When Applebloom falls sick, Applejack asks Zecora if she can help. Unfortunately, Zecora needs to go back to her homeland to gather unique ingredients for the cure. Not wanting her to face the danger alone, Applejack insists she comes along. The land of zebras, though, only accept their own kind. So, what do they do?

This is not a sequel to 'Striped Like Me'.

Artwork credited to Alfa995.

Applejack has always been a pony everypony could rely on, honest, hard working and reliable. But can she be honest with herself?

Equestria has a lot of things going for it, some may even say it's a utopia. There's magic, mystical creatures, and accurate weather reports. It's possible to have everything you could ever want, you know, unless you're a farmer and want a stable living.

One day Applejack decides she and her farmer friends should get together and do something about this. But starting a union isn't a something you can do without getting some very varied reactions, and it's even worse when the most varied reactions come from your closest friends.

And the weirdest reactions.

Thanks to TitanShield for proof-reading

During a sleepover at Twilight’s, Rarity takes the opportunity to talk about boys. The girls press Applejack into opening up a little more around them.

But a good girl never talks about that kind of thing…

Primary Cast: Applejack
Secondary Cast: Mane Six

Edited by Level Dasher

Applejack makes the best of what's still around.

Now with its own story reading.

Applejack continues a family tradition.

Featured on Equestria Daily.

It is late night in Ponyville. Most of the town's ponies are asleep.

A light has been left on at the Sweet Apple Acres farmhouse. Inside, Applejack paces throughout her home, unable to rest.

Tonight, her life will forever change.

When Apple Bloom can't connect to the Canternet, Applejack has to do the most painful, horrible, unspeakable thing she's ever done: call customer service.

A look into the inner thoughts of a certain pony.
Believe every word, for she is honest.
Even the strong crumble under the weight of life.
But not her.
She promises.

Preread by Cerulean Voice

Zecora is coming to market today
So Applejack tells Apple Bloom, stay away!
When the filly tries anyway, she's quite quickly caught
And AJ sends her right back home at a trot.

Though I have the actual plot line derailed,
We'll push right on through with an alternate tale
Of how Applejack learns about stripes, fur, and skin--
And how little they're worth next to what lies within.

So sit yourself down please, and read to the end
About how an earth pony got her zebra friend.
It's not all in rhyme, though; don't give in to gloom
But after this dear God I am not putting two zebra characters in a room together because GOOD LORD SO MUCH RHYMING; WHAT WAS I THINKING AAAAAHHHH! Er, I mean...
But new personal rule: JUST ONE ZEBRA PER ROOM.

A/N: Special thanks to Rated-R PonyStar for providing me with much-needed editing / pre-reading / input.

So yes as you may have guessed this is a rewrite of the season 1 episode Bridle Gossip in which I take the starting point and go wandering off towards the same general destination by an entirely different route.

Art for this is from Alfa995, the guy who runs the Ask Nightmare Moon HQ Tumblr.

I initially got the idea from this picture by the artist Elosande