//------------------------------// // Part III // Story: Mind Games // by flutterdashforever //------------------------------// Applejack awoke to the sound of a sing song voice that could only be Rarity. “Good morning. How are you feeling? You were tossing and turning like a mad thing last night, did you have nightmares? Do you need me to get you some of my sleeping potion?” Applejack sat up and rubbed her eyes. Actually she felt pretty good, her mind seemed to have cleared and all the mussieness was quickly dissipating. She looked over at Rarity. “No, I’m feeling pretty good actually. Maybe all I needed was a good sleep.” She carefully manoeuvred herself off the bed, wincing as her hooves touched the ground. “Would it be alright if I went in to town today? I’d quite like to see the others and let them know I’m alright.” she looked down at her chest, Twilight had rebound the bandages. Somehow, it didn’t feel right going and telling friends that she was ok while wearing bandages. “And could you help me get these off?” Rarity looked down for a moment. “Didn’t Twilight tell you yet?” Applejack sighed, she had been expecting that response. “Yes she did, and I know that it’ll probably frighten some ponies but they’re just going to have to get used to it. Like it or not this thing is a part of me now, it’s not coming off so I might as well learn to wear it with pride.” Rarity looked taken aback but impressed. Without a word, she began to unbind the bandages. When they were fully off she gasped. All the scarring had cleared and the bruising had healed. All that was left now was the gem, affixed perfectly to her chest. It looked almost… good. Rarity smiled. “I could get used to that,” she said, mildly. Applejack admired the jewel for only a moment before returning her attention back to Rarity. “I suppose it does look kind of nice.” She shook her head. “Still, I’d better get going.” “Are you going to be visiting everpony today?” It sounded almost like an idle question, a bit of empty chit chat but Applejack noticed the tiny giveaway look in Rarity’s eyes. She was trying very hard to sound nonchalant but her whole body was screaming something else. “Why do you ask?” Applejack said, suspiciously. “Oh, no reason, just curious.” There it was again, that little voice that pointed out Rarity’s stance, the way her eyes shifted just a fraction, the tell tail movements that Applejack wasn’t usually so good at reading but now a stream of facts were pouring in to her head and she knew things, too many things. “Rarity, what’s up?” “Whatever are you talking about, dear?” There was a hint of a blush under the white fur now and Applejack was sure she was on to something. “Who is it?” Her face was deadpan. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Yes you do. Your whole body shifted when I asked. You have a crush, who is it?” “I do not.” Rarity exclaimed, blushing all the more. “Rarity, you know I won’t judge you, who is he—” she cut herself off at the look on Rarity’s face. She smirked. “Who is she?” Rarity looked as though she was going to argue further but then she slumped. “Is it that obvious?” “No,” Applejack answered, honestly. “Then how did you know?” “I don’t know.” Applejack felt a little woozy. Her whole mind was in overdrive. She could see… everything. She felt as though her whole life she had merely glanced at things but now she was looking, really looking and what she saw was frightening. The whole world had become crystal clear. She could see, not only things themselves but what was behind them. She could see…. The world went black. Applejack awoke to see Rarity leaning over and examining her closely. “Are you alright dear? You just passed out.” Applejack sat up and looked around. It was late afternoon. “I’m feeling fine. I guess I’ll visit the others tomorrow.” She lay back down. “Rarity, you never got around to telling me who the special somepony is, spill.” Rarity looked caught off guard. “Oh, that. It’s not really important.” Applejack examined Rarity’s face closely. “It’s Fluttershy, isn’t it?” It was more of a statement than a question. Rarity’s eye’s widened. “How could you possibly know that?” “Well you don’t half make it obvious. You two, always going to the spa, always hanging out but I also notice that mostly it’s you asking her to do things with you, it’s unrequited. I'm sorry, Rarity but haven't you noticed? When she's around you she never acts the way you act. It's like I said before; it's always you asking her out.” Applejack was surprised by the stream of words ready to leap of her tongue. It was all true and she knew it. Had she ever felt like this before? No. Why now? What for? Regardless of her misgivings over the source of the information she persisted. “She doesn’t know. You’re planning to tell her soon but you haven’t quite worked up the courage yet and no wonder, after how things went with that awful prince at the galla it’s no wonder you’re afraid of rejection. You shouldn't tell her, it would only make things difficult, she might even feel obligated to go out with you only to spare your feelings.” A single tear leaked down Rarity’s cheek. When she spoke her words came out harsh and clipped. “You stop that, you fucking stop that right now!” Tears streaming down her face, she ran in to her room and slammed the door. “Wait, Rarity I didn’t mean…” Applejack trailed off, slightly winded as though she had just run too far too fast. She flopped down on to a couch and rubbed her for head. It was only then that she noticed something: her Stetson was gone. She looked around frantically, thinking she must have been careless and left it lying around somewhere. No, she hadn’t had it at the hospital either. Applejack ran out the door, all thoughts of Rarity forgotten. She needed that hat. Applejack aimed another kick at the stupid tree. Her hooves bounced off ineffectually causing shooting pain to run up through her still young bones. A single tear traced down her cheek. She had only gotten back from Canterlot two days ago when she had dedicated her life to the orchard and so earned her cutie mark. Now she sat and stared at the tree that stubbornly refused to drop its fruit. More tears joined the first until the little filly was crouched beside the tree, crying in to her mane. It was then that she noticed a shadow fall across her. She looked up at her big brother, she attempted to wipe away the ceaseless flow of tears. “There’s no need to cry Applejack, one day you’ll be strong enough to tend this whole orchard by yourself.” “But no matter how hard I try I can’t make the stupid tree drop the apples. I tried everything.” “You’ll get there one day, I promise.” Applejack only wailed. “How can I have the cutie mark I have and yet be so useless?” Big Mac sighed and, after a moment’s though, reached up and removed the wide brimmed hat from his head. “Here, wear this and you’ll be as strong as I am,” he said, kindly. Applejack’s eyes went wide as the hat was placed gently on her head. “Thanks, Big Mac…” Applejack pelted through the streets at a dead gallop. At last her destination came in to view, Ponyvile library. She skidded up to the front door and knocked heavily. After about thirty seconds it was opened by a smiling Twilight. “Oh, hey Applejack, what’s— are you alright?” “My hat, Twilight! After the fight, what happened to my hat?” Twilight smiled. “I was wondering when you’d notice, don’t panic, I picked it up for you. She walked inside and, after a minute, returned with Applejack’s had hovering on front of her in a purple nimbus. Applejack reached forward and snatched it out of the air, jamming it back on her head. “Sorry, I didn’t realise it would trouble you so much. The doctors said that it would only get in the way.” Applejack breathed a sigh of relief and it was only at that moment that she noticed how… odd Twilight looked. Her mane was a little on the scruffy side and her eyes were twinkling more than usual. Her coat was a little tussled and there was a slight flush to her cheeks. “Twilight, what’s going on?” “Oh, uh, nothing. Nothing out of the ordinary that is, you know, books to sort, assignments to do that kind of thing…” She trailed off rubbing the back of her head with a hoof. “Who else is in there?” Applejack asked, smirking a little. Twilight flushed but managed to stay composed. “Nopony, you know, just me and Spike like always. You know me, always working him to the bone.” She gave a nervous chuckled and examined Applejack’s face to see if she was buying this. She wasn’t. Deciding to play along, Applejack relaxed her posture and said, casually, “Oh, I see, nothing suspicious at all. I suppose it was just Spike who left those pink hairs in your coat, Spike who messed up your mane, and Spike who has your cheeks glowing like signal beacons. What are you two doing in there?” She winked. Twilight flushed even more. “I don’t know what you’re getting at,” she said, defiantly. “No? Then I suppose you wouldn’t object if I were to say, for example, the word… 'fun'?” Within a fraction of a second, a pink blur had rushed out of the house and was standing in front of Applejack, only a few inches from her muzzle. “Did somepony say fun?” Unlike Twilight, Pinkie hadn’t even bothered to attempt cleaning herself up, her mane was a mess, even more than usual, her coat was completely ruffled and there was that tell tail scent to her. “I don’t know, Pinks, I doubt anything I’m doing could compare to the fun you two have been having.” Applejack grinned at Twilight who had now gone roughly the colour of a tomato. Applejack turned her back and walked away, only pausing to call over her shoulder, “Well, you kids enjoy yourselves.” Pinkie turned her attention back to Twilight. “What was all that about?” “Nothing,” said Twilight, shortly, “Come on.” She gripped Pinkie by one leg and pulled her back inside. “Weeeeee.” Giggled the pink earth pony as the door closed behind them. Authors notes: Hello everypony! I meant to post this chapter a few days ago but the new site layout is giving me some grief. Anyway, I should probably mention that the scene depicting how Applejack got her hat was not of my creation, it was based of a comic I saw once. This was quite a while ago so I don't still have the link but if anyone knows which comic I'm talking about then feel free to tell me and I'l credit it properly. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I hope to have the next one out soon.