Chapter 1: Problem
(Everfree Forest) (Zecora’s residence)
It was a stormy night in the Everfree Forest. The trees whistled as a gale passed through rustling the leaves in its windy embrace. Rain poured endlessly from the dark clouds above hiding away the moon and stars while roaring thunder pierced through its veil. The soaked roads of the woods turned to mud as forest critters of all shapes and sizes saw it best to seek shelter instead of risking the wrath of Mother Nature herself.
But amidst the muck and rain, a single pony strode on by. She was covered in a cape as she pushed through the storm, panting desperately as if she had been galloping for hours. Her blonde mane was soaked while her trademark hat caught on water. But despite those hardship, the little pony did not stop. She was determined to get through regardless.
Eventually her destination was in sight. A home built within a tree stood in front of her. She was gladdened to see a candlelight lit by the window hinting that the owner was still awake.
The pony slowed her pace and made her way to the front door. The stench of herbal mixtures and potions smacked her face like a ram. But it wasn’t going to drive her away. She went through a storm to get here and she wasn’t gonna waste that trip for nothing.
There was some hesitation when she raised her hooves up – like she wasn’t sure if she wanted to knock. Her face twisted with a mixture of emotions before she finally gave in to her desperation.
The door slowly creaked open revealing a striped zebra on the other side. Suspicion and caution marred her face, before she finally recognized the pony intruding her space.
“Applejack?”
“Hey there Zecora.” The Earth Pony replied, mellow. “Sorry to bother you so late. Can I come in?”
“Of course of course!” The zebra granted. “Come on in before your voice gets coarse.”
Applejack gratefully entered, removing her cape and hanging her hat by the giant pot in the middle where a roaring fire went. The bubbling contents were blue in color but she knew well enough not to ask what it was.
“Tea?” The voodoo worker offered with an exotic looking teapot on the table.
“No thanks. I’m…”
“Against the cold and rain, never take such things in vain.” She said in her usual strange rhyming ways.
Applejack thought for a moment before smiling back. “Actually… yeah. I could use some.” The Earth Pony took a sip and breathed a sigh of relief at the contents. It looked like ordinary tea just like the ones Fluttershy made. It didn’t boil or had any weird colors to add in the mix. “Sorry for barging in like this. I didn’t mean to interrupt your work.”
“No need to be so meek. My brew here is almost complete. A homemade recipe back from my homeland. Its mixture here is in great demand.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“Hair grow potion.” She answered briefly with a cheeky grin. “But enough about my brew. I am more curious about what ails you.”
Applejack sighed and sulked at the corner. There was a hint of guilt, shame and all manner of negative emotions running through her head that neither she nor Zecora could understand.
“Before I say anything. I want you to promise me that you won’t tell anyone. Not even my friends. This has to be kept between us and us alone. At least…” She paused. “At least until I’m ready.”
“A secret you wish to share? Yet my feelings you do not care?” Zecora mooted.
“Please Zecora. I really… don’t know who else to turn. I can’t go to my friends for this. Especially for this. So please… PLEASE!” Desperation pleaded from her voice. Anyone can tell whatever it was she wanted to say must be very punishing.
Zecora looked to the little pony, noting a tear slipping down her eye. Something terrible was eating her up from the inside and it was killing her.
After a brief pause, the shaman nodded. “I promise.” Relief spread over Applejack’s face. Like a weight lightened on her. “What is the nature of your problem? And I will try my best to fix them.” Applejack nodded and muttered something about being good enough before trotting over to a corner.
“I… have a problem. It’s… about Big Mac.” She said his name like weighed a ton.
“Your brother?”
“Yeah. It’s hard to explain but… I think… I think I might… like him.”
Zecora raised a brow. “I am not accustomed to your ways here. But that doesn’t seem like something you should fear.”
“No! I mean… I think I might like-like him?” It turned out as a question rather than a statement. Her hooves trottled over the floor as she was trying to get her point across. “Oh for tarnation! I think I might be in love with him!”
Lightning clapped outside as if to match the gravity of those words. A torrent of wind followed, rustling the hut. The whole thing lasted for a few good seconds before things calmed down. Applejack on the other hand looked like she had just been stabbed with a broken horn.
The words finally dawned on Zecora and her face matched. “You… are in love with… your own flesh and blood?” The Earth Pony nodded, guilt and shame fortified over her face. “Oh crud.”
xxxxxxxxxx
It took some time before the storm let up and the two to get back into calmer perspectives.
“I have never consulted in love before.” Zecora said while she poured another batch of tea for them. “But a promise kept is a promise I swore.”
“Thanks Zecora. And sorry for yelling. You can understand why I’m all giddy and angry.”
“Your outburst is natural. But these feelings you have is unnatural. Even in my homeland it is strange. Loving family here is quite the change.”
Applejeck bobbed her head down. “I know. It’s all strange for me too. But I can’t help it. I know he’s my big brother and all – and I’m used to seeing him but… it all started to get weird.”
“And you came to me for aid? I must remind you that counseling youngsters is not my trade.”
“I know. But I can’t bring this problem to my friends. They wouldn’t understand.”
“Would they?”
“Ok. Maybe they would. But still… I don’t want them to know about this. At least… not yet.”
Zecora nodded in acceptance. Perhaps that alone was enough. “Perhaps you should start on when you first had them. Then perhaps we can get to the root of this problem.” She gently offered her guest a comfy area by the boiling pot which Applejack hesitantly accepted. “Start from beginning when you felt for your brother and hopefully then your feelings won’t be a bother.”
“Well… I think it happened two months ago…”
(Two months ago) (Sweet Apple Acres)
We were having breakfast back home. We just finished apple bucking the whole orchard and were about to have our long break when granny came back with big news.
“Hold your hooves kids! Granny’s got big news!” The trio apples nearly fell off their chairs when Granny Smith kicked the door down with a wide eyed grin on her face. “Great news in fact!”
“Geez granny. Mind if you let us finish breakfast before you break the whole house down?” Applejack chuckled offering a seat to the old pony. “What’s the big news? Did you invent another way to cook apples or discover a long lost recipe for making an even stronger apple cider?”
“Nope! Even better!” She announced. “You guys know about Apple County?”
“Apple County?” Apple Bloom tilted her head as her big sister answered.
“Course I do. They’re the biggest orchard in all of Equestria. They got over a thousand work-ponies running the field every season, over a thousand acres of farmland and have one of the best water sprinkler system on the East side. They’re practically the most well-known farms in the whole wide world.”
“Wow…”
Granny nodded. “That’s right. And they’re ruined! Bwahahahaha!” She danced around in a country-style, hopping around like a frog. She would’ve enjoyed that laugh even more if her grandkids joined in.
“Ruined?” Applejack questioned. “What do you mean ruined?”
“The Hooverdam over by the county broke and flooded their whole field. The bumper crop they had this season is all gone leaving them completely… Appleless.” The trio looked to each other and then back to her. “Meaning they got nothing left!”
“We got that granny. But mind telling us why you’d call that… Great News? Sounds like a big tragedy to me.”
“Well it’s great for us because those lug heads were supposed to supply Hooverton for their annual Apple-Fair two weeks from now. Without a single apple to their name, the organizer called on us to supply them for this year! They’re willing to pay top bits for it all!”
The siblings cheered. That kind of a contract can set their farm for life. They wouldn’t have to rely on their business partners to keep themselves afloat.
“That is good news granny!” Applejack beamed. “That kind of dough might be enough to build another wing for the house.”
“Eeyup.”
“So how many apples are they asking? A bushel? A dozen bushels?”
“A hundred!” Granny declared.
“A hundred.” Applejack nodded. It was a solid number. Difficult but not undoable. “That might be a bit of a stretch but I think we can work it out. Maybe if we put Apple Bloom here to the field, we can increase our apple bucking by…”
“Ahem… sorry. I didn’t quite finish.” The old pony interjected. “I meant to say that they want a hundred thousand!”
A hundred thousand!? The number alone made Big Mac choke on his pancake.
“A hundred thousand?!” Applejack croaked. “That’s… that’s…”
“Incredible? Amazing? Incredibly amazing?!”
“I was gonna say impossible gran-gran! That’s three times more than what our orchard can make in a year! We can’t fill that kind of order!”
“Pfft. Not with that attitude.”
Applejack grunted. “And even if we can get a hundred thousand apples. How are we supposed to get all those to Hooverton in just two weeks!? The nearest train stop is at Mane’s Manetown. We don’t have enough farm hands here as is.”
“Eeyup.”
“Oh will two you relax.” Granny scolded. “I got everything covered. Goldie and Apple Rose already pitched in and we’ve got a special carriage for you to use. B’sides – Big Mac here can haul the whole thing by himself. I just need someone who can actually do the talking.”
“Well…” Applejack thought it through. Her brother does have the strength of a hundred ponies put together but even so he’s still just one guy. “Big Mac is pretty strong. But even so – getting over to Hooverton is just two weeks is gonna be a stretch. There’s nothing between but empty countryside for miles!”
“Big risks equals big rewards.” Granny Smith quoted before she tossed a bag of coins on the table. “Can’t make money if we don’t try something new. This should be enough for you two to get through the road.”
“You want us to go now!?”
“Course! Getting to Hooverton on hooves is gonna be a long one. The earlier you get it there, the better. And the faster we can get our money.”
Un…be…lievable.
Applejack wanted to protest but found little reason to. When Granny Smith was like this there wasn’t anything to stop her. She’d probably just get all mopey and use her granny powers to guilt trip the lot of them into submission. She can be scary that way.
Quietly the big sister of the group turned to her only brother and can only sigh in agreement.
“I guess we’ll pack up for the trip.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“Ooooh! Can I come along?” Apple Bloom suggested. “I’ve always wanted to see Hooverton. It’ll make a good story for my friends.”
“Sorry sugar cube, but I’m gonna have to say no on that one. The big towns ain’t as glamorous as they sound. And this trip is gonna be harder than most.” She placed her hooves at Big Mac. “Besides. Big Mac and I should be enough. And it’s not like we’re gonna go gallivanting around.”
And I guess that’s how our little story started. Big Mac and I got dragged on a trip. We took the train over to Mane’s Manetown and dragged with us three fully loaded carriages. It was supposed to be a simple delivery trip. Nothing more. But then things started to go… downhill.
Six days.
Six hot days of traveling dragging giant wagons the size of barns through the road.
A job like this shouldn’t be a hassle to an Earth Pony but granny did always have a way to make things harder.
After landing at the train station, Applejack and Big Mac have been trudging through the countryside like nomads taking the shortest route to their destination and avoiding any major settlements with their cargo. It wasn’t so bad. The trip might’ve been long but it was a worthwhile experience. They’ve stoke under the sun during the day and camp at night under the moon and stars while gorging on some delicious pies.
But as time wore on, the walking became a burden as the road got less well maintained. Rain became frequent and sleeping under the night sky became almost impossible.
But regardless of the situation, the siblings pushed on through. They weathered the weather and made no attempts to stop.
“Come on Big Mac! Put your backs into it!” Applejack ordered as she pulled her wagon through the storm. A few hours ago there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky but then this freak rain came out of nowhere and made their journey a heck of a lot harder.
“Already… putting… my back… on it!” McIntosh replied struggling as he pushed the back of a wagon. The flash rain had turned the ground into mud. And just as luck would have it, one of their carriage wheels fell into a ditch trapping it good. Now the two apples had to focus on getting it unstuck but to no avail. “Pfaaa! No good Applejack. The storms coming in hard. Just leave it and let’s find shelter. We can come and pick it up when this weather clears.”
“Uh ah! No way! I ain’t leaving this big old carriage out in the storm! If any of these apples go missing we won’t be able to fulfill the contract!” The stubborn Earth Pony buckled her legs and began pushing harder. “Come on now. Just a little more. I can feel it loosening.” But then the wind suddenly picked up speed blowing her favored hat away. “Ah! Hey! My hat!”
“Applejack! Don’t move! You’re still attached to the carriage!” But Applejack didn’t listen and leaped up catching her hat by its rims. The result however caused some of the crates to fall from the carriage slamming against her. “Applejack!” Fearing for his sister’s life, the big red pony unbuckled himself from the two wagons and rushed over. “Applejack! Say something!”
“Ow… something.” She responded weakly much to Big Mac’s worries. “Dang it. What hit me?”
“A whole lot of apples. Come on. Let’s get out of this storm.”
“No. No… not leaving these… beh-ow!” Applejack flinched as she tried to stand. She quickly looked down noticing the bruise on her forward leg.
Big Mac’s face went pale. “We need to get you some help!”
“Aww don’t blow a fuse over it, Big Mac. It’s just a small bump that’s all-ow!”
“Nope nope. No more. We’re going and that’s final.” Not taking no for an answer and unable to resist, Applejack allowed her brother to remove the collar over her neck and slumped her over his back. He immediately began trotting on the road hoping for some kind of shelter.
His luck came in the form of a roadside inn that was fortunately just a few minutes from where their carriages got stuck. With a heavy hoof he sauntered in startling the proprietor within.
“Oh my goodness.” The unicorn gasped with alarm. “Is she?”
“Help!”
…
……
………
Thankfully the injury wasn’t as bad as Big Mac thought it was. It was a bruise and a gash that made it look swollen and a few rounds of bandages was all that was needed to keep his sister steady.
“And there you go.” The owner of the inn stated as she added the finishing touches with her magic. “That should heal up nicely. I’d want to say ‘Good as new’ but that would lying.”
“Thanks a lot doc.” Applejack nodded in gratitude. “For a moment there I thought I was a goner.”
She chuckled. “Ahuhuhu. You’re exaggerating. In any regard I would recommend that you stay off that leg for the new few days until it’s fully healed.”
“A few days?!”
“Nope.”
“We can’t stay here for a few days. We need to get to Hooverton in a week with those apples or we’ll never finish the contract. We got a hundred thousand apples to deliver.”
“Well I’m afraid you won’t be making that delivery.” The unicorn replied with a non-caring shrug. “Not unless you actually want to recover. And if you keep pressing on that leg it might just get worse.”
But Applejack stubbornly went on. “Well… like granny used to say: No pains no gains. Come on Big Mac. Let’s get back out there and get…!”
“Nope.” The big red stallion stood his ground blocking the exit. “Applejack, stay.”
“Oh come on. It’s just a scratch. I can handle a bit more.”
“Nope.” Big Mac repeated. “Stay.”
“Oh don’t be such a big lug and… whoa!” As she tried to go around him, the big red boy bit her gently around the neck and raised her up like a crane. “Hey! What’s the big idea?”
“Applejack, stay.” He turned over to the proprietor who eyed them with a humored smirk. “Room.”
“Oh of course.” The unicorn granted. “We got one room available. Just up the stairs, second door on your left.” Big Mac nodded in gratitude and made his way up all the while holding onto Applejack who continued to flail around like a wild colt.
The room was lavish enough with a number of tables and lamps all decorated around a single double-bed. The window was closed up due to the storm but that didn’t bother Big Mac. He was far too concerned for his sister than Mother Nature throwing a tantrum. By the time he got in Applejack was spent. She gave up trying to get away. She never could beat Big Mac in a contest of strength.
With a soft plop, McIntosh dropped her on the bed and quickly put the blankets over her, covering her wounds.
“Come on Big Mac! This is re-ding-diculous! It ain’t as bad as it looks. I’m telling ya, it’s just a scratch. I can totally…”
“Hmmmm!” But Big Mac wasn’t gonna have any of it and quickly pushed his sister back down, plopping her head on the pillow. “Stay.”
“But the apples!”
“Forget the apples.” He declared. “Applejack stay.”
“But I…”
“STAY!” He put his hooves down, face looking so fierce that it even frightened the little pony. “Applejack. Will. Stay. And that’s final.”
“Ok ok ok! Geez. I’ll stay. You big worry wart.” Seeing that she won’t be getting through to that big lug, Applejack rested her head on the pillow. The storm outside wasn’t showing any signs of subsiding and you could hear thunder roaring out of the covers. It was going to be hard to get to sleep with that torrent brewing outside. She waited for a while muttering something about unfairness under her breath.
She waited… and waited but found something odd. She opened her eye and noted her brother lying on the floor by the door. “What in tarnation are you doing?”
“Sleeping.” He answered.
“Yeah I can see that. I’m asking why you’re on the ground.” She gestured her hooves over the other side of the bed which was more than big enough for her immediate family to sleep in. “Come on in. The bed’s bigger than you and me.”
“Nope.” Big Mac shook his head. “You need breathing room. Don’t wanna hurt ya.”
“Oh don’t be such a whiskers and hop on. It’s just a scratch. It doesn’t even hurt any-ow!” She flinched in a timely manner. “Stupid crate, stupid storm, stupid muddy road!”
“Eeyup.” He agreed. “Stupid hat too.”
“Hey! You can dish on me but I ain’t giving you permission to dish on my hat. Now come on in already before you break your back.” With some hesitation, Big Mac crawled in and covered himself with the shared blanket. Applejack immediately felt strangely warm. Probably because the big guy himself was stoking. “Just so we’re clear: We’re getting the apples the moment the storm clears up.”
“Eeyup. First thing tomorrow. Promise.” He smiled back sweetly watching her finally hit the hay and closing her eyes.
And then suddenly enough, the storm outside didn’t seem all that scary anymore.
And I guess that’s where it all started. Sure it was subtle at first and I didn’t really thought of it as much. Luckily our wagons didn’t suffer. Those were built to last I tell ya. But things started to get really weird when we got to Hooverton. And not really for the better either. Never did like those big towns.
“Hooowey! That is probably the fastest delivery I ever had in all my life.” The mayor of Hooverton, a fellow Earth pony, stated as he shook hooves with Applejack. Joy and relief wore on his face. “I thank you Applejack for the speedy arrival. You really saved our tradition this year. I don’t know what we’d do if we didn’t get our annual supply.”
“Ahh geez. It was nothing mayor. Just happy to help where I can.” Applejack responded, smiling softly as the crowd cheered her arrival like some long time hero coming back from a grand adventure. There were journalists taking photos and festive ponies all helping themselves to the crates of apples that came. “Besides, you should be thanking Big Mac over there. He was the one who dragged the whole thing on the last stretch. I’d never made it on my own, not with this bum leg of mine.”
“And he shall be richly rewarded for his help.” The mayor nodded signaling the guards to help unloading the cargo. “I’ll have my secretary deliver your payment shortly. But in the meantime, why not enjoy what our festive festival has to offer? You can enjoy our grand cuisine from far off land and various byproducts of our bakers and chefs.”
“Why… I just might.” She was already eyeing the many treats lined up by the stands and stalls that decorated the streets.
“And I’m sure you and your husband will find this place charming.”
Indeed we wi… wait…
“Husband?” Applejack’s eyes widened.
“The big red fellow.”
She laughed awkwardly. “Aheh. No no no. That ain’t right. We’re not married.”
The mayor quickly bowed in apology. “Ah… my mistake. Regardless though. You and your boyfriend should really try out the cookery. I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed.”
“What?! No! He’s not…”
“Excuse me, Mr. Mayor.” A Pegasus interrupted. Most likely his secretary. “But you’re needed on stage. Your two o’clock speech is starting.”
“Ooops. I almost forgot. Duty calls. Please enjoy the festivities.”
“Now wait…!” But the pony was gone, drowned out by the crowd of photographers before she could correct him. “What a silly goose. Me and Big Mac? Whoda thunk?” It’s not like he’s the only stallion in her life or anything.
“You called?”
“Gahh!” She screamed. “Big Mac! Don’t sneak up on a pony like that!”
The red stallion shrugged. “Uh… sorry? What’s eating you?”
“N… nothing.” She stuttered. “Just a little uh… city blues. It’s a lot to take in after seeing small towns like Ponyville. Right?”
“Sure… I guess.”
“Forget it. Let’s just enjoy the scenery while we’re here. They got some good grub at the fair. We can bring some home for granny and Apple Bloom. It’ll be a lot faster now that we don’t have three big wagons to hold us back.”
“Eeyup.”
Applejack decided to forget the whole mayor misunderstanding and moved on. This was the biggest apple fair in all of Equestria and a little mishap wasn’t gonna spoil it.
As they went around the fairgrounds, they noticed parades, flyers, Pegasus waltzing overhead and a whole mess of apple based products on display. To think that 80% of everything here would be made from apples from her family’s farm. If she wasn’t so humble, she’d be puffing her chest with pride and wearing a dung eating grin on her face just like she was doing now.
Ah… oops. Gotta keep that grin under control.
“Well howdy there.” The owner of a certain stall called out to them taking his hat off to greet the two apple siblings. “You two must be the heroes that rode in to our fair town. Welcome welcome. Come on in.”
“Aww shucks.” Applejack blushed, waving the compliment off. “We were just doing our job Mister. It wasn’t anything too big for us. Right Big Mac?”
“Eeyup.”
“For you maybe. But your little speedy delivery saved my shop from going under the red. I got tons of order for my flapjacks. Wasn’t even sure I’d actually make them.” The older Earth Pony nodded before pushing up two freshly made dishes. “Here’s a little something, on the house.”
“Oh wow. Thanks Mister.”
“Don’t sweat it. You and your boyfriend there have a good one.”
Boyfri…!?
“Wait what? No!” The two apple siblings choked back. “We’re not…”
“Go on now. Don’t be shy. It’s the least I can do for you folks for saving our little festival.” He pushed the treats again, laughing. “Now go enjoy the rest of the festival. I got me some customers to attract! Hey Handy! Move your tosh! We got them apples to bake!”
“Now hold on there. Big Mac and I ain’t… argh!” Applejack looked as if she wanted to throttle something or someone. That was twice now.
“Forget it Applejack.” Big Mac tapped her shoulder, already taking a bite off his share of flapjacks. “Never say no to free food.”
She sighed. “Fine. But this better not be a thing around here.”
And sadly the universe decided to answer her challenge. As they went through the fair, more ponies misunderstood their relationship more and more. It worked around like some kind of conspiracy!
“Hey there, have one on the house.”
“We’re having a two for one couple special.”
“Your boyfriend is quite the looker.”
“I’m actually jealous.”
“When’s the wedding?”
It went on and on for hours and for some meticulous reason, Applejack can’t seem to find the right moment to correct them.
“Has this whole town gone mad?!” She screamed out finally after getting away from the crowd to stop by a gazebo in one of the parks.
“Dunno.” Big Mac shrugged back without a care, taking a bite off another treat that they were generously given. “Hmm… not bad.”
“Don’t you give me that no-care-in-the-world look! Fifteen! We stopped at fifteen shops and they all took us like we’re married or something!”
“That was funny.” He chuckled.
“Don’t laugh! It’s not like you tried to correct them either!”
“Nope.” Big Mac took another bite. “Too focused on the food.”
“Of course you’d be.” She couldn’t understand it. Did they look like a couple to everyone? Was it because of their cutie marks? Their apparent closeness? Their appearance? Sure, Big Mac was a great stallion. He was strong, kind, sweet reliable, and always led a helping hoof whenever she needed one. And… maybe he wasn’t that bad to look at either.
“Well… we can’t blame them.” He replied. “No one here knows us like in Ponyville.”
“I know that! But still…!” Spots of pink began to show around her face and turned into a full blush. She supposed that she could forgive the townsfolk and their naivety. They were practically strangers here so no one would know about them or Grandma Smith or any of the Apple family for that matter.
“Relax.” The young stallion cooed. “It ain’t that bad. Here… wanna slice of pie?”
She sighed in defeat. No point in whining about it now “Yeah. I could go for some pie right now.” She then took a bite off the pie in his hooves. “Oh! Why that ain’t so bad. Not as good as home but it’s definitely a contender. Give me another one.” Her brother gladly did so and she chomp down another mouthful of delicious pie. Applejack would’ve enjoyed it too had she not heard a group of ponies passing by, giggling together.
“Oh my. What an adorable pair.”
“Youngsters these days are so bold.”
“Should we say something?”
“I think we should.”
“Oh hush you three. Leave the lovers be. It’s a festival after all. Give them a chance to be happy.”
Ah phooey! Applejack wanted to shout but her pie-filled mouth prevented her from doing so. No one people took them as a couple. They were practically acting like one! Going to the fair together, closer than two newly grown apple ever should. Heck, she was literally eating from the palm of his hooves!
“Pfaa!” She spat out at last, coughing.
“You ok?”
“No! I’m not ok!” The little Earth Pony fired back. “I need to get out of here before we make this whole misunderstanding worse!” She bolted off – but never got two feet away when her wounded leg buckled causing her to fumble on the steps in a comical way. “Ow…”
Big Mac quietly approached and sighed. “Doc said you should lay off that leg.”
“Oh shut it.” Applejack grunted and tried to stand back up but failed. “Ow…”
“Need help?” Her brother offered.
“No! I don’t need your help. I can stand on my own four hooves!” She tried again but the injury only made her flinch and recoil from the pain which again made her fall into the bushes.
“Need help?”
A groan escaped her. “Yes please.” With a single move, Big Mac grabbed her by the neck and hoist her onto his back. He carried her the rest of the way to the fairground to meet with the mayor and along the way the misunderstanding continued. Applejack gave up trying to correct them as they whispered and giggled behind their back. She wasn’t gonna stay in this town for long anyway, so why should she care?
After they got their money Applejack decided to hightail it back home before things get even weirder.
(Present time) (Everfree forest)
“And so… after that everything began to change.”
“Change how?” Zecora asked, listening intently.
“Everything!” Applejack answered loudly. “Ever since we got back from Hooverton, I can’t get those words out of my head. I just used to think of Big Mac as… well…… just Big Mac. But every time I’m near him I feel like my heart’s trying to come out and say hi! When I look at him I feel… nervous – like I was gonna pounce like one of Goldie’s cats.
“Physical attraction has always been a thing to get one’s attention.”
“What? No! Eww! Are you crazy!? I don’t feel that way!” Applejack’s face turned a shade as one of her farm’s apples.
“Your mouth speaks in denial, yet I your face blush for a while.”
“Oh confounding tarnation!”
Zecora gave one last chuckle before pressing her hoof on the pony. “I am glad you shared this secret with me, but I cannot fathom what help I can be.”
“Well you’re good at whipping up potions right?” The Zebra nodded back in reply. “Then maybe you can whip up something to get rid of this feeling. Like… like… one of that stuff that Applebloom made for Big Mac that drove him crazy! Like an anti-love potion on something!”
“That’s not how things work Appl-”
“Please Zecora!” She pleaded desperately. “I really need your help right now! I don’t want this to go on! I don’t want to feel this way! I want my stupid heart to stop giving me these feelings or at the very least talk some sense into it.”
Applejack groaned and groveled all over the floor. Zecora could see that this feeling she had for Big Mac was going against everything that she was. Her heart and mind were battling each other over dominance of her own actions. Which would explain why she came here and not one of her friends instead.
She could just decline this request. After all it had nothing to do with her. But then again she did owe these ponies a favor or two whether they knew it or not.
“Very well little one. I shall do as you ask. Finding a cure for your heart may yet be a challenging task.”
“Really?”
“But be warned: While spells and potions can fix many problems. Only you can make your heart blossom.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” The apple tilted her head sideways in confusion.
“Forget it.” Zecora sighed back. “In the meantime there are things you must attend. Go and speak to your family… your friends.”
“And then what?”
“Tell them of this story, refined in all its glory.”
“Tell my friends that I harbor an irrational and horrible love for my brother? That’s nuts! They’ll never understand it!”
“You fear that they wouldn’t understand why. But how can you know until you try?”
“But…”
“No buts no ifs. You must never make light of this.” The zebra shook her head in response. “Now go home, little one. Before the dawn breaks with the sun. I will call upon you, when I have made that special brew.”
Applejack opened her mouth to protest but knew then that she was right. She couldn’t keep this problem to herself. Especially when the answer wasn’t coming any time soon. Her friends could help. But would they truly understand? “You’re… you’re right Zecora. I guess… maybe… I should talk to them. Or at least one of them. But… what if they hear it and they all think I’m weird?”
“They are your friends Applejack. Through thick or thin, you know they’ll always have your back.”
The little apple hesitantly nodded and slowly lifted her cape back up. It was only when she opened the door did she realize that the storm had passed.
“I just hope this doesn’t bite me in the rear.”