The recently coronated Princess of Magic, Twilight Sparkle, lay with her Alicorn wings spread full in her extra large bed in the loft of the Golden Oaks Library. This bed was much larger than the one that was there when she first moved to Ponyville, but its size had nothing to do with the modest increase in her body’s dimensions that accompanied her ascension to Princesshood. In fact the larger bed was specifically designed to accommodate three ponies and had been in use for just such a purpose for quite some time while Twilight Sparkle was still ‘just a regular old Unicorn’ to quote her own phrasing.
At present, as was the case as often as could be managed, the bed was filled to its rated capacity. Each cuddled by a strong, downy wing, two other ponies lay beside Twilight. In the Princess’ left wing, tenderly stroking the impressive plumage, lay Rainbow Dash. In her right wing, looking somewhat fretful, lay Applejack. The reason for the latter pony’s unease was the disheartening thought she had just accidentally voiced, which she had meant to keep to herself.
“What was that, Applejack?” Twilight’s soft voice asked of her bedmate.
The Earth pony sighed and pressed her face against the soft lavender coat of Twilight’s chest while she collected herself. Presently, she pulled back and repeated herself. “I said, I’m a mite jealous of y’all’s wings.”
“Who wouldn’t be? These things are awesome!” Dash replied, burying her face in Twilight’s feathers.
“Not helping, Rainbow.” Twilight scowled slightly. She could never be too mad at either of her lovers, but Dash wasn’t always the most empathetic of ponies and had a knack for picking the worst times to showcase that fact.
Applejack scooted closer to Twilight’s barrel, resting her head against the Princess’ chest while a lavender hoof stroked her mane. “I never thought about it much when it was just Dashie with wings, but now y’all got ‘em too an’ I just kinda feel left behind.”
A cyan hoof reached over from Twilight’s far side and brushed against the soft orange fur of Applejack’s cheek. “C’mon, AJ. You know Twi’s happy to magic you up some wings any time you want to go flying with us.”
“Dash, I know you’re just trying to help, but I don’t think that’s what she meant.” The Princess curled her wing around Dash, trying to soften the blow of her words. Rainbow sulked a little, but soon turned her attention back to the Alicorn wing she was nestled in.
Twilight turned her head to face Applejack, lifting the orange mare’s chin with her hoof to look into her emerald eyes. “There’s much more to being an Alicorn than just being a Unicorn with wings.” She leaned over to nuzzle her lover and whisper in her ear, though not quietly enough that Dash would not hear as well. “I’m part Unicorn and part Pegasus now, but I’m also part Earth pony. I can feel it.”
Applejack’s eyes widened a bit as Twilight explained. “I can feel that little tingle in my hooves whenever I walk, just like the tingle in my wings whenever I fly. It’s the same thing I feel in my horn whenever I cast a spell.”
“And if you’re jealous of our wings,” Dash said quietly from her side of the bed, “I’m jealous of your legs, both of you.”
“What was that, sugarcube?” Applejack tilted her head up to look at Rainbow across Twilight’s chest.
“Don’t make me repeat it.” Dash imitated Applejack by pressing her face into Twilight’s soft coat for a moment. “I had to pull so many tricks during the Running of the Leaves just to keep up with you.” She groaned a bit. “I may be the fastest flier in all Equestria, but I just can’t beat you in a hoof race. Heck, even Twi’s a match for me on hoof now. But if you ever repeat that to anypony, I’ll deny it.”
Twilight chuckled and kissed Dash’s forehead. “You see, Applejack? You’ve got something special too and even more than just that. Take away a Pegasus’ wings or a Unicorn’s horn and they’re not suddenly an Earth pony.
“You should be proud, Earth ponies are the backbone of Equestrian society.” The Alicorn wing curled around Applejack and stroked her withers. “Unicorns have great minds to harness the raw power of magic and Pegasi have a courageous spirit to tame the heavens, but Earth ponies have strong bodies and the indomitable will needed to shape the earth itself where all ponies live.”
“You’re right, Twi. Thanks.” Applejack smiled. “It’s easy ta ferget sometimes.”
“I know. On the surface, Earth ponies seem defined by the lack of something. Lack of a horn or wings that set Unicorns and Pegasi apart, but look at Celestia, or Luna or Cadance. Luna and Cadance are about as big as your brother or mine and Celestia is the size of the Saddle Arabians.” Twilight waved her hooves down at her own body. “Even I grew a bit when I transformed. That’s the influence of Earth pony magic.”
“Sooooo bored! You finished lecturing yet, Princess Egghead?” Rainbow Dash asked a little impatiently.
Twilight scowled a bit, but Applejack chuckled. “I think ya fergot ta mention that Pegasi are rascally, impatient, featherbrained varmits.” She grinned over at the now glaring Pegasus.
“Girls, if you’re going to fight, do it when I’m not in between you.” The Princess gave them each a stern look and they both grinned sheepishly.
“Pegasi are important too, aren’t they?” Rainbow looked at Twilight like a young filly being picked last for a game of hoofball.
The young Alicorn chuckled and cuddled Dash close with her wing in reassurance. “Of course, Rainbow. Without Pegasi to manufacture and control the weather or to deliver mail and send messages, Equestria wouldn’t be even a quarter as productive as it is today. Nor would it be anywhere near the size it’s grown to.”
Rainbow looked noticeably brighter. “Yeah, Pegasi are awesome!”
Applejack and Twilight shared a chuckle before the lavender Princess spoke up again. “I do have something I wanted to ask you two and now seems like a good time.”
Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s ears quirked. “What’s up?” They asked in unison.
“Well, as the Princess of Magic, I’d like to study Earth pony and Pegasus magic. There’s not much written about it in the Canterlot Library.” Twilight clicked her forehooves together, looking like an eager little filly. “I can feel both kinds of magic inside me now and it has me really intrigued. I thought it would be really great to have the help of two of the best ponies I’ve ever known, who each just happen to epitomize their respective races.” The eager young Alicorn punctuated her request by tracing her long, downy feathers along her bedmates’ backs.
“I th.. think we can help,” Applejack shuddered, not unpleasantly, “fer our Princess. You in, Dashie?”
“Yeeeeeeeeeaaaah.” Dash’s scratchy voice came out as a tremolo.
“Thanks, girls. I love you both so much.”
