Soarin sat at the kitchen table, pen in mouth. Sheet after sheet of potential candidates for the next round of Wonderbolt cadets were scattered out in front of him. A tablet of paper set beside him as he tried to figure out which were the best options and which would likely have to be passed up this time. One hoof ran through his mane as the other reached to grab another sheet, reading the information on the potential candidate.
"Woo-wee," Applejack said as she stared at the table. "Is it just me, or are there a whole hay of a lot more applicants than usual?" Picking up one of the sheets, she looked it over.
"I asked the same thing when I picked up the papers," Soarin answered, setting his pen down and rubbing his face. "I got some long explanation having to do with population growth and The Wonderbolts having become more prestigious in recent years."
Applejack put the paper down and picked up another.
"Well, I don't envy you. Never did like havin' to do paperwork myself." Setting the paper down, she turned toward the refrigerator. "I'll get ya a glass of iced tea. Might help ya relax a little."
Soarin let out a grunt as he grabbed his pen, making another note on the paper tablet.
As Applejack got a glass and Soarin picked up another application, their daughter came in through the doorway. Little Green Smith Apple had the hood of her sweatshirt up, green muzzle and lock of her dark hair sticking out from the edge. Her head was low, below her shoulders, and her body was tense, tail and wings flickering. Opening the fridge, she pulled out one of chocolate drizzled fritters and took a massive bite.
"What's got you bein' a crab apple today?" Applejack asked, slipping past the filly to grab the pitcher of tea.
After shoving the rest of the fritter in her mouth and licking the chocolate from her lips, Little Green took a step back from the fridge. Reaching into her saddle bag, she pulled out a book and held it up for her mother to see.
"Love at Last," Applejack read aloud. "What, is that one of them romance novels?"
"Yes," Little Green answered as she put the book bag. "The ninth and final one in a series, actually. It's a father telling his children how he met their mom."
"That sounds nice." Applejack's lips pursed as her brow furrowed. "Why would it take nine whole books to tell that story though?"
"That's just it!" the filly cried out, wings flaring. "It didn't!" She stamped a hoof on the hard wooden floor. "She's not introduced into the series until the last chapter of the eighth book. And they don't even give her name until the second to last chapter, even though there's a whole chapter dedicated to what she was doing during the rest of the series."
"Ah, I can see why you're a bit upset then."
A sigh escaped from Little Green as she sagged, sitting down on the kitchen floor.
"Worst of all, it's not even a happy ending." She let out a huff, wings flickering again. "The story ends with the mother dying, and the narrator going to start dating Sparkle Songbird, the pegasus he met and had a relationship with at the beginning of the first book! It would be like if I asked Papa how you two met, and he told me about dating Fleetfoot instead."
"Spitfire," Soarin said absent-mindedly as he continued to work.
Perking up, Little Green turned to look at her father, golden eyes peeking out from under her hood.
"What?"
"When I first met your mother, I was sort of dating Spitfire at the time," Soarin said.
The filly pulled her hood down as she moved toward the table.
"How did you two meet?" she asked. "Did you know it meant to be? Was it love at first sight?" She leaned in, eyes wider. "Please tell me."
Joining her, Applejack reached out an placed a hoof on her daughter's shoulder.
"Take it easy, sugar cube," she said calmly. "It ain't nothin' that impressive."
"But I still want to know now," Little Green stated. "Please, Papa?"
The sight of those big golden eyes staring up at him made it hard for Soarin to say no, even if he had wanted to. Besides, he would not mind taking a break from all the paperwork. That was not something that he had been told about when he had joined The Wonderbolts and was promoted to second position. How Spitfire put up with it, he never understood.
"Well, the first time I met your mother was at The Grand Galloping Gala," he explained. His brow furrowed. "If I remember right, it was not long after they had first become national heroes."
"Eyup," Applejack confirmed. "We had defeated Nightmare Moon not too long ago, but hadn't dealt with Discord yet."
"So the two of you saw each other from across the ballroom," Little Green said. "Your eyes met, and you instantly fell in love, dancing the night away and talking until morning." Her eyes went glassy as she imagined it, staring up toward the ceiling. Her wings slowly spread open, sticking out from her side.
This got a chuckle from Applejack, who reached out and mussed with her daughter's hair.
"Sorry, Greenie, but this ain't like one of Aunt Rarity's romance novels. Fact, I didn't even go inside the actual gala."
"You didn't."
"Nope," Soarin confirmed. "She was actually outside it." His eyes narrowed as a large grin spread across his face. "She was running a stand to sell treats she made from right here in the hopes of getting some more bits."
Little Green blinked, then shifted. Her ears pulled back as her brows furrowed, considering this. Slowly, she turned to her mother, blinking in confusion.
"But... isn't the gala catered?" she asked. "Wouldn't the ponies inside rather eat the catered food that's free?"
A small blush formed on Applejack's cheeks. Her lips pressed tightly together as she looked away, avoiding eye contact with the pair of pegasi. Soarin, however grinned, his green eyes glittering with humor as he looked at his wife.
"Very true," he stated. "Which was something she didn't think about before coming up with the plan. By the end of the night, her and the others--"
"She don't need to hear about that!" Applejack shouted, pressing both her hooves against his mouth as her face grew as red as her brother's.
"Don't need to hear what?" Little Green asked. "What happened?"
"Ain't important right now," Applejack stated. "I'll tell you some other time."
"But I want to know now."
Taking a hold of the hooves, Soarin gently pulled them away from his mouth and gave one a gentle pat on the back.
"She's right," he said. "What happened at the end of the night doesn't really have anything to do with our meeting each other the first time."
"So, how did you two meet?"
"He was my only real customer that night," Applejack answered. "Bought a whole apple pie from me." She grinned. "Practically as excited over it as any born Apple would'a been."
Slowly, Little Green shifted, her gaze moving back and forth between her parents.
"That's it?" she asked. "You two met outside the gala and you bought a pie? How did that lead to y'all getting together?"
"Well, it didn't really," Soarin answered. "At least, not directly. That was simply the first time we technically ever met each other."
"Then when did you two start dating?"
"Well, that's a little more complicated. See, before we get to that, you need to know..."
Still in their flight suits, Soarin followed Rainbow Dash as they flew out from Ponyville, leaving the town proper and heading out to... somewhere. While they might have done a show in Ponyville before, Soarin had not really done much else. A little looking around town, but not much, and certainly nothing out where they were now.
As he did, he wondered one thing: what did this have to do with pie?
With a shift of his body and quicker flick of his wings, he sped up to get in earshot of the other pegasus.
"Rainbow!" he called out. "Where are we going? There was a bakery back in Ponyville. Couldn't we just go get something from there?"
Slowing down slightly, Rainbow rolled over onto her back. She smirked as she looked at Soarin, flying backwards without any signs of trouble.
"Yeah," she said as she continued to fly. "Sugarcube Corner's pretty good, especially if you like cupcakes." She then turned back around. "But trust me on this. If you want the best apple pie in Equestria, you want someone from the Apple family to make it. And in Ponyville--" she stopped flying, hovering upright "-- that means going to Sweet Apple Acres." She then motioned with a hoof behind her.
Not far ahead of them was a farm. It looked like something out of a painting. There was a wooden fence painted white, a farmhouse, a barn, chickens, and lots and lots of apple trees.
"Come on," Rainbow said as she flew toward the place. Gliding through the top of the gateway, she curved toward the farmhouse and came to land right at the top of the porch steps.
"Yo, AJ!" Rainbow Dash called out as she knocked on the door. "It's me! You in?"
Not long after, the door was opened by yellow coated earth filly.
"Hey, Bloom," Rainbow said to the filly. "Applejack here?"
"Yeah," the filly -- Apple Bloom -- answered as she pushed the door open further. "She's in the kitchen. Go on in."
"Thanks."
As he followed after Rainbow and entered the house, he looked around. The place looked to be made of raw wood. Just bare planks making up the walls and floor. Framed pictures filled the space on some of the walls and above the mantle of a fireplace, and bright area rugs were scattered all across the floor, some of which were worn pretty thin.
The place looked very lived in and...happy? Could a home be happy? The ponies in it, sure, but the building itself?
In the kitchen were two earth mares. One was an elderly green mare with clear, orange eyes that felt like they could read Soarin in an instant. The other was an orange coated mare with a blond mane and tail. She was currently at the oven, pulling something from it.
"Hey, AJ," Rainbow called out toward the orange mare. "The pie ready?"
Applejack glanced toward Rainbow before turning and heading toward the window. Setting the pie she had down on the sill, she picked up another one waiting there.
As she carried it toward them, Soarin got a good look at her. Applejack was larger than most of the mares he had met. Not just taller, but a thicker build. She was wide in the chest and across the back. There were signs of muscle, indicating a lot of exercise, but not the lean smooth muscle that he and the other Wonderbolts had from all of their time flying. It was bulkier, heavier looking.
"Here ya go," Applejack said as she set the pie on the table. "Should still be nice and warm in the center."
As she spoke, something about her voice sounded familiar.
"Have we met before?" Soarin asked.
Applejack turned and looked at him with her green eyes. They did not give the same feeling of being studied and evaluated as the older mare, but there was something about them that made Soarin just want to tell the truth. She then smiled, letting out a small chuckle.
"Couple times," she answered. "In fact, you bought one of my pies before."
"I did?"
"Eyup. Here." Applejack pushed the pie towards him. "Take a bite and see if that helps."
"I doubt it," Soarin said as he looked at the pie. "I've eaten a lot of pies in my life."
"And I've baked a lot of pies in mine. Try it. Trust me." She gave a wink.
With a shrug, Soarin leaned in and took a big bite of the pie.
And had his mind blown.
The pie was perfect. The best he ever had. A miraculous blend of contradictions. The golden brown crust was both tender and flaky, crunching as he bit into it, yet melting like warm butter on his tongue. The apples were sweet with a little tartness, as well as soft with a little bit of crunch to them. The syrup that formed was gooey, but not too sticky. A hint of fresh cinnamon danced across his taste buds.
The world was brighter. Colors sharper. Air sweeter. A chorus of angels with southern accents sang out in harmony.
"You alright there, sugar cube?" the most beautiful, majestic, and glorious mare Soarin had ever seen asked, raising one eyebrow as she looked at him with wonderfully grass green eyes.
"It's... it's the best pie I've ever had," Soarin stated, unaware of the grumbling beside him as Rainbow pushed at one of his now outspread wings. "I will never be able to have another pie again, because they will all pale in comparison to this one, just like all other mares will pale in comparison to you."
"Aw, that's mighty sweet of ya," Applejack said with a smile. "Glad you liked it. Go ahead and dig in."
With that, Soarin started really tearing in to the pie, savory every bite before swallowing it and taking another. From the windowsill, the fresh pie looked on in horror, wondering if it would meet the same cruel fate as its predecessor.
"See?" Rainbow Dash said with a grin. "I told you: best pie in Ponyville."
Soarin was too busy enjoying bliss to disagree, even if he wanted to.
"So even though we had technically met before," Soarin explained, "it was because of Rainbow Dash that we actually got to start knowing each other."
"Wowwww," Little Green sighed out, eyes wide as she stared up at her parents.
"Funny though," Applejack said, looking at Soarin with narrowed eyes. "I don't remember you crying over my pie like that. Or you calling me pretty; to say nothin' of all other mares 'palin' in comparison to my beauty.'"
Soarin shifted in his seat, his wings flickering against his sides as he looked away. A small cough escaped him as one of his ears twitched, his gaze shifting back down to the papers on the table in front of him.
"I... may be... embellishing a detail or two," he said. "Just a little." Looking up at his wife, he smiled. "I should have, too. You were and still are the most beautiful mare I have ever seen."
"And you're still a big ol' romantic goofball," Applejack said. Stepping closer, she gave Soarin a kiss on the cheek. "Still, sweet of you to say."
With a return smile, Soarin reached out with a wing and wrapped it around Applejack, pulling her in close. Little Green watched as her parents pressed against each other, smiling happily. As she did, her mind turned back to the story she had been told, and a question started to form.
"So when did you start dating?" she asked.
"Not for a while," Applejack answered. "We did see each other from time to time after, normally when Soarin came around to pick up another pie. Usually when he did, we would sit and chat for a while, get to know each other."
"And sometimes, she would have them sent to me at The Wonderbolts Academy," Soarin added. "When she did, there would normally be little notes included." He held up a hoof. "Not love notes. Just friendly little letters."
"Although a certain somepony seemed to think it was more than that."
"What do you mean?" Little Green asked.
"Well, it turned out Granny Smith was watching us. Until one day..."
******
Soarin grinned as he flew toward Ponyville and Sweet Apple Acres. The warm afternoon air whipped through his mane and blew across his coat, making extra certain that it was thoroughly dry. He was very excited: practice went well, a long weekend was coming up -- which he actually had off -- and soon, he would have a fresh baked apple pie.
Reaching Sweet Apple Acres, he found Granny Smith standing on the porch. The old green farm mare's eyes locked on the stallion as he landed, a smile tugging at the edge of her lips.
"Afternoon, fella," she said from her spot. "Take it yer here your pie."
"Yes, ma'am," Soarin replied as he walked toward the porch.
"Well, it's inside coolin' right now." Granny held up a hoof. "Before you go, somethin' I'd like ya to do for me. See, Applejack ain't inside at the moment, she had to do some work over in the north field." She pulled out a bottle and held it out to him. "Would ya mind taking this out there to her?"
"Sure," Soarin said as he took the bottle. Stepping away from the porch, he turned to head toward the north field.
"And while you're at it, ask her out on a date!"
The shout caught him so much by surprise, that he forgot to flap during taking, causing him to crash back into the ground.
"W-wh-what?" he stammered out, eyes wide.
"Ya heard me," Granny Smith stated. "Ask the mare out on a date already."
Getting up, Soarin turned to face the old mare. His wings stretched out and flapped, making sure they were unharmed before tucking back against his side. His ears twitched as he took a step back, his eyes shifting to look everywhere but at her.
"I... I don't know if I can do that."
Granny's eyes narrowed as she stared at the stallion a moment, lips pressing tight. she then gave a sudden smirk.
"Well, guess you don't want your pie then."
Soarin looked at the old mare, brow furrowing as he considered what she just said.
"So, I don't get my pie, unless I ask Applejack on a date?" he asked. "You're...bribing me to date your granddaughter."
"Naw," Granny replied with a wave of her hoof. "I ain't bribin' ya. I'm blackmailin' ya. If it were a bribe, I would offer you an extra pie or somethin' to encourage you to ask. As the pie's rightfully yours and I ain't givin' it to you unless you do as I say, it's blackmail."
"Glad we cleared that up," Soarin said, rolling his eyes.
"Though really, I see it as pushin' two stubborn ponies into doin' something I know they both want," Granny continued. "I've seen the way you look at her, and how your face lights up when you talk to her, not to mention those glances at her flank."
Soarin shifted, blushing slightly.
"Can you look me in the eye and say you ain't the slightest bit interested in dating her?"
Biting his lip, Soarin looked down at the bottle in his hoof. Admittedly, he was kind of interested in the mare. She was Strong, tough, and pretty brave seeing as she had helped save Equestria on multiple occasions. Plus, after talking to her, he learned that she was smart, kind, and could be very sweet. It was hard to believe that there were not more ponies lining up to try and get involved with Applejack. Especially since it was pretty clear that she wanted to have a family of her own.
Except...
"Okay," he admitted. "Yeah. I like her and wouldn't mind dating her. But she's a farmer and I'm mostly a stunt flyer. What could she possibly see in me?"
"Ain't gonna know unless you try," Granny pointed out. "Now, I may not know much about your group, but I'm pretty sure that it's a tough job to get, right?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"And from what Applejack and that there Rainbow Dash has told me, yer like second-in-command or somethin'."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Now, if you can do all that and keep up with all the scheduled trainin' and flyin' you have to do, then I'm pretty sure you can ask out one little mare." Eyes narrowing, Granny Smith pointed a hoof at him. "So go out there and do it, fella, or so help me, I will make sure every pie you get from us will be salty."
Soarin gasped out, eyes going wide.
"You wouldn't!"
"Oh would ya look at that," Granny said innocently. "Seems I mixed up the salt and sugar somehow. Sorry about that." She gave a wicked grin. "My eyesight ain't what it used to be."
Soarin let out a snort and scowled at the old mare before turning away and flying toward the north field. As he flew, his eyes scanned the ground below him, looking for Applejack. Although, considering the size of the farm, the sheer number of trees, and how they kind of hid most of the ground, he was not entirely certain how he would be able to find her.
Fortunately, a loud thud, and the sight of a tree shaking gave him the answer.
Coming in for a landing, Soarin found the mare he was looking for. Applejack turned to face him as he come in through the trees, giving a smile.
"Hey there," she called out.
"Hi," Soarin replied. He then held up the bottle. "Granny asked me to bring this out to you."
"Thanks," Applejack said as she took the drink. "I'm mighty parched." She then started downing the drink in massive gulps.
Soarin licked his lips and took a deep breath.
"So, I was thinking... maybe we should go out on a date."
Finishing the bottle, Applejack returned her attention to the stallion.
"Nope."
******
"What?!" Little Green cried out, eyes wide and wings flaring. "You said no?! Why?! I thought you already liked him."
A blush formed on Applejack's face as she adjusted her hat. Getting up, she grabbed a glass, poured some tea for herself, and took a drink.
"I did," she finally replied. "But I had certain notions on romance myself. Yeah, I liked him, but I figured that the pony I was to spend the rest of my life with would be one that I fell in love with the first time I saw 'em. So even though I liked him, and cared deeply, didn't really realize that I might'a been in love with him. Fortunately, Granny set me straight when I got home."
*****
"Dagnabit girl!" Granny yelled. "What's the big idea turnin' down the stallion like that? Do I need to knock some sense into that thick ol' head of yours?"
"I don't see what the big deal is," Applejack huffed, scowling as she looked away from her grandmother.
"The big deal," Granny growled, "is that you met a stallion that likes you fer you. Not because of some hero worship or a weird o' fascination with country life, but because of who you are." She stepped closer, pressing a hoof against Applejack's barrel. "And I know you like him too. I've seen the way you get excited when you know he's comin' to visit, how you're all smilin' and hummin' when he leaves, and how much time you've spent tryin' to get your pie recipes even more perfect for him."
Applejack looked at the older mare, then sighed and gave a nod. It was all true.
Granny took a step back, her features softening.
"So if he asked, and you like him, why'd you say no?"
"I don't know," Applejack blurted out. "I mean, yeah I like him, but... I don't know if I like him like that."
"That's part of the reason why you go on a date," Granny stated. "You spend time with a pony and get to know them to figure out whether you like them enough to spend more time with them or not. If it don't go well, you learn a little about yourself and move on. It works out, you go on another and see how it ends up."
Moving closer again, Granny gently pulled the younger mare into a hug.
"Now, Applejack, I can't force you to go out with him." She paused, pursing her lips. "Well..." she rubbed at her chin. "Actually, I probably could." She smirked. "Could probably even get help with it. Bet Apple Bloom would love to help you get together. And I know that Rarity girl would. Maybe even Pinkie Pie since it would probably make you happy."
Applejack's eyes rolled as her jaw pressed tight. She did not like where this was going.
"So, I could force you," Granny stated, "but I won't. I don't want you to miss out on an opportunity to find somepony that makes you happy, but if you really don't think that it's Soarin, then I won't stop ya." She gave an extra squeeze. "Just be sure it's 'cause you aren't interested in him like that and not somethin' else."
The hug ended, and Granny pulled away, going on about her business. As she did, Applejack stood there, considering what she had been told. Turning her attention to Soarin, Applejack considered the stallion and how she felt about him. She thought about what it might be like to go on a date with him, which was kind of difficult. They seemed so different. But, they got along pretty well most of the time. And the idea of being with him, maybe at a nice picnic under the stars...
Getting up, Applejack made her way to her room. Grabbing a pencil and paper, she wrote a quick note.
Soarin,
I've thought about your question, and have changed my mind. If still interested, is Saturday good?
"So, you went on a date, everything was perfect, and you two fell in love," Little Green declared, staring up with wide eyed wonder.
With a chuckle, Applejack ruffled her daughter's mane.
"Sorry, sugar cube," she said, "but I'm afraid things weren't quite that simple." Her smile got a little smaller as she looked back, remembering those days as best she could. "See, we were supposed to go out that Saturday, but I ended up getting called away on a friendship emergency."
"After, The Wonderbolts had a show in The Changeling Kingdom," Soarin added. He then chuckled. "Loved it so much, they decided to create their own team."
"Then there was some trouble in Appleloosa we had to help with," Applejack said. Her brow furrowed. "Think somethin' else came up after that. Sometimes it gets a bit hard to remember all the dangers the girls and I have dealt with over the years." She gave a shake of her head and returned her attention to her daughter. "Point is, it took somethin' like a month or so before we were able to actually go on a proper date."
"And that did not go well," Soarin stated. "I mean, I don't know if I would could call it the worst date I've been on, but it sure went pretty badly."
"To be fair," Applejack pointed out, "none of it was our fault."
"What happened?" Little Green asked.
"Well..."
*****
It was Ponyville's Fall Harvest Festival. One of the many celebrations that Ponyville had, and one of the few that pre-dated the arrival of Pinkie Pie. While not a traditional among the Apple families, it was something that many of the farm ponies celebrated: taking joy in a successful harvest of plentiful crops. While not simply a farming community, the tradition stuck around as the town grew, until becoming more like a carnival than an actual harvest celebration.
It seemed like the perfect place for a first date. There was food, games, rides, and a casual air to the whole thing that made it feel calm and relaxed.
Something both of them could use. Both Applejack and Soarin had gone on dates before, with the former having a few and the latter quite a number since his celebrity (none of which never seemed to go that well since many were more for said celebrity than for him as an individual).
"That's something you might have to deal with, someday," Soarin explained to Little Green. "If you ever become famous for doing something, there's a chance ponies will want to hang around you just to get some fame by association."
For some reason though, this seemed different. Both of them felt like teens who were about to go on their first date ever. Soarin had been so distracted he had caused more than one near incident at flight training, and had reminded the others why he was nicknamed "Clipper." Applejack wound up going to her friends for tips and advice on dating, which she quickly regretted between Twilight's graphs and charts (and a test) and Rarity's near endless suggestions almost all of which came straight out of romance novels.
When the time came for the two of them to meet at the farm's gate, the two of them were feeling extremely nervous.
A tension that broke as soon as Applejack got of Soarin and burst into laughter, pointing a hoof.
"What?" Soarin asked, tilting his head. "What's so funny?"
"Y-y-yo-your mane," Applejack managed to snort out.
A small blush form on the stallion's face as he looked away, wings fluttering at his side. Reaching up with a hoof, he ran it through the shining and slicked back mane.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "I thought I looked good."
"Ya look like your gonna try and sell me beach front property in Appleloosa or something," Applejack said, still snickering. "Come here." Moving closer, she reached out and started ruffling his mane. It was incredibly greasy and slimy, like it had been made of slugs: a result of the fact that Soarin and used an entire container of hair gel on it.
When she was done, it did not quite look the way it used to, but it was close.
"Guess that's as good as it's gonna get without a proper wash," she stated. "Much as I appreciate you tryin' to look nice for me, it just ain't you." She leaned in close, almost pressing their noses together.
Realizing what she was doing, the mare pulled back, blushing slightly.
"So, you ready to go?" Applejack asked.
"Yeah," Soarin said, blushing a bit himself at how close they had been. "Y... you look nice by the way."
"Thanks."
Although she had not gone as far as Soarin -- or as Rarity would have liked -- Applejack had worked to look a little nicer than usual for their date. Mostly, that had meant she had been extra thorough in brushing her mane and tail, and tying them up in powder blue ribbons instead of her normal red hair bands. There was also a little -- just a little -- bit of make-up, at Rarity's insistence.
The two of them made their way toward Ponyville, and the carnival it was holding for the celebration. As they went, the two of them made small talk. While being laughed at was normally a bad way to start a date, it did seem to break the tension between them and help them relax.
Once they reached the festival, the first place they went to was an apple treat stand. Since Applejack actually had a date, it was Apple Bloom and Babs running it. Fortunately, things seemed to be going well: nothing had burned down, and Apple Bloom was not trying to lie, trick, threaten, or intimidate ponies into buying from them. So, it was going better than some of the earlier times.
After that, the couple headed over to an area where several games had been set up, including a test your strength game.
"No!" the stallion running the game said as he saw Applejack approaching. "I'm sorry, miss, but you are no longer allowed to play this game."
"What?" Soarin asked as he stepped forward. "Why not?"
"Nopony who breaks the game is allowed to play it again," the stallion explained.
"Oh, come on," Applejack said. "It wasn't that bad."
"It broke a window at the top of town hall. One of the employees ended up with a concussion."
"Wait, really?" Soarin asked, ears perking up.
"Yes," the game running stallion confirmed. "Which is nothing compared to what her brother did. Broke the entire thing in two."
"Okay, okay," Applejack huffed out. "Ya made your point. We'll go play somethin' else."
The something else ended up being a milk bottle toss. Soarin wanted to play it so he could show off his throwing talent. Something that he did not get to use very often in his daily life. Plus, it was part of dating, right? The stallion had to try and win some prize for the mare at something like this?
Paying his bit, he got three balls. Taking the first, he pulled back and threw. As intended, the ball hit the bottom row, but only the top most fell down. Grabbing the second, Soarin reared up on his hind legs as he pulled back, putting his entire body into it. Again, it hit the bottom row, knocking down the top and middle, but the bottom stood remaining.
A snort of frustration escaped the pegasus stallion as he glared at the game. Grabbing the last ball, his wings flared out as he reared up, pulling his foreleg back as far as he could manage. With hard flap, he threw himself forward, putting everything he had into it as he launched the ball forward.
There was an thundering clank as the ball hit the metallic bottles. The first and second rows were knocked off, falling from the platform and onto the ground. One of the bottom bottles fell as well, rolling to the side as another moved and wobbled.
But one... one stood in place, completely unaffected.
And that was enough to count as a failure since all the bottles had to be knocked over.
"Hold on a second, here," Applejack said as she hopped over the counter. "Somethin' ain't right about this."
"Ma'am!" the mare running the game called out. "You can't be back here!"
Ignoring the mare, Applejack walked over to the bottles and took a hold of the one still standing. She tried to pick it up, which was not as easy as it should have been. It held to the stand before suddenly coming loose with a jerk, causing her to almost loose balance. The bottle felt heavy, way too much to be empty.
Setting it back down, there was a thump as it suddenly snapped down into place on the stand.
So, not only was the thing weighted, but there was a magnet somewhere.
After having more than a few choice words for the game runner (most of which were not appropriate for fillies like Little Green to hear), and making sure that the proper authorities would learn of this, Applejack took one of the prizes and left. Soarin could not help but grin as he joined her.
The couple grabbed some funnel cakes and lemonade, then decided to try one more game. In this case, balloon darts. Applejack managed to pop two, and Soarin got all three. Between the two of them, it was enough for a pretty decent prize: a stuffed toy of some creature called a bushwoolie.
"Still have it too," Applejack stated. "Sits on the top shelf of our closet."
"Facing the wall and often with the door closed," Soarin added. "That thing creeps me out."
Next they headed for the Ferris wheel, figuring they had enough time before catching some of the shows (Sweetie Belle was singing and Scootaloo had a set of scooter stunts planned). This was actually something new for Soarin. He had seen them before, but never actually been on one. As a pegasus, it never really appealed to him since he could fly as high as he liked and stay there for hours. No real point in sitting in something just to go in a big circle.
Turns out it would be the only time he ever got one.
"What's that noise?" he asked as his ears picked up. "It sounded like metal groaning."
"This thing can't be safe. I mean they only use it a few times a year before breaking it apart and putting it back in storage."
"Please don't rock the seat. I don't want to fall out."
His forelegs gripped the bar in front of him, squeezing it for all he was worth.
"Look out!" a voice shouted.
A hissing noise filled the air as something came flying toward the Ferris wheel, leaving a trail of smoke and colorful sparks in its wake. It turned out to be high explosive fireworks, which hit the wheel right at the support.
BOOM!
While a pretty shade of blue, the explosion also managed to damage something. With an ear-piercing groan, the entire structure shook. There were sparks as metal sheered, the wheel ripping from its supports and rolling down the street.
"Welp," Applejack sighed as she wiggled out of her seat, "guess we oughta start savin' folks before this thing crashes."
*****
"That didn't happen!" Little Green declared, scowling up at her parents.
"'fraid so," Applejack assured her. "Fortunately, we got some help and were able to get everypony off without any serious injuries. Couple of houses got smashed though."
"And I am never getting onto one of those death traps ever again," Soarin declared.
Lips pursed, the pegasus filly furrowed her brow as she considered this. They were banned from one game, found another was cheating, and had a near death experience.
"So... after all that..." she said slowly, "you still went on another date?"
"Yeah," Applejack assured her. "Like I said, none of that was our fault." She grinned and moved closer to Soarin, leaning against him. "'sides, once things did go bad, your dad did pretty well handling a crisis. May have been a bit edgy about the wheel, but he kept calm and took command of the pegasi when things went bad."
Leaning back, Soarin gave Applejack a kiss on the cheek.
"None of the other dates were as bad," he said, "but none of them are as memorable either."
"So, when did you propose?" Little Green asked. "And how? And--"
Soarin held up a hoof.
"Actually, I think that's enough story time for now," he stated.
"What? But...but...."
"I know you're interested," the stallion said softly, "and it has been fun, but I need to get back to my work." He tilted, looking the filly over. "Besides, weren't you about to go somewhere, seeing as you have your saddle bags with you?"
Blinking, Little Green turned around and looked at her side. Sure enough, there was her saddle bag.
"Oh, right. I was going to take the book back to the library."
"Well you go do that, and go spend some time with your friends," Soarin stated. "I should have this all finished up late this afternoon." He grinned. "Then, not only can we tell you about how your mom proposed, but show you where as well."
"Really?" Little Green asked, ears perking up.
"Yeah," Applejack assured her. "If you haven't seen it already, it's more than time that you should."
"Okay," the filly shouted as she turned to run for the door. Her wings gave a flap of excitement as she headed out the house and toward town.
Applejack's smile wavered as she looked at the doorway.
"You okay?" Soarin asked. "You know, if you don't feel up to telling her--"
"No," Applejack cut in. "It's okay. I'm fine. I can tell her."
Wrapping a wing around her, Soarin leaned in and gave her another kiss.
"I'm back!" Little Green shouted as she opened the door, practically flying into the living room. Her wings continued to flutter as she ran through the house. "Where are you? You said we would be going to see where you proposed? Is it far? Are you ready?"
The excited filly was suddenly wrapped up in a pair of light blue wings and pulled into a hug by her dad.
"Calm down there, Green," he said as he held the filly against her chest. "It's not far, and it's not going anywhere." Leaning in, put a hoof against her mane. "What's with the blue bangs?"
Shifting in her father's grip, Little Green looked up at her mane, a small section of the bangs dyed from its normal dark navy blue color to a brighter, electric blue instead.
"Snowy decided to change her mane color," she explained. "Said she looked too much like Vinyl Scratch. But there was still a little bit of the blue left, so some of us had our bangs colored."
"Hm," Soarin said as he gave a small nod. "Well if you're going to start dying your mane, be sure to get some advice and tips from Babs first. We don't want the bathroom stained with whichever color you decide to use that day."
"Okay."
"Good." After giving her one more ruffle, he let go of the filly. "Now, there's a picnic basket in the kitchen. Why don't you go get it and we can join Mom."
"What do you mean?" Little Green asked. "Where's Mama?"
"She went ahead. Probably waiting for us there by now."
"What?!" the filly cried out, wings flaring out and one smacking her father in the face. "Ma's already there and waitin' and you're telling me to slow down?" She then turned and ran for the door, leaving once again.
Soarin chuckled, shaking his head at his daughter's enthusiasm. Heading into the kitchen, he grabbed the picnic basket that was waiting.
As expected, he found Little Green coming back in, ears pulled back and a sheepish look on her face.
"Uhm... where are we going?"
"Not far," Soarin answered around the basket. "In fact, we don't even have to leave the farm." Opening his wings, he crouched down. "Ready?"
A grin formed on Little Green's face as she crouched down as well, spreading her own wings.
"Ready."
The two then took off, flapping their wings as they launched off the ground. Since one did not know where they were going, the pair could not actually race, but they could still have some fun as Little Green tried to keep up with her dad. Although, he was also limited by the basket in his mouth, which he did not want to accidentally dump out again.
At one point during the short flight, Little Green managed to do a barrel roll around Soarin, laughing as she did.
"I'm flying circles around you!" she cried out.
Soarin rolled his eyes, but said nothing.
After a short flight, the pair of pegasi came in for a landing. Little Green moved behind her father, following him as they slipped between the trees and down to the ground.
Before she even finished landing, Little Green was staring wide eyed at what she saw.
There before her were two trees that had somehow wrapped around each other as they grew. After they separated, the trunks curved out and back in before the tops bent down, making a heart. Both trees were covered in apples and pears, growing both on the same branches.
Applejack sat at the base of the trees, one hoof raised and pressing against the intertwined trunks.
"AJ?" Soarin called out.
Turning to look at them, she gave a small smile.
"Come here, Greenie. Somethin' I wanna show you."
Little Green moved closer to her mother, still staring up at the trees. As she approached, Applejack wrapped a foreleg around her and pulled her close. The filly was not sure, but she thought she saw tears in her mother's eyes.
"This here is where my own folks got married," Applejack said. "They planted the seeds that became these here trees you now see." She smiled.
Little Green bit her lip to fight the urge to ask questions about her grandparents. They had been something she had been wondering about for a while, but never sure how to bring up. Neither of her parents seemed very willing to talk about their own for some reason.
"Is this where you proposed to Papa?" she asked instead.
"Yeah," Applejack answered. "It actually started just after Granny's funeral..."
*****
With the final words of the eulogy finished, Granny Smith's remains were lowered into the ground. It was still hard to believe for some of the ponies gathered. Granny had been the oldest resident of Ponyville. She had been there before there had even been a Ponyville. The old mare had been a fixture of the town, as much as town hall or Sweet Apple Acres itself.
Apple Bloom stepped forward, legs shaking a little. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath before tossing an apple blossom into the grave, followed by a hoofful of dirt. After she walked away, Applejack approached, tossing some dirt as well. She was then followed by Big Macintosh. With that, the funeral was over. All that was left was to fill in the grave.
Not far from where Applejack had been stood Soarin. He was dressed in a black suit, and his hair was properly combed (although not as greasy as slicked back as that first date, thank goodness). A sympathetic look crossed his face as he moved toward the approaching Applejack.
"Thanks again for comin'," Applejack said. Licking her lips, she took a deep breath. "There... there's something I actually wanna talk to you about."
Quietly, Soarin followed after Applejack as they left the funeral behind. The two of them walked in silence for a while, making their way back to Sweet Apple Acres and into the orchards. As they walked, the stallion shifted slightly, wings flickering at his side and ears shifting. He felt he should say...something... but not really sure what. Between the fact Applejack was still grieving for her grandmother and the fact he had no idea what was going on, it was difficult to come up with something to say.
Eventually, the two wound up at the intertwined trees that had been planted by Bright Macintosh and Pear Butter. It was like nothing he had ever seen before. Admittedly, he did not know much about trees since he had lived most of his life in Cloudsdale, but it did not change the point. He could not help but be impressed.
"Although, not as impressed as you were," he said to his daughter with a grin.
"I love you," Applejack said.
"I love you, too," Soarin replied.
"Losing Granny..." Applejack turned to look at him. "Well, it kinda reminded me about how short life can be." She looked back at the trees. "We don't know how long we have in our lives, and even a full life like hers can leave a pony feeling like it ended all too soon."
She turned to look at the trees again.
"This is where my own folks got married," she explained. "Which is why I wanted to bring you here."
Getting up, she moved to face him. One hoof reached out, coming to rest on Soarin's side.
"Soarin, will you marry me?"
Soarin's eyes went wide as he looked at Applejack. Marriage. She was asking him about marriage. A thrill went through the stallion. He had actually considering ask her, but had not actually gotten to it. Especially after what happened to her grandmother. He was thrilled that she asked and could not wait to say yes.
"Are you sure?" he blurted out instead, much to his own surprise.
"Yes," Applejack answered. Her brow then furled. "No." With a scowl, she gave her head a shake. "Maybe not as much as I'd like, but I am."
She let out a sigh, wishing that she had her hat to hide her face behind while she collected her thoughts.
"Honestly, I am kinda scared at the idea," she admitted. "I mean, my own folks knew each other since they were babies, and our relationship hasn't exactly been storybook."
She moved closer, their noses almost touching as her grass green eyes stared into his emerald pair.
"But I love you, and you love me. We get along well, and I like having you around." She stopped, brow furrowing again. "That last part didn't quite come out right."
"It's fine," Soarin cut in. "I think I get what you mean."
"Okay." Applejack gave a smile. "So, will you marry me?"
Stepping forward, Soarin wrapped his wings around the farm mare and kissed her on the lips.
The picnic had been set up and the three of them sat on the spread out blanket. Little Green took a bite of her sandwich as her parents finished their most recent story. She considered what she was told as she chewed, questions starting to form in her mind.
"Whuh duh--"
"Greenie!" Applejack snapped. "What did I tell you about talkin' with your mouth full?"
The filly's ears pulled back as she gave an apologetic look to her mother. Chewing a little more, she finally swallowed before trying to talk again.
"Why did you say you were scared though, Mama?" she asked.
Applejack shifted, looking at the intertwined trees.
"As I said, my folks knew each other since they were foals. And I may not be as big into them cheesy romance novels as Rarity, but I have read some, and had heard the fairy tales growin' up like most ponies." She turned toward her husband. "I love your Pa, and I did then too." She then turned to look at Little Green once more. "But I had always imagined that the pony I was gonna be with the rest of my life would be one that I fell in love with almost instantly."
Getting up, Applejack moved over to her daughter, placing a hoof on her side.
"If I had waited for that, not only would I have missed out on being with him, but we never woulda' had you either."
A small smile pulled at Little Green's lips as she leaned into her mother. As she did, a new question came to mind.
"So, if your folks got married here, why didn't you and Papa do the same?" she asked.
That got a snort of laughter from Soarin, which got an eye roll from Applejack.
"If it had been up to her, we would have," Soarin explained. "Just a small group, including immediate family and close friends on both sides."
"Why didn't you?"
"You've seen the wedding photos," Applejack said. "Two 'celebrities' of Equestria -- a Wonderbolt and Element bearer -- gettin' married? The press alone would have been too much for this place."
"Don't forget Rarity," Soarin pointed out.
"Like I could ever forget," Applejack huffed, rolling her eyes. "Still, it worked out for the better. Not only did I not have to worry about a bunch of strange ponies wandering around the farm, but we were able to have a lot more ponies show up, including more of the Apple clan and the princesses."
"Can you tell me about the wedding?" Little Green asked.
The parents shared a glance with each other.
"Well, there ain't much more to tell," Applejack said. "The wedding went pretty much how it was supposed to that day."
"Which I hear is actually pretty rare for wedding around here," Soarin teased with a smirk. As Applejack turned to glare at him, his smirk grew wider and wings flicked at his side. However, considering some of the past wedding she had been to, she could not really argue.
Instead, she turned back to Little Green.
"Anyway," Applejack continued. "The day of the wedding..."
*****
It was a cool autumn day in Ponyville, with clear skies above and a gentle breeze blowing through the town. A large crowd was gathered outside of Town Hall: possibly the largest crowd the town had ever seen. On one side of a red carpet was a large group of mostly earth ponies with marks of apples, the occasional other fruit, and a few baked goods. On the other side was a group consisting primarily of pegasi, with most of them wearing military dress uniforms. Near the back and on both sides were ponies of every type with cameras, notepads, and audio recorders, with tags marking them as press from Canterlot, Cloudsdale, and even as far as Appleloosa and -- surprisingly to some -- Manehattan.
Not far from the waiting crowds was a small tent where Applejack was getting ready. Last minute touches were being applied to her make-up. Although not by her choice.
"Just a hold still a moment longer, darling," Rarity said as she worked the mascara brush with her magic. "We're almost done." She let out a sigh. "Just think of how perfect you will look going down the aisle."
Applejack rolled her eyes as best she could while holding still. She did not want to risk the wrath of Rarity this close to the wedding. As great as the unicorn was at being The Maid of Honor, and as helpful she had been with the wedding preparations, there were also times where she could be downright terrifying.
"There we go," Rarity said as she pulled the mascara brush away. "Absolutely perfect. You look wonderful, darling."
Applejack gave herself one last look over in the mirror. She barely recognized herself. Her cowgirl hat was gone, replaced by a cap and the attached wedding veil. Her long blond mane was not in its normal tied style, but braided and pinned up to the back of her head. A light pink blush and eyeshadow had been applied, hardly noticeable, but creating enough of a difference to draw a pony's eye.
Then there was the dress. An original "masterpiece" that Rarity insisted on making, even with all the other things she did as the Maid of Honor. It was not actually white, but a very light and creamy yellow, based on the interior color of an apple. Applejack and Soarin's cutie marks were embroidered along the bottom of the skirt, with a single jeweled version of each attached to the collar.
Admittedly, not entirely to Applejack's taste, but she did look good and appreciated the effort.
Music began to fill the air.
"Oh, there's our cue," Rarity stated. "I'll see you at the alter. Good luck."
"Yeah," Applejack said. "And Rarity? Thanks for all the help."
"Of course, Applejack. That's what friends are for, after all." Rarity gave one last smile before stepping out through the door.
Left alone, Applejack looked at herself one more time. She took a deep breath, then slowly let it out, letting her nerves calm down.
"Well, sugar cube," she said to herself, "this is it. Time to go out there and get married." She took one more deep breath, lowered the veil over her face, and headed outside.
As she made her way toward the red carpet, the wedding march began to play. Big Macintosh joined her, giving a small smile as he walked her down the aisle. Having him there was a comforting presence, his silent strength helping calm her own anxious feelings. All eyes turned to them as they came down the aisle, taking in the beauty of the bride to be.
For Applejack, however, all of her attention was on one pony: Soarin. The pegasus stood at the alter in his dress uniform, his hair in its natural windswept form (which was something Applejack argued for and insisted upon). His eyes lit up at the sight of her, a smile spreading across his face as his wings opened at his sides.
A flutter of excitement spread through Applejack's chest and stomach as she caught sight of her soon to be husband. Although she could not see it, she could feel herself smiling back.
Reaching the alter, she stood beside her groom, the two of them giving one more smile before turning toward the mayor.
*****
"Wait," Little Green called out. "If you had Aunt Twilight, Princess Luna, and Princess Celestia there, why have the mayor marry you? Couldn't have one of them done it?"
"They could have," Applejack answered, "and I'm sure that they would have been honored. But I didn't feel right asking the princesses to perform the cermony, and Twilight had been helping Rarity and me with the wedding. So it didn't seem fair to have her perform it too."
Turning, she looked at the trees again.
"'sides, the mayor was a friend of my folks and married them. She was very honored to be able to marry us as well. Kinda a way of havin' a connection with my folks even if they couldn't be there."
This got a nod from Little Green.
"So, where were we?" Applejack asked.
"The start of the ceremony," Soarin answered. "Your mother arrived at the alter, looking gorgeous, and Mayor Mare was giving a speech about how..."
*****
"We are gathered here today to unite these two ponies in the state of marriage," Mayor Mare stated. "A celebration and commitment of the romantic love they share for each other. And as I look around, I see signs of how these two are loved by so many others in so many ways: be it family, friends, or comrades in arms. Soarin and Applejack have touched a lot of lives, and I am sure they will touch many more. So here we all come together, joyous to see them take a big step and express their love for one another."
As the mayor continued, Soarin's eyes narrowed as he glanced over to Applejack. Shifting his hips, he swung his tail, trying to give a playful swat to Applejack's dress covered flank.
As soon as he heard the snap of his tail against the fabric, the stallion looked forward, trying to look as innocent as possible. After a few seconds, he caught movement from the corner of his eye. It looked like something yellow was--
There was a snapping sound, and a sudden stinging sensation exploding across Soarin's backside. His eyes bulged in surprise and pain as he clenched his jaw tightly, trying to keep from yelping out in pain.
He could see the smug look on her face, even with the veil blocking it.
After the mayor's speech came the exchange.
From the other side of Applejack, Apple Bloom grinned. Reaching into her own dress, the young mare pulled out a gold-chain necklace with a pendant of Applejack's cutie mark attached to it. Taking the necklace from her little sister, Applejack turned to Soarin and slipped it over his head. It quickly fell into place, the ruby and emerald pendant now resting against his shirt.
Soarin's Best Mare, Spitfire, smirked as she reached into one of her uniform pockets and pulled out a jewelry box. Opening it revealed a silver chain necklace, with a pendant of a golden lightning bolt surrounded by what can best be described as a pair of silver twos surrounding it. Seeing himself smiling in her sunglasses (which he could not convince her to leave off even for his wedding), Soarin took the necklace and turned to place it around Applejack's neck.
"I now pronounce you mare and stallion," Mayor Mare announced. "You may kiss the bride."
Before Soarin could even finish lifting the veil, Applejack grabbed the stallion and pulled him close, kissing him as hard as she could manage.
"Well, that pretty much covers it," Applejack said to her daughter. "You now know everything from how we first met to our gettin' married."
"And it didn't take nine years to do it," Soarin added with a grin.
"Yeah," Little Green replied, picking up one of the fritters. "So, when did you decide to have me?"
"That was something we talked about before we even got married," Soarin answered. "You've seen Mama's side of the family and how big it is, and I was an only child, but wanted brothers and sisters when growing up, so we both kind of wanted to have a big family."
"Speaking of," Applejack said as she turned to Soarin, "maybe it's time we talked about havin' another."
Soarin looked at his wife a moment, lips pursed. He then turned toward his daughter, raising an eyebrow.
"What do you think, Green?" he asked. "Ready to be a big sister?"
The filly's eyes went wide as she thought of the possibility. A big sister, just like her mother. A little brother or sister (preferably sister) to look up to her. Somepony to help her guide, to teach, to help. Maybe they would even be a pegasus, and she could help them learn how to fly.
A wide grin spread across Little Green's face as she let out a high pitched squeal that made bat ponies on the other side of Ponyville cover their ears.
"Well, that's a resounding yes," Applejack said, rubbing at one of her ears as she let out a chuckle.
"Green," Soarin said softly. "Remember to breathe."
The high pitched squeal came to an end as the filly did as she was told. Taking a deep breath, she slowly let it out, trying to calm down as she did. Still, her wings fluttered excitedly as her tail flicked back and forth.
"A'right," Applejack said as she got up and stretched. "How 'bout you help pack up the picnic and we head home?"
The three of them started packing up, putting away the dishes and what little bits of food still remained. Once everything was picked up and placed back in the basket, Applejack took it.
As they started to leave, Little Green stopped and looked back.
"I'll catch up in a second," she said. Applejack and Soarin looked at her a moment, then at each other, before continuing on.
As soon her parents were out of sight, Little Green ran back to the intertwined trees and gave them a hug. It may not have been the same as hugging her actual grandparents, but it was enough for her.
"I'm sorry we never actually met," she said before letting go. After giving the trees a gentle pat, she turned and ran off, trying to catch up with her parents.
