Equestrian Empire

Luna could tell with one glance at this newcomer that she was not to be trifled with. The woman’s clothes were completely functional and no-nonsense, completely at odds with the dressy woman in the grass. Solid working boots that had seen their share of wear were topped by faded jeans splattered with mud, and the woman wore her simple red plaid shirt with its sleeves rolled up to her elbows, presumably to allow her hands to get dirty. Which they were. Even as her arms were crossed over her chest, it was easy to see the dirt streaking her fingers.

Luna could also tell with one glance that she liked this woman. No simpering damsel in distress here. This one would know how to fight and stand up for herself, and probably didn’t even own a skirt, just like her. The thought made her lips twitch in amusement.

“I saw the whole thing from my farm,” The woman said, interrupting the princess’ observations. She leaned up from the wall and began to walk over to them with easy, measured steps belying the passion in her words. “I don’t know who you are, and I don’t rightly care. But those were the Queen’s ships shooting you down, so you step away from Rarity, right now. She’s done nothin’ but help ya and I ain’t gonna stand idly by when a friend of mine’s in trouble, ya hear?”

Luna was rather fond of the accent, too. “She is in no danger from me,” She said instead, holding up her hands in the universal sign for surrender.

“All the same.”

“I was already walking away, you realize.”

A perplexed frown crossed the woman’s freckled face. “Never you mind that, you just stay right where you are.”

Luna grinned. “I am not going anywhere. As you saw, I am injured, and my ship was blown to pieces.” Even as she tried to say the words in an easy fashion, saying them only seemed to make the hellish morning more real. Her grin faded and her hands lowered as her shoulders slumped slightly.

“Hmph,” Was the woman’s grunt of a reply as she crossed the remaining distance between them. Keeping a wary eye on the soot-blackened individual, she knelt down by Rarity, giving her shoulder a light shake. “Rarity. Rarity, c’mon now.” She said low, hoping to encourage the drama queen to return to the world of the living.

It didn’t take long for her actions to be rewarded, as Rarity came to with a delicate fluttering of her eyelashes before sweeping her brilliant eyes open. “AJ!” She said excitedly, sitting up. “Thank the sun, you’re here. It’s just been absolutely crazy, and you’ll never guess who I—” Blinking past her friend, she saw that Luna was still there, and she immediately hushed, realizing she had been about to give away the ‘secret.’

‘AJ’ as she had been called gave a long-suffering sigh. “Calm down there, Rarity, or you’ll just fall over again. Breathe, girl.”

“AJ, is it?” Luna questioned, using her superior tone without realizing.

The woman didn’t immediately answer, as if making her wait for ordering her about. She got back to her feet and offered a hand to Rarity so she could pull her up, too. Rarity graciously took the offer and began to dust off her clothes, bobbing slightly as if she couldn’t decide whether to bow or not given the situation.

“Yeah, AJ to my friends. Name’s Applejack, though. And you are?” She extended the same hand to Luna for a handshake.

Luna had wanted to keep her identity a secret, the better to be able to hide and keep those around her alive. But she already had blood on her hands from trying to go that route. One glance up into the still-smoky sky was all she needed as a reminder of that. No, she needed to take the fight to Celestia, and she needed allies to do it. And this woman, she had already been told, would accept nothing less than the truth. Nothing for it, then.

“I am officially known as Her Royal Highness Princess Luna of Equestria,” She rolled off, smirking in satisfaction as both women’s eyes grew round in surprise. “But here in my sister’s new Empire, you can just call me Luna.”

Applejack had immediately dropped to her knees once the realization had sunk in, and Rarity had given a deep curtsy, as court custom would have required back home in Canterlot.

“I’m sure sorry, princess,” AJ said, sincerity ringing in her voice. “I had no idea.”

“It is alright. I had meant to keep such a secret—” This was said with a telling glance to the seamstress. “But I have decided it will be easier to just tell the truth.” She winked at AJ down on the grass, nodding at her to stand once more.

The blonde stood, idly scratching at her braid beneath her hat in thought. “What are we going to do with an injured princess?”

“Oh, please,” Rarity gushed. “I would love to have you stay with me.” She leaned forward a bit as if to reveal a great secret, saying in a stage whisper, “I’m the only one with any clue on how to properly treat royalty.”

AJ laughed. “Ain’t that the truth, we’ve all seen how you spoil Opal.”

Rarity huffed, furrowing her brows. “Opal is hardly spoiled. She is treated with the respect a lady deserves!”

“She’s a cat, not a lady, Rarity.” AJ grinned.

It took a strong amount of self-control to keep the seamstress from stomping her booted foot. Luna just raised a brow as the two of them bantered back and forth before clearing her throat.

“Girls,” She called. They both snapped to attention. “Focus.”

AJ suddenly snapped her fingers, pointing at Luna. “If you’re who you say you are, how come you were getting shot down by the Queen’s ships up there?”

Luna’s jaw set, her blue eyes glittering against her darkened skin. “Those were my ships.” That only seemed to confuse AJ, so she added, “Celestia has gone mad.” It was the only explanation she had at the moment.

“Is she gonna keep coming after you?” Rarity asked, her voice hesitant.

“I’m not sure. Once word gets out that I survived, it is very likely.” Luna sighed. “I will understand if you don’t wish to be involved. However I do need a place to stay while I recuperate from my fall.”

Rarity and AJ exchanged a glance. They had heard the stories from Canterlot. All the way out here in Ponyville, they had seemed unreal, but now reality was standing directly before them. Nodding at one another, they turned back to face Luna, then they both knelt in the grass in unison. Luna felt her heart quake with some new emotion.

“I’m not gonna stand idly by when a friend of mine’s in trouble,” AJ said firmly, as if her words were an oath of fealty.

“I don’t have it in me to turn royalty away,” Rarity added in an airy tone. “I will give you everything I have.”

Luna swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat that was making it difficult to speak. She wasn’t sure why their loyalty was affecting her so—she had seen and heard it from her crew before. Perhaps it was because they reminded her of those she had lost. But it seemed in losing her old crew she had gained a new one. After a moment, she cleared her throat, though her voice was still hoarse when she spoke.

“Rise, Knights of Harmony,” She intoned. It had begun.