Ponies raging hoofs echoed right outside the commonly avoided house. Its curtins kept shut as its door remained heavily locked, not like that was going to do anything though. The lingering feeling of a haunting hatred reeked the walls like a dirty black smoke. The only thing that was taken care of in the old house was the vast growing garden. Well, that and the constantly overflowing mailbox.
Inside wasn't much of a spectacle either. Shadows blessed the walls with a dusty exterior on almost anything it touched. Its overly organized interior did not match the hosts mental state at all.
Applejack's eyes opened as the door behind her slammed into the nearby wall. She knew well it was probably the mane 5, as they called themselves, back to ask for solutions towards another issue. They did that often. The group of five ponies would wake her up early in the morning complaining and asking for magical assistance. The poor mare was still getting used to having active magic herself! Let alone all the technology around the place! The farmer still didn't trust the black mirror she often found shoved into her hoof.
Ears twitched towards the voices who spoke over each other. AJ leaned out of her comfy chair and stared at the five. As predicted, they were complaining about another magical induced issue AJ knew practically nothing about. The only one who bothered a sympathetic look was Sunny as she quickly quieted her friends.
Taking a few steps forward as if witnessing a god for the first time, Sunny quickly bowed. A scoff left Applejack's lips as she jumped from her chair walking over.
“How many times do ah gotta tell ya, you don't need to bow.” AJ grunted, walking past the stunned Sunny. Quickly regaining her posture though Sunny let out an excited squeak.
“Right, sorry! We needed help with another issue if that's alright! Also how is it in town? Three week anniversary!” Sunny rambled rushing to AJs side as the old mare pushed the covers away from the nearby window. Scanning the outside, the farmer's ears lowered. Another example of more earth pony magic going haywire.
“It's the same thing everyday, sugarcube.” AJ mumbled, “and all I can suggest is let them explore it. Didn't ya learn this lesson already?” Sunny let out a sheepish smile as Hitch huffed.
“It's dangerous, don't you see all the buildings getting destroyed!? They can fall on ponies!” Unlike the others, Hitch was more willing to be himself and fight back against whatever Applejack said. Something the orange mare found refreshing.
“So what do you think? What are ya gonna do?” Applejack huffed, walking past Hitch and back to her old styled chair. Sunny's face squished into an awkward look as she eyed Applejack, almost looking hesitant to say what she wanted to say next. However curiosity always stood stronger than will for many ponies, and Sunny wasn't gonna change those statistics.
“With all due respect, do you ever leave this house? It's been three weeks and you just keep hiding away. We are worried about you.” For a second Sunny took the appearance of Twilight. For a second the group looked like Applejacks old friends. She hated it.
Turning her head from the group AJ only allowed a few mumbled words to leave her lips, words she herself didn't even hear well. The others took the hint though, quickly leaving the house knowing they overstayed their welcome. Well, all but Sunny. Of course.
“What's the reason why you're so distant? It's like you dont wanna talk to other ponies. Or help them…” Sunny slowly approached the chair, forcing Applejack to find the words.
“Sugar, it ain't that.” Applejack started licking her lips, having found them suddenly dry, and looked over. “It's that ah want ya ta find a solution yerself.” Luckily for Applejack, Sunny forgot about the first half of the question she intentionally asked. Finding it more favorable to think over AJs words.
“I don't understand.” Sunny grumbled before looking up, “you do care for them you just want me to solve it? Why?”
“Yer a smart pony, you tell me why.” was the only response Sunny got. An orange hoof pat upon a nearby chair as the new alicorn took the invitation.
“Did I do something wrong?” Sunny attempted.
“No.” was all she got. Applejack watched with patient eyes as the gears turned in the other mare's head.
“Do you want me to prove something?”
“Enope.”
“Do you want me to be something?” An unamused look came across the farmer's face.
“Enope.” came again.
“Do you want me to say-”
“Oh for Celestia's sake girl! I want you to be you!” Sunny froze, watching Applejack with unmoving eyes.
“You want me to be me..? What do you mean?” It was a simple question. A question that only once asked did Sunny understand what it ment. “You don't want me to solely rely on you?” that got a nod.
“You an yer friends are the new protectors of Equestria and that dont mean ya gotta do it the same way me and my friends did. Yer your own ponies and different ways work for different creatures. If ya only rely on outside help ya aint never gonna actually learn what ya need ta.” green eyes turned to the other pony, who in turn seemed lost in thought.
“Oh.” was all.
A comfortable silence soon followed.
“Applejack?” Sunny looked up, finally addressed the farmer by her name, “what about the windagos?”
“What about em?”
“Where did they go?” The sound of ponies running rampant was heard outside the windows.
“My theory,” the orange mare sat up, “is that they were made of magic. Once Twi removed a lot of that magic it must have gotten rid of em to.”
“Do you think they will be back?” an innocent sorrow crossed Sunny's face.
“Eyup.”
…
…
“Thank you.” shock crossed the farmer's face. It was a simple remark, something kind and filled with honesty. It struck an odd cord the farmer thought was long gone. Pain began to seep in wounds previously covered as the farmer twitched watching the door close.
But just as fast as it came, it left. A new feeling of hate crossed the veins as resentment grew. Why was she helping? She knew how this would end! She couldn't afford to make friends again, she couldn't afford to fall into the trap! Why did it hurt so much?
It hurt so much.