As long as ah can remember, ah've always been a bit different. Erverypony says we're supposed ta think a certain way, that mares 'er supposed ta like stallions, and stallions 'er supposed ta like mares. But it taint so simply, is it?

"Hey Applejack, I haven't seen you for a few days, what have you been up to?" Twilight's words cut through the space between her and the orange pony, authoritative and precise with every syllable she spoke. She trotted closer to her friend and stopped just a few inches away from her. "Do you need any help with the harvest this year?" The trees had taken to their beautiful shades of brown and orange, the beginning of harvest season having been only a couple days before. Ripe red, green and yellow apples dotted the trees and broke the sea of leaves.

"Nah, we're way ahead a schedule, even gonna take a break this weekend. How 'er the girls?" Applejack did her best to keep her eyes on the tree directly across from the one she was bucking, though she couldn't help but steal glances at Twilight's lips every now and then. Still, she had to do her job, and began tensing the muscles in her haunch and legs, ready to strike the tree. Thwack! The sound echoed through the orchard, a few birds not yet migrating scattered from their homes near by.

"Well, Rarity is just as busy as you are. She got a recent order for several dresses for a store in Canterlot. She was really excited when she first got it, but I think she might have bitten off more than she can chew." As she spoke, a light lavender aura slithered from her horn, surrounding a tree and lifting the apples from it, placing them gently in a bucket. A bead of sweat formed under her mane, rolling down the left side of her face and dripping from her chin to the ground, leaving a dark brown spot on the ground beneath her. "She's all but disappeared into her boutique working on them. Sweetie belle spends a lot of time with Scootaloo when she isn't in school. Rainbow Dash has been busy practicing some new move and teaching Scootaloo to fly when the Cutie Mark Crusaders aren't trying to grow up too fast." She chuckled a bit at that last sentence, but Applejack hardly noticed anything. Her mind had wandered to Rainbow Dash, the majestic spread of her wings behind her, sweat reflecting sun through her coat. Applejack shook her head to clear the thought from her mind. No, Applejack, S' not right. What would Granny think?

"...but that's Pinkie Pie for you. And of course, Fluttershy was asked by Celestia to help set up a zoo in Canterlot and train the animal keepers, so it's been a bit lonely lately." She glanced over at Applejack for a moment, checking to see if she was still paying attention. The orange Mare was now picking up a few stray apples and dropping them in nearby buckets. Celestia had started lowering the sun, and bright pink and orange fluttered through the sky as the moon rose. "Applejack, is something wrong? Am I distracting you?"

"Nah, but ah'm 'bout finished. Mind if I come along'n we can grab the girls fer a drink at the Cider hut?" It had been a while since she'd made it into town. It wasn't just the harvest, no matter how many times she told herself it was. She just didn't trust herself around the others, but she couldn't keep avoiding them, they were her friends.

"Sorry Applejack, but I promised Princess Celestia I would finish a paper on pony transfiguration tonight. She want's to
know more about me becoming an alicorn. I really thought that was strange, since she's the one that did it, but I guess..." Applejack's heart sunk, her disappointment much worse than she'd expected. She was really starting to miss them. "And I'm sure that it probably has something to do with the strange place we were in. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm rambling again, aren't I? Anyway, you said you were off this weekend? I'm sure we could all get together some time then, although I think I'll stay away from the hard drinks for a while, especially after last time."

"Yeah," Applejack began in a half dishearted effort, half exhausted tone, "that'll be great." With a worried look, Twilight looked her friend over again, then turned and began trotting of to town. Applejack stared silently at her friend, the muscles in her flank flexing with each step and relaxing with the next, her beautiful new wings tucked against her slender sides. She observed the curves of her hips, the natural lay of her mane and simplicity of her tail.

"Applejack is... everything okay?" Twilight had turned her neck in an almost unnatural way, so that her eyes met the mares. Applejack could feel her face grow warm and flushed as she quickly shifted her gaze.

"Yeah, ah was jus thinking about this weekend.. See yah latter." With that, Applejack tried to clear her mind, returning to her trees. With another worried look, Twilight appeared ready to say something else, but turned and continued down the path to Ponyville.

She bucked a few more trees before deciding to call it a day. The sun had nearly set, and bright pink and orange colors danced in the sky above the orchard. She lifted the buckets of apples into her wheelbarrow, and started the trek home. Her thoughts wandered to home, to the same conversation she'd had in her mind several times.

"YOU'RE A WHAT!" Big Mac's voice rarely raised, but she could see it now. He had never been shy about what he thought of their kind. He was a stubborn pony, and changing wasn't in his vocabulary. Granny Smith simply left the room in anger, not speaking a word. "You Listen hear lil' missy, taint none a their kind gunna be livin' under this roof. Y'all get yerselff out of her for you twist Applebloom with yer Celestia fersaken ways!"

She always imagined arguing with him, but what could she actually say? Nothing would likely change his mind, and she wasn't ready to risk anything like that. She pushed the daydream from her mind, continuing on towards the now visible barn. The bright red paint hadn't faded since the last time they'd rebuilt it, though the Cutie Mark Crusaders adventure in traipsing left a few holes in the side. A couple, boards covered the hole, but their brown color contrasted the red around it. She dropped the apples off inside a large compressor for cider. Keeping her mind clear, she entered the house, sat at the dinner table and munched slowly on the salad.

"Sugarcube, wats the matter?" Granny Smithy spoke in her slow, careful words, her tone one of concern as she stared at Applejack's plate, "Yah've barely taken a bite."

"Sarry Granny Smith, ah just haven't much of a stomach tanight. Ah think I'll head ta bed." She stood and cleared her plate, then headed off to bed. Granny Smith and Big Mac stared after her, confusion and worry on their face.

Ah don't like bein' different. If ah could, ah'd be jus like everypony else, but ah'm not, and ya can't change who ya are.

Author's Note

Let me know if there's anything you think could have been done better. This stories pretty special to me, so I want it to be perfect.