+---------------------------------------------------------------+
|    Applejack One-shots                                        |
|                                                               |
|    A series of unrelated greens featuring the bestest pone    |
|    in the series -- Appulhors.                                |
+---------------------------------------------------------------+

-----------------===]|  Table of Contents  |[===-----------------

   Maximum Onions - Stranded ............................ AJ01
   Maximum Onions - Time Flies .......................... AJ02

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    Maximum Onions - Stranded
    
    Prompt: 
        You can be with Applejack forever but the downside is shes human and 
        will be stuck in this world with you. Is it worth it?  
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>>"No, no, no, no, NO, NO—"

>The panicked farmer sprinted towards the statue, clawing at her beautiful golden hair in ugly tufts.
>Her well-worn stetson fell out of her head and plopped sadly on the concrete floor.
>She paid no mind.
>She was too busy palming at the base of the statue, groping at the magic that wasn't there anymore.

>>"Consarn it, why ain'tcha workin' no more??!"

>The panic in her emerald green eyes were absolutely palpable. 

>If only anyone from Ponyville could see her now.
>They'd remark at how this was all very much unlike her.
>Sure, she got a little too emotional every now and then — even shed some tears when the occasion called for it.
>But wanton panic was something the Element of Honesty was simply not known for. 
>That'd be scandalous, indeed.  
>Rarity would never let Applejack live it down. Maybe even spread the gossip to other ponies around Ponyville.
>Applejack desperately wanted to see ponies gossip again.

>Seconds became minutes. Minutes piled on high enough to reach an hour.
>Clouds began gathering about, losing a drop of rain here and there.
>Applejack continued to palm at the portal.

>Tapping. Brushing. Punching. Begging. Kicking. Screaming.
>The portal, if it ever had been one, stood unresponsive. 

>It was another round of kicks and screams before the damsel in distress broke down into tears.
>Her howls devolved into sad moans, then to wracking sobs.
>The husky-folky rasp of her voice rang out as the skies began pouring.
>Soon, Applejack was soaked through and through.
>Her stetson lay about behind her, waterlogged and crumpled. 
>Her cherished gift from Rarity, and the only reminder of her now-lost homeworld.

>She didn't mind that one bit.
>She just wanted to see ponies gossip one more time.

>Clik-clok of heels on wet concrete, soft drumming of raindrops on an umbrella.
>Something blocked the rain above her head, forcing her to look up.
>One crimson-gold haired girl greeted her, wondering just what in the world her friend was doing out in the rain next to the portal.
>Much to Applejack's confusion, the unwelcome stranger knew her by her name. 
>Without a word, Applejack pointed at the portal.

>The stranger darted her piercing teal eyes between Applejack and the portal, mentally clicking pieces together.
>She approached the dais of the statue, terrified sadness crumpling the corners of her mouth.
>Her shaky hand met where the portal had been with a cold slap. 
>The stranger closed her eyes and sighed, finally understanding.
>She knelt next to Applejack.
>Applejack was shivering, having spent all of her strength weeping. 
>Her moans became muffled as the crimson-gold stranger pulled her into a tight hug. 

>>"I am so sorry, Applejack. I don't know how you ended up here, but I swear to Celestia I'll find a way to open the portal again."
>Applejack sniffled, finding some comfort in the embrace.
>>"Wh-who are you...?"
>The stranger tightened her hug.
>>"I'm Sunset Shimmer. Twilight may have mentioned my name in passing."


>Hours turned into days. Days into months.
>Despite all the surprises along the way, Applejack made an effort to adjust to her new life.
>The biggest surprise came when Sunset introduced her to the... human counterpart of Applejack.
>She felt a surreal amusement in watching her doppelganger go about her life, surprisingly similar to her own in Ponyville.
>But soon, amusement gave way to jealousy. 
>Watching the "other" Applejack enjoying her life was a constant reminder of the life she herself will never have again.
>The farm, Winona, Granny Smith, Big Mac.
>Applebloom. 

>Applejack began avoiding her human counterpart. Then her friends. Then Sunset.
>The latter part was hard, what with her being the only one with the means to reopen the portal.
>And Sunset tried her damnedest, sparing no resources. It was as though she had devoted her entire life to the endeavor.
>She too was a pony, after all.


>Months turned into years in the blink of an eye, and years had consumed Applejack raw.
>She lashed out at the slightest provocation, her usual unperturbable demeanor all but gone.
>Now it was her friends that began avoiding Applejack.
>One by one, they stopped visiting, no longer willing to put up with her barbed words.
>The particularly nasty estrangement happened on Sunset's last visit.

>>"What the hay's takin' so long, Sunny?"
>The extra hoarse tone betrayed her age more than the crow's feet around her eyes did.
>>"Excuse me?"
>>"Ah said, what the hay's takin' so long?"

>Instead of her usual apology, Sunset exploded.
>She had dedicated years of hard work trying to reopen the portal, almost setting aside her own life for the endeavor.
>Applejack knew that, and she felt deathly guilty for lashing out.
>But the steady easygoing farmgirl wasn't a girl anymore, and years of frustration kept her in a stranglehold. 
>Apple Bloom must be a full-grown mare by now.

>>"I am sorry, I didn't realize that I OWED it to you to reopen the wretched hole in the universe. Do you have ANY idea about the career opportunities I've passed up to work on this damn thing? I have friends and families in Ponyville too, you know—"
>At her birthday soiree, Applejack argued with her only guest.

————————————
Dear Applejack,

Happy 30th birthday!
I know the times are hard for you, but don't lose your hope just yet. 
Remember the promise we made? That we'd go to Sugarcube Corner for a box of your favorite donuts when this is all over?
We'll make it to Ponyville someday, somehow. I can feel it.
So don't lose that element-of-honesty calm of yours! 

Your friend,
Sunset Shimmer
————————————

>The seaside wind slapped at the birthday card, shaking loose some of the decorative glitter.
>Applejack loosened her grip on it, letting it go.
>She smiled weakly as it fluttered away into the crimson-yellow sunset.
>A smile. 
>She hadn't felt that grace her lips in a long time.
>She took a step forward, crunching dirt and dead grass underfoot.

>The icy blue waves crashed into the sheer cliff far beneath her feet, filling the air with water vapor and sounds. 
>Applejack's golden hair whipped about in the salty wind, reminding her of one of the family trips to the beach.
>Granny Smith napping. Big Mac building a sandcastle with Apple Bloom.
>Apple Bloom must be a full-grown mare by now.

>The sun hid itself further behind the horizon, staining the clouds red. 
>Applejack's emerald-green eyes glittered in the light, scattering droplets of tears into the wind. 
>If only she could see her loved ones again.

>She took one last step forward, towards the sunset.

-- fin --



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    Maximum Onions - Time Flies

    (No prompt -- S5E20 one-shot)
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>Little sister got her cutie mark.
>She wants to "help other ponies rediscover their cutie marks," she says.
>She's so happy and full of purpose, so you're happy too. You fully support her destiny because darn it, she's an Apple too.
>Even though it means she probably won't be helping out with the farm anytime soon.

>Granny Smith is getting older by the day.
>She used to be able to help out with some farmwork here and there, but now that her arthritis has gotten worse, she can't even lift an apple without pain.
>She double-checks her own ledger now. Her mind isn't what it used to be.

>Big Mac isn't in his prime anymore, either. 
>Every year it takes him a little longer to plow the fields than the previous year.
>The same wagon load that he used to tow without effort worries him a little.
>He tries not to show it, but you can see it in his eyes. Sunken and lined with crow's feet.

>Celebrating Hearthswarming Eve with the Pies.
>Maybe trying out something different will help you forget your mounting worries.
>It's surprisingly rock-themed, even for a family that runs a rock farm.
>Some hiccups here and there, but the two families finally manage to get along nicely.
>Big Mac's been eyeing Marble Pie all weekend. 
>And apparently she's been eyeing him right back.
>You encourage him. He isn't getting any younger and she's a nice girl.
>They sit next to each other by the fireplace, probably whispering sweet-nothings.

>And that's when it hits you all at once.
>Where has all the time gone?
>How many more years until you aren't in your prime anymore?
>Caring for Granny Smith, looking after Applebloom, bucking apples...
>Big Mac has been a huge help, but he won't be around forever. He has his needs, too.
>When he's too busy raising his own family, who's going to help you with the farm?
>Your friends are busy mares with their own careers to worry about. And you aren't exactly making enough to hire anyone.

>Will you ever get the chance to raise a family of your own?
>You're surrounded by family, but you're so lonely.
>It feels like you were a strapping young lass only yesterday.

>Where has all the time gone?

-- The end --