Beads of sweat collected at Applejack's forehead as she kicked the tree with all her might. The branches shook and swayed as the juicy, red fruit rained from the leaves. It was a hot, summer day. The sun was high, the sky was clear and the air was warm. It was the country pony's favourite time of year. She smiled as the apples fell into the baskets, none missing. It was a mystery; how the apples always seemed to land perfectly in those baskets. Nopony knew how or why it happened, but it did, and that made the Apples' work a lot easier.
"Phew!" Applejack exclaimed, wiping her forehead with her hoof. Her golden hair was wet and her hat was hot and sweaty. She laid down underneath the cool shade of the now - fruitless apple tree. She picked up an apple out of a basket and took a bite.
Sweet juice filled her mouth and she sighed. She loved her work, but she couldn't help but feel left out among her group of friends. Twilight was a royal princess, known everywhere across Equestria, and exceptionally talented at magic. Rainbow Dash was a Wonderbolt, who performed aerial displays and raced against famous athletes. Fluttershy, who disliked the fame, but was famous nonetheless, had become a professional vet and therapist, known to many ponies in the land. Rarity was a world famous fashion designer - wealthy and elite, owning many boutiques in big cities. And then there was Pinkie Pie, who planned and threw parties for celebrities - that was self - explanatory. Applejack, don't be jealous, ya silly filly. Granny always told ya to be happy with what ya got.
She shook her head, trying to escape her train of thought. She chewed her apple slowly, trying to stop thinking about how she wished she could have a taste of the celebrity life. She tried to think about apple - bucking techniques, the sweetness of the fruit she was eating, anything to stop these thoughts.
The earth pony finished her apple and threw the core away. She quickly trotted back over towards the tall, red barn to get some more baskets, thinking about the feel of the blades of emerald green grass against her hooves as she walked.
She reached the back of the barn and saw Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in the chicken coop.
"Apple Bloom! What did Ah tell ya 'bout takin' your friends in there? You're gonna scare the chickens!"
"Sorry Applejack, but we were tryin' to get cutie marks in egg - collecting!"
"Well, you can't do that! Ah'm sorry, Apple Bloom, but please try gettin' cutie marks in somethin' else!"
Apple Bloom opened the gate and the three fillies walked out without saying a word, hanging their heads. Applejack shut the coop and returned to her chore. She carefully took 5 baskets off the top of a pile of them - they had a lot of baskets here at Sweet Apple Acres - and ran back over to the huge orchard.
She picked out a particularly large tree and set the baskets in a circle around the bottom of the tree; and she began to release her built up rage. She bucked and kicked as hard as she could. That was something she never told anypony. She hid her true emotions, trying not to show anything but happiness. Quite the opposite of what everypony made her out to be; honest and never afraid to tell everypony what she really thought. Even her most loved ones never knew how she really felt.
She kicked and kicked, ruthlessly beating the tree. Apples fell off their branches and littered the ground. Applejack's anger grew; most of the apples decided to fall into the grass, not the baskets as they previously did. She beat up the tree until she turned around and saw very clear hoof marks imprinted in the trunk.
She felt her face going red; it was so hot out. How had this day suddenly become so bad?
She gritted her teeth and kicked with all her might. A deafening crack! filled the air around her and a large branch fell beside her with a loud thud.
"Shoot, Applejack!" the farm pony yelled. Her deep voice rang out across the many acres of land that her family owned. Now somepony was going to wonder why a huge branch had somehow fallen out of this tree. Somepony would find out about her secret feelings.
She took a deep breath and counted to five. Another trick Granny had taught her. She had said that it always helped her calm down.
Something brought her back to the jealous thoughts she had been trying to forget. Another thing nopony knew about her; that she did very well feel jealousy and a whole lot of other emotions.
The orange pony had an idea. Why couldn't she show her emotions to the world? No, Applejack. It would ruin your reputation. Don't think about it.
She wiped her forehead again; she was so sweaty. Just think about your chores for now, Applejack.
Applejack glanced back over to the trees she had bucked previously. Big Macintosh was busy dragging big, heavy baskets of the fruit back up the hill towards the barn. She guessed he had been oblivious to her loud yelling; consumed in his job.
The pony worked herself out until the sun began to set. No matter how much she bucked, her rage and jealousy never seemed to disappear, even when she attempted to calm herself down.
Soon the strong pony decided to return inside to cook some dinner for the family. She opened the creaky door and trotted to the kitchen. Apple Bloom was seated at the table, waiting patiently for her sister to cook up something delicious.
"Hurry up, sis! Ah'm really hungry, Ah'm practically dyin'!"
Applejack shook her head and let out a small laugh. "No, Apple Bloom, Ah doubt you're really dyin' of hunger. Look at all that puppy fat." she said, poking at her sister's belly. She attempted to hide her secret rage from her little sis.
"Well, Ah'd better get cookin', AB."
"Alright! What is it tonight?"
"I dunno. Somethin' easy - it's been a real tough day out there."
Applejack paused awkwardly. Her smiling face turned to a frown as she tried to stop herself voicing her thoughts about her jealousy of her friends and her rage at her family.
Apple Bloom spoke up. "Spaghetti?!" she said excitedly. "It's mah favourite!"
"Oh, alright." Applejack said, opening cupboards and grabbing out pots, pans, ingredients.
"Yay!" Apple Bloom cheered, as Big Mac and Granny walked in.
"What is it tonight, AJ?" Granny asked.
"Spaghetti - Apple Bloom practically begged me."
Big Mac and Granny laughed as Apple Bloom grinned smugly.
Applejack cooked the food and served it to her family. They thanked her and started to eat their dinner. Apple Bloom gobbled at it viciously, getting vegetables and pasta all over her face.
"AB! You've got food all over ya face!"
"Yeah, sorry 'bout that, sis." the young filly said, a smug expression on her face. She walked over to the sink, wiped her muzzle and galloped off to her bedroom.
The three other family members finished the dish.
"That was good, AJ." Granny Smith remarked.
"Eeyup!" Mac said.
"Thanks. Mac, it's your turn to dry these bowls and stuff."
Big Mac nodded and started his chore, and Granny walked out of the room - presumably to go sleep in her rocking chair.
Applejack stumbled up the creaky stairs and walked down to her bedroom. Her door had two letters painted on it in red - AJ, it said. Applejack liked her room, but at the same time, she couldn't stand it. She much preferred to be outside, alone, with just her and the orchard.
It was growing dark outside. Why do you even want fame, AJ? You should enjoy the quiet life. Everypony else in your family does. Right?
She lay down in her bed, jealous thoughts racing around inside her head as she fell asleep.
Applejack awoke with an idea. If she really wanted fame, she had to work for it.
But did she really want fame? Applejack thought this through for a few minutes, and she decided yes. Yes, she did want fame. She wanted to be noticed.
She could try to break some world records for strength, or rodeo, or apple - bucking. It would be easy, she did these things so often and it was her passion. How hard could it be?
She trotted out into the kitchen. If she was going to break some records, a good breakfast was one way to start.
She took five apples and began to munch down each one quickly, a million thoughts racing around her head.
"Hey AJ!"
The voice startled Applejack. She turned around and saw Apple Bloom standing in the doorway.
"Watcha doin'?"
"Eatin' breakfast, why?"
"Just wonderin'. But, I dunno, somethin' about that tone of ya voice sounds like you're tryin' to hide somethin'..." Apple Bloom remarked.
Applejack grunted. "Fine, I'll tell ya the truth...Ah'm gonna try breakin' some records or somethin'...y'know, to be famous?"
"That's cool, but..." Apple Bloom's expression turned into an evil grin. "Ya know, there are other ways to become famous. Like becomin' a psychotic murderer!"
Applejack smiled. "Ha ha, maybe another day, Apple Bloom. But Ah gotta try breakin' a record for the strongest buck."
Become a psychotic murderer, Applejack thought. Maybe that ain't such a bad idea... She tried to erase this thought from her mind. What the hay, Applejack? Why are you havin' thoughts as disgustin' as this? You're insane, you stupid filly.
"Ah'll go tell Granny and Mac!" Apple Bloom said, racing off excitedly. Applejack didn't try to stop her; there would be no use.
She galloped out of the back door of the barn. She was amazed that the high striker - the tall, wooden pole with the shiny red bell at the top - was still there from the time when herself and Rainbow Dash held the Iron Pony Competition. She bucked with all her might and kicked at the bottom. The weight shot up and hit the bell, letting out a huge ringing sound that filled the air that could be heard from miles away.
The earth pony was proud of herself. But it'll take a lot more than that to break the record, Applejack.
She trained herself all day. She kicked and bucked at the wooden pole relentlessly for hours on end without a break. She stopped when she realised the sun was already at its peak at the top of the sky and she was sweating like crazy.
