A Tale of Blue and Red

Chapters

The Apple of His Eye
Night Out AJ Style
So You Want to be a Bumpkin
My Fair Mare
Old Wants Die Hard
One of the Family
Already?
A Tale of Blue, Red, And Gold

The Apple of His Eye

by Stratocaster

Chapter 1: The Apple of His Eye

In the hallowed halls of Canterlot Castle, in the sparkling city that braced the mountain, life was usual for Prince Blueblood. The praised unicorn prince sat in his personal throne room in the castle, hoof in cheek, listening to the musical styling of Octavia and her string quartet. The angelic harmonies of the classical string instruments resonated through the stone halls of the castle and gave pleasure to many a pony's ears. But the radiant music ended with one word.

"Yawn!" the prince said, in place of actually yawning. "I grow tired of this old music. That's enough for today."

The musicians took their instruments and left in a huff.

"Ugh, when am I going to get some real music in here?" Blueblood muttered to himself, pinching his brow. "I just had to have aunts who are ancient."

"At least I'm still young enough to hear well." Princess Luna remarked as she entered the throne chamber.

"Oh, hello Auntie. I didn't see you there." He lied.

"Blueblood, why in Equestria would you send out the best classical musicians we can find?" Luna approached him.

"I'm just bored, Auntie Luna." Blueblood sighed. "Nothing excites me anymore."

"Well no wonder you're bored." Princess Celestia entered as well. "All you ever do is sit around the castle all day. You hardly have any royal duties. The most you ever do is judge the Miss Equestria Pageant."

"That was a hard decision, Auntie Celestia!" retorted Blueblood.

"I think I understand your doldrums, dear nephew!" grinned Luna. "You simply need someone to share your regal life with! That is why I have acquired a group of suitors for you to chose from, to be your beloved!"

"Suitors?" queried Celestia. "Honestly, Luna, don't you think you're spoiling our nephew a little too much?"

"Nonsense, sister dear!" replied Luna. "An Equestrian prince deserves only the best that can be offered to him. I already have plenty of lovely young mares waiting to take his side."

"But suitors?" repeated Celestia. "When was the last time we even hired those?"

"Do not be a stick in the mud, Celestia!" Luna insisted. "Our nephew obviously could use the company of a lady."

"Whatever." Blueblood sulked, uncomfortable with his own aunts talking about his love life. "Just send them in."

With that, Luna let in a line of ten mares, all adorned in elaborate dresses and faces covered in makeup. The female suitors all bowed and posed for Blueblood, giving him knowing winks and smiles and tossing their manes. Celestia face-hoofed from the series of mares being exploited.

Blueblood scanned over the glitzy mares with fatigue. "Alright, what's your name?" he looked to the first in the line.

"My name is Misty!" she said in a preppy voice. "I design saddlebags, I love puppies, and I can stand on one front hoof!"

Unimpressed, Blueblood turned to another random mare. "What about you?"

"I am Destiny!" the fifth mare flourished her mane. "I've had eight years of ballet, six years of piano, four years of finishing school, and my father owns half the railroads in all of Equestria."

Again, Blueblood glazed over to another mare. "And you?"

The ninth mare spoke in a sultry voice. "I'm Plenty."

"I'm sure you are."

"I'm from the upper side of Manehattan. I dine with top Canterlot celebrities, I have my own private airship, and I've made many coltfriends very happy."

Blueblood clasped his hooves to his head. "Ugh, forget this!" He stormed from his throne and made toward the door.

Luna gestured for the mares to leave. "What is wrong, dear nephew? Do none of these mares please you?"

Blueblood turned back. "I'm arranging for a vacation. I've decided I need some time from all this royal humdrum."

"Vacation?" said Luna. "But Blueblood, you're already in Canterlot!"

"Then I shall go somewhere that is the opposite of Canterlot. Perhaps some small town with nothing too fancy; somewhere quaint and simple."

"Why not Ponyville?" asked Celestia. "You can visit my protege Princess Twilight Sparkle there."

"Ponyville? That hick town?" scowled Blueblood. "It's perfect! Just the sort of ordinary lifestyle I'm looking for! I shall prepare for my immediate departure!" He exited the throne room with a stride.

Luna turned to her sister. "Do you really think Blueblood will enjoy himself in Ponyville, sister?"

"Luna, let's just enjoy as much time without him here as possible." Celestia said, relieved.

...

Twilight Sparkle fussed about her newly built library finishing up a bit of spring cleaning. She busied herself with reorganizing her numerous tomes, not yet used to the new shelves, while Spike simply sprayed air freshener over the furniture.

"Spike," said Twilight. "Did you finish dusting the bookcases?"

"I already told you, Twilight, yes." Spike replied.

"What about the top of them?"

"Oh no way!" he protested. "I'm not going up there again!"

"Spike, remember who's making gem-studded muffins afterwards." Twilight bartered.

"Sheesh." Spike begrudgingly set the ladder against one of the bookcases and muttered to himself. "You're the one with wings." He climbed to the very top of the case with his feather duster gripped in his teeth. But as he reached the end of the ladder, he suddenly belched green fire, incinerating the duster, and releasing a rolled up parchment message. Spike fell from the ladder with a yelp and landed in a face plant on the floor. The message plopped on top of him.

Twilight turned around. "Spike, are you okay?" She heard her assistant gurgle something lying in a daze, then picked up the rolled up paper. She read the message out loud. "'Dear Twilight, I apologize for not notifying you earlier, but my nephew, Prince Blueblood will be visiting Ponyville on holiday. I fear that he will not adjust well to ordinary town living, as he has become more accustomed to be spoiled. So I hope you don't mind in showing Blueblood around Ponyville and making sure he does not cause trouble. Your dearest friend, Princess Celestia.' Prince Blueblood?" she pondered. "In Ponyville?"

As if on cue, the doorbell rang. "No no, don't get up, I'll answer it." Spike glowered as he opened the door.

Prince Blueblood stood in the doorway, with his chin turned up and eyes closed in a noble manner.

"Oh, Prince Blueblood!" greeted Twilight. "I just got Princess Celestia's letter. I didn't know you were coming here."

"You didn't?" scoffed Blueblood, then turned to yell at a troupe of buglers. "Guys, where's my entrance?!" He then stepped out and shut the door, pretending he had never entered. The door opened again as the buglers entered and played triumphant fanfare on their cornets. A squire rushed in and read from a scroll.

"Presenting His Royal Highness, bearer of the Equestrian nobility, nephew of Princesses Celestia and Luna, Canterlot poster boy, and five-time top male model of Unicorn Magazine, Prince Blueblood!"

The fanfare continued as Blueblood entered the same way. "Ah, Princess Twilight Sparkle, it has been far too long."

Twilight looked puzzled. "Um...hello...Prince Blueblood..."

"My dear Aunt Celestia has told me that you would be my guide as I make my stay here in Ponyville." Blueblood explained then bowed. "I am of course honored to accept your grace, Princess."

"Oh stop," Twilight smiled. "I prefer not to take my title too seriously."

"Well I certainly hope I'm not intruding on anything."

"Of course not," she replied. "Everypony is welcome here. Make yourself at home!"

"Splendid!" Blueblood then gestured to a team of bellboys who immediately started marching into the library, hauling stacks of suitcases and steamer trunks.

"No no no! I just buffed the floor!" Spike grimaced as the servants filed in.

Twilight looked uneasy at the excessive amount of luggage. "Uh, Blueblood, how long are you planning to stay here, exactly?" she asked.

"Still haven't decided yet." Blueblood replied as he strode in nonchalantly. "Ooh are those muffins I smell?"

...

After Blueblood settled into Twilight's home, quite some time later, he joined her for the grand tour of Ponyville. Throughout the whole time strolling through the streets passed friendly locals, Blueblood constantly made snide comments about the quaint little town. He pestered Twilight with questions, for instance, wondering where the limo stops were or why the restaurants smell like servant food. Twilight enjoyed showing outsiders around Ponyville; but she was starting to see why Celestia may have left the snobbish prince in her care. Eventually, they started on the dirt path that led to the orchards of Sweet Apple Acres.

"And just who is managing the weather in this town?" huffed Blueblood. "The wind is parting my mane to the wrong side! Lazy pegasi!"

"Well you're obviously tough to impress." Twilight rolled her eyes. "But I know for a fact that nopony can resist the sweetest apple confections in Equestria. Come on, the orchards are this way."

"Hold it!" interrupted Blueblood, before starting on the path. "I refuse to set hoof on unpaved road. Squire!" His squire quickly returned and strained to lift his master onto his back.

"Oh for pony's sake." Twilight sulked to herself. She escorted the pampered prince along the way to Sweet Apple Acres, where fields of trees were ripe in bloom with the juicy crop. "So this is where the magic happens." She told Blueblood. "All these apples will go into making the best pies, cider, fritters, tarts, you name it! And it's all thanks to the hard work of the Apple Family. They work day in and day out to keep their crop fresh."

"So they're somepony's own personal farmers?" queried Blueblood.

"Well...no." Twilight looked awkwardly. "They're just an honest, hardworking family who put love into everything they make."

"Eugh, country-folk." Blueblood scoffed. "I wouldn't be caught dead mingling with the likes of these yokels."

"Oh come on," discerned Twilight. "You don't even know them."

"Exactly! I refuse to be seen with any muddy, classless hillbillies who spend all day rolling in-..." Suddenly, Blueblood's words trailed off as his gaze was captured by somepony in the field.

In the midst of the fully grown trees, a mare created a noisy ruckus by kicking her back hooves into the bark, causing the apples to shake loose from their branches. The pony's coat featured a bright orange that seemed to reflect the sun, her mane a soft yellow like a bed of hay, and her eyes a bold emerald green. A brown stetson hat atop her head gave her a certain edge that Blueblood just couldn't put a hoof on. Somehow, the prince had become entranced by the sight of the hearty mare mule-kicking trees for their fruit. He leaned over the white wood fence in a thousand-yard stare.

"Who...who is that fetching mare in that field?" he asked, his mouth agape.

"Who, Applejack?" Twilight looked. "She works here most of the time; and she's one of my closest friends. Are you okay?"

"I...I don't know...She's just so...intriguing."

"Wait a minute," pondered Twilight. "Didn't you see Applejack at the Grand Galloping Gala?"

Blueblood thought back to that night. "...Hmm, I don't seem to recall."

"She ran a pie stand in the courtyard?" she jogged his memory. "You insulted her food?"

"...No, doesn't ring a bell."

"She came with me as one of the Elements of Harmony? Have I not mentioned that?"

"You mean that mare is one of your companions?"

"Blueblood, I'm pretty sure you've seen her at least twice during events in Canterlot!"

"Please, Twilight, I think I would remember seeing such a fascinating lady." He looked back over the fence at the farm pony. "I mean she's just so...bewitching!"

"Wait, Blueblood, are you saying you have a crush on Applejack?" asked Twilight, holding back a chuckle.

"I do not 'have a crush' on her, Twilight!" retorted Blueblood. "I am...taken by her! I must get to know this beauty who has eluded my sight! Squire, dismount!" He then hopped off the back of his servant, no longer caring about getting his hooves dirty. The squire nearly passed out from exhaustion.

"So you seriously never knew that she represents Honesty in the Elements of Harmony?" questioned Twilight.

"You know I don't pay attention to any of that magic hero stuff." Blueblood made his way onto the farm.

"Of course not, you're only a unicorn prince." Twilight rolled her eyes and followed him.

Applejack carried on harvesting fruit at her usual pace, before she noticed Twilight crossing the field. "Howdy, Twilight!" she waved. "What brings ya on by?"

"Applejack, I think you remember Prince Blueblood." She introduced. "He's paying a visit from Canterlot for a while."

With respect, Applejack put her hat to her chest. "How'dya do, Your Highness?" Her face featured mud stains after wiping the sweat from her brow.

With even more respect, Blueblood knelt and averted his gaze from her. "Milady, you humble me with your enchanting presence."

"Wow, uh, ain't you friendly." She looked at him questioningly.

"I present myself to you a simple stallion, fair Applejack." He continued, dramatically. "If I may call a lady like yourself by name."

Twilight intervened. "Ahem, um, I'm sure His Highness also feels regretful of his outlandish behavior back at the Gala."

"Huh?" Applejack tilted her head. "Oh that whole thing with the pies? Ah don't sweat it, Mr. Prince sir. I guess you Canterlot types just aren't used to homemade tastes."

"Your forgiveness is kind and just, Milady." Blueblood spoke smoothly. "But you may simply call me...Blueblood." He took her hoof and kissed it, with Twilight ready to gag.

"Oh my," smiled Applejack with a slight blush. "No wonder they call you a mare's man."

"Okay, pretty boy," interrupted Twilight. "It sounds to me like we should bring you back to rest a while."

"Shall I visit you on the morrow, Milady?" swooned Blueblood.

"Sure! Come by whenever!" replied Applejack simply. "We've got plenty of cider flowin'."

"It was an honorable pleasure to make your acquaintance, lady Applejack." Blueblood bowed.

"Uh...you too." She shrugged.

Soon, with sunset approaching, Twilight walked on back home with Blueblood. "Boy, you sure made a quick one-eighty when you met AJ." She said to him. "I never thought somepony like you could be that easily smitten."

"Oh I feel more than just smitten, Twilight." Blueblood replied, joyfully. "That radiant goddess in the stetson hat has me ensnared in her divine beauty! Tomorrow shall be a happy day for me indeed!"

"Uh, are you planning to...take her out?"

"In fact, Twilight, I intend to make her mine!" he announced with triumph.

"Ugh, this can only go so well." Twilight hung her head.

Night Out AJ Style

Chapter 2: Night Out AJ Style

The next morning, Twilight returned to Sweet Apple Acres, hoping that the strangeness of the previous day hadn't lingered in her friend's memory. Applejack answered after a knock on the door.

"Heya Twi," she greeted. "Did any of the fruit bats give you trouble on the way here?"

"What fruit bats?" asked Twilight.

"You're welcome. So is Prince Blueblood still stayin' with ya?"

"Yeah, about that." Twilight explained. "He sent me here to ask you, on his behalf, to go out for an early dinner tonight. He wanted to send a messenger because he feels that asking in person is too impersonal. I'm just realizing how stupid that sounds."

Applejack blinked in bewilderment. "The prince wants to...take me out on a date?"

"That's the plain way of saying it. Plus he was too nervous to ask you himself. I don't know if you noticed, but he was pretty taken with you yesterday."

"Whatdya mean? Me?" she queried. "Why that's just plum silly!"

"Well, you can always prove me wrong by taking him up on his offer." Twilight felt out of her head, setting up her best friend with a spoiled prince. "He says to meet him tonight at five at Hors D'eurves."

"The fancy place?"

"Yup. He even said he'll pay and everything."

"Hmm, I guess I can't really pass up free gourmet food." Applejack shrugged. "Sure, why the hay not! You can tell Blueblood I'll meet him there!"

"Great! I'm sure he'll be pleased to hear that. Hope you two have fun!" Twilight walked off thinking to herself. "Dear Celestia what have I done?!"

...

Later that afternoon, Blueblood sat at a booth for two he had reserved at Hors D'eurves, waiting anxiously for his date. He sported his best white tuxedo and shined black horseshoes, receiving several compliments and royal praise, of course. He adjusted his kerchief and slicked back his blonde mane, hoping that his lady wasn't being kept up. Then, Blueblood became relived as Applejack entered the restaurant. Despite what he had pictured, the farm mare wore no formal article of clothing whatsoever, other than a white stetson hat which she only saved for occasions. After looking around the restaurant full of well-dressed patrons, who gave her questionable looks, Applejack spotted Blueblood with a smile and waved at him. Blueblood was astounded by her lack of formal preparation; yet he was enticed by it.

"Milady, it was ever so gracious of you to accept my invitation." He stood up to kiss her hoof.

"Aw well it was nice of you to take me." Applejack replied and sat down. "I couldn't pass up a good meal."

"So tell me, my dear," said Blueblood. "What is an average day for you? What do you do for fun? What are your dreams, your ambitions? How many siblings do you have? How do you take your tea? What's your sign?"

"Whoa-ho there, pardner!" she interrupted. "Don't go a-whinin' until a girl's dinin', huh?"

"Oh, of course. You're right." He lowered his head in shame. "Forgive me, Milady, how rude of me!"

Applejack looked around, observing the ritzy eatery. "Sheeyoot! In all my years in Ponyville I've never eaten here before. This place has fancy written all over!"

"Only the best establishment for a fine mare such as yourself." Blueblood swooned.

"Oh stop," she blushed. "Ain't nothin' special about lil' ol' me."

"Oh but I'm sure there is."

"So what exactly brings ya to Ponyville in the first place?" she asked.

"Well you know, I just figured I get a taste of the simple life." Blueblood said. "Having all the perks of royalty can be quite drab sometimes."

"Now that's just hard to believe." Applejack replied. "If I had that kinda wealth, I'd buy miles and miles of apple trees, or maybe a huge open range for all sorts o' critters."

"Really?" Blueblood scratched his chin. "Why I could get you all of that in no time."

"Nah, I'm just happy with the life I have now. I take nothing I have fer granted and I don't worry 'bout money to make me happier."

"Interesting." Blueblood was not used to such humble beliefs.

As he stared admiring his date, a waitress arrived with a bottle and two glasses. "Good evening. Here is the vintage you ordered, Prince Blueblood."

"Ah yes, very exquisite."

"You ordered wine for us?" asked Applejack.

"Why of course," grinned Blueblood. "A night out with a lady calls for some nice Chateau de Luna." He poured a glass of the dark red liquid for her then himself. "To a beautiful evening with a beautiful pony!" he toasted.

"Aw shucks." She shrugged, then took a swig of the wine. But the musty taste of the bitter aged grapes caught her off guard and her eyes widened. She quickly spit the wine back into the glass. "Blagh! This don't taste like grapes at all! More like Discord's cough medicine!"

"Oh I'm terribly, it's not to your liking?" replied Blueblood.

"Eh it ain't your fault. Hey waitress!" she called. "Can a girl get a mug of cider over here?"

"How bold." Blueblood uttered. "I like that."

Applejack began conversing again, taking a swig of cider. "So, are you really a blood relative of the princesses?"

"Indeed!" he boasted. "I am the great great great great great great great great great great...uh...something great nephew of Princesses Celestia and Luna."

"Kinda like how Princess Cadence is related to them." She pondered. "So that means you would be Twilight's sister-in-law's second cousin or somethin'. That sounds like family to me! How come ya never been to Ponyville to visit Twilight before?"

"Well I don't really travel that much." He admitted. "I don't really like to busy myself with the duties that Twilight and her like faces; unlocking magic and saving Equestria and all that. So I just focus on the social side of the nobility. Shining Armor once referred to me as a 'decoration'. I'm not sure what that means, but it sounds right up my alley."

"Huh. That...would explain it." Applejack tried not to judge.

"So I suppose as one of the Elements of Harmony, you've actually performed more royal duties than I have." He shrugged.

"Oh I'm not really a hero like Twilight or anypony." She humbled herself. "Between you n' me, I can't understand a lick o' that magic destiny stuff either. I mostly just care about my livelihood on the farm. I guess we both have our own matters in Equestria."

"Yes, I suppose you can see it that way." Blueblood adjusted his tie.

"Mmm, this cider is good as hay!" beamed Applejack. "Here, ya wanna try some?" She extended the mug to him.

Blueblood eyed the beverage questionably. "Uh...yes why not." He struggled to sip as she tipped the mug toward his mouth. Normally, he wouldn't dream of drinking such a commoners' beverage. But the sweet, tart taste made him elated. "My word!" he said. "It's like the nectar of the gods! You say your family makes this delicious brew?"

"Darn tootin'!" she grinned. "All of Ponyville loves it!"

"You are just full of surprises, my dear Applejack."

"I was gonna say the same 'bout you!" she chuckled.

After getting to know each other for a little longer, the prince and farmer finally received their orders from the waitress. "Here you are, folks. For the gentleman, roasted azaleas with a burgundy pine-nut reduction, truffle risotto and toasted brioche."

"Why thank you." Blueblood said, unfolding his napkin in his lap.

"And for the lady, your macaroni and cheese."

"Hot dang, I've been cravin' this all day!" Applejack without hesitation dove her muzzle into the gooey pasta without a fork, as the waitress left with a puzzled look.

Blueblood stared at his date savagely eating her meal. "You're...so amazing!" he said, unheard.

Applejack raised her head, smeared with cheese on her face. "Oh golly," she wiped her face, feeling embarrassed. "Sorry, I must look like a right foal right now."

"Oh don't fret at all," replied Blueblood. "I find your mannerisms quite...charming." He meant it.

"You do?" she looked surprised. "Ya know, for a hit with the mares, you sure have a weird definition for charmin'."

"But it's the truth, Applejack." He said. "Are you saying you never had any other gentleman callers before?"

Applejack looked around in thought. "I never really thought about that. To be honest, I never really found any interest in the datin' game."

"Well that's absurd. Surely, plenty of stallions have wanted to take the hoof of a mare of your caliber."

"I'm just not used to bein' complimented; I mean bein' told I'm pretty and what not." She scratched the back of her head. "Eh, it ain't no big deal."

Looking at her avoiding expression, Blueblood could tell there was tension. "Forgive me if I've offended you."

"Oh no you didn't." She said. "It's just that...well...do ya really think I'm pretty?"

"Of course, milady! I mean every word! Why do you ask?"

"Because...I don't."

"What?"

Applejack sighed. "I know it sounds mighty stupid, but the reason I never really got romantic was that I thought no stallion would ever find me attractive. I mean, look at me. I'm a low-class dirt-lovin' farmer with no manners who's grammar's ain't too good. It's not that I'm unhappy with that; but I just never thought I could come off as beautiful to...well...anypony. Darn, I feel dumber than a door nail sayin' this."

Blueblood stared in silent awe. But it was not because of Applejack's troubles; she was actually the first date he had to express her feelings, instead of just ramble on about their rich lives. And it stirred something in him.

"Applejack," he said soberly. "I must confess. I was loathsome at the thought of socializing with somepony like you, as you say, somepony of low-class. But ever since I met you yesterday, I feel like I've changed. There's just something about you, something so unique and different, that I just can't grasp. And it's completely altered my view on ponies outside my life in Canterlot." He laid his hoof across the table. "Applejack, my sweet, you've opened my eyes. No other pony has had such an effect on me. And that is why I want to make you my...my..." He tried to find the right words. "Special somepony."

"You...ya really mean that?" asked Applejack, astonished.

Blueblood grabbed her hoof with care. "Every word." He smiled.

Applejack looked away, hiding her blushing face. But after a pause, she returned his inviting smile. "Ya know, why don't we ditch this stuffy joint? I know how to have some real fun."

Blueblood raised his brow, curious to see where this exciting mare would take him.

...

"Um, do you really find this amusing?" Blueblood looked skeptically.

"Heck yeah!" smiled Applejack. "Me and my siblin's and my friend Pinkie Pie set this up a couple days ago and spent the whole afternoon on it."

"I admire your enthusiasm, but this seems awfully...uncouth."

"Oh come on, give it a try, ya yella-belly!"

"Applejack, I think you should know that I-"

But he was cut off as Applejack pushed him down a huge tarp laid down over the side of a hill in the orchards. The tarp was soaked with water, soap and mud, making Blueblood slip even faster down the makeshift slide with an effeminate scream. Applejack then raced after him down the tarp, whooping with excitement. At the end of the slide, Blueblood slammed into a large mud puddle; he struggled to stand up from the slippery dirt pile, but was again knocked off his feet by Applejack sliding into his side like the front of a train. The prince lay in a daze.

"Whoo hoo!" cheered Applejack, wagging the mud off. "That gets funner every time! Am I right?"

Blueblood stood with a grimace, his face masked with mud and his mane wet and frizzed. He stared blankly for a moment before speaking. "That...was...exhilarating!!!" he beamed with elation. "Oh what a rush! I've never felt more alive in such a while! Is this the kind of fun you small town ponies experience everyday?!"

"Well I guess." She shrugged. "My friends and I do all kinds of stuff; throw parties, sleepovers, play games, stuff that's gotta be better than sittin' around in a stuffy castle all dang day."

"Applejack, you've shown me how amusing living the simple life can be. I just might extend my stay here in Ponyville!"

"Hey that's good to hear! But uh...why don't ya go wash off? Ya look ridiculous."

"Oh, yes, good point." He said sheepishly. "...Or we could have another go on your slide."

"That's what I was thinkin'!"

After several more cascades down the crude slip n' slide, Applejack and Blueblood made sure to clean themselves off before they could miss the sunset. Eventually they sat side by side on the swinging bench, watching the colorful end of the day from the front porch of the farmhouse, and shared a plate of freshly made apple crumble. It was another new experience for Blueblood.

"This dessert is absolutely divine!" he said. "I don't know why I've never taken a shine to it before."

"I always say it tastes better made by family." Applejack replied. Then she reflected back to the prince's words back in the restaurant. "So...you were really serious about, you know, makin' this a big relationship?"

"Of course, milady!" smiled Blueblood. "I don't know where this low self-esteem is coming from."

"Sorry," she said. "Like I said, I never really found myself that attractive."

"You want to know my honest opinion?" he looked at her, as he took her hoof. "I have never met a mare with such...such guts and bravado; yet also so humble and caring. And you've drawn me away from a life of constant, mindless spoiling, and shown me that there's much more. I want to live your life with you, Applejack. If...you would let me?"

Once again Applejack blushed, which Blueblood adored even more along with her freckles. After a moment to process the moving words of the prince, she finally spoke with a glint in her eyes. "I will. But first off, no more of this 'milady' business." She then removed her hat and placed it on his head. "Just call me AJ."

Both prince and farmer leaned in with the same thought, and met with a long locked kiss. To her, his embrace simply felt right, like she had been missing it all her life. To him, her lips tasted like apples and sugar; it was the best thing he had ever tasted. After half a minute of experiencing the sweetness of the kiss, they parted and stared into each other's eyes.

"Shall we meet again, my prince?" asked Applejack, trying to sound proper.

"Definitely...pardner." Blueblood winked.

So You Want to be a Bumpkin

Chapter 3: So You Want to be a Bumpkin

Twilight awoke the next morning later than usual. The previous day kept her awake with arranging ridiculous requests by her spoiled guest, such as unpacking his many suitcases and giving him drinks or snacks frequently; not to mention a large wave of customers coming for books. She stepped out of her bedroom with a yawn and sunken eyes, expecting Blueblood to still be in bed without a doubt.

"Why good morning, Twilight!"

She shook her head in surprise of the cheery voice. Twilight gawked as Blueblood stood in the library bright and smiling, tidying up the entire room, for some reason wearing a frilled apron.

"Blueblood?" she said. "You're up already?"

"I've been up for four hours, my friend!" replied Blueblood, cheerily. "I just thought I'd clean the place a little since yesterday was quite busy. I even freshened up the library with my own tastes. A few potted plants and some dust ruffles, and I even put out a bowl of potpourri!" he pointed to the potpourri and ate a bit of it.

Twilight looked around her library which now sparkled with cleanliness. Then she caught a whiff of something from the kitchen. She stepped in to find a table filled with plates full of breakfast items, including flower omelettes, hash browns, Prench toast, pancakes, waffles, coffee and different juices.

"Did you make breakfast?" she asked in bewilderment.

"Indeed!" he answered. "Help yourself! I hope you like it sense I never really cooked before. It was just something I wanted to try."

Twilight tasted one of the omelettes. "My gosh, this is delicious! What got into you all of a sudden?"

"Oh Twilight, you will not believe how happy I am to awake to a new day!" said Blueblood, effeminately. "Ever since I met Applejack, I've had a new outlook on life! And everything is just so beautiful; especially her!"

"I take it you two hit it off?"

"More than that, Twilight! I am in love with that enchanting mare! And I think she feels the same way!"

"So you and AJ are...dating now?" she asked, with more surprise.

"Of course! She has cast her lasso around my heart!"

"Blech!" Twilight tried to keep her appetite for breakfast. "Well that's really amazing to hear. I never thought Applejack would be one for romance."

"You know something, Twilight?" Blueblood sat down. "Neither was I. I was so used to being set up with rich floozies who only wanted to be seen with celebrities; it wasn't real love. But your friend, Twilight, my dear sweet Applejack, she is so honest and caring! It's evoked something in me that I never felt before! What's it called? Comp- compy- compass-"

"Compassion?"

"Yes that's it!"

"Well it's no surprise." Twilight joined him. "Applejack was the first friend I made when I moved to Ponyville. She along with her family treated me with hospitality even when I didn't ask. So if there's any mare who'll treat you right, I'm sure it's her."

"Oh I'm so glad you think so, Twilight." He smiled. "Because I'm going to meet her family tonight, and I hope to make a good impression!"

"Oh you won't have to worry about that. You're a prince after all. Besides, the Apples are the nicest ponies you'll meet."

Blueblood sat back on the couch in reverence. "Ah, I imagine every night with Applejack will be magical and exciting! Especially since last night when she showed me her mud shoot."

"...Excuse me?" Twilight stared, not sure what that meant.

DING!

"Oh! My muffins are ready!" Blueblood skipped merrily to the kitchen.

Twilight sat there wondering how this encounter between him and the Apples would play out. She still found the fact of an esteemed prince falling in love with her friend to be stranger than she liked.

Spike walked from the kitchen with a tasty morsel. "Hey Twilight, you gotta try these! These are even better than your muffins!"

Twilight sneered at the dragon and used magic to toss the bowl of potpourri over his head.

...

Later that day, Blueblood joined his new beloved for a hot homemade meal of daffodil loaf and gravy, with her family. Once again he sported his best tuxedo and combed his mane back into a shiny blonde wave. Nevertheless the Apples enjoyed his company.

"So yer a real prince from Canterlot?!" beamed Apple Bloom, with curiosity.

"Why yes." Blueblood boasted. "I'm a descendant of Celestia and Luna themselves."

"Wow!" she smiled. "Princess Luna once gave me a dream where I got mah cutie mark for trainin' seals to jump through a ring o' fire!"

"...Oooookay." He turned away from her.

"Well would ya look at me now!" grinned Granny Smith. "Havin' a big fancy prince eatin' in mah home! I'd like to see those good-fer-nothins over at the pear farm show that off at the county fair!"

"I must say you have a wonderful home, Madame Granny Smith." Blueblood said charmingly. "It's very...quaint and rustique."

"It is? Does that mean I have to call a plumber?" Granny tilted her head. "Big Mac, I told you there was somethin' wrong with the terlet! When are ya gonna get off yer flank an' fix this darn place up?!"

Big Macintosh rolled his eyes and swigged some cider.

"Granny, he's complimentin' the house." Applejack said. "He just has a real big vocabulary."

"Oh I'm sorry, Blueblood," said Granny. "I hope the doctor gives ya some good news about that problem."

"Anyway," said Blueblood. "Uh, Big Macintosh, is it?"

"Eeyup."

"Applejack has told me a bit about you. I hear you're quite a lady-killer around town."

"Eeyup."

"You know, I bet you could be paired up well with a mare I know from Canterlot. If you'd like, I can set you up with-"

"Nnope."

"...But, are you sure? I mean-"

"Nnope."

"...Alright then..." Blueblood drank some cider. "Granny Smith, your food is delectable. But, if I may be so frank, is this your best flatware? Surely food of such exquisite taste should only be eaten on fine china."

"Wazzat? China?!" Granny shot him a stink eye. "Well if it's egg rolls and noodles yer lookin' for, that's too bad! We don't make that crap!"

"Yeah, we don't make that crap!" repeated Apple Bloom.

"Nnope." Big Mac said.

"No no, please forgive me," explained Blueblood. "I was simply talking about the plates. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but I feel your sweet cider deserves to be in some crystal glasses. And don't you serve a first course as well? Salad? Soup? Sorbet?"

"What am I a restaurant?!" replied Granny. "Should I be chargin' restaurant prices?!"

"You should do it, Granny!" beamed Apple Bloom. "Then I can get mah waitress cutie mark!"

"Nnope."

"Uh, Blue, honey?" said Applejack. "Can I speak to you for a moment?" She took him into the hall outside the kitchen.

"Applejack, don't you think it's a tad rude to leave the table just like that?" asked Blueblood.

"Actually, Blue," she winced. "You're the one who's embarrassin' me."

"What?!" he bugged. "How could I be embarrassing? I'm using my best manners!"

"That's just it, dummy." She said. "You're all gussied up lookin', ya got your napkin in your lap, you got a whole bunch of different spoons, forks, and knives laid out in a row for who-knows-what. Honey, you're bein' too polite."

Blueblood became baffled. "Too polite?! That's impossible!"

"Not for my family." Applejack sighed, as Apple Bloom flung mashed potatoes in Big Mac's face, making him swear loudly, and Granny Smith dropped her dentures in her cider. "Look, I know you're tryin' to be a real sweet guest n' all, but maybe you could just take the high society act down a notch. I know you're a prince, but you're confusin' the heck out of my family. Apple Bloom doesn't even know what a sorbet is."

Blueblood sulked. "I'm sorry, Applejack. I just don't know how to behave so...so..."

"It's okay, you can say it." She assured him.

"Poor."

Applejack glowered. "I thought you were gonna say 'ordinary', but whatever."

"You know I want to become a part of your life, Applejack." Blueblood said. "But I could use a little help. My dear, will you teach me the ways of the country pony?"

"I thought you'd never ask!" smiled Applejack.

...

Before long, Applejack managed to sit Blueblood down at a small desk in her living room as she prepared some notes on a blackboard. Blueblood wasn't expecting this date to take a turn like this; he felt like he was back in private boarding school. But he was more curious as to why Applejack kept a desk and chalkboard in her home.

"Alrighty then! Welcome to How To Be A Hick 101!" Applejack tried to sound professional. "I'm gonna teach ya how to lose all yer hoity toity manners n' what not, and become a dumb, dirty country-folk!"

"Um, Applejack, don't you think this is rather unorthodox?" asked Blueblood, before Applejack slammed a ruler on his hoof. "OW!"

"That's rule #1: no big fancy words!" she turned her nose up. "Before you can learn anything else, I'm gonna teach ya how to talk the talk. Let's start simple. Repeat after me: 'How do you do, partner'?"

"Uh...how do you do, partner?" Blueblood winced as he received another slap. "Youch!"

"Try again!" ordered Applejack.

"Um...how do you do, partner?" He howled in pain again.

"It's 'howdy, pardner'!" she urged. "Say it!"

"Eh- uh- Howdy, pardner?"

"Good!" Applejack pointed to a sentence on the board. "Now, let's work out that tongue of yers. Repeat after me: 'I am not doing anything for you.'"

"I am not doing anything for you."

She ruler-slapped his hoof again. "Wrong!"

"But why did you make me repeat that?!" shouted Blueblood.

She whacked him yet another time. "You raise yer hoof before asking a question!"

He raised his hoof.

"Yes Blueblood?"

"Why do I have to repeat the sentence if it's wrong? And why do I have to raise my hoof if I can't be polite?"

"No two-part questions!" she cracked the ruler once again. "Now say it right! You know this!"

"Um...uh..." Blueblood sweated nervously. He tried his best to mimic the slur of a country-pony accent. "Let's see, uh...I...ain't...doin' anything...for ya?"

"Close," nodded Applejack. "A little more."

Blueblood cleared his throat. "I ain't doin'...nothin'...fer ya."

"Yeah that's it!" she beamed. "Say it again!"

"I ain't doin' nothin' fer ya."

"Yer on yer way, Blue!" she winked. "Now try this one: 'The flight...of the kite...flies lightly...through the night."

"The flight of the..." Blueblood paused and caught the trick. She was coaxing him into saying the opposite of the proper way to speak that she presented. He then made sure to replace the rhyming sounds in the sentence with a country twist. "The flaht...of the kaht...flahs lahtly...through the naht!"

"Yeah, yeah, you got it!" cheered Applejack. "You're doin' great, Blue! And where does the kite fly through?"

"The naht!"

"And how does it fly?"

"Lahtly!"

"What color is your coat?"

"Whaht!"

"What's six plus three?"

"Nahn!"

"What do you think we should be right now?"

"Quahet!"

"You're right. Granny Smith is tryin' to sleep. How do ya feel, Blue?"

"I...I feel like I'm starting to get it!" smiled Blueblood.

"I'm glad to hear it, darlin'!" Applejack gave him a sly smile and dropped a heavy plow yoke on his desk. "Now it's time for some real practice. For the next few days, I'm gonna show ya the ways of the Apple Family."

"Um...what?"

...

Just as Applejack said, she would put her new coltfriend through the rigorous process of molding him into one of her own. After nailing the lingo and accent the day before, Blueblood would have to learn the physical side of country living, which included laborious chores around the Apple homestead. It would teach the spoiled prince discipline, and keep Big Mac off his tired hooves for a few hours.

"C'mon, Blueblood, it ain't so hard!" said Applejack, as the two of them stood in a soil bed.

Blueblood was tied to a plow and heaved with all his might to drag it over the fertilizer. He barely moved three feet. "Applejack," he panted. "I understand learning the speech and everything, but this seems really unnecessary!"

Applejack leaned down close and looked at him lovingly. "You said you wanted to share your life with me, didn't you?"

"Well, yes, more than anything."

"Then this is how it's done! If you wanna be a simple folk, then hard labor is a big part of it. Now get into gear! This whole field's gotta be plowed by six o' clock!"

"Ugh, no wonder I had ponies doing this for me." Blueblood continued attempting to tug the plow over the soil.

Meanwhile, Twilight strolled down the dirt road past the farm, when she turned to see the odd forced labor.

"Only four-hundred-ninety more yards to go!" pushed Applejack. "C'mon, I'm barely seein' any sweat! Keep those lines straight!"

Twilight stared for a moment, then shook her head and continued walking. "I knew it. Rainbow owes me some money."

After hours of back-breaking plowing, Blueblood finally hauled himself through the entire field. He collapsed where he stood, gasping for air.

"Nice work there, Blue." Applejack stood before him. "Feels good to get yer workin' hooves, huh?"

Blueblood managed to catch his breath and look up at her. "Can I...can I have a glass of water?"

"Sure! We can take a break. After ya plant all the seeds where ya plowed."

"AAAAAGH!"

...

The next couple days passed by with more grueling farm work and house chores for Blueblood. The pampered prince griped and strained through it all, and even was almost moved to tears when he got a splinter. But deep down, he was determined to adapt to the ways of the common pony, and appreciate what his new love went through on a daily basis. He wanted to show Applejack his loyalty even if it killed him.

"Okay, Bluey," said Applejack, standing by one of her numerous trees with a few baskets laid about. "You must've worked up some muscle by now after helping out around the farm."

Blueblood's knees wobbled. "Does this still count as a date?"

"There's just one thing I want ya to appreciate, Blue: the art of the applebuck!" She turned her back toward the tree, and silence fell upon the field as if drums were rolling. Applejack closed her eyes and focused all her concentration, taking her time. Then, with her rear legs retracted, she delivered the famous blow, slamming her hooves into the bark faster than a speeding cannonball. After several more seconds of silence, the apples hanging from the tree dropped from their branches and landed in the baskets; the tree was left completely barren of fruit.

Blueblood stared at her, excited and amazed by the kick. "You have such power in those legs." He uttered.

"Nopony's really mastered it like I have." Applejack boasted. "But since you wanna be a country pony, you might as well try to learn it too. Go ahead, Blue."

"Yes, my dear."

"What was that?"

"Uh, I mean, darn tootin'!" Blueblood approached an adjacent tree, and copied her actions as best as he could. After mustering all his strength, ignoring the soreness in his legs, he plunged his back hooves into the tree with a shudder. The shock went more through him than the tree. "Ow! Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Jeez! Motherfffffff- Ah! Sweet Celestia's- Ow, ow, ow!" He hopped around gripping his right rear leg in agony. Little did he notice the apple highest up in the tree wiggled loose, and tumbled down the branches. The apple even shook loose some of its comrades as it hit their branches, sending them all plopping into the baskets.

Applejack looked with surprise. "Sheeyoot! I never seen anypony buck that many apples on their first try."

"Is that a good thing?" asked Blueblood, massaging his tender hoof.

"Well darn, Blue," she grinned. "You just might be an Apple yet!"

Those words were music to Blueblood's ears. "Uh, great!" he smiled. "Can we stop now?"

"Just one more thing, then we'll call it a day." Applejack then began climbing the bucked tree.

Blueblood groaned, already feeling his legs falling out of their sockets. With a tired heave, he followed her up the trunk, slipping on the steep surface and hanging onto the branches for dear life. Applejack reached down and helped him up, until they were now sitting next to each other on a thick, high branch. The view from the top of the tree stretched surprisingly far across the whole town out ahead, and even to the distant hills around it. Blueblood felt relaxed by the moment, but wondered what menial task awaited him atop there.

"You really wanna learn my lifestyle n' everything, huh?" she spoke as she stared outward.

Blueblood realized that she just wanted to talk. "Well of course, my love. Like I said, you turned a new leaf for me. I want anybody to show me how to live like an ordinary pony, I want it to be you."

Applejack smiled at him. "That's some mighty fine commitment there, Bluey. But you don't have to go that far to prove that."

"What?" he retorted. "Then why did you have me do everything except make the beds?!"

"Because, you were a pampered, spoiled rich boy who couldn't lift a hoof." She shrugged. "That's just the honest truth. I knew that if I was gonna let ya into my heart, I had to see if you really meant provin' yourself to me. I don't care if you wanna be some country folk or not; I just wanted to see if you have what it takes to be a loyal special somepony."

Blueblood thought back to all the arduous tasks, and regretted how much he complained and struggled through it all. He sighed. "I suppose I'm not the strongest pony for that. If I could barely lift a bushel of apples, how can I expect to be the least bit loyal?"

"Are you kiddin' me?" Applejack touched his chest. "Blueblood, for a ritzy prince from Canterlot, you've proven more loyalty than I could've expected to see! No matter what I told you to do, you stuck with it the whole time even though you were almost miserable. If that isn't the sign of good coltfriend, or a hardened apple pony for that matter, I don't know what is. All that just showed how much ya really love me." She then scratched her mane sheepishly. "Plus, I partly just wanted to have a little fun with ya. Who says a date has to be all dinner n' manners?"

With relief, Blueblood grinned with her. "I said it before, you have an interesting definition of fun."

Then, Applejack leaned in to hug her stallion, nuzzling his chest. "I'm sorry for trickin' you like that. I guess I have a weird way of dealin' with love. You poor thing; you must be achin' all over."

Blueblood agreed highly. But now that he held her to his chest, all his stress and aching seemed to melt away. He brushed aside her golden mane and kissed her forehead as he hugged her tight. "It was pretty fun for me too."

"Blueblood! Hey, Prince Blueblood!"

"Spike?" Applejack looked down from the tree to see the scrappy little dragon hurrying across the field to them.

"Ah, lackey dragon, what news do you bring?" called Blueblood.

"Blueblood," said Spike, holding a rolled up parchment. "Princess Celestia has been trying to get in contact to you. Twilight wrote to her saying that you're extending your stay here in Ponyville and I think your aunts are concerned why. When are you coming back?"

Blueblood looked at Applejack, who looked back at him waiting for a response. It was quite clear that he wasn't going to pass up a romantic moment with his new marefriend. "Tell my aunt that I'll contact them tomorrow." He said to Spike. "I'll be back at the library later tonight."

Spike sighed before walking away. "Alright, but hurry up! All these letters are giving me some serious indigestion!"

As he exited, Applejack turned to her coltfriend. "Your aunts are worried about ya?"

"Truthfully, I think they're just happy that I'm away." Blueblood answered. "I don't see myself going back to Canterlot soon."

"Aw, the last thing you need is more stress." Applejack kissed him on the cheek. She sat back against the trunk of the tree at the base of the branch, then guided Blueblood to gently lie back against her, nestling his head on her chest. "Time for my hard-working stallion to relax." She pressed her hooves into his shoulders, rubbing deeply and loosening his tired muscles.

Blueblood felt a wave of rejuvenation sweep down his body from the massage. He enjoyed the feeling of her warm, soft, orange coat pillowing his head, almost to the point of falling asleep, and looked up at her. "I reckon that's mahty kind of ya, ma'am." He said in an accent.

Applejack chuckled and bent her head down to give his lips an upside down kiss. "Oh shut yer yap."

My Fair Mare

Chapter 4: My Fair Mare

The next day, Applejack found herself lying back on a bale of hay in the barn, putting off her harvesting for a few hours. It was no surprise that her thoughts were filled with scenes of Blueblood, and her future with him. What she had heard from foalhood fairy tales, of forlorn mares being whisked away by a handsome prince, suddenly seemed closer to reality. She was curious to see how far her approach into this unfamiliar territory would go.

Young Apple Bloom wandered into the barn to find her big sister near asleep against the hay pile with her hat over her eyes. Applejack turned over with a slight moan of relief; she seemed to blushing and cuddling herself in her dreamlike state.

Apple Bloom finally called to her, unsettled by her sister rolling around in the hay. "Um, AJ?"

Immediately, she woke up and saw her. "Oh! Apple Bloom!" she straightened her hat sheepishly. "I, uh, I was just, uh, catchin' a break from workin'. What's up?"

"Sis, I gotta ask. Do ya really like that prince guy?"

"Huh?" For a second, Applejack almost didn't know what she was talking about. "Why heck, of course I do! He really loves me, ya know. Why do ya ask?"

"Well, it's just that," Apple Bloom scuffed the dirt. "Big Mac n' I were thinkin', what if he's not right for ya, AJ?"

"Not right?" repeated Applejack. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean, I'm sure he's a nice guy n' all, but he's a prince from Canterlot. Don't ya feel weird at all datin' some rich dynasty snob?"

"Now come on, Apple Bloom, you know it ain't right to judge."

"I know." She looked passively. "It's just that Big Mac and Granny got me thinkin'. We're kinda afraid that Blueblood might change you, and you'll get sucked into this whole rich and royal thing, and you might...well...leave us for it."

Applejack smiled at her sister with assurance and chuckled. "Oh Apple Bloom." She placed a hoof on her shoulder. "I would never think about leavin' my family. No matter what I do with Blueblood, it won't change who I am."

"You sure?" Apple Bloom looked up.

"Hey, it's me!" winked Applejack. "I'll always be yer rough n' tough big sister!"

Apple Bloom smiled. "Thanks, AJ. I just needed to hear that."

"Now don't go listenin' to Big Mac so much." She replied. "He's not as smart as us lady Apples."

"Ahem!" came a gruff voice.

"Oh! Hiya, brother!" said Applejack to Big Mac. "We weren't talkin' about ya or anything."

Big Mac simply rolled his eyes and pointed to a visitor, who needed no introduction.

"I hope this is a good time, my sweet?" smiled Blueblood.

"Well howdy, stranger!" Applejack walked up and nuzzled noses with her coltfriend. "What brings ya on by?"

"Well, you recall how my auntie has been trying to contact me?" explained Blueblood. "It appears that I have been invited to a big soiree in Canterlot and I haven't replied; it's Fancy Pants's birthday party this weekend."

"Sheeyoot!" replied Applejack. "That must be one ritzy shindig."

"Yes, well," he became a bit sullen. "I tried telling Auntie Celestia that I wanted to stay here in Ponyville for a little longer, but she insisted that it would be an insult to Fancy Pants if I didn't attend his party. I suppose she's getting concerned about me staying here after all. So this means that means I won't see you for the time being, while I'm in Canterlot."

"Oh come on," shrugged Applejack. "It's your kind o' party. You should go! Don't worry about it."

"I know, but, I just don't want to spend a moment away from you, my darling."

Applejack thought for a second about his predicament. Then an idea came to her. "Well, can't I go with you?" she asked.

Blueblood took surprise. "Uh, really? You'd want to? I mean, I don't thing you would enjoy it that much."

"Oh hush! I've been to fancy parties before. I even still have my old gala dress! It'll be fun on a bun!"

"Well, alright," smiled Blueblood, hiding excitement. "If you insist, of course. I am curious to see you in that dress too." He winked.

"I just hope it still fits me." She admitted.

"Oh darling, please," he flattered her. "You're slim enough to be a model!"

Applejack blushed and gave him a kiss on the lips. Apple Bloom gagged in the corner.

"So, shall I see you Saturday night?" asked Blueblood.

"Count on it, stud!" flirted Applejack.

As the prince left, Applejack turned back to her sister. Apple Bloom didn't like hearing that her big sis was going to a big Canterlot soiree and became uneasy again; she didn't want her fears coming true.

"Hey, don't worry," Applejack lifted her sister's chin up. "Like I said, I'm still yer big sister."

Apple Bloom smiled back at her, and came in for a hug.

...

On Saturday evening, Blueblood stood waiting at the Ponyville train station, again with more luggage than necessary. He had eagerly been awaiting the moment when he could give his beloved Applejack a tour of the high life, and hoped he had gotten enough sleep the previous night despite his excitement. But above everything else, he wondered what his marefriend would be wearing. No matter how much he adored her, it was still hard to picture Applejack in formal wear. He checked his pocket watch; the train would arrive in about five minutes. He began to worry if she wouldn't make it.

"Got a ticket for me, mah handsome escort?"

Blueblood turned around, and nearly lost his jaw. There, Applejack stood in her flowing emerald green gala dress, which made her eyes pop, adorned with red garments and trim. Her hooves sported brass horseshoes that made her stand with a regal flare. On top of that, her mane had undergone a complete transformation. Her golden locks were now held together by a jeweled headband, and cascaded down over the sides of her head in an elegant splash of curls, which now shined from using product. With a flick of her head, she tossed a large curly lock from the side of her face, sending Blueblood's heart into overdrive. Applejack approached her gentlecolt with an inviting grin.

"Sorry I took so darn long." She said, her speech breaking the illusion of her wardrobe. "It took me forever to get my mane ready. And Granny Smith had to stitch a tear in the side of the dress. Obviously I'm not used to this."

"You look absolutely stunning, my love!" smiled Blueblood. "You'll be the belle of the ball!"

"Aww!" she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Don't flatter me up until after the party." She said with a raise of her brow.

Just in time, the train arrived, and the gussied up couple were on their way to Canterlot. Blueblood's excitement was now re-energized by the striking beauty of his date. And just as well, Applejack stole glances at her coltfriend, who looked especially spiffy that night. She had never realized how attractive stallions were in pressed suits and dance shoes, like the ones he donned. She felt like she was in a photo in one of Rarity's fashion magazines, among those dazed-looking models who seemed like they were too good to be there. And that feeling would only continue throughout the night.

Less than an hour later, the train arrived in Canterlot, and Blueblood and Applejack were immediately immersed in a sea of elegance. The party was set up at Canterlot Castle, where long limo carriages and chariots dropped off hundreds of esteemed guests by the vast marble courtyard. The mares strode head high in dresses of all sizes and dazzling colors that went with their sparkling jewelry, as they locked hooves with their male escorts in slim, colorless tuxedos. Inside the foyer of the castle, the guests mingled with one another, some in pairs, others in groups of friends; many spoke with the familiar tone of priority and even laughed in a rehearsed sort of way. Colorful decorations adorned the corners of the giant castle halls with balloons and banners wishing happy birthday. Octavia was back in her quartet playing cheerful ambiance as the guests filed in; Blueblood hoped not to run into the musician he insulted days before.

Applejack stared in awe as she entered through the front doorway. "Mercy, all this for a birthday?"

"Well, it is for Fancy Pants after all." Blueblood told her.

"Still, it's like the entire population of Canterlot is here." She said a tad nervously. "I feel like a fish outta water. Except I'm surrounded by a bunch o' other fish in fancy clothes. This is gettin' weird."

"Not to worry, darling," grinned Blueblood. "You'll blend right in."

"Ya think so?"

"Well who could argue with your looks?" he winked.

"Oh I knew you were gonna say that." She chuckled.

"Why Applejack," came a familiar voice. "Don't you look exquisite!" Celestia strode over to greet her and Blueblood among the other arriving guests. "Blueblood sent me a message saying you would be here with him. Forgive me for saying, but I was surprised to hear that you two hit it off so well."

Applejack was relieved to see a friend in high places. She bowed to Celestia as usual. "It's good to see ya again, Princess. I, uh, I guess I couldn't resist the charms of a prince." She said, not believing the words were coming from her mouth.

"Well I'm delighted that you have earned his affection." Celestia smiled warmly and leaned closer to her inquiringly. "Just make sure you keep him from starting a fuss." She said with a wink.

"What was that, Auntie?" Blueblood cocked his head.

"Enjoy the party, you two!" The princess ignored him and walked off to greet other arrivals.

"You know Aunt Celestia?" Blueblood stared at his date.

"Um, Element of Harmony? Remember?" she looked back at him discerningly.

"Oh, right. I guess that's important to know, huh?" he said, sheepishly.

"Don't worry about it, stud." Applejack smiled. "So uh...what do we do now?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, it looks like ponies are just talkin'. Not much else."

"Then that's what we do!" Blueblood wandered off through the crowd of party-goers.

"Hmm, it's certainly no Pinkie party." Applejack mumbled to herself and followed.

Eventually, Blueblood found the pony of the hour: Fancy Pants. The suave tycoon stood in the castle's art gallery chatting to about seven other rich ponies, and as always, with his wife Fleur de Lis wrapped around his hoof. As Blueblood made his way over to him, he gathered some attention himself, from guests greeting him with royal praise. Some also murmured among each other, wondering who his intriguing date was. Applejack smiled and waved back at those who complimented her dress, even though she had no idea who they were. She was starting to feel naked without her hat.

"And so I said, 'Layer? Why sir, I've only just met her!'" Fancy pants said with a round of snooty chuckles from his comrades.

"Darling, I do believe you have some royal company." Fleur de Lis said to her husband and pointed to Blueblood.

"Ah! Prince Blueblood my good pony!" greeted Fancy Pants with a hoof shake. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't show up."

"Now how could I miss my old gambling chum's birthday?" grinned Blueblood.

Applejack felt strange hearing her coltfriend mingling with the rich types, even though he was one of them.

"And who might I ask is this fetching young lass?" Fancy Pants adjusted his monocle that he didn't really need.

"She's my new belle, Applejack." Blueblood placed a hoof around her. "I met her in Ponyville and was immediately captivated by her."

"Aw stop." Applejack blushed.

"Ah yes, Applejack!" said Fancy Pants. "I do recall Rarity mentioning you when she visited Canterlot."

"Rarity?" Applejack remembered joining Rarity with the rest of her friends, at a similar party hosted by Fancy Pants. Seeing the rich stallion gave her a sense of deja vu. Then another thought hit her. "She wouldn't happen to be here, would she?"

"Of course!" replied Fancy Pants. "I invited her to help with the decorations."

This gave Applejack some relief, knowing that she might come across Rarity at this soiree. The more friends she had around her, the better.

Then, as if on cue, "Applejack! Over here, darling!" Sure enough, Rarity came squeezing through the small crowd, and hurried excitedly to Applejack to hug her. "I had no idea you were coming to Fancy Pants's part!"

"Well actually, it was Blueblood here who invited me." Applejack smiled at her.

Rarity took a discerning look at Blueblood. "Oh...Hello, Prince Blueblood..."

"Um...hello." Blueblood responded awkwardly.

Applejack looked between the two. Then she recalled how Rarity tried to earn Blueblood's affection at the Gala, even though he practically ignored her. The reunion may have been awkward for the two white ponies, but to Applejack, she couldn't help laugh inside.

"Well, dear," Rarity returned her smile to Applejack. "I do hope you enjoy yourself here. Do you like the decorations at all?"

"You did all this?" replied Applejack. "Heck, you work fast, Rarity."

"It's no challenge when I have magic and vision!" she boasted. "Will you be staying for dinner?"

"You betcha! Any chance to get some grub!"

"Splendid! I'll see you later, darling!" Rarity departed and joined another group of chatting rich ponies, pretending she had been part of the group all along.

"She's an eccentric one." Fancy Pants cleaned his monocle. "Which reminds me, has anypony heard of the crystal pony who was bad at telling lies?"

"Why no, I don't believe I have." Blueblood shrugged.

"They say he was quite...'transparent'!" Fancy Pants delivered a punchline and roused giddy laughter from the rich crowd.

Applejack only gave a courtesy chuckle; she thought the joke fell flat. "If you think that's funny, wait till ya hear this. So there's this writer who's usin' a typewriter n' all." She was already starting to chuckle at her own joke. "And when his assistant asks what he's writin', the writer says 'It's a plot for a story.'" Applejack tried to contain her laughter. "And all of a sudden, the writer takes the paper, and he- pfff- he wipes it on his butt!"

The rich crowd stood agape and appalled as they heard the setup to the lewd joke.

"And then- and then-" Applejack couldn't help breaking into laughter. "The assistant says 'What the heck was that?!' And the writer says 'A plot twist'!" She let out a loud guffaw. "And then, he shoved the whole story up his butt, and he said 'That's a plot hole!' Gah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" She held onto Blueblood for support as she struggled to breath through laughter.

Blueblood smiled sheepishly at Fancy Pants, trying not to be embarrassed.

Fancy Pants winced after hearing such profanities, but retained his composure. "Um, heh heh, yes, quite amusing."

Applejack finally regained control and slowed her raucous laughter to a halt. It was then that she realized that her punchline didn't quite knock everypony's socks off. She cleared her throat and looked away awkwardly.

"Well I do look forward to dining with you both." Fancy Pants said. "You certainly know how to find interesting companions, Blueblood."

"Yes, well, how can I not enjoy her bravado?" Blueblood responded, trying to smooth over the awkwardness.

Fancy Pants and his entourage left as Applejack walked around more with her date. "I'm guessing they didn't find that too funny." Applejack said, deflated.

"Well, Fancy Pants just probably isn't used to such bawdy humor." Blueblood tried to reason.

"Well how was it any worse than his joke?" she rolled her eyes. "Transparent? Really?"

"Never you mind, darling," smiled Blueblood. "Let us adjourn to dinner. I'm growing quite peckish."

"I'm always peckish." Applejack remarked.

Soon enough, Fancy Pants's top VIP guests gathered at the long table in the royal dining room for a celebratory feast. On one end sat Celestia with Luna at her side, on the other end was Fancy Pants with Fleur de Lis, and Applejack sat slightly closer to him between Blueblood and Rarity. All across the tablecloth were placed dozens of silver dishes and platters containing expertly prepared appetizers, and each guest was given a plate of fine china, a crystal glass, and a wide array of silverware. Applejack stared at the place settings perplexed; there must of been close to twelve forks, knives and spoons all in different sizes.

A clink of a fork to a glass was heard as everypony turned toward Fancy Pants's direction. "A sincere thank you to all who came to wish me a happy birthday! And of course to our majestic princesses for offering all the comfort of their fine castle. I feel overwhelmed by the care and devotion of dear friends."

"Oh honey," teased Fleur de Lis. "You've always been one for the dramatics."

"I simply can't help myself, my pristine flower." He said to her suavely.

Applejack hoped she wouldn't vomit before the first course arrived.

"Now let us be merry and partake in this bountiful feast!" Fancy Pants said, trying to sound like a bard. "Dig in, my friends, you all deserve it!"

As the dinner bell rang, a team of butlers entered the dining room with the first course. Everypony politely placed their napkins in their laps as they were served and had their glasses filled with wine.

Applejack was still having trouble with her tableware. "What do I do?" she whispered to Blueblood.

"Just start on the right and work your way over." He replied.

"Start on the- How the hay am I supposed to eat soup with a knife?!" she seethed.

"Then just use the first spoon on the right, Applejack." Rarity corrected her.

"None o' this makes sense!" pouted Applejack, as she was served her soup. It was a tomato bisque with basil, spinach and oats. She looked around the table to see that the other guests were already eating their bowls in as orderly a manner as possible. With a shrug, Applejack picked up the largest of the spoons and tasted the bisque. It was pretty tasty, hearty with a zesty kick. But it would not be enough to satisfy her hunger. She fought the urge to slurp down the entire bowl without the spoon.

As the guests politely chatted among each other, next came the second course. It was a fresh garden salad full of lettuce, kale, beets and tulips with a vinaigrette dressing. Like the soup, Applejack finished off the flimsy salad before anypony else, while still trying to sit up properly and eat more smoothly. Again, it was hardly enough to quell her appetite. After that was the sorbet, a single scoop of fruity shaved ice meant to cleanse the pallet before the main course. Applejack looked at it with slight disbelief and quickly licked the whole scoop into her mouth, checking to see if nopony saw her; her pallet was cleansed, but it didn't make her any less hungry. Applejack wondered why hardly anypony had taken from the platters full of appetizers, including bruschetta, stuffed cheese crepes, and sunflowers. Hoping not to seem out of turn, she slowly reached for the nearest platter and took a piece of bruschetta. It tasted much heartier than the weak first courses, so she discretely scooped up a few more slices and a couple sunflower heads as well.

While Applejack fought to stave off hunger, the entree finally arrived. She licked her lips and rubbed her hooves together, waiting impatiently to finally chow down; she was sorely disappointed. What was given to her on a large dinner plate was but a mere speck of veggie steak with a puddle of sauce. The little piece of food couldn't have been larger than a potato chip. Applejack looked baffled, then peered around at the other patrons who were eating this tiny morsel bit by bit and sampling the taste. With a swipe of her fork, which she picked at random, she chomped the whole mini steak; it tasted delightful, but yet again, her stomach urged for more. Applejack swigged some wine to try to cope with the disappointing meal, and stole a judgmental glance from one of the rich ponies. Having had enough waiting, she took more and more of the appetizers and let herself pig out. She also requested a glass of cider from one of the waiters.

Rarity glanced over at her. "Applejack, slow down. It's not very proper to shovel in food."

"I don't care anymore." She said back, subtly. "This food ain't enough to feed a foal. I'll eat as much as I please." With that, Applejack chomped noisily on whatever food she could obtain.

A few other mares and stallions noticed her eating quickly and whispered to each other if any of them knew the ruffian pony who was wolfing down her meal like she was in starvation. Fleur de Lis even looked disdainfully at her. Celestia hadn't noticed; she usually went through a meal quite fast too, but nopony minded the way their ruler behaved. Soon half the eyes at the table were on the strange orange pony who ate more and more ravenously. Eventually the final course, the dessert, arrived; the waiters carried out crystal bowls of Neapolitan ice cream, with hot fudge, butterscotch drizzle, chocolate shavings and cocoa straws. The dessert looked like heaven to Applejack, and she instantly pushed aside her plate to begin excavation on the frozen deliciousness. She slurped down the ice cream so fast, she didn't even reel from brain freeze.

"Really, Applejack, pace yourself!" urged Rarity. "Ponies are watching."

Blueblood began rowing nervous. As much as he loved Applejack, he knew this would not look good for him in front of his Canterlot friends. He simply smiled at those who were watching as if all were normal.

But then Applejack sat back in her chair. She had devoured most of the ice cream, and the amount of ingredients she had put in her stomach reached a dangerous level. She quietly groaned and held her stomach. Hoping to quell indigestion, she reached for her cider and calmly took a sip. But all it did was trigger the gas within her gullet to rise up. Breaking any silence that remained at the table, Applejack let out a deafening belch that nearly blew out the arrangement of candles in front of her. Suddenly, all eyes were upon her, as the rich guests stared at her as if some untamed animal had pounced up onto the table. Fancy Pants was taken aback as well, and glared slightly at the barbaric earth pony, thinking she would ruin his good time.

Applejack turned red from humiliation. She wanted to slouch in her seat, but figured she had already shown enough improper etiquette. Blueblood darted around, trying to think of what to say. He honestly felt sorry for his beloved, but also feared that his friend Fancy Pants would look down on him, as if he had become a sloppy neanderthal. But somehow, at that moment, that no longer mattered to him. So, with quick thinking, Blueblood scooped up his spoon and flung the ice cream in Fancy Pants's direction. The ice cream hit the mogul square in his unprotected eye, and he let out an effeminate yelp of distress. The rest of the patrons gasped loudly, even Luna who stared at the prince in shock. Celestia brought her face to her hoof; she had expected her nephew to be trouble somehow. The only pony who smiled was Fleur de Lis, who chuckled at her husband's misfortune.

Fancy Pants struggled to rub the ice cream off his face, then switched his monocle to his stricken eye and turned to Blueblood furiously. "Blueblood! What in the nine circles of Hell has gotten into you?!"

"Uh...sorry! It slipped?" Blueblood smiled weakly.

"Gah! You damned stupid oaf!" bellowed Fancy Pants. "You did that on purpose! I shall make you regret- Ow my damn eye!" he rubbed it furiously, then stood up from his chair. "That's it! Everypony get out! Dinner is over! Do kindly buck off! Ouch! Damn!" he stormed off muttering angrily, and hoping to find an eye doctor.

With an uncomfortable mood in the room, the guests orderly left the table, disappointed that the party may have been ruined. Many of them, including the princesses, gave Blueblood shameful stares as they walked out. Fleur de Lis winked at him flirtatiously, as if congratulating him on his marksmanship. Applejack simply stared dumbfounded at her date. It quickly hit her that his little stunt had completely shifted attention away from her boisterous burp.

"Well, that was...interesting." Rarity said, not sure what to think. "I'll just...make sure Fancy Pants is okay...I suppose. Have a good night, Applejack, Blueblood." She left with an unsettled look on her face.

"Blueblood, why did you do that?" she asked him.

Blueblood stood up. "I didn't want you to be under fire from what they might have said to you. You're not used to such a crowd, no offense, and I knew that I would take the shame better."

"You...you embarrassed yourself for me? You shouldn't have done that. These are your friends!"

"Oh they're just judgmental snobs I'm expected to be seen with, especially Fancy Pants." Blueblood said, sincerely. "That's who I used to be. But none of them compare to my devotion to you, Applejack. I love you. And I'll defend you no matter what situation."

Applejack looked at him with admiration. It touched her deeply that her man would go to such lengths to protect her from total humiliation. With a loving smile, she took him in for a hug. "Oh, you're a moron." She kissed his cheek. "But thank you, Bluey. I love you too."

Blueblood smiled back. "Sorry if I may have ruined this night for you." He shrugged.

That's when an idea came to Applejack. She grinned slyly. "Maybe we can just make our own fun."

"What do you mean?" Blueblood looked confused before she took his hoof and led him off.

Applejack did her best to remember her way around, after being shown around the castle. She eventually broke from the sight of the party guests and found her way up the stairs...to one of the castle's guest rooms.

"What are we doing?" Blueblood looked around. "The party hasn't moved up here."

Applejack answered as she opened one of the guest room doors and approached the bed. "What do ya think?" she looked back at him with lowered eyelids.

Suddenly Blueblood's mind clicked. "Wha- You- Really?! In the castle?!" he blurted in surprise. "Applejack, this doesn't seem very-"

"Oh shut up and get out of that stuffy tux." Applejack sat on the edge of the bed and removed her headband. Her mane came flowing down around her in a golden flourish. She even slipped off one of her shoulder straps teasingly. "Time to get back to bein' dirty, mister prince."

Blueblood stared in bewilderment. But after a few seconds, he came to his sense and gave her a suave smile to hide his excitement, as he closed the door behind him.

Outside in the hall, by the stairs, Rarity spied from afar as the two disappeared into the guest room. At first she gasped that they broke off to engage in a dastardly act. But then, a new feeling came over her. She remembered her dream of walking alongside Blueblood before going to the gala. She remembered imagining herself standing at a wedding altar with the handsome prince. Ever since she realized so long ago that he would not return her affection, Rarity had given up trying to earn his. Until now.

Old Wants Die Hard

Chapter 5: Old Wants Die Hard

"What?! What do you mean 'stay'?!" objected Princess Luna.

"I want to stay in Ponyville." Blueblood said to his aunts in Canterlot Castle. "I know this might seem like sudden news, but I simply can't spend another day away from my beloved Applejack. That's why I've decided to move to Ponyville so I can carry our love forward."

Luna looked at her sister next to her then back at him. "The same Applejack that you just met two weeks ago? Blueblood, we have many reservations about this."

"...When you say 'we', do you mean-"

"I mean myself!" Luna rolled her eyes. "Although the same cannot be said for my strangely optimistic sister."

"I say it's wonderful that you want to live with Applejack." Celestia said to him. "There's no sense in staying here if you're in love."

"Thank you, Auntie Celestia." Blueblood smiled.

"Oh please, Sister, you cannot fool us." Luna discerned. "It is quite obvious that you just want our nephew out of the castle and out of your mane."

"Auntie Luna, please." Blueblood replied. "I'm sure my leaving must be very hard on Auntie Celestia, as it is on you. And I want to tell you both that I'll be just fine on my own. Although I will need to find a new home there, and I don't want to impose on dear Twilight again. Tell me, Auntie Celestia, what is the richest property in Ponyville?"

"That would be Twilight's library." Celestia said.

"...Oh, I see. Then what's the second richest?"

"Probably Carousel Boutique." She answered. "As I recall, Rarity mentioned at the party that she was renting out a room there."

"Rarity?" Blueblood thought to himself, expecting another encounter with Rarity would bring up awkwardness. But he felt that perhaps spending time with her would break away any uneasiness. "I suppose I wouldn't mind accepting her hospitality."

"You see, Luna?" Celestia smiled at her. "Blueblood has learned a great deal of humility since dating Applejack."

"Just sweep him out the door, why don't you!" Luna rolled her eyes.

...

The doorbell rang in Carousel Boutique and Rarity answered the door. Outside was Spike carrying a freshly received parchment letter, and a smitten look in his eyes. "Well hello Rarity!" he said, suavely. "I believe you got some mail."

"Ooh hello, Spike." Rarity greeted. "Is it from Princess Celestia?"

"Maybe. Or maybe it's from Heaven, asking you to fly back." He replied hoping to earn a swoon from her.

But Rarity payed him no mind and opened the letter to read. She then gasped. "Oh joy! It says that Prince Blueblood has decided to move to Ponyville and stay with me for the time being!"

"What?!" blurted Spike. "Prince Blueblood?! I thought you got sick of him after the Gala!"

"Hm? Oh, well, not entirely." She said coyly, trying to hide her excitement. "I mean, I'm not that thrilled that he's coming here, but I don't mind giving him the extra room here."

"What do you mean extra room?!" Sweetie Belle stood behind her, pouting. "You just put another bed in my room! I'm starting you're just doing this to-"

"Ah ha ha! Sweetie Belle, darling," interrupted Rarity, hiding her intent. "I thought I told you to make the covers on our tenant's bed!"

"Since when did this become a boarding house?" grumbled Sweetie Belle as she scuffed off.

"Thank you so much for the good news, Spikey." Rarity said. "It'll be good earning some extra money with a, uh, new tenant living here."

"Uh, okay. If you say so." Spike replied suspicious. He didn't quite like the idea of his crush living with a lady-killer prince who once treated her like a doormat. "I'll see you around, Rarity."

Rarity closed the door as he left and spoke to herself. "Oh I just knew Blueblood would come here to be with Applejack. Finally I'll get him to really notice me and live my old dream!" Suddenly she paused, realizing the true weight of her plan. "Goodness, what am I saying? I'm plotting to sweep a stallion right away from my friend. If I try to turn Blueblood on to me, she may be crushed. This could be a terrible mistake." She then gave her doubts another thought. "Well, then again, Applejack's never really been one for romance. Maybe this is just a passing fling for her. Perhaps this relationship with Blueblood isn't that serious. Besides, Applejack's a tough girl; she won't be too broken up about it."

"Rarity! I need help!" called Sweetie Belle from upstairs.

"Honestly, Sweetie Belle, how hard is it to make a bed?!" replied Rarity.

"Forget this! I'm hanging out with Scootaloo overnight!" the filly stormed out.

Rarity thought to herself. "Well, at least that leaves me alone with the prince."

...

That same day, Applejack found herself doing something she would've expected from anypony else but her: applying makeup. She stood before a mirror with a facial kit that Rarity had given her one birthday but had never been touched. But now the occasion called for a little gussying up. As Applejack painted her eyelids, Apple Bloom entered the bathroom.

"AJ? Have you seen one of mah bows?" the filly asked, then became stunned at her sister. "Sweet pony feathers! Are you tryin' to look like a clown?!"

Applejack's makeup skills weren't exactly on par. Her foundation was an entirely different color, her eye shadow smeared and her lipstick trailed all around her lips. "Dontcha ever knock?" she glowered at her sister. "This makeup stuff is harder than it looks!"

"Let me guess, you're goin' to another big fancy Canterlot party?" replied Apple Bloom.

"Actually, I just got a letter sayin' that Blueblood is comin' to stay in Ponyville!" she smiled. "We're gonna meet tonight for a special date after he moves in with Rarity. I just wanted to look presentable n' all for him. I think this is gonna be a big step for me and Bluey."

"After only a short time, you're already livin' together?" stared Apple Bloom. "Big Sis, I feel like you're movin' a little too fast."

Applejack sponged a bit of her face to try again. "Look, Apple Bloom, this is adult relationship stuff. I know ya feel nervous now, but maybe you'll understand when yer older."

"I don't understand?" she mocked. "Have you even been with other stallions before Blueblood?"

"Don't get pushy." Applejack sneered at her. "I think you just don't plain like Bluey."

"AJ, I'm happy that ya like this guy, but I just got a bad feelin' about him." Apple Bloom said. "He seems like one o' those rich types who just hang around with mares just for the fun of it. He might leave you before ya know it!"

"Ow!" Applejack accidentally poked her eye with a brush. "Apple Bloom, you don't know Blueblood like I do. Just 'cause he has royalties doesn't mean he doesn't have a heart. Besides, I don't need my little sister givin' me love advice. Now I'd appreciate it if you stop bein' so judgmental and leave me alone."

"But I just-"

"I said that's enough, young lady!"

"...Young lady?"

"You heard me."

Apple Bloom simply glared at the floor and left in a huff.

Applejack continued to struggle with her face. "Ugh! I should've really asked Rarity for help. At least she understands these things."

...

The door of Carousel Boutique opened revealing Blueblood standing outside eagerly. He became confused when he saw nopony before him until he looked down. "Ah, you must be Rarity's little sister, Sweetie Shell!"

"It's Sweetie Belle." The filly said begrudgingly, not even bothering to address him by his regal nobility. "And if you're looking for my sister, she's upstairs."

"I'll be right down, my prince!" called Rarity from upstairs, with a flourish. A moment later, she appeared at the top of the stairs in a slender rose red dress, with lipstick and eye shadow. "Blueblood, darling, I'm so glad you made it!" she greeted.

Blueblood looked at her with surprise. "I must say, Rarity, are those your day clothes?"

"Uh, Sis? Why are you wearing your flirting dress?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Oh what, this?" she replied with feigned confusion. "Really, Sweetie Belle, can't a girl stretch out her best clothes once in a while?"

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. "Whatever, I'm out of here." She then left to spend time with her friends, and keep her mind away from her strange sister.

"Come, Blueblood, make yourself comfortable." Rarity smiled.

"Thank you ever so much, Rarity old dear," said Blueblood as he sat on the couch. "I hope I won't be a burden living here. It'll just be until Applejack and I decide to reside somewhere else together."

"Oh I completely understand," she said. "Take all the time you need! You must have had a long ride from Canterlot. Would you care for some wine to relax?"

"Oh no," he chuckled. "I really shouldn't drink midday. I'm supposed to meet Applejack later tonight for a date."

"Sounds lovely! But surely one glass couldn't hurt." She persisted.

Blueblood thought for a moment. Wine did help him relax from time to time. "Well alright, just a little."

Graciously, Rarity poured him a glass, then joined him on the couch. Discretely, she slid closer to him. "You know, Applejack must really be lucky to have a stallion like you."

"And I am lucky to have her." He smiled. "There's just something about her that I can't escape."

"You still seem tense, darling." She then placed her hooves on his shoulders.

"Hm, that feels nice." He replied as she rubbed them. "Are you a masseuse?"

"I'm just quite good with my hooves, I guess."

"I should really start unpacking though."

"Oh you let me take care of that." She insisted. "I want to be a good host after all."

Blueblood took a sip of wine. "You know, my date with Applejack isn't for a few hours. I might as well have a little snack to tide me over."

"Of course!" Rarity immediately headed toward the kitchen. "I have some nice cheese and oat crackers."

As she stepped into the kitchen to fetch her best cheese, Rarity pondered to herself. "Ugh, this doesn't feel right. What am I doing trying to win over a stallion who's with somepony else? Come on, Rarity, you're better than this....But he is still so handsome. I could make it work. I could even change him to be the loving coltfriend I wanted him to be."

"Shame on you, madame!" came a small voice. Rarity gawked as she seemed to hallucinate a miniature version of herself appear on her right shoulder, wearing a billowing white dress with a halo above her head. "Have you no respect? You are trying to break the heart of your dear friend Applejack! You must make this right!"

"Oh please, woman!" came another small voice. Suddenly another mini Rarity manifested on her left shoulder, sporting skimpy red lingerie with horns on her head. "A dashing prince looking for love, in your home? You can't pass up an opportunity like this, marefriend! You're not getting any younger!"

"Stop corrupting her!" scorned Angel Rarity. "Rarity, you know very well that trying to seduce Prince Blueblood is wrong, and it will only lead to sorrow. Lust is a terrible sin, my filly!"

"Blah blah blah!" mocked Devil Rarity. "You just don't know how to please men. I mean look at what you're wearing! Are you trying to go as a snowball for Nightmare Night?!"

"Well at least I don't look like some cheap, painted up hussy!" scoffed Angel Rarity.

"You wish you looked this good, cream puff!" Devil Rarity stomped her hoof.

"I don't need to be a whore to look good!" replied Angel Rarity.

"That's it!" Devil Rarity then shot a fireball at her holy rival, singing her mane. "Ha! I knew it! Extensions!"

"You ruffian!" Angel Rarity shone a beam of heavenly light upon Devil Rarity. "As I expected! Age-defying cream!"

"I'll kill you!" Devil Rarity leaped at Angel Rarity as they entered a violent cat fight. Then the two hallucinations disappeared in a puff of smoke just as quickly as they arrived.

Rarity blinked, torn between decisions, until she heard Blueblood call from the living room.

"Rarity? I don't mean to be a bother, but can I please have another glass of wine?"

She paused for a moment, then smiled at the thought of pulling off her seduction. "Coming, my prince!"

...

Outside, Sweetie Belle walked with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. After failing to earn their tax auditor cutie marks, the Crusaders became rather bored as they struck up conversation.

"I tell ya, my sister's gotten all la-dee-da ever since she started datin' that prince." Apple Bloom complained. "Now that he's movin' here, she's gone plain bonkers!"

"I know how you feel." Sweetie Belle replied. "Rarity is completely ecstatic about having the big fancy prince staying in our home. I can't say I feel the same way. Of all the places in Ponyville he could choose, he stays with us."

"Ha, I pity you guys, having to deal with your sisters." Scootaloo scoffed. "It's no doubt that both of them would fall for a cheesy guy like that, at their age."

"What do you mean fall?" queried Sweetie Belle. "My sister isn't in love with Blueblood or anything."

"So it's just a coincidence that Rarity offered to have him stay at your house?" discerned Scootaloo.

"Hush yer mouth, Scootaloo!" glared Apple Bloom. "Why would Rarity try anythin' like that?"

That's when Sweetie Belle stopped in her tracks. "Now that you mention it, she was acting pretty strange when Blueblood showed up."

"Strange? How strange?" asked Apple Bloom.

"...Nah, it can't be." Sweetie Belle shook her head. "I think Rarity's just always plain crazy."

"Uh, guys?" called Scootaloo, who was peering through a window in Carousel Boutique.

The other two joined her at the window. What they saw brought Sweetie Belle's fears to reality. Inside the living room, Blueblood and Rarity were sitting on the couch laughing like old companions, while Blueblood rubbed her hooves. Their white cheeks were flush red and their teeth were also stained red from a good amount of wine. They hadn't moved for over three hours.

"Holy smokes!" gasped Apple Bloom. "Yer sister is canoodlin' with mah sister's coltfriend!"

"Why didn't I see it before?!" gawked Sweetie Belle. "Rarity is such a flirt!"

"And it looks like Blueblood is enjoying every minute of it!" Scootaloo added.

Apple Bloom steamed. "That sneaky, back-stabbin', connivin', two-timin', womanizin'...stupid head!" The other two gasped at her vulgarity. "How dare he turn his back on mah big sister like that!"

"And my sister is going to pay for this!" Sweetie Belle added.

Scootaloo then procured a camera and sneaked photos of the incriminating scene inside.

"Scootaloo, what are ya doin'?" asked Apple Bloom.

"We need to prove to your sister that he's betraying her." She said. "This kind of injustice won't go on."

"But why do you have a camera?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"What?" she shrugged. "I can't take nice pictures of us?"

Sweetie Belle sighed. "We already tried the photography cutie mark, okay?"

"It's gonna happen, Sweetie Belle! I can feel it!" glowered Scootaloo.

...

As daylight faded, Applejack sat in her living room with a concerned grimace. All day she had been awaiting the arrival of her beloved Blueblood, and took the time to make herself look presentable, ready to start a life with him. But two hours had passed and Blueblood had yet to show up. Applejack began to worry that something must have happened to him. She knew he wouldn't stand her up on such a day.

Just as she was about to set out to find Blueblood, Apple Bloom came storming in suddenly with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. "Applejack! Yer not gonna believe this!"

"Apple Bloom?" said Applejack. "Did ya see Blueblood anywhere?"

"Oh we saw him!" she declared. "We saw him makin' sweet eyes with Rarity! He's cheatin' on ya, Sis!"

"What?!" replied Applejack. "That's nonsense! Apple Bloom, how could ya say that?"

"It's true, AJ!" said Sweetie Belle. "We all saw them! They were laughing, and drinking wine and getting all cuddly! It was weird!"

"Girls, I think what ya saw was a big misunderstanding." Applejack discerned. "So they're good friends! That doesn't mean they're tryin' to get together."

"Oh yeah? Then how do you explain this?" Scootaloo then held up a photo of both Rarity and Blueblood in mid-kiss.

Applejack took the photo. For a long moment she stared at it confused, not quite comprehending what she was seeing. She opened her mouth to speak but stammered. "Wha...this...this can't be real."

"I told you he couldn't be trusted!" said Apple Bloom.

"This doesn't make any sense!" Applejack stood, disbelieving. "Why...why would he do this?"

"My sister is a real flirt." Sweetie Belle said. "I bet he falls for mares like her all the time."

"I don't believe this!" Applejack shook her head, a tear suddenly came to her eye. "He couldn't!...He..."

"I'm so sorry, Applejack." Apple Bloom gave her a comforting hoof. "I never wanted this to happen."

Applejack sat back. She placed her hooves over her eyes and sobbed softly. "Why don't you girls go somewhere else?" she spoke. "I need to handle this on my own."

"Of course. We're sorry, Applejack." Sweetie Belle said sincerely. They all gave her a reassuring hug before leaving.

Applejack hugged her knees. The evidence in that photo was too much for her to get her mind around. But somehow it seemed true to her. Suddenly she suspected that the stallion she loved was betraying her behind her back. The dream of falling in love with a classy, handsome prince now seemed, as it did in the past, like fiction.

...

Blueblood's face went red as he stared in shock. He had not even noticed the wine he had spilled on his leg. Rarity sat next to him on the couch and quickly slid back with a gasp. Her face was an even deeper shade of red because she had just gone from telling a funny joke about griffons, to landing a kiss on Blueblood's lips. He didn't even see it coming.

"Oh...goodness!" she stammered and fibbed. "I-I-I am so sorry, Blueblood. That...that just came from nowhere!"

Blueblood looked awkwardly off to the side. "Oh, uh, it's...quite alright, Rarity." He cleared his throat to regain his composure. "I think we just had a little too much wine."

After a brief, uncomfortable pause, Rarity finally heaved a deep sigh. "No, it's entirely my fault. I couldn't control myself."

"It was just a friendly peck, wasn't it?" he looked at her.

"Not exactly." She admitted. "Ever since I saw you together with Applejack, something just...came over me. Those memories of me trying to win you over at the Grand Galloping Gala suddenly came flooding back. And somehow I was feeling envious. So I started..." she winced with guilt. "Trying to seduce you, so that you'd leave her."

Blueblood stared in bafflement. "Wait, you've been feeling...affection towards me? This whole time?"

"I know it's wrong," she said. "But sometimes I forget just how jealous I can become. It turns me into some animal. Please, Blueblood, you must understand."

With a dour expression, Blueblood slouched back and stared ahead for several seconds. Then with a heavy sigh and closed eyes, he spoke with pauses. "I'm sorry, Rarity. It wouldn't work between us. Especially not now."

Rarity didn't shed a single tear then. Instead she nodded with acceptance, but not without regret. "I understand. I am so sorry for this trouble. And I'm even more sorry for betraying my friend."

Blueblood stood up. He checked the clock and cursed. He had let time slip away from him somehow. "I better get to Applejack. She must be worried sick."

"Please, give her my apology?" asked Rarity.

He started for the door. "She's not going to know. Neither of us will speak to her about it."

Rarity stood. "What?! No, Blueblood! She has to know the truth! It's only fair!"

"I'm not just lying for myself." He said, sternly. "It's for your own good too. I don't want that kiss to drive a wedge between you and Applejack, and I don't want it to stain our friendship either. It's for the best."

"I...I don't know. She could find out eventually. It's my fault, Blueblood! Let me make it right!"

"I will not let this be a memory in my relationship with Applejack." He glowered and opened the door. "If you're really sorry, you'll keep it to yourself." Blueblood slammed the door shut. Outside, he pressed his hoof against his brow, cursing the impeccably bad timing of what happened. He wanted badly to blame Rarity, but he didn't want one little event to ruin his friendship with her, let alone his romance. He walked steadfast over to Sweet Apple Acres, trying to form the right words in his head.

This time, Rarity felt more remorse than ever. She proceeded to pour the rest of the wine down the sink as tears streamed down her face. She hated herself for that one simple action. Rarity knew she couldn't take that moment back. Something had to be done.

...

At the farmhouse that night, Blueblood approached the front door and rang the doorbell. He put on his best smile, as if to pretend nothing had happened in the last twenty minutes. After waiting for a few moments, the door didn't open. Hoping not be intrusive, Blueblood opened the door and walked into the empty living room. He looked around for any sign of life, until he entered the kitchen. Sitting at the table was the love of his life, staring blankly at her removed hat.

Blueblood beamed. "Applejack my sweet! I'm so sorry for running late, honey." He sat down with her.

"It's alright." Applejack spoke, bluntly. "What kept you up?"

He told his lie just as he rehearsed. "Well, my train was running slow coming into Ponyville and there was a delay. Then I was moving my things in at Rarity's and we just got to chatting so much, I lost track of time. She dropped a glass and I stayed to help her clean up. What can I say? It's hard for me to say no."

Applejack curled a tight fist underneath the table, hearing him speaking uneasily. "What's that on your leg?"

"Huh?" Blueblood hadn't noticed the wine stain left on his leg when the kiss happened. "Oh! Uh, we just had a glass of wine to celebrate me moving in. I was in a hurry to come see you, so I guess I got clumsy."

"I'll say you have."

Blueblood frowned. "Are you okay, Applejack? What's wrong, dear?"

"I don't know, Blueblood," she sneered. "You think it might be this?!" She then pulled out the photo of the kiss from under her hat.

Blueblood became near petrified. "Wha- I- how did you get that?!"

"My sister and her friends. Are you gonna tell me you came all the way to Ponyville just to mack lips with one of my best friends?!"

It was then that Blueblood realized that lying was not helping his case at all. "Applejack look, it's not what you think!"

"Is that what you want, Blueblood?!" Applejack snarled. "Am I not pretty or sophisticated enough for you?! Did I actually embarrass you back in Canterlot?!"

"No, you have it all wrong!" he pleaded. "She kissed me! I thought we were just friends!"

"Don't you lie to me, you bastard!" she stomped toward him and backed him into the living room. "If there's one thing I hate more than anything in this world, it's lyin'!"

"I'm not lying, Applejack! She came onto me!"

"Then why didn't you tell me that when you came in?!"

"I...I just...I didn't-"

"Get outta my house, you son of a bitch!" she steamed. "Go back to the city with all your high class, womanizin' friends! Heck, take Rarity with ya if you're so into her!"

Blueblood began to tear up. "Please! Applejack, you have to understand!"

"Applejack!" The two of them turned to look as Rarity burst through the front door. "Applejack, he's telling the truth!" She spoke with increasing bravery. She had already cried out all the guilt a moment before. "I kissed Blueblood. In fact, I'm the one who's been dishonest with you. I've been harboring feelings for Blueblood recently and have been trying to win him over, and away from you."

Applejack stared with more disbelief. "Rarity, what are ya talkin' about?"

"I was overcome with jealousy and lust." Rarity approached her friend. "For a while, I was willing to turn my back on you just to reclaim some lost romantic fantasy. But I was a fool, Applejack! You mustn't blame Blueblood for anything. He didn't want to tell you about the kiss at first, because he wanted to protect you." She then turned to Blueblood. "I'm sorry, Blueblood. But if you won't tell her what happened then I must, even if it means having my dear friend hate me for the rest of my life."

"Rarity...how could you?" said Applejack, sadly.

"You should give me no forgiveness, Applejack." Rarity lowered her head. "I broke your trust and went against you behind your back. But please, you and Blueblood are meant for each other. What you two have is special and I don't want to destroy it. At least keep that the way it is. Please, my friend!"

Blueblood stared astonished at Rarity. If Applejack didn't forgive her, at that moment, he did.

Applejack looked at them both, then at the floor. The massive wave of emotions from the past few minutes was clouding her judgement. She spoke flatly. "I need to think. This is gonna take me all night."

"I understand." Rarity said. "I'll be on my way, Applejack. I'm so so sorry." She left without another word.

"I'll take the next train to Canterlot." Blueblood said, guiltily. "It's okay if you don't want to see me tomorrow."

"No, you can sleep on the couch." She replied and headed upstairs. "I'll talk to you in the morning."

"Thank you." He said, gratefully.

Before leaving for her room, Applejack turned and looked down the stairs. "Blueblood?"

He looked up hopefully. "Yes?"

"...Am I a bad kisser?"

Of all the questions she could've asked, that one took Blueblood by surprise. "Yours are the only lips I want." He said, sincerely.

Applejack simply nodded without expression. She disappeared into her room, and Blueblood lay on the couch with her hat, preparing for a long night of no sleep.

One of the Family

Chapter 6: One of the Family

Blueblood awoke with a sore neck. He wondered why he was waking up to some discomfort and found himself on an unfamiliar surface. But then he remembered the events of last night. Rarity had kissed him, he tried to cover it up in front of Applejack, and it only made her lose trust in him. But after Rarity came clean, Applejack allowed him to sleep over while she contemplated. Blueblood sat up on the small couch and rubbed his face. He no longer cared about his soar neck or his bed-head. All he could wonder was if Applejack had forgiven him.

Then, his mood shifted when a pleasing aroma approached his nose. Eggs. Immediately he heard the sound of a sizzling skillet from the kitchen. Curious, and a bit peckish, he entered the kitchen to see Applejack; but not in the way he had expected.

"Mornin'!" Applejack greeted him cheerily, as she stood at the stove cooking breakfast. "Why don't ya have a seat? I'm makin' mah famous omelettes with peppers and salsa."

Blueblood blinked. But without questioning, he sat down at the table, seeing a slice of toast and a mug of coffee already on the table. He wondered how she managed to get breakfast started without waking him up.

Applejack finished the omelette and served it to him on a plate. "How'd ya sleep?" she asked.

Blueblood paused to choose his answer carefully. "Well, the cushions were nice and firm. Thank you for breakfast."

"No problem." She sat down. "I didn't exactly get much sleep either. I guess we were both busy thinkin'."

Blueblood couldn't bring himself to eat his omelette. He felt like he didn't deserve the hospitality. "You know, you didn't have to let me stay overnight." He said.

"No, I wanted to." Applejack sighed. "Look, Blueblood, I believe that you would never betray me. In fact, I never really doubted that. I guess I just went a little haywire last night."

"No, it's not that at all." Blueblood insisted. "You had every right to be suspicious."

"Well, still, there's somethin' I just want you to know. You shoulda just told me what happened. Even if ya did some big mistake, I still would've forgiven you, as long as you told the truth. I should know; honesty is kinda my business."

"You're absolutely right." Blueblood nodded. "I'm sorry I lied to you. I suppose I just panicked in the heat of the moment. I thought you would be furious if I told you what happened."

"It takes a lot to make me that mad, Bluey, and I can get over stuff mighty quickly." Applejack continued. "But one thing I hate more than anything is bein' lied to. So just promise me one thing, Blueblood," she placed her hoof on his. "From now on, always tell me the truth."

With a smile, Blueblood grasped her hoof. "I promise, Applejack."

She returned his smile. "Thanks, dummy."

"As long as we're telling the truth," he said. "That couch was terribly uncomfortable."

"Well, consider that your punishment." She joked. "Now are you gonna eat that omelette I worked hard to make before it gets cold, or are ya just gonna keep starin' at me with those big blue eyes?"

Courteously, Blueblood took a bit of the spicy omelette. It was one of the best he had ever tasted. "Better than castle food."

Applejack winked, flattered. "You know, speakin' of sleepin' arrangements, ya didn't have to stay at Rarity's since yer movin' here."

Blueblood looked up with a mouth full of egg. "...What?"

"I was hopin' you'd want to move in with me, silly!"

"Oh! I thought it would be moving too fast if I moved in with you."

"I don't know," she shrugged. "Maybe I like it fast."

Blueblood blushed, hoping he was just flattered. "Are you sure it wouldn't be too much trouble?"

"That depends, do ya want more omelettes?"

"Yes."

"Then welcome to Casa del Apple!" Applejack leaned over and kissed him on the nose.

Blueblood wrapped his hoof around her and smiled into her eyes. "Thanks for forgiving me, Applejack." He said sincerely. "I'd be honored to live with you."

Applejack grabbed the back of his head. "I love ya, sugarcube." They leaned in and kissed a relieving kiss. Applejack pulled away after many seconds. "By the way, you movin' in will be perfect timin'."

"Why do you say that?" he asked.

"Because we're havin' the Apple Family Reunion tomorrow!"

Blueblood was taken aback. "Oh...I see...Were you going to mention that?"

"Nope! I wanted it to be a surprise." She smiled. "Oh I can't wait for you to meet everypony! They're gonna love ya to death!"

Blueblood suddenly felt nervous with the thought of meeting more of his marefriend's family. He had already managed to earn the trust of Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, and Big Macintosh. "Out of curiosity, how big is your family, Applejack? Will it just be a few cousins? Aunts? Uncles?"

Applejack paused with a blank expression. Then she suddenly burst out in laughter, knowing he had no idea what he was getting into.

...

The smell of cooked and baked goods wafted through the air, as the sound of jaunty bluegrass music resonated in the farm. The extended Apple Family had arrived by the droves, and quickly Sweet Apple Acres became party central. All across the farm, Applejack's relatives, from her cousins, to her second cousins, to her third cousins twice removed, reunited and mingled among each other. The little ones played and wrestled each other in the grass, while the elderly ones sat on the front porch reflecting on days gone by. The family band played nearby with banjo, fiddle, mandolin, bass and washboard. Even ponies who weren't in the bloodline were welcomed to join the festivities. It just as good as every yearly reunion.

"Cousin AJ!" came the voice of a relative.

"Babs!" Applejack walked over to her little cousin from Manehattan. "Long time no see, squirt!"

"Who you callin' squirt?!" sassed Babs Seed. "I'm gettin' bigger by the day!"

"It's true!" said Apple Bloom, next to her. "We measured each other by a tree. But I'm still gonna beat you at gettin' mah cutie mark first!"

"Bring it on, cuz!" replied Babs.

"Now now, girls." Applejack then saw Blueblood walk over. "Oh yeah! Babs, I'd like ya to meet mah coltfriend Blueblood. Bluey, this is mah little cousin, and Cutie Mark Crusader, Babs Seed."

"So you're the big smooth prince who's been makin' sweet eyes at my big cousin?" smirked Babs. "Dang! A hunk like you goin' after this crazy broad?"

"...Thank you?" replied Blueblood, widely confused.

"Babs, really!" glowered Applejack. "Who taught you to talk like that?!"

"You did?"

"Damn right! But not around mah stallion! He's too sweet for sour talk."

"Yuck!" gagged Apple Bloom. "Come on, Babs. Let's go play with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, and leave these two love birds to be gross with each other."

"You got it!" Babs ran off with her. "Nice meetin' ya, Blueblood! Try not to let her tell ya what to do!"

"Watch that smart mouth o' yers, Babs Seed!" called Applejack

"Wow," said Blueblood. "I thought your family were all country."

"Some o' them are from Manehattan." Applejack replied. "I guess we're bigger than ya though, huh? We're everywhere! How ya holdin' up, by the way?"

"Well, I'm still kind of nervous, to be honest." He said. "I'm used to large crowds, but..."

"Never ya mind, honey bunch. Why don't you try gettin' along with some other guys?" She then waved to another relative. "Ey! Braeburn! Come on over here!"

"Well well! Cousin Applejack!" The wily cousin from Appleloosa walked over and gave her a hug. "I keep thinkin' yer still knee high!"

"Well maybe yer just gettin' shorter, ya big brick head!" she busted his chops. "Braeburn, why don't ya get to know Blueblood here?" She turned to give her man a kiss then left. "I'll be over with Aunt and Uncle Orange. Make nice-nice you two!"

Blueblood found himself standing with yet another relative he did not know, who simply stared back at him with a plain smile. He tried to strike up conversation. "Uh...so...you...uh..." Suddenly he was swept up.

"Well how does it, pardner?!" Braeburn grabbed him in a vise-grip one-hoof hug. "You must be one heck of a guy to fall in love with mah crazy cousin!"

"Oh, well uh, I guess she's the kind of crazy I like. Heh heh." Blueblood gave an awkward reply, as he tried to get his circulation back after that hug.

"So you came all the way from Canterlot, huh?" continued Braeburn. "I reckon you're used to all that high end life, and fancy foods with funny names."

"Well actually, I've been trying to get away from that life." Blueblood explained. "That's why I've decided to move to Ponyville."

"Well welcome home, pardner!" smiled Braeburn. "You should come on by to Appleloosa sometime! Get some of that big country air into yer lungs."

"Ah yes, Appleloosa," replied Blueblood, not sure what to say. "I like their boots."

Braeburn looked off to the crowd. "Uh oh. Everypony's gettin' rowdy. Looks like it's time for the tug-o-war! Come on, yer on mah team!"

"Really? Uh, how does one 'tug-o-war'?"

"What's there to understand? Ya get in a war, and ya tug! Come on, city boy!"

As planned, members of the Apple Family formed two teams and lined up on both sides of a pool of mud. Blueblood looked at the rope on the ground as he stood between Braeburn and Apple Bloom. "What happens if we win?" he asked.

"The other team gets the mud!" answered Braeburn.

"And if we lose?"

"Then we get the mud, silly!" replied Apple Bloom.

Blueblood looked across the mud to see the other team. He gawked when he noticed who the leader of the their team was.

"Ready to get drenched, your highness?" Applejack called to him.

The thought of pulling his own marefriend into the dirt made Blueblood cringe. "Uh, I don't know about this!"

"Oh I get it! Yer goin' easy on me?" sassed Applejack. "I knew you were soft!"

"Ready...set...TUG!"

Immediately, the two teams began pulling on the thick rope with their strong teeth. After realizing what was happening, Blueblood joined them and grabbed the rope in his mouth. But the fact that Applejack was on the other end of that rope made his hesitate and weaken his grip on it. His slack caused his own team to slide closer and closer to the mud pool.

"Come on, Bluey!" shouted Applejack through gritted teeth. "Put some back into it!"

Blueblood couldn't bring himself to beat his love. He looked to see his hooves scuffing the ground inches away from the mud. Apple Bloom hung on the rope, her little legs dangling over the pit of doom.

"Come on, city boy!" called Braeburn. "You're lettin' us down!"

"Yeah, I thought you were a man!" teased Applejack.

Closing his eyes regretfully, Blueblood finally put his strength into his teeth and yanked hard on the rope. Instantly, the tug shifted to his side and they quickly gained the advantage. At last, the other team tumbled into the mud one by one like dominoes. The crowd watching from the side gasped into a sudden silence. Blueblood's team stared at him as he tried to comprehend what he had just done. Applejack poked her head out of the mud, her body completely soaked. She finally broke the silence.

"YEEHAW! Thatta boy, Bluey!"

Everypony, even the losing team, laughed and cheered and slung mud at each other. Blueblood smiled. He suddenly felt like he was at last part of the crowd. But he was also proud of himself being the one to dunk Applejack in the mud for once.

Throughout the night, Blueblood partook in the merriment of the family reunion. After getting revenge on his beloved with a face full of mud, he ran in the six-legged race, with Granny Smith as his partner. Although Granny ran much faster than him and dragged him along, they still won the race, and received more praise from the others. Then, he entered the pie eating contest against Big Macintosh and several others. He came in second due to Big Mac's endless stomach. After all the games, Blueblood joined his marefriend who taught him how to square dance to the music of the family band. The night didn't seem to end, and he didn't want to end.

Finally, Blueblood sat with the entire family at an extremely long outdoor table, where the big barbecue dinner was served. Platters of grilled corn and artichoke, stuffed peppers, sunflower heads, green and baked beans, coleslaw, etc, watered the family's appetites with the taste of a sweet full mug of cider.

At the end of the table, Granny Smith stood from her seat and tapped her plate for attention. "I'd like to say somethin'! It warms my kidneys to see everypony back again." She paused while Big Mac spoke in her ear. "Uh, I mean mah 'heart'! An' every year, it seems like our little family gets a little bit bigger. Even dear friends I gladly consider part of this tribe, even if they're not related. An' so, fer winning mah little AJ's heart, I'm happy to welcome ol' Blueblood here as one of the family!"

The family applauded and cheered as Blueblood looked around in surprise. "Do I really deserve this?" he turned to Applejack.

"I told ya they would love ya." She winked and kissed him.

Blueblood smiled warmly. He had tasted something just as good as the food before him. When he first came to Ponyville, he had made it his mission to become one of the ordinary folk. Now he saw that there was nothing ordinary about it.

"Now let's get tah eatin' already!" cheered Granny. "Where'r mah darn teeth? Big Mac, have ya seen mah teeth?"

"Nnope."

"Oh butternuts! If anypony finds somethin' crunchy in the baked beans, please let me know!"

...

The party was a huge success. Blueblood had gotten to know Applejack's family, and had become an honorary member of them. Now all the relatives had packed up, hugged goodbye and went on home, and the farm was now quiet again. Up in Applejack's room, Blueblood cuddled with his beloved in her bed, bushed from the energy of the day.

"Wasn't so bad, was it?" said Applejack, as they lay in the dark.

"I haven't had that much fun in a long time." Blueblood replied. "I reckon it beats mingling with rich ponies again."

"Did you just say 'reckon'?" she raised her head.

He thought for a second. "Oh yes, I did. I suppose you're rubbing off on me."

She gave him a knowing look. "Not yet."

"...What?"

Applejack nuzzled against his chest. She began kissing around his neck, making heat rush to his face. "It's been a while. Why don't we end the night with a little fun of our own?"

Blueblood perked up. "Are you sure? You're not tired?"

Applejack climbed on top of him and untied her ponytail. "I never get tired of you." She kissed his lips sensually and stroked his chest.

Blueblood wrapped his hooves around her waist and looked into her eyes. "Your cousins were right," he smiled suavely. "You really are a crazy one."

"I'll take that as an 'I love you'." Applejack pulled the blanket over them, as celebrated finally being alone together.

...

Late that next morning, Blueblood awoke feeling refreshed and alive. Something in the big comfortable bed was hard to escape; perhaps it was the feeling of his lover's presence on it. Normally he would get up for a hearty breakfast. But seeing as he could smell none yet, he decided to sleep in for a while. Then, he heard the toilet flush in the bathroom across the hall. He realized that Applejack wasn't in the bed next to him, when he saw her enter from the bathroom. She looked a tad squeamish, and sort of lumbered in.

"Ugh, I didn't feel so good wakin' up." She groaned.

"Really?" replied Blueblood. "I feel quite great."

"Well good for you." She sighed. "Well, I guess I better get breakfast started. I got a heck of cravin' all of a sudden."

Blueblood sat up. He could tell something was amiss. "Are you alright?"

"I don't know." Applejack sat on the side of the bed, and clutched her stomach. "Blueblood, this is a weird question, but...is it normal to feel heavier in the gut after makin' love?"

Blueblood gulped hard. The shocking idea hit him in an instant, and he suddenly didn't feel much like sleeping in.

Already?

Chapter 7: Already?

"Yup, we're pregnant." Applejack said flatly as she stepped out of the doctor's office.

"What do you mean we?" replied Blueblood waiting outside.

"It's just a figure o' speech." Applejack shrugged.

Blueblood began pacing nervously. "Oh sweet Celestia! I would never let this happen! I can't take this! I'm not ready for it!"

Applejack calmed him down with a slap to his cheek. "Sorry 'bout that, Bluey, but you were kinda buggin' out. And besides, I'm not upset about this."

"You're...you're not?" he looked at her wonderingly.

"Well sure, I mean it's a bit of a shocker," she said. "But to be honest, I was kinda...lookin' forward to this happenin' soon."

Blueblood gawked. "You mean you wanted to be a mother?"

"Oh please, I could never picture myself with kids." She admitted as she clutched her stomach. "But now that I have somepony to share it with, I guess parentin' doesn't sound so bad now. Besides, I've been takin' care o' Apple Bloom most her life, so I already have some experience."

"I can't say the same for myself." Blueblood said dejectedly. "I have no idea how to be a father, let alone a good prince."

"Oh hey, don't talk like that." She reached for the jar on the nurse's desk. "Ya want a lollipop?"

"Do I look like a child to you?!" he barked, then paused. "...Yes please."

Nurse Redheart then approached the couple with a chart. "Alrighty Applejack, I ran some tests and so far you and your baby are completely healthy."

"See?" Applejack said to her stallion. "Everything's gonna be alright."

Redheart continued. "Just remember to stay off any caffeine, alcohol, seafood, manual labor, or-"

"What?! No manual labor?!" Applejack suddenly grabbed the nurse by her shoulders. "You mean I can't work on the farm with this kid inside me?!"

"Applejack, for Celestia's sake!" Blueblood tried to calm her.

"It's alright," said Redheart. "It's perfectly natural for a new mother to experience explosive hormones this early on."

"What hormones?!" Applejack barked at her. "How can I just sit around for nine months when there are apples to pick?!"

Blueblood said, "Um, can't your brother lift like a thousand pounds by himself?"

"Ooh, I bet he can." Redheart looked off in a smitten daze.

"Well I don't care what any o' yer fancy medical science says!" objected Applejack. "I got a job to do and I ain't lettin' mah brother take the whole load."

"Applejack, you should know that excessive strain on your body can do harm to the baby," said Redheart. "No matter how far into the pregnancy you are."

"Hey, if it's mah kid, I think he, or she, can handle it." Applejack stormed off. "Bluey, we're leavin'!"

"Um, Nurse?" Blueblood spoke aside. "Is now a good time to prescribe for some aspirin?"

"Blueblood!" called Applejack.

...

"I can't believe that there's somethin' alive in there." Applejack said, as she sat in her living room couch later that day, looking down at her stomach. "It's kinda freaky, yet it feels right. Ya know what I mean?"

Blueblood sat next to her, looking a bit tense. "Uh, I guess so."

"What's the matter, Bluey?" she looked at him. "I know it's a lot to take in, but-"

"It's just that...I've been thinking, Applejack." Blueblood said hesitantly. "Where I come from, premarital pregnancy is sort of looked down upon, especially if it involves royalty. And I know we agreed no more lies, but...I think it would be best if we didn't tell anypony about this."

"What?" she responded. "But we can't just hide a pregnancy from everypony, Blueblood. Eventually it's bound to get noticed."

"I know, I realize that." He said. "But when word gets around, It could have a big impact on my status as prince. Unless of course...we were...betrothed."

Applejack stared at him. "...Are you sayin' what I think yer sayin'?"

"Look Applejack, I know it seems very sudden." Blueblood explained. "But unless we were married, I would be ridiculed for this kind of thing. And besides, your family is already pretty conservative so I'm sure they would feel the same way."

"I hear what ya mean, Bluey," Applejack replied. "Granny Smith might lose her mind. But marriages take a long time to plan. And I just don't think I could hide bein' pregnant until then. I can already feel mahself gettin' plump!"

Blueblood paused to think. He put his hoof over her belly, and could already feel the feint hint of life growing inside. It was enough to make him realize that perhaps his plan to hide being an unwed father was too foolhardy. "Maybe you're right." He sighed. "Maybe I'm just being selfish."

Despite her hangups, Applejack still felt sympathy for her beloved. She still wanted him to be happy, even though she was literally carrying the burden. "Look Blueblood, if it means that much to you, I won't tell my family or friends just yet. It'll be tough, but I don't wanna see you gettin' hounded or banned from the monarchy or whatever. Maybe it would be better if we got married after all."

Blueblood looked at her surprised. "Are you sure?" he asked. "But, I don't even have a ring."

"Oh who cares about any o' that." She touched his shoulder. "It's just dressin' up all nice an' sayin' a few words, ain't it? Besides, I bet we'll be much happier afterwards." Applejack then looked at the floor pondering. "The only thing is...I feel like you're ashamed about this. About knockin' me up so early."

Blueblood took her hoof. "Applejack, if there is one thing I am not, it's ashamed. I am proud to be the father of your child. And I truly believe this will turn out for the best."

"Ya really think so?" she looked up at him.

He smiled back. "Just promise me you won't try to hard to act natural. Don't want to hurt the baby, right?"

Applejack grinned. "Alright, Bluey, I trust ya. But next time, be more careful when we're in the act." She jostled him.

"Don't remind me." He rolled his eyes.

"Ooh boy," Applejack grunted as she clutched her stomach again. "All this pregnancy is gettin' me hungry."

"Why don't you let me make you something?" Blueblood stood up. "I think I learned a thing or two from watching you cook."

"Aww, ain't you a sweetie!" she smiled. "Who says ya won't make a good daddy?"

Blueblood blushed and entered the kitchen, having absolutely no idea what he was doing.

Just then, Apple Bloom came cantering in through the front door. "Applejack! Where've ya been?!" she asked. "You and Blueblood just left this mornin' in an awful hurry! Somethin' about the doctors?"

"Oh, uh," As much as it would kill her, Applejack would have to start hiding the truth. "I had a, um, a stomachache! Too much barbecue from the night before I guess. Heh, keep me away from artichokes!"

"Okay," Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "Well Big Mac says he needs help out in the field, tillin' the seeds."

"Tell that big good I'll be out when I feel like it." She shrugged. "I can't work on an empty stomach, ya know."

"Empty stomach?" Apple Bloom raised a brow. "You just had a stomachache and ya still want more food?"

"Uh hey, I don't question yer bodily functions, Sis." Applejack covered quickly.

"Alright jeez, forget I asked!" replied Apple Bloom. She then heard a clamber of a falling pot from the kitchen. "Please tell me Granny is cookin' in there."

"If ya have to know," said Applejack. "Bluey is busy makin' me a nice breakfast."

"Ah great!" sulked the filly, as she walked away in a huff. "Well tell him to stay away from my Celesti-Os!"

After a long while, and a few near catastrophic fires later, Blueblood at last returned from the kitchen, carrying a tray on his back full of strange concoctions. On a plate was a huge amorphous omelette containing one part egg, and five parts peppers, mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, hot sauce, and more eggs. On the side were once hash browns now mashed into a pile of potato, and Prench toast sticks that now looked like simmered bars of starch. There was also a cup of random berries and ugly chunks of melons and apples, which can hardly be called a salad, and a glass of orange juice mixed with cider that was almost overflowing at the top. The smell of it all was dubious.

"I hope it's alright." Blueblood shrugged, sheepishly. "Like I said, I'm not a gourmet chef, but-"

He was suddenly caught off guard, as Applejack dug into the concoction like a ravenous timber wolf. In less than a minute, she devoured every last morsel on the tray, not caring about making a mess on her face. After the tray was cleared, she sounded off a loud belch and smiled at her stallion.

"Got any more?" she asked.

...

Two months in...

The weather had grown chilly, and it was time once again for Ponyville to prepare for winter. There was already news of an upcoming snow front, and the Apples had to work fast to cover their precious apple trees in tarps to protect them from the freezing downfall. Applejack found herself standing atop a ladder, holding a pair of hedge clippers to trim the trees so they could hold the tarps. Despite the advice she received from Nurse Redheart, she didn't let her secret pregnancy get in the way of getting the work done on the farm. Her womb had already begun to expand.

"Uh, AJ?" called Apple Bloom from below, in her fall scarf. "Are ya sure ya don't want Big Mac to trim the trees? It seems kinda dangerous."

"Eeyup." Big Mac added.

"How many times do I have to tell you two?" scoffed Applejack, trimming the branches. "I can do just as much as you can."

"All we're sayin' is that you've already trimmed more than half the trees," said Apple Bloom. "And ya don't even have any cushioning around your ladder."

"Don't make me come down there!" Applejack shook her clippers in mock threat.

Apple Bloom sighed and walked away with her brother. "Is it me, or does our sister look a little...different lately?" she asked.

Big Mac thought for a moment and shrugged. "Nnope."

"Don't tell her I said this, Big Mac," she spoke hushed. "But I think AJ is startin' to pack on a few pounds. Can't ya tell?"

Big Mac looked back at the middle child and peered closely. He then turned back. "Eeyup!"

"I'm beginnin' to really worry about her." Apple Bloom said.

In the fields, Applejack was nearly complete with reading every tree for winter, snipping the branches and covering them up in tarps. Somehow she felt like she was pulling a blanket over a child each time and even almost said goodnight to them. It seemed that her motherly instincts were starting to awaken. Then, as she was reaching strenuously to cut a high branch, her back hoof suddenly slipped on the top rung of the ladder and she felt her self pulled down by gravity. Applejack yelped as she fell off the ladder and plummeted toward the cold ground. But instead, she felt herself land on the soft, puffiness of a small cloud.

"Jeez, AJ!" said Rainbow Dash, hovering above her. "Are you out of your mind? Why are you out doing Big Mac work?"

"I can handle it, Rainbow." Applejack stepped off the lifesaving cloud. "I'm not gonna let it keep me down."

"Let what?" shrugged Rainbow.

Applejack paused, realizing that she almost let her pregnancy slip. Quickly she recovered. "Uh...the weather! I never let the cold stop me from keepin' my precious trees safe. They're my babies!...Uh, you know, in a metaphorical sense."

Rainbow stared at her friend perplexed. "Are you okay, AJ?" she asked. "You've been acting really weird the last few weeks. And why do you keep holding your stomach?"

Applejack placed her hoof back on the ground, seeing what she was doing. "Look, why dontcha just worry about you, and I'll worry about me?" she snapped crossly.

"Fine!" sneered Rainbow as she flew off. "Sorry for being a little concerned."

Applejack frowned when she left. She clutched her rounding stomach again and looked down shamefully. Perhaps she was over-exerting herself, and maybe this drive to keep working hard wasn't such a good move after all. The anger at her friends and family certainly didn't help. Feeling that the trees were fine as they were, Applejack sighed and walked on back to the house, suddenly feeling hungry again.

...

Four months in...

"You know, I was a bit surprised when you decided to leave Canterlot." Twilight said, as she sat with Blueblood at home drinking hot chocolate. "But I think it was a great idea seeing how you and Applejack are getting on."

"What can I do?" shrugged Blueblood happily, sitting next to her on the couch. "I can't stay away."

"And she's really glowing." Twilight added.

Blueblood nearly spat out his cocoa. "Uh...what?"

"You know, with happiness." She said.

"Oh, right." The prince calmed down, relieved that his secret with Applejack hadn't gotten out. "That's a weird way of putting it."

"Excuse me for being poetic." Twilight rolled her eyes. "Speaking of AJ, is she alright? She's starting to act kind of strange."

Blueblood began to sweat again. "Uh, what do you mean?"

"Well just yesterday," she explained. "Applejack invited me over for hot cider and seemed really excited about it, more than usual. When I got to her house, I found her on the floor crying over a broken glass. And when I asked what was wrong, she suddenly got angry and yelled at me for being one minute late. I apologized, and she just burst out giggling like it was all no big deal. It was the oddest thing ever."

Blueblood knew what Twilight meant. Four months into pregnancy, Applejack had been going through intense mood swings. There was even a point when she became infuriated at him for hogging the blankets in bed, then quickly burst out crying and apologizing for snapping at him. That was the reason, but Blueblood could not Twilight know that.

"If I didn't know any better," said Twilight, suspiciously. "I would say that Applejack is-"

"Drugs!" blurted Blueblood.

"I'm sorry?" queried Twilight.

He tried to piece together his words. "Uh, drugs. Yes, um, she's been having stomach...ulcers lately, so she's been taking vitamins to help. I guess she's just suffering from the side effects."

"Well then she should know better!" Twilight held out her hooves. "She shouldn't be getting hopped up on stomach medicine for weeks."

"Yes, that's what I've been telling her." Blueblood lied, thankful she bought it.

Just then, the front door burst open and Pinkie Pie slogged in, panting like she had been through some great ordeal. Without so much as a hello, the usually springy pony dragged herself in, sat between the two on the couch, and poured herself a mug of hot chocolate. She chugged it down, as if it were an ice cold energy drink.

"Uh, Pinkie?" said Twilight, staring at her. "You wanna wait for that to cool?"

Unphased by the piping hot beverage, Pinkie wagged her head rapidly to shake off the cobwebs. "It's bee completely BONKERS at Sugarcube Corner! Aside from our usual customers, the Cakes and I had to bust out pies, and cookies, and brownies, and ice cream, and donuts, and pastries, and crepes, and everything like crazy! And it was all for one pony!"

"That's a tall order." Twilight replied. "Who's it all for?"

Pinkie pointed at Blueblood like he was a criminal. "His special somepony, that's who! For somepony who knows how to make apple pie, she's been really going on a Cake kick!"

"What?" Twilight raised her brow. "Why would Applejack pig out on sweets with stomach pains? Has she lost her mind?"

Blueblood looked nervously. On top of the mood swings, his impregnated marefriend attained massive cravings, which eventually turned into an insatiable need for everything on the menu at Sugarcube Corner. While her appetite grew, his began to wane.

He had to think of another cover for his secret. "Uh, it's not Applejack who's eating all those sweets. Uh, she's just...sharing it with, uh, Big Macintosh! I don't know what's gotten into him. He's got an insatiable sweet tooth, I swear."

"Well tell that girl to control herself!" pouted Pinkie. "She's really lookin' round around the edges, if you know what I mean. At this point, I never want to see another oven again!" With another swig of cocoa, she instantly returned to her normal uppity self. "Well, I gotta go prepare a seven-layer birthday cake!"

"Whose birthday is it?" asked Twilight.

"I don't know," shrugged Pinkie as she skipped away. "It's somepony's birthday somewhere!"

As soon as she left, Twilight spoke reluctantly. "I don't want to sound meddling, Blueblood, but I'm really concerned about Applejack. There's just something about her that I can't place that doesn't seem right."

"Well, I hate to say it," Blueblood scratched his mane, thinking of a believable excuse. "But I guess she's just acting differently because she's not used to being with me. She did tell me that she wasn't experienced in romance."

"Maybe you're right." Twilight shrugged. "But I still have my suspicions."

After wrapping up his night with Twilight, Blueblood soon headed back to Sweet Apple Acres to tend to the mother of his child. He entered their shared bedroom to find Applejack surrounded by candy wrappers on the bed, and still scarfing down a slice of carrot cake. Her belly still grew ever bulbous.

"Hey there," she said with a mouthful. "Ya bring back Twilight's scones?"

"Uh, yeah, here you go." Blueblood reluctantly gave her a bag of scones he had saved from Twilight's. As he watched his beloved devour the defenseless pastries, he sat next to her and spoke. "Applejack, I've been thinking...are you sure you're fine with keeping this secret?"

Applejack responded with a belch and a reply. "What, about the baby?" she said casually. "I thought we already covered this."

"It's just that I'm beginning to see what you mean, how keeping up this charade is getting hard." He said. "How many excuses can we make for your new...habits."

She wiped the chocolate from her face. "Don't chicken out on me now, Bluey." She slid up next to him. "I told ya I'm fine with this."

"But your friends are starting to worry about you." He frowned. "And frankly, so am I."

"I've been worried about before," she dismissed. "But it takes more than an unborn tyke to keep me down. Heck, I bet he, or she, will be born already tough."

"Well if it's your child, that wouldn't surprise me." He remarked. "But still, unless everypony knows the truth, they'll think something is really wrong with you."

Applejack kept one hoof on his shoulder, and the other on her baby. "Bluey, I don't want ya to get hazed. Yer right, ponies in Canterlot would go nuts if they found out a prince had a kid with a pony like me. I mean, look at me. I'm no prize. Especially not with all this extra weight."

"What?" Blueblood took her hoof. "Applejack, that's not what I mean. You're still ever so beautiful in my eyes, and I wouldn't choose to share this with any other pony."

"I know ya mean that, sugarcube." She touched his cheek. "But not everypony might think so." She gave a heavy sigh and shifted on the bed, clearing off her mess. "Ugh, I'm startin' to get the scone sweats. I think I'll hit the hay early." With a kiss on the lips, Applejack snuggled under the blanket. "G'night, Bluey."

Blueblood continued to sit there next to her, pondering. Suddenly this whole situation was starting to turn ugly. He had already hurt his dear Applejack with a lie before. He crawled under the covers, hoping that it wouldn't happen again.

...

Six months in...

With the slow crawl of time passing, Blueblood waited to see if his marefriend's condition would improve; sadly, it did not. Applejack continued to stuff her face, with enough sweets and flowers to feed the Royal Guard, and she grew more heavy on her hooves. She also started lashing out more at her friends during her mood swings, even though they tried sincerely to approach her and offer help. But instead, Applejack grew more distant from everypony, and she started to shelter herself in her home, where she ate even more.

Ultimately, Blueblood told himself that enough was enough. His reputation as prince was no longer an issue. The truth had to come out, whether he would be known as an unwed father or not. But first, he needed a bit of sagely advice. Blueblood made a quick trip over to Canterlot to consult the last pony would expect to admit his situation to.

"Blueblood," said Celestia, sitting in her private lounge reading. "I wasn't expecting you to pay a visit."

Blueblood stepped in, looking troubled. "I'm sorry I can't stay long, Auntie Celestia." He said. "But, there's something I need to tell you. It's about me and Applejack."

"Ah yes," she approached him. "How is she doing, now that she's with child?"

Blueblood bugged his eyes. "You...you know?! But..."

"Really, Blueblood," the alicorn smirked. "I'm the ruler of Equestria. I can kind of sense these things."

"Well, you'r the only other one who knows so far." He sighed.

"Luna knows too."

"Oh, perfect!" Blueblood slapped his face.

"But I swear that's it." Celestia continued. "I assume Applejack's friends are unaware?"

"We've been trying to keep it secret." Blueblood admitted. "We were both afraid that I might be ousted as prince, impregnating a mare before marriage. I was brought up to believe that that was a big taboo."

"Keeping that kind of secret for this long is not good for the baby." Celestia advised. "It's causing neglect, both to Applejack and her child."

"I know, I know," he looked down shamefully. "I've been regretting trying to keep this lie up. Applejack says she can handle it, but it's just gotten worse. She's endangering the baby, she's destroying her health, and she shuts out her friends even though they want to help. And it's all because of my selfish reasons. I thought I could escape being a prince, but I haven't let go of some priorities. And now it's hurting my own child."

Celestia lent him a comforting hoof. "It's not too late to make it right, Blueblood." She said calmly. "Married or not, a baby is a blessing. In this day and age, I'd be surprised if your reputation was destroyed because of it. You and Applejack both should take this in stride, shout it out to everypony if you want. And I'll support you all the way."

"I still say it's too early!" shouted Luna from the other room.

"Luna, not helping!" Celestia called back.

The words of his aunt somehow brought Blueblood's mind at ease. He smiled and looked at her with confidence. "You're right, Auntie. I should've realized that a long time ago. You always know what to say."

"A princess has to know these things." She winked.

With a hug, Blueblood raced out of the castle, relieved that telling the truth will turn out for the better.

Luna approached her sister. "Should we tell him that he was also born out of wedlock?" she discerned.

"Luna, take your vitamins." Celestia sulked.

Back in Ponyville at night, Blueblood cantered back to the farmhouse, excited to tell his marefriend of Celestia's blessing. But when he entered the bedroom, his beloved was not as he left her. Applejack was no longer eating, but instead she was curled up on the foot end of the bed sobbing quietly and hugging her bloated stomach. This was no mood swing. Blueblood had seen her sad before, and see very well that this was the real thing. Of course, he knew that Applejack was suppressing this sadness, and knew he had to put an end to her suffering.

Calmly, Blueblood walked up to his darling and knelt by her side. He took her hooves and placed them by her sides, and gently lowered his head until he was nuzzling her stomach. He could feel the little life pulsing inside, a miniature heartbeat still showing signs of health. Kissing the occupied stomach, he looked up at his beloved, her jade green eyes moistened by tears. He reached up and wiped a tear away as he smiled.

"Everything's gonna be alright." He said simply. "Let's have this baby."

Producing more tears, Applejack wrapped her hooves around his shoulders and hugged him tightly, kissing his face over and over. She needed no longer to hide. She was ready to be a mother.

...

The next day, Applejack strolled through Ponyville happily showing off her belly bump. Since Blueblood told her that they could tell the truth about the pregnancy, she vowed to take better care of herself, for the baby's sake. And what's more, she would stop shutting herself out from the very ponies who only showed concern.

Applejack arrived at Friendship Castle, where she found her five friends gathered around the central table playing cards. They stared at her as she entered.

"Girls, there's somethin' ya oughta know." She gathered her pride as she spoke. "I'm sorry I've been a right mess these past few months. But there's a reason for that." She smiled big, and stood up on her back hooves, expressing her bump. "My friends, yer looking at a new mother!" With her hooves on her hips, Applejack waited for a reaction in a long silence.

"Well duh!" blurted Rainbow. "We already figured that out like months ago!"

Applejack stared with shrunken pupils. "...What?"

"Well it was quite obvious, darling," scoffed Rarity. "It was the perfect explanation for all your moodiness and eating habits."

"Um, that, and you're belly was kind of a giveaway." Fluttershy shrugged.

"We figured that you were trying to hide it, to protect Blueblood's status as prince." Twilight explained. "We tried to help you understand that it was okay, but you were just behaving too erratic."

"And we actually thought that you knew that we knew!" Rainbow threw her hooves out.

Applejack looked dumbfounded. A sudden wave of embarrassment crossed her face, and she hid it with her hat. "Ah jeez." She muttered. "I must look like a complete foal. I shoulda just told you guys a long time ago." She turned back to the door. "I would understand if ya wouldn't want to talk to me, after rejectin' you n' all. Sorry I said anything."

"Where do you think you're going?!" glowered Pinkie, as she stood on the table. "You finally come to terms with having a baby, and you won't even let us throw a shower?!"

Applejack spun around. "A what?"

With a firing of her party cannon, Pinkie conjured an explosion of party decorations which spread out all over the crystal walls. A banner stretched across the ceiling reading "Congratulations, Mommy!". A pile of presents sat in wait, including baby clothes, supplies and a crib. And even a snack table appeared complete with blue and pink desserts.

"How else are supposed to react, when our friend is going to be a mother?" smiled Twilight.

A small tear of joy found its way to Applejack's eye. She had thought that her friends would resent her for her impulsive behavior. But her faith in them, and their faith in her, would never be lost.

She rushed up and joined her pals in a group hug. "I can't thank you gals enough." Applejack beamed. "I must look like a complete wreck right now!"

"Nonsense, dear!" said Rarity pleasantly. "You're absolutely radiant with motherly pride!"

"Oh, you must be so proud!" cooed Fluttershy, listening to her friend's stomach. "Your baby is going to be just adorable!"

"Don't be afraid to come by me for babysitting!" boasted Rainbow. "I bet your kid could learn a thing or two from its Auntie Dashie!"

"Hey!" exclaimed Pinkie. "Don't forget your cake!" She exhibited a large, stacked vanilla cake, complete with pink frosting, and an incing drawing of Blueblood and Applejack with their new foal.

Applejack smiled dearly at the thoughtful dessert, but then realized something. "Thanks y'all, but," she said sheepishly. "I don't think more cake is the best idea for me."

"Don't worry," said Twilight, taking a slice. "It's low fat."

"Well hot dang!" smiled Applejack as she dug her muzzle in to devour the sweet morsel. But considering her child's health, she quickly paced herself, only taking a small slice. She rubbed her belly to make sure the little life was comfortable. "It's okay, sugarcube," she said to it. "I'll look after ya."

Author's Note

Psst! By the way, if you're interested in a little more action and adventure, check out my newest story, The Cloudsdale Underground!:

http://www.fimfiction.net/story/261959/the-cloudsdale-underground

A Tale of Blue, Red, And Gold

Chapter 8: A Tale of Blue, Red, And Gold

Nine Months In...

The time was finally upon them. Applejack and Blueblood were close to becoming new parents as the former was now extremely far into her pregnancy. Despite Blueblood's past fears of being hazed for a premarital fatherhood, everypony around the happy couple couldn't wait to see the birth of their child. But first, there was the wedding to tend to.

Even though they took their pregnancy in stride, Applejack and Blueblood decided to carry on with their plans for marriage. They were positive that their love was now ready to blossom into a full family, and plans were immediately made to schedule a wedding as soon as possible. However, complications have led the date of the wedding to be pushed ahead close to Applejack's due date. As a consequence, she now found herself squeezing into her bridal dress in a private dressing room at Canterlot Castle.

"Keep still dear," said Rarity, assisting with the dress. "I just need you to hold in your stomach."

"I am holdin' it in!" protested Applejack as she stood at a mirror. Her enormous belly was getting in the way of fitting her elegant white gown. "I though you were gonna let out the waist."

"I did!" replied Rarity. She tried vigorously to slip the dress over. "Oh, I'll just have to make a few more modifications."

"Um, not to state the obvious, Applejack," said Fluttershy, sitting nearby. "But are you sure it's wise not to wait until after you've had the baby, to have the wedding?"

"Well I would've had it sooner if a whole bunch of other ponies hadn't booked their weddings ahead o' time." Applejack replied with a grunt. "Ya think gettin' married to a prince would get me ahead o' the game."

"Never you mind, Applejack." Rarity said. "This wedding will go off without a hitch, and you'll look marvelous nevertheless!"

"I hope yer right." Applejack sighed and clutched her stomach. "I just need this kid to wait a little longer."

Meanwhile, over in a far separate dressing room, the groom was preparing for the big moment as well. Blueblood stood at a mirror fastening a red and white regal uniform complete with gold trimmings. As expected, he was feeling nervous. He had long imagined marrying the mare of his dream mare, but now that it had become a reality had left him a bit unprepared to conceptualize. And the fact that his bride-to-be was just about ready to give birth put even more pressure on the situation. Blueblood loosened the bowtie around his neck.

"I just don't know, Big Macintosh." He said to his future brother-in-law. "Maybe getting married at this time was a mistake. Do you think Applejack feels the same way?"

"Eeyup." Big Mac replied as he helped straighten the uniform.

"So I guess she's just as nervous as I am." He sighed. "But I can't just call the whole thing off now, can I?"

"Nope."

"No, I thought not. I suppose it was a rather impulsive decision." Blueblood thought reflectively. "The idea of marrying that sweet angel just seemed to good to let go. Who can argue with that?"

Big Mac sulked, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "Eeyup."

"Sorry, I guess I shouldn't be talking about your sister in front of you like that." Blueblood smiled sheepishly. "It must be a bit of a shock to see her as a new mother."

Big Mac cringed, still struggling to accept that fact. "Nope."

"Anyway, thanks again for agreeing to be my best man." Blueblood said. "And here I though you found me to be some stuck-up city pony who invaded your home."

"Nope." Big Mac forced a smile even though he originally felt that way.

Blueblood breathed a sigh to build up his courage. "Well, I suppose it's almost time. I better go out there." He prepared to leave the dressing room to stand at his position by the altar.

"Hey Blueblood," said Big Mac suddenly. The older brother finally cracked a genuine smile at him. "Take good care o' her."

Blueblood smiled back. "I promise."

...

The moment of truth had finally come. A massive crowd of well-wishers from both Canterlot and Ponyville had gathered in the royal chapel of the castle, which was now bedecked with banners, ribbons and balloons. The colors of the wedding featured blue and white for the groom, and red and orange for the bride. At the altar, the other five Elements of Harmony stood as bridesmaids; Rarity had been appointed as maid of honor by Applejack as forgiveness for the past kissing fiasco. Blueblood stood by Big Mac and a few other elite stallions of Canterlot, making the best man feel rather out of place. The groom loosened his tie more and more, while sweating anxiously. He was expecting anything and everything to wrong, even the slightest mistake.

And then she arrived. As Octavia's orchestra started up the march, the crowd rose and looked toward the opening doors and the Cutie Mark Crusaders pranced in spreading flowers on the aisle. Everypony gasped as the bride entered. Applejack walked slowly yet proudly toward the altar with a brimming smile and a hint of blush on her face. Her billowing white gown swayed as she moved and her uncovered veil brought a shine to her golden mane which was decorated with flowers. Her appearance was so striking, hardly anypony paid attention to her noticeable bump.

As Blueblood watched his beloved approaching, staring at him with those glimmering green eyes, the anxiety suddenly began to melt away. He was looking at the mare who would be his wife and mother his child, and there seemed no reason to worry. Now all he had to do was remember the vows he had prepared.

The march ended and Applejack stepped up to the altar, taking Blueblood's hoof in hers. As the crowd sat back down, Celestia approached the new couple and began her address.

"Dearly beloved," she began. "We are gathered here today to witness the union of these two-"

"YOOOOOOOOWCH!" Applejack suddenly cried out and bent over. A louder gasp arose from everypony as she gritted her teeth and grabbed her enlarged stomach in pain.

"Applejack!" frowned Blueblood. "Are you alright, dear?"

"Oh no," said Twilight, coming to the bride's aid. "I think she's going into labor!"

"I told you!" Pinkie Pie stuck her hoof at Rainbow Dash.

"Oh my goodness!" came Fluttershy. "We have to get you to a bed right away, Applejack."

"Gah! No! I'm fine!" Applejack struggled to stand up, despite her buckling knees. "I ain't lettin' anything stop me from gettin' married already. Oof! Let's just get this over with!"

"Don't be crazy, Applejack!" urged Blueblood. "It doesn't matter if we put off the wedding, if our baby is coming!"

"There's an infirmary in the castle." Celestia said. "Applejack, I can help you there so we can deliver the baby."

"I said I'm fine! I just need to- Oh! Gyah!" Applejack felt her contractions getting worse and knelt down again.

"Please, AJ," insisted Twilight. "For the sake of your child, listen to us!"

Applejack began to breathe forcefully as she stood back up. "Alright, alright." She sighed. "But Princess, I need ya to keep giving the speech. No matter what happens, don't stop until we're married."

"Um, what?" Celestia was taken aback.

"OUCH!" Applejack held her stomach with both hooves. "Forgive me, Princess Celestia, but please for the love of Equestria don't stop givin' the gosh darn speech! Oooooooooh!"

Celestia paused for a moment, surprised at her tenacity. "Uh, alright. If you wish." She said hesitantly.

"Hang on, AJ!" said Rainbow as she helped Blueblood lift her up. "I can't wait any longer to be an aunt!"

"Um, shouldn't we remove her dress first?" called Rarity. "Just as a precaution? Hello?"

In a hurried frenzy, Blueblood, Celestia, the bridesmaids and groomsmen all followed along to help Applejack to the spacious comfort of the infirmary. Along the way, Applejack grew feverishly hot all over, and her cramps grew more and more frequent and intense. And all the while, Celestia continued with the wedding service.

"Uh, anyway, dearly beloved," she said while hurrying. "We are gathered here today to witness the union of Applejack and the honorable Prince Blueblood of Canterlot in holy matrimony!"

"Over here!" Twilight called as the group rushed into the infirmary. It was a well-furbished room with a few comfortable beds and plenty of stocked medical supplies. But it was still strangely empty. "Wait, shouldn't there be a nurse here?"

"You called?!" Luna suddenly appeared dressed in a full nurse's uniform.

"Auntie Luna?" gawked Blueblood. "Do you know anything about delivering a baby?"

"I've seen a few births in my time, nephew!" she boasted. "I think I have a pretty good idea of what I am doing!"

Quickly, but carefully, Applejack's friends carried her onto one of the beds; Rarity took the liberty of removing the wedding gown she worked so hard on, before things got messy. Applejack squirmed and cringed in agony as sweat poured down her face. But like any faithful stallion, Blueblood stood at her side clutching her hoof.

"It'll be alright, Applejack," he said calmly. "Just breathe deeply."

Applejack did as he said, trying her best to lengthen her breaths and adapt herself to the pain.

"Fear not, young Applejack!" said Luna proudly, as she examined between her legs. "We shall have your precious child brought into this world yet! Hmm, perhaps I should wash my hooves first."

"Applejack, are you sure you want me to continue?" asked Celestia.

"Rrrrgh! Keep goin'!" she uttered between breaths.

"Right." Celestia resumed. "Love is the bond that unites ponies of all creeds and nations, throughout the-"

"Aha, the child draws near." Luna announced from below. "Give us a push, proud mother."

Applejack strained with all her might to urge the infant out of her body. After a few moments, she eased off and went back to breathing. Blueblood grabbed a sponge and wiped the sweat from his bride's forehead.

"You're doing great, my sweet." He assured her. "You're doing just- Ouch!" He also began to feel pain from having his hoof squeezed harder than a lemon. "Um, Applejack, honey? Maybe you could ease up on my hoof a little?"

"You try doin' this, ya jerk!" Applejack burst at him.

"Right, never mind." Blueblood said sheepishly.

"Another push, my fair pony friend!" said Luna.

Applejack added more force to her body, her back hooves trembling as she lay in agony. Then she dropped her back down again and caught her breath. Tears began to form in her eyes. "Agh! I don't...I don't think I can do it!"

Blueblood turned her face toward his. "Applejack, listen to me." He said sincerely. "You are the strongest mare I know, and I just know you were meant for this."

"You...you really mean that, Bluey?" she looked at him, while panting.

"Of course." He replied. "To be honest, I'm not exactly the perfect stallion. And I never would've thought two different ponies like us could be together before. But you somehow still care for me. I think that's what I love most about you, Applejack. You don't care about the odds and you persevere through anything. If you can manage to love a royal buffoon like me, than I know you can handle being a mother. Because you have more strength than anypony I know."

Applejack managed to smile despite her pain. "Blueblood, I don't have to be strong to love you. I mean, we may be different in a lot o' ways, but anypony could look past that to see who ya really are. It never mattered to me that you were a prince, or if yer a little awkward sometimes. I know now that- Ooh!"

"Try not to move much!" said Luna.

"I know now that you're somepony who really cares for the ones ya love. You've only tried to protect and provide for me, and that's somethin' every mare would wish for." Applejack touched his cheek. "Bluey, I love you for who ya really are inside, no matter what you or anypony else might think. And I feel lucky to have you, and your baby."

"Well, that sounded like wedding vows to me." Celestia grinned. "Do you Blueblood take Applejack, in sickness and in health, to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do." Blueblood smiled proudly.

"And do you Applejack take Blueblood to-"

"Grrrgh! Darn tootin'!"

Celestia hurried up with her conclusion. "Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride! Phew!"

Applejack and Blueblood stared into each other's eyes and leaned together for their betrothal kiss. Immediately after, Applejack went back to screaming in agony while clinging onto the side of the bed. Blueblood's hoof also went back to having the life wrung out of it.

"Ah! Lansanks, this kid is killin' me!" she grunted.

"It is almost hear, Applejack!" said Luna. "Just one final push and a new soul will be born!"

"You're going to have to learn to not shout in these kinds of situations, Luna." Celestia discerned.

"Push, Applejack!" said Blueblood. "You can do it!"

"Alas, I see its head!" said Luna.

"GYAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Applejack screamed at the top of her lungs as the final surge of pain shot through her body.

After a lengthy pause, Luna's voice finally came with a hint of shock. "Oh my goodness..."

Blueblood looked over with worry. "What? What is it?!"

With another pause, Luna beamed, as the sound of tiny wailing was suddenly heard. "Huzzah! It is a filly!"

"Luna, did you have to add the suspense?" glared Celestia.

"Who is the medical professional around here, sister?" replied Luna.

"Not you!" said Celestia.

"A filly?" Blueblood smiled excitedly. "Can I see her?"

Delicately, Luna cradled the newborn foal in a towel and brought her over to her parents. Blueblood stared down at his new daughter with awe as she cried her first breaths. Her fur was a vibrant yellow and her mane was bright red, and on her forehead featured a tiny stub of a horn. The filly squirmed and flailed in her bundle, recovering from the trauma of her birth. Blueblood's eyes became moist. The reality that he was holding his own flesh and blood in his hooves struck something new in him. He was looking at the dream of fatherhood.

"She's...she's adorable." He said with a quivering smile.

"Huh? What happened?" Applejack finally returned to reality after nearly passing out from exhaustion. Her dizzy eyes slowly opened as sweat drizzled down her face. "Is it over?" she asked, hazily.

Carefully, Blueblood placed their child in her hold and joined his beloved closer to the bed. "I knew you could do it, darling."

Applejack gasped, looking down at her new filly in her hooves. "Oh my..." her voice trailed off as she tried to form words. "She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." The infant continued to cry and wriggle. "Hey now, it's alright, sugarcube," said Applejack, trying to keep back her tears while rocking her baby slowly. "Mama's gotcha."

"Applejack, she's so precious." Twilight smiled as she joined. "And she's even a unicorn."

"Well, I guess that explains how much it hurt." Applejack joked nevertheless.

"Hey you know what?" said Blueblood. "She looks a lot like your sister!"

"Say what now?!" came Apple Bloom as she approached the bed.

"Well how do ya like that!" grinned Applejack, stroking her filly's fragile head as she began to calm down. The infant remarkably resembled her sister. "She takes after her auntie."

"Auntie?" smiled Apple Bloom. "I like the sound of that! I guess you'll have to get used to be bein' called uncle, Big Mac!" She looked to her brother to see his face welling up. "Aw, it's okay, big bro, you can cry as much as ya want."

Big Mac sniffed. "Nope."

"Sweet smilin' sassafras!" cheered Granny Smith. "I knew I'd live to be a great great grandmother!"

"Uh, actually Granny," said Apple Bloom. "Yer just a great grandmother."

"Listen, I already know how great a grandmother I am!" the old mare huffed.

"You two must be extremely proud." Celestia said to the happy parents. "It's not often a pony becomes a princess and a mother in the same day."

"Princess?" repeated Applejack. "Me?"

"Well of course, Applejack." Celestia continued. "Now that you are married to Blueblood, that makes you part of the royal family. As well as your new child."

"Yikes." Applejack replied in disbelief. "I never thought I'd be a royal anything. Does that mean I'd have to live at the castle, and help rule Equestria or somethin'?" she asked, a bit concerned.

"That is completely up to you." Celestia assured her.

Applejack's baby cooed as she finally relaxed and nuzzled her mother's breast. "Aw, little tyke." Applejack kissed her. "I think bein' a mother is enough for me to take. I don't honestly care if I'm royalty now or not. I've got everything I could possibly need right here."

"I couldn't agree more." Blueblood put his hoof around her. "And wherever you are, I'll stay right by your side."

"I know you will, Bluey." Applejack nuzzled him.

"Applejack, Blueblood, I completely understand." Celestia grinned. "So, what shall you name her?"

Blueblood pondered. "Well, obviously it should have something to do with apples."

"But it should also sound fancy and royal." Applejack winked at her husband.

"Hmm," said Blueblood. "Golden..."

"Gala!" finished Applejack.

"Golden Gala!" the both said.

As if in response, the baby yawned and nestled happily in Applejack's chest. Golden Gala was already becoming well adjusted to hearing her mother and father's voices.

Five Years In...

Applejack tended to her fields once again, wheeling in another cart full of fresh harvest. Exhausted from the heat, she was glad that the word was almost done as she smelled the sweet scent of dinner from inside the house. Over the years, her faithful husband had gotten better adept at cooking, even to the point where she didn't have to take care of meals half the time. His sweet concoctions made the extra long work days on the farm well worth it. But as Applejack unloaded the apples in the barn, she noticed something missing. Her new little helper had disappeared suddenly.

"Gala?" she called inside the barn. "Gala, where'd ya go?!" Applejack hoped that her daughter had not gotten lost somewhere on the farm. She had recently started showing her how to tend to the trees and help out with planting and harvesting, to keep with the family tradition. But young Golden Gala had a tendency to stray off into her own little world. "Gala?" Applejack finally found her behind a wall of hay bails.

"Mama, look!"called the little filly, who bore a striking resemblance to Apple Bloom, save for the horn on her head. "I'm a princess! Just like in Canterlot!" Golden Gala had managed to escape out of her mother's attention to build a miniature throne out of hay bails, with apples laid about made to look like dolls of royal subjects.

"Ah jeez, sugarcube," Applejack pinched her brow. "I told ya not to mess around with the harvest."

Golden Gala frowned. "I'm sorry, Mama." She said. "I was just pretending to be royalty, just like Daddy."

Applejack couldn't help but smile as she sat next to her precious daughter. "Aw, but you don't need to pretend, Goldy. You're mah little princess, after all."

"Really?" she looked up with her big young eyes.

"Ya might even be livin' in Canterlot after all, one day." Applejack stroked her red mane.

Golden Gala thought for a moment. "Nah, I think I'd rather be here with you and Daddy." She hugged her mother's leg.

"There's my girls!" Blueblood entered the barn. "Dinner's ready, if anypony's hungry."

"Daddy," said Golden Gala. "Do ya think I can be the princess of our farm?"

Blueblood chuckled. "I say you already are, sweetie." He kissed her on the head. "Now why don't you go inside before dinner gets cold? I mean, if you please, Princess Gala."

"Okay!" Golden Gala trotted off, hungry for her father's delicious cooking.

"You know, somethin'," said Applejack as the filly cantered off. She nuzzled her husband's neck. "I probably told ya this a thousand times already, but I'm glad ya came to this town, Bluey."

"Ah, I think you would've been fine without me." He jested, as he wrapped his hoof around her. "But I think we did right by having her. So I really am glad too."

"So ya still haven't thought about goin' back to Canterlot at all?" she asked.

Blueblood almost laughed at the thought. "I guess I could've had anything I wanted back in Canterlot." He said. "But the only two things I want are right here."

"Aw, aint' you a smoothie," Applejack rolled her eyes, but kissed him on the cheek. "Just like when we first met."

Blueblood bowed to her in a regal gesture. "Your royal dinner, my princess?"

"Why that sounds lovely, my prince." Applejack said in a similar manner. It only seemed fitting for a princess of her own home.

The End

Author's Note

:raritycry: These stories always get to me! *blows nose* Thank you all for reading, liking, following, and commenting on this story of mine, and for waiting almost eight long months with it. Applejack and Blueblood may be living happily ever after, but ol' Strat has still got plenty of stories comin' up! :yay: If you want a change of pace, check out my current action story, The Cloudsdale Underground. :rainbowdetermined2:

And remember, if you have any story requests, please feel free to lend me an idea, because I will spin that thread into fictional gold! Thanks again for reading, I'll see ya next time, sugarcube! :ajsmug: