Vows Among the Butterflies and Apple Blossoms

Chapters

Applejack's Vow
Fluttershy's Vow
Forever and Always

Applejack's Vow

Applejack always knew she'd have a wedding in the spring. While her other friends would quietly dream about their wedding days, or if they would have wedding days, Applejack knew her day would be in the spring, among the pink and white apple blossoms that rained down from her trees. That cool, westerly wind that played with the edges of her mane with a playfulness of a child. Applejack thought it silly to lean into the wind, but as she opened her eyes, she saw the mare standing across from her was taking the moment to enjoy it just as much as she had. The cool wind could do nothing to her warmness in her heart, and she allowed herself a greedy moment to look out into the gathered crowd.

A sea of familiar faces greeted her, all shining and giving her the biggest smiles they could muster. Some were in tears already, and she hadn't said a word yet. The silence after Mayor Mare had asked her if she would speak her vows hung over the crowd, and Applejack simply absorbed the moment's silence. It was too perfect, and she hadn't the gall to stop the tear that rolled down her face. Facing Fluttershy, she was rewarded to see those wonderful sapphires looking back at her. Too perfect.

“Ah don’t quite remember it happening, ta be completely honest," Applejack started, addressing the entire crowd. "Growing up around these here parts, Ah used ta hear all the other fillies gossipin’ about this or that, talking about boys or some nonsense." A chuckle rolled across the assembly as the joke took hold, painting Applejack's cheeks with a faint shade of red. "Well. Ah guess Ah can’t say Ah was immune to it, either. I’ve had my fair share of boys around the farm, and Granny Smith always made sure to keep my face red ‘cause of it!" An unexpected whoop came from the Grandmother in the front row, as well as some unintelligible twittering between her and the other Apple matrons. "The way Ah used to chase my brother’s friends... ‘Course, Ah’m sure if just one of them had let me catch ‘em, my life might be different right about now." Applejack brought herself back to Fluttershy, clad in one of Rarity's best works. The way the fabric fell loosely from her body gave the pegasus the illusion of a dream, the tails of the dress just barely gliding across the ground as the wind caressed her body. "Can’t say better, though. Never could say better." Applejack couldn't help herself as she brought a hoof up to cradle her love's cheek. She felt the pressure as Fluttershy closed her eyes and leaned into her hoof, sighing contentedly. "Not now. Not ever."

They stayed like that for what Applejack was sure Rarity would say was an unorthodox amount of time. Still, she had to give herself this. Letting her hoof drop, Applejack's eyes dropped with it, a guilty smile accompanying her stare. "Ah do remember when it first hurt though. That ache at the pit of my heart." Applejack chuckled, hey eyes catching sight of Pinkie Pie in her Bridles' Maid dress and holding her stomach. "See, Ah never quite understood why most ponies say that pit is at your stomach. Ah’ve had plenty of summers and winters where Ah had a full and an empty stomach and let me tell you right now, that sort of ache don’t come anywhere close to where Ah felt." Her eyes were once more on the crowd, scanning for her relatives. "Saw her talkin’, real nice– with my brother of all ponies! Can y'all believe that?" Applejack cracked a smile as she caught sight of Big Mac, blushing a real furious red in his Best Man's outfit. "Couldn’t understand for the life of me where that mare got the courage to speak to the biggest stallion in all of Ponyville," Applejack's expression softened as she patted her brother on the back, "but maybe she heard about what a gentle giant he is." Big Mac gave an appreciative smile towards his little sister, who decided to break ceremony and give him a big hug. It was her day, she'd do as she pleased.

Breaking the hug, Applejack sniffed. She returned her attention back on her captive audience. "Sure enough, anypony’d be lucky to have my brother’s heart," she said, bringing herself back on track. She sent Fluttershy a sidelong glance. "But her? No, Ah couldn’t stand to even look at it." She closed her eyes, her hoof pawing at the wood beneath her feet. "Shameful thing is Ah didn’t know why Ah suddenly felt this... indescribable hurt. Like a piece just went and fell out of me, right there on the ground where Ah’ve planted my seeds."

There was a silence now. Applejack looked over to Fluttershy, catching not confusion but curiosity in her eyes. Those understanding eyes. "Ah never said nothin’, though," she admitted. "Couldn’t. Mare ain’t supposed to feel that way ‘bout another mare, ‘least that’s what Ah’ve been told all these years, thick headed numbskull that Ah am." A few smiled returned to the faces of the assembled ponies as Applejack shared her life experiences. "Ah guess that’s how Ah knew it t’weren’t hunger neither, ‘cause Ah packed away an entire pie that day, trying to fill that void she made me feel." Applejack laughed heartily, which was joined by Rainbow Dash behind Fluttershy. "Ah blamed it on Apple Bloom, too. Most dishonest Ah’ve ever been in my life. Sorry Sis." A look of dawning appeared on her little sisters face as she very nearly dropped the flowers she had been tasked to hold. She knew Apple Bloom would give her words for it later. "‘Course, there was nothing going on there, ‘twixt the two of them. And Ah knew it." She finally looked back at her bride-to-be, a pained smile on her face. "My heart just didn’t rightly care about any of that. Big Macintosh would came home same as always, never like when he spoke to a mare he got all flustered for." Applejack closed her eyes and shook her head. "Ah could tell you stories. Hoowee, could Ah tell you stories about how that big ol’ softy would cut up apples just so whenever some mare from school would come around. Had to be just perfect. Ma ‘n Pa always would help him do it, too. This was before Apple Bloom was born, of course, when Pa still tended to the north fields." She let that set on the congregation. Her parents had to be a part of this day somehow, and Applejack knew she was the one to do it. A good memory, a happy memory, was just the way. "Ah shouldn’t make too much fun, though. Ah’m guilty of just the same thing. Ah blame him, though. Little sisters are mighty impressionable." She cast a knowing wink to her little sister. "Guess that’s where Ah got my fancy for mares. If they’re good enough for my brother... Heh. Ah suppose Fluttershy was too good for him." Applejack felt herself take a step closer, just close enough where she could smell Fluttershy. Her mind took in that familiar scent, masked only by whatever fiddly smell Rarity thought would be best, and she savored it. "Maybe she is, ‘cause she’s way too good for me. Ah can’t even imagine why, when Ah look into those beautiful blue eyes, she ever chose a down home farmer like me."

Applejack brought a hoof up to her chest, rubbing against the fabric over her heart. "You ended that hurt, sugarcube. You ended that tugging of the soul when you just know something ain’t right. When the world doesn’t make the amount of sense it’s supposed to. Ah’ve known you for so many years now. When you moved to Ponyville. Moved into your home. Our home. Ah love the animals there. Reminds me always to go home and give Winona just that little bit more of attention." Applejack sniffed loudly, a few tears falling unabashedly to the ground. "Ah remember when Granny Smith first brought Winona home, shortly after Apple Bloom was born. Back when a fresh hurt was still new. Ah remember how you came by, shy as you are, to help me look after her. She was such a small puppy. But... Ah’m going off on another yarn again. Ah’m sorry, wastin’ your time up here, waxing nostalgic. Ah feel like Ah just have all the time in the world left with you."

Applejack sighed through her nose, her eyes looking straight on into Fluttershy's. Raising her voice, she made her declaration to her audience. "And Ah know, standing here today, that an eternity still wouldn’t be enough time with this mare.”

Fluttershy's Vow

“I remember."

Fluttershy took a moment to gather herself up. Tears had been flowing freely, silently, throughout Applejack's speech. She hadn't heard any of it before now, just as they had agreed. But hearing words meant for the world to hear, words meant for her to hear, words meant to express love and devotion to her. She let the tears fall, without sniffing. It was a form of crying she felt when Applejack produced the hoof rings. How she felt when Applejack asked for permission from her father. The strength she felt in Applejack's words. It was safety, and it was hers. "It took me by surprise, just how much my feelings changed in just one day. She would never give up on anypony, no matter how weak," she paused, her eyes closing, freeing more tears, "or scared..." She fluttered her eyes open as the gently touch of her special somepony parted away her mane that had come undone in the wind. She gave her that reassuring smile she had come to love. She gave her strength. "Or how fragile they thought they were. She would give everypony her time. Applejack makes you feel so entirely special... and to her, you are." Fluttershy couldn't help but giggle, her emotions getting the best of her. "You always are, no matter the pony you are. You're always special to her. That’s the kind of mare she is."

Fluttershy made Applejack cry. Not many ponies ever saw it, but Fluttershy did. Right now, in front of hundreds of ponies, from acquaintances to their dearest friends, Applejack was crying. Unlike Fluttershy, who did so with silence, Applejack couldn't help but make gasps as she failed time and time again to compose herself, laughing and chuckling as she tried so desperately to be silent for Fluttershy's sake, which only made her heart shine brighter. Fluttershy made Applejack laugh. "I remember," she began again, her voice cracking slightly. Applejack was her audience. "It seems so long ago now, when we all got together at the base of that mountain. You wouldn’t let me go. You would never. I..." she paused. Applejack looked on with intent, spurring her onwards. "I didn’t know what to do with myself after that. Every time we were together, I’d see how genuine you were, and I couldn’t help but reflect that kindness on to everypony. Anypony." Looking out into the audience of ponies, the multitude of eyes that stared at her, Fluttershy couldn't feel a thing for it. Not fright, nor their judgment. She had Applejack. "Whenever I needed the strength to persevere, I’d think of you, and no minotaur or dragon could ever make me feel the way your presence makes me feel."

Fluttershy could hear some barely audible 'aw shucks' come from Applejack, turning her cheeks pink. "I remember... When you needed strength to carry on, and it was our turn... my turn to build you up. Bring you back, for once. That’s when I knew the hurt of losing somepony. When you didn’t come back... I couldn’t stand it. It’s so hard to think about those days because I know I wasn’t as strong for you as I wanted to, and I thank our friends so, so much for being there to help. And I even did my part, for you. I chased you harder than I thought myself possible. Because I was chasing my dream. I wanted to be better for you. You make me want to be a better pony." Decorum and tradition was the only thing keeping Applejack back from hugging and kissing her right then and there, and a watchful eye might have noticed the very firm hoof of Twilight Sparkle stepping on Applejack's tail, holding her in place.

"I remember. I remember when my heart was yours," Fluttershy gazed into Applejack's eyes. Nopony else was there now. Not to her. "It was that golden moment when you offered me a place in the storm. I remember your kindness, your family. I remember that night all so vividly and my heart just beats in my chest whenever I think of it and e-even now my voice is cracking and the tears are c-co-ming and...!" She froze, fresh tears rushing to her eyes. Rarity wasn't fast enough to keep Fluttershy still as she pegasus rushed forward, embracing the love of her life and burying her face into Applejack's mane. She felt Applejack's clothes wet with her tears. Applejack nuzzled her peacefully, whispering her love into her ears. Nopony made to separate the two for as long as they needed.

"I love you so much," Fluttershy said as she peeled herself from Applejack, holding her at hoof's length. "You give me, so, so much. And I take it all. All your good. All your bad, what little there is of it. Your love and your problems." Applejack's cheeks blazed red with every word, but she couldn't find herself able to look away. "You make me feel like butterflies, like an apple blossom, shuddering on the tree before lifting off into the sky."

"I want everything about you and it makes me selfish. You make me want to be so selfish. And I can say that. I can finally, truly, want something for myself. And that’s you, Applejack," she embraced Applejack once more as a separate mare, knowing soon they would be one."

"And if you’ll have me, I’m yours. Forever and always.”

Forever and Always

Mayor Mare stood between the two mares, a bright smile on her face as she drew to the end of her readings. "Do you, Applejack, take Fluttershy to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love and to hold, to cherish and nurture, through trial and tribulations, and sickness and health? For better or worse, as long as you both may live?"

Applejack smiled. With her back to the audience, she stood side by side with Fluttershy. She felt the soft warmth of Fluttershy as the pegasus leaned her head against her neck. "Shoot, nothin' would make me happier." Mayor Mare's smile grew wider.

"And do you, Fluttershy, take Applejack? In rain or drought, or in times of excess and in times of great destitution? Will you hold her and love her for the rest of your life?"

Not a single pony held their breath as they waited for her answer. Drawing herself up to her full height, Fluttershy stared into Applejack's face. Leaning her forehead down, she nuzzled the side of her face before whispering, "I do. I cannot do anything else for as long as I live."

"You promise?" Applejack teased.

Fluttershy nodded. "Forever and Always."

Author's Note

This story is actually set in the middle of Running Rings, and I wrote this fic as quick look into the vows that Applejack and Fluttershy share in front of the assembled ponies that I hadn't finished when I released the aforementioned fic. I had originally planned to put this up as part of either the Missing series or as part of the Hop, Skip, and a Jump fic, but then I go the idea to expand on it.

The stories referenced in this are episode related, and this has absolutely no mentions of any of my other fics, so I figured it strong enough to be enjoyed as a standalone product. It's short, simple, and I enjoyed writing it.