> Under the Apple Orchard
>  by Artie Downer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chewin' Hay
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It's been over six weeks since I moved to Ponyville. I was just a young stallion leaving behind his family to search for adventure. My parents cried and waved good-bye as I set out to explore all of Equestria. I wished them farewell and promised to write. I did, of course, and told them all about my adventures.

The sad thing is, I didn't have any.

You see, any pony can go and tell you about discovering themselves by travelling, but after two weeks and ony visiting Manehattan and Trottingham, I was pretty freaking exhausted. So, I gave up. I came to realize that some ponies have it in them and some don't. And clearly, I don't. 

But that didn't mean I was going back to my parents, oh no, sir. After spending most of my money and getting tired of travelling, I decided to find a place where I could settle. I settled on Ponyville because there weren't that many other ponies living there and I was sure to get SOME kind of a job. In Equestria, pretty much everypony has a job. 

Now, the very first time, I came to Ponyville, I immediately began to notice how strange the place realy was. I knew the famous Elements of Harmony lived there, but I had no idea about so much trouble they caused for the town. As soon as I got there, I saw a yellow pegasus with pink hair trying to guide a herd of bunnies out of the town square. I really didn't want any part of it so I tried to walk away.

And then I saw her.

Coming straight towards me, an orange earth pony in a Stetson galloped faster than I ever saw any pony gallop. I quickly got the hay out of the way as she just zipped past me. 

"Yee-haw! Get along, little bunnies!" I heard the orange pony yell as she and this dog that followed her started circling around the enourmous group of rabbits. Then, the rabbits scurried out of town square as the orange pony and her dog herded them out of Ponyville, with the yellow pegasus nervously following them.

"Well, that was weird", I said out-loud to no one in particular. 

But then, a grey pegaus with googly-eyes told me. "Oh, that's pretty much all that goes on here in Ponyville." She finised that sentence with a smile on her face and started flying away.

Almost instinctly, I reached my hoof over to her and said, "Wait, who was that pony that herded all those rabbits?"

The grey pegasus replied, "Oh, that was Applejack. She sometime saves the town like this. She's pretty much the most dependable pony in Ponyville!"

"Do you know where I can find her?"

"Oh, Applejack's probably at Sweet Apple Acres by now. It's right outside of Ponyville. Just follow that dirt road," she said as she pointed her hoof at a house.

I looked at this pegasus with a confusing look and said, "Um, ma'am, that's a house."

The grey pegasus looked at me and then looked at where she was pointing. "Oh," she giggled, "I mean, that dirt road." She then pointed at actual dirt road. 

I walked along the dirt road for a few minutes until I cam across what looked like a farm. There was entrance with apples growing around a white arch. I saw a big red barn with several windows sticking out. I entered the farm trying to find that orange pony.

Surprisingly, it wasn't hard to find her as she was chewing hay under a tree next to me when she said, "Well, how ya do there, partner?" She got up and walked over to me and shaked my hoof with both of hers. "Ah'm Applejack. Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres!"

As she shaked my hooves and greeted me, I was almost entirely fazed out as I saw her. The gruffy but in place blonde mane, her rather compassionate green eyes, and from what I felt from the handshake, a strong and built body. She also had her mane, ironically, in a ponytail. This mare was a country girl, I could tell.

As I simply admired her, Applejack started staring at me with a cofused look on her face. "Uh, you all right, partner?"

I snapped out of my trance and shaked my head. "Oh, yes. I'm fine, ma'am. I guess I just lost my train of thought", I laughed nervously while scratching the back of my head.

"Well, no need to call me 'ma'am' there, sugarcube. The name's Applejack. What's yours?"

"Oh, I'm Wanderer. I'm new in town, I guess.

Applejack smiled and said, "Well, nice to meet ya, Wanderer! And welcome to Ponyville. Although, Ah'd look out for a pink pony if Ah were you. She has a different way of introducin' new folk to Ponyville. We here at Sweet Apple Acres sure love makin' new friends!" 

I was taken aback by this comment and replied, "Wait, what do you mean by 'friends'?"

She just looked at me and laughed, "Oh, why the hay not? Everypony here in Ponyville is friends with each other!"

I quietly replied, "Oh. Okay, then..." 

Applejack gave me a look and said, "Y'know, you remind me of some filly who's always shy and nervous around other ponies. C'mon! Ah'll show ya around, if ya like!"

I was actually suprised. This mare who I had just met was offering to show me around without a second thought. No pony ws ever this nice where I came from. 

Then, Applejack said, "And we can start right here, on Sweet Apple Acres!" If I was on a show when she said that, the camera would have zoomed out to show all the farm.

Applejack then took me around the farm to see all the apple trees in the orchard and all the places where they grew vegetables and flowers. It was really nice, and I'll tell you, Applejack was grinning the whole time. She must really love her farm and home. No wonder her cutie mark had three apples on it. No, I wasn't looking at her flank, I was just admiring her cutie mark. I think it's very nice and cute and... Nevermind!

Then, Applejack led to me the barn, where she said she wanted me to meet her family. "Everypony, this here's Wanderer, and he's new in Ponyville and Ah thought to give him a good ol' welcome from the Apple family!"

I was actually surprised by the almost immediate welcome I got. There, in that barn, was a little yellow filly with red hair, a HUGE red stallion who looked like he could kick my flank anyday, and an elderly lime-colored mare with her hair in a bun. 

"Apple family, Ah'd like to introduce you to Wanderer, the newest pony in Ponyville! He decided to come over and visit Sweet Apple Acres! Isn't that kind of him, Big Macintosh?"

The stallion replied with one word, "Eeyup."

Then the old mare came over to me very VERY slowly, "Well, uh- how di do there, eh- what's your name again?"

I could tell this old pony had some trouble memorizing so I politely replied, "My name is Wanderer, ma'am."

That old mare just looked at me an asked, "Who's Wanderer?" 

Finally, Applejack interuppted our conversation and said, "Oh, that's alright, Granny Smith. I'll make sure your folks are properly acquainted later." I didn't know a country girl would talk like that before. 

She continued, "Anyways, this here's the Apple family and we run the farm here." She pointed to all the family members in the room. "That's Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, and sweet little Applebloom."

The little yellow and red-maned filly walked over to me and hugged my one of my front legs. "How'd ya do there?" she greeted. I was really surprised by how open and friendly these ponies were, despite just meeting me. 

Finally, I said, "Hello, it's nice to meet you all. I certainly feel welcomed,"

After conversing with the Apple family, Applejack grabbed me by the hoof and said, "Well, now that you've met the family, it's time to see all of Ponyville!"

I quietly asked, "All of Ponyville?"

"You're darn tootin', all of Ponyville!" and we raced out of Sweet Apple Acres to Ponyville.





When got into the town square Applejack started showing all the stores and shops where everypony can buy anything they wanted.

"And over there's the flower shop! Well, I reckon, that's all the shops around here! Now, we outta scram before some certain pony shows up and-"

Applejack was cut by a pink smear that landed right in right in front of us. There, right in my face, was a pink pony with a bubbly mane that remind of me of cotton candy. She had the biggest grin I had ever seen in my entire life. She looked like the happiest pony that ever walked the face of Equestria.

"Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie!" she shouted in a glee. "I don't know who you are, so that means you're new here and that means you're my new best friend and that means I get to do THIS!" She also talked the fastest I ever heard of anypony. Applejack just stood beside me with a face of annoyance and defeat.

Then, the pink pony, or Pinkie Pie,  rolled out this contraption with an oven in it that started playing music. And then the singing began.

Welcome welcome welcome
A fine welcome to you!
Welcome welcome welcome
I say how do you do?
Welcome welcome welcome
I say hip hip hurray!
Welcome welcome welcome
To Ponyville today~~!

Then the pink pony said, "Wait for it..." and a burst of confetti from the oven hit me in the face. No later, I was doused in cake batter from the tubes. My brown mane and light blue coat were completely covered in the stuff, as was Applejack, and the pink pony.

"I can't believe I used to put the cake batter in the oven and the confetti in the confetti cannon!" Pinkie laughed with a snort. "How silly of me!" By this point, she was rolling around in the grass in laughter after licking all the cake batter off of her.

Applejack, still covered in cake batter, angrily yelled, "Dang nabbit, Pinkie! Now Ah gotta go take a bath! C'mon, Wanderer!" She, once again, pulled me by my hoof and we headed off back to the farm.



   

After Applejack and I took our baths, separately of course, we met up in the front of the barn. 

Applejack was the first to speak and said, "Look, Ah'm mighty sorry about Pinkie Pie. She can get too excited about meeting new folk."

I smiled and said, "No, it's OK. She freaked me out at first, but I think she's kind of funny."

Applejack smiled back and said, "Yeah, you're right. She's a good friend, though. So, you got a place stay?"

I looked at Applejack in the eyes and said, "Oh, um, No, I don't."

"Well, how'd you like to stay here?"

My eyes widen as I looked back at Applejack and asked, "Wait, really?"

She smiled a huge smile and said, "Well, shoot! We always got plenty of room at Sweet Apple Acres! You're more than welcomed!"

I did feel pretty welcomed that day in Ponyville. I agreed to stay at the farm if I would help Big Mac and Applejack with some apple picking. 

When I got to my room, which was in the basement of the barn, I lied down and yawned. It had been a big day. I found a place to sleep, got covered with cake batter, and possibly found the love of my life.
	

	
> Introductions
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	That first night at Sweet Apple Acres was the most peaceful I had in weeks. Between my travels and arriving in Ponyville, I usually had to find some kind of hotel or even resort to sleeping on the streets. Some adventurer I was. But that first night, the comfy feather bed, soft pillow, and just right warm blanket, it felt like I saw sleeping in the finest beds of Canterlot.

All that was interrupted when somepony threw open the door to my room and yelled, "Rise n' shine, everypony!"

The combined forces of the yell and the door slamming made fall out of the bed with a groan. "Uuuuuuuugh... what time is it?"

Somepony walked up to me. It was Applejack. "Good mornin' partner!" I looked outside the window. It was still dark out. And for some reason, this seemed to make her happy. "It's crack o' dawn, Wanderer! Time to work."

I finally got on my hooves with a groan. 

Outside the barn, me, Applejack, and Big Macintosh were looking the entire apple orchard. It was miles and miles of trees as far as the eye can see. It sure looked intimidating for a pony like me.

The sun started to rise above the horizon as the sky changed from blue to a shade of orange and yellow. 

I looked over to Applejack and asked, "So, is Applebloom going to be helping us pick all these apple trees?"

She looked over to me and laughed like it was the funniest thing she ever heard. "Oh, come now, Wanderer! Applebloom's just a little filly. It's just gonna be you, me, and Big Mac! Ain't that right, Big Mac?"

"Eeyup." At that's point, I felt like that was the only thing ever Big Macintosh ever said.

Applejack then stood on her hind legs and yelled "Yee-haw! C'mon, slowpokes! Betcha can't beat me!"

Big Macintosh ran right behind her while I just walked and followed. 

After a few hours of applebucking, I started to get really  tired. I had never worked that hard before in all my life, and I had certainly hadn't done any manual labor as well.

There was this one tree where no matter how much I kicked or how hard, I could only get a few apples out of the tree. I felt bad since I wasn't being a good worker for this family that just took me in. 

Applejack walked over to where I was and asked, "How's the applebuckin', Wanderer?"

At that point, I did a really stupid thing. I lied. I didn't want to be embarrassed over the fact that I was having trouble with this one tree while she and Big Macintosh were being really professionals about it. "Oh, everything's fine, Applejack. I just finished getting all these apples from this tree."

All of a sudden, Applejack started staring  with a suspicious look on her face. She walks closer to my tree, looks at the bushel and up at the tree. She then said, "Wanderer, this here bushel hardly has an apples in it."

Oh, no. I made her mad, I thought.

Applejack then stood right in front of me and said, "Y'know, Wanderer, if there's one thing Ah can't stand, it's lyin'."

Oh, no. I forgot she's also the Element of Honesty, I thought again. How could I have been so stupid?

I hung my head in shame and said, "I'm sorry, Applejack. I just didn't want to be embarrassed by how bad a worker I am."

I looked up and there she was, looking down at me with a sincere smile of forgiveness and understanding. She put her hoof around my shoulders and said, "Oh, it's all right, partner. Ah forgive ya. And Ah understand why ya did what ya did. Just don't do it again, OK?"

I smiled back and said, "Yeah. Thanks."

"Well, c'mon, now! We got work to do!"

I smiled and went back to work. And this time, I tried my hardest to get all the apples in the bushel.





After a couple hours of applebucking and planting seeds to grow crops and whatnot, Applejack announced that the work day was over and that it was time for lunch.

Me and Big Mac, as he prefers to be called, hurried up back to the farm. 

Already at the table was Granny Smith and Applebloom preparing the food. Big Mac sat down and they all started eating, save for me and Applejack.

As I made my way towards the table, Applejack pulled me aside and said, "Oh, not yet, Wanderer. Ah got some ponies Ah'd like ya to meet. We'll have ourselves a good lunch there."

I smiled nervously at her and said, "Oh, OK." The reason for this is because I was tired and very hungry after all that work, and the thought of me having to wait a little longer for lunch made me anxious.

Applejack and I walked over towards Ponyville. There were all sorts of ponies there that I didn't see the first time I arrived. All ponies of many different shapes and sizes and colors. They all had these smiles on their faces, which really showed how prosperous and happy these townsfolk were. Perhaps it had been a smart idea for me to settle here.

After walking around Ponyville, Applejack lead me to this giant tree. What I found unusual about this tree was that it a door and windows sticking out of it. How they were able to hollow a tree, I will never know.

Applejack knocked on the door and said, "Twilight! It's Applejack. Y'all ready?"

Suddenly, a fast, hyper voice came from inside and said, "OH YES WE'RE TOTALLY READY AND I'M SO EXCITED ARE YOU EXCITED I'VE NEVER BEEN SO EXCITED-"

A brash, rough voice interrupted the the hyper, squeaky voice with a "Pinkie Pie, be quiet!"

Applejack looked at me with a "Well, there goes the surprise"-look on her face. 

The door opened, and a lavender unicorn greeted us. "Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle. You must be Wanderer. Please, come in." It was dark in the hollow tree as I entered inside with Applejack and Twilight.

All of a sudden, the lights went on and the pink mare from before jumped in front of my face and yelled, "SURPRISE!!"

The only thing that actually surprised me was the pink pony jamming her nose right into mine with that same huge grin on her face.

I looked around to see all sorts of decorations. And then I noticed all the books on shelves, which made me assume I was in a library. A library in a tree. Clever.

Then I noticed all the other ponies, and one little dragon, that were in the room. Of course, there was that pink pony, but also a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail, a pure-white unicorn with the most combed and styled violet mane I had ever seen in my life, and the yellow pegasus with the pink mane that I first saw when coming to Ponyville. The difference was that the yellow pegasus kept looking at the corner, barely making any eye-contact with me. And then there was that green and purple little dragon that I saw putting food on a table as well as other assortments.

After taking in all that was around me, I smiled and said, "I'm sorry if I don't seem really surprised, but I may have heard what the pink one said."

To no one's surprise, including my own, the pink pony started laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world. "Oh my gosh, you are soooooo~ funny! We're gonna be BEST FRIENDS FOREVER! I just know it! And my it's not my Pinkie sense that's telling or maybe it is I don't know I don't feel anything but-" her sentence, or rather, never-ending  sentence was silenced by the lavender unicorn placing a hoof in her mouth.

"All right, Pinkie Pie, that's enough."

Pinkie Pie nodded and sped off, apparently into the kitchen. Celestia knows what that crazy pink pony would do in there.

"Now, that that's out of the way," began Twilight, "I'd like to introduce you to some of Applejack's friends since you've been such a great help to hers on her farm. Am I correct, AJ?"

"Eeyup." I guess the one word response was in the family.

Applejack took me by the hoof and we started the introductions.

She led me over to the white unicorn first and said, "This here's Rarity. Careful now, she's a bit of a snooty."

"Applejack!" gasped the white unicorn, "how could you introduce me to your new friend in such an uncouth way?!" 

Applejack snorted. Hey, I wasn't going to argue with the Element of Honesty.

Rarity took my hoof and shook it in a very lady-like way, not like Applejack had done when I first met her. By her voice, I could also tell she was the really lady in this group. "Charmed," she began. "It's a wonder to meet you, Wanderer! I hear you quite stallion!"

Not really sure how to respond, I did what I thought she find appropriate in her sophisticated way of greeting. "It's a pleasure to meet you too." Then I leaned my head down and kissed her hoof.

I was really afraid Rarity would be disgusted by my actions, but instead I heard a pompous but somehow adorable laugh from her. "Oh, Applejack, you never told me how much of a gentleacolt your friend is!" At this point, Rarity was beaming at me.

I smiled back, rather nervously, as I saw the green and purple dragon from before staring at me. 

Applejack took me aside, apparently she looked upset by me kissing Rarity's hoof too, and led me to the rainbow-maned pegasus.

"Wanderer, Ah'd like ya to meet mah best friend, Rainbow Dash!"

I had to l look up to come in eye contact with Rainbow Dash, as it seemed she preferred to fly than keep her hooves on the ground.

"Nice to meet ya, Wanderer!" By her voice, I could tell she was the one who told Pinkie Pie to be quiet when I was outside.

"Nice to meet you, too." I actually remember Rainbow Dash from the news I heard of her and asked, "By the way, is it true you were the one who did that Sonic Rainboom at the Young Flyer's competition and at the Wedding in Canterlot?"

Rainbow Dash smiled, flew up straight, and crossed her arms in an over-confident manner. "Yup! That was me! Rainbow Dash, the best flyer in all of Equestria!"

I had an initial thought that this pegasus was cocky and that I didn't really like her, but then she said, "But you know, Wanderer, I could never have done anything without my friends. I mean, I know that sounds corny and all, but for all they've done for me, I'll always be loyal to my friends!"

At that point, I realized that Rainbow Dash wasn't a shallow pony and smiled at her.

Applejack took me over to where the yellow pegasus, who was somewhat cowering in the corner, she introduced us.

"Wanderer, this here's Fluttershy. Say hi, girl."

The yellow pegasus, named Fluttershy, looked through her long, pink mane, almost hesitant to acknowledge my existence as it would somehow affect hers.

A small hum came from Fluttershy's voice, and it seemed like she was talking to me, but I sure as hay couldn't get any of it.

Applejack slightly nudged Fluttershy's shoulders and demanded, "C'mon, Fluttershy! Speak up!"

Finally, Fluttershy pulled her mane out of her face and looked at me directly.

"...Hi... Mr. Wanderer..." I don't why, but she seemed incredibly cute. Although, I still liked Applejack more. Did I say Applejack? I meant... paste.

I responded to Fluttershy. "Hi, it's very nice to meet you." I didn't try and shake her hand because she seemed nervous enough as it was.

But before I could say anything else, she was gone. She must have hurried to the kitchen or something.

Applejack turned to me and said, "Well, now that you've met all mah friends, I think we can do some partyi-"

"DID SOMEPONY SAY PARTYING!?!?!" Pinkie Pie yelled as she rolled in this GIANT cake on a sliding table.

It sure was some party after that moment.





Applejack and I walked back to Sweet Apple Acres that night after hours and hours of partying. Dancing, singing, telling jokes, generally having fun. And the whole thing was for me become friends with Applejack. It was funnest night of my life.

"Whoo-wee! That sure was some party!"

I chucked at her statement. "Let me ask you something, Applejack. Are all of Pinkie Pie's party's like that?" I was in a particularly good mood so I just kept on smiling.

She replied, "Ooh, let me tell ya, partner. There's no party like a Pinkie Pie party! And you just got treated first-class Pinkie partying!"

"And I can certainly tell that it was fun." Then I started rubbing my stomach as I stopped walking. "But that cake was a bit too much. I mean, it was delicious. Heck, it was the most delicious thing I have ever tasted ever!"

"Well, she certainly is a master baker! Pinkie works at Sugar Cube Corner, you know. She makes all sorts of yummy sweets for the town ponies, so she and Ah are a bit alike."

I looked at Applejack puzzled.

She laughed nervously. "He he.. only in that regard."

Applejack and I both said good night to one another and I headed towards my room.

Right next to my bed was a parchment with a quill and ink.

I thought about the past couple of days I had and remembered, my parents. Real adventurers, they are.

I sat down and started writing.

Dear Mom and Dad,

Today, I discovered a completely deserted civilization filled with statues and traps. I couldn't believe what I saw until a green and purple dragon, a big one at that, lunged out at me to keep me from taking the treasure from the hidden tomb of the civilization's ruler. As he lunged towards me, I brought out my sword and-

My writing was interrupted by the sound of my door opening. I looked over to see who it was. It was Applejack.

"Hey, Wanderer. Ah'm mighty sorry about coming in at this hour, but Ah need... hey, what's that ya got there?"

"Uhh..."

	


	

	
	
> Truth
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	

"Nothing..." I said rather unconvincingly to Applejack.

Nonetheless, she came over to my side to see what it was. "A parchment and a quill? You must be writin' something."

I tried everything to hide my phony letter to my parents. Put it behind my back, under my bed, and at one point, I even tried eating it. It would have been viewed as humorous to anypony who had seen it. 

But Applejack persisted in seeing the letter until she eventually grabbed it out of my hoof. Worst of all, she started reading it out loud. "Dear Mom and Dad, Today, Ah discovered a completely deserted civilization filled with statues and- Hehe! Is this a story you're writing, Wanderer? Course Ah gotta say, it's pretty good!" She seemed to have liked it.

I stood there in front of her with sweat running down my muzzle. It was the apple tree all over again. If I said yes, I would have lied to her again. If I said no, she would figure out I was planning on lying to my parents. So, I did the only reasonable thing a colt could do in that situation.

I ran like mad.

I jolted right out of the door in my room and sped off. I won't be welcome there anymore, I thought. They won't want a liar like me to live with them.

I could hear somepony else chasing me. It was Applejack, of course. "Hey, Wanderer, wait up! Where ya goin'!?"

She won't want to see me anymore. I lied again! Why must I do this? I'm sorry, Applejack.

By this point, as I continued running, i had tears running down my face. It wasn't because I wouldn't have a home or a place to sleep. It was because I would never see her again. I thought she'd hate me. A big, stupid liar like me wasn't worthy enough to be with her. To love her. 

After running for a couple of yards, I sat down to catch my breath. My hooves were aching in pain. It was somewhere in the apple orchard where I laid to rest. I looked around my surroundings to see if Applejack was still around. I didn't see her, but I did notice where I was. In an ironic twist, I ended up at the very same tree where I lied to Applejack for the first time. It was quite demeaning for me.

And then she came. The orange earth pony with lovingly green eyes, those cute white freckles, and the rough but silky blonde mane, ironically, in a ponytail. All that was missing was her Stetson.

And she didn't look very pleased. "For corn's sake, Wanderer! What's gotten into ya!?"

I didn't bother replying. I just hanged my head in shame.

Then AJ took me by the muzzle and told me right in my face, "Now listen here, Ah won't be havin' any of this mopin' business and you not tellin' me what's wrong!" Her expression changed to one of concern. "Now, let me, sugarcube. What's wrong?"

I looked at Applejack in the eyes and sighed. "Applejack... I lied. I lied to you. Not just once, but twice."

"What are ya talkin' about?"

"Well... the thing is, that parchment you were reading, it's not a story. It's a letter to my parents that I'm supposed to send. You see my parents, Searcher and Explorer, are great adventurers. Before I was born, they'd go anywhere and everywhere for the simple thrill and excitement of it."

Applejack looked like she was listening as she sat right next to me under the tree. 

"And I guess I inherited that from them. That's why my cutie mark here is a map with an X on it. I wanted to be just like them. So, a few weeks ago, I left them. To discover to places to fight monsters and stuff. But I ran out of money pretty quickly   and I was so tired with walking all over Equestria. But I couldn't go back. Not having any money didn't stop them from going out across the world. And if I were to come back after giving up, they'd be disappointed with me."

Applejack interrupted and asked, "Is that why you wrote that letter? So you can send it to you parents to make them believe you're having all sorts of adventures and stuff like that?"

I simply nodded. "But I lied. And I don't think your family would want somepony like me who lies around. ...I'm leaving, Applejack." I got up and said, "I'll go get my things and be on my way back home. Give my best wishes to your family and friends. I really did like that party."

As I started to walk away, I felt something grab me. Not necessarily grab me, but rather embrace me. I realized that it was Applejack who was hugging her warm orange coat against my rather cold, blue one. 

All it took was a hug to keep me from walking any further.

"Listen here, sugarcube," Applejack began in the sweetest voice I ever heard. "Ah may not be one who supports lyin', but Ah understand why you did. Just like this morning with this apple tree. You didn't lie to hurt anypony's feelings. You did it to make your family feel proud of you." 

She let go of me and I turned around to face her. "But still, you shouldn't lie. And Ah'll tell ya something else. If your parents really love ya, they'd still love ya no matter what you did with your life."

"Really? Do you really think so?"

"Now listen here. What Ah'm sayin' to you is the honest truth."

Applejack's words shocked me. I had heard the same thing from Twilight earlier that night.





Twilight walked up to me while we were eating cake and said, "You know, Wanderer, I think you're awfully lucky to be friends with such a dependable and honest pony like Applejack."

I looked back at Twilight and asked, "Really? What makes you say that?"

Twilight giggled and said, "Well, it goes back to when I first met her. It was when Nightmare Moon came back and we were all trying to get to the Elements of Harmony. I didn't want any of these fillies you see here to come with me, but they persisted and came anyways."

I was intrigues by Twilight's story and nodded for her to continue.

"Well, when a cliff cracked and I was almost this close to falling to my doom, Applejack came and grabbed me by my hooves. Then she told me to let go and I told her she was crazy. But then she looked in my eyes and said, 'What I'm saying to you is the honest truth.' I decided to trust her and here I am! So no matter what Applejack says, Wanderer, remember. Everything she says is the truth. The honest truth.





I guessed it was my turn to trust Applejack.

After reassuring me that my parents would still love me no matter what I did, I smiled back at Applejack. "AJ, from this point on, I promise to Celestia that I'll also be as honest as you!"

Applejack laughed and said, "That's the way to go, partner!" Then she gave me a nudge on the shoulder.

After realizing what i had just  promised, I started to blush.

"Hey, what's the matter, Wanderer? You're face is all red!"

I looked back at her and said, "Well... I was just thinking. If I have to be completely honest with myself and those around me, I thought I'd ought to tell you, Applejack."

Applejack gave me a perplexed look and asked, "And what would that be, sugarcube."

By this point, I struggled with my words. "I just... well... Ever since I saw you... I always sort of... you know, liked you." By this point, I hid my face in  front of my hooves. 

"Oh, shucks, Wanderer, Ah could tell from a mile away you liked me!" Then she laughed.

"Wait, what?"

"Oh, c'mon, partner! Ah saw the way you looked at me." Then she chuckled teasingly. "And you think Ah didn't see the way you were looking at mah flank?" By this time, she was blushing a little bit.

Of course, I was blushing a lot more. 

"Well, then, if that's the way you're gonna do it, Ah think Ah outta tell you something as well."

I looked at her with a sense of hope in my eyes. 

"Ah, well... think you're a pretty nice stallion too. A cute one at best." She lowered the tip of her hat to cover her blushing face.

And then I started laughing.

We stood there for a couple of seconds laughing at the situation until I said, "So... do you think... I can... um..."

By the time I finished my sentence, Applejack already had her lips perked. "Well, what are ya waitin' for, cowboy?"

I smiled. I wasn't smiling because I was about to have my first kiss. I was smiling because I was about to have my first kiss with a mare I love. 

Applejack and I made contact and kissed as we stood under the apple orchard.





Dear Mom and Dad,

Today, I'm writing to you about the greatest adventure I've ever had. Her name is Applejack and I couldn't be happier...