It wasn't before long that Applejack and I returned to just how we'd been at the campfire before, side by side, her sitting comfortably beside me on a log while I just sat straight on the ground. The only difference was that now, Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, and Big Macintosh were sitting on the other side of the fire so we were all facing each other. There was a period of brief silence now, as those three stared at us two; up until then, we hadn't discussed anything serious, just friendly family talk. Now they were going to find out not only that they were potentially involved in some scheme for the throne, but also that their beloved Applejack is expecting, and this great new chapter of our lives had officially begun. Thankfully, all I could think about was the last part. I did feel weird though, considering where I'd come from, and especially sitting there as a dragon.

Deep breaths, deep breaths AJ. They were waiting for us to start. I was nervous, but not because I was ashamed or anything like that, I'm not even really sure why I was nervous to be honest. It's not like I was telling my human family. This is my family now, after all. She and I traded soulful looks; it was like I felt weird and nervous until I looked at her, and then everything was fine again, and I was in exactly the right place, with no regrets whatsoever. Her eyes expressed their confidence in me and encouraged me to feel proud with her.

"Well... do you guys want the good news or the bad news first?" I heard myself say, turning back to them. The three of them turned to look at each other; it was Big Mac on the left, Apple Bloom in the middle, and Granny Smith on the right, but Applejack kindly interrupted.

"Ah' think we oughta tell 'em the bad first, sugarcube," she said in a reluctant tone.

"Oh," I said submissively, though my mind had been on the good.

"Probably best to save the good fer last, don't ya think?" the orange mare added, looking up at me with a meek, soothing smile. It provided me with a nice bit of momentary warmth. Maybe it's better this way. We smiled at each other for a moment, but it was interrupted by silence again. Which the rest of them were not going to have much of.

"So..." asked the filly, a representative for all three of them waiting eagerly for us.

"Oh, right," I said, chuckling embarrassedly.  Where were we? Oh, right. Discord... My wife and I looked each other once more,  though this time was much more uneasy. For someone who was only going to have their voice for one more night, I wasn't very eager to talk. I closed my eyes and nodded my head at her.

"Alright now ya'll, listen up. We know who done this alright, and we're gonna say who done this, but we ain't gonna say his name. We gonna describe fer ya'll who it is, and it's gonna go off like a lightbulb in yer head, but ya can't - ah' repeat, ya can't- let it come out yer mouth. Got that?"

The three other members of the Apple family looked at each other once more before nodding their heads in unison at us. After one more brief silence, Applejack took a deep sigh before standing up on all fours.

"The same pony - er, whatever he is, that made you a dog, Big Macintosh," she said, pointing to her older brother. He somehow managed to make his face even redder in his embarrassment, along with the falling of his ears. He no doubt remembered immediately, but it took Granny Smith and Apple Bloom just a second longer. "Trapped in stone? Chaos?" continued my wife, though just as she spoke the words, their expressions lit up in realizations, both of them gasping.

"Di-!" started the filly.

"Whoa now!" cried her older sister, preventing her from saying his name as she stuck her own hoof in her mouth.

"Right, sorry," she muttered sheepishly. They exchanged worried looks with each other before coming back to us. They knew that with Discord, it couldn't be good. Granny Smith raised an eyebrow.

"That yellow-bellied varmint up to no good, ain't he?"

Applejack turned around and looked at me with care, before I sadly and shamefully lowered my head with a sad sigh. This was the family of my beloved wife - and therefore my family - that have now been dragged into this. I never expected to come here and fall in love with a pony, or becoming an element of harmony in the process, and saving Equestria. I haven't expected a lot of things that happened. But we had such a great run going. Everything was going in our favor. Now, not so much. It's humiliating to be stuck in a body that isn't yours, but the worst part is seeing the concern in them, especially after we've grown so close. This kind of pickle is the last thing I want for them. Especially Applejack, whom I'm united to so closely. Although I must admit, knowing that this family has your back and won't ever abandon you makes it a lot easier.

"I'm sorry guys," I muttered with my head turned and my eyes closed. Just as I felt Applejack's hoof pulling my head around, I heard the voice of our Granny.

"Aw, it's alright, child," she said, and I opened my eyes to find my wife resting her cheek against my own, and the rest of the family looking at me with great care and sympathy. "It ain't yer fault. Though ah' still ain't so sure ah' understand."

"Well," I said, rubbing my head tenderly against Applejack's before lifting it up above her to look at them, "it seems he's tired of working under the Princess. I think feels like the world owes him something, especially her. He wants the throne, and the apparently the best way to ensure that the elements of harmony don't come together against him is to come after..." as they gasped with horror at the mention of his ultimate goal, I took another deep, sorrowful, and annoyed sigh. "Me."  

"An' bein' the cross-eyed joker that he is, he thought it be right funny to turn my AJ here into a dragon, and to get what he wants," said my wife from underneath me, turning back to them. They still weren't quite getting it though, watching us in intense thought. It didn't surprise me, I don't even get all myself yet. I had to get my mind right though. I had to be strong.

"The night he did this, the night of the storm when she was sleeping over with her friends, I heard a noise out in the barn at like 1 am. I went out to check on it, only to find Di-" I caught myself midsentence, chuckling sheepishly as Applejack sighed in relief. "Well, you-know-who. He was sorta friendly at first, but when he revealed his plans to me, he basically said I had to join him. Not really knowing what to do, I didn't say yes, and then he... did this," I said, rolling my eyes and looking down at my body while lifting my right claw to gesture to it. I took another deep breath. "Then not too long ago tonight, I wrote his name in the dirt here with my claw to show Applejack, and when she said it out loud, he showed up, like he had some kinda magic thing on his name or something."  

I didn't like talking about it, though it had to be done. I could see them in their eyes still weighing it through their minds. I lowered my head again down to Applejack again and kept silent for a moment.

"He tried givin' me the same slice of pie, and ah' told him to stick it. He gave AJ one more night of talkin', and he was outta here like the coward he is," she proclaimed to them, while rubbing the bottom of my chin with her one of her front hooves.

"Wonder why he chose a dragon?" said Apple Bloom, and her grandmother nodded. Applejack snorted another one of her whinny-snorts.

"Ah'm bettin' he thinks it's funny, bein' how AJ is super nice and gentle, and dragons are... well, not so kind and gentle," she said. With little remarks and gestures like that (and rubbing my chin), it was like I could briefly escape the anxiety of the moment and enter a land where I could just swim in happiness.

"An' why don't you just have that nice friend of yers change him back? She's done that kinda thing with ya'll before, ain't she?" asked Granny Smith. But as she did, it was as though some nasty realization came to youngest granddaughter; she stuck her own hoof in her mouth.

"Uh oh," whispered Apple Bloom in her young voice, and all of us looked to her with concern. "Ah' remember Twilight sayin' somethin' about dragons bein' different from most creatures in that they're awfully resistant to magic. Ah' remember 'cause Scootaloo asked her if she could change her into one."

"Well that's just great," I sighed, acknowledging my claws, and feeling that terrible gas in my stomach, all the while swishing around my tail. That was not a comforting thought, though his plan seemed to make more sense. He knows he's the only one who can turn me back... He wanted me to have to depend on his magic to get back to normal; he offered me anything and he expected me to accept, only for it to be a wish gone wrong, and then in exchange for going back to normal, he makes me promise not to use the element. Then when I said I didn't want anything, he had to think of something new. And despite his taking offense at playing a villainous role, it certainly seemed like he was perfectly content to leave me this way forever, regardless of the fact that I'm soon to be a father.

Applejack sighed sadly, bringing herself into my head once more before turning to the rest of her family.

"The question is... now what do we do? He's gonna leave AJ like this forever if we don't agree to help him," she exclaimed, before her little sister timidly made a suggesstion.

"Well... why don't we just tell Twilight, and let her tell the Princess? Princess Celestia that is. Or we could tell Fluttershy, and let her tell Twilight!" she said. It could make sense, and I appreciated her input, and I'm sure her sister did too, but the problem is that was just too simple.

"Discord may be a no-good yellow-bellied snake, but he ain't no darned fool. He's got some frightenin' power. He warned me not to tell anyone he was involved, and he's probably got ways of knowin'. Oh my... Ah' just don't know what to do," my wife said, with fear and sorrow in her voice that hurt me to hear in her. She seemed to need some comfort of her own, as she stopped stroking my head and took herself underneath to my belly, where she embraced me with her whole body. "What do you think, big brother?" she said, turning her head back and calling to Big Macintosh who was on the other side of the fire. He hadn't said anything thus far, not anything less than you'd expect, though his expressions of course denoted he was very worried and heavily pondering the situation.

"Hm... I'd say sayin' yes don't seem like much an option. And he said unless you say yes, he's gonna leave him this way forever?" he asked in his low-toned voice. You could tell he was deeply troubled. I felt bad for him, being the simple, hardworking pony that he is, much like his sister, his thinking skills often get underestimated. The two of us - Applejack and me, that is - nodded our heads wearily as I raised my claw and ever-so-slowly let it rest on back. "Sounds like he's goin' for the throne whether you help him or not."

"Yea, I'd say that's right," I said. My brother-in-law thought in silence a few more moments before he seemed to come to some conclusion, but didn't want to say it. "He claims he won't harm any of you, and that this whole scheme of his is for the better of Equestria."

"Like that's the truth," said my wife, rolling her eyes.

"I'm just wonderin'," he said, coming back but not making eye contact, once again as though somewhat afraid to say it, or like he felt guilty saying it.

"What?" said my wife with curiosity, removing herself from my belly and stepping just to my side. I was a little curious now too, though I knew it couldn't have been bad given his character.

"Well, you two ain't lovin' each other any less. You're still happier than puppies together even with him like this," he said, looking away. Applejack and I looked at each other. It was utterly true; Discord hadn't stopped the magic that we have together, the incredible friendship between the two of us. But Big Mac seemed to be implying more than just making an observation.

"What do ya mean?" asked Applejack again. Big Mac sighed and rolled his eyes briefly, before facing us with more confidence, as though he had some truth to defend that he knew we might not like.

"I don't like this anymore than you do, sis, but... ain't no one gonna be messin' with this family while he's like that."

Applejack suddenly looked angry, and she stepped forward so that if she was any closer to the fire she'd be in it.

"So, what? You're suggesting that we just not do nothin' and let him stay this way forever? Let him deal with it on his own so we can use 'em for protection? Why don't you think about him? He didn't ask for this! Sure, he's still adorable, but he's got a-"

She stopped midsentence before she could continue. I was a little surprised to hear that what's he seemed to be suggesting, and I appreciated the way she was defending me, like she always does. But I still gave him the benefit of the doubt; he still appeared very concerned and thoughtful, like any family member would be. I looked at Big Macintosh, and his when his eyes met mine he sighed and lowered his head as though apologetically, before turning to Applejack again.

"I ain't sayin' we keep him this way just so we can be a mightier family," he said in an irritated version of his deep voice.  

"What about the townsponies? They're gonna find out sooner or later! Yer the one that insisted we not tell them nothin'!" she said, shouting with ferocity at her brother. I didn't like where this was going, especially when he got defensive.

"Hey!" he said, matching her anger. No, come on guys...

"Applejack- it's fine," I said concernedly, but she just continued staring heatedly at her brother. Her little sister also stood up and started chirping.

"We just can't sit around and let Dis- er, 'Snakey' take the throne for his-self! We need to tell the townsponies! Or at least Twilight or somethin'!"

"Ah' wish we could, Apple Bloom," said Applejack, who looked very sad and frustrated, "but ah' just don't know how we can do that! We don't wanna make Discord mad and then he never changes AJ back. And we can't be tellin' the townsponies."

"They'll be scared outta they're darn-tootin' hyde, they will!" said Granny Smith, standing her elderly body up off the log.

"Hey, come on!" I pleaded. Despite having the biggest physical presence, I had the tiniest one in this dispute.

"How do ya keep a secret that big?" cried Apple Bloom, gesturing to me.

"Hey now, ah' love you little sis, but you just let us think right now," said my wife, but this only angered her little sister further.

"Ah'm a member of this family too!" she pouted, before her brother stepped in forcefully.

"If ya'll would just stop makin' bad suggestions, then-"

The lid blew off the jar. All four of them burst out it in argument, shouting at each other from across the fire. My heart sank in pain as I sat myself down and let out a sigh, and just like that I felt lonely and frustrated again. Part of me even felt like this was my fault. It was painful for me to see it happening, not to mention it was the absolute last thing this family needed right now. Discord had sowed chaos amongst us. I could barely make out what they were saying it was in such disarray, with all of them yelling at the same time. Nopony was happy with the other. Every voice, whether it was Big Macintosh, Applejack, Granny Smith, or Apple Bloom, was spouting something.  

"What do you propose we do, huh? You forget who we're dealin' with?"

"And when they see him, what then? You know he ain't gonna do nothin' to them, but who knows what they'll do! He won't be able to speak for himself!"

"What other choices do you think we have?!?"

I tried one more time to calm them down.

"Guys? I don't think this is the- Apples! Applejack, it's ok, really!" I said with a raised voice but not loud enough. The fighting continued as though I was invisible and muted. It was sad to see this family that is so close in such chaos. I was getting very frustrated, but when I began getting angry, one way that was sure to get their attention crossed my mind. Alright. You guys asked for it.

Having had enough of this arguing, I snarled in my anger and stood myself up. I reared back on my hind legs, pointed my head up towards the stars, and drew a bout of gas up my throat from my stomach. A stream of tremendous flames erupted from my mouth and lit up the sky above us with orange, and intense heat crippled the air around us. I blasted it only a few seconds, but immediately they all fell silent and huddled together in fearful appreciation of what they'd seen. When my front legs crashed back to the ground, the only sounds were the crackling our own campfire and the frightened shivering of my family members.

"That's better," I remarked at them with a smirk. But it quickly faded when I saw Applejack; the poor, sweet mare's eyes were swimming with compassion and remorse, apologizing for herself. It seemed my display had saddened them, especially her, since it exposed their fighting. It was a wake up call for all of them. Though I think it also maybe saddened her specifically to see such a display from her gentle husband.

Such a sight is enough to move me from any kind of feeling or emotion I happen to be in. I had stopped the argument, but I now I felt bad for making her feel bad. On the very rare occasions that she does make a mistake (which are always, in all my heart's honesty, out of love or good intentions), she is always the first to apologize and admit it with a most humble heart. The kind of action that demands all of my love and care. She was only defending me, after all. I wouldn't even say she made a mistake.

"Hey, come here," I whispered, sitting back down and opening my claw, inviting her to my stomach. She came to it gravely disappointed in herself but in desperate need of what I'd offered. I hugged her with my right front leg, and took in all her love, and gave her all of mine. And let out a long sigh in the silence. I was proud of her for having handled this so well. I can't even imagine how another pony might have reacted to this at this point.

"Ah'm so sorry, Apples," she sighed, as she squeezed me tightly. All three of them were showing heavy, wearisome regret in their faces.

"Me too," muttered the littlest pony.

"Me three," said Granny Smith, shamefully. Big Macintosh took a deep breath and placed his right hoof on his head.

"I'm sorry too, sis. And you AJ, I'm especially sorry," he said, dropping his head in self-reproach.

"Ya'll beat him before. Who says we can't do it together again as a family?" said the soft, perking voice of Apple Bloom. I beamed at her before I looked at my stallion brother-in-law with sincere appreciation, even though I didn't think his apology was that necessary. He paused before looking back up at the two of us. He waited for Applejack to turn her head around.

"Look, I know you hate me for sayin' it. Heck, I hate me for sayin' it," he continued, talking about me staying this way. "That boy is my brother. He's family, and we're all in this together. All I'm sayin' is that you two don't seem to be any less happy when you're together, human or dragon. And maybe that's all that matters."

At his honest exclamation, his sister turned her head up and looked at me, her eyes twinkling with deep thought. We both knew it was true. We loved each other no matter what, and we always will. But the fact remained that we knew something that added seriousness to the situation that they didn't, and it was on both of our minds. The uncertain future was weary on our hearts, but when you love as deeply as we love, the thought of something so glorious as motherhood and fatherhood is enough to surround you in wondrous enchantment, regardless of the situation.

As we hugged each other, it was as though we were sharing with each other how happy and proud we were. I looked down at her, and staring straight up at me, she gave me a smile that seemed to say "it's time." I felt a anxious jolt in my stomach as I caught the rest of the family in the corner of my eye. Amidst our silent meditation, I looked up and saw a kind of warmth and admiration of our affection from each one of them; the kind of thing every family member ought to be entitled to. These were unfortunate circumstances, but true families make the most of what they have, and don't let them effect their affection. Alright Applejack. We've come a long way, her and I. But this was a new milestone.

The angelic mare repositioned herself so she was standing boldly beside me as I sat there. The other three ponies stood on the other side of the fire, waiting for us eagerly. They could tell something was up. We gave each other one more look, before Applejack faced them and reached up her hoof and removed her hat. I felt my heart beat increasing and my breaths getting deeper and faster. Strong, AJ.

"Apples," she said, her audience fully captivated, "AJ here and I," she paused, to the angst of an ever-interested and deeply curious Big Mac, Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith (and not to mention me); it seemed she was overwhelmed, as I was. She chuckled softly, despite her sincerity. "Well see in a few months, come spring that is, AJ and I 'er gonna be introducing ya'll to the newest member of the Apple family."

Now they knew. As I watched with immobilizing anticipation, Granny Smith's face filled with wonder and disbelief, her eyes and mouth widening at the two of us as though she beheld a great miracle. Big Macintosh had a similar reaction; his mouth fell open as he stared at his sister, and then to me, with glimmering eyes. I couldn't tell if they had expected this at all, as shocking as it probably was. They were certainly struck with indescribable awe. Regardless of what happened next, this was an Apple family heart-to-heart for the ages. At her words, I could hardly keep my own self in place, much less watch their reactions. It was as if the news was being told to me all over again, and the only things that existed in the world were Applejack, and the Apple family, and myself. And our love.

The silence was broken when Granny Smith let out a ecstatic giggle for her granddaughter and me, while Big Macintosh's mouth curled into a wide, shining smile. Applejack's grandmother ignored her arthritis and galloped gleefully around the fire to her, where they embraced in a glee-filled hug. Her big brother came trotting around the other side, nearly running into me as he scrambled to get in on the action. He forced himself into the hug, and the three of them fell slowly to the ground in rapturous laughter. Watching her with them was a feeling no one can ever take away from me. The only sweeter sound than Applejack laughing is the sound her family sharing in her laughter.

"Now this is somethin' we can celebrate rain 'er shine, moon or harvest! Ah'm so proud of you," said the elderly mare to her granddaughter, who embraced her so tenderly it had to be seen to be understood. Apple Bloom, on the other hand, stood over them confused, turning her head sideways as she looked to me for answers.  

"Hold on a minute, are you two sayin' yer gonna have a baby?" she asked. Her question had practically melted my heart.

"Yep," I replied, cherishing her beyond measure. Her eyes widened with surprise momentarily, before she looked up in thought and came what was for her an exciting conclusion.

"Wait a second... does this mean Applejack's gonna have a baby dragon?"

"Well... not exactly," I said meekly; now I was blushing something horrible, and looked away, though I can't say I didn't enjoy it. My answer only seemed to confuse her further, so she went from me to her to big sister, who was on the still sitting on the ground under us with her brother and grandmother.

"Applejack!" she called, and her sister looked up with a bright, loving smile from her place among her happy family members. "When 'er you gonna tell me how this baby stuff works? Ah' wanna know now!"

The mare marveled and doted at her sister's youthful innocence.

"You will, little sis. You will!" she said, stretching out her arms for a hug. The little sister could not resist her sister's love and happiness. She complied, and after a brief sisterly embrace, they were joined by Big Macintosh and Granny Smith.

"Does this mean ah' get to be an aunt?" she said as an excited smile came across her.

As I looked on with content at the beautiful display, my tail moving happily around behind me, the four turned their loving faces up at me and invited me to join them, Applejack opening her arm welcomingly. I sunk my belly to the ground and pressed my head against them. I felt their hooves stroking my forehead and under my chin. Given the situation, I wasn't supposed to be having this good of time, yet it was so delightful that my body fell over on it's side into the soft soil.  

I closed my eyes and let my head fall to the ground. The air flowed freely into my nostrils and out my mouth. Why can't it always be like this? I suddenly realized I was beat, and involuntarily drifting away into slumber and away from this glorious moment, but I faintly heard the sound of walking hooves until I felt the unmistakable body of my pony wife snuggling up against my body. I love her so much. Also taking refuge under my hanging claws (as I was laying sideways) was the body of a small filly, followed by a large stallion and an elderly mare. I have a reputation for falling asleep quickly, and I didn't disappoint this night. But I remember lying there still conscious of my family laying there with me. Big Macintosh was right. I will protect you at all costs. Despite the bad memories that it had brought, this night would go down in Apple family legend. I'd never been more proud to be in love with Applejack and a member of the Apple family.

That night, I found myself playing the banjo in front of a large crowd of ponies in the townsquare of Ponyville under a moonlit sky. I was picking the strings in my favorite tune- the same one I had played at the hoedown. A great thrill came over me as the crowd danced with unity to it, their energy and excitement feeding me with every note. The thrill of playing disappeared, however, and I became very anxious and worried when I realized Applejack wasn't there, and ignored the crowd's looks of concern. That was until she stepped up onto the stage with me from the crowd, with her saintly smile gleaming in pride for me.

"There you are," I said, with great relief and comfort. Though suddenly, in an epic mood-change, the crowd gasped in horror as I heard the banjo string break, and Applejack looked on with tremendous fear not of me, but for me. "Huh?"

I lifted my right hand, only to find that it - along with my entire right arm- had been replaced by a large, slender black limb with sharp claws at the end.

"I'm dreaming," I muttered, as I began to remember how I'd fallen asleep last; with the Apple family snug and safe against my belly. I went to pinch myself, but a familiar, unfriendly chuckle echoed off the buildings and houses around me. I watched helplessly as light erupted in the middle of the stage, and none other than you-know-who emerged.

"Not so fast, dragon boy. I thought I'd pay you a little visit in your dreams first to tell you a few more rules of the game."