The Blessing: A Second Chance

“Hey, are you alright”

Applejack's voice broke through to John, and he jumped.

“What?” he said shakily.

Applejack looked at him with a worried expression..

“I asked if you were okay, you started shaking.”

John looked down at his hands, and sure enough they were shaking uncontrollably. He took a deep breath and tried to stop the shaking, his head hung low and his heart was beating at a million miles a minute.

Applejack watched in worry as he closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

“I'm fine.” he finally said unconvincingly.

“John, if ya need to talk about something, I'll listen.” she said reassuringly.

John looked at her, pain in his eyes.

“I....” he started.

Applejack sat patiently, her face full of concern and understanding.

He looked down again, he became lost in thought.

'This may be the day that I can actually come to terms with what happened. I've never let anyone help me with it, never talked about it. Maybe she can help me with this? She's been so patient, so kind. Is it really right for me to ask her for even more help?'

As if in reply to his thoughts, he felt her hoof rest on top of his hand. He looked up to see her smiling at him. That kind, gentle, sweet smile.

“It's okay John, I'm here for ya.” she said softly.

All doubts vanished from his tortured mind.

'It's time to wake up, John. Time to let go, to let someone help you.'

“I... I los-”

“HEY SIS!!!”

John was cut off by the excited voice of Apple Bloom. Said filly came running up the porch steps and launched herself at her big sister.

She landed on Applejack with an oof.

“Apple Bloom,” started AJ, “What in the hay has gotten inta you?”

The young filly looked straight at John, and he couldn't help but start to smile.

“So this is our new guest, wow, he looks weird!”

“APPLE BLOOM!” AJ scolded.

Apple Bloom's ears flattened on top of her head, but soon pricked back up when she heard John laughing.

“Take it easy Applejack, your little sister has a point, I do look pretty out of place.”

Applejack looked at John with a mean look.

“That ain't the point, she knows better than to say things like that.”

John held his hands up in defeat.

“Okay, okay.”

AJ looked back at her sister.

“Now Apple Bloom, say yer sorry to John for bein so rude.”

Apple Bloom turned her head towards him, but she kept her eyes low.

“Ah'm mighty sorry, sir.”

John gave her a warm smile.

“It's okay sweetheart, but your sister's right. I wasn't offended, but somepony else may be. You just gotta be careful about what you say from now on, okay?”

Apple Bloom looked up, a slight smile forming on her face.

“Okay.”

“Now, if it's okay with your sister, you should go play.” John looked up at AJ for confirmation.

The orange mare had a bewildered expression on her face, but when Apple Bloom looked up at her she nodded. Apple Bloom hopped off her sister and ran out into the orchard. John closed his eyes as he sat back in his chair and sighed.

'She's a lot like, well, both of them really.'

He was suddenly aware of someone staring at him. He opened his eyes and turned his head to see AJ gaping at him in bewilderment.

“What?” he chuckled as he noted her expression.

She shook herself out of her trance.

“How'd you get to be so good with kids?” she asked.

John's smile faded as he remembered how brief those years of parenting had been.

“I had to learn quick when I had two of my own.” he said sadly.

Applejack's eyes widened.

“Wait, what d'ya mean 'had'?”

John turned his head to look her straight in the eyes. He knew something was showing, something that he had hidden for so long but had finally broke its way through.

Defeat.

Applejack saw the dull look of his eyes, the way they looked half dead, and immediately her eyes started to tear up.

“Oh John, Ah'm so,” she sniffed, “Ah'm so sorry, Ah didn't know...”

She got out of her chair and walked over to John. She stood up on her hind legs and gave him a hug. He sat for a moment, unable to do anything because of his sorrow. Finally, he wrapped his arms around her. A tear fell from his eye and landed on her mane.

Applejack pulled her head away from the crook of his neck and looked into his face.

“John, if you need to talk about it, you know I'm here right?”

John looked down to her. He nodded his head.

“Okay.” He said. “I'll tell you more later, I... I don't think I could handle it right now.”

She smiled at him reassuringly.

“Okay sugarcube, whenever you're ready.”

The two had gone back inside hours ago. John had met Apple Bloom properly, as well as Big Macintosh. They even played a quick game of cards, hitting it off pretty well despite his loosing to the stallion's superior mathematical strategy. After a while the household had said their good-nights and everyone turned in for the evening.

Everyone except Applejack.

She couldn't sleep. She had too much going through her head. John's revelation to her this afternoon had sent her mind into turmoil. As much as she tried to convince herself otherwise, she cared for him in a more than neighborly way.

'Consarn that man! What is it about him?'

She didn't know, but he had managed to plant himself in her mind in the span of just a few days. It was because of this that she had gotten up in the middle of the night to think. She had to find a way to cheer him up, she couldn't bear to keep seeing the ghost of defeat that lay behind his eyes.

So she sat on the couch in the living room trying to think of things that may make him happier.

'Ah could take him into town. He hasn't met the others. Maybe that would cheer him up.'

She was pondering this when the look he had given her popped into her mind again. His face had held the same look hers had all those years ago when her parents had died.

'I was able to let go because I finally understood it wasn't my fault. He seems so torn inside, I don't think he's ever been able to let go. He blames himself, but I don't know why.'

She looked into the fireplace, the embers of the evenings warmth were slowly fading.

'Maybe when he tells me a bit more, Ah can help him. Hopefully the trip to town will ease his mind a bit.'

Applejack yawned.

'Maybe a good nights sleep will help ease mine too.'

Too tired to go upstairs, Applejack balled herself up on the couch, and settled into a deep sleep.

Little did she know, someone was waiting for her.

As she crossed the boundary separating the waking world from the dream state, she became aware of another consciousness near her. She found herself in a dreamscape of endless void, it was dark, but she could feel something solid beneath her hooves.

“This is new.” she said aloud.

The emptiness was filled by a feminine chuckle. Applejack started looking around to try and pinpoint the source of the laugh. She couldn't.

“Who's there?”

A silhouette began to take shape out of a thick mist that had suddenly appeared.

“Fear not, dear Applejack, we mean you no harm.”

Applejack stained her eyes to try to make out who this mystery pony was. Her eyes widened once she actually saw who it was.

“Princess Luna?”

The goddess of the night smiled.

“Yes, but we beg of you to call us simply by our name, Luna.”

“Why?”

Luna's head turned to the side a bit.

“You are the element of honesty, one of the six that delivered us from our darkness, it is the least we can do to thank you.”

Applejack shook her head, that wasn't what she had asked.

“No, Ah mean why are you here?”

Luna nodded her head in understanding.

“We understand that this may be a bit strange for you, but it is our sincerest wish to try and gain your pardon for our sisters behavior earlier this day.”

Applejack's memory of the incident earlier that day hadn't faded.

“Well at least somepony knows that was wrong. What in the hay made your sister act like that in the first place?”

Luna's eyes fell.

“We are afraid that it is a bit of a tale.”

Applejack laughed.

“Luna, we're in a dream aren't we? So we got plenty of time.”

Luna looked back up at AJ.

“Fine, but we are afraid that this may start to seem like a history lecture.”

AJ nodded, and sat on her haunches. She looked at Luna expectantly, signaling that she was ready.

“It all began long ago. Celestia and ourself had succeeded in creating our kingdom, and the world of Equestria was at peace, mostly.”

Applejack waited for Luna to continue.

“The world you know now is not that much different from the one then, save for one thing. The Humans. They had created an empire for themselves, and our two races lived in harmony with each other.”

Luna gazed up as she remembered.

“They were a wonderful people. So full of hope, of ideas, of creativity. They were magnificent to watch.”

Her face fell.

“But, like all peoples of the world, the humans had a dark side.”

She looked back at AJ, she looked like she had almost seen a ghost.

“War. It was their sickness, their bane. They constantly strived for peace, but they excelled at war. Time and time again we watched hopefully as they rose from the ashes of a conflict to rebuild, to secure a brighter future for themselves. But it was all for not. Our hopes were dashed again and again as the humans dragged themselves into war after war with one another. They couldn't stop. It was an addiction. Something inside of them yearned, pleaded, begged of them to spill blood. It did not matter the reason.”

She closed her eyes.

“Eventually, our sister could see nothing but the threat that the humans presented to our kingdom. She devised a plan to remove this threat, once and for all. We tried to reason with her, but her heart was set against the humans. She no longer saw them as beings, but as killing machines.”

Luna smiled sadly.

“But we remember them for something much different. It was inevitable that the humans would war with one another. You cannot keep such passion in check like that for long. They were driven by their emotions, their beliefs, to the point that they would kill or be killed to defend them. We have never seen such a being that can feel quite as deeply as a human. Their emotions allow them to do things that no other creature could do, save for us. They lust, they hate, they despise, but none of these emotions can stand up to what truly makes them what they are.”

She paused, a smile spread across her face as she remembered something that Applejack was not privy to.

“What is that?”

Luna opened her eyes, the smile still upon her face.

“Love.”

Applejack's mind clicked.

“Luna, did you?”

Luna nodded.

“Yes, his name was Marcus. And he was magnificent. So strong, so caring, so gentle. He was our lover, our protector, and he loved us with all his being. And we him.”

Applejack was waiting for more, but Luna had stopped talking.

“What happened?”

Luna bit her lip, and a tear streaked its way down her face.

“He, like so many others, was killed in battle.” her shoulders heaved for a bit, she was taking deep breaths to keep from crying. After a few moments, she regained control of herself.

“A group of humans started to slander our name. They called Celestia and ourself tyrants, murderers, dictators. Another group of humans stood up for us, realizing that we were allies. Marcus was the one who led that faction. He fought for our honor, but lost his life in the final months of the conflict.”

Luna took another moment to gather herself.

“Luna, Ah'm so sorry. Ah can't imagine what that feels like.” AJ consoled.

Luna looked up, tears were freely running down her cheeks.

“He was the only one that we ever loved, the only one we will ever be able to love.”

Luna kept silent for a bit longer, AJ waited.

“Our sister eventually learned of our relationship to Marcus and how it ended. While we were in our despair, she came to us and convinced us to participate in her plan. She was attempting to banish all the humans from Equestria. She said it would be a way of punishing the humans who had killed our beloved Marcus. A feat of magic so great, such an attempt had not been seen since the Elements of Harmony had been created by Celestia and ourself. In our despair, we were not making judgments as we should have. We blamed the humans for the death of our love, and so we agreed to help our sister banish them.”

Her silent tears turned to sobs.

“We were blinded by our grief. We were angry.”

Applejack looked at the distressed princess.

“Luna, ya don't have to keep going if it's gonna bring up bad memories.”

“No,” Luna straightened up, and she ceased her sobbing. “No, we must avoid mistakes in the future by acknowledging the past”

She looked at Applejack, determination showed through her pain.

“The time eventually came, and Celestia and ourself started the spell. The magic took extreme concentration, and we channeled our anger and pain into our craft. We were creating a rift, a tear in the very fabric of reality. It was our intention to send the humans to a different universe alltogether,”

Luna's eyes fell once more, and she closed them.

“And we succeeded.. Within days of our starting the spell, all of humankind was gone from Equestria, sent to a universe that they didn't belong in. A universe that wasn't theirs.”

She opened her eyes again.

“The task was far from over though. Together with our sister, we performed the arduous task of trying to mend the tear that we had created, to heal the wound that we had inflicted upon reality. We managed to do so, to a point.”

Applejack's ears perked up in surprise.

“What's that supposed ta mean?”

Luna continued.

“The amount of energy we and our sister had expended was immense, and we could never hope to gain such power ever again. To sum it up, we simply ran out of energy. We were unable to make the last few stitches in the fabric that we had torn, but we had made enough to ensure that it did not tear on it's own accord.”

A question ran across AJ's mind.

“Luna, where did all of this take place?”

Luna managed a weak chuckle.

“Well, that is how this human, John as you know him, came to be in your care. The rift was above your orchard.”

Applejack didn't know what to say. But something Luna had said didn't sound right.

“What do you mean that the rift “was” above my farm?”

Luna smiled.

“That is John's predicament. The rift has been closed forever. When he came through, the edges of the rift fell into place like a puzzle being completed. John has unintentionally made the last few stitches in the fabric. Our sister cannot banish him. He is forever to remain here, where his kind originally started.”

Applejack suddenly smiled as she felt a burden lifted off of her back. Celestia wasn't going to be able to take John away from her. But then she realized how selfish she sounded and immediately hung her head in shame for having the thought. This did not escape Luna's attention, and she chuckled.

“We see that we were not the only ones to harbor feelings for a human.”

Applejack's head snapped up and she tried to defend against the implication, but her heart wouldn't let her. She resigned herself to simply lowering her head and nodding.

“Ah don't get it Luna, I've only gotten to know this man for two days. How can he get under my skin like this?”

Luna smiled at AJ.

“Our dear Applejack, love does not recognize time as a factor. It marches to no drum. If you truly love this human, do not hide it. You will only cause yourself pain if you take that path.”

“That's the thing Luna, Ah like John, but I don't know if I love him.”

Luna looked up while she thought.

“Well, what is it that has brought this human to your attention in that way?”

Applejack didn't even have to think.

“The way he talks. He feels so strongly about life, about duty. He's passionate. He can spark something inside my heart with a glance. He makes me laugh, he makes me happy. I know that I can talk to him. He makes me feel at home.”

Applejack paused for a moment and thought about what she had said. She looked up at Luna, whose face now held a huge grin.

“Ah am in love with him.” Applejack realized aloud.

“Then do not keep those feelings hidden. Tell this human.”

“Ah don't know Luna...”

“If you are afraid of rejection, fear not. If you fear rejection, you will never accomplish anything.”

Applejack looked at Luna, John's past came to her mind.

“What about the feelings he still has for his family?”

Luna's ears perked up.

“He has a family?”

Applejack looked down.

“Well, they...” she couldn't say it

“Pray, Applejack, what is it?”

She looked up a Luna, a grim look on her face.

“They died. His daughters died.”

Luna reeled back. The two mares sat in silence for a long while.

“Then he has known a sadness that even ours cannot compare to...” Luna said quietly.

Applejack's head hung low.

“How can I tell him that Ah love him when he is still so attached to them? Ah can't compare to them, they were his daughters. His little girls.”

Again, silence loomed over the two for a long while. And again, it was Luna who broke the silence.

“This is how.” she started, “You won't try to compare to them.”

Applejack looked up at the princess, now the tears were in her eyes.

“You're right,” Luna continued, “They were his daughters. Nothing ever will be able to compare to them. He will carry their memory in his heart for the rest of his life.”

Applejack lowered her head again, she didn't know where Luna was going with this, but so far it wasn't helping her mood. However, Luna placed a hoof under her chin and lifted her face up to where she could see her eyes.

“But, you will listen, and be there for him when he needs you.”

Luna smiled.

“Sometimes, listening to the one you love can do more than words or actions ever will be able to do.”

AJ sniffed and wiped her face with her hoof. Luna looked up and closed her eyes.

“The winds of fate are telling us that you will fare well in this matter, fear not.”

Applejack glanced up at the princess before giving her a hug. Luna was taken by surprise, but returned the gesture.

“Thank you Luna.”

“You are most welcome, dear Applejack.”

Luna broke the hug and looked into Applejack's eyes.

“Our sister's dawn approaches. It is time for you to awaken from your slumber. You have a busy day ahead.”

Applejack started to feel lightheaded.

“Wake up Applejack,” the princesses voice echoed softly., “He will need you soon. Wake up...”

Applejack's eyes opened slowly. She squirmed and felt a blanket on top of her.

'Ah don't remember grabbing this...'

The last of the moon was disappearing behind the horizon. The discussion she had with Luna came to mind.

“Thank you Luna.” she said aloud.

As if in reply, the edge of the moon glimmered as it disappeared behind the horizon.

Applejack chuckled before the slight display pointed her eye to something. She hopped off of the couch and walked over to the window to get a better look.

Her heart skipped a beat as she saw the person her dream had been about.

John.

He was walking towards the orchard.

'Wake up Applejack. He will need you soon. Wake up...' the Princesses  words echoed in her head.

Picking up her stetson, she walked outside and followed her love.