Chapters Applejack Doesn't Know How To Live
Our tale today brings us to a place I am quite fond of. A wonderful apple farm tucked away in the valley around Ponyville. It has become famous for it's excellent quality of produce and pony's a like. Let us focus in on the farmhouse where our story begins. It is a cool morning with lowlight making the surroundings appear blue. The farmer often gets up at this time, and if your as dedicated as Applejack, you try and beat the rooster.
Applejack crept out of the barn house into the crisp morning air. There was a fresh dew on the grass and hanging to the apples. The trees kept the wet underneath them making a mist appear in the orchard. She walked over to the water trough and slashed the cold water on her face. Shaking her head dry she walked towards the barn to get the tools laid out for the days work. Applejack opened the big doors and looked inside. She couldn't put her hove on it but something seemed off about the barn. Like something was missing. She shrugged it off and went about her business.
The twilight of the morning went by faster than she expected and before she knew it the rooster was crowing. She poked her head outside and saw the sun peaking out from behind the mountains. The rooster crowed again. "I here ya, I here ya, ya off key meadowlark ." Applejack heard her Granny Smith hollering from her bedroom window. The rooster crowed one more time before a horseshoe flew out of the window hitting the fence post it was sitting on, sending the bright colored bird flapping away. "That'll fix yer wagon ya pin feathered pumpernickel!" Applejack laughed to her self and wandered back to the house for breakfast.
By the time she had got back, Granny Smith was moving through the kitchen like she was a young filly. Making a batch of corn bread, and serving out a skillet of farmers breakfast. "Need any help Granny?" Applejack asked. The old mare looked over to her.
"I still haven't lost my touch, what are you doing here? I thought you would've gone off with yer brother." Granny Smith returned to her skillet.
"Big Mac may want to sleep in but I love my early start." Granny Smith mumbled to herself that Applejack couldn't hear. Apple Bloom wandered down the stairs rubbing her eye.
"Good mornin ya'll" she yawned and sat at the table followed by Applejack. As soon as they sat, Granny Smith slammed the food on the table and quickly got everything set.
"Dig in you two! We've got a big day ahead of us, with Big Mac gone and all."
"Gone?" Applejack was confused. She hadn't heard anything about Big Mac making a delivery or going into town. "He didn't tell me anything?"
"Well sure he did, we's were all there." Granny laughed.
"Besides, didn't you see him this weekend?" Apple Bloom asked while grabbing a square of cornbread. "He had four new wheels on that old wagon his. He had present for Sugar Belle and some clothes in the back. He even went to the library to get a road map to Coconut Grove beach." Applejack looked back to Granny Smith. She simply smiled and nodded.
"Mhm Big Mac knows how to live." Applejack stared down at the food. Something didn't feel right. She had a feeling about Big Mac that she didn't like. Was it anger, sadness, frustration, annoyance? She then remembered the barn, how she felt something was missing.
"So that's what was missing, the wagon was out of the barn," she looked down at her food.
"For pony's sake Applejack, were you up doing chores at twilight again?" Granny glared at her.
"Of course I was, there's always more work to do." Applejack nodded. Granny Smith sighed.
"Looky here little missy, there is always gonna be work, that ain't ever going away. But your youth and time to enjoy it will eventually go away."
"Maybe you should take a lesson or two from Big Mac." Apple Bloom said mouthful of cornbread. Her sister slammed her hove on the table.
"Well if my brother wants to goof off with his special somepony he can. I have work to do." With that Applejack walked away and slammed the door. Apple Bloom and Granny Smith looked at each other.
"What's wrong wrong with her?"
"Don't you pay her any mind now. Eat up and get to your chores." Granny Smith looked out the window at Applejack. She was stomping away before slowing her pace to light steps until she stopped. After standing for a second she shook her head and continued towards the barn. Granny Smith followed with her concerned eyes until Applejack was out of sight. Something was definitely off.
In the barn Applejack was trying to get busy to keep her mind off of her emotions, even if she didn't fully understand her feelings.
"Ok I fed the animals now, next is to check on the cornfield. That's usually Big Mac's job but he's off galivanting." She rolled her eyes and headed out towards the field. Seeing as it was late spring , the corn was not yet tall, it hardly was over Apple Bloom to that point. Applejack wandered down the rows, checking each stock making sure all were strong and not bending over. "So what if he's gone. Doesn't have to ruin my time. I'll just make him work extra hard when he comes back." She smiled smugly and continued on with her day. Still those unknown emotions hung around her.
The late afternoon sun hung in the air making it almost impossible to work comfortably. Applejack and Apple Bloom were sitting under one of trees trying to cool off.
"Sure wish I was at at Coconut Grove beach right now." Apple Bloom sighed. Applejack rolled her eyes and just said,
"Mhm." Suddenly there was a loud whoosh and before the two sisters was Rainbow Dash.
"Hey guy! Watcha up to?" Ask the blue pegasus.
"Oh you know, the usual." Applejack responded flatly.
"Uh-huh, cooool...." Rainbow Dash responded confused by Applejacks tone. "Anyway, AJ! That professor from out west is coming into town tomorrow. You know the one who gives talk about agriculture and what not? Um, um-"
"Brushy Bill?" Applejack looked up from her hat. This was mistake on her part as her emotions flew even more out of wack. There before her was the underlaying cause of her emotions, though she did not yet know it. What she did know was that she liked Rainbow Dash, and as more than a friend. She felt happy seeing her, but also anger that she couldn't pin down.
"Yeah! Yeah that's the one. Well he's going to give a Wonder Bolt talk at the town hall. The crowd is supposed to be huge! Wanna go? Maybe he'll talk some about farming." Rainbow Dash finished with a huge smile. Applejack loved that smile, Rainbow Dash could match Pinkie Pie in enthusiasm when it came to her interests. She was about to respond when her emotions came back.
'Oh my gosh, Rainbow Dash wants to go somewhere with me. Would it be a date? Or is just as friends? What should I do? I know what Big Mac would do. He'd ditch work and leave it all to me. He's probably out on a beach somewhere lazing about.'
"Oh um, thank you Rainbow, but uh I got heap of work to do here. Big Mac is out today so I got more to do." She rolled her eyes. Rainbow Dashes smiled faded.
"Oh yeah, no yeah I gotcha. I'll see if anyone else wants to go. See ya." With that, Rainbow Dash slowly flew up and away. Applejack stared until she was out of sight.
"Um Applejack." Slowly she looked back down at her little sister.
"Big Mac will be back by tomorrow, you could go." Apple Bloom said cautiously.
"No Apple Bloom I can't." She stood up, "Unlike my brother I can't drop everything and go have a hoot with the pony of my dreams. HE can go off with his special somepony but I can't." she stomped her hove. Apple Bloom stared at her sister, slowly realizing something.
"Applejack, is this really about Big Mac?" Applejack snapped her head around to her sister.
"What else would it be!" She stormed off. Apple Bloom watched her and then looked back up at the sky.
"Maybe it's about her?"
Author's Note
Hello y'all
Applejack Doesn't Know How To Live
Applejack walked away from Apple Bloom fuming. She stomped her way through the orchard with her emotions jumbling her thoughts. There were to many to describe them all, but one that seemed very prevalent was anger. But who was the anger directed at?
"Gosh! That Apple Bloom, thinking everything is just that simple! Rainbow Dash inviting me out when I'm so dang busy! And Granny just letting Big Mac go without a second thought. Dang that stallion, just up and leaving, to go and have a good time with somepony he cares for." Her steps became softer. "I bet by now they're down by the ocean, him and Sugar Belle stretched out somewhere." She came to a complete stop. "The only blue in his mind is the blue ocean water lapping at his and Sugar Belle's hooves." Applejack looked up. The trees covered the sky and though she wouldn't admit it, she was hoping Rainbow Dash would be there. "Why can't I tell her? Why can't I go to the beach with my special somepony?" She hung her head and began walking back to the house.
Slowly she walked in and into the living room. In the corner was Granny Smith rocking in her rocking chair. Unlike usual she was wide awake and watched Applejack as she sat down. The old mare knew something was off this morning, but Applejack seemed worse now.
"Is everything alright dear?" Applejack jumped at her voice. "Calm your nerves young en, for Celestia's sake your wound up tighter a candy cane on a Wednesday." Applejack laughed at her granny's nonsense.
"Sorry Granny, I didn't expect you to be awake."
"Well what granny could sleep when her grand daughter is acting more off than a rooster in winter." Applejack shook her head. "Somethings wrong with you hun, tell ol granny about it." Applejack looked over at Granny Smith and then out the window.
"I don't know. My emotions are just all out of wack today."
"Well anyone can see that. Your emotions are more looney than-" Applejack cut her off.
"Ok I get it granny. I'm not myself today." Granny nodded. "I don't know why."
"You were all hunky dory until breakfast," Granny Smith pointed out.
"That was before I knew that Big Mac had run off for the day." Applejack grumbled.
"Is this about Big Mac? Or is it something else?"
"You know, Apple Bloom asked the same thing." Applejack scoffed. Granny Smith studied her, it was starting to make sense.
"That young en is more intuitive than you think. Something spired her on to ask that."
"Not really. Rainbow Dash stopped by to invite me somewhere tomorrow but I told her I'm to busy." Granny Smith continued to listen and observe. Something slightly changed in Applejacks tone when she spoke of Rainbow Dash. Her voice rose when she said she visited, but went back down at the mention of work. "No this is definitely about Big Mac."
"Why are you so angry with him."
"Because he just took off, without a care in the world he was gone. Darn him, I can just see him rolling around in the sand. I never thought I was a jealous girl, but when I think about what he's doing and what I am not...I'm jealous a lot." Those words finally made her realize it. She looked over to Granny Smith with tears in her eyes. "I'm jealous that he has the pony of his dreams and I don't. I'm jealous that he can just go on a fun trip with his special somepony and I can't." Tears started falling. "I'm jealous that he was able to tell Sugar Belle how he felt and I...I can't even tell Rainbow Dash how I feel." Granny Smith slowly got off her rocker and walked to Applejack.
"Young lady, now you listen to me. You are an Apple, strong, brave and beautiful. You think Big Mac was just able to go tell Sugar Belle how he felt cuz that's just him? You know Big Mac is one of the shyest ponies around. He was able to do it because he's an Apple." She grabbed Applejacks head and looked into her eyes. "There is more to life than workin on this farm. Big Mac found that out. Once you realize you can tell your little friend your feelins, you'll find it out for your self." Granny hugged her. "I had this same talk with Big Mac and do you know what I told him?"
"What Granny?" Granny pulled away from the hug and stood Applejack up.
"Ponies were made to love, and money is made to spend. Life is something, but you will never live again. You gotta know how to live." Granny smiled sweetly. "Buck up young en. Pull yourself together, and tell you're friend you'll go with her tomorrow." Applejack smiled and nodded.
"Thank you Granny, you always know what to say." she hugged her.
"Aw thank ya dear." Applejack made her way outside. "I'm glad she understood, cuz I don't have any idear what I just said." Granny Smith cackled and made her way to the kitchen to make dinner. Applejack walked out to the pig pen where Apple Bloom was.
"Hey uh Apple Bloom." her sister turned to her. "I'm mighty sorry about earlier. I was wound up pretty tight." she smiled. Apple Bloom smiled back.
"That's ok sis, love makes ponies do weird things." Apple Bloom smiled slyly at her. Applejack rolled her eyes.
"Come on you little rascal. Granny is cooking dinner. Let's go help."
"Aren't you going to go talk to Rainbow Dash?"
"Nah, she's probably already back at her house. I know the exact tree she'll be in tomorrow for her 10 o'clock nap." They both giggled and made their way back to the house.
Author's Note
Hello y'all
Applejack Doesn't Know How To Live
Just To Remind Us Sometimes
The morning sun crept over the hills of sweet apple acres, and for the first time in a long time Applejack woke up to the rooster's crow. Her eyes slowly opened and she sat up. "Whoo, that's the best I've slept in a long time." The rooster crowed again.
"I hear ya, I hear ya, ya barn owl!" Granny hollered from across the hall. Applejack shook her head laughed. She walked out into the hallway where Apple Bloom was also leaving her room.
"Good morning Apple Bloom," she smiled.
"Gosh Applejack I don't think I've ever seen you up this late."
"Ha, yeah it's been a while." The rooster crowed again. The two sisters heard the distinct sound of a horse shoe hitting a fence post.
"HA! That'll teach you, you bunk house bugler!" Granny came out of her room looking satisfied with herself.
"Well now looky here, looks like you're taking my advice." Granny winked and made her way down stairs. "Come on you wipper snappers, we got breakfast to make." The three made their way to the kitchen, but stopped at the bottom of the stair. They heard the sound of pots and pans and the smell of baking apples.
"Big Mac's back!" Apple Bloom raced to the kitchen, followed by her sister and granny. There was the large red stallion, working away in the kitchen. He turned and saw them.
"Hello," Big Mac smiled and waved. They all greeted back and sat down for breakfast. During breakfast Big Mac told them all about his trip to Coconut Grove. He brought out a few pictures of him and Sugar Belle on the beach and a souvenir hat she had bought him.
"Well sounds like you had a hoot Big Mac," Granny smiled.
"Yeeup. Hope I didn't cause any problems by taking off for a day." Granny Smith and Apple Bloom tensed up and looked over to Applejack. She looked between the two of them and smiled.
"Not at all big brother, glad you got to get a break. Things ran smoothly round here." She continued eating as Apple Bloom and Granny Smith sighed in relief. "But..." Applejack added. The two tensed up again. "I will be out today. Got some plans." All three stared at her.
"You? My sister Applejack take a day off?" Big Mac asked dumbfounded. Applejack smiled and simply said,
"Yeeup." Satisfied with her answer they continued with breakfast. After the morning had passed Applejack went up to her room and grabbed her hat.
"Ok Applejack, you can do this. Just find the tree and tell her you can actually go. No, that you want to go with her." She smiled confidently and went downstairs. "I'm heading out Granny." She waived.
"Enjoy yourself deary. What are you two fillies gonna do?"
"Brushy Bill is doing a Wonder Bolt lecture."
"Brushy Bill?" Granny paused and thought for a second. "Hmm oh yes! That's it, I knew his Grandfather, Bristly Bill." Granny began talking to her self and walking away. "Oh that Bristly, eh uh or was it Brussly Will? No, no that was eh uh..." Applejack laughed and left for the orchard. As expected Rainbow Dash was in her usual 10 AM tree. Applejack walked under it and took a deep breath.
"Hiya Rainbow Dash," she called up to the tree. As if Rainbow Dash wasn't asleep, (she wasn't), she jumped out of the tree and close to Applejack's face.
"Sup AJ!" She had a huge smile on her face.
"Oh um, I was just coming to tell you, that I uh..." Rainbow Dash looked at her with hopeful eyes. "That I got all my work done yesterday, so I can-" she stopped herself. "I want to go with you to the lecture." she smiled and held her breath. As much as Rainbow Dash wanted to play it cool she couldn't contain her excitement.
"Excuse me a second." She shot straight up. Applejack waited in silence for a second before she heard some distant cheering coming from somewhere. Rainbow Dash darted back in. "Cool," she smiled, "Want to head into town and get something to eat before the lecture?" Applejack smiled back.
"I'd like that." The two began walking towards town.
"Did Big Mac have a good trip?"
"Yeah, I think he did, he brought back some pictures and a hat, just to remind us sometimes I guess."
"Remind you of what?" Applejack smiled and looked over at the pony of her dreams.
"Ponies were made to love," Rainbow Dash blushed "Money is made to spend. Life is something, but you will never live again. You gotta know how to live." The two smiled at each other blushing and together started their new journey together.
Author's Note
Hello y'all