way am I giving DbzOrDie the blame there. I always tell people who are pre-reading for me that it's my story and I won't listen if I don't like the idea. I listened, so I must have agreed.
I wrote those because I was a little worried that it was too open ended for a one shot. I do wish now that I'd gone with my gut- less because of First_Down's thoughts than because it's my inclination to leave blank anything I don't have to fill in. I did intend her to be AJ's mom, but it was totally outside the point of the story. I just got spooked by the idea that it was a one shot and the mystery wasn't solved. Totally a mistake on my part, I need to trust my audience way more than that. You all are smart folks.
On to First_Down's other thoughts, which are wonderful and detailed as usual. (Seriously, your comments are like author cookies
)
I thought AJ's question about the pony's cutie mark was interesting. Ponies are all essentially wearing their lives on their flanks, but at the same time it's completely symbolic. So knowing another pony's cutie mark (and nothing else) gives you a hint about who they are without giving any concrete information. Which is kind of all AJ wants to know about her birth mother, it's the only real question she asks Dash about her (the rest is just confirmation of what Dash said).
With regards to the differences in how the two act- did you hear about the proposed episode that Lauren Faust talked about that was never made (yet)? All that's known is that it had Dash and AJ finding a pony in the woods who thinks he's a deer. Dash wants to explain to him that he's a pony and bring him to Ponyville, while AJ wants to leave him with his deer family. When I heard that, I thought right away of Three Little Apples, and I think it colored my head canon as to how Dash reacts here.
Also, once again I tried not to make it a black and white issue. Dash's opinions on her upbringing aside, she has some valid points about parents being willing to sacrifice for their children. If AJ had a foal I seriously doubt there's anything in Equestria that would keep her from working her tail off to provide for it, no matter how she feels about her birth mother doing the right thing. What AJ understand that Dash doesn't is what she said about choices, that if a pony is trying to do right and really doing their best, you can't blame them for the outcome. Dash can't understand that, at least in context of her father.
Once again, thank you so much for your comment. It was a joy to read, and I'm glad you liked the story for the most part. And I've learned my lesson with the last bit.
1237500
Well, if you hope that you would have decided not to use those three paragraphs, think of it like this
508 views and 1 person complains/notes that he didn't like the end
If you deleted it maybe more people would've complained that it didn't have a one-shot feeling to it or something :)
1239725
Right, but I can't accuratly tell how many people disliked the end now, I only know that First_Down said something. And had I done it the other way, I never would have known how many people disliked it, either. The only question I can actually answer is whether I like the end, and I don't really, for the reasons I said.
I'd actually like it better if we found out it wasn't her mother. Though I did intend for it to be her mother, finding out it wasn't would keep the question of who is her mother mysterious.
1240369
If I never came up with the idea you wouldn't have put it in the end
It's all my fault!!
1240379
It was my decision. And it's not the end of the world, if I felt that strongly about it I could delete it, or write something else.
1240394
Well, I like the ending so that evens me and first_down out :)
1237500
<<I just got spooked by the idea that it was a one shot and the mystery wasn't solved.>>
Don't know if it helps or not, but even without the reveal at the end my first guess would have been that it was AJ's mother. Second guess would have been older sister and third guess would have been aunt. When I was reading, it seemed to me like you wanted Applejack to have the chance to speak with a blood relative and turn it down. Not in a resist temptation kind of way. More in a "re-affirming that the peace she made in her head years ago with this was the right thing to do in her mind" kind of way. And naturally, Rainbow Dash would not be able understand that outlook at first. At least, that was my interpretation of it. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong.
<<(Seriously, your comments are like author cookies
)>>
My comments are delicious but unhealthy?
<<Which is kind of all AJ wants to know about her birth mother>>
So the tumbleweed symbolizes the mother's propensity for being a drifter? Fair enough. It's different - in a good way - to watch a show that has complex characters with multiple facets of personality, and yet their special talents are plastered on their flanks like some billboard you'd see from the highway. It's something I do have to remember.
<<With regards to the differences in how the two act- did you hear about the proposed episode that Lauren Faust talked about that was never made (yet)?>>
Now I have. And now I hope that episode gets made. Although what really fascinates me about that synopsis is how Dash and AJ attempt to handle the situation. Had you given me the general summary, but not disclosed which character was in favor of what, I would have guessed that Applejack would have wanted to tell the pony he was a pony, and Dash would have wanted him to stay with his adopted deer family. You know, honesty and loyalty. But it's good to the see the show, and its writers, handle their characters with care and not always define them by what gets magically tattooed on to their hips.
<<Also, once again I tried not to make it a black and white issue.>>
Usually the best conflict is more than black and white. I thought the points you gave both sides came through just fine. I think I mentioned something similar to you in your last story when Dash and her father were arguing. Neither side, in particular the father because it would have been easy to do, was a prop for the other to verbally wail on. They both had points to make.
<<Once again, thank you so much for your comment. It was a joy to read, and I'm glad you liked the story for the most part.>>
You're welcome and thank you for responding. For the record, I liked the story in its entirety, not just most of the way through. That's why I said I had a preference and not a true criticism. To paraphrase you from earlier, "it's not a black and white issue." Also, it is extremely comforting to know my comments will in no way ever pressure you to change something if you don't want to. That allows me to keep giving honest feedback, which I believe is the best kind.
1240421
I'm willing to learn if you're willing to share. Why did you prefer an ending with a character and motive hint/reveal?
1245986
I like to know motives behind actions. There's this little guy inside me that basically craves answers to the questions that spring up in fics.
I dislike open-endings for that reason because you'll keep guessing unless the author intervenes.
EX: if a writer writes a story where in the middle he hints at a romance between secondary characters, then I want confirmation if it turned in a real relationship or not. If I have to keep guessing, then I keep thinking of all possible outcomes, good or bad. I'd rather know if they break up or stay together than keep thinking what would happen in that fic universe.
I reckon it's just my thirst for knowledge
I LOVED the ending. Very amazing story. I like the ending more then the rest though.
1246419
Sorry for not responding to you sooner. The last few days have been interesting, in the Chinese proverb sense of the word.
I can get behind the pursuit of knowledge in stories. It's one reason why I ask questions when I leave feedback. However, I don't think I go as far as you do with it. Out of curiosity, what's your stance on personal interpretation in literature? If an author writes something, be it a major plot thread or minor, and has no intention of keeping it anything besides open-ended, would you feel comfortable forming your own opinion of what you think happens/happened given whatever facts you've received earlier? I ask because I really liked the example you provided. I thought it displayed the different ways you and I approach a story. Under your scenario, I would request a firm conclusion to a possible romance between secondary characters if and only if the overall story was affected by it in some way. Otherwise, if the characters were well written, I'd be fine with imagining my own resolve for them.
1274486
I really don't like to interpreter things that are a result of something in the story or that has an impact on the story. I could make up an entire fictional universe around the fic with the secondary thing fully developed only for the author to completely obliterate it if they get a change of heart and decide to elaborate on it.
If it's just a casual, random thing that doesn't have any real impact, then I'd be happy to let my fantasy rampage on it.
I think that's about the best that I can explain it.
1274516
You explained it fine. And you did it more concisely than I did. Casual is one thing but you want to know what happens if different outcomes end up changing the overall story in any way. As I said, I can get behind that sentiment even though I allow concessions depending on the scenario.
Thank you for indulging me, and for being a much quicker replier than I am.
Short and sweet. Any more elaboration, short of making this a middle chapter in a much longer work, would have dragged it out too long and ruined the very nice scene these three ponies had. Just right as it is.
You really do seem to have a way with the sweet little stories. The characters come alive more without the rush of packing as much as possible into a one-shot. This I applaud you for.
I would have liked to see AJ go after the woman, but I agree with her choosing not to and her reasoning behind it. It would be out of character for her because family to her isn't about blood, but who is always there for you at the end of the day. After seeing that, as much as my curiosity pushes me to imagine what would happen if AJ confronted the woman, I'm glad she didn't. Even though AJ isn't the element of loyalty I get this feeling that she would feel as if she betrayed her real family and therefore herself. You just can't have Applejack without the Apples! I just cannot picture her anywhere else other than Sweet Apple Acres, and though her past is seriously heartbreaking, she takes it for what it is and builds her own life despite her past and not because of it. Applejack is one strong pony.
If I didn't read the other stories beforehand I would say that the relationship between Dash and AJ was too fast and forced, but because of the hints you've put into other stories made it happen beautifully. Dashie is such an awkward pony sometimes.
When I first started reading pony fiction AppleDash was an instant favorite, as I continued reading more stories my mind changed. I pictured Applejack with Fluttershy and Dashie with Pinkie. This story, and your previous ones, have brought back my love for AppleDash. Personally, I believe it is the way they are portrayed in other stories, that their similarities and competitive natures is an instant relationship maker. You go beyond that and delve a little deeper into their characters and PROVE why they are so good for each other while still keeping the original basis of the friendship. You give them a perfect mix of seriousness and silliness. 
Definitely love this series :) as well as for the appledash as for the setting/idea behind the Apple family. I want moar, you hear?!
I think the ending was what made the fic for me. There's just something beautiful about her mother watching over her and seeing how well she's done for herself. It dispels any doubt that her mother had about her decision to leave AJ in a hopefully better home. Her mother still loves her even if she had to give up that joy for herself so that her daughter could have a better life than what she could have provided. She realizes that AJ has her own family as well as everything she needs to be happy and she's content just to know that her daughter is doing well. It's beautiful and selfless. Pure unadulterated love for her child.
I love the ending too
Very sweet and touching. Using freckles as the tying point to keep calling back to really adds a feeling of depth to the fic.
Will we be seeing more from this continuity?
2708879
I do have a story in mind, but I'm not sure when I'll get to writing it.
2708908
Loved the story overall, the ending felt a little open ended anyway - <<Maybe there would be hints, the same pegasus with her, maybe even a deep kiss after a tough event. More little reminders for the old mare that she had made the right choice.>>> - will you be continuing this with a sequel?
Overall pinkie rating -
/ 5
This is calling for another chapter!!pinkiehappy:
This is calling for another chapter!!pinkiehappy:
I liked this one almost as much as Of Cottages and Cloudhouses. It was a bit more on the somber side, but then it ended on more of a high note. I like stories like that, even though I'm not really known to write them. Also, this is the cutest shipping ever, in fact, you deserve a blue ribbon for it.
How did I just get around to reading this?
My only real problem with it is that the romance aspect seems a little hastily executed. Stares by Rainbow would be one thing, but I feel like a kiss and a confession might be a little bit on the spontaneous side.
But then again, Rainbow Dash is spontaneous, and Applejack does like that about her...
Y'know what? Forget I said anything. I liked this story. No complaints.
Oh mah gawd... This was so sweet! c:
Omg you should make a sequel where they both see her and go after her and have like an adventure hoping to find Applejacks mom that would be SO AWESOME!
This is beautiful! I loved how the mare and AJ never approached each other, and I adored how Rainbow loved AJ's blush!
Have an upvote and a fav!
For the record:
I read this a long time ago, and I didn't vote on it. I still hadn't as of today. I realized that this was silly, as I knew this story back and front, and I must have read it a number of times to have done that, and it is kind of ridiculous to not vote on a story you've read that many times.
So that is where the upvote came from. Because I am a silly dragon.
This was a nice story, nicely done! :D
LOVES IT!
This was a nice story, nicely done! :D
LOVES IT!