In your letter, you didn’t really mention any kind of protocol about this. That’s the only reason why I’m writing to ask. I don’t even know if I’ll write anything in the future, but I just want the option. We’re still going to be learning things about friendship, aren’t we?
That night when the former Elements of Harmony gathered in Twilight’s castle to find out about their fate, Twilight had tried her hardest to come up with positive spins for everypony. All she wanted to was comfort them. But when she came to Applejack, her mind drew a blank.
It was just that she never had any big ambitions outside of having the farm do well.
Applejack didn’t mind, though. She enjoyed her routine, and having more stability was never a bad thing in her mind. And besides, she’d be able to spend more time with her family, and maybe even eventually settle down.
Big Macintosh worked too much, and Applebloom was all alone with Granny Smith too many days, and so it seemed like the whole family could benefit from AJ not constantly under the threat of destructive monsters- pony or otherwise.
She didn’t need to jet off to Canterlot or Manehatten or wherever to be happy. Ponyville had always suited her.
But it was a little lonelier here with three of her closest friends gone. Well, four if you count Fluttershy, who’d been holed up in her cottage. But it was five, really, because nopony had seen Pinkie Pie in weeks, now...
So that left just Applejack.
Applejack and Sweet Apple Acres.
And just like everypony else, she had what she wanted now.
Things could improve. Maybe in little ways, sure, but baby steps are still steps.
She smiled to herself, realizing that all she wanted was peace again. And now she had it.
So why did she feel so empty inside?
“Applebloom, stop bouncing all over the place. You’re gonna spill something.”
“I can’t help it! I’m just so excited.”
Applejack looked at her sister quizzically.
“Applebloom, it’s November. What is there to be so excited about?”
“That’s the point. It’s November. This is the last of our apples.”
“Yeah, so we had an earlier season this year. Now tell me why that’s a good thing.”
“That means no more work until spring!”
A cool breeze ruffled the branches of the trees overhead and Applejack shivered.
“Oh.”
They trotted along in silence for a few moments, their pace quicker than usual to make up for the chill in the air.
“I don’t know why you hate November so much.” Applebloom said quietly.
“Don’t be silly.” She said gently to the foal. She considered continuing, but the town square was coming up over the horizon.
“I just think it’s nice to have a break, is all.” Applebloom stated as they headed to the back of the market. “No more waking up before the sunrise, no more days spent bucking apples, y’know.”
The market was quiet, save for the wary sound of a weary pony setting up shop. It wouldn’t be warm enough to have the market outside for very much longer, and everypony’s stock was waning anyway. But there was a push to get enough to survive all winter.
“Alright, Applebloom, now we need every last bit these apples are gonna get us.” Applejack said as she began setting up. “So please behave.”
“I promise I will.”
“Good. Now stack those galas all pretty.”
Applebloom complied. The two sisters worked in silence for a while.
The wind blew through again, ruffling stalls and causing everypony to shiver.
“You might need to be wearing your scarf next week, sis.”
“I don’t have one.”
Applejack looked at her sister with surprise, prompting Applebloom to quickly explain that she’d lost the one she’d worn all last winter.
“Oh. Well maybe Rarity’ll make you a new one.”
Applebloom stared at the ground.
“I doubt it. She’s in Manehatten, remember?”
Applejack, oblivious to the emotion in her sister’s voice, smiled slightly.
“Oh right. It’s just you and Scootaloo these days then, isn’t it?”
Applebloom looked up suddenly and shook her head, her oversized bow flopping around.
Applejack furrowed her brow.
“Sweetie’s still here.”
“You mean-”
“She didn’t go with Rarity.”
Applejack was taken aback.
How could she leave her sister behind like that?
She quickly moved to the other side of the stall and wrapped her little sister in a tight hug.
“I love you so much.” She whispered.
Applebloom was thoroughly confused.
“I... love you too.”
Nevertheless, she answered.
That night, as the temperature dropped, four ponies sat around the dinner table, a fire blazing in the corner.
Outside, the wind howled, but nopony noticed it.
Applejack set the last of the food down and took her place at the table.
“Well, dig in.” She announced, and everypony complied, helping themselves to the comfort food.
As they began to eat, Applejack turned to her left to stare sympathetically at the filly next to her.
Sweetie Belle looked up.
“Thanks.” She said quietly, and Applejack smiled.
“I wrote to Rarity already. Hopefully she’ll understand how delusional she’d been, and-”
Sweetie Belle cringed.
“It’s fine. You didn’t need to do that.”
Applejack decided not to answer, letting the tension settle over the table.
“So Applejack.” Applebloom said brightly. “Does the whole element thing mean that you can lie now?” She shoved another spoonful of mashed potatoes into her mouth.
Applejack rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know how many times I’m gonna have to explain this ‘whole element thing’ to you, Applebloom. You know darn well that I’m not honest ‘cause of any magic necklace, but because it’s in my nature.”
“So?” Applebloom asked, muffled slightly by her full mouth.
“So... I have never told a lie in my entire life, save for what Discord did, and I don’t plan to start anytime soon.” She paused. “Also, don’t talk while you’re chewing, Applebloom. We have guests.”
“It’s just Sweetie Belle.”
Applejack glared at her sister until she turned to Sweetie and apologized.
“Anypony else have anything they’d like to talk about?” Applejack muttered under her breath.
For a few agonizing minutes, the fire crackling and the sounds of chewing were the only things breaking the silence.
“Anypony want to hear a story?” Granny Smith asked loudly, the first time she’d spoken since dinner started.
Perfect.
That night, wrapped in multiple blankets to keep out the autumn chill, Applejack was restless.
There was a lot that still needed to get done for the farm.
And she should probably write to Rarity again.
What a bitch.
Her own inner monologue surprised her. She normally wouldn’t have used language like that, especially toward one of her closest friends.
But she was tired.
And stressed.
And emotional.
So who could blame her, really?
She didn’t need to think about the future. Things would stay constant. She could count on that. She’d always have the farm and her family and apples and Ponyville.
Everything is going to be perfectly okay.
She reassured herself of this countless times, until all meaning in the words dissolved.
Objectively, she was perfectly fine.
So why couldn’t she sleep?