> How I Met Yer Mother
>  by applejackofalltrades
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 0. How Did We Meet?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So, Ma, how did you and Mom meet?”

Applejack opened her eyes and looked over at the filly snuggled close to her stomach. She had been drifting away into a gentle sleep, lulled by the warmth of the hanging sun, and it seemed like she wasn’t the only one. Next to her, Rainbow lay sprawled on her side with her wings covering two little colts, one a pegasus and the other an earth pony. Applejack smiled and looked up at the looming, old tree that provided them with shade. 

It was sturdy, and had been for as long as Applejack remembered. She looked back down at her foal who gazed back at her with shiny, pink eyes. “What, I haven’t told ya before?”

She shook her head. Her blue and blonde mane fell in front of her face, so the cream-coated filly blew it away. “Nah, not really, but I’d like to know, if that’s okay.”

Applejack’s heart warmed for her child. She didn’t want to wake the others, but she figured that if her oldest foal didn’t know, then none of them did. Reaching across to Rainbow, who was well within hoof’s reach, she prodded the mare.

As graceful as always, Rainbow snored herself awake with a snort. “Mmm, just crawl in bed with your Ma and I…” she mumbled. Okay, maybe she snored herself half awake. “Just a nightmare…”

Applejack rolled her eyes, although the smile on her face contradicted what her gaze was saying. “Naw, Dashie, it’s me,” she whispered. “C’mon, I wanna tell a story.”

That seemed to wake Rainbow up a bit more. “Oh, AJ,” she responded lowly. “What’s up?”

“Gonna tell the kids how we met.”

“Which time?”

“The first time. And maybe some more.”

Rainbow Dash nodded and gently nudged the colts awake. “Hey, wake up. Ma wants to tell y’all a story.”

As the colts yawned awake, Applejack grinned. “Y’all?”

Rainbow Dash shook her head, now more alert. She ran a hoof through her short mane. “Look, I’ve been with you for, like, ten years. I’m gonna say y’all sometimes, okay?”

The foals giggled as they congregated in front of the mares. Applejack looked at Rainbow, who smiled lovingly and egged her on. Returning the smile, Applejack licked her lips and prepared to speak.

“Not quite so sure where to start, but… Well, there's gotta be somethin' to say right? Somethin' interesting? I dunno. I'll do my best. But these are all the moments I remember from when me and your Mom were first gettin' together. And everythin' else after that. Maybe even some stuff I can't really remember. 

“Anyway, this is how I met yer mother.”
> 1. Not The Fruit I Was Expecting
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sometimes, Applejack found herself in the right place at the right time. 

This was, arguably, one of those times. Despite the headache it caused her. 

"AUGH!" 

"What the hay?" An apple fell square on Applejack's head as leaves rustled and drifted down from above her. The not-so-young filly looked up, rubbing the blonde mane on her head. 

"Sorry!" another pony squeaked somewhere between a voice crack and a cough. "My bad!" 

Applejack frowned and squinted, searching for the origin of the little, slightly annoying voice. All she saw was broken branches and loose leaves. Despite the trouble that this tree was now going to be, somepony needed help. She stood on her hind legs, using the trunk for support. 

"Y'alright up there?" she called. "Are ya stuck?" 

"No," the other pony responded with a grunt. Leaves rustled. "I'm fine! Don't worry about—" 

SNAP. 

Suddenly, Applejack found herself snout to snout with a blue pegasus a bit smaller than she herself was. 

"—me." 

She jumped back in surprise. The little pegasus grinned awkwardly, suspended upside down by only a colourful tail, which to Applejack's surprise, matched that prismatic mane. 

"Woah," Applejack exclaimed as her brain finally caught up with what she had seen. "Are you okay, kid?" 

"Kid?" Rosey eyes squinted as they swung from side to side, unable to break free. "You don't seem much older than me!" 

Applejack grinned, enjoying the show now that she knew the pony was clearly fine. "Well, just that you're awfully small for a little colt. Or maybe that's 'cause you're a pegasus?" 

"A colt? What?" A pair of blue wings extended in the struggle, catching Applejack's eyes. "I'm a girl! Why does everyone think I'm a boy?" 

"Really?" Applejack cocked her head and squinted at the filly. She seemed awfully tomcolt-ish, but that was something she could kind of relate to. "Well, maybe it's that mane of yours. What's your name then, sugarcube?" 

"Sugarcube?" She sighed. If she was bothered by Applejack's honest comment about her mane, she didn't show it. "Oh brother. The name's Rainbow Dash. Remember it, 'cause you'll be hearing it a lot!" 

"Nice to meet ya, Rainbow Dash," Applejack greeted with a smile. "I'm Applejack. I reckon y'ain't from around here?" 

Rainbow Dash didn't complain as Applejack tugged on her to no avail. "Why do you say that?" 

Frustrated that she couldn't get Rainbow down, Applejack snorted before reaching for a lasso she kept in her bag. She was glad she brought it, although she hadn't been expecting to use it on a stray pegasus and not the escaped chicken she was searching for. "Well, number one, yer a pegasus," she stated as she put the loose end of the rope in her mouth. 

Applejack swung the lasso in a circle, getting ready to aim for the branch that Rainbow Dash's tail was stuck in. "An' nu'er two," she mumbled through the rope before throwing it. It hooked the branch perfectly, so Applejack tugged and sent it and the pegasus crashing to the ground. "You're not exactly what I was expectin' to fall out of a tree. Most ponies know not to fly into Sweet Apple Acres crop." 

Surrounded by leaves and twigs, Rainbow Dash ran a hoof through her mane, sitting up on her behind. A frown adorned that little blue face of hers, and Applejack had to hold back a laugh as she pouted.

"I didn't mean to fly into your tree. I was looking for my friend," Rainbow Dash muttered miserably before perking up and staring at Applejack. "Wait, did you say Sweet Apple Acres?" 

Applejack nodded. 

"You wouldn't happen to know the ponies who make the cider they send up to Cloudsdale, would you?" she gasped. 

Applejack's smirk only deepened. "Lookin' at one of 'em, sugarcube." 

To say that Rainbow Dash screamed would be an understatement. "Holy cow! I mean, wow! I love your cider!" she exclaimed with a crackly voice. 

This time, Applejack couldn't hold back her laugh. "Glad to hear it, Rainbow. We're extremely proud of our products. Been doin' em the same way for generations, y'know."

It was true. It wasn't only because of Ponyville's lack of advanced machinery that the Apples did everything by hoof. Even if Ponyville was as big, bustling, and technologically advanced as Manehattan (and Applejack not so secretly wished it never would be), she knew that her family would stick to their roots. Literally. 

Rainbow seemed to appreciate that. She shook a leaf out of her mane. "Wow! Never change, then. I really like that stuff," she repeated. "Although, I can't wait 'til I'm old enough for the alcohol one! My dad says it's smooth, although isn't all liquid smooth?" 

That was one factor Applejack knew about from hearing about it. She wasn't directly involved with the creation of the alcoholic version of their cider, but she was familiar with the logistics of it. "My daddy used to say it was good too," Applejack agreed. "Maybe when we're older, I'll have to find you an' we can try it together." 

With an adorably crackly laugh, Rainbow smiled at Applejack. "Trust me, cowgirl, you won't have to find me," she promised, sticking her hoof out. "I'll come down here myself. That's a Rainbow Dash Guarantee!" 

Applejack extended her hoof and spat on it before slapping it to Rainbow's. "Alright, I'll hold ya to that." 

Surprisingly, Rainbow didn't retreat her hoof in disgust and instead opted to casually wipe it on her chest. "Gross," she mumbled, although she looked more amused than appalled. "I like you, Applejack. You don't seem lame." 

What a strange thing to say. Applejack rubbed her neck. "Uh, thanks?" 

"You're welcome!" Rainbow Dash responded loudly. "Now, I gotta get back up to Cloudsdale. I didn't mean to come so far down," she admitted, extending her wings and ruffling them before crouching down. "See you later, Applejack! Don't forget my promise!" 

With a final glance at Applejack, the filly smirked and shot up into the sky faster than Applejack thought a little filly like Rainbow could go. A confused smile crept up on her face. "Later," she mumbled. 
> 2. A Bit Warm For My Taste
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It must have been the hottest day of fall, which wasn't exactly saying much. But still, the lack of that trademark autumn breeze and the nip in the air made Applejack sweat. It was as if the darn pegasi forgot it was fall. 

And the pegasi? That was something Applejack had to get used to, too. It's not that she hadn't seen Cloudsdale before—sometimes it floated above Ponyville where she could just make out the giant city in the clouds—but recently, they had stayed there. That sure was… different. 

Applejack wasn't sure if she liked it or not. 

And just what exactly were they doing up there? Applejack frowned and pressed her hat onto her head. It was weird, calling it her hat. She scowled at the thought and trudged on through the mud, not particularly enjoying the feel of the still-cold mud against her warm fetlocks. 

Why couldn't those darn pegasi make up their mind? They could just pick a spot to leave their city and make sure the weather actually made sense. It sounded simple, so why didn't they just do that? 

Sighing, Applejack crouched and let the buckets on her back slide onto the ground. She positioned them almost robotically exactly where they should be. 

A bead of sweat formed on Applejack's face as she turned her back to the tree. With a sharp exhale, she gave the tree a firm buck. Most of the apples fell into the bucket. Satisfied with that, she gave another buck and cleared the tree of the apples.

The bead of sweat rolled down her face. She groaned. 

“Hey.”

Applejack jumped. 

“Hah. Made you jump.”

The Stetson-wearing mare looked up, pushing the brim of her hat up so the newfound obstacle wouldn’t get in the way of her vision. “Oh. Hey.”

Rainbow Dash, at least, Applejack thought so, leaned back on the branch. “Wow, it’s been a while, huh?”

If three years counted only as a while. “Sure.”

“Neat hat,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed with a whistle as she moved her prismatic bangs from her face. “Really adds to the whole cowgirl look.”

Applejack shuffled her hooves. This was an awkward conversation. And yet… “Why are you in my tree again? What, ya can’t fly?” 

She couldn't help but smile. 

Rainbow Dash scoffed, rolling onto her stomach, and looked down at Applejack. "I can totally fly. I'm just a bit tired and trees are really comfy." 

"Really," Applejack deadpanned. "Comfier than those nice, fluffy clouds y'all got up there?" She gazed up at the sky, wondering what sleeping on a cloud would look like. 

Rainbow Dash smirked. "Yeah, sure. Although, I can't really sleep when there's some mare kicking trees," she joked. "I mean, what's that about? Are you angry? Cause, sheesh, girl, there's other ways to take out your anger than kicking a poor, defenseless tree." 

She had to be kidding. Right? Rainbow Dash was kidding… right? Applejack snorted. "Uh, I'm buckin' the trees," she corrected. 

"WOAH," Rainbow Dash exclaimed. She recoiled with a grimace. "Applejack, that's gross!" 

Unsure if she was joking this time or not, Applejack rolled her eyes. She definitely didn't plan on enabling this or letting Rainbow Dash continue her shenanigans. Instead, she opted for a topic change. "So, Rainbow Dash, I'm assumin' you know a mare called Fluttershy?" 

Rainbow perked up at this. She looked straight down at Applejack. "Fluttershy, yeah! Why, do you know her?" 

"She tells me about you, y'know," Applejack started, taking a seat under the branch that Rainbow Dash had nestled herself in. "Talks an awful lot about her friend from Cloudsdale who's just the nicest pony and her best friend." She glanced up at Rainbow, who seemed flustered, judging by her slightly red cheeks. "I reckon y'all are like sisters? That's how she talks about you, at least." 

Rainbow Dash coughed. "I guess you could say that," she mumbled. After a moment of silence, Rainbow Dash looked around her as if scoping out the area. She then looked down at Applejack, leaning her head down from the branch. "Look, don't tell her I said this, but my parents are helping me buy a house. I'm gonna move it to be above Ponyville so I can visit her more often!" 

Though the logistics of keeping a house from drifting away confused Applejack, she nodded. "That's mighty cool of you, Rainbow. I can see why Fluttershy's so fond of you," she admitted. With a wink, she added, "And don't worry, sugarcube, I won't tell her."

Rainbow Dash nodded looking up at the sky with a fond smile. "Hey, who knows, cowgirl… Maybe I'll come visit you some more, too. You seem like fun." 

"What?" Applejack asked. "I'm awful busy. Got a whole farm to run and not enough hooves to run it," she admitted with a slight frown. "Don't get me wrong, Rainbow, you're a real nice gal, but I can't get distracted." 

Rainbow Dash's smile did not waver as she looked down. "You're friends with Fluttershy, right?" 

"Yup," Applejack confirmed, unsure of where Rainbow would take this. 

"So, why can you two be friends but not us?" 

Applejack sighed. "I don't mean we can't be friends, I just mean ya can't just come here all the time," she clarified. "Fluttershy's my friend 'cause I deliver food for her animals every week, so I see her pretty often." 

Rainbow seemed to ponder on that for a moment before letting out a short 'hm'. She stretched out her wings and stood from the branch, effectively knocking down a few loose leaves into the humid wind. "Alright, then, Applejack. So what you're saying is that if there's a reason for me to see you, then we can be friends?" 

"Uh—" 

"I'll figure something out," Rainbow interrupted. "Trust me. You said you don't have enough hooves on the farm? Well I've got four right here and a set of wings." Rainbow jumped down from the branch, using her wings to catch the air and soften her landing. "I'm sure I can be useful, and in return, you and I can hang out!" 

Well, Applejack at least had to admire her tenacity. She'd never met anyone so insistent on being her friend. Rainbow certainly didn't seem like a bad pony, at least. If Fluttershy was her friend, well, that had to mean something, right? Especially if the shy pony spoke so highly of the boisterous pegasus standing in front of her.

Yeah, Rainbow definitely seemed like a good mare. 

Applejack smirked, raising an eyebrow. "A little pony like you? You sure you can handle farm work?" 

Snorting, Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Little," she muttered under her breath before returning her voice to normal. "You bet, country girl. I may be used to flying, but I can work just as hard as you." 

Somehow, Applejack doubted that. She didn't want to let Rainbow know that, though, so she simply shrugged. "I guess we'll see," she put simply. "Now, whenever you're ready, swing by the farm at the crack o' dawn and I'll give ya somethin' nice an' easy to do, alright?" 

Rainbow Dash saluted (which was strange) and spread her wings, ready to fly. "That's really early, but yeah! Sure thing, cowgirl. Don't forget you're going to hang out with me if I do this." 

"We'll get to it," Applejack said with a smile. 

"Alright. Now, I gotta go help with my new house. I'll catch you later!" 

Applejack took off her hat and waved. "See ya soon, Rainbow!" She fanned her hat in an attempt to cool her face. "Oh, and one more thing…" 

Rainbow, who stopped mid ascent, turned to look at Applejack with a curious gaze. "Yeah?" 

"Can y'all please make it a little cooler?" Applejack asked with a slightly embarrassed smile. "Sun's beatin' down somethin' fierce an' my body's ready for fall." 

"Hah," Rainbow Dash chuckled. "I'll see what I can do." With a final wave, she flew up and away.

Applejack stared until she couldn't see her anymore, then turned back to her tasks, swiping sweat from her face. 

The warm tingle of sunlight stopped, and instead was replaced by the slight cool of shade. Surprised, Applejack looked up to see a single batch of clouds appearing over the orchard. 

She smiled. "Thanks." 
> 3. Crates Short
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The cart was heavy. Applejack had to admit it. Despite that, though, she pushed forward, every step a battle that nopony else would know thanks to the passive smile on her face. 

It was easier every time, Applejack noted. She figured that it definitely wouldn't be much of a problem soon; she was building more and more muscle. And she was definitely appreciative of that fact. It would make everything a lot easier. 

The air was comfortably chilly as she and the cart bounced through the dirt streets of Ponyville. Applejack whistled a happy tune as she approached her destination, finally crossing the bridge that marked it. Slowing to a stop in front of the quaint, little cottage, the sound of birds chirping lifted Applejack's spirits even more. 

Her hoof rapped against the wooden door three times. The sounds of several animals flared up, instantly soothed by soft shushing and barely audible speech. After a moment, the door opened to reveal the buttery yellow pegasus. 

"Oh, hello, Applejack," Fluttershy greeted warmly. 

Applejack tipped her hat politely. "Good afternoon, Fluttershy. Hope you've been havin' a good day," she responded with a smile. 

Fluttershy nodded, softly shutting the door behind her. "Oh, yes. Harry is such a delightful little cub, although he is getting quite big!" 

Harry was a bear. Applejack had made sure to remember that after the time that Fluttershy had asked if she wanted to meet him. And he was only getting bigger? "Ah, that's… nice," Applejack offered awkwardly. "It is a nice day out, I reckon the animals like the fresh air." 

"Yes, they do," the pegasus giggled. "Although, I think they'll like their freshly delivered food even more." 

Applejack shifted on her hooves, turning to look at the cart she was attached to. "Oh, yeah, I got your stuff all here, like always." She slipped out of the yoke and went around to open the back of the cart. Dragging out the first large crate, she carefully lifted it up and down onto the floor with a grunt of effort. "I've got four more of these." 

"So five?" 

Applejack nodded. 

"Oh, um… Alright," Fluttershy mumbled. 

The earth pony sighed and took off her Stetson, looking at Fluttershy apologetically. "I know we usually bring ya eight, but somethin' came up and we weren't able to get 'em all done," she explained with a frown. 

"That's okay," she whispered. "Don't worry." 

"I'll, uh, bring 'em later this week," Applejack said confidently. "I swear! Just that there were some other things that distracted us. I'm real sorry." 

Fluttershy waved a hoof. "It's okay, really. Are you and your family okay? If you need anything…" 

"Naw, naw," Applejack interrupted, placing her hat back on her hat. "It's fine. Nothin' more hard work can't solve." She grunted as she dropped another box down carefully. 

Fluttershy hummed in thought before looking at Applejack with a cocked head. "Well, why don't you hire some workers? Maybe that'd help."

The earth pony stopped dead in her tracks, lifting her head up to look at Fluttershy from the top of the cart where she had been pushing another box to the brim. "No," she said firmly, but not angrily. "Ain't the Apple way. We've always kept the business within the family." 

Fluttershy stayed silent for a moment, before jolting a bit, catching Applejack's eye. "What about friends?" she asked. "I have a friend who moved here recently who's looking for some extra work. Maybe she could help? You and I are friends, and me and her are friends, so maybe you two could be friends, too." 

It was a thought worth considering. Big Mac sometimes brought friends over and they spent the day working together. She thought it'd be silly, but they always seemed to enjoy it. Applejack raised a hoof to her chin and thought. The pros far outweighed the cons, and Fluttershy was only offering what she thought would be best...

"Well, I never turn down a hard worker," Applejack admitted. She smiled and nodded. "Sure, ya can send your friend down to Sweet Apple Acres whenever. Just make sure to tell'r to tell me she's your friend." 

With a nod, Fluttershy smiled. "Okay! Oh, she'll be so happy. You two know each other, although she says she wants to be your friend," Fluttershy revealed. Her eyes widened as she put her hooves on her muzzle. "I wasn't supposed to tell you that," she whispered. 

Somepony Applejack already knew? She knew a lot of ponies, seeing as she sold apples to nearly everypony in Ponyville and made sure to stay in their good graces. But… Fluttershy's friend? She raised an eyebrow, realizing who she meant. "Oh. You don't mean…" 

"Hey, Fluttershy!" a raspy voice, whose owner was not in sight yet, called. "I came to pick up that thing you—" 

Rainbow Dash appeared over the top of Fluttershy's cottage. The buttery yellow pegasus smiled meekly at Applejack. "It's… Rainbow…" 

"I can see that," Applejack sighed. This was supposed to be a quick visit. 

The spunky blue pegasus dropped out of the sky, landing gracefully on her hooves next to the grounded ponies. "Applejack! Nice to see you here," she greeted. Rose red eyes flicked to the cart behind them and the crates next to it. "Ah, here on business?" 

"Eeyup," Applejack nodded. "Just givin' Fluttershy here her order." 

Rainbow Dash trotted to the crates, inspecting them closely. "Of what?" 

"Well, that ain't somethin' I can tell ya," Applejack pointed out. "Confidentiality, an' all." 

"It's food for the animals," Fluttershy clarified softly. 

Scrutinizing the packages even closer, Rainbow Dash circled the crates, moving her head up and down before finally coming to a stop and turning to face Applejack and Fluttershy. Her head cocked to the side to reveal a confused expression. "Uh, just five? Is that enough?" She craned her head to look through the window into Fluttershy's cottage. "I mean, I don't know enough about animals, but don't they eat a lot during this time of year? And you have a lot…" 

Fluttershy backed into her mane, mumbling something about crates, which only served to confuse Rainbow Dash even more. 

Before the smaller pegasus could say anything, Applejack raised her hoof. "Look, it was meant to be eight but we couldn't get it done this time on account of some…" she cringed slightly and looked away, "personal issues. But I already made a promise that I'll get the rest in soon as I can." 

Fluttershy crept backwards, opening the door to her cottage with a hoof and quietly slipping inside. "I'll just… be in here…" she whispered before shutting the door. 

Rainbow Dash didn't seem concerned by her friend's actions at all. In fact, she seemed kind of upset. "Wow, Applejack. I know you told me you were short on hooves the other day, but…" her gaze softened. "You could have said something. I know it's personal and we're not friends, but you're Fluttershy's friend which means she cares about you. And I care about her." 

Applejack opened her mouth. She wanted to be mad at Rainbow Dash for insisting that Applejack should have said something, and she could feel that hot anger in her stomach but she wasn't mad at the pegasus. 

Her mouth shut as she clenched her teeth and looked down. "Well, I didn't wanna feel like I–we needed help," she admitted. "But… maybe we do. Just for a bit." 

Rainbow Dash nodded. It was strange to see the pegasus look so serious, though still with that confident smile on her face. Applejack had only seen her immature ways up until then, but she seemed almost… mature then. At least, as mature as a teenage filly could be. 

Though, Applejack thought of herself to be quite mature for her age. She decided it didn't count if you were forced to grow up quicker than other foals. 

"Well, then how about I help you with finishing her order?" 

Rainbow Dash's words cut into Applejack's thoughts, leaving the earth pony blinking back into reality. She glanced at Rainbow Dash, who now hovered in the air. "Well, I've gotta help Big Mac with a delivery when I get home, so if ya wanna swing by tomorrow… I'd be more'n happy to have ya 'round." The words were hard to get out, if Applejack was being honest. Admitting to needing help had never been her strong suit, especially not to somepony she wasn't close to, but she'd be making a fool of herself if she believed that Rainbow Dash's help wouldn't be appreciated. 

Rainbow Dash winked. "Right at the crack of dawn, right?" She grinned at Applejack. "That's what you said last time." 

She remembered that? Applejack was quite surprised that she'd remember what was probably meant to be a light-hearted comment (though a true one) during their previous conversation. Chuckling, Applejack nodded. "You know it, sugarcube. Gotta wake up nice an' early to get any good work done on the farm." 

"I'll be there," Rainbow Dash assured her. "You can count on it. I want to make sure Shy has enough to feed her pets," she declared with a look to the cottage. "Now, I gotta talk to her about a couch." 

Deciding she didn't want to inquire more about that, Applejack nodded, then started pushing the crates to Fluttershy's front door where she usually left them. It didn't take long once they were on the ground. "Well, I reckon it's 'bout time I get on back. I'm supposed to watch my sister, anyhow." 

"See you tomorrow," Rainbow Dash said with a smirk. "And be ready for the best helper  you'll ever have." 

Applejack rolled her eyes. "I'll be sure to prepare," she deadpanned as she slipped back into the yoke and backed away. "Don't be late or I'll kick your flank." 

Rainbow Dash nodded resolutely before slipping into Fluttershy's home, not tearing her eyes off of Applejack until the door shut. Relieved of having her work done, Applejack turned around and began her journey back home. 

Unburdened from the weight of the crates, she looked up at the clear sky, smelling the scent of autumn. She smiled as her trot turned to a canter, happily bouncing from hoof to hoof in rhythm to a tune she hummed. 

Most of all, Applejack was surprised by her inability to wait until dawn. She swept a hoof through her blonde bangs, nodding her head in greeting as she passed the ponies out in the streets. The mental image of a prismatic maned pegasus helping her out sent a rush of happiness through Applejack, even if it meant losing a bit of pride. 

I just might get a new friend out of it, too.