//------------------------------// // truths // Story: At the Orchard of Madness // by NeuPferdfurt //------------------------------// The Apple family wouldn’t even consider letting the dogs stay in any of the buildings on the farm proper (though Applejack quite happily agreed to let them use one of their outhouses. They would have to burn that one afterwards, but that was still better than having to burn all the bushes on the property.) It was quite warm, and so the ponies stayed with the rest of the expedition at their campsite this night. Successfully besting the protests of their elders, the Cutie Mark Crusaders had joined them as well, excited about camping outside and listening to the stories of the secrets that had been uncovered. At least Applebloom had refrained from telling anypony else about the developments on Sweet Apple Ackers. Not that the secret would stay a secret for long in a town like Ponyville. And speaking of secrets... “Spike”, Applejack said when she had a moment alone with the little dragon, “Twilight didn’t make you send a message to Princess Celestia yet, did she?” “No?” “I had a feeling that might be the case. It’s a little strange, don’t you think? I’m no expert in archalology, but even this workhorse can tell Twilight was right about this being a big thing.” Spike shrugged. “She’s bound to have a good reason for that. Personally, I don’t mind. Sending messages by magical fire breath sounds a lot more fun than it actually is, I can tell you that.” Spike was an agent of Canterlot as much as his master, but he was more like an extension of Twilight’s will. He rarely opposed the unicorn’s strategic decisions, though he would certainly question and ridicule them when they were discussing them in private. There was the remote possibility that they had already had a debate on the issue earlier, but Applejack realized she probably wouldn’t get any more information out of little Spike either way. - Obviously, Applejack wasn’t the only one concerned about the impact of their discovery. Later that evening, the ponies were sitting around a campfire, the foals huddled together under a blanket, roasting marshmallows and other snacks Pinkie Pie had organized for them. Rainbow Dash was leaning on a tree trunk, gazing into the flames. “I wonder what Princess Celestia will say when she hears about this mumbo-jumbo... I’m not sure what to think, but that stuff down there is just... grotesque.” Twilight Sparkle had looked up when she had heard the name of her mentor. “What do you mean?” Rainbow was shaking her head. “It just doesn’t make any sense. Iron towers, as high as mountains? Five-legged starfish-people? Millions of years without ponies? That’s just not possible.” The others were just staring at her. Not disagreeing, not voicing support, but curious what the pegasus had to say. “... I mean, sheesh... This is EQUESTRIA we’re talking about. It is all ABOUT ponies. All the critters and creeps... they just happen to be there. They wouldn’t even be alive if it weren’t for Celestia’s sun! Yeah. They’re only here because we allow them to live. And then some of them got frustrated about it and so jealous of the ponies that they built a pyramid full of... I don’t know. Misguided fanfiction?” As she listened to her own words, it was apparent she had already started doubting her own certitudes. Now that she was actually forced to articulate them. “Come on, you guys... Say something. Don’t leave me hanging.” Twilight sighed. “We don’t usually question the order of things we grew up with. I don’t know any more than you do, Rainbow. I have only a vague notion of what lies beyond the world of the ponies, both in time and in space. For instance, the rotation of the planet. Was it always maintained by alicorns? And where did the alicorns themselves come from? In all my years of studying, I didn’t really find answers to this kind of questions. The truth is, I didn’t even ask them in the first place.” Rainbow frowned. “Rotation?” Twilight was shaking her head. “Of course. Some ponies still believe Celestia had created the sun and was actually moving it through the sky, but of course that’s impossible. The sun is a ball of burning gas thousands of times bigger than our planet. Even her magic isn’t big enough for that sort of thing. Instead, she and Luna rotate the planet to maintain the day and night cycle.” When she saw Rainbow’s confusion, the unicorn groaned. “Oh, COME ON! Did you actually read the books I gave to you?” “Yes! Of course. Those which had adventures in them.” “Figures.” “But this got me thinking”, the blue pegasus said, “If there really was life before the alicorns, the creeps might use that against us. It means there have to be other ways to keep things going. And once they find out, what will become of Equestria? I bet that’s why that spider-country sent out our eight-eyed friend in the first place.” Twilight gulped. That’s what she got for underestimating Rainbow Dash. It wasn’t easy for that pegasus filly to focus on something intellectual, but once she did, her brain could be just as agile as her wings. She had to pause for a moment. She owed her friends an explanation. She knew they would go with every decision she would make, but they needed to know why. Rainbow Dash had cornered her not despite the fact that she represented the element of loyalty- but because of it. Still, it was so very hard to put this into words! “I... I think they deserve to know. We deserve to know. That’s all. Truth is dangerous, but in the long run, ignorance is even worse.” She turned to Applejack, looking for approval. The workhorse was the element of honesty, after all. But the older pony merely shrugged. “Twilight... Some truths are useful... Some are not. And there are other priorities. I’m sorry, but that’s how I see it.” When she saw Twilight’s expression of confusion and shame, she smiled. Twilight was the smartest pony she knew, but still the filly was looking up to her like to an older sister. “That being said, I’m still stickin’ to what I said earlier. It’s your decision. No matter what trouble might come out of it, if we work together we will be able to fix it afterwards. Hay, wouldn’t be the first time the six of us saved the world after actually putting it in danger ourselves.” The others grinned. The horse of truth had spoken. - Somewhere between the apple trees behind them, an eight-legged shadow was hiding, listening closely to every word and burst of laughter.