Today was the day. Applebuck season!

I awoke early in the morning, just as the crack of Celestia’s sun, and went downstairs.

I saw Twilight humming a bit as she shelved the books. “Jesus, does she do anything else?” I thought to myself.

“Morning Twilight!” I said to her. She turned around and looked at me, a smile on her face.

“Hello Jordan, good morning!” I then walked over to her and started helping her shelve the books.

“What are you doing up so early Twi?” I asked.

“Oh, I’m usually up this early, especially when I’m reshelving. OCD and all.” She said.

I just grinned a bit at her. “Man, I don’t think egghead is the right term to describe you. You’re beyond OCD twilight!” I smirked at her and she just blushed red hot, a bit angry.

“Books are all I have, ok. I just relish in knowledge. I love learning, I love reading!” she told me truthfully.

“I know twi, just giving you crap is all” I smiled and booped her nose, making her blush bright red again.

Twilight kicked the ground cutely and smiled at me. “Well, are you ready to start your first day of work Jordan? I really need help” she said.

I facehoofed hard. “Crap. Twi, I forgot to tell you. AJ asked me to help her with applebucking today, she said to be there bright and early.”

Right then, I suddenly got a very bad coughing fit. “COH COH COH!” I coughed so hard it hurt. Twilight gave me a concerned look and ran to me. “Oh my gosh, are you ok?!”

“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m just not the healthiest pony in the world. I have asthma, dandruff and insomnia, it’s horrible! And I have arthritis, listen!” I then popped my neck, back, fingers and toes so bad it made Twi wince.

She then thought for a moment. “Jordan, stay there, ok?” she went to the bookshelf and grabbed a book with a red cross on it.

“Now, this might tingle, but stay still OK?” I nodded and her horn started glowing.

In about five seconds, she was done. “How do you feel? You should be cured.” She said.

I tried popping my joints, scratching my scalp for dandruff, no cough. Nothing. I WAS CURED!

I went to her and gave her the biggest bear hug ever, so tight it hurt her.

“OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH TWI! 18 years! 18 years of struggling and you just solved so many of my problems! You’re the greatest!” I then planted a wet kiss on her cheek in the heat of the moment.

Twi blushed like a schoolpony. She just rubbed her cheek with her hoof right as I kissed and stared at the floor for quite a few seconds.

“Twilight? Hel-o-o-o-o-o?”

She then snapped back to reality and smiled. “I’m so glad I could help you. It makes me happy” she declared.

I just smiled back at her. “So, how are your studies going Twily?”

She then frowned. “Slow. There’s not much the princess wants me to learn at the moment.”

I then pondered for a moment then smiled widely as I remembered the applebucking.

“Keep your head up Twi, something will happen. Just wait!”

“I hope you’re right, I’m going stir crazy!”

I then got an idea and placed my hoof on my chin.

“Well, AJ and I are applebucking today. Maybe something will happen!” I suggested.

Twi got a sad look on her face. “Oh….. ok then. I won’t keep you, go ahead. Have fun.”

“Thanks twi, I will. And I’ll help later.”

She gave me a grateful smile as I left. I opened the door and stepped out into the morning sun.

As she watched me leave, Twilight couldn’t help but study me closely. She put a hoof over her face and sighed. “He really is an amazing colt. I just feel safe and warm around him. But why? I CAN’T LIKE HIM!” She then looked out the window at me. “…..Can i?.....”

I walked outside, and breathed deeply, as I smelled the morning.

Now, when I say morning, I mean MORNING morning. Dew on the grass, still cold, birds chirping. It was so beautiful.

I walked the whole way to Sweet Apple Acres, and boy howdy. Lemme tell you, that walk takes forever. Imagine walking from Downtown L.A. to the Hollywood hills. It’s about that much.

I whistled a tune as I walked along the dusty, dirt road to the farm. A whistle turned into a hum, a hum into singing.

I took a little side trip real quick, to the top of a nearby hill. It was facing west, with a perfect view of the sunrise. I then sung again.

-PLAY HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN BY FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH HERE-

I then finished singing and smiled. I playfully tumbled down the hill right as the sun rose over the hilltops, and rolled down the hill to the bottom, to the trail.

I walked all the way to sweet apple acres and saw Big Mac at the barn, but AJ was nowhere in sight.

“Hello there, I’m looking for Applejack, is she around?”

Big Mac nodded. “Ee-yup, I was just going to go talk to her right quick. Follow me.”

I then followed behind him to a nearby hill that overlooked the entire apple orchard.

Applejack glared at me once she saw me. “You varmint, you’re late! Ah said sunrise! Sunrise means sunrise sugarcube!” She reprimanded me with a punch on the arm, making me grunt a little.

“Sorry Applejack, but Twily and I got caught up at the library. Then I got sidetracked on the road.”

She rolled her eyes a little, before she turned at the orchard and I did the same. Big mac also.

“Boy howdy, we got our work cut out for us! That there is the biggest bumper crop o’ apples ah ever laid eyes on!”

Big mac nodded. “EE-yup. Two big for you both to handle on your own!”

“C’mon big brother! Y’all need to get yourself better, ah haven’t met an apple orchard yet ah can’t handle! And with Jordan with me it’ll be a breeze!” Applejack had an unusual excitement about her, she was happy and fast moving and happy to be alive today.

“Y’all biting off more than you can chew is just what ah’m afraid of!” Big mac declared. For the first time, I noticed big mac was injured, with bandages wrapped around him, just like in the episode.

Applejack then gave him a stern look. “Are you sayin mah mouth is makin promises mah legs can’t keep?”

“EE-yup!”

Applejack then stomped her hoof on the ground. “Why of all the….. this is your sister Applejack remember?! The loyalist of friends and the most dependable of ponies, and her trusty friend?!”

Big mac got a tiny bit frightened of his little sister. “That’s still only two ponies. And two ponies plus HUNDREDS of apple trees just doesn’t add up to…..”

Big mac was cut off by AJ. “Don’tchu use your fancy mathematics to muddy the issue! Ah told you we could handle this harvest, and we are gonna prove it to you!”

I then started to get a tiny bit nervous.

“We are gonna get every last one of them apples off them trees this applebuck season, all by ourselves!”

I groaned as big mac left. “For the love of celestia AJ, what the heck have you gotten us in to?!”

She then play punched me. “Don’tcha worry pardner, we’re gonna get this job done!”

With that, she and I headed down to the fields, surveying our workload.

“Well we better get to work, these apples aren’t gonna shake themselves outta the trees!”

Then, right before we could start, we heard a loud noise. A constant thudding noise. I panicked.

“What in equestria is that?!” I said.

“OH NO!” Applejack replied. She then stopped everything and ran towards the fields outside of town. I followed behind.

-MEANWHILE, RARITY’S BOUTIQUE-

Twilight was sitting with Rarity at her boutique, enjoying a nice cup of tea and talking with her friend.

“Rarity, what’s happening to me? I’ve never liked anypony before. I’ve never even thought about having a relationship! But….. ever since Jordan came to ponyville, I just…..”

Rarity cut in. “Can’t stop thinking of him?” she interjected.

Twilight looked at her friend, stunned, and nodded. “Yes. I mean, he’s just so….. intriguing!”

Rarity let a benevolent smirk cross her face as she looked at Twilight. “I should have figured, the way you’ve been eyeballing and drooling over him twilight! You simply must stop acting like such a school pony.”

Twilight looked like she was about to die from embarrassment, the purple flesh of her face stained red from a blush. “RARITY! I do not act like a school pony! I don’t eyeball him and I certainly don’t drool over him!” She was fuming a little.

Rarity waved her hoof at Twilight. “Twilight, calm down honey. I was merely joking with you, no need for such brash anger.”

Twilight calmed down and took a sip of her tea. “What do I do Rarity? He still cares so much for his girlfriend back home, even though he admitted to me he’ll never see her again. So….. do I try to make a move? Do I wait? Will he make the first move? OH THE AGONY!” she cried out and buried her face into a pillow.

Rarity got up, walked over to her close friend and rubbed her back with her own hoof. “Twilight Sparkle, come now. Where is that ever-lasting calmness everypony knows you for? That composure? Relax honey, and all will be made clear.”

Twilight did her best to calm down, focusing on her breathing and polishing off her tea. Rarity looked at her in astonishment.

“Want some more tea dearest?” Twilight nodded.

Rarity got Twi more tea and gave her a serious look. “Twilight, dearie, listen to sweet Rarity. Here’s what I would do. And it’s easier to do since you live with him. Study him Twilight, and give him time. See if in a week or two he still misses his girlfriend. Give him time to adjust to ponyville. Let him get to know you. Just act like a good friend for now. Use those study skills you have. But when the moment feels right, and you will know, ask him then.” Rarity cooed the final words.

Twilight looked down at the floor as she tried to digest all that Rarity had just said. “Give him time….. study him….. be a friend…… wait for the right moment…..” she played all of this in her head until they heard Rainbow Dash outside.

“STAMPEDE!!!!!!” Rainbow cried out to the whole town.

Panic, shock, horror, excitement, those were such feelings in the air of the usually quiet and timid town.

“HEY! Ttttthissssss makes my voiiiiiiceeeeee sound sillllyyyyyyy!” Pinkie said in a goofy tone.

Twilight then cried out at Pinkie. “Pinkie Pie, are you crazy?! Run!”

The mayor tried to keep order. “Everypony calm down, there is no need to panic!”

“But mayor, whatever shall we do?!” Rarity cried out dramatically.

“LOOK THERE!” Dash called out.

Right then me, Applejack and Winona were following a herd of cows, that were stomping right towards town!

“OTHER SIDE WINONA! Jordan, in front, lead them!” I did as I was told and Winona and AJ got the cows to turn, just in time before we got to the bridge!

The town started cheering, applause, etc. The three of us stopped with the cows as Applejack questioned them. When she was done, she and I went to the top of a nearby hill and did a pose.

“YAY APPLEJACK AND JORDAN!” and “Yeehaw!” were said among other things.

We then ran down the hill, back to the farm.

“YEEHAW, ride em cowpony!” pinkie said.

“Applejack and Jordan were just….. just…..”

“APPLETASTIC!” pinkie interrupted.

“Exactly!” the mayor finished. “We simple must do something to thank them both for saving the town single hoofedly!”

“I know!” pinkie said as her eyes sparkled.

-THE FARM A FEW MINUTES LATER-

AJ and I slowed down a minute to catch our breath, tired from all that running. Winona had gone home to the farm, but she and I went back to the orchard.

“That was more running that I’ve done in my entire life, you owe me AJ!” I said.

She chuckled. “Aw c’mon ya wuss, exercise is good for ya!”

I then took a deep breath. “Yeah, if I wanna keel over that is!”

She just chuckled at me, then pointed to a pond. “Get some water, then back to work buddy boy.”

I nodded and got some water, taking a minute’s rest.

-ONE WEEK LATER, TOWN HALL-

Everypony was up bright and early to start preparing town hall for the party they had planned for me and AJ to say thank you for saving the town from the stampede. A few hours later around noon, Twilight walked up to Rarity.

“We all set?” She asked.

“Just one last thing!” Rarity proclaimed as she hung up a bannery drape.

“Are Applejack and Jordan all set?”

“Actually, I haven’t seen her all week since the stampede!” Dash claimed.

Twilight placed a hoof on her chin. “Jordan’s been sleeping at her house the past three nights, I haven’t seen him either!” she said.

“Don’t worry, they’ll be here for sure!” Dash said.

A few hours later, the mayor was on the stage, after twilight had gotten interrupted multiple times by members of the mane six while trying to give a speech.

“And so, we’re here to give these two trophies to two ponies we can always count on, two ponies of the utmost honest, loyalty, and integrity, APPLEJACK AND JORDAN!”

The curtain then lifted up, but nopony stood there.

There was a long awkward silence, until finally…..

“WE’RE HERE!” I cried out. “WE’RE HERE!” I said again.

She and I walked up the ends of the crowd to the stage, apologizing for our clumsiness along the way. We were both carrying apple baskets.

AJ and I got to the stage. We were both obviously very tired. We both had shadowy, baggy eyes, and were klutzy.

Applejack then spoke up. “Miss mayor, thank you kindly for this here, award thingy. It’s so bright and shiny! Haha. I sure do look funny!” she said as she stared in her own reflection. Pinkie joined her.

“Ok…. Well thank you Jordan, and Applejack, for single hoofedly saving the town from that scary stampede, and for always being there for everypony!”

I yawned. “Yeah, well we both love helping people and…..stuff” I said as we both dozed off, almost in unison.

We then snapped back awake and took our trophies, before heading back to the farm.

“Was it just me, or did Applejack and Jordan seem a little-“ Twilight started before she was cut off.

“Tired?” Dash answered.

“Messy?” Rarity answered to a sea of awkward stares. “WELL, did you see their manes?!”

“They seemed fine to me! WOO-WOOO!” Pinkie replied, making Twilight shake her head.

-A FEW DAYS LATER, THE FARM-

Applejack and I had now been bucking for about nine straight days. I gotta admit this isn’t what I signed up for, but I had to help AJ to the end, I promised her I would.

Twilight was standing about 25 feet away from us. Watching us. We were both a mess. We were so tired we were kicking, only to hit no target, stumbling, falling over, etc.

“What on earth are those ponies doing….” Twilight asked herself.

She then walked up to us. “Applejack, Jordan, can I talk to you two?”

Applejack then smiled. “Oh, howdy twilight!”

Twilight gawked at her. “What is all this?”

“It’s applebuck season!” AJ declared.

“Apple what now?” twi asked.

“It’s what the apple family calls harvestin time. We gather all the apples from the trees so we can sell em!”

“Why are you and Jordan doing it all alone?”

“Big macintosh hurt himself, so ah’m all on my own with just Jordan to help”

“What about those other family members I met when I first moved to ponyville? Can’t they help?”

I then stepped up. “Excuse you me, twilight, but I am plenty of help. In fact, I could do this job all on my own without AJ!”

They both rolled their eyes and continued. “They were just here for the apple family reunion, they actually have their own farms all over equestria, so I’m on my own with Jordan. Which means ah should really get back to work. Hint hint!”

“Fine” twilight said in an annoyed voice and stepped aside.

“Couldja step aside twilight?” AJ asked dazedly.

“I just did!” Twilight said. “Applejack, you and Jordan both don’t look so good.”

“Don’t you three worry none, we’re fine and dandy!” She said as she walked away.

I then walked past her. “Yeah, don’t none you three worry!” I said as I followed AJ. Twilight then teleported to us, making us jump.

“Do you two want some help?” she asked.

“HELP!? No way, no how!” AJ cried.

“But there’s no way you both can do it on your own!” she said.

AJ then got defensive and looked her dead in the eyes. “IS THAT A CHALLENGE?!”

“No.” twilight said.

“Well, ah am gonna prove to you that Jordan and ah can do it, all by ourselves! Now if you’ll excuse me, we’ve got apples to buck!” she said as she stormed off. Twilight looked at me as I followed, sighing and going back home.

-NEXT DAY: IN TOWN-

Me and AJ were walking towards downtown ponyville, because she said I had to help with something with rainbow dash.

“What are we doing again?” I asked.

“Beats me pardner.” AJ replied.

We then got there and dash gave us stern looks. “There you two are!” she said half mad.

“We’re a might sorry rainbow, we were busy applebuckin and, we got so caught up were late. Now, whatcha need us to do?”

Dash then pointed behind us. “See this contraption? I’m gonna stand on one end, then the heavier of you two will jump from that platform, launching me into the air faster than I can take off on my own! And then, I’ll do some AMAZING flips and tricks that are sure to impress the wonderbolts!”

“Isn’t that a might dangerous?” AJ asked. “Not for the best flier in all equestria!” dash proclaimed.

“Well alrighty then. Ah think Jordan is way heavier and ah am. So he should jump!”

I opened my eyes wide. “WHAT?!” I yelled out.

Dash and AJ both rolled their eyes. “Oh don’t be a wuss Jordan!” Dash told me.

I scoffed at her. “You both owe me BIG TIME.”

I then climbed the ridiculous ladder and looked down.

“HOLY…..” I said as I saw the huge gap of air between me and the ground.

I then took a deep breath, yelled CANNONBALL, and jumped down. Only, my vision was so blurry and I was so tired, I missed by about two feet and landed hard on the ground.

I grunted in pain, and dash glared at me. “Maybe I wasn’t clear. You’re supposed to land ON the other end!”

I then gave her a thumbs up and climbed the ladder again.

After several attempts, rainbow dash cries out. “JORDAN, what the hay is going on! I mean, I though I was working with superpony, the hay bale stack champion?!”

“You are! Don’t worry, I have an idea!” I then pushed the end down with my hoof. After a glare from dash, I let go, and she smacked down onto the wood hard.

I climbed the ladder one last time, and jumped. Sending dash into the air without giving her time to open her wings.

“JJJOOOOOORRRRRDDDDDAAAAAAANNNNNNNN!” She cried out as she flew.

“YOU’RE WELCOME DASH!” I cried back.

(For those wondering, Jordan does not remember the events of the show as they happen because he is so caught up in what is happening)

-LATER, TWILIGHT’S LIBRARY-

It was nighttime on a Friday. AJ and I had been bucking the trees in the orchard for about nine days straight now, and were both feeling tired. I stumbled a little into the library and Twi looked at me a little concerned.

“Jordan, are you ok? You don’t look so good!”

“Fine twi….. nothing wrong.” I said as I went to grab my favorite book.

“Jordan, you look dead tired. Your eyes are shadowy and have bags!”

I then rolled my eyes. “So?”

She walked over to me and placed her hoof on my back.

“Jordan, you need to rest. You’ve barely slept in the past week or two and you’re running yourself ragged.”

“Running myself ragged? No twilight, I’m just doing what is needed of me!”

“Jordan. You’ve been helping Applejack on the farm. You’ve helped with the stampede. You help me around the library and, quite frankly, do more than I need you to. You’ve helped Rainbow dash, well kinda, you helped Mrs. Mayor with paperwork, you do so many things! YOU NEED A BREAK!”

I shook my head and covered my ears. “No twi! Let me tell you something. When someone needs something from me, I do what I can. Tiredness I can deal with. Letting someone down and offending them? That I can’t deal with!” I tried to reason.

She sighed. “But Jordan, this is bad for you. The longer you go on without sufficient sleep, the more it messes with you. Your internal clock goes screwy, your mind starts to go numb, your limbs start to lose strength!” she reasoned.

I shrugged. “Better that than offend anypony!”

Twilight sighed and cast a spell. I started to panic. “What are you doing?” I asked.

She didn’t respond until her horn stopped glowing. “I was doing a medical check on your body to see how much damage you’ve done…..” she said a bit somber.

“And?” I asked.

She gave me a sad face and sighed. “Jordan, I’m sorry, but I have to do this, for your own good!”

She then started to levitate me, and no matter how hard I tried I could not break free. She walked upstairs to the guest bedroom that had become my bedroom.

“TWI, LET ME GO!” I cried out.

She was fighting back a tear, as she laid me in my bed and cast a spell that bound me to my bed. I could only roll onto my sides and stomach to get comfortable!

“Jordan, I’m sorry. I don’t want to do this, but I refuse to let you hurt yourself this way. It hurts me when you hurt. You’re going to stay here and sleep. I’m not letting you go till you seem better to me.”

I then tried to struggle and get away. “Ok Twilight Sparkle, very funny, now let me go, I gotta get back to the farm!”

Twilight then shook her head and made a bell appear on the nightstand. “Ring that if you need anything, ok? I’ll be back later. Try to sleep!”

I then immediately rang the bell and she glared. “Yes? What do you need?”

“I NEED YOU TO LET ME GO TWILIGHT!” I cried out.

Twilight shook her head, and left the room. I struggled, trying to get out for a few more minutes.

I then gave up and slumped into bed. “Stupid fucking unicorn…..” I said to myself. “Applejack is gonna kill me for not seeing the job to the end! She’ll never speak to me again! She’ll hate me!”

I sighed in defeat. There was nothing I could do but play Twi’s game. Maybe she was right, maybe I did need to sleep. Who knows? Maybe I was being hardheaded.

After a couple of minutes, I rang the bell, and Twi came to me and glared at me.

“Jordan, you need to get some sleep. NOW.”

I sighed. “I know Twilight, but I need to ask you something, can we talk?” She nodded and sat next to me.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Well….. I just need to know. Am i….. a good friend?” I asked, almost in tears.

She gave me a concerned look and, in a very sweet voice, responded with “Are you joking, Jordan? Of course you’re a good friend! In fact, you’re an amazing friend! You help me around the library, you’ve helped applejack with the applebuck season regardless of what it meant for you, you’ve done amazing things for the town like with the stampede, and you’re there for everypony when they need cheering up. You’re like….. a male version of applejack!”

I then hung my head and my ears sank down. I scoffed. “Yeah, and there’s a lot of things about me everypony doesn’t know, things I truly hope you and everyone else never, EVER find out about me.” I was nearly crying now.

She took her hoof in mine and gave me a sweet smile, communicating that it was her turn to be there for me when I needed it, to return the favor.

“Jordan. I sincerely doubt anything about you could drive me or anypony away. We love you and appreciate you, and we’re your friends. And you’re ours! So open up, tell me these ‘things you hope nopony finds out’ about you.”

I sighed. I wanted to resist her, to keep my mouth shut, to send her away and just ignore everything, and let myself hurt, just like I’d done my whole life. But….. there’s something about Twilight Sparkle, and I can’t explain it.

She’s quite frankly intoxicating. Her personality is cultive. She has a way of making ponies confide in her, and trust her, even though that pony knows it might not end well. What was it? Her kindness? The tone of her voice? Her sweet smile? I can’t figure it out.

So I just sighed deeply and nodded. “Ok, Twilight. But only if you want to know. You want to know why I hate myself twilight sparkle? Not because of what I am, because of what I can’t be. I’m NOT a good pony twilight. I’ve seen things, and done things that would make you and the others tremble in their hooves” I said honestly.

She gave me a curious look. “Like what? Try me”

“You really want to know?” I asked.

“Yes” she simply replied.

I scoffed. “Fine. Here goes. Let me ask you, Twilight. Have you ever had anypony close to you? Somepony you cared so deeply about? Somepony you loved and trusted, told all your secrets to, and were best friends with?” She nodded her head.

“Well then, let me tell you about the time that person and I got into a big fight. Back home, school was always difficult. Everypony was hotheaded, angry all the time and just struggle to fit in. Me and my friend were different, because we honestly didn’t care. We just tried to enjoy school.”

“Well one day, she and I got into a big fight. You see, a school dance was coming up, and we had asked the same person, our friend Alex. Anyway, we fought about it. We both said some nasty things to each other, until finally, I just snapped, and yelled ‘WHY DON’T YOU JUST GET OUT OF OUR LIVES!? NO ONE WOULD MISS YOU!’ Well that really hit her hard, because you want to know what happened next Twilight?”

Twilight nodded slowly, she was biting her lip and shaking as I talked. “The next day, she was found dead. She had killed herself, and I had pushed her to do it! Luckily, I wasn’t in trouble for murder or anything, but the emotional damage I had was bad enough. I stayed in my room for hours upon hours each day, only going outside my house for school, and that was it. I didn’t socialize, I didn’t talk, I didn’t trust myself. How could I trust myself when I had made my best friend kill herself? All because I couldn’t control my anger!”

Twilight was now openly crying as she heard my story. She was looking down at the sheets now, not making eye contact. “So, I made a promise to myself. I would never, ever, open up to anypony ever again. I hated myself for what I did, and I still do. Quite frankly, I don’t know why I opened up to you and the others Twilight. I really should stop talking to all of you and go back home, because I know that in the end, I’ll end up hurting one or all of you. And if that happens it’ll be a repeat of my past!” I was now crying along with twilight, tears staining my cheeks.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, she took my hoof again and held it. She looked me in the eyes and spoke. “Jordan. We’ve all done things in the past we’re not proud of. The past often hurts, and we often try to do whatever we can to make history not repeat itself. But do you want to know the beauty of being alive?” I nodded.

“The beauty is the ability to change. Change is nature Jordan. You don’t have to be the same pony you were back in your school years. You can change. Me and Rarity, Pinkie, Applejack, Rainbow and Fluttershy, we’ll help you change. We all think you’re an amazing friend and we don’t want to let you go. Even if they don’t talk to you much, they all care about you.”

I was shocked. Stunned. Flabbergasted. How….. how could she be so hopeful for me? C….could I be rescued from myself? Could I really change? Maybe I could. Maybe ponyville was the place to do it. And maybe these six ponies I had admired for years watching the TV show, maybe they could do it.

I gulped. “You….. really think so twilight?” She nodded.

“Of course I do, anypony can change. Look at princess luna for pony’s sakes!” I then smiled and nodded.

“I’ll try then, twilight, I’ll try to open and change. For you.”

She then smiled at me and kissed my cheek to say thank you. And then, something amazing happened. Our horns sparked again. Only this time, it was a much more powerful spark. It was more like a small lightning bolt. I was stuck in place by her magic, but it made her fall off the bed by how powerful it was. I then stared at her in wonder.

“What the hell just happened to our horns? What does it mean?”

Twilight then thought about what she and her brother had talked about in Canterlot. No….. it can’t be true. She can’t have a crush on Jordan, can she? She gulped. She needed to get away and think.

“I honestly have no idea. I uh….. BEDTIME!” She yelled before she turned the light off, closed the door and left.

I rubbed my head as I tried to comprehend what the hell just happened. I quickly fell asleep after that and had an amazing night’s rest, not caring about what AJ would say.

-THE NEXT DAY, SUGARCUBE CORNER-

I was at sugarcube corner with AJ and pinkie, and Mr. and Mrs. Cake. I had spent the previous 10 hours sleeping, catching up on what I had missed. Twilight was very strict about what she said. I woke up at six hours and she was adamant I needed more sleep. I protested, of course, but that damn unicorn fights for what she wants.

After resting me up and feeding me, she finally let me go. AJ was mad I had bailed while she bucked throughout the night, but she didn’t really care.

“Now pinkie, are you sure you can handle running the store for the afternoon?” Mrs. Cake asked.

“Yes siree bob Mr. and Mrs. Cake! Plus I have ponyville’s two star ponies to help me! They’re both the best bakers ever!”

“Is that true?” Mr. Cake asked. I nodded, but AJ shook her head frantically. “No, you’re not the best baker ever?”

“WHAT!? OH NO! Ah mean, don’tcha fret! Ah can bake anything from fritters to pies in the blink of an eye.” She said.

The cakes giggled a little and left the room.

AJ was shaking her head still when pinkie stopped her. “STOP WITH THE SHAKIN, it’s time to get bakin!”

Soon, we were in the kitchen. I was managing the front counter, handling customers while the both of them baked in the back.

I heard things occasionally that threw me off. “Cup of sour? Well, lemons sure are sour!”

Lemons? In muffins? Eh. I tried not to pay attention much.

Later, we were at town hall, preparing to give out the muffins for free.

“FREE MUFFINS FOR EVERYPONY!” Pinkie cried out.

“Yuh, free muffin spectacles, get em while they’re hot!” I looked at AJ funny before rolling my eyes.

I also saw derpy in the crowd. It made me laugh.

I went back with AJ to buck again (doing much better and getting a lot done, since I was well rested), when all of a sudden I was teleported to the ponyville hospital.

I had a shocked look on my face as I saw green faces, all from the bodies of sick, poisoned ponies. Twilight was standing there with a pissed off look on her face.

“What in the hell did you pinkie and AJ do!? Look at all these ponies faces!”

I got defensive and partially yelled at her. “HEY, what the hell makes you think I did this!? I was handling the counter while those two baked! They’re your problem!”

Twilight snorted in anger before she trotted to sweet apple acres. I didn’t know what she was gonna tell AJ, but I knew it wouldn’t be good.

-NEXT DAY-

After a few hours of bucking, we went to the grove near ponyville to help fluttershy with the bunny herding. Applejack was too tired and careless to pay any attention; she was scaring the bunnies, and doing more harm than good.

The bunnies panicked and started to stampede. Turns out bunnies are harder to steer than cows, and we couldn’t stop them from getting into town. They ate all the vegetables and greens in town, to the dismay of everypony. It was horrible!

After that, Twilight had enough. She came to me and AJ at the tree we were bucking. “ALRIGHT APPLEJACK, enough is enough! Your applebucking hasn’t just caused you problems. It’s caused problems for rainbow dash, pinkie pie, and fluttershy! I don’t care what you say, YOU. NEED. HELP!”

Applejack gave twilight a look before chuckling. “Ha, no ah don’t! Look, we did it!”

“We harvested the entire sweet apple acres, without yer help! How’d ya like them apples”!

Right then, Big mac appeared. “um, how do YOU like THEM apples?” he asked, revealing we’d only done half the orchard. AJ and I both passed out from exhaustion and disbelief.

We both look up later to see Twilight standing over us. “Oh good, you two are awake. Now applejack, I completely understand the apple family ways. You’re always there to help anypony who needs it, so maybe you can put your stubborn pride aside and allow your friends to help you?”

Applejack gazed out at the massive orchard still left to buck, and sighed. “Ok twilight”

“I am not taking no for an answer-WHAT?!”

“Yes twilight. Yes please! Ah can really use your help!”

Twilight giggled a little before sighing.

For the next two days, the other six of us helped AJ applebuck the other trees. Of course, I was on “parole” as Twilight called it, since I had done so much already.

That mare….. she really does care about me. I need to do something to say thank you to her.

I then saw something that threw me for a loop. Rarity, was in an apple orchard, outdoors, with a bucket wagon attached to her?! RARITY was doing manual labor?!

I decided to rub it in her face. “My my Rarity, looking a bit dirty right now, aren’t we?” I snickered and she glared. “Look at you, doing manual labor!” I laughed hard and she glared harder, piercing my heart with that glance.

“I’m only doing this because Applejack needs our help you ruffian! Now stop making fun of me and get back to work!” I obeyed her orders and got back to bucking.

“How about y’all take a little break? Ah got some fine apple juice for ya!” AJ called out.

As we gathered round the table, she sighed. “Y’all, ah can’t thank ya enough for this help. Now ah know the town gave me and Jordan them awards, but ah think ah speak for both of us when I say the real award is being your friends!” I then nodded in agreement.

“WHO WANTS DESERT!?” Spike called out.

“EW SPIKE, I threw those away! How did you get them?” I then saw that spike had one of those god awful muffins.

“From the trash! C’mon, just a nibble?”

We all hurried out of there, back towards town.

Twilight and I got the library and rested. I sat on my favorite chair in the living room and she did the same.

She then looked at me and raised an eyebrow. “I don’t understand why you and her just wouldn’t accept help in the first place!”

I sighed. “Twilight….. we wanted to prove a point. We wanted to show everypony we could do it. We wanted to prove we could handle ourselves, yet be useful at the same time. It also meant a lot that she asked me to help her…..”

Twilight nodded at me in understanding. “I guess I understand. But still, you should have asked for help!”

I just nodded, not having anything to retort with.

I then looked outside to see it was dark and looked at the clock. “Well, I think I’m gonna hit the hay Twilight. Night!”

She said goodnight to me and I headed up to my bed.

I jumped into bed, needing some good rest and dozed off almost immediately.

-LATER, JORDAN’S DREAMS-

I was in a strange place. It was a vast nothingness, filled with gray, an ethereal plane that went on for as far as the eye could see. There was no sound, no movement, nothing. It was an abyss.

Suddenly, my body jerked into motion, without me guiding it. I was sprinting, towards what, I don’t know.

Suddenly, the scene came to life. I was running out of a cave, sprinting for dear life, when all of a sudden,

-SLICE-

I then fell to the ground, screaming in pain, blood trickling out of the fresh sliced wound in my stomach. I scream, at the top of my lungs. “SOMEPONY! TWILIGHT, APPLEJACK, PINKIE PIE, RARITY, RAINBOW DASH, FLUTTERSHY, CELESTIA, HELP!” I started to cry as I realized there was no salvation; I was going to die.

The creature behind me that wielded the sword then walked out of the cave towards me, and smirked. I never once saw his face, or even what he was. He snickered.

“You little moron! There is not one pony left to help you! THEY ARE ALL DEAD, fallen beneath the might of my blade! And now, with the spilling of your blood, and your death, EQUESTRIA SHALL BE NO MORE!”

I started to cry like a baby. My friends…..dead? It couldn’t be, he was lying! I didn’t have much more time to react, though.

“CEST L’ VIE, YOU FOOL!” He then sent the blade crashing into my skull, downwardly striking me.

However, before I could register any pain, my eyelids flashed open and I screamed at the top of my lungs. I think they heard me all the way in Canterlot. Twilight used her teleportation spell to appear next to me in the bedroom and hugged me tight.

“JORDAN, JORDAN CALM DOWN!” She told me. “Shhhhhh, it’s all ok! I promise!” She then got on the bed and held me in a tight and warm hug.

“What happened?” she asked, innocently enough.

“I just had the nightmare to end all nightmares. That was just…..beyond a nightmare. That was…..was…..” I then started to bawl.

She held me close and stroked my mane. “Hey, hey, it’s ok Jordan. You’re awake now, it was all just a bad dream.” She was so soothing with her words, I felt like I was a little kid, with my parents after I had a nightmare.

Twilight then gulped. “I…..had a horrible night mare too. I woke up about five minutes before you did. It was awful and I couldn’t stop shaking!”

I then held her close and rubbed her back, embracing her warmth and comfort, trying to make her feel better. I then gained an idea.

“Hey, twilight, I have an idea. Whenever I had a nightmare, my parents used to let me sleep in their bed. Do you want to sleep with me?”

Twilight looked like she was going to explode. Her face was that red! She gulped. “You….. you would be ok with that?”

“Yeah! We’re just friends after all, right?”

Twilight then had a sad look on her, from what I had just said. Her heart felt a bit crushed but she nodded.

“Of course we are, and I would love to sleep with you tonight. Mind if I get under the covers?”

I shook my head and lifted them up with my hoof. As she got under the covers, for the first time I couldn’t help but admire twilight.

She was quite a beautiful young unicorn. She had a body not quite as fit as AJ’s, but she had curves in the right places, a perky flank, and her purple coat just had a way of captivating your eyes.

Anyway, she got in and used her magic to turn the light off. I then sighed.

“Hey, twilight? I um….. I have a confession.”

Twilight’s eyes then shot up, as she had a hope of what I would say to her.

“Yes, what is it Jordan?”

“I uh….. don’t know…..how to use magic…..” I sadly confessed.

It wasn’t what she’d hoped I would say, but twilight looked so shocked she might fly out of the bed.

“WHAT?! Jordan, you have to be in your late teen years like me and you don’t know magic?! How is that possible!”

I then shushed her as I created a lie. “Well, uh….. you see, my parents were very conservative folks, who were very skeptical of magic. It’s not that I was ever not interested in magic, it’s that I wasn’t allowed to study it!”

She then gave an understanding nod. “Well, get ready then. Because tomorrow after your chores, I’m going to teach you magic 101 mister!”

I then smiled. “Sounds amazing twilight.” I then said something bold, and I had no fucking idea why.

“…..Just like your voice” I said in a slightly deep voice.

Twilight blushed insane red once again and glanced into my eyes.

The room got hot, everything around us turned to blackness and nothing. We were all that mattered at that moment.

Our faces moved closer, and closer, and closer still, until we could feel the hot air coming from each other’s nose.

Then, in one of the most magical moments of my life, our lips connected. But we didn’t stop there. All of a sudden, I felt Twilight’s tongue invade my own mouth.

I moaned softly into her mouth as I felt her tongue wrestle and dominate mine. After about three minutes of this, she stopped and pulled her tongue away and I smiled.

“…..Goodnight Twilight. Sleep well.”

“You too Jordan. Goodnight.”

As I looked at her, trying to fall asleep, a million thoughts ran thought my mind. Was this real? Was she real? What about Mackenzie. I still miss her, but….. being with twilight just feels so right, right now. Could I be in love with Twilight Sparkle?

We then fell asleep in each other’s hooves, never losing sight of one another.

Author's Note

Oh my gosh... to think that once upon a time i considered this chapter to be my best... i'm ashamed. Whatever, that was chapter four. Hope you're ready, next chapter is an original idea i came up with. Cya!