//------------------------------// // Guest // Story: What A Long Strange Trip // by milesprower06 //------------------------------// The next day, just before one o'clock in the afternoon, Sunset once again found herself in the passenger seat of Applejack's farm truck, as the duo was headed to the far east side of town on this chilly Harvest Day. She had eaten a light breakfast, and now her stomach was nearly growling. She had made herself presentable, opting for a white turtleneck and a dark brown suede jacket with a wool lining on the inside, and brown khakis; decent attire to ward off the chilly fall weather. "So what's the book for?" Applejack asked, glancing down at the item that her friend held in her lap. "Oh, it's a journal I got yesterday. Princess Celestia told me that it's good to write your thoughts down so you can reflect on them later. I haven't figured out a good way to start things out yet," Sunset replied. "Well, maybe you'll think better on a full stomach. Things were just about done when I left to come get you, so we won't have to wait long at all before we're eating." Applejack told her. The Apple family owned and operated Sweet Apple Acres, a farm just inside Everfree County's eastern limits. Canterlot High was already on the east part of town, a few miles from downtown Canterlot, so the farm was only a few miles more. Applejack made a right turn, and the pavement became a gravel road. The farmhouse was in the middle of the property, and the bright red barn was to the right of it. There was an older, smaller shed off to the left, with the noticeable tire tracks suggesting that it was where they parked the truck. Sure enough, Applejack turned off to the dirt path on the left towards the shed, and slowly came to a stop just outside the entrance, putting it into park. "Alright, let's go meet the family." Sunset unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door with a creak, as AJ did the same. She stepped out onto the dirt road,blank journal tucked under her arm, and waited for Applejack to come around and followed her up towards the farmhouse. While the gravel road curved off to the right towards the barn, AJ and Sunset walked onto a stepping stone walkway, which led up to the house. It was two steps up to the porch, and AJ opened the front door and ushered Sunset inside. The moment she stepped through the doorway, the inviting aroma wafting out from the kitchen reached her nose. "Certainly smells great." Sunset commented as she began to remove her coat. Applejack motioned over to the coat rack to their left. "You have no idea. There's always plenty to go around, and is absolutely going to be ten times better than whatever you were planning on pulling out of your freezer." The two girls made their way to the dining room, where Big Mac and Apple Bloom were already seated, as Granny Smith was bringing out the last bowl of greens to the table. Sunset was nearly salivating at the spread. "Looks like we got here just in time." Applejack said. She figured there was no need to introduce her guest, as everyone in the dining room either attended or worked at Canterlot High. Sunset gave a short bow and a smile. "Thank you for having me for dinner." She said, taking a seat next to Applejack, across from Apple Bloom, with Granny Smith and Big Mac on either side of her. "It's always nice having a new guest over for Harvest Day. Especially someone who's been putting so much work into turning over a new leaf." Granny Smith replied. "Likely story." Apple Bloom said, causing the girl to avert her gaze down to her plate. "Now, Apple Bloom, I know I used to come home and complain about her behavior last year before you got to Canterlot High, but I promise, she's changing for the better." Applejack replied, smiling over at Sunset. "And it's thanks to your sister and her friends, Apple Bloom." "Alright, enough sappiness. Let's eat." Granny Smith announced, dipping a ladle into one of the large pots at the center of the table. Sunset watched as she lowered it, pouring a steaming serving of carrots and halved red potatoes. "This smells amazing." Sunset said, grabbing a spoon. "Well, I sure hope so. These carrots and potatoes have been slow-boiling in this broth since six o'clock this morning. By far the most popular dish at this table every Harvest Day." Granny Smith replied, getting nods from the three Apple siblings in return. Once all five bowls were served, they wasted no time in digging in. Sunset tried a red potato first, and immediately went back for a carrot, which had been cut into quarters for easier eating with spoons. She brought it up to her lips and took a bite, and it nearly melted in her mouth. This blew any carrot dog back in Equestria out of the water. "Mmm... This is divine." She complimented, smacking her lips together. "Like I said, we've got plenty. If we don't go through all of it, you're more than welcome to take some home. Just be sure to save room for pumpkin pie." Granny Smith told her. As she already had her heart set on leftovers, Sunset decided to not overindulge on the one dish, and began making herself a salad of mixed greens, carrot shavings, apple chunks, and roasted pecans, then gave everything on the plate a drizzling of vinaigrette dressing. Sunset rolled back and forth in the rocking chair, sitting next to the crackling fireplace, hearing the clanking of dishes and the sloshing of water as Big Mac and Apple Bloom worked to clear the table. She had offered to help, but they wouldn't have a guest doing any of the work. The plate on the end table next to her contained only a fork and a scattering of crumbs, the slice of fresh homemade pumpkin pie making her quite full. But instead of feeling satisfied and warm next to the fire, unfortunately for Sunset, guilt had set in again. All of last year, she had constantly taunted and belittled AJ for being 'country'. Simple. Stupid. But the farmer's granddaughter had perhaps been there for her the most in all these weeks following the Fall Formal. She had never felt more at home than she did right now. The meal she had just eaten had been some of the best food she had ever had in her life. Right now she was anticipating having another good cry when she got home, but was determined to keep it together until Applejack was ready to take her home. "Hey Sunset, you ready to go?" Sunset looked over her shoulder at AJ, who was carrying a cloth tote bag full of leftovers. She'd be eating great for a week, easy. She glanced down at the journal in her lap, open to the very first page, where a single sentence had been written after she had finished the slice of pie. 'I'm thankful for second chances.' She closed the book, and got up. "Yeah, I am." Sunset replied. She picked up the plate, and traded it to AJ for the tote bag. The girl quickly took it to the kitchen before coming back out to the den, grabbing the truck keys out of her pocket as Sunset grabbed her jacket from the coat rack. "And AJ? Thank you. For everything."