In the center of a rather dumbfounded crowd in the middle of the Manehattan Castle Garden was Applejack and I, holding each other tightly and breathing heavily, reeling from our most epic adventure yet, watching the castle guards carry a screaming Trixie away. She faded from our vision and the sound of her temper tantrum disappeared, and the ponies that were watching us slowly began to disperse back into the mingle. I didn't even notice, but the music had stopped at some point during our showdown with Trixie. At that moment, the most wonderful feeling of all was suddenly making itself noticed; the warmth from Applejack's head on my chest and in my arms, safe and sound. The love of my life, the Earth pony with the purest, most beautiful country heart, was comforting me, as she always had before.

I shut my eyes and let my face fall gently onto the top of her mane, and without being pulled away by magic, it stayed there. The smell of roses from her crown and apples from her mane I inhaled with every breath holding her. The words from inside me were like the most triumphant victory bells that sounded over the plains of the country ending a great war. We did it. She's safe. She's not hurt. The incredibly evil fate that could've happened to either of us was over and done with. The most saddening, intense, dramatic moments of my life, all of which were for the heart of an Earth pony, were behind me. We weren't happy and cheerful; you don't get over what we had just been through just like that. But with every deep breath she and I took, her head on me and mine on hers, our desperate love for the other was slowly washing away all of the pain. As I felt her tears running down my chest, my own heart was spluttering with burning desire to make her feel as loved and as appreciated as I possibly could. I began rocking her back and fourth in my arms as I wept tears of joy and desperate need onto to the top of her head. I love you... so... so, much, Applejack.

"I am... so sorry about that," said the sympathetic voice of the mayor. Applejack and I lifted our heads and turned them toward her at the same time, with her still engaged in my arms. As badly I wanted to be alone with Applejack, especially given that I was still taking in and comprehending everything that just happened, her simple presence with me was sufficient. The mayor looked at us with great pity. Applejack and I took many deep breaths and pants, but we finally looked at each other and smiled.

"Aw shucks, Miss Mayor, it's all good and done with now," said Applejack. The stressed out mayor of Manehattan said nothing at first, only nodding her head and giving us a long look.

"Is there anything I can do for you two?" she said after a moment. Applejack and I thought about that question hard, and once again we turned to each other and met eyes. We knew right then that there was nothing she needed to do for us. We had everything we ever needed or wanted with the other, safe and sound. The state of my heart and my feelings were reflected with whatever was in her heavenly emerald eyes, and at that moment, I saw only love and happiness. Her freckles were still just as cute as they had always been, if not even more so now. We turned back towards the mayor together and gave her smiles of content.

"Ah' think we're just fine and dandy," said Applejack. To hear the affection and unthreatened tenderness back in her voice, the loveliest, sweetest voice in the world, was indescribable. The mayor managed a small, hearty but uncomfortable smile.

"Well, if you don't mind, there are a few things I need to do for myself." She cleared her throat turned and faced the shrinking crowd that surrounded us. "Alright, listen up ponies. This mingle is not over, you here me? I want the music back on and I want you all to go back to whatever you were doing," she barked, walking into the crowds of ponies in the direction the stage where an orchestra was.

Just like that, my moment with Applejack, alone and in the other's arms with no other cares in the world but each other, was over. Just as she walked away, and Applejack and I began squeezing each other even tighter, another stallion emerged from the sea of guests. Uncle Orange, who was bruised all over with his suit tattered and ripped, was limping out towards us. He looked terrible. He looked as though he was barely able to walk. It hit me at that moment; when I left him, he was in a showdown with Trixie's stallion, and by all indications, he lost. Badly. His eyes were filled with frightful anguish and desperation, looking all over for the two of us. When he saw us standing there, holding each other peacefully and staring at him in a concerned manner, all of the anguish in his eyes left, as though it was draining out of him, and his eyes brightened and he weakly smiled. Then, to our great disturbance, he closed his eyes and fell onto the ground with a thud. Applejack and I cried out with worry, and she galloped over to him as I ran right beside her. Applejack laid on her belly next to him and I knelt down next to her. He was still Applejack's family, and that meant something.  

I'll admit, it was... a little awkward for me to be around him even now, athough having Applejack with me made it easier. I'm a human, and he's a stallion who resented me for being a human. This is the pony who wanted to replace me before the night started. He never spoke to me directly until he came into the dark room back in the Prancing Pony. Oh, and I almost forgot. Also not long before, I was strangling him to death. But he came before me, sorry for what he did. I could see it in his eyes, they were full of self-shame and deep regret. Then he begged for my forgiveness. Then he ran valiantly and determined with me on his back to save Applejack. I only wanted him to love his niece, who ever so deserved her uncle's love. What he did was more than enough to earn my respect.

"Uncle? Are... are you alright?" cried Applejack. He opened one eye and lifted his head towards us with a smile.

"I'm fine, darling," he said, his voice frail and quiet. "Don't worry about me, I'll be just fine. Just some bumps and bruises." His smile and attitude was able to get me to relax a little bit. "I'm sorry, Applejack," he said, changing his expression and looking at the two of us with sadness and shame. "To both of you. I'm sorry for being so jealous, and for keeping you two apart," he said, muttering the words in between breaths.

Applejack and I looked at each other with heavy hearts. No doubt about it, I had compassion for him, and it was saddening to see him like this. My happy, romantic moment with Applejack would have to wait, as my emotions perhaps took their last dip of the evening seeing him so physically and emotionally hurting.

"Oh! Uncle, it's alright! You got mah' sugarcube back to me safe n' sound, and that's... that's all that matters, isn't it, honey?" she said, smiling at me. I couldn't help but feel warm and fuzzy at every smile she gave me, and this one was no different. I inevitably blushed and smiled back.

"Your mother would be proud, Applejack. She'd be proud of everything you are, and I think she'd be proud of your husband."

Well, of all the things a rich, high class stallion can say to the human husband of his country niece who lives on a farm, that may be the most embarrassing. But nevertheless, I was able to get over it pretty quickly, as the thought of winning her uncle's approval brightened my eyes even more. He approves of me, which means... Applejack is happy! Applejack being happy. Long ago, my number one goal in life changed to exactly that. And now I could rejoice and entertain myself with thoughts that she might be thinking, and the happiness that would enter into her heart getting the approval from her uncle.

Applejack gave him a long, loving smile, that I couldn't help but think would give him the strength to stand up, and wrapped her arms around him for a hug. He began breathing slowly, staring straight ahead of him with a big smile on his face. She pulled herself back, and he weakly began shifting his legs underneath his body. He stood up slowly with hobbly legs, and looked at us with a little less shame in his eyes. He still felt bad, but he could relax now. Applejack was safe.

"Uh, ya sure ya wanna stand up yet, Uncle?" said his niece, standing up with me.

"I have a wife of my own to attend to, probably missed the whole thing," he said, laughing. "You two deserve to be left alone together."

And with that, he limped away into the wall of ponies, and I was left standing with the apple-bucking farm mare that I love and admire with every last bit of strength I have, under the stars in the Manehattan Castle Garden.

As we watched him walk away, Applejack turned and faced me, and once again, for the first time in what seemed like weeks, I saw her beauty plainly again. Her dress was still the brilliant green of an apple tree's leaf, fitted smoothly across her entire body. Her beautiful sherbet coat still shined, even under the stars. Her gorgeous blonde mane was done with curls (according to Rarity, it was the same way she wore her mane at Princess Cadence's wedding), and the crown of red roses was the heavenly final touch. She was truly a princess to me, and I was her undeserving husband.

She gazed right into my eyes with those enchanting lily-green ones she had, full of the deepest love and yearning I had ever seen in my life, and once again, I felt incomprehensible comfort and joy. Looking into those eyes, I felt so much in common with Spike the dragon. We both knew what it felt like to have never ending crushes on a pony, despite not being ponies ourselves. I would love Applejack with all of my heart, even if she hated me. But when she looked at me that way, I never felt loved like I did with anybody else. I've always tried to live my life caring for others, and not seeking to be cared for myself. But when she looked at me with those green eyes, the eyes of the most adorable mare there ever was, I can't deny how happy it made me. The treasure that is the love of Applejack is the greatest treasure of all.

"Howdy there, cutie," she said sweetly. Caught up looking in her eyes, her comment caught me off guard for a second and sent a string of warmth throughout my body, and I looked at her with wide eyes and an open mouth before smiling blushingly.

"Look who's talking," I muttered. Applejack ran up to me buried her head into me again, reaching around her right arm to make it even tighter, and I felt even warmer as I hugged her back. She pulled her head back and looked down at the ground sadly, with shame and guilt. What? Why are you sad? Seeing Applejack depressed is the quickest way to depress myself, and immediately I shared her sadness.

"Applejack, what's wrong?" I said, alarmed and desperate to cheer her up.

"Sugarcube, ah'... ah' wanna apologize," she said, and my mouth and eyes went wide open in wonder of what she could possibly be sorry about. "Ah'... am... so sorry, sugarcube, ah' shoulda never let your precious little head outa mah' sight. Ah' felt so terrible here without you, ah' thought... ah' thought ah' failed you, sugarcube! Ah' thought ah' failed the only one who ever cared about me the way you do. Ah' got such a crush on you sugarcube, ah' just... ah' felt like the worthless farm pony again."

I stepped forward and embraced her once more, wrapping my arms around her neck and hugging tightly. I sobbed tears of pure love and whispered into her ear.

"Don't ever apologize to me, Applejack. You are the last pony who should ever say sorry to me. I should be the one apologizing to you. Everything about you is so wonderful, I don't deserve you. Ever since I met you, you've done nothing but show me what true love and happiness is all about. Seeing you work the hard life in the orchard for everyone but yourself was one of the most loving... and most... admirable things I've ever - " I pulled her back and smiled deeply into her eyes, as her face was going from sadness into the most loving smile that cast it's spell of desperation on me. I looked at her for a long time, and pulled her back once more, rocking her back and fourth. She sobbed into my chest her tears of joy, and once again, I whispered the truth in her ears to make her feel better. "Every single day that I was gone, I thought about you."

Right at that moment, we heard the mayor call for the orchestra to start up again. She lifted her head up at me from her spot on my chest with bright eyes and killed me with cuteness. She pulled her head back and looked curiously up at the stage. Backing away from me, she looked desperately at me with great ambition.

"Can ya'll wait right here fer one second, hubby?" she said.

"Of course!"

Standing still, I watched her gallop all the way up to orchestra, and she began running around the ponies on the stage, who had their instruments, ranging from cello, to piano, to drums, and whispering in something in their ears. I had no idea what she was planning. Is she gonna sing to me?

She galloped back off the stage and down to me in the grass, giving me the same bright smile all the way back. I adored her with every trot she took back to me. She ran right back up to me stopped about three feet in front of me, looking at me as though she had something wonderful planned for me. Excitement was filling up inside me as the most beautiful piano melody began sounding from the stage, one of the most romantic tunes I've ever heard. I looked at Applejack, ready for whatever she had in mind. She walked up to me and reached her hoof out to me for me to grab it.

"Sugarcube," she said, her voice heavy with love, "do you wanna have a dance with me?"

Overcome with enchanted delight, I smiled and laughed in disbelief. Dancing with Applejack at the Manehattan Moon Mingle. Not only as human and mare, but as husband and wife. The words sounded throughout my head like the bells of heaven itself. Applejack... my wife. It was a dream come true. It didn't matter that I had never danced before in my entire life, not with a human, pony, or anything; I wasn't nervous or afraid in the slightest. Overwhelmingly in love with her, I reached my hand out at as the lovely singing voice of young mare sounded throughout the ball. The lyrics, although perhaps better for a day we'd already shared, were still as timeless and as true as the eternal love I have for the mare who lives on Sweet Apple Acres, and was anything but a useless farm pony.

Love is in bloom!

A beautiful bride,

A handsome groom!

Two hearts,

Becoming one!

A bond that cannot be undone!

Because love's in bloom!

A beautiful bride,

A handsome groom!

I said, love's in bloom!

You're starting a life,

And making room...

For us!

Your special day!

We celebrate now,

The pony way!

Your friends,

Are all right here!

Won't let

These moments disappear!

Because love's in bloom!

A beautiful bride,

A handsome groom!

I said, love's in bloom!

You're starting a life,

And making room...

For us...

(For us...)

For us!  

In the grass of the Manehattan Castle Garden, we stepped side by side, cheek to cheek, hand to hoof. Throughout the entire song, we gave each other the deepest, happiest soul stares that two lovesick creatures could give. We only managed a few trips here and there between the two of us, and when we did trip, we managed to laugh. When she laughed- when Applejack laughed - not only was it the sweetest music my ears have ever heard, relaxing the depths of my soul, but all was right in the world.

When the song finished, she gave me the deepest, most loving stare yet, and with stars in her eyes, she began to move in slowly for a kiss, as we engaged in another romantic moment of staring. Amidst the time that flew by whenever I stared into the starry-eyed Earth pony, another romantic song came on, this one also perfectly describing my feelings for my most beloved wife. Her mouth stopped a few inches from mine, but at this moment, the fact that she was a pony was all but gone. All I could do was dream of my future life with her, and the burning love for her that erupted from my heart. I stared at her with stars in my eyes as well, pouring out all of my deepest feelings for her in the way that I looked at her. I was ready a kiss from her, a kiss that was born of true love and nothing else. Because that's the kind of pony she is. She is beautifully clean, and she does nothing for pleasure. That is one of the most admirable qualities of all about her, aside from all of her other unbelievably charming ones.

We continued rocking back and fourth with each other, her pony mouth getting a little closer to mine every minute. On the outside, we were terribly slow, but between the two of us, it was happening so fast. The night was suddenly peaceful, and the stars and moon twinkling above us, and not a family problem or selfish unicorn in sight. The land of Equestria was in perfect harmony with (most) of it's creatures as I swayed gently side to side with the mare to whom my whole heart belonged. And of course, the most beautiful creature of all was right in front of me. As I stared into her most sacred green eyes, her mouth only an inch from mine, I felt these words in my heart. I never dreamed of meeting you, Applejack, but you're so much better than any dream I ever had. I can't wait to go back to Sweet Apple Acres and spend the rest of my life with you on that farm, and whatever you want is my will.

As Applejack moved in for the kiss, I closed my eyes and prepared my heart for a surge of magic. I preferred to let her kiss me, out of respect for her purest heart. She only kissed me because she loved me, and for that, my love for her only grew to heights I never expect from myself in a million years.

The kiss didn't come right away, so I opened my eyes.

"Applejack?"

I looked down, and there she was, lying on her belly at my feet and looking up at me with the deepest and most desperate stare I'd ever been given. It looked as though she was about to propose to me, with the eyes of a puppy that could bend you to do anything. She looked at me for a long time, almost as if she was afraid of something, but strongly affectionate at the same time.

"Sugarcube... can ah' ask you something?" she said in one of her highest and most choked up voices I'd ever heard. Tears suddenly started flowing from her eyes as freely as they had all night. I was shocked. I just wanted to make Applejack happy, and with wide eyes of desperation, I knelt down on the ground, ready to accept whatever she asked of me. I could not deny her beautiful heart any request. My heart was pumping fast, suddenly ready to burst. I knew whatever this was must've been hard for her, and seeing her tears, although they were not tears of sadness, were like strings tugging at my heart. I placed my hand on her hoof and brought it up to my heart, almost teary eyed myself, and looked at her and waited for her question. Out of all that happened on this night, after all we'd been through, I just wanted Applejack to be happy! I wanted her to relax and be the most loved pony in Equestria. I needed her love, and giving her every last bit of mine was my only priority.

"Do you..." she looked down at the ground and wiped her eyes of her tears, before looking up at me with the happiest and most hopeful smile. "Do you... do you wanna have a foal with me?"

The most monumental question I have ever been asked, the question I thought so deeply and came to such wonderful terms with about moments before I arrived here, was placed before me from the mare - not the human, the mare- that I ever so loved with all of my heart and was so afraid of disrespecting. I was so shocked and overwhelmed with her question that I started panting and breathing hard, placing my hand my chest. Applejack looked at me with great desperation, eager for an answer. It was almost too much for me to comprehend at that moment. The thought of Applejack as a loving mother to a child that had me as a... as a dad! I ran my hands through my hair and looked back at her with tears.

"Sugarcube?? Are you ok?" I took a few more deep breaths and pants, and smiled at her. I gave her the happiest smile I ever have.

"Yes, Applejack. Yes! You would be.. the most wonderful mother.. that any foal... ever... - " I said choking on my own tears before the smile faded on my face as I stared down at the ground with wide eyes. The one thought I had before was back in my head front and center, and Applejack leaned down on the ground so her head was upside down and looking up at me where I was staring into the ground.

"What's wrong, sugarcube?" she said, pulling her head back up, and looking at me desperate for an answer. I took a few more deep breaths, and looked up at her like a child telling his dad something he hoped to take well.

"I thought that," I said, gulping and trying to find the strength to speak. Applejack wrapped her legs around me and pulled me into her chest.

"You can tell me, sugarcube," she whispered. I took a few more breaths, and moving from the ground to her eyes, I spoke quietly, only hoping she would understand me.

"I thought that ... if I looked at you like that, that I'd be disrespecting you, even though you're so beautiful. You just... you have such a beautiful heart, I didn't want to compromise, " I choked, as Applejack looked at me with tears and desperation. "But then I realized... I realized that you would be the best mom a kid ever had, and if you wanted one, then maybe I... maybe I wouldn't be compromising your beautiful heart." I said, as the happiest smile on Applejack's cutest face came over, and tears of joy flowed freely from her eyes. "I would love to have a -"

Before I could finish, on my knees, I could feel Applejack's mouth on my mouth as she moved in swiftly. My eyes went open with shock and I inevitably blushed again as the mare I longed to impress kissed me, and remained kissing me. Before long, my eyes closed, and the warmest feeling I've ever felt came over me as I kissed her back. It didn't matter that she was a pony anymore. She is my wife, and I love her eternally. Feeling her heart beat in turn with mine was like the most wonderful feeling I've ever felt, and for what seemed like a blessed eternity, she kept kissing me. The cares of this world were all but gone as she gave me all of her purest love through the form of a kiss, mare to human.

When she pulled her head back slowly, I found myself blushing with delight again. I looked down at the ground and laughed a little bit, but not before she jumped on top of me and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me back to the ground so her back was the ground and my back was snugly on her belly. Her ears were down. I always thought that was an adorable emotion of hers. She closed her eyes and smiled contently, as if to go to sleep, and wrapped her legs around me as well as her tail upward over me like a blanket. With my back to Applejack's belly, and safely in her loving arms, I have never felt more cuddled then I did right there, laying snugly against her warm, soft body. I looked up at the stars for a quick second before I closed my eyes in the arms of my hero, the mare who works on a farm. We snuggled as the best of friends. We snuggled as husband and wife. There in the grass we remained, enchantedly and forever in love.

The End.