Howdy ya'll. Applejack here. Well, sending Apple Bloom off was like easy an hard at the same time. It was easy because we knew it was our only hope and our only option, and Discord had promised not to punish her. It was hard because 1. Discord ain't trustworthy, and I was scared for her out there, she's still awful young, and 2. seeing my little sister growin' up with a big chore like this is a little sad for me. We sent her off after a little past high noon, and after that there was nothin' left but to do but wait. And ain't no need to guess who I spent that time cuddled up right next to like peas in a pod.

It was getting late afternoon, we was right together in the barn. It was the calm before the storm, mind you, 'cause we knew once Apple Bloom told Twi that there was gonna be some serious wrangling. It sure was calm though in that barn. The sun was coming through the windows, and despite everything I was back in heaven for a moment with my sugarcube. I was nustled right up against his neck, though he was sleepin' like a foal I was still awake. My gears were turnin' in my head about everything. Ah' just hope Apple Bloom's ok. Ah' hope she doesn't run into no trouble on her way there. Ah' wonder if we shouldn't sent her? Nah, calm down Applejack, she's not a baby no more. She can handle herself.

I was just lyin' there against my hubby taking some deep breaths. I looked out that beautiful blue sky, shining like AJ's eyes as we moved into late afternoon. He was a weary soul alright, but he was sleeping peacefully with me there with him, snores and all. I remember what he told me that night we met Discord together, though mighty beautiful as it was, the honest truth is that I'm still afraid of losing him. I just don't know what'd I'd do without him, seein' him at least. Ah' reckon I better be gettin' some rest too. I scooted back just a bit so I was even more warmed by him, and he turned over a little bit more on side just to make some more of himself for me to snuggle up against.  

All three of us were snug as a bug; me, him, and our baby. I started to get a mite more tired as I thought about all the memories we'd made together in the last couple years. I felt myself fallin' right asleep in all that warmth.

"Sure do love you, sugarcube," I said with a yawn. He kept on snorin', but I was dandy cause he knew that anyway. I missed hearing his voice, though, I sure did. That cool wind comin' through the windows sure was nice on my front while my back was all snuggled up. Finally my eyes started to mosey on shut. You are some kinda special, sugarcube.

Suddenly it was springtime again, and I was out walkin' through my trees and they had some fresh green leaves. I knew somethin' wasn't right. That's when it hit me.

"I must be dreamin'," I said. Hey, this is a good thing! Maybe human AJ's around here and we can talk some! I started gallopin' around through the trees, turning my head left and right looking for him. Not that I loved human AJ anymore, since dragon AJ and human AJ are the same. But I was hoping to see him like he used to be, in all his human cuteness and what not. And hear his voice.

"AJ? AJ!" I called.

"Applejack?" said his curious voice from behind me. It was sweeter than any country music I ever did hear. I whipped around, and there he was, walkin' out from beside a tree with one of his hands reached up and holding it. His other hand was right on his chest. His familiar face shined with kindness, and it was a mite happy to see me, something that I can't deny always makes me feel like a happy puppy. Though it looked like he'd been cryin' a little bit or something.  

"What's wrong honey?" I said as I ran to hug him. It's just my imagination, but still. He held both of his arms open as I hopped up and threw my front legs over top his shoulders, staring him the face with a big ol' smile that he always loves.

"Oh, you know, I'm just frustrated, and I wish this were real and not a dream. But I'm still more than happy to see you," he said with that good ol' smile of his.

"That's funny. Ya know fer a dream, usually you don't say stuff like that," I said with a dumb face. His face, still right in mine, was awful funny too.

"Neither do you," he said.  

"Well maybe we're both sharin' dreams, sugarcube," I said. His face sure was cute, especially with that innocently awkward demeanor of his.  

"Is that even possible? I mean I've heard of having the same dream before, but like... sharing a dream? I can't deny though, if we are sharing dreams, then this is like the best dream ever," he said with a cute blush.

"Oh you best believe it," I said, rubbing my nose on him. It hit me one way to know if this was maybe some kinda shared dream or somethin'. "Are you, uh... you still a dragon in real life?"  

"Yeah," he said with an eye roll.

"And were we just sleepin' in the barn after sending AB to Canterlot?" I continued. His eyes got mighty big as he looked from me to the ground.

"Geez, maybe this isn't all my imagination," he said. He looked around the trees for a quick minute. "Too bad Princess Luna didn't see me that one time. I'm guessing she's blocked out on one of his spells or something."

"Well how about this? Ah'm sleepin' under yer neck right now. When we wake up, I'll ask you if we had this conversation in your dream. If ah' ask, and you remember, you shake yer head right up and down, ya hear?"

He nodded his head up and down. Suddenly there was a short little silence between the two of us as we looked at each other good and long. I reckoned it was a good time for a kiss. He don't need to say that he wants it, and heaven knows I needed it. Besides, he was lookin' mighty adorable. I leaned on in and gave him a short, sweet little butterfly right on his lips. Ya know it was funny, 'cause I've kissed him in dreams before but it wasn't never quite as good as it was in real life. That time it was just like real life. Sweet and magical.

I pulled myself away and smiled at him. That sure made him a mite bit happier. He didn't say nothin', he just stared on with a blush and a beam. It sure lit my heart aflame. We hadn't done that in what felt like forever.

As happy as that made him, after a minute he looked away with that same blue expression he had before, maybe even a hint of that protective anger in his face.

"Ya ok?" I asked. I'm always mighty concerned about him.

"Yep. It's just..." he looked back at me and raised his eyebrows like he was sayin' sorry. He looked out into the trees, thought for a minute, then opened his humble mouth once again, but he stuttered. Well I wasn't havin' none of that. I put my hoof right on his mouth and looked him straight in his blue eyes.

"Hey, sugarcube. You can tell me anything, you know that," I whispered to him. I let him get a good look into my green eyes so he could see how much this apple bucker loves him. He softened up alright, and then let a sigh.

"You're right, it's just that-"

Before he could finish, the both of us was splashed as with a big ol' bucket water or something in the middle of the orchard! Suddenly I was back in the barn on the hay, lookin' up at a big red stallion who had a dripping empty bucket. My husband was back to his scaley self shaking his head around gettin' the water off, shocked as I was. We was both drippin' wet.  

"Big Macintosh?"

"Eeyup."

"Gosh darnit! There's better ways to be wakin' up a mare and her husband than that," I said, while my husband groaned in agreement. I stood up and shook the water on off. I looked out the window; inside the barn was a lot darker now, and I looked over yonder out the window and saw it was close to sunset. But I remembered the dream. "AJ?" I said, turning to him and he looked at me with wide eyes. "Did we share that dream?"

He turned his head with wide eyes for a moment, then smiled and nodded his head up and down.

"Well ah'll be! We done just shared a dream, Big Macintosh! We was both there. Didn't think that was even a thing. Who says us Earth ponies don't got no magic?" I said. But he wasn't havin' much of it. He didn't smile or nothin', he just stood there like we had somethin' to do. Suddenly I remembered. The dream and what not kinda threw me off.

"What of Apple Bloom? Anything?" I said.

"Eenope," said Big Macintosh with a head shake. My heart sank. That was a mite heavy reminder of what was goin' on. My little sister was still out there.

"It's nearly dark," I muttered. I love my little sister so much, I've had this whole darn thing happen exactly before. I send her off, then I worry sick about her. "Ohhh," I groaned. I turned back and looked at my brother and my dragon hubby. "You think we shouldn't sent her?"

"She's out of our reach now," said Big Macintosh quietly. He was worried about her too, you could see it in his eyes. AJ looked a mite sad to see me so sad. He looked at me, loved me, then growled through his teeth towards Canterlot.

"Well, maybe no news is good news? We knew it was gonna be an all day journey, even without no trouble," I said. Truth was I was still worried of course, and though did calm me down some, it was more for AJ. I can't bear to see him like that. "All we gotta do now is wait."

"In the mean time, we gotta go to that meeting Applejack. They know you was there when they saw him, and you gotta help calm 'em down without givin' him away," said Big Macintosh.

"Oh gosh darnit," I said. That stupid town meeting was tonight at sunset. I hoped AB would get the Princesses and we'd be ready to work before the meeting, but I knew that wasn't the case no more. I didn't wanna leave AJ. I glanced over at him. He was back to his humble self, that cutie, staring like a puppy.

"You gonna be alright for a few minutes, sugarcube?" I asked. He nodded his head up down, though he didn't much like me leaving without him. I reckon he knew I had to go, but just wanted to go with me with all the world. I ran up to him and gave him a quick kiss on his forehead. "We just gotta hide you for a few more hours tops, sugarcube. Just hang in there, ah'll be right back."

He nodded his head. His eyes were full of love, but it looked like he was hidin' some anger and frustration too. I wanted to just stay and there and be with him, but I couldn't be doin' that. That would give us away seein' as how I was called to this meetin' here too. I didn't feel right, leavin' that barn. I knew he was bothered by something, many things probably. But I felt myself turnin' on around to go out the door. I walked on out of the barn with my brother, and I think that sun went down right then. As we left the barn and started walkin' for the front gate, I heard a loud snort in the barn and the whole thing shook. I turned back while we walked and looked on hurtin'. It hurt me to hear it. I remembered he had somethin' that was bothering him he was gonna tell me but he never got to. I wondered if it was those dreams of his where the townsponies made fun of me. I felt bad and I just wanted to go on back and tell him it didn't matter. But I just walked on along. Just a few minutes now, girl. Then ah'll be back with him and no harm done.

Well we moseyed on into town, just me and my brother. The whole time I was looking up at the stars, thinkin' about Apple Bloom and my husband. I thought she get there before dark. Every minute that went by and I just worried even more. I hate bein' all secrecy and what not, especially as the element of honesty. As long as ah' don't tell no lies. Gotta relax, Applejack. Gotta relax and defend AJ. I'm right good at that!

I still didn't feel to good about it. As we walked into town, there wasn't nobody in the streets or nothin'. Most of the streetlights were on mind you, but the only bright building was the town hall gazeebo thingy where we have our meetings. You could hear tons of voices comin' from it, and looked like me and my brother were the last ponies to get there. Oh darn it, this is gonna be a mite awkward. My friends are gonna be in there, and this whole town has their eye on me. I knew my brother would be havin' my back at least. He always does if AJ ain't around. Well, I took one mighty of a gulp and we walked right on up to the door.

My brother and I walked in town hall together and beheld a whole bumper crop of colorful ponies. Soon as we did every single one of them eyes in that room turned their way over to us while their mouths shut like barn doors. Everypony was on ground level, save a couple pegasus up in the air, and all the lights and candles were lit so everypony could see everypony. A lot of these curious, even unfriendly eyes were the same eyes I saw a mite friendlier last month at the hoedown. It was so quiet you coulda darn near heard a chicken roostin' back at the farm if you listened close enough. I was plenty nervous and uncomfortable alright. I saw my group of four friends too, the elements of harmony. They all looked concerned except Rainbow, who looked mad. Ugh, sorry Rainbow.

"Alright, ah'm here," I muttered, walkin' off to the side with my brother.

"Hehem," said Mayor Mare, lookin' around from the middle as some ponies cleared away from her. "Is that everyone?"

"No, where's Pipsqueak?" cried his daddy from somewhere in the crowd.

"And where's Diamond Tiara?" said her rich daddy from someplace.

"We can't find Twist!"

"Or Sweetie Belle!"

Suddenly it was gettin' awfully tense in there. Ponies quickly started talkin' amongst themselves, worrying, and throwin' their hooves in up in panic. I sure as hay had no itchin' idea as to where they were. I hoped they were alright though.

"Miss Cheerilee, where are most of your students?" said some angry ponies.  I couldn't see her none though. Finally the mayor stood up again.

"It's alright everypony! Calm down," she called.

"Maybe the dragon ate them!" cried somepony, and the whole lot of them gasped in horror. In the meantime, I plowed my hoof into my face.

"Ughh," I moaned before turnin' up. "Ah' seriously doubt that's what happened. Why don't we just not jump to no conclusions here?" I said with a mighty loud voice. I heard a couple whispers about me, mostly about me bein' some kinda reliable source seein' I saw him yesterday. O'course I was lot more reliable than that.

"Shh! Quiet!" cried the mayor before it got outa hoof again. Somepony was whisperin' something in her ear or something from what I could tale. "I am told that a group of fillies and colts in Miss Cheerilee went to Canterlot together."

That took a quick second to sink in, but did it ever. Canterlot. Canterlot? My mouth fell open as my brother and I looked at each other with big eyes. We were both a mite bit nervous about that, but we didn't say nothin', we just kept quiet and looked back tryin' to act natural. Canterlot? Ah' wonder if they went with my little sis? At first I thought of her disobeying, she knew she was supposed to tell no one about this. But as I thought about it, I thought there was no reason to be thinkin' she'd done told them. They could've just been helpin' her. Ah' always did tell her to trust her friends. Ah' feel a lot better knowin' she ain't there by herself.

"What? Are you suggesting my daughter went to Canterlot without my permission? How dare you," said Filthy Rich, Diamond Tiara's daughter. I rolled my eyes a little. Yeah, ah' reckon she would.

"That's private business between you and your children!" barked Miss Mayor. "For right now, we've got to address what I called this meeting for in the first place. Fillies and gentlecolts, as you should all know by now, there was a dragon spotted just south of Ponyville. Magnum here and his daughter Sweetie Belle, and Applejack as well."

A couple of ponies gasped, most of them just started whispering stuff that wasn't true, all of them scared and what not. Rainbow Dash wasn't scared none, but boy howdy, Fluttershy cringed at the mention of him. It hurt my heart to see it. If only she knew who it was she wouldn't be so scared.

"So I want everpony to be extra careful. Don't let your foals out all by themselves," she continued, looking at Diamond's pa Filthy. "And above all, if you see it, don't make it mad! The question is, what are we going to do about this? Should I send word to Canterlot and notify the princesses?"

"I say we kill the dragon before it kills us!" cried one stallion, and the whole place darn near exploded with voices.

"NO!" I cried in horrible fear. The whole darn place shut up and stared at me. Not mah sugarcube! Not my baby's pa! No, no, no!I was so scared to hear something like that. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, and told myself that wasn't gonna happen. "What I mean is, since when has killin' been the pony way? Rarity, Pinkie, Rainbow, Fluttershy; ya'll remember when we went and got that big red dragon to leave the mountain 'cause his snorin' was smokin' us all out! We didn't kill nothin' then! We talked to him, and he left. Besides, it's mighty hard to kill a dragon anyway."

"Applejack is right," said the mayor of Ponville, who took the reigns of the meeting again. I didn't care none, it's her job after all. As for her agreeing with me, well that was like liftin' forty bushels of apples off my shoulders. "We will do no such thing."

"This dragon had no such mercy when it laid to waste the town of Trottingham all those years ago! Ask old stallion Geri! The way they described it, it sounds like a northern shortneck!" cried a young stallion from somewhere. Northern what now?

The whole place went silent and a crowd of ponies cleared away from the elderly chess-playin' pony with the white beard and the super light brown coat. He's an ornery old feller that's for sure. I never heard about no northern shortneck though. Didn't sound too good, neither. The whole place shut up to hear him.

"City was in flames," he said in his creaky old voice. All them ponies shuttered with fear. I rolled my eyes, I knew this wasn't no AJ of course. So it didn't mean nothin'. Though I wondered about it. What if Discord made him look like that on purpose? "He was like death on wings over us all. Black and blue he was, though the fire from his mouth was orange as the fires in the black pit! That city was nothing to that dragon. Neither is this one; he'll eat us or burn us just the same."

The place nearly went crazy with yellin' and panic, but I stood up and shouted past the whole lot of it. I wasn't havin' none of this.

"Just 'cause that dragon was black 'n blue don't mean it was the dragon we saw yesterday!" I cried.

"What are you, it's lawyer?" said Bon Bon.

"Yeah, seriously," said the voice of some young stallion somewhere.

"No, no, let us listen to Applejack. She was there, and she saw it along with Magnum and Sweetie Belle. Tell us, what did you see?" said the mayor. Well, once again all eyes were smack on me. My brother, bein' shy as he is, hated it standin' next to me, but he stayed put like a good family member. Once again my heart was a beatin'. I looked over at Sweetie Belle's pa, who was watching me eagerly. Lookin' for support, I reckon. Sorry, but you ain't gonna get it.

"Magnum," I said, tipping my hat to just him on account of his daughter wasn't there, "Ah' knows ya'll were a mite scared of that dragon, and I know you been eager to warn ponies 'bout what ya saw. But ah'm here to tell all of ya'll that what ah' saw was no monster."

"What are you talking about dear Applejack?" cried Rarity from our group of friends. "That creature tried to eat my baby sister!"

"No, that ain't the truth!"

Just like I reckoned they would, they threw their heads back in suprise. Magnum especially was shocked to hear such things, but he looked on, ready to hear me out like the good pony he is. He done raised some good daughters and some good friends as well, 'cause Rarity was the same way.

"This creature ate the fish on the end of my line, saw them two standin' there, and flapped it's wings as fast it could to get away from them. Matter of fact, ah' reckon he was more scared of them then they were of him. You was scared too Magnum, I get that! And it looked mighty terrifying with it's teeth and it's size, but ah'm just tellin' ya'll what ah' saw. Ah' saw no killer!"

Well this suprised every one of them ponies, just like I thought it would. When I was done talkin', they all started talkin' quietly amongst themselves, wonderin' what to do now. Magnum and Rarity were both shocked, but I saw maybe he was reconsidering, and I thank Celestia for that.

"Ah, that's nonsense. Dragons are all evil," said one young stallion who sounded like a somepony I certainly hoped it wasn't, and the place nearly went into loud panic mode again like there was some kinda stampede comin'. No, c'mon that ain't true!

"Darling, forgive me for saying so, but that's ridiculous! One wonders if you've ever even talked with dear Spikey," said Rarity.

"Yer darn-tootin' right it's ridiculous! Who said that?" I yelled back at them. Suddenly though, I heard a voice from the other side of the crowd. A loud voice, it silenced all the other ponies.    

"Fillies and gentlecolts! Let us not forget who speaks to us, the element of honesty herself!" cried the mayor.

"She's lied to us before. Remember Flim and Flam's tonic?" said somepony.

"No, that was just because Granny Smith was lovin' her new self so much! And ah' told ya'll the truth!" I said. I was mighty desperate in my voice, pleading I reckon, but I was hurt and surprised at all the distrust I was gettin'. I know that'd I been secrety and what not, but you know I had to be like that! I couldn't lie to them.

"Where's AJ?" said the voice of Cherry Cola, a young light brown stallion with a black mane. He always gave me some undesirable looks he did, before AJ came that is. He held the farm tools now, though. That crowd was staring me down behind him. I reckon him and the other suspicious, unfriendly ponies were hesitant to say nothin' on account of my big brother.

I looked on in silence. I was mighty nervous. I felt a mite sad knowin' that they didn't trust me. Part of me couldn't blame 'em, but still, didn't they know me by now? They know I'd never lie to them. They're my friends! Most of 'em are anyway. And the ones that ain't I still try to be kind and friendly to. Just like AJ.

"Yeah Applejack! Where is he?" said Rainbow Dash, who flew right on up in front of my face. I still stayed strong though.

"He's back at the farm," I said. I wished he was by my side right then. I looked away.

"Is he?" said another familiar young stallion stepping out. This time it was Royal Riff, a grey coated pony. He was nastily sarcastic. "Well bring him on down here! That is if he didn't leave you," he said, and a good chunk of the ponies in the room laughed. I usually don't be carin' what ponies think, but to here him say that did cut me some. I admit it. I thought they was used to us two bein' together by now. But at least I knew how untrue that was, what he said about him. He couldn't ever have what me and AJ have.

"Hey," snarled my big brother. Suddenly I remembered the words of that snake Discord back when he confronted us together. It was after he put my husband to sleep. They'll think he left you. That won't be easy for him to take. It wasn't easy for me to take, at least for the moment. Hearin' his name be mistreated and misrepresented, hearing all kinds of fake things bein' said about him was no country music to my ears mind you. But just as I always told my husband, I told myself not to be worried but what other ponies thought. What matters is that ah' know AJ.

"Hey is right. She may be driving me crazy, but don't you or anypony say anything about her or AJ! I'm the one that gets to be mad at her, not you," said Rainbow Dash. She gave him the orneryest stink eye I ever saw. I appreciated her loyalty though. I looked sadly to my big brother.

"You know, she's looking a little bigger in the mid section," said Bon Bon. My heart sank and I turned redder than a rose. Oh no. Not now! Not here! Not without AJ.

"Look at her blush!" cried another stallion with a cackle. Suddenly half of the ponies in that there hall started laughing and chuckling. The younger stallions of course, and some of the others. Others were more shocked, looking on with open mouths. Some of them no doubt cared. No more surprised was my group of friends. Even Rainbow Dash was all but angry now. She was suddenly sad looking. In disbelief she was.

"Applejack?" she whispered. I didn't do nothin' but stare. She and my friends ignored the laughing of all the ponies and looked at me mighty deep. I knew there was no goin' back now. I was so mighty embarrassed. They were laughing at me! My big brother walked out in front of me and stared them all down, but it was no use. I wished my AJ was there with me right then. I remembered the night in Manehattan when we bested that wicked Trixie together. I remembered all the times we'd spent in the trees together, all of the playin' and the runnin'.

"Well, Applejack? Are you pregnant?" said the Mayor, while the whole place got silent again. She was mighty curious, but she didn't have no mean face.

I looked down at the ground for a second. My heart was mighty sore, but I had no regrets. Not a single one. I closed my eyes and breathed in all the air I could get my hooves on. When I closed my eyes, who's shining face do ya think I pictured? He was smilin' with love, no less. I was hurtin' mighty from their misseein' things, they're lookin' past our love. It was one darned of a place and time to be lettin' it all come out, but I turned my head back up with a smile, 'cause I love him with all my heart and I wasn't ashamed to say so. It was dead silent, but I was strong.

"Ah' am."

Some ponies gasped. Other ponies started cackling and giggling. Other ponies stayed the way they was, like my group of friends. They was full of care, I could see. I love them too, but I knew in my heart I couldn't be tellin' them. The mayor and the other group loyal to me were surprised, confused, and even saddened some of them. But they had no reason to be.

"I told you that's all he was after," said Cherry Cola. Of all the ponies, the ones who were makin' fun of him were the ones who wanted exactly what they accused him of. But they was so far off the truth it wasn't even funny. I closed my eyes and thought of his bright innocence. We's gonna prevail here soon, sugarcube. They gonna know how wrong they are, ah' promise.

"Well... accidents do happen," muttered a smug Daisy, a pink mare with a green mane.

"You shut your cakehole," snapped Rainbow Dash.

"What is it even gonna look like? Something weird, that's for sure," said another voice. Many voices cried out and laughed, and I couldn't make hardly none of 'em out. I knew they was all nasty. I couldn't believe my ears. They was so wrong about me and my sugarcube that it was almost a crime in itself. It was so mighty far from accident. Ain't no one else but you, sugarcube. I looked up and a tear fell down my green country eye. They was actually makin' fun of our foal. I couldn't believe it. I was wrong about them.

"If one of ya'll says one more mean thing about mah' sister," growled my big brother to the lot of them. He took a few steps up and glared at the young ones with a anger I ain't never seen outta him.

"Ponies! I am unbelievably disappointed in some of you! We have always known Applejack to be one of our finest, and you ponies are being anything but nice. We know AJ to be the nicest, and most loyal, not to mention most lovesick-" said the mayor of Ponyville. She was cut off. The building was in chaos, and my heart was in hurtin'. I only caught a couple of sentences amidst the fighting crowd.

"You guys are crazy! AJ is one of the kindest, sweetest- if you talked to him for five minutes you'd know he would never-" said some mare.

"It makes perfect sense. They're being so secretive about everything, and she clearly doesn't wanna admit it," said some stallion.

"I, for one, trust Applejack. When has she ever been anything but a great citizen here in Ponyville?" said another pony.

"What does any of this have to do with this meeting? If I don't get order, I swear!" shouted the mayor.

The town hall went crazy with voices and shouting. Half of them was on my side, the other half was just bein' mean. I lowered my head and closed my eyes, sadder than a broken hearted basset hound. I told AJ they was all gonna love us, and respect our baby. But I was wrong. They was so wrong about me. But what bothered me was how wrong they was about him. I didn't want no pony to think nothin' of the best of him, 'cause that's what he is. I also wanted them to be nice to our baby. Now I wondered if they would be at all. Ah' love you so much, sugarcube. We gonna raise the foal on our own, and be the best family there ever was. I wanted to get up and defend him, but there just wasn't much else I could say to them. If only the whole thing with Discord never happened... He'd be right by my side, and they never would've suspected him of nothin'. It doesn't matter though. They're gonna know sooner or later that he stayed loyal all the way through, and he's a better spouse then any ya'll had. And that we love the life we made on our own.

"Applejack!" cried Fluttershy, my loyal friend from across the building. She was fightin' the crowd with not much luck I reckon. I  also reckon the both of us was cryin'. I just thought with all my heart how much I love my husband and our special secret. Well it wasn't a secret no more. I just didn't think my husband, my baby, and myself was gonna get laughed at like this. The worst was not being able to defend my poor sugarcube, who'd done so much more for me than I ever thought was possible. If only they knew.

*                              *                              *

This is outrageous. I shouldn't have to be stuck here and unable to go with her. I stared out barn window and looked outside at the stars. Applejack and Big Mac had just left a few moments earlier, and not only was I the only Apple member at Sweet Apple Acres, knowing my wife was at a meeting about me with only her brother, but also there was no sign of Apple Bloom or the princesses. I let my stomach fall to the hay covered ground and kept on looking out the window. The barn was pitch black and dead quiet. Behind me my tail brushed the opposite wall. Geez, I hope I'm not getting bigger. I'm already too big to begin with.

I shook my head; I had a lot more important things to be thinking about. My mind was a raging torrent; between Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Discord, I had plenty to ponder. I told myself that Applejack would be ok. It worried me, though. I had been paying close attention to her body, and I'd been able to tell since last week that she had gotten a tiny bit bigger in the stomach. Noone catches a change on Applejack like I do, but she seemed to be getting the tiniest bit bigger everyday, and by now I was afraid they'd be able to tell. They better not bring it up when I'm not there. Discord's warning in my dream when he was cut short by Princess Luna repeated itself soundly in my head. "They're gonna look down on your foal. Don't believe me? Hide under a bridge if you have to and listen to them." I shook my head violently and snorted. Shut up...

Agitated, I stood up and began to walk around the barn in circles; albeit very small circles as my size would allow, I pretty much had to turn the whole time. Everything Discord had done had made me quite frustrated, and it had been building up, unable to be released. Applejack's love could soften it and even make it go away entirely, but her presence was required for that. When she was away, that's when it got worse; it was my love of her that fueled it, because she suffered from this as much as I do. But on top of that, it made angry that the townsponies had done exactly what Discord had said they would. At least when I had reluctantly took his advice and snuck under the bridge. I had known ponies to be masters of friendships, and I had wanted so badly for them to respect me for Applejack's sake. Their words rang through my head too and with each second they seemed to strengthen my tail as I whipped it around behind me against the barn walls. "Applejack is quickly becoming the laughing stock of this whole town..." Upon remembering that, my tail thrashed itself through the barn wall and left a considerable hole a couple feet in diameter. Frustrated, I growled at the barn wall even though that didn't do anything obviously.

I turned my head back to the window and tried to calm myself down, and I let the rest of my body fall again. Those were just three stallions, AJ. Hardly the whole town. In the back of my mind, though, I knew that he seemed to speak for Ponyville, and that did nothing to help me. My blood began to seethe again under my scales. I closed my eyes and pictured Applejack, smiling in front of a heavenly sunset. I thought back to my dream last night where I was completely human again. I didn't know what to make of it; Applejack was there, and it wasn't just my imagination. I figured it must've had something to do with our heart's most intimate connection, some kind of magic. But I couldn't make much of it, I couldn't really celebrate under these circumstances. It did feel so nice to have her back in my arms the way she used to be, in my human body, but at the same time, I was ashamed to admit there were things I didn't miss either. I knew in my heart how much I had loved taking Applejack up into the clouds, and how nice it felt to be the delight of Apple Bloom as she fawned over my new appearance. I snorted and scraped the ground with my claw. Stupid Discord... saying I'm a "natural dragon"... I knew one thing, though; my heart was on fire with love of Applejack, and the foal that is due to us. I thought about how happy it made me, and my feelings eased for a moment, but then I thought about the town making fun of it as happened in my previous dreams. Stop, AJ, stop!

I shook my head yet again and thought about my wife's beloved little sister. I looked out the sky and listened. There was a dead air in the barn, nothing stirred not even a little bit. Outside the window the stars twinkled and the breeze blew through softly, but there wasn't a peep of anything, no sign of Princess Twilight or Princess Celestia, or Discord, or anypony. It's so quiet. I just hope she's ok. The sun just set, something could come down any minute. I wanted so badly to take flight towards Canterlot and help her there myself if I had to. If anything happened to her I'd be heartbroken, and how much more crippling sadness would it add to know that Applejack would be even worse.

I thought a lot about Discord. Who knows how long he's been planning this? I thought about what we might do to stop him, what the princesses might decide on. Of course I thought of the elements of harmony and the magic of friendship, but that seemed too easy. He knows well about that stuff. He has to be a step ahead of us. And what the heck is up with this whole Trottingham thing? Maybe he knows about that too. That was a scary thought. One can only imagine why that would play a role, or why he would change me into a dragon that did something like that. At the same time, to make matters worse, Discord seemed to have this kind of internal conflict going on. I knew he was a jerk, but he wasn't a complete jerk, which was the problem. I could see some conflict in him, some appreciation for friendship. But it was blinded by his pride and his corruption from his power. And boy is he powerful. I took a deep sigh. I hope we don't have to ... kill him! How do you even kill a draconequus? My eyes narrowed and my spirit hardened I remembered my wife and my baby. Though I will do anything I have to to protect my family.

I started to think a little bit about how extraordinary my life had been. The human who fell in love with an earth pony. The human who had a foal with an earth pony. The human who became a dragon against his will... I wondered how it would end. I don't care how it ends as long as Applejack is happy. That's all that's ever mattered. Her, and now our foal as well. What better way to love Applejack than to love the child we have together? And what better way to love that child than to love his mother?

It was right then that the barn, my thoughts, and seemingly everything else stood still; my heart was filled with sorrow, but not any kind of sorrow. I knew that Applejack was suffering. I could feel her pain in my heart. I twisted over on my side knowing that such an innocent, sweet creature could feel such undeserved pain. It felt as though my soul itself was dipped in anguish for her. It hit me like a wall. What could've done this? Suddenly my mind cleared and pictured one thing; Applejack at the town hall being ridiculed for her foal with me.

My sadness turned to rage beyond what I had experienced beneath the bridge, and involuntary hisses and growls came out of my mouth. It's those young ones! They're making fun of her. And our baby, I bet. I couldn't believe it. Discord was right. It was the only explanation. I knew she was there along with the whole town. Those ponies have turned against her. They scoff at the idea of human/pony baby, and they probably don't think I love her. At that moment, all I could think about was coming to her aid and showing all of those ponies just how wrong they were. In the back of my mind was the fact that it was of the utmost importance I not reveal myself in a time like this when everything is about to go down. But my desire to go there was too strong and my anger towards those ponies too fierce. Suddenly my claws and my teeth felt like assets rather than curses. All that frustration was boiling over. Well, maybe it's time to crash that town meeting. I stood up and picked up my limbs and without hesitation walked them forward, picking one claw up after another with my eyes narrowed in fury. My mind was solely on the ponies of Ponyville and coming to Applejack's defense. About not being seen, I just didn't care anymore.  

"Shhh! Be quiet! He was in the barn the last time, we're gonna check again," said the voice of Rainbow Dash from behind the barn door. What?!?

"Darling, we can't just-"

"No, I am getting to the bottom of this once and for all!" shouted Rainbow Dash in a bad attempt at a whisper. She was almost as determined as I was. It sounded like her and Rarity at least. I didn't know what to do now. I was still angry as ever as I felt Applejack's pain continuing in my heart, but I faced a crisis. They will not stop me. I took one deep breath and tried as hard as ever to calm down and think clearly. It's not their fault. I decided to tip toe over to the side of barn and swished the end of my tail under some hay to keep it from their vision. I covered my body in my wings to blend in with the pitch black surrounding. I wanted to block the door in case they tried to run away. Though what difference does it make if I'm going to Ponyville anyway?

The door opened slowly and pale moonlight crept in where it could, but I was plenty shielded enough by my own black wings in the dark barn. She trotted in, Rarity behind her, as I stood deathly still and watched them. I wasn't even breathing. Finally my anger somewhat seized for a moment and I pondered what was going on. For Pete's sake, get it together AJ! Applejack's best friends were seconds away from discovering me! That meant they would run away screaming. Unless I block the door. My body took up just under half the barn, but they had walked in without seeing me right at first. It only took Rainbow Dash a moment to notice something in the darkness, but by then it was too late and I crossed ahead the door. Her bravery and fearlessness was quickly abandoned.

"What... is... that??" cried Rarity in a whisper to my neon blue stripes at the base of my tail. I let down my wings and followed their eyes all the way up my body (while they got increasingly terrified) up until their eyes met my own. I knew these were Applejack's friends, and as such I would of course not do anything remotely unfriendly, but my anger was plenty strong enough still to keep me from being my shy and humble self. This meeting meant little to me given my anger. They slowly breathed and instinctively hugged each other in scaredness, unable to behold the dark shadow in front of them. Yep, get a good look. I waited for them to scream; Rainbow Dash looked ready to at any minute, but instead I just blocked the door and lowered my head to make myself seem as harmless as possible. I tried to take deep, slow breaths.

"What are you?" whispered Rarity. I opened my eyes and stared at them shamefully. Maybe they'll see me in my eyes. Of course, no one sees me like Applejack does, but I still held hope they would. I groaned softly. Ugh, talking would be nice right now.

"Oh my gosh... " said Rainbow Dash, walking up to me. I could make out the darkened colors of the rainbow on her mane and tail. She eyed me with utter amazement and confusion, and I knew she was going to guess it. "AJ?"

Bingo. I nodded my head slowly up and down, and the two of them looked at each other in disbelief. Rainbow Dash looked at what she could in the dark one more time.

"Are you a ... dragon?" she asked, almost enviously. I shook my head up and down again. I usually love talking to them, but not under these circumstances. I wanted to go to Ponyville, and I was not amused.

"Who or what did this to you?" asked Rarity.

This was important, and I knew it well enough to care slightly. If they guessed his name immediately, I wondered if Discord would show up, and if that happened, who knows what would happen? In any event, the thought of his name was no good thing to my hears, and a low hiss escaped my mouth to which the two of them drew back in fear for a moment.

"Uhhh, well this explains a lot!" said Rainbow Dash with a nervous smile. I had briefly forgotten about Ponyville, but maybe, it occurred to me, they could tell me was going on. I walked towards them slowly and stared intently at them. I stopped right in front of them and stared silently, waiting for them to tell me something.

"Um, what should we do? I don't think he can talk," whispered Rarity. I shook my head no.

"Should we tell him about Applejack?" said Rainbow.

To say that caught my interest would be a major understatement. My body stiffened and I approached the two of them with my eyes locked on them. Maybe I had been wrong, but I wasn't sure. What? Tell me what about Applejack? Rarity pulled her friend aside and tried to whisper in her ear, but once again I could hear as I turned my ear to them and listened with intensity.

"No, we shouldn't! He'll turn that place inside out!" cried Rarity.

"But she needs him!" whispered Rainbow.

"What? No, just-!"

I needed to know now. She needs me for what??? I hissed loudly right in their faces, and they froze briefly. Rainbow crunched up in fear, but looked as though she prepared to speak.

"Rainbow no!" pleaded her friend. I ignored her, somewhat angrily as she attempted to keep this information from me, and put my eyes squarely on the blue pegasus. She looked up with an uneasy smile. She knew I was going to press out of her whether she wanted it or not. I hissed again. What?? What is it??

"Well, the whole town is in the gazeebo, and well... your wife is kinda getting ... they're making fun of her for being pregnant, they're saying you left her unfaithfully, and they're ... saying things about your foal."

AAAHHHHH UNFAITHFUL?? MADE FUN OF? I shrieked and roared. My rage passed description. They confirmed what I had suspected. My scales seared from the blood in my veins and I could let Applejack alone no more as I took off running right through the front of the barn, bursting through it like it was nothing and leaving them behind in a cloud of dust and wood chips. Somewhere I could picture Discord smiling wickedly at my actions, but I didn't care. I took a few running steps, spread my wings and an instant jumped up on the roof of the house with the help of a flap and propelled myself off the top with a violent push off. I beat my wings furiously towards the moon for only a few moments before I spread them and let the air catch underneath them. I glided through the night air in silent fury, looking down at the town of Ponyville from a thousand feet up. I'll show them. I lowered my eyebrows, tilted my wings, and started my descent towards town hall.