//------------------------------// // Chapter 7-Honesty // Story: Transformers: The Requiem // by JDPrime22 //------------------------------// “Alrighty, Big Mac, Ah’ll be in fer dinner in a few minutes! Just gotta…just gotta put the tools away!” “Eeyup.” Applejack shook her head at her older brother’s obvious response to anything. As she watched Big Macintosh head towards the house, she looked past him to watch the sun set over the hills of the Apple Orchard. They truly have come a long way. She only got to buck apples in the eastern orchard, most of the day was spent plowing and tending to the broken roof of the barn. Poor Twilight, she must be taking it harder than any of us. Applejack thought. Ever since yesterday’s incident, Twilight teleported herself and Spike away from her barn as soon as she could. She probably went back home immediately. Rarity had told Applejack that she would go talk to Twilight, hopefully help her feel better. AJ was still wondering how Rarity was doing, considering she cried just as hard as anypony else after Twilight’s outbreak yesterday. Applejack wondered if she would go see if Twilight was alright soon enough, but for now…work had to be done at the Apple Farm. Hopefully tomorrow morning she’ll visit Twilight’s castle. Speaking of her barn and fixing it up, the orange earth pony arrived to the front doors of said barn. Grunting in effort, Applejack pushed open the barn doors with a little extra force. It was a particularly hard day for her, considering she had to use the plow all by herself. She really had to stop taking turns with Big Macintosh and just have him take the job permanently. As the doors slowly pushed inwards, the light of the setting sun filled the dark barn with life once more. Applejack did nothing more than breath out of her nose at the sight. Optimus Prime remained. Applejack’s eyelids were halfway closed, all interest and hope completely diminished at the sight of him. A couple days ago were the most exciting they’ve been in years. They could’ve had their friend back, the one who sacrificed his life for a world that was not his own. A hero would’ve been living among them. Now…he’s was just another rusting machine…just like all the other tools in her barn. Applejack sighed and slowly made her way into the barn, the plow strapped to her back. Not only was it the plow, but a saddlebag filled with tools settled across her back. The added weight made the farmpony move slow, not that that had bothered her in anyway. It was the silence. The never ending silence. Once she reached to the side of him, Applejack let out a soft chuckle. “Evenin’,” she casually greeted. Optimus said nothing. Applejack shook her head again, removing her saddlebag and placing it on a nearby shelf. She clicked the plow restraints free, allowing herself to remove it. “Ah hate plowin’ the fields…but somepony’s got ta do some work on this here farm. Ah’ll tell ya, Optimus, the summer heat really makes things difficult around here. It ain’t what it used ta be, Ah’ll tell ya what.” Once again, the Prime did not speak. Applejack chuckled quietly as she placed the heavy plow in the back of the barn. She wiped her forehead of the sweat that dribbled down her eyebrow. She stared at the large hole created from yesterday’s incident. “Ya know…Ah’ve never seen Twilight this heartbroken since…” Memories returned of the battle at the Crystal Empire a year ago. Bullets flying over her head, dead bodies lying in the crystal streets, and the Crystal Castle nothing but a smoldering husk of dust and death… It truly was a terrible time in Equestria’s history. The darkest it’s seen since the Autobots’ first arrival. Applejack shivered at the thought. Releasing another great sigh, Applejack turned and made her way out of the barn. As she past him, Applejack gently rubbed her hoof across his rusty surface. “Ah’ll see ya tomorrow, Optimus,” Applejack told him, her words barely rising over a whisper. It seemed like routine. Prime did not acknowledge her. Applejack shook her head. Closing her eyes, she made her way to the open barn doors. She stopped, however, and spoke once more to the silent Prime. She dared not look at him. “Oh…Ah almost fergot…Fluttershy will be here tomorrow ta see ya,” Applejack said, basically talking to herself now. She expected no response. Just like that, Applejack sighed for the last time that day and walked away from the barn, the doors closing behind her. She knew it was pointless. Optimus was gone, nothing could change that. However, Fluttershy really wanted to visit him, and how could she deny a friend of that? Still, the nagging voice in the back of Applejack’s head spoke again. It told her that all her friends’ attempts at reconnecting with the dead Prime was useless. It was basically like talking with a statue. Like before.