I stood there with my mouth open in the middle of Twilight's library as I waited for the door to open, breathing heavily. This was the moment of truth. I was going to find out if the Princess would allow Applejack and I to be together or not. I felt so helpless as the sound of hooves approached the door, like someone who waits in hope for good news on his ill friend from the doctor approaching him. The door glowed and swung open, and a jewel-encrusted chest hovered in by magic before anypony else entered. Princess Celestia followed it in and faced me, but instead of being joined by the others, she shut the door. Oh no. My heart sank; before they had left last night, Princess Celestia's expressions had been very serious and assuring, but the look on her face now seemed sad and worn out. I started breathing even heavier, and I took a gulp.

Princess Celestia stood there silently but for a moment, then she started to walk towards me. What is she doing? Where is my beloved? It occurred to me that maybe she was outside.  

"Um, Princess? Where's Apple-" before I could finish, Princess Celestia lowered her head until her horn was touching my chest right over my heart. I had no idea what she was doing, and I was too shocked to say anything. The tip of her horn lit up with magic, and suddenly I felt rays of magic flowing from it into my heart, and the magic spread all throughout my entire body. There was a flash of blinding light, and suddenly I was reliving all of my magical moments with Applejack. I saw her pulling me from the bucket of water at Pinkie's party, the first time we met. I saw her and I working together at Sweet Apple Acres, playing and becoming great friends. I saw our special first trip to the waterfall, and the magic moment we shared as we said goodbye that night. I saw us playing and snuggling under the stars together, and getting married in secret at the waterfall with Princess Cadence.

There was another blinding flash of light, and I was back in Twilight's library. Princess Celestia gasped and fell back. She saw everything. I stood there, still trying to wrap my mind around what just happened, and looked down at her. Tears were coming to her eyes as she got up and looked down at me.

"You truly do love her, don't you?" she said, her motherly voice trembling and choking with sadness.

I loved Applejack with all of my heart. I loved everything about her. The way she worked so hard for her family every day and the love she had for them, her kind and happy friendliness to everyone she knew, her adorable face and freckles, her beautiful mane and coat. The trademark cowpony hat, her pure, childlike heart that was so strong and humble. The way she looked at me with her breathtakingly beautiful green eyes and gorgeous smile. Even her voice and country accent was like the softest, most soothing music I had ever heard, and whenever she spoke, my heart rested peacefully and the troubles and pains of my life were nothing. It was getting to the point where I deeply missed her every minute I spent away from her. I wanted nothing more then for her to be happy for the rest of her life. I must be some kind of freak, I actually am in love with an Earth pony. The things my family would say if they knew. I decided I didn't care. Why should I deny my own heart?

"I can't live without her."

The pony princess closed her eyes and lowered her head, taking in a deep breath.

"Then I, Princess Celestia, decree that the union between your hearts may never be parted, and your marriage shall be blessed for all of your days together."

That was supposed to be the end of our problems. Applejack was supposed to run in and we were to have the most joyous, hugfilled reunion that two creatures could ever have, with me burying my weary head into her mane. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, and I even though I leapt for joy at the Princess' decree, I knew something was not right based on her hapless expression, and it kept me from being as happy as I would've been otherwise. The Princess once again closed her eyes and looked at the floor before she spoke.

"This is extremely important. I need you to tell me everything about the courtship of you and Applejack," said the Princess. Wait, what? But you just declared us! Why do I have to tell you more about our love? And where the hay is Applejack? I need her in my arms right now. Once again, my heart started beating fast and I started getting nervous and fearful.

"Where's Applejack?" I said.

"The elements of harmony... they d-didn't work," she stuttered. All of the happiness I had from the Princess' decree left at that moment.

"What?" I whispered.

"I took Applejack and her friends to the place where our enemy resides, Blackcolt Castle, to defeat him once and for all. Everything went as planned. They assembled and tried to use the elements... but they didn't work! It was as if they were missing an element. But that shouldn't be possible, they were all there! I recovered the elements, but the evil one has taken your wife and her friends captive," she said.

My heart was pierced with seven lances at her words. It mattered not that the Princess decided for us favorably, Applejack and the rest of her friends were now being held as prisoners by some evil guy that I knew literally nothing about. I could see Applejack in some dark, miserable dungeon crying out in fear for me to save her, and I fell on my knees as my eyes teared up. I was broken hearted.

"You have to listen to me. If we are going to save her and her friends, I need you to tell me everything about your courtship with her. What happened when you discovered that you loved her?" said Princess Celestia with great urgency. It was a lot to bite off all at once for me, and I really wasn't in the best state of mind to tell the great Princess Celestia just how I had come to court Applejack. I had no idea how this was going to help us save them, and I was hesitant to talk to her, not to mention unbearably sad. Try to cooperate with her, sugarcube. She's jus' tryin' to help. The familiar voice in my head gave me the strength the speak.

"I went to work at Sugarcube Corner after working at Sweet Apple Acres for a while, and I really missed her. So one day I got the chance to go over there and see her when I was done working, and we took off running together. We came to this gorgeous waterfall in the Everfree Forest and we had the time of our lives there. When I took her home, I got lost in her eyes as we said goodbye. I fought with myself all night, and I finally admitted to myself I loved her, and I wanted to spend the rest of my days of with her," I said, walking away from her and burying my face into my hands again.

"What did you do the next day? When did you tell her?" she pressed.

"I went over there to see her again, and we talked for a while. She asked me what my long term plan was, and..." I took another deep breath and paused. "I told her the truth. I told her I loved her, and it turned out she felt the same way about me. I should've just lied. It would've been better for everypony."  

"So why didn't you?"

"Because, I decided to be honest."

"Can you honestly expect me to accept that kind of an answer?" I looked back at her in distraught and sighed with irritation.

"Why is this so important to you all of a sudden?" She stepped forward and looked at me very seriously.

"Because I need to know."

"Oh for the love of Pete! I was a fool! I was weak! I wouldn't - " she cut me off mid sentence.

"Wouldn't?"

"It all happened so quick! I just! - I couldn't- "

Before I lost it, I turned away and took a deep breath, walking over to fire place and trying to get ahold of myself. I was too anxious and too sad to think, it felt like. I was silent for a long moment and stared into the empty fireplace with my right hand raised above my head on the wall. I thought, and knowing that Applejack and the rest of her friends' well being rested on me calming down, I took a deep breath, and spoke softly.

"I wouldn't lie to her, because I looked at her, and she was just... something from the depths of my heart, something deep inside me... it wouldn't let me to lie to her. I was compelled to be completely honest, my love for her was too strong to deny her the truth," I said. Princess Celestia raised her head and eased her expression.

"How was your wedding? I saw the kiss in your recollection," she said. I blushed; I was surprised and embarrassed to hear this. Of course she sees that and then asks me about it. I thought back to the wonderful moment when Cadence pronounced us and we leaned in and kissed. Once again, I took a deep breath and felt a flicker of happiness as I recalled the best moment of my life, even if it was weird to have to tell it to the Princess. I walked over to the window and looked out at the twilight of dawn, and pictured Applejack in her beautiful wedding dress.

"When we kissed, there were these rays of magic came out of our hearts and went into the other. It was the best moment of my life, as part of her heart became part of mine," I said, looking back at her. Princess Celestia looked up in thought, and then I saw a lightbulb go off in her head.

"AJ, the elements of harmony didn't work because they were in fact incomplete," she said.

"What? They worked before just fine," I said, my finger on my head in thought. Princess Celestia smiled for the first time since I had ever seen her.

"The spirit of the element of honesty made it's way into your heart when your love for her became so strong. When you kissed the element of honesty at your wedding, your hearts became one, and the spirit of the element of honesty became one with you and Applejack."

My mouth dropped and my eyes widened. It all made sense! Something came over me at that moment that made me happy. I was even more connected with the Earth pony I adored than I thought. But that still left the problem that she and her friends were locked up in an ancient castle by some jerk who was apparently plotting against the rest of Equestria. Princess Celestia got serious again.

"Applejack needs you right now. I say we take the elements of harmony back to Blackcolt and try again," she said.

Yes. YES. A fire ignited in my heart, aching to rescue my wife and our friends. If I was to die trying, then so be it; I would gladly lay my life down for my love. I nodded my head, right as a familiar voice came from behind the door once again.

"I'm coming too! You'll have to banish me to the moon to stop me. If Rarity is in danger, I'm gonna save her!" said Spike, running out to us. The Princess let out an irritated sigh and looked at Spike with a kind of ferocity you see in mothers when their children disobey them. I put my hand on his shoulder, encouraging her to let him come with us. I wanted him to go with us.

"Oh, alright," she said, rolling her eyes. Spike eye's lit up with excitement and looked back at me triumphantly. "If we're gonna do this, we need to go now," she continued.

"Wait. I need to make one little stop before we go," I said.

"Where's that?"

"Sweet Apple Acres."