> Applejack One Shots
>  by kleec13
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Apple Sleep Experiment-alternate ending
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight had seen many things, but a pony becoming a serial killer due to sleep deprivation was not something she had expected to happen.
“Applejack, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Twilight tried to say. “There was no potion. You worked yourself too hard and it caused a mental break. You were spouting nonsense and acting violently. Not only did you harm yourself, but you harmed several others. Turning your orchard into…”
“Into what?”
“Into a slaughtering ground. In your hysteria, you took the lives of 13 ponies and attempted to take mine and Rainbow Dash’s lives as well.”
“What in the hay are you talking about? I’d never harm another creature. And I certainly would never put the lives of my best friends at risk. And of course there was a potion! You’re the one who gave it to me in the first place!”
“Applejack… I’m sorry. I don’t know what to tell you.”
“You can start by telling me why you’re lying.”



(this is where my interpretation of the story begins.)
Truthfully, the reason Twilight was so aloof at first was because she was angry. She didn’t want to feel sympathy for somepony who killed 13 ponies. The only reason she was there was to see if her antidote had worked, and it had. There were other reasons she lied as well, but that was what was going through her mind initially. She wanted to explain all this to Applejack, but she couldn’t. Maybe Applejack would figure it out. Instead, the Princess’s wall of composure melted away seeing Applejack so distraught.
“I’m… I’m… I’m so sorry Applejack,” Twilight said, collapsing to the ground in tears. “I should have never given you that potion.” 
Applejack sighed as she got up to comfort her friend on the cell floor.
“But… why do you have to be so stubborn? You knew the spell was incomplete. Why, why, why?!” Twilight exclaimed, slapping her hoof on Applejack’s side three times while she uttered the word. The ponies got up and Applejack sat on her cot again before she spoke.
“Not only was I stubborn, I was desperate,” Applejack said. “I felt like that potion was the only way I could save the farm. Desperate people can do scary and stupid things.”
Nothing was heard but Twilight’s sobs for what seemed like hours.
“What… what was in that potion, Twi?" Applejack asked. Twilight sniffled.
"Legally, what everypony’s gonna want to even know is whether or not what happened to you was from sleep deprivation and exhaustion, other potion side effects, or both," Twilight said as she bit her lip. “I meant for the potion just to keep you awake, but I couldn’t guarantee that was the outcome."
“But… You can figure it out, right? You can study the spell and see.”
“I already did. How do you think I was able to cure you?”
“And…?”
Twilight could only bite her lip again in response. Applejack’s eyes widened as she quickly realized what was at stake for the alicorn. Of course Twilight had lied about the potion at first. Applejack would likely remain in this cell for quite some time. Potion or no–there was no getting away with killing 13 ponies. But as for Twilight, even if the potion just prevented sleep, she didn’t know that and gave it to Applejack anyway. That was heinous enough. However, if it in fact had other side effects, it would be another strike against the Princess of Friendship that could land her more time in a neighboring jail cell. Applejack decided to change the subject to an equally uncomfortable one. One she was dreading, but knew she needed to address before Twilight left.
“How… how is everypony? Dash. You said I tried to kill her. Is she okay?”
“She’s still in the hospital. But she should be fine.”
“And the others? How are they… feeling about all this?”
“It’s been easy for me to ignore how messy this situation is,” Twilight admitted. “I’m the Princess of Friendship… ”
“And my family?” Applejack cut off, not wanting to think that somepony that was supposed to be her friend could betray her. “My farm?”
“I found a spell to help the drought. Big Mac recovered from his heat stroke and left the hospital a few days ago. He and Granny Smith are managing fine.”
“What about Apple Bloom?” Applejack asked quietly. Twilight was again not able to respond. “Twilight!” Applejack demanded. “What happened to Apple Bloom!?!?”
“You bucked her when you were injected with the antidote,” Twilight managed to say. “She was declared brain dead yesterday.”
Applejack was overcome with a wave of emotion, but her head was too rattled to truly process the loss of her little sister. Instead, she looked Twilight straight in the eye.
“So… what happens now? Are you gonna tell everypony the truth? Or let me rot here while you try to maintain your precious reputation?”
> Days Gone By
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I sighed a sigh of relief as I locked up my office–finally ready to enjoy winter break. 
“Have a great Hearth’s Warming, Starlight!” Twilight said as she was also going home for break.
“You too, Twilight. Say hi to Spike for me.”
It had been a busy week–I was frantic seeing all the students I could before everyone left for the holidays. But fortunately, I was able to end my day at a reasonable time. Even so, the school was pretty empty as I walked out of my office to go home. But as I walked down the halls, I saw my green-eyed earth pony friend sitting at her desk in the classroom. The door was ajar. Maybe it was my guidance counselor instincts, but I wondered if she could use some company. I lightly tapped the door.
“Hey Applejack. Still here?”
Applejack glanced at me, but she didn’t respond, still fixated on something at her desk. I entered the room.
“What do you have there?”
Applejack passed the picture to me.
“We found this while decorating the farm yesterday.”
It was a family picture. Big Mac and Applejack were around 9 and 5 opening gifts around the Hearth’s Warming tree. Pear Butter was rocking baby Apple Bloom in her chair with Bright Mac standing behind it. Granny Smith was across the room in her rocking chair as well.
“I got my first guitar that year,” Applejack said. “I was a little young to learn how to play, but I begged ma and pa for so long to get one because I loved hearing ma play so much.”
I wondered where Applejack’s musical talent came from.
“This was the last Hearth’s Warming they were with us,” she continued. “The accident happened about two months later. They never got to hear me play.”
I hadn’t seen many pictures of Applejack’s parents nor knew too much about them or how they died–at least compared to friends that had known AJ longer. They looked like a normal, loving family. It sent chills down my spine that not long after, they weren’t so normal anymore.
“They really loved you,” I told Applejack.
“Yeah. That’s what people usually say,” Applejack responded. “It is a lovely picture. I thought I’d bring it with me. Give me good luck on the last day of classes or something.” Her eyes started to furrow as she continued to look at the picture. I knew that her sometimes short temper was about to be on full display.
“Ugh, I hate it!!!” she shouted. “I hate that this was the only Hearth’s Warming Apple Bloom spent with our parents. I hate that whenever I see parents and kids together, a part of me still wants to break down crying… I… I…”
Just as quickly as the anger came, it turned into sadness as Applejack started sobbing. Even though I didn’t want to make this about me, I started thinking about how foolish I was regarding Sunburst. My friend I cared about deeply was alive and well, yet I was too much of a coward to reach out until it could have been too late. I felt grateful that it wasn’t and that I had a relationship with him now. But my mind went back to Applejack. 
“I’m sorry, Starlight. I didn’t… expect that to happen,” she said, sniffing as she was composing herself. “I… I’ve never really talked much about my folks with you, have I? I don’t mean to dump all this on you. Every time I think I’m over it…” Applejack said, shaking her head.
It was a shock to see such a strong pony be so vulnerable, but I was glad she felt safe to do so. 
“You don’t get over something like that, Applejack. I’m the one who should be sorry. I can’t believe I never thought how weird this time of year could be for you.” 
It was true. In the couple years I’d known her, Applejack seemed to be so confident and unbreakable. It saddened me to remember there was a reason she was that way. But I cringed as I still was making this about me. Fortunately, Applejack didn’t seem to notice.
“It isn’t all bad,” she shrugged. “It took a while to get there, but I now look at Hearth’s Warming as a reminder of what I do have rather than what I don’t. I cherish the memories I do have with my parents, like this.” She pointed at the picture. “And I’m grateful for the family and friends I do have. Like you.”
I smiled at my friend. The feeling was mutual.
“Come. I’ll treat you to dinner. I’d love to hear more Apple Family stories.”
> Everyone Should Have Friends Like You
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“You’ve improved so much throughout our soccer unit, Rarity!” Rainbow Dash complimented her friend as they entered the locker room to change.
“Thanks. Who would have guessed I’d come to actually like phy ed,” Rarity responded. She then looked around. “Was Applejack with you? She was on your team, right?”
“No, she said she’s still been busy at the farm, so she had to get home quickly.”
“She’s said that to me, too,” Rarity noted with increasing concern. “I’ve hardly seen her before phy ed, either. She always just comes in, gets her clothes, and goes to the stalls, and goes out. And she’s been acting differently outside of PE, too. Do you think…?”
“Let’s change quickly,” Rainbow said. “Maybe we can still catch her before school ends.”

After changing, Rarity and Rainbow saw Applejack sitting on the school steps.
“Oh, AJ. You’re still here,” Rainbow Dash called out as she and Rarity sat down next to Applejack.
“Uh, yeah,” Applejack said. “Big Mac said he could pick me up in a couple minutes.”
“We just wanted to check up on you,” Rarity said. 
“What do you mean?” AJ asked.
“You’ve seemed off the past couple weeks,” Rainbow Dash said. “Especially during PE and changing clothes for it. Is som…”
“I don’t like using the girl’s locker room anymore,” Applejack blurted. She was shocked by the sudden confrontation, but she understood her friends were just worried. And now she needed to be blunt right back. “I’m lucky to have phy ed last period,” she continued. “I haven’t found time or courage to talk to anyone about a solution yet.”
Rarity and Rainbow looked at each other as they put two and two together.
“Wait. Are you saying you’re… not a girl?” Rainbow Dash asked.
AJ sighed as she prepared to say something she never said out loud.
“Yeah, I guess I am saying that. I’m still kinda figuring things out.”
“So, you’re not a girl. Does that mean… well, what does that mean, exactly?” Rarity wondered. "If you don’t mind me asking, darling,” she added, realizing how insensitive her previous statement might have sounded. “I know you said you’re figuring things out.”
“Well, it doesn’t mean I’m a boy,” Applejack started. “And I like my name, so likely no changes there. I don’t even mind she/her pronouns sometimes. She/they I think are what I’ll try for now. But when I realized I might be nonbinary, I’ve grown to dislike gendered areas like locker rooms and bathrooms even more. It just don’t feel right and I feel so… weirdly vulnerable in those places. Always have. And now I finally know why.”
“You’re still the same awesome Applejack you were a minute ago,” Rainbow Dash said, putting an arm out to comfort her friend.
“And we will see you become even more awesome as you get to know yourself and be yourself more,” Rarity assured.
“Thanks. I had no worries you’d be supportive. And I hope I can be myself more, too. But I guess that’s just it. I know I’m not a girl or a boy. But now what?”
“We don’t know what it’s like to be nonbinary,” Rarity started.
“But we know we’re your friends,” Rainbow said. “We’ll be there for you every step of the way.”
Big Mac’s car then started to appear in the distance. Applejack stood up and turned towards her friends.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks again. I wish everyone had friends like you,” they said. Rainbow and Rarity waved goodbye and smiled in response.
“Oh and one final thing,” Rarity called out. “I’m sorry if we pressured you somehow into coming out to us.”
Applejack shrugged and gave a soft smile.
“In a way, I’m glad you did. I didn’t have to awkwardly bring it up myself. And as I said, I knew you’d be supportive. So I was going to tell you soon. Just let me tell our other friends in my own time, okay?” 
“Deal!” Rarity and Rainbow said in unison.
They watched proudly as their friend, who had a huge weight off their shoulders, got into Big Mac’s car and drove away.