> Letting Go Of The Reins
>  by applebatofalltrades
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> All-Around
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Act One
Running The Cloverleaf


~~~~🍀~~~~

“Come on, Barley, just you an’ me out here, right?”

The crowd roared, sending shivers down Applejack’s spine. She clasped the reins in her hand tightly, feeling the used leather dig into her skin in that way that grounded her. Her other hand absent-mindedly gripped the horn in front of her torso. 

The announcer’s voice echoed through the arena, introducing Applejack and her steed. The rancher took a deep breath and patted Barley on the side of his neck, rubbing his short, brown coat. He paced from side to side, as he usually did, hopping up the runway sideways. Applejack simply rubbed his neck as he did his own routine. “Alright, sugarcube, let’s do it. Just like any other day, run ‘round the barrels, Barley, run ‘em tight and we’ll win,” she whispered to her horse as they cantered up the tunnel and broke into a gallop, passing the timer.

Adrenaline coursed through Applejack’s veins as she pressed her hat down on her head, the same routine she did at the beginning of each competition. It was all about doing the same thing every time but better. She wasn’t usually one to believe in superstitions, but she knew that she had to do her routine or she would mess up. 

Her legs tightened around Barley’s flanks,  cueing him to turn as the pair approached the first barrel. Her boots, which were spurred, did not touch his body, however. She made sure of that. As she felt the bumps become more apparent, Applejack’s mind was empty, only focused on the area in front of her. 

Come on, boy, dig in and turn. As if he could read Applejack’s thoughts, Barley turned tightly around the barrel. The perfect turn as far as Applejack was aware. Just like they had practiced.

Barrel racing was very different from saddle bronc riding – that much Applejack could tell anyone. Here, with her horse, working together as a team, as a unit. It was almost heavenly. There was nothing else that could quite compare to the feeling of feeling the perfect run with your horse. Your partner. 

Long nights, early mornings, sore legs, calloused hands. That’s what it meant to be a rider, to be a real equestrian. It was more than that to her, though. There was more than just practicing and riding; there was the bonding, too. The hours of spending time together, of brushing Barley’s mane and talking to him. Hours of feeding him and cleaning out his hooves and his stable. They had a connection that nobody that didn’t have a horse could understand. 

Right on time, they turned the second barrel, although Barley’s gait was a bit off. The tiniest bit, but it was extremely apparent to Applejack, so she adjusted her boots in the stirrups. The barrel skimmed against Applejack’s knee as she did so, but did not tip over thanks to her quick thinking. She clenched her jaw as she gave Barley a firm slap on the side of his shoulder and kicked her feet against his flanks softly enough for him to notice the poke of the spurs, enticing the equine to speed up his gallop.

She loved saddle bronc riding, sure, but being a team with her horse was an experience unlike any other. Barrel racing was her preferred rodeo event, and as Barley snorted beneath her, the world slowed down as they approached the last barrel. She sighed, adjusting the rein in her hand and whistling sharply as she always did when approaching the last turn. Barley’s ears stiffened as she did so, his full attention on Applejack. “C’mon, Barley! Last sprint. Bring it home, boy!”

Hooves thundered under the pair. Applejack grit her teeth and leaned forward, cutting down the air resistance as much as she could as she pressed Barley to his fastest speed. Her legs raised her from her saddle as she practically leaned onto Barley’s neck, the duo going as fast as they could. Applejack’s braid bounced up and down behind her, rhythmically whipping her back as if to speed her up, too.

They crossed the scoreline, and Applejack eased her legs, pulling on Barley's reins and massaging his neck all the same. As the stallion slowed to a trot, the announcers expressed their awe for the duo's run. 

"Wow! What a run by Applejack and Barley!" the first one exclaimed as his voice was nearly drowned out by the cheering crowd. 

"Seventeen twenty-two! That will put them in first place, only two-tenths of a second in front of Strawberry Sunrise and Whippy! What a way to end it!" 

Applejack grinned and scratched the side of Barley's head. "Good job, boy," she muttered as she let him rest for a moment. Behind her, the other two competitors who podiumed alongside her each trotted up near her, getting ready to go back out into the arena and run a victory lap with her fellow competitors. 

Next to her, a creamy white Palomino with light blonde splotches in her coat cantered up next to Barley. Both horses snorted at each other, shaking their heads in greeting. Applejack simply stared at the horse's rider. 

"Not bad, AJ," the girl commented with a smile, letting her free hand rest on her belt buckle. "Another win. Must be nice being the all-around cowgirl again, huh?" 

"Don't call me that," Applejack shot back as she ran her fingers through Barley’s black and white mane. She glared at Strawberry Sunrise, her long-time rival, and scowled. "Y'aint my friend." 

Strawberry lifted her hand, still gripping the rein and gave her best innocent pout. "Aw shucks, Applejack. I know you're a sore loser, but you're a sore winner, too?" 

Applejack ignored her, instead opting to listen for their cue to advance. The announcers were about to introduce the winners, so she cued Barley to trot forward and back out the tunnel. As she made her way back out the tunnel, flanked by Strawberry and Applejack’s cousin, Apple Fritter, she waved to the roaring audience with a big smile on her face. She could make out her own family members whooping proudly right at the fence. After some cheering and proud cantering in circles, the trio went back into the tunnel, free to watch the other events or go home.

“Good job, AJ,” Apple Fritter congratulated her as she dismounted her golden yellow horse. Her boots clicked as they hit the ground and she turned to smile at her cousin. “You an’ Barley are lookin’ like a dream team out there, cuz.”

Applejack dismounted off of Barley. The large, but sleek horse whinnied in response, so she rubbed the side of his face. “Thanks, Fritter. Dory’s lookin’ real good out there. Y’all been trainin’ her good?”

Apple Fritter nodded, proudly stroking her horse’s mane. “Yup! Every mornin’ and night, just like you recommended, cuz! Workin’ wonders!” Dory whinnied loudly and shook out her mane, causing Apple Fritter to giggle. “Right, girl, you’ve been doin’ fantastic!”

Applejack stuck out her hand for Dory to smell. The mare did so and gently nibbled on Applejack’s hand. She pressed her hand on the horse’s muzzle and rubbed. “Third place, eh? Gettin’ better, Fritter. Feels nice to share the podium with ya.”

The younger girl nodded in response. “Sure does, cuz! Although, I wish I got a prize for it,” she admitted, rubbing the back of her neck.

“Aw shucks, Fritter. Ya still get some prize money!”

“I know, cuz, but I wish I could get a buckle like yours or a prize saddle or somethin’.”

Applejack guffawed. "Well, you'll get there someday," she reassured her, giving the girl a pat on the shoulder. “Just gotta compete in some more events."

Dory whinnied in what seemed like a protest, which got Apple Fritter to giggle. "Not sure, cuz. I ain't too good at anythin' else." 

"Aw, that ain't true," Applejack reassured. "I've seen you with a lasso. You're pretty darn accurate." 

"Naw," Apple Fritter mumbled. "Still gotta get some practice in, cuz, but maybe you can show me the ropes?" 

Regardless of if the pun was intentional, Applejack snorted. "Sure thing, Fritter. You're welcome to stop by any time, ya hear?" Once Apple Fritter nodded with a smile, Applejack patted Dory's head gently. "Now, if y'all'll excuse me, I gotta pick up my buckle." 

Apple Fritter nodded and gave Barley a rub on his muzzle for good measure. "Sure thing, cuz! I'll see ya later, I've gotta stop by y'all's place to pick somethin' up and leave Dory for the weekend on account of the repairs on our stable." 

"Alright, Fritter, I'll see ya then. You're stickin' around for dinner, ain't ya? Granny's makin' lamb chops," Applejack told her with a grin. Truth be told, she wanted her cousin there so she could ignore Strawberry on the high chance that she would show up. 

Fritter nodded. "That's right, cuz. Although, ain't that Strawberry girl gonna come, too? She always leaves her horse at yer place," she pointed out, causing Applejack to frown in annoyance. 

"Maybe," Applejack admitted, rubbing the brim of her hat with no real purpose. "Just don't talk to 'er or anythin', I'd prefer if she leaves as quick as she leaves that Whippy of hers." 

The animosity between Strawberry and Applejack was no secret; in fact, the pair never tried to hide it. They always argued and were anything but friendly to each other. Even so, Strawberry Sunrise always chose to leave her horse at Applejack's family's stable. For what reason? Applejack could only guess at the answer, but she was mostly sure it was because Strawberry was the worst. 

For this reason, Apple Fritter simply smiled at Applejack's answer and nodded. Once upon a time, she might have mentioned that Strawberry isn't as bad as her cousin made her out to seem, but that only ever sent Applejack into a long-winded tangent about her rival—one that left her panting and red-faced with anger and possibly a lack of oxygen. 

After a final wave goodbye to Apple Fritter and Dory, Applejack pulled on Barley's lead and led him to the exit and back out to the main area to meet her family. She eyed Strawberry, who was petting her horse and talking to someone Applejack didn't know by name. Applejack huffed and walked faster. 

It didn't take long for Applejack to meet up with her family. Apple Bloom, dressed in a similar fashion to her older sister, ran up to her and jumped into her arms, whooping loudly. Her own hat fell off her head and onto the dirt floor, but the younger girl didn't seem to mind. 

"You did great, Applejack!" Apple Bloom exclaimed as she pulled away from Applejack with a huge smile. "We all won something today. I won first in my event, you won first in all of yours, and Macky placed second in his third!" 

Applejack grinned as Apple Bloom ran back to Big Mac, who led a smaller white and black mare and a larger light brown stallion, and grabbed a certificate, showing it off to her sister. On it, a black and white image of a horse rearing took up the centre, while the words ‘16U Breakaway Roping Champion’ were printed into it. A rather strange award, but a welcome one nonetheless. The prize money was nothing to sneeze at, either.

Applejack whistled lowly and picked up Apple Bloom's hat. “Good job, sis! What was your time on that?”

“Four-oh-three!” Apple Bloom all but yelled. “I beat the other girl by almost a full second!”

With a smile, Applejack nodded and placed the hat back on her sister's head. “Great job, sis! Told ya the lassoin’ practice’d pay off.”

“Yeah. Now ask Macky how he did! All-around cowboy over there!”

Applejack turned to Big Mac with raised eyebrows and a grin. “All-around? Well, look at ya go, ya ol’ bulldogger! Third year in a row, huh?”

Big Mac, with the same casual smile he always sported, nodded. “Eeyup.”

“Hoowee!” Applejack guffawed, punching her brother square in the shoulder. “What, bull-ridin’ and bulldoggin’? What’s next,” she snorted, “bullshittin’?”

The tall, young man chuckled lowly. “Nope. Got my buckle n’ everythin’,” he told her, gesturing at the larger horse next to him who held the alleged belt buckle in a bag hung from the horn on the saddle. “You won all-around too, right?”

Proudly, Applejack nodded. “Yup! Won first in bronc ridin’, breakaway, and barrel racin’, although I reckon I didn’t need to tell ya about that last one.”

“Go get yer buckle, then,” Big Mac instructed, holding out his other hand. “I’ll hold Barley. They’re givin’ out a hefty cash prize for All-Around, too. You’ll get some good money.”

Applejack handed the reins over to Big Mac and gave Barley a pat on the neck. “Alright, I’ll be back, boy, and I’ll buy you some of that hay ya really like, alright?”

Barley whinnied in response.



~~~~🍎~~~~


Ten thousand dollars certainly made the work worth it. At least, Applejack thought so. She knew all about working hard and cashing in the payoff—quite literally with rodeo—and despite the hefty money, only a fraction would actually stay with her. The rest would go toward working even harder for the next rodeo.

Still, she was happy with that. Applejack didn’t do rodeo for the money, or for the prizes. Sure, it was nice, and definitely a good incentive to keep going, but she did it for herself. A way to keep busy, as her Granny once said. “Workin’ hard so you don’t got hard workin’,” she said. Whatever that meant.

Still, Applejack put the money she had ended up being able to keep for herself and further split it in two. One for her savings and one for spending. Most of it went into the former category. It was already behind her—another buckle on her shelf, another accomplishment to be proud of—as she sat in the stable brushing Barley’s coat. 

Unfortunately for her, she had picked the worst possible time to care for her horse. 

“Pampering the prized stallion?” an annoyingly (and unfortunately) familiar voice called out from the other stall.

Applejack sighed and rolled her eyes. “Why are you even here, Sunrise? It really doesn’t take that long to drop off a horse.”

She couldn’t see her, but Applejack could just imagine Strawberry’s face from the way she snorted. “I just want Whippy to remember that I’m coming to feed and work her every day now,” she answered, her voice slightly muffled by the fence between them that Applejack had long since turned into solid planks. She just really didn’t like how Strawberry would look through the gaps at her, and she always put her horse next to Applejack’s if she could. “I hope you don’t mind, AJ.”

“Don’t call me that,” Applejack growled. “And why even have ‘er here, anyway? You’re just makin’ a hassle of comin’ here when you could keep ‘er at your place.”

Truth be told, Applejack didn’t want Strawberry at her ranch. Strawberry probably knew that.

“You guys have nicer stables,” Strawberry defended innocently. “I just want what’s best for Whippy.”

It’d be best for all of us if ya stayed away, Applejack thought irritably. She ran the brush angrily through Barley’s coat, causing the stallion to nicker in rebuttal. “Well, y’ain’t allowed to be here past sundown, so it’d be best if ya just went home now,” Applejack reminded her. 

“I know, I know,” Strawberry whined in that mocking way. “But I figured… if you’re still here, then—”

“—Well, how’s about that?” Applejack interjected, standing straight up. “I think I hear the dinner bell. Just about time, too.” Leaning over the fence on her stomach, she tugged at Strawberry’s shirt. “C’mon, git, ya pest.” Despite the teasing words, she made a point to sound serious. 

Strawberry glared at Applejack. “Alright, alright, fine. Sheesh.” With a groan, she placed her hands on her knees and pushed herself up. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning to take her for a ride.”

Despite herself, Applejack cocked her head. “Uh, you okay?” she asked, referring to her groaning.

“Yeah, just sore. Don’t tell me you care.”

“I don’t,” Applejack shot back. “But since ya are a payin’ client, I gotta make sure you’re alright. Apple family hospitality, y’know?”

Strawberry grinned. “Sure do.” With a wave of her hand, Strawberry opened the latch to the stall and walked out after rubbing Whippy’s muzzle. “I'm fine, though. See ya tomorrow, Applejack. Tell your cousin I say hi.”

Applejack feigned a smile and waved back much too enthusiastically. “I won’t!” she called out to Strawberry who had just turned her back and walked casually out of the stable. With a sigh, she turned back to Barley and gave him a soft kiss on the nose. “I really hate that girl, boy.”

Barley snorted in response.

“Yeah, her horse is awful pretty, though,” Applejack reluctantly admitted, gazing at the mare in the next stall over. She gazed into Whippy’s eyes, then sighed and placed a hand on the fence between both horses and skillfully vaulted over it.

“Whaddya think, boy? She look nicer with me?” Applejack asked, almost laughing at herself. She extended a hand, and Whippy allowed her to caress her. They were well acquainted, after all. Strawberry had been leaving her horse with Applejack for about as long as Applejack had known her, which was a while.

Barley sputtered and shook out his mane. 

Applejack made sure both horses had feed in their troughs before getting out of their space. “I guess you’re right, ‘Ley.”

And right he was. At least for a horse who couldn't speak and didn't have human levels of sentience. 

With a proper wave goodbye to all the horses in the stable, Applejack opened the front door and left. For a moment, she feared that Strawberry would have been waiting to annoy her some more, but she was pleasantly relieved when the redhead was nowhere to be seen. 

The rest of her evening could just be good old family time. Her favourite. Applejack smiled as she walked down the gravelly path that led to her house. Nothing about family time could sour her mood.
> Sorry!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack choked on her rice, coughing through her words. “What?”

Next to her at the long, rectangular dining table, Apple Fritter laughed and slapped Applejack on the back. “All I said was that Strawberry’s a good racer, cuz!”

“What,” Applejack repeated, her voice flat as a board.

Apple Fritter rolled her eyes and stuffed a forkful of food into her mouth, so Apple Bloom took over for her from across the table. “She’s right, Applejack,” she pointed out with a smile. A big, pink bow replaced the hat she wore at the competition. “Like it or not, Strawberry’s really good competition. Don’t get too... uh…”

“Cocky,” Big Mac drawled out, offering the word that Apple Bloom seemed to have forgotten.

“Right,” Apple Bloom exclaimed with a smirk. “Cocky.”

Snorting at her younger sister’s immaturity, Applejack shook her head. “I ain’t cocky, y’all. I just really don’t like that girl,” she pointed out, although it wasn’t much of a secret. “I dunno. Somethin’ about her just rubs me the wrong way.”

Apple Bloom glanced at Apple Fritter. They wiggled their eyebrows at each other, causing Applejack to roll her eyes and turn to Big Mac. "Can you believe 'em?" 

Big Mac chuckled as he chewed his food. "Eeyup." 

"Now now, young'uns," Granny Smith interrupted. "Stop gabbin' and eat yer food! It's gonna go cold." 

Applejack pursed her lips, shooting a hard look at her relatives, and continued to stuff food in her mouth.

The dinner conversation turned from teasing to casual talk about the day’s events and how well everyone did. Apple Bloom, especially, was more than eager to tell the table exactly how her events went, even if she only placed for one of them. Applejack decided that she and her sister would need to practice more and placed that thought in the back of her head for future reference.

Much to Applejack’s delight, nobody even brought up Strawberry Sunrise for the entire rest of dinner, although she could tell that they wanted to say her name whenever they mentioned how well Applejack did.

Of course, she could have been better, especially if she wanted to go pro. 

Once everyone finished eating, Applejack stood up, gesturing for Granny Smith to stay seated. Dessert was Applejack’s favourite part of the meal, after all, and she wanted to be the one to serve it that time. The blonde made her way to the kitchen, feeling full, but knowing that she could make space for one last meal once she saw what was for dessert.

It was Granny Smith’s apple pie; Applejack’s favourite. It must have been made fresh since it was still warm and steaming. The sweet fragrance of the candied apples and the delicious aroma of the pie crust threatened to make Applejack salivate, but she managed to keep it all inside. With a delighted smile, Applejack took the pie to the counter next to the fridge and grabbed some plates from the cabinet.

Cutting the pie into pieces for everyone, Applejack dolloped some ice cream from the freezer onto the plates. It was the perfect dessert for everyone, and that was a fact. Especially when it was all homemade. Although they weren’t produce farmers like the rest of their family, Applejack’s family still had some crops that they grew for themselves. This included a few apple trees, so Granny’s pies were always extra delicious. Especially when paired with the ice cream that Apple Bloom had gotten so good at making.

Satisfied with the plating, Applejack used what she had learned from her old waiter job to bring all the plates to the table, balancing them all precariously—but expertly—on her forearms. “For dessert, we got Granny’s pie,” she announced with a grin as she entered the room.

Everyone, especially Apple Bloom, cheered. They all knew how good Granny’s home recipe pie was, and even though it was a recipe passed down the family for generations, nobody made it quite like she did. Applejack placed the last plate in her spot and sat down, licking her lips. The ice cream was already melting thanks to the heat of the pie, but it only served to make it look even better.

“Well, dig in, y’all,” Applejack said with a smirk once she noticed everyone had just been staring at her.

“Don’t have to tell me twice!” Apple Bloom all but yelled before stuffing her mouth with the delicious pie. 

Applejack chuckled and dug into her own slice. She made sure to get the first scoop with both pie and ice cream. It was just as good as she had expected it to be; the pie’s warm, fruity taste clashed expertly with the ice cream’s sweetness. 

“So,” Applejack started as she swallowed more pie, “Fritter, you said that they were doin’ repairs on your stable?”

Apple Fritter, who was still swallowing her mouthful of food, nodded wordlessly.

“What kinda repairs are y’all havin’ done?” Applejack inquired.

After a hard swallow, Apple Fritter turned to Applejack. “Well, ya see, cuz, the roof on the stable started to fall apart. Had some leakage into one-a the horse’s stall n’ it was makin’ her food all wet n’ mouldy,” she explained. She smacked her lips as she looked off at something in the ceiling. “Turns out, it was a problem with the shingles or somethin’. I dunno much about all that sorta thing, though. Just guessin’, but we can’t have any of the horses there, which is why I brought Dory here.”

Applejack nodded, feeling kind of bad that was happening. “Well, shucks, Fritter. Ya shoulda told me! I can fix a roof faster ‘n a chicken can run from a fox.” Applejack gave her cousin a playful punch on the arm. “Say, if Dory’s here, where are your other horses?”

Apple Fritter frowned. “Well, to be honest, cuz, we’re leasin’ em out.”

Applejack’s jaw dropped, her eyes gazing around the table to see similar reactions from the rest f her family. “What? Why?”

“We just don’t have the money to get the entire roof fixed, cuz,” Apple Fritter revealed with a shrug. “Business hasn’t been too good on the farm, ya know. Not many families wanna come visit the farm anymore, and our sellin’ hasn’t been bringin’ in as much as we had hoped.” She sighed, running a hand through her green-dyed hair. For the first time in a while, Applejack noticed that her brown roots were showing. “We’ve always been scrapin’ the bottom of the barrel to get by, cuz, but now with this whole roof business… well…”

The table was overtaken by an uncomfortable silence. Apple Bloom looked at Applejack with uncertainty, and it was all Applejack could do to try to remain neutral, although the worry inside bubbled. Big Mac gazed at Applejack wordlessly, then the two shared a look with Granny who gave a slight nod.

Applejack grimaced and placed her hand on Apple Fritter’s shoulder. “How much is the bill? Macky an’ I’ve got a lot of prize money stocked up over the years. Nothin’ better to use it for than to help family.”

Eyes widened in shock, Apple Fritter looked up and directly at Applejack. She shook her head furiously. “No, no, no, cuz. I don’t want y’all to put yerselves out there for us! Don’t worry about it.”

“We insist, Apple Fritter,” Big Mac spoke, his deep voice as soft and gentle as always. “It’s what family does.”

Apple Bloom nodded. “Yeah! Like when cousin Candy lent us that money when Winona got sick. We couldn’t-a paid her vet bills without that side of the family.”

“Yeah,” Applejack agreed, feeling the dog perk up under her feet at the sound of her name. “And all they said to us was to repay the favour to family whenever someone needs it. So Fritter, we’re just tryna repay our debt to cousin Candy, ya understand?”

Apple Fritter pursed her lips. She was holding back tears, Applejack could tell, so she rubbed her hand on her shoulder. “Yeah, I get it, cuz. Means an awful lot to me, really. The repairmen are askin’ for somethin’ like five grand on account of the size of damage n’ cost of materials.” She sighed, toying with her pie. “Apparently, we also need to call a pest guy. Lookin’ like we got termites causin’ that trouble, though that shouldn’t be more than a thousand…”

Though it was a lot of money, it was definitely more than Applejack and Big Mac had to spend. With a wave of her hand, Applejack scoffed. “Consider it paid, Fritter.” She gave her cousin a confident smile. “Now, just worry ‘bout gettin’ y’all’s horses back, alright? I’ll give y’all a cheque later.”

Through a grateful smile, Apple Fritter nodded. “Thanks a lot, cuz. What can I do to repay ya?”

“Just make sure to keep practicin’ with Dory, alright?” Applejack asked with a grin. She stuck her fork, grabbing a chunk of pie and a scoop of ice cream, then put it in her mouth. “If we ever need anythin’, then you can help us with that.”

Eager to have a theoretical way to pay back her cousins, Apple Fritter nodded. Applejack smiled as the mood at the table lifted. Hopefully, Fritter working with Dory would be payment enough.



~~~~🍎~~~~



“No!” Apple Bloom groaned and banged her head against the table.

Apple Fritter laughed as she dropped her green piece on top of Apple Bloom’s yellow one. “Yes!” she cheered as she victoriously sent Apple Bloom’s back to the confinement of the yellow starting zone. “I sure ain’t sorry, cuz!”

Apple Bloom pouted. “Aw man, an’ I was just gettin’ close to gettin’ another piece home…”

Picking up the dice, Applejack laughed. “Now, Bloom, you can still get ‘er back. Don’t give up.”

“Wow, AJ,” Apple Fritter exclaimed with mock offence. “Thought you were on my side, cuz.”

“Naw,” Applejack disagreed with a cheeky grin. “Sisters before anythin’ else, y’know?” After a swift shake of her cupped hands, Applejack released the dice onto the table. One showed five dots and the other three. It wouldn’t be enough to get her past the danger of Big Mac’s red space, but she hoped it’d do.

Big Mac picked up the dice next, rumbling them in his big hands. “Don’t worry, Fritter, I’ll get her for you.” He rolled the dice. A three and a one. Applejack held her breath as Big Mac’s piece fell right behind hers. Too close for comfort.

“What the hell, Mac?” Applejack snapped, turning to slap her brother on the chest. “I ain’t do nothin’ to her!”

Apple Fritter giggled as Big Mac bore the brunt of Applejack’s half-effort attack. He rolled his eyes and punched her in the shoulder as revenge, causing Applejack to huff and punch him even harder. “Relax, Applejack,” he drawled out. “I didn’t even get you.”

With a snort, Applejack gave him another punch and turned to Apple Bloom. She snatched the dice from the table and handed them to her younger sister. “Apple Bloom, I want you to kick his ass so hard he tastes it tomorrow, okay?”

“Applejack,” Big Mac warned as Apple Fritter did her best to hold in laughter. “Don’t swear around her.”

“Come on, Macky,” Applejack grunted, “I guarantee you the other girls at her events say the same thing.”

Though Big Mac gave Applejack a hard glare, Apple Bloom nodded. “It’s true!”

“Well, Granny ain’t gonna like it if she hears ya talkin’ like that around Bloom,” Big Mac warned.

Apple Bloom threw the dice at her brother, watching them bounce off of him and onto the table. She rolled double sixes. “Woo-hoo! Get to get one back out!” she cheered as she moved one of her pieces back onto the gameboard. “And don’t worry, Mac, Granny won’t hear. She’s sleepin’.”

“Well, if she’s anythin’ like my mom,” Apple Fritter interjected as she grabbed the dice, “she can hear everythin’ no matter what, cuz.”

“Bat hearin’,” Apple Bloom whispered ominously. 

Applejack rolled her eyes, clearly unamused. “That’s just silly, y’all. Besides, Mac, I’m nineteen. I think I can say ‘ass’ here an’ there, even if my baby sister’s around.”

Dice clattered as Apple Bloom scoffed. “I ain’t a baby! I’m fourteen!”

“Baby,” Apple Fritter agreed as she moved two of her pieces.

Big Mac sighed. “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn ya when Granny yells at ya for that sailor’s mouth of yers.”

Applejack shrugged and scratched her nose with a particular finger, glaring right at Big Mac, who merely shook his head. 

“I’m about to win,” Apple Fritter jeered in a sing-songy voice. “Told ya I’m the best at this game, cuz.”

“About time,” Apple Bloom yawned. “I’m tired! We’ve been playin’ for, like, almost two hours.”

Holding back a comment about how only babies got tired at nine, Applejack merely agreed, feeling exhausted herself. “I reckon you’re right. I don’t even care if Fritter wins, I just wanna get this over with.”

“You got a ride home?” Big Mac asked Apple Fritter, who looked up from the game board.

“Oh, uh, guess I forgot,” she admitted. “I can call a cab.”

“Naw, I’ll drive ya,” Big Mac offered. “Don’t want you in a cab for that long. Mighty expensive, remember?”

Applejack shook her head. “Macky, you’ve got stable duty tomorrow. You should get rest. How about I drive her? I’ve been lookin’ forward to gettin’ some time on my truck.”

Apple Bloom pushed past Applejack, practically climbing over her sister. “Orrrr,” she interrupted as she sat next to Fritter, “Apple Fritter can sleep over!”

That was a good idea, Applejack had to admit. It wouldn’t exactly be an issue; there was plenty of space. Applejack could sleep on the couch and let her cousin take her bed. Plus, there was always more than enough food for an extra person, and Granny definitely wouldn’t mind having family stay over. She put a finger on her chin, then nodded. “Y’know what, that sounds like a solid plan, Bloom! If Fritter’s alright with it, course.”

“Well, I’ll be alright with it,” Apple Fritter agreed. “I just gotta let my parents know, but they won’t mind! Although, I don’t have any pajamas or anythin’, sorry.”

“Nothin’ doin’,” Applejack dismissed with a wave of her hand. “You can wear some of mine. They’ll be a bit big for you, but they’re better than’ sleepin’ in jeans an’ a button-up. An’ we got extra toothbrushes, so ya don’ gotta worry ‘bout that, neither.”

Ready for bed, they decided to just give Apple Fritter the win since she was so close to winning anyway, and packed the game up. Big Mac went to go check on the horses one last time, and Apple Bloom ran upstairs to brush her teeth while Applejack and Apple Fritter stayed in the living room to help set up the pull-out bed. 

Applejack cleared the space in front of the couch, brushing her blonde bangs out of her face. “You can use my phone to call your parents once we’re done with this.” 

Apple Fritter nodded. “Sure thing. Thanks, cuz.”

Applejack hummed in response as they unfolded the couch. She patted it with her hands. It wasn’t as soft as her bed, of course, but it’d do. 

“Hey, cuz?”

“Yeah, what is it, Fritter?”

“I know ya don’t like to… talk about it but I gotta ask…” Apple Fritter sat down on the other side of the squeaky sofa-bed and looked back at Applejack. “Why do ya hate Strawberry so much? She can actually be nice.”

Applejack grimaced and sat down. The bed squeaked in protest. “Look, Fritter, I just… don’t like ‘er. Never have,” she admitted. “You think she’s nice? Funny, ‘cause all she’s been is rude to me. ‘Specially after my parents died.” 

The words came out bluntly. There were no emotions tied into them, and instead were just spoken matter-of-factly. Applejack had practiced speaking like that before, and it came easily to her.

Apple Fritter frowned. “Well… maybe…”

“Nothin’, Fritter,” Applejack interrupted. “She tries to pretend like she’s just teasin’, but I know better. She’s always been the same, ‘cept now she hides it with that stupid smile an’ that fake confidence.”

“Alright. If you say so, cuz,” Apple Fritter sighed. “Just wish you’d see what I see.”

Applejack didn’t respond, so Apple Fritter eventually shook her head and stood up, making her way upstairs. With crossed arms, Applejack shook away her thoughts. People didn’t change like that. Apple Fritter had to be wrong. Applejack’d rather lose her legs than imagine Strawberry actually being nice.
> One Time
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Waking up before the sun was up wasn't as bad as some people made it out to be. Applejack found it quite relaxing, actually. The slight murmur of the quiet world outside, the cool air not yet heated by the sun's rays, the quiet song of the crickets as the sky dimmed into the cool shades of twilight. It was more than anything Applejack could ask for. 

Running a hand through her loose blonde hair, Applejack looked out the window, already dressed and ready for the day. She tended to wake up before anyone else, so she prematurely brought down clothes from her room the night before and got dressed in the still darkness of the living room. Idle hands played with the ring on her middle finger—a possession once belonging to her mother—as Applejack watched the world outside. 

She sighed, gazing at the clouds travelling through the endless expanse of sky. 

Applejack caressed her sleeved arm, deciding to roll up the bothersome things and rubbed her bare forearms, warming them up against the slight coolness of the early morning house. The only thing left to do was tie her hair up, and then she could worry about what to do.  The cattle outside stirred as the sun grew closer to the horizon. 

Certainly, it was something people took for granted. Maybe she did as well if she was being honest. The clear sky and the gentle, silent breeze were something that wasn’t apparent in the city where it was always noisy and polluted. Applejack grabbed the elastic from her wrist and put it in her mouth, holding it between her teeth as her hands brushed through her hair. She decided to tie her locks into a loose ponytail for ease and comfort, unlike the braids she used when she was going out.

Once that was done, Applejack turned away from the window and made her way to the kitchen. There were a lot of things she could make for breakfast, but strangely, she wasn’t feeling like making any of them. Applejack huffed and opened the cupboard, looking for the failsafe. She moved various boxes around until she finally found what she was looking for. Turning the box of pancake mix in her hand, Applejack inspected it, making sure it wasn’t expired. Satisfied with what she saw, she poured a hefty amount into a bowl, finishing up the box, and ran water from the sink into the bowl. 

Mixing the concoction until it was as thick as pancake batter should be, Applejack set the stove on and placed two pans on it, spraying them with non-stick spray. After it heated up sufficiently, Applejack poured the batter onto the pan. It sizzled and bubbled. She could only make four at a time so she figured she’d have to be efficient. 

As if awakened by the sheer knowledge that breakfast would be ready, Applejack noticed muffled talking from upstairs and then steps coming down. She watched as Apple Bloom and Apple Fritter entered the main floor of the house, each yawning sleepily but with a smile on their faces.

“Mornin’, Applejack!” Apple Bloom greeted as she automatically went to set the table.

“Mornin’, Bloom,” Applejack greeted back. “An’ good mornin’ to you, Fritter. How’d you sleep?”

Apple Fritter stretched her arms upwards. The already loose-fitting pajamas she borrowed from Applejack practically hung off her body as she delivered a long yawn and let her arms fall to the side. “Like a baby, cuz,” she mumbled. “That bed of yours is mighty comfortable. No wonder yer always so well-rested.”

Applejack guffawed. “Darn right, Fritter. Spent a good heap-a money on that mattress, I’d hope it’s good.” She grinned as she turned the pancakes over, admiring the perfect golden colour and the fluffiness already prevailing from the treat. 

Her cousin scratched at her green hair. It was amusing to Applejack to see the usually neatly tied hair be so dishevelled, but then again, so was her own hair. As Apple Bloom finished setting the table, Big Mac was the next to come downstairs. Applejack turned to him and waved. “Heya Big Mac!”

“Howdy,” he replied with a wave of his own. “Makin’ pancakes? Box ‘r handmade?”

“Box,” Applejack admitted. “Guess the pull-out ain’t as comfy as I remember. Kinda tired.”

“Smells good,” Big Mac replied with a shrug. “An’ that ol’ thing was never comfortable, AJ.”

Applejack shrugged, checking under the pancakes to make sure they weren’t burning. She flipped them onto two plates and handed them to Apple Bloom. “Now, you know the rules, Bloom. Guests first, alright?”

Apple Bloom nodded, though she licked her lips as she gazed at the pancakes. “Yup, I remember.”

The rest of the pancakes went by with about as much hassle as the first set. Not long after Applejack finished the pancakes for her brother, Granny Smith emerged from her room on the ground floor and sat down at the table, already initiating conversation with the family. Applejack smiled as laughter erupted from the table, and the sounds of happy eating floated through the air.

Finally, her own pancakes were ready, and Applejack sat down with her family. Though Apple Fritter and Big Mac were already done with their servings, each member of the family stayed at the table to listen to the conversation at hand. Applejack chewed wordlessly, completely enthralled by Granny Smith’s story.

“... and that’s how we started ranchin’, unlike the rest of our family,” she finished with a smile and a gulp of her apple juice.

Apple Bloom gasped in awe. “Wow. So, Great Uncle Stem got ran over by a stampedin’ calf and that’s when he decided that we’d be the ones keepin’ cattle?”

“Well,” Big Mac interjected, “there was a little more to it’n that, Bloom.”

Applejack nodded. The story that Granny told was certainly a lot more complex than that, but she figured it’d be pointless to re-explain it for her sister. She got it mostly right, anyway. Instead, she turned to her grandmother and smiled. “That’s kinda funny, Granny. I can’t imagine any of our animals hurtin’ us like that. Least, not on purpose.”

Granny Smith waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, the way I remember it, it wasn’t the calf’s fault. Ol’ Uncle Stem was botherin’ the poor thing, is all.” She pointed a fork at the others. “Y’all best be careful ‘round the animals. No matter if it’s yer own horse. Anythin’ spooks a big animal like a cow or a horse ‘n you’re in for a heap of trouble if y’ain’t lucky,” she warned.

Despite already knowing it, Applejack nodded. There was nothing wrong with a little extra warning, especially for Apple Bloom who enjoyed being around the cattle and the sheep so much. She glanced at the younger girl who nodded seriously, then cracked a smile at Apple Fritter.

“Wow. Seems a lot more dangerous’n bein’ a regular ol’ farmer,” she gulped with a nervous smile. 

Applejack shrugged. “I reckon it can be, but if you’re careful it ain’t too bad. Kinda the same as havin’ horses,” she pointed out. “Ya just gotta know how to treat ‘em.”

Apple Fritter nodded. “Still, y’all always amaze me, cuz. We have sheep and a few cows back at our farm for milkin', but nothin’ like the animals y’all have here. Certainly no more than one bull.”

“Well, ain't nothin' bad gonna happen, Fritter," Applejack reassured her with a smile. "Just ain't. 'Sides, Macky there is a hell of a bull rider. I'm sure he can take on a buckin' bronco." Applejack smirked with a snort. "Hell, all of us can. Even li'l Bloom's had her share of steer ridin'." 

Apple Bloom nodded. "Yup! It's real fun, though I don't really like to fall. Kinda hurts," she admitted. "I only do it sometimes." 

"Speakin' of things ya only do sometimes," Granny cut in, "it's about time ya get to school, Bloom!" 

With a squeal, Apple Bloom turned to Granny Smith. "W–Granny! I do my homework all the time!" 

Applejack crossed her arms. "Then why'd your teacher call to say ya didn't give in your assignment?" 

Apple Bloom looked down bashfully. "Well, I mighta forgotten just the one time…" 


~~~~🍎~~~~


"That's a real fancy school ya got there, li'l cuz," Apple Fritter said with a whistle. "A lot nicer'n the school my li'l sisters go to." 

Apple Bloom shrugged. "I guess, but I wish it wasn't so far," she admitted as she toyed with the straps of her backpack. "Wish I could be homeschooled like AJ and Mac were." 

"You were," Applejack reminded her. "Up 'til junior high. This school ain't that far, Bloom. It's the closest school to us. Only a forty-minute drive an' it's close to the city." 

Apple Bloom pouted, looking out the window where groups of kids her age to a bit younger than Applejack herself gathered. A few of them waved at Apple Bloom, who returned the wave shyly before turning back to her relatives. "It ain't fair, you didn't have to go to real school 'til ya was, like, sixteen!" 

"An' Mac didn't get to at all," Applejack responded sternly. "Luckily, Pa was a real good teacher an' made up for the fact that we didn't have a school nearby. They only built this school a few years ago, y'know." 

"I know," Apple Bloom grumbled. 

Apple Fritter reached from the backseat to ruffle Apple Bloom's red hair. "Go on, get to school, cuz. Don't wanna miss any more assignments." 

Jumping out of the car, Apple Bloom groaned. "It was one time!" she shrieked as she shut the door and trudged to the front of the school, leaving Apple Fritter and Applejack laughing in the car. 

Apple Fritter snorted behind Applejack and gave her a hearty pat on the shoulder. "Well, thanks for havin' me over last night, cuz. 'N for takin' care of Dory. And for the cheque." At the mention of the last thing, she gave an awkward smile. 

"That's what family's for, Fritter," Applejack replied with a grin as Apple Fritter took it upon herself to climb to the front seat. As Apple Fritter buckled her seatbelt, Applejack began the drive out of the schoolyard, conscious of some of the glances they were receiving. She snorted in amusement. "Ya'd think they'd never seen anyone from outside the city, huh?" 

"Well that's just silly, don'tcha think, cuz?" Apple Fritter chuckled and looked at the school growing smaller behind them. "They basically go to school  at the very edge of the city." 

Applejack snorted. "True. I just hope the kids ain't teasin' Bloom or nothin'," she worried aloud. "Kids are silly; they like to make fun of what's different." 

The engine hummed as Apple Fritter stayed quiet, probably thinking of something to say. Finally, she sighed and put her hands behind her head, leaning against the car seat more casually. "I don't think so, cuz. Ya see those kids who waved at her? They seemed nice," she pointed out. "'N I'm sure she'd tell ya if'n there was anyone teasin' her." 

Applejack's grip on the steering wheel loosened a bit as she considered what her cousin said. She sighed. "I guess you're right. I'm just gettin' myself all worked up over nothin'." Applejack frowned as she gazed at the outer city limits turn into farmland as they headed back toward the rural areas of the city. "Kids were nothin' short of nasty to me when I went to school there, so I reckon I'm just worried." 

With a nod, Apple Fritter put her hand on Applejack's shoulder. "See? Now you're gettin' it. Though, why were they makin' fun of ya?" 

"Hell if I know," Applejack said with a shrug. She laughed suddenly, bringing a hand to her face to cover an eye as she did so, though she made sure it wouldn't impede her driving. "I guess it wasn't much of a problem with where I came from an' more of a me problem." She gripped the steering wheel again, her voice growing colder. "'Cause bein' different never stopped Strawberry from makin' fun of me." 

The air grew thick between both girls. They both stayed silent as they drove for a few minutes. Applejack bit her lip, regretting the sudden change in mood, but before she could say anything, Apple Fritter spoke up. 

"I'm sorry to hear that, cuz. I never knew she was like that," she admitted, stroking her grassy green hair. "She just seems so nice now. Apart from y'all's arguin' 'n stuff. I can't imagine her ever havin' been a bully." 

And maybe she wasn't anymore. Applejack had considered that. But even when she had tried to see the best in Strawberry, something would remind her of why she didn't like her in the first place. She scowled. "I guess ya just don't know her like I do." 

Apple Fritter looked away. "Naw, cuz. I think you don't know her like I do. Really. But that's alright." 

The reminder of the conversation they had had the night before brought almost a sense of guilt to Applejack. She had gotten so worked up, but at least Apple Fritter was smart enough to just walk away. Absent-mindedly, Applejack stroked the brim of her Stetson and exhaled deeply through her nose. 

"So, are ya goin' to the Appleoosa Rodeo in two weeks?" Applejack asked, hoping to tone down the uncomfortable energy in the car. "Hear it's got some great prize money up for grabs an' the arena is pretty cool." 

The subject change wasn't at all subtle, but Applejack figured that neither of them would care as long as they could talk about something else. She seemed to be right as Apple Fritter nodded. "Sure am, cuz. Ain't too far from my place, anyway." 

That pleased Applejack. She smiled, happy that at least one of her cousins would be there… but if it was meant to be in Appleoosa… “Hey, do ya think Candy’ll be there? Or Braeburn? I’ve been itchin’ to see ‘em.” She glanced back at her cousin for a brief moment before setting her eyes back on the road, adjusting her speed to the long expanse of empty back roads. 

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole lot of ‘em showed up, cuz,” Apple Fritter replied with a slight bounce to her voice. Applejack assumed she was holding in a giggle. “Would be nice to see ‘em. Brae has the most handsome stallion, don’t he?”

Applejack nodded, fondly remembering the black and white stallion that Braeburn, as a bullfighter, always rode around on. “He sure does. Can’t wait to see ‘im out on the job, he’s always so fun to watch during bull ridin’ what with his bullfightin’ an’ all. I hope Macky won’t need his help though,” she guffawed. “Bet that Brae wouldn’t let ‘im ever hear the end of it.”

Apple Fritter nodded as they kept reminiscing about the last time they saw their family members and their horses. Applejack turned on the radio halfway through the ride and for the rest of the last hour, they sang songs together as they careened down the empty roads.

By the time Applejack’s truck hit a familiar dirt road and a sign to indicate Apple Fritter’s home, they had just finished the latest song, which was nothing short of perfect timing. Applejack slowed to a stop and turned to her cousin with a content smile. “Well, always nice to see ya, Fritter.”

Unbuckling her seatbelt, Apple Fritter returned the smile. “Pleasure’s always mine, cuz. ‘Specially for all your help,” she admitted with a blush. “Sorry to make you drive all this way, I know it’s a long two-hour drive back now. I didn’t mean to take up all your time, AJ.”

Applejack waved her hand dismissively. “Nothin’ doin’, really. I’ll be back in time for lunch, so it ain’t a big deal. Mac can handle the animals just fine, trust me.”

“Alright, well then I’d best be goin’, then. Don’t wanna take up too much of your time now,” Apple Fritter responded as she stepped out of the vehicle and shut the door behind her. With a friendly wave, she peered back into the truck. “Thanks again, cuz. I’ll see ya on Wednesday! I’ll be around to pick up Dory then if that’s alright. I know I said the weekend, but...”

Applejack flashed her a thumbs-up as she began to walk away. “Sounds good, Fritter. Text me how the repairs go, alright?”

“Yup! See ya soon, cuz,” she called to her. “Have a good weekend!”

“You too!”

Setting the truck to reverse, Applejack peered behind her on the off chance that one of their cats would be there. Once she deemed it safe to reverse, Applejack turned around and started driving back. She put the music on a little louder and sang along as she started the drive back, happy to have helped.
> Lasso
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Damn it," Applejack muttered as she trudged into the stables. She glared hard at where the white palomino stayed and then glared even harder at the girl grooming her. 

Strawberry turned with a sly smile. "Nice to see you, too." 

Applejack crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame. "It's noon, why are ya here?" 

Petting Whippy's mane, Strawberry maintained eye contact with the blonde. "My horse is here, silly. And I need to come take care of her." 

"Didn't ya say you were comin' in the mornin'?" Applejack asked, frowning deeply. 

Strawberry turned away, petting the palomino's neck gently. "I got caught up with something. Besides, what does it matter?" 

Well, for starters, yer annoyin', Applejack thought. In reality, there was nothing technically wrong with what Strawberry was doing; she was paying to board her horse so she could come at any time that the ranch was open to the public to care for her. The realization made Applejack's jaw clench, so she all but stomped to Barley, who nickered a greeting as Applejack reached for his muzzle through the gate. "It don't," she muttered at Strawberry who stood in the stall next to her. 

Strawberry smiled at her horse, petting her along the muzzle. "You know, you may be the worst, but your horse is really nice," she said, not even turning to face Applejack. 

"I—the w—what?" Applejack shook her head, sputtering her words. "I mean, I know Barley's a good horse, but whaddya mean I'm the worst? " 

"What else could I mean?" Strawberry asked innocently. "You're the worst. I mean it." 

Applejack couldn't tell if she actually meant it or if it was some kind of joke or tease… but… "Why would I be the worst?" she questioned, her eyebrows furrowing. Barley shifted his weight between his hooves next to her. 

Strawberry walked to the barrier separating them and leaned on it, sticking out fingers as she listed off reasons. "Well for starters, you're always grumpy with me, you're mean to me, you don't even let me try to be nice to you, and you're the only one who thinks I'm a bad person." She frowned as they made eye contact. 

Applejack rolled her eyes. "I'm only that way 'cause ya've never been nice to me," she growled. The blonde pushed her hat up her head as she walked closer to Strawberry, glaring at her face. "Ya bullied me in school, made fun'a me, made everyone think I was weird—" 

"Hey, I said I was sorry!" Strawberry interrupted. 

Applejack ignored her. "—and ya made school hell. Now, I dunno about you, but I don't particularly like the sorts of people that do that kinda stuff." 

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" 

"Too little, too late," Applejack growled. 

Strawberry crossed her arms, her mouth agape with offended shock. "What do you mean too late? I apologized, like, two years ago!" 

"Too little, too late," Applejack repeated, her mouth curved downward into a scowl. 

"What? I'm not that way anymore, Applejack!" Strawberry defended, her voice rising. "You'd know that if you let me prove it to you! Why can't you just listen? I've trying to apologize!" Her arms tightened around each other.

“Well, ya must excuse me for not forgivin’ ya if ya continue to act the same way.”

Strawberry waved her hands around wildly. “I don’t! It’s supposed to be lighthearted!”

“Well,  maybe ya shouldn’t be mean,” Applejack said, her voice growing strained. “Actually, maybe it’s best if ya plain don’t talk to me, if ya don’t wanna hurt me.”

Strawberry glared at her with a frown, though she looked more hurt than mad. "It's not my fault you won't forgive me." 

Applejack bared her teeth, memories flashing through her mind and boiling the blood in her veins. "I can't forgive ya for teasin' me when my parents died!" she yelled, her voice breaking a little. 

Strawberry flinched and worked her jaw, though she said nothing and instead opted to look down.

Not wanting to look at Strawberry anymore, Applejack turned away from her. "Even despite everythin' ya did… I thought we could be friends," she whispered, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "I've known ya since we were little – just about Bloom's age or even younger." 

"I know," she responded lowly. 

"Why were you so mean to me, Strawb?" she asked, shutting her eyes at the nickname she had used long ago. It felt foreign in her mouth and burned like acid. "We were kids. I needed a friend, 'specially when my parents died, an' you were the only one that'd even talk to me at the rodeos." 

Strawberry stayed silent, leaving the room with only the sound of the horse's breathing and Applejack's sniffling. When she figured that Strawberry wasn't going to say anything, Applejack turned, making sure her cheeks were dry. "But ya made fun of me. An' better yet, ya made sure everyone at school did too." Applejack frowned, shaking her head. "Strawberry, we were fifteen. What could I 'ave possibly done to ya to make ya hate me that much?" 

Once again, Strawberry stayed silent, averting her gaze from Applejack's demanding eyes. Her mouth twitched as if she were going to say something, but the words never came. Scoffing, Applejack stuck her hands in her jeans, turning away from Strawberry with a scowl. "I dunno what I expected," she mumbled as her frown turned into a bemused grin. "Just get outta here, Strawberry. Go take that ride on yer horse." 

Something, probably Strawberry, shuffled behind Applejack as she stared deeply at Barley's colouring. "Wait, Applejack—"

"Just leave me alone," Applejack pleaded hoarsely. "Please, sugarcube, I don't wanna talk right now." 

With a sigh, Applejack heard Strawberry step back and open the door to the stall, leading Whippy out. Their steps were synchronized. Applejack turned to look at them, catching them pause at the exit. Slowly, Strawberry glanced over at Applejack and they locked eyes. 

"I'm sorry," the redhead whispered so quietly that Applejack had to read her lips to figure out what she had said. Before Applejack could even get mad, they finished walking all the way out of the stables and out of sight. 

Though, she did get mad. It took a moment to really sink in, but once she felt that familiar sensation of her body seeming as if it was on fire, she whipped around to face Barley. “Can you believe her, boy? The nerve she has to even think I’d ever wanna be friends with her after all she’s done?”

Barley snorted.

“She’s a darn fool, is what she is. Yup, there ain’t no doubt about it,” Applejack fumed, wiping a hot tear from her cheek that she didn’t know had even formed. Her throat ached from holding in a cry, but she couldn’t help but continue her angered rambling. “Can’t believe she don’t even have half a mind to give a real apology. I mean, seriously Sunrise? Ya can’t even make yer apology seem sincere?” Applejack stomped, clenching her fists into tight balls.

When Barley—being a horse—said nothing, Applejack all but shrieked in frustration. She swung her arms up in the air, turning away from her horse. “Darn it, Barley. I love ya an’ all, but y’ain’t what I need. I need to go to someone who’ll actually talk to me an’ listen.”

The horse did not complain as Applejack left the stables.



~~~~🍎~~~~



“Big Mac!” Applejack screamed as she set foot into the farmhouse.

From around the corner leading to the kitchen, Big Mac’s head appeared through the door frame. “Yup?”

Applejack slammed the door shut behind her. The wood rattled and creaked. “I need to vent.”

Big Mac stepped fully into the living room as Applejack paced angrily. Maybe if she tried hard enough, she would burst into flames. It sure felt like it anyway. The ginger scratched his head. “Uh… yup.”

Wringing her hands, Applejack huffed and puffed, feeling her anger boil over. “Gosh, you know I hate that Strawberry girl, right?”

“Eeyup.”

“D’yknow what she said?” Applejack asked, not waiting for an answer. “She said I was wrong.”

Big Mac crossed the room, walking past Applejack who was busy wearing down the floorboards with her boots. Crossing his arms, he sat on the couch in the living room and faced his sister. "'Bout what?" 

"'Bout her," Applejack responded. "'Bout how I been treatin' her."

Big Mac leaned forward, resting his elbow on his knee and placing his chin on the palm of his hand. "Well, are you?" he asked, plain and simple. 

Applejack stopped dead in her tracks, spinning around so fast her ponytail came back around and nearly slapped her in the face. "No!" 

The sizable young man lifted his arms defensively. "A'ight. Just askin'," he got in quickly before Applejack could explode. "Anythin’ else?”

“She’s so… enfuriatin’!” she hissed, once again making her mark on the wooden floorboards. “She seems to think that just ‘cause she said ‘sorry’,” she mocked, “means that I should forgive’r. That ain’t how it works!”

Big Mac cleared his throat. “Ain’t that how it works?”

Applejack sighed, doing everything in her power not to lunge at the closest living being that wasn’t her dog, which just so happened to be Big Mac. “Not always,” she said sternly. “‘Specially not when you’re Strawberry Sunrise and ya’ve been nothin’ more than a… a… a dick.”

Staying quiet for a moment, Big Mac smirked. “Didja punch her?”

Applejack whipped around. “What? No.” She frowned first, a bit taken aback that Big Mac would even think she’d do that, but then put up a hand in contemplation. “Maybe I shoulda,” she added to herself, wistfully imagining the satisfying slam of her fist against Strawberry’s face. But then she thought about how much trouble she’d get in, and the fact that Strawberry could potentially put up a decent fight, then shook her head. 

Big Mac chuckled. “I don’t think that woulda solved yer problem, AJ,” he pointed out.  “But I do think maybe she’s got a point.”

Emerald eyes shot venomous daggers at him.

“I know she’s been plumb awful to ya,” Big Mac continued despite the promises of death that Applejack’s eyes spoke to him. “Though, that was years ago. She’s probably changed if she’s tellin’ ya she has.”

“Well, I—”

Big Mac stuck his hand up, shutting her up. “AJ, I think ya just gotta talk to ‘er all nice like,” he suggested. Upon Applejack’s attempt to speak over him again, he shook his head and kept talking. “If ya decide ya don’t like’r still, then that’s that. What’s she doin’ now?”

Applejack looked at the floor, her anger simmering down into guilt. “Takin’ a ride on Whippy,” she revealed with a frown.

“Well, then get on Barley an’ go talk to ‘er.”

He had a point, Applejack had to admit, but going to talk to her immediately would only make things worse. She was still upset and quick to anger, especially when Strawberry was involved. But, a ride on Barley always calmed her down.

That, and a quick expression of her anger.

Waving bye to Big Mac and thanking him for his act of listening and sound advice, Applejack made her way back out, shutting the door with more calm this time. She winced, knowing that Granny Smith would have been extremely upset had she heard how hard she slammed the door shut just moments prior. Thank the Lord for old people shindigs.

Applejack glanced around, mostly to the riding ring and at the pastures beyond. The cattle seemed calm, and more importantly, Strawberry was nowhere to be seen. She knew she had to talk to her at some point, but she wasn’t quite ready. As she once again approached the stables, she peeked inside, hoping that Strawberry hadn’t opted for a short ride. Much to her pleasure, the stalls were empty, save for the horses that sputtered about, looking rested and cared for thanks to Big Mac’s help earlier.

Boots clicked along the wood flooring, some parts covered by stray hay, other parts covered by loose dirt. Applejack approached Barley once again, reaching her hand out to his muzzle in greeting. “Hey, boy. We’re gonna go for a ride, alright?”

As if he could understand what Applejack had said, and in some ways, she knew he could, Barley nickered happily and swung his head. Applejack grinned and stepped away from him to grab her saddle from the front of the stables. Grunting with the effort of carrying the somewhat heavy piece of equipment, Applejack carried the large saddle carefully to Barley’s stall, where she put it on him effortlessly thanks to years of doing it.

She led him outside, ready to go on a ride again. Eagerness practically radiated from Barley as he cantered alongside Applejack, who paused just at the fence. She opened the gate, then held onto the reins with one hand, putting her boot in one of the stirrups. Barley snorted as Applejack boosted herself up and onto the saddle, adjusting in the seat to her comfortable position. With a chuckle, Applejack rubbed his mane. No words needed to be said as she and Barley set on to find Strawberry.



~~~~🍎~~~~



The act was easier said than done, Applejack quickly discovered. She forgot just how much land her family owned; a point crucial to ranching. As she and Barley trotted at a medium pace next to where the cows grazed, Applejack sighed. 

Unless Strawberry had opted for a long ride with Whippy, it was too late to find her. Applejack had been searching for the better part of an hour with no luck. She made it nearly from corner to corner of the acres of land she had access to. The only place she hadn't looked in was the forest that expanded off to the side of the property, but she doubted that Strawberry would go in there. 

They approached the fence separating the ranch from the forest with a frown, dismay clouding over the blonde. Barley nickered and shook his head, backing away from the forest. Had she waited too long? Perhaps she should have gotten on Barley right away instead of trying to calm down. Applejack was sure, in fact, that Strawberry had to have already gone back to the stables. Possibly even back home. 

With a disgruntled groan, Applejack pulled on the reins, forcing Barley to turn as they slowly paced back to the stables. At the rate they were going, it'd take a while, but Applejack didn't mind. Barley loved getting in his exercise. 

The horse, who cantered with his head low, suddenly perked up and flicked his ears. Applejack straightened her back and squinted, using her hands to shade her eyes from the afternoon sun. It was hard to see thanks to the brightness, but Applejack barely made out a figure that seemed to notice her as well. 

Despite being her goal, Applejack ground her teeth at Strawberry, who backpedaled and turned away, probably pretending to have not seen her. With a shake of her head, Applejack slapped one of Barley's haunches and tightened her legs around his flanks, pushing the horse into a gallop. “Stupid Strawberry,” she muttered. “Of course I saw her.”

Barley galloped hard, but Strawberry sent her horse into a gallop as well, which only served to further annoy Applejack. She pushed her hat down on her head, making sure it wouldn’t fall off, then sat up straight, angling her body against the bounce from Barley’s gallop, and raised her hands to her mouth to amplify her voice. “Hey, slow down!”

Whippy did not falter in her gait as Strawberry mushed her on, now galloping parallel to the cattle’s pasture. Applejack rolled her eyes and reached to the back of the saddle where a length of rope was secured atop Barley’s dock. Unsticking the button, she confidently gripped the lasso and spun it above her head, eyeing her target. Applejack’s tongue stuck out of her mouth as she narrowed her eyes and threw the lasso forward, catching Strawberry around the arms. She pulled slightly, warranting a yelp from Strawberry, who pulled on her reins, getting Whippy to stop. Barley slowed and cantered up next to them.

Strawberry wiggled, caught slightly in the lasso’s grip, before she managed to pull it over her head and threw it at Applejack’s chest. “What the hell, Applejack?” she exclaimed, entirely bemused. “You could have killed me!”

Applejack grabbed the rope and stuck her hands up to her side. “I tried tellin’ ya to slow down, I didn’t know what else to do!”

Strawberry and Whippy turned, each of them giving a snort. “Well, lassoing me shouldn’t have even been a thought,” Strawberry hissed. “And why in the world do you just have a lasso?”

With the lasso now rolled up back into a neat circle, Applejack snorted as she gripped it. “Really? You’re askin’? I’m a rancher. Why wouldn’t I have a lasso?”

The redhead huffed as Applejack followed her with the rope safely stored away. “What do you want, Applejack? You told me to leave you alone, and now you’re…” she waved a free hand as she sputtered, “lassoing me.”

Applejack pressed Barley on so they could ride side by side. “Look, you’re right an’ I’m sorry” she said. “I got mad at ya. But I know now that… I think you’re right.”

Strawberry turned to Applejack and quirked her head. “Oh?” she asked with an almost sly smile.

It was hard to repress the eye roll but Applejack succeeded in favour of wanting to appear authentic. She bit her lip and looked behind Strawberry. There were a few young heifers grazing alongside a pair of calves. Applejack smiled as she cued Barley to stop. “Look, I know it was a while ago, Strawb. But I think I’m done holdin’ that against ya,” Applejack told her, still looking at the field. “I dunno if I’m ready to really try an’ be yer friend ‘cause… well ‘cause it still hurts, if I’m bein’ honest, but… I’m ready to admit that maybe y’ain’t all bad.” 

Strawberry approached Applejack, then had Whippy stop next to her. The horses snorted at each other as Strawberry looked at Applejack with a rather strange expression that was somewhere between disbelief and jubilation. “Really?”

Though it still felt wrong, Applejack nodded. “Yeah, I mean it. Though, this don’t mean I like ya,” she reminded her with a grin. “But… but in time, maybe I won’t wanna strangle ya everytime I see ya.”

“Hey, trust me, AJ—” 

"Don't call me that." 

“—I wanna strangle you too,” Strawberry said with a smirk. 

Applejack gazed at her blankly before letting out a laugh and shaking her head. "I'm sure." 

Strawberry smiled and leaned forward, resting her arms on Whippy's neck. "So, you're pretty good with ropes, huh?" 

Applejack wasn't sure why Strawberry had that teasing tone to her voice. "Well, sure. I can show ya just how good I am if you want." 

Strawberry sat back up and coughed. "What? Uh, what?" 

Applejack took hold of the rope once again, pointing at the group of cattle. "I like to think I'm good at ropin'," she boasted. "So how's about a little competition?" 

Her question hung in the air for a bit until Strawberry wheezed. "Oh! Hah!" she guffawed. "Yeah, okay. Name the rules." 

Applejack cocked her head. Why had Strawberry reacted like that? Applejack was only going to show her how good she was with a la—

OH. 

The blonde flushed, reaching across to whack Strawberry across the chest with the rolled up rope. "The rules are," Applejack started sternly, "I'll get these two calves to run, then whoever can rope one first wins." 

"Uh, okay," Strawberry agreed. "But I don't have a lasso on me." 

From the left side of her saddle, Applejack produced another lasso and handed it to Strawberry. "You offend me, Sunrise." 

Strawberry felt the rope in her hands, gripping it tightly. Applejack knew that Strawberry wasn't as confident with roping as she was with horseback riding, but judging from past competition, she definitely wouldn't underestimate her rival. 

"So, how are you gonna get them to run?" she asked, snapping Applejack from her thoughts. 

Applejack grinned in reply before putting her index fingers in her mouth and blew out. A long, loud, sharp whistle echoed through the land, making Strawberry cringe. Applejack turned to her with a smug smile. "Just wait a sec." 

And indeed, running across the fields came exactly who Applejack had called. A little brown dog approached, barking and yipping as she approached the two girls and their horses. Winona finally reached them, panting happily and bouncing around Barley's hooves, who reached down to let Winona sniff his muzzle. Applejack leaned back so she wouldn't fall forward while Strawberry scrunched her face. 

"Why'd you call your dog?" she asked flatly. 

"Winona here's our herdin' dog," she explained. "An' she'll help us get this contest started." 

Strawberry pursed her lips and pointed at Winona. "That dog? She's so small." 

"But she's the best herdin' dog you'll ever see. Ain't that right, girl?" 

Winona barked loudly. 

Applejack smiled. "She helps me an' Bloom train for breakaway." The group went to the fence gate, where Applejack opened it and let everyone in. "She gets the calves goin' so we can rope 'em like in competition. Keeps 'em runnin' straight." 

Strawberry came to rest next to Applejack and Barley. Winona stood at Whippy's hooves, panting and wagging her tail. "But what about the bigger cows? Won't that be dangerous?" 

"Normally, sure, but 'Nona does a good job of scaring' the heifers away first and leadin' the calves in the opposite direction so we don't have an accident," Applejack assured her. "Just trust Winona and trust yourself, alright?" 

Strawberry shrugged. "If you say so." 

"Okay, good. Now, Winona," she watched as the dog stood firmly, poised for action, "rope 'em!" 

On command, Winona yipped and took off, doing exactly what Applejack had described. The older heifers started running in the opposite direction, but before the calves could fully follow, Winona intercepted and led them to the opposite direction, where they ran directly in front of Applejack and Strawberry. 

Applejack watched them turn in front of her and signalled to Strawberry, who nodded. "Go!" Applejack yelled as they both set off, swinging their lassos above them. 

Barley galloped, closing in on a black calf. Applejack calculated her throw and took her shot, successfully roping the calf around the neck. She forced Barley to a sudden stop with a squeeze of her legs and a pull on his reins, then let go of the lasso letting the calf keep running. 

As that happened, Strawberry and Whippy stayed barely a step behind. Strawberry threw her lasso, but it slid off the back of the calf's neck. She hissed something under her breath as she forced Whippy to a stop. Winona barked as she forced the calves to loop around and back toward them where they calmed down and slowed to a stop. Winona panted, her tongue lolling out of her mouth. 

Applejack grinned and crossed her arms. "Beat ya." 

Strawberry's face was red. "Ugh, well, you've always been better at roping than me," she mumbled. "Besides, you can practice whenever you want." 

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Hey now, don't be a sore loser."

"I'm not," Strawberry shot back. "But, I bet I can beat you at a race." 

"Oh really," Applejack asked with a dubious glance towards her. "Let's see about that. Here to the stables. First one past the fence wins." She held out her hand. 

Strawberry took her hand and shook it firmly. "Deal." 

After Applejack collected the lassos, they raced back to the stables. Applejack whooped happily as she urged Barley to go faster and faster, practically standing on the stirrups and keeping herself low and against Barley's neck as she pressed him on. Strawberry and Whippy were at their side the whole time, each pair gaining the lead then losing it. Applejack bent her legs and patted Barley on the neck, exclaiming as they neared the stables. They both crossed the predetermined finish line, then slowed to a stop. 

Applejack whooped, practically jumping off of Barley and landing with a thud of her boots. Strawberry wasn't slow to follow suit, and they both stood next to their horses. 

"Well, I guess it's pretty clear who won," Applejack said as she stretched her arms. 

"Yeah," Strawberry agreed with a nod. 

"Me," they both said at the same time before eyeing each other with a squint. 

Applejack gawked. "What?" 

"What do you mean?" Strawberry shot back. "I clearly won!" 

"No ya didn't." 

"Yes I did." 

 "No." 

"Yes." 

"No." 

"Yes." 

"It was a tie!" another voice jumped in. 

Both girls turned to look at Apple Bloom mid argument. Applejack blinked, then took a step forward with a cocked head. "Apple Bloom? What are ya doin' here? I was gonna go pick ya up." 

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "Big Mac can drive, you know," she deadpanned. "School ended an hour ago. An' y'all tied." 

Applejack glared at Strawberry who glared back. They both harrumphed and turned away from each other. Apple Bloom simply shook her head and walked over to Applejack. "Well, y'all had fun. Why's that? Thought you were mortal enemies." 

Strawberry snorted. "Your sister finally smartened up." 

Applejack frowned. "Hey!" 

The younger girl raised her arms. "I didn't say anythin'. Just got home and found y'all enjoying yourselves, that's all." 

"Well, that won't happen again," Applejack assured as she shot a glance at Strawberry, who only laughed. "Now I'm gonna put Barley back. Strawberry, ya better be quiet 'til ya leave, alright?" 

"Anything for you, Applejack," she joked. 

"I swear. I'll kill ya," Applejack threatened. She turned to Apple Bloom and patted her on the head. "Go do yer homework and we can work on yer barrel racin' after dinner alright?" 

Apple Bloom glanced between Applejack and Strawberry, then grinned. "Sure. I'll tell Granny you'll be in soon." 

Before Applejack could inquire about the weird look she gave them, Apple Bloom ran away. Shrugging it off, Applejack led Barley into the stables. True to her word, Strawberry was silent up until she left. At least there was that. Apart from being saved from Strawberry's incessant annoying small talk, Applejack was glad she didn't have a body to hide. She wasn't a liar, after all. 

Though, she had to admit it. It suddenly felt surprisingly disheartening to stand in the stables alone. 
> Why Intercept
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Say, d'ya wanna check out the stables, cuz?" 

Applejack gazed overtop Dory's brilliant near-gold coat at Apple Fritter. With a smile she nodded. "Sure. Might as well come so I can bring the transport myself an' it don't become a problem later." 

They ushered the mare into the trailer and made sure she was calm before closing the door with a lock. Dory sputtered as she was left alone, but began to simply paw at the loose hay at her hooves. Applejack grinned and turned to the  front of the truck. Apple Fritter did the same on the other side. 

"Got the stables all nice an' fixed now?" Applejack asked as she climbed into the driver's seat of the vehicle. It was actually Fritter's car, but she had insisted that Applejack drive due to her better ability. Applejack wondered if that was just an excuse so Fritter wouldn't have to drive, but decided she didn't mind anyway. Apple Fritter climbed in next to her, buckling her seat belt with a click. 

"Yup!" Apple Fritter's smile widened even further as she tightened the ribbon that kept her green braids together. "All thanks to y'all. Thanks again, cuz." 

With a wave of her hand, Applejack dismissed the grateful sentence. "Nothin' doin', Fritter," Applejack reminded her. "Just what family's for." 

Apple Fritter made her gratitude known once more, but soon they were preoccupied with switching between two radio stations as they rode along the highway. 

The music clicked back and forth between country rock and folk music, Applejack needing to keep one hand off the wheel just to switch the knob back. She had half a mind to keep her hand there, but decided to just let Fritter keep the station on country rock. It wasn't like Applejack didn't like it. Plus, she could always listen to her preferred genre of music on the way back. 

She pulled into that familiar gravel road once more and eased to a slow drive so the transport attached to the car wouldn't bounce and agitate the horse. This time, a cat the colour of a bright bonfire ran across the road, though it was far away enough so that Applejack didn't have to slam on the brakes. She gave out a short chuckle. "Still with the cats?" 

Apple Fritter put a hand on her forehead and smiled. "Yeah. Goldie loves her cats, that's for sure, cuz." 

Setting the car to park, Applejack continued with the jovial tune of the conversation. The radio clicked off as she took the key out of the ignition. "Does she still want to live in the woods?" 

Both girls exited the car. "Hah, yeah. Course, we'd never let 'er. What kinda crazy people would let an old lady live in the woods by herself with cats?" 

Laughing about it, Apple Fritter and Applejack took Dory out of the trailer and walked her to the newly renovated stables. Applejack whistled in appreciation. Gone was the old, dingy stable, and in was a new-looking one. In retrospect, she knew it was the same (save for the wood that was replaced) but the fresh coat of paint and new roof job really made it look like something new. Even Dory seemed pleased as she whinnied happily and pranced into her stall. 

Apple Fritter's grin grew. She reached out to rub Dory's muzzle. "It's great, right?" 

"That doesn't even begin to describe it," Applejack gaped. "I'm real happy for y'all. Are ya gettin' the horses back soon?" 

Apple Fritter nodded. "Yeah, Bumpkin and Split went to go get 'em." She snorted a bit. "Split was up all night cryin' about havin' to loan out Theo. Oh, how he loves that horse. But I ain't tell you that, cuz." 

Applejack placed her hands on her belt, admiring the fresh coat of paint. "Well, glad to see everythin' holdin' up." 

"Strong as the legs on a horse," Apple Fritter replied with a goofy smile. "At least, the ones on your horse. He's got a good pair'a legs under'im, don't he?" 

“Just like his owner,” Applejack boasted, though it was a joke. A half joke. 

Apple Fritter snorted and rolled her eyes. “Alright, we get it, cuz, you can leg press a bull.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say that,” Applejack shot back with a teasing smirk. “I’m strong, but I ain’t that strong.”

“I know, I know. Just teasin’,” Apple Fritter responded with a stuck out tongue. “Anyway, I’m gonna take Dory out for a ride in a li’l bit. Ya wanna stay for lunch?”

The thought was tempting, but Applejack shook her head. “Can’t. I gotta go grab Apple Bloom from school, then we’re gonna spend some quality sister bondin’ time.”

“Ooh, have fun! Tell Apple Bloom I wish’er the best of luck.”

“Shut up, Fritter.”

“I’ll see you in Appleoosa!”



~~~~🍎~~~~



Days like that always felt like time was being dragged out from under Applejack’s feet. The ride to and from Apple Fritter’s home, and then to and from Apple Bloom’s school already took most of her day out. It was no secret, or surprise, that Applejack often wished there were more hours in the day. She had always heard adults saying that, and she figured that as an adult, it would make sense for her to think so.

Applejack sighed heavily as she finished getting Barley’s saddle off of his barrel and on the hanger. Apple Bloom struggled a bit, but was able to hoist hers up as well. It had been a good session; both horses were now left outside in the field so they could stretch their legs and socialize rather than be cooped up in the stable. Applejack put a hand on Apple Bloom’s shoulder and patted her back. “Good stuff, Bloom. You an’ Megan are really lookin’ good. And yer ropin’s been gettin’ real quick! I don’t think anyone else’s got a chance against you.”

Apple Bloom’s face lit up like a candle. “Thanks! I just wanna get better at barrel racin’ like you,” she admitted. “But  I am gettin’ better, I think. Maybe one day I’ll be as good as you are.”

“I’ve got no doubt in my mind, Bloom.” With a smile, she led Apple Bloom out of the stable and toward the house. “I’ll bet you can become even better’n I am.”

“Aw, that ain’t true, sis,” Apple Bloom replied with a soft blush. “You’ll only keep gettin’ better! But I think we’ll both give everyone a run for their money when we get to compete together.”

Applejack ruffled Apple Bloom’s hair, now approaching the house. “You bet we will, Bloom. I’ll train you up real good ‘til then. Still got a few more years ‘til ya move up to my age group.”

As they opened the door, a loud barking interrupted their conversation as Winona ran up to them and jumped on each of them panting heavily. Apple Bloom giggled and bent down to scratch the dog’s head. “Aw, an’ Winona’s been nothin’ but helpful, too! Haven’t you, girl?”

Winona barked and jumped up to lick Apple Bloom’s face in response. Apple Bloom pulled away from the dog and pushed her off. “Ew! Gross! Winnie, I told ya not to do that!”

Applejack rolled her eyes and made her way fully into the house. Winona yipped and followed behind her, leaving Apple Bloom to wipe the sticky dog spit off her face. “C’mon, Bloom,” Applejack called. “Gotta do yer homework, I know ya’ve been havin’ trouble with some of the subjects. Maybe I can help.”

Apple Bloom groaned and shut the door behind her, still wiping her face on her sleeve. “Yeah, mostly math an’ science. I tried to get Mac to help me, but he said he couldn’t remember how to do all the stuff I’m learnin’.”

Taking a seat at the kitchen table, Applejack put a hand on her chin. “I dunno if I’ll remember that much, but it’s only been a year since I graduated, so I hope it’ll come back to me. Then again, I haven’t done any’a that fancy math since I was a junior,” she recalled with a blush. 

A thud on the table brought Applejack’s attention back in front of her. Apple Bloom set down her heavy school bag on top and sat next to Applejack, pulling out a pencil from her bag. “I hope you remember, too. Or else I think I’m screwed.”

Snorting, Applejack waited for Apple Bloom to fish out her homework. She gazed at the thick looking math textbook and wondered how they could expect anyone to really remember how to do any of it. “So, whaddya need help with first?”

Apple Bloom opened the book about halfway through and then showed her the questions. “I only got math homework today, so this. It ain’t too hard, but I keep gettin’ em wrong.”

Applejack squinted. She always hated when math had letters thrown into the mix, but if she remembered correctly, these wouldn’t be so hard. “Nothin’ to worry ‘bout. I always had to ask Pa for help when I was your age.  Just functions, do ya remember the equation of a line?”

Apple Bloom nodded, writing it down on the paper. Y= mx+b. “Yup. That part’s easy. I just can’t get the graph to look like the one the teacher has.”
The equation in the book was in a different form, which Applejack assumed might have been what was confusing her sister. “How would you go about solvin’ this?”

“Well, I gotta get the equation from standard form to slope y intercept form, right?”

Applejack half shrugged. “Sure, but I think it’s easier if ya do this.”  She grabbed the pencil from Apple Bloom and showed her how to find the slope, then the x and y intercepts from the standard form. “From there, ya can graph the first few points usin’ the slope ta help ya. Remember, rise and run like the sun and wind, then yer sure to win,” she told her, repeating the rhyme that her Pa had shown her when she had first been learning.

Apple Bloom took the pencil back and started roughly drawing a graph. She finished it up, then wrote the equation that she had now converted to the form the teacher asked for on top. She looked eagerly at her work. “Oh, that was a lot easier’n what I had been doin’!”

“Now, remember that I basically did half the work for you, Bloom,” Applejack reminded her. “Do the next one on yer own an’ I’ll make sure ya know what’s goin’ on.”

Nodding, Apple Bloom set to work. The next one was  a bit more complicated, but with a bit of guidance, she was able to do it mostly on her own. Applejack watched proudly as Apple Bloom started gaining speed and whizzed past her homework with very few complications and less and less interference from Applejack. She certainly picked it up faster than Applejack remembered herself doing, even with her Pa’s help.

After a quick check over Apple Bloom’s work, she confirmed that all her answers were right and Apple Bloom whooped victoriously. Applejack shook her head in amusement, noting that they had just spent an hour and a half doing math equations. Apple Bloom groaned upon discovering this, complaining that she had just wasted her time.

“It ain’t a waste of time if it’s somethin’ important,” Applejack pointed out as she helped Apple Bloom repack her bag. “An’ school’s important.”

With a skeptical raise of her eyebrow, Apple Bloom crossed her arms. “Oh yeah? How many times have ya had to use function equations after high school?”

Applejack scratched the back of her neck sheepishly. “Well…”

“Exactly,” Apple Bloom interrupted. 


“Okay, well maybe it’s been a while, but the important thing is that ya need to graduate high school, Bloom. I dunno what ya wanna do once ya grow up, but ya need good marks for whatever ya wanna do,” Applejack explained. “I didn’t go to college or university ‘cause I didn’t have the marks, an’ I wanna stay here on the ranch anyway, but you’re smart, sugarcube. Ya gotta take advantage of that. Even if ya decide ya don’t wanna go to college, I think ya should do well in high school.”

Mulling it over, Apple Bloom sighed. “I guess you’re right,  sis. I ain’t that bad at all this stuff once I get a hold of it, an’ I definitely don’t wanna disappoint y’all. Plus, I’d like to go to college. Not sure for what just yet, but I do. Maybe somewhere closeby, though, so we can still compete together.” Her lips curved up into a smile, her entire body perking up. “Hey, ya think we can form a  ropin’ duo? Like Betty n’ Appleby!”

“Course we can,” Applejack responded with a quaint smile. Hearing Apple Bloom be so eager to be on a team with her made her glad. She just hoped she still felt that way when she was old enough. “An’ no matter what ya decide to do after high school, all the Apples’ll always have yer back. ‘Specially me, Mac, n’ Granny. Don’t forget it.”

Apple Bloom wrapped her arms around her sister’s waist in a tight hug. “I know, Applejack! Just like we’ll always be there for you and how we’re there for the rest o’ the family.”

Applejack smiled and returned the hug. “Exactly. Family above all else, right Bloom?”

“Right!” Apple Bloom replied with a grin. She finally released Applejack, though kept her arms around her torso and looked up. “I love you sis, I know I don’t say it as much as I oughta, but I do.”

Tears fought behind Applejack’s eyes. She hadn’t been expecting a homework session to turn into something so sweet, yet there she was. Blinking the tears back, she adjusted Apple Bloom’s bow. “I love ya too, Bloom.”
> Appleoosa Six
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Appleoosa! Appleoosa! Appleoosa!” Apple Bloom bounced in the seat of the truck, occasionally bumping into Applejack. “I’m so excited!”

Applejack cracked a smile and pushed against Apple Bloom gently. “Hey, save the energy for later, ‘kay, Bloom? We gotta meet with the other Apples an’ I know you’re gon’ wanna go out ridin’ with yer cousins.”

The truck rumbled as they drove down faraway roads, nearing Appleoosa with every moment passed. Apple Bloom crossed her arms, doing her best to pout, but the smile on her face gave her away. “I have loads of energy! Don’t ya worry ‘bout me, Applejack!”

Rolling her eyes, Applejack gazed out the window. She was glad to have Big Mac driving for the last half of the trip. He and Granny sang along to whatever was playing on the radio while Applejack kept Apple Bloom entertained in the back. Occasionally, she’d look back to make sure the trailer with their horses was doing alright. It always was.

Apple Bloom hummed a song and bobbed her head with the make-believe tune. Other cars zoomed by as Applejack set her sights on the distance where she knew the town would be.



~~~~🍎~~~~



The truck came to a halt, drawing out Apple Bloom’s snore. It cut off to an abrupt stop as Applejack elbowed her. Groggily, Apple Bloom blinked her eyes open. “Hmm? Are we there yet?”

Finally, Applejack could say the word that Apple Bloom had been pestering about before she fell asleep. “Yup.”

Sleep completely drained from her expression, Apple Bloom shot straight up, her back a ruler against the seat. “Oh my gosh! Finally!”

Applejack snorted, undoing her seatbelt. “Finally? Ya’ve been asleep practically the whole time!”

Climbing over her sister, Apple Bloom all but fell out of the truck. Instantly, a cheer of “Apple Bloom!”s followed, followed by her laughter and jubilant squeaking. Applejack struggled with her seatbelt as she glanced out the window and gave her extended family members a wave as she slowly exited the car. It was no secret that the family loved her little sister, so much so that they always teased and joked at her, calling her the better of the three siblings. Big Mac and Applejack feigned being hurt every time, but they knew it was a joke. Apple Bloom didn’t seem to mind much, apart from the embarrassing noogies and cheek pinching and teasing from the younger members of the rest of the family. 

A tall, but thin, young man made his way to Applejack and her brother. He tipped his hat and put a hand on the side of his belt. “Howdy, y’all! Great to see ya, it sure has been a while, hasn’ it?”

Big Mac reached out for a handshake, while Applejack simply gave a two-fingered salute. “Howdy, Brae,” Applejack greeted. “Sure has been a while. We’ve been lookin’ forward to seein’ y’all! How’re your siblings?”

Slapping his hand against Big Mac’s, Braeburn chuckled. “They’re fine. An’ you know Crumble. She’s been dyin’ ta see Apple Bloom. Why, I bet the li’l rascals ran off to the house already,” he observed, looking around the large family unit. “Bloom managed to escape the smotherin’ quickly this time. And how’re you, Mac? Gettin’ better at bull ridin’?” he teased. “I hope I don’t have ta get the bull away from yer sorry ass tomorrow.”

Big Mac rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. “I’ve won all-around more’n you have, Brae,” he pointed out gruffly. 

“I only do half as many events as you, though, cuz,” he deflected. “Anyway, Cinnamon wanted to see ya, Mac. He’s over by the pasture. If ya want, bring along Yokel with ya so he can graze with the other horses.”

The large man nodded. “Eeyup.”

“Hey, have the others arrived yet?” Applejack asked, he and Braeburn following Big Mac to the trailer. He first led out Barley, handing the reins to Applejack. She gripped them tightly in her hand and led the stallion farther out so Big Mac could lead out his black quarter horse, and Apple Bloom’s palomino.

Braeburn took Apple Bloom’s mare and the trio made their way to the pasture where everyone’s steeds roamed, some galloping, some simply resting. “If ya mean Fritter and them, naw. They’re caught up in traffic but they should be here in time for dinner in a few hours. Why? Ya don’t like spendin’ time with the rest of us?”

Applejack shook her head despite his joking tone. “Course I do. Was just wonderin’, is all,” she said with a huff. “How’s Appleby? She still live here with her wife?”

Braeburn snorted. “Sure do! Dang girl just can’t get away from the farm. Not that I blame her. Nice to make yer own cider, ain’t it? She’s lucky that Betty was willin’ to come here.”

“Ya say that as if they ain’t the best ropin’ duo right now,” Applejack deadpanned. 

As they reached the fence, Braeburn paused in front of the gate, opening it and letting the horses inside. They each undid and removed the reins from the horses. After a quick pat on each of their snouts, they turned and cantered off., leaving the trio of young adults at the fence. 

“Yeah, you’re right. I just like takin’ the piss outta Aunt Appleby,” Braeburn admitted with a chuckle. ‘Sides, it’s nice to have her an’ Aunt Betty here. Betty likes to take care of Grammy Rose. Just waitin’ for Mom an’ Pops to come back.”

“Oh yeah, when they comin’ back?” Big Mac piped up, his low voice dragging out smoothly.

Braeburn shrugged. “Still tryna figure stuff out with the higher-ups or somethin’. They’ll be stuck in Vanhoover for a li’l bit. I was hopin’ they’d be back for this rodeo, but apparently, there’s some… real estate trouble or somethin’. I dunno, they just tryin’ keep everythin’ smooth.”

Applejack nodded, placing a hand on the picket fence surrounding the pasture where everyone’s horses roamed. It was, admittedly, impressive for a simple family farm. She smiled and turned away from the equines, leaning against the barrier. “Well, they’ll be back soon enough. I’m sure of it.”

The lanky man nodded and crossed his arms. “Sure. In any case, I’ll be sure to kick Mac’s bulky ass this weekend, you best be sure of it.”

Big Mac slapped his cousin on the arm. “Li’l thing like you? Sure, I can sees it. Soon as Ol’ Oinker sprouts wings ‘n flies.”

“Oh shut it, meat stack. Just cause you big don’t mean nothin’. Now run along would ya? Cinnamon’s been dyin’ to talk to ya. Somethin’ or other ‘bout bulldoggin’.”

“Right, well I’ll see y’all at supper, then,” Big Mac replied with a wave, turning back to the house.

Applejack tipped her hat in return. “Right, say hi to ‘im for me, would ya?”

“Eeyup.”

After bidding farewell to Big Mac with a tip of his own hat, Braeburn adjusted it back to normal and gestured for Applejack to follow him. “Nice to see the family back again, huh, Applejack?”

Applejack stuck her hands in her pockets as she followed her cousin, admiring the fresh air of the brewing land. It was less musky than on a ranch, that was for sure. Not that she minded, of course. “Sure is,” she agreed. “Been a while since we all got together. Mighty kind of y’all to set everyone up.”

“Aw heck, you know we’s also got that hotel business,” Braeburn said dismissively. “Ain’t no problem. Plenty’a other cowboys ‘n girls settin’ up there. No harm in lettin’ family do the same!”

“Yeah, true, but it’s still nice of y’all. That hotel’s right close to the arena,” Applejack pointed out. “Y’all must make some good money durin’ other sports seasons.”

“Sure, but most of it comes back to tendin’ the crop. Hotel brings in nice money here in Appaloosa, but sellin’ liquor’s where it’s at,” Braeburn explained. He led her to the beginning of a moderately sized fruit orchard. Trees and other shrubs of sorts expanded the land, though the fruit didn’t seem quite ripe yet. 

“I bet,” Applejack agreed, gazing over the trees. “Y’know, it’s pretty ‘n all, but I don’t get how y’all take care of all this.”

Braeburn hoisted himself up on a fence that surrounded the orchard, settling himself comfortably on it. Applejack did the same, setting her boots on the lower part of the fence for stability. Braeburn reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, placing one in his mouth. He offered the box to Applejack, who shook her head. “Probably a lot easier’n managin’ cattle,” he pointed out as he lit his smoke. 

Applejack grimaced at the smell of the smoke, but didn’t pay it much mind since it wasn’t exactly something new to her. “Well, it’s definitely a lot more borin’,” she joked. She’d tried to imagine what being a regular fruit farmer would be like, but found herself missing the noise of the animals even in her fantasy. “Probably a lot more lonely, too. I like sittin’ with the cows sometimes when Bloom or Mac ain’t home. They’re good company, too.”

Braeburn chuckled. “Well, I guess ya got me there. Never a dull moment here, y’know. Always someone around to cause trouble. ‘Specially Crumble ‘n Candy. Them two’s always gettin’ into hijinks.”

“Hah. Sounds like Bloom. You know what? I bet my britches they’re off bein’ teenagers an’ causin’ grief to the older’uns as we speak.” Applejack grinned, letting her gaze unfocus. The air was fresh and smelled like the farmer’s market. 

Braeburn nodded, exhaling a wisp of smoke into the fresh country air with a laugh. “Don’t need to bet nothin’. I already know it.”

The pair glanced at each other, then burst into coordinated laughter. Applejack’s hands clutched onto the fence in a desperate attempt to keep herself stable. “You know, Brae, ya really gotta stop with that nasty vice,” she commented as her cousin took an amused drag of his cigarette. “You ‘n Mac gon’ die before y’all even retire.”

Braeburn rolled his eyes and snuffed out the cigarette on the fence. “Alright, alright,” he breathed smokily. “Just as long as ya don’t work yourself to death. Between ranchin’ and competin’, what do ya even do with your free time? Ya got any friends?”

“Sure I got friends!”

“Oh yeah, who?”

Applejack opened her mouth, then shut it again. What were the names of her classmates? She had already forgotten, not that they were friends at all anyway. A cough escaped her. “Uh, well…”

“See? C’mon, AJ. There’s more to life than what ya got goin’. Ya gotta make some friends,” Braeburn pointed out. “C’mon, even a sorry sap like me’s got friends. Met ‘em at rodeos. I woulda thought a big bad all-around cowgirl like yourself would have all kinds’a people wantin’ to be yer friend. Heck, you’re pretty good lookin’. I’m surprised you ain’t got  yourself a boyfriend or somethin’.”

Applejack blushed and looked away. “I ain’t really into all that,” she mumbled. “Boys, I mean. Don’t got time for ‘em.”

A punch in the arm from her cousin dragged her flustered gaze back to him. “See, Applejack? That’s what I mean. You’re here the whole weekend. How’s about tomorrow after we’re all done we go to the bar? You, me, Mac, Cinnamon, Split, ‘n Fritter! How’s about it? Bunch’a the other competitors are gonna be there.”

As she rubbed her arm absent-mindedly, Applejack considered her options. Having a few drinks could be fun, though she wasn’t sure how she felt about drinking in a bar. There were bound to be too many people. Drunk people. She frowned. “I dunno, Brae. You know I don’t like bein’ ‘round people like that…”

“Aw, but you’re with your family now and yer alright.”

Applejack huffed. “That’s different. ‘Sides, Fritter ain’t old enough to drink. Her birthday ain’t for a few months, y’know.”

“She can still go in,” Braeburn pointed out. “She just can’t drink. Plus, we need a designated driver.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

C’mon, Applejack. It’ll be fun. She clenched her fists and snorted. “Alright, fine. I’ll go to the bar with y’all, but I swear if a single guy hits on me I’m gonna make Fritter take me home an’ y’all can wander on back.”

“Aw, I’m sure you’ll change yer mind,” Braeburn responded. “Anyway, we’re just gonna go have fun. And make you a friend or two. Lord knows you need one.”

“Oh, shut up, Brae.”

Braeburn cheekily stuck out his tongue and hopped off the fence. “C’mon, Candy’s been itchin’ to see y’all. Plus, we don’t want Cinnamon to talk poor Mac’s ear off, right?”


Applejack shrugged, a bit disappointed at the short break from the familial chaos. She pushed herself off the fence, her boots thumping on the grass. “I dunno. Big bastard pro’ly deserves it,” she teased.

“Aw, you’re so mean to him.”

“Like you ain’t mean to your siblings.”

“True.”

Applejack laughed softly and shook her head, following Braeburn back to where they came. She realized he probably just wanted a smoke break, but she was glad to have spent some time alone with her cousin away from the inevitably chaotic household that would await them. And it’ll be even worse once Fritter and them get here…

She really loved her family with all her heart and would do anything to spend time with them, but sometimes it was a bit overwhelming. Especially since this weekend’s gotta be one of the most important of this season… No, maybe even my life. If I win, I’ll be able to get my pro license. She grinned nervously at the ground, zoning Braeburn’s voice out. Then it’ll have all been worth it… And it wasn’t just a waste.

I’ll be able to do somethin’. 

Applejack frowned, wringing her fingers together at the implications of her own thoughts. 

Aw hell. 
> Game Day Day One
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Game day.

Or, day one of game day. 

Applejack cracked her knuckles as she breathed in the cool autumn air—delightfully crisp in the morning. The sun barely peeked out over the horizon, and it was cold enough that she could see her breath. Barley snorted in front of her, shaking out his mane against her petting hands.

“You nervous too, boy?” Applejack asked the horse. She rubbed the side of Barley’s head as he sputtered in response, lowering his neck so Applejack could offer more scratches. “I know. It’s a big day, ain’t it? Got our biggest barrel race of the season, then some ropin’ to do! Well, at least you’ll get to rest tomorrow, right?”

Barkey nickered in response, which in turn caused Applejack to chuckle and slap his neck. “Aw, I like talkin’ to you, Bar. Y’always know just what to say,” she teased. “And it’s gettin’ a mite cold, don’t ya think? Might have to wear some ridin’ gloves, though I don’t like how it makes the reins feel.” She shrugged and rubbed along Barley’s nose. “Ah well. I hope they put the dome up at the arena.”

“Talkin’ to yer horse again?”

Applejack exhaled slowly in a sighing laughter kind of way. “Mornin’, Brae.”

The soft metallic click of Braeburn’s lighter cut the silence. “Mornin’,” he greeted as he stepped next to Applejack. A fresh cigarette hung from his mouth. “Talkin’ to Barley? Well, Applejack. Seems you’ve finally lost it.”

Applejack snorted and rolled her eyes. “Oh, shut it, Brae. I like talkin’ to ‘im.”

“That’s ‘cause you don’t have any friends,” Braeburn teased. “Don’t forget, we’re goin’ for drinks tonight!” He exhaled a plume of smoke as he winked. 

Barley sputtered and shook out his mane. Applejack guffawed. “Hah! Ya see, not even Barley wants me to go!”

“Well, Barley don’t get a say in it, far as I’m concerned.” The lean, young man flicked his cigarette between his fingers, then pointed it to the steed. “He’s a horse.”

“And what am I?” Applejack interjected. “Chopped liver?” 

“Maybe,” Braeburn considered, circling around Applejack. “I mean, both of y’all don’t have friends…”

Applejack shoved her cousin with a frown. “Hey, what is it with you and makin’ fun of how many friends I got?”

Braeburn caught his footing with a laugh, standing up straight and taking a short drag from his cigarette. “Aw, ‘s’all in good fun. Besides, we gon’ get you a friend tonight,” he teased.

“I ain’t hookin’ up with anyone tonight,” Applejack declared instantly with a frown. “I ain’t that kinda cowgirl, ya know?” she added with a smirk.

“Wow, Applejack. That’s a pretty bad joke,” Braeburn said as he snuffed out the cigarette on the heel of his boot and flicked it away. 

Applejack adjusted the brim of her hat with a small grin. “I know, but I just had to.”

Braeburn rolled his eyes and gave a sharp whistle. Applejack winced at the sudden loud noise, but recovered quickly as a spotted black and white appaloosa galloped over to Braeburn. 

“Say, d’ya wanna go for a ride?” Braeburn asked, rubbing along the stallion’s nose. “Pongo loves early mornin’ warm ups. I’m sure Barley does, too.”

Applejack glanced at Braeburn’s impressive horse with a smile. She’d been looking forward to seeing Pongo in person since she’d heard about the Appleoosa rodeo. “He sure does. How’s about we see if Mac wants to come? I reckon he should be just about finishin’ up breakfast.”

“No problem by me,” Braeburn agreed. “How’s your bareback ridin’? I’ll race ya to the house.”

His question was almost offensive. Applejack snorted and crossed her arms. “You’re askin’ me how my bareback ridin’ is?” she asked incredulously. “Brae, are ya forgettin’ I do bronco ridin’ too? An’ probably better’n you do. I don’t need a saddle.”

“Hey, I was just teasin’,” Braeburn defended. “Now, let’s get a move on. Fritter and them’re comin’ soon to pick up their horses so we can get goin’.”

Applejack rubbed Barley’s neck, then hooked her palm around his neck, took a step back and jumped, all the while swinging her leg up and over his barrel. She landed on his back expertly, grinning at her cousin who hadn’t even made a move.

The thin man shook his head with a smile before mirroring Applejack’s action. He tipped his hat at her and pointed toward the house in the distance. “Now I hope you’re good at jumpin’ bareback. Fence ain’t open and y’ain’t got no reins to hold on to!”

“Oh please,” Applejack huffed, giving Barley an encouraging spur-less kick to the side to get him moving. “Bad jumpers rely on their arms to balance. Good jumpin’s all in the legs.”



~~~~🍎~~~~



Applejack beat Braeburn back to the house by nearly a mile. Well, a figurative mile. It was a mile to her, but she knew he’d say it was barely an inch. The blonde whooped in success as she hopped off of Barley, landing on the trodden dirt path with a hard thump. “Hoo-wee! Beat ya good there, Brae.”

Braeburn snorted, sliding off his horse and giving Pongo a good pat on the neck. “Well, I can’t deny it. You an’ Barley are a perfect match.”

At hearing his name, Barley snorted and turned his head toward Braeburn. Applejack chuckled and rubbed his mane. “You’re darn right. That’s why we’re gonna win today, isn’t that right, Bar?”

Braeburn clicked his tongue and rubbed Pongo’s nose before gesturing for Applejack to go in the house. “Here, I’ll watch em. You go grab Mac. Either he’s inside or out back havin’ a smoke, I bet.”

“Unfortunately,” Applejack drawled with a slight frown, “I think you’re right.” She shook her head and hopped up the porch stairs. “I’ll gettim. Be back quicker’n two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”

“I’m countin’ on it!”

Applejack entered the house. She smiled at its inviting warmth. The fire crackled in the fireplace as soft chattering filled the air. The blonde waved to the pir of women sitting side by side on the love seat, sipping coffee and already dressed for the day. 

Competition days were always Applejack’s favourite. She always wore her hat, but competition day made it standard and necessary, which was a nice bonus. Plus, she loved her rodeo shirts as much as she loved her everyday wear. It was always the thrill and adrenaline of competing that spoke to her though.

All of her events were adrenaline filled and short, which was exactly the type of thing she loved doing. Applejack buzzed as she burst into the kitchen, only to be greeted by Apple Crumble and Apple Cinnamon but no Big Mac.  

“Hey, any of you seen Mac?” Applejack asked, unsure of where either of her siblings were.

Apple Cinnamon nodded and pointed behind him with a thumb. “Sure, he’s out back.”

Applejack groaned. “Don’t tell me he’s out takin’ a drag.”

“Naw, he’s with yer sister. Says he don’t smoke around her,” the shorter young man explained. 

“Well at least there’s that,” Applejack sighed. She shrugged and tipped her hat. “Thanks, y’all. I’ll see ya in a bit.”

“Sure thing! In case, good luck with your events.”

Applejack grinned and stepped outside, where sure enough, Big Mac and a miserably sleepy looking Apple Bloom were. Big Mac turned to her and waved, while Apple Bloom lagged behind. The younger girl held a bright blue lasso in her droopy hands.

“Applejack!” Apple Bloom called, perking up despite her tired expression. “Look, Mac was helpin’ me lasso better. Watch!” She held the lasso tightly in one hand before giving it a few spins above her and tossing it in front of her at a log. The lasso fell effortlessly over it as she pulled and tightened the rope around it. The log did not move as Apple Bloom tugged. “See! I can do it with my other hand now, too!”

“That’s great!” Applejack congratulated her. She walked next to her little sister and shook her shoulder gently. “You’re gettin’ real good at lassoin’. Once we get back home, I’ll help ya brush up on yer barrel racin’, if ya want.”

Apple Bloom perked up instantly and nodded, smiling widely. “Yeah! Please! I wanna be just like you, sis! I’m still not as tight on my turns or anythin’, so I’ll definitely need some practice with that.” 

“Sure thing, Bloom. You an’ Megan’ll be the best horse-rider team in your age group this time next season, I reckon,” Applejack told her with a proud smile. “Hell, I might just retire early so you don’t kick my ass in competition!”

“Language,” Big Mac grunted as Applejack rolled her eyes.

Apple Bloom ran to the log and slid the lasso from it, loosening the knot. “Naw, I don’t want you to retire,” she protested. “We’re supposed to make a ropin’ duo when I get older, remember?”

Putting her hands on her hips, Applejack chuckled. “Yeah, I reckon I remember that. Now, Bloom you rest up a bit or somethin’. Don’t wear yer arms out before your event, alright?”

Apple Bloom nodded, hooking the rope around her shoulder. “Eeyup! Me. Candy an’ Crumble was supposed to watch some TV before we go. I’ll see y’all in a bit then!” She smiled as she ran back into the house, leaving the older siblings alone together.

Big Mac sighed and shook his head. “I really wish ya wouldn’t curse ‘round her,” he muttered.

“Aw, don’t get yer britches in a twist, Mac,” she argued. “Bloom’s plenty old enough to hear it. Now, ‘course I ain’t sayin’ she should be sayin’ curse words, but ya think she don’t already hear ‘em?”

The stoic man shrugged and grunted. “I guess.”

“Exactly,” Applejack drawled out. “Now, c’mon, Brae wants to go on a ride. Though, I guess we shoulda brought yer horse, too.” With a half frown, she tapped her chin. “Come to think of it, we shoulda saddled up our horses before we came.”

“Ain’t y’all afraid of tirin’ ‘em out?”

Applejack snorted. “C’mon, Mac. You know Barley’s stamina’s insane.”

“Well, you know him more than I do, AJ. So what events do ya have today?”

Applejack began their walk around the house to the front. Big Mac fell in stride next to her. “Barrel racin’ an’ breakaway.”

“Ah, at least he won’t be long, then.”

“Exactly,” she agreed. “He’s doin’ really good today. Seems real happy.”

Big Mac opened the backyard door and let Applejack through. “That’s good.”

“What events do you have today?”

Big Mac grunted in thought. “Bull-ridin’ an’ bulldoggin’.”

“Hoo-wee,” Applejack exclaimed with a whistle. “You sure are takin’ a toll today. Gonna be alright for tomorrow?”

“Sure,” Big Mac said with a shrug. “Tomorrow’s just tie-down, at least.”

“So you ain’t doin’ bareback this time?”

Big Mac shook his head. “Naw, I’m still a bit sore from last time,” he explained. “That ol’ Jumper threw me down hard.”

Applejack nodded as Braeburn waved them over, rubbing both of the steed’s noses. They approached the lean man, Big Mac holding out a hand for a high five. Braeburn gladly gave it to him.

“Hey Mac. We didn’t bring yer horse,” Braeburn stated.

“I know.”

“See ya at the stables then!” Braeburn teased as he motioned for Applejack to jump on her horse. Applejack snickered and jumped onto Barley effortlessly. The horse whinnied under her as she patted him on the neck and urged him to gallop. The pair followed Pongo and Braeburn, whooping and laughing at Big Mac who trudged behind them.



~~~~🍎~~~~



“Come on boy. Loosen up, Bar,” Applejack muttered. “This’ll be easy as pie, I promise.”

Barley pranced around from side to side. His hooves dug into the hard earth beneath them as he nickered in response. Applejack smiled and patted the side of his neck. “It’ll be just like every other competition, boy,” she reassured her horse. “Nothin’ new. And you’re all loose and limber from earlier, right? It’s our last event, and we won those.”

Barley whinnied anxiously.

“It’s just you an’ me,” Applejack whispered into her horse’s ear. Barley sputtered, but his pacing lessened. The announcer’s voice, though incomprehensible through Applejack’s mental wall, sufficed to warn her of her turn. Gloved hands tightened their grip around the reins as she took a deep breath. “Just you an’ me.”

The background noise faded as Applejack took a deep breath, steadying herself on the saddle. Strawberry must have just had her sprint home if her whooping by the holding stables said anything. She couldn’t quite catch the time, but it must have been good if it warranted that response. Barley impatiently trotted in place as the faint sound of the crowd cheering broke through Applejack’s barrier. It made that familiar chill run up her spine once more.

“Applejack on her quarter horse Barley!”

That was the cue. Applejack lashed the reins, all the while giving Barley an encouraging kick to the flank. The horse responded instantly, taking the time to sidestep a few feet forward before bursting out into a gallop, making it past the sensor that would start their time at near full speed.

Applejack smiled as the adrenaline set in. She stood slightly on her stirrups, holding the rein in one hand and firmly patting Barley on the shoulder with the other. The horse lowered his head in time with Applejack’s lean forward as they approached the first barrel. Time slowed down as Applejack let out a deep breath, tightening her legs around Barley’s flank. 

Tight turn, boy, she thought, feeling Barley’s thundering hooves beneath her. Specks of dirt flew by her at half speed as she raised her hand to her hat, pressing it down on her head before pulling Barley’s rein to the direction they had to turn. Just like we practiced.

Everything caught up to her as the slow motion roaring in her ears returned to the regular crowd support and the sound of hooves against the arena dirt floor. Applejack leaned into Barley, securing herself in the stirrups as the horse made the tight turn. It was about the cleanest one he had done that entire season, sending a smile onto her face as they straightened out, readying themselves for the next part of the cloverleaf pattern.

Applejack urged Barley on, making sure not to spur him yet. She bounced in her stirrups perfectly on time with Barley’s gait, making sure the short sprint to the next barrel was nothing short of efficient. Her mind went completely blank and the world around her disappeared. It was only her, Barley, and the next barrel. Her grip tightened as the horse’s gallop changed a bit. Applejack gritted her teeth. 

It wasn’t enough to throw off their speed by much, but it was enough to make their approach to the second barrel a slight bit different. Barrel racing was a game of milliseconds; that much Applejack had learned from her years in the sport.

She tightened her legs around Barley’s flank, patting him on the neck. Something had spooked him a little bit, but she wouldn’t let that deter them. She couldn’t. “It’s okay, boy,” she whispered. Her gloved hand rubbed his neck as she urged him on. The barrel approached, and she narrowed her eyes, pulling the reins tightly to force him to tighten the turn. Her knee grazed the barrel, but it didn’t fall over. Barley shook his head resentfully as Applejack pulled him back on the path. It was a bit sloppy, but not their worst turn. 

At least there’s only one last one to go, she reasoned. Applejack kicked her feet against Barley, not sure why the horse was so worked up all of a sudden. Maybe he’s tired. “C’mon, Bar, hold out,” she muttered, mashing the rein as she usually did at that point, though this time, she held on with both hands. 

Barley raced to the last barrel. It was the final turn, then the sprint back home. Applejack leaned forward on her stirrups, her boots barely in the frame. She bounced in her saddle, watching the barrel grow closer and closer. With both hands, she forced Barley to turn. Dig in, dig in! The turn was tight, although… wrong.

Barley’s hooves caught in the dirt, sending loose soil flying everywhere. Reflexively, Applejack pulled on the reins, but that only served to rile up Barley more as he stopped suddenly and slipped all at once. It happened too fast. One minute, they were making the sloppiest turn, and the next Applejack flew off her saddle over Barley’s shoulder and watched him rear and wildly trot around. 

Bronco riding instincts kicked in instantly. Despite the pain shooting up her body from where she had face-planted near the barrel, Applejack scrambled to all fours from her spot on the ground and moved as far away from her spooked horse as possible. Barley stomped down and whinnied, bucking like a bronco around the barrel that had been knocked over at some point. The blonde heaved, catching her breath as she got to her feet and backtracked to the metal fencing outlining the field. 

Not a moment too late, two men on horses trotted in, each flanking Barley, forcing the horse to slow down and relax. Applejack watched, the adrenaline slowly ebbing. Barley reared weakly one more time before a nearby bullfighter jumped into the ring and calmed the horse down, leading him back to the stalls.

Finally, everything caught up to her. Like a wave, a dull ache coursed through her body from being thrown off her horse. She hadn’t been able to brace for impact because she had never been thrown off by Barley, especially not while barrel racing. Clutching on to the fence, Applejack held her head, pushing her hat onto her head as she groaned in frustration. 

Her hand slammed on the white metal, the glove’s fabric dulling the noise. “Damn it,” she muttered angrily. Her eyes drifted back to the timer which had been paused as she fell off. 11.37. All things considered, she was on track to get a good time. What the hell happened?

One of the bullfighters approached her on a spotty appaloosa. As he got closer, Applejack noticed it was actually her cousin Braeburn, though she should have noticed right away. He and Pongo paused in front of her. “Woah, hey, you okay?” he asked, concerning edging his features.

Applejack frowned, wiping dirt off her face and doing her best to dust off her clothes. Despite herself, she nodded. “Just fine. Hey, how’d Macky do earlier? I didn’t get to catch it.”

“He did good. I think he won,” Braeburn told her with a grin. “At least for bull ridin’, not sure bout bulldoggin’, though. I think they’re doin’ that right now over at the other place.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Applejack muttered with a slow nod. “Hope he gets it.”

“Yeah. Well anyway, med team’s gotta check ya for a concussion or somethin’,” he explained, tugging his horse back around for Applejack to follow. “Ya flew pretty hard into the ground.”

Applejack chuckled, pushing the frustration of ruining her biggest shot down. She took off her gloves and rubbed under her nose. She felt wetness smudge on her skin and looked down to see blood. She sighed and looked back at her cousin. “So, bar tonight?”
> Applejack Goes Splat
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack’s head ached as she sat in the back of the car. It had been a few hours since her failed run and her body only seemed to resent her for it more as the time passed. Next to her were her cousins Apple Split and Apple Cinnamon making light conversation, and her brother, who gazed out the window as they made the drive to the innermost part of the town. In the front seat were Braeburn and Apple Fritter, chatting it up like two kids at the movie theatre.

At least she could get her mind off of things soon. While not her first option for an outing, the bar seemed like it could potentially be fun. She definitely needed to loosen up a bit; that much was a given. By the time they had left, the sun was dipping down near the horizon. Now, however, the sun was completely set and the blues and purples of twilight filled the sky. It was pretty, but most importantly, not blindingly bright. Though, it was significantly cooler than it had been earlier. 

If there was anything Applejack knew, it was that alcohol really served to warm her up. She grinned in anticipation, trying to put everything behind her and just enjoy herself. The approaching lights grew her excitement even more. They were about to be there, she just knew it.

It seemed she was right. 

The car stopped as Braeburn parked on the street in front of an unassuming strip of small buildings. One particular little building stood out from the rest thanks to the music coming from it and the neon lights illuminating the sidewalk in front of it. Small groups of people hung out in front of what was certainly the bar. Applejack recognized some of them from the rodeo, but she didn’t know almost any of their names. 

“Here we are. Salt Lick Saloon,” Braeburn revealed as he hooked his arm around the passenger seat headrest to look at the group squished together uncomfortably in the back. “It don’t look like much, but after rodeos it’s the best place to be.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “So you come here often?”

Braeburn chuckled sheepishly in return, his cheeks reddening. “Well, it’s an easy way to meet girls…”

Apple Cinnamon snickered. “And none of ‘em stick, ain’t that right?” he asked in a crackly voice. 

The other man turned away with a grunt. “Anyway, let’s go have fun, why don’t we?”

Everyone in the car, even Big Mac, whooped in excitement. The car doors opened in near unison as everyone piled out of the car, chattering excitedly. Despite her previous nerves about the bar, Applejack grinned as she looked at the bustling building. 

Next to her, Braeburn took the lead, turning to the group. He grinned and held his arms to the side, gesturing behind him, backlit by the flashing neon lights. “Welcome to Appleoosa,” he said excitedly.

Applejack turned to make eye contact with Apple Fritter, a smile broadening on both of their faces. Fritter jumped in excitement, despite knowing she couldn’t drink, while Applejack let out a hearty hoot.

Leading the group to the bar, Braeburn confidently strolled in. The amount of people was a bit overwhelming, though it was mostly the constant talking that made Applejack’s head throb. She shrugged it off along with the ache running down her back and ribs, eager to have a few drinks. 

“Man, I wish I could drink,” Fritter mumbled, pulling up to the bar and looking dejected at a bowl of peanuts. She took one and cracked it between her fingers, rolling the gem inside in her digits. “Well, legally at least. Y’know, cuz?”

Applejack clapped her shoulder. “Soon enough, Fritter. For now, you get to drive us home,” she joked with a wink, scratching her hatless head. She took a seat next to her, waiting for the rest of her family to make a decision on what to do. Sure enough, Braeburn tipped his hat and made his way into a crowd, instantly making conversation with a group of girls. No doubt smooth talkin’ ‘em, that sap, Applejack mused.

Big Mac went off with Cinnamon and Split to a table, each procuring a beer from a young man with a cooler. Applejack wasn’t sure if he worked for the bar, but the bottles were sealed so she didn’t think much of it. Sighing, the blond e gestured with her fingers for the bartender. She caught his attention easily as he pardoned himself from the conversation he was having with a patron on the other side of the bar and made his way to her.

It was almost regrettable as his eyes quickly, but obviously, wandered between Applejack and Fritter. The bartender smiled a bit too easily and set down the glass in his hands with a washcloth still inside it. “Hey there,” he drawled, “what can I get you two beautiful ladies?”

It took every last bit of effort not to roll her eyes. Applejack resorted to glaring at the man. “I’ll have just a whiskey to start. On the rocks,” she added. Ignoring the pleased look the barkeep gave her, she glanced at Fritter. “Oh an’ she’ll have—”

“—The same,” Fritter interrupted quickly. She glanced at Applejack with pleading eyes before looking coolly back at the bartender. “To start.” 

Applejack furrowed her brow at her cousin, but kept her mouth shut at the stare she received from her. Apple Fritter glanced at the man, then at her before turning her attention back to him.

He nodded and turned around. “You got it.”

“Fritter,” Applejack hissed under her breath. “Y’ain’t supposed to drink.”

Fritter shifted in her seat. “Oh, just the one, cuz,” she reasoned. “C’mon, they ain’t even cardin’! I just want one, or else what’s the point’a comin’ here?”

“Oh I dunno,” Applejack growled, “to be our driver?”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m havin’ just the one,” Fritter repeated. “C’mon, don’t you trust me, cuz?”

The jet-black haired man turned back to them. “Here you go. One for blondie, and the other for that glorious green hair.” He slid two whiskey tumblers to the pair with a wink. “Holler if you need anything.”

Applejack waited until he turned around to roll her eyes. She stuck out her tongue behind his back, then set her gaze back on Fritter. “Fine. But I swear on my mother’s grave if you get caught, or worse, drunk…”

“I won’t,” Fritter promised. She took a tiny sip of her drink, grimacing at the flavour. “God, I don’t really even like the taste of this stuff if I’m bein’ honest, cuz.”

Shrugging, Applejack took a more moderate sip of her drink. She squinted, then looked at the golden brown liquor. “Huh, this sure goes down smooth, don’t it?”

“You bet,” the bartender responded out of nowhere. Applejack hadn’t even noticed him come back. “It has that good burn in the back of your throat, right?”

“I guess,” Applejack responded dismissively, deciding she’d rather down the rest of it at once. The ice cube clinked in the small glass as she set it back down on the table. “Go ahead an’ get me another, if ya don’t mind.”

Apple Fritter glanced at her incredulously, taking another sip of her own drink, followed by a displeased grimace. The bartender let out a short laugh and nodded. “Of course. Say, you seem like a pretty rocking girl,” he started, pouring another round over Applejack’s left-over ice cube. “What’s your name?”

“I dunno how I feel ‘bout tellin’ some strange guy I met at the bar my name,” Applejack pointed out with a smirk. She took the tumbler between her fingers and slid it on the table, twirling it slightly so the ice cube would slosh around. 

“Just some guy, huh?” the man responded, glancing at Fritter. “Do you think I’m just some guy? I mean, clearly there’s some kind of trust here. I am serving you two drinks.”

“Oh, I dunno,” Fritter responded sheepishly. She averted her gaze and held the drink up to her face as her cheeks flushed. “I reckon you got a point…”

“And I reckon you have a name, right?” he responded. “Mine’s Rusty Nail, but you can just call me Rusty.”

Applejack watched her ice cube. “Rusty Nail, huh?”


“Yup.”

“Ain’t that the name of a drink?” Applejack prodded, glancing up at Rusty.

He rubbed his neck and tapped his fingers on the smooth wood. “Yeah, it’s just—oh hold on,” he trailed off as he scampered to another patron. 

Applejack exhaled in relief as he pulled out several drinks, no doubt about to put on a show mixing them. “Either that fella’s got a weird name or he made it up.”

“I think he’s bein’ sincere, cuz,” Fritter responded, finally finishing off her drink and setting it down. “And I also think… he likes you.”

“What?” Applejack choked out. She snorted and glanced at her drink. “That’s crazy. He’s just bein’ a flirt like most bar-dwellin’ men. Prob’ly just wants to get in my pants.”

Fritter shrugged. “I dunno. Maybe. But, I dunno, he seems friendly enough.”

Applejack shot down the drink and shook her head at the taste. It burned down her throat, but it felt good. “That’s what they want ya to think, Fritter,” she told her. “Just be careful, alright? It’s your first time in a joint like this, right?”

Her cousin nodded. “Yeah.”

“Then take my word for it,” Applejack insisted. “Be careful who ya talk to.”

Right on cue, Rusty came back and grinned at their empty drinks. “Oh, having fun I see? You know, I get off my shift pretty soon. I’ve been just cleaning all afternoon,” he explained. “Maybe once I get off, we can form a little trio. What do you think?”

Applejack gave a non-commital grunt. “I guess.”

“Great,” he replied with a casual smile. “You want another?”

“Not of this. How ‘bout… well, ya can’t go wrong with an Ol’ Fashioned. Gimme your best.”

“One Old Fashioned, coming right up,” he promised confidently.

Fritter nudged Applejack. “Another one? We basically just got here, cuz. Is that a good idea?”

“Oh relax, Fritter,” Applejack dismissed with a wave of her hand. “I can handle myself. Don’t get yer britches in a twist.”

The green-haired girl tapped her chin, frowning slightly. “Well, if you’re sure…”

Applejack nodded as Rusty placed the drink in front of her. It certainly looked good, at least, but she figured Fritter was right and held off on drinking it. 

“So, you’re not from around here, right?” Rusty asked, slouching now that most of the patrons had moved on to other tables or standing around. “I haven’t seen you here before.”

“Naw,” Fritter replied, tapping her fingers on her empty tumbler. “We’re just visitin’ for the weekend.”

Rusty raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. “This sleepy little town? Why, you got family or something?”

Applejack shrugged. “Kinda. We came for the rodeo.”

“That makes sense,” Rusty told them. “I take it you did okay? Came as a celebration with your little group?”

Applejack’s back slumped slightly as she frowned. Fritter seemed to notice as she cleared her throat. “Well, it sure wasn’t as great as usual,” she admitted, glancing at the downtrodden Applejack, “but nothin’ ever goes as planned, right?”

The blonde grimaced. Definitely not my plans.

“Ah, sorry to hear it,” Rusty responded. 

With a shrug, Applejack responded, “Whatever. Can’t do nothin’ ‘bout it now. Just gotta do my best tomorrow.”

Next to her, Apple Fritter smiled and nudged Applejack. “Don’t beat yourself up too much, cuz. Was just the one event. You did well in the other one.”

Applejack sipped her drink, gazing at the wall. It tasted about as good as she hoped, though she couldn’t stop thinking about her failure. “I pushed Barley too hard.”

Rusty slid a shot glass down the table before cocking his head. “Who’s Barley?”

“Her horse,” Fritter explained. “Such a handsome stallion. Him ‘n Applejack make a great team.” She smiled, though it faltered a bit as Applejack glared at her. “Whoops.”

“Applejack, huh?” Rusty echoed. “Nice name.”

She sighed and set the drink down firmly. “Thanks. I got it from my parents,” she responded sarcastically.

If Rusty noticed Applejack’s temper, he didn’t show it. “So if you don’t mind me asking, what exactly happened? You don’t seem like you’d be the angry type of girl normally.”

“I do mind you askin’, actually,” Applejack shot back. Her legs twitched as she adjusted herself in the uncomfortable seat. Despite that she took a long sip of the rest of the drink, slamming the glass down on the top of the bar. “If ya want me to tell you, get me a beer I can sip on. One Star if you have one.”

Rusty hesitated, before turning to the fridge and pulling out an ice cold beer labeled One Star. He placed it in front of Applejack, then reached for the cap opener, but before he could even do anything, she grabbed it and with the help of the ring she always wore, snapped off the top. 

“Anyway,” Applejack started, taking a moment to relish in Rusty’s impressed stare while taking a sip of the much more familiar drink, “I’ve been havin’ a great season so far, right?”

Apple Fritter cracked a peanut between her teeth, spitting the shell away. “You sure you wanna talk about this, cuz?”

“Don’t interrupt me,” Applejack shot back. She tapped her fingers on the glass bottle. Fritter frowned and focused her attention on the bowl of peanuts she had taken for herself. Ignoring her, Applejack cleared her throat. “I guess I just wanted to have some fun this mornin’. Pushed my horse too hard an’ by the time we got to my main event, he musta been exhausted.”

“Oh,” Rusty acknowledged. “So did he underperform?”

Another sip. “Heh, if you call buckin’ me right off him and losin’ his cool underperformin’, sure,” Applejack joked darkly. “To be honest, I don’t remember much about what happened after that. All I know is that I fell hard an’ it hurt like hell an’ now I’m here.”

“Wait,” Fritter interjected. She glanced over at Applejack with a frown. “Ya said you were fine. Ran off before the medics could come check on ya.”

“I am fine,” Applejack responded sternly, slapping her hand on the counter. “If I wasn’t fine, then I wouldn’ta come here.”

Apple Fritter owned her mouth to say something, but glanced behind Applejack and shut her mouth.

“Well, well, well,” an all too familiar voice interrupted. “If it isn’t Applejack.”

Apple Fritter responded with a friendly smile and a greeting, while Applejack groaned and chugged the rest of her beer before turning to glare at the intruder. “The hell do you want?”

Strawberry Sunrise waved off her group, motioning them to keep going. “What do you mean? This is a public bar, and maybe if you had ever accepted any of my invites you’d know that everyone likes coming to these after competitions.”

Rusty coughed and abandoned ship, focusing on the new group of people at the end of the bar. Apple Fritter gazed on after him with a tiny grimace.

“That doesn’t mean ya gotta come bother me,” Applejack pointed out with a frown. “You come to gloat ‘bout yer win?”

“What? No,” Strawberry said, her expression matching Applejack’s. “It doesn’t even count. You got thrown off. Not exactly the right way to beat you, y’know.”

Applejack grunted in response. 

Strawberry cocked her head. “How many drinks have you had? You’re… acting weirder than usual.”

“Three,” Fritter replied quickly. “Or, well, four if you count that beer she just finished.”

“Jeez,” Strawberry muttered. 

“It’s fine,” Applejack insisted again. She tried to signal for Rusty, but he seemed busy. With a sigh, she crossed her arms as Strawberry sat down on her other side. 

The redhead placed her arms on the shiny, smooth wood. “Hey, so are you okay? I heard about what happened with Barley.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow at her sincerity. “Yeah, I’m… alright,” she responded after a moment’s hesitation. “Just… a bit sore, is all.”

The bar seemed louder than it had been previously as  Strawberry took her time responding. Applejack glanced over to where the rest of her cousins were throwing darts. It seemed that Big Mac was winning as he grinned proudly. Poor Cinnamon had his head in his hands while Split patted his back.

“That’s good. I’ve never seen Barley act like that,” Strawberry said, whistling to get Rusty’s attention. “Any idea why?”

Oh, I don’t just have an idea. Applejack shrugged. “Musta been tired or somethin’.”

Apple Fritter kept quiet.

“At least he gets to rest a bit tomorrow,” Strawberry pointed out. As Rusty came back, she pointed to the bar. “Straight whiskey here, please.”

Applejack pulled at the neck of her shirt. “One here too.”

Rusty glanced at Applejack, but did his job regardless. He slid the drinks over to them. “Here.”

“Thanks,” Strawberry replied. “Well, cheers.” She lifted the shot glass and held it between herself and Applejack. 

Hesitantly, Applejack clinked her glass against Strawberry’s. “Cheers.” 

They downed the drinks together. Strawberry made a face, which got Applejack to laugh as the drink burned her tongue all the way down her throat. “Nice, right?” Applejack asked. 

“Yeah, wow, it burns but goes down easy,” Strawberry agreed. 

“Y’know,” Applejack said slowly with a mischievous smile. “I was a bit bummed out from earlier, if I’m bein’ honest. But seein’ your ugly mug made me forget about it for a bit.”

Strawberry rolled her eyes, though the smile on her face didn’t fade. “Glad I could help, though next time just look in a mirror,” she quipped. 

In response, Applejack snorted and whacked her in the arm. “Yer just jealous,” she pushed out. 

“Oh yeah?” Strawberry caught Rusty’s attention and waved a circle in the air with her finger. Applejack copied the motion. Soon, they each had another drink near them. “Of what?”

Applejack wasted no time in letting the burning liquid slither down her throat. She shook her head at the sensation, feeling light headed. “My looks, of course.”

Strawberry snorted, almost choking on her own drink. “Your looks?”

“Sure! I mean, yer pretty’n all, but I knock you right outta th’park,” Applejack joked, leaning heavily on the bar. 

The redhead smirked. “You think I’m pretty?”

Applejack waved her hand. “Aw, shut up, Strawb,” she drawled. “I ain’t a liar, so I can’t deny it. But don’t think too hard ‘bout it, alright? I mean, everyone thought so back in high school, remember?”

“Sure,” Strawberry agreed, not commenting on the compliment further. “Hey, where’d Apple Fritter go?”

Applejack hummed, cocking her head. “Whaddya mean?” She turned to her other side. “She’s right—Oh.” She rubbed her head as she glanced around, though she must have turned too fast as the uncomfortable feeling of headrush took her over. 

Strawberry held out her hand to steady her. “Woah, relax. You sure you’re fine?”

“Yeah, yeah,” she replied with a groan, shaking off Strawberry’s hand. “Sorry, prob’ly just the alcohol kickin’ in,” Applejack admitted. 

“You took a hard fall, didn’t you?” Strawberry asked. “Did you happen to hit your head?”

“I dunno, maybe,” Applejack admitted. “But I’ve taken harder falls, I just need to sleep it off or somethin’.” With a shrug, she dismissed Strawberry’s worries. Or at least tried to. 

“Well, the med team cleared you, right?”

Applejack averted her gaze. “Not exactly,” she admitted sheepishly. “I left before they had a chance.”

Strawberry gawked at her. “What? Applejack, no offence, but that’s… so stupid.”

Despite having been insulted, Applejack couldn’t even bring herself to get angry. Instead, she sighed and rubbed her temple. “I know,” she groaned. “I wasn’t thinkin’ straight. I just really hate doctors an’ I was really… pissed off ‘bout what happened.” She glanced at her small lineup of empty drinks and frowned. “But I’m fine, an’ I’m here t’enjoy myself.”

Her bar buddy stayed silent for a moment before shutting her eyes in some kind of defeat. “Well, I’m sorry about what happened,” Strawberry offered uselessly. “I know it was important to you that you win. And frankly, I don’t feel right having beat you in those circumstances.”

Applejack shrugged. “Thanks, I guess,” she muttered, tapping her fingers on the top of the bar. She gazed at her reflection in the shiny wood and sniffed. Her nose and the area around her eyes were slightly bruised from slamming her face into the ground, but considering that, she felt lucky to have gotten off so lightly. Applejack shook her head, avoiding any reminder of her most recent mess-up.

Another drink would help with that. She called for Rusty once more. 



~~~~🍎~~~~



Having a tongue in her mouth wasn’t exactly the most pleasurable thing, Applejack realized as she lazily toyed with her kissing partner’s lips. Her eyes slid half open, glancing over the guy’s features. Must have been some kind of cowboy judging by his Western hat and smoky breath. Something about the alcohol was hazing her mind, as she struggled to even remember how she got to that moment. Huffing for breath, she pushed him off of her slightly, opting to instead lean back on the wall she was pushed against.

The guy eased up and took a step back, but didn’t take his hands off Applejack’s hips. “What’s wrong, darlin’? You wanna move on to somethin’ more?”

Maybe that’s what she had wanted before, but something changed. She shook her head. “No, not really,” Applejack stated bluntly. “I ain’t feelin’ it right now.”

“That ain’t what you said before,” he argued with a growl, gripping Applejack’s arm. “C’mon, you’ll change yer mind, trust me.”

The loud music made Applejack’s head spin. She did all she could to hold her ground, despite her knees feeling weak beneath her. “Sorry, mister, but I changed my mind. Now go away or you’ll regret it,” she warned, though she wasn’t sure how effective her threat was.

Despite being in a bar, the guy reeked of alcohol more so than his surroundings. He gave Applejack another sharp tug, managing to get her to stumble forward. “Aw, don’t be like that,” he responded coolly. “C’mon, girl. I’ll give you exactly what you want. I promise I’ll play nice,” he added, inching Applejack away from the wall. 

A slight panic overcame her, but her drowsy body did little to voice it. She glanced around for help or something to help herself with, but everyone was turned to the stage where the music came from, leaving her in that secluded corner. Applejack gulped, but hardened her resolve along with her gaze. “Let me go,” she said sternly, suddenly hating the taste in her mouth. “Or I swear to God I’ll beat you over the head with yer own arm.”

Her assailant paused, considering her words. She wasn’t that much shorter than him, and was confident she could give him a fair fight, especially with how wasted he was. Not that I’m exactly any better.

“Fine,” he growled, releasing his strong grip on her forearm. “Bitches like you ain’t worth it anyway. Ya had a chance at a good dickin’ an’ now you gon’ regret it.” He scowled at her before turning away and traipsing away to God knows where. 

Applejack stuck her middle finger up as he walked away. As he disappeared into the crowd,  the realization of what almost just happened hit her and she smacked her forehead. “God, I’m stupid,” Applejack muttered. Her entire mouth felt violated, even though she had seeked it out initially. Disgust flooded over her as the last ten minutes all replayed in her mind. She needed something to wash out that taste. Anything.

She pushed her way through the crowd, not in the direction the jerk had went, and found the bar. Words stumbled out of her mouth, and she found herself with a mug of beer in hand. The almost bitter taste of it felt like fresh water cleansing her mouth’s interior as she let the ice-cold liquid wash over her tongue. She barely had time for a breath before draining the mug and requesting a bottle instead. Half of that drained down her throat as she followed her ears to the loud music that emptied her brain.
 
Everyone cheered as the live band finished another song. Applejack joined in, groggily raising her half empty bottle of beer. Her legs felt wobbly beneath her, but she managed to stay upright, laughing away the discomfort she felt from the loud noises and bright lights on the stage.

Who even thought putting lights in a bar was a good idea?

Or was it a saloon? That's what it was called, right? Salty Saloon? Naw, ‘twas Licky Saloon. Salty Lick Saloon? Salty Saloon? Applejack snorted and shook her head, realizing that was the first one she thought of. Licky Saloon. No. Salt Lick Saloon. Like horses.

Her smile wavered for a moment as she remembered the feeling of getting thrown off by her own horse. As quickly as the thought came, she shook it away angrily. “No, y’ain’t here to think ‘bout that,” she admonished, slowly making her way to an empty table at the end of the bar near the wall. The thought of the location made her squirm, but it was one of the only available seats. She sat down heavily, practically letting herself fall into the uncomfortably hard chair. Her entire back protested in pain, but she ignored it as she took a sip of her beer.

“One Star’s pretty good,” she mumbled to herself, enjoying the taste of the beer. Her eyes groggily raised to watch the band from the distance. She recognized one of the members, the one playing the fiddle, though she couldn’t quite place her face. “Hmm, from a photo? Maybe I saw’er at a fam’ly event... “ 

Her thoughts drifted as she bit softly on the spout of the bottle, teeth clinking against glass. “Faddy… No, Fiddy. Fiddly?” That felt right. “Fiddly, maybe. Would make sense,” she realized with a snort as she watched the woman play. 

“Oh hey, I was lookin’ for ya,” someone said as they wrapped their arms around Applejack’s neck, putting far too much weight on her back. 

Applejack tipped forward at the unexpected weight, but righted herself with a hand on the table. She tried to glance back, but found herself unable to. Though, even past the smell of alcohol, Applejack distinctly smelled that sweet shampoo that her rival always used. “Strawb, whaddya want?”

Strawberry stood, lifting her weight off of Applejack, who exhaled in relief. “You left in th’middle of our conversation to go make out with some guy! Bit rude, AJ. Fritter had to keep poor Rusty entertained while I came to find you.”

Applejack faltered a bit, but played it off as smooth as she could. “Y’know, ya get a bit of an accent when yer drunk,” she said with a grin. “Too much time playin’ cowgirl?”

The redhead scoffed, shoving herself down on the seat opposite Applejack. “C’mon, first of all, I’m not that drunk, and second, my parents are full fledged country folk,” she argued. At Applejack’s raised eyebrow, she nodded. “Not kidding. I just moved to the city with my cousins to be closer to the school, so I kinda took on that accent more.”

Applejack crossed her arms. “Bullshit.”

Strawberry didn’t break eye contact for a full three seconds before bursting out into laughter. “Okay, yeah, I was bullshitting,” she admitted. “Mostly. My parents are country folk, but not the kind with accents. I think I’ve just been spending too much time with ya.”

“Ugh, can you stop?” Applejack begged with a smirk. “I’m serious. Text me before ya come to our place so I know to stay away.”

“But you never gave me your phone number,” Strawberry pointed out with a fake pout. “It’s not fair. You have mine, but I don’t have yours.”

“I have yours cause’a business reasons,” Applejack pointed out, pointing the neck of her bottle at Strawberry. “You don’t need mine.”

“Aw c’mon, Applejack,” Strawberry complained. “You just told me—”

“Alright, ya want my number so bad?” Applejack asked loudly. “Fine, gimme yer phone an’ I’ll put it in for ya.”

Strawberry let the lively folk music fill the silence as she handed Applejack her phone. The blonde snatched it and input her contact information hastily, making sure to set her name simply as “Applejack”. No nicknames. With an annoyed grunt, she shoved the phone into Strawberry’s chest, though truth be told, she was aiming to simply hold it out in front of her.

The redhead caught her phone as Applejack let it drop, quickly snapping her hand back to her side of the table. She took the final few gulps of her drink and placed it on the table. “Anyway, maybe we should find Fritter’n Rusty,” Applejack pointed out, rubbing her gut. “Feel bad leavin’ ‘em.”

The other girl scoffed with a smirk on her face. “Oh, I’m sure they’re fine,” she responded smoothly. “She’s totally into him, you know.”

Into him? “That’s crazy,” Applejack retorted, frowning at the thought. “Why would ya even think that?”

“You didn’t notice?” Strawberry responded with a slight cock of her head. Applejack simply gazed in confusion, which Strawberry scoffed at. “Oh please. She was all”—she put her hands on Applejack’s forearm, leaning over the table—“‘Oh Rusty, yer so funny. I’m gonna sit beside ya all night ‘n laugh at yer jokes’,” she mocked with a laugh.

Applejack glanced at Strawberry’s hands on her forearm for a brief moment before looking back at Strawberry with an unamused glare. “No she wasn’t.”

“Sure she was,” Strawberry deflected, sitting back in her seat. Applejack’s arm seemed to almost burn as the touch left her body, and with it the discomfort she hadn’t noticed before. “And you know what? I think he likes her, too.”

“Naw,” Applejack replied with a shake of her head. “A guy like him? What’s there to get?”

“What’s there not to get?” the redhead countered. “He’s young, handsome, has a job, and is mostly well-mannered.”

Applejack tapped her chin. “I mean, I reckon ya have a point. I just don’t see it.”

“Have you ever even liked a guy?”

“Well, no, not really but—”

Strawberry held up a hand. “Wait, seriously?”

Applejack nodded her head slowly. “Eeyup.”

“Not even a little? What about that guy you were just mashing lips with?”

The blonde shrugged slightly, grimacing a bit at her comment. “I dunno what came over me with’im. Don’t even know his name,” she admitted, deciding she’d rather not talk about it. “An’ in general, I never thought about it, t’be honest. I jus’ don’t have time. It ain’t like I spend my time sittin’ on my ass on a chair all day, y’know.”

Strawberry nodded. “Well, yeah, but you mean you’ve never even… I dunno, thought a guy was cute?”

Applejack thought back real hard. “I mean, I can tell if a guy’s attractive, y’know? I guess that’s why I tied tongues with... t-that guy. But that’s pretty much it,” she said with a shrug. “I ain’t wired to think like that, I guess.”

“Huh,” Strawberry muttered. “I mean, how many guys do you even really see that aren’t cousins or whatever? And no, it doesn’t count if you barely see them for more than a moment or two.”

“Well, I talk to the bullfighters a lot,” Applejack admitted. “But otherwise, not a lot. Kinda just talk to my family an’ the other girls that I’m competin’ against.”

Strawberry scoffed with a smile on her face. “You’re actually ridiculous. How do you function like that?”

“I reckon I do just fine,” Applejack shot back. “I got more important things t’worry ‘bout. Like my career an’ the ranch. All the other stuff can wait.”

“Is that all you want though?” Strawberry prodded. She gave a sort of half smile that only served to make Applejack scowl.

“Sure,” Applejack said slowly. “What’s yer plan, then, if ya wanna act all high an’ mighty.”

“Hey, I wasn’t doing that,” Strawberry defended, holding her hands up. “I’m taking a gap year, then I’m gonna apply to college. Maybe get a business degree or something. I want to start my own shop.”

“Oh yeah? And what are ya plannin’ on sellin’?” Applejack asked.

“I dunno. Flowers, maybe,” Strawberry admitted. “Either that, or I’ll sell pies.”

Applejack snorted. “Good luck with that,” she muttered, only half meaning it. She glanced at her hands, mindlessly toying with the ring on her middle finger. It seemed like her legs were falling asleep beneath her, so she shifted and slowly got to her feet. Stupid metal chairs.

“Where are you going?” Strawberry asked, following Applejack with her eyes. 

Applejack rubbed her thighs, trying to force the tingly feeling away. “Gonna get another drink. You want one?”

Strawberry rose to her feet, though a bit unsteadily. “Another one? Is that a good idea?”

“I’ll be fine,” Applejack forced out. “Just wanted t’get my legs movin’ anyway. Besides, I’m here to have fun, right?”

Slowly, Strawberry approached Applejack with an outstretched arm. “Don’t risk it, you’ve had way more than me and you already had a bit before I came,” she pointed out. Applejack took a step back, but not in time as Strawberry grabbed her arm. “C’mon, how about we take a breather?”

Applejack twitched and yanked her arm, but Strawberry kept her grip. “Let me go,” she growled as she stumbled back with the effort. Thankfully, Strawberry held her upright, though not without a stumble of her own. “It’s just one more, Strawb.”

“No, you’re being stupid, Applejack!” Strawberry hissed, pulling her to the entrance as several pairs of eyes turned to watch. “Even if you can handle that many drinks—and I doubt anyone can—you’re not being yourself. You shouldn’t have even come after that fall you took.”

Applejack’s heart raced as she planted her feet on the ground right at the doors to the tavern. She glared defiantly at Strawberry, knowing she could overpower her if she wanted to. “What do you know ‘bout my fall?” She shoved Strawberry back. “Ya weren’t there, ya didn’t see it, so stop tryna fuss ‘bout it!”

“Don’t you push me.” Strawberry bared her teeth, taking another step closer. “I’m just trying to look out for you, AJ!” 

“How many times do I gotta tell you?” Applejack clenched her fists. “Don’t call me that! You don’t get to call me that!”

“You’re so infuriating,” Strawberry shot back. She pushed Applejack square on the shoulders, making the blonde stagger back a few steps against the door. “You need to stop drinking or you’re gonna do something you’ll regret.”

Applejack laughed lowly. “I already did, Strawb,” she responded quietly. Her gaze flickered at her hands, then back to Strawberry. “I lost, an’ it was all my own fuckin’ fault.”

“Then stop moping about it and move on!” Strawberry yelled, taking the initiative to finish forcing Applejack out the door.

They both stumbled onto the ground with a hard thud. Pain shot up Applejack’s already hurt body as the patrons in the building went eerily silent. Applejack winced as she hit the ground, feeling as though someone had punched her in the gut. Strawberry jumped off her and rose to her feet, though not as gracefully as she would have thought. 

Applejack felt her stomach turn in response to the sudden movement. In a split-second response, she rolled over to her knees and desperately crawled to the side of the road. Everything inside her emptied out onto the black surface with a splat. Her head spinning from the effort, Applejack blinked, disoriented. 

“You stupid pest,” she growled, her throat burning from the alcohol making its second trip through her throat. “Why don’t ya just butt out of my life.” Applejack pushed herself upright with a groan. Her legs threatened to give out beneath her, but she forced herself to stay up, albeit a bit hunched over. She turned around to face Strawberry, glowering. A small group stumbled out of the building, but Applejack paid them no mind.

Strawberry frowned, not tearing her eyes off Applejack. “Why do you like playing the victim? You’ve held a grudge against me for years, even after I apologized. You always act like I’m doing something to hurt you, and now you’re acting as if your life is over ‘cause you fell off your stupid horse!”

Applejack scowled, her vision reddening. She took a step forward, but was held back by a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Big Mac glancing at her with a deep frown, though she shrugged him off, shoving his arm away. Applejack took a staggered step forward, shoving an accusatory finger in Strawberry’s face. “Ya just don’t get it, do ya? This is my only shot at doin’ somethin’ for myself. I was supposed to win. I was supposed to get paid so I can do things t’help out! But I failed, an’ worst of all, it was my own fault.”

“Applejack,” Big Mac interjected behind her. Both girls ignored him.

Strawberry furrowed her eyebrows. “It’s just one barrel race, Applejack! One! It’s not like it was the final barrel race ever.”

“But I needed to win,” Applejack shot back. “We need the money! There was this, this sponsorship scout there who coulda been somethin’ big for me, but I messed it all up!”

Apple Fritter came next. She approached the yelling match and gingerly walked between them. “Woah, cuz, relax.”

“Why do I have t’relax?” Applejack yelled. “She’s the one who pushed me out here!”

“I didn’t push you,” Strawberry responded with a cock of her head. “I mean, I did, but I didn’t push you that hard. I was trying to get you outside after you got all aggressive out of nowhere.”

“So then that’s my fault too,” Applejack mumbled to herself. Like the fall, an’ gettin’ hurt, an’ that guy back there. She clenched her fists and shook her head. “Y’know what? Yer right. I’m piss drunk, an’ that ain’t enough. If y’ain’t gonna let me have another drink, then I wanna go back an’ lay down.”

Something about what she said seemed to piss Strawberry off. “Go sleep it off then,” she growled, taking a step back and turning away from Applejack. “Last time I try to help you.”

Applejack paid her comment no mind. She angrily set her gaze on Apple Fritter, who glanced back at the group where her family and Rusty watched awkwardly. The blonde shook her head, her feet struggling to keep her upright. “Drive me back,” she muttered, her arms shaking. “I’m done here.”

Fritter glanced at the rest of their family as they slowly trudged back to the car. She gave Rusty, who frowned with concern, a small wave. “Alright.”
> Game Day Day Two: The Final Day of Game Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Game day day two.

It definitely felt very different than it did twenty four hours ago. Since then, Applejack had decided to drop out of tie-down to give Barley and, less importantly, herself a break. After what had happened the day before, she decided to let the horse rest, although she could definitely use the extra time to just sit for a bit.

She rubbed her forehead, still feeling the hangover despite it being well into the day. Maybe not her proudest moment, she would admit, but at least she had drank so much she could hardly remember any of it, right?

No, don’t try an’ justify your stupidity.

It had been a pain to get dressed in the morning; the next day soreness from her fall and the intense drowsiness and pain from the hangover definitely were not a good mixture. Her limbs still felt a million times heavier, and it was even difficult to walk properly still. She hadn’t asked for the details about it, deciding she’d rather not know. All she knew was that Strawberry Sunrise was involved because of course she was involved.

Through it all, she bit her tongue and didn’t complain, though, not even when Granny and just about every other older adult chewed her out for being so irresponsible. Not to mention her own brother admonishing her after they were done with her. At least he had been concise, but it still put her off.

She’d definitely say it was well deserved, though. Applejack sniffed and blew into her cold hands, wincing a bit as the bruise on her back pained her. She wasn’t sure if it was from the fall or from whatever had happened the night before, but the fact was that it hurt like hell. Adjusting how she sat in the stadium seat helped a bit, at least. She sat next to empty seats once occupied by her immediate family as they watched directly from the fence down below.

If she hadn’t been in so much pain, Applejack would have joined them there, but Apple Bloom was due to complete her run soon and she wanted to watch comfortably. Besides, they didn’t know about her persistent pain, and being next to them would only tip them off more. She just needed to “rest up”, which was entirely true.

Still, though, she had an event to do, and she was going to do it right this time, even if she almost wanted to drop out of that one as well. At least it wasn’t for another while, though. In the meantime, she could watch Apple Bloom who was just about to get her go at barrel racing. At least one of them would actually do it right. Or, at least, that’s what she hoped. Still, her sister was doing better than Applejack herself was so far. Sure, Applejack had come first in breakaway, but she had messed up during barrel racing, which left bronc riding as her last chance.

And, well, if Apple Bloom managed to win three out of three of her events, then Applejack could only be proud of her. But if she underperformed and lost, then she still did better than Applejack. Either way, Applejack felt pride surge up for her little sister as she watched the current competitor gallop back into the holding stalls. She wasn’t that fast but managed to squeak into the top eight anyway. Apple Bloom could definitely do better than that.

As the previous girl left the ring, the next galloped in. The announcers introduced her as Toola Roola on her horse Baker. She seemed to be maybe even a bit younger than Apple Bloom, but definitely not older. Her first turn was tight, Applejack noted, though Baker seemed to falter after the turn. Regardless, once they hit the last turn and bounded through the home stretch, Applejack had to admit that Baker was as fast as a racehorse.

Applejack whistled quietly, tipping her hat as she looked up. 17.52, she read off the scoreboard. She’s definitely medallin’ at the very least. Her suspicion was quickly confirmed as the scoreboard updated, declaring her as the new first-place competitor, sneaking by with an advantage of two-tenths of a second.

Her attention snapped back down as Apple Bloom and Megan were announced. Her little sister got off to a great start, and even from her spot in the stands, Applejack could just about see her concentration. She stood up, pumping a fist in the air as she cheered her sister on. She ignored the pain that came from her bruised lower back, deeming the action worthy of the pain.

As far as Applejack could tell, it was Apple Bloom’s best run of the season. The first turn was tight, and though she nudged the barrel, it stayed upright. The approach to the second barrel was perfect. The turn was just as good, and although the final turn was a bit sloppy, Megan’s acceleration more than made up for it as Apple Bloom kicked her legs.

 Applejack practically jumped for joy as Megan galloped past the timer with Apple Bloom on her back. That had to have at least been a record for her sister, if not podium-worthy. She held her breath as she glanced up to look at the time. 19.43. Applejack smiled widely as she cheered from her seat. Ignoring the discomfort coming from her lower body, she leaped out of her seat and made her way past the row of spectators, uttering pardons as she did. That was definitely Apple Bloom’s best run by a long shot, and it brought her to first place! With only three more girls doing their run after her, Applejack knew that there was a good chance of Apple Bloom getting a prize.

She ran down the stairs, sliding her hand down the rail for stability. The steps were a bit uneven, which made it hard to not trip and fall, but she managed. Practically slamming into the metal barrier at the edge of the seating area, Applejack watched intently as Apple Bloom fully disappeared into the back. She glanced around, easily finding her family. Only Big Mac, Granny, and Apple Fritter managed to catch Apple Bloom’s run, but that was definitely more than enough to encourage her, it seemed.

“Oh hey, cuz, you’re back!” Fritter exclaimed as Applejack arrived to stand with her family. “You feelin’ better?”

Applejack shrugged. “Yeah, kinda. Still got a bit of a headache, an’ my body feels like it’s been through hell, but I guess I deserve it.”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac agreed with a disappointed nod.

Granny simply shook her head, clicking her tongue. “Now, Applejack, I thought I raised ya better’n that,” she scolded again, though not with as much intensity as she did in the morning. “You best have learned yer lesson.”

“Don’t worry, Granny,” Applejack quickly put in, “I did.”

“Good,” Granny replied before softening up and smiling. “Now, my baby girl’s gonna win gold! I can just feel it.”

Big Mac nodded, this time with a smile. “Eeyup.”

“Yeah, that time was great,” Apple Fritter agreed, glancing at the updated scoreboard. Apple Bloom still sat in first, and there was only one girl left to go. “Reminds me of Applejack earlier this season.”

Applejack chuckled. “Yeah, she’s doin’ great. I hope she gets to beat my best soon enough. I know she can, even if that Megan is a rambunctious mare.”

“Aw, but she listens to Bloom, don’t she, cuz?”

That much was true. Applejack confirmed it with a nod. “Yeah, Megan won’t listen to nobody but Apple Bloom.”

“Kinda like you an’ Barley,” Big Mac put in. 

“I guess,” Applejack agreed. “But Barley’s just a bit of a free spirit, I dunno why he likes me so much.”

“Well, whatever it is, child, ya gotta cherish that,” Granny pointed out as the last racer made her way out of the tunnel. “A connection like that with a horse is somethin’ special. Oh! Let’s see if our little seedlin’ can win.”

Instantly, every Apple family member turned to watch. Admittedly, the last racer got a really quick start. Toola Roola’s horse Baker looked fast, but compared to this horse, he was a snail. Applejack swallowed nervously as the girl and her horse turned around the barrel cleanly. “C’mon,” she muttered under her breath. 

That horse was definitely speed incarnate. But even so, it seemed that the first turn was a fluke. The second barrel was much less clean and a considerably wider turn than what was really necessary. Applejack drummed her fingers against the white metal barrier, watching intently as the seconds ticked by like hours. Her eyes flicked up to the clock, then back down. Somehow, after a burst of initial speed, the rider had come very close to Apple Bloom’s time at the last turn.

All it would take was one tiny mess up. Something, anything. Applejack wasn’t the type to wish misfortune on others, but God as her witness, she wanted her little sister to win. Her heart just about beat its way up to her throat as the pair raced down the final stretch and past the timer. Instantly, Applejack glanced at the time. 

“Did she…” Apple Fritter started, her voice disappearing as they all came to process the time.

19.61.

As if on command, all the present Apples leaped for joy, cheering to themselves as the announcer stated the final times. It was especially sweet when the top three racers were announced; Apple Bloom managed to barely hang on to first place.

The three finalists came out for their victory lap. Apple Bloom led them, and even from the other side of the ring, Applejack could see the wide grin on her face. She cheered as loud as she could, waving her arms in the hopes of grabbing her little sister’s attention. When Apple Bloom glanced over and waved back, Applejack smiled eagerly and flashed her a thumbs up, then made a heart with her hands. Apple Bloom shook her head and looked away, still with that big smile.

“That was great,” Apple Fritter exclaimed as the cheering died down. “She really is somethin’ else, ain’t she, cuz?”

Applejack nodded. “Sure is. She’ll beat my record in no time, I just know it.”

“Fifteen thirty-eight is mighty quick,” Fritter admitted, “but she’ll get it done lickety-split.”

“I don’t doubt it.” 

Big Mac gestured, catching their attention. “C’mon, let’s go meet Apple Bloom. Granny wants to treat ‘er to some ice cream.”

Apple Fritter pumped her fist in the air. “Aw yeah, ice cream!”

“Hope you brought cash,” Big Mac cut in.

The enthusiasm died out on Apple Fritter’s face as the group turned to the stairs. She glanced back at Applejack, who came up the rear of the group, with a sheepish smile. “Spot me?”

Applejack groaned.



~~~~🍎~~~~



All of the available Apples licked happily at their ice creams as they sat at a picnic bench in the food court area outside. It was slightly chilly but after being inside surrounded by so many people, it might as well have been summer.

Applejack hummed happily as she worked her way through her vanilla ice cream, not wanting to risk getting anything that might upset her stomach, especially before her final event of the weekend. It was more about spending time with her family than it was about the ice cream, after all.

Next to her, Apple Bloom vibrated in her seat. The energy radiating off of her was louder than anything she could have said. But that didn’t stop her from talking.

“I’m just so darn happy I won!” she exclaimed again, barely pausing her assault on the colourful ice cream she had been rewarded. “An’ with a new record to boot.”

“I’m proud of ya, sugarcube,” Applejack told her, rubbing her sister’s hat into her head. “That was just about the cleanest, an’ definitely the best, run I’ve ever seen ya do.”

“You can say that again,” Apple Split agreed at the end of the table. He bit down on his popsicle, a happy grin plastering his face. “Looks like we’re havin’ a good day. Bloom won her race, Mac won tie-down, I got second, and AJ, Cinnamon an’ I are hopefully gonna go top three at bronc ridin’ later!”

Next to him, Apple Cinnamon nodded enthusiastically. “I’m just glad they made it into a co-ed event,” he pointed out. “Now we can all go head to head together.”

Apple Crumble leaned forward next to Apple Bloom, grinning mischievously. “Yeah, an’ now you won’t have trouble signin’ up for the right event.” 

“Oh, don’t tease ‘im,” Braeburn cut in, shooting a look at Crumble. “There weren’t enough girls signin’ up to do bronc ridin’ anyway, so it makes sense they’d split it.”

Applejack shrugged. “Beats me why. It’s a bit painful, but it’s a lot of fun. Definitely gets the adrenaline goin’, y’know? Kinda sad to see so many of ‘em quit after they stop mutton bustin’ an’ steer ridin’,” she said, remembering every girl that slowly dropped from the roughstock events.

She sighed and took a pensive lick of her ice cream. As one of the only women in the entire league to do any sort of roughstock events, it was quite demoralizing seeing the numbers dwindle further. Her gaze set back on Apple Bloom. “How about you, Bloom? You thinkin’ of droppin’ out of steer ridin’ or are ya gonna move up to bronc ridin’ next year?”

Truth be told, Applejack didn’t mind either way. She just wanted what was best for her sister, and what was best was what she wanted. But then again, she did find herself hoping for an answer.

“I dunno yet,” Apple Bloom replied uneasily. “It’s fun, I guess, but I don’t like how much it hurts to get thrown off if I’m bein’ honest.” She gulped and wiped her face with a sleeved arm. “Plus, I’m scared of somethin’ bad happenin’. I don’t wanna get hurt too bad.”

Applejack nodded, setting her bowl of ice cream on the picnic table. Everyone else kept respectfully silent, idly listening in with intrigue. “I get that. I guess it is kinda scary, but you’re pretty darned good at steer ridin’ when you do it,” Applejack pointed out. “Whatever you wanna do, we got yer back. If you wanna stay, I’ll give ya some tips on movin’ up to broncs, but if ya don’t then… well, that’s alright too.” 

She avoided breaching the subject of injuries. It was a real risk, and she definitely didn’t want to lie just to make her sister feel better. Instead, Applejack cleared her throat. “You’re right to be wary of gettin’ hurt, but as soon as ya let that worry become a fear, that’s how ya know you’re screwed,” Applejack added, picking her words as best she could. “Turn that worry into yer failsafe. Make that worry keep ya on yer feet an’ attentive. An’ just like you were taught for ridin’, if you fall then you get right back up an’ never give in.”

Everyone murmured agreement, glancing at each other with slight nods and smiles. Apple Bloom lit up, determination striking across her face. “You’re right, sis. I still dunno what I’m gonna do about that, but I’ll keep that in mind for every event,” she said earnestly. “I wanna be like you, sis. You get up no matter what.”

Applejack flushed a bit. She averted her gaze and rubbed her neck, quickly thinking of a way to divert the attention. “Well, y’know who taught me?” she asked, glancing at her brother. “Big Mac. He always helped me get up when I’d fall, so really ya should be thanking him.”

What came out of Big Mac’s mouth as everyone turned to him could barely be described as being words. A series of flustered noises quietly escaped him before he hid under the brim of his hat and took a long sip of his milkshake. 

That set everyone back to giggles and idle chatter as they finished up their cold snacks. Applejack was the first to be done, finally just sitting back and listening to her family. Everyone’s excitement about the previous day and what was to come of the current one served to both pump up Applejack and shoot her down. Of course, she loved hearing about her family’s victories, but it only served to make her shortcomings all the more obvious to herself. 

Especially everything that happened the day before, even if she could only remember bits and pieces of the evening. Applejack definitely had not forgotten about her biggest mess-up. The dull ache that decided to make itself known again drove that thought home. Annoyed that the painkillers were already wearing off, Applejack reached into her pocket and took out a little bottle full of red over-the-counter pills. She dropped two into the palm of her hand and swallowed them dry, grimacing at the less than desirable sensation.

She caught Apple Fritter glance at her with wide eyes. Applejack shrugged and gestured to her head, then her torso, then her back, indicating that she needed another dose. In return, Apple Fritter nodded and the two returned to the conversation, just in time for Applejack to be asked something. 

“So, what horse did you draw?” Apple Cinnamon asked across the table to her.

Applejack thought back to the start of the weekend with a squint. Her memory was a bit foggy, probably thanks to the splitting headache from the hangover, but the thought came to her eventually. She grinned and crossed her arms. “I drew Harbinger’s Ghost,” she responded confidently. “She’s one-a the best buckin’ horses in the league right now. I think maybe the best one here. Bucks an’ jumps around  like there’s no tomorrow, an’ always gets the highest scores.”

Cinnamon huffed, but the smile on his face didn’t waver, even as he mockingly pouted. “You’re so lucky. I got stuck with Mad Fury. He’s alright, but nothin’ like Harbinger’s Ghost.”

With a snort, Split set down his hands on the table. “Well at least ya won’t fall off of him,” he teased, much to Cinnamon’s chagrin. “I drew pretty decent. Night Terror.”

Fritter exclaimed in excitement. “You got Night Terror? Oh, I love watchin’ Night Terror! He’s got this really weird style that’s kinda all over the place,” she explained to Apple Bloom and Crumble as they cocked their heads in unison. “Jumps around left ‘n right. I think y’all are a good match.”

“I hope so,” Apple Split responded with a grin. “He’s definitely a bit of a terror, though I think I can conquer him. Now, I really gotta ask…” His gaze flickered to Applejack, which made her throat tighten up.

“Oh, please don’t,” Applejack pleaded, knowing what Split was probably going to say.

He waved his hand dismissively but pressed on. “You sure you can handle Harbinger’s Ghost? What with”—he trailed off and glanced at Apple Bloom and Crumble, then cleared his throat—“everythin’ that happened yesterday, and all.”

Typical. Applejack recognized her cousin’s question as well-meaning, but she couldn’t suppress the huff that came out of her. Flashes of what she could remember from the day before filled her mind. A cold shiver ran down Applejack’s spine. “I can’t deny that I’ve definitely felt better,” she admitted, “but I shouldn’t have a problem with her.”

Split shrugged. “If you say so. I think you’ll be fine, but I got the feelin’ that there are some other people ‘round this table that are a mite worried.”

With a subtle glance to the occupants of the table, Applejack confirmed his claims. They all glanced at her with innocent worry painted on their faces, which was admittedly understandable. The blonde couldn’t even pretend to be upset. Instead, she sighed and rubbed her forehead, pushing the hat up her head in the process. “I understand y’all’s worry. Really, I do. I’ll admit that yesterday wasn’t exactly my… proudest moment,” she mentioned with a blush. 

A clear of her throat helped clear the air. “I reckon any of y’all who want to know already know what happened, maybe even more than I do, but I wanna reassure y’all that despite that, I’m willin’ to do my best today an’ win if luck is on my side.”

If anything, being the centre of attention was quite possibly one of Applejack’s least favourite things. Ironic considering her love for rodeo and the thousands of eyes on her when she performed at her events, but she figured it was different down in the arena with adrenaline pumping through her body. Surrounded by worried family members, though? It almost made her want to throw up as she quickly shrank back and pushed her hat down once more, enough to hide her face.

Ever the caring sister, Apple Bloom was quick to jump in to save Applejack from an uncomfortable situation. She slammed her hands on the wooden tabletop, if a bit too earnestly, and subsequently attracted the attention of the entire group. “I got offered a spot on the Eastern Equestrian Junior Prospect Rodeo Team!” she squawked out, her face instantly reddening as all eyes snapped to her, including Applejack’s. 

Everyone exclaimed in surprise. Instantly, Apple Bloom ducked her head and smiled goofily. “They want me to join ‘em for the rest’a the season an’ at least next year, too,” she revealed.

Applejack practically jumped out of her seat to her feet, pushing aside her previous discomfort. “Apple Bloom! That’s, like, the best organization in the country!”

The table nodded in shocked agreement, though they all beamed at Apple Bloom. The girl rubbed the back of her neck, smiling so widely that the chip on her front tooth was more evident than ever. Applejack had almost forgotten it was there. “I know, trust me. They said I’d be joinin’ a bit younger than they usually allow, but that I wouldn’t be the first.” She shrugged nonchalantly, though Applejack could read the distress clear as day on her face. “I think  if I do well there and maintain my grades, maybe they’ll keep me on an’ I could get a scholarship to NMAC  in a few years.”

Next to her Apple Crumble poked her arm. “That’s… the one all the way in Manehattan, right?”

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom admitted with a nervous nod. “I know I’m only fourteen, but I think it’s a good opportunity an’ I’d just like y’all to consider it,” she said firmly but shakily, glancing over at her immediate family, specifically to Granny Smith.

The elderly woman looked at Apple Bloom, holding a hand to her chin. There was evidence of a smile on her face, but she mostly looked deep in thought. “Well, I’m mighty proud of ya, hun,” she started, “an’ I reckon it’d be a big change but… if it’s what ya want, then I’d be happy to support ya. Yer more than capable of takin’ care-a yerself.”

Relieved, Applejack let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. Her gaze set back on Apple Bloom, who beamed with such an intensity Applejack could have almost sworn she was glowing. The smile on her face spoke about as loud as any words could have.

Of course, that was helpful when Apple Bloom couldn’t even push words out of her mouth. Her lips worked as if she were trying to say something, but only soundless air came out. She shook her head with a smile and wiped a sleeve over her wet eyes.

Anyone within arm’s reach gave Apple Bloom reassuring pats and rubs. Applejack herself walked over to her and wrapped her in a hug from behind. To both of their surprise, Big Mac wrapped his long arms around them both and hugged tightly. Applejack winced but smiled regardless. “I’m so proud of you, sugarcube,” she whispered into her sister’s ear. 

Apple Bloom let herself go limp in her siblings’ embrace. “Thanks, sis.”

After one final squeeze, both siblings let go of Apple Bloom, each showing their affection in different ways. Big Mac put his hand on her shoulder and gave her one gentle shake, while Applejack pressed Apple Bloom’s hat down on her head and rubbed it in.  

Though, logistics still had to be worked out. After making her way back to the seat, Applejack glanced at Granny Smith who seemed to be deep in thought, likely wondering the same thing. 

Though, it was Big Mac who asked, “So how an’ when you plannin’ on goin’, then?”

“Well, I wanted ta use the money I got to board Megan over there. Not sure ‘bout where I’d live, though,” Apple Bloom admitted, sulking a bit.

“Ooh,” Fritter hopped in, “you can pro’ly stay with my family up there! My sisters are livin’ in Manehattan,” she offered. “I’m sure they’d be happy to take ya.”

“Now that ya mention it,” Granny put in, seemingly done thinking. She waved a finger in the air as she gathered her thoughts. “Don’t yer cousin Babs live in Manehattan, too?”

Apple Bloom perked up like Winona when a certain W-word is uttered. “Oh yeah, you’re right! I haven’t seen her in a while,” she exclaimed. “Alright, I reckon I gotta figure out which of ‘em live closer to the school. Oh, I suppose I’ll have to transfer, too.”

“Actually,” Fritter interrupted, “my sisters live in the same buildin’ as Babs! They got a pretty good deal that way.”

Applejack didn’t know that, but it was definitely convenient. “Well, how soon do they want ya?” she asked, trying to figure out a way to make it happen for her sister.

Apple Bloom shrugged. “They said to take my time an’ really think it over, but I can call ‘em when I figure it out. I want it to be soon though, gotta make the most of the off-season, ya know?” Her smile widened from ear to ear. “I hear they’ve got a real big indoor ridin’ space an’ personal coaches!”

Applejack tapped her chin with a finger, gazing up at the sky as she searched for an answer. “Well, I reckon it’ll take a few weeks to get yer school stuff all moved over, plus we gotta figure out a way to repay yer cousins if’n they take you in.”

“Don’t worry ‘bout that, cuz,” Fritter cut in, waving a hand dismissively. “Y’all helped us when we needed it, now I reckon it’s ‘bout time I pay it back. I’ve got a favour they owe me. Seems just a good a time as any to call it in.”

“That’s mighty kind of ya,” Applejack responded, glancing at her cousin with wide eyes. 

“Naw, remember what ya said that time durin’ dinner?” Apple Fritter asked. “You said that in return for helpin’ us with the stables, we’d just help you out when ya need it.”

The fact that Fritter remembered that when Applejack couldn’t really spoke to Fritter’s person. Applejack smiled and patted her on the back. “Well, that sounds right. Thank ya kin’ly anyway, cousin.”

Fritter just nodded in return, returning the smile almost tenfold. Apple Bloom cleared her throat and rubbed her forearm. “Well, anyway, maybe we can all talk ‘bout this later or somethin’. In the meantime, I reckon we oughta just focus on the rest of the day…”

“Well if ya insist,” Cinnamon jumped in. He twiddled his fingers around but smiled confidently. “I, for one, sure am excited to finish off the day. Saddle bronc’s my last event, then I get to go watch Big Macintosh serve everyone else’s butts on a silver platter!”

Braeburn snorted. “We’ll see ‘bout that!”

Split jumped in on the Big Mac assault group and soon enough, everyone from Apple Bloom’s end all the way to Split’s end were teasing the man. Applejack almost wanted to feel bad, but the hearty laughter that ensued was enough to lift her spirits once more. She thought about what had happened the day before and rubbed her cheek with a finger.

Maybe it was all going to be okay. She couldn’t quite remember everything, but something told her that she had to move on. It wasn’t the end of the world. That’s what… someone had told her.

Letting out a slow exhale, Applejack kept quiet for the rest of the outing. She had to make sure she was at the top of her game for her last event.



~~~~🍎~~~~



“Do ya remember that cute guy from the bar?” 

Applejack turned to Fritter, still stretching her arms over her head. “Kinda. What was his name? Runt? Husky?”

“Rusty,” Apple Fritter corrected with a sigh. “I think he ‘n I could have a lotta fun together.”

Rolling out her shoulders, Applejack nestled her left arm in the crook of her opposite elbow and pulled on her outstretched arm. Even though most of the muscles she was bound to use were her legs, her entire body felt sore, so she decided it was best to stretch it all out. “Well, so long as y’all don’t have too much fun,” the blonde teased with a wink at the suddenly red Fritter.

The other girl ran a nervous hand through her freshly dyed green hair. “Oh, shut up, cuz,” she muttered. “It ain’t like that.”

Switching sides, Applejack snorted. “Well I hope it ain’t,” she agreed. “Y’all met an’ spent, what, an hour together?”

“Well, we were there for, like, four hours, but I get what yer tryna say,” Fritter agreed. “I ain’t sayin’ it’s somethin’ serious, but I wanna see where it’s gonna go, y’know?”

Applejack definitely did not know. She gave a noncommittal shrug and moved on to stretching out her hips. She placed her hands on her waist and arched her waist forward, wincing slightly at the sharp pain from her back. “Musta hurt somethin’ yesterday,” she muttered through the pain. Once her intended time was up, she straightened her back with a grunt of effort and rubbed the small of her back.

Fritter did not miss the action. Her eyebrows arched in worry. “You still hurtin’?”

“Li’l bit,” Applejack admitted. “Nothin’ a good stretch won’t help though.” With that in mind, she continued her stretching, reaching down to the floor and grabbing her toes. Her face screwed into a grimace as her muscles ached and begged for relief. She did not oblige. “Though I hope it kicks in soon.”

Her cousin’s response was a short laugh at Applejack’s expense. “All this is preparin’ for what might just be eight seconds or less is pretty intense, cuz. Though I know why ya do it.”

Applejack lifted a leg to her torso, struggling a bit to keep her balance.  “Well, so long as it goes well then I reckon it’ll have been worth it,” she pointed out. The leg she stood on shook as she tried to stay upright, but decided it was about time to switch legs anyway. She ignored how difficult it was to keep her balance and realized she was probably still just trying to get past the hangover. 

“Yeah, well I guess you’re on soon, right, cuz? They’re already gettin’ Night Terror ready. I bet Split’s excited,” Fritter told her. “Fury’s on after that, then you ‘n Harbinger’s Ghost, right?”

The blonde nodded, finally setting both feet on stable ground. Somehow the stretching almost made her feel worse, but she knew it was necessary. “Split’ll be fine. And then soon enough, it’ll be my turn.” She shook out her legs one by one, nervous tingling running through them as the fringes hanging off her chaps waved. The added weight made her legs feel like lead. Stop being so nervous! 

“Ya wanna watch Split?” Fritter offered, eyeing the entrance to the stands. “It won’t take long for’im to set up. Plus, Cinnamon did pretty good with Mad Fury, so that oughta motivate Split a bit. Should be fun to see.”

Applejack patted her vest, feeling the hard leather meant to protect her in case the horse decided to bump or step on her. She didn’t even want to imagine what it’d be like to get stepped on without it. Too many bruised ribs would turn into broken ribs, or worse. A shudder ran down her spine at the thought. 

“Applejack?”

She snapped back into attention. “Huh? Oh, Split. Uh, naw, you can go ahead an’ watch him without me,” she mumbled. “I need to get my head in the game, I’m feelin’ awful distracted.”

“Sure, I’ll leave ya to it, then,” Fritter agreed. “Ya got all yer stuff?”

“Yup, I just gotta finish gettin’ the halter ready,” Applejack responded, glancing back at her equipment. “Still haven’t set up the rein.”

“Ya reckon you’ll need a longer one or a shorter one?”

Applejack scratched her cheek as she thought. “Well, Harbinger’s Ghost bucks with ‘er head down so I think I’ll need a longer one, but I’ll see once I set her up.”

Fritter nodded. “Right, well, then good luck! I’ll see ya out there if I don’t get the chance to catch ya before your turn.”

In return, Applejack simply gave her a thumbs up, indicating that Fritter was free to go. Once out of sight, she sighed heavily and leaned on the wall, glancing down at her feet. She kicked out one of her bronc boots, glancing at the little dull spurs on the back of it. 

“Just eight seconds,” she told herself. “Eight seconds an’ all ya gotta do is stay on the horse. Then you can go complain ‘bout yer aches tonight.”

That was what she needed to remember. Might be the toughest eight seconds of her weekend, and she’d be damned if it was anything less, but at least she could deal with whatever came next afterwards. Steeling herself, she straightened her back and approached her equipment, perched on a post and ready to be prepared. Almost effortlessly, she readied the halter to the rein and set it next to her saddle; the seat perfectly worn down but intact enough to be just the way she liked it. Applejack gave it a firm slap for good measure, almost smiling at the resounding leathery thwap that followed.

Really, there were other people who were able to help with the little tasks, but most other cowboys and girls liked doing it themselves, at least that was what Applejack assumed since she saw most of the other competitors ready their own halters and even saddled up the horses in the chute with minimal assistance. That was her favourite part of the whole ordeal; getting the saddle just the way she liked it, right up behind the neck of the horse so marking out would come easily, but also to keep balance.

Though, once that was said and done, Applejack noticed that the clock slowly dripped by. She figured Split should be ready to go soon, and she considered going to watch him, but something told her that it’d be better to rest her legs instead. Without anything to do but listen to the announcer’s muffled voice, Applejack toyed with the ring on her finger and let her gaze double on the wall of the arena.

Apple Bloom leaving would make work on the ranch harder, but Applejack was glad that her sister was offered such a great opportunity. Plus, being near Babs might be good for her, and maybe she could make some more friends at her new school. She and Babs hadn’t seen each other since Apple Bloom’s thirteenth birthday, but the two had always been inseparable when brought together.

The thought put a smile on Applejack’s face. They were as close as she herself and Fritter were, so it was a shame that they didn’t get to see each other as often. At least Bloom had Crumble and Candy, even if Candy was three years her senior.

Well, two, Applejack reminded herself. Bloom’s turnin’ fifteen soon. The revelation almost made her snort. Where had the time gone? It felt like just last week, Applejack was holding an eleven-year-old Apple Bloom at the funeral in her arms, but it had already been four years since then, which meant that Apple Bloom was turning fifteen. It almost felt wrong.  She had to be strong for her little sister during that time, but had she ever stopped trying to act strong? Had she even noticed the time slip by?

A hand latching around her forearm snapped Applejack out of her thoughts. Almost instinctively, she jumped back and yelped, holding her arms to her body, though the reaction was so sudden that it confused even her as Apple Cinnamon took a step back. He furrowed his eyebrows a bit, pulling his hand back as if he had just touched a hot stove. Applejack looked away, a blush rising to her cheeks.

Cinnamon not so smoothly transitioned his hand into rubbing his own neck. Being slightly shorter than Applejack, he had to look up a slight bit to see past his brim and at her. “Uh, I just came to tell ya that yer in the hole… Are you… alright?” he asked sheepishly. “Quite the reaction there. I musta spooked ya.”

She hadn’t even realized she still held her arms to her torso until they dropped suddenly to her side like limp bags of feed. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. A brief shake of her head was always the solution. “Uh, yeah I’m fine. I guess I just zoned out,” Applejack reasoned. “I’ll get over there now, thanks, Cinnamon.”

He nodded once. “Sure thing. Good luck, AJ.”

Applejack tipped her hat at him and grabbed her gear, the pre-performance nerves slowly working their way through her body. The more it coursed through her, though, the more it felt like simple adrenaline. And that she could handle. 

Down the tunnel, she approached the chute where Harbinger’s Ghost herself waited patiently for her challenger. The roar of the crowd drowned out the rushing of blood in her ears. Unlike barrel racing, the noise of the crowd helped amp Applejack up. 

In the chute, the mare was of decent size, smaller than Barley himself now that Applejack got to see her up close, and pure ash-gray with a black mane. She was beautiful, all things considered, but the way she stood so perfectly in the chute was almost unnerving. 

A small group of other cowboys stood next to the chute, two outside of it and two in the arena itself. Applejack hoisted the halter and saddle up, nestling them on the fence and climbed up to sit on the top of it, dangling one foot inside the chute next to Harbinger’s Ghost. She patted the horse to let her know that she was there. She certainly didn’t want to spook the mare in the chute.  

Once she was sure that Harbinger’s Ghost was aware of her presence and ran no risk of being frightened, Applejack took the halter and quickly slipped it on the mare’s muzzle. She moved on to the saddle, letting one of the other people tighten it up for her. With the saddle in hand, she stood up on the metal railing and threw one cinch over the mare’s back, nestling the saddle on her back. With the help of her fellow cowboys, they adjusted the saddle to her liking.

Funnily enough, Harbinger’s Ghost was a saint in the chute. She rarely gave riders a hard time, though Applejack knew better than to let her guard down. When the chute door opened, that was when the mare turned difficult. The very idea of it excited Applejack. Eager to get a move on, she set one foot on the saddle and climbed into the seat, making sure everything felt right beneath her. Carefully, she set her feet in the stirrups, making sure her boot fit in it just the way she liked. 

Applejack kept her feet to the mare’s barrel while in the chute. She took the rein in her hand and measured out how long she wanted it, then shuffled in the saddle once more. The anticipation was nearly killing her. A quick glance around the arena served to make her feel better, even if the audience was mostly a blur. She could make out a little section where her family cheered her on, no doubt joined by her fellow cousins who just competed themselves. Never had Applejack longed to win more.

Sure that everything felt right, Applejack gripped the rein tightly and leaned back, ready for the jolt of movement. As her final move, she put a hand on her hat, then lifted her free hand in the air next to her. A firm nod signalled that she was ready, and the chute door slid open. 

Instantly, Harbinger’s Ghost jumped out. As the horse exited, the flank strap tightened and soon she was set to bucking. Pure muscle memory made Applejack’s legs shoot out to the mare’s shoulders to mark her out. The first jump was always the best. It was then that Applejack gauged how she would play it, and while eight seconds was not a long time, it always felt like the longest eight potential seconds of her life. As Harbinger’s Ghost jumped and bucked, Applejack was weightless. She kept the mare marked out until she jumped again, then she moved onto the pattern of spurring her.

Harbinger’s Ghost was reckless. She jumped straight up, but erratic, trying to knock Applejack off. The blonde leaned back, kicking out her legs in time with the horse, flying off her saddle and back into it with a thump every time. She gritted her teeth with every bump as lightning jolted up her back. The mare jumped closer to the railing, which unnerved Applejack. She focused on nothing more than staying balanced, even while the weightlessness of her legs made it difficult to stay seated. 

It had only been a couple of seconds, but already Applejack felt like it had been too long. Fighting to stay on, even if it would lose her points, she moved in time with Harbinger’s Ghost, despite everything that was throwing her off. Just as the timer rang signalling her glorious victory, her entire body shifted forward. 

Applejack flailed out her free arm, using it to maintain herself upright and keep her shoulders square, but there was only so much she could do.  The pickup men were helpless as the mare evaded them with another buck. Turning on a dime, Harbinger’s Ghost reared up and back, then erratically ducked forward. 

Something went wrong. 

Thrown off rhythm, Applejack tried to adjust, but in a moment that passed too quickly, found herself reliving her last barrel race as her feet slipped out of the stirrups no matter how hard she tried to keep them in. All she could do was brace as she was thrown head over heels off of the mare and into the white metal fence. Thankfully, she didn’t go face first, but slamming her entire backside into it hurt a lot more than she thought it should have. It knocked the breath out of her instantly.

With a hard slam that was all too familiar, Applejack fell on the ground in a heap as one of the pickup men yanked the flank strap off of Harbinger’s Ghost. Almost instantly, the mare calmed down and allowed herself to be led back to the chute. The other pickup man galloped up to Applejack and jumped off his horse, kneeling at her side as she groaned and wheezed, trying to catch her breath. She opened her mouth to say something, but only guttural moaning came out as her body tried to gather oxygen.

“Don’t talk,” he instructed her. “And don’t move, ya hear?”

Applejack blinked and raised her spinning head, glancing at the big screen. She had done it! And fell spectacularly, but she had done it. She hadn’t even noticed that she was on her back sprawled out on the floor. As the ability to breathe slowly came back to her, Applejack almost chuckled. 

But that amusement disappeared instantly once she tried to get up.

Her shaky arms pushed her halfway up, but that was as far as she’d go. The breath that had so recently returned to her came in violent, panicked breaths as Applejack realized she couldn’t move. It was like having sleep paralysis, except she was able to frantically look around and hear the pickup man call for backup. She had won. So why couldn’t she get up to celebrate? Applejack heaved and tried to will herself to stand, but her legs just wouldn’t respond. They weren’t tingly, or full of pins and needles.

If she hadn’t just seen them, she could have argued that they weren’t even there at all.

Quickly, the adrenaline drained out of her through the sweat that dripped down her face. She felt pain shoot up her back and head and let out one short scream, instantly cut off by her throat clenching in pain. The medics stood over her, their mouths moving as if they were telling her something, but all she could hear was the ringing in her ears and the alarm bells that her brain shot out.

Exhaustion set in soon after her adrenaline-induced high. Her entire body became lead as she could barely lift her head to glance at her feet. Someone was poking her in the leg, she could see, but she felt nothing. Trusting her weight to one forearm, Applejack shakily reached out despite the scolding that one of the medics seemed to be giving her as another pair of them set up a stretcher. One of them held out a neck brace, but she paid it no mind as she dropped her hand on her leg. 

Her hand hit her leg, but it felt like it was slapping the ground instead. No thoughts ran through Applejack’s brain; she didn’t even know what to think. The world doubled around her as her eyes crossed and her arm turned crutch gave out, sending her back to the ground to stare up at the ceiling. The big screen on the scoreboard showed her position as she was barely visible through the group of people surrounding her. At least she did it, those eight seconds. 

Applejack’s eyes slid shut as the jolting feeling subsided into a dull buzz, sending the world to black with it.


~~~~🍀~~~~

> Interlude
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Interlude


~~~🌱~~~

The world stopped turning. The entire planet Earth ceased to move.

That’s what it felt like, at least, to the young girl. She fiddled with the hat she held tightly in her grip, bending the brim inwards and farther than it was supposed to bend. The soft brown colour, one she had always been so jealous of, mocked her as it reminded her of everything.

Unfocused eyes traipsed over the wooden floor, dancing with the shapes that formed in her field of vision. Her body felt like lead as she sat on the couch, neither comfortable nor uncomfortable under her. At least nobody had really tried to bother her. They understood her desire to be alone.

After she had gotten out of the car, Apple Bloom hadn’t been able to unsee it. Every time she blinked, she imagined the dead silence of the arena. The muttering and hushed whispers. The way her family darkened around her. All the energy and excitement that drained out of her body so quickly only made her exhausted, but sleep did not come. How could it?

Apple Bloom sighed and propped her legs up on the cushion, rolling herself into a tiny ball. Her arms clasped around her knees, her hands still clutching tightly to Applejack’s worn lucky hat. She couldn’t let it go. She just couldn’t.

Next to her, the sofa dipped. Apple Bloom lazily glanced over to see Apple Crumble take a seat next to her. She didn’t say anything at first, only smiling briefly at Apple Bloom and rubbing her biceps with unsure hands.

It had been an entire day, and all Apple Bloom could do was sit on the couch. She just couldn’t stop thinking about it. It brought her to the nearest place she could sit and left her there. Apple Bloom saw it happen every time she shut her eyes. She saw her sister fall off and not get up. She saw her get stretchered away. 

And in the silence, she heard the sirens wail. Apple Bloom could practically see them take away Applejack, who was always so strong, limp and helpless on that boxy, loud ambulance. Why hadn’t they taken her, too?

“Bloom?”

Apple Bloom blinked, realizing she had been staring at her cousin. She cleared her throat and shakily responded, “Yeah?”

“How are you?”

What a dumb question. Apple Bloom’s fingers curled tighter around the hat, crumpling the brim. “Fine.”

Crumble squinted. “Are ya sure?”

“Uh-huh,” Apple Bloom muttered, turning her gaze to the floorboards she had become so familiar with. Her lips turned up into a snarl, hidden by her forearms.  “Yes, Crumble. I feel just fine right now, not knowin’ what’s goin’ on with my sister and bein’ stuck here all useless.”

Her tone must have come out too harsh judging by Crumble’s wince. “Sorry. It’s just… you’ve been here since ya got back. I just wanna make sure you’re alright.”

Apple Bloom tried to be mad but ultimately gave up and sighed into her self-embrace. With the exhale, her body loosened a bit. “I know. I’m sorry. It means a lot, Crumble, I’m just a bit… scared.”

“Ya got every right to be, Bloom,” Crumble responded, daring to give her cousin a side hug. “But Applejack’ll be fine. She’s tough as bricks, right?”

Wordlessly, Apple Bloom nodded.

“They just gotta make her feel better first.” Apple Crumble put a hand on top of Apple Bloom’s. “My friend’s uncle was in a similar situation, but after some time, he was back on his feet an’ ridin’ broncs like there was no tomorrow”

Apple Bloom chuckled dryly. “Either he’s the bravest man I ever heard of or the stupidest.”

In return, Crumble chortled. “I know right! Anyway, my point is that she’ll be fine. An’ I’m sure they’ll be callin’ soon.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” the young girl responded airily. Her resolve hardened and she shook her head to bring herself back. “You’re right. Applejack’s never met a problem she couldn’t solve. She’ll… she’ll be fine.”

Crumble nodded eagerly and wrapped Apple Bloom in a half hug. “Hey, no need to tell me twice! I’ve seen her get up from worse, an’ I’m sure you have too.”

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom muttered. “Yeah, she has. Dunno how she’s still up an’ at ‘em but she’s always been tough! I wanna be like her.”

Both girls smiled at each other for a moment before Apple Crumble brought her hands back to her own arms. The smile they shared each fell away a bit as they broke eye contact. Apple Bloom glanced down to her own hands and the hat she held in them and turned away again. “I keep thinkin’ something bad happened,” she admitted quietly. Her fists unclenched as she stared at the long fingers that attached to them. “I just… I got this feelin’, this… pit in my stomach when she fell an’... an’ didn’t get back up.”

As she blinked, she saw the memory flash in her mind. Squeezing her eyes shut tighter didn’t make it go away, but it was the only thing that her body could think to do as she hugged the hat closer to her body. Her voice trembled as she went on, “I dunno what to do, Crumble. I got that offer from that program, but if somethin’ bad happened to my sister, I just can’t go.”

“I’m not too sure what to tell ya, to be honest with ya, Bloom.” Crumble propped her feet up on the couch and tucked her knees into her arms. “I guess it’s a choice y’all will have to make if it comes to that, but I think you should do what feels right in the moment. I just hope it doesn’t hafta come to that.”

Apple Bloom frowned and rubbed her cheek with an outstretched hand. “Yeah, me neither. I don’t wanna go if it’s somethin’ not good, y’know? I can’t leave my sister in that case, but it’s also just a… once in a lifetime opportunity. I don’t wanna miss out on that either.”

After a moment of painful silence, Apple Crumble shifted her weight on the couch. The rustling of her clothing against the sofa pulled Apple Bloom’s attention to it, and it was then that she noticed just how quiet the house was. Crumble glanced at Apple Bloom. “What do you think she’d tell you to do?”

What Applejack would tell her to do? Apple Bloom furrowed her brow in thought. Her sister was always so supportive and grounded. She always told Apple Bloom to follow her dreams and to be true to herself. That was what she would say, Apple Bloom was sure. “She’d tell me to do it, I think. No matter what, she wants what’s best for me,” Apple Bloom responded softly. Saying it out loud only made her more sure. 

“Exactly,” Crumble responded with a smile. “And hey, don’t worry ‘bout it, okay Bloom? She’ll be alright.”

That was true. Apple Bloom knew it was. She’d seen Applejack go through a lot physically and emotionally and she always came right back up. If anything, her sister was an inspiration! There was no longer any doubt in Apple Bloom’s mind that her sister would be okay. She held out the worn but sturdy hat in her hands and stared at it. Memories of her sister winning awards came to mind, replacing all the negative thoughts with a strange surge of optimism, and she smiled shakily.

Apple Bloom just couldn’t wait to give it back.
> Lost and Found
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Act Two
Hung Up


~~~~➰~~~~


Time had come inadvertently in and out like a radio station with poor reception. Applejack wasn’t quite sure what had really happened and when, if it did. At the present, her eyes were heavy with sleep and her body weighed a thousand pounds, deeming her unable to move anything but her eyes around groggily. 

She was sure of a few things. She had successfully completed her eight seconds (though her score was unknown to her), and she had then fallen off. Everything after that was a blur. There might have been pain, but that might have happened after. That, Applejack wasn’t sure of. 

As she blinked away some of the grogginess, though, her stomach turned and sent a wave of nausea through her. In a partially subconscious attempt to make sure she didn’t vomit all over herself, the weight on her upper body disappeared as she twitched forward and the nausea was instantly replaced by pain.

She was then made sure of more things. A neck brace made its home atop her shoulders, and she was in a hospital room with Big Mac. Her face felt numb and tender and probably swollen in some parts.  Applejack yelped in pain, her voice coming out like nails on a chalkboard. Her eyes clenched shut as Big Mac practically jumped out of his seat and came to her side, resting a strong hand on her shoulder for support. 

“Now, hold on there, AJ,” he commanded firmly as he helped the blonde ease back into the soft back of the hospital bed. 

Applejack grunted as she let her weight fall back against the cushioned backrest. Finally, she took in her surroundings. The room itself was blindingly white and smelled cleaner than any room she’d ever been in. Next to her were a couple of machines that she wasn’t quite sure what they were for other than the heart rate monitor. And of course, attached to Applejack’s forearm was an IV. 

And just like that, reality came crashing down on her. Big Mac yelled for Granny Smith down the hallway, but that was muffled out by the very loud sound of Applejack’s blood roaring through her ears.

She couldn’t move her legs.

Her arms moved, although heavily, and she could feel the IV when she did move them, but her legs stayed still. She couldn’t wiggle her toes or even tense a muscle. It was as if the legs under the sheets in front of her were just props.

The beeping next to her grew faster. Big Mac turned back to her and frowned. “Hey, it’s okay,” he tried to tell her, but the words slipped right off. All she could think about was what had happened.

First, Applejack fell off of Barley. She hadn’t noticed it at first, but in hindsight, everything was a little off after that. Her first thought was to run away from the medical crew. She didn’t want them to tell her she had a concussion, but that was the least of her worries. She felt mostly stupid for not noticing; her balance was off and her legs had ached. Something probably happened in the bar, too, since she had woken up the next morning not only with an awful hangover but more pain in her back.

Next, she fell off of Harbinger’s Ghost. She actually completed the eight seconds but then let down her guard. She hit that metal fence and then fell to the ground. Clearly, Applejack had not gotten up. Her hands shook as she came to that realization. She had never gotten up, and she couldn’t get up. Everything spun around her as it hit her like a ton of bricks. Her throat, dry and scratchy, clenched almost painfully, but she couldn’t get anything out past a frown.

It took everything Applejack had to keep from yelling or crying. Instead, her neck stiffened and kept straight by the brace around it, she shut her eyes tightly and let out a sharp breath through her nostrils. Her hands tightened into fists as the door opened once more to allow Granny Smith to finally enter the room. Applejack’s eyes tore open as she watched the old woman make her way to her bedside. Big Mac followed closely behind, looming over her with a quietness that drew all noise from the room.

Applejack reached out for her grandmother with a slow, shaking hand. Quiet desperation dripped from her furrowed eyebrows and taut frown. She wanted to say something; to cry like a baby and be held in her loving, comforting arms, but all she did was hold out a miserable, pitiful hand and have it come only inches away from what she sought out the most.

Granny Smith met Applejack’s hand with her own, gently sandwiching it between her own wrinkled, firm hands. They might have been hardened by years of work, but to Applejack, they were the softest thing she could ever imagine. 

She took a seat next to Applejack, still holding the blonde’s hand in her own. “Hey there, darlin’.” Her voice was smooth and brought a minute amount of solace to Applejack. Still, it was better than nothing. “It’s alright.”

“Granny,” Applejack whispered. It was all she could really say with the dryness of her throat. She furrowed her eyebrows and swallowed, though there wasn’t much saliva to swallow and it felt like she had just tried to drink a spur. 

As if he could feel her discomfort, Big Mac reached around Granny and grabbed something off the table next to the bed. He held a cup in front of Applejack’s face. “Drink.” Applejack tried to reach for the cup with her own hand, but Big Mac pulled it away and shook his head. “Nope. Ya just woke up from surgery, best to keep still for a bit.”

Reluctantly, the blonde rolled her eyes and gave the tiniest nod the neck brace would allow her. Her brother brought the cup to her lips, and she greedily drank, the lubricating substance finally soothing her itchy throat until the little cup was empty and Big Mac pulled away. Refreshed, Applejack licked her lips and let out a deep sigh. “Thanks, Mac.” Her semi-relaxed state didn’t last long, though, as what Big Mac had said caught up to her. “Wait, y’all said something ‘bout surgery?”

Her family members looked at each other briefly before nodding, though it was Granny Smith who spoke next. “They took ya into surgery right when we got here, ’n that was about twelve hours ago. You’ve been out for five hours just restin’,” she explained tactfully. “They’ve been checkin’ on ya every now ‘n again, hun, but I’m glad yer up.”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac agreed. He walked back to the door. “I’ll go get someone now that you’re awake.”

As he left, Applejack took a moment to really take herself in. The most obvious thing, apart from her neck brace, were the tubes and other paraphernalia connecting her to the various medical devices around her. She couldn’t turn her head to see them, but she knew they were there thanks to the beeping. There was definitely at least an IV drip and a heart rate monitor, though. That much she knew.

Applejack made it her goal to ignore anything else – everything she couldn’t see or feel. Instead, she rubbed her hands on the blanket, feeling the smooth, yet slightly rough, surface of it, and took a deep breath in to allow that characteristic clean smell in. Her hands came together, and fingers interlocked in a familiar way, though she froze as she realized that the ring she often liked to fiddle with was missing. 

Urgently, Applejack brought her hands up, ignoring the discomfort it caused, and stared at them. She knew it already, but she had to check. Her ring wasn’t there, and instead, the outline of it traced around her finger in a shade paler than her suntanned hands. Panic replaced the calm she was trying to build. She couldn’t have lost her mother’s ring! What would she even do if she lost it? There was no replacing that, not at all.

It was at that moment that the door opened with Big Mac leading the way and a doctor coming in behind him. Applejack’s eyes shot up to the new presence; a man with a doctor’s coat and a clipboard in hand. His skin was a soft brown, with light, grayed hair to contrast that. It was a bit strange; he did not look very old. Upon entering, he glanced at Applejack with a concerned frown as she became more visibly upset. 

“Well, I’m glad to see you’re up now, Miss Applejack,” the doctor started as he approached the bed. Granny Smith made room for the man to pass and stand next to Applejack. “Are you alright, though?”

Applejack wasn’t quite sure how to respond. Obviously, she was not alright. The fact that the doctor had even asked such a ridiculous question almost made her angry. Why would he ask that? She had just gotten some kind of surgery and woke up to find her most prized possession gone and discovered that the loss of mobility in her legs was not, in fact, just a nightmare. How would he feel if he had gone through that? Surely not alright. Probably quite the opposite. 

Though, with all the fire of emotions burning within her, all she could do was stare at her bare hands. She had to deal with things one thing at a time. She knew that; that’s what she had learned after the funeral. Even though she had just drunk water, her throat dried up all over again. “My ring,” she croaked out, somewhere between holding back tears and nearly failing to keep them inside. “My mother’s ring.”

Behind the doctor, Granny Smith held out a hand. “Oh, I meant to give it to ya earlier, hun! I got it right here,” she explained, reaching around the doctor to pass the aforementioned ring to Applejack. 

Carefully, Applejack turned her hand over and felt the cool metal fall into her palm. Despite everything that she had just been forced to process, it came as quite a relief that she hadn’t actually lost it. Her fist tightened around the tiny object tightly as if she might lose it simply by gripping it too loosely. “Thanks.”

Granny Smith simply nodded and gave Applejack a tiny smile in response, then ushered herself and Big Mac out of the room. The blonde glanced down with her eyes and observed the silver ring. It had become a part of her, and it felt… wrong to not have it on, even briefly. She slipped the ring back on, covering the untanned skin beneath it once more, then toyed with it as the doctor cleared his throat. Emerald eyes traced back up to the doctor, who smiled at her. It was strange, but she knew he was just trying to be friendly, so she tried her best to smile in return.

“Well, I’ll start with an introduction. My name is Doctor Steady Ease, but you can call me whatever you wish.” He paused and looked down at his clipboard. “I know you must be confused and disoriented and probably scared. I heard you just woke up, and I understand that what you’re experiencing is a lot to take in. I’m here to answer your questions and put you at ease, as well as to check on you and make sure you’re progressing well over time.

“Needless to say, you and I will be well acquainted, as well as the nurse or nurses that will be assigned to you.” He cleared his throat and lifted a page from his notes to glance at the one underneath. “Do you have any questions before I begin my explanation?”

If Applejack was being honest, she was feeling mostly tired and a bit sleepy, but she wanted to know what was going on, so she did her best to stay alert. There was no shaking her head, not with the neck brace. “No, I think I’ll wait ‘til after,” she responded in barely a whisper. 

Doctor Steady nodded. “Okay, so I’ll begin by explaining briefly what’s happened since you arrived. I know you must be tired, so I’ll keep it simple. Once you arrived, you were put into emergency surgery. We tried to see what we could do about your back injury, but unfortunately, all we could do was remove some fragments of bone and try to stabilize your spine where it was injured.” 

He paused, likely so that Applejack could take it in. His words came slowly, like molasses, and they ran through her mind even slower, but once she was able to make sense of them, her heart sank to her chest. “W-what are you sayin’?”

“I explained this to your family, and I will explain it to you.” The doctor frowned and ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back and away from his face. “It’s not certain if you’ll ever regain full mobility of your legs, and if you do, it’s likely you will not be able to walk again, not without aides.”

The words fell heavy on Applejack. She felt as if her insides had been thrown onto an anvil and crushed by a farrier’s hammer until there was nothing left. “Y-you mean…”

“I’m sorry. You’ll be admitted into physiotherapy, but we don’t know how much feeling, if any, will return to your legs,” he told her softly. “In the meantime, you’ll have to recover from your surgery here.” 

It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be, she had to be dreaming or something. Right? All she had to do was wake up.

Applejack shut her eyes hard as her breathing became unstable. The beeping grew quicker, but she focused instead on waking up, balling her fists into balls so tight that they trembled with the effort. But none of that made it go away, and none of it made her able to get up from the bed and go about her day. Reluctantly, the lump in her throat grew until it felt restrictive, and she squeaked out something akin to a cry. 

She wasn’t supposed to fail like this. But as it sunk in, the harder it was to keep those tears in, and soon enough, a small collection of warm tears slid down her cheeks, weighed down by the gravity of the situation. She wasn’t usually a crier, and so the handful of tears felt plentiful on her once dry cheeks. Applejack shuddered a breath as the doctor murmured a quiet apology and placed a hand on her forearm.

It was comforting, in a strange way, but all Applejack craved at that moment was something she could never have again. The feeling in her legs was gone, at least at the moment, and she wanted nothing more than the simple touch of her mother’s loving embrace. A memory she seldom thought about lest it bring forward the memory of the woman she’d rather remember in passing came upfront and she imagined herself as a child curled up in her mother’s tender hold.

But as she sniffled back her last tear, and wiped her face with a hand much bigger than that of her memory, her eyes slid open and she was no longer by a warm fire, and the song her mother hummed—one she could no longer remember the words to, just the melody—faded into the rhythmic beeping of her own racing heart. The whiteness of the room was almost blinding and the aching in her entire body became even more apparent as her body shook in the places it was able to from everything. All Applejack could do was stare straight ahead, wishing she could cry more, but it all balled up in the back of her throat and refused to come out.

The doctor’s hand tightened around Applejack’s forearm and she looked back at the man who was not her mother. Her blurry, traitorous eyes focused on his face.  A frown of pity nestled upon his hardened features. Applejack thought about what her father had taught her about being strong, about getting back up and trying again. He wouldn’t have ruined it all like her, but she could do what she could to make up for it.

And maybe she couldn’t do that just yet, but she would, someday. She had to. It was best to push down her worries and push through her doubts. She could cry later, but for now, she had to be strong. Applejack swallowed the lump in the back of her throat, pushing it back down deep inside. A shuddered breath escaped her as a sigh. There was no time to mess around.  

“How long ‘til I can get started?”
> Soup
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack placed her hands in her lap carefully. “How long ‘til I can get started?”

“We’re going to have to play it by ear for now,” the doctor responded. “We aren’t sure if the injury is complete or incomplete yet. It will take a few days, maybe up to two weeks to be sure, but judging by the severity of the injury and our observations, it is likely to be complete.”

She hadn’t even considered that, but hearing it confirmed a fear Applejack didn’t know she had. Still… there… was a chance, there had to be. “Oh.”

He nodded and put the clipboard down. “Your T10 vertebra was severely injured, and the T9 suffered a fracture in the transverse process, though that should heal easily enough. Unfortunately, as I said before, it’s very very unlikely that you’ll ever regain any feeling or mobility in your legs, it being a severe injury and all.” At Applejack’s deflation, the doctor clicked his pen. “But, there may be a chance, especially if it turns out to be an incomplete injury. The surgery to fuse the injured vertebrae went as expected, so you should heal up with no problem in that regard.”

Applejack raised a hand to the neck brace and then gestured to her torso. With all the haziness and nausea, she had hardly noticed the corset-like plastic accessory that had been keeping her back straight. The neck brace itself was easy to immediately notice, but it was harder to notice the other paraphernalia. “And I figure it’ll be a while ‘til I get all this off?”

“Only two weeks at most for the neck brace. It’s just a precaution to keep your neck stable, but there didn’t seem to be any signs of injury to your cervical vertebrae or your upper thoracic region. If things go well, we could take it off at the end of the week as long as you try not to over-exert your neck.”

“I won’t. I definitely don’t wanna make things worse.” 

“As for the plastic body jacket, that’ll take longer as you recover from surgery and we build up strength in your back again. At least a month or two.” Doctor Steady glanced down at the clipboard once more with furrowed eyebrows. “Oh yes, and I meant to ask—before I do, are you feeling okay? I don’t mean to bombard you especially given you just woke up from what I think is safe to call a fairly traumatic experience.”

If she was being honest, Applejack was a bit overwhelmed by the ‘traumatic situation’. It was almost funny to call it that. It didn’t feel like she had processed everything fully yet and it almost felt like she should wake up again to find out that it was all a big, confusing dream, but the slight pain in her torso made it all too real. Still, she didn’t want to have two uncomfortable conversations, and she was awake enough to answer his question, or at least she hoped. That would be too many words to explain, so she just nodded as best as she could with the brace limiting her head’s movement. 

“Okay, and do let me know if you wish to rest more, or if you’re feeling any pain. We have you on a standard dosage of pain medication, but we can up it if it isn’t enough.” At Applejack’s thumbs-up, he cleared his throat. “According to what we heard, the fall you took isn’t typically something that would cause this much damage. We didn’t find any evidence of general bone density issues or any other type of genetic issue that would cause any weakness in the spine. Now, I understand you participated in rodeo, is that right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And you did which events? We get a lot of rodeo types around here, so you don’t need to explain them to me.”

Applejack clenched her jaw. She didn’t like his usage of the past tense. “Uh, well I mainly do barrel racing and saddleback, though I do breakaway and tie-down, too.” 

“Did you get hurt a lot?”

With a curt chuckle, Applejack grinned. “Well, sure. But it’s never… well, never that bad. Just gettin’ thrown off a bronc and stuff like that. I always get up and shake it off. We’re taught how to fall, you see. Well, we learn, really.”

“Uh huh.” He reached into his breast pocket and took out a pen, clicking it out. “Did you suffer a bad fall recently? Anything that might have hurt your back or made it more sensitive? I didn’t quite get the time to ask your family properly, but they mentioned you did have a fall just the day before the one that brought you here.”

Oh, right. She hadn’t fallen that hard, but she did fall rather awkwardly. Applejack reached up to subconsciously rub her sore nose gently, feeling how it and the area around it was still bruised. The movement made something in her back twinge, and she realized she probably shouldn’t be moving that much.
 
The blonde sighed. “Yeah, I did. Face-planted and did what you might call a scorpion after my horse threw me off,” she explained. 

He wrote something on the page, nodding slightly. “And the medics didn’t notice anything wrong?”

Applejack cringed a bit, feeling beyond guilty for her stupidity. “Well, I didn’t let ‘em get a look. I left before they could. It’s just, I hate doc—I hate getting checked over.”

He probably caught what she had meant, but he didn’t show it. Instead, he gave a lopsided frown at what Applejack had said to begin with, then brought his green eyes to hers. She noticed his eyes were darker than hers. “Well, I suppose there’s a chance that that injury could have hurt your back to begin with. Is there anything else? Any signs of weakness in the legs or limbs beforehand? Numbness? Tingling?”

She thought back to the night that came after at the bar. She could remember only the beginning of the night, but then it started to get hazy. Though the next day was clear as water; she remembered feeling her legs be weaker, but she thought… “Well, yeah, a little bit, I guess. Felt better sitting down—like my legs were shaky and achey—though I thought it was ‘cause I was hungover and feeling the effects from that. I, uh, tried to drink it off. Next day, I guess I mighta felt less secure in the stirrups, but if I’m being honest, I don’t remember much about that. Just getting thrown off into the fence and then nothing else directly after that.”

It was surprising how smoothly that came out, even to Applejack. She thought it would have been harder to say, and yet it felt as though she was simply reading income numbers out. That wasn’t so bad. Made it easier to talk about.

“I see. Well, nothing to do about it now, though that does explain some things, Miss Applejack.” Doctor Steady cleared his throat and clapped his clipboard into his legs. “In the meantime, since you mentioned ‘face-planting’ and some difficulty with your memory, we’re going to go through standard concussion procedure. It’ll be easy since you’re in bed to begin with, but we’ll keep an eye on you.”

It was tempting to say something, to insist she didn’t need the help but seeing as how she couldn’t get up from the bed, Applejack wasn’t in a position to argue, so she simply acquiesced. “Sure. I’ll just be here, then.” She sniffed and looked away. “Nothin’ else to do.”

He shot her a sympathetic look and gave a lopsided smile. “Look, I know it’s hard, but we’re all on your side. I won’t lie. It’s a long, arduous road, but you have support from the staff and your family. I can tell they care.”

“I know that. It just… Well, it’s just…” Applejack found herself at a loss for words. Her eyebrows furrowed as she failed to think of a way to express what she felt. She didn’t even know what she felt. 

“Hey, hey, it’s not easy to deal with. I’m sure you’re still trying to understand what’s going on, so I’ll leave you to rest. You’ll be on a clear liquid diet for a bit as you recover, and you’ll slowly transition to solids. I’ll get your family to come back, but visiting hours are going to be up soon.”

“Wait, they… they’re gonna have to leave?” Applejack frowned, the frustration from before ebbing away into simple disappointment. “Can’t they stay?”

He simply gave a tiny, tight-lipped smile. “I’ll see what I can do.”

No words found their way out of Applejack’s mouth as the doctor nodded and backed away. He gave a tiny wave which Applejack lifted a finger in response to before he stepped out of the room, briefly leaving Applejack alone once again. She blinked a couple of times, finding herself surprised to be clearing a few tears away that she hadn’t even noticed had built up. Despite the dull ache, she reached up to wipe under her eyes with gentle fingers and stared at the subtle wetness on the tips of her fingers. 

There were no more tears after that. Just a strange anomaly that she somehow squeezed out of her. Applejack swallowed dryly and stared at the wall in front of her. A painting of a herd of what she assumed were mustangs galloping in a field stared back at her, strangely colourful against the bleak white. She scowled and looked away.

Shortly after, the door opened again. Granny led the way in, followed by Big Mac, who gently shut the door behind him. They both glanced at her with a smile which she tried to return, but she wasn’t sure if it worked so well. Still, though, they simply approached closer. Big Mac held two cups in his hands, while Granny held out a little sealed container of what seemed to be soup or broth judging by the faint smell that was already evident.

“Hey darlin’,” Granny greeted. “We know you might feel a bit nauseous, but we got you somethin’ to eat and drink like the doctor said.” 

With the utterance of those words, she handed her the soup and a spoon. Applejack reached out slightly and took them, but she couldn’t see far down enough to open the warm, styrofoam container without having to hold it up to her eye-level. The problem was that holding her hands up that high ached, which she had figured out rather quickly. She held the little cup and spoon in her hands and frowned. 

Granny seemed to catch on as she reached out to take them from Applejack’s yielding grip. The blonde’s fingers fell limp as the food was taken from her, and the pit in her stomach only grew as the realization hit.

“D’ya need help with that, sugar?” 

Applejack was completely and utterly helpless. 

She bit her lip and exhaled forcefully through her nose. If she couldn’t even eat soup by herself then what was she even good for? She clenched her fists into tight balls but gave the tiniest indication that she would need the help. In return, Granny and Big Mac traded items and Big Mac stepped forward to Applejack with the soup in hand. 

“Alright, AJ, open up,” he instructed, popping off the lid effortlessly and taking a spoonful of soup. He held it to Applejack’s mouth with steady hands.

She felt like a baby. Reluctantly, she opened her mouth enough for the spoon to fit, but as soon as the liquid hit her tongue she winced and bit down on the spoon as a reaction to the burning heat of it. Big Mac pulled the spoon away, leaving Applejack to hastily swallow and glare at her brother.

Before Applejack could even scold him with her burnt tongue, Granny Smith put down a cup and whacked him. “Big Macintosh! Ya just burned yer sister! Didn’t you ever learn how to feed someone!”

“Sorry, I haven’t had to feed someone since Liberty was a li’l toddler,” Big Mac bashfully excused himself, stirring the soup with the spoon and blowing on it. 

Applejack clenched her jaw and felt the strange feeling of her burnt tongue in her mouth. “I ain’t a toddler,” she grumbled. “And hold on just a cotton pickin’ minute. I-I can feed myself! I don’t need all this help. Just gimme the soup and I’ll do it myself.”

Big Mac shook his head. “Doc said we gotta do it. Don’t wanna aggravate your back.”

“I know that Big Mac!” Applejack shot back, though it felt useless as she sat idly in bed without even being able to move anything other than her eyes to glare at her brother. “But I can do it, I swear.”

The young man looked back to his grandmother, who shrugged. He looked back to the fuming girl in bed and sighed, handing her the soup. “Fine, but if you spill any I’ll feed you the rest.”

Applejack took the soup and was once again faced with the same conundrum. At least this time the lid was already off. All she had to do was get the soup up and to her mouth without spilling any. Seemed simple enough. She blindly grasped the spoon with her left hand and dug in, relying on muscle memory to pull it out of the soup and carefully brought it up. Her arm threatened to shake the more she brought it up, but she forced herself to keep it still despite the slight ache. 

It was taking her too long, and she could feel her family’s stare on her. Frustrated, she scoffed and turned her attention away from the soup that had finally reached her eyesight. “Could y’all stop lookin’ at me like I’m a balloon threatenin’ to burst?!”

There was no more soup in the spoon as her outburst caused her arm to twitch and the delicious smelling broth to spill off somewhere. Wherever it landed, she didn’t feel it, but the reaction was immediate. Applejack growled and dropped her hand altogether as Big Mac reached in with a “Nope” and took the soup away from her. 

Applejack grunted in frustration and flung the spoon at her brother, or at least as close to him as she could get. She ended up missing and the plastic cutlery bounced off the wall behind him instead. “That wasn’t even my fault,” she argued, pointedly looking away from the surprised looks she got. “If y’all hadn’t been staring at me I wouldn’t have spilled it.”

Granny Smith placed her wrinkled hand on Applejack’s arm. “We’re just tryin’ to help, darlin’—”

“I don’t need your help!” Applejack retorted, shaking off her grandmother’s hand. Immediate regret hit her as her cheeks flushed in annoyed embarrassment at her outburst while she willed herself to calm down. “I’m not some helpless baby, I just… I gotta learn to do it on my own.”

“We know that, honey,” came Granny Smith’s soothing voice. “And you will, I have all the faith in the world. You’ve always been strong an’ independent and pig-headed, Lord have mercy,” she grinned as Applejack gave a chuckle, “but it’s okay to need help right now, Applejack. And us? Your family? We’ll give it to you while you learn to… to do it on your own. Ain’t that right, Big Macintosh?”

He gave a nod and a hearty “Eeyup.”

Applejack smiled. It was bittersweet. She didn’t want to need the help but… she knew she did. It would chip away at her ego, but maybe that would be good for her. Though she felt bad for lashing out at her family who was only trying to help. She didn’t mean to be so awful. What would her sister think? What would her parents think? 

“I’m sorry,” Applejack whispered. “I didn’t mean to get mad at y’all. I just need some time.”

Granny tentatively placed a hand on Applejack’s and smiled at her. “We know, hun. And we’re willin’ to wait. Don’t you forget it.”

Applejack hummed her agreement. She swallowed her pride as best as she could and shot a lighthearted glance at Big Mac. “Hey, so how ‘bout that soup?”

“I’ll need to get you a new spoon,” he quipped, patting her gently on the arm before bending down to pick up the spoon from the floor. “I’ll be right back.”

As Big Mac left the room, Applejack felt her anger and confusion go with him, and she was left simply exhausted. If she could have gone limp and slumped forward, she would have, but the one good thing about the plastic brace around her torso was that she could stay straight up. Though the exhaustion battled hard with her need to stay awake and see her family, she knew she should probably rest as soon as she could and not fight it. 

After my soup, she promised herself. Granny simply rubbed her arm in a comforting way. It reminded Applejack somehow of her youth, and a warm sense of nostalgia came over her. It felt like sitting in front of the fireplace for the briefest of moments, though as soon as she latched on to that feeling, it disappeared, leaving her in the sterile, white surrounding.

Maybe sleep would be better once her family had to go. 

Big Mac re-entered the room with a fresh spoon and Applejack followed him with her eyes as he replaced Granny’s position at her bedside. He blew on the soup this time and took a spoonful himself to make sure it wasn’t too hot, though Applejack figured the big guy was just hungry himself. “Alright, you ready this time?”

Applejack rolled her eyes and opened her mouth as a response. The soup, though uncomfortable on her burnt and tender tongue, wasn’t too awful considering it was hospital food. It didn’t have much in it, but it tasted like chicken.  At least that wasn’t so bad. As she let it slide down her throat and into her begging stomach, though she didn’t feel as hungry as she thought, she pushed away all the thoughts creeping in on her.

It’ll only be for a little while, she reminded herself. Just a little while.
> Texts and Tallulah
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Something about the bright white walls and ceiling had never failed to make Applejack feel uneasy. Every time she had opened her eyes over the past week to see the blinding sterile white of the room it set a frown on her face, even if momentarily. Never had she thought that she’d miss something as simple as getting up to stretch in the morning, or at least being able to put her hands over her head and roll out her neck.

Instead, with the same practised routine that she had just gotten used to over several days, Applejack groggily opened her eyes and saw first the same painting of mustangs that greeted her. Next, she would take in the table and chair meant for visitors, and then a nurse or a doctor would come in. That was the worst. She was always too nauseous in the morning to eat, at least since they’d given her the pain meds.

At least if what the doctor had said was true, they’d be taking off her neck brace soon enough and she’d be instead admitted to a rehabilitation facility. Not that she thought it’d be much better, but there was one a little closer to home. He’d said maybe in a week, but every day that passed, that week never seemed to come any closer.

Regardless, Applejack’s still sleepy eyes drifted to the door where she knew a nurse would bring her some breakfast. She’d finally been able to start eating more than just clear liquids and it was just in time, too; Applejack knew she’d had enough gelatine for a lifetime. 

As expected, the door slowly creaked open and from the crack in the doorway entered a short woman in scrubs. Despite being early in the morning, she wore a pleasant smile on her face and held a tray of food in her hands. 

Despite already feeling a bit of nausea creeping in, Applejack managed to return the smile, even if only a bit. “Morning, ma’am.”

“Good morning, miss Applejack!” she greeted back, making her way to Applejack’s bedside. “We have some yogurt parfait here and a banana today. I also brought you some apple juice.” She set the tray on a little table next to the bed. “Do you think you can manage to eat it yourself today?” 

“I think so, but, uh,” Applejack frowned, “I’m not feelin’ too hungry right now if I’m being honest. And you can just call me Applejack, no need for formalities.” She had told her that before, but it seemed she was used to being polite. Another reminder wouldn’t hurt.

The nurse—who had introduced herself previously as Nurse Gentle Touch—gave Applejack a small smile. “Of course, my apologies, Applejack. Are you nauseous?” At Applejack’s nod, she set the tray down on the bedside table. “That’s common as I’m sure you’ve figured out. Soon you won’t need those meds, and we’ll prescribe you some to take as you see fit. It’s just while you recover from the surgery.”

If there were any words that Applejack had grown tired of hearing, they had to be ‘soon’ and ‘while you recover’. It was obvious that things would come at some point, but other than that, they really had to stop making half-promises that they couldn’t keep. Though, there was no point in getting upset; she knew that they were doing their best, and she was just easily irritated.

Maybe if she wasn’t so bored then it wouldn’t be so bad. If Applejack was being honest, she was itching for something to do. Anything. Maybe the fact that she found herself wanting to go back to doing manual labour meant her life was simply boring.

Well, there certainly wasn’t anything to do sitting in the same hospital bed every second of every day. The most exciting part of the entire week was shortly after having woken up from her second sleep that Applejack realized she indeed had a catheter in. Well, that wasn’t so much exciting as it was horrifying.

The blonde blushed as she recalled that realization. It wasn’t even as if she could feel it, but the knowledge that it was there was enough to send her into a state of embarrassment.

“Applejack?” 

She focused back in, noticing that she had been staring right at the nurse—or rather, through her—and grimaced. “Sorry, zoned out.”

“Are you feeling okay? Any lightheadedness, dizziness, headaches, nausea?” 

“No, ma’am,” Applejack responded. “Well, just a bit nauseous.”

Nurse Gentle nodded. “Again, that’s likely just the pain meds. Since you aren’t feeling any of the other things I mentioned, then I can officially clear you from concussion protocol,” she told her with a happy smile that never wavered. “Your brother dropped off a few of your effects while you were sleeping last evening, I’ll bring them to you after we empty your catheter and switch out the bag.”

It was as if she could read minds. Truly, without fail, Nurse Gentle somehow always knew what Applejack was thinking about. The blonde pursed her lips and licked them inwardly, noting that she could use some lip balm. “Alright, thanks,” she replied simply. 

If her phone was among the things that Big Mac had brought for her, maybe she could finally use it to check up on her family. Fall was midway through, which meant that it was time to rotate the cows to the next field to graze soon. Applejack always took care of that with Big Mac, but now it was up to her siblings. She hoped they’d be alright. She certainly hoped they were working all the horses, too. Not just the cow horses and the competition horses, but the trail horses too and the boarding horses.

And Bloom was coming up to her end-of-semester exams. She hoped that her little sister had studied hard, especially for her mathematics class. From their study sessions, though, it seemed the young girl had gotten the hang of it. 

What about Barley?

Her heart dipped a bit at the thought of her horse. He’d always been there for her ever since her dad had bought him as a gift for her thirteenth birthday. She’d always wanted a horse like Barley; big, fast, smart, and a real winner. Judging by his pedigree and his sire, Racing Stripe, he must have cost a good amount of money. Any foal of Racing Stripe was bound to sell for big bucks.

“Anything for my brave girl,” she could just about hear her father say. He really loved all his children equally. Yokel was a strong horse, just as strong as Big Mac, and certainly the product of a winning bloodline. Megan wasn’t any different; even though she had been bought as a young filly—just a yearling—she grew with Apple Bloom and it was evident they both strived to win. 

All in all, the Apple children had horses to match their winning personalities. And it was all thanks to one Bright Macintosh and one Pear Butter, each with a number of belts, golden saddles, and the prize money to match. A match made in heaven, if Applejack had anything to say. Bright Mac and Buttercup were both inducted to the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame post-mortem.

Applejack sighed. 

She hoped Apple Bloom had been taking Barley out to ride.


~~~~🍎~~~~


There was a subtle art to trying to make the best of a grim situation. For Applejack, that meant being glad for the tiniest of things. At the current moment, she was glad that she could just pretend anything that had to do with her catheter wasn’t happening. She couldn’t feel it, so she just shut her eyes and pretended that things such as baggie changes weren’t happening.

And it worked, most of the time. At least, it had been for the past week. She fiddled with her fingers as she waited for the nurse to come back with her stuff. Her eyes drifted over that painting of the mustangs, but she found herself growing agitated by the sheer presence of it. 

The door opened silently. It was nothing like the door back at home; it wasn’t nearly as squeaky and loud. It sounded like something silly to miss, but she missed how loud home was.

In Nurse Gentle’s arms was a box. There must not have been a lot in it because Applejack couldn’t really spot anything sticking out the top of it. Though just as she thought that was all, from behind the nurse came scurrying in Apple Bloom, then Big Mac.

Applejack’s lips turned up into a big smile as her little sister scampered to her side. “Applejack!” she squeaked out, holding one of her arms out in front of her as she approached her big sister.

The blonde reached out the arm closest to the side Apple Bloom came to and grabbed her hand. “Hey, Bloom.”

The door shut behind them, and Applejack smiled at Big Mac who gave a wave and set down something just out of view. Applejack tried to get a look, but she couldn’t quite see. The nurse retreated out of the room with her brother, saying something about giving them a moment.

“I missed you so much A.J,” Apple Bloom continued, leaning into her sister’s arm in a manner so gentle it was almost laughable. She pressed her forehead into Applejack’s forearm, and judging by the way she was erratically breathing and shaking, Applejack guessed she must have been crying. “I couldn’t wait to see you but you were still sleepin’ and then I had to go back to school and, well, stuff needs to get done back home and—”

“Hey,” Applejack interrupted, bringing her arm up so that Apple Bloom would lift her head. She was, indeed, crying, and the sight made Applejack’s heart drop. She couldn’t bear to see her baby sister crying. “It’s alright, Bloom, you’re here now, right? That’s all that counts.”

Apple Bloom nodded shakily, sniffing her nose and wiping a tear away. “Uh-huh. Oh, a–and I brought ya somethin’.” She placed a certain brown hat on Applejack’s lap. “I’ve had it since t–that day, and I thought you might want it back.”

Applejack lifted the hat into view, ignoring how it made her back ache slightly. It hurt less than before, which was good. She gazed at the hat with a straight face. Its fur felt finish was sturdy and soft in her grip, equal parts worn-out and strong. The hatband still held that apple-shaped pin, and she found herself appreciating the way the brim turned up just the way she liked.

Yet, it wasn’t right for her to have it. She looked at the hat that she had once named Tallulah as a joke and frowned slightly. In her hands was the hat she wore while riding. It kept the sun off her face and neck, it provided shade and comfort. It made it easy to hide her face and, in a way, always kept her safe from the world.

She held the hat that rested on her head as she received her first All-Around Cowgirl award at the Dodge Junction rodeo, and for the next two that eventually followed. It was there when she won her first saddle in Vanhoover and for numerous buckles. It had been there through rain, shine, snow, and even hail. No matter how hot it got, she refused to wear anything but Ol’ Tallulah.

In her hands, Applejack held the hat that she wore at every competition, at every event. She held the hat that was there when Barley threw her off and her pride made her walk away before they could check her out. She held the hat that endured her angry grip and frustrated smacking when she failed.

The hat that she wore before and as she lost her legs.

Applejack swallowed dryly and gave the hat back to Apple Bloom. “Thanks, Bloom, but I don't need this right now.” Her hand dropped back to her side as she did a good job of keeping her voice steady. “Can you hold on to it for me?”

Apple Bloom nodded slowly. She seemed a bit taken aback, but didn’t argue with the request. “Y-yeah, sure thing.”

Applejack wasn’t quite sure what to say. She hated to see her sister look so dejected, but she couldn’t exactly blame her. Lord knew how Applejack would react in the opposite situation. Besides, she was supposed to be the strong big sister, the one who protected Apple Bloom from anything and everything. She was supposed to teach her everything she knew. But right now? Apple Bloom was the one standing next to her hospital bed.

It wasn’t exactly a good idea, but Applejack pushed herself away from the wall of the bed with a shaky arm, careful not to put her weight too far forward. The plastic case on her torso didn’t exactly make it easy to adjust her weight easily, but at least it kept her upright. Awkwardly, she reached out to Apple Bloom and motioned for her. The younger girl reached in as Applejack pulled her into a side hug. She couldn’t lean her head down because of the brace stabilizing her neck, so she gave her a good squeeze.

“Are you feeling better?” Apple Bloom asked shyly as she gently wrapped her arm around her sister. It was a strange sensation, to say the least.

Almost as much as the answer to her question. She was feeling better than she had been when she had first woken up at the beginning of the week, but that didn’t exactly mean she felt good. It could have been worse, though. Somehow. At this rate, maybe she’d be cleared to move on to rehab in another week as they’d told her. She would still be kept from home for a bit, but she’d be closer. After that… she wasn’t exactly sure, but she’d figure it out. 

In the meantime, she had to stay strong for her family. Was she feeling better? Technically… “Yeah, I am.”

Apple Bloom pulled away. “That’s great! I… well, I can’t even imagine what it’s like, but it's good that you’re feelin’ better.”

“Yeah, it is,” Applejack agreed. There could have been complications, but there hadn’t been, at least not any that were prevalent enough to backtrack the trace amounts of progress she had made. 

“And, uh, s-so you can’t feel your legs? Like at all?” Apple Bloom poked at the blankets, which made Applejack frown. 

“No, but I’d rather you don’t touch my legs, sugarcube.”

Her hand retreated as if it had touched a hot stove. “Oh! Sorry. I was just…”

Her voice trailed off, and Applejack figured she wasn’t going to finish that sentence.“It’s okay, Bloom. It’s just… well, I gotta be careful ‘cause I can’t feel anythin’. Can’t tell if somethin’ might leave a bruise, y’know?”

Apple Bloom nodded slowly. “Yeah, that makes sense. Sorry, though. I coulda asked first.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Applejack agreed, turning her frown back into a smile. “But it’s alright. How about you get Big Mac in here? And that nurse if she’s still around, I dunno if she had more to say.”

The younger girl left the room for a moment. In that moment, Applejack let out a shaky breath and clenched her fists. She glanced at the hat that her sister had left on the chair and chewed on the inside of her lip. It was a habit she had picked up over the past few days, though she wasn’t sure where it came from.

Before she could think too much about it, the door opened again and back in came her siblings and the nurse. This time, however, Big Mac had a plate of apple slices in his hands. Applejack could only guess what they were for, and her thoughts trailed back to the breakfast she never had. As if on cue, her stomach rumbled. At least the nausea didn’t last too long anymore now that they had been giving her less and less pain medication.

Once again, Nurse Gentle seemed to read her mind as she asked, “Are you feeling okay to eat now? I can see you eyeing up the apple.”

Applejack snorted out a laugh that felt a bit awkward as it left her throat. “I reckon I am, ma’am.”

It almost felt like they were watching her as she received what was meant to be her breakfast and slowly worked through it. Her arms were a bit shaky, though that was apparently normal as they constantly held her up even if she didn’t notice it, but she never dropped any food anymore. 

It wasn’t a feeling, though. Her eyes drifted up for a moment as she let herself unfocus from the task and she did indeed notice everyone in the room staring at her. As quickly as she noticed, though, they all looked away—except for Nurse Gentle Touch. Applejack bit back a snarl and instead went back to eating. 

As she put the tray on her lap and picked up the banana, she questioned if it was a test. Holding the fruit up to her sight, she began the process of peeling it. It almost felt like being a kid again, a kid who didn’t know how to peel a banana. Eventually, though, she got it and proceeded to eat it quickly, feeling rather full. 

They could have at least made conversation with each other, that way it wouldn't have been so weird. But to be fair, Big Mac wasn’t much of a talker and Apple Bloom seemed a bit out of it.

“Y’all didn’t have to watch me the whole time,” Applejack pointed out light-heartedly as she swallowed the last bit of food. Nurse Gentle took the plate from her, for which Applejack uttered her thanks. “I can eat just fine, ain’t nothin’ to watch.”

“I guess they’re just proud of you,” Nurse Gentle pointed out softly. “It may not seem like it, but your independence is growing, and this is a good first step.”

Eating food? That seemed a bit silly, but Applejack wasn’t going to try to refute it. It wasn’t that hard to eat, but then, she did have some difficulty with it at the beginning of the week. She sighed. “Yeah, I guess.” 

“I’ll leave you with them. If you need anything, you know how to call.”

With a simple wave, Nurse Gentle left the room with the tray of food that Applejack had finally finished. Once alone in the room, Apple Bloom ran to the chair and sat down on it, while Big Mac brought over the box that the Nurse had brought in. He set it by the bottom half of the bed and tossed Applejack something. Unsurprisingly, it simply hit her in the chest with a plastic thud and fell onto her lap. Applejack rolled her eyes as Big Mac sheepishly rubbed his neck.

Though, her annoyed expression changed as she figured out just what it was that Big Mac threw at her. In her hands, she held her phone, something she hadn’t seen in a week. Normally, it wasn’t anything worth getting excited about; she didn’t normally use it much anyway other than to communicate with any clients looking to board horses or for any other business or family related reasons, but after a week with nothing to do because of  ‘concussion protocol’, Applejack was more than happy to see it again. 

She held it up and turned it on. As always, a picture of Barley greeted her, though what caught her eye was the unopened messages. She’d gotten texts from at least two or three people, but she couldn’t see all of their names since the notifications stacked. Two of them were at least from her cousins, though. It should have made her happy to see their names but in reality, she couldn’t help the frown on her face. 

She’d check it later. Before she could put it away, though, she received another text.



Big Mac
Now we can text!



Applejack looked to her sister, who grinned at her, clutching her brother’s phone up to her face. It was almost comically large in her grip. “So even though I can’t see ya in the week,  we can still talk,” Apple Bloom added. “Ain’t that nice? Now I won’t have to miss ya… as much.”

That was definitely a plus. Applejack put her phone down next to her. “Hey, I miss y’all, too. And it’ll definitely be nice to talk to ya more, even if it is through the textin’ app on these things.”

“You talk like Granny Smith,” Apple Bloom quipped. 

Applejack snorted. “You ever see me use my phone like you do?”

“Good point.”

They laughed a bit, Big Mac finally joining them in their exchange. Apple Bloom told Applejack about how school was going, while Big Mac filled her in on the goings-on back at home. It was good to hear that Big Mac didn’t need much help with everything, especially since she couldn’t be there to help. Apple Bloom had been there to help, too, even if it meant having to go straight home after school. It made Applejack a little guilty, but Apple Bloom swore that she enjoyed it. 

At least there was that. How they managed to work all the horses was beyond Applejack, but she wasn’t going to question it. Big Mac had a way of doing things even if they seemed impossible. Maybe they didn’t need her help. The thought stung, but it was a good thing.

It was a good thing.

Eventually, Apple Bloom ended up eating the apple slices that Big Mac brought as she showed Applejack the ribbon she had gotten the weekend prior and left it for her on her bedpost to ‘liven up the place’. If she was being honest, Applejack didn’t really want to see it there all the time, but she wasn’t going to tell her sister that, so she smiled and nodded. She’d ask someone to put it away later, and maybe take the painting along with it.

The rest of the day passed quickly. Applejack got help adjusting herself so she wouldn’t develop bedsores, and another check-up was complete. With it, another promise of one last week before she could move forward with her recovery, but she believed it that time. She just couldn’t wait to at least move her neck around. Now that was going to be sore. 

Finally, her siblings had to leave for the night, and all in all, their visit made Applejack mostly happy. It was hard to see them, especially Apple Bloom, who looked so uncertain. But even she had loosened up eventually. It only made Applejack even more excited to finally put on the clothes that Big Mac had brought for her when she got cleared to leave. How she was going to do that? She wasn’t sure, but it’d get done. And she wasn’t going to accept any help dressing herself. That was a bit too embarrassing for her taste.

The room’s lights turned off for the night, but Applejack didn’t feel all too tired. Instead, she grabbed her phone again and took a deep breath. “You don’t have to respond,” she told herself, “but at least check what they’ve been sayin’.”

The bright light made Applejack blink. She unlocked her phone and looked through the top bar of her notifications. A reminder that a client was going to pick up their horse took up half the screen, but it was a few days old so she swiped it away with a frown. Her arms shook with what was probably bodily exhaustion, but she kept looking. Finally, she reached the messages she’d missed and took a look.



Apple Fritter
Hey cuz! Hope you’re doing okay. Figured you didn’t want all of us to blow up your phone, so we decided to leave it up to me to text you. 
Call me when you can or send a text!



Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to say something back. Fritter had always been there for her, and it was rude to say nothing. Applejack quickly typed out a simple promise to call her sometime and an assurance that she was doing okay before moving on.



Braeburn
Hi AJ, hope you’re okay. Big Mac says you’re doing alright. I hope that big doofus ain’t sugarcoating things, but knowing you you’re probably making big strides already.
Poor choice of words?
Let me know when you see this.



Applejack rolled her eyes. Braeburn never was the best with words, but he never failed to make her smile. She replied to him, too, and made sure that her greetings were extended to the rest of the family.



 Apple Bloom
APPLEJACK! 
Granny says she misses you! And I do too, even though I just say you
Saw*
Oh and Winona misses you too! She keeps whining at your room for walks, but that’s okay cos I take her
Barley says hi! Well, not really, but you know what I mean
Anyway I think you’re asleep maybe
Here, I think this will make you smile :)
Attachment: 1 image



The picture attached was one of Barley in his stall. He had his halter on and superimposed on top of it was text that read ‘Night walk!’. Applejack gave a crooked smile. Barley loved going for a walk down by the cows at sunset. The longer she stared, the smaller her smile became, so she sent her sister a little heart and a good night text before she moved on to the last text.



Strawberry Sunrise
Hey Applejack. I heard about… everything
That really sucks. Sorry to hear about it
If you need someone to talk to, I’m here to listen.
You don’t need any enemies right now, so how about we start fresh?
Let me know if you’re interested in that, okay?



Applejack stared at the screen, unsure how to even feel. How did Strawberry even get her number? She’d never given it to the redhead despite having hers. Maybe she had asked one of her siblings? But even then, she doubted they would have given it to her, so how exactly did Strawberry Sunrise manage to contact her?

That wasn’t important. She couldn’t go acting all nice now that Applejack… It wasn’t fair. “You don’t get to offer that,” Applejack muttered bitterly as she closed the messaging app without even thinking of a response. “We ain’t friends.” 

The phone grew heavy in her hand. 
> Stretch
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“And then wouldn’t you believe it? Big Mac just about hoisted that whole calf up over his head!”

“Oh really?” With an amused smile, Applejack rolled her eyes and pressed her head to her shoulder, keeping the phone in place as she pushed herself up and readjusted herself in the bed. “Sounds like branding day went off without a hitch.”

“Pretty much,” Apple Bloom confirmed through the phone. There was some kind of muffled rustling that came through. “Though it was a little hard without your help if I’m bein’ honest.”

“Aw, sorry I can’t be there to help, sugar cube. But y’all seemed to pull it off just fine on your own,” Applejack pointed out, once again taking the phone in her hand. She had been calling Apple Bloom every day since she got her phone back, and thanks to that, the week had passed quickly. “Anyway, I’ve got somethin’ real exciting to tell ya!”

“Well, it wasn’t really on our own,” Apple Bloom mumbled nearly inaudibly before squeaking into the phone. “Ooh! What is it? Can I guess? They gave you a gift! A set of bionic legs! A DVD player! I’ve always wanted a DVD player. Did they give you a DVD player?!”

She almost forgot how hyper Apple Bloom could be. Applejack couldn’t help but wonder if Apple Bloom had had too much sugar again. She figured it was best she didn’t ask and instead chuckled lightly. “No, none of that, though it would have been pretty nifty to get a DVD player,” she agreed with a roll of her eyes that her sister would not be able to see. “But it ain’t nothin’ like that, Bloom. This morning they finally took off that bulky neck brace I’ve had on my shoulders.”

Just at the mention of it, Applejack reached up and rubbed the skin of her neck. It was good to finally be able to look around the room freely, even at the cost of the incredibly sore muscles. Moreso, it meant that something even better was about to happen.

Apple Bloom gasped sharply, the noise coming across as a jagged jab into Applejack’s ear. “Oh my gosh! That means you’re gettin’ moved closer to home soon!”

“That’s right! Just as soon as they clear me, which should be within the next few days.” Saying it out loud felt even more surreal than when she had heard the news. It almost made the last couple of weeks seem short in hindsight, but whatever it took to get out of the hospital, Applejack would do it. Besides, occupational and physical therapy would keep her mind busy and a busy mind meant having no time to really think. 

And not having time to think meant that she didn’t need to think about… everything.

“Then I’ll be one step closer to home,” she continued, shaking away her thoughts. “It’s been gettin’ real borin’ here, to be honest.”

“Yeah, I bet! I couldn’t imagine being stuck in bed all day. At least you’ll get to actually do things once you’re back, right?”

She tried to sound enthusiastic, but Apple Bloom’s words did little more than make Applejack worry a bit. She knew her sister meant well, but she couldn’t help but wonder just how many things she could actually even do, even once she gets used to her new life. Could she ever even get used to her new life? It was getting easier by the day, but then again, she hadn’t actually tried to do anything in that time. All she’d done was sit in bed and talk to her family. She hadn’t even gotten the chance to go for a spin in a wheelchair on her own yet. That wasn’t very encouraging.

All good things came to those who waited, though. That’s what she knew, or at least what she had tried to learn. She’d just… wait. Applejack would learn to get around on her own, and who knows? Maybe she’d be able to walk again someday, at least a little. Maybe she wouldn’t be completely and utterly useless. Even as she was, she could still do other things. She could help with the paperwork side of running the family ranch, she could tend to the little crops they had, she could feed the animals, she could… Well, there wasn’t much else.

As soon as she found herself frowning again, she shook her head and forced a smile on her face. Nobody would see it, sure, but she knew it was there, and that was more than enough. Besides, she knew she was going to get a bit of practice on a wheelchair before she was sent off to O.T. That’s what Nurse Gentle had told her that morning. She just needed to wait until after lunch, which was bound to be soon, and then she could try her hands at actually getting around on her own! 

She just had to forget about the problem going on at the lower half of her body until then, but that was easy enough. Applejack had enough people to text and call to fill her time, and even when she didn’t she found a nice idle game on her phone to play. It was all about running a farm, which seemed kind of ironic in hindsight, but it was easy and fulfilling—even if she had to watch a lot of ads.

“Applejack?” 

Oh, right, Apple Bloom. 

“Sorry. Yeah, uh, I’ll get right back to the swing of things soon, I’m sure.”

“That’s great! I can’t wait to see ya, sis!”

“Me neither, Apple Bloom,” Applejack responded with a smile on her face. 

“And I know Barley can’t either. He’s been pretty restless.” At that, the faint sound of a horse huffing filled in the emptiness of the background. “Woah. It’s alright, boy. Sorry, Applejack, he’s been a bit spooky lately. I guess he misses you.”

That sounded like Barley. Applejack made a face that was neither a smile nor a frown. “He’s always been pretty hard to ride. Though Barley’s always been good to me.”

“Yeah, no kidding. Hoo, boy. That’s it, calm down. Y’all have a bond, but it’s like he won’t listen to anybody else.”

The blonde’s ambiguous face turned into a grimace. If Barley was being spooky then it would be difficult to work him, but if he didn’t get taken out he would get restless which would make it worse. “Hey, just promise you’ll be careful, alright? Don’t need you gettin’ hurt on account of Barley.”

“Yeah, I’ll be okay. I’m actually just finishing up brushing him. He didn’t let me ride so I let him out into the paddock for a bit. Maybe… Maybe you’ll be able to ride him again some day.”

“I, uh…” Applejack swallowed dryly, now clutching the blanket in her hand. After a failed attempt at even imagining such a thing, she swiftly shook her head. Problem for later. “It’s gonna be lunch time soon, so I gotta go. I know Granny makes food ‘round this time, and I don’t want her to get upset at ya for missin’ it.”

If Apple Bloom was bothered by Applejack’s less than swift change of topic, she didn’t show it. “Well, she wouldn’t get upset if it’s cause I’m talkin’ to you,” Apple Bloom pointed out.

Applejack hesitated for a moment before responding, “Yeah, but still. Don’t wanna keep ya, alright? I’ll talk to ya tomorrow. I’ve got a busy day today. For once.”

“Sure, okay. Well, talk to ya later sis! I’ll tell everyone else you said hi.” 

Before Applejack could even respond, the line went dead with a beep that told of Apple Bloom’s premature hang-up. Applejack simply smiled flatly and put her phone down on the mattress next to her. It was something so simple, so typical, but talking with her sister really did make her day feel just a little brighter.

Soon enough, it would really be lunch-time for the blonde—that part wasn’t a lie. Despite being something so mundane, excitement still built up inside her. She had really taken free range of her neck for granted her whole life. It was the first real chance she was going to get to eat almost normally, with no brace to restrict her. 

Well, no neck brace, at least. Tan fingers rapped against the plastic body jacket in a hollow knock. Applejack couldn’t help but snort at the absurdity of the situation. It had only been a few weeks but the disparity she had been feeling before had already died down and been replaced with sour amusement. At least her posture was great—not that it wasn’t before—and she wouldn’t have to be so tired from being on her feet all day. That was good. It had to be. 

Before she could give it too much thought, the door opened in its typical non-familiar silence.  It was still a bit weird and on the most boring of days, she got to wondering how often they logically oiled the hinges. 

“Good afternoon, Applejack,” greeted the nurse—Carin’, if Applejack’s memory served her right—as she wheeled in a cart with a tray of food. Carin’ was really quite pleasant, though she had only recently been assigned to Applejack, if that was even how it worked. Whenever Nurse Gentle was unavailable, Nurse Carin’ would take her place. “It’s lunchtime now, and then we can go to your first round of physio. We need to get you at least a little bit ready for your move to the rehab facility.”

With a nod, Applejack accepted the tray handed to her and looked down at the food on the plate. Orange slices and a jelly sandwich. Simple, but not as bad as it could have been. She poked the plastic fork at the sliced oranges.. “I can’t say I ain’t nervous, but I am excited. It feels good to finally be able to do somethin’ other than just sit around.” She snorted. “Well, I’ll still be sitting, but you know what I mean.”

“I can imagine. It’s a big first step,” she agreed with a pleasant smile. “I can only imagine how excited you must be to get out of here.”

Applejack took a bite from one of the orange slices and separated the tangy, yet sweet flesh from the peel. The refreshing juicy inside brought a grin to her face, though the nurse's comment definitely helped with that. “Yeah, you could say that.”

Truth be told, she was excited. Definitely. There was still a little bit of fear, though. Not only from all the adjusting she’d definitely have to do, but the adjusting everyone else would have to do, too. The last thing Applejack would ever want was to be a burden. Somehow, she thought it would almost be easier to stay in the hospital. Rehabilitation meant recovery, and recovery (whatever degree she could reach) meant going home. 

“It is gettin’ a bit boring,” the blonde added after devouring another orange slice. “But I swear y’all put something in these oranges. They’re so darn good!”

The nurse let out a small ‘ha-ha’ as she began to unfold a wheelchair that had been tucked away in the corner of the room. It must have been brought in while Applejack was sleeping. “They’re locally grown. The family who owns the orchard makes many types of donations, but they regularly provide the hospital with oranges and other fruit.”

“That’s real nice of ‘em.” 

She wasn’t really sure what else to say, but the nurse didn’t try to keep up the conversation which Applejack was grateful for. Emerald eyes glanced at the last orange slice on her plate. The farmers who provided the delectable fruit had a duty, one that nobody forced them to do. One that Applejack, as a rancher and someone familiar with produce farming, could definitely respect. 

Ranching and farming weren’t that dissimilar. Often, they worked hand in hand—farmers farmed the grass they’d sell as hay bales used to feed stock, and the stock-eating produce helped the farmers make more money. It was a two-way street. A mutually beneficial relationship. Farmers cared for their crops the same way ranchers cared for their animals. Applejack’s family didn’t just raise cattle to sell for meat. They had sires for breeding that produced great offspring and some of those calves would later be sold as steers or raised to be bulls for rodeo, some of them would be sold to other cattle ranchers.

And just like with the cattle, horses worked the same way. They didn’t just have their own family working and leisure horses, but they also sired foals and sold them to interested buyers. Barley himself was to become a sire some day, which is why they kept him intact. A stallion with his pedigree was sure to produce quality offspring. 

Applejack smiled gently as she relayed this information to herself. She had become intimately familiar with every aspect of the family business—the cattle, the bulls, the sheep, and definitely the horses. She’d always looked forward to the day when she could see just what kind of foals Barley could sire. Applejack would bet money that they’d be great working cow horses or rodeo horses. Though, something inside her hoped that he could sire a bucking horse. 

That last thought made her stomach turn a little. Applejack's smile turned into a frown as she realized she had been staring at her plate for an excessive amount of time. Her appetite suddenly seemed to disappear. She definitely didn’t want the jelly sandwich on the other half of the plate anymore.

She grimaced and set the plate down on her lap. “Can I eat this later? I ain’t really that hungry anymore.” 

Surprisingly blurry green irises looked up to the nurse who patiently waited by the wheelchair. The blonde blinked harshly in an attempt to rid her eyes of the tears before the nurse could see them, and it seemed as though it had worked. “Are you sure?” Nurse Carin’ asked gently. “It’d be good to have your strength up for physio. I know you are very fit, but it is surprisingly physically demanding.”

Applejack sucked on her teeth and poked tenderly at the rest of her meal. It was a simple jelly sandwich cut diagonally into two triangles, but she just didn’t feel like eating it. Nurse Carin’ sighed gently. “Okay, if you don’t feel well enough to eat it, that’s fine. Are you still okay to go to physio?”

Without hesitation, Applejack nodded. She looked up to the nurse who took her tray and put it on the bedside table. “Yeah, I’ve been just itchin’ to get to that. I… I guess maybe I’m just nervous, which makes me not wanna eat,” she rationalized, maybe more so to herself than to the nurse. “It used to happen since I was little enough for mutton bustin’ all the way up to when we started steer ridin’.”

“That’s quite common, especially in a situation like this,” Nurse Carin’ reassured. “I find that most people who have to do physiotherapy and/or occupational therapy tend to be nervous at first. The biggest obstacle almost always tends to be the mental barrier.”

“And just remember, kiddo, the biggest obstacle’s always the one in yer head.” A strong, weathered hand let itself fall on Applejack’s messy, blonde hair. “So don’t let that stop you, ya just gotta clear that and you’ll be good to go.”

A little freckled face brightened up at the words, though the nerves were still evident on her face. She forced herself to look up at the red headed man with the biggest smile she could muster up and nodded. “Okay, Dad. I’ll do that, I promise.”

“I know, hun.” His hand ruffled up her hair before gently putting a helmet on it. “Now go show that steer what for!”

Applejack nodded blankly. 

“Tell you what, I’ll bring your lunch in case you get hungry,” the nurse offered. “If you need it, just tell the physiotherapist. He won’t mind.”

“Alright,” Applejack agreed. “So, how are we gonna do this?”

The nurse explained the plan, which started with Applejack getting into a proper seated position and holding herself up with her arms. If she could do that and didn’t feel too dizzy or tired, then the nurse would help Applejack into the chair. She warned that it could be a bit awkward since she had to physically grab her, but Applejack really didn’t mind. She had a feeling that boundaries were going to have to change after her accident anyway.

With the plan in place, Applejack prepped herself mentally as the nurse wheeled the chair to its position next to the bed. Finally, she would be able to do something. She’d been looking forward to it since she was told it needed to happen, if only in a desperate hope to regain some normalcy.

Of course, she would prefer it to not even be a necessity, but knowing what she knew, she was lucky that she could even do this much. The butterflies in her stomach fluttered anxiously as she made eye contact with the nurse and nodded. The blonde felt like she was already getting better at sitting up on her own, though she knew she had the body jacket to thank for that. Once it was time to take it off, it would be a whole new period of readjustment, but that was a problem for future Applejack.

Current Applejack just had to worry about her first (assisted) transfer into a wheelchair. That was a milestone she never thought she’d have to reach, but hey, life is strange. 

She nodded at the nurse, who took the blanket from Applejack’s lap and gently folded it at the foot of the bed. Applejack, with the help of Carin’, sat up away from the backboard of the bed.

“Are you okay to move on?” she asked. 

Applejack nodded. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

Nurse Carin’ slipped an arm under Applejack’s shoulders  and secured her other arm under her knees. Despite the fact that she could see this, Applejack obviously could not feel it. She bit her lip, not knowing how she’d ever get used to that. After a countdown from three, Nurse Carin’ moved Applejack so her legs dangled off the edge of the bed near the wheelchair. Applejack made sure to hold herself up as best as she could, no longer being able to rely on the backrest. 

It was strangely difficult without the use of her lower back and abdomen, but once again she found herself thanking the plastic that hugged her torso. Once the nurse made sure she was steady and not about to fall, though she insisted Applejack at least keep one hand on her shoulder for stability, she lowered the bed until Applejack’s feet could touch the floor.

“Here’s the tricky part. You can take a breather while I put on some shoes for you.” 

“Sure,” Applejack agreed, surprisingly tired. She watched as some plain black shoes were slipped onto her feet. That was smart, she would have never even thought about it, but it made sense to do so to protect her feet just like having socks on helped in case her toes got too cold and she couldn’t feel it. The blonde couldn’t help but think about how she was going to go about putting on her own shoes. Would boots be harder to put on? Would she have to switch to wearing sneakers?

The thought didn’t last long before Nurse Carin’ cut into it. “Okay, now I’m going to lift you into the chair. This is called a pivot, and you’ll learn how to do this by yourself eventually, but for now you’ll have someone to help you.”

Applejack’s lip twitched at the thought of that, but she figured she’d just have to learn quickly. “Okay.”

After getting everything into position, including making sure the wheelchair’s brakes were on and the bed was locked, Carin’ wrapped her arms around Applejack’s chest and with another countdown, she lifted as Applejack pushed off the bed. With a quick turn, Applejack reached for the armrests of the wheelchair and helped the nurse lower her into the seat.

“There,” Nurse Carin’ huffed, “that wasn’t so bad, was it?” She smiled and bent down to unfold the footrests and adjust Applejack’s legs properly. “I’m a lot stronger than I look.”

She was finally out of the bed. She was in a chair, about to leave the room she’d been in for entirely too long, even if only for a bit. A strange wave of relief flooded over Applejack as she let out a slow breath. Words failed her, there was nothing she could even possibly think to say in what would otherwise be such a mundane situation. But right now? Sitting in a wheelchair felt like the biggest advancement she had ever made.

She sniffled a little as she noticed a single tear roll down her cheek. It surprised her a bit as she wiped it away with a shudder, but no more followed. The nurse seemed to simply just smile at her, probably used to having similar reactions from other patients. Though, Applejack definitely wasn’t sure how common spinal injuries were.

Once Applejack took a drink of water and composed herself, she tied up her hair as best as she could without hurting her back and pushed her bangs out of her face. “Okay, what’s next?”



~~~~🍎~~~~



Physiotherapy was not something new to Applejack. She would even be willing to bet her bottom dollar that every single one of her rodeo opponents had themselves been to at least one round of physiotherapy. It was not uncommon in the horse riding community, much less competition riders in rodeo.

What was new to her, though, was the level of exhaustion that she felt once she finally reached the end of her twenty minute session. She greedily drank water, trying to replace what she had sweated out.

“Good work today,” the physiotherapist—Doctor Stretch Horizon—said. “You did great for your first day.”

Applejack leaned on the armrest on the wheelchair. “It wasn’t too much different from stuff I’ve done before.” She smiled a little bit and wiped her forehead. “Just felt a lot more intense.”

It was mostly arm and shoulder work. Nothing different or strenuous, but she guessed that being stuck in a bed for so long had made her weaker. Plus, it sort of felt harder to breathe, though that was something that a doctor told her might happen.

“Well, you had to use a lot of different muscles to make up for the ones you can’t use anymore,” Doctor Horizon explained. “But you don’t have to wear yourself out, especially in the early stages. The respiratory and motion stretches I showed you can be done twice a day on your own time if you feel up to it.”

Applejack nodded and took another sip of water. “Sure.  I’ll remember those.”

“They’re important. They’ll prevent future complications, so make sure to do them while you can.” He wrote something down on a clipboard and looked back at her with dark brown eyes. “After you get transferred, you’ll see why they help so much.”

She could already imagine why. After all, she’d need her arm strength back to actually be able to wheel herself around all the time. It was a lot harder than she thought to navigate in a wheelchair, but she found out that mobility chairs were typically a lot more ergonomic than hospital ones. That made it a bit more bearable, she just had to wait until she could get one of her own. Plus, the body jacket didn’t help much. 

Though, Applejack did manage to wheel around the room a few times and avoid a couple of obstacles before having to stop. Flat ground work, but it was a start. Just like horsemanship, getting the basics done with a new horse was beyond important.

And hoo boy if a wheelchair ain’t like a new horse…

She coughed and shook her head. “I’m kinda tired,” Applejack admitted hastily. “And a bit hungry.”

“You think you can wheel yourself back to your room?”

Her arms begged her not to. For once, she listened.

“Maybe next time,” she responded with a forced laugh.

Doc Horizon returned the laugh, although his seemed genuine, and approached the wheelchair with the sandwich she left behind on a plate. “Not a problem. I would have been surprised if you obliged, to be honest.”

She didn’t say anything on the way back to the room, and not only because she decided to eat her lunch on the way back. Once he helped her back into bed, they exchanged goodbyes and a confirmation of their next meeting before she was left to her own devices.

Literally.

Her phone was easy to reach and quickly snatched from the bedside table. Unsurprisingly, a couple people had found their way into her inbox. At least that would keep her occupied for a bit. She grinned as she opened the text stream with her cousin.



Apple Fritter
Applejack you aren’t gonna believe this.
Remember that guy from the bar?
Rusty?
He wants to go on an honest to goodness date with me!
Can you believe it, cuz?
Oh also how are you?





Me
I still don’t get what you see in him, to be honest.
But he seemed friendly enough, I guess. 
How are you gonna make that work, though? He lives awful far.
And har har, I’m doing fine. Thanks for asking. Even if I was a second thought. :P 



Despite her tired body asking for a nap, Applejack decided she’d much rather keep up with her cousin’s seemingly never ending drama. Wow. She was really bored. 

At least it passed the time. 



Apple Fritter
You weren’t a second thought, cuz.
It hurts me that you’d think so lowly of me!
And he has a car and a  surprising amount of free time. 
Plus, there is a little thing called the internet. Heard of it? 



She rolled her eyes at Apple Fritter’s response. She could practically hear the sarcasm dripping from the message. Typical Fritter. Still, she wasn’t sure exactly why she would want to go to the trouble of a long distance relationship, but she definitely wasn’t going to judge. Just as she was thinking of something to type out in response, her phone gave a quick buzz before letting out a tiny—

Ding!

Applejack’s body stiffened for a second at the notification. 

She tapped it anyway.



Strawberry Sunrise
Hey Applejack. I heard about… everything
That really sucks. Sorry to hear about it
If you need someone to talk to, I’m here to listen.
You don’t need any enemies right now, so how about we start fresh?
Let me know if you’re interested in that, okay?





Strawberry Sunrise
Your sister told me you’re doing better
I’m glad
Don’t get mad at her
I made her tell me
And my offer still stands



A little speech bubble with three bouncing dots appeared and reappeared. The blonde stared intently as they stayed for a while, then disappeared, then came back a few times. Her eyebrow raised as the message finally came in. She thought it was going to be a longer message.




I’m still here 



It wasn’t. Applejack wanted to be upset. Mad, even, that Strawberry wouldn’t take a hint. But… there had to be a reason for it all. Why was Applejack even mad at her anymore? She sure didn’t like the girl, but why was she upset at her over something that all of a sudden seemed so insignificant?

That anger wasn’t just going to disappear, but it suddenly felt pointless. Maybe she was just tired. Maybe she should have waited until she was rested again to respond. 



 Me
Apple Bloom couldn’t keep her mouth shut if you paid her to.
Call me tomorrow when you’re not busy. We need to talk.



Her fingers typed anyway.
> Push
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

If it had been at any other place, one could have easily mistaken Apple Bloom for a kid on a sugar high. She buzzed in place, practically vibrating with excitement as she squealed, “Today’s the day!”

Applejack grinned and nodded at her sister, who clearly did all she could to keep herself from jumping on Applejack. Even if that included having Apple Fritter physically restrain her with a not-so-subtle arm around the shoulder. Applejack couldn’t help but laugh. “Yup! I really appreciate y’all coming to help.”

“Oh, hogwash,” Granny interjected, waving her hand dismissively. “Of course we gon’ come help you.”

“I’m just glad you’ve got actual clothes on, cuz,” Fritter teased, making Applejack stick out her tongue.

The blonde looked down at herself. Her favourite pair of jeans and a blue button-up replaced the hospital gown she’d grown so used to wearing. It felt so good to finally be wearing her own clothes. Applejack rubbed her hands on the denim of her jeans and nodded. “Yeah, me too!”

“And we got you a special surprise,” Apple Bloom added in a stage whisper. “But, it’s a surprise. Like I said. So you’ll have to wait’n see what it is once we get ya all packed up.”

Apple Fritter ruffled the hair on the top of Apple Bloom’s head and gently shoved her away toward Big Mac, who was busy putting Applejack’s belongings in a box. “Go on and help yer brother, Bloom,” she instructed Apple Bloom, who nodded and scampered off to help Big Mac. Apple Fritter watched her with an amused smile before turning back to Applejack. “She’s real excited for you to come closer to home, cuz.”

“Yeah, I know,” Applejack replied with a nod as she watched Apple Bloom hold her hands out to Big Mac, who shrugged and dropped the box into her arms. She held back a chuckle as Apple Bloom almost fell over with the weight, but managed to stay upright with only the most obvious of struggling expressions on her face as they both left the room together. “I’m excited, too. I’ve been thinkin’ about today for so long and now that it’s happenin’, it feels… I dunno, it feels fake.”

“Too good to be true, cuz?” Fritter offered with an understanding smile.

Applejack snorted. “Yeah, a little bit. Feels like the nurse is gonna come back and tell me that I need to wait another week or somethin’. Hell, even the doctor himself.” As if on command, the door opened to reveal Nurse Gentle along with Doctor Steady Ease. They walked into the room together, each with a smile on their face. Applejack clamped her mouth shut, but not before asking, “Y’all ain’t here to give me bad news, are ya?”

“No,” Doctor Steady responded, “no, we’re just here to review the next steps for you. No bad news. This all your family here?”

“Sure is,” she confirmed with a nod and gestured to Apple Fritter, who sat on the edge of the bed. “This here’s my cousin Apple Fritter, she’s pretty much like another sister to me.”

At her mention, Apple Fritter stuck out a hand to the pair, firmly shaking each of their hands. “Nice to meet ya! I trust y’all have been takin’ great care of my cousin.”

The doctor seemed impressed by Fritter’s handshake as he nodded. “She’s been very cooperative, so that definitely makes our job easier.”

“But they have been takin’ great care of me,” Applejack added, much to the humble doctor’s dismay. She turned to him and the nurse with a soft smile. “I just wanted to say thanks. I know it’s your job, but y’all have been more than just medical staff to me. Ya really helped me start on this road.”

“Aw, well we are certainly going to miss you,” Steady admitted, returning the look. He pursed his lips into a tighter version of his smile. “But, that being said, we are happy you don’t need us anymore.”

Gentle shook her head slightly, but the smile on her face revealed her amusement. “Poor tact aside, he is right.”

“I’ll definitely miss y’all as well.” Applejack noticed her family staring at the scene, each with wide teary eyes. She snorted and rolled her own eyes, poorly hiding the moisture on them as she not-so-surreptitiously wiped the palm of her hand along them. “C’mon, get on with it.”

“Aw, are ya cryin’, cuz?” Fritter teased in a friendly manner, though Applejack didn’t take any offense by it. “Thought you were chompin’ at the bit at the idea of gettin’ outta here.”

“Har-har.” Applejack shook her head in mock disappointment at the horse pun. “I ain’t cryin’, and I have been ready to leave, but it’s still a bit bittersweet. All the staff here’s been so great, but I’m ready to move on.”

“That’s what we like to hear,” Steady interjected. “And we will stay in touch to make sure everything is alright with your recovery at the rehab centre.”

“The staff there is amazing,” Gentle added. “And the best in the tri-city area in rehab. Plus, I hear it’s close to home?”

“That’s right.” Granny rested her hand on Applejack’s and rubbed her fingers on her gently. “We live just outside the city, so’s just about an hour’s drive.”

Applejack licked her lips. “And my stay there. How long’ll it be?”

“Six to eight weeks,” Steady responded. “I’m sure it’ll be six for you, though. You’ve already made so much progress.”

“And hey, you wanna show your family what you’ve learned?” Gentle prodded with a smile. “You did it perfectly this morning, or so I hear.”

Applejack grinned eagerly and nodded. Her eyes searched the room for her wheelchair, but it was nowhere to be found. “Uh, how am I supposed to show ‘em without—”

“—Without this?” Apple Bloom burst through the door in a clearly practiced manner. She wore a giant smile on her face as Big Mac leaned against the doorframe with a pleased grin on his. In front of her, Apple Bloom pushed a shiny wheelchair in front of her, one very different from the hospital chair Applejack had grown used to.

Applejack gaped. “Is that…”

“Your new wheelchair!” Apple Bloom squealed, running around the chair to hug Applejack, who barely managed to hug her back. “Do ya like it? I know orange is your favourite colour, so I told ‘em to make it orange for ya!”

The wheelchair practically glowed. The footrests were solid, not foldable like the hospital chair, and the backrest ended lower. Black wheels against orange steel seemed to invite Applejack to its thickly padded seat. “I love it,” she whispered, tingling with a healthy mix of excitement and dread. It was all happening, somehow both agonizingly slow and frighteningly fast. Her eyes drifted to her family members, all smiling eagerly at her. “Thank you so much, y’all. I… I love it.”

Fritter thwacked Applejack with a firm punch to the shoulder and grinned. “Hey, we weren’t about to let ya sit in those uncomfy hospital chairs, cuz.” Her eyes shot to the medical staff. “Uh, no offense.”

“Hey, none taken.” Steady laughed and shrugged. “They’re not meant for constant use, just practicality.”

“Hey, Bloom, can you lock it?” Applejack asked, slowly sitting up with a grunt of effort. Her sister nodded and did what she was asked to do. Applejack carefully moved her legs one at a time off the edge of the bed and rolled the wheelchair into position. “Alright, one of y’all has gotta spot me ‘cause I’ve only done this by myself once,” she admitted. Fritter stood next to Applejack, just in case.

Applejack exhaled sharply and glanced at Steady and Gentle. They nodded at her encouragingly. She returned the nod and put a hand on the armrest closest to her then pivoted into the seat. Grinning widely, she moved her legs into position and got comfortable on the seat. It was squishy and a lot more comfortable than the old one. 

“Hey, you did it!” Gentle cheered with a clap. “See, I told you you could.”

The blonde sheepishly rubbed her neck. “Well, I never exactly said I couldn’t. All I said was I didn’t wanna mess up in front of my family,” she explained, taking the time to roll the wheels and get used to the feeling. It was definitely lighter than the hospital chair, and a lot more comfortable, though since the backrest was lower, she felt a bit less balanced, but it’d just take some getting used to. “This is real nice. How much did this cost ya?”

“Oh, don’t worry about it, girlie,” Granny Smith assured. “What’s important’s that ya get what ya need and get the best we can get ya.”

“I sure hope it wasn’t a lot.” Applejack frowned and looked at her lap. “I–I know we’re a bit tight on money as it is and all of this—”

“Hey, don’t worry ‘bout it, cuz,” Apple Fritter interrupted, putting a hand on her shoulder. Applejack looked at her with furrowed eyebrows, but Fritter just kept a gentle smile. “We all got your back, okay? If you really wanna worry, you can worry ‘bout it later. For now, just focus on what ya gotta focus on.”

“Speaking of,” Steady cut in, “mind if we talk about your next steps now? Just to review and make sure everything is all worked out.”

Fritter patted Applejack on the shoulder, then walked over to Apple Bloom and muttered something to her. Apple Bloom nodded and waved at Applejack before leaving with her cousin, stepping past Big Mac, who stood awkwardly in the doorway, clearly unsure of what to do. 

“Sure,” Applejack agreed, spinning around in her chair to face the doctor. “It’s alright if my brother stays for this, right?”

“Of course.”

At that, Applejack waved Big Mac in. The tall man shut the door behind him and stood next to Granny Smith, who sat down on a nearby chair. “Alright, so what’s the plan?” Applejack asked.

“Well, you’re going to be relocated to the rehabilitation facility in Canterlot,” Steady started, handing Applejack a piece of paper. “Your family opted to take you there themselves, which is fine. You’ll stay there for six weeks doing occupational and physical therapy.”

“So, they’re gonna teach me how to be a person again?” Applejack asked bemusedly.

“They’ll teach you how to be as independent as possible,” Gentle put in. “What you will and won’t be able to do in that time depends on you. But you’re a strong girl.”

Applejack bit her lip and nodded. She wasn’t sure if she was the right type of strong.

“Your family and friends will, of course, be able to be there to support you,” Steady went on, “but you’ll have to check with them to make sure what their visiting policies are. Basically, they’ll teach you everything else you need to know about how to manage your life in and out of your wheelchair. How to dress yourself, how to manage your bathroom usage, how to get up and down ramps, how to traverse difficult terrain. All of that.”

That was a lot of things. But they were all things she had to learn, and if what her family had always said about her was true then Applejack was a quick learner. With a slight frown, she responded, “Uh, yeah, okay.”

A hand fell on Applejack’s shoulder. Apple Fritter stared questioningly at her. “Hey, cuz, you alright? Ya seem a bit… well, overwhelmed.”

Applejack blinked twice before nodding slowly. “Uh, no—err, I mean yeah, I’m fine. Just tryin’ to figure it out in my head.”

“It sounds like a lot,” Steady continued softly, “but a lot of it ties in with itself. You’re already great in the chair, and you’ve proven that you’re more than dedicated. You’ll be okay.”

Applejack shrugged. “Yeah, yeah, you’re right…” She rubbed her fingers on the wheels’ grip, feeling the divots and the curves. “Well, I ain’t got much of a say in it, do I?” Though the words she spoke could have been a joke, the way she said them allowed awkwardness to hang in the air. Applejack sucked in air through her teeth and dismissively shook her head. “Bad joke. Let’s just get goin’.”

“D’ya have all yer things?” Granny Smith asked, slowly getting up with the help of Big Macintosh. “Don’t wanna forget nothin’.”

After a quick look around and a check pat on her pocket, Applejack nodded. “Yup, should have everything. Ain’t like I had a whole lot to begin with,” she pointed out with a grin. 

She let her eyes linger around the room one last time. The painting on the wall seemed a lot higher up from her seat in the wheelchair. A lot smaller, too. The herd of mustangs galloped freely, their manes blowing in the wind. The leader still reminded her of Barley. Brown and white and beautiful. Applejack wheeled herself toward the door.

She’d seen this hall so many times. The fluorescent, sterile lights that bugged her so much had become so normal to her that she hardly even noticed them anymore. She looked up at them until they burned into her retinas.

Apple Bloom scampered up next to Applejack and walked next to her. “How’d ya manage to stay in here for so long without dyin’ of boredom?”

Applejack glanced up at her sister—which felt incredibly wrong to do as the big sister—and grinned widely. “Well, it was either that or stay on the ground in the ring.”

The younger girl’s smile fell a bit. “That was scary.”

Applejack slowed down a bit before remembering that she needed to keep pushing herself. She gave a long push and caught back up to Apple Bloom, who didn’t seem to notice the way Applejack had lagged slightly behind. “I know. But hey, I’m alright, right?”

Apple Bloom nodded. “Yeah, I’m glad you are.”

As she pushed along, Applejack searched for a change of topic. “You been practicin’ your events with those tips I gave ya?”

“Uh, no, not really,” Apple Bloom admitted. 

“What? Why not?”

The redhead shrugged. “I dunno. I’ve been busy, I guess…”

“Well, that’s alright then.” Applejack frowned as Apple Bloom sped up her pace to walk ahead of her sister. She really really hoped that Apple Bloom wasn’t neglecting her events because of her. 

Once they finally reached the waiting room, Applejack noticed that the physiotherapist she had had a few sessions with, Stretch Horizon, was there, too. He waved proudly at Applejack, who shot him a smile back. 

“Nice wheels!” he called out to her. “Heck of a lot comfier than those hospital chairs, eh?”

“Absolutely,” Applejack agreed. “And a lot easier to move in, too.”

“Oh yeah, they’re a lot lighter and a lot more ergonomic.” He approached her and held out a hand, which she high-fived. “You’re moving around like a pro.”

“Thanks.” She followed the group out of the automatic doors. Applejack squinted at the strangely harsh natural light. “I haven’t seen the sun in a while,” she jokingly pointed out. “Smells a lot nicer out here, too.”

She managed to wheel forward a few more feet until she reached her first problem. 

A descent.

She stared at the ramp in front of her. It was so simple.

“You sure you wanna try that?” Stretch asked, tipping his head toward the ramp. “It’s kind of steep. We didn’t really get to practice those much and I definitely don’t want you to get hurt.”

Applejack’s ears burned as she ducked her head. She looked straight at the ramp and clenched her jaw defensively. “It’s fine,” she responded, though a bit unsure. Tentatively, she pushed herself closer to the edge and let her hands grip tightly on the wheel’s pushrim. 

“C’mon, cuz,” Apple Fritter started, standing beside Applejack. She crossed her arms and gave a half-smile. “Ya don’t gotta do anything you’re not ready for.” 

“I am ready,” Applejack snapped. She turned her head to Fritter, who raised her hands to her side. “Don’t tell me what I ain’t ready for.”

“Sorry,” Fritter mumbled. 

Applejack took one last look at the ramp. Stretch was right; it was definitely steeper than anything she’d tried so far. But how hard could it really be? She rolled forward slightly until her front wheels were barely touching the descent. Her hands gripped firmly at the rims, ensuring there was no chance of accidentally rolling down.

She wanted to go down, but her arms refused to let her go. Applejack tensed every muscle in her arms in an attempt to somehow make her let go, but her body just seemed to want to betray her. 

“Hey,” Stretch kneeled next to her and grabbed her attention away from the ramp. He looked into her eyes with a firm smile. “Don’t worry about it. We haven’t gotten this far yet.”

Applejack frowned. “It’s just a ramp.”

He half shrugged. “Sure, but it’s new. It’s hard to get down these without popping a wheelie, and you haven’t tried that yet. But you’ll learn really quick, alright?”

“I guess,” she mumbled. Her grip loosened slightly on the pushrim as she wheeled herself back enough to let go entirely. She tried to ignore the look her family gave her.

“I’ll get you to the car,” Fritter said, stepping up behind Applejack and taking the handles in her hand.  

Fritter pushed her down the ramp slowly as if she was a baby in a stroller. Applejack crossed her arms and stared dead ahead to where Big Mac had parked the truck. She then realized that she’d never even thought about how they were all going to get home. They must have come in two separate cars since they definitely weren’t going to fit more deadweight into the SUV.

As they slowed to a stop next to the truck, Applejack sighed. She glared at Fritter. “You didn’t have to push me all the way here.”

“Sorry.” Fritter rubbed her arm and glanced at Big Mac, who opened the door to the truck and stood with an arm on his hip.  “You wanna ride with Mac?”

Applejack looked up at her brother, who raised an eyebrow at her. “Yeah.”

“Okay, well… He’s gonna have to, uh…”

“I know. It’s fine.” Applejack rolled her eyes and glanced at Big Mac, who rubbed his neck. “Just make sure to put my legs in right, ya big idiot.” Begrudgingly, she lifted her arms and allowed Big Mac to carefully lift her into his hands. It was an extremely strange sensation to watch herself be lifted and only feel half of it. Though her legs were uselessly dangling from her body, they didn’t feel heavy. They didn’t feel like anything at all, not even as her boots thumped against the interior of the truck.

As her brother placed her into the passenger side seat of the truck and made sure her legs were resting comfortably inside, Applejack couldn’t help but wonder how she would ever cope with it. She couldn’t get down a ramp, couldn’t put on her own pants. Hell, she couldn’t even get into a truck on her own. 

It seemed as though Big Mac thought she couldn’t even put on her own seatbelt as he attempted to reach over her with the buckle in hand. “Hey,” Applejack hissed, swatting him away with a firm slap to the arm, “I can put on my own damn seatbelt.” Big Mac didn’t argue and simply relinquished the buckle to Applejack, who thankfully did manage to buckle herself in despite still being restricted by the back brace. With an exasperated exhale, Applejack let her arms fall limp. She pretended not to see the look that Big Mac and Apple Fritter shared.

“Right, well, thanks for everything,” Applejack finally said, turning her gaze to the mini crowd next to the truck. She watched as Big Mac lifted her wheelchair and carefully took it to the back of the truck. Her eyes followed the shiny orange chair until it disappeared from her view, presumably to be strapped down safely in the back. 

“Of course,” Gentle responded with a smile. “It’s been a real treat knowing you, Applejack.”

“Hey, take it easy, huh?” Stretch gave her an approving nod and a smile. “You’re gonna ace it. Just keep believing in yourself.”

“Sure thing, doc,” Applejack replied with the best smile she could muster. “And the pleasure is all mine. Thanks again. And tell Nurse Carin’ thanks, too.”

“We will,” Steady promised with a thumbs up. “Just remember those stretches and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

“Alright. I’ll try,” Applejack swore with a nod.  Applejack watched as the medical staff waved their goodbyes and retreated back into the hospital with a bittersweet smile. She had never liked doctors, but she couldn’t deny how much she had grown to like that group. 

“You alright, dear?” Granny asked, reaching to put a hand on Applejack’s.

“Yeah. I’m alright.” She gave her grandmother an honest smile and sandwiched her hand gently between her own. With a sigh, she glanced over to her other relatives. “And I’m sorry for gettin’ angry. I know y’all are just eager to help.”

“Oh, we understand,” Granny responded, planting a soft kiss on Applejack’s cheek. “Like they said, it takes time, hun. You just got out, and ya still have a long way to go.”

Applejack dipped her head and sighed. “I’m tryin’.”

Granny gently patted the young woman’s cheek. “We know, hun.”

After allowing them their tender moment, Fritter cleared her throat. “Alright, we should be pushin’ off now. Let us know if y’all wanna make a rest stop or somethin’ and we can stop together. Sound good?”

Big Mac nodded and walked around the front to climb into the truck. “Eeyup.”

“I want to stop at a burger place!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “Please, I am so hungry.”

“There’s food in the car,” Fritter told her. “But if yer sister wants burgers, we can stop for burgers later, ain’t that right, cuz?”

Applejack shrugged. “Uh, yeah, I guess.”

Apple Bloom fist pumped the air and skipped away, cheering something about it being the best day ever as she ran off to where the other car was parked. Fritter chuckled and pointed in the direction that Apple Bloom had gone. “I should go make sure she won’t get run over.”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac agreed.

“Talk to ya in a bit, cuz,” Fritter said as she backed away into a sprint behind Apple Bloom.

With them gone, Granny let out a sigh. “They ain’t gonna be quiet the entire time back.”

“Nope,” Big Mac put in, turning over the engine.

Applejack shook her head with a smile. “You sure you don’t wanna ride with Macky? I don’t mind goin’ with ‘em.”

Granny waved her off dismissively. “Ah, I like ‘em. They keep me young, y’know?” She cackled a laugh and shook her head. “Plus, I think some time with yer brother’ll be good for ya.”

Well, she definitely wasn’t going to disagree with that. It’d be nice to have a quiet ride back listening to Big Mac’s country mixtape. No talking, no drama, just a long quiet ride. “Yeah, you’re right. But you sure you’re fine? They kinda just up and left ya.”

“Oh, please,” Granny scolded. “I’m old, but I ain’t that old. I can walk to the car just fine, don’t you fret.”

“Alright, Granny. You just be careful,” Applejack told her. “We’ll see ya later, okay?”

The elder woman nodded. She glanced at Applejack once more with a tender smile. “I love you, girl. Don’t you ever forget that.”

Applejack smiled and held out her hand for her grandmother to squeeze in place of a hug. “I won’t ever forget it as long as you don’t forget how much I love ya.”

After Granny Smith left, Big Mac himself turned to Applejack and spread out an arm, leaning over to give her a side hug. “I love ya too, AJ.”

Applejack leaned her head into his hug. “I love you too, ya big softie.”
> Big Brother
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The truck smelled like leather.

It was a smell that was once so familiar to Applejack but now seemed like an old memory. Like the way that walking back inside your old elementary school must have felt, not that she knew about that. She decided it was more like going back in the ring for your first barrel race of the season. The smell of the dirt, the buzz of the crowd so eager to get back into the rodeo action, the anticipation for those next fifteen or so seconds.

It was more like that.

Applejack leaned her head on the window and felt how the car rumbled and shook slightly as it drove along the road. Her vision blurred as her mind began to wander, letting the music become background noise. Guitar and country twang blended into white noise, failing to be specific in its subject.

She missed that feeling. The anticipation. The crowd cheering. If she hadn’t… Well, she’d probably be further along the circuit, racking up more points. Barley would have loved it. She wondered if he missed it, too. It wasn’t fair for him to lose what he loved because of her.

She didn’t notice the music fade away.

 “So how have you really been doin’?” Big Mac asked, cutting into her thoughts and turning down the country radio station that had filled the car for the past half hour or so. 

Applejack kept her eyes fixed on the scenery flying by through the window. Her eyes, barely even focused on the world, blinked for the first time in what seemed like too long and focused back on her reflection. Her hand kept her cheek propped up. “Fine.”

From her peripherals, she could see Big Mac turning to look at her briefly. Even without seeing his actual face, she could just imagine his expression. “Really?” it seemed to say without saying anything at all.

She groaned and leaned back in the seat. “I’m angry.”

“Angry?” Big Mac prodded, keeping one hand on the wheel and the other folded out the window in the cool wind.

“Yeah, I’m angry. Maybe upset. Frustrated.” She scoffed. “I dunno. I just feel useless.”

He snorted and gave her a lopsided smirk. “Ya weren’t very good at hidin’ that.”

“I know.” Applejack rubbed the bridge of her nose and shut her eyes tightly. “I just… I can’t believe I didn’t even win.”

Big Mac let out a questioning grunt.

“The event, I mean.” Applejack bit her lip as she remembered finding out her score as soon as she could after waking up in the hospital. A 74.5. Definitely wasn’t enough. Not even close. “It woulda been the same if I hadn’t lasted the eight seconds. Or if I had just sat out.”

“That mare’s a rough ride,” Big Mac reminded her.

“Yeah,” Applejack scoffed, “I know. Clearly.”

“I didn’t mean it that way,” Big Mac responded with a sigh. “I just mean… It’s okay ya didn’t win. You weren’t exactly… err…”

“What? I wasn’t exactly fit for it?” Applejack turned to her brother and scowled. “I know, I was a darn fool. I get it. And look where that’s landed me.”

“That ain’t what I said.” 

“It’s what you’re thinkin’, though, ain’t it?” She clenched her jaw and looked back down at her lap. “If I had just been smarter, I coulda avoided this. If I hadn’t run away from the med staff, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have ended up at the bar, I wouldn’t have been hung over, I wouldn’t have been hurt, and I wouldn’t have drawn that stupid horse.”

Applejack rubbed her face with aggressive palms. “But I’m so damn stupid I did all that anyway. And I got on that horse knowin’ I wasn’t feeling great, and now I—I can’t feel anythin’ at all!”

“That ain’t true,” Big Mac argued, glancing at the mirrors before switching lanes.  “Well, not entirely.”

“Sure it is,” Applejack retorted, looking back at him with a grimace. “I’m never gonna be like I was before.  I wanted to get out so bad. Prove that I can do more than just sit around, but I can’t. All I can do is literally just sit around. I won’t be able to pull my weight anymore, Mac. What’s that gonna do for us? I’m just another expense. I don’t wanna be a burden.”

Big Mac stayed silent, his brow furrowed and his gaze concentrated on the road ahead of him. Applejack gritted her teeth, wishing he would say something for once. “I… I’m just makin’ everything worse on us. I can’t bring in money from the rodeo anymore. Hell, I couldn’t even get in the damn truck on my own. I’m never even gonna be able to ride again! I wish I had just…”

Her voice cracked, though there was no built-up sob in her throat, no tears waiting to come out. She breathed heavily, letting the silence ring in the car. Her own words caught up to her slowly, each unsaid syllable dragging on her heart. “I’m never gonna ride again, Mac. That’s all I do. That’s who I am.” She heaved a breath and dropped her hands on her lap. 

It felt like nothing.

“What am I gonna do?”

Big Mac sighed and pulled over to the shoulder, turning on his hazards. The truck came to a stop, though the engine rumbled softly beneath them. He turned to Applejack, who was red in the face and on the verge of hyperventilating, and held out his hand to place on her shoulder. “Ridin’s your life. I get it,” he started, rubbing her shoulder slightly. “But who said ya can’t ride?”

Applejack let out an incredulous laugh. “Look at me, Mac. I’m in a damn wheelchair. I couldn’t feel my legs if you dropped a calf on ‘em.”

“You’re strong,” Big Mac pointed out. “And you’re a hardass.”

“High praise,” she snorted.

“And that means ya don’t give up,” he continued. “Now, I could lie to ya and tell ya that it’ll be fine, that you’ll get it no problem. But I know you ain’t much for lyin’, and neither am I. It’ll be hard. Real hard, and you’ll feel frustrated and make mistakes and get stuck, but you’ll damn well get it done.”

Applejack stared into her brother’s eyes. They burned like a green fire. He meant every word he said, she knew it. She just didn’t know if she could believe it. 

Big Mac raised an eyebrow. “What’s the first rule of ridin’?”

“Oh, c’mon, this is way different,” Applejack grunted, wishing she could just get out of the truck and leave. 

“What is the first rule of ridin’?” he repeated.  “The first thing Ma and Pa taught us?”

“Big Mac,” Applejack warned.

“When you fall, ya get right back up,” he continued sternly. 

“This is different.”

“No it ain’t,” Big Mac argued. “You fall, and ya get back up, right? Well, ya fell. It was a nasty fall. But now ya need to get up, ya need to get back up on that horse.”

“I can’t,” Applejack grumbled.

“Sure ya can. Maybe not now, maybe not any time soon, but you can.” Big Mac patted her shoulder. “Ya can’t give up on yourself, AJ. Not when you’ve only just sat up.”

“Big Macintosh, I’d advise that you drop it,” Applejack ordered. She crossed her arms and shrugged Big Mac’s hand off her shoulder, but couldn’t help the tiny smile that worked itself onto her face. She couldn’t stay mad at her brother, not when he had something good to say. “And shut up, I liked ya better when ya weren’t talkin’.”

He chuckled a bit and nodded. “Think about it, okay?”

“Okay,” Applejack responded with an exaggerated eyeroll. She glanced over to her brother, who had somehow in the span of what was at most five seconds pulled out a cigarette and stuck it in his mouth. She groaned and punched him in the arm. “Blow it out the window.”

“Yup,” he responded, looking over his shoulder before pulling back onto the highway. 

“Ya really gotta quit it,” Applejack told him. “Pa wouldn’t like it.”

“He smoked more than me,” Big Mac pointed out.

“Yeah, and he still wouldn’ta liked it.” Applejack sighed. “Look, I get it. Shit was tough after… what happened. I know, I had my own problems, and maybe I still do. But… I dunno, Mac, you and Brae… I just worry ‘bout y’all.”

Big Mac flicked the residue out the window and held the cigarette there for a moment. “I know, I’m sorry.”

“Ya don’t gotta apologize to me.” Applejack looked out the window at the dry landscape. “Just be careful.”

“Yup.”

Applejack shook her head and took out her phone, glancing down at it. The screen was depressingly blank. She had no new notifications apart from her FarmLife game. She should really delete that.

“Somethin’ wrong?”

“I dunno,” Applejack admitted. “I did somethin’ dumb the other day.”

Big Mac threw the butt out the window. “What’d ya do?”

Applejack nearly slapped her face at her own stupidity. “I mighta texted Sunrise and told her to call me. Said we had to talk.”

She really had to admit it. Big Mac had a really good poker face. “Oh? Did she?”

“Naw. I don’t think she even saw the darn text.” Applejack turned the phone over and shook her head. “I dunno what I was thinkin’, talkin’ to her. She’s the last person I wanna talk to. And it seems like she doesn’t even have the time.”

Big Mac shrugged. “She didn’t see it ‘cause she broke her phone. I guess she hasn’t gotten a new one just yet.”

Applejack furrowed her eyebrows and turned to Big Mac. “And how do you know that?”

His poker face fell apart. “Uh, well, ya see…”

“Big Macintosh.”

“She dropped it in the barn and didn’t notice ‘til she rolled a wheelbarrow over it,” Big Mac admitted, though just barely.

In the barn. “The barn? As in our barn?” Applejack’s nose turned upward in a half snarl. “What the hell is she doin’ in our barn?”

“Her horse—”

“That damn horse,” she grumbled. “I mean, Whippy’s fine, but that damn girl just doesn’t know when to leave well enough alone, does she? Why’s she gotta keep her horse at our ranch, there are plenty of other boarders she could go to! Hell, she should just keep him at home! I know she’s got the money for it.”

“Applejack—”

 “I swear to God, if I ever see her in our ranch ever again I’m gonna…” Applejack clenched her fists and gesticulated wildly. “I dunno what I’m gonna do! I can’t exactly kick her ass anymore!”

“Applejack!” Big Mac yelled.

He never yelled.

Applejack shot her gaze toward Big Mac, who sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Applejack,” he repeated, though much quieter, “she’s gonna be at the ranch a lot. And before ya get a chance to blow up at me, it’s cause she’s helpin’ out with the work. Don’t argue over it, we need the extra set of hands.”

Applejack huffed and crossed her arms. That was a topic to be discussed later. “Don’t you let her touch Barley.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” he promised with a laugh. “And why are you so mad at her? I thought ya wanted to talk to her.”

“Damn stupid thing I did,” Applejack reminded him. “I don’t even know what I’d say to her. She seems so keen on… I dunno, pretendin’ like nothin’ ever happened between us.”

“Why’s that such a bad thing?”

“‘Cause I hate her,” Applejack pointed out simply.  Big Mac snorted in amusement.  “Why’s it funny?”

“C’mon, ya can’t hate her for somethin’ that happened while y’all were kids.”

“It was more than just somethin’,” Applejack huffed. “It wasn’t right what she said. Or what she did.”

“No, it wasn’t,” Big Mac agreed, “but she was a stupid kid. We all were. You said and did some bad things after Ma and Pa died, too. Not just to her, but to me, to Granny. Hell, ya barely kept Bloom out of it.”

“I know that!” Applejack shot back. “I know, but I… I made my amends.”

“So did she,” Big Mac reminded her. “Or, she’s tryin’. You won’t let her.” 

“I can’t just let it go.” Applejack rubbed her hands together. “She was my best friend.”

“I know, AJ,” Big Mac responded, “but no one’s askin’ ya to just let it go. But she was your best friend. You owe it to her to at least talk to her like a normal person.”

The sun burned bright in the sky, coming out of hiding from its place behind the clouds. Wind roared in through the open windows, jostling Applejack’s hair. She squinted and dropped the visor, blocking most of the blinding light. 

“Apple Bloom told me ‘bout that day.”

Applejack cocked her head. “Huh? What day?”

“When you ‘n Strawb finally seemed to be friends again. Or somethin’ like it.” Big Mac smiled faintly. “Said she saw y’all racin’ horseback. Somethin’ bout lassoing?”

"Beat ya." 

"Ugh, well, you've always been better at roping than me. Besides, you can practice whenever you want." 

"Hey now, don't be a sore loser."

"I'm not. But, I bet I can beat you at a race." 

"Oh really? Let's see about that. Here to the stables. First one past the fence wins." 

"Deal." 

Applejack remembered that day. She grinned a bit at the memory. It felt like old times, like being a kid again. She and Strawberry racing on their horses, arguing over who won. She chuckled a bit. It felt like forever ago. “Huh, yeah, I forgot about that.” 

“You asked me what you should do,” Big Mac reminded her. “I said you should talk to her, stop holdin’ a grudge. I assume that’s what ya did?”

“Kinda, yeah,” Applejack admitted. “I think I told her I couldn’t be her friend, but I didn’t wanna be mad at her anymore.” She frowned and placed her head in her palm. “But I think I’m still mad.”

“Are ya mad at her?” Big Mac asked, glancing to his side. 

“I dunno.”

“Who are ya mad at, then?” 

Applejack shook her head. “I dunno!”

“I thought y’all were on better terms,” Big Mac kept on. “Y’all seemed friendly at the bar, well, ‘til y’all attacked each other.”

Her eyes widened at the revelation of what actually happened that day. “What? I don’t remember that!” 

“What? You bein’ nice to her or her pushing you into the street?”

“Neither of those things!” Applejack exclaimed. “Nobody ever told me anythin’ ‘bout that night.”

“Well ya were really plastered.” Big Mac laughed. “Threw up into the road if I remember right.”

Applejack shut her eyes and smiled in defeat. “I’m so stupid, Big Mac.”

“Eeyup.”

Strawberry had been nice to her. She’d been nice even when Applejack wasn’t. And she all but begged for forgiveness, even just to clear things up. Sure, she’d pushed Applejack into the road, but she probably had a reason to do it. Strawberry was a decent person. Applejack… was an idiot. An idiot who sat in the passenger seat of a truck headed to a rehab clinic. She sighed. “What do I do?”

Big Mac locked eyes with Applejack for a moment. “You talk to her.”

As if on command, her phone buzzed. She didn’t feel it as much as she heard it buzz, but it was definitely ringing. She turned it over and saw the most perfectly convenient inconvenient name it could have been. Applejack let it ring for another moment as she contemplated her options. She could let it go to voicemail and deal with it later, but then she’d have to think about it for longer. And she’d feel like a liar because technically, it was her own idea in the first place. Plus, Big Mac was right there. 

Begrudgingly, Applejack clicked the green button on the screen and put the phone up to her ear. “Strawberry Sunrise.”

A breath. “Applejack. You actually picked up.”

“Must be a miracle,” Applejack responded. “After all, I said that a week ago.”

“Right…” Strawberry trailed off for a second before adding, “Sorry, I would have called sooner but I just saw your text. Besides, you said you’d pick up when I called.”

She did not say such a thing, but she might as well have. “Yeah.”

“… Um. So, how are you?”

“Fine. What do you think?”

“I… That’s good? I’m sorry, I’m not really sure what to say.”

You don’t have to say anything, Applejack thought bitterly. I’d prefer if ya didn’t, she thought about saying. “It’s alright,” she said instead. She should at least try to be nice, especially with Big Mac sitting right next to her. Apple Bloom would want her to be nice. If Apple Bloom was in the truck, she would be actively shooting daggers at Applejack. ‘Be nice’ daggers.  “I’m doing better. I should be gettin’ back home in like a month and a half.”

“Oh!” Strawberry exclaimed, sounding almost… happy. Or surprised, or both. “That’s good. I’m glad. Really, I am.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Sure thing.”

….

“Am I allowed to say I’m happy you’re coming back home soon?”

Applejack snorted a laugh. “Oh yeah, I bet you are. I heard you’ve been helpin’ around the ranch recently, are ya just waitin’ for me to come back and pick up the slack?”

“No! I like working here. I get to see Whippy all the time.”

“Is that all? Ya wanted to see your horse, so ya decided to up and replace me?”

“Well… I dunno, I just… I wanted to help. Least I could do. And I’m not replacing you.”

“Yeah, well…” Applejack frowned. “Don’t get too comfortable. I’ll be back soon enough.”

“Right.” Strawberry paused for a moment. “Why’d you even want to talk? I figured you’d never want to talk to me again, more than usual I mean.”

“ I dunno,” Applejack admitted, a bit taken aback at Strawberry’s harsh tone. “I dunno what I wanted to say. I guess I was just thinkin’ about everything. “

“What do you mean by that?”

 Applejack bit her lip. She could just hang up.

Big Mac seemed to read her mind and stared directly into her soul. She rolled her eyes. “You… wanted to be friends still.”

The line went quiet enough that Applejack almost thought she’d been hung up on. “Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

“Just answer.”

“Well, yeah. I’ve been saying this forever.”

“But I don’t like you. Or didn’t. I’m still on the fence.”

“I know.”

She still couldn’t understand. How could anyone be like that? “So then why are you nice to me?”

“Are we actually having this conversation again?”

“Considerin’ I just found out we attacked each other in a bar and I can’t even remember it,” Applejack started, “yes. We are. I don’t get it.”

“Well, golly, Applejack, I just like being friends with people who can put up a good fight,” she answered with sarcasm positively dripping from every word.  She even added a snort. “Why wouldn’t I be nice to you? Your family is really cool, and we, well,  used to be friends. We still have fun sometimes.”

“But I treat you like shit,” Applejack pointed out remorsefully. She glanced up at the sunny sky and furrowed her eyebrows. She still couldn’t think of a proper reason for even bringing it up.

“Yeah,” Strawberry agreed, “but so did I. I guess… fair’s fair. Why isn’t that enough?”

Her damn positivity. Where was the sarcastically cynical Strawberry that Applejack knew? Applejack half-smiled. “C’mon, that darn head of yours is just filled with fantasies, ain’t it?”

“What’s so fantastical about us being friends? It already happened once.”

Applejack glanced back down at her free hand. Maybe Strawberry was too nice. “And you’re hopin’ for another go at it?”

“I don’t know anymore. Maybe not with me, but with someone else.”

A very confusing frown rested on her face at that answer. “Whaddya mean by that?”

“I mean after… you know, you kinda isolated yourself. I really can’t blame you, I can’t imagine…” Strawberry cleared her throat awkwardly. “I guess I thought… If not me, you’d find a new best friend. But you didn’t.”

“And what, havin’ a bunch of friends is supposed to be… better?” Applejack huffed, though she wasn’t really quite upset at Strawberry for saying something like that. “Supposed to have helped me feel better?” 

“I don’t know! Maybe? Come on, I’m not trying to push your buttons, I’m just trying to explain why I kept trying with you, AJ.”

She sighed and eased her cross expression after Big Mac shot her with his own. At least there was some normalcy, Strawberry never failed to rile her up. But she didn’t deserve that. Not right now, she’s actually tryna be nice. “I have people around me. It ain’t like I’m a loner, Strawb.”

The line was silent as Strawberry seemed to think. The only noise coming through was what sounded like wind.“You might be surrounded by people, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be alone.”

 Applejack looked at her brother, who pretended to pay no mind to her conversation, though his expression was almost too aloof.

“Look, I’m getting tired of chasing after you like some kind of… lost little puppy. That being said, I’m willing to start over if you are. But you have to be straight with me. I’m tired of this game.”

Why had she asked Strawberry to call her? Applejack wasn’t… angry anymore. She was just annoyed. Maybe a little frustrated, but it didn’t boil inside her anymore. Applejack missed it. Missed the anger. Anger was a lot easier to deal with. Did she want to be angry with Strawberry? Again? That’d be dumb, but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. It was easy to be angry at her. It wasn’t easy to be angry when she was so damn thoughtful, though. And maybe a little right. 

Applejack wasn’t a complete loner. She had her family, and she talked to them a lot. She had her pets who counted just as much as the rest of her family. She even found herself exchanging messages with some of the people she’d met on the circuit. She wasn’t a loner, but… was she alone?

She considered Strawberry’s words and decided that she was angry. “I...”

Dead silence for a moment.

“Okay. Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

‘Wait’, she wanted to say.

Applejack responded with nothing instead.

“You just can’t change, can you? I’ll let you go now. Thanks for being honest, I guess.”

She was angry, but she wasn’t angry at Strawberry anymore. How could she be? “But I—”

The line clicked dead.  

“—Didn’t say anything,” she finished flatly, talking to no one. Applejack slapped her face with her hand. Maybe she should stop listening to Big Mac’s advice, even when it was really good advice.

“So?” Big Mac asked. “How’d it go?”

“I think I messed it up in a different way,” Applejack admitted. 

“How?”

“I dunno,” Applejack said once again. It seemed like she didn’t know anything anymore. “She wanted to be my friend, and I told her… well, nothin’.”

“Reckon she got mad?”

“Yeah, I think. Though, it kinda seemed like she was givin’ up already.” Applejack thought back to how Strawberry was speaking to her. It was normal at first, but then her tone shifted. There was a lot of past tense. “She said stuff like she was gonna stop tryin’ with me. That she’s tired of it.” That I can’t change.

“Ain’t that what you wanted?”

Applejack looked out the window. She hadn’t even noticed the sun had hidden behind the clouds again. The truck rumbled along the long stretch of highway, growing ever closer back home. She wanted to go back so badly, but now that she was one step closer, she felt even further away. Everything changed. She changed. What she wanted had changed. She wasn’t sure how she’d even recognize any of it.

She closed the window and leaned her head against it. “I dunno.”
> Wheelie Wheelie Hawd
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack’s arms shook. 

She clenched her jaw and put all her effort into keeping her arms from shaking, but still. They shook. Her grip tightened around the parallel bars, which only made her tremble even more.

“You can let go.”

Applejack swallowed and shook her head. “No, I can…”

She couldn’t. With a thump, she fell back in her chair. “Damn it!” she growled, throwing her fists against her lap. 

“Hey, hey, don’t do that.”

The blonde kept her head down but glanced up through her brow at the physiotherapist. Her bangs mostly obscured her view, but she found that was preferable to facing him directly. “I’m sorry.”

Rain, the young man who shot Applejack a tiny smile, nodded. “It’s okay, I know it’s frustrating. But you’ve only been here a week. You haven’t exactly been using your arms all that much until now, and certainly not trying to hold all your body weight up without help from your legs.”

Applejack knew he was right. She really did, but she just couldn’t help the frustration. It was like being back at square one. She might as well have just woken up in the hospital all over again with the neck brace and everything. Her frown deepened into a scowl. “I wanna stop.”

“Okay, that’s fine. You’ve had enough for today, we can continue tomorrow.”

Applejack shook her head and wiped away the hair from her forehead. It stuck to her, flattened by sweat. She set her legs properly in the chair and her hands on the pushrims. “No.” She backed away from the parallel bars and Rain, whose smile dropped a bit. “No, I mean I wanna stop. I don’t wanna do this anymore.”

The pale man took a slow step forward. “We just need to rebuild your arm strength and get you used to balancing out of the chair. It’s tough, but you’re doing well.”

“No, I–I’m going back to my room.” 

She tuned out what he had to say as she spun away from him and wheeled past all of the other obstacles and training items she was supposed to tackle. Ramps and fake curbs mocked Applejack as she angrily made her way past them, leaving Rain alone in the room.

She knew he could have just stopped her. He could have grabbed onto the wheelchair and prevented her from leaving to lecture her. But he didn’t. Maybe he wasn’t sure what to do. Or maybe Rain was just nice like that. That had to be it.

That just made the anger come to a boil. Why did he have to be so nice? Sure, it was his job, but he didn’t have to be so cheery and friendly. He just had to help her. Applejack sucked on her teeth as she turned toward the waiting room, not even bothering to make eye contact with the nurse up front, who gave her a half-wave. Her eyes stayed glued to the floor in front of her. Tiles blue and gray and white drifted beneath her.

And then she hit something somehow hard and soft at the same time.

“Hey! C’mon, ain’t you watchin’ where you’re going?”

Applejack looked up at her victim. A well-built man, probably around her age, maybe a few years older, turned to look down at her with a frown. He looked like the guys in the books Applejack had heard her cousin talk about. Southern stereotypes. Tall—though he couldn’t have been too much taller than Applejack on her feet—tan, stubbled, and all that with shaggy dark hair peeked out from beneath his black felt hat. He was such a stereotype that Applejack was sure he was making it all up. As soon as he got a proper look at Applejack, though, his face shifted. His eyebrows stayed furrowed, though the half smile on his face made him seem thoughtful somehow.

Applejack’s own expression shifted into one of apology. She blushed and rubbed her neck. “Oh, I’m mighty sorry. I wasn’t lookin’ where I was going,” she admitted, inching backwards a bit. “You alright?”

The guy nodded and took his hat in his left hand. “Sure, it’s nothin’ to worry about.” He extended his free hand to Applejack. She shook his hand, though it was a bit awkward to have to reach up to do it. “Say, ya look familiar. Have I seen you someplace?”

 Applejack swallowed and glanced away. “Maybe. I, uh, live around here.”

He furrowed his eyebrows and looked her over, which made her want to squirm. “Hmm.” He let out a single, nondescript chuckle.

She wasn’t quite sure what to say. “I, err, used to go to rodeos a lot.” Applejack bit back a frown. It wasn’t a lie.

He tapped his chin and put his hat back on. Seemingly satisfied, he shrugged, though his face kept the half-smirk he’d adopted earlier.  “Ah, that’s probably it, then.”

She nodded. “Well, my brother competes. And my sister.” It took everything she had not to slap her hand over her mouth. He hadn’t asked. Why was she saying it?

“Oh, got a real rodeo family,” he said with a laugh. “What about you?” His eyes widened as the words came out of his mouth. “Well, uh, I mean…”

Applejack shrugged and crossed her arms. “It’s fine. Nothin’ to do about it now,” she put simply. “But, uh, I wasn’t like this forever.”

“I know.”

“Oh?” 

“I’ve seen you in the circuit,” he admitted. “But I get if you don’t wanna talk about it, Applejack.” He smiled a bit, but Applejack wasn’t quite sure how to respond. An awkward moment passed before the guy cleared his throat. “Uh, how could I forget? My name’s Thistle Thorn, but everyone just calls me Thistle.”

He was a bit… weird, but fine. She still couldn’t quite place him, but she decided she probably either hadn’t paid enough attention to the rest of the competitors, or she plain forgot. “Nice to meet ya officially, then.” Applejack gave him her best smile, which he easily returned. “Thistle. Say, you a bull rider?”

He shook his head. “Naw, they’re too ornery for me. I do roping and bareback, though I’ve got a bit of a shoulder problem right now, so I gotta stay in the broncs for a bit. Can’t exactly throw a lasso if I can barely get my arm up.”

Definitely crazy enough to ride bareback if he was nursing a shoulder injury while doing it. Applejack chuckled lightly and kept the comment to herself. He was probably in the facility for his shoulder, then. And either he really cared about his body or he lived close enough to warrant coming to the Canterlot clinic. Though, judging by his profession, Applejack figured it was a safe bet to assume he lived nearby. 

She didn’t want to seem like a creep and ask, though, so she just nodded. “Oh, well I hope your shoulder heals up soon, then.” 

He tipped his hat. “Thanks. I hope whatever you’re doing goes well.” 

Applejack almost laughed at that. He clearly meant that she was in a wheelchair but was too polite to say it. She didn’t want to bring it up either, though, so she left it at that. Instead, she dipped her head at him. “I gotta go now, but nice talkin’ to ya, Thistle.”

“My pleasure.” He tipped his hat and grinned. “Say, any chance I could get your number? It’d be nice to have a friendly face ‘round here, and yours is real nice to look at.”

Normally, Applejack would have rolled her eyes and walked away from a guy trying to make a pass at her, but she had to admit that Thistle wasn’t all bad. He even made her cheeks redden a bit with the comment. That usually never happened, not in a way other than a frustrated fluster, at least. Besides, he was a conventionally attractive guy and he seemed nice. It wasn’t like she could make the excuse that she was too busy to get to know people anymore. She had to talk to him now.

Applejack settled on a smile. “Sure. Gimme your phone and I’ll give you my number.”

He nodded and handed her his unlocked phone, ready for a new contact to be put in. She inputted her number and sent herself a text with a simple ‘hi’ so she could save his contact, then gave the phone back. Thistle grinned and pocketed the phone. “Cool, thanks. I’ll text ya sometime, alright? Maybe we could hang out or somethin’. Once you’re done here, at least.”

That seemed a bit nerve-wracking, especially since she hadn’t been anywhere but a fast food place since getting out of the hospital. And even then, she had made Big Mac bring her back to the truck almost immediately. She couldn’t stand people looking at her.

But she had to. Something about Thistle made Applejack want to get to know him. She wasn’t sure what. Maybe he was charismatic, maybe she just needed attention, or maybe it had been too long since she’d talked to anyone that wasn’t a nurse. Maybe she missed having a friend.

“Okay,” Applejack agreed with a nod. “Sounds good. Bye now.”
 
He winked and backed away a few steps before turning around entirely and disappearing behind a corner. Applejack stared at where he left before remembering where exactly she was. Her mood instantly dropped as she was reminded of her failure. And not just that, but her defeat. She gave up and stormed off.

She quit. She wasn’t a quitter.

But… it felt impossible to try. She had tried, and she’d been trying for the better half of the week, but she still could barely hold herself up. Applejack sighed and rubbed her forearms. They were sore and achy, and all she had done was try to do something other than sit. She dropped her hands back on the pushrims and continued her trip back to her room. 



~~~~🍎~~~~



 Applejack typed slowly on her laptop. She’d been busy making sure that the scheduling for the ranch was still up to date despite the couple of months she’d been unable to do it herself. Apple Bloom had accidentally pointed out how they had run out of horse feed a couple of weeks ago, and that was when Applejack realized that she had been the one taking care of that aspect of the business, which meant that while she was gone, there was probably no one doing it.

Not to say that she was the only one, though. Big Mac had been doing a half-decent job so far… But looking at the long-neglected spreadsheet on her screen? Applejack couldn’t help but grimace. She might not have been the best with technology and math, but spreadsheets she could do. Organizing was one of her strong suits when it came to the technical aspects of living at a ranch. That and actually ordering feed.

At least it gave her something to do at her desk, which was already leagues better than being confined to a hospital bed. Applejack inhaled sharply and reset her eyes on the bright white spreadsheet in front of her. 

“Feed’s good, hay’s fine… did I already get the West Neighle vaccines ordered?”

Her mind wandered away from the spreadsheet as she thought about the virus. Luckily they’d never been hit with an outbreak, but that was only because they’d kept their horses and cattle up to date with vaccines. Especially the horses. But if she hadn’t ordered the boosters, then that might change, and then it’d be all her fault and—

There was no way she’d be getting any actual work done at this rate. 

With a resigned groan, Applejack closed her tabs and stared at the cool gray desktop background. Her elbows propped up on the desk and made a rest for her forehead. She was supposed to be seeing Rain in an hour, but she really didn’t want to go, especially not after she had made a fool of herself the day before. 

“God, I’m so childish,” Applejack muttered to herself. She clenched her eyes shut and shook her head in her hands. “What am I supposed to do?”

Ding!

At the speed of molasses, Applejack looked up from the tabletop to the laptop’s screen. A window appeared, showing her a short text stream with a new incoming message. She wasn’t quite sure how her phone and laptop could be connected like that, but when Apple Bloom had set up the laptop for her, she said not to worry about it. 

For a moment, Applejack had hoped that it was Strawberry. It had been radio silence from her ever since their talk in the car, and Applejack couldn’t exactly blame her. She’d wanted for so long for Strawberry to leave her alone, but now that she was… well, Applejack wasn’t quite sure how she felt about it. She at least wished she could continue to tell Strawberry to buzz off, at least.

It was a weird hope, and she would have never bet any amount of money on having hoped for something like it, but something about how things happened left a sour taste in Applejack’s mouth. Was that how she felt? 

Her dashed hopes soon returned once she realized who had messaged her. No, it wasn’t Strawberry, but it was probably the next best thing. She shot back up and opened the window fully. A subtle smile replaced the frown that was beginning to form on her face.



Thistle
Hey
Are you around?
I’ve been thinking about you



Applejack rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t even force the grin off her face. Was he trying to hit on her? Or was he just being stupid? She decided it didn’t really matter right then.



Me
Yeah, I’m around.
What have you been thinking of me for???





Thistle
Well, I don’t know
I couldn’t stop thinking about the awful pretty girl who almost ran me over with her wheelchair



Okay, she didn’t know much about flirting or anything, but that seemed flirty. Applejack paused and bit the inside of her cheek. She kind of wished she could ask someone, but she knew Fritter would jump to so many conclusions, Big Mac would not at all understand, and Apple Bloom was too young. She didn’t even want to consider Granny.

From what she knew, at least, Thistle was nice, but she just didn’t feel any particular way about him. Was she supposed to? Or would that come later, if at all? He was a nice enough guy from what she could tell. Applejack wasn’t sure what to say, so she decided to just joke about his comment.



Me
You say that now, but you seemed pretty darned upset when I did hit you.
If I’d been a guy, would you have been mad?



He didn’t respond right away, which amused Applejack. She grinned and looked away from the screen to wait. In a way, she was glad that she’d met Thistle, even if it had only been a day ago. Somehow, he felt genuine, like he actually wanted to talk to her. He didn’t know her before—at least not personally—and he wasn’t obligated to be nice to her like the employees at the hospital and the rehab centre. He met her for the first time in a wheelchair and he was nice.

Plus, it was admittedly kind of great to talk to someone outside of the family. Maybe Strawberry had a point. Maybe Applejack was lonely, just not in a way that she ever knew she could be. 

The thought made Applejack grimace. She didn’t want Strawberry to be right. Not just out of the principle of Strawberry being right, but if she was, then that meant Applejack had unknowingly been leading a very sad, lonely life, right? And if she hadn’t noticed it, it was because she was too busy. Now, she wasn’t busy anymore. She couldn’t even focus on doing the work she had given herself. 

By the time Thistle responded, Applejack had decided that she would prove Strawberry wrong even if in hindsight. She could have friends, and she could talk to people. She wasn’t a lonely person!

She could change. And she’d do whatever it took to make it true.

Thistle made a joke about how he couldn’t stay mad at a girl like Applejack. For her part, she decided to swallow her pride and push away every part of her that wanted to stop talking to him. Every traitorous, lonely part of her.

It was weird at first, but she got the hang of it. Eventually, an hour flew past in what felt like minutes and Applejack noticed it was just about time for her daily session with Rain. 

She considered not going, but then what? Then she’d be wasting time and money. And time was money on the ranch. If she could at least get marginally better, then maybe she wouldn’t be such a detriment to her family. And maybe she could keep talking to Thistle later.

Applejack typed out a goodbye to Thistle, who said he had other things to do anyway. The blonde shut her laptop and backed out of the desk, mentally preparing herself for another try with Rain. She could change. She would change. It wasn’t like she had much of a choice. 

It was a bit of a struggle to open the door for herself, but she was getting better at it. Applejack paused in the doorway and mulled over her options, but no matter how much she didn’t want to do it, she knew she had to.

With an exhale that was someplace between frustration and determination, Applejack left the room and went down the familiar path to the physio area. The walls went from a cool white to a pale blue. The way the room was decorated with colours and toys among the equipment and obstacles hinted at the fact that children used the room, too. That made Applejack frown. She couldn’t imagine being a kid and having to go through with this. Or even anything like it.

She imagined her little sister, even if she was much older than a young child, in her place and felt a lump form in her throat. She could only pray that Apple Bloom would never have to even have a taste of a room like the one Applejack once again found herself in.

Surprisingly, her eyes fell on Rain, who watched her roll in with a victorious smile. Applejack barely managed to not roll her eyes and turn around simply from his shit-eating grin.

“I knew you’d come today,” Rain said in place of a regular greeting.

“Oh, shut it,” Applejack muttered, which made Rain laugh. “I can still leave, y’know.”

“But you won’t.”

Applejack pursed her lips and glanced at the ceiling.

Rain shook his head in amusement. “Alright, well let’s get started, then. We’re going to give your arms a bit of a break today, so no parallel bars.”

That was a relief. Applejack barely contained a wide smile and instead just nodded. “Okay, so what are we gonna work on?”

The young man stepped back and rolled out a wheelchair of his own, then sat in it. “Wheelies.” He popped a wheelie and did a spin in it to do what could only be seen as showing off. “They’re one of the most essential skills. They’ll get you around uneven surfaces, down curbs, ramps, and anything that might be harder on all four wheels, plus they help move your body around and make sure you don’t get pressure sores.”

Even though he was showing off a little, she could definitely see the use in learning how to be good enough to show off like that. “Sure, that makes sense.” 

Rain let his chair fall down back on its four wheels and came over next to Applejack. He definitely seemed a lot more confident and comfortable in it. Applejack wondered how long it’d take until she would feel that comfortable in a wheelchair.

“It’s a lot easier than it looks, but it does require you to be well balanced.” Rain put his hands on his legs to draw attention to them, and rubbed up his legs and to his belly button. “All of this is what you used to use to balance, right? You could use your legs to self-adjust and shift your weight and your lower back helped with that.

“But now, you can’t do that anymore, so you’ve gotta find a new way to balance. Your legs are always going to sit beneath you however you leave them. There’s no moving them around to shift your weight and balance.” He gestured to his upper torso and shoulders. “It’s all gonna be up here, now. It helps to have the body jacket to keep your back perpetually straight, but soon you’ll get that off. Once that happens, you’ll have to readjust and make sure you’re keeping your own balance.”

Applejack nodded. She hadn’t really thought of it that way. She, obviously, knew that her legs weren’t going to be much help, but she hadn’t thought about how important they were to keeping balance, even just sitting. The back brace definitely helped with keeping her upright but she was due to get it off in a couple of days. Applejack thought about how it’d feel to have to keep herself up, and even when she realized she’d get used to it, she then tried to imagine taking wheelies and angles into account. 

Honestly, it was a bit daunting. 

“So, I just want to make sure I have it right.” Rain backed away from Applejack for a moment and stood up from his chair. He placed a hand a few inches above where his belly button would be, almost halfway up his ribcage. “Around here, that’s where your paralysis starts, right? No feeling from around here down?”

Applejack remembered the few moments she’d had without the body jacket. On each occasion, she found herself dragging a hand down the side of her torso, and at a certain point, the sensation just seemed to stop. It was like touching something that wasn’t attached to her. She swallowed and nodded. “Yeah, around there.”

He nodded and sat back down. “Okay, no problem. So, you’ve already got a good start. You seem to be pretty well-balanced just sitting in your chair. I find that patients in wheelchairs usually have some trouble getting the posture and position right and end up a little off-balanced, but you’re already ahead of the curve in that aspect.”

Those were words Applejack had never heard said to her before. She wasn’t sure how much he meant it, though. Maybe he was just being kind or trying to build up her confidence. Either way, she gave him a smile. If he was telling the truth, then she could probably thank sitting in a saddle so much for her ability to adjust. But she knew that once she got the crutch that was her back brace off, it would end up being a whole other can of worms.

“For now, stay doing what you’re doing and I’ll teach you to pop a wheelie. Don’t try it until I tell you to, though. I don’t want you to roll out and fall, so I need to be near you in case.”

Applejack agreed and watched as he did it again, going through the motions slower for her. She looked attentively and mimicked his hand placement on the pushrims, but refrained from actually doing it as he said. There was a lot of counterbalancing and slight rolling, she noticed. 

After his explanation, he popped back down and casually leaned back in the chair. “Okay, you think you’re ready to try it?”

It couldn’t be that hard. She nodded eagerly.

“Great. Before you jump into it, though, I’m gonna give you a bit of a crutch. Lock your wheels and I’ll put you in wheelie position so you can get used to the feeling.” 

Once Applejack set the brakes, Rain stood behind her and pushed down on the handlebars, causing the caster wheels to lift off the ground. She felt her body lean back slowly until she was at about a forty-five-degree angle tilted backwards. 

“Okay, I’ve got you steady, so don’t worry about that right now,” Rain said. “Now, you’re gonna probably feel a bit weird because your body isn’t directly upright anymore. That’s okay, it’s normal. What I don’t want is you trying to balance by moving your upper body too much other than to look where you’re going. It might seem easier, but it could cause you to fall and will definitely get you used to a bad posture.”

Applejack made sure to not move other than to try to look back at Rain. “So how am I supposed to stay balanced?”

Rain pointed a finger at her wheels. “You gotta get used to using your chair to balance. If you’re tipping back, roll back. If you’re tipping forward, roll forward.” He set Applejack back down on all four wheels. “It’s hard and requires a lot of practice, but I know you can do it. If you need to make a minor adjustment with your body to balance, that’s okay, but I’d avoid making it your first choice. Wheels are your friend, and the chair is an extension of you now.”

“Sounds easier said than done,” Applejack said with a frown. 

“It is,” Rain admitted. “But again, practice makes perfect. And we are going to practice today.” He walked around next to her and tapped her pushrim. “To pop a wheelie, put your hands here, and then push forward with both arms forcefully. That’ll lift the casters up, and then you’ll have to adjust.” He glanced at her and put his hands on his hips. “Do you remember how that position I was holding you in felt?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s what you’re gonna try to get to. That’s the balanced position.” He took a step back and sat back down in his wheelchair. “I’ll show you one more time, then you can unlock your brakes and give it a shot. It’s actually harder stationary than in motion, in my opinion, but we’re learning stationary first.”

Once he made sure Applejack was paying attention, he put his hands where he showed her—as if the wheels were a clock and he was grabbing the number eleven—and gave one strong push forward. His casters rose up and sent him backwards, but with a minor adjustment, he was able to stay balanced and even rocked back and forth a bit, still staying in place. He let the chair fall back down.

“You’re probably not gonna get it on your first try, but that’s why I’m here.” He got up and got behind Applejack once more. “Unlock your wheels and give it a shot. Either you won’t get up high enough, or you’ll tip backwards in which case I won’t let you fall.”

She could do that. And she knew Rain wouldn’t let her fall. But she could do it.

Her first attempt went about as well as Rain had said it would. The casters went up—only to fall back down with a thud. Applejack clicked her tongue and shook her head slightly. Okay, so she needed more force. Rain gave her the all-clear and she tried again. That time, however, her momentum was too strong and she tipped too far backwards and rolled forwards at the same time, though luckily Rain made good on his promise and prevented her from falling. 

That was the weirdest part. Applejack had felt that sensation before, the feeling of tipping backwards off a chair. Usually, it was accompanied by flailing legs and arms. This time, though, her grip merely tightened around the pushrims and her legs stayed where they were.

It was… an unexpected setback. 

“Okay, that was good.” Rain patted her on the shoulder and stepped in front of her to talk face-to-face. “So, you see what I mean? It takes practice, but you’ve clearly got the strength to get into position.”

Applejack shrugged. “Sure, but I dunno how I’m supposed to do it just right.”

“You overcompensated for the first try,” he explained. “It happens quite often, and I find that around the third or fourth try is when people really start to get it. Are you down to give it another try?”

“Uh-huh.”

Her third attempt went about as well as her first one, though she saw it coming. She put a lot less strength into it. That just meant she needed to put some kick into it, but not necessarily a lot of power. That made sense. Sort of.

Her fourth attempt worked. She got into position and, miraculously,  managed to correct her slight overshoot. It was definitely easier than she thought to stay in the wheelie, though she did find herself probably overthinking it. 

“Great job! You’re balancing really well.” Rain stayed behind her, but the smile was obvious in his voice. “Okay, see if you can go forward. Just push the wheels forward as if you were moving normally, but keep your weight back in the chair.”

Tentatively, Applejack did as she was told. She managed to go forward a few inches, but then wobbled and had to be caught by Rain again. Though, that definitely didn’t feel like a failure. She waited for him to set her back down and then turned to him and shot her arms up. “Didja see that?!”

Rain gave her a high five and nodded. “Yeah! See, I told you you could do it. You even managed to move a bit. Most people just lose their balance immediately.”

“Well, I ain’t most people,” Applejack joked with a cocky grin. “C’mon, what’s next? I’m gonna get that wheelie down flat soon, so we should keep on going.”

He laughed softly. “Woah, there. Let’s reel it in for a second, alright? I am going to teach you something else, but it’s not wheelie related. We’ll come back to that.”

Applejack was a bit disappointed, but still, at least she’d get to learn something new. “What is it this time?”

Rain threw himself into his wheelchair and rolled up to one of the three steep ramps. He stopped next to the flattest one, but even that one was steeper than the tiny inclines that Applejack had practiced on back in the hospital. “Ramps!”

Maybe Rain wasn’t so nice, after all. “I thought you said my arms would get a break?”

He scoffed and waved his hand dismissively. “In a wheelchair, every day is arm day.”

Applejack groaned loudly. It was going to be a long session.
> All Pain No Gain
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The energy inside the arena was insane.

The crowd roared in anticipation as the next matchup was announced. Anyone worth their salt knew that Harbinger’s Ghost was the bronc to watch. She was rank. One of the nastiest broncs in pro rodeo and definitely the nastiest on the circuit. She did not discriminate.

And yet Applejack felt confident. She’d dealt with ornery horses before, she’d been on many broncs. Even when she would fall, she’d take that and learn. Applejack always got back up. Always got back in the saddle.

She approached the chute with a grin on her face and climbed up the fencing. As always, Harbinger’s Ghost was calm. So calm, like a statue.

The mare looked back at her and shook around wildly. Applejack held onto the reins with one hand as she spurred the bronc, somehow already on its back. The audience cheered her on as she managed to stay on. She could distinctly make out the faces of her family. They frowned at her angrily. Applejack couldn’t understand why. No matter where she looked, there they were and they were mad. She was doing her best, so why were they mad?

The next thing she knew, she was on the ground face up and screaming in pain. She hadn’t even felt herself fall off, she couldn’t even feel the pain so much as she just knew it was there. Applejack stared up at the ceiling, still just letting out an anguished cry for the pain she couldn’t feel. She heard herself scream, but it didn’t even feel like her mouth was open. Someone was yelling something at her, but she didn’t understand what they were saying. All she knew was that she was on the ground and in pain. She needed to go back, though. She had things to do. 

Applejack tried to get up but failed. She sat up as best she could, which was only halfway, and when she looked down at herself, the only thing that registered was her missing legs.

Applejack woke up with a start and looked around in a panic. It was dark and quiet and she could feel her heart racing in her chest. Her mind kept trying to replay her dream, but she couldn’t even really remember what she had dreamt about. The more she tried to think about it, the more it faded from her memory. The only thing she could recall was that it didn’t feel like a dream at all. 

After she finally made sure she was actually in bed and not in another dream, an uncomfortable pain seemed to manifest in her body. She had worked up the will to sit up, only to notice that the pain seemed to even continue below her waist somehow. It was an impossible pain.

Applejack winced and tried to rub the pain away, but she couldn’t feel the rubbing. Only pain.

She’d been woken up by pain before, and she’d been feeling a lot of it recently, but this time was different somehow.  She just couldn’t fall back asleep. The pain wasn’t dull, it was more like burning pain. Or like a stabbing pain and it kept building.

Hours dripped by agonizingly slow as it turned into a sleepless, painful night. Applejack held her head in her hands, hunched over in her bed for most of it, drifting in and out of full consciousness, yet still entirely aware of the hurt. It had to be past sunrise at that point, but she couldn’t even manage to focus on the clock. Everything was blurry with pain and the bullets of sweat that kept dripping into her eyes. She almost wanted to get in her wheelchair and find someone or go to the washroom to splash her sweaty face with water but the pain left her… well… paralyzed.

She thought getting the back brace off would be great. That it meant liberty. More freedom.

Instead, it had opened up the door to a world of hurt, one that was surprisingly new. It was hard to balance, it was hard to remember her posture, and it put so much strain on her. They told her it was normal, but it really seemed like it wasn’t.

Applejack tried to keep her breathing steady in an attempt to dull the pain as she had been doing for the past week or so. She breathed in and out shallowly and slowly. Every breath felt like an attack against her lungs, and it never felt like she was taking in enough air. 

Somehow, the worst was not behind her. It was resurfacing. She hadn’t been in so much pain since the first week in the hospital. That was when they adjusted her dose of painkillers, and the pain slowly died down most of the time. But at that moment sitting in bed with no idea of what time it even was, Applejack swore that she would rather go back. She couldn’t make the pain stop and it hurt so much worse than usual.

At some point, without her realizing it until it was too late, the shallow, uneven breathing had turned into crying. What she thought was just sweat became tears as she sobbed painfully into her palms. Her shoulders shook with every sob and desperate attempt to inhale more breath. Every movement of her shoulders peaked the pain, which only made her cry even harder. It definitely didn’t help that she’d gotten an intense headache an hour or so ago that just kept getting worse. Nothing she did helped.

She didn’t even notice the door open until Apple Bloom’s surprised and panicked voice cut into the sob-filled room. “Applejack! What’s wrong?!”

Applejack’s throat was raw by the time she was able to say anything between her sobs. She couldn’t tell how much time had passed since she had first started crying, but it felt like years. It was probably just the worst-timed ten minutes of her life.

“I–it hurts so much!” she childishly wailed.

It wasn’t just the pain. Applejack knew that. As soon as the first few painful tears fell, it felt like a dam inside her broke. “I c-can’t do this anymore,” she rasped out. Her palms rubbed into her eyes, which made her vision dark and spotty. “I don’t know h–how to keep g–going.”

Apple Bloom didn’t say anything. She probably didn’t even know what to say. She was just a kid after all. She shouldn’t even be seeing Applejack like that. Instead, she gently pulled her elder sister into a hug. Applejack hiccuped between her cries, but let herself loosen up into her grasp. Apple Bloom was cold and she still had on a slightly wet jacket, but Applejack didn’t care. She was running out of energy rapidly and her lack of sleep didn’t help, either. Her body ached and hurt like she’d never felt before, her brain was foggy, and her vision was so blurry that the only way she knew it was Apple Bloom that hugged her was by her voice and scent. She always smelled like home.

The world seemed to slip away from her as her cries let up. The pain dulled, but so did everything else. “It hurts,” she mumbled repetitively to Apple Bloom, who said something about getting help before Applejack finally exhausted herself enough to fall asleep.



~~~~🍎~~~~



The wind smelled like rain. There was a storm coming. Applejack breathed in deeply and smiled as she looked over the cattle herding together in the field. She exhaled slowly and let the soft breeze chill her skin. It was definitely a welcome change from the hot spell that had come over the past week. A cold front was finally coming in after they’d been waiting for so long.

“It’s nice, ain’t it, boy?” Applejack leaned forward and rubbed the horse’s neck. In return, Barley snorted. Applejack giggled. “I knew you’d agree. Ain’t this weather just the best?”

Her musing was interrupted by the default ringtone that her phone came with. Applejack cocked her head as she pulled the flip phone from her pocket and looked at the caller I.D. “Oh, it’s Macky.” Applejack grinned and pulled the rein forward with one hand, letting Barley go at a slow pace back toward the house. “I probably forgot to do some chore or something. Ya think he’s gonna chew me out, ‘Ley?” she asked teasingly as she answered the call with her free hand. “Hey, Mac, what’s up?”

The line was silent save for a barely audible breath.

“Hm, didja butt dial me again, Macky?” Applejack teased. “C’mon, this is why I don’t like those fancy touchscreen phones.”

“Applejack?”

Mack spoke quietly, and his voice cracked ever so slightly. Applejack’s smile dropped as she recognized that tone. She’d never heard it from Big Mac himself, but she knew that it wasn’t good. “Mac? Is something wrong?”

“C-can you come home?”

He really really tried to keep his voice steady, but it didn’t work. Big Mac had the worst poker face Applejack had ever seen, and that extended to his voice. “Big Mac? What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice dropping to barely a whisper.

The wind blew gently, but it didn’t feel quite so good against Applejack’s suddenly cold skin.

“M—” He took a sharp breath. “Ya gotta come home, AJ.”

Something was wrong. Something was really wrong. Applejack trembled as she nodded. “Yeah, I’m on my way. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“Okay.” He paused but didn’t hang up. “I love you.”

The line clicked dead. Applejack didn’t bother putting her phone away properly as she clicked her tongue and squeezed her legs with desperation against Barley’s flank. The phone fell to the ground behind her as she raced against the cool breeze back home in silence.



~~~~🍎~~~~



Applejack opened her eyes drowsily and glanced around. She wasn’t in a field. She wasn’t fifteen. She was in a bed and despite the world spinning around her, she knew she was at least in a room.

It was a dream, of course it was a dream. 

As soon as she regained control of her body, she reached up to cover her forehead and push herself more upright. A dull pain protested the move, but all it did was make her wince as she pressed herself up against the headrest of the bed. Her eyes slowly drifted up and in her still-focusing vision, she noticed a figure slumped up in a chair at the end of the room, covered by a dark blue jacket used in place of a blanket.

“A–Apple Bloom?” she managed to croak through her dry throat. 

At that, her little sister slowly stirred in her bunched-up state and lifted her head, instinctively reaching to her neck which must have been sore from the position she had been in. As soon as she made eye contact with Applejack, she shot up to her feet. “Applejack!”

The girl ran to Applejack and gave her a hug, which made Applejack have to hold back a pained grunt. The blonde slowly put an arm on Apple Bloom’s shoulder and gently pushed her back. Her sister stared back at her with puffy, red eyes. 

And then it clicked. Applejack remembered the pain and the crying and the way her sister held her before her body shut down from exhaustion. She totally forgot that her siblings were going to come to visit her for the afternoon. A lump in her throat rose, but she managed to speak through it. “I’m s—”

Apple Bloom shook her head and cut Applejack off. “No, don’t. I’m not a little kid, you don’t have to be sorry for cryin’ in front of me.”

The door opened slowly to let in her brother and one of the nurses that worked in the facility. Apple Bloom turned to face them. She and Big Mac shared a look that Applejack couldn’t quite figure out.

The nurse—a short and bulky woman that Applejack had only seen in passing before—approached Applejack. “Hi, Applejack. I’m Nurse Terry. It’s good to see you’re awake. Are you feeling better?”

Applejack barely felt awake. She grimaced, though, as the question reminded her that she was in fact awake and with that realization came a bit of pain. “I… My body hurts,” she responded quietly. “But less than before.”

Nurse Terry nodded. “That’s good, the painkillers are working, then.” 

“Is she gonna be alright?” Apple Bloom asked, holding one of Applejack’s hands. She hadn’t even noticed until she looked down at their hands that she had an IV in.

“Yes, she’ll be fine. Pain is normal, even intense pain,” she reassured them. “Have you been taking the prescribed painkillers when you feel it?”

Applejack didn’t like the idea of that. “No.”

The nurse just nodded slightly. “Okay, I would recommend it, though, especially if you are having intense pain like this often. Can you tell me what happened?”

Applejack’s eyes narrowed as she tried to remember what happened before she fell asleep. Her brain was foggy, but she remembered some details. “I woke up in the middle of the night,” she started slowly, trying to speak coherently. Whatever they pumped into her really worked. “And my body started really hurtin’, even below my injury where I ain’t supposed to feel anything. It just kept rampin’ up, and I couldn’t fall asleep again.”

Though, there was no way she was up for so many hours, at least she couldn’t remember being up for so many. It all kind of just blended together. “Or maybe I was in and out of sleep. I dunno, I just remember trying to make the pain stop, but I couldn’t move at all, I was just sweatin’ a–and I couldn’t breathe.” She paused to swallow the lump in her throat. “Then I just started cryin’, but that musta been hours after I woke up, I think… It’s like I couldn’t control it.”

“Okay. The body pain is likely because of all the work you’ve been doing. You’re doing a lot after being confined to a bed for so long. It’s perfectly normal and it will mostly go away with time.” She smiled at Applejack in an attempt to calm her down. It only worked a little bit. “ As for the pain you feel in your lower body, it’s not unusual.

“It’s similar to amputees and phantom limb pains. It's a neuropathic pain, which means that likely your brain is misinterpreting the signals it’s getting, which makes it feel like you’re in pain where you otherwise can’t feel anything. This happens with people after spinal cord injuries, too. Depending on the person, the intensity of pain varies. Is this the first time this has happened?”

“Well, the, uh, the leg pains, yeah.” Applejack frowned and tried to remember what the pain was like, but even though she knew it was some of the worst pain she’d ever felt, she couldn’t re-imagine what it felt like to feel something in her legs, even pain. “Never had it before, but I’ve been woken up by pain before. I can usually go back to bed quick enough. I just couldn’t this time.”

“So the pain is what woke you up?”

Applejack glanced at her family for a moment. “I–I don’t think so. I had a dream that woke me up, and then the pain worsened.”

“Ah, was this dream unpleasant? Sometimes waking up due to stress can cause pain.”

“I… think so.” She tried to remember, but the only clear dream she could recall was the one she had just woken up from, and it was more of a memory than a dream. Applejack frowned. That wasn’t the one she needed to know, though. “I can’t remember what it was, but it definitely wasn’t nice.”

Apple Bloom tightened her hold on Applejack’s hand. Once they made eye contact, Apple Bloom gave her sister a sad smile. Applejack blinked slowly at her with her own small smile. 

“Well, the morphine seems to be helping with the pain,” the nurse told her and her family. “And you do have your prescription for painkillers. I suggest you take them. Now, I must warn you that you must only take it as directed as it is an addictive substance.” She handed Applejack a small orange bottle with small white pills in it. “But I’m sure your last caretakers told you that already.”

Applejack tentatively took the drugs in her hand and glanced at the label. She hadn’t even given them a spare thought since they’d been prescribed to her. She knew that they were no joke, and she really really didn’t want to have to take them, but every other medication they had tried wasn’t working, so they gave her opioids.

She didn’t want to take them, so she decided to pretend it didn’t hurt. But it really hurt, and now she held them in her hands. But she did have a choice.



Take one capsule by mouth every four hours for pain, as needed.



Applejack frowned. “Do I have to?”

“It’s up to you,” the nurse told her, “but if the pain continues regularly, or even just comes back past tomorrow, then I would recommend it, yes. Body pain should become less frequent while your body adjusts to the new routine, though pain is often reported as the biggest problem among people with SCI, which is why the medication is recommended. Once it becomes less frequent, we can see about switching you to a different medication if necessary.”

Applejack considered what she had said. If the pain really was the biggest problem that people like her seemed to have, then wouldn’t it be best to just cowboy up and deal with it? But then again… it had been so bad. Applejack wasn’t sure if she could cope with it, but she really didn’t want to have to depend on drugs.

Big Mac seemed to understand her hesitation and caught Applejack’s eye to give her a small nod. Applejack looked at him with a frown but relented. “Okay, I just hope it gets better.”

“It will. Just give it some time, okay?” Nurse Terry smiled at her. “We’ll be keeping you on some weaker painkillers for an hour or two alongside the morphine in your system until it goes away. And if you have any questions or concerns about the prescription, let me know. But think about it, alright?”

Applejack just nodded. She had various concerns, but she already knew what Terry would say about all of them, so she kept them to herself.

“Great, I’ll be back in an hour or so to check in. I’ve gone ahead and cancelled your meeting with Rain for today so you can rest up.”

After Nurse Terry left, Applejack craned her neck up to look at the ceiling. Truth be told, she was kind of glad that Granny hadn’t been able to come that day. The temperature dramatically dropped and there had been a big snowfall overnight, so she definitely wasn’t expecting her siblings to show up, either. She was glad they had, but she was also upset about the timing.

No one said anything for a while. Apple Bloom sat next to Applejack, careful not to accidentally tug on her IV, and rested her head on her shoulder. Big Mac simply sat in the chair next to the bed and looked out the window.

The silence was suffocating. Applejack wasn’t sure what to say to break it, but she knew she had to say something. The last thing she wanted was for that to be the only thing on her siblings’ minds. “Uh, so how are things at home? Kinda hard to believe there’s a foot of snow outside.”

The weather. That was the best Applejack could come up with. She almost wanted to cringe at herself for the very obvious change in topic, not that there was a topic at all. But at least it wasn’t an unusual question to ask; the weather was always a concern when your livelihood depends on running a successful ranch.

Apple Bloom perked up at the question. “I know right?! It’s not even really winter yet. I was out two days ago with just my denim jacket, and now it looks like Christmas is tomorrow.”

“But to answer your question, it’s fine. We had to clear the snow out front and make sure the water for the cattle wasn’t frozen over. Heater’s workin’, though,” Big Mac butted in, standing to ruffle Apple Bloom’s hair—she tried to bite his hand in return but he removed it quickly enough, entirely unperturbed. “I had to fix up the windbreaks, though, they were kinda fallin’ apart.”

“Oh,” Applejack responded. She should have been there to help out with that, but she wasn’t. “And how about the horses out in the field?”

“They’re good,” Apple Bloom told her with a grin. “I checked up on ‘em while takin’ Barley out this morning. Nothin’ to worry about, they seemed as healthy as… well, as horses.”

The rest of the conversation seemed to drag on, and while all three siblings seemed to laugh and joke about the state of the weather recently and the hijinks happening at home, Applejack could feel the weight of things left unsaid. She had a bottle of pills on her nightstand. She was supposed to take them. They were drugs, and she was supposed to take them.

Eventually, Big Mac and Apple Bloom left as it started to snow again. Applejack couldn’t blame them—everything got so much harder once the snow started to come in. Normally, Applejack would do checks on the calves in the mornings while Big Mac would check on the sheep and chickens. Apple Bloom would make sure to blanket up the horses that couldn’t keep themselves warm during the cold morning hours. Without Applejack, then they’d have to do more work. 

Applejack stared at the bottle on her nightstand. Managing the pain would help. Then she could be of use.

She frowned and resigned herself to her fate. “I just gotta be smart. I can’t make his mistakes.”
> Reassurances
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack really hated to admit it, but the painkillers were helping. 

Strangely enough… her life seemed a little bit brighter as a result. Physio felt a lot more doable, and she’d even managed to both wheel herself up the big ramp in one go and wheelie off the curb without a problem. Parallel bars were still the toughest part, but even that wasn’t as big of a problem as it felt when she had just arrived three weeks ago. Needless to say, despite having had a slow start, she was finally where she needed to be halfway through her stay.
 
“Alright, remember your cool-down stretches.” Rain positioned himself next to Applejack in his own wheelchair and led her through the stretches even though she already knew how to do them. 

She didn’t really mind, though, so she followed along, taking extra care to make sure her shoulders were cooled down properly. “Didja really have to show me up like that?”

He laughed in turn, knowing exactly what Applejack was referring to. He had challenged her to a wheelie contest to see who could hold the wheelie position the longest. Realistically, she knew it was an excuse to get Applejack to practice staying balanced without relying on her upper body as much, but she just couldn’t say no to some friendly competition. It really should have clicked in her mind that he had much more experience than her, anyway.

“Aw, it wasn’t that bad,” Rain responded with a little shrug as he rolled out his shoulder. “You did pretty well.”

“Yeah, then you started usin’ one hand,” Applejack countered with a roll of her eyes. She couldn’t imagine a situation in which she’d only have one hand during a wheelie, but to be fair, she had never really had to think about that sort of thing before. “Hey, maybe I’ll beat you some time.”

Rain smiled and nodded. “I think you’ve got a good chance. I mean, I can’t say for sure because I’ve never been beat before, but…” he trailed off and innocently looked at the ceiling as Applejack scoffed and shook her head. 

She didn’t have anything to say that wouldn’t just encourage him, so Applejack stayed quiet and finished cooling off. She could already feel the way her muscles were going to be sore, but at least that meant that she did a good job. Besides, if it got too bad, she could just take one of her pills.

It still didn’t feel right taking them, but they were given to her for a reason and they definitely did their job. She couldn’t bring herself to complain too much about it, even if outwardly she would make a big deal of it. 

Once they were both done with the stretches, Rain backed up against the wall and stood from his wheelchair. “Okay, great work today. How are you feeling overall? Any pain?”

Ever since last week’s incident, Rain kept asking that same question. It was sweet in a way, but kind of annoying. He meant well, of course, him being a medical professional and all. But Applejack still couldn’t help but feel sort of ashamed at the memory of what happened.

And how it was Apple Bloom who happened to walk in.

“Hey, Earth to Applejack.”

Applejack realized she’d been staring off into space and shook her head—and mind—back to reality. Her hand reached up to rub her neck. How stupid was she? She couldn’t keep zoning out like that. “Ah, sorry. I’m fine, just a little sore already.”

Rain nodded and crossed his arms. “Yeah, you did a lot today. We’ll take it easy tomorrow, though. Unless you wanted to do parallel bars tomorrow.”

Honestly, she really didn’t, but she didn’t want to come off as weak so she shrugged. “I’m alright with whatever ya got planned.” It was mostly true. She didn’t want to fall behind again, especially not because of something so silly as being sore.

He must have noticed something, though, because Rain furrowed his eyebrows a bit. “Well, how about we figure it out tomorrow, then?” he suggested. “If you don’t feel up to snuff, then we can do something else.”

She’d take it. Applejack nodded and caught the water bottle that Rain gently tossed at her. “Sure, but I’m fine.” She opened it and realized she was a lot thirstier than she thought. She also realized she was a lot sweatier than she thought. 

After draining half the bottle of its contents, Applejack exhaled in satisfaction and tucked the bottle between her torso and the armrest. She wanted to leave, but Rain still hadn’t given her any tasks or recommendations for her to work on or do before their next session. It was usually the same stretches and routine every time, but she always waited for him to say it anyway.

Instead, he seemed to find an interesting spot on the roof. Applejack frowned and crossed her arms, staring intently at him. “Somethin’ wrong?”

Rain pursed his lips and pointed up. “It says ‘gullible’ on the ceiling.”

“What?”

He looked down at Applejack. “Look.” 

Applejack, for some unknown reason, actually looked up. There was nothing up there. Why would there have been? “Oh.”

Rain, the bastard, snickered. “Yeah, y’know that’s how I feel.”

“What?” Applejack cocked her head at him.

“Well, you say you’re okay with doing anything tomorrow,” Rain started, giving her a patient smile. The type of smile that he reserved for when he was speaking as a medical professional rather than as something akin to a friend. “But I can tell you probably want to take it easy. You know it’s okay to take breaks, right? If you don’t feel up to it, I’d rather we do something that won’t risk hurting you.”

Ah, so that’s what that was about. He didn’t want Applejack to get hurt. Of course, he obviously heard about what happened. He was one of the people on the medical team helping her out, after all. Not a friend, at least not first and foremost, if at all. That was a stupid thought. 

Applejack frowned and backed away from him. She could make her own decisions as to what to do. She wasn’t a child, and who had ever said hard work was a bad thing? It wasn’t worth doing if it wouldn’t push you even just a bit. “I know what my limits are. You don’t have to worry ‘bout me gettin’ hurt; I’ve been there already, I’ve gone through that.” Applejack felt herself get angry, so she shut up. After a moment, she sighed and glanced down. “Can’t exactly get much worse, and I wanna get better.”

She didn’t want to lose her temper with him,  but Applejack couldn’t help but hate the way people had treated her ever since the accident. It wasn’t on purpose, she was sure, and definitely not patronizing—at least not every time—but she had noticed the way that most people—even her family despite them claiming the opposite—treated her like she needed help with everything, or that she couldn’t take care of herself.

And of course, she knew Rain was just doing his job. She knew that he was being paid to spend this hour with her and prepare her and teach her how to do the things she needs to know, but even knowing that, Applejack couldn’t help but feel frustrated. She could manage herself, and sure, she did need some help with learning how to do things for herself, but that was the thing. She was supposed to learn to do things herself. If she couldn’t even insist on doing the work, then what was the point?

She wasn’t going to tell him that, though. So she let his slightly disappointed look wash over her. Well, she wasn’t sure if it was disappointment exactly, but it wasn’t a positive emotion. He just dipped his head. “Okay, then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Applejack nodded and said her goodbyes to him as she pushed herself back toward the main hallway that would eventually take her where she needed to go. Before she got there, though, Rain added, “Applejack?”

She turned her head toward him. “Yeah?”

He looked at her with a half-opened mouth that suggested he was going to say something, but nothing came out of his mouth. After a moment, he shook his head, though it seemed it was mostly at himself. “I suggest we take a break tomorrow. You’re doing well, so you don’t need to worry about your progress.”

I ain’t the one worrying.

Applejack didn’t say anything, nor did she acknowledge the sentiment. Instead, she turned back toward where she was headed and started on her way back. 

She spent the time returning to her room in quiet contemplation. Her arms already felt achy and her back was starting to hurt. Maybe Rain was right, maybe she should take a break. 

Then again… if she let herself give up just because she was a bit sore, then how would she ever get through a whole day of doing exactly what she’d been doing? Realistically, she would have to manage rough terrain and inclines and ramps and curbs all the time. How was taking a break after only a few hours a day—at most—going to help her?

Applejack shook her head as she slowed down at the door to her room. She would just have to man up, take a painkiller, and deal with it. It would help in the long run. With a determined nod, Applejack opened the door to her room and headed inside.

Before she could even close the door behind her, though, someone entered her line of view. Applejack yelped and let the door close behind her with a thud. 

“Woah, sorry. Didn’t mean to scare ya.” Thistle took a step back and ran his hand through his black hair. “I came to check on ya, but you weren’t in the room so I figured I’d wait.”

Applejack exhaled a sigh and set her wheelchair at a better angle to where Thistle stood. “Yeah, that’s fine. I just ain’t used to surprise visitors.”

“I was going to text you, but I wasn’t sure I was gonna be able to come,” he explained, putting his hands in his pockets. Thistle looked around the room and half shrugged. “Nice room ya got here.”

The room definitely wasn’t anything special, but it did feel less bleak than the hospital room, at least. Applejack hadn’t really even thought about it before, but she realized she hadn’t seen her own room in far too long. 

She put that thought to the side and chuckled briefly. “Well, it’s fine, I suppose.” She glanced at the bedside drawer where she knew the little orange pill bottle was and frowned before looking back at Thistle. “What are you doin’ here, anyway?”

“Well, I came to pick up something I left last time.” He put his hand on his shoulder, perhaps absent-mindedly, and smiled a bit. “Figured I’d drop in and bug ya a bit.”

“Aw, you ain’t buggin’ me,” Applejack told him with a smile of her own, “though I wish you’d’ve told me you were droppin’ by. I just got back from physio and I reckon I’m a mite gross right now.”

Thistle stepped over and sat on the edge of Applejack’s bed. He scratched at the stubble on his face and shrugged in amusement. “Hey, if it means anythin’ to ya, I really don’t care. I’m a cowboy, remember? And I know you know what I mean by that. Rodeo ain’t pretty.”

It was hard to hold back the frown that the reminder of her past life threatened to bring to her face, but Applejack managed to simply hold a tight smile and force out a laugh that was probably too exaggerated for his joke. “I guess you’re right, but still. Would like a warning next time.”

“Sure thing,” Thistle promised. His eyes looked around the room quickly. “Say, is your family comin’ in today?”

“Not that I know of,” Applejack told him as she rolled up to the desk in front of the bed. She opened her laptop and, as she thought, no messages from any of her family informing her of a visit. “Gettin’ pretty busy  back home, what with the snow and all.”

“I bet. So they got less time for you, huh?” 

She really couldn’t hold back her frown that time. Applejack stayed glancing at her screen as she nodded. “Yeah, there’s a lot to do. Makin’ sure the water won’t freeze over, checkin’ on the cattle and keepin’ ‘em where they’re supposed to be in the winter near the windbreaks, makin’ sure the horses are alright…” Applejack trailed off, truly realizing how much there was to be done. She’d thought about it before, of course, but saying it out loud really made it click how much she was missing out on. Even if she was back home, she couldn’t really do much of any of those things. 

It wasn’t like she could do anything about it. Applejack sighed and propped her chin on the palm of her hand. “There’s more stuff, but I, uh, I’m sure my family’s got it.”

“From what I remember, you’ve got a  cousin lives near you, right?” Thistle stuttered before adding, “I remember ‘cause of her, uh, heh, bright green hair. She come ‘round often to help?”

“Sure, but in the winter she gets pretty busy, too.” Applejack stared blankly at her screen. “Farms ain’t exactly much easier to maintain in the winter than a ranch as far as I know. So, I guess then, no she doesn’t get around as often.”

“Ah, so y’all got ranch hands, I imagine.” Thistle let out a low chuckle. “I mean, I imagine it’s tough with just the four of ya.”

“Three,” Applejack corrected. 

“Huh?”

She sighed and shook her head. “Only three. I ain’t helpin’. I’m here, right?”
A hand on her shoulder made Applejack duck her head even more. Thistle gently rubbed her on the shoulder reassuringly. “Well, for now. Can’t you help after you get out? Or after ya get better?”

Get better.

She snorted, though the smile on her face was more of a grimace. “I dunno if there’ll be much gettin’ better. At least not in the way that matters.” Applejack turned to see Thistle staring at her with a frown. She bit her lip and shut her eyes. She’d tried to not think about it since that day, but she really couldn’t avoid it. Applejack had never wanted to admit it, to say it out loud because then it’d make it true. Or at least, true to her. And then? Then there was no going back. 

She looked down at her wheelchair. Her definitely expensive, orange wheelchair. If she was going to be stuck in one for the rest of her life, then sure. Why not get a good, pricey one? That must have been what her family was thinking when they got it. That must have been the excuse they used to convince themselves that she even deserved it. 

“Poor Applejack,” they must have said. “How do we make up for the fact that she can’t do anything anymore?”

Applejack kept her eyes shut. “Doc said I won’t be walkin’ ever again.”

Thistle was quiet. 

In the darkness behind her closed eyelids, Applejack was surprised to feel as though she had abruptly moved.  Once she opened her eyes, she discovered that Thistle had turned her chair to face him. He grabbed her hands in his and rested them on her lap, making sure to maintain eye contact with her. His stare was strangely soft, though with an intensity that bubbled beneath the surface. “Then they find someone else to help in the ways you can’t.”

Applejack thought about Strawberry Sunrise.

Thistle tightened his grip on her hands a bit as if he knew that her thoughts wandered away. “But so what? There’s other stuff you can do, I’m sure. You don’t need to walk to do a lot of things.”

Applejack hadn’t realized it before, but Thistle vaguely smelled of smoke. Just another stereotype. If the moment didn’t feel so heavy, she might have pointed it out with a laugh. Instead, she swallowed dryly and glanced down at their hands. “That ain’t true on a ranch.”

“You’ll find something.”

It was strange how he needed to crouch down to get to eye level with her. She hadn’t even noticed it at first. Applejack blinked and shook her head. “I–I guess.”

He nodded and took his hands off of Applejack’s, though he didn’t stand back up. “Hey, I didn’t mean to sour the mood, y’know.”

“I know,” Applejack told him as she fiddled with her ring.

“C’mon, I know what’ll make ya feel better. How ‘bout I come by next week and I’ll pick us up some dinner?” He grinned and winked. “Anything you want. My treat.”

That would be nice. The rehab centre had decent food, and it wasn’t uncommon for Applejack to have food brought to her by her family whenever they’d visit, but she had honestly grown tired of eating the same food all the time. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate it, but Apple Bloom always insisted they pick up burgers and Granny always obliged.

Applejack nodded and found herself even smiling at the idea. “Sure. I don’t rightly care what you bring, long as it ain’t burgers.”

Thistle laughed at that. “Sure, no burgers for ya. What? Too good for ‘em?”

“Nah, I’ve just had too many.”

“Oh yeah?” He made a show of quizzically looking at Applejack. “Hmm, sure doesn’t seem like it.”

The blonde felt her cheeks go red at that as she reached in front of her to shove Thistle as best as she could despite her soreness. He chuckled and prevented himself from falling backwards by putting his hand on the ground as Applejack turned away from him. “Ah, remind me why I even talk to ya,” she teased, referring to the conversations they’ve had on the phone and via messaging for the past two weeks.

“It’s cause I’m charming,” Thistle said confidently. Even though she couldn’t see him, Applejack could imagine his stupid face. “All the ladies love it.”

Applejack shook her head in amusement but didn’t reply. Instead, she let her gaze fall back on her bedside table and with that, she felt her smile fade. She sighed and shrugged her shoulders, which felt kind of painful. “I got some stuff to do. I think it best if you leave now.” She heard Thistle stand up behind her, so she turned to face him. She expected him to be upset, but he didn’t really seem bothered. In fact, he didn’t seem to feel any sort of way about it. 

Before she could think too much about it, though, he adopted his trademark sly grin. “Sure. Still good for next week? I’ll let you know when I can come, and you let me know when your family ain’t gonna be around.”

Applejack gave him a thumbs up. “Yeah, sounds alright to me.”

Thistle turned to grab his hat and coat from the coat rack. Applejack hadn’t even noticed they were there until that moment, but obviously, it made sense in hindsight. It was cold and snowy outside, after all. He put on his black hat and his coat, then opened the door. “It’s a date, then.” He tipped his hat before leaving the room. “See ya next week, AJ.”

He had never used that nickname on her before. Applejack waved at him as he left, but it didn’t feel right to say anything in response. After the door shut, Applejack found herself frowning. She liked Thistle. She did. He was nice, and he was funny. And he was charming, even if he meant it as a joke. But he was a stranger, and Applejack didn’t like strangers. So why was he easy to talk to? And why had she agreed to let him bring dinner?

That finally caught up to Applejack as she pulled up next to the bed and threw her water bottle onto it. “Wait. Did I just agree to a date with him?”

She frowned, mostly in confusion, as she spoke aloud. Her actions slowed, but she continued the mindless routine of transferring into bed. He did say it was a date, but did he mean that literally or in a joking way? Applejack moved her weight onto the bed and winced at how sore her shoulders really were. She let herself slowly onto the bed and rolled out her arms before lifting her legs onto the bed. Ignoring the pain for the time being, though, she scooted herself to the back of the bed, where she looked over to the table and sighed.

How would she know? Maybe she should ask him if it was an actual date or if he was joking. Either way, she didn’t know if she wanted to go on a date with him. She’d never been on a date before, though she never found much interest in the idea. Applejack had never had many guy friends—if family even counted as guy friends, and she’d definitely never had an interest in dating a guy. Not that any guy ever found interest in her.

But Thistle was… different. He actually wanted to talk to her, and he wasn’t condescending when doing it. As far as Applejack could tell, Thistle was just genuinely interested in her. And perhaps even ‘interested’ interested, as Apple Bloom would say. Maybe Applejack wasn’t the epitome of a romance guru, but she was pretty sure that Thistle liked her. She just didn’t know how she felt about him.

He was nice. He was sweet, and he was confident. All good traits. All desirable traits as far as Applejack knew were based on listening to other people. She didn’t dislike him, and she did like talking to him. Was that what it was all about? 

She wasn’t sure. But she thought she should give it a shot.

Thistle had asked her on a date. Applejack agreed to it. That wasn’t so bad. It wasn’t as nerve-wracking as Fritter made it seem. She felt fine about it, unlike Fritter who always seemed a nervous mess when talking about boys. Maybe Applejack was just… 

Well, she wasn’t sure. But she had a date with Thistle. Probably. And it was about time it happened. Everyone in her family had always asked her if she’d finally found a guy to like, and the answer had always been no. But now? Now she had a probable date with Thistle. That was good. Now she’d have something to say when asked. She could finally say that she did find a guy and then they would finally stop asking. 

Decidedly content with her rationalization on the matter, Applejack grinned and got back to the task at hand. The pain. She leaned sideways, pulled open the drawer, and took out the orange bottle. It was almost still entirely full. She had only been taking them when she really couldn’t take the pain. 

Applejack could feel the pain coming this time, though, and she needed to prove to Rain that she could do everything he asked. She wasn’t weak, and she wasn’t going to come out of rehab unable to do anything. She was going to help on the ranch one way or another. Thistle was right about that.

Applejack sucked air through her teeth and opened the bottle, revealing the medicine inside. It would stop the pain and she could have a shower. 

She tilted the bottle and let one fall into her hand before closing the bottle and hiding it away once more.  It would stop the pain and she could go back to the bars—she knew they were never in use after her session. 

She popped the pill in her mouth and took a swig from the water bottle she threw onto the bed. It would stop the pain and she could be better. 

Applejack smiled as she washed it down. There was a lot to look forward to.
> Two Truths and a Lie
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everything sucked and Applejack hated it.

She was irrationally upset. She knew it was irrational, but still, she couldn’t help feeling it. And the worst part was that she swore she would stop feeling that way.

When Apple Bloom informed her of what was going on, though? All those feelings came back. Applejack scowled as she let her fingers linger on the keyboard.

She knew that Strawberry had been helping out at the ranch. She didn’t particularly like the idea of that, but whatever, it was good to have another pair of legs back home, especially since Strawberry wasn’t exactly a stranger.

But hiring her? Paying her money? What was the use of that? They boarded her horse. She paid them for that, so why would they pay her to give a hand? Why should they? Applejack definitely didn’t want to get into the logistics of it with Apple Bloom, and she also didn’t want to start up another talk about what kind of a person Strawberry was.

It’s not like it mattered anymore, anyway. Strawberry made it clear she didn’t want anything to do with Applejack. Hey, maybe she was even glad that Applejack wasn’t home. Then she wouldn’t have to run into her. In all honesty, Applejack thought that Strawberry might have chosen to leave her family alone altogether, but nope. Apparently, it was just Applejack she had an issue with.

Though, Applejack couldn’t exactly blame her. If she was Strawberry, then she would definitely hate herself, too.

She wasn’t exactly sure what to say in response to Apple Bloom, so she decided to just call her. It was easier to just talk, anyway. Texting was stupid. Applejack picked up her phone and hit dial, hoping that Apple Bloom wasn’t too busy. To be fair, if she was busy, she wouldn’t be texting Applejack in the middle of the day.

The line rang for only a few moments before it clicked and Apple Bloom’s voice came through the speaker. “Applejack!”

Applejack didn’t want to immediately put a damper on the conversation, so she smiled even though her sister couldn’t see her. “Heya Bloom. How’s it going?”

“It’s fine, I guess. Lots of work,” she explained, though Applejack already knew that. “Weather’s been really nasty! I know you’ve seen it. The storm last night completely blew the roof off the shack and now some of the feed in there’s all wet.”

Applejack frowned. That was definitely not good. “Y’all gotta fix the roof as soon as possible. Is everyone alright?”

Apple Bloom actually laughed a bit. “Everyone’s fine, you gotta stop your fussin’. Macky and Strawb are out fixin’ the roof as we speak and I’m trying to figure out what to do with this feed. It’s perfectly good, just wet.”

At the mention of Strawberry, Applejack’s lip twitched a bit, but she decided to put that conversation off for just a moment. “Didja feed the horses in the barn yet?”

“Most of ‘em, a couple haven’t had their lunch yet.”

“Give it to the older horses first,” Applejack told her. “Have you fed Bingo and Roan yet?”

Bingo and Roan were Applejack’s parent’s horses. Bingo was her mother’s horse—a  chestnut quarter horse—while Roan was her father’s horse—a, unsurprisingly, bay roan quarter horse. Her dad had never exactly been the most creative with naming, and it had become a bit of a joke between his friends in the circuit. It certainly didn’t help when he and his wife named their first child after him.

The pair of horses were getting up there in age, so Applejack liked to give them their feed along with the supplements and soak it all to make sure they were hydrated.

“No, I’ll give it to them, then. It ain’t a lot.”

Well, that was settled at least. There was still the big thing, though. Applejack didn’t want to talk to Apple Bloom about it, though. She was just a kid. But she did have to at least bring it up. “Hey, Bloom?”

“You’re gonna ask ‘bout Strawberry Sunrise, ain’t ya?”

Was she really that predictable? Applejack rolled her eyes at no one. “I wanted to ask… Why is she still there?”

Apple Bloom sighed. “She offered to help us since you’ve been gone.” She didn’t say it in an accusatory tone, but it still stung. “Applejack, I know y’all have your differences, but really, can’t you just put ‘em aside? She’s doing a good thing for us.”

So, Strawberry hadn’t told Apple Bloom about that conversation they had? Applejack wasn’t sure if she was glad or upset. On one hand, she was glad to leave her family out of that, but on the other, she wondered why Strawberry wouldn’t take the opportunity to make Applejack look bad if she really was that upset. She supposed it didn’t really matter. She might as well just come clean about it since Big Mac already knew, and if Apple Bloom was disappointed, well then, that was just one more to add to the list.

“We kinda had a… argument,” Applejack told her. She frowned at her laptop as she remembered how that day went down.

“Okay? Ya say it like it’s new for you two.”

While maybe Apple Bloom meant it in a humorous way, Applejack couldn’t help but feel a little bit ashamed. “No, not like that. She got… real upset at me. I’m surprised she’s even at the ranch if I’m bein’ honest.”

Apple Bloom sucked in air through her teeth. “That bad?”

“Eeyup.”

“Look, I can’t say I’m surprised, sis. I’ve been tryna tell ya that she’s a fine person, but ya never listen. Not to me, not to Fritter, not even Strawberry herself. Only one you listen to is Big Mac, and it ain’t like he’s barkin’ very many orders.”

Applejack chuckled dryly. “I’m supposed to be the big sister,” she muttered with defeated amusement. “Now what are you doin’ givin’ me advice?”

Apple Bloom returned the laugh, though it was only a single ‘hah’. “Well, I’m sorry to hear it. But the fact that she’s still here means somethin’, right?”

Yeah, that she wants the money, sure, Applejack thought bitterly. She didn’t want to say that to Apple Bloom, though. “Maybe.”

“C’mon,  she’s been nothin’ but friendly. I dunno what happened between y’all but I’m sure it ain’t nothing you can’t work out.”

Applejack really doubted it, but it was still somewhat comforting. Though, maybe it was for the best. She always wanted Strawberry to leave her alone, and now she was doing exactly that. “Well, she’s… at least she ain’t takin’ it out on y’all.” Lord knows I would be.

“She ain’t like that,” Apple Bloom promised. “I think she likes being ‘round Whippy more. And, uh, she’s also kinda been helpin’ with Barley.”

Helping with Barley? Her horse? Applejack frowned. Big Mac swore he wouldn’t let her touch Barley. “What?”

“I know! I knew you wouldn’t like it, but he’s been so in-cooperative.” Apple Bloom paused for a moment and the only noise on the other end was some muffled thuds and sloshing. Applejack figured she was finishing up her chore. Some rustling told her that Apple Bloom had once again picked up the phone before continuing. “Like, he just… he won’t let me ride him anymore. He gets all uppity, and I know he’s just like that, he only listens to you but…”

Great, now Barley was a problem, too. All because he only ever listens to Applejack. That was just perfect. She really really didn’t want Strawberry to mess with him, but she didn’t want Apple Bloom to get hurt on account of Barley. “Well… I guess it’s fine, then,” Applejack conceded. She didn’t really even have a good reason to not let Strawberry near Barley other than… well, nothing. Nothing real. “Just don’t get near him if he’s being difficult, Bloom. I don’t want you gettin’ hurt.”

“Okay, I won’t,” Apple Bloom agreed, albeit a bit hesitant. “But he’s fine with Strawberry. I dunno why, maybe it’s ‘cause Whippy likes her.”

That sort of made sense. Whippy and Barley seemed to get along well enough. Sometimes a little too well. “Just be careful. Though, I gotta ask, is Fritter busy or something? She’s usually pretty eager to help out.”

“She can’t leave her home right now. Storm did some pretty nasty stuff over there, too,” Apple Bloom explained. “Nothin’ major, but Fritter says she’s gotta stay home and focus on repairin’ damages. We got off it pretty lucky.”

“Oh, yeah, that makes sense.” Applejack frowned. She hoped nothing happened to their stables. They had just gotten that fixed up a few months ago. “Doesn’t Strawberry have somewhere to be?”

“Not that she’s mentioned. And I’m sure she’d’ve told us.”

Huh. That was a bit strange. “Well, I guess, uh, tell Strawberry thanks. For helpin’ out.”

“You want me to tell her thanks?”  Apple Bloom sounded incredulous. Like she couldn’t believe it.

That made Applejack put on a bit of a confused grin. “Yeah? I guess?”

“Wow, sis. You really messed up this time, didn’t ya?”

Applejack rolled her eyes, but despite Apple Bloom kidding, she was a lot more right than Applejack wanted to admit. Instead, she figured she’d change the topic into something she hadn’t really had the opportunity to ask Apple Bloom about. “Alright, alright. Just tell her, okay?”

“Sure. I will. I think she’ll appreciate it.”

That didn’t sound too likely anymore, but Applejack didn’t want to contest it. “Maybe. Hey, Bloom, can I ask you ‘bout something?”

“Uh, yeah, sure! Just give me a sec.”  

There was some more rustling and some muffled talking, which probably meant that Apple Bloom had gone to talk to someone. After a couple more moments, during which Applejack thought about how to breach the subject, Apple Bloom shut a door. “Okay, sorry. Was just tellin’ Big Mac I was gonna get started on homework and talk to ya.”

Homework. Okay, that made it easier. It was sort of on the right track. “He okay with that?”

“Yup, he says he’s fine with just Strawb,” Apple Bloom told her. “Anyway, what’d you want to ask?”

“Remember back, uh, before everything? When you told us that you were offered a spot on the Eastern Equestrian Junior Prospect Rodeo Team?”

Apple Bloom hesitated even as she answered. “Yeah. What about it?”
“Have you thought on it?” Applejack remembered how excited Apple Bloom was when she told everyone the good news. “I’ve been lookin’ into it and the decision deadline is at the end of the month.”

“Uh, kinda. I just… I dunno, I don’t think it’s the right time,” she admitted.

A weight dropped in Applejack’s stomach. Or at least, that’s what it felt like. “What? Why not?” She frowned as she came to the realization that she was probably why. “N-no, Bloom, c’mon. Ya can’t let an opportunity like that go to waste just ‘cause I…”

She couldn’t even finish her sentence.

“No, Applejack, it–it ain’t that,” Apple Bloom interrupted, though it wasn’t much of an interruption since Applejack hadn’t finished her sentence to begin with. “I just, I don’t wanna leave home! There’s a lot to do ‘round here, plus all that’d be so much money and…” It was Apple Bloom’s turn to cut herself off. She definitely knew how that sounded, which only made Applejack feel guilty. “I wanna step up more around the ranch. I’ve got a lot I can learn ‘bout how we do things here. And y’know what? M–maybe rodeo ain’t the right move for me, anyway.”

How could Apple Bloom say that? She loved rodeo! She always had! She was always so excited to do her events, even back when her ‘event’ was just mutton busting. Hell, she was so damn excited for Appleoosa that she hardly slept the entire night. All she could think of was beating her P.B. She was so eager for that weekend. 

But, of course, that weekend had been promptly ruined. Maybe it wasn’t just the weekend that was ruined for Apple Bloom. Maybe…

“When’s the last time you practiced your barrel run?” Applejack asked her quietly, hoping that Apple Bloom would prove her wrong. She was met with silence that proved the opposite. “Pole bendin’? Ropin’? H–have you even thought about if you’re gonna steer ride?”

That seemed to get through to Apple Bloom. “No! I–I haven’t! I mean, I haven’t practiced any of that. And I don’t wanna do steer ridin’ anymore. God, why would you think I’d want to?”

“Apple Bloom—”

“Look, I don’t care what you say, I don’t wanna do it no more. I don’t have the time for it, anyway. There’s a lot to do on the ranch, Applejack. With or without you, there’s always been so much.” Apple Bloom sighed, but her tone didn’t ease. “Even if I wanted to, I can’t. I’d rather use my time for somethin’ useful, and it’s about time I got to learnin’.”

It was exactly what Applejack hoped wouldn’t have happened. Apple Bloom gave up. She got scared, and she was locking up. She was just like her older sister, and that wasn’t anything to be proud of. “No, Apple Bloom. You’re too young for all that. You should take their offer.”

“Ya can’t tell me what to do, Applejack. I ain’t a little kid. I’m turnin’ fifteen in a week.”

She wanted to disagree, to say that fifteen was still just a kid. That Apple Bloom was going to be her baby sister forever. That she’d always be little.

But then she thought about when she was Apple Bloom’s age. She didn’t feel like much of a kid, then, either. At least, not after that summer. She’d been forced to grow up all of a sudden, to do more chores and push everything down and take care of her kid sister when she was only just a kid herself. She hadn’t even considered herself to just have been a child back then. She felt all grown up. All ‘mature’. Bullshit.

She didn’t want the same for Apple Bloom. She didn’t want Apple Bloom to feel like she wasn’t a kid because then she’d regret missing out on her childhood for the sake of racing to adulthood. She didn’t want Apple Bloom to be such a depressed mess. She didn’t want Apple Bloom to bottle up everything for the sake of taking care of things, to pretend it was okay. She didn’t want Apple Bloom to be the kid in her class who had to take some stupid pills just to feel like she could smile and be normal. 

Apple Bloom was a kid, and that was okay. She shouldn’t be thinking about how to step up on the ranch just because they had one less pair of legs around. She shouldn’t be worried about her older sister’s failed interpersonal relationships. Apple Bloom should be happy about her accomplishments, she should focus on school and her friends, and she should do whatever she does because she wants to, not because she needs to.

And with all that in mind, Applejack couldn’t help but scowl. Not at Apple Bloom, not at what she said, but at herself. Hell if she was going to be the reason her sister ended up like her. “You’re still a kid, Bloom. And that’s just fine. Don’t be in a rush to grow up.”

“I ain’t in a rush,” Apple Bloom countered, suddenly softening up. “I–I just… I dunno. I’m scared. I want you to talk to me more. Not just ‘bout you, but ‘bout everything, the ranch, the money, whatever. I can take it. I’m a part of this family too!” With those last few words, Apple Bloom’s voice shook a little. She grew uncharacteristically quiet for a moment. “Just… what if somethin’ happens to any of you? What if I need to figure out how to help run this place, and I don’t know how?”

That was exactly what Applejack didn’t want her sister thinking about. She wished she could hug her. “You don’t need to worry ‘bout that. I swear. Just keep bein’ a teenager, Bloom. You’ll learn all that borin’ stuff in time, but you don’t gotta know it now. That’s what we’re here for.”

“But I want to know it now,” Apple Bloom complained. She actually sounded like she might start crying at any given moment. Applejack couldn’t figure out why, but she definitely didn’t want it to happen.

“You remind me of me, y’know that?” Applejack smiled a little despite everything. “But stronger, Bloom. So much stronger.”

“Huh? Stronger?” Apple Bloom sounded extremely taken aback. “No way. How am I stronger than you?”

“You just are,” Applejack responded. She wasn’t sure how to explain it without talking down on herself which is something that her family had often had to scold her for. “Trust me, Bloom. I wish I had been more like you when I was your age.”

“Aw! Well, thanks, sis. And y’know what? I always wished I could be like you. So maybe we can be like each other!”

“Sure.” At least that seemed to get Apple Bloom to cheer up a bit. But still… “And look, Bloom… If you don’t wanna do rodeo anymore, then no one’s gonna force you, but I just want you to make that decision ‘cause you really don’t wanna, not ‘cause you’re scared or ‘cause you feel like you gotta work more on the ranch.”

“Yeah, I–I know,” Apple Bloom said, though her hesitation didn’t convince Applejack. “I’ll think about it, okay? I still got a few more weeks to decide, anyway. They gave me extra time to think about it considerin’... Uh, but for now, I really just don’t have the time to practice, anyway. Exams are comin’ up and there’s a lot to do.”

The good thing was that Apple Bloom was focusing on school. At least there was that. Applejack could only hope she could see Apple Bloom see her side of things once Applejack got back home and was able to lessen the load a bit. Until then, she decided not to press the issue further. “Okay. You’ll do fine in your exams. You’re smart, Bloom.”

“Aw, ya really gotta stop sayin’ all that,” Apple Bloom responded sheepishly. “But yeah, I feel pretty good. Especially for the math exam after your help that time. Makes it a lot easier to learn all the new stuff when you actually understand the first thing.”

That seemed like forever ago. Applejack smiled at the thought. “I’m glad I could help.”

“Yeah! Now, enough about me. How are you doin’?”

Oh, there were so many things that Applejack could say in response to that, and they would all be true. She decided to go with the easier answer. “Alright. Rain and I’ve been improvin’ a lot. I’m doin’ better with the obstacles and everythin’ technical. Um…” 

She thought about the parallel bars and remembered exactly why she had to numb the pain earlier. “And I, uh, I’ve been takin’ those pills, so the pain ain’t a problem.” She hadn’t exactly wanted to talk to Apple Bloom about that, but it felt wrong to omit that side of things when Apple Bloom had just expressed wishing that Applejack would tell her more. 

“Oh! Uhm, that’s good! Just… y’know, just be careful,” Apple Bloom told her. 

Of course, Apple Bloom wasn’t too young to remember. Applejack glanced to the side and frowned. “I know, Bloom. Look, it ain’t the same. I need these sometimes, and it–it ain’t a big deal, alright?”

“I know, but what happens when you stop takin’ ‘em? It ain’t gonna get worse like last time, right?”

Oh, that’s what she meant? Not… 

Applejack ran a hand through her hair until it got caught in a knot she then started to try to force her way through. “That was different. I didn’t do what I was supposed to. And besides, how’d you find out about that anyway?”

“We were moving some of the stuff in your room downstairs and I found an old box in your closet. It had a bunch of your old stuff, includin’ one of those little pill bottles, so I asked Granny and she told me to ask Big Mac ‘cause she figured he’d know what to tell me.”

Oh, that. Applejack should have thrown that away a long time ago, but she wanted to keep one to remind herself that she was stronger without it. It was her box of shame. “Well, what’d he say?”

“I dunno, not much. He just said that things got too hard and you needed help. But then I remembered how different you were and–and how angry you got until one day you kinda just… I dunno, it was like you stopped feelin’ anything at all. I figured it was related, and he told me that you stopped takin’ them. ”

That was when she decided to stop taking those stupid things. She thought it’d help. What was the point of taking them if they didn’t make you happy? But then, it felt like she couldn’t feel anything else. It was an empty kind of despair. 

“I wish I knew before, Applejack. I… We learned about all this stuff in school. You don’t just stop bein’ depressed. And you don’t usually just start, either. I thought you were just havin’ a hard time ‘cause of everything recently, but it’s always been more than that, ain’t it? ”

Apple Bloom’s question hung in the air. It was supposed to be something that wasn’t talked about. It was stupid. Stupid stupid stupid. 

“Those pills were supposed to make it so I could feel happy, but I wasn’t,” Applejack stated simply. A good non-answer. “It was a mistake.”

“...To stop?”

No. “Yeah, I shouldn’t have. At least, not without permission.” If I even could.

“Oh… Okay. So you’re not gonna do that with these right?”

“Of course not,” Applejack responded almost immediately, trying to find a place to drop the conversation. “Look, I don’t need these forever, just for a bit. They’re just for pain, and I only take ‘em when I need ‘em. Don’t worry, okay? C’mon, you’re my li’l sis, you don’t have to worry about me.”

“But I am gonna worry! You’re my big sis!”

“Apple Bloom,” Applejack warned. “I don’t wanna talk about it right now, okay? It’s been a long day and I’m tired. Plus, you’re gettin’ in a fuss over nothin’.”

“Fine, but I ain’t gonna let you just put this in a box, too,” Apple Bloom told her sternly. “I ain’t sure what everyone else’s stance on this kind of stuff is, but I think it’s important to talk about it. At least, that’s what they’ve been tellin’ us in school.”

They had that right, at least. But it didn’t make it any easier. “Okay, fine. But we talk about this after we talk about why you’re givin’ up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Applejack argued with a frown. 

“Okay. Fine, fine. I don’t care, I just want you to be okay.”

“And I just want you to be okay.”

“Well, at least that, we can agree on!”

“Eeyup!”

The line went silent, and Applejack realized that they’d just had… some kind of argument. Even so, she couldn’t help but snicker. It seemed Apple Bloom couldn’t hold back a giggle of her own.

“Was that a fight?” Apple Bloom asked through her fit of giggling.

“I dunno, sugarcube. We don’t fight very often,” Applejack responded, holding her phone to her ear with her shoulder. 

“Well, it was a pretty lousy fight if it was.” Apple Bloom snorted. “But, uh, I’m sorry if I pushed that topic on ya.”

Applejack sighed. “It’s fine. I don’t like to talk about it, but I suppose it was bound to come up sooner or later.”

“Uh-huh. And, uhm, I’ve been… Well, I’ve been readin’ around and talkin’, and I just want you to know that if you ever have to go back to takin’... well, y’know, the pills for… well, it’s okay! Nothin’ to be ashamed about, okay?”

Apple Bloom was so good. So gentle and kind and smart. But she didn’t understand. Applejack didn’t need that. It was sweet that she cared, though. And it was good that she would never feel ashamed of getting help, herself. But she still wouldn’t understand. And how could she? She couldn’t even say it.

Still, Applejack nodded, if only to herself. “Sure.”

“Okay! Good! Uh, I’ve got maybe fifteen more minutes to spare, so let’s talk about somethin’ else.”

Oh thank God. “What’s on your mind?”

“Hmm, well, what’s on your mind?” Apple Bloom teasingly asked. “Have you somehow met a new friend? Or even… a boyfriend?”

It had become a joke, kind of. Apple Bloom—and Fritter, of course—would keep asking if Applejack had met someone new despite there not being very many people to meet. The answer would never change regardless of if they’d asked before she was in the hospital or after. But for once, Applejack had a different answer. She thought about whether or not she should tell her about Thistle but realized that it certainly couldn’t be so bad to admit she’d made a new friend.

She smiled. “Well, I ain’t got a boyfriend, but…”
> Only Idiots Talk To Horses
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


~~~🍓~~~

There was little more rewarding than working at a ranch.

Everything had a sense of importance, a sense of urgency. Nothing you did was taken for granted and in the grand scheme of things, it all mattered. There was no job too small, no task too unimportant. Everything had a place. Everything and everyone.

Maybe that was why Strawberry found herself enjoying it so much. It gave her a sense of belonging, a sense that what she was doing mattered. There was no doing things just because she had time to spare, no doing things because they had to be done ‘eventually’. No, they had to be done right there and then or else something would go wrong. She liked that.

With a grunt of effort, Strawberry lifted the pail and swung it over the latched door to hang it on the hook on the inside of the stall. She kept a close eye on the horse inside, making sure he wasn’t showing any signs of aggression. As usual, though, he kind of stayed away, keeping his eye on Strawberry. 

“Hey boy,” Strawberry cooed quietly as she leaned over the door to check if he had water. The water system seemed to still be in check despite the weather, so there was nothing to worry about. But… still, it seemed wrong to see him like that. Strawberry bit her lip and opened the latch. In response, the stallion’s ears perked up. “Wooh, shh…”

Slowly, Strawberry stepped inside the stall, keeping herself in the opening of the door until she held it shut behind her. “Shh, see, it’s just me, boy.”

The quarter horse snuffled, though his ears swivelled toward her curiously. Strawberry had been around horses long enough to know that he wasn’t being aggressive, despite keeping to himself. With a sigh of relief, Strawberry let the door close behind her and she took a slow step forward. “Hey, Barley,” she whispered to him, “it’s me, boy.”

Barley snorted and turned his head away from Strawberry, who frowned. “Hey, c’mon buddy. I know you miss your owner, but you can’t shut everyone out. How’s anyone supposed to take care of you?” 

She closed the gap between them and gently rubbed Barley’s neck with gloved hands. He didn’t seem to mind. “Maybe you’re more like her than I give you credit for,” she said with a laugh. “Ah, you even have me talking to you! Come on, Barley, you’re a freaking horse. Why am I talking to you?” 

He didn’t respond, of course, so Strawberry just took to rubbing his nose. “Whatever. What do you say we go for a ride? I bet you don’t wanna be all cooped up in here by yourself.”

Satisfied with that, she led Barley out of his stall and brought him near the entrance of the stable. From there, she grabbed all the tack she knew Applejack used on him and her saddle and brought it over to where Barley waited. She found it interesting how Applejack never used any of the prize saddles she won to ride. They all just hung in the back collecting dust. Strawberry wasn’t sure if that was humbleness or arrogance. She decided it didn’t really matter.

It didn’t take long to tack Barley up and get him ready to ride. Strawberry was just making sure everything was strapped on right when she heard footsteps enter the stable. She looked over to see Applejack’s brother enter the barn. He looked at her and tipped his snow-covered hat. Strawberry gave him a wave as she watched him curiously. Had he finished repairing the fence already?

Unsurprisingly, Big Mac was not much of a talker. He simply made his way toward the tack area and glanced at Barley, who pinned his ears back. Big Mac shook his head and walked back toward the front of the stable. Strawberry cocked her head. “Uh, what’s up, Big Mac?”

“You goin’ out?” he asked, patting Roan’s snout while he stood next to his stall.

Strawberry nodded. “Yeah, I was gonna take Barley out for a quick ride.”

“Okay,” he responded, opening the door to Roan’s stall. “I was gonna take Roan out, too.”

Was he trying to hint at something? Strawberry rubbed her forearm with a crooked smile. “Um, did you want to join me? We could go for a ride together.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t like Big Macintosh, not at all. He was easygoing and super relaxed. But Strawberry found it hard to be alone with him because he was so easygoing and relaxed. Needless to say, Big Macintosh did not talk much, and Strawberry wasn’t sure how to act around someone who didn’t talk much. 

Besides, he seemed a bit cold lately. Though, that was probably just Strawberry reading too deeply into things. He didn’t interact with Strawberry enough for her to be sure, but she did know that Big Mac and Applejack were extremely close, and if Applejack was actually any sort of distraught about their last exchange, Big Mac would probably know about it.

So as she waited for Big Mac to get the old gelding ready, Strawberry couldn’t help but wonder what Big Mac could possibly want. If he did want anything. Maybe he just wanted to go out for a ride.

But Apples be scheming, Strawberry reminded herself with an amused chuckle. It wasn’t particularly true, but she thought it was appropriate enough at times. Especially when Apple Bloom kept finding ways to have her do all the hard work.

“Y’know,” Big Mac cut through the silence, “Roan was my daddy’s horse.”

He didn’t look up from the bay roan as he spoke, instead just focused on getting the bridle on slowly and carefully. Strawberry looked over at him, but he had his back turned to her anyway. “Yeah, I think Apple Bloom mentioned that once.”

Big Mac nodded and turned halfway in front of Roan to look directly at his face. He gently rubbed along his snout and focused on the area on his forehead between his eyes. “They been together for a long time, he and my daddy. They was called the best horse-man duo on the circuit in their time. Had this… unbreakable bond.”

Oh, this was going to be a whole thing. Strawberry felt a little nervous as to why Big Mac had decided to start story time, but she didn’t dare ask him. She kept quiet.

After a moment, Big Mac took the reins in his hand and started on his way out of the stable, no doubt expecting Strawberry to follow along, which she did. He kept quiet until they reached outside, where he climbed into the saddle with no struggle. Roan was a big horse, but Mac was a big man. 

Strawberry followed suit and exhaled slowly as she climbed into Barley’s saddle. It was only a bit of a struggle; Barley was at least a hand height or two taller than Whippy, but Strawberry was tall enough to manage. That made her realize how tall Applejack actually was. She’d never really thought about it before. 

With a click of his teeth, Big Mac urged Roan forward. Despite being an older horse, he certainly didn’t show it. Muscles built from many years of work still rippled beneath his skin and his coat shined healthily. 

Strawberry looked down at her mount and found she had similar praises about Barley. If there was anything to say about the Apples, it was that they were damn good ranchers in every aspect of the word. She brushed little snowflakes out of Barley’s mane. At least it wasn’t snowing very heavily. She did not like the snow one bit, but it was unavoidable.

Just when Strawberry began to wonder when Big Mac might keep talking, if at all, he cleared his throat. “Mind if I smoke?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s fine.” 

He nodded and used his free hand to take out a pack of cigarettes. From there, he fished one out and stuck it between his lips, letting it dangle there while he found a lighter. Once he did, he lit up his smoke and drew in a long drag.

Strawberry watched how he did it so methodically – as if it was something he didn’t need to think about. He probably didn’t, to be fair. It was just a routine. He seemed to stare off at something far away while he let the smoke leave his body and trail behind him. 

She almost thought it was alluring, though not in a way that would imply she would ever be attracted to him. No, she could never see Big Macintosh that way, but she understood why some of the other girls on the circuit did. He was… rustic, almost. Authentic. 

“Pa and Roan won every event they signed up for,” Big Mac finally continued. “Real unbeatable team. I ain’t never seen anythin’ like it. I grew up goin’ to rodeos and watchin’ my daddy compete. I wanted to be just like him.”

Something in his expression darkened as he finished that sentence. Strawberry frowned as she watched him take another drag. She’d never seen Big Mac be anything but happy, or even frustrated. He didn’t look mad, per se, but his furrowed brow cast a shadow on his eyes, and the brim of his hat didn’t help either. 

“Applejack ever talk to you ‘bout him when y’all were friends?”

Strawberry blinked in confusion. She hadn’t been expecting that to be the next thing to come out of Big Mac’s mouth. “S-she said that he was the best. That he loved you guys and your Mom so much. She learned a lot from him.”

“Oh, she’s a lot like him,” Big Mac agreed. “And so am I. He taught us everythin’ we know ‘bout rodeo, and he even taught us school stuff. And he was hard on us, but that’s ‘cause he wanted us to do well. And we did. He was always so proud.”

It was weird. He was saying nice words, but his facial expression wouldn’t have clued her in on that. “He must have been a great teacher.”

Big Mac nodded. “Eeyup. He was great, y’know when he wasn’t on them pills or so drunk he couldn’t stand.”

Strawberry’s mouth grew dry. Applejack definitely never mentioned that. “Oh.”

“I’ll give him credit, he never once laid a hand on us despite it all,” he told her, probably to dispel the thoughts that snuck into her brain. “Like I said, he was great. But he was hurtin’, and he needed help. He loved us, but addiction’s a difficult thing, Strawberry.”

“Y-yeah.”

“He yelled a lot when he wasn’t in his right mind. Never yelled around Bloom, and tried not to yell ‘round AJ. But I was there for it, and I’m sure Ma saw more.” He sighed and slowed to a stop and held out a hand, letting a snowflake fall and melt on his palm. “And she loved him, too. And Granny. We all did, and we all wanted to help, but we never knew how. Sometimes he was all fine and happy, sober as a judge, and sometimes he was so out of it, he could barely get out of his room unless he needed a beer from the fridge.

“He was a great man who made mistakes. And he always tried to make up for ‘em, but he was fightin’ a losin’ battle ‘gainst himself. He made one mistake too many,” he told her with a frown that seemed more sad than angry. He rotated his cigarette in his fingers before simply discarding what was left of it into the snowy field. “And sometimes, I’m afraid that AJ and I are too much like him.”

Strawberry wasn’t sure what to say, but Big Mac’s silence went on for too long for it to have been a simple pause. She opened her mouth and hoped that whatever came out next would be okay. “You have all his good qualities, from what I can tell. Both of you. Smart, strong, caring…” It was a weak statement, but if it meant anything, she did believe it.

“Maybe,” Big Mac muttered. “I don’t wanna lose track of who I am, and I ain’t gonna air out Applejack’s dirty laundry for her, but… I think maybe she already is. Or she has been for a long time.”

Strawberry snorted. “Okay, maybe she’s been rude and angry, but losing track of who she is? I don’t think that’s possible. She’s still the same stubborn S.O.B that I’ve always known! She loves rodeo, she loves this place, and she has ever since I met her. And she never gave that up.”

Big Mac took off his hat to shake off the snow building up on it and set it back on his head. “Y’all were close, right?”

Why did it seem like everyone liked to remind her of what was? “Uh-huh.”

He hesitated a little. “Did she always seem happy to ya? I mean even before we lost our parents.“

There was something to be said about the way he was able to talk about it all so nonchalantly. Applejack always seemed to struggle with getting the words out. Strawberry thought back to when they were little kids. Applejack was never one to talk about her feelings, but she usually had a smile on her face when she was doing something she liked. Strawberry shrugged. “I dunno, I guess? She was never much the expressive type.”

Big Mac’s lips pursed as he thought. “You still care ‘bout her, right?”

Strawberry felt her chest tighten, so she coughed. “What?” What was with Big Mac and throwing the conversation around every which way? “What do you mean?”

“I said what I meant. You still care ‘bout her.”

That time it wasn’t a question. Strawberry looked incredulously at him and found herself no longer caring that he was five years her senior. She rolled her eyes and kicked her legs against Barley’s flank, motioning for him to trot away from Big Mac. She whistled and smacked her lips. 

To no one’s surprise, it wasn’t long until Big Mac caught up next to her. “C’mon, humour me.”

Strawberry groaned in exasperation and she sped up only to turn backwards in front of him, forcing him to stop. “Okay, yes, fine. I do. So what? I can’t just let all these years of, of caring disappear just ‘cause she happens to never stop being a major bitch!” She stuck her hands out to the sides. “I’m not going to let her walk all over me—or, ugh, whatever—anymore.”

Big Mac crossed his arms. “I just thought it seemed a mite bit weird that you switched up on her all of a sudden.”

She decided she liked Big Mac more when he was quiet and aloof. Definitely not when he was trying to get all up in her personal business. “Yeah, well, she had it coming,” Strawberry muttered, turning her gaze down to Barley, who seemed agitated. She couldn’t blame him—he seemed to be sensitive to his rider’s emotions, and Strawberry definitely felt a bit put off. She gently patted his neck.

What was crazy to her was that Big Mac was even trying to defend Applejack. Of course, she understood that he was her big brother and that’s what big brothers were supposed to do or whatever, but at a certain point, wouldn’t it just be easier to cut your losses and admit that maybe your sister isn’t the person you keep saying she is?

Applejack had been a good friend at some point. Strawberry often remembered those times fondly. Maybe she was a little shy and nervous around other people, but she was really cool once you got to know her, even if all she talked about was horses and cows. And on a saddle? Applejack was a different person. She was confident and strong, though she still mostly kept to herself. Strawberry thought it was kind of weird, but Applejack always made space for her, so it was fine. She even gave Strawberry lots of tips, and they practiced running barrels together all the time.

But then they got a little older and the city finally built that damn school. Strawberry transferred because it was a little closer to home, and to her surprise, Applejack was there, too. It was a clear relief for her anxious friend who definitely seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. She pretty much screamed ‘country’, and with a school full of mostly suburban city kids? Well, anyone who stuck out from that was put to the side. Strawberry herself could pass as one of them, but Applejack sure couldn’t. She didn’t want to leave Applejack alone, so they stuck together like two peas in a pod.

 It wasn’t long until Strawberry found out that being Applejack’s friend made it hard to make friends. Kids were stupid like that. Admittedly, Strawberry had never been the smartest kid, either. She knew that. Her grades were fine, but there was more to being smart than some numbers on a paper. Maybe, she thought, if she showed them she wasn’t actually Applejack’s friend, then she wouldn’t be ostracized, too. It wasn’t true, of course. She was Applejack’s friend, but they didn’t have to know.

So then she started to be mean. Not mean enough for Applejack to actually be upset, but enough for people to see it and think it was all a game. It didn’t feel right, but Strawberry liked having friends, and if Applejack didn’t then why should that affect her? She’d never leave Applejack behind, but she needed to do something about the whole situation.

How stupid was that? Even now, Strawberry couldn’t help but cringe at herself. She couldn’t blame Applejack for being upset, especially not for how Strawberry treated her when all Applejack needed was a real friend, but she could blame her for holding a grudge and acting exactly how Strawberry was. Like her, but worse. Worse because she couldn’t even say she was sorry. Worse because she always had to be the victim. Worse because even when she was being a downright asshole, Strawberry was always the one who was in the wrong.

“I’m done playing her game,” Strawberry told him definitively. “I’ve been trying to move on for years, I’ve been trying to get her on my side. And when she finally calls me? Or I guess, when she picks up, she still has the gall to say she doesn’t like me?” She snorted out an angry laugh. “No, no way. I thought maybe we had a chance, y’know, a couple of months ago. I really thought so, but then she proved that she would never stop being angry when she all but attacked me at the bar. And she doesn’t even remember it, which is even worse. If you hadn’t stepped in, I’m sure she would have punched me for good measure. Just like the old days.”

Big Mac actually looked like he didn’t know what to say. Either that or he was really mulling over his words. 

Strawberry stared at him for a moment before all the anger inside her fizzled away to something more manageable. Her cheeks went red as she rubbed her forearm. “I’m sorry, but I gave her so many chances. I let her be angry at me, but I think she needs to stop taking everything out on me. She can’t actually still be mad about what happened when we were kids.”

“She has a habit of gettin’ mad at other people,” Big Mac finally said. He fiddled with the reins as he thought about what to say. “But I promise you that there’s no one she’s angrier at than herself.”

She definitely believed it. But still… “It’s no excuse to take it out on me.”

“I know,” Big Mac responded. “I think she knows it, too, but I dunno if she can help it. Look, I ain’t tellin’ ya to be her best friend again. I just figured airin’ it out would help. And I figured… maybe you could understand why she is the way she is. She’s had a hard go at things, and maybe what she needs right now is a friend. It don’t have to be you, but I reckon she was just tryin’ to find that.”

She scoffed. “She must have been desperate to want to make up with me.”

Big Mac smiled. “Maybe. But you don’t have to worry ‘bout her callin’ you no more. She found a friend now. At least, that’s what Apple Bloom’s told me.”

“Huh.” Strawberry gave him a weak smile. “That’s good.”

He looked at her like one would look at an open book. “Eeyup. I don’t know much ‘bout him other than they ran into each other by accident. I don’t think Apple Bloom does, either. She told me that Applejack refused to talk about him. She don’t really like talkin’ ‘bout stuff like that, anyway.”

That was good. Good for her. Strawberry wanted to feel relieved, maybe even glad. But instead, she looked back toward where the ranch house was and watched how the snow slowly came down on it. She hated snow, but… it looked so pretty. She frowned. 

“Y’know, it’s okay to move on.”

Strawberry blinked and set her gaze back on Big Macintosh, who rubbed Roan’s neck. “What?”

“You’re hung up on her,” he stated plainly. Strawberry flushed against the cool air. “C’mon, I’ve known you since you were a kid. Only one reason to stick around that long, right?”

Why did Big Mac have to be such a talker all of a sudden? “What, a–are you saying that I like her?” Strawberry pressed her lips together and exhaled sharply through her nose, making a little tuft of warm air. “No, come on, we were best friends and…”

She couldn’t even think of how to finish that sentence because Big Mac was right. She scowled and backed Barley up a few strides. “Okay, maybe when I was younger I did have a little bit of a crush on her, but we were stupid kids! C’mon, it’s not like it even mattered, she was clearly not interested in anyone, let alone me or, or girls.”

Big Mac shrugged. “That ain’t my point. Maybe you moved on from your feelings, but did you ever move on from her?”

“Well, I’m trying to do that. Haven’t you noticed?”

He raised an eyebrow and looked over his shoulder to the ranch. They were surrounded by Apple family acreage. “Really? So then why’re you here? I really doubt you like hangin’ out with cattle, or with Applejack’s little sister, or me for that matter.”

Strawberry scoffed. “Are you trying to fire me?”

“No, I ain't,” Big Mac shot her down. “I’m just tryin’ to understand what you’re doin’.”

If she was being honest, she had no idea what she was doing. She liked being at the ranch, she liked the work, she liked the calmness, she liked the satisfaction, she liked the animals. She liked the people, she liked Apple Bloom who made every chore into a game, she liked Granny Smith who made sure she was on track and supplied her with enough food to feed an army, and she even liked Big Mac, who was a comforting presence and didn’t mind showing her how stuff needed to be done.

She liked all of that, sure. But she… something inside her knew that it wasn’t why she was here. It wasn’t like she desperately needed the money, in fact, she was happy with just helping out for the exchange of warm food, but Granny insisted they pay her and it took everything Strawberry had to talk her down into the price they’d agreed on. Strawberry looked down at Barley. Applejack’s horse. He was a magnificent horse, and yet she couldn’t ride him like Applejack could. She knew that. He was fidgety and a bit ornery, but he listened so well. He was Applejack’s horse. Applejack. This was Applejack’s home. 

But clearly, Applejack had moved on. She found a new friend. A new guy friend at that. Maybe something would come out of that. And then Strawberry would definitely have to move on, because maybe Big Mac was right. Strawberry never stopped moving forward, but she had never moved on. But whenever she looked around, it was always the same.

And when it all came down to it? It was always Applejack. 
> For She's A Jolly Good Fellow
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack took a deep breath as she opened her eyes, squinting and grimacing as she was stirred from her slumber. Something that she couldn’t quite understand made her wipe the palm of her hand on her face. Beads of sweat gathered on her brow, and she realized why her body had subconsciously made her clear them away. She inhaled heavily and sat herself up with a barely suppressed grunt.

Her vision was blurred by what might have been sweat as she used her other hand to clumsily reach to her side until she felt wood against her fingers. It was somewhere there. Applejack glanced to the side, using the soft nighttime light to guide her. It was barely enough, but the way the moonlight reflected off the snow and entered between the gaps in the blinds was just enough. 

Finally, she managed to find what she was looking for. Her saviour, the one that she could have used the last time she found herself waking up like this. With trembling hands—probably shaky from being stirred awake by such an unpleasant feeling, probably also muscles too overused from their earlier work—Applejack fumbled open the lid to the bottle. 

No choice, she managed to tell herself. To justify it. You gotta sleep, and you can’t sleep like this.

One every four hours, as needed. It’d been more than four hours, right? She glanced at the clock next to her, but she couldn’t quite make out the time. It was a only green blur of light. Applejack bit her lip and shook her head. Of course it’d been more than four hours. She’d been asleep, and she felt as though a lot more than four hours had passed. 

Just one. It’s fine.

She dropped a single, white little pill into her hand and closed the bottle. She tried to put it back properly, but the feeling of her hand knocking something over followed by the sound of rolling and then a louder thud told her she’d failed. Whatever. That was a problem for later. After she’d slept the night. Putting that to the side, she popped the palm of her hand to her mouth and tried to feel around for her water bottle. Finally, her eyes adjusted to the light after a few moments, only to bring more bad news. Whatever it was that she’d knocked down earlier? It was her water bottle. 

Applejack nearly wanted to ask the universe what else could possibly go wrong, but she refrained. It was just a mistake. It didn’t matter. She could just dry swallow it, and go back to sleep. She needed to sleep, and she needed the pain to stop.


~~~🍎~~~


Applejack stared bleary-eyed at Rain, doing her best to pay attention to his instructions. 

She sat between the bars with her legs strapped to the mobility aid. She wasn’t sure why she still even had to work on the bars. She wouldn’t be able to walk again, so what was the point? To strengthen her legs? Strengthen them for what? She doubted they could even get stronger.

All she ever did was hold herself up until she couldn’t anymore. Maybe she would shuffle forward a few inches using her arms, but that was the extent of what she could do. So what was the point?

Rain asked if she wanted to keep doing it, that it wasn’t mandatory if she didn’t want to. He said he recommended it, though, if only to strengthen her arms and at least do something for her legs by stretching them out. Plus, she would have to get out of her chair from time to time to transfer, and parallel bars helped with training the right muscles and movement. She agreed, for some goddamn reason that was beyond her now. 

He was saying something about ‘bursts’ and ‘muscles’ and ‘failure’, but nothing he said really stuck. Applejack furrowed her eyebrows, but by the time she finally snapped back to attention, he was done explaining. “You got it?”

Applejack licked her lips. “Uh, maybe?”

Rain frowned. “Were you paying attention?”

“No,” Applejack admitted with a frustrated sigh. “I just, I don’t really see the point anymore.”

“Don’t see the point in what?”

She gestured around her. “All this. I’ve pretty much done everythin’ you want me to do. I can wheelie well enough, at least enough to practice on my own, and I can get up and down ramps. Curbs are a bit hard, but like you said, it’s all just a matter of experience.” She huffed and pointed at the bars directly. “I don’t see the use in me doin’ more parallel bars, neither. It’s just causin’ me a whole lot of grief.”

For a moment, Rain seemed disappointed, but he shook that off and nodded. “Well, like I said, you don’t have to do it. It’s just to build your strength, but you’re already strong. Do you want to stop with the bars, then?”

Applejack glanced down at her legs. They were held stiff by the plastic braces meant to keep her legs straight underneath her to mimic standing, even when she couldn’t actually stand. “I don’t know, I just… I feel a little frustrated.”

Rain sighed and nodded. “Look, I get it. You’re making progress, but it doesn’t really feel like it, right? It feels like it’s all been a waste of time. I understand.”

“Sure, but I don’t think you really get it,” Applejack argued, though she wasn’t upset at him. “Helpin’ people do these things ain’t the same as doin’  ‘em.”

He grinned and crossed his arms. “I wouldn’t be sure.”

“Whaddya mean?”
  
“I’m going to tell you a story.” Rain leaned against one of the bars. “Before I became a physical therapist, I was on track to be a professional football player. I played for the University of Bitsburgh, and I was a pretty good prospect. Was looking to be a first-round pick and was projected to be one of the best running backs in the draft. I heard the Fillydelphia Eagles were scouting me, and I think they were even thinking of drafting me.”

Rain’s smile twitched a little. “But then me and some of my fraternity brothers who also played ball did a damn stupid thing. We went out for a joyride after our big win against our rival school. I didn’t notice at the time because I was too caught up in the moment, but my buddy behind the wheel had far too many drinks in him.” He sighed and shook his head. “We went off the side of the road into a ditch, and next thing I knew, I woke up in a hospital in a halo brace and I couldn’t move my legs. I broke my back, it was my T8. But I was lucky. Doctor told me I’d never be able to play at the same level again, but that in time, I could walk again. Maybe even run.

“I was thrown into a life I didn’t want. All I wanted was to play football, and then after one stupid decision, I was forced into a wheelchair. I didn’t think it was worth it. What else could I do with my life? The physiotherapist who took charge of me, her name was Song Wind, was amazing. She was encouraging and patient, even when I got frustrated and angry. Eventually, after a long time, I was able to walk again. I couldn’t have done it without her, and that’s when I realized that this?” He gestured around him with a happy smile. “This is what I wanted to do. I couldn’t play football anymore, at least not like before, but I wanted to help others. I wanted to be like Song Wind, so I went back to school and I did everything I could and wound up here.”

Applejack wasn’t sure how to react. She didn’t know that about Rain before, but it explained why he seemed so comfortable in a wheelchair, even for someone whose job was to work with people in wheelchairs. She opted to frown. “Wow, I… I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

Rain shrugged. “It’s okay, I don’t mind talking about it anymore. I just wanted to show you that you shouldn’t give up even when things are tough.”

It must have been different knowing he could at some point walk again, but still, she understood his point. It must have been hard, though. It wasn’t even his fault. “What… what about your friends?”

That seemed to make him frown a bit. “The one behind the wheel… he didn’t make it. They said he died on impact. I always hoped it was a painless death. As for my other friends, they were mostly okay. One of them ended up in a wheelchair like me, but he never fully recovered. He still needs mobility aids to walk but he can get around, and the other one ended up okay.”

Oh shit, why’d she have to ask? Applejack mentally kicked herself. “Sorry for askin’, I–I shoulda known.” She frowned. Of course someone would have died. It was bound to happen in an accident like that. It always did. Why’d she have to go and ask?

“I’m the one who brought it up, right?” Rain gave her a smile. “My point is, I understand what you’re feeling. And I can’t make you do it if you don’t want to, but in the long run, it’s just going to benefit you. If it’s because you’re not feeling it today, then that’s okay, but I don’t think you should give up on it entirely. You’ve only got two weeks left.”

“But it’s still my decision, right?” Applejack asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Well, yeah,” Rain responded, “I’m not trying to force you. I’m trying to get you to see it from my point of view.”

Applejack raised a finger to her lips as she thought, idly nibbling on the tip of her thumb. Part of her knew she should just do it, that it would only be beneficial, but the other half of her just wanted to call it a day and stay in bed. Or at least, she wanted to stay in bed until her family came. 

That would have been so much easier. She always felt tired, anyway. Maybe it would be for the best.

“I think… maybe I should just go back to my room today,” she suggested slowly, still unsure about her decision. “We already did some other stuff anyway, and I’m feelin’ kinda drowsy. Don’t wanna overdo it, y’know?”

“Sure, I get that,” Rain told her. “Have you been feeling alright recently, by the way? Any pain or anything like that?”

Applejack shrugged as she leaned forward to unstrap the aids on her legs. “Not any more than usual, I guess.” She paused as she remembered her forced wake-up just that past night and winced. “Well, I mean, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night ‘cause of some pain or other. But I figure it’s only the pain meds wearin’ off.”

“Hmm.” Rain kneeled down to help Applejack with the other leg. “Are you taking them every day?”

“No, only when I need to,” Applejack told him, pausing from unstrapping since she couldn’t reach all the way to the bottom of her legs without feeling like she might topple over anyway. “Not every day, but I guess more often than I’d like. Just… I dunno, it’s been helpin’ a lot with the pain and everything.”

He nodded and helped her with the straps she couldn’t reach before taking them off altogether. Applejack maually lifted each of her legs back into the footrests properly. Rain, in the meantime, put the braces to the side. “Okay. Are they causing any kind of side-effects that aren’t typical? Maybe nausea, dizziness, confusion, tiredness, changes in your mood, or apathy? Anything like that?”

Applejack grinned awkwardly and cocked her head. “No, I don’t think so. Nothin’ out of the ordinary, at least. Ain’t this something that a nurse would typically ask?”

Rain rubbed his neck. “Yes, but I also have to make sure that nothing you’re taking may be interfering with our sessions.”

She shook her head. Rain really did worry too much, but that was his job. So at least he was good at his job. “Naw, I think it’s alright. Just everythin’ all kinda comin’ down on me at once. Been really feelin’ all that exercise, y’know?”

“Alright, I’m just making sure,” Rain told her with a thumbs up. “And if anything comes up, just talk to a nurse or anyone here, really. It doesn’t have to be related to your meds. There are a lot of other things that people going through a big injury may go through, and sometimes it’s good to talk about it. We can make it easier for you to find someone to help you through anything.”

He wasn’t being very subtle. Applejack had already been down that road before, though, so she just nodded. “Yeah, I know. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good. With that being said, I think it’s safe to call today’s session to an end.” Rain walked over to a nearby desk and took a lollipop out of a mason jar, which made Applejack smile in amusement. “You get a treat today!”

He held out the yellow lollipop to Applejack, who took it with a grin. “Aw shucks, ya even got me a little candy,” she expressed in a teasing tone. She looked over the little no brand lollipop. It was probably lemon flavoured. She figured she’d give it to Apple Bloom. 

“Of course, anything for my best behaved patient,” Rain told her, bowing as he did. Applejack couldn’t help but grin at his antics. He was a lot different than any doctor Applejack had ever met. He was a lot friendlier and joked around more. She liked that about him. It made him feel more like someone who cared about her rather than someone who had to care for her. 

“Aw, the bar must be set pretty low if that turned out to be me,” Applejack responded. She crossed her arms and gave him a grin.

“No, I meant your sister.”

Applejack scoffed. “Apple Bloom? But she ain’t even your patient.”

Rain stuck out his tongue playfully. “And yet, she still beat you.”

“Aw, whatever,” Applejack muttered with a poorly hidden chuckle. He must have known Applejack wasn’t one for candy, at least not often, and would give it to Apple Bloom. He’d only met her a few times, but they hit it off pretty well. Apple Bloom had no bad things to say about Rain, and Applejack could definitely share that sentiment. “I’ll make sure to give it to her, then.”

“Good. And hey, tell her happy birthday for me.”

“You don’t wanna come say hi, at least?” Applejack asked, pocketing the lollipop in a way that made sure it wouldn’t accidentally poke her while she couldn’t notice. 

Rain shook his head. “I can’t, I’ve got some paperwork to fill out.”

“Not even for a bit? I’m sure your paperwork can wait, and Bloom’d be right tickled to see ya,” she pointed out. “C’mon, just a bit. For your favourite patient?”

Rain tapped his chin in consideration, then slumped his shoulders in mock defeat. “Fine. I’ll do it for my favourite patient, Apple Bloom.”

Applejack reached forward to give him a firm punch on the leg, to which he reacted with a dramatic yell followed by an abrupt moment of silence, which sent them both into laughter. 

“Okay, well they should be ‘round in, like, half an hour or so,” Applejack told him once she finally gathered herself. “So, I guess if you wanna stop by, then would be the perfect time. Plus, you can get some of your paperwork done ‘tween now and then.”

Rain voiced his agreement and after a quick goodbye, Applejack made her way back to her room. Her arms protested, but she pushed through until she got back. 

The blinds were drawn in her room, cascading it in darkness. She found it rather relaxing, but she knew that Granny wouldn’t like her to be sitting in a dark room, so she turned on the lights on her way in so at least she wouldn’t have to remember to turn them on before her family got back.

It’d been almost two weeks since her family had come to visit, but it wasn’t due to a lack of trying. The unexpected snowfall just made it hard for them to find the time to come all the way out, but Apple Bloom had insisted they go visit Applejack for her birthday. 

All in all, Applejack was glad she’d get to see them again. She could prove that she was doing so much better than the last time they saw each other, and then they could stop not-so-secretly worrying about her. 

In the meantime, Applejack pulled up to her desk and opened her laptop. She realized she forgot to close her tabs as an auction site popped up on her screen. Applejack exited the page and sighed as she opened a new tab. Winter meant paying extra attention to the cattle, and that meant feeding them more and making sure they were warm. She wasn’t too sure if anyone had remembered to order the extra feed, but she figured it wouldn’t hurt to make sure they had it taken care of for at least a week or two until she got back.

Hell, she might as well make sure they have enough bedding, too. She placed all that as an order and made sure to text Big Mac the pickup information. The good thing was that their ranch was reputable and they were loyal to a select number of local shops, so they didn’t get hassled too much when placing orders. That was handy. It let Applejack contribute remotely as opposed to having to go to the shop itself to request items in bulk. She did enjoy doing the work herself, but she wasn’t sure how she would get around to doing it anymore. It had only come up a few times and she found out that she could drive with hand controls, but it would probably just be easier to do it from home.

What else could she do while she waited? She tapped her fingers on the desk and hummed a tune while she thought. The silence and stillness made her focus on how her body felt, and it felt sore and there was… something happening where it shouldn’t be. That strange phantom pain threatened to kick in, something she would never get used to. If her family was going to be coming soon, she should probably make sure she was feeling her best. It was what they expected from her. Applejack popped a pill. The effects would kick in soon. 

She shook off the feeling she always got after taking one. It was a mix of embarrassment and disappointment, something she’d rather not feel. She needed something else to distract her. 

“Oh! I know.” Applejack grinned as she opened FarmLife on her laptop, putting the plastic water bottle Rain gave her during their session back on the desk. The best part of whatever Apple Bloom did to her computer was that her game progress synced with the progress on her phone. 

For the next while, Applejack spent her time meandering on the game, completing mindless tasks and waiting for timers to run out. She enjoyed the game, but she couldn’t justify spending actual money on it.

She had sworn to herself that she wouldn’t play it anymore after it had all but consumed her free time in the hospital, but it was just so damn fun. Her little farm had grown into a large acreage of both crop and farm animals and it felt wrong to just give up the progress, even if it wasn’t real. Plus, something about the stupid little tasks felt like she had something to work for. It was just a silly game, but at least it was a fun way to pass time.

At some point, the sound of knocking at the door shook Applejack out of her FarmLife-induced tunnel vision. She looked over as the door opened to reveal Big Mac with a large paper bag in his grip. He held the door open as Apple Bloom ran in with a big smile and a pointy birthday hat on her head. Behind her, Granny and Apple Fritter followed, each of them sharing a look of amusement.

“Applejack!” Apple Bloom greeted excitedly as she ran up to her sister, who was in the process of backing out of the desk and facing her family. The redhead stopped short of Applejack and gave her a hug. 

Applejack returned the hug eagerly, though she would never get used to having to slightly reach up to hug her little sister. “Hey, Bloom! Happy birthday!”

Apple Bloom smiled and stepped back to sit on Applejack’s bed. “Thanks! I made sure that we were able to come today ‘cause I wanted to spend time with ya.” She pointed at Fritter. “And I brought Fritter. She was itchin’ for a chance to come see ya, so I figured I’d talk Goldie into lettin’ her.”

“If by talk, you mean shoot puppy dog eyes and say it’s your birthday ‘til she gave in, then yeah,” Fritter put in with a chuckle. “It’s nice to see ya, cuz! You look real good. Just about ready to come back home, right?”

Applejack nodded, more than glad to see Apple Fritter after so long. It must have been very cold out judging by the way Fritter seemed all sorts of flushed and red-facd. “Soon enough, only two more weeks ‘til I’m done.” She almost wanted to say she was already ready to leave, but she knew that wasn’t exactly true. For all her advancements made in learning to use the wheelchair and build up her strength and independence when it came to moving, she was still getting used to the other things like putting on pants without a struggle, effectively getting in and out of the shower on her own, and other bathroom things. But mostly, she was learning really quickly. 

“That’s, like, the best birthday gift I could ask for,” Apple Bloom earnestly said, bouncing on the edge of the bed. “Even if it’s two weeks late.”

Applejack sheepishly rubbed her neck. “Aw. And hey, speakin’ of birthday gifts, I couldn’t actually buy you anything, but I did get the chance to take some money out so…” She opened the little drawer next to the desk and took out an envelope that she’d prepared for Apple Bloom. In it was a card that Rain had offered to buy for her with a little message and a hundred-dollar bill. She looked over the pale yellow envelope and handed it to Apple Bloom. “Hope this is okay.”

Apple Bloom took the envelope and ripped it open in her excitement. She opened the card and went wide-eyed. “Wow! Are ya kiddin’? This is great!”

Granny tutted and snatched the bill. “Ya didn’t bring your wallet in your haste to get here, so I’ll hold onto this ‘fore ya lose it.”

“Okay,” Apple Bloom agreed, not at all seeming to disagree with the logic. Her eyes looked over the card as her smile grew even wider. “Aw, this is so sweet.” She glanced up to Applejack. “Thanks, AJ! I’m gonna keep this forever.”

She seriously doubted that, but Applejack appreciated the sentiment. “Just don’t spend the money on somethin’ foolish, alright?”

“Oh, I won’t. I’ll just buy a hundred bucks worth of FarmLife gems for you,” Apple Bloom teased, glancing over Applejack’s shoulder.

Applejack blushed and wheeled back around to shut her laptop. “I was just… checkin’ the game.”

“Yeah, checkin’ in on your giant farm, cuz?” Apple Fritter chimed in with a grin as she sat down next to Apple Bloom, leaving the other chair in the room for Granny while Big Mac leaned against the wall.

“There ain’t exactly a lot to do around here,” Applejack defended with a huff. “Anyway, enough about that. I can smell those burgers from here and I’m hungrier than a flea on a teddy bear.”

Big Mac held up the paper bag with a knowing smile. 

Apple Bloom licked her lips in anticipation while Apple Fritter rolled her eyes. Big Mac dug into the bag and handed everyone their food. Apple Bloom and Granny got their usual burger and fries, while Fritter simply got some kind of chicken sandwich. Big Mac tossed Applejack two burgers and set aside two for himself.

Even though Apple Bloom seemed to take any excuse to have a hamburger which often meant that Applejack had to have one of her own, she was glad to have something other than the same meals she’d been having every day. 

As she unwrapped her burger, eager to take the first bite of her food, the door opened once more. Everyone turned to look at the same time. In the doorway, frozen halfway in the room with a bag in hand, stood Thistle. He glanced at Applejack with a confused expression. Everyone then turned to look at her with similarly confused glances. 

Applejack stared at them with her mouth wide open for a bite, then shut it abruptly. “Oh, shit.”
> It's About Time
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thistle shut the door behind him gently and took off his hat with his right hand, not taking his eyes off of Applejack.

All eyes were on her as she put her burger down and looked around at her family. “Uh, Thistle what are you doin’ here?”

Big Mac was the first to look back at Thistle, his eyes squinted as if he were trying to figure something out. Thistle simply held his hat by the crown at his side and stayed near the shut door. “You told me to come by today for our, err…”

Applejack cursed under her breath, then out loud. “Shit, I did. I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinkin’ when I told you to come today.” She shook her head and looked back at the rest of her family, who were all glancing at Thistle. Fritter seemed particularly interested, though she had the same thoughtful look in her eyes as Big Macintosh. “Uh, well, I guess now’s a good a time as any. Thistle, this is my family. And, y’all, this is Thistle Thorn. He’s my, uh, friend.”

“Just Thistle’s fine,” he said with a nod to everyone in the room. “Pleasure to meet y’all.”

Apple Bloom raised her eyebrows before grinning coyly. “Oh, so you’re the guy Applejack’s told me about.”

“Apple Bloom,” Applejack hissed as the younger girl snickered. “Yes, this is him. Now I’d appreciate it if you’d keep all your teasin’ to yourself.”

Apple Bloom motioned zipping her mouth shut, but the slight nudge to Apple Fritter, who half-smiled in response. The green-haired girl squinted at Thistle. “Y’know, I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere.”

Thistle cocked his head, but before he could say anything, Applejack chimed in, “He’s a right cowboy, you mighta seen him on the circuit. Bareback and team ropin’.”

Big Mac stepped up to Thistle and extended his hand to him. The ginger stood quite a bit taller than Thistle, but Thistle didn’t seem intimidated by his size as he gave him a stern handshake. 

“I haven’t seen you much ‘round the circuit,” Big Mac said as they shook hands. “You new?”

“Naw, I suppose we haven’t run into each other much, is all,” Thistle replied with a friendly smile. “Probably run in different circuits or somethin’I’ve definitely heard ‘bout you, though. You’re a great bull rider, and I envy your bulldoggin’. I ain’t nearly as brave as you.”

“Oh! I got it!” Apple Fritter yelled before Big Mac even had a chance to respond, pointing at Thistle. The pair of men turned to her in surprise as she snapped her fingers. “You race chuckwagons!”

“Chuckwagons?” Applejack couldn’t help the amused smile that crept onto her face. “You didn’t mention that.”

Thistle put the hat back on his head and gave a crooked smile. “Well, ya see, the ladies ain’t usually too impressed when I tell ‘em I race chucks…”

“I wonder why,” Applejack joked. She thought chuckwagon racing was a little silly, but it was fun to watch. That was all that really mattered. “Uh, but… Well I guess you kinda know everyone already. Other than my Granny Smith.” She gestured to Granny, who seemed to study Thistle. 

“What exactly are your intentions with my granddaughter?” 

Applejack wanted to disappear. 

Thistle, God bless him, was all too calm given the circumstances. “Ah, nothin’ to worry about, ma’am. I’m just a friend bringin’ Applejack here some lunch. We seem to have… miscommunicated the dates, though, but I’m glad to finally meet y’all.” 

“Just a friend, hm?” Granny looked at him sternly, but he didn’t waver, instead keeping his slight, respectful smile. She seemed satisfied enough. “You’d better hope it ain’t nothin’! Li’l Applejack’s never been much of an outgoin’ gal, so you best not be gallivantin’ all ‘round her.”

“Granny,” Applejack shot in, “I ain’t a little kid. Look, I just ran into him once by accident and we got to talkin’. I get you’re just doin’ what you’re supposed to, but trust me. Thistle’s a good guy and I’m a grown woman.”

Granny mumbled something about Applejack not being grown just yet, but the blonde decided not to argue with her grandmother about it. 

“Aw, well I try,” Thistle said with a shy smile. “But I see y’all have already got the food thing covered so…”

“Ah, phooey. I’ll take my granddaughter’s word on you, boy.” Granny motioned for him to come closer. “Any friend of Applejack’s is welcome to stay. Now, we ain’t got any more burgers for you but if ya want you can eat whatever it is you brought.”

Thistle glanced down at his bag. “Oh, uh, I dunno if it’s right for the occasion. And I certainly don’t wanna intrude on your sister’s, uh, birthday.”

Applejack waved her hand and wheeled a little closer to him, putting one of the burgers on her lap. “I’m sorry I messed up the dates, but if you wanna stay, you can have one of my burgers. I, uh, I ain’t really that hungry, anyway.” She noticed Big Mac straighten his neck slightly in surprise. 

“Oh, I dunno…” Thistle glanced at Applejack as he hesitantly took the burger. “Feels like I’m intrudin’. I can always come back some other time.”

“Up to you, but I’d like it if you stayed,” Applejack told him before blushing and turning to Apple Bloom. “If that’s alright with you, ‘course.”

“More than alright with me,” Apple Bloom said coyly. She glanced between them. “My name’s Apple Bloom, if Applejack hasn’t told you already, and it’s my birthday. I’m fifteen now!”

Thistle grinned. “Well, happy birthday then. And sure, I’ll stay for the birthday girl, though it might be a little crowded here.”

“Ah it’s alright.” Apple Bloom scooted over until she was practically pressed up against Fritter. “Just sit on the bed with us! And I’ll take whatever you got in that bag as a birthday gift.”

“Don’t be rude, Bloom,” Big Mac chastised her.

Thistle laughed and shook his head. “Ah, it’s okay. She’s feisty, that’s good! It’s probably for the best, anyway. I hope ya like ribs.”

Apple Bloom took the bag that Thistle offered to her with a grin and placed it next to her. “I love ribs!”

Applejack watched with amusement as Thistle took a seat next to Apple Bloom, who barely reached past his shoulders even when sitting. She unwrapped her burger and finally started eating as idle chatter filled the room.

Eventually, not long after everyone had finished their food, there was another knock on the door. Applejack put her hand on her pocket and realized she forgot to give Apple Bloom the lollipop.

Rain entered the room with a smile. “Hey, I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” He blinked in surprise. “Wow, full house today.”

Apple Bloom shot out of bed and ran to Rain, nearly running Big Mac over in the process. “Rain! You came to wish me a happy birthday, didn’t ya?”

“Sure did!” Rain laughed as Apple Bloom gave him a hug. “You can thank your sister for that. She made sure I came to say hi.”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Took a lot of convincin’. Nearly cost me an arm and a leg.” 

“I told her to keep her limbs intact,” Rain defended, putting his hands up. “In the end, she just had to tell me that I’d get to see my favourite patient.”

“He means you, sugarcube,” Applejack told Apple Bloom in a stage whisper. “Apparently, you beat me at my own game.”

Apple Bloom smiled smugly. 

“Did she give you your lollipop?” Rain looked at Applejack who very slightly shook her head.

At the rate at which Apple Bloom turned her head, Applejack was surprised that she didn’t give herself whiplash. Her hat almost flew clean off her head and if it hadn’t been for the elastic holding it snug, it would have. “What?! No!”

Applejack pulled out the aforementioned lollipop and handed it to Apple Bloom. “Sorry, I forgot.”

“It sure is nice to see ya, Rain,” Granny Smith said while Big Mac nodded in agreement. “Applejack hasn’t been givin’ you trouble, I hope.”

“No, she’s been great,” Rain promised. “I’m not at all worried about her adjustment period when she gets out, she’s doing great in our sessions.”

Thistle cleared his throat and glanced at Rain. “Sorry, partner. We haven’t been formally introduced.”

Rain turned to face Thistle. “Oh, hello. Are you a friend of Applejack’s?”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Thistle replied. “Name’s Thistle. So you’re, what, her physiotherapist?”

“That’s right. I’m Rain.” He extended a hand, which Thistle didn’t hesitate in shaking. “Oh, you’ve got a strong grip.”

Thistle grinned. “Comes with the profession. Say, I’ve been healin’ up a shoulder injury, but I still get pretty sore trying to lasso more than a couple times in a row. Any advice?”

The two guys started talking amongst themselves, so Applejack turned her attention away from them and turned back toward her desk, though she didn’t really have anything to look at. She was glad to see them get along, though she hoped that Rain didn’t mind Thistle bugging him. While she thought about it, Apple Fritter had come up next to her and crouched down closer to her height.

“Y’know, cuz,” she half-whispered, “I, uh, I did ask Strawberry if she wanted to come.”

Applejack bit back a frown. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to talk about her. “Did you?”

“Uh-huh.” Apple Fritter adjusted her weight and shook her head. “She said she didn’t wanna make things weird for Apple Bloom.”

For some reason, Applejack felt a twinge of disappointment. “Oh, yeah I suppose that makes sense.”

“Sure…” Apple Fritter brought a hand to one of her pigtails and ran her fingers through the dyed green locks. “C’mon, she’s just bullshittin’.”

Applejack blinked in surprise at Fritter’s cuss. She wasn’t usually the type to curse, but the way it came out so nonchalantly was almost concerning. “Well, you weren’t really expectin’ her to want to see me, were ya?” Applejack half-smiled, joining her hands together to fidget with her ring. “I’m sure you heard ‘bout our fight.”

“I… Yeah, I did.” Apple Fritter looked at her sadly. Her eyebrows turned upward in an almost pathetic manner. “She told me all about it. I was real sorry to hear it, too, cuz.”

“Hm, she told you ‘bout it?” Applejack scoffed. “Can’t imagine what she said.”

To her surprise, Apple Fritter looked at her with disappointment. “Seriously? Even after that, you’re still just gon’ assume the worst from her?”

“I…” Applejack was at a loss for words.

“Well… I was really hopin’ y’all could work things out. I know how much it meant to her.”

How much it meant to her? Applejack squinted. “What do you mean?”

Even though it wasn’t the intention, that got Apple Fritter to smile in amusement despite her thinly veiled disappointment. “Well, ain’t it obvious? She’d really wanted to make things right. It woulda meant a lot to her.” Fritter’s lip twitched and dropped back to a frown. “She’d tell me that all the time. Y’know, she’d never stop talkin’ about you. Even when all you’d do was be pissed off at her. It was always ‘Applejack, Applejack, Applejack.’ Ever since we were kids, actually.”

Perhaps out of pure embarrassment, Applejack felt her cheeks warm up. She wasn’t used to hearing that sort of thing. “Really?”

“C’mon, cuz. Ya really didn’t notice?” Fritter furrowed her eyebrows. “I mean, even when y’all were friends, all she’d ever wanna talk about is how cool she thought you were, and how much of a good rider you were.” It seemed Fritter was enjoying the memory far too much as a half-grin crept up to her face. “I didn’t even live ‘round here and I noticed that.”

“I guess I ain’t the observant type,” Applejack murmured. “But that don’t mean anything right now. She… Well, I don’t have to worry ‘bout her anymore. That’s what I wanted. I’m a mite bit sorry it had to happen like that, but…” She didn’t know what to add to that sentence, so she let the thought linger. It was what she wanted.

Fritter didn’t seem sure as to what to say, either. “But, uh, she hopes that you’re doin’ alright. There’s that. And she’s been doin’ a great job with Barley.”

At the mention of her horse, Applejack frowned and looked away. Barley had been with her for so many years, ever since her dad had bought him for her when she turned thirteen. She was only turning twenty in a month but she was already past her prime. On the other hand, Barley was still in his prime. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right. He deserved better.

Barley had so many years ahead of him. He was only eleven, after all. He was a great horse with the right rider. Really responsive and knew exactly what to do for any event that Applejack signed up for, and he was an equally good working horse. Barley had so much talent and potential. What use was it to keep a horse like that if Applejack couldn’t ride him like he deserved? It wasn’t enough for Strawberry to simply keep working him. That wasn’t fair to him or to her. It wasn’t her job. And it was frustrating that even despite their fight, Strawberry got to be the bigger person. She was always the bigger person.

“Applejack.” Fritter prodded her in the arm. “Cuz?”

Applejack looked back at her and shook her head to clear her thoughts. “Ah, sorry, Fritter. I’ve just been a little distracted lately.” She gave her cousin a well-practiced smile. “Well, I guess I’m glad that someone’s been able to work Barley. He still being difficult?”

Fritter nodded. “Yeah, just about tried to buck Big Mac off of him the other day.” She chuckled despite that. “Y’know, maybe he coulda been a good bronc.”

The idea of Barley as a bronc made Applejack feel almost a little sick. “Yeah, maybe…”

Her tone wiped Fritter’s smile clean off her face. “Oh, I’m sorry, cuz… I–I didn’t mean… Well…”

“Hey, it’s fine.” Applejack managed to smile for her again. “No use gettin’ upset on Bloom’s birthday, right?”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Fritter leaned on the desk and propped her head up on her hand. “So, tell me ‘bout that guy over there.” She looked over Applejack’s shoulder and wiggled her eyebrows.

Applejack glanced to her side at Thistle, who caught her eye and gave a bit of a smirk. Applejack huffed in amusement and looked back to Fritter. “There’s nothin’ to say that I haven’t already said.”

“What, that he’s your friend?” Fritter raised an eyebrow. “C’mon, cuz, you’re tellin’ me that he’s just a friend. The first guy you’ve ever shown interest in at all.”

“Yup.” Applejack glanced at Thistle again, who had turned to talk to Apple Bloom instead. She wasn’t… lying. They had agreed on a date, but she wasn’t exactly sure if she liked him any more than a friend yet. Wasn’t that how it worked, anyway? 

“Sure, and this friend of yours just happens to show up today with dinner,” Apple Fritter added, “thinkin’ that we wouldn’t be here? Heck, you invited him here assumin’ you’d be all alone.”

Okay, maybe she had a point, but not in the way she thought she did. “Fine, alright.” Applejack dropped her voice to a whisper. “Look, I agreed to go on a date with him, but I can’t go anywhere right now so he said he’d bring me dinner. I told him to come today, but I guess I musta forgotten what day today was,” she explained, keeping a careful watch on Fritter’s visibly rising excitement. “And before ya get all jumpy, I’m askin’ ya to keep it to yourself for now, okay? You know how Mac would get, and Granny’d never shut up ‘bout it.”

Fritter nodded, yet her wide grin spanned from ear to ear. “Okay, okay, I’ll hush up ‘bout it, but ya gotta tell me everything! I mean, I’ve never seen you actually talk to a guy or nothin’ like that. He must be pretty special.”

“He’s nice,” Applejack told her. “I accidentally bumped into him my first week here. He recognized me from the circuit, but I think he wanted to give me a chance to introduce myself first.” Applejack couldn’t help the way her mouth curved upwards slightly. “And, uh, well I like that he doesn’t care that I’m… y’know.”

“That’s good,” Fritter responded with a genuine grin, not one born from teasing. “And, y’know, if you ever need any advice on the whole boy thing, you can just ask me, cuz!”

Applejack couldn’t help the snort that escaped her. “Yeah? Whaddya know ‘bout it?”

“More than you, cuz,” Fritter pointed out with a hint of sarcasm. “I actually like boys. Plus, Rusty and I are goin’ pretty well. He’s comin’ over next week to visit me and everything.”

Unfortunately, Apple Fritter did have a point. She did know more about the whole subject than Applejack could even pretend to know. And if she and Rusty were still making it work despite being ‘long-distance’, then maybe Apple Fritter did know more than Applejack wanted to give her credit for. 

She shrugged. “Sure, I guess,” she said, glancing at Thistle again. That time, he and Rain were seemingly intensely listening to something Apple Bloom was saying while Granny passively nodded. Big Mac, interestingly enough, had at some point left the room.

“Great!” Fritter exclaimed in a stage whisper. “I gotta say, it’s about time you found a guy to get involved with, cuz. And a guy like Thistle, too?” She gave Applejack a friendly elbow to the arm. “Talk about eye candy.”

Applejack blushed and smacked her cousin in the arm. “Oh, hush! Don’t you have a boyfriend?”

“Yeah, but I’ve got eyes, too,” Fritter said matter-of-factly. “I’ll leave him to you.”

At that, Applejack could only shake her head dismissively and turn to face the rest of the room. Thankfully, it wasn’t a strange occurrence for Applejack to separate herself from a group and choose one person to talk to, so no one really seemed to mind when she did it. Instead, Apple Bloom looked at her for a moment to acknowledge her presence but went right back on to talk about some group project or other she had at school.

Fritter reclaimed her spot on the bed and tuned into Apple Bloom’s tangent. Applejack, however, couldn’t seem to get herself to focus on her sister’s words. Instead, Apple Fritter’s words bounced around in her head. She was right. Applejack was on the edge of twenty and she’d never once even shown interest in a guy, not that she did it on purpose. It was just hard to talk to people, and most guys were insincere and only looking to get in her pants.

Not all of them, though. Maybe she’d been too quick to judge, too hasty to distance herself from others. It wasn’t fair to assume the worst. Did it really take her twenty years to learn that lesson? If she’d known sooner, would she have found someone earlier? Maybe she would have met Thistle before her life went to shit. Or maybe she would have met someone else. 

If she wanted to really dig deep and that far back, maybe she could have even avoided everything that happened with Strawberry. She wasn’t sure if that could ever be fixed, but did she want it to be? She got what she wanted. She wanted Strawberry to leave her alone. That’s what she wanted, and she got it. But still, maybe there was an easier way that she could have gone about it. 

Thistle. Maybe Thistle would have known, had she met him sooner. He said he knew about her beforehand, and it seemed like he was at least a recognizable face to the rest of her family. There was definitely a chance that they could have met.

That didn’t matter, though. There was no use in dwelling on potential circumstances. What mattered is that she had finally met him, and it was about time, too. Everyone had always expected Applejack to find a guy to be with, after all. It might have been easy, too. She wasn’t exactly unattractive—she considered herself to be half-decent—and she was really good at what she did. Heck, if she had put herself out there earlier, then she definitely would have found a guy.

That was what she needed to do at some point. Maybe it just took her a little longer than it should have. She lived on a family ranch, after all. It was only a matter of time. It was common for the people in her family to all live together on their acreages, spouses and children and aunts and uncles. It was the way it was, and the way it always had been. You grow up, you find someone to marry, you have kids (if you can), and you help your family out.

Even those Apples who don’t stay on their acreage still stay a part of it. The Apples in the city attended the reunions when possible, and they even sent out the kids to different branches of the family in the summer. The Apples in faraway parts of the world stayed in touch and visited when possible. The Apples were kin, and kin always stuck together. 

Applejack loved contributing to the family. She loved helping out, she loved working her hardest on the ranch. She taught the young ones everything they needed to know about anything they wanted to know that she could teach them. She used her money for the family, she used her time for the family. She put her everything into giving back to the people that raised her to be the person she was.

There was an aspect she always put off to the side, though, and she worked herself hard enough to have an excuse not to think about it. She had never thought about adding to the family, even with just a partner. People—boys—outside the family were never her priority. The ranch was. Not boys. Never boys.

But, she figured, things changed. There was no could have, there was no would have, only should have and did. Applejack looked at Thistle once more. It surprised her to notice him already looking at her. He shifted his expression into a smile after locking eyes with her. It was a stupid smile, a nice smile. One that felt safe. One that felt like it should have been there the whole time. It fit right in and it was all Applejack could do not to goofily smile back at him. 

In all honesty, Applejack was still unsure about how she felt, but to be fair, it was new. Everything about her life felt new. It was new. But Thistle was nice, and if there was anyone that Applejack should know how to feel about, it was him. He was what Applejack had always heard girls talk about wanting in a guy. He was tall, he was good-looking, and he was nice. And he was a cowboy. That meant he had something in common with Applejack. They shared a passion, which would make things easier.

So maybe she could just make a decision. She should just make a decision. Applejack let herself smile back at him and it felt like the first right decision she’d made in a while.
> Iced Over
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dirt. 

Applejack’s knees were dirty. Caked in layers of grass and dirt and failed work. 

The air smelled like a storm. Heavy and thick and wet like rain. It threatened to turn into a downpour at any moment. 

Gray skies and angry clouds. The faint rumble of thunder. 

Denim wasn’t the right armour, but it was all she had. It’d have to do.

Leather boots offered protection against the sinking floor beneath her. Every step was heavy. Dragged into and out of the mud. Every step was more of a struggle than the last. A fight to move forward. 

Wet.

Applejack’s jeans sagged with the weight of their mess and the water that had slowly but surely begun to fall from the sky. She trudged forward, becoming more and more stuck as she tried.

The rain started slowly. A splash on her arm. A drop from the brim of her hat. Good thing she wore her wool hat. Straw wouldn’t have helped. She shook her hand, but it became wet again anyway.

Cold. 

It was cold. The rising wind against her newly wet body made the spring breeze feel like winter’s requiem. By the time she reached the front porch, her limbs shook and her teeth chattered.

She opened the door and took off her boots before stepping inside. Dad would be mad if she tracked mud into the house. Applejack lifted her head and took off her hat with a shaky arm. She hung it on the hat rack and looked to her right. The bottom of her ponytail dripped wet on the ground, as did the rest of her body. 

“Applejack?” Her mom raced to her with a clearly worried expression. Her blue eyes were wide as she put her hands on Applejack’s shoulders. “Darlin’, what happened? Why’re you all soaked? Didn’t ya see the clouds comin’ in?”

“Barley spooked,” Applejack explained through chattering teeth. “He ran off.”

“Oh, he’ll come back,” Pear Butter assured her as she led Applejack further into the house. The warmth was nice. “C’mon, let’s get you warmed up. Go put on some dry clothes first, alright? I’ll get the fireplace ready.”

“Pa told me not to go out,” Applejack told her, not taking her eyes off the ground. “Said it was gonna rain, but I wanted to go out with Barley…”

“Next time, listen to him, alright?” She followed Applejack up the stairs to her room. “Now dry off and get on some warm clothes, okay? Come back downstairs when you’re done.”

“Okay.” Applejack shut the door beside her and found some dry clothes to wear. Some thick gray sweatpants and an orange T-shirt would do the trick. Once she dried off as best as she could with her towel, she put on the clothes and left her room with the pile of wet clothes in hand. Applejack felt a lot better dried off, but she was still frozen to the bone. 

On her way back down, she deposited the dripping clothes in the laundry basket. The stairs squeaked beneath her feet. No sneaking around in this house.

“Do you wanna do it?”

Applejack nodded numbly and grabbed the lighter once she was close enough. She pressed it on and poked its long shaft onto the wooden logs and lit the firelighters. The flame slowly rose and instantly so did the heat.  She thought about Barley. Was he scared and cold, too? She hoped he’d come back before her brother and dad did. If not, she might get in trouble. “Will Barley really come back?” 

There was no hesitation in her mother’s answer. “Yes, hun. He will,” she assured her. “Y’all have a special bond and a horse like that’ll come back to its owner. Mighta just been the storm that scared him”

“Yeah,” Applejack agreed. She’d only had Barley for a few months, but already the horse had grown attached to her, even despite her mother’s not-so-secretly expressed accusations toward her husband about the horse being “too much” for Applejack. “H-h-he’s a good horse.”

Pear Butter wrapped her arms around her child and kissed the top of her damp hair. “I know, sweetie.” 

Applejack shivered against her hold, but the added body heat helped. “Please don’t sell him,” she pleaded. Her eyes burned as she blinked tears away. “I heard you talking to P-P-Pa ‘bout Barley bein’ too much horse for me and t-that it might be best to get me a gentler colt…”

Arms tightened around Applejack’s body. “When didja hear that?”

“A couple of weeks ago,” Applejack admitted. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop b-but y’all were talkin’ loud in the kitchen…”

“Oh hun,” Pear Butter murmured, “I ain’t gonna sell him if he means this much to ya. Plus, you’ve shown you can handle him. I think he’s good for you.”

Applejack nodded. “Please don’t sell him,” she repeated. “I love him…”


~~~🍎~~~


Angry droplets pattered against the window, enraged by the blowing winds that almost seemed to shake the entire building.

Applejack sat at her desk, the light from her laptop screen being the only thing keeping the room from being in complete darkness. It was far, far into the night, but she just couldn’t find herself able to sleep. After an hour of staring at the ceiling and trying to drift off to no avail, Applejack had decided to just get out of bed and sit at her desk. Just about the only good thing about being in a wheelchair was that there was no wasted space on chairs for her to use.

The freezing November rain was always the worst part about the early stages of the upcoming winter. The rain would fall and freeze, making the ground nearly impossible to traverse. Even worse, it was hard on the livestock. She really really hoped the windbreaks would stay up through the rainstorm and that the cattle and horses were well protected. 

In the meantime, she couldn’t worry about that. It would be no use worrying. She stared at the webpage in front of her with a passive frown. Her eyes burned from staring at the screen, but she still just didn’t feel sleepy. 

Her finger rolled the scroll wheel on her mouse. Images of horses with numbers and names beneath them flooded her vision. A bay colt, eight hundred. A roan mare, one thousand. A gray gelding, fifteen hundred. She kept scrolling. A buckskin stallion, three thousand. 

She paused. The stallion had a name beneath the picture. “Laurel,” she read aloud. She clicked on the link and was brought to a different page with more information about the horse. “Sired by Greased Lightning, blah blah, won a hundred and fifty thousand dollars in the PRCA over six seasons. Huh. Not bad.” Applejack closed the page. “But not quite what I’m lookin’ for.”

Barley had a more impressive pedigree than Laurel. She went back to the page and kept scrolling. 

Chestnut mare, two thousand. Black gelding, five thousand. She was getting there. Palomino gelding, eight thousand. She clicked on his page. His name was Gone Fishin’, she chuckled, and his pedigree checked out for the price. 

Applejack sighed and shook her head. How could anyone buy a horse from a picture, anyway? 

She closed the tab and switched to the auction site she’d been looking at earlier. She’d found it amazing that people could bid online or through the phone, but the same question urged forward. How could one buy a horse without seeing it in person? There was so much to miss from not seeing a horse. What if it turned out lame? What if it wasn’t as nimble as advertised? What if it was just the wrong horse entirely. Horse sales could be corrupt, after all. There was a chance.

Maybe an auction was a better idea, but then that came with a whole deal of complications. An online sale was the easiest way, but she wasn’t sure it was the right way. In-person sales were tried and true, and auctions were a good way to see a group’s interest. But then, what did she know? Applejack had never sold a horse before. That was Granny’s job after her parents died. That was Big Mac’s job when Granny couldn’t. Applejack had been to sales before, but she’d never been the one putting the horse up for auction. 

“Stupid,” Applejack muttered as she put her head in her hands, grabbing angrily at her hair. “Stupid, just plain stupid.” She closed the laptop screen and leaned on the desk with her arms beneath her head. 

The rain and wind filled the otherwise silent room.

Applejack blinked slowly. Something was buzzing. 

She lifted her head and immediately regretted everything as her entire body—or at least what she could feel in her body—ached. She groaned and looked around despite her neck protesting the movement. The rain had stopped and soft orange sunlight slowly peaked beneath the blinds. She’d fallen asleep.

Stretching her arms over her head painfully, Applejack rolled out her neck as she looked toward the edge of the desk as the buzzing continued. She grabbed her phone and looked at it. The time, being only six seventeen in the morning, was only the first cause of confusion. The second had shown itself via notification. 

“Huh? Four missed calls?” Confused and suddenly alert, she unlocked her phone and noticed two of them had been from Big Mac, while one had been from Apple Bloom and the other, interestingly enough, had been from Strawberry Sunrise.

“The hell?” Applejack rolled backwards and turned to face the bed as she decided to call back Big Mac. She brought the phone to her ear as she regretted letting herself fall asleep in her wheelchair. The line rang twice before clicking. 

“Applejack!” 

She certainly hadn’t been expecting to hear Strawberry’s voice. She shook her head and brought her phone away from her face just to confirm she’d returned the right person’s call. There was no mistake, she had called her brother. “Strawberry? What the hell you doin’ with my brother’s phone? And why’d y’all call me so early in the morning?”

“I was keeping watch on all our phones,” Strawberry explained quickly. “Look, whatever just forget about that. It’s not about me or you right now.”

She sounded genuinely unnerved. Applejack frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Barley colicked. We found him this morning on his side.”

Applejack’s heart dropped to her stomach. “What? What do you mean? Is he okay?”

“I don’t know, we’ve been trying to get him to stand up, but he doesn’t want to do it.”

“H-have y’all called the vet?” Applejack looked around her room as if there was something she could do. Her mind raced with possibilities and she found herself clinging to the ones she didn’t want to think about. “How’d this even happen? Was he fine yesterday?”

“He hadn’t been eating properly since two days ago, but we thought he was just in a mood again,” Strawberry told her. “And yes, the vet is on her way, but she’s coming in from the city and the roads are iced over, so she might be a while.”

Applejack was at a loss. “I… Well, you have to keep tryin’! He has to stand up, or he’ll get worse.”

“Big Mac and your sister are doing their best, but he just isn’t getting up. His heart’s racing, and he keeps trying to roll.”

“Get him out of the damn stall,” Applejack barked, cursing the world for doing this when she couldn’t do anything to help. She bit her lip painfully and ran her fingers through her tangled bangs. “He can’t roll in there – he’ll cast and it’ll be worse.”

“I know! I know.”  Strawberry took a deep breath. “We’ll do our best until the vet gets here, okay. We won’t let anything happen to him. I won’t let anything happen to him.”

The world felt like it was falling apart around Applejack. Her hand shook as she gripped the phone tight enough that she thought she might just break it. Her other hand absent-mindedly pulled at the end of her messy ponytail that she’d forgotten to untie the night before. She had to do something. She had to be there. “I have to get home.”

“Are you crazy?” Strawberry shot. “How the hell are you supposed to get here? We can’t come get you, and it’d be crazy to try! The roads are iced over past the city limits.”

“I have to do something,” Applejack growled, combing through her hair, fingers getting stuck and yanking at her scalp. She didn’t even notice the pain. “I’ll find a way, I don’t care if I have to roll my wheelchair through the damn snow myself.”

“Applejack, stay put. We didn’t call you so you’d do something stupid, we called because he’s your horse, and you deserve to know.”

Applejack gritted her teeth and threw her phone on the table before pressing the red button to hang up. She had to do something. She had to do something. Her body hated her for moving so vigorously thanks to her accidental sleep, which only served to infuriate her further. Applejack’s mind raced as she thought about what to do. Her phone buzzed again. She denied the call and turned it on silent, then turned her chair away from the desk.

Thistle. Thistle would know what to do. Thistle would help her. Applejack’s eyes widened as she spontaneously wheeled back around. Her shoulders punished her for that. She couldn’t do anything if she was in pain. Pills first, then Thistle. For Barley.

Applejack chugged water alongside a pair of pills. She knew it was just one that she was supposed to take but she needed to be better as soon as possible. Two wouldn’t hurt. That wasn’t enough to hurt. Applejack shakily picked up her phone and ignored the texts and missed calls and scrolled through her contacts. A goofy picture of Thistle with his tongue out pressed under her finger as she dialed him up. 

“Please pick up,” she whispered. “Please, please, please…”

“Hello?”

“Thistle, you gotta come pick me up,” Applejack immediately yelled into the phone, now registering the way her voice shook.

“Woah, woah, calm down. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, b-but Barley isn’t.” Applejack licked dry lips and rubbed her hand on the wheel. “I-I need to get home to him.”

“Your horse? Is he hurt?”

“He colicked.”

“Just that? I’m sure he’s fine, you’re just overreactin’.”

Applejack frowned. “No, I ain’t! He’s on the ground and he doesn’t wanna get up.”

Thistle was quiet for a moment. “Has he colicked before?”

Why was he wasting her time with stupid questions? “Once when he was a colt, but we caught it early.” She growled and shook her head. “Thistle, please. I know you live closer to here than my family. I’m beggin’ ya.”

Thistle sighed. “Fine, fine. But are they gonna let you out? Don’t you have a week left?”

“I don’t give a shit ‘bout that!” Applejack wanted to punch something. 

“Okay, alright. I’ll be there in forty-five.”

Applejack cracked the knuckles on her free hand. “Can’t you get here any faster?”

“And risk crashin’? No,” Thistle told her. “I’ll be there as quick as I can, but—”

“I know, the ice,” Applejack interrupted. “Fine, okay, forty-five. I’ll see ya then.”

Before Thistle could say anything, Applejack hung up and held back a scream.
> Boiling Over
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The universe hated her.

It had to be that. The universe had a personal vendetta against Applejack. It hated her, personally. Life was a rollercoaster that was only drops. Farther and farther down until the exhilaration felt more like dread and the pit in your stomach felt like being stabbed. A rollercoaster that went so far down it burned. 

Applejack had never even been on a rollercoaster before.

“I don’t care that I got a week left in my stay,” she argued with the receptionist at the front desk and the nurse that had arrived. It was the nurse that had come when she’d woken up in pain. That felt like forever ago. Just another shitty moment in her shitshow of a life. “I need to leave.”

“The roads are so iced over,” the nurse said. Applejack thought her name might have been Terry. “It’s not wise to leave, especially on your own.”

“I’m not leavin’ on my own!”

The receptionist shot a look at Nurse Terry, who returned it. Applejack wasn’t sure what was said with that glance, and it only made her feel even angrier. 

“Look, you… are allowed to sign yourself out, but—”

“Then I’d like to sign myself out,” Applejack interjected with a sharp glare. She gripped her pushrims tightly and turned toward the receptionist. “What do I need to sign to get outta here?”

“Miss, we are first and foremost concerned about your well-being,” she put in with an overly-polite tone. Applejack could tell she was irritated. “It is incredibly dangerous out there, especially by yourself.”

“Oh my f…” Applejack bit back the profanity and dug her nails into the palms of her hands. “With all due respect, ma’am, whaddya take me for? Some kinda invalid who can’t do nothin’ for herself, not even make the choice of whether or not she wants to leave this damn building?”

The receptionist blanched. “No! Not at all, I’m just advising—”

“I’m just waitin’ for my friend to come pick me up,” Applejack said sharply. She backed into the spot where the receptionist's table lowered in height. “And then I’m leavin’ whether or not you get me the damn papers I need to sign. Chase me all the way back home, I don’t care, I need to be there for Barley!”

A different voice entered the conversation. “Woah, woah, woah.” 

Applejack turned to Rain, who slowly approached through the little crowd that had formed. Applejack felt her ears burn to match the rest of her face at the sight of the audience, but frankly, she couldn’t bring herself to be mortified enough to relent. 

Rain frowned at Applejack, then turned to his colleagues. “What’s going on here?”

Nurse Terry pursed her lips. “Miss Applejack wants to be discharged.”

“What?” Rain turned to look at her slack-jawed. “Why now? You only have a week left, and it’s less than pleasant outside.”

If Applejack had to explain one more time, she really thought she might explode either into a ball of flames or into a ball of tears. It was unsure which. “My horse colicked and I need to get home to him,” she explained for what she hoped would be the last time. “And no, I ain’t plannin’ on goin’ alone; Thistle was gonna come pick me up, and yes I know the weather ain’t nice, and yes I know I have one more week, but frankly,” she huffed, “I could give less of a shit. I’m pretty much ready to leave now, anyway.” She stared directly at Rain. “Everythin’ you’re teachin’ me recently is stuff I already know. It’s useless.”

Judging by the slight slip in Rain’s expression, Applejack went too far. She knew it, but she swallowed her apology and kept her eyes on his until he looked away. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Applejack,” he said flatly. “But you’re right, you are allowed to leave when you wish. And you are in a place where I can confirm that you’re ready to leave without my concern for your recovery.”

His tone made Applejack uneasy. It was… clinical. But she didn’t care. She just needed to get the all-clear. “So I can leave?”

“I’ve taught you what you need to know at this stage,” Rain responded. “So, yes. You have my reluctant good-to-go. Nurse?”

Nurse Terry sighed and shook her head, but relented anyway. “Your files say you’ve learned your techniques and routines. I don’t think it’s wise to leave in this weather, but that is the only thing stopping you.”

Applejack wasn’t hearing a no. She turned to the receptionist, who was already placing some papers on the counter next to her, as well as handing her a pen. “Be safe.”

“I will,” Applejack told her. She knew they were worried, but she had bigger things to worry about. “But this is important to me. More important than anything.”

She signed the papers with a quick signature and slid them back. Rain stuck his hands in his pockets and frowned as he followed her to the waiting room. “I wasn’t expecting to have to say goodbye so soon.”

“Me neither,” Applejack responded, cooling down now that she had gotten what she wanted. “I’m sorry for yellin’ I just… I’m scared for Barley.” Her lip quivered, but she bit back a sob. She wasn’t going to cry. She couldn’t.

Rain nodded. “I understand, but I just hope you’re thinking of yourself, too.” 

“I don’t care about myself,” she blurted out before she could even think about what she was saying. Rain stared at her as she dropped her gaze and spun the ring around her finger. “No, I mean, I just… I care about him. He’s… I need to care about him more right now. He needs me.”

“He’s special to you.”

Applejack nodded. “He’s one of the last real things I got left of my parents. This ring, their horses, and Barley. They gave Barley to me for my birthday. He was so big and I was just a little thirteen-year-old. He was with me when…” Applejack swallowed the lump in her throat. “When my parents died.”

“No wonder you care so deeply about him,” Rain responded with a sad smile. “Our bonds with animals are something amazing.”

“Yeah,” Applejack agreed. “And I… I just. I don’t wanna lose him,” she admitted, blinking back tears that threatened to spill.

Rain pursed his lips. “You said he colicked?”

Applejack dipped her head in confirmation.

“My cousin used to be a vet. He said once that most horses that colic end up doing fine.”

“I know, but I’m still… I’m scared.” Applejack brought her hand up to run her fingers through still-tangled hair. Suddenly, she felt self-conscious. “Strawberry said he wasn’t gettin’ up, but he kept trying to roll. I don’t want him to cast and end up gettin’ himself hurt or worse.”

Rain raised an eyebrow. “Who’s Strawberry?”

“Oh, she’s my…” Applejack paused and frowned as she tried to detangle her hair. “She works at the ranch. She was fillin’ me in.”

Rain nodded. “I see. Well, if it means anything, I hope your horse will be alright.”

“Thanks,” Applejack responded with the faintest of smiles. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Rain. I’m sorry if what I said offended you.”

“It’s okay. I’m not gonna hold it against you. I wish you would stay, though, but I can’t force you,” Rain responded with a bigger smile. “You are one of a kind. I’ve helped a lot of people, but no one’s ever been like you.”

“What? A real pain in the ass?” Applejack joked, glad that Rain was being friendly again. 

“No.” Rain kneeled down and gave Applejack a crooked smile. “You’re resilient. You don’t let anyone give you flack. And you are a very fast learner.”

Applejack smiled and held out her arms. Rain wrapped his arms around her in a friendly hug. “Well, I couldn’ta done it without ya.” She tightened her hug a little. “Seriously. I’m sorry for leavin’, but maybe we’ll see each other again.”

Rain shuffled back and nodded. “As long as it’s not because you need more recovery, then I’ll look forward to that.” 

Cold air that lasted only a few short moments made the hairs on Applejack’s arms stand on end. She looked over Rain’s shoulder as he stood up to see Thistle approaching them with a bit of a frown that disappeared once he got close enough. 

Thistle waved at Applejack and walked past Rain. “Hey, Applejack. I’m here, are you ready to go?” He stood next to her and put his hand on her shoulder as he turned to face Rain. “Hey there, partner. How’s it going?”

“Well enough.” Rain nodded his head in greeting and put his hands back in his pockets. “Well, I should be heading back now. Good luck with everything, Applejack, and don’t be a stranger.” 

“I won’t be,” Applejack promised. “Thanks for all your help.”

Thistle put some pressure on Applejack’s shoulder. “You got everything?”

Applejack bit her lip. She managed to fit most of her things in her backpack but… 

“Don’t worry about it,” Rain put in. “I’ll keep it safe and you can come pick them up when you have time, or I could drop them off. Up to you.”

“I’ll bring her to come pick it up sometime,” Thistle responded. He looked down at Applejack with his hazel green eyes. “Alright?”

“Uh, sure, but can we get going?” Applejack frowned and glanced out the window. Small white flecks had begun to slowly fall. “The weather’s takin’ a turn.”

“Good idea.” Thistle stepped back and tipped his hat. “Nice to see ya again, Rain. Take care now, won’t ya?”

Rain furrowed his eyebrows a bit but kept his smile as he waved. “Sure thing. Drive safe, and Applejack?”

Applejack cocked her head. “Yeah?”

“Don’t forget what I taught you. Don’t give up when things are tough, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

She didn’t really have anything to say to that, so she just nodded and waved. Rain left the two of them alone in the waiting room, where everyone had decided to just mind their own business again. Applejack turned to face the door and then realized something she probably should have thought about before. “How far didja park? I don’t have a jacket.” She glanced down at herself. She wore a pair of loose-fitting sweatpants and a gray T-shirt along with an old, dirty pair of sneakers. They were the easiest thing to put on but it wasn’t very warm. “I think I have a sweater in my backpack…” She began to reach behind her, but Thistle stopped her.

“I’ll check for ya, but if not, you can have my jacket.” He unzipped her backpack and looked through it while Applejack fiddled with her ring. After a brief moment, Thistle held out a red and white hoodie in front of Applejack that was branded with the name of some horse supplements that had been her first rodeo sponsor. “This work?” Thistle asked.

Applejack took the sweater and stared at the logo. She held back a snort. “Yeah,” she answered as she put it on. It fit a little tight, but it was better than just a T-shirt. Though, she realized, the pants were probably not very warm, either, and she had to be more careful with keeping her lower body warm. “How cold is it out?”

“It’s not horrible, but it ain’t nice. I think you’ll be okay with just the sweater ‘til we get to the car, but you might wanna ask for a jacket once we get to your place,” Thistle told her as he zipped her backpack up and rehung it through the handlebars. 

That was good enough for her. She set her hands on the pushrims and made her way to the automatic doors. They opened and a gust of wind made her squint. 

It was almost hard to remember what outside felt like. Being cooped up inside a building for months hadn’t let Applejack properly get used to the weather changing. Last she remembered, it was Autumn and with that came a nice breeze. What had hit her upon those sliding doors opening, though? That was Jack Frost himself punching Applejack in the face with a frozen fist. 

Applejack instinctively shrugged her shoulders against the cold. Maybe she shouldn’t have insisted on not going out to the patio every once in a while. It was just easier to stay inside where nobody would see her.

“I parked just up here,” Thistle cut in, walking in front of Applejack, who took a moment before continuing on through the biting wind. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” Applejack muttered through gritted teeth. Thankfully, Thistle hadn’t been trying to make her feel better by saying he was parked nearby. It only took a couple of minutes to reach his car, but already Applejack was finding it a bit difficult to force her way through the salted-over sidewalk. At least it wasn’t icy.

Unsurprisingly, Thistle drove a pickup truck. It was a shiny dark blue, though the bottom half of it had clearly been through the weather. Streaks of white marked the places where winter had made its mark on the car, and splashes of dirt proved that the truck was being used. Applejack pulled up to the passenger side door and frowned. In theory, she knew how she should get in, but she’d never tried it. 

Thistle unlocked the door and opened the door, but Applejack stayed still for a moment as she tried to figure out if she could do it. Applejack sighed and shook her head. “I can’t get up there on my own.”

“ I can lift you into the seat if you want,” Thistle offered. “Err, well, I dunno how else you’d get in.”

There was really no choice. The cold was starting to make Applejack shiver, and the more time she spent moping about it, the more time they wasted that could have been spent on the road. Applejack nodded and pushed her body forward a little. “Yeah, okay. Uh, I guess just… tie down my chair in the back after.”

“Got it,” Thistle told her as he hooked his arms behind her back and under her legs. With a huff, he lifted her and put her on the seat. “You good?”

Applejack adjusted herself in the car seat and put her legs where they belonged, making sure everything was fine. “Yeah, I’m fine. C’mon, we gotta hurry.” She buckled herself in and shut the door on Thistle, hoping that would entice him to hurry up. In the meantime, she breathed out a visible breath and rubbed her hands together. Thistle’s car smelled like cigarettes, but it was subtle and almost kind of nice. She blew into her hands while Thistle fumbled around in the back.

He finally hopped into the truck himself, setting Applejack’s backpack on a seat behind them and wasted no time on the ignition. The truck rumbled to life beneath them. Thistle rolled down a window a bit while he turned on the heat. “There’s seat warmers, if you want,” Thistle offered. “How do you get to your place?”

The seat warmer comment almost made Applejack scoff, but she figured even if she couldn’t feel it, it would be smart to have it on, so she pressed the button on. “Just get on the freeway and I’ll tell you, it ain’t hard to find but it’s a little far.”

With that set, Thistle drove out of the nicely salted road and immediately, Applejack realized why everyone had been making such a big deal out of the conditions of the roads. The normally black roads were covered in snow, and they still hadn’t left the city limits. She could only assume how much worse it’d get once they hit the dirt road.

With nothing to do but wait in silence only filled by soft-playing rock music, Applejack glanced out the window. The rehab facility wasn’t deep in the city, but it was well within the city limits. As Thistle drove as fast as safely possible, she watched as the buildings and houses drifted past. She couldn’t imagine living a suburban life, but she had to wonder if it was easier.

“So,” Thistle cut in, shaking Applejack from her thoughts. He didn’t seem very sure where he was taking the conversation. “Your family. They know you’re coming?”

“They told me not to come,” Applejack told him plainly, not taking her eyes from their fixed position out the window. “Said it was crazy.”

Thistle snorted. “Yeah, ‘cause it is. So, what? You’re just gon’ show up in the middle of this snowstorm and surprise your family?”

“I need to be there for Barley.” Applejack frowned and turned her head to glare at Thistle. “They can’t tell me to stay away from him.”

He lifted his fingers off the steering wheel to mimic putting his hands up and glanced at her. “I didn’t say that. I just think it probably ain’t the best idea.”

“So why are you helpin’ me?”

“If I don’t, you’ll probably find some other idiot to drive you,” Thistle said with a grin.

Applejack shrugged and looked out the window again. “Well, I don’t know any other idiots. At least, not any that live nearby.”

“Really? No one? I don’t believe you. What about your friends?”

“Well, uh.” Applejack sighed. “I don’t have any other friends.” She rested her hand on the side of her head and made a fist in her hair. 

“Huh,” Thistle exclaimed. He didn’t say anything after that, which suited Applejack just fine.

Green eyes watched as the snow picked up, falling now with more intensity. Hopefully, everything was alright. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be any more problems. Had they checked the other horses for colic? Did they check the cattle? The horses out in the pasture? What if Barley wasn’t the only one. They couldn’t handle a big loss. Not with the amount of money they definitely had to spend on Applejack.

Of course it would be Barley, Applejack’s horse, that would have a problem. A potentially pricey problem. Because she couldn’t stop being a money pit, even when it wasn’t her. If something were to happen to Barley, not only would that be a blow to the family, but he never even got to sire any foals. That would be a potential loss of money. 

No, it wasn’t right to just think of Barley as an asset, at least not when he was in pain. Barley was Applejack’s horse, her companion. They’d been together through a lot. It was sad to think, but Barley was probably Applejack’s oldest, most reliable friend. Did he miss her? Would he still trust her?

Applejack swallowed a lump as she moved to rub her scalp instead. After loosening her clenched fist, her head pulsed in protest. She really had to stop that habit before it fully came back again. That was one thing that not wearing a hat didn’t help with.

Eventually, the city turned to empty acreage, which meant a slower ride since the roads had turned from snow to icy snow, just like Strawberry had warned. Thistle didn’t seem too happy, but at least he kept it to himself. That was good, Applejack didn’t think she had it in her to care if he had gotten verbally upset. It was like she’d gone numb all of a sudden. 

All she could do was watch the snow fall and wait until they got to the ranch.
> Barley
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the time they got near the ranch, the snow had piled up an impressive amount, probably at least half a foot if Applejack wanted to guess from her view up in Thistle’s truck.

Luckily, they were able to make it within a reasonable amount of time, even if Applejack had to pretend she hadn’t noticed Thistle scowling the entire way. She hadn’t ever really seen him upset; usually, he was all smiles, but she couldn’t really blame him for being upset over having to drive such a long distance in unsafe, snowy weather. 

Alas, the silence had to be broken so Applejack could instruct Thistle on how to actually get to the barn. It was almost hard to speak, so Applejack cleared her throat before saying, “Take a right up here, then just drive down to that stable over there.”

“Sure,” was all Thistle had to say. He turned without using the blinker, but then again, it wasn’t like anyone else was crazy enough to be driving in near white-out conditions.

Snow crunched beneath the tires as the truck bounced on the uneven path. Applejack felt restless in the passenger side seat. She wished she could jump out of the truck and run the rest of the way, but for various reasons, that wasn’t going to happen. Maybe it was for the best, though.

As they approached, Applejack noticed someone sitting outside the barn, clearly miserable in the snow and wind, but bundled up well enough that she didn’t fear the very real possibility of frostbite. It took until they were practically pulled up right next to the person and for them to look up with green eyes for Applejack to realize that it was, in fact, Strawberry Sunrise.

Applejack frowned and unbuckled her seatbelt as Thistle turned the ignition off. It was a bit of a struggle to put on Thistle’s jacket again, but once she had done so, she wished she could urge Thistle to get out of the truck faster. In the meantime, she let herself look out the window at the landscape.

Home. I haven’t been here in forever, Applejack thought with a frown. It definitely wasn’t under the circumstances that she would have ever wanted that she found herself back at home. Just a few yards away in the stable, Barley needed her. She wasn’t sure what she could do, but she needed to be there.

Maybe she needed him. To see him, to make sure he’d be okay. He deserved better. She kept telling herself that. No matter what ended up being in Barley’s future, whether or not that involved Applejack, she had to be there for him now.

Before she could put too much thought into it, someone opened the door to the truck. Cold air and a gust of snowflakes forced Applejack to blink as Strawberry faced her down. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold but otherwise, she surprisingly seemed okay all bundled up.

“You’re a real big idiot, you know that?” Strawberry crossed her arms as she greeted Applejack.

Normally, Applejack might have been amused by Strawberry’s comment, even if she would hate to admit it, but it seemed out of place to joke about anything while Barley needed her. “I couldn’t just stay behind,” she argued. 

Strawberry rolled her eyes as Thistle approached them with Applejack’s chair in his grip. Even though he at least had on a flannel sweater and gloves, his skin was flushed and he shivered as he set down the orange wheelchair. A look of uncertainty flashed across his features. “How is this going to work? The snow’s really thick. I don’t know if you can push through it, AJ.”

She hadn’t even thought about that. Applejack let out a shaky breath that materialized in a cloudy mist and grimaced. Snow was never convenient, but it was never a real problem before. It seemed like somehow there were always new obstacles. “I dunno. I gotta make it work though, I don’t care how.”

Thistle set down the chair and ran his hands through his hair, taking off his hat as he thought. “I suppose I can just force ya through the snow.” He turned to Strawberry. “Reckon you can go grab our darlin’ Applejack here a jacket, though? I feel like I’ll freeze to death before we make it back to the barn, and it’s only a stone’s throw away.”

Strawberry gave Thistle a weird look but nodded anyway. “Yeah, fine.” She turned away and trudged back toward the barn, dragging her feet through the snow. 

The man sighed and put the hat back on. “Alright, well let’s get you in the chair again, then.” He reached out for Applejack, who wrapped her arms around his neck as he picked her up bridal style. “It’s a good thing I’m strong.”

Applejack smiled a little, though she feigned offense. “You sayin’ I’m fat?”

“No,” he said with a grunt as he set her down in the chair. “I’m sayin’ you’re freakishly tall.” 

At some point in her life, Applejack had actually felt insecure about her height. It always seemed like all the other girls she met were shorter than her, and it made her stand out, though not in a way she particularly enjoyed. Then she found out that being tall meant that boys were intimidated by her. That was nice. They left her alone.

She grinned. “True. Good thing I’m in this chair, huh?”

“Yeah, I guess,” Thistle agreed. He put a hand on Applejack’s shoulder. “I was gonna go home so I wouldn’t be caught out in the snow, but I think I’ll check to see if y’all need any help with your horse. I’ve had a couple horses colic, so maybe there’s somethin’ I can do.”

“That’s awful nice of ya, Thistle,” Applejack told him earnestly. She hesitated before putting a hand on his. Was that what she was supposed to do? Judging by his warm smile, it was. “It probably wouldn’t be good to drive back in this weather, anyway. If you don’t have anywhere to be, you could probably stay the night here.”

“That’d be great.” He squeezed her shoulder gently before putting his hand back in his pocket. “Maybe we could finally spend some time together. Talk about a real date? Preferably not one that’s on the same date as your sister’s birthday.”

It was the cold that made Applejack blush. She smiled in the direction of the stable as snow fell around it. “Yeah, sorry about that. I didn’t even notice what day it was, to be honest. These past couple of months have felt…” Her smile dropped a bit. “Well, I guess they’ve just been a bit of a blur.”

“Yeah, well, can’t blame ya there. But you’re back in the real world now, so it’s okay,” Thistle assured her, though his choice of words made Applejack feel a bit downtrodden.

She really had been missing out on the real world, hadn’t she? She’d missed out on so many family dinners, so many stories told, and so many mishaps and mistakes that the rest of her family would surely laugh about for months to come. And there she would be, watching them smile and laugh about inside jokes she wasn’t there for.

Maybe Thistle noticed he had said something wrong. He gave an awkward chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s pretty damn cold. Maybe we should start gettin’ over to the stable. I can try and push you through the snow.”

Before Applejack can even agree, the sound of barking filled the air as a little brown body runs through the thick snow, occasionally having to jump up to be able to see. The blonde smiled from ear to ear. “Winona!”

Winona yipped and all but jumped on top of Applejack, though the snow made it difficult for her to get much height, so she settled for simply standing up on her hind legs and using Applejack’s legs as a crutch. 

It’s almost as if the cold weather disappeared as Applejack leaned forward to rub Winona’s neck in the way she liked. “Hi, girl! So ya didn’t forget about me?” she teased, trying but eventually giving up on avoiding Winona’s licks. Applejack let out a laugh as she was completely covered in Winona’s slobber and then exclaimed in surprise as the wind instantly made it much colder. “Oh, Winona,” Applejack reprimanded her, though she couldn't help the smile on her face.

After deciding she’d had enough of Applejack, Winona then jumped up at Thistle, who smiled and petted Winona with red hands. He definitely looked like he might turn into an ice cube, but typical boyish machismo seemed to prevent him from admitting it. 

“Winona, hey!” a distant Strawberry yelled. “Come back! Damn it!” Winona turned her head toward the sound of her name and, panting, ran toward Strawberry, who trudged back with a shovel in hand and a large jacket. “Winona, go back to Apple Bloom,” Strawberry ordered, pointing to the stables. Surprisingly, the dog didn’t hesitate in running back.

“Nice dog,” Thistle commented, sticking his hands back in his jeans.

Strawberry huffed and handed the jacket to Thistle. “Big Mac said you could use his jacket since it’d probably be easier than going back to the house to get Applejack’s,” she explained. “He’s still trying to get Barley to stand, but it’s warm in there.”

Thistle took the jacket and nodded. “Right, thanks.”

“As for you,” Strawberry continued, turning her glare to Applejack, “I’ve been told to tell you that you’re,” she made air quotes with her fingers, “a right fool.”

“Bloom?” Applejack deadpanned.

“Big Mac, actually,” Strawberry corrected. “And he’s right. You’re an idiot, but you’re here so there’s no use fighting about it right now. That can wait ‘til we’re out of this goddamn snow.”

Her absolute dismay for the snow actually brought a bit of a smile to Applejack’s face. She remembered how much Strawberry had always hated the winter season, even when they were kids. It was always too cold, too lonely, or too boring. She shook her head. “Yeah, we can argue later.”

Strawberry didn’t react in any particular way to that. Instead, she just grabbed the shovel in both hands and did her best to at least clear some of the snow toward the path. Luckily, there wasn’t a very long way to go, but it was still going to be more of a hassle than it should be.

Behind her, Thistle gripped the handlebars of the wheelchair and gave a strong push. It was strange to be pushed through the snow, but considering how much trouble Thistle was having with it, Applejack figured she really couldn’t have done it herself. The implications of it made her frown. How was she supposed to help around in the winter if it was near impossible for her to get around? 

She decided she didn’t want to think about that right there and then. “How’s Barley?” she asked instead.

Strawberry grunted as she pushed some snow aside. “Well, he’s still not great, but it honestly could be worse. I think if Mac manages to get him on his feet, he’ll be fine. It would definitely be a best-case scenario if the vet’s able to come around, though, but I’m not sure if she’d make it on time. She said she’s doing her best, but there’s a road closure over on the freeway.”

“Shit, we got lucky then,” Applejack muttered. “Well, now that Thistle’s here, maybe he can help, right?” She turned back to look at Thistle, who was straining a bit, but he gave her a quick smile. 

“Sure. I can do my best, at least.” 

“Who are you, anyway?” Strawberry asked, looking over at Thistle as she cleared the rest of the path where the snow was too deep.

Applejack raised an eyebrow at Strawberry’s tone. “He’s my friend,” she responded for him. 

The redhead gave a noncommittal grunt and stood in front of the stables about ten feet away. The doors were closed, but it was probably for the best. The cold wouldn’t get in that way, and it would make being indoors a lot easier. Applejack rubbed her hands together as Thistle finally closed the distance between them and the stables, and once Strawberry opened the barn door, there was a surprising surge of heat that was incredibly welcome.

“Close the door before ya let all the heat out!” Apple Bloom yelled from somewhere out of view. 

Applejack took in the view. Her sister sat at the entrance to Barley’s stall while only her brother’s boots were visible as he knelt inside the stall where Applejack assumed Barley lay.

As soon as her wheels hit solid ground, Applejack’s hands moved to the pushrims and pushed her forward to where she knew Barley’s stall was. “How’s he doing?” she asked her sister as she neared. 

“He doesn’t wanna get up, but he keeps tryin’ to roll over,” Apple Bloom informed her, giving her a hug that was probably meant more for herself than for Applejack.

The older girl nodded and kissed the top of Apple Bloom’s head gently. Barley was, in fact, on the ground but he seemed restless, though he made no move to get up. He only wanted to roll over, but if he did, he would definitely get stuck. 

“Don’t let him cast,” Applejack told Big Mac, who was doing all he could to get Barley back up. He simply nodded in return. 

Both Strawberry and Thistle approached the group simultaneously, though Strawberry had at some point taken off her jacket and left on the gloves, sweater, and hat, while Thistle kept the jacket Big Mac had lent on him, clearly still cold. 

“Any progress?” Strawberry asked, her voice shaking a bit from the cold, though she clearly tried to hide it.

Apple Bloom shook her head while Big Mac rubbed Barley’s forehead in an attempt to calm him down.

Applejack anxiously bit her lip and brought her hands together to toy with the ring she’d become so reliant on as a soothing object. Barley was right there in front of her. Her horse. He was more than that, really, but she couldn’t even find the words to describe it. It was almost as if Barley was a part of her somehow. She wanted to reach out and pet him, to caress him again and find familiarity on his brown and white coat. But even if she could reach him safely, she couldn’t imagine doing that to herself. Not with Barley.

With a sad shake of her head, Applejack backed up and made her way to the other side of the stable. Or at least, she tried to, because before she could get too far, Strawberry asked, “You okay?”

It was surprising, really, that Strawberry would have been the one to ask. Applejack paused and put on her best smile, though it felt weak on her lips. “Yeah, I just…” She turned back to look at Strawberry, who had a worried frown, and that made Applejack’s attempt at a smile fall away. “I’m in the way. I’m gonna go find somethin’ else  to do.”

Strawberry didn’t stop her. Maybe she wasn’t sure how. Applejack kind of wished she had. But then what? 

Her hands led her to the tack and saddle corner. She frowned at the mess. Apple Bloom hadn’t been cleaning or organizing like she was supposed to. Everyone’s tack was all mixed up. Bridles weren’t kept in their spots, and halters were strewn about. Bits weren’t kept in the way they were meant to. Applejack shook her head and figured she would try and make herself useful.

The only problem was that she couldn’t quite reach the hooks. A small surge of frustration bubbled inside her, but she thought about what Rain said to her.

“Don’t forget what I taught you. Don’t give up when things are tough, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

She couldn’t let herself get frustrated at something like this. It was just tack. Sure, it was messy and disorganized and Apple Bloom should have done her job, but she didn’t and that was it. Sure, Applejack wanted to organize it and be useful and not just be in the way, but she couldn’t reach it. That sucked.

With furrowed eyebrows, Applejack reached up and grabbed a bridle from the bottom half of the reins and tried to swing it off the hook. She realized that having Thistle’s jacket on wasn’t quite helping and was actually getting to be a bit warm, so she took it off and went to place it on top of a nearby saddle.

She glanced at it with a sad smile. The brown leather saddle went mostly unused; it had been a prize saddle from Applejack’s first overall cowgirl win, but she insisted on using her old “lucky” saddle. It seemed almost a shame that it just sat in the back of the stables unused, but it sure was pretty to look at. Applejack ran a hand over it and found it to be surprisingly chilly. Every stitch and embroidered detail was a pleasure to her fingertips. 

Her heart ached. Feeling a saddle under her fingertips brought her back to every competition, every practice, every chore. Every moment spent on horseback, whether it be with Barley or with her first horse Tailor, or with the working horses or with a client horse. She remembered the feeling of freedom that being on a saddle gave her. The wind through her hair, the sun on her cheeks, and a horse under her. The feeling of galloping as fast as the horse could, as fast as she could handle, and when she felt brave, the feeling of letting go of the reins and stretching out her arms to feel that power and freedom and just close her eyes and trust in her horse.

She felt all that, and then she remembered the pain. The pain of falling off the saddle, of hitting the floor, of having to duck out of the way of hooves, of bruises and cuts and scrapes. The pain of having to shake off a hit to the head, of hoping that it was just a sprain, of having the wind knocked out of her lungs. She remembered the pain of trying to stand up and having her body be uncooperative. Of realizing she lost a part of herself that she could never have back.

And yet, all she was really feeling was a saddle.

Applejack swallowed dryly and placed the jacket on top of the saddle. She knew better than to try to organize, to try to pretend that there was something normal she could do. Barley needed help, yet she couldn’t help. The tack needed organizing, yet she couldn’t even get them off the damn hooks. 

Honestly, she was surprised it took so long for her throat to close in the threat of a sob. Rain had warned her once that going back home would be the hardest part. That having someplace so familiar feel so different would hurt really bad. And she had barely been home for ten minutes and already she felt defeated. How was she supposed to go back to a normal life? It hurt bad. It really did, but she wasn’t ready for it to feel this bad. 

It was just tack and a saddle. She wanted to tell herself to just get over it, that it was just tack and a saddle. But it wasn’t just that. It was the way that it was such an effort to get through the snow, the way the loose hay felt beneath her wheels. It was the way that there was so much out of reach, that not even the convenience of a workbench was convenient anymore. It was the way that it was different, and Applejack had never been good with change.

But she wasn’t about to start crying, not with her family right there. Nor with Thistle or Strawberry. Especially not when they needed to focus their attention on Barley. 

Barley, who she knew deserved better. She hoped that he would recover, that the vet would get here soon, or that Thistle really did have something to offer in terms of help. She wanted Barley to have a better life, and he couldn’t stay if she wanted that. She was going to have to sell him.

“Yes!” Thistle’s voice cut into her thoughts. “C’mon, buddy. Keep going!”

Applejack blinked away a lone tear and turned her head back towards everyone else. Thistle and Big Mac were in Barley’s stall and they seemed to actually be getting Barley to his feet. She made her way back over and watched as the two men gave Barley space and he got to his feet once more. 

Everyone in the room let out a collective sigh of relief, including Applejack, who couldn’t help but notice that Barley was still in some pain. But hey, he was up. And that was really good.

“I told you that’d work,” Thistle commented to Big Mac, who shook Thistle’s hand and patted him on the back with the other. “Now we just gotta keep him walkin’ so he doesn’t try and lie down again.”

Just at the perfect time, Big Mac’s phone started ringing, still in Strawberry’s possession. Without hesitating, she took it out and answered the call. “Yes. Oh, that’s fantastic. He’s on his feet again, but he still seems really uncomfortable. Okay, thanks. See you soon!” As soon as the phone call started, it ended. Strawberry gave the phone back to Big Mac and said, “Vet will be here within ten minutes. She said to keep Barley moving and that she will get him feeling better soon.”

“See?” Thistle said with a boastful smile. 

Barley nickered uncomfortably and shook his head, but followed Thistle’s lead as he led the stallion out from his stall. Applejack wheeled back a bit to give them space. Her hands shook as she gripped her pushrims tightly. He was right there and he was going to be okay. 

He was going to be fine. That was all she wanted for him. Seeing him again ripped her in two. She wanted nothing more than to just have one last good ride on him. One that didn’t have him bucking her off. Or, hell, he could buck her off a million times if that was what he wanted to do, but she would do anything just to be in the saddle again. On him. 

“I want to go home,” Applejack heard herself say. 

Just about everyone turned to face her quizzically. Of course they would. Barley was her horse. Why wouldn’t she want to stay to make sure everything went well? Was she that much of an asshole? Did she not care? Was she selfish? 

She wished it wasn’t true, but it was. She was selfish. She wanted to leave because it would be too hard to stay. It’d make letting go harder.

“I’ll go back with you,” Strawberry offered. “I don’t think I’m being much help anyway. The path from here to the house is mostly cleared.”

Applejack couldn’t find it within her to argue, so she simply nodded. “Yeah, sure.” 

Big Mac specifically looked extremely puzzled. “You okay, AJ?”

Leave it to him to read her like a book. She shot him a look that he would definitely understand. “I’ll be fine.”

He nodded and turned his attention back to Barley and tenderly felt his abdominal area. 

“Can I come with you?” Apple Bloom asked, peeking from behind the wall of a different stall. She had been brushing Domino, but she didn’t seem all too enthused with the chore. 

Big Mac and Strawberry shared a glance that Applejack couldn’t quite figure out before he said, “Actually, I need you to stay and get some electrolyte water for Barley,” Big Mac told her. Reluctantly, she nodded and grabbed a bucket. Big Mac turned back to Applejack. “I cleared the snow before ya came. Might have already built up, but it’ll be easier to get through than when you first got here.”

With an appreciative nod, Applejack returned to the tack corner and did her best to avoid looking at the mess just out of reach. She grabbed Thistle’s coat from the saddle and put it on without a second thought. It was just a saddle, anyway. 

Strawberry met Applejack near the back entrance and opened the door with a heave of effort. The wind immediately whipped Applejack’s hair around and blew snow into her eyes, which she blinked away before squinting. It was coming down hard, but at least it wasn’t getting worse. 

Even in the near white-out conditions, home was in sight. The faded red building seemed so close and yet so far away, separated by a layer of white. The roof was caked with a thick blanket of snow that made it seem like a scene from a snow globe. She hadn’t once given thought to how home would feel. The ranch house called out to her, drawing her in after months away.

The icy wind chilled her bones, but Applejack pressed on regardless. It was difficult to push through the snow, but it was actually somewhat manageable just like Big Mac had predicted. Strawberry shut the doors to the stables and caught up to Applejack, who hadn’t gone very far, with snow crunching beneath her boots.
> Home Sweet Home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

There had to be an easier way.

The ranch house was usually only a few minutes' walk from the stables, but it had already been at least five minutes and it didn’t seem like they were anything more than halfway there.

“G-God, it’s cold as shit out here,” Strawberry muttered with chattering teeth. 

Applejack didn’t even have the slightest idea as to what to say in response. No shit it was cold out. Her fingers felt like they might fall off. “At least you can keep your hands in your pockets,” Applejack argued, though there was no venom in her voice. It wasn’t so much the snow slowing them down than it was the fact that Applejack felt as though it was impossible to move her arms and summon the strength to push. 

“True,” was Strawberry’s response. 

“Why don’t you just go ahead of me,” Applejack asked her, though she didn’t bother trying to face in Strawberry’s direction. “You don’t have to stay with me.”

“Because it’d be a shitty move to leave you out in a blizzard by yourself.”

“I guess.”

Applejack could swear she was about to die of hypothermia.

Well, clearly not, but damn if there was ever a time to be dramatic. 

“Are you okay?”

Applejack would have looked over to Strawberry if it wasn’t for the fact that her neck almost felt stuck in place. It was like having the neck brace on again. “What?”

“You know, with e-everything?” Strawberry clarified. “I mean, you haven’t been back in so long. And all this with Barley is pretty much the worst timing ever.”

“Could be worse,” Applejack responded, though she wasn’t really sure how. Sure, she could be dead, but at least if she was dead then that would be the end of it.

“How about…” Strawberry hesitated, which was enough for Applejack to fill in the blanks.

“The whole wheelchair thing?” Applejack took her silence as a yes and let out a snort. “Well, it ain’t exactly…” She bit her lip. “I mean… It’s…”

“Yeah.”

“It’s hard,” Applejack admitted. “But it’ll just take some gettin’ used to.”

“You can do it.”

“I have to,” Applejack simply stated. It wasn’t like she had much of a choice. “C-can we just… stop talkin’? It’s too cold to talk. I can barely feel my tongue. Or my lips.”

Strawberry’s silence was once again a positive indicator, so the pair continued to battle through the blizzard in silence.

The good thing was that they finally reached the front door. It was extremely strange to see the familiarity of the house she had grown up in be disturbed by the new wood ramp that seemed to try to match the rustic aesthetic of the house but failed purely by the wood being still new and vibrant. The wood was an outlier. It stuck out in a way that wasn’t right. 

Applejack rolled up to it, eager to get to the door and inside. The last thing in her way after having to plow through the building snow was the ramp but try as she might, it was just too snowy. She grunted and pushed as hard as she could but her arms gave up and the wheels stopped moving after the first couple of inches.

She could feel Strawberry’s almost predatory snark. Applejack decided that her pride could handle yet another blow as she turned to face her smirking companion. “Can you push me up? The snow’s too thick.”

Without saying anything, Strawberry simply approached from behind and pushed. She let out a short groan and slowly pushed Applejack up the steps. “Holy shit, you’re heavy.”

“Are you kiddin’ me?” Applejack asked, but Strawberry ignored her. She regained control of her chair and rammed backwards into Strawberry before she could step away. The redhead must have accepted the retribution as she did nothing but exclaim and move in front of Applejack with a frown.

Strawberry opened the door and swung it open so that Applejack could go in. Never had Applejack thought that she would be able to identify her house by scent alone. After spending so many months in a sterile environment it seemed almost impossible to miss the smell. Her house, it seemed, smelled of a fireplace once lit, of apple cinnamon spice, and… well, home. It wasn’t really a smell that Applejack could describe, but it assaulted her nose and she gladly let it win.

From the kitchen, Granny could be heard humming. The noise brought a smile to Applejack’s face. She loved when Granny hummed or sang. It was comforting.

“Granny Smith, look who I brought,” Strawberry called out flatly. Applejack could practically hear her eyes rolling through her words. “I think you’ll be quite surprised.”

“Oh, you know how I don’t like surprises,” Granny Smith teasingly chided from the other room. “I’ll be a second, I’m just preparin’ dinner for everyone and that nice vet once she comes ‘round.”

Strawberry shrugged and began taking off her coat in the entryway. The both of them were covered in now-melting snow, and it seemed it was more than a good thing for the redhead as she vehemently shook stray flakes off of the hood of her sweater before they could even melt.

Applejack herself didn’t mind the snow so much, but she had to admit it wasn’t a very good feeling to have snow melting in her hair. Luckily, Thistle wasn’t too much taller than her and wasn’t as built as Big Mac, so his coat fit her almost as well as her own coat would have. She took it off and handed it to Strawberry, who hung it up on yet another inaccessible hook. 

Just as Applejack reached down to lift her foot onto her knee to take off her boot, Granny rounded the corner saying, “How’s that horse doin’? Y’know, that old mare Bingo used to colic just ‘bout every winter, but she always pulled through and gave Buttercup a better season than…” She trailed off as she caught sight of just who was in her doorway and rushed to the pair. “Applejack? Land sakes, what are you doin’ here, hun?”

“I heard ‘bout Barley and I just had to come around,” Applejack told her plainly as she pulled her boot off and dropped it with the rest of the footwear. She did the same for the other shoe. “And ‘fore you get around to scoldin’ me, I know it was foolish but I just had to be here.”

Granny Smith hurried over to Applejack and took the boot from her grasp and put it down. “It was mighty foolish of you,” she agreed, “but I had a feelin’ you’d show up. How’d you get here?”

“Thistle.” Applejack pushed her wet hair back so it wouldn’t drip into her eyes. “He came to pick me up. He’s over helpin’ Barley now, even got him standin’.” 

“Hm,” Granny responded. “That’s good. Smart young man.”

Strawberry moved forward into the house. “We moved most of the stuff from your room down here. We weren’t expecting you for another week though, so not everything is here but come take a look.”

Right, because Applejack couldn’t exactly get to her room on the second floor. She followed Strawberry for a moment before pausing to look behind at the snow and slush she’d just tracked into the house. “Ah shoot, I’m sorry I…”

Granny waved her hand. “Don’t worry ‘bout it, hun’. Gets dirty in here anyway on account of Apple Bloom and her habit of forgettin’ to take off her boots. ”

She still felt bad, though, so Applejack reached into the little bag on the back of her seat and took out a cloth. She wiped the tires as clean as she could after a few rotations back and forth and decided it was good enough. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but she probably should have thought about one before coming. 

The redhead beckoned Applejack with a bored look on her face that Applejack chose to ignore. She noticed she was being led to what used to be Granny Smith’s room. “Wait, this is it?”

Strawberry nodded. “Yup, Granny Smith took your room upstairs.”

“Oh.” Applejack frowned. She hoped that wouldn’t mess with her arthritis. “Okay.”

She went into the room and noticed it was mostly full of boxes. They were almost all unlabeled, but that didn’t really matter much to her. It was strange to see the bedroom stripped of Granny Smith’s things, but it was even weirder to see it appear as though she was moving out entirely. It didn’t feel right, it didn’t feel like it was supposed to feel like her room. For the first time in her life, Applejack didn’t feel at home in her own house.

“Sorry it’s not really… homey yet,” Strawberry said as though she was reading Applejack’s mind. “We weren’t expecting you to come back just yet. And, uh, well, we didn’t really know where to put all your stuff since… Well…”

Applejack shook her head and the thoughts went away with it. “It’s fine. I appreciate y’all movin’ my stuff here. I guess I’ll just have to get used to it.”

“You’ll be alright,” Strawberry told her. “So… Is it weird?”

“Is what weird?”

Strawberry twirled her hair in her fingers. “Well, you know… The wheelchair? You told me to shut up outside about it. I wasn’t sure if it was ‘cause it was a sensitive subject or if it was too cold.”

Applejack glanced down at the item in mention. “Oh. No, it’s fine. Uh, I guess it is a bit weird,” she answered honestly. “But, y’know, I’m used to it. It’s kinda become part of me in a weird way.”

“Yeah, I guess that was a dumb question.” Strawberry sat on the foot of the bed. It creaked beneath her. “I just, well, I don’t know what to say, to be honest.”

The blonde let out a dry laugh. “I can’t blame ya. It’s kinda messed up, ain’t it?”

Strawberry pursed her lips. “A bit. I’m really sorry about what happened to you.”

Applejack’s smile wavered. Just a bit. “It’s fine. Can’t change what happened.”

“Still.”

“Look, I don’t need your pity,” Applejack said, though she made sure to say it softly. “I got enough of that, even if everyone was tryin’ to not come off that way. Can we just pretend nothin’ happened?”

It was an unreasonable request, and she knew that. The way Strawberry hesitated showed that she knew, too. “Is that a good idea?”

“Probably not,” Applejack admitted. “Well, then just don’t be sorry. I can still do mostly everything that I could do before. It ain’t like I need help doin’ stuff like puttin’ on clothes or usin’ the bathroom anymore, so there’s no reason to feel sorry.”

“That’s… actually really cool.” Strawberry gave an honest smile. “I don’t think I’d have the patience to re-learn how to do all that.”

Applejack smiled slightly. “It ain’t like I had a choice.”

“That’s true, but still.” Strawberry dipped her head at Applejack. “I don’t say it much, but I do admire you, Applejack. And… I guess I wanted to say I’m sorry about our last conversation on the phone after you got out of the hospital. I was… dealing with some stuff.”

If she was being honest, Applejack almost forgot about that conversation. She would have been happier forgetting the way Strawberry made her feel. Really, it was probably how she’d been making her feel for so many years. 

She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine. You don’t gotta apologize after the way I’ve been treatin’ ya for so long. And… Well, I’m sorry ‘bout that, too.” She rubbed her neck sheepishly. “And about, uh, whatever happened at the bar.”

“Heh, you really don’t remember?” Strawberry shook her head. “It was stupid. We were both drunk.”

“Well, that doesn’t make whatever I did right so I’m sorry.”

Strawberry raised her eyebrows. “Wow, a real apology. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself that you’d do that. I wouldn’t believe it.” At Applejack’s frown, Strawberry’s smile turned serious. “Really, though, thanks. It means a lot. I don’t know if we’re quite ready to be friends,  but I’m glad that we’re moving in that direction.”

There were a million snappy comebacks that ran through Applejack’s head. ‘Who said I wanted to be your friend?’ ‘How do I turn back?’ ‘Musta taken a wrong turn.’

None of them came out. Instead, Applejack grinned from ear to ear. “Yeah, me too.”


~~~~🍎~~~~


Real food tasted so much better at the dinner table, even though it was a little bit cramped with Strawberry and Thistle there. 

The dinner table was usually some kind of boisterous affair, with the whole family talking about their day and Apple Bloom sharing particularly humorous stories about school and Big Mac and Applejack detailing their chores and the weird things the animals would inevitably do. But right now? Everyone was strangely silent. An out-of-place hush passed over the table as the clinks and clatters of cutlery filled the air. 

Applejack cut into her strip of meat with bored, repetitive movements of her knife. She’d never really learned how to hold cutlery ‘correctly’, maybe a habit from uselessly trying to copy her right-handed family members, and Granny had long since stopped trying to fix it. Leaning her right chin on her right hand, Applejack lifted the fork to her mouth and took a bite. It was good, delicious even, but she couldn’t even pretend to enjoy it. She ate as though it was merely a necessity and she wasn’t sure why.

Being back at the ranch was amazing. The principle of it made it out to be the best thing to happen to Applejack, but it definitely didn’t feel like it. There she was, sitting at a table she hadn’t seen in months surrounded by her full family in her home that she had nearly forgotten the smell of. She was supposed to be happy and excited, but instead, it dampened into a gray lump of indifference. She was supposed to finish her time in the rehab facility and come home with a smile. Instead, it felt like the blizzard outside had made its way in and silenced the group.

Maybe the hush had grown too awkward, or maybe it was becoming impossible to pretend as though everyone was too busy chewing to talk, but finally, Granny Smith broke the silence with a clear of her throat. Everyone at the table turned their attention to the woman. “Well, I’ll be the first to say that I’m awful glad for Dr. Fauna. I wish she coulda stayed, but as she said, animals won’t wait for the snow to blow over to get sick.” 

At the mention of her name, everybody lightened up a bit. 

Applejack raised her glass and nodded. “Ditto. Dunno what we’d have done without her.”

“Half the battle was getting Barley to stand, really,” Thistle pointed out. He put an arm on Big Mac’s shoulder. “If she didn’t come, I’m sure we coulda managed.”

Big Mac shrugged while Thistle grinned confidently.  He didn’t say anything more out loud, but the look in his eyes said enough. Applejack couldn’t hold back the smile that toyed on her lips, so she decided to simply shove another forkful of food in her mouth. 

Strawberry, sat next to Applejack, made a bit of a noise that nobody else seemed to catch before she stabbed her fork into the meat and shoved it in her mouth. The conversation didn’t last much longer than that. At least it seemed to lighten the mood, though Applejack wasn’t sure why everyone seemed so bummed out. Barley would be fine and back to a hundred percent in a few days. 

Was it her? Was it her presence that bummed everyone out? She hadn’t really thought about how it might feel for everyone else to have her back home. Of course they already knew that things would be different; they were the ones that had to rearrange the house and make it somewhat compatible for her, after all. But still, that was a lot different than actually having her back home. It was different to see her in the hospital or even the rehab facility. There it made sense that she was in a wheelchair. At home, though, it didn’t. She stuck out.

And Strawberry. Strawberry seemed so calm, she seemed too calm, almost. Applejack knew that she’d asked Strawberry to pretend as though nothing had happened, but after her response, she didn’t know that she’d try. Hell, she thought that the conversation in the bedroom was a fluke. That it would somehow not really mean anything after leaving that room. She thought Strawberry would at least be a little bit more bitter or awkward, but no. Strawberry was fine.

Damn it, why was Strawberry like that? Why did she always have to be the better person? She didn’t have to accompany Applejack back to the house or keep her company while she checked the stuff in her new room. She didn’t have to do any of that. She didn’t have to talk to her or be nice. She didn’t have to apologize.

“Hey, you okay?”

Applejack realized she had been staring at Strawberry and quickly averted her gaze. Strawberry didn’t seem to have noticed, but it was still embarrassing enough to make Applejack blush. She was surprised to hear Thistle asking the question and equally surprised that she had even been surprised in the first place. Thistle was… well, he wasn’t just a friend. That much, she had to admit. But he wasn’t quite her boyfriend yet. They still had to go on a proper date for that, but considering all their conversations and the fact that she’d even agreed to it? Well, he was very much on his way. She shouldn’t have been surprised that he would ask if she was okay.

That meant that she must have been zoning out. Applejack put on a smile and nodded. “Yeah, fine. It’s just been a bit of a long day, I reckon.”

He nodded with a half-hearted smile. “Yeah, can’t blame ya there. Bet you’re happy to be home, huh?”

“I am happy,” Applejack responded, though she didn’t really feel it. Somewhere deep inside, though, it was true. She had been looking forward to this day for so long, but she definitely wasn’t expecting it to be like this. “It’s just… takin’ a bit to really hit me I guess.”

The miracle that was Apple Bloom’s silence at the dinner table ended as she smiled so widely it was almost audible.  “Well, I’m sure glad you’re home! We’ve missed ya so much, Applejack!”

The blonde wished she could hide beneath the brim of her hat, but she didn’t even know where it was. Instead, she just attempted to hide her blush by taking a gulp of water before responding, “I’ve missed y’all, too.” She briefly glanced at Strawberry, who seemed to have found something to stare at on the ceiling. “I’m just glad everything’s goin’ alright here.” I guess they didn’t really need me around much.

“It was a bit hard at first, but Strawberry really stepped up,” Apple Bloom revealed as she gently nudged Strawberry. She didn’t seem so kid-ish anymore. Did Apple Bloom have a growth spurt while Applejack was gone?

“Only ‘cause Big Mac here was practically as useless as a screen door on a submarine,” Strawberry joked. Big Mac simply nodded once, while Applejack had to hold back an amused laugh at Strawberry’s metaphor. She’d really been spending too much time with Granny, it seemed. “But really, I was happy to help. Even kind of missed you, AJ.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” Applejack responded with a grin. Despite her initial reservations against the idea, she was glad that someone was able to help out around the ranch. Even if it was Strawberry. “And don’t call me that,” she added light-heartedly. 

The redhead brought her hands up in mock defeat. “Your cousin helped out a lot, too. Even got her little boyfriend around here a couple times. Where he gets the time, I don’t know.”

“They’re cute together, ain’t they?” Apple Bloom jumped in, pushing her plate aside. “I think it’s romantic that he comes here to visit her even though he’s got that bar job over in ‘Loosa.” 

Applejack noticed that everyone else was pretty much done with their food, even Apple Bloom who was often the last to finish on account of all the gabbing at the table she did. Applejack didn’t feel very hungry at all. She eyed her plate. 

“I think he’s a bit of an idiot,” Strawberry argued. “They’ve only known each other a few months. To go pretty much straight into dating after meeting at a bar? Already a bit of a dumb move. But he makes the trip all the way here kind of on a regular basis.” She crossed her arms and leaned back. “It’s a bit much. But hey, if they’re happy, then whatever, I guess.”

She had a bit of a point, but Applejack didn’t want her to diminish her cousin’s relationship like that. From what she could remember, Rusty was a decent guy. He at least made a hell of a drink. 

“You just don’t understand true love,” Apple Bloom practically sighed out. “When ya love someone, ya do stupid things.”

That was a silly sentiment, but hey, what would Applejack know?

Strawberry huffed. “What do you know about love, Bloom? You’re just a kid.”

“Well, you’re just a teenager,” Apple Bloom pointed out. “I’ve read a buncha stories ‘bout love.”

“What about you, Thistle?” Strawberry leaned forward to look at Thistle, who had been keeping quiet. “You look like the type of guy who gets around. What do you think about love?”

Thistle shifted in his seat. “Well, I can’t deny that I’m popular with the ladies,” he admitted with a grin, “but I dunno, I’ve never really thought about it I guess.”

The half of the table that had not been participating met eyes. Applejack knew exactly what Big Mac and Granny were thinking because she was thinking it, too. The ongoing conversation was incredibly strange. And somewhat inappropriate.

“I think it’s been a long day,” Granny cut in, “and I’m sure Applejack here wants to rest.”

Applejack shot her grandmother a look. Figures she’d use me as a scapegoat. “Yeah, I suppose I’m a bit tuckered out.”

“You gon’ eat the rest of that, AJ?” Big Mac pointed at Applejack’s plate, which was more full than it was empty. 

She shook her head. “No, I think today’s been too... excitin’. Don’t feel so hungry right now, but thank you so much for all that Granny. And thanks for feedin’ Thistle, too. I know we were kinda unexpected.”

Granny waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t be silly, girl. There’ll always be a place at the table for you and any friends you might bring ‘round.”

At that, Thistle raised his glass. “Thank you very much for that, ma’am. Now, I don’t wanna intrude, so I best be going ‘fore it gets worse out there.”

Applejack let out a scoff. “That’s insane, I told ya you could stay the night. It’s only gotten worse. You can’t go home now, it’s already dark out.”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac put in. “Since you and Strawberry gotta stay, one of y’all can stay in the spare room and the other can stay on the pullout in the livin’ room.”

“I’ll take the couch,” Thistle offered quickly. “Ain’t no point takin’ a perfectly good bed from, uh, Orange here.”

“My name’s Strawberry,” the redhead spat back, “and you and your machismo can go sleep in the spare room.”

Applejack tapped the tips of her fingers together. “You mean Ma and Pa’s room?”

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom shrugged, “the spare room. That’s where Fritter stays.”

“That wouldn’t be very kind of me to allow a girl to sleep on a couch,” Thistle argued, completely ignoring the two sisters. “I insist.”

“I’m sure I could handle it,” Strawberry responded with a smile that was a little bit too sweet. “So you go on ahead and take the spare room.”

“Alright, y’all are bein’ silly,” Big Mac interrupted. “Strawberry, you stay in the spare room since you’ve already got some of your stuff in there, and Thistle, you can sleep in my bed upstairs. I’ll take the pull-out.”

That seemed to satisfy the both of them, though Applejack caught sight of Strawberry’s smug grin that she didn’t do much to hide. With that settled, everyone stood from the table and took their plates with them. Applejack was eager to help, but before she could take her still-full plate, Big Mac took it for her. She shot him a look, but he returned it, so she relented.

It was no big deal, anyway. She should probably make sure that there was nothing else she could help out with. She backed out of the table and rolled up to Apple Bloom, who looked quite sleepy despite her energetic participation in the conversation. “Hey Bloom, you need any help with anything?”

The redhead shook her head. “Naw, I was just gonna go do my math homework ‘fore bed. But thanks.”

Applejack nodded and watched her sister climb up the stairs on all fours. Behind her, Winona followed in a similar fashion. “Well, at least she doesn’t need help with math anymore,” she muttered to herself as she looked around for any sign of anything out of place.

“You look lost,” Strawberry said from behind her. “It’s your house.”

“I’m just lookin’ for something to do,” Applejack responded, turning around to face Strawberry. “I always help wash dishes after dinner, but I dunno how much help I’ll be.”

“Hey, if you don’t have anything to do, just go sleep or something,” Strawberry suggested. “You must be tired. As you said, it’s been a long day and being out in the cold definitely doesn’t help.”

“I guess you’re right,” Applejack responded, though she wasn’t very enthused with the idea. “I still gotta figure out my room situation. Do ya know what’s in the boxes?”

“Eh, only some of them. I didn’t help with your room the whole time, but I did pack up a few boxes. You’ve got a lot of junk, you know.”

The jab might have been well-intentioned, but Applejack couldn’t help but agree. “Yeah. You stickin’ around tomorrow?”

“Depends on how much help you guys need around here,” Strawberry answered. “Why?”

“I was hopin’ you’d help me unpack the boxes, then,” Applejack told her. “I know you got no reason to, but I know Bloom’s got school and Mac’s got chores.”

Strawberry shrugged. “Sure, but why not ask your boyfriend?”

Applejack scoffed. “‘Cause I don’t want him snoopin’ around my stuff.”

“Fair enough.” Strawberry looked behind Applejack and her lip twitched. “Well, see you tomorrow, then.” 

As Applejack watched her retreat upstairs, Thistle cleared his throat next to her. “So, nice family.”

“Thanks.” Applejack smiled and moved toward her room. Thistle followed. “I’m glad you think so.”

“Yeah, though your brother’s kinda scary. Keep givin’ me this look,” Thistle told her with a nervous laugh. “But I suppose that’s just fine considerin’ he’s your brother.”

“He likes ya, he’s just bein’ overprotective,” Applejack promised. She entered her new room and sighed at the state of it. She hadn’t really put much thought into it, but it was all hitting her. Boxes were strewn about, clearly not enough to hold all of her belongings, but still enough for her to realize that there wouldn’t be enough space for all her things. Even just in boxes, her stuff took up a good portion of the room. 

“I guess this wasn’t your room before?”

Applejack nodded. “This was my Granny’s room. She’s always liked the convenience of havin’ her room on the ground floor. Been that way as long as I can remember.” 

“It’s nice that she’s movin’ for ya.” Thistle absent-mindedly whistled tunelessly as he looked around the room. 

Applejack frowned as she looked at the walls. They were some of the only things that hinted at the room’s past inhabitant. Framed pictures of the ranchland taken generations ago decorated the walls. The framed picture on the bedside was of Granny and her grandchildren. That was a more recent picture. Big Mac and Applejack stood proudly on either side of Granny while a toothy-grinned Apple Bloom stood in front of her, enveloped in her grandmother’s hug. It was the first family picture they took after her parents’ death. Applejack picked it up, but she couldn’t bring herself to smile or even frown. 

She knew that picture was paired with an older family picture. One of the full family. Granny must have left its pair behind by mistake.

“So, your friend out there seems to be convinced we’re together,” Thistle said, interrupting Applejack’s thoughts. 

The blonde put down the picture frame and turned to Thistle, who was looking at one of the pictures on the wall, back turned to her. Applejack rubbed her hands together. “She’s just teasin’.”

“Maybe,” Thistle agreed, still not turning to face her. “What do you think? Obviously, you think we could have a shot. I know you ain’t big on talkin’ to other people, I’ve heard that much about you. But you picked me. And you said we could go on a date.”

“I did.” Applejack rolled a little closer to him, hoping he’d hear her and turn to face her. “Just haven’t had the time.”

He did finally turn to face her, and he crouched down to her height once he did. “How ‘bout tomorrow?” He grinned smugly. “I’ve been waitin’ to take you out, AJ.”

Applejack swallowed nervously. Thistle had a way of changing the way he carried himself. He seemed awkward most of the time, but sometimes he just had a random burst of confidence. Was Strawberry right about him ‘getting around’? Her hands slowly dropped to her pushrims. “If the weather’s nicer tomorrow, then sure.”

“Sounds great.” Thistle looked her over before standing up again. “We don’t even have to go anywhere if you don’t want to. Whatever you’re comfortable with. I just wanna spend some time with you.”

And there went his confidence. Did he do it on purpose? Whatever the answer, Applejack had to admit that it worked. Whatever ‘butterflies in her stomach’ felt like, she was sure this was it. “Then could we stay here? I mean, we could drive out to the edge of the property. There’s a nice view by the road.”

“Sure thing, darlin’.” He winked at her before approaching the door. “Now I’m gon’ get outta here ‘fore your brother finds a reason to drag me out.”

A laugh found its way out of Applejack’s mouth. “Darlin’? Where’d that come from?”

Thistle walked out the door but peered in one last time to say, “Thought you’d like it. You didn’t ask me to stop.” Then he was gone.

Applejack was mostly left in shocked silence, though the smile that he left on her face was too wide to ignore. “He’s so stupid,” she muttered to herself with a shake of her head. 

Even as she got ready for bed, she couldn’t help but feel excited for the day to come.
> Like Father…?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first night back home went about as well as Applejack could have hoped, especially given the circumstances of her return. The snow had, in fact, let up overnight, though the weather conditions were far from pleasant. The blizzard slowed to a gentle dusting of snow, but the snowplows would likely not make their way as far as the rural roads until later in the day.

Most of the morning was spent enjoying breakfast. By the time noon came around, Applejack noticed just how much she’d become used to a different routine. She was half expecting Rain to come by and ask if she was going to attend their session. But of course, surrounded by wooden walls that were nothing close to the whites or pale blues of her previous institutions, there were no more sessions to be had. No routine anymore. 

She couldn’t just go back to her old routine, and she had forced herself out of the recent one. Admittedly, Applejack was the type of person who thrived on routine. It was the only way to keep a working ranch working. But with a change in routine that led to an overall halt in her routine, Applejack was amiss. That wasn’t the problem she should focus on now, though.

The boxes occupying the room were the problem. Applejack, luckily, had Strawberry to help her deal with unpacking, but she was starting to think that maybe it was a fruitless effort and she should just live out of boxes.

“You had a lot of stupid stuff in your room. I mean, you keep all your buckles?”

“Yeah.” Applejack cocked her head as she looked over at Strawberry, who sat in front of one of the boxes and inspected a buckle in the box she was currently working on. “You don’t?”

“Well, yeah, sure, but you have so many of ‘em. I usually give away my old ones.” She shrugged and pointed at her waist. A shiny buckle, studded with gems, adorned her belt. “This one’s the oldest one I got right now.”

The buckle was clearly won for barrel racing, as it depicted a silhouetted woman on top of a horse rounding a barrel. Applejack thought it was a nice buckle. “What’s that one from?”

“It’s from that high school rodeo competition. Sophomore year, remember?”  

Sophomore year. She remembered that rodeo, or hearing about it at least. “I wasn’t there.”

Strawberry furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. “Really? Why?”

Applejack frowned. “Wasn’t really a good year for me.”

Strawberry’s eyes widened. “Oh shit, yeah.” She rubbed her forehead and shut her eyes. “Sorry. I didn’t think about it that way.”

“It’s fine. I didn’t really think about it much this year. I’ve been too busy gettin’ high on painkillers,” Applejack joked with a morbid smile.

“It’s no wonder I won,” Strawberry added with a grin to match. “You were so much better than me when we were fifteen.”

“I still am.”

Both of their smiles faded a little bit. Strawberry swallowed in the wake of the sudden awkward tension. “Yeah.”

Applejack looked at one of the boxes. It was labelled “Awards”. It was full to the brim. How egotistical could she get? Maybe she should get rid of them. 

“So… Thistle. Just a friend, huh?” 

“Yeah,” Applejack shot back, eager to shut down her teasing. “He’s my friend. Nothin’ more.”

“Coulda fooled me,” Strawberry responded with a shrug. “I know you’re new to the whole ‘boy’ thing, but he likes you. And I’m not an idiot. I know you know. So what’s the deal there, Applejack? You like him, too?”

The blood rushed into Applejack’s face once more. She cursed her body for betraying her; she knew that when she blushed, she blushed hard. She really hoped it wasn’t as obvious as it felt. “He’s a nice guy. I guess I might like him, but so what? Since when do you care?”

“He looks… familiar.” Strawberry looked up as if she were trying to remember, but ended up shrugging. 

“Everyone keeps sayin’ that,” Applejack pointed out with a forced laugh. “Of course he looks familiar, he does ropin’ and chuck drivin’. You’ve probably seen him around the circuit.”

“Really? He sure looks like he drives chucks,” Strawberry said with a laugh. “He’s a bit weird, don’t you think?”

Weird? Applejack thought maybe he was a little shy and awkward, but he only seemed to be that way sometimes. Otherwise, he was actually pretty charismatic. “Not really. He’s one of the only other people to talk to me since…” She bit her tongue. “Well, he’s nice.” 

“That’s cool,” Strawberry agreed. “I don’t know, I just get this weird feeling from him. I guess I don’t really like him much.”

“How can ya not like him?” Applejack rolled closer to Strawberry, who leaned back and looked up at Applejack. “You barely know him. All he’s done is been nice to me. He doesn’t treat me like everyone else.”

“He doesn’t know you,” Strawberry argued.  “I mean, you met him, what, like last month or something?”

Applejack raised an eyebrow and smirked. “I think you’re jealous.”

“Jealous?” Strawberry crossed her arms and gave Applejack a lopsided smile. “Why would I be jealous of him?”

“I dunno, I got someone to replace you now,” Applejack said without really thinking about what she was saying. 

Strawberry scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Took you long enough.”

“Well, he doesn’t piss me off, so that’s a bonus.”

“I piss you off?” Strawberry asked with a tight frown. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

They held each other’s gaze for a moment. Applejack’s lip twitched into a smile and she looked away. “You’re an idiot.”

“Takes one to know one,” Strawberry countered. “You were kind of starting to irritate me.”

The room was a little bigger than Applejack’s old room. It didn’t really feel like it, though. Applejack rolled over to the emptied desk and looked at the worn mahogany. She rubbed it gently with the tips of her fingers. “Guess I just know how to push your buttons.”

“They’re easy to find,” Strawberry responded, “so don’t give yourself too much credit.”

Applejack chuckled.

“I just want to be clear, I don’t like Thistle.”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Okay, I don’t care.”

“Just… watch out with him,” Strawberry added a little more seriously. “He’s your first boyfriend—”

“Not my boyfriend.”

“—And you’re practically going from being an antisocial shut-in to dating some guy you met, like, a month ago.”

She didn’t want to start another argument, so Applejack just nodded. Those weren’t the nicest words she could have picked but… they were true in a way. Whatever stupid issue Strawberry had with Thistle after only just meeting him wasn’t really Applejack’s problem. She just wanted to forget everything that was happening outside of her house. She wanted to feel at home again.

“Barley’s a great horse,” Strawberry said out of nowhere. “He’s... a tough horse, but he really listens if you know how to talk to him. I get why you like him so much.”

Applejack didn’t turn back to look at her. She didn’t want to talk about Barley, but sometimes what she wanted wasn’t what was right. “He was a gift from my parents. My Ma thought it was a mistake on account of how difficult he was, but I didn’t give up. I knew he was the right horse for me.”

The statement hung in the air as Applejack traced the divots in the old desk. It was probably older than she was. 

“He must have been expensive,” Strawberry guessed. “I mean, I know he’s got some really good blood in him. There must be a reason why you guys left him intact. Are you going to have him sire foals?”

“Yeah, that’s the plan.” Applejack licked her lips anxiously as she thought about Barley. “But… I dunno. I don’t think I’m really the right owner for him anymore.”

“What?” 

“I think…” Applejack bit her lip and turned around to face Strawberry, who was already facing her with a frown. “I think I’m going to sell him. Like you said, he’s worth a lot of money, and I know we need it. All of this,” she gestured to herself, “ain’t exactly worth a handful of spare change. I know it’s all been a big expense and it won’t be any cheaper. I know we don’t have the money to spare, either. We don’t have that much cattle we can sell and no one’s really boardin’ here anymore. It ain’t like I can make any money off of him otherwise, I can’t ride him anymore.”

Strawberry worked her jaw. “Are you sure? Have you told your family?”

“No,” Applejack admitted. “How was I supposed to tell ‘em? This is the first time I’ve even said it out loud. I only started thinkin’ ‘bout it recently and now Barley needs to recover. That’s just more money down the drain.”

“I think you should think about it more.”

Applejack took a deep breath. “I’ve been lookin’ into it for weeks, and I really don’t see another option. Barley will be happier somewhere else.”

“What about you?”

Strawberry’s question caught Applejack off guard. What about her? There was already so much that Applejack lost. Apart from the obvious, she had lost her career, she had lost her future, she lost everything that made her her. To lose Barley would be the cherry on top, but she had to do it. She’d get over it. Or maybe she wouldn’t, but that didn’t really matter. She would rather her family stay okay. “I’ll be fine.”

“I hope you’re right.” 

The conversation lulled after that, but it didn’t feel peaceful. Tension hung in the air, and Applejack could barely focus on the task at hand. She shook her head and sat up straight, abandoning the slightly slumped position she had adopted in order to organize through old belongings that she barely remembered. The blonde grunted as she rubbed her back, sore from the awkward position.

“Dammit,” she muttered under her breath.

It wasn’t quite quiet enough, however, as Strawberry turned her head with an alarmed look. “You alright?”

Applejack nodded with a grimace. “Yeah, just my back. It’s fine, it happens more often than I’d like,” she added in an attempt at humour. Strawberry didn’t even crack a smile. Applejack’s grin dissolved as she shook her hand. “Could ya look in the drawer there and pass me the pill bottle in there?”

Strawberry looked to her side and lifted herself to her knees to retrieve the item. She inspected the bottle then frowned. “I thought you were kidding earlier.”

“Just hand ‘em over,” Applejack scoffed. Strawberry tossed them to her and Applejack caught them in her lap, the rattling of the pills filling the dead space. “They’re prescription, it’s fine.” She mindlessly took one and tossed the bottle on her bed before stretching her hands over her head. “I think I need a break,” she admitted.

“Me too,” Strawberry agreed, doing her own stretch, though it was more of a leg stretch. “Your brother still out?”

“Lots of snow to clear, so yeah. He and Thistle’ll get it done quicker than a rabbit” Applejack watched Strawberry stand up and twist her back from side to side with quiet cracks resulting from the action. Applejack licked her lips in realisation that she hadn’t had something to drink in a while. “Ya wanna go grab a beer? I think Big Mac’s got some in the fridge in the basement. If you wanna go grab us some, I’ll set a fire.”

“Yeah, sure,” Strawberry responded. “I haven’t had a beer in a while.”

“Me neither.” Applejack thought about that night out at the bars, and for as much as she couldn’t remember, she was certain she’d had at least one beer. “God, I’ve missed havin’ a nice cold beer.” She grinned as she led the way out to the main entrance of the house next to the living room and near the basement’s entrance.

“Even though it’s cold as hell out there?” Strawberry teased.

“It’ll warm ya right up.”

With a short laugh, the pair separated. Applejack stopped in front of the fire and reached for one of the logs. Luckily, it was just within reach and the fire was shortly made. As she waited for Strawberry, who must have been taking her sweet time retrieving the drinks, Applejack poked at the fire. Never would she have imagined that she would be sitting with Strawberry and sharing a beer with her.

Strangely, the thought of it wasn’t unpleasant. It was almost… exciting. Applejack grinned, getting lost in the flickers of warmth in front of her.

A poke. Applejack snapped out of it and turned her head. Strawberry stood next to her, two ice cold beers in each hand. “Mac’s got the good stuff,” she pointed out with a smile. “Coltson Caneighdian.”

“You like that stuff?” Applejack asked, only half-joking. Strawberry shrugged, which made Applejack shake her head. “Aw, you don’t know what good beer is. That’s fine, Coltson’s good enough.”

“Don’t beer shame me.”

Applejack rolled her eyes and took two of the beers, then parked herself next to the couch and set one of the drinks on the table. She stuck the top of the bottle in her mouth and expertly removed the cap with her teeth, while Strawberry simply used a bottle cap opener she had on her keychain.

“Cheers,” Applejack said while clinking the bottles together. The two women took a sip and sighed in unison. 

“I needed that,” Strawberry muttered.

“Same.”

Applejack let her thoughts wander while she worked on her drink. It seemed that Strawberry had her own thinking she wanted to do as she looked off into the distance. Applejack’s eyes trailed down to the label on the bottle. Coltson. That was her parent’s favourite beer, for some reason. Well, really, it was her dad’s. He was the one who got Pear Butter to like it. 

She remembered what it was like tasting beer for the first time. She was just a bit younger than Apple Bloom was, on a hot summer’s day. Applejack had been out working in the barn all day, but it didn’t matter because it meant she got to work with her new horse, Barley.

She wasn’t sure why, but her dad decided that it was time for Applejack to have her first taste of beer. To fend off curiosity and to reward her for a job well done. Needless to say, Applejack didn’t like it at first. No kid did.

With a smirk, she took another swig.

“Can I ask you something?” Strawberry broke the silence quietly. “You don’t have to answer, but I’ve always wanted to know.”

Applejack nodded, though slightly put off by Strawberry’s change in tone. “What is it?”

Strawberry took one more sip of her drink, then swallowed with pursed lips. She darted her eyes around the room for a moment before finally looking down at her bottle. “What happened to your dad?”

Applejack froze. “M-my dad?”

“He… he made it out of the crash alive, right?” Strawberry continued slowly. 

Numbly, Applejack nodded. Almost instinctively, her hands came together, one set of fingers reaching for the ring on the other too busy holding the bottle. She had just been thinking about her dad, but that was a long time ago. Before everything got bad.

Strawberry must have sensed Applejack’s discomfort as she stammered, “I–I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. I doubt you like talking about it a–and it’s not my—”

“He was a coward,” Applejack interrupted, though there was no malice in her voice.

“What?”

Applejack sighed and shut her eyes. She could almost remember that week plain as day. “Well, he wasn’t always. He was actually quite brave most of the time. My dad… well, it’s no secret that he was an addict, but it ain’t his fault.” Applejack frowned. It was still hard to talk about him like that; it was all so complicated. “It’s easy to get hooked on the pills.”

“Right,” Strawberry added, if only to let Applejack know she was listening.

“And the pills go down smoother with a beer or two. Maybe even some whiskey,” she explained, still refusing to directly at Strawberry. She swirled her own beer around in its bottle. “He and Ma were goin’ out somewhere. God, I don’t even remember where.”

Applejack blinked. She was on Barley enjoying the warm breeze. 

She was in her chair in front of the fire. 

“He wrapped the car ‘round a tree. Killed Ma on the spot.” Applejack licked her lips. Dry. “She was the lucky one, I guess. He hit his head on the wheel and was out cold. Woke up to a dead wife. Drinkin’ and pills only got worse those next few days.”

Strawberry didn’t say anything at the moment that Applejack took to pause and take another big swig. The blonde wasn’t sure if she was glad. “Guess he couldn’t handle the guilt. Or his body couldn’t handle the drugs.” Applejack shrugged, drinking the rest of her beer in one big gulp, then set the empty bottle on the table. “Dunno. Mac found him by the lake a couple days later. No note, nothin’.”

“Shit,” was all Strawberry said.

“Yeah.”

“So you don’t know if it was on purpose?” 

Applejack snorted. “He didn’t have to say it for me to know. Maybe I didn’t understand when it happened. I was just a kid, after all. But I get it now.”

Strawberry placed a hand on Applejack’s shoulder. Applejack turned to her, for some reason taken aback by the action. Strawberry barely smiled. It was more of a grimace, really. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Applejack muttered. “It’s not your fault.”

“I know. That’s not why I’m apologizing.”

She didn’t have to say it, and she knew it. Applejack swallowed dryly and nodded. “Thanks.” 

Strawberry let her hand linger on Applejack’s shoulder before gently squeezing it and letting it fall. She, too, drank the rest of her beer. 

Applejack opened the next one and tried to calm down her shaking. C’mon, it’s been years. Just relax. She took a sip, but the taste reminded her of that day. She’d just taken her painkiller. She shouldn’t be drinking. You’re not like him.

“I’m sorry for bringing it up,” Strawberry told her as she held her unopened second beer. “I just… I don’t know. I was thinking about it since you brought it up in your room. I’m sorry. ”

“It’s okay,” Applejack said with a deep breath. “I’m serious.”

Strawberry nodded. “It’s crazy,” she whispered. “He always seemed so happy.”

A sad smile crawled up onto Applejack’s lips. “He usually was.”

“Were you… mad at him?” Strawberry asked cautiously.

Applejack took a swig from her drink and shrugged. “I dunno. I guess at first, maybe I was. I mean, I think for a while before the accident I was angry with him sometimes when he’d get drunk and yell. I didn’t like when he did that, but even then I understood that he wasn’t quite bein’ himself.” She sighed and rubbed her finger on the denim of her jeans. “And then after he… passed, I was angry at him for leavin’ us. I couldn’t understand why he’d do somethin’ like that, why he’d leave me. Me and my brother and sister.

“I get it now,” Applejack said with a frown. “I mean, it’s not the right thing to do, of course, but I guess I understand how somethin’ so big like that happenin’ could just… make ya wanna give up.”

Strawberry gazed at Applejack, but the blonde did not meet her eyes. She opened her mouth and made a noise as if she was about to say something, but nothing came out. 

“Anyway,” Applejack continued, “I don’t wanna talk ‘bout that anymore. But thanks for askin’,” she said with a smile to the slightly frowning Strawberry. “I don’t ever really talk about it, and I thought that was the best choice, but it felt kinda good.”

The redhead nodded and lingered for a moment before putting her beer on the table. Applejack raised an eyebrow but before she could question it, Strawberry had wrapped her arms around Applejack in a firm hug.

Applejack blinked in surprise, her body stiff and awkward. Her heart rate picked up a bit as she processed the display of affection. She glanced down, but could only catch a glimpse of Strawberry’s curly red hair and the pale skin on her neck. Hesitantly, Applejack returned the hug—though far limper than Strawberry.

“Hugs are good, too,” Strawberry whispered. “I hope I’m not overstepping.”

“N–no, it’s fine,” Applejack told her. She smelled like citrus. For some reason, Applejack assumed that she’d smell like her namesake. That would be stupid. “I’m just… not used to it.”

After what felt like the longest hug in the world, Strawberry finally let Applejack go. “You’re blushing.”

Applejack blushed harder purely out of embarrassment. She shoved Strawberry away with one hand. “No, I’m not! I–it’s the alcohol, it’s hittin’ me kinda hard for some reason.” She chugged the rest of her beer and then took Strawberry’s as payback. “Ya lost your beer privilege for sayin’ that.”

Strawberry laughed as Applejack all but hoarded the fourth beer. After some deliberation, they agreed to split it halfway. Applejack, for once, didn’t mind her time spent with Strawberry. But that was probably just the beer talking.



~~~~➰~~~~