An Apple Lies

by Petalled

Rating: everyone
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Lyra, Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Comedy, Bon-Bon, Rarity, Random, Slice of Life
Length: 2529

Twilight doesn't believe that Applejack cries on the inside.

''Applejack cries on the inside, Twilight!''

Twilight doesn't believe it. Judging by how many times she has seen the cowgirl shed a tear from her eyes. But then why did Applejack agree to Pinkie Pie’s misguided statement?

Published 2021-05-08 17:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2021-05-08 17:50:01 UTC

Element of Honesty? Indeed!

Author's Note

Yeah, I don't know what this is so bare with me, I guess. This is obviously just a random story from me.

Element of Honesty? Indeed!

''APPLEJACK!!!''

A booming bawl passed through Applejack's ears. Her door crashed open on her, making a chunk of wood fall into the cowgirl's mouth until she had spat it out in agony. It was a violet alicorn with an indignant facial expression. Her horn was glowing magenta and she clenched down her hooves. Steam was flowing through her nostrils and evaporating into thin air.

There was a lingering silence between them and all they could hear was the clock ticking. Applejack wanted to say something but got stopped by her fear of an infuriated Princess Twilight Sparkle. She knows not to overwhelm her enough in this state so she stepped away back a little. Twilight tried releasing a breathing technique to cool herself down.

''How dare you?'' she spoke in a soothing voice.

''How dare I what?'' Applejack uttered.

''HOW DARE YOU LIE TO ME?!'' Twilight bellowed, making the cowgirl's hat get ticked off from her head.

Applejack wore her hat again. ''What do ya mean?''

Twilight looked at the cowgirl, breathing heavily and aggressively.

''Don't you remember when Pinkie Pie said you cry on the inside in the Tank incident?'' Twilight remarked.

''Yes, but why are you bringin' that up?''

''Because I know it's not true!'' Twilight concluded, stomping her hoof against the floor, forming a crack. ''I have seen you cry multiple times before and even researched how many times. The specific number of times would be fifty-five times. Any explanation on why you LIED to me?''

''Alright,'' said Applejack as she lowered her head in shame. ''You caught me.''

''Aha! I knew it!''

''But,'' Applejack interfered, ''there is a reason to this. I do cry on the inside most of the time but...but...''

''But what?'' asked Twilight, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

''I cry because I think about my parents, okay?'' she snapped.

''Oh? I don't understand,'' Twilight responded.

Applejack took a deep breath. ''It was a long time ago. I was even littler than Apple Bloom. When I was small, Rarity and I were comin' to my barn to play when all of a sudden we saw my parents layin' on the ground with blood covered all over them in front of Granny Smith and Big Macintosh.''

''I ran towards them as quick as I could to try and grab as much information on how this had happened as I could. Granny Smith said that they were attacked by timberwolves.'' Her voice cracked and looked at Twilight miserably. ''Cold and still, I was devastated so we carried them and rushed towards the Ponyville Hospital as quick as we could. But it was too late, they hadn't woken up in days.''

Applejack sniffed. ''I...I miss them, Twilight. I really do.'' She cried into Twilight's hooves, having her mane get brushed out by her for comfort.

''Aw, there, there,'' she said in a comforting voice. ''I'm really sorry to hear that, Applejack, but that doesn't explain why-you know? Never mind, I'll stop now. I'm really, really, REALLY sorry you had to go through that at a young age, Applejack.''

The cowgirl wiped away a tear from her green emerald eyes. ''Yeah, it's no big deal anymore, I guess.''

''No,'' Twilight uttered. ''It is a big deal and I'm sorry. All the times I have seen you cry were family-related, like when Apple Bloom got her cutie mark but your parents couldn't see it. I was moving away to Canterlot to rule, alone. When your barn was destroyed and it was your family's home you grew up in.''

She thought back to all the times she had saw Applejack cry or when the cowgirl had told them stories. She remembered the time where Apple Bloom had finally realized her true talent and earned her cutie mark along with her friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Applejack, Granny Smith and Big Macintosh had cried away their tears since their parents couldn't see Apple Bloom's amazing cutie mark.

She also thought back to when she and Spike needed to go to Canterlot for the coronation and was worried she was never able to see her friends again. She thought they hadn't cared about her leaving when she tried asking them but the truth was, they were all excited to give Twilight a book full of memories that they didn't get to acknowledge the fact that their friend was leaving them forever. But that wasn't entirely true since Twilight still visits them like right now she is doing at the moment.

Applejack had told Twilight about having her barn getting destroyed by fruit bats chasing after everypony in a wagon she had planned out and look at that, her plan was a total bust. Applejack only did this in the Apple Family Reunion so that she could impress her grandmother and make everypony have a good time so she could put it in their scrapbook of memories but the truth was, she was only making everypony feel pressured and worse. She felt awfully bad about this but had made up for it with everyponies help, of course.

Twilight lowered her head. ''But what I don't understand is why you didn't cry for Tank. He is much of a family to us as well.''

''Good point,'' Applejack conceded. ''I don't know either but maybe it's because he wasn't really in my life but in Rainbow Dash's, although Rarity and Fluttershy are emotional we can all know that is for sure. And Pinkie Pie is dramatic, like Rarity, but ya know...''

Applejack bit her lip. ''Still, it was still mighty rude of me to not cry for Rainbow Dash havin' to leave Tank for hibernation. But at least I had a heart to feel sympathetic and ya didn't cry yourself so that is a bit hypocritical comin' from ya.''

She stared into the violet alicorn's adequate purple eyes. ''Although, it doesn't matter if we cried or not because it's not 'bout showin' off on how much ya cried, it's about the love you are transferrin' to ponies and creatures like changelings are doin' right now as we told them to instead of drainin' them of their love, and it's what it is on the inside that counts.''

She smiled at Twilight. ''Remember that, Twi. Because someday ya might have to end up havin' to teach other ponies and also creatures 'bout this too.''

Twilight smiled undoubtedly. ''That is such a sweet sentence, Applejack, and I'm sure your parents would have been proud of you, and let me guess, Granny Smith had told you that, huh?''

Applejack sheepishly tittered. ''Y-Yeah. And thanks, Twilight. I really needed to hear that at the moment.'' She leaned in closer to embrace the violet alicorn with a warm hug which she had accepted and gave back. They both slowly pulled away and shed a tear away from their eyes.

''But Applejack,'' said Twilight, ''you know you are the Element of Honesty, right?''

''Yes,'' Applejack replied. ''Where are ya takin' this to?''

''And you still tell lies!'' Twilight burst out in a booming voice, scaring off the birds sitting on a tree branch outside of the barn's window and cordially the cowgirl as well.

''What?'' Applejack uttered, getting taken aback by this. ''Since when have I ever told lies?''

''I can think of many of the times!'' Twilight snapped. ''Like when Trixie had caused Rarity's mane to turn awfully green and you commented 'gorgeous' or when...'' she trailed off as Applejack stuffed her hoof inside her mouth to prevent her from talking even further.

''Alright, alright,'' Applejack taunted as she rolled her eyes out in annoyance. ''Again, I had a pretty good reason for it. I only stopped tellin' lies because it had made a bad impact when I was young and I don't know why I still do it sometimes, maybe ask Lauren Faust?''

''Who?''

''Why, ya don't know her? She is the creator of this world and us along with it-''

She suddenly got interrupted as a pink pony jumped down from the ceiling. She shook her head as she kissed her teeth in response. She sent a glare at the orange earth pony, motioning her hoof along with it.

''Applejack, what have I told you to not break the fourth wall because only I do that!''

''Where did ya come from?'' Applejack asked, looking for a hole in the ceiling but found none.

''Again, fourth wall and that should not be in your nature!''

''Uhm...okay?''

''Great!'' Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she gave a smile and bounced off stage, leaving Applejack and Twilight scratching their heads in confusion.

''What just happened, AJ?'' Twilight interfered.

''Nothin', Twilight. Nothin' at all.''

Princess Twilight Sparkle was trotting through Ponyville to see how everypony else was doing. She saw her old friend from magic kindergarten Lyra Heartstrings exchanging gifts with an earth pony that had a soft beige coat and a candy pink and blue mane which she familiar noticed and knew her as 'Bon Bon'.

They both waved at the violet alicorn who sent it back at them. Twilight smiled, knowing that Lyra Heartstrings would have hated her for ignoring and leaving her in Canterlot but they had made up for it. She trembled upon three familiar-looking ponies with blue, yellow, and white coats. Twilight noticed them from magic kindergarten too and smiled at them.

She approached them so she could spend the day with them as well. She knew that these three ponies often come to Ponyville to meet and greet their old friend.

''Hi there, Twilight!'' Minuette chirped. ''What are you doing in Ponyville?''

''I just wanted to get a quick stretch from my royal duties and meet my old friends again,'' Twilight replied with a glimmering smile, staring at them with bright eyes.

''Cool,'' Lemon Hearts commented. ''Do you want to hang out with us? We were just about to meet Lyra. She wrote to us saying she and her marefriend Bon Bon has some exciting news to share with us.''

''Would I?'' Twilight exclaimed, having her eyes twinkle in amazement. ''Of course I would! And you do?''

''Oh,'' said Minuette with a chuckle. ''Sure, we write to her all the time.''

Twilight's smile drooped away and her ears flopped down in place. ''That's lovely.''

Twinkle Shine cleared up her throat to get everyponies’ attention. ''There is Lyra right there!''

Lyra Heartstrings was sitting on a table with her marefriend Bon Bon and slurping a chocolate milkshake with her. She noticed her friends and waved at them. ''Hey, guys! Come on over!''

They all trotted towards the couple and had Twilight conjure up seats for them to sit in. A waitor came by and asked for their orders, which they got: two strawberry milkshakes and two vanilla milkshakes.

They all chuckled as they each shared a joke and one of their most embarrassing and funny stories.

''So,'' said Lemon Hearts, ''why did you need to bring us here?''

''You said you had an exciting announcement to share with us?'' Twinkle Shine chimed in.

Lyra Heartstrings chuckled and held onto her partner's hoof. ''Bon Bon and I are engaged!''

''What?'' Minuette choked. ''Really?!''

Lyra nodded as she and Bon Bon showed off their rings up high for everypony to see. They all gawked in amazement. Twilight was the first to break the silence between them.

''Wow,'' she uttered. ''Congratulations!''

''Congratulations! ... Congratulations! ... Congratulations!'' they all exclaimed over each other.

Bon Bon gave a delightful smile. ''Thank you, everypony!''

Nearby, there was an orange earth pony standing by an apple stand with a huge line in front of it. She was giving away a big bag of apples to her fellow customer. She was then met by a sophisticated white unicorn approaching her.

''Oh,'' said Applejack. ''Howdy, Rarity! What's up?''

Rarity sighed. ''Oh, nothing, Applejack. Just trotting through Ponyville as usual.''

Applejack noticed a frown forming on her face. ''Are ya sure ya are alright?''

Rarity cocked her head in confusion. ''What do you mean, Applejack?''

''Don't fool with me,'' said the cowgirl. ''I know when somepony is lyin'.''

''Oh, alright then,'' Rarity spoke. ''If you must know, some of my designs are getting a bit old and uncreative and I don't know what to do about it. I mean I used to be one of the top fashion designers in all of Equestria,'' she shook her head with a sigh, ''but now it has gotten down to somepony else.''

''Which is?'' Applejack interfered, raising an eyebrow.

''Flitter Floosh,'' she answered. ''She is so graceful, I-''

She was suddenly interrupted as Applejack burst into an uncontrollable roar of laughter. Rarity cocked an eyebrow and motioned her hoof at her.

''What's so funny?''

''Sorry, sorry,'' Applejack said, trying to calm herself down. ''It's just that...Flitter Floosh? Ya seriously don't know who that would be?''

Rarity didn't say anything.

''Oh for crying out loud! It's Fluttershy!''

''Fluttershy?'' Rarity repeated. ''No, it can't be, Applejack. You're waffling!''

''Am I?'' Applejack spoke in a more serious tone.

''You're serious about this?'' Rarity said, having the cowgirl nod her head in response. ''But Fluttershy isn't anything to-''

''I know, I know,'' she taunted. ''But Flitter Floosh is a nickname we give to Fluttershy so it's either a coincidence or she's actually a different pony. But anyway, just because a mare is a higher class than ya doesn't mean ya have to give up on your job as a fashion designer. Something ya have ever dreamed of as a filly. Why, you are super hard working, talented, sophisticated and beau...beau...beau...''

Twilight clapped her hooves in excitement from afar, having her friends raise an eyebrow at this action.

''Is she finally going to do it?'' Twilight spoke aloud. ''Is she finally going to confess?''

''What are you talking about?'' Lyra asked.

''Huh?'' Twilight uttered, snapping herself out of her trance and turning back to her friends.

''Beautiful,'' Applejack finally spoke.

Rarity's eyes widened. ''Applejack, do...do y-you like me?''

''What?'' Applejack said, panicking. Say yes, say yes, say yes! ''No!''

Twilight's ears dropped down and banged her head on the table. But her head perked up.

''Wait a minute,'' she paused. ''She's lying again!''

''What are you-'' Twinkle Shine trailed off.

''Oh,'' said Rarity, getting her voice cracked. ''Alright, then.''

Her ears drooped down as she slowly trotted away from the orange earth pony. Applejack banged her head on the cart repeatedly as all the apples fell on the customers. They all screamed in horror.

''Ah!'' Applejack exclaimed. ''Sorry!''

''Applejack.''

The cowgirl turned around and saw a violet alicorn standing before her with a serious facial expression.

''Oh. Hey there, Twilight. What's up?''

''YOU LIED AGAIN, APPLEJACK!!!'' she bellowed, scaring off everypony and especially the cowgirl.

''What? How? Huh? When?''

''To Rarity! Just now!'' she answered, increasing her voice a bit further. ''You both like each other and YOU LIED TO HER!''

''I...What?''

She yelled as Twilight's horn glowed magenta and pulled her by the tail.

''Uh-oh,'' Lemon Hearts uttered as she faced her friends.