//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Winona runs away // by Trigger_Finger //------------------------------// Late evening… I had a slight chuckle as I finally pulled the last wagon into the barn. Dash and I had sort of lost track of time and in the end admitted that we were definitely too different for each other. It was alright by me though, right now I’d rather a good friend than risk falling for another mare. Dash had left for home about an hour ago, leaving me to finish up around the farm before I too resided for the night. As I slide the door shut on the barn, I rolled my front shoulders to try and ease some tension that had been built up during the day. I grunted as my muscles continued to feel tensed up. I let out a deep sigh then muttered to myself, “Oh well… maybe Lotus or Aloe can help me… maybe tomorrow though…” as I began to pace away with sway in my trot. I stopped abruptly as I heard a faint sniffling coming from behind the barn. I let my senses become adept to try and figure out who it was… It was Applejack… no it couldn’t be, she almost never cries. But it had to be her, I could hear her cursing… “That stupid… no gooder… mean ol stallion… how could he just… and then…” She continued to sniffle. ‘Aww crap… I’m in trouble, I just know it…’ I thought to myself as I slowly crept towards the sniffling. As I rounded the corner I saw that it was indeed AJ and she was crying. “Uhm… AJ… are you okay?” I asked, rather softly and almost too quiet to even be heard. She immediately gasped and spun towards me. “Gah… what are yah doin here?! Ah thought yah was gone home already!” She gasped, obviously shocked that I was still around. “I was uhm… finishing up. I still had to put the wagon away…” I replied rather quietly, not wanting to anger or agitate her in any possible way. “But… it’s late… ah figured yah’d at least be done by… well seven err somethin.” She replied back and I shrugged. “Well… let’s just say that Ms. Dash is very… how should I put this? Adept at finding places to sleep.” I tried to add some humor to the situation and it worked. Applejack smiled and had a small laugh that was interrupted by a quiet sniffle. “So… what’s wrong?” I asked cautiously. “That no good, rotten, stinkin…” She began to huff in frustration then broke down into quiet sniffles again as she tossed her fore hooves into the air. “Soarin was never interested in me… he acted like it tah make me fall fer him then just… just… he only wanted me tah get Spitfire jealous then hooked back up with her…” AJ informed me, though her speech was stifled with sniffles. I let out a groan. “Hot damn… well… I don’t really know what to say…” I replied as I stroked my forehead. The day had been too long to try and think about things now. “Uhm… well if it’s any consolation you deserve better than that bum.” I said with a smile and she literally hopped onto me and hugged me tightly. “Why couldn’t he have been nicer… an kinder… an more thoughtful?” She whispered through a quiet sob. I returned her hug as I shrugged. “Because… most stallions aren’t all that.” I told her then soon yawned as drowsiness began to overwhelm me. I yawned once more then leaned back so I could look into her teary eyes. “Don’t worry Orange… you’ll find you’re special somepony.” I assured her with a smile. Generally most guys would die for a moment like this. The mare who’ve they’ve always wanted to hook up with, melting in their arms like butter and then they could probably just rebound her. But I wasn’t like that, it might be too hard on her. “Well… listen, try not to dwell on it… I uhh… I gotta go home, it’s late.” I said with a smile. She smiled sadly then nodded. “Come back soon.” She whispered and I chuckled. “Well… yeah. I have to come back to work tomorrow morning yah know.” I added a chuckle at the end and she joined with a quiet laugh. “See you tomorrow Orange.” I said before turning and pacing away towards Ponyville. * * * The next morning… My mind buzzed as an alarm blared inside my room. I began gasping in shock as I couldn’t figure out for the life of me, what was going on. It sounded like alarms were blaring all over. I grasped my head and tried to block out the seemingly ear-piercing noise. I quickly came to my senses and noticed my alarm clock blaring. “Shut up!” I gasped, thinking that it would just listen to my voice. It kept blaring. “Shut up…” I gasped as I began staggering over to it. My back stung in several spots where my muscles were rather tense. “Gah!” I gasped as I tried to stretch to get rid of the tension, but to no avail. The alarm clock continued to blare out its annoying tone. I slammed my hoof down on the clock and the noise simply died. I let out a long and silent exhale as I closed my still sleepy eyes. “Thank you…” I thanked the now quiet clock. I quickly got myself together and did my morning routine, minus breakfast. This time however, on my way out the door, I didn’t grab my duster. Dash had informed me that today, she had been ordered to make clear skies so the sun could beat down on us. As I paced along down the streets, my stomach grumbled. “Okay… quickly…” I muttered and rushed into Tim Horsetons. The same mare from yesterday was there today. “Hello sir, how may I serve you today?” She asked. “Dozen doughnuts please, assorted.” I replied. She nodded then proceeded to place twelve doughnuts into a box then hand them over to me. I gave her eight bits then gave the gesture as if I tipped my hat. “Have a nice day ma’am.” I said and she smiled. “You too sir.” She replied back as I left through the doors. I quickly scurried my way over to the farm. Today I was hoping to get done early so I could hit the spa and get these goddess awful knots outta my back. As I approached the barn, I took notice that nopony was out yet. Perhaps it was still really early, I had gotten here earlier than usual. I stepped into the barn and opened the box of doughnuts. I let out a disgusted grunt as I saw that today, there was not one, but two maple dip doughnuts. “WHAT THE BUCK! Seriously, who the hay even likes these doughnuts?” I asked aloud then a smirk crept up on the right side of my lips. “Hey Winona… Winonaaaa, I got a treat for yah… Winona?” I called then became curious. She usually always zips out to try and steal my treats. I shrugged, figuring she’d probably just eat them all as soon as I began to start getting things together. I grabbed a sugar powdered jelly doughnut and began eating it as I started getting things ready for the day. However, no sooner had I started putting things together, than Applejack came racing into the barn with an extremely worried look on her face. “Yahdidn’tseeApplebloomthismorninyetdidyah?!” She raced her words so fast that I couldn’t understand anything she had just said. “What?” I asked, stunned at her abruptness. She let out a quick exhale and spoke again, but faster. “No… AJ… I can’t understand what you’re saying. Take a moment, slow down.” I replied. “Ahcan’tslowdown. Applebloom’smissinannopnyknowswheresheis!” She spat out, again so quickly I couldn’t understand what she had just said. I stood to my hindlegs and held her by the shoulders. “Orange, I’d like to help you, but I can’t understand a thing you’re saying.” I told her. She let out a long exhale then took in a small inhale. “Applebloom wasn’t home last night, so naturally we thought she might be over at Sweetiebell’s or maybe with Scootaloo… but she ain’t, an nopony knows where she is an then this mornin… we found this in her room…” Applejack handed me a scrap of paper with writing, which quite frankly, looked like chicken scratch. It was almost illegible, but I made out most of the words. ‘Winona was whimpering as she was walking away with her tail between her legs, I tried to see what was wrong but she raced off. I’m going to follow her, AB’. I groaned as my head drooped. “Ahhhh shoot… I uhm… might know what’s wrong.” I muttered and Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Try not to be angry…”