//------------------------------// // Further on Up the Road // Story: The Man in Black // by Eagle //------------------------------// “Fillydelphia! All off for Filly!” Johnny rose from his seat on the train again, grabbed his guitar case, and strolled down the aisle. Octavia followed behind him as the taller man made his way through the car. The two stepped off the train and onto the ponies grouped on the crowded station. Though some of the ponies there recognized Cash, they seemed respectful enough to leave him be for now, which he greatly appreciated. He was finding it increasingly hard to be left alone no matter where he went. He was used to it from his former life in the spotlight, but total peace became a valuable thing. “I’ll be off to my own business, then,” Octavia said. “There are some old friends I’d like to meet again that live here. Are you sure you can find your way? It’s a big city.” “I’ll be fine. You run along and I’ll go take care of my show,” Johnny responded. “Alright, good luck!” Octavia chirped. Johnny had taken notice that she seemed a bit more confident in him, and generally happy, after the prison show. She usually at least walked him to where he was scheduled to play to assure he did not get lost, which Cash did not mind all that much, considering it was a new world. It felt like a mother letting her grown kid go his own way, though with less reluctance. He turned in the opposite direction and exited the platform, walking through the station and out to the street. The whole time, the ponies there were respectful enough to leave him be; he heard his name whispered once or twice, but never really went up to him. Only one actually called out to him directly when he exited the building. “Hey Johnny!” a rather familiar voice called loudly, despite being relatively close by. Looking in the voice’s direction, the musician noticed an Earth Pony he had not seen in some time. “Applejack? Hey!” he replied happily, stepping over and kneeling down to give her a hug. “How’ve you been?” “I’ve been dandy,” she replied cheerfully. “Just workin’ on the farm and what all, you know; though I’ve been hearin’ a lot about your little adventures.” “Well I’ve got plenty to talk over, but I do have somewhere to be,” he replied. “Why don’t you follow and I’ll tell you along the way?” “I’d be honored, sugar cube,” the farmer said in a honey tone. “How have the others been?” Johnny started off as he began walking down the street. “They’ve been doin’ fine,” Applejack replied. “It’s just been a while since we saw you, so I figured I’d head on over to your next stop to talk a tad. I asked the girls if they felt like comin’ but they were all too… busy, yea.” “That’s a shame; tell them to take care.” “Course I will,” the pony replied. “But back to your trips, I’ve been dyin’ to hear about ‘em.” Johnny began to recollect his little journey over the course of the walk, telling her about the many things he had seen and done. To him, it all seemed to have happened so quickly, as if they were pictures passing on a slide show. By contrast, his old life on Earth felt far off, a painful memory of what once was; he tried not to dwell on it much, but could not help himself sometimes. And yet as Johnny talked, he noticed Applejack seemed to be off in her own little world. Defining it as a ‘conversation’ would be generous, as she barely said anything beyond ‘wow’ or ‘ooh’ or other exclamations along those lines. She seemed to spend most of her time just staring at Cash as they walked, never really bothering to look forward. At one point she actually ran into another pony, causing both to stumble to the ground. She got up, apologized sincerely with a light blush becoming evident, and continued the same staring process. Reaching the tavern he was playing at was not a problem; in fact, they got there a little bit early. There was still about an hour until the show itself, so the two went to the back and found a little wooden bench to sit on. They continued the process of conversation, with Applejack not having to worry about running into ponies. “Sounds like you’ve been fittin’ in well,” Applejack complemented when Johnny had gotten through most of his stories. “I’m glad to hear it; means I won’t have to be worryin’ over yer head.” “I don’t think you ever had to, AJ; your country’s been plenty kind in letting me in,” he replied. “But thank you though.” “Well shoot, somepony’s gotta worry over you,” she replied. “Heh, in that case I’m glad it’s you, AJ,” Cash chuckled. “Really?” “‘Course.” Applejack nudged closer to the musician until she was practically on top of him; though Cash did not notice as he was doing a quick once-over of his instrument before the show. “Johnny, you mind if I ask you somethin’ important?” “Go on,” he replied. “What do you think of me?” Johnny stopped messing with his guitar and gave her a confused look. “What do you mean?” “Just… what comes to mind when you think of me?” Cash took a minute to think of some things. “Well, you’re nice, you’re hard workin’, you got a nice family, and apples, of course.” “Can you think of anything else?” “Um… you’re a pony?” Cash replied, a bit confused. “No I mean… would you be willing to think anything else… of me I mean?” she asked with the blush returning. It took a second for John to decipher the message, but the surprise was still there all the same. “Oh AJ, don’t tell me…” “Sorry, sugar cube; I just think you’re real great is all,” she said, shying away a bit under her hat. “You’re real nice, and talented, and handsome and everything. I just… I like you is all; plain as that!” Cash really had to stop and think about this critical moment in his stay here. God knows what would happen with each response, as there would be hell to pay with both. He only wished he had more time to decide; having to answer to a pony with a crush on him was not exactly in his contingency plans. Either way, he knew what the answer had to be. “Sorry AJ, but I can’t.” The farm pony’s face turned into one of complete loss and failure. Her face became unbearably sad, with her ears flattening down and her mouth hanging open in a bout of disbelief. The hardest part for Johnny was watching the tears slowly build up in her eyes until they began to trickle out, falling down her orange cheeks like many individual rivers running through the land. “W-what?” “Don’t get me wrong, you’re a real great girl, but I can’t.” “Why not!?” she shuttered. “Well, you’re a pony for one thing. I don’t quite know how that’d work out.” “Does that really matter!?” she replied. “W-we both act the same ways! A-a-and we’re both friends! And you get along with the family! Ah don’t get it! Ah don’t get et!” Her drawl became noticeably heavier from the breakdown, with her accent running wildly out of control. “Ah… ah mean, you ain’t with nopony else, are you?” she asked. “Don’t ya want somepony that’ll love ya?” “I already have someone, AJ,” he replied. “Who!?” she asked, a bit jealous. “June,” he replied. “What!? But she ain’t even around no more!” “I know she isn’t, but she was the one I loved,” Cash replied solemnly. “She saved me AJ, and I can’t fully repay her for that.” “But wouldn’t she want ya to be happy?” “Yea, but I am happy,” Johnny replied. “Be honest, I’m still plannin’ on meetin’ her again at some point.” “Ah don’t wanna leave ya! Please!” Applejack cried, stuffing her teary face into the man’s jet black jacket. Johnny sat there with her for a bit more, running his hand over the back of her head and through her mane to try and calm her down. When the call went out to start in five minutes, Applejack finally looked up at his face again, still crying from her now bloodshot eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, but could not bring herself to it, bursting back into tears. Tearing away from his form and running out the back door. “Applejack!” It was too late, as she was already far gone. Johnny had truly meant what he said; June had done so much for him, and he still loved her so much that he could never think of going with another. But that did not stop the wave of guilt and sadness that washed over him, and it hit like a tsunami. He knew exactly how things had to be, that much was clear; it was dreadfully clear. “Mr. Cash, are you alright?” the manager, a light green Pegasus mare asked him. “It’s time to go on, will you be ok?” “You saw that?” he asked in a neutral tone. “I heard it, yes,” she admitted, rubbing her yellow mane. “Are you going to be alright? Do you need me to cancel?” “No, its fine,” he sighed. “I’ll give the folks a show, but it’ll just be one song.” “I understand,” she replied. “Thank you.” Cash stepped onto the stage to the usual bout of cheering and shouts. He did not say anything, simply taking his seat on the stool and bringing his guitar to his leg. The audience seemed a bit surprised by his depressing tone, but they were not too sure of what to make of it. Regardless, he quickly strummed out a song for them.