//------------------------------//
// Last Meeting 
// Story: Change 
// by Just A Random Pegasus 
//------------------------------//

Applejack stepped out of the castle, blinking and shielding her eyes as she stepped into the morning sun. She was tired beyond belief, but knew she wouldn't be able to get to sleep. She wouldn't be able to currently work, either. 

A truth washed over her: it was about noon. Flim was counting on her to bring lunch around this time. She wasn't sure if she wanted to go home, because then Mac would have something for her to do. So, she opted to go to a restaurant nearby and quickly pick something up. 

She got plenty of peculiar looks for the reason that she was carrying a sleeping bag on her back and looks like she hadn't slept in two days, but she ignored everyone. She stepped into a café, walked up to the counter, and drowsily ordered two sandwiches. When they gave her the sandwiches, she had already forgotten what she ordered. She lumbered out, making her way to the woods. 

As she walked in, she felt like she was about to collapse. Her heart started racing as she stepped into the clearing, looking around. Her stomach began to flutter as she looked for Flim, but she didn't see him anywhere.

Did he... already leave?

As tired as Applejack was, she could easily believe this is what happened. He wasn't where he normally is. Where else would he be?

She looked around again, opting to sit down and eat. She wasn't hungry for breakfast, which made Pinkie quite sad, but she couldn't force herself to eat at that time. Though, she knew she had to at least eat something today.

She started eating a sandwich, hoping to see him show up in the next minute. Her eyes started to close, but she fought to keep them open. 

"Oh, there you are," a voice called above her. Applejack felt her heart race as she turned, seeing Flim jump down from a tree. He smiled, making butterflies go insane in her stomach.

...Oh Celestia, this is worse than I thought...

"You have something different today?" He asked, sitting next to her. Applejack gave him his sandwich and he looked at it, smelling it and smiling. "This actually looks and smells quite good. Thanks."

Applejack yawned. "N-no problem."

Flim got a better look at her, blinking. "Are you alright? You look-"

"Sleep deprived, Ah know," she said, slightly blushing. "Ah'm still kinda stressed from cider season." That wasn't a lie, and Applejack knew it. Though, that wasn't the reason she was kept up all night. And, for that reason, she fought the urge to cringe.

Flim nodded. "Aw, alright. Well, if you want to, you can just fall asleep here. I was about to do the same."

Applejack yawned again. "Uh... sure."

Flim smiled. "Alright. I'll finish this, and then we can sleep. Well, unless you want to go home."

Applejack shook her head. "Nah. Ah need to teach ya one last thing," she said, lowering her head. In a split second, she was asleep. 





In what felt like only a second, she woke up from a nice rest. She was still tired, but not nearly as much as she was before. 

She looked to her left, seeing Flim still asleep. She smiled as she saw him, her cheeks heating up. She couldn't believe how much of a crush she suddenly had on him. 

She looked up to the sky, seeing that the sun had only moved a bit. She could deduct that she was only asleep for about an hour. She stood up, stretching. She immediately started doing pushups, waking her muscles up. The burn energized her brain, waking her up a bit more. I should have done this earlier...

After a minute, it seemed as though Flim had woken up as well. "What's the need for the workout?"

Applejack kept going. "Ah'm wakin' myself up," she said, continuing to work her muscles. Flim chuckled.

"Well, you are certainly better at that than me. I can only do about two before collapsing."

"Forty nine... fifty..." Applejack counted, stopping. She giggled. "Well, that's what exercise is for."

Flim rolled his eyes. "Nah. Sitting around and taking naps is a much more preferable option."

Applejack rolled her eyes back. "Whatever ya say, lazy bum."

"Yeah, yeah. But, anyways, what were you going to teach me?"

Applejack's ears twitched. "Oh, right! Ah was gonna help you become more confident."

Flim raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Well, I will admit that I'm not too good with that."

Applejack nodded. "Yeah. Well, anyways, y'all are gonna have ta be confident when askin' for a job. Be confident in yourself durin' the interview. So, for you, Ah've thought of the perfect way to phrase it."

Flim nodded. "Alright. Shoot."

Applejack shifted in her spot. "Well... ya were able ta sell your ideas as a conman real well. Not to bring that back, but ya really were good."

"Uh... that's party because my brother pushed me. I'm not naturally like that. I was determined to just to survive, really."

Applejack nodded. "Well then... imagine that if ya don't get a job, ya won't be able to go on. That this is your only shot. This technique should help ya give your job your all, and making sure the interview is as perfect as possible. Also, go through a fake interview to yourself. Speak out loud. Make sure you've already said what ya plan on sayin' before the interview. Wingin' it is horrible."

Flim snorted. "Well, really, what do I say about myself? That I was a conman for years that lied to ponies and almost ran your farm out of business? Yeah, that'll go over well." 

Applejack shook her head. "Flim, your past isn't you anymore. You've changed. Ah see it. You're dedicated and, Ah never thought Ah would say it, honest. Y'all are honest about yer past and realize what ya did was wrong, and want ta do everythin' in yer power to change it. Honestly, as a pony, that makes ya very intelligent. Ah've met very few that can admit ta doin' wrong, and Ah never expected you to admit something like that, or at least the Flim Ah thought Ah knew. You really have a lot goin' for ya. Not to mention you've been an amazin' close friend to me."

Flim blinked, his eyes widening. "Wait... you consider me a... close friend?"

Applejack nodded. "Yeah. How you've helped me through the whole cider season thing... it means a whole lot to me. Many ponies would just brush off my problems if they were there when Ah was dealin' with them. Y'all aren't like that."

"Well... I'm sure your other friends aren't like that, either."

Applejack shook her head. "They're not, but that's part of the reason they're such good friends to me. Ah view ya the same way."

Flim nodded. "Huh. But-"

"Nope. Y'all just don't want to admit you're a good pony."

"But I-"

"Flim, these past few weeks Ah've been tellin' ya that yer past does not define who ya are. Y'all have admitted ya did wrong. Don't keep draggin' yourself down like that." 

Flim tried to speak, but couldn't find the words. He sighed. "Alright... I guess you win."

Applejack smiled. "What? Are ya finally realizin' how good of a pony ya are?"

Flim groaned. "Oh, I'm just so bad with compliments."

Applejack chuckled. "Me, too. But, now that y'all are finally acceptin' it... Ah'll take this week and a half as a success."

Flim's ear flicked. "Well, we won't know unless I get a job, right?"

Applejack shook her head. "Nah. It's a success 'cause y'all actually like yourself and accept that you have changed. After that, ya feel more confident, and the job is practically a given."

"You think so?"

Applejack nodded. "Yeah. If my family didn't hate yer guts, Ah would totally employ ya on the farm."

Flim snorted. "Yeah, I don't think they would like me there. But, anyways... you've been a great friend too, Applejack."

Applejack felt warm and fluffy. "Oh?"

Flim nodded. "Yeah. I haven't had an actual friend in... practically forever. With you, I've been able to talk about myself and trust you. We've been able to have fun. You've just been so nice and accepting, and honestly... I really thank you for that. I'm going to be keeping in touch with you for a while, if you're alright with that."

Applejack nodded. "Well, if ya didn't want ta keep in touch with me, Ah would force ya too! Ah need ta know how y'all are doin'!"

Flim smiled. "Yeah. I'll make sure to tell you, don't worry about that."

"That's good."

"Yeah." He looked to the ground before looking back up at her. "You have probably been the best teacher I could have asked for, Applejack. You've been so determined to see me succeed and like myself... something I never thought I would be able to do. And I really can't thank you enough."

Applejack smiled warmly, butterflies exploding in her stomach. "Aww, thank ya! That honestly means a lot to me. Y'all have been a pretty great pupil, too."

Flim smiled. "Well, thank you. That means a lot to me, too."

Applejack sighed. "Ah can't believe y'all are already leavin'. Ah'll... Ah'll miss ya." Applejack's heart raced as she finished, looking up into his warm eyes. 

Flim nodded. "I'll miss you, too. It's not everyday someone accepts me for who I am."

Applejack smiled. "Well then, we'll have ta visit each other often. Also, since it's a long way ta Baltimare, Ah'm payin' for yer train tickets whether ya like it or not. Ah don't want ya to have ta walk that long."

Flim smiled. "Oh, thank you. That would be nice."

Applejack smirked. "Ah'm happy you're acceptin' my offer. However, a train doesn't come until about eleven-thirty tomorrow mornin'."

Flim waved a hoof. "That's fine. We can do our last goodbyes then."

Applejack nodded. "Yeah! Ah'll bring some breakfast fer us."

Flim smiled. "Sounds good!"

Applejack stood up. "Alright! Well, Ah better be headin' back to the farm. Everyone'll be wonderin' where Ah am."

Flim nodded, standing up as well. "Alright. So... see ya tomorrow?"

Applejack nodded. "Yeah. See ya tomorrow," she said, hesitantly turning around and making her way out of the woods. She wanted to stay in there with him, talking to him, hearing his warm voice and gazing into his light eyes-

Applejack, stop! She ordered herself, trotting out and to her farm. As she made her way back, she knew one thing for sure: she wouldn't be able to focus on her work at all. Goodness, this crush is awful...





Applejack lay in her bed later that night, tossing and turning. The thought that Flim was leaving the next morning stressed her out. She would have to deal with this crush for a while until she finally got over him! She groaned as she placed a pillow over her head, pushing on her skull. She removed it, laying back down and sighing.

...Ah gotta tell him.

As much as she hated to admit, if she didn't tell him about her feelings, this would keep eating away at her. She groaned, flopping onto her other side.

...So that's a plan. Ah'll tell him before he leaves...

She thought it through, groaning again. What a way to send him off... hopefully he'll still want to be my friend after this...