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

[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.

[sitdownbecider]

...Reckon I could blend in with the trees, then.

[friendyousohard]

Well, not anymore...

[Kind of trying to smooth out the tangles with the help of the shampoo and the water. It's... sort of working.]

Maybe if I try conditioner.

[sitdownbecider]

If it gets too bad, I could try an' do it myself in the morning.

[friendyousohard]

I really don't think you want to try to sleep like this. It'll keep pulling. Hang on.

[Grabbing a brush now and starting to comb out the less... overwhelming tangles.]

[sitdownbecider]

O-ow!

[She reaches up and touches the top of her head. You trying to rip her hair out?]

[friendyousohard]

Sorry, sorry... I'm being as gentle as I can, I swear. This is just... unreal.

[Trying the alternate tactic of smoothing out the very ends of the hair first and working her way in.]

[sitdownbecider]

Y'sound like it's some kind a' monster.

[friendyousohard]

Well, Rarity would probably think so. To me it's more like a... a really complex problem.

[sitdownbecider]

I thought you liked stuff like that.

[friendyousohard]

Well, yes, but this isn't exactly my forte. Still...

[The edges do seem to be smoothed out now, so she moves up a bit, still steering clear of the main mass of tangles in the hopes that she can kind of loosen that up a bit by fixing the smaller ones.]

[sitdownbecider]

Anythin' I can do to help?

[Aside from... not running off into the woods again?]

[friendyousohard]

Just hold still. Which will probably become harder the further I get in here.

[The giant mass is finally starting to unwind, giving her a chance to brush out one of the biggest tangles.]

[sitdownbecider]

A-alright. Just be careful up there.

[friendyousohard]

I promise. The last thing I want is a de-maned special somepony.

[Gently, she coaxes the big mess out of its twisted shape and into something more resembling actual hair. The main knot in the center sits untouched, but everything else slowly comes undone, loosening it bit by bit.]

[sitdownbecider]

This body's hairless enough as it is, thank you.