How it Started: Soarin and Applejack
Applejack woke up to the caw of the rooster in the distance signalling the dawn of a new day, grumbling a little. She glanced around her room and sighed, feeling rather lonely.
Now that her brother had somepony special, it got her thinking about her love life...or lack there of. She had never been asked out or anything of the sort...well there was that Tenderhoof fellow, but he just creeped her out.
“Maybe Ah'm jus' not supposed ta have a special somepony...” She thought to herself as she finally got out of bed and towards the kitchen for breakfast. “Ah guess a special somepony would get in tha way of tha farm work anyway...”
As she walked in the kitchen she noticed Mac and Rainbow sitting there, nuzzling, while Granny Smith was at the stove, cooking up breakfast. “Howdy everypony!” She said, plastering a big fake smile on her face.
“Howdy AJ.” Mac replied.
“Sup, girl.” Rainbow answered, giggling when Mac nipped her ear. Applejack pretended to gag at the scene.
“Please you two, we're gonna be eatin' in a bit, can't ya tone it down a little?” Applejack asked, but inwardly she was pleading for them to stop and to quit reminding her of her own loneliness and how much she wanted what they had.
“Oh, sure...” Rainbow replied, resting her head on Mac's shoulder instead. Granny Smith had turned around and placed four plates down, one for her, Mac, Rainbow and herself.
Applejack rose an eyebrow. “Where's Applebloom?”
“That youngin' jus' took an apple an' headed ta tha library...” Granny replied, shaking her head. “Probably ta see 'er friends.” She continued.
Applejack nodded and sat down to eat. “Well, good fer them...Ah jus' hope they don't make a mess.” She replied, taking a bite out of her pancake. “Well today we gotta git them galas from tha West orchard, so Ah gotta eat quick...”
“Nnnope.” Mac interrupted, causing her to stop eating, shocked. “Yer takin' tha day off.”
“What?!” She responded, standing up. “What are ya talkin' about?! We need those apples ta ship over ta Canterlot tomorrow! You can't do that all by yerself!”
“He's not, I'm helping him.” Rainbow answered, looking just like Mac. Unyielding. “We can take care of it, you're going to take a break.”
“But why? What makes ya think Ah need a day off?!” Mac rolled his eyes.
“Because Ah haven't seen you leave tha farm once this month. You 'ave have been actin' like me before ya introduced me ta ya friends.” His eyes started to soften a bit. “If'n you can worry about me, Ah think Ah can worry about ya too.”
“But...b-but...Granny!” She pleaded. Work was the one thing that was keeping her mind off of being single. But, to her dismay, the old green mare agreed with her brother.
“He's right dear, ya need ta rest yer bones today.”
“But...Rainbow, don't ya have Wonderbolt practice?!” Rainbow rolled her eyes.
“The Wonderbolts aren't my whole life you know. Spitfire let me have the day off to help my friend.” She replied. Applejack turned to look at each one of them, slowly losing ground with her argument.
Finally, she slumped back into her seat and sighed loudly. “Alright...Ah'll take tha day off...”
“Pinkie promise.” Mac said, adamantly. He knew, from a conversation with Twilight, what happens when you break a Pinkie promise and knew that Applejack would never do so.
“Uh...Urg! Cross ma hooves, hope ta fly, stick a cupcake in ma eye!”
“Forever!” They heard Pinkie yell from the distance.
“Don't worry, I got somepony to come and help you have fun today.” Rainbow continued after shaking off the oddness of Pinkie Pie.
“Oh come on, Rainbow! Ah don't need a babysitter!” Applejack yelled, indignantly. After that, they heard a knock at the door. Mac rose from his seat to answer it.
Rainbow grinned. “Don't worry, I'm sure you won't mind his company.” That confused Applejack, she thought Rainbow would get Twilight or Pinkie or Fluttershy or maybe even Rarity to hang out with her.
“Hey Mac!” She heard a familiar voice exclaim happily from the door way followed by a hoof bump.
“Howdy Soarin, you're here early.” She heard Mac reply as he and the sky blue Pegasus stallion walked into the kitchen. Soarin was rubbing the back of his head, sheepishly.
“Yeah sorry about that. I wanted to be out the door before the paparazzi woke up.” He answered, before smiling. “Hey everypony!”
“Hey Boss.” Rainbow replied, casually. She and Soarin were good friends, so the boss-recruit thing was just a little running joke between them.
“Howdy Soarin.” Granny Smith said, finishing her breakfast.
“H-howdy...” Applejack stuttered, looking away with reddening cheeks. See, she had a small crush on Soarin, but had never had the courage to confront him about it.
“Like Ah stand a chance, anyway...” She thought to herself. “Ah'm jus' a plain, farmin' Earth Pony an' he's co-captain of tha Wonderbolts! He could have any mare he wanted...” But, of course, it was in her nature to tell the truth, so that meant that she had trouble keeping her feelings to herself most of the time.
“Well, AJ, once you've eaten, we can go find something fun to do!” Soarin stated, excitedly. It wasn't often he gets the day off and he wanted to have as much fun as possible.
“Uh...Well...” Applejack stuttered, looking down at her empty plate. “G-guess Ah'm ready now...”
“Sweet!” He cheered, flapping his wings excitedly. “Let's go then!” He continued, wrapping his wing around her shoulders and walking her towards the door, causing her to heat up like a supernova. “Adventure awaits!”
As soon as the two left, Rainbow called after them. “Remember! We expect you back by eight and don't drink coffee anywhere past six.”
“Ya ain't ma mama Rainbow!”
Applejack shuffled along nervously besides the Wonderbolt co-captain, who was whistling a tune happily. “So...uh...What did ya wanna do?” She asked after about ten minutes of silence.
Soarin turned to her, grinning. “Well, I heard there was a fair in Ponyville today. Something about an Animal Appreciation Day?” He answered, shrugging. “I think Fluttershy and Princess Celestia organised it, but it sounds like fun.”
“Y-yeah...sure...” Applejack replied, kicking her self mentally. “C'mon ya ninny! This ain't tha first time you've been alone wit' im! Stop actin' like a school filly wit' a crush...or Scootaloo as we call her...” She thought to herself, noting the many times said orange filly had been pressed against Rumble's side.
“Great! Then let's go!” He declared, rushing forward on his legs, keeping his wings tucked to the side. “Last one there's a manticore dropping!” Applejack was startled out of her thoughts, before she shook them free and raced after him.
“Oh no ya don't Pie Guy!” She yelled back, determinedly.
“Um...” Soarin mumbled, staring at the sign in front of the pair of ponies.
“So...Animal Appreciation huh?” Applejack asked, awkwardly, looking at the sign that stated otherwise.
The sign that read 'Hearts and Hooves Day Fair'.
“How did I forget it was Hearts and Hooves day?” Soarin continued to mumble to himself.
“Ah woulda thought Big Mac an' Rainbow Dash woulda wanted ta come ta this...” That's when it clicked and Applejack's face started to morph from confused to irritated.
“Darn it! Rainbow knew what today was an' basically set us up on a blind date!” She seethed in her head, almost ready to turn back to do her work...
...Until she saw Pinkie Pie standing behind them, glaring at her.
Soarin still had his back turned, so didn't notice Pinkie mouth the word 'forever' and bounce into one of the trees. Applejack shook a little and turned back to Soarin, who had turned to face her in return.
“It don't need ta mean nothin', does it?”
“Of course not, we're just two friends hanging out.” The Pegasus answered, trying to put the awkward silence down.
After that the two trotted down towards town, with a fairly large gap between them.
Applejack sighed in her head. “There ain't no way this ain't gonna be awkward...”
The two ventured through the crowd of couples who were all going about the day spent in the company of the one they loved. There were even some ponies from different cities there as well and even some Griffins and Dragons that had come from their respected nations just for the fair. “Guess this fair mus' be some big deal, huh?” Applejack asked her companion, who nodded in agreement.
“Yeah...Funny, I would of thought you'd know about this...I mean, it's a big sales opportunity, isn't it?” Soarin responded, draining the colour from her face.
“Dagnabbit! It woulda bin a perfect time ta sell some apples! Maybe we coulda themed them too...Oh well...” She thought to herself. “Maybe Ah woulda known about it if a had left tha farm...But surely Rainbow, Mac or even Applebloom woulda mentioned it!”
“Buy some apples!” She heard a sickeningly cute voice call out from the market place...one she could place any day...
...Applebloom.
She motioned for Soarin to follow her and the two made their way into the market area and found that the apple cart was open and the little yellow filly was behind it with Spike, selling some themed apples to the crowds. “What tha...?”
Applebloom and heard her sister and turned, waving happily to her. “Howdy AJ!”
Applejack shook her head a little and approached the cart, her blue companion following. “Um...Howdy AB. What are ya doin' 'ere?”
“Well, Scootaloo an' Sweetie Belle had dates today, or 'hanging out with their friends' as they call it, so Ah woulda had nothin' ta do today, but Mac suggested Ah sell apples at tha fair!” She answered, then motioning to the dragon, who was handing a caramel apple on a stick, with a heart moulded from said caramel from the front. “Spike didn't have a date either, so Ah asked if he could help.”
“Well. Ah could...” Applebloom stuck her hoof into her sister's mouth before she said another word.
“Are ya crazy?! Ah know Big Mac made ya Pinkie Promise ta take tha day off! Sorry sis, but we got things handled jus' fine 'ere. Granny's comin' about noon ta restock us an' take tha bits we got ta tha farm.” She responded, before removing her hoof.
The orange mare sighed, defeatedly. “Fine...”
Soarin glanced at her and his ears folded down, but put on his most convincing smile.
Spike glanced their way and got them two of the candy apples. “Mac said that there was a pretty good chance you guys would come this way, so instructed us to give you these.” He said, handing them over. “Now um...We really need to get back to work.”
“Right, see ya tonight AJ!” Applebloom finished, before turning to the front of the stand to see to their next customers.
Applejack turned to Soarin and motioned towards the other stands. “Might as well see what else is 'ere...” She said, before she noticed Soarin's ears and looked concerned. “Are you alright, Soarin?”
Knowing that he couldn't really lie to the Element of Honesty, decided to say what was on his mind. “Do you...Would you really rather work than hang out with me?”
“Oh! No Soarin, it ain't like that at all!” Applejack quickly assured him, forgetting that he had heard what had transpired between her and her sister.
“What is it then?” He asked, not looking at all reassured.
“Cause this is AWKWARD!!” Her mind screamed, but she shook that thought out of her mind. “Cause Ah haven't had a day off in a while...” Technically not a lie, but not the complete truth either.
Luckily, Soarin seemed to buy it. “I guess. It is hard to break a habit. Had the same problem with Mac on Poker night, the guy kept on talking about what he needed to do on the farm the next day.” He mentioned, offhandedly. “We just need to find something fun to do!”
“U-uh...Sure.” She said, taking a bite out of the apple. “Hey, this is really good!”
“Good ain't it?” She heard Applebloom, who grinned at her. The front clear of customers for the moment. “Granny taught Rainbow how ta make 'em. Those were outta 'er batch.”
Soarin smiled, finishing his own apple and throwing the stick in a nearby trash can. “Guess there's a minimal amount of fire involving caramel apples.” Soarin then grinded his teeth together a bit to try and get the excess caramel out of his teeth and to stop his jaw from sticking together.
“We should git movin', c'mon Mr. Wonderbolt.” Applejack said, guiding her companion towards the rest of the market stands, throwing her own apple stick into the trash.
The orange protagonist of the story stood in front of a stand, staring at a pin. Said pin was a relatively small red jewel, probably a ruby, in the shape of an apple and an even smaller green emerald to act as the stem.
“I see you like this pin.” The vendor, a brown stallion with a grey mane and brown eyes, said, talking to Applejack. She looked up at him. “Yup, this pin can be attached to anything, including these scarves here...I would suggest to get one too. It is kinda cold out today.”
Just as he said this, a breeze rolled through causing her to shiver. “Ah guess Ah could splash out this once...It is a very purty gem...” Just as Applejack was going to reach for her saddle bag to fetch her bits she froze. “Dang it! Ah left ma saddlebags at tha farm!”
She sighed sadly, turning to leave before she saw Soarin next to her, handing the stallion a large bag of, what could have been, a hundred bits, taking the green scarf and pin which would've only come up to thirty bits. “Keep the change.” He replied, wrapping a wing around her and moving off to the side.
He then wrapped the scarf around her neck, attaching the pin to the end so it rested just to the left of her neck. Applejack blushed brightly as he did, looking at the ground. “Soarin...Ya didn't have t-ta do that...”
He grinned. “Of course I did, I saw how much you wanted this pin...Plus it suits you so well, it'd be a shame if you didn't have it.” He then thought for a minute before adding. “Plus you did look kinda cold...”
“Yeah...Guess Ah d-didn't really feel the n-nip in the air since Ah was w-working so hard.” She replied, pulling her face away, less she accidently lean in...It's happened. “What about you?”
“Me, oh I'm use to the cold. I live in the clouds after all, even in summer, if you fly high enough, it can get a little chilly.” He answered, finally stepping away from her.
“S-still...Ah'll pay ya back once we git ta tha farm...”
“C'mon AJ, this is a gift. No need to pay me back...” He said, before examining Applejack's new article of clothing. “Yup, that definitely suits you.” He continued, getting a small blush out of Applejack who felt the new scarf.
“Y-ya think so?”
“Of course! Green is definitely your colour!” He replied, pointing towards the games set up further down. “Now c'mon, let's show these ponies how to really win a game!” He said, pulling the flustered orange mare with him.
“Uh...Soarin don't ya think...”
“...These games would be designed fer couples.” Applejack face hoofed herself, looking at the games such as the spaghetti slurp, where the couple had to meet each other in the middle of piece of spaghetti without it breaking to win.
“Um...I'm beginning to see why Rainbow and Mac didn't want to come here...” The two jumped at the small voice from behind them and turned to see Fluttershy there, who also jumped and hid behind her mane.
“Oh hey Flutters...You scared us a bit.” Soarin admitted, sighing in relief that it wasn't a mugger or a pickpocket...not that there are many of those in Ponyville, but one can never be too certain.
“Oh...I'm just...Waiting for somepony...I'm actually on a date...” Some might struggle to hear what the butter yellow Pegasus had just said, but Applejack had gotten used to her quietness and managed to hear her just fine.
“You got a date?! Well good fer you girl!” She replied, trapping her friend in a hug, but inwardly it was like a punch to the gut. “Even Fluttershy has somepony special now...Who does that leave? Me an' Twilight...”
“Yeah, way to go! So, who's the lucky guy?” Just as he said this, another yellow pony, this time an Earth Pony, with an orange mane and a single red apple as his cutie mark, wearing a stetson and vest walked up to them.
“Well howdy cousin AJ!” He cheered, hugging the orange mare. “It's good ta see ya again!”
“Cousin Braeburn!” Applejack replied happily, hugging him back and forgetting about Fluttershy's date for the minute. “When did ya git 'ere? An' why did ya come 'ere?” He grinned, a little sheepishly, and let go of her to sit next to Fluttershy.
“Well, Ah asked this lovely mare here if'n she'd want ta spend the day wit' me an' Ah figured tha fair would be more interestin' then plain old AAAAAAPALOOSA!” Fluttershy 'eeped' a bit at his sudden loudness, but settled a bit after, smiling sheepishly to an astonished looking Applejack.
Braeburn looked at her, then turned to the sky blue Pegasus with her and quickly whispered something into his date's ear. She seemed to understand since the she and him were now on their hooves to walk away. “Well, sorry ta interrupt ya date, Cous, Ah'll see ya at dinner!”
After his comment, the two blushed brightly and avoided each other's gaze. “I-it ain't a date!...Is it?” She directed the last part of that sentence to Soarin, who rubbed the back of his neck, as if contemplating.
“I don't think so...We haven't done anything date like yet...right?” Applejack looked at the scarf around her neck.
“He bought me this an' doesn't expect me ta pay 'im back...Isn't that what ya do on a date?” She thought to herself, trying to remember some of the dates she had seen her brother and Rainbow on. He bought her flowers once, she remembered because Rainbow was pretty embarressed about them, but still seemed really happy. “Well this ain't flowers, so Ah guess not...”
“Hey there's a game that won't force us to make out at the end, c'mon!” Soarin declared, trying his best to change the subject.
“Huh?” She asked, shaking out of her own thoughts. She looked and saw a simple coconut game. “Oh sure...” She answered, trotting next to her.
“Ow...” Soarin moaned, rubbing his jaw, glaring at the coconut he won. Applejack rolled her eyes.
“Ah told ya, ya needed ta break tha shell before bitin' into thin'.” She answered his pain grabbing the coconut and laying it on the ground before them, just before whacking it with her hoof. She yelped a bit and held said hoof.
Soarin turned to her, worried. “Are you okay, AJ?” She let out a hiss of pain through her teeth, looking at her hoof. No marks or anything, so it wasn't serious. She rotated it and felt the pain start to subside.
“Ah'm fine...” She replied, glaring at the coconut now. “But this thin' is evil!”
“Um...Tha coconut?” Applejack turned to see her brother, looking a little confused and Rainbow openly laughing at them on his back.
“Yeah! Ah tried whackin' it open like ya usually do an' Ah got an owie...” He raised a eyebrow at her. But he knows that when she gets hurt she does demature a little.
“An owie?” Rainbow laughed even harder after that, almost rolling off of Big Mac's back had he not shrugged her back up.
He shook his head, clearing it of the thought that Applejack and Applebloom had swapped personalities today, and turning to the 'evil' coconut. He placed one of his hooves on top of it and pressed down, causing a large crack to form down middle
He then grabbed it with both hooves, ushering Rainbow down for a second, before pulling it in two, somehow keeping all the milk inside, handing it to the pair. “There ya go.”
Soarin took his half, hungrily while Applejack stared at her brother, gaping at him. “How did ya do that?”
“Ya have ta apply a lot of pressure to it an', in a few seconds, it will crack. Ya don't just karate chop it.” He explained, wrapping a hoof around his marefriend to try and calm her down a bit.
Applejack let the information settle for a bit, taking a drink of the coconut milk before something occurred to her. “Wait a darned minute, ain't y'all supposed ta be harvestin' tha gala trees!”
Big Mac rose an eyebrow while Rainbow answered, finally having calmed down a bit. “That was four hours ago! We finished and decided to come and see what all the fuss about this fair was.” She answered.
“Eeyup. We even repaired that hole in tha chicken coop, tha pig pen fence an' brought some more stuff fer Applebloom ta sell. All in all, we got more done today then we were supposed ta.” He added, much to her astonishment. He shrugged. “Rainbow's good wit' tools. She did build her own house.”
“Yeah, I'm awesome, I know.” She said, before her stomach growled at her. “And now I'm hungry.”
“It is about lunch time, let's go see what Sugarcube Corner has! Pinkie and Cheese must have done something for today too!” Soarin said, throwing the coconut shell in the trash. “Besides, I got coconut in my teeth...”
“Hiya guys!” Cheese declared, bouncing in excitement from behind the counter of Sugarcube Corner.
“Howdy Cheese.” Applejack responded, looking around. “Um...Where's Pinkie and the Cakes?”
“Well, the Cakes needed to head to Fillydelphia due to a family emergency and Pinkie is right over there!” He replied, pointing a hoof behind them, causing them to turn and see Pinkie bouncing away from Mac and Rainbow, who had already ordered.
“Hiya AJ! Hiya Soarin!” Pinkie declared, excitedly, bouncing up next to Cheese, smiling widely. “What'll it be?!”
“Um...Jus' some hay fries Ah guess...” She replied, before remembering that she didn't have her saddlebags.
Before she could cancel that, Soarin had put down some bits. “I'll have the same, plus one apple pie, a grape soda and two double chocolate cupcakes. That should cover it all.” He said.
“Soarin...” Applejack started, before Pinkie took the bits and pointed to a table to the far left.
“Okie Doki Loki! Just take a seat and it should be there in just a second.” She said, going to the back to make the food.
“Alright then, c'mon AJ.” The blue Pegasus said, directing her to the table.
“Soarin ya don't have ta keep payin' fer everythin'. Ah could make do without eatin' fer a bit.”
“What and let you watch me eat three times my weight in food? AJ, I don't mind. The Wonderbolts pay me with so much money that I don't know what to do with it!” He grinned and nudged her with his wing. “Besides, you're my best friend, you can let me spoil ya once in a while.”
“...Ah'm yer best friend?” She asked, incredulously.
“Well, you're my favourite friend, but I'm pretty sure that means the same thing.” He shrugged.
“Why?” He rose an eyebrow, before chuckling a bit.
“Well, mainly because you were one of the first ponies who didn't let my position as a Wonderbolt stand in the way of who I am...and most of the time that's a bit of a goof ball...” She could tell that he was starting to get a bit awkward talking about this. “It's just...I feel like I can be myself around you. That I don't have to act all high and mighty Wonderbolt and just be the goof ball and you won't judge me...”
Applejack smiled and wrapped him in a half hug, making it to their table. “Course Ah won't, Ah like goof ball Soarin, he's a blast ta have around.” She released him and the two sat down.
She looked up and noticed a faint red tinge to his cheeks. “Are you okay, Soarin? Yer face is a little red...”
He looked up and, nervously, tried to laugh it off. “Haha, yeah, I'm fine.”
“If'n ya say so...” Suddenly, Pinkie popped up from under the table, with all the items of their order on a tray on her back, and slid them onto the table.
“Order up! Heeheeheehee I've always wanted to say that!” She declared, before diving back under the table. Applejack and Soarin glanced at each other, before looking under the table and finding no Pinkie.
“How does she do that?”
The sun still shun brightly over the fair, spreading the joy of the holiday to those who stood in the light.
“Where does it all go?” Applejack asked, having seen Soarin just polish off his pie, leaving just the two muffins left while she still had a few hay fries left.
He grinned, licking his lips free of the stray piece of crust on the left. “We Pegasi need to get a lot of energy in order to fly, energy we get from either eating a lot or sleeping a lot. And I like my pie too much to sleep a lot.”
“Guess that explains why Rainbow sleeps all tha time...” She muttered to herself, snatching up the last of her hay fries. She then noticed a cupcake in front of her. She glanced up at Soarin, who smiled at her.
“You want dessert?” He asked, taking a big bite out of his own. She looked back at it and tried pushing it back.
“C'mon Soarin, tha way you've bin buyin' me everythin', you'll be bankrupt by tha end o' tha day!” Soarin rolled his eyes and used a wing to push the cupcake back.
“Trust me, I've spent more than this in my sleep before. I told you, the Wonderbolts pay me too much.” He answered her. “As I said, I'm spoiling you today. So don't you start thinking about how you can pay me back.”
She looked like she was going to continue arguing, before she paused. “C'mon AJ, he's jus' doin' somethin' nice fer ya! Stop bitin' his head off an' just let 'im!” She took the cupcake and bit into it, revelling in the sweet taste.
“So what did you wanna do next?” Soarin asked, dropping his cupcake wrapper into the pie tin, ready to throw in the trash.
“Ah dunno...” Applejack replied, finishing the cupcake off without realising it. “Aw great, Ah probably jus' ate like a pig in front o' 'im!”
“Well, there's a Ferris Wheel over there! Want to check it out?” She glance over at the large, rotating, circular machine on the edge of town, confused.
“Couldn't you jus' fly up an' git yer own view?” Soarin shrugged, picking the tray up with his wing, moving over to the trash can.
“Ah, I'm feeling lazy today.” He answered before grinning, teasingly. “It's either that or the tunnel of love?”
Applejack's face lit up red fast than Twilight's after drinking Pinkie's hot sauce and lowered the rim of her hat to cover it. “U-Uh...Ferris Wheel i-it is...”
“Sweet!” He cheered, wrapping a wing around her, causing her to blush further. “Let's go!”
“Next up!” The controller of the Ferris Wheel, Rolly Polly, announced. Both Applejack and Soarin got on their seat, which squeaked and rocked back and forth alarmingly.
“U-um...Are y-you sure this is safe?” Applejack whimpered, looking at the rust marks poorly covered with pink paint.
“Sure I'm sure! As sure as I'm sure my lungs are holdin....*COUGH!*....Holding up!” Rolly Polly replied, let out a vicious cough afterwards. Applejack turned to Soarin, who looked a bit concerned.
“That's not exactly reassuring...” Before he could ask for them to be let off, the ride started and they rose from the ground, causing the seat to shake badly.
Applejack clutched onto the hoof railing in front of her, the only thing keeping them safe from falling out of the wooden chair. Soarin laid a hoof on her shoulder, concerned. “Are you okay, AJ?”
“N-no...Ah...Ah wanna git off o' this death trap!”
“Hey, c'mon. I'm sure if this was unsafe in anyway, the somepony would've shut theis thing down by now.” He reassured her, before they stopped and the seat lurched forward a bit.
Applejack cried out and, feeling the hoof railing wasn't doing it for her, wrapped her hooves around Soarin, pressing her face into his neck. “Git me offa this thin'! Ah wanna go back down!”
Soarin blushed at the full on contact he got from her, but still wrapped his hooves around her as well, still trying to keep her calm. “It's gonna be okay AJ...” He whispered into her ear.
After a couple of seconds of him whispering words of encouragement and her, ultimately, ignoring them he needed to try a different tactic.
“Applejack, look at me...” She whimpered, but slowly pulled away and looked up at him, her green eyes meeting his. “I won't let anything happen to you. If you fall I'll catch you.” He reassured her, having never seen Applejack so vulnerable before.
She took in the words and felt her heart start to flutter into her stomach where the butterflies seemed to be having a rave. She hadn't realised that she had grabbed onto him, but now that she realised it, she just couldn't let go.
In fact, it gave her the courage or stupidity to do something she had been thinking about doing for a very long time.
She kissed him.
She had closed her eyes and connected her lips against his, surprising him quite a bit. But he didn't seem to want to push her away. In fact, he pushed his lips back, closing his eyes to join in the shared moment between the two.
Before long, the seat lurched again, causing the two to separate with the force, the two now at the top of the Ferris Wheel. Soarin suddenly looked away, facing away her. “Soarin...” She said, confused. “Are you okay?”
“I can't AJ...” He replied, motioning to the two of them. Applejack recoiled, but ultimately knew this was going to happen.
“Ah understand...” She replied, trying to hide the hurt and shame in her voice. “Ah mean, yer a Wonderbolt an' Ah'm nothin' but a farmin' Earth Pony...”
“It's not that!” He interrupted, turning to grab her by the shoulders. “And never! Ever! Sell yourself short like that! You're an amazing and beautiful pony that anypony would be lucky to have!”
She sniffed and rose an eyebrow. “Then why...?”
“It's because I'm a WONDERBOLT!” He stressed the word Wonderbolt as if it were a curse. “The fame brings the press, who will pry into anything to try and get some dirt on me...Including marefriends...” He whimpered a bit himself, turning away. “And there's also all the jealous, crazy fans who would probably kill if given enough incentive...Like me being taking off the market...”
A tear fell out of his eye. “I just don't want you to get hurt...Especially not because of me...”
Applejack sniffed, before grabbing Soarin by the cheeks and planting another kiss to his lips, causing his eyes to open in surprise.
She released him and pressed her forehead against his, staring straight into his eyes, the vulnerability gone and the Applejack he knows and loves looking at him. “Ya think Ah'm some sorta delicate flower that can't handle a few pansies an' tha press, Soarin Ah don't care bout none a them...Ah care bout you...” She said, bringing her lips closer to his, causing a shudder to go through his body.
“Besides, if'n they come round tha farm, Ah'll make sure they regret it...” She finished, grinning evilly to herself. Another shudder ran though him when he heard that.
“That sounds...Kinda sexy actually...” She brought her lips to his after he said that and he returned it, letting loose the pent up feelings they had for months.
Rolly Polly looked at Applejack and Soarin as they came back to the station. The two were still lost in the passion of the moment they shared up on the top of the Ferris Wheel.
He wolf whistled, before starting it up for another rotation.
