As The Queen Reigns...

by Golden

Rating: teen
Tags: Romance, Slice of Life, Sad
Length: 4870

Nopony knows of the pain their queen is causing Applejack.

Love… should be spread across everywhere in a kingdom. But in Equestria, that love ponies one day had, is slowly fading with each movement their queen makes. Applejack is the most affected, not only mentally, but physically.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-05-07 01:59:04 UTC

Bittersweet Reality

~You hear the baby cryin’

Don’t worry child

I know a good place for a hidin’

A place where the river flows

And you wonder

Where does it go?

An adventure awaits

Just outside the woods~

I woke up with beads of sweat dripping down my forehead. Again....that song. That song that sent shivers down my spine, but it wasn't the good kind of shivers. There were the ones that didn't allow you to breath fresh air because you felt you were being swallowed by your own body. Still though, the haunting melody that kept coming back in my dreams, it was as if...I somehow predict it. The voice in particular, was misleading. I can't place a pony which it would belong to. Smooth, intriguing, and caring would be he words to describe it, yet I can never finish the dream.  But then a thought comes to my mind. I get married today. Surely you would think I would be jumping all over the place, counting down the milliseconds until I bind my love to the one I yearn for. But that's not my case. Mine is one of the saddest love stories...even if it barely begun. Today I get married to the one I hate. Ponies from all over Equestria, come just to meet her and bow down. She wasn't always like this. There was a time when she was the one bowing down before royalty. Now that she is royalty, there's no predicting her next move.

First, was the kingdom. She befriended Princess Celestia, her mentor, just to get her hooves on the throne. Everypony knew she was clever, but no one knew what she was capable of. That in that big heart she shared with everypony who needed it...there was no heart. Everypony comes up to me and pats me in the back saying "You surely made a wonderful choice in choosing the Queen as your wife", but of those are lies. They're not happy for me, they're afraid. They must think that I will turn just like her after I marry her. But I know that I wouldn't do it. Unlike her, I have a heart. A big one that I truly share with everypony, yet a half of it is missing. Ponies know me as the Applejack that wouldn't let anything bring her down, strong, and brave, those are the words that used to describe me. Now, I feel like a damsel in distress, waiting for my prince charming to come and take me away. But today, I will marry someone who I'm forced to be with. Not by money nor fame, but because the mare herself is forcing me. Alone, I wouldn't oblige, but there are lives at stake. I-

"Your highness?" a voice emerged from behind the golden door. Angel Delight entered carrying a tray with breakfast on her back, and closed the door as she came closer. Angel was much like her name, she was sweet, kind, caring,and loyal. She was the first pony I ever talked to when I came to live in this prison, and I knew I could trust her since that first day. There was that immediate connection, and it wasn't just because she was an earth pony like me, but because of the way she introduced herself. Her soft caramel coat, and her long brown hair, went perfect with her emerald eyes. She was extremely beautiful, yet she was so shy. She kind of reminded me of Fluttershy, but she wasn't that shy.

"Good morning, your highness. Did you sleep well?"

"Angel, Ah told ya already you don't have to be all formal with me, you can just call me Applejack" I said smiling at her. She blushed a little, while carefully placing the tray in my lap. I began by drinking my orange juice, while she went to the closet to take out my wedding dress.

"Yes,well...it's my job...and Queen T-ah!-wilight would get angry at me" she said, while she took out the dress that was on top of a few boxes, and had almost hit her as one of the boxes fell. I laughed at her clumsiness, and she came out with the white and gold dress on her back,placing it at the end of the bed.

"Are you helpin' me change and get ready for today?" I asked. I knew the answer of course, but I just wanted to keep the conversation going before I started thinking about the negative things after today.

"Yes, I will be all yours today" I had to hold back a snicker at that, sometimes I was just to childish. But that emphasis...

"Careful partner... Ah get married today" the regret was evident in my voice but I still played along. But Angel was quick to catch it.

"Oh...Applejack don't start crying again, please. I know you don't love her, but think,it's a possibility that Rainbow won't be here for the wedding" she said moving over, and placing a comforting hoof on my shoulder.

"An' that makes it worse! Knowing that she's over there thinkin' Ah'm havin' the time of my life, when deep inside I'm just as heartbroken as her" I said, my voice quivering slightly.

She sighed, moving her hoof under my chin and forcing me to look her in the eyes. Her eyes shifted back and forth between my eyes, making me uncomfortable, but I quickly brushed the feeling off.

"It's hard I know... trust me on that. But you don't have a choice, Queen Twilight is making sure of that" that got my attention. Did she overhear something important that could help me get out of this?

"Did you hear anythin'?"

"Well, no...not exactly"

"What do ya mean?" I asked now intrigued.

Angel shrugged "This morning while I was preparing your breakfast, she called me to her office. She just said to make sure you look "flawless", as she pointed out, but as I was exiting out, she mumbled something about Rainbow Dash"

I sighed. Of course she would. I finished my toast, and put my tray away, getting up to stretch. Angel made my bed, while I went to the bathroom to take a nice, warm shower. I quickly finished feeling less tense, but I was still nervous.

Angel was quick into helping me get on the dress, which was surprisingly comfortable, but I'm probably speaking too soon. She carefully combed my hair, undoing the knots that didn't allow her to go any further. There was this awkward silence, Angel must have thought I was thinking of my disgrace. Which I wasn't. I caught myself realizing I was too calm for all this, I should've been screaming, crying my eyes out. It was probably because I had done that every night, for the past three months, I felt I had no tears left. And I felt tired.Finally, Angel finished. I looked at my reflection, and I was taken aback by the results. I had not noticed she had done my makeup, and I was agape at how it turned out. The gold eye shadow matched perfectly with my eyes, with the help of the layer of top eyeliner that made my eyes look bigger. My cheeks were a faint shade of pink, and the finishing touch was a small amount of lip gloss.

"Wow" was all I said as I looked at myself.

"I tried to make it as simple as possible, I know how much you hate all that fancy stuff" she chuckled as she put the makeup pallets back in the container.

"Ah appreciate it, sugarcube" I smiled turning around to look at her. "How much time do we have till' we head off?"

"Uhh..." she said looking at the clock on the wall." About... fifteen minutes, considering we've already spent three hours"

I went back to my bed, sitting down at the edge, looking down at the ground. I sighed. There's no turning back after today.

"Angel...ya know you're my only company here. My so-called friends never come to visit, only cause they're afraid of Twilight, and Ah don't wanna be alone. Ah want to have Rainbow here with me" I said looking at her as she came closer, and sat down next to me.

She didn't respond at first, glancing out at the window.

"I know how hard it is to love somepony,and suddenly leaving them"

"But it wasn't my choice" I mumbled.

"And for that same reason, you have to be strong, Applejack" she said running a hoof through my cheek.

"That word doesn't define me anymore. Now, everypony thinks Ah'm weak" I said my voice quivering. "Sometimes Ah like lookin' out the window to look at the sky, for a sign of hope. That one day, Princess Celestia will come, and this nightmare will go away"

"How did she defeat her?" Angel asked curiously.

"Ah don't know"

"Do you think one day you will love her?"

Her question surprised me a little because she already knew the answer "No"

"So there's no hope?"

"None. How can Ah love someone who took everythin' away?" I said looking at her. She didn't have an answer for that. "Where will ya be today?" I said changing the topic.

"The Queen said I have to escort you everywhere for today"

"Like that ever changes" I chuckled.

She chuckled "Well I have to be everywhere with you"

"Everywhere?"

"Everywhere."

I gulped "Shit, so there's no chance for me to escape?"

"Not on my account" she said jokingly. I looked at the clock. 10:30.

"Dear, we better get going I don't want to deal with all the shouting" she said as we headed out. We walked across the long hall, and I held my breath as we made it pass Twilight's room. We made it all the way until we reached the end of the hall, making a left to the "living room".

The guards were all gathered, listening to the instructions for their schedule today. A guard glanced my way and cleared his throat, making my presence obvious. All the guards got on their hooves, bowing down. Gosh, I hated that. I nodded, and they all went back to their spots. The captain of the Royal Guard approached me, which after everything was still indeed, Shining Armor. In his eyes, I was the happiest mare alive, having the honor in marrying his sister. Little did he know. He was still the same as always though, he still treated me the same way.

"AJ!" he excitedly said, giving me a warm hug. I always appreciated that he still called me like that,even after nopony else did. "Are you excited?! Cause I'm excited! I'm ready to jump in!"

I chuckled at his excitement "Gee Shining Armor, Ah wouldn't have guessed it if you hadn't told me"

"I just can't help it. This Twily's dream were talking about, what kind of big brother would I be if I wasn't excited for her?" he said, smiling the whole time. "And... I can finally call you sister-in-law!"

"Well it's not like you haven't been callin' me that since... well...you know...our engagement" I said gritting my teeth at the last words. Shining didn't seem to notice though.

"You know Applejack..." he begun. Uh-Oh. No, AJ. I better brace myself. "This may not be the most appropriate time to ask you this, but... I wanted to ask you if you ever had any... affairs...with...the other elements?" he said clearing his throat afterwards. Wow...this was really,really awkward.

"Uh...why do you ask?" Yes, answering with a question. Perfect.

He cleared his throat once again "I don't know if I'm allowed to tell you this...but if you did, you guys are in big trouble"

*Gulp* "What do ya mean?"

"There's this ancient prophecy that-"

"YOUR HIGHNESS! YOUR CARRIAGE IS AWAITING!" Geez

I turned back to look at Shining "Ah'm mighty sorry, Shining. Ah'll make it up to ya!" I shouted as I was dragged away...off to my weeding.

Two Words

Just two words... that's all you have to say the whole day. Nothing else matters after that. My mind is racing as we get closer to the ceremony. With each passing second, my hearts beats faster, and it's not because I'm excited. No. I'm angry. Angry, that I may never see the sunlight after today. That this may be the last time, I'll ever see Applebloom, Big Mac, Granny Smith, and my friends. I'm not sure I can handle this new life I'm embarking to. But it's for her good. If I don't do this, she's the one that will never see the sun rise again.

The driver makes a halt after ten minutes of thinking. We arrive at our destination, there's no turning back now. I hear the crowd, cheering and stomping their hooves at my arrival. Breathe in, breathe out, I remind myself as the crowd turns quiet. I can hear hooves walking across, making their way to the carriage's door. There are no windows, so I can't see who's in the massive pile of ponies waiting outside. The door opens, and once again hear the sudden burst of excitement as I step out. Okay, Applejack, don't mess up. You can do this. Do it for Rainbow Dash. Smile. I do as my head says, and I smile waving at the crowd. They all bow down, as they make way for me to have a path towards the orchard. ...the orchard. No. This... this is Sweet Apple Acres. But how? How could I have forgotten to look at my surroundings? To recognize the place where I grew up and that I have been dragged away from. Why did she pick here out of all places? Not that there's anything wrong with this place, but it brings back so many memories. I see Twilight for the first time in three weeks. I see her standing there with that devilish smirk of hers, the only one only I have seen. I give her a questioning look as if asking her "Why here?" She keeps that smirk of hers, and I feel that drives me to the edge to just punch her right in the face. But I hold back that urge. The music starts, and Big Mac is at my side. I look up at him with pleading eyes, but he probably takes them as eyes of pride. He smiles, and gives me a kiss on my forehead, and we start walking. I look around as were walking, trying to spot a spectrum mane in the crowd. Nothing. I look anywhere but ahead, until I see her. Yes, it's her. Those unmistakable eyes stare straight into mine, pleading. Just like I had stared at Mac's, but unlike him, I knew the cause. We gaze at each other for a few seconds until I look away. I can't look at her anymore. Not after the pain I'm causing her right now. I can feel her eyes tracing my back as she stares at me, and I put on my best smile as I stand in front of my enemy. Big Mac leaves as Twilight takes my hoof and places a kiss on it. Her eyes drift up to meeting mine, and when she does, she once again uses that same smirk. I look around on where we're standing and it suddenly hits me. Of course, that's why she chose this place. This is the same exact place, her true self was revealed to me. I'll never forget that day, where she forced me to lie, and agree something I hadn't signed up for the day we met. The memories begin flooding back, and I have to fight the tears that are ready to flow out.

"That's why you did it..." I whisper bitterly.

She smiles as she stares at me "Of course, my love. I wanted us to have our little moment before we make it official". She turns to look at Celestia. Celestia?! Twilight definitely did something to put her up for this. There's no way in Tartarus that Celestia would agree on this. They're enemies for goodness sake. But ponies don't think that. They think Celestia happily gave up her throne and her power for her faithful student. Faithful my rump. I look ahead staring at the Princess I grew up to admire and look up to. She doesn't look tortured, or with any scorn towards us, but her smile gives away her state. She forces that kind smile of hers and looks out at the pool of ponies.

"GOOD EVENING, I SAY TO THE QUEEN'S SUBJECTS! THE QUEEN, TWILIGHT SPARKLE AND HER LOVELY SOON-TO-BE-WIFE, APPLEJACK APPLE, HAVE GATHERED YOU ALL HERE TODAY, TO WITNESS THEIR COMMITMENT!" she shouts as loud as she can, to make sure her voice is heard. Celestia then asks the question my heart drops as I hear. "IF THERE IS ANYPONY OUT THERE THAT OPPOSES TO THIS MARRIAGE,PLEASE SPEAK NOW, OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE!"I know she stirred a little, but she decided not to do it. And I thank her for doing so. "VERY WELL THEN, I AM HONORED TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE! PLEASE LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE CEREMONY". She gestures for Spike to come forward with the rings.

"DO YOU, QUEEN TWILIGHT SPARKLE, TAKE APPLEJACK APPLE AS YOUR WIFE, AND PROMISE TO LOVE HER DURING SICK AND HEALTH, UNTIL DEATH DO YOU APART?"

"I do" she quickly says. And she stares at my eyes like a pony in love would. Oh-no. I'm next.

"DO YOU, APPLEJACK APPLE-" no.

"-TAKE TWILIGHT SPARKLE AS YOUR WIFE" No.

"AND PROMISE TO LOVE HER" NO.

"DURING SICK AND HEALTH, UNTIL DEATH DO YOU APART?" NO! Wait...she's done. Nonononono! I don't want to marry her. Come on, Applejack pull yourself together, you've talked to yourself before, do it for Rainbow's sake. Say those two.goddamn.words. I don't? NO!

"Ah do?" I asked out loud. Until I realize I said them, even if they came out wrong, there are the confirmation ponies needed to hear.

"THE RINGS?" Celestia said. As Spike approached us. He handed a ring to Twilight and I got the other one. Twilight grabbed my hoof and, cleared her throat.

"With this ring, I promise to love you, and make you feel like the Princess you are" she said, putting the ring on my hoof. Ha! Good one, Twilight.

"With this ring, Ah promise to...love you and respect you, only as a Queen" Take that! There was a slight moment of confusion among the ponies looking, but they decided to brush it off. I grabbed her hoof and just jammed the ring in without caring of the looks I had on me at the moment. At that moment, my head started to hurt, and I was beginning to feel dizzy. My breath began to uneven, and I wasn't sure what was happening. Am I dying? I see Twilight's eyes on me, menacing. I tried to talk,but for some reason I couldn't find my voice.

"YOU MAY NOW KISS THE BRIDE!" I heard Celestia's voice echo in my head. I tried to grasp at my focus, as my mind began to fade away. My surroundings began to blur, as Twilight slowly leaned in... kissing the air.

Chosen

I opened my eyes, gazing at the world that stood in front of me. My vision was blurred, but it began to clear up as I sat on my bed. I scanned the room, looking for a sign of life. Nothing. I was at my room, but I couldn't remember how I got here. I heard the window slowly began to open. My attention quickly turned towards the movement, and my eyes widened as I recognized the figure. Rainbow Dash.

As soon as the window was fully open, she stopped in her tracks.

"I just...wanted to check on you" she said explaining herself before I even asked.

"Ah guess you still care 'bout lil' ol' me" I said, lowering my gaze. She climbed over, now inside, Rainbow began to walk slowly next to my bed. She stood there, staring at me. I shrank under her intimidating gaze, guilt. "Rainbow..." I began, but she interrupted me.

"There's nothing to say Applejack, you left me for power. For...her" she said, spitting out that last word like poisonous venom.

I sighed thinking about my next words "Ah did, didn't Ah" I said putting on my bravest face.

Her eyes watered, I could tell, but she blinked the tears away. "I don't know why I even bothered coming here" she said, making her way out to the window she came from. No...don't leave me, please.

"Rainbow?" I called out to her. But she wasn't there anymore.

Angel Delight came in, closing the door behind her. When she saw me sitting down on my bed, she quickly went over to my side. "Applejack! Oh, thank god you're alright! We were so worried" she giving me a big embrace, taking my breath away.

"What happened?" I asked, still confused about everything.

"You fainted, that's what happened!"

"Gee, please lower your voice! Ah just woke up" I said rubbing my temples as both her shouting and mine had began to start a headache. "But...how long have Ah been asleep for anyway?"

"One week"

"ONE WEEK?!"

"Yes, now please lower your voice" she deadpanned.

"Why? Is there somethin' wrong with me?" I asked.

"Yes...no...maybe..I don't know, I guess it's wrong, if you didn't follow the rules" she asked in an accusing tone.  Follow rules?

"What exactly does that mean?"

"Means you haven't been reading your code of being a good wife" Excuse me? Where did this attitude come from?

"Angel, sugar, you're not makin' any sense right now" I said in calming tone. That seemed to infuriate her even more because she looked at me straight in the eyes this time.

"No, Applejack. There's me helping you with your past relationship and helping you get over it. But there's something called "cheating" that you certainly been doing 'cause there is no way, no way, that this could've happened if you haven't been unfaithful" Unfaithful? But I haven't even been awake enough for her to assume anything.

"What are you talkin' about?"

"You know damn well what I'm talking about!"

"Ah don't"

"Tell me the truth... is it with that Caramel guy?"

"What?"

"Ca-ra-mel"

"No...what?" This was making my head hurt, no matter how much I tried, she wouldn't spit it out.

"Applejack...you're pregnant"

Ha!...ha

"No, Angel you're confused. Ah can't be pregnant you see, Ah haven't been with a stallion" I said trying not to freak out.

"And you see here is where I know you're lying, you dirty w-"

"Hey! Don't come at me with all that, you know perfectly well Ah can't be with anyone besides Rainbow!"

"Then explain this!" she said pointing my stomach with her hoof. That's when it kicked in. She wasn't joking. I initially thought she was, but the look on her eyes tell me otherwise. But how is this possible? I know for sure I've never been with no stallion. I couldn't take this new processed information as tears started flowing out.

I ran out of the room, leaving a regret-looking Angel behind with her thoughts. I started sobbing as the words "No this can't be happening!" repeatedly started filling my head. Just as Twilight's room came into view, I slammed the door behind me, looking straight at her. She had been combing her mane, I could tell. Twilight turned to address me, too bad I wasn't in the mood.

"Applejack, darling, how-"

"Don't come at me with that bullshit!"

"What are you talking about dear?"

"Don't "dear" me either. How is it that Ah've been told Ah'm pregnant!" I shouted, probably disturbing the whole castle.

Twilight stood there gaping at what I just said. It's not like she didn't know. "Wh-who told you?"

"That doesn't matter, the point is that Ah'm pregnant!"

"Okay, calm down" she said grabbing my hooves and placing them firmly in the ground with her magic. "Applejack, stop! Let..me...fucking explain!"

"Go on..."

"I put that foal on you"

"What?!" No..no.. why?! Why her?!

"I... didn't tell you because I knew you wouldn't want to marry me if I told you"

"Ah wasn't going to marry you in the first place!"

"That's besides the point... I have the power to...make a mare and a mare conceive a foal"

"And I'm suddenly your experiment?!"

"No I've tried many times...just this time it worked" So... what?!

"You raped me?!"

"Technically... I wasn't the one raping you and well you gave yourself in"

"No Ah didn't, Ah wouldn't do something foolish like that...but who's the one?" I said scared at what the answer could be.

"Who else do you think it was?" she asked, smirking...that same smirk I had grown familiar too. One that told me nothing good was coming out of all of this.

"Rainbow"

A Memory Forgotten

"Rainbow" I let out. Twilight just stayed silent.

The silence seemed to answer my statement. I ran a hoof through my mane, trying to comprehend my position here. What's happening? I'm confused!

"Do you not remember?" Twilight asked, grinning mischievously.

"Wha-Explain this to me" I said, my frustration evident in my voice.

"Well you see here, dear, there's this prophecy that has been passed down my family for generations. Yet nopony knew I would be the luvky mare to have the honor to fulfill it" she said, smiling proudly. Prophecy...Shining warned me about this.

"'Kay"

"So it goes like this" Twilight said, clearing her throat. " On the third day of the month of June, a foal would be conceived by two mares. A third  mare will exist, and will be the cause by a potion making accident. Only one of the mares would be drinking it, but once sexual encounter starts, both mares will forget what happened the next day. The third mare would be fully aware after the truth has been explained. So lucky you, Applejack, our future has been predicted"

"Who told you 'bout this?" my breath uneven by the sudden headache I got.

"My parents, shortly after I announced of our engagement"

"SO YOU MADE ME DRINK A POTION TO MAKE ME PREGNANT?!" I shouted not holding back my anger anymore.

Twilight laughed " In my defense, I didn't know about it so you can't blame me"

"Why didn't they tell you sooner? This could have been avoided!"

"It would've been worse because I would be aware of it"

I tried searching in my memories to the third of June...June...I really can't remember anything from that day. But it's July right now, so one month ago. I broke it off with Rainbow on the fourth...maybe it *was my awful fate.*

"So why are you tellin' me this?" I asked suspiciously. There must be a reason behind her telling me the truth, I just needed the actual truth.

"Don't you get it?" she laughed. To be honest...I had no idea where she was going with this.

I shook my head.

"Neither do you or Rainbow remember that night..." Fuck

"...technically in other ponies eyes, I am the 'daddy'"

"But Ah know now!"

"I don't care about that foal, it will be a bother anyway, I can easily flush it down the drain"

I clenched my stomach protectively, holding it closer to me. Accident or not, it was my foal. "Don't.You.Dare"

"Then you better keep your pretty little trap shut, I'm not afraid. Even if you fight back, the foal will be hurt" Twilight said, making her way to the door, and exiting.

I leaned back on a wall,hooves on my mane. Why is this happening to me? Why can't she let me be? I just want a life with the mare, and now, the foal I love. Now I understand, everything she has done and hinted to the crowd of ponies, is the way to at last come out with the big news. It was all planned. The pregnancy itself, wasn't her fault because she wasn't aware such a thing could occur. But now, convincing everypony that I'm carrying her child, it just plain out despicable.It's a way to have me attached and make me stay by her side, unless I want dirty looks to be thrown at me by the crowd. Rainbow will never know we had a foal together. I guess I'll have to live like this if I want them both to be safe. Rainbow and our foal.

My eyes started to close slowly again. "NO! STAY AWAKE YOU ALREADY SLEPT ENOUGH!"

"Just...five...minutes..." I answered to my inner thoughts.

I gazed at the red wall that stood in front of me. When I heard it again...that same song. No new lyrics. But this time I could see where my eyes, landed on soon after I took my gaze off the wall. A small bundle. I was about to lift the blanket up so I could take a peek, when I heard a door slam. I looked at direction the sound came from , but instead I faced the all too familiar red wall I had began, and for now, ended my dream.