Initially, it was a passing fantasy. Being able to fly free, with wings of my own. It was unheard of for an Earth Pony to fly, except in a few circumstances where they had the funds or intelligence to build their own gyrocopter. Even then it wasn’t really flying, and you had to continue flying just to stay above the clouds, unable to land on them or even walk.

That was something I found unacceptable.

So what was an Earth Pony to do? I trotted slowly across the field that lead to Sweet Apple Acres, which had a path that lead back to Ponyville, just past the foal’s school. The air was still sweet with the smell of fallen tree-flowers and the earthy scent of rotting leaves. A slight chill broke across the field, of which I took a great breath of, inhaling the scent and cool air. Days like this were an elixir for my soul. The wind died, and the soft heat of an Autumn sun graced my coat again, completing the most perfect feeling that a season’s change could bring. A slow, more familiar wafting scent permeated my senses. It was apple harvest season, and Sweet Apple Acres was likely in full swing picking and placing baskets to get ready for cider season.

I had gotten off work early, so I considered stopping by, maybe lending a hoof. Who knew, maybe they would know something about a local who might know something about becoming a Pegasus. The thought only seemed like a good idea for a few minutes. The ponies at Sweet Apple Acres were hard-working, no-nonsense ponies. Chances were that it wouldn’t go over too well for me if I asked something as silly as “Hey, do you guys know any way an Earth Pony can grow wings?”

I decided I should hold my tongue. Maybe a little time away from work would clear my head. Aurora loved me, I knew that. Even so, the Wonderbolt’s words echoes in my head.

“You’d make a cute Pegasus.”

I shook my head. That was silly. I didn’t need wings to be with Aurora. She had come down from the clouds that night, two years ago… and stayed down since, except to return home for a while or go to work.

My path took me closer to the orchard, where I could hear the dull thudding of AppleJack’s powerful hooves against a tree somewhere down the line of apple trees. My ears twitched, listening for the sound of apples falling to a basket. I heard none, so I knew she wasn’t too close. Following the sound and peeking around trees and cresting hills I eventually came upon the spot where not AppleJack, owner of Sweet Apple Acres, but Big Mac was hard at work harvesting away. With a loud “THWAK,” another bushel fell from the tree behind him, only one falling outside the basket which he had been aiming for.

“Hey Mac.” I called as I approached.

Big Mac simply nodded in my direction, picking up the apple in his teeth and placing it inside the basket.

“Need any help?”

“Nope.” he said simply.

“Almost done, then?”

“Yup.”

I stood there for a moment. We stared at one another.

“So…”

He tilted his head a little.

“... the harvest is over?”

“Nope.”

Silence again. The wind blew through the trees, whistling as it flowed around us both. Leaves fluttered to the ground, rustling and tumbling.

“... Do you WANT any help?” I asked.

Big Mac shrugged. “Sure.” he said, and gestured with his head towards a saddle. I walked over, somewhat cautiously. Suddenly, Big Mac took the saddle, and the attached baskets, each full of apples, and dropped them on my back.

Now, it’s one thing to push heavy carts around on rollers. And yes,that too takes a lot of stamina and strength, moreso than most jobs that a pony can get in the Ponyville area, but baskets of apples that are nearly the size of a pony each? I felt like I was made of concrete.

“Can you do it?” he asked.

I smiled, shaking a little, “Sure I can...” grunting, and started the first step forward, straining against the weight.

Big Mac simply watched for a minute, before returning to bucking apples out of the trees. I had started at the apex of a hill, so going down was easy, but when I’d reached the bottom… I simply stared up at the hill before me in disbelief.

“Welp.” I whispered to myself, “I offered my help.” somewhat regretting the offer.

I hoisted the apples up to rest a little, a very much little, more comfortably on my back and began trudging. My hooves broke the ground as I climbed up the small trail that had been tamped down by years of use. One step, then another. I heaved, but kept climbing. My vision blurred from the effort as I began sweating hard, it couldn’t be much further.

“Are you alright mister?” a small voice called out from atop the hill.

I didn’t say anything. I was too focused on just moving. My ears twitched, pinning themselves back as I heard her call out again.

“I’mma go get mah sister!”

Straining, I yelled back, “Nono! It’s fine! I got it!”

I could almost hear her amusement, “Alrighty, mister Ramp!”

Eventually I reached the top, collapsing. A few of the apples fell out of the basket, rolling back down the hill. The little filly, yellow in color with a tussled red mane, was lounging atop a rock some distance in front of me with her hooves holding her head up.

“Y’sure you don’t want me t’get mah sis?”

I shook my head. “Nono, Applebloom… I’ll manage” I croaked, remembering the little filly’s name from previous visits.

“Those’r mah brother’s baskets, y’know.” she chuckled, “Even mah sister has a little trouble with ‘em.”

My smile was strained, “I can handle it.” the insistence in my voice managing to bleed through.

There were only two hills to go, and it had only taken ten minutes to reach the top of the last one. I figured I could finish it all up in thirty or less if I really pushed. Of course, little AppleBloom would ensure that I had a reason to.

“Y’know…” she said, “If’n your girlfriend sees ya like this…” she grinned with what I could have sworn was mock malevolence.

Either way, it ticked something in me.

“You’re right.” I grunted, and lifted myself from the ground with an uneasy rise, “She could be flying over right now… what’d she think if she saw me struggling like this?”

Giggling, Applebloom started canterskipping ahead. I followed. The strain became much less all of a sudden, and I could focus on breathing. The next two hills were tough and as I reached the top of the third one, where the Apple Family home was located, I was greeted by a familiar voice.

“Well look-y what we got here.” the orange and yellow Earth pony mare laughed, “Y’didn’t tell me we had visitors, L’il Sis!”

I grinned, “Hey Applejack.” my last steps were somewhat shakey, but I managed to crest the hill in full and settle at the top after the greeting.

“Ah can’t believe y’made it up here with Big Macintosh’s baskets ‘n tow.” Applejack frowned a little, “Y’sure y’can handle ‘em?”

“Where do you want them?” I asked, getting back up, nearly toppling a over.

Applejack shook her head, “Ah learned a long tahm ago not t’bite off more’n Ah’c’n chew. Set down, Ah’ll take them th’rest of the way.”

I swallowed my pride, not that I could do anything other than. Applejack had already taken the baskets onto her back before I could even begin making my way… well, wherever the apples went. I decided to find out, just in case I ever got a chance to help Applejack and Big Mac again.

“Yer gettin’ better.” Applebloom hopped around me as I walked, “Last tahm, y’ took a half hour to get up th’first hill.”

Applejack nodded, “Ah appreciate th’help. Big Mac doesn’t tire as easily, but it takes ‘m a minute t’get here. Y’saved us both some trouble.” she stared at me for a moment, I raised and eyebrow, “Somethin’ on yer mind sugarcube?”

I shook my head, “No. Not at all.”

Applejack left it at that for a moment. Silence fell over our small convoy of ponies until we reached the apple cellar.

“Only problem with th’cellar,” Applejack began, “Is that ya’can’t get both’a Big Mac’s baskets down th’stairs at once.”

I offered to take one down, taking a quick glance around to see if Applebloom was around. The little filly had taken off to her own devices, probably to check on Big Mac if I knew any better. I saddled the basket on my back, and headed down the cold stone steps.

The basement-like room was slightly damp-smelling, despite the dryness of the air. The scent of apples filled my snout, bringing back memories of the harvest seasons I’d participated in, in the past. Rows upon columns of baskets filled the room, all set upon the iron shelving and lining the room from front to back and from side to side. Applejack had pulled up six baskets, and began dumping the apples carefully into them from the oversized container that I had carried over three hills. I joined her.

“Alright, sugarcube, what’s on yer mind?” she asked again, “Y’aint been this foggy-eyed since y’got the bad news.”

She was talking about the news of my parents passing. Almost any other pony would have shied away from mentioning them, but Applejack’s family had been rather close to mine. We had shared many, many harvest seasons despite the fact that my family was not close to Sweet Apple Acres by distance, nor were they farmer ponies. But, our families had even shared Heart’s Warming Eve together. She had the right to mention them.

“Well…” I started, unsure, “I’m looking for a way… to become a Pegasus.” I admitted.

Applejack stared at me for a moment. After a few moments, a confused and concerned look crossed her face.

“You feelin’ alright?” she laughed a little, but showed her concern by putting a hoof up to my head.

Applejack was only a few years older than I was, but after the incident with my parents, she’d almost taken on a motherly, or at least sisterly, stance to our friendship. It still made me feel like a child, which was an uncomfortable feeling for me. Maybe it was just my natural, male reaction to being babied by someone I’d known for so long.

I stepped back, “I’m feeling fine.” insisting, “I’m serious! Is there even a way? Maybe an old legend or something?”

The orange mare’s gaze dropped to the floor. I could tell that she was at least a little uncomfortable about what I’d asked. She seemed to consider something for a moment, her expression changing from concern to pensiveness, and back to concern. Her eyes arose once more to gaze directly into mine, with an intensity.

“It’s about that pegasus mare, isn’t it?”

I glared a little, “So what if it is?”

Applejack almost growled at me, “So she’s got you thinkin’ you’re not good enough fer her?” her glare was intense and disappointed.

“No!” I measured in equal intensity, “I just… It’s not fair to her. She never says anything about wanting to go home, or being bothered about living on the ground.” my insistence was sincere, I hoped, enough to convince her, “I just… I know she’ll miss the sky, miss her town and parents. I don’t want to force her to come down, even if she loves me.”

Applejack’s gaze softened, I could still detect the fire behind her eyes but it was waning.

“Yer certain that’s what ya want?” she asked, “T’change yerself fer a mare?”

I nodded.

“Is it somethin’ you want too? D’you want t’be a Pegasus as well?”

I hadn’t really considered my own wants when it came to flying. I mean, sure. I HAD wanted to fly. But I always figured that I’d just wait for the aircraft we had now to get smaller and smaller as they became safer and easier to make, and that’s how I’d earn my “wings” so to speak. Now that the question was posed to me, I had to really consider it, crazy or not.

In fact, if I had just told Applejack that I hadn’t really thought about it, and that I wasn’t sure, things might have gone a little differently. I would have gone home after my would-be sister assured me that the mare I loved me back, and that things would be fine. Aurora and I would have gone out on our date, I would have proposed, and we would have been married a year later. In fact, I wouldn’t have joined the guard, instead probably have worked my way up through the Canterlotian Cargo Company, Inc. Might have even become CEO, and lived a happy, rich life atop the highest societies of Canterlot. Together, she and I would have had two wonderful fillies and a colt and things would have been happier-ever-after.

But I didn’t. Instead, I told Applejack that I was absolutely certain because in that moment I was. I wanted to fly free. I wanted to swim through the clouds like a fish did the ocean. I wanted to taste the sun and the moon, and feel the rush of the wind as I dove through the clouds. I wanted to fly. And that’s what I told Applejack.

“Y’realize how crazy ya sound, raight?”

My ears drooped a little. I knew I shouldn’t have brought it up. Hadn’t I decided earlier that it would not be a good idea?

Applejack wasn’t mean, though. Honest, but not mean. What she said next surprised me even more than if she HAD been snarky or rude ever would have.

“Ah might know somepony who can help.”

Applejack went on to tell me about an Alicorn Princess who lived in Ponyville. She told me that this specific pony was one of her good friends, and that she was very smart about… well, almost everything and that, if she didn’t know, she’d probably try everything to find out. I smiled a little, thanked my friend, and exited the apple cellar, followed closely behind by Applejack. As I trotted back towards home, I overheard the orange mare muttering something about not being able to find her sister and wondering where she’d gotten off to.

The sun was setting by then, and along with the reds and oranges that painted the sky before me, came with it a brisk wind. The cooler air of the autumn months were, and are still to this day, my favorite part of living in Equestria. Leaves rustled beneath my feet as I bounded through the tall grasses separating Sweet Apple Acres from the rest of the world. There was, of course, a path but where was the fun in that? Grasshoppers fled from my crashing through their perches, while birds fluttered away from me, only to follow a short distance with interest and then flutter back into the brush. I assumed, in a passing thought, that many were resting for the flight down South for the winter.

As I neared the path that was closest to Ponyville, just before the school, I jumped back onto the well-worn path. With the short jog, my previous worries seemed less pressing. I remembered that I had intended to propose that night, and needed to get an engagement bangle for Aurora. However, something occurred to me that slowed my canter.

If I was going to try to become a Pegasus… she’d have to know. What if she thought I was nuts? I would think I was nuts. That was for certain. I certainly couldn’t hide it from her, and proposing to her before OR after I revealed my intentions would feel… wrong and awkward. Could I hide it from her? I’d have to, if I didn’t want to seem… I dunno, desperate. After mulling it over, I decided that I’d tell her… and then just hold on off on the engagement. Still… I could at least buy the bangle now. I wasn’t due home until after sundown after all. My hooves struck the cobbled street in front of the jeweler's shop before I knew it. A small jingling of the bells he’d set up above the door signalled my entry, and I was greeted by a rather small pony, old and withered, with what seemed to be a small telescope affixed to his eye.

“Oh… hello!” he smiled without looking up from his work as he waved a hoof in a beckoning manner, “Do come in, do come in!”

His name was Jasper, like the semi-precious rock. I never learned his last name, but I bet the old stallion still inhabits Ponyville to this day. We knew each other as acquaintances around town, but he and I had discussed my plans for marrying Aurora many times before.

“Hey Jasper.” I greeted, “Today’s the day.”

Jasper glanced up at me at last. He seemed to process what I’d just said for a minute as his brows furrowed and he adjusted his… whatever that thing on his eye was.

“Ah, yes. Yes!” his excitement showed. “So… so! You’ve picked one out, have you?” he asked.

He was a strange old pony, but kindhearted, and he loved weddings and discussions of love and lost love. A hopeless romantic, I would assume.

“Not just yet.” I told him, “Instead, I’m looking for an engagement bangle. I still don’t have the bits for a wedding one. I’ms saving up though.”

Working at the Canterlotian Cargo Company didn’t exactly pay Canterlotian wages. Hard work rarely did pay the wages that they deserved.

Jasper nodded somberly, “Ah bits, THOSE silly little things. My boy, let’s strike a deal.” he wandered over to me and hooked a hoof over my back, “You pay me for the engagement bangle, and choose a wedding bangle for your sweetie today”

I raised an eyebrow, “Are you sure… I mean, can you afford it? Aren’t gems expensive?”

The old pony stroked his hoof against his white beard, “I’ve got a friend here in Ponyville who has an eye for fashion and is extremely generous. Most of my gems come from her for a pittance. In exchange, my prices are lower, and I help fund her fashion shows. We work together, I sell gems and bangles, she sells clothes, and we pool together to accomplish more than we could alone.”

I smiled a little. Ponyville was a nice town… full of nice ponies. It bothered me though, that I couldn’t pay him the full price.

“Thank you, but…”

The old pony raised a scruffy age-whitened eyebrow.

“How do I repay you… I mean, if I don’t somehow find the bits?”

The old pony laughed a little, “Invite me to the wedding if she says yes. If not, just bring the bangle back, and that’ll be that.”

I nodded, and for the next half hour, Jasper and I spent discussing what she might like best, how I imagined the wedding would be, and various other love-sworn topics that seemed to take years off of the old stallion as long as we talked. We shared stories of our loved one, but in the end, we hadn’t found anything that was just perfect for Aurora. I let loose a sigh of slight disappointment. Nothing really seemed to fit her style, her grace and sleekness. Everything was covered in jewels and fastenings. I felt like those sorts of things would weigh her down in more ways than one. She was never the flashy type, but a simple engagement bangle, I felt, was too cheap and low-brow to be worth her time.

The old stallion smiled like he knew something and went to a safe behind the counter. I watched, creasing my brow with some confusion until pulled out something I’d never seen before. A beautiful, hoof-crafted Rainmetal (So called because of its multi-color pearlescent qualities, as he so intricately put it.) wedding bangle. Jasper told me that despite the lack of the standard rubies, sapphires, and emeralds that typically filled most bangles, the frosted etchings, unique forging techniques which had been developed by pegasus ponies themselves long ago, and sleekness of artistic design, a Rainmetal wedding bangle was one of the most valuable kinds that a pony could purchase.

At first, I thanked him and told him that it was far too much. I could not take such a high-quality piece of jewelry for the price of a simple engagement band.

“Well, my boy… it’s not for sale anyways.” he told me.

Confusion crossed my face but he quickly explained.

“Mr. Ramp, this bangle belonged to my wife who was, like the pony you’re proposing to, a Pegasus.” a sad look covering his normally jovial face, “I’m an old stallion now… and she’s passed on, so I don’t need it but I know she wouldn’t want this to go to waste. Until recently, I was unable to find a pony worth giving it to.”

He looked over at a picture on the wall. It was an old, faded photo in sepia tone that depicted a beautiful pegasus at a wedding. It was torn in half. Jasper noticed my gaze towards the ripped edge.

“I buried half of it with her, but kept the bangle because she told me to. I couldn’t let her go on alone without something to remember me by.”

A sad smile crossed his snout as he held the bangle in his hoof, staring down at it as he spoke.

“At first I wasn’t sure why my wife wanted me to keep it, instead of leave it with her. It confused me for many, many years. I think I know now, because I feel like this bangle belongs in the sky, where it came from… where she’d want it to be.”

He held out the bangle in his hoof. With so much history behind it, I was almost afraid to take it.

“Won’t it need to be sized?” I asked, carefully extending my hoof and taking the band into my care.

The aged stallion shook his head, “The thing about Rainmetal wedding bands is that they don’t need to be sized. They conform to the mare who wears it, and won’t fit anypony else so long as the giver and receiver remain a single heart.” his eyes seemed to water just a bit.

I didn’t say anything. It was the kind of moment that happens maybe twice in a lifetime, and all those soap-plays in the square on weekends are about. I didn’t say a word about it. Instead, I thanked him for all he’d done for me.

“Don’t you forget to send me an invite!” he hollered as I headed out the door and into the street.

I turned and nodded, “I won’t forget!”

“Good luck!”

As I walked out into the open, I could swear I saw a pegasus-shaped shadow atop the shop, disappear into the darkening evening sky. Maybe it was just my imagination. I might have sworn it was Aurora but… well, you’ll hear about that later. Without a second thought about it, my legs took me home and I arrived there just after the moon had come upon the horizon by Luna’s will, and the sun had been put to rest by Celestia. My short trip from the store to my home sent me across the paths of a few Bat Ponies, which I waved cheerfully to, and whom did the same in turn. I knew most of the night-folk here, as most of my working days ended after the sun had gone down, which left myself and Aurora the entire night.

Did I ever tell you that Bat Ponies threw the craziest house parties? They’re usually pretty calm and collected, but watch out if you walk into a nightclub with a Bat Pony DJ. Sickest beats you’ll ever hear, I swear.

… I really said that just now, didn’t I? Sickest beats…?

*...Ahem*- back to the subject at hoof.

Arriving home, I was greeted by a near-tackle hug from my soon to be fiance’. She wasn’t always affectionate, but when she showed it, it could sometimes hurt. A short fit of nuzzling later, I finally managed to choke out a greeting.

Letting me go at last, if only to hover a few inches off the ground she smiled and asked with a voice that could rang with beauty, “Did you get the vacation time?”

I nodded, “I’ve got about a week off, but…” I swallowed hard.

The words didn’t seem to want to come out, and why should they, it was preposterous, ridiculous. An Earth Pony becoming a Pegasus? What kind of fool was I? Maybe I should just-

“Honey… what’s the matter?”

I was sweating, I finally realized. I also knew I’d never be able to live with myself if I didn’t try, and that meant telling her. I heaved a heavy sigh.

“Aurora?”

“Yes?” she seemed a little impatient, but with much larger dash of concern, “What is it?”

Mustering all the courage I could, I started to talk, “Aurora, what if… I could become a Pegasus?”

Aurora stared at me for a moment, her icy-blue eyes blank. She stopped fluttering and landed, staring right at me. I felt guilty. Guilty of what, though? Hiding what I assumed then was insanity? Betraying her trust as a stable husband to share her future with?

“Air… why would you want to…?” she whispered, her confusion showing plain to me.

I cleared my throat, preparing to explain, “I… I don’t want you to have to give up the sky for me, Aurora. It’s not fair to you. If I can, I’d rather share the sky with you, instead.”

Aurora sat down, tilting her head, “Air, you know I don’t-”

I shook my head, interrupting her, “I know you don’t care. But *I* care! What if we have foals in the future and they’re both Pegasi, what if ONE of them is? I won’t be able to keep up or teach them to fly if I don’t have wings!” I sat down in front of her, mirroring her, “And it’s not just that… I also really, really want to see the sky. I want to walk on clouds and enjoy those naps that you always talk about.”

Aurora was speechless. I shifted uncomfortably, rubbing one hoof up my other foreleg.

“... Dear?”

I looked up at her, frowning, worried. She wasn’t mad, or sacred. That surprised me even though it shouldn’t have. She just seemed concerned.

“How would you do it?” she asked simply, standing up.

“I talked with Applejack today… she said that she might know a pony who can help.”

Aurora’s ears perked up a little. I assumed it was because I had a lead, instead of just wild wishing and assumptions.

“Who?” she asked.

Noting the slight amount of hope in her voice, I began to explain about the mysterious princess who lived in Ponyville. Aurora knew who I was talking about immediately, being that she was much more well connected and people-saavy than I was. It sometimes embarrassed me that I knew so little about the celebrities within our community, but not enough so that I considered it a fact worth changing. Until then, that is.

Aurora explained to me that Twilight was an actual Princess and that she was very, very adept at magic. She also informed me that at that current time Twilight was out of town and presumably in the Everfree forest and likely wouldn’t be back for a while. My hopes quickly failed. How was I going to find a Princess in the middle of the most dangerous forest in Equestria? As the thoughts swirled in my head, my ears drooped and my heart sunk. That is, until I was quickly yanked inside my home by Aurora.

The house, our house, was a nice if not aged one. It was a moderate-sized cottage on the edge of Ponyville with enough room to have easily raised six times as many foals as my parents had, being that I was an only child. Wooden floors and throw-rugs made up the base we walked upon or flew above, and the walls were a simple off-white that was probably in need of repainting in the near future. It had more rooms than what I and Aurora knew what to even do with, and most of the old furniture in those rooms had either been sold off or mothballed. Aurora and I had never really discussed decorating before, so it stayed somewhat sparse, even in the bedroom, which was the most lavish room in the house. A great bed, made of dark, stained oak, with a mattress that was just short of lying on a cloud according to Aurora, dominated the center and was covered in red, finely woven sheets. But that was about all that was in it, leaving the rest of the decorations, few in number though they were, to the kitchen and dining room. Pictures of my parents and I, and even one of Aurora’s, made up the wall decor, while an older, solid wood dining room set sat atop a green throw-rug.

It was also my turn to do dishes, apparently. Aurora didn’t care much about that at the moment, instead nosing me towards the hallway leading to the bathroom across from our bedroom.

“Go take a quick bath, hun. Forget about all that stuff.” She ordered, “Besides, you promised we’d go out tonight to that spot you’re always talking about.”

I was too dazed by the sudden lurch and my own muddled thoughts to argue, which I might have done under normal circumstances. Trotting into the bathroom, I started the water, grabbed a towel, brush, and soap, and quickly scrubbed the grime from the days’ work out of my mane and hair. By the time I had finished, I was thinking a little clearer, and upon brushing my mane into its usual style felt like things might even just be okay, despite the fact that there was almost no way to find Twilight before the week’s vacation was over. I began to wonder how Aurora knew where the Princess was, and how she knew that the former-librarian would not be back for some time.

Until I saw Aurora again, that is. Her mane was sparkling in the moonlight of the east-side window, where it peeked through the panes of glass from just over the horizon. With eyes like sapphire, she stared at me, and I lost my voice entirely.

“Are you ready?” that wonderful Pegasus asked, brushing my flank with hers as she passed by my stunned self.

I nodded, wordless.

“Then come on,” she smiled, “The night awaits.”