Applejack
Applejack gasped for air as she woke up, feeling as if she hadn’t breathed for a life-time as she lay on the soft bed she found herself in, panting heavily, before finally bringing her breathing under control and looking around.
The room was circular, every surface smoothly flowing into the next without any sort of sharp edges or corners to speak of. In between the yellowish colour of the walls were strips of pulsing blue light, each one running around the room before disappearing from sight. Applejack slowly got out of the bed she had been laid in, placing a hoof to her head as she realised that she was no longer wearing her hat, before catching sight of it on a table.
As she pulled it on once more, Applejack began to try and figure out where she had been cast by Twilight's wayward spell. It didn’t look like anywhere on Equestria, even in the most advanced places in Equestria. That left one possibility, and Applejack felt a chill go up her spine as she put two and two together, coming up with four.
She was shaken from her inner monologue when the door to the room slid open with a soft hiss and two figures made their way inside. Both stood up tall, and had strange flat faces, the blue skin pulled tight across their skull. They wore strange yellow body armour, and carried long ceremonial halberds, both of them regarding Applejack with interest as she shrank back slightly, before she stood up tall once more.
“A-are you…Eldar?” she asked softly, looking between them. They didn’t look anything what Rainbow had described, but she also hadn’t mentioned any blue skinned aliens either.
The two warriors looked at each other, before smiling slightly and shaking their heads.
“It is not our place to make first contact with you,” one said, his voice low and rumbling. “If you would follow us, we will take you to one who may.”
Without another word, the pair stood to attention on either side of the door, holding their halberds at their sides as they flanked Applejack. Forcing herself to remain calm, Applejack made her way out of the door, the two warriors following behind her, making sure she went the right way, as they finally reached a large set of gleaming white doors.
“When you proceed inside, do not approach the Ethereal,” one of the men spoke. “Do not make any sudden movements, answer the questions put to you truthfully. Do you understand?”
“Ah do,” Applejack nodded, before taking a deep breath and walking towards the doors as they slid open.
The first thing she noticed about the room was how tall it was, the ceiling stretching upwards before finally ending in an open hole, allowing the sunlight to stream through onto the man in the centre of the room. Unlike the two warriors, this one wore long flowing robes and stood upon a strange floating dais, regarding Applejack with a curious gaze.
The two warriors took up their positions beside the central figure, who Applejack assumed was the Ethereal they had spoken of, before the doors slid closed once more, sealing Applejack in the room with the three men.
“Do you know where you are?” the Ethereal asked, his soft voice echoing around the room as he spoke, looking down at Applejack.
“N-no,” Applejack shook her head. “Are…are y’all Eldar?”
“Do not ask questions of the Ethereal,” one of the warriors said slowly, before being silenced by the Ethereal, who let out a soft chuckle.
“Eldar? No, we are not the dying race. We are young. We are vibrant. We are Tau.”
“Tau?” Applejack asked in confusion. “Ah don’t think Rainbow ever mentioned…no wait, are y’all those creatures she said were in the galactic east or…somethin’?”
“Rainbow?” the Ethereal asked, cocking his head to the side. “I fail to see how a rainbow could speak. A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon caused by reflection and refraction of light.”
“No, not 'a' rainbow, Rainbow's a name,” Applejack shook her head. “Rainbow Dash. She’s mah friend, and...well, she came to this universe four years ago.”
“Interesting. So there are more of you then?” the Ethereal asked. “And yet, only one of your number has heard of our empire?”
“Rainbow is the only one to ever leave our planet,” Applejack pointed out. “Well, was the only one. Ah guess ah’m here too.”
“Yes,” the Ethereal nodded. “What, if you don’t mind me asking, do you call yourself?”
“Ah’m Applejack,” Applejack nodded. “A pony. Who are you?”
“You were told not to ask questions,” one of the warriors pointed out. “Please stick to this rule.”
“It is alright, this Applejack, does not know our ways, and she has the right to know who we are,” the Ethereal looked down at his warrior, before back at Applejack. “I am Aun’Va, the Ethereal Supreme of the Tau Empire. It falls to me to initiate first contact with a new species if at all possible, as it was in your case. On behalf of my Empire, I bid you a formal welcome to T’au, birthplace of my kind. You are the first of your kind to make contact with my race, Applejack of the Ponies, it falls to you to begin negotiations.”
“Umm….ah don’t think ah’m qualified fer this,” Applejack said hesitantly. “Ah…ah want to go home, so if y’all could just help me get into the webway and find mah…”
Applejack was cut off as Aun’Va began a slow laugh, looking at Applejack with a bemused expression.
“The webway? We are not Eldar Ms. Applejack, we do not make use of their transport networks, even if we wish we could.”
“But, how will ah get home?” Applejack asked softly.
“I do not know where your home is, and neither do I know how to breach the Eldar webway. If I did, it would benefit my kind immensely,” Aun’Va smiled sadly. “I cannot offer you a way home, and for that I am sorry.”
“It’s…it’s not yer fault, Aun’Va,” Applejack said softly, shaking her head. “Mah friends know where ah am, they’ll figure something out. It may take a while…but…I guess ah’ll have to wait.”
“And I am sorry that you must,” Aun’Va nodded. “But like I said, you are the only one of your kind to make contact with the Tau, it falls to us, to make the arrangements of your survival. My kind and your kind can prosper, as T’au has prospered, if we work hand in,” he paused, looking down at Applejack's hooves, before back at her face, “hoof. Other races have joined us, from the insectoid Vespids to the avian Kroot. Both races have prospered while working with the Tau, striving towards the Greater Good, to create something far more powerful and long lasting than the sum of its parts. That is what I now offer to you. I offer you and your kind…”
“Harmony,” Applejack finished simply.
“Exactly,” Aun’Va nodded with a small smile. “Harmony binds us together Applejack, it makes us stronger than when we stand alone. Do you know what makes for a harmonious existence?”
“Honesty, Loyalty, Laughter, Kindness, Generosity,” Applejack smiled back. “When those five unite, the spark reveals Magic. Friendship and harmony are born.”
“Well, clearly you understand the concepts of harmony better than most races of this galaxy, although I do not believe magic is a part of it,” Aun’Va nodded. “I am taking it that by your knowledge of the workings of Harmony that it is a part of you culture?”
“Yeah, I think you could say that,” Applejack chuckled softly. “Ah’m an Element of Harmony, Honesty to be specific.”
“An Element of Harmony?” Aun’Va asked in confusion. “What are they?”
“They’re a powerful force on mah home world, Equis,” Applejack began to explain. “Six gems, wielded by six friends, each representing one aspect of harmony. Mah friend Rainbow, she holds Loyalty, and she tore up the galaxy tryin’ ta get home when she came here, which is why ah know that she’ll come lookin’ for me.”
“Clearly you know of the power of harmony then,” Aun’Va nodded. “I believe you will find this story interesting then. Many years ago, the Tau were much like the humans, violent and suspicious of each other. Wars were constantly being fought between what would eventually become the castes of our society, and fire burned its way through the water, earth and air. On the plains of Fio’taun, an alliance laid siege to the last bastion of the builders. For five years this continued, before the first of my kind appeared. Not even we know where or how we arrived, but together, the Ethereals put a stop to the war, uniting the warring factions, and securing peace that has lasted on our home ever since. We are united behind one tenant, one guiding light of harmony, and in that time of war, amongst the dead, the Great Good was born.”
“Sounds like yer kin did well for themselves,” Applejack smiled. “So this Greater Good, what is it exactly?”
“The Great Good guides us, it governs our actions, and defines two roles with which we must comply. One is to expand our empire for the Greater Good, to bring the light of harmony to all those who would wish it, and to make the galaxy safe. The second is to absorb other races and their cultures into our own, adapting both us and them so that we may work together. The ideal of the Greater Good is appealing to some races, and even some of the humans have accepted that we have a stronger ideal than they do. I would offer you the same place in our empire, a place to stand side by side with us as we go forth into the unknown.”
“But ah just met y’all,” Applejack pointed out.
“And?” Aun’Va asked. “Why does that mean you cannot promote a harmonious accord between our two cultures? You clearly understand the merits of harmony, so why would we resist you joining?”
“Well ah guess when y’all put it like that it’s hard to argue against,” Applejack reasoned. “But ah am gonna go home when mah friends come for me. If y’all will allow me ta do that, I think that it would be stupid of me ta not work with ya.”
“If your friend comes for you, you may leave,” Aun’Va nodded. “Perhaps we will be able to arrange for a more formal meeting of our species. I would be interested in meeting a culture that holds harmony as highly as we do.”
“Then ah accept yer offer Ethereal Aun’Va,” Applejack bowed deeply, before standing back up and looking at Aun’Va.
“Then by the power of the Ethereal caste, and afforded to me by position of Ethereal Supreme, I decree that Applejack of the Pony race shall be inducted into the Greater Good. She will abide by our laws, and we shall respect her customs while we share our own. Together may we go forth and spread harmony to those who have none.”
As he spoke, Aun’Va reached out with his odd staff, placing it gently atop Applejack’s head, before looking to one of his honour guards.
“Go, bring Applejack to the representatives from the castes. We must find a place for our newest member.”
“Of course, noble Ethereal,” the honour guard bowed, before walking towards Applejack. “This way Ms.”
Applejack followed the honour guard, walking beside him as they made their way through the empty corridors of the building. Finally, Applejack decided to try and break the silence.
“So, do yer have a name?” she asked hesitantly.
The man stopped and looked down at her for a second, before nodding and continuing on.
“This one has the honour of being Shas’El Fi’rios.”
“Shas’El?” Applejack asked, before forcing herself to smile. “That sounds…nice. A nice ring to it.”
“My name is not Shas’El, it is my title,” he pointed out.
“Fi’rios then,” Applejack smiled.
“Fi’rios is my home world,” he continued. “I am bound to the service of the Ethereal, it is my calling to the Greater Good.”
“Yer mean y’all don’t have a name?” Applejack asked in confusion.
“I did once, and I still do to some people, but I am not at liberty to divulge the information to anyone not of the El or O rank in the Fire caste or an Ethereal. I’m sorry.”
Once again the pair lapsed into silence, Applejack softly marvelling at the devotion that this man must have had towards the Greater Good, before they reached a door and emerged into the open air.
Instantly, Applejack was blinded by the sudden brightness, and had to pull her hat down low over her eyes, before she slowly adjusted to the light and managed to look out at the world of T’au.
Like the inside of the building, the buildings were smooth, flowing gracefully from the floor to the apex of the top. The streets were lined with hundreds of Tau, some wearing robes while a few wore sleek yellow armour, kind of like what Rainbow’s Swooping Pegasi used, complete with black helmets and strange stubby looking weapons.
“Law enforcement,” Fi’rios pointed out, noticing her gaze.
“What?” Applejack asked, shaking herself out of her little trance.
“The Fire Warriors you are looking at, they are law enforcement. Black helmets donate their status, just as white helmets show a veteran status.”
Nodding, Applejack caught sight of four Tau standing before a building, each of whom wore different outfits, and seemed to have actual physical differences as well. The first, the one who looked like he had the most muscles wore the same yellow armour as the law enforcement, but lacked any sort of helmet. The other three Tau all wore tight fitting body suits with varying degrees of robes and embellishments on their person.
Walking towards the four Tau, Fi’rios bowed low, before addressing them.
“Noble caste representatives. I present to you Applejack, a Pony who has embraced the light of the Greater Good. By the decree of our Ethereal Supreme, Aun’Va, she is to learn of the castes, before picking her own. I must leave you all now, my charge is elsewhere.”
With that, Fi’rios turned and walked back towards the massive spire that looked like it was at the centre of the vast city, all roads leading towards it. Turning away from him, Applejack found herself under intense scrutiny by the four Tau.
“A quadruped? Interesting,” the armoured Tau mused. “I have not met many quadrupeds with higher brain functions. From her body I would say she has a high muscle mass, could be of use to the fire and earth caste.”
“Um…ah right here Sugarcube,” Applejack said, scratching the back of her head awkwardly, before sticking her hoof out. “Ah’m Applejack.”
“Yes we know,” one of the Tau nodded, gently placing her hand against the end of Applejacks hoof. “Greetings from the Water Caste. I am Por’Ui Krayma, a delegate from the diplomatic ‘O’. He sends his regards, and regrets he could not be here in person to welcome a new species into our fold.”
“It’s a pleasure ta meet ya Krayma,” Applejack smiled, putting her hoof down. “So…is yer home Krayma, or is that your actual name?”
“Krayma is my name. Unlike the honour guard, we have kept our names after our ranks and titles,” the woman smiled, before turning to face the other three representatives. “Allow me to introduce my fellows. Shas’Vre Mank of the Fire Caste, Fio’Vre Ti’mer of the Earth Caste and Kor'Vre Karrer of the Air Caste.
“Nice to meet y’all,” Applejack smiled.
“Your accent, it reminds me of a human one,” Mank cocked his head to the side as he looked at Applejack. “One they refer to as a ‘redneck’ or a ‘hick’. I wonder if you share any of their characteristics as well as the accent.”
“And you sound vaguely neighponese,” Applejack muttered under her breath, going unheard by the Tau before her.
“Maybe she does, maybe she doesn’t, the matter is inconsequential,” Krayma pointed out. “We are here to present our race to the newest member of the auxiliaries, and I believe we should get started.”
“Indeed,” Ti’mer nodded. “Applejack, allow us to show you around our colony while we talk.”
“Fine by me,” Applejack smiled, before following the four Tau, trotting alongside them as they began to explain about the caste system.
“When the Ethereals appeared to us, they brought with them the idea of the Castes, each one taking on a different role,” Krayma began. “My own sub-species of Tau became known as the Water Caste, and we now serve the Tau Empire as traders, merchants, public servants, bureaucrats, administrators, diplomats, and ambassadors. Like water, we bureaucrats of the Water Caste fluidly move between other Castes and alien races incorporated within our Empire making sure everything flows smoothly, and debates are settled fairly. Before the Fire Caste starts their work, the Water Caste starts their’s, and ours continues long after the Fire Caste has finished their tasks.”
“The Fire Caste is also responsible for cleaning up any mess that the Water Caste may make,” Mank allowed a tiny smile to form on his lips as he spoke. “We are the warriors of the Tau, we are the strongest, the fastest, the best, and when all else fails, we don’t. We spread the Greater Good to the stars, and we are the ones who die to preserve it.”
“So that’s Fire and Water, what about Earth and Air?” Applejack asked, looking between Ti’mer and Karrer.
“The Air Caste is simple,” Karrer said simply. “We man the fleet, both merchant and military. We can be messengers or pilots, or anything that requires us to be within a form of aircraft or spacecraft. After today you will not see many Air Caste, we usually live aboard our space stations, keeping an eye on the vast nothingness that lies beyond our planets.”
“And the Earth Caste holds everything else together,” Ti’mer shrugged indifferently. “Manufacturing, industrial production, construction, art, agriculture. Everything that holds the Empire together beyond military and diplomatic interests.”
“Agriculture?” Applejack asked with a smile.
“Yes, agriculture,” Ti’mer nodded. “You know something about farming?”
“Ah’ll say,” Applejack chuckled. “Ah was a farmer back at home, Sweet Apple Acres, best apples in all of Equis. Never find better.”
“I’m guessing that is why you have apples tattooed on your body?” Krayma asked, looking at Applejacks cutie mark. “A mark of your profession?”
“Kinda,” Applejack nodded, looking at her flank. “This here is mah cutie mark, it shows our special talent, and we usually get the direction for our lives from them. Not always, but mah whole family worked the farm before me, ah wasn’t gonna let them down.”
“Interesting, your culture brands you with your profession before you take on the profession?” Krayma asked.
“It doesn’t sound too dissimilar to our own Por’Ui,” Mank cocked his head to the side. “We are destined to our Caste from birth.”
“Indeed we are, as I believe Applejack here is destined to hers,” Krayma nodded, before stopping and turning to face Applejack. “So, now you know what each of our Castes does for the empire, you must make a choice as to what auxiliary force you become a part of.”
“Y’all are mentioning an auxiliary,” Applejack said slowly. “That’s like a…a support group isn’t it?”
“Indeed it is,” Krayma nodded. “Those non-Tau members of our empire our grouped with their own kind where possible, to promote morale through camaraderie. You may present some difficulties, being the only one of your kind documented, but I believe that you will find your place amongst the empire in one way or another. All that remains is where you will chose to go.”
“Earth,” Applejack replied simply. “Ah’m no smooth talker, and ah’m far too honest to be a politician or a diplomat, ah don’t want ta fight if I can avoid it, and ah’m fine keeping all four hooves on the ground.”
“You are sure?” Ti’mer asked, stepping up beside Applejack.
“As long as you’ve got farmin’ ta do, I’m your pony,” Applejack nodded.
“Very well then,” Ti’mer nodded. “As the representative of the Earth Caste, and acting as the voice of the Fio’O, I welcome you to the Earth Caste, Applejack of Equestria. I bestow upon you a title fitting your new Caste, and name you Fio’Saal Applejack, apprentice of the Earth caste.”
“It was nice meeting you Fio’Saal,” Krayma smiled, before bowing deeply.
“Likewise,” Mank nodded slowly.
“Maybe we shall meet again Fio’Saal Applejack if you ever move off world,”
Karrer turned as he spoke, and the three representatives walked away, disappearing into the crowded streets, leaving Applejack alone with Ti’mer. Looking up at the Earth Caste member, before scanning the streets, noticing that most of the Tau she could see looked a lot like his sub-species of Tau.
“Come Fio’Saal, my O will want to meet the new auxiliary,” Ti’mer spoke softly. “Follow me please, we can assign you to an agricultural team quickly, and you can begin to learn the subtleties of farming.”
“Learn about farmin’?” Applejack deadpanned. “Sugarcube, ah’ve been farmin’ mah whole life. I think I know enough about it ta get by.”
“That remains to be seen,” Ti’mer nodded, before striding off, Applejack hot on his heels.
She knew Rainbow would come for her one day, she would lead her team back into the universe she had left behind just to find her. She would just have to wait, no matter how long it took.