Version: 1

"Thanks for comin' with me, Anon," Applejack said warmly.

"Hey it's no problem. And how could I resist a chance to see a country named 'Texas' here in Equuis?" the man chuckled.

"I 'member you sayin' somethin' 'bout there bein' a 'Texas' back home, right?" she asked conversationally.

"Yup," he chirped. "Though it was just a state. Like, it belonged to a larger country called America."

AJ hummed at that. "Well not our Texas. Here, it's a free nation to i'self. If Twilight were here, she'd give you the full history lesson on it, I'm sure."

The pair snickered as they continued their long walk across the open plains. Anon wiped some sweat from his head, glancing up at the sun above them, then back towards the train station a few kilometers behind them. The man could feel questions bubbling in his brain thanks to the mention of Twilight. As they walked he considered the earth pony beside him. Her head reached to just about mid-chest height, but the mare was strong. For her this walk was nothing. But why were they walking at all? Why was the train station so far from the nearest town? Why hadn't any of the others wanted to come with AJ to visit her folks? Anon was pretty sure that, other than Rarity, no one else was too busy for a weekend trip. But how to ask questions like that? It could come across as rude, but he was curious. Did they know about the long walk part and just not want to do it?

"So," Anon began casually. "When's the last time you visited the parents?"

AJ hummed. "Two... nah, three years ago. Been meanin' to, an' they're gonna make sure ta rub that in, but runnin' the farm has been so crazy these last few years."

Anon nodded. "I thought the Apple Family had big reunions every year?"

"They do," AJ asserted. "But not every Apple can come each time."

"So what you're saying is your parents didn't come to see you either. Sounds like a pretty good defense," he remarked slyly.

AJ snorted. "Yeah, but they prob'ly have a better excuse than I do," she sighed.

Anon deflated a little at that. So much for cheering AJ up before popping the questions he felt uncomfortable asking. He wiped some sweat from his forehead as they kept walking.

"So... why do you think... Rainbow didn't want to come?" Anon wanted to kick himself for that one. Smooth as sandpaper.

AJ winced. "Unicorns and pegasi hate comin' ta Texas. Makes 'em feel small and weak. It's the home of earth ponies you know."

Anon was relieved AJ hadn't been offended by his poorly worded question. "I figured a lot of earth ponies lived there. The 'Texas' from my world was known for strong horses and open plains."

AJ's ears perked up and she eyed Anon. "That's what our Texas is known for too." Then she faced forward with a grin and stopped. "Ah, we're here. This is the official border!" she declared.

Anon blinked. There was no sign and the town was still pretty far on the horizon, barely a haze. The only landmark he could identify was the strangest thing he'd ever seen.

The road got wider. And by a LOT.

The path they had been following was dirt. Well worn and smooth without any of those annoying pebbles, but it was still dirt. That quality didn't change, but the width of the road exploded. From just enough space for four ponies to walk side-by-side to wide enough to fit a walking castle.

Anon scratched his head. "This is the border?"

"Now you wait here a moment," AJ instructed with excitement. Then she trotted over the border. "I really should come home more often. I always did love this part," she giggled to herself.

For a few seconds nothing happened. Then the mare started to grow. Every time her hoof landed in the soft dirt her body would expand upward another meter. There was no glowing, no sparkles, no wavy air as though she were passing through a heat haze. The little mare simply grew bigger and bigger. Anon stared and his stance widened as the ground began to shake underneath him. Soon he was cast in the shadow of an artificial eclipse, his sky now filled with AJ's tail and backside.

When the earth mare stopped growing she also stopped walking. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she stretched her back like a cat after a good nap. "Nothin' like comin' home to Texas," she sighed.

The pony spun around to face the now tiny human who had accompanied her. He was frozen with shock. The mare blushed and looked away. Right. He almost certainly didn't know this was coming. She laid down in front of him and smiled gently.

"You alright there sugarcube? It's still me."

Anon's mouth flapped wordlessly for a few seconds. "W-what just happened?!"

"It's Texas," AJ said simply.

Anon shook his head. "What are you talking about? You just became a giant!"

"ALL earth ponies become giant when they cross the border. It's why Equestria never could annex Texas. Can't make an earth pony do not'in' while we've got our home field advantage."

Author's Note

Not sure where this idea came from, but I wrote it pretty fast. Had to really bend some canon around for this one. Also, I tried really hard to give AJ a southern accent and can't help feeling like I over did it. I need to watch the show again. How thick was AJ's accent really?