> Apathy, thy Tragedy OLD > by CreativeCreatures > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologe > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Echoes of voices sang around the empty hall. Lights flickered on and off as a smile deepened in the dark, an all too familiar smile.     A scream sounded out as the air grew thick with the smell of blood. Chains dangled on the floor as heavy footsteps followed. He was here, and damn was he hungry. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was another day, as peachy as the last. Foggy cloudy skies, screaming angry birds and a pissed off farmer to top the cake.     That day was the local Apple Family bake sale, held in hopes to raise money for two graves. Two graves who were going to hold a loving mother and father.     This was important for the farmer. It wasn't just to raise money but also to respect her parents. It was to bring awareness to drunk driving. It was to send a message! And hardly anyone showed up.     People who did show up decided to bitch about it being boring and the Apple family lying. That day the farmer's friend, Rainbow Dash, was supposed to show up with the local soccer team. News flash, she ditched. Not only was that rude, disloyal and dishonest… it was downright disrespectful. Rainbow knew how important this was to the wheat haired farmer.  Growling, the pig tailed blonde reached into her pocket to pry her phone out. Quickly stepping away as her granny handled another jerk of a customer, AJ tried to call her athlete friend. No answer. She resorted to texts, no answer. “Where are you?” No answer... “Rainbow, is this a prank?” No answer.. “This isn't funny!” No answer. “Why..?” … Shoving her phone back into her jeans pocket, the farmer turned around to help her family deal with the increasing unhappiness of the people. After today she will have a long chat with the disloyal asshole. After today she will express her anger. That was weeks ago, now nothing stood of previous friendships. Once the farmer began to speak the athlete took charge and threw fake accusations. That led to the athletes' departure, after a few choice words.    Following that a familiar meek girl avoided the farmer at all costs, avoided the entire friend group at all costs. Also due to forged fake proof.    A week after the meek and the athlete left the fashionesta friend soon followed, disappearing behind a haze of popularity and rumors. Again, forged fake proof.    Finally the party loving friend left after endless fights, no longer willing to sit back and take it.  All of them disappeared, all of them went different ways. Every single one of them. That is when the beginning took place... > Wheres the road > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1……. Where’s the road Wafts of warm breath clawed at the cold air as the form of mist. Long roads sat abandoned and unused as a street light tried desperately to cling to life. Fog kissed the floor like a blanket covering the concrete ground. Leaves of many colors lay abandoned on the sidewalk as trees sat bare of all green.     Sitting at an old bus stop, a blond checked her phone. Little was happening of importance, which truly didn't surprise the blond. No life buzzing for her to find it, no friends calling for hangouts, nothing.  Staring at a picture of 5 girls, the blond-haired farmer sighed. She would be the first to admit she let her pride get to her during the weeks of the downfall. The friendship broke slowly, and the farmer felt all of it was her fault. But what was she to do? She was a kid, she was in pain. Who was she to call to?    It wasn't like she was waiting for a bus, the road was closed and mostly unused. This place was just somewhere she went to calm down, to relax, to mourn. It was the very place her parents died, and for some reason it made her feel safe to be there. Almost like the souls of her parents still lingered there, though that was a wish unlikely to come true.  The abandoned bus stop wasn't much to see, but it was comfy. An open area with a steady roof over its head could handle anything. A rock standing in denial of time. The wooden bench softened through time as it bent under any weight, but that was enjoyable for the farmer. Able to lay back and use her backpack as a pillow, she could sit there for hours. And hours she had.  When her friend group broke up it made the farmer realize how little she actually had. She didn't have any friends outside of the group because of two cousins who just loved spreading rumors. She couldn't be mad at the cousins though… no, wasn't her place to be upset about it. At least that's how she felt.    Being a part of the group was possibly the only thing keeping kids from being disrespectful as well, which truly struck the farmer as odd. Yes, she was an outcast and far too eager to please, but she wasn’t stupid. Many students have tried to use her kindness for their benefit, only to pick and tease her when she denied it.     Lately, the farmer found herself sticking to shadows, trying to be as invisible as possible. Of course, she was never one for attention but now she loathed even the idea of it. In all honesty, the entire friendship breakup broke a bit of the farmer. She was already dealing with the loss of family, but then only a few days after the friend group began to shatter. And of course, it was her fault. It was always her fault. Though stubborn and prideful to the eye, the farmer did suffer from depression and loss. Being all too quick to blame and beat herself up over even simple things. However a mask of strength was light to hold, but it will never be real. The true strength that any can hold is themselves in troubles eye… her mother always told her that. Laying back against the wooden bench, the farmer took a deep breath. Today was too much, this week was too much. It all was too much. She needed a break, a rest… she should go home.    Home. Back to a household of mourning. A place of tears and uncertain fears. No, it no longer felt like home, it was the best she had.     Forcing her legs to move, the farmer sat up and grabbed her essentials. Heaving herself up the farmer tossed the backpack over her back, heading home in silence. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Opening a creaking door, the blond stepped inside the dark house. She didn't bother to call out, she knew her brother was out and her grandma was asleep. The only possibility of life still wandering was her baby sister, who should be 3 years old.    Then again her sister was never one to stay in one place. Perhaps now she's somewhere off with her friends doing silly adventures. Whatever. At least she was having fun. That's frankly all that mattered to the farmer at the moment, her sister's happiness. Honestly, that's all she cared about, to begin with, other people. Sometimes she cared too much that would lead her to not help herself. A flaw she was all too willing to ignore about herself. Walking up the screaming stairs and into her room, the farmer flopped on her bed. The fluffy blanket pulled her into a hug as the green painted walls sang of a better future for her. A window covered with blue curtains sat closed yet still glowed in the darkroom.     Pulling the blanket over her, the girl decided a nap was in due. Her chores were finished anyway… What was there to lose?  Taking a deep breath to relax herself the farmer drifted off into dreamland. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A sharp pain hit the farmer's side as her eyes snapped open. Previously, she was dreaming of old times. Time with her parents she can only cherish. Memories of picnics, story times, shadow puppets and so much more than filled her childhood with light.     When a small sibling jumped on her chest is when her eyes were forced to open. A bright black sky dotted with little stars made to make wishes come true. The Cold air hits the window as if a zombie horde is trying to break in. long red locks of hair dangling in front of her face like a carpet of crimson wool. Her sister, the owner of the red locks, beamed in the bright light of the farmer's room. “Applejack, Applejack!” The sister started before pausing with a sheepish grin, “sorry did I hurt you?”  “Ahm fine.'' Only once the farmer spoke did she realize her raspy tone.  “Ok good! Granny wanted me to make sure you're ok! You slept past breakfast and the weekend only lasts so long!” her sister happily explained.  “So you decided waking me up was the best way?” Applejack, the farmer, grumbled before pulling a pillow over her eyes. “Come on sis, ever since what happened all you do is sleep and work!  I wanted to talk to you…” there they were, the big eyes. Goddamn it. Sighing and scratching her neck, the farmer bit back a tired yawn. Applejack soon attempted a smile and patted her sister on the head. Big orange eyes met her as the farmer soon forced herself to stand. “Whatcha wanna do sugarcube…” Applejack started, quickly being cut off by an excited squeal. “You wanna hang out?” Applebloom, the orange-eyed sister, jumped in place. “Hmm, yah. What's the plan sugar?” Applejack smiled patiently, watching her sister's expressions change upon ideas thought of. Finally, after a few seconds, her sister grabbed AJs hand and pulled her outside of her room.  “Me and the cutie mark crusaders were planning on going to the park to fly kites! You should come- you might make new friends!” slipping her hand from her sister's grasp, Applejack watched as the little girl rushed downstairs to finish whatever food was on her plate.     Frankly, it surprised her how happy her sister was, sure she never knew the parents well, but still. They just died. Recently, the poor girl was healing faster than expected. Or was she hiding it?     Applejack found herself forced into the mother role when the parents' unexpected deaths took place. A bit of it angered the 14-year-old, she was so young. She didn't even know the first thing of parenting, and here… here she was. Her brother was working harder than ever to keep the bills paid, her grandma slowly slipping away to simple house chores. It was her job, her responsibility. Anything and everything that went wrong in Apple Bloom's life was now her fault, and she knew it. Shaking her head to rid it of those thoughts, Applejack wandered downstairs to begin breakfast. Awaiting a long tumultuous day ahead of her. > The Park > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2…….. The Park Bounds of autumn winds hit against the blond as she and her sister stood solemnly in the park. Dark wooded trees stood tall in a show of endless beauty. The floor remained painted with bright reds, oranges and yellows alike a sunset growing in the horizon. Two little girls rushed their ways towards Applebloom, ready for a day of fun… followed by their sisters.     Now Rainbow wasn’t Scootaloo's biological sister, but at this point she practically adopted the little girl into her family.  As the girls finally met the younger ones talked excitedly of the day to come, as the elder ones simply stared in distrust of one another. A great reminder.    Applejack shifted uncomfortably in her stance as she did all she could to avoid eye contact. It wasn't that she disliked the other girls, she just... couldn’t bear to see what she's done. They were all too happy to show it. Rainbow quickly scowled at the farmer as Rarity scoffed, unhappy to be around the two. The atmosphere grew tense as each girl stood in silence.  “You know…” Applejack started only to have Rainbow cut her off. “Save it liar, if you are gonna say Sunset set this shit up i subject you cut off your tongue before you say more bull.” Rainbw hissed, Rarity simply rolled her eyes. “You both are so barbarish, I can't believe I spent so much time with you two!” the purple haired fashionesta sneered, tossing her perfect locks to the side. “You weren’t any better to handle.” Rainbow quickly barked her response, causing a gasp from the melodramatic teenager. “I just wanted to say sorry, i-” Applejack, once again, started only this time having the fashionesta cut her off.  “And you think we will forgive you after a single ‘sorry’?! You betrayed our trust and used us like puppets in your lying game!” Rarity growled as her eyes narrowed towards the farmer. The blond simply flinched, she said no more.  “For once I can agree with Ms Snotty.” Rainbow grinned, Rarity letting out a frustrated sigh beside her. “You hurt everyone, hell you used us! What were you even planning to do? You're worse than Sunset!” “You need to stop listening to those rumors, I'm not some evil puppeteer!” Applejack begged only to again be cut off. “Oh ya? Or are you just lying again! I don't trust Scoots to be around you, it's why i came!”  “You came simply because you don't trust me…?” Applejack mumbled, watching as the younger girls ran around in the grass. Rainbow nodded triumphantly as Rarity once again scoffed. Perhaps the fashionesta was there for the same reason, distrust.     Deciding not to push the conversation on more, the farmer quickly went to a bench to sit down. A bench as far away as she could get but still be able to see Applebloom. Little more was said from the older girls after that. They just watched their siblings, eyeing one another every now and then. Well, the farmer didn't partake. She hid.  Taking in a deep breath and sitting back the farmer watched as the cloudy grey sky drifted by over her. Branches reached up to the heavens in a silent prayer to be anywhere but here. Birds every now and then flew by arguing with each other over petty things. No sun was seen, just grey.     What if she was up there? The farmer's mind began to imagine a castle decorated with clouds and silver gates. A beautiful place holding history of all its seen, all it flew over. A castle in the clouds. A castle she wanted to run away to, a place she wanted to be forgotten to.  A secret place where her pain will never find her. If only…. The hours flew by fast, eventually the elder girls stopped glaring at each other and went off to do their own things still within the range of the kids. Today was a no chores day, which was good for some. Frankly all the farmer wanted to do was work though, throw herself away in her duties and forget about things for a short while.     But her sister needed her here, she wanted her here. Why she wanted this was an answer the farmer knew too well. She wanted the blond out of the house and leave her self pity behind. Something the farmer failed to do.  Growling at herself Applejack eventually decided to get up and do something. She hated being upset like this, she hated sitting around doing nothing! What happened to her? She needed to get a grip of herself before she slipped further to a place little come back from. If not for her, for her family.     Standing up and surveying her surroundings, the farmer let out a chuckle. Branches and leaves sat all over the walk path, perhaps she could move the leaves and others into the grass to pass the time. Ya, that will do! Getting to work the farmer quickly forced her mind to focus. She had no materials so she would have to work by hand, something she knew she could do. Lifting up soggy leaves and sticks the farmer quickly moved them away from the walkway. Working to make a cleaner path.  She grew engrossed into her work, so much so she didn't notice the form behind her. Well, that was until she turned around and practically jumped backwards into a trash can. Not her proudest moment.  The stranger let out a small laugh before offering her hand to the farmer, who just noticed she was sitting on her butt in front of a knocked over trash can. Quickly taking the strangers hand and standing up, the farmer began to dust small specks of dirt from her clothes.     The stranger had a rock-star with a shaved side of kinda deal. Long black locks with dyed red tips, sharp fake pointed ears and two fangs poking from her mouth. She was like a vampire, she even dressed in a gothic rock style. Her skin, however, was a bright peach leading the vampire idea out of the window. “Thanks for helping me to do my job!” the stranger quickly smiled, “my name is Cryptic Fog, but you can just call me Crypt.”  “Nice… nice to meetcha.” Applejack mumbled, before smiling, “the names Applejack, you can call me AJ.” offering her hand to the other, the girls quickly shook hands.  “It's nice to meet you AJ, say after this wanna go hang out? You seem lonely so…” Cryptic started before jumping as a voice called out behind her. “Get back to work Crypty!” It was a males voice. Cryptic sighed and muttered something about not liking that name. She quickly looked at AJ awaiting an answer, causing the farmer to freeze up. “Maybe we can talk about this later-” Cryptic started, trying to relieve the farmer of the sudden shock, “what's your number?” “I…” AJ started only to be cut off for the 4th time today. “What are you doing?” Rarity huffed as she approached the two. Cryptic made an annoyed face as AJ simply stood confused. “You shouldn't talk to AJ, she will just trick you.” “Says the one lying to the entire school to gain popularity! I bet your eyelashes aren't even real.” Cryptic hissed with a wide smile, causing Rarity to gasp in surprise.  “Don't say i didn't warn you, darling.” Rarity grumbled, not very ladylike, only to straiten herself up right after. “Ta ta.” “I hate that bitch.” Cryptic growled, before turning back to AJ, “I uh… heard what happened with your group.” AJ bowed her head as Cryptic twitched, probably trying to think of a way to lighten the mood. “Hey, you can hang out with me and my friends at school!” “Thanks sugarcube, but i don't wanna cause trouble with nobody… prob best ah stay in the back.” Applejack responded, turning her head to watch Rarity walk off. “Hey… you're not causing any problems, if anything Rarity is by spreading more rumors.” Cryptic smiled sympathetically before quickly taking out her phone. “Imma give you my number, is that OK?” After she got a nod from the farmer Cryptic quickly wrote down her number on a leaf before handing it to AJ. “gotta bounce, text me later?” before AJ could respond though Cryptic rushed down the park. Applejack watching as she slowly disappeared behind the green. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It wasn't long after the little meeting that Applebloom requested to go home. The younger sister would talk the entire car ride of fun adventures she and her friends made up, Applejack just nodding and listening.     Frankly, the farmer was happy for her sister. So calm and surrounded by friends who care for her, she will be fine. Her brother too had a girlfriend by the name of Cheralie who supported him with the recent losses. The two were safe, protected. That was wonderful for the blond braided girl to know. Messing with the green hair bands in her hair, Applejack walked upstairs as her sister ran off to the kitchen to talk about the day's events. Applejack wasn't one to proudly pronounce meeting her now ex friends so, simply walking off proved to be easier for her.    Once the farmer reached her room she jumped on the bed and sighed. Today was a blur for her. It was hard to keep track of the hours. Were there even hours? Whatever, frankly the day was just a normal day and the farmer was overreacting… like always. A question she often asked herself creeped into her head, how did this happen? It was a simple question with too many answers. Answers that the farmer didn't find too pleasing and too realistic. However, like a snake watching its prey, voices in her head screamed it was all her fault. All her doing. She did this, and hurt them. They were right.     Mumbling AJ rolled over on her bed, the soft blue skies shifted with dark as the noon began to approach. Echoes of memories drifted through the air like it was held by spirts. Specks of dazzling green painted her window as the shape of trees, every now and again holding a shiny red fruit.     The farmer could remember times that the friends rushed through the trees in mysteries and adventures. Princesses, knights, treasure and dragons all held together in a shared fairy-tale. Even the idea brought a smile to the farmer's warn face. Things were different then, and god what that farmer would give to have it be different again. A wonderland painted masterpiece of innocence and adventure. Dreams that otherwise won't come true did in those few short hours. It was wonderful. Yet here she was, reminiscing on the past. Wallowing in self pity like it was a blanket, god who had she become. Why did she let herself fall so fast? Sure they were everything she had but… but what? Nothing.  Rolling onto her side a sigh escaped her dry lips. Blond hair cascaded over her shoulders as if a valley of wheat over a mountain top.    Pulling the green bands free from her hair, the farmer let it bounce and shift under a now unbound path. Plopping the green bands into a drawer on her nightstand AJ poked through her pockets to find the leaf. Maybe she did need someone, she was falling fast and it was ugly how she screamed.  However once the leaf came to view a saddened sight beheld the farmer. The leaf was crumbled, destroyed. She could put it together, sure, but she didn't know which space went. It was easy to solve a leaf pattern, but not a phone numbers order. Frankly, all of it was effort the farmer wasn’t willing to put in.    Crumbling up the leaf and throwing it out of her window to perhaps help the soil some day, the farmer growled. She still had work to do, why was she sitting here doing nothing?! What an idiot. AJ quickly pulled her hair up changing the day's usual braids to a ponytail before bounding down the stairs to work. She may not have had chores today, but she has some for tomorrow! She could work on those! Hopefully it would get her mind off her predicament, hopefully it would calm her down. Work had to, it always did.  It failed to work.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Laying in her bed with a now bruised arm, the farmer growled in frustration. She successfully gave herself a sprain and god, it annoyed the shit out of her. Now how was she to work? Today just kept getting worse. And that's when the memory of her having to return to school tomorrow stuck. > New Trend > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A familiar voice screamed in the darkness as the lights danced back and forth. A shadow of a man stood lingering before a small girl, his axe bloodied and rot. Crimson red covered the wooden floors as large walls towered over the helpless girl. She was cornered, the man approaching with a wicked laugh. It was familiar, all to familiar.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bright morning rays hit the farmer's face as the smell of fresh breakfast teased her nose. Almost on autopilot the blonde rose from her bed and began to get dressed for the upcoming day. Frankly, she would skip the day if she could.     Pulling her backpack onto her back from its normal bedside resting place, Applejack began her descent down the stairs. Echos of familiar voices sang to her a good morning as the bright lights gave a warm tone to the already safe feeling house. Plopping the backpack next to her seat Applejack began to eat her breakfast. It wasn't much due to the short time but some warmed up pancakes with apple slices to the side was more than enough for the farmer. Grabbing a spare apple after her breakfast had been devoured, AJ rummaged through her backpack. Her sister was already long gone, having taken the bus to be with her friends. “You can’t be serious!” the female farmer huffed as her hands searched the darkness of her backpack. “Why is it not here!” Locks of braided wheat locked together by green ribbons moved over the girl's arms as she sat forward watching the clock before her. She didn't have much time before her walk to school but her lunchbox was nowhere to be seen. Usually it would sit patiently at the front of her backpack, but today it decided to be a nuisance. “Guess ah gotta get lunch at school.” “Applejack! Ya’ll gotta get goin! School ain't gonna wait for ya!” a wrinkly grandma called from her rocking chair. Each rock caused the old chair to squeak, perhaps AJ would need to fix that later.  “Ah know! Ah know… Ahm goin now Granny!” Applejack called back, flinging her braided hair onto her back along with the backpack. She called a quick “love you” before rushing out the door into the chilly autumn air.     Bits of hair stuck up as the wind bit into the girl's skin. Painted leaves of red, yellow and orange danced in the windy breeze before landing peacefully upon the floor. The trees bore bare wood as branches reached to the sky. Autumn was beautiful, always so beautiful. At least the walk to school would be peaceful.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Honestly, Applejack had to stop jinxing herself. At first the walk was swell but after a bit AJ had the unfortunate luck to come across a Rainbow haired tomboy. The conversation didn't last long, mostly a few words of hostility. At first the farmer kept herself before attempting to apologize again. The athlete retaliated with distrust which caused the farmer to get defensive. This went back and forth until both of them decided to just not talk. That also proved to be a mistake.     After a few seconds of silence AJ mumbled a few choice words, but none of them were directed towards Rainbow. Mostly just the situation she then found herself in. Rainbow, however, took it as an insult causing the fight to start all over again. Admittingly AJ lost her temper, she would admit. Her pride and stubbornness grew a defensive wall as they fought, causing regrettable words to leave her tongue. In short, it was a catastrophe.  Now the farmer sat at her desk, drowning out the math teacher, rethinking every word and action from the fight. It was stupid, this situration was stupid, she was stupid. How did she get herself into this mess? Who messed with the messages. She suspected Sunset but at this point she wasn’t sure. Maybe she was just shifting the blame. Maybe she was to blame… it wouldn’t be a surprise. Everyone she cared for got hurt, yet her stupid heart needed someone around to feel ok. She was so selfish, wasn’t she?... Before her mind could wander to a darker road the bell rang off around the school. The noise quickly threw AJ out of her glazed focused state as she quickly grabbed her bags and left the room, ignoring the stink eye the teacher had given her.     She wasn't the best kid, but she definitely wasn't the worst! Sure sometimes she turned stuff in late, slept in class, or other but none of it was intentional. OK that was a lie, some was. Why was she thinking about this anyway! Shaking her head and starting the path to her locker, the farmer slipped by many students hoping to be as invisible as possible. Racing through the halls to get the food from her locker AJ eventually found herself in the correct hall. However, students crowded her locker and laughed. Something was happening, once one of the students spotted the confused farmer they pulled out their phone and started to record.     Pushing past the masses AJ eventually approached her locker. Marker was painted upon the locker saying many words, some slurs, some insults. Names like “redneck” or “country hick” crowded the small blue space of her locker. Many kids fled when they saw her, however some remained. Phones all pointed towards the farmer she panicked, a swell of pain and confusion echoing her mind making it numb.  Turning to the others she found only laughing faces. Her eyes flew back and forth watching the kids before her. She stepped back before quickly pulling open the locker. She grabbed some rags she used for the gym and dropped some water onto them. She tried to wipe the words away only to have the kids laugh more. This was horrible.  Eventually giving up and just grabbing her lunch, AJ darted the other direction. She had to get out of that. She didn't cry, the farmer knew that they couldn't give the others the reaction they wanted. It would just make things worse.  Rushing into the cafeteria, the farmer ignored a few disgusted faces her way. This school was like a damn hive mind! So easily turned against each other. It was like a drama movie, a teen drama of bullies in a school. Stretched to unrealistic measures only to actually be fairly accurate. If anything Applejack just needed today to end. Sitting in the far corner of the cafeteria the farmer quickly buried her head in her arms. She sat alone, so that was good at least. Yet every now and then she could feel someone stare at her. It wasn't the teasing the hurt, it was the sympathy. An apathetic display of sympathy that only proved to cause more issues. She knew that was to come, she knew it was happening just then. Eyes lingering on her as small signs of people giving little sympathy. She was that kid now who people would look at and be like “at least i'm not them”.  “Hey..” a familiar voice broke through the saddened haze, “can i sit here?” AJ quickly turned her head up seeing a familiar half shaved head. Kind eyes watched her followed by a meek smile, something someone wouldn’t expect with the way she held herself. AJ gave a small nod as Cryptic sat across from her.  “So…. mind telling me what happened?” Cryptic asked, placing her elbows on the table and holding her head up. “You don’t have to, I guess, but I really wanna help.” “Just some kids, don’t worry non sugar.” the blonde quickly mumbled. Cryptic didn't seem happy with the response, but like she said she didn’t push. Instead the rock-star looking girl quickly changed the subject, causing the farmer's mind to shortly leave the topic. As lunch went on both of the girls slowly regained a happy feeling, talking and laughing over little things. It was nice to talk with someone.  The rest of the day went… OK. Some more stares, more visits to the locker. She even ran into Rarity at some point, that ended horribly. The fashionesta picked fun of the blondes clothes as others laughed behind her. It was weird to see this side of the fashionesta, but eventually Applejack got over it. Everything was gonna be OK by the end of the tunnel, right? Just had to keep moving… like Cryptic said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Getting home was the same as the morning, minus the Rainbow part. Digging through her bag for homework, nice warm food. She could have had it worse, so she had no right to complain. Right? Though Cryptic practically begged AJ to talk about  how she felt, however she just couldn’t. It wasn't worth it, it was selfish.  Dragging herself to bed the farmer quickly fell to sleep. Hoping beyond hope this entire mess was a nightmare.