Geoverse Part Four: The Farmer And The Spy

Chapters

Prologue
Honesty and Truth
Pies, Cider ... and Surprises
The Meaning of Respect
Epilogue

Prologue

CHAPTER ONE

Prologue

I sat completely still, my fingers crossed as sweat ran down my brow. My eyes were shut, and I was praying silently to whatever deity was out there.

"We the jury," said the foreman, "find the defendant guilty of the crime of murder in the first degree."

I leapt to my feet, outraged.

"That's a load of shit, and fine you know it!" I screamed.

The court was filled with whispers and murmurs as the judge banged his gavel.

"Order in the court!" he yelled. "I know this is hard for you, but the jury has spoken. Now sit down."

I glared at the judge, my fists clenched.

"Easy there, pardner." a gentle voice to my side said. "It's bad enough Geo's goin' ta jail without you makin' a fuss."

I clenched my teeth before letting out a defeated sigh.

"You're right, AJ." I replied. "I don't want to do something that'll end in me sharing a cell with him."

I sat down and Applejack laid a comforting hoof on my shoulder.

The judge cleared his throat and turned to face Geo, who was standing in the dock with his head bowed, his hands and feet shackled to the Royal Guard on either side of him.

Behind him was his wife, Twilight. She was nearing the end of her pregnancy, and this is the last thing she needed.

"The fact that you took another life so willingly means I need to make an example of you." said the judge solemnly. "That said, I hereby sentence you to fifteen years imprisonment."

A collective gasp erupted from the ponies in the room. A clearly shaking Twilight slowly stood up.

"But he's going to be a father soon!" she pleaded. "You can't do this to him ... to us!"

"I'm sorry, Miss Sparkle," the judge replied, his cold gaze meeting hers, "but I cannot be seen to let him off with this."

Twilight sat down, wiping away her tears with a hoof.

"I understand you are upset about this, but he did kill somepony."

"If he hadn't have killed him," I shouted, "that maniac I called a brother would have killed me!"

Another gasp, and I cursed under my breath. It would seem I forgot to tell everypony who Derek really was.

"He was yer brother?!" Applejack said, aghast.

I sighed.

"He was." I replied. "But what's done is done."

Applejack looked as if she wanted to say something, but she kept quiet. The judge looked at me.

"You've already told me your version of events, Mr. Adams." he said. "But my judgement is final. Fifteen years."

He raised his gavel and was about to bang it against his desk when a voice rang out across the courtroom.

"Overruled!"

More gasping as the judge furiously scanned the room.

"Who dares intrude on my court?!" he shouted. "And what gives you the right to overrule me?"

"I do, with my right as Princess."

As we watched, Princess Celestia entered the courtroom. There was no gasping, just a stunned silence as everypony bowed.

"P-Princess Celestia?!" the judge sputtered, finally lost for words. "I mean no offence, your Highness, but I cannot allow this."

"You can, and you will." Celestia replied. "I know what this man did was wrong, but he did it with goodness in his heart. He was protecting a friend."

"He still killed him, though!" the judge spat, almost forgetting who he was talking to.

"If Geo hadn't have done what he did, both he and John would have died, and we would have a deranged man on the loose." Celestia replied, her voice still gentle in the face of the judge's rage. "It is for this reason that you are to reduce the charge to manslaughter, and let me handle his punishment."

The judge looked into Celestia's eyes.

And relented.

"Very well." he said. "By order of the Royal Court, the charge of murder is hereby commuted to the lesser charge of manslaughter, and Geo's punishment is now left to Princess Celestia."

He banged his gavel and left.

The courtroom erupted into cheering. The guards undid Geo's shackles and he rubbed his wrists before turning to Twilight and kissing her tenderly.

"Well ain't that a surprise?" Applejack said. "Princess Celestia must like Geo more than the rest of us do."

I chuckled.

"It would certainly seem that way." I replied.

Applejack sighed contentedly.

"Well, Ah don't see a reason fer us ta stay here any longer." she said. "Let's leave 'em to it. Ya comin', John?"

I looked over at Geo and Twilight, their tongues still down each others throats while Celestia looked on, clearly waiting for a chance to speak to them both.

"Sure, AJ." I replied. "Let's get something to eat."

"All right, pardner," she replied, "but y'all are payin' fer it."

I smiled. She had no idea how I felt about her, and I was too much of a coward to tell her. I already told Geo about how I felt, and he told me to go for it.

And I wanted to. More than anything. But a small voice in the back of my head kept telling me otherwise.

"She's the Element of Honesty, and you're a former spy. How can someone who lied for a living be with somepony like her?"

I shook my head to clear the thoughts from my head as Applejack looked at me in confusion.

"Ya okay, sugarcube?" she asked.

Her green eyes were locked onto mine, making me feel as though she was looking into my soul.

"I'm fine," I said. "Just some bad memories."

"About Derek?" she asked, the concern in her voice apparent.

"Yes," I replied, "about Derek."

Applejack cocked her head to one side and raised an eyebrow. I was lying, again, and she knew it.

"Do ya want ta talk about it?" she said.

I shook my head.

"No," I said, "not just now. It's a bit soon."

Applejack tore her gaze away from me and nodded.

"All right, darlin'." she said. "In yer own time. Now come on, mah belly is growlin' worse than Big Mac when he don't get his mornin' coffee. Let's get ta Sugarcube Corner."

I smiled and Applejack left the courtroom. I followed her.

As we walked, I was thankful she didn't have eyes on the back of her head. My brow was damp with sweat, my eyes were darting around inside my head, and my heart was beating in my throat.

Dammit, I loved her.

Leaving the courtroom, I looked up at Celestia's sun, as it hung lazily over the town. It was then and there that I made a promise to myself.

That I would tell Applejack how I felt.

And to hell with the consequences.

Honesty and Truth

CHAPTER TWO

Honesty and Truth

Several months passed, and finally the day I had been waiting on for so long was upon us.

Well, one of them, at least.

Twilight went into labour and gave birth to two unicorn foals - one colt, and one filly.

The news reached us at Sugarcube Corner courtesy of Geo. I thought it was rather callous of the Royal Guard to tear him away from his kids so soon, but as he said, he still had a sentence to carry out.

In spite of his current situation, Geo insisted that we celebrate.

"Just because I'm going to jail," he said, "doesn't mean you all have my permission to be glum. Celebrate the new lives, and do it in style. Pinkie Pie, I'm talking to you."

Pinkie fixed a smile on her face and nodded as Geo was led away.

"Remember," he called over his shoulder, "I'll know if you haven't been partying! So do it already!"

Pinkie didn't need to be told twice. She walked over to the stereo and started the music. Soon, everypony was having fun, just like Geo wanted. Well, demanded.

Twilight was there as well, with the new foals. She was watching them like a hawk.

"Hey, Twi," I said as I approached, "how are you coping?"

She looked at me and sighed.

"About as well as can be expected," she replied, "given that my husband, and primary breadwinner, is in jail."

I rubbed the back of my neck.

"Sorry, Twi." I said. "I didn't mean for that to sound so stupid."

"It's okay." she said. "I'll ... we'll be fine, as long as we have our friends helping us."

"And you do." I said quickly. "Anything you need, let me know. Geo is my best mate, after all. And after the way I acted, its the least I could do."

Twilight hugged me.

"Thanks, John." she said. "It's good to know I have friends I can rely on."

I returned the hug.

"Don't mention it." I replied. "It's what friends do."

"Oh, Ah'm sorry, but am Ah interruptin' somethin'?"

Twilight and I broke away from each other and saw Applejack standing in front of us, a warm smile on her face.

"You are, as it happens." I said. "Twilight needed cheering up, so I stepped in and told her that I'll help her however I can."

"We all will, sugarcube." Applejack said, turning to Twilight. "After all, it's what friends do."

My heart did a somersault in my chest. I guess great minds really do think alike.

"Yer startin' ta look a might flustered again, pardner." Applejack said, looking at me. "Are ya sure yer all right?"

I nodded, because I had forgotten how to talk.

"Well, if'n ya say so." she said. "Ah'm gonna get some punch. Either of y'all want one?"

Twilight and I shook our heads.

"All right, darlin's."

After looking into the cot and going slightly mad over the new foals, Applejack left, and I found my voice again.

I let out a huge sigh.

Twilight giggled.

"You love her, don't you?" she asked.

I wheeled around on the spot and looked at her.

"How did you-?" I spluttered.

"I went through the exact same phase with Geo." she replied. "Why don't you tell her how you feel, before it's too late?"

"It's difficult." I said, lowering my head.

"How is it?" Twilight asked. "All you do is say 'I love you'."

I chuckled.

"It's not like that." I said. "She's the Element of Honesty, and I'm a former spy. I used to tell lies for a living. If I tell her how I feel, who's to say she won't think I'm lying about it? That I'm playing some kind of prank on her?"

Twilight sighed.

"You used to be a spy." she said sternly. "You used to lie for a living. Everything I've heard from your mouth since that day at the library has been the truth, pure and simple. I know it, you know it, and I'm pretty sure Applejack does as well."

I stood still for a moment, processing this information. And I soon realised that Twilight was right.

"I never thought of it like that." I said. "I have been telling the truth all this time."

Twilight smiled.

"Thanks, Twi." I hugged her. "You've taken a load off my mind."

"Happy to have helped." she replied, returning the hug.

After a while, I broke away and looked at the new foals, both of whom were still asleep.

"It's amazing." I said. "If a human baby was quiet for this long, people would get worried."

Twilight tapped her horn.

"Since they're my children, they're connected to me." she said. "I can feel what's right and wrong with them. And right now, they're both happy."

"Have you thought of any names yet?" I asked.

Twilight shook her head.

"That's still being decided." she replied.

I smiled.

"Thanks again for the chat, Twi." I said, taking a step towards the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."

Twilight nodded knowingly.

"Go get 'er, champ." she said, using a phrase she obviously picked up from Geo.

I grinned and went to find Applejack. I couldn't see her, so I decided to ask somepony where she went. I saw Pinkie Pie sitting with Ace by the stereo, her legs wrapped around his chest.

"Hey, Pinkie." I said as I approached. "Sup, Doc?"

Ace waved a hand at me.

"What's up with him?" I asked.

"He's tired out from all the dancing we've been doing!" Pinkie said excitedly. "I want to do more, but apparently humans have a limit."

I laughed.

"Have you seen AJ anywhere?" I asked.

Pinkie thought for a moment, a hoof on her chin, and her face contorting into a look of concentration.

"Uhh, yeah! I have!" she said. "She left a few minutes ago to go get a fresh batch of apple pies from the farm!"

"Thanks, Pinkie." I said. "I'll go give her a hand. Try not to kill the doctor while I'm gone!"

Ace grinned.

"It'll take more than a dance crazy marefriend to finish me off." he grunted, getting to his feet. "Come on, Pinks. Round fifteen!"

Pinkie dragged Ace onto the dance floor as I left the bakery and went up the road to Sweet Apple Acres.

As I walked, and sometimes jogged, along the track, I was expecting to hear the voice in the back of my head admonishing me for what I was trying to do.

But all I heard instead was what Twilight told me.

"Everything I've heard from your mouth since that day at the library has been the truth, pure and simple. I know it, you know it, and I'm pretty sure Applejack does as well."

I repeated these words to myself over and over as I gave up jogging in favour of sprinting.

As the farm came into view, I could see Applejack in the distance, loading a cart with fresh baked goods. I slowed to a walking pace as I mentally prepared myself to confess everything.

It was now or never.

And never wasn't an option.

Pies, Cider ... and Surprises

CHAPTER THREE

Pies, Cider ... and Surprises

As I walked along the path, I could see Applejack load the cart with pies. I stopped walking and watched her.

Her mane, still in it's usual ponytail, swung idly in the cooling breeze that flowed through the orchard. I watched as she effortlessly picked up the boxes of pies and loaded them, her well-toned muscles glistening with sweat.

She saw me watching her and waved. I quickly composed myself and went over.

"Hey there, sugarcube." she said. "What brings y'all out this way?"

"Pinkie said you were getting more pies," I replied, "so I figured you could use some help."

"As a matter of fact, Ah do." she replied. "Y' will find boxes o' pies in the barn. Just load 'em into the cart."

"Sure thing, AJ." I replied, as I went into the barn.

I did a double take on seeing the many boxes of pies. The barn seemed to be full of them.

"Whoa, Nelly!" I called to Applejack. "Are all of these pies for Sugarcube Corner?!"

"Not all of 'em." Applejack called back. "Ah'm goin' ta sell some of 'em at the market. So load 'em all up."

I obliged and picked up as many boxes as I could, loading them into the cart.

It was hard work, and soon I was in the same condition as Applejack. I wanted to take my shirt off, but for some reason, that felt like a huge cliché, so I left it on.

"Thanks a lot, pardner." Applejack said, carrying two mugs on her back. "Ah really appreciate yer help, so Ah reckon y' deserve this."

I took one of the mugs and took a sip. The resulting explosion of taste in my mouth took me by surprise.

"What is this?" I asked. "It's delicious!"

"It's the famous Apple family cider, of course!" Applejack replied, giggling. "Though this batch was fermented."

"So, it's alcoholic?" I said.

Applejack nodded.

"Eeyup." she said. "Why, is that a problem?"

"Not at all." I responded. "I just didn't expect to find booze here."

"Ah'm guessin' ya haven't been to Berry Punch's shop then?"

"Who?"

"She runs Ponyville's only liquor store." Applejack replied. "Some folk say she drinks half her stock herself, but that's just a rumour."

I snorted.

"Rumours are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots." I spat.

"Ah know, right?" Applejack replied. "Why, Ah heard a rumour about you the other day."

I froze.

"What rumour?"

"That y'all have a secret special somepony."

"Is that it?"

"Pretty much." Applejack said. "Ah'm guessin' its a lie?"

"Almost." I said, blushing.

"Oh, Ah see it now." she said, a smile on her face. "Y'all have a crush on somepony, but yer too afraid ta tell 'em!"

"Got it in one." I said, as I took another sip of my cider. "I just don't know how she'll take it. I used to be a spy, after all."

"Ah know what ya were, John." Applejack laid a hoof on my shoulder. "But Ah also know what ya are."

"And what am I?" I asked, confused.

"Yer a good friend and a hard worker. And ya took a beatin' just ta prove the former! Any mare would be lucky ta have ya."

I nodded and finished off my cider.

"You're right. But what if the one I like doesn't like me?"

"Shucks, darlin'." Applejack replied. "Anypony who doesn't like you has to be off in the head."

I smiled and looked into her eyes, causing her to blush.

I knew then that I had to take action. If I was going to make my move, it had to be soon.

"So, if ya don't mind," Applejack said, "who is the lucky mare."

That was all I needed to hear. Leaning forward, I planted a kiss on Applejack's lips. She didn't respond, but she didn't pull away either.

I broke away and looked her straight in the eyes again.

"Does that answer your question?" I asked.

Applejack looked at me, shock written all over her face.

"Ah- Ah- ..." she trailed off.

"Yes, AJ." I said. "It's you. I love you."

"B-b-but ... why me?" she asked.

"Because you make me laugh, you gave me a job and a place to stay, you stood by me after my past was revealed, and because you're constantly on my mind."

Applejack laughed weakly.

"What's so funny?" I asked. "I am pouring my heart out to you, and you haven't even said anything."

Applejack stopped laughing and ran a hoof along the ground.

"Well, it's just that ... y' were saying about what if your crush don't feel the way you do?"

I felt my throat constrict and my heart stop.

"No, no," I said, on the verge of tears, "don't say it."

"Say what?" Applejack replied. "That Ah do feel the same way about ya? And that I've also been workin' up the courage ta tell ya how Ah felt?"

I stood in silence for a moment.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" I said. "Tell me."

Applejack shook her head.

"No," she replied, "because Ah'd rather show ya."

With those words, she leapt on top of me, pinning me to the ground. Before I could protest, her tongue was in my mouth, vying for dominance.

We stayed like that for what seemed like an eternity, our mouths intertwined as I ran my hands through Applejack's mane.

Eventually, we broke off and took in some air.

"So..." I said "... you don't love me?"

Applejack laughed and kissed my forehead.

"Ah do." she said.

She put her head on my chest and sighed contentedly.

"Honestly and truly, Ah do."

I smiled and stroked her mane, as the two of us lay together on the straw, listening to the birds, and enjoying the cooling breeze.

After a while, Applejack shot to her hooves.

"The pies!" she said. "Shoot, Ah plumb forgot about 'em. We'd better get 'em ta Sugarcube Corner 'fore Pinkie Pie decides ta send out a search party."

I laughed and stood up, dusting myself off. We went outside and Applejack fixed herself up to the cart as I stood behind it, ready to push it into town.

"Ya ready back there, darlin'?" she asked.

"Of course I am." I replied.

Applejack began walking and I began pushing, the two of us working in perfect sync.

As we walked, I stayed quiet, concentrating on making sure that the pies didn't fall out the cart.

Applejack broke the silence.

"You're rather quiet back there, mister." she said sternly. "Are y'all checkin' out mah flank?"

"No, not at all!" I quickly replied.

A beat.

"Why not?" Applejack said.

Needless to say, we both spent the rest of the journey laughing.

The Meaning of Respect

CHAPTER FOUR

The Meaning of Respect

As we came to a stop outside Sugarcube Corner, Ace came out to meet us.

"About time you two got back." he said. "Pinkie has been talking about a search party."

Applejack giggled.

"Ah told you she'd send one."

"That you did," I laughed, "that you did."

"If you don't mind me asking," Ace said, "what took you so long?"

I answered his question by scooping Applejack into my arms and planting a kiss on her, which she returned eagerly.

A smile spread across Ace's face.

"So all three of us humans have found somepony." he said. "At last! Pinkie will no doubt want to cele-"

"I heard!" Pinkie shouted from inside the bakery. "Congratulations to AJ and John!"

Ace and I both grinned as Applejack went inside, carrying a few boxes of pies.

"So," Ace said, "what made you finally tell her?"

"Not what," I replied, "but who. Geo told me to go for it. And I was going to, but then Derek showed up."

"Yes," Ace said, "and we all know how that turned out."

I nodded solemnly.

"Anyway, that's all in the past." I said. "We need to look to the future. And something tells me my future will be bleak if I don't help AJ with these pies."

"Yer darn tootin'."

"Sorry, AJ." I gave her a peck on the nose. "I was talking to Ace."

"Ah heard." she said. "Geo was right ta tell ya to go for it."

She jumped into my arms and nuzzled my chest.

"And Ah'm glad he did."

I kissed the top of her head as she looked into the distance. Suddenly, she let out a low groan.

"AJ?" I asked, looking in the same direction. A stallion was approaching us with an angry look on his face. He had a dark brown mane and his cutie mark resembled three horseshoes.

"Caramel," Applejack said as the stallion got closer, "Ah already told you Ah'm not interested. And in case y' haven't noticed, Ah have a special somepony now."

Caramel sneered and glared at me.

"Him?" he spat. "You chose this monkey over me?"

"Hey, pal," I said, my anger rising, "watch the attitude."

"Yeah, Ah did choose him over you." Applejack snarled. "Unlike you, John cares about me for who Ah am, not what Ah am."

"And that means?" I asked.

"Caramel only wants ta date me because of mah status as one o' the Elements o' Harmony." Applejack explained.

Caramel did a double take.

"How dare you?!" he exclaimed.

"Ah don't hear ya denyin' it." Applejack said, smiling.

"I ... well, I ..."

"Oh come on, Caramel." I said. "Do you really think the Element of Honesty would tell a lie?"

He looked at me.

"She's done it before." he said nonchalantly.

"Yeah, but only because of Discord." Applejack retorted. "Ah wasn't mahself then, but I'm fine now, and Ah don't tell no lies."

Caramel laughed.

"True," he said, "but that doesn't mean you can't do something like this to make me jealous."

I laughed. Hard.

"Are you hearing yourself?" I said. "She doesn't love you, she loves me. Just deal with it and move on."

"Ah thought you had a girlfriend anyway?" Applejack said. "What will Wind Whistler make of you chattin' me up."

"Oh please," Caramel sighed, "what kind of idiot do you take me for? If I was still with her, would I be doing this?"

"You strike me as the kind of guy who would, to be honest." I replied, earning myself another glare.

"Wind Whistler and I are through." Caramel said. "She's with somepony else now, and I'm looking for a new marefriend."

"Well you can look somewhere else," I said, growing tired of his presence, "because this mare is taken."

And just to prove my point, I stuck my tongue down AJ's throat.

I could see Caramel seething out of the corner of my eye.

"Figures," he said, "that she'd jump into bed with the first thing to say nice things to her."

I broke away from Applejack and put her on the ground.

"The fuck did you just say?" I snarled, clenching my fists.

Caramel's ears flattened and he backed away in fear.

"N-n-nothing." he whimpered.

"That's what I thought." I replied. "Now, you're going to apologise to Applejack for harassing her, you're going to respect her choice of special somepony, and then you're going to get lost."

"S-s-sorry, Applejack."

"Apology accepted, Caramel." Applejack said. "Now git outta here."

Caramel turned and ran off as fast as his hooves would carry him. Applejack watched him go and then hugged me.

"Thanks, darlin'," she said, "fer stickin' up fer me like that."

"I took a beating to protect Geo." I replied. "So you can bet your sweet flank that I'll do whatever it takes to protect you as well."

Applejack smiled and we began unloading the pies.

An hour later, we were finished, and Applejack was counting the bits she had earned from selling some of the pies.

I sat by her side, with my arm around her, watching out for any more wayward stallions.

Twilight entered the shop. She caught sight of Applejack and I and came over.

"So, you did it then?" she said with a smile.

Applejack looked up from counting.

"Oh, hey Twi." she said. "Did what?"

"She was talking to me." I replied. "Twilight also told me to follow my heart."

Applejack smiled.

"Where are the kids?" I asked.

"My parents insisted that they babysit for a while to let me take a break." she said. "I didn't want to, but they are my parents, so I couldn't exactly say no."

We all shared a laugh as Twilight sat down.

"I saw Caramel on my way here." she said. "He looked really scared. Any idea what happened?"

"Yeah," I replied, kissing Applejack's neck, "he insulted my marefriend, so I scared him into apologising."

Applejack giggled.

"Caramel was just bein' jealous, Twi." she said. "Ain't nothin' fer ya ta worry 'bout."

"Glad to hear it." she replied. "The last thing you need is to find your special somepony, only for him to end up in jail."

Tears ran down her cheeks as she spoke.

"Oh, Twilight." Applejack said, wrapping the unicorn in a hug. "Princess Celestia is handlin' his punishment. So you know it ain't gonna be all that bad."

Twilight wiped her eyes.

"I know," she said, "but I can't bear to be away from him like this. I've already been through that."

Applejack nodded.

"Ah know, sugarcube." she said softly. "But he ain't gonna be gone for long. And remember, y'all have yer friends ta help ya out until he gets back."

Twilight stopped crying and regained her composure.

"Thanks, Applejack." she said. "That's just what I needed to hear."

She went over to the counter as I wrapped an arm around Applejack, who started counting the bits in front of her.

"That's why I love you." I said. "You always know what to say to make everything better."

"Ah know." she replied. "But anyway..."

She turned to face me and looked into my eyes.

"... isn't that what friends are for?" she said.

I nodded.

As Applejack turned around and began recounting the money, I smiled. I had everything I ever wanted, and someone who I could share it with.

For the first time since I could remember ... I was happy.

As this dawned on me, a single tear of joy rolled down my cheek.

Epilogue

CHAPTER FIVE

Epilogue

The sunlight was in my eyes, but I didn't care. As the coffin was lowered into the ground, I glanced at the headstone.

In Memoriam
DEREK ADAMS
20/04/63 - 19/09/12
"I'm sorry it had to be this way."
- John Adams

With a dull thud, the coffin was at the bottom of the grave. I waved away the ponies who had lowered it, indicating I wished to be left with my own thoughts.

I grabbed one of the nearby spades and got to work filling in the hole. After throwing in the first load of dirt, another one soon joined it. I spun around to see Applejack.

"Applejack," I said, "I thought I made it clear that I wanted to be alone for this?"

She nodded.

"Ah know ya did, darlin'," she replied, "but Ah'm still gonna help."

I smiled.

"Thanks." I said, and turned to the headstone.

"I was a complete dick to him all his life." I said. "Hopefully this will go some way to making amends for that."

Applejack tossed some soil into the grave.

"It's a start," she said, "and Ah reckon he'd appreciate it."

I smiled and allowed Applejack to buck the remaining soil into the grave, smoothing it down with the flat of the spade.

"I may not have shown it," I said, "but I did respect my brother. In some ways, at least."

"How so?" asked Applejack.

"When we were kids, I admired his rebellious streak. How he was his own person and didn't take shit from anybody. But once I saw what that led to, I decided I didn't want to end up like him."

Applejack nuzzled my leg as I continued.

"I never really told him that. Part of me thinks that if I did, he would have realised that someone cared. And he would have changed his ways."

"Ya mean he wouldn't have been a bad person?"

"Exactly. He would have been a good man. He wouldn't have robbed stores, or sold drugs, or beat people up..."

"... or shot Geo." Applejack finished my sentence.

"Right!" I said. "Things would have been so much better for him."

Applejack looked at me with a solemn expression on her face.

"But, darlin'," she said quietly, "if Geo hadn't have been shot, he wouldn't have come ta Equestria. Which means he wouldn't have tried ta get back so he could be with Twilight."

"Which means I wouldn't have been assigned to gain his trust, which in turn means that I wouldn't have followed him here ... meaning I never would have met you."

"Exactly." Applejack nuzzled my leg again.

"So, in a bizarrely twisted way," I said, "Derek being the way he was ... that was a good thing?"

"Yeah," Applejack replied, "I guess it was."

I looked at the grave and put a hand on the headstone.

"I'm sorry, Derek." I said quietly. "I really am."

I looked towards Applejack.

"I can't change the past, that much I do know. But I do know that your actions led me here. And for that I thank you. You died to give me a new life, and I promise you I will not waste it."

I hoisted Applejack onto my shoulders.

"I promise I'll visit you every week." I said. "It won't make up for years of torment, but it'll be a start."

I walked out of the cemetery and began walking into town.

"That was touchin'." Applejack said, dabbing at her eyes with a hoof. "But what are ya gonna do now?"

I looked up at her.

"As I said, Derek gave me a chance at a new life." I replied. "So I intend to enjoy it while I can."

"Ah'm glad ta hear it." Applejack said.

As we continued walking, I reflected on what I had been saying back at the cemetery.

And how I meant every word of it.

I have a whole new life ahead of me to enjoy.

And I'm going to make damned sure I enjoy it.

*** THE END ***