The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis

Chapters

Chapter One: Pneuma
Chapter Two: Gnosis
Chapter Three: Hypsos
Chapter Four: Euchomai
Chapter Six: Dunamis
Chapter Seven: Aisthanomai
Chapter Eight: Thumos
Chapter Nine: Pheugo
Chapter Ten: Oneiroi
Chapter Eleven: Eirene
Chapter Twelve: Atheteo
Chapter Thirteen: Phrike
Chapter Fourteen: Parakaleo
Chapter Fifteen: Barbarizein
Chapter Sixteen: Diatheke
Chapter Seventeen: Perihelion
Chapter Eighteen: Apotheosis
Afterword & Sequel
Chapter Five: Theophaneia

Chapter One: Pneuma

The Assumption of Applejack

Appletheosis

Chapter One: Pneuma

AJ cantered up one of the many hills overlooking the vast orchards of Sweet Apple Acres. She paused a moment and sighed with contentment. The crop was ripening nicely, and the pegasi had been prompt with the rains this season. The trees had been pruned and fertilized and everything was in perfect order in her little corner of the world. Sure, there would still be more to do tomorrow. There always was and always would be, but she could be content in knowing that she had put in an honest day’s work.

Celestia’s sun sank low in the west, shedding its last few golden rays across the green earth. Working her hooves deeper into the yielding sod, AJ reveled in the natural earth-pony connection to the soil. She could feel the quiet potency of the rich loam. It seemed to sing to her of new life and abundance. Applejack chuckled. She must be pretty worn out to be getting all poetic like this. Still, there was something special in the air and in the soil tonight. A faint shimmering of something magical, more felt than seen. Tilting her hat forward over her eyes, she breathed deep, taking in the richness of ripening fruit and the gentle fullness of a rainstorm on the horizon. She paused, holding that breath. Rich, full, magical, alive. For what seemed like the first time, and through closed eyes, she saw the world for what it was. She seemed to grasp the simplicity of existence and the harmony which pervaded everything, earth, sky and aether. Exhilarated, she inhaled again, filling her lungs to bursting with the energy and simple joy that illuminated her being.

For a brief moment she felt completely centered in the world, as though she had truly found her place in it, a place from which she could not be moved nor shaken. Finally, after that endless and endlessly full moment she exhaled. Calm now and more at peace than she had ever felt, she opened her eyes. She was startled at what she saw. Instead of the burgeoning fields of her farm, all that greeted her eyes was swaying brown felt.

Rearing back she tossed her head. Her hat flew off, landing at the base of a small tree. Unsure how it had fallen in her eyes like that she bent down to pick it back up. Something stopped her before she could reach it, a branch she hadn’t seen or something poking her in the forehead. Taking a step back she scanned the trunk. It was bare. Confused, she scratched her head with a fetlock. Her hoof hit something hard, and sensitive.

“What in tarnation?”

She stumbled back in shock with an audible ‘whoomph’. Freezing in place, she turned her eyes to the side. At the corners of her vision was a silky array of orange feathers, spread in surprise. Not daring to move, she shuddered as a gentle breeze ruffled the feathers. AJ was a sensible pony, not usually given to flights of fancy or drama like some of her friends. Taking a deep breath she steadied herself.

“A’right. Let’s just look at the situation here. Ah got wings an’ a horn. Nothin’ hurts an’ it ain’t like I’m missin’ bits… Ah think…”

Now worried, she gave herself a once over. Legs: one-two-three-four, though they were longer and even more toned than before. Tail: check. Mane: check, though she’d lost her hair tie. Cutie mark: no check. The trio of apples that had adorned her flank since fillyhood were gone. In their place was a blue circle with crossbars inside. Resting under it was a stylized apple leaf. Oddly, she wasn’t upset by this. A cutie mark was supposed to represent the destiny and deepest desires of a pony. Thinking back to a minute ago, she did indeed feel that there was some subtle change in her purpose to go with her new appearance.

Ever practical, her first concern was for her farm. Walking to a tree with a few early apples on it, she gave it an experimental buck. Every apple on the tree fell, along with a large portion of the leaves. A significant dent was punched into the splintered bark where her hooves had made contact. She frowned at the damage. Her next attempt was much gentler. This tree yielded its fruit to her as normal, giving no small relief to the farmer. Whatever else this new form meant, at least the harvest was in no danger; it might even go easier than usual.

Her livelihood safe, she spent a minute in stillness, just trying to feel the extensions to her body. The wings were odd, but responded to her thoughts easily enough. Trying to fly seemed a mite risky without anyone to spot for her. She had no idea how to use a horn. Concentrating and sticking her tongue out failed to elicit even a single spark. At any rate, it didn’t get in the way of her hat as long as she tilted it back a bit farther than usual. Shrugging, she turned towards home, it was getting late and there were chores to do in the morning. Whatever had just happened to her didn’t change her responsibilities in the slightest. Maybe tomorrow afternoon she could find some time talk to Twilight about it.

As she neared the homestead she saw Mac hanging up his harness for the night. Walking past him she greeted him with a yawn. “Evenin’ big brother.”

“Eeyuuu-AJ!” The steady stallion reared up in shock. His little sister now towered over him by a good head height or more. And she suddenly had the wings, build and horn of a goddess, not just an alicorn, but more like one of the Royal Sisters. To say that he was speechless, while unsurprising, would also be a gross understatement.

“Whut?” Applejack glanced back at her new wings. “Oh, these? Ah dunno, they jest popped outa nowhere while Ah was out in tha back forty. I figure, what the hay, Ah got ‘em now, no sense gettin’ yer saddle in a bunch over ‘em.”

“But sis… They ain’t…” Big Macintosh trailed off.

“That’s right, they ain’t. They ain’t that big a deal. Now Ah don’t know about you but Ah’m tired and Ah’m goin’ ta bed. Ah suggest you do the same.” She cantered inside and upstairs with exaggerated dignity. The effect was fairly impressive, considering her current look. Impressive that is, until she struck her horn on a low hanging rafter. “Consarnit!” Prying the point free she continued up the stairs, just a little dizzier than before.

***

The early dawn found Applejack stiff and sore in places she knew were impossible. Sleeping with wings was apparently something that took a bit of practice. No wonder Rainbow always napped in clouds. Groaning, she rolled out of the now too-small bed and onto her hooves. She walked over to her mirror and began brushing her mane. Despite Rarity’s complaints and little jabs, Applejack did care about her appearance, just not enough to wear makeup or clothes. Her blond mane had almost doubled in volume since yesterday. The golden waves refused to sit neatly in a hair tie, so she let her mane hang free, curling loosely around her face and neck. Trotting downstairs she grabbed an apple on her way out to the cow barn.

Grannie Smith looked up at her granddaughter as she passed by. Squinting a bit, she noticed something seemed different about the mare. “Mah stars, but they grow up fast,” she said as she turned back to the pie crusts she was rolling out.

The resident cows were grumpy as usual in the early morning. The bright light streaming into the barn coupled with uncomfortable udders left them all on edge. Mooriella shook her head and blinked the sleep out of her eyes as Applejack entered with the milking pails. Something was off about her today. Their caretaker seemed much larger than life, as big as one of the girls, if quite a bit thinner. The cow’s eyes scanned down to the pony’s sides. Something orange rustled against her sides, blending in with her coat. Mooriella’s eyes widened in horror, she had heard about reptiles in distant places that could change color to blend in. Maybe the local snakes have learned how to… Oh no! “SNAAAAAKE!”

The ensuing panic was brief, but furious. Applejack looked around herself dumbfounded as the entire herd reared and bucked in fear. The stalls were still closed from the night, preventing a stampede, but there were still one or two cows who managed to hurt themselves trying to escape from the imaginary horror. Facehoofing in frustration, Applejack shouted to the startled bovines, “GIRLS! SETTLE DOWN!” The shout came out as a deafening roar, rocking the entire barn with its force. Instant silence reigned. AJ herself was more than a little bit startled at the sound. Every single one of the cows was huddled at the back of her respective stall, eyes rolling and darting about in abject terror. Welp, there goes the morning, she thought.

***

Apple Bloom sat up from her bed with a start. That had sounded like her sister! She jumped down and ran out her door, not bothering to grab her bow. As she slid down the bannister she spotted her brother frozen in shock. He turned to look at her as she hopped to the floor.

“Stay here Blooms,” he said as he galloped out the door.

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and ran after her brother. If AJ was in trouble, there was no force under heaven that would keep her from her sister. As she sped across the yard, hot on her brother’s trail, she saw her sister come stomping out of the cow barn, each hoof leaving a deep print in the hard packed dirt.

“Darn it all flighty, no-good, halfwit… Big Mac, Apple Bloom, what’chall doin’ out here?”

Big Mac stopped short and frowned back at Apple Bloom for following him.

Applebloom for her part was paying her brother no attention at all. “Sis, what happened to ya? Yer all big now and ya got a horn and ever’thin’.”

Applejack grimaced. “Well, Ah don’t rightly know mahself Blooms. Jest somethin’ that happened last night.”

“AJ, this ain’t just somethin’,” said Big Macintosh. “Ah think y’all need to talk to tha Princesses. If… If yer like them you got a responsibility like them too.”

“Mac, I ain’t gotta do nothin’. The farm ‘n’ family’s all that matters, nothin’ and nopony has any more claim on me jest ‘cause Ah have wings and a horn.”

***

As the family carried their argument inside, nopony noticed that in each of the deep hoofprints left by AJ’s stomping was a tiny flower blooming for all it was worth.

Chapter Two: Gnosis

Applejack grumbled to herself as she sat in the kitchen. Big Mac had insisted that she wait inside while he headed over to Twilight Sparkle’s place. The stallion rarely said much, but he was one of the only creatures alive who could match her for sheer bull-headed stubbornness. Applejack had managed to get him to relent on summoning the princesses directly, but if anypony knew what was going on it would be Twilight. After all, she’d had more firsthand experience with alicorns than anypony living.

Granny Smith bustled about the well-stocked kitchen baking and mixing as she always did, but she kept a rheumy eye on her granddaughter. The old mare was no longer completely there upstairs, and she would be the first to admit it, but she knew when one of her little ones was having a bad day. Venturing a guess at the cause she said, “Are the crops comin’ along alright?”

“Yes Gran, it’s lookin’ to be a bumper crop a apples this year. Even the corn’s lookin’ good.”

The subtle approach had failed, time for more direct measures. “Well, what’s eatin’ ya girl? Gotchyer eye on some stud who ain’t payin’ you no mind?” She waggled an eyebrow knowingly.

AJ couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “No Gran, it ain’t that. Where’re yer glasses?”

Granny Smith hemmed and hawed for a minute before fishing them out of an open drawer they had fallen into. Putting them on, she turned towards Applejack. The large horn jutting out of her forehead suddenly snapped into focus. “What’re you wearin’ that thing fer?”

“That’s the problem Gran, Ah ain’t wearin’ nothin’.” She extended a wing for examination. “These dang wings and horn jes’ showed up yesterday and now tha cows are spooked at me and Big Mac wants ta send fer the Princesses.”

The matriarchal Apple squinted hard at her granddaughter for an uncomfortably long time. Applejack shied away a bit at the intensity of her scrutiny. Finally the old mare chucked her glasses on a counter and trotted up to Applejack, wrapping as much of her as possible in a hug. “Well, yer still mah little Jackie, don’t you let a little thing like that worry ya none.”

Applejack couldn’t help but smile at that. Nothing much ever got her Gran down for long. Leaning far down into the hug she said, “Thanks Gran, Ah know it ain’t a big deal, Ah jest don’t know what ever’pony else is gonna think.”

***

Twilight trotted alongside Big Mac, still mystified as to why she was being summoned to the farm. The big stallion was a pillar of Ponyville in his own way, but stars help anypony who tried to get a two-sentence explanation out of him. “Sooo, AJ’s in a bit of trouble?”

“Eeyup.”

“And you think I’ll be able to help her out?”

“Eeyup.”

“Okaaay, with what?”

Big Mac tilted his head at this, “You’ll know.”

Twilight shook her head in frustration, it was no use. The two trotted on, one in companionable silence, the other in vague apprehension. As they reached the farmhouse and walked inside there was a rustling from the kitchen and a massive alicorn ducked through the doorway. Twilight was rooted to the spot as the giant pony grinned sheepishly at her. Looking back and forth from Big Mac to the newcomer a light finally clicked on in her head. “Alright, very funny princess. You really had me going for a moment. Why are you impersonating Applejack? That is you isn’t it Celestia? Or Luna… It’s really hard to tell actually.”

‘Celestia’ frowned at Twilight, causing a small tremor of fear in the little unicorn. Her teacher never frowned like that; it must be Luna. “Twi, it’s me, Applejack.”

Twilight began to feel a little insulted, “Um, hate to burst your bubble princess, it sounds like you worked really hard on getting the voice down exactly, and it’s a great prank, but you forgot one little detail. Applejack isn’t a ten-hoof tall alicorn!”

“Consarn-it Twi, Ah am Applejack! Remember that time on tha cliff when Ah swore Ah was tellin’ tha honest truth? Or when Ah finally admitted Ah needed help with apple buckin’? This is one a those times!”

Twilight’s eyes went huge at this revelation, then promptly rolled up as she fainted clean away.

***

“Tell me agin why y’all thought this was a good idea Mac?”

“Ah just thought she’d help.”

Twilight came-to on one of the Apple’s parlor couches. Big Mac and Giant Applejack were having a quiet argument nearby. “A-Applejack?”

The mare walked over, concern in her eyes, “Yeah sugarcube? Y’all took a good little tumble there. You feelin’ alright?”

“I’ll be fine, but what about you? You really are…” The librarian gestured with a hoof.

“You jest pointed ta all of me.”

“Exactly!”

Applejack sighed, “It seems Ah am.” She told Twilight what had happened.

Twilight considered for a moment. “Well, as I see it, there are two possibilities. Possibility one, it’s genetic. The phenotypes of the three races are typically mutually exclusive. Even if you have all three genes in you, generally only one manifests, like with the Cake’s foals. On the other hoof, there are exceptions. Cadence is a rather dramatic one, she exhibits both pegasus and unicorn traits, but she isn’t a true alicorn. Winged unicorn might be more taxonomically accurate. Also, you have ponies like Blueblood and Roid Rage who exhibit more than their share of earth pony traits despite being a unicorn and pegasus respectively…” Twilight paused to take in her friend’s shape, “… but that doesn’t account for why you seem to have all three, and not from birth either.”

AJ nodded, not sure exactly what her friend was driving at, or saying for that matter. “And the other possibility?”

“The other possibility, the one that seems to fit best, even though it’s crazy, is that you really are a goddess.”

“Well, if Ah am a goddess, what exactly am Ah tha goddess of?”

Twilight’s eyes wandered down to her friend’s side, “Well, I might have an idea, could I see your flank?” Applejack grinned at her slyly. “Not like that! I swear, frazzin’ dirty-minded farmers.” Big Mac, having gone and just returned with refreshments, backed quietly out of the room again on hearing this.

“Ya think mah cutie mark has somethin’ ta do with this?”

“I do. The circle with crosshairs is an ancient symbol for the Earth. I don’t know what the leaf is though…”

“It’s an apple leaf.” AJ said quickly.

Twilight looked up at her friend in surprise, “Are you sure?”

“Eeyup.”

“Well, you’d know.” The unicorn frowned in concentration. “Well, I guess the next thing to do is head over to Canterlot and tell Celestia there’s a new goddess to… Raise the Earth? That’s nonsense. I’ll have to look into this a bit more.”

“Ah ain’t goin’ ta Canterlot.”

“But why?”

Applejack’s frown mirrored that of the unicorn. “Ah ain’t exactly comfortable with the idea of bein’ a princess, and besides, there’s too much ta do on tha farm ta get ready fer harvest fer me ta just up an’ take a Celestia-knows-how-long vacation… Ain’t that right Mac?” she shouted. Big Mac, still taking refuge in the kitchen, declined to comment.

Twilight rolled her eyes, “Fine, but I’m still sending a letter. And you,” she poked at Applejack’s chest with a hoof, “Had at least better learn to use that form while you have it.”

Chapter Three: Hypsos

It had been two days since her transformation. Twilight had informed the rest of her friends to mixed, but supportive reactions. Rainbow Dash had been boggled. Rarity and Pinkie had already begun to plan a dress and a party respectively. Fluttershy had been mostly curious, after all, an alicorn was simply another type of creature, and a rare one at that, though it helped that she was already good friends with this particular one.

The letter to Celestia hadn’t gone nearly so well. The immediate reply was a summons to the palace and a pair of train tickets for that afternoon. A quick series of letters back and forth had let the princess know in no uncertain terms what AJ thought of that idea. The diarch had relented gracefully to the refusal, leaving Applejack feeling more than a bit guilty. She had shrugged it off and thrown herself into her chores. Now it was barely noon and she had run out of things to do. Her shocking boost in strength and endurance had let her haul a good four barrels at a time and give Big Mac a break on the plow without even breaking a sweat. Sighing, she turned to a low hanging cloud. “Alright Rainbow, I’m done fer tha day.”

A double pair of eyes and wings popped out of the cloud, “Really?”

“Yep, we can go practice if ya like.”

“Sweet!” The cloud disintegrated as Rainbow Dash somersaulted out of it. “This way!” She zoomed off in the direction of the big field behind Fluttershy’s place.

***

Fluttershy, currently wearing Applejack’s hat for safekeeping, and a small audience of critters looked on in interest as Rainbow Dash examined Applejack’s wings like a craftspony examining a plank for knots or defects. “Mare alive, AJ, you’re gonna have a fantastic cruising speed if these beauties fly half as good as they look. Of course, they’re a little too big for the kind of awesome aerobatics I do.”

Applejack rolled her eyes, “Ah’m not expectin’ ta do a rainboom. Jest show me how ta use ‘em so Twi’ll get off mah back.”

“Alright, first thing’s first, I want you to give me a dozen good flaps. Don’t try to get off the ground, just do what feels natural.”

A massive gust of displaced air blew from Applejack’s wings as she obliged her coach. Her raw wingpower nearly blew some of the watching chipmunks head over tail.

Rainbow Dash looked on appraisingly, corrected her student’s posture and wing attitude and said, “Again.”

This time the draft was much more controlled and directed towards the back. Applejack felt her rear hooves start to leave the ground, causing her to flap even harder in panic and overbalance onto her face. Fluttershy let out a small “Oh my.”

It took a good five minutes before Rainbow Dash could stop laughing. “Ahahaha! You shouldn’t try to stop yourself when you’re generating that much thrust, hehe, next time you think you’re going to fall over, run with it. Aheheheh.”

Applejack frowned and pawed at the earth, ready to give it another try, Mama Apple, Faust rest her soul, hadn’t raised no quitters.

***

By the time evening rolled along Applejack had managed to get in the air a few times, falling back to earth mere seconds later, covered in sweat and dirt. “Ah jest don’t get it Rainbow, y’all make it look so easy flittin’ about like ya do. Heck any pegasus makes it look easy compared to me.”

“Well, it takes practice.”

“Ah know that, but Ah’m plum whipped. Ah wuz haulin’ more’n a ton and a half of apples at one go earlier and Ah didn’t feel this tired.”

Finally, Fluttershy piped up, “Um, I have a suggestion.”

Coach and student both looked over at the mostly earthbound pegasus in surprise. “Yeah?” Said Dash, “What’s that?”

Blushing, the mare timidly pointed at their wings, “Um, I’ve been watching you two fly and I’ve been thinking…”

“Thinkin’ what?”

“Um, well your wings are so very different when you’re in the air. Rainbow Dash looks like a falcon when she flies, very tight wingspan and really good agility, able to flap really fast… Um.” This time it was a bird on her shoulder who gently pecked her into continuing. “Oh, um, but Applejack, your wings are really broad and long, like an eagle. Maybe when you get into the air you should go for altitude first and then just, um hang from your wings, not do like Rainbow and keep flapping low to the ground.”

Dash looked over at Fluttershy, genuinely impressed. “That, makes a lot of sense Fluttershy. Try it Flapjack.”

“Whut did you call me?”

“Just do it, alright?”

Applejack grimaced and limbered up her wings. She didn’t like the idea of going very high right off. She hadn’t dared get more than half a dozen hooves off the ground on her previous attempts, then again, Fluttershy had said that might have been why she hadn’t succeeded. Rearing back and giving a quick flap she broke into a fast gallop as she continued to beat her wings to boost her speed. As soon as she felt light enough she kicked off the ground with an almighty leap, leaving divots in the uneven sod. Sweat streamed off her forehead and into her personal jetstream as she pumped for all she was worth. After what seemed like an eternity of nothing but rising and flapping, she leveled off, figuring she must be high enough by now. Her wings snapped open to their fullest extent and simply caressed the wind as she leveled off. Her glide steadied as she got used to the feeling of hanging from nothing. A smile broke onto her face and she risked a look down. The vista that greeted her took her breath away. It was simply too much, she had no way to judge distance or size or even time. That, that must be Ponyville. All of it. That’s Canterlot, way down there. Off in the far distance she thought she saw the lights of Baltimare gleaming in the evening twilight and to her right she could just make out the San Palomino Desert and the tracks headed out towards Appleloosa. To her left was Cloudsdale, huge and gleaming in the near distance. Below her was a small multi-colored streak that quickly grew into Rainbow Dash as the speedster caught up with the farmer.

“Heh, I’ll admit it, you really caught me off guard back there.” Applejack just nodded, not trusting herself to speak. “Whew, that big ol’ body of yours must come with quite a set of lungs, even I’m getting winded at this altitude.”

“Yeah, Ah guess this is why we don’t see tha princesses flyin’ about as much as pegasi. They… We’re all range and endurance, but clumsier‘n a peg-legged goat when it comes to short hops.”

Dash snickered at the thought of Celestia hopping around with a pack of piratical goats before glancing at AJ again. “Well, you’ve kinda got the first half down, now you’ve got to land.”

“Oh sweet Luna…”

***

As Applejack stormed off to a well-deserved bath she caught the tail end of RD explaining, “Well at least now we know she’s mostly indestructible.” Rolling her eyes and bolting the door, she removed the tie in her tail and hung her hat on a convenient hook. She’d have to get a strap fitted on it if she wanted to wear it while flying. A few minutes later she lowered herself into the warm suds with a sigh of pure contentment, letting the warmth soak into her fresh bruises and aching wings. Oh, she could lie here forever, nothing but the warm water and the delicious smelling soap and the gentle rapping at the window…

Applejack sunk lower into the tub and pulled the curtain around, refusing to acknowledge whatever it was. She was tired, darnit! Didn’t a girl deserve a little peace and privacy? After a minute more the rapping stopped and she sighed in relief. Her relief was short-lived as a sudden whip-crack and an explosion of suds announced the teleport of a unicorn into her bathtub. “Nightmare take you Twilight! Get out of mah tub!” Wiping the soap out of her eyes she came face to face with… Luna.

“We saw thee flying this evening!”

Chapter Four: Euchomai

An extremely angry Applejack toweled herself dry while a chagrined Princess Luna stuttered her apologies from the corner of the room. “We, I crave your pardon if I have committed a breach of privacy.” No answer. “If it makes a difference, most bath houses in my day were quite public.” Indistinct grumbling. “We merely desired to give thee our regards and ask how it felt to fly for the first time.”

“Yes, well, Princess, however things were back then ya still don’t go bargin’ inta ponies’ houses, or bathrooms, without so much as a how d’ya do!”

“We did knock.”

“And then ya jest teleport in when ya get no reply?!” Luna had no answer for this. An awkward silence reigned while Applejack finished grooming herself. “Well? Y’all are welcome ta leave any time ya like.”

“Please, Lady Applejack, don’t push me away. Our kind are so rare. I simply want to help… I’m sure thou must have many questions we could answer.”

Applejack sighed, “A’right, you are a Princess. Ah guess y’all can stay and chat for a spell. Come on, Gran probably has sumthin’ on fer supper.”

Luna perked up considerably at this. “Oh, lovely! We do enjoy thy family’s cooking. So much more like what we ate before our imprisonment than the strange dishes our sister’s chefs make now. Did we… I ever thank thee for catering our niece’s reception?”

“Heh, not a fan a them gourmet chefs huh? Ah gotta say though, Ah never figured ya one fer down-home fare.”

“Excuse me?”

“Well, when y’all were like: The Night Shall Last Forever! An’ all tha thees ‘n’ thous thou puttest in thine speech. It all feels like y’all oughta be drinkin’ wine outa somepony’s skull an’ dinin’ on flowers that only bloom once in a hundred years or somethin’.”

“We… I don’t fantasize about that anymore…” The princess looked away with a blush.

***

Granny Smith, true to form, hadn’t batted an eye when told that one of the princesses was coming to dinner. She merely tossed another plate on the table and poured a bit of applesauce into her cobbler to stretch the portions. Seated across from each other, the two alicorns dwarfed the table. Big Mac hadn’t felt this small since he was a foal and poor Applebloom felt like she was a midget in a realm of giants. The last of the dishes were placed on the table and Granny Smith had taken her place at the head of the table. Turning to Luna she asked, “Since y’all are a guest, would ya like to offer grace?”

“Grace?”

“Yep, grace. Prayer to tha princesses? Y’all ain’t one a them godless heathens are ya?” she said with a suspicious glare.

“N-no. Of course not. Um. Ok. Here I go. Dear princesses, we offer our thanks to Celestia and… me… for the bounty given… May our grace be upon us and, um, may thy sun and my moon watch over us all. Amare.” A chorus of amares followed this, with varying degrees of amusement and piety.

“So, princess,” said AJ, “Y’all said ya wanted to know how it felt fer me ta fly?”

“Yes, it was so very different, flying after I had changed. I know it was even more of a revelation for our sister, but she is so much older than I, I never got the chance to get her first impression of flight.”

Something about the way that last sentence had been structured bothered AJ, but she chalked it down to Luna’s old-fashioned speech. “So, y’all weren’t born alicorns either?”

“Neigh, I was a pegasus, and Celestia an unicorn.”

Applebloom’s eyes went wide at this. “So, y’all’re sayin’ anypony can jest up an’ turn inta an alicorn?” Visions of the Cutie Mark Crusader Godhood Seekers danced in her head.

Luna chuckled at the ambitious filly. “Neigh, little one. There are only a select few at any one time. A pony does not simply claim such power for themselves. One is chosen by Harmony and thrust into it. A princess’s duty is to preserve the balance of the world and to shape it.” Luna finished her little discourse with a meaningful glance at Applejack.

Applejack returned her gaze neutrally. “Ah do plenty of shapin’ tha earth right here in mah orchard.”

“That’s not what we meant and thou knowest it.”

“Ah can’t rightly say Ah do.”

“Applejack, there is a duty expected of thee. Thou art more than a mere mare and art destined for more as well.”

Applejack simply shoveled a bit more of her dinner into her mouth, chewing noisily.

“Applejack, we-“

“Luna. Ah’m only gonna say this once. The hospitality of the Apples is open ta anypony. But that don’t mean Ah gotta sit at my own table and get told what ta do with myself or where to go. Eat’cher meal in silence an’ mind who y’all have to thank for it.”

Big Mac couldn’t hold himself silent any longer. “AJ! Princess. Ah’m mighty sorry fer mah sister’s manners, yer goddessship.”

The night goddess’s eyes were locked on AJ’s. “Fear not for thyself, Sir Mackintosh. Our ways are forgiving to those who know to whom they speak.”

The rest of dinner was concluded in a sort of nuclear armistice, neither side willing to back down or resort to something everypony now living might regret. Luna praised Granny Smith’s cooking profusely and offered Big Mac and Applebloom an open invitation to visit her in Canterlot at any time. Applejack was afforded only the slightest nod of the head in parting. The princess of darkness swept out her majestic wings, pausing for a moment to listen to the passage of the ethereal winds that blew her mane aloft. With a blast of pure night she rocketed deep into the sky, trailing a universe of stars behind her.

Big Mac watched her contrail for a moment before pressing a hoof to the bridge of his muzzle. “Sis.”

“Eeyup?”

“She didn’t deserve that.”

“Nope.”

“Y’all were downright un-neighborly.”

Her rage and pride spent, Applejack deflated a bit. “Yeah, Ah know. Ah jest can’t help it. Ah know they want what they think’s best fer me. Fer Equestria. Heck, the whole world. All Ah can think of though, is how they’re gonna drag me away from y’all. If Ah am gonna live fer millennia… Ah’d rather spend as long as Ah can with y’all. Ah want ta be happy when y’all go, knowin’ that y’all lived full an’ happy lives an’ that Ah was there fer y’all in good times ‘n’ bad.”

Big Mac softened at that. He walked over to the mare who, no matter her size, would always be his little sister and threw a hoof over her withers in a gentle hug. She sighed and leaned into him, gazing with little comfort at the night sky.

Chapter Six: Dunamis

It had taken the loving sympathy of her entire family and a massive bowl of fried apples in brown sugar to calm Applejack down. Finally she was able to talk about it rationally to her siblings and grandmother. “Ah don’t get it. Ah’m the same mare they always seen in tha market, who always helped around town, competed in rodeos… They never acted like this when the girls and Ah used the Elements on Discord or Luna. Ah mean, yeah, there was a party, but only because Pinkie wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Well,” said Apple Bloom, “It ain’t ever’ day that royalty comes an’ visits.”

AJ glumly stared at her empty bowl. “But Ah ain’t royalty!”

“But yeh look like royalty. Ah wonder, is that why Princess Celestia always has so many guards? So ponies cain’t mob her like that?” said Apple Bloom.

“Ah dunno. Hay, Blooms, ain’t you supposed ta be at school bah now?”

“Nah, it’s a late-start t’day.”

AJ shrugged at that and turned to her brother, “Can, can y’all get tha cart fer me? Ah don’t think they’re like ta let me back inta town tha way things are. They’re probably gonna arrest me or throw a parade, Ah don’t care ta find out which.”

“Eeyup.”

Granny Smith, busy frying up more apples to try and sate her daughter’s now prodigious appetite, frowned in intense thought before speaking up. “Now, ain’tchu got some fancy unicorn friends? Mebby they ken teach ya howta disguise yerself as a reg’lar earth pony. With magic. Now ya got a horn.”

AJ sighed, “Yep, Ah been puttin’ off Twilight fer days now. Ah should go see her t’day.”

Big Mac nodded his approval of the plan before heading out to meet a group of pegasus couriers who were coming to pick up a pallet of apple crates headed for Cloudsdale.

***

Half an hour later, after her second generous helping of fried apples, she was in the upper air on her way to Twilight’s place. A couple of pegasi followed her curiously at a fair distance behind and below. It was odd really, she had never really given any thought to flying before the change, but now she was coming to rely on it. She was right over the library now, but she needed to lose her two tails before descending to more hospitable altitudes. Spotting a solitary cirrus cloud nearby, she flapped up to it and landed, determined to wait out her stalkers. The thin, wispy cloud trembled and wobbled under her weight, but held. Smiling at the new sensation, she carefully settled down for a power nap, Rainbow-style. It was a little cold, but her fur repelled the mist gently, keeping her dry. Sighing in contentment, she wondered if she had ever felt something so soft.

Several minutes passed in which nothing happened. Eventually one of the pegasi decided to try reaching her perch. AJ just gathered in her high-altitude cloud, leaving no place for the other pony to land. Now that the pegasus was closer, AJ thought she recognized her from the market.

“Hay!” Some huffing and puffing. “Applejack, right?”

Applejack kept her silence, pretending to sleep.

“My name’s Merry…” Gasp, pant. “Merry May, and I just wanted to know if you gave out…” Wheezing. “Autographs?” A good minute passed with nothing but the sound of Merry’s labored breathing and flapping. “N-no?” She was starting to look distinctly blue around the gills by this point. “Maybe later then…” the green pegasus finally went into a half-dive half-faint, gulping at the richer air below.

When Applejack was finally sure they had lost interest and gone, she kicked off her cloud and dove for the library, intent on getting there before any others spotted her. Halfway through the dive she remembered why this wasn’t a good idea. Back-flapping madly she managed to control her crash into Twilight’s balcony. It left her dazed, but at least she hadn’t broken anything. Before she could collect herself Spike had opened the balcony door. “Oh! Hay AJ, uh, wanna come in?”

“Ugh, thanks Spike.”

“No problem. That was a pretty loud crash. You need some frozen peas or something?”

“Ah’ll be fine. Is Twi in?”

“Yeah, I’ll go get her.”

***

Twilight had immediately closed and locked the library upon hearing what had happened earlier that day. She had agreed to a magic lesson, but told AJ she should rest for a bit while she went out to get Rarity. A little while later both unicorns came in, furtively locking the door behind them.

“Alright,” Twilight said, “Magic. Your first lesson is going to be simple telekinesis, just like a foal learning for the first time. Telekinesis is fundamental to many of the more complex spells in a unicorn’s arsenal. Some ponies teach their children light first, but that’s mostly useless in my opinion.”

Rarity raised a hoof. “Ah, Twilight, why am I here? I should think you would be the obvious choice in teaching Applejack. I’m not sure what I can add where the Element of Magic herself couldn’t do better.”

Twilight glanced back at her. “Don’t sell yourself short Rarity, you’re amazing at fine manipulation and multi-tasking. I’ve seen you managing more than a dozen needles and swaths of fabric at a time. That takes skill. Also, you aren’t as…” Twilight searched for a kind term, “bookish as I am. I can be pretty bad at explaining these things to a beginner.”

AJ nodded firmly at that. “Now, ya said that telekin-whatsis is fundamental ta other magic. What about changin’ yer shape?”

Twilight frowned at Applejack, “That’s a whole different kettle of kelp, Applejack. Transmogrification is fairly dangerous. Maintaining the extra mass is very magic intensive. You remember the Best Young Flyers competition? Even that simple wing spell I cast on Rarity uses gossamer and dew from the surrounding air rather than form the film from pure energy. Using it to reduce your size, like I think you’re wanting, is even worse. Some portion of the matter that makes up you has to go away somehow. You could end up changing back missing part of your leg or mane, or worse.”

“So, yer sayin’ that it’s impossible fer me ta disguise what Ah am.”

“Yes.”

Rarity interjected again. “What about illusions?”

Twilight sighed again. “You’d have to use a tactile illusion spell, and those are even harder to pull off, though not as dangerous.”

“A tacky what now? Ah can see Ah’m not gonna get most of this, am Ah?”

Twilight gave a sideways smile at AJ, “Sorry, here, I’ll show you.” With a flash, a door and frame appeared in front of Applejack. “Now, open it, slam it, kick it.”

Applejack obliged, surprised when it resisted her kick. “Ah thought y’all said makin’ stuff from nothin’ was hard? This door seems solid as anythin’.”

Twilight giggled a bit. “Now, close your eyes.”

Applejack did so, trotting forward carefully when she felt Twilight pushing her from behind. “Now whut?”

“Open ‘em!”

Applejack opened her eyes to find herself stuck halfway through the door. She panicked, trying to gallop free, but only managed to swing around on the hinges. “What did you do ta me!”

“Whoa, Whoa, calm down. I didn’t do anything. Here.” With a flash, the door was gone. “It was just an illusion, there was never any door. A tactile illusion confuses your mind into acting like it’s interacting with a solid object and making up details when something doesn’t match reality.”

“That don’t sound half dishonest. Ah don’t like it.”

Twilight sighed, “Yeah, I didn’t think you would. And, besides, it takes a lot of training to do right.”

Glumly, Applejack hung her head. “A’right. Ah guess we can start on telekismesis.”

“Hay, cheer up, this stuff is fun, I swear.”

“It’s true, darling, there are few finer feelings than a well-crafted spell coming together.”

Applejack managed a grin. “Okay, what do Ah do first?”

Twilight nodded. “Well, first of all, have you experienced any magical surges from your horn lately? Ponies generate magic constantly, and if that energy isn’t used, it tends to burst out all on its own. That generally helps a foal get used to the feel of using magic.”

Applejack shook her head. “Nah, it ain’t done nothin’ since day one.”

Twilight frowned. “That’s not normal, you should be bursting with mana right now.”

Rarity touched the scholar’s shoulder. “Don’t forget dear, this isn’t a normal case. Applejack. You’ve been flying around a bit, that’s got to account for some mana. Have you been doing much of… Whatever it is earth ponies do?”

Applejack rolled her eyes, unicorns. “A’course Ah been doin’ a lot a ‘whatever it is we earth ponies do.’ Ah do work on a farm.”

“Of course, Applejack, I meant out of the ordinary.” said Rarity.

Applejack thought back over the last couple of days. “Well, Ah did uproot an old-growth oak tree an’ transplant it. And Ah cleared ‘n’ planted an acre of forest land by hoof… An’ then Ah, uh, chatted with the seedlings an’ convinced ‘em ta sprout an extra couple a inches. Oh! and that oak, Ah rearranged its roots ‘r somethin’.

Twilight and Rarity both stared at Applejack. “That would explain it then,” said Twilight. “You aren’t going to have a surge naturally, doing that sort of thing.” Twilight paced a bit. “Well, I read a little about this in preparation. There is one method I’ve heard about that might work. It’s not pleasant though. Are you willing to do what it takes AJ?”

“Uh, Ah guess?”

***

Several hectic minutes later, Applejack found herself trussed up and strait-jacketed in the middle of the floor. Twilight nodded in satisfaction. “Rarity, you’re sure the fabric will hold?”

“Yes, I layered on every anti-rip enchantment I could think of. Applejack, are you sure you are ok with this arrangement?” Said Rarity.

“Well, Ah did say Ah would do what it takes. If this is whut y’all say it takes, then Ah trust ya. Pinkie Promise.” Applejack rustled about a bit. “Y’all will have to imagine the hoof-motions.”

“Ok,” said Twilight, “Then here is your motivation.” From the fridge, she levitated out a perfect, ripe apple. The succulent fruit was briefly waved under AJ’s nose and then placed just out of reach on a shelf.

The light dawned on Applejack. “Ah see. Y’all realize Ah just ate, right?”

Twilight indulged in a slightly sinister grin. “But you also just went flying, and I know firsthand how quick alicorn metabolisms are. You should see the way Celestia will just wolf down cake at any time of the day. She’d give Pinkie a run for her money.”

Rarity glanced sideways at Twilight, “Doesn’t this seem a bit excessive? I thought you studied on how to teach a foal to use magic. What book did you get this from?” Twilight levitated the book over to her friend. Rarity flipped open the cover. “Twiii-liiight, this book was printed in the 950’s. By a pony named Harsh Discipline no less. Ah, and based on the portrait I believe his cutie mark was a willow cane and a bruise.”

Twilight glanced back at the book. “Huh, I didn’t actually notice that. Now that you mention it though, it kinda does look like that.” Twilight glanced back at Applejack who was gazing blankly at the apple. “Hay, AJ?”

“Yeah?”

“One more chance to back out.”

“Nah.”

“Ok, you’re stuck like that then until you can take a bite of the apple.”

“Eeyup.” Applejack still hadn’t glanced away from the apple.

***

The afternoon passed without much event aside from some rather odd faces and the occasional colorful outburst from Applejack. To pass the time, Rarity had taken to teaching Twilight how to knit. “Nononono darling, it is a repetitive sequence, but you cannot simply automate the spell without considering tension.”

“Consarn you, you moldy, rotten excuse fer a crabapple!”

Picking out the last five rows of her scarf, Twilight sighed. “It just seems like there’s a better way to do this.”

“Yer mother was a stunted an’ confused pear tree!”

“Certainly so, but until you have a feel for how the material reacts, you are simply better off taking it one step at a time.” said Rarity.

“Y’all’s branch was so bent y’all were pollinated by a dung beetle!”

“Well, isn’t there a spell out there by somepony who knew what they were doing? Some kind of insta-scarf spell?” Twilight moaned.

“Ah bet yer so mushy mah Gran wouldn’t even haveta get her dentures ta chomp ya right in half!”

“Oh, Twilight, that would never do. Each skein of yarn has different properties that affect construction. Besides, who would want a spell that could only make a single type of scarf? How utterly drab that would be if there was only a single template to work from.”

“Yer all smug now, but jest you wait until Ah get mah hooves on ya. Y’all will reee-gret th’ day you budded.”

“Let’s think about this though. Every scarf has a repeating pattern longitudinally as well as laterally. What if there was a spell that analyzed the pattern that you already started and just repeated it all the way down while scanning the yarn continuously for tension and elasticity and so forth? Infinite variety, and a minimum of work!” The librarian’s grin was quite smug.

Rarity simply chuckled, “Absolutely darling, I know a spell like that myself. However, you still have to be able to start the scarf, and to start the scarf you have to practice doing the whole process step by step. There is no royal road to knitting, Twilight.”

“Fine. I guess I’m just really impatient with these sorts of applied knowl-“

*Crunch*

Both unicorns jumped at the sudden noise. As they looked towards the source they were greeted by the sight of an extremely smug alicorn grinning while apple juice dripped off of her chin and a bitten apple plunked to the floor. “Aha! Hahahaha! Ah done it! Woo! HahahahaHAHAHAHAHA!”

Chapter Seven: Aisthanomai

After her friends had recovered their hearing, Applejack asked, “So, Ah got tha apple, y’all can let me out now right?”

Twilight giggled a little oddly, “Nope!”

“What!? Ah bit tha apple! Y’all said Ah was stuck like this until Ah got it down!”

“Yep, now you aren’t stuck anymore.”

“Huh?” Applejack looked down at her straitjacket. It was still very much snug around her.

Rarity facehoofed. “She means to say that you should be able to get yourself out. Without assistance.”

Applejack perked up a bit. “Ah guess that’s so.” With a wavering orange aura and a few false starts, she managed to undo the simple buckles on the jacket and make her escape. At the exact moment she had extracted herself, there was a knock at the door.

Twilight looked over at AJ, concern in her eyes. “We can just pretend nopony’s home.”

AJ shook her head. “Nah, you should see who it is at least, Twi.”

As the persistent knocking continued, Twilight tip-hoofed to the window. As she peeked outside her face brightened considerably. She skipped over to the door and opened it to none other than Pinkie Pie. The baker was ushered in immediately, the door once more firmly locked behind her. “Hi Applejack!” Pinkie said. “I noticed that Rarity and Twilight were being all sneaky and stuff after you dive-bombed the library, so I figured they were giving you your super-secret unicorn lessons finally. I decided to come over after I got a twitch so now that you know how to be a pegasus and a unicorn I could teach you how to be a goat!”

“Uh, Ah’m pretty sure Ah ain’t part goat, Pinkie.” said Applejack. Pinkie leaned in uncomfortably close, peering deep into Applejack’s eyes. “Uh, Pinkie?”

Pinkie demurred a bit. “Wellllll… Okay. I guessss I could teach you how to be an earth pony, but that’s pretty advanced stuff. Are ya up to it?”

“Pinkie, Ah am an earth pony. About as earthy as they come. At least, that’s what Ah am under all a this.” Applejack said, gesturing to herself.

“Nope! You’re a dirt pony, and an apple pony, but are you a rock pony, or a gem pony, or a metal pony, or a peony pony, or a sand pony, or a clay pony, or a bramble pony, or a sea pony, or a…” Pinkie’s little rant was interrupted by a frantic hoof to the mouth from just about everypony present. Pinkie visibly inflated under the force of withheld speech. Only after she deflated again did everypony pull their hoof away. After a moment she continued on a different track. “You know, the way everypony constantly is shoving their hooves in my mouth, I should invent a kind of candy horseshoe for shushing ponies. Anyway, Jackie! Come on! Let’s go! I will train you in the ways of the horse!”

Applejack rolled her eyes, “A’right Pinkie, we can ‘train’ but not t’night. T’marrah, after Ah buck tha upper south orchard.”

“Deal, I have just one question.” Pinkie giggled.

“An’ what might that be?”

“Are you excited?”

“Uh, maybe?”

“You will be. You will be!”

***

The sun was setting by the time Applejack flopped tiredly into bed. Getting home had been difficult without being seen. Pinkie had offered her some disguise glasses, and AJ hadn’t refused. It was amazing what sunglasses, a mustache, a gag arrow and a noise maker could do for a pony. Still, they hadn’t been quite enough. Carmel, of course, had seen through his cousin’s ingenious disguise instantly. As soon as he started asking what life as a princess was like the jig had been up. Everypony in the area had instantly perked up and come rushing over. From there it came down to speed and a little bit of creativity. She had dodged down an alley beside Horte’s Café and feinted to the right before diving straight into the river. The double maneuver had even fooled the pegasi thanks to the awning behind the restaurant. Applejack had trotted underwater for quite some ways before realizing she hadn’t come up to breathe. It still wasn’t an issue, so she shrugged and continued on trotting underwater until the stream split off into the farm’s irrigation canal. It had all seemed pretty straightforward at the time, but now she was paying the price. It felt like the magic would flow forever when she was calling on whatever it was that let her breathe water and fly and plant and goddesses only knew what else, but as soon as she let go it all came crashing down on her.

Her hello to her family had been little more than a grunt. She ignored their questions and trotted to the pantry. Immediately she set about downing a whole bushel of apples, core and all. Once that was done she had oozed upstairs and into bed. The dawn came all too quickly.

***

The next morning she went on a brisk gallop to loosen her aching body. Fall was just starting to make itself known in the crispness of the air and the slowly shortening days. Her legs pounded rhythmically at the dirt path as she breathed deep. The forests that Sweet Apple Acres shared a border with were already starting to prepare themselves for the winter. Here and there a squirrel or badger scurried about, seeking to gather the food and put on the pounds they would need to make it through the long freeze ahead. Even the green scent of things growing, dying, and being remade was muted by the chill. Applejack’s long legs ate up the distance, easily moving her along faster than almost any racing pony. She felt the now-familiar strength returning to her and filling her almost to bursting with energy and contentment.

The morning’s work went by easily once she had finished her run and quickly enough that she found time to occasionally practice plucking apples by magic. It was a lot slower, but it was also quite amusing. The slippery little things often as not got away from her and she was forced to try and magically juggle them. From time to time, she swore she saw somepony flitting between the trees, but she dismissed it as a bird or some such. Pinkie had shown up around noon and offered to help with the last of it. AJ agreed to let her. Little Miss Pie could be quite efficient when she put her mind to it, which was more often than she let on. Between the two of them they finished a little after one o’clock in the afternoon. At last Applejack turned to her friend and asked the burning question that had been on her mind. “What, exactly, are ya gunna teach me?”

“All about being an earth pony of course!”

“Right. Well, Ah’m all yers. Let’s do this.”

“Sweet! Try to keep up!” And with that, they were off.

***

The rest of the day was an improbable blur of activity and running. In the space of eight hours they had gone mountain climbing, kelp harvesting, blacksmithing, jump-roping, free-running, herb gathering, train-pulling, painting, drinking, dancing, escaping, and all manner of other things. At the end of the day, the farmer and the jokester found themselves headed back to the farm. Applejack was carrying a wavy black sword, a dense woven saddle blanket, and a lumpy little clay bowl that she had apparently all made herself that afternoon. Turning to Pinkie, she asked, “What jest happened?”

“We were being earth ponies, silly.” said Pinkie, sticking her tongue out.

The two trotted amicably for a ways before Applejack broke the silence. “Ah think Ah get it. It’s like the whole a pony experience is open ta an earth pony. We ain’t as like ta be defined bah a single trait like pegasi an’ unicorns…”

“Oooh! I kinda like that! It’s life affirming and only a teensy bit racist. Not what I got out of tonight though.”

“An’ what did you get, Pinkie?”

“Free cider! Woo!”

“Wait, y’all mean ta say that we didn’t pay back at Dodge Junction?”

“We were about to be lynched. Lynch mobs mean the cider’s free. It’s the rule.”

Applejack thought about that for a moment. “That… Makes about as much sense as anythin’.”

By the time the ponies had turned up the walk to AJ’s home the stars were out in full glimmer. The path to the house was also glimmering with dozens of firefly lanterns. A gauntlet of ponies was standing vigil along each side of the way, glancing eagerly at Applejack. The alicorn stopped short. Nopony moved. Applejack sighed and raised her voice enough to be heard by the entire crowd. “Now, y’all know me an’ Ah know most a you. Ah thank ya kindly fer comin’ ta greet me home, but Ah don’t need this. Y’all’ve never done anythin’ like this fer me before, an’ it honestly feels a bit shallow that y’all ‘re suddenly so interested in me. Ah ain’t the kind ta do random favors ta ponies that don’t need it ‘r deserve it. Y’all should talk ta Rarity about generosity. Now get.”

Finally, one of the waiting ponies peeled out of the group and trotted out of the farm. She was soon followed by the rest of the group as they filed one by one past an impassive Applejack. One last pony, Goldengrape by name, stopped beside the majestic alicorn. Applejack refused to give him the pleasure of acknowledging his existence. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but instead darted towards her wing and tore free a loose feather. Applejack yelped in shock and reared up to buck him in the face, but he had already taken off shouting.

“She gave me a feather! Haha! Losers, she likes me best!”

Applejack shuddered with rage and lit up her horn while flaring her violated wings, but Pinkie placed a hoof on her side, giving her pause. “Stop. He isn’t worth it.” she said. AJ snorted angrily and looked back at her friend. Pinkie’s expression was pleading, and her normally bouncy hair was drooping sadly. “I know it hurts when ponies don’t understand you.”

This was a side of Pinkie that Applejack had rarely, if ever seen. Slowly, hesitatingly, she diffused the brilliant orange corona around her horn and lowered her wings. Unsure what to do, she wrapped an arm around Pinkie and pulled her into a hug. “Hay now, sugarcube, Ah know it wuz just them bein’ dumb. Ah jest let mah temper get away from me. It’s been hard.”

Pinkie smiled timidly at Applejack. “So you aren’t gonna go all Nightmare Apple on ‘em and bring about eternal dinnertime?”

“How in tarnation could you think tha- Oh, Ah get it. Haha.” Applejack stuck her tongue out at Pinkie. The bubblegum colored mare giggled a bit. “Nah, I’ll jest have Mac charge extra when they ask fer apples that’ve been ‘blessed’ bah the ‘princess’.”

“Hehe. Hay, Applejack, I could show you something…”

“What’s that?”

“Well, how to feel things. Like the twitches I get. Twilight wanted me to tell her, but I knew she’d think about it too much and it wouldn’t work and she’d get all grumpy for days and that would make Spike miserable too and wouldn’t do anypony any good.”

“Ah… That sounds mighty useful.”

“Awesome! Watch me!” Pinkie sat down hard on her haunches and screwed her face up in the fiercest grimace of concentration ever seen. She took a deep breath and relaxed completely. For a few moments she was completely still. Then her hoof started twitching slightly. The twitch moved up her leg and into her barrel. Soon her entire body was jittering slightly and a goofy grin lit up her face. Abrubtly, she opened her eyes and jumped back on all fours like nothing had happened. “Got it?”

“Ah have no idea whut Ah jest saw.”

“Oh! Well, I’ll try to explain it. It’s like everypony has a constant party in their head that other ponies, but not real ones, thoughts that are like ponies, keep crashing so the party is all crazy and lame. You have to stop the music and maybe turn off the lights to let them know they should leave and maybe escort one or two to the door when they don’t get the hint. The point is the cake. You can have a birthday party, but it’s no good unless there’s a cake, it’s the whole point, right? So the cake is like you, like the actual you deep down that is who you are when you are sleeping, but you have to wake her up when you’re awake so you can talk to her-you. So you wake up the cake and then you can see. But it isn’t the awake you that’s looking, it’s the you that you are when you’re asleep that is awake and looking out for you and telling you that something’s up! You don’t have to wiggle like I did. Unless the asleep you wants to.”

“… Ah ken see why ya didn’t tell Twilight.”

“I know, right?”

“Lemme see if Ah can figure that out.” Pinkie’s explanation had sounded mostly like gibberish to Applejack, but one point stuck in her mind. Who you are when you’re asleep. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself. Even concentrating on emptying her head, random thoughts kept butting in and interrupting her focus. Clear out the party. Her breath slowed and then stopped. It wasn’t strictly necessary to her anymore, was it? Now to wake up. She looked deep within herself for her center, who she really was. When she found herself, however, She wasn’t asleep. There was her in the daytime, little earth pony Applejack, fighting against a world that had suddenly become strange and hostile. And then there was Her at her core, an alicorn, beautiful as the Spring, as terrible as Winter’s deepest chill. This part of her was indeed awake already, filling the world with her power like an ancient and unconquerable tree spreading its roots to fill the ground and raising its leaves to capture the sky. The alicorn and the earth pony turned and looked at one another for the first time. A smile filled their faces.

Applejack slowly opened her eyes. The smile on her face was deep and pure. She turned to look at Pinkie, but was prevented by something on her neck. She tried to raise a hoof, but her whole body was trapped. “Uh, Pinkie, why can’t Ah move?”

Pinkie bounced around in front of Applejack so she could see her. “Because you’re a tree!”

“Ah don’t think.. Oh! Wait, Ah can feel it now. Like, Ah mean, it’s touchin’ me, but Ah know what it is. Come off fellers, momma’s gotta go.” Slowly, the moss and saplings and shrubs that had sprung up to cover her retreated and sprung back. Applejack gingerly stepped free of the tangle and trotted around to stand by Pinkie. Where she had been sitting was a riot of weeds and plants that were roughly pony shaped and vibrantly alive. Applejack looked at it, and then back to Pinkie. “Pinkie?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t tell Fluttershy ‘bout this.”

“Yepperoonie.”

Chapter Eight: Thumos

The next few days were, for Applejack, an exercise in creepy. It felt like somepony was constantly watching her while she worked. For now Big Macintosh was handling the sales while AJ did most of the physical labor, an inversion of their usual routine during applebucking season. Applejack’s recently heightened senses were absolutely wigging out while she was alone though. Every few minutes she would look over her shoulder and just stare, looking for a pony who wasn’t there. She could feel the wildlife around her, that didn’t bother her. When she felt a squirrel beside her, she could look and see the squirrel. When her senses told her if a ripe looking apple was still too sour, she could bite it and prove it to herself. The phantom pony, however, just wasn’t there, even though every fiber of her body was screaming out that it was. If this was what Pinkie felt like every moment of every day, no wonder the mare was crazy.

On the third day, things took a turn for the worse. Objects she would leave lying around would suddenly be close at hoof when she needed them. Apples would sort themselves. Every few hours a glass of cold cider would appear beside her. Whoever this ghost was, at least they were hospitable.

Finally, around four thirty in the afternoon, an entire salad bowl with her favorite dressing just showed up on a stump while her back was turned. Applejack screamed and reared back, stomping the ground with enough force to cause a localized earthquake. The grass and trees for a dozen feet around shot up and out to outrageous proportions. Another scream wailed back at her from somewhere in the jumble of stalks and twigs. Applejack’s jaw set harder than a block of granite while her eyes took on a dangerous glow. Stomping through the weeds she came upon a pink-maned, green-furred pegasus tangled in the branches of an apple tree. The pegasus grinned weakly at AJ. “Uh, hi!” she said.

“Merry. May. Whut. In. Tartarus. Are. You. Doin’. In. Mah. Tree!”

“… helping?”

“Y’all nearly scared me ta death! How long have ya been sneakin’ about!?”

“all week…”

Applejack shook with barely constrained rage. In a hoarse whisper she asked. “And whut possessed ya ta do that?”

“I wanted to show you that I could be helpful so you’d like me…”

“Well, it ain’t workin’.” Applejack telekinetically tore the pony from the entangling branches that held her prisoner and continued to hold her as she trotted out of the farm. When she was a short ways from town, Applejack released the hapless pegasus and did an about-face. As she trotted away from her erstwhile stalker, she heard Merry May call out to her, but didn’t respond. Never had Applejack felt so furious in her life. She absolutely seethed at the insincerity and flattery of the ponies of Ponyville. As she stomped towards the storage barn the earth blackened under her hooves, accompanied by little wisps of ash. Nearby plants wilted at her anger and she frankly didn’t care. She sat down in the mostly empty building, trying to calm down before she broke something, or somepony.

A good half hour later there was a knock at the door. Applejack ignored it. A timid, wavery voice called out from the other side. “Hay Applejack. I-I’m sorry if I upset you. I got you something to apologize.” Silence. “I guess I’ll leave it here.”

Applejack waited until she heard the flapping of a departing pegasus before retrieving the gift. It turned out to be a basket of chocolates and edible flowers. Snorting in displeasure, she grabbed a chocolate orange out of the basket and started munching on it. Admittedly, it made her feel a bit better. It still felt insincere, but at least it was tasty insincerity. Sighing, she turned back to the orchard. There was plenty more to do today. She had just gotten the apple baskets laid out under a row of trees when Big Macintosh galloped up all in a lather.

“Sis, be ready.”

“What’s that supposed ta mean?” She looked back in the direction that her brother was staring. A horde of ponies could be seen in the distance marching along the path. In the front of the procession was somepony holding a hastily made banner that read, “Cheer up the Princess Parade!” A certain pink and green somepony. All the stress, insanity, betrayal, frustration, confusion, and empty flattery of the last couple of weeks boiled up in Applejack as her eyes narrowed to pinpricks. Big Mac backed away, slowly at first, then at a gallop. Applejack threw back her head and let out a scream of rage that shook the very foundations of the world and perforated the air above her. She extended her wings to their fullest breadth and rose into the air, carried on a wave of pure magic. As she rose, glowing green and orange with foxfire and magic, the earth around the farm rumbled and shifted aside as massive brambles shot up from the dirt, peeling aside the fences and gates. They snaked to impossible heights and criss-crossed the skies overhead. Within moments the entire farm was covered in a dome of thorns. Not a single space was left where even the smallest pony could squeeze through.

As soon as the dreadful spell was complete, all the color drained out of the exhausted alicorn. The sound of her falling was far too quiet for anypony to hear.

***

Far off in Canterlot, two sets of ears perked up then immediately flattened. The Sun and Moon shared a glance that pierced stone and earth from opposite sides of the palace.

***

Outside Sweet Apple Acres, an impromptu parade found itself suddenly stymied. Merry May dropped her cheerful banner in shock. There had been some horrible, unnatural keening noise, and then this massive barrier of thorns showed up. Was… Was Princess Applejack ok? The pegasus looked behind herself at the ponies assembled. There were quite a few of them looking at her expectantly. It honestly made her feel very important, kinda like Mayor Mare or Pinkie Pie. She’d never been paid any serious attention before now. The mare drew herself up to the fullest of her little frame. As the official… well… unofficial-official hoofmaiden of the new Princess, it was her duty to rescue her if she was in trouble. She could make up for whatever she had done wrong this morning. “E-everypony!” Dozens of eyes gazed at her. “Th-the Princess needs our help! She has been trapped by an evil enchantress and it is up to us to break through and revive her!” She actually had no idea, but it sounded right. Wasn’t that the plot of Sleeping Handsome?

Trotting up to the barrier, she started gnawing and pulling at one of the nasty tasting weeds. The stems were a lot tougher than they seemed. The rest of the group started pitching in, but it felt like no progress was being made. After a few minutes of this, a unicorn galloped up from behind the group and charged at the thorns at a dead run. Just as Merry was about to call out to her, she disappeared in a flash of purple. Merry’s eyes went huge at that. “Hay, everypony! Uh, don’t hit the thorns at high speed.”

***

Twilight Sparkle wasn’t going to let anything or anypony keep her from seeing if Applejack was alright. She’d been in her library sorting books when some kind of commotion had taken place outside. She’d ignored it. A few minutes later though, there had been a faint wailing sound on the wind, and a subtle rush of strange magic. It wasn’t unicorn magic at all. It felt a little like one of the times when Princess Celestia had let her stand next to her while she raised the sun. It was still different than that feeling though, a little wilder, far more uncontrolled, yet also fainter. Putting two and two together wasn’t hard for the scholar, and she had rushed out the door as soon as she finished the equation.

Twilight gave a low whistle as the massive dome of thorns hove into view. Non-unicorn magic indeed. Growth spells were pretty tricky, but something of this scale and complexity was outright impossible. There was a group of ponies fruitlessly trying to pull a section of it apart, but Twilight didn’t have any time for that. She teleported straight through the bramble onto the other side. The farm was in shade, but otherwise seemed the same as always. None of the Apples seemed to be about, so she rushed towards the farmhouse, praying to Celestia, Harmony, and anything else she could think of that AJ was ok.

***

Merry May had managed to clear a hole big enough to stick her head through when she heard a rush of flapping overhead. Worming free, she glanced up in time to see both Luna and Celestia cruising overhead, trailed by what must be an entire Wing of the Royal Pegasus Guard. The guards, at some unseen signal, broke formation and descended on the mass of thorns, circling it neatly. Three of them landed near the erstwhile parade. She and her posse soon found themselves shunted away from the thorn wall as Celestia and Luna landed in their place. Merry May furrowed her brow in determination. They could pull her away, but they couldn’t stop her.

***

Luna fretted to herself. The gossip she had overheard as they had flown over Ponyville had been bad. Apparently Applejack had been throwing ponies forcibly off of her farm, handing out feathers as presents to her most loyal, and even cackling in the library over the past few days. Celestia was over by the barrier, one hoof resting on the thorns. No doubt she was quietly drawing and quartering herself for another ‘failure’ while the situation continued to flow past her unawares. Luna shook her head. Applejack would NOT fall like she had. There were plenty of fallen gods and goddesses, but there would not be another one, not here, not now, not if Luna had anything to do with it.

Chapter Nine: Pheugo

Applejack rolled slowly on to her belly. She didn’t remember coming to bed. Her whole body felt like it was made of lead while her head felt like cotton. She opened her eyes slowly. Her brother was hovering in front of her, a worried expression on his face. “Huh, how long was Ah out?”

“Not long.”

“Whut happened?”

“Yuh done flipped out.”

Applejack grimaced, right, the parade. “What, ‘zactly, did Ah do?”

Big Macintosh didn’t answer, instead he trotted over to the window and pushed the curtain aside.

“Fire ‘n’ Blood, Sun ‘n’ Moon… Did Ah really do that?”

“Eeyup.”

“That ain’t good fer the crops is it?”

“Nnope.”

“Well, Ah guess Ah gotta figure out a way ta tear it down all safe-like. Hopefully before Gran wakes up. Oh, bah all tha blood in Tartarus… They’re here.” Applejack pointed to a non-descript portion of the living dome.

Big Mac squinted curiously in the direction she was pointing, but couldn’t make anything out. “Who?”

“Tha Princesses. Can’tcha see ‘em? Celestia’s glowin’ ta shame the Sun ‘n’ Luna’s all shimmer an’ stars.”

Big Mac raised an eyebrow at his sister, but declined to comment on it. Instead he asked, “Whut’re ya gonna do?”

At that moment, a rapping sound came from downstairs. Applejack smiled slightly. “Ah think that’s Twilight. Ah’m gonna let her in is what Ah’m gonna do.”

***

To say that Twilight was relieved that Applejack hadn’t grown fangs and sprouted armor was an understatement to say the least. She, AJ, and Mac were all seated around the kitchen table while Granny Smith snored gently from her rocker. “So,” said Twilight, “Rough morning?”

Applejack cradled her head in her hooves. “Y’all might say that.”

“You aren’t… Coming out of heat or anything are you?”

Big Mac blushed a much brighter shade of red.

“Twilight, Ah know y’all were a bit of a shut-in, but that ain’t proper conversation fer mixed comp’ny.” said AJ.

“Oh… Well, what brought this on?”

“Ah got upset with Merry May. She was followin’ me around this w-” A flash and bang interrupted the farmer as the Princess of the Moon unceremoniously teleported into the room. “Faust’s sake Luna! Y’all have no respect fer privacy!”

“Applejack! It is not too late. You may yet be redeemed, but you must turn aside from this dark path you have chosen!” said Luna.

“Dark path? Wha? No! Listen here, prin-cess. Ah am sick ‘n’ tired of you ‘n’ everypony else’s nonsense. There ain’t no law against a pony puttin’ up a fence around her personal, private property! NOW GET THE HAY OFF MAH PROPERTY BEFORE AH PUT YOU OFF!” AJ lit her horn menacingly, lowering her head to aim at the princess. Twilight and Big Mac had long since dove for cover. Granny Smith snorted and stirred in her sleep.

Luna’s eyes widened, but she lit her own horn in defense. “Applejack, we merely came to speak with you, hoping you would listen to reason.”

Applejack snorted fiercely in response.

Luna’s eyes narrowed at that. “If thou’lt not listen to reason, we shall make thee listen!” A fountain of shadow poured from her horn, and grasping, dark tendrils reached out for Applejack’s hooves. Startled, Applejack leapt back, eyes wide and frightened. Her eyes darting about, she spotted the window behind her and made a leap for it. Her large body took out most of the frame, but she made it through easily enough. Stumbling into a gallop, she leapt for the sky and took off as fast as she could. From behind her, Luna roared, “THOU SHALT NOT ESCAPE US THAT EASILY!” as the princess took off in hot pursuit.

Twilight peeked out of the cupboard she had hidden in while Big Mac peered out from around a doorframe. The entire wall of the kitchen was totally demolished. A pair of orange and navy contrails faded into the distance through a hole in the dome. Twilight sighed. “And we almost had her calmed down too…”

Big Macintosh nodded his head sadly. “Eeyup.”

***

Merry May was having trouble with plan B. Apparently digging tunnels wasn’t as easy as some earth ponies made it look. Dropping her spoon in frustration, she sat down on her haunches and pondered another way to get into the dome. A sudden shouting startled her. As she looked, a burning orange contrail burst from the dome, followed closely by a dark streak. That must have been Princess Applejack! Merry’s eyes widened. Something was chasing her. Merry May nodded to herself once. Her devotion to the princess was supreme. It was up to Merry to see that she was safe. The little pegasus revved up her wings and took flight after the two alicorns.

***

Celestia had been taken by surprise when Luna had teleported away. The damage had been done before she’d had time to do anything. Now both her sister and Applejack were shouting like lunatics and racing across the sky going Discord-knows-where. To be honest, Celestia felt like throwing a fit right now as well. Millennia of self-control and discipline held her burning anger and embarrassment in check as she glanced over at the wing commander. A single frown and shake of her head was all he needed to see before immediately ordering his troops to fall-in for the return trip to Canterlot. Dark thoughts boiled in the back of her mind as she remembered others she hadn’t been able to help. She’d ignored her sister’s loneliness and depression, passing it off as a phase. She’d laughed at Discord’s weak little jokes while he had tried to hide his growing pain and confusion. She’d even encouraged Chrysalis’s growing vanity and self-obsession. Then there was Tirek, Grogar… The list of her failures went on and on.

***

Applejack flew as hard as she could manage, desperate to stay ahead of Luna. She could tell exactly how close the princess was on her tail. Even without looking, being near Luna felt like staring into the void of space. She was all stone and wisps of interstellar gas and endless distance, shot through with radiation and reflected potential. The fact that she hardly knew what any of that was made it no less unnerving to Applejack. Risking a glance back, she shouted, “Y’ALL CAN STOP FOLLOWIN’ ME NOW!”

Luna quickly replied, her voice not quite syncing with the movement of her mouth. “WE SHALL CEASE OUR PURSUIT WHEN THOU CEASEST FLEEING! WE WERE A PEGASUS BEFORE AND ARE NOW THE GODDESS OF THE MIDNIGHT SKY, FLIGHT IS FUTILE!”

“AH’M STILL AHEAD OF YA, AIN’T AH? Y’ALL’RE GETTIN’ OLD ‘N’ SLOW!”

Luna’s eyes narrowed in anger as she poured on the speed. Applejack desperately went into a dive to keep ahead. They were directly over the heart of the Everfree now, far from civilization. She managed to pull up just shy of the canopy, grateful as the tallest of trees seemed to dodge out of the way for her. Thinking quickly, she reached back with her magic and poured strength into them, widening their already massive trunks and extending their height. As soon as she had done so, she saw it wasn’t going to work. Luna barely had to dodge them. Her outstretched wings neatly sheared their leafy tops off as though they were made of the softest cloud. Applejack shook her head. There had to be some way to outsmart the princess.

Far off in the distance, a little green speck fluttered along in the tumultuous wake of the two enraged goddesses.

***

In the end, duty won the day. At sunset the burning orb had simply sat there on the horizon, awaiting the arrival of the moon. Apparently, even though she was out of the game, Celestia wasn’t done playing. Luna gritted her teeth. As important as catching Applejack was, she couldn’t afford to play cosmic chicken with her older sister. With a last cry of “THIS ISN’T OVER!” she fluttered to a stop and focused herself on the raising of the moon. The massive expenditure of magic took away her remaining reserves, forcing her to stop and rest for the night.

***

Applejack grinned tiredly as she left the Night Princess far behind. She decided to keep flying as far as she could to try and widen the gap. As the forest gave way to desert, she spotted a small rock oasis that might make a decent place to sleep. As she descended, her horn lit up involuntarily and something popped out of the air, bopping her on the nose before falling to the ground. Curious, the alicorn swooped down to grab it. Unfortunately, her overworked wings chose that moment to cramp up, dumping her head-over-tail into the sand. Recovering, she found the offending object and picked it up. It was a scroll, the kind Twilight used to send letters back and forth with Celestia. Applejack grimaced and nearly tossed it aside before noticing the seal. It was an Apple signet. The kind Big Mac sometimes used to seal letters to business partners. Carefully, she pulled apart the wax and unfurled the letter.

The first section was in her brother’s painstaking, and surprisingly crisp mouthwriting.

Dear Applejack,

I hope this letter finds you alright. Twilight says she can send it right to you. I hope you are safe and are not getting into a fight with Luna. I know she has been getting on your nerves, but I am sure that she is alright if you give her a chance. Please come home safe and remember that we love you.

Your Brother, Macintosh Apple

Underneath this was a section of considerably shakier writing from Applebloom.

Dear Applejack,

Big brother came by ~~shc~~ school early today to pick me up. I heared that you got real mad and put up this whole dom over our farm. I thnik its pretty cool. He and Twilite say that youer on a trip with Luna and were feeling pretty ~~lonly.~~ lonely. Cheer up! I love you cause youer my big sister! I hope to see you soon!

Youer Best Sister, Apple Bloom

Finally, there was a section written in the wobbly, looping cursive of her grandma.

Dear Applejack,

Little Mac and Apple Bloom tell me that you’ve gone on a vacation. That sounds wonderful. I know you put so much time into this farm, and I hope that you take some time for yourself. I know you like to get away sometimes, and that you feel trapped here. Just know that you’ve always got a home on Sweet Apple Acres. Tell your aunt and uncle Orange hello for me and give them my regards. I love you, and no matter where you are, you’ll always be my little Jackie.

Your Loving Grandmother, Purity Smith

The paper was wet with tears long before she finished reading. With shaking breaths, Applejack tucked the letter under her wing and laid down under a scrub-oak and fell into a fitful sleep.

Chapter Ten: Oneiroi

Applejack was on her farm. The trees towered above her, seeming taller than the greatest skyscrapers in Manehatten. The little earth pony trotted happily through grass that reached nearly to her chin. Maybe she was small in the grand scheme of things, but it didn’t matter; the farm was her world. She’d grown up here, this place was in her very bones, and regretted every time she left. The sun wasn’t even visible under the immense and spreading canopy of apple trees. Somewhere nearby she thought she could hear Pa teaching Mac how to buck apples, and Ma was singing to little Apple Bloom, getting her settled for bed. The scent of Gran’s delicious cooking wafted across the fields, but Applejack didn’t feel ready to head in for dinner just yet. She felt like there was something waiting for her in the farmhouse. Something she didn’t want to meet. Besides, her home, her real home, was out here in the fields.

Time was still, until the moon rose inside the orchard. The grey orb snuck under the branches that blotted out the sky, carrying with it its own little patch of night. Applejack grunted to herself and trotted over to the tree on which it hung and bucked the trunk. The moon wobbled a bit, but stayed firm. Applejack frowned. Not only did the moon have the indecency to hang itself from a tree instead of the sky, it wouldn’t come down when she tried to harvest it. Applejack bit down on a hay bale and flung it at the strange fruit. The hay bale flew straight and true towards the moon, but was suddenly arrested in its flight just a few hooves from impact. A strange voice floated down from above. “Hah! Well done, thou art either very lucid, or have quite a strong memory of this place to be able to even try and oust me.” Applejack jumped back in surprise as the moon seemed to both grow and shrink into the spreading night. The gleaming sphere resolved itself into a sinister eye, and the night became the head of an alicorn as massive as the cosmos. A hoof made of stars reached out and plucked up the little farmer.

“Look at thyself. Little Applejack, a wiry earth pony with chipped and gritty hooves. Now look at us. We are the night, the void, the space where real things go to die or disappear. Thou hast no idea of the forces that made thee, that seek nightly to end thee and all thy kin until the end of time. Now thou hast touched them and felt their fire in thy belly. These things are larger than thou canst handle on thy own. Let us teach thee to reach out to the infinite.”

Applejack responded by jumping off of the cusp of the midnight hoof that held her and onto the sensitive frog below, stomping as hard as she could. The Mare of Darkness withdrew, stung. The grassy earth once again spread out beneath the limitless goddess, catching the resolute little farmer. She stomped once upon the earth and a stalk of corn shot forth from it, impaling the night more surely than any spear. She stomped again, and a thousand birds burst forth into the sky, tearing it more fiercely than gunfire. Finally, she stomped a third time, and she herself sprang up, the Worldtree. Her roots reminded the earth of what it was, whispering of vibrant life and stony strength and change like water. Her canopy burst across the sky, like a bloodstain on the night. Heavy and potent fruit hung from her boughs, while her leaves caressed the wind with the colors of fire. The night screamed her rage and retreated for a time, leaving behind the silent sound of things growing. An eternity passed.

The night came again, whispering, “All life ends. All things die. Even the sun in her endless glory will burn herself out one day, immolating herself across the vastness of space in a final assertion of her beauty.” The tree’s boughs bent under the weight of time. Her leaves scattered to the wind and her sap froze within her. But the barren night forgot the trick of life. From the tree, a shining and pregnant apple fell, bursting upon the ground. From its remains stepped an alicorn the color of autumn, renewed and looking towards the rising of the sun. The night laughed. “It is the sun you look to? Yes, you need her, but you need us more. We shall show thee why.” The night once again swept away the earth, pulling the seed through the void and towards the light. “Here is where I cannot go,” proclaimed the night, as she threw the seed towards the fire.

The Sun swallowed up the night and filled the eons with light. It was vision and potency made solid. The seed writhed in agony as it felt itself being torn open and laid bare by the endless flame. The Sun took no notice of the tiny invader. She burned against the night, pressing it back invincibly, but giving it meaning. She burned against the seed, offering only pain for weakness, but giving it strength. The seed made a single revolution around the sun before being returned to the void. The night was gone, having been touched by the dawn. Luna caught the seed and cradled it in her hooves, resting it and shading it against the fierceness of the sun until it became Applejack again.

“I am sorry, Applejack. For a moment we lost ourselves. Can you see us now?” Applejack nodded once. Luna sighed. “Dreams are frightening things, Applejack, even for their Mistress. I knew it was a risk to seek thee out in a vision, especially a true vision, for me as well as thee.” She gazed off into the stars, into herself. “It is so easy to get lost out there. In the emptiness. Sometimes I forget that the night is also cooling winds and refreshing dew, the touch of a lover and the peace of solitude, a force of renewal as well as one of ending.”

Applejack merely gazed at the distracted goddess. Her look was one of pity and confusion. Finally, she turned away and shaped herself back into a seed. Inert and hidden, she slipped deep into the earth where she could hide until she awoke.

***

Bright dawn broke over Applejack as she stirred from her slumber. Her ears perked at the sound of wingbeats in the distance. Startled, she glanced up to find Luna already approaching her hideout at low speed. Her ears flattened against her head. “Hay! HAY! Y’ALL HAD YER CHANCE TA SPEAK YER PIECE LAST NIGHT! NOW GIT!”

Luna frowned as she replied, “BUT, I THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD MAKE PEACE, PREHAPS TALK ABOUT THE DREAM? I AM TRULY SORRY FOR WHAT HAPPENED.”

“THA DREAM? THE ONE WHERE Y’ALL ABDUCTED ME FROM MAH FARM AGIN AN’ TRIED CHUCKIN’ ME INTA THE SUN?”

“Uh, YES. THAT WAS THE DREAM…”

“FERGIT IT!”

And with that, the race was on again.

***

Many hours later, an utterly exhausted pegasus touched down in that very same oasis. Merry May had only needed to follow the trail of decimated trees to this unusually verdant and lush desert pool. She drank deeply of the water, and helped herself to the tangy desert grasses. She collapsed into the sand wearily, gave a prayer of gratitude to Applejack for the sanctuary and rested a few minutes. When she woke from her nap, something in the sand caught her eye. Trotting sorely up to it, she pulled it free from where it had fallen. On the back was the seal of the Apples. On the front was a letter. Merry May’s eyes widened. Finding a few broad leaves, she wrapped them protectively around the paper. She bit down on the makeshift bundle, determined to deliver it at all costs. Her mind and body renewed, she continued her quest.

Chapter Eleven: Eirene

The chase had wound over hill and dale, through snow and rain, from mountain top to ocean trench, and it was only mid-afternoon of day three. Neither Applejack nor Luna had Rainbow’s top speed, but they weren’t too far off. Luna had bounced off of the sonic shockwave twice, and Applejack once so far. AJ wasn’t really certain what continent she was racing past by now. Even though she wasn’t able to stay long in any one place, it was fascinating to see how chaotic the ecosystems of other lands were. Snow could still be seen on the ground in the heat of summer, while confused flocks wandered in circles without pegasi to guide them, entire swaths of land barren of even desert shrubbery. Even if a pony used the Everfree as a baseline, it was still obvious to Applejack that her world was sick and confused in the places where ponies hadn’t put things in order. Perhaps… Perhaps Luna was partly right. Still, Applejack refused to give her the satisfaction. She had to outmatch the goddess somehow to prove that they were equals, otherwise Luna would keep on disrespecting her.

Luna was still close on her heels. Whatever endless fountain AJ was draining was at least giving her enough to dodge the princess. Both of them were covered in dust, sweat and grime. Luna had caught up to Applejack and tackled her somewhere over Saddle Arabia during the second day, skipping her off the dunes and leaving a crater outside some nameless little village. AJ had barely managed to get back in the air before Luna could come back around for another pass.

Neither of them had slept since the first night. AJ could only imagine the strain on the elder goddess, raising the moon while flying at just slightly subsonic speeds. She herself was almost numb with exertion, but as long as she convinced herself that she needed to keep going, the strength came from somewhere. AJ was suddenly distracted by a harsh laugh from Luna.

“HA, FINALLY, I HAD HOPED NOT TO NEED THESE WHEN I SET THEM ON THEIR COURSE. PREPARE THYSELF, APPLEJACK. THOU ART ABOUT TO LEARN THAT, WHILE THOU MAYEST BE ABSOLUTELY IMMORTAL, THOU ART FAR FROM INVINCIBLE.”

AJ looked back at the princess in confusion. They were currently zooming across one of the hideously barren areas, nothing was anywhere nearby as far as she could see. Concentrating through her exhaustion fogged mind, she extended her senses to see what Luna was ranting about. There was nothing on the surface of the land. It was as dead and lifeless as she herself felt. Far beneath it she could feel the slow seeping of trapped water and desiccated seeds. None of it had the trace of Luna’s magic. Something from above caught her notice. Without seeing it, she had the sudden realization that there was currently a massive, burning stone heading straight for her. Flipping over mid-flight, she kicked out her hooves and simultaneously pulled at the deep aquifer below her. She bounced off of the meteor while a massive geyser burst from the earth, impacting the stone and shattering it in a gout of steam. Luna was forced to pull up to dodge the debris. Applejack, seeing her opportunity, swung low around her geyser and came up underneath the princess, only to be smacked in the face with a hoofball-sized chunk of asteroid.

“HAVE AT THEE! HAST THOU NEVER WONDERED WHY THEY ARE CALLED SHOOTING STARS?”

“CAIN’T SAY AS AH DID, BUT DO YA KNOW WHAT THEY CALL MAH LEGS?”

“YOUR LEGS HAVE NA-”

Applejack had taken advantage of the billowing steam and artificial rain to sneak up on the mocking princess. Her trusty bucking hooves shot out, impacting Luna savagely in the belly. “Bucks McGillicutty ‘n’ Kicks McGee, say howdy.” Luna dropped from the sky like a stone, but she managed to magically grab Applejack and drag her down for the ride. The two of them closed, kicking and striking with hoof, wing and horn. They struck the earth with a bounce, continuing to fight for several minutes.

Finally they rolled to a stop. Applejack had Luna’s foreleg in a joint-lock, while Luna was shoving Applejack’s chin as far back as it would go. Applejack grunted out, “Jest… Give in… Ah’ll listen ta what y’all… have ta say, but ya… gotta… say uncle.”

“No! You, ah! You give in! Ow!”

“… Fine, we both… let go… On tha count a… three, deal?”

“Fine, one.”

“Two.”

“Three.”

The two goddesses, mighty in magic and body, two of the greatest, most majestic beings to ever grace creation, flopped apart in a messy heap. They lay there panting for a moment before Luna finally spoke. “We are impressed. Thou hast much more fighting prowess than our sister.”

“Wait, y’all are sayin’ Ah’m a better fighter than Celestia?”

“Of course, she’s terrible at this sort of thing. That’s why I was able to beat her back to the very doors of the temple of Harmony when I fell to the Nightmare.”

“Wait, whut?”

“She doesn’t tell that part of the story? She only resorted to the Elements because she was about to get soundly trounced. Mind you well, she is far more powerful than the both of us, but she has cast so many geasa upon herself that only a tiny sliver of it is really hers to use.”

“Huh, Ah din’t know that about geese. Well, Ah- Ohh… Ah don’t feel…”

“Haha. There it is… Welcome to the godsleep, Applejack. See you in your dreams…” Luna let out a massive yawn and collapsed to the dirt and mud. Applejack wavered for a moment longer on the edge of consciousness, watching stray meteors and gushing water fall around her, before following Luna into the dark.

***

Everything around her was completely black. Applejack tried to fan her wings nervously, but was surprised not to have them. She raised a hoof to her forehead and felt a distinct lack of horn. She shifted nervously on her hooves. There really didn’t seem to be much of anything to do, so she sat down and waited. An unknown time later a blue pegasus with a light blue mane trotted out of the darkness. Her entire coat was spangled with stars and planets. Applejack was more than a little surprised to realize that this was Luna. “Uh, hi princess.”

“Well-met, Applejack.”

Luna opened her mouth as if to say something else, but shook her head and sat down instead. The two of them sat in silence for an unknown length of time, not looking at one another. Finally, Applejack broke the silence. “Ah’m sorry fer, uh, runnin’ off ‘n’ kickin’ y’all in the stomach and such. Ah think y’all’re crazy, but yeh didn’t deserve that.”

Luna smirked at Applejack, “I apologize also, for the meteors and such. I may have misjudged thee. I hope thou canst fathom why?”

“Eeyup, Ah did put on a bit of a show, didn’t Ah? Anyhow, Ah said Ah’d let ya say yer piece. Ah suppose this is tha place fer it.”

“Yes… I should let thee speak thy mind as well, though. Hast thou any questions for me?”

“First, that is tha biggest gol-durn cutie mark Ah’ve ever seen. It goes right up yer neck. Is it somethin’ ta do with y’all bein’ a goddess?”

Luna blushed slightly. “No, actually, my cutie mark is these planets here on my flank. I was so excited when it appeared that I went to a unicorn shaman to have it tattooed onto the rest of my coat. It's a lost art I’m told. I guess I still think of myself this way. Where we are now is an ordinary dream. It tells us nothing of what we are, just how we think of ourselves. Thou, for example, still hast thy old cutie mark.”

“That’s another thing. Y’all said we were enterin’ tha godsleep. What’s that supposed ta mean?”

“Well, simply put, we overtaxed ourselves. The power of an alicorn is inexhaustible if they have the will to command it, but it comes at a cost. Eventually, when their concentration slips and their will falters, they must recharge their physical vessel.”

“How long’re we gonna be out?”

“I don’t think we exhausted ourselves too excessively, it could be anywhere from a day to a week.”

“That’s quite a while.”

“Yes, I suppose. Thou art speaking to a mare who spent a thousand years on the moon.” Applejack, wisely, kept quiet and waited for Luna to continue. “I suppose I should tell thee what I had originally meant to. I fear for thee, Applejack. Thou hast been under so much stress, some of it at my hooves. The gods have always been a troubled bunch. Even our sister, Sol Invicta as the ancient pegasi used to call her, has fallen to jealousy and spite before.”

“Now, y’all ain’t been usin’ tha whole royal ‘we’ while we’ve been in this dream. Why d’ya always use it when ya talk about yer sister?”

Luna’s eyes dimmed with embarrassment “We, I only use the royal ‘we’ when I speak to… inferiors. Thou art no inferior to Celestia or myself. When I say our sister, I mean thine and mine.”

Applejack thought about that for a moment, not liking any part of it. “Fer the sake of peace, I’ll jest let that pass.”

Luna nodded quickly, “Yes, my thanks to thee. Peace is the essential manifestation of harmony. If thou wouldst allow me, I have a way to pass the time while we rest. I had meant to tell thee of my fall, and perhaps that of another. Here, I can do better than that. I can show thee.”

Applejack nodded, “That sounds fine, show away.”

Luna closed her eyes. Slowly, glimmering specks of light filled the void above the two little ponies, and a cool, billowing cloud formed beneath them. Luna finally spoke, not opening her eyes. “Look across the clouds a ways, you will see me as I appear now. Back then I was called Night Glider. This is the night I changed.”

Chapter Twelve: Atheteo

Chapter Twelve: Atheteó

Applejack trotted across the dense cloud cover. In a small depression lay Night Glider, peacefully gazing up at the stars, idly tracing their constellations with a hoof. Glider sighed and snuggled deeper into her cloud, letting her hoof hang limp. Her chest rose and fell gently as the moon and stars continued to wheel overhead. A beatific smile broke across her face. She took a deep breath and held it. The moonlight brightened around her and the stars began to twinkle across the dome of the sky. The cloud beneath her solidified, darkened and crackled with energy. Applejack watched wide-eyed as Night Glider’s coat deepened from a glittering blue to a somber navy, her haunches turning deep black. Her mane spread out from her head and neck in a pale blue halo as she began to inhale again. Her lungs already full, she breathed in the magic of the cosmos. It expanded her and flowed forth from her forehead in a beam of gentle moonlight. Darkness rustled about her feathers and swirled around her lengthening limbs. Finally, the moonlight dimmed and the darkness was no more a thing alive. Night Glider, now the goddess of the night, opened her eyes, seeming surprised that she was now upright.

The new goddess shook her head and spread her wings to fly. She leapt gracefully off of her cloud… and promptly fell through the floor.

Applejack galloped after her. Apparently the thought was what counted, because Applejack instantly found herself alongside the panicking goddess. It took her a few minutes to right herself, but Night Glider finally managed to settle herself into a steady drift. Her expression upon seeing her expanded wings was horrified. Her face soon shifted to anguish as she looked down at her now-plain coat. “My-my stars! My constellations!” Applejack frowned. Her stars were missing, just not the ones she was complaining about. AJ reached out a hoof to gather in a lock of flat, blue mane only to have her hoof swatted away. Night Glider frowned at the earth pony. “I’d thank thee if thou wouldst keep thy hooves to thyself. This is a memory, but it is also a dream. If thou breakest my concentration I cannot keep the events accurate.

“Oh, uh, sorry Luna.”

“Night Glider. I am in-character.”

“… Right.”

Luna/Glider sighed dramatically. “Fine, I suppose I can give thee commentary as well.”

Applejack smirked at the goddess, “Well, mind tellin’ me why y’all’s mane is still blue?”

“It is because I had not yet come into the fullness of my powers. It would be some time before I was truly connected with the moon.”

“So, y’all’re sayin’ that mah mane’s gonna get all…”

“Wavy? Yes. Now hush. This next bit is hard for me.” Suddenly they were gliding over a massive cloud city. “Old Pegasopolis, long before the unification.” said Luna, refusing to elaborate further. Its districts spread out towards the horizon, and even in the middle of the night, torch-bearing pegasus legionaries could be seen flitting about on their rounds. Night Glider eyed their patrols for some time before swinging into a dangerously fast dive, straight at the roof of a house. She plowed halfway through before stopping, and managed to wiggle the rest of the way in before anypony spotted her. Carefully patching the cloud behind her, she sat for a minute, eyes sad, wide and expressive. Finally, taking a shuddering breath, she called out, “Mother!”

There was a startled squeak from below and a little ‘whumpf’ of displaced cloud before a concerned voice called out, “Nightie? Is that you? Why are you in the attic?”

Night Glider bit her lip pensively before answering. “Don’t come up. Something has happened to me.”

Her mother’s voice took on a sharp edge, “What have you done? What do you mean something has ‘happened?’ You weren’t fooling about with somepony were you?”

Miserable, Night Glider replied, “No mother, I-I have become hideous, monstrously large in limb and body.”

Her mother’s voice hardened, “I’m coming up there.” A pale blue mare poked her head up a nearby stairwell glancing about in the darkness for her daughter. “Nightie?”

Night Glider sobbed out her answer, barely louder than a whisper. “I’m right here mom.”

Finally, Luna’s mother’s eyes adjusted to the dark attic. They lit upon the hulking blue mass crouched in the corner of the room and widened in fear. “Demon. What did you do to my daughter?” she whispered.

“I am your daughter. It’s me, Night Glider.”

The little mare shrieked, pointing her hoof. “You ate my daughter and stole her voice! Fell Wendigo, would you consume me also?”

“No, I am your daughter, you must believe me mother!”

“No! You are a thing of witchcraft, warped into a mockery of the sun-nag. Leave me! I abjure you by the spirits of my mothers!”

Applejack’s heart broke, just as Luna’s must have that night. She watched as Night Glider pleaded and begged with her fleeing mother. The dark alicorn then slumped into a heap, sobbing gently. Night made no move to escape when the legionaries burst into the house, binding her in chains and dragging her to the fortress. She lay there all night, weeping gently.

In the morning another group of legionaries dragged her in front of a massively built stallion. They saluted and then backed away as the stallion came over to examine the alicorn. He leaned in close and lifted her chin with a hoof. “So, demon, what is your name?”

“Night Glider.”

The stallion drew back a hoof and slapped her roughly. “Don’t think you can lie so pitifully to me and get away with it demon. I am the master of the sky, conqueror of the griffon lands, bane of dragons. The unicorns and earthlings alike tremble at the mention of my name. Ten legions of pegasi await my slightest whim. Now, pitiful demon, tell me your name.”

“Night Glider.”

He slapped her again, this time with the edge of his hoof, drawing a thin line of blood from her cheek. “You have one more chance before I destroy you. Night Glider is the mare you killed and consumed. I will not allow a freak like you to live in pegasus air. What are you. What is your name. What mad unicorn bound you to torment us. Tell me now.”

“I AM NIGHT GLIDER!” The alicorn shrieked and rose in her shackles. She lunged at the pegasus commander. The chains stopped her only briefly before snapping like tinsel. She slapped at the commander with a massive wing, sending him hurtling through the walls of the fortress. The legionaries immediately reacted, hurling spear after spear at the maddened mare. She shrieked in agony and fell to the floor, writhing in pain. Within minutes, unconsciousness mercifully took her.

***

As the scene faded to black, Applejack sat there, slack-jawed and teary-eyed. Luna, once again a starry pegasus, trotted out of the blackness. “Art thou alright, Applejack?”

“Oh, sugarcube… Whut they did to ya... Yer own mother…” Applejack grabbed up Luna into a tight embrace. “They ain’t gonna do that agin. Ah swear. Nopony will ever treat anypony like that agin. Ever. Ah promise ya.” Luna sat stiffly, unsure what to do about the physical contact, even if it wasn’t strictly her physical form.

“Applejack.”

AJ sniffed and glanced aside at Luna. “Yeah?”

“I’m fine. It was thousands of years ago. I have long since made my peace with what happened.”

“But Ah made y’all relive it. That’s gotta be tha worst. Ah don’t care how old ya are.”

Luna carefully extracted herself from the awkward hug, putting a hoof out to keep AJ at arm’s length. “I won’t say it wasn’t difficult, but I chose to tell this story. I can deal with the pain.”

“A’right. Well… What happened next? Whut did they do to ya?”

“Well, I don’t think I need to show thee, I was mercifully unconscious for all of it anyways. Basically, they mangled and broke my body in every way they could manage, then dropped me over the unicorn palace with a note stapled to my head that read ‘nice try.’ They assumed I was dead. I spent the next year or so in the godsleep while my body recovered. To say that my dreams during that time were disturbing would be akin to calling the sky simply big. When I woke up was a different matter. Here, let me give thee another perspective, close thy eyes. Thou mayest see through mine.”

***

Applejack opened her eyes slowly. Her entire body felt stiff and wrong. She tried shifting her legs to roll over, but they refused to move. A tiny whimper escaped her lips. Almost immediately a heavy clomping alerted her of somepony approaching. A calm, feminine, but haughty voice called out to her. “Don’t try to get up. Thou art far too weak yet to rise. Be grateful We knew when thou wert about to wake. Here, let us help thee.” Applejack frowned inwardly at the condescending use of ‘thou.’ How dare this stranger speak down to her!

A tingling of magic enclosed her hind legs and started pumping them slowly back and forth in a paddling motion, restoring their blood flow and feeling. Applejack grunted in pain, but bore it stoically like a good pegasus. After a few minutes the unknown pony switched to her forelegs and began massaging the life back into them. The voice hummed softly as she worked. Finally, she asked Applejack, “Canst thou move them thyself? Try.” Carefully, gingerly, AJ pedaled her legs in the air, the tingle of numbness less, but still there. “Good, now look at us. We need to be sure of the state of thy mind.”

Applejack turned to face her benefactor. Her first instinct was to spit, but good judgment stopped her. It was a unicorn, a massive unicorn with an outsized horn and a condescending attitude to match. Applejack coughed to clear her throat, and then coughed again in earnest. Quickly she felt a cup held against her lips and drank greedily of the small beer it contained. Trying again, she croaked out, “Wh-h-h-ho are you?” before devolving into another coughing fit.

“Well, there are many names We are called by. Does Sun-Nag sound familiar?” Applejack immediately began coughing again in shock. “No no. Calm thyself. We are not the witch those dogs paint us to be. Thou… you may call us Celestia. We are currently in the court of Queen Argent Spira of the Unicorns. They remanded you to my care, not knowing the ways nor resilience of the ancient ones.”

Applejack quirked an eyebrow at that. “Ancient ones? How long was I asleep?”

Celestia chuckled slightly at that, “No, my little pony, you were not out that long. You have the form of a genie, an avatar, a demi-god, whatever you like to call it.”

The implications of that statement percolated through Applejack’s rusty brain, slowly turning the gears until she finally called out in surprise. “That would mean that I…” She felt her forehead. Sure enough, her hoof bumped painfully against a long, spiraling horn. AJ’s eyes widened as large as they could go. Throwing back her head, she wailed, “I am a freak! A hideous, pagan, unicorn god…”

Celestia stomped her hoof loudly on the stone floor. “ENOUGH. I have had enough of that sort of talk from ignorant little ponies, I won’t have it from one of my own kind. Now, look at me. Look. At. Me. You are a perfectly normal pony, but one with godly power. The world owes you deference, but you will have to take it from them. Earn it. I know of what they did to you in Pegasopolis. Prove them wrong about you and make them sing your praises and exploits from the tops of the clouds. Make them love you. Yes?”

Applejack cowered back a bit at the outburst, but found herself nodding along with the sheer compulsion and imperative that Celestia’s voice held. Finally, she answered, “Yes… Yes! I will win their love.”

***

AJ shook herself as the illusion faded. “Ah don’t think Ah like that…”

“It displeases thee? I have always been fascinated by the act of looking through the eyes of another. No matter, I need not tell the rest of the story that way.”

“So ya weren’t actually sisters?”

“No, we were not. Over time we became inseparable and swore an oath of sisterhood to one another. I would extend that oath to thee.”

“Luna. Y’all keep goin’ back ‘n’ forth on yer whole thee and thou thing. In tha dream y’all were insulted that Celestia was callin’ ya that, and now y’all are usin’ those words ta offer me sisterhood… Whut am Ah supposed ta take from that?”

“Oh, thee is familiar. It is only proper to use it with friends or family. To speak thus with a stranger or an acquaintance is to indicate that you do not respect them as an equal.”

“So, yer sayin’ Ah have no way of knowin’ if yer insultin’ me or callin’ me yer kin.”

“Thou art correct!” Luna giggled at that.

Applejack rolled her eyes at Luna’s attempt at humor. Finally she waved her hoof dismissively at the princess. “Anyways, let’s get on with tha story. Whut happened next?”

Chapter Thirteen: Phrike

Night Glider quickly regained her vigor over the next couple of days. Soon she was up to the task of moving about Celestia’s chambers and reminding her body of how to eat and so forth. Celestia would come into the chamber every so often and chat with Night, updating her on the current news and intrigue in the Unicorn courts. Most of this passed Applejack in a blur, only focusing in on a few moments and conversations, such as the one that was playing itself out in front of her now.

“Celestia, How can Queen Argent afford to humor such backstabbing nobles? Surely she could simply bring them in line like the pegasi do.” asked Night.

Celestia chuckled at her young protégée, “No, Night, each of the nobles has many ponies that are loyal to them alone, not to mention that some are quite powerful magi in their own right. The Queen on her own has maybe the power to crush one or two of the most powerful, but should she do so, then the queendom would be weak and defenseless against its enemies… Enemies like the pegasi. She is much better off using subtlety and mischief against them.”

“Then, where do you fit in? You surely have the power to bring them all in line.”

“I am not interested in ruling a bickering herd of unicorns, and I don’t think they would have me.” Celestia took a moment to swig from her stein. “Ahh, and anyways, I don’t like paperwork. I see myself as a protector of sorts, protecting the races from themselves and each other. The pegasi love me when I take their side. They shower me with praise and hail me as Sol Invicta and numerous other lovely epithets. Right now they haven’t forgiven me for thwarting their raid of Coltonville ten years ago, so, Sun-Nag I am.”

“Why do you live in Unicornia though? Isn’t that taking sides?”

“Yes, but I have a treaty with them. They have been experimenting with their control of the moon and wish my cooperation with the sun. It’s all very much over my head, complicated astrology. In return, they give me luxurious apartments and a nice pile of gold. All I have to do is follow the solar schedule they give me. No harm done in a few late days once in a while. It’s honestly been a nice vacation for the past decade or so.”

“That’s all you do!?”

“Aye! Grand, isn’t it?” Celestia grinned and quaffed the remainder of her drink.

***

Applejack interrupted Luna at this point. “Wuz she really that lazy?”

Luna grinned at Applejack, her eyes sparkling, “Yes, every bit. It can be hard to be ambitious for one’s self if one is immortal, and she was already ancient beyond memory even in those days. She was so much more fun back then too… But I digress, I’m telling thee this so thou canst know how I fell, and what once froze the heart of the very Sun.”

***

Over the next few weeks, Night slowly attempted to integrate herself into the unicorn court. The nobles had seemed pleasant enough at first meeting, but there was an undercurrent of disdain that ran through her interactions with them. It all finally bubbled to the surface when she accepted an invitation to dinner at Lord Heartstrings’ manor. Celestia had declined, not being fond of the stuffy pony, but encouraged Night Glider to go if she liked. “I can’t hold your hoof forever.” she’d said. Night had nervously arrived, fashionably late, at the small soiree wearing an expensive blue cloak that Celestia had purchased for her. The party was already in swing, and she could hear the laughter and merriment from outside. The hoofmare at the door let her in. As the timid alicorn entered, the room quieted immediately from a jovial roar to an expectant rustling. A rather flushed Lord Heartstrings stepped forward to greet her, a hoof thrown wide in welcome.

“And you must be the new-old-one we’ve been hearing about! What an amusing contradiction that is, yes?”

“Ahaha, yes. I can see how that is rather funny.” said Night, unsure how to react to the attention.

“Everypony can see how you are funny, my dear. Now, come take your place at this feast of proud unicorns!” He gestured at a small chair set at one end of the table.

“Th-thank you, I believe I will.” As she walked past her slightly tipsy host, he stumbled a bit and stepped on the corner of her cloak. The weak gold brooch at the front snapped off, letting the cloak fall behind her. She gasped at having thus been disrobed, her wings flaring out in embarrassment.

“Aha!” cried Heartstrings, “Perhaps you do not belong at this table of unicorns at all! Perhaps you are just a bull-headed pegasus under all that finery? I can understand why thou wouldst try to hide it. Thy own kind beat thee and left thee for dead. The filthy vultures don’t have any honor.” By this time the small crowd of nobles was laughing uproariously at her discomfort. Night cowered, unsure what to do or how to react. Seeing her thus in his power, Heartstrings continued mercilessly, physically poking at her to emphasize his points. “And what is this on thy flank? A cutie mark of the moon? Hah! It takes a hundred unicorns to muster the power to raise it. Thou must be a powerful magician indeed if thou hopest to wrest it from us. Here, a toast to thy power!”

He levitated a large glass from the table, in addition to the one already levitating near his head. “Here is thy glass,” He brought the cup over Night’s head and dropped it upon her. “What? Couldst thou not lift a single glass with thy magic? By what power dost thou propose to manage the skies? Mayhaps we could give thee proper motivation to try. Thy own mother cast thee out. I promise to cut her down as a favor to thee if thou canst shift the heavens. Simply touch the moon and I shall see her dead.” Night looked into her tormenter’s eyes at this. They were cold, hard and perfectly sober as they bored into her. She let out a tiny shriek of fear and ran crying into the night, the loud laughter of the party still ringing in her ears while the spilled wine mingled with her tears.

***

Celestia had been furious when she had heard, and swore to wage a war eternal against the despicable noble and his kin. After Night Glider had calmed down a bit she and Celestia had held a council of war to determine how to proceed. Celestia had given Night a crash-course in magic and crude animation. They sketched out their plans for the humiliation of the Heartstrings family in detail, but at the end, Celestia had frowned, unsatisfied. “It needs something more. These are all enough to drive a pony completely mad, but it needs a focus, something he can be truly terrified of…”

Night Glider looked up at her mentor expectantly. “Some sort of illusory monster perhaps? Something that lurks in the shadows after every prank? Something he can blame it on, but never find?”

Celestia grinned wickedly at that and glanced up at the vaulted ceiling. “I have just the thing, watch this.” She reared up on her hind legs and let out a burst of green flame from her horn that ran its way down her body. Her back straightened, making her massively tall, and her muzzle retreated into her face. Her back hooves grew a knobbly paw from the front and her forehooves grew little tentacles. Her face completely disappeared into blank whiteness while her mane and tail withered away into nothing. The now-hideous Celestia grabbed a black cloak from the closet and draped it about her shoulders menacingly. “What do you think?”

Night stared in horror before puking all over the floor.

Laughing, Celestia switched back to her normal self. “Haha! That will do swimmingly. The foal will be a gibbering wreck within a week.”

“Wh-what was that? And how did you do that?”

“Ancient magics, of a darker bent. It was something from my childhood, twisted of course to something more hideous. There were creatures, long ago, called humans. They were bipedal, tall as a minotaur. I was even friends with one. Her name was Megan. That was a creature from her nightmares…” Celestia trailed off, her mind lost in better times. After a moment, she shook herself and smiled wolfishly at Night. “Now! There’s a pony sleeping right now who does not deserve to sleep the sleep of the just. Let us relieve him of that burden.”

***

“Aw, come-on. Y’all can’t jest stop there!”

“Art thou sure? We were very unkind to him.”

“Eeyup, he deserved it. Ah wanna see him get whut’s comin’ to him.”

“Ok…”

***

It started simply enough. Two nights after the party a subtle glow of moonlight lit up the noble’s bedchambers as he was retiring to bed. Paying it no mind, he simply magicked the curtains shut. After a moment, he realized that the glow hadn’t diminished, except in the far corner of the room, where deep shadows were gathered. Slowly the light began to strobe across the room, and he caught a glimpse of something gaunt and white and impossibly tall standing in the darkened corner. Before he could make out its features, though, the room was pitched into complete darkness. Timidly he called out, “Hello?”

The dark answered him with a silence so profound that not even the servants downstairs could be heard as they prepared the house for the morrow. Whimpering, the noble cowered low in his blankets the rest of the night.

The next day, after a night of fitful sleep, he awoke to find his entire wardrobe missing. Not a scrap of clothing was anywhere. Grumbling, he headed down for breakfast in the nude. True, it wasn’t that scandalous, but it was disorienting when the hired help was better dressed than he was. Heartstrings gave his majordomo a stern talking-to about thieves and watchfulness and sat down to his morning oatmeal. Just as soon as he had lifted the first spoonful to his mouth and taken a bite, a massive, fuzzy, hoof-sized spider heaved itself from beneath the surface of his oatmeal and leapt upon the now-panicking Lord. It crawled wetly all over him as he and his servants tried to bat it off before it finally scuttled away towards the basement.

Morbidly curious, he walked over to the stairs and peered down them. Something scuttled in the dark. Finally he spotted the spider, a little shadow moving against the larger gloom. It scuttled into the middle of the room and onto a tall, motionless figure. A pale motionless figure. He slammed the door shut and hollered at his servants to head downstairs with lamp and knife to evict the stranger. When they got down there, the room was empty, all save for a little trail of oatmeal that wandered into the middle of the room and simply vanished.

The rest of his day at the palace of Queen Spira went smoothly, other than the quiet sniggers he got for walking about unclothed in court. With some trepidation, he headed home to find the house in good order. The mood at dinner was tense and somber. Every dish was carefully tested by the head chef before being placed in front of Lord Heartstrings. The complete lack of a surprise was terrifying, every moment he kept looking over his shoulder, expecting to see that thing again. He ate quickly and lightly, taking only a few bites of every dish offered to him. Finally, he excused himself from the table. Beckoning to his majordomo, he instructed that a servant be posted in his room all night with a candle. At that moment, all of the mage lights and lamps on that floor were extinguished all at once. The only light came from his butler’s horn as he held a dish in his magic. In a moment that faded also as the butler fainted clean away. His light had illuminated a strange, faceless figure beside him.

There was a mad dash for the stairs onto the second floor, ponies trampling each other in their haste to flee. Heartstrings lead the charge. The lights continued to vanish one by one, the darkness chasing him into his chambers. He slammed the door behind him, narrowly missing his majordomo as he also leapt inside. Outside it had started drizzling rain and the sky was thick with clouds. A flash of lightning lit up the outside. The fear-addled pony crept up to the window, peering outside. In the darkness, he could just make out a bundle of sticks tied into an effigy of a pony. It was wearing one of his shirts. He glanced about, to the side was another effigy, wearing his best hat and monocle. He looked back to the first. It was now joined by another, wearing a sash. Everywhere he glanced, more and more of these strange ponnequins appeared. Soon the yard was full of them. They sat there for a moment, gazing reproachfully at him across the yard. Finally, one of them rose into the air, was crushed by an unseen force, and immolated in a cool, blue flame. One after another they were lifted, crushed and burned, adding a ghostly, intermittent luminance to the yard.

Lord Heartstring’s mind had already broken. He stared numbly out at the burning array. Something else caught his eye. There. In the center of the yard. It was the slender beast. It stood there, heedless of the flames. It was wearing his finest jacket, ripped and warped to fit over the ghastly frame. Without inclining its blank head, it raised one hideous arm and pointed straight at him. Then, in front of his eyes, it vanished. A thud sounded behind him from the direction of his majordomo. He turned slowly. There it was, still pointing at him, the beast. Everything went black.

***

Applejack’s eyes twinkled, but she sat quietly after the vision ended.

“Applejack? Art thou alright? I knew it was too disturbing…”

Applejack turned to Luna, “Ah ain’t never seen somethin’ more beautiful happen to a more deserving pony in all mah days! Whut happened ta him afterwards?”

Luna smiled guiltily, “Well, he left the country the next day along with most of his household. The Heartstring name faded out of history for quite some time. Some of his descendants made it back to pony lands after the diaspora and unification. Celestia kept her vow, though.”

“Wait, her vow?”

“To wage an eternal war on them for my sake. No, it’s not what you’re thinking. She’s not vindictive enough to torture them for something their ancestor did. It’s a prank war. Ever since that day, the direct descendants of Lord Heartstrings have been plagued by occasional glimpses of strange, bipedal creatures that they can never catch. It’s silly and harmless, but she does it to remind me how much she cares, and how seriously she takes her word.”

“Heh, was that Celestia’s ‘rampage’? ‘Tain’t much in tha way a violent outbursts.”

“No, it was not. Her true wrath came soon afterwards though.”

Chapter Fourteen: Parakaleo

After the prank she and Celestia pulled on Lord Heartstrings things got both better and worse for Night Glider. The entire court now gave her respect, but it was also laced with fear and hesitance. Nopony knew exactly what had happened to Lord Heartstrings, but they all knew why it had happened. After a few more days of this treatment Night was thoroughly fed up with unicorns. Celestia picked up on this and came up with a solution. “Earth ponies! We’ll go visit the earth ponies and have ourselves a good old time there. It’s been decades since I visited them. They’re good solid folk that won’t treat you any different than anypony else, long as you pull your weight. Besides, the food’s richer and the wine’s sweeter out there in the country. What say you?”

Night, slumped on the dining table, gave a non-committal grunt and went back to moping.

“I will take that as a yes. Let’s away!” In a flash of solar magic, Night suddenly found herself a good thousand feet in the air. She flailed about briefly before getting herself into a safe glide. Celestia’s hearty laughter at her antics both frustrated and amused the dark alicorn.

“Are we just leaving like that? No warning to anypony?” Night asked.

“Certainly. They are no more my masters than a gaggle of chickens is. It has been far too long since I left the palace anyway. Any longer in there and I might start gathering cobwebs.”

Night frowned at this. “How can you just lose a decade like that? You’ve spent half my natural life sitting around drinking and contemplating your hooves and you laugh it off like an afternoon spent napping.”

Celestia took a moment to respond. “Yes, it’s quite disgusting really… It’s easier than getting up and trying to deal with things. The races of ponies are so divided and petty these days. It depresses me, and I don’t like being depressed.”

Below them lay the burgeoning fields of the earth ponies, and ahead of them lay one of their villages. Celestia and Night swung low and came to rest not far from the central longhouse of the village. Celestia flashed Night a winning grin and knocked on the door of the lodge. From inside came a fierce, but squeaky female voice, “Who goes there?”

“A visitor! Who else? Is Chancellor Waffle still rattling around these parts or has he trotted off to greener pastures?”

“Oh, uh, he’s been dead these four years. Died happy though. Just after breakfast it was. The maple syrup was a mess to clean up, let me tell you.”

“Who is chancellor now?”

“That would be me. Chancellor Puddinghead…” There was a pause from both parties. “Oh! How rude of me. Come in! And know me better, mare.”

Night Glider squinted skeptically at this, but Celestia’s unfaltering smile got her to withhold her doubts. Ducking as she entered the longhouse she was greeted by the delicious scent of baking bread. Busily working away at a stone oven in the center of the room was a fairly portly mare wearing a rather ridiculous hat. She was in process of removing a couple of finished loaves and replacing them with new dough. Finally satisfied, she set down her bread paddle and turned to her guests. As soon as she caught sight of them, she shrieked and jumped into the rafters. This at last earned a frown from Celestia.

“What now chancellor? Thy forbearers were not so skittish as thee. Come down from there and greet a guest in the name of a guest as is meet. Our form should not affright thee so sorely. Twas a familiar sight in years not long past that We should grace thee with our presence.”

“No! I shall not greet thee in the name of a guest since thou hast become our enemy. I know thee Celestia. These past years thou hast consorted with the unicorns to rob us of hearth and home. Thy withholding of the sun when we resisted the levy of the unicorn tribute is proof enough of thy treachery! Thou wouldst doom the world to death in ice and hunger for thy trinkets of gold and thine own full belly. I have heard tell of thy power, but what is it to stand against power when one’s only other courses are death and slow death?”

Celestia scowled openly now. “I spit upon thy proof! Thee and me have been betrayed both, but if thou desirest ice and hunger, perhaps those kin of thine in lies and slander can give it thee. We shall go where ponies know how to treat a stranger under their roofs.”

Night was absolutely bewildered by the exchange and offered no resistance when Celestia shooed her out with a wing. The look on the elder goddess’s face was pure iron and hatred. She glanced at Night with a look that could burn stone. “I have been sorely betrayed by the very ponies with whom I shared a roof and meal. They have turned old friends to enemies and broken ancient alliances for filthy gain. Come. I go to confront the villain in this scheme.”

Night nodded mutely. Without another word, the Sun took to the skies while the Moon followed close after.

***

“Wait. She held back the sun fer tha unicorns? Ah thought she wasn’t taking sides?”

“It was the ‘solar schedule.’ Under the guise of experimentation they were using her to threaten the other races while keeping her blind to the whole affair.”

***

Celestia landed on the roof of the unicorn palace, her head cocked and ears listening for some unknown signal. Glancing at Night, she said, “Wait up here. Ye shall hear the exchange fine from this vantage.”

With a flash of her horn, the wrathful goddess tore a hole through the copper, wood and stone of the roof into the throne room below. Landing like a star from heaven she regally stood over the ponies who cowered before her. Only one dared remain standing. Queen Argent strode angrily to the edge of her dais and stomped a silver-shod hoof. “What is the meaning of this, Celestia? Is thy mead not properly warmed? Has some waif not turned thy mattress properly? What gives thee the right to intrude on Our court in such a manner, where proper business is conducted!?”

Celestia stared across at the indignant queen, her mane curling at the edges with wisps of multi-hued flame and radiation. “THOU DAREST SPEAK TO US SO? THOU LIAR OF THE INFERNAL PIT, THOU WILT KNEEL IN TEARS AND EXCREMENT AS PAIN EATS THEE ALIVE BEFORE ME SHOULD I BUT FLICK MY HORN. THOU ART LOWER THAN A WHELP OF DOGS AND AN EATER OF CARRION FLESH, FOR THOU HAST SET THINE OWN GAIN HIGHER THAN THY NEIGHBOR AND TREATED TRECHEROUSLY WITH THOSE WHO ONCE COUNTED THEE FRIEND. THERE IS NO LIGHT LEFT IN PONY KIND AND WE SEE NO NEED TO SHARE OURS WITH THOSE WHO WOULD ABUSE IT AS A WEAPON. THOU HAST COVETED THE VERY SUN, NOW LET THY MAGES AND WIZARDS SUFFER UNDER ITS BURDEN!” Her final statement was punctuated by a resounding stomp that shattered the stone beneath her and launched her into the air and out of the castle.

Night Glider leapt into the air after her, struggling to keep up. “Wh-Where are we going?”

Celestia never turned her gaze, her eyes watering slightly. “Away.”

***

Luna sat back with a sigh. Applejack glanced over at her. A slight smile graced the dark goddess’s face. “What followed were the best years of my life, I’m not ashamed to say. Celestia and I wandered the earth, sometimes in humble disguise, sometimes in burning glory. We ranged from the steppes of Mongrelgolia to the burning Liongeti to the savage woods of the Hartland. We conquered demons and built cities. I remember the day I gained my starry mane as we tamed the wild Ursae. Meanwhile, the days and nights grew longer and colder as the Unicorns slowly lost control of the sun’s orbit. Celestia had pity on the rest of the world, and made the sun shine unusually bright on those parts that were innocent of wrong, but she would not light her horn to move it an inch to the right or left. I’m told that many unicorns lost their lives trying to keep the sun on its course. Queen Argent herself died years later from the strain of trying to lift the sun. Really, though, it was her pride that did her in. Her daughter, Princess Platinum, finally realized the folly of trying to stay in old Unicornia.”

“Ah think Ah know tha rest a this story. It’s tha Hearthswarming Eve play isn’t it? Ah thought it was wendigoes that brought tha winter.” said Applejack.

“Ah, no, though dangerous, they are just parasites, following the cold in the air and the cold in ponies’ hearts. Celestia holds that play as a reminder to herself as much as to her ponies. She was part of the cause of their suffering. I think she still feels guilty for the innocent lives lost because of her grudge. Starswirl the Bearded herself died in that unnatural winter.”

“Wait. Starswirl? Tha guy Twilight’s always on about was a she? With a beard?”

“Yes, Celestia told me that she never understood her fashion choices, but the facial hair spell she devised was always her proudest accomplishment, no matter what other wonders she achieved during her long life. Hence the epithet. It was weird enough to be worth mentioning.”

“So, anyway, when tha Fire a Friendship was made, was that real?”

“Very. It was, in fact, the seed from whence sprang the Elements of Harmony. Its magic restored the frozen wastelands and grabbed our attention from a continent away. Celestia’s own heart was melted by it, I think. It was what convinced her to return to what was now Equestria. She realized that they had overcome their prejudices to a degree.”

“Was that when y’all became the rulers of Equestria?”

“No, first came the reign of the Triumvirate and the Shattering, but that is a story for another time. We did, eventually, ascend to the throne. I had learned, by that point, that fear is a useful tool to get one’s way. I was careful, at first, to ensure that they also knew I could be benevolent. As the centuries passed, I did indeed grow jealous of my sister’s easy popularity and winning ways, but old wounds ran deep. As much as I desired their fellowship, I was unwilling to mingle with the common ponies and suspicious of the nobility. There was one pony that I did keep in contact with, though, with whom I shared my secrets and insecurities…”

“Who was that?”

“Viceroy Sombra.”

Applejack reared back a bit at that. “Really? That evil black smog feller? Couldn’t string two words together? Duller’n a drunk pig? That Sombra?”

Luna chuckled morosely. “Yes, that Sombra. I suppose that’s my fault as well. A thousand years sealed on the moon and a thousand years trapped under the arctic ice are two very different things. It’s no wonder his mind broke. He was fascinated by me, and perhaps a bit in love. I returned his friendship, but I never saw his infatuation until too late. As the years went by he grew desperate for a way to catch my eye, to be ‘worthy’ of me. He sought a means of immortality and did much research into spells that preserved and sustained life, of that at least, much good came. Some of his methods still survive in our hospitals today. He finally reasoned that to live, a pony must consume, taint and destroy. After all, what is the act of eating or drinking? He found a way to break down things of order and beauty and consume their energy. He kept his horn blazing day and night, red-hot with superequine strain. However, the same spell that burned him sustained his life and magic in a twisted loop.”

“Was that when y’all realized he was no good?” said Applejack.

“No, not hardly. I was impressed with him. He extended his life for decades, just by burning slowly through his own sizeable estate, but I never gave him the one thing he desired more than my friendship. Mad with frustration, he hatched a plan to make himself not only immortal, but as powerful as a god. He supposed that then I might love him. He experimented with ever darker magicks, ways to burn hotter and faster. In a day he burnt his whole house to the ground, and all his treasure. On a wave of tainted smoke he flew into the palace and evicted the emperor. Nowhere in the entire empire was safe from his all-consuming taint. He believed himself invincible, and he spent a few years consolidating his power. He enslaved his own subjects, forcing them to mine the crystal that sustained him. Our envoys would have their minds warped so they could not give report of what happened behind the shields of the Crystal City.

“I wondered what happened to his letters though. I missed their flattering words and kind sentiments. Worried, I went there myself. When he saw me approach, he was delighted. He drew me in, casting a glamour about my eyes so that I could only see him. I cannot remember much of what happened next. I believe that the Elements purged those memories from me when you rescued me. What I do know is that he preyed upon my fears and insecurities, warping my mind as best he could. His hubris was too great, thinking he could hold a goddess. I finally broke free of his spell while I dreamed one night, but the damage was done. The realization of his betrayal did what his dark magicks could not. My heart broke that night. My only friend, the one pony I had trusted, had turned on me. I fled to Celestia’s side, and we flew out to meet him, armed with the Elements. When we tried to purify him, their magic failed. I was far too sick at heart to wield them.”

Luna stopped for a moment. Her head hung low, and tears hovered in her eyes. “So we killed him. We were forced to strike with the roaring violence of the Sun and the bitter hatred of the Void. His magic sustained him, though his body was reduced to a roiling miasma. His specter lashed out at us and the Empire with strange magicks that have rarely been seen since the foundation of the world. Finally, my sister managed to tear a hole in the very bones of the earth while I drew him under and sealed him away. I… I never recovered from the mad pain of that duty. I blamed my own sister for forcing me to seal away my only friend. I blamed Harmony itself. I turned on the entire world. If only I had let my sister in. Let her hold me and tell me it would be alright. Let her speak peace to my wounded soul like she so deeply desired.”

Luna paused again and looked up at Applejack, her eyes deeper than the endless void. She seemed truly ancient then. More than the eons she had already seen, her eyes sang of a burden older than the stars, older than light, older than joy. She finally spoke again. “Don’t tune us out, Applejack. The whole world will fail you. To live is to know pain. To live forever is to suffer endlessly. You, Celestia, and I are meant to be the strength that keeps each other whole, to remind each other that friendship and peace are also eternal.”

Applejack sat for a minute in silence, humbled and somber. “Ah won’t… Ah won’t.” She shook her head, unsure what to say.

Luna dropped her gaze, a few tears escaping. A wan smile curled her lips. “Well said… Sister.” Her ears perked up at some inaudible signal. She looked back at Applejack. “Thy body is much recovered. Mine is repairing the larger strain, and will sleep a while longer. The dreamtime has never matched well with the passing of reality. I shall see thee soon. Though I have not known thee long, Celestia and I well know thy burden. Remember that we love thee, sister.”

Chapter Fifteen: Barbarizein

Chapter Fifteen: Barbarízein

Applejack stirred before opening her eyes. She was under some sort of blanket. Snuffling her way out from underneath, she stretched her neck out and slowly opened her eyes. The drenched and shattered wasteland she had fallen asleep in was gone. In its place was a massive and richly embroidered tent, floored with sweet grass. She was lying on a canvas cot. Across the room sat Merry May, snoozing gently and wearing a turban. Applejack brought a hoof to the bridge of her nose and let out a deep breath. “Merry…”

The little pegasus startled awake. She looked at Applejack with glittering eyes and let out a loud whistle towards the tent flap. Standing up, she trotted over to Applejack and curtsied. “How are you, mistress?”

“Ah’m fine. Where did y’all get tha tent? An’ don’t call me mistress.”

Before Merry could answer, a gangly camel nudged the tent flap aside. In his mouth was a large platter with several pieces of some kind of bread, stuffed with piping hot vegetables and a pungent sauce. He set the platter on a low table, bowed deeply, and left again. Merry giggled, turning back to her idol. “That’s where! I ran into a herd of camels traveling the southern deserts and convinced them to follow the spots of greenery that you left behind. I don’t know if we would have ever caught up to you if it weren’t for the explosion.”

Applejack, still groggy and willing to humor the mare, asked, “Explosion?”

“There was a massive explosion of water and rock and fire! It came from the opposite direction we were following, but I said to myself, ‘self, that’s probably her!’ So we switched course and found you in some kind of swampy jungle. The camels were really impressed. They said that this place used to be completely dead. Now they want to follow you too! Isn’t it wonderful?” Merry smiled, fit to burst.

“Merry, Ah don’t need followers. And whut happened ta Luna?”

A confused look washed over Merry’s face before answering with venom in her voice. “Luna… We put her somewhere where you could deal with her. She tried to hurt you!”

Applejack sprang fully upright at that. “Whut. Did. You. Do. Take me ta her now.”

Merry skittered back at the sudden intensity in AJ’s voice. “Y-yes milady.” She dashed out of the tent, AJ hard on her heels. Outside Applejack could see that they were in a large grassy plain. In front of them the land sloped down into a shallow tree-filled basin where the water from her fight had collected. Merry May immediately took wing and swooped towards the little grove. Applejack kept to the ground, easily keeping pace. Through the little stand of trees there was a large boulder wrapped in chains. Strapped to the top was Luna, looking very uncomfortable in her sleep.

Wasting no time, Applejack bit down on one of the chains and ripped it free. Spitting out the metal, she turned on Merry May. “Luna’s far more of a goddess than Ah am. Y’all will get her over to tha camp right now an’ do fer her whatever ya did fer me, y’hear?” The little pony trembled and dashed off towards the camp, yelling at the milling camels.

In the meantime, Applejack gently lowered the mishandled princess down from the stone and started hauling her out of the little swamp. She was met halfway by a couple of camels carrying a stretcher. One of them nodded graciously to her and said, “We shell take her, lady D’jinn.” His accent was quite strong, but understandable.

Applejack nodded back, “Thank yeh kindly.” She rolled Luna gently off her back and onto the stretcher. “But mah name ain’t Gin, though Ah guess y’all are close in a way… It’s Applejack.”

The camel stared at AJ for a minute before tossing his head dismissively. “Very well, lady Epplejeck.” They trotted back to the camp in companionable silence. Luna was carefully placed in a corner where several of the she-camels tended her and brushed her fur. Merry May hovered nervously at AJ’s side. Applejack watched them care for Luna until she was satisfied that they would treat her gently. Turning to Merry, she said, “Have y’all had lunch yet? Ah think Ah can spare one a them funny sandwiches.”

***

The meal had passed in silence. Merry had been too nervous to speak, while Applejack had been far too hungry. Finally sated, she turned to her erstwhile disciple and asked, “So, Merry. Why, ex-actly do ya wanna follow me?”

Merry looked shocked. “Uh, I, you’re beautiful and powerful and strong and you are… I mean, why wouldn’t I?”

“Sapphire Shores is all a those, and a sight prettier ‘n’ better at singin’ to boot. Why not drool over her like tha rest a her fans?”

Merry quirked her mouth to the side and shook her head. “But, she doesn’t matter like you do.”

“Ah ain’t no better than anypony else. Besides, if yer lookin fer a goddess, Luna an’ Celestia have tons more experience than Ah do.”

“They have other ponies to look after them. And, if you aren’t any better than anypony else, how come you can make the world wake up?”

Applejack sat for a minute. “Well, Ah don’t rightly know.”

Merry May smirked, then frowned, not quite sure how to take having bested her goddess in a battle of wits.

***

The trip back to Equestria was going to take the better part of a week on hoof, even with Applejack pulling the largest wagon solo. The camels were quite convivial despite the obvious deference they showed her. They were nomads and explorers, like most of their kind. Their clan hadn’t been back to their homeland across the seas in nearly a decade, and the stories they had to tell stretched imagination. At the moment though, Applejack was busy trying to read, pull a cart and use magic all at once. A second letter had arrived on the second day of their return journey. It contained little, loving notes from her family and friends, and a letter from Celestia.

Dear Applejack,

I know that this letter will find you well. Luna visited me in a dream and has filled me in on what has transpired between you, in addition to my own ways of gathering information. I’m glad you are on better terms and I hope to call you sister as well. On the other hoof, that leads to certain complications of a legal nature. Whether or not you choose to invoke the title, you are by right a sovereign, reigning princess of Equestria with all the rights thereunto pertaining. The foremost of your rights as such is to form an honor-guard or similar organization under your exclusive command of whatsoever volunteers you desire. Their salaries are to be paid directly from the national treasury. Before you dismiss this as being needless and pretentious, consider your current situation carefully. Other duties and responsibilities you should wish to perform can be discussed at another date.

Your sister in harmony,

Celestia

Applejack furled the scroll and tucked it into her harness for safekeeping. She frowned for a while in thought, her eyes occasionally darting over to Merry May. She was currently helping to pull a small cart and chatting animatedly with one of the camels, no doubt extolling Applejack’s virtues and power. A royal guard did not sound like something AJ wanted. What would she do with a contingent of soldiers? On the other hand, the letter had specified that the particulars of the organization were up to her. Celestia had asked her to think about it, so it was obvious she was driving at something.

Her mind wandered back to her experience in the Ponyville market. It’d be impossible to sell apples from behind a barrier of steel and muscle, and something about the thought of hiring royal sales-ponies left a sick taste in her mouth. She’d probably have to hire somepony to keep curious ponies out of the farm… Again, though, that seemed to be missing the point of Celestia’s offer. Grunting, she called out to the camel pulling alongside Merry, “Hay! Musaafir! Can yuh spare Merry fer a bit?”

“Certainly, miss D’jinn! Though I shell miss her company.”

Applejack mentally shrugged at the name they seemed to have given her. “Mah thanks then fer lettin’ me borrow her. Merry? Ah’d like a word with yeh if ya don’t mind.”

Merry hesitated, then slipped free of her harness and trotted over to Applejack. She bobbed her head in an approximation of a walking bow. “What do you need, milady?”

Applejack waited a minute to get her thoughts straight. Looking over at Merry, she said, “Ah’m gonna ask ya agin. Why do y’all want ta follow me?”

Merry sighed, “I-I didn’t really know in the beginning, but now… I wish you would understand… You can do so much and-and bring so much beauty to the world. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve seen even more how you leave every place you’ve been better. Even where you and Luna fought, the land is alive again. If, um, if there is any way I can help you bring that beauty to other ponies, shouldn’t I do that?”

“Well, Ah can’t say Ah’ve appreciated ever’thing ya’ve done.” Merry’s face fell. “But, Ah do appreciate yeh comin’ after me.” Merry brightened. “If there was a way y’all could help me ‘n’ make ponies’ lives easier, would ya do it?”

“Yes! Anything you like!” Merry skipped along, excited.

“Well, Ah get ta form mah own sorta royal guard, bein’ technically a princess and all. Ah don’t want soldiers, though. Ah suppose that bein’ an alicorn, mah family’s bigger’n Granny, Mac ‘n’ Blooms. Ah should do what Ah can fer the world. Ah think that’s whut mah guard should be. Somethin’ ta help me help others. Ah think, maybe, Ah’d like you be mah first captain.”

Merry May shot into the air with excitement. “Really!?”

“Now hold on jest an apple pickin’ minute, y'all gotta promise ta follow orders and ya gotta pass a test first!”

“I'll do anything!”

“Anythin’?”

“Yes!”

Applejack smirked, she had Merry right where she wanted her. “Well, before y’all can join mah guard, ya gotta prove yer country enough.”

“Huh?”

“Show me how country ya are and Ah’ll let’cha join.”

“I, uh, Ah ken.. dew thee-at… Uh, yep-howdy.”

“Hmm… Nnope. Not good ‘nuff. Keep tryin’.”

Chapter Sixteen: Diatheke

By day three of the journey home Luna had recovered and began to stir in her wagon. Applejack immediately called a halt and instructed Merry May to keep everydromedary (it rolled off the tongue better in Camaltese) away from the wagon. She ducked under the canopy of the wagon and sat patiently beside her fellow goddess. With a slight moan and a jerk she startled awake, staring uncomprehendingly up at AJ.

“Good mornin’ sunshine.” said Applejack with a grin. Luna groaned again and pulled a nearby cushion over her face. “Oh no you don’t. Nope. Ah ain’t the most mystic of ponies, but Ah know enough ta know that what happens in a dream don’t count fer nothin’ ‘less ya do somethin’ about it. Now, didja mean that bit about bein’ sisters?”

“Aaaplejack. It’s the middle of the daaay.” came Luna’s muffled voice.

“Answer mah question then Ah might let’cha get back ta sleep.”

“Yes. I meant it. Yay for sisterhood. Now go away, ruffian.”

Applejack chuckled. “Nah, Ah only said Ah might go away. Now up ‘n’ at ‘em. Y’all can take a turn at cart pullin’. It’s only fair.”

“Why are we traveling by hoof? It’s much faster by air.”

“Well, Ah’m sick ta death of flyin’ and Ah like the company. Y’all can fly ahead… But won’t it look a mite strange fer the princess of the night ta come back alone after chasin’ me off like that?”

Luna gave her a flat look. “Blackmail? I expected more from the element of Honesty.”

“Eeyup, Ah ain’t Kindness.”

***

With much cajoling and backtalk, Luna was hitched to a wagon, giving a few more camels a chance to switch out and rest as they walked. Merry May was scrupulous to keep on the opposite side of the caravan at all times lest Luna find out what she had done while she was sleeping. Luna, for her part, pulled in silence and haughty dignity, the very picture of affronted royalty. Applejack rolled her eyes. It’d do the princess a bit of good to get dirty.

They made good time. By the end of the next day they were in sight of Dodge Junction and the rail back into Equestria proper. Applejack called a quick halt to discuss strategy. “Ah don’t want ta get mobbed. How’re we gonna get into town?”

Luna shrugged, “I could always do this.” She closed her eyes and summoned a green spark of changeling magic. In a few moments she was transformed into a slightly larger version of Night Glider.

“Ya gotta teach me how ta do that. Alright, Musaafir? Ya got any cloaks in extra-extra large? There’re some ponies in town that might recognize me.”

Musaafir shook his prodigious head. “No, the wagon sheets though…”

“Ah’ll get it back to ya plus interest.”

Musaafir nodded, “Fair as always, noble D’jinn.”

“Thanks again. And, Ah’ll make sure that if y’all’re ever down at Sweet Apple Acres, y’all will get the biggest spread a food y’all have ever laid eyes on.”

Musaafir’s eyes twinkled at the alicorn, “We shell take you up on that.”

“Well, goodbye, Ah’ll see y’all later. If ya do go into town, tell Cherry Jubilee that Ah said hi.”

“Goodbye! We shell meet again, Epplejeck.”

“Come on Merry! Let’s go.”

Merry May nodded and said goodbye to the camel she had been talking with. The camels set up camp for the evening. Applejack, looking rather odd in a sail’s worth of canvas, Luna in disguise as a statuesque, star-spangled pegasus, and Merry May in her turban, set off across the sand and cracked earth towards Dodge Junction.

A sheriff had galloped up to meet them a short ways from town. Luna had beckoned him over and whispered something in his ear. His eyes had widened in surprise and he nodded at the trio. His accent was deep and slow, “Welcome to Dodge Junction. Envoys of thuh Princesses are a rare sight out here. Ah know better than ta ask y’all whah y’all’re here, but our services are at y’alls disposal.”

Luna smiled at him. “A set of train tickets will suffice.”

The sheriff nodded, “Ah figure Ah ken do that.” Noticing Merry May for the first time, he pointed out her turban. “Y’all just get out of thuh shower, missy? Ain’t no water ‘round here for miles.”

Merry May glanced side to side nervously. “Uh, no. It… I can take it off.”

“Merry May. You keep that hat on yer head.” Applejack raised her voice for the first time. “First rule. Ah don’t care whut kinda hat yer wearin’, y’all don’t let nopony give ya no guff about it.”

Merry May looked back and forth between the sheriff and her goddess. It took her only a moment to stiffen her spine. “That’s right! You don’t like my hat, Mr. Sheriff, y’all can just deal!”

Applejack smiled under her sheet. Maybe Merry May could learn after all.

The sheriff looked critically at the abnormally large unicorn under the sheet, and decided that there were better fights to pick. “Well, Y’all can head down to thuh depot. They’ll get y’alls tickets and such squared away. Just tell ‘em Sheriff Gunsmoke sent y’all.” With a final nod, he galloped ahead of them into town.

***

The tickets had been waiting for them as promised. The trio got plenty of odd looks from the townsfolk, but the cowponies mostly lost interest when they saw that the strangers were waiting for the outbound train. Weirdos headed out of town were officially Somepony Else’s Problem. The overnight train to Ponyville arrived without incident and the three of them found themselves in an otherwise unoccupied car. Applejack immediately threw off the canvas. “Whew, Ah can-not believe that some ponies wear clothes ever’ day. Ah’m sweatin’ like a pig.” Merry May chuckled a bit at that, then abruptly caught herself and sat to attention, eyes forward. Applejack sighed. “Merry…”

“Yes milady?”

“If y’all really want the job, Ah need ya ta be more than a good soldier or an obedient servant. Ah need a friend. Ah have the girls ‘n’ mah family back home fer emotional support, but if yer gonna be spendin’ yer days at mah beck and call, which Ah ain’t totally comfortable with, Ah need ya ta be somepony that Ah can laugh ‘n’ carry on with too.”

Merry May fidgeted a bit. “But, aren’t I supposed to show you respect? I mean… If I don’t treat you like you deserve to be treated, aren’t other ponies not going to?”

Applejack glanced at Luna. The erstwhile pegasus was studiously examining the passing landscape. “Ah don’t think…”

“She’s correct, you know.” said Luna. She was still facing away from them, her gaze focused on the distance. Slowly, deliberately, she turned to Applejack. “This is the reality of thy life. Thou art a goddess, ponies will look up to you, some will pray to you even. It matters not that thou art uncomfortable with the praise and expectation. To be less than you are is to hurt the ones who look up to you. Tia and I have learned this lesson over many years, at great cost.”

“But, ta be what Ah ain’t. Won’t that hurt them more?”

“What, then, art thou? Nopony is knowable, not really. We are each ineffable things, unsure of ourselves and unsure of those around us. Appearance is as good as a fact.”

“Ah don’t buy it. Truth is truth. Some things are so and some ain’t. It don’t matter if y’all are unsure, the fact remains with or without yer say-so.”

“Fine, then look at thyself and ask, what should Applejack, who is a goddess, do?”

Applejack sat back and fumed. Luna had a way of twisting words around as if they were something they weren’t. Timidly, Merry May spoke, “What if I called you Ma’am?”

AJ quirked an eyebrow at May, “That… Ah can deal with that. And y’all will loosen up a bit?”

Merry May stuck out a hoof, “Deal.”

Laughing, AJ met Merry’s hoof with her own. “Deal.”

***

The rest of the train ride passed peacefully. Occasionally one of them would pipe up with a comment or a story and the other two would listen, but for the most part a comfortable silence reigned. As evening wound into night and on towards morning, the dusty hills of the San Palomino Desert slowly gave way to the greener fields and trees of Everfree County. Something in the air changed subtly as well. Applejack felt suddenly at peace as she caught the faint scent of apple trees growing and ripening. Off in the distance was the south orchard, just coming into view. Apparently somepony had taken care of the thorns already. As the train passed acre after acre of the old family farm, Applejack wished she could just leap from the car and run off into the fields, reveling in the familiar glory of it.

All too soon, the fields passed from view as they came within sight of the Ponyville train station. There was something going on in town. Tents and pavilions littered the empty pastures near town and something was going on at the station itself.

Luna perked up, with a burst of magic she reverted to her normal form. “I believe Tia has come to meet us!”

Chapter Seventeen: Perihelion

As the train slowed to a stop, AJ slunk lower on her bench. A whole delegation was waiting for her at the station. She recognized Prince Blueblood, the minister of agriculture, the mayor and the head of parliament in addition to a slew of others she didn’t recognize. Towering over them all was Celestia herself. Her aurora of hair streamed in the ethereal winds while she chatted lightly with some minor functionary. As the brakes screeched to a halt her head turned to give the train car her undivided attention.

By this time Applejack had slumped all the way to the floor. Luna hesitated, feeling that to go out first would be somehow inappropriate. Merry May looked about to hyperventilate. The little pegasus scrambled over to the window and peered out at Celestia. The alicorn was watching the boarding door impassively while a slight smile twitched at the corner of her lips. The nobles surrounding her were shuffling their hooves and generally trying, unsuccessfully, to match the ageless patience of their ruler.

Merry’s expression hardened. Leaning down, she poked Applejack in the shoulder. “Hey, what’s up?”

“That’s Celestia. Ah can’t go out there after all this an’ meet her ‘n’ tha whole Equestrian government!”

Merry frowned, “So what? Y’all already fought Luna to a standstill. Buck up. Celestia’s no sweat.”

“But, Ah… She’s Celestia! No offense to ya Luna, but Ah didn’t spend mah entire childhood prayin’ ta you ‘n’ thinkin’ y’all were somethin’ unreachable and perfect. Now Ah gotta go out an’ face her as an equal…”

Luna leaned down alongside Merry and gave AJ a gentle nuzzle. “Thou canst do this. Remember, as much as she’s the Goddess of the Sun, she’s also the lazy roustabout of Unicornia and the mystery monster of the Heartstrings clan. I also seem to remember her sharing an amusing letter thou sentest a few years back on the subject of friendship and already knowing it all. Where was thy shyness then?”

Applejack glared up at Luna. “Ta be fair, Ah was kinda drunk at the time.”

“Then surely thou canst face her when thou art in command of thy faculties and armed with the power of a goddess, yes?”

“Yeah, give her what-for and tell her that you won’t let her take you-all, uh, y’all off the farm!” said Merry.

Applejack peeked over the edge of the window. Celestia was still there waiting. She hadn’t moved a muscle. Applejack sucked in a huge breath and then sighed. “Y’all are right. Ah’m getting mah tail in a tizzy over nothin’. Here Ah go!”

Applejack rose regally to her feet and marched over to the exit. An extremely nervous porter opened the door for her and stepped aside. Applejack nodded to him and debarked, barely remembering to duck her head and horn for the doorframe. Luna and Merry followed and took up positions beside her, Luna to her right and Merry to her left. Applejack and Celestia stood a moment, facing each other across the station as the entire crowd held its breath. Celestia was the first to move. Slowly, she approached Applejack and nuzzled her neck in a regal sort of hug. “It is good to meet you for the first time as a sister, Applejack.”

Applejack tentatively returned the nuzzle, “Uh, you too, princess.”

Celestia broke the embrace and rested a hoof on AJ’s chest. “Please, no need for such formality between the two of us."

In the meantime various cameras were flashing near-constantly while phonographs and film reels spun furiously to capture the event. Applejack was getting slightly dizzy from the lights, though she was fairly sure she could hear Pinkie cheering from somewhere in the crowd. “Ah, uh, sure thing… Celestia.”

Celestia glanced over to the crowd of reporters. “How about we have Luna and your… Hoofservant?”

“Captain.”

“…your captain deal with the press while you and I go somewhere private to discuss where to go from here.”

“Alright.”

“Luna! Captain Merry! Would you two be so kind as to entertain the press for a moment?”

Luna nodded and Merry snapped to attention while Celestia turned to step off of the platform. A path parted in front of her as if by magic. Applejack followed closely in the princess’s wake as the crowd surged behind her. They soon found themselves in front of the town hall. The Solar Guard was busy blocking the entrances and deflecting curious onlookers. The two alicorns passed by gracefully. AJ entered first while Celestia paused to give an instruction to the guard captain.

Inside the grand building was a set of cushions and a small tea service. Nopony else was there, though the windows were thronged. Celestia took her seat and lit her horn for a moment. The windows and walls shimmered with a golden glow as the sounds of the crowd faded away. With a sigh, Celestia turned to Applejack. “There, we have complete privacy for the moment.”

“Thank you kindly, princess.”

“You know, I meant it on the platform. I sincerely hope you will accept me as a sister. That wasn’t just a publicity play.”

“Ah know… Ah guess Ah gotta warm up to tha idea first.”

“That’s fair…” Celestia trailed off as she poured herself a small cup. “I also have a bottle of cider if you’d like it, your own make.”

Applejack smiled faintly, “Thanks, Ah think Ah should have a clear head for the time bein’.”

“It’s up to you.” Celestia fell silent, her eyes hard but worried. “Now… This is a rather dramatic change for you. You know… I could make this all go away if you wanted.”

“Pardon?”

“You know of the various limits I have imposed upon myself, Luna mentioned them briefly to you. I can do much more than that. I could make it so that you lose access to all your power, your form would be reverted permanently… I can’t do anything direct about the immortality, but getting cast in enchanted stone at the end of your chosen life is near enough…”

Applejack stared at Celestia. The elder goddess stared back, unreadable, but grim. “Uh, that’s pretty extreme, ain’t it?”

“Not when you think about it. I would be giving you back everything you had before you changed. We could write this whole event off as some trick of Discord and everypony will have forgotten about it within the year. We could fake the signs of aging, and nopony would ever have to think of you differently. Then, at the end, you would go to a blissful, eternal rest. So, what do you want?”

“Didja give Luna this choice?”

“I didn’t have the knowledge to do so back then. I do now.”

“What about mah family? This affects them too.”

“I can make similar arrangements to protect their anonymity and their livelihood. They need never suffer for your decision, either way. You will not be separated from them and they can live peacefully. Applejack… This decision needs to your choice and yours alone. I cannot reverse what happens, and I will not offer this a second time, the consequences would be minimal now, but unfathomable later. Should you make the decision on the recommendation of another, you could come to resent it later on, and even a powerless immortal can cause a lot of damage, nevermind a goddess. You’ve seen a glimpse of the kind of heartache that this sort of life can provide, and I do mean a glimpse. There are also moments of joy, unutterable happiness that will come to you through eternity. What I ask is this, can you bear up under the burden?”

Applejack stood up and paced towards one of the darkened windows. The crowd was still faintly visible. “What happens to tha rest of tha world?”

“Either the rest of the world goes on happily, much as it has for generations, or you change it.”

“Y’all’re tryin’ ta tell me that I Ah walk away, an’ it don’t cost anypony anythin’?”

“Well, yes. I suppose I am.”

“With all due respect, Celestia, that’s bull.”

Celestia smiled, surprised. “Oh? And why is that?”

“Well, when an apple tree is young, ya tie it to a stick and hold it firm so it grows tall an’ straight an’ strong. If you never tie it like that, well, it ain’t like it’s gettin’ any less than it would in the wild… But it won’t grow straight. It’ll bend for any reason, and when a heavy snow comes or a strong wind blows, it breaks like kindlin’. Maybe Ah’m supposed ta be tha brace that helps ‘em grow.” Applejack gestured broadly out the window. She turned to Celestia, eyes serious. “Ah ain’t gonna walk out on ‘em, Mama Apple didn’t raise no quitters.”

Celestia nodded, “Is that your decision? Are you fully prepared to take up that duty and role, knowing that in the end it was your choice?”

The Earth Goddess looked the Sun Goddess in the eyes. “Eeyup.”

Chapter Eighteen: Apotheosis

Chapter 18: Apotheosis

Celestia held Applejack’s gaze for a while, her eyes narrow, but her mouth smiling. “Well then, I believe you. You also accept your role as princess of the realm?”

“Ah do.”

“No sense in waiting around then. To business!” Her horn flashed in a sudden blaze, the walls gleamed and a small pile of scrolls on a side table levitated and then blinked away. “We have a coronation to prepare you for! You may be a princess by right and power, but it pays to do things by the book.”

“Uh, ok, when do ya want ta have it?”

“Hmmm… Let’s say five o’clock this evening. Yes?”

“Ain’t that a mite soon? Ah, mean, Ah would think it would take a bit ta organize.”

“Nonsense, I’ve had almost a week to plan. Now, go spend some time with your family. I’ll be in touch for the details. You don’t have to worry about a thing.” With that, Celestia shooed her out the door.

***

One military escort later, Applejack found herself standing at the gate to Sweet Apple Acres. A pair of unicorn guard ponies stood watch on either side while a couple of pegasus warriors circled overhead. In front of her she could see the slightly different shade of red where they had replaced the wall Luna had blown down. She sighed, whatever happened, things wouldn’t be the same. She signaled the guards to stay behind. Slowly, she trotted up to the door. Inside she could hear Apple Bloom chattering excitedly to somepony. AJ chuckled, that girl loved to talk.

Applejack pushed open the door, inside her family was sitting around the old parlor. As soon as they saw her, they rushed her and tackled her in a massive hug that almost threw her on her back. “Woah, Nellie! Apple Bloom, haha, Ah still need ta breathe… Well, Ah still enjoy it anyway. Mac, Granny. It’s only been a little over a week. Ah’m fine. Hay, Ah’m back.” She wrapped her family in her massive wings. Apple Bloom giggled as the feathers tickled her. The four of them sat there for a minute, just happy to be together. Finally, Applejack drew back to look at her siblings and her grandma. “So, Ah assume Celestia talked ta y’all?”

Big Mac nodded, “Eeyup.”

“Did she say anythin’ ‘bout nobility?” asked AJ.

Another nod, “Eeyup.”

Apple Bloom piped up, “She said that Ah could be a princess too when Ah grow up! Jest, not with wings ‘n’ such…”

Applejack smiled down at her little sister, a hint of worry in her eyes. “Are ya sure ya want that, sugar-cube? Luna knows, tha life of a princess could be pretty rough.”

“Yeah, but yer one, so it cain’t be all that bad.”

Applejack ruffled her sister’s hair with a hoof. “Thanks, Blooms. What about you Mac?”

“Eeyup. Ah’m there for ya.”

“Y’all don’t have to be. Ah can jest split mah time between here ‘n’ tha castle. Ah know ya ain’t tha most sociable of ponies, and Ah don’t want ta put’cha anywhere ya ain’t comfortable with.”

“Nnope. ‘Sides, Ah don’t buy it when Celestia says she can hide us. Ah need ta keep ya out of trouble anyhow.” He smiled and poked her with a hoof.

“I’ll need somepony with a mess a common sense. And what about you Granny? Do ya know what’s goin’ on?” asked Applejack.

“A-course Ah do! We’re gonna go see tha princess! Ah haven’t been this excited in ages.”

Applejack smiled at her grandmother. “Eeyup, we’re gonna see her this evening. Now, Ah need a bath first. Also, y’all seen mah hat?” Her siblings shook their heads. The hat had been missing since the fight with Luna in the kitchen. “It’ll turn up. Jest keep an eye out.”

***

A couple of hours later Merry May arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, accompanying Applejack’s friends. AJ came out to meet them and hug each one individually before leading them inside. They managed to squeeze in around the kitchen table. “Ah guess Ah’m gonna have ta get a bigger kitchen if Ah’m gonna be a princess.”

Fluttershy’s eyes sparkled, “Oooh, you could get a rosewood table and have velvet chairs and put down soft plush carpets with a cozy fire. It’d be just like a fairy tale. Um. If you like that sort of thing.”

AJ chuckled, “That sounds lovely, Fluttershy. So, why are y’all here as a bunch? Ah’m glad y’all stopped by, but Ah’m guessin’ Celestia had somethin’ ta do with it since Merry came along too.”

Twilight cleared her throat. “Yes, Celestia did send us over to discuss the coronation arrangements. Pinkie needs to discuss the decorations while-”

Rarity tsk-tsked at Twilight, “Darling! I understand that time is short, but not so much that we cannot chat a bit. Applejack, how are you holding up? This must be so much at once.”

“Well, yeah, it’s all got me a mite mixed up inside, but Ah figure it’s fer tha best. Ah can deal with it, Ah jest don’t know how Ah feel about draggin’ y’all and tha whole family inta it.” said Applejack.

Rainbow Dash nodded, “Yeah, fame gets to a pony. It can really mess you up, and it can mess up your friends too.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, “Thanks for that, but I really think we should get to organizing the event. We have a really short time to plan and we can discuss feelings later.”

Applejack sighed and nodded. The sooner this all got planned and done with, the better.

***

The afternoon went by in a whirlwind of decorating, fitting, and the occasional small argument. Everypony seemed a little tense. Applejack shrugged it off as nerves. Four o’clock rolled around, time for the rehearsal. Luna and Celestia would ascend the dais first to declare their right as rulers, then would come Applejack to receive her regalia of office and tiara. She would accept the vows of office and her new titles would be declared, then she in turn would invest her siblings and grandmother with their titles and offices. Following the short ceremony would be a massive party on the Ponyville greens. The next day would see the nobles and dignitaries back to Canterlot and her first day as an official princess.

The crowd started to gather in front of the little stage. Her friends were standing front and center, while she waited with her family to one side. The town clock chimed out five. As soon as the last bell sounded, Celestia strode onto the stage in perfect passage. Unusually for her, she was clothed in a sheer white dress that draped across her regal frame in flowing folds. Taking a position on the right, she reared back and landed with a loud, assertive crack.

“By the will of the ponies of Equestria and of Harmony itself, I am the Lady of the Dawn, Her Serene Immortal Highness of Equestria, Daughter of Harmony and Endless Light of Life, Mother and Guide of the Herd, Once-Bearer of Kindness, Laughter, and Magic, Duchess of Canterlot, Van Hoover, and Cloudsdale, Queen of the Scattered Clouds, the Very High and Very Powerful Princess Celestia, and I rule by Power and Wisdom in the dispensation of Justice and Mercy.”

With a mighty flare of her horn, the Sun moved backwards in its course to hang at a perfect forty five degrees to the horizon. Applejack blinked in shock. That hadn’t been part of the rehearsal.

At that signal, her sister also mounted the stage in similarly graceful fashion, more akin to ballet than a simple trot. She was wearing a shimmering blue garment that blended almost imperceptibly with her tail and mane. She reared and stomped as Celestia had, and orated in a somewhat louder tone.

“By the will of the ponies of Equestria and of Harmony itself, I am the Lady of the Night, Her Serene Immortal Highness of Equestria, Daughter of Harmony and Conqueror of the Midnight Skies, Avenger of the Herd, Once-Bearer of Honesty, Generosity, and Loyalty, Duchess of Zebrica, Stalliongrad, and Manehatten, Queen of the Distant Isles, the Very High and Very Powerful Princess Luna, and I rule by Power and Wisdom in the dispensation of Justice and Mercy.”

Her shadowy magic flowed forth in massive waves as the eastern sky darkened and the moon slowly rose well before its time. The sky directly overhead shimmered in an unnatural aurora as the night claimed its half of the heavens. Applejack was thoroughly cowed at the display.

Celestia called out, “Applejack, come forth and be recognized.”

Applejack slowly walked forward, her head down and her gait hesitant, just as had been practiced. She found her place in front of the stage and bowed low.

Luna spoke, “Stand before thy Ladies and Masters.” Applejack rose. “Thou hast been called before us to receive our Blessing and Crown to stand in Holy Office as Princess of Equestria. Wilt thou stand with strength before our enemies and against all calamity, to give thy life and might to secure the welfare of the ponies thou hast been chosen to defend?”

Applejack nodded once, adjusting into a smooth Manehatten accent, “I will.”

“Then stand and show thy Power.” Luna swung her hoof mightily, connecting with Applejack’s cheek. They had practiced this part. Applejack called upon her magic, rooting her firmly in the earth itself. Luna’s hoof struck with an immense crack, louder than gunfire, but she might as well have been hitting solid steel. “Thus I prove you and find you worthy to be girded as a Princess for war.” She summoned Applejack’s peytral of office and clasped it around her neck, it gleamed like burnished bronze and was inset with lapis and malachite on the front in the shape of her cutie mark.

Celestia then called to Applejack, “You have been proven worthy to fight for Equestria, but the true end of war is sacred Peace, whose survival depends on mercy and self-mastery. Will you stand with love and fellow-feeling as a beacon to the nations of the world, giving consideration to even the lowliest of your subjects and passing fair judgment without respect to pony, not returning evil for evil?”

Applejack nodded again, “I will.”

Celestia reared back, “Then stand and show your Wisdom.” Her hoof connected with Applejack’s other cheek with a sound louder than a cannon. Again, Applejack stood as immovable as eternity. Celestia had explained this part during the rehearsal as showing her willingness to refrain from returning violence. “Thus I prove you and find you worthy to be crowned as a Princess for judgement.” With a flash of magic, she summoned Applejack’s Stetson. This also hadn’t been part of the rehearsal. The trusty old hat had been cleaned and re-formed perfectly. A faint glimmer of enchantment hung about it, a bronze hatband had been placed upon it, set with perfect orange garnets, and around the brim had been fitted a bronze trim. Applejack couldn’t help but smile as Celestia placed it reverently on her head.

Now that she was fully crowned, Celestia and Luna gestured her onto the stage to stand between them. Applejack was a little unsure of her step, but managed to take her position with grace.

Celestia began declaring Applejack’s new titles in a call-and-response with Luna. “Ponies, before you stands the Lady of the Soil!”

“Her Serene Immortal Highness of Equestria!”

“Daughter of Harmony and Wellspring of the Harvest!”

“Benefactress of the Herd!” As they continued, Applejack reached out gently with her magic for the depths of the bedrock beneath them. She wasn’t about to let Celestia and Luna have all the fun.

“Bearer of Honesty!”

“Duchess of Ponyville, Appleloosa, and the Southern Expanse!”

“Queen of the Fertile Valleys!”

This last bit was hers to say. They had spent a lot of time earlier picking out an appropriate formal name. Applejack reared back and abandoned all pretense of a sophisticated accent, instead lacing her words with power and force. “Ah am tha Very High ‘n’ Very Powerful Princess Mara!” As she struck the stage with her hooves, she fired a burst of magic deep into the soil. The very earth around them shuddered slightly and rumbled deafeningly. Celestia and Luna both looked at Applejack in slight shock as the little tremor settled.

As the crowd regained its bearings, a massive cheer burst from their throats, affirming the ceremony that had just taken place. The rest of the investiture passed in an elated blur. She first crowned her grandmother as a dowager queen of Equestria. Her brother and sister were crowned as the illustrious prince and princess of Everfree and San Palomino counties respectively. Thankfully there was much less hitting and far fewer titles to deal with in those ceremonies. The audience had cheered all of them on as if they would never stop, but stop they did. After all, there was a Pinkie party to attend afterwards.

***

The party had been wild and hectic. Pinkie, once again with the royal coffers backing her plans, had set up a whiz-bang show, complete with a country hoedown to celebrate Applejack’s coronation. Applejack had met dozens of foreign ponies over the course of the evening, each eager to offer the new ‘Princess Mara’ some impressive gift to win her favor. They had come in all shapes and sizes, from stately griffons to imposing minotaurs and even a smallish drake. A crystal pony was also present, offering the regrets of Empress Cadence and Shining Armor for not being able to attend on such short notice.

Celestia and Luna had set the sky back into its natural order and dusk had long since fallen by the time the Apple family staggered home, laden with gifts. Merry May accompanied them home, pulling a cartload of presents as well. Granny Smith and Apple Bloom had been put to bed immediately. Both were far too exhausted to argue about it. Applejack, Big Mac and Merry sat around the kitchen table, each nursing a mug of cocoa.

Applejack took a small sip of her mug, then set it down and turned to Merry May. “So what’re yer plans? Ah’m guessin’ Ah have ta knight’cha properly one a these days. Is that really whut ya want?”

Merry nodded, “It is. You do need somepony who gets you and can also do what you ask. I don’t think your friends would like it if you started bossing them around, but I wasn’t your friend before. I can be a servant too. As well as a friend, I mean. Um. A different sort of-”

Big Mac chuckled into his mug as Applejack interrupted her. “Ah get it. And, thanks. Ah’m gonna need all tha help Ah can get…” AJ lowered her head to the table in thought. “A lot of tha old stories my ma used ta read me had a happy ending ‘n’ the heroine was thrown a party ‘n’ that was it. Ya wondered whut happened to them afterwards. ‘Cause, happily ever after jest don’t happen in real life. Ya might have the best or worst day ever, but ya wake up tha next day and ya find out that ya still got work ta do and fields ta plow.”

Big Mac tossed back the last of his drink and set it down with a thud. “Eeyup.”

Afterword & Sequel

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today I learned that while writing is fun on its own, it's more fun when you take the leap and share it with friends. Also, even though it makes you nervous to let the world see things that are really important to you, good ponies will appreciate the fact that you took the time to share it.

Your Faithful Scribe,

Blue Print

So, thank you all for coming on this little journey with me! There are just a couple of things that I need to clear up that caused a bit of confusion. Both of them deal with foreign stuff. First, the chapter names. The chapter names were all Greek words, most of them having some sort of biblical or mythical significance. All of them are related in some way to the content of the chapter. The basic translations are as follows:

1: Pneuma = Breath or spirit
2: Gnosis = Knowledge, esp. hidden knowledge.
3: Hypsos = Height or altitude
4: Euchomai = Prayer or supplication
5: Theophaneia = The presence or manifestation of a god
6: Dunamis = Miracle or show of power
7: Aisthanomai = The faculties of sense
8: Thumos = Wrath or forcefulness
9: Pheugo = To flee
10: Oneiroi = Dream or vision
11: Eirene = Peace
12: Atheteó = Rejection
13: Phrike = Horror
14: Parakaleo = To exhort, plead with, comfort
15: Barbarizein = To imitate the crude speech
16: Diatheke = Covenant, contract, promise
17: Perihelion = The point closest to the sun
18: Apotheosis = Deification

Second, the name Mara. There are a few mythological figures that bear this name. Some of you thought I was referring to the Hindu goddess of Death and Evil. This is not the case at all. I was referring to Māra (pronounced May-rah) of Latvian mythology. While it's true that a lot of Slavic cultures adopted various corruptions of the Hindu goddess, Māra shares absolutely no roots with them. Her more ancient name is Mat Zemlya, or Mother Earth. The name Māra came about when some Latvians got confused by a bunch of Catholic missionaries extolling the virtues and glory of Maria, as in the Virgin Mary. The description kind of fit Mat Zemlya, so the local Latvians just inserted Mary into their little pantheon and said, "Close enough." Māra was the goddess of the soil and co-ruler of the Latvian pantheon. She is also associated with industry, the fruits of agriculture, prosperity and the whole cycle of life from birth to death. That's why I chose hers as the formal name for Applejack.

Lastly, the sequel is finally here! In the Service of the Goddess has been approved and can be found at the preceding link. It follows the events directly after the coronation and is gonna be a wild and fun ride if I do say so myself.

As always, you guys rock. Stay frosty!

Chapter Five: Theophaneia

The next day found Applejack restless and upset. Excusing herself from the breakfast table, she headed out, hoping that a walk would clear her mind. Even the fresh scent of things growing failed to give her any solace from the constant cycle of her thoughts. Ah shouldn’t have sent her off like that. She had no right tellin’ me what mah duty is. Ah hafta come ta grips with this eventually. Somepony who knows what Ah’m goin’ through would be mighty nice. Ah shouldn’t have sent her off like that. Her inner monologue carried her right to the edges of the Sweet Apple Acres property, to a wild and unimproved section of the farm. Feeling trapped and lonely, she lashed out with her hind hooves at the nearest tree, a massive oak with spreading leaves. She channeled all her frustration and confusion and guilt into her buck, giving one almighty effort. With an immense tearing noise the entire tree uprooted from the ground and slid a good hundred feet before stopping. Shocked, AJ examined the fallen tree. Improbably, it had come out whole and unshattered, the root structure and crown of the tree mostly intact.

Well, thought AJ, Ah guess Ah ain’t really tested mah limits yet. Leaning down, she nosed her way under the tree and stood up under it, easily shouldering the multi-ton burden. Carefully, she trotted out to the edge of the Everfree, finding a small clearing. Within a short time she had hoof-dug a hole to match the one left by the peregrine tree and replanted it. She trotted around it several times, gently tamping the earth with deliberate steps to seat the tree. As she circled, the effect was miraculous, perhaps literally so. The roots of the tree seemed to settle and move by themselves, adjusting to the new location. The grasses around her brightened and seemed to stretch, while flowers that she was fairly sure hadn’t been there before started to bloom. Smiling, she looked up at the oak, feeling suddenly sure that this tree would see another few centuries. She looked around briefly, to make sure she was alone, before speaking. “Ah’m mighty sorry fer just lashin’ out like that. Ah hope Ah’ve made it up to ya. Y’all will flourish here, out on tha edge of things. Ah think Ah’ll call ya Oakley.”

***

Applejack made herself scarce for the rest of the week, putting off her meeting with Twilight for magic instruction. Within that few days, she had cleared and transplanted a full acre of land, plowing and preparing the soil for a new section of orchard. Even starting from seed, the saplings were almost a hoof tall by the time she finished ministering to and mothering the field. It was terribly late in the year to be planting new trees, but with her supernaturally heightened growing skill, they should easily weather the upcoming frosts scheduled a few months from now. By the time she finished, the mature orchards were just coming into full ripeness, heralding the start of applebucking season. A couple more days were taken up with helping her brother gather in the harvest and sort and store the apples. Soon enough, they had a sufficient bunch stored and shipped to open their town stall and try to sell off the excess to the citizens of Ponyville. Applejack woke up early as usual on market day and trotted downstairs to get ready for the day. She saw her brother already up and finishing breakfast.

“Hey, Big Mac, Ah think Ah’ll take the cart inta town today.”

Big Mac looked up at her skeptically.

“Well, Ah ain’t really been off the farm since, yaknow.” She rustled her wings for emphasis.

“Eeyup.”

“Ah don’t think it’ll be a problem. Ah gotta go inta town eventually, right?”

“Eeyup.”

“Mark mah words, Ah’m goin’! Don’t you try ta talk me out of it Mac!”

“Nnope.”

“It’s settled then.”

Big Mac chuckled a little, “Eeyup.”

“Y’all can make sure Applebloom makes it ta school, right?”

“Eeyup.” He nodded towards the door in a little ‘get out of here’ gesture, smiling at how nervous AJ looked, despite almost certainly being the toughest thing from here to Canterlot.

***

The market was still quiet this early in the morning. Only the rustling of cloth and the rattle of stalls being set up disturbed the peace. Applejack anxiously pulled her cart to its place beside Carrot Top’s stall and started setting up. Within a short time she was ready to sell, and stood by, and towered over, her wares. Derpy Doo trotted into the early market on her way to the post office. Applejack screwed up her courage and called out to her. “Hay there Miss Doo! Y’all lookin’ fer breakfast or somethin’ fer yer lunch break? Our apples are plumper an’ sweeter than ever, Ah even got some apple muffins Granny Smith baked up!”

“Oh, nah, I’m not in the mood for muffins today, got any apple butter?”

“Ah happen ta have a jar right here for ya. Fer you, it’s five bits.”

Derpy brightened, “Aw, you don’t have to give me a deal like that.”

“Nono, don’t you try to change mah mind none, that’s mah offer, take it or leave it.”

Derpy smiled and dropped the change in the cashbox, “You’re a pal Applejack, stay cool!”

“Alright, say hi ta Dinky fer me!”

Derpy just waved back, smiling as she trotted off towards her work. Applejack smiled to herself, a little stunned. That had been… very normal. Now braced for the day, AJ prepared herself for the coming influx of ponies. Most of the stalls were set up by now, and ponies were slowly filtering in from the sides of the market. AJ’s stall was fairly central, so she got customers a few minutes later than most, but she also had more ponies pass by her stall over the course of the day. However, before she could call out to try and get her second sale, a gasp and shout came from the flower stall three booths down.

“It’s the princess!” Lily shrieked.

“We aren’t ready for a royal visit!” screamed Rose.

“We’re doomed!” cried Daisy.

Applejack looked around, slightly terrified of meeting either Celestia or Luna, before realizing they were pointing at her. “Now there, there’s no call fer that. Y’all know me, plain ol’ Applejack.”

Rose was unconvinced, “Well, it’s obvious you won a duel with them for their powers and are now conqueror of Equestria. Obviously. How else would you explain… that.” she said, gesturing.

“Ya jest pointed ta all of me!”

“Exactly.”

“Ah ain’t dueled nopony. Where did ya get that fool idea?”

Rose had the decency to look embarrassed, “Uh, a Mare-Do-Well comic.”

All eyes in the growing crowd of shoppers had now focused on the exchange. Whispers flew thick and fast among the assorted ponies. “She signals the pony apocalypse.” “It’s just a sales stunt.” “Maybe her apples are magic now?” “I wonder if she can authorize tax breaks…” “I don’t know what’s going on.” “It’s all the radiation from the hydroelectric dam.” “I have to get her autograph!”

Finally, a pony stepped forward from the group. “A-Applejack?”

Wary, she replied. “Yes?”

Holding out her child she asked, “Will you kiss my foal?”

“Uh, whut?”

“You know, give her your blessing for a long and happy life?”

Another mother called out from the herd. “Hey! Mine too! Rumble, get over here!”

The mob pressed in on AJ from all sides. Now the floodgates were open and pleas and demands were flooding in from all sides. Applejack backed up to her stall in panic, trying to escape the press. The cart toppled, sending apples everywhere. “Now now, give a girl her space. Ah ain’t an actual princess, Ah jest look like one. No, Ah can’t bless yer baby. Hay now, don’t be like that, Ah don’t know how! What? A’course Ah’m not plannin’ on causin’ eternal night. Hay, no handouts! Put that apple down, y’all gotta pay fer that. Gah! Not you, Ah don’t need yer entire purse neither.” Finally it was too much for the mare. She had one last resort, the Voice. “BY CELESTIA, Y’ALL WILL BACK OFF NOW!” Before the ring of stunned ponies around her could get back up or recover their hearing Applejack had leapt off the ground with enough force to shatter the cobbles beneath her. Taking wing at an altitude that most pegasi couldn’t match, she sped for home, tears trailing behind her.