If I didn’t find applejack soon I was going to have to turn back before I got lost. I was only walking for ten, fifteen minutes. But that was enough time for the path to disappear behind me.
I was just about to turn back when I saw a filled apple basket sitting under a distant apple tree. As I walked towards it the number of basket’s multiplied. At least I had a sign that I was going in the right direction.It wasn’t long before I found applejack’s wagon, and not too far off I saw her resting under an apple tree.
I didn’t really want to wake her up, if she was even sleeping, but I couldn’t help myself and started my approach. “Hey applejack, hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
She lifted her hat off her eyes to see who it was; she greeted me with a smile. “Howdy there Jonathan, not at all. say what brings ya out here?” she asked
“Applebloom said I might find you out here. I came to see what you were doing.” I said, now standing in front of her
She pushed herself up and off the tree to all fours, and started to walk towards her wagon. “Ah just finished up some buckin. Now I got ta load all these here apple basket’s inside my wagon...” she said lifting a hoof to the filled baskets.
When I really saw all the baskets I realized that this was going take her some time to do it on her own. So I thought I’d offer her a hand. “Mind if I help?” I asked her
She turned to me confused but smiled with appreciation. "Come on now, ah can’t ask you ta help me with my chores.” she said
I knew applejack never liked to accept help, not saying she needed it, heck I'm the same way. But I didn’t come out here for nothing. I looked to a suitable basket and walked over to it and picked it up. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m offering...” I said with a understandable smirk.
Applejack smirked as well. “Alright, if ya really want to. Thanks though.” she said as she walked over to pick one up as well.
I was glad she let me help; going a whole day without doing any work just didn’t feel right for me. The work wasn’t that hard but it was a bit tiring on the back. Applejack though was probably having it harder since she carried them on her back.
Every time we cleared a section, I’d grab the wagon and pull it over to the next so we wouldn’t have to make longer trips. To keep it from going silent she had asked me what me and bloom were up to. When I was done explaining she seemed happy to hear that I was treating her alright. It still made me feel nice thinking about bloom, but I tried to keep my mind more on work, but the feeling didn’t go away.
Working with Applejack in the orchard for some reason felt right. Dispute it being hard, it was good work. And worked up an even better sweat. In a wired way, it even felt peaceful to be working in the apple fields. I guess that comes from me always wanting to live on a farm, where there’s always work to do. Now don't get me wrong I do like spending some time inside, but if theirs something to do out then why not right?
When me and applejack had finished loading the apple baskets she went to hook herself up to the wagon. “Mind if I pull it?” I asked. I know it was kind of a strange question but I wanted to try my hand at it, plus it would help.
She looked at me again with a confused look on her face. ”Ah guess... but why are ya’ll so eager ta help me with my chores?”
I shrugged. “It’s just what I do... back at home all I do is work, for my mom as well as family and friends. I find it hard to relax if someone I know is doing work and there’s a way I can help. I guess you could say I’m a workhorse.” I said chuckled lightly
Applejack chuckled herself. “Ah can appreciate that, lot of pony’s come to me as well lookin fer help, and it just don’t feel right to say no. Anyway, hook up and let’s get a move on.” she said cheerfully
She turned and started to walk off back to the direction of the road. I went up to the wagon, something just occurred to me. I realized I wouldn’t be able to ‘hook up’ I’d have to cruel on my knees. So instead I put my hands behind my back and grabbed the wooden harness and started to fallow behind her.
Applejack waited for me to catch up once she got to the road so we could walk side by side. After I couple of minutes, I noticed she was staring at me out of the corner of my eye. I didn't turn to her, but smiled and chuckled lightly. “Not quite use to me yet?” I said teasingly
She shook her head and looked away. ”Uh... sorry” she said awkwardly.
“It’s fine, if you were in my world it probably be the same thing” I said looking to her. I didn’t mind her staring at me, I kind of liked the attention. A lot of people back at home normally overlook me and paid next to zero attention, it was nice for a change.
“So what’s yer world like anyway? Ah mean ya’ll say you found the elements of harmony in a forest and what not. So Ah’m guessin you live in the country.” she suggested
I sighed and shook my head, I felt an inner pain my heart but kept it under wraps. “I wish I could say yer right, but I’d be lying... I’m from the city but I’ve always dreamed on livein in the country.” I replied
“Really? ya fooled me. Ah was certain you lived in the country just by the way ya’ll act.”
That helped a lot with what I was feeling. “Thanks that means a lot coming from someone who lives in the country and not just another city person... or pony.” I said. I was hoping she wouldn’t want to talk about my world, I didn’t really like talking or even thinking for that matter about my world, there’s nothing really I wanted to say about it, but unfortunately she did.
“So what’s that like then?” she asked
I looked away from her and at the road before my feet; I really didn’t want to talk about my world, I never liked or took pleasure about my world, but she asked and I didn’t want to say no, so I started. “Honestly applejack... there isn’t a lot of good things to say about my world. I mean, sure we have advanced technology but what’s the good in having that if everyone is going to abuse it...” I said
“What do ya mean? It can’t be that bad.” she asked again, a bit concerned.
I continued but I started to get a bit louder as I did so. “Your world is rolled be friendship and magic and peace, my world is rolled be hatred, greed... applejack my world is a nightmare, destroyed by war and the people that live within it!”
“If it’s so bad then why doesn’t yer leader do something about it?” she suggested, hoping to provide some answer.
I barely heard applejack; I was too lost and enraged with my thoughts that I was holding in, but then they made themselves known. I shook my head. “Because their no different! sometimes I think their what actually caused it. All they seek is the money, they don't care about the ones that pay for it. There are a lot of bad people in my world, I can’t even walk to my corner store without the fear of getting beaten and robbed! I'm constantly looking over my shoulder because I don't even know if something going to be their to kill me!”
I started losing myself in my emotions. “It’s so hard being my normal cheerful self when the world around me is constantly hating and criticizing on me, even a good portion of my family have been taken by the world I live in. I’ve lived in my neighborhood for my whole life... sixteen years... and I don’t have one person I can call friend, because everyone has lost hope and they spend their days done up on drugs and alcohol!
The reason I stay myself is because I don’t want that to change who I am, I never want to lose my true self, but that's the last thing I'd want. but it’s a constant and hard battle to not give in and...”
I was about to continue when I remembered that applejack was still walking beside me, I forgot that she was even there, I just got careered away.
I looked too her, she was looking at me with a worry and concern look on her face; I realized that I had said too much. I stopped walking and sat down on the dirt road and closed my eyes to study myself and my thoughts. I felt bad that I just poured all that on her, I didn’t want to trouble her with things like that but it just came out, but I had no excuse for my actions...
“I-I’m sorry...” I said softly. I’m normally such a positive person, I was a bit ashamed for venting like that on her but I just happened so fast.
I heard applejack walk towards me; she stood beside me and patted my shoulder with her hoof. “It’s ok sugarcube. Ah’m sorry I asked...” she said in a gentle tone
I regained a bit of myself to face her, and looked into her bright green eyes. “Thanks... but it’s not your fault and it still wasn’t right of me to vent on you like that...”
“Sometimes ya have to... ya can’t keep stuff bottled up like that, it ain’t good fer ya...” applejack reassured me keeping a calm tone.
I knew she was right, and I accepted that, but it’s hard every so often. “I guess your right...” I looked back down to the road. I knew she had a point, keeping thoughts like that, is just another way for my world to corrupt me.
Applejack remained silent for a few seconds to let that sink in. “Ya want me ta pull the wagon the rest of the way...?”
I looked at her and smiled weakly and chuckled, like her I was too stubborn to let that go. “No I’m too stubborn, I said I’d pull it and that’s what I plan on doing...” With those words I stood up off the ground and grabbed the harness once again.
Applejack smiled and chuckled as well. “Couldn’t have said it better myself...” and with that we continued to walk back down the path.
We didn’t talk much walking back, whenever I looked at her she was staring at the road ahead, though she didn’t say anything I could tell she was thinking about everything that I had said. I really wished I hadn’t of done that, but that was the past, couldn't change It now.
Applejack would’ve been the last pony I’d do something like that to. But after it was all said and done, I started to feel better, I had finally gotten some of it off my chest and talking about it helped get it off my mind, I guess she was right after all. I’m normally a vary content person, but with everything that surrounds me, I lose sight of that sometimes, but talking really helped. But in all honesty that wasn't even part.
We were just coming up to the entrance to sweet apple acres, after all our hard work it was nice to be there again, but before we got there I wanted to tell applejack something, before bloom came and wanted to play again.
“Applejack...” I looked at her and made sure I had her attention before continuing. ”Thanks for listening to me, back at home, it’s hard not seeing my friends and taking the challenges of my everyday world alone... thanks for being a good friend and being there.” I said smiling warmly at her.
She smiled warmly back. “No problem Jonathan, that’s what ah’m here for.” she said in a loving tone.
As we walked through the archway applejack turned towards the house. “Thanks fer yer help, ya’ll can park the wagon by the apple cellar over there.” applejack said pointing to a door in the ground.
Looked over and nodded. “Sure thing.”
As I walked over and put the wagon where she had told me, I sighed in relief and was just about to sit down and take a break. Then Applebloom came barreling out of the house and ran past her big sister and up to me. “Hey Jon, what took ya so long?” she asked cheerfully
It didn’t matter how tired I was, I couldn’t help but be cheerful when seeing that little filly. “Hey bloom, I was just helping applejack in the field that’s all.” I said cheerfully
“Do ya wanna do something together?” she asked excitingly
Well there goes my wanting to take a break, but I wasn’t gonna let something like that stop me. “Sure but do you mind if we keep it on the farm. After playing with you and helping applejack, I have to admit, I’m a bit tired.”
She smiled and nodded. “Sure, there’s lots we can do round the farm. what do ya wanna do first?”
I was glad she understood, I didn’t think I would have the energy to do anything else. I started thinking on what she had asked but nothing really came to mind, so I just thought of something random. “I don’t know, why don’t you give me a tour around sweet apple acres.” I suggested
She seemed to like that Idea. “Sure let’s get started!” she cheered, not wanting to waste time.
We started to walk as she showed me around the farm, it was pretty cool actually, seeing everything in person was amazing compared to a TV or computer screen, and this was real. I was having a great time and I could tell that she enjoyed showing me around as well just by her mood.
One of the more notable places she took me was, the cutie mark crusaders clubhouse, but she said that I couldn’t go in, due to it being official CMC business, but I understood. Besides I’m not sure if I really want to know what they’re planning in there so we left that along.
After showing me everything else which took a couple hours, we were nearing the end of the tour; the last place we passed was where applejack trained, in 'The Last Roundup' episode.
I didn’t know why, but I got excited and a rush of energy flowed though me, I couldn’t help myself and asked if I could give it a go, bloom said it be fine, I could tell that she was just as eager to see how well I’d do then I was.
She grabbed a stopwatch that was hanging on a nail next to applejacks ribbons and jumped up on the fence and told me to wait on the white line until she said go. I put the element on the nail that the stopwatch was hanging on and jumped over the fence then took my place on the line.
I made sure I feet were firmly plant foe a good push off and waited for her to say it. I calmed myself and stopped all my thoughts and slowed down my heart beat, focusing only on what was in front of me. When she yelled go, I looked up and launched forward as fast as I could, dust trailing behind me.
The first hurdle was going to be a problem, I was closing in on it quickly and I knew I couldn’t just jump over it, I wouldn’t clear it. So when the timing was right, I jumped arms first and dove over it and when I knew I was clear, I tucked in my weight and landed with a somersault and continued to run without losing pace to the next hurdle.
When I made it over the others, I ran up to the hay bale with a rope attached to it, and grasped it tightly and swung with my body weight and through it as hard as I could, when it passed the line bloom stopped the timer. I stopped for a brief second to catch my breath and asked bloom what my time was.
She was shocked and said I was only four seconds off from applejacks best, four seconds was a number I could live with. And gave her a high five, or hoof... Either way.
When we were done I grabbed the element and put it back around my neck. Applebloom said that was the end of the tour so we started walking back.
It was probably around six or seven o’clock when we got back to the main part of the farm. As me and bloom were walking applejack came out of the house. “Applebloom, it’s time for dinner!” She called
“Ok applejack!” applebloom replied and started running towards the house.
When she went inside, I smiled and turned and started to walk towards the road. I didn’t want the apple family to feel like they had to feed me so I decided to just go so it pressure them, I was thinking of going to the hill and eating there.
I was just about to exit the farm when I heard applejack call from behind me. “And where do ya’ll think yer goin?"
I turned to her a bit confused. “What do ya mean?” I asked
“Ah said its dinner time.” she called again
I was bit surprised that she’d offer something like that, normally people just let me go and forget about me, the whole thing just felt different to me. “Are you sure I don’t want to intrude...”
She seemed surprised I’d asked that, and sounded almost insulted, but she understood where I was coming from. “How could ya’ll possibly be intruding? You helped me and from what ah heard ya also gave bloom a great day and kept her company; ah think you’ve earned a decent meal. Beside where were ya planning on going anyway?” She said
I took a couple steps closer to the house. “Well what about Granny Smith and Big Macintosh?” I asked
“What, them? There fine, granny already knows about ya. When ah was helpin her make dinner, ah told her about you and how yer not from around here and don’t have any place to go, she thought it be a fine idea if ya’ll stayed for dinner. Her words were ‘If he ain’t got a place ta go, then we’ll gave'm a place ta call home’ and big mac won’t think much of it. Now come on before it gets cold.” she said cheerfully with a warm smile
I smiled brightly and ran to the house, I had never been treated like that before, I couldn't discover it. When I got to the porch applejack turned to walk inside. “Thanks applejack...” I said in an appreciative tone. She smiled back and nodded then led me into the house.
I was going to take off my shoes but she said not to worry about it, any dirk that got tracked in could be cleaned up. The happiness I was experiencing I hadn’t felt in a long time, and it made me feel loved, a feeling I rarely got. “Look who decided to join us for dinner.” applejack said cheerfully as she entered the kitchen/dining room.
I came in behind her and saw the apple family sitting at the food filled table, their was all kinds. Roasted corn and steeped carrots and vegetables alike, all tipped off with spices that made the mouth water. It looked and smelt amazing.
Applejack walked over to her seat next to big macintosh at the back of the table, granny smith sat at the front of the table and bloom sat across from her sister. There was an empty seat beside apple bloom, she must of had something to do with that. I felt a bit nervous. I mean, it wasn't them, all this just felt alien, I wasn't use to it.
As I sat down I thought it would only be proper to introduce myself. “Hi big macintosh.” I said to him. He didn’t reply but he smiled and nodded, I expected nothing less from him.
I looked to my left down the table to their granny. “Thank you so much for letting me stay for dinner gr-misses smith...” I said. I almost called her granny, it just felt more natural, I was hoping that she didn’t pick up on it.
She raised an eye brow at me. “Yer welcome. and sunny? if ya want to call me granny you call me granny, I don’t mind...” she said with a old loving smile. I was glad the she didn’t take offense by that, and I smiled and nodded. “Let’s get started then shall we?” she cheered
With that we started to pass the food around the table, granny started the rotation and then passed it to applejack and we continued around the table from there. Every time a plate or bowl would reach me I’d put some on my plate and also some on applebloom’s, what she wanted anyway. When the food made it to everypony and person at the table we all started to eat.
While we were eating something felt off to me, there was like this weird and awkward atmosphere. I looked to every member of the apple family as I was chewing; they were all eating normally, quite chewing and closed mouths, sitting up strait and keeping it civil and well mannerly, even applejack was eating with her mouth closed.
I didn't put it together right away, then I realized that was the problem. This wasn't them. I couldn’t help but to think that they were doing it because of me to make me feel more comfortable, and I appreciate that, but it was doing they exact opposite.
When I swallowed my food I felt like I had to tell them. “Listen...” I started and waited until I had all of their attention before I continued, they all looked to me. “Thanks for trying, but I know you all aren’t this well mannered. Don’t feel like you have to behave because I’m here; please just act like I wasn't. Be yourself.” I said encouragingly
When I was finished they all looked away from me and to granny who raised her eyebrow again glaring at me. “Are you sure...?” she asked pausing long
“Positive.” I replied
She stood up on her chair, still glaring but then she cut loose and smiled. “Dibs on that last corncob!” she yelled.
She took her drenchers out of her mouth and threw them at a piece of corn, claiming it and retrieving it.
When she sat back down she started to chow down on her plate full of food. Applejack and big macintosh looked at each other and smiled and started to fest down on their plates as well, as uncouth as passable.
I turned to bloom, who had her whole face in her dish eating away. I looked to my own plate, at least now I didn’t have to act well mannered. And with that I joined in. And as we all ate our own ways, the feeling want away.
“Who-wee! that was some good eatin.” applejack said leaning back in her chair and placing a hoof on her stomach in satisfaction.
I was leaning on my elbows over the table still trying to digest my food. “It sure was, I don’t think I can eat another bite.” I agreed.
Granny had got up from her chair and walk towards the oven; she grabbed an oven mitt and opened it, pulling out a freshly baked apple pie. “Not even for one of my famous homemade apple pies?” she asked placing it on the table.
That apple pie smelled so delicious, every eye was drone to it as well as stomachs. “I stand corrected... there’s room.” I said eye balling the pie.
Applejacks tough hung and was practically tasting the fresh steam coming off it. She started reaching for the pie when granny smacked her. “Hold on their missy, it’s fresh out of the oven it’s still hot, you’ll burn yerself.” granny said sitting back down, applejack robed her hoof and we all chuckled and waited patiently. When the pie had cooled down enough to touch, granny started cutting and passing out pieces to everyone sitting at the table. When I got my slice, I wasted little time and took my first bight; it was on explosion of apple’y flavor in my mouth, I normally would have severed it but I didn’t have the control and was quick to eat the rest, I wasn’t the only one.
When I finished I complemented her on it. “Granny I don’t normally like apple pie, but yours is the best pie I’ve ever tasted, this is amazing!”
She smiled and nodded. “Thank ya kindly, and Ah’m guessin that’s n'other way ta say ya want more?” I didn’t hesitate and held out my plat; bloom had just finished hers and did the same. Granny chuckled and fed us to our hearts content.
When we all had our fill and dinner was over, granny got out of her seat and walked to what I think was the living room. Applejack got up as well and started to clear the dishes and the mess from dinner, I had offered to help but she said that she’d take it as on insult if a gust helped with the cleanup.
Applebloom instead, asked me if I could tell her more stories and adventures that I’ve been on; I was more than happy to tell her more, I was glad she liked them. We got out of our chairs and she took me into the next room, which indeed was the living room and sat in front of an empty fireplace. Granny was already sound asleep on her chair and was snoring up a storm, nothing I hadn't seen before though, it kind of reminded me of my dad. Big macintosh had gone out back and grabbed some wood and started a fire in the fireplace. When it was lit he picked up granny smith and cared her up stares to turn in early for the night.
When it was quiet and the only sound to hear was the crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace and applejack cleaning the kitchen, I picked a good number of stories and started telling applebloom more adventures that I had with my nephews, some though were just ones that only I had been on.
I had blooms complete attention when I started to speak, she seemed fascinated by some of the stories I told; even applejack stopped her work to hear a couple. To me though they weren't stories at all, just random things that had happened, but they seemed to enjoy them.
In the middle of one, their dog Winona came into the living room, I didn’t know where she spent the whole day but I was glad to see her. She was a bit defensive of me at first, but that was to be expected, she was quick to take a spot on my lap. I could tell that she preferred hands petting her over hooves, when she had settled down on my lap I continued.
The last story I had just finished telling her was on how I made it through the everfree forest, but this time with more depth. “So that’s how ya put that hole in yer shirt...” applebloom said with tired-some eyes, I couldn’t blame her, it was a long and vary eventful day, for everyone. “Can you... can you tell me another?” she said yawning heavily.
Applejack came out of the kitchen and stood on her back legs in the doorway, wiping her hooves with a dish towel. “Ah think that’s enough stories fer one night bloom, time for bed.”
“Aww...” bloom sighed.
She looked back to me with puppy dog eyes, though they were cute as heck I was gonna have to agree with applejack on this one. “Sorry bloom she’s right, you’re still a filly and you need you rest.” I said to the tiresome filly.
She sighed but agreed and said goodnight and went to the staircase in the other room and started to go up them. Winona had got off my lap and followed her up to bed.
I got up of the floor and stretched my back and yawned myself; applejack had tossed the towel back into the kitchen. “How about you? you set fer bed?” she asked
I lowered my arms. “Definitely... and now that I can ask you, can I spend another night in the barn?” I asked. I didn’t expect to be invited to stay in the house, so I just asked for the barn. I never liked to expect things like that from others, because I normally just got let down.
Although applejack looked at me like I had insulted her but smiled teasingly. “Oh come-on now, ah think ah can do better than that, follow me.”
I walked towards her and she turned and walked to the staircase, not waiting for a response. Even though she didn’t give me the chance to, I think she already knew what I would have said, so I followed her without question. When we were just about to go up the staircase, I slowed down and started to look at pictures that were hanging in the wall.
I recognized the ponies in the pictures, some of them were the apple loosens in their home town and some the pitchers were from the apple family reunion and just other memories.
I smiled at all of them, seeing families like that always gave that sense of well family, it felt good. I was just about to turn away to catch up with applejack, who was already climbing the stairs, when I stopped completely. There was one picture on the wall who I didn’t recognize.
It was of two ponies, a mare and a stallion both smiling, they both were warring old fashioned brown cowboy hats and were standing in front of the barn; unlike the photo, the smile was wiped from my face, I had a good idea how they were, and I felt my heart drop in my chest.
Applejack had noticed I had stopped and came to see what I was looking at; she stood beside me, looked at the picture that I had stopped at, I noticed her ears drop slightly out of the corner of my eye, but I didn’t turn to her.
“Those you parents...” I asked gently in a hushed tone. I was trying to be careful on what I said I didn’t want to upset her, but I sort of did anyway.
“Yeah... But ya’ll ready know what happened to them so there ain’t no point in me explaining...” applejack said in an abrupt tone.
I knew I had crossed a line but I had to make something clear to her. “Applejack... ” I looked to her and started speaking calmly and choosing my words with care. “I don’t know what happened to your parents... no one does in my world...”
She didn’t reply nor did she look at me, she just shook her head. She just turned back to the stairs. “Whatever, come on...” she said speaking lowly
I looked at the picture one last time and then followed her up the stairs. We walked to the end of the hallway and up a second set of stairs. When we got to the top it was dark, that was until applejack flicked a light switch. It lit up an attic, there were boxes pilled in its corners but there was still quite a bit of space, but it was made to look like a room.
There was a dresser, and even a stand up mirror and closet, there were two windows and across from that was on old looking bed.
Applejack walked over and dusted off the bed and stood in the center of the room. “This is where you can sleep... it ain’t nothin fancy, but it will work.” she said sounding like herself again.
Her tone changed back to normal, it through me off. She was acting like what happened downstairs never did; I didn’t want to force her to talk about it. So I thought it would be best to played along. “It’s fine, I never liked fancy.” I said with a slight smile
She chuckled lightly. “Alright all let ya’ll get settled... Good night Jonathan.” she said walking past me back down the stairs.
“Night applejack.” I said to her.
When she got to the bottom of the staircase I heard her walking, then the lights went out in the hallway and heard her bedroom door shut.
When I heard the door shut I walked away from the staircase and over to the bed and sat down, it wasn’t the best bed but it was better than the one I have at home so it will do just fine. I took off my shoes after a long day’s work not to mention fun, have to say my shoes haven't smelt that bad in a long time.
When they were off I took off the element of harmony and hung it on the bed frame, I laid back and sighed relax-fully, it felt amazing to lie in a bed again, I was expecting it to be easy to fall asleep given on how tired I was but it wasn’t.
I couldn’t help but think about applejack and her parents, my heart cried out for her. What I said to her was true, I don’t know what happened to them, I have my suspicions but that’s all they are is just suspicions, and I don’t want to talk about them because that would be gossiping and I don’t want to get into that.
But the concept of applejack’s parent’s was just messes with my mind... cause in a way, I can relate but I don’t like to talk about or even think about it unless I have to, so I can understand what she was going through, but I tried anyway to stop thinking about so I could sleep. So I shut off the light and did just that.