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

[friendyousohard]

[That earns a second kiss, this one on the cheek.]

Alright, let's finish getting you clean. Turn around and let me work on your back.

[sitdownbecider]

[She smiles, letting Twilight go and turning around, placing her hands against the shower wall for support.]

[friendyousohard]

[That looks pretty nice, she can't deny it... aside from the scrapes, scratches and dirt caked on. Through the shirt she was wearing. Well, what's left of it anyway.]

This might sting a bit. [Getting a new lather of soap on the loofah, she starts to scrub at her back again.]

[sitdownbecider]

[She tenses slightly, but keeps a straight face.]

Try not t'take too long back there...

[friendyousohard]

But I have such a nice view.

[She's mostly just teasing to keep AJ's mind off the pain of having her injuries cleaned up, but even under the dirt and blood, and especially when that starts to come off, Applejack really does have a nice back.]

[sitdownbecider]

[Aside from the freckles and cuts, her back is clean. Applejack does take pride in her body, after all.]

Well, I reckon you should enjoy it, then. [A laugh.]

[friendyousohard]

Oh believe me, I am.

[She's too tired to do more than tease and poke though, even as she moves lower down. The cuts are practically everywhere.]

Seriously though, AJ, what did you do to yourself? These injuries go all the way down to your calves.

[sitdownbecider]

Y-yeah. Those woods are thicker than I thought.

[friendyousohard]

They do seem to be designed to almost force you to keep to the paths...

[Kneeling down to scrub at her legs now.]

[buckyouup]

I'll keep that in mind.

[She spreads her legs a bit farther to give Twilight more room to work.]

Still, it was a good way t'keep t'myself. Nopony came lookin' for me in there.

[friendyousohard]

[Deliberately keeping her eyes down now... mostly.]

Yes we did, we just couldn't find you.

[Scrubbing those thighs a bit quicker than the rest of what she's had her hands on, mostly because she's kind of enjoying it too much.]

[buckyouup]

Oh...

[She sighs.]

I didn't mean t'make you worry.

[Because that helps.]

[friendyousohard]

You never seem to grasp the fact that people are going to worry about you in the first place.

[Okay, stupid sexy legs are clean, Twilight can stand up and stop looking at the lower half of her girlfriend's body again.

... Alright one more glance.

Seriously though, moving on... dear Celestia even she is appalled by the state of AJ's hair.]

Even if you are the strong one, I don't know why you seem convinced that no one will or should worry about you.

[buckyouup]

It ain't that they won't it's that they shouldn't. If there's anythin' in this world I don't wanna be, it's a bother. Maybe sometimes that thought gets in the way, when I should be thinkin' 'bout how important y'all are to me.

[She shakes her head.]

'Sides, you an me are a team. Now, more than ever. It's my fault for not rememberin' that more often.

[friendyousohard]

Shouldn't, my eye. Even ignoring our... closer relationship, we're all friends.

[She'd hug her, but she's now busy shampooing her hair.]

We are supposed to look out for each other, and care for each other, and that goes both ways for each of us. It's not a bother in any sense. We do it because we love you. You know that.

[buckyouup]

[She closes her eyes and leans her head back. Oh Celestia, does that feel good.]

I know. I'm just...

[Stubborn?]

[friendyousohard]

[Working those fingers into her scalp now.]

... Proud.

[And whether that's a compliment or an insult, she's not saying.]

[buckyouup]

[It's probably both. AJ's pride has been her undoing before, and despite her protests, it probably will be again.]

I ain't got too much t'be proud of, here. All I did was admit my weakness an' get in a fight with my special somepony.

[friendyousohard]

AJ, admitting your weaknesses is something to be proud of. I'm pretty sure Princess Celestia told me that in almost those exact words at one point, though I can't actually remember the specific instance. It was kind of part of the lesson I learned at the Crystal Empire, but I think I remember her telling me about it earlier than that.

[buckyouup]

An' you really stepped up that day. I'd say Celestia's real lucky t'have you as her pupil.

[friendyousohard]

Ah, well...

[Blushing. Blushing so hard now that she's really grateful AJ's got her back to her.]

I mean I couldn't have done it alone. Which was sort of the point, really.

[buckyouup]

Maybe not, but you were incredible. For you an' Spike t'take on all that by y'selves? I know you're my hero.

[friendyousohard]

Okay, now you're just saying things you know will make me blush.

[buckyouup]

[A chuckle.]

Maybe. How's my hair?

[friendyousohard]

Full of enough tangles to make Rarity break down sobbing and I think I pulled out half a dozen twigs, but I've managed to get it coated in shampoo so hopefully it'll become slightly less horrible when rinsed.