Alone, not Lonely

Chapter 4

“What the hay was THAT?” The stallion was completely speechless at the display of speed and utter randomness to say anything more.

“That was Pinkie Pie, she is one of my close friends that I planned on introducing you to. She is probably planning you a welcome party to ponyville. It’ll be fun, trust me.” The mare giggled softly. She had hoped avoiding this encounter, but everything went better than expected. She was not sure whether Ash would decide to stay in Ponyville, but just in case he didn’t at least he would have a chance to attend one of Pinkie’s parties.

“I…I’m…Wait. You were going to introduce me to that crazy mare? Are you out of your mind?” Few were the times Ash had ever been so shocked that it would drive him to stutter like a foal, but something started moving inside his brain. Twilight had mentioned 4 more friends, so Rarity, Pinkie Pie and 3 more. Moments ago nothing would have pleased him more than hear Twilight say he was free to go. Although after meeting Pinkie he wasn’t so sure anymore. Sure, it was a small group, so meeting them couldn’t be too troublesome. Still, what drove his curiosity was how much the three friends seemed so different and incompatible.

“Yes, and I’m still going to. However we’ll have to leave that for last now, as I’m sure there will be a party in your honor this night. She might seem weird, but nobody parties like Pinkie Pie. The next pony I want you to meet is Applejack. She’s no Rarity, but I think you’ll get along nicely.”I hope. Twilight could have introduced Ash to Fluttershy first, since she had resembled the fashionista the most, but since he had already seen Pinkie Pie… Besides, now she wanted to know how he would react to Applejack.

When they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres Applejack was surprisingly not working, taking a short break, chatting casually with her younger sister. As soon as they spotted their guests the apple sisters walked towards the couple.

“Hi Applejack. This is Ash Cloud, a friend of mine.”

Ash was surprised to see Twilight address him as a friend, but it seemed the word was used so commonly it hardly mattered.

“A pleasure meeting ya. I’m Applejack, and this is my young sis, Apple Bloom.” She said, while shaking the Stallion’s hooves with a strength he couldn’t help but admire.

Taking a moment to gaze at the orchard, Ash knew that while probably very distinct from Rarity, Applejack too was a hard-working mare, something that he could respect.

“The pleasure is mine, Miss Applejack.” He knew that the farmer wouldn’t approve of being addressed as such, but manners were something that had always given him the upper hand when talking to mares.

“Just Applejack is fine. We at Sweet Apple Acres like to keep things informal. You’ll never taste better apples, though. Care for some?” She now had an apple in her hoof, handing it to Ash.

Tasting it, Ash was more worried about facing this new challenge. But as he swallowed it, a silly yet potent idea came to mind. Perhaps he could drop his shields and just have fun without pondering the results of his actions, being honest and carefree, for once. It was something he had never tried, and it was sure to make him get along with Applejack. Plus it would make Twilight happy.

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Apple Bloom saw her opportunity and silently retreated. She had been waiting for something like this to happen, so that she could meet the other cutie mark crusaders. She knew there would be consequences for not completing her morning chores, but she was glad to face them later rather than sooner.

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Twilight only now realized she hadn’t formulated a plan. She had no idea of what could be made in order to stay a bit longer, before Applejack had to start working again. She saw her chance to speak, dreading the idea of awkward silence. After all, she wanted Ash to meet Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash before Pinkie’s party.

“Actually Applejack, Ash is currently travelling, and he could use some extra bits. Perhaps he could help a bit at the farm. Besides, I just remembered I have something I have to do right now. I’ll pick you up in an hour.” With that she teleported, leaving the two ponies alone. It wasn’t the best plan in the world. She had just left Ash completely alone with Applejack. The only thing the unicorn could do now was stay at the library. She was sure Ash Cloud wouldn’t leave Ponyville without his beloved cloak.

The stallion’s jaw dropped. He couldn’t believe the nerve, the audacity of abandoning him. Not to mention if he wanted to get to know one of Twilight’s close friends a bit more he would have to work for it, a bit too literally for his taste. Nonetheless, it was true that he could use some extra bits. He should have taken more from his father’s house before leaving. At this point Applejack was looking around, as if she had lost something.

“Well, since Apple Bloom’s missing, I guess I do have some chores for you. Nothing fancy though.” She didn’t usually employ ponies, especially pegasus, since their build tended to be less strong and robust compared to earth ponies. At least unicorns could pick up apples easily, using magic.

“Thanks a bunch, I won’t let you down. Just tell me what I have to do.” The pegasus tried his best to come across as informal, allowing Applejack to be more at ease.

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For almost an hour the ponies worked their hardest, but for someone who had never worked in a farm Cloud wasn’t doing such a bad job. He was motivated, as he discovered doing something as foreign as doing manual labor was actually fulfilling. At first he had dismissed Applejack as a simpleminded farmer, but now he saw it wasn’t so. They hardly spoke, but the skill she displayed while doing her chores had some kind of poetry in itself. Her abilities with the lasso, the powerful blows that accurately made the apples fall to the wooden baskets, was something that could never be substituted by the knowledge of mathematical principles. He had searched for meaning and truth in books, stars and the complexity of life itself, but it had never occurred to him that answers could be attained in a struggle for survival. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that just a bad crop could leave the entire Apple family starving for an entire year. He felt bad for judging the young farmer mare, and wanted to make it up to her, even though she had no knowledge of his thoughts.

As soon as he finished his chores, he approached Applejack, who was bucking a tree. He wondered how to start a conversation. Wanting to know more about the mare, perhaps he could find what she had that he lacked. He had always lacked something important, but knew not what. Friends, love, purpose. Most ponies considered these things important, but he had never experienced them. Unfortunately they are not things one can find in books. Even love, something that his father had deprived him of. His mother died when he was very young, so he had no recollections of her. But something must have been wrong with her, in order to have married his father. He shook these thoughts from his head. Reliving the past time after time had never done him any good and certainly wouldn’t now.

“So, is Apple Bloom your sister?” He was almost sure of the answer, but making small talk was something he had never attempted before, but avoided many times.

“Yeah, she’s a handful, that one. Sometimes Ah kinda wish she were a colt, just so Big Macintosh would be the one to have to take care of her. Big Macintosh is mah big brother. He’s not much fun, but works well I suppose.”

“Consider yourself lucky. I never had any siblings, so my colthood was kind of lonely.” He laughed lightly, for the first time since he arrived in Ponyville. He had shared something about himself to a pony he hardly knew, and had done so willingly. Twilight would be proud. Perhaps he could change, and be happy in a place where he would be accepted by everypony. Such a paradise was something he never had hoped to find.

“Well, shoot. That’s mighty unlucky. Don’t worry, I’ll lend you mah sis whenever ya like.” Applejack joked, without stopping working. “I can see Twilight, must be here to pick you up. Here’s 10 bits for your work. And since you worked so hard, I’ll treat you and Twi to lunch.”

Twilight could hardly believe her eyes. She had just seen Ash laugh. It was even more shocking than when she had made him lose his cool. Perhaps coming to Applejack so soon hadn’t been such a bad idea after all.  

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Lunch at Sweet Apple Acres was delicious as always, Ash going out of his way to compliment every dish he tasted. Twilight had no idea why the sudden change in behavior, but somehow Applejack had managed a feat of magic even the most powerful magician in Ponyville couldn’t have ever hoped to achieve. Alas, the time for food and laugher must always come to an end. Soon Applejack would have to get back to work, and even though the farmer had tried to convince Ash to work some more, Twilight insisted they must leave. After all, they still had a couple of friends to visit. But before that a certain grey pegasus needed a bath.