As if I wasn’t already the center of attention to the ponies of Manehattan who walked the streets past me, I probably looked downright crazy to all of them the way I was staring into space and swimming in my own imagination. As beautiful as Manehattan is at night, from the regal ponies to the lights and shops on every corner, the most beautiful thing I saw was a deeply affectionate and appreciative Applejack staring down at me from the sky in the beautiful dress that Rarity had made her. It was making my heart flutter enough knowing how happy she must’ve been with the way I left her at the Oranges apartment. I was so intensely in love with her and so overwhelmingly happy for us that I had finally won the approval of her whole family that I was barely in touch with my surroundings.

All I honestly cared about was seeing that she had the most wonderful life she could possibly have, with the most loyal and loving bridegroom that she deserved more then anything else (if you ask her, she would of course that she say didn’t deserve it, simply because she’s so modest, which if anything just made me love her that much more). It appeared as though we were on the verge of destroying the last obstacle that stood in the way of us living together in peace, harmony, happiness, and complete love for the rest of our lives, as human and pony, but more importantly, husband and wife. All I could do was entertain myself with thoughts and imaginations of how happy she was going to be when I met up with her at the mingle and told her how everything went perfect between her uncle and I. We did it, Applejack. Everything went fine; he’s completely fine with your decision to marry me, and he definitely still loves you.  

My game of pretend was probably both childish and foolish to anyone else, but they were from the depths of heart and dreams, which I will never deny. I looked up and imagined her putting her hoof on her heart in deep appreciation and loving obligation. Awww shucks, sugarcube, you went through all of this jus’ for me?  I blushed deeply and looked down at the ground before smiling back up at her with delight. Come on Applejack, you should know by now that I’ll do anything if it means I can see you smile. Deeply touched with my simple answer, her eyes sparkled and the smile on her face widened. Honey, you are so special! Ah’ can’t wait to spend every lovin’ minute with you at that mingle-hoedown thingy!

I laughed and delighted at the thought of dancing with Applejack. Oh man, how is that going to work? It’ll be her hooves in my hands. She’s gonna have to twirl me, because I definitely can’t see myself twirling her very well. Either way, it sounded like so much fun, and I had no doubt that we would make it work somehow. Then we go back to Sweet Apple Acres where we belong, the most gorgeous place in Equestria, where the most wonderful family lives. With the sweetest, most lovable country mare who ever lived. In a state of ecstasy, I continued onward down the sidewalk and looked ahead for the salt flock known as the Prancing Pony.

I walked up my destination eagerly with bright eyes, and I wasn’t nervous in the slightest. Like every other shop and restaurant, the Prancing Pony was on the ground level of a very tall skyscraper. It had large glass windows, and through the windows I could see tables of ponies with dimly-lit chandeliers hanging down from the ceiling over them. Even though it wasn’t quite as crowded as some of the other places I saw on my way, it was still quite a congregation of lavish ponies. I walked through the front glass door and peered around for Uncle Orange, doing my best to ignore all of the eyes that were turning on me from the moment I stepped in. To my left was the bar where ponies got their salt and drinks. I ran my eyes across the entire place, stopping at every table where ponies were sitting. I checked every table twice, but there was no sign of Uncle Orange. I let out a sigh of disappointment; my confidence and mood took a small hit at his lack of being there, but nevertheless I stayed positive. I’m still in good shape! He’s probably just running a little late. This town is extremely busy and crowded anyway, and it’s easy to get delayed. I’ll just get a drink and wait for him.

I walked up to the shiny wooden bar and rested my hands on it. There were sitting cushions but no chairs, so I just stood there. The stallion tending the bar was a grey unicorn with a black tux, a black goatee, and a slick black mane that was combed flat. He hadn’t noticed me until I walked up, and as soon as he saw me, his eyes went from a very formal stare to a wide state of surprise. He gave me a good, long look from head to toe, then lowered his eyebrows as though my appearance had gained his approval.

“You look a little young for salt, I’ll need to see some ID,” he said in a low articulate manner. I couldn’t help but laugh; salt by itself was strictly a pony thing; I found it downright disgusting. Even if I did like it, Princess Celestia decreed that anyone under twenty-one years of age was not allowed to consume it in large quantities.  

“That’s ok pal, I’ll just have an iced tea,” I said. No point in ordering my favorite beverage, apple cider; once you’ve had Apple family apple cider, there’s no use getting it when you go out since you’ll just be disappointed. He set my iced tea in front of me and I put my lips on the straw and started sucking away. I looked over my shoulder and gave one more quick scan from left to right for Uncle Orange. A group of young mares at a table close to where I was standing was watching me, and when I ran my eyes by them, they smiled. I smiled and waved back embarrassingly, constantly reminded of the fact that I was a rare treat for these ponies.

I let another sigh and took a big gulp of my drink. I wonder what he and I should talk about? I thought about what I discussed whenever I had conversations with colts or stallions back in Ponyville. Typically we just talked about sports, or certain things that were going on that day in town, or anything; we clicked just fine. Knowing that, I also knew that this was very different from the usual friendly conversation with a stallion/colt of Ponyville. I wonder if he follows the Wonderbolts? Seemed to me that both the rich and the poor of Equestria followed them, and I certainly enjoyed them. We could always talk about Applejack! That was the winner. I could talk about her forever. Simply thinking of her and picturing her friendly smile gave me another shot confidence and hope I needed, and I took another chug of tea and waited patiently and excitedly.

But one glass of iced tea without getting a tap on the shoulder suddenly became two. And soon enough, two became three. It wasn’t until my fourth glass that I felt somepony standing behind me. Upon sensing his presence, confidence shot up inside me again and I eagerly spun around with a smile. The smile quickly faded into a wide-eyed, open mouthed look of surprise and bewilderment. I stared face-to-face with a very large white Earth pony stallion with a long, dark blue mane looking at me with a professional but rather unwelcoming stare. He was wearing no clothes, no necklace, or anything like that. He was much older then me but clearly younger then Uncle Orange. Anyway, after a few rather awkward seconds, he finally lifted his head and spoke in a deep, professional manner with little emotion.

“Your presence is requested in the back.”

Huh? I looked him funny for a moment, then put my hand to my chin in thought. Well, this is a weird way to summon your nephew-in-law. But at least he’s here. I accepted and nodded my head at him with eager nervousness. He shot me a harmless smile and turned around, walking toward the back of the restaurant. I followed right behind him as he slowly weaved around the tables of ponies. We came to the back of the restaurant where the was a narrow hallway jetting out from the main wall of the restaurant. I didn’t really know what to think at this time, but I came to accept it. A private meeting? For goodness sake, I hope he doesn’t ask me a bunch of questions or something. Despite his weird methods, I gave him the complete benefit of the doubt and trusted that he meant me no ill will. He was, after all, Applejack's family, and that meant something to me.

I followed the large white stallion right up to a side door that was jetting out from the left side of the hall. He bumped open the door with his head and signaled for me to go in, with little emotion as though he was just doing his job. This was a big deal for me, confident or not. I took a deep breath, thought of Applejack, then walked in.  What in the name of all things cinnamon swirl (yes, I did get that from Applejack) is this? I looked around in complete bewilderment. This room was only about twenty-five feet wide and equally as long, and seemingly made of stone. There was nothing in it but a small square table in the dead center, with a wooden bowl of water on it. My side of the room was dimly lit with candles on the walls, and the other side wasn't lit at all; it was just a shadow. There was one window on the right side of the room, and apparently there was an alley or something on the other side of it because the only thing shining through was the light from the moon.

"Wow, and here I thought there was no such thing as a good-looking human," said the voice of what sounded like a young mare. I looked in front of me, completely dumbfounded and somewhat alarmed, and on the other side of the table hidden in the shadows were two big, purple pony eyes and the outline of a unicorn sitting on a cushion. I could see some features and emotions on her face, but that was about it. For whatever reason, I looked behind me at the door in confusion, then looked back at the mysterious mare in front of me. I was suddenly very uncomfortable, and my guard was on high.

"Who are you?" I said. Standing up straight, she let out a girly, high-pitched laugh as though I was ignorant of some obvious fact. I smiled uncomfortably and looked in either direction with me eyes. Um, am I missing something here?

"Oh, sweet pea! I'm an old friend of your wife, as well as Mr. Orange," she said. I took a sigh of relief and held my hand over my chest. Up until then, I didn't know what the hay was going on. One thing I did know was that a friend of Applejack is a friend of mine. "I just couldn't help myself; I wanted to meet the human who has such... adorable, deep feelings for a pony. I was hoping we could just have a little chat before you go out there and bond with your uncle," she said. I smiled at hearing those words and shrugged with a slight blush. I was never more pleased to be guilty as charged.

"The secret's out," I said warmly. I looked around the room again before settling back at her. "So how did a friend of Applejack's end up in a place like Manehattan?" The mysterious mare let out another girly laugh of amusement.  

"I don't want to waste all of our time talking about me," she said, tilting her eyes up with a feminine smile. It sure seemed like she did want to talk about herself. "After a minor setback in Ponyville," she rolled her eyes and looked away as though as she had no interest in going into detail, "I took my magic talents here, and well, let's just say it didn't take long for me to become an overnight sensation." I was rather surprised by the blatant arrogance of her remark, but nevertheless, I tried to stay kind and respectful. She looked down and started laughing to herself before facing up again."But enough about me, I wanna know about you and her! Now forgive me, I completely understand if you don't want to answer this, but as a dear friend of Applejack's and a curious girl, I was just wondering, what do you and her do for fun?" she said with a very smug and eager smile. I looked up in thought and smiled with ridiculous happiness as I thought about everything I did with my special apple flower. Simply standing next to her was fun.  

"Where do I begin?" I said with a wide grin, still staring up into space. It seemed like Applejack and I grew in love everyday. Obviously, I wasn't gonna tell her everything. I didn't really feel like telling her how nice it felt when she cuddled me, and I certainly wasn't going to tell her that we occasionally kissed on the mouth. "Jeez, we do just about everything together. We play in the orchard, go for walks and runs, go down to Sugarcube Corner for various treats, tell each other secrets. But I must admit that one thing I seem to love above everything else is just laying back against an apple tree after a hard day's work and resting my head against her," I said with an innocent smile. "Of course, running a farm is a lot of work, but then again, what is love if there's no work involved?" I couldn't see all of her emotions given her somewhat hidden position in the shadow, but it was almost as if she was rather uninterested (or for lack of a better word, unimpressed) with my response. She quickly covered it up by looking down and giggling again.

"I just have one question. What is it you love about her so much?"

As you hopefully by now, there are many things reasons why I love Applejack. Where I'm from, hard labor is frowned upon by pretty much everyone. The last thing anyone wants to do is hard, hands on work. When I first came to Ponyville and started working at Sweet Apple Acres, she was unlike anyone I had ever seen in this regard. She didn't complain or question her life at all. She accepted it without any complaint whatsoever, and she worked the farm until she was sore for the sole reason that she loved her family. I had never seen such unselfishness in my entire life. After all that, she's just a real sweetheart. Genuinely speaking, she's loyal to her friends, extremely dependable, super-friendly, sweet-to-the-core, plus she just has that country charm to her. She has a wonderfully pure heart and a fun-loving attitude toward everyone.

I was more then happy to think and talk about everything I loved about her, but I wasn't exactly planning on confessing everything to a complete stranger, even though it was much easier then confessing to a human. But there was something about the way she asked me that made the smile on my face get a little bit smaller. I couldn't tell if it was honest curiosity or more of a "why would anyone love Applejack?"

"What do you mean by that?" I said with a half smile. She walked forward into the light for the first time, and I immediately recognized her. What the-? It was none other Trixie, the pony whom Applejack made a disgusted gag about on the billboard. She did not have on her hat, and her cutie mark was a magic wand with a crescent moon going around it. Her mane was not as white as it appeared in the picture; it had faint streaks of light blue and grey. She stepped forward and thought for the right words, then smiled at me condescendingly.  

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that of all the ponies a human could fall in love with, why would it be for a boring and uninteresting pony who lives on a farm and bucks apples all day?"

Well, as you can probably imagine, this changed the nature of the conversation. I couldn't believe what I just heard. I had to step back and let my mind absorb what was happening. She was just mocking me all that time. Ok, now I know why Applejack was disgusted. I had no idea what contact she actually had with her, but it occurred to me that based on her recollection of Ponyville that she must've stopped there and had a bad experience with her arrogance. She must've had a really bad experience with Applejack, otherwise she wouldn't be in here toying with me like this. I should've just walked out right then and there, I knew full well that she wasn't worth it. But I couldn't leave without defending my wife; I was getting sick and tired of her being disrespected for being a farmer and a hard worker. Given my little knowledge of who Trixie was, whatever I said to her wasn't going to be the best comeback I ever had. I walked up to the table and set my hands on it, and looking down, I laughed with disgust before turning back up at her.

"You know... it's a pity that I didn't get to see your show in Ponyville. You must've left on such a high note, with everypony adoring you like you wanted them to." Trixie leaned over the table so we were staring each other in the face.

"One thing I remember clearly is your wife pathetically challenging me like the rest of her friends. She trotted up to the stage and showed off her petty little roping skills, only to be humiliated by me tying her up like a stuck pig."

That one cut me deep. To picture my beloved Applejack in a state of humiliation after something Trixie had done was devastating to me. Her cruel smile only a foot in front my face, I stared at her angered beyond belief. I wanted to say something, but I just didn't know what to say; I didn't know her well enough. I pictured the loving, innocent smile of my wife. I missed her dearly already. All I wanted to do was go out, meet with her uncle, and have a wonderful time at the ball with her. I turned around and walked toward the door leaving Trixie at the table, because I figured that's what Applejack would have me do. I reached out with my right hand to open the door, but it wouldn't move it. It was locked. My heart rate and anxiety skyrocketed as I heard Trixie call out to me in a cruel but nice-sounding tone.

"Oh, I'm so sorry cutie, but your dear ol' Uncle Orangey isn't paying me to let you leave!"

I turned around slowly as a feeling of complete sadness and failure slammed me from every direction. I didn't want to believe it. It was just too devastating for me to comprehend. My mind, my thoughts, everything was extremely slowed. I had gone from a state of complete happiness and hope to a feeling of betrayal and desolation. How did it come to this? I looked at Trixie, and with my expression, I begged her to tell me that she was just playing a prank on me. No. No, no, no, please... for the love of Celestia... please be joking. Please... I beg you... tell me that isn't true. She just smiled back at me with delight. I fell to my knees and covered my face with my hands. Of all the emotions I have ever felt, the feeling of betrayal is one of the worst. To put your trust and faith in someone and then be let down is one of the hardest things to experience. I was too overcome with the grief that I didn't even feel my hands being tied around my back as Trixie's horn was lit up with magic. I'm so sorry, Applejack. I let you down.

"Oh, come on, you know that he hated you from the moment he saw you. After talking to you here, I don't blame him."

I shook my head; I had gotten over the initial state of shock and sadness, and my mind was clear again, but embers of rage were burning inside me. I stood up and did a little scoffing of my own.

"So what, you're gonna keep me locked in here for the whole night and taunt me? Is that it?" Trixie let out a high-pitched laugh as she covered her face with her hoof.

"Oh no! We - and especially I- have much bigger and more elaborate plans for Applejack."

My anger turned to utter horror at those words. My eyes were wide with fear and my breaths were deep and long. This is not happening. It can't be.

"If you do... anything to her... I swear to the royal sisters, I will... "

"Oh it's nothing like that. You see, your uncle is a firm believer that every mare needs a stallion, not a human. So he picked out a stallion to take your place!"

"Why are you doing this? What did we ever do to you?"

"Ten thousand bits is a lot of bits, but I'll admit there is also a little bit of a revenge factor. And the fact that he chose my brother to take your place, a handsome ladies stallion himself, who is under the delusion that your wife is the most attractive mare he's ever seen."

"You think she'll leave me just like that? You're insane. Both of you," I said, shaking my head with disgust. Trixie frowned.

"That is one area that I saw could become a problem," she said, still frowning, but then she flipped back to a most heartless grin. "Then I remembered how talented I am. I've made a love potion of my own to give to her."

I shook my head in horror with wide, desperate eyes. No, no, no, no. Not my Applejack. "She'll be getting it tonight at the ball. It's got everything she needs to be the best possible wife for my brother. Desperation, obsession, and maybe just the teeniest, tiniest bit of," she paused and smiled evilly to herself before looking back up at me, "lust."

"NOOOO!!!!!!!"

She didn't stop there. She just kept going as rage was building inside me to level that I myself feared. This was the worst possible fate for my little apple flower, who's purity shined like the sun. Trixie was going to destroy it. Even if there was a cure and she did come back at some point, she would be heart-broken forever. For the first time in six months, I felt true hatred as I looked back up at Trixie with what was probably a frightening expression.

"Think of it this way. She's just like any other animal on a farm. Her only real purpose is for breeding."

The top of the volcano blew off at those words. The embers that had burning quietly inside erupted to flames of pure rage. I let out a scream that shook the down the thunder, and it continued as I closed my eyes and ripped my arms in opposite directions. I could feel the blood in my arms pushing my veins out of my skin as I felt the rope weakening and tearing apart. I looked up at Trixie, who was backing into the wall with wide eyes of fear. When the rope snapped, I lunged forward as she let out a high pitched scream and closed her eyes. Just before I got to her, the tip of her horn lit up and I felt the strangest sensation throughout my whole body. Against my will, I hovered backward towards the wall until my back hit it with a thud. Trixie walked forward and apologized fearfully.

"Look, I was just kidding about the love potion, I took it too far, and I'm sorry. I just want to show you something, and I'll let you down if you promise not to do anything." I said nothing. I looked at her with deep rage as though she thought I was stupid. But I was unprepared for what she had to say next. "I can show you the kind of life Applejack would've had if she married a stallion."

All of my emotions collapsed and my rage nearly died at hearing this. She can do that? I was overcome with fearful curiosity. All I wanted was the best life possible for my Applejack, and I was almost certain that I provided her that. I knew the state of my own heart, which was that I loved Applejack with all of my heart and my strength. But I couldn't control what thought came next from inside. What if she would've been better off with a stallion? It was the most terrible thing I could ever imagine, if the one I loved so dearly would've been better off with someone other then me.

"I can show you... the truth." The cruelty in her voice was gone, replaced more with what seemed like a caring tone.

I was torn in many directions, and I didn't trust Trixie worth a hill of beans, but I was too curious to deny her. I cared about Applejack so much, and I just wanted what was best for her. So I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before nodding at her from my spot on against the wall. She lowered me back onto the ground and with a sweep of magic, the candles on the wall went out and the only thing lighting the room was the light from the moon and the pink magic that came from the tip of her horn. She walked me over to the table and dipped her horn into the bowl of water and began stirring it around. When she finished, she pulled her head upward and looked at me thoughtfully with what looked like caring pity.

Don't do this. What if the truth is that she's better off without me? I don't think I could bear that. I can't bear that. No, come on, there's no way that's the truth. She is best off with me. She has to be. I took the most dramatic and deep breath of my life and walked forward. I lowered my head so I could get a good gaze at the image in the water. The truth, which was either the happiest thing I ever dreamed of, or the worst nightmare I could ever imagine was about to be revealed to me.

I saw first the inside of the barn at Sweet Apple Acres. It was still the same, with the floor covered in hay and the walls as red as a rose. I saw Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom, and both the Oranges standing in a circle around two ponies. They were all smiling, and they all looked like they were having a wonderful time together. But in the center I saw the most saddening sight I had ever laid eyes on, a sight that seemed to prevent any happiness from ever entering me again. My throat crumbled and my voice choked on the unbearable despair in my heart.

"A-Applejack?"

Sitting in the middle of the family of ponies was my wife, resting her head snugly and peacefully against a stallion who looked like a male version of Trixie. She looked so content with her life, and everyone, most notably the Oranges, was looking at them with adoration and love.  

"Don't you think you've messed her life up enough?" I shuttered with the most heartbroken words I have ever spoke.

"I just... I just wanted her to be happy. That's all I've ever wanted."

"And now she will be. Oh, sweetie, you and I both know that when she was growing up, she dreamed of a stallion that could make her happy, not a human." I pulled out the last bit of any hope I had left, and I desperately pleaded for myself.

"But we've been through so much together! I've done so much for her."

"It's time you stopped thinking about yourself, AJ. She's a pony! You're a human. You were not meant for each other from the moment that you two were conceived."

"But... I-I love her." She took a deep breath and rested her hoof on my shoulder, giving me the most pitiful look I've ever been given.

"If you love her,  you'll do what's best for her. You'll let her go."

I looked back in the bowl for perhaps one last glimpse of the pony I loved more then life itself. I covered my mouth with my hand when I saw what she holding in her arms. In a most loving manner, she deeply adored and cradled a beautiful baby pony in her arms. It occurred to me at that moment that Applejack was the perfect mother. The truth was as clear as day in my heart, and that was that she had the most wonderful heart, and she would be the most wonderful mother a baby ever had. I closed my eyes and pictured the only thing that made me happy; a happy Applejack. The words that came forward from my heart were the words I never thought I'd say, and the ones that essentially ended all happiness in my life, and broke my heart. Applejack would be happiest without me.

I fell to my knees once more, and starting from my hands, the strangest sensation was moving up my body in the form of a dim light. I was turning grey. It didn't stop until my entire body was covered with the plain, depressing color that represented the state of my heart. Trixie lowered her head over me, gave me a good and long look, then smiled and walked out of the room.

"Lock the door. You can let him out in the morning."

Her words meant nothing to me. Nothing meant anything to me. The pain was too much to live with, but not enough to cause me to die. I fell onto the cold, stone floor and passed into unconsciousness from shear sadness. There was little hope that the rest of my life would be any different.