Spending a day alone with Applejack appeared to be just what I needed; well, that’s always what I need. But it seemed especially fitting that the two of us should end the day where it all started, and by that I mean the place where I really began to fully understand how special she is.

We must’ve been especially playful given the secret that the two of us now share. Then again, it seems hard to imagine that we’re ever “not as playful.” Smiling and laughing is pretty much all I know how to do around Applejack; indeed, just about all I can do given the way she makes me feel. And if I could describe the feeling that comes from knowing that she feels the same way about me, then I would, but that’s just it; the feeling is beyond words.

Of course you remember the setting; the little waterfall she led me to deep in the Everfree. A small opening in a majestic forest, with the sun shining down overhead, the forest trees lush with bright green leaves, the pool at the base of the waterfall the color of the sky above. On the soft banks of the pool is where Applejack and I were nuzzled in overwhelming solace. Maybe not the place you might expect two farmers to retreat to; as a matter of fact, we usually just end up spending our time out on the farm, which is equally as beautiful. But here we are uniquely alone, and it makes for an enchanting time together. I can enjoy and admire without distraction the farm mare who deserves my total and never-ceasing commitment.

I stood up and walked over to the bank of the pool and stared once again at my own reflection. I admit it felt a bit weird not seeing a stallion staring back at me, but nonetheless I saw what Applejack saw me as, I saw me as myself, and I have never been happier to have been a human. I searched myself expression for the same bright kindness that reflected from Applejack's. Speaking of which...

I slowly turned my head over my shoulder back at her, and smiled directly at her. She just makes me so happy. All it takes for me to let her know that is a simple glance into her green eyes, which are like two glorified lily pads floating on the crystal clear pond that was right beside us. She turned away for a second, her cheeks red with delight. As long as I'm around, you will never be unappreciated. I turned my head away to hide my own blushing.

“Hey AJ!" she called, and I brought my head around once more, fighting back the redness in my own cheeks.

"Yeah?"

"Ya look like ya could use a little cool down, honey,” she said, turning her head with a. The joy of our new secret twinkled in her eyes, and I nearly melted on the spot. "Wanna go for a swim?"

I looked from her to the water and immediately recalled when she playfully pushed me in the water our first time here. It was so much fun that I wanted nothing more but for her to do it again, because it showed me just how close we really had become then, and how much closer are we now all this time later, having been through all that we have been.

"I could do that. If you're going to push me in again, I'd like to take my shoes off first," I teased. A little bonding time in the water sounded wonderful. Plus, it was rather hot out, so a swim would be cool and refreshing.

"Aw come on now! Don't tell me ya didn't enjoy at the time, sugarcube," she giggled, walking up towards me. I fell down to the ground on my flank and began to untie my shoelaces as she threw her hat aside with the saddlebag and sleeping bag. She walked up and came to a halt right over top of me, looking down at me with a devious but affectionate smile. Yes! She's gonna do it!I looked up at her and back down at my shoes, trying to hide that I knew what she was planning. I began to pull off my right shoe very slowly to taunt her, even though we both knew I very much looked forward to getting pushed in the water and swimming below the falls with her.

"Alright, if you're gonna do that then let me take my shirt off too," I said, beaming with wide eyes up at her, which elicited her sweet-sounding cackle.

"Sounds like someone is stallin' their way outa gettin' wet," she said.  I threw my left shoe and sock off and went to pull of my shirt as well, and as I passed my head through the collar of the shirt and pulled it out over my head entirely, she stepped forward, closed her eyes, and planted her snout so she was kissing me on the lips just as we had when she first arrived. I was not prepared for this one, and immediately my heartstrings tugged tightly as she continued walking into me. Just as I closed my eyes and shared her immaculate heart with my own, I quickly opened them with shock as I accidentally stepped right back into the pool of water, my entire body falling clumsily in as I could only helplessly watch a grinning Applejack as she observed me plunge into the pool.

I surfaced as quickly as I could in the cool water and shook my head as I beheld her looking down at me with a big, loving smile. I admit I was not expecting her to do it that way, but nevertheless, she had managed to get me to enjoy myself even more then I thought I was going to.

"Well, I gotta admit, that was creative," I said, blushing.

"Did ah' ever tell you that yer the cutest thing?" I could barely find the strength to look at her as I turned my head away with super red face yet again. It was as if my heart could not take any more love. Coming from you.

She bent her legs and leapt forward off the ground, and I watched as her outline passed right over top of me and into the pool for a big splash. My already-soaked face was doused yet again, and she surfaced and thrashed her mane around as the two of broke out into the most lighthearted laughter you could possibly imagine.

Out of the corner of my eye, at the base of the waterfall, I noticed something I hadn't seen before in all our times here. I had an idea for a little frolicking; it was nothing major, but little moments between Applejack and I that contain great love are greater than perhaps any idea anyone could ever come up with. We swam together over to the base of the waterfall where I noticed a little rock coming out of the cliff where the water fell. I climbed up on the rock and stuck my head and looked down at Applejack with an eager and curious smile. She rested her forehooves on the rock and struggled greatly with her back legs to get up, pushing up with all her might. I reached down and grabbed her forelegs, and rested my eyes in hers, letting her know I was not letting her fall back down, and the frustrated expression on her face melted away into a smile brighter then the day itself.

I pulled her up onto the rock and we paused for a moment, admiring each other once more. Then we slowly made our way over through the mist to the bottom of the falls which was only a few steps away. She watched as I extended my arm into the water that fell from the small stream above, which was heavy, but gentle at the same, not stinging or unpleasant. I beamed at her and stuck my head under the cool falls, letting it soak my already-drenched hair. She chuckled as I removed my head and shook it back and fourth, and this time it was my turn to watch as Applejack slowly dipped her head under the water. After she removed herself, we both slowly moved in under at the same time, except this time, with eyes closed, we began to share a gentle kiss under the water as I wrapped my arms around her, my dearest and most beloved Applejack.

In the late evening hours we had set up a tent by the bank of the pond for the two of us to sleep in for the night and a healthy fire to keep the timberwolves away. When the sun began it's descent, Applejack and I went right back to the top of the that waterfall to watch the sun set over the forest and beyond to the rest of Equestria. It was the same beautiful sunset as before, with dark purple clouds and skies directly over us turning bright pink the more you looked to the horizon- the perfect romantic setting. It seemed like yesterday I was sitting atop that waterfall with her for the first time, looking at her and blushing whenever she complimented me and adoring every second I spent with her. On this night, few things have changed. Except now we have twenty wondrous months with each other under our belts and fourteen months joined in Holy Matrimony. And greatest of all, the product of our love and ultimate trust and respect; a foal of our own in the near future.

"Oh my, that sure is pretty. Ain't nothin' prettier with you, sugarcube," she said, turning her friendly gaze to me and spoiling me all over again.  I was sitting and leaning back on my hands, with her right beside me, her legs tucked under stomach. "Ah' sure am proud o' you," she sighed, which tickled the deepest depths of my heart.  

She turned her head back out toward the horizon, and I remembered exactly what I said the first time we came here. Not nearly as beautiful as you. And how true of a statement on this day. I don't care what she is, human or pony, I have always found her breathtakingly gorgeous; on the outside, yes, but endlessly more important, on the inside. She turned her head up at the lavender clouds.

"What do ya think it's like to fly, sugarcube?" she continued. "Why, ah' bet ya could see a whole lot from up there. The farm, Ponyville, Everfree Forest... Ah' don't think we'll ever find out, sugarcube," she continued, " 'less one of us grows wings," she said, leaning back with a grin and looking at my back as we both giggled. "No, ah' reckon ah' got far too many blessings to be complainin', startin' with you, mah' family, mah' friends," she said, with profound sincerity in her sweet country voice. It's things like that why I care for her so deeply, and am so in awe of her; her simplicity and unselfishness, her gratefulness for what she has, her humility, her unquestioning love.

"You know, I admit I have wondered that," I said, pondering it to myself before placing my arm around her shoulder. "All I know is that I don't need to fly, I don't need anything. How could I? I was granted so much more than I could ever need, or deserve, when I met you, Applejack," I said, to which she blushed adorably.

"C'mon now," she said, deeply flattered, but embarrassed given her modesty.

"Besides, I actually have kinda, uh, well Princess Celestia that is,-"

"Oh fer pony's- you have been flyin' before, ya little rascal!" she squealed playfully. She's right; if you recall from my first testimony, I rode (along with Spike the dragon) on Princess Celestia's back as she carried us to the place where we would rescue Applejack and her friends.

"It was... quite terrifying," I said wearily as I recalled how high up we were and how fast she flew with us on her back. "But I'd go through it again everyday if it was for your benefit," I reassured her, giving her bright eyes all of my love, which she returned. It was and is the truth. Along with what I said about having other things, such as the gift of flying or magic; none of that was worth anything compared to the heart of Applejack. A humble creature incapable of those things is what I am, and it is my utmost happiness to be with another humble creature, an Earth pony. To others, she and I are among the lowliest in the entire kingdom, but to me she is the greatest of them all.

"Yer so sweet, sugarcube," she said, bringing her head in and resting it in my chest. I raised my arms and rested them gently around her, hugging her tightly and laying the side of my head on her mane. Safe and sound in my arms is where you belong. The darkness was setting in, and the stars were slowly but surely coming out overhead as the cool breeze replaced the warm moist air that had been in the day. The day was almost over.

"Ah' can't wait to tell the family," she whispered. Immediately the faces of the rest of the fam- Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, and little Apple Bloom- popped into my mind. As if there was any question that the environment for the two of us to our raise our foal was not the best and most loving environment imaginable; on the farm with the rest of the family.

"So, um... six months then?" I muttered shyly but enthusiastically, after a quick subtraction in my mind. Her ears fell and she blushed again.

"Uh, actually sugarcube, it's, uh, nine months from now," she said, chuckling embarrassedly. I looked dumbfounded. "It's, uh... twelve to thirteen fer ponies," she added. Immediately I brought my hand to my forehead. Come on, AJ! You knew that! Of course, I was thinking nine months, since that's the typical length of time in humans. She withdrew her head to look me in the eyes with love, as though telling me "don't worry about it".

"Well... I can't wait to think of the perfect name with you," I said. It was as if the excitement and divine rapture that came with having a foal with Applejack was hitting me all over again. Applejack, mom and wife... It tickled me awfully. And when Applejack chuckled against my chest, it felt that much sweeter.

"Ah' can already see him and his pa playin' in the trees together," she muttered under her breath. I rocked her back in fourth. Her eyes were shut, and it was no secret she was quite tired. I don't blame her. It would be a little while before I fell alseep, however.

"I can already see her mom showing her how to make the greatest apple fritter in the world in the kitchen back home," I responded.

"Ain't no girl ever had a better hubby, AJ," she said, her voice sounding sleepy but not losing it's honesty. "Mah' little human."

As the sun's final lights began to fade into the night, I looked up at the twinkling stars and breathed the night air, and at that moment, I had never been happier to be a human, despite all the consequences it came with, being in love with an Earth pony. Applejack loves me, and I get to spend to rest of my life with her. My heart is one with hers. That's all I could ever hope for. And the two of us are going to bring new life into this world. At that moment, I did not feel one bit as though I was a burden.

I continued to sit there atop the waterfall with my wife in my arms, pondering our wondrous future. AJ, guardian of Applejack... and their foal. It occurred to me that I was going to have to take extra special care of her in the coming months, which is more than fine with me. Until we went to bed, thoughts and visions of raising the foal alongside Applejack raged through my mind. One in particular right before bed was especially fluttering. The immaculate heart of Applejack triumphs again.

It wasn't before long the two of us were slowly making our way through the streets of Ponyville, side by side, in the market section of town. The day was bright and colorful (added by the many colors of ponies), and the sun was high. The streets were busy and bustling, and every pony was friendly as could be. Applejack, walking along right next to me, was the brightest and rosiest of them all. I was in awe at this magical world I had come to, where my one true love was born. And my heart fluttered as she walked beside me, and our secret ran through my mind as we passed by familiar faces.

"Hi AJ! Hi Applejack!" called Cheerilee from the opposite side of the street, waving a hoof at us. Applejack and I responded at the same time, me calling "hi!" to her "howdy!"

"She's gonna have at least one new student in a few years," I whispered in her ear as we passed by. She turned her head to me, tickled pink and giggling, and I chuckled with her.

"Nice day, huh, Applejack? Hello AJ!" cried the voice of another Ponyvillian, this time Mr. Cake, the yellow earth pony stallion in charge of Sugarcube Corner along with his wife. They were out for a walk, and they had a baby carriage carrying their twin toddlers, a colt and a filly.

"Howdy Mr. and Mrs. C! How're the cute little youngin's doin'?" said Applejack.

"They're doing great! Pound Cake made his first batch of cupcakes today," he called, looking down proudly at his son. Mrs. Cake made a face that indicated that they perhaps didn't taste too good, but beaming nonetheless. Applejack and I looked at each other and smiled blushingly ourselves.

I was so happy. It reminded me of the hoedown; it seemed like nearly all the ponies in Ponyville, save a small group of stallions my age, were used to me (and used to Applejack and I). More importantly, they loved Applejack too. I can't wait to tell them, accompanying Applejack all the way through and never leaving her side. And we still had the family to tell too. What a wonderful environment we had to raise a foal. I desired deeply for the townsponies to show Applejack the respect and love she deserved from them, as well as the foal that she would soon be bringing fourth. My foal. I mean, sure, it will be a little bit different...   

As Applejack and I began to approach our destination, of which I had no idea, we beheld an unusually strong gust of wind. As leaves and baskets flew around before us, we turned our heads with slight uneasiness towards the direction they were coming from. Immediately we both noticed the sky; a large, black, ominous storm cloud was making it's way towards us.

The perfect scenario was taking an unexpected turn, and the amount of blood pumping through my heart was rising. Um... something is not right here.

"Uh, Applejack? Do you remember a storm on the schedule for today?" I said, looking with fear at the large thunderhead that was moving so rapidly it was almost if something was giving it speed. And not just the weatherponies, as there were no pegasus moving the clouds around. I looked over at Applejack, and she didn't answer. She didn't even acknowledge me. It was as if I wasn't there. It was at that moment I noticed we were alone in the street.

"Applejack?"

She once again ignored my presence, and continued to watch the storm clouds. There was great fear and concern in her eyes, and it was devastating me to see it in her. She took a few steps backward as the storm cloud blocked out the sun, and I turned around, and there, standing before us were all the townsponies, all gathered at the other end of the street, and facing us.

Standing in front of the pack was a golden yellow stallion with a black mane. All of them were looking at us in a manner that was malicious, and all of the friendliness that was there before was all but gone completely. What is going on? My immediate and utmost concern was for Applejack, and keeping her safe. My anxiety and helplessness was suddenly shooting off the charts, all because I feared what kind of nightmare this was turning into for my most beloved wife.

"Applejack, come back here!" I yelled, extending my arm and pleading with her to come back. Once again, it was as if I wasn't there to her; she stood a few steps in front of me, out of my reach, with great sadness and fear in her expression, looking at the crowd of ponies before her and longing for them to change their unfriendliness.

I went to move forward, but I couldn't move. My legs were frozen. This is not happening... The stallion in front called to her, his voice cold and mocking.

"AJ isn't here to help you. And we don't want anything to do with you, or that... foal," he said, twitching with disgust as he said the last word. Overcome with unbearable pain, and swimming with rage, ready to defend my wife, I cried out in a loud, desperate voice.

"I'm right here, and if you come anywhere near, I swear by heaven I'll-"

"It's not his fault! He needs me!" cried Applejack, with a broken heart in her voice. As for my own, it was shattered. In part because the townsponies were suddenly being so mean to her for no reason at all, and knew that she was expecting, and scoffed and thrashed her for it! Our foal! Most of all, my heart was broken because hers was. Her sadness was like shards of glass tearing through my soul.

"AJ! Help me! Ah' need you, sugarcube," she said, weeping and falling to the ground, covering her eyes with her hooves.

"Noooooo!" I cried, as tears began streaming down my face as the pain and anxiety was excruciating beyond measure, and Applejack's soft sobbing drove me to the depths of the abyss.

I suddenly sat up in the sleeping bag my eyes open with fear, and every breath was heavy as the night air. I was in the tent; I looked to my side, and there slept Applejack so peacefully, neighing softly, her belly moving up and down with each breath. Oh my goodness... I had awoken from a terrible nightmare. Indeed, the worst dream I ever had. It ended amidst the climax of anxiety and horror, with my hearts deepest fears- Applejack in pain- being realized.

It is wonderful thing to wake up from a nightmare and realize that it was only a nightmare. To my great relief, Applejack slept alongside me snuggly and safely, and in my protection where she belongs. But not all of my uneasiness was over just like that. I took a deep breath and gulp, regaining my touch with reality. Oh my gosh... it was just a dream, AJ. It was just a dream... she's safe.

I clutched my weary heart with my right hand, and with my left hand I stroked her mane down from the top, reminding myself over and again that she was with me, and we were safe. I love you... feel it in your heart, Applejack... I said this because my own heart, to which hers is united, was, at that moment, literally aching for her out of love for her. It had just been tormented beyond what it could take, but was recovering to feel her mane on my finger.

"Oh man," I sighed, falling back on the sleeping bag. I turned my head the other way, my eyes were wide open. I knew there were things I was unavoidably going to be thinking about. How will they react when they hear the news? Of course, it was not the thought of our family that troubled me. Our family was going to give us all of their love and support for this foal. I was concerned about the townsponies. The thought of them treating Applejack in that way...

I got up as softly and as quietly as I could out of the sleeping bag and grabbed my T-shirt, throwing it on. I exited the tent and made my way over to the fire, whose reflection sparkled off the pond that it was next to. It was still burning, if not much smaller than it started out as. I threw some twigs we had gathered along with another nice-sized piece of firewood, and it slowly began to grow it's way back to it's former state. I bit my finger. Already I wanted to go back in and snuggle with Applejack, but I risked waking her up. Plus, I didn't want her to know that I was upset.

"What's wrong, sugarcube?" her soft, sweet voice made whispered it's way over to me, with a kind of loving concern you would never hear from any other creature on earth. I swung around, and her head was peeping out of the tent as she walked towards me. I didn't want her worrying about me, although I admit I was comforted to see her. She came by and sat her flank right down beside me, fighting through her tiredness to give me the attention she thought I needed.

"Applejack," I whispered, with a soft chuckle, "I don't want you worrying, it's nothing I can't get over."

"Hey now," she said, scooting in and wrapping her front leg around me and pressing me into her belly, "Ah'll have none of that. What's a' matter?"

I sighed, finding deep solace with her, but it was balanced by the fact that I knew I was going to have to tell her.

"I had a dream," I said, removing myself from her and keeping my eyes away from her, so she could not see any angst in them. She eagerly awaited for me to continue, watching my every move.

"And?" I sighed again.

"I had a dream, and the ponies back in Ponyville were... " I took a deep breath and shuttered as I recounted it, "they were hurting you. Saying things about me, about our foal. Worst of all, I couldn't go to and protect you from them," I said, shaking my head and putting my hands in my face. "It was so horrible to see you like that," I whimpered.

"Hey, hey now sugarcube," she said, once again extending her front leg around me and bringing me in for a hug, "ssshhh, shhh, it's alright. Tell me somethin', honey. Are dreams real?" I let my head absorb all of her warmth and love, and responded with my eyes at the fire.

"No," I said, and immediately my overall mood began to lift.

"Sugarcube, ah' don't need no approval from the ponies in this town. All that matters is that ah' got a wonderful family and the most wonderful hubby 'ere ever was to take care a' me. And we gonna raise a beautiful foal on the farm, we sure are," she whispered.

"Looks like you're the one taking care of me right now," I remarked.

"That's right," she said proudly, stroking my hair with her hoof. "Besides, sugarcube, that town loves you to death! Yer the cutest thing they ever laid eyes on, you remember the hoedown, don'tcha? That was last night honey!"

I was beginning to return to the level of content I was at before I had the dream, and it was all thanks to Applejack. Applejack is right. It was just a dream, and everypony seems to be fine not only with me, but me and her!

"Thanks, Applejack," I said, closing my eyes into her belly and embracing her with my arms.

The two of us got up and made our way back into the tent and laid to rest on top of the sleeping bag.

"Dreams ain't real, but this is," she said. She wrapped both her front legs and her hind legs around me and rest her head top of me. Indeed, I was happy again. The two of us were sound asleep again only a few moments later.