Chapter 3: Halfway Home
After the Celestia's sun had set for the day and all the work on the farm was completed for the day, a certain orange mare with a blonde mane and tail walked to Ponyville. The lighted square was filled with different ponies going about their lives. Applejack watched these ponies as she trotted along. She noticed how happy everypony seemed. From the green unicorn and the cream earth pony sitting on a bench together chatting to a small red maned filly with purple glasses joyfully laughing with a yellow male unicorn with a green mane. Applejack kept moving along to her destination, which started to come into view, the Ponyville Library.
Applejack knocked on the door, and was welcomed by a small purple dragon, "Oh hey, Applejack."
"Howdy, Spike. Is Twilight here?" the pony's eyes scanned the library behind Spike.
"Yeah, I'll go get her. Come on in," Spike held the door open for Applejack.
Applejack walked in, "Thank ya kindly," she thanked the dragon that quickly moved his way up the stairs to get Twilight who was on the balcony, beginning her stargazing for the evening. Moments later, the purple unicorn descended the staircase.
"Oh, hello Applejack, what brings you over here?" Twilight Sparkle smiled at her friend as she trotted up to her.
Applejack was nervous about speaking about the subject, "Well, it's kinda of a personal nature and ah'm a bit nervous talkin' 'bout it."
"Don't worry, Spike is upstairs and won't be able to hear," Twilight said reassuringly.
Applejack was comforted knowing the baby dragon wouldn't hear, "Alright. Well, the thing is, ah think ah might be keen on somepony."
Twilight wasn't expecting her to say that, "Really? May I ask who?"
Applejack looked away from Twilight, "Ah rather not say. Ah mean ah trust ya and all, but ah don't know what ta do about these feeling fer him. And that's why ah came here, yer one of mah closest friends and thought ya might be able ta help me out."
The unicorn was silent for a moment before she spoke, "Well, in all honesty, I'm not sure what you should do either. To be honest, I have never had a relationship with anypony," Applejack seemed to be surprised at Twilight's comment, "But I'm sure there is a book about the subject somewhere here."
"A….book?" Applejack seemed less than thrilled about reading a book on the subject of love.
Twilight walked over to one of the many bookshelves, "Yeah, I'm sure there is something in here about the topic. I remember reading one in school that tried to explain the emotion with a series of mathematical equations about why ponies fall in love in the first place," using her magic to look through the books, the purple pony was quickly losing the attention of the orange mare.
"Uh….no offense Twi, but there are two things in this world that ah don't understand right now, and those are love and mathematics. And ah don't want to two to be mashed up to make my head spin anymore," anypony could tell just by looking at Applejack that she loathed the idea of math and love becoming one.
Upon hearing what her friend had said, Twilight giggled and placed the books back on the shelf, "None taken. I guess I don't have much to help with on the issue, AJ."
A bit crestfallen, Applejack replied, "It's quite alright, ah do appreciate ya listening to my nonsense," the orange pony started toward the door.
"Of course, that's what friends are for," this got Applejack to smile which caused Twilight to smile as well as they walked outside, "I do hope things work out for the best between you and whomever it is."
"Caramel," Applejack said, turning to Twilight, smiling as her lips spoke his name, "his name is Caramel."
Twilight smiled back, "Then I hope things work very well for you and Caramel, Applejack."
"Thank ya, Twi."
"Of course, Good night."
"Night."
Taking a deep breath of the now cold air, Applejack started to head back to Sweet Apple Acres. A bit sad, but a little happy she was able to talk to somepony about the issue, she walked across the now vacant market square. The lights lit up the pathways throughout Ponyville, but hardly anypony was out. She hung her head low, just thinking about what Twilight said about that one book. Was love really that complex, like the math she hated doing in school? Before she could think about it in her head, she heard a familiar voice.
"Applejack? What in Equestria are you doing out at this hour?"
Applejack looked up to see her other unicorn friend, Rarity, with saddlebags on her back, "Oh, howdy Rarity. Ah was just headin' back home to the farm. Went to talk to Twi about some things."
The purple mane unicorn tilted her head to one side, "You seem a bit off, dahling."
Applejack sighed as she began to trot with Rarity to the Carousel Boutique, "Ah guess that's one way of puttin' it."
"What's gotten you down, dear?"
"Truth be told, a colt. Ah think ah've fallen fer him."
"That's wonderful!" Rarity said with joy, since she personally thought Applejack was too stubborn to fallen for anypony and admit.
"No, it ain't!"
"Well, what seems to be the issue with it?"
"It's just, ah don't know what to make of these feelin's. Never felt like this before and….ah actually scared to be honest."
"I understand, dahling."
"No, ya don't!" Applejack was getting defensive.
Rarity kept her calm, "I understand more than you think, dear. I'll spare you the details, but sometimes you have to listen to what your heart says before you can act upon anything."
"But ah have been listenin'!"
"And what does it say?"
"It's tellin' me to just go forward and tell him. But…." the orange mare trailed off.
"You're afraid, aren't you?"
Applejack didn't respond, only looked away from Rarity.
"Dear, there is no need to be ashamed of being afraid of love and what might happen. But if you don't take the chance and let him know how you feel, you might never get another chance and you will never know. That alone will eat at your conscience."
"Ah guess you got a point there, Rarity."
The two ponies arrived at the Carousel Boutique. Rarity went up the steps and to the door, "Would you like to come in, Applejack? I could fix us some tea, I'm sure that it will help calm you down."
Applejack smiled as she shook her head, "Thanks but no thanks, Rarity. Ah'm halfway home anyway. Ah got plenty to think about on my way back anyway. Thanks for yer help, and sorry about yellin' at ya. Guess I'm really stressed with all of this."
Rarity smiled to her friend, "It's completely fine, dear. I do hope it all works out for you, Applejack."
"Thanks. G'night Rarity."
"Same to you, dahling."
Rarity entered her home and Applejack started back to Sweet Apple Acres. Inside her head, many things were going through her head. However, talking with Rarity had given her some insight. She felt like her confident again and thought to herself, 'That's it. Tomorra, ah gotta tell Caramel how ah feel.'