They say that some ponies never forget. They say that some never fail to recognize a face, to look back at a name, or even remember things from ages past.
I am one of those ponies.
It was a long time ago when I met him, almost too long ago. And yet, his face appears to me clear as day whenever I think about him.
Hay, what am I saying? I never even got his name.
Still, that don’t change the fact that this colt was a pivotal point in my life. Not in a lovey-dovey mushy-gushy way. At least, I didn’t think so. Still, it don’t take a special somepony to change your life. I guess I’m kind of living proof of that.
Now, why am I saying this? Well you see, it was just a few days ago that I saw him again in the same city we met in: Manehattan. I thought I’d never go back there. But, Rainbow Dash and the others convinced me that it was for the best; Rarity’s fashion show was important to her, and that made it important to us. So, I packed my bags and went on a trip. I remember when I was packing, Big Mac and Granny Smith came in to talk to me.
“You sure you want to do this, sis?”
I stuffed the last bandana in my saddlebag and zipped it up. “I’m sure.” I started to walk towards the door.
Granny stepped in front of me and put a hoof on my chest, stopping me in my tracks. “Look Applejack, we all know that Manehattan was a huge part of your life. It made you who you are.” She put her hoof down, and looked me in the eye. “That said, you know who might be waiting for you there, honey. Perhaps it’d be better if you stayed."
“Granny, I can’t.” I said softly, not meeting her eyes. “I can’t just leave Rarity like this. She’s done so much for us, and I need to repay her. Ma and Pa would do the same.”
“But Ma and Pa ain’t here, AJ!” Big Mac shouted. “Look, that Manehattan colt hurt you, that much I know, and—”
“No.”
My big brother blinked. “What?”
I turned towards Big Mac and smiled. “You think he hurt me, and that’s why I don’t want to go back.” Big Mac slowly nodded. “Well, I’ll tell you both now, that ain’t the truth. In fact, it ain’t nowhere near the truth.” I pushed past Granny and Big Mac, who were both confused and staring at my retreating figure.
I looked back and smiled sadly. “It’s the other way around.”
I walked down the stairs and didn’t look back.
After that, I boarded the train, all my dread buried beneath a happy front that I put on while I'm with my friends. Don't get me wrong, I was quite excited to head to the big city with everypony, if only because this time I wouldn't be alone. Everypony was chatting about the things they’d do when we got to Manehattan: Rarity had to get to her fashion show, Twilight was excited about visiting some museums, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie were chatting along about how great they’d think Hinny of the Hills would be. Fluttershy had whispered that she wanted to see Central Park. Spike of course was chatting it up with Rarity, trying to get her attention.
Me? I didn’t really know what I wanted. I was just glad to be with some friends. I looked around, seeing everypony was happy and excited. I smiled. If they were happy to go, then so was I. I mean, I was as excited to see that musical as everypony else was. It just...it felt more like something on the side. Kind of like having that optional whipped cream with an apple pie. Pushing all these thoughts out of my head, I tipped my hat down and settled down for a good snooze. It was a few hours train ride anyways. Might as well spend it doing something, even if that something was snoring.
At least, that was what I was planning to do, until a little voice spoke up next to me.
“Applejack.”
I shifted, ignoring her.
“Applejack.”
I didn’t move, trying to pretend I was asleep.
“Applejack, even without speaking, you’re a terrible liar!”
I groaned, opened an eye, and was met with a stunning electric blue orb. Figures. It was Pinkie Pie.
I grunted and sat up, pushing my hat out of my face. “Alright Pinkie. What’s it you want to know?”
“Oh, nothing!” She said, smiling widely at me. “I was just wondering why you’re sitting all by yourself over here.” Pinkie beamed at me again. I raised an eyebrow at her, not sure if that’s really what she wanted. After all, with Pinks, you can never really tell. I waited for her to yell, “JUST KIDDING!” and give me the real question, but it never came. Finally, after about two minutes of just staring at each other, I sighed.
“Alright, here’s why I’m all alone over here—”
Pinkie gasped, stuffing her hoof in my mouth. “Is it because you’re afraid of a pie monster that you and Big Mac made?”
I raised an eyebrow at her.
“Ooooh, that makes a looot of sense! Thank you Applejack! You’re so worried about your friends that you’re waiting for it to attack before you use your secret Apple-Fu moves on it to defeat it before it can hurt us!" Pinkie rambled, not once pausing for a breath. "Wow AJ, I didn’t know you were—”
That was enough. I spat her hoof out. “What? No! There ain’t no pie monster and there ain’t no such thing as Apple-Fu! I told you this already, bucking apples ain't a form of fancy fighting.” I leaned back into my seat and sighed. “No, what’s bothering me is the fact that I’m a little nervous about going back to Manehattan.”
“What do you—ooooohhh.” Pinkie said, calming down. “So the city scares you?”
“Well, not so much the city, Pinks.” I said, looking out the window. “It’s more like...I’m scared of who I’ll see there.”
“Like your Aunt and Uncle Orange?”
I shook my head. “No, they didn’t mind my leaving them. They was really understanding when I left; told me that they knew I wasn't meant to be there in the first place.” His face appeared in my mind: his shining white smile, his navy blue mane and cyan coat. “No, I’m scared of meeting someone else there, someone that changed my life.”
Pinkie giggled. “Ooooh, old friend?”
I smiled at her. “Yeah, something like that, I guess.” Suddenly, she burst into laughter, leaving me confused. Then I realized what she meant. “Oh gosh no, Pinkie! No! That’s not what I meant!”
“Don’t worry, AJ, I got you!” Pinkie Pie said, grinning knowingly at me. “Just remember, you don’t have to be afraid. Just gotta keep moving on!” Before I could respond, she bounced off my bench and went back to chatting with Rainbow Dash about Hinny of the Hills.
For a while, I sat there, just staring at her. So random, so hyper, so...carefree. I smiled.
Maybe she’s got a point. I thought, before tipping my hat back over my face and letting myself zip off to dreamland.
TWOOOTTWOOOT! “ATTENTION ALL PASSENGERS! WE HAVE NOW ARRIVED IN THE BIG APPLE, MAAAAAANEHATTAN!”
I started, jumping up and out of my seat. I groaned as my flank made contact with the cold floor of the coach. “Land’s sake, couldn’t somepony at least have given me a warning?”
All of my friends were hustling and bustling, running around to make sure they didn't forget anything. I pulled my groggy self off the floor and grabbed my only two possessions: my hat and my saddlebags. As I stood waiting for my friends to gather their things, I let a smug grin pop up on my face. Sometimes, it sure does pay to pack light.
After what seemed like ages, mostly thanks to Rarity and her infinite amount of “necessary accessories”, we made it out of the station and started to make our way to the hotel. As we walked and marveled at the sites of the city, I kept my eye out for him. I honestly don't know why I did...for all I know, he might've moved to another city. Or heck, he might've died.
“Your old friend still bothering you?”
I jumped, startled by the sudden whisper in my ear. I turned to see Pinkie Pie giving me a devilish smile. “Sweet Celestia Pinkie, don’t you ever do that again, do you hear me?”
“Whatever, Applejack!” Pinkie said, giggling. She sighed. “I guess it doesn’t help that you’re heartbroken right now, too…” She ducked as my hoof flew over her head. When she popped back up, she gave me a look of shock. “Applejack! I never thought you’d use Apple-Fu on a friend!” She sped off as I prepared to bob her over the head again, laughing as she seemingly flew away.
I stood there, breathing heavily before giving way to chuckles. “That pony...I swear I’ll never understand her.” Now smiling, I trotted a little faster to catch up with my friends. As we walked down the street, a sweet succulent smell suddenly caught my nose. I sniffed the air, wondering where such an enamoring scent was coming from. I turned to my left, then to my right. That’s when I saw it. The hot dog stand.
I stopped dead in my tracks.
“Hey, you hungry? I got something for you.”
A little colt holding a carrot hot dog was standing over a crying orange filly in the alley behind the stand. She had a small sack on her back. She was lost, and looked up at him with her watery eyes.
“D-didn’t you steal that?”
The colt smiled that shining white smile. “Nah, just borrowing it. I was gonna eat it, but you seemed like you need it more.” He handed it to her before walking off. “Just remember to eat the relish! It’s the best part.”
Then he walked away.
Suddenly, a brown bun appeared in my face, blocking my view of the hot dog stand. I blinked, and realized it was a carrot hot dog, held up by a pink hoof.
“Come on, Applejaaack!” She cooed, as if baiting me like a foal. “Here comes the choo choo train!”
I snapped back to reality and took the carrot hot dog. “Sorry Pinkie I was…” I looked back to the stand. The filly and the colt were gone.
Of course they’re gone, AJ. I scolded myself. That was just a memory.
I turned back to Pinkie and smiled. “Thanks for the hot dog.” I took a bite, relishing the sweetness of the carrot, the bitterness of the mustard, and the stinging saltiness of the ketchup. But best of all was the sweet chunky green bits—the relish. I swallowed. “It’s delicious."
Pinkie stared at me. “You okay, Applejack?”
I nodded earnestly, feeling better with food in my belly. I finished off the rest of the carrot hot dog. “Yeah, I’m great. Why do you ask?”
“Well...you’re crying.”
Immediately my hoof shot up to my face, met with wetness. Pinkie Pie was right; I was crying. I wiped away my tears and smiled back at Pinkie with watery eyes. “I..I’m fine, don’t worry Pinkie. I guess I’m just tired.” I looked down the street to see our friends at the hotel. “Look, everypony else is already at the hotel. We’d better catch up.” I trotted away without giving her a chance to respond.
As I walked away, I took a moment to look back at the carrot hot dog stand. There, I could see the filly and the colt again, going through the same memory. My hoof went to my face again, feeling more tears. I wiped them away, and made my way to our group.
As everypony chatted, I wondered to myself. If just seeing that does this...what’ll happen if I see him?
The sun broke out over the city horizon. I saw next to the window, looking on as Celestia’s magic brought light into the world. I sighed. Dreams...sometimes I wish I could forget those. Since I woke up from mine this morning, I hadn’t been able to get back to sleep. I just sat next to the window for the rest of the morning, waiting for the sunrise. Looking around me, I saw that my friends were still asleep.
I started to feel restless now. It just wasn’t in me to just sit still all the time. That’s one reason why I lived in the country after all; more air, more space. I sighed, grabbed my hat off the nightstand, and walked over to the door.
Maybe a little walk will clear my head.
So I went ahead and made my way out of the door, tiptoeing quietly to make sure the others didn’t wake up. I closed the door as softly as I could, flinching a little when the sharp click noise seemed to roar. As I made my way down the halls, I looked around, taking in the still hotel atmosphere. This place was really nice; the halls were spick and spam clean, the walls covered with weird looking paintings. I sniggered as I walked past them. Most of this “art” looked like something Applebloom would doodle at school. Still, I suppose that’s why I’m not much of an art mare.
Before I knew it, I had exited the building and was walking around the city, just like the first time I came here. I remember that the first time, I was filled with such wonder. The first time, I had been looking for somepony. Somepony I needed to find.
That somepony was me.
Looking around, I couldn’t believe such a place existed. The buildings were so tall! The streets were so full! Back home in Ponyville, things were never like this. It was always so boring back there. Nothing exciting ever happened in that small town. But here in the big city, there was always something new!
I trotted around, trying to find Aunt and Uncle Orange’s partmantle-complex-thingy. They said something like that in their letter. It was supposed to be some huge building that a lot of ponies lived in, but that seemed to be one of those on every block!
Soon, I began to feel a little scared. All the huge concrete buildings started to look the same, and all the ponies were griping at me to get out of the way! I tried to push my way through the crowd, but all that happened was that I fell right down. I curled up on the sidewalk, shaking.
“Hey, you!”
The voice caught my attention. I looked around, trying to find out who it was.
“Over here!”
I looked to my left and saw a young colt wearing a newsie cap about my age in an alley, beckoning me over. Now normally, I wouldn’t go over there; Granny Smith always told me not to trust strangers. But this colt seemed so friendly, and in this sea of grumps, that’s all I needed. I got up and ran over to him, safely out of the traffic. Once there, I took a moment to breathe before I thanked him.
“No problem,” He said, laughing a little. He studied me curiously. “Say, what’s your name?”
I looked him in the eyes, wary. “Why would I tell a pony I just met my name?”
He shrugged. “I kind of saved your life, didn’t I kid?” Kid?! Like he wasn’t one!
“I-I ain’t no kid!” I shouted at him. “You’re not much older anyways.” He only shrugged again.
“I guess you’re right there.” He studied me curiously, his navy blue mane scrunching as he frowned. “You from out of town?”
“Huh?”
“Your accent isn’t like most ponies here.” He said, smiling. “You’re new to Manehattan, aren’t you?”
I sniffed and looked back at the street, still full of bustling ponies. “Yeah. So what if I am?”
I looked back to see him with a raised eyebrow. “So what? You almost got trampled out there, and it’s kind of obvious that you’re lost.”
I looked at him, trying to save face. “Lost?! Am not!”
“Really? Where are you then?”
“Ummm…”
He waited a few moments before grinning. "Alright then, that settles it Miss Anonymous. You’re lost, and you need a guide. I just so happen to know my way around this entire city.” He took off his little newsie cap and bowed to me. “Where you need to go?”
I stared, confused at this kid. I just met him. Why does he want to help me? Then again, he was right. I was lost, and I didn’t really have any other option.
“Alright...I’m looking for my Aunt and Uncle Orange’s place.”
He knitted his eyebrows. “That could be anywhere. You got a specific address?”
“Uh…” I shook my head, cheeks reddening. “No.”
The colt rolled his eyes. “How about a building name?”
I thought for a second, and the name came to me. “Oh, uh, it’s the Grand Galloper Partmantle Complex! They wrote it in their letter.”
He stood there for a moment, staring at me as if I’d said something wrong. Then, he burst out into laughter and collapsed onto the ground. Confused as hay, I could only look at him. Yet, he just kept laughing.
“What in tarnation’s wrong with you?” I said, starting to get angry.
The colt finally got up, wiping away tears. “I’m sorry...but partmantle? You mean apartment, right?”
I pulled out my aunt and uncle’s letter and studied it, and blushed. “Oh um...yeah.”
“Alright then follow me. It’s not that far; just a few blocks away.” He extended a hoof, smiling. His smile was shining white, appearing really out of place in such a dark city. “Come on, then, Ms. Anonymous!”
I huffed and grabbed his hoof. “Well then, lead the way! I suppose I’ll call you Mister Anon—anon...Nobody then!”
He laughed, and off we went, giggling into the city lights.
I smiled as the memory came to me. It was quite the moment, that one: Mr. Nobody and Ms. Anonymous, running about the city to get to an unknown destination. When we got the building, he didn’t go in, saying that his hooves were dirty and that the ponies working here would kick him out if he got dirt on their floors. Didn’t make much sense to me, but I just said thanks and went on in to my aunt and uncle’s room.
I stopped to take in my surroundings. I looked to my right, and I saw another memory—a park bench.
“Hey, Nobody. Why didn’t you come in to meet my family?”
Nobody shrugged. “I didn’t want to bother them. Especially not with a pony like me.”
I’d been here at Manehattan for a couple of weeks now, and I was a completely different pony. I had my hair done, I was speaking differently, and I was wearing dresses and jewelry. The country filly from Ponyville was gone, replaced now by a civilized young Manehattanite. This young Manehattanite was sitting with Nobody on a bench in Central Park, looking up at the clouds.
I laughed a bit. Nobody. I’ve no idea why, but for some reason we never bothered to learn each other’s names; we just stuck with the little jokes we called each other. He was Nobody, and I was Ms. Anonymous. Our reasons? None really.
So there I was, sitting there, wondering why he didn’t come in. “I don’t get it. What do you mean by ‘a pony like you?’”
Nobody started to get a little annoyed. “It’s nothing. Can’t we just talk about something else?”
“No!” I shouted, now a little irritated myself. “Aunt and Uncle Orange have been wanting to meet you for the past three weeks.”
“What’s your point, Ms. Anonymous?”
“My point is that you turned down every offer of hospitality we tried to give you!” I yelled. “That’s not polite at all. You need to come meet them; after all, they’re taking care of me—”
He tried to speak. “Look, Anon—”
“—they say it ain’t nice to turn down invitations as many times as you did—”
“Anon—”
“—besides you’re my friend, and I want you to meet them—”
“MS. ANONYMOUS!”
I stopped ranting, surprised by his sudden outburst. He looked me in the eye, anger in his face.
“Do you want to know why I didn’t want to go to your family’s fancy apartment?!” Nobody barked. “Huh? Do you?!”
I slowly nodded my head.
“It’s because I’m jealous, okay? I’m jealous of all that you got, all that you have!” Nobody said. “I don’t have any of it!”
I snapped at him. “What, like all these nice clothes and stuff? That’s a sorry as hay excuse.”
He cackled bitterly. “No, not that you idiot!” He looked at me and said something I’d never forget. “The fact that you have a family!”
I sat there, stunned. “You...you don’t have a family?”
“No, I don’t.” He growled. “I grew up alone, fending for myself, stealing when I had to. Then I meet you, and I think I’ve got a friend. But instead, you want to be more like them, the city ponies who abandoned me in the city’s underground.
“So make no mistake, I don't care for any petty possessions,” Nobody growled. “I just want somepony to care for me, to feed me...to watch out for me…” He started to tear up. “To...to…” He bursted into sobs, and pulled me into a hug. “To love me!" He sobbed and sobbed, unable to stop. I just let him cry into my shoulder.
I mean, what else could I do?
Those tears fell onto my shoulder then, and they still do now. That was the day that I found out that my first friend was homeless, all because the city ponies were too busy with their own lives to try and help a foal out. It confused me, it did. Nothing like that would ever happen in Ponyville. Back there, everypony took care of each other.
I remember that it made me start to wonder: were there more of these colts and fillies in Manehattan? I remembered that there were always homeless ponies wherever I went in the city, just like there are now. I guess I just assumed that Nobody was better off like me.
So again, I remember being confused. Did I really want to be like these city folk if that’s what they were like?
I kept walking, until I bumped into some ponies rushing out of some building. I looked up, and was surprised to see the Manehattan train station. Here...here was my final memory in Manehattan. Here was the last time I saw Nobody.
I ran and ran, trying to get to the station as fast as I could. I needed to get home, back to Big Macintosh and Granny Smith! I never realized how much I missed them, how much I needed them.
I guess it took Nobody yelling at me about not having a family to remind me of what I had. I was so bitter about having to work all day at the farm that I wanted to go away to the city, where I heard life was so much easier. It was, in a sense; Aunt and Uncle Orange cared for my every need, not even letting me do any chores. But it just didn’t feel right; they felt more like some foalsitters than family.
That’s why after that rainbow appeared to me, I knew I had to leave. I ran out and told them, and they only smiled at me.
“We knew you wouldn’t really fit in here, Applejack. You belong with Granny Smith and your real family. Go on, dear. Go home.”
They said it with a smile, and I couldn’t feel any happier. I ran up and hugged them, before dashing away to get to the train station.
So there I was, running through a sea of ponies to get on the Ponyville train. I had no frilly dress on, no fancy necklaces on...just my old manestyle and nothing else. It felt so relieving. I had finally reached the train when all of a sudden…
“Hey! Ms. Anonymous!”
I turned to see Nobody, staring at me in confusion. Immediately, guilt started to creep up on me. “Oh, h-hey Nobody!”
“Where are you going?” He said, walking over to me. I tried to hide my train ticket, but he grabbed it before I could put it in my saddlebag. He read over the words, and froze. For a moment he just stood there.
Five seconds past. The train whistle blew, signalling the train was leaving soon.
“Uh, Nobody?”
7 seconds. The conductor called for the last passengers.
“Nobody, I need to—”
He threw the ticket at my face and turned around, walking away. I called after him, telling him to wait.
After my third call, he stopped. “What is it you want?”
“I just...I just…” I stammered, not sure what to say. “I’m sorry, alright? It’s just...after what you told me, I knew that I really didn’t belong here, and I wasn’t meant to be a city pony.”
“Oh really? And why’s that?”
I looked at him. “I mean, look at me! I don’t fit the role!”
Nobody turned around, tears in his eyes. His face was laced with anger and sadness. “Oh really? Because I think you do.”
“What?! How?!” I shouted indignantly.
“Remember what I said?” Nobody whispered. “I said all I wanted was somepony to care for me, and instead these city ponies abandoned me and left me to rot.” He turned around, and started walking again. He spoke his final words to me as he drifted away, his voice full of bitterness. “How’s that any different than abandoning a friend?”
I was shocked. “Wait, Nobody!”
He just kept walking.
“Nobody, stop!”
He slipped deeper and deeper into the crowd, until I couldn’t see him any longer.
I gritted my teeth, trying to hold back my tears. I didn’t want it to end this, way...my first friendship, ruined by my choices…
“Hey, filly.” I looked up to see the conductor looking down at me. “You getting on the train, or what?”
I wiped away my tears and sniffed. “Um, y-yeah. H-here’s my ticket.” I gave it to him and walked somberly up the stairs that would take me to where I belonged—home.
But at what price?
I stood in the middle of the train station, watching all the ponies bustle about as they departed to and arrived from different locations. Here, I was frozen; all I could see was Nobody walking away from me, heartbroken as his only friend left him. The weight of that was still on my shoulders, and I could probably never get rid of it. I sniffed, and wiped my cheek. I stared at the ground, lost in thought.
“Um, ma’am? You have a train ticket?”
My head snapped up, seeing a pony dressed in a conductor’s uniform. He had deep green eyes, a cyan coat, and a Manehattan-styled navy blue mane. He looked at me, curious and holding his hoof out to receive a ticket I didn’t have.
My jaw dropped. It was Nobody.
He' gotten older for sure, but there was no mistaking him. I never forget a face, and this face belonged to the very same friend I abandoned in this very spot all those years ago.
“I...I, uh…” I could only stutter.
He chuckled. “I have that effect on a lot of mares. Now, tell me: do you have a ticket? The next few trains leaves in five minutes.”
I choked back sobs. He didn’t remember me. I bit my lip and gave my muffled reply. “N-no, I don’t, s-sir. I’m just...just takin’ a look around.”
His face turned to a concern look. “You doing alright there, ma’am? I could get somepony to help—”
“No no, that you don’t have to do nothing.” I said, wiping away my tears. “I just...I guess you just remind me of somepony I once knew.”
He scrunched his eyebrows—sweet Celestia, he did that the same way!—and shook his head. “I don’t remember a mare like you.” He looked back at me and winked. “Trust me, I would remember a mare as pretty as you.”
I blushed. “Oh hush up! You don’t know half of what you’re saying. Besides, I need to get going back to my hotel room...my friends are probably up and worried about me.” I started to walk away, a smile now adorning my face. Suddenly a voice stopped me.
“Wait!”
I turned around, hoping that maybe...just maybe he remembered me. My eyes met his, and I thought I saw something click—
“How about dinner later tonight? My treat!”
I slapped my hoof against my forehead. Really? A date?! I brought my hoof down and smiled at him. “Now why in tarnation would I go out with a stallion I just met?”
Nobody smiled back at me. “I kind of saved your life, didn’t I, kid?”
I frowned. This felt awfully familiar. “I ain’t no kid...and how did you? Save my life, I mean.”
“Well, an angel falling from heaven could get hurt.” He said, grinning slyly. “Good thing I was there to catch you.”
I walked over and punched his side. “You’re lucky you’re cute, you know that?”
He groaned. “Trust me, I know.” Then he smiled and grabbed my hoof. “So...dinner. That a yes or a no?”
I smiled, turned around and walked away again, swishing my tail. “Hm...I suppose a free dinner’d be nice for a change.”
His baby blue face lit up. “Alright! So meet me here at around six o’clock?”
I turned my head and gave him a grin. “Maybe. Now if you excuse me, I have to go get ready for a dinner with a nobody.” With that I walked off, beaming because the weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
“Hm...I suppose a free dinner’d be nice for a change.”
I, Star Shine, stood there for a moment, not believing my luck. I just got a date! I can’t believe it! “Alright! So meet me here at six o’clock?”
Damn, man, you are freaking good! A date with a gorgeous mare like this! I thought excitedly.
The orange mare turned around walking a bit while swishing her tail flirtatiously before looking back, a smile on her face. “Maybe. Now if you excuse me, I have to go get ready for a dinner with a nobody.”
With that, my date walked off. My elation soared, and soon I was dancing. But then, something she said started to tick at my mind.
“—I have to go get ready for a dinner with a nobody.”
I stopped dancing as a memory started to resurface.
She said nobody...nobody...Nobody! I looked in the mare’s direction, searching for her in the sea of ponies. She was gone.
“No way…” I whispered to myself. “Ms. Anonymous?”