No Good for You

"Applejack? Are you in there?"

"Yea, um...let me get the door for ya." Applejack muttered, getting up from the table and opening the door to see Twilight.

Twilight's eyes widened and Applejack knew why, her own eyes were baggy and her frown looked like gravity was pulling it towards the ground. At the moment Applejack wished the Princess of Friendship wasn't so concerned, but it wouldn't be so.

"I see Big Mac outside doing your chores, what could possibly bring the tough Applejack I know to the point where she can't even do her own job?" Twilight asked her.

"I can't tell you." Applejack answered. "I expect it to pass though."

Twilight smiled faintly but Applejack neglected to tell her that even though she knew it'd pass, she knew the feeling of bitter defeat and pain would eventually come back.

"Well, I would hope so." Twilight added. "Tomorrow Pinkie's throwing a party for Rarity and Ace's three-month anniversary and she'd love for you to be there."

Applejack's breath immediately hitched as Twilight unknowingly brought up what had been bringing Applejack down: Rarity's newest colt-toy.

"Y-yeah, I'll be 'dere." Applejack stammered. "I must go now, but thank you for checking up on me."

Applejack closed the door and fell onto the wooden floor and buried her face within her hooves.

Why do I have to hear of that jack a' stallion in my time of pain. To hell with my feelins'! I hate him!

Ace Thornhide was a brown stallion with orange jock hair and dull green eyes. The well-built stallion had a broom for a cutie mark and came from a long line of hoofball players.

It made Applejack so livid that Rarity would show her affections to a janitor, a janitor! And he acted as if he was as famous as the hoofball players that he came from.

She couldn't keep thinking of this, this decided that she'd do the rest of her chores and Big Mac's so she would not have to think about how that beautiful mare was giving herself to a...to a...

Applejack winced and left the house to do as many chores as her well-being would allow.

...

"Applejack! Can you believe that the party's only in a few hours?" Pinkie gasped. "I have only a few more touches to add and the party should be ready!"

"Mmmhmm." Applejack responded absently as she stood inside the Sugarcube Corner kitchen with an apron and a chef's hat hanging loosely on her head.

What made the farm pony feel a little better was that she told Pinkie what Rarity's favorite flavors and foods were, and had the honor of making one of Rarity's favorite desserts: chocolate mouse.

That Ace colt can't cook for crap! If Rarity were with me, she'd be spoiled with many homemade goodies!

Applejack cursed herself realizing for the millionth time she caught herself fantasizing how she'd treat Rarity if she were her marefriend. She knew all the stallions Rarity dated were nothing...

But Applejack didn't think she was that much better for Rarity. Rarity loved glamour and wealth, and Applejack was very aware that she could never give the beautiful unicorn that.

"Look! Rarity and Ace are here!" Pinkie squealed, running out of the kitchen to the two ponies.

Applejack walked out to join them, not even bothering to shake the flour from her pelt or the chocolate stains on her apron. She wanted Rarity to see that she worked hard to make only the best food for Rarity.