//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Long Distance Friendship // by Drag Orion //------------------------------// On her way to the train station, Applejack caught up with Pinkie Pie who was waiting for the train to Canterlot. Applejack checked the train schedule seeing the train to Dodge Junction was set to come in ten minutes and then checked out the time for the one to Canterlot. “Uh, you know that the train to Canterlot won’t be here for another hour?” she pointed out. “You can come back closer to it’s arrival time.” “I know, but I’m so excited that I can’t even think of doing anything else,” she replied. “So I’ll just wait right here.” Despite saying this, Pinkie Pie, never one for sitting still, couldn’t keep from fidgeting. “Uh, if you say so,” replied Applejack silently watching Pinkie for a while, waiting for her own train to arrive. After a few minutes, she managed to muster up enough courage to say something more. “Say, Pinkie, about this whole setting up a new bakery, I know it sounds great and all, but are you really okay with it? I mean you’ll be away from Ponyville for a while getting everything done. You’d be away from Sugar Cube Corner, the Cakes, your friends, your family.” “But my family doesn’t live in Ponyville,” Pinkie reminded Applejack. “Well, Maud does now.” “Oh, uh, yeah,” replied Applejack. “Forget I said anything.” “Now you’re the one who looks all fidgety,” commented Pinkie. “And you’ve been acting funny since we were at Twilight’s. If there’s something wrong you can tell me. I’m your friend.” “That’s just it,” she explained. “Nothing is wrong, right now. But it could change. I could change.” “Usually I’m the one who says things that make no sense,” commented Pinkie Pie. “What are you talking about?” “It’s just something I have to figure out,” admitted Applejack. The train to Dodge Junction soon arrived arrived at the station, right on time, and came to a screeching halt. “I’m sure I’ll have it sorted out by the time I’m back in Ponyville, if not sooner.” Not giving Pinkie a chance to reply, Applejack hurried into the train car as the passengers were getting out. “I’ll see you when we’re both back in Ponyville.” “B-but Applejack,” Pinkie called out, but lost sight of her. “Sorry, Pinkie, but I promise I’ll figure it out soon,” mumbled Applejack to herself. “At least I hope I will.” As Applejack sat in the train car, other ponies soon joined her, after waiting for those disembarking to get off first. “What are you doing here, cuz?” asked Braeburn as he sat down next to her. “Why are you on the train?” “Remember that magical map in Twilight’s castle I told you about?” she asked. “Well, it just told me I gotta fix a problem over at Dodge Junction.” “A bit of a lucky coincidence then. Now I’ll be able to keep you company while you’re there,” he commented. “Oh, yeah, you were heading to Dodge Junction next,” Applejack replied. “But I didn’t think you’d be leaving for it quite this soon.” Applejack thought for a moment then found her smile as she looked at him. “Helping Granny Smith find her glasses didn’t go so well, huh?” “I stuck my hoof in the rattler nest and they bit me,” he said thinking back to it and his expression showed it wasn’t a good experience. “Oh, boy, did they bite me.” “Sorry, bout that, but you’re safe now,” she told him. “Yeah, I’ll spend a bit of time there, pick up some cherries and then I’ll be on my way back to Appleloosa,” he answered perking up. “Picking up cherries?” asked Applejack. “Is that the errand you told me you had to do there?” “Yeah,” he admitted. “The buffalos were curious about how other pies taste. I told them that apple pies are the best, but they thought I was being biased. So, to prove them wrong we’ve been letting them taste for themselves. Since Dodge Junction has some of the best cherries around I figured I’d bring some back for the cherry pies so they can see that apple pie is still better.” “Well there ain’t no way that cherry pie could ever beat apple,” stated Applejack. “And that’s a Celestia-given fact.” “I certainly aim to prove it,” declared Braeburn. “Uh, so about earlier. I don’t suppose you gave what I told you some thought?” “Some thought?” replied Applejack. “It’s been all I could think about since then.” “I’m sorry if it’s upsetting you,” he apologized again. “It’s not your fault,” she admitted. “I think I might actually be okay with the idea and when I saw Twilight seeing Spike off for his own little excursion I know that everypony would support me too if I decided to try to make it on my own.” “And that’s a bad thing?” wondered Braeburn scratching his head. “No, it’s great, but it might be too great of a thing,” she admitted. “I mean I think I’d rather have them begging me not to or have some excuse to stay in spite of it. I’m just conflicted. It makes saving Equestria from total annihilation feel like a cakewalk in comparison.” “You can’t think like that,” Braeburn replied. “Your family and friends care for you and would never want to hold you back and you should not feel the need to hold yourself back either. It’s just a simple decision with no wrong answer, to stay or to go.” “Sounds simple, but I’m still a might anxious about it,” she admitted. “I hope dealing with this friendship problem will help me keep my mind off of it.”