Meeting the Past to Change the Future
“Princess Celestia, wherever you may be, would you kindly answer my prayer?” A mature mare asked as she knelt by her bed with her forehooves together. “I wish for you to return. Princess Nightmare Moon has changed the world for the worse over the past few months and we miss you.
“I left the farm to come to Manehattan and, while Auntie Orange has been quite kind to me over the years, I miss my family back in Ponyville at the farm. Oh, there I go, ranting again. I’ll let you rest, but know every pony misses you and the fair rule you had.”
Jackie slipped a sleeping bonnet over her bouffant hairstyle then climbed into bed carefully, so as to not mess the sheets and blanket too badly, before yawning and closing her eyes.
Jackie stood on an unseen walkway in a void of stars. Some were white, others yellow, and fewer were blue, but when she approached them she felt something off about each one. She reached a polished forehoof toward one curiously, then saw a gray mare with blonde eyes playing with a foal.
She yanked her hoof back and looked at it, before looking at the star again. “What in Celestia’s glorious name?”
A voice called from behind her. “They are dreams and this is my realm.” Jackie turned quickly and looked in awe at a blue mare with a starry mane moving in an ethereal wind.
Jackie bowed deeply as the mare approached on feathered wings from above her. “P-princess Nightmare Moon, to what do I owe the honor?”
The larger mare lifted Jackie’s chin with a gilded hoof cover. “I am not Her. My name is Luna and I am the true pony of the night; Nightmare Moon simply uses my body for her own desires, for now.”
“Wh-what are you speaking of, my lady of the night?”
“Stop bowing, knave!” Luna shouted at the orange mare, making her bow deeper and faster. Luna rolled her eyes and sighed. “Stand, by order of your princess.”
Jackie complied, albeit nervously. “Um, how may I be of assistance?”
“Lady Jackie of the Apple Family, I have heard your wish and will allow you to speak to your younger self.” Luna declared.
Jackie couldn’t help but smirk. “Princess… Luna, was it? I do apologize, but that was not only a wish from months ago, but one made to Princess Celestia. How can you help me with something so… fanciful?”
Luna looked into Jackie’s eyes. “I have much power in the dream realm, and at great cost I am willing to open a portal between dreams, outside of time’s restraints, to change the present by altering the past. It is a spell I can only use a few times a century, even if I had my own body due to the energy required.
“By performing this for you it may well lock me away from the dream realm for years… but it is a risk I am willing to take. I have watched your dreams for a while and have come to the conclusion that you are right; you may be one of the few that can stop my other side from gaining power, or at least taking the day away from our little ponies.”
Jackie’s eyes darted around as she thought. “But, how are you not Her? Can’t she dream walk, too?”
Luna’s expression didn’t change. “We are of the same body, but not the same mind. I control the dreams of creatures in our lands while she controls the physical aspects of the world. Now, do you wish for me to allow you to speak with your younger self, or shall I go to another whose importance may be of greater value?”
Jackie snorted in an unladylike way. “Greater value? Do you know who I am? I am Lady Jackie, mare of fashion and style. If I say it should be worn or eaten-”
“Yes, yes, you’re a very important mare. I ask again, should I choose you, or move on?” Luna interjected.
Jackie frowned. “I must say, you’re certainly rude when you want to be, aren’t you? But yes, I would like this opportunity, even if this is just a dream.”
Luna smiled and opened her wings fully. “This, you will find, is more than a dream. With Starswirl the Bearded’s spell, I unbind you from the tethers of reality and will allow you to speak with your filly self. You will have little time, so make it count Brace thyself, for this may disorient you.” Her eyes began to glow and she lifted above Jackie.
Jackie felt sick as something pulled against her in a way she’d never felt. It was like a rope snapping inside of her that sent her mentally reeling. She fell to her side as everything went black.
…
“Ma’am, are ya okay?” A small voice asked.
Jackie lifted her head from the bed she was in and touched her mane in a daily habit to make sure it wasn’t too out of style. “My word, I had the most peculiar dream last evening.”
“Dream? That doesn’t explain why yer in mah bed as the rooster crows.”
Jackie sat up and looked around the room. It was midday and she was in a small room; a room she recognized as hers for nearly three years while learning the ways of being a Manehattan socialite under her Aunt and Uncle Orange. Her eyes drifted down to see a filly she knew too well. “Wh-who are you, darling?”
“Who’m I? Ah shouldn’t have ta answer somethin’ Ah just asked ya… wait, you look kinda familiar. Were you at the banquet a few days ago?”
Jackie’s eyes darted around the room for a couple of seconds before she slowly nodded. “Why, yes, I think I was at the banquet. Before anything else, may I use your restroom to freshen up? I have just awoken, after all, and a lady must look her best.”
Applejack shook her head. “First, who are ya? Ah ain’t lettin’ some mare that crashed on mah bed in the middle of the afternoon just wander around mah family’s apartment willy-nilly.”
Jackie rolled from the bed to the floor, remembering the feel of the carpet from so many years ago and how it was just right to tickle her hooves when she stood on it first thing in the morning. “My name is Jackie and I’m a close friend of your family’s. Practically a family member at some times.”
Applejack looked up at the mare and narrowed one eye at Jackie before relaxing and smiling. “Mighty nice ta meet ya. Ah guess yer not lyin’ about yer name at least, so Ah don’t mind ya using the toilet as needed.”
Jackie held back a grimace. “Young mare-”
“Where’s mah manners? Ah’m Applejack of the Apple clan down in Ponyville.
Jackie remembered the warning she was given and looked down kindly at the filly. “It’s nice to meet you, Applejack. Why, we’re practically friends now, aren’t we?”
Applejack nodded with a smile growing into a grin. “Ah’d say so. It’s the pony way ta be friendly, after all.”
Jackie nodded and smiled. “Well, as a friend and practically family, can I give you some advice?”
“Why, of course. Wouldn’t be very Apple-like ta shoot down an idea without hearin’ it first. I like yer style, by the way. Maybe Ah’ll style mah mane like yours before the next get together.”
Jackie quickly thought of what to say, “Go home to Ponyville before you get too homesick. Even if it’s just for a day, try farming once more and see if it’s more than you thought it is, was… will be. I apologize, my mind is a little fuzzy still.”
Applejack’s filly laugh brought back some fond memories for the mare. “Why, if’n ya think it’s a good idea, Ah’m willin’ ta take a trip back home. Why, Ah’m missin’ mah family somethin’ fierce and was just hopin’ fer a sign ta go back, even if it is just fer a short spell. Ah don’t know how ya got in here while Ah was usin’ the toilet, but thank ya kindly fer the advice. Ah’m gonna pack a bindle and head on home!”
With a yee-haw, the filly ran to the door and didn’t look back as she prepared for the trip home.
Jackie felt a knot in her belly, this time a tugging sensation instead of a snap. “I hope the best for you on your journeys,” she said as she vanished in a flash of light.
Applejack returned to her room to find the mare gone. “Now, where’d ya get off to? Bah, no bother, Ah just hafta grab a sheet ta wrap the stuff in, and I’ll be helpin’ Big Mac get through the plowin’ by Tuesday.” She rushed to the open window and stuck her head out. “Ya hear that, Granny? Ah’m comin’ home!”
