Harmony Through Scars

Twilight looked at the border of Ponyville. It was beautiful at night. After a long debate with the princess, Celestia agreed to let Twilight return to her favorite place in Equestria to meet up with her once united friends. After a long goodbye with Spike and a lecture on safety with Celestia, Princess Luna had arranged for Twilight to be transported by a private train. She had taken the elements with her. Her element magic, which also served as her crown, was placed carefully on top of her head. The other elements were necklaces and represented generosity, honesty, laughter, kindness and loyalty. Twilight had, as always, came prepared and had a list of her friends Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, so she could tick them off once she had restored their element.

The train stopped and Twilight made her out of the compartment and onto the barely repaired station. She waved to the driver as the train disappeared from her eyesight. She then turned her attention to the elements. Twilight immediately noticed the soft, orange glow connecting the Element of Honesty to a deserted farm outside of the main borders. She held it in her hoof and ran towards the farm, instantly realizing she was headed for Sweet Apple Acres. Of course, the Element of Honesty and the apple farm both meant one thing; Applejack! Twilight reached a barn door and the beam disappeared.

The barn was a soft red and had tattered white pillars holding the walls together. Twilight missed the smell of fresh hay and sniffed the air around the barn, only to find it was no longer there. She stood there like an idiot for a few seconds, wondering what happened to the barn. Twilight eventually found the courage to knock on the door. When there was no answer she knocked a few more times, tapping her back hoof on the ground impatiently.

"Nopony's home." A voice weaved itself under the cracks in the wood. Twilight immediately recognized the slight southern tone in the pony's voice and jumped for joy at finding one of her friends.

"Applejack, is that you?" Twilight asked.

"Ya, it's 'me'," Applejack responded and stepped out of the barn. She looked tired and hungry. Her green eyes had lost their sparkle and her hat was drooping over her face. "Do ah' know ya'll?"

Twilight remained calm and asked as sweetly as she could; "Applejack, I need to talk to you, so may I please come in?"

"Ugh... Ah' could use a lil' company." Applejack agreed and led me inside, "So, how'dya know ma name, huh?"

"You don't remember me, but we were friends once. We had other friends as well. There were six of us." Twilight pulled the Element of Honesty out of her saddlebags.

"I ain't interested with ya'll unless ya came to congratulate me on beatin' up that Hydra last month."

"A Hydra? I have a hard time believing that."

"Well, then get outta ma barn." Applejack whipped her head to face the ceiling and her dry lips formed a scowl.

"Applejack.." Twilight tried to reason with the orange pony.

"I said get.. Out... OF MA BARN!" Applejack backed up onto her fore-legs and pushed her hind-legs up with a great force, hitting Twilight and pushed her through the air and out of the barn.

"But AJ..." Twilight quickly stuffed the element into her bag.

"Who-eva ya'll are, stay outta ma barn!" Applejack snapped from inside. "Oh, and never call me 'AJ'!"

Twilight glumly walked towards the town-hall and sat down on the veranda. "Why won't Applejack listen to me?" Twilight sat there lost in thought about Applejack's lies. Would the others be like that? She sighed heavily. A figure caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. The silhouette of another pony slowly moved towards Twilight.

"Princess Twilight? Element of Magic, Princess of Friendship and Celestia's own pupil?" The pony was now leaning over her. She smelled like metal and chemicals. Her eyes were light blue and she had a white coat with a horn. The unicorn had black hair. Her cutie mark was a bubble.

"Yes." Twilight responded sadly.

"Wow, I studied the elements my whole life and I finally met their leader!" She squealed before straightening out her fluffy mane. "I am Frost Streak."

Twilight grimaced. This was the last thing she needed. "I'm so sorry, but I really must find a place to stay tonight."

"Oh sure. Perhaps I'll see you around then, Twilight Sparkle?"

"Maybe." Twilight quickly galloped off towards a tree and lied down beneath it. She slowly found herself drifting off to sleep.

-Applejack-

Applejack watched the lilac alicorn leave, her head down. She wondered what the pony had wanted, but soon found herself concentrated on a picture of her family. "I lied to ya'll."