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// 1: Apple Harvest 
// Story: An Encroaching Sunset 
// by Discet 
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	“Now ya’ll listen! I don’t need nobody’s help! Sweet Apple Acres hasn’t missed a harvest in six generations! And we ain’t never needed no help” I stammered out 
Sunset sighed “Applejack you’re running yourself ragged. If you keep this up you might get just as hurt as Big Mac, or maybe worse.”
“And I’m telling you like I told the others ah’m just fine” I slammed my locker closed looking back at Sunset, “I’ve been able to juggle school and the harvest ever since I was shorter then a stump, and I don’t see any reason why that should change” I looked into my bag, shifting through the various items inside to make sure I had everything for class today. Under my breath I muttered “Where in the gods dang is that Chemistry book” 
“In your locker. That’s the second time you opened it and closed it without grabbing your book.” Sunset said shaking her head.
I looked back at the locker in dismay and then back at the locker dial. The digits and dashes on the old dial all seemed to blur together every distinction vanished from its face. I tried rubbing my eyes but that only seemed to make the disorientation worse. 
“Applejack?” Sunset said in alarm. I felt a pair of arms around me. I opened my eyes and I was nearly toppled over, Sunsets hands gently cradling me from what have otherwise been a fall. “Are you okay?” I looked up to the genuine concern in Sunset’s face. It was hard to imagine that she had been manipulating the entire school earlier that year.
Can’t have my friends worrying about me. Come on Applejack, time to get your feet back under you. “I appreciate the concern Sunset, but trust me, I know my limits. Ah’ll be fine.”
“Applejack, you nearly collapsed in the hallway, have you even been awake for classes this week? Any of them? Cause I know you sleep straight through geometry.”
Now that’s just ridiculous I know that I was conscious for a few of my classes, some teachers weren’t as forgiving as Cheerilee about sleeping in class after all… but for the life of me, I can’t think of single thing I had retained from those classes. It was all like a vague fog, I remember the mantra of ‘gotta stay awake’. But beyond that…
“Fine, ah’ll ask Celestia if I can take a few days off for the harvest. Don’t need to be too focused for apple picking, just determined. Get done quicker if I don’t have to come here anyhow”
“That’s not what I meant AJ” Sunset said clearly annoyed. 
The school bell rung with a clanging fervor that sounded like incoherent drums. The now near consistent headache had for the last five days now seemed constant. I could always phase out the hustle and bustle of the hallways, but the bell always felt like a drill in her head. “I got to go Sunset, I appreciate the concern but Ah’ll be just fine” 
Sunset said… something in protest, but it was quickly washed away in the flood of students. Just needed to get through classes, talk to Celestia then get back home '



A Few Days Later
Sunset was out at the farm. How did she get out here? She walk? It was a long walk to get back from school. Was it that late in the day already? Nope phone says just past 1. She should still be in class.
“Applejack, Applejack are you listening to me?” she sounded upset. I guess I could take a few moments. 
I placed the basket I was carrying down and wiped the abundant sweat from my forehead. Why wasn’t my hat catching most of that? Wait I don’t have my hat on. Where the hell is my ha-
Resting casually in Sunsets hands was my old beaten Stetson hat. I looked up in her eyes suspiciously. When had she managed to steal my hat? Sunset rolled her eyes “I snatched it off your head two trees ago to try and get your attention, it failed” Sunset pushed the hat back onto my head. It wasn’t a malicious amount of force, but it was still enough to send me staggering back. “Now, that I finally do have your attention. Have you had anything to eat today?”
I thought for a few moments “I woke up before everyone to get a head start. I meant to go back for breakfast but the time just got away from me.” my tongue felt like sand in my mouth. Truth was I woke up early cause I’ve been having trouble sleeping. Nightmares of the farm shutting down, Granny Smith all alone in an old folks home, Big Mac not getting treatment for his arm. I had to keep working, had to keep everyone happy. Have to… ah damnit. Dizzy again. Well Sunsets arms are around me again. I don’t want her to worry about me. Looking up she was shepherding me to the old gnarled tree on the hill. She let me down against the trunk like I was made of fancy china or something. 
Sunset settled down next to me, digging through her bag before pulling out a bottle of water “Here, drink” 
The water tasted sweeter than anything I have ever tasted I could feel my sore body slowly ease. The crisp fall breeze hit the hillside in just the right way. Was I always this tired these days? A small bit of distress went through me as the bottle came up empty shaking out the last few drops from it. 
“Here this too” she held out a brown paper bag and another bottle of water. 
“Sunset, really, I know your worried but you really don’t have to b” I was interrupted as my stomach let out an audible whine of protest. I felt my face warm up and took the bag. At least Sunset had the good courtesy to not rub it in. Inside it looked like one of Fluttershy’s salad sandwiches a cup of pudding and… a carrot. I unwrapped the sandwich and took one large bite out of it. Mmmm crisp tomatoes, a little spread of mayo, lightly toasted… it was good, no meat though. Did Sunset not eat meat? She never made a point about it like Fluttershy. I guess “it’s kind of weird that one of my best friends was a horse at some point”
“Pony actually, Unicorn specifically” 
“Did I say that out loud?” Sunset nodded with a crooked grin. “Sorry, didn’t mean anything by it. Just a little surreal when I really think about it”
“No problem, really I it was weird that you all managed to balance one two legs everywhere you go when I first got here.”
“Is that why you had so much trouble back in freshman year in gym? You could barely finish the mile back then”
“Yeah, yeah or do much of anything else for that matter. If it wasn’t for computers all my essays that year would have been nothing more than chicken scratch. Hard to go from moving everything without lifting a ho- finger to having to manipulate everything with these” she wiggled her fingers in front of her like they were alien appendages. Which I suppose for her they were. 
“Guess it was hard to come here and not know anybody huh?” I broke off a piece of the carrot.
“Well, I really didn’t know many po… people back in Equestria either. Doubt anyone but Celestia even noticed I was gone…” there was that odd look again. Sunset got it sometimes when she thought no one was looking. Homesickness maybe?
“Sunset…”
Sunset without warning stood up with a little skip. Usually it wouldn’t have been so startling but my reaction time was frustratingly shot. “Didn’t expect you to go through both those bottles so quick, I’ll go to the house and get some more for you. Do you mind if I let myself in” I shook my head ‘no’, “Thanks. Now I know you feel like you need to go full tilt but please, just take ten minutes to rest before heading back out. That’s all I ask.” 
I gave a grudging nod in promise and with a smile Sunset bounded off down the hill towards the house. 
Well if I’m not going to be moving anytime soon might as well get comfortable. I slumped slightly into a better sitting position. Out ahead of me was an acer of land I would have to have done by the end of the day. But with a cool breeze blowing and a full stomach it was hard to feel all that pressure. 
For the first time in a week I didn’t feel stressed or nauseous. I took in a deep breath of the crisp fall air. It wouldn’t be too bad to rest my eyes would it? Just a few minutes. Sunset would be back with water and wake me up. Just a few minutes would be just fine. Just… a few…



Reality came slamming back home in the lethargic feeling in my muscles that told me that it had been quite a good deal longer than a few minutes. The sky above had changed from a bright hot blue to a toned down navy with a gradient of beautiful warm red colors coming from the horizon. The beautiful display of nature filled me with panic. 
Five? No more like six hours of daylight I’dhad slept through like an idiot. All the work I needed to do!. O would have to do more from here on out, to make up for todays slip up. I’ll work through my nights too if I have to. The Apple harvest could still be managed. I looked at the setting sun the unquestioning feeling of dread as my muscles protested the upcoming workload. But the family comes first, we need to bring in more than last year and for that we needed more apples picked, can’t let any rot on the vine. Just… need to…
Even with this declaration something about the scenery was off. Just below the horizon the acre I had planned on working today was already picked clean of apples, in fact a great deal more then what I had planned to accomplish today was all gone. 
“Oh good you’re awake” came a voice from just behind me 
“Gah!” 
“Eep!” Standing there looking sheepish was Fluttershy, gripping a jug of water filled with ice and cut lemons to her chest tightly in an effort to keep it from falling 
“Oh Fluttershy. Sorry, you startled me” I said rubbing my eyes. 
She seemed to relax at that and approached again “Oh, well that’s a first.” She said with a smile, offering a plastic cup down between her fingers. Applejack accepted it and Fluttershy poured her a full glass of the chilled water.
“If you don’t mind me asking what are you doing out here this late?”
Fluttershy placed the jug of water down next to them and seemed nervous. “Oh… Oh dear, uh, please don’t be mad”
“Mad? About what?” I said, reserving any promise to hear the reason why. 
“Well, we… uh we’ve all been worried about you, but you kept saying that you were just fine so we didn’t want to impose. But Sunset was still really, really worried about you. So she said she was going to come check on you today during school. Then we all got a text asking if we were able to come and help out here today, that you needed a break. Im sorry Applejack. I know you didn’t want our help butwewerejustreallyworriedandjustwantedtohelpIhopeyoucanforgiveus,” Fluttershy took in a deep breath. 
Sunset did all that? 
I looked down the hill I was on as all the girls started to emerge from the orchard, each was carrying a basket full of apples. Rarity was wearing some odd amalgamation of her usual fashionable self with a pair of practical overalls that somehow seemed to work. Pinkiepie skipping along talking loud enough to hear all her different descriptions for treats and party games they could do with the apples from up on the hill. Rainbow Dash was bumping into Sunset and joking about something since Sunset seemed to be laughing about it. Each of them were bringing their baskets towards a cart that was fuller then any work load I had managed since Big Mac got hurt. 
“Oh no. You are mad aren’t you? Oh dear” Fluttershy teetered nervously 
“Oh… no, no Fluttershy. I’m not mad. I think I was just too prideful. I really, really do need all your help.” 
“Oh. Well Im glad you were able to get some rest. Granny Smith just told me to come out here to wake you up, dinners ready.”
“Right. Right, you all are staying right? We gotta do something to repay y’all for your help.”
“Mhm, Granny wouldn’t have it any other way. She was rather… uh… insistent about that.”
Applejack nodded in agreement and looked back to her other four friends heading towards the old house on the hill. Sunset in particular looked like she had been working extra hard. Her usually wavy hair was sticking to her shoulders, her little cowlick was stuck to her forehead, her fingers gently trying to push it out of her view every few steps. Her jacket was slung across her shoulders removed at some point in the days work. Stains of sweat from a hard days work dabbed her shirt. Her entire being seemed to radiate in light of her namesake. 
“Applejack? What are you smiling for? Are you feeling alright?” Fluttershy asked regaining my attention.
“Huh? Uh, no reason. Lets go” I stood up on shaky legs and we made our way towards the house. Fluttershy stayed near to offer support, it was only needed once on the way down. My mind may have gotten some rest but my body would need a bit more recovery




“So there are a few days I have prior engagements but other than that darling I should be free to come by and help out darling.”
“Any day I’m don’t have practice I can help out, all that applepicking is a good workout for me anyways.”
“I just need to let the animal shelter know I will be busy for a few days out of the week, I’m sure they wont mind.”
I smiled “Thankyou everyone. Your help is gonna be invaluable.  I thought I could handle this all on my own, and I really didn’t want to be a burden to any of you”
Pinkiepie just laughed “Oh Applejack, you help all of out all the time, anything we can do for you, even the teensiest tiniest little favor is the least we can do!” 
“Well ah really appreciate it”
Sunset nodded with a smile “Just remember that next time you get overworked, your friends will always be there to back you up”
“Yeah, thanks sugar cube I will” I said rubbing the back of my neck, feeling my face warm up just a tad. 
“All right everyone, pile into the truck, I can give you a ride home” Granny called from the old pickup truck.
Rainbow, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rarity all hopped in the back though Rarity decided to lay down a blanket before doing so. Sunset seemed more hesitant “Something wrong Sugarcube?” 
“Um, well, I was able to get some of the work before I left school, but I don’t think I’ll have time to make up the work and get home and sleep.” She bit her lip 
“Darling? Are you alright?” Rarity called from the truck
I coughed “Well if it would be easier then you could stay here for the night you know, if it would help. Is that alright Granny Smith?
“Whaaaaaaaat?”
“Is it all right if Sunset stays the night?” 
“Oh of course dearie. For knocking sense into a stubborn mule like yourself? She can stay the whole dang week heheheee” with that she revved the motor and the old truck started down the road, the rest of our friends.
“Well that was embarrassing”
“What was embarrassing? I didn’t hear a thing” Sunset smiled and I appreciated the out. We headed back into the old Apple family house. The nap earlier had done some good but I was starting to crash again. “So should I just set up in the living room? I can just crash on the couch.”
“After what did for me? No, no. You can take my bed” 
Sunset looked at me like I had just suggested bungee jumping without a cable “Applejack, did we just live the same day? I thought we all learned a valuable lesson about friendship and how you need to get some actual rest sometimes. I’ll take the couch its really fine”
“Sunset please let me do th”
“Oh you’re staying the night Sunset? Why don’t ya’ll just share Applejacks bed?” the two of us looked over at Applebloom who was standing in her pajama’s a toothbrush in hand “Me and the crusader’s do it all the time, mah bed’s pretty big and I know your’s is too.”
“Applbloom I don’t think that’s a very goo”
“I’m okay with it if you are”
“Oh uh…” 
“Get to sleep sis. You might not let me help with the harvest but I can tell you when your being stubborn. Hey Sunset there’s a extra toothbrush in the bottom right drawer in the bathroom ahhhh” she yawned deeply “Goodnight you two.”
“Goodnight Applebloom” Sunset smiled happily. 
Applebloom smiled back and gave a little wave before heading upstairs. As she reached the top of the stairs she knocked on a well worn bit of the ceiling “Night Big Macintosh”
“Night Applebloom, Night Applejack” 
“Night Big Mac, Night Applebloom” 
“Wow, your family is so… pleasant Applejack”
“Yeah I guess I like them well enough, come on I’m just about dead on my feet”




“You sure you don’t mind the light?” Through one cracked eye I could see Sunset, sitting at the little desk in a borrowed pair of pajama’s.  They didn’t look as good as her normal purple ones Rarity made for her. 
“I’m sure Sunset, honestly Im barely conscious. Don’t worry about me I’m just about dead to the world” 
“Alright, sweet dreams.”
Slowly I could feel relief of sleep. Blissful dreamless sleep. Oh no no no. Ugh. Consciousness. Oh. Sunset Shimmer was sitting on top of me. That’s… uh. New. “S-Sunset”
“Applejack… do you still hate me? After all the things I did to you…”
“Uh…. I… N” her hand started to caress my face it was so gentle “no Sunset. I’ve forgiven you, we’ve all forgiven you.”
Sunset smiled warmly, leaning in a bit closer “Do you think we could ever… be more than friends?”
“I…” I could feel my heat pounding against my chest as the rest of the world fell away and there was just the two of us “I think… maybe?” 
Sunset leaned in closer and closer and….
I bolted upright in my bed looking around at the everything in their proper place. I could feel my heart beating like a rodeo bull in my chest. Just a Dreamn, nothing but a drea-
“Mmmm… Applejack?”
“Gah” I jumped away from the sound and landed square on my ass. On the floor
“Applejack?” Sunset sat up from her side of the bed looking worried but sleepy “Are you okay?”
“Oh I… yeah, yeah I’m fine. Just… a nightmare, I’m fine.” 
“Alright, night” she collapsed right back onto the bed.
I slowly untangled myself from the twists and turns of the covers, turning around I pressed my back into the side of the bed. Slowly I could feel my heartbeat relax. It’s alright. It was just a dream. You get weird dreams all the time. Doesn’t mean nothing. 
I bit my lip and slowly turned around looking across the twisted mass of covers. Sunset lay there with her crumpled hair, a small stream a drool and a soft snore going with the rise and fall of her chest. By any account she should have looked unkempt if not gross. And yet little smile she gets every time she laughs in her sleep, the little cowlick that always seems out of place, the curve of her hips that… that. 
I placed my burning face into my hands “Oh Horseapples.”