Midnight Memories
Twilight was really confused.
Usually Applejack was mostly caught up in her work, especially around now as it was Apple Bucking Season. But lately, it seemed as if it was just the opposite. AJ seemed to be asking for her company more than ever, with Twilight spending more time at Sweet Apple Acres than she was at her own library!
At first Twilight took it as mere kindness, but the more it went on, the more curious she got. She wouldn't have minded it in the least if these invitations were for their entire group of friends, but it seemed as if Twilight was the center of her attention—sometimes the only other person at these gatherings. That strangely got Twilight curious, but even more strangely, she kind of liked it.
"I don't know, Spike," she began one late night, just returning again from Sweet Apple Acres once more "it's just kind of nice. Back home I didn't have a lot of friends, since I was mostly wrapped up in my studies. But lately, AJ has been spending a lot more time with me, and it feels like I have a sister in her."
Spike yawned before lying down on his bed below his friend's. "That makes sense. You know," he started, "you've been a lot happier since. She helps you wind down and not be so… tense."
Twilight recoiled slightly, looking down at her assistant, "I was not tense! I was just focused," she retorted.
Spike snorted in his small bed. "Whatever you say, Twilight."
With that, the small dragon rolled over, leaving Twilight to mull over the day in her mind. She really did like having Applejack invite her around, so much. But was Spike right? Was Applejack really changing her? Twilight knew that Applejack was helping her loose up a little, but was that really a good thing? She had a lot of work to do, especially now that she was a princess, and the distractions, while welcome, wouldn't exactly help her down that bumpy road.
She frowned at that thought, her mind instantly traveling to the worst possible circumstance: what if Applejack's interference put her behind? What if it caused her to forget to do something? She couldn't afford that! Could you imagine what would happen if Celestia found out her friendship got in the way of her duties as the princess of friendship? What would she think?
Twilight didn't plan on finding out. She would just have to… frowning, she thought of her possible courses of action. She would just have to—what? Tell Applejack to quit inviting over so much? Or perhaps just not accept as many of these invitations? She didn't really have a clue. "…Spike? Are you awake?" The words were out of her mouth before she could even comprehend what she was doing. She waited a moment, but the little dragon remained silent. She gave up hope that he would answer before rolling over, her back against her friend and her face peering out of the window, gazing up at the Equestrian skies.
She had just closed her eyes when she felt two small claws begin to tug on her blankets. It was only a few seconds later that she felt a small body snuggle up to her back, and felt the soft cycle of breathing behind her. She rolled over to see Spike staring at her, his large eyes reflecting the moonlight. "What's wrong, Twi? Something's really bugging you, isn't it?"
"I guess you could say that," she answered, the frown still etched on her face. "I just don't know what to do."
She felt Spike place his claws on her, peering over into her face. "You mean about Applejack?"
A nod was her only answer.
He tilted his head, thoroughly confused. "What's the big deal? You were happy about it just two minutes ago."
"I know that I just said that I liked being around Applejack so much, but I'm just kind of worried. I've gotten behind in my preparations of the castle, and I haven't even begun to practice the spells written in StarSwirl the Bearded's journal. I have more work than ever before. I can't afford to just stop, so often. I'm starting to get behind in everything, and a large part of that is because I've been busy with AJ."
Spike thought a moment before continuing: "Well before you go making a decision, did you think about why she keeps wanting you around?" he asked, flipping around and collapsing, leaning his head back against his friend. "She could be going through a rough time, and you could be really helping her out. Or maybe she just needs a good friend, right now. She has been pretty busy lately."
"You're right!" Twilight exclaimed, fully sitting up in her bed. "Applejack wouldn't be doing this if she didn't need me for some reason. I'll just have to find out what's the matter, and try to help her. Once I do that, both of our problems will be solved! Thank you, Spike," she said, picking up the dragon with her hoofs for a hug.
The dragon wriggled out of the embrace, dropping onto the bed below. "No problem, Twilight. Now get some sleep… or at least let me get some."
She let out a soft giggle before answering: "Goodnight, Spike."
Despite Spike's instructions, Twilight couldn't sleep. Tossing and turning, lying on the bed, staring up at the living ceiling of her treehouse, she thought for hours. Every so often, she would glance out of the window, watching the moon's path through the Equestrian stars. Although Twilight was almost positive that she had planned out everything in her mind about solving her friend's problem, it was that very subject that she couldn't get her mind off of.
In the end, she rolled out of bed about an hour before Celestia raised the sun. She had, if she were lucky, a few hours of sleep under her belt, but she wasn't exactly in the mood to keep fighting for any more. In a lack for any other ideas, she knew that Applejack would already be up, the country pony used to this unholy hour. If Twilight began to get cleaned up, she could be at Sweet Apple Acres just at sunrise.
Twilight was well on her way to Sweet Apple Acres when the sun first peaked over the eastern mountains. The walk wasn't too terribly far, but Twilight wasn't exactly eager to hurry on her way there at this early hour, either. She took her time, letting her thoughts drift: "I wonder what could be the matter with AJ? She seemed fine, a couple of weeks ago…" she thought to herself, taking an extra-large step to avoid a puddle made from the late night storm she had weathered. "Maybe Big Macintosh had to go out of town for something, or maybe Granny Smith had to visit somepony in Manehatten, again?" she thought to herself.
No matter what her suspicions were, however, she would find out soon enough, as the farm was just over the next hill. Twilight paced herself, not quite sure of what Applejack would make of her early morning visit. But when she peaked the ridge, she felt a little lost: Applejack, Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, and even Applebloom were all gathered in front of the barn, nestled on the dirt, having a nice, quiet picnicked breakfast.
"Well they don't seem to be having any problems…" Twilight thought, her confidence wavering. She fought with herself, wondering if she should press on, and at least talk to Applejack, or if she should just come back later, not wanting to interrupt their family get-together. "Well howdy, Twilight! What brings you here?" The peppy voice of Applejack's sister brought Twilight's struggle to an end, as Applebloom called to her. "C'mon over! We're just havin' breakfast!"
Twilight slowly approached, her face blushed with embarrassment. "Oh, no that's fine. I didn't realize you were having a meal. I can come back later when you're not so busy."
"Oh don't be silly, dear! You just sit on down, y'hear? Applejack here made enough for all 'o us, ain't that right, Big Mac?"
The stallion let out a hearty "Eeeyup".
Applejack flashed an apologetic smile at her friend, her own face taking on an embarrassed smile. A quiet moment passed, with all five ponies not quite sure of what to say to one another. "Well—ah—Twilight, didja need somethin'? You usually aren't this far outta Ponyville this early in the mornin'," Applejack started, taking a hoof and rubbing her head, just below her cowgirl hat.
The young princess' mind suddenly went blank. She didn't have an answer, and she certainly was not prepared to just lie to the living representation of honesty. "I—uh—just… couldn't sleep last night, and rather than staring at my ceiling, I thought I would come here, and see if I could help at all." Twilight looked out at the still-rising sun peaking over the orchard, then back at Applejack, who was merely looking, head slightly tilted, at Twilight. Her face was etched with confusion as she, without a doubt, knew that there was more to this than merely what the cover showed.
"I guess we could use your help, Twi… but only if ya really want to. It's not exactly easy workin' on the farm durin' Apple Buckin' season…"
"I'll be glad to do whatever I can," came Twilight's response. Suddenly, an idea formed in her mind on just how to get Applejack to open up to her: "I—just might need to be shown the ropes, first, if that's okay."
If she could get alone with Applejack, she could probably coax her to talk. And what better way could she get Applejack comfortable enough to spill then working in her very own orchard? Applejack felt most comfortable out here on the farm, and putting her in that setting made the most sense. This was going to be perfect.
Applebloom hopped up from the picnic blanket, a large smile on her face. "I think we could manage that! Couldn't we, big sis?"
Applejack looked at Twilight one last time, yet Twilight noticed that when she did, her expression changed. It wasn't suspicion, it wasn't confusion… it seemed—Twilight wasn't sure. Just different. It seemed that Applejack was almost… afraid of something. But just as it came, it was gone even faster. The farm pony looked down at her little sister, ruffling up her hair. "We sure can, little 'un. Why don't you help Big Mac and Granny with cleanin' up the picnic, and then meet me and Twilight over at the southern entrance to the fields? We'll be waitin' for ya, okay?"
"I'm on it!" the little filly shouted. Immediately picking up the corner of the blanket with her mouth, she began to help fold up the small mess that breakfast had created.
After that look Applejack had given her, Twilight wasn't so sure how "perfect" this was going to be.
"Twilight, I know somethin' is goin' on, here." The words came faster than the princess expected, as Applejack accused her right when her little sister was out of earshot. They were only halfway to the southern entrance, yet that didn't seem to stop Applejack from turning and facing the princess of friendship, stopping her in her tracks. "What's buggin' ya?"
Twilight didn't know quite how to answer, so once again, she decided on simply answering with the truth. "We're friends, Applejack. We've known each other for a couple of years, now, and we can tell each other everything, right?"
"Of course, Sugar Cube. So tell me: what's the matter?" she asked, placing a single hoof on her friend's shoulder. "I just wanna help, Twilight."
Twilight took a deep breath, exhaling it slowly. "That's exactly why I'm here: I want to help." Applejack just stood before her, removing her hoof as confusion rose to her face: "I'm sorry. I'm not following." The words came slowly as Applejack tried to sort the explanation in her mind.
"I've noticed something:" Twilight began. She started tracing a circle in the dirt in front of her, simply to avoid looking at Applejack as she spoke. "You've been inviting me over… a lot. I just feel like something is wrong with you that you don't want to tell anyone. It's been bothering me for a while, now, and I just want to help you, AJ."
A long silence passed, before Twilight looked up to see Applejack, yet that same look had returned. Except this time, she looked even more distraught than before. "I—uh—we gotta get goin' to the Southern entrance. Apple Bloom should be waitin' for us."
And with those words, Applejack turned and began the walk to the orchard, completely ignoring the unspoken question. "Applejack, wait!" Twilight called, trotting up the stomping pony's side. "What's the matter? Did I say something?" she asked, Applejack's response both confusing and hurting her.
With a deep sigh, the country pony stopped her charging pace and turned to face her friend. "It's nothin' against you Twilight, truly. It's just—I don't wanna talk about it."
Before she could turn away, Twilight blinked her magic into effect, appearing on the other side of her friend. "Under one condition. Promise me something, AJ:" she waited for a nod before she continued, "I will not talk about it again, as long as you don't push me away. I want to help you, and if you don't want me to help you directly, as least let me be here for you. Promise?"
Applejack looked into her friend's eyes, and Twilight could swear that those eyes had relief in them. She wasn't sure if the relief came from her acceptance of the situation, or her promise to not leave AJ alone. Yet the longer she looked into them, she noticed something else: the early beginnings of tears. "I promise. Thank you, Twilight."
Just as Twilight reached one hoof up for a short hug, Applejack jumped forward, locking her in an embrace. Twilight couldn't believe how much heart was put into that hug. As she held Applejack in her arms, it seemed as if the poor girl was just on the verge of falling apart, and Twilight was the only thing keeping her together. "Are you sure you're all right, Applejack?" she asked, hesitantly. Applejack was a hugger, this she knew all too well. But this wasn't a normal Applejack hug. This was a 'there's something wrong' Applejack hug.
A sniff came from over her shoulder as Applejack held back a tear. "I'll be fine. I just—you're the best friend a gal could ask for, that's all."
"Applejack!" a voice called from the distance. Immediately, AJ jumped back, distancing herself from her friend. "Uh—I guess we better get goin'." She rubbed her neck awkwardly, her face turning a slight shade of red from embarrassment. Or was it from the tears? Twilight wasn't sure.
Either way, she shyly smiled back. "Let's go."
It wasn't the opening up she was hoping for, but it definitely was progress. Maybe this would work out, after all…
AN: You know how sometimes you start something, and you're like "HOLY COW THIS IS AWESOME!", and then after a few days/weeks, you totally forget about it? Well… I did that with this. I wrote up 95% of it, and then it just kinda *died*… but since I posted the first 3 chapters before my sudden abandonment, I figured I should at least finish it and post it all.
So yeah… I'm gonna do that (and update my A/Ns while I'm at it)… I don't really have anything else to say, besides "I'm sorry" to those few who followed this story before I dropped it like a spider-infested donut (no idea where that came from).
