//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8 
// Story: Double Injury: Guilt 
// by Player 4 
//------------------------------//

...you reach it.

At last, here you are. On the other side of the mountain. On the shore of an ocean that took forever to swim across. 

You are at the end of the journey.

All of Applejack's guilt is gone. No matter how much she tries to replay the accident in her head and make herself feel bad, she doesn't feel it. She just can't have any negativity towards herself anymore. It's been exhausted. It's over.

Per Rainbow Dash's words, the progress just kept building up. As time passed, Applejack got better and better. After seriously wanting to go to prison or leave society, she turned against those plans. Then, she was successfully told why guilt is unhealthy and forgiveness is the correct path forward. She was hesitant to believe that at first, but she eventually did. Then she had a great day. She started working again.

One week into the story, things were clearly better than before. Then by the two-week milestone, the previous week seemed bad by comparison. The same was true for the three-week mark compared to the two-week mark, and further along from there. As Rainbow said, it just kept piling up!

Because it had to. It was destined to happen. As you said to Applejack, everything does pass.

And she is able to feel that now. Upon reaching this point, Applejack took a look back on this whole thing and thought "Wow! Ah actually got through that! Ah thought ah was trapped and would never get better, but... ah did!"

Exactly! You did get through it, Applejack!





After you and the other Apples share an amazing dinner together, Applejack calls you outside.

"Pardner, can ya come out to the field? Ah'd like to have a moment with ya."

"Of course, Applejack! Let's go!"

As if you were going to turn that down...

It's sunset time, and you think that Applejack must have waited until now for that reason.

She leads you to the top of a hill, further fueling that speculation.

The two of you sit down upon the horizon, then Applejack starts speaking.

"Pardner, ah just wanted to thank ya for everything that you've done. From helpin' with farm work to playin' with us, you were a sweet one from the start."

"Then when the accident period started, you did nothin' but show love. You helped me calm down with the pettin', and said such powerful words. Ah don't know what ah would've done without ya."

"Aww, you're so nice, Applejack. Come here."

You two hug again, with Applejack stepping onto the wheelchair. Your leg is still broken; it was a pretty major impact, so the doctor expected a healing time of 10 to 12 weeks. At this point, it had been 6 weeks since the accident.

But you didn't care about that right now. There is something else that has come to an end, and that thing is more important to you. The story of the guilt. The final page of the book has been turned and the back cover has been shut. Finally.

That is what you were here for.

You and Applejack have another hug; it was a different feeling given that Applejack's healing period is now over, but it still felt like one of your signature hugs. You held each other so tight that it felt like you were sharing one body, and your hearts were definitely in communication.

After the hug, Applejack decides to surprise you.

"Pardner, ah have a present for ya. It's in this box."

"Aww, thanks Applejack."

"Open it up!"

It's a medium-sized box with orange wrapping and a pale-golden bow. Applejack's colors.

You undo the bow and take off the wrapping, revealing a plain brown box with a lid on top of it.

You open the lid up. Inside, there's a hat that looks similar to AJ's, an orange T-shirt, and another box.

"Look closer at those last two.", Applejack says.

You open the box inside the box; it turns out to be a ring case. Inside, there's a golden ring with a red apple decoration on it.

You then look at the t-shirt: the front of it reads in red letters "Welcome to the family."

"As thanks for your generous services and overall love to us, by decision of me and many others, we declare you a member of the Apple family! This is what you can wear to show that!"

Oh my goodness. This is sweet.

"Wow, AJ! Thank you so much for the gift! I love these!

"And you... you're really calling me a family member?"

"Yup. That's the label ya need. You have done way too much for us Apples to simply be considered a friend anymore. You are part of our world."

"Your farm work isn't just benefiting us here at Sweet Apple Acres; when one orchard has increasing sales, other orchards do too. Ah don't know why, but that's what happens. And with you bein' here, there was faster harvestin', and that meant more sales!"

"You deserve this. What you've done has had such a great impact on us that it makes you one of us now."

You can't do anything but pull Applejack into a big hug. This was sweeter than sweet.

All you can say is the three big words.

"I love you, Applejack."

"I love you too, pardner.", she says as you hug more.

During the hug, you remember that before the accident, you were planning to leave Sweet Apple Acres at some point and find a career of your own at. But now, you have changed your mind on that. Your passion for working on apple farms has only gotten bigger with time. You love it, and can't see yourself doing anything else now. Plus, the Apples considered you a part of their family now! How could you possibly leave?

You say this to Applejack.

"AJ, remember how before the injury happened, I called this a temporary stay?"

"Yeah. Is that still true?", she asks with a sad tone. "Because ah can't bear the thought of losing ya. Ah love you so much, mah friend."

You are heart-touched by this statement.

And with you deciding to stay in the apple business, you're going to melt away that worry!

"Well, AJ, it isn't true! I don't know where I'll be living in two or three months time, or whatever time down the road, but today, I declare working on apple orchards my full-time job."

Applejack is clearly very happy at this. She smiles and hugs you tighter.

"Even if I do end up moving out, I will find a way to incorporate you into my career. I can't lose you either.", you say.

"Thanks, pardner. Ah'd love that."

"I would too, Applejack. No matter how far away I am, we'll always be with each other."

So beautiful.





What a great day this was! In addition to the feelings from the guilt episode having come to an end, Applejack declared you an Apple, and you realized this was your career!

But most of all, you had made a best friend. Not good or great anymore. Best.

"Hey Applejack, I have one more thing to say."

"Yes?"

"You remember how after I got out of the hospital, Twilight declared that we were great friends? Well, I think we have now moved up to best friends."

Applejack smiles.

"Yes. Ah agree."

"Best friends forever?"

"Best friends forever, pardner!"

You and Applejack share a long sunset hug. Granny Smith, Applebloom, and Big Mac look out the window and see this; you two appear in black shadow form right in front of the sun. Absolutely perfect.

The End