It hit me like a wall of bricks. I really felt like a stupid dragon now. IDIOT! HOW DID I NOT THINK OF THAT? I jumped up and started leaping high off the ground around Applejack, shaking the small hill with every landing, all the while yipping and grunting in frustration. I don't need a pencil, I just need my claw!! Oh, the- !! She stood up and watched me, both confused and alarmed.

"What is it?" she cried, over my howling. Finally I leapt forward and hit the ground with my stomach and laid there still, closing my eyes tightly and taking deep breaths through my nostrils. Poor Applejack galloped up and rested her hoof on my tenderly head. I turned my head up into her deeply concerned and caring eyes, and just like that I was reverted back to a puppy-like state. So blameless. I'm sorry it took me so long, Applejack. I paused for just a moment longer, then stood up over the patch of soft soil I had torn up in my rolling, and sat back on my tail. I raised my front right foot/claws and looked at my wife, who was watching intently, then back at my claw. Then I turned it sideways and watched it all the way down until I buried the tip of my index claw into the mud. When I stopped and looked back at up her, I discovered she was already walking up to me and didn't stop until she was right beside me, watching with tremendous anticipation.

When I had written the third letter, her eyes widened and she gasped. There was no need for me to finish writing it out, but I did anyway. She looked up in wide realization, and I could see she was both angry with the one responsible and perhaps herself for not having guessed it.

"Discord..."

Yep, I moaned, as I shook my head up and down. It was deeply hurting me to see her becoming so upset. I went to stand up to comfort her, but just as I did a small ball of light flickered a few yards in front of us. It jolted me something fierce; instinctively I whipped around and spread my wings to make us look more intimidating to a threat. There was a rush of night wind sucking into the ball of light. Oh no... I really didn't want to hurt him unless he was deliberately threatening her. But even so, a fiery and protective anger stirred up inside me as I realized what was coming. I couldn't let anything happen to her.  

"Did somebody say my name?" echoed the growing ball of light that had begun to shoot rays. I stood myself up and walked behind Applejack, though not taking my burning eyes off the luminous sphere in front of us. I lowered my chin to her back and encouraged her to lower her body so I could walk over her and shelter her under my own. I growled; he wasn't going to lay a fingernail on her if he had one. It felt as though the gas in my stomach was letting me know it was there for me to draw up through my mouth and unleash on him if he threatened her. I had to be careful, though; it was a terrible weapon that I was horrified at the thought of, but if it was to be used against evil - especially if Applejack, the sweetest of all creatures, or our child were in danger- that fear of using it disappeared.

Finally the draconequus emerged in a burst of light, and with a snap of his fingers, a shining searchlight appeared under him as he hovered a few feet above the ground with a fake look of surprise hiding his wild amusement. He has a love for the dramatic entry and anything that allows him to show off his powers. He looked directly at me and smiled deviously, then started to laugh, which I found extremely annoying.

"Well look who it is! One week? I was beginning to think you'd given up or something. I didn't want to say that you're just simple farmers, but..." he cackled. Oh for Pete's sake, not this again. Don't listen to him, Applejack. "Come now, Applejack, come out from under your husband's belly and join the party." As I watched him intently and growled at him, I felt an angry Applejack crawling out from under me to stand up and talk to him herself.

"Ah' should've known it was you all along," she said, standing boldly beside me and loyally pressing her shoulder against mine.

"I don't wanna say 'I agree, you should have', but..." he sneered. "A," he stated blankly, after which he shook his head no. "B, C", he added, continuing to shake his head. "D?"

Finally he shook his head up and down, then shrugged his arms and smiled mockingly at her. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that it had the shaken her confidence a little bit, and I could feel in her a flicker of disappointment in herself. Not having any of that, I lowered my over her and snarled at him.

"Change my AJ back, or so help me ah'll-"

"Oh, come on!" he said, cutting her off and opening his hands. He floated towards me with a prankish smile, and I leaned back as though to recoil in my unwanting of him. "Forget banjos and cowboy hats; he was meant to be like this, just look at him, he's a natural fit. Isn't that right, dragon boy?" It was an especially humiliating taunt, and I snapped my mouth at him but in a flash of light he was gone, leaving us in silence. Applejack and I looked each other woefully, but his voice turned us around.

"Back here," he said cheerfully, now floating between us and the lake, so the two of us turned around. Applejack stomped her hoof in the ground.

"Discord, ah' have had enough of this! Change him back!" she said sternly. Yeah, I grumbled. He put on a surprised face of guiltless disagreement once more before laughing it off.

"Uh-ho, nope, don't want to."

An uneasy feeling came over me as I seemed to really feel my new form, like how I felt the moment after he first gave it to me. I felt my tail, my wings, my hyde, my four legs. I looked over at a frustrated Applejack; it gave me a bit of a heartache to know that Applejack didn't know that he knew about our foal. She kicked the dirt twice with her front hoof.

"If you wanna talk, then at least give my hubby his voice back!" she demanded. Discord shrugged with a grin.

"Oh come on, he doesn't need to talk, he can use his growls, howls, and all the other means he's been using to communicate."

When the two of us stared in angry silence at him together, he rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers. There was a brief silence; I didn't seem to feel any different. My caring wife looked hopefully to me, and I to her. I raised my right claw to my throat and pressed down gently.

"Applejack?" I muttered. She shot me a brief, loving smile, as though she was both happy for me and happy to hear my voice again. The two of blushed at each other and our anger was suspended, but when a certain chaotic spirit coughed, we both turned bitterly back to him.  

"Let's talk. I have a generous offer to propose to my favorite lovers. I'm sure you've changed your mind, AJ," he said, causing what appeared to be a cup of soda to appear in his eagle claw and sunglasses over his eyes.

"Sunglasses at night? Really?" I heard myself say, to which he pulled them down and glared, followed by a chuckle.

"Party pooper. No cake for you -oh! Sorry! Rather, no whatever-it-is-dragons-eat for you, birds, fish perhaps?" he said with a smug smile while throwing the sunglasses away. That was far more humiliating than the first remark, which I'm sure you know why. As angry and embarrassed as it made me, I knew I had to be more careful. No more comments like that. Applejack never backed down, and she stood proudly up against me.

"Yer bein' downright mean, ya know that? Fluttershy ain't gonna be too happy when she hears about this," she said, and Discord did not seem to like it.

"Oh I don't think so. And I know much more than that," he said to her and followed with a devious smile at the both of us before frowning. "You two have never made any attempt to understand me like dear Fluttershy has. No one else has, for that matter. If you had, you'd know I'm not the bad guy anymore."

"Ah' don't know what kinda game of horseshoes yer playin', but ah' don't like it one bit. Don't you dare talk to my AJ that way," said my wife. Discord chuckled.

"You know Applejack, I'd love to have a talk with you in private," he said.  

"No!" I yelled, and finished it with a growl. Discord turned to me unamused at first, but then smiled again and he shot forward with his palm open and headed straight for me. My anger immediately turned into fear, and the worst kind of all, too; the fear of failing Applejack.

"Now if you weren't being so rude, I'd happily talk to her in front of you; no matter, you'll be awake and reunited with your farm pony shortly," he said.

"Wait!" cried a desperate Applejack. Oh no you don't! I went to draw up the gas from my stomach and breath fire on him, but it was too late; he put his claw on my forehead. Uh oh.

My poor hubby closed his eyes tumbled to the ground on his belly like a plum-tuckered cow. My heart was already a mite heavy, and I was tryin' to figure out what in the hay Discord was up to, but when I saw this, I was so worried I could hardly breathe. At first I thought Discord maybe done something terrible to him. I felt like a darn fool for not having thought of what Discord had said about the alphabet and what not, and it was saddening since this mare ain't ever trying to do nothin' but take care of her family, her foal, and her sweetheart who heaven knows has taken better care of her than she could ever ask for.

"AJ!" I sat myself down and cuddled his still-cute but no-so-little face. Hey now, Imma take care of you.

"Fear not, Applejack, the dragon merely slumbers. He will wake up when you and I have had our little private chat and when you whisper your sweet little country draw into his ear," he said. I looked him over; he was asleep alright, and his belly was movin' up and down, and he didn't seem hurt none, not on the outside at least. But I'd had enough; that joker had gone too far, and boy howdy, I was madder than a wet hen and meaner than a striped snake. Ain't nobody be doin' that to my AJ.  

"What do you want?" I snapped as I stood right on up to face him. He can't take nothing seriously; he acted like he was all surprised before he slithered down and around me.

"So quick to forget that I am reformed! I'm not seeking to do harm to anymore. I give you my word, I will never do any harm to you or AJ or all the other Apples, regardless of what becomes of this conversation," he said, looking me in the eye. "What do I want? Well let me ask you, what do you want, O honest one?"

"Ah' want you to leave my sugarcube and me alone." He slithered back to where he was, floatin' off the ground in front of me.  

"And I will give you what you exactly that. If..." I did not like the sound of that. He's crazier than a junebug and prouder than a peacock.

"If what?"

Discord looked like he'd come to a dead end tryin' to figure out what to say. You could see his gears turnin' in his head. I was no happy camper with him, but I heard my sugarcube snoring behind me. I looked over my shoulder at him; he's cuter than a box of puppies when he sleeps, no less even as a dragon. I felt a tug on my heart, and my some of my anger turned into worry. Don't go puttin' him in a bad spot now, Applejack.

"Hm... How do I put this? Let's just say there's a problem in Canterlot, and I'm going to deal with it."

"What do ya mean? And what does this got to do with me and AJ? And turnin' him into a dragon?" I said, raising my eyebrow. He just cackled and shrugged his arms.

"Just listen to me, will you? Ok, let's just say I've got this ... idea, you see. Celestia's rule is, hmmm... failing? She doesn't have the strength to defend these ponies of outside threats. It's only a matter of time before something co-"

"What are you talkin' about? Princess Celestia is one humdinger of a good princess," I said. He didn't seem to like that none.

"She's a dotard," he scoffed. Truth be told, I don't know what that even means, but I know it ain't good. "Why is it that a thousand years passed until I was attempted to be reformed? Why not ten years? Why not fifty, heck why not a hundred? If only you knew what I know, you'd agree with me." I looked aside. I wanted to tell him he's a few apples short of a bushel, but I refrained. Deep breaths, Applejack. At least I was gettin' that he felt he was entitled to something.

"So what're you gonna do about it?" I said. The devil raised his eyebrows and chuckled.

"I know you'll be fine with it. I'm going to relieve her, so we can all live in harmony. You must promise to not use your little- you know, honest thingy- against me."

You coulda knocked me over with a feather. I couldn't believe my own ears. Jumpin' junebugs... He wants the throne for himself... And now he's tryin' to blackmail us! Ah' shoulda known. Poor AJ, ropin' him into this. Ah'm goin' straight to Twilight. Discord turned his head and threw his arms up.

"Well? Think about the- "

"No."

"No?" he said with a frown. But after that came one wicked grin. "Oh! I see how it is."

At that moment, just about all of my courage went south. That beam of his after that frown was enough to scare the soul out of a crow. As angry I was, he's a force to be reckoned with alright. I had forgot to respect his powers and what not, and now I was worried sick. All I could think about was that dragon behind me, so I started backing up towards where my hubby was sleeping. He floated over to near AJ, and that made me scared beyond what I can say.

"You want him to stay that way? Fine. I didn't think you'd be so content to remain married to a dragon forever, then again, you were married to a human," he said, shrugging his arms. He floated over AJ out into the meadows before turning around. "Did you ever stop to think that this what AJ wants? Your foal is going to be super confused when he sees his mom and 'dad' and then looks in the mirror."

I was redder than a ripe tomato. That cut me real deep. I'm sure he could saw it my eyes, too. How did he know about that? He is the daggone last pony I would think to tell first. He knew before the family. That ain't right. I laid back down and put my hoof on my sugarcube's chin. I needed him awake right about now, but I couldn't, not with that creature watching me.

"So what, you're not gonna change him back 'less we help you?"

"Nah, you wanna keep playing the game. That's fine with me, I'm patient! I waited a thousand years. I'll be back in a few months to see how you two are doing. You know, I've got nothing wrong with a dragon-pony romance, but the townsponies?" he said, slithering through the air around me. "If you hide him from them, they'll think he left you. They will scoff at your foal. That will not be so easy for him to take," he said with a sly smile. His rotten words were slashing my heart like corn, and I reckon I was chokin' up. Somehow I managed to stick it to him one more time.

"No. They ain't gonna be like that. Besides, we don't care what other ponies think." I said, wrapping myself around AJ's neck, and he flipped over on his side.

"Wait and see! I won't say I told you so when they laugh and scorn. Watch it destroy him," he continued.

I couldn't help it no more, and I started crying. Discord was hurting me real bad. I wanted to whisper in AJ's ear so badly. It made me so sad to think that Discord would allow this forever. We couldn't swear against the Princess though, get ourselves involved in that! I didn't know what to do. But I still managed some honest words from my heart. I didn't care, I still don't care what other ponies think. My AJ and me are gonna raise a foal of our own, and we're gonna love it to death, whether or not we get out of this. We're closer than ever.  "We'll just tell 'em all what you did."

"Oh I don't think so! That's not part of the game. No telling the townsponies that I'm involved. As if they'll believe you. When the little runt wakes up tomorrow, he'll be back to no talking. But it doesn't have to be that way if you simply-"

"When I tell Fluttershy- "

"You WON'T tell Fluttershy!"

Save my husband's snoring and my own sniffing, there was a silence. I wiped my eyes with my hoof and stared at him. My other front leg was holding AJ's head. My belly hurt real bad, though not nearly as bad as my heart. I just wanted Discord to go away and never bother us again. I just wanted to be alone with my sweetheart and our baby.

"Ugh," he sighed. "Why do you make me do this? Look, I said I wouldn't hurt you two, and I haven't. And I won't. But when I return, you either change your mind, or you'd both better get used to - that."  

In a rush of wind and a flash, he was gone, and I was left alone under the stars save my sleeping husband and the foal inside me.

I cradled AJ's head in my arms and held it tight to my belly and rocked him back and forth. I ain't felt so awful in all my life. I couldn't stop sniveling, and I was crying a river. I felt so bad for his gentle soul. That minute after Discord left was the worst and the loneliest. I ain't never bit off more than I did just then. It was all churning around in my head, everything he said. I ain't got to repeat, you heard him. It was weighing me down something so terrible I can't even describe it. The worst thought of all was all that  coupled with what the quill seller had said. The thought of losing my AJ was more than I could bear. I couldn't even hardly think about it it hurt so much. It'd been a mighty warm feeling knowing my foal would have both his ma and his pa to raise to him. I couldn't say yes to that clown Discord, and that we'd help him overthrow the princess. That wouldn't end well for us or Equestria. My hubby was the only thing that could provide me any kind of relief. I thought about all our special moments on the farm. At least ah' got you back where you belong. Ah love you so much. I longed to hear that sweet voice of his. Tonight was gonna be my last chance, too, before probably a long time at least.

All I had to do was whisper in his ear and he'd wake up, and we'd be together. I needed him then more than ever, too. But I could hardly bring myself to wake him up. It would make him so sad to see me like this, and seein' him sad is more than this girl can bear. I couldn't bring myself to tell him he might be stuck like this forever. That he might be raising our foal with me this way. In his sweetness he never passes up a chance to comfort me, and I could never doubt his love that always is lookin' for ways to make me happy. Just seeing him awake and looking in those eyes would make me happy. And hearing his voice, too. Don't give up, now. He's a smart cookie, he is. We'll figure out a way to stop Discord. And if we don't, I still love you to death, sugarcube, and wouldn't trade nothin' for you, dragon or human. You're still the cutest thing ever in my eyes, inside and out.

"Ah' remember when ah' first realized ah' had a crush on you," I whispered. His beautiful blue eyes opened slowly, and I was happy to see them, so I gave them a smile. "Ah' couldn't believe ah' fell head over heels for you. When you came by the farm that one day, ah' ain't never been more nervous in my whole life."

"Applejack?" he said softly. His eyes were so delighted by what I'd said, it was the cutest thing. But it didn't take him long to remember. "Is he gone? What happened? Are you hurt?"

He stood up anxiously, but I just wrapped around his neck again, couldn't help myself. It was the only thing to help the pain.

"He's gone alright, but please don't be mad, sugarcube. Ah' can't take it," I had to wipe my nose before I could finish, because I was sniveling like a dog. He couldn't be angry when he saw me. He wasn't gonna feel better until I felt better.

"Hey, it's alright. Here," he sat back on his tail and invited me to his belly. I buried myself in his black skin like a squirrel in the dirt. I know I'm supposed to be strong, but I was cryin' mighty hard into him. All those mean things Discord had said, about everypony scoffing at our baby, driving AJ into depression, a kind of battle between my hubby and the townsponies, it was all eating me like a worm in an apple. "Did he tell you he wouldn't change me back unless we agreed to help him?"

"Ah' am so sorry, sugarcube. Ya know ah' love you no matter what," I whispered. That was the only way I could tell it. Yes, that is. It was the only honest thing I could say, because I was too hurt to say nothin' else. I felt a drop of water on my back, and I reckon that was a dragon tear, followed by his dragon claws resting themselves on top of me.  

"Dear, sweet Applejack," I heard him say. I woulda been dead if I'd been anywhere else but where I was. "We'll figure out a way to beat him. We've been through so much together, and we've always gotten through it. And if I don't get back to being a human, well we still have each other, and as we saw today, that's all that matters. I still love you with all of my heart, and all of my strength, you and what's inside you."

"That's what ah' cant bear," I said, sobbing like a filly. I was like wet sourkraut. I was broken. "It was something the quill seller said today. He said if the townsponies saw a dragon close to town, they might try 'n...kill..." I could hardly talk, and I was stuttering on my own tongue. "Ma and pa were hard enough, but you? Ah' couldn't-"

He was surprised at first, I could see it in him. He wasn't ready for it, I reckon. If ya'll have ever loved someone, or been a mother or father, you'd understand the pain I felt. He looked away with concern, but then he answered with a most tender expression, same as always.

"Come on, Applejack, you know I'm not going anywhere. And even if I did, " he said, looking right down at me and holding me nice and tight. I admit it was a bit strange to feel so mightily loved by a dragon. "Not all of us arrive together at the end, but same as your parents, I'll always be with you."

"Ah'd miss you so much." He smiled at me. And coupled with his voice, it was a warmth you can't find nowhere else.

"I would miss you too, Applejack. But I'll always be with you. We're always a part of each other, I in you and you in I. My spirit lives in your heart, and yours in mine. You have the most beautiful heart, and that's why you must always listen to it."  

His words were like sweet apples for my soul. Now darn tootin' I was still sad, but a few minutes ago I'd never thought I'd feel this way again. I remembered I had a right special blessing in that boy, and when you're crazy in love, it's hard not to feel soft.

"By the way," he said with a grin. "I do remember the time you first realized you had a crush on me, because that was right around the time I realized I had a crush on you. I remember going to the farm, thinking of any excuse I could to see the most caring, hard working, beautiful girl I've ever seen. And when I found out she had a crush on me, well... it felt like my soul was flooded with lover's bliss. And it's been that way ever since, only the more I know you the happier I get."

That is what they call a farmer's delight. It was just what my weary soul needed, and I was almost happy again. With every breath of AJ's belly, I felt a little better, and the night air didn't feel so stone cold as it had. Now it was his turn.

"Ah'm so proud of you, sugarcube. No matter what happens, you'll always be my boy."

He chuckled and rubbed his head against the top of my mane, and I swear I could almost feel the tickle in his heart, which in turn tickled me. It was so nice to hear his voice again, though I remembered Discord said it'd be gone again in the morning. I hated having to tell him that, poor thing. What if it's gone forever after night, too?

"Hey sugarcube?" I said, looking at up at him. "Do ya suppose we could stay up a while longer? Discord said when you wake up, you won't be able to talk no more, and ah' wanna hear yer voice as much as ah' can."

"He said that?" AJ looked away sadly and sighed.

"Ah'm so sorry, honey," I said. It was as hard for me as it was for him. I found myself digging my head into him again.

"Hey, look at me," he said. Between his skin and the starry sky behind him, it was a mite dark, but there was light and kindness in his blue eyes. "At least I can write now, right? Who says we won't get it back? And another thing you must never forget, Applejack. I speak to you whenever I look at you. Whenever I see you, I tell you I love you in my heart. And if you listen closely to your own, you can hear me whispering to you."

He sure knows how to console, that one. He amazes me to this day. Just when I feel like I'm headed for the mud with no hope of getting out, he ropes me from behind and saves me. When I hugged him again, I was so full of love you could've pinned my ears and sent me through a cement crack. Truth be told, I just sorta made that little saying up, but I can't think of nothin' else to describe it. I was full of love.

"Ah'm a mighty lucky girl to have you, sweetheart. The luckiest." I looked up at him and let our love steal the moment, and we smiled at each other.

"So, you wanna stay up a little later, huh? How about a campfire? It won't take long to start."

"Ah'd like that very much," I said with a chuckle and a blush. I reluctantly pulled myself away from him, and he stood back down on his fours.

"Wait right here," he said. But before he went to get the firewood, I ran in and gave him one more hug in the neck. Even after all the hugging we'd just done, I still needed it, and it didn't lose it's warmth as he stood there chuckling and letting me give it to him. I pulled away, and spread his wings and took off into the night, headed straight for the dark patch of trees on the other side of the lake. Once he glided over yonder, I couldn't see him at all 'cept for the blue on him. We had a lot of planning to do, we weren't gonna go down without buckin', but I was ready to talk the night away with him as best of friends, just like we used to. I took a deep sigh; right then, I happened to notice two shooting stars passing overhead.