Applejack is lost within his mind, but a good friend helps finds the answer he seeks.
Since Dusk Shine's admission to not only knowing about Nightmare Moon's survival, and to being in love with their former nemesis, Applejack has struggled coming to terms with this.
He is a moral, and honest stallion, and after giving Dusk his word to meet with the evil enchantress, he can't bring himself to find a reason to. As conflicted as Applejack is, he's lucky to have friends he can rely on, and steer him back onto the right path.
Sometimes, what's right and wrong is nothing more then a simple blurring of the line, but by being honest with yourself and remaining loyal to your beliefs can a creature hope to see what was in front of them.
*Edited on 10/4/22
Chapter 2 * Chapter 3 will contain the clop which will be mostly vanilla in terms of sexual acts between two 'passionate' ponies. The clop will be worked into the story, but you could skip it if you so desire.
Applejack buried himself in his work more than usual ever since learning his best friend, Dusk Shine had been seeing somepony of questionable morality. He did eventually thank the alicorn for finding the confidence to speak with him on the matter as it demonstrated a deep respect for the farm stallion that left him feeling honored. Sure, the alicorn might have disclosed this secret to Applejack knowing of all their friends he was the most level headed of the group, but the fact remained he was the only one of their friend group, or anypony for that matter that knew the the young prince was seeing somepony.
With a practiced pivot, the orange furred stallion spun around, and delivered a massive buck to the tree’s lower trunk, sending the force of the kick up the trunk into the branches that held the Apple Family namesake. The rip, and bright fruit were vigorously shook from their spot on the branch as if they were in the middle of a rogue storm that had rolled in from Everfree Forest, and soon their grip failed, and the apples began plummeting one by one toward the waiting spread of baskets below.
Applejack had taken a step back to watch this whole process even though he knew the apples would make the baskets, and there was no real need to supervise. He’d been distracted, and found the act of watching a process he knew all too well calming for it always delivered the same result with one or two possible deviations that ultimately lead to the same result: he would buck a tree, watch the apples fall into the baskets below, then move to the next tree, and repeat. It was this structure he desperately needed right now as he collected his thoughts on the matter with Dusk.
‘Of all the ponies you had to buck…’
It was this same phrase that vandalized his mind with uncontested fears for his friends, and Equestria as a whole, but Dusk held none of the signs a pony might have if they were under the influence of some trick. In fact, he seemed completely fine besides having a massive knot in his head for ever giving the idea to buck one of their greatest foes without any sort of credence! Dusk even invoked a Pinkie Promise even if it meant risking a party from the mare, and that frustrated the stallion more than he had let on. Applejack was hurt by Dusk’s insistence on the Pinkie Promise, and his reluctance to accept one on his own mortality.
So AJ had turned his buddy down for the time being as he sorted his thoughts to avoid meeting the mad mare of the moon and go spouting something wrong.
With the plan on hold for now, Dusk had left for Canterlot three days ago leaving Applejack alone to boil in his own thoughts, or he had hoped if it wasn’t for his older brother tryin’ to pry. Big Mac is the best brother a pony could ask for, and he has to go and make that claim questionable by trying to ask what’s wrong.
Why couldn’t he just take an ‘alright’ and leave it like that?
Sadly, Big Mac wasn’t the pony to leave things hanging on the clothesline for any length of time, and AJ was forced to partly air out some of his worry. Not enough to pin who it was about, but to his great relief that big oaf (a loving term any little brother would call their older sibling) nodded along and even offered some advice that might work.
Having stewed in his own thoughts all morning, and fast approaching lunch, AJ decided he was done working for the day. Checking the baskets, he left them under the tree and made his way toward the family barn to retrieve the wagon, load up the baskets, and leave them in the barn until tomorrow at the very least.
His task still took another hour to properly accomplish, but in the end he was grateful for a chance to process his mind some more and not worry about trying to perform his chores with a head full of smoke and needless distractions. AJ had finished hooking himself, and had started to turn the wagon around with the last load of apples when he heard heavy hoofsteps softened by the grass off to his right. There was only one pony besides himself that had the weight to make that distinguished THUMP.
Halting in his tracks he watched as Big Mac moved with the speed of a pony with a day off and nothing to do. AJ adjusted his hat, and called out to his brother, who in turn nodded in return.
“Where ya off to?” He asked in that deep, and pondering voice of his. His yoke was missing indicating he had no plans to pull anything today, and most likely sought to catch up around the farm.
“I’m done for da day. There ain't no working when I can’t think straight, and so I thought about heading to town and seeing what the girls are up to. What about cha? You seem more relaxed than a bear in winter.”
“I wish. Not all of us can take a dip in the pound at will, but to answer, I’m going to take Marble back to Rockville for a quick spell. She got a letter from Igneous and Cloudy that some of her cousins are coming over. Marble hadn’t seen them in years, and we thought it would be nice to visit.” He then pointed one of his large hooves toward his yoked sibling. “ You should take a break lil brother, and I don’t mean seeing what your friends are up to either. You need it.”
“I guess so, Mac.” Applejack sighed as he lowered his head in mild shame at the admittance of his own weakness. “ This whole thing on my mind leaves me uncomfortable, and I don’t like it.”
“It should make you uncomfortable, but I respect ya for helping a friend shoulder his burden long enough to help him see through it.”
“You really feel I’m doing the right thing?” Big Mac nodded.
“I’m sure Dusk is relieved knowing somepony out there is, and has listened to his problem without making it too big a deal.”
“Wha..how… what makes you think it's Dusk Shine!?” He stumbled and if that wasn’t an indicator enough, Big Mac smiled and then chuckled.
“It’s because you didn’t correct myself when I said ‘his burden’, and there’s only one stallion you actually like hanging around with.”
“Well, when ya put it like that…” AJ scuffed, but shook his head dejectedly now burdened with the knowledge he’d already failed to keep his friend’s secret. He started moving, and Big Mac followed along the wagon as the brothers made their way toward the barn to finish sorting the apples before taking the rest of the day off.
Applejack wandered around for a small bit after bidding his family farewell, and headed into Ponyville to see what his friends were up to. The young stallion wasn’t used to taking time off, but work needed a clear head and anything less could lead to an accident the family didn’t need. So wandering aimlessly into town with no goal other than to bother his friends was the next best option, and he hated himself for it, but never did he curse his best bud.
It was surreal in a way, for if he wasn’t in the fields working or at the stall selling then he was likely trying to save Equestria from some disaster that suddenly decided they had a hard on for the country. To walk into town with nothing to weigh his back down was a true luxury the stallion never even considered, for why would he worry about a day off when so much needed to be done?
Just strolling into town with no direction other than to Rarity’s store for no reason then to chat left him perplexed, and guilty to interrupt a pony at work just to make him feel better.
Trying to take his mind off his own selfishness, Applejack listened to the the vendors and their patrons barter for more bits or a fairer deal, yet none were against the system then lavishing in the experience. The act of barter itself only fueled a pony’s need for social interaction on some level, and through commerce ponies will become more connected with their neighbors as they begin recognizing them outside of their profession.
Applejack stood off the main road to watch and listen to these ponies far longer than he would on any normal day, but once more this day was strange and felt a little pony-watching wouldn’t hurt. Much to his surprise, he started noticing distinct patterns among the stall owners and their patrons he never picked up on from the other side of his own stall- ponies, both seller and buyer tended to lean toward a deal that favored both parties naturally. Not because of each pony’s ability to barter but by some inherent drive to help the other out, creating this ideal to inflate prices just a bit over to give the illusion the final price would be the lowest price the stall owner was willing to sell at.
Thinking back, he’d been guilty of this because he knew most ponies don’t buy a single apple, and often bought in bulk to reduce the cost of each apple.
“That’s mighty weird.”
“What’s weird?”
AJ is a stallion used to hardships derived from back breaking labor, and a sense of duty imprinted upon apple foals at a young age to create the vibrant fruit that made up the Apple Clan. Maintaining their signature namesake required an understanding passed down from parent to foal to successfully continue growing the bright juicy fruits, and this dependency for stability makes most members of the Apple Clan susceptible to uncertainties- like surprises.
The farm stallion was already springing forward in mid leap when he heard the familiar high-pitched filly laugh of a certain baker coming from behind him. He’d had to calm his bucking heart before he could fix his hat and confront the baker.
“Pinkie!”
“Applejack! That was fun, let's play again sometime!” She declared, and had just started bouncing down the path when the stallion called out to the fleeing mare, but his plea fell on deaf ears as the mare of questionable sanity continued down the path that led away from the Cake’s storefront.
His heart was still racing from the scare, but he had no drive to pursue the departing mare as she bounced quickly to her destination, and wanting to talk to Rarity sooner than later opted to ignore everything else for now. As he walked, he was greeted by more and more ponies that recognized the stallion from the apple stand, and was taken back when a few of them approached with concern for the stallion’s wellbeing. That touched AJ more than anything, and after promising his health was fine, and he’d only taken the day off did the ponies reluctantly leave.
In a way he was happy to see his new observations were being proven true, as he did recognize some of the ponies who had questioned his health as frequent customers of his stall, and one he knew as the owner of local General Store of Ponyville. Their kindness would be felt for the next couple of days, and in the present help alleviate the stallion's fears of harboring such a personal secret. For the first time in nearly two days did Applejack’s mind seem clear, and the weight on his back felt lighter as he followed the road as it curved to the north where much of the town’s main businesses were located.
Seeing Rarity’s store from here, he felt his cheeks heating up as a past memory kept flashing in his mind, bright enough to fill his vision of the unicorn ‘modeling’ garments meant for closed doors. That had made things awkward between both ponies for a spell before the seamstress had enough and forced the embarrassed stallion to sit and talk about it.
Of course, the talk gave way to building tensions after that fateful meeting, and for a short time the ponies grew very close.
All things eventually come to an end in order to give birth to the new experiences of life, and so the farm stallion, and the sophisticated mare ceased their weekly meetings, but still kept the closeness that had been tilled from that one encounter. It’s this closeness, and Rarity’s unique perspective of being a lady that made the stallion seek her out often for matters Applejack found out of his realm of understanding.
He stopped two storefronts away as he gathered his thoughts to question if this matter was even worth a visit, and after greeting a few more passing ponies decided he needed to escape public notice for a bit. The biggest reason AJ was seeking Rarity out was if she had no clients, then it would only be the two of them as their sisters were off on a camping trip organized by the local Filly Scouts.
This made breaching the stoup that marked the boundaries of the boutique all the easier, as the stallion fixed his hat once more to give the illusion some effort was made before knocking three times, each knock firm with a deliberate pause between them to indicate the pony would wait until a response.
Fortunately, his status as an Element bearer made the nature of his visit appear more official than it really was, and had helped to keep rumors in check when the two used to ‘hook up’. Those days were done as their romantic interest in the other faded, but from those ashes did the uniqueness of their current friendship bloom into a closeness the stallion might claim felt more familial in nature.
‘Like brother and sister.’ He thought as he waited.
As per politeness, Rarity would call out to her impending arrival to guests so they wouldn’t depart too hastily, but the knocks were a signal of sorts to alert the seamstress who was wanting to see her. This ‘signal’ held no alternative meaning than to allow the mare a chance to pick up before answering, and if he pressed his ears against the door AJ might have heard hoofsteps as they traveled from room to room. Applejack knew time didn’t matter to him as he now had the day off, but Rarity worked and could be very busy but was still making the effort to accommodate him…
“I really need to make it up to her.”
“That you do, darling.”
Applejack blinked awake from his thoughts as he took in the lack of a door, but a beautiful unicorn mare in its place looking expectantly at him. Even if those days between them were done, he was a stallion looking at a pretty mare, and she knew this. Her favorite way of flaunting her power was lean in close and bash her long eyelashes at him, as if they were being used to throw her scent in his direction, and for the farm stallion the attention had always been a bit much.
“Please stop Rarity.” He pleaded with her for a multitude of reasons, but the biggest one had a love for flight and speed. Rarity didn’t even look ashamed as she smiled, and took a step back to allow the flustered stallion to enter.
“I will apologize in time dear, but you stallions make it too easy for me. Yet, you are a taken stallion so I will go on and give an apology. Applejack, I was having fun, but it's not worth it at the expense of a good friend. I apologize for my behavior.”
Applejack listened to the apology and had just opened his mouth to accept it when her words finally sunk in.
“WHO SAID I TAKEN!?” He yelled, startled and flustered to comprehend there might be more ponies in the shop with them. Luckily for him, it was just the two of them.
“Why if I didn’t know before I certainly do now! Dusk wasn’t the only one struttin as you like to say!” Rarity screeched happily as she turned for the kitchen.
Now Applejack’s mind was racing with a new worry as he knew Rarity thrived on this like a tree does with water and sun. He wouldn't be leaving any time soon without giving the social mare something to work with, and he quickly started trying to figure something that might occupy her long enough for him to make some sort of escape. As if reading his mind, her horn glowed faintly with her mana right before he heard the bolt lock clicking shut.
“Is it just us?” He asked, and after hearing a delightful sounding ‘yes’, took a few calculated steps into the little hall that served more for presentation, then any function.
The hall was no more than maybe five strides, yet displayed pictures of ponies he didn’t know wearing mostly dresses from her early work. If AJ wasn’t too distracted with his promise to Dusk, he might have given these photos more attention as the seven reminded the stallion of potential lines Rarity had pitched some months back. Nothing more had been said once he gave his opinion, but the signs were there if AJ took a step back, and looked at the designs the mare had been producing since that chat.
Ultimately, he pushed that conversation aside and followed his friend into the main showroom where seven ponequins wearing samples of Rarity’s newest lines. The ponequins were arranged to give the impression they were at a gathering socializing, five wearing dresses, with two wearing jackets…
“Why does that one own a hat?” AJ pointed at the one wearing a much fancier looking hat, but in the same style as his. Rarity poked her head out of the room that was her personal kitchen, saw the ponequin in question, and giggled.
“Darling, do you remember those questions from several months back? Well, that is the test product of my new ‘Sophisticated, rough, and tumble’ Country look!”
“It’s just a colorful hat and a jacket, Rares.”
“Don’t be so simple!” She huffed from the kitchen, rattled some glass, and came walking with two sipping cups on little plates. The kind AJ seen in the more ‘upper class’ ponies would drink from, but still took the offered drink as it was his friend who had made it.
Rarity wasn’t known for serving anything subpar, and the drink proved he was right to have taken it.
“I got the idea mostly when we went with you to Appleloosa three years ago, but was inspired when I saw you talking to Trenderhoof. It hit me that there might be an untapped market of ponies looking for nice clothing that don’t leap into high society prices, or would be too nice to wear but once in Luna’s blue moon.”
“And cowpony wear fits that bill?” AJ asked, sounding even more unsure about this venture.
He watched the beautiful mare’s eyes beam at the chance to explain herself, and as he listened to the fashionista describe a process he knew very little about, and even less on how work gear could spawn a fashion revolution for the common pony.
Applejack, like the good friend he was, would stay for a period of time listening, and even agreed to model a few new designs himself until Rarity’s little sister finally returned home. With the filly’s arrival, the stallion took it as his que to head home given Big Mac and Marble would already be on the train. He’d forgotten the reason for his visit, but by strange circumstances managed to achieve the same result- forget about his promise.
For the first time in two days, the stallion felt much like his old self.
A week and three days had passed since Prince Dusk Shine told his best friend Applejack, a great secret with the power to potentially destroy everything the new alicorn had achieved in the past few years. The resulting secret left the simple farm stallion in the precarious predicament to meet his best friend’s lover who happens to be the evil half of Princess Luna, and a major threat to Equestria proper.
Why did he agree? AJ knew why he'd foolhardy asked to meet this dangerous creature, but these second guessing thoughts were bucking him ragged.
Accompanying questions nipped at his mind and the back of his heels with enough frequency to impact his ability to properly work. Big Mac and Marble were still gone, but would be returning in the next day or two, and as a consequence saddled most of the farm work onto the conflicted stallion. He still performed adequately to keep the chores from piling up, but his granny, and younger sister could tell something was plaguing the poor stallion who sought to work as an escape.
His family prodded in the traditional way of not directly confronting him, but instead would ask a series of questions that would somehow reflect the current situation in the hope that he would confess. It didn’t work when Granny would tell a story with a pony nearly identical to AJ having a similar problem, or seeming to carry his name spelt backwards. AJ didn’t feel too offended by their attempts because it meant they cared for his well-being enough to put effort into coming up with the story, but he would brush these attempts off by stating he only needed time to think…
“Ya been thinking longer than I’ve been alive, and look where it's gotten ya! Sadder than an unpicked apple during harvest! If it's thinkin’ you be doing, then do it on practical stuff like harvest or grand foals!”
“Ah not this again.” Applejack groaned as he weaved out of Granny Smith’s deadly reach.
“No sassin! I’m getting spoiled, you and Mac are ripening, and Lil Bloom bless her just can’t seem to grasp the simplest of chores. Have you seen the water trough out back?”
“That wasn’t me! Scootaloo was the one who suggested we…” Before she realized it, Apple Bloom hooves clamped over muzzle in abject horror at her mistake.
“I knew y'all were lying!” Granny Smith shouted more from glee than anger having been proven right, and her entire attention turned to the young filly who found herself desperately fighting on the hill she had stood on.
Suddenly, the two Apples were going back and forth leaving the lone stallion perplexed at his turn of luck and made the most of it by turning tail toward the front door.
Never had he been so thankful then he was now for getting off his flanks to fix the creaking floorboards, for they hardly made a noise as his hooves made for the door. No sooner had he closed the door did he almost hear the muffled cry of a filly trying to escape punishment, but nothing inside mattered as Applejack took the path that led toward the barn, and the outer pastures where the majority of the apple trees were already bucked. Not all of them had been touched, and the stallion figured he could at the very least finish the pasture and come up with a definitive answer to give Dusk by the end of the day.
Or he hoped as much, for this entire matter had gone on long enough, and any longer would drive the stallion mad from all the indecisiveness.
Applejack decided his next course of action would be to make for the western most fields as originally planned. These fields were located on the other side of the barn that acted as the halfway mark for the property, and see if he can get a little extra work in to escape from the world around him where he could be alone for a time to finally sort his thoughts. An act AJ found difficult before from unwarranted stress, but now with that cowpony drive in gear felt he could make some real progress. AJ vowed to lay everything to rest by the end of the day so he could give Dusk an answer he 100% stood behind.
What he’d come to realize over the past week that held him up wasn’t the fact it was Nightmare Moon, but more of the repercussions her existence meant for everypony. The obvious were Luna, Celestia, and Dusk Shine that would be the most affected by the reveal, but it also made the stallion ask questions he never thought about asking until that damn alicorn had to complicate things…
‘What if the Elements were more than for whacking a critter alongside the head? Could they truly redeem any pony if they wanted to?’
A plethora of questions like these crowded his mind, but only a select few were what kept the stallion from fully committing to meeting their first, and arguably most dangerous villain. Dusk even resorted to using the ‘you don’t forget your first’ line, and that earned the alicorn a good laugh from the farm stallion, but ultimately yielded at the time.
Ultimately, it would be the worry for his buddy that kept Applejack from backing out of the Pinkie Promise. AJ was that scared of seeing Nightmare Moon again he would risk her wrath.
“By Celestia and her succulent rump, that Nightmare Moon sure is a looker.” He found the need to say it aloud if to make it seem official, and remove it from his mind. If the end of the world hadn’t been in the cards, the stallion could admit there would have been a bit more ‘admiring the princess’ than running. It wasn’t that big of a surprise Dusk chose an alicorn to build the barn with, and if it had been Princess Luna this wouldn’t have been an issue.
Mostly. Applejack’s limited exposure to the Princess of the Night left him feeling emotions he didn’t know if they were acceptable to have. Happy thoughts were common before Luna's return, so he wasn't worried about those thoughts. No. Instead he was worried for his best friend, as he caught Luna lingering around his dreams more then once. Every encounter felt off since the princess never had anything to discuss, and would keep averting her eyes when the topic shifted to Dusk. The stallion might be a little dense, but he been around the pasture enough to know what was happening, and the last thing Applejack needed was lying to a jealous princess why Dusk Shine wouldn't return her letters!
"Figures the one apple with the worm in it is the one he's interested in, but not the orange I'm telling him about.”
If AJ was being stalked by some mare, no matter how beautiful, and his friends knew it, he would be much obliged if they told him. Now, the farm stallion wasn’t sure if telling Dusk about Luna would be a good idea as it could induce more stress to the situation that desperately wasn’t needed.
“This is what happens when ya care.. I should probably warn Dusk before Luna comes knocking on my door with the guards.”
Of course, the Night Princess would never do that, but AJ didn’t want to poke that bee nest for too long, and chance it happening.
The admittance that Dusk was seeing somepony, lifted a basket worth troubles off his broad shoulders. With the weight gone, AJ found himself beginning to stretch to realign his back; he started by standing as tall and firm as possible before shifting the weight back, elevating his rump into the air as he pushed himself back into his locked rear legs. Once he was sure he could go no further, he released the ‘spring’ in his front legs, the pent up energy in his lower back propelling him forward to shift his entire body mass from his rear to his shoulders.
Applejack found mimicking his dog Willow worked wonders on his back and joints, and had repeated the process every time a kink worked its way down the spine from one reason to another. His forehooves dug into the soft dirt as he shifted his weight from the rear to the front, creating a smooth half arc as his stomach touched the ground allowing his rear legs to fully extend out. Once each leg was properly stretched did the stallion finish with a quick flick of the head to the left and then to right creating a sharp cracking sound that trialed from the back of his skull to the start of his back- he found bliss.
Free from a yoke not his own, his thoughts and mild ramblings ended the moment he discovered himself standing in the middle of a barren row of picked apple trees.
Applejack inhaled a generous helping of that warm, early afternoon air as he stared off into the distance admiring the raw beauty of his home; it always calmed the stallion whenever he was upset as a young colt till this very moment as the land not only provided for his family, but reminded the stallion hard work had been required to achieve everything he held dear. If a pony wanted a change, they had to be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to change their own circumstances.
His thoughts turned back to Dusk Shine and his marefriend, and AJ found himself sighing with guilt. Sure, he had real concerns Dusk Shine was being influenced in some way by the Nightmare, and by all right that is a valid reason to not meet the scary alicorn. Yet, AJ knew there was another reason for his inaction….
‘I’m afraid. Afraid that she was playing him for a fool, and all of us will have to pay for it.’
A fair, and by all right a valid concern anypony would have he thought as he weaved his way through the rows of picked apple trees. Once more, the stallion pushed the issue further back for another day when he might be up for tackling it, but AJ had said the same thing the day after his chat with Dusk Shine, and so far that date kept getting pushed back.
Thankfully, his friend is very understanding as it's in his nature being the Prince of Harmony, but everypony has only so much patience regardless of their status in life. It was only a matter of time before Dusk began growing restless waiting for an answer, and acting too rashly…
“And he could get himself into some serious trouble, all because of me being stubborn and selfish.” Applejack thought, even though he had every right to be cautious of the Prince’s request.
Dusk Shine as a pony is very articulate in his mannerism, which was mostly unknown to ponies outside of his immediate friends and family who were unaware of his crippling ability to overthink, leading the general populace to believe the prince is nearly all knowing. But AJ knew better, and the longer he waited to provide an answer could send the young prince spiraling into some kind of scattered brained idea that will only destroy his reputation.
‘Another point to remember.’ AJ thought as he moved further into the orchard looking for work that could distract him for a couple of hours.
He trotted between the nearly mature apple trees looking for any that had been missed, but his family was good at their job, and not including the one rogue apple that didn’t make the cut, the trees were barren. As the stallion continued his search, the barn disappeared behind the growing rolls of densely packed trees as he began entering the patch of property that bordered the Everfree Forest, and not willing to venture any further alone felt dejected at having failed yet another task.
With nothing to search for, Applejack didn’t have to weave through the trees like before, and decided to cut across the orchard to quickly get back.
There was still plenty of work to be done, and some of that did require applebucking the trees that followed the road leading back to town, but he’d wanted to put some distance between the house and himself. It would reduce the chances of being seen, and stopped by Granny or Apple Bloom during a time when the dejected stallion just wanted to think. Yet, ever the stallion raised with strong morality, bit his lip as the barn appeared knowing he would have to cross by the house with the wagon to reach the rows that needed applebucking.
“I went and brought this on myself. If I weren't some yellow pony then I might uh resolved this matter already... not meaning Butters of course." AJ said aloud trying to relieve himself of his concerns, adding that last part in case some pony heard.
There was no real chance anypony heard the stallion's ramblings, but it was always a feeling somepony could that kept AJ walking that narrow path all the time. Still he would continue his one pony conversation as he reached the barn and began harnessing up to pull the wagon for his task ahead- family and house forgotten for the time being.
Distractions could only do so much to the stallion with a purpose and livelihood to maintain, and Applejack won't let his family down. He was already letting one pony down, and at the very least he might prevent more ponies being disappointed with him.
The sun had slowly inched its way over the sky as the day dragged on, causing the shadows to gradually shift toward the east which left the exhausted, and dirty stallion further exposed to the unrelenting sun.
To his great fortune, or by some other force at work Applejack had been left alone the entire day save for a quick visit by Apple Bloom that came offering him cold water, and two sandwiches cut into two halves from corner to corner. He eagerly took the offered refreshments, and learned Lil Bloom was having to repaint the fences surrounding their home as punishment for damaging the water trough. In another week of firsts, the stallion felt a ping of sorrow, and joy when his offer to help was turned down…
“Granny said I have to do it myself…” Apple Bloom repeated as she gouged the ground under her. “... she thinks it's fair, but I say it's not!”
“Well you're the one that went and hid it from her in the first hoof. Celestia’s Sun, and Luna’s Dreams! That’s nearly worse than telling her you kissed that cloud holding colt…”
“YOU KNEW!?” Apple Bloom’s anger was gone and buried. In its place was a look Applejack knew all too well, and unlike then, he could at least comfort his sister.
“His brother, Thunder Lane, came by three weeks ago and told me all about it. Said his lil brother was asking questions he ought not to be asking.” AJ made a show of looking to the left and then to right before leaning close to the filly. “Ya not sick are you?”
“Sick? No, why?” The question was weird to her, but the smile her brother gave quickly left her feeling worried.
“Cause his little bro claimed to be sick, and that said you gave it to him. When pressed for details, he spilled the beans faster than a mouse in a rainstorm.”
Seeing her face become brighter then an apple sealed the deal for the rest of the day after that. He hugged Apple Bloom and told her he’ll keep her secret until when/if she decided to reveal, and after that the filly departed to resume her punishment.
Feeling refreshed and in higher spirits than before, Applejack managed to tackle his task with a renewed vigor that propelled him nearly through the third row of trees before he finally called it quits. The sun was waning from a bright yellow into its warming orange signaling the day was finally nearing its end, and for every hard working creature to retire for the night.
AJ didn’t waste time loading up the wagon, and making his trips back to the barn even if it was a slow process. It was his fifth trip back to the orchards when he spotted something off…
“The hay? Celestia darn it, I don’t need this right now.” He groaned as he approached the next pair of baskets.
These two baskets had been set in the middle of the wagon’s path, effectively blocking the stallion from continuing his duties in any timely manner; AJ halted just a trot away from the baskets, trying to look around for the culprit as Luna’s guiding light was getting very close to casting itself over the treetops. With no other option, he began the tedious process of unhitching himself from the wagon when a loud thump popped next to his ears. Something lite had collided with the wagon from the sound of it, but before AJ could free himself from his harness entirely, something whipped against his right flank fast enough to create a loud cracking noise.
“OH NELLY!” He yelled in alarm as his rear hoof was immediately flung back to buck the offending thing, but instead found the wagon. The force of his swift buck shattered the front in a flurry of splintered wood, and not only did his hoof get stuck, but somepony even cried as they were pelted with the shrapnel.
“APPLEJACK!”
The stallion paused at his name believing it to be Apple Bloom before the raspy voice flicked a switch within his brain. He didn’t even need to further think about it when a gust hit his back, knocking off his favorite hat, and all the accumulated sweat just before a familiar sky blue pegasus was cradling his muzzle. AJ said nothing as the mare smothered his face against her barrel, all the while muttering a mixture of words in between a sob, and whispering.
He blinked as she pushed herself back to look into his eyes as if she were searching for something, bringing him back into her soft barrel before pushing him away so she could examine him like a mother would do for their foal. The attention Applejack was receiving felt strange, and foreign to the hard working stallion as the area just under his eyes was warming up faster than would like to admit.
Watching the mare he’d grown very fond of over the past year behave in this manner left him feeling conflicted, for her brashness had a certain charm to it. Yet, AJ knew he was seeing another side of the complicated mare that only a select few ever get to see, and to witness this raw gesture was a compliment in itself.
What forced Applejack to lean up, and kiss Rainbow Dash as she came back to check his muzzle once more, he couldn't properly describe. The closest he could put into words was it felt like somepony had whispered the idea to him, and nothing about the suggestion was malicious, so he puckered up and went in.
“Easy there…” Applejack found himself saying as he tried taking a step forward but found himself unable with his rear hoof caught in the wagon.
Rainbow Dash was hovering in place as her mouth and eyes flashed a great number of emotions before settling on what she felt was the appropriate response of anger. Her eyebrows collapsed in as her lips drew up to expose her bright, and well maintained teeth in a great display of primal rage, but the worst of it came in the form of a forehoof striking the stallion’s left shoulder. The actual assault did little to hurt the stallion as it was meant to draw his attention out of the clouds and back to the angry pegasus in front of him.
“THAT’S NOT FUNNY! I THOUGHT YOU SERIOUSLY HURT YOURSELF JUST NOW YOU BIG DOLT!”
“I was only startled sugarcube, and nothing more. See? All I gotta do is just give it a tug and she'll pop right out.”
Applejack ignored Rainbow’s yelling as he turned to his stuck hoof, and with some effort managed to wiggle it loose enough to pull out of the wagon without injuring himself too badly. The stallion’s calming display seemed to further enrage the pegasus as she flew to the side to better examine the leg for signs of deceit, but after a solid 20 seconds of intense studying deemed it good enough.
Even visually seeing the leg didn’t improve Rainbow’s mood as she hovered with fore hooves crossed above her barrel. Her muzzle had softened as her initial concern for the stallion left as what emotions remained were heated embarrassment, and guilt from causing the scene in the first place. Applejack minded none of the slaps as he knew they held no harmful intent behind them, and by either his upbringing or affiliation to the Element of Honest felt there was some sort of understanding between the two.
Loyalty and Honesty. Two virtues that shared much with the other sense being loyal to somepony or ideal meant you had to believe the foundation was real, and not a fabrication of falsehoods. While the reverse required the one spreading the honesty required the loyalty…
“Something like that anyway.” AJ shook his head clear of that confusing monologuing, content to leave it to the professionals.
“SOMETHING WHAT!?” Rainbow Dash screeched from irritation of the situation, and lack of reaction from her stallion. Growing up in Cloudsdale had conditioned her young to expect anything that wasn’t a calming look of ease, and this indifference to everything really made the wings flare with excitement. Another moment witnessed that reinforced her growing love for the farmer as it showed perhaps she could be a little more open with him in the future.
“Something that isn’t too important, Rainbow.” He said, having been brought up without the need to resort to yelling back as a response unless it warranted it. “Just know you did nothing wrong except startle me, but not enough to get worked up over.”
“Why aren’t you angry with me?” She whispered this time as opposed to yelling.
Applejack finished unhitching himself from the wagon before walking toward the hovering pegasus, and even in the dimming sunlight he could see her features portrayed a different tone than her accusing voice- worry. A feeling he’d been privy to learn as they started seeing more of each other, and had been told by her parents when they came to visit some months earlier. Their explanation had been heartfelt, and the sole reason the stallion changed his attitude when around Rainbow Dash.
He didn’t want to reopen any more old wounds, and had taken on a ‘softer approach’ Butterscotch would have proudly said.
“It's real simple Rainbow, but just know I find it more of a compliment. So thank ya kindly.” He even leaned in so the unusually timid pegasus could see the wink before turning his focus towards the two baskets in the middle of the path.
Ponies might have called it deflection, or even passive aggressive depending who was asked, yet it was another dynamic in their quest to understand the other. As AJ learned from Rainbow’s folks months ago, all of this brashness was an act that grew to become the leading role. Basically, from what the stallion had discovered was the real Rainbow Dash had been playing the part for so long she’d begun believing it was the truth.
And as the Element of Honest, this left Applejack in another pickle as he had to carefully avoid certain responses( save when they raced) to avoid stirring up something harmful. So, he stuck to his half-truths of sorts. Sure, he did take pleasure knowing Rainbow found himself delightful enough to drop the act sometimes, but AJ didn’t like all of the unneeded force behind everything. It made everything else seem fake by comparison, but ultimately, it was to play on her ego.
An ego that had taken the pegasus far in life...
Applejack was listening as he began clearing the path for anything that would tell him what Rainbow might be doing, and only as the second basket had been placed in the wagon did he finally look toward the now empty space Rainbow had once occupied. He shoved the basket closer to the front to keep the weight centered as his eyes scanned the surrounding treetops for the elusive mare, but found nothing except the open twilight sky. The stallion felt hurt, but had to remind himself he’d been told about this behavior from Windy and Bow, and was forever grateful for the knowledge as the insight had helped explain most of her quirky behavior while navigating two of Rainbow’s biggest pet peeves.
There will come a time he will have to tell Rainbow Dash what her parents told him, but for now he will have to endure whatever troubles, or heartache it might cause…
“Here I am all worked up from a slap on the flank, and Dusk is having to rule a country while keeping that kind of secret from literally everypony. Buck I’m a lousy friend.”
