Dear AJ,
Okay, I guess this is kind of weird. I woke up today in your room, and you were already out doing your chores, but the first thing that came into my mind was, “It’s Tuesday! I need to write to Applejack!”
. . . guess this retirement thing is going to take some getting used to.
But I’m so used to telling you stuff in letters, to making sure to tell you stuff, and I’m still not that good at telling you face to face. So I figured, what the hay? I can write you a letter. I’ll just stick it in the mailbox on Thursday night, and you’ll get it Friday like always. You don’t have to write me back, if you don’t want to, you can just tell me stuff.
So here goes. I left the Wonderbolts last Saturday. I don’t really know how to feel about that. I mean, my welcome home party was awesome, and waking up next to you every day has been seriously awesome, and not having to practice or get ready to go someplace new every other day, that’s all cool too. But it’s starting to sink in that I’m not going to be performing any more. I really loved that part, you know. Hearing the cheers, seeing the grins on ponies faces when they saw me flying, the gasps when I did something death defying- how am I going to live without all of that?
But that makes me wonder, why was the part I loved about other ponies? I mean, I could work for weeks on a trick, and if I flew it and the crowd didn’t notice, I just asked to drop the trick. I put all that work into it, but I didn’t care unless other ponies cared.
And that makes me think of you. You put work into all sorts of stuff other ponies don’t care about. I remember your letters last winter, about trying to nurse that tree back to health. Other ponies don’t care if their apples come from one tree or another tree. A lot of ponies don’t even care if their apples taste that good. But you care. You’re proud that tree is healthy again, and I’m proud of you for it.
So, I need to figure out what I’m going to do next, but I decided I want it to be something I’m proud of, even if nopony else cares. Except for you, I want you to be proud of it too. Maybe you can talk to me about it, when you get this letter.
I. . . liked writing this. I’ve been feeling this way since I got home, but I never figured it out in words or stuff, I just felt it. And now I know we’ll both get it, so you can help me. And you’re right here, so I don’t have to wait for you to write back.
I think I’ll keep writing you letters. Every Friday, check the mail, even though I’m waking up next to you. Just, don’t tell the girls because I know this is kind of corny, and I do have a reputation.
I miss you now, so I’m going to go find you and give you a kiss. I think this letter will be a surprise, but when you’ve read it, you should come and give me a kiss too. That’s one thing about retirement that I’m already totally used to.
I love you, Applejack. I kept all my promises, and I guess I’m still keeping them.
Love,
Dash