Beauty Lies Within
Chapter 3
Applejack and Spike
At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was hard at work, bucking apples into baskets and carrying them into the barn.
She wiped some sweat off from her brow. In the sunlight, her blonde ponytail and pale orange skin were glowing, her freckles on her cheeks were like stars, and her emerald green eyes were shimmering. She was wearing easy clothing to work with: her white and green polo shirt, a jean skirt, and her cowgirl boots with red apple prints.
After she kicked another apple tree, she heard a voice calling her. "Applejack!" She turned around and saw her Granny Smith. She was an elderly woman with silver gray hair tied into a bun, hazel eyes, and pale green skin. She wore an orange dress with an old apron tied around the waist.
"Hey, Granny." AJ cheerfully greeted as she went over to her. "Is something wrong?" She asked when she saw the look on her face.
"Nothing too serious, sugarcube." Granny Smith assured her granddaughter. "I just wanted to talk with ya."
Applejack took off her hat to wipe off some more sweat from her brow. "What about?" She asked as she repositioned her hat back on her head, making sure that it wouldn't bother her pony ears.
"I can't help but think it could a shame that a pretty whippersnapper like yerself is working so hard." Granny said.
AJ rolled her eyes. "Granny, I told ya that me and the girls are having the weekend off, going to Manehattan."
"Well, I know, but I would like it if ya had someone to look after ya."
Applejack turned bright red when she realized what her granny was trying to imply. "Granny! I don't have time for a fella. Besides, ya know that I'm waiting for the right man."
"How will ya know, sugarcube?" Granny Smith asked.
"I'll just know, Granny." AJ assured her. "Anyway, it might take a while, with me working my feet off."
"How long, though? I want some grandkids from ya. Yer brother is married and excepting a young'n." It was true. Big Mac, her older brother, got married the previous year, and now, he will be a father in the next couple of months.
AJ felt her face flush again at the thought of having kids, but then decided to brush off her granny's pestering teasing as she started to sing.
Applejack: Ain't got time for messing around,
And that's not my style.
She looked towards Ponyville, admiring the quaint little town that was her home.
This ol' town can slow you down,
People taking the easy way.
But I know exactly where I'm going.
I'm getting closer and closer, every day.
She then ran back into the apple orchard, bucking trees as she goes. When the baskets got filled with apples, she would carry them into the barn.
And I'm almost there.
I'm almost there.
People down here think I'm crazy,
But I don't care.
Trials and tribulations,
I've had my share.
There ain't nothin' gonna stop me now,
'Cause I'm almost there.
Meanwhile, Spike was just entering Sweet Apple Acres. He loved smelling the sweet and fresh scent of the apple trees. It definitely was a welcoming scent.
Suddenly, he heard someone singing. He heard that voice before, though. He followed it until he hid behind a tree and saw AJ working while singing. He smiled fondly at her. His friend is such a hard worker. He then saw her turn to Granny Smith, who was watching her buck apples at a very quick pace.
I remember ya once told me:
Fairy tales can come true,
You gotta make 'em happen,
It all depends on you.
So I work real hard each and every day,
Now things for sure are going my way.
Just doing what I do.
Look out, boys! I'm coming through!
And I'm almost there.
I'm almost there.
People gonna come here from everywhere,
And I'm almost there.
I'm almost there.
That was another thing Spike admired about Applejack. She cared deeply about her family, and when she sets her mind on something, she won't quit until the job is done. And, she has a big dream where her family can have more than they could ever need to support themselves. It was definitely admirable. But, as he watched her work and sing, he began to feel like he was in a trance.
There's been trials and tribulations.
You know I've had my share,
But I've climbed a mountain, I've crossed a river,
And I'm almost there.
I'm almost there.
I'm almost there!
Spike couldn't tear his eyes away from the amazing sight he was seeing. AJ was practically shining in the midday sun. All of her features were glowing, emphasizing every detail of her. Especially those green eyes. They were like emeralds, purely cut and sparkling. Her hair reaching down to her ankles were like they were woven with gold. If someone at that moment would ask him about his crush on Rarity, he wouldn't answer, nor would he care.
He was so caught up in the vision before him that he didn't see her coming to his tree and give it a mighty kick. He snapped out of it when he felt a mountain of apples fall on him.
"Ow!" He exclaimed.
Applejack whirled around and saw Spike stuck in a basket, buried under loads of ripe red apples, rubbing his head. "Spike!" She exclaimed, coming to his aid. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." He assured her as she lifted him out of the basket.
"What are you doing here?" AJ asked her favorite draconic friend, smiling brightly. For some reason, recently the thought or sight of him made her grin uncontrollably.
Spike flushed for a quick second at her pearl white smile, hoping that she didn't catch him staring at her, then regained his composure. "Twilight asked me to come and get you."
"Okay." She beamed even more. "How about you help me clean this up, bring these apples into the barn, and I'll clean myself up."
Spike grinned. "Sounds like a plan!" Applejack chuckled at his cute draconic smile.
After a few minutes, the apples were stored in the barn, and AJ was clean and ready to go with a pack over her shoulder. Then, she and Spike walked over to Sugarcube Corner, all the while he was feeling a strange urge to hold her hand.