Chapter 1: This Means War

Easing into a gentle glide, Soarin let his wings dip down to cut through the clouds, causing small wisps to float up into the air and fade away. Today was the perfect day for flying, but that wasn’t why he was out this morning. He had one goal in mind today, and that was to find a certain mare and ask her out on a date.

He had been searching for her ever since the Grand Galloping Gala. She had been haunting his dreams at night; he could envision her piercing green eyes, her athletic build, and beautiful voice. Everything about her had left a mark upon him. But the one thing that kept him up most nights, that would creep into his mind at the most random of moments, what would make him want to stop everything he was doing and find her was…

Her pie.

That orange mare had turned the once proud PlayColt that he was into a love struck colt to say the least. Not a day went by that at some moment he would not think of her. She had left such an impression on him, her and that delicious pie of hers, that it nearly drove him insane over the fact he had forgotten her name.

How could he have forgotten her name?

While her voice, eyes, and movements were ever engraved into his mind he had forgotten that one crucial detail needed to find her. How lost he would have been in his search for her, if Spitfire had not told him.

His captain simply could not believe that he had forgotten her name. She was an Element of Harmony, a savior of Equestria, and one of the top placing rodeo ponies in Equestria.

Applejack.

Soarin was also a bit surprised that he would have forgotten a name like that as well, especially when she made the best apple pie he had ever had before in his entire life. Every pie he has had since then paled in comparison to her’s. None of them could hold the flavor, the texture, that perfect first bite that her’s held. No pony he had met could do it like she did, and combined with her looks it was no wonder why he was so attracted to her, and why he wanted to ask her out.

From there, it did not take long for him to figure out where she lived, as she and all the other elements lived in the same town. She lived outside of the town on Sweet Apple Acres, her family’s farm that grew apples to make those wonderful pies he loved so much! If he did hit it off with her he wondered if he could get a small discount on those pies.

Soarin couldn’t wait to see her again, so tucking his wings in, he nose-dived through the blanket of clouds under him and burst out through them. On the other side he was greeted to site of the small town with brightly colored ponies, going on with their normal lives. But his eyes were locked onto the large apple orchard that was just a mile or two away from Ponyville. With a mighty flap of his wings, he broke himself out of the dive and soared towards the farm.

As he flew, his mind was already going through the list of pick up lines he had worked on for this occasion. While he was no stranger to dating, it was the mares that normally asked him out instead, or it was a mutual idea, but approaching a mare about going on a date was strange territory for him. The last time he had to do such a task was back when he was trying to find a date for prom. Sure he was good looking, and known as a great flyer, however, he was also known as a dork and a bit of a goofball which turned a lot of mares off.

Joke was on them now anyway, he was Co-Captain of the Wonderbolts and had gone on dates with many high class mares.

Lets see… I’m not a photographer, but I can picture you and me together. No wait… that’s stupid. If you were a vegetable, I would call you a cute-cumber… that would be good if she wasn’t an apple farmer. Soarin went down the possible list of line he could use on the apple farmer, but each one seemed to be dumber than the one before, or more a one night stand kind of line than a go on a date line. At this rate, he would end up saying something like ‘Nice hooves, want to buck?’

Before Soarin could come up with anymore idiotic lines, he saw a large red pony in the distance pulling a plow. Scanning the area around him, Soarin could not see any trace of the orange mare he was seeking, nor any other pony to ask where she might be.

Deciding that flying around aimlessly might make him look like more of a fool, he spread his wings out and started to slow down before landing to approach the large pony that had stopped working and was looking right at him.

Holy Celestia he’s big! Soarin thought, looking at the large red pony, that was easily a head or two taller than him, and looked like had the muscles to pull a train on his own. Smiling at the pony, Soarin walked towards him trying not to shake and shiver like a colt.

“Hi there! I was wondering if you could possibly tell me where Applejack is?” Soarin asked, as he looked up at the huge red stallion, it was not often that he had to look up to talk to other ponies, most were the same height as him or a bit smaller.

The red pony didn’t seem to change much when he asked, his face showing no real emotion or even motion outside blinking occasionally and chewing on the bit of straw in his mouth.

“Whaddya want with ma sister?”

Oh crap! Soarin could feel a cold rush over his body as he looked up at Applejack’s big brother. Soarin kept himself from looking too shocked, or at least he hoped he was as he grinned at him.

“Well… I was planning to ask her out on a date, if that is alright by you of course! She is a very pretty mare, and her pie tasted amazing! Not like that! I mean her apple pie! I mean…” Soarin trailed off as he looked up at the larger pony, already fearing the worse if he got on the bad side of him. His body shrunk slightly as the red pony raised an eyebrow towards him, but stayed completely silent.

After what felt like an eternity of awkward silence, the pony rolled the piece of straw from one side of his mouth to the other as his eyebrow lowered.

“Not ma choice is it. If ya want to go out with ma sister, its up ta her, not me.” The red pony said, sitting down in front of Soarin and looking out towards the orchard. “She’s out there somewhere, inspectin’ the trees. Doubt ya’ll see her from the air,” the stallion said, before turning back to Soarin. “Treat her right, Ah doubt we’ll have problems,” with that, he sat up and went back over the to field he was plowing. As he did so, Soarin let out a sigh of relief that the larger pony didn’t seem too protective.

“Thank you… uh…”

“Macintosh. Most ponies around here call me Big Mac.” Big Mac said, before plowing the fields again.

Big is right, Soarin thought, before trotting towards the apple orchard in search of the mare he had come to court. His mind was already hard at work again thinking up lines he could use to impress her. What mare would not be impressed by him naturally? He was good looking, Co-Captain of the Wonderbolts, rich beyond anypony’s wildest dreams, and a celebrity. What mare wouldn’t want to go on a date with him?

Upon entering the orchard, however, Soarin ran into his first problem. The rows of apple trees all looked the same, and were in perfect rows with equal spacing and height. It would be easy for a pony to get lost in there, let alone make it impossible to find a pony in all of it. But he was not one to give up easily! If he could talk to the older brother that looked like he could snap a flyer like him in half without trying, how could he not get past this simple obstacle?

With the same smile he wore anytime before a race, Soarin went into the orchard in search of the orange mare, ready to woo her.

Thirty minutes later, Soarin was at a total loss. He could not figure out where he was in the large orchard, and was no closer to finding Applejack. Everything looked the same, and even if he did fly up to look out over the orchard all he could see was a sea of green. One would think that finding a orange mare in a sea of green would be an easy task, but he couldn't see past the sea of green leaves!

Giving a low sigh of distress, Soarin considered going back to the farm and waiting for her emerge from the orchard by herself. Wandering around the orchard with no direction in which he should go was nothing but pointless at this point. However, before he could take to the air one more time, he heard a voice he had not heard in such long time, that his heart skipped a beat at it.

“How about ya go back ta the farm Bloom, Ah’ll finish up here fer today,” Soarin’s head whipped back and forth, his ears fully extended as he searched for the bright orange of the mare he had sought out all morning.

From the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of yellow running through the orchard back in the direction of the farm, or he believed since he was still lost, then following the blur from where it came from was her.

Within the orchard, surrounded by the trees that bore the fruit that was used to make those amazing pies was Applejack. She was wearing the same hat he had seen her wear during the gala, dirt was evident on her hooves and some of her body from hearty work as she wiped the sweat from her brow.

Others might have just seen a dirty farmer, that was in need of a shower or two before they would approach her, but to Soarin she was the definition of beautiful. The sweat on her brow seemed to glisten like pearls and the dirt on her hooves only emphasizd her dedication to her crops. From the way the sun was shining upon her, and beauty that she seemed to absorb from being in her element made Soarin feel unworthy to address a mare of such beauty.

While lost in her beauty, Soarin did not notice that Applejack had noticed him standing there just staring at her.

“Uh… can Ah help ya mister?” A surge of heat over took Soarin’s face as Applejack addressed him, snapping him out of his trance.

“Oh! Sorry,” Soarin laughed, trying to calm himself down as he took a few cautious steps towards her. “It has been awhile Applejack, how have you been?” Soarin asked, he felt like that young stallion that could not get a date to prom again.

“Ah’ve been good,” Applejack took a half step backwards, raising one eyebrow at the stallion. “Ah’m sorry mister, but Ah don’t seem ta recognize ya,” Applejack finally said, sending a shock through Soarin’s body.

He could not remember the last time somepony didn’t recognize him. Co-Captain of the Wonderbolts, Equestria’s top bachelor for the last three years, he was famous! He gave his head a hard shake as he looked at her, still smiling and trying to hide any shock that might be present.

“That’s okay! My name’s Soarin Nimbus, I’m the Co-Captain of the Wonderbolts, I bought a pie from you at the Royal Gala a few months back,” Soarin could not believe that she did not recognize him, but it was fair. He couldn't remember her name and she was an Element of Harmony.

At the mention of pie, Applejack’s eyes lit up as the memories began to return to her. “That’s right! Sorry fer not recognizing you Sugarcube, how have ya been? Lookin’ fer another pie?” The way she called him ‘Sugarcube’ sent a chill up and down Soarin’s spine. What was it about this mare that it had such an effect on him?

“I would love to get another pie from you,” Soarin said, taking a few steps towards Applejack, trying to give her that smile that he had perfected in photo shoots that was guaranteed to make mares blush. “But, there is something else I would really like from you,”

“Oh? What’s that?” Soarin once again had to fight the look of shock, how was she so resilient to his smile? Most mares would be blushing madly, and looking at him like they were about to melt. Instead, she was cocking her head to the side slightly, with her mane slowly falling to the side framing her face, her eyes seeming to glow in the sunlight, and the way she had her eyebrow raised… she was turning the tables on him.

“Ya okay there Sugar? Yer face is turnin’ awful red.” Once more, Soarin had to shake his head. Why was he getting so lost in her eyes so easily?

“Yes, sorry about that. It’s just I have never met a mare as beautiful as you,” Soarin was going for the smooth talk, he needed to regain control. Applejack’s eyes widened slightly, before a blush covered her own face as she started to rub her forelegs in a mixture of embarrassment and flattery.

“Aww shucks, Ah’m nothin’ special,” Soarin just grinned, she was looking even cuter now as she tried to avoid eye contact.

“You are to me,” he said, in a voice barely above a whisper. “And that is why I was hoping you would make me one lucky stallion and go on a da—” Before Soarin could finish, a very haughty and cultural sounding voice cut off the pegasus.

“There you are Applejack my dear! Did you know your orchard is set up in the same fashion as the excellent orchards in Fuji, it’s a lovely place but they lean towards grouping the drought tolerant species over here to the east, here, let me show you and I can tell you all about this delightful little cafe I found,” Soarin whipped around to see a light brown unicorn approaching them. his mane done up in a puffy fashion, a pair of white glasses resting on his muzzle, and a green sweater with orange trim around the neck.

He didn’t even seem to notice that Soarin was standing there, or that he even existed as he walked past him to Applejack. He took her hoof into his own and kissed it, causing the farmer to turn a shade redder than when Soarin had complimented her, causing a rage to build up inside of Soarin.

“Tre- Trenderhoof, Ah didn’t know you were back in town,” Applejack stuttered out, as she quickly took her hoof back from the unicorn. Soarin glared at the unicorn from behind, hearing him give out a light chuckle.

“Well my dear, I simply could not stay away from a pony with such captivating beauty as you. Now, how about we go to that cafe and we can discuss th—” Soarin could not take anymore from this unicorn, he was just about to ask her out when he came out of nowhere. Stepping in front of the unicorn he flared his wings, blocking AJ’s view of him.

“I’m sorry, but I believe I was about to ask her out,” Soarin laughed, as he turned his attentions back to Applejack. “Besides, I don’t think a mare of her beauty would want to be in some cafe, I had already made reservations at L’escargot Noir,” Soarin flashed a smile at Applejack, keeping Trender out of sight.

“L’escargot Noir? Ah’ve heard Rarity talkin’ about that. That’s really fancy, you could really get us in there?” Soarin just smiled at Applejack’s reaction, her eyes widening in surprise. Before Soarin could seal the deal, a loud snort interrupted him.

“L’escargot Noir? Please! That is a third rate dive,” Trenderhoof pushed past Soarin, shoving his wings out of the way, and pulling a feather out of his mane. “That food is simply revolting, if you wish to have something that is beyond comparison. I know the head chef of Le Saumon D’Or. I could get us a table there in less than an hour.” Trenderhoof adjusted his glasses slightly before glancing over at Soarin with a smirk.

Soarin glared at Trenderhoof as he saw the expression on Applejack’s face change once again at the mention of the new restaurant. Who was this pony, and how could he possibly have better connections than him?

“By the way, do you know who I am?” Soarin glanced over at the brown unicorn, a look of indignation on his face.

“You? Do you know who I am?” Soarin retorted, taking a step towards the unicorn, his wings flared slightly.

Trenderhoof stared at Soarin for a brief moment, rubbing his chin as he looked at the out of uniform Wonderbolt. “Thankfully not, I only know and write about the most famous and influential of ponies,” The way Trenderhoof talked set a fire off in the depths of Soarin’s stomach. How dare he not know who he was.

“Obviously you suck at your job. The name is Soarin Nimbus, you know the Co-Captain of the Wonderbolts.” He stressed, as he flashed that trademark smile of his, the one that plastered posters of him all over Equestria. Trenderhoof’s expression did not change, as he rubbed the few whiskers on his chin.

“Co-Captain? No wonder I don’t know you. Just like that third-rate restaurant you suggested, you are just a cheap knockoff, easily replaceable.” Trender gave a wave of his hoof before turning back to Applejack and ignoring Soarin completely. “Unlike you my dear, for there is no pony in all my travels that could compare to you.”

“Replaceable?” Soarin repeated, twitching slightly at that word. He was one of the best flyers in all of Equestria, where did this guy get off saying that he was replaceable. Stepping forward, he grabbed Trenderhoof by the shoulder and forced him to turn around. “Now listen here, I am known throughout Equestria and beyond, where does a hipster like you get off by—”

“A hipster?!” Trenderhoof growled, knocking Soarin’s hoof away and taking a step forward to glare at him. “I am the number one source of celebrity news in all of Equestria, I can make or ruin careers with just a flick of my quill. Now, as I was here first, so I will be taking the lovely—”

“You were here first?! Soarin spat, taking another step forward, his green eyes locked with Trender’s gold. “I was talking to Applejack long before you showed up. Now you better back off before I show you some har—”

“Shut it! Both of ya!” Both stallions broke their glaring match and looked over at the origin of the new voice.

Applejack stood there, glaring at the two of them, like a teacher would to a pair of fighting colts. Those lovely features that they had discussed at length, that drawn them to her, were now locked in a look of pure anger and rage.

“Now Ah don’t know what yer tryin’ ta prove but Ah ain’t havin’ any of it,” Applejack pounded her hoof into the ground. “Now it’s clear that the two of ya’ll have been fixin’ ta court me, but Ah’m not the type a mare ta go on multiple dates with different stallions, so you two better pack it in.” Tiling her hat forward, the orange mare turned and walked away, leaving both stallions staring on.

For a few moments, the two courting stallions just stood there watching after her. A task that they had both thought would be simple had turned into utter rejection. Neither of them had dealt with rejection in so many years, but this was clearly not their fault. Both stallions turned and glared at one another again.

Not a word was exchanged as they stared. If it hadn’t been for the other they would be enjoying time alone with the mare that had been haunting their dreams at night, and now she was out of reach because of that jerk! Getting up slowly, both stallions walked in opposite directions. Neither was going to lose a chance to date Applejack. It was at that moment they knew…

They were at war.

Author's Notes:

Thanks for everyone's help so far! I hope to have a chapter up a week! I actually have written a lot of this story so far, and now just need to edit before I start uploading. I will also try to have a new chapter of Auction up soon!

Can I not go a story without bringing up Big Mac?