Chaos Unending

Princess Celestia stood before an audience of nearly two thousand earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns. On her left stood her sister, Princess Luna, and on her right stood the Mayor of Ponyville. Celestia glanced down at the crowd before her that was made up of not only the entirety of the citizens of Ponyville, but nearly all of Cloudsdale and Canterlot as well. There were ponies that had even journeyed all the way from Appleloosa and Manehattan. Among the ponies stood a few other more prominent figures such as Zecora of the Everfree Forest and Chief Thunderhooves of the Buffalo Tribe. Never had Princess Celestia seen so many ponies and friends in one place for the same cause. She couldn’t help but smile. She turned to her sister who nodded slightly. It was time to share the news.

“Citizens of Equestria, the news I have to share with you is indeed news that demands celebration,” she felt a grin spreading across her face as her subjects had looks of confusion and puzzlement on their faces, “Will the pegasi known as Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy step forward please?”

There was a streak of rainbow light as Rainbow Dash rocketed toward the stage. Fluttershy followed behind her, though much slower than her cyan furred friend. Fluttershy alighted beside Rainbow Dash as the eager pegasus placed her front hooves on the podium.

“Alright, everypony,” Rainbow Dash yelled excitedly, “Seeing as I am the fastest and the best flyer in Equestria, I took it upon myself to take a look at the weather forecast for the upcoming Winter Wrap Up.”

Applejack rolled her eyes at Dash’s cocky self praise, but even she had to smile about the news to come.

“Since we here in Ponyville are the ones that do the Winter Wrap Up every year, we’ve decided that this year we’re going to mix it up a bit this time around,” Dash grinned, “This year is going to be the soonest coming of spring in almost a hundred years!”

A murmur of approval rose from the crowd as Fluttershy flapped over to the podium. Fluttershy cleared her throat daintily and raised a hoof for silence. The audience quieted themselves out of respect for the soft spoken cream coated pegasus.

“While I very much agree that this is a very good thing,” the blushing pony spoke, “It will be hard work to make the land livable again.”

The ponies in the audience began to nod their heads in understanding as Rainbow Dash took the stand once again. She ran a hoof through her hair, flashing streaks of every color at the crowd. Scootaloo, sitting on the front row, squealed with delight as Rainbow winked at her.

“Now, as my esteemed associate, Fluttershy has said,” Rainbow Dash announced to the audience, “It will be hard day of work making sure that our towns are springified. In order to maintain order throughout the Wrap Up, I would like to call my good friend, Twilight Sparkle to organize the whole thing.”

Twilight Sparkle, followed closely by Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack began to weave through the crowd to center stage. Applejack let out a big yawn as she cantered behind Pinkie. Rarity slipped beside her and tapped her on the haunch.

“Applejack, my dear,” she whispered through a forced toothy grin “It is quite rude to act bored before we make a presentation.”

“Ah’m sorry, Rare,” Applejack apologized, stifling another yawn, “Ah jus’ ain’t been sleepin right at night.”

“Well, you can sleep all you want tonight,” Rarity scolded, “After we speak to the crowd.”

“Whatever you say, sugarcube,” Applejack yawned again, stumbling slightly, “Le’s get this over with.”

Twilight Sparkle glanced back at her orange colored friend. It was unlike Applejack to have restless nights and even more out of character for her to let it affect her mood. Sitting on Twilight’s back was her baby dragon assistant Spike. Spike was sucking on a emerald, drooling all over his hands. He noticed Twilight’s concerned glance at Applejack and put a hand on her side.

“She’ll be okay, Twilight,” he whispered to her, through a mouth full of green gem stone, “She’s just stressed about the early Wrap Up. After this thing’s over, she’ll be back to Applejack.”

“I’m sure she will, Spike.” Twilight responded as she started up the stairs to the stage.

Twilight and her friends fell into line next to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Twilight raised a thick stack of index cards, making it very apparent that a long speech was about to follow. There was a groan from the denizens of Ponyville, much to the chagrin of the Twilight. She cleared her throat with a polite ahem, raising the first of the cards to eye level.

“Friends and neighbors,” she began, daring anyone to stop her, “As this is the earliest Winter Wrap Up in over a century, that will mean that there will be a longer growing season--”

Twilight was cut off by a wave of cheers at this glorious news. She waited impatiently, tapping her hoof slightly. Rainbow Dash raised her hooves in the air, demanding silence. The noise slowly simmered down to a hush.

“Thank you Rainbow Dash,” Twilight sighed, “As I was saying, we will have a longer growing season, which will require more seeds to be planted, which in turn will require more ponies sowing the seeds. While I understand that there is already a large number of you that are ploughers and seeders, we will need approximately twice the usual amount.”

This time, Twilight’s speech was received with moans and gripes. Many ponies began to turn and meander away, including many of the Ponyville residents. Twilight looked to her friends in dismay.

“Hold on jus’ one pony-pickin’ minute there!” Applejack cried, stepping up to the podium, “What the hay is wrong with everypony? Didn’t you hear what Twilight jus’ said?”

The ponies that had walked off turned back, listening intently.

“Ah’ll be the first to admit,” Applejack continued, “Ah ain’t too crazy excited to work extra hard on this here Wrap Up, but Ah’ll be darned if’n Ah let Ponyville down. With Celestia as my witness--”

Princess Luna shot Applejack a withering glance.

“Beggin’ yer pardon, Princess,” Applejack stammered, “With the Royal Pony Sisters as my witnesses, Ah’ll work until Ah cain’t work no more! And Ah’ll tell you why!”

Applejack paused for a moment, waiting as the entire crowd fixed their gaze on her. She smiled a little at the thought that she was speaking in front of nearly all of Equestria.

“Ah’ll keep workin’ ‘cause Ah know that at the end of it all, there’ll be food aplenty for my family and friends once Applebuck Season rolls around.”

There was a murmur of approval rising from the crowd.

“And Ah know everypony’s favorite time of year will have cider flowin’ like fresh spring water. Why, if’n Rainbow’s predictions are correct, which they always are, we can be buckin’ apples off’a them trees by the end of the month. Howdya like them apples?”

There was an uproar of approval at the mention of the famous Apple Family Cider. Pinkie Pie held a napkin under her own and Rainbow Dash’s mouths to prevent their drool from dripping onto the stage. Applejack sauntered over to Princess Celestia and Luna.

“All yers, yer Majesties,” Applejack chuckled, bowing low to the ground, “Ah jus’ got ‘em warmed up for you.”

Princesses Celestia and Luna both laughed as they walked slowly to the stand. Celestia rapped a hoof on the wood stage, calling for silence.

“Thank you ever so much, Applejack,” Princess Celestia’s honey sweet voice wrapped through the entire crowd, “Now, does everypony understand what is expected and needed of them this Winter Wrap Up?”

There were a few shouts of yes and several nods. Princess Celestia nodded in approval. Out in the center of the crowd, a slender black and white striped hoof was raised over the heads of the citizens of Equestria.

“Dearest Princesses of white and of blue,” came the sing song voice of Zecora the Zebra, “Allow me to offer my service to you. While I may not be strong and am unable to fly, perhaps there is another way for Zecora to help you get by.”

“Dear sister,” Luna spoke for the first time, “I would be honored to have you by my side as I direct the clearing of the snow atop the Everfree Forest and the surrounding flatlands.”

“If that is what my you wish of my striped flank,” Zecora sang out, “I will gladly accept that given rank.”

Ponies from across Equestria joined in laughter at the mention of the zebra’s flank. The zebra blushed slightly as she realized what she had said.

“I used a word with less than few rhymes,” she giggled, “It seems the joke's on me this time.”

Applejack laughed beside her friends as the ponies of Equestria went their separate ways to rest up for the early Winter Wrap Up the next morning. As the last of the ponies and buffalo dispersed, Applejack led her friends down the stairs off the stage. The six ponies and baby dragon turned to give their goodbyes to the Princesses.

“We hope you all rest easy,” Princess Celestia murmured to the young friends, “For tomorrow we will have much work to do.”

Applejack sauntered at the rear of the pack, feeling her exhaustion slowly beginning to take over her body. The orange pony tried to shake off the sleep that was creeping over her mind.

‘C’mon Applejack,’ she whispered to herself, ‘You ain’t too tired to make it back to Sweet Apple Acres. It’s just a little further along.’

As she took another step, she stumbled, scraping her shins on the cold muddy road. She drug herself back to her hooves, ignoring the pain in her legs. Her friends hadn’t noticed her fall. That was fine by her. The less her friends knew about her problem the better. She pulled an apple out of her saddlebag, munching on it. She knew the energy it would give her wouldn’t last long, but right now she needed any energy she could get. She stumbled a few more steps forward, watching her friends getting farther and farther away from her. As she lifted her hind leg, she felt it go stiff.

“No!” she cried out desperately, “Not again! Please, just a little further, legs...”

She felt a tear run down her cheek as her body began to lock up and twitch. The pain of the fit caused her to choke. She fell to her knees, crying out as she started to cough and choke. She reached out, trying to call to her friends as she slowly sank into the snow and mud around her. Her entire body began to convulse as she lay her head into the wet ground.

‘What is wrong with me?’ Applejack thought to herself, ‘Why is this happening to me?’

The orange pony lay still in the snow as her five pony friends noticed she was missing. She felt consciousness slipping away as she felt six hooves lifting her from the ground. She closed her eyes and let herself be carried away.

Applejack shook her head as she sat up. She looked at her surroundings. She had once again left Ponyville. She was in some sort of forest. It wasn’t the Everfree, she was sure of that. She was also sure that she wasn’t alone. She looked around before calling out in the air.

“Alright, ya’ll,” she called, “Ah know you’re out there, so don’t try to hide! Come out where Ah can see ya’ll properly.”

Applejack rubbed her eyes as a bright pink pegasus pony pushed her way through the bushes.

“Well, geez, AJ,” the pony laughed, “I should hope you knew I was here. But next time, try to come find me! That is the point of Hide and Seek.”

Applejack stared at the pink pony with a puzzled look on her face.

“Oh come on, Applejack,” the pegasus laughed, flying an arc over Applejack’s head, “Don’t tell me you fell asleep on me again.”

The pony sat in front of Applejack and brushed her sky blue mane out of her eyes. Applejack stared at her for a moment before she gasped with surprise.

“Well, Ah’ll be,” she exclaimed, “You look jus’ like Rainbow Dash! Giv’n you’re coat’s a mite different color, but other’n that, its a spittin’ image!”

“Rainbow Dash?” the pink pony laughed, rolling onto her side, “Who the hay is Rainbow Dash?”

Applejack was taken aback. She found herself wondering the same thing. It was true she recognized the name but she suddenly couldn’t match a face to the name. She exhaled loudly and put her head on her hooves.

“To be perfectly honest,” she muttered, “Ah couldn’t tell you anyhow.”

The two ponies yawned as the sun began to set. The pink pegasus stood up and stretched her wings. Applejack felt her back crack slightly as she rose.

“Ah needed that,” she chuckled, “Ah needed that bad.”

“Well, I guess I’ll see you in the morning, AJ,” the pink pegasus yawned as she took to the air, “Goodnight!”

“Goodnight, Firefly!” Applejack responded.

Applejack suddenly stopped.

“How in tarnation did Ah know that pony’s name?” she wondered aloud, “Ah’ve never even met her.”