It had been a few weeks since Sharp first arrived In Ponyville. Since then, he's been spending his time settling in, and working on the farm. Turns out, Sharp quite enjoyed the work.

He had never had any ambitions about becoming a farmer, neither had he ever thought the work would ever interest him in the slightest. Despite that, he found the simple, yet hard life quite fulfilling. It allowed him to keep moving, to not sit alone and be idle. He was surrounded by beauty, and it felt good to be a part of it.

He still had nightmares though, some nights were better than others, but the work helped him not to dwell on it. Sharp mostly stayed at the farm, it was not that he didn't like Ponyville, but if he could avoid going there, he would. This meant he formed a strong bond with Big Mac, as both stallions preferred to stay at the farm and work on their chores.

Big Mac was impressed with Sharp, despite him only having done this for barely a month, he had been able to keep up with the large red stallion. Granny suspected that Big Mac was happy to have another stallion in the household, somepony he could talk stallion stuff with. Since Big Mac had grown up in a house full of mares, it was nice to find somepony he could relate to a little more.

Sharp returned the sentiment, happy to work alongside Big Mac and learn from him. He had also become accepted as a family member, unofficially of course. At times he would pick up Apple Bloom from school, help Granny with something, or even compete with Applejack. It felt good, and Sharp could rightly say he felt happy for the first time in ages.

His days mostly consisted of working alongside the Apple siblings, sometimes something would happen in Ponyville, and Applejack would have some sort of crazy story to tell, some adventure or some sort of lesson. As entertaining as those stories were, Sharp still preferred to stay away from all such adventures and just keep working.

Today he was working on top of the barn, helping Big Mac with replacing some wooden beams and fixing the roof. The sun was pretty cruel to them that day, but neither of them complained. The two of them were sweating as they moved around, but still they kept working.

Big Mac held up a plank for Sharp, and sitting near the edge he took it, and pulled it up. "Got it." confirmed Sharp, and Big Mac let go. When he had placed the plank on the roof Sharp took a moment to wipe his forehead and look up at a cloud free sky. "It's hot today.."

"Eeyup."

Big Mac replied in his usual manner. It was kind of funny, Granny and Applejack insisted that they had never heard Big Mac talk so much with any pony for a long time. Sharp couldn't help but feel a little honored that somepony like Big Mac accepted him. Having lived here for almost a month, Sharp learned a lot about the Apple family, such as the fate of the apple sibling's parents. Big Mac had to grow up pretty fast, he left school to work on the farm alongside Granny, helped raise Applejack and Apple Bloom. It meant Big Mac had to put aside his own dreams, for the family.

Sharp respected Big Mac a lot, but it was still a dark reminder of how bad his own bond was with his own family. Despite not having any bad relations with his mother and younger sister, Sharp could not help but feel something had broken between them. Maybe that was why he felt such affection towards the Apples, maybe he was trying to find in them what he could not have at home.

Sharp and Mac made great progress, but they needed a break, and so sat down on some stacked planks, enjoying the cool breeze. It was in moments like these Sharp felt most relaxed, hard work and then a nice cool breeze. Although, what was already a nice break was about to get even better.

It was at that moment little Apple Bloom approached the two stallions, doing her best to balance a tray with two glasses filled with cool apple cider. "Heya Big Mac, Sharp, Granny thought ya could use some apple cider!" She explained with a smile that could probably sell barrels of the stuff.

"Mighty kind of you." Said Big Mac with a playful smirk.

The tray was placed between them, and Sharp quickly took one and smiled at Apple Bloom. "Thanks little Miss Apple."

Apple Bloom positively beamed at him, then with a skip in her step made her way back towards the farmhouse. Sharp took another sip of the Apple Cider, but then a low chuckle caught his attention. Glancing to his side, he found it was Mac doing the chuckling.

"She's really taken a shine to ya." Mac pointed out, taking a long sip from his glass.

Sharp simply shrugged, but couldn't help but smile just a little. "She's a good foal, she reminds me of my own sister."

Mac glanced at Sharp, he had never really spoken much about his family. He knew they were not on the best of terms, mostly with his father, but Sharp didn't hate them. It was hard for Mac to understand it, the Apple clan had always been close, family came first. Sharp didn't seem like a disloyal type, so was it the other way around? After all, Sharp had told them they did not agree with him joining up, kind of like how his own family didn't like the idea.

They would have supported Mac in the end, but he was needed here, and so he did not enlist. Some of his cousins had, and the whole Apple clan were behind them in support. He had no doubt that when they returned they would get a warm welcome, unlike the one Sharp and many other soldiers got.

"Have you written them?" Asked Mac suddenly, catching Sharp a little off guard.

He looked at Mac, who seemed to be deep in thought. Sighing, Sharp looked down at his glass with apple cider, as if he was going to find any answers floating around there. "No," he finally admitted. "I haven't had any contact with them since I left Trottingham."

Big Mac, a stallion close to his family did not understand it at all. Yet, he would not judge Sharp, his family was not comparable to other families, and he should not put the same expectations on others like that. Even so, he could not help but ask, "why not?"

Sensing Mac's confusion, and genuine interest in him, Sharp decided just to tell him. "I would not know what to write. I wrote to my sister a lot when I was stationed over there, but the more time passed, the fewer the letters got." It was not an easy thing to admit, just saying it aloud made him feel guilty. "Guess I'm scared. My father, I don't know how the old dust ball even thinks about me anymore. My mother is probably worrying sick, and my sister too. I know I should write them, just don't know what.."

While it was still confusing, Big Mac understood, and would therefore not press him on the matter any further. Instead he took a sip of his apple cider and leaned back, enjoying the relaxing breeze and the view. "If you hadn't become a soldier," started Mac, shifting the conversation. "What would you have become?"

"Hm.." Sharp hummed in thought, the question was a good one. "I guess I would have been running my dad's store."

"Is that what you wanted?"

Sharp shook his head. "No, I guess, if I had to choose myself, I would have become a teacher."

Big Mac chuckled. "I can see that, maybe you should ask Miss Cheerilee, I reckon she can help you out with a dream like that." Sharp knew the name, she was Apple Bloom's teacher, but Sharp shook his head.

"No, I don't think I could get into it now." There was a small pause where he looked up into the sky, watching the clouds for a few moments, then let out a long sigh. "No, it's too late for that. If I'm to do something, this might be better work for me. It's a better distraction."

Mac mulled over his words for a bit, thinking about what Sharp could have been like before he went away. A quiet one he imagined, one who enjoyed a simple life with his books. Mac could relate, while it was not a life full of adventure, Mac had a good life, simple, quiet, but good.

He was about to say something, but just before the words could leave his lips, Little Apple Bloom came back. "Sharp! Granny says to come and meet her at the house."

Sharp looked at her, then shrugged and finished his juice. "Alright then," said Sharp, then put the glass down and gave Mac a pat on the shoulder. "Be right back."

"Eeyup."

"Lead the way, little lady." Sharp smiled, making Apple Bloom giggle.

The two of them trotted from the old barn over to the main house, quickly Sharp spotted Applejack and Granny Smith. They in turn quickly spotted them, and smiled. "Well there he is." Granny exclaimed. "Sonny, I need you to help Applejack here with a special delivery."

"Special delivery?"

Applejack nodded. "We have some distant family on a rock farm. On a day's travel from here, we supply them with apples once in a while. Normally me and Big Mac would go, but since you're here, he can finish the barn and you can help me move the cart."

"Oh?" Sharp looked back at the barn, not sure if he liked the idea of letting Mac work on it alone, Besides, he knew the way better, so perhaps it would be good if he helped Applejack, and he stayed back and worked on the farm.

As if reading his thoughts, Granny chuckled. "Don't you fret none, Big Mac is going to be just fine, and you need to get out of here once in a while. You can't stay hidden here forever, sonny."

Sharp looked back at Granny, who was smiling, knowingly. Then, she made a nod towards Applejack with a small grin, something Applejack didn't notice, but he did. He looked at her granddaughter, who looked more concerned about him than the trip. "You don't need to push yourself," Applejack said, turning to look at Granny Smith. "Granny, if Sharp doesn't feel up to it, then I can take the cart to the rock farm by myself."

Sharp didn't want to cause any trouble, and he especially didn't want Applejack to pull a cart by herself. "What? No!" He quickly interjected. "No, you don't have to do that, Applejack. I'll help, together we'll be back home in no time."

Granny smiled. "Darn tootin! I like the sound of that, you kids get yourself hooked up, me and little Apple Bloom are going to get your tent and some food."

"Yeah!" Apple Bloom cheered excitedly.

The two vanished into the farmhouse, leaving Sharp and Applejack alone. Applejack blushed slightly as she said. "You really don't need to do this, I can take care of this no problem."

Sharp just shook his head. "No, it wouldn't be right to let a mare go off and pull a cart all the way there by herself, it isn't right."

Applejack's blush increased. "Well alright then, just don't start complaining later on."

Sharp just chuckled, trotting with her over to the barn and the cart. Big Mac eyed them when the two of them approached. "Big Mac, Sharp and I are going to deliver some apples to the Pie farm. Can you spare ya helper?"

Big Mac just gave a nod. "Eeyup. Should be finished with the barn soon anyway."

"Great work you two!" Applejack cheered, looking proudly at the old barn. "This old barn really has needed a good overhaul, we just never had the time."

"Eeyup."

They both turned their attention to Sharp, both smiling. "You've done good here, partner," said Applejack. "Thanks to you, we're ahead of work for once, and not delayed."

"Eeyup."

"Shucks, I don't rightly know what to do with all that new free time. I might find myself a hobby." The farm mare giggled.

"That's music to my old ears!" An older voice said, it was Granny of course. She and Apple Bloom came trotting up to them, carrying a tent and a basket filled with food. "Big Mac, go on ahead and load the apples into the wagon."

"Eeyup."

The large red stallion went inside, quickly followed by little Apple Bloom, leaving Sharp alone with the two mares. Granny smirked. "It is high time you learn how to be an apple mother! That starts with learning how to run a house, look after the foals, and still be able to kick some flank out in the fields!" Granny declared, much to Applejack's horror. Though then added. "Though still being able to make one heck of a dinner by the day's end."

Sharp was more than a little bewildered. "Uhm, well, she, wha..?"

"GRANNY!" Applejack scolded, her orange fur almost turning as red as Big Mac.

"Well ya right, Applejack. You're not a house mare in any traditional sense, ya strong like any Apple mare in this family. But look at ya." Before Applejack could protest, her grandmother had already made her way to her, pointed to Applejack's hind legs. "Ya see here sonny, these thunder thighs are good and sturdy, well made for foal carrying. How do you like them apples?" The older mare grinned.

Apllejack was practically shaking, she wasn't crying, nor was she angry, but she was in a state she had no idea what to say or do. Meanwhile Sharp was finding it hard to say anything else, other than a few confused mumbles. It only stopped once Big Mac and Apple Bloom returned to their company, bringing out with them the wagon.

"Right!" Granny smirked. "Let's get you two youngin hitched!"

At that point both Applejack and Sharp Shooter's eyes widened as they both exclaimed a big. "WHAT?!"

Granny just chuckled. "To the wagon," she clarified.

Both of them blushed, looking each their way in order to avoid any embarrassing eye contact. "Oh," both of them mumbled under their breaths.

Soon enough both of them were hitched to the wagon, and the Apple family wished them well on their travels, waving goodbye as Applejack and Sharp Shooter pulled the wagon down the dirt road. Between the two of them, the wagon was hardly felt. Of course they would still be tired once they stopped for the day, but it would be much easier on them as they worked together.

As they moved down the road, none of them spoke for the first few minutes. Neither of them knew what to say to the other after Granny's teasing, which was of course silly they both thought. They were adults, and there was no reason to act like a school colt and filly. Even so, with both of them having very little romantic experience, the mere thought of them getting into such a relationship did make them both feel funny.

Sharp thought back on when he and Granny went to the park with little Apple Bloom. She had spoken about him courting Applejack, among other things. It would have been easy to dismiss if he knew for certain he didn't find her attractive, or charming, though Sharp could not deny Applejack was rather beautiful, and charming.

She was strong, honest, and she had put her beautiful well trained flank on the line more than- dammit! No, uhm, her thunder thighs have hel-fudge!

Dammit Granny!

His face was burning, and he felt his heart flutter a bit. Feeling he should say something, he looked up and turned his head to face her, only to have her do the same and speak at the same time as him.

"Listen I-"
"Listen, sugarcu-"

"Oh.." Both blushed, looking away again.

"You go first, partner," said Applejack.

"No no, it's fine, you first," replied Sharp Shooter.

"Ya sure?"

"Of course, go head, Applejack."

She nodded, trotting for a minute in silence to gather her thoughts. "I hope ya don't put anything into what Granny was saying back there. She means well, she jus’ gets carried away sometimes, that's all."

"Oh, yeah, of course." Sharp nodded. "I understand, we're just friends after all, and there does not have to be anything romantic between a mare and a stallion just because they work closel-" He could feel her body press against him at times as they walked. "W-work closely together."

"Darn tootin!" Applejack agreed, smiling some, even though she could not keep her blush from showing. "Granny just gets some crazy ideas at times. Don't get me wrong, sugarcube, it’s not that ya a bad lookin' fella."

Sharp nodded. "Yeah.. Well it is not like you lack looks." He said, feeling like an idiot, trying to think of something nice to say. "Your flank is way nicer than Fleur De Lis's." SHIT! "Uhm, no, I mean.. Darn it.."

Applejack was surprised for sure, and looked like she had no idea if she should be flattered or offended. "That's, nice? Thank you."

Sharp sighed. "No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that, I just meant you're very attractive, and I would not be shocked to find out lots of stallions look your way when you walk through town.."

She blushed, then smiled and chuckled. "That sounded nicer, don't you think?"

Sharp laughed a little. "Sorry, when you spend two years with a bunch of stallions you kinda.. Well, you know."

"What?" She asked, coking her head to the side.

"You kinda forget how wonderful mares can be."

Applejack let out another chuckle. "Didn't you have mares serving as well?"

Sharp nodded. "Yeah, but most worked in the air force. At camp Solaris we didn't have any mares to talk to."

It was true enough, at the outpost, mares had sort of become a myth. It sounded a little foalish, but if there was one thing stallions had learned during their time in dessert, it's that mares are wonderful.

They were these mysterious creatures of wonder, grace, and life. Each time they would go to the city, mares seemed so much more beautiful than they had remembered. Their eyes, their manes, the way they trotted, the way they talked. It all seemed so foreign to them, and they loved every second in their company.

It was kinda funny, the army truly did make the best gentlecolts of stallions, perhaps because the other branches had more mares than in the army. It meant whenever they would FINALLY see one, they were on their best behavior. Sailor ponies in the navy could be charming, sure, but they were more brutish, depending on the job, though they were closer to the army than the air force.

The flyers were usually the most arrogant bunch. Loved to show off, and often acted like the elite. So it wasn't a secret when off duty there were some rivalries between the three branches, and some fights for a mare's attention. There was no hate or bad blood between them, but there was competition, and Sharp had participated a little, at least before everything went downhill.

Applejack noticed Sharp's change, it was subtle, but she could see he was in deep thought. "You okay there?"

Sharp let out a sigh. "Yeah, I'm fine." He smiled. "Just a lot of memories you know."

"Well, don't you go daydreamin' too much, mister. I'm not going to pull for both of us." She giggled, bumping him with her hips.

He chuckled, shaking his head a little. "Sorry."

"Don't you worry about it, hun, I'm just teasin' ya. But you better start moving, or we'll be delayed."

The two started trotting a little faster, wanting to push themselves today. Both of them were used to working hard, and this was a great way to work out. Though after an hour or so, the two started talking again. Sharp had noticed it was so easy to get lost in conversation with this family, that being Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, Big Mac, and even Applejack.

Sharp found himself telling more and more about his life back in Trottingham, which was in all honesty, not that interesting compared to the life Applejack was living. She laughed at that. "Sugarcube, my life was nothing but farm work each and every day before I met Twilight. Before she came to town you could hardly tell my days apart."

He looked at her, but then she quickly added. "I'm not complaining or nothin', but had I just stood back and done nothin', I would never have the adventures I have now, nor the friends. My life is richer thanks to that, and although I've faced more trials than I would have liked, it has shown me life can never stay the same. It will always change." She looked at him, then blushed. "Sorry, didn't mean to preach there."

Sharp chuckled, shaking his head lightly. "No, no, I know what you mean," replied Sharp, looking ahead again. "I would probably be stuck at home, learning to take over my father's shop if I had not enlisted."

"And you didn't want that?"

He shook his head. "No, as a foal I wanted to be a writer, but my father thought it a waste of time." Sharp could still hear his dad scoff at the idea of his son becoming a writer. It wasn't a secure job, while owning a store was much more secure, even if it failed, he would still have hard assets to use.

To Applejack, it sounded so strange not to want to continue something a family had built from scratch. The very farm she worked on had been in their family since her great grandfather, and she couldn't imagine any other passion. Applejack however still recognized the fact that not all ponies wanted that, and indeed not all born into the Apple family wanted to be farmers or even work with apples.

Still she felt some guilt over how she had talked to him during his first dinner with her family. She had told him families should stick together, but those words were spoken in frustration and mistrust. She was fully aware not all families were as close as her own, and simply assuming Sharp owed his family anything was presumptuous. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but Sharp didn't seem to hold a grudge, in fact, he had been quite the gentlecolt.

"I don't hate my dad," Sharp suddenly said. "But I wish things were different between us.."

"Have you ever thought of going back there? To talk to him about it?"

At first, Sharp didn't answer. He wasn't ignoring her, but he looked like he was searching deep within himself to find a real answer. After some time, he sighed, shaking his head. "I don't think I could face him, not like this, not right now. I would knock on the door, and he would expect to see his son, but he would only see a stranger. The colt he raised would be nowhere, and standing before him would be a stallion most of Equestria seems to hardly think of as a pony anymore."

Another pang of guilt shot through Applejack, thinking back on how she first greeted him. Of course, telling her this was not to make her feel guilty, but it was what he felt was happening, what he had seen happen. He told her as much. "When we first departed to Saddle Arabia, we were sent off with bands playing, waving family and friends."

As he told her that, he couldn't help but smile, thinking back to that day. It felt like another's memories, despite him remembering them so clearly. It was through another pony's eyes, shaded by his own innocence. Then he sighed, and continued.

"Then we came back, those of us lucky enough to do so, and to be able to go off on our own, were not met by the smiles and waves we had expected. While we didn't think we would be celebrated, we at least expected family and friends to celebrate that we had returned at all, but there was no pony there. Only a mob." He tried to sound civil about it, but his voice indicated the experience had not left him with a very favorable view of the protesters. "They were waving with signs, yelling out slogans, calling us out, some even spat at us."

Neither Applejack or her friends had ever been a part of any protests, neither had any considering joining one. They of course did not wish war, but they also knew they represented the elements of harmony. What they did, would reflect on Celestia. If they were part of such a protest, what message would it send to the ponies who supported it, or at least, the ponies who were over there, not to mention the soldiers themselves.

It was at times like this she wished she was just a simple apple farmer, never having to worry about all that fancy politics stuff. She was happy her and her friends had made a decision not to join any protest for or against the war. The whole thing was complicated, and none of them wanted to be symbols of either side.

"In any case," said Sharp suddenly, snapping Applejack back to reality. "I don't think I'm ready to face him, even if I was still the colt that left home two years ago."

Applejack frowned. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."

"No, it’s alright. It’s actually kind of nice to get it off my chest." He sent her a small smile, then shook his head again, as if trying to shake off the dark and serious tones of the conversation. "Now, let's stop being so grim. We have a lot of miles to cover!"

His smile was genuine, it seemed he really was feeling better after having talked about it. Applejack however, still felt a bit guilty, but she smiled and decided to enjoy the day.

The two of them continued to travel for many hours, only stopping for lunch, and then finally when they had to make camp. Sharp was used to raising tents, so while he did that, Applejack made the campfire. Applejack told Sharp they would reach the Pie rock farm the next day, late morning, and if they didn't stay for too long, they would be able to get home the day after.

The two started to work on their dinner, which didn't look like much at first, but with Applejack having cooked with Granny loads of times, turned their simple meal into something delicious. Sharp was impressed and pleased, while Applejack laughed and spoke of her time learning cooking from Granny.

The two of them had a good time, talking as they ate and enjoyed the gentle camp fire. They didn't stop chatting before long after the stars had come out, and after putting out the fire, they both retired to their sleeping bags. The two shared some final comments and goodnights, and went to sleep.

When morning arrived, the two of them got up early, ate some breakfast, and hitched themselves to the cart once more. Both of them yawned, both still a bit tired after having stayed up later than what they had planned the last night. Still, they were in good spirits, and soon enough they were both awake and pleased with their progress.

A few hours later the landscape changed. What had once been lovely green trees, grass fields, and an all around colorful environment, suddenly changed into something more boring and flat one. The few trees that were around no longer had all of those green leaves, instead they barely had anyone on them, and almost looked dead. All around the fields were rocks of every size, and when Sharp looked to Applejack to ask if this was it, she confirmed with a single nod.

This was the Pie family rock farm, it was their land. Sharp didn't even know there was something like a rock farm, but even though he now knew of it, he didn't have an interest in learning more. He was however interested in seeing the ponies who had raised Pinkie Pie.

When he did meet them, they were nothing like he imagined. Both were flat in tone, and formal in speech. Their demeanor was serious, but not unfriendly or unpolite. Sharp learned Pinkie had three sisters working on the farm, but all were out at the moment, and so they simply had to deal with the parents.

While Applejack discussed the price, and sharing some updates from their own farm, Sharp unloaded the cart, and placed the apples where Igneous Rock, Pinkie's father, told him to place them. After the deal was done, and Applejack paid, they offered them to stay for a bit. Applejack politely declined, telling them that they were close to finishing harvest, and they wanted to get home so they could finish the last bit with the family.

The Pies understood, and wished them safe travels. Once on the road again, the two tried to make good speed, so they could get a head start. Applejack was eager to return home, she didn't want to miss the last of the apple harvest. Sharp found her drive funny, but soon reminded her that pushing themselves too much would lead to them being of no use when they arrived home.

Reluctantly, Applejack agreed, and they continued on their way at the same pace as before. The rest of the day went by fairly easily, the two of them talked about a lot of things, mostly the easy stuff, small things they enjoyed or disliked, small experiences, nothing like war or hard adventures.

Sharp learned that Applejack liked the simple things in life. While she enjoyed a good challenge, and to push herself, she liked quiet moments too, like sitting out on the pouch and enjoying a glass of apple cider. She was a mare of many talents, other than farming, she was a decent cook, and knew a lot about fixing things. Sharp got an impression of a mare that had, from a very young age, to work hard. Sharp never had that problem, while his father was strict, he never had to work like Applejack did, never had he to worry about money, or if there would be food on the table or not.

Both of them had faced hardships, and Sharp found himself trusting her more and more.

When evening arrived, and they had eaten their dinner, Sharp looked up at a sky that was filling with dark rain clouds. Applejack sighed. "I knew I should have brought the weather schedule."

"Doesn't matter," replied Sharp. "We have the tent, and you brought playing cards, didn't you?"

She grinned. "You betcha, though I hope you know how to play."

Sharp grinned back, hearing the challenge in her answer. "I've been in the army for over two years, if there's anything I've learned, it's how to play cards. Bring it on, sweetheart."

After putting out the fire, they went inside, got out the cards, and some few snacks, and started to play. They played mostly for the bragging and teasing rights, but they were pretty evenly matched. Applejack won a few games, and so too did Sharp. Soon they could hear the rain hitting the tent and the ground outside, the drumming of water was relaxing. Finally, Applejack yawned.

"I think we better turn in for the night, don't you?"

Sharp nodded, putting away the playing cards before laying down. Unlike Applejack, he didn't go into his sleeping bag, he slept on top of it, which was just a habit. The two of them said goodnight, and went to sleep..

Krrrrhhh-BOOOOM!!

"ARGGghhhhhhHHHHhhhhhh!!!"

Applejack's eyes shot open at the sound of screaming, her heart was pounding, and looking around in slight confusion and urgency, she spotted Sharp, sitting up and looked like he was about to panic.

"Sharp? What's going on?" She asked, looking outside, but saw no trouble. Sharp kept panting, looking like he was panicking, as if he didn't know where he was. "Sharp?"

"I.. No no.. This is, this is not right.. Pin?" His words were confused, almost like if he was still half asleep.

"Sharp, it's me, Applejack," she tried, moving her hoof over and turning on the light from their little lamp. Only then did he seem to snap out of it, but as another lightning struck outside, he flinched, seeming to fight every instinct within his body to do something, anything. "Sharp?" She scooted closer, putting a hoof on his back. "It's okay, sugarcube, you're home, you're safe."

He looked at her, his eyes still looking like he did not understand. Then he came back, though still shocked and shaken. "No, I, I shouldn't be safe.. I.. No no..."

Applejack frowned, feeling as if her heart was about to break for him. "Sharp, shhh, it's okay.. I'm here.."

Sharp looked at her, tears in his eyes. "No, it's not okay.. I should be dead.."

Author's Note

Sorry for the delay, but I had some issues with this chapter, but I hope it was worth the wait.

Editor: Jason Monroe

Artwork: Hoodwinked MCShelster