Under the Black Sky

Location: Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville
Date: March 29. It has been three days since Sky gave his report on the mission to Polarmino to the Equestrian Royal Council.

A crystal blue sky, unblemished by any cloud or wisp of dragon smoke, lay draped from horizon to horizon, as far as the eye could see. The sun stood vigilantly in the vast blue expanse, its light reflected and refracted through the dewdrops that rested on flowers and leaves nearby. A calm, gentle breeze blew from the west. The air was pristine and warm, but not too warm. All in all, it was a perfect day. As perfect as it could be.

But Sky knew better.

Somewhere out there, a ravenous monster was biding its time, waiting to make its strike against Equestria, still bearing a grudge against Sky himself. A pair of families in a small village in the far north of the land were still mourning the loss of their patriarchs. And the thought that countless more families might have to endure the same tragedy caused Sky’s vision to turn gray and made his stomach turn.

Still, Sky couldn’t help feel his spirits rise on account of the good weather. His time in Polarmino, however short, had triggered a craving to return to a more moderate climate. In fact, one of the only reasons Sky ever wanted to return to Polarmino was to see Lily Pond, the mare that had helped him on his most recent mission. Their date just before Sky had left had been quite enjoyable, and Sky found himself eager to see her again, even after only a few days.

But for now, Sky was in the company of his other friends: Twilight, Spike, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie were all gathered together on the plantation at Sweet Apple Acres for what Applejack had termed a “get-together.” Even some of Applejack’s family had decided to take a day off to offer their company to the group, which brought a smile to everypony’s face.

Sky and Applejack stood a bit separated from the rest of the group. “Nice place you got here,” Sky commented as he took in the sights, sounds, and smells of Sweet Apple Acres. “I don’t think I’d mind living on a farm if I knew it’d be like this.”

Applejack chuckled a bit in response. “It is nice, but it’s a lot o’ work to keep it like this. I once tried to take care of it all by myself.”

Sky raised an eyebrow. “How’d that turn out?”

“Oh, like I suppose you’d expect it to. One pony, no matter how strong or how determined they are, just isn’t enough to take care of somethin' this big on their own.”

“Hm.” Sky hesitated for a moment before asking the burning question. “This story wouldn’t have anything to do with me, would it?”

Applejack looked him square in the eye. “Sky, I can tell yer still upset about yer last mission. And that’s fine; I’d expect that any of us would be after somethin’ like that. But I also know that you haven’t been talkin’ to anypony about it. Yer just keepin’ it all bottled up inside yerself. And that ain’t good for ya. We’re yer friends, Sky, and we wanna help you in any way we can. No one pony should have to carry all that on their shoulders.”

Sky let his head drop as he released a long sigh. “I just don’t want to burden you guys down with my problems. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I did that to you.”

Applejack shook her head. “Sky, yer sweet ‘n’ all, but sometimes, yer about as hard-headed as a walnut.”

Sky’s head rose dramatically as he looked into Applejack’s empathetic face. “What?”

“Sky, we’re your friends because we help each other out. What kind of friends would we be if we didn’t try to help you when you needed it?”

Sky contemplated her statement for a moment. “I guess I see your point,” he said at last. “Well, if you all are so eager for me to talk about what I’m feeling, then I guess I will. But let’s have some fun first,” he added with a wink.

“Now yer talkin’! Hey, Big Mac, c’mere a minute!” she called back to the group. She turned back to the curious blue Pegasus. “Sky, I’d like you to meet my big brother, Big Macintosh,” she said, gesturing towards the approaching tall, burly-looking red stallion. His stature made him appear quite intimidating at first, but the relaxed (almost lazy) look in his eyes stilled any reservations Sky had. “But you can just call him Big Mac for short.”

“Big Mac, huh?” Sky asked, smiling and stretching out a hoof in greeting. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Big Mac pressed his own hoof against Sky’s and tossed his head back. “Eeyup,” he responded.

Applejack leaned in towards Sky as Big Mac turned and walked away. “He ain’t what you’d call a social pony, but he’s friendly enough. You’ll get used to it,” she advised.

“Ah, alright,” Sky nodded. Whether he was shy or just a stallion of few words, it didn’t matter. Sky wasn’t really in a state of mind to give the matter any more thought.

“And this here’s my li’l sister, Applebloom. She’s been wantin’ to meet you ever since I told her about you,” AJ continued, bringing up a pale yellow filly with a bold red mane and tail.

“So, yer’ Sky Streak?” Applebloom asked.

“That’s what everypony tells me,” Sky replied with a wink.

“That’s one nice-lookin’ cutie mark ya’ got there. How’d you get that one?” the filly asked, her eyes drawn to the emblem on Sky’s flank.

The question, innocent as it was, felt like a knife cutting through the mental barriers he had been putting up over the past few days. He had felt emotionally spent from his ordeal with the Chimera, so he had decided to try and distance himself from it to try and recover. However, up to this point, it hadn’t been working very well.

Applejack stepped in to take charge of the situation. “Applebloom, take it easy.” She turned back to Sky. “Sorry. See, my sister doesn’t have her cutie mark yet, so she’s a bit obsessed with getting it.”

Sky raised his eyebrows and mouthed a silent “ah” as he faced the inquisitive filly. “I got it when I was a lot younger. But if you want one like this, I’m afraid you’d need wings.”

“Aw, shucks,” she said, kicking the dirt with her hoof. “That’s a really neat one, too.” Then, apparently seeing something else to draw her attention, she scampered off without another word.

“You know, Applejack,” Sky began as he watched Applebloom run off, “I can’t help but notice that everypony in your family has the same speech pattern as you.”

“It runs in the family,” she said without hesitation.

“Hey, you two,” Twilight called as she trotted over to where the two of them stood, “what are you talking about?”

“Genetics, apparently,” Sky shrugged.

Twilight looked at him curiously, but seemed to drop the idea after a moment. “So, Sky, are you feeling any better yet?”

He sighed. “Well…yes and no, I guess.”

Both Twilight and Applejack gave him the same confused look they had given him a few days earlier in Canterlot. “I mean, I’m surrounded by my friends in a place that I love in the best weather anypony could ask for. But in the back of my mind, I just can’t shake this lingering dread that the Chimera is going to do something terrible soon. I’m sorry if I’m not being a very good guest,” he apologized.

“Sky, you’ve been through more in the last six months than most ponies will have to go through in their entire lives. It wouldn’t be fair if we expected you to be perfectly fine after that. We’re just doing this to try and help you feel better,” Twilight said sympathetically.

“Well, when you put it that way, I guess I do feel a little better,” Sky admitted.

“Good,” Applejack said, her face brightening. “Now c’mon. I think there are some other ponies that want to be able to talk to you.”

The three of them slowly walked back to where the rest of the group had crowded around a large table piled with all sorts of apple-themed treats, from apple pie and apple fritters to applesauce and the legendary Sweet Apple Cider.

Spike saw them approach and immediately moved to intercept them. “Oh, man, you guys, you gotta try these apple fritters,” he said, tossing one into the air and catching it in his mouth.

Sky raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “Are there any left?”

Spike swallowed his mouthful and met Sky’s gaze. “Of course. I wouldn’t take all of them, even if I could.”

“Which you can,” Twilight commented as she moved past the dragon to the table. She picked up a slice of pie and set it on a dish in front of her. “I think I’ll start off light. I’m not really hungry right now.”

“What about you, Sky? How are you today?” Spike asked.

“Just fine,” he replied. It wasn’t exactly the truth, of course, but he wanted to put on a good face for the others. It wouldn’t be fair to drag his friends down with a sour mood. “So, what have we got?”

“Just about anything you could want,” Applejack answered from beside him. “Applebloom and I spent most of yesterday cookin’ up everything you see here. We’re both pretty handy when it comes to cookin’.”

“You spent an entire day on this?” Sky asked incredulously.

“Aw, shucks, Sky, it ain’t nothin’,” Applejack replied. “Like I said, it takes a lot o’ work to keep this place going. A day of baking is like a break to us.”

“If you say so,” Sky said, picking up a pair of fritters and dropping them on his plate. Looking back at Spike, he picked a third and tossed it into the air and caught it in his mouth.

“Copycat,” Spike accused.

“Boys…” Twilight muttered.

“Ooo! Sky! There you are! I haven’t seen you in FOREVER!” Pinkie Pie said, bouncing over beside him. “Well, not really forever, because that’s a really long time, but it feels like it’s been forever. Although, I’m not totally sure what forever feels like, because I’d have to wait for forever to know, and that’s way too long for me to just wait. I can’t wait that long. I wonder what forever feels like. Do you know what forever feels like?” she asked, leaning in close to Sky’s face, making him back up instinctively.

“Uh, hi, Pinkie. And no, I, uh, don’t think I know what forever feels like,” Sky managed.

“Me neither. Oh well,” she said, her personality and eccentric mannerisms shrinking back to the “manageable” state.

“Hi, Sky,” Fluttershy said as she walked over. “I’m glad to see that you’re doing alright.”

“Likewise, Fluttershy,” Sky replied with a nod of his head. “Still taking care of your animals?”

“Oh, yes, they’re all so sweet and kind. Angel would have been here, but he doesn’t like apples, so he stayed at home.”

“Angel?”

“Oh, my bunny. He helps me take care of the other animals. He can be a little picky sometimes, but he’s a good friend.”

“Ah, alright.” Sky turned to the unicorn standing next to her. She looked contemplative as Sky addressed her. “And hello to you, Rarity.”

She touched her hoof to her chin and looked at Sky intently. Finally, she spoke. “Sky, do you know what would look wonderful on you?”

“I’m sorry?”

“A wrap. A nice blue shoulder wrap. Or perhaps white with a blue trim. Maybe a bit of gold embroidery to give it that special feel.” She smiled, apparently having to come to a conclusion in her head that she felt satisfied with. “Yes, that would do nicely.”

“Well, I guess that counts as a greeting,” Sky shrugged.

“Sorry, you’ll have to forgive Rarity,” Applejack said. “With it bein’ the beginnin’ of spring and all, she’s got her head all wrapped up in ‘spring fashion’ and all that nonsense.”

“Applejack, it isn’t ‘nonsense’,” Rarity protested. “It is simply my desire to make sure that everypony looks their best. You only get one chance to make a first impression, you know.”

“Because nopony in Ponyville knows who any of us are, right?” Applejack rolled her eyes.

Sky sighed. They’re all still the same as they were so many months ago. It’s good to see that some things stay the same. Makes it feel like…home, I guess.

Suddenly he realized it. “Hey…where’s Rainbow Dash? Wasn’t she just here?”

“Oh, uh…you might wanna brace yourself for her when you see her coming. She’s been itching to ask you something,” Twilight said.

Sky arched an eyebrow. “Is she gonna ask me out on a date?” he said jokingly, though the fear was very real in his head.

“No, nothing like that. But…well, you’ll see.” Twilight sat down on her haunches.

Sky looked at the group of ponies around him. “Should I be worried?” he asked in a serious tone.

“Only if you’re really competitive,” Applejack said cryptically.

“And I hope you are,” said a familiar voice from behind and above. Sky spun to face the voice and found a familiar rainbow haired pegasus standing atop the barn, looking down at him.

“And a good afternoon to you, too, Rainbow Dash,” Sky said. “I hear you have something to ask me.”

“That I do,” she said, placing special emphasis on each word. “See, I’ve heard all about your flying abilities, and how you’re supposedly one of the fastest pegasi around.”

“And you’ve been hearing this from…?”

“Oh, I have my sources. Anyways, I thought that maybe you’d be interested in putting those abilities up to the ultimate test.” She tossed her head back and looked at Sky from under her eyelashes.

“And that test would be…what, exactly?” He asked the question, but he had a sneaking suspicion that he already knew the answer.

“A race! You against me, winner gets bragging rights! Whaddya say?” she asked, looking expectantly at him.

Sky hesitated. He wasn’t really in the mood for competition. His mind was elsewhere. But, on the other hand, a physical activity could be a good way to burn off some frustration. And from what he had heard of Rainbow Dash’s speed, it would be quite a task, letting him burn off a lot of steam.

“You know what? I think I’ll take you up on that.”

“I hope you’re ready to lose,” Rainbow Dash teased.

“I hope you’re hungry, ‘cause you’re gonna eat those words,” Sky countered, a smug gleam in his eyes.