Applejack swiftly bucked the nearest tree, earning the last bucketful of apples for the day. The farm-pony grinned, proud of a good day's work. It always felt so good to get the job done and AJ meant that. But these days, she'd been feeling so...lonely. She had no idea why, after all- she had everything a pony could ever ask for. A lovely, caring family who helps each other out, five amazing friends who work together, the farm itself with each individual tree and the apples they hold.
So, the farm-pony had no reason to fret...right? Applejack honestly wasn't very sure, at times she wished that she could spend some more time with somepony else whenever she had a break from her daily work. She could just ask one of her friends but she felt they wouldn't have enough time on their hooves to hang out with her, or at least together. Just this one time, AJ decided to brush the feeling off and she headed towards the barn to drift off for the night.
Once inside, the farm-pony snuggled down underneath the covers of her soft, plush bed and tried to get some sleep. But the thing is...she couldn't. AJ tried shifting her position but that didn't work either. That very same empty feeling was coming back to her and she hated it.
"Grr, maybe a late midnight snack would help out a little," Applejack sighed, getting out of bed and walking downstairs to the kitchen.
Not really caring on what she would digest for the time being, the farm-pony picked up an apple from the fruit basket on the counter and took a quick bite. It tasted good and all but somehow, it wasn't really helping AJ's problem.
"Land sakes, why have ah been feelin' like this lately? Ah wish ah could just find out the answer...some way...," the farm-pony pondered, pawing at the kitchen floor anxiously.
Maybe there was a book on this, that could help her out? Applejack declared this a great idea.
"Ah will have to visit Twilight tomorrow, she should be able to help out. Because ah have no idea what the hay has been happening to me, recently," the farm-pony muttered, about to trot upstairs back to her bedroom when she paused.
"Maybe...just maybe...ah will sleep with the haystacks for the night. Ah don't wanna disturb anypony, anyway."
xxxxx
Once morning rose, the usual cockerel tooted it's usual song to start off a bright new, fresh day. The farm pony shot up from her sleeping spot, already making her way to her alicorn friend's castle. AJ couldn't wait to figure out what had been on her mind lately and to put an end to it, fast. Once she arrived, she knocked on the elegant front door to her friend's home and patiently waited. A few minutes later, the door opened and Applejack was greeted by a tired looking princess.
"Ugh...oh! Good morning AJ, I see you're up early. Would you like...uh...help with anything?" Twilight questioned, holding the side of her face, lazily.
As much as the farm-pony felt awful for waking her friend up so early when clearly she wasn't the 'early bird' type, Applejack really wanted to find out what her troubles were.
"Uh yeah, ah would like some help. Y'all see, ah have been getting a kinda...empty feelin' lately. Y'all think y'all could help a fellow friend out?" AJ asked, sheepishly.
Twilight smiled and nodded.
"Of course, Applejack. Right this way," she answered, stepping aside and allowing her friend to enter her home. Applejack glanced around, confused.
"Heh, sorry Twi but ah seemed to have forgotten where the library is," the farm-pony replied.
"Haha, that's fine. Just follow me this way," the alicorn giggled, shutting the front door and walking down a hallway.
AJ followed as requested and soon enough, Twilight entered a room full of all kinds of different books to be seen for miles.
"I'm sure if I look at a certain section, there could be something helpful for you. Though I'm curious, do you think you have any idea at all as to why you have been having such a feeling lately?" the princess asked, flying to a high row of books that were lined up ever so neatly to A-Z.
The farm-pony simply shrugged, unsure.
"Ah don't really know, to be honest with ya. Hmm...wait. Ah guess it might have somethin' to do with being, uh, lonely? Like, maybe I want to spend some more time with somepony else whenever I'm free? But only with just one other pony, that's all," Applejack answered, shuffling on the castle grounds.
Twilight's face lit up and she glanced down to where her friend was standing, grinning.
"Could it possibly be due to the fact that you don't have a lover? A special somepony, perhaps?" she said.
AJ's eyes grew wide and she thought about it. Could this really be? Could she just want that very special one to be with her at most times? This actually seemed pretty likely but the farm-pony still wanted to know why she had only just recently started feeling this, if it was true.
Maybe, just maybe she had developed a crush on somepony without even knowing about it. But who would that be? Applejack had no idea in all honesty, this was pretty puzzling for her.
"Ah guess so. But ah have no ideas on who ah'd wanna be with, nor on who would wanna be with me. Ah'm not even sure about any of this, to be fair," the farm-pony answered, glancing up at her friend.
The alicorn seemed to have found something and so, she carefully lifted up a book from a section with her magic.
"Oh, well I'm sure things will come clear for you soon. Otherwise, this here will help you out," Twilight replied, levitating the book to her friend.
Applejack took it, beaming.
"Thank y'all kindly, Twi. Y'all are a really kind friend, who always wants to help others out. Rainbow Dash would probably have just laughed at me for feelin' like this," the farm-pony said, glancing downwards sadly.
Twilight flew to where her friend was standing, with a look of sympathy.
"It's alright, AJ. These things happen to all of us sometimes, it's nothing to be ashamed of," she said, placing her arm around Applejack's shoulder.
The farm-pony smiled, feeling very delightfully warm. Oh, how powerful friendship could be!
xxxxx
"Right, so have ah been feelin' anything for any close friends? Nope, don't think so," AJ thought, answering a question from the book she'd borrowed.
So far, it had some very good ideas but the farm-pony was still clueless as to who she could possibly have any kind of feelings for.
"Have ah ever been on a date before? Nah."
"Have ah ever had a crush on anypony and if so, who would it be? Uh...um...ah think ah'll pass that one for now," Applejack sighed, closing the book and putting it aside.
The farm-pony had been reading through that book for at least one hour now, on a patch of grass in a forest. Being alone helped her think a lot more but she was still uncertain about all this.
Applejack picked up the book in her muzzle and decided to walk around a little, to try and take her mind off it for the time being. She admired the beautiful scenery surrounding her, smiling. A group of birds were singing, perched on a tree branch, butterflies fluttered around delicate lilies in the fresh, cut grass whilst the sky was the most gorgeous sapphire blue. This very much reminded the farm-pony of Fluttershy, making her smile happily at the thought of her gentle friend.
But then something startled AJ, she suddenly noticed a vision of somepony walking next to her and she had no idea who it was. It looked like a shadow of some sort and if Applejack didn't know any better, the shadow was supposed to represent her "special somepony".
It was strange though because the dark shape seemed to look a lot similar to Princess Twilight Sparkle. Applejack rubbed her eyes and shook her head, making the hallucination disappear as fast as it appeared. AJ decided to just ignore it, though the thought couldn't help lingering at the back of her mind.
Moving on, AJ started to recognize Ponyville from where she approached. Just as the farm-pony was about to turn around and head back to Sweet Apple Acres, she stopped and thought about one of her closest friends...Rarity. As much as AJ wanted to just go home and bring along all of her thoughts with her, she kind of wanted to see what her friend's opinion would be on all this. Confidently, Applejack cantered to Carousal Boutique with no hesitation.
Once the farm-pony arrived, she calmly knocked on the front door.
"Coming!" a familiar voice piped up in a sing-song tone and a few seconds later the door opened to reveal a very cheerful looking face.
"Oh! Why, good evening Applejack. What brings you here?" Rarity asked, politely.
AJ smiled back.
"Ah just wanted to speak to y'all about somethin', if y'all are free at the moment that is," the farm-pony answered.
"Yes, yes! Of course, come in," Rarity answered, walking back inside.
Applejack trotted inside after her and closed the door.
"I'll just go and make some tea, you can sit anywhere which suits your fancy, dear," Rarity called, already headed to her kitchen.
Applejack put down her book on the edge of the sofa and placed herself on Rarity's comfy, luxurious sofa and glanced around, wondering if this was such a great idea. Though Rarity would probably be able to help out with the situation, since she must've had the same thing happen to her many times before as well.
A few minutes later, the unicorn arrived with a tray of two teacups resting atop and some oatmeal biscuits. She levitated the tray on the table sitting next to the sofa which Applejack was on. Rarity joined her friend on the sofa, smiling.
"So, what has been happening lately? Any interesting news you'd like to share?" Rarity asked, taking a few sips out of one of the drinks.
"Uh...ah guess," the farm-pony replied, helping herself to one of the treats.
Rarity waited, expectantly.
"...Well?" she asked.
"Ah...um...ah have been very lonely these days ah guess. Ah talked to Twi about it and she reckons it's because ah don't have a special somepony," Applejack explained, bravely.
She was worried that Rarity would laugh, tease her about it but surprisingly she did nothing of the sort.
"Oh, Applejack! Is that so, dear? Well, I'm sure it won't be too difficult to find somepony that you'd want to be with. I'm quite happy that you decided to tell me about this. I could try and give you some tips on this type of subject, if you'd like," the unicorn smiled.
"Heh, thank y'all kindly Rarity."
"Well, I suppose there might possibly be somepony that you'd want to try dating with? Do you have any ideas, hmm?"
"Uh, ah ain't really that sure to be honest."
"Okay, let's take a different approach. Which gender would you date?"
"What?! Well, um...," Applejack started, feeling her face flush a tiny bit.
She never really considered if she'd date other mares instead of stallions. Though somehow, she felt she really didn't mind the thought.
"Uh, ah guess either of them?" she answered.
Rarity gasped.
"Wow, really?! That's wonderful to know, at least you're so open minded...hey, how about you date one of our friends?" Rarity joked.
Applejack's eyes grew wide in shock.
"What?!"
"Let's see...how about Rainbow Dash?"
Applejack rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, no. Ah kinda saw that one coming, actually."
"Um...Twilight?" Applejack froze as this was said, thinking back to earlier that day.
Twilight was very kind and she was always the most respectful one, possibly AJ liked her the most out of all of her friends. But she'd never thought of...dating her.
"Ah don't really know about that..."
"Oh, ho, ho! Do I sense some sort of...consideration for this idea?" Rarity giggled.
"You two would be absolutely adorable together, now that I've put my mind to it. You should definitely ask her about this!"
"N-no! Ah can't, ah ain't even sure about it yet. Give me some time first, ah'm not even sure about any of this at the moment," the farm-pony objected, turning away.
"I'm sorry, Applejack. I didn't realize how confusing this must be to you," Rarity said, apologetically.
"But don't fret, I'm sure it'll all work out for you in the end...though you should keep the princess date in mind," Rarity added, teasingly.
Applejack giggled and faced her friend once again.
"Y'all will be lucky! Okay, ah will. No Pinkie Promises though," she winked, feeling a lot better now that she'd opened up a bit more.
Once the farm-pony left Carousal Boutique, she couldn't stop thinking about the idea of dating her alicorn friend. Would Twilight even feel the same way? Probably not, she must just see AJ as any o'l pony. But if wonder if Twilight did want to, in fact, date her? AJ thought about her friend suggesting the idea; her cheeks turning crimson.
"Ah don't think it would be so bad, actually. Twi ain't a bad looking filly-" the farm-pony cut herself off before she could finish.
"Wait...did ah really just say that?" She sighed, her face heating up once again.
"The heat must be gettin' to me...literally."
xxxxx
"Hey, big sis! What are y'all doing?" Applejack's little sister asked, entering the bedroom. Applejack quickly hid Twilight's book under the covers, sweating.
"Uh, n-nothing!! Just resting, that's all Applebloom," AJ answered, grinning nervously.
"Oh, alright. Hey, why haven't y'all been working today? Were y'all given a break or somethin'? Heh, lucky you!" Applebloom laughed. Applejack nodded, weakly.
"Ah guess, since ah haven't been concentrating all that much recently. Though ah will start work again tomorrow, ah just haven't been feelin' up to it that much today."
"Oh, are y'all alright sis? You look pretty worried, to me."
"Nah, nothins' wrong. Ah'm fine, little sis. Ah just need to be alone for a little while, y'all don't mind right?"
"Of course not, ah'm perfectly fine with it! Ah just hope y'all are feelin okay," Applebloom replied, seeing herself out.
"Eeyup, ah'm fine...just fine," Applejack thought, beaming.
The farm-pony was thinking about the whole idea of dating her alicorn friend but still, she couldn't make up her mind.
"Ah guess if I go see her then that might make it more easier," Applejack decided.
She trotted downstairs and headed out of her home, to her friend's castle once again.
Though once she arrived, she noticed Twilight was sitting out at the front of her home, reading as per usual. That would be something that Applejack would be doing a lot lately too, nowadays. Once Twilight looked up, she gave a cheerful wave.
"Hey, Applejack! How's that book-reading going? Found anypony, yet?" she questioned.
"Ah guess y'all could say that, haha."
"Well, who is it? Tell me, tell me, tell me!" the alicorn exclaimed, excitedly.
The farm-pony pointed at her friend, grinning. Naive,
Twilight glanced behind herself. "Who, me?"
"Maybe.."
"R-really?" the princess asked, blushing.
"...Yeah."
"I...well, that is very...uh...," Twilight stammered, not sure on what to say.
She was flattered but not very sure if she felt the same way. Applejack sighed, turning back. It didn't work out as much as she'd hoped. She stopped in her tracks once she heard her friend call out.
"Wait! I...you really want to try dating with me?" Twilight asked, chewing the inside of her mouth thoughtfully.
Applejack nodded, awkwardly.
"Th-then...I don't see why not," the princess declared.
Applejack's ears turned up at this.
"Are y'all serious? Or are y'all just saying that because you feel sorry for me? Y'all know, y'all don't have to-" the farm-pony paused when her friend got up from where she was sitting and gave AJ a hug.
"It wouldn't be so bad, you know. If it's what you want then alright, we'll do it! It should be fun," Twilight replied, gently and her face flushed once more.
Applejack returned the hug, giving her friend a quick nuzzle.
"Thank y'all, Twi..."
"You're welcome, AJ. But...this seems kind of rushed," Twilight said.
Applejack nodded in agreement.
"Ah know but...my feelings don't. Ah think ah've realized, all this time ah have been feelin' this way because of y'all! Ah just didn't realize it, ah would've said earlier otherwise," the farm-pony replied, glancing down at the ground in embarrassment.
Twilight gently held up Applejack's face with her hooves, smiling.
"It's fine, AJ. It'll all be fine," the alicorn smiled, giving the farm-pony a quick kiss on the cheek.
Applejack blushed at this, returning the smile. She felt a lot more happier now and noticed, that the empty feeling had vanished completely.
