My Time with the Farmer

Chapters

Pony in a Bush
One of "Those" Days
Road to Recovery
Any wolf is a bad wolf
Broken promises
A Little Heartache
All good things come to an end.
Sequel Info
Epilogue

Pony in a Bush

It had been a long day. I had failed algebra exam, broke my glasses in basketball and gotten turned down by my crush. All in a days work for Joe. I was just about ready to get home and play some Skyrim or maybe read a bit. All these thought were running through my mind when the bush next to me rustled.This kind of surprised me since it was around Christmas and most rodents were probably hibernating. I thought about looking into the bush or at least kicking it to scare off whatever was residing in it. But i decided against it. I put my ear buds back in and kept walking. I had only taken about five steps when i started to smell the faint but pleasant scent of apples on the brisk winter wind. I turned around and followed my nose to the same bush.

"Alright, lets see whats in here," i mumbled to myself as i parted the branches. I guess whatever was in the bush heard my voice because the bush started to rustle as i peeked in between the branch. I was about to just walk away and forget about what was happening when a bright orange horse shaped head popped out making me jump. The little horse started to open it's mouth and began talking.

" Howdy pardner," it said as it jumped out of the bushes,"Names Applejack." She said holding out a hoof. I was simply stunned. A pastel colored pony just hopped out of a bush and proclaimed herself to be my favorite pony from the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. She took a step closer still offering her hoof. i couldn't comprehend what was going on and my mind just cracked and i passed out.

"Pardner, Pardner,you okay sugar cube?" Applejack said as she shook me slightly by my shoulders. I groaned and sat up while Applejack started to talk to me. All the while rubbing the back of my head.

---------------------------------------------------------30 minutes later-----------------------------------------------------------

" So your telling me that Twilight, your unicorn friend, was having a strange dream at a sleep over that you were at. And she shot a stray bolt of magic that bounced off rarity's diamond encrusted sleep mask, and then hit you. Then when you came to you were in this bush while i was walking by.

"Yup, that's it pardner." I sighed and rubbed at the pain that had formed at the back of my scull."You got a headache sugar cube?" I nodded and started to rub at a brisker pace." Here, let me help she said as she reached over and put her hoof against the back of my head.

"Your cold," I said as Pulled my jacket off my shoulders exposing them to the brisk, late Texas evening. Not only that but it was late winter as well. I the went to drape it over her shoulders.

"Oh no sugar cube," She said through gritted teeth."I couldn't ask you to do that." Ignoring her protests, i continued to drape my coat over her shivering shoulders.

"Thank ya kindly." She said. After a while of silence the sun started to go down.

"Would you like to come and spend the night at my place applejack. It's not much, but it's warm." Applejack appeared to be thinking about this for a second.

She scratched her chin and stood like that for a few moments and then put her hooves around my neck and said to me, "I'd love to." I scooped up the little foal into my jacket. surprised by how little she weighed. and inserted her into my shoulder bag with her head poking out and her thick blond mane blowing in the wind. As i walked home i heard Applejack yawn and rest her head against my right hip. I smiled at how cute she looked.

"Whats yer name?' she said.

"Joe," i said as i started to run my hand through her mane.

"Thank you Joe," She said with a huge yawn.

"Anything for a friend," i said This got her attention.

"Friend, you just met me," she said looking slightly confused

"Ya, were friends, I'm more than happy to help ya when you need it." I said,"and your pretty cute." i looked down at her blushing and snuggling into the bag.

When we got home I snuck in through the back door and stole into my room. I carefully set down my shoulder bag and my trombone in the corner. i went and got a spare blanket and put it over the plush beanbag in my room and carefully extracted Applejack from the shoulder bag and set her on the blanket and wrapped her up in it as she lightly snored. I then grabbed my PJs and began to change. i then went for the light and crawled under the covers of my bed and switched it off. as i started to nod off i felt something crawl into bed next to me and wrap its hooves around my neck. I smiled as Applejack's sweet, apple scented breath made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I thanked god for sending me this givt and then let my dreams take me.

In my dream i was running through an apple orchard. The sweet scent of apples flooding my nose.I looked over to my right and applejack was there with a bright red horse, a male from the look of it, sitting under a tree talking, laughing. Then a yellow pony, very young by the look of it, came and joined them. [i"Why am i seeing this?"I thought to myself. i turned around and saw a regal looking white horse looking over at them as well. Her multi-colored pastel mane billowing with invisible currents.

"This is her family on her home world," she said to me.

"She's married?" I asked, slightly confused.

" No this is her brother and sister when she gets older. If you want this to happen later in her life," she said motioning over to Applejack under the tree,"Then you must protect her in your world." She said to me. I noticed the dream start to fade and everything get quieter.

"Wait, what is your name!" i yelled to the tall white horse. She said something but no sound came out. My eyes snapped open and i could still smell the sweet scent of apples from applejack's breath. The white horse's command still rang in my ears.

"Protect her!" It said. And that is EXACTLY what i was going to do. No harm would be fall this pony while im responsible for her!

One of "Those" Days

I awoke the next morning after the dream with the mysterious White horse to a tap on my door. I groaned almost as loud as my belly when i straightened up and rubbed my eyes. When i stepped into my bunny slippers(don't judge me) and walked to my door as a note slipped underneath. Well more like a letter. I set it on the nightstand and walked into the bathroom. I turned on the water and stepped in. The warm water loosening my stiff muscles and waking me up from my lingering sleep. The command from the white horse still lingered in my mind to protect applejack. I started to soap up as i heard humming that wasn't mine. I looked down and saw something that made me drop the soap.

"89 apples to buck on this farm, 89 apples to buck! Kick one down pass it around, 88 apples to buck on this farm! Oh howdy sugar cube." I was speechless. Applejack was in the shower with me. I could have sworn i locked that door. "I think you dropped somethin' sugar cube." She said as she walked under my legs and picked up the soap and handed it to me. Luckily she was much shorter than me and didn't touch my manhood.

"Um, Applejack, i'm kinda, ya know, taking a shower." I said in a very small voice.

"I know, it feels good to get clean. Could you get my back." She said turning around.

"Um, Applejack, I think your missing the point." I said. "Where I come from showers are kind of private."

"Huh, oh i see okay." she said parting the shower curtain. "Uh could you still-," she was cut off when i reached out and lathered the soap on her back."Ah, that's the spot." She said slightly shaking one hoof and jumping over the edge of the tub.

I continued the rest of my shower in peace. Afterwards i left the bathroom and went to the small kitchen i had and made myself a bowl of cereal. As i went for a spoon i noticed an apple core. And another, and another leading towards the back door. I quickly dashed out the back door to see AJ lying on her back munching and apple and looking up at the mocking birds flying overhead. Her blond mane blowing in the wind and sometimes getting in her face.

" Hey Joe", she said sitting up and crossing her legs. "You're out of apples" she said with a slight grin on her face sliding the cores behind her.

"I had to go to the store anyway." I said. My parents were normally gone so i had to go to the store and get the food. "You wanna come?" I asked her while sliding my jacket over my shoulders. Her eyes widened at the prospect.

"Oh, can I," she said running towards me and jumping into my hoodie's lap pocket and poking her head out the side. I grabbed my car keys and walked out the door.

When we arrived at the store i told applejack to stay in the pocket. While we were there we got some Milk, eggs, apples, apples, more apples and hair ties for applejack. As i was walking out the sliding doors some policemen walked by.I greeted them and kept walking when aj's hat fell off and out of the pocket. the policemen noticed and walked over.

"What do ya got in the pocket son." They said. Their coffee breath making me want to gag. "Ya aint got something that don't belong to ya in there do ya," the other one said.

"I-i-i wasnt trying t-t-to steal anything." i said slightly frightened.

"Well lets see it then." They both said at the same time. I turned and ran for my truck, leaving behind everything except for one bag of apples. I hopped in my truck and drove out of the parking lot with the police right on my tail. I told AJ to get in the back seat just in case things started to get bad. i floored the petal and drove around the block a couple of times before it happened. The first shot was fired and it went clean through my shoulder. I cried out in pain but kept driving, one handed now while my other hand was on my shoulder. we finally lost the cops and i drove into the garage and slammed the button to close the door. As i fell out of my car my vision was already going double. i had to make it to the bathroom applejack came cowering out of the car and saw me dragging myself across the floor.

"Oh my celestia Joe." She yelped

"Help-- me to--- the bathroom." I croaked. She grabbed my collar in her mouth and helped me drag myself. She was surprisingly strong for her small size. As she dragged me into the bathroom i pulled myself into the tub and turned on the water. As it ran over me i grabbed my small swiss army knife and cut a small bit of fabric off my shirt and held it over the wound. the pain was almost to much to bear. AJ apparently knew a little about saving peoples life and sprang into action. she pulled my shirt over my head and tied it around my shoulder so tight i screamed till my throat hurt but AJ was un fazed by this. She knew what she had to do. She stuffed a towel in my mouth to prevent me from deafening her and pressed both hooves against my shoulder. The pain was too much to bear and i fell into the sea of blackness.

My dreams were tainted with me being shot over and over again as AJ screamed and the life blood slowly left my body. Suddenly the white horse appeared and spoke to me.

"Why Applejack is taking better care of you than you are of her. She said in a slightly mocking tone.

"Who are you?" I asked

"I am princess celestia and that pony that is saving your life is one of my subjects and personal friends." She said in a suddenly aggravated tone. "If you are as careless as you were today again, you might not be so lucky."

"Lucky, I got shot, how in the hell is that lucky!" I yelled in her face.

"You're lucky because one of the best doctors in existence is saving your life right now." "Now wake up and protect my friend!" she yelled in my face as the dream started to fade.

Road to Recovery

My Time With The Farmer:Road To Recovery

I came to with applejack standing over me with a needle and threat in her mouth.

"Pony Feathers!" She exclaimed as she noticed i was awake. "It is probably best that your not awake for this sugar cube. But since you are," she stopped and shoved a towel into my mouth. I knew that this was going to hurt, bad. She leaned down and i braced for the pain. She threaded the needle through the throbbing tissue where I had been shot. My eyes bugged out in pain and i gripped the sides of the tub.

It took thirty stitches. Thirty agonizing stitches but AJ Closed the wound.

"How old are you?" I asked her. Her small size and young appearance made me wonder where she learned how to practice medicine in the way that she did.

"14 years i been alive. Lost mah par-.," She stopped herself mid sentence and i saw a tear form in her eye. She turned away but she couldn't hide the tears that were rolling down her cheeks now. I leaned forward and embraced her, ignoring the burning pain in my shoulder. She quickly dasher her hoof across her eyes and weakly embraced me. We sat like that for a long time. She broke the hug and looked me in the eyes and said to me. "I lost mah parents when i was 8. Timber wolves got em both." I could tell that this was hard for her. I opened my mouth to comfort her but she put a hoof to my lips to silence me. "Me and my brother looked after the farm best we could. But we eventually had to sell. The snooty bastard we sold let us live on the farm with him. Me, mah brother and mah sister busted our flanks to keep things the way they were. but the bastard was a pervert. He-he touched me, me and my sister. I told my brother what was going on and my brother beat him to near death, and made him a promise. That if he ever came near us again, he would kill him. I-- I've never told anypony else this before. I always thought that they would judge me, treat me differently, pity me. I never wanted that." After the last sentence she was crying freely. she buried her head in my chest and sobbed and sobbed. I just sat there stroking her mane.

After a while, Applejack's sobs lessened to sniffles and stopped altogether. She fell asleep there, in my arms. i picked her up and took her sat her down on the beanbag and draped a blanket over her body. I went to climb into bed. Being especially careful of my shoulder. as i closed my eyes i felt something crawl into bed with me and rest its head on my chest. I leaned forward and kissed it on the forehead. i felt one last warm tear fall on my chest and then i was enveloped in darkness.

My dreams were plagued with the image of Applejack's brother standing over a broken and bloody horse. Applejack sobbed in the background while her sister rubbed her back. Applejack's brother grabbed him by his mane and whispered something in his ear in his ear and then delivered one last right hook to the jaw with a sickening crunch and dropped him to the ground with a thud. Applejack walked over and put her hoof on his neck. She turned around and shook her head to her sister. The next thing that happened disturbed me. applejack slung him over her back and brought him into the barn and threw the body in a trap door and slammed it shut. She turned around to her sister and said to her.

"No one can ever know."

I woke up at that very moment and hugged applejack a little tighter and went back to a dreamless sleep.

When i woke up for real applejack wasn't there anymore but there was a sweet scent coming from the kitchen. I walked out in my boxers and my jaw hit the floor. Applejack had an apron on and was slicing up apples and putting them in pancake batter and pie crusts and even mashing them up and making applesauce. I picked up a whisk and started mixing some batter together. Applejack looked over at me and gave me a sweet smile. She leaned over and kissed me right on the lips. It surprised me, being kissed by a pony. But none of that was in my head at the moment. I melted into the kiss and lost myself in the sweet smell of apples. I had never kissed anyone before, and it felt good. It felt perfect.

Any wolf is a bad wolf

It had been a few months since I found applejack in that bush. I had never thought that I could enjoy myself as much as I did in that time. My shoulder had healed a bit and I could now move it with a little bit of stiffness. The wound had closed up nicely without to much trouble. I had kept anyone from finding applejack, including my parents. Things were looking up. Me and applejack had grown a lot closer since that morning after I had been shot. She slept in my bed usually (nothing like that. Get your mind out of the gutter). It felt nice to have someone there. We knew just about everything about each other. She liked to cook though she never got any practice back at home but here she made breakfast every Saturday. I liked to shoot and she enjoyed it to.(How she held a handgun with her hooves and drew back a bow still boggles my mind but I chose not to question it)

One day as I was lying around. When she busted into my room from the backyard.

"Joe," she said slightly out of breath."I just saw something in that forest beyond your fence!" She said excitedly.

"What did it look like." I asked her. "I probably know what it is."

"We'll it was a little bit taller than me with gray fur." She said. I knew what it was before she finished talking. I I easily sot up and grabbed my bow off the wall and slung my quiver over my shoulder. I strapped on my soothing glove and went for the door. "Wait joe, where are you going, what is it." I ignored her and kept walking. "Joe, Joe, JOE." She yelled standing infringing of the door to get my attention. "I'm not moving until you tell me what that thing is." She said with a determined look on her face. I stopped and looked at her and realized that she wasn't going to move until she knew the answer.

"It's a wolf." I said to her in a flat tone. I could tell that this frightened her. Her air of determination and confidence melted and revealed her softer side. I could understand this since her parents had been killed by timber wolves she must be terrified by the thought. "They never come this close to the houses unless they are desperate for a meal." I said. Applejack started to quiver. I picked her up and moved her out of the way. "Don't worry," I said to her calmly. I hadn't sen her like this since she told me what happened to her after her parents died. "I'm gonna go take care of it," I said shouldering my bow and quiver. I set her down and ran my hand thought her mane. And walked out the door.

I hopped the fence and creeped into the wood. I crouched down in the cover of a bush and waited. I had an arrow knocked and ready to draw back the bow at any moment. I heard a stick breaking behind me and instantly turned around and brought my right arm back feeling my shoulder grind and protest. I was just about ready to send my arrow on a killing path with the barbed point on the end when applejack walked out of the brush.

"Applejack, what he hell are you doing here." I yelled

"I came to help you get rid of the wolves." She said in her normal determined tone. I lower my bow and let the bowstring go slack.

"Applejack I told you I can handle it." I said to her slightly calmer.

"I know but that's what my pa said before he went to take care of the timber wolves and am went with him." She said. "I'm not going to lose you to. I leaned forward and embraced her.

"Applejack, I understand but you need to get back home before the wolves come. I can handle it." I told her. I stood up shouldering my bow and with her at my side we started back towards the house. When we almost made it out of the tree line, it happened.

The wolf jumped out out of the brush and tackled me to the ground. I was stunned, but only for a second and withdrew an arrow from my quiver and dispatched it by shoving it into its throat. As I stood up and dusted of my jeans I extracted the arrow from the wolf's throat and inserted it back into my quiver when another wolf jumped out and tackled applejack. I drew the hunting knife I always carried with me in the woods and charged at the wolf. I bowled it over and pinned it to the ground. I saw foam coming from its mouth and new that was a very bad thing. I plunged my knife into its throat and twisted it till the current of blood started to stream from the wolf's neck. I stood back up and saw Applejack still lying on the ground shivering. I picked her up and started to run. She had grown a lot since I first found her. She was a bit heavier than las time I carried her. Two more wolves jumped out of the brush. They both lunged for my throat. I threw up my arm in defense. The bit into the softer flesh in my forearm and toppled me over, knocking applejack out of my hand and my knife skittering somewhere in the bush. One of the wolves jumped on top of me pinning me to the ground and the other did the same to applejack. I saw it descend it's head toward AJ's neck. I felt a new strength flow into my body and I heard celestia's command ring in my ears. I kicked the wolf off me and lunged at the wolf on top of applejack. I bowled it over and we rolled a bit till it was on top of me.

"I'm sorry applejack," I said as I stared the wolf in the eye. Suddenly the weight disappeared and I saw applejack with my blade in her mouth. She had just bucked the wolf into the bush. I lunged into the bush and plunged my knife into the stunned wolf's chest. I walked out of the bushes and saw something that turned my blood to ice. Applejack was there clamped in the wolf's jaws. I lunged at it in blind rage and plunged my blade into the wolf's skull until my hand was doused in blood. I dropped to my knees, dropping my blade. I turned around and saw applejack's limp body. I started to crawl over to her. I put my war to her chest and heard nothing but the crickets in the background.

"I'm sorry applejack," I said my voice cracking. "I've failed you." I said as. I began to sob.

Broken promises

Pain, that was all I felt. It wasn't physical, it was in his heart. But it certainly felt like a physical pain. It stung, no it burned. I just sat there cradling applejack in my arms. I had never cried this way before. I had never FELT this way before. I had lost pets before. I had lost friends before. But this was different. It felt like I had lost someone closer. It felt like something was missing. Like I had lost a sister. I cried there until I had no more to cry then I just sat there stroking her mane until sleep took me.

My dreams were filled with I'mages of the wolf. Of me being torn apart in several different ways. My lifeless body lying on the ground in a pool of my own blood. But that was a regular nightmare. I also saw applejack being thrashed about. Screaming out for my help. But I just stood there and, watched. That, that was no nightmare. That was my sub-conciouse messing with me. That was what made me wake up.

The early morning sun pierced through the leaves of the trees. I had to squint my eyes to see. I looked down into my lap and applejack's limp body lay there. Where it had been. I knew what I had to do. I stood up with applejack in my arms. I walked through the forest blind with grief. I walked to the most beautiful place in the forest. Where I had come to think when I was younger. It was a small clearing so rounded by white roses. It was perfect. I laid her down on her side with her cutie mark facing upwards. I went to the bushes and picked a few of the best roses from the bush and brought them back. I started putting them into her mane and tail. She looked beautiful. Well more than usual. I leaned down a kissed her on her forehead. Then I stood up and clasped my hands and spoke the my maker.

"Dear Heavenly Father. Please accept this beautiful soul into the gates of heaven. Please lord, protect her soul from evil. And celestia, if you can hear me forgive me, I failed you." I then let a tear streak down my cheek and I turned to leave when I heard a faint Russell behind me. I turned to see the most beautiful site ever. Applejack was floating and sorrounded by a pink and gold aura. Suddenly it released a strong wave of energy making me stumble for a second and have to shield my eyes. When the light faded I was left speechless. Applejack was standing there her emerald eyes were wide open and she was smiling her usual confident smile. I ran to her with new tears in my eyes. I dropped to the ground and scooped her up in my arms. I planted my lips on hers and cried.

"Joe, thank you." She said as she broke the kiss. " I saw what you did for me while I was dead. Celestia did to, she wanted me to tell you she forgives you." I just stared into her eyes with tears in mine. Those deep emerald pools staring into my dirty blue eyes. I turned around with her in my arms and started back towards my house. She clung to my neck in a fierce embrace.

"I saw my parents Joe. I talked to them for the first time in six years. They said they had been watching me while I was here. While I was with you. They wanted me to thank you for being my guardian and not turning me away and leaving me in that bush."

"Some guardian I've been. I just let you get killed." I said gruffly my voice cracking.

"No Joe. You fought for me, I shouldn't have followed you." She said.

"Applejack, you seem different. Did you see something that you haven't told me about. If you wanna talk about it you ca-."

"How long have you known about that show." She said.

"How long have I known about what show." I said fearing her answer.

"You know exactly the show I'm talking about." She said jumping out of my arms and running to ahead of me to the door. I signed the day I had feared had come. And it hurt.

A Little Heartache

My time withe the farmer

As She ran off into the distance I felt tears well up in my eyes. I knew exactly what show she was talking about. But why had, or maybe a better question, would be how she saw it. Did her parents show her that she was a fictional horse on a tv show. Did Celestia show her. I walked back home alone. Tears streaming down my eyes.

When I got to the house the sun was setting. I hadn't been home in about two days and I was starving but food would have to wait. I walked up to the door and grasped the handle. I took a deep breath thinking about what I would say to Applejack. I collected myself and twisted the knob but the door didn't give. Applejack had locked me out of my own house. It kind of frustrated me but at least there was a spare key under the mat. I unlocked the door and walked inside. There was some stuff sitting on top of the counter. Just some gauze and medical tape labeled "for your arm." I looked down at my arm where the wolf had bitten me to see it swelling and still plenty bloody. I was suddenly aware of the pain and reached for the gauze.

After I had doctored up my arm and wrapped it up thoroughly I went to my room and knocked on the door. I heard applejack in there. Breathing heavily like she had just finished crying.

"Applejack, we need to talk." I said in a gentle voice.

"Why didn't you tell me. Why didn't you think I wanted to know." She asked her voice cracking.

"I honestly didn't know how to tell you." I said.

"You still should have told me." She said starting to cry again. I decided that I should leave her be. I walked into the kitchen and made myself some toast. I also cut up some apples and put it in a salad for applejack.

"Applejack I have food for you." I said setting it outside the door. I heard it unlock and she stepped out and picked up the salad bowl not looking up at me. She stepped back into her room and closed the door. I walked back into the family room and plopped down on the worn leather arm chair and went to sleep. My dreams were filled with sadness. Things I don't want to repeat in this journal. Things I don't want to remember. Things I try every day to forget.

When I woke up there was fresh gauze on my arm. It had also been cleaned and the swelling had gone down. I went and knocked on applejack's door to let her know I had woken up. It was still locked and there was no answer. All my books were in my room and I had no one to talk to so I did something I hadn't done in a while. I walked into the study and sat down at the piano bench and pulled the cover off of the dusty keys. I ran my hand over the keys lightly, hearing the hammers hit their strings and make a beautiful melodic sound. I cracked my knuckles and began playing.

I started with a little bit of blues and slow songs. Singing most of them. My voice was raspy but it felt good to sing again. I hadn't sung since my dad got sick. I never felt good enough to. While I was playing I heard the door of the study swing open and the soft clopping of hooves as a pony entered the room. I turned around to see applejack, her eyes were red and puffy from crying.

"Do you know how to play mourning never comes?" She asked me. Luckily for her I did know how and I started to play the sad wartime song. I got lost in the music and soon I was singing.

Death is a plague,

Life is a blessing.

I really do hope that we did learn our lesson.

To ravage our homeland,

To kill our neighbors, brothers and sons,

And for what.

Mourning never comes.

Applejack's voice joined mine for the next verse.

Bad people live,

And good people die.

But the ones lost

Wouldn't want us to cry.

Applejack sang with me. Her sweet voice bringing a tear to my eye.

Morning never comes,

For the men who fight.

Saddens always comes,

For those who fought and died.

Mourning never comes.

Mourning never comes. I finished the song and froze, my fingers on the keys. Applejack climbed up on the stool next to me. She looked into my eyes and gave me a hug.

"I'm sorry joe. I shouldn't have acted the way I did. I shouldn't have treated you the way I did." She said.

" I'm sorry to, I should have told you." I said looking down at her, a tear coming to my eye.

"Teach me," she said. Looking at the piano. And that's what I did. i worked throughout the day. Teaching teaching applejack how to play mourning never comes. All the while with a smile on my face. I was glad things were back to normal. But little did I know that everything was far from normal. And things were only going to get worse.

All good things come to an end.

It had been six months. Six long, sweet months of just me and applejack. I had moved out of the house and moved to a cooler, and much more cozy place in Colorado. It was December twenty fourth and I was decorating my home for Christmas. I was stringing up lights outside when applejack. Came out into the freshly fallen snow.

"So Joe, I like you spiffin' the place up and all, but what's with all of this and the tree in the great room." She asked.

"It's for Christmas. It's a Holliday that we celebrate on earth. It was a little over a week after Christmas when I found you." I said focusing on the lights. Cursing as one of the bulbs cut my hand.

"I like holidays, but this is more than just a celebration. This is big. I just don't understand why." She asked. I helped as I fell face first off the ladder. I heard applejack giggling. I pushed myself up and shook the snow off my face but it was still clinging to my hair and thin moustach I had allowed myself to grow. "Hey grandpa," she snorted.

"Why you little," I said slinging a snowball at her which she hopped out of the way of gracefully.

"Ya gotta throw better than that if you wanna hit me pops" she said with a snicker. I chucked another one at her a bit to the right of her and she jumped right into it. I rolled over and laughed holding my ribs which I was sure had been bruised. "Oh it's on." She said making a snowball and flinging it at me. It missing my head by an inch. I quickly scrambled up as another one hit me in the chest.

"Ooofff." I said holding the right side of my chest. I quickly dove behind my car and made another snowball. I turned around right as applejack flung another one and hit me square in the face. She snorted again.

We played like that for hours until we oth got tired and went inside. I fixed us some hot chocolate while applejack sat next to the fire. I grabbed a blanket and draped it over he shoulders and sat down next to her. She snuggled up close to me and rested her head on my shoulder.

"Joe, tell me the story of Christmas." She said sipping her hot chocolate.

"We'll its about the night Jesus was born. You do know who Jesus is, don't you." I asked her.

"No, but I take it that he is mighty important." She said with a yawn.

"We'll, in my religion, Christianity, we believe that god sent his son tho save us from the evil in this world. And all he asks in return is for is to love him. Like I love you." I said looking down at her and kissing her on the cheek. She looked up at me with a smile and snuggled in closer. I could smell the sweet scent of apples on her breath. We sat their until she started to snore lightly started to get tired myself. I went to go get a few pillows and sat them on the ground and laid down on the one next to applejack and pulled the blanket over us and fell asleep next to the fire. When I woke up it was snowing softly outside as the sun crested the horizon. It cast its weak orange light through the mountains and flooded the great room. I went onto the kitchen and started up some coffee. As I sat there and looked at the sun coming up, sipping my coffee and looking at the sun applejack joined me. She sat down on my lap and stared out the window.

"Hey applejack, I got you something." I said as I slid a package wrapped up in apple pattern paper from under the table. Applejack looked down at it surprised. I picked it up and set it on the table as she tore off the wrapping paper to reveal a box. Inside the box was a black Stetson hat like the old worn, brown one she had lost when I got shot. Applejack gasped and put it on.

"I love it," she said missing me. "I just feel bad I didn't get you anything."

"I don't mind, the kiss was good enough for me." I said with a smile. She leaned up and kissed me again. We moved into the great room and flicked on the TV and started to watch the parade when there was a knock at the door. I was caught by suprise but applejack just jumped behind the couch and hit there. I answered the door still in my boxers. I peeked out to see something strange. Standing in front of me was on of the most beautiful looking mares ever. A tall white one and a smaller midnight blue one with several other smaller horses in tow.

"Kerry Christmas Joe," they all said.

"How, how do you all, besides celestia, know my name. Or where I live. Why are you even here. And how did you know it was Christmas." I asked them looking around wildly.

"Why Joe, we are here to celebrat Christmas with you and applejack." She said in a calm tone despite my less than pleasant tone.

"Oh right sure common in." i said motioning them on inside. "Applejack, we have company." I called out as she jumped over the sofa. "You guys can talk while I go change." I said rushing up stairs. I got to my room and shut the door. The freaking princess of ponies was in my living room with her sister and applejack's former friends before she ended up here. I decided to put that past me and pulled a pair of pants on a swell as a sweatshirt from my old high school(go tigers) and hustled down stairs to see everyone sitting there talking. I snuck past them and into the kitchen where I made some hot chocolate and toast. When I walked back into the great room with the tray of drinks rainbowdash was telling a story.

"And then the storm cloud comes back towards me I swear smiled and disappeared." She said as I sat the drinks down on the table. I sat down as they all started to talk again.

"Splendid hat darling." Rarity said to applejack.

"Thanks, Joe got me it to replace my old one." She said. Twilight sipped her drink and sat silently. Pinkie and Luna were chatting about something to with moon cheese. While rainbowdash told stories about her strength.

"And then I lifted the manticore and threw it across the everfree forest." Rainbowdash said.

"Oh please," applejack said. " I could beat you in a push up contest with one hoof tied behind my back."

"Your on," she said.

"I'll join to," I said. I removed my sweatshirt revealing the finely toned muscles in my back and chest from drawing back the bowstring thousands of times. Everyone's eyes went to me, especially Luna. I smiled back at her which made her blush fiercely. All of us dropped to the ground and began.

This went on for a while. Finally rainbowdash gave out and left me and applejack there. I had gotten into a rhythm but after about 150 my arms started to burn. I started to struggle and so did applejack. At about 187 we both dropped to the ground, exhausted. My arms burned and sweat poured from my face I stood up and donned my sweatshirt while Luna sighed and fluttered her eyelashes at me. After that we just sat there and talked until the sun went down.

At six thirty, celestia pulled me aside.

"You do know why we are here. Why I'm here at least." She said softly.

"I have a pretty good idea." I said looking down at the floor. "I just have one question, why would you send her here. You knew she was here. Why did you wait until now." I asked

"Whenever a ponies heart gets restless, I send them into the world of the humans so they may fulfill their adventure and return home." She said. " I chose you because you were applejack's guardian. Like your father was fluttershy's, and your Grandfather was Rainbowdash's."

"Could I at least say goodbye." I asked. She nodded. I walked into the great room and pulled applejack aside into my room.

"AJ, you know why those ponies are here right. They're here to take you home." I said. A tear forming in my eye.

"Oh that's great, your going to love Equestria." She exclaimed.

"No applejack, you don't understand. I'm not coming with you." I said a tear rolling down my cheek.

"No, that's crazy, I'm not going to leave you," she said grabbing my waist. I knelt down and she wrapped her hooves around my shoulders and sobbed into my chest. I hugged her back and stroked her mane. Celestia opened the door and looked down. I looked up at her. She nodded and closed the door. Applejack looked up at me and kissed me. She held me there for a while until she heard a knock on the door. She broke the kiss and answered the door. Celestia was standing at the door.

"It is time for us to go." She said to applejack. I stood up and followed applejack out the door into the great room. Every pony thanked me and gave me a hug for an awesome Christmas. Luna whispered in my ear that she thinks I'm cute which normally would have made me blush but it didn't mean a thing to me now. I was to numb to feel anything. As the walked outside into the snow. I saved to them one last time. Applejack looked back at me, her eyes red and puffy. She smiled and tipped her hat at me and then they were gone in a flash of light. All that was left was a note in the snow. I scrambled out into the snow and picked it up and read it.

times have changed.

Nothing will be the same.

Ill be back for you,

In three years time.

Just be ready,

When the clock strikes nine.

It confused me. I need to ask what it meant. But I guessed that only time will tell. I moved back towards the house sat down next to the fire and began my three years of waiting.

Sequel Info

HHHHHHEEEEYYYYY guys, lets talk about the sequel. I just put it out and it's been approved. I should be on my latest stories called "My Time With the Farmer:three years later. The first chapter was a lot of fun to write and I hope you guys enjoy.

Stay frosty everypony.

D9_cat(Frost)

Epilogue

It had been six months and I still felt broken. I had all I ever wanted. A nice home, a spot on the Olympic archery team and a bunch of new friends. But it wasn't enough. As I rode the plane to rio, I looked out the window. Praying to see something, a hint of applejack's return. The note that she left me flashed across my mind. I knew she would be back in three years, but times are changing, that was what confused me. I felt a tap at my shoulder.

"Joe, you okay. You've been looking out the window for a while now. You haven't even touched your sandwich. Is something wrong." Victor, my best buddy asked. He was going to be playing water polo but we knew each other from school.

"Ya everything's fine Vic," I said turning around with a forced smile on my face. I grabbed my sandwich and took a bite. The ham tasted like coal but it was nourishment. As I ate I realized something. I had just let Celestia take her. I hadn't argued, I hadn't put a fight. I just let her take her. I put down my sandwich and leaned back. Vic was asleep and I was dozing off when a note appeared in my lap. I immediately sat bolt upright. Victor murmured and rolled over to face the aisle. I looked at the note in my lap. It looked like it was on the same parchment as the one Celestia left me. But the writing looked different. More rushed and not as prepared as the other. I unrolled it to just a few simple words.

"Stay strong and win, for AJ," it said. At the bottom it had been signed by twilight sparkle. I smiled, wondering how she knew what I was feeling. She must be doing it the same way Celestia does it. I rolled up the note and put in the inner pocket of my Olympics jacket. I smiled and went to sleep.

Three months later I sat in front of the fire. Sipping hot chocolate and looking back up at my three gold medals. I had won. But not for me. For Applejack. That's all I would do from now until somepony came to get me. I would live for applejack. I was lonely but I knew I was gonna see her again. Celestia's note said so. And I was going to believe with all my heart that that was a promise she intended to keep.