Nathan finds the last love of his life but quickly learns that with courage and dedication, he must fight for what he believes is right.
From defeated to victor, Nathan chooses his path in life and decides to follow it. As Nathan finds his love, he soon realizes that he must fight for what he believes is right, no matter the costs.
RealityPublishing Presents, "My Dearest Applejack", a romance about the struggles and hardships of rejected love.
“Many called him a strange child, one who was a mistake from the start; I knew better. He was more than a son to me, for it was he who had his mother’s flare and tail.”
As the sun rose to start the dawn of day, I looked out to the meadows of which my wife and I had worked hard to maintain. The playful laughter, which came from my son, brought joy to my eyes and fulfilled me with everlasting happiness. I rubbed my back against the tree I sat beside and looked down at the work I had written. “It is perfect,” I declared to myself, closing the book and fastening the latches tightly, placing it in a bag of which I had brought from home. As my child grew weary from chasing the winds, he came to me and spoke softly in my ear,
“Father, will Mother return?”
While it was the question that brought sorrows to my eyes, it was the answer of which brought dread. For my story had been long kept a secret from him; I knew not of how he would react to such matters. Despite my opposition to telling him the truth, I closed my eyes and prepared to reveal my troubles in full.
I sighed, returned the book to my lap and opening it slowly, “No, my son, she will not.”
A dark expression loomed over my child’s worried face. He spoke with haste, wanting answers faster than they could ever be revealed,
“What do you mean, Father? What is it that you mean to say? What have you been hiding from me? Do you hide the truth, Father?”
I chuckled slightly, showing my astonished expression to such curiosity. Who was I to doubt my own child, as he was, in truth; as curious as a child could be?
Raising a single finger, he held his tongue and sat beside me, eager for whatever answers I could provide. As he drew closer and closer to me, he held onto my arm as I prepared myself, flipping to the first page in my beloved diary; it was the book that held both my memories and my memoirs.
Looking deep into my child’s eyes, I asked him, “What do you remember of your mother?”
As the words ran deep, I could see his curiosity slowly fade away, being replaced with nothing but gloom.
“Nothing. I know not of my mother.”
I apologized, composing myself for the long read ahead, “Your mother was truly the finest in the herd, as she was indeed, a pony,” I began, watching as his face grew more and more interested. I smiled, continuing my introduction,
“She would risk anything to keep her family out of danger; she would rather lose everything in exchange for the life of a loved one.”
“But as dependable as she was, why did she leave?” Interrupted my inquisitive son who was no more patient than a filly on Hearth’s Warming Eve. I smiled,
“Your mother did not leave for she is here,” I answered, placing my hand on the small leather book, engraved with the mark of my love upon its cover. He cocked his head left with even more bustling curiosity; I knew it could not be helped, so I granted him the favor of telling him where I had first bought the book.
“Your mother and I picked it out,” I began, closing the book for the time being to display the three gleaming apples carefully etched in the material,
“She wanted me write down everything that had, and would, happen to us as a couple so that one day I may finish it and pass it down to you.”
Sitting on his knees, he pointed toward the cover’s crest asking, “Of what does that represent?”
I smiled, happy to share his family’s lore, “This mark is the one that represents your mother. It was the mark of which she earned as nothing more than a filly; it is the mark that I will never forget for as long as I live.”
He showed his interest but did not seem to be too impressed. I laughed and opened the book once more,
“Shall I begin my story? Or shall the both of us be caught in a cycle of unanswered questions?”
Giggling, as children do, he quickly sat down beside me and leaned against the tree as I did, waiting for the long awaited truth to unfold.
I was a mess; a true representation of the lowest life before I met her. My friends, or rather, what I had left of them, had tried everything to bring cheer to me. Alas, not even their comfort could bring me joy. I had made decisions of which brought immense regret to my life, bringing me to the tavern of which my story begins, wallowing myself in the self-pities of a failed student. I was alone and greeted at the door by the stench of rejects from all around town; no one knew I was there, nor did they know of where I’ve come. My parents, ever supportive of me throughout my times of troubles, had cut their last straw, leaving me to fend my father’s ridicule by myself.
“Why would you do this to us? What did we not provide? What is it you need?” He would ask as I donned a dark-navy-blue jacket, preparing myself for a journey they knew little about. I would grab my shoes and proceed up to the room of my own, only to turn around and answer bluntly,
“Unless you know how to resurrect the dead, I want nothing from you; leave me be.”
The answer did little to soften his heart, instead, he only felt more anger boiling in his swollen subconscious as he, too, missed my mother.
“No!” He would yell, storming upstairs and following close behind me, “I will not have another failure of a son!”
Slamming my door shut, I’d halt and pretend I heard not of what he said. I knew he had won this argument; I was a failure and it was only a matter of time that I would come to accept it. Quickly grabbing the beloved items of my room, I stashed them into a small, black knapsack and climbed onto the windowsill, proceeding my way to a neighboring balcony. As my father banged his mighty fist against the faded wooden door, I would climb down to the streets below, wishing that this day had not existed for he did not accept my ideas as though his own.
As I rained upon the streets of the sad little town I lived in, ponies of darker intention began to creep out into the night. I would have been afraid if not for the numbed burdens I carried; few humans would venture into the dark during that night as it was a holiday for everyone who stood on two. It was a day to appreciate family and many of my kind observed and respected it for what it was, a time of togetherness and of rest. I did not take too kindly to this holiday. To me, it meant nothing but a revelation of hurtful memories from a past life. While I denied it in my heart, I knew my father was well aware of how I felt. As nothing more than a child, my own mother had passed at the hooves of a group of unsuspecting ponies who caused nothing but troubles on the lives of the innocent. The incident left our family heartbroken to the point where my brother left to assume a career of which he never picked up. While I forgave the ponykind for such a crime, it was my father who was not as graceful; as he, to this day, hated their kind with a burning passion. He refused to look upon their kind for he was afraid.
So there I sat, holding a forged identification item of which I had crafted with nothing more than a few editing softwares, a hot iron, and a broken printer. I had little money, but I managed to order drinks of all colors to make me feel more like a king than the peasant I really was. I closed my eyes for a moment and listened to not the music of others, but the soft ringing of the phone I had stashed in my bag earlier. With the contempt roll of my eyes, I reached into the bag and pulled the small black box that proved to be more of my bane rather than a symbol of free-speech and responsibility. As the device vibrated, I lazily glanced at the small glowing letters that clearly spelled the word, “DAD”.
Quickly flipped the phone open, I held the red button to turn the phone on silent, tossing the nuisance behind me, causing a ruckus that halted the entire tavern for but a few seconds. As the bartender leaned over the bar, he chuckled,
“Rough night? I figured you all would be sitting at home, cuddling next to the fires of your families.”
I yawned, looking up at the bartender for the first time; he was a pony. Staring at his hooves, I smiled and began to laugh,
“Break any glasses lately?” I would ask him, trying not to fall from my chair. His face grew grim; I knew it was a piss-poor joke, but it was the bartender who kept his calm, returning to his practice,
“No, I’m afraid not,” he’d say, taking an order from the next pony over, “Although I will admit, it does happen to the newbies quite often.”
He smiled and walked to the other side of the bar, filling another’s glass full. I smirked and leaned back in my chair,
“Oh, bartender!” Said I, calling out above everypony else, “fill me another.”
His face grew worried, but he did not complain. Business was business to many around this part of town; feelings toward the consumer was nothing more than a drawback to success. As the shady brown liquid filled the small shot to the brim, he placed a hoof on top, holding it down as I tried to bring it to my lips.
“I know what you did, kid.”
I turned my head and out of the corner of my eye, I glared, “What do you mean, ‘What I did’?”
Leaning over the bar, he whispered into my ear, “Listen, kid. You’re lucky I haven’t kicked you out for underage drinking, but trust me, I know how you feel. I’ll grant you one last drink before you leave; don’t be a failure as I did, or you’ll be working in a place like this for the rest of your life. You wouldn’t want that, now would you?”
I nodded as he removed his hoof and I reached out to touch the glass. It was then that for the first time I thought about everything that happened. I picked up the glass but did not drink it. I stared deep into the sorrows my sad, deprived life had reflected upon me; I slowly placed down the glass.
“Nathaniel!”
Everypony in the bar turned to the door, all except for me. I knew who it was; it was none other than the last friend who ever cared for me, Isaac. He firmly grasped my shoulder and turned me around, his face, crosser than ever.
“What are you doing coming to a place like this? Have you no sense of reason?” With all his might, he pulled me out of the chair, dropping me to the floor. Everypony around us stopped to see the commotion unfold. I blushed, furious with the burning desire to kill,
“How DARE you! What right do you have to pull me away? Who cares if I got in illegally?”
With as many questions as I pulled, all he did was nod his head with disappointment as he slowly walked to the door. With his head down, he placed a large sum of bits, more than what I could have ever coughed up. He turned away, too ashamed to look upon my disgraced face and spoke just loud enough for the silenced bar to hear,
“Do what you will, Nathan, but remember, next time, it is you who will be paying for your mistakes.”
And with that, my last friend left the bar, leaving the door open behind him as if he were letting me make the last call. I glanced toward the bartender, who as with the rest of the customers, stared back. Atop the bar sat the small shot of the ale, which awaited further consumption. I thought about the bartender’s warning; I sighed and turned toward the door, swaying in the wind as the rain blew through. I closed my eyes, pulling the dreary hood over my head as I struggled to walk out the door and out to the terror which awaited my arrival.
The door slammed shut behind me as the rain drenched my hood within mere seconds. I began to shiver as the cold droplets ran down the nape of my neck. I struggled to stay on my feet as the mud ran deep into my boots, I wondered if I would ever make it past tonight. As I ventured further and further into the storm, I called out to anyone, or rather, anypony who was willing to listen,
“Hello?” I would cry with hopes that the rain had not completely drowned my voice. All around me, my vision began to fade. I fell to the ground, my face covered in the filth of a failure. As the mud coated my hair, I could see nothing but a small glowing figure in the distance. I tried to reach out to her, but I was too full of regret to even think about moving. The figure’s dance continued to draw near until she could come no closer. My eyes, covered in mud as they were, could make out nothing but the color of her coat; it was a well-known pony who lived in the town. Between her teeth she held a black iron lamp that shone ever so brightly in the rain; I began to cry. Just as I had lost hope, a hoof was placed upon my head as the words echoed in my mind,
“You’re going to be just fine.” The pony smiled and looked down at me, rubbing my mud-coat hair in the most gentle of ways. That was when I realized that for the first time, I, too, was smiling.
“Howdy! You probably can’t remember, but name’s Applejack!”
I nodded, blinded by sunlight and a heavy load of confusion.
”What was I doing here again?” I asked myself, nodding politely so not to offend. The pony, Applejack, smiled and pointed toward another pony, her brother.
“Oh! How could I forget? This is my brother! Big Macintosh! He’s the big guns,” she winked, whispering in my ear, “if ya’ know what I mean.”
I shivered, a little shaken by that last comment. I said nothing; I still didn’t want to offend. Big Mac stared at me with narrowed eyes; I began to wonder if I had offended him in any way. I laughed nervously; Applejack smiled and slapped me on the back,
“Listen, why don’t you two catch up? I’ve got a little something to do over here.”
Once again, she winked at me, wandering off into the barn behind me. Big Macintosh said nothing.
“So uh… some sister, huh?”
”Oops. Care to try again?”
I blushed, “Oh, uh. I mean, you two must get along well! She seems to care about you a lot.”
Big Mac was not amused. No, instead, he leaned closer and pointed toward Applejack before saying, “Nope.”
I gulped a big one. Nervous, I tried not to think about it any longer. He backed off and returned to his work. Applejack approached me,
“So! How was it? Ah, never mind that. List’n, I don’t want to be a hassle, but I heard you mumbl’n yesterday. Are you alright after what happened? You don’t really seem the type who’d be drinking so late.”
I gave a hopeful smile, “Yeah… I’m fine. I’ll just have to find another place to live. Can’t be too hard, right?”
Uneasily, she looked around her before whispering in my ear,
“Listen,” she said, “I know we don’t usually have overnight company, but as long as you pull your weight and help a share, I’ll be willing to put in a few words for you. How’s that?”
I was astounded, “You’d do that?”
She gave the most adorable laugh, “Why, of course I would! There’s nothing to it! It’ll just take a bit of time to talk to the family and all.”
She stopped and looked down, “Listen,” said she, her tone deepened; I listened attentively.
“I know you don’t have a place to stay,” she took her hat off, “I know it can be hard, but if you don’t tell anypony. And I mean anypony, I’ll let you stay with me until I get properly get you situated.”
I wasn’t sure of what she was offering, ”Did she want me to…”
She blushed, “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-“
“No, no! I understand!” I smiled; I had an idea of what she was talking about, but I didn’t want to run with it, “I can’t thank you enough!”
She blushed, “R-really? Well, I’m honored!”
I smiled, ”Was this really happening?”
She walked me to the dusty barn and grabbed my knapsack, throwing it to me; I barely caught it.
“You’ll have to come back later, okay?” She tilted her head and watched as I peer inside the bag making sure everything was as I left it, “Big Mac doesn’t take too kindly to strangers, especially humans.”
When I had checked everything, I slung the bag over my shoulder, “I don’t get it, y’know?”
Applejack stopped whatever she was doing and looked at me with confusion.
“All this hatred between our two races; so what if we stand on two legs? I don’t see what all the commotion is…”
Her brilliant green eyes widened for a moment before she began to smile once again, “I like you, Nathan,” she said, walking closer to me and placing a hoof on my chest, “You’ve got opinions and ideas,” she turned around and walked to the barn door, flicking her tail in my face, “I like that about you.”
I blushed and followed her to the exit.
“Don’t take it weird, but I’ll see you tonight,” she waved. I headed toward Ponyville, waving back to her. Once again, she was the one who made me smile.
Isaac was furious; he probably had a reason to be. I had humiliated him in public by squandering his tavern visit and now I had confessed my feelings for a pony whom I knew nothing about; I take it back, he had a lot to be upset about.
“You know what your father would think if he ever found out.”
I rolled my eyes, “Do you really think I care what my father thinks? He’s a moron; a failure like my brother.”
Isaac raised a brow, “A failure, huh? I take it this comes from the one who threw his future away…”
I frowned, “So? I’ve done a lot more than you have in the last two days.”
“Oh you’ve done a lot, my friend,” he shook his head with disappointment, “You’ve shocked the entire pony community, gave the town stricter alcohol laws, and they even put a curfew for all human residents! What a way to make an impression!”
We sat in silence for three whole minutes. It was a nice café, it really was, but sadly, it was the only one that accepted both human and ponykind as customers; the competition had their favorites. A pony couple eye-balled me from across the room; I shuffled my shoulders.
“Do you remember when we were kids?” Said Isaac, breaking the silence,
“And by kids you mean reckless, foolish teenagers without a sense of direction, yeah I remember.”
“Good,” he nodded, finishing up his regular order of cheesecake, “then you’ll remember the deal and the consequences we put forth if it were to be broken.”
”Ugh, the deal. When was he going to live that down?”
It was a while ago, but I still remembered. Of course, we were still in school and oblivious to what the future would hold. It was during recess, and like all kids then, we had our crushes. The school we attended was named, “Ponyville Integrated Academy” and it did just that. It was an integration of both pony and mankind; a simple concept at best. The school did well the first few years, but then started to decline in funds; they soon had to resort to cutting corners. It didn’t end well for the school or its students. But as children, we didn’t care for the sort of thing. We moved one day at a time, counting the days until freedom. Anyway, Isaac had his crush that surprised even me. I knew he was doing a bit of research on genetics for quite some time, but I had no idea he would actually carry out with it. He was in love with a pony. At first, the news passed by with ease,
“Alright, I’m sure he’s just joking,” I said one morning, getting ready for the day ahead of me. But another day passed and still he held onto his story. I asked him again one afternoon,
“So you never quite told me, who’s your crush?”
For a moment, he looked annoyed, “I should be asking you the same question,” he paused, his eyes glittered, “Oh, the hell. I’m in love with SugarBlossom.”
She was a student taking the Integrated Art class; the same Isaac had been taking.
A month went by and he returned to me with a gloomy face.
“Well? How’d it go?” I asked, ignoring his body language to make room for an actual explanation. A week earlier, Isaac told me he was going to do his best to talk to the pony and try to actually “start” a relationship with her. I told him it was a long shot, but he was determined he could do it with his vast vocabulary. I remember rolling my eyes, but I still wished him luck. It wasn’t until today that I had heard from him.
“What’d she say?” I asked again; Isaac looked down at the concrete. We were walking home from school.
“She didn’t say anything, instead, her father did.”
He didn’t need to say anything after that; I knew what was coming.
“I tried to stay calm, but it didn’t matter. Her father was just as prejudice as she was,” Isaac’s eyes grew teary, “she was withdrawn from school…”
I tried to show my sympathy by patting him on the back,
“Don’t worry about it, Isaac. I’m sure you’ll find someone better than her!” He looked up at me, “Besides, she didn’t really love you. That’s the whole purpose of dating!”
He stopped in his tracks, “Nathan, I want you to promise me something.”
I stopped when he said it; I was several feet from him, “Anything,” I said, waiting for whatever was to come. This was something entirely new.
Isaac began to weep, “I want you to promise that you’ll never date pony. Ever. And if you do,” his fist trembled, “then I pity you. I’ll pity you for choosing poorly because I’ll make sure you’re the one who talks to her father. Then I can watch you be consumed by hatred. Do you understand? Can you promise me that?”
“Isaac, that was four years ago.”
Isaac sat still, not saying a word. His hands trembled around a small brown coffee mug.
“It seemed like yesterday,” he muttered under his breath. There was no sign of contempt, but I felt as though he was cursing me.
I stood up, drawing everyone’s attention, “So are you going to do it? Are you going to ‘burn me with hatred’?”
Isaac remained seated, calm as usual, “Sit down,” he said patiently. He was always the collected type.
“I’m going to give you a chance,” He said, at last, standing up to head for the door, “If I catch you anywhere near that pony. I will tell your father.”
I stared him down but did not flinch. He continued, “And your father will talk to whomever it is you’re currently seeing, and he will tear you apart. So keep your head low, and you won’t get hurt.”
He pulled over his light blue hood and walked out of the door. The café was silent. I sat down, terrified by what would await me. I tried not to think about it. It was getting late and I needed to what had to be done. I grabbed my bag and left the restaurant.
“I promise.”
“good,” said Isaac, returning to his regular walking pace. He turned around, “you sly dog, after all this time you never told me who your crush was. Who was it?”
I took Isaac’s warning without a care; he was always jealous of me. Never a day went by when he envied something of mine; at least, he used to. Ever since I took off, I regretted everything I did; well, almost everything.
I jumped over the fence that led to the one and only, Sweet Apple Acres, where I knew she’d be waiting. I had no idea what trouble would await me, but I no longer cared. I wanted to be happy; I wanted to smile. Weaving through the trees, I met with her, the one and only pony I could ever be happy to see. Her smile filled me with irreplaceable warmth. As she spoke, I was reminded of my youth and all the joy I was brought as an innocent child,
“How are you this fine night?” She'd ask, waving her hard-worked, tender hooves. I smiled, blessed by her presences,
“Better; how about you?” I said, cracking a corner smile and admiring at her golden locks of purity. Despite the amount of work she had put into her day, she still managed to create the perfect face. Even through the dark, I still managed to see a vibrant red blush, “I’m doing just fine; should we stand out here all night?” She joked, slowly turning toward the welcoming home and picking up a fallen apple just for me. She held it close to my face, “Here; I knew you’d be hungry, so enjoy! It’s all for you,” she winked and pressed her hoof against the cold wood trees. I took a bite of the apple, tasting all the love put into its sweet juices. A calming wind blew through the trees,
“Feel that?” She said, stopping to admire the night sky, “That’s the midnight breeze. Every night a cool breeze blows these acres; it’s a wonderful to enjoy it.”
The refreshing gust of wind blew through our hair; I snuck a quick glance at her locks, spying a single tear fall from her elegant face,
“Why do you cry?” I asked, taking another bite from her family’s apple. She quickly wiped her face,
“I-I,” she stuttered, “I’ve never been able to share this experience with anypony other than you. In a way… it’s… special.”
She smiled, turning to me as her hair remained sway in the wind, “Thank you, Nathan. I know I’ll be cherishing this moment forever. There are some things that can never be forgotten, and you, Nathan, are one of these things.”
I grinned, happy to help her in any way I could. There was something special about this pony, the pony who stuck up and rescued me in my dire time of need. Others would have overlooked me, caring not for my troubles, but Applejack, she held significance. She knew what it was like to care and understand people for who they were. I loved every moment I spent with her. There was a kind of magic the two of us shared; it was a magic that none could replicate. I knew of the worldly boundaries, but did not care. I knew we would never be accepted for who we were, but they would never get in our way. I knew the world would not have its way with us; I knew we could show the world a special bond that was frowned upon by many. If they didn’t accept, then it would be their fault, and not our own.
Applejack waltzed through the fields, still admiring the brightly lit night sky. The moon glistened so majestically atop the blanket of stars it lay upon; never had I been able to appreciate such a sight. Applejack pointed to a single star excluded from the rest of Luna’s Garden,
“See that star there?” Said she, beaming, “Granny Smith says it was created through our family’s shared love for each other.”
Although different from the rest of the stars, this one glistened brighter than the rest. It showed no humiliation and glowed with vibrant colors. Applejack stood with pride as she pointed toward her family’s treasure, “Why is it separated from the rest?” I questioned, watching her every movement. She noticed my interest and grinned, “My family’s bond between each other is different than most ponies.” I returned to the sky; the star, along with the moon, lit the sky without a second thought,
“It’s beautiful,” said I in awe, “It’s the brightest in the sky.”
Applejack smiled, looking back at me with her green glowing eyes, “Do you really think so?”
I nodded, tossing the apple’s remains behind me, “It’s a magnificent sight to see; why haven’t I noticed it before?”
Her face grew dim, but she still managed to cheer herself to a smile,
“My granny says that the star glows brighter when more love is shared throughout the family. Nopony knows why, but it’s true. I hope I don’t sound too crazy…”
I shook my head, grinning from the corner of my mouth, “Not at all. I believe every word.”
The two of us walked out from the edge of the orchard, her home took its place atop the hill; the night was still young. Applejack stopped,
“Are you really going to come in?” She asked with a worried expression. I looked at her with a face of impuzzlement,
“Why wouldn’t I?” Said I, hoping she wasn’t going to back down from an already perfect evening. I only wished I could be with her longer; I wanted to be in her presence for now and forever.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” she smiled, “I always thought you’d run away when things got awkward.”
We laughed and reached the side of her home; a rope dangled from her window,
“You coming?” She asked in a joking manner; I nodded, putting one foot in front of the other until I fell over her window ceil. She quietly laughed; everypony still slept soundly.
Applejack hopped into bed, rolling herself in covers as I stood awkwardly by the window. She looked at me with eyes the size of the ripest green apples,
“Are you going to stand there all night? Go on, take your seat!” She laughed and patted the bed beside her, whipping her tail like a playful kitten. I laid down in the empty space beside the golden mare, counting the seconds before I screwed something up.
“How long have you lived here?” I placed my hands behind my head, watching as she rolled about in the bed to face me, gleefully taking my covers in a teasing manner,
“All my life, I’ve never wanted anything more,” she began, looking up at the ceiling as I did, “It may seem like I work a lot here, but I love this place with all my heart. This orchard means everything to me; I have never wished to leave. My family’s been working here for generations and I hope that someday, I’ll be able to carry out their tradition,” She smiled and placed a hoof on my chest. I could see her tail flare behind her; she knew what she was doing. I blushed a deep red, but she just sighed and nervously chuckled. There was a first for everything.
“Do you think our kinds could ever live in harmony? Is that even possible?” Asked I, turning to her, not daring to move my hands from where they rested.
“Everything’s possible, Nathan,” she replied with glowing eyes, “It just takes time and an example.”
I smiled; she was right about everything. All the world needed was an example.
“What are we doing?” I asked the apple-loving mare, her eyes glistening even in the darkest of rooms. She looked deep into the blackness of the night’s shadow, keeping her silence. I sighed, “What are we doing here? What am I doing here? What is this-?”
“Shh,” she whispered, “You’re ruining the moment.”
I blushed and once again, she giggled, “I thought you’d figure it out by now,” she winked; her tail flared again, “Isn’t it obvious? I’ve seen the way you shadowed me all day. Nopony’s ever followed me like that. I thought you were just someone here for a regular order of business, but with the way you looked at me, I knew it to be true. You weren’t here for the apples, you were here for me.”
Somehow, I managed to blush a shade of red that could be visible in the silencing darkness. She laughed, playfully whipping her bound tail behind her,
“Nopony’s ever liked me for who I was or what I’ve done. You were different from all those other ponies who tried their stunts; you’ve got ideas and morals that bend the rest of Equestria’s guidelines, I like that. You’re special, Nathan. So I think a better question instead would be: why were you following me?” She playfully giggled, still flailing about her fanciful tail of silk.
“I-I just wanted to see you and feel your…” I stopped, ”Is this right? Would it be the end if I expressed myself? Forget it; I hope this works…” “…warmth. I figured you’d turn away because we come from different kinds, but I suppose I was wrong. I’m sorry for ruining everything. I didn’t mean for it to be awkward.”
Applejack nodded her head with disagreement; she tried to reassure me as my heartstrings were pulled south,
“No, no, it’s alright. We never get any visitors who just want to watch, they all come for produce and nothing more. I’m glad I could get a little admiration for what I do here at the farm.”
She waved her tail in front of my face and the two of us laughed, falling asleep under the moon’s forgiving light.
I looked over her shoulder as she slept, still wondering if it was too soon to show my own affection. Applejack turned around, noticing my deep thought; it was unlike me, but she still smiled,
“Don’t be shy, now. It’s alright, I’ve already confessed.”
She winked, still puzzling me with another flare of the tail. It took every bit of courage to do what I did. I closed my eyes, whispering under my breath, “Please don’t… Please don’t…” I wrapped my left arm around her. She tried to relax her tail and snuggle closer to me. I could feel her warmth battling against my own. Her body aligned closely with mine, sharing her temperature with my own. Her hair smelled of fresh cut grass; I placed my face on hers.
“I hope the sun never rises,” she whispered in the dark, wrapping her tail around my already petrified legs. I returned the comment, “I wish this moment could last forever.”
As my son looked out upon the horizon, I began to ask myself, “Is this the story that my son truly wishes to hear? Is this what he has been searching for throughout his delicate life?”
The child’s smile, as perfect as it was, still brought a certain sadness to me. It was the smile of his mother. Perfection was the smile; simple, yet calming was the expression. It brought nothing but a tear to my eye when seen. How could anyone forget the elegance in the young mare of which I devoted my life to? It was only natural that I should feel regret.
“What’s wrong, my Father?” calmed the boy, rubbing his hand against my hard-labored arm, “Would you like an apple?”
The playful child darted into the orchard before I could reassure him. I knew he would be fine; he had fought life in so many ways, there was no reason I should worry. His kick could be heard for miles as his strong hind hooves bucked against the submissive trees, bestowing their fruit before the innocent seeker. It was an unusual defection, claimed the doctors who helped deliver his being. I wouldn’t hear anything of it; I knew they were poisoned like the rest of Equestria’s despiteful one-minded kind. I recalled her wishes; she called for an example, and here he was, perfect in the eyes of those who praised him.
The cautious boy fell to his knees with a drooping tail of emotions; he presented the kind fruit to me and quickly lowered his head. I admired his obedience, but I remained puzzled,
“Son,” Said I, picking up shining red apple, “Why do you worry for me?
He blankly stared in state of awe as fear struck him, “Does it not please you? If not, it would be no trouble at all to bring you another.”
I shook my head, looking down at my wife’s labor, “No, my child, you mustn’t let your speculation get in the way of your morality. You must continue to remain as you are.”
I lifted the apple high into the air, the setting sun catching it in its golden rays, “This apple is pure and perfect as you are; I wish not that it change.”
He nodded low, picking up the small worn diary and looked up at me with his mother’s eyes, “Will you continue to read?” He said. With a kind smile, I nodded; he handed me the book and watched with interest as I turned each delicate page to a golden ribbon created from the very essence of his mother’s love.
A bright beam of light shone on my face and I awoke to the wondrous sight of Applejack standing over me. She smiled, “Good mornin’, sleepy head. I hope ya’ rested well.”
Her very greeting warmed me once more. I had no other option but to blush and smile, “How could I say no to that?” Said I, looking at her beautiful morning face. The sun’s golden rays glistened brilliantly on her orange coat. It was still early, but I had to be on my way. Applejack, stepped off the bed and opened the window for me,
“Sorry for having to let you out through the window, but ‘muh family will be up soon.”
I nodded; I understood her reasons perfectly. Even though I was being pushed out a barn window, her kindness continued to glow in the golden sun. She stopped me and wrapped her hoof around my neck, gently pecking me on the cheek. Her cold kiss warmed in the chilly morning air. Her soothing voice calmly whispered in my ear,
“I’ll see you tonight, Nathan.”
She flared her tail for the last time, watching me as I jumped from the window, whispering to her from the ground,
“I’ll see you tonight, Applejack.”
The early morning streets were flooded with the bustling businessmares of Ponyville’s vast early-bird population. Each gave me a strange look as they walked by; it was like I had something on my face. I preferred not to look at them,
“What would they want with me?”
While my mind was calm with the idea of reassurance, it was my heart that raced over sudden tapping on my left shoulder. I bolted around, falling on my back; I stammered,
“Wha-Who are you?”
No one needed to answer that question, I knew who it was: Ponyville Humanoid Police, the ones in charge of “our side” of society. It was only one man dressed in a deep black uniform, lightly decorated with a single, gold trim on his left sleeve. He was lean and carried a childish face. His voice, however, contradicted his whole, “boyish” appearance. It was like having a bass blown in your ear, his voice was.
“Excuse me, what is your name?” He coughed, holding up a piece of paper. No doubt it was a picture of me.
“I can’t believe he called on me. Some man my father is.”
I tried to think fast, pulling whatever name I could think of, I answered him in a voice that could hopefully rival his beastly tone,
“*Herm* My name is… CHERRY… uh…. CHERRY FAIRWORTH.”
I began to sweat, feeling my blush burn like the hot coals of a holiday’s barbeque. The officer raised an eyebrow, smiling at my juvenile attempts at competing with the most masculine voice in Equestria,
“Oh, now you’ve done it,” I panicked, “Everyone knows those crazy names are a pony exclusive!”
The officer chuckled, turning over his paper. My assumptions couldn’t have been more right,
“I see,” the officer grinned, holding up the picture of me with my real name clearly described in length, “Well, Mrs. Cherry, I believe you should learn to lie before you go surfing on the outer reaches of your hometown. It’s a dangerous world out there, Nathan.”
He laughed, “Come on, your pop’s worried sick.”
I rolled my eyes, “Please, he’s the one who kicked me out.”
The officer cocked his head, a worried expression worn clear on his face, “Really now? If that’s true then you should give us a call. Perhaps we all can arrange something. In the meantime, make peace with your father, hmm?”
Only a fool would say anything after that.
One of the officer’s buddies pulled up in a car, opening the backseat door for me like a gentlemen. I rolled my eyes, practically scowling as I took my seat. My captor closed my door and knocked on the window where his friend was driving,
“Send this one to ‘NorthWay Drive’, up in the Sparkle District, will ‘ya?”
The friend nodded, driving me home was a dread I didn’t want to come to. How was I going to explain to Applejack? She was going to be waiting for me tonight; I’d do anything not to be late.
The police car drove into my home’s driveway and parked. My father stood outside with his hands resting firmly on his hips. His fiery attitude could be seen from any part of town; we all knew what it meant. The officer smiled as he opened the door for me, practically kicking me out of his car as he drove off, leaving me on my front lawn. My father stood over me, clicking from the corner of his mouth and shaking his head as if I were a disappointment.
“Nathan, what am I going to do about you? Hm?”
He wore a fake smile, but I tried to keep my leer. My dad snapped, raising his hand over his head and bringing it down on mine with a crack,
“What the HELL do you think you’re doing? HM? Drinking away? Is that the boy I raised?”
I struggled to stand, but I was only greeted with another quick blow to the head.
“And now,” He laughed, fueled with the desire of a steaming furnace, “I’m hearing RUMORS about someone, nay, some PONY?”
A third crack pinned me to the ground; he leaned in close, crouching down on the grass,
“Can you explain that to me? Hm?”
I coughed, wiping the grass from my face as I lie on all fours. My father’s fury burned hot; I tried to stand once more, but he grabbed me by the back of my shirt, dragging me from the front lawn, through the foyer, and into the dinning room where he pulled up a chair and threw me against it. Calmly, my raging dad pulled up a chair of his own and rested his guilt-ridden hands on the table as though nothing had happened. In a calm voice, he smirked,
“I want you to tell me everything that’s happened. Do you understand?”
Coughing and on the verge of blood, I nodded, trying to hide the thick layer of fear and cowardice that threatened to pull me apart. I breathed heavily, keeping her in my mind,
“I have to meet her tonight. There’s no other option. I will not keep her waiting.”
