A Year In Manehatten

It was an ordinary day at the Ponyville train station. Some ponies came and went, others waited for the arrival of their trains, while some got off the cars arriving at the station, some locals of Ponyville, others visiting to meet family or friends. Really, it was just another day.

But not for the Apple Family.

One year ago, Applejack, the element of honesty, and one of the most hardworking and honest ponies in Equestria came to this train station with a one-way ticket to Manehatten, a faraway land where she would spend a year with some other family. Today was the day she would finally return.

Apple Bloom was standing in front of her family, her hooves tapping, unable to contain her excitement. She was older now. She had her cutie mark, and the giant ribbon she once wore as a young filly was replaced by two long ponytails topped off with miniature ribbons. She was probably the closest to Applejack, being her little sister after all, and she could not wait to finally have that missing piece of her family back in her life. Apple Bloom had long since gotten used to her sister’s absence, but not a day went by where she missed her. The farm just wasn’t the same with Applejack. Apple Bloom supposed what her granny said was true, that you don’t know how good you have something until it’s gone.

But it didn’t matter. Not anymore. Applejack was coming home today, and everything would return to normal in the Apple family once more. She couldn’t wait to tell her sister everything that had happened when she was gone: Being taught by her brother Big Mac to buck apples now that she was big enough to do so, getting her cutie mark, starting middle school, and accidentally getting Diamond Tiara expelled. Actually, maybe she would keep that one a secret.

Apple Bloom watched, her breath catching in her throat as she got a little closer to the track, watching as a train pulled up gradually to the station, coming to a stop. The breaks hissed, and the doors swung open. Apple Bloom was smiling so wide that she almost looked a little insane. She couldn’t wait to see her sister. The very SECOND she saw her, she was going to give her the biggest hug imaginable. Ignoring the strangers getting off the train, she looked excitedly for that familiar orange coat and brown stetson. Finally, the crowd died down as the train emptied. Suddenly tired of waiting, Apple Bloom hopped onto the train. The wait was unbearable, she just had to see her big sister, she had waited a year, for Celestia’s sake, she deserved this!

“Sis!!” Apple Bloom called, her smile brighter than Celestia’s sun.

“Apple Bloom!”

Turning around, Apple Bloom was ready to spread her hooves and leap at her sister for that hug she had been longing for ever since she learned she was coming home. She knew that when she saw her sister, it was going to be like nothing changed at all, it would be like she never left…

What she saw however was… Not what she was expecting in the slightest.

Applejack, who has usually kept her mane in a ponytail, was now donning a… Honestly, Apple Bloom wasn’t sure what it was. Her mane was longer, puffed up, and rounded at the front in a bouffant style that was popular in Manehatten. Her tail was curled, long, and flowing, she wore makeup: light blush on her cheeks, concealer to hide her freckles, and eye shadow on her eyelids. She had two golden earrings in her ears she realized her now pierced, and come to think of it, she had a LOT of jewelry on!

She had bracelets on each hoof, a shining necklace with an orange-shaped pendant, and a frilly dress that covered her cutie mark which she always wore as a badge of honor, proud to be a member of the apple family… Was she halunincating? Was she talking to the wrong pony?

“Applejack, dearie! There ‘ye are!” Apple Bloom jumped at the voice of her grandmother behind her, “We were startin’ to get worried when Apple Bloom hopped on the train and didn’t come out!”

“Eeyup.” Said Big Mac, her brother.

Apple Bloom looked back at both of them. They seemed unphased by this. This pony was not her sister!

Applejack giggled softly, “Thank you so much for the warm welcome.” Apple Bloom wrinkled her snout. Where was that country twang that every member of her family had? Her southern accent had morphed into some fancy, pish-posh nonsense, like that voice her friend Scootaloo used when mocking their boring new teacher.

“What happened to you?” Apple Bloom asked, finally deciding to pop the question that was begging to be answered. She looked back at her family for support, but they hardly seemed to notice anything was different about her.

“Mm. I was getting a touch bored of my usual attire. Honestly, I looked like some good-for-nothing country bumpkin.” She twirled around showing off her entire outfit, “Don’t I look just ravishing?”

Apple Bloom, despite her obvious confusion, tried to smile. Maybe this was just some joke. She had once joked about how residents of Manehatten were just like this. Maybe she was just trying to be funny? “Very funny, sis. What’re gonna do next? Pull out a fan and ask Big Mac to take your luggage?”

“Oh! Thank you for reminding me.” To her surprise, she actually did pull out a fan, covering her muzzle just a little as she walked past them, “Could somepony fetch my bags? I would be very grateful.”

Pfft right. She didn’t bring any bags with her.

Once again, Apple Bloom was proven wrong. Applejack has brought home four suitcases filled with Celestia knows what. Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom had to carry two of each, with Granny Smith unable to help much with the labor. The bags both weighed a ton, and the walk back to the orchard was torture, it didn’t help that Applejack did nothing but occasionally tell them to hurry up.

What had gotten into her? What was in these bags? Apple Bloom remembered a week-long camping trip they went on years ago, Applejack hadn't bought anything but one small backpack, and she was just fine! Maybe they had picked up the wrong pony? Apple Bloom kept looking over her shoulder, expecting to find Applejack chasing after them, but she had no such luck. Maybe she was still playing a joke on them, and she’d snap out of it when she realized none of them were fooled. She hoped her time at Manehatten hadn’t changed her sister forever…

When they returned to the Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack’s muzzle wrinkled in disgust as she saw her home for the first time in months. “I see I still have to live on a farm like some animal. How unfortunate.” She shrugged, “Oh well. I suppose it’ll have to do.”

Apple Bloom stopped, resting her head on the suitcases she was forced to push back. Big Mac stopped beside her, sweating from the hot sun and the physical activity. “What the hay has gotten into her? What did those city ponies do to her?” Big Mac shrugged in response, “You’re worried about her too, right?”

“Eeyup.” He said curtly.

“Well, we gotta do something about it then!” Apple Bloom said with determination.

Big Mac, who was about to start pushing the bags down the path towards the barn, shook his head no. “No. Leave her alone. She’s been living with those city ponies for a year, Apple Bloom. She’ll be back once she spends the rest of the day in her home.”

It was a rare occasion whenever Big Mac, who usually hardly spoke at all, said that many sentences. Despite this somewhat almost frightening situation, Apple Bloom found some comfort in his words. She couldn’t keep this charade up forever, right?

Apple Bloom sighed in relief as she finally made it into the house and was able to abandon her sister’s luggage and sit down. As she was sitting there on the couch, recovering her energy after the short walk which felt like a mile-long hike, she was quickly startled as the door swung open, and a fuming Applejack came inside.

“Do you seriously expect me to relieve myself OUTSIDE like an animal?” She snarled, looking at Big Mac, who was the closest to her.

“Eeyup?” He said nervously.

“We have a bathroom upstairs, sis. Don’tja remember?” Apple Bloom said, undoing her ponytails and letting her mane down.

Applejack seemed relieved, “Oh thank goddess. Oh! And while I’m gone, would you be a dear and bring my luggage to my room?” She said to Big Mac. “I would greatly appreciate it.”

“Eeyup.” He said, grabbing the handle of the first bag, following behind her as he started hauling it to her bedroom.

Applejack would NEVER ask Big Mac for help with something like that! She’d do it herself in a minute flat! Apple Bloom thought. “Thank Celestia she’s gone…”

“Now don’t you go sayin’ things like that, child. That there’s your sister, don'tcha know?” Apple Bloom jumped as Granny Smith spoke, piercing the silence as she placed a bowl of apples on the table with old, shaky hooves, “Now I know she’s taken on the ways of a Manehattenet, and I know it’s a lil’ strange, but that don’t give you an excuse to treat her any different. I want you to do your best to welcome her back home, ya hear?”

“Yes, Granny Smith.” Apple Bloom said obediently, wondering how the half-deaf elderly mare even heard her mumbling in the first place. Satisfied she got the message, Granny Smith retreated to the kitchen, no doubt going back to make lunch for the now reunited family. Big Mac finished his chore, and with a light sigh, he sat down on the sofa in front of Apple Bloom. Knowing he never was much for conversation, Apple Bloom got up to help her grandmother with lunch. Ten minutes later, the table was all set, and the Apple family was sitting all together, just like how they used to. Everything about this was normal, except for the fact that Applejack was still dressed like she was about to go to a gala in Canterlot.

“So where’d your hat go?” Apple Bloom said, curious as to where AJ’s most prized possession had gone. That hat had been with the country mate through thick and thin, and despite all the activity it’s seen, the leather stetson still seemed brand new, “Ah’ve never seen ‘ya without it.”

Applejack shrugged. She seemed too busy with her meal to concentrate on what was being said. She savored each bite of her food so long that it was almost painful to watch her eat. By the time Apple Bloom had cleaned her plate, Applejack was just getting started with hers. “That old thing? Oh, I tossed it.” She waved a dismissive hood.

“You what?”

Applejack covered her muzzle as she giggled politely, “I’ve been wearing that filthy thing since I was a little girl. The style is so old, honestly, I couldn’t be seen with it! I refuse to go out in public wearing something like it!”

“‘Pa gave you that hat! You can’t just go and throw it away like a piece o’ garbage!” Apple Bloom said, suddenly infuriated that her sister would throw away such a meaningful artifact.

“Now now, I’m sure it’s in one of those suitcases she brought home.” Granny Smith interrupted, “Tell her, AJ!”

Applejack tapped her chin, “Hmm… No, I am pretty sure I threw it away in the bin outside the park.” She said, “Besides, I knew I might want to bring that style back for old time's sake, so I bought a few more just like it!”

Apple Bloom sputtered, tripping on her words, refusing to believe what she was hearing! She didn't know her father, but she knew better than anybody that Applejack cared very deeply for the memory of her parents. Before she left, she remembered there were days when she would find her talking to a framed photo of her parents holding her as a young filly, desperately clinging on to the times she had with them. She remembered the time when Diamond Tiara made fun of her for not having parents, and how AJ was so mad she screamed at her father for almost an hour about how much of a brat she was. This ain’t… This ain’t my sister. Apple Bloom thought, the mare’s words silent to her as she looked at the orange pony who she no longer recognized. It was just a hat, an object, but the fact that she would just go up and throw away something she knew meant so much to her…

What in Celestia’s name did they do to her?