Chapter 19 - Applejack tells a Story

Chapter 19 - Applejack tells a Story*Joshua’s P.O.V.*

I walked through Ponyville, still feeling a little sad about my changed ears.  I began to wonder if I would get a pony’s tail next if my pony transformation kept going.  While walking along, some of the ponies in town looked at me, but their looks were not stares as I passed them.  They had gotten used to seeing me by now, and I was happy with that.  I even saw a few of the ponies I knew, like Lyra and Sparkler.

I kept walking still feeling a little sad, but I didn't look where I was walking.  When I looked up, I saw I was in a field in Applejack’s farm.  I walked over to an apple tree and sat down under it with my back against it.  I then tucked my knees in and just sat there.  A little bit later, I heard somepony.

“Joshua?  Is that you?”

I looked over and saw Applejack.

“Hi Applejack,” I said sadly.

“Somethin’ wrong sugarcube?” she asked me.  I lifted my head off the tree I was on, and pulled my hood off my head showing her my changed ears.

“Land sakes,” she said surprised, “When did that happen?”

“Last night while I was asleep,” I said, putting the hood back on, “I don’t remember going to sleep with them.  Oh yeah, Mom got a letter from Princess Celestia, and she said that what they’re going to use to change me back, it’s going to need the Elements of Harmony.”

“Thanks for lettin’ me know,” she said.  I wrapped my arms around my knees again and sighed.

“Y’know hun,” Applejack said, “Ah can understand how hard this must be for ya.  First losing your home and your folks, and now turnin’ into a pony.  Ah can relate with ya on what you went through before you came here.”

“You can?” I asked looking at her.

“Yep,” she said.  She then sat down next to me on her flank.  “Scooch over here sugarcube,” she said waving her forehoof for me to come closer, “Ah wanna tell you a story.”  I slid myself over until I was against her side.  She then placed her hoof around me and told me a story.

“When Ah said Ah can relate with ya about losin’ yer folks, Ah meant it.  The same thing happened to me and my siblings,” she said sadly.

“It did?” I asked surprised.

“Yep,” she replied, “It all started when Apple Bloom was about a year and a half old.  It was rainin’ all day that day.  Mah ma and pa were gettin’ ready to go on a business trip in Las Pegasus.  They were always busy, and hardly had time for me, Apple Bloom, and mah big brother, Big Macintosh, but they still loved us.  Before they left though, mah dad gave me this stetson hat Ah’m wearin’ right now.”  She then pointed at her hat.  “He always left me in charge o’ runnin’ things here at the farm when Ah was old enough.  After sayin’ our goodbyes to them, they left.  The storm got worse later on that day.  The wind howled loudly, there was thunder and lightnin’, and the downpour got really heavy.  The wind was blowin’ so hard, it threatened to blow the barn right off the ground.  Thankfully that didn’t happen though.  The only real damage the barn received were tiles blown off the roof.

“The next day though was the possibly the worst day of our lives,” she said with a tear falling out of her eye.  I reached my hand up and wiped it away.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me Applejack,” I said to her.

“Ah’m fine sugar,” she said smiling at me, “Ah appreciate the gesture.  Anyway, a pegasus came by that mornin’ and he told me that the taxi carriage that mah parents had taken to Las Pegasus, it fell off a cliff, driver, passengers, and all.  Now with me bein’ the Element of Honesty, Ah can tell when somepony is lyin’ or not, so even before Ah became the Element of Honesty, Ah still had a tendency to tell a lie from the truth, and Ah could tell that the pegasus was givin’ me the honest, but heart breakin’ truth.

“We all never cried harder than we did that day, me, Big Mac, and Granny Smith, we were plum heartbroken.”

“Who’s Granny Smith?” I asked her.

“She’s mah grandma,” she said.

“What about Apple Bloom?” I asked again.

“She was too young to understand at the time, but we eventually told her what had happened.  She took it harder than we all did that day.  Anyhow, Ah was the one who took it the hardest.  The thought of bein’ in charge for the rest of mah time here on the farm without mah parents, it hit me like a ton of bricks.  It took some time, but Ah got over it, but Ah never forgot ma and pa.”

“Because you always wear that hat, right?” I asked.

“Yep,” she said.  She then took her hat off her head and placed it on mine.  It was a little too big for me, so it slid over my eyes.  Applejack chuckled at that.

“I think it’s too big Applejack,” I said to her taking it off and giving it back.

“Yeah,” she said putting it back on, “Ah just wanted to see how it looked on ya.  So anyway sugarcube, Ah know how ya feel with losin’ your folks, but always remember, as long as you remember how much you loved them, they’ll never leave ya.  And keepsakes are always great reminders too, just like mah hat reminds me of mah pa.”

“I have something to remember my mommy and daddy,” I said to her showing her my locket with the picture in it.

“Aww, you sure do look cute in that picture,” she said making me blush, “And yer parents sure do look like great folks.”

“Thanks for the help Applejack,” I said hugging her, “I feel a lot better now.”

“Anytime sugarcube,” she said bringing her other hoof around me.  Just then my tummy growled.

“Oops,” I said, “I forgot to have breakfast.”

“Well, why don’t ya join me and mah family for brunch?” Applejack asked.

“What’s brunch?” I said confused.

“It’s breakfast and lunch in one meal,” she said.

“Okay, that sounds nice,” I said.  She then smiled, placed me on her back, and walked toward her house.

“Oh yeah, one other thing Joshua,” she said before we went inside, “Best not talk about Nyx around Granny.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“She still don’t think too kindly of her after what happened.  She’s a stubborn mule on that matter,” Applejack said.  Suddenly I heard what sounded like a mule.  Applejack and I looked behind us and saw a gray mule standing there.  “No offense,” Applejack said to the mule.

“None taken,” the mule said.  I was confused at how he showed up.  But then Applejack led me inside and delicious smells of food went into my nose.