Applejack took a deep breath, and lifted a shaking hoof up to the crystal blue door. Come on, you can do it! The farm mare gulped, and tried in vain to still her drumming heart. Why was this so hard?
The warm coated mare's hoof shook slightly, and she brought it back down on the steps with a frustrated thud. She adjusted her stetson hat atop her honey colored hair, that spilled out from underneath it, and sighed: a tired and heavy sound.
Applejack's hoof rose up again, and this time the pony nodded her head in defiance.
Twilight will surely understand! She would never take my feelings lightly!
With those thoughts parading relentlessly around in Applejack's mind, she finally knocked on the double doors. There was a moment of silence in which Applejack could hear every pound of her anxious pulse, despite the mundane noises outside of her. She bit her lip.
The pause was soon broken by the sound of a voice calling out, and the clops of hoof steps from the stairs inside. "I'm coming, hold on!" Twilight, or rather, the Princess answered, presumably stumbling down the staircase. The alicorn made a huffing sound and flung open the door to reveal the farm mare.
"Oh, hey there, Applejack," she said, leaning against the wall in a casual manner, but Applejack could see the bags under her lavender eyes.
Twilight adjusted a fluffy, purple scarf around her neck with her cutie mark etched into the fabric, and smiled tiredly. "It's pretty chilly out, isn't it? I was up all night studying for a paper to the princess, and just decided to throw this thing on. Nice, huh?" She stared past Applejack at the autumn foliage, and the amber leaves scattered across her yard.
When her friend didn't respond, Twilight snapped back to attention, and winced. Small clouds of air billowed around the farm mare's muzzle. "Oh, gosh, Applejack-I'm so sorry! Where are my manners? Please, come in!" She stumbled back and motioned for Applejack to follow, who gave a begrudging smile.
"Thank ya kindly, Twilight, but it's fine."
Twilight giggled, and shut the door behind her, turning to the mare. "Now let's get some nice hot tea and-" she broke off when she noticed Applejack's expression, a mix of worry and sadness. Twilight's face softened, and she leaned forward.
"What's wrong? Are-Are you okay? You seem upset. This is a problem, right? I need to help, Applejack! Please tell me what's wrong!" Her hooves were fluttering everywhere, and her eyes were wide in panic. Applejack grinned, and placed a hoof on her fluffy chest. "Woah, girl, gettin' a little flustered now?"
Twilight blushed, and nodded. "I'm sorry," she took a deep breath,"I didn't mean to be overbearing or anything-I just didn't get much sleep and...." she trailed off with a lopsided grin.
That's adorkable, right there. Applejack crinkled her emerald eyes at her friend in amusement.
"How 'bout the tea first, sugarcube? Ah could always use something to....calm mah nerves." Anything to stall. A small bead a sweat dripped down her cheek.
The lavender mare's eyes lit up, and she staggered to the kitchen area. "Yes! Tea! Tea cures just about anything, Celestia has always said!"
Twilight trotted to the stove, where she began to brew a fresh batch of tea. Soon, the whole room was filled with the relaxing and fragrant scent of chamomile tea, its steam rising up and warming the farm mare considerably.
Applejack sunk her haunches into the soft chair besides her, and allowed herself to fall back against the pillow in a sense of calm. She will understand.
When the Princess returned, Applejack had fallen into a stupor, staring through half-lidded eyes at the wall.
"Okay, Applejack, here you go," she said, levitating the steaming mug to the mare's hooves with ease. Applejack grasped it between her forelegs, and took a gentle sip after blowing on it. After a moment of silence, the alicorn settled down on the couch opposite her, and placed a smile on her soft face.
"Talk to me."
Oh boy.
Applejack placed her warm mug down on the small table besides her, and sat a bit straighter in her position. "Twilight," she began uneasily. How to say this?
"How does it feel....ta be an alicorn?"
Twilight flinched, and her bright eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in confusement. "To be a Princess?" she whispered. Applejack shook her head vigorously, and tilted her worn hat back on head, before removing it all together.
"Nah, Twi, Ah mean alicorn. Ta' fancy tiny race with the power of wings an' a horn for their lives. What does it feel like?"
The Princess clutched her own wings by her side self consciously, and glanced up at her horn. "It feels....nice," she said simply, a wisp of a voice. Twilight sighed. "It feels like, power, I guess." Applejack glanced up in her eyes. "It's nice," Twilight repeated, again.
But then Twilight shook herself like a dog, and grimaced. "Applejack, why-why are you asking me these things?" her voice cracked slightly.
Applejack folded her arms over each other, her lips set into a thin line. "Twi, ya have these....power, these abilities to do almost anything ya want."
The alicorn's mouth gaped open, but she didn't say anything. "Rainbow, that gal can go ta anyplace she she wants, and heck, she's the fastest flier in Equestria, in mah opinion. She can soar around to her heart's content, feeling the wind whip back her mane, and the freedom of the open skies. Rainbow....she's free."
"Fluttershy, bless her sweet soul, she's the kindest thing I've ever met-she cares for the animals like there's no tomorrow. She may not be the quickest flier out there, but she can go up, visit 'er childhood friend in the clouds, soar like a graceful butterfly."
Rarity, ya know she's got an eye for fashion, she can sew any dress faster than a rattle snake in a pool 'o water. Her magic-levitation,to be precise, I think she hides how much talent she's got. But whenever you see that brilliant blue glow, ya know Rarity's whippin' up some fancy design."
"That pink friend of ours, let me tell ya, she's an interesting little thing. Got the laughter of a thousand hyenas, and could make me giggle for days on end. She's eccentric, an amazin' ball 'o fun, and Ah will never quite understand how she works. She got a magic all of her own, jumping here an' there, pulling things out of thin air, making the gloomiest of ponies burst out in song. Pinkie Pie's somethin' alright. She's perfectly content."
"And ya, Twilight? Do Ah even need to explain? You've got it all, the wings to visit the rainbows and purple thunderstorms. The strongest horn to do all that ya need, see into the most amazin' aspect of life and understand it all. Ya even got Celestia to see it!"
"But...what am Ah? I have no magic, no talent, nothing. Ah'm just a plain old earth pony, anypony can see that. A boring old farmer, that is shocked to even be ya friend."
Applejack's throat had become increasingly dry during her speech, and she grabbed the now lukewarm tea and swallowed a couple gulps.
"........"
She looked up from her drink and saw Twilight staring silently at her. The farm mare flushed darkly, and she wiped her upper lip quickly. Why did I do this?
Shaking, Applejack shifted in her chair, and gripped the cup tightly.
"Have you really been feeling this, all this time?"
Applejack nodded mutely.
Twilight brushed her indigo bangs from her eyes, and groaned quietly to herself. "Celestia, help me, I knew this day would come."
Applejack's heart skipped a beat, and the ears that had been pressed against her head raised. "Come again?" she whispered in her country drawl.
Twilight stood up, and then sat back down. She shot a glance at the windows, before shuttering them with a burst of her magic. Twilight licked her lips nervously. "It's -kinda confidential, from the princess to me. But Applejack, do you really want to know?"
I'm not sure what, but if it'll help... Applejack nodded, slowly.
"Okay..." Twilight exhaled. "Applejack, first of all, you're not "plain and boring". You're one of my best friends for a reason, because you sweet, dependable, and kind, and most definitely honest. You run one of the best farms in Equestria! And you're an element of harmony, for ponies sake? Can't you cut yourself some slack?"
Applejack blushed modestly at the complements, but then her ears fell back. I dont deserve it.
"But why can't Ah have-Ah mean-why is this-" she cut herself off from the lump in her throat. "Why can't Ah have magic too?" There, she had said it. Twilight must think me such a fool, acting like a little foal begging for more cookies. But she did have power, maybe one that could change a certain earth pony..
To Applejack's horror, she felt the beginning of tears on her cheek. For so long I.....
The farm mare found herself suddenly embraced by two small lavender arms, and a warm face nuzzled into her chest. Applejack looked down at Twilight, who pulled away rather bashfully, her eyes a bit wet.
"No, Applejack. Don't say those things, don't act like that! You'll-you'll make me cry!" The alicorn rubbed her eyes, and returned to her seat. She cleared her throat, and leaned forward."Please, just listen."
Applejack stayed silent.
"A long, long time ago, back when Celestia was ruling by herself, as Luna was in the moon, things were.....different. Celestia tried to make them see other wise at first, but the ponies of the land, they had gotten it into their heads that-that earth ponies were of a lower class."
Applejack sucked in a breath.
"They believed that earth ponies had no power, and were only there to work the fields of their betters."
Applejack's eyes began to water, and she sunk further back into the pillow.
"But, you know what? They were all wrong. Earth ponies are just as important as unicorns or pegasi."
She reached out a hoof to Applejack.
"They have magic, too." Twilight's last words were hushed.
Applejack felt her heart race, and she sat up in anticipation. What-what did she say?
"Why didn't Celestia, Ah mean, why don't earth ponies lik' me know?" Applejack rasped.
"Because-" Twilight rubbed her chin in anxiety. "Oh, gosh," she mumbled under her breath. "Princess Celestia knew that earth ponies had a special magic inside of them, because she could recognize a spark in their soul, just like she did for me when I was accepted as her student. She saw this, but Celestia, and the whole of her kingdom had become accepted to the division of races, and their abilities. True, racism like that has ended, but there was still a belief that never passed as the generations continued to grow."
"The reason she held this still was because their spark was so weak, too little to compare to the others. The ponies wanted to stick to what they knew, and not change it after the years of separation. But the most important aspect was how incredibly difficult it was to unlock it. Very much so, Applejack. It would take many tiresome years for a regular earth pony to gain the strength to test their skills. And Celestia didn't feel her kingdom could handle such an outrageous change."
"But I think Celestia was wrong. She was wrong to hold back such a thing from their land, all because of some silly belief. Imagine how much Equestria could benefit from such a skill, held secret for a millennium, hmm?"
Applejack hardly registered that Twilight had finished speaking because the only think that was going through her mind was; I could do magic the whole time?
"Ah have magic?" she rasped.
Twilight nodded, her anxious, secretive look replaced by that of glee.
"Ah have magic?!" Applejack shrieked again, it rolling off her tongue like a foreign word. She clamped a hoof over her mouth, and looked to Twilight, who giggled. Then the alicorn's face grew solemn.
"Celestia, I admire her so, but sometimes her judgements can be so ........biased, Applejack," a breath. "Your spark is much stronger than all the other earth ponies'. The Princess, she sensed it when she first met you Applejack, but hid it."
"You have true potential," Twilight said finally, a hint of excitement lacing her words.
Applejack almost felt like fainting, but she regained herself quick enough to ask another question.
"What can Ah do?!" she squeaked.
Twilight grinned. "Oh, you can do so much with the earth, the mind, the world! There's too much to explain right now! You have so much to learn! It's time the world saw a real magical earth pony!"
The farm mare pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. "Can-can ya teach me?" Applejack gripped the edge of her seat. It was all happening so fast!
Twilight shook her head. "I can't. But I know who can. After hearing about your side of the story, I'm sure Princess Luna would love to take you under her wing."
Applejack sat down besides the lavender alicorn, breathing heavily. Except this time it wasn't from nerves, it was from excitement!
Oh, gosh!
She bit her lip, and swung her hooves above the ground like an energetic foal. Ah have magic,she mouthed silently to herself, in a rush of giddiness.
But it almost didn't settle with the farm mare, who suppressed a smile when Twilight glanced at her. There was so much left unexplained! What could she do? Why? Why would Celestia do such a thing? Applejack's mind whirled, so she leaned back to steady herself.
Glancing sideways to check that Twilight was indeed glued to an eggheady (as Rainbow would say) science magazine, Applejack took in her surroundings one more time. The Canterlot Castle. She managed not to whistle in awe.
Applejack never thought she would be here again, except for the occasional "saving Equestria" business she found herself in sometimes. But truely, it was a magnificent sight to behold, and the mare felt tiny just looking at it.
Marble floors shown across every hall, rich red drapes hung from each huge window, doors was engraved with a gold pattern, and the rooms never seemed to end. Yep, the Royal Castle.
Currently being in the waiting room, (although Applejack never imagined a place like this would even have one) she absentmindedly flipped through a book. Princess Celestia and Luna were in a meeting with delegates from Foaledo, and Twilight had insisted that they wait until it was over.
Ah can understand that, Twi-but something tells me you're nervous.
Applejack almost said that out loud, but closed her mouth just in time. Sure the farm mare herself couldn't rightly relax, but if Applejack had to guess, Twilight was edgy because of her "broken confidentiality" with the Princess.
She gave Twilight a sypathetic smile, however unnoticed it went, but then huffed, annoyed.
Where was the 'spark'? How long had Celestia sensed it for, and could Twilight too? Applejack pressed her lips together. She better get some answers, and fast.
The delegates meeting took longer than Applejack had expected.
She startled awake to the deep and commanding voice of Princess Luna, standing above her. The farm mare jerked, and spluttered, adjusting her steson, and quickly wiped the spittle from her mouth.
Applejack looked up to the regal blue princess, her face a dark shade of red. How long had she been standing there?
"Greetings to you, Applejack. Princess Celestia hath informed us of some.....critical news on Twilight's behalf." Her voice rang out clear, yet still in her medieval tongue.
Twilight Sparkle's face stretched into an uneasy smile. Applejack herself tried not to sweat, and stood up unsteadily. It's really her! She's even more beautiful than last time!
Because if Applejack had to be honest, Princess Luna was her idol, a strong and mysterious mare who had overcome her past sins.
Applejack tilted her head down. "Uh....howdy."
Princess Luna blinked. "Yes,..... howdeee to thou as well, fair Applejack. And thou, Twilight Sparkle, how are thou fairing? We must admit to tiring meetings driving us up the wall," she said, with a heavy smile, brushing her flowing star-dotted mane from her eyes.
Applejack blushed at her informality to the moon princess, and her ears fell flat. Was this pony really going to help an earth pony like her?
"Oh, Princess Luna!" Twilight exclaimed, and swept into a deep bow on her knees. Luna laughed, a sound of melodic bells, and pulled the lavender alicorn up.
"Please, Twilight," she began, winking. "There needn't be such formalities, after all, thou are a princess now, no?"
She turned to Applejack, who shied away. "Call me Luna!"
Twilight nodded, furiously, sweat beading down her cheek.
"Alrighty, Princ-Luna," Applejack drawled. The farm mare held out a hoof to the taller alicorn, who shook her head.
"Neigh," she declared, unfurling her regal wings by her side."We need to speak to Celestia about this issue. We fear that she may not have taken it lightly."
Twilight gulped."Of course! Uh....lead the way, Luna." She stepped forward, and motioned down the hallways.
"Why, yes mares. Follow us," Luna said, turning on her hooves, and waving Applejack along. The farm mare grinned, despite herself. Finally, some answers!
The Princess turned down a shorter hallway, and reached a large golden door that practically radiated light. "Celestia's study," Luna informed, facing her subjects besides her. "She hath always liked some alone time." She brought a silver shoed hoof up to the door, and knocked once.
Silence.
"Come in," a light voice answered after a moment. Luna gave a nod as an affirmative, and carefully turned the knob to a dark room. Celestia stood next to a large case of ancient books, a grim look upon her face, and her long mane dulled in the greyish light.
Luna attempted a smile, and placed a hoof on Applejack's shoulder, guiding her and Twilight inside. "Good evening, dear sister. We have brought an Applejack and a Twilight Sparkle for a 'meeting.'" She raised a hoof to conceal a grin.
Celestia looked back and forth between the two young mares and heaved a sigh. "I see we have some....problems that were brought to light, is that right Twilight?" She tore her gaze away from her sister to look down at Twilight.
The purple mare pressed her ears flat against her head, and glanced at the floor. "I-I'm really sorry about it, Princess. If you want to disown me as a friend and take away my crown, I understand. But please, it's not Applejack's fault!"
Celestia seemed almost shocked for a moment, and then her lips twisted up into a smile. "Twilight, dear, I wouldn't dream of it! Come now, stop acting like a scared foal," she said, and pulled her former student into an embrace. Twilight went limp. "Really?" she whispered. "I just thought you'd be mad at me for....breaking your promise."
Celestia shook her head quickly, and stood up. After cloing her eyes briefly, she lowered her powerful gaze on to Applejack. "There's just a few things we need to discuss."
"Of course, Tia," Luna replied, closing the door behind them. The office was relatively dark, but Applejack manged to find a small chair, and sat in it with a dry throat. The atmosphere was off. Celestia....why was she so solemn?
Twilight cleared her throat, and began to dig through her notes that she had brought along with her. "Just some basics to discuss," she clarified, levitating them out in front of her.
"No need, Twilight. We're all friends here, and can talk freely."
Begrudingly, the smaller alicorn slid them back into her bag. Celestia returned to the corner besides the bookcase, and shifted her feathery wings on her white coat.
"Luna came to me today to informed me about Applejack's 'discovery' of....earth race magic." Celestia's expression was full of an emotion Applejack couldn't decipher. She did turn to Twilight, who flushed. "Again, I hold no blame towards you, my precious student. But somethings are better left alone."
Tension hung between the ponies. Luna was the first to break it.
"Excuse us?!" she exclaimed, her voice rising loudly. She slammed her royal blue hooves on the ground, glaring slightly. "Better left alone? No, Tia! We disagree! This is plenty important to Applejack, and Twilight Sparkle as well. Thou cannot simply dismiss this due to your selfish outlooks!"
Celstia gasped, and whipped her head back in anger. "My selfish outlooks! Luna, what are you talking about?"
Luna almost growled. "We know the pain of missing something, as we missed thou over those many, many years. Applejack is missing an important part of her! She has the spark far greater than thou could ever imagine! She needs her answers, her power, and you're holding it back from her like a tyrant! You're holding it back from the whole world!"
Celestia physically bristled, but her eyes were shiny with tears. "You-you don't even know what-"
"No, but I do!" Twilight burst in, stepping up to her old mentor. "All those silly reasons, and you won't even consider it?! Luna's right, Princess!"
Celestia took a sharp breath. "TWILIGHT, you forgot yourself!" she cried out, narrowing her eyes.
"No, I'm a Princess, Celestia, if you forgot that. You are not my better, but maybe you feel earth ponies are below you?" Twilight leered.
Applejack shut her eyes. This wasn't supposed to happen! Why were they fighting like animals?
She covered her gulit-burning face with her hooves. This was all her fault.
"Applejack? Twiligtt? It is best thou leave. There are guest bedrooms in the west chambers. We shall see you in the morning," Luna stated lowly, without room for doubt.
"Lulu, I,-" Celestia stuttered, voice wavering.
"No, they do not need to watch us bicker like foals! Applejack, Twilight, your leave. Now."
Applejack jerked up, backing away slowly, her ears down. The purple alicorn stumbled along with her, whimping slightly. What had she gotten herself into?
Applejack couldn't sleep. She tossed off her sheets, and stared into the darkness around the celing. They had retired to their rooms after a gloomy dinner. Twilight had sense long drifted off to Luna's realm, and was mumbling nonsense. But she caught the murmer of the words; "I'm sorry."
The farm mare groaned, and glanced to Twilight in the next bed. She was just trying to help me. Applejack sat up against her pillow, and rotated her legs over the side. The floor was cold, but she placed her hooves on the tile.
Maybe she could just get a quick drink of water, before trying in vain to fall asleep. The farm mare sighed, and crept to the chamber door. The hallway was dark and eerily silent, and only her thudding heart interupted the quiet. Perhaps the guards were on break, or even sleeping themselves.
But, the only problem was the fact that she had no idea whatsoever where the bathrooms were located. Appleajack trotted through the shadowed hallway, each clip of her hooves making her wince. Where they hay was the little fillies room? Did immortal gods just hold it in for an enternity?
Applejack was just about to give up and call off her water misson, when whispers from the hall to her left reached her ears. The mare turned, her soft ears perking up. There was a shimmery blue door in front of her, left ajar so that a small ray of light spilled onto the tiled floor.
The voices were growing louder. Applejack, despite every part of her mind yelling at her to stop, peered into the crack. She was greeted with Princess Luna and Celestia, standing an inch away from each other and practically fuming. Her ear twitched.
"Luna, I'm very tired right now, and I don't have the patience to argue with you about these ridiculous things!" Celestia hissed.
"Ridiculous?!" Luna shoved her sister in the chest, her voice cracking. "We have tried to see reason will thou, Tia, but 'tis no right way in the path thou art taking! 'Tis not just about Applejack, 'tis about our kingdom, past and future!"
Celestia pushed back, and set her lips in a line. "Lula," she said softer. "You don't understand..."
Luna growled. "Of course we don't! If thou want the rest of society to never grow, never prosper, because of thou-then go ahead! We have suppressed this for so long, until fair Applejack decided to come along and prove thou wrong! Tia, it isn't fair to hold back such knowledge and power from the earth ponies."
The elder alicorn had held her tonuge during her sister's rant, but she finally opened her mouth. "I can't," she squeaked.
What? This isn't the Celestia I know.
Luna stomped her hoof. "And why not, dearest sister? Would thou care to hold quiet for a thousand more years?"
Celetia stetched taller."No, sister, it's just I cannot allow the earth ponies to unlock their powers."
Luna, surprisingly, stayed silent. "Now, it is best that we be off-"
"No," Luna snapped forcibly. "Thou shall tell me. Now."
Cekestia shifted, a darkness settling over her eyes. "It's too dangerous," she whispered. "Cherry...Cherry never should of tried." Celestia blinked a couple of times in a row. Her breathing grew ragged. "I've lived through many, many centuries, as well have you, and seen many ponies move on to heaven. But never before had I caused it, until Cherry Blossom came into my life."
The alicorn glanced at Luna, who bit her lip. "I had seen her around town, and noticed a very powerful spark residing in her soul, one full of potintial. She was a farmer, an ancester of Cherry Jubilee, I belive. Did you know that? Farmers tend to have the strongest spark, as they are closer to the soil and one of the things they are best at. This was during the time you were banished to the moon, Luna."
Said Princess flinched.
"Even though racism was still on going, I decided to try again, against my belief of all races not being able to adapt to the change. I knew it was difficult, but if Cheery managed, why couldn't the others? I did not tell anyone, and informed her parents that we would be doing research. I accepted her as my first ever earth pony student."
"She learned fast. Although it was very taxing on her each day, she never gave up. I was so proud of her! Perhaps a bit too much, as she became like a daughter to me, and I was the mother she always wanted. But sometimes I wonder, is it my fault? Did I cause this by trying such a foalish thing? And then I think, and I realize all the answers are yes."
"I woke up one day, to find Cherry no longer in her dorm. The guards found her outside....lying besides a small foal-her sister. So peaceful-like, Cherry was. Her sister was alive and well, although devestated, and told us about what had happened."
"Cherry had tried to enter her sister's mind, due to her little sister's anxiety problems. But earth pony magic is unstable, too hard to control. I thought she was ready, so did she, but when she entered, her dream-being got trapped and fractured. Unicorns can muniplute alot of things, the mind being a a lesser known subject. If Cherry was a unicorn, she could of teleported out with her mind."
"But she was stuck. I had lost my own student, to my own selfish acts. I told Twilight the half-truth, but I can see it wasn't enough for you Luna."
The moon princess was stunned. Without waiting, she wrapped Celestia in a loving embrace. "I'm sorry," she said softly.
"I am too," Celestia wiped her face. "I'm sorry for never telling anypony this, but I must admit how hard it has been. I hate thinking of myself as causing pain, but that is exactly what I did. I never want to repeat that mistake again. Twilight, she's best off not knowing her old mentor as a killer, and just to forget this whole thing."
Luna jerked her head up. "Now, wait a moment, thou are not-"
"Luna, it is time for us to go to sleep, and for you to drop this conversation, alright?"
Luna grumbled."I am not a baby, Tia."
"We shall send the two young mares off on their way home, tommorow," Celestia said slowly.
They began to walk back towards the door, and Applejack scrambled away. Just before she left, she noticed the definat, smug smirk on Princess Luna's face.
