>>42234013
>”I’m sorry Anon, I know I know I must look real pathetic right now.”
>She sniffles as she says it.
>You shuffle in a bit closer, gently hugging her.
“I don’t think you look pathetic AJ, I’m just worried as hell.”
>You gently pull the hat down, just enough so you can see her eyes.
“Come on, tell me what’s bothering you.”
>She shoves her hat back up onto her head, and hurriedly rubs her face with a fetlock.
>”Everything’s just so different here than it is out in the country!”
>You sit patiently as she gathers herself.
>”Everything’s just so dang fast here, it ain’t nothin’ like Ponyville! Everyponies just rushin’ by everywhere, there’s so much noise ya can hardly hear yourself think, barely any room to even breathe–“
>She was starting to work herself up again.
>You quickly wrap an arm around her, shushing her before she descends into another panic attack.
>Being so close by seems to be doing a good job of keeping her calm.
>She takes a shuddering breath.
>”I know I’m bein’ ridiculous, but consarn it, I just…”
>She sighs in frustration.
“It’s fine, AJ, you’re just–“
>”It ain’t fine!”
>She shoves you backwards.
>”I’m a grown mare actin’ like a stupid foal!”
>Undeterred by her outburst, you grab hold of her fetlocks and pull yourself back towards her.
>Despite her attitude, she does little to resist you coming in close to her again.
>”I can’t even cross the dang street without gettin’ scared like I’m a little filly, I’m an embarrassment!”
>You can feel her trying to pull her hooves out of your hands to hide her face again, but you keep her fetlocks firmly in your grip.
“Applejack, you’re not an embarrassment.”
>You slide your hands up her fore legs and gently grip her shoulders.
“Listen, it’s just a phobia AJ, everyone’s got one. There’s nothing wrong with you being a little afraid.”
>She snorts dismissively.