014 Bushels ❦ [Action for Mahogany]

[buckyouup]

[Applejack has been quiet for the last few days. Hardly in the mood to talk, the southerner has been taking advantage of the warmer weather to get in some training. Never wanting to sit still, she takes every opportunity to run or fight or do something, but outside of her pokemon, she insists on being alone. She has to keep herself busy. So she doesn't think. So she isn't reminded.

One year. One whole year. And that's just the time she remembers. That's not counting the time she's been here before. She hasn't seen her family, her home, her orchard, in a year. She knows that time works strange here, that for her, time isn't moving back home, but that doesn't quite translate to her emotions. To her, she's spent a whole year of her life chasing strange animals while her family and her farm is without her. Stuck in some strange land, located who knows how far away from home. If she was never brought here, what would she have experienced at home? Would this year's haul be a good one? Did Apple Bloom get her cutie mark? She didn't want to think about it. She didn't want to think at all.

If you happen to be wandering in a secluded part of town, you may notice Applejack training. She may be running laps, or doing sit-ups, or training her pokemon, but one thing is instantly noticeable: she looks like shit. Her clothes are torn and her body is dirty and covered in scrapes and bruises. She looks like she hasn't slept in days. She doesn't want to. She dreams of home.]

Comments

[sitdownbecider]

[She'll take that hand. Twilight's already beaten her once tonight, she doesn't need to see her squirm, too.]

Thanks, Sugarcube. I'll make this quick.

[friendyousohard]

Don't make promises you can't keep, AJ. If we're doing this we're not getting out of the shower until I've scrubbed every inch of you clean.

[... One wonders whether that's a threat or a promise. Either way, Twilight's moving pretty purposefully as she heads for the bathroom.]

[sitdownbecider]

[Applejack hobbles behind her, using the walls to keep balance.]

I reckon I should probably just... throw these clothes away.

[They're in pretty rough shape, and without Rarity (who likely wouldn't touch them) to mend them, they don't have much use.]

[friendyousohard]

That's probably fair. At this point they'd mostly fall apart in the wash.

[Turning on the water to the ideal temperature now...]

[sitdownbecider]

[And peeling off the clothing. It's like a second skin at this point. It's hard to tell where the dirt ends and the cotton begins. Ew.]

[friendyousohard]

[Her clothes are much less disgusting and so are actually going in the hamper. Down to the skin she goes in no time.]

Are you good? Is any of it sticking to you?

[She tosses her undies in and turns around as she asks that... semi-serious question.]

[sitdownbecider]

I hope not.

[Stepping into the shower now.]

[friendyousohard]

Well, it doesn't look like it.

[Grabbing a loofah and following.]

Alright, give me your arms to start. [Gonna squirt some soap on there and get a lather going.]

[sitdownbecider]

[She smiles, bracing herself against the wall with one arm, while presenting the other for cleaning.]

Thanks a lot, Twilight.

[friendyousohard]

No problem. Someone has to take care of you when you won't do it for yourself.

[She tries to sound lighthearted about that, but a bit of bitterness does seep into her voice. As she starts scrubbing AJ's right arm she ponders a bit before deciding to just ask.]

So what did lead to you being out there on your own slowly wrecking your health and sanity, anyway? And without talking to me, first? Did something happen that I'm not aware of?

[sitdownbecider]

I just... it's um...

My anniversary, I suppose. I've been here for a year.

[friendyousohard]

[She pauses a moment in her scrubbing, thinking back over the dates.]

Hmmm, so it is. I'm guessing when you realized this you started thinking about... things?

[Going back to the washing while she asks that.]

[sitdownbecider]

I haven't seen my family in a year, Twilight. I saw 'em every day of my life, an' then I came here. It feels like I'm abandonin' 'em.

[friendyousohard]

Okay, one, you've been abducted, so abandonment really isn't the right word.

[Washing between her fingers as she says that, she thinks of how else to talk about this.]

Now, missing them, that's logical. Reasonable. Especially with such a tight-knit family as you have. Tartarus, it's like how I felt when the only one of you girls I had here was Fluttershy.

... But you know how we stayed sane when it was just us?

[sitdownbecider]

Considerin' our numbers are startin' t'dwindle that low? I'd love t'know.

[friendyousohard]

Don't remind me...

[She sighs deeply, rinsing the lather off of AJ's hand, and then grips it with her own, ignoring the fact that the loofah's still dangling from one of her fingers.]

We looked after each other. Do you have any idea how many times I ended up breaking down in her arms, or she in mine? We kept close to one another, paid attention to the other's state... and when something was too much, we came to the other one for help. And I know you're proud, AJ, but for Celestia's sake, I'm not just your best friend, I'm your special somepony now. If anyone should be allowed to see you vulnerable...

[She squeezes AJ's hand a bit, and tilts her head up to look her in the eyes. It's a bit hard to tell in the water, but... she might be crying.]

If you can trust anyone, shouldn't it be me?

[sitdownbecider]

I... I know. I know that, but for some reason I still act this way. It ain't somethin' I'm proud of...

[Although, right now, Applejack looks about as vulnerable as it gets.]

I do trust you. More than anypony else in the world. I just... gotta stop lettin' my head get th'better of me. I'll work on it. I promise.

[friendyousohard]

You better. Luna's stars, Applejack, you do realize this is the entire reason I was so angry, don't you? Sometimes it feels like...

[Her head drops again, and yeah, now she's definitely crying. At least AJ's not the only vulnerable one...]

Like your pride means more to you than I do.

[sitdownbecider]

N-no! Twilight, you're more important than anythin' else. I just... don't show it sometimes, I reckon.

[She looks down. Yeah, that was totally the right thing to say.]

An' I'm sorry for that. I want t'get better.

[friendyousohard]

[She doesn't say anything for a moment, just stand there with her hands around AJ's and her tears falling.

Then she steps in, pressing up right against her girlfriend, and leans up for a kiss, hands letting go so she can wrap her arms around her and hold her back and the back of her head..]

[sitdownbecider]

[She couldn't resist, even if she wanted to. Her now-clean arms drape across Twilight's back in a weak hug while she returns the kiss.]

I'm sorry, darlin'. Really, I am.

[friendyousohard]

I know.

[Kiss done, she moves to lay her head against AJ's strong shoulder. She might need to clean quite a bit more of her, but that can wait at least a little while.]

I know you are. I know you'll try to do better. And I promise I'll help you as best I can.

[sitdownbecider]

[She wraps her arms around her waist, leaning against the shower wall. She may not be able to support her own weight, but she's not going to drop Twilight any time soon.]

We'll... get home, somehow. I know it.

[friendyousohard]

[She doesn't answer that, but something in her twinges a bit at the thought... Because as much as she relishes the idea, she knows they won't remember anything that happened in Johto.]

I just hope it's together, this time. [That's a bit of a safer qualifier than "but we won't remember being a couple", she supposes.]

[sitdownbecider]

I ain't goin' anywhere without you, Sugarcube.

...Not again.