Apple of Her Eye

by BradyBunch

Rating: everyone
Tags: Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Second Person, Romance, Slice of Life
Length: 1246

After another day of helping Applejack on the farm, both of you relax in the barn. While you're there, Applejack admits something.

Audio reading by Scribbler Productions

You've been helping Applejack on the farm for the past few weeks after arriving in Ponyville. While on the farm, in between tasks, you notice the girl who allowed you to work there. There's a certain kind of beauty about her that can only be achieved by work in the hot sun. She's curt in attitude, but also gentle. No matter what she does, she's sincere in her actions. And that cute way she calls you sugarcube... You don't know exactly when, but you've developed a crush on Applejack.

Which means that one day, you need to tell her just how great she is. What you don't expect is for her to tell you the same.

Published 2019-07-10 13:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2019-07-10 13:50:01 UTC

Apple of Your Eye

Alright then. Jus' load that last crate of apples, and then we're done fer th' day. Ah know, Ah know, yeh've been workin' for hours now. But just a little further! C'mon, you can do it!

Aaaand done! Whew! Ah reckon we deserve a break. It's hot outside, and you look sweatier than a sinner in heaven. C'mon, the barn should be cooler.

Before we go in, look around. You've been busy, huh? Take a gander at all this work you've helped me with! Thanks to you, we were able to harvest today's quota in half the time! You work as hard as a horse that sometimes Ah forget you're even human!

Well, Ah didn't mean no offense by that, sugarcube. It's jus' a matter o' who you are. But even then, it don't matter none! You're still worth as much as any one of us!

Anyhoo, come on. We got hay piles and a few blankets, in case we want ta plop down and sink in.

Why, jus' look above ya… This barn was put up by Apple family hooves many years ago, and it'll hold for a few years more.

Hm? Nah. That didn't really have much of a purpose. Ah just blurted that part out. Ah guess Ah was jus'... rememberin', that's all.

Nuthin' in particular. This place is just… peaceful. It's pretty big, yeah… spacious. Quiet. You can be pretty alone in here. It's nice! The wind can come through in the summer ta cool ya down. It's a killer in winter, though.

To be honest… sometimes Ah like ta come in here. Get away from all th' noise and chores and family an' just… kick back, y'know? It's nice.

Hey! Ah do like work and family! But not everypony can live constantly workin'! Ah learned that lesson long ago. Hold ma hat for me, will ya?

Bwuh ha ha ha! You really stumbled when Ah threw it at yer chest! Heh heh! We really gotta test yer reflexes more often.

Ah… collapsin' into a hay bale after a hard day's work is the best feelin' Ah can imagine. Ya just sink in and feel yerself shuttin' down.

Look, Ah only like work as much as the next pony. The difference is, Ah know why they gotta be done, and Ah don't mind gettin' maself exhausted in order to get 'em done.

Why're ya still standin' there like a big ol' doofus? Ya look like a cow that wandered into the wrong field. C'mon, sit next to me. Ah don't bite.

There we go. Feel free to jus' sink into the hay. What Ah like ta do is let the smells of the barn assault me. You notice it? The old paint on the moldy wooden planks, and the unmistakable smell of hay? There's a dirt floor, and rusty nails, and burlap sacks hangin' on 'em. They jus' come at ya. Hit ya harder than… a buck to the face. They tell you, 'This is a barn you're in.' And it smells like home!

...No, Ah wasn't raised in a barn! Ah just did ma chores in the barn! And ate in the barn. And… spent th' majority of my… time in the... barn… Wow, you're right. Whatever you do, don't mention that to Rainbow.

Hey! Lookit me real quick! See what I did? Th' whole lazy piece of straw in my mouth, arms behind ma head, relaxin with my eyes shut... Ah think I like this style o' cowgirl. Why, I dunno why I never tried it before, sugarcube! Feels all too natural.

...Mmm… this is real nice…

--A-Ah'm real nice? Wh-why, shucks, sugarcube. You got me blushin' redder than Big Mac, Ah just know it! Ah'm all sweaty and dirty from workin' in the fields! Stop jokin'!

… You like my freckles? And… my eyes as well? Gee, I-my mane? That too? I jus' tie it back. Ah ain't fancy or loopy or anything!

… Without th' hat? Hey! Ain't I cute with it as well?

Jus' kiddin'! Heh heh. Ya ain't got nothin' to worry about. Matter o' fact, it's… more than I expected.

Look, the only time Ah ever got hit on by a stallion was that one writer who came here that Rarity was fawnin' all over. He was… weird. And kinda disruptive to my work. You, though, you've… you've got somethin'.

Well, Ah don't know. It's hard to explain. Yer just so… carefree, I guess. But ya also don't mind none when the time comes to get the job done.

… Thanks fer the compliments. Ah really… 'ppreciate it.

...Can Ah tell ya somethin'? It's been in my head for a while now.

Yeah? Great. Well, uh, try to be patient. I might ramble.

See, thing is, when I first saw ya, it… was a little fascinating. I was just curious at first. Then when Twilight explained everything, I was… still kinda confused. Interdimensional travel ain't my strong suit. If ya want a field plowed or an apple tree bucked, I'm the mare you need. But I'm not… as advanced as Twilight. I'm jus' a simple farm girl livin' a simple, everyday life...

--A-anyway, you just kinda… came into our lives. I wanted to know what kinda person you were gonna be. When you were lookin' fer work a few weeks back, I volunteered to see what it would bring out of you.

… Ohoho-kay there, 'Keeping an eye on you' is a nasty way ta describe it. Let's say it was… a way to reveal yer true self. A pony shows who they truly are when they've been met with hardship.

And I found out who you really are. You just want… to help. And it ain't because you expect anything in return. You feel that I need it. I can see it when I'm havin' a bad day and I jus' want to collapse, and then you start doin' the dishes or you pull weeds or somethin'. Gosh, whenever Ah see you do that, I jus'... Something quivery happens to me. Tears begin ta well up in my eyes.

Ha ha! You don't think much of it! But I do! I see you plunge yer hands into gloppy grub, or into the mud on a hot day, and it's one less job I have to do. And you did it… fer me.

The work you do isn't regretful. It's true, and from your heart. You're so thoughtful, and hardworkin', and honest that… I just… guh, I don't know how to word this next part.

Look, partner, this next part don't involve words as much as it does… actions. And I'm not too hot on words. Guess Ah gotta pluck up my courage like a banjo now.

What kind? Why, this courage!

*mwah*

… Too far? Yer cheek ain't gonna melt, but did ya… well, I-I mean-

...Mmm…

…*mwah*

… Wow. Imma go out on a limb and say yes.

I'm really that beautiful? Beauty's more up Rarity's alley, but you…

You love me too? Jus' for bein' the strong mare you always saw in me?... Really?...Aww, I jus' wanna kiss ya again! C'mere, lover boy.

Mmm…

Mmm…*mwah*

Heh. Heh heh. Whoa there. Let's not end up havin' a literal roll in the hay here!

We shouldn't be in here fer too long anyway. Th' family's gonna wonder where we are!

...But yeah, Ah can… spare a few minutes…

Mmm…