//------------------------------// // Denial // Story: Buck Off // by TheOneBehindYou //------------------------------// A scream and a thud rattled the Apple Family household as Applejack found herself falling to the hard wood floor. So much for a good night's rest. How she got into this position though she had no idea, she assumed she was just very close to the edge of the bed when she was sleeping or something. Actually, It took her a while to even realize she was home. She wasn't sure if she was still in her dreamland with Discord or actually, truly home in her room. "Well layin' on the floor isn't going to answer that question." She murmured. Yet as she to tried stabilize herself, her hooves just wouldn't cooperate and instead were wobbling. Strange. Did one day of no work really set off her balance that much? No way, she must have blown the wind out of herself from the fall. Still though, quite the fall to do that. Yet, before she could stand, a knocking became apparent at her door. "Applejack!? Are you ok!? Don't worry! I'm-a-comin'!" Not small enough to be Applebloom's voice, not gruff to be Big Mac's. Granny? Sure enough, with a burst down of the door, looking intent to kick some plot came Granny Smith. And boy did she look ready for a whoopin'. She looked silly, what with her old cooking pot over her head, blinding her vision and a measly stick for protection. Applejack had an idea of what to expect from that git-up. Yet before she could speak up to let her Granny know it was just a dream, her mouth got connected with a saggy green hoof. Funny, she expected a stick. Either way it caused her to fall flat on her rump, losing her balance all over again. "GIT OUTTA HERE YA VARMINTS, SKE-DADDLE OR YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO TASTE THE POWER OF OL' GRANNY SMITH! HI-YA!" A screeching battle cry went off, setting off many punches from the beyond merciless stick swinging around. She had to admit, she moved fast for an old mare. With the way she was kicking it almost made it look like she was flying. Wait, actually, she was pretty sure she was! And Rainbow Dash said earth mare's couldn't fly. This would have been comical if she was just hitting air but each knock beside the head only made AJ see stars. That isn't to say the showgirl mare didn't try and stop her though with her teeth but she just couldn't connect with that gosh darn stick of hers. So instead she just kept on getting beat up. Maybe talking would knock her out of it? "Gra-" She tried to protest but another hoof hit her right in the teeth. Ew. "GRAN-" Now a knock to the noggin. "Granny Smith what are ya doing!?" A squeal came from the doorway, being from her younger sister Applebloom she reckoned. "Wha-Whazzit?" Granny Smith raised the pot off her head dumbfounded, giving just enough time for AJ to grab the stick she was still swinging around and give a good yank! Yet Granny Smith still wasn't sure what happened and soon lost her balance as well, falling right on top of her Grand-daughter. She was heavier then she looked. "Granny! Are ya tryin' to kill Applejack!?" The bickering continued from the little filly as she tried to push her Granny off her big sister. AJ had to admit, she was proud and very relieved by her sister's interruptive behavior. Still, she would need to teach her to knock first before entering some time. "What in the hay is going on-" Big Mac stepped on the scene, only to stop like a scared cat stuck in the act of shredding the couch. Yet as hesitant as he was, Applebloom urged him on. "Come on Big Brother, help me lift Granny and Applejack!" He didn't need to be told twice, he scurried in quickly to give a good push and despite the weight, it wasn't hard to get Granny Smith off with a strong colt like Big Mac. Soon in no time, Applebloom began helping Granny to her feet and Big Mac lifted AJ up. A few apologies and mutters whispered here and there, things were back to normal in a jiffy. "Sorry to trouble ya'll." AJ whispered the apology once more, ears flopping as she gazed away from her loving family. As if her startling them was her fault. "Nothin' to worry about Applejack, I should be the one sorry, I came in here faster then a horse feather ready to kick some- Er well, that's not important. The matter is, you're safe." Granny changed the tune of it all calmly, giving a small hug to her grand-daughter that Applejack was happy to accept. Once the cuddle finished, Big Mac and Applebloom both smiled and walked out, continuing on with their life as they should, yet Granny Smith stayed put. This brought more then enough curiosity to AJ's features. "So, ye ready to get back on the field? You seem much better today." Granny beamed, giving a good view of her dentures in that wide grin. How could she say no to a face like that? "Sure Granny! Just tell me what needs to be done and I'll be there lickety-split!" A small giggle was leaving the withered mare's lips as she responded just as happily. "Well that's great AJ! I'll be seein' ya downstairs for breakfast." A guide in her step soon following as she approached the door. "The first step is denial." Where did that come from? "Hu-Huh? Did you say something Granny?" AJ spoke up, eyebrows furrowing. Yet her apple relative only turned with confusion and raised a brow. "Say what?" "Its funny you know, you being the element of honesty. Yet you lie more then even me!" Wait, Discord, how? Granny Smith's face became puzzling as she shrugged and began turning her tail back to the door. AJ swore, she needed to get that surgery for her back soon so she could move a bit faster. "I know what you did yesterday you know~" "Wh-What?" Now she was getting scared. Was this a part of the dream and she had forgotten a piece of it? And if so was it catching up to her? Why now was it affecting her when she had woken up thirty minutes ago? But now her Granny was getting irritated and soon turned back to Applejack to confront what she was doing talking behind her back but seeing the scared expression instead softened her old features once more and instead showed worry in return. "AJ...?" Her tone soft and gentle. "You sure you're alright?" "Sure am Granny! Just thought I'd let ya know I'm a horrible, stinking liar~" Could she hear him? Oh Celestia please no. Applejack couldn't help but lower her head in defeat, trying to whisper the "chaos demon" -or whatever it was called- away. "No I'm not..." Hearing those words, Granny Smith walked up slowly and frowned. "AJ... You know you can always talk to me. Are you not feeling good again?" "I said I'm fine!" Applejack snapped. Flinching in surprise by her answer and actually a bit hurt, Granny Smith's ears begin dripping on their own accord and it tore Applejack's heart completely in two. Yet words weren't forming and instead were just sputters. "I- Granny- I didn't mean-" Great, now she had done it. "I-Its ok AJ, I know I worry too much and its all bad for my heart because of it." Another tear through the cowgirl's heart. "But I just worry cuz I love ya, that's all." Granny's head was dipping rather close to the floor as she spoke. But soon warmth came between the two as a hug enveloped them and even though her Granny was shocked, she did slowly return the embrace smiling. A tear hit her green shoulder as Applejack began to cry, causing the old mare's heart to swell for her Grand-daughter she loved so deeply. "I'm so scared Granny." Her voice finally letting go but shaking and quivering. "I don't know what's happening to me." Yet instead of worry, the smile stayed plastered on the wise mare's lips and she found herself hugging her even tighter. "Hey now little missy." She pulled back from her smiling even more. "No need for those water works." Applejack sniffled as she tried to recompose herself but yet Granny Smith continued. "Heck, ya know what scares me?" She started. Applejack went ahead and thought she'd play along. "What?" "Everything! I mean, why does magic exist? Who made the first pony? Why is Apple Pie so gosh darn delicious?" AJ blinked away the last of her tears as she stared a bit in surprise but soon began giggling and before she knew it, she was laughing! Granny Smith then smirked all the more as she prattled on. "But AJ I want ya to know somethin." Her face then becoming a bit more stern, silencing her laughter. "It's ok to be scared." It was ok to be scared? Really? Could Applejack truly believe that? Disbelief was all over her face but her wise relative just finished herself. "And no matter what silly or serious thing gives you the willies, I'll always love ya because you're still my AJ." Something in her heart was beginning to heal itself as she heard those words and a heart warming smile came upon Applejack's features as she couldn't help but cuddle her Granny once more. Was it really alright to tell them? Let them know what her dark secret was? Maybe she wasn't scared of Discord, maybe she was scared of somepony looking down on her for her own thoughts about the mischievous spirit. Well, no more hiding. She was going to tell everyone the truth. "Granny...?" She whispered, a slow "mhmm?" coming back from the saggy mare. "...Rattle everypony to the living room. I got something to tell." ____ Soon enough, everypony was indeed sitting down in the living room. Ready for whatever kind of announcement AJ had to spew out of her mouth. She could only gulp at the three eager, smiling faces before her as she entered. 'Just keep calm AJ, you got this...' An awkward grin was forced upon her cheeks as she sat down in front of her family. Yet seeing that Applebloom had her backpack on, she realized she didn't have much time left. Least the young filly was more excited about the "surprise announcement" then she was. "I-I have a confession to make e-everypony." Stutters and broken voices spilled from her mouth and she could tell, that this was really hard for her. It even made Applebloom's bouncing stop into worry. This was impossible. She was mucking this all up! What if they hated her? What if they laughed? Yet a serene, understanding smile from her Granny reminded her just how important this was and it gave her that one last kick of strength to find her true voice. "...I wanted to say how sorry I am that I've been lyin' to ya'll lately. Not only have I been lyin' but I have also been keepin' secrets and I really shouldn't do that. The truth is, I wasn't actually sick yesterday so I'm sorry Applebloom for worryin' ya." A smile came back upon the filly as she responded with no remorse. "Oh that's ok sis, I do that all the time!" Oops, a glare from Granny Smith said another story and AJ found herself giggling but she continued anyways. "The reason I'd been lyin' was because I didn't believe in what I was really feeling and I realize now that all lyin' does is make matters worse." She turned to Big Mac. "Sorry for makin' ya do my work Big Brother." Yet a wave of his hoof said it was no big deal, AJ nodded in respect anyways. "Now you're all probably wondering why I felt so weird and stuff lately, well, its because..." Her heart was hammering so viciously, she swore she was having a heart attack just trying to speak! "I-I think I l-like D-" Just spit it out already! "I THINK I LIKE DISCORD!" ... She didn't realize it but she had her eyes closed. She truly was scared about this confession! Yet why though? But as soon as she did open her eyes, she was met with the still smiling and cheerful eyes of her family and all they did in response was giggle. She found herself getting hot again for some reason. "We know." They all said in unison. ...Wait, what!? Oh, yeah, heh, right... It wasn't exactly the biggest secret in the world. AJ couldn't help but begin laughing awkwardly. But then again, why was it so hard to say it out loud? Stage one: Denial, complete. That voice again, was that... Discord? "We're so glad you finally admitted your real feelings about that Discord feller." Granny smith nodded proudly. "Eeyup!" Even that word alone from Big Mac sounded ridiculously cheerful. However Applebloom was more innocent and mischievous about the matter and began hopping around all excitedly. "Applejack likes Discord! Applejack likes Discord!" What was blushing? She was a tomato at that point. But thankfully a clearing of the throat from Granny Smith silenced the yellow filly. The tone following didn't linger on Granny's next set of words. "Well then, I think its time for breakfast AJ, you got a big day ahead of ya." So much relief washed over her as her pent up frustration about this entire ordeal was made just a bit easier to swallow. Applejack was so excited to get back to working on the farm again. "Anything you say Granny Smith!" "And its time for little fillies to get to school." "Awww!" Applebloom whined. Yet another glare from Granny made her run out faster then a cat. She was going to get a talking to enough as it is. "Oh and AJ." Granny began again, trotting into the kitchen. Applejack calmly following suit. "Yes Granny?" "We're not the only ponies you should be apologizin' to. After breakfast, I want you to go to Fluttershy's. She's been worried sick about you!" Her hooves slowed down to a halt as she realized what this meant and an eye twitch soon followed her. Oh... Buck.