//------------------------------// // A World to Be Lived // Story: The Family Mare // by OroKinAu //------------------------------// "Ah can't believe ah'm doin' this!" I said to myself as I climbed out of the bathroom window and slid down the drain pipe. What the buck is going on around here? Why is Discord pairing me up with Trenderhoof of all ponies all of the sudden? This whole thing doesn't make sense. I quickly trotted away into Ponyville to get some answers, maybe Rarity can shed some light on what happened. Ponyville looked almost exactly the same the last time I remember, a bit more ponies walking around town but other than that, the same. "HEY APPLEJACK!" yelled a chipper voice. It was obviously Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie?" turning to look at my pink friend. "Just wanted to ask how your wedding anniversary went and all, it must have been super duper magical." beamed the mare. "It was...uh...nice..." I nervously told her. I just woke up in this world, I have no clue how last night went. "Did he name a star after you like he said he would?!" "Uh...ah think so...ah..." "THINK SO?!" gasped Pinkie. She suddenly grabbed me and pinned me to a nearby wall. "What in tarnation-" "WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO APPLEJACK!" she exclaimed to my face in desperation. "But ah am Applejack-" "A DIFFERENT Applejack! An Applejack that looks, acts and sounds like her but actually isn't!" she hissed. "You're a doppelganger!' "Ah what?!" I had no idea what that word even means. Pinkie for some reason sniffed my neck. "I find the lack of domestic smell disturbing. Where are you from and why are you impersonating Applejack?" "Look, ah don't know if you'll believe this or not...but ah don't belong here! This is not my life!" I finally decided to just straight up tell Pinkie everything I know since she's on to me. "Keep talking impersonator!" she made a skeptical look. "Discord sent me here to some unlikely future where ah am married and have foals with Trenderhoof because he wants me to learn some kind of lesson about the importance of life or somethin'!" I admit. "Why does it have to be Trenderhoof? Ah never liked him, he only likes me because ah'm a country pony, why is he with me and not Rarity?" Pinkie just gives me a suspicious look. "Hmm...your story checks out...for now!" she let me go. "So...what is the last thing you remember before you woke up here?" "Me falling asleep after sayin' goodbye and good riddance to Trenderhoof. Next thing ya know, nine years pass and ah'm married with two foals with him! Tell me how in tarnation it came to be!" I really wanted answers. "I have no idea, since you and him were already dating and in love when you finally told us, what with not wanting Rarity to find out and all, but I do know three ponies who knew what happened!" she smiled. "Who?" "Well..." Pinkie looked around. "...I see one of them now!" she pointed to a white teenage unicorn mare carrying groceries on her back, she looked a lot like an older version of- "Sweetie Belle?" "Yep, that's her." confirmed the pink pony. "Got to go." I quickly dashed straight to Sweetie. "SWEETIE!" I trotted up next to her. "Applejack?" she looked nervous to see me. "Ah need to ask ya some thin's!" "Uh...I don't know AJ..." she nervously looked around. "...my sister will kill me if she ever catches me speaking to you." "What do ya mean?" confused. "Look, I'm not really supposed to talk to you, sorry, but tell Apple Bloom I said 'hi'!" afterwards, Sweetie teleported away from me in front of my eyes. "Sweetie can use magic now?" I was shocked. Never thought I'd see the day. Pinkie trotted up next to me. "Well...she DID learn from the best." Pinkie giggled. "Why doesn't Rarity want me to talk to her sister?" "Well...that's the thing...uh...you see, Rarity was the last pony to know about you and Trenderhoof...and when she found out...she found out the hard way." she started. "Things between the two of you haven't been the same since." she said with guilt and sadness like it was partially her fault. "B-but...how did me and him get together in the first place?" I sighed, so confused. I was not getting the answers I needed. "Forget it, ah'll just accept my new life and go along with it...two foals and a husband...never though ah'd see the day." with my head down low I slowly walked back to the farm. By the time I reached the farm house, everything was unusually quiet. "Hello?" "AJ!" yelled Trenderhoof as he ran out the door and towards me. "Where have you been? Me and the kids were worried sick about you!" "Ah...ah..." I didn't know what to say to him. "...just needed a walk that's all. Sorry to have worried you." He walked up and gave me a loving hug, I jolted a bit in his forelegs, unused to him touching me like that. "Are you sure you're okay? What has gotten into you?" "Ah...ah...ah don't know, ah feel lost for some reason, that's all hun." It felt extremely awkward saying 'hun' to him. I don't have feelings for him, yet I am married with foals to him. For now, until I learn this important lesson about life or whatnot, I might as well accept this and play along. "Uh...where are our children?" "They went off to see Aunt Bloom and spend time with her, you know how much she loves to spoil them." he chuckled. "Uh..yeah...Aunt Bloom..." I laugh along. That's right, Apple Bloom would be an aunt now! Oh goodness. "So, that kind of leaves us some time to ourselves..." he said in a flirty tone. I immediately realize that he was in that mood again. Need to distract him so I would not have to do something I will defiantly NOT enjoy. "Uh...uh...ah'm still a little sore from last night hun...yeah...maybe tomorrow." I gave a nervous smile and sweated a bit, hoping he will buy it. "Are you sure? A bit odd considering that you hardly ever turn down an offer for some fun." he looked at me strangely. "I am sure." I give a big nervous grin. "Maybe this will change your mind." he said flirty, he went up to my ear and gave a growl. The growl sent pleasurable shivers across my body. What the buck? Growling? Growling is a turn-on for me? Since when?! Gosh darn it! "No seriously hun...ah'm a bit sore right now...uh...maybe later?" I gently push him away from me. "Okay, okay, suit yourself...I'll be going into town to get some new tools and writing equipment if you ever need me." he kissed me on the forehead. "Uh...good luck...see ya later." I nervously wave goodbye to him and watch him leave. I sighed with relief. Now I have another unwanted problem, being intimate with my husband that I have no feelings for. Growling? Seriously? You have got to be kidding me!