Better Left Buried

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Epilogue

Prologue

gasp

“She’s just precious!” Applejack peered over the rim of the crib at the sleeping filly. Her eyes were bright and curious only an hour ago, but now she was asleep. She had the look that could instantly melt hearts, the look that only foals have. Which is good, because the amount of work a foal places on most parents would force them to murder their offspring if they weren’t so gosh darn cute. “Kin Ah hold ‘er one more time?”

A massive stallion with a rusty coat and a big red apple sliced in half for a cutie mark looked away from the sleeping foal in the crib and down at Applejack. Big Mac’s chest heaved once as he sighed, causing the heavy plow harness around his frame to shift up and down. His tired smile and droopy eyes still didn’t prevent him from mussing Applejack’s mane with one powerful hoof. “Nnnope.”

“But why not?” she whined.

Big Mac sighed again, “Leave yer little sis alone, AJ. Ah know ya want to play with ‘er but she’s plum tuckered out. Foals’ve gotta sleep.”

“That’s right sugarcube.” The door creaked open and a dark brown pony with a blond mane entered. She pulled the cowpony hat from her head and tossed it to hang from the post of the crib. Big Mac had dragged the crib into this room only a few hours ago, and shallow furrows in the floor traced lines to the bed’s posts. It was the only flaw in the otherwise new room. Bright, cheerful pastel colors dominated the room’s walls and ceiling. It almost forced anypony who entered to feel warm and happy inside. “It’s time fer everypony ta hit the hay.”

“Aww but Mama, I’m not sleepy yet,” Applejack whined as she tried and failed to stifle a yawn.

Candy Apple smirked at her daughter, then turned to her new foal and smiled. Her eyelids felt like they had two barrels of apples pulling them down. “Big Mac, kin ya put the kids to bed?” Her husband nodded.

“Don’tcha talk back to yer ma. Git yer flank down here and give yer ma n’ pa some peace n’ quiet!” Granny Smith’s voice carried an elderly authority despite her age. Applejack kissed the new foal on the head and galloped out of the room before her parents could object. As she bucked the door closed she could still see her mother’s cutie mark: three green apples. She couldn’t wait to get a mark of her very own. She bounded down the stairs with wild energy. When she reached the bottom, she got stink eye from her grandmother. “Quit makin’ such a racket. It’s late and everypony needs ta sleep.”

Applejack looked out over the family room. There were no pictures of the new foal. Plenty had been taken but they had no time to develop yet. She knew they would appear on the mantel in less than a week. Granny Smith was seated in a rocking chair in front of the fire, knitting. The ball of fine red thread she was using to knit with was held in the hooves of a knobby-kneed colt seated on the floor. From his dour expression you wouldn’t know he had recently acquired his cutie mark. A large green apple sliced in half adorned his flank. “Enjoyin’ yerself there Li'l Mac?” Applejack said as she grinned at her brother.

Li'l Mac glared at her and spoke like his father, “Nnnope.”

Granny Smith squinted at her grandchildren and snorted. She didn’t play favorites, but right now Applejack was being too noisy and Li'l Mac was being silent. That was their way, but she needed to finish this ribbon for the new foal and she wanted to keep her granddaughter quiet. “Ya done a good job Li'l Mac. Go help yer Pa. Applejack, it’s yer turn to help me.”

Li'l Mac smiled and held out the ball of fine crimson thread. Applejack sighed, and plopped herself down on the floor to take his place. Li'l Mac stood and Applejack’s brow went flat. She wasn’t a small filly but her brother was just too big. He was already nearly the height of a stallion and his growth showed no signs of slowing down. He would soon be as large as their father. He trotted upstairs making less sound than Applejack, even with his extra weight.

“Hold it like this.” Granny Smith stuffed the ball of yarn in AJ’s mouth and wound the fine thread around her hooves like a tape reel being fed from a movie projector. “And keep still, ya silly filly. I need ta finish this.” Granny Smith smiled at her granddaughter as she mumbled something behind the ball of thread. That’ll keep her quiet fer a spell. She continued to knit. It was tedious and difficult work, but she didn’t mind. It’s not every day she had a new granddaughter, after all. Applejack sat in sullen silence, her brow still flat. She tried to keep her eyes open but every minute or so she began to nod off. The fire was warm and she was getting sleepy. A log in the fireplace popped once, causing her to snap her head up.

GASP

Applejack bolted upright in her bed. Sunlight filtered through the curtain and into her face. She blinked a bleary set of emerald eyes. She rubbed the sleep out of them and when she looked she saw wetness on her hooves. She stood and fumbled about for a moment before she found her cowpony hat hanging on the post of her bed. She flopped it onto her head and took a deep breath. “Don’t worry, AJ. Just a memory; it can’t hurt ya,” she said to herself.

Chapter 1

“I’m... FINISHED!” Twilight slammed the chalk down and finished the spell on the chalkboard.

Snort, “Huh? Is it time for dinner?” Spike had dozed off after finding the fourteenth book Twilight had requested today. The library was a mess of books and he knew he was going to have to clean it up. Twilight had been too engrossed in her spell research.

“I said, I’m finished! Finished with the new memory spell.”

“You already know a spell to restore memories. You don’t need a spell to make new ones; you just, you know, make em’ by living.” Spike yawned and rubbed his eyes. He glanced at the clock – it was far past dinner time. No wonder his stomach threatened to growl at any moment.

Twilight giggled with a hoof over her mouth, “No Spike, it isn’t a spell to create new memories, or restore old ones. It lets one pony see the experiences and memories of another. Think of the applications! I could check Rarity’s memories and figure out how to sew! I could read Fluttershy’s memories and help her with her shyness! I could even dive into an accused pony’s mind and find out if they really did the crime! Oh the possibilities...” Twilight continued to scribble notes into her notebook. It floated just off to the left of the chalkboard with a quill scratching away furiously. She continued to mumble while two text books, the notebook, the quill, and the chalk all floated nearby in a in purple aura.

Spike sighed, “Can you modify my memories so I forget this boring day ever happened and I think I actually had dinner on time?” Spike hoped she could, because getting to bed on an empty stomach wasn’t easy.

Twilight gasped and the quill and chalk stopped moving. “Spike! I would never do such a thing! Besides, this spell can’t do that anyway. It’s only for watching the memories of other ponies, not modifying them. I don’t know a spell powerful enough that can do that. Plus, there might be side effects from this spell alone.”

“Side effects?” Now Spike was awake, although he was looking for a book to protect himself with in case Twilight decided to try using the spell on him. He didn’t want any weird side effects; what if his tail fell off? Then again, what if the side effects included moustaches? Spike lowered the tome he was using as a shield, but held it in his claws just the same. “What kind of side effects?” he asked eagerly.

“First of all, I still can’t figure out how to properly control the spell. I don’t know where or what memories I would see if I used it. I think I would see important memories, the ones that really affected the life of the other pony.” As she spoke, Twilight’s eyes drifted up as if she were searching for answers on the inside of her open eyelids.

“Well that’s good, right? You wouldn’t want to waste time watching somepony eat oats, brush their teeth, and wait on the train before getting to work in a boring job would you?” Spike clutched the book to his chest, keeping it between him and Twilight. Secretly eating all of your Nightmare Night candy is an important memory for me! I got a stomach ache the rest of the day and you never figured out where your candy went. A bead of sweat trickled down the back of Spike’s head in between his spines. He sniffed once and wiped it away.

Twilight was staring at one of the books now, her eyes darting to and fro. “There’s also the trouble with sleeping.”

“Heh, sleeping isn’t a problem, Twilight. In fact, I could sleep right now.”

“No, I mean the spell. You can’t have two sets of neural inputs going to a single brain. It’s just too much; it would drive anypony insane in minutes. So if I use this spell it’ll put me to sleep. That way I can dream about the other pony’s memories without, you know, going crazy.”

Spike snorted and thought, you mean more crazy. He noticed the gleam in Twilight's eye as she looked at him. “Twilight... what are you planning?”

Twilight set down the various objects with her magic and looked at Spike. “I need to test this spell to work out the bugs and to make sure there aren’t any other side effects.”

Spike’s eyes went wide. “Oh no, I don’t want you messing around in my head.” Twilight took a step forward with a mischievous grin on her face. “Stop it! Stay back!” Spike raised the book and kept it in between Twilight and himself.

Twilight’s face held a frown. “Really? My number one assistant doesn’t want to help me push the boundaries of magic? You could be famous, Spike! First one to share memories. Plus, I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be a dragon.”

Spike shook his head from behind the back cover. “No way. I don’t want you poking around inside my head.” Spike’s heart beat faster and his forehead now held a sheen of sweat. What happens after Nightmare Night, stays there!

Twilight sighed, “Alright Spike, I’ll find another pony. I still think you should be willing to try it out though. It could be so fascinating.” Twilight sat on her haunches with one hoof touching her lower lip. This was the pose she struck when thinking about a knotty problem.

Spike lowered the book, and his heart rate soon followed. “You promise you won’t use this spell on me?”

Twilight’s eyes snapped to Spike. She still had that gleam in them but the intensity wasn’t focused on Spike anymore. “I Pinkie Pie promise I won’t use this spell on you without your permission.” She traced a hoof over her heart and stopped short of jabbing her own right eye. Experience had painfully taught her not to do that.

Spike placed the book back where it belonged on the opposite shelf. He turned to face Twilight with a toothy grin. “That gives me an idea. I know a pony who would be willing to be your test subject.”

“Oh? Who?” Twilight brightened up at Spike’s words.

~~~~~

“Ah’m home.” Applebloom pushed the door open, letting in a chill breeze. Her saddlebags were nearly bursting with books, papers, pencils, pens, and other school supplies. She trotted into the family room where Granny Smith was knitting while seated in a rocking chair. She was near the fireplace, but nothing was inside of the brick cavity other than cold stone. Applebloom flopped onto the dusty couch, releasing a cascade of books, papers, erasers, and one half-eaten apple from her school bag. The items tumbled around her and onto the floor with a series of thumps. “Ah got a new assignment fer school. Ah’m supposed ta create a family tree. Ah guess Ah’ll put apples on this, eh? Can ya help me, AJ?” She spoke while summoning her willpower to form a halo above her head. The halo usually worked on adults.

Applejack trotted in behind Applebloom, still dusty from the day’s labor. She took off her cowpony hat and fanned herself. “Family tree, huh?” She swallowed a lump in her throat and dropped the load of firewood off her back. The wood tumbled onto the hearth with a loud thunk.

The noise caught the attention of Big Mac, who clomped into the room from the kitchen. A pleasant smell of baked apples and fresh bread followed him. He narrowed his eyes when he spied Applebloom and the instant mess she had created. He opened his mouth but didn’t get the chance to speak. “Gettin’ cold in here. Start a fire, wouldja sweet filly?” Granny Smith’s voice caused Applebloom to bounce off of the couch with a fine trail of dust, doing nothing to improve the mess she had created. Granny Smith glanced at Applejack and gave her a meaningful look while Applebloom was distracted.

“Sure thing, Granny.” Applebloom snatched a few small logs from the fresh stack. She tossed the logs into the fireplace under the watchful eyes of Big Mac and Applejack. With a harsh scratch, she lit a match and held it under one of the logs. Nothing happened. She tried again. Still nothing. By the time a small pile of carbonized matches grew at her hooves she tossed her final failure into the pile and huffed. “Somethin’s wrong with this wood!”

“Nnnope.” Big Mac brought a small can out from a high shelf over the mantel. He knelt down to give it to Applebloom. She snatched it away and was about to pop the top off when he held up a hoof. “Just a little.”

Applebloom gingerly opened the can and tried to pour the fluid over the logs, but like the milk she tried to pour over her cereal in the morning, she spilled, splashing the clear fluid all over the inside of the fireplace. She shrugged and tossed the empty can over her shoulder. “Ow,” Applejack said, giving Applebloom stink eye when the empty can bounced off of her head. “Whaddaya think yer doin’?”

“Gettin’ us some heat!” Applebloom exclaimed and before anypony could properly react, she lit a match and tossed it into the fireplace.

Big Mac clamped his powerful jaws around Applebloom’s bow and pulled her away from the fireplace just in time. The entire pile of logs was engulfed in a fireball that traveled up the the chimney, like a breath from a dragon’s throat. “Ahhh, that’s better.” Granny Smith smiled and set down her needlework to hold her hooves over the roaring fire.

“Applebloom! Be careful, ya darn near burned yerself to a crisp.” Applejack admonished her wide-eyed sister, still dangling from Big Mac’s mouth.

A halo appeared over Applebloom’s head. “Yes big sis. Ah promise Ah’ll be more careful.” The soot smudged hooves, the oversized smile, and the halo did little to convince Applejack or Big Mac of her sincerity.

~~~~~

“I don’t know if this is such a good idea.” Twilight was standing at the front of a long line of customers, each with a bag of various cookies and a smile. She was in sugarcube Corner with Pinkie Pie who was bouncing on the other side of the cash register, several trays of fresh cookies still steaming behind the display case. The bouncing wasn’t unusual by itself, but her reasons were troubling.

“It’s a great idea, Twilight! You can see all of the super fun parties I’ve thrown! Plus you can figure out how Pinkie sense works. Oh-oh-oh, and while you’re in there, maybe you can help me remember where I left my banjo.” Her smile was so large it was unhealthy; even the noise made by her bouncing hooves seemed happy, joy oozed out of her.

“Pinkie, I would only get to see important memories—”

“Like where I left my banjo?”

snort

Spike giggled, still seated on Twilight’s back. “Yeah, that would be important. C’mon Twilight, where else are you going to find a willing test subject?” He glanced back towards the rest of the customers. “Unless one of you wants to volunteer?” Twilight looked over her shoulder with what she hoped was a disarming smile. Not a single eye met hers. A pony somewhere in the back coughed but no other sounds could be heard. Her smile cracked and melted.

“Please let me be the test subject? Please-please-please with a cherry on top?” Pinkie Pie was right in Twilight’s face now; her eyes seemed to grow larger and her smile froze in a psychotic grin. Twilight was wondering how Spike had convinced her of this. “Pleeeeeease?”

“Uh...” Twilight stammered. I don’t want to look into Pinkie’s mind. I might go crazy even if the spell works like it’s supposed to!

“PLEASE.” her mouth didn’t seem to move when she spoke, and her eyes had an intensity that worried Twilight. “You could see all of my fun memories. We could share them together. And we would be bestest friends, forever.”

Twilight gulped, “I... uh... “

“FOREVER!”

“This line is taking forever.” A familiar voice drifted from so far back in the line it was actually outside. Rarity trotted inside past several other customers. “What is taking so long? Oh hello, Twilight. Are you here for cookies too? I just love Snickerdoodles, but I’d like to get the line moving...” She gestured to the long line and let her comment hang in the air.

Bubbling with excitement, Pinkie spoke up, “Twilight is going to test a new spell on me. It’s going to be so cool, it’ll make us better — no — BESTEST friends forever! She’ll know all about me and even where I lost my banjo. How cool is THAT?!” She started to bounce again, this time like a jackhammer. At this rate the floor was going to give way under the hoofed assault.

“Well Pinkie, I don’t want to force you to, but if you really want to—” Twilight knew she was going to regret this, but what else could she do? No other pony would— .

“I’ll do it.” Simple words, but they silenced the entire store. Rarity blushed, not expecting to be the sudden center of attention. She smiled and presented her good side to the crowd but secretly wished she was wearing something a little more flashy.

Pinkie Pie stopped bouncing and sank to the floor. Twilight blinked. “Really? That’s so... generous of you.”

Rarity blushed and spoke loudly, “Well if it gets this line moving and it helps my friend, how could I refuse?” A short cheer rose from the other customers as they pounded the floor with applause. Twilight held a weak smile. Pinkie’s lower lip was quivering and her eyes glistened.

“B-But...” Pinkie stammered.

“This is great! I’ll get everything set up. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, ok?” Twilight beamed at her friend.

“But.. I.. I... “

“It will be my pleasure, darling. Helping another pony achieve their potential is so much better than simply giving them something crass, like bits.” Rarity’s face scrunched up for a moment but quickly mirrored Twilight's expression. “I’ll bring my favorite scarf; it has such a story behind it.”

“But... banjo... “

“And I look forward to seeing why it’s such an important scarf.” Twilight continued to smile while she trotted out past the line of customers. “I’ll see you later Rarity.” Spike was still waving at Rarity with a silly smile on his face when they exited the shop, and disappeared from sight.

Rarity turned to Pinkie, still smiling. “How many bits for a dozen cookies?”

“BANJO!” She screamed angrily, like a war cry, both front hooves thrown up in the air. The line still hadn’t moved. The customers sighed; Pinkie had no interest in being a cashier at the moment.

Rarity backed away from Pinkie Pie. She could feel the heat from the flames in Pinkie’s eyes. “Um, maybe I’ll just come back later for the cookies.” She was leaning back but from the look Pinkie was giving her it wasn’t long before she lost her nerve. She darted out of the store followed by several creative curses involving banjos, baked goods, and one very depraved walrus.

~~~~~

“Ah told ya, Ah got it. The sun’s already up; let me be so Ah kin git ta the market before all the good spots are gone.” Applejack sighed as her brother loaded another barrel filled with apples into the cart. This was not a good morning for Applejack. She had slept through the rooster’s call, burned her toast while making breakfast, and had a nagging suspicion she was forgetting something important. She was also late of course; no disastrous morning is complete without being late. “Aren’t ya done yet?”

Big Mac grunted as he heaved the heavy barrel onto the cart. He trotted around to face Applejack and gave her a pitiful look. He smiled weakly and patted her on the head, “Eeyup.” Applejack’s brow flattened - she hadn’t been given a pat on the head since she was a filly.

The front door creaked open and Granny Smith trotted outside, or hobbled outside, as her hip didn’t allow for such speed. “Ah’m so proud of you youngin’s, keepin’ the farm running like this. Ah don’t think Ah say that enough.” She wore a bright smile while looking at her grandchildren. As she picked her way down the path towards them, Applejack sighed.

“Thank ya Granny, but Ah gotta get goin’.” Applejack was about to start down the path when Big Mac stepped in front of her. She glared at him, “What’s the big idea?”

Big Mac just stood there chuckling quietly, the shuffling sounds of Granny Smith getting closer. Applejack opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind when she felt something soft plop down around her head. “There ya go little filly, now git ta the market. Apple’s aint gonna sell themselves.” Granny Smith smiled at Applejack like a ray of sunshine.

She finally realized what she was forgetting: her cowpony hat. The familiar weight on top of her head and the brim just visible at the top of her field of vision returned the world to focus. It was as if she were dreaming, but with the hat on, she felt alive and awake. She blushed, “Thanks Granny, thanks bro. Ah don’t know what Ah’d do without ya.” Big Mac stepped aside with a smile, and Applejack hit the road at a brisk pace.

It wasn’t long before she arrived at the market square. As she feared, the good spots were taken. Corner stalls were set up, and the high traffic areas all had stalls lining the street. There were a few spots in between them but they were too small for Applejack’s cart, not with all of the extra apples she was hauling today. She was about to give up when she spied an excellent spot near the library. Lucky me, Ah kin set up there an’ have lunch with Twi at the library.

She almost slid into the coveted space, she was moving so fast. With an expertly placed buck the entire cart slid into place and opened to reveal its wares. And not a moment too soon: the breakfast crowd was already starting to move about the market. Applejack was even able to sell a fritter to the mayor. It helped that no other ponies were watching; the mayor loved to eat fritters but didn’t want her constituents to know she ate like pig in the morning.

Applejack hawked her wares all morning. Soon, the sun reached its zenith and pounded the locals with heat, like a hammer striking a forge. Applejack made out better than most in the heat, as her hat was excellent protection and she was used to sunshine. However, she was still sweaty when she knocked on the library door.

“Hiya Rarity! I’m so glad to-” Spike opened the door and stopped short when he saw who it was. “Oh, uh, hi AJ,” his eyes found his right hind claw more interesting than the pony who stood before him.

“Ah’d like ta have lunch in the shade if’n ya don’t mind Spike.” Applejack offered half a dozen apples in tribute. “If it ain’t too much trouble.”

“No, no trouble,” Spike mumbled, “C’mon in AJ, make yourself at home. I was expecting guests so I made extra for lunch.”

“That’s right kindly of ya,” Applejack said as she trotted inside and set her offering down in the kitchen’s cupboard. She poured herself a glass of water with ice. It was frosty by the time she sat on the only couch in the library. Twilight had a small reading room in the back where she did many of her experiments. It was supposed to be for ponies to sit comfortably and read a book, but Twilight’s experiments and their associated odors, sights, and sounds often caused the reading room to remain empty. Applejack found Twilight with her nose in a book and a dusty chalkboard on her right. Applejack couldn’t resist, “SOUP’S ON!”

Twilight shot straight up into the air while every object floating with a purple aura lost its sparkle and fell to the floor. Once Twilight returned to the ground she was surrounded by a fine mess of books, scrolls, quills, and one stick of chalk. “Applejack,” she whined, “what did you do that for?”

“Ha ha ha, *snort* sorry Twi, I couldn’t resist.” She stifled her laugher, “Ah brought ya some apples. Ah figured we could have lunch together today. It’s mighty hot out thar and Ah’d like to have lunch with my friend inside where it’s cool. Course if’n ya have other plans Ah kin have lunch outside alone.” She picked up the mess she had caused Twilight to make while she spoke. She looked at Twilight and gave her the most innocent look she could muster when she said ‘alone.’

Twilight sighed, “Of course you can have lunch inside the library. You’ll even get a show.”

“A show? What kinda show?”

“Rarity should be here after lunch so I can try my new memory spell. It’s going to be so exciting! I’ll get to see into her memories and experience her life through her eyes. Just think of the applications!”

“Uh, you mean everypony in the room is gonna see what Rarity saw? That’s... somethin’.” Applejack felt her need for honesty was about to get her in trouble. Everypony is entitled to their secrets. You should leave memories alone.

“Oh no, only the caster of the spell can see the memories.” Twilight grinned as the chalk began to tap away. One of the dropped scrolls opened again, and a quill soon followed.

“Well, if’n ya don’t mind me askin’, how is that a show?” Applejack tilted her head slightly to the left and raised her right brow.

Twilight’s grin vanished. “Oh, I didn’t think of that. Well, it’ll be amazing anyway. I can just tell you what I saw.”

Applejack shrugged and moved towards the kitchen. “Ah’ll help Spike with lunch.” She entered the kitchen and found Spike standing on a stool, facing the opposite direction. He had already begun to prepare lunch. She stuffed a hoof in her mouth as her eyes watered, and her body quivered with suppressed laughter. Spike was wearing a pink apron and humming a tune normally associated with fillies. She took a moment to compose herself before speaking

smiled. “Thanks AJ, I usually have to do all of this myself.” He sighed, “Twilight is too busy most of the time.”

“Aww Spike, ya do a fine job of takin’ care o’ Twilight. Ah reckon she’d be lost without ya.”

Spike looked at her with a furrowed brow. “Isn’t she supposed to take care of me?”

“Heh, trust me Spike, ya do as much fer her as she does fer you. Don’t ever ferget that.” Applejack said no more and concentrated on slicing the apples for the salad Spike was preparing. Spike’s smile held for some time, and he didn’t complain while he prepared lunch.

~~~~~

Applejack sighed and swallowed the last of her apple salad. Spike had finished his lunch first, partly because it was a smaller plate of gems and partly because he stuffed his face. Twilight hardly ate more than a bite, she was too focused on her notes and books. Applejack chatted with Spike, but could hardly get more than two words from Twilight. Spike smiled, burped, and patted his stomach.

His smile grew even wider when there was another knock at the door. “I’ll get it!” He jumped down from the chair he was slouched in and raced into the main hall.

Applejack rolled her eyes, “Ah wonder who that could be,” she mumbled sarcastically to herself. She heard the door creak open and Spike greet the newcomer with enthusiasm. Twilight stood, biting her lower lip as she glanced between the notes hovering in front of her face and the entryway. Rarity trotted inside the reading room wearing a checkered scarf that was fashionable when she was a filly. Spike followed her with a stupid grin plastered on his face. Twilight buried her nose in her notes, sweat trickling down her neck. “Good ta see ya, Rarity. Twilight here says yer gonna do some fancy magic.”

Rarity cracked a small smile as she surveyed the scene. Rarity stood on the opposite end of the room with Twilight still reading her notes. Applejack lay on the couch near the entryway. The entire room was like a tiny arena with books for spectators. That makes the window pane royalty. Rarity imagined herself in a grand colosseum with cheering spectators, it made her smile inwardly. “I didn’t know I was going to have an audience for this performance. Sadly, I don’t think it will be very impressive; you won’t get to see very much. Still, maybe Twilight can try this spell on you if everything goes well. What do you say, hmmm?”

Applejack’s eyes went wide, “Ah don’t reckon that’s such a good idea. Only thing that goes on ma head is ma hat and ma mane.” Ah don’t need nopony pokin’ through my memories. Her eyes became unfocused for a moment as she recalled her past. She blinked and buried her thoughts.

“I’m ready Twilight! What are you waiting for?” Rarity found she was eager to try this spell out. She wanted Twilight to understand her passion, and she secretly hoped some of it would rub off on Twilight. She could be good looking if she wanted to be, but her sense of style was... non-existent. Rarity always tried to correct that in other ponies with limited success. This was a golden opportunity for a conversion.

Twilight drew in a deep breath and let her notes, quill, and textbook settle into place on the lectern near the chalkboard. Applejack perked up but remained laying down on the couch. “OK, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Try to think of the memory you want me to see, the one about your scarf. The spell is complicated, so give me a moment...” Twilight’s eyes squeezed shut as she pointed her horn at Rarity who struck a pose. Rarity tried for dashing, but Applejack thought she looked pompous. A glow appeared around Twilight’s horn. Spike backed up and half hid himself behind the couch. Twilight’s horn was hidden behind an intense light, which glowed like a ball of fireflies. Applejack felt the couch shift underneath her.

“What in tarnation...?” She said under her breath.

Twilight herself was no longer visible behind the ball of intense light. The room grew warmer and a faint buzzing filled the room. Everypony’s hairs stood on end, like the air was charged with static. “Oh for Celestia’s sake, just go for it darling. We haven’t got all day!” Rarity almost shouted over the buzz in the room.

“Ok, here we go: FOR SCIENCE!” As she spoke Twilight finished her spell and a jagged bolt of light shot across the room toward Rarity. Twilight’s cry was not the only one, however.

“FOR BANJOS!” Pinkie Pie burst from beneath the couch cushions. She didn’t even notice she had flung Applejack like a ragdoll into the air, who collided with Rarity just as the bolt was about to strike. There was a blinding flash followed by the smell of burning ozone.

Spike blinked and took a step from behind the couch. “Is it over?”

“Awww, it didn’t work. Those couch cushions were way heavier than I thought and I was too late. Now I’ll never find my banjo; what a cruel world.” Pinkie sniffed back a tear as her hair had lost its fluffy appearance and her eyes drooped to the floor.

Spike darted over to Rarity and shook her, concern on his face. “Rarity? Are you alright my lady?” He puffed out his chest and tried to speak with a regal accent. He just sounded like a scared little colt.

Rarity blinked and rolled onto her stomach. “I’m fine Spike, aside from the bruise I’m sure I’m going to get. Please tell me it isn’t too bad. My face feels like it was hit with a bowling ball.” Sure enough, a welt had begun to form on her cheek where she had been struck by Applejack.

Spike looked at Applejack and Twilight. “Twilight? Applejack?” Neither was moving; both were lying on the floor. Spike couldn’t see movement from them - they were like corpses. “T-Twilight?” He began to shake.

Rarity stood and bent down near Applejack. She tilted an ear near her nose and nodded to herself. She repeated this with Twilight. “I think they’re fine... they’re asleep.”

“What are they dreaming about? Alligators? Singing? Sunshine and rainbows? Shooting stars? The exact location of the lost sock dimension?” Pinkie gasped, “Do you think they know where my banjo is?” Her hair fluffed up again in the blink of an eye.

“I don’t know, but we should move them somewhere more comfortable so they don’t sleep on the hardwood floor. I can’t see how that would be healthy for one’s posture.”

~~~~~

splash

GASP

That’s cold! Twilight peeled her eyes open after pulling what felt like an entire raincloud’s worth of water over her face. She blinked a bleary set of eyes...

And just lost it.

Every muscle, every thought, went out like a snuffed candle. She was going to faint, fall on the floor, or crack her head on the sink. But she didn’t. She didn’t move at all. She was in a bathroom staring at herself in a mirror.

Except, it wasn’t her.

An orange mare with a blond mane and green eyes stared back at her. She wobbled for a moment, and Twilight realized she was standing on a stool. With a deft motion she tied her mane with a bit of twine after running a brush through it once. Apparently this was enough to satisfy the mare in the mirror, because she smirked at Twilight (no, herself) and nodded before hopping down from the stool.

Twilight could instantly see how short this pony was. Wait, I feel like... I’m a filly again. Indeed, her movements were jerky and excitable. She didn’t understand why she was moving, she wasn’t commanding any of her limbs to do so. They seemed to be under the command of another mind. How did I get here?

“Applejack! Hurry, you’re goin’ to be late fer school.”

“Ah’m comin’ Ah’m comin’.”

Did I just say that? I did! Wait a minute, I was in the library, then I used the memory spell on Rarity... NO! That’s not right! Pinkie Pie shouted, and I saw Applejack flying in the air. Then...

Twilight, or Applejack, trotted down the stairs. Twilight didn’t quite recognize the farm house. It was familiar, but the layout was just... off.

This looks like the Apple farmhouse... sort of.

Twilight mentally gasped and wanted to laugh when she saw the ponies before her as she entered the family room. Big Mac was much smaller than she remembered. He still had his cutie mark, and he bounced around a titan of a stallion that bore a striking resemblance to him. His coat was a darker red, almost maroon. His mane was the same color as Applejack’s, golden blond. His cutie mark looked just like Big Mac’s, except it was a red apple, not a green one. It almost blended with his coat. He wore a heavy wooden yoke. Had Twilight not known better, she could have sworn it was Big Mac, but the Big Mac she knew was bouncing around this stallion. Granny Smith was there as well, rocking back and forth in a rocking chair. She looked more spry than Twilight remembered.

I’m... Applejack. This is her memory. A pretty old one. I wonder why it’s important. Everything looks normal... happy even.

It was the mare that drew her eye. Dark brown, like the color of liquid caramel, with a mane to match the titan’s across the room. She had three green apples for a cutie mark. She wore a cowpony hat that Twilight kept staring at. “Well, what’re ya waitin’ fer, ya silly filly. Ah don’t want ya ta be late fer school.” The mare spoke right at Twilight as it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Ah don’t need no schoolin’. Ah don’t need no fancy math. Can’t Ah help ‘round the farm like Li'l Mac?”

Ok I’m going to have to get used to this. I can’t control anything. I can’t move the way I want to, talk the way I want to...

“Ah don’t want no lip from you, little filly.” The mare gave Twilight a stern look. “Git in the kitchen and pack yerself lunch. Ah’ll help ya.” She felt a momentary surge of fear, not wanting to disobey her mother, Candy.

I can’t disobey my mother, Candy. Wait a minute. Did I just... feel what Applejack felt? And how did I know this mare’s name? I guess AJ thought about her mother and the name popped into my head... or her head. This is so confusing!

She was already in the kitchen pulling ingredients from the cabinets with the aid of a stool. A loud, wailing cry echoed from above her. Ah guess Applebloom is awake. She continued to create lunch: apple, apple juice, and a peanut butter sandwich, minus the crust of course. The loud wail died down after a few minutes. She was nearly finished with a sloppy cut to remove the sandwich crust, when Candy reappeared.

“Landsakes, that filly has a pair of lungs on ‘er,” Candy breathed out. She spied Applejack and smiled when she saw how much progress she had made with her task. “That’s mah girl, she don’t need no help from nopony.” Twilight smiled while Candy retrieved a brown paper bag and began to pack the lunch. “Ah‘m mighty proud of ya AJ. But ya need fancy math to run a farm, and one of ya needs to know how to do it right.”

Twilight looked at Candy with wide eyes. The only sound she could hear for a moment was the faint creak of Granny Smith’s rocking chair and Candy as she crinkled the brown paper bag. It was warm in the kitchen, in more ways than one, and it smelled like home cooking. “Can’t Ah help like Li'l Mac?”

Candy pulled her daughter in close and lifted her onto her back. Ah kin stand on mah own! But it was only a thought, Twilight didn’t actually say that out loud. “Look at the farm we made.” Candy gestured out to the Apple orchard visible beyond the kitchen window above the sink. “One day, you n’ yer brother’ll be takin’ over. But it’s hard work, and yer pa don’t much have a head fer numbers. That’s why Ah need ya ta finish yer schoolin’ like yer brother. He didn’t get ta help with applebuckin’ till he finished his learnin’, and neither do you.”

Twilight snorted, “He’s always callin’ me Applebud, and tellin’ me ta take it easy cause I’m just a little filly. An’ he didn’t finish school, he jus’ passed a test and got a piece o’ paper. Please let me stay home. Ah kin help with the applebuckin, honest!”

“Ah know ya can. Yer a good filly that just don’t know when to quit.” Candy smiled and looked at her daughter from over her shoulder. The cowpony hat hovered above Twilight, and she wanted to wear it, to prove she was worthy of it. “But yer still just a filly. Ah know you want to grow up, but don’t be in such a rush. Bein’ a filly without a cutie mark is the best time of yer life; ya got no cares to weigh ya down.” Twilight blushed and instinctively hid her flank with her tail.

“But Ah just want ta help...”

“Ah know ya do. But I love my little Apples so much, and Ah want what’s best fer them. You know it’s the truth, don’t ya?”

Twilight sighed, “Yeah, Ah can’t wear the big cowpony hat and tell a lie. Lyin’ is like stabbin’ another pony, just slower.” She spoke with a practiced cadence.

Candy nodded, “Ah’ll tell ya what, ya git ta school and ya pass that math test, and Ah’ll let ya wear ma

bounded off of her mother’s back, snagged the lunch in her teeth, and was out the door galloping down the road. She heard the window crack open and her mother’s voice called out to her. She said:

ssssshhhhhh

Twilight tried to blink, everything was becoming fuzzy. Like a television on a dead channel, her vision tunneled down to a point and disappeared behind a curtain of static. A rising, crackling hiss filled her ears. She felt numb for a moment.

She felt like she had been bucked in the nose; it left her face feeling numb and her gut queasy. Now she was dizzy and couldn’t see or hear anything but static. She felt strange, like she was a balloon tethered to a foal’s hoof. A careless foal, who let go and now she was drifting on an astral wind that carried her into oblivion.

~~~~~

“Will Twilight be okay?” Spike’s voice quivered as he hovered behind Rarity. Twilight was drifting in Rarity’s magic, her hair flowing like she was under water. Rarity motioned for Pinkie Pie to follow as she walked into the main foyer. Pinkie wasn’t so chipper anymore now that her friends weren’t awake. The comatose Applejack was lying across Pinkie’s back. Although Applejack was no lightweight, Pinkie was an earth pony as well and seemed to have boundless strength. She still had a spring in her step, but her smile wasn’t as big as it normally was. She glanced at Spike and Rarity in turn, making sure they didn’t have frowns. Her smile wavered when she saw the look on Rarity’s face.

If there was one thing Pinkie Pie recognized, it was an unhappy pony. Rarity’s smile was as fake as her eyelashes, and Pinkie knew it. “I’m sure Twilight will be fine darling. She wouldn’t have cast a spell that wasn’t safe. Put Applejack down there on the couch, Pinkie, and I’ll put Twilight to bed.” Pinkie had dragged the couch out into the main foyer at Rarity’s instruction. Rarity had quickly taken command of the situation and was keeping Spike and Pinkie calm, but secretly she was just as worried as they were. If she were the dreamer, she might have some control over what was going to happen. But right now she felt powerless, and she hated it.

“Okie dokie, one sleeping AJ, and now to put Twilight to bed.” Pinkie’s tail twitched, followed by a strange rumble in her barrel. Spike and Rarity both looked at her.

“Well, what does that mean?” Spike asked with worry creased onto his face.

“Um, I’m not really sure. I’ve never had a twitchy tail followed by a rumbly stomach.” Rarity and Spike looked at each other, then back to Pinkie. “I have a bad feeling about this one.”

“Tell us if it happens again,” Rarity began to trot upstairs. “I truly hope there’s nothing wrong with either of them.” Halfway up the stairs, Twilight groaned as if in pain. “I hope you’re not having a bad dream, Twilight,” Rarity mumbled.

“STOP!”

Rarity had reached the top of the stairs, panting with the exertion to keep Twilight afloat. She turned back to see Pinkie Pie with a set of crossed eyes and a constant rumble in her stomach. Spike was looking at Applejack and Twilight, his eyes bouncing between the two of them. “What’s the bother now?” Rarity asked.

Spike shouted, “Something’s wrong with AJ!” He was standing right near the couch looking into Applejack’s face. Rarity tilted an ear and could hear a light snoring still coming from Applejack. “She’s... bleeding.”

Rarity blinked and trotted quickly back down the stairs, Twilight in tow. Pinkie sat on her haunches with a thump and rubbed her belly with a cross eyed expression. True to Spike’s word, a thin trail of blood had leaked out of Applejack’s nose, and was running down into a tiny pool under her cheek . But now, nothing appeared to be wrong. The blood was already congealing. “Well I don’t know what caused that, but I need to get Twilight into bed. Spike, go fetch the doctor once I’m finished.” Rarity kept her voice even but inside she was wracked with worry.

Once again Rarity started up the stairs. This time she could actually hear Pinkie’s stomach start to rumble from the top landing. That’s when it happened.

“aaaAAAHHHH!”

Rarity gasped, Twilight was certainly in pain. She whipped her head around and found her friend was still asleep, but blood was leaking out of her nose, ears, eyes, and mouth. Rarity’s eyes shrunk to pin pricks. Pinkie spoke up, “Bring her back down!” Although her ability to inspire obedience was undermined by her crossed eyes, and silly belly rubs.

Rarity did it anyway. As soon as she took a step down, Twilight ceased yelling. By the time she reached the bottom of the stairs, the blood had stopped pouring out of Twilight’s eyes and ears. Once she was standing next to the couch, Twilight seemed to be in perfect health, except for the trail of blood left over her face and dribbling down the steps. Now Rarity noticed the same symptoms from Applejack as well. She was sure blood hadn’t pooled like that on the couch a moment ago, and certainly not from AJ’s ears.

“What in the world is going on in there?” Rarity said pointing a hoof at Appejack’s head.

“Hmmm...” Pinkie smacked her lips together. “Tastes like... donuts. Yep, that means we should keep them together.”

Rarity’s brow fell into a flat line. “And how, pray tell, do you know that?”

“I don’t, I just feel it.”

Spike nodded, “Please don’t argue with her, Rarity. I don’t want Twilight to get hurt.” Rarity sighed and allowed herself to trust in the Pinkie sense. Nothing else about this afternoon had made much sense, so why should it start now?

Rarity huffed and set Twilight on the floor at the foot of the couch. It took Spike and Rarity over twenty minutes before they were able to get Twilight’s bed downstairs and settle her into it. Rarity was dripping with sweat by the time she was done. Pinkie watched the two sleepers but no more yelling, grunting, or pinkie senses could be heard. Twilight and Applejack were lying on their sides, facing each other, but neither moved aside from their light, rhythmic breathing.

Rarity’s heart began to slow down. “I was so worried for a moment there. I didn’t know if there was some kind of strange side effect from Twilight’s spell or what was happening. I guess we shouldn’t separate these two.” Rarity didn’t understand how this spell worked, and she wasn’t about to try and understand it while her friends were in some kind of danger. “Spike, be a dear and get the doctor. Pinkie and I will stay and watch them.”

Spike saluted, “You can count on me!” He hurried out the door and was gone, but not before hugging Twilight. She didn’t react.

Pinkie Pie spoke once the front door closed. “Um... What do we do if something goes wrong? What if they start to bleed again?”

Rarity looked at her and tried to say something encouraging. “I have no idea.” Both mares faces blanched as they looked at their sleeping friends.

Chapter 2

She bolted upright and popped out the kink in her neck. The royal bed was ridiculously sized, even for her. Her dark blue comforter was on the floor and a half-dozen of her milk-white pillows were strewn across the room like leaves blown in a breeze. She rubbed her throbbing temple. Her headache took its sweet time leaving.

“Hmm... Never have We seen a dream such as this.” Most ponies forgot their dreams once they woke up. Luna was not most ponies. She remembered every dream she visited. She was drawn to a particular dream in Ponyville just before she had woken up. The dream was vivid, and clearly somepony’s personal memory. Such things always caused a powerful resonance in the dreamscape. But this dream was peculiar: she couldn’t figure out what pony was having the dream. That was just silly, no two ponies had the same memories. So why was this memory or dream evoking feelings of first-time experience? Luna was determined to find out.

Then there was static. And pain. Lots of pain. She could feel the echos of emotion from the dreams she visited, but this was something else. It was like feedback, something had gone terribly awry. It filled her head with pain, causing her to wake. She idly used her magic to retrieve her missing comforter and pillows. She settled back into bed, determined to find that dream again and figure out what the hay was going on. It seemed impossible as the lingering headache kept her awake. She snorted and used her magic once again. “We will not shirk our royal duties,” she mumbled.

The spell Luna had in mind was one of her specialties: a forced sleep on the user. It was tricky to pull off. Using too much magic might cause the caster to stay asleep for days. Too little would just cause insomnia. The headache didn’t help matters, but Luna was no first-year unicorn. She fell asleep again in less than a minute. Now to find that dream again...

~~~~~

sssshhhhhh

Twilight was floating in a grey world. She was like a tiny character drifting in a snowglobe, except the outside world was just grey. Little salt and pepper colored specks swirled around her. Her ears were filled with a dull hiss, and her head throbbed with an equally dull ache. “Hello?”

She couldn’t tell if her speech went anywhere. There didn’t appear to be anypony nearby to hear her words and her heart rate was starting to rise. She had no idea where she was or what was going on. “Twilight? Is that you? Make it stop!”

Twilight looked around, her pupils growing larger. “Stop what? I don’t know where we are!”

“Stop yer spell. Ah don’t want to remember this — it’s painful.”

SSSSSSSHHHHHHHH

The sound grew louder. Like a blanket wrapped tightly around them, it slowly smothered thoughts. Twilight and Applejack plugged their ears with their hooves out of reflex, but it did nothing to quiet the dissonance burning into their minds.

“I can’t stop it, AJ!” Twilight yelled into Applejack’s ear.

“What?”

“I said I can’t stop it! The spell should stop itself once the memory is finished!” Twilight exclaimed as the sound grew again in volume and intensity.

“AAAAHHHH!” Both mares curled up into a fetal position, holding each other for comfort. The sound obliterated their thoughts, and pushed its way into every corner of their minds. Each mare felt like a hatchet had been slammed into their foreheads. Twilight squeezed her eyes shut as if it would do something to protect her.

Right when it felt like she couldn’t take it anymore, like her sanity would snap and she would welcome in the numb void, it stopped. Twilight opened her eyes.

crunch

It tasted so good; her family’s apples were the best. She munched away in the shade of an old oak. Twilight glanced around the base of the tree. She could hear the faint calls of the other fillies and colts at play. It was after lunch and her math test was finished with excellent results. It wasn’t perfect, but she knew it would be enough to please her mother. She stuffed the remains of her lunch and her math test into her saddlebags and snuck away from the schoolhouse.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Twilight froze. The authoritarian voice of a teacher was right behind her. She was at the edge of the school grounds, the picket fence only a few strides away.

“Ah’m going ta help ma family on the farm and ya can’t stop me, Cheerilee.” She tried to put on a brave face but inside she was all nerves.

I can’t disobey a teacher, especially not a nice one like Cheerilee!

Twilight turned to face down the authority figure, only to find a slightly older, blank-flanked filly standing before her just above eye level. She wore a big circular pin in her mane that said: “Teacher’s Assistant.” Cheerilee sighed, “Education is really important AJ. I wish you would take it more seriously. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders.”

“Ah done good on ma math test. We’re just gonna study grammar n’ spellin’ fer the rest of the day, and Ah got that down pat. Ma folks need the help.” Twilight felt a sense of pride at the mention of her folks. She was still scared, but refused to lie about what she was doing.

Cheerilee took a step back and leaned away. “Alright AJ, but I won’t lie for you if the teacher asks where you’ve gone.” Cheerilee looked down at the dirt and mumbled under her breath, “And I don’t think you have grammar and spelling down pat either.”

Twilight chuckled and pulled a shiny red apple out of her saddlebag. “Here ya go, fer the teacher, as a way of sayin’ sorry.” Twilight galloped off before Cheerilee had a chance to respond.

Cheerilee sighed, “It sure would be nice if the students offered me apples too...”

~~~~~

Twilight arrived at Sweet Apple Acres and darted into the orchard, still carrying her saddlebag full of school supplies. It was time to help her father and brother with the applebucking. She would show her mother her schoolwork later, and if she played her cards right, she could convince Big Mac not to mention to Candy she had come home early from school.

“Dad! Look what Ah got on ma test!” Twilight bounded through the grass between orderly rows of apple trees. Bright red fruits hung above her, threatening to fall or burst. Big Mac and Li'l Mac were nearly finished with the west field of trees. Li'l Mac had two full baskets of apples strapped to his back while his father bucked the nearest tree and filled his own empty baskets with a single, powerful strike. As the last apple tumbled into his basket, Big Mac looked down at his daughter. She held the test in her mouth without covering the red “A—” with a circle around it near the top of the page. Her eyes grew as wide as her smile. “Mow kin Ah hel ith’ uckin’?” She spoke past her precious, graded test paper.

“Eeyup,” he spoke with a drawl just like his son. Twilight squealed with delight. “But Ah ain’t gonna cover for ya when yer ma asks what you did today. If she gives ya a lickin’, yer on yer own.”

“Aww Pa, please don’t tell Ma. Ah’ll be good, Ah promise.”

“Leaving something important out is the same as lyin’.” His brow fell into a flat line as he gazed at her. “‘Specially when yer tryin’ ta get away with somethin’ ya know ya ain’t s’posed ta be doin’.” He smiled and said, “B’sides Ah might git in trouble myself. But Ah know how much ya wanna help and Ah kin see yer doin’ fine with yer schoolin’. Ah think ya deserve a reward.”

Twilight’s eyes flickered about and sweat formed on her brow. “Ah, uh, Ah didn’t know leavin’ somethin’ out is the same as lyin’...”

Big Mac nodded as he and Twilight began to trot towards the barn. “If ya asked me what the dangers of the Everfree Forest were and Ah said, ‘manticores and timberwolves,’ am Ah lyin to ya?”

“Uh, no, not exactly.”

“Well, would ya be safe if ya prepared fer just manticores n’ timberwolves in the Everfree?” Twilight shook her head. “Darn right ya wouldn’t! Ah might as well have told ya to prepare fer vicious bunnies. Lying is like stabbin’ a pony AJ, just slower.”

Twilight nodded and took a deep breath. “Ah’m already gittin a reward from Ma. She said if Ah did good on ma math test she’d let me wear her hat fer the rest of the day.”

Big Mac set the apples down while Li'l Mac packed them into barrels. He pulled his daughter in close and hugged her with one hoof. “Ah know, which is why Ah’m gonna let ya help. See AJ? Ya tell the truth and good stuff follows.”

Twilight’s eyes went wide. “Ya knew? Why didn’t ya say so?”

Big Mac swelled with pride, “Ah’m just testin ya, like yer math test. Ah wanted ta see what ya’d do if’n ya could butter both sides of yer toast. Ya passed with flyin’ colors too, so you git ta help me n’ yer brother buck apples fer the rest of the afternoon.”

He set the barrel of apples down outside the barn door. “Ah mean what Ah say. O’ course, Ah never seen a filly happy ‘bout buckin’ apples. An’ yer ma is probably gonna tan yer hide when she finds out ya came home early.” He whistled into the barn and called, “Li'l Mac, git out here, we got more apple buckin’ ta do.” Li'l Mac trotted out of the barn with empty baskets slung over his hindquarters, his knobby knees making his silhouette look ridiculous.

Twilight followed beside Li'l Mac, at least until he smiled and ruffled her mane. “Li'l AJ is gonna help?”

Twilight narrowed her eyes at Li'l Mac but kept pace. “Ah’m not jus’ gonna help, Ah’m gonna buck more apples than you. Just you wait n’ see.”

“Nnnope,” was his only response, but he smiled a mischievous grin while he said it.

The sun floated above the horizon as the three started on the south field. It wasn’t long before Twilight’s hind quarters felt like a bag of hot coals. Every time she started to slow down, a glance in Li'l Mac’s direction caused her to redouble her efforts. By the time the sun was under the horizon and the daylight faded, she was covered in sweat. Just as it became too dark to really see, Big Mac called out, “All right you two, time ta pack it in.”

They tromped into the barn one final time, laden with apples. With a grunt, Big Mac set his overflowing barrels down. Moonlight spilled into the barn from the open double doors, making a long rectangle of light. Shadows hid the mass of barrels that were now full. “Ah beat ya Li'l Mac, Ah got more apples than you!” Twilight couldn’t actually see how many barrels of apples each of them filled, but she felt this truth in her bones.

“Nnope,” was the only response she got from the darkened barn.

Big Mac chuckled and trotted to the exit. Hidden in shadow just on the inside of the wide door frame was a lantern. He picked it up in his mouth and tapped it with a hoof. Nothing happened while he stood there in the sterile white moonlight. “Boy, git the lamp oil will ya?” He said through gritted teeth.

“Ah’ll git it!” Twilight was excited to show up her brother; she galloped to the far side of the barn and reached up with both front hooves for the jar of lamp oil. It was dark and her filly-sized body wasn’t quite tall enough to reach the shelf. Li'l Mac lethargically walked up behind her. She just knew he was going to swipe the jar off of the shelf with ease. His extra height gave him a distinct advantage, but she wasn’t about to be outdone. Li'l Mac was still a few paces behind her. She stretched and with all the grace of a little filly, pulled the jar down. Got it!

Blorp

With a wet slosh, Twilight felt a mass of viscous liquid spill over her head and into her mane. It spread over her face, neck, and withers. She blinked and wiped a hoof over her eyes, the jar of oil now in her mouth She smiled and trotted past Li'l Mac, pleased with herself. She had retrieved the jar on her own and was in front of her father to present it to him.

Big Mac chuckled, “Heh heh, yer a right mess, ya silly filly.” Li'l Mac was right behind her with a goofy smile on his face. Big Mac took the jar of oil and lit the lantern. The sterile light of the moon gave way to a warm golden glow hanging from Big Mac’s mouth. “Git yerself cleaned up.” Big Mac gestured to a sink and mirror in the corner of the barn.

It wasn’t unusual for ponies to clean themselves at the end of the day before returning to the home, but this time Twilight was a bit nervous. Based on her father and brother’s reactions, she looked like an oil slick. She reached the sink and gazed at her reflection. Sure enough, her entire upper body looked black as coal. She snickered at herself; save for her emerald eyes, all she saw in the mirror was an inky black pony shape. She used a bucket of rags and plenty of water to scrub herself clean. The bucket was full of greasy scraps of cloth in minutes.

“C’mon AJ, its time ta face the music.” Twilight gulped and looked over her shoulder. The stallion and colt had finished packing the apples and stacking the barrels. She was disappointed to see that her stack of barrels was the same size as Li'l Mac’s. But what made her happy was the stack of barrels Big Mac had created: it was only slightly larger than hers and Lil Mac’s. She smiled and trotted to her father with a clean rag wrapped around her neck.

“Ok Pop, Ah’m all clean. I’m mighty hungry too.” The coals in her flanks had spread to her stomach. Ah’m gonna wear that cowpony hat at the dinner table, if’n Mama’ll let me.

Big Mac looked down at her and smiled. “Alright you two, follow me.” He trotted out of the barn, followed by his children. They passed the starlit orchard, the dirt road a moonlight ribbon surrounded by tall and dark shapes. Big Mac set the lantern on the hook mounted on the door frame to the farm house.

I don’t remember a lantern hook there.

Big Mac opened the front door and gestured for his children to enter. Li'l Mac walked inside but Big Mac stopped Twilight before she could enter. “Ya missed some behind yer ears, ya silly filly.” He rumbled with mirth. Twilight blushed and quickly scrubbed behind her ears with the rag. Sure enough, black stains streaked across the fibers when she pulled it out from behind her ears. Big Mac used the lantern to shine around her, inspecting her from every angle. “Alright little filly, go inside and git dinner.” She smiled and tossed the rag over her shoulder into a pail sitting beside the door frame. Her stomach rumbled; she was looking forward to what awaited her inside. Big Mac set the lantern back on the hook and followed her and the smells of dinner.

Twilight hadn’t realized just how cold it was outside, or perhaps it was the heat inside. Something smelled wonderful, and it was coming from the kitchen. Twilight’s mouth was watering. A faint hum matching a tune she couldn’t place drifted out of the kitchen along with the aroma. Everything inside the house seemed to be bathed in a warm glow. Li'l Mac’s tail disappeared into the kitchen. Granny Smith trotted down the stairs, her nostrils flaring. “Time fer dinner, Ah reckon.” Big Mac and Granny Smith trotted into the kitchen. Twilight took a deep breath before she followed them. She felt... whole.

The family sat around the dinner table, a veritable feast laid out before them. A large soup tureen released steam and the aroma of carrot soup. Apple cider was in abundance. Enough salad for each family member was also in each place setting. Sliced apples were in that as well, along with cranberries, almonds, and walnuts. Ah love cranberries and almonds.

I hate cranberries, and almonds always get stuck in my teeth, Twilight thought.

pshhhHHHH

Static flickered across Twilight’s vision. She felt dizzy, and for a moment she felt a twinge of pain. She blinked and patted her belly. The dinner was gone, eaten in a flash. Twilight felt full, and had an after taste of cranberries. Bits of almonds were stuck in her teeth but she didn’t seem to mind. Everypony was nearly finished with dinner when Candy turned to her daughter, her eyes warm but unblinking. “Applejack, how did you do on your test today?” Big Mac flashed her a look from across the table.

Twilight felt heat rush to her cheeks, but she bravely answered, “Ah got a A–, so...” She smiled and leaned forward but didn’t reach for her mother’s hat. It hung off of the back of her chair; nopony wore a hat at the dinner table in this house.

Candy brightened and said, “That’s good! Ah’m proud of ya, little filly.” Her expression became hard again and she continued, “But Ah think you kin do better. Ah want ta see an A+ on the next one.” Twilight gulped and stopped smiling. She was still edging forward towards the beloved cowpony hat, but Candy made no move to block her or encourage her. “Ya can’t wear it at the table.” Candy smiled and placed the hat next to Twilight’s plate. “Help yer brother with the dishes.”

“Uh, Mama, there’s something else Ah think you’ll wanna know.” Oh hay, this is it. Why did Ah have to gallop home early?

“What’s that?” Candy’s eyebrow rose as she tilted both ears forward.

“Ah, uh, came home a little early to help with applebuckin’.”

Candy’s eyes narrowed as she spoke, “Did you now? And what did your father have to say about that?” She glared at Big Mac.

“Uh... Ah think he was thinkin’ he could use the help. But he didn’t ask me ta help; Ah wanted ta help, honest.”

“Big Mac, honey, Ah’d like ta speak with you in private.” Candy spoke with a deadly calm. Big Mac pulled his harness off and set it aside with a thud. He glanced at Twilight with a slight shake of his head.

“Eeeyup.” And with that, both of her parents went upstairs and into their bedroom. The door shut and while Twilight couldn’t make out what they were saying, their conversation was quite loud. And growing louder.

Twilight picked up her plate and turned to the sink. She found Li'l Mac wearing his father’s harness, inspecting himself. He held a self-satisfied smile. Twilight dropped the plate onto the counter with a clatter of her fork. She swiftly trotted to the head of the table, snatched the cowpony hat from the back of the wooden chair, and placed it on her head. It was a size too large and fell over her eyes, but she grinned like an idiot anyway.

BANG

Everypony jumped. Twilight whipped her head around to the source of the noise over the sink. Li'l Mac’s wide eyes did the same. Granny Smith snorted and awoke from her doze, smacking her lips. “Close the shutters you two, it’s gonna be a windy night.” Lil Mac nodded and trotted into the family room.

The shutters outside the kitchen window flapped in the wind. Twilight cantered over to the sink and opened the window with a deft click. The howl of the wind echoed into the kitchen. She had to squint and flatten her ears against the gale. She reached out with one hoof and fumbled for the shutters. Her hoof was plunged into darkness for a moment before catching the wily shutter on the right. It took her another moment of fumbling in the dark before she caught the other and brought them together. She snapped them closed and cut off the howling wind. She blew a stray hair out of her face and wiped the sweat from her brow with a hoof. She blinked, and felt nothing on her head.

“Where’d it go?” Twilight frantically looked around for the missing cowpony hat.

WAHHHHH

From upstairs the sound of a foal’s cry blew into the kitchen. Granny Smith sighed and rubbed her eyes with a tired smile. “Don’t you worry, silly filly; it’s right here under the table.” Granny Smith bent down and snagged the cowpony hat. She flopped it on Twilight’s head with a smile and said, “Now git the rest of the house closed up tighter than a square knot. Don’t just stand there, git!” Granny Smith made a ‘shoo’ motion and Twilight trotted down the hall, closing the windows as she went.

“Ya can’t sacrifice the future for the present, ya hard-headed fool!” Candy’s voice rose in volume while Twilight closed the shutters in the formal dining room.

Odd, I don’t remember ever eating in the Apple’s formal dining room. Or that they even had a formal dining room!

“She’s doin’ fine honey, ya said so yerself. You got her fancy math test, do ya think she’s in trouble o’ failin’?” Big Mac’s calming voice carried far.

“There’s more ta school than math. Ah already let you have Li'l Mac, ya don’t get AJ too.”

“Li'l Mac already finished enough schoolin’. We’ll be fine. Ah turned out fine an’ Ah helped my pa at his age too.” Big Mac was easier to hear up here. Twilight had trotted upstairs and was closing the shutters at the end of the hallway.

“Is that all we are? Farmers? She don’t have her mark yet, she kin be anythang. Till then, she’s stayin’ in school, an’ if’n Ah get any lip from you Ah’ll...”

WAHHHHH

“Ah’m too tired fer this.” Candy’s exhaustion could be heard even through the door.

There were a few hoof-falls before Big Mac spoke again. “Ah’m sorry, darlin’. Ah’ll take care of Applebloom, you talk ta AJ.” Twilight slapped the catch on the shutters in her own room when her stomach twisted into a knot. She pressed her lips together when she heard her mother’s steps coming down the hallway. Her stomach relaxed when those steps went down stairs and into the family room.

“Applejack? Where are ya?” Twilight knew she should go downstairs, but she just wanted to roll into bed wearing the cowpony hat. No, hidin’ from Mama is just a different type of lyin’. Twilight sighed and adjusted the cowpony hat so it wouldn’t fall again. She exited her room and trotted downstairs, her steps slow. She swallowed the lump in her throat and faced her mother.

~~~~~

“I just don’t understand this.” The doctor looked over the two prone mares. Nurse Redheart looked over Applejack with deep lines in her face. She was frowning but doing her best to clean the trickle of blood from her patient’s nose. “I’ve never even heard of anything like it.”

“We told you not to separate them.” Pinkie Pie was bouncing with a spring in her step, but she wasn’t smiling now. Nopony was. Spike was riding on Rarity’s back, each of them hovering over Twilight’s body. Applejack and Twilight were lying on their sides in white hospital beds, which had been hastily pushed together. If the two were awake, they would be facing each other, but at the moment they were fast asleep. Their barrels would rise and fall together, and their hooves were almost touching, as if each was reaching out to the other.

Nurse Redheart hovered over Applejack, as she had already tended to Twilight. She wiped the blood away with a white cloth. Her brow was furrowed as she fluffed the white pillow with a white hoof. Rarity fit right in with the walls, the floor, and the ceiling. But not the drapes — they were a garish green. Her brow twitched when she looked at the eyeblight. But her eyes strayed to any sources of color in the room, even an ugly one. She hated all of the white — it made her feel like a ghost. The bleached room made everything feel sterile, scientific, in control. So it only made sense that the colorful Applejack and Twilight were out of their control.

The doctor furrowed his brow and shook his head before he bleated out, “But why would separating them make any difference? It doesn’t make any sense. If we could just put them in separate rooms we can observe them and run some tests. Maybe figure out what’s going on.”

Pinkie stopped bouncing and with both front hooves pulled the doctor’s face against hers, her eyes flat against his. “Because it’s magic. And they need to be together when they wake up so they can talk about the dream they are sharing before they forget it.” Her smile was wide and unmoving. Her eyes large and unblinking.

Twilight twitched again in her slumber. Her eyes flickered behind her lids. The doctor tried to shrink away from Pinkie but she held his head like a vice, staring at him far too close for comfort. Sweat beaded on his neck as he stammered out, “O-okay, they stay together.” He would have said anything to get Pinkie to release her grip and gaze. Looking into her eyes was like looking out into a vast crowd of ponies. She released him and he quickly backed away blinking. He took another look at Twilight’s chart, not that he needed to. He had looked at it a minute ago when he entered the room, but he needed to focus on something, anything else right now.

unnghnnnmmm....

Applejack mumbled something unintelligible. Her eyes were dancing behind her closed lids. Nurse Redheart backed away and tossed the bloody cloth into a box mounted on the wall bearing a biohazard symbol. At least the biohazard symbol isn’t white, Spike thought. The doctor trotted around the bed, brushing the cowpony hat slung at the corner of the metal bed frame. He leaned over Applejack and clicked his penlight on. He pulled on her upper left eyelid and looked at her eye, shining the penlight into the black hole.

Her eyes were dark and unfocused; the pupil an inky black disk that grew until only a thin emerald ring was left around them. They darted around, seeing things the doctor couldn’t even fathom. He repeated the procedure on the other eye with the same results. He could see the other mare had similar symptoms. Hmmm... REM sleep? Maybe that crazy pink pony is right — they may be dreaming. But that still doesn’t explain...

“What’s the matter with them doctor?” Rarity said with a higher-than-usual pitch. “Oh please tell me they’ll be alright. I just couldn’t stand to live without them.” She placed the back of her hoof on her forehead, just below her horn. “If they were to never awaken it would be the worst, possible, thing!” Spike didn’t roll his eyes as she began to swoon. He did clutch onto her mane for fear of falling. As she stopped herself and settled on all four hooves, Spike reseated himself. He liked being on Rarity’s back, but it was a small comfort right now. He was staring at Twilight and felt like Pinkie was holding his heart like she held the doctor’s face. His stomach twisted as he drummed his claws together.

“I’m not sure but, they seem to be... dreaming. Other than that they are perfectly healthy. If they weren’t bleeding every time we tried to move them, I’d just send them home and tell you to wait for them to wake up.” The doctor ran a hoof through his mane. It came back damp with sweat. “The only thing we can do for them now is to keep them comfortable and wait for them to awaken.”

Rarity was already scratching away a letter. Her half-moon spectacles perched on her nose; the parchment and quill hovered before her. The quill raced across the page while Spike stood to peek over her head to watch her write. He liked to watch her write; the beautiful penmanship was artwork compared to the way Twilight wrote when she was in a hurry. But today, it was Rarity in a hurry. Her normally graceful penmanship was replaced with an anxious scrawl. The quill stabbed one last time at the end of the letter and the entire parchment was rolled up in a second. “Spike, get this to the Sparkles. Beg Celestia to do it herself if you have to, it’s important. Pinkie, please retrieve the Apple family. They all need to be here.”

Spike nodded and plucked the letter out of the air. He scribbled a note: “To the Sparkle household,” along with a short explanation. He exhaled slowly, green flame curling around the parchment. The parchment turned to ash and swirled away. I hope that gets to them in time, Spike thought. Movement in the corner of his eye made him turn his head. He saw a pink, cotton candy tail disappear into the hallway as the door closed.

Suddenly he was floating, surrounded by a light blue aura. He didn’t struggle as he was placed into an empty chair. The chair and its mate both slid up to the bedside. “Are you tired Rarity? Am I getting too heavy? I’ll sit on my own.”

The doctor nodded and trotted towards the door. That pink one should be gone by now he thought. “If anything changes don’t hesitate to call for the nurse or myself. Come along, Nurse Redheart, we still have to take care of that filly with the broken leg.” Nurse Redheart flashed a smiled and followed the doctor out.

Rarity sighed, “We need to sit down. We’re going to be here for awhile.”

“How do you know?”

“Call it a lady’s intuition, Spike.” She frowned as Twilight’s eyes twitched again.

~~~~~

“Ah’m here Mama,” Twilight said as she entered the family room. It was quiet except for the faint howl of the wind outside and Granny Smith’s light snoring. All that remained in the fireplace were a few hot embers, doing their best to warm Granny Smith as her rocking chair gently rolled her back and forth. She was covered in a blanket, her head bowed and her eyes closed. Candy was standing in the kitchen doorway when she turned around to face Twilight. Twilight smiled at her grandmother and said, “Um, maybe we should let Granny snooze fer a spell.”

Candy nodded and motioned for Twilight to follow her. She entered the kitchen and poured herself a glass of sweet tea on the rocks. Twilight swallowed a lump in her throat and stood still near her mother. Candy walked to the kitchen table and seated herself. She took a long gulp from the glass and with a satisfied sigh, set it on the table. She looked to find Twilight standing a short but respectful distance away. Candy smiled and scooped up her daughter. Twilight used both hooves to clamp down on the cowpony hat to keep it from falling off. She found herself in her mother’s lap. “Keep the hat on, silly filly. Ah said you’d git ta wear it if’n yer math test had a good grade and it does.”

“Mama, am Ah in trouble?”

“Yep. You know ya ain’t supposed ta leave school til yer teacher says it’s ok.” Twilight’s brow broke out in a sweat, but her stomach was calm. Proximity to her mother had that effect. “Trouble is, how kin Ah punish ya fer tryin’ ta help yer family?”

Twilight fiddled with the brim of the cowpony hat, thinking. “Well, you could make me go applebuckin’ fer the rest of the week,” she said hopefully.

“Ah could, but that ain’t much of a punishment fer you now is it?” She took another sip of tea.

“...No.” Twilight’s eyes found the floor.

“And what would be a good punishment fer you?”

Twilight’s stomach held a pit in it now. “You could take away the cowpony hat and make me go ta school every day. An’ never let me help with applebuckin’ ever again.” She sniffed, trying to keep back the tears. That’s what she’s gonna do — why do Ah have ta tell the truth? Why do Ah have ta tell ponies how ta hurt me?

Candy laughed, “Land sakes, that would be worse than tannin’ yer hide, wouldn’t it?” Twilight couldn’t hold it in anymore as she began to sob out little tears. Candy nuzzled her daughter and said, “Ah ain’t gonna do that to ya, silly filly. Ah know yer scared, but yer punishment is more book learnin’ ta make up fer what ya missed today.”

Twilight’s sobs subsided after a minute. “S-so, that’s it?”

Candy sighed, “Not quite, sugarcube. Ah want ta know why yer set on applebuckin’ an’ not learnin’. Ah want an honest answer.”

Twilight looked up and shot back without hesitation, “Cause’ Ah want ta help on the farm! How is fancy math gonna help with that?” The hat fell over her eyes again when she tried to look at Candy.

Candy looked down and adjusted the cowpony hat so it sat correctly on Twilight’s head and she could see again. “That fancy math is what’s gonna help the farm tomorrow. Applebuckin’ just helps fer today.” Twilight pursed her lips and furrowed her brow. “Ah know ya don’t really understand, but trust me, learnin’ is what’s gonna get you ahead in life. Just like truth with other ponies, learnin’ is like truth fer the world. An’ ya can’t understand another pony without them bein’ honest, right?” Twilight nodded. “Well, all them books about math an’ readin’ an’ writin’ and stuff? That’s the world bein’ honest with ya.”

Twilight didn’t really understand but nodded anyway. She yawned wide and Candy smiled again. She gently took the cowpony hat off of her head and put it on her own. Twilight blinked, trying to keep her eyes open. “Hey, ya said Ah could have it fer the rest of the day.”

“You did have it — day’s over.” Twilight wanted to protest but she said nothing and looked down. “You want it again tomorrow?” Twilight’s eyes snapped back up. “Then ya go to school till the bell rings an’ you finish yer homework, then Ah’ll let ya have it back.” Twilight nodded vigorously before yawning again. Candy stood, picked Twilight up in her mouth, and placed her on her back. She trotted into the family room and poked her sleeping mother.

Granny Smith snorted and opened her eyes, mopping her face with both front hooves. “Ah musta dozed off.”

“C’mon you two, time fer bed.” Granny Smith followed Candy upstairs, each going in opposite directions once they reached the top. Candy entered Twilight’s room and placed her into bed. “Time fer dreamin’, my little Apple.”

Twilight yawned again, “Goodnight Mama.”

Candy kissed her on the forehead and whispered, “Goodnight, sugarcube.”

~~~~~

Black snow, that’s what it looked like. Little fluffy black motes floated in an endless white void. “Applejack?” Twilight looked around but didn’t see her friend anywhere.

“We do not have much time, a dream within a dream is fragile and will not last.” Luna stepped out of the ether behind Twilight. With a flash of her horn Applejack fell from the ‘sky’ and stopped near Twilight. There was no ground for her to hit, she just stopped at what appeared to be level for Twilight and Luna.

“Make it stop Twi! Princess? Yer here too? What in tarnation is goin’ on?” Applejack curled up and held her hat. Her mane and tail floating as if she were immersed in water. Twilight was in much the same position, only Luna seemed to be standing.

“Princess, this here is mighty strange. Kin ya tell me what in tarnation is goin’ on?” Twilight spoke with a particular accent. She blinked and her eyes went wide as she covered her mouth with both front hooves. “What... WHAT IS GOING ON!?”

Luna gazed at Twilight, her expression a perfect poker face. “It seems it has already begun. The two of you need to wake up. For some reason I do not know, your minds are tangled up with each other. If you do not wake soon, I fear one or both of you will become a vegetable.” Luna spoke calmly, but her eyes bored into Twilight. “I fear you may perish.”

Twilight blurted out, “I didn’t mean to hurt anypony! I just wanted to test my new memory spell. I’ll never do it again I promise, just please MAKE IT STOP!” Luna furrowed her brow and stepped towards Twilight, her hooves striking an unseen surface.

“Quickly, think of the spell you speak of. Remember the details and formulae.” Luna gazed intently at Twilight, who closed her eyes and thought about her notes and diagrams. “Very good, hold them there.”

Twilight opened her eyes as both she and Applejack let out little gasps. The chalkboard from the library was there, floating along with the salt and pepper snow. Luna took in Twilight’s diagrams faster than Twilight thought possible. “Um, what’s going to happen to us Princess?”

Luna finished reading and turned to the two friends before speaking in a measured tone, “Twilight Sparkle, you have done an impressive job...” Twilight beamed, “...of creating a very dangerous spell.” Her ears flattened against her head. “The spell you have created is similar to the spell we use to peer into the dreams of our subjects. Your spell will indeed delve into the mind of another and see their memories. The trouble is, you didn’t bother to add in a way to end the spell.”

Twilight felt a cold chill down her spine. “I thought the spell would end once the memory was over.”

Luna arched one eyebrow. “And when do memories end, but upon death?”

Twilight blinked and said, “I thought... memories ended after the events were complete.” As she thought about it, it seemed like a foolish notion now. Sure memories ended, but the end of one memory was just the beginning of another.

Luna shook her head slowly, “This spell will not end until one of you is dead, or...”

Applejack gulped, “Or...?” The Apple’s barn appeared, the faces of Big Mac, Granny Smith and Applebloom floated inside of it, apple trees with bright red apples swirled around her.

Twilight shook and raised her voice over the growing storm, “Or what? I don’t want to die!” The Golden Oaks Library crashed into the barn, the faces of Twilight’s parents, Spike, and Shining armor spilled out of the library’s door. Books and scrolls exploded out of the library to float like the snow.

Luna shook her head again and said, “Or you two wake up. The only way you will be able to do so is during a time of great stress that defines who you are.” She turned to face Applejack. “We cannot see this memory — is such a time nearly upon you?”

Applejack looked away, her mouth pressed into a tight line. She blinked away tears and spoke in a clipped voice, “Yes.”

Luna nodded and said, “Good. Twilight, at that time you must wake up. I do not believe your body will survive much longer separate from your spirit, and Applejack’s mind cannot withstand having a visitor for such a long time. The strain may destroy her sanity. At the right time, think about waking up. Try to imagine yourself opening your eyes and sitting up.”

Twilight was still shaking but nodded, “Okay. At a memory that defines Applejack, think about waking up.”

Applejack stared in horror at Twilight. “Twilight, ah don’t want to relive this. It’s horrible. It’s—”

Luna cut her off as the storm of apples and scrolls filled the void, pushing out the white and black snow. “Our time is up. Both of you must not forget who you are!” And with that she was gone in a tornado of apples and paper.

Chapter 3

HIIISSSSsssss

The static crackled and popped for a moment but slowly faded until it was a tiny sound. Little white dots flickered across her vision.

cough-cough

Twilight cracked an eye open but couldn’t see anything but darkness. She was so tired from applebucking, her hind quarters were still on fire. It made her feel strange and lightheaded to have worked so hard, but she liked it. So why couldn’t she sleep? Why did the air smell like...

WAHHHHH

crack

POP

Twilight bolted upright in her bed. Adrenaline rushed through her veins. She didn’t know it was possible for her heart to go from a snail’s pace to its maximum rate in less than one second. She smelled smoke and an orange, flickering light could be seen reflecting on her window pane. Applebloom’s cry had woken her up, but the smell of smoke made something in the primal part of her brain kick into overdrive. Twilight didn’t so much roll as explode out of bed.

SNNNIFFFFF

Her breathing accelerated. Her blood felt like hot oil. Everything slowed way down.

Everything became hyper-real.

The static was gone. Her lungs burned. Smoke filled the room. It was pouring in from the crack under her bedroom door. Her pupils grew in the dark. Her sheets were in a funny looking heap, almost falling off of the bed. Her saddlebag was at the foot of her bed, the zipper had missed the last six teeth. She saw a quill she was missing hiding almost out of sight under her bed. Her armoire was closed but she could see the scratch her hooves had left on it when she bucked it closed several months ago. She could hear Applebloom crying and the crackling of what sounded like a campfire. There was a dull roar, like the waves of an unseen beach. And of course the smell — that acrid smell of ashes.

CRASH-CRUNCH

“MA HIP!” Fear was laced into those words.

“BOY GET YOUR GRANDMA OUTTA HERE NOW!” She had never heard her father shout, not like that. His voice was clipped and the words carried with them a weight that almost forced one to obey.

BANG

She didn’t think about opening the door, she didn’t think about anything. Something in her brain simply took over and ran everything on autopilot. Whoever or whatever was doing it, they were very efficient at it. Twilight blinked and she was across the room with the door open. It happened so fast, but to her everything was in slow motion. Every detail burning into her eyes.

Wake up.

“GIT OUTTA HERE AJ!” Her father thundered past her down the hallway. She could see him gallop past in slow motion. Yet he must have been moving quickly, cinders swirled in the air behind him; caught in his turbulent wake. It was incredible that something that size could move that fast. He was still wearing his harness. His body was covered in a fine layer of ash, little black smudges all over him.

The autopilot decided to follow him.

She charged down the hallway after her father, tearing through a nightmare of smoke. Heat blasted into her face and hot red cinders floated in the air. She darted past her Granny’s room at a speed she didn’t think was possible. The door was bucked off of its hinges and split into two lengthwise halves lying on the floor. Although she was galloping at full speed she could see Li’l Mac had shimmied under a massive beam of wood. It had pinned their poor Grandmother into her bed, crushing her leg. That beam of wood should have weighed more than five times Li'l Mac. She could see the look of pain and fear on her Grandmother’s face, and the look of determination on her brother’s. She could see all sorts of little details in the room, like the floral pattern of the quilt her grandmother used as a comforter. She could see the pictures on the wall of the family, whole and smiling. She could even see the individual splinters from the single hoof strike that had popped the door in two like it was a twig. She could see Li'l Mac stand like the beam was made of air. And then all she could see was the hallway speed by as she kept charging.

Wake up!

So much memory, so much information, so little time. “Candy! Where are ya?!” Big Mac shouted down the stairs. When he heard the crash from Applebloom’s room, it made him turn and charge back down the hallway. The autopilot blasted her after Big Mac.

“MAC! IN HERE!” Candy’s panicked shout came from Applebloom’s room. Big Mac high stepped and knocked the door open without breaking his stride. Twilight was right behind him. Inside, the foal’s room had been transformed. A chunk of the floor had fallen away, heat waves shimmering in the air from the gaping hole. The crib was half falling into the hole. The pastel paint on the walls bubbled and peeled, revealing the wood underneath. Candy was bent over in the crib but Twilight couldn’t see what she was doing. Candy screamed as the crib lurched dangerously, and fell into the fiery chasm.

Everypony seemed to be moving in slow motion, except for Candy. Big Mac was still two full strides away from her. Twilight couldn’t do anything but watch. Candy leapt after the white sheets that tumbled out of the crib, her mouth open as she dove for what looked like a thick roll of towels. Big Mac was a single stride away. Twilight blinked past the smoke that was stinging her eyes, her brain a complete blank. Candy dove after the bundle with a cry, only her hind quarters were visible now. Twilight could see the sharp, jagged edge of the boards that formed the hole. Big Mac stretched his own head forward and with a single snap, clamped his teeth on Candy’s tail. Twilight took a step into the room.

There was a long second where Big Mac didn’t move. With two swift strides he backed up and pulled two ponies with him. Candy lay on the floor at the edge of the hole, a bundle held in her mouth. Her stomach had a nasty slash on it, blood seeping out, leaving a trail from a jagged edge to her. But she didn’t seem to care, her eyes were squeezed shut. All she did was wrap both forehooves around that precious bundle of cloth. Big Mac spat out her tail and stood over her. “We need ta go, NOW!”

THUD-CRUNCH

Twilight whipped her head around to see the doorway become blocked by falling debris. Another huge beam had fallen across the doorway along with a good chunk of slate roofing tiles. Only the lower right corner of the door was clear now and it breathed smoke like a sleeping dragon. Big Mac knelt by Candy and urged her again to move. Twilight stood next to him, her heart racing, when Candy opened her eyes. Bloodshot and crazed, they were not the eyes she recognized. They held a fire all on their own as she looked at Twilight. “Take Applebloom and git out!” She thrust the bundle of cloth into Twilight’s chest in one swift motion, their noses almost touching. Candy grimaced, Twilight could smell something like copper tinge the air along with the acrid fumes. Candy wrapped her limbs around Twilight and squeezed her tight. She idly realized just how tight this embrace was. It should have been painful and bone-crushing but she just closed her eyes and nuzzled into Candy’s neck. “I love you, sugarcube,” Candy whispered.

Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

Candy released her and she slumped back onto the floor, hesitating. Big Mac tried to lift Candy, but she winced when he tried to move her. Blood pooled in a sticky red puddle beneath her. Big Mac lifted her anyway and slowly moved her towards the doorway. He saw Twilight standing there, the bundle hanging from her mouth, with a blank expression. “Bahabuha,” Applebloom’s voice cooed from inside the bundle. It was the buck to the head that Twilight needed to start moving. She darted to the doorway and sank to her stomach. The floor felt rough and dirty, splinters and wood digging into her soft underbelly. She pushed the bundle through the gap first. Then hoof over hoof, she squirmed through after it. She pinched a corner of the cloth in her teeth and stood to face the doorframe, waiting for her parents to follow.

“GIT OUTTA THE HOUSE AJ!” She blinked, smoke and tears stung her eyes. “We’ll be right behind you.” Big Mac lowered his voice, but his eyes darted down the hallway. Twilight turned and galloped down the stairs.

CRACK

Twilight recognized the sound of her father’s buck hitting wood. It was a sound she had heard thousands of times before. She hit the bottom of the stairs and entered the family room. It was transformed into a hellish landscape. Fire clung to the walls and ceiling. Angry red cinders popped and spat at her from every direction. Ashes floated in the air, and smoke rose from everything. The couch was a blackened husk. The pictures on the walls had fallen and were burning in heaps. Granny Smith’s rocking chair was a crackling pile of tinder. Ironically, the fireplace was unharmed. The front door was an inferno, a solid wall of fire. There was no getting out that way. She swung her head to the kitchen and darted inside, narrowly dodging the grandfather clock falling across the archway. The pendulum inside crashed into a dissonant gong, the rest of the clock playing host to curling flames. The kitchen wasn’t much better; the drapes were replaced by ashes and the table was a bonfire. Twilight darted around the blaze, keeping low out of instinct. Fresh air wafted into the room, making the fire dance and reach for the exit. A cool wind blew into the room from the back door. It had been bucked open and was hanging askew, the bottom hinge splitting the wood. She barreled through the opening, her heart still trying to explode out of her chest.

Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

cough-cough-cough

Twilight stumbled into the fields outside of the house, sucking in great lungfuls of fresh air. Red flashing lights were racing to the farmhouse from far down the road. She was galloping away from the farmhouse in a daze. She saw her brother kneeling over the prone form of their grandmother. She was lying on her side, her barrel rising and falling like a pair of bellows. Her right hind leg was bending in a way it should not. Firelight illuminated the fields, her brother, her grandmother, and the pair of carts barreling down the road towards them from the town proper. The wind had settled to a breeze that carried with it the smell of a burning home.

pishhhhHHHH

Little white spots flickered across Twilight’s vision. The sound of static started to rise, muffling her grandmother’s words. She set Applebloom into a gurney along with Granny Smith. There were firestallions there, and her brother was saying something. It was all just sound and fury. She trotted as close to the farmhouse as the firestallions would allow her to. All sights, sounds, smells, even thoughts, just slipped into the black hole inside of her. The only thing she could focus on was the back door. Big Mac and Candy would emerge from that door any second now. Big Mac would have bucked that beam into splinters. He wouldn’t need to worry about the smoke because he was so big and strong. Candy would help him. They would both get downstairs, nothing would stop them. They were so big, strong, and smart. And they had each other. Candy was wearing her lucky cowpony hat. There simply wasn’t room for any other thoughts.

CRASH — FWOOSH

Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

The static cleared away, Twilight could focus again on the farmhouse. The firestallions had doused the house with water. The fire spat and sizzled when the water hit. That was when the whole structure just fell apart. The roof and most of the guts of the house fell into itself. The back wall still mostly stood but the front and roof had totally fallen. The structure spat fire and smoke into the sky like a dying dragon, desperate to keep the fires of life going. Tears welled up into her eyes. Her parents were still alive in there somewhere, she needed to find them. With a cry, she darted past the firestallions and dove head first into the charred bones of her home.

“Get out of there! It’s not safe!”

With shaky, desperate hooves she plowed through the remains of the house. Charred wood and dripping water created a hazardous mush of ashes and embers. Her hooves tore through it like a hot knife through butter. She spun and bucked a large beam, charred and blackened by the fire. Her hooves crunched through roofing tiles, kicking up dust while she dug. She was almost blinded by tears when she found them.

“Mama, Papa!” She choked on the fumes and slammed both hooves into the pile of ashes. She knew they were there. Her father’s plow harness was poking through the heap of ashes. She latched onto what she was looking for and pulled.

Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.
Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

The firestallion, that annoying voice behind her, finally grabbed her and hauled her away. Great wracking sobs shook her frame. Little white dots popped into her vision. She had her father’s harness in one hoof, and Candy’s cowpony hat in the other.

Their owners were not attached.

The sound of static rose again. Twilight couldn’t see much beyond the snowcrash that filled the edges of her vision.

When it cleared, she could tell she was in some sort of medical setting. She was inside of a carriage, but everything was white. Her grandmother was on a gurney, her brother hovering over her. A firestallion was pressing a breathing mask over Granny Smith’s muzzle, pumping pure oxygen into her. Twilight held Applebloom in quivering hooves, as exhaustion threatened to force her to sleep on the spot. The jostling of the carriage kept her awake at least until they stopped at the hospital. She trotted inside, numb.

Static covered her eyes for a moment. When she could see again, she was in a hospital room.

beep - beep - beep

The slow tone of the heart monitor was the only thing keeping her awake now. Granny Smith was asleep; the doctor had given her sedatives and painkillers. Applebloom was checked and was in perfect health. Still, the doctors wanted to monitor her for a day just to be sure she hadn’t inhaled too much smoke or something. Twilight wasn’t really paying attention. She was just staring at her father’s harness lying against the wall in one corner of the room and her mother’s cowpony hat which was lying on top of it.

Twilight felt as if she were crying. I’ve failed. I’m going to die and Applejack is going to be a vegetable. I don’t want to feel another pony’s pain. I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want her to hurt. I don’t want to die. I just want to wake up.

Wake up.

WAKE UP!

PLEASE wake up.

~~~~~

beep-beep-beep

“Doctor, I think something is happening. Be a dear and check her again for me.” Rarity tried to speak with confidence and happiness, but something in her tone told the doctor it wasn’t a request.

beep-beep-beep-beep-beep

“Why? What’s happened?” The doctor trotted over to peer at Twilight. Her mother and father had arrived only minutes ago and he had to gently push them aside to do his job. The room was quite crowded now. Twilight’s parents had arrived last. This would be after the Apple family had arrived, followed by the mares’ friends. Including the nurse, doctor, patients, family, and friends, there were thirteen ponies and one dragon in the room. “What...?”

beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep

He looked at the patient. Tears were leaking from her closed eyes. He pried her eyelids back one more time and stared into her pupils for a moment. They darted about at hyper speed, like a rubber bouncy ball flung into a tiny room with the door closed. Her pupils were massive black holes. He allowed her eyes to close when he heard her snort. He glanced down at her nose.

beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep

Blood was leaking out onto the sheets. It stained the otherwise pristine whiteness a deep crimson. “NURSE!” He yelled and roughly shoved Twilight’s mother and father aside to check the monitor. What he saw caused his own blood pressure to rise.

beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep

“Call the surgeon,” he said, “and ask him to prep for a cardiac ablation procedure.” He tried to speak quietly but the room was crowded and everypony could hear him. “Tell him the patient has a rate of 243 bpm.” The nurse nodded and was out of the room in a flash.

beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep

Twilight’s father placed a heavy hoof on the doctor’s shoulder. “What’s going on?” He spoke clearly but his trembling hoof and voice betrayed him. The doctor turned to look at him — this was the part of the job he hated.

beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep

The doctor opened his mouth to speak, and everypony leaned in to listen, even Granny Smith. “Her heart is beating too fast, for too long. If this continues, there is a good chance she’ll enter ventricular fibrillation. At that point we’ll have few options; the best one is surgery. I’ll need you to sign off on...” the blank expression on the mother and father told the doctor they didn’t understand the medical jargon. The situation was getting dangerous, and he didn’t have time to explain the details because at any moment she could—

beeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

The doctor’s eyes went wide, he screamed into the hallway, “CODE BLUE!”

“What’s goin’ on?” Applebloom asked as she hopped off of Big Mac’s back. She looked at the doctor with one brow cocked and the corners of her mouth pointed down.

“Twilight?” Spike said, running in between the doctor’s legs, nearly tripping him. He couldn’t quite see over the bed frame but began to climb up the sheets, tears welling in his eyes. “W-what’s wrong?”

Three nurses burst into the room, the third pushing a cart with a strange metal box and a pair of small metal plates attached by wires. Nurse Redheart tore the sheet away from Twilight and kept working without looking at the doctor. “The surgeon will be here in 5 minutes — he’s prepping his tools now.”

The doctor was past being polite at this point. “Get these ponies out of here — NOW!” he barked. “We don’t have time to wait for the surgeon. We defibrillate now or we could lose her.” The doctor snatched up the metal plates and vigorously rubbed them together.

Another pair of nurses entered and herded the friends and family out. Velvet fought against them to no avail. “What’s happening! Will my baby be alright?” she pleaded at the doctor.

A tinny, low tone crackled out of the room. The tone rose quickly, and as the door closed, the doctor pulled the metallic plates apart and shouted:

“CLEAR!”

~~~~~

Twilight sat up in bed, and found herself surrounded by white. White walls, white sheets, white ceiling. Only the curtains were an ugly green color. She found she wasn’t the only one in the room. Another pony was lying next to her, their beds were close together. She turned to see the earth pony was asleep on her side, facing her.

The moonlight was the only real light source in the room. Everything was quiet now that the doctors had left. They left her alone in this room, with her thoughts.

And with Applebloom.

Applebloom shifted and giggled in her sleep. Little white motes flickered across Twilight’s vision. Mama and Papa are gone. She stared across the beds and looked at the cowpony hat hanging on the bed frame.

Only minutes ago her grandmother was snoring in the corner of the room, but Li'l Mac... no, BIG Mac had wheeled her out. The doctors were worried about long term damage to her hip, but she seemed to take it all in stride. She had looked at her grandchildren the moment the doctors left her alone with them. She solemnly took the plow harness and placed it on Li'l Mac. She told him she was proud of him, and that he was gonna have to be Big Mac from now on. He was big for his age but he didn’t look very big at that moment. He looked like a scared colt with an oversized harness over his neck. She tried to put the cowpony hat on Twilight, but she shrank away. Granny Smith seemed to understand, and only said, “When yer ready, yer gonna wear this hat. It belongs ta you now.” At that point, Big Mac had wheeled her out so she could sleep in her own room.

No it doesn’t, it belongs to Mama. Mama is supposed to give it to me. It isn’t yours to give, Granny Smith, not anymore. You gave it to Mama, and Mama is gonna give it to me someday. Tears started to slide down her face as she looked at the hat. They dribbled down her face as her thoughts traced the same path they had traveled hundreds of times in the last few hours.

It’s not fair. Mama and Papa didn’t have ta die. They should be here. They were big an’ strong, an’ they could have got away easy. She looked at the foal in the bed, surrounded by white. If’n it weren’t fer you.

She picked up the cowpony hat and stood on the bed. She drew close to Applebloom, who sniffed and opened her eyes, but remained quiet. This here is all yer fault. Her blood boiled. It’s the honest truth! If you weren’t born, Mama and Papa would still be alive now. How could ya do that to ‘em? They risked everything fer you. You just take an’ take an’ take! You don’t give nothin’ in return. The cowpony hat slid off her head so it covered Applebloom’s face. It was so large the brim covered most of her body.

You wanna take the hat too,don’t ya! You took away Mama and Papa, why not take her hat as well! She’d be willing ta give it to ya. But not me, no. I had ta fight for it, earn it. You, you jus’ git whatever you want. She started to hyperventilate. Static popped in her ears and little salt and pepper dots raced across her vision when Twilight picked up a scalpel from the drawer.

Why? Why? WHY? Why did ya do it? She sat on the bed and raised the scalpel over her head. She towered over the foal despite her filly-sized body. Why did they have ta die? Applebloom wiggled and cooed, her limbs uncoordinated. “Answer me.”

Applebloom shifted and the cowpony hat fell into her hooves. She giggled.

“ANSWER ME!”

Twilight felt like a statue made of molten rock. She threatened to explode at any moment. Applebloom cooed again and fiddled with the cowpony hat, chewing on the brim.

“WHY?!”

It was both a question and a demand. Applebloom giggled, looking Twilight right in the eye. She felt herself boiling. The static had blood colored motes mixed into it. Applebloom reached up with the cowpony hat and set it on Twilight’s head. The touch set her off.

“AHHHHHH!”

She screamed and brought the knife down.

Applebloom put a hoof on Twilight’s cheek, opened her mouth, and said her first word.

~~~~~

Her body convulsed. Blood was leaking from her nose, ears, eyes, and mouth. The nurses and doctors were in a controlled panic. All of the friends and family members were plastered to the glass window. The curtain that normally gave patients some privacy had been torn down in the commotion.

“MOVE IT!” The surgeon and another nurse to assist her trotted down the hall. Doctor Honeycut was an expert at slicing ponies open and fixing their problems. However she prefered those on the operating room table over those who would talk to her. The nurse carrying her prefered tools was right behind her. The blades gleamed in the sterile light.

Spike gulped when he saw the surgeon's tools. He didn’t like the look of Doctor Honeycut, either. She had a severe look and her cutie mark was a heart like many nurses, but this one had a scalpel resting across it. “Will she be alright?” Rarity asked as the surgeon wiggled past the mob of friends and family. The herd looked on through the windows into the room. It was like looking into a fishbowl. If your fish were about to die.

“Please tell me why she’s still asleep.”
“What’s goin’ on,
“Why is she bleeding?”
“When will they wake up?”

Spike didn’t care about any of that. They were irrelevant questions. The only one that mattered was: “Will they be okay?” Why couldn’t every other pony see that? Why did they insist on knowing everything that was going on at every second? It would take the doctors longer to explain than it would to just do their jobs and fix them. They were going to fix Twilight and Applejack. They just had to — no other possibility was acceptable. Spike tried very hard not to think about the doctor’s reaction or the incessant questions the others were unloading upon the hospital staff. He stood on Rarity’s back and looked over the small crowd into the hospital room.

There was a flurry of activity around the two beds. The surgeon was scrubbing her hooves while the nurse set the tray of those scary tools near Twilight. Twilight was looking better than she was a few minutes ago, before everypony was herded out of the room, but the monitor still showed her heart rate at an astronomical rate. Spike leaned in along with everypony else. Don’t cry, you’re a big boy now. Twilight will be alright. Wake up Twilight...

Wake up.

Please wake up.

Twilight bolted upright in her bed. Everypony gasped. Her eyes were open but unfocused, and still flitted about in their sockets. Her hooves were even faster — in one smooth motion they snactched up a gleaming, razor-sharp scalpel the nurse had just finished cleaning. She raised it above her head over Applejack.

“AHHHHH!”

With a gut-wrenching cry she brought the blade down over Applejack’s throat.

Chapter 4

“Sugar...cube.”

Twilight stopped. Her breathing was labored. Her heart pounded in her chest. Tears kept leaking from her eyes and her limbs quaked. The blade hovered just over Applebloom’s throat.

Applebloom’s hoof fumbled over Twilight’s cheek, much like Candy did when she was sad. It was foalish and uncoordinated. Applebloom giggled at the scalpel and looked at Twilight again.

“Sugarcube,” she said again. Pleased with her own voice she laughed only like foals do. Something inside of Twilight was released; like her heart had been inside of a vice grip and was now free to beat again. She dropped the scalpel, which tumbled down in between the two beds and clattered against the ground. Sitting on her haunches she scooped up Applebloom.

She broke out sobbing, “Ah’m...s-s-so...s-sorry. Y-yer...Mama’s an’...P-Papa’s...l-little apple. J-j-jus like...m-me. A-ah’m...n-not...w-w-worthy of this...c-cowpony h-hat.” She kept sobbing while Applebloom giggled. Twilight took the cowpony hat off and gave it to Applebloom. Applebloom chewed on the brim for a moment, content.

Twilight tried to set Applebloom down, still blubbering. She couldn’t see past the tears, but she felt the hat settle on her head again. She blinked to find Applebloom looking up at her.

“Sugarcube.”

Her tears stopped. She didn’t argue with the foal, but took the hat off and held it to her heart like a holy relic. “Ah can’t stay here. Ya’ll deserve better than me. Ah don’t deserve this here hat. Ah don’t deserve Sweet Apple Acres. Ah don’t deserve you. Ah should just crawl inta a hole an’ die.” She hung her head.

“That’s not true, AJ.”

Twilight whirled around. Granny Smith was in the doorway, watching her. “Granny Smith? Ah’m...Ah’m...” Her lip quivered.

“S’alright AJ, ya don’t have ta say nothin’. Ah understand.” She wheeled herself in and stopped beside the bed. The wheelchair must have been new because it didn’t make a sound. “When yer ready ta wear this hat, you come back to us ya hear?”

Twilight pressed her ears flat against her head. “Ah don’t think Ah’ll ever be ready fer that. Ah don’t even know where we’re gonna go, what we’re gonna do.”

Granny Smith beckoned Twilight closer. She sat at the edge of the bed with her hind hooves dangling over. Granny Smith held Twilight’s hoof in her own. “That’s easy. We build a new barn, a new house, a new life. Then when yer ready, you put that hat on and hold yer head high.”

“Ah don’t think Ah kin stay at Sweet Apple Acres. Ah...Ah...don’t belong.”

Granny Smith stared at her for a long moment before she nodded. “If ya really feel that way, Ah’ll write to yer aunt n’ uncle in Manehatten. Maybe a change o’ scenery will be good for ya. And when you come back, we’ll be a family again.”

“Ah don’t think Ah’ll ever come back.”

Granny Smith smiled and replied, “One day, you’ll see. One day, you’ll wake up...”

Wake up.

pssshhhhhh

Everything was swallowed by static.

~~~~~

Every eye was on her. The room, so full of energy and noise a second ago, was dead silent. Twilight looked down at the blade she held and where she held it. It was hovering over Applejack’s throat, so close that an errant twitch would pierce her coat. Twilight felt like she was on fire, her heart was hammering away in her chest. Applejack cracked two emerald eyes open and looked at Twilight. Her expression languid, her eyes glassy. She blinked once and placed a hoof on Twilight’s cheek.

“It’s alright, sugarcube.”

breath in

blink

White motes flashed across her vision

Applebloom touching her cheek

breath out

blink

The hiss of static in her ears

Applejack looking up at her

breath in

blink

The smell of smoke

Applebloom opening her mouth

breath out

blink

Sitting up in bed

Applejack’s voice: “sugarcube.”

breath in

blink

The sting of tears on her face

Applebloom putting the hat on her head

breath out

blink

Snowcrash across her vision

Applejack sighed and took off her hat

breath in

blink

Her head felt like it would split open

Applebloom’s tiny voice: “sugarcube.”

BREATH OUT

BLINK

The sound of static faded away, her eyes focused, and she could feel wetness on her face

Applejack put the cowpony hat on Twilight.

Twilight felt as if she had fallen into her own body, the world came into sharp focus.

The silence was broken by the sound of a scalpel hitting the floor.

Twilight felt numb as her eyes focused on Applejack. The room was suffused with sterile, white light. In fact, almost everything in it was white. The ponies, the doctor’s lab coat, the walls, the floor, the beds. Only the dark red splotch on the sheets and Applejack herself seemed to burst with color. It wouldn’t have mattered if Pinkie Pie had been juggling foals and flaming chainsaws—Twilight still would have focused on Applejack. She kept sucking in air, trying to slow everything down. She was hyperventilating, reaching out to Applejack, and trying to speak all at the same time. She succeeded only in hyperventilating. Twilight fell forward and Applejack caught her. The entire time, Applejack didn’t seem the least bit surprised.

Sobbing, Twilight finally managed to get words out. “Y-y-you’re...s-so...s-strong. H-h-how... d-do you...”

“Shhh,” Applejack shushed Twilight. “Ah told ya, it’s alright Sugarcube. It’s over.” She paused for a moment with her eyes closed before she answered Twilight. “Honestly, it ain’t easy, but what choice do Ah have? Jus’ count yer blessings an’ hug yer Ma an’ Pa.” She pushed Twilight back to a seated position and this time she was calm enough to remain upright.

The energy exploded back into the room, along with family and friends. Twilight’s father and mother rushed to her side. Velvet all but collapsed onto her daughter, sobbing. Spike was riding on her father’s back, and easily jumped onto her lap. “Don’t scare me like that. Don’t ever leave me, Twilight.” Tears brimmed in his eyes.

Big Mac, with Applebloom riding his back, trotted around the room to stand next to Applejack. Granny Smith was close behind him. He knelt down and picked up the fallen cowpony hat. It had tumbled off of Twilight’s head when she nearly passed out, and was all but forgotten by the staff when it hit the floor. He placed it on Applejack’s head. She placed a hoof on the harness around his neck. The brother and sister looked at each other, and though no words were said, they both understood. Applebloom bounded onto the bed and flung herself into Applejack’s chest, nuzzling her. “Ah was so scared. Don’t ever leave me big sis.” Tears brimmed in her eyes.

The doctors and nurses all tried to continue their work, but found their way blocked by family and friends. Everypony tried to talk at once.

“Darlings, you scared us half to death.”
“Are you guys ok?”
“Heart rate is falling.”
“My baby is alright.”
“Is everything gonna be ok now, doc?”
“You know what this calls for?”
“Time to pack up nurse. I won’t be needed here.”
“I’m so glad you’re ok.”
“I still want them under observation for the rest of the day.”
“A PARTY!”

In the noise, Applejack glanced at Twilight. She was staring at her, but quickly looked down. Her mouth became a frown. Applejack placed a hoof under her chin and raised her head so their eyes met; she understood. She mouthed, “It’s okay, Sugarcube,” before retreating her hoof. Twilight blinked, tears falling as she wrapped her mother and father into a tight hug. Applejack tilted her head down, the shadow from her hat hiding her eyes. She pulled her three remaining family members into a hug. Applebloom blinked and her nose twitched. Something wet had dripped onto it.

“Sis, why’re ya crying?” The noise in the room meant that only Applejack could hear her. She felt a hoof on her withers. She turned to find Twilight prodding her. They looked at each other for a long moment. Tiny expressions flashed between them. They didn’t speak a word, but now Twilight understood, and she nodded.

She stood on shaking limbs as her mother and father helped her out of bed. “Everypony, hello?” She didn’t care if she had to shout to be heard. “HEY!” The room quieted down and everypony but Applejack turned to her. “It’s been a rough night. Let’s get out of here so Applejack can have some peace and quiet.” With her mother and father’s help she walked toward the door.

“I’m not going to discharge you. You were moments away from having open heart surgery!” the doctor exclaimed.

“Fine,” Twilight sighed, “You can put me in another room. You’d prefer it that way, right?”

“Uh...yes,” the doctor stammered but could find no way to object. The door was enveloped in a purplish aura, even though it was already open. Twilight stood on her own outside the door, her legs shaking, gesturing for everypony to leave.

Applejack looked at Granny Smith and Big Mac — they understood. Granny Smith said, “I’m so proud of ya, AJ,” before she and Big Mac trotted out.

The herd shuffled out, following Twilight’s lead. Applebloom screwed up her face when she saw the rest of her family leaving. “Ah don’t wanna go, but if ya need some quiet time Ah’ll leave ya sis.” She turned to hop off of the bed.

Applejack held her tight and spoke in a quiet tone that only her sister could hear, “No Applebloom, Twilight is just giving us some privacy.”

Applebloom looked at her sister and raised one eyebrow. “What for?” The door closed and the aura around it vanished. Quiet settled into the white room. The sound of many hooves tromped down the hallway. Applejack waited for them to fade away before she spoke again.

She took the cowpony hat off of her head and put in on Applebloom. “There’s a story Ah shouldda told ya years ago, but it was jus’ too painful. Ah didn’t want ya ta think... that Ah was a bad sister.”

Applebloom took the hat off and looked at it. “Is this about Mama and Papa? You never told me about ‘em. Ah thought they mighta been bad ponies or somethin’ an’ ya didn’t wanna talk about ‘em.” She placed the cowpony hat on Applejack and said, “This here is your hat AJ. Ah don’t wanna take it from ya. An’ yer not a bad sister — yer the best sister a pony could ever have.”

That made Applejack tighten her hug around her little sister. She squeezed her eyes shut and tears leaked out. “Ah don’t know if Ah deserve this here hat. Ya have no idea what it means fer you ta say that.” She sniffed, “Ah won’t stab ya, Ah didn’t tell ya because Ah was afraid you’d think Ah was a bad sister and Ah didn’t love ya.”

“Why would Ah think that? An’ whaddya mean, stab me?”

“Do ya remember when Ah told ya the story ‘bout how Ah got my cutie mark?” Applebloom nodded. “Well, this here is the story of why Ah left fer Manehatten in the first place...” She held Applebloom like she did many years ago and told her a story that took them late into the night.

She never once took off her hat; she didn’t need to.

Epilogue

Twilight opened her eyes to see the morning sun, then squeezed them closed again. It had taken her hours to convince the doctor to remove the machines and their incessant beeping. She fell asleep quickly once she had some peace and quiet. The bed was a bit more firm than she would have liked, but she could have slept on the floor last night. She knew why she was mentally drained, but she was physically exhausted as well. The experience had wrung her out; it must have been the blood loss. She was told after the fact by the doctors that she bled during the ordeal.

Her stomach rumbled. Her tongue felt like it would expand out of her mouth. Water, she thought, fumbling for the glass that was there last night. Spike left the full glass of ice water on the stand near the bed, before he and her parents left her to sleep. They should have let her rest, but they were worried. They had many questions. Twilight had to duel with words, evading their questions about what she had seen. All the while her mouth was dry, her eyelids kept slipping down with her head, and her stomach was practicing for some kind of flight show.

But she didn’t mind. After seeing... what she had seen, her mother and father became the center of her focus. When she hugged them, she did so as if it were for the last time. When she answered their questions it was with a respect for the feelings they had for her. When they left, she felt very much like a filly who wanted to stay awake with her parents, but wasn’t allowed to.

Her parents were a bit old-fashioned. When she was a filly, her mother always cooked dinner for the family. Her father always read the Canterlot times over coffee after dinner. Her mother always tucked her in and kissed her goodnight—right after her father read her a bedtime story. It would never be the same. Her mother wouldn’t do that for her anymore and her father wouldn’t read her a bedtime story ever again. She didn’t realize how important those things were until now. Before they left for Canterlot, she was determined to help her mother cook dinner. She was going to give her father coffee after that dinner. She wasn’t going to let them leave today. She was going to read a friendship letter to her father tonight.

She just had to write one. The paper, quill, and inkwell floated over her head and rested on the nightstand. She took a breath, raised the quill, and began to scratch out a letter.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today, I learned not to take things for granted…