"Quiet! All of you! As the mayor of Ponyville, I command you to-"

The mayor done tried to get everypony calmed down, but it was mighty useless. Town hall was as noisier than a hut of roosting hens, and everypony's eyes were on me. Half the town was laughin' at their tails off me. The other half was either fighting with them either about me or about something else. The ponies that knew me well seemed to all be on my side, though remember that over the last couple of years some of the younger ones had ignored me or drifted away from me when AJ and I became known and were now the giddiest to think he'd done left me. Even the ones on my side didn't know the whole story, they was fightin' blind for me. I couldn't blame 'em for bein' suspicious. If they knew why I'd had to be quiet, they'd understand mind you. But either way, it was no happy picknick for me and my family. My brother stood there beside me, growlin' like a tiger at them ponies, but it was useless for me. They'd done enough on my heart for one day. Here I thought they was all gonna love my baby, but here they were cacklin' and scoffin' at me, my baby, and my husband. Above the constant screaming and talking, I could make out a few sayings what not in all directions.

"She's so ashamed, she knows it! Look at her! She's not so special after all," scoffed one stallion somewhere.

"He never loved her after all!" said another mare somewhere.  

"Get off her back! She's always been one of the town's most dependable ponies, a champion of friendship!" cried another mare.

"What a weird baby that's gonna be!" scorned another pony.

How can ya'll do this to me? Now I ain't much of a cryer, you gotta soil my apples pretty bad to get me to be doin' that, but I was startin' to cry then alright. It wasn't so much that they had the wrong idea about me or my husband, because o'course I knew how mighty wrong they was, though I admit it hurt an awful lot to see his good self bein' ridiculed and such, that poor sweet creature. He was in such good spots with all them, he was a delight to them all before he had to go hide away all the time. I was most upset for my baby I reckon. I thought he was gonna have a good load friends to make in Ponyville. I thought they'd be loving and respectin' the foal what me and my husband had done together.

I stood there with my head down and my eyes closed, quieter than a mouse. I was so mighty sad, and I felt so weak by myself and unable to say nothin' on account of Discord's threats and what not. I knew when I married AJ in secret that it was gonna be hard sometimes, and again when we decided to be a ma and pa for a sweet little baby, but I didn't think we'd catch this much from the townsponies. I was disappointed more than anything. But one thing stayed the same through it all, and that was I love my family more than all the apples in the world. Yer well worth it, sugarcube. I was wishin' he was there with me. I wished I was anywhere but there. I wished I was safe in his human arms or flying on his back up through the clouds. I looked up and saw my friends standing there with me, and I was scared my brother was gonna kill one of them ponies talkin' about me.

"This whole meeting is an outrage! An absolute travesty!" cried Cheerilee over the whole lot voices, stickin' up for us while she got pelted by some of the nastier ponies. That shut 'em maybe a tiny bit, but that was all. Despite all the hurt, I knew I had to do somethin'. I had to fight back somehow. In the back of my mind I was still worried about my little sister, who coulda shown up with the princesses at any time.

"If we don't get back to the issue at hand-!" screamed the mayor.

"What is it gonna have, a human head and a pony body?" scoffed Cherry Cola to his buddy Royal Riff.

I'd taken a lot of sadness and hurtin' in the last few minutes. And I hadn't hardly done nothin' about it but sit there and take it in without sayin' much, given I didn't really what I could say with Discord and all. But right then, I saw my husband's smiling face, his human face that is. He was standing there with his arms open, and some kinda magic swirled around inside me seeing him like that. All the times I ever made him giggle, and all the days out in the orchard together, they was playing in my head like a picture book of sweet memories. As happy as that made me, and as sad as it made me to think it was in danger, I knew I had to stick up for him. My baby as well. And myself I reckon. My family's dignity was on the line, but I felt strength in my heart spring up in defense though I was still hurting a lot. I loved my family and my hubby too strong and we been through too much for me to keep silent any longer. They didn't know what we have.

"What does it matter?" I cried, and for the first time that night, they all shut up to hear me out, the place quieted down in a couple of shakes of a sheep's tail. Everypony was starin' quiet at me now again. "Do you treat ponies based on what they look like? Is that what kinda stallion you are? You used to be a mite friendly to me until I got married, now you ain't. What happened? And you ain't the only one like that!"

That got to a lot of 'em, it rustled them a bit, 'cause they knew it was true. I knew the answer to that question, and I was hopin' everypony else did too. He chuckled some, tryin' to brush it off and roll his eyes some, but I could see I got to him. He was a bit scared, alright. But he didn't want to show it none.

"Well it's one thing to talk about a pony, another thing to talk about some kinda weird hybrid," said Royal Riff, and there was some muffled cackling all over the building for a split second, but I stuck it to him right quick.

"Why? Why is my baby weird?" I shouted in reply. The whole place shut up and the smile on his face went for a gallop. I was speakin' straight from my heart now. "Ah' thought we was supposed to be all ponies here? And ah' thought ponies were all about friendship? Ya'll are so concerned with looks, and types, and popularity and what not that you've looked right on past what actually matters," I said. They looked at me more intent than I ever saw. That building was mighty quiet now. I couldn't believe they was acting the way they was acting, and saying what they was saying, and how mighty hurtful it had been. I was givin' 'em all I had, but it seemed to be workin' a little bit.

"Ya'll are a mite bit different from me, ah' reckon. Some of ya'll think that you're better than some creatures. But when ya'll think like that, ah' think yer missin' out on some the most wonderful friendship there is. That comes from humility and appreciation for the ones you love. Yeah, ah' married a human, and we gonna be a ma and a pa too. If ya'll wanna make fun of me, make fun of us, go right ahead. If ya'll wanna make fun of our newest family member, ah' can't stop ya. But ya'll can't take nothin' away from me and my hubby whom ah' love with all my heart. Ya'll can't take nothin' away from our special foal. As for that there fact, ya'll can take that anyway you please."

I stuck it to 'em all. I poured out my whole heart, and I reckoned my AJ would've been mighty proud to have seen me. I drew all my strength from my love for him and the family. I reckon my tears were comin' pretty good right then too, but I think I struck through to some of them. My brother put his leg around me and the two of us stared strong at 'em all, not backin' down. In the silence, Pinkie and Fluttershy came and stood by me. I got through to some of 'em, but the group in front of us was angry to have been shut up. There was a good pause before they spoke again.

"Then where is he?" they muttered, staring me straight in the eye. The rest of the town looked at me eagerly. I reckon for them, it was a mighty good question. I wished they trusted me like they always used to. It made me sad, but I knew I couldn't endanger my hubby. He'd be sad if I sold out on him now. And he's well worth it. I looked at my brother and then back at them. I was sorry as could be, but I stayed strong as I could.

"Ah' can't tell you that, but soon enough you'll see him, and ya'll will know why ah' couldn't tell you."

They scoffed at my response, and soon voices of them ponies in there all started goin' again and gettin' loud and I reckon they was still divided between themselves about me. But right then, that's when I felt it. My heart dropped. It was like I sensed that AJ knew about this here pickle of mine, and that he wasn't happy about it. Not one teeny bit. And boy howdy, I know how protective he can be alright. As much as I wished he was there with me, I knew he didn't belong with me right then. I knew how bad it'd be if he did come and show himself. That's when I heard his voice from deep within my heart. Though it was quiet and soft, it was one mighty ferocious tone, one I never expect to hear. I will show them faithful.

My breathing jumped like a junebug and my worried heart fell far on down. Oh no... He can't come while they're all in here! Not now! We're so close with the princesses and what not! I knew I had to buck it into a higher thinkin' gear right then, and I was scared to think about all the bad that could happen from it, but I barely had no time to do nothin' about it. My heart just wanted to go back to peaceful living with my hubby, but I had to focus and save him somehow. C'mon, girl, think!

"Listen everypony!" I cried as desperate as ya'll can imagine, but it was too late. Maybe for a lickety split moment, some of they're heads turned to me and went to pay attention, but amidst all the noise, there was a sound like rushing wind from outside the building, and in a matter of no time it got louder and louder, like somethin' was headed straight for town hall. But nopony had time to do nothin'. I nearly choked on my own gulp. Oh no!  

There was a sound like the biggest apple tree ya'll can think of hittin' the side of the building with all it had. My husband's head, and all it's black, neon blue, scaley, toothy appearance crashed through the wall right above me and pieces of the building came hurlin' on down like a rainstorm. He stood there perched for a moment on the new hole in the wall as all the town backed up like a herd of sheep, their eyes as wide as dinner plates and whaling like banshees. Then with a mighty roar that shook the building, his whole body came thunderin' down onto the floor with fire in his eyes that I ain't ever seen in his sweet gaze before. My brother and I stood there frozen as ice cubes while the whole place went up in screams.

"DRAAAGON!!!!!!" cried Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy together.

"No, wait!" I yelled to them, but they was out the door already behind me. Some more ponies ran for the door near where I was, they went to run around AJ, but he snarled at them so fierce that they had no choice but to go back to other side, since there's only one door in there. The crowd of ponies that had been in the middle, consisted of nearly all ponies that had scoffed and laughed at me, they stood scarder than sheep in a timberwolf den. My hubby's great black and blue body was in front of me, his tail swishing around back by my brother and me. It broke my heart to see him like this, I knew he was just protecting me, I knew it wasn't his fault. I couldn't believe he'd made it this far to begin with, he'd handled it like a champ thus far.

Suddenly his head turned around, and there he stood and looked at me with those deep eyes. He stayed still while the rest of the building scrambled in panic, save the middle group which lay in front him; they stayed where they was, too scared to move. His blue eyes lightened up when they looked in mine, they went right through me like they always do. They was weary and hurt, but they were full of care for me. He looked at me long and good, and when he saw the state that I was in, I could see him pierced with sadness. I just wanted him to feel better, and to know I love him and I didn't care about the town anymore. But when he'd seen me and looked at me, his eyes turned with his head back towards the ponies in front of him, and they narrowed and for a just a moment I caught the terrifying vengence in his eyes. What'd they done to me had made him real angry, and I don't blame him bein' my husband. But it worried me like you wouldn't believe, him bein' a dragon and all. I couldn't let him go too far.

He moved his legs forward and even from behind I could see he was locked on them, and their faces lit up with even more fear. They huddled together and walked backward while he walked towards them, just Royal Riff, Cherry Cola, and a some of the other young ponies who had been especially nasty. The building was in utter chaos mind you, groups of ponies that had been on the side escaped, but there was still running and screamin' everywhere you looked. Most was runnin' out the door, but my husband's eyes were solely on the group in front of them. One of them went to get away, but he wouldn't let him, he snarled and hissed him right back into place. He herded them all the way to the wall, about ten of 'em or so, where they was probably about ready to wet themselves. Oh no... I ran up behind my husband, I knew I was the only one who could calm him.

"AJ!" I called, but I don't think he could hear me. He was too focused on in front of him. The group of ponies looked at me as I ran up beside him for a minute. He kept on staring at them, his anger like I'd never seen it because they had been so mean to me. "Hey, hey! Sugarcube? They didn't mean it," I called as caringly as I could. Royal Riff caught me and what I was doin', I think he caught on that I knew this dragon. But he was too scared and no position to do nothin' about it of course. He looked back at AJ and threw his hooves up with the most pathetically nervous smile you ever imagined.

"D-dude, c-calm down, I-I was just kidding!" he pleaded, but it was no use. My husband stood himself up and towered over them with a tremendous roar that left them hugging each other in fear. Now I was so mighty scared that he was gonna do something. I was as anxious, worried, and desperate as I ever been. He stared them down, I saw his rage in his grit teeth and his fiery blue eyes while they huddled in fear. Suddenly I saw his mouth lighting up with glowing orange. I know that happens naturally if he gets angry enough, and it don't mean that fire's gonna come out, but when I saw that, that's when I lost it.  

"WAAAIIIIT!!!" I cried as I ran up beside him.  I ran up and placed my hoof on his neck, and out of surprise he turned his head mighty quick and with a kind of defenseful growl of anger. It was the first time he's ever looked at me directly with any kind of rage. When he saw it was me, it was like I flipped a switch on him. Suddenly all his anger was gone, it melted away like wax on tar in the middle of summer. His eyes met mine, and immediately they softened into sad and loving. Just like that, he was back to helpless as a puppy.

"Don't do this sugarcube. They ain't worth it," I pleaded, though I really did appreciate his protecting me. He was surprised to see me, but he looked at me and moaned softly, as though he was cripplingly sorry and ashamed of himself. It was enough to pierce my heart, especially knowing he was guiltless, but I knew the best remedy for it. I ran up and put myself right in front of him, and he lowered his head down to my level.

"Hey, hey it's alright honey, it's alright," I whispered to him. His eyes were full of so much sorrow as though they'd let me down. I loved him so much, all I could think about was calming him down. "Don't worry 'bout me, sugarcube. Ah' don't need nothin' but you," I said, putting my hoofs under his chin. For just a moment we began to weep together as I embraced the front of his head, taking in each other with all that we could. For just a moment, I felt my heart easing up as I rested my head against him. I spoke to him from the bottom of my heart. You are my soul's delight.

But it was just a moment. Suddenly there was a clanking noise; from the other side a big metal chain had been lassoed around his neck by a group of ponies, and he cried out in pain as they pulled it back. It hurt me just as much.

"No!!! What are you doing? Don't hurt him!" I called to them. Then, without no warning, some other ponies threw a chain around his neck from my side. I turned around and pleaded with them too. "Stop! He won't hurt you, he was protectin' me!" I cried, but they ignored me. AJ looked sadly to me as he stopped fighting altogether and let himself be wrangled. Once he was subdued, ponies started jumping on him, weighing him down and what not, and he fell right on to the ground without no resisting.

"Stop it! Just please don't hurt him!" I cried amidst all the noise and chaos, but it was no use. He was already captured and locked up in chains. He stopped all movement and laid on the ground, giving up entirely. And I couldn't do nothin' about it. It broke my heart. I stood in front of him and laid down on the ground myself, trying to reassure him that I was here with him. He looked up shamefully but lovingly, and it tore me to see it. The place got quieter as the ponies all caught their breath and seemed in shock at first that they'd got him. Then they got all rowdy again, and the two of us were smack in the middle of it.

"We've got it! It's the northern shortneck! We've captured him!" cried one of the stallions.

Cherry Cola and Royal Riff walked up to me with looks nastier than death itself. They walked right past me and looked spitefully from me to AJ. They walked right up to his face, and he could've turned them into crispy fried pony if he wanted to, but instead he looked humbly at them, waiting sadly for whatever they was gonna do. The place quieted down, and suddenly they drew their front legs back and smacked him hard across the face. Then they spit on him. The place erupted again, but my heart was filled with rage of it's own, and instinctively I ran up and pushed them both aside, with all the strength of years of applebuckin'.

"Get away from mah'-!" I cried over the noise, but I stopped midsentence, broken about what to say. I turned with love and despair at my beloved husband as he lay helplessly on the ground, covered in chains that were being pulled tight by ponies.

"We've done it! We've caught the devil!" shouted another stallion. There were many cheers throughout the building.

"Look at him! He's not so tough!" yelled another. Then, following Royal Riff and Cherry Cola's example, ponies from all directions came in for their shot at my husband. I was pushed aside. For a moment, I watched in misery and anguish while ponies walked up to AJ and began hitting him and kicking him. Spitting right in his face. I ran up to them and started pushing them back, but I was no match for all of them. I saw AJ looking at me with tears in his eyes, and I heard him from within. Applejack, don't endanger yourself. I'm happy to take it for you. Remember what you carry.

The whole building enclosed around him while ponies laughed, cheered, and scorned him as ponies took their shots at him, stepping on his tail, kicking him in the side, hitting his face with their hooves. Here we was, when only a month earlier they'd all been cheering his name as he picked the banjo for them. I couldn't bear the sight of it. I thought I was gonna die right then of a broken heart. Seein' him and hearing him in that much pain. He was humiliated like I ain't never seen no one, this kind and innocent creature. Every blow he took was like a knife through my soul. And that ain't even describe it well. He looked through the crowd for me in his pain, and he stared at me with loving eyes once again while I sobbed and sobbed. I'm so sorry, Applejack. Don't hold this against them. They don't know what they're doing.

His words would have comforted me, but somehow they just made the pain worse. My love for him was so strong, his guiltlessness was so great that it made me all the more sad to see this happenin' to him. Sayin' something like that, even as he was bein' hit and kicked and spit on, it made me happy to love him, but broken to see him here. I looked up and pleaded with my last bit of hope that Apple Bloom would get here.