Chapter 11: Settling Down

After getting back to the farm house Applejack had given you a stern talking to, and Big Mac had pulled you outside to talk to you himself. He hasn't said anything for the past ten minutes, and you were now nearing the area where there had once been a forest of dead trees.

"So..." you said, hoping to coax him into finally talking.

"So..." he said back, not looking at you as he continued to walk into the dead orchard. You followed after him, hoping that he would finally start talking if you did. He continued to walk until he came to the center of the orchard, where there was an old stump. After a few minutes he sat down on the stump.

"Do you really care about my sister that much?" he asked quietly as you got closer.

"I love her, so..." you said while raising an eyebrow towards Big Mac, not sure where he was going with this.

"You love her enough to put your own life at risk," he said, pausing to face you, "so that she could live a worry free life?"

"Yeah" you said instantly. He continued to look at you for a few minutes, examining your face and stance as if they could tell him if you were lying or not. A few minutes later he got up, and kicked the stump he was sitting on out of the ground, sending it flying almost fifteen feet. You looked at him in confusion, waiting for him to tell you why he did that.

"Why did you do that?" you asked as he turned around to head back to the house.

"Well, my pa said that if Applejack ever met a proper stallion, he would buck that stump out of the ground, but..." Big Mac said, stopping to look at the ground. You hadn't realized until now, but you had never heard any mention of their parents, so you had thought they were just out traveling. Big Mac started to walk again, and you followed quietly, knowing now was not the time to talk to him. As you and Big Mac got back to house you could smell a fresh apple pie, almost ready to be pulled out of the oven.

"Welcome home" Applejack said as she gave Big Mac a light hug, and gave you a kiss, "Me and Granny made some pie"

"What's the occasion?" you asked, only somewhat joking.

"Well, Big Mac told me what he was taking you out to do, so..." Applejack said as she gave Big Mac a worried look, "Did it not go well?"

"It was fine sis, it's done" Big Mac said as he headed back outside, presumably to get some work done. You and Applejack watched him leave, seeing him hitch himself to a wagon filled with wheat, most likely to be brought to the bakery in town. After he was out of sight you turned to Applejack, only to find out she had gone back into the kitchen. Knowing that she might be in there for a while you made your way to the couch.

Around half an hour later you heard somepony making their way towards you. You looked towards the noise and saw Applebloom being followed by Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. When they noticed you sitting on the couch they looked at each other in confusion and made their way over.

"Shouldn't you be in a hospital?" Sweetie Belle asked, probably knowing about what happened.

"Nope, I'm fine, not a scratch on me!" you said as you got up, striking a pose. The three fillies laughed and then sat on the couch.

"So what happened?" Scootaloo asked.

"It was part of the act" you said, not wanting to let them in on what really happened. They obviously believed you, seeing as they then started talking to each other about ways to get their cutie mark. Scootaloo suggested a magic trick that would make it look as if Applebloom was grown up, but Sweetie Belle turned it down. Applebloom suggested that Scootaloo through hoops that her and Sweetie Belle would throw up, but Scootaloo said no. After a few more suggestions of a similar nature they finally decided on what they were going to do.

"What if you help Scootaloo fly with your magic Sweetie Belle?" Applebloom said while scratching her head.

"That might work" Sweetie Belle said as she tried to use her magic to life a nearby pen, which flew into the air for all of five seconds. Although you knew that it fell because Sweetie Belle couldn't hold it any longer, the two other crusaders didn't, so they quickly pulled her off the couch and made their way outside.

"Where they goin'" Applejack asked as she made her way out of the kitchen, just in time to see the three crusaders run out the door.

"To get their cutie marks in" you paused, trying to think of what a Pegasus flying with the help of a Unicorn would be called, "I don't know actually"

"Oh, well, okay, I was just about to say the pie is done, and I thought they might want some" Applejack said while looking at the door worriedly.

"They'll be fine, don't worry" you said as you walked over to Applejack, putting a wing around her, "Now about that pie..."

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"That was delicious!" you shouted as you leaned back in your chair after finishing off the entire pie with Applejack's help, "Another!"

"Sorry there cowboy, but we only made one" Applejack said as she laughed.

"Darn, I was really hoping for another one" you said while pretending to be sad. Applejack continued to laugh as she put the plates in the sink. You looked around and noticed Granny Smith was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Granny?" you asked, knowing she was sitting in the kitchen before you started eating.

"She went upstairs for a nap, she was mighty tired from baking that pie" Applejack said as she sat next to you again, leaning against your shoulder. You nuzzled the top of her head when you remembered what Big Mac had said back out in the orchard.

"Hey AJ?" you asked quietly, taking your raising your head to look at her.

"Yeah sugar?" Applejack asked back, still leaning on your shoulder.

"Where are your parents?"

Everything went dead silent. You were sure that if things stayed this quiet you would be able to hear particles moving around you, but thankfully Applejack spoke up.

"They left us here with Granny a long time ago" she said sadly, pushing her face into your shoulder, "They said they wanted to see the world, and we've never seen or heard from them since". You didn't know what to say to her, so instead of saying anything you simply hugged her, hoping it would comfort her. She slowly started to calm down as you held her, and eventually she pushed off of you.

"Thank sugar, I needed that" Applejack said as she leaned forward again, this time kissing you before placing her head on your shoulder.

"I love you Applejack, don't ever forget that" you said as you held her tight, hoping she would understand that you would never leave her.

"I know you do, and I love you too" Applejack whispered into your ear, hugging you tighter as she rested her head into the crook of your neck. A few minutes passed until either of you moved.

Knock, knock

"Who is it?!" you shouted, not wanting to let go of Applejack.

"It's me!" Med shouted from the door. You sighed as you let go of Applejack and made your way to the door, only to find Med and a Pegasus on the other side. Before Med could say anything you looked at the Pegasus, knowing you had seen him somewhere before.

"Choco, I'd like you to meet Hot Shot" Med said, placing a name to the face for you.

"Hey Hotty" you said as you shook his hoof, remembering the rivalry you had with him back in flight school.

"Hey Choco, long time no see" Hot Shot replied, letting go off your hoof, "I heard you became a Wonderbolt"

"Yeah, but I kinda blew it at my first show" you said sarcastically, knowing that by now he would have heard the news. He laughed as you led him inside, directing him to a spot on the couch. Applejack was standing in the kitchen doorway in confusion. You also waved goodbye to Med, who had begun to make his way back to town.

"What is it?" you asked as you walked over to her.

"You know him?" Applejack asked while waving a hoof at Hot Shot, who had picked up a picture of the Apple family that was on the table.

"Yeah, we went to flight school together" you said while putting a wing around Applejack, "I recommended he fill my spot on the Wonderbolts". Applejack looked at you in disbelief while you lead her over to the couch across from Hot Shot. When you sat down he gave you and Applejack a nod, placing the picture back where it was.

"So, I take it this is Applejack?" Hot Shot asked, nodding again to Applejack.

"Yup, she's my marefriend" you said with a smile on your face.

"Lucky girl, I can think of at least ten mares from flight school that still have crushes on you" Hot Shot said with a laugh, "Sorry for not introducing myself, I'm Hot Shot". Applejack simply nodded in response as she continued to stare at him, watching his every move.

"So, what brings you here?" you asked, hoping to get rid of the tension with some idle conversation.

"Ah, yes" Hot Shot said, pausing to clear his throat, "I'm thinking about moving to Ponyville, and I wanted to see how you were doing"

"Oh really..." Applejack muttered quietly under her breath, still watching Hot Shot. You rolled your eyes at her before turning back to him.

"Where are you staying?" you asked, ignoring Applejack as she poked you in the ribs.

"I'm staying with Med actually, he is renting out his basement, and I happened to be the one that took his offer" Hot Shot said, looking at a clock on the wall behind you. He quickly stood up and made his way to the door, turning around to quickly say goodbye.

"Sorry, I have to go meet somepony for lunch, thanks for letting me stop by" he said as he quickly made his way out of the door, taking to the skies as soon as he got outside. You watched him until he was a tiny spot in the sky, and turned around to face Applejack who was still staring at the door.

"I don't trust him" she said as she got up, making her way upstairs. You followed her as she went upstairs and into her room. She said on her bed and turned to you, motioning for you to sit down too, only to look out her window as you walked over.

"What's wrong?" you asked as you sat down, putting a hoof on her shoulder.

"I don't know, it's just" Applejack said as she turned to face you, "I guess I'm just sad our little moment had to end so soon because of him"

"Don't worry, we have the rest of out lives to be together" you said as you hugged her, giving her a quick kiss as you let go.

"Will we really be together that long?" she asked quietly while looking at you, hoping you would say yes.

"I sure hope so, or I wasted a lot of money on this" you said, reaching into your other wing and pulling out a tiny box.

"What's that?" Applejack asked, her voice raising slightly.

"It's just something I told Med to pick up for me before I went to the show" you said as you brought your other hoof up to open it. Inside was a beautiful ring, and on it was a fire ruby in the shape of an apple. Applejack brought her hooves to her mouth, tears forming in her eyes.

"I know this isn't usually how Earth ponies do this, but I thought it'd be fitting" you said as you pulled the ring out of the box, placing it in one of her hooves. She quickly looked at it, noticing a that it could be used as an earing, along with a small hole along the side.

"It's beautiful, but what's this for?" she asked as she pointed at the small hole.

"Put it on and I'll show you" you said while motioning for her to put it in her ear. After some struggling she managed to get it on, and you turned around to your wing, looking for the second part of the proposal. A few seconds later you found it. There was a feather inside your right wing that you had notched slightly so you could easily pull it out, which you quickly did, and you put it through the hole in the earring.

"This is Pegasi tradition" you said as you fixed the feather, "A stallion will give his largest feather to the mare he wishes to marry instead of a ring". Applejack quickly got up and ran over to her mirror. She carefully caressed the feather, fixing her mane so that it would be visible from all sides before she made her way back to the bed.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Applejack asked, a hint of fear in her voice.

"Do I want to spend my life with the most beautiful mare I've ever seen?" you said sarcastically while scratching your chin, "Of course I do!". You quickly reached over and kissed Applejack to show her that you really meant it, and she happily returned it. After a few minutes the two of you separated, gasping for air as you had been kissing for too long.

"Thanks sugar" Applejack said as she stood up, still blushing, "I better go tell Granny". As she left the room you laid back on her bed, knowing that in a few weeks time it would be your bed as well.