//------------------------------//
// Chapter Four 
// Story: A Spell of Time 
// by YoshiFawful64 
//------------------------------//

Applejack's avoiding me. Not like it's a surprise or anything, but that doesn't make it hurt any less when we accidentally wind up in the same place, and she immediately leaves without a word. Without even sparing me a glance.

I haven't used Second Chance all day. I don't care if Twi's research goes nowhere because of it. I just can't even think about reversing time again without remembering how hurt — betrayed — Applejack looked when she chased me out of her home.

For the most part, I've tried to stay out of sight. Doing the absolute minimum that I have to do — kick a few clouds here, buy some food there, and so on. Other than that, I've been staying home, doing nothing much. I know I could always read some of the Daring Do books I still have left, but I don't want my current mood to ruin the experience. So instead, I just… wait for the day to end. For the spell to run out.

I never knew I could sit still for so long.





At last, just as the sun is setting, the tingling in the back of my head stops abruptly. Just to check, I try to activate Second Chance (not too thrilled about the idea, but I need to be sure). Thankfully, nothing happens.

I release a pent-up breath. I almost think I feel a little better now.

Now that that's over, I figure I might as well make myself supper. Just as I'm setting the table, though, I hear knocking. I go open the door, and immediately stop in place, dumbstruck.

Applejack is on the other side. She looks kinda serious, although she doesn't seem to be angry right now. I hope. Behind her, I see a familiar balloon moored on the edge of the cloud — Twilight must've cast the walk-on-clouds spell on AJ. "Hey, Rainbow. Can I come in?" she asks.

I snap out of my daze. "You, I– oh, yeah. Of course." I step aside to let her in, and close the door behind her.

"Before we get to anything else — the spell is over now, right?"

I nod. "Yeah, it just ended a couple minutes ago. Wait, how'd you know th–" I pause. "No, wait, don't tell me. Twilight knew the exact time, down to the second, didn't she?"

"That she did," Applejack confirms. Then she motions to the couch. "Mind if we sit down? This may take a while."

"Sure."

We sit for a moment in silence. Applejack seems to be searching for the right words to say, so I let her. My heart's pounding, but at the same time, I almost feel… calm. I guess there's not much to be nervous over when you already know what's gonna happen. I think this is the first time that losing a friend has been completely my fault, though. It hurts to think about that.

After some more contemplation, Applejack finally starts, "I've done a lot of thinkin' on everything that went down yesterday. And first off, to be absolutely clear…" she sighs. "I'm not okay with what you did. In fact, I'm not sure I ever will be."

"That's fine," I reply honestly. "I wouldn't expect you to."

Applejack doesn't seem to acknowledge my reply. Instead, she says, "However…"

I hold my breath, not wanting to get my hopes up.

"…I think you're better than that. You may be pretty selfish and inconsiderate sometimes, but I think you're getting better about it. Now, keep in mind that if you were nearly anypony else, I'd probably never wanna see your face again after that charade. But I think, hope, that I know you. 'Cause I think you've changed a lot since we first met. And I think that's because you really do want to be a better pony, and a better friend. Most of the time, anyway. So with all that in mind…" She takes a deep breath. "I think I'm willing to give you a second chance." The corner of her mouth turns up slightly. "Pun intended."

I struggle a little to get my gaping mouth back in working order. "I– AJ, you'd… you'd do that, even after all I did to trick and manipulate you?"

"Like I said, I think I have reason to believe that's not what you're usually like. In fact, I think that was you at your worst. That's why I think you deserve a chance. So…" AJ looks at me steadily in the eye. "Prove me right. Take me out tomorrow. Show me you're the pony I think you are."

"I…" I actually have a hard time fighting back tears. I don't think I can really put everything I'm feeling right now to words, so I keep it simple. "Thank you. I will."

"That said…" Applejack's voice becomes sharp, and her gaze hardens. "…if you ever try to hoodwink me like that again, even once…"

I gulp. "Understood."

AJ lets out a long breath, and for the first time today, she actually smiles a little. "Well, I think that's about all I wanted to say."

I feel like I can breathe a little easier too, now. "You didn't have to go to all the trouble of coming here, you know," I remark. "You could've just had me come meet you somewhere."

"Well, actually," AJ says, "I figured I'd like to have supper here with you. Then I could sleep in your guest room, and we could head out together tomorrow."

"Oh! Okay, that does sound ni–" I get an idea and halt mid-sentence, then throw on my best mock-suspicious glare. "Heeeey, hang on a second! You're not just trying to mooch free food off me, are you?"

"Curses! You've seen through my cunning plan!" Applejack responds without missing a beat.

"Ha-ha! You're no match for me, the Great Snack Detecti–!"

That's as far as I get before I collapse into laughter. Applejack soon joins in, and under the sound of our chortles, I can feel the tension between us melting away.