Set a couple days after the near-disaster that was Rarity's fashion debut for new up-and-coming designers (Honest Apple), this story is about two ponies who tried to ignore and shove away their feelings.

After Rarity finds out from Apple Bloom that Applejack sometimes goes out to some unknown location in the orchards to work off stress. And that she's been gone out there for a couple days this time, she makes her way to Sweet Apple Acres; determined to find out what is wrong with her friend.

Oh wow! Was featured on 7/21/17!

Your classic, everyday romance and adventure story with the best couple, musical numbers and plotline ever.
Applejack has always been the subject of bullying at her school, mainly because of her style of clothing and Southern accent. She found it hard to live with this most days, but when a poster appeared announcing needed members for a band, well, she thought she'd found her chance.
Of course, she felt moreso when she met the founder, Rainbow Dash.

Big thanks to all who helped with this story - editors, song writers, and, of course, the users who post supporting comments on every chapter.

My own personal headcanon for the story behind the death of Applejack's parents.

Applejack has seen a great many things in her life. Some good, some not so good. Fortunately she has her faithful group of friends to help her out when things get rough. But things weren't always that way. There is a day in her past that continually haunts her, and back then, she didn't yet have the magic of friendship to get her through it.

This one shot details that one night, the night that changed everything.

On a snowy night, Applejack gets a visitor who has a question for her, and something a bit more surprising.

Failed attempt at an AppleDash fic for the Second Chances contest. I simply couldn't make this fic reach 5k words, but I feel it's strong enough to release independently.

On a hillside at the edge of Sweet Apple Acres, under the stars, Applejack and Rainbow Dash face the growing feelings they've been having for each other.

To love somepony is easy. To let them into your heart, somepony you care for, somepony you want to protect, somepony you would do anything for. Letting them in is easy. The pain comes when you lose them. This is something Applejack is not unaware of. However, after suffering yet another crippling loss of life to one of her own, the well-known farm pony begins to lose herself, falling into a pit of despair, trapping herself in a cycle of self-blame, anger, and agony. Watching her friend do this to herself is unbearable for Rarity, who makes her way to the farm determined to try and help the friend who doesn’t want it. But she has to try. Because, isn’t that what friends are for?

This story is a sequel to Companion

Longdesc

A lot has changed in the years since Twilight Sparkle left Ponyville to become the ruler of Equestria. Weddings and breakups and newborns and fashion empires and becoming leader of the Wonderbolts.

But Applejack is still where she has always been. At the edge of Sweet Apple Acres, resting against the dry stump of a long-dead tree, watching the sun set on the horizon after yet another day of honest work. Watching the years tick on by. Not getting any younger.

Today, Rainbow Dash is there, too. She isn't getting any younger, either.

Continuity

A partner piece to Companion, which expands on the future of the RariTwi relationship mentioned here, though that relationship is quite unhealthy.

Author's Note

Not only am I a 100% Rarity simp as my current bio indicates, but I also am a total simp and cuck for the RariJack ship. Yet older AppleDash is canon, thus I must bow to its reality. Both Companion and this story are my way of resolving this, though this story is the much happier half.

Thanks to Decaf for prereading the first draft!

She acts happy. She seems happy. She comes across as happy. But is that the honest truth?

Applejack may represent honesty, but she's been covering the truth for years, lying to her friends, lying to everyone, letting them think that she's okay.

Trigger Warning:

•Depression
•Mention of self harm and suicide

Working with fruit was always Applejack's calling. It's the customers she's not always sure about.

The friends, however, are never in question.

Part of the Montage Cinematic Universe.

Applejack thrives on being busy. People need her, and she cannot afford to fall apart. Her feelings are not the priority—she doesn't want them to be.

But when an old love comes calling, Applejack finds herself on the precipice of finally saying what she's always wanted to say...

And hearing what she never wanted to hear.

A single day in AJ's life, and a one-shot spin-off of What They Expect to Give, my mature AU EqG romance drama. Takes place a few months before. You don't need to read the other story to read this, but it does make the context clearer.

Featured on Equestria Daily 1/18/2020

Check out these reviews by PaulAsaran, Scampy, and Cyonix!

Editing provided by Typogliphic.

Art by Lola Dotz. Follow her on FimFiction and DeviantArt.

Contains some self-harm.

My Ko-Fi