FiMFriction

Sunlight struggled to peak through the thick layer of clouds Ponyville’s weather team had scheduled for the small town, creating a gloom that shaded the normally bustling and cheerful local atmosphere. The first drop of rainwater splashing against her orange furred snout was all the evidence Applejack needed to recognize that her hard day of work would be cut short by the precipitation. She sighed heavily, conflicted with her feelings behind the weather team’s decisions to schedule rain during the weekend. She had to admit, the orchard was overdue for a good shower and she would hate to see her precious apple trees wilt. The cowpony shrugged off the mere idea of her orchard losing quality due to neglect of any kind; she would carry water by the buckets on her own back before she let that happen. Applejack kicked a leg out with a grunt, her frustrations leaving a small indent on the tree unfortunate enough to be within bucking range. The fruiting tree relinquished its heavy burden with a groan, showering the ground below with an onslaught of red delicious apples. Applejack swore under her breath for damaging the tree, annoyed that she let something as silly as her own emotions have a negative impact, if literally, on her work.

“Applejack! Get yer hide in here before ya’ catch a cold!”

She could make out the sounds of Granny Smith’s hollering through the increasing volume of the rain’s pitter-patter, the shrill of her voice cutting sharp as a dagger despite the limitations her ancient body forced on her. Applejack snorted angrily, her wild blonde bangs falling as she trotted back to the farmhouse with her nose to the ground. She wasn’t upset with Granny Smith; she didn’t even think she was capable of holding ill will towards her grandmother given that she took the correct action in calling the young farm pony in before the storm got worse. Applejack slowed her speed to a casual walk, the familiar sound of creaking wood reaching her ears as she met the front porch of her home, each step delivering a soft groan from the old floorboards. She was always honest, even to herself, and the truth was that farm work hadn’t been giving her the feeling of complete satisfaction that she had become accustomed to.

Applejack entered the rustic house, ears pinned back at her own dissatisfaction. Was she ungrateful for what she had? She quickly dismissed the idea. She had been through so many hardships, so many trials, and had watched first hoof as the fruits of her labor and sacrifices bore physical form, filling her with a joy that only her toils at Sweet Apple Acres could do. After all, nothing could compare to the rewards that came from an honest hard day of work, right?

Right, Applejack sighed inwardly, confused by the apathy she had begun to feel ever since the girls’ lunch date with Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. Had the prince’s comments made that large of an impression? She considered it a possibility, but being single never really bothered the farmer, even if it did bother Granny Smith. Maybe it was something else he had brought up during his short analysis of her personal life, or maybe another factor had brought about her foul mood. Celestia knows her temper had shortened a might ever since-

“Howdy, cous’!”

Applejack gritted her teeth as the overly cheerful, grating, and particularly loud voice invaded her sense of hearing, triggering the start of yet another sound-induced headache. Wincing through the slight pain that throbbed at the base of her forehead, she forced a practiced smile on her muzzle and turned slowly to address the pony responsible for her minor irritation.

“Howdy, Braeburn. Ya’ll settlin’ in all right ‘round here?” She asked out of obligated hospitality, despite how unnecessary she knew the question was in the first place. Braeburn was situated comfortably at the kitchen table, his chair conveniently located in between Apple Bloom and Granny Smith and across from Big Macintosh, sparing the larger stallion the bulk of his enthusiastic chatter. Granny Smith gave the Appleoosa cowpony a rough pat on the back that tipped his hat, chuckling in her high-pitched drawl as he readjusted the Stetson.

“Yer darn’ tootin’ he is! Why Ah haven’t had such good company since our family reunion, Applejack.” She answered for him, bringing a slight blush to the stallion’s cheeks from his grandmother’s appraisal. “Let me tell you, this boy’s got a million stories an’ one if’n ya’ll wanna know anything there is ta’ know about anything about Appleoosa! No wonder ya’ hogged him up for yerself when fixin’ the barn at our last reunion!”

“That’s just cuz there’s a million an’ two of ‘em to tell, Granny Smith,” He chirped up with a toothy smile, leaning backwards with both forehooves behind his head as he relaxed into the chair to prepare yet another one of his stories from the frontier. Apple Bloom leaned forward in her chair, eagerly awaiting the narrative her charming cousin would soon begin, not noticing Applejack quietly take her place at the table. Braeburn began his tale and a mutual glance was exchanged between Big Macintosh and his irritated sister, prompting the large crimson stallion to lean over to begin a private interrogation.

“Ah know that look, AJ,” He whispered, keeping his tone quiet and firm, a combination Applejack knew all too well would lead to nothing but trouble if she even attempted to avoid the truth. “Ya’ got more daggers ‘n yer eyes than Miss Rainbow Dash on cider day. Now out with it. What’s wrong?”

“Ah think that he just-“ She paused, squirming at the sharp glare of Big Macintosh’s knowing green eyes. Applejack swallowed the lump in her throat with a gulp and exhaled through her nose, releasing a sigh that thinned as it barely left her muzzle. She tapped a forehoof uncomfortably on the side of her wooden chair, trying to think of any excuse that would appease her brother, even if lying wasn’t one of her strengths. It was probably one of her weakest flaws, and knowing this, Applejack took a deep breath and looked Big Macintosh in the eyes, both sets of green wavering as they reflected the anticipation that burdened each pony. “Ah really don’t know what the problem is. Ah mean, Ah haven’t been happy runnin’ the farm like Ah always am, big brother, and Ah’m plum tired of not bein’ happy with it. Ah’ve always been happy with it. Ever since that lunch we all had with the Royalty, Ah just haven’t felt the same ‘round here. At first Ah thought Ah might’ve been longin’ for some… uh,” She paused, flushing heavily as she realized the sensitive topic about her personal life that she was about to diverge on her brother may not be exactly what he wanted to hear. “That is Ah thought at first Ah was maybe upset that Ah didn’t have the time to hit the datin’ scene. Ya’ know, try ‘n make the Apple family grow a little. But that ain’t it; Ah don’t need or want some stallion tryin’ ta’ swoon me off my hooves, and Ah sure as heck ain’t ready for kids of my own.”

Big Macintosh could only nod to try to avoid any awkward silence, though not even his bright red coat could hide the heat he felt on his cheeks as he pictured his sister mingling with the town’s most eligible stallions. “Ah understand ya, AJ. Sometimes, Ah wonder if it’s time for me ta’ find a nice mare and start a family of my own.” He stopped as if expecting his sister to have any objections, but continued as she simply sat and gave him her undivided attention, even as Braeburn entered the climax of his own story. “But Ah reckon that Ah’m still young enough that Ah’ve got time, and the farm needs me more than it needs another baby ‘round here.”

“Ah ain’t so sure about that, Big Macintosh,” Applejack said with a sad smile that couldn’t help but betray her torn feelings on the matter. “As much as Ah love a day in the fields with ya’, you could take a whole year off if ya’ felt the need to. Ah mean, Apple Bloom’s already gone and learned everything we’ve got ta’ teach her ‘round the farm. Ah could make due with her, and if the workload got real rough ‘round here, Ah’ve got the most reliable friends a pony could ask for.”

“What’re you sayin’?” He croaked out. Applejack picked up on his tone immediately, placing a comforting hoof on the stallion’s shoulder.

“Now don’t ya’ ever get to thinkin’ you’re not useful or needed ‘round here, big brother. Ah would never say or think that, but Ah am sayin’ this,” She paused, sliding her hoof from his shoulder to his chin, forcing the anxious stallion to meet her gaze. Applejack looked at her older sibling with a keen eye, taking in deep contemplation about Big Macintosh’s role in Sweet Apple Acres. He always seemed to be working, even when she would sometimes take the day off to herself, whether it was a spa visit with the girls or an emergency in Canterlot. Applejack sifted through her memories, trying remember a day when the sturdy stallion actually had a day off from the hard labor around the farm. Did Nightmare Night count? Big Macintosh seemed to enjoy himself pulling the children around in their cart for a hayride, but even that counted as a form of physical labor. It also made a quick profit for the Apple family, so it didn’t really qualify as vacation time. Applejack felt her heart race as the guilt accumulated. When was the last time he really had a day to himself? To relax? The Apple family reunion sure as hay didn’t count, and Applejack had only herself to blame for that one. Finding no recent memories of the stallion having any time off and nothing else holding her back, Applejack continued, all the more confident in her decision.

“Why don’t you take the next week or two off, sugarcube?”

“A week or two off?!” Big Macintosh hollered in an uncharacteristic volume, drawing the attention of everypony present at the dinner table. Granny Smith shot Applejack a disapproving glare, eying her up and down the whole time with unblinking vermillion eyes that casted false judgment.

“You think ya’ need time off when you take a day now and again to go get them ‘hooficures’ with those friends of yers?”

“T’ain’t for me, Granny,” Applejack protested in defense, her blonde ponytail swishing with a few shakes of her head. “Ah told Big Macintosh here ta’ take the time off. He deserves it! Apple Bloom and Ah can cover for him no problem.”

Granny Smith relaxed her posture and sank into her seat, apparently satisfied for the time being with her granddaughter’s response. Unlike her grandmother, Apple Bloom seemed all but fond of the idea, her eyes welling with tears as she dramatically protested the extra labor expected from her for the next week.

“But Ah’ve got crusadin’ ta’ do!”

“Now now, Applebloom, don’t ya’ think your brother deserves this?” Granny Smith asked calmly, putting an end to the filly’s short-lived temper tantrum, though her quivering bottom lip promised future complaints from the blank flanked child. The matriarch of the Apple family quickly turned to address Applejack with as concerned an expression as her wrinkled face would allow. “Y’sure you can handle it, Applejack?”

“Absolutely, Granny,” She confirmed, a hoof placed over her heart confidently. “And if Ah really need help Ah can ask my friends.”

“Ah’ll help too,” Braeburn piped up, a glass of cider raised to his muzzle before he guzzled its contents down, each gulp making an audible sound as his Adam’s apple shifted along his throat. Setting the drained cup down, he wiped his snout free from any bubbles the sweet drink had left in its frothy wake. “It’s the least Ah can do after ya’ll offered to put me up during my vacation time.”

“Ah’m afraid Ah can’t take you up on that offer, cous’. No way am Ah lettin’ you spend your free time workin’ fer us instead,” Applejack sternly said, though she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy as Braeburn’s face fell into a crestfallen expression, his hat falling forward with his drooping head. “Though Ah wouldn’t say no if you wanted to run a few errands for me to get ta’ know the town better.”

Braeburn nodded with a mock salute and pushed off the ground with his hind legs, the chair letting loose a sharp squeak as it slid back from the dinner table. He hopped off his chair, his hooves creating an audible clop as he landed and began walking in a beeline to the front door, much to the surprise of the Apple family.

“Yer goin’ now?! Can’t ya’ see the weather outside?!” Applejack asked, her jaw slightly slacked at her cousin’s forwardness and gung-ho spirit to go and march out into Ponyville in the middle of a rainstorm.

Braeburn opened the door and nodded cheerfully, “Ain’t no time like the present. ‘Sides, a little rain never hurt nopony, and Ah reckon it’ll be reeeeefreshing! We don’t get much of it in-“ He reared up, giving Applejack enough time to cover her ears and draw curious looks from the rest of her family before he bellowed out, “Aaaaaaaaapleoosa!”

The slam of the front door left the remainder of the Apple family in stunned silence, the only sound in the house coming from the background of rainwater pattering against the shingles of the rooftop. Granny Smith stuck a hoof in her ear, wriggling it around to clear the ringing Braeburn’s theatrical exit had left. Big Macintosh’s eyelids fell halfway, his eyes drifting to the side where they met Applejack’s in a similar gaze as they had both come to the same conclusion. He broke the silence, grunting out in a soft baritone that echoed throughout the house.

“Three, two, one-“

The front door swung open on cue with Braeburn right behind it, his cheeks tinged pink as he scuffed a hoof on the floorboards in obvious embarrassment.

“Ah don’t supposed you have an errand for me to run, do ya’?”

The audible sound of Big Macintosh’s hoof slamming against his own forehead rung through the air, while the female family members at the table could only shake their heads in amusement at their relative’s shortsightedness. Chuckling quietly, Applejack took it upon herself to relieve the stallion of his shame.

“Ah’ve got an envelope upstairs with my measurements for some Gala outfit my friend Rarity wants ta’ make for me. Why don’t you go drop them off ta’ her at Carousel Boutique for me, sugarcube? Fanciest building in town, you can’t miss it.”

Braeburn was upstairs in a flash and the sound of his rummaging through Applejack’s belongings soon accompanied the background noise created by the weather. She rolled her eyes.

“On top of the drawer, sugar!” She yelled up at her cousin, not bothering to conceal the annoyance she felt for the invasion of her privacy in her tone. Not that she had anything to hide from anypony, but she still considered herself a proper mare, and a stallion, family or not, going through her drawers was just down right inappropriate! The clatter stopped instantly, only to be immediately followed by the sound of Braeburn’s hooves clopping against the wood as he galloped at full speed down the stairs. He made his way through the kitchen in three bounds and haulted to a stop as he reattempted his previous exit, shutting the door gently with a sheepish grin.

Big Macintosh shuffled in his seat, ears pinned back and lower lip tucked under his front teeth in a bite as a straying thought passed the eldest Apple sibling’s mind.

“Uhhh, AJ? Ya’ sure it was a good idea sendin’ cousin Braeburn out to deliver yer envelope to Miss Rarity? Ah mean, it’s rainin’ cats ‘n dogs out which means it’ll be sometin’ awful muddy and…” He trailed off, gesturing toward his sister with a rolling motion of his eyes, hoping she understood the implications of Braeburn’s errand.

“Are you suggestin’ that Ah’d pull a little prank on Rarity by sendin’ our loud, hyper, all too willin’ ta’ rush into a fancy building with mud on his hooves cousin’ into her shop?” The orange cowpony’s freckles contracted as a smirk stretched past a single cheek. “Why, Big Macintosh, ya’ make it sound like Ah did somethin’ mischievous on purpose.”