Trombone2525

When Applejack got home, Big Mac and Cheerilee were on the couch. Applejack sneaked upstairs. She opened the box in her room. "Oh my..."

(whoa...)

Applejack ran home, being very careful with the box. When she got home, Big Mac and Cheerilee were on the couch. She slipped into her room and opened the box. "Oh my..."

Applejack sighed, not wanting to leave Flashbomb. But, she had a dance to get ready for. As she said goodbye to Flashbomb, she dashed back along the path and snatched up her secret box.

(anypony else excited about Applejacks dress reveal?)

She held the kiss for what seemed like forever, then she pulled away, tears drying on her cheeks. She was flushed, blushing heavily. "It's gonna take me a while to get used to that." She joked as she nuzzled Flashbomb.

Spit Fire was working with the staff, trying to clear the skies. It was a fruitless effort, though. They'd have to wait until the next day to continue training.

Applejack stared out across the pond as well, taking silent comfort in his words. Then she turned towards him and kissed him, thd warmth rising again inside her.

Applejack looked down at the ground. "It was a long time ago. Today is the anniversary. That's why Ah've never gone out much on Hearts and Hooves day..."

Applejack pulled away from Flashbomb, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Ah'm sorry... Its just..." She sniffled, then looked up at those two stars...

Back in the orchard, Applejack hadnt said anything, silently remembering that night, that Hearts and Hooves day so long ago... She clung to Flashbomb even tighter.

Applejack sobbed for a moment. She thought back. She heard the voices from her past...

"AJ? Can I talk to you?" Big Mac knocked on the filly Applejacks door.

Applejack jumped up, excited. Her brother told the best stories. But tonight wasnt story night. "Big Mac? Is something wrong?"

Big Mac sighed, then sat on the edge of his sisters bed. How was he going to tell her? She hadent even gotten her cutie mark... "Applejack, mum and dad are dead." He decided to be direct. He wasnt the kind of pony to beat around the bush. Applejack fell silent and stopped jumping around.

"What?"

"They're gone. They... They went to the same place that Scarlet, Granny Smiths dog went."

"When are they coming back?" the sweet young filly asked.

"Thats the thing... They're not coming back..." Applejack was quiet for a moment. Then she remembered what Granny Smith had told her when she had asked about her dog, what she hadtold her about death... Applejack cried for the next three days...

(cont)

Spit Fire walked back to her office, thinking about her pairings of the ponies she was most interested in. Flashbomb and Marble had been an obvious pair. They would work together well. Lightning Dust and Sun Ray was somewhat of an experiment. Spit Fire hoped that Sun Ray would hold Lightning Dust back. Not that she thought Sun Ray was incapable of preforming admirably. But Lightning Dust would definately have to slow down. Sun Ray was no Rainbow Dash. Lyria and Forte was an interesting development, but she paired them due to their similar Dizzytron scores. Forte was a trombonist in Canterlot, and Spit Fire had gone to a couple of his preformances. He was very good, but ever since he had arrived at the Academy, he had become something of an enigma.

Applejack stopped with Flashbomb and turned to look at him. A tear welled up in her eye as she threw her forelimbs around him, holding him tightly. She buried her face in his neck, and he could feel the tears slowly fall from her face down his neck.

(possible AJ backstory coming up! Also, starting the party early would be fine with me)

Spit Fire called off the day of training, due to the horrid weather. But she was still going to give out the pairings. She called everypony to the main hall and had the cadets line up. She began calling them up one by one...

"... Flashbomb. Lead pony. Marble wing pony." The two friends came up and accepted their badges.

"Lightning Dust. Lead Pony. Sun Ray, wing pony." The two unlikely partners accepted their badges.

"Lyria. Lead Pony. Forte Fermata. Wing pony." Lyria walked up, looking to see who this 'Forte Fermata' was. A green pegasus with a short brown mane walked up and took his badge, pinning it to his uniform. Then he silently walked back and stood next to his new partner, not bothering to introduce himself. He seemed to have a hard edge about him, but maybe it was just an act. Maybe... Nopony could be sure...

"Alright," Spit Fire called after the assignments are done. "Everypony back to the barracks. All cadets are confined to quarters until this weather lifts. Lunch will be brought to you in two hours. Dissmissed!" She yelled as the cadets began filing out.

(I'm going to bed. Goodnight Everypony!)

(Probably afk for the day. I'm going to bed. Goodnight everypony!)

"Well, it's all years of practice. Ah remember when Big Mac first brought me out here. Ah couldnt kick out with hind-legs a single tree. He would stand behind the tree, and when Ah kicked it, he would kick out with hind-legs it to make it look like Ah was doin it. He's such a good big brother..." She thought for a moment. "Ah'm sorry he gave you a hard time earlier. He's just protectin me."

Applejack led Flashbomb through some of the paths in the apple orchards. Everything was brightened by the moonlight.

Applejack just sat there, smiling at Flashbomb. She loved her special somepony. "Hey Flash, you wanna, Ah dont know... Go for a walk?"

"Wow. 6.8 seconds. That's an academy record. You even beat our" she glared at Lighting Dust. "resident record holder. Alright, SunRay! You're up next!"

Applejack stared up at the stars. She noticed two stars in particular... But then shook the thought out of her head. Today was a day to be happy. She looked up a Flashbomb and smiled.

"9.3. Not bad, but not the best, either. Lyria, you're up next!"

(ignore the first post. my phone messed up)

"You made 8.9 seconds. Marble! Your up next."

"Your out of line friend." She glared at Lyria. "Is right. You made 8.9 seconds. Marble! Your up next."

Applejack was uncharacteristically quiet, at least until Rarity mentioned her blunder last year. "Hey now! Ah'm not gonna charge this year. There will be a donations jar though..." She chucked as she moved next to Flashbomb, leaning against him.