Beneath a princess

by Aether Nexus

Rating: everyone
Tags: Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad, Romance, Twilight Sparkle
Length: 9033

Heading home after a fight with her ex-marefriend, Applejack reflects on her relationship with Equestria's newest princess.

There had been a day when Applejack almost lost everything, If it wasn't for Twilight, she probably would have.

Later that day, she felt she had everything she could have ever wanted.

So how was it that now, she was fairly sure she'd managed to throw it all away?

Published 2023-08-08 10:10:00 UTC
Last updated 2023-11-25 23:40:29 UTC

The train home

Applejack was lost.

Not literally, she was on the friendship express bound for Ponyville, but what would she find there?

Love?
Family?
Friends?
A home?

She’d found happiness, she’d been content. Then everything changed, and she’d lost everything. The fact that everything was her fault wasn’t even the worst part.

The worst part was that she would never even be able to say sorry.

********************

“You can rest when it's over Big Macintosh. Ride! Ride!”

*We’re not going to make it*. I thought to myself, I hadn’t been able to keep count of the difference, but them brothers were easily throwing out double the amount of barrels we are, perhaps triple?

I could hear the ponies talking, but ah couldn’t pay them any attention or I’d lose speed on the apple bucking. Mayor Mares voice though, her’s did cut through my racing heartbeat.

“Flim, Flam, would you object to honourary family members helping?”

“Are you kidding? We don’t care if the whole kingdom of Canterlor helps, it’s a lost cause” replied one of the brothers. I couldn’t help but stop. Honourary family members? There weren’t any other Apples in Ponyville, close or distant, who could it be? I saw a group of ponies approach and really, I should have known better than to wonder who it could have been.

Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash, my best friends, and of course, she was leading them. How could I not smile, together we’d faced terrible trials and gone on fantastic adventures, of course, there honourary Apples.

“I think I’d love ta have the rest of my, family helping out.”

In the end, it didn’t matter. We lost, but after tasting the cider made by those brothers, the ponies of Ponyville chased the varmints out of town. Of course, we had to have a cider party afterward, and with all of Ponyville in attendance, it was a good thing we had so much cider. Pinkie even opened a secret stash of apple cupcakes, that filly sure is strangely good at being prepared.

I walked past many ponies who congratulate me before they’d return to their previous conversations, but that was fine, there was only one pony I needed to speak with, fortunately, it wasn’t long before I found her speaking with Mayor Mare.

There had been something that had been on my mind for a while now, it wasn’t until I tried bucking the entire apple harvest on my own that I’d realised what I was starting to feel for the unicorn who’s once again come to my rescue. And here she was, saving my flank again, it was about time I was honest with myself and honest with Twilight Sparkle.

“Well Miss Sparkle, I shall leave you to your cider for now, and it would seem that Miss Applejack is coming over to speak to you. Until the next time.”

As Mayor Mare left, I quickly took her place.

“Hiya Twi, hope you’re enjoying the cider.”

“Of course Applejack, there's nothing better than your family's cider, thanks again by the way.”

“Way I see it sugarcube, if it weren’t for you, me and ma family would be packin our things round about now, you saved us ya know.”

Twilight was taken aback, she was so cute when she’d been caught off guard, “I didn’t really do that much, just a bit of magic, any unicorn could have done that.”

“But it was you who did Twi, though that’s not the full reason I’m thank’in ya for. What I wanted to thank ya for was for stickin' up for us, there were a lot of ponies in the crowd, most of Ponyville I’d wager, but not one of them tried to raise a hoof to help. But you stepped up, came to our rescue, and even got the girls working on the jobs they could help most with too. Sure we lost, but if it wasn’t for you, those snakes wouldn’t have kicked that contraption into overdrive, ruining their cider.”

Twilight blushed, I could hear my heart beating fast as my legs turned to jelly. Part of me wanted to turn heel and run, but if not now, then when would I say something?

“It was nothing AJ, I’m sure some pony would have stepped forward if I hadn’t.”

“An yet it was you who did. So you’re the pony getting the thanks.” Ah took a deep breath, now or never. “I was wonderin, would ya be willing to get some grub in town? Say tomorrow evening?”

I said it!

Twilight looked shocked, I hope I didn’t screw it up. “That's not necessary Applejack, knowing your family will be keeping the farm and this cider is enough thanks for me, you don’t need to do anymore.”

She said … did she think I was asking her for food as thanks for saving the farm? I should go with that! Save face and forget about this, but I don’t want to forget.

“I’m not askin' ya as thanks Twi.” Deep breath, don’t panic. “I err, been thinkin’ about this for a while now, about you. I have feelings for you Twilight Sparkle, so if you’re willin, I’d look to take you out, for a date.”

I SAID IT.

I could almost hear party streamers exploding in my mind, now, all that was left was to hear her answer. Though judging from the dumbfounded look on her adorable face, I’m startin’ to think I made a mistake., by Celestia I think my heart’s going to explode.

“Yes.”

Oh, she said yes.

********************

“Attention all passengers, we will be arriving in Ponyville in 5 minutes, there will be a 15-minute opportunity to get refreshments before we continue onwards to Baltimare.”

Baltimare? For a moment Applejack considered simply staying on the train, but that thought was quickly pushed out of her mind.

Her family would undoubtedly be worried after what happened in Appaloosa, and she needed to tell them about what transpired in Canterlot.

If only she'd wake up and realise this was all a bad dream.

Author's Note

Ok, so I lied, 02:30 on a Tuesday is not Saturday ... I FORGOT TO HIT SUBMIT.

And this isn't a one-shot, I was driving myself a little bit mad so it's now in 3 pieces, but it's definitely 3, it's already 100% planned.

Ponyville

After gathering her saddlebags, Applejack left the station and began the long walk home, if only she didn’t have to go through Ponyville. It was rather late in the day now, and Celestia’s sun was nearing the horizon, and most ponies had returned to their homes. Applejack wished there was some pony to distract her if only to distract her from her thoughts.

She passed the ‘Seed and Petal’, the diner where she and Twilight had gone on their first date. The date started as a disaster, the pair could barely say two words to one another let alone look each other in the eye. That was until they accidentally made eye contact, in that moment, the ice was broken, and finding the situation beyond ridiculous, they couldn’t help breaking out into fits of laughs and giggles. From there, the night was simply magical! They’d laughed, shared stories, learned so much about one another, and at the end of the night, under Luna’s moon, they’d shared their first kiss, the first of many.

Further along, Applejack passed Sugarcube Corner. The bakery was lifeless now, even Pinkies room, usually aglow as the pink party pony planned out her many parties until the early hours, now lay dark and uninviting.

It was here, that with Twilight by her side, they revealed the nature of their relationship to their friends. Of course, Pinkie already had a “Congratulations Twijack” banner and matching cakes to match, it was part of her ‘sudden shipping supplies kit’ whatever that meant, not even Twilight wanted to find out. Fluttershy and Rarity were elated of course, and claimed to be surprised, though over the evening their white lie broke down. First, Rarity made an off-hoof comment that she’d noticed the couple spending a lot of time together recently, which was followed by Fluttershy mentioning seeing them at a date the previous month. By the end of the evening, both admitted to having worked out when the couple had started dating and even had a friendly guessing game as to when they would go public. Fluttershy was the winner.

Rainbow Dash however had the strangest reaction and remained in a daze for quite some time. When the pegasus returned to the land of the living, Pinkie had outfitted her with two party hats and had a “Do not disturb” sign. Rainbow hadn’t said much that night but apologised for her behavior the next day, though wouldn’t talk about why she had reacted that way. When any pony tried to ask her about it, the prismatic mare would quickly realise that a cloud was in the wrong place and fly away. Twilight had grown concerned until Rarity let some gossip, ever since that night, Rainbow Dash had been spending more and more time on the ground, in the company of Ponyvilles resident mail mare.

Applejack hoped that those two would work, Celestia knew that Derpy deserved someone as wonderful as Rainbow in her life. The thought brought Applejack a small smile, but it quickly disappeared when she realised where she currently stood. As Applejack looked, she saw the place where everything went wrong, the last place she wanted to be here right now. The Golden Oaks Libary.

********************

She was gone!

After fixing whatever had caused all their cutie marks to swap, Twilight had said that she knew why the spell failed and wanted to try again. Why wouldn’t Applejack trust her? Sure it went wrong the first time, but Twilight was the most magical pony in Equestria, if she believed she could do it, Applejack would support her. But this just wasn’t fair. Where Twilight once stood, now only the charred floor of the Golden Oaks library remained, empty of purple unicorn.

She was vaguely aware of her friends around her, were they startled like her? Calling out for Twilight? Crying for their lost friend? A single thought drowned all of it, the mare she loved, was gone.

A bright white light illuminated the library through the windows, far too bright to be any star that should be glowing in Luna's night, could it be Twilight? Wasting no time, Applejack ran through the door, with the other close behind.

It was so bright, she had to use a hoof to shield her eyes, then the light exploded, and in its place shone a large pink starburst, surrounded by six smaller white stars. The star descended to the ground before her, and as its light faded, the outline of a pony emerged, could it be Twilight? Oh please Celestia let it be her.

“Twilight, is that you?” She desperately wanted it to be her mare-friend, anything other than their final parting resulting in nothing more than scorch marks on the library's floor.

Rising to their full height, a purple mare now stood before her, it was Twilight! She was alive! Then Twilight did the impossible, her mare-friend unfurled a pair of majestic lavender wings, and her mare-friend became an Alicorn.

Applejack approached her mare friend, “I … I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Ha, Twilight’s got wings, AWESOME! A new flying buddy.”
“Why, you’ve become an alicorn, I didn’t even know that was possible.”

Rainbow and Rarity added, admiring Twilight’s new wings.

“AALLIIICCCOOORRRNNNN PARTY!”
“Wow, you look just like a princess.”

Pinkie Pie shouted enthusiastically, much different than Fluttershy’s reserved response.

“That's because she is a princess.”

Turning towards the new voice, Applejack was shocked Celestia had appeared, but what had she just said? That Twilight is a princess, a princess of Equestria?

“What do I do now? Is there a book about being a princess I should read?”

Applejack couldn’t help but smile, it really was her Twilight, no pony else would ask if there was a book she should read about becoming a princess … But if Twilight was a Princess, where did that leave her?

Would Celestria and the noble ponies of Canterlot allow their newest princess to date another mare? Was there anything that a simple earth pony apple farmer could even offer a princess?

~~~~

The next few days passed so fast that before Applejack even knew it, she was standing in Canterlot Castle, watching Twilight Sparkle’s coronation. She’d barely been able to speak to Twilight with how busy the new alicorn had been. Between planning, paperwork, and princess lessons from the princesses.

But Twilight looked so happy. Surrounded by the nobility, her old mentor, and finary that only Canterlot could offer, Twilight Sparkle shone. It was as if she’d been born for this role, or perhaps made for it. Considering Twilight was Princess Celestia's student, could this have been her destiny all along?

As Twilight was crowned, it became clear to Applejack, Princess Sparkle was akin to a god, she was equal to those who controlled the sun and moon, while she was just an earth pony, did she still have the right to speak to her? Was she even allowed to still call the New Princess her marefriend?

~~~~

The next few weeks felt like living in Tartarus. Every day The Princess would be studying law and etiquette, spending time with the other princesses, or learning to fly with Rainbow Dash, the latter activity was the most Applejack would see of The Princess. Watching her fly through the skies was torture, she was beautiful, and Applejack could easily see how graceful the ex-unicorn would one day be with her regal wings, but with every fall she felt a piece of her heart crumble. She wanted to run over and make sure that her mare … Princess wasn’t hurt, but what would the upper-class ponies around say? When she felt their eyes upon her she felt her coat itch, and could almost hear their whispers, about what a mare like her was doing near their majestic Princess.

Leaving Canterlot had been both a blessing and a curse. She’d barely seen the Princess and certainly hadn’t managed to share any alone time, but at least now that she was going back to Ponyville and the farm. Hopefully, she’d be able to lose herself in farm work and tire herself out enough to get a good night's sleep.

Then those darn vines came. Everything seemed so hopeless, Ponyville had been overrun by the cursed things. That was when our Princess returned, and after some guidance from Zecora, and no help from Discord, she led us once again into the Everfree Forest.

~~~~

“A Cragardile, run for your lives!”

At Rarity's cry, none of us argued. As we scattered, I couldn’t help but look back to check on The Princess.

She was trapped! And worse, the Cragadile was closing in on her.

“Girls, it cornered Twi!” Had she said that? Before Applejack had even registered what had escaped her mouth, she’d grabbed a vine and lassoed the Cragadile, narrowly saving both Spike and Their Princess.

Six vines later, we’d got the Cragadile secured, no danger to any pony now that it was dangling like a pinata, but it had been so close, if we’d been just a few seconds slower …

“That was close.” Admitted Twilight.

“A little too close if you ask me, you sure you’re all right?” She looked fine, but was she hiding an injury? Perhaps she bumped into a thorny viny? Why didn’t she fly away like Flutters and Dash!?

“I’m fine.” Thank Celestia. “I just can’t seem to get these new wings to do what I want them to do when I want them to do it.”

“Ah, you’ll figure it out eventually.” That’s not now though is it Dash!
“Eventually isn’t soon enough” The princess replied.

Exactly, she isn’t safe here, Equrestia needs her, surely she can see that! “You have been having a lot of trouble with those things, and well, who knows what else is goin’ to come after us so.” Deep breath, please don’t fight me on this. “Maybe, it wouldn’t be such a bad idea for Twilight to go back to Ponyville, and let us look for the Tree of Harmoney without her.”

Oh boy, “What! Why!?” she ain’t happy, but it's for the best.

“Well, for starters, you just about got eaten by a Cragadile!”

“We all did, he wasn’t after just me.”

But you’re the one that matters why can’t ya see that?
“Sure, but well, the rest of us aren’t princesses”

“What's that got to do with anything!?”

“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are gone. If something were to happen to you, ah just don’t think Equestria can risk losin’ another princess.” Ah don’t think I could take seein' ya hurt.

“Applejack does make a valid point.” Rarity added, coming to my rescue. “Even if we managed to save the Tree of Harmoney, it won’t necessarily mean Princess Celestia and Luna return. Equestria will need some pony to lead in their absence.”

“But the Tree of Harmoney, I’m the only one who has seen it and knows what it looks like.”

Darn, she makes a good point.

“Huge tree, cutie marks on the trunk, probably been attacked by something hideously awful? Pretty sure we’ll know it when we see it.”

Way to go Dash! I knew I could count on you!

“All of you feel this way? Feel like, I shouldn’t be here?”

She was crying. I can feel my heart breaking but, if something happened to her, what then?

“It is probably for the best”

It was Fluttershy who spoke last, she locked eyes with me before she dropped her head and began her walk back to Ponyville.

I wanted to be sick, the mare I love more than anything is miserable because of me, but it's for the greater good. If something happened to us, Equrestia would move on, but if something happened to her, Equestria as a whole would suffer. This was for the best.

~~~~

It was a mistake, we found the tree, but without her, we had no clue how to save it. When Spike caught up to us and told us Twilight was in trouble, we rushed to her rescue. Fortunately, we’d been able to save her, but if she’d never left us, if I’d never sent her away, she would have been fine.

She even knew how to fix the tree, all it would cost us were the elements. A small price to pay for saving Equestria. She said that it wasn’t the Elements that kept us together, but our friendship, she even said it was more important than any magic. She’d sure come a long way since we met her, but now she would be surrounded by lots of important ponies.

So we gave up the Elements, and it was the right call. The Tree destroyed the vines, and it turned out that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were here, captive of the vines. We’d saved Equestria, but I just couldn’t shake the feeling, I wasn’t even an Element bearer anymore, I was even less important than before, and Twilight had just saved Equestria again! The gap between us could fit an entire country inside it, a country called Equestria.

~~~~

Later that week, we were all invited to Canterlot to watch the raising of the sun for the Summer Sun Celebration, for the first time in a thousand years, two princesses stood side by side, one lowered her moon, and the second raised her sun. As the two celestial bodies passed one another in the sky, a familiar purple streak shot into the sky, creating a purple starburst between the sun and moon. As Princess Twilight landed between the other princesses I couldn’t help but admire how divine she was. I also saw that this was where she was meant to be, a royal of Equestria bettering the lives of every pony, my place was on the farm, as just a common earth pony harvesting simple apples.

********************

With tears in her eyes, Applejack finally tore herself away from the now vacant tree house. No pony or dragon called the library home now, perhaps they'd already left Equestria, maybe to never return. Regardless, there was only one thing that was certain, Twilight Sparkle was gone, and it was her fault.

Author's Note

Ok, 1 chapter left

Appaloosa

With Ponyville now behind her, Applejack began her trot along the long road leading to Sweet Apple Acers. Had it been only three days ago that she’d walked this path with Fluttershy and Pinkie? If only she’d listened!

“So Betsy’s the leader of the herd, she’ll keep ya updated on anythin’ that needs doin’ for the cows, but if you could also keep an eye on the chickens we’d appreciate it Shy. Pinkie, if you could just have a once over the orchards, no need to do any work mind, just make sure nothing is out of place, let Carrot Top or one of the other farmers know if ya think it needs seein’ to before we’re back, knowing you’re keepin’ an eye on things here is probably the only thing that got Granny to agree to go. Again I can’t thank ya both enough for this.”

“No problemo Jacko. After everything that's been going on, how could we not help you and Twi go to the biggest most apple-so-tubbly awesome party in all of Equestria? It sure is a shame I’m not an apple yet so I wasn’t invited.”

“Oh it's no problem, Elisabeck will enjoy some time with the other chickens I'm sure, and it's been far too long since I spoke with Betsy and the girls.”

It may have been a little later than planned, but the Apple family reunion was fast approaching, and this weekend would be the last chance to unwind with family before the Autumn harvest began. She was truly lucky to have friends she could ask to keep an eye on the farm in her absence. The timid pegasus walking beside her was already on good terms with all of Sweet Apple Acre's animals, and Pinkie pronking around to see if anything was amiss. The pink pony grew up on a farm, so she’d probably know what to look out for, Trees were kind of like rocks, according to Pinkie Pie, but Applejack had a sinking feeling in her stomach though, after all, there was one thing she needed to correct her friends about.

“Thanks, girls, but, Twilight ain't comin'.”

“WHATTT!” Shrieked Pinkie, as every trace of pink on the party pony turned into a violent red. “How could she refuse! The biggest PAR-TAY of the season, with the best Apple bakers from all over Equestria, AND SHE ISN’T GOING!”

“Now calm down Pinkie, it's not that big a deal.”

“NOT A BIG DEAL!? How can she turn down seeing your family for one of their legendary reunions? Where is she, I’ll give her a piece of my …”

“She’s not goin’ because I didn’t tell her.”

*Gaspe*

Applejack sighed, this was going about as well as she’d expected. Fluttershy was now frozen in shock, and Pinkie, well, she’d stopped shrieking and was turning back to pink.

“Ah know what you’re thinkin', but she’s busy being a princess and doesn’t have time to just up and leave for some silly gathering of farmers. Theirs barely a half dozen pegasus among the family and I doubt the only unicorn is up for travelin. She has better things to be doin' than muckin' it with us.”

If the various looks on Pinkie's face were anything to go by, many conflicting thoughts were currently running through her head. Pinkie still hadn’t recovered by the time Fluttershy spoke.

“Applejack, are you sure? We know Twilight’s been busy these last few weeks, but she’s doing her best to spend time with us, don’t you think that ..”

“Look Shy, I’ve given it a lot of thought and I’ve made my decision. The last thing She needs is to be set back a few days for something unimportant, so it's best to leave her to it. I doubt she’d even notice I’ve gone.”

Resuming her walk, Applejack resumed her walk to Sweet Apple Achers so she didn’t see what happened. As she walked away, Pinkie reached out a hoof to stop the Apple mare, only to be blocked by a yellow wing. Whatever words were said to change the pink pony’s mind were lost on Applejack, as the two mares galloped back to Ponyville.

She could still hear their hoof steps ringing in her ears, as if the two ponies were behind her at this moment, turning around however, only the early evening sky was present to keep her company.

********************

Applejack, Applebloom, Big Mac, and Granny Smith had all arrived in Appaloosa in good time, despite Granny’s reluctance to use the train, it was the only feasible way to get to the reunion and back without disrupting the harvest. An uneasy silence lingered over the family however, an unspoken question that the two oldest were reluctant to ask, and while Applebloom was silent on the train when Celestia’s sun had begun its descent, the youngest Apple could no longer hold her tongue.

“Hey sis, is Twilight joinin’ us later? I kinda thought she’d be on the train, but she’ll be here at least right?”

An innocent question from an innocent filly, Applejack thought to herself. As far as Applebloom saw Twilight's ascension, the local librarian who was her sister's close friend had become a rare awesome pony with wings and a horn. Sure she knew that the other princesses could do wondrous things and were very important, but to the young apple, Twilight was just another pony who lived in Ponyville.

Applejack sighed, of course, her sister would choose now to bring up this topic, Braeburn had tasked her with bringing the furniture into the barn, and while a few other ponies were helping, it wasn’t a quick job, meaning she had nowhere to escape from her sisters' questions.

“No Bloom, she’s a princess now. She has important duties to attend to.”

“But this is the Apple family reunion, and ain’t she your special somepony? So she’s family, and this is a big family reunion, she should be here right!?”

What was one family against every family in Equestria?

“Family is important, which is why she shouldn’t be here Bloom. We Apples are just one family in Equestria, there are tens of thousands more families out there, so we can’t hog her to ourselves. We shouldn’t be selfish when she has big important work to be doing. There are many ponies who need her help more than we do, it’s not worth us taking her time.”

The yard was quiet, every pony else must have stopped their work to listen to the conversation, it just meant she’d have to work a bit harder to pick up the slack. Surely they’d understand, she was a princess, no pony would dream that Celestia or Luna would simply drop everything to attend a commoner's party.

“Well sis, looks like you’re wrong about what's important. Hiya Twilight!”

Applejack froze, the princess, here!? But how she was busy, she’d bemoaned the point to her not a week ago, she had a meeting with Filthy Rich this entire afternoon to discuss plans for Ponyville’s expansion. But if she was here, how much of that did she hear? Turning around, she got her answer.

Before Applejack stood Equestria's youngest princess, breathing heavily, wings ragged from heavy use and distortions emanating from her horn. Had she teleported as far as she could, then flown the rest of the way? All questions immediately passed out of her mind when she realised that the alicorn had a look of pained horror on her beautiful face.

It only took a few moments, but the once busy yard was now clear of all other ponies, Applebloom was about to say something, but some pony scooped her up and bolted before the filly could utter another sylabill. For a while now, any time that Twilight and Applejack had been together, they were also in the presence of other ponies, be they friends, advisors, or even petitioners this was the first time the two had been alone since Twilight's ascension.

“Not important?” Twilight asked, her voice shaking as she fought to hold back her tears.

“Now Princess, please just hear me out.”

“You didn’t invite me, you hid the reunion from me, I didn’t want to believe them, I couldn’t, but then I couldn’t find you at the farm.”

“It’s just a small gatherin', it ain't a big deal, and they’ll be more when you’re less busy.”

“You’re doing it again, treating me as a *Princess* instead of your … you're not even treating me as a friend.”

“Now wait, please.”

Twilight's eyes widened with realisation, “I haven’t heard you call me by my name since … every time, its always an honorific.”

“It’s only proper, you’re …”

“I had this weekend clear, I made this weekend clear! Then you persuaded me to speak with Filthy Rich, was that to keep me too busy to notice you’d left?.”

Applejack froze, did she do that? The Prin … Twilight mentioned finally having free time, but the meeting hadn’t been booked, it made sense, but if she’d tried to make time for her … No, she couldn’t waste her time on some pony her, Equestria needed its Princess.

“Why?”

“Because you’re a princess, you’re important, and ponies need you! You can help them, and make the world a better place. It's you’re destiny to rule Equestria with the others ain’t it? In Canterlot with the important ponies, it's where ya belong!” Applejack yelled, she was angry, but why? She wasn’t angry at Twilight, was she?

Twilight closed her eyes, desperate to hold back her tears. “So that's it? Now that I'm an alicorn, I can’t spend time doing what I want, I can’t choose who to be with. Did, did you lie when you called us part of your family?

*“I think I’d love ta have the rest of my, family helping out.”*

Her own words, when she’d almost lost her farm, but the Prin … Twilight came and saved her.

“You pushed me away, just like when Discords Plunder Vines attacked, you’ve done it again.”

And how did that end? With Twilight in danger, saved by her and the others, but if Twilight hadn’t come back, they wouldn’t have rescued the tree, or saved the princesses, she wouldn’t have become just another Earth Pony. Twilight did come back to Ponyville though, but she had guards didn’t she? Nobles hounding her every moment? No, they were only sending her letters now, but Twilight made time to see her friends, almost like she didn’t realise how muc hhad changed.

She had guards, two of them, but hadn’t she ordered them to help out around Ponyville?.Her meeting with Filthy Rich wasn’t something that she couldn’t find time for, she’d been avoiding him for weeks because she wanted nothing to do with his plans, and Applejack forced her into meeting him.

She wasn’t worth Twilight's time.

“I thought I meant something to you, was I, was I the only one in love?”

Something inside Applejack broke.

No longer was an alicorn in front of her, but the purple bookworm, her friend, a pony she’d called family, the mare she loved. In front of her wasn’t a majestic ruler, but a pony whose battered wings drooped down, to sore to be folded back into place, a friend whose eyes were red and now had tears streaking down her face. Her special somepony, whom she’d forgotten was still a pony.

“Twi ..”

“Save it, if all I am to you is a princess then FINE! HAVE IT YOUR WAY!.”

With a near-deafening scream, a white alicorn, bathed in flame became the center of a maelstrom of magic. Applejack had felt powerful spells before, but this was on a whole other level. What could she do with that much magic? What could Twi do with that much magic?

With a final scream, Applejack got her answer. With a deafening crack and a blinding flash of light, Applejack was thrown clear out of the yard and into the barn. After crashing into some hay bales, Applejack picked herself up from the floor, crawling to her hooves to face Twilight, she’d at least face the alicorn whom she’d hurt so deeply, it was what she deserved for betraying her friendship.

But nothing happened. As Applejack made her way back into the yard only to find the destruction that the alicorn had left. The yards' fencing had been reduced to splinters, what patches of vegetation once grew there had been burnt to ashes, but where once stood her marefriend, only a molten crater remained.

She didn’t know how long she’d been standing there when a hoof brought her back to reality.

Big Mac was looking down at her, concern in his eyes. Concern and disappointment.

“We gotta find the princess,” Mac said.

“But, but she, I, she won’t …”

A large hoof closed her mouth as the large stallion began to walk towards the Appaloose train station.

“Other princess sis.”

Sweet Apple Acres

Getting a train to Canterlot from Appaloosa had been a nightmare. By the time Big Mac and Applejack arrived at the train station, the only available train to Canterlot ended up being the overnight train. A slow freight transport with a planned stop to transfer cargo to another train heading to Dodge City, but it was that or get to Canterlot even later.

And not a single word was said between the two siblings.

Not on the approach to the junction, nor when they reached Gastly Gorge. Applejack had spent the entire time trying to think of something to fix the situation, but the best she could think of was that the carpet needed a good clean, she’d not taken her eyes off it the entire time, fearing what might be said if she met her brother's gaze. Though, she didn’t know if he was still awake. It wasn’t until the Everfree Forest came and went that Big Mac finally broke the silence.

“Know what you did wrong?”

“Probably not everything, ah keep rememberin’ something stupid ah did, only I thought of it a few hours back but forgot. You get any sleep?”

“Enope”.

Seconds passed into minutes, the Everfree now behind the train, and only the clatter of the train prevented the harrowing silence. Ponyville would be coming into view soon, and from there, Canterlot.

“What do I do Big Mac?”

“Don’t know” replied the stallion, after a moment he continued, “Never been good with mares, so ah only got the basics to say.”

“Please Mac, any advice will help.” Applejack looked at her brother, he didn’t say much, but when he did it was meaningful, supportive, and helpful.

“You’ve been a right idiot sis.”

Applejack winced, he was also truthful, and blunt.

“But if you see Miss Twilight, there are a few things you need to do.”

Applejack looked up, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

“First, ya need to apologise, an make sure you know what you’re apologising for. If you just apologise for upsetin her, she’ll probably get angry. Next, ignore the wings, Miss Twilight is the same pony ya met that night Nightmare Moon got loose. Finally, she hopefully still loves ya, if she’ll listen to ya, just be honest, it's your element after all.”

“Thanks, Mac.”

“And remember, no matter what, we’re still your family, we’ll be waiting at home for you, one way or another.” Said Big Mac as he hopped off the bench and began to stretch as the train pulled into Ponyville station.

“Wait, you not comin to Canterlot?”

“Enope, but they are.” Big Mac pointed to the other end of the carriage, to a now open door, and three very concerned ponies.

********************

The sun had almost dropped below the horizon by the time Applejack got back to the farm, what would she say to Big Mac, were Granny and Applebloom home yet? Would the feeling that someone was missing ever go away?

The downstairs lights were still on, somepony had remained awake, for better or worse. Preparing herself for what was about to follow, Applejack pushed open the door.

“Hey, I’m home.” A quick glance around revealed that no pony was in the living room, however judging from the smell, whoever was awake was in the kitchen, rounding the corner, Applejack found that it was Big Mac in the kitchen.

“Hey Mac, are the others home yet?”

“Eyep, but don’t get comfy. Westfield needs buckin. Ah’ll leave some soups.”

Whatever strength Applejack had drained away, it had been two long days, and bucking trees was the last thing she wanted to do right now. A bed and a long sleep were the only things that would offer any respite from how badly the last two days had gone.

“Can’t it wait? Ah promise I’ll do it in the morning, but it's been a long day. Ah ain’t feelin that hungry either so, ah could hit the hay and wake up early.” She could hope.

“Enope, Westfield. Works mostly done, finish any trees with empty buckets, bring em back, soup’ll be on the stove.”

Applejack sighed. “All right, I’ll get to it, back in a bit.”

Leaving the house, Applejack took a moment to collect herself before heading to the Westfield, she was far too tired for Apple bucking, dealing with the mess she’d created, to noticing a pair of green eyes peering out of the upstairs window.

********************
The journey to Canterlot had been worse than the journey to Ponyville.

Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie had replaced Big Mac, but instead of an awkward silence, Applejack filled her friends in on what had been happening, how she’d been feeling since Twilight's ascension, and the events at Appaloosa.

As for why her friends were going to Canterlot, Spike had delivered summons calling the ex-elements to journey to Canterlot, stating Applejack would be joining them, and Twilight would not be in attendance.

Rainbow Dash hadn’t wasted a second and was probably already in Canterlot if Rarity was to be believed. As for what her friends thought.

Rarity was the first to voice her opinion. “I have to say Applejack, you really made a mess of things”

“Ah know” replied Applejack dejectedly.

“But I do want you to know, I for one, understand where you are coming from.”

Applejack looked at Rarity, she’d expected to be chastised by the mare, she deserved to be chastised. “What, why?”

“One doesn’t simply date somepony outside of their class without a few hiccups.”

It was Fluttershy who responded first, “Rarity, you don’t think Twilight would think less of Applejack just because of something like class, do you?”

“No Darling, but consider this. There are ponies in Canterlot who are much more, to coin a phrase from Applejack, are too “prissy” for farm work, imagine if their special somepony suddenly decided to pack in a life of fashion and decided to grow cabbages. No matter how close they are, it would cause a strain in their relationship if something that large was dropped on them with no notice, changing one's lifestyle so dramatically without consulting one's partner is rather rude.”

Anger flashed in Applejack's eyes, and was on her hooves in an instant “RARITY! Ya can’t blame The Princess for this, it ain’t her fault!”

Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were frozen after the outburst, however, Rarity simply returned Applejack’s glare with an almost smug expression.

“Twilight.” Rarity said calmly. “Her name is Twilight, not Princess, and while you just proved my point that you haven’t adjusted to Twilight's new status, I will add that becoming an Alicorn was not something Twilight had expected, so can’t exactly be called a faux par.”

Silence fell over the mares, and Applejack fell to her haunches, she could only think that this had been destined to happen, but if any pony could fix this …”

“Rares, what do ah do?”

“I’m sorry Applejack, but from what I know of Twilight, she will come to a solution on her own, all any of us can do is accept that. We don’t have the elements anymore, there was a good chance not all of us would remain in Ponyville forever, I just assumed it would be Rainbow or Pinkie to leave first.”

“Hey” exclaimed Pinkie, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well,” Replied the fashionista with a devilish grin, “We can be certain Rainbow will join the Wonderbolts at some point, as for yourself, I half expected you to run after that Party Stallion who dropped by recently, you two would be adorable together.”

With a splutter, Pinkies fur turned a darker shade of red as she struggled to form any kind of argument. Fluttershy held a hood to her mouth to hide her smile, but Applejack heard laughing, looking around to find the source, she that it had come from her.

Applejack was startled when a butter-yellow hoof gently came to rest on hers.

With a smile, Fluttershy all but whispered “You look exhausted Applejack, please try to get some rest. We will wake you when we get to Canterlot, just remember, whatever happens, we are still both your, and Twilight's friends.”

********************

Walking into the Westfield was much different than what awaited her in Canterlot.

The moment the group exited the train, a prismatic blur all but crashed onto the platform. Rainbow had already been to see the Princess but had been asked to come back with the others. All she had been told was that Twilight was gone.

Walking through the trees with nothing but the wind and insects to fill the silence was somehow less lonely than the walk to the Canterlot Castle. While not one of them spoke, and Rainbow refused to even look at Applejack, the worst part was knowing that each step was a step closer, to the waiting Solar Alicorn.

Yet, despite everything she expected, after being escorted to the throne room, Princess Celestia greeted them with her usual smile. Her words, however, had haunted her ever since.”

“The truth is, Twilight is very young for an Alicorn, and has much learning to do before she is ready for a role like Luna, Cadence, or I have. As such, Princess Sparkle will be heading East, across the ocean to New Mareland, I wanted you all to hear this before the announcement tomorrow.

The throne room began to spin for Applejack, she’d heard a gasp from Rarity, a whimper from Pinkie, and quiet sobbing from Fluttershy. The worst part was the look Celestia gave her, it wasn’t anger, only disappointment, she’d have taken anger over that any day, which is exactly what Rainbow provided with a quick hoof to the face once they had left the castle.

Finally reaching the area that still had apples to be bucked. Applejack was surprised by how many of the trees had already been seen too. With how long Mac and Applebloom had been home they must have worked themselves to the bone to make this much progress. Perhaps Pinkie Pie had decided to do some bucking yesterday?

*PHWACK*

The telltale sound of a hard buck and apples falling into buckets filled Applejack's ears.

*What the hay, is Applebloom out here?”

*PHWACK*

*No, too loud a kick, that's a grown pony. Wouldn’t be Dash, but who else could it be?*

Making her way through the trees, Applejack found an Earth pony bucking her trees, an Earth pony she had certainly never met before. In front of Applejack, was a dark purple mare, she had a dark blue mane with a single pink stipe, and adorning her flanks was a white starburst cutie mark with five white apples surrounding it. The mare's mane, much like the rest of her, was caked in sweat, but those purple eyes could only belong to one pony.

“T … Twilight?”

“I’ve been … bucking trees … all day.” The mare said between ragged breaths. That voice, it had to be her! “I’ve been … trying to think what … to say. After Appaloosa … I got some advice, and you know what Applejack?”

Applejack was lost for words, after everything that had happened, this was the last thing she expected to find waiting for her. A single tear trickled down her cheek, could she still salvage things? Could she stop Twilight from leaving her friends behind?

“You Applejack … are an idiot!”

“Twi? It's really you, right? And yeah, ah’m an idiot, biggest there is, but please, don’t go. You love Ponyville, your friends, the library, and the princesses, please, don’t go to New Mareland.

Twilight took a deep breath. “My name, is Smart Apple. As you can see … I’m an earth pony.”

“But, Tw … Smart Apple, why? Why are you …” Applejack said, but was cut off by ‘Smart Apple’.

“Because I got some good advice, and some bad advice from another idiot, and while throwing you into a dungeon on the moon sounded like a great idea last night, I now know I’d regret it. Probably.”

Applejack gulped, hadn’t she gotten that advice from Celestia? Perhaps, Luna was present and suggested using her moon as the prison? She really hoped she wouldn’t be receiving any visits from the princess of the night any time soon.

“Well, er, if been banished is what it takes for you ta come back, I’d accept that.”

“Look Applejack, I need you to listen to me, just for a bit, then you can say what's on your mind. First of all, you’re not going anywhere. Sweet Apple Acers is your home so you’re staying, regardless of what happens. Next is that I’ve grown up around alicorns my whole life, not just as ‘Celestias student’, but I also had Cadence as my foal sitter. I never saw them as any different from any pony else because they never made a big deal about being alicorns, so I never considered them above other ponies. So I never considered that a lot of ponies venerate alicorns, see them as Pony Gods, some entity who’s so powerful they might as well not be a pony. So Applejack, I’m sorry.”

“What? No Smart Apple, you don’t ..”

“Ah aah.” Smart Apple interrupted. “Let me say my piece. Like I said, I’m sorry, I’ve been stuck in my own head, and I didn’t take a moment to think how being with me might be for you. Dating a noble pony is one thing, especially since I didn’t spend any time with other nobles, but dating an alicorn? I’ve been, reminded that being a princess's special somepony is a very daunting position, one that was dropped on you. For so long I’ve pictured you as a strong and independent pony who would shrug off any trouble that came your way, I never considered that you would feel so self-conscious because of me, or see yourself as not worthy, that you’d start to feel pressure from ponies for dating me, or that they’d think you weren’t good enough just because you weren’t some upper-class unicorn. Have I missed anything?”

Applejack was speechless, how did Twilight know how she had been feeling? She had only just come to terms with how she was feeling in the last few hours, but here was Twilight, calling her out on it after only realising that there was a problem yesterday.

“Ya forgot the ‘more important to Equestria’ bit.”

Smart Apple smiled, “Equestria survived almost 1,000 with just one alicorn, and I'm still here, so now theirs four of us. I’ll still be able to help them a little but, it’ll be my choice as to how much I help, and it’ll be less than before. I honestly took on to much.”

“Ah know, I'm sorry Twi…”

“Smart Apple.”

“Smart Apple, ah was a fool. Ah stopped seein' you as you, but a princess who was too good for me, just as ya said. Ah know it was foolish an wrong, I thought that some noble pony would swoop in one day, sweep you off your hooves, show you what they could offer you, a glamorous life in Canterlot, and I’d be left behind on this dusty old farm. Ah thought you’d be in Canterlot a lot, being a princess an all, and I’d be here.”

“I was told that too, distance can break up even the strongest of relationships, I was also told that ‘Princess Twilight Sparkle doesn’t belong on a farm’.”

There it was, the reality of the situation. Applejack could feel the tears now, desperate to escape, but she helped strong, she’d at least be able to do that for her soon-to-be ex-marefriend.

“But, while Twilight is in another country, maybe as Smart Apple, the Neice of Apple Cake, sister of Pink Lady, and daughter of Moonshine Cider, we could try again? If you’d like to, that is.”

Applejack was stunned, in front of her wasn’t a princess, but an earth pony, tired and dirty from working in the field all day. She wasn’t being yelled at by a vengeful force of nature, she’d had a conversation with some pony who clearly, still cared for her, and wanted to fix things going forward.

“But your horn, your wings, how?” She had to ask, perhaps she was still on the train, and this had been some dream.

“I still have my horn and wings, the spell I cast hides them, and I while can’t use magic or fly without breaking the enchantment, and I have no intention of testing if I can still walk on clouds, I can change back at any time. There may be times when I need to go to Canterlot, or times when I need to be an alicorn, but the rest of the time, I can just be Smart Apple, living the life I choose. I’m still upset, but, I don’t want to lose you, so, can we make this work?”

“If you’d forgive me, you don’t need to be Smart Apple, we can make it work, ah’ll be better, you’re the mare ah love and it doesn’t matter that you have wings and a horn, we can make it work, promise.”

Smart Apple smiled, looking over her wingless back.

“I wouldn’t give up my wings and horn for anyone, but today I walked through Ponyville with no pony calling me a princess and when I was walking through Canterlot Castle, the guards didn’t bow before me. I might want my horn or wings some of the time, but, I kind of like being Smart Apple.”

“Well Smart Apple.” Applejack smiled with tears staining her cheeks, “If you’ll accept this foolish pony then I’d be happy to try again.”

“Just talk to me if theirs something wrong and we can work on it together.”

“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

Smart Apple laughed, it was the sweetest sound Applejack had ever heard.

“I do have one request though, could you carry me back to the farm? I’ve been running on adrenaline and anger for a while now, and I think I’m spent both … I can’t feel my back legs.”

“Sure thing sugarcube.”

********************

The scrying crystal began to fade as the golden pony returned to the farm carrying her precious cargo upon her back. They’d have a rough few weeks, but they’d work something out, their love for one another was still strong after all.

“Cadence, is everything ok?”

“Yes Shiny. Twilight and Applejack have made the first step to recovery. I’ll give them some time, but I think Pink Lady will be paying them a visit in a week or two.”

“Of course honey, I will either stay here looking after the empire or accompany you. I’ll be on my best behavior regardless of your choice and regardless of where I am. I will not attempt anything untoward towards Applejack, who may become Princess-consort and our sister-in-law one day.”

Cadence smiled to herself, she didn’t know what to think when a powerful fissure opened up in the throne room and deposited a weeping Twilight. It didn’t take her long to understand what had transpired, she could even see where Applejack was coming from, thoughts of a fisher pegasus in awe at the Royal Guards Guard Captain had come to mind once or twice, maybe something for another night.

When she arrived in Canterlot as a newly ascended alicorn, some ponies called her an upstart fisher pony, looking back, the treatment she received from Sunset Shimmer had given her a valuable insight into the apple farmers' perspective. At least Twilight had been spared that.

Cadence stretched as she finally stood up from her position on the magic circle, she’d been keeping an eye on Twilight for a few hours and had ignored the protest of her legs for most of that time. She'd not resort to such measures under normal circumstances, but Twilight was dear to her, surely her Twilight would forgive her for being an overprotective sister.

“Very good,” said Cadence “Now if you don’t mind, I’m very tired so I’m going to get some sleep.”

“Certainly, good night Cady.”

“Shiny”

“Yes dear?”

“Your banishment is over, you can leave the couch, let's go to bed.”

The stallion excitedly lept off the couch and followed his wife, no matter how comfy the couch was, he did not want to spend a second night sleeping there.

Fin.

Author's Note

I had considered including a gag about Luna glaring at Applejack while eating an apple.

Thanks for reading, its good to finaly have this finished.