//------------------------------//
// Arguing With Myself 
// Story: Atheist AJ 
// by CreepyPastaPrincessLuna 
//------------------------------//

	"Why are you even near that heathen, Applejack?" Granny Smith questioned herself quietly. Granny Smith couldn't t see Applejack turning from the lord. All she saw was a little filly saying, "Jesus, come into my heart and fill me with your presence". "Maybe she was trying to talk some sense into that heathen," Granny Smith thought aloud.
Granny Smith decided to go up to Applejack and confront her in her room. She was surprised to see Big Macintosh standing by the door, ear up to it. "Big Macintosh!" Granny screamed, "Ain't cha got work ta do?"
"I ain't got much left, Granny," Big Mac began, "It just seemed like Applejack was in a bit in distress when ya sent her friend away. I decided ta come over and console her if I could."
Granny Smith decided to listen in. "Is she even in there?"
"Eeyup."
"It don't sound like she's even stirin' in there."
"She's probably just being a bit shy about the problem. Applejack ain't necessarily an open book ya know. Just like everypony else, she even has her secrets."
"Do you think these problems have to do with her relationship with the lord?"
"Get away from the door y'all!" Applejack screeched, "I can hear ya plain as day out there! Now just get! My problems are ma own and are intended to be that way for a while! The right ta some privacy would be mighty nice!"
"Sorry, sis. I just wanted ta see what was up. It just ain't like ya ta lock yourself up like this. Even if..."	
"Just get away from the gosh darn door!"
"Sorry 'bout that, sis. Didn't mean ta eavesdrop." Big Mac and Granny Smith left. Granny Smith wanted to stay behind and eavesdrop more on her granddaughter. Big Macintosh put his arm around Granny Smith and dragged her across the floor to give his sister some much deserved privacy. 
"I just don't get it, Big Macintosh! I just don't!"
"Like I said, Applejack ain't just some open book ya can read all the time. She has her fair share of secrets just like me, you, Applebloom, and eveypony else in Equestria. Ya just can't do it."
"And why would ya think that? Apples don't keep secrets from other Apples. We're a close knit family who shall be open to everyone in it."
"I think that's why the Apples keep more ta themselves on certain opposin' views. It's so closely knit that some ponies want ta have their own views and do their own thing. It don't always ta be the whole family's bis."
"Everypony needs to be an open book in this family!"
"Not everypony is gonna be, though. If there is even a slight whisper of a rumor in this family, everypony hears it. It might just be some embarrassin' issue that Applejack needs ta deal with on her own. If she wants our help, she can get our help. We just need ta let her know that we offer her full support. Ya can lead a pony ta water but ya can't make 'em drink. She'll come ta us or not come at all."
"So you're just gonna wait for her ta come outta her shell?"
"Eeyup. That's only thing we can do. If she sees us pushin' the point too hard, she'll only hide more and not even trust us. If we don't show any concern, she'll think we don't care. The strategy is to be caring and supportive without forcin' it and being overbearin'."    
"We just can't sit 'round and do nothin', Big Macintosh!"
"We ain't. We're showing her that we care without forcin' it outta her. It's the best approach. I should know. I've dealt with Applejack with personal problems. This is the way I gained her trust. Remember, patience is a virtue."
"Virtue my hoof! When we need ta get stuff done, we ain't got time just ta be sittin' around!"
"We ain't need ta get nothin' done, Granny!"
"Fine, Big Macintosh." Granny Smith walked back into the kitchen to start getting lunch together.
"I wonder what has gotten on ma sister's mind. She never locked herself up like this. Oh well, there's plenty of time I can use just ta wait and see. We'll all see what happens," Big Mac wondered out loud.
Applejack was lying on her bed, face in the pillows and hair a little unkempt from covering her head, sobbing silently by the overwhelming war she waged inside herself. She saw this as social suicide. She had the "Damned if I do, damned if I don't" type of situation. If she kept her mouth shut, she'd force herself into believing something she doesn't believe, or she'd be forced to live in nothing but one big fat lie. If she told everyone, it would be a social massacre. The family did have some of their opposing views such as family in Manehattan. It would rip the family apart bit by bit. It was either to seal it up as a secret and pull through with the internal argument, or tell and divide a family for a long time, possibly forever.
Applejack started to get overwhelmed by the situation at hoof. She didn't even know how any of her other friends would react. She knew the only one who would take this kindly was Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash wasn't even allowed back after testing the waters with her friend. 
Applejack knew what she had to do. How was she going to do it though? Rainbow Dash isn't allowed back on the farm anymore. Where, or whom, would Applejack turn to?