//------------------------------// // Ch.5 Dragon Weekend // Story: The Apple Doesn't Fall Far // by Regis-Th3-Lesser //------------------------------// Saturday Morning crept upon the denizens of Ponyville. Applejack lay sprawled out snoring blissfully and twitching occasionally. Her sleep came to an abrupt halt as she woke slowly. Her eyes fluttered as she saw the light shafts dancing around her room. She sat up smacking her lips, yawning, and stretching. “That was the best night's sleep ah done had since bein' in that hospital.” she yawned. She looked around her room searching for something. “Aha, there it is! Just where we left it.” she said with her gaze locked upon her wheelchair. Then she realized that it was all the way across her room. “Darn, that's right. Spike had to lift me into bed.” a smile crept upon her face. “Oooh no ya don't Missy. No more thinking like that about that there dragon, but he's so kind and caring. NO! He's a dragon and you're a pony. Besides that's beastiamentality or somethin', look ah just know that it ain't right. He's so cute. And? You're always looking at his scales. He's a dragon, all ya see is scales. We both know why you look at his scales. So the boy has some meat on them bones, your point is? You want him. No ah don't. You need him. NO, ah don't! You love him. NO...AH...DON'T!” she yelled out loud ending the debate. She covered her mouth wondering if somepony had heard. She took her head and took a deep breath. “Now how the heck am ah gonna get over there?” she removed her covers and scooted over to the edge of the bed. “Maybe if ah just.” she put her healthy leg to the floor first trying to keep as much of her weight on it as possible. “Okay.....okay.” she put her broken leg down next. “AAH!” she yelped, collapsing to the floor. She was such there seething at the throbbing pain rising from her leg. Pounding her front hoof on the ground she looked up at her goal. The chair was no more than a foot away. “C-come on girl y-ya got three good legs left!” she lifted herself on to her three remaining legs and uncomfortably hobbled over to the chair. With one hop and a quick turn she sat exhausted. “Ah won't be doin' that again.” she sighed while rubbing her still throbbing leg. Spike bursted through the door. “Applejack, are you okay?!” he exclaimed in worry. He saw that she was sitting in her chair in just as much shock that he was in. “How did you?” “I just hopped over here.” Applejack answered simply. “But I heard a scream and a thud. Are you sure you're okay?” “Ah did fall over, but everything's fine now.” Spire looked at her grinning facade with worry. “Okay, well breakfast is ready. Do you want to eat up here or downstairs?” “Downstairs?” Applejack responded with uncertainty. “Of course,” Spike mumbled. “Okay I'll take you down then the chair.” “You're gonna what now?” she blushed slightly. “I have to carry you downstairs. Your house isn't wheelchair friendly.” “Oh right, right.” Applejack's breaths became shallower as Spike closed in on her. “He's big.” reverberated through her head as he stood up in his hind legs and got down on his knees. “Y'know, sometimes I forget that you can stand up straight.” Applejack said trying to steady her breathing. “Yeah? Now throw your right hoof over my shoulder.” she obeyed. “Now out your ri..I mean left hoof around my neck and hold on.” she listened and held on as tight as she could. Spike carefully grasped her legs causing her to gasp slightly. “I didn't hurt you didn't I?” “No, I'm fine sugarcube.” Spike stood at full height and began to make his way towards the door. “He sure is tall, and warm.” she thought as she nuzzled his neck. Before she knew it they were at the bottom of the stairs. Spike sat her down at the table, made sure that she was comfortable, and ran back up the stairs. She watched until he was out of sight. Applejack sighed then looked down at a plate full of apple pancakes covered with whipped cream and topped a Granny Smith apple slice. Then there was a loud thud followed by a flat “ouch”. Applejack laughed at the image of Spike tripping over a cumbersome wheelchair. “Sorry about the noise. This thing decided that it wanted to snag on the doorknob.” he said as he came clunkily down the stairs with his face obscured by the wheelchair. Applejack's gaze was fixed on him the whole time. “Are you okay?” “Hmm, oh yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking.” “Okay,” he sat down at the table. “Aren't you hungry?” Applejack looked down at her plate. “Oh yes, starvin'! She  took a nearby fork and stabbed the stack aggressively ripping out a large chunk. In one swift move the fork disappeared then reappeared devoid of any food. Spike was caught a little by surprise, but he then remembered how she devoured the apple pie that he baked. He laughed inwardly at how her own greed could compete with his. “You eat like you've been starved for months.” Spike poked. She stopped with another large piece nearing her open maw. “Sorry,” she chucked sheepishly, lowering her fork. “It's alright, I'm worse especially when I haven't eaten in a few days, besides I know that my cooking is appreciated.” he chucked. “A few days?” Applejack asked full of intrigue. “Yeah, I've found that I can go an entire month without eating and it doesn't really affect my health in any way. The downside is when I eat I eat everything. Remember when the Fry's Shack almost went bankrupt?” “Yeah.” “That was because I cleant them out. I had to pay every bit back too. I should eat now so something like that doesn't happen again.” “Yeah you should, but ah was wonderin', l why are you here exactly? Not that ah don't enjoy your company.” Spike widened his eyes some then answered. “We all agreed on what days to watch after you,” he stopped seeing that last line annoyed her. “Not because you're helpless or anything, we just feel more comfortable if you were closely monitored.....in a sense.” he smiled as convincingly as possible. “Right,” she flatly added. “So when do you help me out?” she took a less hurried bite of her pancakes. “I decided to take the weekends mainly because the library is closed, and the others were arguing about who would take Saturday and Sunday.” A smile began to sneak up on her when he toss her the news. “Since you've gotten yourself into your wheelchair I guess we can start your physical therapy.” Applejack ceased chewing. “My what now?” “Your doctors said that in order for you to regain full health you need to be active throughout your recovery.” “Wait, isn't that for ponies who are nearly handicapped or somethin'?” “That's what twilight was wondering, but we just suspected that the doctor took your career into account.” “So you're sayin' that ah need to get back to work as soon as possible?” Applejack said in slight annoyance. “In a nutshell.....yes. So I'll let you finish eating then we can get started.” Applejack eyed him furiously as he left the kitchen. “Wait!” she held a hoof out wondering what compelled her to have such an outburst. Spike stood with one claw to the door. “I'm sorry, ah didn't mean to..” “No problem, I forgot that you like to be around others when you're sad.” She smiled warmly at him blushing slightly. He noticed and began to smile back sharing in her blush. “Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something stuck in my scales?” he ran a claw over his cheek. “Oh, no sorry ah was just....um...ad..admirin' the way the....sun shines through the windows.” Spike turned skeptically to the window behind him then back to Applejack.“You're a terrible liar Applejack.” he jokingly scolded. He sat back down at the table and waited for her to finish her breakfast. “Now for today I just want to see how long you can stand on at least three of your legs.” Spike ordered like royal guard captain. They were outside next to the barn. Applejack readied herself for any pain that this may cause. “Okay girl, you can do this, you.... can do this!” she forcefully shoved herself out of the chair landing on her front hooves. “Good AJ, now take it easy.” Spike coached. She took a few deep breaths then moved her healthy leg forward, but she went to far and lost her balance. Applejack tried her best to catch herself without using her injured leg, but it was no use as she felt the sickening weightless feeling of falling. “Gotcha,” Applejack craned her neck to see Spike holding her slightly off the ground. “I told you to take it easy.” he smiled. “R-Right.” Applejack shook, caught by surprise of the fall and from Spike holding her. “Let's try that again, but this time I'll keep you balanced.” he set her down and held on to her back. “Please just scratch mah back a little is all I'm askin'.” Applejack though shaking violently. She tried again to stand on her three good legs while they were quaking and wobbling. “Are you cold Applejack? You shouldn't be, it's the middle of summer.” Spike asked with a raised brow. “No, that last fall kinda scared me.” “Why am ah lyin'?”. “We could take a break if you want to.” “I'll be fine.” “Not if you keep touchin' me...” “Okay, are you entirely sure you're okay?” “I'm absolutely positive.” “You just don't know what that claw of yours is doin' to me. Whoa!” Spike was shifting his position when he accidentally scratched that one spot on everypony's back that makes them go well near limp. “Oh my goodness, Applejack are you okay?!” Spike panicked seeing her collapse. “No ah am not okay in the least bit.” “Y... Yeah, I'm just not used to havin' mah back touched since ah can reach it mahself.” “Look who's finally bein' honest.” “Oh thank the princesses, I thought I hurt you.” he said in a calmer tone. “Oh, you were far from hurting me.” “Don't worry, I'm a-ok.” she said as she stood on all four of her hooves. “Ah know that you're a big dragon nd all, but you shouldn't blame yourself every time somepony is hurt...?” she trailed seeing Spike distracted. “What're you gawkin' at?” “You're standing on all four of your legs!” he yelled excitedly. Applejack looked down to the parched dirt where she stood and saw that she was standing perfectly normally, then it began to fail as pain spread through her leg. “Whoa, gotcha!” Spike looked down on the cowgirl in his arms happily. “I think I know what you need to get past this.” “What?” Applejack stuttered. He moved in closer. “What is he doin'?! I'm blushin' like a filly who just had an accident!” she thought. “We need to keep your mind off of that leg.” “H-huh?” Applejack asked in relief. “When you were talking about how I shouldn't think that I always hurt somepony, what were you thinking?” “Ah don't know, just....talkin' ah guess.” “Exactly! You weren't focused on your leg which made you shrug off the pain. If you focus on something other than the pain that you'll feel when you walk you can be back on your hooves in no time.” “That's a mighty fine idea.” she solemnly agreed. “Don't you want to get back to apple bucking?” “Yeah....ah do.” she sighed. “Stop lyin' darn it! Just kiss the dragon and tell him that you don't wanna buck apples no more!” “The sooner the better right?” “NOOOOO!” “That's the spirit! Should we try again?” he said like an enthusiastic colt. “No, I'm fine for today, but ah ain't goin' back in the house.” “So you just want to relax here by the barn?” “Yup,” Applejack simply responded. Spike picked up Applejack and walked over to her favorite tree. He set her down carefully and flopped down next to her sending the nearby dandelions flying. Applejack giggled at how this grown dragon could still act like he was still a baby. Spike finally settled down and closed his eyes. “Always the first one asleep.” Applejack turned back to the view of the orchard and sighed then a familiar sensation crept up her spine. She looked at her back and saw his purple claw. She shuddered and dropped her head to the soft ground. She shot up then looked back at Spike. “Who told ya to stop?” “Sorry,” he whispered. Sunday Spike woke curled up on the floor in Applejacks room, slow as usual. He debated on whether he should get off his butt or just lay there all day then he remembered that he's here taking care of an injured earth pony. So he rose to his claws, stretched, and walked to the door. He stopped and looked down at a sleeping Applejack silently stirring. It reminded Spike of how he used to wake up Twilight on mornings similar to this. He left the room and looked around the hallway solemnly. He queued about what might happen to her and this house. Spike knew that if Applejack wasn't working the farm wouldn't make any money. With her hurt and Big Macintosh doing whatever bankruptcy was inevitable. Even with Applejack working not enough money was coming through. Spike thought on it then shot down the stairs and it the door with single-minded determination. Applejack woke to the sound of a series of thuds. She looked around for Spike, but he was nowhere to be found. She lifted herself into her wheelchair then rolled over to her window. What she saw made her eyes go wide in joyful surprise. Spike and Zooey were outside collecting apples not as gracefully as she could though. She lept out of the chair and bolted downstairs. Spike had just bucked a tree when he saw an orange figure rushing towards him. “Applejack?” she skidded to a halt in front of him. “Applejack why are you out here?” She paid him no mind, the only thing that she was focused on was how in the world did he get every apple down in one kick without damaging the tree. “How did you buck this tree perfectly?” she asked in amazement. “I've been watching you do it for years, plus about three excruciating hours with Big Mac.” “Mac is here?” “Yes he's here, now why are you here aren't you still hurt?” he asked sternly. She remembered what they had found out yesterday about her condition. “Ah completely forgot about that.” she said in slight panic. “Well are you?” “Gettin' there.” “You're thinking about it aren't you?” “Tryin' my darnedest not to.” The longer she stood the higher her leg rose. “Hmmm Okay, just look at me.” she looked up straight into his eyes. “Now just look at me and clear your mind of everything.” she continued to stare deep into his green eyes as if he put her in some hypnotic trance. “Does it still hurt?” “N-no,” she whispered. “Please go back inside before you hurt yourself again.”  Applejack turned and trotted back to the house. “Geez, what was that all about mate?” Zooey asked while carrying three baskets full of apples. “I wish I could tell you. I honestly didn't believe that would work.” “I guess all mares work in mysterious ways. Help me with this would ya?” Spike grabbed the extra bucket of of his back. “Hey, isn't she supposed to be hurt?” “Yeah, but she's too stubborn to feel any.” Spike chuckled. “Let's get these over to Big Mac.” Meanwhile inside Applejack sat at the kitchen table trying to calm herself down. “He was so close to me, AGAIN! It felt just like yesterday when we were outside and he caught me, and when we sat under mah tree.” she slammed her head on the table. “ Why am ah doin' this to mahself? I can't have him it's wrong, and he ain't in to mares like me. He wants somepony like Rarity. That's it! No, no, I'm not gonna do change anything about me. There's nothing wrong with me. Ah have all the qualities that any stallion would want, right?” she sat there wallowing in her self pity. “Wow you've gotten pretty pathetic.” “You can add crazy to that.” “Some say that talking to yourself can help create your mind.” “You only turn mah mind into a big mess.” “I don't know how. We're the same pony, but I'm more truthful.” “How in Equestria is that possible? If we're the same pony how can ah be more truthful than me?” “Because I am willing to tell what I want, and we both want Spike. He's strong, caring, charismatic, and all around amazing.” “I guess.” “You know! Come on you're the element of honesty yet you keep lying to yourself. Stop denying what you want!” “We are two different species.” “Do you care?” “No....” “My point exactly. Go get him.” Applejack pulled her head off the table and looked around. She limited offer to the window and watched the guys finishing up their work mostly paying attention to Spike. “This ain't gon' be easy.”