Re-done now that I figured out how to color my lines with my new tablet! Plus, I wanted to add more character/personality to the characters, such as AJ’s missing ear tip and Red wearing her hair down on the weekend. Out of al of these little additions, Opal’s bolo tie is my FAVORITE. Fancy girl.

Getting used to drawing with a tablet has really taken practice! I hope you guys like this. I spent ages trying to think of who I really shipped AJ with (she’s my favorite of the mane six) and it occurred me that Nurse Redheart would actually be a good fit. Many of the medical staff that I work with IRL live out in the country because it clears their heads after a stressful week. Nurses and technicians are very hard working individuals who are used to long hours. She and AJ would both understand the meaning of work ethic, and I think Red would really find peace coming home to the farm at days end.

I figure down the line a ways, Applejack styles her mane differently. The “long” look started to feel really heavy and in-the-way.

How they met: After a minor but painful leg injury during Apple-Bucking season, Applejack spends a few hours in the Ponyville Hospital where she gets to know Nurse Redheart. They’ve seen each other around before, but never really spoken and it turns out that they actually have a lot in common. Both work long hours and have demanding jobs, but find great joy in serving their community. A few days later, unsure of how to see her again, Applejack finally bakes her one heck of a “Thank You” pie and takes it to her as a gift. After that, she clumsily invites her over to dinner with the family—- again, as a thank you—- etc.

Their Relationship: As a couple, they are very laid back and good natured. Both of them work long days, but AJ always found Red’s job to be more stressful (having to deal with ponies all day in various and sometimes upsetting situations). She makes it a point to spoil her after work, usually making dinner and warming up some water so they can both soak their hooves. On her days off, Redheart likes to make sun tea and lemonade for the family, and will also feed the farm animals to knock out some of the easy chores for them. Since she sometimes covers shifts in the Pediatrics department, she is good with children and gets along very well with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.

AJ’s ear: Left her hat on the porch after a long day and an injured vampire fruit bat crawled under it for shelter. The next morning, it bit the hell out of her ear when she picked it up and put it on.

Offspring: They eventually have a daughter (Opal) and a son (Jonared).

• Opal is the oldest and, out of the two, the least interested in farm work although she is naturally good at it being how she’s raised. Her real interest lies in crafts, particularly wood-cutting. She has a puppy-love crush on Chip Cutter after he taught her some things about sculpting, but he’s quite a bit older than her.

• As for Jonared, he enjoys the farm life and takes after his uncle Macintosh, although he’s not quite as big. He’s got noticeable eyelashes that Rarity adores and he begrudgingly allowed her to model him in her younger clothing lines, although he got sick of it fairly quickly. He is quiet and very humble for one considered by so many to be a “pretty boy”. He just wants to work the farm and live a simple life.