Season of Hearts

Chapters

Exiz Arrival
A Nevercoming Journey Home
A Hearts Desire, A Stubborn Mare
I'll Never Fade Away
She Stole My Heart
Drifting Away...
Bonds Unbroken

Exiz Arrival

My name is Exiz, Exiz Enos. I sit here with nothing to keep me warm but a campfire and memories of her. That wonderful, beautiful, strong, and sometimes frightening mare. Apple Jack. Why did I mess it up so bad. The first day I met her I remember it clearly.

I had moved here to Ponyville in hopes of moving on from that terrible city with those terrible memories. I really hate Manehattan. Stupid town full of stuck up people. My stomach growled, I hadn't eaten in two days. I was starving, quite literally. I walked into town and saw dozens of fruit stands. They made my mouth water all the more. I saw one that caught my eye, an easy target. An orange mare selling sweet golden delicious apples. I went up and pretended to be a bystander, innocent enough. Of coarse I had no money, no way of paying. I had to do what any starving pony would do, I swiped one while she wasn't looking and took off running.

"HEY!" she called and ran after me, I picked up the speed.

I looked back and saw her on my tail, CRAP, this broad was faster than she looked.

I felt myself trip, she looked down at me with her emerald eyes, angry of course.

"What the hay do you thank you were doin'?" she asked with her southern accent.

"Uh..." Before I could reply my stomach replied for me GRRRRRRRrrrrr...

I shied away from her gaze.

She sighed and walked away. "Keep it." She said simply.

I watched as she walked away. The apple was now covered in dust and grime, but I didn't care I gobbled it down with the voracity of a Cerberus. I licked my lips looking to see if I'd missed anything. I looked up and saw the orange mare gazing at me with a look in her eye that said, 'What is wrong with you.'

"Calm down there partner," she said, she set down a basket full of baked goods and apples, "compliments of Ponyvilles finest farm. Welcome to the town new guy, just don't let Pinkie Pie meet ya, unless yer in the mood for cake."

I looked up at her, could a pony really be this generous? She smiled and walked away. I kept looking at the basket for several more 1
seconds. I didn't know what to make of this.

I picked it up and trotted off. I got tired after a while, after all twelve days of walking through a forest is pretty tiring. I needed a place to rest. I hopped a white picket fence and crashed out underneath a tree.

I was woken up several hours late by a red colt. He looked me lazily in the eyes. I smiled and began to leave.

"Sorry, I didn't know this land belonged to anypony" I told him.

"Not a problem stranger," the stallion said, "if ya want you can crash in the barn."

"Really?" I asked, beginning to see chance in this new towns generosity.

"E'yup," he said, "all part of the Apple families southern hospitality." He said smiling, he turned and walked away.

"Hey!" I called to him he turned around. "Well there must be a way I can repay you? Maybe I can do some work on the farm?" I offered.

He scratched his chin, "Hmm?" He wondered. "Well, mah lil' sister Applejack may be a might stubborn but just tell her I sent ya ta help with applebuckin'" He explained.

I nodded eagerly and headed off to the direction he pointed me.

As I entered the clearing, I saw a familiar orange mare, uh-oh. Too late she already saw me. She looked angry.

She ran up and faced me glaring into my eyes.

"What do ya'll think yer doin' here?" She flared.

"I...uh- your, uh... he said..." I stuttered.

"Spit it out or I'll kick yer flank into next Bucktober." She said, I mentally did the math that was next year, she must give one hay of a beating (and by the looks of it I bet she could).

"Um, your brother said I could sleep in the barn if I helped you out with your applebucking?" I told her, it sounded more like I was offering it than telling her.

"Hmph, well go tell Big Mac that ah don't need no help, I got this all on muh own." She kicked a tree and an apple fell on her head. I couldn't help but laugh.

She turned to face me, I shut up instantly, "Ya'll think ya can do a better job?" She questioned.

"Uh- well... no probably no-"

"Well than go ahead." She waved to a tree full of apples and wooden buckets all around.

I reared up both legs and kicked the tree as hard as I could. Nothing.

"Ha," she proclaimed, "not as easy as it-" she was interrupted by the splintering of the tree as it fell and the apples fell from it.

She looked at me, her mouth agape.

"Maybe I should have mentioned I was a hoof boxer in my last town." I told her smiling. "Horse Shoe Enos" that was my stage name. Exiz Enos, because if you faced me you might as well hug and kiss your career goodbye. I was undefeated.

"Maybe tone it down with the next one." She said putting her tough face back on. I see that this one wasn't going to fall for the intimidation technique.

I smiled. "Does that mean I can sleep in the barn?" I asked.

She looked back at me and gave me a country girl guffle, "Ya sure, why the hay not."

I awoke to the sound of a young filly laughing. I watched as Apple Bloom and her sister got up to begin there afternoon chores. After all that we'd been through, she still persisted as if noting happened between us. I sighed, although she didn't even know I was here. Nopony did. I had to tell her soon though, I couldn't stand this hiding.

I would come out and tell her, but first I wanted to remember those times again. The time that seemed to not make a difference to her either way. Did I mean anything to her? I just wanted a few more memories before I left for good, solice for my aching heart.

A Nevercoming Journey Home

I watched as AJ and her sister played while doing chores and I smiled, she'd come so far after what I'd done it was as if she was the same pony as before I met her... Was that really all I was to her, a memory. I grew drowsy so I lay myself down under the shade, I think it's time for a little reminiscence.

I was exhausted after the long day of apple bucking. I could last several rounds with the best boxers but AJ's 'training' was worse than all of it combined. I collapsed on bale of hay, my muscles aching in pain. I was there for just a couple of minutes wondering how I was going to make it another day when Apple Jack came in. I was on my back, I looked up to her.

"What's up?" I said looking up at her.

...

Ah was in the kitchen gettin' ready fer supper. Granny Smith looked at me sharply whilst AB washed her hooves in the sink.

"What is it Granny?" Ah asked.

"How come ya didn't ask that new little friend of yers to come ta supper?" She questioned.

"Uh, well he ain't family Granny, he's only here fer workin' the farm till he gets back on his hooves." Ah told her.

"Well a ponies gotta eat don' he?" She cocked an eyebrow at me. Ah sighed defeated, there really was no fussin' 'gainst Granny Smith when she sets her mind to something.

Ah went out to the barn and saw the colt layin' on his back snugglin' with a bale of hay. Ah laughed an' walked over to him.

"What's up?" He asked not botherin' ta get up off his back.

"We were just wondrin'," I began, he looked at me intently, "if... maybe ya wanna have dinner with the family."

He grinned as he nodded all topsy turvy.

"Well common then, ya gotta get yerself washed up." Ah told him.

...

"Race ya there." I told her as I burst ahead of her, she laughed as she quickly caught up.

I knew she was faster than me I'd already found that out. I crashed into her as we reached the door, giggling like two school foals we entered together. I went to the sink and washed my hooves and sat down for grace as they asked Celestia to bless their meal.

Dinner was delicious, as we ate the family went around the table talking about their days. Granny Smith explained that she was about to try a new recipe she'd been wanting to try for her Zapapple Jam (whatever that was). Apple Bloom told about us adventures with her little group, the Cutie Mark Crusaders she called them. I laughed a little when I heard the name, not at her just at the memories of finding my own talent with my foalhood freinds. Apple Jack explained how she thought she'd found an apple heart.

"I swear Granny it was sooo close," she told her grandmare, "what Ah'd give to find one fer real though."

Big Macintosh merely "Eyup'd" in response.

That's when I felt the eyes on me, I looked up from my glass of cider.

"Uh?" I said, "Well you guys really don't know much about me do you." I said.

"Well that's what dinner's for ya foal." Granny Smith snapped, "ya tell us about yerself and what ya seen and done."

I smiled at her way, but then it quickly faded, they wanted to know about me.

"Well?" I began, they all stared as I began my story.

I was about thirteen years old, my father pushed me everyday to be better than what I was. He'd taken me out of school to train with the coach he'd payed for. Everyday we trained and trained until one day he got me a fight at the local gym. My first fight I was outweiged by eight pounds. That's a lot in a fight, but I swept the floor with him. After about ten undefeated fights total KO's within five rounds I was granted the nickname Horse Shoes, because all I did was kick flank.

I was offered a title match for the lightwieght division in Manehatten, I obviously accepted. The match was rough, tougher than any of the other colts I sparred with before. During the thirty-fifth round he sucker kicked me in the ribs after the bell. The reff didn't call it. I was fuming in the next round I sideswiped his jaw, that caught him off guard, and got him angry. The one thing you wanna do in a fight is get your opponent angry.

I bucked him as hard as I could in the gut, at the last minute he moved back that's when it all went downhill. I hit him in the throat, he started gagging for dear life. And well, I guess he really was, after I was crowned the new champ I found out he died. I quit buckboxing and skipped town. I couldn't go through something like that again. My father tried to convince me to stay but I couldn't, not after doing what I did to that colt. He was just as young as I was and had the rest of his life ahead of him. I was a murderer, even if it was protected under national employment risk regulations.

So for seven years I wandered from town to town looking for my next meal ticket. I eventually found my way back to Manehatten, I did an underground tournament, I had to. I had no money, I was hungry and nopony wanted to hire a scruffy dirty sack of manure like me. So I risked it all, I got in that ring and made some money, then went out to get a hot meal. That's when my father showed up, it was raining, the scene was like something out of a movie. Silence at first I stared at him angrily, he watched the floor. Finally he spoke up.

"I saw ya out in that ring," I was quite, "ya still got it in ya."

"I'm not goin' back in the ring if that's what you want!" I told him.

He was silent as he watched the table in front of him. "I know son," he told me, "just be safe on your travels okay?"

He left back into the rain just like that, and once again I skipped town again and eventually found myself here in Ponyville.

"That's why I was so shocked at your generosity." I told the. "On all of my travels, I was told to buck off. I never had anypony offer me a place to stay." I said looking to Big Mac. "Or a basket of goods." I said smiling at Apple Jack.

They watched me, I felt strange having them all study me.

"I, uh... think I'll go to bed now." I told them. I left, "G'nite," I told them as I went to the barn.

I could never go back home, and now they knew why. I could never be in the ring again. I went back to the bale of hay and fell right to sleep. I didn't dream I just slept.

Several hours later I was woken up by a tap on my shoulder.

"Huh?" I said drowsily scanning the darkness for the intruder, "Whuhappned?"

"Shh!" The intruder hushed. "C'mon I wanna show ya somethin'" It was Apple Jack.

I got up and followed. Where were we going? I had no idea but I followed anyways.

A Hearts Desire, A Stubborn Mare

I followed her dragging my hooves, "Where are we going?" I asked her.

"Ya'll get ta see when we get there, now quit yer fussin'." I didn't see where we were through all of the thick tree trunks, couldn't see past Apple Jacks flank (not that I was watching, I just had to follow her somehow, WHATEVER!)

Finally the trees cleared and what I saw took my breath away, it was a pond. But it was strange, the water had a teal glow on the surface and it was crystal clear. Small tufts of illuminated pollen floated through the air.

"Ah come here to think sometimes." AJ told me. "Clear my head after a long day or when Ah'm down, ya know?" She told me smiling.

"Wow." I said still amazed by this sight.

"Ah found this place when Ah was just a foal, the water is only like this when a full moon comes out." She explained skimming a hoof over the surface. "Otherwise it's just a mucky swamp that nopony'd think twice about."

I watched her, here it seemed like she was a totally different mare. When I met her she was stubborn and a little rude, but she still had an honest soft side it seemed. Around here she seemed calm, relaxed, at ease. I wondered what it was about this place that turned her this way. She laid down by the water, I went over and laid next to her. I stared at her until she turned her attention from the glistening surface of the water to me.

"What?" She asked with an awkward smile and that same country girl guffle as before.

"I was wondering?" I began.

"What is it?" She demanded.

"Apple Jack?"

"Call me AJ."

"AJ then," I started, "what does this place mean to you?" I asked, her face changed.

She frowned as she looked at her reflection in the water. I watched too to see if I could somehow see what she was thinking.

"Well," she stared, "when I was a foal." she began.

It was a hot day on the farm, the weather report from the Pegasai had said it was gonna rain so we had to get as much applebuckin' done as we could. Ah was plum tuckered out but Ah had ta keep it goin'. After a few hours or so we saw the storm clouds a comin' in. We all went inside, except fer ma 'n pa. They had to go to they're favorite tree. They went to it every time a storm had come. It was the tree they met under. They had their initials carved into the bark.

Ah watched through the window. They sat under the tree askin' it to help protect the orchard. They always did it, it wasn't no different than usual, but Ah had a bad feelin' as I saw thunder formin' in the clouds.

As they were comin' back Ah saw it before anypony could respond. A bolt of lightnin' came straight out a the sky and hit a tree. It landed on ma pa, momma tried to call for help but another bolt came outta the sky and hit another tree. It didn't fall on her but it blocked her in. Ah ran outside as fast as Ah could. I ran straight up to the burnin' tree but there was nothin' I could do. The fire had already taken 'em from me.

I watched as she finished her story, I saw the tears from the suppressed memories in her eyes.

"We usually don't talk about it." She told me. "But after it happened Ah went fer a walk a few days after the funeral. There was a trail a leaves leadin' right up ta this pond." She explained. "It's like they were tryin' ta lead me here to let me know it'd be ok, ya know?" She finished looking at me, I nodded understandingly.

She really loved her parents, I couldn't really understand that feeling, but I could see how much she cared. My mother died giving birth to me, and I knew she would already know why I'd hated my father. She stood up and flicked her head back making her hat fly off, I watched her, somehow she also seemed more graceful here too.

"Well," she said, she jumped a cannonball into the still water, splashing my face, "Ain't ya'll comin' in?" She asked. "Or is the mighty buckboxin lightweight champ chicken around water?"

"Is that a challenge?" I asked getting up.

She imitated a chicken, making clucking sounds at me. Oh now it's on. I walked backwards and charged forward lunging at the waters edge. I splashed down just over her head sending water in all directions. It was deeper than it looked, as I came up I saw the water had matted her bangs over her face. She smiled and guffled again.

"So it's a splashin' competition yer achin' fer huh?" She said.

Before I could question 'What?' she splashed water in my face. I coughed water out and splashed back, we sat there for a few minutes splashing back and forth like two school foals... again.

Finally we got out, she did first. She shook her coat semi dry. The light from the moon shone on her majestic fur like it was radiating an aurora. I watched a small faded rainbow form around her. She noticed me staring at her, she looked embarrassed.

"What'r ya'll starin' at?" she asked sheepishly.

I snickered a bit as I said, "You," then I stopped a I trotted a little closer gazing at her emerald eyes,"you look beautiful." I looked into her eyes and saw my reflection looking back at myself.

She looked at me seriously for a minute as I leaned closer, then she turned her head and closed her eyes.

"Um!" She broke eye contact, "Ah think we should head back now." She said not looking at me.

We walked back in silence, she looked everywhere except for at me, it was a little awkward for both of us.

As I came to the barn it was the first time since the pond she looked at me, I smiled as I said, "Goodnight AJ."

"G'nite, sugar cube." She said, that was the first time she said it to me. I felt my stomach do a little flutter, but I didn't show it, I had to be manly after all right? She was a stubborn mare, but she was also an honest one, I knew if she genuinely wanted this to be more than a working thing she'd tell me. Then again I'd only known her for a day, there might be no telling what she was really thinking.

When I woke up it was night time again, I sighed time to start another fire. I looked up and saw the bright half moon shining. I smiled, it was almost time, just a few more days...

I'll Never Fade Away

I watched again another day as she played in the orchard with her Apple Bloom and her friends, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. I watched the glistening in her eyes as she played, she seemed so happy. I remembered the first time I saw that sparkle, it was the day she stole my heart. But the memory this time was of my best friend.

It had been a few weeks since our swim out in the pond. I told her we had to do it again sometime, she just blushed under her hat and gave me a nudge. We spent the day bucking apple trees, when it got too hot we sat under the gazebo sipped some lemonade. We talked about our friends, she had a lot more stories than me. Probably because I hadn't had any friends since I ran away. She told me all the stories and I saw fire in her eyes every time she talked about Rainbow Dash, the two were always in competition with each other. I laughed whenever she got excited and jumped up to imitate her final moments of victory against her rival.

"Whaddabout you Ex?" She asked.

"Huh?" I said confused.

"Y'ever had somepony ya just HAD ta beat every time ya met 'em?"

"Well." I thought for a moment, there was this one stallion I remember I was always trying to beat in the ring, the only one who could go until it was a tie every time.

"There was one guy." I told her.

"Well let's hear the story I feel like the one doin' all the talkin'." She said eagerly.

"OK, OK." I told her trying to calm the mare down.

...

Every time Heavy Hooves Darts and I got in the ring it was always a tie. Both of us were undefeated and we sparred everyday. We trained in the same gym, he was always training right next to me and I enjoyed the friendly competition. It made training with my father a little more bearable, he wasn't always screaming 'ONE MORE ONE MORE!' in my ear because the two of us always were trying to push just one more.

There was a reason they called him Heavy Hooves, he had hooves that could take out a pumpkin cart. Get hit by one and you would be dazed the rest of the round. I was the only one in the gym who could dodge him. We hung out after workouts, we'd wander the streets looking for trouble, gangsters who hadn't found out who we were yet or ones who thought they could win with numbers. They never won, no matter how many they brought or what kind of weapons they had they always ran away with their tails between their flanks and me and old Heavy Hooves would be in stitches with laughter.

One day though a recruiter came to the gym, Heavy and I were in the ring together so we hadn't noticed. He watched the whole match start to finish. It ended in a KO for both of us, we each landed a hit at the same time, we both went down for the count. When we came to we saw him in the middle of the ring clapping his hooves together. He was a tan colt with a chocolate colored mane and a pair of bucking gloves as his cutie mark.

"Well done boys." He said. "My name is Dirt." he told us.

I snickered a bit he ignored it.

"I'm here to offer one of you the chance of a life time." He told us and both of our ears pricked up, "One of you is going to compete in a tournament to fight for the Lightweight Division Championship of Manehatten."

The Lightweight Division Championship was the entrance to every young boxers career only the best of the best Lightweight Division winners got to participate. Dirt was a recruiter and I totally forgot about him, seventeen of the ponies he chose had moved into Championship Lightweight, and three had advanced into Heavyweight. In the hoofboxing world he was was considered to have a golden eye for recruiting.

"Son." He said looking at me my heart jumped. "I want to represent you in the Championship Fight, whadda ya say." He said holding out his hoof. I was about to shake it when I saw the despaired look in Heavy's eyes as he turned to leave the ring. I pushed Dirt's hoof away.

"No," I told him, I pointed at Heavy, "Heavy Hooves Darts over there is the better fighter hooves down I told him."

He looked at me. "Son are you sure? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity here."

"WHAT IN TARTARUS DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?" My father exploded.

"I'm not going dad I'm not ready." I protested.

"YOUR GONNA BUCKING PASS UP OUR MEAL TICKET WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS HAS ALL BEEN ABOUT?" My father shouted, my ears pulled back out of fear.

"Sir please." Dirt pushed in front of us he was chest to chest with my father, "as a former hoofboxer I would like to say that this is entirely your sons decision, you can't force him to fight if he doesn't want to."

"Well I do want to fight." I said, both Dirt and my father looked at me surprised, "I just think Heavy deserves it more." I finished.

"DESER-" my father began but Dirt cut him off.

"Well son if you really want to compete I do have a friend in recruiting who has yet to find a fighter." He offered, I shot a smile to Heavy.

Now we could both compete, he shot me a challanging glance, I nodded it was on. We'd fight in the championship for the Lightweight Division of Manehattan Hoofboxing.

I finished my story with a prideful look on my face.

"That's it?" AJ said.

"What do you mean?" I felt offended.

"Well what about the fight?" She asked eagerly, "Who won?"

"Well..." my voice simmered down as my ears fell and my face hit the floor, "that's just it, during the final round it was Heavy and me." I told her, her face changed when she realized what I'd meant.

That's right, during the championship round somepony had been disqualified so it went into substitute. Thirty-six rounds of two BFF's pounding each others muzzles in and the crowd ate it up, it's what they came for. Then round thirty-five came we were both exhausted, after the bell rang he cheap shot bucked me in the ribs. He really wanted to win so when the next round began I rushed at him and threw up my hooves, he was never good at dodging, he should have weaved out of the way. Instead he moved back thinking he had enough room but he forgot the ropes were behind him, I hit him square in the trachea. He fell to the floor, the reff started counting. It was only after the count when he didn't get up that they called the paramedics.

Afterwards he was carted off and all I could think of was him, even being belted the new champ I didn't feel like celebrating. Several hour later I found out the news. All buckboxers had to sign a death waiver. If they died in the ring it wasn't anyponies fault but their own, 'workforce hazard'. I quit, I skipped town and never looked back. I couldn't see the things that I'd done and live with myself for it.

She Stole My Heart

As a few more days passed I watched AJ applebuck her way through the fields. Every tree she kicked she'd look through the entire barrel, only I knew what she was really looking for and if anypony asked her she was just making sure none of 'em were rotten. I smiled to myself thinking about it, she hadn't forgotten about me no matter how much of a tough face she put on. She was still searching for a heart apple.

It was the morning before the full moon, AJ and I were out in the field busy as bees (as she said). She kept looking through her baskets at each apple, as if there would be something different about one of them. I trotted up beside her searching, curiously watching her. Finally she noticed me.

"What?" She looked at me as if she was the one who was confused.

"What are you doing?" I asked her laughing.

"I was, uh... lookin' fer rotten ones." Was her lame excuse.

"Nice try AJ but your a terrible liar." I told her.

She looked a little embarrassed that I'd noticed so easily.

"I was lookin' fer a..." She trailed off and I didn't hear what the last part was.

"What was that?" I said leaning in.

"A heart apple." She said louder this time.

I looked at her confused, what the hay was a heart apple? She began to explain it to me. It only happens during an overlap between Zap Apple harvest and Applebucking season. Some of the magic crossed with normal apples and they were given special properties. They were shaped like hearts and were said to grant one wish, a wish you held deep within your heart. I was amazed that something like it could exist.

"Ah found one once." She said.

"What did you wish for?" I asked her.

She laughed and looked up at me with a sparkle in her eyes, my stomach did a back-flip.

"Ya don't get ta make yer wish." She said, "it just happens."

I nodded, "So what happened?" I asked her.

She looked shy and blushed. "Ah'll tell ya tonight." She told me.

I spit on my hoof and held it out, she did the same and we spit-shook on it. Now she couldn't break the promise.

...

As night fell I could't stop thinking about what it could possibly be that she'd wished for. Then finally she came down to the edge of the forest with her lantern, we walked quietly to the pond. We sat be the waters edge looking at each others reflections in the teal-blue water. Finally she looked up at me, I looked at her curiously. Her eyes smiled at me as she told me.

"Ah got to met you." She explained.

I was confused. "What?" I asked.

She looked back at the water. "A few weeks before Ah saw ya, Ah found a heart apple. At first Ah thought it was a fake after a while passed by an' nothin' happened, but then you came along." She told her story, what was she getting at?

"Ya gotta carve your initials into the skin and plant it where it fell. So that's what Ah did, but after a few weeks mah wish didn't come true I thought it might be a fake. But then you came into mah life." She smiled as she finished.

I put my forehoof around her neck, I squeezed as I felt her tears running down her cheek.

"I never thought anypony could understand me the way you do." She said to me.

"Don't worry AJ." I told her breaking the embrace and looking into her emerald eyes once more, "I'll never go away." I leaned in once again just like last time, this time she let me. At the very last second something caught my eye, a small red dot in the water.

"What's that?" I said pointing at it. It was the rippling reflection of an apple, I followed the reflection to the tree it came from, right above her hat there it was. I ran over to the tree and bucked it down. I heard the branch snap and fell to the floor.

"What the hay are you doin'?" She shouted.

I bent down and picked it off the branch, I held it up and placed it at her hooves.

A heart shaped apple, bright, red and glowing. She looked down at it, then back up at me. She smiled, the apple reflected in her eyes. I'd found it.

"Mine now!" She said grabbing it and jumping into the water. She splashed around encouragingly I jumped in after her. We laughed wrestling around in the water. I chased her splashing the water like a maniac.

"You stole my heart!" I yelled.

"Yer gonna have to try harder than that if ya want it back!" She shouted back at me.

It continued on like this for several minutes I chased her she splashed water in my face, I was blinded for a few seconds as I shook it out. Eventually I caught her whether by luck or she let me, I did it. She was giggling like a school filly again, the same way that always put butterflies in my stomach. She stopped when she looked at me. We were both soaking wet looking into each others eyes. Hers into my auburn and mine into her emeralds. It ended up my hooves wrapped around her waist, hers around my shoulders. She still had the apple in her mouth. She dropped it and it floated in the surface.

She looked me in the eyes seductively, "So," she asked, "what are ya gonna wish for?"

"It doesn't matter." I told her teasingly.

She looked at me one eyebrow raised. "An why not?" She asked.

I leaned in an placed my forehead against hers. "Because it already came true." I told her.

For the very first time I kissed her, at first her muscles went tense but she relaxed. I enjoyed the kiss for the seven seconds it lasted.

I woke up again, I smiled. I could still taste the apple. Even though this was the fondest memory I had of AJ I knew that there was still one more. I had to remember everything if I was going to confront her after the months I'd been gone. It was the driving force that came between us. One final memory, it had to be before the full moon this time.

Drifting Away...

It was the day before the full moon, tomorrow was the only chance I would have before the next time the pool opened up. But I still had one more memory, one more chance to try to figure out where I went wrong. As the night fell I prepared for bed, I laid on my pallet on the floor comprised of only two quilts. One that I had rolled into a pillow, that one was a gift from Big Macintosh. And the other was from Applejack, a hoof stitched quilt with hoofboxing gloves and little patches of symbolic memories, like apples in the shapes of hearts, a picture of the teal green pond, and a patch that even resembled her hat. I found it funny she put that one on there, although lately I found myself waking up looking for it. It was odd, I felt like this quilt was the only thing that kept me connected with her. I began to get tired thinking of all the memories I'd been going through, reeling through them and debating to myself whether I should go talk or just leave like she said.

It was another hot day on the farm, sweating and finishing up the last month of apple bucking season. After that it would be cider season to get rid of all the apples within the next few weeks before they went bad. I glanced over at Applejack who was busy bucking the trees, collecting her precious fruits in their baskets. She noticed my stare and turned her face to blush, I watched her face turn red. It was funny to see her that get flustered, I laughed. That's when I noticed Big Macintosh next to me. He wasn't smiling, I cleared my throat and quickly got back to work. He walked over to me at the next tree and leaned on it. I could hear the bark creaking under his sheer weight, he really was a massive colt.

"So what's goin' on Ex?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"Uh?... Nothing why do you ask?" I stuttered out, trying to avoid his stare.

Now he smiled. "She really likes ya, ya know."

I looked at him. "I don't know what you're talking about Big Mac?" I said trying to keep my voice from shaking.

"Ah think it's more what YOU'RE tryin' ta get at." His voice grew more stern, much more serious.

I was a little uncomfortable with the subject now. "So, uh...cider seasons coming up you ready for that? AJ told me what happened last year."

"How much else have you two talked about?" He asked one eyebrow raised.

His questions were really grinding on an uncomfortable part of mine and Apple Jacks relationship. Big Macintosh didn't seem like the type you wanted to cross. I was sweating bullets now but it had nothing to do with the amount of work I was doing.

"Listed Ex," he started taking 'serious' to a level I didn't even know existed, "AJ ain't never been in no relationship yet, ya hear?" He told me. "Just be careful, that first heartbreak always hurts."

I looked down at my hooves. "So you don't think we have a chance?"

"Oh there's always a chance." He said. "But we ain't the type ta rely on chance. Listen to yer heart, what's it sayin'." I listened to the words he told me, although it wasn't what Apple Jacks OR my heart said, according to her it was the heart apple that brought us together. Magic didn't happen for no good reason, at least that's what I'd learned from AJ's stories about her friend Rarity.

"So who was your first breakup with?" I asked.

He simply laughed, "Just keep hangin' out with mah sis an' you'll see that butterscotch mare all right." He told me.

...

I couldn't stop thinking about what he'd said to me, about the first breakup being the hardest. She'd never been in a relationship with a colt and neither I with a mare. Being on the streets half my life made sure I didn't exactly look ready for a date. I kept at my work with that in mind, I hadn't noticed I'd started bucking the trees with more force. I could feel myself getting angry from what he'd said. Who the hay was he to tell me AJ and I had no chance with each other. She was the only mare who really understood me. She'd trusted me with stories she didn't trust anypony else with how could I not be perfect for her.

I bucked one tree as hard as I could I started walking to the next one. I heard the all too familiar splintering of wood and spun around to see the tree falling. It was heading straight for Apple Jack.

"AJ WATCH OUT!!!" I yelled, she looked up, it was too late.

I rushed over to see if she was alright. As the dust cleared I could see her laying on her stomach, she was unconscious but it looked like she was ok... until.

I saw that half her lower body was pinned underneath the fallen tree. I panicked, 'What do I do?'

"BIG MAC!" I called galloping all the way to the house. I burst through the door, out of breath I huffed out "AJ gasp trouble"

Big Mac took one look at me after hearing my words and he pushed past me and took off toward the orchard. When he reached the tree he slammed his head against it and pushed with strength I didn't know existed in ponykind. I placed my head on the bark as well and pushed too, I didn't know if it would help but I had to try. It began to budge and I saw the blood, it was sickening but I had to keep going, for AJ. When it was finally off Mac turned to me "Go get a medic." He said lifting his sisters head into his hooves.

Once more I galloped as hard as I could to the hospital. I got stares from everypony in town, but I didn't care. I slammed through the doors.

"Can we help you?" A nurse gave me a questioning look from behind the counter.

"Not me, I need a medic cart NOW!" I shouted. She recoiled and pointed over in the corner at several carts all with their coaches designated ready for a call.

I rushed over. "HEY! Were perfectly capable of rushing to an emergency."

"Nopony's faster than me on the ground!" I said and it was true, fastened the straps on and was out the door before anypony could stop me.

"Wow he really is fast!" The Coach said as I left the hospital.

I reached back to the farm in two minutes, a world record probably but I wasn't keeping score right now. Big Macintosh and I lifted her into the cart gently and I rushed her back to the hospital. Even with the added weight of both Mac and AJ I pulled the cart back just as fast. The medical team rushed her into the OR, I followed her as far as I could until the doctors told me I couldn't go any father. I swear I saw her open her eyes just slightly as they pushed me back. As she slipped out of sight I saw that familiar sparkle.

It was the last time I saw her for four days. She was in intensive care in an induced coma so that she could sleep away most of the pain from her surgery. Finally after a little rehabilitation therapy I was allowed to visit her. She was only allowed to have one visitor at a time. I said it should be Apple Bloom, but both Big Mac and her agreed, they wanted it to be me.

I entered the room to see her looking out the window, she wouldn't look at me.

"AJ?" I said hopeful she just hadn't noticed I'd entered, no response. "You feelin' better?" I asked. Still no response, I sat in the stool next to her bed. I reached for her hoof but she pulled it away. I looked up and saw tears in her eyes, I had to cheer her up.

"You know I told your brother and sister that it should have been Apple Bloom that got to see you first but they both said-" I began.

"It shoulda been." She interrupted it was barely audible but I heard it loud enough to stop me from talking.

"What?" I said after a short pause.

"They should have sent in Apple Bloom first!" She said glaring daggers at me. "Ah would have preferred if you never came in at all." She said crossing her hooves in front of her chest.

"What are you?... Why are you so mad?" I was confused now.

She looked at me then threw off her covers, both her legs were in casts.

"They said Ah might never even walk again at all!" She shouted.

The realization sunk in.

"You did this to me!" she said pointing her hoof at me.

"AJ I didn't... I mean I just."

"Ya got mad at Big Mac an' started kickin' mah trees, Ah saw ya! I thought 'HAY just let him get it out of his system!' But ya'll went and made one fall one me." She said, her glare became even more intense. She was fuming with rage now. "And now Ah may never get to do another applebuckin' again. An' it's all your fault." I could see the tears forming through her eyes.

"AJ... " I began, "I'm so sorr-"

"SAVE IT!" She interrupted again. "Ah want ya off mah farm before I get outta here." I stared at the end of her bed for a while not knowing what else I could do or say. I got up and left without a word, head hung and ears down.

...

I packed my few belongings at the farm and prepared to leave, Big Macintosh was at the door waiting for me.

"What?" I said, sniffing trying to hide the tears.

"She don't know what she's sayin' right now." He told me, I avoided his eyes. "Just give her time she'll come around." Still didn't respond.

He reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a burlap bag and a quilt.

"There's a couple a bits and apples in there." He told me. "An Ah know AJ gave ya one already but it get's pretty cold out there." He told me, still I didn't respond only holding back more tears.

"If ya ever feel like ya need ta come back I'm sure you'll find she'll still be thinkin' of ya" He assured me. "An' if you still think about her than you should know it might not be over." He told me, he stepped closer, for the first time I looked him in his eyes. They were the same color as AJ's but more brotherly this time.

"Yer chance is still out there." He said. "No matter how mad she is right now, even though she ain't gonna admit it." He told me.

I looked up into his eyes and nodded. I walked past him, I picked up the blanket and the bag of coins and food and made my leave not bothering to look back.

...

And so now I wait here with nothing but my memories of her. It's morning now and like usual, the roosters have woken me up. It's time to begin another day. This day is different though, now I can finally look forward to Luna's Full Moon...and my only chance to get her back. I had no idea how it would go down or what would happen... but I had to try.

Bonds Unbroken

As night fell I shivered from the growing cold, I wrapped myself tighter in the quilt for warmth. I stroked the hat patch of my once beloved Applejack. Tonight was the night, it had been a year since I'd left the farm and it was time for us to finally come face to face. All I had left to do was wait for her now and follow her into the woods to the pond. My memories of her were all I had tonight and after tonight... maybe not even that. I closed my eyes and drifted into a catnap, I just needed a little rest before I went to talk to her. There wasn't any dream, only a dark silence. I was awoken a short while later by a soft creaking sound.

I opened my eyes and saw Apple Jack coming out of the back door of her old barn. She looked up at the windows to see if there had been any lights turned on, just so she could make sure nopony had woken up or would follow her. Nothing, all the lights were off. She continued into the thick trees on her monthly visit to the pond. I waited a few minutes before I would go in. I had to at least give her time to settle in and get comfortable. I also give myself some time to think what I would say, after so long I still couldn't find the words I needed. Finally I got up and I let the blanket billow off as I got up. I slowly made my way down that familiar path that— for only a few months of my life— had been a happy walk with somepony I cared for, and shared so very much with.

...

Meanwhile, Big Macintosh in his room sound asleep. He heard the soft creaking of that old hinged door of the back if the barn opening, he rose from his sleep. Being a farm pony he'd become accustomed to listening for things that posed a threat. He kept his lights out and looked out the window, he calmed down seeing that it was only AJ, sneaking off into the woods again to her special pond. After so long she still went down there, something was different tonight though. He couldn't quite place his hoof on it but something was strange tonight. He didn't know what it was but he stayed by his window for a few extra minutes. Finally a shadow appeared out of some brushes out left of the field, he could barely make out the figure in the dark but he knew that trot. There wasn't anything to worry about. Big Mac smiled as he saw who it was, after a year away he still knew it was Applebuckin' season. More importantly though he was still was looking for Applejack, he walked back to his bed and went to sleep.

...

I followed the path trying to think of something to say but I couldn't. What could I say? There was no telling how she would react to the sight of me, much less anything I would say. As I made it to the clearing I saw that familiar teal-blue water glistening on the surface radiating its blue aura up into the canopy of the apple trees. I saw AJ staring into the waters edge, right next to her was a small sprout just a year old. I smiled, the Heart Apple had sprouted and grown up. I walked out of the brush a small rustling sound followed me, I knew she heard it because her ears pricked up but she didn't say anything. I slowly walked over and sat beside her, both of us keeping away from the sight of the other.

Finally I glanced over to her, after a year of rehabilitation it looked like she was finally able to walk again. I looked back down and smiled at my little fighter, I knew she wouldn't give up that easily.

"Ah... Ah got better." She started the conversation still not looking up but I saw her eyes start to fill with tears. "Ah can walk now."

"I see that." I replied.

We were quiet for a little longer.

"Ah shouldn't have done that to ya." She said. "Ya didn't deserve it, Ah'm sorry."

I smiled and finally looked up from the surface of the water and saw for the first time in a whole year those breathtaking emerald eyes again. Although they were full of apology and sadness I still couldn't believe how much they'd captivated my attention. She was so beautiful, even being sorry like she was.

"You were just angry that's all." I told her comfortingly, smiling to make her feel better.

"That don't make it right." She said. "You saved me." She stepped closer but still careful of the sprout on the floor. We both looked down at it, the tiny plant was doing well for itself here at the waters' edge.

"Where've you been all this time?" She asked sitting back down, it was just like old times. Sitting here at the lake, telling stories until three in the morning, only barely getting back to the farm before sunrise. I took a breath thinking of where to tell my story.

After leaving the farm I didn't have any place to go, I wasn't sure what to do. At least this time I had a little money and food, but it wasn't exactly a plan and it didn't last long. I stayed in Ponyville for a while before finally deciding to leave. I started east again as my plan was to do before I got sidetracked by everything that'd happened. Every day I was gone I thought of that mare, even more so once a month when I'd look up to see Luna's full moon in the sky. I reminisced on my times in Ponyville when— for once in my life— I was happy. It was a long way into the next town and I knew I'd run out of food long before then. Money was useless out here and there were no shops on the way there. What I'd give for a haybacon and cheese sandwich right now. I kept moving by trying out some of the plants I found along the way. Some of them were good, some were bad and some were really really bad. Not gonna get into the details of what happened to my body though.

Somehow I reached the next town, found a store and walked through the door. Dirty and grimy again, I poured the contents of what I had on the counter and told the waiter to give me something hot and delicious. He came back with a cup of coffee and a daisy and tulip cheese burger. It was divine after so long of being hungry, after my meal I got what was left of my money and rented a motel for the night. I got cleaned up and got a really good nights rest. The next morning I went to a local gym to try to get a job as a trainer, I had to make money somehow, and I wasn't about to step in the ring myself.

And with just my luck who should be there but Dirt, he happened to run the gym. I was in some town called Haymill some small town on the other side of the Everfree. In fact it was so small you can toss a rock across it if you wanted to send a message to somepony, at least that's what Dirt had said. I started by training a couple of boxers, one of them was a peppy young foal name Rocket. He was good, really good. In a way he sort of reminded me of myself. He went on to go to the junior division championship but he was knocked out in the semifinals but I was still so proud of him. Although his father wasn't.

As the fifth round of his match began I watched his father yelling at him to give it more to keep pushing. I could see the exhaustion setting in, I knew he wouldn't last much longer. He was after all the youngest in the whole division. I didn't expect him to win, I was surprised he'd even gotten this far. I'd only trained him for eight months. Suddenly I heard the crowd roar, I looked up to the ring and saw Rocket was down. The reff began the count.

1...2...3...4...5...6...7

His eyes opened a bit, he wasn't going to take much more even if he did get up, he looked at me. I smiled and nodded my head at him.

"GET UP!" his father shouted. "GET THE BUCK UP AND KEEP FIGHTING DAMMIT!" His father shouted.

9...10!

"THAT'S IT MATCH OVER!" The reff held up the winners hoof.

His father was swearing and raising Tartarus all over the place. I got up and pressed my muzzle to his.

"Cut. It. Out!" I warned him.

"Or else what?" He shot me a menacing glare.

I gave him a good hoof to the face which sent him flying back into a couple of chairs. He was out cold. I went to the ring to congratulate Rocket, even though he didn't win he was still a champ for putting up with that plot-hole. I got into the ring and picked him up he stirred a bit as he looked up to me.

"Did I win?" He slurred.

"Ya kid." I told him. "You won the whole thing."

...

After I left the arena I began to walk home, somepony tapped me on the shoulder so I turned around expecting to see Rockets dad. Instead I saw my own. I stared at the old man for the first time in what seemed like forever. Once again it was like a movie scene.

"I saw what ya did to that kids dad." He said.

"Ya?" I told him raising an eyebrow at him totally prepared to do the same to him.

"I just wish somepony woulda snapped me out of it like that all those years ago." He told me.

Again silence.

"I've been talking to ya mother again." He said trying to strike casual conversation. "We're uh... thinkin' about gettin' back together."

I turned away, unable to give him eye contact anymore, I nodded. Silence.

"Well it's been nice seein' you son."

He said turning to walk away.

"Dad." I told him, I hadn't called him that since I started hoof-boxing when I was seven. Back then it was always coach or sir.

He turned around also surprised by me calling him that.

"Yes?" He asked turning around,

"I forgive you dad." I told him after a brief silence, I heard a small thunder roll and it began to rain. Good thing now too because now he couldn't see my tears coming down.

He just smiled and nodded to me. "Thanks son." He smiled and turned to walk away, I never saw him after that.

A few weeks later Rocket stopped showing up for practice, I found out that he was sent into foster care. It broke my heart, I didn't want to see the little guy go. There wasn't much I could do though. I looked up at the sky that night and after a long time of putting it out of my head I realized that the full moon I'd shared with that orange mare were still going on. It was almost an entire year that had gone by since I'd seen her, I wondered how she was doing. So I made up my mind that night, in the morning I headed back to were I knew I could go. As I started westbound to Ponyville, I walked right past Sweet Apple Acres. That's were I saw her, I remembered it was summer again... Applebucking season, and there she was, buckin' apples just like her old self.

"So I watched you and your family for the next few days." I told her. "Waiting for just the right moment," I told her looking up at the sky, "waiting for the moon to hit just the right spot."

I smiled and looked back at her.

She smiled back at me.

"Just like old times, huh?" I told her.

She gave me that famous country girl guffle again, I missed that. "E'yup," she replied, "just like old times." And there it was that old sparkle in her eyes that only came around when she was happy.

I swiped off her hat. "HAY!" She said, I tossed it on the ground jumped into the water.

"C'mon," I shouted to her invitingly.

She got up and jumped in after me. This time, we didn't wrestle we didn't splash we just floated there. Gazing into each others eyes again. I felt so happy, happier than I ever had before.

"Maybe you can come work on the farm just like old times, too." She said.

"Ya." I said drifting closer a to her, we were just inches away now. "Maybe I could."

I rested my forehead on hers and looked into her eyes, into the jewels that had captivated my attention for so long. She smiled at me and I smiled back. This was the most blissful I'd been in a long time, I was so grateful for this moment.

The End