//------------------------------// // Applejack's Lonesomeness // Story: Needing You // by nutcase4real //------------------------------// 'I wonder what the rest of the family is up to?' Applejack asked herself as her powerful hind legs met the trunk o the apple tree, 'They're probably on their way back from Appaloosa by now.' The rest of the family had left over a week ago to help raise a barn and harvest the largest apple orchard in all of Equestria. Applejack had to stay behind so Sweet Apple Acres' apples could be harvested in time for the early winter. She had been toiling by herself the entire time since everypony else was just so busy with their own tasks. It had been close to a month since she had last seen her friends, and when her family left, she found that being alone wasn't right. She wanted conversation with another pony, even if it was some of Pinkie Pie's senseless babble. A memory flashed through her mind of the time she tried to run away and her friends tracked her down. 'Kumquat, kumquat, kumquat!' kept running through her mind, and she allowed herself to chuckle a little. 'It sure is a funny sounding word Pinkie.' she thought to herself as she laughed a bit harder. She wiped the sweat from her brow, and began fanning herself with her Stetson. The heat of the day wasn't to bad, but she had to work twice as hard as usual with Big Mac and the others being away. Sure she wasn't as obsessed as she was a few years ago when she to clear the orchard herself, but she knew that she didn't have to work herself to death. Her family would be back soon, and then she wouldn't be so lonely, or have to hard as hard anymore. She carried her satchel of apples over to the wagon and tossed them into it. She walked over to next tree and kicked it. Bright red apples tumbled from the limbs high above and landed in the satchel, once more filling it. She rewiped her face and sighed as she looked up into the sky. The red hues told her that the sun was setting. Then she spotted a cloud being pushed by some pegasi towards the only remaining hole in the cloudscape. She watched as it was placed, effectively plugging the hole above the town. Almost immediately she felt the temperature begin to drop. A chilled gust of wind struck her broadside and Applejack slightly shivered. 'Yep. I reckon it's time to call it for today.' she thought to herself. She tossed the latest haul of fruit into the wagon and then hitched herself up to it. She began moving at a slow pace towards the farm house as her mind began to wander. 'I hope I can see my friends again soon. I do feel a might bit lonely, but I'll get by just fine.' she thought to herself, 'Oh who am I trying to kid? I miss them more than the sky is wide. Shucks, if RD heard me say something like that, she would never let me live it down, but that doesn't make it any less true.' The farmhouse came into sight and Applejack quickened her pace. She brought the wagon to the barn and unhitched herself proper. As she felt the harness fall from her shoulders she reached up and gently rubbed them. 'I need to relax a little tonight. A good hot bath and a good book sounds about right, right now, but first I need to rustle up some grub.' she thought as her stomach began growling at her. Applejack made her way into the house and went straight to the kitchen. She decided to make a simple salad, and a few minutes later she was making her way back into the dining room with a bowl of delicious greens. She sat down in her chair and ate in silence. Thoughts ran through her mind as she stuffed her muzzle with food, 'Maybe I could take a day off tomorrow and just go visit the girls. I'm already ahead of schedule, and it would do me a world of good to see them again.' She picked her plate up and walked into the kitchen, 'But at the same time, I could just continue working the farm and have everything that much closer to being finished by the time my family gets back.' Applejack furrowed her brow and began to deeply think about the pros and cons about skipping out on work the next day. This lasted for about half an hour until a throbbing ache started in her hind legs. She rubbed the spot where the pain was coming from and decided that it was time for that hot bath she had promised. She half walked half limped to the bathroom and began running the water. As soon as the tub was half filled she turned the water off and dreamily stared at the steam rising from the water's surface. She tested the water with her hoof and allowed a slight moan to escape her throat. She gently stepped into the tub and slowly lowered herself down onto her back. The moan that she gave this time was loud and of pure bliss. The worries of the day began to slip away, all except for two. One, she was lonely and needed to just talk to somepony, and two, should she skip work tomorrow and instead visit her friends. These thoughts pounded her. She knew she just couldn't not work tomorrow, but she needed to see her friends. She needed some kind of contact with them. Applejack marinated herself for a good long while. She blinked and when she opened them again the water was freezing cold. She stood up and got out of the water. Her body was stiff and her joints slightly popped, but after a quick stretch she felt fine. She gave a few test movements to each of her legs, but stopped when she heard a knocking at the front door downstairs. Applejack scratched her chin, 'I wonder who that could be?' She walked downstairs and opened the door, but instead of being greeted by a pony of some kind, she was greeted by a note on the backside of the door. She tore it off and read. Dear Applejack, It is now painfully obvious that you place work above your friends. -Rarity Yeah, what do did we do to deserve to be ignored? -Rainbow Dash You're a big meanie pants. -Pinkie Pie If I did anything to offend you I'm sorry. -Fluttershy You're hurting us all Applejack. -Twilight Sparkle We no longer want to be your friend. -Everypony Applejack stared in horror at the letter. Tears rose up in her eyes and her dinner felt like it wanted to exit the way it came in. She opened her mouth to scream but nothing came out. The world began to shake and spin. Applejack could feel pain coming from everywhere in her body at once. She closed her eyes tightly and wished that this was just not happening. Suddenly Applejack opened her eyes and screamed. She screamed at the top of her lungs as the tears streamed down her muzzle. She looked around and saw something surprising. She was still in the tub. "It was a dream. It was all just a dream!" she sobbed happily, "I have to see them tomorrow. I just have to. We could... Ah don't know talk or somethin'. It doesn't matter Ah just need to see them." Applejack concluded . Moral of the story When things get unraveled, sometimes the threads of friendship get tangled. Those are the times to tie a knot that refuses to let the threads be broken.