Thanks for the Memories

Chapters

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight

Chapter One

Author's Note

Hey y'all, so here's my new story, it's gonna be pretty long so bear with me. I actually started writing this over 2 years ago but kept getting side tracked with other shorter stories and well, here we are!

I don't remember where I got this idea for the journal entries but I think it's sorta neat and it's awesome that I don't have to write a bunch of dialogue. I hope you guys like it, I'm gonna try, TRY being the key word, to update at least every two weeks. I've already got two or three other chapters done so now I've just gotta focus on the new chapter I'm starting. Don't quote me on it though.

I'm excited to see where this story goes because I have no idea. I just start stories with no plot in mind and nothing mapped out. Basically I just write shit as it comes along. That's part of the reason I don't like publishing chapters until the story is finished because I'm constantly changing my mind about stuff.

Anyways, hope y'all like it, it's Appledash, so of course you will!

-Dawn

Chapter One

Rainbow Dash sat crisscrossed on the carpeted floor at the foot of Applejack’s bed, while Applejack herself was sleeping peacefully, curled up on her side under an old handmade quilt.

That was all she had done these last few days since she’d been home, sleep.

Rainbow had taken over sitting with her this morning so that Big Mac could get some much needed work done around the farm. Apple Bloom would come home from school later and do her share of the chores too.

The athlete didn’t mind watching her. When her fiancée was unconscious in the hospital, Rainbow didn’t leave her side, only to run to the restroom or down to the cafeteria for food. She didn’t want to miss a moment if she could help it, just in case Applejack’s condition changed.

She picked up the dusty journal she had snagged from Applejack’s nightstand when she was cleaning up. She knew that AJ would be beyond upset if she knew Rainbow was going through her personal belongings, but Rainbow was never good at keeping out of trouble. Besides, Applejack was asleep and there was nothing else to do.

The prismatic girl opened the tattered leather cover and flipped through the first couple of blank pages until she found the first entry. It was dated August 12th 2013. Three short years ago. Applejack had been eighteen.

Monday August 12th, 2013

Dear Journal,

Tomorrow is my last first day of high school. Seniors 2014! I’ve never kept a journal before, but I thought that since this was my last year of school that I’d try to keep track of what happens, for memories and whatnot. I’m not big on all this diary stuff, but Rarity mentioned that it’d be kinda neat to look through this in a few long years and read about all the crazy stuff that went on, so I thought I’d give it a whirl.

Big Mac starts college in a week too. Nothing fancy, just the local community college to take some business classes that might help him run the farm better. I’m real proud of him for signing up. And Apple Bloom’s about to be in eighth grade if you can believe it! Girl is growing up so quick. She’s so smart, too. She told me she wants to take chemistry this year if she can. She’s got a knack for that kinda thing, probably got it from our mama. She loved that sorta stuff.

I still can’t believe this is my last year. Seems like just yesterday I was walking through the door as a freshman. Time sure goes by real quick. I just hope this year goes by smoothly, and that I leave the stage next year surrounded by my best friends and great memories.

I should probably go now, I’ve been watching Big Mac through my window try to lift some lumber that might be too much for him to do without him hurting himself, the big idiot.

-Applejack

Tuesday August 13th, 2013

Dear Journal,

I’m never going back to school. I’ll get my GED and work on the farm for the rest of my days. It’s only the first day back and I’ve already gotten into a fight with some girl with stupid rainbow hair. She roughly shoved past me in Athletics and when I called her out on it, she got in my face and called me a redneck bitch. I wasn’t about to take that, ain’t the way I was raised, so I socked her right in the mouth. I didn’t think she was gonna jump me though. We were rolling around on the track and the coach had to break us up. Took her a good couple minutes since she had underestimated my strength and I had a pretty tight hold on that hussy. She got a couple good licks in but it ain’t nothing compared to what I did to her. Now I’ve got ISS for the next three days and to make it worse, that Skittle look-alike is gonna be in there with me. Not a great way to start my last year.

All that mess aside, school went fine. I like most of my classes, math excluded, and share many of them with my friends. We’ve got senior pictures coming up and Rarity already has plans for prom. I think that it’ll shape up to be a fine senior year if I can move on from this morning.

Gotta go,
Applejack

Friday August 16th, 2013

Dear journal,

Today was my last day of ISS, thankfully. I’ve already had it with that rainbow gal. I had to sit next to her these last three days and she wouldn’t quit bothering me. When the teacher wasn’t looking, she’d pass me notes or flick wet paper wads at me, and it drove me right up the wall. And the notes didn’t even say anything! She just folded up clean sheets of paper and slid them to me, a smirk on her dumb face the whole time.

I hung out with my friends at the library after school and told them about her. Turns out Fluttershy has known her since Kindergarten and they’ve been good friends ever since, keeping in touch after Flutters moved here to Ponyville. Turns out, that girl’s name matches her hair. Rainbow Dash. I can’t believe that Fluttershy is friends with someone like that! She hates bullies and this ‘Rainbow Dash’ is the biggest bully I’ve met so far. Fluttershy told me that she’s gone through a lot and that her tormenting is a defense mechanism, that she‘s actually really nice in private. There ain’t ever an excuse for being mean though. I don’t like her and I sure as sugar don’t trust her.

Mac’s calling me,

Applejack

Tuesday August 20th, 2013

Dear Journal,

It’s only been a week and I’ve already got two tests coming up. So much for this year going by easy. One of them is in Algebra and I’m pretty sure I’m gonna fail the class. I can’t do much more than add and subtract and maybe a bit of multiplication. Math just goes right over my head, no matter how much I study and prepare. Twilight’s a real doll though, she offered to tutor me a couple days a week. It’s real sweet of her to do it. I’ll hafta find some way to repay her… Cider season is coming up, maybe I’ll save her some.

And guess who sits with us at lunch now? That’s right, Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy, bless her heart, invited her to join us because she didn’t have anyone else to sit with. Which was real kind of Fluttershy, but bad for me. I don’t like her. At all. She’s arrogant, loud, and her ego’s so big she can’t see past it. I’m not usually so hateful, but something about that girl just rubs me the wrong way.

Applejack

Friday August 30th, 2013

Dear Journal,

So Pinkie Pie thinks we’re cousins… She found some sort of family tree and at the end of it are some names that sorta look like ‘Pie’, but the paper is old and crinkled and some of the names are smudged so it’s real hard to tell. Big Mac told her he didn’t think so ‘cause we can’t properly see what the names are, so now Pinkie’s on a hunt to find more proof. I don’t rightly care if she if she finds proof or not, we’ve been friends for so long that I already consider her one of the Apple Clan.

And another test tomorrow. I swear these teachers are trying to kill me. Between studying and helping Mac with the farm, I barely have time to eat or sleep! Poor Granny is trying to do her part but she’s got a bad hip and can’t do too much.

And guess what Mac got? A new truck! A huge, red, one ton diesel. And guess who got his old truck? Me! And when I say old, I mean it’s a 2009. So, not that old at all. Just with all of the work and hauling Mac has to do, the V6 wasn’t enough anymore. He had to get something with a lot more power. So now I don’t have to drive that rusty old Ford again, not that it bothered me, I’ve got a lot of good memories of it and we’ll store it ‘till Bloom can drive. But now I’ve got myself a nice black truck, with 4 doors. I’ll be able to have more than one and a half friends in my vehicle at a time which will be nice.

Applejack

Wednesday September 18th, 2013

Dear Journal,

I know it’s been awhile… Apple buck season is here and I ain’t done much else besides go to school and work in the fields. Even with our ranch hands it’s been a doozy. I ain’t seen my friends outside of school for weeks, and I miss them. Usually after we finish the east and south fields, we take a two day break to re-cooperate and such, so I think I’m gonna try to spend some time with them. After I hibernate for a few weeks.

And to add on to all I already have to do, this Friday is the Running of the Leaves. It’s an Athletics thing they do every year to promote good sportsmanship. And there are gonna be prizes for first, second and third place. Not to brag, but I’m one of the fastest girls in class so unless one of the boys beat me, then I know I’m gonna win one. In the locker room yesterday I heard that they gave out water park tickets to the second place winner last year, which ain’t bad at all. I’d love to go to a water park.

Honestly, I think the only girl in class that can beat me is Rainbow Dash. She’s almost as tall as I am, but she’s slimmer, and looks to be built for speed. Probably helps that she’s pretty flat-chested too, but I’ve got more muscle, and more power, so we’re about evenly-matched.

Gotta get to work,

Applejack

Friday September 20th, 2013

Dear Journal,

That cheating, good-for-nothing backbiter, I swear I’m gonna knock all the teeth outta that girl’s face one of these days. So today was the Running of the Leaves and I’ve been waiting for this for a few weeks. I had a real good feeling that I was gonna win. But guess what place I got? Last. All because of Rainbow Dash. She was pushing me and grabbing the back of my t-shirt trying to get ahead of me and at some point she tripped over a rock or something and fell on top of me! By the time we were done fighting and got to the finish line, everyone else had already crossed it!

I talked to the coach about it but she told me that since she didn’t actually see what had happened, she couldn’t do nothing! Biggest load of horseshit if I ever did hear it and I’m so mad I could spit. It ain’t fair she got away with it but she looked pretty mad when she realized that she got last place too. So it seems she got her karma.

I can’t stand that vixen and I’m gonna talk to Fluttershy about making her leave our table at lunch ‘cause I’m done with her and her games. It almost seems like she’s targeting me personally, she’s never as mean with any of the other girls and I wanna know why she’s got it out for me.

I think I’m gonna hit the hay,

Applejack

Wednesday October 23rd, 2013

Dear Journal,

It’s been awhile since I last made an entry, huh? Ain’t much happened, just the same old-same old. School. Work. Friends. Rainbow Dash is still sitting with us at lunch ‘cause Fluttershy refuses to tell her to leave. The little deviant is constantly flipping me off or bumping into me every chance she gets. I wonder if her parents know how she acts. My folks would’a tanned my hide if I ever talked to anyone the way she talks to me.

Speaking of my folks, I’ve been missing them something fierce here lately. It’s already been a year and a half since I lost them, if you believe it. I still cry sometimes after I’ve had a bad day and all I wanna do is talk to mama. She always gave the best advice, and she made the most delicious beef stew you ever tasted. You could come home after having the worst day of your life and she’d fix you up a big bowl of ice cream and take you out on the porch swing to talk about it. Just her smile was enough to make anyone feel better.

And pa was so handy, he could repair anything that needed to be fixed. Just give him a hammer and some nails and he could build you anything you wanted. He was a carpenter on the side and he would let you help him with his projects. He could make all sorts of furniture and cabinets and buildings, he even constructed our barn and horse stalls! Still as sturdy and strong as when they were first built.

I wish they were still here. Sometimes I pray that this was all a bad dream and that when I wake up in the morning, I’ll go downstairs and see mama in the kitchen making pancakes and pa chasing Apple Bloom around the house because she stole his hat.

But, I know they’re watching over me in Heaven and all I can hope is that I’m making them proud.

Applejack

Friday October 25th, 2013

Dear Journal,

So, something odd happened at lunch today. We were talking about some girl that had come out of the closet in one of Rarity’s magazines and Rainbow Dash casually slipped in that she was a lesbian. I’ve never knowingly met a gay person before and it shocked me that she was so open about it. None of our other friends even batted an eyelash! I dunno why the whole gay thing bothers me so much, maybe ‘cause we never really talked about it in my household so it’s something I’m not used to, but I ain’t no homophobe. I don’t rightly care what you put where and with who.

In fact, if I’m being honest, I’ve had a couple of, uh, dreams that involved women instead of men, but boy did I still wake up hotter than a bonfire. I wonder what that means? You can’t really control what you dream about so is it just something my brain is making up or is there more to it? I bet Twilight would know, she’s real knowledgeable about that sort of thing, but I dunno how I’d even approach a subject like that.

I should probably get to bed, tomorrow is Pinkie’s Halloween party and Celestia knows I’m gonna need my strength.

Applejack

Chapter Two

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Chapter Three

Monday January 6th 2014

Dear Journal,

Happy late New Year! School‘s back in session already. Boy howdy, it feels like this year is going by way too quick. I’ll be a graduated girl in no time.

Twilight’s in panic mode, trying to fill out a bunch of scholarship applications. She skipped lunch today to go to the library and work on a few of them. Hope she’s taking care of herself, eating normal meals and getting enough sleep… probably not. I asked her what she was interested in majoring in and I swear I thought she was gonna have a mental break right then and there.

Glad I ain’t gotta worry ‘bout that sorta stuff. Sweet Apple Acres is where I’ll be till they put me six feet under. Sounds a mite boring when I write it down on paper, but why would I wanna do anything else?

My family owns and runs a very profitable business. Our orchard and ranch takes a lot of money to keep up and running, but we easily make twice as much as we spend. We have our few employees that stay in lodgings on the property and we pay them a pretty penny for the work they do. We ain’t hurting for money by any means. You wouldn’t have guessed it from the way we act, we’re humble folk. Ain’t no reason to act like we’re better than others just cause we’ve got a bit of money.

We’re actually in the process of opening our own brewery in town to sell different ales and ciders which is part of the reason Mac’s working on his business degree. I’ll probably do the same later on down the road.

Nope, the farm is my future and from where I’m sitting, it looks mighty fine to me.

Applejack

Friday January 17th, 2014

Dear Journal,

We finally got the scores back on our finals, and guess what? I passed my math exam, and with a B no less! I’m surprised as all get out that I got such a high grade.

I knew I was gonna pass my others but I thought for sure I was gonna fail Algrebra. I guess all that studying paid off. That, or miracles really do happen.

I know Twilight, obviously, and Rainbow both passed all their exams as well, but I didn’t see anyone else before I left to find out how they did. I’ll find out later. Knowing them though, they probably all did great.

Gotta go, Granny’s calling,

Applejack

Tuesday, January 30th, 2014

Dear Journal,

So you’ll never believe what happened today. Hell, I’m still trying to comprehend it myself! So, me and the a few of the gals were hanging around in the courtyard after school just chatting and messing around, when Rarity bursts through the side door and runs up to me, yelling about how it’s all my fault that her relationship was ruined, and that I’m the worst friend possible.

I was real confused because I barely even talk to Trenderhoof when he’s around just ‘cause I don’t care for the guy. Well, turns out, he’s had a massive crush on me for a while and was only dating Rarity to try and get closer to me, which didn’t work, ‘cause like I said, I don’t really like him.

She only found out about it because he dropped a letter out of his notebook that he’d written for me, and when she picked it up and saw who it was addressed to, curiosity got the better of her. I read the letter myself, seeing as she all but threw it in my face, and let’s just say it’s a little, uh, detailed.

I tried reasoning with her, it ain’t my fault that he’s a dishonest creep who used her for his own personal gain, but of course she wouldn’t listen. When she gets like this, it takes a while for her to get herself together. Rainbow Dash got between us before things got out of hand.

Anyways, I took off because talking to her was getting me no where fast and I felt like I was about to lose my temper right quick. She should know me better than to steal her boyfriend, I’m not that kinda girl. I hope she snaps out of this, I ain’t gonna deal with it for too long before I speak my mind.

Applejack

Wednesday February 5th, 2014

Dear Journal,

This is getting ridiculous. It’s few a few days since the Trenderhoof disaster and Rarity’s still as mad as ever. She’s a mess. She ain’t been wearing makeup, her eyes are puffy and swollen and it don’t look like she’s combed her hair in a couple days.

She won’t look at me or talk to me, she just keeps her head down and looks at her phone when I‘m around. What also makes this whole dang thing worse is that Valentine’s Day is in a week and she’d been talking about all these plans she had that she’s gotta cancel now. Seeing how heartbroken she is, I’ve got half a mind to knock Trenderhoof into next year even though I’m still upset with the way she’s treating me.

The girls have reassured me that everything will turn out okay in the end, but right now it seems pretty bleak. I know this’ll pass though. I just hope it passes quick-like.

Applejack

Monday February 10th, 2014

Dear Journal,

Can this month get any stranger? So our school does this anonymous carnation fundraising event every year where you pay a dollar for every flower you want to give, then one of the cheerleaders running the event gives them to whoever they are for without the receiver knowing who bought them. It’s kind of a clever way to secretly tell someone you have a crush on them.

In science, Pinkie Pie walked in with her basket of flowers and handed me one dozen blood red carnations with a note tied around the stems that said, ‘For a lovely apple.” Now, I ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed but I could tell you who sent those, ‘cause the genius who wrote it didn’t think about changing his handwriting after I saw his little love letter the other day.

I didn’t want them, so I ripped a clean page out of my note book and wrote my own text before handing them both to Fluttershy. I really hope he don’t keep this up, he seems like an over-the-top sorta fella, but I’ve got enough problems to worry about without adding him to the mix. I had the great idea of writing him my own letter, telling him something along the lines of, I was real appreciative of his gift, but I didn’t share his feelings and I’d like him to leave me alone. I know it was kinda blunt but I don’t need none of this mess. I slipped it into his locker after class. I just hope it works.

Applejack

Wednesday February 12th, 2014
Dear Journal,

Another cheerleader came up to me today, this time with a ridiculously big box of chocolates. They ain’t even selling chocolates! She said that someone gave her five bucks to deliver them. There was another note too. ‘To Applejack, a woman sweeter than the candies in this box.’ Rarity actually got up and left after I set them down in the middle of the table, telling everyone to help themselves. Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I ain’t much of a chocolate eater.

Rainbow Dash laughed when she saw the note and called it lame. I agree. I guess my letter didn’t work like I hoped it would. I dunno why he’s trying so hard, I ain’t got no interest in him, but he won’t hear reason. I can’t wait till Valentine’s Day is over.

Applejack

Friday February 14th, 2014

Dear Journal,

This whole week has been a disaster and today was just the icing on the cake. After yesterday when I was given a large stuffed bear in the middle of math class, I thought it couldn’t get worse. It did. I went to my locker to get my textbook for first period and as soon as I opened the dang door, about a million tiny confetti hearts fall out all over the floor, which a teacher saw and made me clean up. I dunno how he even got them in there.

Then in my first class, a cheerleader comes in with a wrapped box and a card. I decided to open the card ‘cause where’s the harm in that? I shoulda known better. It was a recordable card, and as soon as I opened it, it filled the whole classroom with a cheesy 80’s song he was singing himself.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so embarrassed or upset. Some of the other kids laughed, and I got the stink eye from my teacher. I decided to not open the present at all. Nothing happened in my next three classes, but I shoulda known he was up to something. As soon as I walked through the cafeteria doors for lunch, Trenderhoof was waiting for me at my friends usual table, holding a rose in between his teeth. I wanted to laugh, partly ‘cause he looked ridiculous, but also ‘cause I was getting real aggravated.

I didn’t even wait for him to say anything before I gave him a big ole scoop of brutal honesty. I told him, again, that I didn’t like him, and I was real sorry but I didn’t feel the same way and I’d appreciate it if he’d quit with his advances because they were unwanted. I even gave him back the unopened box and card I’d got earlier.

I’ve gotta say, he took it like a champ. He even tried to get me to change my mind, but I was just so tired and annoyed by that point that I told him to leave me the hell alone and pointed to the exit. I don’t care if I was rude, he wouldn’t take a hint. He finally walked away when he saw how serious I was.

See, here’s the thing. I didn’t mind so much that I had a uh, suitor, as Rarity would call it, ‘cause lets face it. I don’t get many. I’m not the type of gal that catches anyone’s eye like Pinkie or Fluttershy. I think the flannel throws folks off. But what bothered me was that Trenderhoof didn’t take the time to get to know me first. He just threw a bunch of fancy, expensive junk at me hoping to gain my attention.

I’m a simple girl as most people can see. I don’t want much. I don’t need impractical gifts and big displays of affection which is what upset me so much about Trenderhoof. He didn’t take the time to get to know my likes and dislikes, he just jumped into large surprises. Even if I did like that sorta thing, he ain’t my type. I don’t like pretty boys.

So after lunch, everything went back to normal. No more presents or awful cards… until my last period. Another cheerleader came in and headed straight for me. I actually had to mentally talk myself outta smashing my face on the desk. She handed me a single orange carnation. I sit in the back corner next to the teacher’s desk so I actually raised my arm to throw it in his trash can when I caught a glimpse of the handwriting on the note that was attached. It was different from Trender’s, so I read it and it made me crack up.

Someone had taken the time to crudely draw a half-peeled apple and next to it wrote, ‘I find you a-peel-ing.’ I looked over at Rainbow who had been watching the scene and shrugged. She seemed to let out a breath when I laid it down on my desk instead of throwing it in the trash. Maybe she was relieved it wasn’t from Trenderhoof either.

I put it in a little cup of water when I got home, now it’s sitting on my nightstand. I wonder who gave it to me? At least this person seemed to know me, they even knew my weakness for puns. Maybe this day wasn’t too bad after all.

I better get to bed, this entry’s taken me a while to write, but there was just so damn much to say.

Goodnight,

Applejack

Monday February 17th, 2014

Dear Journal,

Rarity apologized to me today. She came by my house after school with a container full of sugar cookies she made from scratch as a way to say sorry. It was awful kind of her to go through the trouble.

She said she knew she had been overreacting, that I would never break up anyone’s relationship, but she really liked Trenderhoof a lot, so it hurt her to be used the way she was. I don’t blame her. It was a right lousy thing to do to someone, and as much as Rarity might scoff at this, I’m glad she ain’t with him no more. She deserves better.

We sat on the porch and caught up a bit. I told her all about last week and she told me about how she spent twenty bucks on ice cream trying to get over Trender. She said that now that she’s mostly over him, she was thinking of inviting all our friends to the beach for spring break.

I ain’t been to the beach in a few years myself, so it’d be nice to tag along. She’s still got to ask her parents and grandparents since it’s her grandpa’s vacation home and all. Still, it’d make for a dang fun senior girls trip.

I’m glad Rarity came by, and in a better mood. I missed talking to her, as hard as that is to believe.

Applejack

Chapter Four

Rainbow yawned and stretched. She’d been reading for a while and completely lost track of time, not that there was anything she needed to do but watch over her fiancée who had sprawled out on her back. The athlete got up from the rocker she was sitting in and adjusted the blankets so that they fully covered Applejack again. Lightly running her fingers through the blonde’s hair, she bent over and kissed her temple before retreating back to the comfy chair she had been sitting in.

It was weird to read everything from AJ’s perspective. Rainbow remembered most of it herself, but she had had no idea just how much Applejack hated her in the beginning. Rainbow had never disliked Applejack, she was just easy to mess with. Especially at the Halloween party. Applejack was hot and Rainbow was drunk, so she took the chance. She was glad AJ liked it though.

It was hard for her to read the bits with her home life in it. She’d done her best to forget it and reading about it was dredging up a bunch of unwanted memories. Shaking her head, she adjusted herself in the chair and continued to read.

Wednesday February 26th, 2014

Dear Journal,

Well, it sounds like the trip to the beach might happen! Rarity’s been talking to her grandma about using their summer home on the coast, and they agreed. I dunno how she talked her grandparents into letting a bunch of teenagers stay at their house alone, but it worked. Now we’ve just got to figure out the details, like which vehicles we’re taking, how we’re pitching in for gas and food and such.

She even invited Rainbow Dash, who’s really become part of our group as of late. Rainbow and I have gotten closer over the last few months too. One of my favorite parts of each day is taking her home ‘cause we just talk and joke the whole way. We’ve learned a lot about each other and I can happily say she’s a friend now.

She doesn’t seem too excited for the trip, especially after everyone was talking about the cost of everything. I know she doesn’t really have an income so she’s probably worried about the money aspect of it. Maybe I’ll ask her about it, she’s pretty open with me now. I hope she can go, it wouldn’t be as much fun without her.

Applejack

Monday March 3rd, 2014

Dear Journal,

Turns out I was right about why Rainbow seemed unhappy about the beach trip. I talked to her on Saturday, trying to get some answers. She said that she really wanted to go, but there was no way she’d ever be able to afford something like that, so I did the only thing I could do. I offered to pay for her.

Her reaction was about what I expected. She freaked out, yelling about how she wouldn’t let me waste my money on her, especially not what it would cost for an entire week on the coast. I’d foreseen this happening though, so I told her that if she felt that bad about it, which she shouldn’t, then after we got back from vacation, she could come over after school and work on the ranch for a couple weeks to make it up.

She said that she’d think about it over the weekend and today at lunch she told me we had a deal. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her face light up as bright as it did when she excitedly started talking about the trip and how she always wanted to go to the beach. It was kinda cute to watch her as she talked about all the things she wanted to do while we were there, like finding sand dollars and building epic sandcastles. It sure was worth the money to see the smile on her face.

Applejack

Thursday March 20th, 2014

Dear Journal,

Whew, I’m beat. It’s like the universe knew that I was trying to go on vacation and made these last couple of weeks a lot harder on me. My workload alone has been dang near doubled on account of Mac being gone on business in the city for a few days. I think I underestimate him sometimes. I should do something nice for him to show him I appreciate the work he does. He should be back tomorrow morning, just in time for the trip.

School’s had my head on the chopping block too. You’d think they’d run out of quizzes and pop quizzes and essays and tests and projects, but apparently not. It’s been tough trying to communicate with the gals about what needed to be done before the trip ‘cause they’re all about as busy as I am. Tomorrow’s the last day before spring break and I’ll be glad to have some time off.

We’re leaving Saturday and I’ve been packing on and off all week. I think I’ve got most of what I need in my suitcase, but I’ll to check it again to make sure. Twilight had a good suggestion for the car situation though. She said that we take should take two cars so that we weren’t all smushed together in one since no one in our group had a big enough vehicle to fit us all comfortably. I offered my truck, that way everyone could stick their luggage in the bed, and Fluttershy offered to drive her Jetta.

It’s a five hour drive to the beach and we all agreed to meet at Sugarcube corner at eight for breakfast before we go. I’ll be picking Rainbow up before we meet, on account of her not having a car.

Anyways, I should go and make sure Apple Bloom’s getting ready for bed. She has a knack for ‘forgetting’ that nine o’clock is lights out.

Applejack

Saturday March 22nd, 2014

Dear Journal,

We’re here! Spring break 2014 has started! We pulled up to the beach house around two, after driving almost nonstop for hours. This place sure is something else, real nice and about fifty feet from the ocean. A lot smaller than I thought it’d be, not that I’m complaining mind you. Rainbow Dash has been in awe since the grass started turning into palm trees and sand.

We spent most of the afternoon getting settled in. Fluttershy and Rarity took her grandparents bed while we all but made Pinkie take the twin bed in the little guestroom after she told us that she kicks in her sleep. Rainbow, Twilight and I are hashing it out in the living room on a big pallet we made outta blankets. It’s more comfortable than it sounds.

Then we made Twilight and Pinkie go to the grocery store for stuff we‘d need for the week, mostly just breakfast and lunch items since we agreed we wanted to try out a few of the restaurants around the island. After they were back, we ordered a couple big pizzas and sat out on the patio, ate supper and shared a bottle of wine taken off the rack in the kitchen while we watched the sun go down. It was a nice, simple way to start our vacation. Can’t wait to see what the rest of the week holds.

Applejack

Tuesday March 25th, 2014

Dear Journal,

I don’t ever wanna leave the beach. I’ve had such a great time these last few days that I’d be okay staying here forever. It’s been swell to wake up every morning to the sound of the waves and make breakfast together with my friends before we head out to do whatever activities Twilight planned out for us.

Sunday we spent most of the day on the beach. We looked for shells, built sandcastles, tried not to drown from the waves as we searched for sand dollars at the sandbar. A guy even came over and tried to get Fluttershy’s number. I never thought she was gonna come back outside with the way she bolted to the house. We ate at a pretty cool restaurant that night where they put bibs on you if you ordered crab legs. Pinkie Pie was way too excited about it, she even made us take pictures of her making a crab leg mustache. She’s a hoot!

We went on a dolphin tour Monday, and boy did they put on a show! I’ve never seen them in real life so it was a real treat to be able to watch them in their natural habitat. It was almost impossible to get Fluttershy off the boat though, she wanted to go again but I’m sure if she had it her way, the entire vacation would’ve been spent watching them over and over. After the tour, Rainbow and I separated from the rest to go parasailing. That was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done. The view was breathtaking and the water was so clear, you could see the bottom plain as day. Rainbow swears she saw a shark, but I couldn’t find it when she pointed it out. The ride didn’t last too long but it sure felt like forever when we were up there. Dash even got brave and took out her phone to take some pictures, plus a few of the both of us. The experience is one thing that I’m never gonna forget.

Tuesday morning we split up. Most of us went horseback riding on the beach while Rarity and Twilight went to check out the Island’s history museum because Miss Priss didn’t think it was dignified to sit on an animal with a mind of its own. I got a beautiful horse named Blondie. She liked to bite. After everyone had been paired with a horse, we were led to the beach by a few trained employees that made sure everything went smoothly. We were able to take them into the water a bit and we even got to follow some trails up in the sand dunes. It was a great way to start the day… until all four of us realized that we forgot to put sunscreen on before we went. Fluttershy passed the color red all together and went straight to purple. I’m used to the sun so I just got a bit more tan but that poor girl, ain’t no amount of aloe vera gonna help her.

Speaking of aloe vera, I promised I’d go get her more before the store closed. Better go.

Applejack

Wednesday March 26th, 2014

Dear Journal,

I’m exhausted! I think the trip is finally wearing on me. We didn’t even do to much today either. I think the others are feeling it too. We went around to a few of the different souvenir stores and looked around, picking out presents for our families and whatnot. They have some neat things in those shops and I probably bought too much, but I kept finding stuff that Bloom would like or Mac and Granny.

Then that evening we all went and walked down the jetties at the end of the island which was trickier than I thought it’d be. It was just big slabs of rocks stacked next to each other, with big gaps in between. Plus the further you went, the higher the waves and they were breaking over the rocks making everything slippery. Twilight fell, which was hilarious because she said ‘FUCK’ real loud and I’ve never heard a single curse word come outta her mouth. Probably didn’t help matters that everyone but Fluttershy had had a couple drinks.

Rainbow Dash was acting weird the whole day though. Actually, she was acting weird yesterday too. Not like she was sick or upset, I mean she was her usual cocky self, but she’s been more… I dunno, close to me? We’ve barely been separated for the last couple days. I wish I could explain it better, but it’s hard. I thought about asking her why she’s been sticking around me a lot more but I thought that might be a mite rude. Whatever it is, it’s not exactly unwanted. I really like having her around, she’s a blast. I always have a better time when she’s with me, she keeps me from being stuck in work mode all the time.

Applejack

Thursday March 27th, 2014

Dear Journal,

I didn’t think this trip could get any better. That was before tonight. Remember how I said that Rainbow had been acting strange? I found out why.

After we all got back from supper, our last meal on the island sadly, Rainbow asked me if I wanted to take a walk down the beach. Alone. Of course I wasn’t gonna say no, so I grabbed a flashlight and we took off down the shoreline.

We’re taking our time, pointing at shells we liked and freaking each other out about crabs pinching our feet when she slowly takes her hand in mine. I looked at her but she just kept her face forward, pointing at another shell she thought was awesome. I could see her red face in the dim lighting though. I was gonna say something, but it was nice to just hold her hand and stroll down the beach.

We walked for a little bit longer until I started getting cold, so I told her that we should probably head back, and that’s when she told me she had something to tell me. She took a deep breath, and admitted that she had romantic feelings for me. I thought she might have had a small crush on me, (actually that might’ve just been wishful thinking) but I never thought she felt so strong. Apparently she’s felt this way for a while but didn’t know how to tell me because she was too nervous. Heck, she was tripping over her words just trying to let me know how she felt.

She also told me that she was the one that gave me the orange carnation on Valentine’s day. I dunno why, but that really made me happy. I don’t think the flower would’ve meant as much to me if I had found out it was someone else. I was flattered actually. Lord have mercy, I’m starting to sound like Rarity.

Anyways, after Rainbow said her peace and all but asked me out, I was conflicted. I couldn’t say I didn’t like her ‘cause that would’ve been lie, we definitely had a connection but I was worried since I knew squat all about relationships and here was someone who wanted to date me. So I told her that. She sorta laughed at me because that was something ‘so Applejack’ to worry about. She let me know that I didn’t have to make a decision, and I could take my time. She would wait, she just wanted me to know.

I could tell she was sorta upset that she didn’t get an immediate answer so I thought I’d cheer her up with a kiss. I’ve had a few kisses in my life, but not enough to be confident in my actions. I went slow and steady, wrapping my arms around her waist, making sure I was doing the right things. If Rainbow had any issues with it, she didn’t say anything. After we parted, I promised her I’d think about it. Then I took her hand and we walked back to the house.

I’m glad that she’s letting me think things through. I do like Rainbow a bunch, I’m just so unsure about dating and I don’t want to jump into something before I’ve got my brain wrapped around it. I’m sure I’ll figure it out and I’ll be able to give Rainbow the best answer. It’s so strange to think about relationships. No one’s ever asked me out so it hasn’t really come up, but now that it has, I can’t stop the butterflies in my stomach. This was the perfect way to end vacation. I’m sad that we have to go home tomorrow, but there’s always next time. Plus, in a couple months we’ll graduate! That’s definitely something I’m looking forward to!

It’s my turn to shower, gotta go!

Applejack

Chapter Five

Author's Note

Hey y'all! Another chapter up!

Before you start reading, I just wanted to throw out a couple trigger warnings. This chapter contains death, and mentions of drug and alcohol addiction/overdosing, plus a serious breakdown. It's not too detailed so it's not that bad, but I wanted to make sure y'all knew.

Also, this chapter a lot of meaning to me, seeing as I based this person off my mom, (Although my mom is still alive), and my childhood. I had originally planned to add a lot more drama before I got to this part, but it was pretty tough for me to write about and so I shorted everything down.

Annnnnyways, I hope you enjoy and please read and review because you love me, amen.

-Dawn

Chapter Five

Saturday May 3rd, 2014

Dear Journal,

It’s been over a month since I’ve written. You’d think I would’ve been keeping up with it better, but the day we got back from vacation, my life was turned upside down, and I’ve been on one hell of a roller coaster ride. Shoot if I know where to start with this mess, so I guess the beginning is good as anywhere.

Rainbow’s mom died while we were at the beach and no one found her until Dash went home. I had dropped her off at her house and not even thirty minutes later was she calling me panicking. I couldn’t even understand half of what she was telling me, but I flipped around and when I got there, her mom was being taken out in a body bag.

Since I knew she had no where else to go, I offered the spare bedroom at my house until she could find somewhere else. She didn’t even fight me this time. She just gathered what little of her belongings she had and came home with me. Granny Smith was surprised at first, since I didn’t even ask if it was alright, but after I explained everything, she instantly came around and welcomed Rainbow with open arms.

Rainbow was a real mess for the first two weeks, not that I blame her. I remember being a basket case when my folks died. The first week was the worst. Rainbow wouldn’t talk, or eat, or sleep. She didn’t even cry. More nights than not, I’d find her sitting on the front porch just staring at the yard. I never said anything either. I would just sit down beside her and hold her hand until I started to fall asleep. She stayed in the guestroom all day and no one ever heard a peep. It was almost like she was a zombie from those creepy games Pinkie liked to play.

Fast forward another week, and Rainbow finally had the breakdown I’d been waiting on. It was bad. I had just knocked on the door to tell her that supper was done, not that I thought she was gonna eat, and heard glass break. When I opened the door, she was standing in the middle of the room with a shattered picture frame on the floor. I was gonna ask if she was alright but then she started screaming.

Lord, I’ve never heard a more horrible sound than the broken, mangled cry coming outta her throat. She started yelling about how much she hated her mom. How mad she was that her mom died before she could tell her how she really felt. How she wished she could bring her back just so she could tell her mom how much she despised her. She shouted about how awful her mother was, about the pain pills and the alcohol, the constant overdosing, the trauma that Rainbow suffered because of her. Never having any food, or AC or heat, going without electricity altogether sometimes so her mom could buy more drugs. Taking showers with cold water because the water heater was broke. Being yelled at on a daily basis and made to feel like dirt. The occasional threat on her life.

Rainbow went on and on and on until she could barely talk. As soon as she shut her mouth, I was over there, wrapping her up in a hug. And that’s when the tears started. I moved us to the bed and let her cry as long as she needed. I held her like my mama used to do to me when I was in a fit. She fell asleep after a while and that’s when I allowed myself to cry. I normally don’t cry, I’m a pretty put-together girl, but seeing her like that shattered my heart. Hearing everything that she had to go through, everything she endured, well, it hurt me. I didn’t leave her side all night. I didn’t even eat. Big Mac came to check on us after the screaming stopped. Everyone in the house heard what she said, and I saw how red his eyes were.

After that day, Rainbow slowly started healing. She started eating more, and went back to school. She still wasn’t talking much but that slowly started changing too. She helped out on the ranch, mostly light stuff, like feeding the animals and cleaning the house for Granny. Our relationship shifted too. We still haven’t talked about what was said at the beach, but she started sleeping in my room. We don’t really touch or anything, I think she just doesn’t wanna be alone. She also holds my hand a lot. She’ll just take it at random times, and I can’t tell if it’s supposed to be romantic or just part of her healing process.

Today was a real good day. After a lot of bad ones, I’m grateful for it. We offered a permanent spot in our home for Rainbow Dash. There was no way I was gonna let her leave, especially since she ain’t got nowhere to go. She was the happiest I’ve seen her since the beach trip. She ran up to each of us and smothered us in hugs. We made a huge dinner and invited the girls over to eat and hang out a bit. It was the first time we all got together at my place. Rainbow almost acted like her old self. We helped her decorate her room, Pinkie and Rarity had no shortage of things to add to make her room more cozy.

Now we’re all watching a movie, but I’ve seen it before since it’s mine, so I thought I’d catch you up on everything. Less than a month to go before graduation so I’m glad that things are sorta getting back to normal.

Applejack

Wednesday May 7th, 2014

Dear Journal,

Just a few weeks left before I walk the stage… if I pass my final exams. I thought I saw Twilight panic before, but midterms ain’t got nothing on these end of the year exams. She carries a paper bag with her now. I’m trying to stay calm, I know it don’t help to freak out, but this is it. These tests are the deciding factor between passing and failing. Walking the stage or not. It tends to weigh on you.

Rainbow’s doing alright. She still has her moments, but she’s a strong gal and I’m here to help her through it. I think the only good thing about the finals is that it keeps her busy enough that she doesn’t think about her mom. That’s when she starts to get upset, when she’s got nothing to do but sit and mull over stuff. I believe that’s also part of the reason she’s still sleeping in my bed. It’s easy enough to get trapped in your head when your trying to fall asleep. I don’t mind though.

Anyways, gotta go, Rainbow and I are meeting our friends for a study session. Math. Hooray.

Applejack

Friday May 9th, 2014

Dear Journal,

I met Apple Bloom’s boyfriend today. I knew she’d start dating sooner or later, but she’s only thirteen for pete sake! His name is Pipsqueak and he’s actually real nice. He stayed for supper and everybody got to know him a bit. I can tell Bloom is smitten with him, I don’t think she stopped smiling the whole time he was there. Everyone thinks they’re adorable together, and if I wasn’t on big sister alert, I would too.

To be honest, I’m not ready for this. I always knew this day would come sooner or later, but I still see her as a little girl who needs protecting. It’ll be okay, she’s got a good head on her shoulders and I trust her to make the right decisions, but dammit is it hard to step back and let her grow up. I wanted to have a chat with him before he left, but I think Mac could tell I was about to give him the ‘hurt her and I’ll hurt you’ talk and asked me to make a milk run. He was gone when I got back. I gave Mac the stink eye when I figured it out.

Gotta help Granny,

Applejack

Monday May 19th, 2014

Dear Journal,

Something has flipped on inside Rainbow. Early last week she went and asked Big Mac if he could add extra work on to her load so that she could start earning a bit of cash, which I understand, she probably has extra things she needs or wants and we can always use the help. Every day after school she’s been putting in a good few hours work and this weekend she even picked up part of Big Mac’s chores so he could get a break. She’s helping us in the kitchen, learning a few recipes and cleaning up after. She seems a lot happier than she’s been these last couple months and it’s swell to see.

Our sleeping arrangements have also become more intimate… not like that! But we have sorta started cuddling as we fall asleep and I’ve woken up a couple times with her head on my chest. Since her mom died, it’s definitely given me a lot of time to think about us. She’s been too preoccupied to think of it or she just doesn’t want to bother me. Either way, I’ve been able to gather my thoughts.

I want to be in a relationship with Rainbow. I know that for a fact now. I think it became clear to me when I noticed the spooning. Not just that, but the talks we have laying together. They’ve gotten pretty deep at times. We spills secrets, and fears, chat about our dreams and hopes for the future. She’s told me some pretty messed up things, but trusts me with them. I finally told her about my folks, which was a real hard thing for me to do. I ain’t talked about what happened to them since it all happened. She likes to brush my hair in the mornings when we wake up. She says she’s jealous because her hair is thin and doesn’t look good long.

I think all those little things have really solidified the fact that I want to be with her. I’ve been trying to think of a good time, but I feel like it’s still too soon after her mom, seeing as it’s only been what? A month and a half? I know she’s had time to mourn, if you could call it that, and she’s practically back to her old self, I just don’t want to, I guess, step in front of everything she’s gone through. She’s waiting on an answer, I just dunno when the best time would be to tell her. I can’t wait though.

Applejack

Sunday May25th. 2014

Dear Journal,

Five more days! I can’t believe graduation is finally almost here! I’ll walk the stage on Friday and the rest of my life can finally begin. Finals were at the end of last week and we should be learning our final grades these next couple of days. I’m not as worried as I thought I‘d be. All us gals have had studied our textbooks front to back. Done equation after equation and made more flash cards that I thought was possible. Rainbow’s pretty confident herself, and she somehow turned it into a competition to see who made the highest grades. Loser has to work in a dress for a week. I’ve got this. She fell asleep one too many times and drooled in her history book.

I think I’m gonna tell Rainbow my answer. Whether or not it’s too soon after her mom, I think we could both use a positive end to our senior year. I thought about making it some spectacular announcement like Rarity would do, but I know that ain’t Rainbow‘s style, and it sure as hell ain’t mine. I’ll just stick to the basics.

Thinking about it is making me nervous,

Applejack

Thursday May 29th, 2014

Dear Journal,

I gave Rainbow my answer this evening. We went for a run through Whitetail Woods and ended up taking a break at the river before we headed back to the house. That’s when I told her. I tried to keep it as short and simple as possible without sparing how I felt and her reaction was instant. I barely saw her running until she collided with me, coving my lips with her own. I feel silly now for worrying about it not being the right time, especially with how ecstatic she was.

And boy did it feel good to kiss her again. It just felt so natural, like we fit together just perfect, almost like we were meant to be. Rainbow would probably call me lame if she saw this entry, but I can’t help it. She’s drives me right wild. If you had told me at the beginning of the school year that I’d start dating Rainbow Dash, I probably would’ve decked you and told you I’d pray for you, but there’s just something about her that draws me in like June bugs to a porch light.

Anyways, after a short impromptu make-out session, we headed back to the ranch and got our outfits ready for graduation… with a few messy kisses in between. Tomorrow’s the day! I’ll graduate with my best friends and girlfriend. It’s real weird to write that word! When I think back at this year, I definitely had some good and bad moments, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything. My experiences helped me to grow as a person and I’m happy of the woman I’m becoming, and I know this is just the end of a chapter. I have a long way to go, but at least I’ve got my friends, family and an annoying but beautiful girlfriend to take on my journey.

Applejack

Chapter Six

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter Seven

Saturday, July 26th 2014

Dear Journal,

We had a going away party for Twilight today. She’s leaving in a few days to visit her brother and his family, and then start her first semester of college at one of them big, fancy schools. She’s real nervous but I know that’s she’s gonna do well. She’s real smart and mature for her age, both of which a lot of students straight outta high school don’t have much of.

She promised that she would take pictures and call us when she could. I hope she keeps her word ‘cause I’m gonna miss her. Ever since she moved to town in our fifth grade year, me and her have been thick as thieves. I think the only person I was friends with longer than her was Rarity. I’ve known Rare since we were toddlers just about. I met Pinkie not long after I met Twilight, and Fluttershy came a few years after that.

I wonder who the next one to leave is gonna be? I know Fluttershy has her eye on being a veterinarian, and Rarity is looking to open some sort of boutique? I dunno where she wants to open it up at though, probably in a large city or something. Pinkie seems like she’s content working at the bakery in town. Rainbow has a dream of becoming an aerial stunt pilot. I’ll be right here though, like always. Good ole reliable Applejack.

Anyways, I wish the best for Twilight. She worked her rear off to get to this point. I’m sure she’ll fit right in with all the others and breeze through her classes like always. I just hope she remembers to let loose and have a little fun once in a while. She gets too wound up sometimes.

Applejack

Sunday, August 3rd 2014

Dear Journal,

So Mac is definitely seeing someone. In a relationship way or just a friends with benefits way, I dunno. I walked by his room earlier to get to the bathroom and his door was open. He was changing shirts I guess, facing away from me, and I saw his back. Good gravy, his upper back was almost completely covered in sex scratches.

I, being the nosy little sister that I am, went in there and asked who he was seeing. He wouldn’t tell me. He just kept saying that it wasn’t any of my business and I told him that if he didn’t want it to be my business then he should learn to keep his door shut. Then I reminded him of the time he quit talking to me for a month because I wouldn’t let loose who gave me the hickeys I came home with.

The only thing he said was that everyone would find out when the time was right, and he asked me not to tell anyone. After I told Rainbow, her and I have been throwing ideas back and forth about who it might be. I’m real curious to see who it is, I hope they’re nice.

I’ll kill him if it’s one of my friends,

Applejack

Thursday, August 14th, 2014

Dear Journal,

I got a call from Twilight today. She was just checking in, letting me know that she made it to school and settled in real nice. She also sent some pictures of the school. It’s a old school, real Victorian era. It looks nice, and the insides have been modernized a bit. I’m glad she’s doing okay.

Rainbow and I went on our forth date recently. It’s always fun to be able to spend some personal time together. I took her to a prison break themed escape room, and we barely managed to escape in time. We only had a couple of minutes left on the clock. It was intense! I didn’t think we were gonna make it.

I think we’ve become a lot more comfortable with each other lately. I feel like at the beginning of the relationship we were being careful, kinda testing the waters, but now I feel at home around her and I can tell she feels the same. We make dirty jokes, and slap each others butts when we walk by, talk about our periods like it’s no big deal. I’ve even used the toilet while she showered because I couldn’t hold it. It’s just stuff like that that’s changed, and I like it.

We’re still holding off in the bedroom though. No sex, just cuddling and kissing. Rainbow makes some really hot comments sometimes that makes it hard to hold back. The other night for example, we were really getting into it and she said something about needing blindfolds and rope so she could have her way with me. I almost made her go get the rope outta the tool shed. I dunno why I’m holding out on her, it’s not like I’m waiting ‘til marriage, I guess I just want to take things slow. This is my first relationship and I wanna do it right. Jumping into bed on the first date might be fine for some folks, but it ain’t my style.

I’ve been talking to Rarity about it, and she brought something up that sorta made me feel bad. Ever since Rainbow started staying in my room, neither of us have relieved ourselves, at least in bed. I know I’ve been getting my rocks off in the shower, so Rainbow might be doing the same thing, but otherwise it’s almost like I’m teasing her, and then leaving her high and dry. I never thought of it like that.

She suggested that maybe if I’m still not ready to have sex, let Rainbow know it’s okay to touch herself if she needs to, in the comfort of the bedroom. I know the shower isn’t a great place to do it unless you’re taking a bath and have room to spread out, but getting off while standing up with your foot propped is more annoying than anything. Maybe I’ll talk to Rainbow about it.

Am I being a bad girlfriend?

Applejack

Monday, August 25th 2014

Dear Journal,

Apple Bloom started ninth grade today. It’s her first year in high school and she was nervous wreck this morning. I got up to make her favorite breakfast; fried eggs, grits and strawberry jelly toast. Honestly, I thought she was gonna pass out. I almost brought out a paper sack for her to breathe in. She was worried about her clothes, then her shoes, and oh Lord her hair. She was almost late because she wasn’t sure if her backpack looked grown up enough. I had to shove her outta my truck just to get her moving.

Then she came home and told me that she had a great day. All that worrying over nothing. She shares a lot of her classes with her friends and her teachers are all real nice. I hope this year is better for her than last year. She had a pretty hard time in eighth grade with her teachers and the bullying got bad at times. She seems like she’s not gonna let it affect her though, she’s just gonna push through and keep going. Plus she has Pipsqueak now, so I think that also helps.

Applejack

Thursday, October 2nd 2014

Dear Journal,

Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written but harvest season hit and it was all we could do to keep up. There were days where we were still out after dark, just trying to get as much done as possible. It’s slowed down a lot now, the bulk of it’s done, just half of the west orchard is left but there’s still the sorting, boxing and distributing left. That’s the easy part and goes by pretty quick.

On top of that, Apple Bloom has been more of a handful than usual. I think it’s hormones. She’s arguing with everyone, being real unhelpful, complaining about everything. The other night she slammed the door in Granny’s face. Boy howdy was that girl in trouble. She keeps crying about the stupidest things too. Toothpaste on her shirt, the dog laid on her school clothes, Mac didn’t put the toilet seat down. I’ve had it with her and that attitude.

I damn near ripped her a new one yesterday. She got home from school in a bad mood and I snapped. I don’t yell often and she knows it, so when I laid into her, she shut her mouth real quick. I don’t do whining. It’s alright to have feelings and express them, but you don’t take it out on others, especially your grandmother. It’s been hard enough around here without having to deal with that every day.

I haven’t talked to Rainbow about anything yet either. Just ain’t been no time. I plan on doing it soon, now that our workload has died down. I’ve barely had time to sleep. Rainbow’s been a trooper though, helping out everyday. I’ll have to take her out soon as thanks for all the hard work she’s put in the last month or so.

Applejack

Wednesday, October15th 2014

Dear Journal,

I finally got around to having the talk with Rainbow. It went a lot better than I thought it would. I asked her questions about how she felt about our lack of sexual activity, if she felt lead on and let down, how she took care of herself, stuff like that. I wanted her honest opinion. She was real sweet about everything which was comforting to me.

She said that she did feel a little let down when I ask her to stop, but she understands that I’m not ready. She told me that she wasn’t a virgin, that she’d fooled around with a few girls so it was weird for her to be in a relationship in general. I was right about the shower thing. She does touch herself in the bathroom and she said it sucks. I agreed. She also got off in her room a couple times but she was worried because it don’t have a lock like the other doors.

I let her know everything. Why I was waiting, how I felt about furthering our relationship, how awful the shower was, how much I wanted to be with her that way. I also brought up the idea Rarity had of letting her use my room when she wanted. I even slipped in that maybe I don’t have to be out of the room when she does it. Then we made out ‘til supper was done. I’m glad we had a chat, maybe finally I’ll be ready to take the next steps.

Applejack

Chapter Eight

Tuesday, October 21st 2014

Dear Journal,

We had a scare with Granny last night. She took a bad fall at the end of the stairs, and wasn’t able to move for a few minutes. I thought we were gonna have to take her to the emergency room, we were worried she’d broken something. But after a couple minutes she slowly started trying to get up. We helped of course and Mac escorted her to the couch to sit down.

I dunno why she doesn’t use the stair lift we installed ages ago, she’s just stubborn and doesn’t want to admit that she’s up there in age and needs the assistance. She used it to get up to her room though, I think the fall shook her a bit. She’s fallen before which is what caused us to install the lift. Maybe now she’ll start using it more. I just worry about if she falls and no ones around to help. I couldn’t stand it if she got hurt because no one was home.

Applejack

Thursday, November 27th 2014

Dear Journal,

Happy Thanksgiving! I’m pretty sure I gained five pounds today with how much I ate. We had a big feast like always, and since it was just the five of us, Babs couldn’t make it down, there was plenty of food to go around. I’m positive I ate half the candied yams by myself. I taught Rainbow how to make an apple and pecan pie. She did real well but I had to stop her from eating all the filling before we poured it.

After supper we all hung out and watched a couple movies. It was a cozy evening in. Rainbow snuggled against me on the couch and Bloom made a blanket pallet on the living room floor for her and Mac. Granny made us all big mugs of hot cocoa. I feel like the last few months have been hectic, so having this day to relax and enjoy each others company was a welcome change.

Granny’s been doing okay since her fall, and she’s using the lift more than she used to, so maybe she’s finally coming to terms with the fact that she can’t do things like she used to. I know it probably hurts her to realize that, but I’d rather see her pride hurt rather than her back. Me and Mac are still keeping a closer eye on her just in case anything happens.

Anyways, I’m gonna get going, there’s a long, hot shower with my name on it and I’m ready for bed!

Applejack

Saturday, December 6th 2014

Dear Journal,

Rarity brought exciting news to our get-together. The gals, minus Twilight, and I all got together for lunch and that’s when she told us. She’s opening her very own boutique! She was talking a hundred miles a minute about how she found a place here in town that could be split into both a store and a house. She plans on using the bottom as her shop with a big room in the back for her machines and supplies. The second story will be transformed into a small house for her to live in. She said it’d be cheaper that having two places to pay bills and taxes on, which is smart.

Since she paid for the down payment herself, her parents are gonna help her financially with the repairs and all, which is a hell of a deal. Remodeling a house is a big chunk of change so it’s swell that her folks are gonna pitch in. She wants to have it open within a few months if she can, and she wants to hire people to do the work which will be more expensive but will get it done quicker.

Pinkie Pie had her own good news today as well! She’s found herself a boyfriend! She calls him Cheese, but I think she said his real name is Al or Alfred or something? She showed us pictures and they look real cute together. He’s got curly brown hair and a bright smile. He lives about thirty minutes away and owns his own party supply store, which yeah, sounds about right, especially since it’s Pinkie we’re talking about.

I’m glad we all got together, it’s been a while but everyone’s been busy. I feel like it was easier to hangout when we were in school, where we had a lot less responsibilities. Now everyone’s starting their lives and going off to school and getting into relationships. We all promised to try and get together more often, but we’ll see how long that lasts!

Applejack

Friday, January 2nd, 2015

Dear Journal,

Merry late Christmas and Happy New Year! 2014 was a heck of a year. A lotta good, a little bad, and lots of memories with friends and family. There’s a bunch to write down so I’m just gonna jump on in.

Christmas was a quiet holiday for us, with the usual gift giving and feast at supper. Granny actually let us help make the food this year. I think her hips and back are really starting to get to her. She’s been refusing to go to the doctor, but I can see her stubbornness kinda fading away as she realizes she might need to see a professional. It was still a great day though. I spent it with some of the people I love the most as we made cookies and sang along to the Christmas songs that came on the radio.

New Years was different this year. Normally we go over to my cousin Braeburn’s place but he’s in the middle of a nasty divorce. He found out his wife was cheating on him, and ever since then his life has been utter hell. Mac left a few days ago to go be a referee while she’s moving out. She was always a real nasty piece of work and I could never see what he saw in her.

And since we didn’t go anywhere, Bloom was finally able to go to her friend’s New Year’s Eve bash. She always misses it since we go out of town so she was real excited to be able to go. Which left Granny, Rainbow and I. Granny Smith made supper as usual and then went up to bed since she wasn’t feeling well. I think she was real relieved we didn’t go anywhere, but she’d never admit it.

After Granny went to bed, Rainbow and I grabbed a couple of beers and headed out to the second story porch, plopping down on the loveseat and stretching out. It was the perfect place to watch the neighbor’s firework show. He sets them off every year. It’s become such a big thing in our area that some of the other neighbors have started giving him money to buy even more fireworks.

All in all, this holiday season has been swell, but a lot different than it normally is. I don’t mind though, it’s been nice to take a load off and have a week to relax. It ain’t often that I get to do that.

I hope Braeburn is hanging in there, I sent him a text a couple hours ago to check on him but he hasn’t responded yet. I’m sure he’s just trying to get things together. Mac called last night and said she is fighting him tooth and nail about everything. I can’t wait ‘til she’s outta his life for good.

Applejack

Wednesday, January 14th 2015

Dear Journal,

More bad news on the relationship front. Pipsqueak broke up with Apple Bloom today. Poor girl came home crying her eyes out and locked herself in her room for hours. She wouldn’t let any of us in ‘til later that evening, and she only let me in.

Apparently Pipsqueak decided that he liked some stuck up, rich girl named Diamond Tiara. He told her that he liked Diamond way more than her and now that Diamond’s boyfriend was out of the picture, he wanted to try and get with her. Diamond has been bullying Bloom for years and that’s gotta sting, to have your boyfriend ditch you for your bully.

I’m in full sister-mode right now. I’m pissed. I told her I’d kick his ass, but I can’t actually do that, seeing as he’s a minor and I don’t want to go to jail. I made sure she knew he was a rotten, low down scoundrel and that she deserved to be with someone better. Trash belongs with trash.

I finally got her to smile at least, and come downstairs for supper. Now I think she’s on the phone with one of her friends, probably retelling the story she told me. Rainbow suggested a couple of ideas to get back at him, and if I notice her handing Bloom something for payback, ain’t none of my business no how.

I suggested itching powder in his clothes,

Applejack