Applebuckin'

Three months later.

Chapter 4: The News

Three months have passed. I have worked on the farm every day now. Slowly getting to know Applejack more and more. Visiting the lake has become part of our everyday routine as well as something that I look forward to every day.

“Today wasn’t that bad now was it?” I asked AJ to conclude another day. Just before we left the lake.

“Yer right Avie. It wasn’t that bad, compared to three months ago...” She said looking at the water. Looks like she was reminding herself how it was three months ago and all the memories we shared.

“Applejack? Promise me that you will never forget the memories we shared. And that this will never fade.” I said as confident as ever. I knew that she would see the emotion that I tried to hide over all this time. But I didn’t care. I wanted her to know what I really felt.

“Avie... Ah Promise. None of these memories will ever fade.” She said really softly whilst looking looking directly into my eyes. I knew that she understood what I meant by that.

We spent some time in silence, reflecting on the time we have spent together and the things that we have went through. Time flies fast when you are having fun they say... This just proves this in many ways. Time flies too fast with Applejack next to me. Now I know that there will never be a thing that will separate us.

As always. Time passes us by, the skies get darker but we decided to stay at the lake for the night. To celebrate the 3 months of hard work. Now I will have to get some wood and leaves for the campfire that we will set up. AJ has gone to get some supplies from the barn as well as some food for the night. I may bring myself to say the words that I wanted to tell her for a while.

The words that I need to tell her because I wouldn’t be able to carry on without her knowing my true dedication...

“Avie. Ah’m back. I got our stuff. You got the fire ready?” She shouted to me from the path. I could hear that she was close by the rustling of the leaves coming from the same direction her voice did.

“I got the wood and leaves. I just need flint!” I shouted back. To my surprise the rustling was loud now. But I couldn’t see AJ anywhere. Neither could I hear her voice coming from the direction. I decided to go and look for her. And so I looked behind the brush and found her saddlebag... But AJ wasn’t there... I was beginning to feel scared now. No AJ? where could she have gone?

There was no signs of her. Nor any signs that would tell me where she went. Twigs weren’t broke, The hoof prints stopped at the point where her saddlebag lays. And her stetson hat was there too... Where is she?

“Applejack!! Where are you?” I shouted. I was scared now because there was no sign of her anywhere nor any sign of where she may have been...

*THUD*

“Hehe, I’m here Avie. You scared huh?” She said that so playfully like nothing has ever happened.

“Where the heck did you fall from?” I said whilst being squashed underneath her.

“Oh, Ah was up in the tree’s. Ah wanted to see if you would react to my disappearance. Ah see that you really care for me dont’cha?” With her saying this. I felt like it was the right thing to do to tell her now... The words that I always wanted to tell her...

“Ugh... AJ. I really want you to know... That... I... Really do not like to be sat on like this...” I couldn’t find the courage to tell her like this. I would need to look her in the face first...

“Oh... Ah’m sorry Avie. Ah’ll get off of yer.” She said with a small laugh. Making it kind of easier for me now to stand up and look into her eyes. “Is ther’ anything you want to tell me Avie?” She said with her sweet smile making it obvious that she knows what I am about to say...

“Yes actually... You see. I need to tell you something. For a long time now. I have been having this feeling towards you. Something more than a friend... I like you... I really like you...” I could have not been more nervous whilst saying that. I couldn’t even keep looking into her eyes.

“Oh. Avie. This is sweet an’ all... And ah have some feelings for you... You know... The Froo Froo kind of feelings... But could we please enjoy the night? We can talk about this tomorrow right?” she said so calmly but with a light blush that kind of made me feel better because now I know that I am not the only one that felt this way...

And so we spend the rest of the night together. More awkwardly than we intended on doing but we still spent it together. The night sky was beautiful, the clearing in the trees gave us a clean look at the stars and the moon. The water was glimmering and reflecting each and every little star giving it a shimmering look. The trees slowly rustled around us making this peaceful noise carried through the night. The cracking noises of the flames could also be heard coming from the now dying fire. The sounds of little animals in the forest could also be heard around.

This night was perfect. It was me, Applejack and nopony else around. We were alone in the nature. In the same place that we spent more than 3 months at. Now I know that this is the place that I want to spend my life at. And the mare that I wish to share it with. This was the idea I tried to imagine for so long. To live and love. But now, I should more likely enjoy the time I have together with AJ. And the calm sounds of the nature are driving us to sleep.

I awoke. It was way after dawn. Me and Applejack have fallen asleep Close to the now dead fire. The birds were chirping and the nocturnal animals were now gone. And the sight of animals drinking from the lake got me to think that the simpler life is better than a busy one. But now, I have to wake up Applejack and get back to the house, after all. My family must be wondering why I still haven’t came back.

And so we got up, ate the leftovers and got our belongings and started to head back towards the village. We kept talking, not about our feelings but about how we would do in the nearby future. After we got to the farm I have left Applejack and started to trot down towards my house. Whilst walking, I had a bit of time to reflect on the night and what we said to each other. I also thought about what to say to my parents to make them see that I want to spend the rest of my life here...

So I walked, and thought about these things. Until I reached my house. And there I saw him, my father waiting for me. The expression on his face didn’t look good or happy at all.

“Son, I have some news for you. Come with me.” He said to me. His serious tone got me to think of what could that be about. Yet nothing came into my mind.