"I see them outside," the yellow mare noted, peering out the window, "They're coming towards us. They're gonna get on the bus."

"Oh yeah?" Fleetfoot murmured as she played with her bag's zipper mindlessly, "What's the deal?" Spitfire stayed quiet for a moment as she evaluated them. Letting out a groan, she smirked at her teammate sitting next to her and shook her head.

"Doesn't look good. They're not talking or anything, their just looking at the ground."

"It's a crapshoot with them, isn't it?"

The couple made their way to the empty seats wordlessly. Spying a vacant booth that could have easily held two bodies, Soarin and Applejack glared at each other and decided to part ways. Swiftly, Soarin slid into the seat next to one of his teammates as Applejack placed herself on the seat ahead of the two conversing mares. Spitfire silently raised her eyebrows at Fleetfoot and grimaced light-heartedly.

"Howdy," Applejack greeted, slightly turning her head to acknowledge them. Her voice sounded glum and her shoulders hunched forward as she leaned her head against the inside of the bus. It took her a while to realize that she still had her sunglasses on so she took them off to rub her snout.

"What's keepin' ya down, sport?" Fleetfoot inquired, shoving her gently.

"Jus' tired," she responded after a pause.

"We're all tired," Spitfire informed, resting her chin on the back of the booth ahead of her, "But you didn't seem so tired this morning when you and Soarin were pulling pranks on all of us. In fact, you two seemed so happy." Applejack sat still as she glimpsed at her lap. "Something happened. What?"

"Tired."

"Come on, get it off your chest."

"Maybe y'all shouldn't be so nosy," she hissed. An awkward stillness froze the three ponies. "Ah'm sorry, shouldn't've snapped at ya like that."

"So are ya gonna keep it bottled in or what?" Spitfire continued nonchalantly.

"Alright," Applejack agreed, turning to face them, "So, we went tah go meet up with our weddin' manager about the caterin'. Ah suggested that Ah make the food and goods but the weddin' coordinator wasn't havin' it. Said that it was improper fer me to be in charge of the culinary dishes at my own weddin'."

"So, uh, you're upset at Soarin because…?"

"Because he didn't stand by me! Is he not supposed to back me up?"

"Wh-what do you…I don't get it."

"Doncha see? He's my husband and he didn't back me up! If Ah wanted to be in charge of the caterin' services like Ah usally am at big events like this, then he shoulda said somethin' t'support me! He's always sayin' that my pie at the night of the Gala was the first thing he loved about me but he's not even gonna testify fer my cookin'? Ah mean, now Ah gotta hire somepony that Ah never even met before to cook fer my weddin' guests!" As she dropped her head and let out soft sobs, Spitfire turned to Fleetfoot who gave her a bewildered shrug.

"So you're saying that you're mad at Soarin because he didn't object to hiring a professional caterer to do his or her job at your high profile wedding that'll keep you on your hooves and busy for the next following months?"

"…Yes," she replied into her hooves, "Y-y'all just don't understand it! Y'all don't understand the married life!" Fleetfoot sighed as she lightly tapped Applejack on the shoulder.

"AJ, when was the last time you slept?" she asked.

"Ah don't know. About two days ago or so."

"That explains it."

After the bus embarked on its ride, the country mare fell into a deep slumber. The athletes behind her helped lay her down across her booth when they saw her beginning to nod off. Throughout the whole tour, they have watched her being tugged (literally and figuratively) by the management to the point of exhaustion. It was hard being the main focus of the traveling team, they noted, especially when a newbie to the entertainment industry like Applejack had been placed in that position. Catching eye contact with the male Wonderbolt in front of them, he rose from his seat towards them. He had a quizzical expression on his face as he quickly flashed his eyes to the orange pony and back to his associates.

"She's pretty ticked about it, huh?" he questioned as he approached them. His bags under his eyes were more prevalent than ever. "I figured she told you guys when I saw all of you talking."

"Just let her rest, it's been a long day for her," Fleetfoot suggested.

"It's been a long three months," he croaked, slipping off his scarf, "Hopefully we'll be home soon." Lifting her head tenderly, he rested it back down against once when he placed the cloth as support. The mare tussled for a moment, causing her hat to fall off. Before placing it back on her, he gave her a small peck on her mane and revisited his seat. Luckily, the Sweet Apple Acres was the nearest location on their trip so it was the bus's primary stop.

"Hey man, we're here," Rapidfire alerted, nudging the resting Soarin. "We're in front of the farm." Soarin shook his head swiftly and blinked rigorously. Peering out the window, the Wonderbolt stretched upward to waken his bones then pushed himself to a stance. He got out of the bus to reach for the luggage in the back and looked over to the window in front of him. Applejack leisurely straightened up her body and rubbed her eyes. Her hair was ruffled which caused Soarin to emit a chuckle and returned to carrying the bags towards the door. Ringing the doorbell, he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to find that it was the weary cowfilly. Demurely, she wrapped the scarf around his neck again.

"Thanks," she muttered, playing with the scarf's tassels, "I'm glad you're using it."

"It was nice of Granny Smith to send it over," he proclaimed with a grin. Once the door swung open, the couple found themselves bombarded with family members.

"Three months was way too long tah be away from y'all," Applejack called out over the loud greetings.

"Ah missed ya so much, big Sis!" Applebloom shouted, hugging her legs.

"I hope ya guys had more-uh than jus' a 'good' honeymoon!" Chitchat teased.

"Ma!" Soarin replied with his eyes wide.

"Where're ya gonna stay?" Soarin's sister, Sequin Sparkle, questioned.

"Yeah, y'all haven't even purchased a home yet!" Granny Smith pointed out.

"Well there's a game tomorrow so we're gonna stay at a nearby hotel," Soarin informed.

"Y'all have been so busy with these games and a weddin' comin' up and-" Suddenly, Granny's Smith's eyes popped open. "Well turn me upside down and stick chicken feathers on me! Ah almost completely forgot! Y'all are plannin' a weddin'!"

"That's right!" Mother Apple yelled, embracing them tightly, "For yer family and friends t'see!" Retracting back, she held onto her niece. "Ah can't wait for choosin' yer weddin' dress and cake and music-" Abruptly, all the relatives spoke at once again in excitement.

"Yeah, real fun," Applejack muttered through a tight smile.

……………………………

Cards spreaded across the tabletop as the two playing ponies competed against each other in a familiar game.

"Any queens?" Big Macintosh requested, scanning his cards ahead of him.

"Nope. Gold fish, baby!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, "Hey, what time is it?"

"9:46 P.M."

"Ah shoot," Rainbow cursed, glimpsing over to her sleeping son, "I should get home soon." The gaming ponies found the front door swinging open, revealing a silhouette that stormed inside. With the light hitting her, the shadow was exposed to be an infuriated Applejack that plopped onto the loveseat next to them. She let out a grunt as she crossed her arms.

"Yer back from the party early," Big Macintosh noted, "And don't ya have a fancy-smancy hotel room you should be stayin' in?"

"Ah just wanted t'stop by here," she murmured.

"Hey how was the game?" Rainbow cut in eagerly. Applejack forced out a laugh.

"The game! Oh y'all wouldn't believe what happened! So here Ah am, sittin' on the sidelines cheerin' fer my husband and all…because really what else am Ah good for? Anyway, he stops by durin' one of the time-out or whatever and says hello. Then his fans and teammates start chantin' fer us to kiss. Ah told him no but he kept pushin' the idea. Ah guess the kiss cam was on us or somethin' and Ah still didn't want to do it yet he forced himself onto me anyway." She reclined back to glare at the ceiling. "What am Ah, some kinda accessory or somethin'? Ah feel like Ah'm an accessory. That's what Ah am. An accessory!"

"Well," Rainbow interjected, "you're normally supposed to kiss when the camera is on-"

"Ah was so mad! And that's not even the worst part! We had to go to that stupid after-party. Y'all already knew that. But Ah've been askin' him fer weeks now, Ah don't want to stay out till the buckin' sun comes up the next mornin'. Is that so hard to do? But he never listens, just never listens. Ah'm not part of that crowd but he still insists that we stay at these parties. Tonight, however, he promised me that we'd leave earlier than usual. Fine Ah told him. He said we'd leave by 8. Well, sir, by time it was 8:30 he was dead set on stayin' at the party like usual. Doncha understand? Ah'm tired-- exhausted-- and all Ah want is a lil rest but Ah don't think he hears me. Especially since we're back in Ponyville and Ah have to work on the farm again, Ah need that sleep."

"Does he know ya left?" her brother asked.

"Ah threatened that Ah'd leave but Ah don't think he believed me. Well Ah'm sure he believes me now."

"Is he still at the after-party?" Rainbow probed.

"Don't know, pretty sure he is. Either way, Ah don't feel like dealin' with him right now." Rising to her hooves, she let out a big yawn. "Gotta terrible headache. If ya don't mind, Big Mac, Ah think Ah'd like to stay here tonight."

"Aren't ya gonna call him?"

"Ah have already with the pay phone but there's no answer. Music's probably too loud."

"Ah feel bad," Big Macintosh admitted after she left the room, "Ah mean, she's my lil sister and Ah don't like seein' her like this."

"I know but she's a grown mare and a married one at that. It's up to her to work on that marriage she got herself into."

"Rainbow, both you and Ah know how she got herself into this marriage. It wasn't one she was askin' fer."

"True, but she still wants the relationship," she pointed out, tossing the cards in front of her, "What d'ya say? Another game before Sums and I hit the road?"

"Eeyup."

"Let’s make it interesting. I win and you foalsit Summerfree for a week. You win and I'll…plough your farm for a week."

"So basically either you'll do my job or Ah'll do yours?"

"Exactly." Several minutes later, they heard a knock on the door and they figured who could be waiting on the other side.

"S'open," the robust stallion called out, stalling for the door to unlatch.

"Is Applejack here?" Soarin asked, leaning on the door frame.

"Yeah, she's in her bedroom," Rainbow informed him, leading him inside, "Might as well take a little rest in here, huh? She told us everything."

"You mean like when she slapped me when I kissed her on the kiss cam?"

"…OK, so she didn't tell us everything…"

"And how she just ditched me at the party?" The orange filly stumbled out from the hallways while scratching her head.

"Would y'all keep it-" Applejack froze in the living room, her emerald orbs meeting Soarin's. "Ah hope ya came to 'pologize."

"Actually I came to find out why you would leave me stranded over there like that," he shot back.

"Oh, ya noticed Ah was gone?" she sardonically countered.

"Of course I noticed you were missing! I was looking everywhere for you! You really embarrassed me, AJ!"

"Oh here we go!" she exclaimed, stomping towards him, "All about ya, isn't it? Ah told ya Ah was leavin'! Remember? Ya promised we'd leave at 8 and that didn't happen!"

"Well I don't want to be rude-"

"Hold it, hold it," Big Macintosh interrupted, stepping forward, "How 'bout y'all talk about this in a calmer manner?" The glaring ponies both huffed and faced the opposite way.

"Ah ain't talkin' t'him," Applejack spat out.

"I can't deal with her," Soarin concurred.

"Now, c'mon don't be this way," Big Macintosh gently pleaded as he escorted them towards the empty bedroom, "Y'all need to talk 'bout this."

"We don't need to talk about anything," Soarin blurted out as he reached the doorframe.

"Yeah, butt out," Applejack ordered. The large stallion shoved them into the bedroom across the hall and reached for the handle.

"Ah ain't lettin' y'all out until the two of ya talk things out." After shutting the door, the country pony strolled into the living again with a reassuring smile.

"Are ya sure that's such a great idea, Big Mac?" Rainbow questioned as she gripped onto the infant, "They seemed pretty ticked at each other."

"Don't worry, Ah'm sure they'll sort things out like adult ponies should."

"YOU CRAZY MARE! WHO ARE YOU TO SLAP ME ON CAMERA IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE AND DITCH ME AT A PARTY WITHOUT ANY NOTICE!"

"THE KIND OF WIFE WHO'S SICK OF YER MANURE!"

"Doesn't sound too good," Rainbow quipped casually.

"WHAT AM I? YER DECORATION? YER PROJECT? YER…YER…"

"Accessory?" Rainbow helped, receiving a dirty glimpse from Big Macintosh. "Outta her mouth, not mine."

Meanwhile, back in the bedroom, Applejack and Soarin found themselves in a verbal stalemate.

"All I'm saying is you're acting very stubborn lately," Soarin hissed, "You're as stubborn as a mule!"

"How would you feel if ya found out the sweet, goofy, lovable pony ya once knew turned out to be a frat colt?"

"Frat colt? Is that what you really think I am?"

"Yes Ah do! Ah feel like Ah gave up so much for ya with livin' in the public life and goin' along with this lie and Ah don't get any appreciation fer it!"

"Of course I do! You know, I'm not having it easy either! Have ya ever thunk of that?"

"What's going on?" a tender voice asked. They turned to find Applebloom standing by the threshold with an untidy mane. "Ah heard y'all from the next room."

"Did uh, did Granny Smith send ya in here?" Applejack questioned, fiddling with her ponytail.

"Nah, she's still asleep. Y'all have to yell louder than that to wake her up."

"Applebloom, ya should really get some rest," Applejack suggested, meeting her up at the door.

"Why were y'all yellin' at each other like that?"

"It's none of yer concern, AB. We didn't mean to yell like that."

"You should get some rest kiddo," Soarin interjected, "Sorry about waking you up." Applebloom examined them for a moment and excused herself out of the room. Once when she closed the door, Applejack sprawled across the bed and covered her face during a long moan. Soarin joined her by sitting on the edge and gave a big sigh.

"Why are we fightin' all the time now?" she wondered out loud.

"I think anypony who's been stuck with me for almost twenty four hours a day every day for months on end would be a little on edge." A warm giggle escaped her lips as she placed her head on his lap.

"Course Ah haven't been the best of ponies either," she guiltily admitted.

"I think it's the stress of it all."

"How d'ya deal with it? And don't give me that whole lecture on how you've been in this business since ya can remember 'cause everypony has to feel some emotion at some time in their life." He shrugged as he ran his hoof through her blonde stands mindlessly.

"You want the honest truth?"

"What d'ya think?"

"The partying scene just helps me get through it all. Just being around the ponies I can relate to and just having that one night of just forgetting it all makes me cope through the craziness of it all. That and well of course exercising and flying. But sometimes I need a little more of an escape though, you now?" He blew out his breath from his mouth. "Only issue is my whole 'escape plan' can cause even more problems and hurt other ponies in my life like you."

"Don't feel too bad, sugarcube," Applejack consoled, "Ah haven't showin' the best side o' me to ya lately either."

"Yeah, no kiddin'," he teased, receiving a light punch from her.

"And now that were back home, we gotta meet up with endless amount of clients for our big ol' weddin'."

"Geesh, it seems like this whole marriage situation will never end." Applejack straightened herself up to look at him.

"So how will this work? The whole nullification thing?" She let out a chuckle. "To tell ya the truth, Ah pretty much forgot about that these past few weeks."

"I don't know. I don't even think we've planned that far ahead yet." They were quiet for a moment and Applejack smoothed out the covers underneath her with her hoof to pass time.

"Maybe we should get to bed," she proposed.

"Yeah, we deserve it," he agreed, "Should I move to the couch or-"

"Why are earth would ya do that? This bed is big enough fer the both of us."

"B-but what would your family say about us sleeping in the same bed in their home?"

"C'mon Soarin, we've been married fer three months now. Ah think it'd be weirder if we didn't share a bed. Plus, you'll want to sleep in my bed; it's even better than some of the hotel beds believe it or not." Scooting over to make room for him, Applejack held up the covers as Soarin slid into the linens. As she reached over for the lamp on her dresser, she heard him speak to her again.

"Can I be frank with you, AJ?"

"Ah prefer ya to be Soarin," she joked.

"With all that's going on, the nullification is just one of the things that I wish I didn't have to worry about." Facing him, Applejack noted that his eyes were shut and decided to not question him further. Yanking on the lamps switch, she wished him a good night and sunk into the covers.

……………………………

With the sunlight's warmth against his fur, Soarin leisurely exposed his green eyes and glanced out the window. Stretching out his limbs, his showed a satisfied grin. Although never a morning pony, living with Applejack had him accustomed to waking up with the sun rise. The colors of the landscape out of the window had him stop for a second; they seemed so pure. Applejack wasn't kidding about the bed he thought to himself as he buried himself again. To wake her up he placed his hooves on her shoulders and peered over her to give her a gentle shake. She let out an annoyed groan and dug her face into her pillow.

"C'mon, sleepy head," he whispered, feeling the pain in his thigh again from last night, "Geesh, you really are a kicker."

"Ah can't…" her voice trailed off.

"Yes you can, you have stuff to do today." She rolled over and pressed her forehead against his chest. "Y'know, I kinda dig this morning look on you."

"Please stop," she begged irritably.

"No really. The swollen face, the crusties in your eyes and messy hair. This is the first time I get to see this up close." Expecting a laugh or some sort of positive response, he only got a strained squeak from her. "Hey, what's up?"

"Ah'm not feelin' too hot," she whined, shutting her eyes tight.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Ah don't know, Ah jus' gotta terrible migraine and bad stomach ache and everythin' is spinnin'…" Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself from the bed and reached for her hat. "Ah well, somepony's gotta buck the apple trees."

"You can't be saying you'll do it!"

"Yes Ah am," she determined, struggling to catch her balance.

"AJ, this is ridiculous," he pronounced, sliding out to stand next to her, "For Pete's sake, you can't even stand straight!"

"Ah'm fine! Besides, the apples are bloomin' and Ah need to get 'em all!"

"Listen, how about I'll do it? In fact, I prefer that I do it, that way you can get some rest."

"Ah don't need any help! Ah-"

"Haven't you ever learned to accept help when it's offered to you?" Applejack reflected for a short time and sat back down on the bed.

"Funny ya mentioned that 'cause Ah'm still workin' on that." Soarin pulled the blankets over her and placed her hat back on her dresser.

"Alright, I'm going to see your brother about this and I want you to just relax. Must be the season changes or something." Soarin paused as his face lit up. "In fact, maybe I can ask Sequin Sparkle about you. Maybe she'll know what's up." Applejack showed a grateful smile.

"Don't work too hard, m'kay?" she requested meekly, "Ah really appreciate this."

…………………………..

"Now, ya gotta plant yer forelegs as ya kick the tree," Big Macintosh instructed as he demonstrated his directions, "Like that. And those apples that don't fall into all the baskets should be picked up and placed into the baskets, y'hear?"

"Got it, loud and clear," Soarin assured. Frankly, the blue Pegasus still found himself trembling with the elongated observations from the large horse.

"Why don't ya give it a shot?" Nodding quickly, Soarin twisted his body so that his flank faced the tree and kept upright on his forelegs as he retracted his hind ones. Thrusting out his back limbs, he felt a sharp pain go throughout his body as his hooves slammed against the bark. Disappointment grew in his chest when he watched only a few apples plop onto the ground. A loud guffaw was heard near him.

"Some athlete," Braeburn retorted, tugging some of the apple carts.

"Y'know how them pegasi are," Big Macintosh called out, "They're petit." As the two stallions humored themselves, the young filly rolled her eyes and joined Soarin's side.

"Ah think y'all should cut it out and give him a break!" she defended, "He's makin' a better earth pony than y'all would a winged pony!" Again, Soarin kicked the tree again with better results. "See? He's improvin' already!"

"Thanks, buck-o," he gratefully reacted.

"No problem! Ah think my new brother-in-law should have a nice welcome into the Apple family." The young horse brushed past her cousin and bother to continue her task. "Ah suggest y'all should to the same," she advised with a subtle tone of voice.

Back in her bedroom, Applejack surveyed the colorful pony dig through her bag. Never in Applejack's life had she seen some many sparkles on a bag.

"OK, open your mouth, honey," Soarin's sister directed, holding up a thermometer.

"Are ya sure ya know what yer doin'?" Applejack questioned before dropping her mouth.

"Of course, babe, Imma doct-ah," Sequin Sparkle confirmed.

"Ah thought yer were still in medical school?"

"Alright so I'm close tah bein' a doct-ah, OK? Now lemme stick this in ya." Applejack bit down on the thermometer and rose her eyebrow at the stethoscope the student pulled out from her sack while placing in her ears. Yanking out the thermometer from Applejack's mouth, the sister-in-law shook it to read the numbers and clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth.

"Does it look bad?"

"Temp's above normal," she notified, leaning her forward, "Alright, so I'm gonna hear your heartbeat." The cool metal caused chills to spread throughout the country pony's body. "Breathe. Again. Once mor-uh."

"What's wrong with me?"

"You're sick." Applejack huffed and laid her head against the pillow again.

"Well Ah knew that. How else would Ah-" She soon found herself with a spoon inside her mouth filled with warm soup. "Blah! What was that?"

"It'll make ya feel bett-ah."

"It tastes terrible!"

"Shaddup and drink it. You'll feel new as a nickel tomorr-ah mornin'," she promised, holding up the spoon with more of the liquid, "Here comes the train, choo choo-"

"Ah'm not a lil filly."

"Well your actin' like one," she replied, shoving the spoon into her throat, "Y'know, my ma and family and I have been thinkin' 'bout ya."

"Oh yeah?" Applejack rejoined, gasping for air, "What have y'all been sayin'?"

"That finally Soarin didn't screw up with this one." The patient was taken back for Sequin's words.

"Pardon?"

"We were just thinkin' 'bout the past fillies he's went out with and we all agreed that your probably the best one his dated. Well, married now."

"Really?"

"Mmm-hmm. The past girls, well, didn't have a lot goin' on in their heads. I'm an intellectual pony, y'see; I like tuh have smart and insightful conversations. I can tell I can have a lot o' those with ya."

"Oh that's really-" Applejack was cut off by another spoonful of soup.

"Yup, he certainly got his head on straight this time. All of his past girlfriends only wanted to be famous and meet celebrities. They nev-ah even tried t'show that they even care for him. Ironically, he told me that your tryin' tah get away from that."

"Oh yeah? What else did he tell ya 'bout us?"

"Jus' the usual lovey-dovey stuff. How ya made him see things clear-uh, how close you two are becomin', blah blah blah…"

"Really?"

"Yeah, you the most serious one he's been 'bout," she told her, reaching for the jewelry in Applejack's ear, "And this proves it."

………………………………..........

"Ah hope yer workin' up a sweat," Braeburn jested, inspecting the many baskets filled with the red fruits around him, "Looks like yer workin' hard."

"You bet," Soarin panted, viewing the colt trot off towards the barn. He caught eye contact with Big Macintosh plowing the fields and the scarlet pony decided to saunter towards him.

"Ah don't think we 'xactly got off to a great start," Big Macintosh confessed.

"Yeah, I uh didn't really leave a great first impression. Or the one after that."

"Fer some reason, my sister takes a likin' to ya. To tell ya the truth, Ah'm startin' to see why she does."

"I'm glad you do because I care for her too. That's why I wanted her to be my wife."

"Ya don't have to put up that act in front of me. Ah found out the real reason why y'all married a while ago. She told me that she was trapped with options that she didn't want to take." Soarin reverted his gaze to the ground under him. "So tell me, how long will this shtick be?"

"With all due respect, sir, I believe that's an issue between her and I. Despite her being your little sister, she's an adult and one that plays an important role in my life." Perhaps it was his nerves but Soarin swore he saw a tiny smirk emerge from Big Macintosh's lips that quickly disappeared.

"True, but Ah still have to look out fer her best bein'. How can Ah trust you with her knowin' that this marriage is basically all fer publicity?"

"Because it's so much more than just an image. These past three months have basically just been her and I together. We woke up together, rehearsed and played together, ate together and fought. Even the few times when I wasn't with her for whatever reason, may it be for training or a game, my mind is on her. She's too much of an important pony for me to let go. She just makes sense to me. Have you ever had that feeling?" A friendly chortle fled the farmer's mouth as a verification. "I can't guarantee that I can always protect her, but I am willing to try. And when I don't, I can't help but get angry at myself. I don't know if I'm exactly in love yet, I've never experienced that to be honest so I'm not sure what it's like. But I can safely say this is more than just a crush."

Unexpectedly, Big Macintosh's green orbs began to well up as he brought his hoof to his lips.

"Welcome to the family!" he sniffed as Soarin flashed an awkward smile.

……………………………..

"Boy, you look beat up," the sassy filly commented as she saw her brother emerge into the room, "What's the matt-ah with ya? Don't track mud on the poor girl's carpet!"

"I think I have a new appreciation for your work ethic, AJ," Soarin remarked, shuffling over to give a peck on the sick pony's burning forehead as he ignored his female sibling.

"They didn't harass ya too much, did they?" she jibed, patting the empty space next to her for him.

"Just a little," he declared, plopping himself on the mattress, "But it wasn't too bad. I was more worried what this motor mouth had to tell you."

"For your information, mist-uh, we had a great conversation. Right, Applejack?"

"Well, you were doin' most of the talkin'…"

"I bett-uh head off. I gotta meet a girlfriend for lunch. Feel bett-ah, doll face!"

"Thanks fer everything!" she called out then facing Soarin, "Yer sister's sweet."

"That's one word that isn't associated with her too much."

"Was my brother bein' too overprotective? Ah saw y'all through the window."

"A little, but it's because he loves you. He just asked me what I thought about you and the marriage."

"Oh Celestia," she mumbled, bringing her hoof to her forehead. "Ah'm so sorry."

"It's fine. Really." Applejack suddenly remembered something that Soarin said the night prior.

"About that thing ya said when you told me ya didn't want to worry about the nullification, what did ya mean by that?"

"Dunno," he blurted out, then played with his hooves, "I mean, as if things aren't already crazy enough, I think getting a nullification and go through a public break-up can complicate things."

"Funny how much our plans have changed. 'N' our opinions of those plans." She blew out a deep sigh. "So what are ya sayin'? We don't get the nullification?"

"I-I really don't know what I'm saying."

"If we don't get it, we're married fer good. And Ah don't know yer view of marriage, but it's somethin' that lasts for life and not to be taken advantage of."

"I'm a family stallion myself," he reminded, "Neither my parents nor grandparents have ever divorced…no matter how many times they scream at each other. I'm not like most show-biz ponies where I take it for granted."

"Well then if we don't get the nullification and stay married, Ah expect the result would be fer us to be husband and wife fer life." She dropped her voice for a spooky effect. "Till death! Oooo!"

"Honestly, I think I'm ready to settle down. And now that I got the feel of married life, it's not so bad."

"Three months and now yer some kinda expert?" she teased with slight doubt, "So yer OK growin' old with me and all that?"

"Yeah. I mean, your one of the few ponies that actually makes sense to me."

"Ya already met Granny Smith. That's the future me and yer OK with it?"

"Well, Granny Smith's pretty spry," he kidded, "What d'ya think?"

"Ah can't believe we're talkin' about it like this," she laughed, then turning serious again, "Not sure. Ah mean it's somethin' Ah need to consider. This idea just suddenly popped up outta nowhere, ya gotta give me time. One thing's fer sure, ya definitely gave me one of the craziest rides of my life."

"Babe, this is just a kiddie ride compared to the rollercoaster were gonna face."