Chapters I love Applejack. I’ve been competing with her for three years now. And I’ve bested her only once, the first time. But since that first time I’ve fallen for her harder and faster than a loose pig in my lasso. I don’t know if she feels the same way. But I think today, after the competition, I’m going to tell her.
She’s getting her scores now. It looks like she and Winona have bested me for the second time. I couldn’t be happier about it. She’s looking at me now. She’s so beautiful when she’s smiling. She waves at me. I dip my hat beneath my eyes to let her know I see her. Winona jumps up at her side, and pulls her gaze away from me. I take a deep breath. I’m not sure I can do this. She’s coming this way.
“Applejack! Hoo-boy, you sure can herd some critters!” I beam at Applejack.
Her forehead shines with sweat as she glances down at the prize medal hanging around her neck. She blushes. The competition crowd has started to clear out, leaving the two of us alone outside of the sheep enclosure.
“Ah’ can’t take credit. Winona did the hard work. And you really gave us a run for it!”
“But YOU trained her. I swear Applejack, you should take notes from that pegasus mare you’re always talkin’ about. Yer’ too humble for yer’ own good.”
Why did I have to bring up the Pegasus? I shouldn’t have brought her up.
“Rainbow Dash? Ah’ don’t know about that. She takes it a bit too far in the opposite direction for mah’ taste.”
There was that name. Rainbow Dash lots of good friends. This was our third time competing together, and I can’t risk letting her go again. Who knows if she’ll be at the next competition? Who knows if I’ll ever see her again?
“Applejack?” my voice cracks a little.
Applejack looks at me. She has a warm smile, but I can see in her eyes she’s worried. She’s so adorable when she’s worried. She’s worried about me .
“What’s wrong, Sugarcube ”
Her voice is like honey. And she called me Sugarcube. I think I can really do this. I’m going to do it.
“I’ve been thinkin’, you an’ I —“ I pause.
Applejack seems to frown, only for a moment, but I’m sure she did. I can turn this around, I don’t have to tell her. I don’t have to ask her anything.
“Make great competition for eachother! And ah’ can’t say that about just anybody!” I say. “I can’t wait to best you next year!”
I think I took too long to say it. I think she might know I was going to say something else.
“Sure we would!“ She pauses. “But ah’m not plannin’ on competin’ again.”
I feel sick. My heart seems to stop. I’m a little dizzy. I catch up with myself. I lean against the fence, attempting to look casual, unworried. Applejack can’t know I care this much. The cries of the sheep seems to drown out all other sound.
“Oh? Why not? We all love to have ya here.”
I think I took too long.
“Winona’s gettin’ older is all. I love competin’ with ‘er but, well y’know,” Applejack shuffles awkwardly.
She doesn’t want to talk to me. She’s uncomfortable. I need to give her a way out.
“Aw well, I’m sorry to hear it. I have to be goin’ to the next event. But, Applejack, write me if you ever need help around the farm or anythin’ at all. I’m always happy to help,” I try not to sound too eager.
“Sure thing! It’s been great competin’ with ya, Wrangler. Ah’m sure we’ll meet again.”
“You too, AJ,” I turn around and trot away from her.
Oh sweet Celestia. I continue forward with as much purpose as I can muster, walking toward nothing at all.
“It’s okay, Wrangler, breathe,” I say to myself. “She doesn’t hate me. I can see her again. I can write her too, if I want to. She lives at Sweet Apple Acres she’s said it a dozen times.”
I just finished helping Applejack’s friend. I messed everything up. She hated everything I did. And I don’t know why. Applejack asked me to help with wrangling, that’s what I did. I’m no veterinarian.
“Why did she even ask me to come here!?” I scream into the open air.
I’m sure the other’s probably heard me, but they probably feel the same way I do so who cares anyway. Why does Applejack hang out with a mare like that ? Maybe I was wrong about her. Maybe it’s for the best our friendship is over. We weren’t friends at all. I’m just crazy. She asked me to come and help out her friend and I had to go showing off and trying to impress her, and I didn’t listen to any of her friend’s instructions. And now Applejack never wants to see me again. Her friend isn’t the problem. I am. I hate myself.
I return to my hotel for the evening. There is no sense trying to go home any sooner than the morning train. Even if Applejack won’t be showing me around Ponyville tonight. I feel tears starting to slip down my cheeks. I crawl into the bed, not bothering to take off my work clothes.
*********
I don’t know how long I’ve been laying here. It feels like hours. But also like seconds. The sun has gone down though, so I know it’s been a while. It must be late. Far later than most Ponyville ponies would be up and about. Even so, there is a knock at the door.
“Wrangler! Ya’ there?”
I think it’s Applejack.
I shoot out of the bed, briefly try to make it look as though I was not just sleeping in it, and trot to the door.
It clicks open, and Applejack is there, glaring at me.
“What was that, Wrangler!? Fluttershy told me—“ Applejack begins.
I can’t stop myself from crying.
“I’m sorry, Applejack,” I manage to choke out.
Applejack immediately softens. And puts a hoof on my shoulder. I want to appreciate this moment. She’s being so sweet to me right now. But everything hurts and I can’t.
“I just wanted to impress you. I wanted you to like me,” I say, at this point openly sobbing on her shoulder.
“I did like you!” Applejack shouts back at me.
I try to keep myself from crying again, I need to handle this like a grown pony. “I’m sorry, I was just so frustrated I-“
“No, I mean— Ah’ I still do. Ah’ just don’t understand why you’ve been actin’ a fool all day workin’ for Fluttershy.”
“I don’t know what ya’ expect me to do. I’m a farm pony, like you, I love animals ‘n all but I ain’t no envir’a’mentalist,” I muster.
I must look so pathetic right now. There’s no way a pony like her could ever be attracted to me after this little scene. Some farm pony I am.
“Ah— No. You’re right. Ah’ mean, I thought this would be a good excuse to see ya’. Ah didn’t really think about how good of a-“ She pauses uncomfortably. “Er, match the job would be for the kind of, um, pony you are.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I begin before interrupting myself. “Wait, you wanted to see me?
“Ah’ should’ve just been honest with ya’, it’s just that ah’ve never,” she blushes heavily.
“Done this before,” I finish for her. “Me neither! Ah’ve been terrified. Ah’ wrote you letters! Ah’ was just too scared to send any of ‘em.”
She’s smiling at me and reflected in her green eyes, I can see, I’m smiling back.
It’s been three months and I haven’t written Applejack. I think it would be weird now. Were we even friends? I guess not. I’ll probably never see her again.
“I should write her a letter,” I say aloud to myself.
I get off of the bed and walk over to my desk, I begin to write.
Applejack, How are you? I’ve been doing well. I have business in Ponyville
I don’t have business in Ponyville.
And I’d love to drop by for a visit if you have the time. Your old Pal
“No, no, I can’t call myself her pal.”
I toss the first paper into the trash.
Dear Applejack I’ve missed you! I’d love to stop by the farm some time and catch up
No! We barely know each other. She’ll think I’m a creep.
I toss the second paper into the trash. I begin my third attempt.
Applejack Howdy, I am visiting friends in Ponyville and I’d love to pop by the farm to see you. Hope you’ve been well Wrangler
No. No. What if she asks to meet my friends? What if she asks who they are? And then she’ll find out I lied to her. She isn’t the type of pony who takes kindly to liars.
It is as I’m spiraling on this thought, that my doorbell rings.
Wrangler Howdy there! It’s been too long. Winona and I have been doing great on the farm. I hope this isn’t a bad time. My friend, Fluttershy, could use some of your wrangling expertise for a project of hers. So I was hoping you might be able to come down to Ponyville and help out. And I’d be happy to show you around while you’re here! Let me know - Applejack
