Applejack fought back a tear. What was wrong with her? It wasn’t like her to overreact like that! She was a strong pony emotionally. But Twilight had been her best friend for over a year, and she had become especially close to her in the last month.
How could it all have been a lie?
She couldn’t take it and as she ran down the path to her home she let out the first in a series of tears to come.
How could Twilight stoop so low? Applejack had truly trusted her. Her bookish friend new so much about Applejack, and it killed her to have poured so much into Twilight just to find she never really cared. It was cruel.
She hopped onto her bed, and let the tears come for a while. She was taking it really hard, which was not normal for her.
But nonetheless she cried for at least a half hour. Finally she stopped.
Pull yourself together, Apple! She thought. Life goes on!
She turned around to face the door to her room, to see Granny Smith in the doorway.
“Sweetie, what’s wrong?” The old pony asked, concerned.
“Twilight is a…oh!” Applejack choked up again. Pull it together, girl! “She used me, Granny!” Applejack said angrily. “She used me to get close to Big Mac. They’re dating.”
There was an awkward silence for a second.
Finally Granny Smith spoke, confused. “Twilight, use anypony? I find that unlikely!” She looked thoughtful. “Why do you think that?”
“Because she’s dating Big Mac!” Applejack exclaimed, like it was a stupid question.
“But are you sure she liked him when you two became so close?” Granny asked.
Applejack hadn’t thought that. Why hadn’t she thought that? It was obvious thought, she felt somewhat block headed. But what if this was false hope? That seemed more likely, or at least safer.
“Granny, why would you even say that? Don’t you understand what I’m saying?” Applejack said in frustration.
“More than you know.” Granny said. She walked over and sat on the bed next to Applejack.
“When I was a bit older than you, I had a best friend named Flame Sparks. She was very, very talented at all things fire, as her name would suggest. We were as close as anypony ever got. But I had another close friend, mind you he was my friend, who was a handsome young stallion. Well, Flame apparently liked him and he liked her back, so they started…’dating,’ I think they call it now. Anyways, I did exactly what you’re doing. I accused her for being my friend to get close to my colt friend. I was so mad I wouldn’t believe her, my best friend. And so our friendship died, and she dated the colt for a few months, and it ended.
“Well, she moved away, and it wasn’t until years later that I considered that she may not have been using me at all. The more I thought what she had said the day I confronted her about the colt, the more it seemed likely that she had indeed not used me. To this day I feel terrible, and I always will. It was wrong of me to do that to her, especially since I now believe with everything in me that she was innocent. To this day I still wonder what I missed my being so thickheaded.” Granny looked out the window. “I don’t want you to go through this one day.”
Applejack at this point was in a battle with herself at this point. Twilight was so kind, and she felt the truth in her voice. There friendship wasn’t a lie. But then, had she ever really known Twilight to be able to judge that?
“But…what if she was using me? It will be worse. I mean, maybe I should explain what happened? It seemed so obvious that she was using me at the time. She came to talk to me, to tell me about her new relationship with Big Mac.”
Granny Smith looked at Applejack, expecting her to continue.
After a few seconds Applejack said “Well? What do you think?”
Granny raised her eyebrows “That’s it? Applejack you’ve been raised better than that, smarter than that!” Granny was obviously shocked.
Applejack was confused. “Wait…what?”
“If she was using you, she wouldn’t have come looking for you! Thought of that?” Granny looked at Applejack in astonishment at the young farmer.
Applejack hadn’t thought of that, in fact. Why was she so stupid as of late? She missed the obvious and cried when she normally wouldn’t have, what was with her? But either way, Granny was right. Twilight probably didn’t use her! And Applejack hadn’t even given her a chance to explain herself! Applejack had even called her terrible!
“Granny, I need to go!” Applejack said suddenly and jumped off the bed, running down the stairs. All she could do is hope she could repair the damage she had done.
Granny Smith watched the young filly run out the door and smiled. “Good luck, sweetie.” Suddenly a series of howls in the now forming sun set. “Sounds like it’s about time for the Zap Apples!”
***
Big Mac walked down the street with a purpose. How could his sister have been so thick headed? How could Applejack have jumped to such a conclusion?! Twilight would never do such a thing, and Applejack knew it!
He was halfway to his home to talk to her when suddenly he saw Applejack herself running straight to him.
Go ahead, come. I’m going to knock some sense into that empty head of yours. He thought angrily. How dare she hurt his Twilight?
“Big Mac!” Applejack skidded to a stop. “Where’s Twilight?!”
“Last time I checked she was sitting in the Everfree Forest, lying in a heap crying thanks to you. What is wrong with you?!” He said angrily.
“I know, I know! Please help me find her! I’ve been an idiot!” She pleaded.
“O-Oh, um…okay?” He said startled. “I guess lets go find her.”
They headed back in the direction of the forest. Big Mac was still really confused, but going with it. They were about to enter the forest when suddenly Twilight and the Cutie Mark Crusaders suddenly ran out, knocking Applejack and Big Mac on their backs.
“Oof!” they said.
“Twilight! I need to talk to you!” Applejack yelled.
“Later Applejack, just run!” and she kept running.
Applejack and Big Mac had just gotten up from the ground when suddenly a dragon rose its head from the forest directly above them.
“Run!” Twilight screamed from up the trail.