//------------------------------//
// Dusty roads 
// Story: Lost 
// by AJapple 
//------------------------------//

Sweat trickled down the freckled cheeks of the farm pony as she trudged up the dusty hill. Her hat sagged down over her eyes and her hooves dragged over the ground tiredly. Her saddle bags felt like they’d been filled with boulders and the sun beat mercilessly on her back. 
“The things I do for ya Rainbow.” she muttered a sleepy smile spread over her face. She’d been walking for more than half a day and she hadn’t even hit another town. Applejack reached the top of the hill and set down her bags. She dug around in one of them until she found a bottle of water. Draining half the container in one thirsty gulp she capped the bottle and put it back into the folds of the saddle bag. 
Taking off her hat, she wiped a hood along her brow. Sweat wasn’t anything new to her, she’d worked longer and harder than this before and ended up absolutely drenched. Course that was doing something she actually enjoyed. 
Her friends, especially Rainbow, were always asking if she ever got bored bucking apples everyday. Applejack could answer that question easily. No, she didn’t get bored. She had been bucking apples since she was first able to after all. The act was comforting, and it brought warm memories of her father. Besides if she didn’t applebuck everyday than their farm would fall through and they’d be homeless. 
Now, the walk was boring and every step was hard. She was traveling farther and farther away from home. It had been established as a young filly that she didn’t do well when away from home, and alone. Granted she’d gone off for days on trips and such but most of those was with friends. This time it was a solitary trip. Why? To find that son of a gun pegasus that had plagued her thoughts for the past few weeks. Before the whole Sombra disaster, it had seemed like Rainbow Dash had been paying more attention to her. Applejack had caught the flyer staring at her flank many times. Of course Applejack admitted to checking out the pegasus on occasion. They were both nervous, darting around the subject of dating and love. Neither wanting to own up to their own feelings. It had been nerve racking.
Then one night after a few cups of liquid courage, otherwise know as good old hard cider, they’d finally shared a kiss. A warm one. Soft and delicate. The moment was ruined by the echoing calls of their friends, trying to invite them out for a night on the town. 
Applejack took a deep breath, and shook away the fuzzy memories of that night. The night before everything had gone south. The farm pony reached back into her bags and pulled out a map. Huh, she was closer to Canterlot than she’d thought. Well, she knew her friend wouldn’t be anywhere near there. If she had to take a guess, she'd say Rainbow Dash was somewhere up north. By Cloudsdale. 
However the fact remained that Applejack was tired and she knew that she needed a night’s rest before making the journey north. Her lip curled in distaste as she thought about staying in Canterlot. 
Applejack had nothing against the city, it was just how sophisticated it was there. She always had the impression that ponies were talking behind her back.
 Oh look at the muddy old farm pony! 
Is she lost?
What’s she doing here? Doesn’t she know this place is for the higher class?
The city was the royal city after all, the princesses lived there! At least the princesses were kind, and didn’t think of her as some country hick. 
Deciding it was the best choice of action, Applejack headed for Canterlot. 

Canterlot was huge, it was busy and it smelled like artificial perfumes. Applejack navigated her way down crowded streets, her bedraggled appearance giving her a wide path as ponies stepped out of her way. It might not have been the dirt caking her hooves or the messiness of her mane that steered them away. No it was probably the fierce expression she wore. She didn’t want to be here, at all. She shouldered her way through a crowd of chatting unicorns and ignored the sniffles of distaste as she passed. 
“Oh look at that earth pony!” she heard one whisper. “She looks like she was run over!” 
“Kinda looks like she runs a farm.” another said as if running a farm was the worst thing that Applejack could do. 
“Aren’t farms all….gross?” the first said. 
“Well yeah, there’s all sorts of mud and stuff. You heard of the Apple family? They have farms all over. Nasty business, farming, guess that’s the reason there is some inbreeding. Can’t find anyone willing to marry those hicks. Except their own family.” a new unicorn scoffed quietly. 
“Hey! She has apples on her flank. Probably one of those Apples then.” 
“Mmhmm.” 
Applejack had never wanted to punch somepony more than right at that moment. Actually, to properly get her opinion across she would deliver a buck to those idiot highfalutin unicorns chests. If she did that, they would probably end up in the hospital and Applejack would be in lots of trouble. So she just kept walking, biting back the string of insults that rested on her tongue. 
Clothing shops boasted their bounty with bright flyers and gorgeous dresses hanging in the windows. A few cafes showed off their impressive selection of tiny little fancified food choices. Applejack heard the grumbling of her stomach and frowned. She needed to find some cheap lodgings, not stop for a bite to eat. Although, she mused, it wouldn’t do her any good to be starving as she tried to sleep. Letting out a loose sigh, Applejack entered a tiny corner diner. 
The atmosphere was like any diner she’d ever set foot into. Warm and disorderly. With checkered floor tiles and the tang of bleach cleaner mixed with the noise of fryers and the shouts of waiters, waitresses and cooks alike. It was almost like the diner back home. A young waiter hurried up to her, the faintest hint of sweat glistening on his brow. 
“Hello miss. May I offer you a table?” He pointed out a two pony table squished in the back by a small window. Applejack nodded
“Thank ya kindly sir.” she added as she sat down. The waiter gave her a smile. 
“Anything to drink?” he asked politely. Applejack licked her lips.
“Got any cider?” she questioned and the stallion rubbed at the back of his neck.
“If you’re looking for the alcoholic type of cider-”
“No, no, just the regular stuff.” Applejack reassured him. The stallion sighed with relief. 
“Okay I’ll go and get that for you miss.” he said slapping a menu on the table as he rushed away. Applejack smiled, it wasn’t the first time she’d been asked to clarify whether or she had meant hard cider or regular cider. It seemed a bit silly to her, why would she ask for hard cider when the restaurant obviously wouldn’t sell such a drink. Cider didn’t always have to be alcoholic. If anypony knew that, it was her. Heck she made barrels of good old regular cider to sell to some of these restaurants. 
Her eyes flicked over the menu and she settled on a hayburger and fries. The waiter came back with a ice cold glass of cider. He placed it in front of the farm pony and smiled nervously at her.
“Do you need more time to decide?” he said glancing back at the stack of plates waiting for him to take them to their respective tables.  
“Nah, I think I’ll get one of those hayburgers with fries.” Applejack answered quickly seeing how busy he was. 
“I’ll put that in for you right away.” the waiter nodded his head and dashed away. Applejack took a sip of the cider and recoiled at the taste. The cider was too bitter and watery. It definitely wasn’t Sweet Apple Acres cider. She sat back in her seat, closing her eyes. She still had to find a place to sleep for the night and then she had to travel another few hundred miles to reach Cloudsdale. Then she would have to find some pegasus to fly up there and ask around for Rainbowdash. Sweet Celestia this was going to take a while. 
It took another fifteen minutes, but her hayburger was delivered to her table. It didn’t take long for the plate to be completely emptied and a pile of bits left in the hooves of the waiter. Applejack raced out the door. Now for the hard part, finding a place to stay.