“Rose, Ah love ya, Ah really do. Ah love ya more’n near anything’—”
I dove towards Applejack, pulling her into my forearms. She had never used the ‘L’ word with me before. She was my special somepony, the mare I’m going to marry one day.
I was so afraid, what with the passing of her parents—
“—but Ah don’t think Ah can do this no more.”
What did she say?
I pulled away, and stared at her. She couldn’t be serious, could she?
“What?” I had to ask. Surely she was joking. This was just, I don’t know… something she didn’t really mean. Why would she even joke about that?
“Why?” I had to ask her.
“Ah… Ah jus’ think it was wrong. We— what we’re doin’. Ah shoulda listened t’ ma folks.”
“Why?” I demanded. I could feel my anger boiling inside me. Those tartarus damned monsters were dead and they were still ruining Applejack’s life.
I could see the hurt and turmoil in her eyes.
“Please, please Applejack. Don’t do this,” I pleaded. You’re my one true love. Don’t abandon me… not for them!
“Ah’m sorry, Rose. Ah really am. Ah… Ah think we shouldn’t see each other no more.” Her words were hollow and empty. She stared at me, watching me cry. Did she even care about me? “Ah gotta be a good girl… Ah gotta be good, ‘cause Ma an’ Pa, they’ll be watchin’ down on me—”
I didn’t mean to do it.
How could I— I’d hit Applejack.
I couldn’t look at her. The love of my life, telling me she never wants to see me again, because of her damned parents. I’ve never hated anypony before in my life, but I hope they burn in Tartarus for what they’ve done.
I did the only thing I could.
I ran.
“Come on, Rose!” Torchsong called. “If we don’t leave now, we’ll miss out on the best produce! You know Roma has no qualms about selling her bruised goods at full price.”
Roseluck rolled out of bed, groaning as she got up. She loved her fillyfriend, she really did, but her penchant for being the proverbial earlyworm got to Rose at times.
It wasn’t even seven o’clock. Barely any of the vendors would be open at this time… beyond the farmers who were used to waking with the rooster’s crow.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” she grumbled, making her way to the bathroom.
The mare who greeted her in the bathroom mirror looked as terrible as she felt. Her eyes were bloodshot, her mane a mess. The bags under her eyes were exceptionally pronounced this morning.
They usually were after that dream.
Roseluck was happy with her life. She had a wonderful business with her sisters (even if the two could be a little colt-crazy at times). She had a wonderful fillyfriend, whom she loved and was loved in return. They had a house together, and two wonderful cats.
Roseluck had even spied Torchsong spending far more time at Karat’s jewelry store… so there was even the possibility of a certain question being popped soon.
But every now and then, Roseluck’s mind would drift back to Applejack.
And everything that was left unresolved.
“Come on, AJ!” I called over my shoulder. We were running through the orchards, towards her treehouse.
I felt a little foalish… that we had to hide what we had together. I mean, making out in a treehouse? How gradeschool could you get?
But AJ had told me her parents were pretty strict on this sort of thing… I hadn’t really seen it, but I would trust my fillyfriend. If she said they would not be happy about it, then I’d have to defer to her judgement.
It was such old-fashioned rubbish! I wanted to scream from the roof tops to everypony I met that I had the most wonderful fillyfriend in the world.
‘Celestia’s watching’ my wiry flank!
It was an annoying hold-over from before the tribes united. Pretty much every taboo there was on sex derived from those days. Sex was a means for procreation only. And procreation was a means for population control. Too many foals… and the tribe wouldn’t be able to support itself.
Too few… and some other tribe, like those ‘dirty cloudbeaters’ or the ‘hornheads’ would come and take what they wanted by force.
So the tribe elders made up some rubbish about ‘ancients’ watching over us, sitting in judgement of everything we did.
Then along comes an actual ancient… I think Miss Withers said Celestia was like, four hundred years old when she took the throne… and the ponies had a living, breathing ancient to sit in judgement of all ponykind.
Not many ponies still believed in that sort of nonsense… but AJ’s folks did.
Why they’d revere some stuck up princess, I don’t understand. I mean, when I was little, Mom took me to one of Celestia’s ‘Chuckle-lots’. The princess doing a juggling routine on a unicycle while the crowd laughed along nervously…
Yeah, there’s a deity worth worshipping.
Stories of the old alicorns spoke of day battling the night in life and death struggles.
Our princess? Well, if she was ever related to those Alicorns, she’d probably be fighting with whipped-cream pies.
What a joke!
… but, they were AJ’s beliefs, even if they were silly. And I love her… even the crazy parts.
We scrambled up the ramp to the treehouse… I think she’s just as eager as I am.
I collapsed on a small pile of cushions we’d brought earlier to make ourselves more comfortable. AJ, as usual, fussed about, drawing the curtains and closing the door. Not before looking around for anyone who might disturb us.
I watched her for what seemed like hours, standing at the door like a hawk.
Maybe she wasn’t as eager as I was.
Finally, she stepped away from the door and plopped down next to me on the cushions.
“I was starting to think you wanted to be with that door more than with me,” I said, poking my tongue at her.
“Ah’m sorry, sugarcube,” Applejack said, as she planted a chaste kiss on my muzzle. “Ah thought Ah heard Big Mac out there.”
I wrapped my forearms around her and pulled her in for a hug, burying my muzzle in her mane.
She drew my muzzle towards her’s, and pressed her lips to mine. She always started so gentle, so unsure of herself.
It was part of what I loved about her. She was this crazy-strong mare, and fought like she had the fires of Tartarus in her belly if you hurt one of her own… but here, with me. She was gentle. She was kind. She was uncertain and unsure of herself. Afraid of going too fast, or too slow. Afraid of hurting me!
I pressed back against her kiss, parting my lips slightly, darting my tongue forward. She took my invitation, and soon her own tongue wrestled against my own for dominance.
I love her.
This is the filly I was going to marry one day!
“I said,” Torchsong chuckled, drawing Roseluck out of her stupor, “that I’ll need to get a few things by myself today, if that’s okay?”
Roseluck was pretty certain what those things were. A visit to Karat’s, perhaps the postal office to send another letter to her parents. Probably another secret meeting with Rarity, which most certainly was not about the Ponytones, as much as Torchsong insisted it was.
Torchsong was many things… a beautiful mare, a passionate lover, a brilliant singer. Subtle, though, she was not. No matter how much she believed she was.
“Sure, honey, that’s fine!” Roseluck said, as she lifted another spoonful of oats to her mouth.
“Great! Wonderful!” Torchsong clapped her hooves together. “I’ve done up a shopping list, could you get the things here? Oooh, then we can have lunch at that new cafe that opened up last week. Rarity has been raving about it ever since.”
Roseluck scanned down the list that Torchsong hoofed over. Carrots (ugh, Carrot Top!), tomatoes, potatoes, a leek, some cherries, bread, apples, celery—
Apples!
Roseluck groaned. Of course, it’d be the day Applejack was due to attend the stand.
“Can’t I get some of these things tomorrow?” Roseluck asked.
“No, you can’t,” Torchsong replied. “Yes, I know she’ll be there, but you have to pony-up and deal with it.”
“I… I just…”
“I know, my love,” Torchsong replied, rounding the table and leaning on her marefriend. “But you can’t keep carrying this guilt forever. You have to move on.”
“I have moved on!” Roseluck yelled. “I love you, not her!”
“I know you love me, but you haven’t moved on from the hurt. You haven’t forgiven her… and you haven’t forgiven yourself, either.”
“I just… the way she looks at me—at us—when we’re in the market…” Roseluck sighed. “She made her choice! She has no right to look at me like that.”
“The two of you… you didn’t just lose a marefriend that day.” Torchsong nuzzled Roseluck. “You both lost your best friend.
“Big Mac is a good friend of mine, there will be times when you won’t be able to avoid her. So please, for me, would you try and make up with her?”
“Maybe…” Roseluck sighed. “I’ll try.”
“Come in, Roseluck, come in!” Applejack’s mother ushered the two of us in. “I swear, you two look like you’ve been roughhousing again.”
We were both a little disheveled and muddy. What had started with a playful nudge on the way back to the farmhouse had turned into a very messy play fight that had ended in a large mud puddle.
“Go and clean yourselves up. Pa will be back from the fields soon,” she said, ushering us upstairs. “Rose, will you be joining us for dinner?”
“Ohh, umm, yes… thank you, Mrs. Apple.”
I’d not eaten dinner with the Apple family before. I’d visited plenty of times in the past, but most of the time I was with Applejack was spent at the treehouse. Talking, doing our homework… or other things. We didn’t spend a lot of time at the farmhouse, so I didn’t know her parents all that well. All I knew was that they loved their food… evident as they often try to feed me more food than I’d eat in a week any time I did come by.
I guess I was lucky we spent so much time out of the house, else I’d have to work a lot harder to keep my figure. I have no idea how Applejack does it!
“Good, I will set out an extra plate. Now, go wash up, dearie.”
“Thanks Ma!” Applejack called as she trotted up the stairs. I happily followed behind her.
“Ah can’t believe yah pushed me inta that mudhole,” Applejack grumbled as she closed the bathroom door behind us.
“Hey, you pulled me into it as well, so I think we’re even.” I laughed as I scooted over next to her and looked in the mirror.
Mrs. Apple was right, we were a terrible mess.
Applejack ran the sink, filling it with warm, soapy water. I must admit, I was surprised when I first found out they had hot running water… did that make me classist?
Classist or not, at this moment, I am thankful for small blessings.
Applejack dunked a washrag into the sink, then pulled it out and started wiping away the grime on her face. I found the other washrag and followed suit.
I giggled as Applejack struggled, twisting to try and reach the mud on her withers. She was far more muscular than I was, and I think that extra mass made it harder for her to reach.
“Here, let me get that for you,” I said, moving behind her with my washrag still in hoof.
“Ah don’t need ya t’—”
“Oh hush!” I loved Applejack’s stubborn side; she always refused help, even when offered. “If we wait for you, our dinner will be cold before you’re done.”
I watched as stubbornness warred with hunger on Applejack’s face. I giggled when she finally relented.
I gently wiped the mud from her coat, focusing on her back, loin and croup. I carefully avoided her dock, as I knew that area was a little too close for where we were in our relationship at that point. Instead, I moved to her sides, and started to clean her cutie mark.
A sharp hiss of air, and I knew I’d hit a tender spot. Her tail whipped me in the face and knocked the cloth from my hoof.
“Sorry, AJ… I wasn’t…”
“Ah-Ah know, sugarcube, Ah didn’t mean—” Applejack’s face was redder than a beet, and I knew it wasn’t just from the steam.
I felt pretty bad, I hadn’t been trying to, well… push her boundaries.
“H-how about you just get the rest of it?” I asked, hiding my face in shame.
“T-that sounds good t’ me,” she replied.
We finished washing ourselves just in time.
Mrs. Apple had come and knocked on the door, telling us to stop horsing-around, as dinner was ready and everypony was waiting.
We finished brushing our manes, and Applejack tied her hair. By the time we were done, any redness from our embarrassment was gone.
I followed Applejack back downstairs, and into the Apple family dining room. Everypony was there, waiting for us to join them. Applejack’s parents, her Granny, and Big Mac.
Applejack was taking her place next to her mother, when I noticed that the only spare spot was next to her brother. I rolled my eyes as I took my own seat.
I looked at the spread before me, it looked amazing!
Seriously, how was everypony in this house so… not fat?
“Maybe our guest would like to say grace before we start?”
I looked towards Applejack’s mother.
Say grace?
Buck! I hadn’t said grace in years, not since my own Granny passed on.
“Uhh… sure.”
I’m certain I was sweating bullets, trying to remember the words.
“Thank you Celestia for this boon…
“Thank you for our harvest noon,
“That we might share and we might commune
“Under tonight’s restful moon.
What are the rest of the words? Oh buck oh buck oh buck!
“M-may your beautiful dawn come soon?”
Oh buck I hope that was right!
I could see AJ looking at me, sweating about as much as I was.
“Why, that was lovely,” Granny Smith said. “Ah haven’t heard that one since Ah was a little filly!”
“Umm, yeah, it was one my grandmother used to say before meals.” I let out a sigh of relief. One grace successfully bluffed through! I noticed AJ relaxing across the table from me as well.
“Yes, that was lovely.” Mrs. Apple smiled. “Thank you for sharing that with us.”
Conversation was quiet as everypony served up their own food. I watched in awe as the family piled their plates high with a bit of everything from the table.
On the other hoof, I scooped out a small bowl of apple and cabbage stew, and gratefully accepted the small buttered bun Granny Smith offered.
“Are yah sure that’s enough fer a growin’ filly?” Granny Smith asked me.
“Oh, yes thank you… I am fine, Mrs. Smith.”
“Aww, shucks! Jus’ call me Granny, every pony does.”
“O-okay, Granny.”
The old mare smiled at me, then turned back to her own mountain of food.
“So how’s young Jackie been doin’ at school?” Mr. Apple asked. “The two’a yah study so much Ah’m surprised yer eyes haven’t fallen out.”
“Oh, we’re both doing fine, Mr. Apple,” I replied. Truthfully, I don’t think Applejack’s grades had improved all that much with our studying. That might have been my fault, if we’d spent a little more time actually studying.
“And has any young colt caught our daughter’s eye?” Mrs. Apple chuckled.
“Moooooooooooom!” Applejack groaned, hiding her blushing face.
“Oh hush, dear. It’s perfectly normal at your age.”
I looked directly at Applejack. It was pretty funny, how pushy her mom could be. “I don’t know, Mrs. Apple. I don’t think any colt has caught her eye.” I let my smirk hold for a few seconds longer, before looking away.
“And what about you? Any nice colt’s in your life?”
Oh buck! Now the shoe was on the other hoof.
“Uh… no, there isn’t. I’m… not really into colts, Mrs. Apple,” I answered. “I’m focusing on my studies right now… I want to go to Canterlot University once I’ve graduated.”
All those statements were true… just not entirely connected to each other. I’d hoped Mrs. Apple wouldn’t press me on it.
“Oh? What’re ya thinkin’ of studyin’?”
I grabbed onto Mr. Apple’s question like it was a lifeline.
“Well, our family has been in the floral business for years… I was hoping to study Floriculture. Growing flowers is fine, but I’d like to see if we could expand our business.”
“Hoo-ey!” Mr. Apple replied. “That sounds like a good idea. Ah reckon our farm’d do a lot better if’n mah boy went’n did somethin’ like that. See, Mac, this is why we wantcha t’ stick with school!”
“Well, Big Mac could always find a nice young mare,” Mrs. Apple said. “Somepony who was studying that kind of thing. I mean, you didn’t go out and learn to bake, did you. No, you just married a mare who could!”
Mrs. Apple chuckled as she broke off a flakey piece of pastry and popped it into her mouth.
“Rose, did you know that Big Mac is recently single?”
I would have smacked my head on the table had I not minded drowning in apple-cabbage stew.
Actually, that wouldn’t be a bad idea.
“Uhh, no I didn’t know that, Mrs. Apple,” I replied. “I didn’t know he’d been dating again, not since he broke up with… well—”
I turned to Big Mac. If I was going to be embarrassed, I was taking this family down with me.
“Big Mac, which one of my sisters were you dating last? I can’t remember if you dated Lilly before Daisy… or was it the other way around?”
Big Mac didn’t respond, but I wasn’t sure if that was out of embarrassment… or his usual quietness.
Applejack and her father broke out into a goodnatured laugh at Mac’s expense, and thankfully Mrs. Apple remained quiet.
“Ah don’t think Roseluck is th’ kinda lady t’ like mah kinda company, Ma,” Big Mac said, breaking the laughter. His glance towards me was anything but friendly. Don’t know what got up his flank!
We finished our meal, and I noticed the sun was well and truly set. Mom was going to have my hide for being so late!
“Well, thank you for a wonderful meal, Mr. and Mrs. Apple, but I had better get home soon. Mom’ll get worried if I’m not back.”
“It was not a problem at all, Roseluck,” Mrs. Apple said, giving me an unexpected hug. “It’s always wonderful to have Applejack’s friends around.
“Big Mac!” she hollered up the staircase. “Come down here! Roseluck needs an escort home.”
Big Mac trudged down the stairs, giving me an annoyed look.
Hey! Don’t glare at me. I didn’t ask for an escort.
“Now,” Mrs. Apple said, whilst fixing up Big Mac’s mane. “You be a good gentlecolt, and take Roseluck home. Heavens forbid anything should happen to her if she walked home alone!”
Applejack gave me an apologetic look as Big Mac walked me outside.
“I’ll… I’ll see you tomorrow, AJ?”
“Yeah,” she said as she gave me a chaste hug. “Ah’ll see ya at school.”
“Remember Mac,” I overheard Mrs. Apple whispering to her son, “be a gentlecolt. Don’t stay out too late… Celestia’s watching.”
Is embarrassment fatal? If so, I think I am ready to die now.
I followed Big Mac all the way home, thankful that he hadn’t made a move on me. He was awful quiet—more so than usual—probably equally embarrassed by his mother, and the fact she sent him to escort home the sister of two of his exes.
Yikes!
Oh what Roseluck would do if she could command the fates.
It would be MacIntosh tending the apple stall today.
She’d also have a million bits, pay off her university debts, and maybe own a tropical island to take Torchsong to.
There was no way she could get sick of drinks served in coconuts, right?
Alas, as Roseluck was not commander of the fates, such fantasies would not become real. She would not have a million bits any time soon, her university debts would continue to haunt her for the next ten years, and there would be no young hula-maidens bringing her and Torchsong drinks served in halved coconuts.
And Applejack was, as predicted, tending the Apple family stand.
Okay, I can do this, Roseluck told herself. Hi, AJ… Hello, Applejack… How’s things, heartbrea—No no! No bitterness.
“Umm, Hi, Applejack,” Roseluck said, as she approached the stall.
“R-Roseluck?” Applejack stammered, looking around nervously. “Ah didn’t… Uhhh, Hi, what can Ah do ya for?” Applejack’s eyes widened. “Ah mean… what can Ah get ya?”
“Ummm, just a bag of red delicious, if they are still in season. Ten would do nicely.”
“Uhh, of course,” Applejack replied, ducking under the stall. “This harvest’s been a mighty goodun, so got plenty o’ fresh ones left.”
Roseluck shuffled awkwardly on her hooves. This was exceptionally awkward, and the primary reason she bought her apples from Big Mac.
“S-so,” Roseluck stammered. “H-how have things been on the farm? I haven’t heard much since… uhhh, in a while.”
“Uhh, no, Ah guess ya wouldn’t’ve,” Applejack replied, finally finding a bag to pack the apples into. “Thing’s’ve been alright… when Apple Bloom ain’t muckin’ things up with ‘er friends.”
“Ahh, yes,” Rose chuckled. “I’d heard rumors of the cutie mark… what are they?”
“Crusaders, yeah…” Applejack laughed. “An’ Ah can tell ya, all those rumours are true!”
“And how…” Roseluck paused, unsure if to ask. “How have you been?”
“Ah…” Applejack’s smile faltered a little, enough that Rose could see it. “Ah been alright. Ah got mah family, an’ th’ farm. Ah couldn’t ask fer anythin’ else.”
“That’s… good,” Roseluck replied.
“An’… Ah heard from Big Mac that you an’… uhh, Torchsong were… ya know?”
“Yeah, we are… you know.” Roseluck nodded. “It’s getting pretty serious, I think she’ll be popping the question now, any day soon.”
“Well, that’s mighty great!” Applejack replied through a strained smile. “Ah’m real happy fer ya!”
“Are you, AJ?” Roseluck asked, before she caught up with what she’d said.
Applejack lowered her stetson over her face. “Yeah, Rose. Ah am. Ah’m real happy fer ya.”
“Oh,” Roseluck replied.
Applejack finished bagging the apples, and Roseluck hoofed over the owed bits.
Roseluck started trotting away, but stopped herself. She turned back around, looking at AJ.
“I can’t… I mean, I don’t understand why… but… I’m sorry. I’m sorry for how things ended, and how I left you. I just—yeah, I’m just sorry.”
Applejack smiled wearily. “S’alright, sugarcube. Ah’ve fergiven ya… long time ago.”
“Well, thank you AJ. It’s good to know…” Roseluck nodded, then smiled. “Torchsong and I… we’re going to have lunch today. Maybe you’d like to join us? As… as friends.”
“As friends…” Applejack smiled. “Sure, Ah’d like that.”