Well, once again the otherwise adorable Apple Bloom seemed to come in at the worst possible time. There was nothing worse then joyful, loving hug between Applejack and me cut short. Well, maybe a dinner with the Oranges, but you get the idea. Anyway, I was standing right next to Applejack in the middle of the barn, the both of us laughing and blushing nervously at both Apple Bloom and Rarity who were standing in the doorway. Apple Bloom rolled her eyes, and Rarity still had a smug smile, clearly enjoying every second of our discomfort. For pete’s sake, it was just a hug!

I’m not really sure why Applejack and I reacted the way we did when they walked in on us in the barn. The only activity between Applejack and I that I would really regret Apple Bloom walking in on was kissing on the mouth, which was only reserved for special moments. Maybe it was because Apple Bloom was her sister, and she was very young, but I’m not sure.  

“I’m not… interrupting anything, am I?” said Rarity in her most lady-like tone, tilting her head and fluttering her eyelashes as the sun shined in behind her through the open barn doors.

“You ain’t interrupting nothin’, we was just havin’ a little moment is all,” said Applejack, smiling friendlily at me and bumping me on the shoulder with her hoof, and immediately I felt much better. Apple Bloom spat out the envelope and put her hoof in her mouth in a gagging fashion. Applejack saw this and leapt playfully onto her little sister and held her tightly in her arms as Apple Bloom giggled and struggled to free herself. She playfully rubbed Apple Bloom’s mane with her hoof, and both them were now laughing wildly. “Better get used to it sis, there’s plenty more where that came from!” It was liberating for me to know that my relationship with Applejack had no bad affects on their pristine sisterhood.

“Little moment, that’s all,” I said, gaining confidence and looking Rarity in the eye as my wife played with her little sister in the hay. “What brings the queen of fashion to Sweet Apple Acres?” I said. She threw her hoof out at me and raised her snout, still smiling complacently.

“Just a little moment indeed. Darling, I find that to be so… adorable!” said the regal white unicorn. I smiled and blushed again, but not because I was uncomfortable. I was actually starting to enjoy her teasing; I do not deny that my heart fluttered to hear someone speak of Applejack and me that way. Rarity walked forward until she was right in front of Applejack, who was standing up. “I’m here to see if you two would join me for a little breakfast?” Applejack shot us both a smile.

“Ah’d love to catch up with ya, Rarity. We was jus’ gonna go get a bite to eat ourselves,” she said, as my stomach made some noise. I hadn’t eaten anything since half of that salad I had with the Oranges the day before. “Sounds like yer hungrier than a blind hound in a meathouse, sugarcube! How ‘bout you, sis? Wanna come with us?”

“Are ya’ll gonna open yer letter, or what?” said Apple Bloom, pointing her hoof down at the envelope which was now laying on the ground. I reached down, picked up the letter, and then flipped it over to open it. My eyes went wide with fear when I saw whom it was from. Oh for the love of- not again!

“Who’s it from, sugarcube?” said Applejack, running behind me and looking over my shoulder and seeing the answer to her question for herself. “Well, that was mighty quick.” Rarity walked up and looked at us curiously.“It’s from mah’ Aunt and Uncle Orange,” said she said. Rarity raised a hoof in surprise.

“Oh darling, how did the, you know… dinner with them go yesterday?”

“Uh, we’ll tell ya later,” said Applejack, chuckling nervously.  I started to sweat as I tore open the letter with my fingers. I figured they must’ve just returned to Manehattan after the disaster of a dinner, giving them a lot of time to think things over with each other. As if family problems aren’t the last thing I want! Rarity and Apple Bloom made their way behind me as well, the latter jumping so she could see. Their presence certainly didn’t make it any more comfortable for me. I pulled out the letter and started at the top. The letter was written in fancy cursive, and the ink was a glittering bronze color.

“Dearest Applejack and AJ; we beg that you accept our humblest apologies for what happened yesterday. The both of us are committed to making it up to the both of you and we shall be neither content nor happy until we have earned your gracious forgiveness. At this time, we heartily extend to our precious niece and her spouse an invitation to celebrate your marriage by attending the Manehattan Moon Mingle as husband and wife. Should you accept, you will arrive on the morrow at our humble abode and we shall escort the two of you to the ball ourselves. Love from Aunt and Uncle Orange.“

“Humble what now?” said a confused Apple Bloom.

“Gracious forgiveness?” cried Applejack happily.

“The M-manehattan Moon M-mingle???” squealed Rarity with delight. I lowered the letter and stared into space.

“Something tells me Aunt Orange wrote most of this,” I said. I didn’t know what to make of that letter. I was hoping fiercely for some kind of apology letter, but an invitation to a fancy ball? That was not down my alley or Applejack's at all, and it was a lot for me to bite off all at once. I didn’t want to go to some high-class pony city where I would stick out like a sore thumb. I wasn’t a fan of the “sophisticated life.” Sure, I was born in the city, but I always felt like a country person at heart. I loved the sights and smells on the farm. I loved sports and competitions, working hard out in the apple trees, and most other things males my age loved. But most of all, of course, I loved Applejack, the country flower who made it all a dream come true.

“The Manehattan Moon Mingle??? Next to the Grand Galloping Gala, that’s like every high-class pony’s dream!” said Rarity. She was certainly excited, and she started to talk faster as her eyes sparkled with her own dreams. “Sure, Canterlot is the royal city and all, but Manehattan is the biggest city in Equestria, and the Manehattan Moon Mingle is once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! The glamour! The sophistication! You two will have a blast!” She was now squealing like a fangirl. Applejack looked like she was in the exact same place as me.

“Uh, that’s mighty nice o’ them, but c’mon Rarity, we ain’t goin',” she said, and Rarity gasped in disbelief. Applejack gave me a loving smile and wrapped her arm around me, which I delightedly returned. “Me and mah’ sugarcube here are farmers! We ain’t into that hoity-toity stuff; we get our hooves and hands dirty, and we don’ wear those fancy clothes but fer special occasions.” Darn tootin! What a charming thing to hear that was. I was becoming a real farmer; the same thing as my beloved Applejack. “Besides, ah’ ain’t puttin’ mah’ sugarcube in more awkward situations. He’s a human! He’s gonna get all kinds of looks he don’t wanna deal with.” Rarity looked offended.

“Applejack, you can’t possibly be serious! How could you two have a bad time if you’re with each other?” she pleaded. Applejack put her hoof on her chin and looked up in thought, than smiled.

“Well, ah’ suppose that’s true, but – “ before she could finish, Rarity cut her off.

“You two could provide a charming country touch to the ball!” she looked directly at me and put her hoof on my shoulder. “You were born in the city, you’ll have no problem fitting in! Besides, you want Applejack to maintain a healthy relationship with her aunt and uncle, don’t you? You could bond with Uncle Orange. Don’t tell me that wouldn’t mean the world to you, Applejack,” Well, she’s got me there. I still wasn’t one for dressing up. I could care less about I how I looked as long as I felt comfortable, even though I (apparently) was quite handsome for a human.  

“Look, Rarity. I, uh, don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but I’m just not really into the whole dressing up and looking nice thing. Unless it’s… you know… for Applejack,” I said, placing my hand on Applejack’s head and giving her mane a little rub. Rarity’s eyes lit up for a moment, and then she went back to smiling smugly as she had been before when she first walked in. Apparently, I had given her a new avenue of hope for convincing us to go, and I had a bad feeling it was going to work. She fluttered her eyelashes again.

“Darlings, you dressed up for your wedding, didn’t you?” she said. Applejack and I turned our heads toward each other with guilty smiles. I thought Applejack was gorgeous without doing absolutely anything to herself, even after a long day of work. But that night, she entrusted her appearance to Princess Cadence, and she looked like a divine princess. “Let me make you something! I can have you looking so sharp for your Applejack that ponies will be stopping in the streets to admire you.” I raised my eyebrow in a manner that said ‘go on’. “Take a dragon, for instance,” she continued. “When somepony sees a dragon with handsome scales, regardless of whether they are a pony, human, whatever, do they not stop and say to themselves, ‘wow, that dragon is a handsome fellow!’  Now tell me, how would you feel if ponies were saying that about you with Applejack at your side?” she said. Oohh, I like the sound of that! I knew that Rarity was the best in her line of work, and if she could have me looking great for Applejack, I would be signing up for whatever it was. I felt Applejack’s arm around me again.

“Hold on now, Rarity, ah’ think he’s mighty cute right –“  Rarity cut her off mid sentence.

“And you, Applejack, you have this beautiful orange coat and this lovely yellow mane, truly ravishing feminine elegance! You just can’t keep it bottled up all the time, dear. Let me make you a dress and do your mane, and you will be the most radiantly beautiful mare at that entire ball. Think of how that will make him feel,” she said, pointing to me. Rarity knew exactly what she was doing; that certainly sounded wonderful to me. Applejack smiled slowly as her eyes went gentle with delight; she was clearly having the same reaction I was when Rarity said the same thing to me.

“Well, ah’ sure do wanna look good for mah’ sugarcube,” she said, as we turned and smiled at each other affectionately. It was plain to see were both being suaded into going. Spending a night at a dance party with Applejack was starting sound magnificent, even if it was a fancy one. It suddenly occurred to me that Rarity had no experience whatsoever with my kind when making outfits.  

“Wait a second, you’ve never made a tux or suit for someone like me, how are you going to do it now?” I said. Rarity’s eyes and mouth dropped open as though I just deeply hurt her feelings.

“You poor thing, don’t you know who you’re talking to? I could make a stunning outfit for a full-grown dragon without tripping a hoof. Just give me your measurements,” she said. It had been a really long time since anyone asked me that.

“My measurements?  Jeez, I don’t know. If I had to guess, I’d say my waist and legs are both thirty-two maybe? But I honestly have no idea,” I said. Rarity’s eyes lit up again in excitement.

“Come over to my boutique after breakfast, I’ll take your measurements and have you both something absolutely fabulous by tomorrow morning,” she said. Applejack shook her head and looked at Rarity with concern.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down. Ya’ll are gonna make the both of us stunning, original outfits in two shakes of a sheep’s tail? Ya’ll can fit that in yer schedule?” she said, and Rarity shook her hoof at her as though it was nothing.

“I’ve been having a slow week, it’s fine my dear. That’s why I’m here to see you guys!” she insisted. Applejack then turned to me with concern.

“Are you gonna be ok with all this, honey? Ah’ know it’s a little… weird fer you, being around mah’ high-class relatives. Ah’ don’t want ya’ll to be to uncomfortable,” she said. I wanted Applejack to get the love from her family that she deserved. Uncle Orange was her mother’s brother, and I knew it would mean a lot to Applejack if I could make things work with him, whether she wanted to admit that to me or not.

“I know,” I said, looking down.

“You’ll be the only human there,” she said. She was just making sure I knew.

“I know.”

“You sure you’ll be ok?” she said, one final check. I looked up in thought for a second. It may be all those things she said, but I was willing to endure to them if it meant the best for her. I paused for a second before I spoke, then I smiled.

“Come on, you know me. If you’re with me there, I’ll be fine.“  Applejack leaned in and rested her forehead against mine as Apple Bloom let out another cry of disgust. Rarity closed her eyes and squealed with delight as she galloped in place with excitement. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Rarity,” I said, reaching my hand out which she shook rather violently.

“Try not to make mine too… froufrou-y. You know how ah’ am with that,” said Applejack.

“Deal!” cried Rarity. Apple Bloom got behind us and attempted to push us toward the door with her two front hooves.

“Alright you guys, this is cute an’ all, but ah’m hungry,” she said.

“Rarity, why don’t you take her down to Sugarcube Corner, we'll be there in a minute,” I said.

“Come on, sweetie! We must not interfere with their ‘moment,’ with each other,” said Rarity, pushing Apple Bloom out the barn door and trotting off in the direction of downtown Ponyville. Applejack and I walked side by side up to the door and stood there for a minute, looking at the scenery. It was another gorgeous day in Ponyville, and the vibrant colors of the apple trees shined under the blue sky. I took a deep inhale of the fresh air and took in everything that just happened. It won’t be that bad. She’ll be with me, and it’ll be good for her and her family.

“So tell me, what would be some good talking material for when I’m bonding with Uncle Orange before the mingle? We’re so alike, I and him, it can’t be that hard,” I said with a chuckle, and Applejack giggled. It was time to be light-hearted and laid back, just how I loved it.

“Well, ah’ suppose ya could talk about how ya pick apples with yer hands, or ah’m sure he’d get a good laugh if ya tell him about how you fell face first into that mudhole last week!” she said, cracking up at her recollection of it. Applejack, Apple Bloom and I were playing a game of tag in the orchard, and I stepped on an apple right as I was running through a wet part of the ground, leaving me soaked from head to toe in mud and Applejack and Apple Bloom in tears of laughter. I’m never gonna hear the end of that one.  

“Oh yea, I’m sure he’ll be able to relate to both of those things. I guess if worst comes to worst, I could bring up how you took me for an apple tree when you were sleeping,” I said, which caused playfully embarrassed Applejack to blush. At one point last month, I woke up in the middle of the night with the wind knocked out of me; she had kicked me in the stomach with her hind legs while she was dreaming that she was bucking apple trees. We have been laughing about it ever since.

“Gee whiz, ah’ll be hearin’ ‘bout that till the cows come home,” she said, as my stomach let out another grumble.  “There ya go! Talk about that horse of an appetite you got, always devourin’ everything ah’ make from fritters to pies,” she said, giving my stomach a few taps with her hoof. I started to laugh for what I was about to say.

“Wait, what was it you had last night? Hay fries, a daisy and daffodil sandwhich, and an apple turnover? What did I have again? Oh that’s right, I had a small salad.” I knew I was going to get something for that one, and I was right as Applejack gave me a friendly but strong shove with her hoof.

“Seriously, though, you gonna be alright with this?” she said. I walked back from where she had blasted me and smiled.

“Like I said, as long as you’re with me, I’ll be just fine.” .

“Aw shucks, c’mere you,” she said sweetly, and once again she wrapped a front leg around me and rested her head on my chest as I wrapped my arms around her neck. This time there was no one to interrupt us, and I think I forgot about being hungry as well as the Manehattan Moon Mingle itself as I rested my head sideways on hers and looked out into the orchard with mystical peace.