Practice Prologue, in which
we meet our jackass of a protagonist.
I sighed blissfully as I lay under the dear shade of my favorite tree. It was a beautiful day, as they say, to laugh, to play, and so on. In my words though, I would say it was a wonderful day to do nothing. Every pony must have their lazy days, shouldn’t they? I stared out at the fields upon fields of apple trees spread out before me which was merely a short distance away from my hill; a mesmerizing view. The large Apple family could be seen hard at work, bucking and collecting apples. Well, all except for me.
A single long straw of hay rolled slowly between my lips as I enjoyed the breeze, my hooves cushioning my head as I lay against the tree, slowly falling into a relaxing sleep. Or so I would have if the commanding, hoarse voice of a certain orange coated mare didn’t unrest me.
“Hayseed! Would ya get off yer damn flank and do some work like the rest of us!” I let out a groan of annoyance, tipping my hat just high enough to see the edge of my dear cousin’s face. I cleared my throat as I began to respond, my tone that as if I was having to remind a child of obvious things.
“Trust me my dear cousin Applejack, I would if I was of any use but, as you can tell by my bare flank, I do not have any specialty in apple care. How many times must I repeat myself? I would only be in the way and reduce efficiency. If I recall, cider season is coming.”
My cousin growled in likewise annoyance herself, leaning down and pressing her nose right into mine. That knife look she was giving me, I will admit, was actually frightening. “Ya don’t need no cutie mark to do some old fashioned hard work! Quit your whinin’ and get up. I ain’t takin’ no for an answer.” I didn’t reply at first, merely giving her a blank stare, hoping she would recognize the hint. Sadly it seemed to encourage her conviction, yet thankfully at least she leaned back and gave me some form of breathing space.
“All you’ve done since you’ve come here is slouch about. Besides, I hardly ever saw ya try, how ya gonna know ya ain’t good at workin’ the field, if ya don’t try?”
“I feel it in my bones, let us leave it at that. In any case it is a very enjoyable activity, doing nothing. You should try it sometime.” I smirked, pushing her away just lightly enough so as not to be taken as a threat in case she felt brash this evening. I then returned my hat to its former comfortable position, trying to catch what little of my blissful sleep was left.
Yet just as I managed to attain my dreams, I found myself suddenly assaulted by various blunt, round objects landing all over my resting body. The tree upon which I rested shook horribly, my head bouncing against it in the vibration, and to add to my misery one of the objects landed violently upon my head. I was left with a terribly annoying head ache, among others, as the aftermath. Some bruises were most likely left as well. I growled with protest and annoyance, looking up under my hat to once more meet the steely stare of my commanding cousin as I pushed away the fallen apples surrounding me, “Was that truly necessary?”
She smirked for just a moment before returning to her frown, “Yes, now listen up. If I recall, yer ma and pa sent ya here to learn some discipline, and darn it if that ain’t what I’m gonna kick into ya by week’s end. I ain’t gonna let ya just eat off of us and do nothin’ in return.” I sighed, finally sitting up to meet her at at least chest level, staring up to meet her determined gaze with one of my own.
“I believe you have misinterpreted the letter. They sent me here to …” I mulled the correct wording in my mind for a moment, waving my hoof with a shrug as nothing came to, “I suppose to enjoy country life away from the lovely city of Manehatten. To take a breath, if you will. And besides I am just one colt, as I must keep reminding you. You have plenty working the fields from my perspective and I doubt I would be of much use. I don’t exactly have much muscle on me if you haven’t been able to spot clearly over your… never mind.” I grinned, biting my lip in time to hold back the delightful remark I was about to make. Sadly she didn’t seem to take to my joking charms and pressed on. I swear she seemed a tad angrier, I wonder why…
“Don’t you dare use that disrespectful tone with me mister. I ain’t your ma and this ain’t your fancy city. You’re goin’ to work while you’re livin’ under our roof! And don’t think I don’t know about your lil’ incidents back home, I am quite aware why they sent you, no doubt about it. Now get up or you ain’t havin’ no supper.”
I growled, thinking over in my head the crossroad in my front of me before sighing in defeat and slowly returning to all fours. “If I do this, will you leave me alone afterwards?” I frowned - or I suppose, pouted - intensely at her, hoping my expression would express just how much of a bother this truly was.
A smug smile painted her as she began to walk downhill, back in the direction of the fields, nodding, “Oh don’t be such a lazy worm, some honest work will do ya good! Y’all feel bright and proud once it’s all over, I promise ya. Now come on.”
I sighed, taking in one last look of the beautiful view before reluctantly walking after her, “I am beginning to incredibly regret my choice of a get away.” I muttered under my breath, although just loud enough so she would hear as I caught up beside her. She only laughed and slapped me on the shoulder and I winced in turn, the mare clearly not aware of her strength as I felt an ache left in the spot. “Oh cheer up Sugarcube, it’s a bright day, it ain’t meant to be wasted.”
“Now who said I was wasting it …”
I sighed blissfully as I lay under the dear shade of my favorite tree. It was a beautiful day, as they say, to laugh, to play, and so on. In my words though, I would say it was a wonderful day to do nothing. Every pony must have their lazy days, shouldn’t they? I stared out at the fields upon fields of apple trees spread out before me which was merely a short distance away from my hill; a mesmerizing view. The large Apple family could be seen hard at work, bucking and collecting apples. Well, all except for me.
A single long straw of hay rolled slowly between my lips as I enjoyed the breeze, my hooves cushioning my head as I lay against the tree, slowly falling into a relaxing sleep. Or so I would have if the commanding, hoarse voice of a certain orange coated mare didn’t unrest me.
“Hayseed! Would ya get off yer damn flank and do some work like the rest of us!” I let out a groan of annoyance, tipping my hat just high enough to see the edge of my dear cousin’s face. I cleared my throat as I began to respond, my tone that as if I was having to remind a child of obvious things.
“Trust me my dear cousin Applejack, I would if I was of any use but, as you can tell by my bare flank, I do not have any specialty in apple care. How many times must I repeat myself? I would only be in the way and reduce efficiency. If I recall, cider season is coming.”
My cousin growled in likewise annoyance herself, leaning down and pressing her nose right into mine. That knife look she was giving me, I will admit, was actually frightening. “Ya don’t need no cutie mark to do some old fashioned hard work! Quit your whinin’ and get up. I ain’t takin’ no for an answer.” I didn’t reply at first, merely giving her a blank stare, hoping she would recognize the hint. Sadly it seemed to encourage her conviction, yet thankfully at least she leaned back and gave me some form of breathing space.
“All you’ve done since you’ve come here is slouch about. Besides, I hardly ever saw ya try, how ya gonna know ya ain’t good at workin’ the field, if ya don’t try?”
“I feel it in my bones, let us leave it at that. In any case it is a very enjoyable activity, doing nothing. You should try it sometime.” I smirked, pushing her away just lightly enough so as not to be taken as a threat in case she felt brash this evening. I then returned my hat to its former comfortable position, trying to catch what little of my blissful sleep was left.
Yet just as I managed to attain my dreams, I found myself suddenly assaulted by various blunt, round objects landing all over my resting body. The tree upon which I rested shook horribly, my head bouncing against it in the vibration, and to add to my misery one of the objects landed violently upon my head. I was left with a terribly annoying head ache, among others, as the aftermath. Some bruises were most likely left as well. I growled with protest and annoyance, looking up under my hat to once more meet the steely stare of my commanding cousin as I pushed away the fallen apples surrounding me, “Was that truly necessary?”
She smirked for just a moment before returning to her frown, “Yes, now listen up. If I recall, yer ma and pa sent ya here to learn some discipline, and darn it if that ain’t what I’m gonna kick into ya by week’s end. I ain’t gonna let ya just eat off of us and do nothin’ in return.” I sighed, finally sitting up to meet her at at least chest level, staring up to meet her determined gaze with one of my own.
“I believe you have misinterpreted the letter. They sent me here to …” I mulled the correct wording in my mind for a moment, waving my hoof with a shrug as nothing came to, “I suppose to enjoy country life away from the lovely city of Manehatten. To take a breath, if you will. And besides I am just one colt, as I must keep reminding you. You have plenty working the fields from my perspective and I doubt I would be of much use. I don’t exactly have much muscle on me if you haven’t been able to spot clearly over your… never mind.” I grinned, biting my lip in time to hold back the delightful remark I was about to make. Sadly she didn’t seem to take to my joking charms and pressed on. I swear she seemed a tad angrier, I wonder why…
“Don’t you dare use that disrespectful tone with me mister. I ain’t your ma and this ain’t your fancy city. You’re goin’ to work while you’re livin’ under our roof! And don’t think I don’t know about your lil’ incidents back home, I am quite aware why they sent you, no doubt about it. Now get up or you ain’t havin’ no supper.”
I growled, thinking over in my head the crossroad in my front of me before sighing in defeat and slowly returning to all fours. “If I do this, will you leave me alone afterwards?” I frowned - or I suppose, pouted - intensely at her, hoping my expression would express just how much of a bother this truly was.
A smug smile painted her as she began to walk downhill, back in the direction of the fields, nodding, “Oh don’t be such a lazy worm, some honest work will do ya good! Y’all feel bright and proud once it’s all over, I promise ya. Now come on.”
I sighed, taking in one last look of the beautiful view before reluctantly walking after her, “I am beginning to incredibly regret my choice of a get away.” I muttered under my breath, although just loud enough so she would hear as I caught up beside her. She only laughed and slapped me on the shoulder and I winced in turn, the mare clearly not aware of her strength as I felt an ache left in the spot. “Oh cheer up Sugarcube, it’s a bright day, it ain’t meant to be wasted.”
“Now who said I was wasting it …”
Pain, oh by Celestia’s grace the
horrible pain.
Never again, I swear, never again will I give myself over so blindly to such agony.
I limped slowly down the road, treading carefully, each step taken sending a horrible ache throughout my joints. My dear sweet cousin walked beside me, skipping merely as if the day’s work hadn’t made her break even a slightest bit of sweat, although I wouldn’t doubt it if it truly didn’t. She smiled down at me, although I could see it slowly descending into a worrying frown as I continued my groans and grunts. “Luna make me a cripple now so I may never experience the torment that is an honest day’s work…”
“Oh cheer up, it wasn’t that bad. Don’t ya feel somewhat good for stretching your legs, even a tiny bit?” My cousin beamed, trying to cheer me up, or perhaps attempting to be condescending, I couldn’t tell. I merely growled and shook my head as we walked beside the entrance fence of Sweet Apple Acres, glancing over the fields one more time.
The fading light of the coming dusk gave it a rather calming feel, the cool, soft breeze rustling the leaves of the apple orchard and gently brushing our manes. For a moment I felt my anger pass and a peace wash over me before my body screamed in protest once more and reminded me of recent events. A scowl painted my face as I felt my voice rising,
“Not that bad… NOT THAT BAD?! You call spraining my legs and smashing into a pile of apple crates after falling on the treadmill not bad?! Bah, I’d rather starve next time, thank you very much! Thank her grand majesty the Princess for potions…”
I sighed deeply once it was all released, my gaze cast downwards as the anger faded, its void filled with self-pity, “Couldn’t even buck any apples down or catch them in the first place… Told you I was useless…”
“Er, well…” I didn’t need to see my cousin to tell her expression, her hesitance and the coming silence hinting enough at the look of pity she must have had. We walked in silence for a long time, or it seemed to long to me as my mind was lost in its own day dreams.
Eventually the sound of shaking trees began to fade and I looked up briefly to see the road was now cutting through a meadow, fields of flat land stretching before us with the occasional rolling hill. Dusk had come and gone and beautiful night had rolled in, the sky painted with millions of shinning stars of all sizes and the luminescent moon.
A gentle somberness washed over me, yet suddenly I felt a hoof wrap around my shoulders, patting me in a comforting manner. My body winced in another fit of protest but I held back the expected groan and looked up to see Applejack’s warm smile,
“Ah cheer up sugarcube, it was yer first day. Ya didn’t do that bad, honest. I’ve seen worse. Ya just ain’t used to it yet, you’ll get the hang of it in time, I promise. Y’all got Apple family blood in ya.” She broke into a laugh at the last part, although it almost seemed nervous. Likewise something felt off about the foreleg around me, yet I wasn’t certain why.
I frowned lightly and felt a retort beginning to rise, but I bite down on my lip and decided otherwise. It was a nice moment; better to not ruin it with my usual pessimism. Instead, I smiled gently in turn and nodded, “Perhaps, dear cousin, perhaps… Thanks.”
The yellow manned cousin nodded in turn, slipping off her hoof. “No problem hon, now…” A playful grin suddenly broke across her face, “You probably ain’t visited Ponyville yet, have ya?” I nodded, quirking an eyebrow as curiosity arose, “Well, I know just the right place an’ person to put a real smile back on yer face. Ya ever hear of Sugarcube Corner?”
I thought over the location she had just mention, filtering it through any possible memory or mention of it, slowly shaking my head as nothing came to until suddenly it did hit me. A grin of my own broke my face as I fully turned my attention to her, my pain forgotten for just a moment, “Sugarcube Corner? Home of the Element of Laughter herself and some of the best sugary delights in all of Equestria?”
Applejack quirked her brow herself now, not expecting the answer from the looks of it before smiling and nodding her head to confirm. Excitement and newly gained energy surged through me and I threw my hoof into the air, my pace quickening, “Well as you and your country folk usually say my dear cousin: Yee Haw! Let us move along then, ultra sweet delights and fantastical parties await!”
My freckled cousin burst into a laugh, shaking her head in disbelief, “Well I’ll be, looks like some of y’all city folk do have some energy in ya. Some colt’s got a sweet tooth that’s for sure.” I began to prance in my excitement, although quickly regretted such as my body reminded me of its aches and I cursed it in turn, giving in to merely smiling to express my joy.
“Oh it isn’t simply the sweets my dear mare, it is the fact that I shall be meeting the Element of Laughter herself, the most joyous and exciting individual in all of Equestria, neigh the world, itself. That and I shall be meeting an Element of Harmony in general! That is an honour and joy in and of itself. Oh, and as to that first comment, I believe that is only me. There is a reason I escaped here and not to another dull metropolitan expanse.”
I noticed oddly that my cousin had stopped walking at that point, or seemed to slow down, and I had past by her quite a few steps already. I halted and turned around, puzzled, “Something wrong?”
Her reply was a puzzled look of her own, although she seemed to be frowning as well, “Uh… Julius, ya do realize I’m an Element myself, right?”
A chuckle escaped my lips as I waved her off and began walking once more towards the shining lights far ahead up the road that could only be belonging to Ponyville. “My dear Applejack, I assure you, I am quite aware of that. I choose not react to such a highly famed status though, else things would turn… awkward. That and we wouldn’t connect as family members properly should.”
“And how exactly would ya react when ya meet an Element? … Oh no, don’t ya even dare.” I heard the sudden drop in tone and quickened my pace, gulping as a lecture I knew all too well and had been attempting to avoid all day was about to come up.
I felt a sudden, fierce tug on my mane and myself being pulled back, so much that I fell to my flank as I returned to Applejack’s side. I yelped in both protest and pain as my bruises and aching muscles hit the dirt.
When I finally decided to regain my sight I was met with two narrowed, burning green eyes of fury staring me right in the face, a pathetic squeak all I could produce at first as I smiled sheepishly. She replied with a low voice,
“I know what yer thinkin’ and I’m gonna tell ya here and now, and you better listen and listen good. You will not, under any circumstances, attempt to play charming with any of my friends, ya got that?”
She leaned back slowly now, waiting for me to take it in, staring me down all the way. I merely looked back, frozen for a moment before breaking the silence and dusting myself off as a wicked smile painted my face.
“My dear, sweet, cousin Applejack, as much as I feel complimented by your worry in my ability to woo a fair mare, I do believe even you are giving me simply too much credit. What possible chance could a petty colt such as I have of gaining the heart of an Element? In any case, must you be so rough?”
She growled and lifted her hoof. I felt my smug confidence break easily, the fear coming back as I slowly lifted my hooves over my head, afraid she might smack me right there and then. Instead the hoof merely slammed back down where it used to be, kicking up dust,
“Oh don’t ya even dare play the pity card. Ya know damn why, because there ain’t no other way to break it into that thick head of yours! Remember the last time you came here?! Do ya even know how much ya broke my sweet cousin Appletart’s heart? Petty… ya got that right, you haven’t changed a bit.”
I stared at her bewildered at first, still shaken up by the sound of her voice, no response given for the time being. A tired sigh was released and her voice calmed, just slightly,
“I know ya ain’t a bad colt, and ya don’t mean any harm, but ya sure as hay have some fine issues when it comes to the romance department. Some of my friends might not know any better and I damn well know ya can play the cunning weasel when ya want to. Hay, ain’t that why ya here?”
My fear faded slowly as her words began to sink in. I lowered my hoofs then, slowly getting back up on my own as the all too familiar awkward silence came back. The fear was gone, just cold emptiness remained. Memories of my failures and my screw ups came with what she said and it was the last thing I wanted to think about.
I looked around, trying to find a distraction, “Hm… May I ask why we are walking to Ponyville at such a late time? Why are the lights even on? Shouldn’t everpony be sleeping by this hour?”
“Don’t dodge the question.” I sighed and turned my attention back to her, to that pitying gaze.
“Yes, fine. I promise I won’t attempt at another … escapade while I am here.”
“Truly promise?”
“… Truly.” She eyed me, watching my figure, listening to my voice, inspecting before finally nodding in approval.
“Alright, ya promised, remember that. I’m sorry I’m being so rough on you hon, but ya got issues to work out and ya don’t seem to realize it. I’m trying to save ya heart ache as much as my friends. Now… as to why we’re walking when all the roosters are sleepin’?” She turned her gaze away for a moment.
“Well, we were gonna go to one of Pinkie Pie’s parties but... it kinda seems like I ruined the mood, don’t it. It needed to be said though, so I ain’t sorry. It had t’ be said at some point anyway.” We both looked square in the eye then.
I smirked briefly, although it sounded more like a scoff, “Explains why you seemed so hesitant when you greeted me, you must have been holding that in the whole day. Hmph… How is dear Appletart, in any case? I don’t think I saw her in the fields today.”
“Don’t ask questions ya don’t want to know the answers to Julius. Did ya hear nothing I said?” She replied with a scowl.
“Apologies.” I whispered before taking a deep breath, biting back my rising anger and resentment. As much as I wished to believe it, it wasn’t directed at her or her treatment of me, but rather at myself and the truth of her words.
Never again, I swear, never again will I give myself over so blindly to such agony.
I limped slowly down the road, treading carefully, each step taken sending a horrible ache throughout my joints. My dear sweet cousin walked beside me, skipping merely as if the day’s work hadn’t made her break even a slightest bit of sweat, although I wouldn’t doubt it if it truly didn’t. She smiled down at me, although I could see it slowly descending into a worrying frown as I continued my groans and grunts. “Luna make me a cripple now so I may never experience the torment that is an honest day’s work…”
“Oh cheer up, it wasn’t that bad. Don’t ya feel somewhat good for stretching your legs, even a tiny bit?” My cousin beamed, trying to cheer me up, or perhaps attempting to be condescending, I couldn’t tell. I merely growled and shook my head as we walked beside the entrance fence of Sweet Apple Acres, glancing over the fields one more time.
The fading light of the coming dusk gave it a rather calming feel, the cool, soft breeze rustling the leaves of the apple orchard and gently brushing our manes. For a moment I felt my anger pass and a peace wash over me before my body screamed in protest once more and reminded me of recent events. A scowl painted my face as I felt my voice rising,
“Not that bad… NOT THAT BAD?! You call spraining my legs and smashing into a pile of apple crates after falling on the treadmill not bad?! Bah, I’d rather starve next time, thank you very much! Thank her grand majesty the Princess for potions…”
I sighed deeply once it was all released, my gaze cast downwards as the anger faded, its void filled with self-pity, “Couldn’t even buck any apples down or catch them in the first place… Told you I was useless…”
“Er, well…” I didn’t need to see my cousin to tell her expression, her hesitance and the coming silence hinting enough at the look of pity she must have had. We walked in silence for a long time, or it seemed to long to me as my mind was lost in its own day dreams.
Eventually the sound of shaking trees began to fade and I looked up briefly to see the road was now cutting through a meadow, fields of flat land stretching before us with the occasional rolling hill. Dusk had come and gone and beautiful night had rolled in, the sky painted with millions of shinning stars of all sizes and the luminescent moon.
A gentle somberness washed over me, yet suddenly I felt a hoof wrap around my shoulders, patting me in a comforting manner. My body winced in another fit of protest but I held back the expected groan and looked up to see Applejack’s warm smile,
“Ah cheer up sugarcube, it was yer first day. Ya didn’t do that bad, honest. I’ve seen worse. Ya just ain’t used to it yet, you’ll get the hang of it in time, I promise. Y’all got Apple family blood in ya.” She broke into a laugh at the last part, although it almost seemed nervous. Likewise something felt off about the foreleg around me, yet I wasn’t certain why.
I frowned lightly and felt a retort beginning to rise, but I bite down on my lip and decided otherwise. It was a nice moment; better to not ruin it with my usual pessimism. Instead, I smiled gently in turn and nodded, “Perhaps, dear cousin, perhaps… Thanks.”
The yellow manned cousin nodded in turn, slipping off her hoof. “No problem hon, now…” A playful grin suddenly broke across her face, “You probably ain’t visited Ponyville yet, have ya?” I nodded, quirking an eyebrow as curiosity arose, “Well, I know just the right place an’ person to put a real smile back on yer face. Ya ever hear of Sugarcube Corner?”
I thought over the location she had just mention, filtering it through any possible memory or mention of it, slowly shaking my head as nothing came to until suddenly it did hit me. A grin of my own broke my face as I fully turned my attention to her, my pain forgotten for just a moment, “Sugarcube Corner? Home of the Element of Laughter herself and some of the best sugary delights in all of Equestria?”
Applejack quirked her brow herself now, not expecting the answer from the looks of it before smiling and nodding her head to confirm. Excitement and newly gained energy surged through me and I threw my hoof into the air, my pace quickening, “Well as you and your country folk usually say my dear cousin: Yee Haw! Let us move along then, ultra sweet delights and fantastical parties await!”
My freckled cousin burst into a laugh, shaking her head in disbelief, “Well I’ll be, looks like some of y’all city folk do have some energy in ya. Some colt’s got a sweet tooth that’s for sure.” I began to prance in my excitement, although quickly regretted such as my body reminded me of its aches and I cursed it in turn, giving in to merely smiling to express my joy.
“Oh it isn’t simply the sweets my dear mare, it is the fact that I shall be meeting the Element of Laughter herself, the most joyous and exciting individual in all of Equestria, neigh the world, itself. That and I shall be meeting an Element of Harmony in general! That is an honour and joy in and of itself. Oh, and as to that first comment, I believe that is only me. There is a reason I escaped here and not to another dull metropolitan expanse.”
I noticed oddly that my cousin had stopped walking at that point, or seemed to slow down, and I had past by her quite a few steps already. I halted and turned around, puzzled, “Something wrong?”
Her reply was a puzzled look of her own, although she seemed to be frowning as well, “Uh… Julius, ya do realize I’m an Element myself, right?”
A chuckle escaped my lips as I waved her off and began walking once more towards the shining lights far ahead up the road that could only be belonging to Ponyville. “My dear Applejack, I assure you, I am quite aware of that. I choose not react to such a highly famed status though, else things would turn… awkward. That and we wouldn’t connect as family members properly should.”
“And how exactly would ya react when ya meet an Element? … Oh no, don’t ya even dare.” I heard the sudden drop in tone and quickened my pace, gulping as a lecture I knew all too well and had been attempting to avoid all day was about to come up.
I felt a sudden, fierce tug on my mane and myself being pulled back, so much that I fell to my flank as I returned to Applejack’s side. I yelped in both protest and pain as my bruises and aching muscles hit the dirt.
When I finally decided to regain my sight I was met with two narrowed, burning green eyes of fury staring me right in the face, a pathetic squeak all I could produce at first as I smiled sheepishly. She replied with a low voice,
“I know what yer thinkin’ and I’m gonna tell ya here and now, and you better listen and listen good. You will not, under any circumstances, attempt to play charming with any of my friends, ya got that?”
She leaned back slowly now, waiting for me to take it in, staring me down all the way. I merely looked back, frozen for a moment before breaking the silence and dusting myself off as a wicked smile painted my face.
“My dear, sweet, cousin Applejack, as much as I feel complimented by your worry in my ability to woo a fair mare, I do believe even you are giving me simply too much credit. What possible chance could a petty colt such as I have of gaining the heart of an Element? In any case, must you be so rough?”
She growled and lifted her hoof. I felt my smug confidence break easily, the fear coming back as I slowly lifted my hooves over my head, afraid she might smack me right there and then. Instead the hoof merely slammed back down where it used to be, kicking up dust,
“Oh don’t ya even dare play the pity card. Ya know damn why, because there ain’t no other way to break it into that thick head of yours! Remember the last time you came here?! Do ya even know how much ya broke my sweet cousin Appletart’s heart? Petty… ya got that right, you haven’t changed a bit.”
I stared at her bewildered at first, still shaken up by the sound of her voice, no response given for the time being. A tired sigh was released and her voice calmed, just slightly,
“I know ya ain’t a bad colt, and ya don’t mean any harm, but ya sure as hay have some fine issues when it comes to the romance department. Some of my friends might not know any better and I damn well know ya can play the cunning weasel when ya want to. Hay, ain’t that why ya here?”
My fear faded slowly as her words began to sink in. I lowered my hoofs then, slowly getting back up on my own as the all too familiar awkward silence came back. The fear was gone, just cold emptiness remained. Memories of my failures and my screw ups came with what she said and it was the last thing I wanted to think about.
I looked around, trying to find a distraction, “Hm… May I ask why we are walking to Ponyville at such a late time? Why are the lights even on? Shouldn’t everpony be sleeping by this hour?”
“Don’t dodge the question.” I sighed and turned my attention back to her, to that pitying gaze.
“Yes, fine. I promise I won’t attempt at another … escapade while I am here.”
“Truly promise?”
“… Truly.” She eyed me, watching my figure, listening to my voice, inspecting before finally nodding in approval.
“Alright, ya promised, remember that. I’m sorry I’m being so rough on you hon, but ya got issues to work out and ya don’t seem to realize it. I’m trying to save ya heart ache as much as my friends. Now… as to why we’re walking when all the roosters are sleepin’?” She turned her gaze away for a moment.
“Well, we were gonna go to one of Pinkie Pie’s parties but... it kinda seems like I ruined the mood, don’t it. It needed to be said though, so I ain’t sorry. It had t’ be said at some point anyway.” We both looked square in the eye then.
I smirked briefly, although it sounded more like a scoff, “Explains why you seemed so hesitant when you greeted me, you must have been holding that in the whole day. Hmph… How is dear Appletart, in any case? I don’t think I saw her in the fields today.”
“Don’t ask questions ya don’t want to know the answers to Julius. Did ya hear nothing I said?” She replied with a scowl.
“Apologies.” I whispered before taking a deep breath, biting back my rising anger and resentment. As much as I wished to believe it, it wasn’t directed at her or her treatment of me, but rather at myself and the truth of her words.
I counted in my head for a quick
moment as the anger dulled and then turned the opposite direction, back to the
orchard, “Well, it seems you were right. Go on, head on to your incredible
party where your dear friends are waiting. I won’t ruin the evening by bringing
the tension between us.”
I could already hear the regret in
her voice. Hear her about to reassure and attempt to tell me otherwise, attempt
to salvage the moment. I quickly interjected, “Do not protest. I am fine I
assure you, I wish for time alone to think. The rest would do me good anyways,
what with the aches and all as you can perfectly see. Hardly in any state for a
party.”
“… Sorry sugarcube.” I paused and
listened to the familiar beat of her hooves as she continued ahead, wishing to
wait until the sound faded and I was alone. Yet they stopped suddenly, hardly
far off, and I heard my cousin’s voice suddenly rise in surprise. A pleasant
surprise it seemed, “Twi? Is that you? Whatcha doin’ out here in the dark?”
I leaned my head back, trying to
listen in, to make out the sound of the second individual. I heard a soft
giggle as the response, the voice oddly familiar. “I was just about to ask you
the same thing! You weren’t at the party so I went out looking for you. Is
everything okay?”
“Out looking for me… Wait a darn
minute, y’all know about the party?!... Wait another darn minute, what do ya
mean I wasn’t there?! It’s already started?! It doesn’t start till two hours
past dusk!”
An amused tone crept in, the
second mare chuckling briefly “It is two hours past dusk Applejack. I’m
guessing you lost track of time?”
“Er… yea, somethin’ like that…Oh
I’m real sorry Twi, you know I wouldn’t miss a gatherin’, especially yer
leavin’ party. I wouldn’t miss sayin’ goodbye to my best friend.”
“It’s okay; I know you’ve got your
hooves full with cider season so I understand perfectly, nothing to worry
about. The party’s barely started anyways, we can still make it. And hey, don’t
make a big deal out of it, I’m only gone for a week or two at worst, I won’t be
away for long.”
“Why did ya go lookin’ for me
anyway, by yerself especially? It’s yer party! What, was that lazy good for
nothing pegasus not available?”
“Actually, I volunteered to go out
by myself. I’ve been cooked up in my library for the past couple of days if you
hadn’t noticed. Some fresh air would be nice. That and I-“
“An’ that’s another thing, why are
yer eyes all green and glowly like a giant firefly?”
“I was just about to…”
Twi?
…
Twi.
Twilight.
Twilight Alexandria
I decided I had gained enough
proof. There was no doubt about it. The pattern and tone of speech, Applejack’s
nickname for the mare, the mention of her
library; it had to be her. Suddenly I did not remember my aches, my
bruises, anything that happened in the last few hours. All the horrible pain
and toil, the shouting, the awkward silences, all gone as a vibrant energy
washed over me, a bursting excitement equivalent to a child on their birthday,
perhaps more.
I turned sharply, sprinting back
towards my dear, but quite the nagging, cousin and this new source of vocals,
whom I hoped was truly who I thought it was.
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