//------------------------------//
// The Monotony... 
// Story: Every day 
// by Linkinshire 
//------------------------------//

The Monotony...

I've been doin' this fer years, though I guess that I gotta really think about it in order fer it t' feel like it's been that long.
It ain't the most glamorous job or even the most rewardin' but it's what I've been doin' for ever and I know that I'll be doin' it for more than that.
Actually, that don't make that much sense. What I mean to say is that I'll always be ridin' down these same cobbled streets and still deliverin' this same order to that one place that asks for same stuff every single day.
And maybe it sounds like I'm complainin' but don't get me wrong, it could always be worse. I jus' like variety and doin' the same thing all the time kinda makes it feel... I dunno... tiresome, I guess.
Maybe even pointless and that's a sad thing to think about ya' work.
Kicks Mcgee snorts beneath me and I release a hand on the reins then reach down to pat his shoulder. He's a good horse but he don't much like the crowds of the city. He has the nasty habit of kickin' out if he gets too anxious. It's how he earned 'is name.
“S'alright, pal. We'll be outta here in no time,” I say reassuringly and he shakes his mane out then trots onward, eyeing the bustlin' stalls lining the roads with somethin' like horse-ish annoyance. I can't help but chuckle a tad, choosin' to keep one hand free in case his nerves play up again. He's an odd one, for sure but we pass through the worst of the noise without an issue besides the usual grumbled annoyances from some disgruntled folk. Only the richer city people tend to have a problem with us and I guess that's jus' fine 'cuz I don't like them much either.
I spot the white coach ahead of us long before I see the owner of such a digustin'ly over-polished thing and mah nose wrinkles as I catch sight of his glossy blond hair.
Kicks snorts gently and I stroke his neck idly.
He doesn't like that fella either. I think Kicks feels bad for the horses that pull his carriage. The driver's ruthless with 'em. He's always pokin' an' proddin' 'em into place but it's only on his boss' orders. 
I spur Kicks on, fightin' back a grimace as I watch the prissy prince flirtin' shamelessly with a young woman who clearly looks like she wants to be anywhere else but with him.
He's leanin' against his carriage, leerin' at her with a stupid grin on his face that makes me sick to look at. I stare ahead instead.
“C'mon, Kicks. Let's jus' get past that dumb as Hell son of a-”
“Hold it!”
I groan quietly to myself and briefly consider makin' a break for it before tuggin' gently on the reins and comin' to a halt. Ignorin' the obnoxious prince probably won't do me any favours in the long haul...
I turn Kicks around to face him, careful of the cart, and fight back another grimace. He really is a sleazy and disgustin' little weasel.
“Can Ah help ya', Prince Blueblood?” I ask calmly as he approaches.
“Probably not, pauper, but I presume you have a clue as to where you're heading?”
Mah eye twitches. Pauper... He knows mah darn name.
“The same place as Ah'm always headin' at this time o' the day, Sire,” I return. Eugh. I hate callin' 'im that. It implies respect and I'd rather be spittin' in 'is mornin' tea.
“The Castle then?” 
Yes, ya' worthless stain on society, the Castle. It's always the darn Castle.
“Yes indeed, Sire,” I confirm and his eyes narrow at me, like it's some sort of heinous crime fer me to be goin' there an' with his superiority complex, he probably thinks it is.
“You're very lucky that they'd hire someone of your background to work for them,” He sneers. I bite my tongue... hard. 
“Mah background, Sire?” I question, unable to disguise the bite in mah tone completely and he smirks, radiatin' smugness. He knows he's rankled me. 
“Come now. A woman such as yourself from a dirty little apple farm in a dirty little town? Hardly a respectable choice on the part of the Princess, I must say.”
I know what he's doin'. He's pushin' mah buttons, tryin' get a rise outta me. That's all it'd take. Jus' me sayin' a few words an' mah livelihoods out the window. 
Instead of takin' the bait, despite how furious I am, I merely smile then tip mah hat to him.
“Ah consider it an honour mahself!” I say, forcing cheer into the words and he scowls. “Ah gotta get goin' now, Sire. Ah've got that order to make and mah dirty little apple farm has a lot of work that needs doin' on it.”
And then I turn Kicks back around and trot away, mah hand clenching around his reins as I grit my teeth, bristlin' on the inside.
“Mind ya' tongue, AJ... Ya' almost slipped up there an' ya' know what he's like,” I mutter. Yeah, he's petty is what he is. He'd flip his lid over nothin' jus' to see me suffer. 
The weird part is that I don't even know what I did. It started around the time that I started deliverin' everythin' via the side entrance to the Castle though I don't get why it's such a darn issue.
It was fine before. He'd ignore me but that weren't no different from what he did to anybody else so I weren't bothered. It jus' grates at mah nerves how he always tries get under mah skin like that now...
Hotheaded dumbass.

I arrive at the gates only a short while later without any further hiccups and am greeted by a familiar face that instantly brings me to smile.
“Mornin' Twilight!” I greet and she looks up from her check list and returns mah smile. The girl doesn't often go places, too busy studyin' and workin'... Kinda like mahself I suppose so I reckon that seein' any kinda friendly folk is welcome to 'er.
“Good morning, Applejack. How are you today?” She asks and I shrug, mah eyes dropping to the saddle.
“About the same as usual... Bumped into the Prince on the way over,” I return. She doesn't bother to hide her distaste and snorts openly at mah words. She can get away with that with bein' so close to the Princess an' all.
“Oh fantastic... What did he say this time?” She questions wearily as I climb off Kicks, pausin' to pat cheek before I tug him forward gently by his reins.
“Same as usual. Nothin' much other than Ah don't deserve to be here,” I reply as I walk mah horse forward towards the drop-off point; a small side door that leads to the kitchens. 
Twilight falls into step beside me, sighin' heavily as she hugs her clipboard to 'erself.
“I could talk with the Princess, you know? I'm sure she'd do something about it,” She explains and I shake mah head.
“Nah, Twi... Ah don't wanna cause any problems. Besides, it'll only make it worse... The Prince tends to hold a grudge.”
Twilight nods though she doesn't look happy about it. She kicks a worn boot against the floor. I always wonder why she wears 'em when her main job is as secretary.
“You've earned this though, AJ. I know that you find it boring and repetitive but at least the pay's good and you deserve that,” She says to me and I nod, smilin' at 'er.
“Ah guess Ah do alright. It's kinda peaceful... Jus' a long ride is all an' Ah gotta set out so early that mah sleep pattern's kinda all over the place,” I explain.
“And you don't like being away from the farm too, right?” Twilight adds knowingly and I shake mah head at her in wonder then chuckle a tad.
“Ya' know me too well, Twi.”
“And I understand your issues with travel but I spoke to the Princess and she says she'd rather not bulk order because she loves the freshness of the crops.”
I can appreciate that. It's fussy and irritatin' and means more time spent travellin' for me but I can understand a hankerin' for some fresh food. There's nothin' I like better myself.
But still, even by the culinary standards of somebody like mahself, every day seems a bit... much.
“Why not every other day though? Food won't go bad after a day an' it seems plum silly that Ah've gotta be ridin' out in the middle o' the night jus' to get here for her Highness' breakfast...” Then I realise what I've jus' said. “Er, not that there's anythin' wrong with it. Ah appreciate 'er generosity an' all with what she pays me and Ah ain't really complainin'!” I blurt hurriedly and Twilight laughs, wavin' a hand at me.
“Oh, AJ. You seem to think that one day she'll step outside and chew your head off and I keep telling you that she's nice. She'd never threaten your job just because you're voicing your thoughts! She welcomes free-speech! Positively encourages it in fact,” Twilight says and I rolls mah eyes at her. It's a familiar spiel but this ain't a sermon and she ain't no preacher so I ain't gonna be takin' 'er word for it no matter how trustworthy she may be.
“Oh yeah? Well, Blueblood's the figurehead for that so called 'free speech' so Ah ain't sure whatta believe,” I return as I release the cart from Kicks then step into the small stall beside the back entrance and tie mah horse's reins to a post. I pat his cheek briefly then he immediately goes to chowin' down on the fresh hay that's been put ready for 'im as I stretch out some of the kinks in mah achin' back.
Poor stallion likes the ride about as much as I do, I reckon.
I step back out and Twilight's there with her little check list, scribbling away like always and jus' like always, when she sees me comin', she jumps skittishly and holds the check list close to herself protectively. It kinda bothers me but usually I won't say nothin'. Today though, I'm feelin' kinda brave and so figurin' no harm'd come from it, I ask 'er.
“What're ya' writin' on that?” I question and she pauses.
“Just... inventory.”
“Ya' ain't even facin' the cart, sugar cube,” I point out and she blinks.
“The sun was in my eyes.”
“There's a huge hunk o' tree providin' shade, Twi,” I return instantly and she blinks once again.
“The wind made the branches sway and the light caught me." Her pupils dilate as I stare at her longer and mah eyes narrow. Is she lyin'? It sounds ridiculous to me but why would she lie about it unless-... unless it's about me!
“Are you makin' notes on me?!” I demand and her eyes widen.
“W-What?! No!” She protests and I huff disbelievin'ly .
“Show me then."
“What?” 
I approach and she grips the clipboard tighter as I come to a halt in front of her and fold mah arms sternly.
“Show me then...” I repeat slowly and she gulps. I'm sure I can see a nervous sweat formin' on 'er brow.
“Erm... We should get the food inside,” She squeaks as she steps back and I huff in annoyance. She's takin' notes on me... I know she is but I jus' can't believe it.
“Twi... Are ya' lyin' to me?” I press, even though I'm not really askin' and she shakes her head silently, choosin' to stare down at 'er boots instead. 
I sigh heavily as my arms drop down and mah hands stuff deep into mah pockets.
“C'mon, Twi... Jus' be honest with me, 'kay?” I say, my tone pleading and she falters a moment.
“Well...” She begins then her knuckles, white from her grip, slowly return to flesh tones as she draws the clipboard away from herself and looks down at it. “... The Princess asked me to.”
“What? Keep tabs on me? Don't she trust a farm girl to keep 'er word?” I question, insulted more than angry. If the Princess is so darn wonderful then why is she havin' a friend o' mine spy on me. It seems like double-standards to me.
“No! It's not like that! She-... She's interested in you.”
… What?
“What?” I repeat aloud in baffled wonder and Twilight pauses then finally looks up to meet my gaze. Her face tints pink.
“She... thinks you're cute.”
A strangled croak escapes me as my mouth drops open. Oh. She- Oh... Huh... Wow. I tug on the collar of mah shirt as heat rises to mah face.
“She-... She thinks Ah'm cute?” 
Twilight blushes deeper then smiles sheepishly at me.
“Yes.”
“Wow... Er... Wow...” I drone in wide eyed shock and I wander over to mah cart and lean against it then slide off mah Stetson and grip it tight, twistin' the leather between mah hands. I must be havin' some weird kinda dream or somethin' 'cuz stuff like this doesn't happen. Especially not to commoners. Did Ah get drunk? Eat somethin' bad? Hit mah head?
“Are you okay?” Twilight questions and I look to her.
“No! O' course Ah ain't!” I cry and she frowns. “Ah jus' found out that the Princess has been crushin' on me for Celestia knows how long and that's...” I hesitate, my voice lowering. “That's nuts, Twi.”
“Well... Come on, AJ, I don't think you're really giving yourself enough credit,” Twilight protests and I stare at her. Oh Hell, what is she even talkin' 'bout? “... I'm serious! There's plenty to like about you!”
“Ah'm sorry but- Look, Twi... Ah don't have self esteem issues but the thought of the Princess havin' any sort of interest in somebody as... average and... downright poor as me is jus'... plum crazy.”
Twilight frowns at me deeply, pouting disapprovin'ly as she does.
“You're not average, Applejack. You're a lot more than average.”
And with those words, I feel mahself reluctantly warmin' back up to her... even if she didn't protest the fact I'm poor... even though I am. I have the right to be a tad put out by that.
I huff quietly then massage the bridge of my nose as a dull ache forms deep within my skull. It's too early and I'm too tired to deal with this yet. I replace mah Stetson atop mah head then rub mah cheek with a rough hand. The warmth there is fadin' and I'm a lil' less... stunned at least, even if I'm still reelin' on the inside.
“Thanks, Twilight. I appreciate ya' sayin' that.”
“No problem, AJ.”
Then I take a deep breath and square mah shoulders.
“So, lets get this food inside shall we? Then you can tell me all about those notes ya'll have been makin' these past months,” I say with a smirk and Twilight blushes again, the red vivid on her pale skin. If I've gotta feel awkward and weird then she's gotta too. It's only fair after all.
“... Do I have to?” She whines pitifully.
I laugh at her as I grab a sack of potatoes from the back of the cart and haul it over mah shoulder.
“Of course ya' do! Ya' owe me!”
And she can't really argue with that and so she doesn't. 
She's still amusin'ly flustered 'bout it though.
Yet... even as I laugh at 'er some more, I can't get rid o' the feelin' of eyes on me.