Fact or Fiction (v2.0)

Applejack paced through the streets of Ponyville in the light of the sunset. Only a few ponies were out in the warm evening air and watched the orange mare walking by as though on a mission. Applejack quickened her pace to Twilight's castle when it came into view from behind various homes. Her head swam as she tried to keep her spirit up until she reached the door. Eventually she made it to the crystal structure and stopped at the doorway.  She stood with her knees shaking.

Spike opened the ornate door and gasped when she saw the cowpony that sported a saddened expression. "Applejack?” Spike asked as she entered and passed him, “I’ll get Twilight, we’ll meet you in the parlor,” he said as he closed the door and took to a quick run and left to find Twilight.

Applejack walked ahead, head low and hat set back to the parlor and, to the cowpony's surprise, Zecora and A.K Yearling were inside too.  The two mares sat at a table and had a pitcher of iced tea between them. Applejack nodded to the two and took a seat at the table as silence ensued.

A moment later Twilight entered the room and nodded to her friends and A.K. Yearling before she took a seat near the center of the longer table.  "So tell me," Twilight asked with concern, "what’s brought you three to me at nearly the same time?"

Applejack shook her head and smiled meekly. "I, Ah don't really know. Apple Bloom met some colt today and asked if he and his aunt could stay at the barn. I was keen on the idea… then I saw her.  Twi, she has metal legs. All four, Ah've never seen anything like it."

"Neither have I," Yearling said, "Yet I saw her this morning, like you did. She's frightening if you provoke her, isn't she?"

"From what I've heard, dangerous would be a better word," Zecora said as she sipped calmly on her iced tea.

Twilight looked over to Applejack with a comforting smile and a slight ruffle of her wings. "Come on Applejack, I'll talk to this Pea Gravel. I'm the princess of friendship after all, aren't I? I'll see what's going on and sort it all out by tomorrow okay? Now, before I go looking for her, make sure you three don't tell anypony about her alright?  I don't want the situation to get out of hoof."

The three mares nodded and the alicorn smiled strongly.  Changing the topic the mares began to talk and, eventually, laugh over the next hour.  Finally Twilight bid them goodnight and made her way to the doorway with them.

The mares were leaving the castle as Twilight lifted herself into the evening sky in search of the stranger.  She circled the town twice until she found two ponies in the town park. They were laying next to a tree, well out of view from anypony on the ground, but not from pegasi or the single alicorn, Twilight. She descended softly and landed a few lengths from the strangers. The colt was leaning against the mare, both dozing off in the coming night didn’t hear her approach.

"Excuse me, miss?" Twilight asked in a half-commanding voice. Pea's eyes snapped open and gawked at the lavender alicorn, "are you new to town? I’ve never seen you before."

The mare lowered her muzzle to the ground. "Your grace, I am but a humble earth pony traveler looking for a place to keep my nephew safe. Is this task not in your liking?" she asked with true humility.

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "From what I heard, you didn't speak like that to the other ponies you met today. You scared my friend Applejack half to death," she smirked.

Being the mare she was, Pea tied to keep the 'humble subject' act going as long as possible. She had talked her way out of trouble many times and planned on it again. She didn't expect to hear that a farmer was friends with an Alicorn Princess.  She sat up and looked with wonder.

"You're friends with a farmer? Isn't that,” Pea hesitated as Tuff blinked some sleep from his eyes, “uncouth?"

"Not here it isn't," Twilight said with a smile, "now, are you and your nephew going to sleep out here in the cold?"

Pea wasn't sure if she was being scolded or invited to something but she took the safest path. "I apologize, my princess.  We have no place to stay this evening and parks are free, to my knowledge.  Is that alright with you?" she asked, some snide coming through.

"Absolutely not," Twilight said promptly. Pea sunk down a bit with Tuff, "...you and your nephew can stay with me in my palace."

Pea’s expression turned skeptical. "What?  Even after I scared your friend?" Pea asked.

"She's a tough mare," Twilight reached out a hoof to Pea, "Now, pick up your bags, we're going to my castle."

"Are you sure, I can't repay you in money," Pea said meekly, "I can work. Do you need labor?"

Twilight sighed, "Perhaps, but you know what I'd rather be paid in?"

Pea kept her eyes on the princess as she moved and felt Tuff asleep on her side as she stood up. "What would you rather be paid in, if I'm so bold as to ask."

"You can tell me of your adventures from the outside world. No matter how happy or tragic, a mare like yourself is bound to have done some interesting things," Twilight said as Pea followed gathered her belongings and then Tuff onto her back.

"I suppose… but doesn't somepony like you know the events of the outside world?" Pea pried.

"Me?  No, I don't. Discord or Celestia maybe, but not me," Twilight smiled sheepishly, "Oh, Pea? Have you ever teleported before?"

Pea grimaced. "By my own will, no. I haven't had much experience with that kind of magic."

Twilight stopped Pea while her horn began to glow, "You can trust me. Besides, it doesn't hurt."