The Blessing: A Second Chance

The run had been enjoyable. Applejack had been impressed by John's endurance. He had kept a slow, but steady pace the whole way through. It wasn't often that she was able to just take a light trot with company. Even though the exercise had been quiet, save for the clopping of hooves and the thud of heavy footfalls, it was far from unproductive. AJ had taken this time to think.

'I wonder how I should ask him?'

'Maybe ah shouldn't, maybe I should let him tell me.'

'Is it really that important? It's not right that I risk hurting him just for mah own curiosity.'

'It's not. So don't make matters worse. If he wants ta tell ya, he'll tell ya. But, until then, just concentrate on making him feel at home. We don't know when he'll be able to go back home. If ever.'

Satisfied with her reasoning, Applejack pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind as she started the days work. She bucked the first tree and watched as the apples fell neatly into the baskets below. She was about to set the baskets up below the next one when she realized they were already there. She turned her head in time to see John dumping the first of the full baskets into the cart.

'Well, he sure don't dilly-dally.'

The work was a nice break from his usual routine. The usual routine being a combat deployment in the middle east. He was glad to feel the cool, moist air of the countryside again, even if it wasn't part of his country. John had grown up in Kentucky, and the atmosphere he felt here wasn't that much different.

Except for the talking ponies, of course.

His head was still struggling a bit with the reality he now found himself in, but he was slowly but surely getting more comfortable with it. But there was no time for such thoughts, he had work to do.

Quietly, he placed the baskets for the next tree. Applejack was harvesting the fruit on the trees pretty quickly, but John liked the challenge. He kept up with her pretty well, actually. After a while, the motions of the work started to repeat themselves in his head.

Place, retrieve, dump, repeat.

He had to break every once in a while to move the cart up to where Applejack was. Soon enough though, the cart got full and he couldn't fill it anymore.

“Hey Applejack, this cart is full, I'm gonna go get another one. They're in the barn, right?”

AJ looked back and smiled.

“Actually, Ah think we need ta take a break. I'm startin' to get a bit winded, I've never been able to keep this pace up before 'cause I've always been working by myself. Because you've been helping me, we're actually ahead by a little bit. So, let's head up to the house and you can bring the cart back after the break is over, okay?”

“Alright then.”

John looked down at his watch, they had been at it for about three hours.

'Time flies when your having fun.' he thought to himself as he picked up the cart's handles and began walking to the house.

John actually chuckled a bit. He WAS having fun. The work was honest, hard, and methodic, but relaxing.

He must have been smiling, because Applejack noticed.

“Why you smiling so awful big?” she asked.

“Huh? Oh, I was just thinking about work.”

She gave him an amused look.

“You're smilin' about work?”

“Well, yeah. It's fun. Calming even.”

“Ahm glad that you're enjoying yourself. It's nice to have somebody to work with, it gets awfully lonely out here sometimes.”

John looked down to her.

“I thought that Big Mac helped you out?”

“He tries, but most of the time he's busy tryin' ta keep the orchard running financially. He's pretty good at math, and he has got some amazing business sense. Not to mention that he plows the fields and tries to keep the buildings upright half of the time. We really need some renovations, but despite his talents, we just don't have the money right now.”

She looked up a John.

“Sorry, I don't mean to unload all this onta ya, but it's hard sometimes. What with Ma and Pa gone for so long...”

John's face became full of concern.

“I'm sorry.”

“It's okay. They passed years ago, when Apple Bloom was just born. I try not to dwell on it, but...”

John saw her ears and tail droop, and her head began to sag a bit. But in a flash, she was back to her usual strong demeanor.

“Anyways, how's about we don't dwell on the past? Let's look to the future, like what are we gonna do during our break?”

John smiled.

“Well, I'm up for just about anything. But first, I think I'd like a drink.”

AJ smiled and cocked her head to the side.

“Are we talkin' apple juice, or hard cider?” She snickered a bit before continuing, “'Cause Ah don't think you could handle the latter.”

John's eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Why, I do believe that's a challenge Applejack.”

She raised her head and closed her eyes before smiling.

“Maybe it is, maybe it ain't. You up fer it?”

John laughed. There was a reason that no one but the newbies challenged him to a drinking contest in his old unit.

“I hate to bust your bubble, but I think I'll win that one.”

Applejack giggled and gave John another smile. He found that he rather liked that.

“Alright, we'll settle this later. For now, Ah don't think we should drink like that 'cause we got work, but we could just enjoy a friendly drink together.”

“I'd like that.” he said, returning the smile.

As the two neared the house, John saw something very out of place.

A golden chariot was the last thing he would expect to see on a farm.

“What in the hay is Celestia doin' here?”

John felt a knot in the pit of his stomach, something didn't feel right.

“Ahm gonna go see what's up, why don't you put the cart in the barn?”

John nodded and did as he was told. AJ walked in the direction of the house and John pulled the cart into the barn. When he had finished, he walked out and toward the house. Applejack was just at the door when Celestia herself opened it and walked out. John was a bit too far away to pick up the conversation, but he was able to see the reactions from the two.

Celestia was definitely on edge, judging by her stature, and Applejack looked to suddenly be uncomfortable. John was about midway between the barn and the house by this time. He was wondering what was going on when it happened.

Celestia spotted him.

She raised her hoof.

“GUARDS, SIEZE HIM!!”

“Wait, what?”

Those were the only words that he got out of his mouth before he had to dodge the first of the magical bolts that sizzled past his ear...