Rarity the Unicorn was a creative pony, so having a new idea was nothing new for her. However, it was very rare for her to have an idea that threatened to drive her and her oldest friend apart. The idea in question. occurred to Rarity at a little get together at Twilight Sparkle’s Palace of Friendship. The get together was to commemorate the six month anniversary of the defeat of the evil Centaur Lord Tirek and the fortnight anniversary of the Cutiemark Crusaders getting their cutie marks.
It was an intimate gathering. The closest friends of Twilight Sparkle and the Crusaders were all in attendance. The party was planned and catered by Pinkie Pie.
The Pink mare had scheduled for a game of charades, but her inclusion of complicated words from Twilight’s oversized dictionary was not producing the laughable results she had hoped for when she made her plans.
Twilight Sparkle was hoping on one hoof and waving her forelegs about wildly.
“What in tarnation are you doing, Twi?” Applejack said.
Twilight leapt into the air and back flipped.
“Impressive, but I am still completely baffled.” Rarity said.” She batted her mane casually. “Perhaps you should start from the beginning. This was a one word thing you were trying to interpret into motion. Was it not?”
“Oh, I bet you’re a Wonderbolt.” Rainbow Dash said.
Twilight shook her head, so Rainbow Dash lost interest and pored herself another glass of punch. She looked at Fluttershy to see if she wanted some too, but Fluttershy was still fixated on Twilight and the game.
“You’re so graceful? Are you a swallow?” Fluttershy asked.
Twilight shook her head. She raised her rump into the air and wiggled it rapidly.
“This isn’t something adult. Is it?” Applebloom asked.
“That ain’t appropriate around the young’uns.” Applejack said firmly.
Spike stood up and sighed. “She’s metaphysics alright.” He said.
Twilight breathed out intensely. “Thank you, Spike. Why did nopony else get that?”
“Cause nopony else was raised alongside you, egghead.” Rainbow Dash said.
“Why am I an egghead?” Twilight Sparkle asked.
“You’re an egghead because you know fancy words such as ‘metaphysics’ that nopony else knows.” Rainbow Dash said.
Pinkie Pie spoke up. “I know what it means. It has to do with the treatment of immaterial things like love as material objects.”
Rainbow Dash looked at Pinkie Pie for more information.
Pinkie laughed. “Don’t look so surprised. My sister, Maud, is a poetry pony. She tells me about these things in her letters. Her poetry is rife with deeper meaning. She once wrote a poem about being covered by lava that was really about falling in love. Falling in love with rocks that is. It was beautiful.”
“It sounds more scary than beautiful.” Fluttershy said.
“Lava is really refreshing once you get use to the smell.” Spike said.
“We’re not all dragons, Darling. Being covered in lava would be the last thing anypony would do. Rarity sighed. “Still, I wish I could be covered in the lava of a stallion’s love.”
Fluttershy crumpled her face and looked away from Rarity.
“Stallions make lava from love. Is this metaphysics?” Sweetie Belle asked her sister.
“This party has taken a strange turn.” Applejack said.
“I have no idea what anypony is talking about.” Scootaloo cried out.
“Me neither. I don’t know what the metaphysical lava love of a stallion is, but I want no part of it.” Rainbow Dash said.
“No big surprises there.” Twilight Sparkle muttered.
“You got something to say, Princess?” Rainbow Dash snapped.
“No, but there are things everypony is waiting for you to say.” Twilight responded.
Fluttershy softly interjected. “Everypony is willing to be patient. We’re all friends here after all.” She said.
Twilight Sparkle glared at Fluttershy who hid behind her wing. Twilight took a deep breath and exhaled. “If you say so, Fluttershy. I really shouldn’t let these private matters get to me.” She said.
Pinkie Pie began juggling random items to break the tension. “Everypony seems a little edgy for some reason. Let’s end charades early and move onto after-game-dessert. Who wants my marvellous melon mash mega muffins?” She asked the partygoers.
The Cutiemark Crusaders jumped up and down joyfully, and everypony declared. “I do. I do.”
“That’s ten mega muffins coming right up.” Pinkie Pie said. She trotted to the kitchen. Spike chased after her while offering to help.
“I’ll help too.” Twilight Sparkle said. “Ten mega muffins are too much for even the combined strength of one pony and one dragon to carry.”
Rarity trotted over to Sweetie Belle. “Sweetheart, there are ten of us all together. Can you think of a phrase for ten ponies together?” Rarity asked.
Sweetie Belle looked up and then side to side. She raised her hoof in the air. “I’ve got it. The phrase is ponyan deck. That is what they used to call a group of unicorns who gathered in groups of ten to raise the sun every morning. Why do you ask?”
Rarity grinned. “I’ll tell you after we’ve eaten our muffins.” She replied. Rarity sniffed the air. “Oooo, I smell them coming.”
Soon enough Pinkie Pie returned with her large sweet baked desserts, and about twenty minutes later all the ponies in the room were rubbing their bellies with contented looks on their faces.
Spike was lying on his back. “I hope there aren’t any more snacks because I couldn’t eat another bight. I think I’ll have cream of crystal soup tonight. That always helps things along the digestive track.” The baby dragon burped green flames from his mouth.
Rarity laughed politely. “Changing the subject. I have an announcement my friends. As you know my sister Sweetie Belle now has her cutie mark. This being the case she is obligated to participate in the Dawn Skipper morning services. The morning services require ten ponies, and since there are ten of us I believe we should all form a ponyan deck, and participate together.” Rarity said.
Spike got up and waved his claw in the air. “Rarity, Rarity, since I am the only male, I get to be the king right?” he asked.
“Of course, and I would hope our Princess of Friendship would be our Queen.” Rarity said.
“I would be honoured.” Twilight Sparkle tried to say.
Pinkie Pie cut in to her sentence. “Oooo ooo, I want to do it. I want to do it. I want to be the Unicorn Queen.”
Rarity trotted over to Pinkie and put her hoof around her. “If it really makes you happy, we would be pleased to have you as our queen.” Rarity said.
Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. “Would some pony please explain to those of us who don’t know what Rarity and Pinkie are talking about?” She said.
“Rainbow Dash, Dawn Skipper is an ancient tradition that predates…” Twilight Sparkle said.
“I’ll tell ya what it is all about.” Applejack bellowed. “Thousands of years ago, before the time of Princesses Celestia and Luna, the Unicorns raised the sun and the moon every day, but one day a year they wouldn’t do it to remind Earth Ponies and Pegasi of their powers. These days the Unicorns fast for an entire day to lament their loss of status.” Applejack said.
“That isn’t exactly true. On the rock farm…” Pinkie Pie said.
“Y’all are Earth Ponies not Unicorns on that rock farm. I don’t give much credence to that ethnic Unicorn hooey, Cousin.” Applejack snapped.
“There’s no need for all this hostility.” Twilight Sparkle said.
“You’re right about that, Alicorn. There’s a need for me to go. It was a nice party, but Applebloom and I need to go. Goodnight y’all.” Applejack said. She trotted off without waiting for a response.
“Goodbye, everypony.” Applebloom said before she cantered after Applejack.
Rarity scratched her head with her hoof. “I wasn’t expecting that sort of response. I wonder what’s gotten into her all of a sudden.”
“It’s not her time of the month. Is it?” Rainbow Dash said.
“Try to be a little delicate. Spike is present.” Fluttershy said.
Spike laughed. “Been Twilight’s assistant for years. Know all about this stuff. Did you know she missed a cycle when she became an alicorn? Totally freaked her out.”
Twilight laughed uncomfortably. “No pony really needed to know that. I’m not sure my friends are interested in those kinds of personal details about my life.”
“Bet Pinkie Pie is.” Spike said smugly.
Pinkie Pine looked nervous. Her eyes darted from side to side. She tried to look small, but soon blurted out her thoughts. “I can’t help it. I’m a compulsive data collector. Yes, I knew about Twilight’s shift. It didn’t worry me. She was remade after all. It makes sense for things to restart. As for Cousin Applejack, she is not having her time of the moon. I think she is just angry at Unicorns. This is shocking given how much she has come to adore Rarity since they slept together a while back.”
Everypony fell silent and stared at Rarity.
Rarity blushed a ruby red on her muzzle. “Pinkie Pie is referring to the time we shared a bed at Twilight Sparkle’s slumber party all those moons ago. Yes, I too have come to adore Applejack as I have come to adore all of you. Some days my heart feels so full of love I think it might burst.” She said.
Sweetie Belle rubbed her head against her sister. “But you adore me most of all. Right, Rarity.”
Rarity put her hoof around Sweetie Belle. “Oh, I love you more than all the gems in Equestria, but you knew that. Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie and Spike, I must thank you for hosting a wonderful party, but it is time Sweetie Belle and I go home. Everypony, don’t let my Dawn Skipper suggestion make you uncomfortable. I am not trying to enforce my Unicorn ways, but rather to share them. I will come to talk to all of you personally about this, and if you have any questions my boutique is always open to my friends, and our Princess of Friendship is a fountain of knowledge. Bon swa everypony.” Rarity said.
Sweetie Belle hugged Scootaloo, and bid everypony goodnight. Rarity and Sweetie Belle went home, and Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo left the party soon afterwards.
Pinkie Pie and Spike began cleaning up, and Fluttershy spoke to Twilight Sparkle.
“Twilight, I’m not sure what’s gotten into Applejack, but I think all of us commemorating Dawn Skipper together is a wonderful idea. Rarity and I have been close friends for some time now, so I know all about the holiday. While fasting is not my favourite activity, I understand why it can be an important thing to do now and again. It can help strengthen your sense of empathy, and the ceremony in the morning is important for connecting with history. So, you can count on me and Rainbow Dash to show up and participate.” Fluttershy said.
“Can you just guarantee Rainbow Dash being involved without asking her?” Twilight Sparkle asked.
Fluttershy smiled knowingly. “Rainbow Dash likes to do what I ask of her.”
Twilight put a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “She may just ask you to do something in return for her.”
Fluttershy blushed. “Except where dragons are involved, I love doing things for Rainbow Dash. Her smile is like warm sunshine, and her laugh is sweetest birdsong.”
“If you two ever want to marry, I would be honoured to perform the ceremony her in the palace.” Twilight said.
Fluttershy laughed. “Ha ha. Is that the time? I have to go now. Must sleep. Much to do in the morning. Goodnight, Everypony.” Fluttershy galloped out the door.
“She didn’t say ‘No’.” Twilight said to herself before beginning to help Pinkie and Spike with the cleaning up.
It was a warm morning in Equestria when Rarity the Unicorn arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. She wore her saddle pack and a stylish sensible hat. Rarity took a deep breath and trotted up to the front door of the Apple family home. She lifted her hoof to knock, but the door flew open before Rarity touched it.
Applejack stuck her head out. “Good, you’re here when you said you’d be here. Let’s get going to wherever it is you’re taking me, Rares.
Happy to spend time with you, but I ain’t got all day. Got heaps of chores piling up. Been a bit slack lately, and I can’t afford to take any more time off than necessary. How is it you have any time? Ya run two shops.” She said.
“Good morning, Applejack. I have time because I schedule and delegate. However, it was not too long ago I was practically a slave to my own boutique. Shall we walk and talk?” Rarity said.
“Sure, I am ready to go. I put snacks in my saddle bag in case you are hungry.” Applejack said as she trotted out the door.
“You’re always so considerate.” Rarity said as she trotted beside Applejack, “But I don’t think we should stop to snack along our way. We are going to the Castle of The Two Sister, and to do that we must pass through the Everfree Forest, and you know you knew to keep your guard up in that place. Just thinking about all the creepy creatures we have run into gives me the chills.” Rarity shivered slightly.
Applejack snorted. “If you were concerned about critters, you should have brought Fluttershy.”
“Fluttershy is my good friend, and I know I can always count on her, but today is about you and me and something I need to show you at the castle.”
“What’s so danged important that you couldn’t just tell me about it?” Applejack asked.
“History is not simply words at the castle. It is alive there. The past is more than just old stories in the castle. It is something one can touch see and experience. Our own personal history was made there. It was there we were first united by the elements of harmony.” Rarity began cantering.
Applejack easily kept pace with Rarity. “You and I go back further than the castle. I can hardly remember and time I haven’t known you. Is it really all that important for our friendship that I participate in this Skipper thing? We’ve already been through so much together.”
Rarity began to gallop. Here hoof beats echoed through the forest. “This isn’t about our relationship. This is about your relationship with history.” Rarity called back to her friend.
Applejack galloped next to her friend. “My relationship is just fine. We Apples have a strong appreciation of history. We have both a written and oral tradition. It was because of this Pinkie Pie learned we were kin.” Applejack scanned the forest path ahead. She sniffed the air, and listened for danger. Applejack turned her attention to Rarity once again. “Seems like a nice day here in Everyfree. Why don’t we slow down a tick and enjoy it? We’ve got plenty of time. Right” Applejack asked.
Rarity chuckled. “Not really. I just remembered I can’t remember where exactly in the castle we need to be, and we need to be there at a certain time, so the more time we have to look the better.” She said.
“In that case, let’s make this a race.” Applejack bolted ahead of Rarity the moment she finished speaking.
“I’m already at my limit.” Rarity cried out as she galloped harder to keep up. Her coat became covered with sweat from the forest.
Rarity was panting by the time she reached the castle. Applejack had arrived about thirty seconds before her. Rarity gave Applejack a hard look. “You don’t even look tired.” Rarity said.
“Nope, I had to make an effort not to get to far ahead of you. One shouldn’t be alone here. I try to tell Applebloom this, but she just won’t listen.” Applejack said.
“I say the same thing to Sweetie Belle. Children do not respect danger in the same way adults do. They find it hard to believe anything truly bad could ever happen to them. As soon as I catch my breath, we can have those snacks you brought. I remembered where the scroll is, so we won’t have to spend time looking for it.” Rarity said.
“Alright if you’re sure. I get the feeling we’re meeting someone in this castle, and I wouldn’t want to keep that pony waiting. Are we meeting some kind of historian or archaeologist? I don’t know if that’d do much good. A lot of what them academic types say just goes write over my head. When Twilight talks I have to nod and smile, and pretend more than I’d care to admit.” Applejack said.
“My darling Applejack, I think that’s the case with all of us when it comes to Princess Twilight Sparkle, but we are not here to meet an academic. I would have brought her here if we were. She enjoys the company of her fellow eggheads as Rainbow Dash would say.” Rarity said. Should put her hoof to her chin. “But if it makes you feel better, we can trot to the scroll, and eat there.”
Applejack trotted into the castle. “Lead on then.”
“I don’t need to lead you. The scroll is in the reading room where Twilight Sparkle found The Journal off the Two Sisters.” Rarity replied.
“Then walk next to me please. This castle can play funny tricks and go dark suddenly. We might need your magical light. Not that I didn’t bring matches and a candle.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice. This place can be horribly spooky, but I always feel safe when I am standing next to you.” Rarity said.
Applejack blushed and said no more until they reached the reading room. The two ponies ate their snacks and made small talk about desserts. When they were finished eating, rarity levitated a mounted scroll of the wall and placed it on the lectern in the centre of the room.
“This is what I have brought you here to see.” Rarity said.
Applejack examined the scroll for a little more than a minute. “I hate to disappoint you, Rarity, but this is written in old Unicorn. I can’t make a single word of it. Whatever it is you wanted me to learn, I won’t get by staring at this old antique.”
“It’s not an antique. It is a relic of a previous age that has been protected here for a millennia by the most subtle enchantments I have ever had the pleasure of examining.” Rarity said.
Applejack raised an eyebrow at Rarity. “You stole that last phrase from Twilight Sparkle. Didn’t ya?”
Rarity blushed. “True, but it is a sentiment I shared with her. I may not possess her deep love of magic, but I still enjoy increasing my knowledge and understanding of the art from time to time” She said.
“Is that why you want me to not eat and not work for a day? Do you want me to increase my understanding of magic? What would the point of that be? I’m an Earth Pony. I don’t have a horn. I don’t have magic.” Applejack said.
“Earth Pony magic is not a secret, darling. I know you are doing more than shake the trees when you apple buck, but that is not why I brought you here. I brought you here to learn history, but first I want to know where you learned Dawn Skipper is about reminding Earth Ponies of Unicorn Power.” Rarity said.
Applejack looked away from Rarity. “I can’t remember. Just picked it up. Earth Pony lore.” She said.
Rarity shook her head and tisked. “Lying is unbecoming of one held in such high esteem by the community.”
Applejack looked Rarity squarely in the eyes. “Years ago my father complained about Dawn Skipper. He’d come home and say, “Those Pikes aren’t buying today because they are remembering how they used to ground us into the dirt. It’s disgusting. Ponies are really starving out there, and they aren’t eating out of pride.” My father was a little racist are you happy now. I don’t want to do your morning dance because I want to honour my racist father. His attitude wasn’t right, but respecting him feels right. He wouldn’t want me to pretend I was a unicorn supressing others. Truth be told. I don’t feel happy about you doing it. Do you really think you should be above me when we’ve been so happy living as equals?” Applejack said.
Rarity looked at Applejack with the softest of gazes. “I’m honoured to have you as a friend. If I had a choice between being declared Rarity
the Spectacular High Queen but I’d lose you, or being banned from royal gatherings forever but I would keep you forever. I would choose you in a heartbeat.”
Applejack moved to speak, but she was interrupted.
A gently but regal female voice spoke behind them. “We would hope you never had to make such a choice Rarity. We would hate to be denied the pleasure of your company.”
Applejack and Rarity turned suddenly. They bowed when they saw who was standing before them. “Good morning, Princess Celestia.” The two ponies said as one.
Celestia spoke warmly. “Good morning, Applejack and Rarity. When we are in private, you do not need to bow, nor do you need to call me ‘Princess’. For all you have done for me and Equestria, you have earned that much.”
“But they taught us in school we bow to you as a sign of the special love we hold for you as our princess.” Applejack said.
“Do you not wish us to love you?” Rarity asked.
“The love of my subjects is something I cherish deeply. Its value is beyond measure to me, but more than desiring ponies to love me I want them to love one another. I learned that the two of you share a strong love, but strife has come between you. This strife threatens to tear you apart.” Celestia said.
Applejack spoke up. “Rarity is special to me. She always has been. Because of her I can see more beauty in the world than I would otherwise. Because of her, I can feel more beautiful than I would otherwise. My world would be a duller place without her. Some days…well I know it’s silly, but some days I wish she could marry Big Mac, so we can be sisters.”
“I thought Big Mac was dating Cheerilee.” Rarity said.
“Twilight tells me he is also writing soppy letters to Pinkie Pie’s sister Marble Pie, so there could be trouble there.” Celestia said. “However, I am not here to engage in idle gossip. Rarity requested my presence to translate our old scroll. This scroll was given to Luna and Myself over one thousand years ago.” Celestia trotted closer to the scroll and passed her eyes over it. “This brings back so many memories.”
“Who gave you this scroll, Celestia?” Applejack asked.
“This scroll was a gift to us from The Unicorn King shortly after Luna and I were made princesses. Has Rarity explained the meaning behind this scroll?” Celestia said.
Applejack shook her head. “No, and I can’t read a word of it, Celestia.”
“It is written in Old Unicorn. This poem was ancient when I was still a filly. This scroll was already over 500 years old when the Unicorn King gave it to us. The scroll is used at the start of Dawn Skipper. It contains a poem about why the day is celebrated and instructions on how to perform the morning services.” Celestia said. “The poem is translated thusly.”
On this day, we make no magic for not all can make magic as we.
On this day, we honour the sun and let her rest.
On this day, we honour the moon and let him shine still.
On this day, we drink not, to honour the Pegasus who brings the rain.
On this day, we eat not, to honour the Earth Pony who grows the food.
On this day, we are one tribe under the light of the moon.
Applejack stood still, and looked at the scroll. She trotted over to Rarity and put her front leg around her.
Celestia looked kindly at both of them. “I will make my leave now. It is always good to see both you. Thank you for inviting me back to this place, and enabling me to experience so many happy memories.” Celestia trotted out of the reading room.
Applejack spoke. “Rarity. I’m sorry. I thought Unicorns were looking down on Earth Ponies. I thought you were looking down on me, and you were honouring us all along. Unicorns have respected Earth Ponies for over a thousand years, and was spitting in the face of that tradition because of the desire to maintain the family ignorance.” She said.
“Oh Darling, there’s no need to be so severe. Yes there is a Unicorn tradition of honouring Earth Ponies, but there are also traditions of Unicorns looking down on Earth Ponies. The histories of both our tribes have been long complex ones.” Rarity said.
“Then let’s not worry about tribes. The history between you and me is simple. We met at school and became friends and we still are to this day, and to the day Applejack brings her sister with her to Rarity’s place for the Dawn Skipper service so we can all be one tribe under the light of the moon.” Applejack said.
Rarity nuzzled Applejack. “I like it. Race you home.” She said as she galloped out of the door.
“Just try and lose me.” Applejack called out. She tilted her trademark Stetson and chased after her purple tailed friend at top speed.
.
Author's Note
A mentioned 'The Faith' in some of my other stories. While Rarity is a religious pony, Dawn Skipper is a secular holiday.
