Jackson Bertram Apple, better known as ‘Applejack’, always knew his own mind; he prided himself on that fact. It could be attributed to the reasoning that he was a pony who lived rather simply. Wake up, eat, buck apples, sell said apples, spend time with friends, eat, other farm chores, sleep; rinse, wash, repeat.

Ponies in the community often looked to Applejack as a leader among the community and a stallion everypony could count on to be there when needed, even going so far as to regale him with the ‘Prized Pony of Ponyville’. Indeed, Applejack was used to taking charge and giving direction to those around him; after all, it was practically expected of him.

He did have an older brother, of course, known as Big Macintosh, so why was Applejack the one constantly under pressure to lead others? Simply put, Applejack’s outgoing, confidence-exuding nature drew attention to him more so than to his brother’s more subdued, passive demeanor. He as well had a younger brother, Applebuck, who was much too young for the sort of responsibilities Applejack was faced with from day-to-day. You might ask, why all this pressure in the first place? The Apple family was one of the founding families of Ponyville, so many ponies looked to its members as natural figureheads among the community.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anypony with any level of basic knowledge in equine psychology that Applejack often felt the need to immerse in an environment where he wasn’t constantly expected to take charge or have an answer for everything, and his circle of friends provided the perfect example of that.

There was Twilight Sparkle, his newest friend, the bookish unicorn and personal student of Princess Celestia. She was a natural problem solver, and an impressive magical talent. Her organizational and sometimes authoritative nature allowed an alleviation and division of the pressures that would often be forced upon Applejack. And then there was his best friend, Rainbow Blitz, the reckless, restless, and – to many – coolest Pegasus stallion on Ponyville’s weather patrol. In Blitz’s company, Applejack could forget his troubles in favor of the friendly rivalry and competition the two friends shared. And then there was Rarity, the elegant and generous unicorn whom Applejack was constantly in awe of how he could remain friends with; one word he might’ve used to describe her would be ‘prissy’- though he would never let on to that, being the gentlecolt that he was. Rarity’s oft-overdramatic nature would constantly shift the attentions of anypony from their own problems to her’s, which Applejack found refreshing. And who could forget the boundless ball of energy and sugar that was Pinkie Pie? Indeed, Pinkie’s constant randomness and celebrations were a great outlet by which Applejack could tune out his stresses and just go with the flow. Applejack was quite glad he could have such wonderful friends to just treat him like any other pony and that he could be himself around, he was determined that if any of his friends should require that same sort of recourse that he would try his darnedest to provide it; he would definitely do, indeed, anything for his friends.

But there was one particular friend whom he would do even more than anything for. She was special, just the thought or sight of her, even the sound of her name in his mind set Applejack’s heart racing. Fluttershy. Everything about her was perfection to the apple-bucking stallion; her soft yellow coat, her flowing pink mane, the manner by which her voice carried through the air – as if by a delicate and gentle breeze – her graceful and deliberate movements, the way in which she carried herself was simply mesmerizing to him. Now Applejack wasn’t clueless, he had a damned good idea of what these feelings were; he knew he was in love. He had been in love with Fluttershy from the first moment he had laid eyes on her, and could remember perfectly the details of their first meeting, which happened roughly 12 years ago. In fact, it went a little something like this.

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Another tough day of work on the farm, it seemed. Pappy, that is, young Applejack’s father, was always throwing something new at Applejack to learn about the maintenance and workings on the farm. Applejack was still by regular definition a very young colt, about 8 years old, 5 years junior to his brother, Macintosh, whom he was making his way back toward the farmhouse with as the sun set over the orchard.

The young orange colt was about to step over the threshold of the door behind his sibling, when suddenly his acute sense of hearing picked up a faint, yet stirring sound. The sound drifting toward him seemed to be a faint sobbing, most likely a young filly about his age. Applejack stepped away from the house and began to make his way toward the sparse sound.

Following the trail of the sound, he was led into a small clearing in between a gaggle of apple trees, and beheld one of the most humbling sights he had ever beheld in his short life.

A small, delicate, butter-yellow Pegasus filly lay on the grass, head hung in sadness, tears freely falling from under her large, bewitching eyes.

Applejack had always been taught by his Pappy to act a proper gentlecolt, and he felt an immediate compassion and confusion at would could possibly cause this vision of loveliness before him such sorrow.

Unfortunately, Jackson’s mind was not quite keeping pace with his heart, which was currently fuelling his speech.

“Ummmm, ah—er… are y’all an angel?” He managed to stutter out, rather dumbly at that.

The little filly was now made aware of the extra presence in the clearing, and shrunk back even further into herself, a muffled squeak of surprise escaping her as she tried to hide behind her mane. Tears were still freely flowing from her eyes which were now directed up at the strange new colt.

Applejack found this to be completely adorable, and on top of his heart melting was now even more determined to make a good first impression on this filly. “S’alright ,Miss. Y’all don’t need to be afraid’er nothin’. Ah ain’t gonna hurt ya.” At this, the filly seemed to ease up very, microscopically slightly, stilly apprehensive toward this stranger. “What’s yer name?” The farm-colt asked.

“Oh, I’m Fl-f-fluttershy.” She spoke almost imperceptibly, the sounds barely seeming to leave her mouth.

“Fluttershy, huh? Well, Miss Fluttershy, mind if I ask why y’all’re here all by yerself? Are y’all lost? Ah’m Applejack, by th’ way.” Applejack inquired, real concern dripping from his voice.

Upon hearing the genuine concern this strange colt held for her plight, Fluttershy found herself easing up even more visibly, her tone still remained soft as the orange colt made his way toward her and she tried to explain herself. “W-well, I-I was up in the clouds with my friends, un-until I fell off a cloud. I landed in the forest and met some new animal friends, so I played with them for a while. But I lost track of time and I’m n-not a st-strong enough flier to get back home myself, so I’m stranded here with-without my friends or family.” She began sobbing openly once again, her delicate frame shaking significantly with each whimper and sniffle. A comforting orange hoof reached out to touch her shoulder.

“It’s alright Miss Fluttershy, yer not totally alone, and Ah’m sure your parents’re out lookin’ fer ya.” At this, Applejack began to settle into a seated position beside Fluttershy as he continued to speak. “Tell you what, Ah’ll keep ya company until somepony finds ya, as long as it takes. Ah’ll be yer friend, okay?”

“I-o-okay. Th-thank you, Jackie.” She nuzzled her head into the neck of the, admittedly rather handsome, colt who now lay beside her, reveling in the comfort he offered. Applejack’s cheeks, in turn, lit up red at the sudden affectionate actions of this filly, coupled with the pet/nickname she had just given him.

They stayed that way for a couple hours, during which Macintosh had come to bring dinner to his brother, which Applejack would coax Fluttershy into sharing with him before she fell asleep at his side. The sun was now completely absent from the sky and the moon was nearing its place atop the stars when a larger-built Pegasus stallion flew into view over the treetops, calling out one singular name.

“Selina! Selina!” The mysterious Pegasus caught side of the two young ponies in the clearing, instantly entering into a protective state of mind at the thought some strange pony were doing something to his daughter.

Landing in the clearing, he approached Applejack and the other, sleeping form warily. “Mind telling me what you’re doing here with my baby girl, kid?” He questioned Applejack apprehensively.

“Mah name’s Applejack, sir. And I was simply keeping your daughter company until somepony came for her, sir.” The colt stated back, respectfully.

The filly began to stir. “Mmmmmhhhmm. Wh- Daddy?” She squeaked out tiredly.

“That’s right, Angel. Now it’s time to go home sweetie, climb on.” He said softly to his daughter as she began to climb up onto the back of his neck. “Thanks for watchin’ her, kid. But we need to be going now.” He looked back to his filly, “say goodbye, Selina.”

“Okay. Bye-bye, Jackie.” She said groggily. With this, the stallion turned around and began to fly to fly back the way he came.

“Goodbye, Angel.” Applejack whispered to the night sky.

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It turned out that night was not the last time they would see each other, however. Years later, Fluttershy would move into a cottage in the Ponyville area, just down the road from Sweet Apple Acres, as a matter of fact.

As expected, Applejack was always finding a new excuse to go down to Fluttershy’s, whether it was to help her round up her animal friends she cared for, or building her new pens and feeders for these animals. Applejack would sacrifice his own spare time just to be close to her as often as he could. He truthfully would do anything, for this mare, who had stolen his heart completely.

Author's Note

Welp, thanks for droppin' in to check out my first attempt at a fic on here everybody! Hope you'll give this a chance with a follow as there's more yet to come!

-- WetWilly

P.S. chapter title is indeed taken from a song by The Who (see here). Not so much because the song is of similar subject matter, but because the mood, to me at least, is quite similarly evoked.