First Friends

Applejack sighed.

It had been a few weeks since her return from Manehattan, and while she had been excited to be home, and to have her new cutie mark, she was having trouble readjusting to school. While it was true she never truly caught on to the sophisticated ways of Manehattan, she had forgotten how to simply relax around others and ‘make friends’, this fact made only harder by dirty rumors thrown about that she was some hoity toity pony pretending to be a bumpkin to get attention, but her strange mannerisms weren’t her fault, the entire situation just felt... ‘funny’. It was as if everything was against her, having her relearn how to live and act not once, but twice, and having everypony look down on her while she struggled to catch up.

Everything just felt ‘funny’, like she was trying to learn how to swim in jello.

Today was a party of some kind at school. Something about the Friday before break, which didn’t make sense seeing how it was two weeks away. Everypony acted like this oversight was normal, which confused Applejack, something about a party pony who came into town and had begun making every excuse possible to throw a party whenever one could be thrown.

It wasn’t doing anything to help her feel better. While the room was filled with balloons, streamers, punch, snacks, and music, nopony would acknowledge AJ. She sat at her desk, pushed into the corner to be ‘out of the way’, while she stared towards the commotion with glazed over eyes.

‘’t just ain’t fair...nopony likes me and Ah didn’t do nuthin’ worth deservin’ this.’

Applejack laid her head down on her desk and began the painful task of holding back tears of loneliness.

“Excuse me? Are you Ok?” came a voice.

Not looking up Applejack mumbled.

“What was that?”

The farmer filly raised her head to see a pink pony with a puffy mane staring at her with sympathetic blue eyes. “Ah said Ah’m fine.” Applejack said unconvincingly.

“Then why are you staying over here in the ‘non-party’ zone silly!” the strange filly said in an overly upbeat tone.

“Nopony likes me..” Applejack said, lowering her head back onto the desk.

Pinkie wouldn’t have this, “Now why would you think that silly filly! You-”

“Because Ah’m different! Ah’m not even FROM Manehattan and everyone treats me different because Ah lived there fer a while...” her head haphazardly fell back to its new home on the desk. “Everypony says Ah’m weird and different and don’t want nuthin’ to do with me.”

Pinkie flinched as she heard this, but knew just what the filly before her was going through.

Pinkie moved next to Applejack’s desk and put a hoof on her shoulder as she spoke, “You aren’t the only one who went through something like this. I grew up on a rock farm far from here. When I came here nopony knew me, and it didn’t seem like anypony WANTED to know me.”

Applejack’s ear flicked as she listened, raising her head to look to the pony beside her.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do. I had a home with the Cakes, but I needed a reason to be here. I knew I wanted to spread laughter, but I couldn’t do that if nopony would be my friend...”

Applejack could see the tears in the pink filly’s eyes. The filly turned away for a moment to wipe her eyes before continuing.

“So I went out with the plan to throw a party and make my first friends! That’s how the school had it’s first party come to think of it...” Pinkie put a hoof to her chin for a moment before snapping out of the thought and finishing her talk.

“Different isn’t always bad! It isn’t even ‘mostly’ bad! All you need is a friend to help you get through this. How’s this! I’ll help you get used to school, and parties, and cake, and balloons, and be your friend if you’ll be mine?!”

Pinkie was surprised as the earth pony pulled her into a hug and began thanking her as many times as she could.

“So is that a yes?”

*THUD*

Applejack began rubbing the back of her head having fallen out of bed. This wasn’t the first time that dream lead to such a rude awakening. It was a great memory but lately the dream had begun playing itself a bit too often, not that she was confused for the reason. The dream just replayed again and again, mocking her for not following her feelings.

The strong mare let out a sigh, “But why can’t-

~~~~

-you be mine?” Applejack thought as she stood next to the punchbowl.

It was a party for Ditzy, something about a birthday, or maybe Pinkie had said it was about a delivery? AJ couldn’t be sure.

She sighed again, ‘Because you can’t get yerself to buck up and ask her you dolt!’ her mind chided. Applejack couldn’t remember how many times she had told herself ‘this isn’t the time’. If there was one thing she seemed to be stubborn about, it was finding the ‘perfect’ time to tell somepony something, and a whisper at a party? That just isn’t the right time. Late in the day while covered in mud from your day’s work? Awful timing. While out with your other friends? Quite possibly the worst timing if Pinkie were to reject her.

But when was the right time? Part of her just told Applejack to just say it, forget the timing, but she was tied to her values and timing was one of em... or was it bein’ stubborn?

“Hey Jackie! Enjoying the party?” the now hyped up on the sweets of her own creation party pony asked with a genuine smile.

“Huh? Oh Pinkie Pah, of course. Just lost in thought is all.” she said, giving a mock chuckle to try and make it believable. It was half true after all, ‘Makes it easier to lie’ she thought solemnly.

Pinkie didn’t seem convinced, giving AJ a worried glance before slowly saying “Okie dokey lokey...” and bouncing off to make sure the party kept its momentum.

Applejack sighed as the pony finally disappeared into the crowd. ‘It’s no mystery why Ah love ‘er Ah s’pose....’

With another sigh she couldn’t help but reflect over how much she enjoyed Pinkie being Pinkie. Her seemingly impossible amount of energy, her drive to spread joy to everypony, the way she could make the most exhausting, draining, downright awful day and make it a good one through something as simple as a party or colorful conversation. Applejack couldn’t count how many times she had been surprised half to death after a hard day by the party pony, only for the pony to work her magic and find a way to get AJ to laugh. Truly laugh. Despite how exhausted she might have felt.

The way she was so impossible to get to act serious, how the most dangerous of occurrences was simply laughed at as if it was all a huge joke. How insatiable her thirst for parties seemed. How random the party pony was in everything she did, or how absurd her solutions always seemed to be. How easily she could be hurt by something as simple as turning down an invitation or throwing a surprised party for her....

How she had even found a way to make her laugh when she found herself dwelling on Granny Smith’s passing...

Everything that made Pinkie who she was, everything that could illicit a response of anger, joy, confusion, sorrow, or downright anything from Applejack, it all seemed too perfect to want to change. Everything that made Pinkie, Pinkie just made her want to be closer to the mare even more so.

~~~~

Applejack took a final drink of her punch before tossing the plastic cup towards the trash can. The party was over and her friends were finally gathering to say their farewells before heading out.

The farm pony watched as the majority left and made her way to the door where Pinkie Pie was standing, waiting to see her out.

“Oh it was a marvelous time, Pinkie Pie. I simply can’t wait for the next party!” Rarity said as she made her way out. Applejack was the last to leave.

“Thanks girls!” Pinkie yelled out as she turned to her last guest.

“Yeah, thanks Pinkie Pah, ‘t was a great party!” she mustered up as she tried to make her way to the exit.

“Wait! Jackie, stay just a moment. I know something is bothering you, ‘Pinkie Pie always knows when something is bothering her friends.’” she stated as a fact.

“Well.. uhh.. ya see” she began, digging for something to say.

“It’s work. Yeah, work, Ah’ve been stressin’ over the... uhh.. apples and it’s been mighty tirin’ and....” Applejack trailed off, turning to look at the floor, she never was one for lying.

Pinkie took this reaction as a call for help and couldn't help but look at her friend with concern. "Why don't I help you out then? I can help you with stress!" she said, lightening up almost immediately as she offered to help.

"What'll you do, throw a party?"

The moment the words left AJ's mouth she felt a pain in her chest, she hadn't meant to sound so harsh to the mare she cared for.

Pinkie's mane seemed less poofy as her gaze fell to the floor Applejack had just been staring at.

"Ah-Ah didn't mean that Pinkie, Ahm, jus', ya know, stressed..."

Pulling the party pony into a one hoofed hug she continued, "Ah'll take whatever help yer willin' ta offer." she said quietly.

Pinkie blushed at the position she found herself in, but, luckily, Applejack didn't notice through her mane.

"Really?" she asked.

"Sure thing, Sugarcube."

Pinkie reluctantly pulled herself out of the hug as excited as her normal self, "Well alright then! Come back here tomorrow after you finish working! I'll have a super special Pinkie surprise to help you relax!" she said, practically bouncing in place.

AJ gave a small smile as she took her leave. She felt nervous, but couldn't help but be excited for the next day, if only because she’d have a chance to spend time with Pinkie.

'Ah have another chance to tell 'er!

Oh but now she'll know Ah lied... and she might be hurt... that'll jus' make the rejection worse....' she thought with a sigh as she exited the party Pony’s residence.

‘But.. Ah have a chance right?’ her mind threw in.

The rest of her walk home was spent lost in thought of how to either get out of this, or whether she even wanted to get out of this ‘opportunity’, she couldn’t help but feel her lie would ruin any attempt to open up, but the lighter toned ‘what ifs’ kept creeping back into her mind as the party pony consumed her thoughts.

Pinkie waved goodbye to her friend and shut the door before rushing to her room to think. She needed to come up with a way to help Applejack, and maybe find a way to show her true feelings.

~~~~

Applejack bucked her final tree with a satisfying *THUD*.

‘That makes em all fer today.’ she thought as she grinned to the relatively cleared orchard before her.

‘Now to jus’ take these apples inside and... go see Pinkie Pah..’ her satisfaction with her day’s work turned to nervousness as she thought of the task before her.

‘Maybe Ah can jus’ say I forgot? No... she seemed excited for a chance to help me. Why can’t she see she’s helped me more than anypony else could ever hope to!’ she groaned in mock anger. The pony who helped her adjust to life in Ponyville, the pony who became her only friend when they were younger, just would not stop helping her. It was kind of her, but it didn’t help the butterflies in the farm pony’s stomach any, every act of kindness just reminded her of her feelings and made her wish even more so that she could work up the nerve to tell her of her feelings.

‘Ah told her Ah’d be there. I might not have promised but what Ah said was close enough. Besides, even if Ah can’t tell ‘er, there’s no way I’d ruin her mood again by rejectin’ her offer.’ she thought, nodding to confirm her decision.

With that the earth pony loaded her apples into the barn and began her walk to town.

~~~~

It was beginning to get late in the day by the time AJ reached Sugarcube Corner.

Applejack looked towards the horizon to the nearly setting sun, ‘Any moment now it’ll be sunset, hope Pinkie isn’t upset Ah’m a bit late in finishin’ my work.’

Applejack reached toward the door and found herself jump a little as it swung open.

“Jackie! I was worried you might not be coming, but then my leg itched and I just KNEW you were at the door! I would have been so super duper sad if I didn’t get the chance to help you relax, or if I never got this chance to tell you-...” Pinkie cut herself off mid sentence, blushing as she realized what she was about to reveal, but AJ didn’t notice through her relief over not worrying the mare too much.

“Wouldn’t miss it fer the world, Pinkie Pah.” the working pony said. Pinkie’s blush deepened at this to match her pink coat as Applejack entered the establishment.

“So whatdya think of to help calm my, err, work stress?” she asked, almost forgetting the ‘reason’ she was there.

“I figured it might help to talk it over with tea.” Pinkie said plainly as she approached the counter.

‘That doesn’t sound very Pinkie Pah?’ AJ thought, growing nervous about where this chat might lead her.

“Talking things out with a good friend can help you put it at ease, whenever I feel down I always find comfort in knowing I can talk about it with somepony.” the party pony continued with a serious look in her eye as she motioned for AJ to follow.

Applejack gulped quietly as she thought of what this might cause. She feared the talk would reveal her secret... but was that such a bad thing? Realizing Pinkie’s prolonged stare she decided she didn’t have a choice in the matter and cleared her throat as she approached the counter.

“Well alright Pinkie Pah, let’s give it a shot.” she said, mouth betraying her wishes to run right then and there.

~~~~

Applejack took a sip from her cup as the mare she admired poured herself a cup.

The tea was extremely sweet, now that she expected from Pinkie Pie.

“So what’s been stressing you out about work, Jackie?” Pinkie asked with a concerned look in her eyes as she added more sugar to the already sweet cup.

“Well... uhh, the apples....” AJ mumbled into her cup.

Pinkie’s apparent concern seemed to grow, “It isn’t about work is it? Please Jackie, you can tell me anything! What’s bothering you?”

AJ’s mind rushed for another lie to say but it began to run in circles over apples and foalhood memories. She found herself shaking slightly and placed her cup on the counter to avoid spilling.

“Please Jackie?”

"Ah.. Ah can't tell ya, Ah'm not losing a dear friend over triv'al things." she said quietly.

“But Jackie, you promised to let me help... and... and breaking a promise is the number one most quickest way to lose a friend forever!” she said, sounding a bit hurt by Applejack’s lack of cooperation.

“Ah... uh...”

“Jackie....forever...” the pink pony murmured as she looked down to the counter.

The farm pony’s mind gave up, she couldn’t take losing her friend, but if not telling would do the same thing and make the mare she cared for look so downtrodden then she wasn’t going to hold the truth back any longer.

“YOU! You’re what’s been stressin’ me out!” she burst, instantly clopping her hooves to her muzzle as she realized how it sounded.

Pinkie dropped her cup, spilling the contents all over the counter, but refusing to break.

“Oh...” she murmured as tears grew in her eyes.

“No! Not like ‘at, don’ cry Pinkie. Ah... Ah...”

“Hate me... You can’t stand how I am...” the party pony said as she closed her eyes to squeeze the tears back in place. She began to rise out of her chair.

“No, jus’ listen Pinkie,” Applejack sounded desperate as she pulled the pink pony back to the counter. Regaining her composure a bit as she held the pony in place, she began to talk as dryly and monotone as she could, trying her hardest to tear the emotion from her speech in the hopes of not scaring away her oldest friend, “Ah love how you are, it’s the main reason Ah... Ah love you, Pinkie Pah.” It fell silent for a moment as Applejack tightened her grip on the pony’s hoof in fear she might attempt to get up again.

Pinkie’s eyes went wide having heard this, it felt as if her deflated heart was filling with balloons as her mind began to process what was said. She tried to talk but found her now inflated heart forming a lump in her throat.

Applejack took this as a sign of terror from the mare as she stared into the frozen in place eyes of the pink mare. “Ah’m sorry Pinkie, Ah don’t mean ta scare ya away with my silly emotions... Ah’d be mighty thankful if you’d still be mah friend...” she said sheepishly.

Pinkie’s mouth fell open as she tried to talk again, words failing her again she decided to rely on action as she pounced the work pony off her chair and onto the floor locking her into a deep kiss.

When the energetic pink mare finally released the kiss she found Applejack gasping for air and took the opportunity to finally tell of her feelings, having found her voice again “Oh Jackie! You’ve made me so happy! I was worried you wouldn’t like me if I told you how I felt, I was so worried you didn’t like me anyway, seeing how different we are...” blushing she continued, “But I’ve felt for you since I met you at the school party! You were so nice and became my first friend that day...” tears of joy fell from the party pony and landed on AJ’s smiling face as it took a turn to confusion.

“Ah was your first friend?”

Pinkie fell back onto the mare, pulling her into a hug as she softly cried in joy, “Yes Jackie....My parties made me popular, but nopony wanted to get to know the real me, nopony would be my real friend. They all thought I was too hyper, or weird, or crazy and only liked me for my parties.” Her tears were beginning to soak through Applejack’s blonde mane and into her coat. “You... you were willing to hang around me even without a party. You would play with me during recess, and came over to talk instead of just asking when my next party would be... You...you became my first real friend that day, and helped me get used to being here... I would have been helpless and lonely if it wasn’t for you...”

AJ tightened her grip on the mare who had helped her so much, and felt the joy of a million laughs as she realized how much she had helped her without knowing it. “You did the same fer me...” The question she constantly batted out of her head reemerged yet again.

“Would ya be mine, Pinkie Pah? Would ya be mah marefriend?” she couldn’t help but blush at the sound of the word.

Pinkie let out a giggle, “Of course silly.” she whispered as she fought a hoof around AJ’s back to wipe her own tears away.

AJ returned the light laugh as she continued, “Now you’ve made me the happiest pony again. Not only do Ah have the best friend anypony could ask for, Ah’ve the best marefriend ever.”

“Jackie?” Pinkie Pie whispered into Applejack’s mane.

“What, sugarcube?”

“We should throw a party...”

Applejack couldn’t help but giggle to the suggestion, “What ‘ave Ah gotten mahself into?” she said playfully.