Author's Note

Yeah, I know it's short, but I wanted to separate it from the beginning of AJ's journey, which will be the next chapter...

Mind Games

“So keep on playing those mind games together
Faith in the future out of the now
You just can't beat on those mind guerrillas…
Absolute elsewhere in the stones of your mind

Love is the answer and you know that for sure
Love is a flower
You gotta let it, you gotta let it grow

-Mind Games, John Lennon

It was as she had remembered. Areas of memories Celestia would never go near, memories of when she lost her parents. Celestia had known Pear Butter or “Buttercup” and Bright Mac. and their loss had taken a deep toll on her heart. The princess watched as thoughts ripped through the young pony’s brain like tiny bolts lightning, connecting areas in a cascade of thoughts as they formed. Those areas held parts of memories. There might be a smell in one area that in that moment linked to the thought of her fillyhood. There might be sense of joy or pain that linked to winning a rodeo or losing one. As she felt and saw her way through Applejacks thoughts and memories, she looked for any areas that suggested injury. She could find nothing. There was a section of an artery that looked a little different. She thought nothing of it and continued looking. Oops, there was one of those “alone” moments under a tree in the orchard. Celestia quickly moved on.

There was...something kept troubling her - what was the deal with that artery? Why did it look different? She decided to have a closer look. A section seemed to be unnaturally straight. Celestia needed to see within the arterial wall. Deeper into her own mind she dove, as deep as she ever had gone, to utter silence. Within that place of perfect stillness and concentration, Celestia was able to navigate on a sub-cellular level. With utmost care, she entered the artery but was careful not to pass into the bloodstream lest she get carried away by the current coursing through her. Now here, within the arterial wall, she moved, seeking patterns in how the cell walls connected. There it was - a repeating pattern that had become visible and obvious. As she proceeded it all looked pretty much the same, “unremarkable,” the doctor would say. Nothing out of the ordinary…

Then she saw it.

The intricate basket weave within the arterial fabric. It wove in a spiral, perfectly symmetrical, perfectly interlocked. It had already begun to mesh naturally.

She was thunderstruck at the beauty, the delicacy, the brilliance of it. How did this happen? As the thoughts came to her she refused to accept them. She knew her most faithful student was a certainly prodigy, but talent of this level was extraordinary. Her abilities were beyond Celestia’s comprehension and she was humbled at the intricacy..”Oh Twilight, I had no idea. What it must have taken for you to do this, to interweave the strands. Starswirl himself couldn't match this. I must be very close to the part of the brain that sustained the injury.” Celestia mentally mapped the entire region so that she could display it. “Let the council consider THIS! They’ll beg her to submit to the ordeals, just so they can brag about having THE Twilight Sparkle in their hall!” Celestia withdrew from between the arterial walls and began examining the proximal brain matter. One section looked as though it might have sustained some damage at some point. She entered.

It was a key pathway, one that could provide a major link to stored memories. As she explored, she discovered her suspicions were correct. The artery must have been pressing, or perhaps an aneurysm had resulted from the injury. In this case, with the key primary storage hub blocked, the brain would have begun to store memories in some other area. She was afraid of this because if she were to damage any links she might wipe out those memories forever. Very carefully she entered several areas that seemed to hold potential. The first one she discovered was a jumble of thoughts from her early visit to Manehattan to live with the Oranges. It had been unpleasant but Applejack had learned quite a bit, including a certain four-letter word she had spoken earlier, as well as several others.

The more time spent in here, the greater the risks. Celestia explored all the potential areas but found either emptiness or other memories that seemed to have nothing to do with that time.. At a loss as to what to do, Celestia cast a natural healing spell, though nothing seemed to be damaged. Finally, after more cursory searching, casting another healing spell, and having another look and Twilight’s genius, she withdrew.

…………….

Applejack found herself walking through the woods at sunset with Twilight. “Hey Twilight, it’s almost Twil- Twilight?” She looked around. Suddenly it had gotten darker and colder.The woods were denser and the path was gone, the earth now covered in leaves, some brown and moldy others were black. The smell of their decay filled the air with the fetid smell of death.

It was no longer sunset but rather the gray damp cold that had settled in right before a darkness that would never come. As she stood, there surrounded by empty silence, she knew she was completely alone. This wood was infinite. She could run but she knew it would all be the same. Despair and fear filled her heart and she found all she could think of was Twilight.

“TWILIGHT!!!” Applejack yelled out as loud as she could. But no sound came out of her mouth. She couldn't feel her lungs, couldn’t draw breath. Then suddenly she had a breath of air deep within her. Again she screamed “TWILIGHT!!” but still no sound. In a panic, she started running. Once more she tried to yell. Panic overtook her mind and she ran faster, bursting into hysterics, sobbing and crying out. She cursed Twilight in rage for breaking her vow, for taking everything away from them, things that could never be found again. A life of joy that was now lost. It was futile but she screamed out again, in frustration and fury.

“TWILIIIIIIIGHT!!” she felt it burst from her and heard it in her head, heard it echo and felt the burn in her throat as she sobbed.

Then Celestia was holding her. “It’s okay it’s okay, I’m here, shhh, shhh.”

Applejack, trembled, her body covered in cold sweat. She buried her head into the deep white coat and sobbed. Celestia held her until she had calmed. “Are you okay sweetie? You sounded so angry.”

Applejack looked up at her puzzled. “I did? What did I say?”

“Do you remember nothing of your nightmare?”

She looked up, her face calm, her red, tear-rimmed eyes were the only sign she had been upset. “No, I-I don’t recollect a thing. As soon as I woke up it was like it was gone, I was a might angry and upset, but I don’t recollect just why.”.

“And you remember nothing?”

The young earth pony, still apparently dazed, shook her head absently, then looked up, “Can we try it again?”

“No my little one, that will assuredly do harm and you will certainly lose memories. I can promise you that. You must heal, and even then it’s far too dangerous.”

Applejack nodded weakly.

“So which night were you planning on sneaking out?”

“Excuse me?”

“I just want to make sure you have everything you need before you go. And what would you like me to tell your family? That little story you were concocting would fool none of them.”

Applejack blushed deeply. “Y’all saw that huh?”

“Yes, I did. And I know that I cannot stop you. You still think she’s in the badlands, do you?”

“It’s the only clue I got.”

“Will you permit me to send some of the Royal Guards with you? I’ll send the one with the auburn coat if you’d like.” Celestia said coyly.

The freckles on her face stood out brightly as Applejack’s cheeks burned a deep red.. “Saw that part too, did you?”

“I must say my little one, you have exquisite tastes in stallions. Those brown eyes of his are dreamy.”

“I know, right? And that flank!”

“His shoulders! I’ll bet he’s almost as strong as your brother. He was one of the ones that escorted you to my room the other night. He kept looking at you and I caught his tail snapping!”

“You did NOT!!”

“My dear Applejack, in case you didn't know it, you have grown into quite a beautiful young lady. I know you don’t see it my child, but you are quite, as they say, a looker.”

Applejack blushed and looked down. Then she looked back slyly, “You’re just trying to distract me.”

“No, I'm telling you the truth. However, on the other hoof, don’t you think you’re being a little impetuous?”

“You mean I’m rushing into this, don’t you.”

“Well aren’t you?”

“If you was in there then you know how much I’m hurtin’ and you know I gotta find her..”

“And I know there is no way I will talk you out of it. So who shall I send with you?”

“Well not that stallion. I need to stay focused on finding Twilight.”

“Very well. You’re all packed. And you can leave first thing in the morning.”

“So you knew?”

“Even before I entered your thoughts.”

Applejack threw her arms around the princess and felt the loving arms around her. They lay down Celestia’s arms protectively around her and Applejack quickly fell asleep.