013 Bushels ❦ [Video/Action for Mahogany]

[buckyouup]

[It's been a couple days since that weird swarm of flying reindeer descended upon the world. Through a bit of clever herding, she managed to catch one of her own. It didn't even have any wings, and yet it could fly. This thing had to be rare as can be. It might even be worth a thing or two.

All the commotion of the season has started to die down, and things are starting to go back to normal. Maybe now's a good time to check out her score. She'll retrieve the ball and let the critter out.

Except what is released is... a bit smaller.

]

What in tarnation is this!? Somepony ran off with my pokey-mon!

Then they had the gall t'swap it out with...

[She blinks, bending over to inspect the playset, and the tiny plastic horses inside.]

Little... toys a' me an' my pals? [She huffs, picking herself up.]

S'this supposed t'be me? My mane looks nothin' like that. They didn't even give me my hat!

[Well, AJ, you said you wanted your old body back. Looks like you got it!]

Comments

[friendyousohard]

I... look, you know that one time I got visited by a future version of myself and spent the next week desperately trying to figure out what horrible thing was going to happen?

This is like that, only I know exactly what's going to happen and while it's not horrible and is arguably cause for celebration, I'm terrified of the concept.

[sitdownbecider]

[She blinks.]

...If you're terrified of bein' happy then I've been approachin' our relationship the wrong way.

[friendyousohard]

Frankly our relationship scares me too if only because I could wake up tomorrow and you might not be there. But that's not the point! I said it's arguably a cause for celebration. Arguably! It could also be a prelude to utter disaster!

[sitdownbecider]

Disaster?

...You mean our relationship, or your wings?

[friendyousohard]

AJ unless one of us gets sent home I think our relationship will be perfectly fine. Of course I'm talking about my hypothetical wings, don't you realize what they mean? What would I be if I had wings? Think!

1/2

[sitdownbecider]

You'd probably make Rainbow jealous. Wings an' magic? You'd be like...

[sitdownbecider]

Oh horseapples.

[friendyousohard]

... Yeah, "oh horseapples" is pretty much the perfect way to put it.

[sitdownbecider]

You're a princess an' you weren't gonna tell me?

[friendyousohard]

I am not a princess!

[Pause.]

I just... might be one. Later. In the future. Assuming what Rarity told me comes to pass.

[sitdownbecider]

But ain't this a good thing? If there's anypony I'd trust with a crown, it's you.

[friendyousohard]

Are you crazy? I'm not ready for that kind of responsibility!

[sitdownbecider]

Even so, we ain't talkin' about right now. We're talkin' about the future, an' in the future, I reckon you'll be more than ready for somethin' like that.

You've done more for the kingdom already than most folks could even dream about.

[friendyousohard]

Not on my own, I haven't! I always had you girls to help me whenever I did something big.

[sitdownbecider]

An' we'll still be with you every step of the way. We're bound together by the Elements of Harmony, remember?

[friendyousohard]

I appreciate that, I really do, but you can't come with me to Canterlot meetings or weigh in on affairs of state very effectively...

Then again, if it's reports and paperwork we're talking about I suppose I have nothing to worry about. What I'm worried about is Public Relations.

[sitdownbecider]

You're the sweetest pony I know. If folks likin' you is a problem, then you got nothin' t'worry about.

[She'll reach over to try and take Twilight's hand.]

[friendyousohard]

You're a little biased in that regard, you know.

[She says that, but she still smiles.]

[sitdownbecider]

[She kisses her forehead.]

Even then, you'll have us. We'll just be your advisers, or somethin'.

[friendyousohard]

Can I put that down officially, do you think? I could probably use it to smuggle some of you into council meetings...

Well, maybe just Rarity. I have a feeling she'd be the only one who'd want to come anyway. She could bring along your collective ideas.

[sitdownbecider]

[She chuckles.]

I'll come along t'whatever you need me for.

[And suffer through all the posh and politics. But if Twilight needed her, she'd do it.]

[friendyousohard]

Even if the farm suffers because of it? You don't exactly have an easy job yourself, you know.

[She'd love to have all of her friends at her side at every meeting, but... it's just not feasible, and she knows it.]

[sitdownbecider]

You just let me worry 'bout my family business, alright?

[She smiles.]

But if the Princess doesn't see it beneath her t'come lend a hoof every now an' then, I reckon I'd appreciate it.

[friendyousohard]

Applejack, I could be the sole ruler of Equestria, of the whole world, and none of you girls would ever be beneath me. You know that.

[sitdownbecider]

'Course I do. An' I'll always find room for y'all too.

[She would just have to find a way to work in caring for the farm and visiting Canterlot. No big deal.]