Maidens Day

Maidens Day was one of Applejack’s favorite days of the year. The meadow where the earth ponies set up was full of activity; a small fair with treats, crafts, and entertainers. Most ponies who came brought a wagon of goods to sell, but often they weren’t the typical market stock. It was too early in the spring for most produce, but the farm ponies had carts of seeds and young sprouts, ready for planting, or baby chickens and pigs. The craftsponies showed off new tools and carts that shone temptingly in the sunlight. All around ponies were preparing for a new year of productivity, bartering and selling hybrids of crops, discussing breeding plans for livestock, showing off new recipes or prototypes of their work.

Applejack loved it all, of course. But even ponies not as interested in the agricultural aspects were having fun. Musicians played for the bits ponies would toss, and families and friends who had spread over Equestria met and shared news. At one blanket, Applejack saw Pinkie Pie with her family, holding up all three sides of a cheerful conversation with her quiet sisters. At another, Cheerilee was having a friendly conversation with a pale blue pony with a chalkboard for a cutie mark.

And in the center of it all the giant rosebush that drew them to the field was filling up with colorful ribbons. They danced and twisted in the breeze like rainbow leaves on the empty stems, a nod to the sacred union they played a part in. Applejack’s ribbon hadn’t been tied yet, she had been busy all morning, but it was tucked in her hat-- an orange ribbon with her name and cutie mark carefully painted on it in red. It looked much better than last year’s, thanks to some help from Apple Bloom, who was nearly as good with a paintbrush as a unicorn would be.

Her little sister had been thrilled to help, rambling on about how Applejack would be sure to be the Flower Maiden this year, and about how the little filly was going to be a Flower Maiden herself when she grew up. They both knew that it would be years before Apple Bloom was old enough to tie her ribbon. Apple Bloom was too young to even watch the ritual, though she seemed to have a vague idea of what happened there. Right now, Apple Bloom was only concerned with running around between the stalls with other foals, then finding Granny or Mac or Applejack to beg for bits to buy candy or muffins.

But even so, it wasn’t an uncommon dream for a filly. Applejack had to admit she’d always dreamed of it herself, even more so once she was old enough to see what went on. There was something about the mare who wore the rose crown; she was never gussied up or wearing any more than the flowers on her head, but somehow even the plainest mare seemed special as the Flower Maiden. She wasn’t a baker or a schoolteacher or a farmer; she was nature itself, beautiful and strong. And then she walked into the circle, and another pony did things to her that made trees grow and flowers bloom...

Applejack blushed, and focused on some really interesting bean sprouts displayed at one of the carts. Suddenly, a murmur went through the gathered ponies like a cold wind. Applejack looked up and saw the pegasi starting to build their cloud patterns over the ritual space, but what caused the commotion was something unexpected; a pony flying toward the meadow. For a moment her jaw dropped and her eyes went wide like everypony around her, until she saw a pink blur speed by on the ground.

“Twilight! Twilight, over here!” Pinkie called, and Applejack relaxed.

With a grin Applejack called across the meadow, “Don’t y’all worry, it ain’t a pegasus. It’s just Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

Ponies nodded and went about their business as Applejack trotted over to Pinkie, and Twilight landed in front of them.

“Hi guys! The pegasi picked their Cloud Maiden--”

“SHHH!” Pinkie cut her off, clamping a hoof over her mouth.

After a brief struggle, Twilight pushed her away. “What?”

“We aren’t supposed to know anything, silly!” Pinkie explained. “I mean, we see them getting ready so we know they picked her, but we can’t know who it is, or how they pick her, or anything they do, or don’t do, or dew drop, or don’t drop or--”

Twilight cut her off with a smile, “I wasn’t going to tell you anything. I know it’s secret.”

“We trust ya’ Twi. Looks like everythin’s right on track today, so we oughta be gettin’ started soon here. Pinkie, you tied your ribbon yet?”

“Nope! But I’m all ready!” Pinkie retrieved a pink ribbon from somewhere in her mane. Hers didn’t look as neat as Applejack’s ribbon, but it screamed ‘Pinkie Pie’. Her name had several exclamation points after it.

“Me too. Let’s go show Twilight the bush.” Applejack said, starting towards the rosebush. “So, did Dash and Fluttershy explain the ritual? You got any questions, sugarcube?”

“Um, yes... and in thinking about it I found some very interesting things!” Twilight answered, her eyes shining with newly acquired knowledge. “Did you know that this ritual channels some very powerful magic?”

“As a matter of fact, I noticed somethin’ like that, bein’ as it makes the crops grow,” Applejack said with a smirk.

“Well, yes, but it does that by making the Flower Maiden and the Cloud Maiden the channels for all of the earth pony and pegasus magic in Equestria. They’re comparable in power to Princess Celestia, during the ritual.”

“Wow! Does that mean they get wings and a horn?” Pinkie asked, eyes wide.

“You know they don’t. Somepony woulda mentioned that,” Applejack pointed out. “But that does make sense. It’s important work, believe me. Crops all over Equestria are dependin’ on this, along with all the ponies who grow ‘em. Can’t say I ever thought about how much magic that’d take, but somepony like Princess Celestia seems ‘bout right.”

Twilight nodded. “So, are either of you going to try to be Flower Maiden?”

“Both of us are, silly! That’s what we’re doing now!”

“Yup. It’s important. If a gal thinks she can handle it, it’s her duty to step up.” Applejack smiled, blushing a little. “Besides, I hear it ain’t a bad way to spend an evenin’.”

Twilight giggled. “Heh, I know somepony who would agree--” Twilight cut herself off quickly. “Er, um, so how do the earth ponies pick the Flower Maiden?”

“That’s what we’re showin’ ya’ now.” Applejack smiled, and lead the way to the ribbon-covered rosebush. “Here it is.” She motioned with her hoof.

“Wow.” Twilight gazed up at it. Applejack grinned proudly, she’d always thought it was impressive, but seeing the reaction of a pony who didn’t grow up with it confirmed that this was a special symbol the earth ponies put together every year.

“Isn’t it neat?” Pinkie bounced a little. “Those are the ribbons of all of the mares who want to be Flower Maiden!”

Twilight was still looking at the rosebush as she asked, “So you guys will tie your ribbons there... then what happens?”

“Well, all the ribbons got a name on ‘em, and they all get tied to a different branch,” Applejack explained. “Once everypony’s is on there, we use earth pony magic to make the bush grow and blossom. The ribbon tied to the branch of the first blossom has the name of the Flower Maiden.”

Twilight blinked and looked at Applejack. “That’s it? You let a rosebush pick who gets nearly supreme magical power? Isn’t it kind of an important thing to pick by chance?”

Pinkie grinned. “It’s not chance, silly. It’s magic! And it’s the same magic that’s going to come to her in the ritual later, so of course it knows who it wants to come to!”

“But what if it picks wrong?” Twilight pressed on. “Channeling magic that way might take endurance, what if it picks a pony who’s weak?”

Applejack shrugged. “Well, that’s the thing. Ya’ never can tell, right? You ain’t one’a the fastest ponies in Ponyville, but ya’ still came in fifth in the race. Anypony who ties her ribbon knows what it’s about, and she’s gonna have somethin’ she thinks she can bring to the ritual. Who are we to figure if she’s right, when the magic can figure well enough?”

“Yup!” Pinkie nodded. “Some ponies are strong and can last a long time, and some ponies have strong magic, so the ritual works better, and some ponies might be really really good with their tongues, and you can ask the Cloud Maiden about that one.” Pinkie winked, which made Twilight blush and shift uncomfortably.

“I ain’t sure Twilight’s all the way comfortable with the, er, details of the ritual, Pinkie,” Applejack suggested. “Let’s just get our ribbons tied before they call everypony around.”

“Okie dokie!” Pinkie said. She gave the bush a considering look, before grabbing a branch in her hooves.

As Pinkie tied her ribbon, Applejack pulled up a stepladder next to the bush, and selected an upper stem. She pulled it down towards her and used her mouth to tie her orange ribbon around it. After admiring her work, she climbed back down the ladder and smiled at Twilight.

“There we go. Now we just gotta wait, it shouldn’t be long now. Let’s go have a look around.” Applejack suggested, with a nod to where the carts and blankets were set up.

“Sure! It looks like a lot of fun.” Twilight grinned, and the three friends made their way to the rest of the ponies.

They spent some time shopping and talking about the way earth ponies celebrated the day. They ran into friends from Ponyville, enjoyed some tasty treats, and introduced the young princess to Pinkie’s family. It was a whirlwind tour; in what seemed like no time at all they heard the call to circle the rosebush.

Twilight stood back, as Applejack and Pinkie took their places. Everypony joined the circle, old mares and stallions, fillies and little colts, and of course every grown-up mare who had her ribbon tied to the bush.

Being last year’s Flower Maiden, Cheerilee took her place in the center of the circle. “Hello, ladies and gentlecolts! It seems we have a fine crop of ribbons this year, and I know there are a lot of excited mares out there to go along with them!”

There were cheers and hoof stomping.

“Now, before we get started picking which one, you all have one last chance. Any of you girls who don’t think you’re ready to be Flower Maiden can take down your ribbon. We all know the job requirements, and nopony will blame you if you’re not sure you’re right for it. It certainly isn’t for everypony! There’s a lot depending on this ritual, and everypony here just wants this to be a success, for the sake of our friends and family and neighbors of all types of ponies.”

They all waited for a moment, and a green mare timidly stepped forward. She was blushing and looked apologetically at the other ponies gathered while quickly untying her ribbon from a branch, then hurrying back to the crowd. Applejack just offered her a sympathetic smile, which matched the reactions around her.

“Don’t be embarrassed! Maybe you’ll be ready next year.” Cheerilee gave the pony a kind smile. “Anypony else?”

No other mares moved a hoof.

“Okay then, let’s get started! Good luck, everypony!” Cheerilee stepped back into the circle of ponies around the bush, and a few at a time the gathered earth ponies closed their eyes in concentration.

Applejack smiled as Pinkie squinted her eyes shut, her hooves pushing the ground as if she had to physically force the magic out of her. A lot of the foals were doing the same, and a few other ponies with weaker magic, who weren’t used to using it on growing things. Whatever magic Pinkie had, it wasn’t easy for her to send it to the bush.

As for Applejack, she simply felt the earth beneath her hooves. She felt the living magic in it, and added the magic from her own heart, feeling the powerful surge and directing it to the bush. She didn’t even need to close her eyes, she did this nearly every day.

The bush seemed to turn a faint green beneath the rainbow of ribbons decorating it, as tiny buds of leaves appeared, poking out and unfurling. This part was a special treat, they rarely gave one plant this much magic on the farm, and feeling it spring to life was a tiny wonder, like touching the hoof of a baby foal.

After a few moments, the color of the bush deepend to the dark green of a healthy plant, as the leaves grew larger and stronger, filling in the spaces between branches. Rosebuds formed at the ends of stems, and a feeling of anticipation built in Applejack, as her mind and magic both willed one to open.

The magic buzzed through the earth, not only Applejack’s, but the combined magic of the earth ponies present. Applejack felt it under her hooves, her own magic joining the flow towards the roots of the giant rosebush that hovered on the edge of blooming. Here and there on the plant, a petal slipped loose of its bud, barely noticeable among the ribbons.

“A bloom!” somepony shouted.

Applejack stopped, scanning the bush frantically. Pinkie opened her eyes, and everypony crowded forward a little. Foals hopped on the backs of their parents or siblings to get a look, and Cheerilee walked up and examined the plant.

The bloom was high on the bush. It was hard to make out the color of the ribbon attached, but she felt Pinkie wrap a leg around her and give her a squeeze. It was near where she’d tied her orange ribbon.

A stallion pulled over the ladder and Cheerilee climbed up to the flower. Somepony offered her a pair of clippers, which she used to snip off the bloom, catching it easily in her mouth. Applejack’s eyes went wide as it became clear that the ribbon attached was orange. She scanned the crowd, trying to guess how many other orange mares there were who might have hung ribbons.

“Let’s see here. This year’s Flower Maiden is... Applejack!” Cheerilee grinned, and her eyes scanned the crowd.

The crowd cheered. Apple Bloom was jumping up and down on Mac’s back, shouting “That’s my sister! My sister’s the Flower Maiden!”

Applejack was frozen. This was a dream come true. Pinkie gave her a shove, and she stumbled forward, then blushed. Regaining her footing she walked over to Cheerilee, a grin spreading over her face.

Cheerilee pulled her into a hug. “Congratulations!”

When Cheerilee released her and smiled at her, all Applejack could do was beam back. After a few seconds Cheerilee whispered, “Applejack. Your hat.”

“Oh! Uh, yeah, I--” Applejack took her hat off, and Pinkie was at her side in a second. The pink pony grabbed the hat and stuck it on her own head, grinning at Applejack.

“I’ll be AJ today, while you be the Flower Maiden.”

A hundred ways that could be trouble crossed Applejack’s mind, but they were all pushed aside when she felt something slide past her ear and rest there in her mane. The crowd cheered again, and Applejack reached up and felt the soft petals of the rose in her hair. She held her head high and smiled for the crowd.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, the Flower Maiden! Wish her luck!” Cheerilee called.

Applejack couldn’t stop smiling, even as she was nearly bowled over by Apple Bloom.

“You’re the Flower Maiden! Do ya’ feel different? Are ya’ excited?”

“I’m-- kinda overwhelmed just now. How ‘bout we head back to the blanket?” Applejack suggested.

“Okay!” Apple Bloom agreed happily. She turned to the crowd of ponies and shouted, “Make way for the Flower Maiden, y’all!”

Applejack blushed, but the ponies happily parted and she, Pinkie, and Apple Bloom walked through the crowd and back to the blanket the Apple family had set up. Once Applejack was clear of the crowd, Apple Bloom caught sight of a crowd of foals gathering to decorate the ritual space with bushels of flowers that were loaded on a cart.

“Go on now,” Applejack said with a nod.

“I’ll see ya’ later! Don’t do nothin’ amazin’ til I get back!” Apple Bloom called over her shoulder, already running to join the other foals.

Twilight was waiting there with a strange look on her face, as if she wasn’t sure whether to laugh or panic. “Um, congratulations, AJ!”

“Thanks! You okay?”

“Yes,” Twilight answered slowly. “I mean, of course I am! I mean, you’re okay with doing the ritual, right? Whoever the Cloud Maiden happens to be?”

“Yup!” Applejack grinned. She glanced, to make sure Apple Bloom was out of earshot. “To tell the truth, I’m kinda excited ‘bout it.”

“Really?” Twilight pressed. “But you, um, don’t know who it is...”

“I know, I know. I ain’t gettin’ my hopes up too high,” Applejack blushed, realizing that might be the tiniest bit untrue. She couldn’t keep herself from dreaming of a graceful Cloud Maiden coming to her in the moonlight, the crash of thunder around them and the magic of the earth running through her body. She wasn’t the kind of mare to forget what this was really about, though, and she made up her mind to keep herself from getting carried away.

“We need to make your crown!” Pinkie announced, as Cheerilee brought over a basket of rosebuds. “Wanna help, Twilight?”

“I dunno if that’s a good idea.” Applejack smirked and raised an eyebrow at Twilight. “Rarity showed me that bird’s nest from your first Winter Wrap-Up.”

“Heh, yeah. I think I’ll just watch you guys, if you don’t mind,” Twilight agreed.

“Congratulations again, Applejack!” Cheerilee said, setting the basket on the blanket.

“Well thank ya’. I just hope I do as good a job as you did.” Applejack and Pinkie sat down next to the basket, and Applejack motioned for Twilight and Cheerilee to join them.

“Cheerilee has been Flower Maiden?” Twilight asked.

“Last year.” Cheerilee answered, as Pinkie took some rosebuds on long stems, and started weaving them together.

“And she gave us a good year, too,” Applejack added.

“Oh, I was happy to help. And I hope you’ll be that happy to help, tonight!” Cheerilee smirked a little and gave Applejack a nudge.

“I reckon I do too.” Applejack blushed, then looked away quickly. “But I’m sure I’ll be fine, even if it ain’t all fun and games.”

“You’re supposed to make it all fun and games, silly!” Pinkie said, letting a rose stem fall from her mouth. “Well, fun and really dirty games like ‘hide the tongue in the pegasus.’ It won’t take her long to find it, but she’ll really like the prize.”

Applejack and Cheerilee laughed, and Twilight snickered despite her blush.

“What’re you silly fillies goin’ on ‘bout?” Granny Smith creaked over. She was smiling proudly at Applejack, and plopped down on the blanket with a distinct lack of grace.

“They’re just givin’ me tips on bein’ Flower Maiden, Granny.”

“Here’s the trick to it, youngun. I know ya’ want a really good harvest, so what ya’ do is just give that buncha ponyfeathers the best ride ya’ can. She’ll give it back just as good, she ain’t gonna let an earth pony show ‘er up.” Granny winked. “Worked well ‘nough back in my day, at least.”

“Does every earth pony get a chance to be Flower Maiden?” Twilight asked quickly, probably trying to avoid hearing more tips from Granny Smith.

“No.” Cheerilee shook her head sadly. “We give somepony else a chance every year, but there are always a lot of ribbons on the tree. I was the first Flower Maiden from Ponyville since Mrs. Cake, ten years ago.”

“So it’s extra special that Applejack got picked this year!” Pinkie added as Cheerilee picked up another rosebud and wove it into the crown in front of them.

“Maybe you’ll get it next year, Pinkie. Then it’d be even more extra special.” Applejack smiled.

“I’ll just tie my ribbon and let the magic figure it out.” Pinkie grinned. “But I really hope you got a good Cloud Maiden!”

“I’ll deal with the pony they send me, just like Cheerilee and all the girls before.” Applejack noticed Twilight blushing, and realized that what was a mystery for her was a secret Twilight was trying to keep. A secret Applejack wanted her to keep, despite a burning desire to know. It was part of the ritual, part of the dream to meet her pony as the Cloud Maiden, not as just another pegasus from some normal place.

Applejack decided to change the course of the conversation. “What was your Cloud Maiden like, Cheerilee?”

Cheerilee smiled, blushing lightly. “The one I got, well... I’m not sure she’d ever even been with a mare. That could’ve been a problem, but she was open to instruction, at least.”

Applejack’s eyebrows went up. “I hope mine knows what to do with herself. I mean, I ain’t a filly, but I ain’t sure I’ll be in a state of mind to be givin’ somepony lessons tonight.”

Twilight spoke up again, “That reminds me... why is the ritual between two mares? Fluttershy wasn’t sure. But it would seem that, for a fertility ritual, a stallion and a mare would make more sense.”

“You know how the ancient ponies lived in herds, right?” Cheerilee answered. “If the mares in the herd were as in love with each other as they were with the stallion, that was good for the herd. They thought it made the whole herd more fertile. So since the ritual is to make the earth fertile, the Maidens are like the mares in a herd.”

“But in a herd, that was just because the family unit worked better and everypony was satisfied-- there wasn’t really anything about that that made ponies more fertile,” Twilight pointed out.

“Ponies believe what ponies believe, Twilight,” Applejack shrugged. “Nopony was gettin’ all sciency when they set up a magic ritual. They did what they knew worked.”

“Pfft. Who’re we to say they didn’t know what all they were doin’?” Granny said with a stern look at the younger ponies. “When the tribes were fightin’ like spoiled foals, sendin’ a stallion from one tribe and a mare from another woulda been askin’ for trouble. Least two mares made it so’s there weren’t no bad blood or younguns thrown in the mix. Back then it was unicorns too, so if the mares from the tribes could love each other for a night, that was likely to make the right sort of world for things to grow in.”

“Besides,” Pinkie added, “if you want to show the sky and ground how to get good and wet, two mares can do it twice as well!”

Applejack chuckled. “That’s another way of lookin’ at it.”

“Um... why did the unicorns leave the ritual?” Twilight asked.

Cheerilee offered a sympathetic smile. “We don’t really know, actually. The Sun Maiden-- that’s what she was called-- stopped being part of the ritual when Princess Celestia started raising the sun. One year she showed up instead. She didn’t join in, she just offered a kiss to the two Maidens, and that was enough for their part.”

“That makes sense,” Twilight said with just a hint of disappointment. “I think the Summer Sun Celebration took its place in magical significance for unicorns. It’s a shame, though. It seems like a really special thing for pegasi and earth ponies to share.”

“Well, we kinda depend on each other the most, these days,” Applejack pointed out. “Pegasi sure ain’t raisin’ any crops up there on the clouds, and earth ponies ain’t raisin’ ‘em on the ground if we don’t get the weather we need. And, of course, everypony needs Princess Celestia, too.”

“I know, I understand. I think I’ll ask Princess Celestia later, I’d love to know what happened.”

“She’d know what happened if anypony does,” Cheerilee agreed.

“The crown is finished!” Pinkie announced, holding up the circlet of rosebuds. “We just need your rose, Applejack.”

“Wait ‘til Apple Bloom gets back. She’ll wanna see me put it on.” Applejack smiled. She could hardly wait to add her blooming rose to the crown and place it on her head. Twilight had said that the Flower Maiden had the magic of a princess, but the rose crown suited Applejack far more than something made of gold and jewels. It was a symbol of her power, her magic; the magic of nature and growing things.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Twilight. “Where did Apple Bloom go, anyway? She was so excited, then she just ran off.”

“The foals are decorating the ritual space!” Pinkie explained with a grin. “They get to throw flowers and seeds everywhere, so it smells nice and look pretty and there are things that will grow when the magic comes through it.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that kind of weird? I mean, should the foals even know about this?”

Granny gave a snort. “And why wouldn’t they? They’ll be grown ponies soon enough, might as well tell ‘em as they get old ‘nough to understand. The littlest youngun’s just think it’s a party, with some pretty filly gettin’ a flower crown. Then they get older, and they get more of the picture, so when they’re old ‘nough to tie a ribbon they know it’s just a part of the world turnin’.”

Cheerilee nodded and smiled. “Look at it this way, Twilight. When you found out, you thought it was a little strange, didn’t you?”

“Well... yes,” Twilight admitted.

“Apple Bloom and the other fillies here will never think it’s strange. It’s what we do. Apple Bloom knows that I was Flower Maiden last year, she might even know what that means, but even though she’s just a foal she understands that it was an honor and didn’t blink at seeing me in class the next day.”

“And she was really proud of Applejack, and Applejack doesn’t have to try to lie to her to cover it up,” Pinkie pointed out.

Applejack chuckled. “Yeah, that probably wouldn’t work too well.”

“Well, it certainly makes the day feel friendly and festive.” Twilight looked around at the event, then she smiled. “I’ve had so much fun here, and I’ve learned a lot.”

“Glad we could help ya’ Twi.” Applejack said. She looked around herself, proud of the earth ponies for coming together and making the festival a success and feeling slightly responsible for it all. She reminded herself that she had very little to do with it, her part came later, but that just made her smile. She, alone, had the chance to do her part for Maidens Day at the center of it all, where everypony would know this was her day.

Pinkie spoke up, “Yeah, that sounds like a perfect day for you! And Applejack is gonna have a perfect night, and I love it when my friends are happy!”

“I dunno if it’s gonna be perfect.” Applejack blushed.

“You’ll do a good job of it,” Granny just said with a nod. “You’re a strong pony, you’ll give us all a good harvest.”

Applejack smiled. “I will Granny. Whatever happens y’all can count on that.”

That was the long and short of it, Applejack reminded herself. This day wasn’t about making a pony special, it wasn’t about some dream in the ritual. It was about making sure the crops grew for all Equestria. The Flower Maiden could have been any of the mares who tied their ribbons, there was no excuse for Applejack to puff up over it.

“Applejack! Applejack!” Apple Bloom’s voice rang out, and seconds later she was trotting up to the blanket. “I made sure the clearin’s all ready for ya’. There’s tons of flowers, and seeds you can make grow! And when ya’ look up, the pegasi got the clouds all swirly like I never seen before!”

“Well now, that sure does sound nice,” Applejack said. “I really appreciate it, sugarcube. Now, ya’ wanna help me put my bloom on my crown?”

Apple Bloom’s eyes went wide. “Yeah! Of course I do!”

Applejack and the other grown ponies chuckled. “Okay, but you gotta be real careful.”

Applejack lowered her head, and Apple Bloom carefully took the rose in her mouth. Pinkie held out the crown in her hoof, and Apple Bloom wove the stem of the blossom around the stems of the rosebuds that made up the rest of the circlet. When she finished, Pinkie let her take the whole crown and place it gently on Applejack’s head. Then Apple Bloom took a step back and gave a considering look.

“How’s it look?” Applejack asked.

“One more thing...” Apple Bloom darted forward and pulled the ribbon holding Applejack’s mane, letting it free from it’s ponytail so it fell loose over her shoulders.

“You’re the Flower Maiden for real now! You look so pretty, sis!” Apple Bloom cheered.

“You do look lovely. I’m amazed it took so long for you to have a turn, it really suits you,” Cheerilee added.

Applejack blushed and undid her tail ribbon. “Thank ya’, but it ain’t that much difference.”

“You’re right, it’s not! But that just means that you always look almost like a Flower Maiden, and you’ll be the best Flower Maiden ever.” Pinkie grinned and gave Applejack a nuzzle.

“You really do look impressive, AJ,” Twilight said, honestly.

“It’s just some roses on my head,” Applejack pointed out.

“I know, but it looks noble.” Twilight smiled. “I mean, if I tried to imagine an earth pony princess, well, she would look like you do now.”

“Really?” Applejack just beamed, still blushing. Normally she would have felt strange without her stetson, and with her mane and tail untied, but this felt right. She was as nature made her, with nothing but the crown made from the magic of growing things, and her friends and family could see how special she was.

Twilight nodded, then blushed. “The Cloud Maiden will be impressed.”

The thought made Applejack’s heart soar. She couldn’t keep from grinning at thoughts of the Cloud Maiden struck dumb from seeing her there, a living symbol of the glory of the earth. The fantasy stopped as she chastised herself. She knew if her head got any bigger it was going to float off, and that wasn’t how she had to do this. This was about everypony else, not about Applejack playing at being magic. She had to distract herself.

“Well, shoot... I reckon I oughta go mingle some.” Applejack stood up and cast a glance at the other ponies, the ones she was doing this for. “There’s a lotta ponies that probably wanna say hey, and wish me luck.”

“I should go check on the pegasi.” Twilight said, standing as well and spreading her wings. “I wouldn’t want to miss anything there.”

Pinkie threw a foreleg around Twilight before the princess could take off. “Will you be at the bonfire tonight? Or are you going to stay with the pegasi until the ritual? The bonfire is super fun, there’s dancing and you get to watch the pegasi put on a lightning show, but the pegasi probably have super fun too!”

“I’ll come down here for the bonfire...” Twilight agreed, moving Pinkie’s leg off her. “I’m a little bit nervous about being in the clouds during a lightning show.”

“We’ll seeya then, Twi.” Applejack smiled and waved as Twilight took off.

“See you later!” Twilight waved back, and flew up towards the clouds.

“Pinkie, Cheerilee, y’all wanna walk with me?” Applejack asked, turning back to the ponies on the blanket.

“You go ahead, I have a few ponies I want to talk to.” Cheerilee said, glancing around until she spotted the pony she was looking for. “I’ll see you girls at the bonfire!”

“What ‘bout you, Pinkie?”

Pinkie grinned and flipped Applejack’s hat on her head, then hopped on Applejack’s back and wrapped her forelegs around her neck. “I”m sticking to you like caramel on a candy apple!”

Applejack struggled for breath and tried to pry Pinkie off. “Er, that there’s just an expression, sugarcube. You don’t gotta stick quite that close.”

“Okay!” Pinkie said, and she hopped off, “Let’s go!”

The two friends happily trotted into the crowd. All around ponies smiled at Applejack, waved to her, and stepped aside to let them pass.

“Best of luck, Flower Maiden!” an older red pony called her as she walked by.

She smiled and nodded. “Thank ya’ kindly!”

“Wanna go look at the jams? I thought I should bring Mrs. Cake something yummy, and jam is yummy and she could make it into something even yummier like cookies or pastries.”

“Sounds fine.” Applejack said as a light brown stallion with a plow for a cutie mark walked up to her.

“‘Scuse me, Miss Flower Maiden?”

“Just Applejack. What can I do for ya’?” Applejack said.

“I was wonderin’ if you could give some magic to my seedlings there? For luck, ya’ know.” He nodded to a wagon nearby.

Applejack chuckled. It was an old mare’s tale that the Flower Maiden’s magic would attract the ritual magic, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt anything. “Why sure. Pinkie, ya’ mind waitin’ a sec?”

Pinkie shook her head, and Applejack walked over to the tray of small plants. She touched the earth, and tiny leaves trembled as her magic flowed from her hooves into the plants.

“Thank ya’, Applejack. And good luck tonight!” the stallion said with a grin.

“No trouble at all!” Applejack said, and she rejoined Pinkie.

“That was nice of you.” Pinkie smiled, and lead the way to the stand where a pony was selling dozens of kinds of jams.

“Nah, I mean, it’s my job today. I’m doin’ this for all the ponies here, right?” Applejack’s smile wavered as she glanced around.

“Um... yup!” Pinkie agreed happily.

“Darn tootin’.” Applejack nodded. “It’s got nothin’ to do with me.”

“Oh, except that you’re the Flower Maiden and you get to have really great sex with the Cloud Maiden and feel all the earth pony magic in Equestria inside of you! That has a little to do with you,” Pinkie pointed out.

“Yeah, I reckon it does.” Applejack blushed. Then she sighed, and looked at Pinkie. After several seconds hesitation, she said, “I’m just... a mite worried, is all.”

Pinkie’s eyes went wide. “Oh no! What is it? Is there a thorn sticking you? Do you have a feather allergy? Did a version of you come from the future and now we have to try to stop some awful thing from happening and cause it to happen that way?”

“Uh, no.” Applejack rolled her eyes. “I’m just lookin’ forward to this.”

Pinkie gasped in horror. Then she stopped, and wrinkled her brow. “Um, that’s a good thing.”

“I know. But what I mean is, this is important. It’s for all the farms and critters and ponies in Equestria. It’s a job, and I’m gonna do it right. But that ain’t what I’m thinkin’ ‘bout. So, what if I’m too much focused on me likin’ it, and it ain’t as good as I think it oughta be? I could let everypony down that way.” Applejack frowned and shook her head. “I shouldn’t be lettin’ my thinkin’ get so messy.”

“If it’s not as good as you think it should be, you should make it as good as you think it should be. You need to like it, that’s your job today, but you’re not going to be able to like it if you’re too worried about how much you’re going to like it.” Pinkie smiled and wrapped a leg around Applejack, and said kindly, “You need to relax.”

“I know.” Applejack gave Pinkie a worried smile. “I’m gettin’ myself all worked up right now. Maybe it’ll go perfect. And if it don’t, I’ll think of somethin’.”

“Good!” Pinkie grinned. “Right now, I’m thinking of something, and it starts with yummy and ends with food!”

Applejack chuckled. “Okay, let’s go get some grub.” She headed towards where several of the food stalls had grouped together, Pinkie walking beside her and chattering the whole way.

Along the way a little filly grinned and called, “Good luck, Miss Flower Maiden!”

“Thank ya’, sugarcube,” Applejack answered, as she wondered how much she would need it.