It was late one night in summer when the fire happened. The Ponyville weather team was ordered to put together a storm that would last a few days, but sadly one of the Pegasi wasn't paying attention to her section of the sky and the storm got out of control, rippling out from where she was in charge, causing the storm to turn violent. None of the Pegasi on the weather team were able to contain the storm, not even Rainbow Dash could do anything as the storm drifted over Sweet Apple Acres, and lighting struck the top of the barn. Since Applebloom and the other two members of the CMC ran inside to hide from the storm somepony had to go out to save them from the quickly growing fire.

Applejack, being the brave mare she is, ran in and grabbed two of them, not being able to see who they were until she got outside. When she looked she realized that Applebloom was still inside, and the barn was starting to collapse in on itself, so in one final burst of energy she ran inside, jumping over and dodging the burning pieces of the barn. As she grabbed Applebloom and brought her outside a beam fell from the roof of the barn and smacked into her face, causing her to throw Applebloom outside and for her to be trapped in the barn blinded. Thankfully Big Macintosh managed to break through the wall of the barn and pull her out to safety, only to quickly rush her to Ponyville Hospital to check on her eyes. The diagnosis was grim.

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It's been two months since the accident, and everyday somepony visited Applejack in the hospital. She didn't mind the company of course, but after a while she realized what was going on. No pony told her what the doctors had said, but she wasn't stupid, she could tell the whack to her face blinded her by burning her eyes. At first it was the sense of dread she felt whenever somepony visited her, but at some point she heard Twilight tell Applebloom and Big Mac that she wouldn't see again because the fire burned her retinas. Even though she had no idea what retinas where Applejack could understand one part of Twilight's speech.

She will never be able to see again, not even with magic

After a month Applejack noticed her hearing improving, which was why she heard Twilight, but she also noticed her other senses improving as well. When she asked Twilight about it one day she said it was common that when a pony loses one sense the other ones improve to compensate, although it still meant that she couldn't work ever again. She might be able to learn to cook while blind, but apple bucking was her thing. It's what made the stallions stare and the mares envious. Now that she lost that she was going to loose her figure, and she was sure as the night is dark that no stallion would want to marry somepony who can't see. Before Applejack could once again think about how bleak her life was going to be she heard a knock at the door to her private room.

"Come in!" Applejack shouted, not sure who would come to her now. Over the last few weeks the only ponies who came to see her were her family and close friends.

"This is Applejack's room right?" a familiar sounding voice asked from the door. The familiarity only made Applejack wish she could see even more, at least then she could place a name to the face.

"Eeyup, can I ask who you are, if'n you don't mind me asking?" Applejack asked as she heard the pony make their way towards her bed.

"You probably don't remember me, but we met at the Grand Galloping Gala a while ago, I bought a pie from you" the pony said as they pulled a seat over to sit down on.

"Sorry, but seein' as I can't see your face I can't recall who you are" Applejack said sincerely, sitting up slightly to make sure she was eye level with the pony.

"I'm Soarin," the pony said sheepishly, "of the Wonderbolts, I'm sure Rainbow Dash has mentioned me at least once"

"Soarin..." Applejack said as she tapped her chin, trying to recall the name, "I think I remember you. Light blue with dark blue hair right? Lighting bolt with wings for a cutie mark?"

"Yeah..." Soarin said as he went over what Applejack had said in his head, "Wait you were looking at my cutie mark?"

"Eeyup, I sometimes catch myself looking at stallions when they ain't lookin'" Applejack said sheepishly, blushing slightly. Despite her tough exterior Applejack was still a mare, and sometimes mares just can't help but look at attractive stallions.

"What made you look at me?" Soarin asked quietly, Applejack could hear his hooves rubbing together nervously.

"Well, you had a nice face, a well kept mane, and were fit" Applejack said with a smile, "What mare wouldn't look at a stallion like that?". The two of them laughed together before Soarin coughed, making Applejack stop.

"Anyways, I came here to see you" Soarin said seriously, "Spitfire told me you were in an accident and I wanted to come see if you were okay"

"Aww, thanks sugar cube, but why would a stallion such as yourself want to do with a blind pony like me?" Applejack asked with a smile, having a feeling that Soarin had started to blush, and she was right. When he didn't respond she moved a hoof out towards where she heard him talking from and touched his chest, from there she found his foreleg and moved her hoof down to his, holding onto it tightly.

"Cat got your tongue sugar cube?" Applejack said seductively, hoping to get him to speak up about what was keeping him quiet. When he suddenly pulled away from her and ran towards the door she felt a little bit hurt, and a little bit happy. If he was running away from her like that it could mean one of two things. Either he liked her, or he was running away from her because she was blind now. Applejack didn't really care either way, it still meant that there might be one stallion in Equestria that might like her despite her disability.

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"Are you ready to go home Ms. Apple?"

Those were the last words Applejack thought she would ever hear from Doctor Stable. After two months of sitting in a hospital bed Applejack had begun to think she would never get to go home. When he came into the room Applejack had just finished her breakfast and was able to call the nurse to come pick up her dishes. It would be an understatement to say she was surprised, but according to Doctor Stable they "had found someone to look after her" over night, which meant she could be discharged from the hospital. That was the only reason she was still there. With Granny Smith being as old as she is, and Applebloom being as young as she is, the only pony in her family that could watch her was Big Mac, but now that Applejack wasn't able to help him out with chores he had no time to watch her.

"Who is watching me Doctor?" Applejack asked as he walked her to the front lobby.

"He says he talked to you yesterday, but wanted it to be a surprise when you, uh, heard him" Doctor Stable said as he slowly guided Applejack around a corner. With the mention of yesterday Applejack realized who it was, and felt mixed emotions. Why would a Wonderbolt want to watch a blind Earth pony when he could travel across Equestria performing for thousands?

"He- Hey there, Applejack?" Soarin said shakily as Applejack and the Doctor turned the corner to the lobby.

"Hey there Soarin" Applejack said with a smile, causing Soarin to jump slightly, which made Applejack giggle. After a few awkward shuffles from Soarin Applejack was released from the hospital. When they went to leave Soarin walked off ahead of Applejack, forgetting one important thing.

"Uh, Soarin?"

"Yeah?"

"I can't see where I'm going..."

"Oh yeah!" Soarin quickly ran back to Applejack taking one of her forelegs over his neck, but she pulled away and moved right up to his side. Soarin quickly took the hint and opened one of his wings for her and she moved underneath it. After his other wing opened for a few seconds he brought his wing down onto her, holding her against her side. She giggled as Soarin began to walk awkwardly away from the hospital with Applejack at his side.

After a few minutes they arrived in Ponyville, many ponies running around the pair with ease. Applejack could hear a few familiar voices in the crowd, and occasionally listened in on some conversations as they walked through the town. Every now and then she would hear a couple chatting playfully.

"Honey look, I'm an Alicorn!" a stallion yelled from nearby.

"Get that ice cream cone off your head..." a mare said from around the same area, so Applejack guessed he was probably a Pegasus with an ice cream cone on his head.

"Yes ma'am" the stallion replied, defeated. Applejack chuckled quietly to herself, but Soarin had managed to hear it and looked around to see what she might be laughing at. When he saw a Pegasus with a ice cream cone on his head being chased around by a Unicorn he started to laugh with Applejack. Pretty soon the two of them were laughing happily as they walked towards the edge of town, along the path to Sweet Apple Acres. As they got closer to the farm Applejack could hear the occasional thump coming from the orchard. She knew it was Big Mac bucking the apples for Applebuck Season.

"Sis!" Applebloom shouted from far away, the sound of hooves hitting the ground rapidly as she ran over to her sister and Soarin. When she made it to Applejack she jumped onto her, swinging around on her neck happily. Applebloom wasn't able to visit her very much over the two months she was in the hospital because of school and her activities with the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

"Oh, and, uh, hi Soarin" Applebloom said quietly as she let go of Applejack's neck. Applejack could feel a bit of tension between the two of them, which concerned her. What would make her sister feel apprehensive of Soarin, the kind stallion who took some time out of his probably busy schedule to take care of her?

"So! Should we go to the house now?" Soarin asked nervously, making Applejack even more confused.

"Yeah, ok!" Applebloom said happily, which calmed Soarin down, but only managed to confuse Applejack even more. As they walked up the hill to the house Applejack tried to stay behind, which made Soarin turn around.

"What's wrong?" Soarin asked worriedly.

"What's goin' on between you and my sis?" Applejack asked quietly.

"They're just a bit worried about me staying in your house with you" Soarin said honestly as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Why are you staying here?" Applejack asked, not sure why a rich Wonderbolt like Soarin would have to stay with her family on the farm.

"Well, uh..." Soarin said before looking behind Applejack, "Hey Big Mac!"

"Hey Soarin, I see you brought Applejack back today" Big Mac said coldly as he stared at Soarin. Despite Applejack being blind she could tell the two of them were staring each other down.

"Yeah, she was let out today because I'm going to watch her" Soarin said, just as cold as Big Mac.

"And that's all you're gonna do" Big Mac said sternly before turning around quickly, not even bothering to say hello to Applejack. As he was walking away she heard Soarin curse under his breath before he walked back to Applejack's side, wrapping his wing back around Applejack's back. He didn't say anything as they walked up to the house, making Applejack worry. When they got inside they said hello to Granny Smith who was nodding in and out of sleep, and Soarin led Applejack upstairs to her room. He quickly laid her down on her bed before saying anything.

"Sorry for how I acted out there" Soarin said sadly, regretting the way he acted towards Big Mac in front of her.

"Why were Applebloom and Big Mac acting like that to you?" Applejack asked, moving her hoof around to try and hold Soarin's. She wasn't able to find his hoof and when she heard him walking out of the room she knew something was going on that he didn't want her to know about.

"Just shout if you need anything" Soarin said coldly as he walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

"Okay..." Applejack said sadly as she laid back in her bed, turning over to face the wall as she started to drift off to sleep. When she finally started to sleep she heard her door open slowly, and she heard someone whisper from behind the door.

"Sleep tight..." Soarin said sadly before he shut the door again, now making his way down the hallway.