Maidens Day

Rainbow Dash lay on one of the couches in her room in the Cloud Temple, staring at the ceiling. “How long until my life is over?”

“The ritual is in about six hours,” Fluttershy answered gently. “Aren’t you going to have some dinner?”

Dash sighed. “I might as well, since nopony will ever have food again after this.”

Fluttershy landed next to her, and set a plate of fruit and vegetables on Dash’s stomach. “Look, I made you a smiley face with grapes and a melon slice,” Fluttershy pointed out in her best talking-to-Angel-Bunny voice.

Dash picked up the melon slice and turned it upside-down into a frown, then started munching the lettuce Fluttershy had used for a mane.

Fluttershy frowned and sighed. “I wish Pinkie Pie was here.”

“Hey girls! How’s it going?” Twilight’s voice came from the open balcony. Fluttershy smiled, probably glad to have somepony there who wasn’t predicting the imminent destruction of Equestria with each breath.

“Um... fine. Things are just fine.” Fluttershy said with a worried glance to Rainbow Dash. “How were things below? Did the earth ponies pick a Flower Maiden?”

Twilight’s smile grew a little too wide, and her eyes twitched nervously back and forth. “Heh, well... um, yes, they did!”

Dash’s ears perked up. Twilight knew who the Flower Maiden was. If she would tell Dash, maybe the three of them could make a plan and it wouldn’t be all up to Dash to figure out what to do. After all, Twilight knew about magic, and Fluttershy knew about ponies feelings and stuff, and Dash knew about sex.

“So, uh, who’d they pick?” Dash said casually, hoping Twilight would let it slip.

“Don’t tell her!” Fluttershy squeaked urgently, then she turned to admonish Dash. “You know you’re not supposed to know.”

“Guys, I have to know!” Dash looked between them frantically. “If I know, I can figure out something that’ll impress her, and maybe keep everypony in Equestria from starving!”

Fluttershy patted Dash’s shoulder. “You’re going to do fine. Now eat your dinner.”

“Just tell me she’s hot,” Dash begged Twilight. “No, don’t! Tell me she’s not hot. She’ll be harder to impress if she’s hot. But, what if she’s not hot and she can’t do anything for me? Okay, on a scale of one to ten, is she a 7.3? I need a 7.3, Twilight!”

Twilight blushed, looking confused and panicked at the question, but Fluttershy spoke up before she answered. “Not a word, Twilight. Rainbow is supposed to meet the mare in the ritual.”

“Okay,” Twilight said, with a grateful glance at Fluttershy. “Sorry, Dash.”

“Pleeeease tell me.” Dash fell to her knees in front of Twilight. “This is my only hope! If you don’t tell me, my life is ruined!”

“You’ll do fine.” Fluttershy sighed and nudged Rainbow Dash back to the couch.

“So, you guys have been in here all day?” Twilight asked.

“Yes... it’s supposed to be calm and relaxing for her.” Fluttershy said, rolling her eyes a little. “And it also keeps her safe. Pegasi can be... competitive, and a long time ago ponies would challenge the Cloud Maiden to try to take the crown for themselves.”

Dash’s eyes lit up again, but this time Fluttershy noticed and cut her off with a stare. Dash blushed and looked away.

Twilight gave Dash a sympathetic smile. “Dash, is there anything I can get for you? A book or a game or something?”

“No.”

“I’ve offered a dozen times.” Fluttershy shook her head. “She’s just too nervous.”

Twilight walked over next to Dash. “It’ll be okay, really. I can’t tell you about the Flower Maiden, but I can tell you that there’s no chance that you’ll let anypony down tonight.”

Rainbow Dash glanced at Twilight out of the corner of her eye, and Twilight smiled.

“I promise, Dash.”

“Okay,” Dash agreed and tried to relax with a deep breath. It didn’t work very well, but she had to trust Twilight; Twilight had to know something or she wouldn’t have promised like that. Maybe it was some earth pony secret, or maybe the Flower Maiden had been wishing for a pony just like Dash. Neither of those seemed likely, but Twilight wasn’t about to tell.

The ponies were quiet for a few moments, until Twilight spoke up softly, “How long have you wanted to be Cloud Maiden, Dash?”

“I don’t know.” Dash sighed. “I mean, since I knew it was a contest I could win. Then I found out what they did in the ritual around the same time that started to seem like fun, so that part was cool too.”

“So you’ve been waiting for this for most of your life?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah. I just didn’t figure it out before.” Dash shook her head, thinking of how many Cloud Maidens she’d heard announced, how many speeches she heard like the one with her name at the end. “I didn’t listen.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “What didn’t you listen to?”

“I thought it was just a contest, and you win the contest, and the crown and the ritual are the prize, but it’s just another contest. And it’s... impossible to win.”

Twilight got a strange, worried look on her face. “Please don’t think of it as a contest.”

“It is a contest.” Dash insisted. “It’s me against the Cloud Maiden. I have to prove I’m as good as the Cloud Maiden, and you heard Spitfire, the Cloud Maiden is all the pegasi, all of our magic. Really, she’s more than that, she’s the whole idea of pegasi. I have to prove to everypony that I can be as good as anypony ever thought a pegasus could be. And if I fail, I don’t just lose a crown. Ponies will get hurt, Twilight.

“I don’t know how to do this.” Dash finished, quietly. She thought that telling other ponies your problems was supposed to help, but she just felt worse than she had before.

“Other ponies have done it, Dash. Normal, ordinary ponies,” Twilight pointed out.

“And you’ll be the Cloud Maiden,” Fluttershy added in a soft, firm voice. “When you step into the ritual, you’ll have the magic to be that pegasus.”

“What if I don’t?” Dash snapped.

“Hey, Fluttershy...” Twilight leaned over and whispered in her ear.

Fluttershy looked slightly surprised. “You could, um, ask the guards.”

“Ask the guards what?” Dash looked suspiciously between the two of them.

“Give me just a minute,” Twilight said with a smile, flying up and towards the door of the room. She stepped outside, and Dash just watched to door, confused.

After a few minutes, Twilight returned with an even bigger smile on her face. She flew over to the open balcony, and paused, waiting. “Come on, Dash. You too, Fluttershy.”

Dash looked to Fluttershy, who smiled and nodded at her, following Twilight. Dash flew after her, and noticed her pick up the lightning crown. The three headed out the window.

It was a breath of fresh air for Dash. As large and airy as the room was, it felt stifling compared to the wind in her mane and the sun on her back. Dash did a few lazy flips, before falling in behind Twilight. The flight ended far too quickly, as Twilight just landed on the roof of the temple. At least there was still a light breeze blowing. She could feel it in her mane.

“Uh, what are we doing on the roof?” Dash asked, raising an eyebrow at Twilight.

“You needed some fresh air.” Twilight smiled. “Now put on your crown.”

Dash eyed the crown Fluttershy was holding. She knew that the only problem with it was that it itched a little, and she could probably adjust it so it wasn’t uncomfortable at all, but it looked like a torture device to her. “Do I have to?”

“Yup.” Twilight nodded.

Dash sighed and took the thing from Fluttershy. She set it on her rainbow mane, and looked impatiently at Twilight. “There. What is this abo-- what?”

Twilight and Fluttershy were both smiling at her, with pride shining in their eyes.

“Oh Rainbow, you look so strong!”

“You look like a princess, Dash. Like you should be leading the pegasi.” Twilight grinned as she seemed to remember something. “The magic knows who it wants to work through...”

Dash spread her wings, and flapped into the air. Just being in the sky was calming her nerves, and Fluttershy and Twilight’s reassurances seemed more believable here. Her magic, the magic of the sky, had never let her down before. She smiled a little, starting to trust it again, for the first time since she put the crown on.

“Hey,” a new voice called.

The three of them looked over to see Lightning Dust standing about twenty feet away. Fluttershy stepped in front of Rainbow Dash, and Twilight’s horn started to glow. Dash just stared at her rival in shock.

If Lightning Dust challenged her for the crown, she could let Lightning Dust take it. Dash would be a laughing stock, but the ritual would be out of her hooves. Nopony would get hurt because of her.

But that wouldn’t be fair to the pegasi, or the judges of the contest. And if Lightning Dust didn’t complete the ritual, it would be Dash’s failure just as much as if she’d messed up. Even if nopony else blamed her, she would blame herself.

“Stay back, girls.” Dash ordered. She kept her eyes locked on Lightning Dust, but her expression turned to determination. “You can’t have the crown.”

Lightning Dust tried to stare her down, but Dash didn’t blink. She didn’t narrow her eyes, or prepare for a fight. She just tried to show the confidence of a champion; of a pony who wasn’t interested in a battle she knew she was going to win.

“I-- I wasn’t going to challenge for it. Really,” Lightning Dust said. “I mean, I can always try again next year. Nopony would care as much if I didn’t win it in the arena. I just saw you down here, and I wanted to say... you look like the Cloud Maiden.”

Dash kept her stare fixed on Lightning Dust for a moment. Then she smiled a little, and nodded. “Thanks.”

“Good luck. Make everypony proud.”

‘I will,” Dash said, almost feeling the certainty she put into the words. “Wanna come have dinner with us?”

“Nah, the party’s gonna start soon.” Lightning Dust rose into the air. “I’ll seeya later!” She flew towards the edge of the roof, then down out of sight.

Twilight and Fluttershy both grinned at Dash.

“Come on, Cloud Maiden. Let’s go get some dinner.”

***

A little while later the three were sitting in the room in the Cloud Temple, finishing dinner. Dash kept her crown on this time. It didn’t feel as itchy anymore, and when she caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror she realized that she did look awesome. She decided on a basic plan for the ritual; land, say some respectful stuff to the Flower Maiden, kiss her, have sex. As long as she could be awesome and do those things, the ritual would go fine.

Outside of the temple, the sun was going down, and a loud, low horn sounded, followed by a low roll of drums.

“What’s that?” Twilight asked.

“The party’s starting,” Dash said, taking a bite of another apple, which made Twilight smirk for some reason.

Fluttershy flew to the balcony and looked down. “The earth ponies’ bonfires are lit already. The lightning show will be starting soon.”

“Are you going to our party, or the bonfires?” Dash asked.

“I told Pinkie I’d go to the bonfires.” Twilight blushed. “I’m a little scared of being up here during a lightning show.”

“Twilight, this is pegasi showing off,” Dash pointed out, rolling her eyes. “That show is so controlled you could use a bolt to light a candle.”

“But don’t worry, you can see it from the ground. I’m sure it’s very nice,” Fluttershy added.

“Besides, are you guys even going to the party?” Twilight asked, glancing out at the sky where pegasi were descending to the cloud platform below.

“We’ll watch from the balcony. I can’t go, and Fluttershy won’t go alone.”

Fluttershy smiled. “I’d rather be here anyway.”

“Well, Applejack and Pinkie will both be at the bonfires--” Twilight cut off, then finished hesitantly, “um, was I allowed to say that?”

Dash shrugged. “I guess. I mean, we figured the earth ponies go to their party.”

“So, um, why is everything a secret?” Twilight asked. “I mean, I can kind of see why it’s secret from unicorns, it does seem kind of weird, but why is everything so separate between you guys and the earth ponies?”

“It’s just how things are.” Dash gave another shrug.

“I don’t think there would be any harm in changing it,” Twilight offered. “I could tell you guys about the earth ponies’ day, there’s nothing weird or crazy about it.”

“Yes... but is there any harm in us not knowing?” Fluttershy asked.

Dash considered the idea. “I don’t care about not knowing about the earth ponies, but I don’t think I’d want them to know about our contests. It’s kind of special, I guess. Usually, stuff is open to everypony, even the stuff in Cloudsdale, as long as they can get up there. But this is only for pegasi. I mean, it’s rough, don’t get me wrong. But it’s... us.”

Fluttershy nodded. “I could never compete, and I do think the competition is too rough, especially the fighting cube, but I can’t imagine the pegasi without it. If the other kinds of ponies knew and watched, it would seem worse, because it wouldn’t be about being a pegasus anymore.”

“I think I understand that.” Twilight nodded. “As long as it’s just you guys who do it, it’s kind of your traditions, for better or worse. But if other ponies watched they might be judging the pegasi, and thinking they’re weird or silly.”

“Something like that,” Fluttershy said. “So, it’s only fair that we don’t know about the earth ponies celebration.”

“Okay, well, I guess I should get going. It’s starting to get dark,” Twilight pointed out.

Dash could see the stars appearing in the sky outside as the sun sank below the horizon, but the last orange rays were clinging to the clouds by the ritual space. It made them seem to glow, and sent a shiver up her spine.

“It’s not that late yet,” Dash said, trying to shrug off the tension growing in muscles.

“I think the show will be starting soon,” Fluttershy pointed out. “Twilight should go to the bonfires.”

“Yeah,” Twilight agreed. “I’ll see you during the ritual, Fluttershy?”

“Oh yes, I’ll be watching with you and Pinkie and Applejack.”

“Heh...” Twilight gave a nervous smile. “Yeah, well, good luck, Cloud Maiden!”

“Yeah,” Dash answered distantly.

“You’ll do fine,” Twilight comforted her.

“I know.” Dash nodded. “I mean, I’m the Cloud Maiden, right?”

“Right,” Twilight agreed.

“I’m the Cloud Maiden,” Dash repeated, mostly to herself.

Twilight gave a wave. “See you girls later!”

Dash watched Twilight take off, and followed her form as she flew down through the clouds towards the orange dots of the bonfires below.

I’m the Cloud Maiden. The phrase ran through her head. She knew it was true, she had felt it earlier.

Hadn’t she? She had felt sure that she needed to be the Cloud Maiden. Sure that she was supposed to wear the crown. But... she hadn’t felt the magic she’d need. When did that happen? When she entered the ritual space? When she saw the Flower Maiden? What if it just didn’t come? Without that magic, she wasn’t the Cloud Maiden, she was just Rainbow Dash. And Rainbow Dash couldn’t do anything that would make all the plants in Equestria grow.

For now, she had to take it on faith; she was going to be the Cloud Maiden, tonight, when it counted. She just had to believe in herself, and convince the Flower Maiden to believe in her.

She looked out at the ritual space as the last of the sun’s light dimmed and the glow reflected on the clouds dulled to shadowy moonlight. I’m the Cloud Maiden. Please believe that.

The sky lit up as an arc of lightning flashed between two clouds. Rainbow Dash jumped, but it was followed by another, then two at the same time. She rolled her eyes at herself and smiled a little. “Fluttershy! The lightning show is starting, hurry up!”

***

Applejack gave a final bow to her last partner, and trotted happily off the dance floor laid out between the bonfires. The first round of dancing was over, it had stopped so everypony could watch the lightning show that was just starting. That would be the last of it for her this evening, nopony would ask her to dance after the lightning show, so she would be rested up tonight. She was grateful, she’d danced to every one of the first round of songs, and she had to admit to being a little out of breath as she sat down on the Apple family blanket next to Macintosh and Apple Bloom.

Everypony was watching the lightning show, the wild bolts shooting from cloud to cloud with loud cracks of thunder, four and five at a time in different directions. It flashed in patterns, and sometimes they’d light up a cloud to reveal a cloud sculpture, or set off some small firework on a cloud. Apple Bloom was amazed, oohing and aaahing as the pegasi showed off their tricks.

Looking up at the sky, Applejack couldn’t help thinking of the lightning later. It would be closer, right inside the circle with her, coming from the magic the Cloud Maiden would release as the Flower Maiden drew it out. Applejack grinned, the idea seemed so reckless, a pony would have to be in the heat of passion to try to bring that kind of magic through another pony, to ignore the thunder and lightning and rain, and be focused on pleasing a lover who was the sky herself. She could hardly wait.

Everything about the lightning seemed dangerous to Applejack, the jagged bolts, the blinding flashes, the earth shaking booms of the thunder that came with them, but she knew it was carefully controlled with pegasus magic. And up in those clouds with that lightning was a girl who would take hold of all of that dangerous magic, and give Applejack the chance to set it free. And Applejack would have all of the power of the earth inside of her, the force of life that flowed through all the plants gathered in one pony, waiting for release.

The display in the sky seemed to hypnotize her, letting dreams play in her head of a world where she, dependable old Applejack, was a powerful goddess, meeting a beautiful pegasus consort, both of them filled with raw desire to the point where the rest of Equestria would be forgotten. No friends, no family, no farm, just two forces of nature overwhelming each other with their magic. Manes and tails wild as the storm ripped around them, the magic of the earth flowing through her body into the ground with each wave of--

“Wasn’t that amazin’?” Apple Bloom asked.

Applejack blinked, and a blush rose quickly to her cheeks. “Oh, uh, yeah! Sure was!” The lightning show had ended without her noticing, and ponies were rising to their hooves, the dancing was starting again, and families with foals were starting to pack up to leave.

“Come ‘long, half-pint.” Granny said, standing and stretching with the rest of the ponies.

“Applejack, please, can’t I stay for the ritual?”

“You just ain’t old enough, Apple Bloom,” Applejack said calmly.

“But I know you’re gonna have s--” Apple Bloom was cut off as Mac covered her mouth.

Applejack smirked. “When I get home, we’re gonna have a talk ‘bout who told ya’ bout that. But for now, even if ya’ know, you’re too young to watch. Maybe next year.”

“But--”

“Nope,” Big Mac said firmly.

“Alright.” Apple Bloom looked down, ears drooping.

“Come on, lil’ sis.” Mac lowered his body to let Apple Bloom climb on his back. She scampered on, still pouting a little. But Mac just smiled at AJ. “Good luck. Give us a good crop.”

“Yeah, do a good job, AJ!” Apple Bloom, said, a grin replacing her pout.

“You betcha.” Applejack gave a smile and a wave as her family headed for home, sure that the ritual was in capable hooves this year.

As soon as they were out of sight, Applejack sat back down on the blanket and sighed. It wasn’t working. No matter how she tried to focus on the job at hoof, those thoughts crept into her mind. Then she realized it and felt guilty all over again.

She glanced up at the dance floor, and saw Twilight and Pinkie headed towards her around the edges of the ponies taking their places before the music started.

“Hi Applejack,” Twilight said as they walked up. “How are you feeling?”

Applejack managed a smile. “Right as rain, and ready as I’m gonna get. As long as I can keep myself on track, this oughta be a cinch.”

“Keep yourself on track?” Twilight asked.

“Ya’ know, stay focused. Not let myself get to thinkin’ about the Cloud Maiden, and how amazin’ she’s gonna look, and how great it’s gonna be, and how unbelievable it’s all gonna feel and...” Applejack blinked, her friends were staring at her. “Er, I guess keepin’ on track is gettin’ to be a problem.”

“You know what you need? A distraction!” Pinkie said, grinning. “Um...” She looked around, then pointed a hoof. “Hey! Look over there!”

Applejack just raised her eyebrow.

“Okay, different distraction...” Pinkie put a hoof to her chin, deep in thought.

Twilight just shifted uncomfortably and gave a nervous smile. “Applejack, I know you want this to be, well, magical, but maybe you should think of what Cheerilee said earlier. The Cloud Maiden might need your help to make it magical.”

Applejack’s face fell slightly. “I know. And... I’ll do all I can, in that case. I’m a dependable pony, everypony can count on me.”

“If that happens you’ll still have lots of fun!” Pinkie pointed out. “There’s nothing you like more than helping other ponies.”

“Yup. Everypony knows that.” Applejack said with a half-hearted smile. She shook her head. “I’m actin’ like a big foal about this.”

“You’re not acting like a foal...” Twilight said, putting a wing around Applejack. “You’re just excited. I understand, it’s really exciting, not many ponies will ever get to do something like this.”

Applejack bit her lip. “It’s... special, right?”

“Of course it is!” Pinkie insisted.

“… and I’m a good Flower Maiden,” Applejack assured herself.

“I can’t think of anypony better, AJ,” Twilight said with a warm smile.

“Well, then... at least I got that.” Applejack gave a wan smile. “At least my friends can see it, even if the Cloud Maiden don’t notice.”

Pinkie grinned and nuzzled AJ. “Applejack, all of your friends always think you’re special!”

“Well... of course y’all do!” Applejack blushed. “I didn’t mean that. It’s just... well... never mind.”

“You can talk about it,” Twilight suggested.

Applejack sighed. “I wanna feel really special, Twilight. For just bein’ me, for bein’ the Flower Maiden. I know everypony appreciates all I do for the farm and the town and my friends. But I guess I’ve just been hopin’ that tonight the Cloud Maiden’ll see me without all that, and she’ll think I’m an amazing pony without knowin’ anything ‘bout me, but that I’m the Flower Maiden.”

Applejack hesitantly looked up and saw Twilight’s worried face. She went on quickly, “Never mind! Never you mind that. That’s all foolish talk, a pony oughta be judged on what she does, not who she is or how much magic she’s got! Bein’ good to other ponies and doin’ this ritual right, that’s all that matters...”

“Applejack, everypony can see you’re special! You’re the Flower Maiden!” Pinkie grinned. “If the Cloud Maiden can’t see that, she probably landed on her head a few too many times.”

Twilight was suddenly seized by a coughing fit.

“You okay?” Applejack asked.

“Oh, yes! Ahem. Just fine.” Twilight blushed, and thought carefully before she went on. “Um... AJ, I can’t tell you about the Cloud Maiden, but I can tell you that she will know you’re special, without you having to say or do a thing.”

“You really think so, Twi?” Applejack asked, hopefully.

“Absolutely.” Twilight nodded. “But that doesn’t mean things will go perfectly...”

“I know. Things don’t always work out like you hope.” Applejack said. Then she added, almost shyly, “But, can a pony really keep from hopin’?”

“Hope for the best, plan for a party; that’s what I always say!” Pinkie bounced a few times. “That way, if things go wrong and the best doesn’t happen, you can still have a party.”

“Actually, that’s pretty smart, Pinkie,” Twilight giggled. “It’s okay to think about things going perfectly, but have a back up plan that’s still a lot of fun. Having fun is kind of your job tonight, AJ.”

Applejack chuckled. “That’s true enough. So I guess I oughta be ready to make her feel special, and help her out if she needs it, and I’m sure we can get friendly enough to make each other feel good.”

“Speaking of parties, there’s one happening now and I’m not dancing, you guys!” Pinkie pointed out, with a grin that said she was about to correct this.

“You go on and have some fun, Pinkie.” Applejack smiled. “You too, Twilight.”

“I’d rather stay here, if that’s okay with you. I’ve done a lot of flying today, I think I’d rather just watch.”

“Okie-dokie! I’ll be back, Applejack! Tonight, Twilight!” Pinkie gave a wave as she hopped off towards the crowded dance floor.

After she left, Applejack’s face fell a little. She and Twilight sat down on the blanket and watched the dancing in silence. Everypony was having fun, and where one or two weren’t they were introduced to a pink blur pulling them into a throng of dancing ponies.

Applejack looked down and shook her head. “Ya’ know, Pinkie’s a good pony.”

“You don’t want her to be Flower Maiden, do you?” Twilight asked, sounding worried.

Applejack looked up, confused. “Uh, Twilight, I’m Flower Maiden. The rosebush picked me. We can’t just switch or somethin’.”

“Okay.” Twilight gave a relieved smile. “Well then, what makes you say that? I mean, I agree, of course. It was just kind of out of nowhere.”

“Just look at her out there, makin’ sure everypony’s dancin’ and enjoyin’ themselves...” Applejack motioned to the dance floor. “That’s what bein’ an earth pony is about, Twilight. It’s about everypony else. Bein’ a good daughter, a good sister, a good friend, a good citizen... it’s all ‘bout makin’ sure the other ponies in your life are taken care of. Ya’ know, earth ponies don’t really feel like they can count on unicorns and pegasi? Not that me and Pinkie don’t count on you girls, just that every earth pony was raised to put everypony else first, and pegasi and unicorns sometimes don’t.”

Applejack paused, then sighed and looked into the distance. “It’s hard. Ya’ know, sometimes I’m jealous of Dash and Rarity.They’re great friends, but then they get to step out into that spotlight and not worry ‘bout everypony else. It’s just them there, bein’ all special.”

“That’s what you want tonight,” Twilight said quietly, looking into the same darkness past the bonfires.

“It ain’t what I’m supposed to want tonight,” Applejack said, the frustration clear in her voice. “But it is. Just one night to shine, Twilight... even if it’s just for the Cloud Maiden.”

“You know, AJ, sometimes I forget that you’re an earth pony,” Twilight looked at Applejack. “And sometimes I forget that Rainbow Dash is a pegasus, and that Rarity is a unicorn. You’re all just my friends, and those things seem like little physical differences, like coat colors or mane styles. I forget that those things are part of how we see the world, that we’re coming from different places even if they bring us to the same conclusions.”

Twilight smiled as Applejack looked to her. The young princess went on, “I’m glad I came today, it’s all so clear here. The earth pony festival feels like Ponyville, but... more. It’s obvious that Ponyville is an earth pony town, even if there are pegasi and unicorns and an alicorn living there. I’ll never say another word about Winter Wrap-Up, doing it the earth pony way is just right for Ponyville.

“The pegasi are so different. And, I can imagine what a unicorn camp would look like, with huge magical tents carefully arranged, and everypony discussing ideas about magic and art and literature, trying to show off their talents without looking like they’re showing off... They’re all fun and special, I feel so lucky to understand all three.”

Applejack smiled. “I’m right proud to be an earth pony, but I’ll never say that pegasi and unicorns ain’t every bit as special in their own ways.”

Twilight glanced to the dance floor. “The earth pony community makes you special, AJ, I can see some of the best parts of you come from that. I think that maybe some of the best parts of me come from growing up as a unicorn. But they can also mess us up; they’re ideals to live up to, but we’re just ponies.”

“Livin’ up to things is what good ponies try to do,” Applejack pointed out. “You gotta have a way of knowin’ what’s right.”

“But knowing that you can’t always live up to it keeps you from going crazy.” Twilight gave Applejack a nuzzle. “You’re not just an earth pony, you know. You’re a pony living in Equestria, so you can see there are other ways of being a pony that are just as good. You don’t have to feel bad for wanting to be more individualistic, you know that Rainbow Dash and Rarity are good ponies, and they’ve never tried to be good earth ponies.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow with a smile. “Uh, that’s cause they ain’t earth ponies, Twilight.”

Twilight shook her head. “It’s not that simple. What about the Cake twins?”

“Huh?” Now Applejack was definitely not following.

“Well, they have earth pony parents, but everypony is going to expect them to act like a unicorn and a pegasus,” Twilight explained. “How will they think they should act?”

“I dunno.” Applejack gave a shrug, then considered it. “I mean, that’s kinda a weird situation. Most ponies have one parent or the other like them, to show ‘em how to be.”

“Well, even those of us who learned from our parents still live and work together. So even if you’re an earth pony, through and through, you also have friends who are pegasi and unicorns and you pick up things from them. Trying to live up to the earth pony ideal is probably hard to start with, and when you see pegasi or unicorns able to have something you want, that’s going to make you jealous and guilty.” Twilight regarded Applejack with a sad smile. “That’s where you are, right? You feel bad for wanting something that isn’t bad if pegasi or unicorns want it, but it’s wrong for earth ponies.”

“I guess that’s right,” Applejack said.

“I won’t say that’s silly, because it’s not.” Twilight sighed. “It’s really hard. If you go into this like it’s a job you’re doing for other ponies, you’re not being true to yourself. But if you go into it and try to make yourself special, and something goes wrong, you’ll feel like you didn’t do your best as an earth pony. That’s a difficult choice.”

Applejack thought about that. She thought about walking up to that hilltop ready to get the job done, with the same good natured cheer she used for bucking apples or helping out around town. But as she tried to picture it, bits of dream floated in; the moonlight on her pale blonde hair, the shadow of wings, the passion in the eyes of another pony on seeing her for the first time. She shook her head, and whispered to Twilight, “I dunno if it is a choice. I can’t stop thinkin’ about it. As much as I wanna be an earth pony, as proud as I am of the earth pony way... I’m Applejack first, ya’ know? And maybe Applejack ain’t the best earth pony there is.”

“I know, AJ. But you’re one of the best ponies there is. And the Cloud Maiden...” Twilight looked up to the clouds, worried. “Well, I know that no matter what happens, you guys will work something out.”

Applejack bit her lip in excitement and couldn’t keep a small smile off her face. “I hope so.”